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Profit PM ORDERS IMMEDIATE END TO UNANNOUNCED LOAD SHEDDING Wednesday, 29 May, 2024 I |20 Zil-Qadah, 1445
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Rs 50.00 | Vol XIV No 329 I 36 Pages I Islamabad Edition
Directs authorities to reduce duration of power outages on loss-making feeders PROFIT
AHMAD AHMADANI
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the immediate ending of unannounced electricity load shedding across the country and has ordered the reduction of outage durations on loss-making feeders. This directive was issued during a meeting focused on electricity load management and the prevention of electricity theft, held under the Prime Minister’s chairmanship. According to sources, the Ministry of Energy (Power Division), during the course of the meeting, provided a detailed briefing on the current state of electricity theft and load shedding. It was highlighted that load shedding is currently being implemented solely on loss-making feeders. In response, Prime Minister Sharif emphasised that it is the duty of the relevant institutions to prevent electricity theft and provide relief to the public. He stated that the perpetrators of power theft should be dealt with strictly and the mission against power theft should be taken to its logical conclusion, and power theft should be completely eliminated, said sources quoting the premier’s directions. As per sources, the prime minister announced that he will personally review progress on the prevention of electricity theft on a monthly basis. The PM cautioned against overbilling of electricity, insisting that it must not occur under any circumstances. “Be careful, over-billing of electricity should not happen at all,” PM added.
Recognizing the hardships being faced by the public due to the intense heat of the summer season, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed an immediate end to unannounced load shedding and instructed that the duration of load shedding on loss-making feeders be reduced. He acknowledged the problems faced by the public and stressed the importance of providing relief. The Prime Minister was also briefed on a recent meeting with the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), where assurances were made to curb electricity theft in the province. He appreciated this progress and expressed optimism about collaborative efforts to address these issues. On Monday, a significant breakthrough was achieved during the meeting between Federal Minister of Interior Mohsin Naqvi, Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur and Minister for Power Division Awais Leghari, paving the way to resolve load shedding and dues-related issues.
Qureshi’s 9-day physical remand approved in eight May 9 cases LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s physical remand for nine days in eight cases pertaining to the May 9 riots got approved by an antiterrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday. Judge Khalid Arshad of the ATC in Lahore announced a reserved verdict wherein the court ordered that the investigation report after’s Qureshi’s interrogation be submitted on June 5. The court in its decision has ordered to interrogate the PTI leader through video link. The court further remarked that according to the investigating officer, the suspect released videos and messages on social media. All the material uploaded by Qureshi on social media had been sent to the forensic lab, it maintained. Qureshi is currently imprisoned in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail in multiple cases. In addition to this, a special court established under the Official Secrets Act had handed Qureshi 10 years in jail in the cipher case. The police on May 26 implicated the PTI leader in eight more cases in connection with the attacks carried out on May 9, 2023. The May 9 riots were triggered almost across the country after deposed prime minister Imran Khan’s arrest in the £190 million settlement case. Hundreds of PTI workers and senior leaders were put behind bars for their involvement in violence and attacks on military installations last year.
Following the meeting, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and Minister for Power Division, Awais Leghari held a joint press conference. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi stated that the meeting was conducted very positively, resulting in a breakthrough and discussions about providing relief to the public. Chief Minister Gandapur reiterated the commitment to tackling line losses and emphasized that the public demands the end of load shedding and access to affordable electricity. He expressed gratitude for the support felt by the province’s residents. Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Power Division, Awais Leghari highlighted that preventing electricity theft is key to eliminating load shedding, a model which will be applied across other provinces. The success of the KPK model in curbing power theft and managing load shedding is expected to be replicated na-
tionwide, aiming to provide consistent and affordable electricity to all citizens. It is pertinent to mention that rising heat and unannounced hours-long power outages have plagued the country, prompting protests nationwide. As temperatures soar, power outages are becoming increasingly frequent across the country, with some cities experiencing up to 14 hours of load shedding. In Peshawar, frustrated residents took to the streets to protest against the prolonged electricity outages. Demonstrators blocked Motorway M1, causing significant traffic congestion and long queues of vehicles. The protesters declared they would not clear the road until officials came to negotiate, highlighting that the duration of load shedding had reached unbearable levels. In various regions, residents are grappling with extended power cuts. In Karachi, some areas face load shedding even after midnight, exacerbating the discomfort during the sweltering nights. The situation is similarly dire in Quetta, where the Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO) has increased the duration of load shedding from 8 to 10 hours. In district headquarters such as Turbat, Sibi, Nasirabad, and Jafarabad, residents endure up to 12 hours of power cuts daily. Amid scorching heat season, Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO) has increased the duration of unannounced power cuts, leaving the public to endure hours without electricity during both day and night. The escalating power crisis is causing widespread distress and anger among the populace, demanding immediate and effective solutions from the authorities.
PTI strongly rejects ‘venomous propaganda’ against Khan, PTI ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Reacting to the false propaganda campaign of the mandate-thief regime including Senator Sherry Rehman and its covert and overt supporters, PTI Spokesperson said that if the dreadful events 0f 1971 were haunting Zardari’s followers and political heirs of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, it was not due to Imran Khan or PTI but the role of their political Imam Bhutto. He called dictatorship as the biggest curse of the universe and said that the devotees of dictatorship were making all hue and cries to please the incumbent dictator. PTI Spokesperson stated that there was panic in the stable of dictatorship and the angry mules were trample over each other, adding that Sherry Rehman was dancing on the grave to earn livelihood, who was still carrying a memo of dictatorship in his neck. He pointed out that whenever Bhutto’s political heirs turned their faces towards history, it sent them back red-faced with slaps of facts, adding that Zardari’s followers es-
pecially Sherry who was trying to teach history lessons needed to recall their leader Bhutto’s complicit role in the fall of Dhaka. PTI Spokesperson recalled that PTI Founding Chairman and PTI briefly mentioned the events of the 70s with the purpose to take guidance from history and avoid repeating the painful history that led to disintegration of Pakistan. “If Imran Khan is not a patriot, then there is no patriot in this country, and if Imran Khan is not loyal to Pakistan, then those who swear loyalty to the constitution in the name of Allah and openly flout it are not even close to him,” he added. PTI Spokesperson recalled that Bhutto’s political birth took place in the lap of dictatorship and the case of the crime of dismemberment of Pakistan was registered against him along with others, adding that in lust of power, Bhutto danced to the tunes of one man dictatorship and trampled even democracy and national integrity. He noted that after the clear results of the general elections, Bhutto lied down in front of Yahya Khan and showed willingness to convene
a session of the assembly and to avoid the transfer of power to the elected majority party, besides supporting invasion on Bangladesh. PTI Spokesperson stated that like Sherry and others, then Bhutto and his followers were busy in creating false narratives and shining the boots of dictatorship instead of the supremacy of politics and democracy, adding that just as the PPP did not feel ashamed of facilitating the heinous crime of mandate theft in the last two years, similarly Bhutto thought it appropriate to seize power by tearing the country apart. “It was Bhutto who emblazoned on his chest the odious title of first civil martial law administrator in our national history by pushing Pakistan and its institutions into the worst defeat,” he maintained. PTI Spokesperson recalled that PTI, Imran Khan or its workers had no hand in the biggest crime in history against the country and nation, adding that we do not believe in handing out certificates of treason to any one, nor do we want to impose orders on national and political figures who have left the world.
IN TODAY’S ISSUE
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Shehbaz lambastes PTI founder for defaming military, their families
irfan.farooq@pakistantoday.com.pk
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PM FORMALLY HANDS OVER HIS RESPONSIBILITIES BACK TO PARTY, ACKNOWLEDGES NAWAZ’S RETURN TO LEADERSHIP
LAHORE STAFF REPORT
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday accused former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan of misleading the public and tarnishing the reputation of the military and their families. “Imran Khan, who once bowed before the military, is now misleading people about the Fall of Dhaka. He is defaming the military and their families,” said Shehbaz Sharif stated while addressing the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) General Council meeting held in Lahore on Tuesday. Shehbaz formally handed over his responsibilities back to the party, acknowledging Nawaz Sharif’s return to leadership. “The trust the party placed in me, I now return with gratitude. God has reinstated Nawaz Sharif to his position. Efforts are underway to revive the economy under Maryam Nawaz in Punjab and Nawaz Sharif at the federal level.” He condemned those who conspired against Nawaz Sharif, stating, “The faces of the conspirators are blackened, and Nawaz Sharif stands vindicated. He was unjustly punished in the Panama case with an iqama.” The prime minister also criticised Khan for his comments regarding the military and national tragedies. “Imran Khan, who once sat at the feet of soldiers, is now comparing himself with Mujibur Rehman on the Fall of Dhaka. His remarks in London about our martyrs and veterans are unforgivable. If anyone watches that video, they would want to silence him. These soldiers made their children orphans to save millions of others.” Shehbaz warned of dire consequences if Pakistan’s prosperity does not return. “If Pakistan does not progress, there will be no politicians or judges left. While many judges are patriotic, a few black sheep facilitated Imran Khan’s £190 million corruption. Khan sold gifts and watches. Judges, remember, during Nawaz Sharif’s tenure, there were no easy bails, unlike now.” Shehbaz concluded with a stern message to Khan. “I do not wish to attack you personally, but your actions against the families of Pakistan’s armed forces will not be forgiven by this nation.”
Nawaz fires broadside at Imran after re-election as PML-N president ‘WE ARE OF MAY 28, NOT MAY 9’ LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday fired a broadside at Imran Khan for “what he said” relying on military support for his political ascent, urged Khan to answer “questions” before engaging in a dialogue with the government. “We are of May 28, not May 9. When Bill Clinton offered $5 billion to avoid nuclear tests, we refused and rejected the offer of $5 billion of that time,” former prime minister Nawaz Sharif stated after his reelection as President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Earlier, PML-N’s general council in its meeting elected Nawaz Sharif unopposed as its president, coinciding with the day Pakistan conducted nuclear tests in 1998 during the PML-N’s second term in government. “Imran Khan started his politics on the shoulders of the army. I personally approached him for collaboration, and he agreed, but then planned protests from London with a general, a cleric from Canada, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, and others. Protests began, and I was asked to resign. I said do whatever you want; Nawaz Sharif never resigns,” he remarked while addressing the party’s general council meeting, where Sharif’s presidency was con-
firmed on Tuesday. Sharif quoted former ISI chief General (retd) Zaheerul Islam, saying he had said they tried different parties and allowed a third force, which they thought could deliver. He said and that force appeared in PTI. “Imran Khan should clarify if he was not the third force, then who was?” Challenging Khan, Sharif declared, “If you were not the third force, I promise to retire from politics. Your politics and the ousting of our government were founded with their help. You derailed democracy on their behest. It was during the PTI’s protests in Islamabad where it was said Nawaz Sharif would be dragged out of the PM House with a rope around his neck. This was the umpire’s finger that Imran Khan frequently referred to.” Sharif also vehemently criticised the decision by former chief justice Saqib Nisar, declaring it has been discarded as “trash.” “Saqib Nisar removed me from the party presidency for life. Today, people have thrown his decision into the dustbin. Summon those who declared that Nawaz Sharif would be permanently removed, yet here I stand before you once again,” he stated. Sharif questioned the basis of the verdict against him, citing, “What was the decision against me? Not taking a salary from my son? I did not take a salary from my son; I
did not ask for one from your son either.” Addressing attempts to create rifts between him and his brother, Shehbaz Sharif, Nawaz said, “They tried to drive wedges between Shehbaz and me. Kudos to Shehbaz for not bowing or selling out and standing by his brother. I am proud of him. Shehbaz was told to abandon Nawaz Sharif and become the prime minister, but he refused, saying he would reject any premiership that required betrayal of his brother. He even went to jail but never wavered.”
Nawaz Sharif also praised his daughter, Maryam Nawaz, and his nephew Hamza Shehbaz, for their resilience. “Maryam endured imprisonment and kept the party active, passing every test. Hamza faced jail bravely and did not falter. I witnessed them being taken away in handcuffs. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi also shared my imprisonment and did not complain.” Reflecting on his political journey, Sharif stated, “In 1990, when I formed the government and became prime minister, had there
been no interference, poverty and unemployment would be unheard of today. Compare the prices of goods in 2017 to now.” Nawaz elected unopposed as PML-N president: Earlier, Nawaz Sharif was elected unopposed as the president of PML-N on Tuesday. With the prospect of reinstating party supremo Nawaz as the president, the ruling party had scheduled intra-party elections for Youm-e-Takbeer, coincidentally, the same day Pakistan conducted nuclear tests in 1998 during the PML-N’s second term in government.
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the ‘state slaves’ of a personal dictatorship have left with no choice but to listen to the absurd talks of the ‘refugee clown’. PTI spokesperson pointed out that even after lapse of 30 years of its establishment, the status of PML-N was nothing more than a family limited corporation of Sharifs and their poor children. He said that the cowardly absconder was born politically in the lap of dictatorship and even after lapse of four decades, he was not ready to jump off the lap of personal dictatorship, adding that regime of jungle wanted to target any personality including judges.
PTI spokesperson stated that there was no need to comment on his politics after the decision made by the people through their power of votes on February 8, 2024. He urged that ECP and SC should take notice of the uncontested election of the fugitive and analyze it on the same standards and fairness and transparency criteria on which PTI elections were evaluated. PTI spokesperson made it clear that the nation was watching every action of those enjoying powers at present very carefully and the deviators of the constitution and the law would not spare come what may.
PTI deplores ‘fugitive Nawaz’ for uncontested election, absurd speech STAFF REPORT
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) came down hard on the fugitive imported under malicious London Plot for absurd address and unopposed election and said that the uncontested election of Jati Umra tug has put the Chief Justice of Pakistan and the Chief Election Commissioner to the test. PTI spokesperson said that after the unopposed election of the fugitive, the blind, deaf and dumb march past of the courters on the constitutional avenue. He stated that