Pakistan confronting hybrid conflict: Gen Bajwa
RAWALPINDI: Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday said the Pakistani nation was confronting a hybrid conflict where focus was shifting to subversion on religious, sectarian, ethnic and social issues needing a comprehensive national response.
“We are now confronting a hybrid conflict where focus is shifting to subversion on religious, sectarian, ethnic and social issues which needs a comprehensive national response,” he said in an interaction with the participants of a National Security Workshop who visited the General Headquarters (GHQ).
After a briefing on the security situation of Pakistan and the challenges and response, the participants had an interactive session with General Qamar Javed Bajwa. The army chief said Pakistan had been subjected to various threats, especially during the last two decades but Pakistani nation and its armed forces had bravely and successfully stood up to these challenges and was on a positive trajectory to defeat it effectively.
“We now have a greater responsibility to ensure that our people, especially youth, stay aware and steadfast against propaganda onslaught being launched through a soft offensive. It is our time to rise and progress and we must grasp the opportunity achieved after countless sacrifices," he said.
The National Security Workshop is an annual event at the National Defence University (NDU), which is participated by representatives from all segments of society, including armed forces, parliamentarians, bureaucracy and others.
China railway delegation calls on Sheikh Rasheed
ISLAMABAD: Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad, Federal Minister for Railways, met the National Railway Administration (NRA), China, delegation at the Ministry of Railways on Monday.
NRA Deputy Administrator An Lusheng was heading the delegation. Both parties agreed that this government knows the importance of the CPEC and knows that Pakistan Railways (PR) is the backbone of this project.
It was decided that technical teams from both sides will do a detailed exchange on issues relating to railway relationships for two days. And later on will come out of solutions. The final report will be signed on December 25, 2018, the NRA delegation mentioned that Main Line (ML) 1 is a central infrastructure of Pakistan.
On the other hand, the federal minister for Railways said that ML 1 up-gradation should be completed swiftly. As the government is interested in up-gradation of ML 1 and 2. He further added that China is significant neighboring country for Pakistan, so the NRA and PR both are interested in mutual cooperation.
He asserted that up-gradation of ML 1 is lifeline of the CPEC. There will be no further modifications in the framework agreement between the NRA and the PR. He also mentioned that ML 2 and 3 are also important for the CPEC. Hence, China should also give importance to ML 2 and 3. Most importantly, he said that the NRA should give reasonable construction estimates to the PR. He said even the NRA should also give a lesser amount of interest rate.
The meeting was also attended by M Javed Anwar, Chairman; Farrukh Taimur Ghilzai, Secretary Railway Board; M Yusuf, DG Planning; Munawar Shah, DG Technical; and Maryam Gillani, DG operations.
SC summons owners of 11 bottled water companies today
LAHORE: The Supreme Court on Monday while hearing a suo motu case regarding selling of bottled water summoned owners of 11 mineral water manufacturing companies today (Tuesday) and warned their non-appearance would result in their names being put on the ECL.
A two-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar took up a suo motu case pertaining to selling of bottled water by extracting groundwater without paying any charges and if it is fit for human consumption. The chief justice expressed anger after advocate Aitzaz Ahsan counsel for Nestle Company suggested that the case be heard after the top judge returns from the scheduled trip to the United Kingdom. Aitzaz had proposed the court set November 30 as the date for the next hearing.
The CJ responded: “Do you want me to compromise on a issue of public importance and leave for my visit to the UK? Are those people (company owners) who are selling dirty water entitled to forgiveness?” Justice Ijazul Ahsan and other member of the bench, regretted the bottled water selling companies are earning billions of rupees but they have no water testing laboratory.
Meanwhile, a report submitted by the Environment Protection Agency said the bottled water companies had been extracting underground water worth Rs9 million per hour in the main cities of Punjab including Lahore and Sheikhupura. It said the companies have no laboratory to analyse the fitness of the underground water for human consumption. There is no certified method to assess the quality of water, it said, adding that only Qarshi has a certified laboratory. It further said the companies have no mechanism to identify minerals in the water. The report confirmed that the underground water being extracted and used by the companies contained fluoride and arsenic.
The report also highlighted that none of the other companies are aware of what is in the water that they extract from the ground. The Supreme Court Monday wrapped up the Katas Raj case and ordered DG Khan Cement Company Ltd to deposit Rs100 million in the SC Dam Fund — Rs80 million as payment for water utilised by the factory and Rs20 million penalty for attempting to mislead the apex court. The chief justice issued the directives at the SC Lahore Registry while hearing a suo motu case initiated following media reports that the Katas
Raj temple pond — considered sacred by Hindus — was drying out. During earlier hearings of the case, the bench was told that the nearby cement factories had sucked up large quantities of groundwater through a number of borings. The borings had severely reduced the subsoil water levels and affected water usage of the domestic users, as well as causing the pond’s water level to drop. The court subsequently barred the cement factories from extracting groundwater from the area. In the Monday’s hearing, a special committee tasked by the court in the last hearing to visit the DG Cement factory in Chakwal to determine how it stores water — also submitted its report to the bench. The CJ said in his remarks that DG Cement claimed to have stored rainwater, but this is a lie since they have actually obtained groundwater. He noted that the factories had not taken any measures to resolve the issue voluntarily and that the owners only think of their own profits.
While hearing a case pertaining to the polluted water being dumped in River Ravi, the apex court directed the Punjab Minister for Housing and Physical Planning Mian Mehmoodur Rashid to form a committee for speeding up immediate construction of a filtration plant to treat water being dumped at Ravi. A two-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar heard the case pertaining to River Ravi at the Lahore Registry. Punjab Minister Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed appeared before the court. During the hearing, the chief justice turned to the provincial minister and asked: “Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed Sb who is in power in Punjab?” To this, the minister responded: “The provincial government is that of the PTI Naya Pakistan”. At this, Justice Nisar remarked, “We don’t know if Naya Pakistan is to be made or not”. “The whole city’s polluted water is being dumped into Ravi. To date, no work regarding water filtration has been done. Who has to do this work?” the top judge asked. “All departments keep pointing fingers at each other. Water filtration work needs to be done on an emergency basis,” he added. “Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed Sb do something. This is an important issue,” the chief justice further said. Justice Nisar continued: “Form a committee and submit a report within one week on the work being done for filtration of water”.
Top six bureaucrats promoted to BS-22
ISLAMABAD: The Establishment Division on Monday notified the promotion of top six bureaucrats of various groups from BS-21 to BS-22 on the recommendations of the High Powered Selection Board (HPSB).
According to a notification, the officials promoted to BS-22 include Shafqat-ur-Rehman Ranjha, Additional Secretary Kashmir Affairs; Mohammad Khan, Managing Director Passco; Dr Amer Ahmed, Special Secretary Interior Division; Dr Jamal Nasir, Additional Secretary Information Technology and Telecommunication Division; and Muhammad Naeem Khan and Hussain Asghar, officers of Police Services.
On promotion, Shafqat-ur-Rehman Ranjha of Pakistan Administrative Service is transferred and posted as Special Secretary Establishment Division with immediate effect and until further orders.
Mohammad Khan, BS-21 officer of Pakistan Administrative Service, is allowed to remain posted as Managing Director Pakistan Agriculture Storage and Services Corporation Limited (PASSCO) under National Food Security and Research Division by upgrading the post to BS-22 personal to the officer with immediate effect and until further orders.
Dr Aamer Ahmed, a BS-21 officer of Pakistan Administrative Service, will continue to be posted as Special Secretary Interior Division with immediate effect and until further orders.
Dr Jamal Nasir, a BS-21 officer of Pakistan Administrative Service, is transferred and posted as Secretary Wafaqi Mohtasib (Ombudsman)’s Secretariat with immediate effect and until further orders.
Muhammad Naeem Khan, a BS-21 officer of Police Service of Pakistan, presently serving under Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is promoted to BS-22 in that service with immediate effect.
On promotion, Muhammad Naeem Khan is transferred and posted as Inspector General of Police (IGP) Azad Government of Jammu and Kashmir under Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Division until further orders.
Hussain Asghar, a BS-21 Officer of Police Service of Pakistan, presently serving under Government of the Punjab is promoted to BS-22 in that service with immediate effect.
On promotion, the services of Hussain Asghar will remain at the disposal of the Government of the Punjab until further orders.
Zulfi’s name on ECL: IHC seeks interior ministry’s reply
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday sought reply from Ministry of Interior in plea of Adviser to PM Syed Zulfi Bukhari to remove his name from Exit Control List (ECL).
A divisional IHC bench comprising Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani on Monday resumed hearing into petition of Adviser to PM Syed Zulfi Bukhari to remove his name from ECL.
On the direction of IHC, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Monday submitted their replies in the court. The bench sought reply from the Ministry of Interior in the plea of Zulfi Bukhari.
The Deputy Attorney General Raja Khalid Mehmood informed the court that details would be submitted before the next hearing. The court adjourned the hearing till November 27.
PM submits request for property regularisation
ISLAMABAD: Following the Supreme Court’s orders, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Monday started the process to regularise the Banigala properties, including the residence of Prime Minister Imran Khan. The premier on Monday submitted an application for regularisation of his two residences. He also submitted property documents and map of his 250-kanal residences.
The civic body has also received at least 132 requests for regularisation of commercial and residential buildings in the area. A fine of Rs100 per square feet will be charged for regularization of residential buildings and Rs200 per square feet for commercial ones. Sources reported that charges for commercialization of land in Banigala had been fixed at Rs3,500 per square feet, while development charges will be received separately. Earlier, the top judge had directed the premier to set an example for others by taking the lead in paying fine for regularization of his land.