Entire nation backing army chief: Imran Khan

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday said the whole nation is backing Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif’s call for across-the-board-accountability.

“The whole nation backs the army chief’s call,” Khan said while addressing a press conference.

During a visit to the Signal Regimental Centre in Kohat today, General Raheel said the ongoing war against terrorism and extremism cannot bring enduring peace and stability until the menace of corruption is uprooted from the country.

“Across the board accountability is necessary for the solidarity, integrity and prosperity of Pakistan,” the army chief said.

Commenting on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit to London, the PTI chief said, “I thought Prime Minister went there for a medical check-up but he was on some other mission.”

Khan said his party won’t remain silent on Panama Papers revelations. “Let’s see which party is going to come forward to save Nawaz Sharif now,” he added.

Army chief urges across-the-board accountability, calls for uprooting corruption

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif on Tuesday said the ongoing war against terrorism and extremism cannot bring enduring peace and stability until the menace of corruption is uprooted from the country.

Across the board accountability is necessary for the solidarity, integrity and prosperity of Pakistan, said the Army chief, speaking during a visit to the Signal Regimental Centre in Kohat today.

The "ongoing war against terrorism and extremism being fought with the backing of entire nation cannot bring enduring peace and stability unless the menace of corruption is not uprooted. Therefore, across the board accountability is necessary for the solidarity, integrity and prosperity of Pakistan.

"Pakistan Armed Forces will fully support every meaningful effort in that direction, which would ensure a better future for our next generations,” he said.

At an installation ceremony during his visit to the Signal Regimental Centre, General Raheel Sharif pinned badges of rank on the shoulders of Major-General Sohail Ahmed Zaidi, Signal-in-Chief, to formally install him a Colonel Commandant of Corps of Signal.

Interacting with officers, men and families of martyrs, the Army chief commended the extraordinary efforts of ranks of signals Corps in providing communication support to Operation Zarb-e-Azb.

Gen Sharif also appreciated the sacrifices rendered both by men in uniform and civilians alike in defeating terrorists and dislodging them from their bases, the military's public relations wing ISPR quoted him as saying.

Earlier, the Army chief laid a floral wreath at the Yadgar-e-Shuhada, where he also offered Fateha for the martyrs.

NA passes Electronic Crimes bill aimed at controlling cyber crimes

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Wednesday passed the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill 2015 aimed at controlling cyber crimes and ensuring national security besides safeguarding dignity, life and property of the citizens.

Severe punishments are proposed in the bill for cyber crimes related offences while children up to 14 years would be exempted from it. Concrete steps are also proposed in the bill to ensure fundamental rights of the citizens.

Pakistan deeply concerned over human rights violations in IoK

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday expressed deep concern over the human rights violations in Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) and called upon the international community to take notice of the situation.

“Pakistan is deeply concerned at the ongoing action by the Indian security forces against helpless Kashmiris in Handwara Jammu and Kashmir,” Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria said in a weekly press conference here at the Foreign Office.

Govt should ban MQM over RAW links, demands Mustafa Kamal

KARACHI: Former mayor Karachi and Pak Sar Zameen Party (PSP) leader Mustafa Kamal demanded on Thursday that the government should ban his former party Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) for allegedly having links with the Indian spy agency RAW.

Speaking at a press conference here, he said Britain's former deputy head of Mission in Karachi, Shaharyar Khan Niazi has also claimed MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s links with the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

Niazi had claimed that Altaf Hussain voluntarily told the British government that he worked for the RAW.

Shaharyar Khan Niazi worked for the British High Commission in Karachi for over a decade but importantly he remained at the heart of the policymaking as far Britain’s dealing with the MQM was concerned during the most crucial period – from 2010 until 2013 – after he was promoted to the position of Deputy Head of Mission.

Pervaiz Rashid wants Imran Khan to apologize over ‘sit-in conspiracy’

ISLAMABAD: Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid has posed several questions for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman, Imran Khan to answer regarding what he termed the ‘former sit-in conspiracy’ before  the latter’s expected address to the nation on Sunday.

In a statement issued here today, Rashid urged Khan to tender an apology to the nation over dharna politics, which he termed inflicted huge losses to the national exchequer.

“When will Imran Khan apologize over allegations he hurled during the 2014 protest sit-in [against the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif]?” he questioned, adding that those allegations were also declared incorrect by the chief justice of Pakistan.

Imran Khan demands CJP head inquiry commission probing Sharif family

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday, in a live address to the nation from his Bani Gala residence here, demanded that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government form an inquiry commission led by the Chief Justice of Pakistan to probe the premier and his family following the startling revelations made in the Panama data leaks.

“The commission should also include white-collar-crime experts and an audit firm that follows the trail of money to determine where it leads,” Imran added.

The PTI chief said he will give the government time till Apr 24 – his party's 20th foundation day – to take appropriate action, after which he will announce a future course of action.

“We give you time till Apr 24 to form a commission on these lines. If the rest of the world is investigating, we will give them the opportunity to take action. I will come out with a future course of action on Apr 24.”

The PTI chief threatened a protest sit-in outside the Sharif family residence in Raiwind, if the government did not take steps to form the commission.