Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Sharif To Appear Before Antigraft Investigators
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is expected to appear this week before a panel investigating allegations against his family's offshore companies and money laundering.
In a letter obtained by RFE/RL and dated June 8, the Joint Investigation Team probing the allegations asks Sharif to appear before the panel on June 15 and "bring all relevant record/documents/material” related to the case.
"Yes, the government has received a letter by the Joint Investigation Team in which he has been directed to appear before this committee and he will appear in front of them," Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said late on June 11.
It would be the first time in Pakistan’s recent history that a sitting prime minister appears before such an investigating panel.
Sharif, who has denied allegations of wrongdoing, has been under investigation since 2016 by the Supreme Court.
The probe, linked to the release of the Panama Papers, focused on millions of dollars Sharif’s family holds in offshore assets and whether he lied to authorities about it.
The court ruled in April that there was insufficient evidence to remove Sharif from office, but ordered further investigation of the allegations.
The Joint Investigation Team has already questioned Sharif’s sons.
https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-sharif-to-appear-before-antigraft-investigators/28542332.html
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to face inquiry for corruption
An anti-corruption investigation commission has ordered Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to appear before the commission for an inquiry related to the alleged graft charges against him and his family members, as was revealed in the Panama Papers leak. It may be recalled that in April, the Supreme Court in Pakistan had ordered a joint investigation team of anti-corruption officials, along with the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence, to investigate the claims and submit a report within 60 days.
Pakistan’s information and broadcast minister Marriyum Aurangzeb has confirmed the inquiry being ordered by the anti-corruption investigation commission. “Yes, the government has received a letter by the Joint Investigation Team in which he has been directed to appear before this committee and he will appear in front of them,” said Aurangzeb. Meanwhile, the letter has leaked on social media platforms. As per the letter, Sharif will have to appear in person before the commission on June 15. Sharif has also been asked to bring all relevant documents.
Famous cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan and his Tehreek-i-Insaf party are asking that Sharif should resign till the investigations are completed.
http://www.newspatrolling.com/pakistans-prime-minister-nawaz-sharif-to-face-inquiry-for-corruption/
Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif faces corruption inquiry over Mayfair flats
Pakistan’s prime minister is to be subjected to an unprecedented grilling about corruption claims against him and his family that have gripped the country.
Nawaz Sharif will become the first sitting prime minister to face an investigating agency when he appears on Thursday before a powerful panel appointed to look into his family’s overseas assets, including a portfolio of high-end London real estate.
The six-man team that will decide Mr Sharif’s fate is made up of bankers, financial investigators and officials from Pakistan’s powerful military intelligence and spy agencies. The joint investigation team (JIT) was appointed two months ago after the Supreme Court reached a controversial split decision on whether to throw Mr Sharif out of office after an investigation lasting several months.
BILAWAL BHUTTO SUMMONS REHMAN MALIK BEFORE HIS APPEARANCE IN JIT
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has summoned Senator Rehman Malik before his appearance in Panama Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to discuss investigative reports of all important cases including Hudaibiya paper mills.
He has also directed him to provide all evidences against Sharif family in JIT. According to media reports, PPP chairman called Malik just before his appearance in JIT so that inquiry reports of all important cases including Hudaibiya Paper Mills could be reviewed and accountability process of Sharif family could be materialized and the real face of the rulers could be exposed before the people by presenting credible evidence of corruption of Sharif family before the JIT.
On the other hand, the PPP chairman understands it well that situation can take an abrupt turn due to day to day intensifying accountability process against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and in the wake of this situation he has directed party workers to remain ready to face any situation.
https://pppnewsupdate.wordpress.com/2017/06/14/bilawal-bhutto-summons-rehman-malik-before-his-appearance-in-jit/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Pakistan - Protesting doctors, police clash at Hayatabad Medical Complex
The standoff between members of the Young Doctors Association (YDA) and the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government took a turn for the worse on Tuesday after the administration of the Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) baton-charged the protesting young doctors.
The move, however, drew a mixed response from doctors while politicians used the opportunity to criticise the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led (PTI) provincial government.
“Yes, the doctors were trying to instigate the government so that the government would take action against them and the issue would be highlighted on the front pages of newspapers,” a senior doctor dealing with the issue said, adding that that now the HMC had made it easy for the doctors but tough for the government to deal with the issue since doctors, who were not part of the agitation, have now announced to stand by YDA. The YDA members have been protesting against the government for nearly a month, demanding compensation for their deceased friends, restoration of the Post Graduate Medical Institution, endowment funds for trainee medical officers and house officers, implementation of security act for doctors, time scale promotion and accommodation for doctors.
They had even set up a hunger-strike camp, but the government had not budged on their demands. Unions of doctors including the Provincial Doctors Association (PDA) Malgari [Friends] Doctors, Insaf Doctors Forum (IDF) [the medical wing of PTI] and others stayed away from the protests, isolating the YDA. But on Tuesday the police and YDA staff clashed at HMC.
“I don’t think they [other doctors] will stay away [from the protest] anymore, at least they will protest the baton-charge,” a senior doctor at HMC said.
“Yes, we will not remain silent, but it does not mean we will shut down things and create problems for the patients,” PDA Chairman Dr Shah Sawar told The Express Tribune, adding that although the HMC made a grave error, the PDA would mediate between the HMC and the YDA.
YDA Patron-in-chief Dr Alamgir Yousafzai stated that they had decided in a meeting to continue their strike at HMC, adding that YDA’s Punjab chapter had also expressed solidarity with the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) chapter.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/1434836/protesting-doctors-police-clash-hayatabad-medical-complex/
Bilawal Bhutto strongly condemns brutal police torture against young doctors in Peshawar
Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has strongly condemned brutal police torture against young doctors in Peshawar.
In a press statement issued here, the PPP Chairman said that slogans of the Change have been unmasked on Peshawar streets where young doctors were subjected to worst torture and arrests during their peaceful protest for genuine demands.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari extended full support to the protesting doctors and their grievances demanding their immediate resolution.
He also demanded release of the arrested young doctors and punishment to police personnel involved in torture.
https://mediacellppp.wordpress.com/2017/06/14/bilawal-bhutto-strongly-condemns-brutal-police-torture-against-young-doctors-in-peshawar/
Pakistan deaths show new risks for China
By Zhao Gancheng
"The Chinese side is working to learn about and verify relevant information through various channels," according to China's Foreign Ministry.
China does not tend to get involved in other countries' domestic affairs and is not linked with the quagmire in the Middle East, and thus its citizens have normally not been targeted by terrorist groups. However, the number of Chinese kidnapped overseas seems to be increasing in recent years.
Terrorists kidnap citizens for various reasons. Beijing has no intent in meddling in other countries' politics, and thus politics is unlikely to be a motive. However, China, with its growing international influence, is now playing an increasingly active role in the world arena, and as a result, some extremists may target Chinese citizens for ransom or for sensational media impact.
Religion is another motive for abduction. The two Chinese citizens kidnapped were reported to be doing missionary work in Pakistan, and this may offend local religious groups, especially radical ones.
As an increasing number of Chinese enterprises are going global, the likelihood that China falls victim to international terrorist forces is correspondingly rising. With the advancement of Beijing's Belt and Road initiative, a large number of Chinese engineers, workers and citizens are expected to participate in building infrastructure and other economic projects in countries along the route, and thus may be exposed to higher security risks. This doesn't mean that terrorist groups are now targeting China - it's a result of scale. The percentage of Chinese citizens being attacked overseas is not as high as that of foreigners.
It is worth noting that with the rampant activity of IS, religious extremists are seeing expanding clout worldwide and are penetrating into regions with tough security situations, such as South Asia.
Pakistan, in particular, is one of the worst-hit countries by terrorism, and may see a higher number of security incidents. As an intimate friend of China, Pakistan is a pilot country in the Belt and Road initiative, and a destination of a large amount of economic, trade, infrastructure and other projects that China has invested in. Beijing's huge investments in Islamabad are coveted and thus may easily fall victim to terrorist groups.
In addition, Pakistan is known for its poor security record, and has long been a hotbed of international terrorism. This may pose a severe threat to China's projects in the region.
It is a tough task for Beijing to strike a balance between security and the need to go global. With the advancement of the Belt and Road initiative and enhanced regional connectivity, China is expected to put more efforts into relevant security issues. Things will be better if the Chinese government can forge close links and have effective communications with its local partners.
People-to-people interactions are of vital importance. Apart from economic and infrastructure investments, improving effective communications among the two peoples is another significant task for China.
How to react to terrorism groups when asked for ransom is an issue worth attention as well. The US once claimed that it would never pay ransom to kidnappers as this may encourage more kidnappings. Whether Washington's way of handling the issue could be adopted as a universal practice is still hard to say. After all, each country has its respective national condition. Wisdom and time are needed for the Chinese government to find a solution to balance the need to go global and the need to lower the security risks for its citizens.
Bilawal Bhutto demands withdrawal of taxation on agriculture inputs, restoration of subsidies
Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has demanded immediate withdrawal of all the new taxes agriculture inputs and restore subsidies for the key economic sector.
Talking to a delegation of Pakistan Kissan Ittehad led by its President Khalid Mahmood Khokhar at Zardari House Islamabad, PPP Chairman accused Nawaz Sharif government of guillotining agriculture economy in a bid to unleash unemployment and to poverty among the majority of Pakistanis who livelihood is connect to farming.
The Kissat Ittehad delegation complained to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari that Nawaz government has let loose reign of terror against the farmers and had killed two farmers during protests in Islamabad recently. “Nawaz regime has targeted farmers’ protests with brutal force and torture it never applied even against sectarian and extremist forces,” they further complained.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that PPP will never leave the farmers in lurch and all its political power will be used to regain the lost rights of the agriculture communities. “Nawaz government won’t be allowed to snatch the natural livelihood of poor and toiling peasants,” he added.
PPP Chairman also directed the Leaders of Opposition in the Senate and the National Assembly to raise full voice for the farmers in the Parliament and resist its anti-agriculture policies on the floor of the House.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also assured the Kissan Ittehad that PPP was here to protect all the legitimate rights of the farming community. He said that the PPP Manifesto for 2018 General Election will take full care of agriculture sector and segments of society connected economically to it.
https://mediacellppp.wordpress.com/
Pakistan - Aitzaz Hasan's family seeks protection after 'Taliban threats'
Ebad Ahmed
Distraught after receiving death threats, allegedly from the Taliban, the family of Aitzaz Hasan — the courageous teenager who sacrificed his life to stop a suicide bomber from attacking his school in Hangu — anxiously awaits a response from official quarters.
The 15-year-old student became a national hero after his act of bravery on January 6, 2014 saved hundreds of lives. He was later awarded the Sitara-e-Shujaat.
However, his family's pleas for protection are going unheard as they cautiously go about their lives in their village of Ibrahimzai.
Speaking to Geo.tv, Aitzaz's elder brother, Mujataba, said that on April 3 this year, the family received a threatening letter from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, which stated that “Aitzaz Hasan is not a hero nor a martyr. Aitzaz's brother Mujtaba should stop meeting media and officials of government institutions otherwise he will be responsible for any loss.”
Three days later, Mujtaba went to the city police station and registered a complaint, asking authorities to protect his family.
Hangu City SHO Farid Khan confirmed to Geo.tv that Mujtaba had filed a complaint on April 6. However, the SHO added, they have not yet registered a case as the inquiry into the matter is underway.
Unsatisfied with the response of law enforcers, Aitzaz's family wrote to Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa inspector-general of police requesting adequate security for his family in the wake of the recent threat.
“Despite my plea to the relevant security institutions informing them of the threat, I have not yet received a reply from any of them,” Mujtaba lamented.
“Right now my family only has one guard for protection, provided by the district administration. It is my humble request from the authorities to give us the required security – my family is going through trauma and right now we need their support.”
He regretted that the provincial and federal government were "disgracefully ignoring his family".
“The provincial government has not maintained any contact with my family. They are yet to honour their commitment of establishing two colleges and a sports stadium in Aitzaz's name. Meanwhile the federal government is yet to ever contact us."
No one has bothered to ask us how we are living our life, he claimed.
Mujtaba said his family demands that January 6 be observed as ‘Aitzaz Day’ all over Pakistan so their loved one's sacrifice should never be forgotten.
“He is a young martyr who gave his blood for the country, please don’t ignore us so ruthlessly," he said, addressing the relevant officials.
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