Category: Uncategorized

Pakistan ex-PM given three-year jail sentence

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been given three-year jail sentence over corruption allegations.

Mr Khan was found guilty of not declaring money earned from selling gifts he received in office. He denies the charges and says he will appeal.

After the verdict, Mr Khan was taken into custody from his home in Lahore.

In a pre-recorded statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, he told his supporters: “I have only one appeal, don’t sit at home silently.”

The former cricketer-turned-politician, 70, was elected in 2018, but was ousted in a no-confidence vote last year after falling out with Pakistan’s powerful military.

Mr Khan is facing more than 100 cases brought against him since his removal – charges he says are politically motivated.

Saturday’s verdict centred on charges that he incorrectly declared details of presents from foreign dignitaries and proceeds from their alleged sale.

The gifts – reported to be worth more than 140m Pakistani rupees ($635,000; £500,000) – included Rolex watches, a ring and a pair of cuff links.

“His dishonesty has been established beyond doubt,” judge Humayun Dilawar wrote in his ruling.

Mr Khan’s barrister Gohar Khan said the verdict was “a murder of justice”.

“We weren’t even given a chance. We weren’t even allowed to cross [examine], to say anything in defence or conduct our arguments. I haven’t seen this kind of injustice before,” he told Dawn newspaper.

As the court decision was announced, a crowd, which included some prosecuting lawyers, began chanting “Imran Khan is a thief” outside the building.

Mr Khan will be sent to Adyala jail, a central prison in the city of Rawalpindi, south of Islamabad.

For months he had avoided arrest, with his supporters at times fighting pitched battles with police to keep him out of custody.

In May, Mr Khan was arrested for not appearing at court as requested. He was then released, with the arrest declared illegal.

Since then, his party has been under intense pressure from the authorities.

Many senior officials have left and thousands of supporters have been arrested, accused of being involved in the protests that followed Mr Khan’s arrest.

When questioned by BBC HARDTalk as to whether he had created an atmosphere of hostility to the military resulting in violence, Mr Khan said he and his party had never advocated the use of violence and had a record of peaceful protest.

Mr Khan said the army in Pakistan was “petrified” of elections which his party would win “hands-down” and, for that reason, “they’re dismantling a democracy”.

Pakistan’s army plays a prominent role in politics, sometimes seizing power in military coups, and, on other occasions, pulling levers behind the scenes.

Many analysts believe Mr Khan’s election win in 2018 happened with the help of the military.

In opposition, he has been one of its most vocal critics, and analysts say the army’s popularity has fallen.

Since being ousted, Mr Khan has been campaigning for early elections.

Conviction would disqualify Mr Khan from standing for office, possibly for life.

Pakistan’s parliament will be dissolved on August 9, leaving a caretaker government to take over in the run-up to the elections.

No election date has been announced, although constitutionally they should take place by early November.

Traffic official orders registration of water tankers, rickshaws, boda-boda

The Director-General of the National Traffic Police has directed the police  to register water tankers, motorbikes and rickshaws starting Tuesday, August 1st, 2023 next week.

“I directed the traffic police to register all water tankers in the General Traffic Department next Tuesday, August 1st.

“There is a section to register foreigners’ water tankers and another section to register citizens’ water tanks, said Major General Kon John Akot on the  state own-TV, SSBC on Saturday, July 29.

“I also directed that all motorbikes and Richaws must be registered in the Traffic Department And it should have the monthly inspection card.  We will implement the decision from the 1st of August, he added.

He warned failure to comply with the order, violators will face the law.

“Therefore, anyone has to come to register and we will use the law against  violators of the decision,

The motive of the order is unclear.

But this comes weeks after the Traffic Police on July 8th launched a crackdown on traffic violators and the protest by water tankers to supply water after the city council fixed water prices.

National Cabinet approves Civil Population Disarmament Bill

The Council of Ministers has approved the civil population disarmament bill 2023  and directed the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs be table it before the national legislature.

The bill was presented to the cabinet by Minister of Justice Ruben Madol on Friday, July 28.

The 2023 draft bill was forwarded to the cabinet on June 22nd  for deliberations.

Speaking to the media after the Executive Friday’s meeting, the Minister of Information Michael Makuei said the cabinet directed the Justice Minister to introduce the bill to the National Legislative Assembly for deliberation.

“The cabinet listened to the presentation of Minister of Justice Ruben Madul on the Civil Population Disarmament Bill 2023,

“The bill was tabled today [july 28th] in Infront of the cabinet, and it was passed and the cabinet directed the minister to introduce the bill to the National Legislative Assembly for deliberation,” said Makuei.

According to researchers, prior to the separation of South Sudan from Sudan, there were between 1.9 and 3.2 million small arms in circulation, with about two-thirds of these in the hands of civilians.

They said the primary source of weapons to civilians was the civil wars.

Experts stated that the flow of weapons from organized forces has proved problematic despite disarmament campaigns.

It has been alleged that the collected weapons often trickle back into the communities.

Lakes State suspected churches arsonist arrested

Lakes State police have arrested a suspect in connection with the burning of a Presbyterian and catholic church in Rumbek at the weekend.

The Sant Emmanuel Parish of the Episcopal church in Malual Bab and a Roman Catholic Church adjacent to it burnt into ashes during the wee hours on Saturday.

No group has claimed responsibility for the fire.

Reacting to the incident, Pastor Petero Mayek who is the pastor in charge of the Episcopal church appealed to the community to help find the individuals behind the incident.

“Church has bee talking to the community that if person has been found then it would be better,” he said.

When contacted on Monday, Lakes State police spokesperson Major Elija Mabor Makuach confirmed that the authorities have arrested a suspect.

“In fact when the Church  burned into ashes on Saturday night around 11:30 PM, we arrived in the morning and the police investigated the crime until we arrested one suspect,” he said

Maj. Mabor said the investigation was still ongoing.

Motorcyclist killed in Aweil after being run over by truck

A 24-year-old motorcyclist died on Sunday in Aweil Center of Northern Bahr el Ghazal after he was crushed by a lorry truck on the outskirt of the town.

The state police spokesperson Guot Guot Akol confirmed the Sunday morning incident to Eye Radio Monday evening.

The deceased John Garang Lual was run over on the upper body part while he was riding in the Owolech area, situated just five kilometers east of Aweil town.

“To be more specific, this traffic accident happened yesterday [Sunday] at around 9:00 am on 23 July in the Owolech suburb of Aweil, about 5 kilometers east of Aweil.

“The rider John Garang Lual, who happened to be the late was riding his motorbike when he had an accident with a Mitsubishi driver and died on the scene.”

Guot says the truck driver he identified as Deng Deng Aleu has been detained in police custody and is being investigated for the incident.

“The driver is in custody and the investigation is ongoing.”

President Kiir pledges to upgrade Wau stadium

President Salva Kiir has pledged to rehabilitate to an international standard Wau stadium in Western Bahr el Ghazal state.

Kiir made the promise during the SPLM party rally in Wau town on Tuesday.

Thousands of supporters and senior party leaders from Juba and the greater Bahr el Ghazal region converged in Wau yesterday and celebrate Kiir’s endorsement as the party flag bearer for the 2024 general elections.

The Wau stadium with a capacity of 12.000 seaters was built in 1970-1973 during the Addis Abba agreement.

Kiir says the stadium is small and he promised to lift its standard to an international level.

“Here in Bahr el Ghazal, there is no good stadium other than this small stadium, and I will maintain it, and rehabilitate the stadium to be at an international level so that everyone can be accommodated, and this they have practiced and implemented,” he said.

The President did not state when he intends to commit to his promise.

 

error: Alert: Content is protected !!
Exit mobile version