WASHINGTON, Dec 08 (APP): Indian journalist Rana Ayyub, an outspoken critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s anti-Muslim rhetoric and policies, Wednesday night received the prestigious John Aubuchon award conferred on her by the National Press Club of Washington DC, the Club’s highest honour for press freedom.
Ms Ayyub, a columnist with the Washington Post, has been facing harassment and threats for her critical reporting of the Modi government. The Post issued a full-page advertisement earlier this year in support of Ms Ayyub, saying “the free press is under attack in India”.
After her name was announced in July 2022, Ms Ayyub dedicated the award to her colleagues who are languishing in different prisons across the country. “Dedicating this to my colleagues Mohd Zubair, Siddique Kappan, and Asif Sultan incarcerated for speaking truth to power,” she had said.
In her acceptance speech on Wednesday, Rana Ayyub said that there is no free press in India anymore. “I’m here, trying to feel less alone at a time I feel very lonely” she said
“I happen to be a Muslim and a woman. How dare I speak? … Thank you for making me feel less alone & isolated.” She further added.
ISLAMABAD, Dec 8 (APP): President Dr Arif Alvi on Thursday conferred Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) upon Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), General Sahir Shamshad Mirza and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Asim Munir.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif witnessed the special investiture ceremony of the top military personnel, here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr. Federal ministers, parliamentarians and diplomats attended the ceremony.
President Alvi decorated the CJCSC and the COAS with the prestigious award for their outstanding services to the country.
According to the citation read out at the occasion, General Shamshad Mirza was commissioned in 1987 in Infantry Battalion. He graduated from Command and Staf College, Quetta and National Defence University, Islamabad. He also attended M.Sc (Global Security) course from Cranfield University, United Kingdom.
During his illustrious military career, General Mirza served on various Command, Staff and Instructional assignments. His major staff appointments include Brigade Major of two Infantry Brigades, General Staff Officer Grade-1 (Plans) at Pakistan Contingent United Nations Mission Sierra Leon, Director Military Operations and Director General Military Operations, Vice Chief of General Staff, Adjutant General and Chief of General Staff at the General Headquarters.
About General Syed Asim Munir Ahmad Shah, the citation mentioned that he was commissioned in April 1986 in 23 Frontier Force Regiment and is a recipient of the coveted Sword of Honour of 17h OTS Course. He is a graduate of Fuji School, Japan, Command and Staff College, Quetta, Malaysian Armed Forces Command & Staff College, Kuala Lumpur and National Defence University, Islamabad. He also holds M. Phil degree in Public Policy and Strategic Security Management.
During his illustrious military career, General Asim Munir served on various Command, Staff and Instructional assignments. His major staff appointments include Brigade Major of a deployed Infantry Brigade, General Staff Officer Grade-2 in Chief of General Staff Secretariat, Directing Staff in Command and Staff College, Quetta and Chief of Staff of a Strike Corps.
General Munir has commanded his parent unit 23 Frontier Force Regiment Infantry Brigade, Force Command Northern Areas and 30 Corps. He has also led Pakistan Training Contingent in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
He has the unique honour to head both the premier intelligence agencies of Pakistan as Director General Military Intelligence and Director General Inter-Services Intelligence. Before his promotion and appointments as COAS, the General was Quarter Master General of Pakistan Army.
General Asim Munir was promoted to the rank of General and appointed as Chief of the Army Staff, General Headquarters on 29th November 2022.
ISLAMABAD, Dec 8 (APP): The government has released funds amounting to Rs296.10 million to advance nine ongoing petroleum-related projects during the first four months of the current fiscal year under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP 2022-23) against a total allocation of Rs1.48 billion.
Out of the total disbursement of Rs296.10 million, around Rs11.44 million have been spent on petroleum projects to accelerate oil and gas exploration activities during a four-month period (July-October 2022), according to official data available with APP.
As per the PSDP document, the incumbent government earmarked Rs150.560 million for the establishment of the National Mineral Data Centre (NMDC) Directorate General of Minerals, Rs303.700 million for expansion and up-gradation of Pakistan Petroleum Corehouse (PETCORE) for its sustainable operations to facilitate oil and gas exploration research in Pakistan (HDIP).
Similarly Rs100 million for Geological Mapping on 50 Toposheets, out of 354 unmapped Toposheets of Outcrop Area of Balochistan Province, Rs70 million for Legal Consultancy Services for drafting of Model Mineral Agreement and updating of Regulatory Framework (Federal and Provincial Minerals/Coal Departments) and Rs 200 million for Pakistan National Research Programme on Geological Hazards (Earthquakes and Landslides) – Data Acquisition along Active Faults and Identification of Potential Landslides Hotspot Zones.
Similarly, the government specified Rs 224.809 million for strengthening and up-gradation of Karachi Laboratories Complex (KLC) at HDIP Operations Office, Karachi, Rs100 million to supply 10 MMCFD gas/RLNG at doorstep (zero point) of Bostan Special Economic Zone, Balochistan (SSGCL), Rs 74.705 million to supply 13 MMCFD gas/RLNG at doorstep (zero point) of Bin Qasim Industrial Park Special Economic Zone, Sindh (SSGCL) and Rs256.735 million to supply 40 MMCFD gas/RLNG at doorstep (zero point) of Allama Iqbal Industrial City Special Economic Zone, Faisalabad (SNGPL).
ISLAMABAD, Dec 8 (APP): Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Attaullah Tarar on Thursday said that the government was always ready for a meaningful dialogue with the leadership of the opposition to resolve all issues and bring political stability to the country.
Talking to a private news channel, he said the coalition government, working under the leadership of Shehbaz Sharif, was willing to kick-start dialogue with PTI.
Replying to a question, he said Imran Khan’s constitutional term ended in a “constitutional and democratic way” and added that the PTI Chairman should come forward for an unconditional serious dialogue.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s demand for early elections “is unjustified”, Tarar claimed, adding PDM believed in the politics of “democratic norms”.
To a question related to Senior Journalist Arshad Sharif’s murder case, he assured the nation that there will be a fair and transparent investigation and the facts will be brought before the people.
He further said that the government was ready to support JIT in the investigation of Arshad Sharif’s murder.
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 08 (APP): The United Nations General Assembly Wednesday adopted Pakistan’s four annual disarmament-related resolutions that are aimed at strengthening regional as well as international peace and security, reflecting Islamabad’s commitment to achieve those goals.
The resolutions were recommended by the 193-member Assembly’s First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) where the texts were adopted by overwhelming support of its membership.
Of these, three resolutions deal with regional disarmament, conventional arms control at regional and sub-regional levels as well as Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) in the regional and sub-regional context.
The fourth Pakistani resolution sought international security assurances for non-nuclear-weapon states.
Entitled, “Conclusion of effective international arrangements to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons”, the resolution was adopted by a vote of 120 in favour to none against, with 60 abstentions.
By its terms, the Assembly, convinced that nuclear disarmament and the complete elimination of nuclear weapons are essential to remove the danger of nuclear war, reaffirmed the urgent need to reach an agreement to assure non-nuclear-weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons and appealed to States, particularly nuclear-weapons States, to work towards a legally binding instrument.
The resolution, entitled “Conventional arms control at the regional and subregional levels”, was adopted by a thumping majority of 182 votes in favour. India was the only country which voted against. There was one abstention.
The text draws attention to the conventional military danger in the regional context — obviously South Asia — and propose measure to address the associated risks.
Resolutions on “Regional Disarmament” and “Confidence-building measures (CBMs) in the regional and subregional context” were adopted by consensus.
For several years, it was pointed out, Pakistan has led initiatives at the UN to promote the goals of regional disarmament, conventional arms control, and CBMs.
The resolutions recognize the significance of and complementarity between regional and global approaches to arms control, disarmament, and confidence building to promote international peace, security, and stability, encouraging efforts aimed at promoting CBMs at the regional and sub-regional levels to ease regional tensions.
The resolution on conventional arms control at regional and sub-regional levels acknowledges that the preservation of a balance in States’ defence capabilities strengthens peace and stability.
ISLAMABAD, Dec 8 (APP): Advisor to the Prime Minister on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Qamar Zaman Kaira Thursday urged upon the opposition to sit with the government to resolve all controversial issues and asked Imran Khan to adopt a ‘collective wisdom’ to control the economic meltdown and its consequences.
The coalition government did not close its doors for holding dialogue with the opposition to resolve all current issues, he said while speaking to PTV news channel adding that Imran Khan will have to play a responsible role in the national interest. He said the opposition could not deceive people with their lies-based statements.
He said the government has categorically expressed willingness to hold unconditional and serious talks with PTI for the sake of political stability in the country.
He also advised that the PTI Chairman should show flexibility in his attitude as the government is ready to make electoral reforms through mutual consensus adding that all the political problems will only be resolved through dialogue rather than holding protests in the streets to pressurize the government, he added.
The government and the opposition should jointly make efforts for the progress and development of the country, he assured.
“Imran Khan must shun his arrogance, take the government onboard on critical issues being faced by the country instead of paying attention to his personal interests”, he added.
ISLAMABAD, Dec 8 (APP): Indus River System Authority (IRSA) on Thursday released 82,300 cusecs water from various rim stations with inflow of 41,500 cusecs.
According to the data released by IRSA, water level in River Indus at Tarbela Dam was 1501.52 feet and was 103.52 feet higher than its dead level of 1,398 feet. Water inflow and outflow in the dam was recorded as 20,300 cusecs while outflow as 46,000 cusecs.
The water level in River Jhelum at Mangla Dam was 1130.30 feet, which was 80.30 feet higher than its dead level of 1,050 feet. The inflow and outflow of water was recorded 6,900 cusecs and 22,000 cusecs respectively.
The release of water at Kalabagh, Taunsa , Guddu and Sukkur was recorded 48,100, 40,000, 31,300 and 12,200 cusecs respectively. Similarly, from River Kabul, a total of 8,900 cusecs of water released at Nowshera and 2,000 cusecs released from River Chenab at Marala.
