ISLAMABAD, Jul 05 (APP):The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to make 205 new professional appointments while postponing the recruitment of 45 others.

A two-member SC bench comprising Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan and Justice Ayesha A Malik heard the case filed by PIA seeking permission for 250 recruitments of pilots, cabin crew, IT specialists, finance and management officials.

In its verdict today, the apex court allowed the recruitment of pilots, cabin crew and IT specialists.

During the course of proceedings, the court also directed the PIA’s administration to make the recruitment process clear and transparent.

Justice Ayesha Malik asked why PIA was not able to pay its dues and why did it had to recruit more people?

Justice Ijaz said that the quality of services of the PIA was not up to the mark. The new recruitments would burden the organisation by more than Rs 90 million annually, he added.

CEO PIA Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Amir Hayat said that the national airline’s profit for the last six months was three billion rupees and flights were operating on profitable routes.

He said that the PIA was starting flight operations on international and national routes.

Justice Ijaz said that the flight staff of other airlines was less and questioned if the recruitment would be on a permanent or on a contractual basis.

The CEO replied that the recruitment would be on a one-year renewable contract basis.

The apex court allowed the recruitment of 205 employees after hearing the arguments of the CEO and additional attorney general.

ISLAMABAD, Jul 05 (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday, taking notice of the breakage of LESCO transmission line in Lahore, ordered an inquiry into the incident.

Chairman of Prime Minister Inspection Commission Brigadier (retd) Muzaffar Ali Ranjha will hold the inquiry, a PM Office statement said.

The prime minister instructed Brigadier (retd) Muzaffar Ali Ranjha to submit a report on the incident.

He directed the inquiry officer to ascertain whether the incident was caused by any negligence.

ISLAMABAD, Jul 05 (APP):The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed all the provinces to submit reports regarding measures taken to curb human smuggling and data on children out of school within a month.

A two-member SC bench comprising Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi heard the case pertaining to the trafficking of minors.

During the course of the proceedings, the court remarked that there was a need to formulate and implement policies to prevent human trafficking.

The Chief Justice said that the boat tragedy on Greek shores was a matter of human rights.

He said that innocent and poor people were tricked into going abroad on the pretext of better jobs. Citizens were duped by human traffickers and paid millions of rupees, he added.

He pointed out that even children and women were becoming victims of human smuggling.

The Chief Justice asked did the government had statistics on the number of children being smuggled.

The Director General of the Ministry of Human Rights replied that unfortunately, accurate statistics were not available.
Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said that there was ambiguity in the laws against human smuggling in 2018.

The primary concern was the unavailability of a specialist force for the implementation of the laws, he added.
He said that the responsibility of stopping human smuggling was also under the police.

He said that the Supreme Court had also asked the provincial governments to play their role against human trafficking.

The Chief Justice also recalled the Tayyaba torture case and said that the Supreme Court had also heard the Tayyaba torture case some time ago.

He said Tayyaba was now a 9th-grade student. Tayyaba was abandoned by her parents and she was now living in an SOS village, he added.

He said that the aim was not just to protect children but also to strengthen them. There was a need to educate the society, he added.

He said that it was our religious duty to protect the downtrodden sections of society.

The government should formulate a policy to prevent human trafficking, including women and children, he added.

Subsequently, the hearing of the case was adjourned for one month.

ISLAMABAD, Jul 05 (APP):Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Wednesday said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf’s own people had exposed the Panama conspiracy.

Addressing a press conference here, she said that characters behind that conspiracy pushed the country towards multiple crises by imposing an incompetent and inefficient person at the helm of affairs.

The minister said that the solution of Pakistan’s probelms lied only with Nawaz Sharif who served thrice as Prime Minister.

“During the Nawaz Sharif era, the economy was stabilized, he gave the people a gift of China Pakistan Economic Corridor”, she said adding that great injustice was done to the person who had done great service to the country as prime minister.

Taking a jibe at Imran, she said the shadowy figures and characters who were burning the country today, stood on the container to stop the CPEC project in 2013-14.

Marriyum Aurangzeb said on that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Quaid Nawaz Sharif was disqualified under a conspiracy when “Panama verdict was changed to Iqama.”

During the press conference, she played a video clip of senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader and legal wizard Hamid Khan who told a private TV channel that it appeared that the decision to disqualify Nawaz Sharif in Iqama case was done somewhere else.

She said similar statements had also been given by former interior minister and senior PTI leader Syed
Ijaz Shah who were not related to PML-N in any way.

She said that Nawaz Sharif was deposed as Prime Minister through a conspiracy but the country and the masses suffered the most.

The minister said that for the last one year, the coalition government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had been trying to revive the country’s economy destroyed during 4 years misrule of the PTI.

The present regime was also striving to overcome unemployment, load shedding and terrorism which hit the country during Imran Khan’s tenure, she added.

During the last four years, incompetent and inefficient rulers of the past pushed the country towards total destruction.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting said that story of Pakistan’s destruction had started in 2013 during PTI’s sit in.

When the PML-N came to power in 2013, Pakistan faced inflation, terrorism, unemployment in the country and it was on the verge of default.
In 2013 elections, the voters understood that only Nawaz Sharif could resolve the country’s problems and they voted him into power.

She said despite launch of Imran’s agitation, Nawaz Sharif laid the foundation of political stability within the
country and gave a chance to the parties having a majority in the provinces to form governments at provincial level.

The minister said that CPEC was a gift to the region from the leadership of Pakistan and China and it was
the vision of PML-N Quaid Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and President Xi Jinping of China.

CPEC project played a role in development of Pakistan in every sector from 2013 to 2018, she said.

As soon as the CPEC project started, she said elements conspiring against Pakistan’s development were mobilized.

When the news of President Xi Jinping’s visit to Pakistan came, a man stood on the container against the development of the country and the visit had to be postponed.

She said the same person on the container called for the civil disobedience movement.

Under the CPEC project, energy projects were to be started, employment opportunities were to be created but this person tried to create hurdles in the way of country’s progress.

Referring to Imran’s criticism of recent IMF deal, she said the present government did not sign this programme, adding it was the PTI regime which signed, then violated and finally suspended it for political gains last year.

She said it was Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who stabilized the country’s economy after coming to power in 2013, completed the IMF program.

In 2017, the country was on the path of development and only IMF program in the country’s history was successfully completed.

Nawaz Sharif wanted to make the youth of the country economic independence, he wanted to promote IT, agriculture sectors, and increase exports.

She said instead of raising hollow slogans, Nawaz Sharif had promised to stabilize the country’s economy and
fulfilled his promises.

From 2013 to 2017, 14,000 megawatts of electricity was generated in the country and load shedding eliminated.

She said that scourge of terrorism was rooted out from the country after launch of the largest anti-terrorist operation in the country’s history.

On the other hand, she said there was a person standing on the container to stop development projects of the country.

The minister said there was a conspiracy against Nawaz Sharif because he was giving employment and business to the people, removing darkness from the country.

She said it was strange that the person who plunged the country into multiple crises was raising questions of IMF deal and inflation.

Marriyum said Imran had ruined national economy, foreign policy and caused unemployment due to bad policies.

Those who disqualified Nawaz Sharif were totally exposed in front of the masses, she added.

She said Nawaz Sharif despite knowing that all allegations of corruption against him were bogus, appeared in courts and proved that he was not involved in any wrongdoings or fraud.

When Nawaz Sharif was arrested, she said neither any property nor memorials of martyrs were
burnt.

She said that Nawaz Sharif appeared more than 150 times in accountability courts along with his daughter to prove his innocence.

She said that revival of IMF programme was also a question of Pakistan’s credibility and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif,
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari worked hard for this purpose.

The minister said that those who put the country on fire on May 9, and who appeared in court wearing containers were greeted in the court with words like ” good to see you, good luck”.

She said there was great contrast between the performance of the PTI regime led by Imran Khan and the PML-N government led by Nawaz Sharif as PM and Shehbaz Sharif as chief minister Punjab.

She said that inefficient, incompetent, foreign- funded people put the country on fire, ruined the economy, and allowed terrorists to re-emerge.

On the contrary, Nawaz Sharif stabilized the economy, GDP growth rate touched 6.1 pc mark, ended load shedding by generating 14000 mega watt electricity, launched flag ship project China Pakistan
Economic Corridor, and rooted out terrorism.

She said the PML-N in the past had revived the economy and once again the coalition government was taking steps for revival of the economy, end to unemployment and inflation.

The minister said that on July 5, a dictator derailed democracy in Pakistan by toppling the government of Prime Minister Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

She said July 5 was also martyrdom anniversary of Captain Kernal Sher Khan Shaheed.

She said July 5 was also the day of completion of ten years of the launch of China Pakistan Economic Corridor, a game changer project envisioned by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chinese President Xi.

Due to the incompetence of the previous government many crises including energy shortage had arisen in the country, she maintained.

While replying to media persons questions she said the government did not believe in political victimization of its political opponents and Imran Khan was facing cases for his crimes.

If the government wanted to arrest Imran, it could have done so 14 months back, she pointed out.

The minister said that no one befool the people for a long time and the international media had realised that his narrative was a pack of lies.

ISLAMABAD, Jul 5 (APP): The Federal Flood Commission (FFC) has said that medium to high level flooding is expected in the Nullah’s of Rivers Chenab and Ravi.

According to the daily FFC report on Wednesday, flash flooding is expected in the Hill Torrents of D.G Khan Division and local Nullahs of Northern Balochistan including small rivers in Bannu, Kohat and D.I Khan Divisions during July 5-7.

Currently, all major rivers of Indus River System (IRS) are flowing normally. The combined live storage of the country’s three major reservoirs (Tarbela, Mangla & Chashma) is 7.38 MAF which is 54.90 % of 13.443 MAF (total existing Live Storage Capacity).

As per Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) Lahore, yesterday’s deep trough of the Westerly Wave continues to
prevail over Northeastern Afghanistan and adjoining areas.

Upper air cyclonic circulation yesterday over the Southwestern Bay of Bengal lies over Northwestern Bay of Bengal. Seasonal Low is prevailing over Northeastern Balochistan with its trough extending Northwards.

At the reporting time, strong monsoon currents from both Arabian Sea & Bay of Bengal were penetrating into upper parts of Pakistan up to 7000 feet which are expected to continue.

For the ensuing 24 hours FFD, Lahore has predicted Scattered to widespread wind thunderstorm/rain of moderate intensity with Isolated heavy falls over Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sargodha & Lahore Divisions of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa including upper catchments of all the major rivers of IRS. Isolated wind thunderstorm/rain may also occur over the rest of Punjab and Balochistan (Kalat, Naseerabad, Loralai, Quetta, Sibi & Zhob Divisions) during the same period.

Scattered to widespread wind thunderstorm/rain with Isolated heavy falls and one/ two very
heavy falls are expected over Islamabad, Punjab (Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Lahore & D.G.
Khan Divisions) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Peshawar, Bannu, Kohat & D.I. Khan Divisions) including
upper catchments of all the major rivers of IRS during the next 72 hours.

All concerned authorities are advised to remain alert, monitor the weather and flood situation
regularly and ensure foolproof precautionary measures to avoid any loss of precious human lives and damage
to public & private properties.

ISLAMABAD, Jul 05 (APP): After the charges of blackmailing and sexually harassing a female employee at MEPCO were proven, President Dr Arif Alvi has upheld the penalty of “dismissal from service” imposed upon the Khizer Hayat, Assistant Director and enhanced the amount of the fine from Rs 500,000 to Rs 1 million.

He also upheld the penalty of “reduction to lower post” imposed upon Mian Sohail Afzal, Director (Admin), for three years and increased the fine from Rs 1 million to Rs 1.1 million to be paid as compensation to the victim, a President House press release said.

He also upheld the exoneration of Sohail Abbas, Deputy Director, and Jamshed Ahmed Niazi, Director, as no cogent evidence or substance was available against them to prove them guilty of the charge beyond any shadow of a doubt.

The president gave these orders while rejecting two representations filed separately by Khizer Hayat and Mian Sohail Afzal against the orders of the Federal Ombudsman for Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace (FOSPAH) imposing fines and major penalties upon the two officers.

A female Commercial Assistant at Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO) had filed a complaint before FOSPAH against four employees stating that they hacked her mobile data, made sexual demands, got published false news items against her, and demanded Rs 500,000 from her to stop the series of news from its further publication.

In his decision, President Alvi stated that a good message had to be sent to society that we would ensure the protection of women against harassment so that our women feel safe in the working environment of the country and our families were confident that if women get harassed, the law of the land would take strong action.

“When Islam came, it lifted women out from exploitation, live burials, and denial of property rights and granted unbelievable gender parity. Such acts of harassment reflect poorly upon our country, which is an Islamic Republic”, he said.

He emphasised that a strong message should go out to the people of Pakistan that their daughters, sisters, and mothers would be protected in society from harassment so that they could participate in public spaces and in their work without fear, adding that measures should be taken to uphold our religious values and international norms.

The president rejected the stance of one of the accused that the case against him was the result of any conspiracy, concoction or fabrication.

“It is a matter of common sense and even a man of prudent mind cannot think that a lady can ruin her modesty and dignity herself by making false complaints of sexual harassment just to defame a person or colleague”, he said.

He added that the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010 had been promulgated for the safety of women who feel insecure at the workplace and to teach a lesson to the transgressors for their acts of harassment or abuse of their financial position.

The president remarked that such acts of sexual harassment were required to be condemned and discouraged, especially in organizations like MEPCO.

“If MEPCO management cannot assure a female employee a safe and secure workplace, she will fear stepping out of her home to make a dignified living”, he said.

He observed that being a victim of such a deplorable act of hacking of mobile data, not only dented the self-esteem of a female employee, but it also usually took a toll on her emotional, mental and physical health.

He further said that it not only created an insecure and hostile working environment for women but also impeded their ability to deliver in today’s competing world and lift their families out of poverty.

The president concluded that hacking/stealing of mobile data of a female employee was not an ordinary but rather a severe offence and it was a well-settled principle of law that punishment should be commensurate with the severity of the offence.

He noted that it stood established that Khizer Hayat, at the instigation of Mian Sohail Afzal, hacked the mobile data of the woman complainant.

He said that the Act provides that “a single incident having the effect of making a person uncomfortable or creating a sense of fear or panic at the workplace is also harassment”, therefore, keeping in view the severity of the offence, the fines of Rs 500,000 and Rs 1 million imposed by FOSPAH upon Khizer and Mian Sohail respectively were enhanced to Rs 1 million and Rs 1.1 million.

ISLAMABAD, Jul 5 (APP): The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on Wednesday concluded a public hearing into XWAPDA power distribution companies (DISCOs) in monthly fuel cost adjustment (FCA) for May.

The hearing was presided by the NEPRA Authority comprising of Chairman NEPRA, Tauseef H. Farooqi, Member (Technical), Engr. Rafique Ahmad Shaikh, Member (Licensing), Engr. Maqsood Anwar Khan, Member (Technical & Finance), Mathar Niaz Rana and Member (Law), Ms. Amina Ahmed.

Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA-G) has requested an increase of Rs. 2.05/kWh in the tariff on account of the monthly Fuel Price Adjustment pertaining to May 2023 for XWDICSOs.

However, the net FCA for the month of May 2023 as per NEPRA’s preliminary calculation is Rs 1.90/k Wh (an impact of Rs. 22.6 billion approx.)

The Authority heard the petitioner and would decide the matter after due diligence and considering the comments of all stakeholders.

The hearing was also attended by a large number of representatives and senior officials of XWDISCOs, CPPA-G, NTDC/NPCC, the business community, Journalists and the general public etc.