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PM SHEHBAZ DIRECTS NATIONWIDE PROGRAMME TO OVERCOME CHILD STUNTING
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Saturday, 18 May, 2024 I |9 Zil-Qadah, 1445
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XIV No 318 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
SAYS CENTRE IN COLLABORATION WITH g MEETING INFORMED A SIGNIFICANT RATIO OF PROVINCES WOULD TAKE PRIORITY PAKISTANI KIDS SUFFERED STUNTED GROWTH MEASURES FOR BETTER CHILD GROWTH DUE TO LACK OF HEALTHCARE AND NUTRITION
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ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed the authorities concerned to launch a nationwide programme, in coordination with the provincial governments, to overcome the challenge of child stunting. The prime minister, chairing a meeting to discuss the issue of child stunting, also called for the formulation of a comprehensive plan for the protection of children against fatal diseases, for population welfare, and for coping with the health sector issues. According to the World Health Organisation, child stunting refers to a child who is too short for his or her age and is the result of chronic or recurrent malnutrition. Stunting is a contributing risk factor to child mortality and is also a marker of inequalities in human development. PM Shehbaz said that the federal government, in collaboration with the
provincial governments, would take priority measures for better child growth to achieve the country’s bright future. Similarly, a nationwide awareness campaign was also equally essential to do away with the issue of stunting, he added.
He thanked the international experts participating in the meeting which featured the presentation of statistics on children’s growth by the World Bank. The participants were told that a significant ratio of children in Pakistan suf-
fered stunted growth caused by the lack of basic healthcare and nutrition, contaminated drinking water, poor cleanliness, and lack of awareness of children’s growth. Besides, the statistics about the prevalence of TB, hepatitis, diabetes and other fatal diseases in Pakistan were also highlighted and suggestions were put forward to overcome them. The prime minister instructed the relevant authorities to immediately present a comprehensive plan on the matter. Federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Ahad Khan Cheema, PM’s Coordinator Malik Mukhtar Ahmed, Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Jahanzeb Khan, World Bank Country Director Najy Benhassine, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan Abdullah Fadil, Country Director of World Food Program Coco Ushiyama and other internationally renowned experts attended the meeting. The provincial chief secretaries Dr Zulfiqar Ali Bhutta, Dr Sajid Sufi, Dr Ijaz Nabi and other experts joined the meeting via video link.
Show-cause notices issued to Faisal Vawda, Mustafa Kamal CONTEMPT OF COURT
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Bushra Bibi retracts ‘no-confidence’ on judge during £190 million case hearing ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Former first lady Bushra Bibi expressed no confidence in the judge on Friday during the hearing of the £190 million reference but later retracted her motion after discussions with incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and the legal team. The accountability court hearing presided over by Judge Naseer Javaid Rana heard the £190 million reference, during which Bushra took to the rostrum and voiced her lack of confidence in the judge conducting the proceedings. She stated that the previous hearing was conducted without her presence, to which the court replied that the previous hearing was adjourned without any proceedings taking place due to ‘security concerns’ cited by jail officials. “I am a victim of injustice, and we do not trust you in the same manner that we did not trust the previous judges,” said the PTI founder’s wife. The court then inquired from the defence team if they also shared Bushra’s sentiments. The legal team said that they “have confidence in the court” and requested permission to consult with the accused. During the hour and half recess, former premier Imran along with the legal team reportedly explained the situation to Bushra, after which she retracted her earlier motion and reaffirmed trust in the court. During the hearing today, the former first lady sat in the media box instead of the family corner. She also did not meet Imran or his sisters. This is the first time she has refused to meet the former premier’s siblings. Later, she left the courtroom and called her daughters outside the courtroom to meet them. After consultation, the defendant’s lawyers filed a new request in court. The request prayed to conduct hearings for the case every 14 days, similar to other cases, which the court approved. The court also did not record any witness statements today. The court then issued notices for the hearing on May 22 and adjourned the proceedings until that date.
The Supreme Court on Friday issued show-cause notices to independent Senator Faisal Vawda and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s (MQM-P) leader Mustafa Kamal for going against the Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges in a presser. The apex court has asked the leaders to appear before the bench at the next hearing. A three-member bench, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Irfan Saadat Khan, conducted the hearing. The notices were issued when the top court conducted the hearing on the suo motu notice taken against Vawda’s press conference in which he blasted the IHC judges over their letter alleging meddling by spy agencies in judicial affairs and Justice Babar Sattar’s citizenship. “Stop targeting the institutions, enough is enough. If there is any interference by institutions, then provide evidence and we will stand together [against it],” the former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader had said during the presser. Following Vawda’s presser, Kamal also addressed a presser wherein he demanded the implementation of dual citizenship law in all the institutions. “IHC says there is no restriction in the Constitution a dual citizen cannot become a judge,” said Kamal, pointing out that “a member of the assembly having dual nationality is sent to home”. Vawda’s news conference came after he had filed a request in the IHC registrar calling for disclosure of the correspondence between then-IHC chief justice Athar Minallah and IHC’s Justice Babar Sattar about the latter’s green card. The senator’s letter referred to the social media campaign against Justice Sattar accusing him of holding a US nationality and having a business interest in a private
school in the country. In response to the smear campaign, the IHC’s public relations officer in the statement had said: “Justice Babar Sattar has never had any nationality other than that of Pakistan. He studied law at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar and pursued graduate education at Harvard Law School. He worked as a lawyer with a law firm in New York and while living and working in the US, was issued the Permanent Resident Card (also called green card) after being regarded as a person of extraordinary ability. He left his job in the US in 2005 and returned to Pakistan and has lived and worked in Pakistan since then.” The apex court’s suo motu came the same day IHC responded to Senator Vawda’s letter saying: “The information sought by the high court from lawyers being considered for elevation/appointment as judge does not include information regarding residency and/or citizenship of any country other than Pakistan.” The IHC registrar wrote the letter to Vawda, on behalf of IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, maintaining that such residency/citizenship is not a disqualification for a judge under the country’s Constitution. During the hearing today, Additional Attorney General for Pakistan Aamir Rehman appeared before the bench. As the hearing began, CJP Isa
asked AAG if he had watched the press conference and if it was derogatory. To this, AAG Rehman said that there were muted words in the press conference that he heard. The CJP then remarked that if someone has done something bad then names should be taken, adding that the targeting of an institution will not be allowed. “Institutions belong to the people and defaming them is not a service to the country,” remarked the CJP. He then asked the lawyer to read the constitution and law on freedom of expression and contempt of court. CJP Isa said that it seems like the press conference was done for a specific purpose. “No one will be allowed to harm the institutions,” he added. He said that Mustafa Kamal also held a press conference after Vawda, adding that they should have spoken in the House as they are members of parliament. The Supreme Court then issued notices to both politicians, summoning them before the bench. It also sought the video recording and transcript of the press conferences. “Pemra should also present the details of the questions asked in the press conferences and their answers,” the court ordered. The apex court then adjourned the hearing till June 5.
COAS lauds Pakistan hockey team’s performance in Azlan Shah Cup RAWALPINDI
STAFF REPORT
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir on Friday commended the national hockey team, the runners-up of the Sultan Azlan Shah tournament, for their outstanding performance. “The hockey team has brought immense pride to the nation, and we are committed to providing them with comprehensive support to ensure their continued success,” COAS General Syed Asim Munir stated during a meeting with the national hockey team players at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on Friday. The meeting was attended by Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President Tariq Hussain and other PHF officials, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). During the interaction, General Munir commended the team for their outstanding performance, extending his best wishes to the players for their future endeavours. PHF President Tariq Hussain expressed gratitude to the COAS for the opportunity to meet and interact with the team. Yesterday, the team was honoured at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad, where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Federal Minister of Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar, and Pakistan hockey greats including Samiullah Khan, Islahuddin Shehbaz senior and others were present. Pakistan lost to Japan 4-1 in a penalty shootout after the match ended 2-2 in normal time. The Japanese goalkeeper made two excellent saves in the shootout, which ended the Green Shirts’ hopes of lifting the title. The national side returned to the country on Sunday and was given a heroic welcome at Lahore Airport, where Prime Minister Youth Programme Chairman Rana Mashood, former captain Chaudhry Akhtar Rasool, Muhammad Saqlain, Anjum Saeed, and other former players were present. The final had to be decided on a shootout after both teams scored two goals apiece at the end of full time. Japan took the lead in the shootout courtesy of Ryoma Ooka, while his teammates continued the momentum, scoring the other three. Pakistan missed the first two shots, but Ammad Butt netted the ball in the third stroke. Japan staged a comeback to level the score 2-2 after Pakistan scored two goals in the third quarter. Kazumasa Matsumoto produced a second goal in the 47th minute.
Supreme Court bans carrying cellphones inside courtrooms ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday banned carrying cellphones inside courtrooms after picture of the PTI founder went viral during a video link hearing of the NAB amendments case. The SC staff has barred the law clerks and lawyers from carrying their cell phones in the courtroom, asking them to enter to courtrooms after leaving their cellphones outside. The staff is also checking the attendants in the SC courtroom while journalists have already been barred from carrying their cellphones in the SC courtroom. The development follows a picture of PTI founder Imran Khan was leaked on social media during his appearance in SC during the NAB amendments case hearing via video link from Adiala Jail. It stated in media reports that the Supreme Court Police have launched an investigation into the viral picture of PTI founder Imran Khan. The picture, which showed Imran Khan sitting in Adiala Jail was widely shared on social media platforms. The PTI founder appeared before the Supreme Court in the NAB Ordinance 1999 amendment case via video link. The investigation has begun to identify the person who took the picture, which is believed to have been taken by someone sitting on the left side of the courtroom.
Imran says will write letter to COAS for nation’s sake ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan on Friday declared that he will write a letter to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir, not for personal reasons, but for the sake of the country. “I’ll tell him what’s happening in Azad Jammu Kashmir and we must think about the country’s direction. The army and the people are not brought face to face,” he said while talking to the media in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail. He said that when the beneficiaries of Form-47 are questioned, they begin to pressure the judges and the media. “Form-47 beneficiaries are attacking Justice Babar Sattar,” he stated. “All are try-
ing to keep an artificial democracy running.” Khan claimed they dissolved Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa governments to avoid pressure from the intelligence agencies. “After the [former] interim PM’s statement, what justification does this government have?” he questioned. “[Anwaarul Haq] Kakar sent a message to Shehbaz Sharif by taunting Hanif Abbasi.” Saying that Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa was a courageous person, Imran questioned why the petitions of PTI about the May 9 events and the February 8 elections are not being heard. “We want our trial conducted like the trials of Nawaz Sharif, Asif Ali Zardari and Yousaf Raza Gilani were conducted.” Khan lamented that his Supreme Court appearance wasn’t broadcast live. “I was eager to speak during the hearing,” he said.
“I hope my next appearance will be broadcast live.” The former prime minister said that if PTI senior leaders Pervaiz Elahi and Shah Mahmood Qureshi quit the party today, they will be released. On negotiations with the government, Imran said that there is no point in negotiating with those who have no power. When asked about his wife Bushra Bibi’s medical test, Khan said he does not trust the PIMS hospital’s reports. “We suggested taking two blood samples, one for PIMS and one for Shaukat Khanum. I don’t trust PIMS reports. They previously claimed my blood had cocaine. I sued them for that.” “Bushra Bibi also asked for samples to be sent to both labs. The medical staff refused, so she didn’t give samples.” Khan reiterated his plan to write to the army chief. “Lawyers are preparing the letter,” he concluded.