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Saturday, 8 april, 2023 i 17 ramzan, 1444
rs 15.00 | Vol Xiii no 280 i 8 Pages i islamabad edition
NSC ThuMBS uP for ‘MulTi-ProNged CoMPreheNSive’ ANTi-Terror oPerATioN g
ATTRIBUTES RECENT SPATE oF TERRoR To SoFT CoRNER, THoUGHTLESS PoLICy ToWARdS BANNEd MILITANT GRoUP
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PM dISCUSSES oVERALL SITUATIoN WITH CoAS, dG ISI IN MEETING PRIoR To NSC HUddLE
ISLAMABAD
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Staff RepoRt
HE National Security Committee (NSC) on Friday approved a multi-pronged comprehensive operation with the support of the government and the nation to eradicate the menace of terrorism from the country with a new resolve, determination and valour. The 41st meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) – the principal decision-making body on national security matters – was held with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the chair. The meeting was attended by senior civil and military leadership, including Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto zardari, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Finance Minister Ishaq dar, Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza, all services chiefs and chief ministers. The NSC meeting held at the Prime Minister’s House, which was a continuation of the meeting held after the terrorist attack on the Peshawar Police Lines on January 2, 2023. The committee review the internal and external situation of law and order in the country at lengthen. At the start of the meeting, the participants paid tribute to those
who were martyred in Gayari sector tragedy on April 7, 2012. Emphasizing comprehensive national security, it was declared that relief to the people was of central importance. The forum was told that the government was taking measures in this connection. The meeting acknowledged the sacrifices and efforts of the security forces for ensuring permanent peace for the nation. The forum reiterated the resolve to continue operation till eradication of terrorism from Pakistan. ‘Soft corner’ for ttP blamed for riSe in terroriSm: The NSC concluded that the recent spate of terror-
ism in the country was a consequence of a “soft corner” for the banned militant group Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and a “thoughtless policy” towards the terror outfit, both of which were “contrary to the public’s expectations”. As a result, the press release said, “terrorists were not just allowed to return to the country unimpeded but dangerous TTP militants were also released from jails in the name of confidence building”. With the return of these “dangerous terrorists” and as a consequence of assistance being provided from various militant organisations operating in Afghanistan
in large numbers, the country’s peace and stability were destroyed, the press release added. It underlined that this peace and stability were attained after “countless sacrifices and continuous efforts”. According to the press release, the NSC expressed the determination to defeat the “nefarious designs” of the country’s enemies and resolved that all possible efforts would be made to maintain the “peace and order achieved by the great sacrifices and continuous efforts of the martyrs”. “The meeting acknowledged the sacrifices and efforts of the security forces for providing lasting peace to the nation,” the press release said, adding that the forum reiterated its commitment to continue its activities till the end of terrorism from Pakistan. The participants of the meeting further paid tribute to the martyrs of the Gayari sector tragedy on April 7, 2012, when at least 140 people, including Pakistan Army personnel and civilians, were martyred after an avalanche struck an army camp near the Siachen glacier. It was agreed that in the new multi-pronged and comprehensive operation, combined efforts at diplomatic, security, economic and social levels would be undertaken for the elimination of the menace of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
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dar cancels visit to US amid political uncertainty g
Maryam Nawaz urges CJP Bandial to step down LAHORE agencieS
The Chief organizer of ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Maryam Nawaz Friday urged Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial to “resign” as his tilt toward her rival party, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf of Imran Khan is glaring. She made two tweets on Friday soon after ending the National Security Meeting in Islamabad. In her first tweet, Maryam said, “CJP Umar Ata Bandiyal has committed flagrant violations of law & constitution to favour Imran Khan/Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf”. This blatant abuse of authority has led to an unprecedented revolt-like situation in the SC of Pak. Judges of impeccable repute have raised serious questions on CJP’s conduct & bias.” Adding in the first tweet, she said in her second message, “No CJ has ever been accused of such misconduct. His tilt towards PTI is glaring. CJP Bandiyal must RESIGN.” “’This blatant abuse of authority has led to an unprecedented revolt-like situation in the SC of Pakistan,” she added. She said ”Judges of impeccable repute have raised serious questions on CJP’s conduct and bias.” on April 4, the top court voided the order of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) regarding delay in elections in Punjab, ordering polls on May 14. A three-member special bench led by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Ijazul Ahsan declared the ECP’s order unconstitutional. The court directed the federal government to issue Rs21 billion funds to Election Commission by April 10 and asked the electoral watchdog to submit a report in court before the deadline.
TARIq BAJWA MAy REPLACE dAR AS PAKISTAN'S REPRESENTATIVE AT WB-IMF SPRING MEETINGS PROfIt iSlamaBaD
Pakistan’s Finance Minister, Ishaq dar, has canceled his trip to the United States where he was scheduled to meet with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) management for the removal of bottlenecks in the staff-level agreement regarding the revival of the stalled bailout package. dar was also set to attend the spring meetings of the World Bank-IMF in Washington from April 10 to 16. Highly placed sources have revealed that the minister will not be attending the meetings due to the prevailing political uncertainty and developing judicial crisis in Pakistan. The finance minister had planned to address the concerns of the financial and political worlds regarding the continuity of the government, future economic plans, and bridging the trust deficit with the multilateral lenders. However, the deepening political uncertainty and developing judicial crisis have reportedly led to the cancellation of his trip to Washington. The cancellation of dar’s trip might also lead to the cancellation of meetings with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia and the UK state minister for development. Minister for Economic Affairs, Sardar Ayaz
Sadiq, who usually represents Pakistan at the World Bank, will also not be going to the United States due to the prevailing uncertain political conditions. Finance Secretary Hamed yaqoob Sheikh and Economic Affairs Secretary Kazim Niaz will now represent the government at the WB-IMF spring meetings. While a secretary is considered equal to a deputy minister, it remains unclear if they will be able to meet with high-ranking foreign officials. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Finance, Tariq Bajwa, may replace dar. However, diplomatic protocol issues may prevent Bajwa from meeting with the presidents of various multilateral institutions and finance ministers of different countries. dar had scheduled meetings with the presidents of the World Bank, Asian development Bank, and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank – the three multilateral creditors crucial to Pakistan’s plans to raise $6 billion in additional loans to meet the last IMF condition. He also had a confirmed meeting with IMF deputy Managing director, Antoinette Monsio Sayeh, next Thursday, but Managing director Ms. Kristalina Georgieva did not give time for the meeting. IMF Resident Representative Esther Perez stated, “The Pakistan delegation will have a high-level
meeting during the spring meetings with IMF’s deputy managing director Ms. Sayeh, who follows Pakistan closely.” dar was scheduled to begin his trip with an opening meeting with the IMF’s Mission Chief to Pakistan, Nathan Porter, on Monday. However, Pakistan and the IMF were no longer actively negotiating after the government’s sudden fiscally irresponsible move of announcing petrol subsidies. Although the government claimed that the petrol subsidy would not affect the budget, it did not apparently guarantee that. Janet yellen, the Treasury Secretary, also had not given an appointment, nor did Waly Adeyemo, the Treasury deputy Secretary. Similarly, Samantha Power, the USAId administrator, was also not available for the meeting, but a meeting had been scheduled with the assistant administrator of the USAId to South Asia. Jihad Azour, the director of the Middle East and Central Asia department of the IMF, was also scheduled to meet with the finance minister. The sources said that a meeting had also been planned with the IMF fiscal affairs department aimed at discussing issues like a whopping Rs 276 billion shortfall in tax collection during the first nine months of the fiscal year.
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fiqah-e-hanfia lahore sehr: 4:20 aM iftar: 6:28 PM
islaMabad sehr: 4:21 aM iftar: 6:37 PM
karachi sehr: 5:00 aM iftar: 6:51 PM
fiqah-e-jafaria lahore sehr: 4:10 aM iftar: 6:38 PM
islaMabad sehr: 4:11 aM iftar: 6:47 PM
karachi sehr: 4:50 aM iftar: 7:01 PM
Joining ‘dissenting’ judges, Justice Minallah maintains suo moto dismissed 4-3 ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt
Justice Athar Minallah maintained on Friday that the Supreme Court’s (SC) suo moto notice over the delay in the announcement of provincial assembly elections was dismissed by a majority 43 ruling. The apex court had issued orders maintaining that the court was split 3-2 on March 1 and empowered President Arif Alvi to announce the date of the Punjab Assembly elections, while directing the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) governor to set the election date for the provincial assembly in consultation with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). According to the latter interpretation, Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar supported the verdict, while Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah dissented by opposing the admissibility of the suo moto case. The ruling has since been marred by conflicting interpretations, notably with CJ Bandial defending the orders and the government terming it a “minority ruing”. This ambiguity was not created by the government or any other party involved in the case but the top court judges themselves through their order. It was witnessed that the suo moto proceedings in the matter exposed severe rift within the SC judges. At the outset of the hearing in February, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi had recused themselves as questions were raised on their presence on the bench.
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Security forces nick notorious terrorist, founder of outlawed BNA RAWALPINDI Staff RepoRt
In a high-profile successful intelligence-based operation, the lead intelligence agency successfully apprehended a high-value target (HVT) Gulzar Imam alias Shambay, the InterServices Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Friday. The military’s media wing revealed that he has been a hardcore militant as well as the founder and leader of the banned outfit Baloch National Army (BNA) which came into being after the amalgamation of the Baloch Republican Army (BRA) and United Baloch Army (UBA). “BNA has been responsible for dozens of violent terrorist attacks in Pakistan including attacks on law enforcement agencies (LEAs) installations in Panjgur and Noshki,” the ISPR said. The statement mentioned that Gulzar Imam also remained as deputy to Brahamdagh Bugti in Baloch Republican Army (BRA) till 2018. The military’s media wing stated that the apprehended militant was also instrumental in the formation of Baloch Raji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS) and remained its operational head. “His visits to Afghanistan and India are also on the record; his linkages with hostile intelligence agencies (HIAs) are being investigated,” it stated.
Suzuki, United drive up two-wheeler prices amid industry-wide hike g
SUzUKI INCREASES MoToRCyCLE PRICES FoR SECoNd ANd UNITEd FoR FoURTH TIME IN CURRENT yEAR portfolio are as follows:
LAHORE Daniyal ahmaD
Within a week of Atlas Honda and yamah’s decision to increase prices across their portfolio, Suzuki and United Motorcycles have decided to join in on the price hikes. The price revisions mark the second and fourth upward price revisions by Suzuki and United Motorcycles respectively. United’s new prices The new prices across United’s motorcycle portfolio are as follows: The price revision marks the fourth price increase by United in 2023. The previous increases occurred on February 1, February 16, and March 7.
Suzuki’s new prices The new prices across Suzuki’s motorcycles
This marks the second price increase by Suzuki for 2023 with the previous one occurring on February 9. “We are compelled to pass on only a minimal portion of the adverse impacts through price increases. The auto industry is urgently seeking help and support from the Government to address this
critical situation as soon as possible,” Shafiq Ahmed Shaikh, Head of Public Relations at Pak Suzuki Motor Co. Ltd, told Profit when asked about the increase in prices. “As we are well aware, the Pak Suzuki plant is often closed due to restrictions on imports. As a result, there has been no production or sales, and Pak Suzuki has incurred huge losses of billions of rupees in some months. despite the economic instability and uncertainty, Pak Suzuki has retained its employees and provided full support to vendors and dealers,” Shafiq continues. “It is a critical time for everyone, including Pak Suzuki. Unfortunately, there is no information about how long these restrictions and instability will continue.
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