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PRESIDENT VOWS BLOOD OF ‘SONS’ NOT TO GO IN VAIN AS FUNERAL OF MIR ALI MARTYRS OFFERED Monday, 18 March, 2024 I 7 Ramazan, 1445
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Says Pakistan Army has consistently upheld ideals of Faith, Unity, and Discipline RAWALPINDI
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Interior minister says entire nation stands united with armed forces in war against terror
STAFF REPORT
HE funeral prayers of Lieutenant Colonel Syed Kashif Ali Shaheed, age 39 years and Captain Muhammad Ahmed Badar Shaheed, who embraced martyrdom in Mir Ali, North Waziristan, were offered at Chaklala Garrison Rawalpindi. The funeral prayers were attended by dignitaries including President Asif Ali Zardari, Chief of Army the Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi among other senior serving military and civil officers. A large crowd of locals and relatives of the martyrs was also in attendance. "Pakistan Army has consistently upheld the ideals of Faith, Unity, and Discipline and has always endeavored to set higher benchmarks of professionalism and loyalty in its unrelenting fight against terrorism,” the ISPR statement quoted the president. He added, “This noble sacrifice stands as another glorious testament to the unflinching resolve of our gallant sons, who have never hesitated to offer the ultimate sacrifice for the defense of our Motherland. The whole nation stands in solidarity with our Armed Forces.”The bodies of the martyrs were later taken to their respective hometowns, where they will be laid to rest with full military honors, the ISPR stated. The 39-year-old Lt-Col Kashif Ali, a resident of Karachi, and 23year-old Capt Ahmed Badar, a resident of Talagang, were among seven
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soldiers martyred in the terrorist attack yesterday. At least six terrorists were also killed in the attack. As per the ISPR, troops foiled the initial attempt of intrusion into the army installation in the wee hours of the day however, a group of six terrorists rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into it, later carrying out multiple suicide bombings. The attacks led to the collapse of a portion of a building, resulting in the martyrdom of five brave soldiers. The martyred soldiers included Havildar Sabir, a resident of district Khyber; Naik Khurshid, a resident of district Lakki Marwat; Sepoy Nasir, a resident of Peshawar; Sepoy Raja, a resident of Kohat; and Sepoy Sajjad, a resident of Abbottabad. President Zardari resolves to wipe out terrorism from Pakistan On the occasion, the president paid tribute to Shuhada and reiterated the resolve to respond to terrorist activities with full force, President Secretariat Press Wing said in a press
ISLAMABAD
A day before his retirement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has extended the tenure of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu by a year. The tenure of Sidhu was due to end on Saturday and he was set to retire on March 18. The four-star Pakistan Air Force (PAF) officer and 16th chief of air staff took over command of the air force on March 19, 2021, from his predecessor ACM Mujahid Anwar Khan. The chief of the air staff is a military appointment and a statutory office held by an air chief marshal in the Pakistan Air Force, who is appointed by the prime minister of Pakistan and finally confirmed by the president of Pakistan. Babar joined GD (Pilot) branch of the PAF in 1986 as a fighter pilot. He has also served in fighter squadrons, operational airbases and regional commands. He attended Combat Commanders School, Air War College and Royal College of Defense Studies in the United Kingdom for higher studies.He has also served as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operations Research and Development), Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Training Officers) and Director General of Projects at Air Headquarters Islamabad. Babar also served as additional secretary in the ministry of defence. He was awarded Sitara-eImtiaz (military) and Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (military) in recognition of his services.
release, on Sunday. He said that the people of Pakistan and its armed forces were united and would face terrorism in unison. He also expressed the resolve to hold the terrorists accountable for blood of each martyred jawan, adding their brave brothers, sons and friends had been protecting the borders. President Zardari promised that the blood of the sons of the soil would not go in vain. In the early hours of 16 March, a group of six terrorists attacked a security forces’ post in the general area of Mir Ali of North Waziristan District. According to the details, the troops foiled the initial attempt of the attack, the terrorists rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the post, followed by multiple suicide bombing attacks, which led to the collapse of a portion of a building, resulting in the Shahadat of five soldiers. ‘NATION STANDS UNITED WITH PAK ARMY’ Interior Minister Syed Mohsin
India funding TTP militants in Afghanistan, says Amb Durrani ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan's Special Representative on Afghanistan, Ambassador Asif Durrani, has accused India of providing financial support to the banned Tehreek-iTaliban Pakistan (TTP) through Afghan proxies. “Islamabad has evidence that the banned Tehreek-iTaliban Pakistan (TTP) is getting money from India through Afghan proxies”, Durrani made the allegations during a program hosted by the Islamabadbased think tank, Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS). He estimated that 5,000 to 6,000 TTP militants are currently sheltering in Afghanistan, along with approximately 70,000 family members. "The interim Afghan government cannot afford the upkeep of such a large number of people," Durrani said. "It is apparent that someone else is paying for their expenses." According to Durrani, Pakistan's peace talks with the TTP have failed in the past due to the group's unwillingness to surrender, swear allegiance to the Constitution of Pakistan, and face prosecution for heinous crimes, including the attack on the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar. "The TTP is a red line for Pakistan," Durrani emphasized. "We demand that the interim Afghan government disarm and detain the group's leadership." Durrani also called for the implementation of a onedocument regime on all border crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan. EXPERT ANALYSIS Political analyst and expert on Afghan affairs, ex-senator Afrasiab Khattak, believes that Pakistan's flawed policy towards Afghanistan is the root cause of many of the country's problems, including its economic woes and extremism. "Pakistan needs to reassess its approach to Afghanistan and prioritize peace and stability in the region," Khattak said.
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Public criticism of SIC joining decision to impact ‘Imran more than anyone’: Hamid Raza ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza on Sunday said that escalating criticism in the media by PTI leaders on the party’s decision to join SIC will make Imran Khan “suffer more than anyone”. “Speaking out against the decision to join SIC would benefit the current government more and that I “would not want in any situation to discuss internal affairs in public,” SIC chief Hamid Raza said during an interview with a private TV channel. He continued that “this behaviour” would compromise discipline of the party and would simply divert attention from Imran Khan’s cases,” he said, adding that he had not yet met the jailed PTI founder as his name had not been cleared by jail authorities for a meeting.
Defence minister accuses PTI of working against ‘national interest’ STAFF REPORT
PM Shehbaz extends tenure of air chief for one year STAFF REPORT
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The SIC chairman asserted said that the PTI decision to join SIC was to bring them “under one umbrella”, and was conveyed to him via the party’s top leaders – Barrister Gohar Khan and Omar Ayub Khan. “The purpose of joining SIC was to bring PTI candidates under one umbrella so the plans of other parties to pressurise candidates would not be successful,” he said, adding that the target was achieved as their votes for most elections in the Parliament were secure. Raza confirmed that Imran made the decision to join SIC, adding that the decision was conveyed to him through PTI leaders such as chairman Gohar Khan, secretary general Omar Ayub Khan and spokesperson Raoof Hasan. Regarding Ali Zafar’s criticism of the decision, Raza said it was possible that Zafar was not part of the
team that met Imran when the decision was finalised as “three different teams met Imran”. Sahibzada Hamid Raza was of the view that the decision of PTI-backed independent candidates to join his party was made by former premier Imran Khan. To the question that PTI potentially wanting to get back its candidates, Raza said, “I have no issues.” “Our settlement [with the PTI] was temporary,” the SIC chief further said, adding that it was done to “secure” PTI candidates. Walid Iqbal joins chorus of criticising move to join SIC Meanwhile, former PTI senator Walid Iqbal joined other party leaders, including Sher Afzal Marwat, in criticising the decision to join the Sunni Ittehad Council in a bid to secure reserved seats.
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Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Sunday condemned the terrorist incident in Mir Ali and paid tribute to the martyrs. Addressing a press conference at his residence at Sialkot Cantonment, Khawaja Muhammad Asif said that unity is necessary to fight the war against terrorism and those who sacrifice against terrorism are our benefactors. “Our security forces have made countless sacrifices against terrorism and the defense of this country has been kept strong by the blood of our martyrs. “The Pakistan Army is scarifying their lives in the ongoing war against terrorism. Our soldiers, including a Lt-Col and a captain, were martyred in yesterday’s terrorist attack in Mir Ali,” he added. He said that it is Pakistan Army that ensures our safety while being present at the borders in all circumstances and we the people are sleeping peacefully while these people ensure the fulfillment of their duties in cold and heat. The Federal Minister said that once again terrorism had been rising for a few months and the war can be fought only by a united government and if on this occasion, there is division then this war would spread in every street and neighborhood. Khawaja Muhammad Asif said that martyrs are our benefactors. “Pakistan Army, our police, our paramilitary, our people, women, men and children have sacrificed their lives in the war against terrorism. If the country is stable today, it is because of martyrs. These martyrs have kept the defence of this country strong by giving their blood for the country,” he added. He condemned the nefarious campaign against martyrs on social media. “Our martyrs are our pride, but there is no doubt that those who gave wrong remarks against them are in touch with terrorists.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03 Naqvi said the entire nation was strongly condemning terror attack on Mir Ali check post. He assured the nation that terrorists will be given befitting response for this cowardly act. In a press statement, Interior Minister said all the martyred Jawans, including Lt-Col Syed Kashif Ali were heroes of the nation. The entire nation paid tributes and salutes to the heroes
who laid their lives for the security of the country, adding that the entire nation was united and stood with Pak Army in war against terror. He assured the nation that Pakistan Army will give due response to terrorists. He said Army Jawans have set new examples of bravery and their sacrifices will be remembered, adding that their sacrifices will not go wasted.
‘Senate polls’: Nominations filing concludes, scrutiny to be held tomorrow
ISLAMABAD: The process of filing nomination papers for elections on 48 vacant seats of the Senate has concluded at the National Assembly and all four provincial assemblies, Radio Pakistan reports. The scrutiny of nomination papers will be carried out on Tuesday. According to the schedule, polling will be held on April 2. A revised list of the candidates will be issued on March 26 and the candidates can withdraw their nomination papers by the next day. In the federal capital, MNAs will elect members of the Senate against one general seat and one seat for technocrats, including Ulema.
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