Author: Yusara Askari

Pakistan’s anti-terrorism court issues arrest warrant for JeM chief Masood Azhar
7Jan By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Pakistan’s anti-terrorism court issues arrest warrant for JeM chief Masood Azhar

Just ahead of the global terror financing watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meeting, an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan on Thursday issued an arrest warrant for Jaish-e-Mohmmad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar.The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Gujranwala issued the warrant during a hearing in a terror financing case instituted by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab police against some members of the JeM.“ATC Gujranwala judge Natasha Naseem Supra issued an arrest warrant for Masood Azhar and directed the CTD to arrest him and present him in the court. The CTD told the judge the JeM chief was involved in terror financing and selling jihadi literature,” an official said.He said the ATC judge issued the arrest warrant for Azhar on the request of a CTD inspector.This comes ahead of
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Imran Khan govt will be finished the day Opposition lawmakers resign: Maryam Nawaz
5Jan By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Imran Khan govt will be finished the day Opposition lawmakers resign: Maryam Nawaz

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Vice President Maryam Nawaz said that the Imran Khan-led government will be “finished” the day the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) lawmakers tender their resignations.She was addressing a large PDM rally in Bahawalpur when she posed the question to the audience whether the opposition parties should resign in order to mount pressure on Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.“Bahawalpur has given its verdict; this government’s days are numbered. So should [we] keep sitting in these sham assemblies or resign?” she asked the crowd, who largely responded with “resign”.“Remember, this government will be finished the day PDM tenders resignations,” she added.Mocking the PTI signature slogan of ‘tabdeeli’ (change), Maryam questioned whe
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Hindu temple destroyed, set on fire by mob in Pakistan
31Dec By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Hindu temple destroyed, set on fire by mob in Pakistan

In a video clip which went viral on social media, a mob of over hundred people led by local Muslim clerics reportedly destroyed and set on fire a Hindu temple in Karak district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan.The video shows a violent mob destroying the walls and roof of the temple. The act against Hindu minority community is widely condemned by human rights activists based in Pakistan and other parts of the world.Shama Junejo, a London-based human rights activist tweeted, "This is new Pakistan! A Hindu Temple was destroyed today in Karak, a city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, governed by PTI Govt. Police or forces didn't stop the mob because they were chanting Allah-o-Akbar. A shameful day, Beyond condemnation indeed!"Mubashir Zaidi, a journalist based in Karachi tweeted, "#BR...
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China Venezuela Relations go downhill
30Dec By Yusara AskariNo Comments

China Venezuela Relations go downhill

China considers Venezuela a key partner in Latin America. China is the biggest importer of oil and Venezuela has the largest amount of proven oil reserves. In fact, China Development Bank (CDB) has issued maximum loans to Venezuela. Despite these compatibilities, the China-Venezuela relationship has become a textbook case of how China blatantly misused its foreign policy of "promoting development". China gave financial and economic support to Maduro and Chavez governments that led to instability and misrule in the region. China's ZTE provided surveillance equipment to Maduro government to help curb dissent. China took advantage of the inefficiency and corruption in the Venezuelan government to exploit is petroleum resources. The strategy was a Loan for oil scheme - a tactic often used ...
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Indian Army to restore India-Pak war hero’s ‘vandalised’ grave
29Dec By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Indian Army to restore India-Pak war hero’s ‘vandalised’ grave

The grave of Brigadier Mohammad Usman, the highest ranking officer to die during the first India-Pakistan war in 1947-48 will be restored by the Indian Army. The white marble grave, located in south Delhi’s Batla House Qabristan, near Jamia Millia Islamia, in the cemetery’s ‘VIP section’ was allegedly damaged by miscreants in the area. The Army wrote to Jamia Millia Islamia on Tuesday seeking permission to carry out repairs on the grave. “The university wanted a letter from the Army for the record and it has been sent. We will carry out the repairs,” a senior officer said. The officer said a wreath is laid by the regiment concerned on Brigadier Usman’s grave on his death anniversary every year. “This year the wreath laying did not happen due to the coronavirus pandemic. Otherwise, it is do
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Pakistan a pawn in Chinese policy, serious Indo-Sino conflict not good for China: IAF Chief
29Dec By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Pakistan a pawn in Chinese policy, serious Indo-Sino conflict not good for China: IAF Chief

Pakistan has become a pawn in the Chinese policy and its military dependence on China would increase further in view of the debt trap due to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Indian Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria said on Tuesday. In an address at a webinar on 'National Security Challenges and Air Power' organised by Vivekanand International Foundation, he said China has invested billions of dollars in the CPEC as loans to Islamabad and the already debt-ridden Pakistani administration would be under a lot of financial stress to repay even the interest as per the current fiscal situation there. Bhadauria said India's "most important" national security challenge is to understand China, its "possible game plan" and the deepening and evolving Sino-Pak relationship. "Pakistan has inc...
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Post snowfall, power restored in entire Kashmir in just 6 hours
26Dec By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Post snowfall, power restored in entire Kashmir in just 6 hours

It was a strenuous effort by the officials of the power development department of Jammu and Kashmir that ensured restoration of electricity in entire Kashmir division in just six hours after the region witnessed heavy snowfall.According to official data, the snowfall across the Kashmir region caused some glitches in the distribution system bringing the supply down from 1400 MW to 400 MW.In comparison to previous snowfalls, the officials said, the early preparedness was the key in restoring the supply this time. “Our men started work from 4 am; it was because of their efforts that the whole system was up by the Saturday afternoon.”Principal Secretary, Power Department, Rohit Kansal while commending the PDD employees said: “It is for the first time that our department was able to restore pow
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J&K: Dheeraj Gupta reviews Smart City Project for capital cities
26Dec By Yusara AskariNo Comments

J&K: Dheeraj Gupta reviews Smart City Project for capital cities

In a high-level meeting, Dheeraj Gupta, Principal Secretary (Housing and Urban Development) in the government of Jammu and Kashmir reviewed the progress on implementation of ‘Smart City Project’ for twin cities of Jammu and Srinagar at the Civil Secretariat.The meeting was attended by Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Sanjeev Verma; Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Sushma Chauhan and other officers of the concerned department while as Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, PK Pole and Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary participated through video conferencing.Speaking during the meeting, Principal Secretary Gupta said that the smart city project will improve the living standards of the people of both the cities as uninterrupted water and electricity will be provided to the general publ
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J&K: SKUAST distributes backyard poultry units under NABARD
24Dec By Yusara AskariNo Comments

J&K: SKUAST distributes backyard poultry units under NABARD

In the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology’s (SKUAST) distributed free of cost keystone golden chicks and poultry feed to beneficiaries through the Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Ganderbal district.The chicks and feed were distributed among 20 male and 20 female beneficiaries from two adopted villages of Repora and Dignibal of the district under National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) supported project, “Propagation of elite backyard birds for enhancing egg production in rural areas”.Measures for effective implementation of the project with active participation of the beneficiaries were also discussed. In addition, an awareness program on backyard poultry farming was held.The farmers praised the SKUA
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J&K power sector gets real shot in the arm
24Dec By Yusara AskariNo Comments

J&K power sector gets real shot in the arm

A loan assistance of over Rs 11 thousand crores has been approved for the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (ABA) – a liquidity infusion scheme in DISCOMs.The loan assistance of Rs 11,024.47 crore will enable J&K to clear its outstanding payments under power purchases.An MoU for availing of the second tranche of this loan for Rs 5,444.47 crore was signed between J&K Power Development Department, J&K Power Corporation Ltd. and Power Finance Corporation (PFC) in presence of the Principal Secretary PDD, Rohit Kansal at Srinagar, an official statement said.The MoU, it said, was signed by the Director Finance PDD, M.H Malik and Chief Engineer JKPCL, Mohammad Yousuf Baba and Madhu Chakraborty GM, L&D PFC. The MDs of the DISCOMS, Chie
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