Sharifs to face trial in 2 more NAB cases in Adiala Jail
Islamabad, July 14 : The trial of two remaining National Accountability Bureau (NAB) cases against former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family will take place in Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail, according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice.
"The federal government is please to specify the Central Jail Adiala, Rawalpindi, to be the place where the Accountability Court-I, Islamabad shall sit for trial of References No. 18/2017 and 19/2017 against Nawaz Sharif and others," the notification stated on late Friday.
An accountability court convicted Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain (retd) Mohammad Safdar Awan on July 6 in the Avenfield properties reference. They were given jail terms of 10 years, seven years and one-year, respectively, reports Geo News.
Sharif's sons, Hassan and Hussain, have been absconding and were declared "proclaimed offenders" in the case.
After the court's verdict, the remaining cases pertain to the Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metal Establishment, and offshore companies, including Flagship Investment Limited.
The three-time Prime Minister and his daughter were arrested by anti-corruption officials upon their arrival in Lahore on Friday night and subsequently taken to Islamabad on a chartered flight.
The flight landed at the new Islamabad International Airport at around 10.35 p.m. after which the two were taken to the Adiala Jail in separate armoured personnel carriers escorted by police convoys.
A notification issued by the Islamabad administration declared the rest house at the Sihala Police Training College in the capital as a sub-jail to keep the two leaders, with immediate effect and until further orders.
Sources then told Geo News that that only Maryam Nawaz would be moved to the rest house. However, later sources claimed that the authorities decided to keep the two at Adiala Jail.
The trial against the Sharif family had commenced on September 14, 2017.
Nawaz and his sons are accused in all three graft references whereas Maryam Nawaz and Safdar were accused in the Avenfield reference only. The two brothers, based abroad, had been absconding since the proceedings began last year and were declared proclaimed offenders by the court.
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Human-wildlife conflict: Karnataka minister calls for sterilisation of select species
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister Eshwar Khandre on Wednesday said that rising human-wildlife conflict has created a need to consider sterilising specific species, and that the issue should be publicly debated.
He clarified that no decision has been made so far and that discussions will be held with officials and stakeholders.
"There is an increase in the number of select wildlife. In my opinion, putting some curbs on their numbers is necessary due to increased conflicts, loss of lives, and urbanisation. So there is a proposal to conduct sterilisation surgery or vaccination on select wildlife," Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment said.
Speaking to reporters, he added that no list has been prepared yet and that he plans to hold discussions on the matter with senior officials.
Noting that a related issue is pending before the Supreme Court, the minister said there are plans to submit a proposal after due deliberation.
"We intend to protect wildlife while ensuring that human lives are not lost. No decision has been made yet; it is still under consideration. In areas with a high number of wildlife, we are thinking about controlling it for a year or two. Other states are considering similar measures. There is a need for public debate on this," he added.
Khandre also said the government is seriously considering the voluntary relocation of forest dwellers who wish to move out of the forest. He has asked officials to prepare a list of those willing to relocate.
"Once the list is ready, I will discuss the required funding with the chief minister (Siddaramaiah), who also serves as Finance Minister, and the government will make a decision. Relocating forest dwellers will expand wildlife habitats and integrate those living without basic facilities into mainstream society," he said.
Expressing grief over the death of a coffee grower in Kodagu district due to a wild elephant attack on Wednesday, the minister said the government and the department are making every effort to prevent human-elephant conflict and assured that the government stands with the bereaved family in this difficult time.
"The government had planned to build a sanctuary to address the problem of elephants. There are some difficulties in obtaining permission from the central government. Once this is resolved, action will be taken to establish the sanctuary," he added.
