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Pakistani in viral Pope selfie speaks of ´heartache´ for minorities

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani Christian whose selfie with the Pope has gone viral has spoken of his "heartache" at the treatment of minorities in Pakistan, and said the pontiff told him he was praying for peace. Daniel Bashir, a 26-year-old doctor in Karachi, told AFP he took the selfie with the leader of the world´s Catholics during a youth conference at the Vatican last month.He presented Pope Francis with an ajrak shawl, a traditional blockprinted garment from Sindh province, and the two posed for the picture in which the pontiff can be seen with the gift draped around his shoulders and grinning broadly."My heart is full of happiness," Bashir captioned the image on Facebook. "He was very happy to see the ajrak... I also met him personally later and gifted him a blanket," Bashir told AFP late Friday. The pontiff then told him that he "daily prays for peace in Pakistan", Bashir added. The image quickly went viral and Bashir found himself in the spotlight, telling AFP he has been receiving calls from media ever since.He said he and the pontiff also spoke of the treatment of religious minorities in Pakistan, where Muslims account for more than 90 percent of the population. Christians make up an estimated two percent of Pakistan´s more than 200 million people."I consider myself safe in Karachi but it is painful to see the incidents with Christians and minorities," Bashir said."Minorities are oppressed too much and with this reference my heart aches," he said, though he added: "But we are happy in Pakistan." He said he also discussed the topic at the conference, telling fellow delegates from around the world that education would allow children in their community to "face it better"."Our Bible tells us that we should pray for people who hate us," he added.Bashir´s encounter with the Pope impressed him so much that instead of specialising in neurosurgery, as he had planned, he now wants to enter the church."I will present myself to become a priest and join a seminary in June," he said.

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Video: US Embassy car hits motorcycle, kills man in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: US Embassy car hit a motorcycle in the federal capital on Saturday, killing a man and critically injuring another within the limits of Kohsar police station.According to details, the car driven by US defence air attaché Col Joseph Emanuel hit the motorcycle as a result motorcyclist Ateeq Baig was killed instantly while his cousin Raheel was critically injured in the accident. The victim was resident of the city’s Tihar suburb.According to Geo TV footage, US defense air attaché violated a red traffic signal as a result he hit the motorcycle. The US official was not arrested owing to their diplomatic immunity, however, the police took the vehicle into custody.A statement released by the US Embassy confirmed the accident. “The embassy is in contact with the local authorities to probe the incident,” the statement reads.Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Dr Mohammad Faisal, in a tweet, has also confirmed the incident, saying “An accident involving a US embassy vehicle occurred in Islamabad. MOFA is looking into the matter. Investigations are being carried out.”

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CM Sindh urges KE, SSGC to iron out all differences, not to punish people

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah presiding over a joint meeting of K-Electric (KE) and Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) here at the CM Hose today has categorically told both the entities that due to their personal disputes he would not allow them to punish the people of this city.The meeting was attended by SSGC Chairman Board of Directors Lt. Gen. (retd) Javed Zia, Board of Directors Agha Sher Shah, Rizwan Kehar, MD SSGC Amin Rajput, Sr GM Saeed Larik, CFO Fasihuddin Fawad. The KE was represented by its Chairman Waqar Siddiqui, CEO Tayyab Tareen, Board of Directors Zubair Motiwala, Khalid Rafi, Mubasher Shaikh, Freeric Sicre, Chief Generation Officer Dale Sinkle, Chief financial Officers Moonis A. Alvi, and Directors Aamir Qureshi. The chief minister was assisted by his Principal Secretary Sohail Rajput and Secretary Energy Agha Wasif.The chief minister said that Karachi is currently facing increased electricity load shedding. The KE blames SSGCL for reduced gas supply, resulting in the decreased generation of electricity. The SSGCL denies and claims that 90 mmcfd is being supplies against the old agreement of 10 mmcfd signed in 1970s.He said that in the claims and counter claims between the two organizations people of this city suffer a lot in this sweltering weather. Therefore, he had written a letter to the prime minister and took this issue with him.It was pointed out in the meeting that SSGCL provides gas to KE without any gas supply agreement (GSA) for production of electricity from gas-based power generation plants. The SSGCL follows the ECC decisions for supply of gas. It was also noted that from 2001 to 2008, the ECC allocated supply of up to 276 mmcfd gas to KE for its multiple gas-based power plants. The KE has four gas-based power plants which require 180 mmcfd to generate 1104 MW electricity. Additionally, KE requires 10 mmcfd, as pilot fuel, to operate duel fuel gas/furnace oil-based plant at Bin Qasim Power station. It was also told in the meeting that minimum 190 mmcfd gas is required in summer for operating single fuel gas-based plants at full load. The SSGCL has significantly curtailed gas supply to KE and the current supply is 90 mmcfd. The average for 2017 was 141 mmcfd versus 177 and 167 in 2015 and 2016 respectively. The chief minister was told that there was KE-SSCGL billing dispute. The KE-SSGC bills payment issue first surfaced in 2010 when KE defaulted on payment of cumulative bill of arrears of Rs10 billion. Since, SSGCL has been charging mark up at the rate of 15.5 percent on the arrears. The two entities signed a payment plan in 2014. As per their agreement plans, the KE was obligated to pay arrears in addition to current billing, if agreed benchmark gas supply is met. According to KE outstanding balance towards SSGC is Rs13,7 billion while SSGC says the receivable are Rs80 billion. The KE’s average monthly bill is Rs1.5 to Rs2.5 billion which is regularly being paid besides, part of the outstanding `principal’ amount is also paid. The chair was also told that KE contests SSGCL markup claim and considers it as an outcome of circular debt. Moreover, markup is not charged on other entities like KWSB etc. Now the matter is pending in the Sindh High Court.The chief minister talking about summer situation said that said the peak demand is expected to be around 3,400 MWs, shortfall at peak summer time would be 400 MW provided all plants of KE are running at their full capacity. He added that KE requires at least 190 mmcfd supply of gas as in previous years to run its single fuel gas plants to ensure smooth supply of power to domestic and industrial consumers. “The reduction of 20 mmcfd creates additional gap of 100 MWs which would result in significant load shed for consumers, including industrial consumers.Murad Ali Shah concluded that with the gas supply at the current level of 90 mmcfd the power shortfall would further increase by 500 MW in addition to the exiting 400 MWs in peak summer. “This means the people of this city, including the industrial units would have to face more than 10 hour load shedding,” he said and added this was unacceptable. He urged both the entities to sit together from Monday and by Wednesday iron out all their differences whether they would have to sign the new agreements and payment plans but on Thursday he wants a solution to the problem. “The people of city cannot be punished further,” he said categorically.

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Bahria University Medical & Dental College Karachi holds 5th Convocation

KARACHI: The fifth MBBS and 2nd BDS Convocation Ceremony of Bahria University Medical & Dental College was held here on Saturday. Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi was the chief guest, who conferred degrees upon 133 graduating doctors and awarded medals to position holders.Addressing on the occasion, the Chief of the Naval Staff congratulated the students and their parents on their splendid success and said that the occasion of the convocation is very important for graduates as it symbolizes successful completion of their education and transition into a career aimed at serving humanity. He advised the graduates to be men and women of sterling character, have a positive attitude towards life and sacrifice personal gains for the national interests. Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, while appreciating the achievements of Bahria University Medical and Dental College, stressed on the need to keep pace with the evolving advancements in the domain of medical sciences through continuously upgrading its curricula and transforming it into a more learner-friendly and research-oriented college.Earlier in his welcome address, Vice Admiral (Retd) Muhammad Shafique, Rector Bahria University felicitated the Medical & Dental graduates on successfully achieving this milestone. The Rector stated that the universities have great responsibility of producing quality graduates who could contribute positively in various fields. In the same backdrop, Bahria University is committed to provide top of the line medical and dental graduates to the country, who are able to leave their mark in the society. Therefore, the university is striving hard to provide state of the art teaching and learning environment to its students with the objective of providing well groomed and better trained doctors in the health sector. The ceremony was attended by senior officials of the education sector, Naval Officers and parents of the graduating doctors.

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Big blow to PML-N as MNA Dr Ramesh Kumar joins PTI

ISLAMABAD: Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) member of the National Assembly on a minority seat, has left the party and joined Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He made this announcement during a joint press conference at his residence with Imran Khan here on Saturday.Dr Ramesh Kumar said that he always practised politics on principles and raised his voice on issues of human rights.He said: “I refused to be a part of the PML-N after the language and stance they adopted following the Panama Papers case".The MNA said "I was one of the few to speak up against the incumbent government's decision to privatise the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) ".Responding to a question, the MNA said, "I hope Chaudhry Nisar will also join PTI". Ramesh Kumar told the Press conference that when PML-N leaders did not listen to him, he wrote columns in newspapers to get his point of view across.Chairman PTI Imran Khan said on this occasion that Quaid-e-Azam struggled and created Pakistan to protect minorities."We will protect minorities by bringing in a rule of law," he added.The PTI chief said: "We will ensure and create equal opportunities for minorities in the country". Dr Ramesh Kumar was elected as a member of the National Assembly on a reserved seat for minorities on the PML-N ticket in the General Elections 2013.Earlier in March, MNA Nisar Jutt made an exit from the ruling PML-N to join the PTI, along with his aides.Prior to that, the PML-N lost two MNAs from Gujranwala, who also joined PTI.Last year many political leaders lawmakers with a number of political workers had joined Imran Khan-led PTI. They included Nazar Gondal, Firdous Ashiq Awan and Babar Awan from Pakistan People’s Party, and former chief minister Sindh Liaquat Jatoi from PML-N.

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