Objections on electoral reforms bill may be result of rifts in allied parties: Chaudhry

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry Saturday said that objections on the electoral reforms bill by the allied parties of the ruling PTI might be a result of internal differences among the political parties.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said that the ministers representing the allied parties were taken onboard when the draft of the bill was presented before the Cabinet for approval.

"Even the bill was drafted by Law Minister Farogh Nasim, who himself is from an ally, MQM, and another federal minister from the party, Aminul Haq, being in-charge minister of IT, is looking into the technical aspect of the EVMs," Fawad added.

Similarly, he mentioned the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) as it, too, had representation in the Cabinet. The minister recalled that the allied parties had supported the bill passage when it was tabled in the National Assembly in June.

On the rapprochement between speedster Shoaib Akhtar and PTV host Nauman Niaz, he said that the issue was not that big, but that social media complicated it.

Fawad Chaudhry yet again criticised the opposition alliance and the possibilities of regrouping of the political parties. He said the opposition parties did not have on ground footing or candidates to field in all constituencies across Pakistan.

The minister also spoke about the remarks uttered by Asad Umer during a rally in Islamabad and said that he used the term of "beating" the opponents in the political context, not in its literal sense. He blamed the media for blowing the remarks out of proportion.

The minister termed the three-year performance of the PTI remarkable, saying the government restored the shut industry and revolutionised the agriculture sector by making it an industry of 11 billion rupees. "[The] income of every Pakistani increased in this tenure," the minister claimed.

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Nazim Jokhio’s phone recovered near PPP lawmaker's farmhouse in Karachi

In a major development in the investigation into the Nazim Jokhio murder case, the police recovered Sunday the victim's mobile phone and clothes from a well situated near the Jam House, a farmhouse belonging to PPP MPA Jam Owais, the prime suspect, in Karachi's Malir.

The investigation officials recovered Nazim Jokhio’s mobile phone and clothes from the well after identification by the arrested suspects. The police officials said that the suspects set the well on fire after dumping the belongings of the victim in it.

Most part of the phone had burnt in the fire, the police officials said, adding that the things would be sent to the Punjab Forensic Laboratory.

The police are expecting a major breakthrough in the investigation after receiving the report from the forensic laboratory.

The investigation officials said that Nazim Jokhio was held hostage and tortured at the warehouse in Jam House. The police have collected all evidence from the warehouse, said the officials.

Initially, PPP MPA Jam Owais was among five people who had been nominated in the murder case, the investigation officials said, adding that after recording the suspects’ statements under section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPc), the names of 11 more people have been included in the case.

At least six suspects, including PPP MPA Jam Owais have been arrested so far, the police officials said, adding that MNA Jam Abdul Karim is among the four suspects who have received pre-arrest bail from the court in the case.

MNA Jam Abdul Karim granted protective bail
Earlier on November 12, National Assembly member Jam Abdul Karim had been granted protective bail in the Nazim Jokhio murder case.

He is the elder brother of prime suspect PPP MPA Jam Owais.

The Balochistan High Court had granted protective bail to Jam Abdul Karim in a petition filed on his behalf by Advocate Sajid Tareen.

BHC Chief Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan ordered Jam Abdul Karim to appear before the relevant court within 15 days.

On November 9, a kidnapping section had been added to the police report in a case pertaining to the murder last week of Nazim Jokhio — who purportedly filmed a PPP lawmaker's guests hunting houbara bustards in Thatta — the Sindh police had said.

The police had said that besides three suspects who have been arrested, an additional 11 people have been nominated in the case. They had added that the prime suspect PPP MPA Jam Owais' older brother, MNA Jam Abdul Karim, was also among those to had been nominated.

Furthermore, video footage from the time of Nazim's murder, which went missing from the Jam House, had been recovered, the police had added.

The police had said that following the murder, the footage had been removed from the site and was traced after the suspects arrested in the case were questioned.

The incident

Nazim Jhokio had stopped a car near his village in Thatta that bore a foreign number plate and asked the people sitting inside the vehicle why they blocked the road and what they were doing there. A verbal brawl ensued. Nazim was given death threats and they tried to snatch his mobile. He somehow managed to escape from the scene at the time.

According to his brother, Afzal, Nazim had broadcast a live stream on social media of a hunting expedition involving foreign guests of PPP MPA Jam Owais.

Later, the PPP MPA called him to his house, where he was brutally tortured, Nazim's family claim.

The police recovered Nazim's body from Memon Goth in Malir on November 3.

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T20 World Cup: Australia, New Zealand one step away from first T20 title

Australia and New Zealand will clash today (Sunday) in the final of the ICC's Twenty20 World Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium to lift the trophy for the first time.

The match will begin at 7pm PST.

Australia skipper Aaron Finch said his team came with a "clear plan" to win the World Cup and reaching the final against New Zealand came as no surprise to them.

The tournament showcasing cricket's shortest format will witness a new winner in Dubai on Sunday after a clash between two teams that were not among the pre-competition favourites.

Australia made the semi-finals as the second-placed team behind England from their group but went on to beat Pakistan with a powerful performance in Thursday's semi-final.

"Everyone had written us off, but we had a lot of confidence within. I think we came here with a really clear plan to win the tournament," Finch told reporters.

"We always felt as though we've got the depth of the squad and the quality in our squad to put ourselves in a position to do that."

He said: "No, it's not unexpected."

Finch praised the Black Caps who will be appearing in their third global final after winning the inaugural Test championship in June, two years after finishing runners-up in the 2019 50-over World Cup.

"And New Zealand, they have been in every final for a long time now in ICC events," said Finch.

"They are a great team overall three formats of the game. They are a team that can never be under-estimated. But maybe people on the outside do.

"Certainly inside, we don't. They have got firepower, they have got experience, they have got class. No, I'm not surprised one bit."

Swashbuckling opener David Warner has led the team's batting charge with 236 runs in six matches and along with Finch gets the runs flowing early for his team.

- Flexible batting -

But when Australia were in trouble at 96-5 while chasing 177 in the second semi-final, the less heralded Marcus Stoinis (40 runs) and Matthew Wade (41) drove their team home with one over to spare.

"At some point throughout the tournament, everyone in our 11 has had a match-winning contribution, which has been really impressive," said Finch.

"I don't think it's down to one person. I think in a big game, you need everyone to chip in their part."

Former captain Steve Smith has a highest score of 35 and was out for five in the semi-final, but Finch dismissed concerns about his form.

However Finch said the team remains flexible in their batting and called the left-handed Wade, a wicketkeeper-batsman, a "versatile" option when it comes to coming up or down the order.

Finch acknowledged the importance of pressing home the advantage in the first six overs of powerplay, especially against a potent New Zealand pace attack including Trent Boult and Tim Southee.

"I think we've seen throughout the tournament the importance of the powerplay," said Finch.

"A lot of games have been dictated by who has won the initial contest in the power play in both innings. No doubt it will be a real challenge. It won't define who wins the match but it does help set up your innings if you perform."

But the skipper said he does not "fuss" about the toss and bowling first despite 11 out of 12 matches being won by the team batting second at the Dubai International Stadium.

New Zealand has 'exciting talents': Kane Williamson

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson said the team has "exciting talents" as they bid for a maiden Twenty20 World Cup title after losing Devon Conway to freak injury.

Tim Seifert is set to take over the wicketkeeping duties in Sunday's final against Australia in Dubai.

Conway, who broke his hand after punching his bat in an angry outburst following his dismissal in the semi-final win over England, was a second blow after the Kiwis lost Lockie Ferguson ahead of their opening match in the tournament.

Conway had made 129 runs at the event with an average of just over 32.

Crucially, his ability behind the stumps had allowed the Kiwis to draft in an extra bowler after the group loss to Pakistan.

"Here is a good mix of youth and experience, and some of these younger players that keep coming through are really exciting talents," Williamson told reporters.

"Obviously the loss of Devon is a big one. He's been a big part of all formats for us. It's a disappointing and really freak thing to happen.

"But for us, it's keeping our focus on the task, and all the players are really excited with the opportunity tomorrow to go out, and try to improve and adjust to what will be new, which is a different opposition and a different venue."

New Zealand have been the team to beat in recent times after they ended up runners-up in the 2019 50-over World Cup and clinched the inaugural Test championship in June this year.

Both New Zealand and Australia have never won a T20 World Cup and the Kiwis will be playing in their first ever final in the tournament.

"It would be some achievement," Williamson said on the prospect of winning two world trophies in a single year.

"But you know, where it stands at the moment is there's a game of cricket to play, and for us, it's focusing on that and focusing on our cricket and looking to go out there and implement those things that are important to us."

The trans-Tasman rivals have a rich history of exciting contests and their title clash brings back memories of the 2015 ODI World Cup final in Melbourne when Australia outplayed New Zealand.

"I suppose the fact that we are sort of neighbours creates a bit of that, in a number of different sports as well," Williamson said of the rivalry.

"So it is always a great competition, great occasion, when we play each other. So both teams I think are really excited at that prospect tomorrow."

New Zealand have depended on their new-ball attack of Tim Southee and Trent Boult to unsettle opponents in the tournament.

But Williamson was asked on his team's preparations to tackle Australia leg-spinner Adam Zampa who has 12 wickets.

"For us, we want to bring our focus to the cricket that we want to play and make sure that that's the most important thing," he said.

"And you know, go out there and enjoy the occasion and take it on in our style."

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SBP raises Cash Reserve Requirement limit to contain monetary expansion

In a major move, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Saturday increased the Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) by one percentage point to 6pc for scheduled banks in order to contain monetary expansion.

“In recent months, real money supply growth has drifted above its trend,” said the central bank in a circular, adding that the latest measure will moderate this growth as well as domestic demand, thereby helping to sustain the current economic recovery, achieve the government’s medium-term inflation target, and reduce pressures on the rupee.

The SBP said it has decided to increase the average CRR to be maintained during a period of two weeks by scheduled banks, from 5pc to 6pc and minimum CRR to be maintained each day from 3pc to 4pc.

The CRR is the amount of money that banks are required to keep with the central bank and is applicable on demand liabilities and time liabilities with tenor of less than a year.

“Time liabilities with tenor of more than one year shall continue to be exempted from maintenance of cash reserves,” said the SBP.

“With the economy recovering briskly from last year’s acute Covid shock, there is a need to gradually normalise policy settings, including the growth of monetary aggregates,” said the SBP.

The latest policy measure will reduce the monetary expansion because in Covid times huge liquidity was injected into the economy either through direct government deficit spending or increased lending to businesses and consumers to gear up economic growth.

The government had pumped around Rs435.7bn under Temporary Economic Refinance Facility (TERF), which expired on March 31. The scheme was launched to support the economy from Covid shocks.

The policy was adopted to stimulate the economy by boosting demand through monetary and fiscal stimulus while intended to prevent or moderate economic downturns and recessions.

“In addition, this measure is likely to have positive impact on deposit mobilisation as the banks would be encouraged to generate more deposits to cope with additional liquidity requirements for their operations,” said the SBP circular.

“The new measure would be helpful to curtail the monetary expansion but it would also impact the disbursement of loans by the banks,” said Samiuallah Tariq, head of research at Pak-Kuwait Investment Company.

The data available at the SBP website shows that the private sector borrowed Rs226.5bn during the first four months of FY22 against a net debt retirement of Rs96.5bn in the same period of last fiscal year FY21.

The State Bank said the latest measure would incentivise banks to offer better returns on deposits to attract these funds; thus serving the SBP’s objective of encouraging savings.

“The waiver of CRR on time liabilities with tenor more than a year will encourage banks to raise more long-term deposits, which will facilitate asset-liability matching and enable banks to extend long-term loans for construction and housing financing,” said the SBP.

The disbursements under the Prime Minister’s Low-Cost Housing Scheme had highly been disappointing at just Rs18bn so far against the loan applications of about Rs200bn.

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Project to test food delivery through drone launched in Islamabad

A customised drone was used on Friday to test food delivery by Pakistan’s leading food delivery company.

The test flight of the drone conducted in association with the office of the deputy commissioner Islamabad — named ‘Pandafly’ — took place in the F-9 Park.

The use of disruptive technology by Foodpanda means faster deliveries over longer distances.

Customers living in peri-urban and remote areas will especially benefit from this initiative as they have limited food delivery options in their local area so with drone delivery they will be able to order food from main urban centres as well.

The last mile of delivery by drone will be completed by a Foodpanda rider.

It must be noted that this is the first of its kind commercial drone made in Pakistan for this purpose.

Expressing his views, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Hamza Shafqaat said: “E-commerce and the use of technology to serve the citizens is definitely the future and the Islamabad civil administration stands committed to supporting anyone who takes the initiative to provide greater convenience and facilities for the public.”

He said the district administration was adopting innovative technologies by launching the City App to provide 40 services in various sectors to the people.

With access to technology in public sectors, the administration has expanded its revenue collection from Rs4 billion to Rs10 billion annually.

Speaking at the pilot launch, Nauman Sikandar Mirza, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Foodpanda, said: “Foodpanda’s core ethos is to constantly innovate, stretch the limits and leverage technology to find great solutions for meeting the evolving needs of the people.

“Before we start actual drone deliveries for our customers, there are still many aspects that need to be thoroughly evaluated and locked in, including technical, operational and legal matters and we are vigorously addressing all these. The successful test flight and delivery today has been highly encouraging and proves we are on the right flight path.”

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Objections on electoral reforms bill may be result of rifts in allied parties: Chaudhry

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry Saturday said that objections on the electoral reforms bill by the allied parties of the ruling PTI might be a result of internal differences among the political parties.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said that the ministers representing the allied parties were taken onboard when the draft of the bill was presented before the Cabinet for approval.

"Even the bill was drafted by Law Minister Farogh Nasim, who himself is from an ally, MQM, and another federal minister from the party, Aminul Haq, being in-charge minister of IT, is looking into the technical aspect of the EVMs," Fawad added.

Similarly, he mentioned the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) as it, too, had representation in the Cabinet. The minister recalled that the allied parties had supported the bill passage when it was tabled in the National Assembly in June.

On the rapprochement between speedster Shoaib Akhtar and PTV host Nauman Niaz, he said that the issue was not that big, but that social media complicated it.

Fawad Chaudhry yet again criticised the opposition alliance and the possibilities of regrouping of the political parties. He said the opposition parties did not have on ground footing or candidates to field in all constituencies across Pakistan.

The minister also spoke about the remarks uttered by Asad Umer during a rally in Islamabad and said that he used the term of "beating" the opponents in the political context, not in its literal sense. He blamed the media for blowing the remarks out of proportion.

The minister termed the three-year performance of the PTI remarkable, saying the government restored the shut industry and revolutionised the agriculture sector by making it an industry of 11 billion rupees. "[The] income of every Pakistani increased in this tenure," the minister claimed.

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Nazim Jokhio’s phone recovered near PPP lawmaker's farmhouse in Karachi

In a major development in the investigation into the Nazim Jokhio murder case, the police recovered Sunday the victim's mobile phone and clothes from a well situated near the Jam House, a farmhouse belonging to PPP MPA Jam Owais, the prime suspect, in Karachi's Malir.

The investigation officials recovered Nazim Jokhio’s mobile phone and clothes from the well after identification by the arrested suspects. The police officials said that the suspects set the well on fire after dumping the belongings of the victim in it.

Most part of the phone had burnt in the fire, the police officials said, adding that the things would be sent to the Punjab Forensic Laboratory.

The police are expecting a major breakthrough in the investigation after receiving the report from the forensic laboratory.

The investigation officials said that Nazim Jokhio was held hostage and tortured at the warehouse in Jam House. The police have collected all evidence from the warehouse, said the officials.

Initially, PPP MPA Jam Owais was among five people who had been nominated in the murder case, the investigation officials said, adding that after recording the suspects’ statements under section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPc), the names of 11 more people have been included in the case.

At least six suspects, including PPP MPA Jam Owais have been arrested so far, the police officials said, adding that MNA Jam Abdul Karim is among the four suspects who have received pre-arrest bail from the court in the case.

MNA Jam Abdul Karim granted protective bail
Earlier on November 12, National Assembly member Jam Abdul Karim had been granted protective bail in the Nazim Jokhio murder case.

He is the elder brother of prime suspect PPP MPA Jam Owais.

The Balochistan High Court had granted protective bail to Jam Abdul Karim in a petition filed on his behalf by Advocate Sajid Tareen.

BHC Chief Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan ordered Jam Abdul Karim to appear before the relevant court within 15 days.

On November 9, a kidnapping section had been added to the police report in a case pertaining to the murder last week of Nazim Jokhio — who purportedly filmed a PPP lawmaker's guests hunting houbara bustards in Thatta — the Sindh police had said.

The police had said that besides three suspects who have been arrested, an additional 11 people have been nominated in the case. They had added that the prime suspect PPP MPA Jam Owais' older brother, MNA Jam Abdul Karim, was also among those to had been nominated.

Furthermore, video footage from the time of Nazim's murder, which went missing from the Jam House, had been recovered, the police had added.

The police had said that following the murder, the footage had been removed from the site and was traced after the suspects arrested in the case were questioned.

The incident

Nazim Jhokio had stopped a car near his village in Thatta that bore a foreign number plate and asked the people sitting inside the vehicle why they blocked the road and what they were doing there. A verbal brawl ensued. Nazim was given death threats and they tried to snatch his mobile. He somehow managed to escape from the scene at the time.

According to his brother, Afzal, Nazim had broadcast a live stream on social media of a hunting expedition involving foreign guests of PPP MPA Jam Owais.

Later, the PPP MPA called him to his house, where he was brutally tortured, Nazim's family claim.

The police recovered Nazim's body from Memon Goth in Malir on November 3.

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