Text Size: A- A+

Here’s what’s happening across the border: Pakistan has no qualms about sharing loan details with IMF; leaders pay homage to human rights defender Asma Jahangir.

Shehbaz Sharif treated like ordinary criminals in jail, says wife Tehmina Durrani

Tehmina Durrani, wife of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Shehbaz Sharif, is deeply upset with the jail arrangements of her husband, reported The News International.

Sharif was arrested by the NAB on 5 October for his alleged involvement in a $14 billion Ashiana Housing scam.

In a series of tweets, the widely-known Pakistani writer and activist, Durrani, narrated how she was taken aback by the “dingy 10+10 cell” in which Sharif was kept detained.

Today, 8 days after my husband Shabaz Sharif was arrested by NAB, I was finally allowed to meet him. I hv returned home appalled. He lives in a dingy 10+10 cell with an exhaust fan, & not a crack in the concrete 4 fresh air or a ray of light! Thr is no concept of day & nite! — Tehmina Durrani (@TehminaDurrani) October 13, 2018

In her next tweet, she disclosed how Shehbaz Sharif has to try hard to get the guard to listen to him and that the cell is filled with mosquitoes, with no AC.

He has 2 repeatedly hit the huge lock on a barred door 4 the jailer 2 hear him & come with keys to take him 3 the public toilet, be it in the middle of the nite.Thr is no AC, & no newspaper but thr r many mosquitos wich hv left many red bites! He is taken 4 a walk in a corridor — Tehmina Durrani (@TehminaDurrani) October 13, 2018

She also alleged that Sharif has not been permitted to meet his lawyers and the long waiting hours he has to endure while the National Accountability Bureau carries its investigation.

The leader of the opposition has not been allowed 2 meet his lawyers! Despite constantly asking 4 the required documents, NAB has not provided them. He is investigated 4 less than 30 minutes a day! Then he waits for the next 30 minutes & the next day 2 dawn. A dawn he can't see. — Tehmina Durrani (@TehminaDurrani) October 13, 2018

Durrani asked why her husband was being subjected to a treatment akin to a criminal’s, especially when there was no proper investigation being done.

If thr is no investigation why is Shabaz Sharif being treated like a condemned criminal? Why is he taken to the NAB court in a dark & airless 'Baktarband' grave-like jeep? Why is he so unprotected while 'IN' NAB custody that he is pushed around & falls? — Tehmina Durrani (@TehminaDurrani) October 13, 2018

The writer also brought out an irony that a man who taught people the “value of time” and worked round the clock was now sitting idle in his cell.

Shabaz Sharif, 3 times CM Punjab & present leader of the opposition taught us The Value Of Time. He was a man in a hurry. He served & delivered 24/7. Today, as he sits idle in his suffocating cell, I wonder why he 'Ran' so fast, & yet again 2day he said "I'm wasting 2 much time" — Tehmina Durrani (@TehminaDurrani) October 13, 2018

She also mentioned that her husband was not allowed to speak with her in private. She said this entire affair was a “sham”.

My husband & I were not allowed 2 speak alone. Both his jailer & investigator were present. As I did not want 2 comment on an investigation, I waited until I saw it all 1st hand 2 give an accurate update on Shabaz Sharif's living conditions & the NAB investigation. It is a sham! — Tehmina Durrani (@TehminaDurrani) October 13, 2018

Pakistan is open to sharing details of Chinese debts with IMF

Pakistan’s finance minister Asad Umar has said the government is willing to share details of the debt status accruing from loans taken from China with the IMF, reports Pakistan Today.

Umar was quoted as saying: “Pakistan has received short [-term] and cheaper loans from China which would be paid back in three years”. He also said the government would share “normal debt-related information about CPEC with the IMF”. He said there was nothing to hide about the CPEC project agreements and loan arrangements.

The finance minister issued his statement after his return from Bali, where he had participated in the annual IMF-World Bank meetings.

He also disclosed the proposed bailout package for which Pakistan approached the IMF. “Although Pakistan has requested IMF for $12 billion, the lender is likely to agree for less than the demand”.

The country’s debt repayments for this year stand at an estimated $9 billion amount.

“We can perhaps live without the IMF but this could be more painful,” Umar said.

An IMF delegation is expected to visit Pakistan on 7 November to help the Pakistan government find ways of dealing with its economic crisis.

Meanwhile, in light of a booming IT industry and start-up ecosystem in the country, Umar questioned why PayPal, a major international online payment platform, had not yet considered setting up its operations in such a “big market”, The News International reported.

He stated that by early next year, either PayPal or any other recognised international payment gateway should be in Pakistan. He said for this purpose, he has even met Prime Minister Imran Khan.

PayPal is currently available in more than 200 countries and regions.

Dignitaries pay homage to human rights activist Asma Jahangir

High-profile leaders and people from various walks of life came together Saturday to pay their homage to Asma Jahangir, one of Pakistan’s prominent human rights defenders, reported Dawn.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar said it was because of Jahangir that he began taking suo motu notices of important cases. “Without her, we would not have been able to achieve the standards of human rights which we have. The lawyers in Pakistan were ahead of their Indian counterparts in fighting for human rights because of Asma,” Nisar said.

Jean-Francois Cautain, the European Ambassador to Pakistan, described Jahangir as the vocal supporter of international fundamental rights which were enshrined in the European Union treaties. He said that he had agreed with Jahangir on the fact that defending human rights was a “conviction” and a “passion”.

Senior advocate of the Supreme Court of India, Colin Gonsalves, said that lawyers back in India lagged behind in the field of human rights and that Jahangir was a figure to look up to across borders.

“You have faced terror which we did not. But we now fear it. I am taking back home her spirit of daring the mighty,” Gonsalves was quoted as saying.

Asma Jahangir was a champion of human rights, a pro-democracy activist and a founder of many initiatives that worked towards the goal of fighting for women’s and minority rights. She was a recipient of several international awards and served important positions in the United Nations.

She passed away on 11 February this year in Lahore.

Pakistan army spokesperson says 2018 polls were ‘fair and transparent’

Pakistan army’s spokesperson Maj. Gen. Asif Ghafoor has said history which will prove that the 25 July polls were “fair and transparent”, reported Dawn.

He said that the country’s institutions such as the army and the judiciary must stand with elected governments to maintain stability in Pakistan. According to Ghafoor, the Pakistani army hoped for the fortification of their country’s democracy.

“Political differences should not be given precedence over national security,” he said, addressing journalists at the Pakistan High Commission in London.

Interacted with Pakistani media at Pakistan High Commission, London. Candid discussion on various national security issues. Pakistani media abroad has a national responsibility to project positive narrative of Pakistan. Thanks to them for doing their bit. pic.twitter.com/cTCmY0XOvo — DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) October 13, 2018

Subscribe to our channels on YouTube & Telegram

Why news media is in crisis & How you can fix it You are reading this because you value good, intelligent and objective journalism. We thank you for your time and your trust. You also know that the news media is facing an unprecedented crisis. It is likely that you are also hearing of the brutal layoffs and pay-cuts hitting the industry. There are many reasons why the media’s economics is broken. But a big one is that good people are not yet paying enough for good journalism. We have a newsroom filled with talented young reporters. We also have the country’s most robust editing and fact-checking team, finest news photographers and video professionals. We are building India’s most ambitious and energetic news platform. And have just turned three. At ThePrint, we invest in quality journalists. We pay them fairly. As you may have noticed, we do not flinch from spending whatever it takes to make sure our reporters reach where the story is. This comes with a sizable cost. For us to continue bringing quality journalism, we need readers like you to pay for it. If you think we deserve your support, do join us in this endeavour to strengthen fair, free, courageous and questioning journalism. Please click on the link below. Your support will define ThePrint’s future. Support Our Journalism

Show Full Article