Cross-exam of prosecution witnesses conclude in Noor Mukadam case
An Islamabad trial court on Wednesday adjourned the hearing into the Noor Mukadam case till February 7 after the cross-examination of prosecution witnesses finally concluded.
However, in Wednesday’s hearing, prime accused Zahir Jaffer’s counsel, Sikandar Zulqarnain, submitted three different applications to the court. The defense has sought action against the Islamabad Inspector-General (IG) for issuing an explanation to the media regarding the investigation.
In the second petition, the defense requested the court to issue directives to the presiding officer to revisit the crime scene and initiate action against the investigating officer (IO) for drawing an incorrect map.
Finally, the defense submitted to the court that the contact number given by the plaintiff and Noor Mukadam’s father, Shaukat Mukadam, to his wife is registered under the name of a different woman.
Convict gets 16 years for rape, murder of toddler
A Karachi East District and Sessions Court sentenced one Naeem Ahmed to 16 years in prison for raping and murdering a three-year-old girl in Korangi Industrial Area in 2017. The court acquitted a co-accused, Ahmed’s wife, due to lack of evidence.
The accused was also fined Rs. 50,000, defaulting on which would entail another six months imprisonment, and Rs. 10,000 in compensation to the complainant, defaulting on which would entail another month in jail.
DRAP to increase price of painkillers
The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) is set to increase the maximum retail price of paracetamol (painkillers) in response to warnings from pharmaceutical companies in increasing costs of raw materials from China affecting local drug manufacturing at current prices.
However, the price of over-the-counter painkillers will only be increased after approval of summary by the Federal Cabinet.
According to different manufacturers, the price of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) in common medicines, imported from China, has increased from Rs. 600 to Rs. 2,600 per kilogram in the international market. As such, local production cost has inflated to Rs. 2.30 per tablet, against the existing selling price of Rs. 1.90 per tablet. DRAP authorities have agreed to increase the selling price to Rs. 2.67 per tablet.
