Three-member inquiry commission formed to probe Arsahd Sharif murder

The federal government constituted Monday a three-members inquiry commission to probe the murder of slain journalist Arshad Sharif. The commission will be headed by former Lahore High Court justice Abdul Shakoor. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) would provide secretariat support to the inquiry commission. The commission has been directed to submit its report within 30 days. Journalist and anchorperson Arshad Sharif was shot dead in Kenya few days ago. The 49-year-old journalist fled the country in August to avoid arrest after he was slapped with multiple cases, including sedition charges over an interview with PTI leader Shahbaz Gill during which the latter had made controversial comments.
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Journalist Sadaf Naeem’s husband refuses to lodge a case of her death

The husband of female reporter Sadaf Naeem has told police that he has no interest in legally pursuing her death. Naeem, a reporter for local television network Channel 5, was crushed to death in Kamoke when she fell off the top of the container in which former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan was traveling as part of his long march. On Monday, the Naeem’s husband gave a statement to Kamoke police that he does not want to pursue the case legally. “It was an accident,” he told the police, adding that his wife fell off the container and was caught under the wheels of the truck which killed her on the spot. He went on to say that he did not want to pursue the case legally nor did he wish for a post-mortem of the reporter’s body. The reporter Naeem had climbed onto the container in a bid to get an exclusive interview with PTI Chairman Imran Khan, just like she had done a day before. But on Sunday, when she tried to get close to Imran, she could not due to the rush and lost her footing. It sent her over the railings and to the ground where the container, which was mobile, crushed her beneath its wheels. A witness claimed that a security guard allegedly pushed her when she tried to get close to Imran and that the push caused her to lose her footing. Federal ministers have accused the Punjab government of coercing and intimidating the husband of the female journalist to shun the right of litigation. Forced statement Federal Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique, accused the PTI leaders of coercing the reporter’s husband to issue such a statement. Rafique shared a video in which Naeem’s husband could be seen surrounded by PTI leaders. Rafique, in his tweet, said: Punjab govt forms a fact-finding committee to probe the incident The Punjab government announced on Monday to form a fact-finding committee to investigate the incident that led to the female journalist’s death. Provincial Minister Raja Basharat, said, “the committee will consist of officers of relevant departments, and soon it will submit the report.” “Measures should be put in place to stop such accidents,” Basharat said. Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah demands action Earlier, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, in his tweet, said, “After the statements of eyewitnesses and fellow journalists, the Punjab government is legally responsible for carrying out proper investigation and ensuring justice to the deceased reporter.” “The federal government will play its role if Punjab government fails to fulfill its responsibility,” he added.
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Man, wife allegedly tortures Six-year-old niece in Karachi

A six-year-old child was allegedly tortured by her maternal uncle and aunt in Karachi’s Shah Lateef Town’s Sector 17-C. In the FIR, the child’s other maternal uncle Abdul Razzaq claimed that three years ago his sister Amna wife of Iman Din gave her three-year-old daughter to their brother Salman to raise her. A few days ago, Amna – who lives in Larkana – received a call from Salman that her daughter is unwell. When she arrived at Salman’s residence on October 28, the child told her that her uncle along with his wife Samreen and another man – whom she identified as Ghaffar – had injured her with a knife and thrown hot water on her. The FIR, registered at Shah Lateef Town Police Station, include section 324 of the Pakistan Penal Code (attempt to commit murder), Section 337 (inflicting injury), and Section 34 (acts done by several persons In furtherance of common intention). Malir SSP told SAMAA that the child has been sent to Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre for a medico-legal examination. It would be premature to comment on anything before the medical report comes, he said. Police Surgeon Karachi Dr Summaiya Syed, on the other hand, said that the child has not been presented for medical examination.
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Sindh High Court takes notice of Machhar Colony lynching

** Sindh High Court Chief Justice Ahmed Ali M. Shaikh has taken notice of the Machhar Colony lynching incident and has summoned Sindh IG and DIG on November 1.** The court also ordered the investigation officer to appear before the court along with the case report. On October 28, two workers of a private telecommunication company were lynched to death after they were mistaken as child kidnappers in Machhar Colony, Karachi. Muggers spread rumors about victims after robbing them As per the latest inquiry by the police, the victims were robbed by unidentified men who then declared them child kidnappers. Following this, the residents gathered at the scene and beat the victims. When the local police arrived at the scene, the mob refused to hand over the two men, saying that they were involved in looting and had come to commit robbery. Police called in reinforcement and when they again arrived there along with Rangers personnel, people changed their statement. A woman claimed that the victims were trying to abduct children. The cause of the incident is yet to be ascertained while the mobile phones and laptops of the victims were missing from the crime scene indicating that they were looted, Deputy Inspector General of Police – South Zone Irfan Baloch told SAMAA TV. Baloch said that the police is conducting raids to arrest the accused. So far, three people including the main suspect Abdul Ghafoor has been arrested with the help of mobile footage, he added. Sindh CM orders authorities to take action against all accused The Sindh government, on the other hand, has also directed the Sindh IG to take action against those involved in the killing. The government also announced a compensation of Rs5 million for the victims’ families. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah chaired the cabinet meeting in which Sindh IG briefed on the Machhar lynching case. A telecom engineer and his staff member were checking the mobile phone towers, they had a medical kit including, pyodine, however, the mob misunderstood the medical kit in the victims’ vehicle and thought they aimed to kidnap the children, Sindh IG told the chief minister during the briefing. He said 15 men have been arrested for lynching the workers with the help of footage. “The incidents such as Machhar Colony are unforgivable and intolerable,” Murad Ali Shah said. He ordered authorities to take legal action against the responsible. ATC sends four suspects on physical remand Anti-Terrorism Court of Karachi has sent the four suspects to jail on eight-day physical remand, ordering the accused to be produced on November 8 and asking for a progress report on the next hearing. The lynching Two employees of a telecommunication company were lynched to death on Friday by a mob in Karachi’s Machhar Colony. Keamari SSP Fida Hussain Janwari said the victims were reportedly visiting the area to check the signal strength but rumors spread that they were trying to abduct children. Upon hearing the rumors, several area residents attacked and brutally tortured the telecom company officials. The injuries were so severe that the two men ultimately passed away. A police squad arrived on the scene a little too late to save the beaten officials. Police officials said that they had recorded the statement of an eyewitness. Later on, police said they arrested three suspects involved in the incident. Deputy Inspector General South Zone Irfan Baloch, while talking to SAMAA TV said they are investigating the matter. “The absence of their valuables including laptops and cellular phones points towards reports that they were first looted and then an angry mob lynched them,” he said. Baloch further said that a review of some videos shot by onlookers helped them identify and arrest the main accused Abdul Ghafoor and his alibis.
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Cryptic message: ‘Establishment never opposes the people,’ says Imran

Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Monday sent a cryptic message to the powers that be, stating that the establishment and the public were two sides of one coin. “The establishment never opposes the public,” he stated, adding that when together, the military and the public strengthen the country. He said this while addressing the traveling crowd in Kamoke during his ‘haqeeqi azadi’ (true independence) long march. “Whosoever sides with the looters besmirch their reputation.” He went on to reiterate that what should he discuss with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif because he was a powerless prime minister and had nothing to offer him. Defamation During his speach, Imran – who remains stained from the Toshakhana reference – said that he now plans ot send a defamation notice worth Rs10 billion to Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja for questioning his integrity. The former prime minister, who is currently contesting the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) verdict in the Toshakhan reference in court, claimed that no court will find him guilty of any illegal activity. Confident that he would win the defamation case, the PTI chief said he will donate the money to Shaukat Khanum Hospital. Imran has yet to file such a notice. Moreover, defamation is not a valid cause for legal suit over the verdict of a constitutional body. The PTI chief, however, hoped the move will teach the chief election commissioner a lesson to not harm the reputation of others. “Every year Rs9 billion is collected for funding healthcare facilities at the Shaukat Khanum Hospital,” Imran said, adding that he also receives funds to support scholarship-based education at the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) as part of his philanthropy. He reminded the audience that his cancer hospitals located in Lahore and Peshawar provide mostly free healthcare services and a new hospital is under construction in Karachi to meet the needs of Sindh and Balochistan. Not afraid Imran said that he does not have any flats or properties in London or other countries. Hence he did not flee when a slew of cases were registered against him.,“ Imran said, adding that he prays to live and die in Pakistan. Referring to the death of senior journalist and anchorperson Arshad Sharif, he hoped that God would spare him the death of a coward, and instead, he died like Sharif rather than live in servitude. He added that only justice is liberating; therefore, everyone should join his march to Islamabad in a quest for freedom. “Freedom also requires sacrifices of the people,” the PTI chief maintained. He compared Pakistan’s independence movement with his current quest to de-seat ‘looters’ who had been imposed on them. The former premier also emphasized that prosperity is an outcome of justice. Without the rule of law, the country will not prosper. Message to Judiciary The PTI chief reminded the judiciary that the nation is looking up to them for relief. “In a society run by humans, justice is upheld while the law of the jungle only applies to animals.” Immediately after, Imran Khan thanked the chief justice for taking notice of Azam Swati’s custodial torture and that of Shahbaz Gill. He lamented that the government is trying to silence dissenting voices. Imran Khan stressed that the country would only prosper when the institutions are strengthened through people’s power. “No institution can work without the backing of the people,” he concluded.
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