Friday 11 August 2017

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

International travel to US drops for first time since 2009

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - The number of international visitors to the United States has dropped for the first time since 2009, as did their spending, the US Department of Commerce said Friday.In 2016, 75.6 million international travelers ventured stateside, a two percent drop from the previous year. Their spending also fell by one percent to $244.7 billion.The figures account for people journeying to the US for business, medical, education and leisure reasons.Travel and tourism however remained the largest services export out of the US, making up 33 percent of services exports and 11 percent overall.According to the department, preliminary data in 2017 has shown a rise in the number of visitors.Both US visitations and spending from China ($33 billion), Mexico ($20.2 billion), India ($13.6 billion) and South Korea ($8.6 billion) increased, but declined in other top markets.Canada sends the most travelers to the US, though overall visitors from there have declined more than six percent annually for three straight years.The US does maintain a surplus of $84 billion when it comes to tourism spending -- meaning foreign tourists in the US spend more than American tourists abroad.The US tourism industry accounts for 2.7 percent of GDP and 7.6 million jobs, according to Commerce Department statistics.

Egypt train collision kills 36: ministry

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ALEXANDRIA (AFP) - At least 36 people were killed as two trains collided Friday outside the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, in one of the deadliest in a string of such accidents in Egypt, the health ministry said.The crash also injured 123 people, the ministry said in a statement.Footage on the state broadcaster showed one train had partly keeled over in the crash, and medics were seen moving the dead and injured to ambulances.Transport ministry officials, quoted on state television, said the crash was probably caused by a malfunction in one train that brought it to a halt on the rails. The other train then crashed into it.One of them had been heading from Cairo to the northern city of Alexandria and the other from the canal city of Port Said, east of the capital, to Alexandria.The dead and injured were initially placed on blankets by the sides of the tracks running through farmland on the outskirts of Alexandria.Assistant health minister Sharif Wadi told state television that most of the injured had been taken to hospital.President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi sent his condolences to the victims families and ordered a probe to hold accountable those responsible for the disaster, his office said.It was the deadliest train accident in the North African country since a train ploughed into a bus carrying schoolchildren in November 2012, killing 47 people.That accident had jolted the government which ordered an investigation and sacked the transport minister and the head of the railway authority.The accident was blamed on a train signal operator who fell asleep on the job.The probe, however, did not prevent further accidents. Months later a train carrying military conscripts derailed, killing 17 people.Almost a year later, a collision between a train and a bus killed 27 people south of Cairo.They had been returning from a wedding when the train ploughed into their bus and a truck at a railway crossing.Egyptians have long complained that the government has failed to deal with chronic transport problems, with roads as poorly maintained as railway lines.There have been many other fatal crashes on the busy rail network.In July 2008, at least 44 people died near Marsa Matruh in northwest Egypt when a runaway truck hurtled into bus, truck and several cars waiting at a level crossing, shunting the vehicles into the path of a train.In August 2006, at least 58 Egyptians were killed and 144 injured in a collision between two trains travelling on the same track.In the wake of that crash, an Egyptian court sentenced 14 railway employees to one year in prison for neglect.The deadliest accident on Egypts railways dates back to 2002 when 373 people died as a fire ripped through a crowded train south of the capital.

Global markets jarred by North Korea fears

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LONDON (AFP) - World equity markets were lower Friday on the back of simmering tensions between the United States and North Korea, but firmer prices on Wall Street helped put a floor under the losses in Europe, dealers said.Traders screens were in the red in Asia and Europe as investors fled to safe haven assets after US President Donald Trump doubled down on his North Korea rhetoric.But in the US, Wall Street edged higher as investors waded back into the market following a three-day sell-off. And that helped limit the losses in Europe.The tentative gains suggest that the headline shock value pertaining to the US-North Korea standoff is starting to dissipate, which is to say actual action will now speak much louder than words, said Briefing.com analyst Patrick OHare.Nevertheless, the geopolitical uncertainty looks set to continue, dealers said, following Trumps fresh warning Thursday that his earlier threat to unleash fire and fury on the reclusive nuclear-armed state may not have been tough enough.North Korea raised the stakes further on Thursday with a detailed plan to send a salvo of missiles towards the US Pacific territory of Guam.The war of words between Donald Trump and North Korean officials has stepped up in recent days and has put investors on edge, prompting a more risk averse approach in the markets, said Oanda analyst Craig Erlam.Geopolitics aside, investors were also focused on US economic data and monetary policy, following the release of inflation data, Erlam said.Rising costs for housing, medical care and food helped push the Consumer Price Index (CPI) up 0.1 percent in July, seasonally adjusted, after no change in June and a 0.1 decrease in May, the US Labor Department said.With Japanese markets closed for a public holiday, Hong Kong led the downward charge in Asia-Pacific as the Hang Seng lost more than two percent.The index was also dragged lower after Beijing ordered probes into three major Chinese social networking platforms over outlawed content.Shanghai posted its biggest one-day drop since December while Seoul stocks again ended deep in negative territory.Gold, another classic safe haven asset, was trading at around $1,292 per ounce, up more than two percent this week and near a nine-week high.Traders seek safetyThe greenback also came under pressure after New York Federal Reserve President William Dudley cautioned it would take some time for US inflation to reach the banks two percent target.However, markets remained focused on geopolitical crisis, as angry threats from Washington and Pyongyang stoke fears of a catastrophic miscalculation with global consequences.In commodities, oil prices slid on doubts over whether OPEC production cuts are draining a global supply glut.OPEC pumped more oil in July as global oil supplies rose for the third straight month, the IEA said Friday, giving figures that cast further doubt on the cartels pledge to cut output to raise prices.Key figures around 1545 GMTNew York - Dow: UP 0.2 percent at 21,890.54 pointsLondon - FTSE 100: DOWN 1.1 percent at 7,309.96 (close)Frankfurt - DAX 30: FLAT at 12,014 (close)Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 1.1 percent at 5,060.92 (close)EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 0.8 percent at 3,406.34 (close)Tokyo - Nikkei 225: Closed for holidayHong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 2.0 percent at 26,883.51 (close)Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 1.6 percent at 3,208.54 (close)Euro/dollar: FLAT at $1.1792Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2982 from $1.2963Dollar/yen: UP at 109.13 yen from 109.06Oil - West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 22 cents at $48.37 per barrelOil - Brent North Sea: DOWN 26 cents at $51.64

Nawaz Sharif evading arrest: Pervez Elahi

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Pervez Elahi lashed out at Sharif brothers, labeling them as pharaohs.Talking to media in Lahore, he said that both the brothers have ruled Punjab for 25 years, but done nothing for the people. He said the whole family has trapped by divine justice despite their attempts to escape. He said that Nawaz Sharif is making his last attempt to evade arrest by holding GT Road homecoming rally.Pervez Elahi expressed grief on the Model Town incident, adding Nawaz Sharif is staging a drama to save himself. He further added that the former PM is maligning the institutions, asking whether the people gave them vote so that they can discredit judiciary and army. He said that they will never allow the episode of attack on judiciary to repeat as no one will respond to such a call from the Sharif brothers.

Nawaz Sharif evading arrest: Pervez Elahi

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Lahore (Dunya News) – Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Pervez Elahi lashed out at Sharif brothers, labeling them as ‘firauns’ (pharaohs). He said that both have ruled between span of 25 years but have done nothing for the people. He said the whole family has trapped and Divine will has trapped them despite their attempts to escape. He said that Nawaz Sharif is making his last attempts to evade arrest.Pervez Elahi said that the Model Town incident has been source of the signs of fragility. He said that Nawaz Sharif is doing drama to save himself. He further added that Nawaz Sharif is maligning the institutions of Pakistan, asking that whether the people gave them vote in order to discredit Judiciary and Army. He said that the episode of attack on Judiciary will never be allowed to repeat as no one will respond to the call from Sharif brothers.

Under-13 English player takes six wickets in an over

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LONDON (AFP) - A 13-year-old schoolboy cricketer in England has taken six wickets in six balls, all of them clean bowled.Luke Robinson produced his match-winning performance this week for Philadelphia Cricket Clubs Under-13s, based near Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear in north-east England.His family were all on hand to witness his remarkable achievement, with father Stephen having the best view of all -- he was umpiring at the bowlers end at the time.Meanwhile mother Helen was the first person to record her sons feat as she was scoring the match, while Lukes younger brother Matthew was fielding and grandfather Glenn was watching from the boundary.It was surreal, said Stephen Robinson, who plays for the senior side. I have been playing for 30 years and have taken hat-tricks but never anything like this.Time stood still and I thought, is this really happening?

Benitez vows to fight on despite transfer vows

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LONDON (AFP) - Rafael Benitez has pledged not to quit as manager of Newcastle United despite his mounting frustration over the clubs failure to back him in the transfer market.Since guiding Newcastle into the top flight by winning the second-tier Championship last season, Benitez has been engaged in a transfer struggle with owner Mike Ashley.Benitez believes Ashley needs to loosen the purse strings to ensure Newcastle strengthen their squad enough to avoid a relegation battle.But instead Newcastle have missed out on several of Benitezs main transfer targets, leaving the Magpies boss to admit his frustration in a television interview earlier this week.However, on the eve of the new Premier League season, which kicks off for Newcastle against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, Benitez insisted he remains committed to the Tyneside club.Obviously, I said how I feel during this summer, but at the same time, I said that my commitment is 100 percent with this team, this club in terms of trying to win from the first game until the last one, he said on Friday.My ambition is to do well in every single game to get three points and see where we are in the table.I am not saying I am really pleased with everything because its not true, but I am not saying that I will not do my best to be as high as possible in the table.Benitez hopes Newcastle can seal deals for Chelsea wing-back Kenedy and Arsenal striker Lucas Perez before the transfer window closes at the end of August.But Benitez, who has so far spent 30 million on five new players, wont be encouraged to hear Ashley make it clear he has no intention of matching the spending of mega-rich clubs like Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea.I dont have that ability to write a cheque for 200 million. I dont have it, its very simple. I would have to sell the Sports Direct (his company) shares to fund that, Ashley told Sky Sports.People outside of football looking in and the way sometimes its portrayed is that those sort of wealth terms are in the bank.I have to make it clear, I am nowhere near wealthy enough in football now to compete with the likes of Man City, where basically it is a wealthy individual taking on what is the equivalent of countries. I cannot and I will not.

World's oldest man, Holocaust survivor dies at 113

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JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israeli Holocaust survivor Yisrael Kristal, certified last year by Guinness World Records as the worlds oldest man, died on Friday aged 113, Israeli media reported.Since he was an observant Jew, his family could not be reached on Friday evening, the onset of the Jewish sabbath.Yisrael Kristal... died on Friday a month before his 114th birthday, Haaretz daily reported in its online edition.News site Ynet said he was survived by two children, 9 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren.Kristal, originally from Zarnow in what is now Poland, was born on September 15, 1903 -- three months before the Wright brothers first successful powered airplane flight.Guinness World Records recognised him as the worlds oldest man in March 2016.In September he celebrated his Bar Mitzvah after a century-long delay.Usually marked at 13 for boys and 12 or 13 for girls -- a Bat Mitzvah in that case -- it marks the transition into someone responsible for his or her actions.Kristal was unable to celebrate his Bar Mitzvah in 1916 because his mother had died three months earlier and his father was a soldier in the Russian army at the time of World War I.My father is religious and has prayed every morning for 100 years, but he has never had his Bar Mitzvah, his daughter Shula Koperstoch told AFP last year.After World War I, Kristal moved to Lodz where he worked in the family confectionary factory, married and had two children.But his life was disrupted when the Jewish quarter of the city became a ghetto under Nazi occupation during World War II and Kristal was sent to the infamous Nazi death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau.Around 1.1 million people, most of them European Jews, perished in the camp between 1940 and 1945 before it was liberated by Soviet forces.His wife and two children died but Kristal survived, weighing just 37 kilos (81 pounds) at the end of the war.He then moved to Israel, where he remarried and opened a sweet shop.

India piles up army troops on border with China

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NEW DELHI (AFP) - India has increased the number of troops along its northeastern border with China, reports said Friday, amid a tense standoff between Delhi and Beijing over a strategically key Himalayan plateau.The caution level among the troops has also been raised, the Press Trust of India news agency said, quoting an unnamed government official.The troop level along the border with China in the Sikkim and Arunachal sectors has been increased, the official said without giving further details.The official however said there was no deployment of extra troops at the tri-junction between India, China and Bhutan, where around 350 Indian army personnel have been locked in a face-off with Chinese troops for nearly seven weeks.The border trouble began in June when Chinese soldiers started to extend a road through the Doklam territory -- known as Donglang in Chinese. The area is disputed between China and Bhutan.India, a close ally of Bhutan, then deployed troops to stop the construction project, prompting Beijing to accuse India of trespassing on Chinese soil.China insists that India must withdraw its troops before any proper negotiation takes place. India said both sides should withdraw their forces.The plateau is strategically significant as it gives China access to the so-called chicken neck -- a thin strip of land connecting Indias northeastern states with the rest of the country.Mistrust between the giant neighbours is hundreds of years old with the pair having fought a brief war in 1962 in Indias border state of Arunachal Pradesh.

Radd-ul-Fasaad: Security forces conduct IBOs in North Waziristan

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RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) – Security forces conducted intelligence based operations (IBOs) in several areas of North Waziristan in which they recovered a heavy cache of weapons.According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), IBOs were carried out Ghulam Khan, Lakki Midan, Lppi, Spalga, Khareseen and Roucha. Weapons were hidden in terrorist hideouts.During the operations, security forces recovered heavy cache of arms and ammunition that included heavy machine guns, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and rockets.

Young Doctors Association resume protest in Punjab

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LAHORE (Dunya News) - Young Doctors Association has decided to resume its protests, entering in 11th day as negotiations with the government failed to occur.It appears as if their stubborn demands have annoyed the government, leaving patients unattended. In Lahore, the young doctors serving in Services Hospital, General Hospital, Children s Hospital, Ganga Ram Hospital and Jinnah Hospital are not attending their respective duties.Patients face difficulties as no platform is available for their medical problems. The disappearance has caused no activity in OPDs and In-door. Patients who have come for far flung areas have no other choice than Government hospitals.Young Doctors Association (YDA) has pitched in their demands, time anad again but to no avail. Protests have spread to Children Complex, Civil and Nishtar Hospital. The patients and their families are facing difficulties in availing medical facilities.The tragic situation is no different in Faisalabad Allied Hospital as patients have no one to tend to their health problems. Several operations were cancelled and not carried out but no action has been taken to account for the disgraceful disservice. In Gujrat, the closure of OPD has caused severe problems for patients seeking health recovery.In Rahimyar Khan, young doctors have boycotted the operation theatres, in-door and OPD which has resulted in same problems as protest causes doctors to abandon their basic duties.

No power can drive me out of people's hearts: Nawaz to Gujranwala 'homecoming rally'

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GUJRANWALA (Dunya News) – Ex-prime minister disqualified under the Article 62 and Article 63, Nawaz Sharif has claimed on Friday that no power can drive him out of people’s hearts.The ousted premier addressed a rally in Gujranwala that predominantly houses PML-N supporters and in his address he said that there were conspiracies being hatched against the government for the past three years.Ex-PM said that the government was successfully curbing terrorism and crime incidence across Pakistan but “they” toppled his government. He once again claimed credit for turning Pakistan into an atomic power.Gujranwala camp of the GThomecoming rallyNawaz Sharif said that his mandate-given government was toppled after two and a half years twice.He asserted that all the premiers of Pakistan were irreverently ousted.After a pre-teen boy was crushed to death in Lalamusa by an alleged security vehicle of the convoy, Nawaz announced in his address, to visit late boys grieving family and offer compenation in whichever way it is going to be feasible. He prayed for peace for the bereaved family and the hailed the boy as a martyr.DunyaUpdates: We screamed for help but they didnt stop: Relatives of boy killed by car in Nawaz Sharifs rally todayGTRoadRally pic.twitter.com/XwfY4CZ9QS— Dunya News (@DunyaNews) August 11, 2017 Earlier in Gujrat today, he addressed workers rally and claimed that his government provided employement, eradicated power outages and elevated the economy. “Everyone would have become employed if I had stayed,” he said. Even the judges admitted that Nawaz Sharif committed no corruption, he added.Former PM said, “Your votes were torn down … millions of people elected me as PM and a few people made me ineligible. This joke has been repeated for the past 70 years.” Without naming PTI Chairman Imran Khan, he said he is aware of the conspiracy backed by certain people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).While talking about his disqualification, he stated it has happened to be for the third time, adding that no father takes salary from his son. A crowd roared a ‘no’ when he asked whether should sit in his home. Nawaz Sharif asked for peoples’ support, warning them that the country would struggle if such ousters reoccur.We will all stand up against this system and no one can stop Pakistan from progressing, he announced while hoping to change the destiny of the country. He equated his public mandate with the honour of 20 million population, reaffirming his claim of no involvement in corrupt practices.Before concluding his address, he chanted slogans of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’.The ‘homecoming rally’ of Nawaz Sharif, who was ousted by Supreme Court (SC) under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution in Panama Leaks case, has continued its journey towards Lahore via Grand Trunk Road after short stay in Gujrat. Sharif’s cavalcade will reach Gujranwala today, where it would likely to spend night and will leave for Lahore on Saturday morning.Earlier in the day Maryam Nawaz stated on Twitter:Nawaz Sharif lovers in Gujrat flocking to the main city where he is to reach and address after Juma prayers InshaAllah. pic.twitter.com/opD4ugOVQ4— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) August 11, 2017 The former PM thanked his supporters for warn welcome in Lalamusa and said that nation has seen through the order delivered by the top court. He rhetorically asked whether the people had accepted the court’s decision.Pictures of Nawaz Sharif with PML-N leaders before departure today from JhelumA large number of PML-N supporters thronged the GT Road to express solidarity and love for their ousted leader.Nawaz Sharif waving hand while coming out of hotelWorkers displayed banners, flexes, party flags and posters while following the cavalcade and more than 6,000 security personnel were deployed for security as the GT homecoming rally is faced with security threats.Nawaz Sharif’s Jhelum addressAddressing the rally after reaching Jhelum, Nawaz Sharif said that he had promised to do whatever it took to take Pakistan towards prosperity and things have improved a lot during the last four years. The parties that were going into a different direction in Balochistan, were brought into the mainstream. We made a coalition government there. We saved Karachi from the menace that it was under in 2013. Today, motorways are being made throughout the country and the economic resurgence is underway, he continued.He said that he was ousted by 5 judges in just 1 minute. Isn’t it a disgrace to the people of Pakistan that 5 honourable judges ousted the PM who you had voted to power? The people should ask them why they ousted Nawaz Sharif when he had done no corruption, he said.I want to ask why they ousted me. Someone tell me why I was ousted. There were no charges of corruption or kickbacks on me. Did they oust me because Pakistan was progressing and the poor were getting employment, he said.He said that the nation will avenge everything that had been done with him. “If you hold these people accountable for their deeds now then Pakistan will surely survive”, he added.Panamagate verdictOn April 20, Justice Asif Saeed Khosa had announced Panama Leaks case decision comprising of 540 pages, saying that the court issued a split ruling calling for a JIT. Two of the five judges went further, branding Sharif dishonest and saying he should be disqualified, but they were outnumbered.The court formed a six-member inquiry team that included Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Additional Director General Wajid Zia, Military Intelligence’s Brig Kamran Khurshid, National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) Director Irfan Naeem Mangi, State Bank of Pakistan’s Amer Aziz, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan’s (SECP) Executive Director Bilal Rasool and Inter-Services Intelligence’s Brig Muhammad Nauman Saeed.The JIT members during the seven-week period interrogated eight members of Sharif family including Nawaz Sharif, his younger brother Shehbaz Sharif, sons Hassan and Hussain Nawaz, daughter Maryam Nawaz, son-in-law Captain Safdar, cousin Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and brother-in-law Ishaq Dar and submitted its report on July 10.On July 29, the five-judge larger bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and comprising Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, Justice Gulzar Ahmed, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan after a week-long hearings unanimously disqualified Nawaz Sharif. It is hereby declared that having failed to disclose his un-withdrawn receivables constituting assets from Capital FZE Jebel Ali, UAE in his nomination papers filed for the General Elections held in 2013 in terms of Section 12(2)(f) of the Representation of the People Act, 1976 (ROPA), and having furnished a false declaration under solemn affirmation respondent No. 1 Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is not honest in terms of Section 99(f) of ROPA and Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 and therefore he is disqualified to be a Member of the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament).The fresh PM for PakistanOn August 2, President Mamnoon Hussain had administered oath to Shahid Khaqan Abbasi after he was elected as the leader of the House in National Assembly (NA) for 45 days by securing 221 votes.On August 4, a 43-member new cabinet that included 27 federal and 16 state ministers took oath in a ceremony at Prime Minister House.Panama Papers FalloutPanama Papers had published a leak of documents belonging to Mossack Fonseca, a law firm in April 2016 creating uproar in Pakistan among other countries. The leak was studied by International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and stated names of incumbent as well as former leaders of the world who owned shell companies. Opposition parties in Pakistan saw offshore companies as proof of money laundering done by Sharif family. Questions over the source of money used to purchase flats in London’s posh Mayfair locality by Sharif family were raised.The top court took up the case in October last year on petitions filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Awami Muslim League and Jamaat-e-Islami.

Conspiracies were hatched to undermine socio-political construct: Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani said that three out of fourteen points of Quaid-e-Azam relate to provincial autonomy. He said that efforts are being made to spread ethnic disturbances, which has weakened the foundations of Pakistan.Raza Rabbani said that misleading and adulterated version of historical accounts was written in academic books. He said that events which depict the element of popular sovereignty and democratic struggle of society vanished from historical accounts and is no more taught in our institutions. Chairman Senate observed that politicians, political process and political parties were targeted in order to weaken the roots of democracy and parliament. He said that decisive action should be taken in order to overcome challenges and problems. Chairman Senate said that country cannot risk burden of any internal conflict and that the judicial institutions should work within their boundaries. Raza Rabbani remarked the roel of institutions who collaborated, cooperated and coordinated to eradicate terrorism from soil of Pakistan.

Minorities Day: Honouring the white in the Pakistani flag

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By Abdullah ZafarPakistan emerged on the map of the world seven decades ago as a consequence of one of the most historic divisions of land that resulted in the mass migration as well as sacrifice of thousands of people, the memories of which still haunt those who live to tell the tale.Seventy years later, the country – home to a majority Muslim population, is moving towards a direction of honouring its diverse non-Muslim communities that have stood strong in the face of all difficulties and challenges.Today marks the 7th National Minorities’ Day of Pakistan that is being observed across the country with national fervor and to remind everyone of the importance of the white in the flag.While Pakistan has a predominantly Muslim population, it has several non-Muslim communities. It was back in 2009, 62 years later into the inception of Pakistan when a step in the right direction was taken, towards Jinnah’s Pakistan, by declaring August 11 as the ‘Minorities’ Day’.Naumana Suleman – a human rights activist working on minorities in the country said, “The minorities of the country have faced a lot of religious violence as well as discrimination since 1947. Minorities’ Day undoubtedly is a great initiative, because it reminds us of the feats achieved by the minorities of Pakistan that have led the country in the realm of success many times,” she said.While discussing the future of minorities in the country and why it is important for us to prosper, she said that further steps should be taken to promote and protect the rights of the minorities as there still is a long way to go for the minorities to enter the mainstream and make the country proud.“Institutional life discrimination should be ended and syllabuses taught in our schools should be suitable for all, involving more about humanity and religious harmony. Jinnah’s address of August 11 should be a part of the constitution, and laws should be made accordingly.”In his message on Minorities day this year, President Mamnoon Hussain said the democratic government was driven by the vision of the Quaid-e-Azam to protect rights of all minorities in the country and in this regard had already taken a number of steps for the welfare of non-Muslims. “We reiterate the pledge made by our great leaders of according equal treatment to all our citizens irrespective of their religion, caste and creed,” he said.“The observance of Minorities Day reflects our commitment to integrate people of all faiths in the national life. We need to protect and promote democratic values and culture as an important tool to promote tolerance and harmony by ending extremism, intolerance and sectarianism,” he said.A similar voice was echoed by the Prime Minister. PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi vowed to realise the promise made by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah to them, Radio Pakistan reported. He appreciated the role of minorities especially in social, general and health sector. While highlighting the steps taken for furtherance of the society, he said that the government had allocated five percent quota in jobs for minorities, besides setting aside seats in the Senate, National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies.Darshan Lal landed a place in the national assembly after a cabinet reshuffle by newly elected Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. Lal is the first Hindu Minister in Pakistan since the late politician Rana Chandra Singh, who served in the government of the Pakistan Peoples’ Party two decades ago.Speaking to Dunya News, Dr. Peter Jacob, former Executive Secretary of National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP), said that the first Minorities’ Day couldn’t be celebrated with much festivity back in 2009 because of the ongoing operation in Swat. While crediting Shahbaz Bhatti’s efforts, he said that it was a laudable act by the PPP government to observe the first Minorities’ Day. He also said that the minorities still have to suffer a lot but the ideal of Jinnah’s Pakistan is finally being revived and so, the revival should be celebrated.A candlelight vigil in memory of Shahbaz Bhatti who was assassinated in 2011. Photo: Asia NewsWhile talking about equality Jacob said, “In order to make egalitarianism functional, you have to recognise the identities and entities of the society. There should be an affirmative action in job quotas, and people should think above not only religious lines, but all kind of differences.” He said that times have changed and things are getting better with people having become politically conscious. But in order to get rid of problems like religious intolerance and social injustice, he said they need to learn more from this ideological learning curve.In the spirit of honouring the white in our flag, this Minorities Day we pay a small tribute to some of the heroes this country has had over the past decades.Bapsi SidhwaBapsi Sidhwa is a Pakistani novelist of Parsi descent, and a recipient of various national and international level awards including Sitara-i-Imtiaz.Bapsi Sidhwa is a recipient of various national and international level awards including Sitara-i-Imtiaz. Photo: White StarCecil ChauhdryGroup Captain Cecil Chaudhry was a Pakistani academic, human rights activist, and veteran fighter pilot. As a Flight Lieutenant, he fought in the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965 and later, as a Squadron Leader, in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. He is a recipient of Sitara-i-Jurrat and Tamgha-i-Jurrat.Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry was a recipient of Sitara-i-Jurrat and Tamgha-i-Jurrat. Photo: PAF ArchivesDr. Ruth PfauSister Dr. Ruth Katherina Martha Pfau was a German-Pakistani physician and nun of the Society of Daughters of the Heart of Mary. She devoted nearly 50 years of her life fighting leprosy in Pakistan. Pfau received the Hilal-i-Pakistan award presented by the President in 1989, and was also a recipient of Nishan-i-Quaid-e-Azam for public service and the Staufer Medal – the highest award of a German state.Dr. Ruth devoted nearly 50 years of her life fighting leprosy in Pakistan. Photo: VimeoJustice Bhagwan DaasRana Bhagwandas was a senior judge and former acting chief justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. He was the country’s first Hindu and second non-Muslim Chief Justice.Rana Bhagwandas was the country’s first Hindu and second non-Muslim Chief Justice. Photo: APShahbaz BhattiShahbaz Bhatti was a Pakistani politician and elected member of the National Assembly from 2008 till assasinated Shahbaz Bhatti was an elected member of the National Assembly. Photo: AP . He took numerous steps in support of religious minorities. These included the launch of a national campaign to promote interfaith harmony, the proposal of legislation to ban hate speech and related literature, the proposed introduction of comparative religion as a curriculum subject, the introduction of quotas for religious minorities in government posts and the reservation of four Senate seats for minorities.Shahbaz Bhatti was an elected member of the National Assembly. Photo: AP

Maryam Nawaz expresses grief on the tragic incident of 12 year old's death in Gujrat

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Lala Musa (Dunya News) Maryam Nawaz, ex-Premier’s daughter, said that the local leadership of Gujrat will visit the aggrieved family of the child. The Elite force of the protocol hit the child on G.T. road which resulted in the instant death. The family of 12 year old Hamid protested by placing dead body of child in order to block the G.T. road. The father of Hamid suffered from heart attack after hearing about the death of son. Hamid was a resident of Lala Musa and had come to the event in order to receive Nawaz Sharif. Extremely sad incident of death of a child being reported. Local leadership has been asked to reach out to & assist the family without delay— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) August 11, 2017
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