* Railway minister said that gas cylinders caused the fire while some of the passengers claim that it was short circuit. PM orders investigation.
A glimpse of the Tezgam Express incident in which 73 people died and 40 were injured. (Picture Source: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk)
One horrifying event took place near Rahim Yar Khan when three coaches of Tezgam Express were set on fire on Thursday which led to the death of 73 people – most of which were burnt alive – and 40 injured. The train was on its way to Rawalpindi from Karachi and most of the people who died belonged to Tableegi Jamat as they were heading for a religious gathering. The railway ministry claims that the incident took place due to the blasting of a cooking stoves carried by the passengers, while some of the injured passengers say that the fire caught up due a short circuit in the electrical system of the train.
“Two stoves blew up when people were cooking breakfast, the presence of kerosene with the passengers in the moving train further spread the fire,” Railway Minister Sheikh Rashid said. He claimed that people sneak stoves onto the trains in order to cook meals for long journeys. Shortly before the accident took place, the conductor asked the passengers to stop cooking but they ignored him, he added. He further announced a help of 1.5 Million Rupees for families of dead and 0.5 Million for the injured.
On
the other hand, some of the accident survivors contradict the statement of
Railway minister as they believe that the fire was caused due to a short
circuit in the electrical system of the train.
Right after the accident, help started to arrive from the Rescue 1122, local police and the army. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals. Some of the dead bodies have been identified while the rest will be identified with DNA samples. PM Imran Khan also offered his condolences to the families of effected and he immediately ordered an inquiry for this devastating incident.
Islamabad High Court permits medical board for Asif Zardari
Asif Ali Zardari – Former President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan – Picture Credits: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk
*Islamabad High Court orders PIMS hospital to set up a medical board for Asif Ali Zardari.
Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday asked PIMS hospital to arrange a special medical board to examine and treat the former resident Asif Ali Zardari. The former President is facing corruption charges while due to his medical conditions, he is admitted to PIMS hospital.
A special bench of Islamabad High Court consisting of Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Aamir Farooq took up the bail plea of the former president as he demanded a release on medical grounds. Zardari’s counsel Farooq H Naek requested the court to grand the bail by telling them that his client was suffering from serious medical diseases like heart and diabetes. The IHC asked for the medical reports of the former president which were provided to the court upon asking.
After all the arguments, the court adjourned the hearing till 11th December and asked PIMS hospital to set up a new medical board for the examination of the former president. The court also allowed the personal physician of Asif Zardari to be a part of the medical board. IHC also asked the Zardari’s counsel to submit all the reports before the next date. The Pakistan People’s Party president was arrested in June and was accused for a multi-billion rupees money laundering case. Now, he requested the court for medical relief over a month after the former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was given relief on medical backgrounds.
New prosecutor in Musharraf treason case
A Picture of Former President of Pakistan: General (r) Pervez Musharraf – Picture Credits: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk
*The federal government appointed a new prosecutor in the Musharraf treason case. Advocate Ali Zia Bajwa will be joining in from the next hearing.
The federal government issued a notification on Wednesday in which they have appointed a new prosecutor in the treason case against the former president. Advocate Zia Bajwa is instructed to take the charge of this case.
As per the notification, Bajwa will be representing the prosecution as an assistant attorney general prosecution in front of a special court. Few days back, an Islamabad High Court bench stopped the court from issuing the final verdict of the court.
General (r) Pervez Musharraf released a video few days back and said that he has no issues in recording a statement in the treason case against him but he also claimed that he was being victimized in the case. He said, “In my view, the [treason] case against me is baseless. I have gone above and beyond the call of duty for the country. I have fought wars I served the country for 10 years. That’s why I consider the case to be baseless. I consider it to be unfair and the prerequisite of justice are not being fulfilled”
He further said that, “The commission can come here and listen to me. They must see themselves how my health condition is and then decide. That commission, with my lawyer, must then be heard in the court”. The former president also expressed hope that he will get justice in the case by saying that, “I hope, I will get justice”.
Talking about his physical condition, the former dictator said that his condition is “very bad”. He said, “I had been visiting the hospital regularly. This morning also, I felt dizziness and fainted. I had to be admitted to the hospital later.”
Shehbaz continues to criticize PM Khan
Shehbaz Sharif: Former Chief Minister Punjab and Current Opposition Leader – Picture Credits: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk
*Shehbaz Sharif claims that PTI government is a flop show. *The opposition leader termed the Prime Minister as the “Master of U-Turns”
Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) President on Wednesday criticized the government’s performance so far and he also called the government “total failure” and labelled the Prime Minister as “Master of U-Turns”.
He said, “I have never in my life seen a prime minister who lies as much as Imran Khan. Had he spent one-fourth of his time for Pakistan’s development, circumstances would have been different today.”
Shehbaz claimed that the government is totally incompetent and they have failed the entire nation. “The failed policies of the PTI government have resulted in unemployment rising in Pakistan. We are burying ourselves in debt,” he said. He also pointed that some ministers in the government who had used their political influence to have loans written off. “Those who were involved in corruption, you made them your advisors,” he said, while talking to a press conference in London.
The former chief minister told the media that the country was making great progress during the Nawaz Sharif’s tenure. “Load shedding spanned for as many as 20 hours before our government was elected,” he said. “Nawaz Sharif used the resources of the nation to produce 5,000 MW of electricity,” he added.
Shehbaz expressed his thoughts by saying that from the past one and half year, the PTI government is only talking against the past governments rather than they should do some work for the good of people. “Over the past year-and-a-half, a malicious propaganda was undertaken by Imran Khan Niazi and his ministers in which poisonous remarks were made but the comments given by the honorable bench, and especially the chief justice, in Tuesday’s hearing has separated all the truth from the lies,” he said. “No one in the country has any doubt of the way he attempted to push the opposition against the wall, seeking their conviction in false cases and spewing poisonous remarks against them,” he claimed.
Information Minister hits back at Shehbaz Sharif; defends the PM
A still of Firdous Ashiq Awan during her press conference in Islamabad – Picture Credits: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk
*Information media pointed that during an hour long press conference, Shehbaz Sharif did not talk about the health of Nawaz Sharif. *She also claimed that the opposition is delaying the consensus over the matter of new CEC.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister (PM) on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan responded to the statements of the opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif about the government and the Prime Minister on Wednesday during a media briefing.
The opposition leader taunted the PM by calling him ‘Niazi’ during his press conference. Hitting back, Firdous said that the PM takes pride in the fact that he is ‘Niazi’ but then she asked Shehbaz Sharif to tell that is ‘Mian’ his first name or he just likes to be called by that name. She suggested that Shehbaz Sharif to tell the nation about his real name or else she would have to do that.
Criticizing the opposition leader, she said, “You have forgotten your properties that were frozen by NAB a day earlier. You should also have commented on your cash boys who laundered money for you, the cars in which the nation’s stolen money was stuffed and transferred abroad and how [the money] came back to Pakistan in the form of telegraphic transfers,”
She said that she regrets that Shehbaz Sharif conducted an hour long conference yet he did not discussed the health of Nawaz Sharif.
She also regretted that the opposition was delaying the consensus over the issue of the next chief of election commissioner. She said, “The government has been trying to ensure that the Election Commissioner of Pakistan remains functional”
Taking about the progress of the government, she praised the efforts of the economic team for the stabilized economic situation. She also ensured that within some time, the situation of the country will be on the brighter side.
Cricket legend Bob Willis dead at 70
Bob Willis (1949-2019) – Picture Credits: Metro.co.uk
*The England cricket legend passed away at the age of 70 after suffering for a short illness. *Fans are sad and paying tribute to the great cricketer.
Former England cricket captain and the hero of 1981 Ashes Bob Willis died at the age of 70 on Wednesday. He was suffering from some minor illness from a short span of time.
One of his family members spoke to the press and said, “We are heartbroken to lose our beloved Bob, who was an incredible husband, father, brother and grandfather. He made a huge impact on everybody he knew and we will miss him terribly”
Not only the family, but fans across the globe and all the cricket lovers are sad with this big loss to the world. The man was one great bowler of his time and played for his nation with all his head and heart. The fast bowler started his cricketing career in 1971 and retired in 1984. During this long period of time, he played 90 test matches and 64 one day internationals as well.
His team mates claim that he was a pure match winner and a great person on and off the field. He has a total of 325 wickets under his name. He is the fourth highest wicket taker for England in test cricket after Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad and Ian Botham. One of the most memorable performance by him was in 1981 ashes where in the third test match, he took 8 wicket for 43 runs.
Due to his aggression, his long run and his ability to swing the ball, he was a great threat to the batsmen of his era. Last year, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) named him in the England’s greatest Test XI as well.
Muhammad Ahsan - MCOM 202 (Sub-Editing) 