Latest news with #Article13
Express Tribune
7 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Imran again refuses lie detector tests
Incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan on Monday refused to undergo lie detector test for the fourth time and a team comprising policemen and members of the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) returned after waiting at Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail for four hours. An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore had allowed police to conduct the text on Imran in connection with cases filed against him and a number of PTI leaders after unprecedented incidents of vandalism in which dozens of army installations were attacked on May 9 and May 10 or 2023. According to sources, a Lahore police investigation team led by DSP Asif Javed arrived at Adiala Jail at 12:45 pm to conduct a polygraph test, photogrammetric and voice matching tests. Members of the PFSA were also part of the investigation team, including inspectors Muhammad Aslam, Tasaddaq, Saleem, and Naveed as well technical expert Abid Ayub. Upon their arrival, the prison authorities informed the PTI founder, but he refused for the fourth time to join the investigation. Sources said Imran was informed that the investigation team had come with a court order, yet he again declined to undergo the tests. After Imran's refusal to cooperate in the investigation process, the teams had to return after a long wait. Earlier, Imran Khan had stipulated that he would only participate in the investigation and undergo the tests in the presence of his lawyers. However, when the investigators returned with his legal counsel present, he provided a written response stating that Article 13 grants him protection from being compelled to become a witness against himself or assist in producing evidence that may be used against him. Lahore ATC-I Judge Manzer Ali Gill on May 14 allowed the police to conduct polygraphlie detectionand photogrammetricfacial and voice analysistests of Imran Khan in twelve May 9 cases. The judge had ordered completion of the tests within 12 days, saying the prosecution might meet the PTI founder in Adiala Jail during that period. Meanwhile, addressing a press conference in Lahore, PTI leadersSalman Akram Raja and Malik Ahmed Khansaid there is no restriction on Imran Khan's sons to return to Pakistan and participate in politics. The PTI founder's sonsKasim and Suleimanhave remained throughout their lives in the United Kingdom with their mother--Imran's first wife Jemima Goldsmith In a rare interview released on social media on May 13, Kasim and Sulaiman spoke about the alleged "suppression of democracy" in Pakistan and a lack of basic facilities for Imran Khan in his prison cell. They said their father was being kept in prison on "trumped up charges." They also urged US President Donald Trump and the international community to help free their father from prison, appealing to "people of influence" around the world to press for his release. WITH INPUT FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT IN LAHORE
Japan Times
15-04-2025
- Health
- Japan Times
Pandemic treaty talks inch toward accord
Countries hope more than three years of negotiations on battling future pandemics will finally end Tuesday, after reaching a preliminary agreement last week. It has been more than five years since the COVID-19 pandemic began, killing millions of people and devastating economies. Experts say an accord has become even more crucial with new health threats, ranging from H5N1 bird flu to measles, mpox and Ebola. The negotiations had been scheduled to conclude last June but were extended for a year in a bid to overcome disagreements. The thirteenth round of talks started on April 7 as health agencies reeled from drastic foreign aid cuts by the United States — the world's donor superpower. Washington has not taken part in the negotiations, since President Donald Trump decided on his first day in office in January to begin withdrawing from the World Health Organization. Accord, 'in principle' Early Saturday, after five days and a full night of talks, Anne-Claire Amprou, the talks' co-chair, announced that countries had reached "an accord, in principle," pending final approval from capitals. Delegations are to meet Tuesday behind closed doors at the WHO headquarters to finalize the text. "A pandemic agreement is within reach," Catharina Boehme, WHO's assistant director-general for external relations, said on LinkedIn. "After a very intense week of negotiations, including an all-night sprint, WHO member states are closer than ever to getting it done," she said. "A pandemic agreement will give the world better tools to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the next pandemics." If agreement is sealed, the text will be ready for final approval at the WHO annual assembly next month. French President Emmanuel Macron has welcomed the progress, saying a pandemic treaty "is creating a new system to better protect us," in a post on X on Saturday. Tech, sanctions One of the main remaining sticking points had been Article 11, which deals with technology transfer for the production of health products for pandemics — particularly to benefit developing countries, several sources said. During the COVID-19 pandemic, poorer countries accused rich nations of hoarding vaccine doses and tests. Several countries with large pharmaceutical industries have, meanwhile, opposed the idea of mandatory tech transfers and have insisted on it being voluntary. Another "remaining issue is language related to sanctions" under Article 13, said Thiru Balasubramaniam at the NGO Knowledge Ecology International (KEI), who has been monitoring the talks. The text provides for the establishment of a global supply chain and logistics network to expand access to vaccines, treatments and tests needed to fight pandemics, or in humanitarian crisis situations. However, in discussions on Article 13, countries have yet to agree on granting unhindered access to health products outside of the pandemics or humanitarian contexts, which would allow countries under international sanctions to obtain things like vaccines, tests and treatments.
Daily Tribune
01-03-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Parliamentarians urge four-year job market review to curb unemployment
Email : A four-year job market review is on Parliament's agenda, with MPs pushing for regular assessments to track workforce shortages and guide graduates toward high-demand fields. Set for debate on Tuesday, the proposal is framed as a way to curb unemployment and align university courses with real job prospects. MPs Lulwa Al Rumaihi, Najeeb Al Kuwari, Mohammed Al Jaleela Alawi, Services Committee Chairman, and Maryam Al Sayegh spearheaded the plan, which has gained full backing from a joint committee of the Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee and the Services Committee. The committee argues that structured reviews would provide a clearer picture of workforce needs and prevent young Bahrainis from pursuing degrees for jobs that don't exist. "This study will help students make better career choices and ensure young Bahrainis aren't left in limbo with degrees that employers have no use for," Al Rumaihi said. The Civil Service Bureau, which was consulted on the matter, acknowledged its role in aligning education with job market needs. "Aligning education with workforce needs is a shared responsibility," the bureau said in a written response. "The government is continuously working to keep education in step with labor market requirements." The report, however, calls for a more structured and long-term approach to prevent mismatches and enhance hiring efficiency. The proposal cites Article 13 of the Constitution, which mandates the state to ensure employment opportunities and fair working conditions. Speaker Ahmed Al Musallam formally referred the proposal to the committee in November.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Will Gov. Kathy Hochul remove NYC Mayor Eric Adams from office?
NEW YORK (PIX11) – In its 237-year history, no New York governor has ever had to utilize an obscure power to remove a highly elected official from office. That is what Governor Kathy Hocul is confronted with now. Whether to use Article 13, section five of the state constitution to remove New York City Mayor Eric Adams from office. Calls for Adams to resign mount after deputy mayors resign As Governor Hochul weighed her options in meetings with key government leaders, we spoke with former New York Governor David Paterson, who understands the power she holds in her hands. He told PIX11 News, 'I'm not saying she should not remove him, but I'm saying that if she does, she has to accumulate the kind of evidence that would demonstrate that he was not following the oath of office and not going with the people rather than himself.' Adams has remained steadfast in his refusal to resign. 'If she doesn't choose to remove him, life just goes on as if it never happened in the first place,' Paterson asserted. Should the governor decide to remove the mayor, she must provide him with a formal document outlining the reasons and allow him 30 days to respond. The timeline includes a deadline of March 26th for the governor to decide whether to call a special election. A longtime supporter of Mayor Adams, Paterson said he would initiate his investigation if he were in office. 'I would probably hold a hearing to make sure the mayor did not violate the law or put pressure on deputies to do things not in the public interest, but beyond that, I want to see a smoking gun,' he said, adding, 'I want to see a direct connection between the mayor and corruption.' Given all the factors, Governor Hochul has her political future to consider in her decision. Political analyst J.C. Polanco weighed in on the questions she should be considering on the PIX morning show. He asked, 'Is there political will for her? Will this impact her next year in a democratic primary removing a duly elected mayor?' It's interesting to note that this current political episode played out in 1932 when then-Governor Franklin Roosevelt came close to using his power to oust Mayor Jimmy Walker, who was part of the corrupt Tammany Hall administration. But Walker didn't give him the chance. He resigned and fled to Europe. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
