Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Pakistan records 2,475 new corona cases, 58 deaths within 24 hours

Pakistan records 2,475 new corona cases, 58 deaths within 24 hours
The statistics of National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has shown that the coronavirus pandemic claims 58 more lives, whereas, 2,475 new infections were reported during the last 24 hours, on Thursday.

In the past 24 hours, 58 more people succumbed to the disease, taking the death toll to 10,105. 4,960 patients have recovered from the virus in a day and 2,206 patients are in critical condition.

The total count of active cases is 34,537.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), with fresh inclusion of the infections in the country the national tally of cases now currently stands at 479,715.

A total of 39,695 tests were conducted across the country during this period. Overall 435,073 people have recovered from the deadly disease so far while 6,696,068 samples have been tested thus far.



from Latest Pakistan News - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/381e0nl

Pakistan records 2,475 new corona cases, 58 deaths within 24 hours

Pakistan records 2,475 new corona cases, 58 deaths within 24 hours
The statistics of National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has shown that the coronavirus pandemic claims 58 more lives, whereas, 2,475 new infections were reported during the last 24 hours, on Thursday.

In the past 24 hours, 58 more people succumbed to the disease, taking the death toll to 10,105. 4,960 patients have recovered from the virus in a day and 2,206 patients are in critical condition.

The total count of active cases is 34,537.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), with fresh inclusion of the infections in the country the national tally of cases now currently stands at 479,715.

A total of 39,695 tests were conducted across the country during this period. Overall 435,073 people have recovered from the deadly disease so far while 6,696,068 samples have been tested thus far.



from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/381e0nl

Selected PM will now be rejected: Maryam

PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz
PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday once more criticised Prime Minister Imran Khan, saying that the "selected" premier "will now be rejected".

She said that the government is "deluded" if it thinks Khawaja Asif's arrest will deter PML-N. "The lions of PML-N will fight courageously against you," she said, addressing a workers convention in Islamabad marking PML-N Kashmir's foundation day.

"Imran Khan will have to go," she said, adding: "Nawaz Sharif told you you will not be able to run the government and that you should go and play cricket."

She said that today "time has proven Nawaz Sharif right".

Maryam said PM Imran Khan admitted "he was brought without any preparation". She said "when a weak prime minister takes office, an enemy like India attacks".

The PML-N vice president said that to date, "no reference has been filed in the case for which Nawaz Sharif was arrested".

She said the government accused Nawaz "of all sorts of things" and used "various tactics" including charges of treason as well as "issuing fatwas".

"But the people have thrown these all in the trash," Maryam said.

She said to the government: "Know this, every act of oppression, only strengthens me."

The PML-N vice president told the gathering she will "fight with her life" for their case. "The responsibility to guard the vote is yours. I will campaign for your rights in Kashmir."

Maryam's address comes a day after PML-N's parliamentary leader Khawaja Asif was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau for "failing to satisfy it on charges of owning assets beyond known sources of income".

It also comes as Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed announced that after February 16, Nawaz's passport will not longer be valid and will stand "cancelled".



from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/34Y8QGZ

Nawaz Sharif's passport will be cancelled on Feb 16: Shaikh Rasheed

 Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed
In a significant development, the federal government has decided to cancel former premier Nawaz Sharif's passport in a month-and-a-half.

This was announced by Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed on Wednesday while talking to reporters in Islamabad. "We have decided to cancel Nawaz Sharif's passport on February 16."

The government has already approached UK authorities to extradite Nawaz Sharif. Special Assistant to PM Imran Khan on Accountability Shahzad Akbar had said that it is up to the British government to decide on the extradition of the former premier.

The PML-N supremo was granted an eight-week bail on medical grounds in October 2019 and a month later he was allowed to travel abroad for treatment for four weeks. The government maintains that Nawaz was permitted on condition he would share details of treatment which he didn't do.

It may be added here that the deposed premier has been declared proclaimed offender by Islamabad High Court and an accountability for failing to appear before the bench.

Similarly, sources in the interior ministry said that the PML-N supremo's passport would not be renewed, while also confirming that it would expire in the mid of February.

The interior ministry has issued instructions to the Passport and Immigration Directorate to not renew the passport, sources added.



from Latest Pakistan News - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/34YrJcC

Khawaja Asif should not hide behind excuse of political vendetta: FM Qureshi

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Adviser to Prime Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi urged PML-N leader Khawaja Asif to stop hiding behind the excuse of "political vendetta" and face accountability.

The foreign minister was holding the news conference with Adviser to Prime Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan. He was reacting to Khawaja Asif's arrest in the assets beyond means case and the PML-N's strong reaction against it.

"Khawaja Asif was invited many times to present himself to NAB and satisfy the bureau," said FM Qureshi. "It seems as if Asif couldn't answer NAB's questions [related to assets beyond means]."

The foreign minister said that since yesterday evening — when Asif was arrested — a storm has erupted and Opposition parties have been saying that NAB has been exacting revenge on political rivals of the government.

"NAB is an independent institution and is not subservient to the government," he said. "The laws according to which NAB operares were not introduced by the PTI," added FM Qureshi.

The foreign minister said that people should refrain from speaking about a PTI-NAB nexus since the accountability bureau was an independent body.

"Only Khawaja Asif can shed light on why he was arrested," he said. "They say, 'If you asks us questions, we will lay a siege around you,'" said FM Qureshi, hitting out at the PML-N.

'Now we understand why Opposition wanted to amend NAB laws'

Continuing his tirade against the Opposition, FM Qureshi said every person was held accountable in respectable societies the world over. "Now we are understanding why they wanted to amend NAB laws," he said. "They had told us [the government] that if NAB laws are relaxed then [Opposition] will hold talks with us," added Qureshi.

He accused the Opposition of demanding an NRO from the government, adding that Khawaja Asif had been present in the FATF-relaed legislation meetings that took place between the government and Opposition.

He urged Khawaja Asif and other Opposition leaders to reply to NAB's accusations and expose them if they were indeed filthy. "But they don't have answers to NAB's questions," he said. "Imran Khan brought forth a 40-year-old record and appeared before the court," said Qureshi, adding that after weighing the evidence, the Supreme Court declared PM Imran Khan "Sadiq and Ameen'.

Babar Awan accuses Nawaz Sharif of laundering money

Awan spoke next, hitting out at PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz for saying that Nawaz Sharif should not have been punished for holding an Iqamah.

"I want to explain to people the various advantages that come with holding an Iqamah," he said. "With an Iqamah, you can hold accounts in foreign banks," he added.

Awan said that Iqamahs are a residency permit that those who work abroad get. He said that money earned through illegal means is sent abroad and then brought back to the country by Pakistan's politicians.

"People who continuously live abroad become locals in foreign countries," he said. "However, why did Nawaz Sharif and Khawaja Asif felt the need to get an Iqamah?" he asked.

Awan said that Pakistan was that "unfortunate country" from where billions were stolen and stashed abroad. He accused the Opposition of making the NRO an excuse or their resignations from the parliament to escape NAB's accountability.

Khawaja Asif blames PM Imran Khan for his arrest

PML-N leader Khawaja Asif claimed on Wednesday that Prime Minister Imran Khan was "100%" behind his arrest, adding that this was an attempt to weaken party supremo Nawaz Sharif.

Asif was arrested by NAB Tuesday night in a case pertaining to acquiring assets beyond means of income. The party had gathered at PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal’s house in the federal capital for a huddle which was being attended by PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz.

Talking to reporters outside an accountability court in Islamabad, Asif had said attempts have been made to break the party in the last two-and-a-half years.

When a reporter asked Asif to elaborate on a statement made by Maryam claiming that the Asif had been told all cases against him would be written off if he stood against Nawaz Sharif, the ex-defence minister had said: “This is what we are all being told.”

Asif added that the case has been pending for over two years now. “I was given a charge sheet that assets increased but NAB has so far not investigated the matter. I have been facing this case for over two years, first in Rawalpindi then in Lahore.”



from Latest Pakistan News - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/34R47H1

Indian media trying to divert world’s attention from Kashmir issue: PM Khan

Prime Minister Imran Khan
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said that the Indian media was trying to divert the world’s attention from the Indian government's illegal steps in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

He said the Indian media was doing so through negative and baseless propaganda against Pakistan.

According to the Prime Minister's Office, the premier was chairing a meeting to review the negative propaganda and disinformation campaign, including hybrid warfare, launched by the Indian media against Pakistan.

During the meeting, the prime minister observed that the objective of such nefarious propaganda was to create anarchy in the country.

He directed for effective measures to be put into place to foil the Indian media’s negative propaganda.

He also stressed the need for public awareness in this regard, saying that such a baseless and concocted campaign should be countered with facts.

"The real face of India should be exposed before the international community and the public," the statement quoted the prime minister as saying.

He also expressed the hope that Pakistani media would play its imperative role in this regard.

The meeting was attended by several federal ministers including Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz, Minister for Interior Shaikh Rasheed Ahmed, Minister for Communication Murad Saeed, PM’s special assistant Dr Moeed Yousaf, Focal Person on Digital Media Dr Arsalan Khalid, among others.



from Latest Pakistan News - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/380fcaQ

Procurement of one million coronavirus vaccines authorised: Umar

Asad Umar
The chief of the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) — the body leading Pakistan's fight against coronavirus — on Wednesday said that he has authorised the procurement of more than one million vaccines.

Asad Umar, in his statement on Twitter, said that the number "will cover all frontline health workers".

He said what remains now is for DRAP (Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan) to approve a vaccine.

Umar said that the government aims to deploy the vaccines within the first quarter of 2021.

According to a statement by NCOC, Pakistan is in close contact with vaccine manufacturers to obtain a vaccine soon.

It may be noted here that Pakistan signed up for the United Nation's COVAX Facility, a global initiative aimed at equitable access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines worldwide.

Moreover, a National Immunisation Management System has been prepared with the joint efforts of the Ministry of Health, the National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA), and National Information Technology Board (NITB).

The statement said that an effective supply of the vaccine will be ensured through the system.

Citizens will register themselves through SMS and online for vaccinations.

The system will become fully operational by mid-January, according to the NCOC statement.

Vaccine trials

Around 13,000 people have volunteered for the coronavirus vaccine trials across the country, a health official said back in mid December.

The first human trials of the vaccine, developed by the Chinese company CanSino Biologics Inc, started on September 22 in Pakistan.

Since then, the country has administered the experimental vaccine to 13,000 people, Dr Ejaz Khan, chairman of infection control at Shifa Hospital in Islamabad overlooking the trials.

Vaccine trials are being conducted at five centres in Pakistan — two in Karachi, two in Lahore and one in Islamabad.



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

Islamabad court dismisses Gill’s bail plea in sedition case

A District and Sessions court of Islamabad dismissed the post arrest bail petition of PTI leader Shahbaz Gill on Tuesday. Additional Dist...