Pakistani police responsible for killing doctor accused of blasphemy — provincial government

Pakistani police responsible for killing doctor accused of blasphemy — provincial government
The undated file photo of Dr. Shah Nawaz Kumbhar. (Photo courtesy: X/@MushRajpar)
Short Url
Updated 27 September 2024
Follow

Pakistani police responsible for killing doctor accused of blasphemy — provincial government

Pakistani police responsible for killing doctor accused of blasphemy — provincial government
  • This marks first time government has accused security forces of extrajudicial killing of a blasphemy suspect 
  • Provincial home minister says doctor was killed in staged “fake encounter” shortly after he gave himself up to authorities 

MULTAN: The provincial government in Pakistan’s Sindh province said on Thursday police had orchestrated the killing of a doctor who was in custody after he was accused of blasphemy, marking the first time the government has accused security forces of what the doctor’s family and rights groups have called an extrajudicial killing by police.

According to the provincial interior minister, Ziaul Hassan, a government probe concluded that Shah Nawaz, a doctor from Sindh province, was killed shortly after he gave himself up to authorities in what was a staged “fake encounter” engineered by security forces.

There was no shootout with armed men as police had claimed, Hassan told reporters at a news conference in the southern port city of Karachi, and added that Nawaz’s family would be able to file murder charges against the police officers who killed him.

Hours after Nawaz was fatally shot and his body handed over to his family, a mob snatched it from Nawaz’s father and burned it.

Hassan’s statement backed up Nawaz’s family’s allegations earlier this week that officers had lied about the circumstances of his death when they said he was killed in a shootout between police and armed men.

Shah Nawaz had given himself up to police last week in the district of Mirpur Khas, following assurances that he would be given a chance to prove his innocence.

Days earlier in the city of Umerkot, a mob claimed he had insulted Islam’s Prophet Muhammad and shared blasphemous content on social media, and demanded his arrest. The mob also burned Nawaz’s clinic.

Accusations of blasphemy — sometimes even just rumors — can spark riots and mob rampages in Pakistan. Although killings of blasphemy suspects by mobs are common, extra-judicial killings by police are rare.

Under Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws, anyone found guilty of insulting Islam or Islamic religious figures can be sentenced to death — though authorities have yet to carry out a death sentence for blasphemy.

Nawaz’s father thanked the government for backing the family and demanded that his son’s killers face justice under the eye-for-an-eye concept under Sharia, or Islamic law.

“We have only one demand: those police officers who staged the killing of my son ... must also be killed in the same manner,” said Nawaz’s father, Mohammad Saleh.

Saleh told The Associated Press over the phone that he was grateful for all the support that the family was given and to all those who condemned extremist clerics who had enraged the mob with calls for his son to be killed.

“Those who killed my son should be punished quickly so that others learn a lesson and not indulge in extra-judicial killings in the future,” Nawaz’s mother, Rehmat Kunbar, said. 

She added that her son can no longer come back to her but that she wanted to save the children of other parents from the hands of “extremists.”

Nawaz’s killing was the second case of an extra-judicial killing by police this month in Pakistan.

A week before, an officer opened fire inside a police station in the southwestern city of Quetta, fatally wounding Syed Khan, a suspect held on accusations of blasphemy.

Khan was arrested after officers rescued him from an enraged mob that claimed he had insulted Islam’s prophet. But he was killed by a police officer, Mohammad Khurram, who was quickly arrested. 

However, the tribe and the family of the slain man later said they had pardoned the officer.


Triple centurion Brook happy to break Dad’s club record

Triple centurion Brook happy to break Dad’s club record
Updated 10 October 2024
Follow

Triple centurion Brook happy to break Dad’s club record

Triple centurion Brook happy to break Dad’s club record
  • 25-year-old smashed a career best 317 that, coupled with Joe Root’s 262, helped visitors pile 823-7
  • With a big 267-run lead over Pakistan in first innings, England then caught the home team napping at 152-6

MULTAN, Pakistan: England’s rising batting star Harry Brook said he was delighted he had finally eclipsed his father’s highest club score, when he hit a triple hundred against Pakistan in Multan on Thursday.

The 25-year-old smashed a career best 317 that, coupled with Joe Root’s 262, helped visitors pile 823-7 declared — fourth highest total in all Test cricket — England’s third best.

With a big 267-run lead over Pakistan in the first innings, England then caught the home team napping at 152-6. At close, Pakistan still needed 115 to avoid an innings defeat on the final day Friday.

Brook said his father’s highest score was the target.

“I just wanted to get past my dad’s high score 210,” said Brook of his father David’s score in a club match for Burnley in 2001.

Brook had missed a chance of surpassing dad’s best when he scored 186 against New Zealand at Wellington last year.

“I said that to you guys before, I was pretty happy when I got past his score, to be honest.”

Brook said he was satisfied to contribute in team’s strong position.

“I am lost for words, to be honest, I’m just happy that the team’s in a in a strong position to win the game tomorrow morning. It’s an incredible thing.”

Brook and Root enjoyed a run feast on a flat Multan stadium pitch, adding a big 454 for the fourth wicket, England’s highest partnership in Tests.

It eclipsed the 411-run fourth-wicket partnership by Peter May and Colin Cowdrey against the West Indies at Birmingham in 1957.

“It was wonderful batting with Rooty,” said Brook. “We spoke about the game moving forward and going out there after lunch to try and put the foot down and get a decent lead.”

“It makes you feel so comfortable when you’re watching him at the other end, he makes the game look so easy, and he’s playing the ball so late and making the balls look slow.”

Brook completed his triple century with a boundary off part-timer Saim Ayub, reaching the mark off 310 balls before he top-edged a sweep off the same bowler and was caught by Shan Masood.

Brook cracked 29 fours and three sixes in his 439-minute stay at the crease.

It was Brook’s sixth Test century and his fourth against Pakistan following his three in as many Tests when England routed Pakistan 3-0 in 2022.


Imran Khan’s party petitions Pakistani court against ban on jail meetings with ex-premier

Imran Khan’s party petitions Pakistani court against ban on jail meetings with ex-premier
Updated 10 October 2024
Follow

Imran Khan’s party petitions Pakistani court against ban on jail meetings with ex-premier

Imran Khan’s party petitions Pakistani court against ban on jail meetings with ex-premier
  • Khan’s close aide says the former prime minister has been kept in solitary confinement since October 6
  • PTI’s petition comes after Punjab administration banned meetings in Adiala Jail, citing security reasons

KARACHI: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has filed a petition with the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to challenge the “illegal and unacceptable” ban on meetings with him in jail, said the ex-premier’s close aide on Thursday, expressing concerns that Khan has been kept in solitary confinement since October 6.
The development comes just days after Punjab’s provincial administration imposed restrictions on meetings with inmates at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, where Khan is imprisoned on multiple charges.
A letter issued by the Punjab government called for strict security measures at the prison, citing security concerns following a threat alert issued by the police counterterrorism department on October 6.
The restrictions on meetings with Khan followed clashes between law enforcement personnel and PTI supporters who wanted to stage a large protest in Islamabad last weekend, seeking the release of their leader, with scores of people flocking to the capital chiefly from the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
“We have filed a petition in IHC against the illegal ban of all meetings with Imran Khan,” Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari, a former federal minister and the ex-premier’s aide, announced in a social media post. “From his legal team to family all have are not allowed to meet him for the next 10 odd days. This is completely illegal and unacceptable.”
“It’s obvious the ban has been placed so a lot [of] oppressive action can be taken and his voice is not heard,” he added.

In another post, Bukhari raised concern over Khan’s life and demanded the authorities allow the former premier’s only sister who has not been imprisoned to see him at the earliest.
“Apparently, he is being kept in complete solitary [confinement] and has not seen daylight since 6th of October,” he added. “Naturally during such frictional times with the government & establishment we are worried for his life.”


The PTI petition submitted in the court by Salman Akram Raja, a prominent lawyer and the party’s secretary general, said the “blanket ban” over Khan’s meetings with his family had also affected other Adiala prisoners.
It said that there was a concern that Khan and his wife, who is also in jail on corruption charges, were kept in “inhuman conditions in death cells” with all their basic facilities withdrawn including regular visits by doctors.
Khan, jailed since August last year, was ousted from the PM’s office in 2022 in a parliamentary vote of no confidence after what is widely believed to be a falling out with Pakistan’s powerful military, which denies being involved in politics.
Since his removal, Khan and his party have waged an unprecedented campaign of defiance against the military.


Finance minister says only 14% of companies registered for sales tax in Pakistan

Finance minister says only 14% of companies registered for sales tax in Pakistan
Updated 10 October 2024
Follow

Finance minister says only 14% of companies registered for sales tax in Pakistan

Finance minister says only 14% of companies registered for sales tax in Pakistan
  • Muhammad Aurangzeb says sales tax evasion amounts to an estimated $12.2 billion
  • The government says it will act against companies misreporting turnover, input claims

KARACHI: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb revealed on Thursday only 14 percent of companies in Pakistan were registered for sales tax, leading to an estimated loss of Rs3.4 trillion ($12.2 billion) due to tax evasion, highlighting significant compliance and revenue generation challenges in the country.
Pakistan’s narrow tax base and persistent issue of tax evasion have continuously contributed to insufficient revenue collection for the fragile national economy. This shortfall exacerbates the government’s reliance on running high fiscal deficits, often financed through domestic and international borrowing, which further increases the nation’s debt burden.
Last month, the authorities prepared a plan to revamp the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) tax collection system, with the help of economic and technological experts, following a detailed analysis of tax collection patterns over the past 25 years.
The government has also decided to fully digitalize the tax system to prevent leakages, even as a large segment of the national economy remains undocumented.
“Only 14 percent of the companies are registered for sales tax,” the minister said in a televised news briefing in Islamabad. “I will not delve into the consequences of non-registration as I have already spoken about it earlier.”
In his media talk on the “war on tax fraud” alongside FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial, he said the overall tax evasion in Pakistan amounted to approximately Rs7 trillion ($25 billion) of which income tax evasion was around Rs1.3 trillion ($4.6 billion).
Aurangzeb said tax fraud could be divided into many categories with the first and most important being the misreporting of turnover and input claims. He explained that companies involved in such malpractices claimed a high ratio of input tax so that tax payments could be “suppressed and mitigated.”
He highlighted the importance of being part of a tax regime which was “adaptable and fair” where all segments of society and classes play their role. He said data analytics were being used to “plug leakages” in tax collection to ease out the burden inflicted on lower classes.
Aurangzeb said it was imperative to raise the tax-to-GDP ratio to 13-13.5 percent so that Pakistan could become a sustainable country going in the right direction with strong remittances, exports, upgraded credit ratings and a decreased policy rate due to declining inflation that also brought the lending rates down.
He added that the country could not afford to have any kind of “leakage” in terms of tax collection anymore. He gave examples of businesses in different sectors and how they misrepresented data to evade taxes.
The finance minister said 19 businesses in the cement sector that represented 100 percent of total reported sales owed around Rs18 billion ($64.3 million) to the government. Similarly, he added that the shortfall in the beverages sector due to tax evasion amounted to Rs15 billion ($53.96 million) where 16 businesses represented almost 100 percent of the total sales.
Talking about the textile sector, the finance minister said 28 weaving businesses represented 80 percent of the total reported sales with tax evasion of up to Rs18 billion ($64.3 million).
Meanwhile, the FBR chairman said the businesses involved in tax evasion were the same ones whose owners would hold meetings with government officials and present plans on how to curb tax evasion.
“There is not a bigger fraud being conducted in this country than the input adjustment system,” he said.
“The real appeal today is to professional classes who work as chief financial officers or chief executive officers. They are not the beneficiaries of the fraud amounting to billions of rupees but their signatures are being used which is a criminal act that will have criminal consequences.”
Langrial said the FBR will take action against such people and arrest them after due legal process. He urged every company’s management to not sign the upcoming sales tax return due on October 15.
“There will be no forgiveness this time,” he said.


Pakistani minister calls for regional cooperation on counterterrorism ahead of SCO summit

Pakistani minister calls for regional cooperation on counterterrorism ahead of SCO summit
Updated 10 October 2024
Follow

Pakistani minister calls for regional cooperation on counterterrorism ahead of SCO summit

Pakistani minister calls for regional cooperation on counterterrorism ahead of SCO summit
  • Attaullah Tarar says Pakistan has lost 80,000 lives while fighting militancy to ensure peace across the world
  • Information minister says the summit will also focus on climate change that impeded sustainable development

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar emphasized greater regional cooperation in counterterrorism on Thursday while addressing an event focused on the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, which will be held in Islamabad on October 15 and 16.

The issue of militant violence in Pakistan has cast a shadow over the high-profile summit, following the recent suicide attack in Karachi that killed two Chinese engineers, an act claimed by a Baloch separatist group.

Pakistan has repeatedly accused neighboring Afghanistan of harboring such militant factions, though the Taliban administration has denied these allegations.

The Pakistani government has also handed over summit security to the army and fortified Islamabad’s Red Zone, home to key government and diplomatic installations.

“Regional cooperation on counterterrorism and counterviolence is very important,” Tarar told the gathering, adding that the issue was discussed during the last SCO event in Astana, Kazakhstan.

He pointed out that Pakistan had paid a heavy price due to militant violence over the past few decades, consistently raising the issue in multilateral forums and bilateral dialogue with neighboring countries.

“We always highlight that we have lost 80,000 lives in this effort,” he added. “And this was not just for Pakistan but to ensure and maintain peace across the world.”

He said regional cooperation in counterterrorism would not only help Pakistan but also strengthen peace throughout the neighborhood.

Tarar noted that another issue to be discussed during the SCO summit is sustainable development, which, in Pakistan’s case, is threatened by climate change.

“Pakistan contributes less than one percent to global carbon emissions,” he noted. “But when it comes to climate change implications and losses, we are one of the worst-affected countries.”

He highlighted the losses incurred by the country due to floods, heatwaves, cyclones and other erratic weather events.

“Pakistan can greatly benefit from regional cooperation on this issue,” he continued.

The minister also emphasized the need for greater regional integration, pointing out that more could be done to increase Central Asian trade through Pakistani ports.

“There needs to be more financial integration to increase investment, trade and regional cooperation,” he noted.

“There is a need to promote cultural collaboration and people-to-people contact in the region,” he added. “I think that’s how we can take the people of the region toward prosperity.”

Tarar maintained it was a matter of honor for Pakistan to host a summit of this level after such a long time.

“Holding the SCO Summit at a time when Pakistan’s economy is taking off will further strengthen the country’s image and future prospects,” he said.


England in sight of victory against Pakistan after Harry Brook’s triple hundred

England in sight of victory against Pakistan after Harry Brook’s triple hundred
Updated 10 October 2024
Follow

England in sight of victory against Pakistan after Harry Brook’s triple hundred

England in sight of victory against Pakistan after Harry Brook’s triple hundred
  • Brook smashed 317 and Joe Root a record-setting 262 in England’s mammoth 823-7 declared
  • It was a familiar story of second innings failure for Pakistan, with a top order collapse before 50

MULTAN: England’s bowlers sparked a Pakistan batting collapse after a brilliant triple century by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s double hundred had them closing in on victory in the first Test in Multan on Thursday.

Brook smashed 317 and Root a record-setting 262 in England’s mammoth 823-7 declared, giving the visitors a 267-run lead.

Pakistan in reply were struggling on 152-6 at the close of the fourth day, with Agha Salman unbeaten on 41 and Aamer Jamal on 27 not out.

The pair added a fighting 70 for the seventh wicket, with the home team still needing 115 runs to avoid an innings defeat.

Pakistan’s collapse marked a quick turnaround to the match after a flat Multan stadium pitch saw 1,379 runs scored for the loss of just 17 wickets.

Brook and Root earlier put on 454 for the fourth wicket as England piled up the fourth-highest total in Test cricket history.

England’s Joe Root plays a shot during the First Test between England and Pakistan at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan on October 10, 2024. (REUTERS)

It was England’s highest in Tests, eclipsing the 411-run fourth-wicket partnership by Peter May and Colin Cowdrey against the West Indies at Birmingham in 1957.

England declared their innings 33 minutes before tea and Chris Woakes dismissed Abdullah Shafique with the first ball of the innings.

It was a familiar story of second innings failure for Pakistan as skipper Shan Masood (11), Babar Azam (five) and Saim Ayub (25) were dismissed before the total passed 50.

Masood was dropped twice on five and seven but miscued a shot off pace bowler Gus Atkinson, who also had Azam caught behind with a sharp delivery.

It became 5-59 when Mohammad Rizwan fell for 10 to fast bowler Brydon Carse.

Saud Shakeel and Agha took Pakistan to 82 when spinner Jack Leach came into the act, getting Shakeel caught behind for 29.

Atkinson has figures of 2-28 and Carse 2-39.

Brook and Root enjoyed a run-feast with career-best knocks.

England's Joe Root and Zak Crawley (R) run between the wickets during the second day of the first Test cricket match between Pakistan and England at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan on October 8, 2024. (AFP)

Brook completed his triple century with a boundary off part-timer Ayub, reaching the mark off 310 balls before he top-edged a sweep off the same bowler and was caught by Masood.

“It is amazing,” said the 25-year-old Brook.

“I am lost for words, to be honest, I’m just happy that the team is in a strong position to win the game... It’s been an incredible thing.”

He cracked 29 fours and three sixes in his 439-minute stay at the crease.

Root – who broke Alastair Cook’s England Test run record of 12,472 on Wednesday – fell short of a triple hundred when he was trapped leg-before by Agha after a marathon 10 hour-stay during which he hit 17 fours.

Ayub (2-101) and Naseem Shah (2-157) were the most successful Pakistan bowlers.

Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi, center, plays a shot as England's Jamie Smith, center, and Joe Root watch during the second day of the first test cricket match between Pakistan and England, in Multan, Pakistan, on Oct. 8, 2024. (AP)

England resumed on 492-3 in the morning and looked for quick runs, which Root and Brook provided despite Pakistan’s defensive leg-side bowling, adding 166 runs in 29 overs in the session.

Root’s previous best of 254 was also against Pakistan at Manchester in 2016.

Brook’s previous best was 186, scored against New Zealand at Wellington last year.

Pakistan’s only chance came in the first hour when Root, on 186, failed to keep down a pull shot off Shah but Azam spilled the regulation chance at mid-wicket.

Root took full advantage and with a single off spinner Salman completed his sixth Test double-century, which came in 517 minutes off 305 balls.

Pakistan were without frontline spinner Abrar Ahmed, who suffered a fever and did not take the field on Thursday.