01 FRONT PAGE (23-11-2022)_Layout 1 11/23/2022 1:51 AM Page 1
Wednesday, 23 November, 2022 I 27 Rabi us Sani, 1444 I Rs 15.00 | Vol XIII No 144 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition
IMPASSE ENDS
GHQ moves summary for new Coas as politiCal wHeelinG, dealinG Galore g
PM contemplates options for new army chief ISLAMABAD
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Staff RepoRt
HIEF of Army Staff late Tuesday night moved a summary to the Ministry of Defence for appointment of new chief of army staff, containing names of six senior-most lieutenant-generals of Pakistan Army. "GHQ has forwarded the summary for selection of CJCSC [Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee] and COAS, containing names of six senior most Lt Gens including: Lt-Gen Asim Munir, Lt-Gen Sahir Shamshad, Lt-Gen Azhar Abbas, Lt-Gen Nauman Zakria, Lt-Gen Faiz Hamid and Lt-Gen Amir Raza, to MoD," the ISPR said in a statement. The move has broken the stalemate over the appointment of new army chief and the CJCSC which had captivated the political landscape of the country for the past few weeks. Sources in the government say that before the summary was finally moved, Gen Bajwa held a quiet meeting with PM Shehbaz and all the matters were sorted out. However, when asked, SAPM Fahd Husain did not confirm it. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also remained preoccupied with back-to-
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Shehbaz, Zardari, Nawaz discuss ‘available options’
back meetings in contemplating measures and moves to get the name of the new Chief of Army Staff finalised. However, the meeting between PM Shehbaz and Asif Zardari helped break stakemate over the new appointments. In this regard, several meetings were held besides contacts made on phone with party leader and former premier Nawaz Sharif. Though the prime minister’s office did not share much details on the meetings, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told media that a decision on “who will be the next chief of army staff” would be made public over the next 48 hours, claiming there was no “conflict” with security institution over army chief appointment. “There would not be any undue [delay] in the process and I am asking for another 48 hours,” he told the anchorperson during a live talk show at a private TV channel on Tuesday. When asked about the status of the new COAS appointment process, Asif said: “Yesterday, we sent the letter [from the ministry to the military command]. Now, if we get the dossiers today or tomorrow, it is a matter of routine.” He went on to say, “Once they get the summary, then it is a formal move because then it has to go to the cabinet….. [for
endorsement].” Kh Asif explained that then the advice would go to the President and then hopefully…. the same day or the next day the [matter] would be sorted out. The Defense Minister claimed the names [of the new army chief and chairman joint chiefs of staff] would be public tomorrow or the day after. A “smooth transaction” would take place in appointment of the new chief.” To a question, Kh Asif ruled out
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there was any conflict with security institution over army chief appointment. “Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would have consultation with coalition partners and the security institution would also have discussion on this matter ”, he pointed out. “The government has zero conflict on this important matter”, he said. Commenting on Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf Chief Imran Khan, the federal minister said Imran Khan had changed his mind and avoided to create trouble on
Despite tall claims, govt fails to restart 20 power plants of 5000MW profIt report
security matters. CaBINET mEETING oN NoV 24: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has summoned a special meeting of the federal cabinet for Thursday, November 24. It is expected that he will take all cabinet members into confidence over his “pick” for the next army chief before he departs on an official tour to Turkiye. Other political and economic developments are also expected to be reviewed during the cabinet meeting. The agenda of the cabinet meeting is not expected to be disclosed until late on Wednesday. Pm ShEhBaz, Kh aSIf DISCuSS CoaS aPPoINTmENT: Meanwhile, Defence Minister Kh Asif called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday to hold discussion over the matters pertaining to the appointment of next army chief. Special Assistant to the PM Malik Ahmad Khan was also present during the meeting. A day earlier, Khawaja Asif held a meeting with the PM. After the meeting, Khawaja Asif revealed to the media that it was a routine meet up where matters regarding national interest, as well as important appointments came under discussion.
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Two officials involved in leak of Gen Bajwa’s tax details identified: Dar ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt
ahmad ahmadani
ISLAMABAD Eight months into power, the federal government has been unable to make any headway in restarting 20 power plants that have been out of commission due to non-availability of fuel, technical faults, and licence related issues. The 20 power plants, which have the capacity to produce 500MW of energy each, have been closed since before the Sharif administration came to power under the banner of the PDM coalition government. Sources within the power sector have told Profit that the government has made very little effort to restart power generation in the 20 power plants despite the country being in the middle of a protracted energy shortage that goes back many months. Four days after coming to power, the prime minister was briefed about at least 27 power plants having a combined generation capacity of more than 7,000 megawatts that were out of order due to technical problems or fuel shortages. In this meeting back in April, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who has also held the petroleum portfolio, pointed out that there was a complete lack of coordination among the petroleum and power divisions of the energy ministry and the matter should be addressed at the outset on priority instead of wasting time in the blame game. Despite these early promises, the feeling within the power sector is that the attention which was required has not been given to the issue. The sources added that 1041MW Rousch power plant has been not producing electricity mainly due to non-allocation of Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) while Port Qasim
‘Pick’ for new COAS to be made within 48 hours: Kh Asif
power plant is not generating the power owing to costly fuel, they added. Sharing details of power plants closed due to technical or other reasons, the sources said that total 3148 MW electricity of eight power generation plants is not being made part of the system due to technical reasons while ten (10) power plants with power generation capacity of 1763mw have stopped power production due to licence related issues from many months. They said that 969MW NeelumJhelum hydropower plant had stopped production from July 05, 2022 ostensibly due to Tailrace Tunnel problem, while 246MW power plant of Muzaffargarh suspended power generation operation from July 1, 2019 and another 168MW power plant of Muzaffargarh went out of system from April 02, 2022. Similarly, power plants of Guddu Old and 249MW Guddu 747 (STG-16) are facing closure for a long time, said sources. “These 20 power plants were all once
known for performance but are all currently faced with closure due to some known and some unknown reasons. The restart of these plants could go a long way in resolving the country’s electricity shortage issue in an amicable manner,” said the source. Shockingly, the ruling regime has so far not taken mentionable steps for the restoration of electricity supply from these 20 power plants of 5000MW by resolving their genuine issues in order to resolve the country’s current power shortage issue, said sources. It is pertinent to mention that power consumers have been facing hours-long unannounced power outages and inflated electricity bills for a long time while closed power generation plants with zero power production are earning significant capacity charges. The present government in order to resolve the power shortage issue has so far found not keen and active in resolving the issue of those efficient power plants which have stopped production due to technical faults, costly fuel, licence related issues, etc.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar Tuesday said that the interim probe report into the leak of Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s income tax records had been received and the culprits involved had been traced. Speaking in a talk show, Dar said the leak of income tax returns of the army chief’s family was “illegal” and he himself had seen the interim probe report. Finance Minister said that he hoped to receive the final report soon and the government has found a few people behind the leak. He said that the matter would be taken to its logical conclusion. Sharing further details, Dar said that one person involved in the leak belonged to Lahore and another from Rawalpindi. However, the minister hastened to add that there is a possibility that some of the individuals involved may have the authorisation to look at the income tax records as there was a circle in Rawalpindi where assessments take place. “These people are authorised to access the [data] for their assessment,” Dar said and addad that if “illegal work” is allowed or a blind eye is turned towards it then a person will not be fulfilling their duty. “The law does not allow the release of army chief or anyone else’s income tax returns without a court order,” said the finance minister. Separately, Special Assistance to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Revenue Tariq Pasha on Tuesday chaired an important session to probe the matter related to the leakage of tax details of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and his family members. The key session was held at the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) headquarters and the FBR Chairman Asim Ahmad also attended the session. Tariq Pasha also summoned Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL) and a member of the IT to the session. The PRAL chairman briefed the participants of the meeting regarding the leaking of COAS Bajwa and his family members’ tax details. Moreover, the FBR chairman and IT member also briefed Tariq Pasha regarding the issue. It was learnt that a report will be presented to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar after an inquiry into the confidential data leak.