No facilities will be provided in jail to those accused of corruption over Rs500m’ either he’s Ex President or Ex PM: Minister of Law and justice. Click on the link to see full news on BAADBAN TV

This will be across the board, said the minister. Right now, ‘Better Class’ facilities are available to a number of people, including parliamentarians and former public office holders. ‘Better Class’ facilities include things like air-conditioners and televisions.

Here are some of the other major announcements he made:

  • It will only take 15 days to obtain succession certificates

It can take up to 10 years to obtain succession certificates or letters of administration in simple cases, said the minister, adding that the government hopes to speed up the process by liaising with NADRA. Through the introduction of biometrics and technology, people will be able to manage these cases from any Pakistani mission, embassy or high commission in the world. Naseem said it will take just 15 days to obtain succession certificates.

  • Laws will be enacted to safeguard the property of overseas Pakistanis

One of the major problems overseas Pakistanis had was that their properties were usurped while they were out of the country, explained the minister. Now, the government is going to bring in a law to safeguard the immovable (houses and land) properties of overseas Pakistanis.

  • The concept of whistleblowers is being introduced to the benami assets law

The government is adding rules to the 2017 Benami Transactions Law which will bring in the concept of whistleblowers. A whistleblower is anyone who exposes any kind of information or activity that is deemed illegal, unethical, or not correct. They will be bringing in an amendment to add the concept.

  • The workings of civil procedure courts are going to be improved

In civil procedure courts, it can take between 30 and 40 years for cases to be resolved, said Naseem. He said the government is hoping to speed up the process and ensure that it takes six months to a year in the first stage. This was a barrier to investment, he said, as foreign investors said court cases in Pakistan simply take far too long.

  • Women ombuspersons are going to be empowered

Over 50% of our population are women, said Naseem. The other day, I read about a case where a woman was imprisoned for 20 years over a property issue and that’s not uncommon, he said. The minister discussed the cruelties meted out to women by their families when it comes to property or assets. To help them, the government is empowering the women ombudspersons. They will have enforcement powers, police powers and suo motu powers, he explained, adding that they can act on complaints and whatever they deem fit. They will also have powers to conduct raids. Women across Pakistan should know that there is a law to help them, said the minister, adding that anyone can file a complaint on their behalf as well. In simple cases, the ombudsperson can handle the possession, ownership and transfer, he said, adding that they can file civil court cases which will be registered as civil suits.

  • The Supreme Court will decide what clothes lawyers wear to court

Another matter, which Naseem described as “close to his heart”, was that of what lawyers wear to court. Right now there’s a strict black tie-black suit requirement and a 1980 statute gives the federal government the authority to examine the court dress requirements, he said. But the government has decided to repeal this law and give the authority to the court. That means you can decide if you want everyone to wear blue coats, grey ties or brown pants, he said.

  • A parallel support system will be set up to record evidence

A parallel support system is also going to be set up to record evidence using technology. This will save court time and be headed by a panel comprising senior lawyers and retired judges. It will follow all the rules regarding evidence recording and will use technology so that fears that it was not recorded properly can be allayed, he said. He said the system is based on the chief justice’s video link hearing system.

  • A legal aid authority will be set up

The government is also bringing in a legal aid and justice authority ordinance/act soon which will help people in criminal cases who need legal aid, lawyers or to pay small bail amounts and penalties. Different stakeholders will be consulted for this, he said. The prime minister wants to add more funds to this authority, explained the minister. It’s initial focus will be on cases involving women, children, gender and sexual assault, he said.

He said Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be replicating these laws where applicable and he hopes Balochistan and Sindh do as well if they think it is a good idea.

Dr Tahir ul Qadri announced retirement from politics. Click on the link to see full news on BAADBAN TV

Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri on Saturday announced his retirement from Pakistani politics and from his post as the party’s chairman.

In a message shared via video link in Lahore, Dr Qadri said: “I am retiring from Pakistani politics, political activities and from my post as PAT chairman.”

Dr Qadri said he was not handing over leadership of PAT to his sons, but transferring power to the party’s council 

Our legal battle for the Model Town incident will continue till my last breath,” Dr Qadri said, adding: “That is not a matter of politics, it is a matter of faith.”

In a tweet from his official account, Qadri said: “I am separating myself from the political activities of Pakistan Awami Tehreek. I am announcing my retirement. This decision comes as a result of my health issues and profound academic commitments.”

Terrorism on Afghan border, 4 Pak army soliders received martyrdom, 6 injured. India’s infringement on Line of control. India’s 4 civilians got injured in counter response. Click on the link to see full news on BAADBAN TV

A civilian and a Pakistan Army soldier was martyred during the unprovoked firing by Indian troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in Nakial,Jandrot and Haji pir sectors on Saturday.

Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said an innocent citizen Fatima Bibi, aged 40 years, embraced shahadat while six others including four women got injured during Indian firing at Nakial and Jandrot sectors. All injured have been shifted to hospitals.

Pakistan army troops responded effectively targeting posts undertaking fire.

Ealier today, a Pakistan Army soldier embraced martyrdom after Indian troops resorted to unprovoked firing from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Hajipir sector of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

According to ISPR Director General (DG) Major General Asif Ghafoor, 33-year-old Havaldar Nasir Hussain hailed from Narowal.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) had been summoning Indian Deputy High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia to to condemn the “unprovoked ceasefire violations” by the Indian army.

Repeatedly, Director General (SA & SAARC) Dr Mohammad Faisal had been urging the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement. He had said that the Indian side should permit UNMOGIP to play its mandated role as per the Unite Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

On September 6, in Khuiratta sector of the LoC, the Indian forces had deliberately targeted innocent civilian participants of peaceful rallies organised to show solidarity with the people of occupied Kashmir. Four civilians had sustained critical injuries that day.

The incidents of firing along the LoC come amid simmering tensions between India and Pakistan after Modi-led Hindu nationalist Indian government abrogated special autonomy of occupied Kashmir, stripping the people of the region of their special rights.

PM Imran calls for out of box solutions, proposals to improve economy. Click on the link to see full news on BAADBAN TV

 Prime Minister Imran Khan has emphasized that stability of economy and facilitating the business community is top priority of the government.

PM while chairing a meeting of government s economic team in Islamabad on Saturday called for presenting out of the box solutions and proposals to improve the economy and to make consultations with all stakeholders in order to start implementing the workable suggestions.

The Prime Minister directed various ministries to devise a clear mechanism based on timeline to achieve quarterly targets and accomplishments.

Imran Khan said the baseless propaganda against the economy should be rebutted with complete facts so that people have the clear picture of past situation and current improvement.

Referring to importance of agriculture in the national economy and the steps taken by the government to revolutionize the sector, the Prime Minister said government has constituted a detailed policy for the promotion of all areas of agriculture.

He said need of the hour is to apprise the people of this policy and all the related steps for their benefit.

Imran Khan said promotion of small and medium enterprises is among the priorities of the government.

Pakistan condemns drone attack on Saudi Oil Pumping Facility. Click on the link to see full news on BAADBAN TV

Pakistan on Saturday strongly condemned the drone attack on Saudi oil processing facility Buqyaq and the Khurais oil field causing fire, material damage and disruption of its operation.

As per details, Foreign Office in a statement said such acts to sabotage and disrupt commercial activities causing fear and terror cannot be condoned.

Pakistan hopes that such attacks will not be repeated given the potential damage they can cause to the existing peaceful environment in the region, it said.

Pakistan reiterates its full support and solidarity with the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia against any threat to its security and territorial integrity, the statement concluded.

Earlier, drone attacks sparked fires at two Saudi Aramco oil facilities, the interior ministry said, in the latest assault on the state-owned energy giant as it prepares for a much-anticipated stock listing.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks on Abqaiq and Khurais, two major Aramco facilities in eastern Saudi Arabia, but it follows a spike in regional tensions with Iran.

READ MORE: Drones spark fires at two Saudi Aramco oil facilities

“At 4.00 am (0100 GMT) the industrial security teams of Aramco started dealing with fires at two of its facilities in Abqaiq and Khurais as a result of… drones,” the ministry said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.

“The two fires have been controlled.”

The statement added that an investigation had been launched after the attack in the kingdom’s Eastern Province but did not specify the source of the drones.

 

Nuclear war’s consequences are inconceivable: PM Khan warns world. Click on the link to see full news on BAADBAN TV

Prime Minister Imran Khan, in an interview with Al Jazeera, has warned the global powers and the international community of grave consequences if a nuclear war breaks out between arch-rivals Pakistan and India.

“It is a nation that will fight till the last breath,” he said while referring to a possibility of using nuclear arms in the war.

“[The aftermath] of a nuclear conflict is unimaginable […] and anything is possible if two nuclear-armed states enter into war against each other,” he said.

“No sane person can talk of a nuclear war. Pakistan will go to every extent for [rights] of Kashmiris.”

He affirmed that this was the reason Pakistan has been approaching every international forum for resolution of the longstanding dispute as the possible devastation would affect the entire subcontinent.

“Pakistan doesn’t want to initiate a war as wars create more problems […] I am against war as I believe that wars don’t solve problems,” he added.

As an example, the premier referred to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and mentioned those wars later unfolded more intense issues.

PM Khan outlined that Pakistan has ensured religious freedom for followers of all religions and termed ill-treatment towards minorities “violation of the Constitution.”

He further compared religious freedom in Pakistan with under Modi regime in India, and stated: “India has been following the ideology of RSS.”

On Thursday, the premier, in a tweet, welcomed the European Union‘s call for a peaceful solution of the Kashmir dispute, in line with the UNSC resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements.

He had also thanked the rest of the world for its support for Kashmir.”I commend 58 countries that joined Pakistan at the UN Human Rights Council on September 10, reinforcing demands of international community for India to stop the use of force, lift the siege, remove other restrictions, respect and protect Kashmir’s rights, and resolve Kashmir dispute through the UNSC resolutions.”

Four Pak Army soldiers martyred, two militants killed near Afghan border. Click on the link to see full news on BAADBAN TV

Four soldiers embraced martyrdom while another soldier sustained injuries in two separate incidents of firing by militants on the western border, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated on Saturday.

According to a statement issued by ISPR Director General (DG) Major General Asif Ghafoor further revealed that two militants were shot dead in response by the military.

The first incident happened in Spinwam tehsil of North Waziristan tribal district, where miscreants opened fired on a routine patrolling party of security forces.

Consequently, 23-year-old Sepoy Akhtar Hussain, hailing from District Baltistan, embraced martyrdom.

In a separate incident in Dir, terrorists from across the Pak-Afghan border opened fire at army troops who were busy in border fencing. “3 soldiers embraced shahadat while 1 got injured,” the military’s media wing said.