saturday, 3 december, 2022 I 9 Jamadi awwal, 1444 I rs 15.00 | vol XIII no 154 I 12 Pages I Islamabad edition
Govt, PtI send sIGnals of ‘oPenInG dIaloGue’ on fresh Polls g
imran khan oFFerS condiTional TalkS on Snap pollS
LAHORE
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Mian abrar
hairman of pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (pTi) and former prime minister imran khan on Friday offered conditional talks to coalition government, which is being considered a significant positive development amid the ongoing political crisis in the country. however, defence minister khawaja asif offered imran khan for a dialogue but insisted to use parliament as forum for holding any dialogue. The pTi chairman extended dialogue offer to pdm government while addressing the pTi’s punjab parliamentary party via a video link from his lahore’s Zaman park residence. extending an invitation to the pdm government over the possibility of early general elections, imran khan said that 66 percent of pakistan would have to vote for the by-polls if assemblies were dissolved in punjab and khyber pakhtunkhwa. he went on to say that pTi has the full backing of pml-Q and cm punjab chaudhry pervez elahi will dissolve the provincial assembly on his first call. “give us a date for elections or we will dissolve the kp and punjab assemblies,” khan
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govT To reSpond To khan’S overTure aFTer conSulTing allieS
said in a video address, adding that the incumbent government has no roadmap for the revival of the economy. “early general elections is the only way to save the country from default,” said imran and lamented the rising inflation and unemployment rate during current govt tenure. The former premier also slammed Federal minister ishaq dar over his “poor” economic policies. Govt to resPond to Imran’s offer after consultInG allIes: responding to imran khan’s negotiations offer, interior minister rana Sanaullah khan on Friday said the federal government would respond to the offer after consultation with the allies. Talking to a private news channel, the federal minister said imran khan had previously stated that he would not talk with political parties. however, he said, once again “khan deviated from his own words”. “pakistan muslim league-nawaz (pml-n) has always believed in political dialogue to break down barriers and find solutions. When political leaders sit together, deadlocks are broken and ways are found,” he added. answering a question on the next elections’ possible date, the interior minister said that it was premature to make any predictions on the date of the elections until after
the negotiations with allied parties. moreover, imran’s announcement to dissolve the provincial assemblies was criticized by the minister, stating categorically that pakistan democratic movement (pdm) would not support any unconstitutional action. “if elections were forced upon us by dissolving assemblies or by resigning en-masse, the coalition parties would vigorously campaign against it,” he asserted. Separately, minister for defense khawaja muhammad asif invited the chairman of pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (pTi) imran khan for resolving political matters through discussion. “imran khan should use the parliamentary forum for talks on political issues,” he said while talking to a private news channel. “The pTi chairman has become unpopular in pakistan’s politics,” he said. “pressurizing the government through different tactics can not resolve issues existing between two political parties,” he added while commenting on imran’s announcement for the dissolution of kp and punjab assemblies. he said the government was engaged in the relief and rehabilitation works after flood devastation and going for elections at this point in time was not in government’s priority. he said that talks with the pTi could only happen only if the conditions were not placed before the government. “We can have a discussion with pTi for streamlining the economic sector,” he said. To a question about dissolving assemblies, he said the pakistan muslim league (nawaz) would contest elections with full force in case of early elections in punjab. The minister made it clear that holding on to power was not in the coalition government’s preference but to serve the people. he urged imran khan to play politics aimed at addressing the genuine problems of the people. he advised the chairman pTi to avoid agitation against the government and work for the betterment of the country. october 2023 Is electIon month: marrIyum: Federal minister for information and Broadcasting marriyum aurangzeb on Friday advised pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (pTi) chairman imran khan’ to wait for next general election till october 2023. “october 2023” was the ultimate election month, the minister said in a tweet in reference to a news channel’s report carrying imran khan’s demand for talks for the snap polls’ date in a threatening tone.
saudi arabia extends term for $3bn deposit through g
The Saudi developmenT Fund exTendS The Term For depoSiT To help pakiSTan meeT iTS exTernal SecTor challengeS aS imporT cover ToucheS 1.1 monThS pROfit REpORt
king Salman bin abdulaziz al Saud, the custodian of the Two holy mosques directed the Saudi Fund development (SFd) to extend the term for the $3 billion deposit provided by the kingdom of Saudi arabia (kSa) to the State Bank of pakistan (SBp). “The extension of the term of the deposit is a continuation of the support provided by the government of the kingdom of Saudi arabia to the islamic republic of pakistan, as the deposit aimed to shore up the foreign currency reserves in the Bank and help pakistan in facing the economic repercussions of the covid-19 pandemic; it, furthermore, contributed to meet external sector challenges and achieve sustainable economic growth for the country,” read the press release by the SBp. The $3 billion deposit agreement was signed in november 2021. earlier this week, on Tuesday, the ministry of Finance, government of pakistan announced that it received $500 million from asian infrastructure investment Bank (aiiB). The funds are deposited with the SBp and will augment reserves. on Thursday, SBp’s reserves decreased by $327 million touching $7.5 billion. The country’s total reserves including reserves with banks went down by $267 million to touch $13.4 billion. as a result, the import cover based on the average imports of the last 12 months clocked in at 1.1 months, which is significantly low.
Pakistan’s diplomatic officials come under attack in Kabul KABUL staff report
a gun attack was carried out against pakistan’s diplomatic officials in kabul, leaving a security guard seriously wounded. The gun attack was carried out at a time when chargé d’affaires to afghanistan ubaidur rehman nizamani was walking in the garden of pakistan’s embassy in kabul, sources said. according to sources, multiple gunshots were fired on pakistan’s embassy, however, chargé d’affaires ubaidur rehman nizamani escaped unhurt. a security guard received three bullets in his chest and was immediately shifted to the hospital for medical assistance. pakistan embassy spokesperson Tahir noorani told media that gunshots were fired by unidentified assailants from outside the building. he said that all diplomatic officials of the pakistan embassy were safe. prime minister Shehbaz Sharif demanded an investigation into the attack and action against the attackers.
“i strongly condemn dastardly assassination attempt on pakistan’s head of mission, kabul,” he wrote on his official Twitter handle. he saluted the brave security guard, who took a bullet to save nizamani’s life. “prayers for the swift recovery of security guard. i demand immediate investigation & action against perpetrators of this heinous act,” he further said. in a subsequent tweet, pm Shehbaz said that he has spoken to nizamani and was relieved to hear that he is safe. “i expressed solidarity of gov[ernmen]t & people with him, while assuring full support & assistance to him & mission on all counts. i also conveyed prayers for swift recovery of brave security guard,” he also said. afghanistan’s ministry of Foreign affairs spokesperson abdul Qahar Balkhi condemned the “failed” firing attack and prayed for the speedy recovery of the security guard. “iea will not allow any malicious actors to pose a threat to the security of diplomatic missions in kabul,” he wrote
on Twitter. “our security will conduct a serious investigation, identify perpetrators & bring them to justice,” he further said. pakistan’s Special representative for afghanistan, ambassador mohammad Sadiq took to Twitter to make the announcement. “The compound of the embassy of pakistan in kabul came under attack today targeting head of mission, ubaidur-rehman nizamani. By the grace of allah almighty, the head of mission is safe. however, a pakistani security guard Sepoy israr mohammad has been critically injured in the attack while protecting the head of mission. The government of pakistan strongly condemns the assassination attempt against the head of mission and the attack against the embassy compound in kabul,” said the envoy. “The interim government of afghanistan must immediately hold thorough investigations in this attack, apprehend the culprits, hold them to account, and take urgent measures to ensure the safety and security of pak-
istani diplomatic personnel and citizens in afghanistan,” he added. pakistan’s foreign office denounced the attack on the pakistani official and urged the interim government of afghanistan to immediately
hold thorough investigations in this attack, apprehend the culprits, hold them to account, and take urgent measures to ensure the safety and security of pakistani diplomatic personnel and citizens in afghanistan.