January 15, 2022 – Page 3 – Madagascar Newswire

January 15, 2022

IIOJK’s journalist bodies call press club takeover illegal, arbitrary

Srinagar, January 15, 2022 (PPI-OT):In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, all the journalist bodies have expressed concern over the illegal and arbitrary takeover of the Kashmir Press Club by some journalists with open support from the local administration.

On January 15, the day when the authorities had declared weekend lockdown in view of Covid surge, a group of journalists barged into the club office and forcibly took control of the club by keeping the office members hostage, the journalist bodies said.

“A large number of police and paramilitary personnel were deployed beforehand for this highly condemnable and completely illegal move,” they said. The journalist bodies also said that the authorities, by allowing a few disgruntled elements to hoodwink the club’s Constitution, bylaws and flout all norms of law, has set a wrong and dangerous precedent.

The authorities had already communicated about the mandatory re- registration, which was initiated by the KPC management, “but it took authorities more than six months to verify the credentials of the management body.”

On 29 December, the reregistration was finally issued following that the Club decided to initiate the process of fresh elections and also announced the date. “But all of a sudden a group of journalists, including some non-members, approached the district administration with a proposal for an “interim body” and it is followed by a communication from the authorities that the re-registration has been kept in abeyance.”

They added, “This move, in which a group of journalists self-appointed itself as an “interim body,” is uncivil, illegal, unconstitutional and without any precedence. It has been taken at a time when the process of registration is still pending before the authorities.”

“All journalist bodies are unanimous in the view that this unfortunate move by a disgruntled lot has set a dangerous precedent by forcing their way into the club office in violation of the KPC constitution and bylaws. The Press bodies have decided to take legal recourse against the perpetrators.”

The journalist bodies have also appealed to the press organizations in India, including Press Council of India, Press Club of India, Federation of Press Clubs and Editors Guild of India, to take a strong note of how the local administration is supporting lawlessness and throttling a democratic media body. “If such incidents are allowed to happen with a Press Club in Kashmir this can be precedence for future.”

The statement was jointly issued by Journalist Federation of Kashmir (JFK), Kashmir Working Journalists Association (KWJA), Kashmir Press Photographer Association (KPPA), Kashmir Press Club (KPC), Jammu and Kashmir Journalist Association (JAKJA), Kashmir Video Journalist Association (KVJA), Kashmir Working Journalists Association, Kashmir National Television Journalist Association (KNTJA), Kashmir Journalist Association.

For more information, contact:
Kashmir Media Service
Phone: +92-51-4435548, +92-51-4435549
Fax: +92-51-4861736
Email: info@kmsnews.org
Website: www.kmsnews.org

January 15, 2022

Coordination Committee (NADRA) expresses displeasure over the absence of Secretary Interior and Chairman NADRA from its maiden meeting

Islamabad, January 15, 2022 (PPI-OT):While taking notice of the absence of Secretary Interior and Chairman NADRA, the Chair of Coordination Committee on NADRA/Deputy Speaker National Assembly Qasim Khan Suri and committee members expressed their displeasure.

The committee issued instructions to ensure participation of Secretary Interior, Chairman NADRA, and four provincial Director General Operations (NADRA) in the next meeting of this committee which would be held at 2 PM on 18th January 2022 in Parliament House Islamabad. He was chairing a meeting of the Coordination Committee held in Parliament House, today.

Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri said that Imran Khan Prime Minister of Pakistan constituted this coordination Committee to resolve all issues including the issue of Blocked CNIC. He said that being public representatives it is incumbent upon us to resolve the issues of the masses. He expressed these while chairing the meeting of the Coordination Committee (NADRA) in Parliament House.

The Deputy Speaker also ordered Chief Executive Officer NADRA Brigadier (R), Javed Khalid Latif, to convey committee reservations to Chairman NADRA. The committee meeting was attended by MNAs Sardar Muhammad Israr Tareen, Mr. Niaz Ahmed Jakhar, Mr. Gul Daad Khan, Mr. Mehboob Shah, and Muhammad Alamgeer Khan. The senior officers of NADRA and the National Assembly Secretariat also participated in the meeting.

For more information, contact:
Secretary,
National Assembly of Pakistan
Automation Centre, National Assembly Secretariat,
Parliament House, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9221082-83
Fax: +92-51-9221106
Email: assembly@na.gov.pk
Website: www.na.gov.pk

January 15, 2022

Omar, Mehbooba call press club takeover coup

Srinagar, January 15, 2022 (PPI-OT):In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, vice president of National conference, Omar Abdullah and the President of Peoples Democratic Party, Mehbooba Mufti have termed the takeover of Kashmir Press Club by a group of journalists as a coup.

Today a group of journalists took over the Kashmir Press Club. A new interim body of KPC was announced in a statement. Senior journalist, Salim Pandit, interim president, announced the takeover to media. Taking to twitter Omar wrote that there is no government this “journalist” hasn’t sucked up to and no government he hasn’t lied on behalf of. I should know, I’ve seen both sides very closely. Now he’s benefited from a sponsored coup.

The PDP chief, Mehbooba Mufti also tweeted that today’s coup at KPC would put the worst dictators to shame. Agencies here are too busy overthrowing elected bodies and firing government employees instead of discharging their actual duties. Shame on those who aided and facilitated this coup against their own fraternity, she said. All the IIOJK-based journalist bodies have also expressed anguish over the illegal and arbitrary takeover of the Kashmir Press Club by some journalists with open support from the local administration.

For more information, contact:
Kashmir Media Service
Phone: +92-51-4435548, +92-51-4435549
Fax: +92-51-4861736
Email: info@kmsnews.org
Website: www.kmsnews.org

January 15, 2022

Pakistan Navy conducts Daring Night Diving Rescue Ops at Rawal Lake

Islamabad, January 15, 2022 (PPI-OT):Pakistan Navy Diver Abdul Rehman LCD(T) in a daring night diving search and rescue operation recovered the dead body of a lady drowned at Rawal Lake. The Search operation, in the ice-cold waters of Lake was conducted immediately on receiving call for assistance from Islamabad police and CDA. Later, the dead body of the lady was handed over to the family.

Pakistan Navy diver’s prompt and quick response is a manifestation of organizational professionalism and dedication. Earlier also PN Diving teams stationed at Sailing club locality have performed various successful Search and Rescue operations in Northern areas and at Mangla Dam. The basic aim of deputing Pakistan Navy diving team at Rawal Lake near the sailing club is to provide assistance to civil authorities and counter any emergency situations.

For more information, contact:
Directorate of Public Relations,
Pakistan Navy
Naval Headquarters, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-20062326
Cell: +92-300-8506486
Website: www.paknavy.gov.pk

January 15, 2022

Government working to provide alternate energy resources to consumers: Farrukh

Islamabad, January 15, 2022 (PPI-OT):Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Farrukh Habib says the government is working on various projects to provide alternate energy resources to the consumers. Talking to a private television channel, he said all out efforts are being made to fulfill demand of domestic consumers as well as fertilizer and industrial sectors.

Commenting on the mini-budget, Farrukh Habib said it will not have any serious impact on poor masses because of the subsidy given on edible items. He said the government has also introduced Ehsaas program, Kamyab Jawan program, Health Card system, and Housing scheme for people of low-income group.

For more information, contact:
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Government of Pakistan
4th Floor, Cabinet Block, Pak. Secretariat, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9103557
Email: info@moib.gov.pk
Website: http://www.moib.gov.pk

January 15, 2022

Developing countries need financial support to recover from coronavirus pandemic: Qureshi

Islamabad, January 15, 2022 (PPI-OT):Pakistan has assumed chairmanship of the Group of 77 and China for the current year. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi presided over the proceedings of the opening segment of the handover ceremony held in a virtual format.

Speaking on the occasion, he said as the G-77 Chair, Pakistan will work with all member states to develop effective and concerted response to the multiple challenges confronting developing countries and also promote avenues for South-South Cooperation.

The Foreign Minister stressed the need to retain cohesion and unity in G-77’s collective endeavours to promote prosperity in conditions of equity and equality. On COVID-19 pandemic, he said the public health crisis has affected the developing countries disproportionately. He called for universal distribution of vaccine as the best response to the mutating virus.

Turning to the threat posed by climate change, the Foreign Minister emphasized that the major onus for mitigation must be assumed by the industrialized countries. He said all climate actions must adhere to the Principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibility.

January 15, 2022

Government to take measures to implement National Security Policy: Moeed

Islamabad, January 15, 2022 (PPI-OT):National Security Advisor, Dr Moeed Yusuf says the government will take all possible measures to implement the National Security Policy in letter and spirit. Talking to a private television channel, he said the policy would ensure human as well as economic security of the country.

Replying to a question, he said the policy would be reviewed every year and any new government can bring changes in it for better working. The Advisor said all stakeholders were taken on board before formulation of the National Security Policy.

January 15, 2022

Government sets Rs50 billion target for loans under KJP this year

Islamabad, January 15, 2022 (PPI-OT):Government has set the target of disbursing loans worth fifty billion rupees under Kamyab Jawan Program this year to promote entrepreneurship amongst youth and create job opportunities in the country. This was stated by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib and Special Assistant on Youth Affairs Usman Dar at a news conference in Islamabad today (Saturday).

Farrukh Habib pointed out that loans of thirty billion rupees were disbursed under Kamyab Jawan Program over the last two years under which twenty-two thousand new businesses were opened. This, he said, provided fifty thousand direct jobs to the youth and indirectly led to creation of thousands of other jobs.

The Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting said startups are especially being promoted under Kamyab Jawan Program. He said a proposal will be floated in the cabinet for approval under which no guarantee will be sought from those acquiring loans up to two million rupees.

Farrukh Habib said under a ten billion rupees Skill for All Program, hi-tech certification is being provided to the youth in areas such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, graphic designing and so on. He said under this program, scholarships have been awarded to one hundred thousand youth whilst another sixty-one thousand will be provided on 31st of this month.

He said the government is targeting to enhance its IT exports to three billion dollars during the current fiscal year and this skill development program will help strengthen our IT exports. In his remarks, Usman Dar said 2022 has been declared as the year of youth and different activities will be arranged during this year to promote soft image of Pakistan. He said we are also considering launching sports scholarship program for the youth. Usman Dar said loans under Kamyab Jawan Program are being provided in the most transparent manner.