Here’s what is happening across the border: Iran holds talks with chief of army, and Balochistan high court may get its first woman chief justice.
PTI worker Nadia Chaudhry goes missing days after saying she feared for life
Nadia Chaudhry, a British Pakistani and central deputy information secretary for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, allegedly went missing soon after a video was shared on social media. In the purported video, Chaudhry said she feared for her life for holding evidences against PTI leaders Mahmood Qureshi and Shah Farman.
Nadia Chaudhry of PTI London is openly naming khalai makhlooq how she helped them and that her life is in danger now. pic.twitter.com/QdPMUAjVjx
— Majid Ur Rehman (@majidurrehman) July 15, 2018
In the video, Chaudhry claimed she helped PTI, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan Army and provided evidence in Avenfield case, but was scared that she may be made to disappear.
Nadia Chaudhry, British Pakistani, central deputy info. secretary for @PTIofficial goes missing in Pakistan. Acc. to her lawyer, she was about to expose PTI leaders, Shah Mahmood Qureshi & Shah Farman, for alleged sexual assault. Why is no media covering her case? #RecoverNadia pic.twitter.com/EabknuJKzT
— Kashif N Chaudhry (@KashifMD) July 16, 2018
Yasser Latif Hamdani, Chaudhry’s lawyer, later tweeted that he was scared for her life as she had allegedly gone ‘incognito’ soon after the video was shared. Hamdani said Chaudhry told him that she wanted to place an official complaint.
I am really worried about Nadia Chaudhry. She is my client and has potentially damning evidence against PTI leadership. Just before she went missing she called me and I told her I would be right there but then she went incognito. Really worried what is going on. Smell a PTI ?.
— Yasser Latif Hamdani (@theRealYLH) July 16, 2018
PTI chief Imran Khan’s ex-wife Reham Khan, who recently wrote a tell-all book, also tweeted about Chaudhry’s claims.
Is Nadia Chaudhry also a bitter ex?
Why is she saying what all of us ideological supporters are saying about PTI?
Give death threats to all?
What is the role of PTI in Pakistan?— Reham Khan (@RehamKhan1) July 15, 2018
Iran military delegation met Pakistan Army chief
An Iranian military delegation led by Chief of General Staff Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Bagheri held formal talks with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa in Rawalpindi Monday, The Express Tribune reported.
A statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said matters discussed in the meeting pertained to regional security, defence cooperation and Pakistan-Iran border management. The Iranian delegation pledged to “keep working for better relations between the two brotherly countries.”
The meeting comes after Islamabad hosted spy chiefs of Russia, China and Iran last week.
The Iranian general told Iran’s state-run agency IRNA that the US, along with some other countries, was trying to create insecurity in the region.
Justice Bashir withdraws from hearing two more references filed by NAB
Justice Muhammad Bashir, an accountability court judge who sentenced former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son in-law Captain (retd) Safdar to jail in the Avenfield case, has recused himself from two corruption references against Sharifs till their appeal is heard by the Islamabad high court.
Bashir withdrew himself from hearing two more references filed by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) — Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metals Establishment and Flagship, The Express Tribune reported Monday.
In his application seeking transfer of cases, Nawaz’s counsel Khawaja Haris said that since all three references had similarities in evidence and arguments, the outcome may also be similar if they are heard by the same judge.
Pakistani woman journalist trolled over false allegations
Asma Shirazi, a Pakistani TV anchor, was harassed on a social media platform over false denunciations and fabricated allegations, reported Dunya News TV.
Shirazi, along with other journalists, was at the Abu Dhabi airport Friday to cover the much-anticipated arrest of former PM Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz in the Avenfield case.
Don’t see eye to eye with Sharif on many issues, especially national security.
But I stand by him & @asmashirazi and condemn the drop of his crucial interview.
Try him. Jail him. Hang him, if he’s found guilty of such crimes.
But don’t silence him. And don’t crush journalism. pic.twitter.com/XjGjq5ECj5
— Wajahat S. Khan (@WajSKhan) July 13, 2018
Just shut up , it’s not a leaked call, it was a audio press conference , should I send you the other leaked questions n answers too. Shame on you guys , you are blocked https://t.co/7V0vu9XBm9
— Asma Shirazi (@asmashirazi) July 13, 2018
A day later, a video clip started circulating on social media, where Sharif can allegedly be seen and heard in a telephonic conversation with Shirazi. In the clip, Sharif was complaining about the exclusive interview given to her which didn’t broadcast online. Shirazi could then be heard explaining the problems she faced to air the interview.
After the video surfaced on Internet, Shirazi was trolled for allegedly being a paid partner for Sharifs. She was further accused of yellow journalism and ridiculed for allegedly crying over Sharifs’ arrest.
(Which Female Anchor Cried During Arrest Of Maryam & Nawaz Sharif)
https://t.co/GtZDQEt2Oe#PTI #PPP #PMLN #MQM #IK #ImranKhan #NawazSharif #Bhutto
— SocialPakistan.pk (@Social_Pakistan) July 14, 2018
However, it was later revealed that she had said those words in the presence of all journalists who spoke to Sharif at the airport.
Dunya News TV anchor, Wajahat Hussain, who was traveling with her, supported Shirazi. Other women journalists from the fraternity too spoke in her favour. Amber Rahim Shamsi, former BBC journalist and HUM news anchorperson, wrote:
The online attacks against a respected journalist @asmashirazi are absolutely condemnable and reveal a fascist bent of mind #journalismisnotacrime @CfWiJ @Goshno @beenasarwar @atanzeem @nighatdad @kirannazish
— Amber Rahim Shamsi (@AmberRShamsi) July 14, 2018
Balochistan high court to have its first woman chief justice
The Balochistan high court (BHC) may have its first woman chief justice, judge Tahira Safdar, after the retirement of incumbent chief justice Mohammad Noor Muskanzai in August, reported Dawn.
The Judicial Commission is expected to hold a meeting on 30 July headed by Mian Saqib Nisar, Chief Justice of Pakistan, where it may consider the elevation of Safdar as BHC chief justice.
Safdar, born on 5 October, 1957 in Quetta, had made history in 1982 when she became the first woman civil judge in Balochistan. She holds a masters degree in Urdu literature from the University of Balochistan.
Safdar is also a member of the three-judge special court which is conducting a trial of former president Pervez Musharraf for committing treason by proclaiming the state of emergency on 3 November, 2007.
Contributors: Anagha Deshpande, Manisha Mondal, Prateek Gupta, Rupanwita Bhattacharjee and Sharanya Munsi