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WE ARE WELL AWARE OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITS, SAYS COAS
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Friday, 3 May, 2024 I |24 Shawwal, 1445
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SAYS TRUTH IS POWERFUL WHILE FALSEHOOD CAN NEVER BE POWERFUL
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RISALPUR/RAWALPINDI
VOWS PAKISTAN TO CONTINUE PROVIDING MORAL, POLITICAL AND DIPLOMATIC SUPPORT TO KASHMIRI BRETHREN
STAFF REPORT
HIEF of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir on Thursday said that the military was “well aware” of its constitutional limits and expected others to uphold the Constitution. Addressing the passing-out parade of cadets at Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Asghar Khan Academy in Risalpur as the chief guest, he said, “We are well aware of our constitutional limits and expect others to uphold the Constitution.” Noting that Article 19 of the Constitution “clearly defines the limits of freedom of speech and expression of opinion”, the army chief said, “Those, who flout the clear restrictions imposed on freedom of expression in the Constitution, cannot point fingers at others.” Gen Munir highlighted that the PAF had always lived up to the expectations of the nation. He noted that without a strong air force, a country was at the mercy of any aggressor. The army chief lauded the PAF for patrolling the airspace in all kinds of difficulties with “unparalleled bravery and professionalism”, terming the shooting down of Indian aircraft for violating airspace in February 2019 as a great example of the same. Addressing the cadets, he said, “You are the centre of our hopes, the guardian
of the skies and the guarantors of regional unity.” COAS Munir said that the cadets were expected to “lead a life adorned with the virtues of character, courage and competence”, adding that their “conduct would not only be extraordinary for their personal ethics but also for the respected institution”. “You will never hesitate to give sacrifice for the defence, honour and dignity of the motherland,” the army chief stated. He emphasised that the military leadership expected the cadets to “always uphold our nation’s best spirit, the professional expertise of the institution and the eternal tradition of bravery”. “Always remember that the truth is
Pakistan prepares for IMF’s next bailout programme g
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FUND'S TEAM TO SPEND TWO WEEKS IN PAKISTAN, FOCUSING ON MACROECONOMIC AND FISCAL FRAMEWORK FOR NEXT 3-4 YEARS PROFIT
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An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team will visit Pakistan to finalize a $6 to $8 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) bailout programme in mid-May. The team, that is to spend around two weeks in the country, will outline the Pakistan’s macroeconomic and fiscal framework for the next three to four years. Pakistan plans to present its 2024-25 budget in early June, possibly including stringent measures for fiscal stabilisation. This follows Pakistan’s formal request to the IMF last month, with discussions expected to determine the program’s size and timeframe. IMF’s support for Pakistan’s reforms, emphasized by IMF officials, aligns with efforts to accelerate reforms and ensure growth potential. Recent engagements, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s meeting with IMF’s Georgieva, highlight Pakistan’s proactive approach. Fiscal measures, such as considering pensions in the tax net, reflect broader strategies for fiscal sustainability. The IMF’s proposals, likely to include taxation measures and expenditure curtailment, will be crucial for Pakistan’s fiscal consolidation. Pakistan may request augmentation through climate finance, similar to Bangladesh, and Egypt’s recent program size increase to $8 billion sets a precedent. Overall, the upcoming discussions signify a crucial phase for Pakistan’s economic trajectory, emphasizing fiscal stability, reforms, and strategic financial partnerships for resilient growth.
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powerful while falsehood can never be powerful,” Gen Munir stated. “Be like Rashid Minhas, Sarfraz Rafiqui and M.M. Alam who presented their services and lives for the protection of the homeland’s dignity,” he added. “Remain committed to the responsibility being given to you and remain loyal to the state of Pakistan,” the COAS said. Gen Munir highlighted that the arms race posed a risk of disturbing the region’s balance of power. “Specific technologies, including artificial intelligence, robotics and quantum computing, are changing the use of air power as well as expanding its scope,” he noted. On the ongoing Israeli offensive on
Gaza, which has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, the army chief said the conflict was the “latest example of the sufferings that wars can bring”. He said the indiscriminate killing of elderly people, women and children in Gaza was proof that violence was rising in the world. About India-occupied Kashmir, COAS Munir asserted that India had maintained its illegal occupation of the region. He said the “silence of the entire world about the ongoing Indian aggression in Kashmir cannot suppress the voice of freedom there”. The army chief vowed that Pakistan would continue to provide “moral, political and diplomatic support to our Kashmir brothers”. PAF RISALPUR ACADEMY The Pakistan Air Force Academy Asghar Khan is an accredited three-year military academy that provides undergraduate education to officer candidates for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). The academy was created in 1910 and was a former airfield of the Royal Flying Corps and later the Royal Air Force. It officially became the airfield of the PAF on 15 August 1947. On 13 April 1948, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah elevated the school’s status to that of a flying college. On 21 January 1967, the college was upgraded to the status of an academy by former president Ayub Khan.
PM credits PDM govt’s tireless efforts for decrease in inflation ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday that downward trend in inflation is the sign of economic improvement and a welcoming news for the masses, saying the development was outcome of the efforts of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) led 16-month government which was carried forward by the interim government. As per a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday, the premier said: “Reduction in inflation is the first goal and with the grace of Allah, people will get more relief in economic activities.” According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the pace of price increases decelerated to 17.3% in April compared to the same period the previous year, marking the lowest rate in two years and nearing the point from which prices initially surged. Moreover, the decline in inflation surpassed projections from the Ministry of Finance, which had estimated a range of 18.5 to 19.5 per cent. This marked the fourth consecutive month of downward trajectory in inflation rates. The Premier continued that that the recent reduction in petrol prices will also give relief to the people, adding that the prices of oil have come down in the global market. Shehbaz directed provincial governments to ensure reduction in prices of daily-use items commen-
surate with reduction in petroleum prices and enforce official food item prices. “By the grace of Allah, by continuing in this direction, the lives of the people will improve further,” he maintained, adding that his government is leaving no stone unturned in trying to get maximum relief to the people at the earliest. Notably, food inflation decelerated in both urban and rural areas, with urban centers experiencing a notable slowdown to 11.3 per cent and rural areas dipping below the single-digit mark to 9.7 per cent, according to the PBS. However, core inflation, excluding energy and food items, marginally increased to 13.1 per cent in urban areas but dropped below 20 per cent in rural regions. This represents an approximate 6 per cent reduction compared to policy rates. Despite these developments, double-digit price hikes persisted across all commodity groups ex-
cept for alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and perishable foods. Nonperishable goods saw a single-digit increase at 9.7 per cent, while perishable goods inflation remained below 7 per cent. The decline in wheat product prices by 10.5 per cent and wheat by 9.7 per cent in April was attributed to sales below the minimum wheat support price of Rs3,900 per 40 kg. However, the decision to allow wheat imports by the caretaker government was criticised for benefiting urban consumers while disadvantaging farmers. Until the end of May, the private sector imported 3.5 million metric tons of wheat amounting to $1.1 billion. Despite the overall decrease, the average inflation rate remained slightly below 26 per cent, surpassing the annual inflation target of 21 per cent. The IMF, in response to the slowing inflation rate projected at 12.7 per cent for the next fiscal year, continues to advocate for high interest rates in Pakistan.
Pakistan won’t provide military bases to any foreign country: FO ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan on Thursday categorically rejected the possibility of providing military bases to any foreign government, with the Foreign Ministry declaring that the country has no plans to offer bases to any foreign government or military directed against anyone. “These speculations are completely unfounded and there is no truth in it. We reject it and there is absolutely no basis for these social media speculations,” Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch while addressing her weekly briefing in Islamabad on Thursday. The FO said that Pakistan has good relations with both the US as well as Iran and will take forward ties with these countries keeping in view our national interest. She said the PakistanChina-Iran tripartite talks are very important though no date has yet been set for this dialogue. The Foreign Office reiterated that the ongoing Indian campaign of attacking and seizing the properties of the Kashmiris in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) was destined to fail, just like its colonial strategies and harsh statements. “Pakistan strongly condemns India’s continued campaign of attacking and seizing the properties of Kashmiris in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The reality is that the harsh statements and colonial strategies have been unsuccessful in quelling the determination of Kashmiris for freedom, and these measures are destined to face similar outcomes in the future,” Mumtaz Baloch said. She reiterated Pakistan’s determination to continue to extending political, diplomatic, and moral support to Kashmiris for the just and peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council’s resolutions. As different parts of the IIOJK recently witnessed heavy rains, flash floods, and landslides, resulting in loss of life and property, the spokesperson expressed sympathies with the victims of these national calamities and prayed for the eternal peace of the deceased and wished speedy recovery to the injured. Apprising the media of the ongoing visit of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to The Gambia to attend the Council of Foreign Ministers and the OIC Summit, the spokesperson said that at the Summit, Pakistan would highlight the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the right to self-determination of Kashmiris people, the imperatives of solidarity and unity of the Muslim Ummah, rising Islamophobia, issues of climate change, terrorism, and other contemporary global challenges. On the sidelines, the deputy prime minister and foreign minister would hold bilateral meetings with leaders and foreign ministers participating in the summit. Pakistan will also underline the need to find collective solutions to challenges confronting Muslim Ummah, she added. Highlighting other diplomatic engagements during the previous week, she informed the media of the visit of US Undersecretary for Political Affairs John Bass and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Elizabeth Horst to Pakistan and their meeting with Acting Foreign Secretary Ambassador Rahim Hayat Qureshi. Two sides discussed various aspects of bilateral cooperation and underscored the importance of sustained engagement through various dialogue processes, including areas of trade, investment, energy, health, education, agriculture, and climate change. Pakistan will continue to engage with the United States to enhance bilateral cooperation and understanding, the spokesperson remarked. Commenting on the Gaza situation, Spokesperson Baloch said the Israeli occupation forces continued to take illegal steps in the West Bank in violation of international law. “Pakistan strongly condemns the rising violations of human rights by Israel and the increasing number of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Israel’s actions constitute a breach of international law, including humanitarian laws and United Nations and OIC resolutions. These acts also undermine any prospects of a two-state solution,” she remarked. She called for the international community’s efforts to prevent Israel from committing the egregious crimes in Palestine and the UN Security Council to impose an immediate prominent ceasefire, urge Israel to lift the siege of Gaza, facilitate humanitarian assistance, protect the civilians, and hold the perpetrators of the genocide accountable. Reiterating Pakistan’s full support to the people of Palestine, she called for the establishment of an independent, viable, and contiguous Palestinian state with pre-1967 borders and Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
PTI issues whitepaper on ‘mega polls robbery’ in GE-24 ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Presenting a pathway towards true democracy and political and economic stability in the country, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) demanded the formation of a judicial commission to probe the “mother of all riggings” took place in the general elections 2024 to give power to the true public representatives i.e., PTI, besides seeking resignation from Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) for conducting the most controversial elections in Pakistan’s history. PTI leadership has issued a whitepaper on the mega polls robbery in the general elections of 2024, spanning from the pre-poll phase to the culmination in the government Official Gazette Notification, exposing the corrupt practices including alteration of final results through fudging, forgery, and manipulation of Form-47. Speaking at the press conference along with PTI Secretary General and Opposition Leader in National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan and Leader of the Opposition in Senate Shibli Faraz along with Brigadier Musaddiq
Abbasi, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said that the press conference was on one-point agenda and that’s mega elections rigging took place in general elections 2024. PTI Chairman stated that PTI’s whitepaper based on irrefutable facts, wherein it was visibly showed that PTI’s candidates’ clear victory was converted into defeat. He demanded that the Supreme Court (SC) should act immediately to reclaim the stolen mandate of the public at large, based on the results recorded in Form-45 and should fix their long-pending petition for hearing without any further delay. In this regard, he demanded that an independent judicial commission should be established to thoroughly investigate the entire electoral process, identifying those involved in acts of social injustice, corruption, and fraudulent practices that undermine the public mandate. Moreover, Gohar stressed that the JC should also be tasked with recommending necessary electoral reforms aimed at enhancing transparency, promoting fair play, and ensuring meritocracy within the electoral system with the purpose to minimize oppor-
tunities for manipulation, drawing inspiration from the practices observed in developed democratic countries. PTI Chairman stated that PTI secured 180 seats in the National Assembly as per form 45 despite the fact that Imran Khan had been jailed in flimsy and baseless and politically-motivated cases. PTI Chairman stated that all national and international media and neutral elections observers admitted the glaring rigging and tampering of elections’ results. He said that PTI filed petitions regarding reserved seats, demanding ECP to quickly decide their petitions, as PTI filed 158 petitions across the country. Gohar recalled that different coercive tactics and steps were taken to influence the general elections as PTI was deprived of a level playing field, nominations papers of PTI’s candidates were rejected on flimsy grounds, besides snatching the party electoral symbol to create problems for voters to identify PTI’s nominees. He stated that all these nefarious plots did not work, as the people recognized the PTI-backed candidates’ symbols and voted
them in massive scale. However, PTI Chairman lamented that the results were not consolidated on the basis of form-45 and tampered the results. ‘CEC should resign immediately for undermining people’s mandate’ Speaking on the occasion, Omar Ayub
Khan demanded that CEC should resign immediately for allegedly acting as a facilitator in undermining the people’s mandate and conducting the most controversial elections in Pakistan’s history, who openly betrayed the public trust by converting PTI’s rival 100 votes into 1,000 through tampering results.