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PM URGES SCO MEMBERS FOR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS AGAINST TERRORISM, POVERTY, ISRAELI BARBARISM Friday, 5 July, 2024 I |28 Zil-Hajj, 1445
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 5 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
g TERMS TERRORISM AS A MAJOR CONCERN FOR MEMBER STATES, SAYS CPEC SUPPLEMENTED SCO VISION OF REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY, ECONOMIC INTEGRATION CALLING FOR ‘MEANINGFUL’ ENGAGEMENT WITH AFGHAN INTERIM GOVT
Pakistan to pursue anti terrorism, multilateralism goals during UNSC term: PM
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to SCO objectives of peace and prosperity, urged the member states to put in their collective efforts against terrorism, poverty alleviation and dispute resolution, particularly the ongoing Israeli barbarism in Palestine. “I reaffirm Pakistan’s commitment to working together to strengthen SCO as an active and integrated regional forum to achieve the common objective of peace and prosperity in line with the Shanghai spirit, the prime minister said addressing while the 24th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which commenced here in the capital city of Kazakhstan. Titled “Strengthening Multilateral Dialogue – Striving Towards a Sustainable Peace and Prosperity”, the summit is being attended by leaders from Pakistan, China, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkiye, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, India and others. PM Shahbaz arrived in Kazakhstan’s capital of Astana on Wednesday for a twoday official visit, representing Pakistan at the SCO meetings where leaders and diplomats from countries including China, India, Turkiye, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Kyrgyzstan have gathered to discuss economic and security cooperation. The prime minister address encompassed all major regional and international issues, including terrorism and extremism, Islamophobia, instability in Afghanistan, poverty, climate change, regional connectivity, and resolution of disputes. The prime minister said that Astana held
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significance for Pakistan where the country had formally joined the SCO in 2017 and congratulated Belarus for being the newest member. He also felicitated Chinese President Xi Jinping on assuming the SCO chairmanship for 2024-25 and expressed confidence that under his visionary leadership, the SCO would continue to grow and prosper. He told the international gathering that Pakistan aligned itself with socioeconomic and security objectives of the SCO as the country’s association with the Organization went back centuries. He said during 23 years, the SCO had established itself as a credible and effective transregional organization. He said contemporary realities of globalization and interdependence necessitated working together and joining hands for a secure, peaceful and prosperous future for our people. SCO leaders have repeatedly under-
Terrorist commander killed, 7 others injured during Diamer IBO: GB interior minister ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
A high-profile terrorist was killed on Thursday, while seven other people were injured during an hours-long shootout operation conducted by security forces in Diamer, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), officials said. GB’s Interior Minister Shams Lone confirmed the killing of the terrorist commander, saying an accomplice of the terrorist was injured in the shootout. “Terrorist commander Shah Faisal was killed during an intelligence-based security operation in Darel district of GB and his accomplice, Zahidullah, was injured,” Lone said. He added that a young girl, an elderly man, and four GB Scouts were also injured during the exchange of fire, while another terrorist is still at large and is being pursued. It is to be noted that the security forces have intensified its operations nationwide in response to an increasing militant threat. Although the affiliation of the killed terrorist remains unknown, the majority of attacks in the country’s northern areas, especially near the Afghanistan border, are typically executed by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). According to the GB interior minister, the slain terrorist had masterminded a bus attack in Chilas last December, killing eight and injuring 18. However, according to a Dawn report, the death toll of the incident was nine, while 21 others were injured. Officials said unknown gunmen had targeted the bus, operated by a local private company, from nearby hills which caused the vehicle to swerve into a goods truck, causing a head-on collision which also killed the truck driver. A day after the incident, Diamer police had arrested six suspects in connection with the attack, which Lone had termed terrorism. GB government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq informed the media that security has been put on high alert at the Karakoram Highway (KKH) and Gilgit city.
scored the importance of investing in connectivity in the SCO region through transport corridors and reliable supply chains… Promoting use of national currencies within SCO can help avoid international financial shock. Pakistan supports the proposal of an SCO alternate development fund mechanism to give impetus to various stalled initiatives, he remarked. Highlighting Pakistan’s ideal geostrategic location, the prime minister said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) – a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) – also supplemented the SCO vision of regional connectivity and economic integration. Coming to the climate change challenge, he called for a collective and urgent global response and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to working for a sustainable and nature-positive world. He told the gathering of SCO leaders
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday calling effective multilateralism a key to addressing regional and global challenges reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to just and peaceful resolution of outstanding and ongoing disputes, opposing unilateral and illegal use of threats or force and combating terrorism. The prime minister, addressing the summit of SCO Plus format said during its 2025-26 term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, “Pakistan will remain committed to pursuing just and peaceful resolution of outstanding and ongoing disputes, opposing resort to unilateral and illegal use of threats or force, combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and advancing SCO agenda in partnership with member states.” The SCO Plus format meeting was held on the sidelines of the 24th summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at the Palace of Independence in the capital city of Kazakhstan. The prime minister told the gathering that the rise in political and military conflicts across the globe and consequent hike in energy and food prices worsened the postCOVID recession seriously affecting the
SC suspends LHC decision, ECP notification on tribunals’ formation ISLAMABAD
member states ability to address poverty. He said Pakistan would do its utmost to provide impetus to raise the living standards of people in the SCO member states.
Pakistan to host SCO Heads of Govts summit in October: FO ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday suspended the decision of the Lahore High Court (LHC) and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) notification regarding the establishment of election tribunals in Punjab. Besides, the apex court also dismissed PTI leader Niazullah Niazi’s objection to the inclusion of Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa in the bench hearing the case on the formation of election tribunal. A five-member larger bench, headed by Chief Justice Isa, heard the Election Commission’s appeal against the Lahore High Court’s decision on forming election tribunals. The hearing, however, commenced with a heated exchange between CJ Isa and PTI lawyer Niazullah Niazi. Niazi objected to the inclusion of the CJ in the bench, a motion swiftly dismissed by Chief Justice Isa. “Why not refer Niazullah Niazi’s case to the Pakistan Bar Council? Are we here to be insulted? Enough is enough,” CJ Isa remarked adding, “We are aware of your political affiliations and will not tolerate continued contempt of the judiciary. This must end.” CJ Isa emphasised that the authority to form benches now lies with the Practice and Procedure Committee, marking an end to the era when the CJ had that prerogative.
that complex global and regional challenges could be best addressed through effective multilateralism within the UN framework. He said Pakistan brought to UNSC its rich experience and expertise and strong legacy of contributions towards the maintenance of peace and security. He congratulated President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for holding the SCO summit and expressed the hope that the Astana Declaration and other documents adopted at the event would go a long way in strengthening efforts for the objectives of peace and prosperity. Highlighting the increased incitement to hatred and discrimination based on race and religion, in particular Islamophobia, climate-induced disasters and post-COVID 19 impacts on the countries, he said the challenges necessitated unity of thought and action, upholding the value of peaceful coexistence, resolving disputes, and reposing confidence in multilateralism. He also drew attention to the unprecedented sufferings of Palestinian people including the killing of over 37,000 people and displacement of millions others.
STAFF REPORT
Niazi, alluding to Imran Khan, stated, “The one in jail objects that his election symbol was taken away.” In response, CJ remarked, “We provided video link facilities from jail, and no objections were raised at that time. Ali Zafar did not raise any objections in the intra-party election case either. This defamation of institutions must stop. Headlines in newspapers question how the bench was formed. The era of popular decisions is over; now, the committee has the authority to form benches.” Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail further added, “Courts do not operate based on public wishes.” CJ Isa then asked the ECP lawyer regarding how many tribunals were needed. The lawyer replied, “We need nine judges. We have no objection to consultations, but there should
be a balance between dictation and consultation.” Justice Aqeel Abbasi inquired about the meaning of balance, suggesting that two judges could be chosen by the ECP and two by the High Court. The lawyer emphasized the need for meaningful consultation and requested the suspension of the High Court’s decision to facilitate this process. The Supreme Court suspended both the Lahore High Court’s single bench decision to form eight election tribunals and the ECP’s notification dated April 26. The court ordered that meaningful consultations between the CJ of the LHC and the Election Commissioner take place following the appointment of the new Chief Justice. The SC then adjourned the hearing for an infinite period.
Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch on Thursday revealed that Pakistan will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Heads of Governments meeting in October this year. Speaking during her weekly press briefing here on Thursday, she stated that before the October summit, there would be a ministerial meeting and multiple rounds of senior officials meetings to concentrate on fostering cooperation in finance, economics, sociocultural affairs and humanitarian efforts among SCO member countries. Mumtaz Zahra Baloch highlighted that 2024 marks a significant juncture in Pakistan’s relationship with the SCO, with Pakistan assuming the rotational Chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG), the organization’s second most critical decision-making body. She informed the media that Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and senior cabinet members recently visited Kazakhstan for the SCO Council of Heads of State and SCO Plus Summits in Kazakhstan and also Tajikistan to a bilateral visit. During the SCO Summit in Astana, the prime minister also participated in the inaugural Pakistan-AzerbaijanTurkey Trilateral Summit. In Dushanbe, the focus of his meetings was enhancing comprehensive cooperation between Pakistan and Tajikistan on regional and global issues of mutual interest. During the visit, Pakistan and Tajikistan signed the Strategic Partnership Agreement, which includes scheduled high-level dialogues involving leaders and Foreign Ministers. She said the government has allowed medical students from Gaza to complete their medical education in Pakistan. The decision was made on the directions of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar by the Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC) to enable Gaza students to continue their medical education in Pakistan on humanitarian grounds.
PTI demands immediate release of Imran in light of UN Group’s recommendations ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) demanded the immediate and unconditionally release of PTI Founding Chairman Imran Khan from unlawful detention in the light of the recommendations of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. PTI Spokesperson stated that the UN Secretary-General also completely endorsed the Working Group’s demands for the instant release of Imran Khan. He stressed that PTI Chairman-for-life should be fully compensated in light of the UN Working Group’s recommendations, as it declared that the motives behind his illegal arrest were completely and purely political aimed at keeping him out of the electoral race. PTI Spokesperson went on to say that Imran Khan was arrested without any legal justification in the cipher and Toshakhana cases, which was clearly reflective from every voice being raised from around the world. He pleaded that the mandate thieves fraudulently imposed on the nation were
hell-bent on damaging and spoiling Pakistan’s relations with the world just to keep Imran Khan in prison. PTI Spokesperson warned that the incumbent government devoid of public mandate was compounding difficulties for the
country at international level due to its failure to take the UN Working Group’s recommendations seriously. He highlighted that all 203 cases framed against Imran Khan were false, frivolous, concocted and politically motivated that was the reason he had been honorably acquitted in dozens of such bogus cases, as even the unconstitutional sentences handed down in the politically-motivated fake Toshakhana and cipher cases had also been suspended by the courts. PTI Spokesperson recalled that earlier, over 97 percent of the members of the US House of Representatives had passed a very important and extraordinary resolution against the grievous and very serious violations of human rights, political revenge, rampant lawlessness and the worst elections theft in Pakistan. He said that the non-elected government and mandate usurpers would be responsible for any further damage to the country’s reputation and dignity at the international level caused by keeping Khan in unjust imprisonment for their personal interests.
– rejects power tariff hike as economic murder ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Spokesperson on Thursday vehemently rejected the recent power tariff increase of Rs 5.72 per unit, calling it an economic murder of the poverty-stricken and inflation-weary masses. Reacting to the federal cabinet’s approval of the hike in the basic tariff of electricity, the PTI Spokesperson denounced the exorbitant increase, stating that it would further compound the woes of the people. He criticized the government, labeling it as a “mandate-thief” and an “anti-people regime” determined to economically murder the populace. The PTI Spokesperson highlighted that after the passage of the tax-
laden budget, the excessive surge in electricity prices would not only affect the purchasing power of the people but also ruin the domestic economy. He emphasized that the government, which lacked public mandate, was unfairly targeting and burdening the middle class and the salaried class while providing every possible relief to the elite and privileged class. The PTI Spokesperson asserted that it was impossible to safeguard and protect the interests of the country and its people until the return of power from the non-representative mandate-thief government to the people. He demanded that the government bring the per unit price of electricity back to the level of April 2022 to provide some respite to the inflation-stricken masses.