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Funeral prayer of Begum Najma Hameed to be offered on Sunday

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RAWALPINDI, Dec 03 (APP): The funeral prayer of former president of Pakistan Muslim League (N) Women’s Wing, senior parliamentarian Begum Najma Hameed will be held on Sunday, December 4, after Zuhr prayer at her residence (877, F Block Satellite Town) in Rawalpindi.

She was the elder sister of the member National Assembly Tahira Aurangzeb , and aunt of Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb. Najma Hameed had passed away on the night of Friday.

Najma Hameed’s Qul and congregational prayer will be held on Monday, (December 5) after Zuhr prayer at Siddique Shadi Hall Satellite Town, Rawalpindi.
Najma Hameed was a political figure and the identity of the Pakistan Muslim League who was given the title of a born Muslim Leaguer. She remained associated with the Muslim League throughout her life.
She was closely associated with Pakistan Muslim League (N) leader Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Begum Kulsoom Nawaz and supported him from the first day of Nawaz Sharif’s political journey.
With clear principled and ideological commitment and thinking, she fought democratic and political struggles as a Muslim Leaguer all her life.
During the arrest of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and the political struggle of Begum Kulsoom Nawaz during the reign of Pervez Musharraf, she was right hand of Kulsoom Nawaz and one of prominent leaders. Begum Najma Hameed’s house in Rawalpindi remained a political stronghold of the Muslim League-Nawaz and Begum Kulsoom remained under house arrest at her residence.
Begum Najma Hameed remained a member of the Senate twice. She also had the honour of being the president of the women’s wing of the party for the longest time. Since her resignation in 2011, the post has remained vacant and the party has not appointed anyone else as the president of the women’s wing.

Senior Parliamentarian Najma Hameed passes away

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 03 (APP): Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Parliamentarian Begum Najma Hameed on Friday passed away aged 78 in Rawalpindi’s Holy Family Hospital after a protracted illness.

She was survived by three sons. Her funeral would be performed in Rawalpindi on Saturday.

Begum Najma Hameed was the aunt of Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb and sister of PML-N leader Tahira Aurangzeb.

Not only Begum Najma Hameed was the central leader of the PML-N but also the face of the party in Rawalpindi. She was also the PML-N Women’s Wing President and got elected as senator twice.

She was very close to the PML-N’s supremo Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and his wife Kulsoom Nawaz (late). She also played a critical role during the political struggle of the party led by Kulsoom Nawaz.

Begum Kulsoom remained under house arrest at Najma Hameed’s residence in Satellite Town, Rawalpindi.

Begum Najma Hameed was born on March 18, 1944, in Multan and served for the Muslim League along with Begum Ra’ana Liaqat Ali Khan and Begum Feroz Khan Noon in different capacities.

She dedicated her entire life to the Muslim League.

Begum Najma Hameed’s house had always been the centre of political activity. She was known as a brave and intelligent political leader.

Chairman Senate, Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani presenting souvenir to H. E. Sheikh Falah Bin Jassim member of the Qatar’s Royal Family

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APP40-021222 ISLAMABAD: December 02 - Chairman Senate, Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani presenting souvenir to H. E. Sheikh Falah Bin Jassim member of the Qatar’s Royal Family. APP/ABB
Chairman Senate, Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani presenting souvenir to H. E. Sheikh Falah Bin Jassim member of the Qatar’s Royal Family
APP40-021222 ISLAMABAD:

UN slams attack on Pakistani embassy in Kabul targeting head of mission

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UNITED NATIONS, Dec 03 (APP): The United Nations firmly condemned the attack on the Pakistan Embassy in Kabul on Friday that targeted the Head of Mission, Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani, with the hope that the security situation in Afghanistan will improve.

“We’re, first of all, thankful that the charge d’affaires (Nizamani) of the embassy of Pakistan was unharmed,” the UN Secretary-General’s Spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said in reply to a question at the regular noon briefing in New York. “We very much hope the security guard (who was critically injured) recovers.”

“But”, the spokesman added, “more importantly, we condemn, firmly these types of attacks.”

Asked whether the security situation in Afghanistan was deteriorating, Dujarric said, “We have seen in Afghanistan a number of attacks of security challenges. We want the situation to get better and to improve, and we will continue to do what we can in that regard.”

In Islamabad, the Foreign Office has asked the Afghan authorities to investigate the attack and hold the culprits to account.

Acting Afghan FM phones Bilawal; condemns attack on Pak embassy; assures to bring perpetrators to justice

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File Photo

ISLAMABAD, Dec 2 (APP): Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Amir Khan Muttaqi on Friday called Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to condemn the terrorist attack on Pakistan’s Mission in Kabul and assured that the Afghan government would bring the perpetrators to justice swiftly.

The Afghan acting foreign minister strongly condemned the terrorist attack targeting Pakistan’s Head of Mission in Kabul, Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani, and conveyed his good wishes and prayers for the early recovery of the security guard, Sepoy Israr Mohammad who was critically injured in the attack.

The foreign minister thanked the interim Afghan government for its strong expression of solidarity and underscored that safety and security of Pakistan’s diplomatic personnel in Afghanistan was of utmost importance.

“The Afghan government must prevent the terrorists from undermining relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan,” he remarked.

Foreign Minister Bilawal also reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to fight terrorism and said that Pakistan will be undeterred by such cowardly attacks.

Earlier, Pakistan also summoned the Afghan Charge d’affaires to convey its “deep concern and anguish” over the attack in Kabul on Pakistan’s Head of Mission.

It was underscored that perpetrators of this attack must be apprehended and brought to justice urgently, an investigation be launched into the serious breach of security of the embassy premises, and that all necessary steps be taken to ensure the security of the diplomatic premises, officers and staff working in Pakistan’s Mission in Kabul and consulates in Jalalabad, Kandahar, Herat and Mazar-i-Sharif.

Responding to Pakistan’s call for apprehending the perpetrators and launching an investigation, the Afghan diplomat said that the security of the Pakistani diplomatic missions had already been beefed up and assured that the Afghan authorities would leave no stone unturned in bringing the perpetrators of this dastardly act to justice.

Meanwhile, the Pakistani security guard Israr Mohammad was flown back to Peshawar after he was critically injured in the said attack.

“The helicopter carrying the injured security guard Israr Mohammad in today’s attack on our mission in Kabul, has landed in Peshawar,” the Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement.

The spokesperson, responding to a media query, said that there were no plans to close the embassy or withdraw diplomats from Kabul.

“Pakistan is in contact with the Interim Government in Afghanistan and enhanced security measures are being taken to protect Pakistani diplomatic personnel and Missions in Afghanistan,” the spokesperson added.

Aunt of Marriyum Aurangzeb passes away

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 02 (APP): Begum Najma Hameed, aunt of Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurnagzeb and sister of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)’s leader Tahira Aurangzeb, passed away in Rawalpindi on Friday.

Begum Najma Hameed was the senior leader of PML-N and got elected as senator twice.

The announcement regarding her funeral would be made shortly.

Security guard injured in Pak embassy attack in Kabul flown back to Peshawar

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 2 (APP): The Pakistani security guard Israr Mohammad was flown back to Peshawar on Friday night after he was critically injured in an attack targeting Pakistan’s Head of Mission in Kabul Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani.

“The helicopter carrying the injured security guard Israr Mohammad in today’s attack on our mission in Kabul, has landed in Peshawar,” the Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement.

Earlier in the day, the compound of the Embassy of Pakistan in Kabul came under attack targeting the Head of Mission, Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani.

The Head of the Mission remained safe, however, a Pakistani security guard Sepoy Israr Mohammad was critically injured in the attack while protecting the envoy.

Pakistan also summoned the Afghan Charge d’affaires to convey its “deep concern and anguish” over the attack in Kabul on Pakistan’s Head of Mission.

The interim Afghan government strongly condemned the attack and assured that a “serious investigation” would be conducted to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Pak-Thai bilateral ties moving in upward direction: Shazia Marri

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Pak-Thai bilateral ties moving in upward direction: Shazia Marri

ISLAMABAD, Dec 02 (APP): Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Shazia Marri on Friday said bilateral relations between Pakistan and Thailand were moving in upward trajectory.

Speaking as chief guest here at a function held in connection with the 95th National Day of the Kingdom of Thailand, she said bilateral relations were marked with cooperation and convergence of perspectives on a multitude of regional and multilateral issues.

A 110% increase in bilateral trade between the two countries was a clear indication that they enjoyed good and cordial relationships, the minister, who is also Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Chairperson, added.

Highlighting the cultural and historical similarities between the two counties, she said like Thailand, Pakistan also supported and promoted multilateralism and regional cooperation.

She stressed upon the importance of people-to-people contact to further boost the bilateral relations between the two countries.

PM condoles death of renowned TV, film actor Afzaal Ahmed

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 2 (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday expressed grief over the death of renowned television, film and theatre actor Afzaal Ahmed.

The prime minister, in a statement, said a unique dialogue delivery was the characteristic of the late legendary actor who had left unerasable imprints on the minds of the viewers.

He said the services of the late Afzaal Ahmed for Pakistan television, film and theatre would be kept alive forever.

The prime minister prayed to Allah Almighty for peace of the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family to bear the loss.

Equal opportunities for PWDs to help them excel: NA Speaker

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Equal opportunities for PWDs to help them excel: NA Speaker

ISLAMABAD, Dec 02 (APP): National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf and Deputy Speaker Zahid Akram Durrani on Friday said that provision of equal opportunities to persons with disabilities (PWDs) can make them useful citizens of society.

In a message on the occasion of the “International Day of Persons with Disabilities” (PWDs), they said, “special people have enormous abilities and can play an important role in the development of the country”.

“Differently disabled people have a lot of potential and energy to contribute to the progress of the country. The need is to provide PWDs to play their role in the development of the country,” they both added.

Speaker said that PWDs were performing prominently in every sphere of life.

He said that Saima Saleem was performing her duties as a United Nations delegate in Geneva, who fought the case of Kashmir on behalf of Pakistan in the UN General Assembly session last year.

The speaker said that the parliament was paying special attention to the welfare of PWDs and resolving their problems.

New legislation had already been enacted to bring long-term reforms for the well-being of PWDs, he added.

“Parliament House building has been made accessible exclusively to Persons with disabilities (PWDs). The initiative will contribute significantly to alleviate the difficulties being faced by PWDs, which will boost their confidence and encourage them to excel in all walks of life.

The accessibility of the National Assembly’s official website for PWDs has been ensured to help them to get information related to the National Assembly, besides, the full version of the Braille Constitution of Pakistan has already been unveiled,” he informed.

He stressed the need to ensure strict implementation of the quota in government jobs for physically challenged persons.

Speaker stressed over protecting the rights of PWDs, besides treating them with love, and compassion and taking care of their needs.

National Assembly Deputy Speaker Zahid Akram Durrani said that the PWDs were rendering their services in every field of life and playing a great role in the construction and development of the country.

He emphasized on providing equal employment opportunities to specially qualified persons.