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During her keynote address on a national seminar titled ‘Pakistan’s Economic Challenges and the Way Forward’ Pakistan’s, Shamshad Akhtar said that bold reforms would lead to a new era of development and prosperity in the country.

She said that effective implementation of ambitious reforms will depend on addressing critical underlying institutional, governance, and structural constraints.

Shamshad Akhtar who also holds portfolios of Revenue and Economic Affairs highlighted five key areas that have increased the vulnerability of Pakistan’s economy to domestic and global shocks.

First, unsustainable fiscal policy due to revenue gaps and unproductive expenditure. The Second, fiscal unsustainability has enhanced government recourse to public debt which has increased.

The third, climate shocks as the global warming model predicts that Pakistan’s weather patterns will become even more volatile and extreme in the decades ahead, with an average increase in temperatures by 1.3% to 4.9% by 2090. The fourth, the lack of innovation and diversity in the structure of the economy and the fifth, the failure to integrate Pakistan’s economy with the rest of the world.

Read More: FinMin Shamshad Akhtar suggests listing of govt debt securities at PSX

Earlier, the Finance Minister suggested that the securities market can play a vital role in the development of debt market through the listing of Government debt securities on Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX).

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Centralized Gateway Portal, Shamshad Akhtar said that the issuance securities through public auctions at PSX will facilitate retail participation, provide greater transparency, channelize savings and promote debt market in Pakistan.

According to the details, the NADRA has provided modern facilities, refraining the citizens from long queues at the centers.  After completing the process through the app, the applicant could get their ID documents delivered to their doorstep.

Through NADRA Pak ID mobile app, photo upload, fingerprints verification and online payment have been made easy. NADRA spokesperson said that now CNICs, FRCs and even CNICs for overseas Pakistani could be issued online.

Read More: NADRA smart ID card renewal updated fee- Dec 2023

Earlier in December, NADRA updated the fee for the renewal of smart ID cards.

The NADRA smart card is a national identity card with the addition of a chip on the card which helps log information. It also secures your identity and other important records with an additional layer of biometric verification.

Here is the list of the fees for NADRA smart ID cards and others.

Mr. Salman Iqbal made the revelation during a wide-ranging interview with Pakistan’s DIVA magazine, in which he majorly talked about the success of ARY Digital and ARY News, his foray into the film-making business and his plans for his Pakistan Super League (PSL) team Karachi Kings.

About his foray into the news media and then making ARY News a huge success, Mr. Salman Iqbal said that his positive approach and his team’s willingness was behind making the news channel a huge success.

When asked how the stress associated with this business affects him, he replied that he feels it is a 24-hour job and comes with a lot of responsibility and stress but now stress has become a part of his life.

“It’s been twenty years in the industry, so stress has become a part of life. I honestly don’t think about stress now, my job is fun, and I enjoy the news cycle. Whenever I feel stressful, I’d wear the other hat of all the ones that I wear, and that helps,” said Mr. Salman Iqbal.

About the digital age’s biggest issue— dealing with fake news— the CEO ARY Digital Network said that the ARY News team has a number of experienced reporters who usually never fall for fake news.

“Reporters who have been there for so many years, we believe whatever say is set in stone. We have reporters who do hundreds of reports a year and have had no rebuttals, so there’s that trust within their skills that we have,” Mr. Salman Iqbal maintained.

The ARY Films’ Journey

When asked about his foray into the film industry, he told the interviewer that in 2013, he had gone to India to sign up a contract with various Indian studios to pick up Bollywood films for Pakistan but despite the fact that the meetings were going smoothly, he decided to invest the same money in Pakistan’s nascent film industry which he eventaully supported with successful films like ‘Punjab Nahi Jaungi’ and ‘Jawani Phir Nahi Ani’.

“I called them up at 2 am in the morning and I said I want to get out of the signing ceremony. If I am willing to spend that amount, then why not do it in Pakistan? We need to invest here – and look at how it’s grown! From 47 screens we have 150 today,” said Salman Iqbal.

He added that from that day to today, ARY Films’ foray into the industry changed things for the better.

He was of the view that the local film industry should come out of the drama industry mentality for real growth.

The man with the success story, however, advised all future investors that one cannot become a successful producer in a single attempt.

“If you’re just a one-time producer, you can’t succeed. You need to be a factory for producing films,” said Salman Iqbal.

About the future of ARY Films, he said that his organisation’s projection is to increase the number of films in Pakistan while also trying to change the genres.

“We need to venture out of just comedy or romance,” said Salman Iqbal.

ARY Digital’s plays ‘resonate with the masses’

About ARY Digital’s journey to becoming Pakistan’s number one entertainment channel, Mr. Salman Iqbal said that the secret behind this success was making dramas and shows that “resonate with the masses”.

“Our biggest mistake in the past was to target the audiences that weren’t even watching our television. When we went into the mainstream, it changed things altogether! After that, about four years ago, our team sat together again and we decided we’ll start finding real-time stories that are usually considered taboo, and make people realise that real-life stories work the best,” said Salman Iqbal.

He also gave the example of ARY Digital’s massively successful game-show “Jeeto Pakistan” to explain how targeting the masses brought in popularity and success.

“Whatever family someone comes from, they want a pass of the show! So, when we target the masses, we resonate them with a lot! These are the people who if you give content, they will love it forever,” CEO ARY Digital Network said.

PSL Plans for Karachi Kings

About Karachi Kings and the decision to invest in Pakistan Super League (PSL), Mr. Salman Iqbal said that PSL was one product that he picked “against all oppositions”.

“We spend over a billion rupees on it every season, and it’s literally one of the most expensive movies I have ever made, I look at like a movie! So, we are really keeping our hopes us this time around,” said Salman Iqbal.

He revealed that for the fifth season of PSL, his team has made some big announcements.

“Lots of changes and we’re hoping for the best,” the Karachi Kings’ owner said.

Mr. Salman Iqbal concluded revealing that his future plan for ARY Digital Network includes diversifying the business.

“We are venturing into a completely different field of business now, and this is the best time to do it. ARY will see major changes. Another thing that we’re focusing on is harnessing the power of the digital age. We’re coming up with a new portal soon too, which will revolutionize the digital era in Pakistan,” said the President and CEO of ARY Digital Network.

The man named Nadeem Ahmed was caught on camera sexually harassing and demanding sexual favours from at least two girls during the job interview.

The man who owned a company named Ansari Enterprises used to give an advertisement to several newspapers calling girls for a job interview only to demand sexual favours in return for the job.

As Sar-e-Aam team received his complaint from a former volunteer, the team urged the girl to go for a job interview and as expected, the man not only sexually harassed her but also made it clear that she will get the job if she is”open minded” and demanded sexual favours.

The sexual predator also tried to hug the job applicant several times.

To ascertain if the man used to do it with every other girl, Sar-e-Aam sent another volunteer and this time the applicant clearly said that she is orphan and needy but Nadeem Ahmed, while promising extra income, clearly demanded sexual favours.

As Sar-e-Aam team along with police raided his office to arrest him, the man denied sexually harassing any of the girls but when Iqrar-ul-Hassan showed him the video evidence, he accepted his crime.

This is the latest trend in town and people are opting for it as it is not only cost effective when compared to car paint but also protects the original colour of the vehicle.

Available in colours like electric green, metallic chrome and glossy golden, the car wraps are removable and do not damage the genuine paint while or after removal.

Moreover the car wraps are weather resistant, thus their quality and appearance will not be affected due to weather changes.

As ARY News asked one of the car owners about why he is choosing to paper wrap his car, the man maintained that his car’s colour was white and he wanted some funky colour but painting the car not only costs more but the car also loses its market value.

“The process which costs Rs35000 to 150, 000 not only protects the car but the vehicle remains washable, you only need to cover your car when not in use,” the shop owner told ARY News.

Imran Khan received 70.30 percent votes and became ARY News’ Person of the Year 2018.

Once termed a “failing ideologue’ by his opponents, the cricketer-turned-politician’s party emerged victorious in July 25 general elections paving way for him to be elected as country’s 22nd prime minister.

In his first speech as country’s premier, Imran Khan made it clear that he will leave no stone unturned to bring the promised reforms and his priorities will be health, education and social reform.

As prime minister, Khan, 65, faced tests on several fronts, from dealing with an urgent foreign currency shortage to managing a tense relationship with the United States.

His first 100 days performance, however, proved that he has so far succeeded in putting the country on the right path to resolve these crisis.

On diplomatic front, Imran Khan won the nation’s hearts when he hit back at US President Donald Trump in a series of tweets after the US President claimed that the Pakistan had not done a “damn thing” for America, while defending his administration’s decision to stop hundreds of millions of military aid.

Imran Khan’s remarks were covered and praised not only by the people of the country but also international media.

Khan said that the record needed to be “put straight on Mr Trump’s tirade against Pakistan.”

In his tweet, Khan pointed out five stating that “no Pakistani was involved in 9/11 but Pakistan had decided to participate in US’ War on Terror.” He also said that Pakistan had suffered 75,000 casualties in this war and “over $123 billion was lost to economy”, adding that the US “aid” was a “miniscule $20 billion.”

PM Imran noted that tribal areas in the country were “devastated” and that millions of people were “uprooted from their homes” because of the war. “The war drastically impacted lives of ordinary Pakistanis,” he said in his tweet.

“Pak continues to provide free lines of ground & air communications. Can Mr Trump name another ally that gave such sacrifices?” the PM had written.

His visit to Saudi Arabia can be termed most fruitful in economic terms since the oil-rich kingdom pledged six bn dollars in financial support for the country. It promised $3bn to meet its current account deficit and offered $3bn worth of oil on deferred payments.

The recent visit to the UAE was aimed at cementing traditional relations with the UAE government. The UAE has also promised to extend another $3bn to Pakistan for supporting its rapidly deteriorating economy.

The shelter homes’ project, the Clean and Green Pakistan campaign and ‘Naya Pakistan Housing Project’ were also well received.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar received a total of 10.10 percent votes while the The youngest victim of pellet gun in Kashmir Hiba Jan became the third runner up with 8.2 percent votes.

174 people voted for Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Qamar Bajwa while 120 people voted for Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi, the lady who served jail time for slapping two Israeli soldiers.

We thank everyone who participated in this poll!

Also go through our piece in which we paid tribute to the “Real Person Of The Year 2018, Kasur’s Zainab Ansari”.

A government with intentions to introduce broader changes in Pakistani society has completed more than four months in twilight days of Year 2018 after Pakistan completed another five-year tenure of a political dispensation in a row.

The trend of violent politics and terrorism seems relatively at low key during the ongoing year but  targeted killing of Ali Raza Abidi, a former member of parliament on December 25, indicates that the symptoms of the menace of terrorism will continue to haunt the country in the new year.

The process of radicalization and faith based divisions that were initiated in 80s as a strategy to gain political benefits still surviving to an extent with hatred against vulnerable segments of the society.

A full-throttle political crisis posing serious questions over governance and highlighting fissures within the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had overcome the country in concluding days of 2018.

The PML-N government led by Shahid Khaqan Abbasi after disqualification of Nawaz Sharif in a corruption case, completed its tenure.

It was a new example set in the 70-year history of Pakistan that the two political governments in a sequence completed their full terms despite all odds- a rare sign of stabilization of a political system in the country.

The country still needs to fight the larger than life role of the obscurantist elements in our society and the statecraft. The policies of the new government of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf led by Prime Minister Imran Khan in its initial months has shown the courage and an impression has been created that this government is working on a new vision for Pakistan with a healthy mindset to stabilize the country in a world facing existential threats.

The fight with a mindset that has led our country away from the real challenges to the perceived threats and thus dividing and weakening the very basis of the nation, is yet to reach its end.

Pakistani state and society facing major challenges within and the outside ahead of Year 2019.

In current year the Senate elections were held on March 03, 2018 to replace 52 retiring senators, a half of the Senate’s strength. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) emerged as the largest party of the house, followed by the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in the elections of the upper house of the parliament.

But the results of polls were steeped in controversy due to allegations of horse trading, which led a call from Imran Khan (at that time in opposition) and other leaders for reforms in the voting procedure of the Senate polls. Before this election, PML-N candidates were declared as independents by the Election Commission of Pakistan owing to a verdict of the Supreme Court.

The PML-N despite its numbers in Senate failed to win the seats of Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the house.

In elections for chairman and deputy chairman on 12 March 2018, two major opposition parties PTI and PPP, joined hands and both offices were won by the opposition candidates with Sadiq Sanjrani and Saleem Mandviwalla elected chairman and deputy chairman respectively.

Punjab due to its more than 50 percent seats in the National Assembly remained the battle ground province in the General Elections in July 2018.

The PML-N despite winning good votes in Punjab failed to win an overall majority in the election and also lost the government in the Centre to rule the federation of Pakistan.

The corruption scandals hit Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with the party leadership facing scores of graft references.

The corruption issues harmed PML-N, which bleed and lost significant amount of its political capital in these scams.

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif who was removed as the prime minister of Pakistan by the Supreme Court in its judgment in Panama Papers scandal in 2017, was awarded 10 years sentence in Avenfield corruption reference on July 06 this year along with his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain (retired) Safdar.

The ruling was later suspended by Islamabad High Court.and ordered release of the incarcerated members of the Sharif family against a surety bond of Rs500, 000 each.

Another accountability court on December 24 in Al-Azizia accountability reference handed Sharif seven years’ jail term, while he was acquitted in Flagship case.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) made its inroads in Punjab and put its claim over the vote bank of the strategic province.

Sindh, Pakistan’s second largest province and home to the country’s economic engine Karachi, being governed by Pakistan People’s Party facing corruption allegations and governance issues.

The province suffered huge losses of lives due to terrorism and gang warfare in Karachi in recent years.

A turf war for influence in the major city triggered militancy and stranglehold of the armed wings of major political parties competing in Karachi. A security operation led by the paramilitary rangers started in September 2013 put cap on an extent to the violence in the city and provided breathing space to the people of the metropolis.f

The PPP despite the governance issues in the province faced no major challenge to its political fortunes in Sindh except in Karachi and some urban centres of the province.

The PPP, however, suffered a jolt in Karachi when its prestige constituency of Lyari lost to the PTI in July election.

A political worker from Lyari, Shakoor Shad, from Imran Khan’s PTI defeated PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

The law enforcement operation in Karachi demolished the influence and infrastructure of major political player of the city, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), causing rifts in the party ranks.

The party also disown its erstwhile founder based in London after his diatribe against the Pakistani state and its security agencies in August 2016.

The post-operation situation created a space for politicking in the city providing opportunity to PTI to win the most national and provincial assemblies’ seats in the metropolis in July 2018 election.

The PPP and Mustafa Kamal led Pak Sarzameen Party were failed to win considerable votes in Karachi.

Imran Khan led PTI emerged as winner in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa despite the province’s tradition of punishing the incumbent government by denying it votes.

The PTI with winning the Independent lawmakers and an alliance with Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) successfully deprived the PML-N to rule Punjab despite the later emerged as the largest party of the province.

The PTI with its ability of alliance making also got support of several small parties and groups to gain a working majority in the National Assembly.

The year 2018 started with political chaos, which also hit the economy of Pakistan.

With declining fortunes of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) when it is restricted to a province, the centre to left and liberal politics lost its importance in Pakistan and political right claimed ascendance in the political narrative of the country and right wing causes and issues gained an upper hand.

The country’s tilt towards right also witnessed increase in the new religious groups working for specific causes apart of the old religio-political parties.

A surprise emergence of a sectarian political group in the second half of Year 2017 made inroads into the mainstream politics of the country.

The resurgence of politico-religious party belonging to Barelvi sub-sect, Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), gave the government a headache, challenging the writ of the state after the Supreme Court acquitted a Christian woman Aasia Bibi in a blasphemy case.

Surging from a protest movement against execution of Mumtaz Qadri who was convicted in murder of Punjab governor Salman Taseer, the group gained momentum as a new party in the political sphere of the country in late 2017 after holding a three-week-long protest in Islamabad, paralyzing normal life in the federal capital posing serious existential threat to the government.

The PTI’s plans

The PTI, founded in 1996 by Imran Khan, wants to make Pakistan a social welfare state.

It is a Third Path in Pakistan’s politics, which aims to create a welfare state, where the state will be responsible for education, health and jobs for citizens.

The party advocates egalitarian Islamic democracy for Pakistan. It has campaigned against corruption in government.

Khan remained deeply critical of the entire political order of Pakistan, which he thinks as corrupt, inefficient, and morally bereft of any of the founding principles of Pakistan.

The PTI promised to create an independent, self-reliant Pakistan free from debt, dependency and discord. It maintains that it represents all Pakistanis, regardless of religious, ethnic, linguistic, and provincial backgrounds.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won 116 seats in National Assembly to emerge as the largest political force in Pakistan in elections on 25 July 2018. After 28 reserved seats for women and five minority seats, the total number of PTI seats reached 149.

The PTI with 31.82% of total casted votes, formed government in the center with the alliance of MQM-P,PML-Q,BAP,BNP-M,GDA,AML and JWP. It formed government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by having 78 seats, in Punjab with 175 seats and a coalition government in Balochistan.

Imran Khan was elected as Prime minister obtaining 176 votes against Mian Shehbaz Sharif who bagged 96 votes.

The PTI in its election charter called for major social, economic, and political reforms and vowed to free the country from corruption. The party also promised jobs for the youth.

After taking oath as Prime Minister of Pakistan in August, Imran Khan’s government has announced and initiated 10 billion tree project for the country to fight against the climate change.

The PTI government in its first 100 days also announced an initiative to build five million homes in Pakistan.

The new government has constituted an Assets Recovery Unit to curb money laundering and illegal flight of national wealth from the country.

The government has initiated efforts to improve relations with neighboring countries including a call of PM Imran Khan to India for talks over Kashmir and other contentious bilateral issues.

The government at the front of the public diplomacy also announced to open Kartarpur Corridor at the border with India next year on the anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak, to facilitate Sikh pilgrims to visit their holy shrines in Pakistan without any hassle.

PM Khan’s government has also taken a straightforward posture towards the United States over the country’s demand of “do more” over the Afghan conflict. After US President Trump’s request Pakistan has played a pivotal role to bring the Taliban on talks table in Afghanistan conflict.

The new government continued cooperation over the flagship project of CPEC with all-weather friend China.

The PTI government has also made significant diplomatic gestures to strengthen ties with Russia.

In its early 100 days the PTI government has taken scores of initiatives that could if implemented with perseverance could have potential to change the face of the country for better.

The year 2018 also witnessed institutional tussles reminding us of the fragility of the country’s political system. But the system also offered a chance in the shape of an on-schedule general election to move a few steps in the direction of normalcy and stability.

It has to be seen if Pakistan’s political elite and the new government can use this critical chance to consolidate democratic progress of the last decade in a productive and peaceful manner.

]]> https://arynews.tv/the-real-person-of-the-year-2018-zainab-ansari/ Wed, 26 Dec 2018 15:07:02 +0500 https://arynews.tv/en/?p=329837 Those eyes were full of wishes… full of hope and full of innocence.

The whole country was shaken…. as it looked at that picture of the seven-year-old Zainab Ansari who was brutally raped, killed and thrown into a trash heap in her native city of Kasur.

Gory details of the horrific rape and killing of the child emerged on mainstream media soon after the hashtag #JusticeForZainab started trending on social media.

Riots broke out in Kasur in which two people were killed.

The case ….

It was the twelfth such case to occur within a 10 kilometre radius in the city over a 12-month period.

The case was a typical case of child abuse and murder, the likes of which the city has seen many times before. The details that emerged were of police apathy, lack of concern among law enforcement agencies and of collective failure of authorities to curb such incidents.

How does one even begin to process this. The eleventh case of abduction, rape and murder of a child in Kasur. In just this last year. In the district responsible for the largest child abuse scandal in Pakistan’s history. My God, Zainab. Our collective apathy failed you.

— Osman Khalid Butt (@aClockworkObi) January 10, 2018

Truth is Zainab could be anyone of our children. & we would be helpless. Why? Because we allow sick patriarchal, feudal ideas to exist about women, because we fail to educate our boys how to respect, love & feel, towards girls & women. Because our laws do NOT protect our children

— Nadia Jamil (@NJLahori) January 9, 2018

Just heard this horrific news, this happens way too often in our world and it’s time we demand change and justice! We need to raise our boys to be men, we need to raise our children to live in a world that is equal, a world with justice. We must fight! #JusticeForZainab pic.twitter.com/oG0UxlcOZY

— Hadiqa Kiani (@Hadiqa_Kiani) January 10, 2018

The details, they were horrific….

Zainab was seen on a CCTV camera being led away by a man on January 4.

In their frantic hunt for the daughter over the next five days, as Zainab’s parents were performing Umrah in Saudi Arabia, the family shared the CCTV footage on social media widely but couldn’t get the girl back as her body was found from a garbage heap near their home.

This was not all, then came the autopsy report.

The autopsy report stated that she was raped multiple times, there were marks of torture on the child’s face, congestion in her muscles and indicated that the child died due to strangulation.

‘Police only had tea and oranges’

Relatives and people of the area told ARY News anchor Iqrar-ul-Hassan that police neither cooperated with the neighbourhood teams formed to find Zainab nor acted promptly when provided with “proofs” by the girl’s family.

Residents of the area, who claimed to have formed vigilance teams to find Zainab, claimed that police only enjoyed “oranges and tea” in the neighbourhood and didn’t even cooperate with the vigilance teams.

“We gave them two videos from CCTV cameras, the one in which he (the criminal) is taking Zainab to some unknown place and the other in which he is coming back from the place. They took the clips and did nothing about it… one can assume that they threw them into the trash. They should have cordoned off that area, they should have ordered plain clothed policemen to roam the area, if I, as a layman can understand all this, how can they forget to take such measures?” asked Zainab’s father Ameen Ansari during ARY News’ ‘Sar-e-Aam’ show on January 13.

Zainab’s father was of the view that the criminal would not have only been arrested but her daughter could have been saved.

11 other girls were kidnapped, abused and killed in the very same way before with police failing to nab the criminals behind the incidents.

One of the victims Noor Fatima’s father Mustafa too spoke to Sar-e-Aam and narrated his ordeal.

PPP’s Sherry Rehman submitted a call-to-attention notice in Senate. Then a PTI lawmaker, Murad Saeed submitted an adjournment motion in the National Assembly, calling for the scheduled proceedings of the lower house to be postponed.

PPP, MQM-P, PML-F and PTI leaders also submitted a resolution in the Sindh Assembly condemning Zainab’s murder.

What followed the continuous protests and social media anger was a state-level investigation, formation of a JIT and the most speedy trial in the history of the country.

THE MEMORIES OF THE LITTLE ANGEL

Zainab Used To Dutifully Attend Salam after every Friday prayers

“After every Friday prayers, when we used to recite Salam on Holy Prophet (PBUH), Zainab would find me in the mosque, everyone in the mosque knows Zainab used to dutifully recite the salam in the mosque but today there was no Zainab……” Zainab’s father who couldn’t hold his tears told ARY News on January 13

The Rapist Arrested And Executed

Police confirmed on January 13 that the results of DNA testing of samples collected from the crime scenes pointed towards the involvement of one culprit in at least seven similar cases in Kasur.

On January 21, the Supreme Court gave three days’ time to a joint investigation team formed to probe the rape and murder of Zainab to track down the culprit.

The Joint Investigation Team formed to arrest the culprit nabbed a man named Imran Arshad on January 23 after the DNA proved that he was behind the rape and murder of Zainab and at least eight other girls from Kasur.

A representative of Punjab Forensice Science Agency (PFSA) briefed the media about how Imran Arshad was arrested.

In a step by step guide to the process, the PFSA representative said that the team received the DNA sample on January 20, 2018 and then the sample was processed for next two days while the completion of DNA profiling was done on January 22.

He maintained that the PFSA crime scene teams camped at Kasur and collected samples of male population aged 20-45 years in 2.5 kilometer radius of the crime scene. 1150 samples were received and the sample no. 814 was of Imran Arshad which was received on January 20.

Explaining the DNA profile probablity, the PFSA representative said that the Random Match Probability of the DNA profile of Imran Arshad is 01 in 178 Quadrillion.

“It means if there are 178 Quadrillion male people at one place, chance of having this profile is only 1 which is Imran’s DNA profile,” said the PFSA representative.

An Anti-Terrorism Court on February 17 handed down Imran Arshad death sentence on four counts, following a four-day jail trial at Kot Lakhpat Jail.

Imran Ali was also indicted and sentenced to death in the rape and murder cases of at least six other minor girls.

He subsequently filed an appeal in the Lahore High Court challenging the death sentence handed to him in the Zainab case in February, claiming that his trial was not fair.

The LHC rejected his appeal and upheld the trial court’s conviction. He then appealed to the Supreme Court against the conviction.

On June 12, the SC rejected Ali’s appeal against the death sentence handed to him for the rape and murder of Zainab, noting that the petitioner had admitted committing similar offences with eight other minor victims and “in that backdrop, he did not deserve any sympathy in the matter of his sentences”.

As a last resort, he sought clemency from President Arif Alvi, but his plea was rejected on October 10.

Imran Ali was executed in the presence of Zainab’s father, Muhammad Amin Ansari and her uncle in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat prison.

Speaking to the media, father Amin Ansari said he is satisfied as the murderer of her daughter met his fate.

He said whoever will commit such felony will meet a similar fate, adding that such convicts be hanged publicly to ensure that such crimes don’t happen in future.

The young girl left us all with questions….

Questions we all cannot answer….

Yes, we all took steps… from the government to the common man, everyone took some steps to educate children about the reality of child abuse.

Those eyes, they will forever haunt the January, every January this country will ever see!

We all are extremely sorry, Dear Zainab!

Ahmed Nawaz himself got severely injured in the horrific attack and had to go through a long surgery to save his arm in UK’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

As he spoke to ARY News on the fourth anniversary of the martyrs of the attack, Ahmed was of the view that terrorists targeted children for they didn’t want the younger generation to get education in order to easily radicalise them.

“Their (the terrorists) motive was to deter children and scare them away from the pursuit of education but I started a campaign to spread awareness about the importance of education to beat the ideology of terrorists,” said Ahmed Nawaz while speaking exclusively to ARY News.

Ahmed Nawaz made news earlier this year when he topped his GSCE exams with flying colours and scored straight A’s.

Nawaz announced his result in a tweet and said he achieved six A*’s and two A’s in his eight GCSE exams.

My International GCSE exam result just came out and I am very proud to announce that I got
“ 6A*s & 2As “ in my All eight(8) exams
Thanks to my parents and all of you for supporting me.
This is a big success for me and takes me many steps closer to my admission in Oxford Uni. pic.twitter.com/mDkw6ONdnD

— Ahmad Nawaz (@Ahmadnawazaps) August 23, 2018

THE APS MASSACRE

On December 16, 2014, six gunmen affiliated with the Tehreek-i-Taliban (TTP) conducted a terrorist attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar.

The militants, all of whom were foreign nationals entered the school and opened fire on school staff and children, killing 144 people including more than a 100 schoolchildren, ranging between eight and eighteen years of age.