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PM ORDERS ESTABLISHMENT OF SIX DESKS TO BOOST INVESTMENT THROUGH SIFC Sunday, 26 May, 2024 I |17 Zil-Qadah, 1445
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XIV No 326 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
SPECIAL DESKS WILL BE ESTABLISHED FOR UAE, SAUDI ARABIA, CHINA, QATAR, EU, AND USA PROFIT
AGENCIES
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed for establishment of six desks to promote investment and trade through the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC). The special desks will be established for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, China, Qatar, the European Union and the United States of America. This was stated by the Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar on Saturday after the meeting of the SIFC which was under the chair of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and was attended by the chief ministers of Panjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, COAS General Asim Munir and others. Earlier, addressing the meeting, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said that the SIFC was playing a critical role in the country’s progress and prosperity and thanked the provincial governments for expressing their confidence in SIFC. The prime minister said that should work tirelessly to build a ‘Pakistan as perceived by their founding fathers and by acting upon the advice of Quaid-e-
Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Muhammad Iqbal.’ The prime minister urged the provincial governments to further support the SIFC and move ahead in unison like a family to compensate for the losses of the past and overcome issues of poverty and hunger in the country. He said that the federal government did not get enough for initiating development projects after distribution of resources among the provinces, therefore under such conditions all the governments should move together with unity. Updating the members of SIFC
PTI moves IHC against CDA operation at party’s secretariat ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday moved the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) operation at party’s central secretariat and seeks order to de-seal its central secretariat. The petition, filed by the party’s General Secretary Omar Ayub, urged the court to declare the CDA’s demolition order illegal. The petition names the Secretary of Interior, Chief Commissioner, Chairman CDA, IG, and others as respondents. In the petition, the PTI leaders said: “Neither any order nor any notice was ever served upon the petitioner, hence, the impugned act of the respondents is due to malafide intention, blackmailing, without due process of law and violation of the principle of natural justice and also contrary to Article 4 and 10-A of the Constitution.” The petitioner argued that PTI, through its members Arshad Dad and Naseemur Rehman, purchased commercial plot Number 1-A situated at Shopping Centre, Sector G-8/4-2 from Sartaj Ali in 2020. It is pertinent to mention here that the CDA, following the operation, had said that encroachment by a “political party” was removed and added that the plot was allotted in the name of a person named Sartaj Ali. The petitioner termed the CDA’s operation illegal unlawful and the result of malafide, political victimisation and violation of fundamental rights. On Thursday, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) had demolished a portion of the PTI Central Secretariat over a “violation of building rules”, drawing strong condemnation from the former ruling party. The CDA said that its anti-encroachment team launched an operation to eliminate illegal construction and encroachment. In response, the PTI voiced its concerns in the Senate on Saturday, the party’s secretary general, Omar Ayub Khan, filed the petition and made secretary of interior, chief commissioner, CDA chairman, and IG Islamabad parties in the case. Reacting to the CDA operation, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lamented the demolition of a portion of party’s Central Secretariat. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan lambasted the authorities for ‘violating’ the sanctity of his party’s Central Secretariat in the federal capital. “In a democracy, the central office of a party is sanctified,” he said, terming the bulldozing of central office a “cowardly act”. He alleged that the Central Secretariat was demolished without any ‘reasons or prior notice’.
about his recent visit to the United Arab Emirates, he said the UAE leadership had announced 10 billion dollars investment in Pakistan and expressed their complete confidence in SIFC. The leadership of brotherly countries and others as well were aware of the functioning of SIFC, he observed. When SIFC was formed through legal procedures, certain concerns were expressed by a quarter but with the passage of time, its significance, efficiency and achievements had shut all kinds of criticism and everybody now fully supported its initiatives, he added. The prime minister also cited his
meeting with a German delegation that was also aware of the functioning of the SIFC. The prime minister stressed that they should resolve today to achieve their targets as sky was the limit and would work day and night to transform Pakistan into something upon which the Pakistanis could feel pride, adding it was possible with the untiring efforts and by shedding sweat and blood. The prime minister also underlined the need of capacity building and enhancing professionalism of experts in different fields. He said that he had already instructed the ministries clearly to hire consultants and experts and would soon seek their feedback. The prime minister said that the digitization process of the Federal Bureau of Revenue had already commenced. He urged all the stakeholders to redouble their efforts and promote the local talent and industry, adding that 60 per cent population of the country comprised youth bulge, who should be trained in IT field while the natural resources worth billions of rupees lying untapped be fully utilized. The prime minisiter also credited SIFC for paving way for the Reko Diq project in Balochistan province.
Mob vandalises property, attempts to lynch accused after blasphemy accusation SARGODHA/LAHORE STAFF REPORT
An angry mob rampaged through Christian families’ houses in Sargodha’s Mujahid Colony after a Christian man was accused of desecrating the Holy Quran. The police, however, rescued the two Christian families from the mob that attacked their homes on Saturday morning, police officials confirmed. The mob attempted to set fire to the accused man’s house and lynch him. Sargodha District Police Officer (DPO) Asad Ejaz Malhi told the media that the incident followed alleged desecration of the holy Quran, saying that swift deployment of a large police contingent averted any fatality. “When police arrived, the mob had gathered outside the houses. Officers cordoned off the area and safely evacuated all residents,” Malhi said, adding that additional police units were stationed throughout the city to ensure the safety of the Christian community. “The police peacefully dispersed the crowd,” he added. Social media footage depicted a mob surrounding a bloodied man and others, including teenagers, wrecking furniture. Another video showed a large blaze outside a house. DPO Malhi claimed they were “fake videos”, insisting no one was injured. “The police are maintaining law and order,” he said. A statement from Minority Rights March also said that videos of the incident showed the mob lynching of a 70year-old man “on the instigation of a local cleric” while the man’s home and factory were set ablaze. “The videos of the attack clearly show officers of the Punjab
police being present on the site as silent spectators which points towards their tacit approval and facilitation of the terrorists involved in the attack,” the statement said. A statement from the Punjab police said Sargodha Regional Police Officer Shariq Kamal, DPO Malhi and other police officials responded promptly as soon as the incident was reported and reached the spot immediately, managing to save 10 lives and controlling the situation. “There was no loss of life, more than 10 police officers and personnel were also injured due to stone pelting by the angry people. The Sargodha police risked their lives to rescue the families and pulled them out from the crowd. Thanks to the timely action of the police. Sargodha was spared a great tragedy,” the statement said, adding that the situation in the city was “completely peaceful and under control”. It praised members of the district peace committee and the Christian community for playing an “effective role in restoring the atmosphere of understanding and peace”. “More than 2,000 officers and men of Sargodha police are on se-
curity duty. No one will be allowed to misbehave. Citizens are requested to support the police to deal with miscreants,” the statement quoted DPO Malhi as saying. In response to the incident, Punjab Home Affairs Secretary Noor-ul-Amin Mengal departed to inspect the site on the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, a press statement said. Mengal will review the causes and the investigation of the incident, and has ordered all senior officers to investigate every aspect. He will assess the law and order situation as per the chief minister’s instructions, the statement added. “Pakistan belongs to all of us; no injustice will be tolerated under the guise of religion. Action will be taken according to the law after a complete investigation,” Mengal was quoted as saying. ‘Peace committee’ Sargodha DPO Malhi also announced that a district peace committee, comprising district administration officials and religious scholars from both Muslim and minority communities, would evaluate the situation and issue a statement. The Christian community is also expected to release a statement.
Sanaullah says PTI founder is a political reality ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
PML-N senior leader and Special Assistant to Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah on Saturday revealed that he had no more hate or bad feelings for the PTI founder, saying though he (Imran) did struggle in a wrong direction still he resisted and took stand. “Neither he could eliminate us nor could we. We only can sit and hold talks. If you don’t understand it, you have to face transgenders”, Rana Sanaullah said during an interview to a private Tv news channel. The political adviser to the PM asserted that resistance shall be necessity of time but not resistance for the sake of resistance. “The PTI founder is a political reality but refusing dialogue,” he said, adding that the recent relief to the PTI has not been result of any signal. He said that he was not seeing the PTI’s founder out of the jail in near future. PML-N leader said those in hiding should come to surface. “The PTI’s founder was if really doing politics, we couldn’t get the space at the time of noconfidence, we found”, he said. “Had the PTI not quit the parliament, our government could not sustained upto 16 months,” Rana Sanaullah said. “The May 09 could not happen, if the PTI didn’t dissolve its government in two provinces,” he further said. He said, “Political instability causes economic instability and the PTI’s founder has caused it”. “He has, being a politician, has adopted an apolitical approach. In a parliamentary system if you refuse dialogue, you are threat to the system,” Sanaullah said. “If you want to bring a revolution, you should quit the parliament, as the parliament has nothing to do with the revolution,” he said. Government adviser said,” A PTI man has been saying that they will not allow us the dialogue. It is our job to get the permission, you leave it and come to the table for talks,” Rana Sanaullah said. “They are now demanding to give ‘our mandate’ first and release prisoners,” he said. “If we give the mandate and free prisoners, then what will be for talks. If we give you all, then we will be in jails,” PML-N leader said. He said that the opposition alliance is being formed itself, “they have not been given any signal”. “A route of talks could open, if the opposition alliance would constitute”, political adviser said. “We will talk with Maulana Fazl ur Rehman after completion of the opposition alliance”. “If we talk with him prior, they will not get him in the alliance,” Sanaullah said. He said, when the establishment has been agreed to be restricted to its role then what is the need of resistance. “If they are ready to help you out in the SIFC, then why resistance is needed,” Sanaullah said. Commenting on release of Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi he said, his release has been justified, ” I was not expecting him to tolerate that much”. “Definitely he is an opponent, but I respect the one who stands alongside the leader against all odds,” he said.
Centre, provinces on same page for development of Pakistan: Tarar ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting, National Heritage and Culture, Attaullah Tarar stated on Saturday that the Special Investment Facilitation Council’s meeting had disseminated a message of unity as federation and provinces were on one page on the issue of the development of the country. Speaking to the media after the SIFC meeting, he said it was a serious forum and its meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere wherein discussion was held over the national economy, attracting investment and public-private partnership. Tarar said he was grateful to all Chief Ministers for not only attending the meeting but also giving their input, saying the forum will move forward with the input of all including the chief ministers of the four provinces. The minister also congratulated all the provincial governments on the meaningful meeting of SIFC, saying investment will be promoted through SIFC forum both at the Federal and provincial levels. He said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had issued directives for establishment of six desks to promote investment and trade through SIFC which was the lifeline of the country’s economy. The special desks will be established for United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, China, Qatar, European Union and United States of America.
Israel strikes Rafah after top UN court orders it to halt offensive GAZA
AGENCIES
Israel bombed the Gaza Strip, including Rafah, on Saturday, a day after the top UN court ordered it to halt military operations in the southern city as efforts get underway in Paris to seek a ceasefire in the war sparked by Hamas’s October 7 attack. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) also demanded the immediate release of all hostages still held by Palestinian militants, hours after the Israeli military announced troops had recovered the bodies of three more of the captives from northern Gaza. The Hague-based court, whose orders are legally binding but lack direct enforcement mechanisms, also ordered Israel to keep open the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, which it closed earlier this month at the start of its assault on the city. Israel gave no indication it was preparing to change course in Rafah, insisting that
the court had got it wrong. “Israel has not and will not carry out military operations in the Rafah area that create living conditions that could cause the destruction of the Palestinian civilian population, in whole or in part,” National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said in a joint statement with Israel’s foreign ministry spokesman. The Palestinian militant group Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, welcomed the ICJ ruling on Rafah but criticised its decision to exclude the rest of war-torn Gaza from the order. Hours after the ICJ ruling, Israel carried out strikes on the Gaza Strip early Saturday while clashes between the Israeli army and the armed wing of Hamas continued. Mediated Israel-Hamas talks on hostage deal expected next week Mediated negotiations between Israel and Hamas to reach a deal to free Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip are due to
restart next week, an official with knowledge of the matter said on Saturday. The decision to restart the talks, said the source, who declined to be identified by name or nationality given the sensitivity of the issue, was taken after the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency met the head of the CIA and the prime minister of Qatar, which has been a mediator. “At the end of the meeting, it was decided that in the coming week negotiations will open based on new proposals led by the mediators, Egypt and Qatar and with active US involvement,” the source said. Efforts to achieve the release of more than 120 hostages abducted during Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel within the framework of a ceasefire deal have so far fallen short. Both sides have blamed the other for the deadlock. Israel has said it cannot accept Hamas’ demand to end the war, while the Palestinians want Palestinian prisoners to be
released by Israel. Israel has said it wants to eliminate Hamas, which governs Gaza and is sworn to
Israel’s destruction. Sparked by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, the war has raged for more than seven months, devastating much of Gaza.