Day: June 20, 2022

Balochistan budget deferred

QUETTA:Due to personal engagement of Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo, the presentation of Balochistan budget for the fiscal year 2022-23 which was due to be presented today (Monday) has been deferred till tomorrow, Tuesday.

A notification regarding rescheduling of the budget session has been forwarded to the acting governor. The presentation of provincial budget has been deferred till June 21 due to Chief Minister Bizenjo’s engagement in the council session of Balochistan Awami Party (BAP).

The BAP held its intra-party elections on Sunday and elected Bizenjo as its new president. But the fissures appear in the party as the exercise was rejected by former Balochistan chief minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani, who termed the BAP general council meeting “illegal”, saying that the general council meeting could only be convened by the party president.

“I am the president of the party and I was not consulted for convening the general council meeting,” Mr Alyani said, adding that BAP’s general council meeting will now be held on Aug 9 in Quetta. Balochistan will present its budget for the next fiscal with a total outlay of Rs580 billion.

The budget proposed to earmark Rs195 billion for development projects while Rs385 billion will be set aside for non-development projects. The budget document has also suggested a 15% raise in the salaries of provincial government employees.

(IHC dismisses defamation case against HR activist after her ‘unconditional’ apology)

ISLAMABAD:The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday dismissed a defamation case against a lawyer and human rights activist Imaan Zainab Hazir Mazari, who is the daughter of PTI leader Dr Shireen Mazari, after she tendered an “unconditional” apology in the court.

An FIR was registered against Imaan Mazari at Ramna Police Station of Islamabad under PPC Sections 138 (Abetment of act of insubordination by soldier) and 505 (Statements conducing to public mischief).

During the hearing, the IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah noted that since Imaan Mazari had tendered “unconditional” apology and showed regret on her remarks against the institutions, there was no need for an FIR. The court also quashed the FIR.

The Chief Justice also noted that Imaan Mazari had also assured that she would refrain from passing derogatory statements in the future, thus there was no need to proceed the matter further. During the hearing, Imaan Mazari, who is also the member of Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHBA) along with her lawyer Zainab Janjua was present in the court.

Imaan Mazari had issued derogatory remarks against the top security institution when her mother Dr Shireen Mazari was picked up and detained for some hours by the anti-corruption department Punjab in a case related to the encroachment of a piece of land in District Rajanpur. It was said in the FIR that Imaan Mazari abused the senior military leadership of the Pakistan Army and her derogatory statements are highly disparaging.

(Ameer Haider Hoti calls on PM)

ISLAMABAD:Member National Assembly Ameer Haider Khan Hoti called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif here in Islamabad on Monday.

Overall political situation and matters related to the respective constituency were discussed during the meeting. Meanwhile, MNA Chaudhary Faqir Ahmad also called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif here in Islamabad on Monday.

Other MNAs who called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif here in Islamabad on Monday included Ayesha Rajab Ali and Shagufta Jumani.

(WKAF will use digital advertising trucks to demand release of Yasin Malik, others)

ISLAMABAD:The World Kashmir Awareness Forum (WKAF) has decided to use digital advertising trucks in Washington DC to demand release of Kashmiri leaders Muhammad Yasin Malik, Khurram Pervez and others.

According to reports, the forum further decided that the electronic screens on the trucks will carry messages such as: Free Yasin Malik, Free Khurram Parvez and Free all political prisoners in Kashmir.

The Forum says that our aim is to target the policy makers in Washington as well as the general public to let them know that crimes against humanity are being committed in India and the Biden Administration needs to intervene. The Forum also appealed the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights to intervene in the cases of Yasin Malik, Khurram Parvez, Shabbir Ahmed Shah, Masarrat Aalam Butt, Aasiya Andrabi and others.

(Pakistan calls on Int’l community to support UNHCR’s efforts in support of refugees)

ISLAMABAD:Pakistan has called on the international community to support UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in its efforts towards durable solutions for refugees worldwide.

In a statement issued here in Islamabad on Monday on the occasion of World Refugee Day, Foreign Office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar said renewed international commitment is need of the hour to provide adequate financing for Afghan refugees, including their safe and dignified return.

He said necessary measures should be taken for the stability and sustainable socio-economic development of Afghanistan, in order to avert the possibility of any future refugee exodus from the country. Paying special tribute to UNHCR for its commendable work in support of refugees, the spokesperson expressed readiness to further strengthen Pakistan’s partnership with the Refugee Agency.

Unidentified armed men gunned down Naib Tehsildar Chaman

QUETTA:Abdul Sattar Mashwani son of Abdul Wadood, resident of Chaki Shahwani, Sariab Road, Quetta was shot dead by unidentified armed men near Railway Line, Bibi Ziarat, Sariab Road area of the provincial capital on Monday.

The assailants managed to escape after committing the crime. The body was shifted to Sandeman Provincial Hospital, Quetta for completion of codal formalities. The body was handed over to the heirs after fulfilling necessary medico-legal formalities. The incident has created a mourning atmosphere in the victim’s house. Further investigation was being conducted by the authorities of concerned police station.

US dollar hits historic high against rupee

KARACHI:The US dollar on the first day of the business week reached a historic high of Rs210.03 mark after an increase of Rs2.55 in interbank trading on Monday.

This is the first time that the US dollar crossed the Rs210 mark in the country’s interbank trading history. Financial experts said that the uncertainty over the deal with the International Monitory Fund (IMF) delayed keeps on putting pressure on the local currency.

Since the coalition government assumed charge in April, the American currency increased by Rs26.99. The previous close on Friday last week was Rs208.75 with the total depreciation of the Pakistani rupee -0.52 percent.