ISLAMABAD, March 14 (APP):The Supreme Court on Wednesday appointed two chartered accountants Syed Shabr Hassan Rizvi and Mahmood Mandviwala as amicus curiae in a case regarding bank accounts of Pakistanis abroad.
The three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Ijazul Ahsan heard the suo moto notice case pertaining to laundered money in bank accounts of foreign countries.
The chief justice observed that if the money was sent abroad without justification then it would be disastrous for the country.
He observed that the government could not get benefit from the amnesty scheme due to flaws in the laws.
During the course of proceedings, Additional Attorney General Rana Waqar informed the court that a three-member committee had prepared a report on formulation of guidelines.
The chief justice after reviewing the report asked the Secretary Finance that it was not a affective report rather it was an ambiguous one.
He remarked that the government should take steps to bring back the looted money from foreign countries within 15 days.
He observed that several people had looted the public money and sent it abroad that caused the destruction of the country’s national exchequer. He also asked why the people, who were included in the Panama and Paradise scandals, were not being traced.
He also asked the Secretary Finance to inform the court about properties owned by Pakistanis in abroad.
The Finance secretary told the court that the government was pondering over change in the Finance Act to halt the people to send money abroad and the parliament would likely to take steps in that regard in a few days.
Justice Umar Ata Bandial asked Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Tariq Mahmood Pasha that whether the FBR was going to offer two to five percent amnesty. The FBR chairman said that it was not correct.
The court remarked that the court would hear the case daily after next hearing on March 20 which was scheduled at the Karachi registry.
SC appoints two chartered accountants as amicus curiae in case over Pakistanis’ bank accounts abroad
Naqeebullah murder: Rao Anwar requests SC to unfreeze accounts
ISLAMABAD, March 14 (APP):Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar Wednesday said he had received another letter from absconding Sindh police officer Rao Anwar, requesting the court to unfreeze his bank accounts.
A three-member SC bench headed by the CJP and comprising Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Ijazul Ahsan heard the case regarding extrajudicial killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud in Karachi by a police party led by former Malir Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rao Anwar.
During the course of proceedings, the chief justice observed, “I do not know whether the letter is real or fake.” He expressed dissatisfaction over the progress in the murder case. Reports were being presented in the court but there was no progress, he added.
Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Sohail Mehmood informed the court that all the suspected individuals had switched off their mobile phones.
The Inter-Services Intelligence had said that it was providing technical assistance to Sindh police while the Military Intelligence said that it had limited technical means to trace the suspects but it was still aiding the civilian law enforcement agencies, the DAG added.
The CJP asked Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) A D Khowaja whether he was being assisted by the intelligence agencies.
The IGP responded in the affirmative, saying the initial first information report (FIR) of the incident, claiming Naqeebullah and three others killed in the encounter were militants, had been dismissed.
Advocate Faisal Siddiqui, representing Naqeebullah’s father, said questions were being raised on the authority of the state as only 10 of the 24 accused had been arrested so far.
The chief justice ordered the Sindh police chief to give the court an in-camera briefing on the next hearing regarding Anwar’s escape from the Islamabad airport.
Later, hearing of the case was adjourned till Friday.
Pakistan elected as member of the governing boards of OIC Subsidiary Organs
ISLAMABAD, Mar 14 (APP):Pakistan has been elected as member of the governing boards of Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Subsidiary Organs during the 41st session of the Islamic Commission for Economic, Cultural and Social Affairs (ICECS) being held in Jeddah from March 13-15, 2018.
The OIC subsidiary organs include: i) Islamic Centre for the Development of Trade (ICDT), Headquarters; Casablanca ii) Islamic University of Technology (IUT), Headquarters; Dhaka iii) Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA), Headquarters; Istanbul, said a press statement issued here on Wednesday.
Pakistan’s election to these organs reflects its deep engagement with the OIC and its endeavours to enhance cooperation in various fields among the Muslim countries. It also makes manifestation of the trust and confidence that Pakistan enjoys among the OIC member countries.
Pakistan would play an active role in these bodies to promote intra OIC trade, excellence in education and development in Islamic art and culture. The country is host to the OIC Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH).
Pakistan hosting largest number of refugees: UNHCR
ISLAMABAD, Mar 14 (APP):The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has declared Pakistan as the largest country for giving shelter to refugees in the world and most of them refugees were belonging to Afghanistan.
As per the UNHCR report, Pakistan hosting the largest number of refugees in the country and as many as 1.45 million were hailing from Afghanistan.
Report added that Pakistan unconditionally hosted the millions of refugees and provides best possible facilities to these affected people of different countries especially Afghanistan citizens when the war on the peak in its country and still 1.45 million are living in Pakistan.
Pakistan continued hosted Afghan refugees for more than three decades, it added. Similarly, the voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan to their own country was also the largest in the world, report stated.
Since March 2002, UNHCR has facilitated the return of approximately 4.1 million registered Afghans from Pakistan, it added.
NCHR to focus on countering regressive trends: Minister
ISLAMABAD, Mar 14 (APP):Federal Minister for Human Rights, Mumtaz Ahmed Tarar on Wednesday said National Commission for Human Rights
(NCHR) must focus its research and advocacy efforts to counter the regressive trends of bigotry, hate speech and intolerance in the country.
“Religious extremism and intolerance must be combatted and thwarted in unison by the state, civil society and the masses”, he commented.
While addressing the officers and staff of NCHR at its head office, the minister vowed that for the cause of protection of human rights, the financial and administrative independence and autonomy of NCHR will be supported, said a news release.
Chairman NCHR Justice (R) Ali Nawaz Chowhan thanked the minister for steadfast support to NCHR to fulfill its statutory mandate of promotion and protection of human rights.
He said NCHR will compile a comprehensive report on rebutting the false narrative of obscurantism and the promotion of fundamental constitutional rights and universal human values.
On the occasion, Justice Chowhan presented the 2017’s Annual Report and 24 research reports of NCHR on various human rights issues to the federal minister.
Mumtaz Tarar reiterated his disapproval for the superficial analysis of human rights issues, manufactured by pseudo-intellectuals and stressed the significance of genuine research at the grass-root level, particularly in impoverished rural areas of Pakistan.
The Minister was particularly keen about the advocacy and sensitization program for rural women, one of the most neglected and vulnerable segments of our society.
He also encouraged NCHR to organize and publish credible research on the socioeconomic problems of rural women.
President administers oath to Hafiz Abdul Karim, Kamran Michael as federal ministers
ISLAMABAD, Mar 14 (APP):President Mamnoon Hussain on Wednesday administered oath to Hafiz Abdul Karim and Kamran Michael as federal ministers.
The oath-taking ceremony held here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr and was attended by ministers, political workers and senior officials.
Defence Production Minister calls on Qatari Prime Minister
ISLAMABAD, Mar 14 (APP):Federal Minister for Defence Production, Rana Tanveer Hussain met with the Prime Minister of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani
on Wednesday at the Diwan Emiri.
The Pakistan delegation headed by minster, included Sardar Mansab Ali
Dogar, Parliamentary Secretary Defence Procurement, Maj General Tariq
Ghaffor, Additional Secretary Ministry of defence Production and Shahzad Ahmad, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the State of Qatar, said a message received here from Qatar.
The Pakistan delegation is on a visit to Doha to attend the Doha International Martime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX) from March 12-14, 2018.
The minister discussed various issues pertaining to the defence production and the current level of cooperation between Pakistan and Qatar.
Issues of mutual interest in the realm of defence cooperation also came under the discussion.
The UK missing out on £10 bln worth of exports a year to a group of emerging economies :Study
LONDON, Mar 14 (APP):The UK is missing out on £10bln worth of exports a year to a group of emerging economies, according to a study by Standard Chartered Bank.
The BBC quoting Standard Chartered Bank said, the annual exports to what Standard calls the Emerging 7 (China, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Indonesia) are currently worth £24bn.
But the bank, which specializes in financing international trade, calculates it should be £34bn a year.
Standard Chartered urged the UK to orientate its Emerging 7 (E7) trade policy accordingly.
Michael Vrontamitis, the bank’s head of trade for Europe and Americas, said: “With the UK
settling into a slower pace of growth and Brexit on the horizon, UK businesses need to look more widely for growth.
“It is clear that the E7 countries represent multi-billion-dollar trading opportunities for the UK and
British businesses searching for export diversification and growth.
The study was immediately welcomed by the International Trade Secretary, Liam Fox, who has repeatedly stressed the opportunities that Brexit presents to refocus trade policy on faster-growing economies.
He said: “As an international economic department, we are supporting businesses meet this demand,
target overseas markets and succeed on the global stage, so we create more jobs and prosperity in every
part of the country.”
However, the study does not examine the potential loss of exports to our biggest and closest market -the EU – as a result of Brexit. Many people have questioned whether increased trade with the E7 can offset those losses.
One of the most skeptical voices was former civil servant Sir Martin Donnelly, who until last year ran the very same Department for International Trade of which Liam Fox is secretary.
Fulfilling potential Sir Martin recently told the BBC that the UK was “giving up a three-course meal,
which is the depth and intensity of our trade relationships across the European Union and partners now,for the promise of a packet of crisps in the future if we manage to do trade deals outside the European Union which aren’t going to compensate for what we’re giving up”.
The Standard Chartered report said that of the G7 countries, only Germany is fulfilling its export potential to the E7, and only then through its reliance on its huge exports to a single country – China.
It is perhaps worth remembering that the UK exports more to the US than any other single country, while China is Germany’s number one export destination. Neither of these relationships are supported by a free trade agreement.
This illustrates a point often made by former trade minister and ex-chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management Jim (Lord) O’Neill.
When it comes to trade, knowing which products and services foreign markets actually want – and getting them there – is more important than striking trade deals.
Pakistan providing quality cancer treatment facilities: Foreign Oncologists
ISLAMABAD, Mar 14 (APP):Foreign Oncologist, who came to Pakistan to attend a three-day conference on Advances in Radiation Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, expressed satisfaction over the level of treatment being provided to the cancer patients here.
“The level of knowledge and the enthusiasm of the Pakistani physicians is highly commendable, their curiosity to know about the details of latest research and technology, relevant queries and input in the conference showed their dedication and care for the patients”, they said.
Sharing their views after the three-day international conference, “PAEC-IAEA: International Conference on Advances in Radiation Oncology and Nuclear Medicine” organized at Nuclear Medicine Oncology and Radiotherapy Institute (NORI), hospital they stated that besides the valuable experience sharing they were also pleased with the level of hospitality, love and kindness of the people they received.
The conference was organized by Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission in collaboration with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Dr. Kiattisa Sommat, Consultant, Department of Radiation, Oncology, National Cancer Center Singapore told APP that it was a wonderful experience to be part of the conference as it was interactive, beneficial and a good opportunity to learn from pool of experts gathered here.
“It was an eye-opening experience to be here as Pakistan is totally different from the perspective being portrayed abroad through media”, she opined. She added that they have seen a modern and progressive Pakistan with high percent of women in medicine and oncology, even more than the ratio of women in her own department in Singapore.
The generosity of people, women empowerment, food, weather, culture all is rememberable, she said hoping to visit here with her family soon.
Dr. Niaec Anderson, Radiation Therapist, Melbourne, Australia said the level of treatment being provided here is good but it’s time to update it further to meet the next level requirements through more resources and introducing the latest equipment.
The faculty members are enriched with knowledge, and it was valuable experience sharing during the moot, he opined. He hoped to work on introducing new programmes in collaboration with both the countries for more advanced treatment facilities.
Dr. Arif Sheikh, Professor of medicine United States, a Pakistani origin physician stated that he came here after a gap of a decade and he was surprised to see the advancement and level of treatment facilities.
However, he pointed out that smoking, life style, lack of awareness of routine screening are the major factor contributing to high level of cancer in Pakistan adding, “Life style modifications help reduce caner”.
“We have latest technology but the hand of expertise for proper usage of equipment still needed to be acquired”, he stated.
Dr. Terez Sera, an expert of Nuclear Medicine from Hungry shared that the conference was called at most suitable time as Pakistan would have soon PET C.T scan facility in few months.
Trained manpower to work on this latest technology machinery are the key factor to get results, she said adding, they are working on network of excellence from European Association of Nuclear Medicine to have efficient staff for handing the equipment.
Dr. Wahyu Edewibowo, Medical Physician from Indonesia and Dr. Amelia Jimeney from Spain also appreciated the level of knowledge shared during the moot on Radiation Oncology.
Earlier, speaking as chief guest at the concluding ceremony, Vice Chancellor, Rawalpindi Medical University, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Umar also offered joint training and research programmes in collaboration with NORI hospital.
He also marked the conference an opportunity to present the real picture of Pakistan internationally, which is quite different from the negative portrayal of lack of advancement, knowledge and level of prosperity actually being done here at our dear home land.
Around 150 experts comprising of Radiation Oncologists, Clinical Oncologists, Nuclear Physicians, Medical Physicists and Radiotherapy Technologists from PAEC and other cancer hospitals of the country took part in the three-day conference.
ECP may get intelligence agencies’ help to probe horse-trading in Senate election
ISLAMABAD, March 14 (APP):The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Wednesday hinted that it might seek assistance from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and other intelligence agencies to investigate alleged horse-trading in the Senate election held on March 3.
The five-member commission, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza, heard the suo moto notice which it had taken on March 6 after horse-trading allegations were levelled by some politicians in media.
The commission had summoned eight parliamentarians for assistance in the case.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Farooq Sattar were represented by their counsel while Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb appeared in person.
During the course of proceedings, the CEC observed that buying and selling of votes was a crime and it was unfortunate that both the sellers and buyers were parliamentarians.
He said political parties should assist the ECP in the case.
PTI chief’s lawyer, Shahid Gondal told the ECP that the party had already formed a committee to investigate horse-trading and would submit a final report after completion of the inquiry.
The ECP adjourned the case till April 4.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Ameer Muqam also attended the proceedings.