COVID19 claimes three more lives and infectes 185 people in Punjab

The novel coronavirus has claimed three more lives and infected at least 185 people during the past 24 hours in Punjab.

In a statement on the daily COVID-19 situation, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said that three more people succumbed to COVID-19 in 24 hours, taking the death toll to 2,357 in the province.

He maintained that 185 new cases of the coronavirus were reported in the province during the last 24 hours, lifting the tally of infections to 4,228.

The chief minister said that the number of COVID-19 cases is rising as people were not following the standard operating procedures (SOPs). He maintained that smart lockdown will be imposed in coronavirus hotspots in the province.

Earlier on October 30, the spokesperson of Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department had confirmed that 244 new cases of novel coronavirus emerged in Punjab province during the last 24 hours.

The department had added that 129 cases were reported in the provincial capital Lahore, whereas, seven more people died of the virus. The total count of coronavirus had reached 103,831 and mortalities reported up to 2,354.

It is pertinent to mention here that the country’s tally of confirmed Covid-19 cases had risen by 1,078 to 332,186 on Friday.

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JUI-F leader criticizes Sadiq over Abhinandan statement, calls Nawaz ‘aasteen ka saanp’

PML-N leader Ayaz Sadiq has come in for a lot of flak for his controversial statement on Indian pilot Abhinandan’s release. His accusatory remarks on the floor of the National Assembly have also caused rifts in opposition ranks.

Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, a leader of the JUI-F part of the opposition’s Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), not only strongly condemned the statement but termed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif “aasteen ka saanp” (snake in the grass).

Those who bring such people to power are equally responsible, he thundered. There is a limit to everything, he said, referring to the PML-N supremo’s critique of state institutions.

Speaking to media alongside the JUI-F chief after the meeting, the PML-N leader said he stands by his comments and added his statement was distorted to give a particular colour. Neither he nor anybody has the right to bill him or anyone else a traitor, he opined.

Sadiq said they will give India a befitting response as they have always done. “My comments were given political colour, which didn’t benefit Pakistan. An effort was made to promote one narrative in India,” he said.

“Linking my statement with Pakistan Army is a disservice to the country,” he said, explaining that he had referred to the government in his statement that was misquoted. Putting up banners against him is no service to the country either, he added.

Having previously served on key positions, the PML-N leader said he knew many secrets but neither has he given any irresponsible statement before nor will do so in future.

When asked whether he will apologise over his statement, Ayaz Sadiq said: “I have not done anything wrong that I have to apologise for.”

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Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch decides to left PML-N over PDM rally in Quetta

Fissures emerge in PML-N's Balochistan chapter over PDM rally in Quetta.

The PML-N may be taking on the government, but the party’s Balochistan chapter is in turmoil after the party decided not to invite former chief minister Sanaullah Zehri to the October 25 gathering of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) in Quetta.

According to sources, the PML-N’s central leadership had decided not to invite Sanaullah Zehri to the PDM gathering in Quetta, which did not go down well with its leaders in the province.

Sources also alleged that the president of PML-N’s Balochistan chapter, retired Lt Gen Abdul Qadir Baloch, had also expressed his reservations over the hardline stance adopted by PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif. He decides to left PML-N over PDM rally in Quetta.

On the other hand, PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal clarified that the PML-N decided not to invite Zehri as there is a rift going on between the former chief minister and BNP-M leader Akhtar Mengal.

PDM power show in Quetta
The differences emerged after the PDM, in a show of defiance coupled with street power, held its third anti-government rally in the Balochistan capital and reiterated their resolve to oust Prime Minister Imran Khan, saying "the sun is about to set" on his government.

The gathering was held at Quetta's Ayub Stadium.

Among the PDM leadership, PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, as well as JUI-F chief and PDM leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman, all addressed the large show of supporters who gathered to hear the Opposition speak.

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OGRA recommends up to Rs2 decrease in petroleum prices

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) on Saturday recommended up to Rs2 decrease in prices of petroleum products for the month of November.

The authority forwarded a summary in this regard to the Ministry of Finance for approval.

According to the details disclosed by the summary, the OGRA has recommended a Rs1.50 cut in the per litre price of petrol and Rs2 in the price of high-speed diesel (HSD). The finance ministry will announce new fuel prices for November after Prime Minister Imran Khan’s approval.

Authorities said the government may keep the prices of petroleum products unchanged by increasing petroleum levy.

On September 30, the government had cut the price of high-speed diesel by Rs2.40 per litre and kept that of petrol and other petroleum products unchanged for a fortnight with effect from October 1.

Later on October 15, the government decided to keep fuel prices unchanged for the rest of the month.

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JUI-F leader criticizes Sadiq over Abhinandan statement, calls Nawaz ‘aasteen ka saanp’

PML-N leader Ayaz Sadiq has come in for a lot of flak for his controversial statement on Indian pilot Abhinandan’s release. His accusatory remarks on the floor of the National Assembly have also caused rifts in opposition ranks.

Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, a leader of the JUI-F part of the opposition’s Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), not only strongly condemned the statement but termed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif “aasteen ka saanp” (snake in the grass).

Those who bring such people to power are equally responsible, he thundered. There is a limit to everything, he said, referring to the PML-N supremo’s critique of state institutions.

Speaking to media alongside the JUI-F chief after the meeting, the PML-N leader said he stands by his comments and added his statement was distorted to give a particular colour. Neither he nor anybody has the right to bill him or anyone else a traitor, he opined.

Sadiq said they will give India a befitting response as they have always done. “My comments were given political colour, which didn’t benefit Pakistan. An effort was made to promote one narrative in India,” he said.

“Linking my statement with Pakistan Army is a disservice to the country,” he said, explaining that he had referred to the government in his statement that was misquoted. Putting up banners against him is no service to the country either, he added.

Having previously served on key positions, the PML-N leader said he knew many secrets but neither has he given any irresponsible statement before nor will do so in future.

When asked whether he will apologise over his statement, Ayaz Sadiq said: “I have not done anything wrong that I have to apologise for.”

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Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch decides to left PML-N over PDM rally in Quetta

Fissures emerge in PML-N's Balochistan chapter over PDM rally in Quetta.

The PML-N may be taking on the government, but the party’s Balochistan chapter is in turmoil after the party decided not to invite former chief minister Sanaullah Zehri to the October 25 gathering of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) in Quetta.

According to sources, the PML-N’s central leadership had decided not to invite Sanaullah Zehri to the PDM gathering in Quetta, which did not go down well with its leaders in the province.

Sources also alleged that the president of PML-N’s Balochistan chapter, retired Lt Gen Abdul Qadir Baloch, had also expressed his reservations over the hardline stance adopted by PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif. He decides to left PML-N over PDM rally in Quetta.

On the other hand, PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal clarified that the PML-N decided not to invite Zehri as there is a rift going on between the former chief minister and BNP-M leader Akhtar Mengal.

PDM power show in Quetta
The differences emerged after the PDM, in a show of defiance coupled with street power, held its third anti-government rally in the Balochistan capital and reiterated their resolve to oust Prime Minister Imran Khan, saying "the sun is about to set" on his government.

The gathering was held at Quetta's Ayub Stadium.

Among the PDM leadership, PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, as well as JUI-F chief and PDM leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman, all addressed the large show of supporters who gathered to hear the Opposition speak.

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Sugar Mills case: Hamza Shehbaz refuses travelling by bullet-proof van

An accountability court in Lahore has taken notice of the absence of Hamza Shehbaz in the hearing of Ramzan Sugar Mills case today and sought written response from the jail officials.

Judge Amjad Nazir Chaudhry conducted the hearing of Ramzan Sugar Mills corruption reference against Hamza Shehbaz today.

A judicial officer apprised the accountability court that the accused rejected to travel by bullet-proof van to appear in the hearing. He said that a bullet-proof vehicle is present inside the jail, however, Hamza is not coming out of his prison cell. He added that the warrants against Hamza were presented in the court.

The court took notice of Hamza Shehbaz’s absence in the hearing and ordered the jail officials to submit a written response to clarify the reasons for not producing him.

Judge Amjad Nazir Chaudhry also directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to produce its witnesses in the next hearing and asked authorities to modify the date on the warrants of Hamza.

The accountability court adjourned the hearing till November 10.

Later, the deputy superintendent of Kot Lakhpat Jail submitted a written response to the court for mentioning the reasons for Hamza’s absence in the hearing.

Ramzan Sugar Mills case

The NAB had filed a reference accusing former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif, his son Hamza Shahbaz and others for causing losses to the national exchequer and misusing authority by sanctioning construction of a bridge to facilitate the sugar mills.

NAB officials say, Shehbaz Sharif, being the chief minister of Punjab, misused his authority by issuing directives for the construction of a 10-kilometre-long drain in Chiniot primarily to benefit the sugar mill owned by his sons. Shehbaz and Hamza have been accused of fraudulently causing a Rs 213 million loss to the national exchequer.

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