Friday, July 28, 2017

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Pakistan - CTD UNEARTHS NEW DANGEROUS NARRATIVE OF TAKFIRI MILITANTS THAT NEEDS TO BE COUNTERED

Police investigators probing the targeted killing of law enforcers on Thursday claimed to have detected an emerging militant group’s communication based on a different but dangerous narrative. It suggested that the group would target only the officials of state institutions and regretted the deaths of “civilians” in collateral damage vowing to “pay compensation to the families of such victims”. But, people are aware of the fact that terrorists are ferocious people and their crocodile’s tears would not win them public sympathy although
“This is a different and dangerous narrative of the new militant [groups] and needs to be countered aggressively,” said Additional IG Dr Sanaullah Abbasi, heading the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of police in Sindh.

Militants ‘regret’ targeting civilians
Dr Abbasi believed that the attacks on the police vans in New Town, SITE and Korangi as well as the attack on traffic constables in Gulshan were linked due to their common pattern.
A new group, Ansarul Sharia Pakistan, has claimed responsibility for most of these incidents.
“Ansarul Sharia Pakistan is a reality and we believe that it is involved in recent wave of terror in the metropolis,” said the CTD chief.
The CTD assessment suggested that this group seemed to be far more professional, combat trained and media savvy, indicating a higher level of education.
He said that mobile patrols and traffic police were being targeted as they represented the softest targets for the militant group that has declared it would only target law enforcers and armed forces.
The CTD chief said the increase in frequency of attacks in the past month indicated that this group might have ‘additional resources’, allowing it to step up attacks.
“Perhaps the number of weapons that the group has also increased, as ballistic test indicates that there are at least two 9mm pistols and one TT pistol at their disposal.
“The fact that one of the assailants also took away MP-5 [rifle] from traffic constables seems to indicate that the group may be stockpiling weapons for a large-scale attack,” apprehended the CTD chief.
Following the recent attacks on policemen, it was decided that besides the deployment of Rapid Response Force, the Rangers and police would conduct joint patrolling and raids.
“There are apprehensions that the security threat posed by this group may continue until this outfit is eliminated.”
It was decided that profiling of policemen would be done and only young officers would be deployed in the field while aged personnel would be assigned desk jobs, said the CTD head.
He said it was also decided that police patrol and deployment would be made in an unpredictable manner, taking into consideration the pattern of attacks on police in recent months. The police van attacked in New Town had been stationed there for the past six months, he explained. “Now there will be an element of surprise in the patrolling of police,” he said.
Dr Abbasi said that the recent incidents of terrorism were not Karachi-specific, as policemen were also attacked in Lahore where 10 personnel were killed in the recent blast.
Besides, he added, it was also not area-specific in the city as the militants targeted police personnel wherever they found them as ‘soft targets’.
The CTD chief said that in the traffic police attack case, they followed the SOPs as they were wearing bulletproof jackets owing to which the life of one traffic policeman was saved.
“It is unfortunate that there were many onlookers due to rush hour but nobody tried to help the police,” said Dr Abbasi. He said any car could have hit the armed motorcyclists. With the people’s help, the attackers could have been arrested and their group might have been busted, he added.

http://www.shiitenews.org/index.php/pakistan/item/29779-ctd-unearths-new-dangerous-narrative-of-takfiri-militants-that-needs-to-be-countered

Journalist who broke Panama Papers story terms SC decision ‘historic’



Bastian Obermayer, the German Pulitzer Prize winning journalist who broke the Panama Papers story, termed the decision by the Supreme Court of Pakistan as ‘historic’ on Friday.
Ever since the Sharif family’s name surfaced in the Panama Papers scandal last year, the entire world has followed the Pakistani premier’s disqualification case with interest.
After the apex court on Friday disqualified Sharif from holding the prime minister’s office, German journalist Bastian Obermayer who had broken the Panama Papers news last year, termed the decision as a historic one.
Historic: After Iceland the second prime minister - Navaz Sharif - has to leave office because of . Verdict  @ICIJorg

As news broke of the Supreme Court’s verdict, supporters of rival political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf took to the streets and distributed sweets and danced to the beat of drums.

Bilawal hails Supreme Court verdict against Nawaz Sharif



Pakistan People's Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday welcomed the Supreme Court verdict that disqualified Nawaz Sharif as prime minister of the country and said that it is incumbent upon all the political parties to accept the decision.
When a reporter told him that there was an impression  Imran Khan would take the credit for the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif as PPP was reluctant to press the N-League in the wake of Panama Papers case, Bilawal Bhutto said his party had raised the issue just a day after Panama Papers leak surfaced on April 4, but didn't go to Supreme Court due to some past experiences. "We had our own reasons". 
"Shaheed Benazir Bhutto said Nawaz Sharif may succeed in conspiring against me, but one day he will cry and remember me and my father, he said quoting his mother late Benazir Bhutto, the former prime minister of Pakistan.
He expressed the hope that the Supreme Court verdict would help deter corruption in high offices.
Asked whether PPP would have no qualms about the Article 62, 63 of the Constitution which were enshrined by none other than General Ziaul Haq and became bases for Nawaz Sharif's disqualification, Bilawal Bhutto said the PPP had its reservations about the articles but the decision was delivered by the Supreme Court and had to be accepted.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/

Pakistan - Panama judgement





Today is set to be a historic day for the judiciary and politics in Pakistan. Prime ministers have been removed before and prime ministers have survived, but none have been subjected to the kind of public and mostly transparent scrutiny that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family have undergone.
Whether Mr Sharif is determined to be unfit for public office, his case is referred to the accountability courts for trial or the Supreme Court decides on some other course of action, an undeniably welcome precedent has already been set: a sitting prime minister and his family have been required to explain the sources of their income and wealth.
In a country where public officials, elected and unelected, routinely and brazenly live beyond their known and legal sources of income and wealth, the Panama Papers case may be the beginning of a new era of public disclosure and accountability. The Pakistani people deserve a better, more transparent and more accountable leadership in all state institutions.
With the political stakes so high, it is inevitable that there will be a great deal of disappointment today in one camp or the other. What is important is for the Supreme Court judgement to be respected and for its orders to be promptly obeyed.
Long after today, and much after Mr Sharif exits the political landscape, the country will need an independent judiciary to help keep the democratic process within the ambit of the law and the Constitution. At times, both the petitioners and the respondents in the Panama Papers case have drifted perilously close to politicising the court and bringing the institutions of democracy into disrepute.
The Supreme Court may have demonstrated undue restraint towards the political circus that threatened to engulf it, but the court has an opportunity to further the cause of accountability and strengthen the democratic project by delivering a well-reasoned, well-argued judgement. By doing so, it will rightly put the onus on Pakistan’s political leadership to respond with a democratic maturity to the verdict and accept it as part of a continuing process to strengthen democracy.
Finally, the political class itself must introspect after this episode. While robust political competition is important to democracy, the PML-N and PTI have allowed their rivalry to drag the country backwards. The spectre of the 1990s has returned and there is a possibility that between the determination of the Nawaz Sharif-led PML-N to remain in power come what may and that of the Imran Khan-led PTI to ascend to power no matter what, the democratic project itself may unravel.
Democracy will not be threatened merely by the exit of Mr Sharif, nor will it be boosted automatically by the triumphant elevation of Mr Khan. The two leaders must urgently learn a humility that neither has seemed capable of so far.

Video - Bilawal Bhutto's Press Conference - Jul 28, 2017

'Conspiracy': Journalist who revealed Panama Papers terms Saad Rafique's remarks as ‘nonsense’

Bastian Obermayer, the German investigative journalist, who is one of the reporters who unearthed the Panama Papers scandal, has termed Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique’s recent remarks on the issue as ‘nonsense’.
“With all due respect: this is nonsense. PM of Iceland resigned, so did ministers, 100+ Panama Papers investigations worldwide & more to come,” the reporter, who co-authored “Panama Papers: The Panama Papers: Breaking the Story of How the Rich and Powerful Hide Their Money”, tweeted on Monday.
His statement came in response to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader’s claim in which he termed the scandal was nothing but a “conspiracy against Pakistan”. PML-N ministers go all guns blazing at ‘conspirators’
“After their sit-ins and allegations of rigging failed, our opponents brought up this Panama Leaks issue against us, which was not even acknowledged by Panama itself,” the minister told party workers in Lahore on Sunday. Rafique claimed that nothing happened to leaders of other countries whose name appeared in the leaks. This is not the first time Obermayer has responded to a ruling party leader for disparaging the huge collections of classified documents, which revealed names of over 200 Pakistanis, including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s children, who own offshore companies in international tax havens.
International journalists slam Maryam Nawaz for calling Panama Papers ‘crap’ In May this year, he responded to PM’s daughter, Maryam Nawaz, who called the exposé a ‘crap’, saying it had been trashed in the rest of the world. “Journalism isn’t about bringing down a government. It’s about telling the truth. Like it or not. (& Panama Papers isn’t only about Pakistan, btw),” Obermayer had responded.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/1449783/conspiracy-journalist-revealed-panama-papers-terms-saad-rafiques-remarks-nonsense/

نواز شریف تر نا اهل ګرځول کېدو وروسته له وزیراعظمۍ لرې شو

د پاکستان سپریم کورټ د پاناما اسنادو په مقدمه کې د ملک وزیراعظم نواز شریف نا اهل ګرځولی دی. دا پرېکړه د جسټس اعجاز افضل خان په مشرۍ کې د سپریم کورټ پینځه کسیزې جرګګۍ نن ۱۲ بجې په اسلام اباد کې واوروله.
د وزیر اعظم دفتر ویلي چې نواز شریف د وزیراعظمۍ له چوکۍ لرې شوی چې ورسره د پاکستان وفاقي کابینه تحلیل شوې ده.
دا له هغه وروسته ده چې د پاکستان سپریم کورټ د پاناما اسنادو په مقدمه کې د ملک وزیراعظم نواز شریف نا اهل ګرځولی دی.
د پاکستان سپریم کورټ د د پاناما اسنادو په مقدمه کې د ملک وزیراعظم نواز شریف نا اهل ګرځولی دی.
دا پرېکړه د جسټس اعجاز افضل خان په مشرۍ کې د سپریم کورټ پینځه کسیزې جرګګۍ نن ۱۲ بجې په اسلام اباد کې واوروله.
د فیصلې تر مخه نوازشریف د آین په دوه شپیتمه او درې شپیتمه ماده پوره نه دي نو له دې کبله د خپلې چوکۍ لپاره نااهله ګرځول شوی دی.
سپریم کورټ د پاکستان د انتخاباتو کمېشن ته امر کړی دی چې په سم دستي توګه د نواز شریف د قومي اسمبلۍ غړیتوب ختم کړي.
عدالت په پاکستان کې د احتساب قومي ادارې – نشنل اکاونټېبلیټي بېرو – ته امر کړی چې به شپږو اونیو کې مقدمه درج کړي.
د عدالت له خوا په اورول شوې لنډه پرېکړه کې ویل شوي چې په نېب کې به د درج کېدونکې مقدمې تر اثر لاندې د نواز شریف تر څنګ د هغه دوه زامن حسن نواز ، حسېن نواز او د هغه لور مریم نواز هم راځي.
د سپریم کورټ په ننۍ پرېکړه کې د وزیراعظم نواز شریف تر څنګ د خزانې وفاقي وزیر اسحاق ډار هم نااهله ګرځول شوی دی.
د دې خبرې پخلی د پاکستان سرکاري ټلویژن او لویې څارنوالۍ یا د اټارني جنرل دفتر هم کړی دی.
دا له هغه وروسته ده چې سپریم کورټ د جولايي پر ۲۱ نېټه له هغه وروسته خپله پرېکړه خوندي کړې وه چې د دواړو غاړو د وکیلانو او ښکېلو کسانو بیانونه یې اورېدلي وو.
سپریم کورټ د پاناما اسنادو په اړه یوه ګډه پلټنیزه ډله جوړه کړې وه چې د روانې میاشت پر ۱۰مه یې خپل رپورټ عدالت ته وړاندې کړی وو.
په رپورټ کې د وزیراعظم نواز شریف او د هغه د کورنۍ شتمنۍ تر پوښتنو لاندې راغلې دي.
د دې رپورټ تر خپرېدو وروسته یو شمېر اپوزیشن ګوندونو له نواز شریف څخه د استعفا غوښتنه وکړه خو نوموړي انکار کړی وو.
نوموړي ویلي وو چې دی د ولس په ووټونو منتخب شوی دی نو ځکه د خپلې دندې تر پایه استعفا نه ورکوي.
غبرګون
د پاکستان مسلم لیګ نون ډلې مخکښې مریم اورنګزېب په اسلام اباد کې خبریالانو ته ویلي دا دریم ځل دی چې د ولس له خوا ټاکل شوی وزیراعظم لرې کېږي.
نوموړې ویلي چې دوی - واکمن مسلم لیک نواز ډله - به د سپریم کورټ د پرېکړې جاج اخلي او له هغه وروسته به خپله تګلاره جوړوي.

https://www.mashaalradio.com/a/28644570.html

#Pakistan - وزیراعظم تاحیات نااہل قرار، عہدے سے سبکدوش

Pakistan - Nawaz Sharif steps down as PM after Supreme Court verdict


Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has resigned from his post following the verdict of the Supreme Court, a PML-N spokesman told Geo News.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered on Friday to disqualify Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Announcing their verdict in the Panama Papers case, all five judges ruled to send a reference against the premier, his three children and others to an accountability court.
The court ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to file a reference against the accused in an accountability court in six weeks and directed for the trial to be wrapped up within six months. 
According to sources, Nawaz Sharif is chairing a meeting to decide on the appointment of a new premier. 
Sharif expressed sorrow over the Supreme Court’s decision, sources told Geo News.
Sharif is likely to make the decision to appoint a new prime minister after consulting with legal experts, sources added.
Earlier, legal aides, advisers and federal ministers were present at the PM House where Sharif heard the verdict of the Panama Papers case.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Governors of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were also present in the meeting.
PML-N leaders — before the verdict’s announcement — stated that the government wants the Parliament to complete its tenure.

Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif disqualified from office




By Euan McKirdy and Sophia Saifi


Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been disqualified from office by the country's Supreme Court and will be required to step down.
The court ruled Sharif has been dishonest to parliament and to the judicial system, and is no longer deemed fit for the office of Prime Minister.
The panel of five judges announced their unanimous decision Friday afternoon, with the election commission ordered to issue a disqualification notice to Sharif. With the ruling, Sharif's Cabinet has also been dissolved.
    Silence enveloped the courtroom as Justice Ejaz Afzal read out the judgment, and the opposition distributed candy following the verdict in celebration.
    "Nawaz Sharif will accept the decision of the Supreme Court," Sharif's party, the PLMN said in a statement following the verdict.
    "There has been an injustice against us. Nawaz Sharif will step down as premier of Pakistan despite reservations regarding the verdict."
    He is expected to vacate the Prime Minister's residence by Friday evening.

    Corruption probe

    The panel had been investigating Sharif's alleged links to offshore accounts and overseas properties owned by three of his children.
    The assets, which were not declared on the family's wealth statement, were revealed in the massive Panama Papers leak in April 2016.
    Although Nawaz Sharif was not named in the Panama Papers, a joint investigation committee formed by the Supreme Court in April 2017 concluded in mid-July that their investigation revealed incriminating documents that pointed to the prime minister and his family's corruption.
    The Panama Papers leak sparked mass protests in Pakistan and calls from opposition political groups for a panel to investigate him and his children over their alleged offshore accounts.

    Looming election

    General elections are scheduled to be held next April, which the PLMN is widely expected to win, despite today's ruling.
    With the disqualification, Sharif cannot hold any parliamentary position, cannot become involved in election campaigns nor lead his party, the PLMN.
    Today's verdict is the second Supreme Court ruling this year on Sharif. In April a five-judge panel formed by Pakistan's Supreme Court delivered a ruling ordering a new investigation over corruption allegations.
    This is the first time in the country's history that a leader has been disqualified from office following a judicial process.
    During his time in office there's been economic growth, a marked drop in terrorism and a bold foreign policy initiative which has led to strong ties with neighboring China and the formation of the strategically important China Pakistan Economic Corridor.

    Political heavyweight

    Known as the "Lion of Punjab," the 68-year-old Sharif is one of Pakistan's leading industrialists and richest men, as well as being a fearsome political operative -- having served as prime minister twice before.
    However, his long political career has been dogged with missteps and allegations of corruption, which already forced him to step down during his first time as prime minister, cutting his first term short after his family-owned business, Ittefaq Industries, was seen to grow tremendously during his tenure in office.
    Re-elected in 1997, Sharif ordered Pakistan's first nuclear tests but a showdown with the nation's powerful military saw his second term end prematurely as well.
    In 1999, Sharif fired then-army head Pervez Musharraf after a failed invasion of Kargil, in Indian-held Kashmir. But in a dramatic turnaround, Musharraf launched a coup and eventually had his former boss imprisoned on charges of hijacking for attempting to stop a plane carrying the general from landing.
    Sharif was later sentenced to an additional 14-years in prison on corruption charges, but was released after six months when Riyadh brokered a deal to allow him to go into exile in Saudi Arabia.
    In 2007, Sharif returned to his homeland after his Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) teamed up with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to force Musharraf out of office.
    After some legal and constitutional wrangling Sharif was re-elected prime minister for a third time in 2013, amid accusations of rigging the elections.

    From Panama to Pakistan

    The latest and final nail in Sharif's political coffin is not of his own making, but rather the financial improprieties of his children.
    While owning property in itself is not illegal, opposition parties have questioned if the money to buy them came from public funds.
    And while Sharif was not personally named, his three adult children were linked to offshore companies that owned the London properties. One British Virgin Islands holding firm listed his daughter, Maryam as the sole shareholder.
    A taskforce called the Joint Investigation Team was created in April by the Supreme Court since it was unable to independently determine the links to corruption. At the time Sharif pledged that if anything from the investigation proved corruption, he would step down.
    Last November, Maryam tweeted images of a disclosure form claiming she was not the owner of the London property. However, the document, dated 2006, used a font -- Calibri -- that did not become widely available until the following year.