IHC special bench grants bail to former president Asif Ali Zardari. Click on the link to see full news on BAADBAN TV

Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) special bench on Wednesday granted bail to former president Asif Ali Zardari on medical grounds in the Park Lane and mega money-laundering corruption cases, reported Geo News.

The court ordered the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairperson be released from jail after submitting surety bonds of Rs10 million.

Last week, the IHC had admitted a plea filed by the former president seeking bail on medical grounds in the two cases initiated against him by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). In his bail plea, Zardari said he was suffering from a heart condition and diabetes.

Zardari had been arrested by NAB on June 10 after cancellation of his pre-arrest bail. In October, Zardari was transferred from judicial custody at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad after his health deteriorated.

During the hearing today, Zardari’s counsel Farooq Naek submitted his client’s medical reports to the court. The hearing was presided over by IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Amir Farooq presided.

Additional Prosecutor General Jahanzeb Bharwana and Deputy Prosecutor General Muzaffar Abbas were also present before the court on behalf of NAB. Upon the directions of the bench, NAB prosecutors read out the medical reports of Zardari to the courtroom.

According to the medical report, the former president is suffering from several diseases, including a heart condition, and is admitted at PIMS to get the best possible treatment. The court was assured that Zardari had access to doctors of his choice for seeking medical advice and assistance.

However, the report also conceded that it was not possible to provide the former president with medical care in jail. Upon hearing this, the court asked the NAB whether it was necessary to keep Zardari in detention any longer, since the references against him had already been filed.

NAB prosecutors told the court that there were some conditions under which Zardari’s bail could be approved. After a few more inquiries, the court decided to grant bail to Zardari on medical grounds in the mega money laundering and Park Lane cases.

PPP Chairperson expresses relief after IHC decision

PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari expressed relief at the IHC’s decision.

“We are thankful to the judges for their fair assessment of the situation in which the former president finds himself,” Bilawal told media personnel outside the courtroom in Islamabad after the decision was announced.

Masood Malik, senior renowned journalist, former MD ANP laid down in Sector H-8 Graveyard today at 11 am. Many journalists, beuracrat and Politicians were present in the last praying. Click on the link to see full news on BAADBAN TV

Masood Malik had 35-year’s versatile management and journalistic experience in various news organizations, including Daily Nawa-e-Waqt, Daily Express, Daily Ausaf, Daily Dunya and Pakistan Press International.

He had been part of the analyst panel on current affairs programmes on Radio Pakistan and Pakistan Television.

He was not only a policy and management expert in the area of print media but also a political analyst on electronic media.

Masood Malik had strong interpersonal and communication skills. He was a regular columnist and had broad experience of media advertising campaigns.

During his journey in the field of journalism, it merits mention here that he covered the execution of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1979, general elections in 1985, 1988, 1991, 1994, 1997, 2001, 2008, 2013 and 2018. However, he covered many a mega development from 1979 to till date including formation and dissolution of governments at various occasions in the country.

Owing to his vast knowledge of national politics and history, Masood Malik always remained active in nation building endeavours to encourage and motivate youth to strive for freedom of speech and serve the national cause.

He had also arranged many seminars and forums on political issues in this regard.

Moreover, he also had the distinction to interview number of political leaders of the country including various foreign dignitaries.

He also managed to get main lead in breaking stories of national and international significance.

Fight among doctors and lawyers in Lahore. Two patients died, Provincial Information Minister was slapped by lawyers. lawyers also attacked media personnel on the site with stones. PM Imran Khan asked for report, Minister of Health Dr Yasmin Rashid safe in room. Police ran out, rangers have been called, doctors started protest. Click on the link to see full news on BAADBAN TV

Prime Minister Imran Khan and Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Wednesday took notice of a violent protest by lawyers at Lahore’s Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC), during which four patients lost their life.

Grand Health Alliance Chairman Dr Salman Haseeb confirmed the number of deaths.

The chief minister ordered an investigation into the attack and summoned a report from the Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) and provincial secretary of specialised health and medical education. The premier summoned a report from the provincial chief secretary and inspector general

The lawyers were protesting against a video that went viral on social media yesterday, in which a doctor is seen narrating an encounter with some lawyers in front of a group. According to the doctor in the video, a group of lawyers had gone to the inspector general and told him to charge “two doctors” under Section 7 of ATA. He narrated that the IG had refused while the lawyers had urged him to press charges, saying “they could save face” that way.

A large number of lawyers gathered outside PIC on Wednesday to protest against the “mocking video”. The protest, however, turned violent as the lawyers initially closed off entry and exit points to the hospital.

The protesters also damaged equipment inside and broke windows of the hospital as well as cars parked outside. Protesters smashed doors of emergency theatres and staff had to run out to save themselves, according to reports.

Patients, some in ambulances, were unable to reach the hospital while those receiving treatment were left unattended due to the chaos.

The lawyers also attacked media personnel on the site with stones. A female reporter, Kinza Malik, was injured and her phone was snatched from her.

Punjab Information Minister Fayyazul Hasan Chauhan, who had arrived at the hospital, said that “lawyers had tried to kidnap” him. In a video, he can be seen being manhandled by a group of protesting lawyers.

Police are using tear gas and baton charge in an attempt to disperse the lawyers, who are still gathered at the hospital in a large number. The president and secretary of the Lahore High Court Bar Association are currently at PIC and are trying to disperse the angry lawyers from the hospital.

Lahore DIG Operations also arrived at the hospital. He said that those who took the law into their own handswill be dealt with strongly.

Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmeen Rashid is also at the hospital.

Young Consultants Association (YCA) announced a nationwide strike after the violent protest. President of the YCA Dr Hammad Butt said that tomorrow no consultant will be on duty all across Punjab. “The vandalism by lawyers is highly condemnable,” said Dr Butt.

Chief Minister Buzdar, who was in Islamabad to hold meetings with PTI MNAs, assured that action will be taken against those responsible for the violence. When asked why the government had not taken notice of tensions between doctors and lawyers, Buzdar said that the matter had been resolved.