Here’s what’s happening across the border: Pakistan’s health dept refused to take blame for malnutrition deaths; journalists extend support to Saleem Safi.
Auditor general recommends sacking of PIA chief
Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) woes do not seem to end. After the Kiki challenge fiasco, the government now wants to sack the national carrier’s chief Musharraf Rasool Cyan, alleging that his appointment was an “irregular favour”, reports Dawn.
Citing Cyan’s closeness with PML-N’s leader Sardar Mehtab Abbasi, the country’s auditor general has claimed that his application for the job was not shortlisted by the board of directors. The audit agency also said that Cyan did not have the required qualifications and experience for the post.
The auditor-general’s report said, “Audit recommends terminating his services without any further delay. Further, payment of salary, other benefits such as car and irregular use of tickets should be recovered immediately.”
Two weeks ago, PIA had come under fire after a video showing a Polish tourist doing a Kiki challenge inside an empty aircraft had gone viral on social media.
In another case, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has asked the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to take firm action against the owners of the Shaheen Air International (SAI) for their alleged failure to deposit tax money worth over Rs 1.3 billion, reports Dawn.
CAA feared that the owners of the airlines — Ehsan Khalid Sehbai and Kashif Khalid Sehbai — would flee the country “with a criminal intent for causing loss to public”.
According to reports, SAI has been running under loss for some time. On numerous occasions, the CAA had issued notices and reminders to the airlines, asking for the money.
Malnutrition, infections killed 35 kids in Sindh in a month
At least four children died due to malnutrition and other health conditions in the Tharparkar district of Sindh province in the past 24 hours, taking the toll to 35 this month alone, Geo TV reported.
According to Pakistan’s health ministry, 1,500 children die every year in this remote region from malnutrition and infections. Lack of medical facilities at hospitals in the region has been linked to the crisis.
However, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, health minister for the Sindh region and sister of co-chairman of Pakistan People’s Party Asif Ali Zardari, refuted claims of malnutrition being the leading cause for children’s death. She, instead, put the blame on early marriages, unskilled midwives and carelessness on the part of illiterate mothers to be reasons for the deaths, Dawn reported.
She said that it was because of early marriages that premature kids born were not able to resist diseases and infections.
Pechuho said that the state of affairs at the Civil Hospital in Umerkot, Sindh, were not as bad as she had imagined. She also said that the province failed to enhance the poor quality of healthcare as it did not have the funds to do so.
She also accused the previous government led by Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) party of failing to release funds under the National Finance Commission.
Most interesting tweets of the day
Fahad Marwat, who claims himself to be the president of ‘Pakistan Party People’, alleged that First Lady Bushra Maneka has moved back to her house in Bani Gala.
BREAKING: First Lady has refused to live in the MS house and has moved back to Banigala. Commuting back n forth on helicopters daily, such drastic austerity measures. #pti #imrankhan #PrimeMinisterIK pic.twitter.com/qEKJl4H8Ru
— Fahad Marwat (@fahad_marwat) August 24, 2018
Known for his scathing remarks, Jungjoo Gernail takes a dig at Maj. Gen. Asif Ghafoor, director-general of ISPR (media wing of Pakistan Army), for rejecting foreign media reports on violence in Waziristan.
https://twitter.com/GernailSaheb/status/1033850147099295744
Pakistan Media Watch alleges that newly elected PM Imran Khan asked his social media team to bully journalist Saleem Safi on Twitter.
Senior PTI leaders and PM House sources have confirmed that Prime Minister Imran Khan personally ordered attack, intimidation and bullying of Saleem Safi and assigned the coordination task to Iftikhar Durrani to liase between various PTI social media teams (inside & outside Pak) pic.twitter.com/HzvJVNeImE
— Pakistan Media Watch (@PakPressWatch) August 26, 2018
Pakistani journalists back Saleem Safi over social media trolls
Journalists across Pakistan have extended their support to Geo TV anchor Saleem Safi over trolls criticising him for his remarks on ousted PM Nawaz Sharif, reports the Daily Times.
Last week, Safi had claimed that Sharif had paid for all the expenses of the PM house during his tenure from his own pocket. He further posted photocopies of the bills of different ceremonies on Twitter.
His comments sparked an abusive war against Safi on social media. Supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf condemned him for doing so and also asked for an apology. It also accused Safi of spreading “white lies”.
Saleem Safi must tender apology to the nation for speaking a"bundle of white lies " about the payment of PM house. Either he is a comrade in crime of MNS or his palms have been greased to launch false https://t.co/8mdRj4kJ4a both cases he has miserably failed to achieve his goal
— PoliticalGuru (@PoliticalGuru3) August 24, 2018
However, journalists backed Safi for his comment. Political commentator Asma Shirazi said that Safi is an honest and courageous journalist.
Strange times we all are passing through when no one tolerate the difference of opinion @SaleemKhanSafi is an honest and courageous journalist you may differ his opinion but how can you be allowed to use bad words but who cares . Stay strong safi sb
— Asma Shirazi (@asmashirazi) August 25, 2018
Anchor Muhammad Junaid also slammed the “hate campaign against” Safi. He said, “It is highly disrespectful and filthy propaganda”.
The baseless filthy & disgraceful propaganda against Respected @SaleemKhanSafi and hate campaign against him is shameful and highly deplorable those involved must stop immediately & learn to disagree gracefully instead of denying facts with allegations only! #Respect
— Muhammad Junaid (@junaidmuhammadd) August 25, 2018
Journalist Reham Khan also lashed out at the haters. She claimed it was hypocrisy on their part for trolling Safi, who brought out the facts.
Serious journalists like Salim Safi cannot draw attention to a fact that the former PM's lived in their own homes or paid from their own pocket without being abused by maniacs while designer fashion elites are asked to gush about fake simplicity stunts. #Hypocrisy
— Reham Khan (@RehamKhan1) August 24, 2018
Rift in opposition alliance may help PTI to win Prez poll
Though the grand alliance in Pakistan has agreed to project a joint candidate for the upcoming presidential election, the parties are yet to name the common candidate, reports Dawn.
While Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) wanted Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan’s nomination, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) continued to oppose the suggestion.
Senior leader Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed of PPP later confirmed that since the meetings remained inconclusive, the party had asked Ahsan to file his nomination papers Monday.
While it is still unclear what PML-N’s next step will be. Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) has also announced that it will not support PPP’s nominee Ahsan.
According to Dawn, the current crisis in the grand alliance may result to a swift victory of PTI candidate Arif Alvi, an MNA from Karachi. The presidential election in Pakistan is due on 4 September.
Maryam Nawaz teaching children in Adiala jail
Ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz is teaching juveniles in her prison cell in Adiala Jail, reports The Nation.
The newspaper said, “Maryam Nawaz has commenced teaching class for juveniles in her cell from 9am to 11amfrom Monday to Wednesday and on Saturday and teaches English, Urdu and other subjects to children”. It was reported that the children were happy being taught by Nawaz.
She also offers prayers regularly and recites Quran in her cell, which is near the women’s wing of the jail.
The Nation said quoting some sources, “Maryam Nawaz has proved herself as an iron lady even in detention as she is in very high spirit, courageous, satisfied and passionate.”
Nawaz Sharif and daughter Maryam were convicted by an accountability court in the Avenfield corruption case and awarded jail terms of 10 years and 7 years respectively. The case refers to purchase of four luxury flats in Avenfield House, London. They were arrested on 13 July.
Contributors: Aastha Singh, Alind Chauhan, Manisha Mondal, Priyamvada Grover and Rupanwita Bhattacharjee