Profit IMRAN ‘OFFERS CONDITION’ FOR APOLOGY OVER MAY 9 EVENTS In partnership with
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Calls for release of CCTV footage of May 9 to ascertain real culprits behind the mayhem
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RAWALPINDI
staff report
NCARCERATED Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Founder Imran Khan on Wednesday offered conditional apology for the violent events unfolded following his arrest on May 9, 2023, calling for the release of CCTV footage to verify the involvement of PTI members in the incidents. “If any PTI members are found guilty of participating in the events of May 9, I will apologise, expel them from the party, and ensure they face punishment,” Imran stated while speaking to journalists in Adiala Jail. He emphasised that the CCTV footage of May 9 should be made public to ascertain the real culprits behind the May 9 mayhem. He emphasised that accountability must be applied universally, questioning why only the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) is held in high regard. “I was dragged by the Rangers, yet there seems to be no respect for Pakistan’s most popular figure, both nationally and internationally. Don’t I deserve an apology as well?” he remarked, referring to his own treatment during the protests. The PTI founder said that they were subjected to injustice, with 10,000 of their people imprisoned, not allowed to contest elections, and their party banned. “They are victims of the May 9 incident and are seeking justice,” said the former PM. Imran Khan mentioned that they also approached the chief justice, highlighting
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human rights violations, and noted that their petition was not being heard. “PTI will not negotiate with the government that emerged from Form 47,” he reiterated his stance, emphasising that apologies should come from those who made mistakes. The PTI founder also demanded putting his name along with those of Nawaz Sharif, Asif Zardari, and Shehbaz Sharif on the Exit Control List (ECL). The fresh statement of the ex-premier reflects ongoing tensions between the PTI and state authorities, as the PTI founder continues to challenge the official narrative surrounding the May 9 incidents. The call for transparency and accountability is expected to stir further political debate in Pakistan. Earlier, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director-General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR),
Emphasises accountability must be applied universally, questioning why only ISPR held in high regard?
Current foreign secretary will reach age of superannuation on September 9 ISLAMABAD
staff report
reaffirmed the military’s unwavering stance on the violent protests of May 9.
He reiterated thatthose involved in the riots must be held accountable.
day, Khan emphasized that while PTI is open to discussions within the constitutional framework, the party’s mandate must be reinstated first. “I have not authorized Mahmood Khan Achakzai to negotiate with the establishment. His role is limited to talks with political parties,” Khan stated. When questioned about potential negotiations with the current government,
Khan dismissed the idea, asserting that the government’s downfall is inevitable once four constituencies are opened for scrutiny. Khan also criticized the previous major protest movement, noting that it ultimately backed down despite initially strong demands for respect for the vote. The former Prime Minister declined to comment when asked about Sher Afazl Marwat.
– claims he never asked Achakzai to negotiate with the Army NEWS DESK
Former Prime Minister and founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, has clarified that Mahmood Khan Achakzai, leader of the Pashtun Khawa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP), has not been appointed to negotiate with the establishment on his behalf. Speaking from Adiala Jail on Satur-
Global lender ’s Executive Board to consider $7b Extended Fund Facility approval by end of August 2024 or early September PROFIT
Monitoring Desk
Pakistan has received confirmation from Saudi Arabia, China, and the UAE for a one-year rollover of $12 billion in deposits, contrary to its request for a three to five-year extension. This rollover will help Pakistan to get approval for the $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme. The News reported that Finance Minister Mohammad Aurangzeb disclosed that the IMF has assessed an external financing gap of $3-5 billion, which Pakistan needs to fulfil over 37 months to secure a $7 billion bailout package under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF). After the meeting of the meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance, the finance minister told journalists that the IMF Executive Board might consider approving the $7 billion EFF package by the end of August 2024 or early September.
The Senate Standing Committee on Finance, chaired by Saleem Mandviwalla, met to discuss various financial matters on Tuesday. They requested an incamera briefing from Chairman FBR Amjad Zubair Tiwana on the placement of senior FBR officers in the administrative pool. Minister Aurangzeb further stated that the assurances from the three bilateral partners for the one-year rollover of $12 billion deposits are crucial for obtaining the next EFF package from the IMF. He also mentioned ongoing efforts to secure additional assurances of $3-5 billion to move towards completing the IMF programme. Pakistan seeks an extension of the repayment tenure for Chinese IPPs, amounting to $9 billion, over three to five years. International commercial banks have shown interest in Pakistan but are awaiting favourable pricing and the IMF’s approval of the bailout package, as well as improvements from credit rating agencies.
PTI moves Supreme Court against ‘Election Amendment Act’ ISLAMABAD
staff report
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court, challenging the Election Amendment Act introduced bar independent lawmakers from joining a political party after a stipulated period. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan filed a constitutional petition in the Supreme Court and prayed to the apex court to annul the Election Amendment Act. An Article 184-3 application was filed through the mediation of Salman Akram Raja. The Federation and the Election Commission have been made parties in the petition. Barrister Gohar Ali Khan requested the court to declare the newly passed amendments as “unconstitutional”. “[…] The instant petition seeks to challenge, therefore, subversion of the democratic process made by the Impugned Act and is, therefore, a petition that raises questions of immense public importance with reference to the enforcement of the fundamental rights, conferred by the Constitution, in particular the rights guaranteed by Article 17,” read the petition. “Past and closed transactions that have taken place in terms of the Constitution and the Elections
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the appointment of Pakistan’s current ambassador to the European Union and Brussels, Amna Baloch, as the new Foreign Secretary. However, neither the foreign office nor the Prime Minister Office have so far confirmed the decision officially. According to sources, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also approved the nomination of some new ambassadors for Pakistan. The post of foreign secretary will fall vacant on September 9 as the incumbent Syrus Qazi will reach the age of superannuation. Amna Baloch was the frontrunner for the top job. The sources claimed that the foreign office was informed about the key decision by the Prime Minister Office. Amna Baloch will only be the second female foreign secretary. The first was Tehmina Janjua. Baloch is a career diplomat and has vast experience in serving in different capitals. As per the new nominations, Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch will be Pakistan’s new ambassador to France, while Janbaz Khan will serve as Pakistan’s new ambassador to Brunei Darussalam. Sources further said that Muhammad Saleem will be Pakistan’s new High Commissioner to Canada, and Malik Farooq will be the new High Commissioner to South Africa.
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Pakistan gets one-year rollover for $12b deposits to clinch IMF deal: Aurangzeb
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PM Shehbaz gives assent to Amna Baloch’s posting as new foreign secretary
ECP files review plea against SC verdict on reserved seats ISLAMABAD
staff report
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday filed a review petition against the Supreme Court’s decision on reserved seats. The move comes as political tensions rise, with major parties divided over the implications of the court’s ruling. On July 12, the Supreme Court overturned previous decisions by the Peshawar High Court and the ECP, granting reserved seats to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). This decision recognized PTI as a parliamentary entity, significantly impacting the balance of power in national and provincial assemblies. The ECP argues that the decision “unfairly” favored PTI, allowing the party to gain reserved seats without meeting the necessary con-
Act, 2017 prior to the enactment of the Impugned Act cannot be undone through the deemed retrospectively purportedly assigned to the Impugned Act,” it added. “The expression of the will of the people once
stitutional requirements. The petition highlights errors in the court’s judgment, claiming that the ruling discriminates against other political parties and fails to uphold constitutional principles. The controversial verdict has already prompted the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to file appeals. The federal government and allied parties have also expressed their intentions to contest the court’s decision, citing concerns over its impact on Pakistan’s political landscape. In response, the Supreme Court’s Practice and Procedure Committee has decided to schedule the review petitions after the September recess, indicating that the legal battle over reserved seats is far from over.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03 made cannot be retrospectively subjected to restrictions that were non-existent at the time, and that are in any case unconstitutional.
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