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Wednesday, 26 October, 2022 I 29 Rabi ul Awwal, 1444 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XIII No 117 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition
Long march on IsLamabad to begIn on FrIday From Lahore, says Imran Khan g
Asserts it is not ‘ politics but a struggle to get freedom from thieves’
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Decides to stay in Lahore till long march to monitor preparations
Rana Sana urges PTI to avoid creating law, order in federal capital Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah on Tuesday urged the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan to avoid creating a law and order situation in the federal capital during protest demonstration or long march. Talking to a private television channel, he said all important measures are being taken to stop PTI from disturbing
peace in the federal capital. Commenting on Arshad’s killing incident in Kenyan territory, he said the Kenyan government should submit a report to Pakistan regarding Arshad’s tragedy. He said Imran Khan is using Arshad Sharif’s killing incident for political purposes. In reply to a question about Azam Swati, he said action must be taken against the responsible elements for degrading Azam Swati during the investigation.
through foreign conspiracy and horse-trading. “We want that people of the country should have the right to make decisions about the country,” he said while appealing to the supporters to participate in the long march for the country’s future. ‘ARSHAD SHARIf MONuMENT’: Former PM Imran also announced that the PTIled Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to build a monument of slain journalist Arshad Sharif, who was shot dead in Kenya on Sunday. “I will request the Punjab government to do the same to honour his services,” he added. Imran decides to stay in Punjab till long march
Meanwhile, the PTI chairman decided to stay in Punjab till the beginning of long march towards Islamabad on Friday. According to sources, the former premier would launch a public campaign in Punjab following the announcement of the long march. The sources informed that Imran Khan will stay at his residence at Zaman Park and would monitor preparations for the long march from Lahore. The PTI chairman would also address a joint parliamentary session of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) in Lahore tomorrow. He would start his public campaign in Sialkot from tomorrow afternoon, the sources informed.
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oRMER prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan said on Tuesday that his party’s longawaited long march to Islamabad will begin from Lahore on coming Friday. “I am kicking off the long march from Lahore. We will gather at Liberty Chowk at 11am on Friday from where we will march towards Islamabad,” the PTI chief announced while addressing a press conference in Lahore on Tuesday. Imran, who was ousted from power through a vote of no-confidence in the National Assembly in April last, said the objective of his long march is to achieve “real freedom” in the country, saying that his protest rally is not a “politics but a struggle to get freedom from thieves”. He added: “This Jihad will determine direction for the country.” “There is no time frame for this…. After passing through GT Road we will reach Islamabad.” Imran said he will hold the biggest protest in the country’s history as a “sea of people” will come out on the streets. The deposed prime minister also as-
sured his supporters that police will not able to subject them to torture as they did during the party’s May 25 long march. “It’s not possible to even touch someone when hundreds of thousands of people are protesting.” “We will neither violate any law nor enter the red zone. We are not coming for fighting anyone. our protest will remain peaceful,” he assured. In the same breath, he further added: “But if anyone tried to spread chaos in the protest I am already telling you that it will be the [government].” BACkDOOR NEGOTIATIONS: Responding to a question about backchannel
Pm announces judicial probe into sharif murder g
Promises to public findings of independent investigation ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday announced formation of a judicial commission (JC) for an independent judicial investigation into the assassination of Arshad Sharif, an outspoken and professional journalist who was shot and killed by Nairobi police in Kenya on Sunday, and promised to share findings of the investigation with the public. “I have decided to form a judicial commission to carry out a thorough inquiry into the killing of journalist Arshad Sharif to determine and reveal the facts surrounding the tragic incident in a transparent [and] conclusive manner,” Shehbaz Sharif tweeted. The development, however, came after the murder of the journalist sent shockwaves and anger through the entire and journalist community. The journalists and the international media watchdog Reporters Without Borders have demanded an independent probe into the killing while anchorperson Hamid Mir on Monday noted there were contradictions in the Nairobi police statements about the incident. Sharif was killed on Sunday night when the car he was in sped up and drove through a checkpoint outside the Kenyan capital and police opened fire. Nairobi police have expressed regret over the incident, saying it was a case of “mistaken identity” during a search for a similar car involved in a child abduction case. When the car in which Sharif was traveling in with another Pakistan resident, Khurram Ahmed, failed to stop — for reasons that remain unclear — despite being flagged down at the checkpoint, the police opened fire and laid chase. Sharif’s car flipped over; he was shot in the head and killed. His family in Pakistan said that Ahmed, who had initially been identified as Sharif’s brother by the Nairobi police, was not a relative but that he was the driver of the car, according to information they received. There was speculation that Ahmed was hurt in the incident and taken to hospital but officials in Kenya have not announced any details about Ahmed’s condition and whereabouts. The 49-year-old journalist fled Pakistan in July amid threats to his life. ‘ARRANGEMENTS IN PLACE’ TO BRING BODY HOME: Meanwhile, Sharif’s body is being repatriated to Islamabad on Tuesday, Marriyum Aurangzeb, the minister of information and broadcasting, said.
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negotiations, Imran said he believed that political parties always solved their disputes through dialogue. “But now I have ‘fully’ realised that they [coalition government] will not hold early elections. Now, they are planning other things like my disqualification because they know that they cannot win this match.” The PTI chief also said he is being criticised for holding the long march as the country is facing difficulties “but the people are demanding us to come out against the imported government”. He also reiterated that his allegations that his government was toppled
PM for collective efforts to tap clean energy resources for better tomorrow RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA Staff RepoRt
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday underlined the need for combined efforts to explore the true potential of clean energy resources, coupled with utilization of modern tools and technical gadgets to fully harness the talent of young generations and explore future avenues for progress and prosperity. Addressing at ‘Future Investment Initiative’ conference, PM Shehbaz said that clean energy potential would be the new driver of economic prosperity and stressed upon the world community to come forward and support these joint efforts. “Nothing could be of more importance to us than this very challenge: how to ensure that our collective tomorrow is better than our today. And that we are ready for it; that we have the tools, skills and technology which enables us not just to navigate the complex world of tomorrow – but to also shape it today in a manner that has the most beneficial impact on humanity,” he added. He said that they were living through truly transformational times, adding throughout history such times have triggered political, social environmental and economic changes. These changes had been powered by imagination, innovation and action. “Yes bold, decisive and consequential action. But the pace of transformation and change was never as swift as it is today.
With the power of technology driving the world towards a future few could imagine in the past, we are well positioned to harness the dynamics of change,” he added. The prime minister said tech power was a great equalizer, adding it could cut through social, cultural and financial barriers and empower those who were equipped to leverage it. The prime minister emphasized upon taking of innovative and bold steps in the technological fields which had brought about consequential changes in every sector of life. The latest technological innovations had been driving the world to such changes which were hardly think of in the past, he added. In Pakistan, he said that he had seen with a sense of deep satisfaction how young women and men were crafting their careers – and boosting their earning power – by using tech in diverse field within the larger digital matrix like e-commerce.
“I believe Pakistan is uniquely placed to leverage this change. We have one of the youngest populations in the world. Most of these youngsters are equipped with the tools of the new digital world. They are hungering for more skills and more opportunities. Their talent is already recognized, Pakistan is the fourth most popular country for free lancing,” he added. The prime minister said this combination: a large and young digital savvy population, and a massive unmet demand that simply could not be addressed through existing means of production. Today, a family in urban and rural Pakistan has access to mobile phones and internet, aspired to high education standards, wanted to buy consumer products, and needed everything from insurance to healthcare, he added. The prime minister said the significance of this consolidated demand could be well appreci-
ated and recognised by investors and entrepreneurs present there. “Pakistan is ripe for market innovation. A new generation of Pakistani entrepreneurs are shying away from traditional businesses and turning their focus and energies to disruptive innovations,” he added. The prime minister said that he had deep confidence in the young generation of Pakistanis. This was why he was fully prepared to invest the resources of his government in providing them an enabling environment for innovation. He noted that while technology was unleashing new potentials, the world was also undergoing cataclysmic changes. “Global warming is upon us. Extreme temperatures, over time, are changing weather patterns and disrupting the usual balance of nature and our ecosystem. Countries like Pakistan, with negligible carbon footprint, are vulnerable to the adverse impact of Climate Change,” he added. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif further elaborated that Pakistan had experienced historic heat wave in March and torrential rains from June to August this year which led to unprecedented floods. “These rains and floods have impacted 33 million people, and more than 1,500 people have died. More than two million houses have been damaged, and over 3.5 million acres of crops have been lost, with farmlands, orchards, bridges, and road networks destroyed,” he added.
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