Indian fire kills 2-year-old Pakistani boy along LoC: ISPR

RAWALPINDI – A two-year-old boy has died while four civilians injured after Indian troops continued resorting to unprovoked firing from across the Line of Control (LoC).

In a series of tweet on Monday, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations Major General Babar Iftikhar (DG ISPR) said that during the last 24 hours, Indian troops resorted to unprovoked firing in Baroh, Dhudnial, Rakhchikri and Chirikot Sectors.

The military spokesman further said that due to the indiscriminate Indian fire of heavy weapons and mortars, a two-year old-minor Muhammad Haseeb in Dhudnial Sector, was martyred. The DG ISPR added that four citizens including a woman and 72-year-old senior citizen in Baroh, Rakhchikri and Chirikot Sectors sustained serious injuries.

“Injured have been evacuated to nearby health facility for necessary medical care," DG ISPR tweeted.

CM Sindh blames Center for infectivity of coronavirus lockdown

KARACHI - Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah alleged on Monday that a lockdown has not been proving effective against coronavirus pandemic due to the confusion being created by the federal government.

Addressing a press conference, he asserted a need for imposing a “new lockdown” to control the further spread of the infection, which has affected over 5,000 people and claimed 93 lives.

His suggestion comes hours ahead Prime Minister Imran Khan is set to chair a meeting of the National Security Council to take key decision in this regard.

Shah said, “We need to save lives as economy can be strengthened again,” adding that coronavirus is not only the problem for Pakistan but whole world is suffering from it.

Emphasising on collaborative efforts, the chief minister said that decision cannot be taken in isolation.

“There have been mistakes but we should not commit a mistake of not taking action,” he highlighted, besides rejecting claims that Sindh imposed a lockdown without a prior thought.

The situation would be totally different today if my advice to impose the lockdown was accepted when it was given,” he said.

PTI's Aleem Khan to rejoin Punjab cabinet soon

LAHORE – Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Aleem Khan will be re-inducted in the Punjab cabinet as a senior minister soon, according to reports in local media.

It comes after a meeting between Aleem Khan and Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar at CM Office, where they discussed matters of mutual interest, current political scenario and government initiatives to cope with coronavirus pandemic.

Aleem Khan had stepped down from the minister’s position on February 6, 2019, after the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested him for his alleged involvement in acts of corruption and corrupt practices by way of accumulating assets beyond known sources of income within Pakistan and outside.

He remained in the custody of the bureau from Feb 7 to March 5 and then was sent to jail on judicial remand. He remained incarcerated for 73 days and was finally granted post-arrest bail by the high court on May 17.

Aleem Khan was finally released from Kot Lakhpat jail last year in May following bail granted by the Lahore High Court in the NAB case.

Two Pakistan Army pilots martyred in Gujrat jet crash

RAWALPINDI – A training aircraft, Mushaq, of Pakistan Army crashed near Gujrat on Monday, reported the military media wing.

Both pilots Major Umer (Instructor Pilot) resident of Gujarat, and Lieutenant Faizan (Student Pilot) resident of Kalar Kahar, Chakwal embraced martyrdom.

Major is Umer survived by wife, said the Inter Services Public Relations.

The latest incident came weeks after an Air Force pilot died when his F-16 jet crashed near the capital, Islamabad, during maneuvers ahead of National Day celebrations.

In January, an FT-7 jet trainer also went down in Punjab, killing the two pilots. Last July, 19 people died when a Pakistani military aircraft crashed into a residential area on the outskirts of Rawalpindi, most of them in their homes.

SC to take up suo motu notice over insufficient facilities to curb coronavirus today

ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court will conduct hearing of a suo motu notice, which was taken due insufficient facilities to combat the coronavirus pandemic, today. 

Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmed took the first notice since assuming the office after the apex court concluded hearing over a petition against release of under-trial prisoners by the high courts and provincial governments. 

The top court has issued notices to the attorney general, health secretary, interior secretary, all four provincial advocate generals and chief secretary in the case.

On April 7, the top court had declared the verdicts announced by high courts regarding the release of the under-trial prisoners invalid.

The ruling was made by a five-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmad while hearing appeals against orders of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and Sindh High Court (SHC).

The top court has directed the authorities to arrest the freed inmates again, adding that the prisoners should be released in the light of the recommendations given by the attorney general.

As per the AG’s recommendations, bails can be granted to suspects involved in minor crimes, those who are serving the term due to not paying fines, and those who have been awarded imprisonment less than three years.

Last week, the Supreme Court has suspended the verdicts, barring federal and provincial governments from releasing the culprits due to the pandemic.

The chief justice remarked that hardcore criminals could not be released due to fear of coronavirus, adding, “It is yet to determine under which authority the high courts had issued the orders.

Pakistan announces Ramazan package of Rs2.5 billion

ISLAMABAD – The federal government has announced Ramazan package worth 2.5 billion rupees for provision of essential commodities to the masses at reduced rates through the Utility Stores Corporation during the holy month.

Addressing a news conference along with the Managing Director Utility Stores Corporation, Special Assistant on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan said under this package, 19 essential commodities will be provided to the people at reduced rates.

She said if required, the Ramazan package could be increased to seven billion rupees.

Dr Firdous said this Ramazan package will remain effective till Eid ul Fitr. She, however, said subsidy on five essential items will be carried forward after the Eid.

The Special Assistant said under the Prime Minister’s 1200 billion rupees relief package, it was decided to provide fifty billion rupees to the Utility Stores Corporation. Ten billion rupees have already been disbursed to the corporation in order to ensure that the utility outlets have sufficient stocks of the essential items. A monitoring mechanism regarding availability of items at the utility stores will be put in place at the district level.

Coronavirus: Gilgit-Baltistan announces complete lockdown for two days

ISLAMABAD - Amid rising number of coronavirus cases, the Gilgit-Baltistan government has announced complete lockdown from 11 am to 3 pm on Thursday and Friday.

Advisor to Chief Minister on Information, Shams Mir talking to news men in Gilgit said that nobody will be allowed to come out from the home in the lockdown. He warned of strict action against the violators.

There are 213 confirmed coronavirus cases in the region while three people including a doctor have died since the pandemic outbreak. 

The number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan rose to a total of 4,322, according to government data available till Thursday morning, after recording more than 248 new cases in past 24 hours.

The death toll related to COVID-19 has reached 63, according to the National Command and Control Centre, while at least 572 patients have fully recovered.

Punjab has become the worst-hit province in the country with 2180 cases (15 deaths) followed by Sindh, 1036 (20 deaths); Kyber Pakhtunkhwa, 560 (18 deaths); Gilgit Baltistan, 213 (3 deaths); Balochistan 212 (1 death); Islamabad 102; and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 28.

The first two fatalities from COVID-19, as the illness is officially known, were reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on March 18