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February 21, 2020: National / International Current Affairs
1. Pakistan set to get four-month FATF breather
• The Financial Action Task Force is set to give Pakistan another four months (until June 2020) to achieve full compliance with its 27-point action plan and secure exit from the FATF grey list.
• Pakistan`s progressive performance vis-à-vis the action plan had been appreciated at the working group meetings, but all the members, barring a couple of friendly nations, called for `full compliance` with the action plan. .
• There was no case at all for blacklisting us,` a source said.
• The FATF will issue a formal statement on Friday (February 21, 2020) on conclusion of the group meetings and plenary from Feb 16 to 21. There would be no presser this time, the source said. The Pakistani delegation was led by Revenue Minister Hammad Azhar
2. AG`s remarks against SC judges cost him his job
• Attorney General Anwar Mansoor Khan had to tender resignation from the coveted post on February 20, 2020 for levelling allegations against some members of the Supreme Court bench hearing petitions challenging the filing of presidential reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa.
• Though Mr Khan claimed that he had decided to quit on his own in compliance with the demand of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC),the law ministry said he was asked to do so.
• Mr Mansoor, however, disagreed with the government stance that he had been asked to tender his resignation.
• The former AG said he had withdrawn the statement that had caused the controversy. In reply to a question, he said the statement had been discussed at the government level.
3. British legislators praise free access to `meet anyone, anywhere` in AJK
• A delegation of British parliamentarians on February 20, 2020 expressed gratitude to the governments of Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) for affording them extensive courtesy and free access to visit `anyone, anywhere`, in contrast to the conduct of the Indian government.
• `Seventy-two years is a long time and we can`t allow the tragedy that has befallen Kashmiri people to continue in this way and particularly after the 5th of August last year, said delegation leader MP Debbie Abrahams at a brief interaction with journalists at the President House, after a meeting with AJK President Sardar Masood Khan.
• The Labour MP, who is the chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Kashmir (APPGK) in the British Parliament, was flanked by other members of the delegation, including Labour MPs Imran Hussain, Tahir Ali and Judith Cummins, Tory MPs Sarah Britcliffe, James Daly and Mark Eastwood, Lib Dem politician and lifetime peer Qurban Hussain and Labour councillors Harpreet Uppal and Yasmine Dar
4. AD Khowaja to head narcotics division
• Allah Dino Khowaja, commonly known as AD Khowaja, has been posted as secretary of the Narcotics Control Division (NCD), says a notification issued by the Establishment Division on February 20, 2020.
• According to the notification, Mr Khowaja, a BS-22 officer of the Police Service of Pakistan and at present serving as the Inspector General of National Highways and Motorways Police, has been transferred and posted as secretary of the Narcotics Control Division with immediate effect.
• Mr Khowaja came to limelight over his tussle with the Sindh government over recruitment and postings and transfers of police officers in the police department
5. India sends delegate to SCO meeting in Islamabad
• The Expert Working Group of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (ECO) on February 20, 2020 completed its two-day discussions on international and regional security and efforts to preserve peace and stability.
• `The 9th Defense and Security Expert Working Group (EWG) meeting of (SCO) was held at Islamabad from 19-20 February 2020,` the ISPR said in a statement on the first meeting of the SCO framework for defence and security cooperation hosted by Pakistan, which joined the bloc in 2017.
• This was also the first meeting of the group under `SCO Defence & Security Cooperation Plan -2020`that envisages defence and security cooperation among member states particularly through training military personnel for increasing their capability and preparedness.
6. Kashmiri journalist wins prestigious award
• Freelance reporter Ahmer Khan was named the winner of the 2019 Agence France-Presse Kate Webb Prize on February 20, 2020 for his coverage on the ground in India-held Kashmir during India`s lockdown of the disputed region.
• The award, named after one of AFP`s finest correspondents, recognises journalism by locally hired reporters in Asia operating in risky or difficult conditions.
• Khan, 27, was honoured for a series of video and written reports that vividly illustrated the impact on locals in the occupied region following India`s decision to strip its semi-autonomous status in August.
7. Oman`s new sultan rejigs national anthem
• Oman`s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq issued a decree removing the name of his predecessor from the national anthem on February 20, 2020, a day after official mourning for Sultan Qaboos ended.
• `Sultan Haitham issued a decree amending Annex 3 of the law pertaining to the state flag, emblem and national anthem,` the official Oman News Agency reported.
• According to the new decree, the lyrics referring to Sultan Qaboos, `Qaboos has come with the blessing of heaven, be cheerful and commend him to the protection of our prayers` will be replaced with `raise to the sky and fill the universe with light, be happy and prosper` Sultan Qaboos, who died on Jan 10 at the age of 79, was the longest-serving leader in the modern Arab world
8. Umar Akmal indefinitely suspended by PCB
• Even before the first ball has been bowled in the HBL Pakistan Super League 2020, the fifth edition of the competition was rocked early on February 20, 2020 when it emerged that Quetta Gladiators batsman Umar Akmal has been suspended indefinitely under the PCB Anti Corruption Code.
• According to a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) media release, the 29-year-old has been prevented from taking part in any cricket-related activity until the outcome of the inquiry initiated against the controversial right handed batsman.
• `Umar Akmal has been suspended with immediate effect under Article 4.7.1 of the PCB Anti-Corruption Code, which means he cannot take part in any cricket related activity pending the investigation being carried out by PCB`s Anti Corruption Unit. As this is an ongoing investigation, the cricket board will not make any further comments,` the media release said
9. PSL V blasts off with colourful opening ceremony
• The fifth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) kicked off with a colourful opening ceremony at the National Stadium Karachi on February 20, 2020.
• The celebrations were all about welcoming the annual festival of Twenty20 cricket back to the country, this time in its entirety.
• The fireworks and the light show at the end of the ceremony were by far the most impressive moment of the night ahead of the opening match played between defending champions Quetta Gladiators and two time winners 1slamabad United.
10. Azam, Hasnain lead Gladiators to victory over United
• The opening fixture of the fifth HBL Pakistan Super League on February 20, 2020 had everything to entertain a crowd at the National Stadium after a lackluster music show.
• The night finally culminated in a blaze of fireworks on the back of a remarkable knock by Azam Khan as Quetta Gladiators launched their defence of the title with a scrappy three-wicket victory over two-time former champions Islamabad United.
• Azam, the 21-year-old son of ex Pakistan captain and Quetta head coach Moin Khan, displayed amazing power-hitting to rescue his side from a precarious 26-3 with a brilliant contribution of 59 in only his second T20 appearance. The Gladiators got over the line with nine balls to spare.
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