Qureshi reiterates Pakistan's desire for peace in Afghanistan at OIC

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi reiterated on Friday Pakistan's desire for peace in Afghanistan, and dignified and honourable return of Afghan refugees to their homeland.

"Pakistan will continue to play its conciliatory role for peace in the neighbouring country," FM Qureshi said during his meeting with Afghan counterpart Mohammed Haneef Atmar on the sidelines of the 47th session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers’ meeting, happening in Niamey, Niger.

FM Qureshi added that Afghan leadership should remain cognisant of elements that want to sabotage peace efforts in Afghanistan.

Qureshi reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to further strengthen bilateral relations with the country.

The Afghan foreign minister commended Pakistan's sincere efforts in the Afghan peace process.

On November 25, in a video message, FM Qureshi said the OIC meeting would deliberate upon the challenges faced by the Muslim community and other important issues and added that he would present Pakistan's stance on the changes taking place on the international landscape.

"Muslims are perturbed over the rising incidents of Islamophobia," the foreign minister said, adding that, "Pakistan has a very categorical and clear stance on the matter."

Referring to Indian atrocities in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K) and Indian state terrorism in Pakistan, the FM said that OIC was the appropriate forum to highlight Indian brutality against innocent Kashmiri people.

The foreign minister added that on the sidelines of the OIC meeting, he would also hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from other Islamic countries.

Prime Minister Imran Khan had also praised outgoing United States President Donald Trump for his role in the resumption of peace dialogues in Afghanistan and expressed hope that the president-elect, Joe Biden would continue to follow his predecessor's strategy in the war-torn country.

PM Imran expressed hope that Biden will not pull back from the good work done by Trump in Afghanistan.

He also warned against the spoilers of Afghan peace, saying that the level of violence has increased in the neighbouring country. PM Imran said that there was great hope that the dialogues in Afghanistan would succeed.

from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/369fNWx

Nawaz Sharif offers mother Begum Shamim Akhtar's funeral prayers in London

PML-N supremo and former prime minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif offered the funeral prayers of his mother, Begum Shamim Akhtar, in London on Friday along with several family and party members.

The prayers were held in London Central Mosque — alternatively known as Regent's Park Mosque — where the number of participants had to be limited to 30 under the United Kingdom's coronavirus guidelines.

After the prayers, Begum Shamim's body was taken to the London Heathrow Airport for repatriation to Pakistan.

Earlier, ex-finance minister Ishaq Dar had announced that Nawaz Sharif would not be able to accompany his mother's body to Pakistan as he was not declared medically fit to travel by his doctors.

Begum Shamim Akhtar passed away in London on November 22 at the age of 89. She had developed a severe chest infection and was suffering from an advanced stage of Alzheimer's Disease. Her condition had deteriorated and she could not regain her health due to old age.

The deceased was receiving treatment at a London hospital and her body is currently kept at the Avenfield Apartments where she was staying with Nawaz Sharif.

The body had been transferred to the London Central Mosque's mortuary late Sunday night after the coroner and local police spent about three hours at the Sharif family's apartment to complete paperwork to determine the cause of death and other legal requirements.

Burial in Pakistan

Funeral prayers of Begum Shamim Akhtar will also be offered at the Sharif Medical City in Jati Umrah on Saturday after which her body will be laid to rest.

Shahbaz Sharif, Hamza Shahbaz released on parole for funeral

The Punjab government on Tuesday approved releasing Shahbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shahbaz on five-day parole to attend Begum Shamim’s funeral subjected to her body’s arrival in the country.

The two leaders have been imprisoned after being charged for money laundering.

 

from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/3laaVER

Khalid Khurshid set to become next Gilgit Baltistan chief minister

Advocate Khalid Khurshid is set to become the next chief minister of Gilgit Baltistan.

PTI Chief Organiser Saifullah Niazi said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has finalized the name of Advocate Khalid Khurshid for Gilgit Baltistan chief minister.

Khalid Khurshid contested 2020 Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly election from constituency GBA-13 (Astore-I) on the ticket of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

He won the election by a margin of 1,719 votes over the runner-up Abdul Hameed Khan of Pakistan People’s Party. He garnered 4,836 votes while Abdul Hameed received 3,117 votes.

According to PTI, Khalid Khurshid, who joined the party in 2018, will be party's candidate for the chief ministership. Prime Minister Imran Khan chose Khalid Khurshid after holding consultations with PTI central and Gilgit Baltistan leadership.

Earlier, several names emerged for the coveted position of chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan. Four names – Fatehullah, Khalid Khurshid, Col R Obaidullah and Advocate Nazir Ahmed – were with Prime Minister Imran Khan for consideration.

Among them Khalid Khurshid got succeeded to win the confidence of the prime minister for the coveted job. On Thursday, PTI leader Syed Amjad Ali Zaidi has been elected as third speaker of Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly after securing 18 votes.

The united opposition’s candidate Ghulam Ahmad got only eight votes. Six votes rejected (4 government and 2 opposition) due to inaccurate stamping.

Outgoing GBLA speaker Fida Muhammad Nashad administered the oath to the newly elected Amjad Zaidi. G-B went to election on November 15 to elect 24 lawmakers of the legislative assembly on general seats.

The voting was held on 23 seats as the election was delayed because of the death of a candidate. The by-poll to that seat was held last week.

According to the official results of the G-B election, the PTI gained two-thirds majority with the joining of six independent lawmakers.

According to the official results, PTI had 22 seats in the 33-strong house. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) followed with 5 and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) 3.

The Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and independent share one seat each. All the newly-elected lawmakers were sworn during the inaugural session of the assembly, chaired by Speaker Haji Fida Muhammad Nashad.

The speaker administered the oath. Addressing the session Nashad congratulated the newly-election members.

from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/36bZokc

Shehbaz, Hamza to be released on five-day parole today

Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz will be released on five-day parole at 02:30 pm today following the death of Begum Shamim Akhtar, on Friday.

Shehbaz Sharif and his son will be released from Kot Lakhpat Jail today on five-day parole following the death of her mother Begum Shamim Akhtar. The dead body of Sharifs’ mother will be brought to Lahore to be buried at their Jati Umra residence.

The funeral prayers of Begum Shamim Akhtar will be offered on Saturday evening at Medical City Complex.

Earlier on Thursday, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar had approved the release of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shahbaz on parole for five days to receive the body of her mother at Lahore airport and to offer her funeral prayers.

The lawyers had pleaded for their 15-day release on parole, however, the provincial government approved their five-day release besides allowing Shehbaz Sharif to receive the body of her mother at the airport.

from Latest Pakistan News - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/3lk5O5j

Shehbaz, Hamza to be released on five-day parole today

Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz will be released on five-day parole at 02:30 pm today following the death of Begum Shamim Akhtar, on Friday.

Shehbaz Sharif and his son will be released from Kot Lakhpat Jail today on five-day parole following the death of her mother Begum Shamim Akhtar. The dead body of Sharifs’ mother will be brought to Lahore to be buried at their Jati Umra residence.

The funeral prayers of Begum Shamim Akhtar will be offered on Saturday evening at Medical City Complex.

Earlier on Thursday, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar had approved the release of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shahbaz on parole for five days to receive the body of her mother at Lahore airport and to offer her funeral prayers.

The lawyers had pleaded for their 15-day release on parole, however, the provincial government approved their five-day release besides allowing Shehbaz Sharif to receive the body of her mother at the airport.

from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/3lk5O5j

Corona Positive ratio sharps up to 7.20 percent in pakistan

Pakistan’s COVID-19 positivity ratio stands at 7.20 per cent, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) said on Friday.

A meeting of the NCOC with Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar in the chair was informed today that the highest test positivity rate was recorded in Peshawar at 19.65 %, followed by Karachi at 17.73%, and Hyderabad at 16.32 %.

The NCOC was briefed that Pakistan’s positivity ratio has soared to 7.20 per cent lately. Sindh recorded the highest positivity ratio at 13.25%, followed by 10.79% witnessed in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 9.25% in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 6.41% in Balochistan, 5.84% in Islamabad, 4.81% in Gilgit Baltistan, and 3.59% in Punjab.

There are a total of 2,112 critically ill Covid-19 patients across the country but the number of such patients is increasing sharply, the forum was informed.

Asad Umar said protecting the masses from the pandemic is the government’s foremost priority. All-out efforts are being made to contain the spread of the virus with round-the-clock monitoring of the Covid situation, he added.

He stressed the need for people to play an individual and collective role to stem the virus spread, lauding enforcement of SOPs at mosques across the country.

from Latest Pakistan News - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/2Jhl3OS

Corona Positive ratio sharps up to 7.20 percent in pakistan

Pakistan’s COVID-19 positivity ratio stands at 7.20 per cent, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) said on Friday.

A meeting of the NCOC with Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar in the chair was informed today that the highest test positivity rate was recorded in Peshawar at 19.65 %, followed by Karachi at 17.73%, and Hyderabad at 16.32 %.

The NCOC was briefed that Pakistan’s positivity ratio has soared to 7.20 per cent lately. Sindh recorded the highest positivity ratio at 13.25%, followed by 10.79% witnessed in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 9.25% in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 6.41% in Balochistan, 5.84% in Islamabad, 4.81% in Gilgit Baltistan, and 3.59% in Punjab.

There are a total of 2,112 critically ill Covid-19 patients across the country but the number of such patients is increasing sharply, the forum was informed.

Asad Umar said protecting the masses from the pandemic is the government’s foremost priority. All-out efforts are being made to contain the spread of the virus with round-the-clock monitoring of the Covid situation, he added.

He stressed the need for people to play an individual and collective role to stem the virus spread, lauding enforcement of SOPs at mosques across the country.

from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/2Jhl3OS