Afridi vows to revive full-fledged int'l cricket in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Nov 20 (APP):Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Khan Afridi on Tuesday vowed to revive international cricket in Pakistan to the fullest, saying Pakistanis love cricket from core of their hearts.

Speaking to media persons at tree plantation ceremony, organized by Pakistan Super League (PSL) team Islamabad United here at Lake View Park, he appreciated Islamabad United player Luke Ronchi for being part of the team and his presence in the event.

"We want to engage youth in good initiatives being taken including tree plantation, which is need of the hour," he said.

Shehryar Afridi termed PSL's Fourth Edition Payer Draft in Federal Capital as "a big achievement," saying efforts of the government are bearing fruit and it would send a message of peace to the world and portray a soft image of Pakistan.

The minister said the PSL would go a long way as it is a part of National Security Plan to revive a full-fledged cricket in Pakistan.

Pakistan has offered unprecedented sacrifices in war against terror and to ensure peace in the country. Pakistan is a sovereign country and it needs no certificate from anyone to decide its matters in its own national interest, he said.

Responding to a question on US President Donald Trump's statement concerning Pakistan, Afridi said,"Our Prime Minister Imran Khan has given a clear-cut stance of the government in this regard.

The minister said Rabi-ul-Awal is a month of blessings and the Rehmat-ul-Lil-Alameen (SAW) conference is being arranged in Islamabad in which people from all schools of thought are participating.

In his comments on the occasion, Islamabad United player Ronchi said it was honor for him to engage in tree plantation activity in Pakistan.

Owner of Islamabad United team, Ali Naqvi, Mayor Islamabad Shiekh Ansar Aziz, Deputy Mayor Zeeshan Ali Naqvi and Islamabad United Coach, Waqar Younis were also present on the occasion.

Later, Shehryar Afridi and other dignitaries planted a sapling. The minister was also presented a poster of Luke Ronchi by Islamabad United management.

Govt to take assassination of SP Tahir Dawar to logical conclusion

PESHAWAR, Nov 15 (APP):Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Afridi, while deploring Afghan authorities over delay in handing over body of slain SP Tahir Khan, has said the matter would be taken to logical conclusion.

Addressing a press conference here at Chief Minister Secretariat on Thursday, Shehryar Afridi said he came to Torkhem border on the instruction of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

"We waited there for more than two hours to receive the body but later Afghan authorities refused to hand over it, laments Shehryar Afridi.

Flanked by KP Minister for Information Shaukat Yousafzai, Spokesman for KP govt, Ajmal Wazir and brother of late Tahir Khan, Ahmadud Din Dawar, Shehryar said the Afghan authorities tried to do 

politics on the issue of handing over the body of Tahir Dawar.

"A responsible officer was killed and Afghan government was trying to negotiate over the matter," he added.

"Delay in handing over of the body was aimed at creating unrest in Pakistan," Minister for Interior maintained and asserted that investigation was being conducted and the culprits whether here or across the border would be brought to justice.

He also expressed concern over refusal of Afghan authorities to hand over the body of SP Tahir Khan to Pakistan's Consul General in Jalalabad.

The attitude of Afghan authorities was highly condemnable and deplorable, he reiterated.

"We will take up the issue diplomatically within the legal framework with the Afghan authorities," he maintained.

To a question, the minister said that apparently the motives behind assassination of SP Tahir Dawar seem to create unrest in Pakistan.

To another question, he said Afghan government should reconsider the attitude extended while handing over the body of SP Tahir Dawar.

In reply to a another question, he said that when the pictures of SP Tahir Dawar's assassination were displayed on social media, the Afghan government did not confirm the killing.

"Today we are fighting 5th generation declared cyber war where images are photo-shopped and any sweeping statements could not be given until something is confirmed."

KP Spokesperson Ajmal Wazir told the press conference that the negotiation with Afghan authorities last for more than two hours, adding the Afghan authorities started negotiating and put on their demands in exchange of the body of slain SP Tahir Dawar.

Shaukat Yousafzai appreciated the brother and bereaved family of slain SP Tahir Dawar for their cooperating with the government and defusing the situation of agitation and unrest.

Earlier, the brother of SP Tahir Dawar said that his brother was attacked several times in past. He said that he was proud of his martyred brother. He demanded of the government to help him bringing the culprits to justice.

Govt to ensure business community security, address their issues on priority

RAWALPINDI, Nov 19 (APP):Minister of State for Interior 
Shehryar Afridi Monday said the federal
government would ensure security of business community and address their issues
on priority.
         Addressing office bearers of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce 
and Industry (ICCI) here he said, the government would focus and 
promote the less development areas particularly in small provinces of 
the country. "We will invest on human development," he added.
         The minister said, "We have informed the world that they 
should do more as we have already done a lot." Every Pakistani family 
has rendered great sacrifices in war against terrorism that must be 
acknowledged by the world powers, he added.
         Today, the world is creating different approaches like 
millennium development goal, sustainable development goal, ethical 
approaches and other best practices regarding development and 
humanity but, the Muslim Ummah follows the teachings of the Holy 
Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) and considers it the success in the 
world and hereafter, he added.
         He said the business community is backbone of the national 
economy and all out efforts would be made to provide relief to the 
businessmen as if their business would flourish, then, the country 
would progress.
         Shahryar Afridi said the people who were at the helm of the 
affairs protected their own interests which created chaos among the 
citizens. "Today, there are so many problems in the country. Every 
Pakistani is distressed but, the incumbent government is making all 
out efforts to provide relief to the citizens and bring the country 
out of financial crisis," he added.
         He applauded efforts of business community and overseas 
Pakistan who despite
unfavorable circumstances played their role to support the country, adding,
Pakistan is fighting a war to protect the whole world and rendered 
unforgettable
sacrifices but, they were not acknowledged at any level. The world is following
a perception based approach for Pakistan, he said.
         The minister said the state would not allow anyone to loot 
the national wealth
and assets of the country on the name of religion, sect or any other approach
and establish state within the state.
         He said a loud and clear message had been given to those who 
were claiming that
they used to put tyres to get approval of their files. No one is above the law
and all the Pakistanis are equal in "Naya Pakistan", he added.
         Talking about 18th constitutional amendment he said, "We 
being Pakistanis own every
area of Pakistan and the federal government would play their role for the
resolution of the problems being faced by the citizens in any part of the
country."
         He urged the media to highlight issues keeping in view the 
best interests of the country.
         On the occasion, MNA, Sheikh Rashid Shafique, MPA Umar Butt, 
Chairman of RDA Muhammad
Arif Abbasi, elected members of ICCI and RCCI were present.

Special package for police martyrs' families soon

ISLAMABAD, Nov 12 (APP):Minister of State for Interior 
Shehryar Khan Afridi Monday said the government would soon announce a 
special package for the families of martyrs of Islamabad Police.
         Addressing an event arranged here to pay tribute to the 
police martyrs,  he said, "The martyrs of police are pride of the 
whole nation and the government will soon announce a special package 
for the families of those personnel who lay their lives in the line of duty."
         The minister said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) 
government was determined to transform the Capital Police into a 
model force. "The police officials will be given due respect and 
honour in the Naya Pakistan."
         He said his ministry's doors were opened for the families of 
martyrs and the government would provide all possible facilities to them.
         Afridi said the government would also provide financial 
assistance for education and marriage of the martyrs' children.
         He said Allah Almighty had selected 41 police personnel of 
Islamabad, who sacrificed their lives for the great cause of 
protecting others' lives. Every Muslim desired to get martyred, he added.
         He said the entire nation was proud of the law-enforcement 
agencies, whose personnel were rendering great sacrifices to ensure 
peace in the country.
         Referring to his meeting with a mother from Balochistan 
province, the minister said she was in high spirits despite her two 
sons had been martyred in the war against terrorism. If she had ten 
sons, she would have sacrificed all of them for the cause of the 
motherland. "I salute such mothers, who are always ready to sacrifice 
their sons for Pakistan," he added.
         Afridi said he also felt pride for having martyrs in his 
family. He said the martyrs had great respect in Islam.
         He said the Federal Government would ensure protection of 
lives of all the citizens of country.
         He said the government was determined to provide all 
available resources to the Islamabad Police for their capacity 
building. Work on the Police Act was under way as the government was 
firm to introduce reforms in the  Capital Police, under which lower 
rank police officials' would be promoted to higher ranks, he added.
         He said intelligence and technical schools would be set up 
for capacity building of Islamabad Police.
         The minister assured that the problems faced by policemen 
like accommodation and transportation would be solved on priority.
         Inspector Generalof Islamabad AamirZulfiqar paid rich 
tribute the police martyrs, saying their sacrifices for the country 
would be written in gold words.
         He pointed out to a disparity that the family of a constable 
in Islamabad was given a meager amount of Rs 3 million while in 
Punjab the amount was Rs 20 million.
         He requested the Interior Ministry to name Islamabad's roads 
after the martyrs.
         Later, the minister distributed compensation cheques among 
the heirs of martyred policemen.