Here’s what is happening across the border: Maryam Nawaz to be shifted to a guest house, and a Balochistan candidate alleges pre-poll rigging and manipulation.
Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui says judges lives are under threat
Islamabad high court (IHC) justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui Wednesday alleged that judges’ phones are being tapped and their lives are under threat, reported The News International.
Siddiqui, the senior puisne judge of the IHC, also condemned the alleged interference of the country’s intelligence agencies in judicial, media and the executive affairs and warned that such this may lead to a ‘big loss’, reported Dawn. Siddiqui made the observations while concluding a case concerning two missing brothers.
The judge also observed that intelligence agencies, especially Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), are exceeding their sanctioned mandate.
Siddiqui is currently facing trial in a misconduct case moved in the Supreme Judicial Council on the complaint by a retired employee of the Capital Development Authority for alleged refurbishment of official residence beyond entitlement.
He had earlier criticized the armed forces for acting as ‘mediators’ in November that led to the end of a sit-in by religious groups at Islamabad’s Faizabad Interchange. “Where does the law assign this role to a major general?” he had asked.
Punjab minister denies PML-N claims, says Sharif getting ‘better class’ facilities
Caretaker Punjab information minister Ahmed Waqas Riaz dismissed Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) claims Wednesday that Nawaz Sharif was being kept in the Adiala jail in an abysmal state, reported The Express Tribune.
Riaz said Sharif, being a ‘better class’ prisoner, got bed, 21 inch TV, radio, toiletries, newspapers, medical facilities and other such things on his own expenses, and was placed in a separate room.
However, Sharif’s movement in the jail premises was limited after some prisoners started chanting slogans against the three-time prime minister during his morning walk, reported Dawn.
Amid security concerns, The Tribune Express reported that Sharif’s daughter Maryam will be shifted from Adiala jail to Sihala Rest House within the next 24 hours. The rest house has beefed up its security.
Balochistan candidate alleges pre-poll rigging, manipulation
In an interview with Daily Times, Gazain Marri, son of legendary Baloch politician Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri, alleged that the 25 July elections are being managed openly, and the results have been decided already. He added that the entire machinery of the state, including security personnel, was busy in manipulating the electoral process in Balochistan.
Marri further alleged that he has been illegally put in house arrest in Kohlu since 13 July under the pretext of ongoing military operations. Despite an immediate order of release from the Balochistan high court, Marri’s release is yet to happen.
He is currently contesting the upcoming elections from constituencies in Kohlu and Sibbi. His Sibbi contender is brother Changez Marri, whom he alleges to be behind his arrest.
Marri returned to Pakistan in September 2017 after more than a decade to face charges of terrorism against him which were eventually dropped in January.
Imran Khan says no ‘positive news’ about elections, but urges people to vote
At a public gathering Wednesday, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan said he isn’t receiving good news regarding the 25 July general elections but the people must get out of their homes to vote, reported Dawn.
Khan further said former Punjab chief Shahbaz Sharif would also land in Adiala jail, just like his brother Nawaz Sharif, for corruption.
“Shahbaz, you will also face the same consequences as your brother and disqualified prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law Mohammad Safdar,” said Khan.
Google pays tribute to ghazal singer Mehdi Hassan
Google commemorated late ghazal singer Mehdi Hassan’s 91st birthday with a doodle Wednesday, reported Ary News. The doodle portrayed Hassan playing the harmonium with lit candles in the background.
#MehdiHassan's contribution to Pakistani film music was second to none.https://t.co/8KNGHEUaCE pic.twitter.com/C4QsDrhdhD
— Images (@dawn_images) July 18, 2018
Born on 18 July, 1927 in Rajasthan, Hassan belonged to a family of dhrupad singers who migrated to Pakistan after partition. The ‘King of Ghazal’ began his musical career with thumris on Radio Pakistan in 1957 and never looked back.
The government of Pakistan honoured him with many prestigious awards including Nishan-e-Imtiaz, the country’s highest civilian award.
Hassan died on 13 June, 2012 in Karachi due to a protracted illness.
Punjab caretaker government raises minimum pension to Rs 10, 000
The caretaker Punjab government raised minimum pension for those under its scheme from Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000, according to a notification issued by the finance department Wednesday.
It further raised minimum pension of families of retired employees from Rs 4,000 to Rs 7, 500, reported The Nation.
Retired employees, above the age 75, will receive Rs 15,000 while their widows will receive Rs 11, 250.
An increase of 7.5, 10 and 15 per cent in pension for retired employees of various grades was also announced.
Retired employees living abroad, excluding those in India and Bangladesh, can avail these benefits, said the notification.
Imran Khan’s lawyer defends ‘donkey’ remark, says school teachers use it too
A day after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued a notice to Imran Khan for calling PML-N supporters ‘donkeys’, his lawyer assured the ECP that Khan will not use such foul language against his opponents, reported The News.
Babar Awan, Khan’s lawyer, who appeared before a four-member bench of the electoral body, said, “Donkey was a common expression which school teachers also use for their students.”
In response, the panel said there’s a difference between a politician and a teacher.
To further justify Khan’s donkey remark, Awan played a video of PML-N leader Ayaz Sadiq using vile language against a PTI leader.
Contributors: Anagha Deshpande,Hansa Kapoor, Prateek Gupta, Rupanwita Bhattacharjee, Sharanya Munsi, and Soniya Agarwal