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Rs 15.00 | Vol XIII No 235 I 12 Pages I Islamabad Edition Govt maintains additional customs, regulatory duties on imported cars
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NAB chAirmAN resigNs After ‘refusiNg to tArget’ imrAN g
g PTI uRgES 'gROuP OF 22' CIVIL WATCHdOg SuMMOnS IMRAn, SPOuSE, PTI LEAdERS In SERVAnTS, TO 'dISTAnCE TOSHAKHAnA CASE On MAR 9 THEMSELVES' FROM PdM gOVT
iSLAMABAD staff report
Aftab Sultan, chairman of the national Accountability Bureau (nAB), has resigned from his position, reportedly after refusing to comply with the Pakistan democratic Movement (PdM) government which had allegedly asked him to arrest former prime minister Imran Khan. Sultan, a former director-general of the Intelligence Bureau, was appointed to the post in July of last year for a “nonextendable period” of three years, but came at odds with certain quarters of the state apparatus which prompted his departure. According to geo news, Sultan was asked to perform “certain [tasks] which were not acceptable to me”, following which he tendered his resignation to the prime minister. “I had resigned from office a few days ago. I told them that I can’t continue with the conditions”, Aftab Sultan told a private TV channel. Sources revealed that Aftab Sultan resigned from his office after “he was asked to do certain things which were not acceptable to him.” Journalist Mubashir Zaidi said the former policeman resigned primarily because he refused to build a case against
the chairman of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party. “I told them that I cannot continue with the conditions. My resignation has been accepted and it comes to an end on a positive note,” Sultan said, as reported by geo news. “The prime minister expressed good wishes for me, and I also have good wishes for him.” Separately, a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) read Sultan had presented his resignation to Shehbaz Sharif, citing personal reasons. “The prime minister appreciated the services of Mr Aftab Sultan and lauded his honesty and uprightness. upon his insistence, the prime minister reluctantly accepted the resignation of Mr Sultan,” it added. Responding to the development, Fawad Chaudhry, senior vice president of the party, said the move is a big step towards the “collapse of the fascist system”, a reference to the government. “Sultan resigned due to [political] interference in his work. I call on those 22 civil servants [who the party claims are biased against it] who have been appointed to intervene in Punjab [on behalf of the federal government] to separate themselves from this regime. It is in the interest of both the country and the civil service,” he tweeted.
PROFILE: Sultan, who belongs to the fourth police common, thrice served as the IB chairman, most recently between June 2013 and April 2018, and before that remained head of the Punjab police from April to May 2013. In February 2018, Khan accused him of assisting the Pakistan Muslim League-nawaz (PML-n) in selecting its candidates for the general elections. Sultan, Khan had said, was a “member” of the Sharif family’s “gang”, which was why he had been given an extension of service for a third time. He alleged the IB chief had been told by the PML-n leadership to “minutely observe” which PML-n candidate could win their constituencies. Interestingly, at the time of his appointment, Sultan himself was a suspect in a reference that the dirty money watchdog approved in 2020 against former prime minister nawaz Sharif for the “illegal” purchase of 73 high-security vehicles for the security of foreign dignitaries. The suspects are accused of favouritism and illegal use of vehicles, causing a loss of over Rs1,952 million to the national exchequer. NAB suMMONs IMRAN, sPOusE, PTI LEAdERs ON MAR 9: The national Accountability Bureau (nAB) has summoned Bushra Bibi, the wife of former prime minister Imran Khan, and other Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders in the Toshakhana case on Tuesday. According to details, the accountability watchdog summoned Bushra Bibi and three other PTI leaders – Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Fawad Chaudhry and Pervez Khattak – on March 9. According to sources, the nAB has decided to send the investigation team to united Arab Emirates (uAE) for probe into Toshakhana case. Earlier in the day, the national Accountability Bureau (nAB) summoned former prime minister Imran Khan in Toshakhana case on March 9. The PTI chairman has been asked to appear before the anti-corruption watchdog on March 9 at 2:30 pm.
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Elahi, 10 ex-PML-Q MPAs jump ship, join PTI LAHORE staff report
Former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Tuesday announced joining the PTI along with ten other former MPAs of the Pakistan Muslim Leaque-Quaid (PML-Q). Addressing a press conference in Lahore alongside PTI Vice President Fawad Chaudhry, Elahi said he had always stood with former prime minister Imran Khan during “hard and testing times”. “Pervaiz Elahi is quitting the PMLQ and is joining the PTI,” Fawad Chaudhry confirmed to the media. He said Ch pervaiz Elahi also met the PTI chairman in this regard, adding that the party “appreciates” the role played by the PML-Q. “Pervaiz Elahi has the support of Moonis Elahi and Hussain Elahi too,” he said and added: “There were two options- either to merge the PML-Q with PTI or they join PTI.” Fawad Ch welcomed the new PTI members in the party. On the occasion, he also highlighted that no one knew the whereabouts of Zaigham Khan and Muhammad Khan Bhatti so far. “We will stand together with the new PTI members,” he said, adding that Elahi’s name had been approved for the role of PTI’s central president. Talking to the media, Ch Pervaiz Elahi lashed out at Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for shutting down the health card. He said no such step would be taken that harms the PTI’s reputation, adding that he will work
“wherever Imran wishes” for him too. Responding to a question pertaining to if he was given a hint by the establishment to join PTI, Elahi said: “If the establishment has given a hint, it’s good. I try that everyone moves along together.” Elahi earlier visited and held a meeting with Imran at his Zaman Park residence that was attended by senior party leaders from both sides. Elahi had on January 15 addressed a possible merger of the PML-Q with the PTI and said his party’s decision would surface after their consultative meeting to thrash out the proposal. At another point, Elahi was more candid in his response, saying his son Moonis Elahi also wanted both parties to merge and proceed in politics with a consensus. “Any such merger will strengthen the party,” Elahi had said. A day later on Jan 16, PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat had sent a show-cause notice to Elahi and suspended his membership over his comments regarding the party’s possible merger with the PTI. It said that the PML-Q, as a political party, has its own identity, vote bank, party discipline and manifesto — which were all violated by Elahi’s comments. “If any of them wanted to join another party then they should relinquish their positions and resign, otherwise the PML-Q would have no other option but to approach the Election Commission of Pakistan to de-seat them,” it had added.
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Govt expects rollover of funds within next few days g
nA COMMITTEE ASSuREd OF IMF PROgRAMME REVIVAL AFTER MEETIng REQuISITE COndITIOnS pROfit REpORt IsLaMaBaD
The federal government is expecting a rollover by the weekend, as informed by secretary finance to the national Assembly Finance committee on Tuesday. Secretary Finance Hamid Yaqoob further stated that the government has met 90% prior actions and is expecting staff level agreement any time. He highlighted that Ithe nternational Monetary Fund’s (IMF) major condition about reforming power sector will be achieved with the help of Rs 170 billion tax collection. Minister of State for Finance and Revenue dr. Aisha ghaus Pasha assured the committee that the government has devised a plan aimed at implementing macroeconomic and
structural policies, with a view to minimize economic imbalances, fostering long-lasting inclusive growth, and generating employment opportunities. She mentioned that the delay in the 9th review of the IMF was a result of a mutual agreement between the Fund and the government. She also raised the issue of pending humanitarian aid assistance for flood-related incidents for the current fiscal year, as well as those of priority rehabilitation expenditure, since September, 2022. ghaus apprised the committee to concentrate on assisting the Finance division in adopting measures related to structural economic reforms, strategies for mitigating circular debt and recuperating losses related to the power sector, and devising sustainable economic policies aimed at benefiting the
general populace of Pakistani society. The committee suggested that the Finance division and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) formulate policies to bolster domestic industries that rely on the importation of raw materials from international markets and to aid importers in clearing their commodities from Custom Authorities. during the meeting, the chairman of the FBR expressed confidence that the agency is pursuing the correct course of action to collect the anticipated tax revenue of Rs 7.47 trillion for the present fiscal year. The Committee expressed its dissatisfaction with the delay in appointing Heads for the national Bank of Pakistan (nBP) and Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL), which has remained unresolved for nearly a year.