Pakistan Army will do everything in its power to protect people's lives: DG ISPR

DG ISPR Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar is holding an important press conference on the coronavirus situation in Pakistan.

"To help the civil government and assist law enforcement agencies is the primary purpose of the deployment of troops [to battle coronavirus]," said the DG ISPR during a news conference.

The DG ISPR said that the positivity ratio had shot up to over 5% in 91 cities of Pakistan, adding that the healthcare infrastructure was under "immense pressure" as critical care patients were increasing daily.

Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar said if the current coronavirus situation persisted, then oxygen supply will be diverted from other industries to the health sector.

He said the Pakistan Army had brought about "enhanced deployment" of its troops in Islamabad, Peshawar, Mardan, Nowshera, Charsadda, Swabi, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, Gujrat, Karachi, Hyderabad, Quetta and Muzaffarabad, adding that these cities were reporting a high number of coronavirus cases on a daily basis.

The DG ISPR revealed that 4,300 coronavirus patients were on critical care at the moment. "In some cities, 90% of the ventilators in hospitals are occupied," he said.

Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar said Pakistan Army had been deployed in the country to help thwart the coronavirus situation, adding that the decision was taken with all stakeholders on board.

"The people's confidence (in the army) is the Pakistan Army's asset," he said, adding that in these pressing times, the army would do everything in its power to safeguard the people's health in every nook and corner of the country.

He urged masses to follow coronavirus safety precautions to ensure their lives and the lives of others remained safe during the pandemic.

The DG ISPR said Pakistan Army would provide support to other institutions as "emergency responders".

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/105976-pakistan-army-will-do-everything-in-its-power-to-protect-people-s-lives-dg-ispr.html

SC accepts review petitions in Justice Isa presidential review verdict

The Supreme Court on Monday accepted all review petitions challenging the court's judgement in the presidential reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa except the one filed by the judge himself.

A 10-member bench, headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial, was hearing review petitions filed against the court’s June 19, 2020, judgement on the presidential reference in which the court had empowered the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to conduct an inquiry into offshore assets of his spouse.

The court's short order stated that "directions contained in paras 4 to 11 in the impugned short order dated 19.06.2020 ... alongwith supporting detailed reasons given in the majority judgement of the same date are recalled and set aside.

"All the subsequent proceedings, actions, orders, information and reports in pursuance of the directions contained in the short order dated 19.6.2020 and the detailed reasons thereof, are declared to be illegal and without any legal effect."

The judgement added that "resultantly, any such proceedings, actions, orders or reports cannot be considered or acted upon or pursued any further by any forum or authority including the Supreme Judicial Council."

The top court accepted the review petitions by a majority of 6-4. Justice Maqbool Baqar, Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik, Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Mazhar Alam accepted the petitions.

However, Justice Isa's review petition was accepted by five judges and dismissed by five judges. Justice Afridi accepted all similar petitions but dismissed Justice Isa's petition most likely on the basis of the point he had maintained throughout the hearings — a judge cannot be a petitioner himself.

The court declared legal actions taken by the FBR and all other forums related to the assets of Justice Isa's wife and children as "illegal".

On April 13, the apex court had dismissed the judge's application seeking live telecast of the proceedings on his review petition against the verdict in presidential reference case.

The application was dismissed by a 6-4 majority of a larger bench of 10 judges headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial. Justice Maqbool Baqar, Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik, Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah dissented from the majority judgement. They were of the opinion that the SC registrar should take measures for live streaming of the matters of public interest.

During today's hearing, Justice Isa alleged that new evidence was being made part of the proceedings.

Sarina Isa said that Justice Bandial and Justice Akhtar were making efforts for accountability which was why they should make their assets and the assets of their wives public.

Counsel for the federal government Amir Rehman said that the actions of the Supreme Judicial Council could not be challenged nor could it be stopped from scrutinising any evidence. "The Supreme Court can only interfere in the council under extraordinary conditions."

Justice Baqar questioned whether it would affect the Supreme Judicial Council if the top court's judges gave their observations on the FBR report.

Rehman replied that the Supreme Court had the right to ask questions according to rules. "The court can also ask for statements to be recorded to ascertain facts. The foundation of the case is three questions."

Presidential reference

Justice Isa was the subject of a presidential reference that alleged he had acquired three properties in London on lease in the name of his wife and children between 2011 and 2015 but did not disclose them in his wealth returns. Justice Isa contested the allegation, saying he was not a beneficial owner of the flats — either directly or indirectly.

In June 2020, the Supreme Court threw out the reference, terming it "invalid".

"[The reference] is declared to be of no legal effect whatsoever and stands quashed," read the majority (9-1) short verdict on a petition filed by Justice Isa and others seeking the reference's dismissal.

However, seven of the 10 judges on the bench hearing the case ordered the Inland Revenue Department and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to seek explanations from the judge's wife and children on the nature and source of funding for three properties in their names in the United Kingdom and submit a report to the SC registrar.

Justice Isa then approached the apex court, seeking a review of the decision. Bar associations, including the Sindh High Court Bar Association, also filed similar petitions.

A seven-judge bench was constituted by the SC to hear the petitions but four premier bar associations of the country challenged it in a joint one-page application and requested that the matter be placed before the CJP to form a larger bench comprising all the judges who had decided the constitutional petitions against the filing of the reference.

On Feb 24, a 10-judge bench was constituted to hear the set of review petitions.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/105975-sc-accepts-review-petitions-in-justice-isa-presidential-review-verdict.html

Kisan Card will 'transform' Pakistan: PM Imran

Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Monday that the Kisan (farmer) Card was a step in moving towards modern agriculture and would "transform and change" Pakistan.

The prime minister was addressing the distribution ceremony of the Kisan Cards in Multan where he said that time would prove that this was a step towards modern agriculture.

He hailed the Kisan Card as an "amazing concept" and said that the help that farmers would receive through it would "transform and change Pakistan because farmers are actually the backbone of Pakistan".

The prime minister was in Multan on a one-day visit to distribute the cards among the farmers and also "lay the foundation stone of the South Punjab Secretariat", said the Prime Minister's Office.

"The prime minister will also launch public welfare and development projects in Multan."

Prime Minister Imran Khan stressed on the importance of farmers and said: "The more we strengthen our farmers, the more we will strengthen our country."

He said that the adoption of and movement towards new technology would make life easier for the people and also bring a decrease in corruption. Due to technology, the premier said, paperwork was eliminated and thus, the interaction where a person could take a bribe from another would also be eliminated through the Kisan Card.

The premier said that the subsidy on DAP (diammonium phosphate), which was previously Rs500, would also be increased to Rs1,000 under the Kisan Card.

"Subsidies will also be available for seeds and pesticides," said the prime minister, adding that loans to farmers would also be provided through the card and preparations for this were already under way.

He also added that the Kisan Card would be used to provide support to farmers and provide them money in moments of "calamity" and crisis.

"The Kisan Card will provide protection to all of Pakistan's four to five million farmers and going ahead, will create ease for them so we can provide things at lower prices to our people."

He hailed the efforts of Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, his team and administration, Habib Bank Ltd and the Punjab Information Technology Department for their work on the initiative. "This will transform and change the lives of farmers."

The premier said that during the PTI government's tenure, farmers had gained an additional Rs1,100 billion due to the prices they received for produce such as sugarcane, wheat and corn.

"Pakistan's poverty is concentrated in rural areas," he said, adding that the additional money that farmers would gain would help to improve their standard of living. He said that reducing poverty had been the "real purpose" of the PTI government since day one, adding that it was now "moving towards that target".

The prime minister also mentioned other measures the government was taking to improve the agricultural sector and pointed out the Rs300bn transformation package.

"Water is a very big problem. If farmers face water shortages then their produce is affected," he said, adding that two big dams were being made after 50 years to address this issue and Rs220bn from the transformation package was set aside for the fortification and lining of canals. Additional small scale water projects were also being carried out, he said.

He also stated that due to his efforts, agriculture had been brought under the scope of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to benefit from Beijing's agricultural technology and seed development. Pakistan's own research institutions on seed development would also be revamped, the premier said.

The prime minister also stated that a lot of agricultural produce that was imported, would now be grown in Pakistan, adding that the country's favourable climate and temperature provided the necessary conditions to increase crop yield.

"Our farmers are still using old methods," lamented the premier and stated that extension services were being privatised. A trained professional per Union Council would be responsible for visiting farmers on a motorcycle in the area and informing them about new agricultural techniques.

"There is great need for this because we need [to adopt] new [agricultural] practices," said the prime minister, adding that Pakistan's agriculture was subsistence level so "we will train them (farmers) through extension services to increase their productivity."

He also pointed out initiatives to develop Pakistan's livestock and said Pakistan still imported milk due to low productivity. Thus, Rs40bn have been set aside to import semen so livestock breeds could be improved, said the premier.

"You will see that change will come in one to two years and because of that, milk production will increase three-fold," he said, adding that improving the breed of livestock will not only allow Pakistan to provide cheap milk but also export cheese and milk.

"We can earn $25bn just from cheese and milk exports in the next three years."

Prime Minister Imran Khan lamented the losses that vegetables and fruits suffered at 50 per cent and 20pc for grains. "So we have decided to develop storage for them and food processing plants," he announced, adding that billions of rupees were lost due to 20pc of wheat being lost and fruits and vegetables could otherwise be provided much cheaper.

Among other measures he mentioned were doubling of loans for farmers, local production of fertilisers, doubling cereal production as well as improving local production of medicinal plants, corn and developing the fishery sector such as prawns.

Prime Minister Imran Khan said he had decided to personally oversee the agriculture sector and would provide details himself on the various initiatives, along with their timeframes.

South Punjab job quota

Addressing a ceremony in Multan later in the day, the prime minister said it had been decided that residents of South Punjab would get quotas in government jobs commensurate with the area's size and population.

He said he had visited all areas in Pakistan and it was "clear that South Punjab had been left behind", adding that 33 per cent of the province's population lived in South Punjab but the budget allocation for the region was only 17pc.

The premier said that according to data he received, over the last seven years, the budget allocated for South Punjab had been redistributed to other areas that former chief minister Shehbaz Sharif decided.

"There was a loss of Rs260bn in seven years in South Punjab, the money that should have been spent here was spent elsewhere [instead]. This is why the people wish a separate province is made."

Prime Minister Imran said the establishment of the South Punjab secretariat was a start because now the people would not have to go to Lahore to get their problems solved, adding that the government would introduce a constitutional amendment for the creation of South Punjab province.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/105973-kisan-card-will-transform-pakistan-pm-imran.html

Corona claims 70 more deaths, 4,825 fresh infections reported in Pakistan

Pakistan has witnessed a decline in coronavirus-related deaths and cases, as the country has reported 70 deaths during the past 24 hours,reported on Monday.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) data, 70 people died of Covid-19 in a single day, pushing the national tally to 17,187.

As many as 4,825 new infections surfaced during the past day. The national tally of confirmed cases currently stands at 800,452.

The country’s overall positivity ratio of new cases witnessed a minor decline was recorded at 9.61%, according to the NCOC.

Pakistan has overall conducted 11,588,932 tests to diagnose coronavirus with 50,161 in the past 24 hours.

694,046 people have recovered their health back.

Yesterday, three planes of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) carrying a consignment of one million COVID-19 vaccine doses had arrived in Islamabad.

According to a National Health Ministry official, three PIA Boeing 777 aircraft have brought one million Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccines from China.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/105967-corona-claims-70-more-deaths-4-825-fresh-infections-reported-in-pakistan.html

PTI only party to go against corruption: PM Imran

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday lauded his party and said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is the only political entity in the country's history to launch a campaign against corruption.

The premier was speaking via a video link on the occasion of PTI's 25th Youm-e-Tasees (foundation day) and said that more than two decades ago, he formed the party in view of the fact that corruption was damaging the country.

"I had studied political science in the university and had played professional cricket in Britain, therefore, I had realised it early on that nations don't move towards destruction due to a lack of resources or because of bombings or war," he said.

"It is corruption which pushes a country towards decline."

The premier said that when people in power resort to corrupt practices, then a nation is destined to face a decline. He said that twenty-five years ago, he and his friends named the party after the concept of Insaf (justice) because, without justice, corruption cannot be eliminated.

"This was the reason why a person like me — who was not only famous but had been bestowed with everything in life — decided to join politics [in a bid to make a change]."

Speaking about the political journey of the PTI, he said that many people joined his party and left but he never gave up despite all odds.

"I learned not to accept a defeat from cricket," he said. "A man only achieves success in life when he continues to move forward without looking back."

He went on to say that his struggle was also inspired by the life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) who spent 13 years of hardship to work towards the cause of Allah.

"After a long struggle, the PTI held a jalsa at the Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore on October 30, 2011, which marked the political rise of the party," the PM recalled.

He then talked about the 2013 elections and his 26-day dharna against alleged rigging in the elections to send the message across.

"Unfortunately, no action regarding electoral reforms was taken despite our continued protest," he said. "Since then, we had been determined to introduce a transparent electoral system and my government will now introduce electronic voting machines for the purpose."

Prime Minister Imran Khan then talked about the PTI government after taking over the country in 2018 and said that the period marked the most difficult struggle of his life.

"No other party had to form a government at a time when the country was going through its worst crisis," he said, adding that the economy was declining, there were unprecedented debts because of the previous two governments, foreign exchange reserves were empty, and most importantly, the current account deficit of the country stood at $20 billion.

"I am proud of the PTI government's achievements over the last 2.5 years," he said while giving details of the improvements Pakistan made on several fronts.

"The construction sector in Pakistan is developing at a rapid pace, while we are also making progress in the agricultural sector, large-scale manufacturing industries, and car sales, among others," Prime Minister Imran Khan said.

Speaking about the future course of action and wealth creation to further develop the country, PM Khan said that the government is creating a new city in Sindh and a central business district in Lahore which will add billions to the national exchequer.

The PM also shed light on several other initiatives of the PTI government, including the construction of dams and the launch of the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami Project to tackle climate change.

"The PTI has taken steps to make Pakistan a welfare state — a move which no other government had taken before. These steps include the issuance of health cards in two provinces, the construction of a panah gah (shelter home), and housing loans for the poor," he said.

"Most importantly, the PTI government is fighting for the supremacy of law in the country, which is a battle for the soul of Pakistan," he said, adding that through justice, the government will win this war.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/105961-pti-only-party-to-go-against-corruption-pm-imran.html

Death toll from Baghdad Covid-19 hospital fire climbs to 82

A fire sparked by an oxygen tank explosion killed at least 82 people and injured 110 at a hospital in Baghdad that had been equipped to house Covid-19 patients, an Interior Ministry spokesman said on Sunday.

"We urgently need to review safety measures at all hospitals to prevent such a painful incident from happening in future,” spokesman Khalid al-Muhanna told state television, announcing the toll.

The fire erupted on Saturday at the Ibn Khatib hospital in the Diyala Bridge area.

Ali Bayati, a member of Iraq’s semi-official High Commission for Human Rights, had said earlier a final death toll had not yet been officially announced but it could be between 30 to 45.

Patients' relatives scrambled during the blaze to save their loved ones.

A man who had been visiting his brother described people jumping out of windows to escape.

"The fire spread, like fuel ... I took my brother out to the street, next to the checkpoint. Then I came (back) and went up from there. To the last floor, that did not burn. I found a girl suffocating, about 19 years old, she was suffocating, she was about to die," said Ahmed Zaki.

"I took her on my shoulders and I ran down. People were jumping... Doctors fell on the cars. Everyone was jumping. And I kept going up from there, got people and come down again,” Zaki said.

Patients were moved to other hospitals, medical sources said. But several families were still at the hospital hours after the fire had been extinguished, after failing to find them elsewhere.

Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi ordered an investigation.

"Such an incident is evidence of negligence and therefore I directed that an investigation be launched immediately and for the hospital's manager and the heads of security and maintenance to be detained along with all those concerned until we identify those negligent and hold them accountable," he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Pakistan extended condolences to the government and people of Iraq, saying "our thoughts & prayers are with the victims & their families."

Iraq's healthcare system, ruined by decades of sanctions, war and neglect, has been stretched during the coronavirus crisis. The country has recorded a total of 1,025,288 infections, including 15,217 deaths, the health ministry said on Saturday.

Security has improved in recent years but Iraq still suffers from political violence, including militia rocket attacks on foreign forces and a low-level Islamic State insurgency.

Accidents due to neglect and wrecked infrastructure have compounded the woes of ordinary Iraqis.

In 2019, at least 90 people died when an overloaded ferry carrying families on an outing sank in the Tigris river in the northern city of Mosul.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/world/item/105958-death-toll-from-baghdad-covid-19-hospital-fire-climbs-to-82.html

After electric cars and spaceships, Elon Musk is turning his attention to hosting live TV

Technology mogul Elon Musk has a lined up a new gig in addition to his jobs as CEO of electric car maker Tesla and spaceship maker SpaceX. He is going to host the iconic TV show Saturday Night Live.

Musk’s scheduled May 8 appearance builds upon his recent run of success. Tesla’s stock is worth nearly six times more than it was before the pandemic started, leaving Musk with an estimated fortune of $177 billion, according to Forbes magazine. And SpaceX just a launched a mission that sent astronauts to the International Space Station.

Saturday Night Live doesn’t make a habit of having business executives host its show, but Musk is far from a stuffy corporate type. He regularly jokes around on Twitter, where he has nearly 52 million followers and has gotten into legal trouble for making disparaging remarks about critics and hinting that he might lead a buyout of Tesla that resulted him getting fined $20 million by stock market regulators.

Miley Cyrus will be the musical guest on the night Musk hosts.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/technology/item/105957-after-electric-cars-and-spaceships-elon-musk-is-turning-his-attention-to-hosting-live-tv.html

Pakistan beat Zimbabwe in final T20I, take series 2-1

Pakistan beat Zimbabwe on Sunday by 24 runs in the final fixture of the three-match T20I series at Harare Sports Club — taking the series 2-1.

Pakistan had won the toss against Zimbabwe and had decided to bat first, as the green shirts took on the hosts in the third T20I of the series.

To help Pakistan win, Mohammad Rizwan hammered an unbeaten 91 and Hasan Ali took four wickets to lead Pakistan to a victory. Rizwan battled through the 20 overs and helped his side to 165-3 on a slow surface.

Zimbabwe replied with 141-7, falling well short of the target as Pakistan claimed a 2-1 victory in the series.

Hasan took a career-best 4-18 as he helped check Zimbabwe’s progress after the home side had made a promising start.

In-form Rizwan, whose runs came off 60 balls, featured in a 126-run second-wicket partnership with captain Babar Azam who made 52 runs off 46 balls.

Zimbabwe, who secured an upset 19-run victory in the second match on Friday, were on course for another surprise success as opener Wesley Madhevere (59) and Tadiwanashe Marumani put on 64 runs for the second wicket as the home team reached 101-1 after 13 overs, needing 65 runs off 42 balls.

When Marumani was bowled by Mohammad Hasnain for 35, however, the runs dried up and wickets tumbled regularly as Pakistan completed a comfortable victory.

The visitors got into the third T20I against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club nervous and under pressure after they were handed a shocking defeat by the hosts in the last match.

At the time, Pakistan's middle order was yet again exposed when Faheem Ashraf, Asif Ali and Mohammad Hafeez put up dismal performances, resulting in a batting collapse for the team.

Chasing Zimbabwe's 119-run target, the green shirts were dismissed for 99 runs.

Luke Jongwe starred with the ball to help Zimbabwe level the series with his impressive returns of 4/18.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam has urged his middle order to step up. “The T20 World Cup is coming and we need to resolve these issues,” he said ahead of the final T20I. “Hopefully, we make a comeback. We will look to play with our best combination,” he added, hinting at some important changes.

The pitches here in Harare appear to have plenty in them for bowlers, with both captains agreeing totals around 140-150 were challenging.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/sports/item/105956-pakistan-beat-zimbabwe-in-final-t20i-take-series-2-1.html

Sindh govt seeks army's help in implementation of coronavirus SOPs

The government of Sindh has sought help from the Pakistan Army in implementing coronavirus SOPs as cases of the virus surge across the country.

The provincial government has written to the Ministry of Interior, seeking the army's help for the civil administration under Article 245 of the Constitution.

Sindh government said it would inform the interior ministry about details regarding troop employment and equipment after holding consultations over the matter.

On the other hand, Sindh information ministry Nasir Hussain Shah has warned that the provincial government will impose a lockdown if the situation turns alarming in Sindh.

"The provincial government is ready; if [coronavirus] situation worsens, we will impose a lockdown," he had said on Saturday.

A day earlier, army troops were deployed in Islamabad and Peshawar after PM Imran Khan announced their help would be needed in ensuring implementation of safety protocols.

Officials of the Islamabad administration had visited various areas in the city on Friday with army personnel in tow to enforce the implementation of coronavirus protocols.

Assistant Commissioner Rana Musa Tahir had visited different commercial areas with an army and police escort and took action against violators.

The district administration, in a statement, had said 1,997 inspections were carried out on Friday, while 28 shops and one restaurant were sealed for violating coronavirus SOPs.

Nine people were arrested for hoarding and violation of SOPs, the administration said, adding that fines worth Rs226,000 were imposed for not abiding by safety protocols.

The army and district administration officials had also inspected 85 mosques, said the statement.

On Friday, Prime Minister Imran Khan said he has directed the military — as well as police and Rangers — to help ensure that SOPs regarding COVID-19 are being strictly implemented and followed.

In a televised address after chairing a meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) over COVID-19, the prime minister had urged the masses to adopt preventive measures against coronavirus so that the situation remains under control and a lockdown of big cities is avoided.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/sindh/item/105955-sindh-govt-seeks-army-s-help-in-implementation-of-coronavirus-sops.html

Corona claims 118 more lives, 5,611 fresh infections reported in Pakistan

A day after Pakistan reported the highest number of COVID-related deaths, the pandemic has claimed 118 more lives in the country during the last 24 hours,reported on Sunday.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) data, 118 people died of Covid-19 in a single day, pushing the national tally to 17,117.

As many as 5,611 new infections surfaced when 55,611 samples were tested. The country’s overall positivity ratio of new cases jumped to 10.17%, according to the NCOC.

The national tally of confirmed cases climbed to 795,627 with the addition of 5,611 cases.

Yesterday, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Senator Shibli Faraz had said that demand and supply for oxygen in the country were satisfactory as the government prepares for a backup plan to ensure its smooth supply in case of worsening COVID-19 situation.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/105948-coronavirus.html

Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkey urge Taliban to commit to Afghan peace talks

The foreign ministers of Turkey, Pakistan and Afghanistan called on the Afghan Taliban on Friday to reaffirm their commitment to achieving a negotiated settlement for lasting peace in Afghanistan.

In a joint statement issued after talks in Istanbul, the three ministers underlined “the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire” to end the violence and “provide a conducive atmosphere” for peace talks.

A US-backed Afghan peace conference to be hosted in Istanbul by Turkey, Qatar and the United Nations on Saturday was postponed over the Taliban's non-participation.

Ankara has said the talks will be held after Ramazan but no new date has been set.

The foreign ministers of Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan on Friday discussed the planned conference, aimed at fast-tracking an agreement between the Afghan government and the Taliban following Washington's announcement that foreign troops will leave Afghanistan by September 11.

The ministers “called on all parties, in particular the Taliban, to reaffirm their commitment for achieving an inclusive negotiated settlement leading to lasting peace in Afghanistan desired by the Afghan people, the region and the international community”, according to the joint statement.

They also “deplored the continuing high level of violence in Afghanistan”.

Speaking at a joint news conference after the talks, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Ankara's support for the Afghan peace process and efforts to organise the conference in Istanbul would continue.

“As the co-organisers, we are continuing talks on this with all sides,” he said, alongside Foreign Minister Shan Mahmood Qureshi.

In a tweet, Qureshi said "an inclusive peace, the end of violence and a stable Afghanistan is beneficial" for trans-regional connectivity. "The international community must remain engaged with Afghanistan in reconstruction and economic development," he wrote.

Afghan Foreign Minister Haneef Atmar joined the meeting via video link for health reasons, Cavusoglu said.

Foreign Minister Qureshi also held a bilateral meeting with Atmar during which they discussed the latest developments in the Afghan peace process and strengthening of bilateral relations, the Foreign Office said.

Qureshi in a tweet termed his meeting with his Afghan counterpart as "great", saying he had re-emphasised "the need for meaningful engagement for a negotiated settlement to bring an end to over 4 decades of internal conflict in Afghanistan".

"Indeed peace creates greater opportunities for economic cooperation, prosperity and connectivity," the minister added.

The Taliban had earlier refused to attend any summits until all foreign forces were pulled out of Afghanistan. The Taliban and the United States last year agreed that all foreign forces would be withdrawn from Afghanistan by May 1, a date that was pushed back last week by US President Joe Biden.

The Taliban ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, when they were ousted by US-led forces. Since then, they have waged a long-running insurgency and still control wide swathes of territory.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/pakistan/general/item/105936-pakistan-afghanistan-turkey-urge-taliban-to-commit-to-afghan-peace-talks.html

Zimbabwe pull off shock 19-run win over Pakistan in second T20

Zimbabwe successfully defended a modest total to pull off an upset 19-run win over in-form Pakistan and level their Twenty20 international series at the Harare Sports Club on Friday.

Zimbabwe were sent into bat first, and despite a feisty 34 from Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, made only a paltry 118-9 as wickets tumbled at regular intervals.

But Pakistan, who beat South Africa 3-1 in a four-match series earlier this month, fell short in a laboured chase as they were bowled out for 99.

Luke Jongwe emerged the home hero as he took the important wickets of Mohammad Rizwan (13) and captain Babar Azam (41) to finish with figures of 4-18.

It was the lowest total defended in a T20 international in Harare and a first win for Zimbabwe over Pakistan in 15 past T20 internationals.

Zimbabwe bowled with accuracy and fielded without mistakes to make up for a poor performance in Wednesday's first T20 and set up a deciding contest in the last of the three-match series on Sunday.

“It was big turn around for us after the first game,” said stand-in captain Brendan Taylor afterwards.

“I'd be lying if I said I was confident after our batting, but we dug deep and managed to squeeze Pakistan and our commitment and determination got us over the line.”

source https://www.suchtv.pk/sports/item/105935-zimbabwe-pull-off-shock-19-run-win-over-pakistan-in-second-t20.html

Police employee stabbed to death at station near Paris

A female police employee was stabbed to death by a Tunisian man at a police station southwest of Paris on Friday, the local prosecutor's office and a police source told AFP.

The attacker was fatally wounded when an officer opened fire on him at the station in Rambouillet, a wealthy commuter town about 60 kilometers (40 miles) from Paris, a police source told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The attack took place in the secure entrance area of the station at around 2:20pm (1220 GMT), the police source added.

The woman, 48, was stabbed in the throat twice, the source said.

Prime Minister Jean Castex and Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin both announced they were heading to the scene.

The assailant was aged 36 and was unknown to security services, sources close to the investigation told AFP.

France has faced a series of attacks blamed on Islamist radicals in recent years that have cost the lives of hundreds of people.

Spate of attacks

Several attacks over the last year have reignited concerns about the spread of radicalism inside France as well as immigration.

In September, a Pakistani man wounded two people with a meat cleaver outside the former offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo which had printed caricatures of the Prophet Muhammmad (PBUH).

On October 16, a young Chechen refugee beheaded teacher Samuel Paty who had shown some of the caricatures to his pupils.

And on October 29, three people were killed when a recently arrived Tunisian went on a stabbing spree in a church in the Mediterranean city of Nice.

These came after the massacres carried out by extremists from 2015 that began with the massacre of staff in the offices of Charlie Hebdo in January that year.

In France's deadliest peacetime atrocity, 130 people were killed and 350 were wounded when Islamist suicide bombers and gunmen attacked the Stade de France stadium, bars and restaurants in central Paris and the Bataclan concert hall in November 2015.

And in 2016 a man rammed a truck into a Bastille Day crowd in Nice, killing 86 people.

President Emmanuel Macron's government has introduced legislation to tackle radical activity in France, a bill that has stirred anger in some Muslim countries.

source https://www.suchtv.pk/world/item/105934-police-employee-stabbed-to-death-at-station-near-paris.html