Toshakhana reference: Court declares Nawaz ‘proclaimed offender’ besides indicted Zardari, Gillani

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has been declared ‘proclaimed offender’ in Toshakhana reference by an accountability court in Islamabad besides indicting four accused persons including former president Asif Ali Zardari and former premier Yousaf Raza Gillani.

The accountability court conducted the hearing of Toshakhana reference today against prominent political personalities including Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif over allegedly obtaining luxury vehicles from the treasury by paying 15 per cent of the actual price, whereas, the former premier Yousaf Raza Gillani had allegedly facilitated the allotment of the cars to both of them.

Former president and Pakistan People’s Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and ex-premier Yousaf Raza Gillani appeared in the hearing which is being heard by the accountability court’s judge Asghar Ali.

During the hearing, the judge declared Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif a proclaimed offender in the case and sought details of his movable and immovable assets within a week.

Moreover, the accountability court also issued a non-bailable warrant for the arrest of the former premier Nawaz Sharif.

Judge Asghar Ali remarked that the court will indict other accused persons in Toshakhana reference after separating the case related to Nawaz Sharif.

However, the accused persons have denied the charges in the courtroom.

Yousaf Raza Gillani appeared at the rostrum and said that he has never violated the rules and regulations while approving the summary. He argued that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) filed the reference without considering rules of business.
The judge remarked that merits are not being debated in the hearing regarding the summary and it will be questioned during the trial.

Later, Asif Ali Zardari signed surety bonds after being indicted in the Toshakhana reference.

The accountability court summoned three witnesses including Waqarul Hassan Shah, Zubair Siddiqui and Imran Zafar on September 24 and adjourned the hearing.

Earlier, the anti-corruption watchdog presented a probe report regarding Nawaz Sharif in Toshakhana reference before the court today.

The report stated that Nawaz Sharif was fully aware of his expected arrest which led him to file a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for challenging to advertise a summon issued by the accountability court.

According to the NAB report, Sharif had not responded to the questionnaire sent by the investigators in the case. The questionnaire had been handed over to Nawaz Sharif when he sought more time to consult his lawyer after being interrogated in Kot Lakhpat Jail on July 5 last year. However, the PML-N supremo had kept excusing to respond by telling the investigators for not concluding legal consultation.

Toshakhana reference

The NAB team said in its report that maximum efforts are being made to produce Nawaz Sharif before the court, however, he is deliberately avoiding the appearance in the hearings.

The prominent political personalities including Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif are accused of illegally obtaining luxury vehicles from the treasury by paying 15 per cent of the actual price, whereas, the former premier Yousaf Raza Gillani had allegedly facilitated the allotment of the cars to both of them.

Zardari had received expensive cars as a gift from Libya and the UAE as president but did not deposit it in the Tosha Khana, the sources added.

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Toshakhana reference: Court declares Nawaz ‘proclaimed offender’ besides indicted Zardari, Gillani

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has been declared ‘proclaimed offender’ in Toshakhana reference by an accountability court in Islamabad besides indicting four accused persons including former president Asif Ali Zardari and former premier Yousaf Raza Gillani.

The accountability court conducted the hearing of Toshakhana reference today against prominent political personalities including Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif over allegedly obtaining luxury vehicles from the treasury by paying 15 per cent of the actual price, whereas, the former premier Yousaf Raza Gillani had allegedly facilitated the allotment of the cars to both of them.

Former president and Pakistan People’s Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and ex-premier Yousaf Raza Gillani appeared in the hearing which is being heard by the accountability court’s judge Asghar Ali.

During the hearing, the judge declared Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif a proclaimed offender in the case and sought details of his movable and immovable assets within a week.

Moreover, the accountability court also issued a non-bailable warrant for the arrest of the former premier Nawaz Sharif.

Judge Asghar Ali remarked that the court will indict other accused persons in Toshakhana reference after separating the case related to Nawaz Sharif.

However, the accused persons have denied the charges in the courtroom.

Yousaf Raza Gillani appeared at the rostrum and said that he has never violated the rules and regulations while approving the summary. He argued that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) filed the reference without considering rules of business.
The judge remarked that merits are not being debated in the hearing regarding the summary and it will be questioned during the trial.

Later, Asif Ali Zardari signed surety bonds after being indicted in the Toshakhana reference.

The accountability court summoned three witnesses including Waqarul Hassan Shah, Zubair Siddiqui and Imran Zafar on September 24 and adjourned the hearing.

Earlier, the anti-corruption watchdog presented a probe report regarding Nawaz Sharif in Toshakhana reference before the court today.

The report stated that Nawaz Sharif was fully aware of his expected arrest which led him to file a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for challenging to advertise a summon issued by the accountability court.

According to the NAB report, Sharif had not responded to the questionnaire sent by the investigators in the case. The questionnaire had been handed over to Nawaz Sharif when he sought more time to consult his lawyer after being interrogated in Kot Lakhpat Jail on July 5 last year. However, the PML-N supremo had kept excusing to respond by telling the investigators for not concluding legal consultation.

Toshakhana reference

The NAB team said in its report that maximum efforts are being made to produce Nawaz Sharif before the court, however, he is deliberately avoiding the appearance in the hearings.

The prominent political personalities including Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif are accused of illegally obtaining luxury vehicles from the treasury by paying 15 per cent of the actual price, whereas, the former premier Yousaf Raza Gillani had allegedly facilitated the allotment of the cars to both of them.

Zardari had received expensive cars as a gift from Libya and the UAE as president but did not deposit it in the Tosha Khana, the sources added.

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Trump will announce reduction in U.S. troops in Iraq on Wednesday

President Donald Trump will announce a further drawdown of U.S. troops from Iraq on Wednesday, a senior administration official told reporters on Tuesday.

That announcement will be followed by another one in the coming days on a further reduction in U.S. forces in Afghanistan, the official said.

The decision comes as Trump, a Republican, faces blowback from a report that he allegedly made disparaging remarks about U.S. war dead.

Trump is trailing Democratic rival Joe Biden in polls ahead of the Nov. 3 election. His announcement, and the timing of it, may be aimed at convincing voters that he is following through on promises to end what he has described as America’s endless wars.

The United States has around 5,200 troops that were deployed in Iraq to fight the Islamic State militant group.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said last month that the United States was expected to reduce the number of its troops in Iraq by about a third in the coming months.

The United States currently has about 8,600 troops in Afghanistan. Trump said in an interview with Axios released last month that the United States planned to lower that number to about 4,000.

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Trump will announce reduction in U.S. troops in Iraq on Wednesday

President Donald Trump will announce a further drawdown of U.S. troops from Iraq on Wednesday, a senior administration official told reporters on Tuesday.

That announcement will be followed by another one in the coming days on a further reduction in U.S. forces in Afghanistan, the official said.

The decision comes as Trump, a Republican, faces blowback from a report that he allegedly made disparaging remarks about U.S. war dead.

Trump is trailing Democratic rival Joe Biden in polls ahead of the Nov. 3 election. His announcement, and the timing of it, may be aimed at convincing voters that he is following through on promises to end what he has described as America’s endless wars.

The United States has around 5,200 troops that were deployed in Iraq to fight the Islamic State militant group.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said last month that the United States was expected to reduce the number of its troops in Iraq by about a third in the coming months.

The United States currently has about 8,600 troops in Afghanistan. Trump said in an interview with Axios released last month that the United States planned to lower that number to about 4,000.

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China passed 'extraordinary' virus test: President Xi Jinping

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday said that the country has passed "an extraordinary and historic test" with its handling of the coronavirus.

He said this at a triumphant awards ceremony for medical professionals decorated with bugle calls and applause.

The nation's propaganda machine has churned out praise for China's COVID-19 response, reframing the public health crisis as an example of the agility and organisation of the Communist leadership.

Xi doled out gold medals to four "heroes" from the medical field in front of hundreds of applauding delegates on Tuesday, all wearing face masks and strikingly large red flower pins.

"We have passed an extraordinary and historic test," Xi said, praising the country for a "heroic struggle" against the disease.

"We quickly achieved initial success in the people's war against the coronavirus. We are leading the world in economic recovery and in the fight against COVID-19."

China has come under intense global scrutiny over its response to the virus, with the United States and Australia leading accusations against Beijing that it covered up the origins and severity of the virus.

Tuesday's lavish ceremony in the Great Hall of the People began with a minute's silence for those who lost their lives during the outbreak.

The four awardees included 83-year-old Zhong Nanshan -- the country's most famous medical expert who emerged as the face of China's fight against the contagion.

He was awarded China's top national medal by Xi, who placed it around Zhong's neck.

"We will join hands with the... world's medical workers to continue the fight in tracing the origins of the virus," said Zhong.

Beijing has insisted the source of the virus -- which first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year — is still unknown.

Three others were given the honorary title of "The People's Hero" —biochemical expert Chen Wei, the head of a hospital in Wuhan, and a 72-year-old expert in traditional Chinese medicine.

Some delegates were in tears during a series of speeches.

There was no mention however of whistleblower doctor Li Wenliang, who was among the first to be silenced for raising the alarm about the outbreak and later died from the disease.

Before the ceremony, state broadcaster CCTV showed a video montage of Wuhan at the peak of the outbreak set to rousing music, including images of medical staff in hazmat suits and crowded hospitals.

According to official numbers, there have been 4,634 deaths in China from COVID-19. The government has largely contained the outbreak through a serious of strict lockdowns and travel restrictions.

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FM Qureshi to attend SCO meeting in Moscow: FO

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will visit Russia to attend the SCO meeting scheduled to take place on September 9, 2020, in Moscow, the foreign office said in a statement on Tuesday.

According to a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, FM Qureshi is visiting Moscow on the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who would also chair the meeting.

The foreign minister will also have bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the CFM.

The SCO-CFM is the highest forum of SCO after the Council of Heads of State (CHS) and the Council of Heads of Government (CHG). It deliberates on important regional and international issues and considers documents for approval and adoption by the Council of Heads of State.

The Moscow SCO-CFM will consider more than 20 documents for subsequent adoption in the SCO Council of Heads of State. It will also adopt a Joint Communiqué reflecting member states’ unified stance on important regional and international issues.

SCO’s major objectives include promoting mutual confidence and good-neighborly relations among member states; strengthening regional peace, security and stability; and creating a framework for effective cooperation in political, cultural, trade and economy, science and technology, education, energy, transportation, tourism, environmental protection and other fields.

Besides Pakistan, SCO’s current membership comprises China, Russia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

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Cabinet approves ferry services for pilgrims from Karachi, Gwadar, and Bin Qasim ports

The federal cabinet on Tuesday approved initiating ferry services at three ports — Karachi, Gwadar, and Bin Qasim — in a bid to facilitate pilgrims headed to Iraq and Iran.

The pilgrims will be able to avail immigration services at these points, a post-cabinet meeting press release said.

Furthermore, Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi, announced that in pursuance of Prime Minister Imran Khan's Blue Economy policy, the ministry has been allowed to "start ferry/passenger ships to all possible destinations across the world".

"Maritime frontiers now open for sea travel," he said.

Briefing the media about other decisions taken in the federal cabinet meeting today, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz said that approval for expanding the network of shelter homes across the country to facilitate the downtrodden people was given.

"The idea of [shelter homes] is one very close to Prime Minister Imran Khans's heart, as he believes in providing a dignified place of living to the poor," he said.

Speaking about the outstanding payments to the media houses, the information minister said that at least Rs1.1 billion rupees were paid to them so far.

Responding to a question, Faraz said that the government was making all possible efforts to reduce the impact of inflation in the wake of COVID-19.

The federal minister said the cabinet also held a detailed discussion on the situation that has emerged in Karachi and interior Sindh after heavy rains lashed the province.

"The cabinet has constituted a special committee to estimate the losses incurred due to rains," he said.

According to a statement from the PM's Office, the premier said that there was a need to come up with a comprehensive policy to provide relief to the people affected during the recent rains.

He said that the National Disaster Management Authority has been tasked with working alongside the provincial governments to assess the damage caused.

The premier, talking about the Karachi Transformation Plan, said that the metropolis plays the role of an "engine of growth" for the country's economy.

"The Centre is determined to resolve the issues of Karachi," he said.

A plan of action in accordance with the agreement made with independent power producers (IPPs) needs to be drafted, the meeting noted.

"As a result of deals made with IPPs, more than Rs100 billion will be saved annually," it was observed by the cabinet.

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