Wednesday, 30 November, 2022 I 5 Jamadi Sani, 1444 I Rs 15.00 | Vol XIII No 151 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition
PM, Zardari weigh uP ‘oPtions’ to counter Pti aMid ‘Politicking’ g
saNa says PoLLs to be caLLed if g PPP, PML-N to stoP dissoLutioN KP, PuNjab asseMbLies dissoLved of PuNjab asseMbLy
ISLAMABAD/LAHORE
a
Staff RepoRt
Mid vigorous “wrangling” going on in the “hazy” political atmosphere of the country, former president and PPPP co-chairman asif ali Zardari tuesday met Prime Minister shehbaz sharif in the PM House to discuss the current political scenario, especially the fallout of Pti chairman imran Khan’s decision to dissolve the Punjab and KPK provincial assemblies. according to sources, both the leaders pondered over ways to counter the strategy of Pakistan tehreek-e-insaf chairman to prevent the dissolution of Punjab assembly and weighed up various options to fail his strategy. the fresh meeting between the PPPP and PML-N top brass is part of the ongoing “hectic politicking” taking place ever since Pti chief imran Khan announced the party would quit the assemblies Punjab and KP where it has been in rule. Reportedly, though both the stalwarts discussed different options during the PM’s House, they, however, failed to come up a remedial
solution and only agreed to work together for failing “ambitions” of the Pti chairman. the Zardari and shehbaz huddle discussed various options including bringing a no-confidence motion and imposition of Governor’s Rule in Punjab. However, they fell short of adopting a clear line of action. the former president assured complete support to the coalition partner PMLN in the Punjab assembly. ‘immediate polls will be held if KP, Punjab assemblies dissolves’ Meanwhile, federal interior Minister Rana sanuallah responded to the threat by Pakistan tehreek-e-insaf (Pti) to dissolve assemblies under its rule, stating that if such a step was taken, immediate elections would be held of both the assemblies. speaking to reporters, he said: “We will quickly hold by-polls after KP and Punjab assemblies are dissolved.” He claimed it would enable PML-N to be in a better position. He said that in light of receiving any such summary from the chief minister, the governor can constitutionally ask for a vote of confidence to be taken in the house. about statement of outgoing coas Gen Qamar javed bajwa that the military
had decided to be apolitical, Rana sanaullah pointed out the decision was taken “at the institutional” level rather than individuals level. if the military remains within its constitutionally defined role then, he said, it would help bring stability to the country. Rana sanaullah reiterated that still there was a clear threat to the life of Pti chief imran Khan. ‘all out steps to stop dissolution of Punjab assembly’ on the other hand, special assistant to Prime Minister (saPM) attaullah tarar on tuesday said that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the PML-N had resolved to take all possible measures for stopping dissolution of the Punjab assembly. talking to media after a meeting with a PPP delegation, led by its Parliamentary Leader in Punjab assembly Hassan Murtaza, with the opposition Leader in Punjab assembly Hamza shehbaz here, he said that political situation of the Punjab came under discussion in the meeting, adding the consultation process, initiated by the PML-N, had been moved forward. He said that all options, including noconfidence motion, powers of governor to ask the chief minister for taking a vote of confidence from the assembly and others came under discussion to stop the dissolution of the assembly. He said that both parties wanted that no one should steal mandate of people and it should be respected, adding that assemblies should complete their tenure. “options that came under discussion would be further discussed and a course of action would be announced soon,” he added. tarar said that the meeting also discussed the anxiety found among the members of the Punjab assembly, especially the members of the ruling coalition, over the dissolution of the Punjab assembly. “the members are not in favour of dissolution of the assembly whereas many are also in touch with us,” he added.
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Gen Asim Munir takes charge as Pakistan’s 17th army chief ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt
the outgoing head of the Pakistan army, Gen. Qamar javed bajwa, passed the baton of command to Gen. syed asim Munir on tuesday, Radio Pakistan reported, amid a deepening political rift between the government and former prime minister imran Khan, as well as a renewed threat from tehreek-i-taliban Pakistan (ttP) militant group. Gen. Munir is the 17th chief of the army since 1947, a period that has seen almost twice as many prime ministers in office. He was quartermaster general — in charge of supplies for the entire army — and served in the northern region, as well as in saudi arabia. the ceremony was held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, four days after the prime minister named Lt. Gen. Munir — who has previously headed both of the nation’s spy agencies — as the chief of the army, following weeks of delay and speculation over who would fill the powerful role. “it is based on merit, law and as per the constitution,” Khawaja
Muhammad asif, the minister for defence, told reporters after announcing Munir’s appointment. one of the key challenges faced by the new army chief will be how to respond to the latest threat from the ttP which has ordered its terrorists to resume attacks across the country. ttP is a separate group but are allies of the afghanistan taliban, who seized power in afghanistan more than a year ago as the us and Nato troops were in the final stages of their pullout. the taliban takeover in afghanistan emboldened ttP, whose top leaders and fighters are hiding in the war-torn country. the group had agreed to an indefinite cease-fire in May after talks with islamabad and the military in afghanistan’s capital, Kabul. but it, in a statement Monday, ended the ceasefire, vowing new attacks. Munir’s appointment also coincides with a dispute between the military and Khan, who blames the institution for playing a part in his ouster in april and has been leading anti-government protests since then.
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