Sunday, 23 January, 2022 | ISLAMABAD
uS commiSSion liStS Khurram parvez, SiddiQue Kappan aS freedom of reliGion victimS wASHINGTON newS DeSk
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ASHINGTON-BASED Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) has welcomed the US Commission on International Religious Freedom’s decision to list Kashmiri human rights defender, Khurram Parvez, and Indian journalist, Siddique Kappan, on the Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) Victims List. The FoRB list is a database of persons imprisoned or detained in a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). The IAMC in a statement said, coming as it does at a time when human rights violations, including custodial killings, are rampant in India, the timely move will go a long towards engaging the government
in ensuring safety of the victims and securing their freedom. This may work as India is a Country of Particular Concern, which USCIRF defines as a country that has engaged in or tolerated “systematic, ongoing, and egregious” violations of religious freedom, it said. India has been recommended as a CPC for two years in a row by the UNSCIRF. Khurram Parvez, who was arrested in November 2021 is a world renowned human rights defender from Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. He is the coordinator of the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), an organisation that has repeatedly criticised the human rights abuses committed by Indian troops in the occupied territory. Parvez has played an active role in documenting gross human rights abuses by Indian forces in IIOJK
especially those perpetrated after the revocation of the special status of the territory in late 2019 by the Indian government. On November 22, 2021, he was arrested and detained on the fake charges of “terror-funding,” “conspiracy”, and “waging war against the government of India”. The Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), a draconian law, was invoked against him. On December 4, 2021, he was shifted to a highsecurity prison in New Delhi to await hearing even though the charges are leveled against him on flimsy grounds. Ever since, his current location is not known to anyone. His arrest sparked international outrage and concern. On December 22, 2021, the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in a statement called for Parvez’s release.
Automobile prices rise as manufacturers pass on FED to consumers KARACHI Monitoring rePort
Automobile manufacturers have increased prices by up to Rs493,000 after an increase in the Federal Excise Duty (FED) as per the Finance (Supplementary) Bill 2021. Automobile companies which have increased prices include Indus Motor Company (IMC), Honda Atlas Cars Ltd (HACL) and Pak Suzuki Motor Company Ltd (PSMCL). The prices of different models of Toyota yaris have increased in the range of Rs63,000-Rs76,000. The revised rates of yaris 1.3GLI MT, GLI CVT, ATIV MT, ATIV CVT, 1.5 ATIV XMT and 1.5 ATV X CVT are Rs2.612 million, Rs2.817 million, Rs2.745 million,
Rs2.919 million, Rs2.97 million and Rs3.175 million respectively. Similarly, prices for different Toyota Corolla variants have increased by Rs81,000-Rs100,000. The revised rates
of Corolla 1.6MT, 1.6AT, 1.6AT SE, 1.8CVT, 1.8 Grande CVT and 1.8 Grande CVT (black interior) are Rs3.38 million, Rs3.534 million, Rs3.892 million, Rs3.872 million, Rs4.179
million and Rs4.199 million respectively. Moreover, HACL has increased the price of Honda Civic 1.5L Turbo, 1.8L VTI CVT SR and 1.8L VTI CVT by Rs100,000-126,000 to Rs5.175 million, Rs4.366 million and Rs4.079 million respectively. Meanwhile, prices for Honda City 1.5L CVT, 1.5L ASP MT and 1.5L ASP CVT stood at Rs3.146 million, Rs3.279 million and Rs3.454 million. However, HACL has not increased the price of Honda City 1.2L MT and CVT models since there is no FED on 1,200 CC vehicles. Moreover, in a similar move, PSMCL has also pushed up prices of Suzuki automobiles by Rs29,000Rs150,000.
Pakistan’s current account deficit widens to $1.93bn in December NEwS DESK Pakistan’s current account deficit widened to $1.93 billion in December 2021, compared to $629 million a year ago and $ 1.89 billion in November, 2021,
according to data published by State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). According to the central bank, the current account deficit is a result of a significant trade shock amid the ongoing economic recovery. The current account deficit stood at 7.6 per cent of
the gross domestic product (GDP) in December as compared to 7.3 per cent in November. The July-December 2021 current account deficit was at $9.09 billion, compared with a $1.25 billion surplus in the same period of last year.
Justice Isa highlights problems of litigants due to delay in dispensation of justice LAHORE newS DeSk
Supreme Court Judge Justice Qazi Faez has raised questions over the notion of ‘supremacy of law’ in the country, saying that the authorities concerned did not take any
action against the individual who threatened his family last year. He said this on Saturday while addressing the legal fraternity at two different seminars arranged by the Punjab Bar Council and Lahore High Court Bar Association.
Justice Isa said a first information report (FIR) was not registered against the man who threatened to “hang him in square” for five days despite his wife had informed the concerned quarters. “It was a serious case but no one bothered,” he
added. He also dispelled the impression that he was a “symbol of independent judiciary” and “future of judiciary”, saying the titles given to him by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Ahsan Bhoon had nothing to do with reality
and he did not deserve them. The apex court judge also highlighted problems being faced by litigants saying there was a general perception that verdict in their cases will be announced “after decades”. Judges and their staffers timely withdraw their salaries but the litigant bears the cost owing to the lawyer’s strikes, he added. As Balochistan High Court chief justice, Isa said, he never let the lawyers to go on strikes and resolved their genuine problems amicably. Justice Isa said only the supremacy of law can put the country on the path of progress and added that civil courts had been directed not to delay the case proceedings. The superior court judge said the verdicts of the court as well as different laws should be published in Urdu language on official websites. SCBA President Ahsan Bhoon said a culture of intolerance has developed across the country and added that negative opinion should not be supported against those judges who give their dissenting notes in decisions.
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prof Qasim bashir elected honorary fellow of royal college of physicians of edinburgh NEwS DESK Professor Dr Qasim Bashir, Clinical & Interventional Neurologist, Head of Department Neurology at Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The Society rigorously assesses the achievements of those it appoints as fellows considering their professional standing and recognizing excellence across a diverse range of expertise and experience, and its effect on society. This exceptional honor is fitting recognition of Dr Qasim Bashir’s outstanding contributions especially in Stroke & Interventional Neurology in Pakistan. Dr Qasim is son of renowned late Professor Dr Bashir Ahmad [Neurosurgeon]. He is a graduate of King Edward Medical College, Lahore and completed Neurology residency from University of Vermont at Burlington, USA and additional fellowship training and board certifications in Vascular [Stroke] Neurology and Neurocritical care from renowned Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio, USA. He completed a third fellowship in Neuroendovascular Surgery/Interventional Neurology from University of Illinois at Chicago, USA; where he also held faculty position for 5 years before relocating to his birth city – Lahore. Dr Qasim Bashir is a Fellow of Society of Vascular Intervention Neurology [SVIN], USA and holds the distinctive Neuroendovascular Surgery credentialing from The Committee on Advanced Subspecialty Training (CAST), USA which falls under the Council of the Society of Neurological Surgeons, USA.
Sbp to announce monetary policy on monday KARACHI newS DeSk
State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) Monetary Policy Committe (MPC) is set to announce the monetary policy on Monday. According to a statement issued by the central bank, SBP Governor Dr Reza Baqir will brief the media after the MPC meeting. A report published by The News suggests that the benchmark policy rate is expected to remain unchanged. Earlier the SBP governor had said that the central bank is taking “a pause to first look at the effects of the tightening [it has done] before considering what monetary policy settings should be.” In its last meeting on December 14, 2021, the MPC had raised the policy rate by 100 basis points to 9.75 per cent to counter inflationary pressures and address the current account deficit.
