Siasat Wala Blog

KARACHI: Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has made progress in the implementing ‘Road to Makkah’ project which would facilitate Hajj pilgrims in 2020 during its next phase, ARY News reported on Tuesday. Following the success of the project initiated from Islamabad International Airport, the aviation authorities have commenced preparations for expanding it to Karachi’s airport. A meeting was held under the chair of CAA’s chief operating officer Imran Khan which was attended by the stakeholders to formulate a strategy to establish special counters for pre-clearance and immigration process at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport. The nationals who are departing to perform Hajj rituals will get special facility of speedy immigration process at the airport. Read: PM Imran Khan inaugurates Road to Makkah project Moreover, CAA management has also written a letter, a copy of which obtained by ARY News, to the project’s headquarters that stated the preparedness for the project. The lette...

Pakistani actress Amna Ilyas who has been quite vocal that her skin colour owns her dark skin and says it doesn’t define her.  She penned an encouraging note for young girls who feel underconfident about their ‘dark skin.’ Throwing back to an award show’s speech, the model-turned-actress shared on Instagram that things were even more difficult when she entered the industry due to her skin colour. View this post on Instagram Throwing it back because this message is still so relevant! When I started modelling, I was criticised for my color and because of that, I had to work extra hard to prove that my darkness doesn’t mean I’m ugly. Today I want to say something to the dark skinned girl reading this, you are not ugly. You are beautiful. You are deserving. Our skin tones should be embraced for the distinct beauty it brings. One by one, we can shatter the colonised mindset of light skin is the only skin. It all starts with YOU. Follow your dr...

ISLAMABAD: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton, called on President Dr. Arif Alvi at the Aiwan-e-Sadr Islamabad on Tuesday. The president and First Lady Samina Alvi welcomed the Royal couple on the occasion, Radio Pakistan reported. The Duke of Cambridge thanked the president for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to him and his entourage. They appreciated the initiatives undertaken by the government of Pakistan to combat climate change and to alleviate poverty. Alvi appreciated the role played by the Royal pair in the social sector. Earlier in the day, the pair also paid a visit to a government girls’ high school and graced an event about the environment on Trail 05 of Margalla Hills. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are on a five-day visit to Pakistan, during which they would visit Lahore and the Northern areas of Pakistan. It is the first royal visit to Pakistan in 13 years. The last one was by Charles, the Prince of Wales, and Camill...

NEW YORK: Cash-strapped WeWork, the office-sharing company that is trying to negotiate a financial lifeline, has a new problem that may prove costly. It has closed about 2,300 phone booths at some of its 223 sites in the United States and Canada after it says it discovered elevated levels of formaldehyde. The company, which abandoned plans for an initial public offering last month after investors questioned its mounting losses and the way it was being run, said in an email to its tenants on Monday that the chemical could pose a cancer-risk if there is long-term exposure. After a tenant complained of odor and eye irritation, WeWork began testing and based on the results took 1,600 phone booths out of service, the company said in the email to tenants, which it calls members. An additional 700 booths are closed while more testing is conducted, it said. All the phone booths closed were installed over the past several months, WeWork said. “The safety and well-being of our members is o...

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court extended interim bail of former Karachi mayor Mustafa Kamal and others in illegal land allotment case until October 29, ARY News reported on Tuesday. Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) chief appeared before a bench of the high court today along with co-accused in the case. Prosecutor of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) told the court that amenity plots in the city were allotted to builders after lease. No accused has denied the charge of illegal allotment of the plots, the prosecutor further said. Chief Justice Ahmad Ali M Sheikh during the court hearing, remarked that Kamal may have forgotten but everyone in city remembers what happened during his tenure. He did this for the poor, “They were all ‘poor’ who were allotted these amenity plots,” chief justice said. The NAB prosecutor will continue his arguments in next hearing of the case. The accountability bureau, in a reference, has charged Kamal of illegally allotting 137 plots on 5,500 acres of land nea...

LAHORE: A combined investigation team of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has interrogated the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in Chaudhry Sugar Mills case, ARY News reported on Tuesday. Nawaz Sharif had been given on 14-day physical remand to the anti-corruption watchdog by an accountability court on October 11 over charges of massive money laundering. Sources said that Sharif has not given satisfactory answers to the 13 questions raised by the investigators. He insisted upon questioning his son Hussain as he is handling the business affairs. The investigators questioned Sharif for the alleged money laundering of Rs410 million through the partnership of Yousuf Abbas and her daughter Maryam Nawaz. Read: Court grants physical remand of Nawaz Sharif in Chaudhry Sugar Mills case To this, Sharif replied that they should table the questions to the concerned persons as business is not an illegal thing. When questioned for the transfer of shares worth Rs11 million to a fore...

The Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton wowed in colours of Pakistan’s national flag on Tuesday as the royal couple are visiting the country. The Cambridges, Prince William and Kate met Prime Minister Imran Khan  and President Arif Alvi. Kate oped for a stunning green dress and white trousers. She paired it up with a dark green scarf and heels. Her second outfit for the day seems to be inspired by that of Princess of Wales when she toured Pakistan in 1991. Princess Diana went for a green dress as well on her visit to the Badshahi Mosque on September 27, 1991. The royal couple will attend an evening reception at Pakistan monument to mark an end to the day’s engagements. The five-day visit will end on October 18. The post Kate Middleton wows in colours of Pakistan’s flag appeared first on ARYNEWS .

Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg on Monday confirmed reports that he had hosted a series of dinners with right-wing figures, as the social media platform stands accused of stifling conservative voices. Zuckerberg held small, off-the-record dinners with journalists, commentators and at least one Republican lawmaker to talk about free speech, partnerships and other issues, the Politico news website said. “There’s some press today discussing dinners I’ve had with conservative politicians, media and thinkers,” Zuckerberg said in a Facebook post. “Meeting new people and hearing from a wide range of viewpoints is part of learning. If you haven’t tried it, I suggest you do!” Politico said that guests at recent events, held at Zuckerberg’s various homes in California, included Fox News host Tucker Carlson, radio talk host Hugh Hewitt and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. US President Donald Trump has often complained that social media outlets discriminate against him and his sup...

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) informed the accountability court here on Tuesday that a co-accused in Park Lane reference against former president Asif Ali Zardari, has decided to become approver in the case, ARY News reported. The NAB produced Javed Hussain, a former executive director of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and a co-accused in the Park Lane reference, before the accountability court today. The NAB prosecutor informed Accountability Judge Mohammad Bashir about the new development in the case and said that the case of the accused has been sent to the NAB headquarters. The NAB also requested to the court for physical remand of the accused. The prosecutor on a question of the judge informed the court the accused remained on 49 days’ physical remand with the accountability bureau. The judge after the reply of the prosecutor rejected the plea for further physical remand and sent the accused to jail on judicial remand. In a p...

NANKANA SAHIB: Federal Minister for Railways, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, on Tuesday revealed that the government is in talks with the leadership of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl where JUI-F chief sought ‘honourable way out’, ARY News reported. Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, while talking to media representatives in Nankana Sahib, confirmed that the contacts between JUI-F leadership and the authorities regarding the anti-government march and sit-ins announced on October 27 in the federal capital Islamabad. The federal minister said that Maulana Fazlur Rehman is seeking ‘honourable way out’ from his decision to lodge sit-in in the federal capital. He was of the view that October 23 and 26 will be important in the current political scenario. Read: PML-N faces dilemma to take part or not, in Fazlur Rehman’s ‘Azadi March’ Criticising the Opposition Leader in the National Assembly and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) president, he said that Shehbaz ‘is playing on both sides of the wicket.” “Pakistan...

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has condemned recent provocative statements made by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during election rallies in Haryana. In a statement on Tuesday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr. Muhammad Faisal said these provocative statements from a senior minister in the Indian government provide another insight into the BJP’s (Bharatiya Janata Party) mindset, a mix of extremist ideology, hegemonic ambitions, and obsession with Pakistan. The spokesperson said Rajnath Singh should have no doubts that the security forces and people of Pakistan remain ready to resolutely defend the country against any evil design. “We also reject the Indian Defence Minister’s gratuitous comments on help in counter-terrorism,” the Foreign Office added. India would help itself by ceasing forthwith the state-terrorism it has been perpetrating for decades against the Kashmiri people in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the statement read. The FO spokesperson said India must also cease its sponsor...

Warner Bros.’ Joker laughed all the way to the box office again this weekend as it took $55.9 million in North American movie theatres, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Monday. Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Joker  provides the backstory for the rise of Batman’s maniacal nemesis, painting a dark and disturbing portrayal of a would-be stand-up comedian’s descent into madness. Last week, the film directed by Todd Phillips — maker of The Hangover trilogy — set a record for an October release, taking in $93.5 million in its first weekend. This weekend, United Artists’ family- and Halloween-friendly The Addams Family  placed second, scaring up $30.3 million for its opening run. It follows the mysterious and spooky clan as they prepare for a visit from some even creepier relatives. In third, at $20.6 million, was Paramount’s new film Gemini Man , which stars Will Smith as a retired hitman who must face off against a younger clone of himself. Abominable  from Univer...

ISLAMABAD: A technical team of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has arrived in Pakistan to hold dialogues with the economic officials for the payment of the next tranche of $6 billion under extended loan programme, ARY News reported on Tuesday. Sources told ARY News that the technical team will stay for two weeks in Pakistan, whereas, the first session of the financial talks was held with the economic team today. The recent visit of the IMF officials was made for the payment of next tranche from the international financial body likely to be dispatched in 2020. Sources said that the visiting team initiated dialogues with Pakistan officials over the tax system. Read: Pakistan’s economic growth projected at 2.4 per cent in FY2019-20: IMF The officials of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) briefed the technical team regarding the matters related to income and sales taxes besides holding discussion over the possibilities of retrieving more than Rs700 billion in term of tax collec...

ISLAMABAD: The British Royal couple, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Prince William and Kate Middleton visited Government Girls High School, University Colony in Islamabad on Tuesday (today). The couple saw different parts of the school and also inspected a class of mathematics. They got mixed up with the students of the school, Radio Pakistan reported. The school administration briefed the royal couple about the school and the education system in Pakistan. The visiting royals during their five-day visit are scheduled to visit Northern Areas and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa besides capital Islamabad and Lahore. Read More:  Rickshaws get truck art makeover ahead of #RoyalVisitPakistan The duo is also scheduled to meet with President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan besides attending other engagements today. It is the first royal visit to Pakistan in 13 years. The last one was by Charles, the Prince of Wales, and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, who spent five days in Pakistan in ...

LAHORE: Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s ‘Azadi March’ and sit-in has created a dilemma for Sharifs, whether to participate in the protest or not? The matter also revealed a gulf between Sharif brothers and the PML-N ranks. According to sources, Shehbaz Sharif, who is President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), have apprehensions about some ‘hidden agenda’ behind the protest announced by Falur Rehman, the chief of major religio-political party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) against the sitting government. Shehbaz Sharif has decided to consult over the matter with his elder brother and jailed party supremo Mian Nawaz Sharif. Presently PML-N, major parliamentary party of the opposition, faces a situation of indecision whether to participate or not in the so-called ‘Azadi March’ and sit-in. The party’s central leadership is tight-lipped over the matter, while the middle level party leaders claiming the PML-N’s full participation in Maulana’s March to Islamabad. Third meeting of th...

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has constituted a new bench for the continuation of the hearing of the cases filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), ARY News reported on Tuesday. The high court released a roster after the formal approval of the LHC’s chief justice for the formation of a new bench to hear NAB cases as Justice Ali Baqar Najafi went on leave. A two-member bench headed by Justice Qasim Khan will hold hearings of the NAB case, whereas, Justice Asjad Javed Ghural will become part of the newly-constituted bench. The post LHC forms new bench to hear NAB cases appeared first on ARYNEWS .

Pakistan has offered Institute for Parliamentary Services to Afghanistan for enhancing the capacity of Afghan parliamentarians and parliamentary officials. The offer was made during a meeting between Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser with his Afghan counterpart Rahman Rahmani on the sideline of the 141st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Belgrade, Serbia, as per Radio Pakistan. In the meeting, speakers of both countries decided to hold bilateral talks at parliamentary levels to promote cooperation and understanding as well as to evolve a trust-based strategy for fostering people-to-people contacts. The Afghan speaker lauded the efforts of Pakistan for improving the state-of-affairs between the two countries.   The post Pakistan offers services for enhanced capacity of Afghan MPs appeared first on ARYNEWS .

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan on Tuesday said that the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman cannot use religion card for his political benefits anymore. Ali Muhammad Khan, while pointing out the upcoming anti-government march, said that the opposition parties are in confusion over the decision of sit-in in Islamabad. He elaborated that the leadership of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) is distributed over the decision as Shehbaz Sharif is on a different path against his elder brother Nawaz Sharif. Khan added that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had also shown vague support to the JUI-F protests. Read: New petition filed against opposition’s march, sit-in in IHC “I want to question [PPP chairman] Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari whether vote-rigging was made in Larkana polls or not. The vote-rigging happened in the constituency from where Shehbaz had won the elections or not. Maulana had been rejected by the nationals of ...

SUKKUR: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) will produce Pakistan People’s Pary (PPP) leader Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah before the accountability court today after completion of his physical remand, ARY News reported. Shah is facing charges of corruption in assets beyond means of income reference filed by the NAB at Sukkur’s accountability court. People’s Party leaders Nafeesa Shah, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Maula Bux Chandio, Manzoor Wassan, Awais Qadir Shah and others were present at the accountability court premises before the hearing. Local administration has stepped up security, and large contingents of police have been deployed on the road leading to the court building. The counsel of Shah in a previous hearing argued that his client being subjected to political victimization. He claimed that the anti-corruption watchdog found no evidence against his client as the investigation is now shrunken to four plots after levelling allegations of Rs500 billion financial irregularities....

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge touched down in Islamabad on Monday night. Kate Middleton got off the plane in a stunning dress, channeling Princess Diana’s style but with a twist. She looked elegant in an aqua blue bespoke flowing top and fitted pants by British designer Catherine Walkers⁠—one of The Princess of Wales’ favourite designers . This look was a modern twist on the traditional  shalwar kameez, a respectful nod to traditions in Pakistan. Kate paired it with nude pumps and a matching clutch. Her clutch and earrings were by a Pakistani brand. The Duchess of Cambridge paid homage to her late mother-in-law through this who donned a similar look during her solo visit to Pakistan in 1996. Diana exuded elegance in a blue top and loose pants back then during a visit to the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital in Lahore. The royal’s look for her engagement on day two in Pakistan—a blur kurta and cigarette pants, paired with a scarf reminds many of Princess Di...