Profit EIGHT TERRORISTS GUNNED DOWN AS ATTACK ON GPA COMPLEX FOILED In partnership with
Thursday, 21 March, 2024 I 10 Ramazan, 1445
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XIV No 263 I 8 Pages I Karachi Edition
Two jawans embrace martyrdom repulsing attack claimed by Majeed Brigade of BLA GWADAR/ISLAMABAD
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Two terrorists killed, two others injured in separate IBO conducted in North Waziristan
The military said in a statement issued later in the evening that a group of eight terrorists attempted to enter Port Authority Colony in Gwadar, which was successfully thwarted by the security forces personnel. “Own troops employed for security responded immediately and effectively engaged the terrorists, and in ensuing fire exchange, all eight terrorists were sent to hell,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. A large quantity of arms, ammunition and explosives was also recovered from the killed terrorists. “However, during the intense exchange of fire, two brave soldiers; Sepoy Bahar Khan (age: 35 years, resident of District DG Khan) and Sepoy Imran Ali (age: 28 years, resident of District Khairpur) having fought gallantly, sacrificed their lives and embraced Shahadat,” said the military’s media wing.
Staff RepoRt
HE security forces on Wednesday killed eight terrorists and repulsed an attack by militants on a complex outside the strategic port of Gwadar, security officials and Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti confirmed. However, two brave soldiers – Sepoy Bahar Khan and Sepoy Imran Ali – having fought gallantly, sacrificed their lives and embraced Shahadat during the intense exchange of fire,” said the military’s media wing. Armed with guns and bombs, the militants stormed the Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) complex just outside the port that houses offices of government departments, intelligence agencies, and paramilitary forces, said Saeed Ahmed Umrani, a government commissioner. The militants detonated several bombs before launching a shooting attack and trying to storm the complex, he said. In a post on social media platform X, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said eight militants were “neutralised by security forces”, adding: “The message is loud & clear. Whosoever chooses to use violence will see no mercy from the state.” There were reports of at least one soldier killed and others wounded, Umrani said. The military did not give details. Statement from the United Nations Department for Safety and Security said “several explosions followed by continuous firing” were reported during the attack on the complex, adding that the facility hosts several government and paramilitary offices. The statement added there were no immediate reports of casualties, elaborating that seven personnel from three UN agencies based in Gwadar and two UN agencies on missions were “safe and accounted for”.
Pakistan will not tolerate cross-border terror attacks: PM
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ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday stated that Pakistan will not tolerate any more cross-border terror attacks on its soil, reaffirming the commitment to wipe out the menace of terrorism as was done previously. Chairing the federal cabinet meeting in Islamabad on Wednesday, PM Shehbaz Sharif said security of the geographical frontiers of Pakistan is a redline, highlighting the sacrifices rendered by Pakistan in the war on terrorism. “Pakistan desires to have cordial relations with the neighboring fraternal countries to promote trade and economic relations. However, it is not acceptable that the land of the neigh-
boring country is used for terrorism in Pakistan,” he added. Shehbaz Sharif proposed the formulation of a joint strategy with the sincerity of purpose to defeat the scourge of terrorism. He said collective efforts against terrorism will help establish peace in the region and address other issues such as that of poverty. SHARIF VOWS TO REVIVE PAKISTAN’S ECONOMY Turning to the economic situation, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the country is compelled to secure another IMF package. He however affirmed the commitment to revive the economy and help it stand on its own feet. We have made a conscious decision to minimize borrowing and gradually rid the country of
loans. The premier said an enabling environment will be created to attract investments across various sectors including agriculture, industries, Information Technology and mines and minerals. He said the Special Investment Facilitation Council is serving as a robust platform to facilitate investment in the country. Alluding to the pending tax cases worth twenty-four hundred billion rupees, the Prime Minister appealed to the Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faez Isa to direct the courts to dispose of these cases at the earliest. PM Shehbaz Sharif also expressed the resolve to enhance the tax base and bring the potential sectors into the tax net.
IMF, Pakistan reach staff-level agreement on final review of $3bn SBA
PROFIT (NewS DeSk): The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reached a staff-level agreement with Pakistan on the second and final review of the $3 billion Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) paving the way for the release of the last tranche from the lender. This agreement needs approval by the IMF’s Executive Board, upon which the remaining access under the SBA, $1.1 billion, will become available to Pakistan. An IMF team, led by Nathan Porter, visited Islamabad from March 14-19, 2024, to hold discussions on the second review of Pakistan’s economic program supported by the SBA.
congressional ‘State, govt like parents for citizens’: SC In testimony, Donald Lu grant bail to five suspects of May 9 case favours probe into g
Justice Mandokhel questions whether being worker of a party or taking out a rally was a crime? ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday accepted the bail applications of five suspects in a May 9 violence case. The suspects had been taken into custody for attacking Hamza Camp in Rawalpindi and damaging it. A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Jamal Mandokhel, granted bails to Saifullah, Awais, Ayyaz, Kamran, Waqas and Nasrullah in lieu of surety bonds of Rs50,000 each. During the hearing, the court admonished the police and the prosecution for faulty investigation. Justice Mandokhel asked whether being a worker of a party or taking out a rally was a crime. “The state of affairs we are witnessing today is the consequence of banning students’ unions and political parties,” the judge said, adding, “Can we declare a former prime minister ‘traitor’ merely on the basis of a statement given by a head constable?” “Fear The Almighty Allah. Where are we heading?” he wondered. Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi asked what were the proofs against the suspects? “Had their faces been recognized through CCTV camera footages?” The investigation officer (IO) told the court that the protestors who had attacked the Hamza Camp and government buildings had broken the cameras installed in these areas. Justice Mandokhel remarked that meant there was no proof against the sus-
pects and these were merely statements given by the police officials on which the prosecution was relying upon. “Why terrorism-related sections were inserted in the case,” he asked. Speaking on the occasion, counsel for the Punjab government said that the suspects had attacked the ISI Camp. Justice Mandokhel retorted, “It means that you don’t have any idea what terrorism is.” Let me tell you, the judge went on to say, that what had happened at Army Public School, Peshawar and at Quetta courts were in fact incidents of terrorism. “How on earth could taking out a rally be called an act of terrorism?” he questioned. Justice Mandokhel further said that the police were only after political ac-
tivists, while no action was taken against those who were real terrorists. The IO said that the suspects had attacked government buildings and military installations in reaction to the arrest of their leader. “It was a conspiracy,” he said. Justice Rizvi asked the officer whether the law enforcers had ever detected the conspiracy hatched by those who detonated bombs. “If you catch the real conspirators, then there will be no killings of Pakistan Army personnel at the hands of terrorists,” he remarked. The footages obtained from CCTV cameras are safe. “People even use their cellphones for filming scenes,” he added. Punjab government’s lawyer said that one of the allegations against the suspects
was that they also had petrol bombs and they even resorted to firing. Justice Rizvi asked as to who could bring petrol bombs with him. “Certainly not from his home,” he added. “What does the investigation say about it?” the judge asked. The lawyer informed the court that so far the investigators had failed to find out how these bombs ended up in the hands of protestors. He told the court that there was another witness who was a constable at Special Branch in Lahore. Justice Mandokhel expressed the surprise that the incident had taken place in Rawalpindi while the witness was from Lahore. “Is burning tyres a far bigger crime against the state?” he asked, adding, “Both the state and the government are like parents for a citizen.” Even parents slapped their children, the judge went on to say, once or twice, they later again start treating them affectionately. “They don’t kill their kids,” he said, added, “Throwing everybody in jail is no solution.” “The fact is that apart from a testimony by a cop, there is no other evidence which could prove the suspects guilty,” Justice Rizvi said. The IO said that the police registered cases against the suspects before arresting them. Justice Mandokhel questioned how the police could know the names before the registration of cases. Advocate Sardar Abdur Razzaq said that the petitioners were heading home after closing their shops that the police picked them up. Justice Musarrat Halali said there was no mention of an attack on the ISI office in the FIR.
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Pakistan ‘poll-rigging’ WASHINGTON
Staff RepoRt
US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu has raised questions over fairness of Feb 8 general elections in Pakistan and recommended probe into allegations of rigging. Lu on Tuesday submitted a written statement expressing concerns about irregularities in the elections but stressed the need to “stay engaged with Pakistan to help it navigate through the crises it is facing.” Lu will appear before a subcommittee of the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs on the topic of “Pakistan After the Elections: Examining the Future of Democracy in Pakistan and the US-Pakistan Relationship.” Former ambassador Lu is at the centre of crises in Pakistan arose due to his alleged warning to exPakistan envoy to the US Asad Majeed which was conveyed to Islamabad through a cipher. Former prime minister and PTI founder mentioned the cipher in his public speeches alleging a US conspiracy to him from power in 2022. In his written testimony, Lu highlighted Washington’s concerns about irregularities in Pakistan, which encompass restrictions on freedoms, violence, and allegations of interference in elections. He mentioned that several political leaders faced obstacles, such as the inability to register specific candidates and political parties, which disadvantaged them in the electoral process. He also highlighted the harassment and abuse faced by many journalists, particularly female journalists, at the hands of party supporters. On the other, he mentioned some “positive aspects” in the elections, such as a high turnout of over 60 million voters, including more than 21 million women, and a record number of women and minority candidates. Despite expressing concerns, Lu stressed the importance of strengthening Pakistan’s democratic institutions and fostering economic stability through avenues such as development grants, private sector investment, and humanitarian aid.
US Congress committee exposes PTI’s ‘cypher drama’: Tarar ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Wednesday said the US Congress committee had completely exposed the “cypher drama” orchestrated by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder against the country, just for the sake of his personal interests. “The PTI chairman’s deceit and hypocrisy has been exposed before the whole world today as Donld Lu testified before the Congress and called the cypher a complete falsehood,” the minister said while addressing a news conference here. Tarar condemned the PTI’s conspiracy in the strongest terms lashing out the party for their all the anti-state moves including May 9 riots and protests outside the Interna-
tional Monetary Fund (IMF) Headquarters for derailing Pakistan talks with the lender on final review of the standby agreement. “The PTI hired lobbyists in the United States for a congress hearing on the so-called regime change conspiracy, but their leader could not evade the divine justice,” he said citing a proverb “man proposes and God disposes”. He said hiring of the lobbyists in the US for congressional hearing was solely meant to malign the country, but it was the PTI founder who was declared a “certified liar” in the end. The minister said the US diplomat had not only exposed the “cipher drama”, but also expressed satisfaction over the credibility of the general election as well as women empowerment in Pakistan during the proceeding. On the other hand, he said the PTI went to extreme length Just to double down their false narrative on the cipher which severely
damaged Pakistan’s diplomatic relations with other countries. He said the history of Pakistan suggested seldom such instances where a person jeopardized national interests just to satisfy his ego. The PTI founder waved a white paper in a public gathering and claimed that his government was being ousted in result of a foreign conspiracy, the minister said accusing him of misleading the whole nation and inflicting severe damage on the country. Today, he had been humiliated before whole world that was telecasted by every international media channel, he added. The minister called out the PTI leader for intoxicating the minds of youth. He got nothing from lobbying, running smear campaigns against the country and by orchestrating a conspiracy against the people, Tarar added. He reiterated the government’s com-
mitment to the national interests vowing allout measures to protect the interests of the country. To a query, he said the law would take its course in the cipher case which was being heard in the high court and at the appeal stage. He said the cipher case was open and shut that showed how the country’s enemies were befitted with a conspiracy and in fact penalized for that matter as well. The minister also took exception to the criticism of those who only came to Pakistan during the PTI’s government tenure and left as soon as it came to an end. To another query, he said Shehbaz Gill got a PHD degree from Malaysia on HEC scholarship and bound to serve the country. He had not violated the law only, but also remained on forefront for instigating the people against the state for achieving the foreign agenda against Pakistan, Tarar said,
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stressing on bringing such people to justice. To another question, he said the people who protested outside the IMF were wearing the expensive bags and shoes. How came they could understand the problems of a common man who would ultimately to bear the brunt of their anti-state activities. He said certainty had been returned in the market that shown positive indicators following the staff-level agreement reached by Pakistan and the IMF. The minister said austerity measures were discussed in cabinet meeting at length and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the cabinet members’ decision for forgoing their salaries. He said the cabinet members in fact followed into the footsteps of the prime minister who had a track record of foregoing his salaries , perks and privileges in different tenure as prime minister and chief minister Punjab.