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IMF opposes PM KH ASIF HIntS At tArgetIng ttP HIDeoutS Sharif’s power tariff In AFgHAnIStAn unDer AzM-I-ISteHKAM reduction package Friday, 28 June, 2024 I |21 Zil-Hajj, 1445
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ASSURES POLITICAL PARTIES’ CONCERNS ABOUT OPERATION TO BE ADDRESSED ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
EFENCE Minister Khawaja Asif stated that under Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, the government could target terrorist hideouts across the border in Afghanistan. In an interview with Voice of America (VoA) on Thursday, Asif explained that the decision for Operation Azm-eIstehkam was not made hastily. However, he acknowledged a political environment where parties are reluctant to give space to government decisions. He assured that any political parties’ concerns about the operation would be addressed, and the government would bring the matter to the assembly to answer questions and build trust among members. Asif dismissed the possibility of negotiations with the banned TTP, stating, “There is no ground for dialogue.” He questioned the success of the PTI government’s reintegration of 4,000 to 5,000 TTP militants, asking, “If that experi-
ment was successful, let us know so we can follow suit.” He claimed previous operations were successful, with the Pakistan Armed Forces being the main stakeholders then and now. However, he criticised successive civilian governments for failing to play their part post-operation.
PM must take responsibility for ‘subordinate’ agencies: LHC LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday ruled that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif should take responsibility for any insubordination by intelligence agencies under him. “The court will issue a directive that the prime minister of Pakistan (Shehbaz Sharif) take responsibility with regards to ISI and IB,” Justice Karim said, adding that “If anything happens after that, we will directly ask the prime minister.” “The prime minister has to take responsibility, ISI and IB are subordinate to the prime minister,” LHC’s Justice Shahid Karim made the remarks while hearing a case on the alleged threats to a judge of a Sargodha Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) and his harassment by the intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Earlier, former LHC chief justice chief Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan had taken suo moto notice and had issued written order on the initial hearing of the case. However, following Justice Ahmad’s elevation to the Supreme Court, Justice Shahid Karim is presiding over the case. During hearing on Thursday, Justice Karim converted the suo moto notice into a writ petition. He said that he would appoint a prosecutor as well as a judicial assistant in this case. “If we find out who tried to meet the judge, we are ready to investigate him,” the counsel for the federal government said. “Directives would be issued to Punjab IGP that the decision to block the road be taken after consulting the judge”, Justice Karim said, noting that the Punjab IGP should issue directions to all police officers in this regard. Justice Karim further said that all judges of ATC courts should have call recording apps on their phone. “If any such phone call comes, it should be recorded,” he said. On June 13, Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan, the then chief justice of the high court, had summoned Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Anwar and other officials on the complaint. The LHC registrar office had received a special report on June 7 from District & Sessions Judge (DSJ) Muhammad Abbas, wherein he said that on May 25 — the first day of his new charge as Sargodha ATC judge — a message was conveyed to him that some authority of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) wanted to meet him in his chamber.
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XIV No 357 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
DISMISSES ANY POSSIBILITY OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH BANNED TTP
Pakistan ‘decides’ to attend in UN hosted Doha talks on Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has decided to participate in the United Nationshosted talks on Afghanistan in the Qatari capital scheduled for this weekend, according to a private TV channel citing diplomatic sources on Thursday. The report says that Pakistan’s Special Representative on Afghanistan Asif Durrani and Ahmad Naseem Warraich, assistant secretary for West Asia in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will represent Pakistan in the talks. Earlier this month, Taliban authorities also confirmed their participation in the third round of the Doha talks scheduled to start on June 30, a Taliban
spokesperson had told AFP after snubbing an invitation to the previous round. It should be noted that Pakistan has times and again requested the Taliban government to stop cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan into Pakistan by preventing its territory from being used by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other terrorist groups. The diplomatic sources said the Afghan Taliban’s interim government had boycotted the second Doha talks of 2024 over the participation of women and civil society representatives. STAFF REPORT
Khawaja Asif expressed the desire to engage with the opposition and all political parties to ensure the success of Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, informing them
of its contours. He noted that the cabinet had approved the operation, and discussions could take place in the assembly or an all-parties conference.
Govt to bring resolution to counter US motion as ‘show of sovereignty’: Dar
an overwhelming 368-7 vote. The deputy Pm — also the foreign minister — read out the FO’s response to US resolution. He then announced that with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s permission, the government would “bring a resolution to counter this (US) resolution”. “We must show our sovereignty and our unity. We must show that we mean business,” the deputy PM said.
“We can also criticise 50 things over here with regards to other countries. But we refrain; I believe there is mutual dignity and respect in this only that they also reciprocate what we do,” Dar said in a fiery speech on the floor of the lower house of parliament. He stated that the government has taken notice of the US resolution and that a draft resolution was ready, which would be shared with both, the treasury benches and the opposition. The deputy PM stressed the need to “come [together] in unity with a clear resolution against or in response to the US resolution.” He also noted that the resolution would be passed once the 2024-25 budget debate has concluded. Addressing a point brought up by another MNA with regards to overseas Pakistanis being able to vote, he said: “Let’s come together; let’s make a Constitutional amendment.”
elections, not the party, the candidate only shows his affiliation with the party, the candidate has the right to get the symbol for the election,” he added. Thursday’s court session followed Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan’s submission of the government’s written reply to the apex court. The reply opposes the SIC’s plea to allocate reserved seats for women and minorities in the National and provincial assemblies. In the detailed 30-page submission, the government argues that reserved seats for minorities and women should be allocated to political parties that participated in the elections and won at least one seat.
The allocation should be based on the party’s total number of seats won, as stipulated by the law. “Independently elected candidates are counted towards reserved seats for women and non-Muslims only when they join political parties within 3 days of publication of names of the returned candidates in the official Gazette” under Articles 51(6)(d) and (e), as well as 106(3)(c), the AGP’s response read. The SIC neither contested the general elections as a political party nor filed any list of candidates for reserved seats for women and non-Muslims, under Section 104 of the Election Act, 2017, it further stated.
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday declared the government has taken notice of the resolution passed by the US House of Representatives, saying a resolution would be introduced in the National Assembly to counter the US motion regarding democracy in Pakistan. “Draft resolution will be shared with the opposition and treasury benches and both the treasury and opposition benches must show sovereignty and unity to adopt the resolution”, FM Ishaq Dar said while winding up discussion on the cut motions, in the budget session of the Nation Assembly. Dar response comes a day after the US House of Representatives had passed a resolution expressing robust support for democracy in Pakistan by
CJP questions as to why ex-President Alvi had not set polls date on behalf of PTI ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faes Iza has questioned as to why former President Arif Alvi had not set a date for elections on behalf of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) despite being associated with the party. The chief justice made the remark lead a 13-member full court hearing the petition filed by the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) against the denial of reserved seats. Earlier during the hearing, Justice Jamal Mandokhel had stated that it is every candidate’s right to get a symbol in election. “A candidate participates in the
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GLOBAL LENDER RAISES CONCERNS OVER HIDDEN SUBSIDIES AND INCREASED BURDEN ON RESIDENTIAL CONSUMERS PROFIT
MONITORING DESK
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has opposed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Rs200 billion package aimed at reducing the power tariff for industrial consumers by Rs10.69 per unit. The IMF also did not endorse the proposal to impose a wealth tax on all types of assets, including bank balances. As per a news report, the government had proposed a 0.1% wealth tax on all assets, including bank balances and shares, and a 0.5% wealth tax on assets declared in wealth statements by taxpayers. However, the IMF objected to the wealth tax on cash held in bank accounts. The global lender viewed the package as an attempt to provide hidden subsidies to industries while shifting the financial burden to residential consumers. The government has allocated Rs120 billion in the budget to finance the package for the next fiscal year, with plans to recover the remaining amount from residential, commercial, and industrial consumers through fixed electricity charges. Over the weekend, the government shared additional data with the IMF in an attempt to gain approval for the industrial package. This is the second time the IMF has objected to reducing electricity prices for industries. In February, the IMF’s Mission Chief to Pakistan, Nathan Porter, expressed doubts about the circular debt neutrality of the proposed tariff rationalization plan. The package has faced criticism from both the IMF and industrialists. Industrialists argue that it would impose a significant financial burden on large industries with substantial electricity loads, making them vulnerable.
PM directs strategy formulation for stronger economic ties with Azerbaijan ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday instructed the formulation of a comprehensive strategy to strengthen cooperation and trade partnership with Azerbaijan in the fields of economy and investment. Chairing a high-level meeting on enhancing relations with Central Asian States, particularly Azerbaijan, in the areas of economy and investment, the prime minister stated, “Pakistan geographically offers a natural economic corridor to the sea for Central Asian states.” He highlighted the enduring fraternal relations between Pakistan and Azerbaijan, which had spanned decades. He believed that there were significant opportunities for trade and investment between Azerbaijan and Pakistan. “Foreign investment in the country is on the rise due to the government’s business and investment-friendly policies, the prime minister mentioned. The prime minister directed the development of a comprehensive action plan to boost trade efficiency and expand current trade between the two countries. During the meeting, the prime minister was briefed on initiatives aimed at enhancing trade volume, capacity, and trade and investment between Pakistan and Azerbaijan. It was highlighted during the briefing that there was substantial potential for energy cooperation with Azerbaijan, and discussions were ongoing for a preferential trade agreement between both countries. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, along with Minister for Planning and Development & Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister for Privatization and Investment Abdul Aleem Khan, Federal Minister for Power Sardar Owais Khan Leghari, Federal Minister for Petroleum Dr. Musadik Malik, Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Special Assistant to PM Tariq Fatemi, and other senior officials attended the meeting.
Islamabad court upholds Imran, Bushra Bibi’s sentences in Iddat case ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
An Islamabad district and sessions court on Thursday turned down the pleas of former premier Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to suspend their seven-year conviction in the Nikah in Iddat case. Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Afzal Majoka announced the verdict today, which had been reserved on Tuesday. In the detailed verdict, the judge cited older judgment and noted: “It can be said that as convict cannot claim bail as a matter of right even in bailable offence under section 426 [of] CrPC. “Therefore on the same analogy it cannot be said that [a] women convict is entitled to bail under section 426 [of] CrPC like first proviso to sub-section (1) of section 497 [of] CrPC,” it added. “Resume of above discussion is that no ground for suspension of sentence is available to both the petitioners. Accordingly, both the petitions under section 426 [of] CrPC are dismissed,” the order stated.
On February 3 days before the general elections an Islamabad court, while hearing the plea of Bushra Bibi’s ex-husband Khawar Fareed Maneka, had sentenced the couple to seven years in jail and imposed Rs500,000 fine each for contracting marriage during Bushra Bibi’s Iddat period. The verdict had come in the same week the couple had been handed 14-year sentences in the Toshakhana case, and Imran and his foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had received a 10-year sentence in the cypher case. The Toshakhana case sentences had been suspended in April while earlier this month, Imran and Qureshi had also been acquitted in the cipher case. The Iddat conviction was widely criticised by civil society, women activists and lawyers for being a “blow to women’s right to dignity and privacy”. Activists had protested in Islamabad against the verdict while a Karachi demonstration against the “state’s intrusion into people’s private lives” had also denounced it. Previously, District and Sessions Judge
Shahrukh Arjumand was hearing the case and had reserved the verdict in May. However, on the day of its expected announcement, he sought transfer of the case, citing Maneka’s request for recusal from hearing the appeals. Subsequently, the case was transferred to ADSJ Majoka. However, the counsel for Bushra Bibi had filed a petition before the IHC seeking her release on bail and suspension of her sentence. Separately, the Islamabad High Court had ordered the sessions court to decide in 10 days on pleas by PTI founder and his wife. Last week, Maneka’s counsel had repeatedly sought an adjournment in the proceedings but judge Majoka ordered him to conclude his arguments by June 25. The court would then take up the main appeals against Imran and Bushra Bibi’s convictions, which it has been ordered by the IHC to do by July 13. A petition filed by Bushra Bibi’s counsel seeking her release on bail and suspension is also pending before the IHC, with notices issued to the complainant and prosecution.
PTI to appeal court decision
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced its intention to appeal against a recent district and sessions court ruling that upheld the sentences of the party’s founder, Imran Khan, and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in a contentious legal matter. In this regard, PTI’s Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan on Thursday criticized the court’s decision as “absolutely ridiculous” and accused the judicial process of being influenced by political agendas. “We will immediately take this verdict to the high
court,” he declared outside the Islamabad court. Ayub expressed his dismay at the politicization of personal matters and emphasized the party’s stance of not engaging in discussions with the government until Khan and other detained party leaders are released. The decision by Additional Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka, which was made on Tuesday, rejected the couple’s request for suspension of their seven-year prison sentences. These sentences were handed down in February after they were convicted of engaging in a fraudulent marriage
arrangement, based on allegations from Bushra’s former husband, Khawar Maneka. The case against Khan and Bushra Bibi is scheduled for another hearing on July 2, where their primary plea for annulment of the conviction will be considered. Imran Khan, who is currently held at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, had hoped for a release following a favourable judgement. Despite being cleared in other legal matters, including the Toshakhana and cipher cases, and being granted bail related to disturbances on May 9, Khan remains incarcerated.S TAFF REPORT