World in Focus (March April 2014)

News From National & International Press

National

Mar 17: The Supreme Court declared illegal all 238 appointments made in the Employees Old-age Benefits Institution (EOBI) during the last PPP government.

Mar 18: The Prime Minister approved the constitution of the National Intelligence Directorate (NID) and highly trained and properly equipped rapid response forces at the federal and provincial levels.

Mar 18: King of Bahrain Shaikh Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa arrived in Islamabad on a three-day official visit to Pakistan. Both countries inked six agreements relating to mutual cooperation in various sectors. The agreements include, establishment of joint ministerial commission for bilateral cooperation, agreement for promotion and protection of investment, cooperation in food security, air services agreement, cooperation between interior ministries and cooperation in the fields of power and water.

King Al-Khalifa also held talks with Pakistani leadership on bilateral, regional and international matters of mutual interest.

Mar 18: Three Pakistani cities were listed among the top ten most polluted cities of the world. According to a 2011 World Health Organisation (WHO) report, Quetta, Peshawar and Lahore ranked at number four, six and 10, respectively.

Mar 19: The Supreme Court declared that the absence of local government bodies for the past nine years is against the constitution, and vested the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) with the authority to carry out delimitation of constituencies in Punjab.

Mar 20: Punjab Assembly passed Punjab Reproductive, Maternal, Neo Natal and Child Health Authority Bill with majority vote. Under this legislation, 48000 Lady Health Workers (LHWs) would be regularized in Punjab.

Mar 20: President Mamnoon Hussain promulgated an ordinance that will pave the way for constitution of Interim Council that will hold elections for re-composition of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC).

Mar 20: Senate Standing Committee for Information Technology and Telecommunication recommended to open YouTube in the country.

Mar 22: On an average Pakistan received a paltry amount of Rs53 in water and sanitation aid for each of its citizens between 2010 and 2012, international development charity ‘Water Aid’ revealed in a report entitled ‘Bridging the Divide’.

According to the report, 15.1 million Pakistanis (9 per cent of the population) do not have access to drinking water and those who have are often forced to drink contaminated water.

Mar 22: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial administered oath to eight newly-appointed additional judges.

Justice Shah Khawar, Justice James Joseph, Justice Zafarullah Khan Khakwani, Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza, Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi, Justice Shahid Jamil Khan, Justice Sikandar Zulqarnain Saleem and Justice Faisal Zaman Khan took oath.

Mar 24: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif met US President Barack Obama, Chinese President XI Jinping and Turkish President Abdullah Gul on the sidelines of the two-day Nuclear Security Summit held in The Hague. Mr Sharif discussed with them matters of bilateral relations and mutual interest.

Mar 24: Pakistan Telecommunications Company Limited (PTCL) introduced 4Mbps as a minimum benchmark for broadband speeds nationwide.

Mar 25: An election tribunal disqualified MNA from Khyber Agency Nasir Khan Afridi and directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to conduct re-election in NA-46.

Mar 26: Government negotiators held first face-to-face talks with Taliban leaders in an area adjacent to North Waziristan. The meeting was held at the residence of retired Subedar of Frontier Corps, identified only as Jamil, in Bilandkhel area of Orakzai Agency near garrison town of Thall.

Mar 26: Pakistan and the European Union agreed to deepen cooperation in areas such as energy, climate change and higher education. The understanding was reached during second round of the Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue held in Brussels.

Mar 27: A court sentenced a Christian, Sawan Masih, to death for blasphemy. He was convicted of committing blasphemy during the course of a conversation with a Muslim friend in the Joseph Colony neighbourhood in March last year.

Mar 27: In the absence of a free trade agreement with the United States, Pakistan cannot strike a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import deal with the world’s sole superpower, limiting Islamabad’s options on quenching its energy needs.

Mar 28: The government cleared the Rs486 billion first phase of the Dasu Hydropower Project to pave the way for approval of a $700 million loan by the board of directors of the World Bank.

Mar 28: A Hindu deity statue was broken and a small temple was partially damaged in an arson attack near Fateh Chowk on Tando Mohammad Khan Road, sowing the feeling of insecurity among the religious minority community and triggering street protests.

Mar 28: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led coalition government announced a major reshuffle in the provincial cabinet.

Portfolio of Health Minister Shaukat Yousafzai was changed and he has been given industries department. Minister for agriculture and information technology Shahram Tarakai was given health portfolio.

Mar 28: The Chinese contractor of Pakistan Deep Water Container Port (PDWCP), on completing the construction work, handed over the first berth to Karachi Port.

The designed depth of the berth is 18 metres which would accommodate mother-ships having loading capacity of over 12,000 containers.

Mar 28: Journalist, author and television anchor Raza Rumi escaped unhurt but his driver was killed and a police guard was injured when his car came under attack in a drive-by shooting.

Mar 29: The committees representing the government and the Taliban agreed to extend the ceasefire and take measures to speed up the dialogue process.

Mar 30: Sirajul Haq, Senior Minister in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet, was elected the fifth emir of Jamaat-i-Islami. It was for the first time in the party’s history that a sitting emir has lost the contest in an intra-party election.

Mar 31: The high treason trial of retired General Pervez Musharraf brought a historical moment among twists and turns such as the former dictator’s appearance, his indictment and clarity on who is responsible for removing his name from the exit control list (ECL).

Mar 31: Rejecting the ‘anti-women’ recommendations of the Council of Islamic Ideology regarding no minimum age requirement for marriage, against DNA test in rape cases, etc, the Sindh Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution asking the federal government to do away with the CII, as it was damaging the country.

Apr 01: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Engineer Shaukatullah Khan administered oath of office to five newly-inducted provincial ministers.

The ministers included Qalandar Lodhi, Mushtaq Ghani, Ziaullah Afridi, Mian Jamshed and Ikramullah Gandhapur.

Apr 01: Pakistan is ranked 72nd among 166 countries in the World Bank Logistics Performance Index (LPI) 2014, which gauges logistics performance on the six key dimensions.

Apr 02: The government rejected a request by former president retired Gen Pervez Musharraf seeking removal of his name from the exit control list (ECL).

Apr 02: Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Wajid Shamsul Hassan announced that he would be stepping down after six ‘eventful years’ in London.

Apr 04: Iranian border guards captured by Jaish al-Adl rebels near the Pakistani border in February have been freed, the extremist group and an Iranian official announced.

Apr 04: After making international headlines upon its launch and being picked as one of the most influential fictional characters of 2013 by Time Magazine, Burka Avenger has been recognised with one of broadcasting’s highest honours, the coveted Peabody Award.

Apr 05: Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani called for establishing a separate force for the security of courts in the country. He directed the Punjab police to prepare a feasibility report on the construction of security walls at courts in seven days and ordered starting the installation of foolproof screening equipment at the courts’ doors.

Apr 06: Iranian parliament approved the Tehran Islamabad Enhanced Security Cooperation Act.

The bill is intended to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in combating terrorist groups operating in border areas.

Apr 07: Security forces killed over 30 militants in an operation in Kalat and Khuzdar districts.

Apr 07: The Sindh Assembly called upon the federal government to secure safe release of Prof Ajmal Khan, Ali Haider Gilani, Shahbaz Taseer and other innocent captives from the custody of the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.

Apr 07: A powerful congressional panel approved a proposal to increase the number of US scholarships available to women in Pakistan. The proposed legislation, named after Malala Yousafzai, now goes for a vote by the full House of Representatives.

Apr 07: The government got the Protection of Pakistan Bill 2013 passed by the National Assembly (NA) amid strong protest from all the opposition parties and a rumpus in the House.

Apr 07: Due to construction work for extension and beautification of Haram Sharif, as many as 20% less people will perform Haj this year from Pakistan and elsewhere from the Muslim world.

Apr 08: The city police chief appointed Sub-Inspector Ghazala Syed as Clifton Station House Officer (SHO) in a rare move to appoint a woman officer to such a post in what he described as a part of Karachi police plan to offer a level-playing field to all personnel without gender discrimination.

Apr 08: Iran started a joint naval drill with the Pakistan navy east of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which one fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.

Apr 08: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) declared the suspension of outgoing Accountant General of Pakistan Revenues (AGPR) Tahir Mehmood illegal and held that the proceedings of an inquiry against him were ‘tainted with mala fide’.

Apr 08: Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel took oath as 22nd chief justice of Peshawar High Court (PHC).

Apr 08: Walter Pakistan won Effie Award for its ‘Made for Cricket’ campaign for ‘Pepsi’ during 2012’s Twenty20 World Cup in Singapore.

Apr 10: President Mamnoon Hussain, on the advice of the prime minister, signed the Federal Judicial Academy (Amendment) Ordinance 2014. The ordinance converts the Federal Judicial Academy into a Centre of Excellence for Law and Judicial Education with a status of degree awarding institution.

Apr 11: The Planning Commission of Pakistan approved an allocation of Rs.4 billion for the reconstruction of 16,000 houses in the earthquake-hit areas of Balochistan’s Awaran district.

Apr 13: Ayaz Latif Palijo was elected president of the Qaumi Awami Tahrik (QAT) for three years by securing 745 votes in the party election held in Qasimaba.

Apr 14: The Senate approved amendments to the rules to bind the prime minister to attend a session of the upper house at least once a week.

Besides, the government received a warning from Senate Chairman Nayyar Bokhari over its failure to present the National Security Policy.

Apr 14: Pakistan and South Korea signed several agreements at official and private levels to boost ties in trade, industries and energy sectors.

Apr 14: Azam Saigol, a member of the PIA’s Board of Directors, resigned.

Apr 15: Sardar Mehtab Khan Abbasi, took oath as the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Apr 15: The Sindh High Court (SHC) barred the Cantonment Board Clifton (CBC) from taking any adverse action against Bahria Town in connection with its ongoing construction work on a high-rise building namely Opal 225.

Apr 15: The government finally appointed Professor Dr Mukhtar Ahmed as a full-time chairperson of the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

Dr Mukhtar will head the commission for four years.

Apr 15: Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) launched a tour operating agency in Islamabad to promote tourism sector in the province.

Education

Mar 22: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif approved establishment of Provincial Higher Education Commission (PHEC). He also approved setting up of a state-of-the-art Information Technology University in the Knowledge Park in Lahore.

Mar 22: The Lahore High Court declared National Testing Service (NTS) an unapproved body under Higher Education Commission Ordinance 2002 and ruled that the recognised universities/institutions are not under any lawful obligation to conduct tests by the NTS or bound by the results of the tests.

Economy

Mar 17: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KPCCI) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Afghanistan-Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Afghanistan chapter, for promoting bilateral trade and business activities.

Mar 24: The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the State Bank to facilitate and support SMEs in increasing their share in formal credit and providing new venues for formal financing.

Mar 24: The International Monetary Fund approved a fresh aid disbursement to Pakistan after the country passed the second review of its ongoing $6.8 billion support programme. The IMF immediately freed 555.6 million dollars.

Mar 25: Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, chairman of the Baig Group, was re-elected as chairman Pak-UAE Business Council of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI).

Mar 27: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet moved to revive rental power plants (RPPs) under an improved scheme and allowed export of sugar and import of fertiliser. The ECC also approved an amount of $30 million for Pakistan International Airlines to facilitate procurement of eight aircraft from Qatar on dry lease.

Mar 28: The State Bank of Pakistan issued new rules for the operation of Islamic banking windows, aiming to strengthen their role in the world’s second-most populous Muslim nation.

Mar 29: The former British prime minister and United Nations’ special envoy for global education, Mr Gordon Brown, announced that the UN will release more than $1 billion to help Pakistan’s seven million out-of school children.

Mar 31: The Pakistan stock market gained eight per cent (dollar-based 15pc) in the quarter ended, making it the best performing market in the world.

Apr 04: The Asian Development Bank approved $200m for Pakistan’s National Trade Corridor Highway Investment Programme that will improve sub-regional connectivity within Pakistan, and to China, Afghanistan and other Central Asian countries.

Sports

Mar 16: Pakistani Punjab were crowned champions when they edged Indian Punjab in the final of the Lyallpur Gold Cup Circle Kabaddi International tournament.

Mar 19: Wapda’s Mohammad Shahzad broke the 14-year-old record of Ishtiaq Ghafoor by lifting a total weight of 252kg in the 56kg category on the opening day of the National Weightlifting Championships.

Mar 20: Wapda won the 60th National Seniors Weightlifting Championship.

Mar 26: Pakistan lost to India 31-36 in the final of the South Asian Handball Championship that concluded at Noida in Utter Pradesh.

Mar 30: Mansoor Teli of the Karachi Golf Club was crowned new Sindh amateur golf champion.

Mar 30: Fayyaz Ahmed captured five wickets to bowl Pakistan to a 2-1 series win in their disabled one-day series against England in Dubai.

Mar 30: Ahmed Shehzad became the first Pakistani batsman to score a century in Twenty-20 world Cup as well as Twenty-20 cricket.

Apr 06: Team Pakistan defeated the US 3-2 on penalty kicks to clinch the Street Child World Cup (SCWC) 2014 bronze medal.

Apr 07: The Army contingent clinched the title of the champions at the 53rd National Basketball Championship, by beating its arch rival, the Air Force.

Apr 07: Shaukat Javed and Syed Khawar Shah were unanimously re-elected President and Secretary respectively of the Pakistan Federation Baseball (PFB) for the third term.

Appointments, Transfers & Postings

Mar 26: The parliamentary committee for judges’ appointment approved elevation of Justice Mazhar Alam to the post of chief justice of the Peshawar High Court.

Mar 28: The federal government appointed Tahir Mahmood as new managing director of the National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC).

Mar 29: Renowned poet Dr Fatema Hasan was appointed honorary secretary of the Anjuman Taraqqi-i-Urdu after Jamiluddin Aali bid farewell to the association.

Mr Aali remained associated with the Anjuman for the past 62 years and became its honorary secretary before the death of its founder Maulvi Abdul Haq on August 16, 1961.

Mar 31: Hameed Haroon and Sarmad Ali were elected president and secretary general of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) for the year 2014-15.

Jamil Ather was elected senior vice president, Umer Mujib Shami as vice president, Syed Muhammad Munir Jilani as joint secretary and Waseem Ahmed was elected finance secretary.

Apr 07: The federal government appointed the acting inspector general of police, retired Squadron Leader Iqbal Mehmood, as Inspector General of Sindh police.

Apr 07: The federal government replaced Chief Secretary Khyber PK Mohammad Shehzad Arbab with Amjad Ali Khan, another officer of the Pakistan Administrative Services (PAS).

Obituaries

Mar 16: Former IGP and chief minister’s adviser Jehanzeb Burki died. He was 71.

Mar 18: Justice Shahjehan Khan Akhundzada, a judge of Peshawar High Court, died after protracted illness.

Mar 20: Masrur Ali Khan, a former athlete and noted sports organiser, died. He was 72.

Mar 20: Ghani Dad Khan, the veteran 70-year-old politician from Mardan lost his life in a car accident near Lahore.

Mar 23: Senior television artist Ubaida Ansari passed away in Karachi.

Mar 24: Noted Sindhi poet and writer Syed Rashid Ali Shah, better known by his pen name Rashid Morai, passed away. He was 71.

Apr 06: Ex-chairman of the Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA) Zone-II Badar Jafri died. He was 66.

Apr 07: The journalist fraternity lost a bright star and stalwart when Irfan Malik, a top copy editor of the Dawn Media Group, died of multiple health complications in Karachi. He was 49.

Apr 14: Renowned watercolourist Pirzada Najmul Hassan passed away. He was 64.

People In News

Fateh Mohammad Nandwani

On Mar 31, twelve-year-old Fateh Mohammad Nandwani, chaired a tribal court (jirga) and passed a decree ordering a man to pay a fine of Rs550,000 for maintaining extra-marital affair with a woman in Sabbar Nandwani village near Tangwani town of Kandhkot-Kashmore district.

Ahmad Shafiq

On Apr 2, Pakistan’s Ahmad Shafiq, who is Chief Executive Officer of College of Tourism and Hotel Management, was honoured with a prestigious American award for being an outstanding educator and leader in hospitality training and education.

Shafiq is the first Pakistan recipient of the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute’s ‘Lamp of Knowledge’ Award.

Ahmer Baloch

On Apr 8, a Pakistani student Ahmer Baloch, originally from Haveli Naseer Khan in district Lodhran, gained top position in Bachelor’s of Business and Finance at the Heriot-Watt University by gaining 14 As.

Heriot-Watt University is ranked within the top 20 universities of the UK i.e. 9th on the Sunday Times Top 100 Universities and 18th on The Guardian University Rankings, 2nd in Scotland and has the top ranking for many degree disciplines in the UK.

Ammara Athar

On Apr 11, the Lahore police got the first-ever woman SP against a field posting when Lahore North Cantonment circle ASP Ammara Athar was transferred and posted Lahore City SP Investigation.

H.M. Habib

Pakistan Post issued a Commemorative Postage Stamp on the Birth Anniversary of H.M. Habib.

H.M. Habib was born on April 6th 1936. A financial wizard, he followed in the footsteps of his father to build on Habib Empire in banking, with branches worldwide.

He had 60 years of banking experience and was known for his razor sharp business acumen. He was considered the main Architech of Habib Bank AG Zurich.

The stamp has been printed by Pakistan Security Printing Corporation, Karachi.

Justice retired Ali Nawaz Chowhan

On Mar 17, Pakistan’s Justice (R) Ali Nawaz Chowhan was appointed Chief Justice, Supreme Court of the Republic of The Gambia.

Justice Chowhan has served as a judge of the Lahore High Court and also as a judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY). A graduate of Columbia Law School, Justice Chowhan is the second judge from Pakistan to serve as chief justice of The Gambia.

Samina Baig & Mirza Ali

On Mar 19, Pakistani mountaineers Samina Baig and her brother Mirza Ali scaled Mount Carstensz Pyramid, the highest peak in Indonesia.

This is the fourth of the seven summits Samina and her brother will climb to promote gender equality, youth development and women empowerment.