Nation should follow corona SOPs on Eidul Fitr : President Dr Arif Alvi

President Dr Arif Alvi on Sunday has urged the nation to strictly follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) on the occasion of Eidul Fitr in the wake of the third wave of coronavirus in the country.

In his Tweet, the president said masses must be doing something good that Covid-19 has not overwhelmed Pakistan like in neighboring countries.

The country is reporting around 4,000 daily COVID infections, he added and asked the people not to let down their guard down.

Earlier, federal planning and development minister Asad Umar had said the Covid situation this year had been considerably worse than what the country faced the previous year.

Speaking exclusively to ARY News program Aiteraz Hai, the federal minister had said Pakistan cannot afford to spiral into the Covid crisis like that in India and said the country had to roll out stringent measures to avoid such a downward spiral.

You must be doing something good that Covid-19 has not overwhelmed Pakistan like in neighboring countries. We are on a plateau of around 4000 daily cases.

Don't let your guard down. Strictly follow SOPs, in Ramadan/Eid & all Smart Lockdown Policies. Allah IA will keep you safe.

— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) May 9, 2021

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Federal govt announces to file appeal against LHC order allowing Shahbaz’s abroad travel

Federal government announced that it would file an appeal challenging the Lahore High Court (LHC) decision giving one-time permission to PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif to go abroad for medical treatment.

The announcement was made by the federal ministers Fawad Chaudhry and Shahzad Akbar in a press conference today.

Speaking during the presser, PM’s aide on Accountability Shahzad Akbar said that the government would file an appeal against the LHC decision and will also present its case before the court regarding stopping PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif from going abroad.

He said that the PML-N leaders secured a decision in favour of Shahbaz Sharif over his name’s inclusion in the blacklist, however, when they reached the airport with an order on the blacklist, it emerged that his name was on the PNI list.

“We have volume 55 which carries evidence against Shahbaz and trial will begin in light of it after Eid,” he said adding that if Shahbaz Sharif is allowed to leave then the trial of other co-accused would also be affected.

Speaking on the occasion, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said that Punjab health minister Yasmin Rashid was more ill than Shahbaz and Nawaz Sharif, however, she is getting treatment in Pakistan.

“Should both the Sharif brothers not also get treatment in Pakistan?” he asked and further urged their children to return to the country and face cases against them.

Letting Shahbaz Sharif go abroad will mean a special treatment meted out to him other than the hundreds of prisoners languishing in Pakistani jails, the information minister said adding that granting permission will give an impression that influential people could make a mockery of the justice system.

He said that they respect the court orders and had implemented them, however, they also have the right to appeal against the decision.

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PM Khan condemned attack of Israeli forces during Ramazan in Al-Aqsa Mosque

Prime Minister Imran Khan strongly condemned the attack of Israeli forces during the month of Ramazan on Palestinians in Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The prime minister, who is currently on a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia, took to Twitter to condemn the Israeli attack on Palestinians.

“Strongly condemn Israeli Forces’ attack esp during Ramazan on Palestinians in Qibla-e-Awaal, Al-Aqsa Mosque,” the prime minister said while terming it a violation of all norms of humanity and international law.

He reiterated Pakistan’s support for the Palestinian people and urged the international community to take immediate action to protect Palestinians and their legitimate rights.

Yesterday, Pakistan strongly condemned attacks on worshippers in Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli forces, which saw injuries to scores of people and draw condemnation from other Muslim countries also.

In a message from the official Twitter handle, Foreign Office Spokesman Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said that Pakistan strongly condemns attacks on innocent worshippers in Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli Occupation Forces.

“We pray for a speedy recovery of injured, reiterate our steadfast support to the Palestinian cause and urge the [international] community to take prompt action to protect the Palestinian people,” the foreign office said.

At least 205 Palestinians were injured in the night-time clashes at Islam’s third-holiest site and around East Jerusalem, Palestinian medics and Israeli police said, as thousands of Palestinians faced off with several hundred Israeli police in riot gear.

Tension has mounted in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, with nightly clashes in East Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah – a neighbourhood where numerous Palestinian families face eviction.

Strongly condemn Israeli Forces' attack esp during Ramazan on Palestinians in Qibla-e-Awaal, Al-Aqsa Mosque, violating all norms of humanity & int law. We reiterate support for Palestinian ppl. Int community must take immed action to protect Palestinians & their legitimate rights

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 9, 2021

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Eid moon to be sighted in Pakistan on May 13 : Fawad Chaudhry

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Sunday said Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Friday, May 14 according to the calendar.

However, the minister clarified in the same tweet that the final decision in this regard will be announced by the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.

The information minister said the moon will appear on May 13 and Eid will be on May 14, according to the calendar and the moon sighting app.

The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will meet on Wednesday — the 29th of Ramadan — to sight the Eid-ul-Fitr moon, the body had said in a statement issued a day earlier.

The meeting will take place in Islamabad with Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad presiding over it, the statement said.

The meetings of zonal committees would take place in their respective areas, while the central committee would gather witnesses from across the country.

اگرچہ عید کا حتمی اعلان رویت ھلال کمیٹی نے کرنا ہے لیکن @MinistryofST کے بنائے گئے کیلنڈر اور Ruet App (رویت) کے مطابق چاند 13 مئ کو نظر آ پائے گا اور عید 14 مئ کو ہو گی۔

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) May 9, 2021

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NA-249 Election: Bilawal Bhutto congratulates PPP on victory

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Sunday congratulated the PPP's workers and supporters after the party's candidate Qadir Khan Mandokhail emerged victorious in the NA-249 by-election, after votes were recounted.

The party had much to celebrate for, as its candidate was declared the victor by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) with an even wider margin after votes were counted once again on the Opposition's insistence.

"Congratulations to workers of Pakistan Peoples Party on winning NA249 Karachi. After recount we’ve expanded our lead to over 900+ votes. False accusations have been exposed, the truth has prevailed," tweeted the PPP chairperson.

Bilawal took a shot at the government as well, saying that Karachiites "have rejected selected & placed their hopes in PPP".

After a recount of votes polled across all 276 stations, Mandokhail got 15,656 votes, whereas PML-N candidate Miftah Ismail secured 14,747,. This means that the PPP candidate was ahead of the second-placed Mistah Ismail by a margin of 909 votes.

 

When the unofficial by-poll results were first announced, Mandokhail won with 16,156 votes, whereas Ismail came in second with 15,473, resulting in a difference of 683 votes.

The low margin of votes had prompted Ismail to petition the ECP to hold a recount. The ECP, accepting Ismail's application for a hearing, issued a stay order, withholding the results of the by-poll.

On May 4, following a hearing, the ECP had ordered a recount on May 6, which was boycotted by all parties except for the PPP.

The vote recount hit a snag when candidates objected to unsealed bags that were brought for a recount and came out of the District Returning Officer's office in protest.

The PTI had gone so far as to file a petition with the ECP seeking annulment of the by-election in NA-249 due to alleged rigging.

However, ECP officials decreed that "the recount process will be completed as per the order”.

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Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expected to visit Pakistan after Eid

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has accepted Prime Minister Imran Khan's invitation to visit Pakistan and it is expected he embark on an official visit to the country after Eid.

PM Imran Khan is in Saudi Arabia to hold meetings with the top Saudi leadership in a bid to strengthen ties between Islamabad and Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia, as per Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, has committed to provide $500 million (Rs 75.50 billion) to Pakistan from the Saudi Development Fund for development of infrastructure, water resources and hydropower projects in Pakistan.

Touching upon the crown prince's upcoming visit to Pakistan, FM Qureshi said a Saudi delegation will visit Pakistan in advance after Eid to discuss the Saudi foreign minister and the crown prince's visit.

Later, in a video message Qureshi said, “The prime minister’s visit is proving highly productive and there is good news for Pakistan and the Pakistani people”.

However, he did not give details of what the good news for the people of Pakistan was.

Qureshi had mentioned earlier that Pakistan would benefit since out of 10 million workers that Saudi Arabia needed in the next 10 years, many would come from Pakistan.

“In Mohammed Bin Salman’s view, to achieve the goals set under the vision they would need massive manpower. They have estimated that they would need at least 10 million workers in the next 10 years.

“Saudi Arabia has decided to allocate a large chunk of this for Pakistani people. New job opportunities would be created for Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia,” said Qureshi.

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Arif Alvi promulgates ordinance allowing overseas voting rights, EVM use

President Arif Alvi has promulgated Election (second amendment) ordinance 2021, allowing voting rights to overseas Pakistanis and use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) during the election process, reported on Saturday.

According to the ordinance issued by the president, changes were made to section 94 (1) and section 103 of the Election Act 2017.

The amendments will help in ensuring that overseas Pakistanis vote during the next general election.

Furthermore, the ECP would also be bound to purchase electronic voting machines (EVMs) ahead of the general election as amendments were made in sections pertaining to the use of biometric machines for a pilot project.

The federal cabinet on May 04 approved two ordinances regarding the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and voting rights for overseas Pakistanis.

Sharing details regarding decisions taken during the cabinet meeting headed by PM Imran Khan in a presser, Fawad Chaudhry said that through an ordinance the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has been authorized to use EVM.

“Another ordinance has given the ECP authority regarding voting rights for the overseas Pakistanis,” the information minister said while lamenting that certain people do not know the powers rested with the Parliament.

He said that the government has fulfilled its responsibility regarding legislation on the matter. “Technological work is to be done on biometric and e-voting,” he said adding that they have appointed a consultant to finalize recommendations in this regard.

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