Here’s what’s happening across the border: US-based physician planned to come back to Pakistan; Chief Justice to European countries to raise awareness regarding the water crisis in Pakistan
Ex-ICC president Ehsan Mani replaces Najam Sethi as PCB chairman
Minutes after the resignation of Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Najam Sethi, prime minister Imran Khan tweeted that he has nominated former ICC president Ehsan Mani as the new chairman of the board, reported Dawn.
In his tweet, Khan said Mani would bring “vast and valuable experience to the job. He represented PCB in the ICC; was treasurer ICC for 3 yrs and then headed the ICC for another 3 yrs”.
Sethi’s resignation did not come as much of a surprise; he and PM Khan are said to have long-standing differences with each other. In 2014, when Nawaz Sharif appointed Sethi the PCB chairman, Khan alleged that he was being “rewarded” for “fixing” the results of 35 constituencies in favour of the PML-N in the 2013 general elections.
In his resignation letter, addressed directly to the PM, Sethi wrote: “In order to facilitate your objectives in the interest of Pakistan cricket, I hereby submit my resignation as Chairman of PCB and Member of its BoG (board of governors).”
Sethi also tweeted: “I was waiting for the new prime minister to take oath before submitting my resignation as PCB chairman, which I have done on Monday. I wish PCB all the best and hope our cricket team goes from strength to strength.”
Chief justice wades deeper into the water crisis, to run funding drive in Europe
Mian Saqib Nisar is not satisfied with donating one million rupees and urging the public to do the same for the construction of the new Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams. The chief justice of Pakistan is now getting ready to visit the United Kingdom and other European countries this month to raise funds, reported The News.
The chief justice will be accompanied by the governor of the State Bank of Pakistan and the chairman of the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), a government-owned utility.
Earlier, the country’s TV channels had been directed by its Electronic Media Regulatory Authority to encourage the general public to donate money for the dams.
New CM wants more ‘disgruntled’ Baloch people in national mainstream
Balochistan’s 16th chief minister, Jam Kamal Khan, has stated that his government is determined to take steps to integrate more sections of ‘disgruntled’ Baloch people into the national mainstream. This, he said, would be done within the ambits of the constitution, reported The Nation.
The 45-year-old leader, whose father and grandfather were also chief ministers of Balochistan, said efforts by official departments, the provincial government and the security forces had already brought some discontented Balochs into the mainstream. But the effort would now be to get the rest within the same bracket, using all available resources to provide basic amenities such as health, education and clean drinking water, he added.
Khan stressed that security departments, including the police, would be restructured to provide better security and protection to the people and their property.
While addressing the media at the Balochistan Assembly session Saturday, Kamal had said a comprehensive plan would be developed to fulfil the urgent responsibilities of the government.
Nawaz Sharif’s son-in-law Captain Safdar suffering at Adiala prison
Captain Muhammad Safdar Awan (retd), son-in-law of jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, is in poor health inside Rawalpindi’s Adiala prison. A Geo TV report said his condition had deteriorated, leading to him being shifted to the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology.
Safdar, spouse of Maryam Nawaz since 1992, had been taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad a couple of weeks ago, owing to high sugar levels and a stomach condition, but after a few tests, doctors had declared him fit.
In July, Safdar was sentenced to one year in prison by an accountability court in connection with the Avenfield properties corruption reference.
Pakistan should fight corruption, not tourists like the Polish Kiki dancer
A blog by Ahsan Zafeer in The Express Tribune has hit out at National Accountability Board chairman Javed Iqbal for the decision to act against Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), for “allowing” Polish traveller Eva zu Beck to perform the Kiki challenge on board an aircraft as well as on the runway.
To mark Pakistan’s 72nd Independence Day, Beck had danced to the song ‘In my feelings’ by Canadian rapper Drake, with a Pakistani flag draped around her.
Zafeer wrote that instead of battling corruption in the country, the NAB chairman was busy passing judgment on these matters.
According to the blogger, Beck’s act was an opportunity for Pakistan to market itself as a welcoming and hospitable country. However, “we chose to look like an intolerant nation”.
Zafeer also condemned Iqbal for saying that Beck had disrespected the Pakistani flag by draping it around her. He said: “We should also be cognisant of the fact that every year, after our Independence Day has passed, millions of Pakistani flags are disposed of on the streets, telling a sorry tale of neglect and dishonour.”
Contributors: Aastha Singh, Alind Chauhan, Manisha Mondal, Priyamvada Grover and Rupanwita Bhattacharjee