Hong Kong beats UAE to qualify for Asia Cup

Hong Kong National Cricket Team have qualified for the Asia Cup 2022 group stage round after defeating the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by 8 wickets.

The Asia Cup 2022, which is the 15th edition of the tournament, is scheduled to be played from August 27 to September 11. The entire tournament is set to be held in United Arab Emirates (UAE) with the hosts Sri Lanka taking on Afghanistan in the opening clash.

The tournament was originally set to be played in Sri Lanka but was shifted to United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to the economic and political crisis in the country. The matches of the tournament will be played across two venues, including Dubai International Stadium and Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Notably, the Asia Cup, which was last played in 2018, will be played in the T20 format with 6 teams fighting for the title. The 5 teams that will be fighting for the championship were already confirmed. Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan were the confirmed teams.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/sports/item/115395-hong-kong-beats-uae-to-qualify-for-asia-cup.html

Torrential rains, flash floods leave 151 people dead in Punjab

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has released a report containing the details of the damage caused by torrential rains and floods in Punjab from June 15 to August 21.

The PDMA Punjab report states that heavy downpours submerged 69 schools and seven basic health centres under rainwater. Rains and flash floods unleashed devastations in 555,893 areas in six districts of the province.

Rajanpur, DG Khan, Mianwali, Muzaffargarh, Sialkot and Layyah are the most affected areas, according to the PDMA report. The rainwater inundated 201,965 agricultural areas and 12,628 houses under flood water.

The PDMA data shows that at least 151 people lost their lives due to floods and rains, 606 people were injured and 341,077 others were displaced.

Rain and flood caused death to over two lakh large animals, and 2,586 small animals, while 37 roads and eight bridges were swept away in the water. Flood water also destroyed seven canals.

According to the PDMA Punjab report, 20,264 people and 516 animals were rescued from flood-affected areas. The report said the government has established at least 147 medical camps while 9,355 tented settlements were set up for the affected people.

According to the data released by PDMA, over one lakh animals were vaccinated. Food hampers were distributed to 19,839 people.

According to PDMA, rescue operation is still underway in the affected areas of the province with 551 rescuers and 84 boats participating in the relief and rescue activities.

The PDMA Punjab said the authority in concert with other government organisations is carrying out relief activities in the flood-ravaged areas and all resources are being utilized to provide relief to the flood victims.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/punjab/item/115394-torrential-rains-flash-floods-leave-151-people-dead-in-punjab.html

Terrorism case: Imran Khan due in ATC today

Former prime minister Imran Khan will appear before an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad to seek pre-arrest bail today (Thursday) in a terror case filed against him for threatening Additional Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry during a public rally.

Khan will appear in person before the court where ATC judge Raja Jawwad Abbas will hear his plea.

The PTI chair had staged a rally in the federal capital on August 20 to express solidarity with his chief of staff Shahbaz Gill after claims of torture in custody. He said that the additional sessions judge who sent Gill into physical remand on the police's request should brace herself for consequences.

An FIR was registered against him under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act at the Margalla police station for threatening the judge and other senior officers of the Islamabad Police during the rally.

A day after the registration of a case against him, Imran Khan secured transit bail till August 25 from the Islamabad High Court which directed him to approach the relevant forum for pre-arrest bail.

For today's hearing, strict security arrangements have been made around the Federal Judicial Complex, which is home to Islamabad's ATC. Security arrangements include the deployment of additional police personnel comprising 400 cops and FC personnel to assist the police.

All the ways leading to the judicial complex have been blocked using barbed wires and irrelevant persons have been restricted to enter the vicinity. Moreover, an armoured vehicle is also present outside the court.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/115393-terrorism-case-imran-khan-due-in-atc-today.html

Pakistan condemns sacrilegious remarks by another BJP official

Pakistan has strongly condemned the blasphemous remarks against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by another official of India's ruling BJP.

This is the second time in the last three months that a BJP leader has made derogatory remarks against the holy prophet (PBUH) as the first time was when Nupur Sharma committed blasphemy in June.

"Pakistan condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the highly provocative and sacrilegious remarks made against the Holy Prophet [Muhammad] (PBUH), by Raja Singh, a BJP official and a member of the state legislative assembly of the Indian state of Telangana," a statement issued by the Foreign Office read.

It stated that these highly derogatory remarks have gravely hurt the feelings of the people of Pakistan and billions of Muslims around the world, including India and the token and perfunctory disciplinary action taken by the BJP against the said official cannot assuage the pain and anguish caused to the Muslims.

The FO berated the Indian authorities for what it called "highly reprehensible" that Singh was released on bail within hours of arrest and was welcomed by BJP zealots.

"Despite global outrage and denunciation of an earlier similar and equally pernicious act, the current incident once again highlights the present Indian regime’s obsessively spiteful demeanour towards the Muslims and the worrying trajectory of Islamophobia in India. The fact is that India is nothing more than an undeclared ‘Hindu Rashtra’ where Muslims are routinely denigrated, dispossessed and marginalised and their religious beliefs are trampled under majoritarian hegemonism."

The statement further condemned the BJP's top leadership saying that its deafening silence on the abhorrent incident is a manifest reflection of their approval and full support to the radical Hindu zealots within and beyond the party.

Referring to Sharma, the FO stated that the extension of full state protection to the former BJP spokesperson, despite her highly condemnable remarks against the dignity of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), is reflective of the impunity being enjoyed by those attacking Islam in India.

It demanded the Indian government on Pakistan's behalf to take immediate and decisive action against the BJP members who are habitually involved in attacking Islam and targeting the dignity of our beloved prophet (PBUH).

It said that Pakistan also calls on the international community to take urgent cognisance of the aggravating situation of Islamophobia in India and hold the current BJP government to account for its overt espousal of an anti-Muslim and anti-Islam agenda.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/115379-pakistan-condemns-sacrilegious-remarks-by-another-bjp-official.html

Islamabad court sends Shahbaz Gill on judicial remand

Rejecting Islamabad police's plea for an extension in the physical remand of PTI leader Shahbaz Gill, who is party chair Imran Khan's chief of staff, a district and sessions court Wednesday sent him to prison on judicial remand.

Judicial magistrate Aman Malik heard the plea seeking a seven-day remand extension in a sedition case. Apart from that, the police also asked the court to grant judicial remand of the PTI leader in an arms recovery case.

Gill was arrested on August 9 in Islamabad after a sedition case was filed against him for inciting mutiny within the Pakistan Army. He has since been back-and-forth in police custody and at the PIMS hospital.

He was already facing sedition charges, but the Islamabad police — a day earlier — also registered a case against the PTI leader over possession of an illegal weapon.

He was booked in the case after police raided the incarcerated PTI leader's room in Parliament Lodges late Monday — where they recovered weapons, a satellite phone, and foreign currency.

The prosecution sought an extension in the remand, which was strongly opposed by PTI's lawyers. After hearing the arguments, the court reserved its verdict and announced it a few moments later.

The court sent the PTI leader on judicial remand in the sedition as well as the arms recovery case.

The PTI has repeatedly demanded that the party leader be released on bail, alleging that he is facing humiliation, torture and sexual abuse in police custody.

Gill, during the raid at his Parliament Lodge's residence, also told journalists that he had been sexually assaulted.

The party leader also asserted that he was denied treatment for asthma; however, the federal government and police have refuted the allegations.

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has also demanded an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation into the alleged torture of Gill in police custody.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/115378-islamabad-court-sends-shahbaz-gill-on-judicial-remand.html

Local body’s polls in Karachi to be held as per schedule on Aug 28: ECP

The spokesperson for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday, said that the local body’s elections in Karachi Division will be held as per the fixed schedule on Aug 28.

He further said that the decision about the election in Hyderabad Division would be taken keeping in mind the convenience of the voters.

Earlier, the Government of Sindh requested the ECP to postpone the second phase of the local body’s election in Karachi and Hyderabad Divisions as it would be difficult to hold the elections due to continuous rains, badly damaging the infrastructure, adding that another expected rain spell in Sindh was forecast by the Met Office from Tuesday.

The provincial government further said the police and other relevant departments are engaged in relief operations in interior Sindh.

It would be indispensable to provide security in matters of election in an emergency.

The Sindh government requested the ECP to consider a new date for the second phase local body’s elections.

In the first phase of local government’s elections in Sindh, the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) took a lead. The Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) stood second, followed by independent candidates. They were followed by PTI and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F).

The MQM-P boycotted the elections in Mirpurkhas citing low voter turnout and accusation of rigging. MQM leader Waseem Akhtar claimed that dacoits stole ballot papers and accused the ECP of mismanaging the polls.

 

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/sindh/item/115370-local-body-s-polls-in-karachi-to-be-held-as-per-schedule-on-aug-28-ecp.html

PKR continues fall against dollar after currency shortage

The Pakistani rupee continued to lose ground against the US dollar during in the interbank market as the country faces a currency shortage.

The local unit closed at 217.66 after losing Re1 against the greenback in the interbank market following a currency crunch, which according to analysts is taking place due to the new rules imposed by the United Arab Emirates, smuggling, and the lifting of the import ban.

The UAE has made it mandatory for Pakistani travellers to declare 5,000 dirhams at the airport when landing leading to an increase in the price of the US dollar in the open market.

Apart from this, the government's decision to lift the ban on the import of non-essential and luxury goods to meet a condition of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is also gradually increasing the pressure on the rupee.

The ban was scrapped ahead of the Fund's executive board meeting, scheduled to take place in Washington on August 29, where Pakistan's request for the loan programme resumption will be taken up.

The market, however, seems to have failed to respond to the development of funds from Qatar.

In a briefing, Deputy Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Murtaza Syed said that Pakistan's funding gap of $4 billion will be fulfilled through $2 billion funds from Qatar, $1 billion from Saudi Arabia, and a similar amount from the UAE.

 

source https://www.suchtv.pk/business/item/115369-pkr-continues-fall-against-dollar-after-currency-shortage.html

PM announces end to fixed tax for traders

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced fixed taxes have been abolished for retailers and more than 1.7 million people will now be exempt from fuel charges adjustment on electricity bills.

Addressing the nation on Tuesday from Qatar where he arrived today on a two-day trip the premier said that fixed taxes were imposed on the people in the federal budget for the fiscal year 2022-23, announced on June 10, against the intention of the coalition government.

The move will translate into a tax gap of Rs42 billion, but PM Shehbaz said that the coalition government "cannot add further pressure on small traders".

In a press conference last week, Minister for Finance Miftah Ismail said that the coalition government aimed to collect Rs42 billion through retail taxes, however, after the tax exemption, it would no longer be able to meet the target.

Ismail revealed that the revised target is now Rs27 billion. “To meet the gap, which will be created by the exemption of fixed taxes on small traders, the government is imposing a further tax of Rs36 billion on the tobacco industry,” he said.

Addressing the backlash received in the last two days regarding inflated electricity bills, the prime minister announced that the coalition government, after intense discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has decided to exempt 17.1 million people from paying excessive amounts charged under fuel charges adjustment for the month of July and August.

“We have been working on the fuel charges adjustment case for last five days and we have decided to exempt a major chunk of the population from these charges; however, we are yet to take a decision regarding the 13 million people falling under the category of people who consume more electricity,” he said.

 

source https://www.suchtv.pk/business/item/115368-pm-announces-end-to-fixed-tax-for-traders.html

Medicines worth over Rs15m being dispatched to flood-hit areas: Qadir Patel

Minister for National Health Services, Abdul Qadir Patel on Tuesday said that the necessary medicines valuing over Rs 15 million, and other relief items including 0.6 million medicated mosquito nets were being dispatched to flood-hit areas of Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab within the next few days.

Talking to media persons, he said his ministry was making extraneous efforts to help flood hit people in distress.

Giving details of the relief work he said: “A 12-member team of doctors has already been sent to the worst hit Lasbela district. Some 30,000 vaccines, a truck carrying medicines worth Rs 100,000 has already been sent to flood hit areas.

A contingent of 200,000 vaccines was also being sent to the affected areas. The ministry has already dispatched 36,000 medicated mosquito nets. Over 1.4 million more medicated mosquito nets would soon be dispatched to flood hit areas.”

He said anti-venom serum was ready for immediate delivery to any flooded areas that might be in need. He said a donor conference had also been arranged on Wednesday for helping flood hit people as the government did not have enough resources to rehabilitate the destroyed infrastructure. He said Lasbela district was among the worst hit areas as its infrastructure had completely been destroyed.

He said the federal government would serve the flood hit people without any discrimination.

He further said Punjab had sought help for the flood hit people of Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan and federal government would respond soon. He also added that he would visit Thatta this week for distributing relief items among the flood hit people.

He said the Health ministry had appointed two coordinators to have liaison and promptly convey the needs of flood hit people of Balochistan and Sindh.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/115367-medicines-worth-over-rs15m-being-dispatched-to-flood-hit-areas-qadir-patel.html

Govt must show their writ over 'power-hungry' Imran: Zardari

Former president Asif Ali Zardari urged on Tuesday the institutions and government to establish their writ as he took a jibe at PTI Chairman Imran Khan for criticising Pakistan's armed forces, police and judiciary.

"The institutions and government will have to establish their writ or else the law, Constitution and institutions will keep falling pray to his [Imran Khan] demands," a statement issued on Twitter stated.

As per media reports, in a meeting with Sindh ministers, Zardari was quoted as saying by the PPP said that the flood affectees in all four provinces are looking towards the government for help while the hunger for power is driving Imran Khan crazy day by day.

"This person is criticising our army every day and the same army's officers and soldiers are fighting against terrorists and laying down their lives in two provinces. He threatens the army, police and then a female magistrate and challenges them to arrest him," he said.

Zardari said that the judiciary must decide if Imran Khan is above the law, can take extra-judicial actions against "me, Mian Nawaz Sharif, my sister and Maryam Nawaz while trampling every law himself."

He also drew attention towards the flood emergency situation in all the four provinces and said that politicians should focus on the flood victims instead of engaging in politics.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/115366-govt-must-show-their-writ-over-power-hungry-imran-zardari.html

Police raid Shahbaz Gill’s room in Parliament Lodges; recover weapons, satellite phone

Islamabad Police raided incarcerated PTI leader Shahbaz Gill's room in Parliament Lodges late Monday and it recovered weapons, satellite phone, and foreign currency.

According to details available with the media house, the raid was carried out under the supervision of a senior superintendent of police (SSP) and Gill accompanied them there with police officials in handcuffs.

A pistol was recovered during the operation; however, Gill refused to take ownership of the weapon.

Apart from weapons, a mobile phone, satellite phone and USBs have also been recovered from the room. Moreover, his wallet, that was missing, has also been recovered in which two of his CNICs were also found. Along with all these two passports were also recovered.

Gill told journalists that he had no clue as to why is wallet was found in the room, claiming that he had left it in the car when he was taken into custody.

“My wallet was usually carried by my driver and the room from where the pistol has been recovered was in use of my guards,” he said.

Replying to the questions of the journalists, Gill confirmed PTI chief Imran Khan's claims regarding being sexually assaulted in police custody.

"Yes, I was sexually abused," said Gill in response to the question.

“I see some changes in my room, my passport wasn’t found at its usual place…this hints that somebody came here during the period of my custody,” he added.

Police then whisked Gill to the Punjab House. They also searched the room used by Shahbaz Gill there. But, they found none of his belongings there, said police sources.

Police said Gill's belongings had already been shifted to the Parliament lodges. Police also said a case of the pistol recovered from Gill's Parliament Lodges room is being registered at the Secretariat police station.

A red-coloured diary was also found in Shahbaz Gill's room. When the SSP asked him about it, Gill said he didn't know it. "It's not mine," said Gill.

The police official also asked Gill about the names of people who lived in the room. Izhar and Jabir lived here, he answered.

Sources said Gill's Parliament lodges room is allotted to Senator Abdul Qadir.

According to sources, the police raided the room to recover the script read by Gill on the private TV channel.

Earlier on Monday, a district and sessions court in Islamabad granted a two-day physical remand of Gill in a sedition case filed against him, after reviewing his medical report.

Imran Khan's chief of staff was presented before the court earlier shortly after being discharged from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).

Gill was taken into custody on August 9 from Banigala Chowk over charges of inciting mutiny among public against the ranks and files of Pakistan Army by making some remarks during a TV programme.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/115365-police-raid-shahbaz-gill-s-room-in-parliament-lodges-recover-weapons-satellite-phone.html

IHC initiates hearing on contempt case against Imran Khan for threatening judge

A larger bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has taken up contempt of court proceedings against PTI Chairman Imran Khan for threatening Additional Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry during a public rally.

The bench comprises Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Babar Sattar and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb.

The PTI chair had staged a rally in the federal capital on August 20 to express solidarity with his chief of staff Shahbaz Gill after claims of torture in custody. He warned the Islamabad inspector-general and deputy inspector-general that he would “not spare” them, vowing to file cases against them for subjecting Gill to alleged inhuman torture.

Turning his guns towards the additional sessions judge, who sent Gill into physical remand on the police's request, Imran Khan had then said she [the judge] should brace herself for consequences.

This issue could be a threat for Khan, who has been campaigning for new elections since being forced to step down this year, since a conviction would disqualify him from standing for election, legal experts said.

The contempt issue is in addition to charges under an anti-terror law that police filed against Khan over what they said was a threat in his speech about Shahbaz Gill who faces sedition charges for inciting mutiny in the military.

The use of anti-terrorism laws as the grounds for cases against political leaders is not uncommon in Pakistan, where Khan’s government also used them against opponents and critics.

His political party, the PTI, has dismissed the accusations against Khan as being politically motivated, saying they were being used to block him from leading anti-government rallies.

Earlier today, Islamabad Advocate-General Jahangir Khan Jadoon filed a miscellaneous application in the IHC, seeking permission to submit the concerned record to court.

In his application, the advocate-general pleaded to the court that he wanted to submit the record of anti-judiciary remarks and speeches made by Imran Khan in the past.

“I want to put Imran Khan’s video clip on record,” said the applicant.

He pleaded with the court to allow the petitioner to play the video showing the anti-judiciary and anti-state institution remarks made by the PTI chairman in the past.

The applicant requested the IHC to allow the material to be played in the courtroom through USB or other digital means.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/115362-ihc-initiates-hearing-on-contempt-case-against-imran-khan-for-threatening-judge.html

PM Shehbaz leaves for Doha on two-day official visit

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has left for Doha on a two day official visit to Qatar on the invitation of Amir of state of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

This is the Prime Minister's first visit to Qatar after assuming the office.

The Prime Minister is accompanied by a high level delegation including key members of the cabinet.

During the visit, Shehbaz Sharif will hold in-depth consultations with the Qatari leadership. The two sides will review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations with a particular focus on advancing energy related cooperation, deepening trade and investment ties and exploring greater employment opportunities for Pakistanis in Qatar.

They will also exchange views on a range of regional and international issues of mutual interest.

The Prime Minister will also engage with leading Qatari and Pakistani business leaders, investors and entrepreneurs.

He will visit Stadium 974 in Doha, where he would be briefed on the extensive preparations undertaken by Qatari government to host FIFA World Cup.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/115358-pm-shehbaz-leaves-for-doha-on-two-day-official-visit.html