In partnership with
Profit
Sunday, 19 March, 2023 I 26 Shaban, 1444 Amid legal wrangling, Imran says ‘London plan’ underway to arrest him
All institutions responsible to ensure writ of govt: Marriyum
India invites Asif for multilateral SCO summit
Story on Back Page
Story on Back Page
Rs 15.00 | Vol XIII No 260 I 08 Pages I Islamabad Edition Shaheen leads Qalandars to clinch HBL PSL 8 trophy
Story on Back Page
Story on Back Page
cancels Imran vows legal actIon as polIce Court Imran’s arrest warrant in clear ‘no-go’ area In Zaman park g
PTI CHIeF TeRMS ‘VANdALIZING ANd VIOLATING SANCTITy’ OF HIS HOuSe CONTeMPT OF COuRT
g
SANAuLLAH SAyS ZAMAN PARK CLeARed, POLICe FOuNd BOMBS ANd ARMS
LAHORE
F
saleem jadoon
ORMeR prime minister and PTI Chief Imran Khan vowed to take [legal action] against the Punjab police for “vandalizing and violating sanctity of his Zaman Park residence and violence” against party work while Fawad Ch moved LHC against the violation of ToRs agreed on the court’s orders. earlier, a huge contingent of Punjab Police ‘raided’ Imran Khan’s house in Zaman Park neighbourhood, pulled down the security barrier, main gate of the house and trees besides the camps installed for workers and guests. The police resorted to batoncharge on workers and employees present there and arrested over a dozen supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party on Saturday, after the former prime minister headed to the Toshakhana hearing in Islamabad. In a series of tweets on Saturday, the former premier said the police’s “assault” on his house was a contempt of court. “We had agreed that an SP [superintendent of police] with one of our people would implement a search warrant because we knew otherwise they would plant stuff on their own, which they did,” he added. ‘Cleared no-go area and recovered weapons’ earlier, Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) dr usman Anwar claimed that weapons were recovered during today ’s search operation. “We have recovered weapons from Imran Khan’s house. There are more arms present there. An impression was being given that it is a no-go area but we have cleared it,” the Punjab IGP said during a press conference, flanked by Caretaker Punjab Minister for Information Amir Mir. The IGP said that police con-
ducted search operation outside Zaman Park on ATC judge orders. He claimed that petrol bombs were thrown at police personnel by PTI workers during search operation around Zaman Park. “Police entered Zaman Park to arrest suspects who hurled petrol bombs and stones on constables from inside Zaman Park residence,” he claimed, adding that all “terrorists” present inside
Zaman Park house had been apprehended. The IGP further claimed that a cache of explosives, petrol bombs, and bomb-making materials had been recovered from the site. He clarified that police had not entered the area where Imran’s wife was present. usman Anwar said that all those suspects arrested from Zaman Park would be produced before court
tomorrow (Sunday). Reacting to the police action, Imran asked, “under what law did they [police] break the gate, pull down trees and barge into the house heavily armed. Worse, they did this after I left to present myself before Islamabad court, and Bushra bibi, a totally private nonpolitical person, was alone in house. This is a total violation of the Islamic principle of sanctity of chadar & char diwari.” He also announced “immediately” taking up the contempt issue, violation of the sanctity of his home and the violence against his party workers and his domestic staff with judiciary. Meanwhile, the PTI on Saturday filed a petition in Lahore High Court against the ‘illegal’ search operation conducted at former prime minister Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence by the Punjab police, allegedly violating the TORs agreed by the provincial administration, police and PTI leadership.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
Imran: committee to lead party if I’m arrested LAHORE staff report
Former prime minister Imran Khan has formed a committee to lead his Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party if he is arrested, he told Reuters hours before the appearance before a court in Islamabad that had issued arrest warrants for him. Khan has led country-wide protests after his ouster from power last year and has had a spate of cases registered against him. The police unsuccessfully
tried to arrest him on Tuesday, leading to intense clashes with his party workers. “I have made a committee which will obviously take decisions once — if — I’m inside” jail, the 70-year-old said in an interview in his Lahore home before heading to Islamabad early on Saturday. He noted there were 94 cases against him. Khan, who was shot and wounded while campaigning in November, says the threat to his life is greater than before and asserted — without providing evi-
dence — that his political opponents and the military want to block him from standing in elections later this year. The military and government did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government has denied being behind the cases. The military — which has an outsized role in Pakistan, having ruled the country for nearly half of its 75-year history — has claimed it remains neutral towards politics.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
Cabinet approves salary, perks equivalent to SC judge for NAB chief ISLAMABAD ahmad ahmadani
Federal cabinet, through circulation of summary, has approved the salary package, perquisites and fringe benefits of Lt. General (R) Nazir Ahmad Butt as Chairman, National Accountability Bureau (NAB), it was learnt on Saturday. According to sources, the Ministry of Law and Justice after obtaining approval and authorization from the Minister of Law and Justice has solicited the approval of the federal cabinet through circulation of the summary for determination of terms and conditions of the Chairman NAB as admissible to a judge of a Supreme
Court of Pakistan. As per section 6(b)(v) of the National Accountability Ordinance, 199, as amended vide (National Accountability 2nd Amendment Act, 2022), the Federal Government may determine terms and conditions of the Chairman NAB. Sources said that after obtaining cabinet’s approval, Chairman NAB will get Rs 17 lakh per month salary, government residence, two vehicles while he will also get a plot of two kanals in the federal capital. NAB chairman will further get 2000 units of electricity per month and 600 litres of petrol each month, they added. It is relevant to note here that his (Chairman
NAB) predecessor had also enjoyed the same terms and conditions. Chairman NAB holds an extremely sensitive position and is entrusted with extraordinary responsibilities. Being head of the leading organization engaged in anti-corruption and accountability process, his status and perquisites would commensurate with that of a judge of Supreme Court of Pakistan, said documents. It is pertinent to mention here that Lt. General (R) Nazir Ahmad has been appointed as Chairman NAB vide Ministry of Law and Justice notification dated 6th March 2023 and he has assumed the charge of the post of Chairman NAB on the same day.
Toshakhana case ISLAMABAD staff report
The Additional district and Sessions Court Islamabad on Saturday cancelled the arrest warrants of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, issued in Toshakhana case and adjourned the hearing till March 30, after marking his attendance. Additional district and Sessions Judge (AdSJ) Zafar Iqbal ordered Imran Khan to ensure his presence in the next hearing and adjourned the hearing till March 30 for arguments about admissibility of the case. during the hearing, Judge Zafar Iqbal permitted Imran Khan to mark his attendance from the car outside the Islamabad Judicial Complex in Toshakhana case due clashes between police and workers of PTI who were not allowed to enter the premises. As PTI Chairman Imran Khan and his motorcade reached outside the Judicial Complex, the Islamabad police allegedly started tear-gas on party workers who retaliated with pelting stones on the police personnel. The Islamabad Police had blocked all the roads leading to the judicial complex with containers. Later, the Additional Sessions Judge decided to mark Imran Khan’s attendance at the gate of the judicial complex, and allow him to return. “The hearing and appearance cannot proceed due to current situation,” the judge said, ordering all to disperse after marking attendance. “There is no need for shelling or pelting of stones, the hearing cannot be held today,” he added. ‘Order sheet missing’: As the hearing resumed again, Judge Zafar Iqbal inquired about the order sheet, sent to mark attendance of Imran Kham. In response, Superintendent of Police (SP) Sameen Malik said that PTI leader Shibli Faraz had the documents. The SP claimed that he was unaware of whether the PTI chief signed the document or not. However, Barrister Gohar said: “I took the signatures from Imran Khan,” adding that on the way back, the police started shelling and SP Malik took the file from him. The Barrister noted that a video of the entire incident is available. Meanwhile, Judge Iqbal told SP Malik to go find court documents terming them ‘very important’. Advocate Khawaja Harris claimed that the SP was lying. At this, the judge said he does not want a war and directed the parties to take things forward smoothly. Consequently, the court directed SP Malik and Barrister Gohar to submit their written statements to the court. The judge then adjourned the hearing till March 30 and summoned Imran in his personal capacity again. ‘All legal process completed’ Talking to ARy News exclusively, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi told said that “all legal process for the signature has been completed”. The former foreign minister also claimed that Imran Khan was now departing from the Judicial Complex. He also condemned the operation at Zaman Park and actions of Islamabad police against the PTI workers, saying that petitions have been filed in Islamabad and Lahore High Courts. A large number of PTI leaders, including Faisal Javed, Murad Saeed, Asad umar and workers accompanied the convoy of the former premier. Keeping in view the security reasons, Islamabad Chief Commissioner Noorul Amin Mengal had shifted the hearing from F-8 Court Complex to the Judicial Complex in G-11. ‘London Plan’: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Saturday claimed that he was aware that the government would arrest him as he headed to the Islamabad court to attend the Toshakhana case hearing. Taking to Twitter, the PTI chief, who is en route to Islamabad said: “It is now clear that, despite my having gotten bail in all my cases, the PdM govt intends to arrest me. despite knowing their malafide intentions, I am proceeding to Islamabad & the court because I believe in rule of law. But ill intent of this cabal of crooks shd be clear to all.”
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
FBR warns Megaplus of blacklisting g
deLL dISTRIBuTOR FAILed TO SuPPLy 4,300 COMPuTeRS ISLAMABAD shahzad paracha
Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has warned Megaplus, one of the largest and oldest dell authorized distributors in Pakistan, to blacklist its proceedings on failure to supply 4,300 desktop computers. According to Profit’s sources, FBR has written a second letter to Megaplus with regard to supplying 4,300 desktop computers. A year ago in April 2022, Megaplus successfully won the bid for supplying 4,300 computer systems worth Rs 902 million. The delivery of equipment was supposed to have been completed within 18-20 weeks after issuance of the purchase order but it has still not been made. Sources further said that Megaplus has neither provided a de-
livery schedule nor submitted a performance guarantee. It also must be mentioned that CeO of Megaplus, Asim Bukhari, personally met with a member of IT department in FBR on dec 26, 2022 and assured delivery of desktop computers Last month FBR directed the company to furnish a delivery schedule and submit a performance guarantee latest by Feb 21, 2023 and warned of blacklisting the proceedings if the deadline is not met, in accordance with Rule 18 of PPRA Rules 2004. Profit also learned in a letter dated december 21, 2022, Megaplus reaffirmed that it intends to fulfill all its legal obligations under the contract and also promised to submit a performance guarantee. Amidst this, competitor Lenovo has
already finished production of 4,300 desktops for FBR which are ready for pickup from their uAe warehouse. Court case Recently, Megaplus has also filed a petition in court to stop FBR from taking any adverse action including encashment of securities, blacklisting breach etc. The company also requested the court to grant a decision in its favor for the termination of the contract of the order of 4,300 computer systems. Megaplus believes that due to the non-issuance of Letter of Credit by the state bank, timely execution of contract could not be done. Therefore, carrying the contract ahead would cause huge financial losses to the company. The company also added that in accordance with Public Procurement Rules
2004 it had submitted a bank guarantee of Rs 58,000 on a bid security of Rs
11,580,000 on August 8, 2022, and requested the amount to be reimbursed.