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Thursday, 12 December, 2024 I 9 Jumada Al-Akhirah 1446
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 156 I 8 Pages I Karachi Edition
ASAD QAISAR CONTACTS AYAZ SADIQ FOR START OF DIALOGUE PROCESS
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BOTH SIDES AGREE TO FORM COMMITTEES FOR DIALOGUE PROCESS
PTI demands answers over deaths of protesters, calls for investigation
ISLAMABAD
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
CE melted between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the federal government as PTI leader Asad Qaiser reached out to National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq to discuss the formal initiation of talks on Wednesday. Sources privy to the development told that former speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser contacted Ayaz Sadiq to discuss the current political situation and the possibility of resuming dialogue between the two sides. During the conversation, the two leaders deliberated on the official start of negotiations and the composition of the government’s negotiating committee. Qaiser also inquired about the details regarding the government’s committee for talks, signalling PTI’s willingness to engage in discussions. However, sources indicated that no specific time has yet been set for a formal meeting to begin the negotiations. Later, a PTI delegation led by party Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan met with Ayaz Sadiq at Speaker’s Chambers. Opposition leader Omar Ayub Khan and Sahibzada Hamid Raza also were present. Ayaz Sadiq was escorted by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar. The sources said that Ayaz Sadiq proposed that the dialogue process should start at the platform of the Parliament and the talks should be unconditional. The sources said that the PTI delegation agreed to the proposal and agreed to hold a follow up meeting. Both the sides agreed to nominate committees for dialogue process. It was also agreed to lower political tensions and political stability in the country, the sources maintained. PTI is expected to present significant demands when the negotiations formally commence, as per informed sources. The opposition party has reportedly agreed to use Parliament as the platform for the talks, following a suggestion from the NA Speaker. Speaking about the development, a member of PTI’s negotiating committee, Hamid Raza, stated, “If the government had come forward with a viable proposal earlier, talks could have taken place. We are still ready to engage in discussions.” He reiterated PTI’s willingness to negotiate with the
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
government. Meanwhile, Senator Shibli Faraz, another senior PTI figure, said that the opposition’s negotiating committee is prepared to engage with all parties. “We have formed a serious and senior committee for talks, and we are ready to engage with everyone,” he said. While speaking in the Senate, the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate has blamed the government for the violence that took place in the aftermath of a ‘final’ protest call by PTI for November 24, claiming that 13 PTI members were killed in the clashes. Despite the tragic events, Faraz stated that PTI’s committee remains open to negotiations with all parties involved. Faraz labelled the government reaction as a ‘black day’ in Pakistan’s political history, adding that it would be remembered as a day that began with the events of February 8. “Before the elections, we were stripped of our election symbol, but despite that, the public voted for us. Our mandate was stolen,” he said. He also accused the government of using live ammunition to suppress the protest. “The bullets were not intended to scare, but to kill,” Faraz added. The Senate opposition leader detailed the toll of the protests, claiming 13 fatalities, over 200 missing activists, and more than 5,000 PTI supporters in jail. He also pointed out the absence of medical records for those who were hospitalised after the violence. “We have not been given any records for
the dead, and the Interior Minister had said that they would shoot for 5 minutes, and no one would be seen,” he alleged. Faraz also spoke about the political crisis in Pakistan, calling it the “most dangerous turning point” in the country’s history. He accused the current ruling party of attacking the Supreme Court, highlighting how video clips were shown at Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) rallies with explicit threats. “But we did not do that,” Faraz emphasised. He demanded an independent inquiry into the incidents of May 9 and November 24, calling for a commission led by three senior judges of the Supreme Court. “We want an investigation into what happened on November 24 and May 9,” he said, stressing that a fair investigation would require senior judicial oversight. Faraz also criticised the response from other political parties, expressing disappointment at their stance on the matter. “What is happening to us today, will happen to you tomorrow,” he warned, referring to the government’s treatment of opposition parties. Earlier in the day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar made a tit-for-tat argument to the Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI’s) demand for return of its mandate in 2024 general elections, saying that the PML-N can return PTI’s mandate if the latter could return the 2018 electoral mandate first. Speaking in the Senate, Dar said, “If you return the 2018 mandate to us, we
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has once again raised the issue of the alleged deaths of its supporters during the party’s November protest in Islamabad, with Barrister Gohar Ali Khan demanding that the government have the “courage to give answers.” The call for an inquiry comes a day after National Assembly Opposition Leader Omar Ayub accused Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of giving an “order to kill” during the November 26 protest, alleging that security forces used NATOsupplied weapons for counterterrorism operations. In a response, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif refuted these accusations, criticizing the opposition for using the “provincial card” to further its narrative. He denied any unlawful actions by the government in dealing with the protest. will take charge, govern, and then you can hold the 2024 elections as scheduled.” He further suggested that if there were any issues regarding the February 8 elections, the courts would be available to address them. Dar went on to highlight the cooperation between the government and PTI when it came to key appointments. “We appointed the person nominated by you, the chief election commissioner, and we made the individual you wanted chairman of NADRA,” he said, adding that the 2018 mandate had not been disputed at the time. Addressing PTI’s actions around protests, he questioned why D-Chowk was specifically chosen for protests when other areas, such as Sangjani, were offered. He pointed out that protests coincided with important events, including the visit of the Chinese Prime Minister and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) confer-
Justice Mandokhail scrutinizes phone tapping law after recent controversy ISLAMABAD
Pakistanis stranded in Syria to return by Dec 12 night: PM told ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday was apprised that the stranded Pakistani nationals who had reached Beirut from Syria would be flown back to Pakistan on a chartered flight on night between December 12 and 13. The prime minister chaired an important meeting regarding the evacuation of Pakistani nationals from Syria. During the meeting, Federal Minister for Planning, Ahsan Iqbal, was tasked with ensuring a warm welcome for the returning Pakistanis at the airport. The prime minister was briefed on the evacuation of Pakistani nationals from Syria during a meeting.
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The government has granted the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cyber Crime Wing the authority to take action against crimes committed on social media platforms. The Ministry of Information Technology (IT) issued a notification confirming the decision. According to the notification, the FIA’s Cyber Crime Wing has been granted the power to tackle social media offences, and its previously suspended powers have now been reinstated. The decision comes after the cancellation of
powers previously assigned to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency to curb social media crimes and fake news. The Ministry of IT had earlier issued a notification to establish the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency under specific rules. However, following objections from the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Law, these powers were rescinded. The National Cyber Crime Agency will now be established through a parliamentary act, and appropriate powers will be granted to it. The new measures aim to strengthen the enforcement of laws against digital crimes and tackle the growing issue of fake news on social media platforms.
ence. He revealed that the Chinese ambassador had requested a postponement of protests, which PTI rejected. Dar also commended JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman for displaying statesmanship during the SCO summit. He lamented the non-election of 11 senators in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, calling it unfortunate. The remarks come amid ongoing political tensions and questions surrounding the legitimacy of the current government, with PTI pushing for early elections. The opposition leader raised concerns about the state of the country’s economy, citing a recent report by The Economist that described Pakistan’s political system as shifting from authoritarianism to a hybrid model. He expressed frustration with the emigration of educated Pakistanis, adding that the people of Azad Kashmir had set a strong example by successfully asserting their demands.
Kurram peace talks stall as jirga fails to find common ground STAFF REPORT
have far-reaching implications for ongoing cases. “The phone tapping issue also impacts other pending cases. How can the chief justice navigate this situation?” he questioned. Justice Aminuddin Khan added that the court was not concerned with legal reports or theoretical discussions but was focused on finding concrete outcomes. The bench then noted that it had not been informed about the appointment of any judge to oversee the phone tapping process. The court also heard that the petitioner’s lawyer had passed away the previous year, and no contact had been made with the petitioner, Major Shabbir. Following these discussions, the court issued a notice to the advocate general and dismissed the hearing for the day. This case follows a similar situation in December when the Islamabad High Court (IHC) was informed that no intelligence agency had been authorized by the government to intercept audio conversations. This revelation came during a case filed by Bushra Bibi, wife of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, over a leaked conversation involving her and PTI leader Latif Khosa.
Govt empowers FIA cyber crime wing to take action against social media offences STAFF CORRESPONDENT
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
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STAFF REPORT
Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail of the Supreme Court has expressed concerns over the “ambiguous” nature of the current law that permits phone tapping, as the court’s constitutional bench heard a case on the issue on Wednesday. In July, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication authorized Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), to intercept and trace phone calls for “national security” purposes. This authorization was issued under Section 54 of the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) Act, 1996, but it was immediately challenged in the Lahore High Court (LHC). The case was heard by a seven-member bench led by Justice Aminuddin Khan. At the start of the proceedings, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar asked whether any specific legislation had been enacted to regulate phone tapping. In response, Additional Attorney General Aamir Rehman informed the bench that the law authorizing phone tapping had been in place since 2013, and that it includes provisions for judicial oversight of the process. “The law designates the ISI and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) for phone tapping, and a procedure with judicial supervision is part of the law,” Rehman explained. However, Justice Mazhar questioned whether a designated judge had been appointed to approve phone tapping requests, pointing out that under the law, only a judge can authorize such actions. “Has any judge been assigned to this task?” he asked, suggesting that the law did not allow indiscriminate tapping. Justice Mandokhail concurred, calling the phone tapping law “ambiguous,” and stressing that it could
During the session, Gohar reiterated the PTI’s claim that 12 party supporters died in the crackdown that forced the leadership to retreat. While distancing the party from exaggerated casualty numbers circulating on social media, Gohar said the government must investigate the deaths, show remorse, and compensate the affected families. He emphasized that the people who died in the protests were “peaceful civilians” who had no weapons. “If bullets were fired, then there should be responsibility, and justice must be served,” Gohar demanded, warning the government that failure to take action would prompt more protests from the PTI. Further, he criticized the government for not making any progress on a parliamentary committee’s efforts to investigate the incident, pointing out that no meeting had been convened despite calls from PTI and allied members.
As per media reports, while the jirga discussions, which began a week ago, did not yield a consensus, talks will continue today. The focus remains on restoring peace and reopening the blocked central highway that is crucial to the region’s stability. The security situation in Kurram has sharply deteriorated, with severe shortages of essential supplies, including food, medical resources, and fuel. Residents are facing significant hardship as gas shortages have caused tandoors and restaurants to shut down, further exacerbating daily life challenges. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Adviser on Information Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif addressed the jirga, emphasizing the need for unity to restore peace in the region. He stressed the importance of ending divisions and hatred, stating that peace would only be possible if these issues were addressed. Saif assured the jirga members that the provincial government is taking action, including the use of helicopters to deliver essential medicines, and working to restore air travel to the region. He also called for the removal of private bunkers along the central highway and the disarmament of those holding heavy weaponry. Saif acknowledged that both tribal factions in Kurram desire peace, but noted that certain elements are actively working to prolong the conflict. He urged collaboration from all sides to identify and act against these disruptive forces. The government, he added, would take strict measures against those obstructing peace efforts. The provincial government, led by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, has also formed a special committee to monitor the peace process. Locals at the jirga called for a sustainable resolution, particularly the permanent reopening of the Peshawar-Parachinar highway, which they believe is key to lasting peace in the region. The ongoing violence, which has resulted in over 130 deaths since last month, has led Kurram district’s elected representatives to call for an immediate de-weaponization campaign. Additionally, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority has dispatched Rs150 million worth of relief supplies to help those affected by the conflict. An All Parties Conference (APC) held last week expressed grave concerns over the worsening law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly the violence in Kurram. The APC condemned the failure of both federal and provincial authorities to address the growing crisis and called for the immediate release of funds earmarked for tribal areas under the National Finance Commission (NFC) award, which has been delayed for more than two years.