World
Pakistan accountability court resumes hearing against Sharifs
Islamabad, Nov 22 (IANS) Ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain Muhammad Safdar (Retd.) appeared before an accountability court here on Wednesday as the trial resumed into the corruption references filed against them by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
Several senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leaders accompanied Sharif to the court. The NAB has filed three graft references against the Sharif family relating to the Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metals Establishment, their London properties and over dozen offshore companies owned by the family.
Sharif and his two sons — Hussain and Hassan — are nominated in all three references whereas Maryam and her husband are only accused in one.
Despite being exempted from appearance, the former Premier and his daughter attended the court hearing. Maryam submitted a request asking the court to alter her exemption period, seeking to be absent from December 5 to January 5, 2018, Dawn online reported.
Similarly, Nawaz sought exemption from appearance from December 5-12. The court is yet to rule on the requests. The Sharif family members left the court after two prosecution witnesses recorded their statements.
Speaking to the media after attending the proceedings, Sharif came down hard on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and the Opposition Pakistan Peoples Party.
He said “dictator’s black laws were rejected on the floor of the house yesterday”, referring to the rejection in the National Assembly of the Elections Amendment Bill 2017, which sought to restrict disqualified parliamentarians from heading a political party.
The PML-N President lamented the PPP moving of the amendment bill, saying: “The PPP’s support for this bill hurt me. The party’s action has made me question their democratic credentials.”
Talking about the PTI, Sharif said there is nothing democratic about the party, adding that it is not even a political party (due to its link with dictators).
Referring to the courts’ alleged lenient attitude towards PTI Chairman Imran Khan, Sharif said the “rules of the game should be the same”.
Sharif said that verdicts against his family are announced swiftly and wondered when judgments against the PTI leaders will be announced. “The standard of justice applies differently to us than others. The mockery of requisites of justice should be stopped.”
He said corruption cases are now emerging against the PTI leadership as well, including Imran Khan, Jahangir Tareen and Aleem Khan.
–IANS
soni/bg
National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.