Lahore                                                                                                                                                                                                   12 August 2017                                                                                                                                                                             (Media Reports)

Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called for a change and revolution in the country. He said that 'We have to change Pakistan, respect public's mandate', addressing to a large gathering of tens of thousands of his supporters and activists upon reaching in Lahore from Islamabad,  370 kms journey by road  took him almost four days.

He asked hundreds of thousands of people who came to receive him upon reaching in Lahore whether elected prime ministers of the country can be sent by a few people to home before completing their tenure, people shouted loudly NO.

He announced that his ruling party will support recent suggestions proposed by Senate Chairman for a change in present constitution.

Mohammad Nawaz Sharif, three times elected Prime Minister of the country, third  time sent home without completing his tenure, this time by the superior court on charges for not disclosing holding of residence visa of United Arab Emirates and having a contract of monthly salary from his son's Dubai based company at the time of contesting for parliamentary elections in 2013.

Thousands came to catch a glimpse of the former leader as his convoy rolled down the Grand Trunk Road, a more than 2,000-year-old trade route which leads from Chittagong in Bangladesh across India and Pakistan to the Afghan capital Kabul.

Addressing to public at the end of his journey in Lahore at the famous 11th century Sufi Shrine of  Saint Abul Hassan Ali Hajvery, commonly known as Data Ganj Baksh,  he announced that he would not sit at home, rather will announce his next move on 14th August, which is 70th independence day of Pakistan.

Citing his accomplishments, Sharif asked why a prime minister was disqualified when he was moving the country toward progress.

"This country belongs to 200 million people and not the few who ousted me, disrespecting your vote."

"Who are those people who have disqualified me? Are they themselves qualified?" he asked the crowd, which responded with chants of "Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif".

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Petroleum Minister in Nawaz Sharif cabinet was elected as successor of ousted Prime Minister by the parliament, where Nawazs Sharif political party Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) holds far most majority seats.

The party also announced on Friday that Kalsoom Nawaz, spouse of ousted prime minister would contest the vacant parliamentary seat of Lahore.

Doha                                                                                                                                                                                                       10 August 2017

Out-going ambassador of Belgium to Qatar Christophe Payot has said that 'Belgium looks forward to an early solution to an end of Qatar blocked by some of the GCC States and Egypt. Belgium fully support Kuwaiti mediation as European Union stresses on dialogue for the peaceful outcome. Belgium envoy was addressing at his farewell dinner hosted by Pakistani community and organised by renowned current affairs analyst and a social worker Ashraf Siddiqui and Doha born Pakistani business community member Saleem Bangash.

Belgium envoy thanked Pakistani community for hosting a memorable evening in his honour. He recalled his early years of his diplomatic career's first posting in Islamabad. Belgium envoy regarded that as very pleasant and unforgettable. Ambassador Christophe Payot specially thanked Ashraf Siddiqui (Editor www.asiantelegraphqatar.com) & a freelance journalist in Qatar for his services and support to Belgium business community and him during his tenure of three years in Qatar.

Talking about his tenure as ambassador to Qatar, Belgium envoy thanked people and leadership of State of Qatar being so hospitable. he said that there are so many and large diversified activities in the fields of politics, culture, sports where it keeps busy as well as provides an opportunity having inter-action at all levels and with the number of different communities living in Qatar.

Earlier, Ashraf Siddiqui paid his thanks to all the guests for joining him to bid farewell to the out-going Belgium envoy to State of Qatar Christophe Payot. He said that it's exactly a week from then that Pakistani community will be celebrating 70th Independence Day of Pakistan and Belgium is among the first countries to recognise and establish diplomatic relations in 1948. Siddiqui said that both the countries Belgium and Pakistan enjoys close bilateral trade relations and a significant increase in trade is seen during last few years. Bilateral trade volume between both the states was recorded around 900 million US dollars as per 2015 figures, in which Pakistani exports were around 700 million dollars. Siddiqui also recalled and said that Pakistani people will never forget people of Belgium help in time of natural disasters in Pakistan specially in 2005 earthquake and later in 2010 flood disaster.

Ashraf Siddiqui, on behalf of Pakistani community wished ambassador Christophe all success in his career and a wonderful happy life.

He paid special thanks to AlHaj Mohammad Din, in his age 105 years for making the event memorable. He also paid special thanks to Pakistani Olympian of Hockey, (1984 Los Angeles), Gold Medalist Khaled Hameed, he is serving as Manager Pakistan International Airlines, Qatar and to renowned Philippines Artists Gordon Lee.

Among guests included Air Marshal M Basri, Ambassador of Indonesia, Prof. Ranmesh Koirala,  Ambassador of Nepal,  Soonthorn Chaiyindeepum, Ambassador of Thailand,   Munir Ghanem, Ambassador of Palestine,  Teyseer Bey, Ambassador of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, John Rodney, Charge d’ Affaires of Canada,  Namik Cafer, Office of  TRNC  in Qatar,  Syatir Talib,  Embassy of Malaysia,   Mehmed Zingal, General Manager Turkish Airlines,  Uttam Gurung, Nepali Business Community, Sagar Nepal, renowned Nepalese community leader and former Vice President Int'l Nepalese Forum, Rana Anwar Ali, Chairman, AlKhor Pakistani Community, Dr. Tariq Masud, Chairman, Dukhan Pakistani Community  and Engineer Arshad Hussain, Pakistan Welfare Forum Qatar.

Saleem Bangash, thanked all the guests for joining at the farewell reception in honour of Belgium ambassador Christophe Payot and special thanks were paid to the management of Hotel Shangrila Doha on the arrangements.

News Agency of Nigeria
(NAN)
24 April 2017

Afghanistan’s Defence Minister General Abdullah Habibi and Army Chief of Staff General Qadam Shah Shahim, have resigned in the wake of a Taliban attack that left scores of soldiers dead, the presidential palace says.

The attack happened on Friday at an army base near Mazar-e Sharif.

Insurgents targeted troops leaving Friday prayers at the base’s masjid and in a canteen, the army said.

It was the Taliban’s deadliest attack on the armed forces since it was removed from power in 2001.

The resignations coincided with the arrival of U.S. Defence Secretary Jim Mattis on an unannounced visit to Kabul. He is due to meet both Afghan officials and U.S. troops.

A group of Taliban insurgents dressed in Afghan military uniforms and driving military vehicles made their way into the base in the northern city and opened fire.

Many of those who died were young recruits training at the base. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as the young soldiers struggled to work out who was friend or foe.

The attackers were armed with guns, grenades and some were wearing suicide vests, reports said.

The defence ministry said the attackers were all killed.

It is not clear exactly how many soldiers died. The Afghan Defence Ministry has not released firm casualty figures, only saying more than 100 people were killed or injured.

Other officials have told BBC that at least 136 people died but 124 coffins had been sent out to different parts of the country and 12 soldiers had not yet been identified, they said.

But some sources say the toll was even higher. One eyewitness told the BBC he counted 165 bodies.

Doha, Qatar
13 April 2017

National Team of Macau led at the 2017 Doha Int'l Finals of 34th International Global Management Challenge (GMC) competition. Three days event from 10-12 April was hosted by Qatar Finance and Business Academy (QFBA) in cooperation with ADNAR Group held in Hotel Rotana City Center.

Sheikh Fahad bin Faisal Al Thani, Deputy Governor of Qatar Central Bank handed over the awards to 1st position holder Macau team followed by the Russian team (second place) and the People's Republic of China team on the third place.

The GMC competition was founded in Portugal in 1980, and today has become the biggest strategy and management competition worldwide, which is embraced by more than 30 countries. The competition arrived to Qatar in 2013.

The GMC International Finals for the year 2016 witnessed strong competition between teams from various countries including Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Kenya, Kuwait, Macau, Mexico, Morocco, the People's Republic of China, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Senegal, Slovak Republic, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates.

The Finals have taken place under conditions that mimic the reality of the global economic mobility, giving participants a vision and a profound understanding of the changes in the real market, as well as a direct experience in the process of creating a corporate strategy, contingency planning and a range of financial, operational and administrative decisions. The national GMC competitions continued in their final day in a thrilling atmosphere, with each national team making every effort to record the highest score of investment performance, following which a smart and sophisticated simulator analyzed the decisions of each team and determined the financial and operational results achieved by the virtual companies.

Randa Haidar, Chairperson of ADNAR Group (the regional organizer), said in his speech 'Our collaboration with QFBA has been a landmark achievement, as we have successfully concluded the International Finals of the prestigious Global Management Challenge in Doha, which is the first time this competition has been organized in one of the countries in the GCC, the Arab World and the MENA region.

We have exceptionally succeeded at raising the bar for the standards of development and support of professional talents in Qatar and the region by presenting prevalent trade and economic challenges before the participating teams, who have positively interacted with them and performed at the required level.'

Dr. Abdul Aziz Al Horr, CEO of QFBA said 'We are very pleased with the results we have achieved - in cooperation with the Adnar Group - over the two days of the GMC International Finals, for the winning teams from participating countries. Our success was unique in embracing the brightest future commercial and economic minds through this global event, which is organized for the first time in Qatar and the entire Arab region, reinforcing Qatar's role as a strong regional supporter of skills and talent development, launching initiatives and events that build human capital in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 and in harmony with the vision, message, and core values of QFBA. I warmly congratulate the Macau team, the ‘GMC winner of the year’ and I wish all participants further progress and success.”

I would also like to extend my sincerest thanks to HE Mr. Ali Shareef Al Emadi, Minister of Finance, for his welcomed presence and sponsorship of the opening ceremony, and to Sheikh Fahad Bin Faisal Al Thani, Deputy Governor of Qatar Central Bank, for his attendance and sponsorship of the awards and gala dinner ceremony, and for distributing the awards to the winning teams.”

Doha, Qatar
21 Feb. 2017

Over 320 World Human Right organizations from 80 countries today urged governments of the world on implementation of laws on rights of women, children, prisoners, respecting human rights in conflict ridden areas, etc.

Two-day international conference on ‘Human Rights Approach to Conflict Situations in the Arab Region’ ended today was organised in Doha, Qatar by National Human Rights Committee Qatar (NHRC) in collaboration with UNHRC, General Secretariat of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers and the Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions.

A 34 points recommendations include setting up a regional centre for human rights protection in the conflict areas in the Arab region, urged all the governments around the world to implement human rights laws in regard to respecting human rights in the conflict ridden areas; framing and supporting policies that aim for human rights and ending violence in the region; empower the vulnerable sections of the population;

Among recommendations also included Supporting curriculum to empower human rights; responding to humanitarian needs at the earliest; ensuring protection of human beings especially women, children and people with special needs as well as responding to the rights of children to education and avoiding child labour.

The conference highlighted that there should be no discrimination to the victims of abuse in these areas and all possible efforts must be done to support them physically and emotionally. Stressed on new legislation and laws to protect affected children and schools and efforts to adopt schools which are under constant attack. The conference also called on the UN bodies to initiate dialogue with all the key players in the region and hold all key players accountable for their actions.

There was also a call to provide necessary medical aid to the victims as well as setting up sustainable development centers.

Kate Gilmore, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights lauded the efforts of NHRC and hoped that the recommendations will be implemented in the right spirit as they come at the right time since the region has been surrounded with conflict since long time.

On a question by 'asiantelegraphqatar' regarding any possibility of setting up proposed Regional office in Qatar, Kate Gilmore lauded the contributions of Qatar in promoting of human rights in the world said that 'if Qatar will show it's interest, she will fully support'

Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri on a question from reporters on possibility of setting up of proposed Regional Office in Qatar, he said that it was for the governments and other organisations to decide on the matter.

Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri, Host of Conference and Chairman National Human Rights Committee said on the implementation of the proposed recommendations that these recommendations are prepared with the consent of participating delegates including UNHCHR, large number of regional and international human rights, several governments representatives and regional civil societies have attended the conference.”

27 October 2016
Doha

Speakers at a seminar in Pakistan embassy Doha stressed United Nations Security Council to resolve Kashmir issue in accordance with it's resolutions. Shahzad Ahmad, Ambassador of Pakistan to State of Qatar said that ‘Pakistan will continue to support people of Jammu and Kashmir politically and diplomatically.’

Pakistanis along with it's people from Kashmir region observe annually on 27th October Kashmir Black Day commemorating same day in 1947 just after 2 months of Pakistan creation India landed it's forces by air in Sri Nagar and captured present Indian held Kashmir area by force. Kashmiris under Indian occupied area are under continuous curfew since last over three months and over hundred people are died and thousands injured and arrested for protesting against occupation just only in last three months.

Ambassador Shahzad Ahmad read out the messages of president and prime minister of Pakistan issued on the occasion of Kashmir Black Day. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in his official message said that the ‘implementation of the UN resolution was the only plausible, peaceful, logical and conceivable solution to the Kashmir dispute.’

Mohamed Khan, Rana Mohamed Anwar and Zahid Awan while addressing the audience demanded from international community to avoid duality in solving international issues. They gave a wake up call and stressed world body to take immediate steps to solve issue of Indian Occupied Kashmir before it becomes a disaster. “The international community should play its due role in getting the people of Kashmir their right to self-determination,” they said.

A documentary on the alleged atrocities being committed by the Indian Armed Forces in Indian Occupied Kashmir region was shown.