ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s interim health minister Nadeem Jan said on Sunday the government had recalled an injectable medicine from the market after receiving reports it had caused eye infections and loss of sight among patients in the Kasur, Multan, Lahore, and Sadiqabad districts located in the eastern Punjab province.
According to media reports, the caretaker administration in Punjab formed a five-member committee to investigate the issue, following complaints related to a locally manufactured injection called Avastin which was used by diabetic patients in the province.
The federal health minister invited his provincial counterpart to Islamabad to discuss the issue in the wake of this development. He said authorities had launched an investigation and would soon assign responsibility for the matter.
“Investigations are ongoing,” Jan said in a televised statement. “A committee has been formed, comprising five of our most senior experts, who will analyze the issue from all angles and provide us with a comprehensive report within the next three days.”
“As of now, the batch of medicine in question has been recalled,” he continued. “It is now in our possession, and its sales are prohibited.”
The minister explained the investigation team was tasked with determining whether the problem was caused by the medicine itself, issues in its supply chain, the skill level of the administering doctors, or the sterilization process.
He added the government had filed a police report against two individuals representing the supply company and had initiated legal action against them.
Jan assured the public of a transparent inquiry, adding the authorities would share their findings and prosecute those responsible for causing harm to patients.
Pakistan recalls injectable medicine amid eye infection reports, initiates probe
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Pakistan recalls injectable medicine amid eye infection reports, initiates probe
- The interim health minister assures the public of transparent inquiry, vows to prosecute those responsible
- The government had received complaints related to loss of sight among diabetic patients using Avastin in Punjab
Pakistan announce squad for first England Test, retain Shan Masood as captain
- Masood was retained as captain despite media reports suggesting he had faced an axe after Pakistan’s 2-0 loss to Bangladesh
- Pakistan had never lost to Bangladesh before the twin defeats took Masood’s record to five losses since replacing Babar Azam
ISLAMABAD: Shan Masood will lead Pakistan in the upcoming Test series against England, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Tuesday, despite the national side losing five Tests under his captaincy.
The Pakistan cricket selectors announced a 15-player squad on Tuesday for the first Test against England, set to take place in Multan from 7-11 October.
Masood was retained as captain despite some media reports suggesting the 34-year-old had faced an axe after Pakistan’s shocking 2-0 loss to Bangladesh last month.
“Following the squad announcement and based on the recommendation of head coach Jason Gillespie, the selected players have been withdrawn from the Champions One-Day Cup playoffs to allow them some rest ahead of the series,” the PCB said in a statement.
“The squad will assemble in Multan on Monday, 30 September, with the training camp commencing on 1 October.”
Pakistan had never lost to Bangladesh before the twin defeats took Masood’s record to five losses since replacing Babar Azam as skipper in November last year. He lost his first series 3-0 in Australia.
The first of three Tests against England starts in Multan from October 7, the second will be played in the same city from October 15 and the third in Rawalpindi from October 24.
“With a busy domestic and international cricket schedule, it makes sense to give our players some much-needed rest ahead of the Test series against England,” Gillespie was quoted as saying by the PCB.
“We are very much looking forward to the series against England here in Pakistan and cannot wait for it to begin. We are excited about playing in front of our wonderful supporters.”
Pakistan squad:
Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel, Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Mir Hamza, Muhammad Hurraira, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi
Pakistan condemns Israeli aggression against Lebanon after airstrikes kill over 500
- The Israeli military carried out airstrikes against Hezbollah on Monday which Lebanese authorities said killed 558 people
- Pakistan calls on international community to take urgent steps to hold Israel to account for ‘alarming adventurism’ in region
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday condemned Israel’s latest military actions against Lebanon, its foreign office said, a day after Israeli airstrikes killed more than 500 people.
After nearly 12 months of war against the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza on its southern border, Israel is shifting its focus to the northern frontier, where Hezbollah has been firing rockets into Israel in support of Hamas.
The Israeli military carried out airstrikes against Hezbollah on Monday which Lebanese authorities said killed 558 people, including 50 children and 94 women. A further 1,835 were wounded, they said, and tens of thousands more have fled for safety.
“This act of aggression against the Republic of Lebanon is a grave violation of the UN Charter and international law,” Pakistan’ foreign office said in a statement. “It is a dangerous escalation that has further endangered peace and security in an already volatile region.”
The fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has raised fears that the United States, Israel’s close ally, and regional power Iran, which has proxies across the Middle East — Hezbollah, Yemen’s Houthis and armed groups in Iraq — will be sucked into a wider war.
Hezbollah last week suffered heavy losses when thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies used by its members exploded in the worst security breach in its history.
Pakistan stood in solidarity with the people of Lebanon and for their right to live in peace and security, the foreign office said, reaffirming Islamabad’s full support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“We call upon the international community to take urgent steps to hold Israel to account for its alarming adventurism in the region and its acts of aggression and genocide,” it added.
Pakistan election regulator indecisive over allocation of reserved seats to ex-PM Khan party
- In its detailed verdict, the top court observed election commission’s denial of recognition to Khan’s party infringed upon electorate’s rights
- Legal experts urge the election commission to ‘side with the constitution’ and implement the ruling to allocate reserved seats to the PTI party
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s election regulator has yet to decide about the allocation of reserved seats to jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, ana election official said on Tuesday, despite the issuance of a detailed judgment by the Supreme Court on the subject.
The Supreme Court on July 12 declared Khan’s PTI party eligible for allocation of reserved parliamentary seats, months after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) forced the PTI candidates to contest the February 8 national election as independents. The ECP took the decision after the PTI lost its election symbol in the wake of a prolonged legal battle for not holding proper intra-party polls. Subsequently, the election body refused reserved seats to the PTI on technical grounds, saying they were only meant for political parties and not for independent candidates.
The Supreme Court overturned the ECP’s decision and said it had misconstrued an earlier verdict relating to election symbols by depriving the PTI of reserved seats. Instead of giving the seats to the party, however, the election body filed a petition to seek guidance on the matter and questioned the validity of the party’s organizational structure under the circumstances. The detailed judgment by the Supreme Court clarified that a party’s constitutional right to participate in elections was not impacted by the absence of an electoral symbol.
“The ECP held a sixth meeting at its headquarters in Islamabad on Tuesday to discuss the matter that remained inconclusive,” an ECP official told Arab News on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to media. “The ECP will have another meeting tomorrow [Wednesday] to reach a conclusion over the allocation of the reserved seats.”
The official said the ECP was consulting its legal team on the detailed judgment of the Supreme Court and the Elections Act that the ruling coalition, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, amended to bar independent lawmakers from joining a political party after a stipulated period. The National Assembly speaker and the Punjab Assembly have written separate letters to the ECP urging it to follow the parliamentary law over the Supreme Court ruling on the reserved seats.
“It is a complex issue and that’s why the election commission is taking into consideration all possible aspects of the constitution, laws and the court ruling before deciding on the matter,” the official said.
Legal experts have urged the election regulator to “side with the constitution” instead of the ruling coalition and implement the Supreme Court’s majority verdict that ordered allocation of reserved seats to the PTI in the National Assembly and all four provincial assemblies.
Justice (retired) Nasira Iqbal said the election regulator should have implemented the court’s short order shortly after it was announced on July 12 to avert speculations and conspiracies on the matter.
“The election commission is setting dangerous precedents by trying to frustrate the Supreme Court rulings through different delaying tactics,” she told Arab News. “The election commission should side with the constitution instead of trying to become a party in this matter.”
“The ruling coalition has taken a position over the constitutional matter and they want the fulfilment of their desire by getting the reserved seats,” Amanullah Kanrani, former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, told Arab News.
He urged the ECP to follow the constitution and allocate the reserved seats to the PTI as per the court ruling. “We expect the ECP to act independently and follow the constitution to avert a new crisis,” Kanrani added.
Speaking about possible consequences for the ECP if it failed to implement the majority judgment, Kanrani said the top court bench could initiate contempt proceedings against the chief election commissioner and other members.
Pakistan’s army chief vows support for police during South Waziristan visit
- General Asim Munir received a briefing on security situation and development initiatives in the region
- He applauded the ‘pivotal role’ of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s residents in helping maintain the area’s peace
ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir applauded the role of security forces and law enforcement agencies during his visit to Wana in South Waziristan district on Tuesday, saying the army would provide technical assistance to the province’s police for capacity building.
Militant factions operating in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province, where South Waziristan is located, have targeted the police in recent months, leading to protests by law enforcement personnel against these killings.
The area’s security has mostly been dominated by the army, which has been fighting proscribed militant factions like Al Qaeda and the Pakistani Taliban for about two decades, with the police seeking greater government support to empower them to deal with extremist violence.
The army chief received a comprehensive briefing on the prevailing security situation, ongoing counterterrorism operations and development initiatives in the northwestern region.
“COAS paid heartfelt tribute to the security forces and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) who have made ultimate sacrifices in the line of duty,” the army media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement. “He emphasized that Pakistan Army will continue to provide steadfast support and technical assistance to LEAs, particularly KPK Police, to enhance their capacity.”
The army chief acknowledged the “pivotal role” of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in maintaining peace and advancing various projects under the South Waziristan Integrated Development Plan.
He also expressed gratitude for the support of tribal elders in Wana who helped combat militancy and provided unwavering backing to the army.
15 killed in Pakistan sectarian tribal clashes
- Violence hit Kurram district near border with Afghanistan where same tribes fought in July
- The last clashes in July had killed 35 people and ended only after a jirga called a ceasefire
PESHAWAR: At least 15 people have been killed in clashes between two tribes in northwestern Pakistan, a local official said Tuesday, as a deadly feud over land is reignited.
With heavy weapons including mortar shells, the violence hit Kurram district near the border with Afghanistan where the same tribes fought in July.
“The conflict, initially over land, involves two tribes — one Sunni and the other Shia — which has turned the dispute into a sectarian clash,” a senior administrative official stationed in Kurram told AFP on condition of anonymity.
He said 15 people had been killed since Saturday.
The Associated Press of Pakistan, the official news agency, reported around twenty other people had been wounded.
The Kurram district, formerly a semi-autonomous area, has a history of bloody clashes between tribes belonging to the Sunni and Shiite sects of Islam that have claimed hundreds of lives over the years.
The last clashes in July killed 35 people and ended only after a jirga (tribal council) called a ceasefire, with officials attempting to broker a new truce.
Tribal and family feuds are common in Pakistan.
However, they can be particularly protracted and violent in the mountainous northwestern region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where communities abide by traditional tribal honor codes.
In Pakistan, a predominantly Sunni Muslim country, the Shiite community says they have long suffered discrimination and violence.
