Thursday, October 31, 2019
#AzadiMarch_UpDates - Purpose of Azadi March is to try to get PM to resign: Kaira
PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira said that the objective of the Azadi March was to try to get Prime Minister Imran to resign and bring in a new government in its place.
Speaking to media at Mandi Bahauddin, Kaira said that Maulana Fazl's march had shaken the government.
"The march has succeeded in its first phase," he said.
He said that efforts to topple the government had begun. However, Kaira said that this wasn't an alliance of opposition parties.
"The opposition has united to send the government home," he said.
Kaira said that PPP was cooperating with Maulana Fazl. He said that everyone was united in its own position.
#Pakistan - Judge leaves court after telling blasphemy victim that he cannot preside over appeal as it hurts his Islamic convictions
Christian man who claims to be falsely accused of blasphemy and given a life sentence has had his appeal postponed for a third time in a year.
Zafar Bhatti was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2012 after being arrested for blasphemy by police form Police station New Town, Rawalpindi. A First Information report was lodged which claimed he had sent blasphemy texts from a mobile, something he denies. It has been proven the phone from which they were sent was registered to another person, Ghazala Khan.
Whilst Ms khan was granted bail due to her own poor health and vulnerability as a female, Zafar Bhatti is still awaiting his appeal hearing for his conviction that has been postponed three times after the presiding judge decided his conscience could not allow him to hear the case.
At the original trial in Lahore, judge Khalid Mehmood asked the prosecuting counsel to forgive Ghazala Khan, stating that Muhammad forgave also. Ms Khan who asked not to be forgiven as this would insinuate her guilt and wanted to be cleared by a fair trial, later died of Hepatitis C before the trial concluded.
Security for the appeal hearings was not as tight as for the original case trial held at Central Jail Adjala, Rawalpindi where Mr Bhatti has survived several attempts on his life.
Honourable Judge Raja Shahid Mehmood Abbasi raised the hopes of Mr Bhatti’s family and supporters when he said that he has studied the case by listening to both parties, giving them the impression that the conviction decision would be overturned prompting his imminent release.
Judge Abbasi explained in an earlier June hearing that he had not the time to write down all the facts of the case and was about to go on holiday for two months and requested the court to be reconvened in September. However, in September he again reiterated at having no time to dictate his decision to the court clerks and proposed a second postponement for October 10th, 2019.
Zafar Bhatti’s council Tahir Bashir humbly expressed his disappointment to the judge’s decision given that his client had already spent 7 years in jail and was suffering ill health whilst in prison awaiting the appeal but was told by Judge Abbasi to have patience till October.
In the October resumption of proceedings occured at High Court, Rawal Pindi Bench, Judge Abbasi stated that his conscience could not allow him to decide and he would pass the case onto another judge. When pressed by Advocate Tahir, Judge Abbasi, said: "This judgement does not sit well with my Islamic faith and I cannot proceed."
Nawab Bibi spoke with Mehwish Bhatti, BACA's National Executive in Pakistan, while they were attending court, she said:
“It was debilitating hearing the judges intolerant comments”
“they are delaying the case without any reason.
“They will be answerable to God one day."
"My husband, Zafar, is suffering from diabetes and heart disease and he has been told that he can have a heart attack any time due to the depression he is consumed by.”
Nawab Bibi is always accompanied to any court hearings by BACA representative, Mehwish Bhatti, who translates proceedings into language she understands.
Mehwish Bhatti said “Zafar was eagerly anticipating the decision, but his hopes were badly shattered.
"Zafar's morale has ebbed to its lowest point and he now believes he will die in prison - he is tired of his situation.”
Fears for Zafar Bhatti’s health are exasperated by the lack of good medical care within the prison and doctors have said he is suffering from depression that could bring on a heart attack given that he is a diabetic also. Zafar has already suffered from several mild attacks and has lost around 66kg in weight.
Mrs Bhatti has been counselling and encouraging Zafar who is an ordained Catholic Bishop from the Jesus World Mission Church.
"I have been sharing the word of God and reminding Zafar of the love of Christ who was crucified for us on the cross.
“We should keep believing God for his faithfulness and all Christians must pray into his situation.” She said.
The appointing of a new judge and the new court hearing will be confirmed soon. Meanwhile BACA continue supplying Nawab Bibi with shelter, food, medical treatment, counselling and prayer support. You can contribute to our appeal for support of blasphemy victims.
Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee for the BACA, said: "The continual mistreatment of victims of blasphemy cases through the Pakistan judiciary system is just one such example of where Pakistan authorities can bring their justice system in line with most civilised nations.
"The continual dragging of feet and delay tactics used in this case show a high disregard for Human rights and the protection of vulnerable Christian minorities.
"While Zafar and his wife have suffered forced separation, loss of income and in Zafar's case brutal incarceration and attempts to take his life; those who made the false allegations have felt no impact for their crime and never will.
"If it hurts a Muslim judge to free an innocent Christian man then perhaps he should not be in the legal profession and should earn his living as an Imam or in some other religious profession.
"If you are working within the Judiciary your primary concern has to be the rule of law not your religious sensibilities or those of others - you can do this without causing disrespect to those who observe a religion."
http://www.pakistanchristianpost.com/head-line-news-details/7227
Zafar Bhatti was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2012 after being arrested for blasphemy by police form Police station New Town, Rawalpindi. A First Information report was lodged which claimed he had sent blasphemy texts from a mobile, something he denies. It has been proven the phone from which they were sent was registered to another person, Ghazala Khan.
Whilst Ms khan was granted bail due to her own poor health and vulnerability as a female, Zafar Bhatti is still awaiting his appeal hearing for his conviction that has been postponed three times after the presiding judge decided his conscience could not allow him to hear the case.
At the original trial in Lahore, judge Khalid Mehmood asked the prosecuting counsel to forgive Ghazala Khan, stating that Muhammad forgave also. Ms Khan who asked not to be forgiven as this would insinuate her guilt and wanted to be cleared by a fair trial, later died of Hepatitis C before the trial concluded.
Security for the appeal hearings was not as tight as for the original case trial held at Central Jail Adjala, Rawalpindi where Mr Bhatti has survived several attempts on his life.
Honourable Judge Raja Shahid Mehmood Abbasi raised the hopes of Mr Bhatti’s family and supporters when he said that he has studied the case by listening to both parties, giving them the impression that the conviction decision would be overturned prompting his imminent release.
Judge Abbasi explained in an earlier June hearing that he had not the time to write down all the facts of the case and was about to go on holiday for two months and requested the court to be reconvened in September. However, in September he again reiterated at having no time to dictate his decision to the court clerks and proposed a second postponement for October 10th, 2019.
Zafar Bhatti’s council Tahir Bashir humbly expressed his disappointment to the judge’s decision given that his client had already spent 7 years in jail and was suffering ill health whilst in prison awaiting the appeal but was told by Judge Abbasi to have patience till October.
In the October resumption of proceedings occured at High Court, Rawal Pindi Bench, Judge Abbasi stated that his conscience could not allow him to decide and he would pass the case onto another judge. When pressed by Advocate Tahir, Judge Abbasi, said: "This judgement does not sit well with my Islamic faith and I cannot proceed."
Nawab Bibi spoke with Mehwish Bhatti, BACA's National Executive in Pakistan, while they were attending court, she said:
“It was debilitating hearing the judges intolerant comments”
“they are delaying the case without any reason.
“They will be answerable to God one day."
"My husband, Zafar, is suffering from diabetes and heart disease and he has been told that he can have a heart attack any time due to the depression he is consumed by.”
Nawab Bibi is always accompanied to any court hearings by BACA representative, Mehwish Bhatti, who translates proceedings into language she understands.
Mehwish Bhatti said “Zafar was eagerly anticipating the decision, but his hopes were badly shattered.
"Zafar's morale has ebbed to its lowest point and he now believes he will die in prison - he is tired of his situation.”
Fears for Zafar Bhatti’s health are exasperated by the lack of good medical care within the prison and doctors have said he is suffering from depression that could bring on a heart attack given that he is a diabetic also. Zafar has already suffered from several mild attacks and has lost around 66kg in weight.
Mrs Bhatti has been counselling and encouraging Zafar who is an ordained Catholic Bishop from the Jesus World Mission Church.
"I have been sharing the word of God and reminding Zafar of the love of Christ who was crucified for us on the cross.
“We should keep believing God for his faithfulness and all Christians must pray into his situation.” She said.
The appointing of a new judge and the new court hearing will be confirmed soon. Meanwhile BACA continue supplying Nawab Bibi with shelter, food, medical treatment, counselling and prayer support. You can contribute to our appeal for support of blasphemy victims.
Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee for the BACA, said: "The continual mistreatment of victims of blasphemy cases through the Pakistan judiciary system is just one such example of where Pakistan authorities can bring their justice system in line with most civilised nations.
"The continual dragging of feet and delay tactics used in this case show a high disregard for Human rights and the protection of vulnerable Christian minorities.
"While Zafar and his wife have suffered forced separation, loss of income and in Zafar's case brutal incarceration and attempts to take his life; those who made the false allegations have felt no impact for their crime and never will.
"If it hurts a Muslim judge to free an innocent Christian man then perhaps he should not be in the legal profession and should earn his living as an Imam or in some other religious profession.
"If you are working within the Judiciary your primary concern has to be the rule of law not your religious sensibilities or those of others - you can do this without causing disrespect to those who observe a religion."
http://www.pakistanchristianpost.com/head-line-news-details/7227
Pakistan: Train fire kills dozens after cooking accident, 71 people died
An exploding gas cooker has caused a massive fire that ripped through three carriages of a speeding train in Pakistan. Passengers were reportedly preparing breakfast whilst the train was moving.
At least 71 people died after a gas stove exploded on a train in southeast Pakistan, officials confirmed Thursday.
"Two cookers blew up. They had oil which added fuel to fire," Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told local broadcaster Geo.
Most of the deaths were caused when people jumped from the train to escape the flames, he added.
A further 30 people were injured in the fire that destroyed three train carriages. Of these, 12 are in a critical condition, said Amir Taimur Khan, police chief of Rahim Yar Khan, the city close to where the accident took place.
Local television footage showed carriages on fire with smoke and flames billowing through the windows.
Emergency services predict the death toll will rise.
Passengers jumped from the carriages to escape
Pakistani journalist Zahid Hussein told DW that although cooking stoves are on the list of prohibited items, "security checks on trains are very lax." The long transit times involved often lead poorer passengers to cook their meals on the trains, he said
Train accidents are common in Pakistan where its aging railways have seen a lack of investment as well as mismanagement and corruption.
In July, at least 23 people were killed in the same district when a passenger train coming from the eastern city of Lahore collided with a goods train that had stopped at a crossing.
Lashkar-e-Taiba An Ideal Proxy For Pakistan's Spy Agency ISI: US Expert
"Literally, the Pakistan Army trains, the LeT," Christine Fair from the Georgetown University said during a roundtable at the Hudson Institute think-tank.Lashkar-e-Taiba, a UN-designated terrorist outfit, is a "perfect proxy" for Pakistan's spy agency ISI, a leading American expert on security issues has said. "Literally, the Pakistan Army trains, the LeT," Christine Fair from the Georgetown University said during a roundtable at the Hudson Institute think-tank. "Which is why they are so competent," she said on Tuesday in an apparent reference to some of the high-profile terrorist strikes inside India. "And they are very pro-State. So, in some ways LeT was made that way. LeT is an ideal proxy. LeT is as close as you get to a perfect proxy," said Ms Fair who is author of the book 'In Their Own Words: Understanding Lashkar-e-Taiba.' Responding to a question, Ms Fair said she supported the government's decision to revoke Article 370 from the Indian Constitution. "I supported getting rid of Article 370, because I'm a constitutionalist. And because I think Article 370 was a derogatory, discriminatory legal regime," she said. "Personally, I'm confused as to how Article 370 became the cornerstone of Kashmiri Muslim integrity, when the whole point of having it was to actually enshrine Hindu Dogra rule as politics left the domain of Maharaja Hari Singh and migrated to the National Conference," she said. Having said this, Ms Fair told the Hudson roundtable that the Indians have not been very wise about how they've handled everything related to it. "I understand security clamp down is necessary because the Pakistanis would certainly interfere. I also understand there was no other way of doing it," she said.
Pakistan has been unsuccessfully trying to drum up international support against India especially in the United States over the Kashmir issue, which New Delhi has categorically said was its "internal matter".. https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/lashkar-e-taiba-an-ideal-proxy-for-pakistans-spy-agency-isi-us-expert-2124578
#AzadiMarch_UpDates - Purpose of Azadi March is to try to get PM to resign: Kaira
PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira said that the objective of the Azadi March was to try to get Prime Minister Imran to resign and bring in a new government in its place.
Speaking to media at Mandi Bahauddin, Kaira said that Maulana Fazl's march had shaken the government.
"The march has succeeded in its first phase," he said.
He said that efforts to topple the government had begun. However, Kaira said that this wasn't an alliance of opposition parties.
"The opposition has united to send the government home," he said.
Kaira said that PPP was cooperating with Maulana Fazl. He said that everyone was united in its own position.
بلاول شیڈول کے مطابق آج اسلام آباد میں جلسہ گاہ پہنچیں گے، ترجمان
چیئرمین پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کے ترجمان سینیٹر مصطفی نواز کھوکھر نے کہا ہے کہ چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری شیڈول کے مطابق آج اسلام آباد میں جلسہ گاہ پہنچیں گے، مولانا فضل الرحمان کی درخواست پر چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے 31 اکتوبر کا دن جلسے میں شرکت کے لیے مختص کیا تھا۔
چیئرمین پیپلز پارٹی کے ترجمان کا ایک بیان میں کہنا ہے کہ اپوزیشن کے مشترکہ جلسے کے حوالے سے صبح سے کنفیوژن رہی، جو اب تک برقرار ہے۔
ترجمان کا کہنا ہے کہ بلاول بھٹو شیڈول کے مطابق آج اسلام آباد میں جلسہ گاہ پہنچیں گے، جیالوں و دیگر سیاسی کارکنان سے مختصر خطاب بھی کریں گے۔
سینیٹر مصطفی نواز کھوکھر کا کہنا ہے کہ رحیم یار خان میں کل پی پی پی کا ہونے والا جلسہ شیڈول کے مطابق ہوگا، کل اگر وقت ملا تو اپوزیشن کے مشترکہ جلسے میں شرکت کی کوشش بھی کی جائے گی۔