Day: February 9, 2023

Lahore: Following directions by Punjab Chief Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi to launch a crackdown against petrol hoarding mafia, police have seized hoarded oil worth Rs300 million from three different areas of Sheikhupura, according to a report on Thursday. A police team, led by District Police Officer Sheikhupura Zahid Nawaz Marwat, raided three places and seized dozens of oil tankers parked underground in different mansions (Havelis). The quantity of petrol seized by police is approximately 1.2 million liter.

A district police spokesman said cases were being registered against hoarders. The DPO said that stern action was being taken against hoarding mafia in the whole district. Meanwhile, in Narowal city, fuel stations have stopped sale of petrol and diesel to general public. The fuel shortage has also affected students’ attendance in schools. Several students could not reach academic institutions due to fuel shortage and the attendance remained thin. The petrol pump owners have stopped sale of fuel taking plea of low supplies being provided to them.

After OGRA action, the supply of petrol to fuel stations of Lahore was better, however, shortage still persisted in different areas. In Shadman area of the city, the Shell petrol pumps had no petrol supplies and motorists had to return with no fuel. In Gujranwala, the crisis worsened with majority of fuel stations were seen shut with no supplies on third straight day. Long queues were witnessed on fuel stations and citizens were suffering hard.

Likewise, in Samundri and its suburban areas, citizens were purchasing petrol on exorbitant rates. Fuel shortage still persisted and panicking the people. In Okara, complying with the directions of Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Deputy Commissioner Zeeshan Hanif has asked all price control magistrates to go in field, check stocks at petrol pumps and take stern action against those who were creating a crisis by hoarding petrol.

Price control magistrates during their visits of different fuel stations checked stocks and fuel meters. DC Zeeshan Hanif has announced implementing zero-tolerance policy against artificial shortage of petrol and its overcharging. He said people should inform the control room about shortage or unavailability of fuel at any petrol pump.

Lahore: The Lahore High Court (LHC) Thursday ordered the Punjab governor and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to submit a detailed response to the petition against the non-announcement of the election date in Punjab. The court said, “The judgments of the case will be announced by late night on February 13.” In the LHC, a hearing was held on the petition of Citizen Muneer Ahmed against the non-announcement of the election date in Punjab.

In the reply submitted by Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman, it has been said that when the governor dissolves the assembly, it is his constitutional responsibility to give the date of the election, and the governor has not obstructed the authority of the ECP. While requesting to dismiss the petition with penalty, the Punjab governor has further stated in his reply that the petitioner is not the affected party, and the governor is performing his duties according to the Constitution and law.

Justice Jawad Hasan said in his remarks, “We have to follow the logic. First, we have to see whether a larger bench is needed or not.” The lawyer for the ECP sought time from the court to submit its reply. He told the court that he was appointed as a lawyer the previous day, adding that he had not even seen the orders of the court and had not prepared the answer. Justice Jawad Hassan said that there were judicial precedents related to holding the elections within 90 days.

The lawyer for the ECP said, “We have to conduct the election, but the date has to be given by the governor. The date for the by-election has to be given by the ECP, but the law is different as far as the authority to give the date of the general election is concerned.” Barrister Ali Zafar said, “If the governor and the ECP do not give the date, the president can give the date of the election.” The ECP’s lawyer said that there were obstacles in its implementation. “The ECP should tell because I cannot tell the governor,” Justice Jawad Hasan remarked.

Islamabad: The 10th round of Pakistan-Netherlands bilateral political consultations were held in Hague. Foreign Secretary Dr Asad Majeed Khan and Dutch Secretary General for Ministry of Foreign Affairs Paul Huijts led their respective sides. During the consultations, the whole range of bilateral relations and important regional and global issues were reviewed, according to a Radio Pakistan’s report.

The two sides expressed satisfaction over the momentum in bilateral cooperation and resolved to further enhance engagement in a range of areas including political, economic, trade and investment, climate change, agriculture, water management, dairy and livestock, education and culture. Highlighting the role of Netherlands as a major trade partner of Pakistan in the European Union, the Foreign Secretary invited Dutch companies to take advantage of Pakistan’s liberal investment regime.

Islamabad: The National Assembly met briefly here at the Parliament House on Thursday with Deputy Speaker Zahid Akram Durrani in the chair. At the outset, Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitral pointed out lack of quorum. On counting, the House was not found in order. Then the Chair prorogued the session.

Islamabad: A district and sessions court on Thursday dismissed the post-arrest bail plea of Awami Muslim League (AML) chief and former interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed. The post-arrest bail petition of AML chief was heard by Additional Sessions Judge Tahir Abbas Supra. Sheikh Rashid is undergoing a 14-day judicial

He is facing charges of levelling murder plot allegations against former President and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chair Asif Ali Zardari. He is also facing charges of threatening police personnel, and passing ‘offensive’ and ‘filthy’ comments against Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

Earlier, on Wednesday, a local court in Islamabad had granted one-day transit remand of Sheikh Rashid to Murree Police. On Thursday, a local court in Murree rejected the police request for three-day physical remand of Sheikh Rashid and sent him to jail on judicial remand.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Sajid Hussain Turi has said it is the need of the hour to end the deprivations of tribal districts. He said tribal people have suffered the most against terrorism and the promises made to them at the time of merger have not been fulfilled.

Tribal elders under the leadership of Federal Minister Sajid Hussain Turi met with Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervez Ashraf, says a statement issued by the Press Information Department here on Thursday. In the meeting problems faced by the merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the promises made at the time of merger were discussed. The tribal delegation consisted of more than 150 elders from all the newly merged districts. The tribal elders said the tribal people are losing rather than benefiting from the merger of FATA. The aim of FATA integration should have been reform, reconstruction and development in war-torn areas, they added.

After the merger of FATA, funds from tribal areas were used in other districts of the province”, tribal elders said. They said census was conducted when tribal people were displaced from their areas due to terrorism. They said National Assembly seats in tribal areas have decreased due to wrong census, adding that census should be conducted again in the tribal areas. They said at the time of merger, the opinion of the tribal people was not taken under consideration, adding that funds earmarked for FATA and quotas in colleges and universities should be restored for ten years.

Raja Pervez Ashraf said Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is aware of the unprecedented sacrifices and problems of the tribal people. He said PPP has always solved the problems of its tribal brothers and sisters. Sajid Hussain Turi said that construction and development works should be done rapidly in the tribal areas so that they can be included in the national agenda. He said PPP will always play its constitutional role for welfare of the people of tribal areas.

Karachi: Met office informed on Thursday that during the next 24 hours, cloudy and cold weather is expected in most plain parts of the country. However, rain-wind/thunderstorm (snowfall over the hills) is expected in Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, and upper Punjab. Moderate to isolated heavy snow/rain is expected in Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Murree and Galliyat.

Past 24 Hour Weather:

Cold and cloudy weather prevailed over most parts of the country. However, rain (scow over hills) is expected at isolated places in Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan and Upper Punjab. Rainfall (mm): Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa: Parachinar 07, Bacha Khan A/p 01, Kashmir: Rawalakot 02, Punjab: Murree 02.

Snowfall (inches): Kalam 01, Bagrote and Astore Trace.

Todays recorded lowest minimum temperatures (°C): Leh -10, Kalam, Astor -07, Gupis -05, Skardu, Parachinar, and Malam Jabba -03.