Friday, 21 October, 2022 I 24 Rabi ul Awwal, 1444 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XIII No 112 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition
MUCH-AWAITED THAW IN POLITICAL GRIDLOCK LIKELY
Willing to talk With Pti in 'larger national interest': PM g
ANNouNCES 20,000 INTERNSHIPS, 75 SCHolARSHIPS FoR ToP uNIvERSITIES
ISLAMABAD
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staff report
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said he was willing to talk with political rival PTI for the “sake of national interest”. The statement comes amid speculations of backchannel talks going on between the PTI Chairman Imran Khan, the establishment and the federal government. However, there is no confirmation yet from any side. Addressing the launch ceremony of “Youth Development Initiatives” here, the prime minister said: “You didn’t shake [my] hand for four years and now you’re saying to ‘come to talk with us’? Till when will this two-facedness continue? But, we will be ready for it for the sake of national interest”. Declining to give any details, the prime minister said he was ready to give “any sacrifice” for keeping the national interest as the primary concern. Since his ouster, former prime minister and PTI chief Imran Khan has at various points expressed willingness to hold a dialogue with the incumbent government if it was ready to hold fresh elections. It has already been reported in the media that President Arif Alvi was mak-
ing backchannel efforts to defuse the current political tension. PM Shehbaz Sharif Thursday announced initiatives of providing 20,000 internships to young engineers and 75 scholarships to students for studies in the top universities of the world. The Ministry of Planning and Development will carry out the youth initiatives, which also include spending of Rs 40 billion in 20 most underdeveloped districts and building of 250 mini sports complexes. Addressing the launching ceremony, the prime minister said the programme would be expanded further and more initiatives would be launched for the youth, who were a considerable part of the population. Referring to his initiatives as Punjab chief minister, he said the government of Pakistan Muslim league(N) under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif had undertaken different programmes for providing high quality education, scholarships and laptops to millions of students. PM LAUDS CAbINET MEMbERS FOR REMOVINg IMPEDIMENTS TO SDF PROjECTS wITHIN 48 HRS: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Thursday appreciated his cabinet members for removing imped-
iments to the development projects of the Saudi Development Fund (SDF) within 48 hours. The prime minister, chairing a review meeting to discuss the SDF projects facing delay, said the pace and dedication showed by the cabinet members and relevant officers should be followed in future as well. The meeting was also attended by the delegation of Saudi Development Fund, SDF’s Asia Director Dr Saud A Alshammari, currently visiting Pakistan. The meeting was told that the all departments concerned had fulfilled the requirements to remove obstacles in the projects. The prime minister said the unnecessary delay in SDF funds had inflicted huge loss to the country which necessitated swift pace and dedication to overcome the deficiency. During the detailed briefing about progress on SDF projects, it was told that the formalities regarding Mohmand Dam Project, Jagran Iv project, Shonter Hydropower Project and Gravity Flow Water Mansehra Project had been completed and the agreements in this regard would be signed soon. The meeting was told that the issues confronting Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project and Golan Gol Hydropower Project had been addressed. It was told that PC-1 for the construction of a section of Neelum valley Road in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and two tunnels had been completed. Moreover, all the issues related to development of infrastructure in Malakand Region and provision of infrastructure and necessary equipment to Hayaseri Hospital had been resolved. The participants were told that all matters regarding the rehabilitation of quake-hit Abbotabad and AJK areas had been settled between SDF, Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority, Federal Board of Revenue and Accountant General of Pakistan. Moreover, the construction of Shah Salman Hospital in Tarlai area of Islamabad was also in progress.
DECISION IN COC VIOLATION RESERVED
ECP announces verdict in Toshakhana case today ISLAMABAD staff report
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday reserved its verdicts in violation of election’s code of conduct (CoC) case while will announce it verdict already reserved in Toshakhana disqualification reference against former prime minister Imran Khan on Friday (today) at 2pm. Former prime minister had violated the election’s code during a by-election campaign at Charsadda in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A three-member ECP bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, heard the case. Barrister Gohar, representing PTI chairman in the case, said that an advisory had been issued to the KP chief minister and provincial cabinet ministers about not participating in election rallies. “But no such advisory was issued to Imran,” he clarified. He further said there was an allegation against his client that he had wasted money from the national exchequer on the campaign. “But truth of the matter is that he did not spend a penny from the exchequer,” he asserted. During the hearing, the CEC asked where in the constitution it was written that a person who was already a member of the National Assembly (MNA) could again contest for NA seat. Addressing the PTI’s lawyer Barrister Gohar, he asked as to where were the resignations of those 150 MNAs, which PTI chairman always referred to in his speeches. “Bring those 150 resignations; we will accept them right now,” he said. Barrister replied that the remaining resignations were with the secretary National Assembly, and these had not been sent to the ECP. The ECP Special Secretary said that the former prime minister had the right to hold public meetings since no advisory had been issued to him. TOSHAKHANA DISQUALIFICATION REFERENCE: The ECP will announce its verdict in the Toshakhana disqualification reference filed against former prime minister Imran Khan on Friday (today) at 2pm. According to a notice issued on Thursday, ECP ordered all the relevant parties or their counsels to appear before the electoral watchdog at its secretariat in Islamabad. The ECP had reserved its verdict in the case on September 19. The reference was filed against the PTI chairman by the coalition government, for “not sharing details” of Toshakhana gifts and proceeds from their alleged sale. Established in 1974, the Toshakhana is a department under the administrative control of the Cabinet Division and stores precious gifts given to rulers, parliamentarians, bureaucrats, and officials by heads of other governments and states and foreign dignitaries.
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Still there only speeches: SC rejects govt plea to bar PTI’s long march ISLAMABAD staff report
The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected the government’s plea to issue an interim order against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan to bar him from holding the proposed long march and directed the government to tackle the issue in accordance with the law. A five-member larger bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi heard the Federal government’s contempt of court petition against PTI chairman for violating its May 25 order wherein the party was restricted from holding its “Azadi March” near Peshawar Mor, Islamabad. During the proceedings, the chief justice quoted the government’s stance that Imran Khan had violated his earlier assurance given to the court and his party was again planning a long march and sit-in in the capital. Still there were only speeches, and the government could deal with the situation in accordance with the law and take action in urban areas where there
were threats, he added. The CJP said the law enforcement agencies had submitted their separate reports on the court’s previous order. Some 31 civilians were injured in the clash on May 25, while Imran Khan announced to end the long march the next morning. He said there was no crowd at present, however, the government might approach the court if there was a crowd of people (in Islamabad). He said it was the responsibility of the administration to take steps in accordance with the constitution and law. The administration should fully prepare itself for any situation and the court would intervene, even on holidays, in case there was any violation of the law from any side. However, concrete evidence would have to be brought before it, he added. The chief justice said the court’s duty was to maintain a balance. The right to protest was conditional. If any political leader violated the court’s order, then there would be serious consequences, he warned, adding steps should be taken for reconciliation. He said the judges were apolitical. However, the court would have to ensure a level playing field, and also it was its responsibility to protect the funda-
mental rights of people, he added. The court also directed that the Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) should be provided the copies of agencies’ reports on Imran Khan’s previous long march, which were submitted following its (court’s) order. AGP Ashtar Ausaf Ali argued that the citizens’ rights were affected by the PTI’s May 25 long march. The party had submitted an affidavit that the people would not be inconvenienced. The
court had allocated a specific place for the PTI’s sit-in but it was brought to the DChowk, which resulted in material losses, he added. He pleaded the court to punish those who had violated its orders. The PTI chairman had called upon his workers to gather at D-Chowk in contrary to the assurance his party had given to the court. He said the Srinagar Highway was opened for traffic on the court’s order allowing the PTI workers to gather at the
Parade Ground, who instead reached the D-Chowk. They had entered the Red Zone, which resulted in clashes with the law enforcement agencies. The AGP said the PTI workers also damaged public and private properties. The PTI’s lawyers were in contact with the party leadership during the court proceedings, he added. He said a miscellaneous petition was filed on the night of May 25 requesting action against those responsible for bringing the PTI workers in the Red Zone. He also read out the SC’s May 25 order, saying the court had prevented the government from arresting PTI workers. The court had also sought reports from the law enforcement and intelligence agencies, he added. The AGP said it was found that the PTI had violated its assurance as per the reports submitted by the agencies to the court. He said he had not been provided copies of the reports. The bench assured that he would be given the reports. AGP Ausaf informed the court that policemen from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu & Kashmir had also entered the capital during the march.
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