Rawalpindi: Saudi Arabia's Assistant Defense Minister Major General (Engineer) Talal Bin Abdullah met Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir at General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, told Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR).

During the meeting, the issues of mutual interest and steps to further promote bilateral defense cooperation including defense production and military training were discussed.

The distinguished guest appreciated the achievements and sacrifices of the Pakistan Army in the war against terrorism, the Saudi general also praised the valuable services of Pakistan Army for regional peace and security.

The Army Chief reiterated Pakistan Army's continuous support for increasing the capacity of Saudi ground forces.

Talal Bin Abdullah also attended the fifth Pak-Saudi defense cooperation meeting at GHQ, which he chaired under the leadership of Pakistan Army.

The forum discussed global and regional security challenges and their impact on defense forces.

It also said that rapid development in modern technology necessitates defense industrial cooperation in key capabilities between the two brotherly nations.

The parties reiterated their commitment to strengthen efforts in defense cooperation. In this context concrete proposals were considered by the Forum to achieve concrete objectives within specified timelines.

Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari and prime minister Shehbaz Sharif have condemned on the suicidal blast in the area of Karachi.

Zardari stated that the evil elements will be rooted out. The nation will be fighting with the terrorism together. He appreciated the police for timely acted against the terrorists amid saving from huge human damage.

Shehbaz Sharif said that because of the police this terrorist attack was failed otherwise it could be a huge loss of human. The officials will not be sitting calmly until the complete removal of terrorism. Every action to get rid from terrorism will be taken without any delay.

However, both leaders prayed for the immediate recovery of the injured people in blast and directed to provide every possible medical aid to them.

It should be noted that a bomb was blast near the vehicle of foreign citizens in the area of Karachi in which two terrorists killed, two security guards including three people have injured. The foreign citizens remained safe in this attack.   

Lahore: The Accountability Court Lahore Friday, while hearing the Ramzan Sugar Mill reference against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son and former Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz, approved Hamza's one-day attendance waiver request.

According to the details, Accountability Court duty judge Nadeem Gulzar heard the reference, Shehbaz Sharif's representative Anwar Hussain appeared in the court and completed the attendance.

In the application, the position was adopted that Hamza Shehbaz is physically unwell due to which he cannot appear.

Later, the court granted the request of Hamza Shehbaz and adjourned the hearing till June 6.

It is pertinent to note that on February 14, the Accountability Court of Lahore postponed the hearing on the Ramzan Sugar Mill reference against Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz.

Ramazan Sugar Mill Case

Notably on February 18, 2019, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed a new reference against the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza in the Ramzan Sugar Mills case.

In this reference, only the two accused were named and it was alleged that they had illegally constructed a drain for Ramzan Sugar Mills.

In the reference filed in the court, it was said that the construction of this canal by Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz caused a loss of 213 million rupees to the national exchequer, therefore, both the accused should be punished.