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ROOTS OF ‘MUTINOUS ATTACK’ ON STATE INSTALLATIONS LIE IN IMRAN NIAZI’S SPEECHES: PM Thursday, 18 May, 2023 I 27 Shawwal, 1444
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Says Imran prepared a cult with slogans of ‘Haqeeqi Azadi’ to incite them to violence on May 9
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ISLAMABAD
PM Shehbaz, Iran’s President likely to inaugurate 100MW electricity import project, border market today
Marriyum declares May 9 arson as ‘sedition & treason’ ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
STAFF REPORT
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the roots of the mutinous attack on the state, its symbols and sensitive installations on May 9 lie in the contents of Imran Niazi’s speeches over the past one year. In a tweet, Shehbaz Sharif said Imran Khan has liberally deployed religious imagery to brand his political agitation as a war between truth and falsehood. “Imran Khan has relentlessly maligned and attacked the armed forces and the sitting Army Chief and very cunningly prepared his cult with the slogans of “Haqeeqi Azadi” aimed at inciting them for violence we witnessed on May 9.” Shehbaz Sharif said, “Listen to his speeches and you will get your answers.” The PM directed that the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) should leave no stone unturned to bring those involved in the incidents of vandalism, arson and violence to justice. “At the same time, they should make sure that no innocent person gets punished,” he said. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is likely to hold an important meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Pishin on Thursday (tomorrow). The meeting is likely to take place in Balochistan city of Pishin and there is possibility that the prime minister will visit Balochistan on May 18 for this important meeting. Sources confided that Shehbaz-Raisi meeting may take place near the Pishin’s border corridor. Both the leaders are expected to jointly inaugurate the 100MW
Foreign Direct Investment dips 29pc in April
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Rs 15.00 | Vol XIII No 318 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
Remittances from overseas Pakistanis shrink by 13% amidst economic challenges ISLAMABAD REUTERS
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Pakistan decreased by almost 29% in April and 23% in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year. This decline in FDI, combined with a 13% drop in remittances from overseas Pakistanis, poses a serious risk to Pakistan’s ability to meet its external obligations as it faces a default-like situation due to falling foreign exchange reserves. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reported that FDI in April was $121.6 million compared to $170.6 million in the same period last year. Financial sector experts attribute this decline to persistent political instability that has shaken the confidence of foreign investors in Pakistan. China remains Pakistan’s biggest investor, but its investment decreased to $348 million in 10MFY23 from $403 million in the same period last year. Despite some investments from other countries like Japan and Switzerland, experts don’t anticipate any improvement in foreign inflows in the near future if the political crisis continues.
electricity import project. The sources further revealed that Pakistan at the moment is importing 200MW electricity from Iran and there is room to increase it to 500MW. Pakistan has been importing electricity from Iran since 2002 for its Makran Division. President Raisi and Prime Minister Shehbaz are also expected to formally open Pak-Iran border market. Both the leaders will also attend a briefing on electricity import from Iran, border markets and on new cor-
ridor in Pishin. The sources said that related issues had been finalized during the recent visit to Pakistan of Iran Majlis’ National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Chairman Wahid Jalalzada The sources said setting up of three new trade markets on Pakistan-Iran border are also in the pipeline. Such a trade market had already been in operation at Mand while work on opening of other markets was under way.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Wednesday said military installations, and public and private properties were attacked along with desecration of memorials of martyrs and Ghazis on May 9 under a “well thought-out plan” which came under purview of “sedition and treason”. “Imran Khan is the mastermind of instigating armed groups who attacked sensitive military and civilian installations and desecrated the memorials of Ghazis and martyrs on May 9,” the minister said while addressing a news conference. She said it was decided in the meeting of the National Security Committee yesterday that May 9 would be observed as “Black Day” every year to condemn those who had attacked the country. “What the armed groups of Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) did on May 9, the arch enemy of Pakistan could not dare to do in 75 years history,” she added. “Under Imran Khan’s well-thought-out planning, the PTI armed groups and planted goons attacked the military installations and other important buildings,” she said, adding even hospitals, ambulances, patients and schools were not spared on May 9. The minister also regretted the desecration of the memorials of martyrs and Ghazis that did hurt the sentiments of the valiant soldiers guarding the country’s borders. The historical building of Radio Pakistan was also set on fire in Peshawar by the “PTI goons”.
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to Makkah program PTI given 24 hours to deliver ‘terrorists’ Road to be extended to Lahore, airports next who torched Lahore general’s house Karachi year: Sanaullah LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
The interim government of Punjab has issued an ultimatum to the Pakistan Tehreeki-Insaf (PTI) party, demanding the surrender of a group of “30-40 terrorists” allegedly taking refuge at the residence of former prime minister Imran Khan in Lahore. A wave of violence engulfed Islamabad and other urban areas following the dramatic arrest of Khan from a courtroom in Islamabad on Tuesday last week. Angry supporters torched buildings and vehicles and attacked police and military personnel and facilities. The clashes killed 10 people; authorities arrested 4,000. The Supreme Court later ordered Khan’s release and criticised the way he was arrested. The government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has accused the former premier of hiding suspects linked to the attacks on military installations at his residence in Lahore. In a news conference in Lahore, Amir Mir, the caretaker information minister, emphasised that the opposition party must comply with the demand or face legal consequences, claiming to be in possession of credible intelligence confirming the presence of these protestors labeled as militants. Mir expressed “deep concern” regarding the intelligence report, which he claimed presented alarming findings.
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Minister concedes police could have prevented ‘attack on corps commander ’
Through the employment of geo-fencing technology, government agencies have allegedly verified the location of these individuals within Zaman Park. Accusing PTI of adopting non-state actor tendencies, Mir criticised the former prime minister for incessantly targeting the military for over a year. He appealed to the party to promptly “hand over the terrorists to the authorities.” Furthermore, Mir claimed that the PTI leadership had allegedly orchestrated an attack prior to Khan’s arrest. Elaborating on the matter, he disclosed that a premeditated plan was executed during the violent
protests on May 9, which included assaults on military installations. To combat this menace, the government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy and granted the police full authority, as interim chief minister Mohsin Naqvi has sanctioned decisive measures against arsonists. During the news conference, the minister disclosed that the attack on the official residence of the commander of the Lahore Corps could have been easily averted if the caretaker chief minister had not prohibited the police from using firearms.
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ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah Khan on Wednesday said that Road to Makkah program would be extended to Lahore and Karachi airports next year which would streamline the entire immigration process of pilgrims, ensuring that all necessary requirements were fulfilled at these airports. Addressing a ceremony held in honor of Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Interior Minister, Dr. Nasir Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Dawood and his delegation, the minister said that 26,000 pilgrims were availing a hasslefree immigration process at Islamabad airport under this program. He said, the Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Interior Minister has promised to extend it for 40,000 pilgrims. The minister said that he along with Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Talha Mehmood, have requested to start this facility at Lahore and Karachi airports which would be available there in next year. It is to mention that Road to Makkah program has been initially started from the Islamabad airport and this initiative has revolutionized the immigration process for pilgrims, ensuring a hassle-free experience for those going to Makkah.
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