Islamabad                                                                                                                                                                                             06 August 2018                                                                                                                                                                                  (Daily Dawn)

PTI Chairman Imran Khan, through his counsel Babar Awan, on Monday submitted an appeal before the Supreme Court to challenge the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) decision where it had restrained the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) from issuing the victory notification of the PTI chief from NA-131, Lahore.

The LHC issued the directives on Saturday after hearing the petition filed by PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique and ordered the returning officer to hold a recount of all ballot papers.

Justice Mamoonur Rashid directed the ECP to withhold the notification announcing Khan's win from the constituency until the recount is completed. According to the order issued by the judge, recounting must take place within three days of receiving the court's order.

Rafique, the former railways minister, had lost the poll to the PTI chief in NA-131 constituency (Lahore-VII) by a margin of only 680 votes, receiving 83,633 votes against Khan's 84,313, according to the Form-47 available on the ECP website.

The 2,835 rejected votes from the constituency were then recounted on Rafique's request, which resulted in slight changes to the final count but Imran Khan still remained the winner by a few hundred votes.

After losing the recount, Rafique had applied for yet another recount, this time seeking the fresh counting of all votes cast in the constituency. However, this request was rejected by the Returning Officer.

Rafique subsequently approached the high court, requesting it to order a full recount of the constituency.

Rafique's lawyer, Azam Nazir Tarar, argued before the court that the RO, when first approached for a recount, had said that the rejected votes would be examined first.

"After the rejected votes were examined [and] when we asked for the bags of ballot papers to be opened for a full recount, our request was rejected," he said.

To support his arguments, Advocate Tarar said that a recount on a provincial seat from the same constituency had led to a rise in the number of votes for Rafique.

"My client claims that 2,800 votes have not been made part of the final count," he told the court.

In a note of appreciation for the prime minister-in-waiting, the lawyer said: "I was deeply affected by Imran Khan's victory speech in which he showed willingness to open up any constituency for recounting for which there were objections."

However, "if Imran Khan had backed his statement with concrete action, then there would have been no need to approach the high court," he said.

On the other hand, Babar Awan, who was representing Khan, claimed that the RO had ordered the recounting of votes without hearing his side of the argument.

"He should have issued the order after having heard from all parties involved. We only received a notice asking us to appear for the recounting," he claimed.

Justice Rashid after hearing arguments from both Rafique as well as Khan's lawyers announced the decision in the PML-N leader's favour.

The recounting will begin after a notification is sent to all the candidates, the written court order states.

The court order also states that the Form 49 issued by the RO shall stand suspended while recounting takes place, after which a new Form 49 will be issued.

Islamabad                                                                                                                                                                                             06 Aug 2018                                                                                                                                                                                        (The News)

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has officially been named as the candidate for the office of the prime minister by the PTI’s MNAs-elect in a meeting held here on Monday.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who is party's Senior Vice President, moved the resolution nominating Imran Khan as party's candidate for the country's top office, which was accepted by the members.

Sources have confirmed that Imran Khan has finalised names of Shah Mehmood Qureshi as Speaker National Assembly and veteran party leader Imran Ismail  as Sindh Governor.

The party claims to have the support of 177 legislators, as it has already done its homework and struck deals with some political parties in addition to roping in at least nine independents out of the total of 13.

PTI Chairman and prime minister-in-waiting Imran has already desired to have a smaller cabinet and will be observing austerity along with his cabinet in view of the grim national economic situation.

Choice ministerial portfolios and the coveted seats of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief ministers have kept the media guessing, as there are more than two candidates for the key federal cabinet posts and chief ministerial slots.

PTI Information Secretary Fawad Chaudhry claims his party is now in a position [in terms of number game] to form the federal government. "The PTI’s seat tally in the National Assembly currently stands at 125 after the inclusion of independents," Fawad said.

Whereas the PTI allies and reserved seats will take its tally of seats to 174. Moreover, after the promised support of Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), the party will have 177 seats in the legislature. The PTI surfaced as the single largest party with 116 MNAs-elect following the July 25 general election.

On the other hand, the joint opposition has also announced that they will field their own candidates for the prime minister, speaker and deputy speaker. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will notify the successful candidates on August 7 after which the independents will have three days to decide about their political affiliation.

Following this, the successful candidates for reserved seats will be notified on August 11. The president and governors will decide the dates of summoning the National Assembly and the provincial assemblies after completion of this exercise.

06 August 2018                                                                                                                                                                                    (Deutsche Welle News)

Saudi Arabia gave the Canadian ambassador in Riyadh 24 hours to leave the country and recalled its own envoy to Canada after the North-American country urged Riyadh to release arrested civil rights activists.

Riyadh also suspended new trade and investment with Canada.

"The Canadian position is an overt and blatant interference in the internal affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and is in contravention of the most basic international norms and all the charters governing relations between States," the Saudi foreign ministry said on Twitter.

Earlier, the Canadian foreign ministry and the Canadian embassy in Riyadh expressed concerns over the arrests of human rights activists, including award-winning gender rights activist Samar Badawi, in a new wave of detentions. They called on Saudi authorities to "immediately release" the detainees.

The Saudi foreign ministry voiced anger over the Canadian statement.

"Using the phrase (immediately release) in the Canadian statement is very unfortunate, reprehensible, and unacceptable in relations between States," the Saudi ministry said on Twitter.

'Petulant fit'

Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at international rights watchdog Human Rights Watch (HRW), described Saudi Arabia's move as a "petulant fit in response to what are in fact basic, reasonable demands from Canada calling for the release of detained political activists."

"It’s pathetic that rather than respect the basic rights of its citizens and end its wide scale persecution of independent voices, it’s punishing even friendly states who give it helpful advice," Whitson told DW.

Samar Badawi, sister of detained rights activist Raif Badawi,and fellow campaigner Nassima al-Saddah were arrested last week in what HRW called "an unprecedented government crackdown on the women's rights movement."

 

New Delhi                                                                                                                                                                                            (Jane's Defence Weekly)

The launchers for the Indian Army’s 9K58 Smerch 300 mm multiple rocket launch (MRL) systems will be mounted on indigenously designed 10×10 high-mobility vehicles provided by Indian private-sector defence manufacturer Ashok Leyland.

A company official told Jane’s on 30 July that the Chennai-based firm signed a INR1 billion (USD14.6 million) contract with the IA for 81 10×10 high-mobility vehicles, adding that deliveries are set to start “imminently” and be completed by the end of March 2019.

Ashok Leyland’s 10×10 high-mobility vehicle was selected over models fielded by rivals Tata Motors and Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), following extended trials that were completed in late 2017 in response to a tender issued by the IA in 2015.

The shortlisted vehicle, which is fitted with a hydraulic crane to reload the system, will supplement and eventually replace the 9A52-2 launch vehicles based on the MAZ-543M 8×8 truck chassis.

The IA operates several launcher variants for the Smerch system, including around 62 9K58 Smerch batteries, each of which has six launch vehicles. Since 2012 India’s state-owned Ordnance Factory Board has produced several rocket variants for the system that have a strike range of 70 or 90 km.

Doha                                                                                                                                                                                                       04 Aug. 2018

Nearly 35,000 people have registered to become an organ donor since May when Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) launched its annual organ donation campaign.

Since the Qatar Organ Donor Registry was launched in 2012, around 300,000 donors, or 15 percent of the country's adult population, have signed up to become an organ donor.

Director of HMC's Qatar Organ Donation Center (Hiba) Dr. Riadh Fadhil said that during the Holy Month of Ramadan, representatives from Hiba staffed information booths worked at 14 locations across the country.

"The success of the organ donation campaign has meant that Qatar's Organ Donor Registry is now close to crossing the 300,000 mark," said Dr. Fadhil. "The people of Qatar, both citizens and residents, continue to show their support for Qatar's unique, world-class, and equitable donor registry."

An organ donor registry is a national, confidential list of individuals who have agreed to donate their organs after their death. It can be quickly accessed in case of a death to see whether an individuals has registered their willingness to be an organ donor.

Qatar has a single waiting list for organ transplantation with unbiased access to transplant services, irrespective of nationality. This feature is distinct to Qatar and differentiates the program from that of neighboring countries.

"This list literally saves the lives of people waiting for a viable organ," said Dr. Fadhil. "We aim to have 350,000 registered donors by the end of this year, and will continue to have information booths at eleven locations across Qatar to help us reach this number. Members of the public will be able to visit them to find out more about becoming a registered organ donor, including what the process entails and its benefits. They can also have their questions about organ transplantation answered and can register as a donor and receive their donor card."

An organ transplant can be a life-saving procedure. It can also significantly improve the quality of life for someone with chronic organ failure. A deceased organ donor can save up to eight lives. It is also possible to donate a kidney or part of the liver while alive. Currently, Qatar offers kidney and liver transplantation programs.

Doha                                                                                                                                                                                                      04 Aug. 2018                                                                                                                                                                                        (QNA)

The Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics (MDPS) has released the 54th issue of (Qatar; Monthly Statistics) bulletin; a series of statistical newsletters released on a monthly basis. In this issue, MDPS highlighted the most important statistical changes that occurred in the country during June 2018 in addition to extracts from the results of the 2015 Census.

The most prominent change in this issue is the increase in the number of social security beneficiaries by 2.5 percent compared to the same month of the previous year (June 2017). This is accompanied by an rise in total deposits with an annual rate of 6.2 percent which is offset by an increase in the total credit with an annual rate of 6.1 percent compared to June 2017.

The demographic statistics in the present bulletin showed that the total population of Qatar has increased from 2.55 million during June 2017 to almost 2.58 million at end of June 2018, an annual increase of 1.4 percent.

With regard to Vital Statistics, a total number of 2073 live births has been registered during June 2018, a 3.5 percent decrease compared to May 2018. However, this decrease was offset by an increase in the total Qatari live births by 6.9 percent compared to last month. On the other hand, 156 deaths were recorded during the same period, a decrease of 18.8 percent compared to May 2018. However, this decrease was offset by a decrease of 53.3 percent in Qatari deaths.

Moreover, June 2018 has experienced a decrease in marriage and divorce contracts. The total number of marriage contracts was 295 contracts, whereas the total no of divorces has reached 62 divorce cases; namely, one divorce for every 5 marriages.

As for Social Security statements, the month of June 2018 has witnessed a significant increase in the number of social security beneficiaries, reaching 14538 individuals, whereas the total value of Social Security has almost reach 82 million Qatari Riyal during the same month.

The bulletin showed that the total electricity utilization during June 2018 was 3845.4 GWh attaining a monthly increase of 16.1 percent as compared with last month, while recording an annual drop of 11.1 percent compared to June 2017. The bulletin also showed that the total water consumption has reached 38100.5 Thousand m3 during the same month attaining a monthly decrease of 5.2 percent as compared with last month, while recording an annual drop of 14.1 percent compared to June 2017 .

As for the data of buildings permits issued, the total number of permits has reached 383 permits during June 2018, recording a monthly decrease of 35.8 percent.

As for traffic accidents cases, a total of 509 traffic cases were recorded during June 2018, showing a monthly decrease of 7.6 percent compared to May 2018. Light injuries are accounted for the vast majority of traffic accidents in June 2018, with 89 percent, followed by severe injuries by 9 percent. However, 10 deaths were recorded, equivalent to only 2 percent of total traffic accidents.

The bulletin also highlighted that the total number of registered vehicles during June 2018 has reached 3910 new vehicles. The figure showed a monthly decrease of 28.2 percent and an annual decline of 12.5 percent.

Total Broad Money Supply (M2) recorded about QAR 586.2 billion during June 2018, an annual increase of 10.2 percent compared with June 2017. On the other hand, cash equivalents; including deposits, attained for QAR 818.3 billion during June 2018. The figure has recorded an annual increase of 6.2 percent compared to June 2017, when deposits recorded approximately QAR 770.7 billion.

Doha                                                                                                                                                                                                       05 Aug. 2018

As part of the ongoing traffic awareness campaign under the title “Accident-free Summer” the General Directorate of Traffic held a press conference today morning to announce the activities around the fifth week’s focus. The campaign will highlight this week the violations of crossing red signal and over speeding, which are considered among the most common reasons of road accidents that cause loss of many lives and properties.

The General Directorate of Traffic calls upon the road users to beware of committing these violations and requested all media, to cooperate in educating the public on these violations, to ensure the safety of the people and the security of the country.

Col. Mohammad Radhi Al-Hajri, Director of the Awareness and Information Department at the General Directorate of Traffic told that the violations of crossing of the red signal will be subject to a fine of 6000 Qatari riyals and 7 points, stressing that the ultimate goal of the General Directorate of Traffic is to ensure safety, and what is relied on it is to prevent the offenders who don’t obey the law, through a fine commensurate with the seriousness of the violation, and the consequent serious accidents.

Col. Mohammad Radhi Al-Hajri, underscored the significance and the importance of respecting law through adhering to the road signals.

The head of traffic planning section at the Roads Engineering Department, Captain Mohammed Misfer Al-Hajri, stated that the statistics for the first and second quarters of the current year showed an increase in the number of violations due to over speed with 51,000 violations and 6700 violations of signal crossing.

He said that the violation of the crossing the signal, resulting in loss of life and property, is considered a deliberate attack on others because of the deliberate violation of the order given through the signals to stop and facilitate those coming from the other side.

Speaking to the media he added that all traffic signals in the country are smart signals, acting through the "sensor", that respond to the traffic condition in the signal, while there are specific times that take into account the capacity of the road and the rate of flow of cars on it.

Chapter No. 9 of the traffic law says that “Traffic priority at junctions with automatic traffic light signals shall be in accordance with the following colours: 1. Red for stop. 2. Yellow for readiness, but it does not mean move. 3. Green means move.

Motorists shall undertake to observe automatic traffic signals while driving. Despite having priority or if the traffic light indicates green, a motorist may not move the vehicle if such act will disrupt or hinder traffic, and whoever has priority may waive such priority if traffic conditions so require. In the event that a traffic police officer is directing traffic using hand signals, motorists shall comply with those signals and not others, and all other traffic signals shall be invalid.

On the directions related to the pedestrians the article no. (62) of the Traffic Law stipulates  that when crossing the carriageway on a designated path, pedestrians shall observe the following:

1. Pedestrian traffic lights if available. 2. No crossing as long as traffic police are instructing vehicles to pass.

A fine of 500 Qatari riyals will be charged if the pedestrian did not follow the traffic lights of the pedestrian path or the manual signal of the policeman. In all cases, pedestrians must observe and take account of traffic signals and rules.

 

Regarding the over speeding the Article 53 of the Law states that motor vehicle drivers shall abide by the following:

1. Not exceed the maximum speed limit for motor vehicles on the road. , Drivers of police vehicles, and ambulances and fire-fighters responding to an emergency are exempted, as is any driver of a vehicle transporting patients or seriously injured persons provided they use an alarm and hazard lights and slow down as much as possible for the safety of traffic at junctions.
2. Reduce speed when approaching pedestrian crossings and residential areas, turnings, bends and ramps, and junctions, roundabouts, bridges and tunnels, and when entering public squares, or approaching schools and hospitals, to ensure road safety.
3. Control the vehicle and adjust their speed according to the circumstances, road conditions, the state of the vehicle and its load and the weather conditions, so that speed can be reduced or the vehicle can be stopped if necessary.

Moscow                                                                                                                                                                                                 04 August 2018                                                                                                                                                                                  (TASS News)

An Air France jet conducting a flight from Bangui, the Central African Republic, to Paris has evacuated to France the bodies of three Russian journalists, who were found dead earlier this week near the city of Sibut to the north of the capital, Rossiya-24 channel said.

From Paris, another jet will bring the bodies to Moscow overnight to Sunday.

The Russian Embassy in the Central African Republic, a country torn by internal strives, issued a report on the death of three persons near the town of Sibut to the north of the capital Bangui on Tuesday, July 31.

It said the journalist IDs issued in the names of Kirill Radchenko, Alexander Rastorguyev and Orkhan Dzhemal had been on the killed men.

UN officials said the men’s bodies had been found near a shelled car. They pledged support to the CAR authorities in investigation of the incident.

Alexei Venediktov, the editor-in-chief of the Echo of Moscow liberal radio told TASS the three-strong filming crew had come to the CAR to shoot a documentary.

The official spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, gave the assurances that the families of the slain journalists would get all the essential assistance.-0-kle.

 

 

 

     Ankara                                                                                                                                                                                                   04 August 2018                                                                                                                                                                                 (Andalus News)

The Turkish president said Saturday they will freeze assets of the U.S. "justice and interior" secretaries in Turkey.

"I am instructing my friends today. We will freeze assets, if there are any, of the U.S. justice and interior secretaries in Turkey," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, speaking at ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's Women Branch congress in Ankara.

Speaking about the U.S. move to freeze assets of Turkish justice and interior ministers, he said: "This is not logic."

Erdogan said the Turkish nation will not step back because of "threatening rhetoric and silly decisions" of sanctions.

"Especially the latest step by America regarding pastor Brunson issue in Izmir, is an ill-fitted step for a strategic partner," he added.

The U.S. on Wednesday imposed sanctions on Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu and Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul for not releasing American Pastor Andrew Craig Brunson, who faces terrorism charges in Turkey.

Erdogan said: "Do not enter a swap deal with us by arresting the deputy general manager of Halkbank, who went to the U.S. and came back six times."

Mehmet Hakan Atilla, former deputy CEO of Turkish state lender Halkbank, has been sentenced to 32 months in prison in the U.S. for violating the sanctions on Iran.

"Turkey cannot be an item of U.S. domestic politics like it became in Europe. Repeating the faults that Europe did, will not earn America anything," Erdogan said.

He said they could solve problems with the U.S. by prioritizing their alliance based on mutual interests and strategic partnership.

"The channels of diplomacy are working very intensely. I think that we will leave behind a major chunk of differences between us soon," he said, adding that they should sort out the issue rationally.

Erdogan warned that if these political and judicial disputes affect the economic dimensions, they will be harmful for both countries.

Guwahati, Chandigarh                                                                                                                                                                       04 August 2018                                                                                                                                                                                  (Anadolu News)

A retired junior commissioned officer, who served in the Indian army, is among four million people whose names were excluded in the draft list of citizens issued by the Indian government.

The government published a draft known as the National Register of Citizens (NRC) on Monday.

“This is very unfortunate. I just can’t accept this behavior. I’m deeply hurt,” 50-year-old Azmal Haque, who retired from the Indian Army in 2016, told Anadolu Agency.

The NRC list is unique to Assam. It was first tabulated in 1951, four years after independence from British rule, to distinguish Indian citizens from illegal migrants from bordering Bangladesh, which was then part of Pakistan.

“I never expected to see this day, even after serving the nation for 30 years, I will not be called as an Indian citizen,” Haque said.

“There are around seven such persons who have served the Indian Army or Indian Air Force but their names were not mentioned in the list. We are going to write to the president of India for questioning our citizenship,” says Haque, who is permanent resident of Chaygaon village in Kamrup district of northeastern Assam State.

The list includes only those people or their descendants who entered India till midnight of March 24, 1971, when Bangladesh became an independent state.

However, the Bangladeshi government labeled it an “internal issue” of India and stated that Dhaka has nothing to do with the matter.

"Whatever is happening in Assam is an internal issue," Bangladesh's Minister of Information Hasanul Haq Inu told Indian broadcaster WION on Tuesday.

"Assam is a case of purely ethnic conflict," he said and noted that the Delhi government “has not raised this issue with us."

"Bangladesh government is not interested in starting any communication since there is no robust way to stop illegal immigration," Inu said.

The first draft of the list published on Monday left out four million people. The move has triggered fears that a huge population would be rendered stateless.

The Indian government stated the new law considers those who arrived before the war as legitimate citizens.

“Our forefathers have lived here. We have submitted the documents of pre-independence era (1947). So, there is no doubt about that. I think it’s some human error that has kept me out of the list. But I’m pretty sure to get included in the list,” 38-year-old Pitambar Newar from Duliajan, a town in the eastern part of Assam, told Anadolu Agency.

Controversy 

The move by the Indian government has triggered a massive political controversy in the country, with many political leaders fearing the move could result into a “civil war”.

The ruling Bhartiya Janata Party’s (BJP) President Amit Shah on Tuesday said that those people whose names are not in the NRC are "intruders" as they have failed to prove their Indian citizenship.

Assam’s former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi from Indian National Congress party said there are flaws in the final draft. “We were expecting to have an error-free NRC. But I think there are flaws in the list that was announced on July 30,” he said.

However, Prateek Hajela, the NRC coordinator, said those people whose names were not listed should not be worried.

"This is not the final list. This is just a draft. The individuals will be given ample opportunities. They can fill up a form and claim their names, objections and even clarifications if needed,” Hajela tells Anadolu Agency.

The process of filing objections would begin Aug. 30 and continue until Sept. 30, according to the officials.

'Unacceptable' move

Human Rights activists have condemned the government’s move, calling it “unacceptable.”

"The government should set up an ombudsman along with civil society and neutral entities from within our country, to review every name,” Brinda Adige, a rights activist told Anadolu Agency.

The Indian Supreme Court, which is monitoring the process, said no action shall be taken on the basis of NRC draft.

“In this regard, the Court would like to observe that what has been published is only the Complete Draft NRC, which naturally being a draft cannot be the basis of any action by any authority,” said the Supreme Court order which was passed on Tuesday.

Debasish Bhattacharjee, a professor at the department of political science in Assam University, said the government needs to deal with the situation “very carefully.”

“It is difficult to comment about what is going to happen because there is no plan as to what will be the fate of those which will be left out in the final list,” Bhattacharjee said.

He said there was a less possibility that adjacent Bangladesh will accept those left out in the final list of NRC.

“I think they can’t be sent back anywhere, but they (left out) might be deprived from their voting rights or some civil rights,” he said. “It would create some ill will among those people and they might not turn loyal to Indian sovereignty,” Bhattacharjee added.

*Sorwar Alam in Ankara contributed to this story