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Pakistan

'Behind every great fortune there is a crime'

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"Behind every great fortune there is a crime." The echo of this phrase is not very old in our political and judicial history. Justice Asif Saeed Khosa wrote this sentence in his dissenting note in the Panama case judgment of April 20, 2017.

Imran Yaqub Khan Profile Imran Yaqub Khan

American author Mario Pozzo begins his novel "Godfather" with the same sentence of French author Anne de Balzac. It was only after this reference in the dissenting note that political opponents started calling Nawaz Sharif a godfather and a Cecilian mafia. Prime Minister Imran Khan has been convinced from day one that corruption is the root of all ills in society. Money made dishonestly is sent out of the country through various means.

The elites involved in this process have businesses and properties abroad. In national and international forums, he has repeatedly said that money made through corruption must be stopped from flowing out of the country, and that corrupt people must be severely punished, and that western countries' developing countries must return. Stop money from coming to your countries. Undoubtedly, strict laws are the need of the hour to eradicate corruption.

Pakistan has an authoritative body, the National Accountability Bureau, which is engaged in rooting out corrupt people from head to toe. Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal, the head of the agency, will complete his term on October 8. The new chairman of the NAB is to be appointed in consultation with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. So far no consultation has taken place and whether the consultation will take place in the future or not, the question mark remains.

The question of whether Chairman NAB will be replaced or Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal will remain in office remains. In the midst of all this, the government legal team was busy running and drafting an ordinance. One of the key points of this ordinance is that the existing clause of consultation between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition will remain in force. The name of Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal will also be considered for the new chairman NAB.

If there is no agreement, the matter will go to the parliamentary committee. If there is a deadlock in the talks, the current chairman will remain in office until the new chairman arrives. The Supreme Judicial Council will have to be approached to remove the NAB chairman. The clause not to extend the chairmanship of NAB will also be removed by the ordinance.

Whether it is accountability or revenge, the government has often expressed its good intentions in this regard. Through this ordinance, the highly capable and astute legal team of the government has brought some new aspects to the fore. Legally important in this ordinance is that the NAB courts will also have the power to grant bail to the accused before 90 days.

Additional Sessions Judges and former Judges will also be appointed in NAB courts. For the appointment of the Chairman NAB, the provision of consultation between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition was made so that the head of the accountability body would agree.

No one could point a finger at his character and neutrality. Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal also became the head of the accountability body through this consultative process. However, now the opposition often keeps pointing fingers at him. Forough Naseem, who belongs to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, is currently the country's law minister. The preparation of this ordinance will undoubtedly involve his hard work, and he believes that the appointment of the new chairman of the NAB will be in consultation with the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition Shahbaz Sharif. Naseem, however, acknowledged that Shhebaz Sharif has yet to be contacted in this regard.

Babar Awan, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs, also confirmed the existence of a consultation clause between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the NAB Amendment Ordinance. It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. On this action of the government, PML-N leader and former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi says, "Chairman NAB is being extended by breaking the law. The law says consult but the Prime Minister is refusing. The President is also against the ordinance." We are ready to sign."

The PPP has termed the extension of NAB chairman's tenure through an ordinance as unconstitutional and illegal. PPP Vice President and Senator Sherry Rehman raised the question that how can the current chairman work after his completion of term? If consulting the opposition is a conflict of interest, aren't there cases against ministers, including the prime minister? Sugar, flour, petrol, medicine, BRT, LNG, Ring Road, Billion Tree and helicopter scandals are against whom? Is the Prime Minister not protecting his own interests and the interests of his ministers?

The concerns and questions of PML-N and PPP are on the one hand, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry explained teh reason as why did not the premier and the opposition leader consult each other for the appointment. Talking to media, the minister said, "We will not consult Shahbaz Sharif about the NAB chairman. We will bring in an ordinance to remove the legal loophole so as to remove the alleged complexities in the law which has made it mandatory to consult the Leader of the Opposition on this issue,” he said.

In his briefing, Fawad further said: "The ordinance will clarify how the head of the anti-corruption watchdog will be appointed if the opposition leader is accused of corruption." Responding to Fawad Chaudhry's statement, PML-N spokesperson Maryam Aurangzeb said, "Consultation with the Leader of the Opposition on the appointment of NAB chairman is a constitutional requirement. With this decision, they are giving NRO to those who are flour, sugar, electricity, gas and medicine thieves.

It is clear from the heated rhetoric on this ordinance that the Prime Minister is not sitting in consultation with the Leader of the Opposition Shahbaz Sharif for the appointment of a new Chairman NAB. Shahbaz Sharif is currently facing only corruption charges, cases are pending, if anything is proved, he will definitely be found guilty. It would be fair not to talk to them after that. He is currently the representative of the opposition in the country. He should get his constitutional position.

In the Pandora Papers, offshore companies of close associates of the Prime Minister have come to light. The requirement of justice is not to sit with them till they are proved innocent. "Behind every big crime there's a crime," recalls the Panama case verdict, because now the Pandora's box has opened, and some of the culprits have been exposed. Let's see how does indiscriminate accountability take place?

 

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World

Ukraine attacks Russia with British Storm Shadow missile first time

Storm Shadow is considered an ideal weapon for penetrating fortified bunkers and ammunition depots

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Kiev: Ukraine has attacked Russia for the first time with the British Storm Shadow missile.

According to media reports, Ukraine has used the British-made Storm Shadow missile to hit military targets inside Russia for the first time.

According to the report, US President Biden has also allowed Ukraine to attack Russia with American missiles.

It is pertinent to note that a few days ago, after American permission, Ukraine fired six US ballistic missiles at a Russian military installation.

Ukraine says that to defeat Russian air attacks, it needs to use long-range missiles, including Storm Shadow, including American Atacs that can attack up to 300 kilometers.

According to media reports, US-made missiles were used in the attack on Bryansk. On this occasion, the Russian air defense system shot down five missiles, while the sixth missile was damaged. The debris fell into the premises of the military installation and caught fire, which was controlled, but there were no casualties from the missile attacks.

What is the Storm Shadow missile?

According to a British media report, the Storm Shadow is an Anglo-French cruise missile that can cover a maximum distance of about 250 kilometers. The French call it a ‘scallop’, and it is launched from an aircraft.

It flies to its target at almost the speed of sound and then detonates its ‘warhead’ (the part of the missile that contains explosives) before falling.

The Storm Shadow is considered an ideal weapon for penetrating fortified bunkers and ammunition depots, such as the missiles that Russia used in its war against Ukraine.

A Storm Shadow missile costs about $1 million, so before using them, cheap drones are used, which can weaken the enemy's air defenses and use up more of its ammunition to combat the drones, just like Russia does with Ukraine.

Storm Shadow has been used effectively in the past, with this missile targeting the Russian naval headquarters in the Black Sea in Crimea, after which Crimea was declared dangerous for the Russian Navy.

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Pakistan

IDEAS 2024: Pakistan-developed long-range air surveillance radar system showcased

Experts hope Pakistan will soon be able to build its complete air defense system

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Karachi: Pakistan has showcased its long-range air surveillance radar system for the first time at the ongoing International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) in Karachi.

Director Blue Search Private Limited Awais Rauf said that drones and ultra-high-speed missile systems have changed how wars are fought in the modern era. Be it the war between Russia and Ukraine or any other conflict in the world, the world is seeing that missile systems and drones are playing a key role in every situation, from monitoring military transport to devastating attacks on enemy combat targets.

He stated that radar is the most important tool for anticipating enemy attacks and monitoring air borders. Pakistan has also been using radar systems imported from other countries for this purpose and has faced international sanctions. However, Pakistan has now developed its own long-range air surveillance radar system.

Awais Rauf added that the Pakistani-made AM350S radar system, which can monitor the air up to 450 kilometers, is installed on a mobile platform that can be quickly moved anywhere.

This is a unique project that NRTC is taking forward in collaboration with the private sector. Pakistan's friendly countries have also expressed interest in this state-of-the-art radar system.

Experts hope Pakistan will soon be able to build its complete air defense system.

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Sports

USC's Watkins reaches 1,000 points in 38th game

USC's JuJu Watkins reached 1,000 career points in her 38th game, tying the fourth fewest amount of games in NCAA Division I history, and two games quicker than former Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark.

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LOS ANGELES -- JuJu Watkins has heard plenty of comparisons to Cheryl Miller and Caitlin Clark over the past two seasons.

On Friday, they came up again as the USC sophomore guard reached another milestone.

Watkins reached 1,000 career points Friday afternoon during the second half of the third-ranked Trojans' 81-50 victory over Santa Clara.

Watkins achieved the milestone in her 38th game -- tying the fourth-fewest games in NCAA Division I history -- when she hit a jumper with 6:47 remaining in the third quarter.

"I'm not taking anything for granted. Very blessed to be in this position. This is great, something to build off and continue to work on," said Watkins, who scored 22 points.

Watkins reached the mark 20 games quicker than Miller, who is USC's career scoring leader at 3,018 points. She also did it in two fewer games than former Iowa superstar Clark, who holds the Division I career mark with 3,951 points.

"When you break a record at USC, it hits a little different because the people you break the record from are so great. JuJu belongs in that conversation, and we're all comfortable in saying it. It was the great Cheryl Miller who was next," USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb said.

Watkins has 1,006 points at USC and is averaging 26.5 points. Clark had 978 points and was averaging 25.7 points through her first 38 games.

Even though some like to compare Watkins and Clark, Watkins isn't one of them.

"She's a great player, but I don't really monitor that at all," Watkins said.

LSU's Maree Jackson (1975-77), Oregon State's Carol Menken-Schaudt (1978-80) and New Orleans' Sandra Hodge (1980-82) all reached the mark in 37 games.

Weber State's Kathy Miller and Delaware's Elena Delle Donne also did it in 38 games. Former Ohio State standout Kelsey Mitchell did it in 41 games, and Texas A&M's Chennedy Carter in 44.

Watkins tied Delle Donne as the fastest to reach the mark in the past 40 seasons.

"She's a great player. I grew up watching her and love her game," Watkins said about Delle Donne. "Everyone on that list is good company."

Watkins set the national record for scoring by a freshman last season with 920 points. She is the 30th player in USC history to reach 1,000 points.

ESPN Research and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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