IHC orders not to allow PTI protest in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday instructed the district administration to take all measures according to the law to maintain peace in capital.

The court announced the verdict on the petition of Traders Association of Islamabad against the call of protest by the Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) on November 24.

The court in its order said that it is the responsibility of the administration not to allow violations of the law. It said that it should be ensured that there is no disruption in the business life of the citizens. Peaceful protest and Public Order 2024 is the prevailing law to get permission for sit-in, protest, rally etc.

The court ordered the Secretary Interior to form a committee headed by the Interior Minister or a relevant person and direct the committee to liaise with the PTI leadership.

It said that the committee should inform the PTI leadership of the sensitivity of the visit of the President of Belarus. The court believe that there must be something productive come out when this contact is made.

Read more: Talks under threats not possible, Naqvi denies negotiations with PTI

In the written order, it has been said that PTI should apply to the Deputy Commissioner seven days in advance for protest in Islamabad. The protest can be held after getting permission, the interior minister should convey this message to PTI leadership, it added.

The court directed the Ministry of Interior to resolve the matter through negotiations and sought written response from the parties at the next hearing and adjourned the hearing of the case till November 27.

It should be noted that a petition was filed against the PTI protest on behalf of the Traders Association against the PTI’s call for the protest in capital on November 24.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also appeared before the court during hearing and informed it regarding the sensitivity of the situation.

As PTI gears up for its Nov 24 protest in Islamabad, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi reiterated that no protest will be allowed in the federal capital as Belarus president along with a 65-member delegation is set for a state visit to Pakistan on November 24 and 25.

During a talk with the media after appearing before the Islamabad High Court, Naqvi categorically denied the reports about ongoing talks between the federal government and PTI founder Imran Khan regarding the Nov 24 protest.

The interior minister said that although he favours negotiations with the Opposition Party, however, he asserted that talks and threats do not go together.

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Gen (R) Bajwa responds to Bushra Bibi’s claims

ISLAMABAD: Former Army Chief Gen (Retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa on Thursday responded to the claims made by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan‘s wife Bushra Bibi.

In an informal conversation with ARY News, Gen (Retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa rejected the former first lady’s allegations of receiving calls about Imran Khan following his visit to Saudi Arabia.

According to Gen (R) Bajwa, he did not receive any such calls Bushra Bibi mentioned in her video message earlier today.

His response came soon after the PTI founder’s wife in a video message alleged that the former Army Chief received calls where he was told that Imran Khan was not acceptable to them.

Earlier today, Bushra Bibi issued a video message regarding the party’s Nov 24 protest call, urging PTI workers and supporters to participate in the much-hyped Nov 24 protest dubbed as ‘final or do-or-die’ against the government.

She claimed that propaganda began against them following their visit to Madinah in Saudi Arabia and the subsequent calls.

Read More: Bushra Bibi issues statement on Nov 24 protest

The PTI founder’s wife went on to add the calls were followed by her character assassination and Khan being called a ‘Jewish agent.’

As PTI gears up for its Nov 24 protest in Islamabad, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi reiterated that no protest will be allowed in the federal capital as Belarus president along with a 65-member delegation is set for a state visit to Pakistan on November 24 and 25.

During a talk with the media after appearing before the Islamabad High Court, Naqvi categorically denied the reports about ongoing talks between the federal government and PTI founder Imran Khan regarding the Nov 24 protest.

The interior minister said that although he favours negotiations with the Opposition Party, however, he asserted that talks and threats do not go together.

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Bushra Bibi issues statement on Nov 24 protest

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan‘s wife Bushra Bibi on Thursday issued a video message regarding the party’s Nov 24 protest call.

The former first lady urged PTI workers and supporters to participate in the much-hyped Nov 24 protest dubbed as ‘final or do-or-die’ against the government.

While urging party workers, lawyers and judges to join the protest, Bushra Bibi reiterated that the date of the protest will not change unless Imran Khan decides otherwise.

“PTI founder has sent a message that everyone should join the November 24 protest. The date will not be changed under any condition,” the former first lady said in a video message shared by PTI through its official X handle.

Bushra Bibi asserted that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf will hold its protest according to the law and the Constitution of Pakistan.

The former first lady claimed that propaganda began after them following their visit to Madinah in Saudi Arabia.

According to her, former Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa began receiving calls where he was told that Khan was not acceptable to them.

The PTI founder’s wife went on to add the calls were followed by her character assassination and Khan being called a ‘Jewish agent.’

Read more: Talks under threats not possible, Naqvi denies negotiations with PTI

As PTI gears up for its Nov 24 protest in Islamabad, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi reiterated that no protest will be allowed in the federal capital as Belarus president along with a 65-member delegation is set for a state visit to Pakistan on November 24 and 25.

During a talk with the media after appearing before the Islamabad High Court, Naqvi categorically denied the reports about ongoing talks between the federal government and PTI founder Imran Khan regarding the Nov 24 protest.

The interior minister said that although he favours negotiations with the Opposition Party, however, he asserted that talks and threats do not go together.

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Three Karachiites lose life in road accidents daily

KARACHI: The roads of Karachi, the largest city of Pakistan, have become increasingly dangerous, with three people losing their lives daily due to accidents involving heavy commercial vehicles, ARY News reported.

According to a video report compiled by ARY News, the deteriorating traffic system in Karachi is contributing to a surge in fatalities, with precious lives being lost every day. Despite this alarming situation, the traffic police seem more focused on issuing fines and making arrests than on effectively managing the traffic flow.

Karachi, has the highest rate of traffic fatalities, with the Edhi Foundation reporting that three people die daily in traffic accidents, the majority of whom are motorcyclists.

Meanwhile, the traffic police appear to be more focused on issuing fines and managing “deals” rather than addressing the congestion on the streets. The city’s road network stretches over 10,000 kilometers, accommodating 6 million motorcycles, more than 2 million cars, and numerous commercial vehicles. However, the growing traffic problems and encroachments reflect the administration’s negligence, leading to severe consequences for the public.

Seventy percent of Karachi’s roads lack basic infrastructure such as zebra crossings, overpasses, and footpaths, further contributing to the risk of accidents.

According to the Karachi Traffic Police, industrial areas with heavy traffic are the hotspots for accidents. Reports indicate that most accidents involve motorcyclists colliding with trucks or cars, often due to reckless driving. Citizens complain that driving licences are often issued without proper regulations or checks, adding to the chaos on the streets.

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Eligibility criteria for Honhaar Scholarship Program announced

In a significant development for students, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz unveiled the Rs 130 billion ‘Honhaar Scholarship Program’ on Tuesday.

The Punjab Higher Education Department revealed that over 68,000 students have applied for the Honhaar scholarship program, with applications coming from students at 65 universities, 359 colleges, and 12 medical colleges. The department hailed the scholarship initiative as an outstanding step taken by the Chief Minister to support higher education.

Eligibility Criteria for the Honhaar Scholarship Program:

To apply for the scholarship, students must meet the following requirements:

• Must have a domicile from any district in Punjab
• Age should not exceed 22 years by the closing date
• Must be enrolled in selected disciplines at eligible universities or colleges for the fall session of 2024. Newly enrolled MBBS and BDS students for 2024 are also eligible.
• Family monthly income should be less than Rs 300,000 (Affidavit required)

Minimum percentage (pc) required:

• Medical Colleges: 80pc or above
• Top Universities: 80pc or above
• Public Sector Universities: 75pc or above for Science and 70pc or above for Arts and Social Sciences
• HED Colleges: 65pc or above for Science and 60pc or above for Arts and Social Sciences

The Honhaar Scholarship Program will facilitate students in 68 disciplines, and in alignment with Maryam Nawaz’s vision, 30,000 students will receive scholarships annually.

Honhaar Scholarship Program will cover full tuition fees for undergraduate degree programs that span four to five years.

Read More: ‘Maryam Ki Dastak’ programme extended to 32 districts

Earlier on November 18, the Punjab government extended ‘Maryam Ki Dastak’ programme to 32 districts of the province.

The decision to extend the programme has been taken on directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. The 10 new districts which have been added to the programme included Rahim Yar Khan, Vehari, Lodhran, Toba Tek Singh, Layyah, Rajanpur, Nankana Sahib, Chiniot, Gujrat, and Khushab.

Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) Chairman Faisal Yousaf while chairing a progress review meeting in Lahore stated that ‘Maryam Ki Dastak’ initiative aims to improve service delivery through trained representatives, providing a more efficient and citizen-friendly experience.

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CM Punjab Maryam angry over Nishtar Hospital HIV outbreak

LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed her displeasure over the outbreak of HIV in Multan and sought a progress report within 24 hours.

While presiding over a special meeting on health, Maryam Nawaz said that the outbreak of  HIV among dialysis patients in Multan at is not only regrettable but also shameful as well.

“Halting dialysis procedure due to non-availability of funds is regrettable,” she said.

The chief minister also approved the ‘Chief Minister Dialysis Program Card’ in the history of Pakistan, the first of its nature in Pakistan.

Under the programme, the funds for the treatment of each dialysis patient have been increased up to Rs10 million whereas Rs8.5 million for dialysis and Rs1.5 million for tests are being allocated for each patient suffering from kidney disease.

She directed to ensure free tests and medicines for dialysis patients, while urging to continue dialysis procedure of patients under any circumstance. It was agreed in principle to establish more dialysis units in Punjab.

The chief minister directed Punjab Healthcare Commission to ensure implementation of SOPs in dialysis centres across the province.

It was agreed to set KPIs to determine performance of the health department. A progress report on the Nawaz Sharif Cancer Hospital was presented.

A report on the ongoing projects of PIC-2 and Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology, Sargodha was presented.

She directed to make PIC-2 a state-of-the-art hospital and to ensure latest technology, equipment and medicine for cardiac patients.

It is pertinent to mention that a patient has died while 30 others contracted HIV/AIDs infections during dialysis treatment at the Nishtar Hospital, Multan, as the effected patients carried the virus from the dialysis machines meant for HIV positive cases.

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Roshan Digital Account inflows rise to $8.953 bln in October 2024

The inflow of remittances under Roshan Digital Account (RDA) has risen to US $8.953 billion by the end of October 2024 as compared to US $8.749 billion by September (2024) end.

The data showed that the inflows of remittances during October were recorded at US$ 204 million as compared to US$ 168 million in September and US$ 165 million in August 2024, according to the latest data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

These accounts provide innovative banking solutions to millions of Non-Resident Pakistanis (NRPs), including Non-Resident Pakistan Origin Card (POC) holders, seeking to undertake banking, payment, and investment activities in Pakistan.

The number of accounts registered under the programme also rose by 11,336 to 757,587 in October 2024 from 746,251 accounts in September 2024.

Read more: Roshan Digital Account inflows reach $8.25 bn in June 24

By the end of October, overseas Pakistanis have invested US $393 million in Naya Pakistan Certificates, US $687 in Naya Pakistan Islamic Certificates, and US $45 million in Roshan Equity Investment.

The Roshan Digital Account was introduced by the State Bank to facilitate overseas Pakistanis in sending remittances and investing in Pakistan.

It is pertinent to mention here that in September 2020, former prime minister Imran Khan launched the Roshan Digital Account project aimed at providing digital banking facilities to overseas Pakistanis for the first time in the country.

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