ISLAMABAD, Feb 17 (APP):Expatriate Pakistanis, residing in Moscow, especially Baloch community, Saturday celebrated
“Pakistan Unity Day” under the slogan “United We Stand, Divided We Fall.”
The event reached its climax when Dr. Jumma Khan Marri, (Baloch sub-nationalist leader, intellectual and one of the most senior political activist) attended the event and announced his separation, along with his supporters, from so-called Baloch Independence Movement, social and electronic media reported.
It is important to mention that Dr Jumma Khan Marri is on self-exile in Moscow for the last two decades. He is the son Baloch leader Mir Hazar Khan Marri, head of Bajrani Marri tribe, Balochistan chapter. Dr Jumma Khan Marri possesses huge following among Baloch Diaspora, residing all across the world.
During his emotional and highly charged speech, he announced disassociation, along with his supporters, from the movement, besides launching an organization with the name of “Overseas Pakistani Baloch Community” to counter anti-Balochistan Movement abroad.
He said the new organization would confront and expose the evil designs of Indian paid disgruntled personalities like Brahamdagh Bugti, Hyrbyar Marri and Mehran Marri at all forums abroad.
Besides, he said, it would make efforts to bring back all “misguided and innocent” Baloch, residing abroad on political asylum, in the mainstream, resolving problems through peaceful dialogue.
He extended invitation to Khan of Kalat for joining and supporting the organization.
Dr Jumma said integrity of Baloch nation was seriously damaged when Brahamdagh Bugti, Hyrbyar Marri and Mehran Marri, applied for Indian nationality
and laid flowers on Gandhi’s statue in Geneva.
Defection of Dr Jumma Khan Marri from Baloch Independence Movement and
raising of voice by Pakistani Baloch community against Indian sponsored Baloch
disgruntled leadership, that too from Russian Federation is history in the making
and a big blow to so-called Baloch Independence movement.

LAHORE, Feb 17 (APP):Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif said that factual freedom was meaningless in the absence of economic freedom as no one can command economically strong nations.
He said, “We have to move forward by relying on our own resources and to stand on our feet to  fulfill the goals of establishment of Pakistan and this destination cannot be achieved by tactics but practical hard  work and collective efforts”. Also, we have to make the 21 million people prosperous as per interpretation of the  dream of Quaid-e-Azam and Iqbal”, he added.
The chief minister shared that in order to bring peace and prosperity to the country and to replace despair with happiness, there was a dire need to diminish the gap between the rich and poor.
He expressed these views here on Saturday while addressing
an inauguration ceremony of the book “Governing the Ungovernable”
by former Governor of State Bank Dr. Ishrat Hussain.
Addressing on the occasion, he said that participation
in this book launching ceremony was an honour and matter of
immense pleasure to him. He said that Dr. Ishrat has written
a wonderful book on the situation, issues and challenges faced
by the country as the title of this book was indicating the
challenges.
Furthermore, he added that in 1990s Pakistan was ahead
of many neighbouring countries in terms of economic growth
and South Korea had made progress by adopting our 5-year
development plan.
He said that it was evident that economically strong
nations were respected in the world while weak nations
always get dictation, adding that standard human resource
was necessary to achieve development goals and objectives
can be achieved only through resource development, effective
planning and its implementation.
Effective system of check and balance was needed in
the politicians, bureaucracy and all institutions for the
rapid development and system can be strengthened economically
by opting across the board accountability, he shared.
The chief minister said that undeniably development
process could be expedited by transferring the powers to the
lower level and local bodies institutions can play effective
role in this regard. No heed was paid on the annual audit of
these institutes during the dictatorship era in the past,
he added.
Shehbaz Sharif the Punjab government had also focused
on quality human resources and promoted financial discipline
as well as transparency in the province.
He said that the Punjab government has taken unprecedented
measures to shrink the differences between rich and the poor
by fair distribution of resources. In addition to it, he said
that the government had completed all development projects
including energy projects with transparency and progressive
models have been set up by saving billions of rupees in
development projects.
Addressing the function, former Governor State Bank
Dr. Ishrat Hussain said that Shehbaz Sharif had improved
the system through his good governance and the measures,
taken by him for the development of the province were appreciable.
Dr. Ishrat Hussain said that Shehbaz Sharif’s efforts
against the corruption were commendable and he was a committed
leader as well as reformer who have ensured recruitment of
millions of teachers on merit in Punjab while efficiency
of institutions has been increased through the information
technology.
Dr. Ishrat Hussain also presented his book to CM Shehbaz
Sharif.
Speaker Punjab Assembly Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan,
Provincial Ministers, Member National and provincial
assemblies, Lord Mayor Lahore, Chief Secretary, intellectuals
and education experts were present at the function.

LAHORE, Feb 17 (APP):Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal Saturday said the Exit Control List (ECL) should not be
used as a political tool since it is meant to gain specific objectives.
He was talking to the media after a conference on CPEC (China-Pakistan
Economic Corridor) at a local hotel here.
He said National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday formally
requested the Ministry of Interior to place names of some members of Sharif
family on the ECL in view of legal proceedings in the country and added a
formal decision would be made on merit .
Criticising Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and Awami
Muslim League (AML) Chairman Sheikh Rashid, he said the people had
already rejected their politics.
He said the world had disapproved the disqualification of former prime
minister Nawaz Sharif.
Ahsan Iqbal said it seemed that the West wanted to pressurize Pakistan
to achieve certain objectives, so it is pushing to place the country on the Financial
Action Task Force (FATF) watch-list.
Ahsan Iqbal expressed the concern that such pressure tactics would
negatively impact Pakistan’s efforts in the war against terrorism.
Highlighting the role and sacrifices rendered by Pakistan in the fight against
terrorism, he said any move to place Pakistan in the “grey list” will be counterproductive
and undermine the extensive work that Pakistan had carried out under the National Action
Plan to eliminate terrorism.
He said Pakistan is working with the US, UK, Germany and France for the nomination to
be withdrawn.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 17 (APP):Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry has said the government would extend all kind of assistance to Association of Builders and Developers of Pakistan (ABAD) in constructing housing units for middle and lower-middle classes at affordable rates.
Addressing an event organized by the ABAD here he said, “I assure on behalf of the government that we will provide all kind of assistance and facilities to the association for providing houses to middle and lower-middle classes on cheaper rates in the federal capital.”
The ABAD has more than 800 leading construction companies in its fold and its offices mostly are equipped with state-of-the-art planning systems, cost control, project management and the latest construction techniques to minimize construction costs.
He said construction industry was the third largest industry in the country and it played a vital role in socio-economic development of the country.
The minister said the country’s infrastructure, sanctuary and employment were directly related to the construction sector. The construction sector, he said, played an important role in generating income in both formal and informal sectors.
He said the government was also considering to revisit the by-laws to facilitate and attract more investors in the federal capital.
He said the government was also revising the lay out plan of the Islamabad keeping in view the present situation of the city.
“Lay out plan prepared in 1960 requires revisit after 57 years keeping in view the present situation of the city,” he said.
Chairman of the ABAD Arif Yousuf Jeewa said the construction sector played a key role in providing employment at a large scale and raising the living standard of the people.
He said contribution of construction industry towards the global GDP revolved around one-tenth of the total amount.
He said the ABAD would arrange an international expo in Islamabad on April 4 and 6 to bring together all the construction related stakeholders at one platform.
“ABAD international EXPO 2018 Islamabad is the largest platform available for professionals related to construction along with allied industries,” he added.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 17 (APP):Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will visit Hafizabad Saturday to launch Prime Minister’s National Health Program in district.
During his visit, he will also address a gathering and will distribute health cards among the needy people to provide them medical treatment free of charges.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 17 (APP):Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will visit Hafizabad Saturday to launch Prime Minister’s National Health Program in district.
During his visit, he will also address a gathering and will distribute health cards among the needy people to provide them medical treatment free of charges.

LAHORE, Feb 17 (APP):An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on
Saturday handed down death sentence on four counts to accused
Imran Ali in rape and murder case of seven-year-old Zainab.
The court handed down the sentence on charges of murder,
rape, kidnapping and terrorism.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 3.2 million on the
convict besides sentencing him to seven years and life term
on charges of desecrating the body and unnatural act,
respectively.
ATC-I Judge Sajjad Ahmad announced the verdict in
presence of the convict, family members of victim girl and
prosecutors including Prosecutor General Punjab Ehtesham Qadir
at Kot Lakhpat Jail. The verdict had been reserved on Feb 15
after conclusion of arguments by the parties.
The prosecutor general shared the details of the verdict
with the media after attending the proceedings. He said that
his team had brought the culprit to justice. He said that a
new foundation had been laid down and now our judiciary admits
the DNA evidence like in other countries of the world.
Qadir said that although the convict confessed to his crime,
the prosecution contested the trial and proved the case through
scientific evidence. He said that the convict had been given
a chance of a free and fair trial and also provided him a state
lawyer after his private counsel withdrew his power of attorney
following his confession.
He mentioned that the convict was also involved in eight
other similar cases wherein six victims had died and only
two survived. He said that evidence had also been collected in
remaining cases and expressed hope that they would also be
decided soon.
To a question, he said that the convict had 15 days time
to file an appeal before the Lahore High Court.
To another question about public execution of the sentence,
he said that under Section 22 of ATA, government could decide
the issue.
Strict security arrangements were made at Kot Lakhpat Jail
on the occasion of announcement of the verdict.
The court had reserved its verdict on February 15 after holding
the trial for four days on daily basis in compliance with the
directions of the Lahore High Court.
The prosecution team presented 56 witnesses against the
accused Imran Ali and claimed that he was guilty of the crime
in the light of evidence including the DNA report. The
prosecution also submitted forensic reports of videos and
other materials to support their case.
The prosecution team comprising Abdul Rauf Wattoo, Abid
Waqar Bhatti, Hafiz Asghar and Farah Faiz contested the case
whereas Prosecutor General Punjab Ehtesham Qadir also remained
present in the court during the trial.
Imran Ali was indicted on February 12 whereas the court
recorded his complete statement on February 14.
Seven-year-old Zainab was kidnapped on January 4 from
near her aunt’s house in Kasur. Her body was discovered five
days later from a garbage heap. The post-mortem report
revealed that she had been raped and murdered. The police had
arrested the suspect Imran Ali with help of DNA report.

RAWALPINDI, Feb 17 (APP):Punjab Rangers along with Elite Police and intelligence agencies, under operation Radd ul Fasaad, Saturday conducted an intelligence based operation in Dera Ghazi Khan.

During exchange of fire three terrorists have been killed, while two Rangers soldiers received injuries, said an ISPR press release.

Besides, prepared improvised electronic device, rocket launcher, AK-47 rifle, grenades and ammunition have been recovered from there.