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.

Panama Papers — Who is going to ask Pakistanis to pay their taxes now?Here’s a question for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif: How can you look the people of Pakistan in the eye and tell them to pay their fair share of taxes when your own sons and daughter are (reportedly) shifting money to the British Virgin Islands to minimise their tax bill as much as possible?

As the dust has settled from the revelations of the Panama Papers, it is becoming increasingly clear that the practices being used by members of the Sharif family were not unique — in fact, far from it.

Also read: 'We have done nothing wrong', PM Nawaz Sharif’s family reacts to leak

Instead, a picture is emerging of a morally repugnant and legally dubious practice being used on a wide scale by people who are at the very top of the political and economic ladder in Pakistan.

LAHORE: Eminent lawyer and senior leader of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Senator Aitzaz Ahsan on Sunday called for a forensic audit of the Panama Papers, rejecting the idea that the task should be assigned to a sitting judge of the country's top court.
Speaking to media here today, he said the audit should be carried out through an international audit firm instead of a sitting or a retired judge.
"Neither a sitting judge nor a retired judge could do the job as judges remain confined to their rooms," said Ahsan. He said only experts form an international firm could ascertain as to how the money was transferred.

The PPP senator called for accountability of all the individuals whose names are included in the tax documents leaked from the Panamanian firm Mosack Fonseca. "Family of our prime minister has also been found involved, and his son Hussain Nawaz has admitted to owning offshore companies," he said.
He said Pakistan's money should be brought back from wherever it has been stashed abroad.
The PPP stalwart also expressed mistrust about Nawaz Sharif by citing past investigations into the matters involving the incumbent prime minister.

He said that, according to the Supreme Court decision in the Asghar Khan case, Sharif received Rs9.5 from intelligence agencies in the 1990s.

KARACHI/LAHORE: Strong earthquake tremors shook buildings in different parts of Pakistan, India and Afghanistan on Sunday, including northern areas of Swat, Mansehra and Azad Kashmir, and as far south as Lahore.
According to initial reports, the earthquake was measured to be of 7.1 magnitude on the Richter scale.
In Pakistan, the tremors were felt in areas including Swat, Kohistan, Astor, Chitral, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Lahore, Muzaffarabad, Peshawar, Islamabad, Azad Jammu.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf changed the venue for their upcoming April 24 rally after they were denied permission to hold a public rally at D-Chowk.

Party Spokesman Naeemul Haq, in a statement reiterated that PTI’s 20th Founding Day rally will be held in Islamabad on April 24, however, now the party has decided to hold it at F/9 Park instead of D-Chowk.

Earlier, PTI had announced a rally on April 24 at D-Chowk to celebrate their Foundation Day.

The government is considering a ban on rallies at D-Chowk, after a sit-in by supporters of Mumtaz Qadri held the capital under siege for four days.

WASHINGTON: The US State Department has confirmed that it was aware of ‘RAW’ agent, Kulbhushan Yadav’s arrest in Pakistan.

In a daily press briefing, Mark Toner, Deputy Spokesperson of the US State Department said, “I am aware of the reports about the arrest, however, I don’t have anything – any details of the arrest.”

To a question about frozen peace talks between Pakistan and India, Toner said it has been longstanding position of the US that India and Pakistan stand to benefit from the normalization of relations and practical cooperation. “We encourage them to do so, to engage in direct dialogue that’s aimed at reducing tensions between the two governments and two countries.”

The deputy spokesman went on to say that US strongly support those efforts because it lead to greater stability and peace in the region which is to the benefit of both countries.

Reply to another query, Mark Toner said, “Our policy regarding Kashmir has not changed. As we’ve long said, the pace, scope, and character of those discussions or any discussions on Kashmir must be for the two sides to determine.”

“We support any and all positive steps that India and Pakistan can take to forge closer relations.”

ISLAMABAD: Emotions ran high at the national assembly session on Friday where the Panama Leaks came under discussion.

Information Minister Pervez Rashid said that the Prime Minister’s sons had not hidden their names in the offshore company accounts.

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan refused to register the newly formed Pak Sarzameen Party led by former Karachi mayor Mustafa Kamal on Friday, calling their application incomplete.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) wants their leader Imran Khan to be allowed to address the nation over the state-owned broadcaster
It has written to public broadcaster Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) to make arrangements on Sunday so Khan can address the nation on the Panama Papers.

KARACHI: Mohammad Kamal and Faisal Rafique – the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) candidates for NA-245 and PS-115 constituencies respectively – secured easy victories against their political rivals in the by-elections here on Thursday night.

LONDON: British Prime Minister David Cameron admitted on Thursday that he had held a £30,000 stake in an offshore company set up by his father, after days of pressure following publication of ‘Panama Papers’.

Imran Khan demands judicial commission to investigate Panama leaks should be headed by serving CJ of the Supreme Court.

KARACHI: Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf NA-245 candidate Amjadullah Khan who had stepped down from in favour of MQM hours before polling began, responded to allegations hurled against him during a press conference held on Thursday.