| Deal sidelines bid to block sale of Toshiba chip unit Posted: SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - A request to block Toshiba from raising much-needed cash by selling a flash memory venture was taken off the table on Friday in a California court.Toshiba and Western Digital agreed to an order recommended by a state court judge who asked the companies to collaborate on an agreement instead of dueling over an injunction requested by the US company.The agreement requires Toshiba to publicly announce the signing of any deal to sell the venture, and provide Western Digital notice two weeks before any such sale closes, according to the Japanese company.The notice would give Western Digital time to react in court or with an arbitration panel.We are very pleased to have reached this mutually acceptable understanding which is effective for a very limited time and which recognizes Toshibas right to negotiate and sign a definitive agreement for the sale of its memory business, Toshiba Corporation senior executive vice president Yasuo Naruke said in a release announcing the stipulated agreement.Toshiba expected that consummating such a deal would take months.The agreement is to remain in effect until 60 days after an international arbitration panel has been created to consider the matter.On to arbitrationWhile the battle playing out in a San Francisco court has captured attention, the clash between the companies is expected to be resolved in arbitration.We dont expect to close a deal during the period addressed in the order, Toshiba said in a released statement.Toshiba therefore remains focused on preparing for the ICC (Chamber of Commerce) arbitration process, which we believe is the appropriate venue to address these issues.The hearing Friday was held to consider a request by Western Digital for an injunction stopping Toshiba from selling interests in three NAND flash-memory joint ventures operated with Western Digitals SanDisk subsidiaries.Toshiba was free to continue negotiations for the sale of the chip division as the matter made its way to likely arbitration in an international forum.Western Digital said in a release that the agreement protects SanDisks interests while waiting to face off with Toshiba in international arbitration.Our ongoing discussions with Toshiba and its stakeholders have been constructive, and we will continue to work to seek a solution that is in the best interests of all parties, Western Digital said in a release.Fresh investmentToshiba shares got a boost this month with news that US hedge fund Greenlight Capital has taken a new stake in the troubled conglomerate.It is wagering Toshiba shares will rise once it exits money-losing contracts tied to its Westinghouse US nuclear business, which filed for bankruptcy protection in March, the fund said in a letter to clients.Greenlight also said at the time that it believes Toshiba can resolve the legal dispute over a sale of its memory chip business that is meant to shore up its balance sheet.Toshiba is the worlds number-two supplier of memory chips, behind South Koreas Samsung.The chip unit sale is seen as key to Toshibas turnaround. Western Digital, which jointly runs a key chip plant in Japan, opposes the sale.Toshibas chief executive had blasted the US firms bid for a court injunction as unfair interference.Toshiba later said it has filed a 120 billion yen ($1 billion) lawsuit against its US partner over the disputed deal.  |
| For how long Nawaz Sharif will remain disqualified, legal experts opine Posted: LAHORE (Dunya News) – The million dollar question that for how long Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) founder Nawaz Sharif will remain disqualified is not as simple as it looks. Different legal and constitution experts have explained the disqualification of prime minister by Article 62 and 63 in their certain manner.While some suggest Nawaz Sharif is only declared ineligible for either five or ten years, others claim that the top court has placed a lifetime ban on the politics of ex-PM. Supreme Court based Article 62 1 (f) to disqualify Nawaz Sharif on moral grounds for not disclosing the complete details of his assets i.e. not declaring the receivable salary of 10,000 dirhams from Dubai-based Capital FZE being the Chairman of Board of Governors and UAE Iqama holder.When asked whether the leader of ruling party would be able to contest elections in future, this is what renowned legal experts said:Barrister Ali Zafar the review petition which is due to be submitted by PML-N will establish the duration of ineligibility.Former president of Supreme Court Bar and senior lawyer Kamran Murtaza said anyone declared disqualified in view of Article 62 1 (f) can never contest elections due because of the lifetime ban on becoming lower house member. He gave the example of Abdul Ghafoor Lehri VS returning officer case.President of Supreme Court Bar Association Rashid A. Rizvi said there is no mention of duration in the court’s orders. It should be considered as a one-time disqualification, according to his own explanation of the articles.Former judge Justice (retd) Muhammad Alam believes Nawaz Sharif will remain ineligible until the apex court revises its verdict. He said the explanation of constitution is done by Supreme Court, not parliament.Senior law expert Abid Hassan Manto asked whether undeclared assets in Capital FZE and UAE Iqama lie under the bracket of lying in view of Article 62 and 63.Several lawmakers have been disqualified in view of these articles in constitution and their review petitions remain pending. On such petitions, former Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali has asked how someone can remain ineligible if the person reconsiders itself. He raised concerns on the decision to disqualify Nawaz Sharif basing these articles.  |
| Fresh PM: President summons NA session on August 1st Posted: ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – President Mamnoon Hussain has summoned a session of National Assembly (NA) on August 1st to elect fresh leader of the House after Nawaz Sharif was disqualified by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) over top court’s order.The session was summoned after ministry of parliamentary affairs forwarded a summary to President Mamnoon.According to the law, the session will witness speaker of assembly Ayaz Sadiq announce schedule for election of the fresh Prime Minister (PM) of Pakistan.It is likely that the fresh premier will take oath on August 2nd or August 3rd.Earlier today, former premier announced petroleum minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to be the interim PM and Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab, Shehbaz Sharif to fill his shoes after 45 days.Details to follow  |
| Two killed in South Africa football stadium crush Posted: JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - Two people were killed in a crush during a football match Saturday at the South African stadium that hosted the 2010 World Cup final, local media and an official said.The incident occurred at a pre-season derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, the countrys most popular teams, both from Soweto.Public and private broadcasters cited officials saying the crush took place outside a gate at the FNB stadium which hosted the final of the football extravaganza seven years ago.Emergency services were not immediately reachable for comment, but Michael Sun, a Johannesburg municipal councillor responsible for public safety confirmed the deaths in a tweet.Situation report from FNB Soweto Derby?Stampede reported with multiple injuries, 2 confirmed fatal, wrote Sun on Twitter.The match carried on despite the tragedy at the stadium which has an official capacity of 94,000 and was won 1-0 by Chiefs.The two worst football tragedies in South Africa involved matches between the same clubs -- in 2001 when 43 people were killed, and in 1991, when the death toll was 42.  |
| Will pass on post to next PM as party decision: Shahid Khaqan Posted: ISLAMABAD (Dunya News/AFP) – The to-be Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said Saturday he will uphold the party decision made by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to remain as interim PM for 45 days and make way for Shehbaz Sharif to take it over from there.The formal announcement of his nomination was made by Nawaz Sharif himself after he was oustedfor the third time in his political career following Supreme Court verdict in Panama case.He is the former federal minister for petroleum and natural resources, and a businessman who launched the countrys most successful private airline. Considered highly intelligent and a long-time loyalist of Nawaz Sharif, the former prime minister who was ousted by the Supreme Court on Friday, the 58-year-old Abbasi will act as a placeholder for the Sharif dynasty.He is due to be rubber stamped by in a parliamentary vote as prime minister until Sharifs younger brother Shahbaz, a provincial minister, can be elected to the national assembly and take over the leadership.Abbasi was appointed oil minister when Nawaz Sharif won his third election in 2013 and he contested the elections for the seventh time.Educated in the US at George Washington University, he was born in Karachi but is a member of the National Assembly from Murree -- a hill station that is a favourite holiday destination for Sharif.Abbasi worked in the US and Saudi Arabia as an electrical engineer before joining politics after his father, a minister in General Zia ul-Haqs government, was killed when an ammunition dump belonging to Pakistans powerful Inter-Service Intelligence Agency (ISI) exploded in Rawalpindi in 1988.Abbasi has been elected six times as a member of the National Assembly since then, and has previously served as minister for commerce and defence production.He was the chairman of national flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) from 1997 to 1999, until General Pervez Musharraf overthrew Sharifs second government.Abbasi was arrested after the coup and imprisoned for two years before being released.In 2003, he setup a private airline Air Blue, the countrys most successful private airline and challenger to PIA.  |
| PTI nominates Sheikh Rasheed as PM candidate Posted: ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – After the extensive meeting of senior leadership, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to nominate Sheikh Rasheed as the candidate for next prime minister of Pakistan.At first, it was presumed that PIT will support the PM candidate from opposition, but now the senior leadership has made it clear that they will support Sheikh Rasheed as PM candidate in National Assembly voting. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has already declared that former state minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will be appointed as next PM for an interim period of 45 days while Punjab CM Shehbaz Sharif will then take over the premiership.PTI Chairman Imran Khan said they will file a reference against Shehbaz Sharif as his name is in Hudaibiya Paper Mills case. He claimed Capital FZE in Dubai was formed for money laundering by the Sharif family. “PML-N will cause itself damage by appointing Shehbaz Sharif as PM,” he stated.He further claimed that ex-interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan knew that the letter from Qatari Prince is false which is why he had rift with PML-N leaders. Is no one else eligible for the position of PM in whole PML-N, he asked.  |
| Twitter Buffet is served: PM Nawaz ousted -- again Posted: (Web Desk) – Quite an unprecedented development came this week about former premier Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification and Twitter Buffet this week has decided not to digress.The premier been taken down by the apex court for a technicality. The salary he chose not to withdraw from Capital FZE, some 10,000 Dirhams brought the PM down.Here at this week’s Twitter Buffet we look at the Panamagate Joint Investigation Team (JIT) timeline at first.The JITA Joint Investigation Team was set by the Supreme Court of Pakistan to investigate into the Panama Papers controversy involving the ruling Sharif family.On April 20 the Supreme Court constituted a Joint Investigation Team to investigate the Panama Case. The JIT officially started their investigation from May 7 during which different personalities were called in to answer a questionnaire based on 13 points. Following is a timeline of major dates on which focal personalities involving the investigation were called in by the JIT.May 7 to May 27: Owner of Hudaibiya Paper Mills Tariq Shafi, along with journalist Umar Cheema were called in.May 19: Qatar’s Prince Hammad bin Jasim al-thani was summoned by the JIT to appear on May 25. Although he did not appear and instead, submitted a response that his letter submitted before the Supreme Court be taken into the considerationMay 22: JIT submitted the first 15 days report before the SC bench in which it also made references to the allegations made by different parties on the JIT.May 28: Hussain Nawaz appeared for the first time. Overall he appeared six times in front of the investigation team which lasted for 30 hours in total.June 2: For the first time Hassan Nawaz appeared before the JIT. He appeared again on June 8 and was questioned for 12 hours in total.June 8 to June 14: JIT requested PM Nawaz Sharif, CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif and PM’s son-in-law Captain Safdar to appear before them in the week that followed.June 15: PM Nawaz Sharif appeared before the JIT. He was questioned for 3 hours.June 17: JIT questioned Chief Minister of Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif for three and a half hours.July 5: Maryam Nawaz, daughter of PM Nawaz, was called in by the JIT. The questioning lasted for one hour forty five minutes. She also addressed the critics through media for the first time in front of the Judicial Academy. Chairman NAB also recorded his statement before the JIT the same day.JIT also questioned Tariq Shafeeq cousin of P.M. Nawaz Sharif twice for 16 hours.Captain Safdar was questioned for 4 hours, Rehman Malik for 2 hours. Former Chairman NAB Muhammad Amjad was investigated for one hour, current Chairman NAB Qamar Zaman Chaudhry for one and a half hour, and Ishaq Dar for two hours forty five minutes.Panama timelineMossack Fonseca leakPanama Papers had published a leak of documents belonging to Mossack Fonseca, a Panama-based law firm on April 4, 2016. The leak named over 400 incumbent as well as former leaders of the world who owned offshore companies which were interpreted by the commentators as means to stash wealth abroad.Ex-premier Nawaz Sharif’s family; two sons and a daughter were named in the documents which were studied by International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.Opposition parties in Pakistan saw the published documents as proof of alleged money laundering done by the premier. Questions over the source of money used to purchase flats in London s posh Mayfair locality by Sharif family were raised by opposition leaders.Leader of one of the opposition parties, Imran Khan used the leak to accuse the government of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz of misleading the nation and looting hard-earned money of the taxpayers.Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, in leadership of Imran Khan managed to draw a consensus of opposition parties to demand the premier to resign and offer himself for accountability.PM Nawaz addressed the nation twice, once on April 5 and April 22 to take the nation in confidence and denied corruption accusations. He offered to form a judicial commission to probe the leaks against his family which was denied by opposition parties.Later, the former PM offered to establish a parliamentary committee to form joint Terms of References to have the issue probed by the apex court.On the floor of the House in May, PM Nawaz categorically denied the allegations and claimed that no money was stashed in foreign bank accounts by his family.Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly, Khurshid Shah called off the protest against the government and absence of PM Nawaz in the House delaying due explanation and took him up on his offer.Six representatives of the two sides each convened several meetings, some held at residence of Leader of the Opposition in Senate, Aitzaz Ahsan, but failed to chalk out joint Terms of References to have the premier probed by a bench of the top court.The representatives of the government and the opposition, referred to by the media and the masses as TOR committee, never agreed on joint Terms of References.On political front, Imran Khan and other parties were successful by then to develop an agenda for the people through across-the-country rallies and media barrage of statements that drew counter-narrative explanations.Around the time when Imran Khan warned the government of alleged lockdown of the federal capital last year, the apex court took up the case on October 20 and condensed the petitions filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Jamaat-e-Islami and Awami Muslim League against the premier.On November 7, family of the premier filed replies in the top court and on November 14, PTI submitted evidence against the Sharif family.Hearing of the case was adjourned on December 9 until first week of January 2017 over retirement of ex-Chief Justice of Pakistan, Anwar Zaheer Jamali. Revised bench comprising of Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, Justice Gulzar Ahmed, Justice Sh. Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan resumed the hearing on January 4.On January 10, in its remarks, the court had branded disqualification of the premier over mere assumptions a dangerous precedent.Justice Ijaz had stated in another hearing on January 12 that the records which the PM had asserted to produce before the court were not filed and that the bench could not decide what was true and what was false without looking at the documents.State institutions were remarked against by the top court on February 21 when the judges declared the authorities concerned to have failed in probing lawmakers who owned shell companies.After a trial that ran for around four months, Supreme Court reserved the verdict on February 23. A supplementary cause list of the top court issued on April 18 reported that the verdict would be let out on April 20, some two months after it was reserved.The reservations that PML-N had on JIT reportPM ousted, the vlog**One frame video, no dedicated mic and poor lights be excused for the time window was tight  |
| Indonesia, Australia call for a stronger cooperation on counter-terrorism Posted: MANADO (AFP) - Indonesia and Australia on Saturday called for stronger cooperation in counter-terrorism as the region braces for the return of foreign militants fighting in the Middle East.In a one-day gathering in North Sulawesi of six nations including Malaysia, the Philippines, New Zealand and Brunei, ministers discussed terrorism in Southeast Asia and fears over IS unrest in the Philippines, where government forces are pitted against Islamist gunmen holed up in a southern city.Global terrorism is that lethal threat to all of our societies and with the collapse of the caliphate in the Middle East, the return of foreign terrorist fighters to our region and the increasing prevalence of cross border terorism... (the threat) is becoming more severe, not less, Australian Attorney-General George Brandis told a post-meeting press conference.Indonesian chief security minister Wiranto said the delegations had agreed to hold regular meetings to allow information to be shared and to establish a database of miliants to keep track of their movements.We will also push for a cooperation with companies that provide social media services as well as video sharing and messaging service, Wiranto said.Indonesia recently announced restrictions on the popular messaging app Telegram after claiming the platform had been used frequently by radicals to spread information and propaganda.Parts of Southeast Asia have long struggled with Islamic militancy, with hundreds of radicals from the region flocking to join IS in Iraq and Syria.  |
| Podolski hits brace on J-league debut Posted: TOKYO (AFP) - German World Cup winner Lukas Podolski needed just 49 minutes to score on his J-League debut on Saturday and went on to grab a brace for his new side Vissel Kobe.The 32-year-old striker missed with a free-kick in the first half but smashed his first goal -- the games opener -- to put Kobe on the way to a 3-1 win over Omiya Ardija.Thirteen minutes later he scored with a header, to the delight of home fans who have high expectations of their big-name signing, reported to be on a contract worth $5.3 million a year.I cant put into words how happy I am that I scored two goals and we won 3-1 in my first game, Podolski said, according to Kyodo News.This is my first step and I want to keep moving forward, said the veteran of three World Cups and the scorer of 49 goals for Germany.Podolski, who arrived in Japan in early July, has vowed to bolster enthusiasm for Japanese football, bucking a trend of star players moving to cash-rich China.The former Arsenal forward had played for Turkeys Galatasaray since 2015 and his move to Japan was something of a coup for the J-League.The Poland-born left-footer was named 2006 World Cup young player of the tournament ahead of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.Podolski, who has been troubled by niggling injuries, announced his international retirement last year after 130 appearances for the world champions.  |
| Boxing: AIBA chief rejects 'coup', says still in charge Posted: LAUSANNE (AFP) - The embattled president of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) defiantly claimed on Saturday that he was still in charge of the body despite moves by rival executives to oust him.In a phone interview with AFP from Taipei, Wu Ching-Kuo accused his AIBA rivals of trying to pull off a military coup and insisted the no confidence vote passed against him was illegitimate.A notice pinned to the door of the organisations Lausanne headquarters this week informed employees that the executive committee had approved a motion of no confidence against Taiwans Wu and that an extraordinary congress would be held within the next three months to choose a new leader.AIBA, which organises amateur boxing including Olympic competitions, has been struggling with instability and financial difficulties.Wus rivals have claimed that AIBA is on the brink of bankruptcy and said in the letter that an interim management committee had taken charge of the association pending the selection of a new chief.Wu hit back on Saturday, claiming that financially AIBA is very strong with more than $10 million (8.5 million euros) in the bank and no debt.He added that an audited financial report had recently been approved by the executive committee, further undermining the basis for the no confidence vote.This is purely political, Wu said.His rivals include Welshman Terry Smith, Pat Fiaco of Canada and former AIBA executive director Ho Kim of South Korea, who was ousted from AIBA over allegations of financial wrongdoing.Wu claimed he was being targeted because of his reform push and specifically singled out Ho for seeking revenge.The International Olympic Committee told AFP this week that it was monitoring the AIBA fracas and wanted more information before deciding on its next steps.Wu said he had written to IOC chief Thomas Bach to explain the situation, pinning Ho as a main plotter.He vowed to remain in charge and oversee the world championships set to open on August 25th in Hamburg.Nothing will stop us, he told AFP.  |
| Nigeria: Boko Haram ambush death toll hits 69 Posted: KANO (AFP) - At least 69 people are known to have died in a Boko Haram ambush of an oil exploration team in northeast Nigeria, as three men kidnapped by the jihadists made a video appeal.Experts said the attack -- Boko Harams bloodiest this year -- underscored the persistent threat it poses, despite government claims the group is a spent force.So far the death toll stands at 69, said an aid agency worker involved in the recovery of bodies after the attack in the Magumeri area of Borno state on Tuesday.The worker, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorised to speak to the media, said 19 soldiers, 33 civilian militia and 17 civilians were killed.The last body was recovered Friday in the bush in the Geidam district of neighbouring Yobe state, which is several kilometres from the scene of the ambush, he told AFP.It shows the victim, who had gunshot wounds, died after trekking a long distance. There could be more such victims in the bush.Another source with knowledge of the rescue operation gave the death toll as 70 or more and also said it was unclear whether all the victims had been accounted for.The attack hit Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation staff.Its a confirmation of the boldness and reassurance that Boko Haram has managed to gain over the last six weeks, said Yan St-Pierre, from the Modern Security Consulting Group.They have been attacking more and more military outposts and more military convoys. For them to go after NNPC personnel just shows they dont fear any military reprisal.Basically they have managed to gain enough resources, enough material, to plan ambushes targeted towards high value targets.Video appealNews of the rising death toll came after Boko Haram published a four-minute video in which three men identified themselves as being from the University of Maiduguri.The trio were part of a NNPC team on a mission to find commercial quantities of oil in the Lake Chad basin.I want to call on the acting president professor Yemi Osinbajo to come to our rescue to meet the demand, one of the men says in the video, which he said was shot on Friday.He attributed the attack to the Islamic State-supported Boko Haram faction headed by Abu Musab Al-Barnawi, which has vowed to hit military and government targets.They have promised us that if their demands are met they will release us immediately to go back to the work we were caught doing, the man added.There was no indication of where the video was shot but Magumeri is some 50 kilometres (31 miles) by road northwest of Maiduguri.University of Maiduguri spokesman Danjuma Gambo confirmed the identities of the three kidnapped men in the video.They are our staff but one more is yet to be accounted for, he told AFP.Five members of staff from the university -- two lecturers, two technologists and a driver -- were killed, vice-chancellor Ibrahim Njodi said on Friday.He told reporters the university had been hesitant to send staff with the NNPC team but had been assured about security.Nigeria is searching for oil in the northeast to try to reduce its reliance on supplies from the Niger delta, where militant attacks have slashed production.Suicide bombingsKidnapping has been a feature of the Boko Haram insurgency, which has killed at least 20,000, displaced more than 2.6 million and left millions of others on the brink of famine.Thousands of women and girls have been seized, to be married off to fighters, used as sex slaves or suicide bombers, while men and boys have been made to fight in the Islamist ranks.The al-Barnawi faction differs from fighters loyal to Boko Harams long-time leader Abubakar Shekau in that it disagrees with the indiscriminate targeting of civilians.On Friday, two suicide bombers struck a camp for displaced people in Dikwa, 90 kilometres (56 miles) east of Maiduguri, killing five.Civilian militia member Babakura Kolo said the men disguised themselves as traders wanting to buy grain.In Bama, 70 kilometres (45 miles) southeast of Maiduguri, three young female suicide bombers were killed when their explosives detonated prematurely on Thursday, he added.A fourth bomber, an 11-year-old girl, was too frightened to pull the trigger. She succeeded in removing her vest and sneaked into town. She was found and taken into custody, he said.  |
| Support Shehbaz Sharif after me, urges Nawaz Posted: ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif held a press conference in the capital where he said Capital FZE was owned by his son which is why he didnt take any salary from it being the ChairmanBoard of Directors.Reason of not withdrawing Dubai salaryThose who visit Dubai know it is difficult to take Iqama and visa. After Saudi Arabia when I went to London, I couldn’t live for more than three months and had to return London before visiting other countries as I couldn’t live for a longer time at one place, he told after the disqualification from premiership by the top court on moral grounds..Nawaz Sharif elaborated that Capital FZE was owned by his son and only formed to attain visa during the fourteen months of the exile after 1999 ouster. He said, You should know that when I wanted to go to London, I didn’t have a passport as it was expired.While telling about the Capital FZE in Dubai and UAE Iqama, he said, I had to take new visa from Dubai and go back to London. Our centre of politics has remained in London. For the issuance of visa, my son opened the company Capital FZE. He appointed me as Chairman of Board of Directors with a salary of 10,000 dirhams, estimated as 1,50,000 rupees.Support for ShehbazNawaz Sharif asked his party leaders to support Shehbaz Sharif after him. He announced that the Punjab CM will take charge as PM while Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will remain as interim premier for 45 days.PML-N leaders have alsoagreed to nominate former Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources as interim prime minister.Theexisting Punjab CM will resign from his provincial assembly seat and contest in by elections for NA-120, from which Nawaz Sharif was disqualified by the apex court. He will become PM after the success in polls and receiving votes in NA after Abbasi s resignation.‘I am ideological now’There was no burden on my shoulders to give resignation as I was clean, I am an ideological person, he said while claiming that he wasn’t so twenty years ago.He said it is not easy to be jailed, exiled and bear difficulties. People used to say I will be imprisoned for life in 1999, he said. Nawaz Sharif said the 14 months after exile were the most difficult in his life. He recalled the pressure from global leaders at the time of Pakistan becoming nuclear power.The ex-PM said he is ready to sacrifice for the betterment of Pakistan, adding that he was proud of contributing for the democracy. Nawaz Sharif claimed the five-member bench verdict of Supreme Court has been disapproved by the international media. He compared himself with a young soldier who is ready to defend his country.‘Will defend constitution, rule of law’While stressing to defend the rule of law, he said such minds should emerge to promote the ideology with him and make the destiny of Pakistan. He said he has no regrets of disqualification, but was happy to not be ousted over corruption. We have to change Pakistan and I have no greed for leadership, he claimed.The struggle and sacrifices will not be wasted and come of use to this nation, he said. Nawaz Sharif prayed for the betterment of Pakistan and recalled he was very reluctant to become the PM in 2013.Nawaz Sharif highlighted the achievements of PML-N after coming into power in 2013 including minimizing power outages, eliminating terrorism in the country, health card, new educational institutes, Lowari Tunnel, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and others. He criticised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for bad performance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), slamming PTI Chairman Imran Khan as well as KP CM Pervez Khattak. They couldnt even complete metro project, he taunted.Highlighting services in premiershipTalking about CPEC, Nawaz Sharif claimed that Chinese President Xi Jinping declared the project a gift to him. He stressed that his services for the country should be acknowledged, though he doesn’t want any special gift.The history will review yesterdays SC decision, Nawaz said.While talking to executive heads of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB), he claimed to raise the development budgets in both regions. He said the development budget of GB was increased to Rs. 20 billion from 8 billion and that of AJK from Rs. 22 billion from 11 billion. He mentioned many of the upcoming projects that will be completed before 2018 general elections.He pledged support to the ruling party, but hinted at stepping down from party affairs. He called the PML-N manifesto as the nationwide manifesto of the young and old.Challenging SC verdictThe ruling party has decided to challenge the Supreme Court verdict of disqualification of Nawaz Sharif. The counsel of Nawaz Sharif will submit a review petition in the top court, challenging the disqualification based on Article 62 (f). While addressing the gathering, the former PM said that the nation knows he has not been declared ineligible over corruption.  |
| LIVE: Nawaz Sharif addresses PML-N legislators in capital Posted: This is a developing story and will be updated accordingly... Watch the address live hereISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif held a press conference in the capital where he said Capital FZE was owned by his son which is why he didnt take any salary from it being the ChairmanBoard of Directors.Those who visit Dubai know it is difficult to take Iqama and visa. After Saudi Arabia when I went to London, I couldn’t live for more than three months and had to return London before visiting other countries as I couldn’t live for a longer time at one place, he told after the disqualification from premiership by the top court on moral grounds..Nawaz Sharif elaborated that Capital FZE was owned by his son and only formed to attain visa during the fourteen months of the exile after 1999 ouster. He said, You should know that when I wanted to go to London, I didn’t have a passport as it was expired.Related:Shahid Khaqan to be appointed as interim PMWhile telling about the Capital FZE in Dubai and UAE Iqama, he said, I had to take new visa from Dubai and go back to London. Our centre of politics has remained in London. For the issuance of visa, my son opened the company Capital FZE. He appointed me as Chairman of Board of Directors with a salary of 10,000 dirhams, estimated as 1,50,000 rupees.Support ShehbazNawaz Sharif asked his party leaders to support Shehbaz Sharif after him. He announced that the Punjab CM will take charge as PM while Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will remain as interim premier for 45 days.There was no burden on my shoulders to give resignation as I was clean, I am an ideological person, he said while claiming that he wasn’t so twenty years ago.He said it is not easy to be jailed, exiled and bear difficulties. People used to say I will be imprisoned for life in 1999, he said. Nawaz Sharif said the 14 months after exile were the most difficult in his life. He recalled the pressure from global leaders at the time of Pakistan becoming nuclear power.The ex-PM said he is ready to sacrifice for the betterment of Pakistan, adding that he was proud of contributing for the democracy. Nawaz Sharif claimed the five-member bench verdict of Supreme Court has been disapproved by the international media. He compared himself with a young soldier who is ready to defend his country.While stressing to defend the rule of law, he said such minds should emerge to promote the ideology with him and make the destiny of Pakistan. He said he has no regrets of disqualification, but was happy to not be ousted over corruption. We have to change Pakistan and I have no greed for leadership, he claimed.The struggle and sacrifices will not be wasted and come of use to this nation, he said. Nawaz Sharif prayed for the betterment of Pakistan and recalled he was very reluctant to become the PM in 2013.Nawaz Sharif highlighted the achievements of PML-N after coming into power in 2013 including minimizing power outages, eliminating terrorism in the country, health card, new educational institutes, Lowari Tunnel, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and others. He criticised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for bad performance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), slamming PTI Chairman Imran Khan as well as KP CM Pervez Khattak. They couldnt even complete metro project, he taunted.Talking about CPEC, Nawaz Sharif claimed that Chinese President Xi Jinping declared the project a gift to him. He stressed that his services for the country should be acknowledged, though he doesn’t want any special gift.The history will review yesterdays SC decision, Nawaz said.While talking to executive heads of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB), he claimed to raise the development budgets in both regions. He said the development budget of GB was increased to Rs. 20 billion from 8 billion and that of AJK from Rs. 22 billion from 11 billion. He mentioned many of the upcoming projects that will be completed before 2018 general elections.He pledged support to the ruling party, but hinted at stepping down from party affairs. He called the PML-N manifesto as the nationwide manifesto.  |
| Shuja-ur-Rehman or Rana Sana likely to replace Punjab CM: sources Posted: LAHORE (Dunya News) – Punjab Information, Excise and Taxation Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman and Law Minister Rana Sanaullah are being considered as the strong candidates to replace Shehbaz Sharif as Punjab Chief Minister.Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) parliamentary committee has decided to appoint Shehbaz Sharif as PM before Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will be appointed as interim premier for 45 days.Other candidates include Shehbaz Sharif’s son Hamza Shehbaz and Malik Nadeem Kamran are also possible candidates for chief ministry in the largest province by population.Sources said that Rana Sanaullah’s name is less likely to come up due to Model Town tragedy involving killings of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers and dispute with Sheer Ali Group.Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman has been considered as the stronger candidate for the chief ministry. He has been currently working as Punjab Information, Excise and Taxation Minister.  |
| Khadija Siddiqi case: Class fellow sentenced to 7 years in jail Posted: LAHORE (Dunya News) – A court has sentenced Shah Hussain to seven years in prison on Saturday after he was found guilty in an attempted murder case lodged by victim Khadija Siddiqi, a 23-year-old law student.Son of advocate Tanvir Hashmi had stabbed his class fellow, Siddiqi, 23 times on May 3, 2016 before she struggled for her life in a hospital. She had gone to Shimla Paharito pick up her younger sister from school.Chief Justice (CJ) of Lahore High Court (LHC) had ordered the magistrate to conclude the case within 30 days after conducting hearings on daily basis. The verdict was reserved on July 27 and delivered today.While talking to the media, Siddiqi said that justice was served. She thanked her colleagues and law practitioners for their support in the issue.Her legal counsel, Hassan Niazi took to Twitter: Shah hussain taken to jail for 7 years. Khadija well done. Thank you everyone for ur support. Alhumdulillah did it.Shah hussain taken to jail for 7 years. Khadija well done. Thank you everyone for ur support. Alhumdulillah did it— Hassan Niazi (@HniaziISF) July 29, 2017 He alleged that the defence team was backed by certain influential lawyers who were backed by a section of the bar.Niazi wrote on his Facebook, Khadija has set an example. First she survives the 23 stabs around and on her neck. Then fights against the influential group of lawyers ,who were backed by certain segment of Bar. It was tough fight.This is what Twitter has to sayWell done Khadija for speaking up and all those who argued your case in the courts and media. This is a victory for all young women. https://t.co/FznOOSP4Kz— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) July 29, 2017 Congratulations @HniaziISF for your brilliant efforts KhadijaFoundJustice https://t.co/R84nPnqxXY— Shama Junejo (@ShamaJunejo) July 29, 2017 You are an inspiration to us all. Your long struggle is a reminder that we need to work to make access to justice a reality for all citizens— M. Jibran Nasir (@MJibranNasir) July 28, 2017 All the more power to youhttps://t.co/48ntObSWAV— Maria Memon (@Maria_Memon) July 27, 2017 Alhamdulillah@khadeeeej751 love and prayers always. https://t.co/dnmbIlRH4i— Mahira Khan (@TheMahiraKhan) July 29, 2017  |
