Pakistan

2 April 2020; AFP: A Pakistani court on Thursday overturned the death sentence for British-born militant Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, who had been convicted in the 2002 killing of American journalist Daniel Pearl.

Defence lawyer Khawja Naveed told AFP his client's sentence had been reduced to seven years in prison.

Since Omar Sheikh had been in prison since 2002, he was expected to be released, but the court had not yet issued that order, Naveed added.

ISLAMABAD, April 1 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese medical expert said on Wednesday that prevention work should be the top priority for Pakistan to cope with the increasingly severe COVID-19 epidemic in the country.

Ma Minghui, head of a medical expert team sent by the Chinese government to Pakistan, told Xinhua that since the eight-member team's arrival in Pakistan, they have emphasized the importance of prevention in the fight against the COVID-19.

ISLAMABAD, Apr 01 (APP): Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday asked youth in the country to join Corona Tiger Force meant as a 'jihad’ to help those facing the challenges of Coronavirus.

“I want youth to play their role in helping our fight against the COVID 19 by joining our Corona Tiger Force, which will be organised to do Jihad against the suffering caused by this pandemic,” the prime minister wrote in a tweet.

Lahore, Mar 31 (PTI) A Pakistani court has exempted ailing former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who is in London for treatment, from personal appearance in a money laundering case.

Sharif, 70, has been in London since November last year.

The Lahore Accountability Court on Monday exempted Sharif from personal hearing in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills (CSM) case till the filing of a formal case.

ISLAMABAD, Apr 1 (NNN-APP) – The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Pakistan rose to 2,039, with 26 deaths reported across the country, according to the newest data, released on the website of the Health Ministry on Wednesday (today).

The country’s eastern Punjab province and southern Sindh province were the worst-hit areas with 708 and 676 cases respectively, followed by the northwest province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which has 253 cases.

ISLAMABAD, Mar 30 (APP): Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul Monday said that the government’s relief package for the vulnerable segments of society including daily wagers, laborers and others in view of the prevailing coronavirus situation was a historic step in the right direction.

Talking to a private news channel, she said the newly announced “Corona Relief Tigers Youth Force” would take the prime minister’s fight forward and ensure that labourers and daily wage earners do not remain hungry across the country.

(AP) --- The Latest on the coronavirus pandemic. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.

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TOP OF THE HOUR:

— CDC advisory urges residents of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut to refrain from non-essential travel for the next 14 days.

— Subways, long-distance train service reopened in Wuhan, China.

— New Zealand reports first death from coronavirus.

ISLAMABAD, Mar 28 (APP): Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in his recent letter to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has demanded its role in resolving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and ensure giving right of self-determination to Kashmiris under relevant resolutions.

ISLAMABAD, Mar 26 (APP): Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi Thursday held a telephonic conversation with his Bhutanese counterpart Dr. Tandi Dorji and discussed the challenges and the ways to counter them in the wake of rapid spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

He said that Pakistan considered SAARC an important platform for regional cooperation.

ISLAMABAD, Mar 24 (APP): Prime Minister Imran Khan Tuesday said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects were vital for the development of Pakistan as these would provide huge opportunities in terms of employment, communication and economic prosperity.

He also stressed upon fast-pace implementation of these projects which was in the interest of country.

The prime minister chaired a briefing on status review of CPEC energy projects, PM office media wing in a press release said.