RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) – Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Qamar Bajwa has chaired a meeting of corps commanders on Tuesday.

It was his first letter to her and the only one to begin a new chapter in their lives.

She opened her first letter and all the memories drove her to that special day which she still felt blessed about!

“Oh!!!  I just drew that, you naughty wave!!” she said innocently with a smile on her face.

She turned towards the sea, took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She could feel the wind on her face. She was able to feel the deep happiness within her. The sweet experience of being with the one she always loved and to be bound-less at the same time made her smile endlessly. She was startled with a tap on her shoulder. It was him. “Shall we go back?” he asked. She nodded with a smile and they both walked towards their hotel. While on their way she spotted a raised shack which was perfect to sit and enjoy sea view without any sunburns during the day. “Hey, we’ll sit there tomorrow.” She said. He saw the spot and agreed with a smile. They reached their hotel, had dinner and headed towards their room, separately .

Yes, separately! They were two good friends on a much needed vacation, away from the hustling of crowded city, overly crowded social media, professional and personal network.

A pact was signed between them, not literally but, yes something like that. According to the pact: One, they would respect each other’s privacy by staying in separate rooms during their vacation.

Two, will not hinder each other’s activity to enjoy this leisure time.

Three, will not compel each other to enjoy time together, both will have full freedom to visit places separately.

Well, they did stick to the first two conditions but, every time they ended up going to places together.

While lying on the bed of her hotel room all she could think about was him being a thorough gentleman to her, always. She knew that nothing was possible between them but, she was smitten by his caring and chivalrous nature. “Dear God, please bless this man with the best of everything…he is such a perfect human being.” she prayed for him, just like every other night. Little did she know what was happening in the other room where he mumbled, “Amen!”

Next morning she woke up to the warm smell of coffee kept on her side table…and this was a sign for her to know he was around. It was a routine during their stay. Every morning he would come to her room to share the morning coffee and discuss their plans for the day. She never admitted to him that waking up to see his face, first thing in the morning, was the best part of her day.

While they were planning, he said he had some work which he needed to do alone and so, will be able to catch up with her later. They decided to meet on the spot in the afternoon, which she chose last evening. It was unusual of him to ask her to go ahead alone but, she recalled the conditions of their pact and so, agreed to him.

It was two in the afternoon when she reached the spot but, there was no sign of him. She looked around the shack and found it a bit different from what it looked last evening; it was decorated with her favorite flowers that made it look & smell amazing. She found a bunch of papers on the coffee table with a note written for her, saying “Just for you!!” She sat on the couch with those papers in her hand and couldn’t help but, blush. It was a letter from him, to her; comprising of several pages having beautiful pictures of her. She never found herself beautiful though but, those photographs were telling a different story. Each page had one photograph with a request attached to it.

It read,

“Hi, I didn’t know how to say this so, here I am doing what I am good at…writing everything that I have always felt but, never admitted to you. But, I guess this “time-out” has given me a lot of time to look inside, accept and express the most pleasant emotion I have ever felt!!! 

You know what is the best part of my day? It’s when I see your face every morning. You look so peaceful while sleeping. I don’t remember the last time I had a peaceful sleep like that.

I must confess today that I have always envied that hair strand of yours. Because unlike it, I could rightfully never be so close to you. I have always wished to touch your beaming face, to kiss your forehead to say how much I love you. I have wished to caress your soft and supple cheeks. I have wished to whisper “good morning my love” in your ears to wake you up every single day. I have always wished to be rightfully close to you, I want to feel the peace, with you, like you. May I?

When I saw you talking to the waves the other day, you were being silly but, I loved the fact that you were being unapologetically you. Do you know that you bite your tongue when you are up to such things and how much I love to see that.

No one has ever known me so well like you do and so, would know that I have never let myself to be so carefree. I have always held back because of some unknown fear. But, I have always loved the way you have been yourself without being bothered about how others would see you…I want to enjoy being silly with you, like you, unapologetically. May I?

When you were enjoying the winds near the shore with your eyes closed and that sweet smile on your face, I couldn’t help but, admire your acceptance of those little moments of joy and happiness which you embrace so lovingly.

I have forgotten to feel the depth of happiness. I want to embrace every moment, every happiness of my life with you, like you. May I?

My Love, I want to spend my life with you, loving you, like you, May I?”

All this while when she thought that he was not paying attention to her and did not feel anything; he was there, he was always there. This very thought made her look at him in a different way altogether and she found herself falling in love with him, all over again.

It was his first letter to her and the only one needed to begin a new chapter in their lives. While she was trying to absorb all those feelings, he came and kneeled before her with a ring in his hand.

“Show Naani…show us the ring!! Is it the same ring that Nana gave you?” All her grandchildren surrounded her and asked in unison. “Yes” said their Nana from behind. “That is the ring which I gave to the most amazing woman in the world” he said, while holding her hand, as she blushed.

ENGLISH SHORT STORY PUBLISHED ON DECEMBER 19, 2016 BY DAKSHA CHOPRA

Thanked by: http://yourstoryclub.com

–END–

WASHINGTON: The United States on Monday blacklisted Russian President Vladimir Putin's reputed top enforcer and the prime suspects in the murder of ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko in London a decade ago.

The US Treasury added Russia's senior federal investigator Alexander Bastrykin and alleged assassins Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitri Kovtun to the Magnitsky Act sanctions list.

Announcing the decision, the State Department did not detail what the new targets are accused of, but the move comes at a time of increased diplomatic tension with Moscow.

"Each of the most recently added names was considered after extensive research," spokesman John Kirby said.

Kirby said the targeted names have "roles in the repressive machinery of Russia's law enforcement systems, as well as individuals involved in notorious human rights violations."

President Barack Obama's outgoing administration has accused the Kremlin of using cyber espionage, targeted leaks and propaganda in a bid to influence November's White House race.

US President-elect Donald Trump was angered when American intelligence agencies warned of the Russian hacking, alleging that they were behind a "witch hunt" to tarnish his win.
Moscow has scornfully rejected the charges, echoing Trump's "witch hunt" charge.

But Washington has already expelled 35 Russian diplomats in response and Monday's decision targeted a close Putin ally.

Asked why Obama's final update to the Magnitsky Act had still not included Putin himself, a senior administration official said Washington does not want a complete breakdown in ties.

Polonium-laced tea

"We need to preserve the possibility of working with Russia in areas in which it is in the US national interest," the official told AFP, on condition of anonymity.

"This includes pressing for diplomatic solutions to the crises in Syria and eastern Ukraine," he added.

"Our goal in imposing sanctions is to change behaviour," he said. "We have taken steps to make clear that interference in US democratic processes will not go unanswered."

Bastrykin is one of the Russian president's most powerful allies and is head of an investigative agency that had led crackdowns on domestic dissidents.

He famously once had to apologise to a journalist after allegedly threatening to have him killed, and he has targeted foreign NGOs accused of meddling in Russian politics.

Britain has identified Lugovoi and Kovtun as main suspects in the death of Litvinenko, who succumbed to radiation poisoning in London in 2006 after drinking polonium-laced tea.

In January last year, after a British inquiry, judge Robert Owen said he was sure that Lugovoi and Kovtun had put polonium-210 in Litvinenko's tea at a hotel on November 1, 2006.

Litvinenko was a former Russian agent turned freelance investigator who had collaborated with British intelligence.

The British inquiry concluded that the murder had probably been ordered by the then head of Russia's FSB intelligence agency and had been personally approved by Putin himself.

British intelligence

Lugovoi, a member of Russia's lower house of parliament, has denied the charge, which is based in part on still classified evidence gathered by the British security services.

Russia has refused to extradite the men for questioning.

The Magnitsky Act was originally passed to enable US officials to impose sanctions on Russians implicated in the 2009 prison death of Russian tax fraud whistleblower Sergei Magnitsky.

But more individuals have been blacklisted over the years.
The target list now includes 44 names of those whose assets under US jurisdiction are frozen, and who are barred from doing business with Americans or receiving US visas.

The act allows for the designation of those implicated in the murder, torture or persecution of those who reveal corruption in Russia, Kirby explained.

The US authorities also added two less well-known officials, Stanislav Gordievsky and Gennady Plaksin, to the list.

The Turkish parliament voted on Tuesday to press on with debate about a constitutional reform package that would expand the powers of President Tayyip Erdogan, taking another step on the path towards an executive presidency.

Erdogan and his supporters argue that Turkey needs the strong leadership of an executive presidency to prevent a return to the fragile coalition governments of the past, but opponents fear the reform will fuel authoritarianism.

The initial vote, an early indicator of support for the bill, was passed with 338 votes, indicating that some deputies from the ruling AK Party and the nationalist opposition MHP, which backs the reform, had not voted in favor.

The bill needs the support of at least 330 deputies in the 550-seat assembly to go to a referendum, expected in the spring. The AKP has 316 deputies eligible to vote and the MHP 39.

Under the reform, Erdogan will be able to appoint and dismiss government ministers, take back the leadership of the ruling party, and govern until 2029.

At Monday's debate on the 18-article bill, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the reform would resolve the problem of Turkey having two executive authorities.

"There needs to be one authority in the executive branch," he told the assembly. "Two captains sink the ship, there needs to be one captain."

Of the 550-member assembly, 480 lawmakers voted overnight, of whom 134 voted against the bill. The remaining votes were abstentions, unmarked or invalid voting slips.

Debate on the individual articles is set to begin on Tuesday and the AKP plans to complete debate of the package by Jan. 24.

The plans foresee presidential and general elections in 2019 with a maximum of two five-year terms.

JERUSALEM: Israeli troops in the occupied West Bank shot dead a Palestinian who attacked them with a knife overnight during an operation to arrest suspected militants, the army said on Tuesday morning.

A military statement said that no soldiers were injured in the incident at Al-Fara Palestinian refugee camp, northeast of the city of Nablus.

"An assailant, armed with a knife attempted to stab soldiers on operational activity to arrest suspects," the English-language statement said.

"Forces called the attacker to halt and, upon his continued advance, fired toward him, resulting in his death."

It added that others in the camp hurled explosives and shot at the soldiers.

Since October 2015, 248 Palestinians, 40 Israelis, two Americans, a Jordanian, an Eritrean and a Sudanese have been killed, according to an AFP count.

Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out attacks, according to Israeli authorities. Others were shot dead during protests or clashes, while some died in Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip.

Many analysts say Palestinian frustration with the Israeli occupation and settlement building in the West Bank, comatose peace efforts and their own fractured leadership have helped feed the unrest.

Israel says incitement by Palestinian leaders and media is a leading cause.

The Al-Fara incident comes less than 48 hours after a Palestinian rammed a truck into troops visiting a Jerusalem tourist site, killing four soldiers in a stark reminder of tensions despite a recent lull in violence.

The attacker was shot dead at the scene.

ISLAMABAD: A larger bench led by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa resumed hearing the Panama Leaks today.

In its remarks Supreme Court said that the apex court could not investigate and then give judgement like a trial court. "We have taken oath to uphold the constitution. We are not a trial court," it remarked.

Justice Ejaz Afzal, who is part of the bench,  said that disqualifying the Prime Minister over mere assumption will set a dangerous precedent. "How can the conflict be solved without recording evidence? Prime Minister's link to Panama and his speech are two different matters," he remarked.

The hearing was adjourned till January 11 (Wednesday).

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's lead counsel Naeem Bukhari continued with his arguments during the proceedings today. He said that finance minister Ishaq Dar's statement on money laundering was available in court records. "In September 1998 the report was sent to the Chief Justice and National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The report had been compiled by former FIA director Rehman Malik."

Justice Ejaz Afzal asked Bukhari to confine the case to the London Flats. "What is the point of bringing in Ishaq Dar? Is he among the respondents?" he asked. "Explain why NAB should have filed an appeal in the Hudaibya case."

Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said that the only way out is that the NAB chairman files an appeal in the court. He added that he should not have given an observation over Article 62 and 63, and he takes back his words.

Speaking to the media outside the Supreme Court, PTI leader said, "In 1999 Hussain Nawaz was a student. How did he become a billionaire in 2001?"

PTI spokesman Naeem-ul-Haque said that the Sharif family has been laundering money. "Hussain Nawaz sent Rs800 million to Nawaz Sharif. It's source should be revealed," he said.

In the last hearing, Naeem Bukhari presented evidence over beneficial ownership of the London Flats. He questioned Hussain Nawaz's source of income.

(GEO TV)

ISLAMABAD (AP TV): A parliamentary committee meeting over military courts led by the National Assembly speaker Ayaz Sadiq ended without any consensus.

All opposition parties demanded that the government brief them over performance of the military courts. 

Speaking to Geo News, leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah said the next session will held on January 17.

"The government will brief us over the performance of military courts," he added.

Sources told Geo News, that during the meeting the Pakistan People's Party opposed the extension of military courts.

Prior to the meeting earlier today, Khursheed Shah along with Naveed Qamar, met PTI’s Shah Mehmood Qureshi where they discussed their stance over the issue of military courts.

On January 6, this year military courts expired. After hearing 274 cases and awarding 161 death sentences in a two-year-long term, special military courts set up to try terrorism suspects in Pakistan have ceased to function, the ISPR announced on Sunday.

A total of 12 convicted terrorists have been executed since January 2015, when the courts were established through a constitutional amendment allowing them to try civilians on terrorism charges.

The constitutional amendment came in response to an attack by Taliban terrorists on the Army Public School in Peshawar that killed 134 children. The amendment included an expiry clause to keep the measure temporary.

The federal government has said it is in consultations for a constitutional amendment to continue with the military courts for a period agreed by all political parties in Parliament.

(Published by: GEo TV)

Democrats have called for US President-elect Donald Trump's naming of his son-in-law as a top adviser to be reviewed over concerns of nepotism and conflict of interest.

A group wants the Justice Department and Office of Government Ethics to scrutinise "legal issues" related to the appointment of Jared Kushner, 36.

His lawyer says the post does not breach anti-nepotism laws.

Mr Kushner is married to Mr Trump's daughter Ivanka.

The millionaire will step down as boss of his family's real estate business and publisher of the New York Observer newspaper in order to comply with ethics laws, his lawyer Jamie Gorelick said.

The influential Trump adviser will also divest "substantial assets", she said.

Mr Trump will be inaugurated as the 45th president on 20 January.

Several of his cabinet picks have business interests that will be scrutinised at confirmation hearings taking place this week.

Mr Trump's pick for attorney general, Alabama Sen Jeff Sessions, is first to face Senate confirmation hearings on Tuesday. He was turned down for a federal judgeship in 1986 because of alleged racist remarks.

Unlike cabinet positions, advisers are considered part of White House staff and do not not require approval from Congress.

Who is Jared Kushner?

Softly-spoken and usually camera-shy, Mr Kushner is a vastly wealthy property developer and publisher who played an influential role in Mr Trump's presidential campaign and has been included in key meetings with foreign leaders during the transition period.

An Orthodox Jew whose grandparents were Holocaust survivors, he was raised in Livingston, New Jersey, and went on to study sociology at Harvard.

His father, also a property mogul, was jailed for tax evasion, illegal campaign contributions and witness tampering in 2005 by Chris Christie - then the US attorney for New Jersey.

Jared Kushner is said to have played a key role in the ousting of Mr Christie, by then New Jersey governor, from Mr Trump's presidential campaign team last year.