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PM CONVENES MEETING AS PROTESTS AGAINST ‘OVERBILLING’ GALORE Sunday, 27 August, 2023 I 9 Safar, 1445
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g POWER DIVISION SECY CONFIRMS KAKAR SAYS STAKEHOLDERS TO MULL WAYS TO PROVIDE FREE ELECTRICITY UNITS TO OFFICERS MAXIMUM RELIEF TO CONSUMERS OF DISCOS WOULD BE DISCONTINUED
COUNTRYWIDE PROTESTS CONTINUE WITH REPORTS OF UNPLEASANT INCIDENTS
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ISLAMABAD/LAHORE/KARACHI STAFF REPORT
N the wake of rising despair and anger among the masses against unprecedentedly high electricity bills and extra taxes, with even threats of “civil disobedience,” prompted caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Saturday to convene an emergency meeting to provide maximum relief to public on Sunday (today). Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar called the emergency meeting at the Prime Minister’s House tomorrow (Sunday). “In the meeting, a briefing will be taken from the ministry of power and distribution companies and consultations will be held regarding giving maximum relief to consumers regarding electricity bills,” the premier said on X (formerly Twitter) Saturday. Last month, the power regulator raised the national average tariff by around Rs5 per unit,
pushing the base unit power tariff from Rs24.82 to Rs29.78. On Aug 22, the government once again sought to raise the power rate by Rs3.55 per unit. Earlier in the day, caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi, along with Federal Secretary of the Power Division Rashid Mahmood Langrial, held a media briefing in Islamabad to explain the current state of electricity tariffs. At the outset of the briefing with anchorpersons and bureau chiefs from various media outlets, the minister acknowledged the difficulties faced by the people due to the escalating electricity prices. He said all stakeholders within the power sector would participate in the prime minister’s emergency meeting. The Power Division secretary confirmed that the facility of free electricity units to officers of power distribution companies would be discontinued, insisting that the burden was not being transferred to regular bill-paying individuals.
Langrial explained that the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) determined electricity tariffs using three distinct methodologies, adding that the Rs5.40 per unit additional quarterly tariff adjustment (QTA) for April-June was meant for new power plants. Moreover, he said electricity prices were subject to fluctuations based on the Consumer Price Index. The secretary also elaborated on the necessity of tariff alterations due to the upsurge in the Karachi Inter-Bank Offered Rate or Kibor rate — which are quoted on a daily basis by a large number of banks to indicate the cost of borrowing and lending money for tenors ranging between one week and 3 years. In addition to this, fuel price adjustments also impacted electricity costs, Langrial added. The secretary said in the fiscal year 2023, the tariff was initially set at Rs195 per dollar, but the value of the dollar surged to Rs284. “We initially aimed to set the price of RNLG (regasified liquefied natural gas which is used as fuel for electricity generation) at Rs3,183 per mmBtu, however, the actual price ranged between Rs3,000 and Rs3,800,” he said. Similarly, the secretary said the price range for imported coal remained between Rs51,000 and Rs61,000 per metric tonne. He further said that Rs2 trillion would be exclusively allocated to capacity payments in the upcoming year. The secretary insisted that the increase in electricity tariffs predominantly affected consumers utilising more than 400 units, adding the tariff remained unchanged for 63.5 per cent of domestic consumers. For 31.6pc of domestic consumers, he said electricity prices saw an uptick of up to Rs6.5 per unit, and a tariff of Rs7.5 per unit was only applied to 4.9pc of domestic consumers.
FIA team interrogates Imran for an hour in Attock Jail ‘MISSING CYPHER CASE’
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) counter-terrorism wing (CTW) on Saturday interrogated incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan for over an hour Attock Jail in “missing” cypher case under the Official Secrets Act. The FIA team questioned the PTI chief for over an hour regarding revelations made by former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. They also inquired about the whereabouts of the missing cypher copy. According sources privy to the development, the FIA team arrived at Attock prison around 2:15pm and continued investigation from Imran Khan until approximately 3:30pm. Later, the team returned to Islamabad. The FIA’s CTW had filed an FIR against the PTI chairman and the vice chairman, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, on August 15 under the Official Secrets Act
and other relevant laws. The FIA is also assessing the roles of former principal secretary Azam Khan and PTI leader and former finance minister Asad Umar in the matter. Last week, the FIA arrested Qureshi in the cypher leak case under the Official Secrets Act from his residence in the federal capital. Imran, who was ousted from power through a noconfidence vote in parliament in April last year, is currently serving a three-year sentence in Attock Jail after being convicted in the Toshakhana (gift repository) case. On March 27, 2022, ahead of a vote of no-trust that resulted in his ouster, the PTI chief had pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and waved it at the crowd attending a massive public meeting in Islamabad, claiming it was evidence of an “international conspiracy” being hatched to topple his government.
Pakistan whitewash Afghanistan in ODI series
ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
Pakistan thrashed Afghanistan on Saturday in the final match of the series to complete a whitewash and rise to the number one spot in the one-day international (ODI) rankings. Chasing a target of 269 runs, Afghanistan were dismissed for 209 runs in 48.4 overs. Leg-spinner Shadab Khan was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers with figures of 3-42 in 10 overs.
Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf and Shaheen Afridi claimed two wickets each. Earlier, Pakistan handed a target of 269 runs to Afghanistan after winning the toss and opting to bat first. Pakistan finished at 268-8 in 50 overs. Mohammad Rizwan (67) and Babar Azam (60) scored fifties for the Men in Green. Pakistan have already won the series 2-0 and will be looking to make a clean sweep in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where Afghanistan is hosting the series.
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Ahead of the match today, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam remarked that the first 10 overs would be tough. “We will increase the pressure on the Afghan team by setting a huge target,” he said, adding that four changes had been made to the playing eleven. He added that Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Wasim Jr are playing today in place of Usama Mir, Iftikhar Ahmed, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf. On the other hand, Afghanistan suffered a blow when all-rounder Azmatullah Umarzai was ruled out of the third ODI match due to side strain. All-rounder Gulbadin Naib has been brought in to replace Azmatullah, the Afghanistan Cricket Board said. During the last match, both sides went head-to-head in an intense clash. The Men in Green continued their superb form, even as the match seemed lost at one point. However, Naseem Shah — who led Pakistan to a victory against the same opposition in Asia Cup 2022 — once again guided Pakistan to a thrilling victory in the last over, helping the side score the muchneeded 11 runs off 6 balls.
Pakistan reclaims No. 1 spot in ICC ODI rankings STORY ON PAGE 03
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Christian community moves LHC against ‘police pressure to reach compromise’ LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
The Christian community moved the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Saturday against what it called the “pressurised by police officials to reach a compromise” in the Jaranwala rampage case, requesting for a judicial inquiry committee to be formed to fairly investigate the incident. In a petition filed through advocate Shahbaz Fazal Saroya, petitioner Peter Charles, chairman of Grace Bible Fellowship Church Pakistan, also informed the court of the continuous threats to the community by some locals. The petitioner complained against the state, local administration and law enforcement authorities, which according to the community have terribly failed at keeping them safe. He lamented that these institutions could not refrain the flared mob from torching nearly two dozen churches and attacking residents’ homes over blasphemy charges. Charles also called for upholding due punishment for all the accused identified in the CCTV footage as well as through other relevant evidence. The petition further implored the court to pass directions to state authorities to immediately provide financial and administrative resources to victims of the Jaranwala incident to assist them in returning to routine life following the
mob violence. The petitioner contended that on August 16, an “unreal, fake and frivolous case” regarding the defiling of the Holy Quran, unfortunately, happened in the city of Jaranwala district in Faisalabad. The news reached them through an announcement by a “fanatic” at a local mosque. He continued that the news resulted in a severe reaction, where a charged mob set fire to over 25 churches and more than 50 homes using chemicals and petrol bombs. The enraged crowd destroyed and looted 200 homes belonging to the Christian community. “The mob also disrespected, defiled and derogated the valuable holy cross and holy books of Gospel, Torah and Psalms with the intention to disrespect our religion,” the petition stated. “The flared mob equipped with clubs, rods, chemicals and petrol bombs succeeded in invading the properties of the Christian Community,” it further read. Last week, a day after several churches were attacked and Christian homes ransacked by an enraged mob in Jaranwala tehsil of Faisalabad – following the alleged desecration of the Holy Quran – the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) arrested “both main suspects” allegedly involved in the sacrilegious act and shifted them to an undisclosed location.
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