Daily Digestible News-17 October, 2017

UN General Assembly elects Pakistan as a member state of UNHRC

Pakistan, securing more than two-thirds of the vote is among the 11 countries selected by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to be a member state of the UN Human Rights Council on Monday. Lauding UN’s Pakistan team for efforts and contribution in securing the vote, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi congratulated the country on its “diplomatic success” on her Twitter account and said that the “victory is a manifestation of the international community’s trust in Pakistan”.

Imran Khan backtracks on statements, submits new documents to SC

Previously, the Supreme Court had raised questions over a sum of nearly 100,000 pounds which Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan stated had been spent on legal fees and associated costs. On Monday, Khan submitted more documents in the SC, taking a new stand on the sum of money, denying that the amount had only initially been retained but parts of it were later returned to him by the company.

In a twitter message Khan said, “Thanks to God Almighty and Jemima’s record keeping, today I submitted all additional money trail documents asked for by SC.”

Abassi says, Army chief has right to comment on country’s economy

While commenting on the recent controversy which started following Gen Qamar Bajwa’s remarks during a seminar on the economy, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said a military chief has the right to discuss or comment on the economic condition of the country.

Abassi said, “The economic indicators are very transparent. World Bank’s report is not too favourable but The Economist has placed Pakistan in the world’s five growing economies”

“I agree with ISPR Chief. Every decision must be taken by the parliament and according to the constitution. [If democracy is attacked] the country will suffer”

The Hazara community: Pakistan’s visible minority faces fear and loathing

Increasing members of the Shia Hazara community in Quetta are migrating to big cities as they flee the increasing persecution that they become a target of owing to their visibly discernible features from other minorities. The community was targetted just this month on Oct 9 when two men on a motorcycle fired at a van carrying vegetable sellers, killing five people, including three Hazaras. Read here, further about the plight of the Hazara community in Quetta.

Another case of knife attack surfaces

A teenage girl was injured in a knife attack by a man on a motorcycle in Karachi’s F. B. Area, on Monday night.

According to Central SSP Irfan Ali Baloch, the girl aged around 15 years was sitting behind her brother on a motorbike when the man attacked her from behind and sped away. She sustained a wound on the back.

The city police on Sunday claimed to have arrested a prime suspect in Sahiwal. Now the question now arises if it’s a copycat killer or has the police gotten the wrong person.