PTI DECRIES AS PUNJAB BANS VISITORS, MEDIA COVERAGE AT ADIALA JAIL In partnership with
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Wednesday, 13 March, 2024 I 2 Ramazan, 1445
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XIV No 255 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
PROVINCIAL HOME DEPT SAYS TWO-WEEK BAN g GOHAR SAYS IMRAN’S LIFE IN DANGER, DECIDED IN LIGHT OF ‘THREATS’ ISSUED BY LEAS, DEMANDING INSTANT INFORMATION ABOUT HIS INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES HEALTH, SAFETY AND SECURITY
Zafar draws parallel between govt, Israel on talks of conciliation
T
ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
HE Punjab Home Department on Tuesday imposed a two-week ban on prisoner visitations and media coverage at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail, with the PTI denouncing the blanket ban on meetings with its founder due to security threats, terming the move part of the large scheme to isolate the party’s founder. Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, flanked by PTI Secretary General and Opposition leader in National Assembly Omar Ayub, said that the today’s press conference was very important because it was very serious but on one point agenda that was the safety and se-
curity of their leader Imran Khan. Since the February 8 polls, the prison has been the centre of several meetings between the incarcerated former PTI chief and leaders belonging to the party as well as its allies, seeking the former premier’s consultations over the party’s course of political action. In orders issued to the Punjab IG, the department maintained that the decision was taken in light of a ‘threat alert’ issued for the prison by law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The department’s Internal Security Wing reported that terrorists who have the support of anti-state groups wanted to target the prison to spread chaos in the country. Hence, it was important for the department to take necessary measures to avoid such incidents. As per sources, the department has ordered
Taliban official hopes for ‘cordial Pak-Afghan relations’ ISLAMABAD AGENCIES
A senior Afghan Taliban leader has expressed the hope that Pakistan’s new government will have cordial relations with Kabul, Afghan state media reported on Tuesday. Kandahar Governor Mullah Muhammad Shirin Akhund received Pakistan’s Chargé d’Affaires (Cd’A) and head of mission in Kabul, Ubaid ur Rehman Nizamani, in Kandahar, the spiritual centre of the Afghan Taliban on Monday. The Pakistani envoy travelled to Kandahar to meet with Mullah Shirin, a close confidant of the Taliban supreme leader, amid a tense relationship between the two uneasy neighbours. Afghanistan’s Bakhtar state news agency reported that the Kandahar governor “congratulated the Pakistani envoy over the holding of elections”. This is the first time a senior and influential Taliban leader has spoken publicly about elections in Pakistan. The Pakistani envoy also confirmed his meeting with the Kandahar governor when approached. “We discussed matters of common interest and agreed to advance Pakistan-Afghanistan relations in all mutually beneficial areas,” Ambassador Nizamani told media. Bakhtar news agency quoted the Pakistani Cd’A as saying that he will “soon go to Pakistan and inform officials about his discussion in Kandahar with the foreign minister and other officials”. “Other subjects came under discussion” as well in the meeting, according to the news agency. The meeting can be seen as a follow-up of Mullah Shirin’s discussions in Pakistan in January when he attended a border coordination meeting at a time when Pakistan showed disappointment at Kabul’s inaction to deal with Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan militants. Mullah Shirin had met Pakistani security officials and then caretaker foreign minister Jalil Abbas Jilani. Pakistani officials were confident that the visit would help ease tension over the issue of the TTP, however, there was no let up in the militant outfit’s attacks after the visit.
ISLAMABAD: PTI leader Ali Zafar has called out the alleged hypocrisy of the federal government’s offers for conciliation while drawing comparisons between the government and Israel. “You should remember what Israel does […] They call the Palestinians and tell them that they will help them […] and as they gather for help, they bomb them,” Zafar said while speaking to a private TV channel. He said the federal government said it wanted to reconcile, talk about democracy and strengthen the economy but did not stop the political victimisation of PTI workers. Protest to continue through Ramazan,
the Special Branch, Intelligence Bureau, and Prisons Department to conduct a security survey of the prison on March 13 (tomorrow). It has also directed the installation of barbed wires around the boundary wall and the screening of the jail premises and nearby areas by the bomb disposal squad. As per the Home Department’s directives, government contractors and staff employed at the jail will also undergo a security clearance by police and Rangers along with mock emergency drills. The ban will be applied to all the inmates of the jail, including former premier Imran, former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, and PTI President Parvez Elahi. ‘Imran’s life in danger’ Gohar stated that the two-week blanket ban
could be staged outside Adiala PTI leader Ali Zafar says his party has decided to continue its protest against the alleged rigging in the general elections throughout Ramzan. Speaking on Geo News show Capital Talk, Zafar stated that a party meeting, reviewed the treatment of peaceful protestors across the country and decided that it would not wait for Eidul Fitr and would instead continue the current series of demonstrations. “We saw today that they did not allow people to meet Imran Khan, so it could be decided that the protest is taken to [outside] the Adiala Jail.”
was imposed under the pretext that there was a terror threat, which they denounced in the strongest possible terms. “We demand that before imposing this blanket ban, Imran Khan’s family members and lawyers should have been informed,” he added. Gohar stated that Imran Khan’s life was in danger and he already expressed his distrust on those who kept him in custody, demanding that they should be instantly informed about the real situation regarding his health, safety and security because it was very concerning. He demanded that they should be allowed to meet Imran Khan by all means today (Wednesday).
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Ten-member Sindh cabinet sworn in, portfolios announced KARACHI
STAFF REPORT
The ten-member newly-formed cabinet of Sindh was sworn in on Tuesday at the Governor House in Karachi. Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori administered oath to the newly-appointed minister at a ceremony attended by a large number of distinguished guests including officials, political leaders, and their families’ members. The PPP-led provincial government initially approved the ten-member cabinet and was granted, leading to a formal oathtaking ceremony held at the Sindh Governor House. The newly sworn-in cabinet members include Sharjeel Inam Memon, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Saeed Ghani, Jam Khan Shoro, Ziaul Hussain Lanjar, Sardar Muhammad Bakhsh Mehr, and Ali Hassan Zardari. Unfortunately, Syed Zulfikar Ali Shah was unable to attend the ceremony due to logistical constraints in reaching Karachi from Islamabad. Sindh Chief Secretary Dr Fakhar Alam read out the official notification for the appointment of ministers, following which Governor Kamran Tessori administered the oath to the newly appointed cabinet members. Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah was also present at the ceremony. Three advisers were announced on the recommendation of Sindh chief minister including Allah Dino Khan Bhayo, Ehsanur Rehman Mazari, and Syed Najmi Alam. The spokesperson for Sindh Chief Minister
Shah disclosed that the portfolios for the newly sworn-in ministers and advisers have been assigned as follows: 1. Sharjeel Inam Memon: Department of Transport and Mass Transit, Department of Excise, Taxation and Narcotics. 2. Dr Azra Pechuho: Ministry of Health and Population Welfare. 3. Syed Nasir Hussain Shah: Department of Energy, Planning and Development. 4. Syed Sardar Ali Shah: Department of School Education and Literacy, Department of College Education, and Department of Mines and Minerals Development. 5. Saeed Ghani: Local Government and Housing Town Planning Department, Public Health Engineering and Rural Development. 6. Jam Khan Shoro: Minister of Irrigation and Food Department.
7. Ziaul Hassan Lanjar: Interior and Law, Parliamentary Affairs, and Criminal Prosecution. 8. Sardar Muhammad Bakhsh Khan Mehr: Agriculture, Supply and Prize, Sports and Youth Affairs, Inquiries, and Anti-Corruption Establishment. 9. Ali Hassan Zardari: Prisons. 10. Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah: Culture, Tourism, Antiquities, and Archives. Additionally, the advisers were assigned specific areas: 1. Allah Dino Khan Bhayo: Advisor to the Department of Forests and Wildlife. 2. Ehsanur Rehman Mazari: Advisor to the Department of Inter-Provincial Coordination. 3. Syed Najmi Alam: Advisor to Human Settlement, Spatial Development, Social Housing, and Department of Livestock and Fisheries.
Hussain, Hasan Nawaz ‘land in Lahore’ after suspension of arrest warrants LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
Hasan Nawaz, and Hussain Nawaz — sons of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif — have arrived in Lahore after suspension of their arrest warrants by an accountability court. Upon their arrival, Nawaz received his sons at Jati Umrah’s residence, reported a private TV citing sources. Last week, an accountability court suspended the arrest warrants of Hasan, and Hussain in the Al-Azizia, Flagship, and Avenfield cases. The decision was announced by accountability court judge Nasir Javed Rana in a verdict he reserved earlier today. The warrants have been suspended till March 14, as per the verdict. The warrants of the brothers were issued seven years ago when the court had declared them absconders. Earlier, their lawyer, Qazi Misbah, filed the plea seeking suspension of the warrants were filed as both brothers planned to return to Pakistan on March 12. National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutors Sardar Muzaffar, Usman Masood and Sohail Arif also appeared in the court. Misbah revealed the development during the hearing of the Toshakhana reference filed against Nawaz, Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani wherein the politicians are accused of having kept various vehicles in violation of the Toshakhana rules.
Senate becomes ‘dysfunctional’ as ECP unveils by-polls schedule today g
ELECTION WATCHDOG COMPLETES PREPARATIONS FOR BY-ELECTION TO 48 SENATE SEATS ON APRIL 2 ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Senate, the Upper House of the Parliament, became dysfunctional for three weeks, as 52 senators – more than half its strength, including the Chairman and Deputy Chairman, retired on the expiry of their constitutional term while the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will announce the schedule for the election to Senate vacant seats on March 14. The schedule for Senate elections will be issued on March 14 while the nomination papers for elections can be obtained from the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) head office and four provincial secretariats. While the nomination papers can be submitted to the concerned ECP offices on March 15 and 16. As per law, the term of 52 Senate members, including Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, Deputy Chairman Mirza Afridi, Leader of the House Ishaq Dar, Leader of the Opposition Dr. Shahzad Waseem and Senator Raza Rabbani, ended on Tuesday.
The term of 11 senators supported by PML-N, 13 by PPP, 7 by PTI, and two each from JUI-F, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), and National Party have ended. Four senators supported by Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), along with one senator from Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), MQM-P, and Pakistan Muslim League-F, (PML-F) have also retired. Those who retired include, Moula Bux Chandio, Farogh Naseem, Dr Musadik Malik, Faisal Javed and Azam Khan Swati. Asad Ali Junejo and Mushahid Hussain Sayed representing Islamabad, have also retired from Senate. After the general elections, six Senate seats got vacant after the Senators won MNA seats. By-elections to fill these vacant seats will take place on March 14. The term of a senator is six years and half of them retire every three years. The elections of new Senators normally take place days before the expiry of the senators’ term, but this time that could not happen. The new situation appeared came about due to the delay in holding general elections, in the absence of
an electoral college caused by the failure of the ECP to hold timely general elections. ECP COMPLETES PREPARATIONS FOR SENATE ELECTIONS: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will announce the schedule for the election on Senate vacant seats on March 14. As per details, the preparations have been completed for the by-election to 48 Senate seats, scheduled to take place on April 2. After the merger with KP, the elections to the four FATA seats will not be held. “These seats have been abolished after the merger of tribal areas into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) under the 25th Amendment of the Constitution,” the ECP said in its statement. Nomination papers about the Senate elections can be obtained from the Election Commission Secretariat Islamabad as well as the provincial elections commissioners of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Candidates can submit their nomination papers to their respective Return-
ing Officers on Friday and Saturday (March 15, 16). Earlier, 52 senators retired on March 12 after completing their six-year tenure. According to the ECP, the Senate polls will be carried out on seven general seats, two women seats, two technocrat seats and
one minority seat in Punjab. It added that the elections will be contested on 12 seats in Sindh as well in the aforementioned denomination while in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, the polls will only be carried out on 11 seats.