A prominent Turkish TV journalist has been detained and could face imprisonment after being charged with insulting the country’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

A Turkish court ordered prominent journalist Sedef Kabas jailed pending trial on a charge of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan under a law that has seen tens of thousands prosecuted.

Police detained Sedef Kabaş at her home at 2am on Saturday and took her to a police station, before she faced court and was jailed pending a trial.

The alleged insult was a proverb that Kabaş expressed both on an opposition television channel and her Twitter account.

The proverb translates to: “When the ox comes to the palace, he does not become a king. But the palace becomes a barn.”

“The honour of the presidency’s office is the honour of our country ... I condemn the vulgar insults made against our president and his office,” Fahrettin Altun, head of Turkey’s communications directorate and Erdogan’s chief spokesman, said.

Merdan Yanardag, the chief editor of the Tele 1 channel, on which Kabaş made the comment, criticised her arrest.

“Her detention overnight at 2am because of a proverb is unacceptable,” he said. “This stance is an attempt to intimidate journalists, the media and society.”

Insulting Erdogan

Last October, Europe’s top human rights court called on Turkey to change the legislation after ruling that a man’s detention under the law violated his freedom of expression.

Tens of thousands have been charged and sentenced over the crime of insulting Erdogan in the seven years since he moved from being prime minister to president.

In 2020, 31,297 investigations were launched in relation to the charge, 7,790 cases were filed, and 3,325 resulted in convictions, according to justice ministry data. Those numbers were slightly lower than the previous year.

Since 2014, the year Erdogan became president, 160,169 investigations have been launched over insulting the president, 35,507 cases were filed and there were 12,881 convictions.

Islamabad: The Islamabad district health officer (DHO) has recommended sealing 10 more schools after detection of COVID-19 cases on Sunday. 

According to the details, the District Health Office has issued letters regarding sealing of all affected educational institutions. The letter was issued after detection of cases in these educational institutions. 

A letter was sent to DC office regarding sealing of 10 more educational institutions. In a letter to the city administrant, the DHO suggested closing down the 10 more educational institutions immediately in the federal capital. The schools should be kept close till further directions, proposed the health officer.

It may be recalled that corona cases have been reported in nearly 40 educational institutions in the last five days. Letters were issued by the District Health Office regarding the sealing of all affected educational institutions.

Earlier, following to spike in coroanviurs cases, the District Health Officer (DHO) had sealed nine more schools due to confirmation in the cases of students at several educational institutions in Islamabad.

21 cases of coronavirus had been reported in nine more government educational institutions in the federal capital amid surge in coronavirus cases following which the DHO has ordered immediate closure of educational institutions.

According to the letter issued by the DHO, the educational institutions reporting Covid case should be closed immediately and the institutions will remain closed till further intimation.

After the opening of educational institutions, 17 educational institutions have been sealed so far in the capital. Two cases reported in Islamabad Model School for Girls, F-6/1. Four tested positive for coronavirus in Islamabad Model College for Girls, F-7/2.

Two cases confirmed in Islamabad College for Girls, F-6/2 and Islamabad Model School for Girls, G-6/2, respectively. Two cases were reported in Islamabad Model School for Boys, I-8/4.

Two cases of coronavirus were reported in Islamabad Model College for Girls F-7/4. Two cases of corona also confirmed in Islamabad Model School for Girls, Model Town, Humak.

Three cases of Covid-19 also reported in Islamabad Model College for Girls, Rawal Town. Two corona cases were reported in Islamabad Model College for Girls, I-10/4.

On the other hand, Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat said on his Twitter handle, "Due to covid rise Islamabad Administration has started sealing schools for a period of ten days so that contact tracing can be done and positive cases are prevented to interact with other kids."

The per day COVID-19 positivity rate has crossed 10 percent in Islamabad, according to the official.

He said the city s administration had also launched a crackdown on those violating the government-prescribed standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prevent the spread of the virus.

"Please wear masks and get everyone around you vaccinated as soon as possible," the deputy commissioner urged.

Lahore: Reacting to a warning from Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, who on Sunday said he would be more dangerous if ousted from power, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz said that Imran Khan should pack up and leave. 

The PML-N vice president said in a series of tweets in Urdu and English with different content soon after Imran Khan ended his two-hour telephone conversation with the general public, discussing a host of issues.

“Your threat that you would be more dangerous if ousted is nothing more than a hollow claim. The day you are out of power, people would perform prayer of thankfulness. Neither you are Nawaz Sharif who was supported by people nor you are a victim. You are a conspirer facing karma,” Maryam said.

She said Imran Khan sounded like a person who is not only defeated but has also accepted his defeat. Four years into the government and he is still only whining, she added.

“The ‘cartels’ you are complaining about are the mafias on your right and left who have fleeced 220 million and who run your kitchen,” she said.

IK sounds like a person who is not only defeated but has also accepted his defeat. 4 years into the govt & he is still only whining. The ‘cartels’ you are complaining about are the MAFIAS on your right & left who have fleeced 220 million & who run your kitchen.

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) January 23, 2022

The PMLN leader said that Imran Khan was wrong to blame the judiciary for his failure.

“The cases you made against Sharifs and PMLN were false and fabricated and were bound to meet the fate they have met. Now that your reality has dawned on the world, do not blame the judiciary. You have only your vindictiveness and revengefulness to blame.”

The cases you made against Sharifs and PMLN were false & fabricated and were bound to meet the fate they have met. Now that your reality has dawned on the world, do not blame the judiciary. You have only your vindictiveness & revengefulness to blame.

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) January 23, 2022

“Every word that IK has uttered today reeks of failure, dashed hopes and no faith in his or PTI’s future,” Maryam said adding that Imran Khan was “history” now.

She said Imran Khan should pack up and leave. “The more you cling to power, the more you will compound your problems and that of the people.”

Every word that IK has uttered today reeks of failure, dashed hopes & no faith in his or PTI’s future. This was inevitable man. You are history & the history that we will be taught as a lesson of caution to those who rely more on conspiracy & plotting than peoples power.

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) January 23, 2022