Wednesday, 27 April 2016

Ex Army Chief and former President of Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf is a billionaire: Panama Leaks

ISLAMABAD : Ex Army Chief and former President of Pakistan General Pervaiz Musharraf Owns offshore accounts value having more than 2 Billion, besides having foreign bank accounts, Musharraf has also made huge saving investments abroad specially in Dubai. Special Report

In wake of the Panama Papers leak, the politicians are being grilled for owning offshore companies but no one asks the ex-dictator Pervez Musharraf from where he got billions of rupees which are kept in his offshore accounts. Musharraf, who retired as army chief, till recently was in possession of around Rs 2156 million net cash in his offshore bank accounts besides other movable and immovable property


The politicians are considered children of lesser god when it comes to criticism on any account whereas no one dares to say a single word against the holy cows.


Gen. Musharraf accumulated billions in offshore accounts besides the property that he has already purchased in foreign lands or inside Pakistan but he never mentioned these assets and accounts even at the time of assets declaration while submitting his nomination papers during general elections 2013.


According to the source, besides having foreign bank accounts, Musharraf has also made huge saving investments abroad to earn large profits. The source said that in just one Dubai-based online trading service — MMA — Musharraf had US$ 1,600,000 (Rs 145 million) last year. Musharraf’s account number, according to the source in this company, is AV77777.

In the Union National Bank, which is an investment bank in Abu Dhabi, Musharraf and his spouse Sehba Musharraf, have a joint account No 4002000304, in which the amount mid last year was UAE Dirhams 17,000,000 ( Rs 391 million).

In the same bank — the Union National Bank — they have another joint account No 400200315, which is a dollar account. This particular account last year contained US$ 535,325 (Rs 48 million).

In yet another UAE Dirham account in the same financial institution — the Union National Bank — Sehba and Musharraf had almost UAE Dirhams 7,600,000 (Rs 174 million) last year. The account No is 4003006700. In the fourth account, No 4003006711, in the Union National Bank, the duo had UAE Dirhams 8,000,000 (Rs 184 million). In the fifth account, No 4003006722 in the same bank — the Union National Bank — Musharraf and his wife had US$ 8,000,000 (Rs 728 million). In the sixth account, No 4003006733, Mrs Sehba Musharraf and Mr Pervez Musharraf had UAE Dirhams 8,000,000 (Rs 184 million) last year. In the seventh account, No 4003006744, in the same Union National Bank, the duo holds UAE Dirhams 8,000,000 (Rs 184 million). In their eighth account in the same bank — the Union National Bank Abu Dhabi — the duo had US$1,300,000 (Rs 118 million).

During the initial few months of his taking over as a military dictator following his coup against the Nawaz Sharif government, General Musharraf made his wealth public, which hardly contained any cash but only some plots in different parts of the country. Musharraf claimed to be the Mr Clean of Pakistan. How did he become a billionaire is a million dollar question.

Sunday, 24 April 2016

Afghanistan says Kabul attack was planned by the Haqqani network in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan Govt has alleged that a recent deadly attack in Kabul this month was planned by the Haqqani network in Pakistan


On April 19, Afghan Taliban-claimed attack against a security agency responsible for protecting senior government officials and VIPs, which killed 64 people and injured 347 others.


In a message to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had condemned the heinous attack and called for coordinated approach to eliminate the menace of terrorism

“Investigation is underway but the initial evidence suggests the attack was planned by the Haqqani Network with the help of foreign circles in Pakistan,” deputy spokesperson for Afghan President Dawa Khan Meenpal told Radio Azadi. Read More here ...

Thursday, 21 April 2016

Pakistan's Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif dismisses 12 senior Military Officers from service over corruption

RAWALPINDI: In an unprecedented move, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif dismissed 12 army officers, including a three-star general, from service over alleged corruption on Thursday. A major general, lieutenant colonel, five brigadiers and a major are among those dismissed from service, said an intelligence official speaking to DawnNews on condition of anonymity


Sources say the following officers are among those dismissed:


Lt Gen Obaidullah, Inspector General Arms and Weapons at General Headquarters
Maj Gen Ejaz Shahid
Brigadier Rasheed
Brigadier Asad Shahzada
Brigadier Saifullah
Brigadier Amir
Brigadier Haider
Lt Col Haider, Commandant Chaman Scouts
Maj Najeeb
 
The eight officers named above served with the Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan and have been charged for corruption during their service with the paramilitary force. The others dismissed were junior commission officers who worked with those named above, said the intelligence official.

Following the investigation conducted by Adjutant Gen Zubair Mahmood Hayat on the orders of the army chief, the charged officers were asked to return all earnings accumulated through corruption, the official said, adding that all perks and privileges had been withdrawn from the officers except their pensions.

Lt Gen Obaidullah also served as IG FC from 2010-2013, after which Maj Gen Ejaz Shahid was appointed IG FC, intelligence sources said.

There has been no official confirmation regarding the move. Read More here ...
 

Wrestler, entertainer Joanie Laurer aka Chyna is dead at 46

Joan Laurer, the ground breaking female wrestler known as Chyna, has died.

Police in Redondo Beach, California confirm that Laurer, 46, was found dead in her apartment on Wednesday. Police say they were notified by a friend who went to check on her and found Laurer unresponsive. The cause of death is under investigation, but police say there are no signs of foul play.


"It is with deep sadness to inform you that we lost a true icon, a real life superhero. Joanie Laurer aka Chyna, the 9th wonder of the world, has passed away," said a post on her website.


After graduating from the University of Tampa, Chyna started training in the world of professional wrestling and in 1996 she was named the "Rookie of the Year for the Women's Championship," according to her website. She wrestled in the Royal Rumble and King of Ring tournaments and became the only undefeated Women's Champion in WWF (World Wrestling Federation) history. Read More ...

Monday, 18 April 2016

With US no longer trusted, Turkey and Saudi forge new alliance

The visit of Saudi Arabia's King Salman to Turkey – in all he will spend five days there including two at the Organisation of the Islamic Conference in Istanbul - is being seen by the Turkish media as a landmark event. It is certainly a visit on an exceptionally grand scale – the king’s delegation took over an entire high-rise hotel and will have a fleet of 500 Mercedes at its disposal.










Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, King Salman’s host, signalled the special importance of his visitor by meeting him in person at Ankara Airport and driving back into town together with him. Normal protocol rules would have suggested that the king would be met by a minister and only meet the president in his palace later.


President Erdogan was probably responding to a similar honour paid to him when he visited Saudi Arabia last December and was met at the airport by the king. Shortly afterwards photographs were issued of the two heads of state sitting together below a large portrait of Kemal Ataturk, the secularist founder of the Turkish Republic. On Tuesday, King Salman received Turkey’s top decoration.  Read More ...

Attack on bus in Jerusalem, at least 15 wounded: medics, police

JERUSALEM: An attack occurred on a bus in Jerusalem on Monday, Israeli police said, with medics reporting an explosion and at least 15 people wounded.


Police only said there was “an attack” without providing further details.


Rescue service Magen David Adom reported the explosion and at least 15 wounded, including two seriously.

Saturday, 16 April 2016

Saudi Arabia threatens to sell off US assets if held responsible for 9/11 attacks

The Saudi Arabian government has threatened to sell of hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of American assets should the US Congress pass a bill that could hold the kingdom responsible for any role in the September 11, 2001 attacks, the New York Times reported on Friday. The newspaper reported that Saudi foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir told US lawmakers last month that “Saudi Arabia would be forced to sell up to $750 billion in Treasury securities and other assets in the United States before they could be in danger of being frozen by American courts.”


The bill, which passed the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this year, would take away immunity from foreign governments in cases “arising from a terrorist attack that kills an American on American soil.”


The New York Times, citing administration officials and congressional aides, said “the Saudi threats have been the subject of intense discussions in recent weeks between lawmakers and officials from the State Department and the Pentagon.” Read More here ...

Friday, 15 April 2016

Google blocked 780M Bad Advertising from its Google AdSense system

In one way it is, as the 49 percent increase in bad ads blocked outpaced Google’s overall advertising growth, indicating that the company has been blocking a greater number of bad ads as a percentage of the whole


Clicks on its ads grew at a slightly more leisurely pace, rising 23 percent from a year earlier in the third quarter last year, the most recent for which figures are available.

When Google tells us it blocked 780 million bad ads last year, is that a sign that things are getting better?


It also blocked advertising on more than 25,000 mobile apps after app developers violated Google’s policies, and it outright rejected 1.4 million apps from websites and app developers who wanted to show Google’s ads but not play by the company’s rules. Read More here ...

French PM calls for ban on Islamic headscarves at universities

The French prime minister, Manuel Valls, has sparked controversy by suggesting the Muslim headscarf should be banned in universities and that a majority of French people think Islam is incompatible with the values of the Republic


The Socialist, under pressure over contested labour reforms and growing street protest movements, reopened the divisive question of whether students could be banned from wearing headscarves at French universities.

In a long interview with the daily LibĂ©ration, he was asked whether headscarves should be banned by law from universities and replied: “It should be done,” conceding that the constitution made it difficult.


But other Socialist ministers immediately contradicted him. “There is no need for a law on the headscarf at university,” said Thierry Mandon, the higher education minister. He said students were adults, and as such they “have every right to wear a headscarf. The headscarf is not banned in French society.”

Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, the education minister, said she did not support banning headscarves from universities, adding that students were young adults with “freedom of conscience and religious liberty” to do as they please. “Our universities also have a lot of foreign students. Are we going to ban them access because in their culture there’s a certain type of clothing?” she said. Read More here ...

Tuesday, 12 April 2016

Police constable shows judge how grenade works inside courtroom 3 injured

Police constable shows judge how grenade works inside courtroom three injured: A hand grenade exploded inside of court in Karachi’s Anti-Terrorism Courtroom (ATC) after a judge requested a police constable if he knew how grenades worked. The constable, as an alternative of explaining his expertise in weapons and grenade managing to the judge, opted to reveal practically by promptly pulling out the pin from the grenade.


This led to a loud explosion, injuring 3 including the constable and a court clerk. The blast happened even as hearing of a case used to be underway in courtroom-3. 2 policemen and a court clerk were amongst injured and taken to a close-by medical institution for first aid. Court’s continuing was once in brief suspended as a result.

In step with media studies, the grenade in query was once a locally developed bomb which was once brought to the court docket by Investigation Officer Abid Ali as evidence. The bomb used to be, reportedly, not defused ahead of production in the court.


The police and paramilitary forces in the neighborhood instantly surrounded the area after the explosion fearing a terrorist assault and the safety forces had been placed on prime alert. It is secure to mention that now the whole court docket knows how grenades paintings, together with the curious judge. In step with authorities, the constable who apparently knows how grenades work can be punished significantly after he recovers from his injuries.

Apple offers corporate lease schemes for iPhone SE, other models

NEW DELHI: Apple wants Indian corporates to use its latest iPhone SE and has made, what watchers claim, an attractive offer of leasing the phone for Rs 999 a month for two years.


The Cupertino-based smartphone maker has also offered its existing phones - iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S - on similar leasing plans for two years at Rs 1,199 and Rs 1,399 a month, respectively.


The offer advertised through mainstream print media on Tuesday is aimed at getting more enterprises to use Apple devices, as the company has also introduced the offer on all iPad models. Read More ...

Afghan Taliban launches spring offensive codenamed 'Operation Omari'

The Afghan Taliban has launched its annual spring offensive in the strife-torn country. This year's offensive has been codenamed "Operation Omari" after the organisation's founder Mullah Mohammad Omar, whose death was announced in 2015.



The Islamist insurgent group said its offensive will be directed at American and Nato forces for the 15th consecutive year. Just hours before the formal declaration by the militant group, there were attacks in Kabul and Nangarhar province.

A statement sent out to media by the extremist group reads: "Jihad against the aggressive and usurping infidel army is a holy obligation upon our necks and our only recourse for re-establishing an Islamic system and regaining our independence."

It added: "The present operation will also employ all means at our disposal to bog the enemy down in a war of attrition that lowers the morale of the foreign invaders and their internal armed militias." Read More ....

Thursday, 7 April 2016

MCB reaffirm their position on Ahmadiyya sect as non-Muslims

The Muslim Council of Britain, who are the largest Muslim umbrella organisation in the UK, have issued a statement reaffirming their position on the Ahmadiyya sect as non-Muslims.

The following statement was issued by the MCB yesterday on their website:

“The Muslim Council of Britain has received requests as to where it stands with regard to the Ahmadiyya community.





“The MCB fully subscribes to pluralism and peaceful coexistence and acknowledges the rights of all to believe as they choose without coercion, fear and intimidation.

“We affirm the right of Ahmadis to their freedom of belief and reject any attacks on their property or persons. They have the right to live free from discrimination or persecution. The targeting of Ahmadis for their beliefs is totally unacceptable.

“The Muslim Council of Britain reflects the clear theological position expressed across Islamic traditions: namely that the cornerstone of Islam is to believe in One God and in the finality of the Prophethood of the Messenger Muhammad, peace be upon him. We understand that this is not a tenet subscribed to by the Ahmadi community. The MCB Constitution requires our affiliates to declare that Messenger Muhammad peace be upon him is the final prophet and whoever does not subscribe to that declaration cannot be eligible for affiliation with the MCB.  Given this fundamental theological difference with the Ahmadi community, the MCB is not in a position to represent or be represented by the Ahmadi community.

“Despite our clear theological beliefs, we note that pressure is mounting to describe this community as Muslim. Muslims should not be forced to class Ahmadis as Muslims if they do not wish to do so, at the same time, we call on Muslims to be sensitive, and above all, respect all people irrespective of belief or background.

“As with all faith communities, and with genuinely held theological beliefs, we nevertheless extend our hand of friendship and cooperation for the common good of all.

“The MCB believes that all individuals and places of worship must be respected. It unequivocally condemns all forms of intimidation and violence against people of all faiths and none. The MCB condemns all attacks on all places of worship of other religions and beliefs.”

Sources
Muslim Council of Britain 

Sunday, 3 April 2016

The Panama Papers: An Introduction

The Panama Papers is a global investigation into the sprawling, secretive industry of offshore that the world’s rich and powerful use to hide assets and skirt rules by setting up front companies in far-flung jurisdictions.



Based on a trove of more than 11 million leaked files, the investigation exposes a cast of characters who use offshore companies to facilitate bribery, arms deals, tax evasion, financial fraud and drug trafficking.



Behind the email chains, invoices and documents that make up the Panama Papers are often unseen victims of wrongdoing enabled by this shadowy industry. This is their story.

  • Executive producer: Hamish Boland-Rudder
  • Director/producer/audio editor: Carrie Ching
  • Animation artist: Arthur Jones
  • Report: Will Fitzgibbon
  • Narrator: Eleanor Bell Fox
  • Supported by the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting