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PM ORDERS IMMEDIATE ACTION AGAINST FIVE OFFICIALS FOR ‘NEGLIGENCE OF DUTY’ BESHAM ATTACK
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ACTION ORDERED AGAINST RPO HAZARA, DPOS OF UPPER, LOWER KOHSITAN, DASU PROJECT SECURITY DIRECTOR AND KP SPECIAL SECURITY UNIT COMMANDANT
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SAYS NO COMPROMISE WOULD BE TOLERATED ON SECURITY OF CHINESE IN FUTURE
Interior Minister directs foolproof measures for protection of Chinese nationals
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has directed foolproof measures for the protection of Chinese nationals in Pakistan. Chairing a meeting in Islamabad regarding security arrangements for Chinese citizens, he said protection of foreigners, especially Chinese citizens, is the top priority. He directed to ensure implementation of SOPs for the safety of foreigners, especially the Chinese nationals. Mohsin Naqvi said the enemy does not want the development and prosperity of Pakistan. He said we will never allow the nefarious designs of the terrorists to succeed. The meeting was briefed about the arrangements made for the protection of foreigners, especially the Chinese nationals. STAFF REPORT
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LAHORE STAFF REPORT
NFORMATION Minister Attaullah Tarar on Saturday announced that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered immediate action to be taken against five officials for negligence of duty based on the findings of an inquiry report on the Besham suicide attack which claimed the lives of six people, including five Chinese nationals. The development comes a week after five Chinese engineers — and their Pakistani driver — were killed in a suicide bombing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Besham while travelling between Islamabad and a hydroelectric dam construction site in Dasu. The bus was attacked in the Besham city of KP’s Shangla district. The attack prompted China to demand a
thorough probe into the deadly blast and security for its citizens. In response, Islamabad had announced a swift probe to hold the “perpetrators and accomplices” accountable. Chinese investigators had also arrived to join the probe. In response to the Chinese government’s demand to promptly investigate the incident and act against those involved, the government had also decided to form a joint investigation team to probe the attack. A day ago, PM Shehbaz said he would personally oversee monthly security meetings for Chinese citizens working on development projects. Addressing a press conference at PML-N’s Secretariat in Lahore on Saturday, Tarar said that Bloomberg stated it clearly that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had a good experience of talking to financial institutions and bringing economic reforms.
Attaullah Tarar has said strengthening the national economy is top priority of the government for which the incumbent government was taking all possible measures due to which the economy and the industry were showing positive signs. Attatullah Tarar said, “The previous 16month government saved the country from default and helped stablize the Pakistani rupee and even during the tenure of the interim government the rupee remained stable. The stability of the rupee helped stabilize the country’s economy and positive news were coming with regard to the stock exchange as well. These positive indicators were showing that business confidence had increased in the country, he said adding that it was very unfortunate that anti-state elements which could not digest the country’s progress were stuck to their negative agenda. “Chinese engineers were attacked in Dasu and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Dasu and met Chinese engineers and expressed grief over the incident besides offering condolences,” he added. The information minister said that Minister for
PM reaches Saudi Arabia on first foreign visit since election
ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday reached the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on a three-day visit, his first foreign trip after becoming prime minister for the second consecutive time. The premier was received at the airport by Madina Governor Prince Salman bin Sultan Al Saud where he will stay tonight before kicking off his activities tomorrow (Sunday). He is accompanied by the ministers for foreign affairs, defence, economic affairs, finance and information, according to a report from state-run Radio Pakistan. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also accompanied him as he set off from Allama Iqbal Interna-
tional Airport via a commercial flight earlier today. During a press conference today in Lahore, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the trip was the prime minister’s first foreign visit since his election. PM Shehbaz is expected to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss issues of mutual interest and exchange views on regional and global developments. The prime minister will also perform Umrah and offer prayers at Masjid-i-Nabwi during his time in the kingdom. In a press release issued on Friday, the Foreign Office said that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia “have longstanding fraternal relations rooted in religious and cultural affinity.
“The people of Pakistan have the deepest respect and regard for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.” The statement further read that the leadership of both countries was “committed to advancing the fraternal ties and mutually rewarding economic and investment relations.” On March 16, PM Shehbaz had said that Pakistan was working closely with Saudi Arabia to “transform the deep-rooted, historic fraternal Pakistan-Saudi Arabia ties into a comprehensive strategic partnership”. He had made the remarks as Crown Prince Mohammed called to congratulate PM Shehbaz on assuming office. During the conversation, the premier had told the crown prince that “Pakistan was proud of its historic, deep-rooted and fraternal ties with Saudi Arabia and the two countries had always stood together through thick and thin”. Subsequently, Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir had met with the Saudi crown prince during his second official trip to the country. According to a press release issued by the military’s media wing, during his visit, the crown prince had stated the kingdom wanted to strengthen bilateral ties with Pakistan.
Indian Defense Minister’s provocative statement clear admission of culpability: FO ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan on Saturday denounced the provocative remarks made by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in a televised interview yesterday, wherein he confirmed that New Delhi was carrying out an assassination campaign in Pakistan, as reported by The Guardian. “If any terrorist from a neighbouring country tries to disturb India or carry out terrorist activities here, he will be given a fitting reply. If he escapes to Pakistan we will go to Pakistan and kill him there,” Singh said in an interview to Indian TV news network News18 on Friday. Singh’s remarks followed The Guardian’s investigative report,
published on Thursday, which said at least 20 individuals had been murdered in Pakistan since 2020 at the behest of Indian intelligence operatives. The report said it had seen evidence provided by Pakistani security agencies, and noted that Indian officers confirmed the new policy of assassinating enemies and dissidents on foreign soil. India’s Ministry of External Affairs had denied the allegations. In a statement issued here, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Pakistan officially condemned what it described as “provocative remarks” made by the Indian defence minister. The FO explained that in the foreign secretary’s presser on Jan 25, Pakistan had provided “ir-
refutable evidence” of India’s involvement in extrajudicial killings and transnational assassinations on Pakistani soil. “India’s assertion of its preparedness to extra-judiciously execute more civilians, arbitrarily pronounced as ‘terrorists’, inside Pakistan constitutes a clear admission of culpability,” the FO said. “It is imperative for the international community to hold India accountable for its heinous and illegal actions.” Singh’s comments are the first time that India has acknowledged any assassinations by its operatives on foreign soil, The Guardian reported in a follow-up story published on Friday.
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Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain went to Wuhan, China, on a special flight that carried mortal remains of five Chinese personnel, who had died in the terror attack and expressed condolences with the Chinese government and officials. He said that the PML-N government had always given importance to Pak-China friendship. He said, “After the incident, the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the Chinese Embassy and met the Chinese Ambassador. The premier also visited Dasu to boost the morale of the Chinese engineers and give a message that Pakistan gives high importance to its friendship with China.” Attaullah Tarar said that the Prime Minister had presided over many meetings on Chinese security and an committee was formed for an inquiry into the Dasu incident as Chinese. He said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had ordered action against RPO Hazara division, DPO Upper Kohsitan district, DPO Lower Kohistan district, Dasu Hydropower Project Security Director and KP Special Security Unit Commandant in fifteen days.
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10 terrorists neutralised in DI Khan, Panjgur IBOs ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
At least 10 terrorists were neutralized in separate intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Dera Ismail Khan and Pangur districts, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in statements on Saturday. In a statement, the military’s media wing said Security forces killed eight terrorists during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in KhyberPakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Dera Ismail Khan district.
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