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PAK-TURKIYE-AZERBAIJAN SUMMIT NATURAL PROGRESSION OF TIES AMONGST THREE BROTHERLY COUNTRIES: PM Thursday, 4 July, 2024 I 27 Zil-Hajj, 1445
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Reaffirms commitment to working together with Turkiye, Azerbaijan to elevate tripartite cooperation into partnership
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ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN Staff RepoRt
Minister RIME Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the convening of the inaugural session of the Pakistan-Turkiye-Azerbaijan Trilateral Meeting at the Summit level and termed it as a natural progression of trilateral engagements amongst the three brotherly Muslim countries which share a similar outlook on a host of issues of mutual interest and common concern. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif was speaking at the inaugural session of Pakistan-Turkiye-Azerbaijan Trilateral Summit held on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan. The Summit was attended by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, President of Turkiye, H.E. Recep Tayyip
Erdoğan and President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, H.E. Mr. Ilham Heydar Aliyev. PM Shehbaz underscored that Pakistan deeply values its fraternal ties with Azerbaijan and Turkiye which are grounded in deep rooted cultural, historic and religious bonds as well as mutual respect and support towards each other on core issues. While noting excellent trilateral cooperation in political, parliamentary and defence domains since the First Trilateral Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the three countries held in
Baku in 2017, he affirmed Pakistan’s commitment to working together with Turkiye and Azerbaijan to elevate the tripartite cooperation into a strong multifaceted partnership across all areas of mutual interest including economic, energy, tourism, cultural, educational, technology and innovation, healthcare and environmental cooperation. The Prime Minister proposed to establish tripartite institutional mechanisms particularly in economic and investment areas to further strengthen Pak-
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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Ilham Heydar Aliyev attend inaugural session of trilateral meeting
istan-Turkiye-Azerbaijan trilateral economic and commercial cooperation. Emphasizing strong bonds of friendship and robust people-to-people contacts amongst the three countries, the Prime Minister also outlined significant potential for collaboration in the areas of culture, tourism, academia as well as science and technology. Pakistan, Turkiye and Pakistan have previously held trilateral consultations at the level of Foreign Ministers, Speakers of Parliaments and Defence Personnel. PM invites Tajikistan to avail facilities of Pakistani seaports for transit trade Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has invited Tajikistan to “avail the facilities of Pakistani seaports” for transit trade, a joint statement issued by the two countries said on Wednesday, as the premier concluded his two-day official visit to the Central Asian country.
PM Shehbaz suggests Putin to renew trade under barter system ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN Staff RepoRt
In a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for overcoming financial and banking issues between the two countries by renewing and expanding trade under a barter system. Speaking during their meeting on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, PM Shehbaz recalled how Pakistan and Russia used to have a bilateral trade and a barter system in the 1950s and 1960s. “I think today is the time we can overcome financial and other banking issues by renewing our trade and expanding our trade under a barter,” PM Shehbaz told President Putin. “That will be very beneficial to Pakistan and we will able to overcome many problems.”
Ex-senator, three others killed in Damadola IED attack BAJAUR/PESHAWAR Staff RepoRt
Former Senator Hadayat Ullah along with three other was killed on Wednesday when their car was targeted with an improvised explosive device (IED) Bajaur’s Damadola area. The police confirmed the killings and said that Hidayatullah Khan’s car was targeted through a remote-control bomb. The former senator went to Tehsil Mamond for election activities in connection with the by-poll. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Bakht Munir confirmed the incident, saying that a remote controlled device hit the car of ex-Senator Hadayat Ullah while travelling with his companions. Malakand Regional Police Officer Muhammad Ali Khan Gandapur also confirmed the deaths, saying the former senator’s car was targeted with an IED attack in Bajaur’s Damadola area. The RPO said that no one had claimed responsibility for the attack as of yet.Bajaur District Police Officer Sajjad Ahmad said that the bomb disposal unit was carrying out investigation and the situation would be made clearer after its report. He added that the former senator
was on the way for by-election campaign in Damadola he was targeted. KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur condemned the incident and summoned a report from police authorities. “All aspects of the incident should be investigated and a report should be submitted,” he was quoted as saying in a statement. KP government spokesperson Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif offered prayers for the deceased and said: “Such cowardly attacks cannot dampen our spirits.” CONDEMNATIONS POUR IN President Asif Ali Zardari expressed his deep grief and sorrow over the deaths of former Senator Hidayatullah and other people who lost their lives in a remotecontrolled bomb blast in Bajaur. While strongly condemning the terrorist incident, the president expressed condolences with the bereaved families, President Secretariat Press Wing said in a press release. President Zardari also prayed for the departed souls and for the bereaved families to bear the losses with fortitude. Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani, Deputy Chairman Syedaal Khan, house leader Ishaq Dar and opposition leader Shibli Faraz also condemned the
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attack. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi too strongly condemned the lives lost in the blast. KP Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry condemned the attack, saying that it was very unfortunate. “We will not be discouraged by such cowardly attacks. The martyrdom of the former senator and others will not go in vain,” he said, extending his condolences to the relatives of the three. “Ending the monster of terrorism should be the agreed agenda of all the democratic parties of the country,” PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said while responding to the attack. “Senator Hidayatullah always highlighted the problems of former Fata in the House. Tribal areas have been deprived of a strong voice. The PPP stands in solidarity with the family members of senator Hidayatullah and we are with them in their demand for the end of terrorism and justice,” said PPP Senator Sherry Rehman. Awami National Party (ANP) President Aimal Wali Khan also condemned the attack and criticised security agencies, asking if they would answer for the incident. “Just a few days before the by-elections, such incidents are a question mark
on security in Bajaur and a complete failure of the security agencies. ANP strongly condemns the cowardly attack and demands that the perpetrators and facilitators involved in the incident be strictly punished,” he said in a post on X. Hidayatullah joined the PTI in 2018, a move which was resented by local party activists. His father was former MNA Haji Bismillah Khan while his elder brother was former KP governor Shaukatullah Khan. According to the Senate website, he was an independent senator from March 2018 to March 2024. CTD, POLICE FOIL ‘MAJOR’ TERROR PLOT IN KP Meanwhile, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and police thwarted a major terrorism plot in the Orakzai district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Wednesday. According to a CTD spokesman, the suspects were planning to carry out terrorism activities in the region, but the timely operation prevented a potential catastrophe. The CTD said that the joint operation resulted in the seizure of a large cache of weapons, ammunition, and explosives, including rocket launchers, RPGs, hand grenades, and bullets.
Petition in LHC seeks to overturn tax exemption for bureaucrats, military personnel LAHORE
Staff RepoRt
Tax exemptions provided to bureaucrats and military officials by the federal government were challenged at the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday. The challenge targets Section 236C of the Income Tax Ordinance, cited as a potential breach of constitutional rights. The petition, initiated by citizen Mishkoor Hussain and represented by advocate Nadeem Sarwar, argues that this section contravenes Article 2 of the Constitution, which ensures equality before the law. Specifically, it criticizes the provision in the recent
budget that exempts bureaucrats and military personnel from income tax on property transactions, highlighting a disparity in tax obligations that, according to the petitioner, violates the principle of equal treatment under the law. The court is requested to deem Section 236C unlawful and to revise the Finance Act to rectify this issue. Additionally, the petitioner seeks an interim suspension of this section while the court deliberates, to halt its application. The Federal Government and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) have been named as respondents in this case, which could set a precedent regarding tax policies and equality rights in Pakistan.
The premier called for enhancing bilateral trade between the two countries, noting that it was currently “touching $1 billion”. Speaking further on the Pakistan-Russia ties, PM Shehbaz highlighted that he was “very happy” to share that the bilateral relations between the two states had been having a positive trajectory over the last many years, terming it a “matter of great comfort”.
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UN chief wants Imran’s situation to change ‘in a much more positive way’: spokesperson NEW YORK agencieS
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wants to see PTI founder Imran Khan’s current situation “evolve in a much more positive way”, according to his spokesperson. Imran is serving out his sentence in the Iddat case at Adiala Jail. His sentences in two Toshakhana cases against him were suspended while the Islamabad High Court acquitted him in the cipher case. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention — which has the mandate to investigate cases of deprivation of liberty by governments — had on Monday said the cases against Imran were “without legal basis” and politically motivated to exclude him from the political arena. The panel said that the appropriate remedy would be to release and compensate the former prime minister. This was the second disapproval at the international level of the government’s action against PTI and its incarcerated founder within a week after the passage of a US resolution last week calling upon Pakistan to thoroughly probe the allegation of irregularities in the February 8 elections. The government and its allies on Tuesday rejected the recommendations of the UN working group regarding Imran’s detention and termed it a conspiracy against the institutions. Questioned in a press conference a day ago on whether the UN chief supported the group’s recommendation to immediately release the PTI founder, his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said: “It’s a recommendation from an independent panel. “We want to see the current political situation, the current situation of Mr Khan, evolve in a much more positive way.” ‘INTERNAL MATTER’ In a statement on Tuesday, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar had rebuffed the working group’s recommendations — which are legally non-binding — and said the former premier’s detention was an “internal matter”. He added that courts took legal action against the PTI founder in light of the Constitution and prevailing laws. “The PTI founder is entitled to all rights under the Constitution and laws, as well as international principles,” Tarar had said, adding that the expremier was currently in jail as a convicted prisoner.
Petroleum dealers to go on strike from July 5 against advance tax on turnover g
Tax will severely impact our already struggling businesses, strike could extend beyond one day, says PPDA Chairman Abdul Sami Khan ISLAMABAD
ahmad ahmadani
The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) has announced a nationwide strike from July 5 against the 0.5% advance tax on turnover, as stated in the recently passed federal budget for 2024-25. The PPDA warns that this tax will severely impact their already struggling businesses, which are reeling from high taxes and inflation. PPDA Chairman Abdul Sami Khan said that the strike could extend beyond one day and advised dealers to keep fuel stocked at petrol pumps until July 4. He urged citizens
to fill their vehicle tanks before the strike begins. “We met with the finance minister, the chairman of the FBR, officials of the Petroleum Division, chairman of OGRA, and DG Oil, DG Explosive but the talks yielded no results, which is why we are striking. Double taxation is a violation of the Constitution,” Khan stated. He highlighted the minimal profit margins for dealers due to staggering inflation and high taxes, describing the additional tax burden as unsustainable for the petrol pump business. The strike involves 13,000 dealers who will shut down their petrol pumps on July 5.
Khan warned that if the government does not reverse its decision, dealers may have no choice but to permanently close their businesses. “The additional burden of taxes will destroy our business. There is no other option but to close the business because of this unfair tax,” he asserted while talking to Profit. Pakistan’s tax-heavy $67.76 billion budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 came into effect on July 1, with an annual inflation projection of up to 13.5% for June. The ambitious budget, which includes a challenging tax revenue target of Rs 13 trillion ($46.66 billion), has drawn criticism
from both government allies and the opposition. The revenue collection target for the new fiscal year is almost 40% higher than the last fiscal year. Khan called on the prime minister, petroleum minister, and finance minister to immediately abolish the tax to prevent the devastating impact on petrol pump businesses. “We are ready to discuss our concerns and possible solutions with the government,” he said. “We request the prime minister, petroleum minister, and finance minister to immediately abolish this tax, otherwise we will be unable to continue running our businesses.”
It is pertinent to mention that the PPDA has so far remained firm in its stance, and unless the government accedes to their demands, the strike will commence as scheduled, leading to a potential nationwide disruption in the fuel supply.