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PM VOWS TO CRUSH PAKISTAN’S ENEMIES THROUGH COLLECTIVE EFFORTS Saturday, 31 August, 2024 I | 25 Safar, 1446
SAYS ARMY, LEAS TO MAKE TERRORISTS AN EXAMPLE TO ACCOMPLISH JOURNEY OF PROGRESS
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ISLAMABAD
SAYS BALOCHISTAN GOVT, POLITICAL LEADERSHIP IN UNISON NOT TO HOLD TALKS WITH ANTI-STATE ELEMENTS
STAFF REPORT
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday vowed that the government as well as the armed forces would collectively make the terrorists an example to accomplish the journey of the country’s progress and prosperity. “This is for sure, the armed forces and the law enforcement agencies will collectively make them (terrorists) an example of. Without this, the country’s journey of progress and prosperity cannot be accomplished. We have unity of thought and action on this,” he remarked addressing the meeting of the federal cabinet chaired by him here. Referring to his Thursday visit to Quetta, the prime minister said that the provincial government and the political leaders unanimously viewed that any talks with the anti-state elements were out of the question. He said the family members of the martyrs he interacted with during his visit, were in high morale despite losing their dear ones in the terrorist incident. Prime Minister Shehbaz said the federal government would implement the proposals put forward by the provincial political leaders during his visit. He told the cabinet members that during the visit, the Quetta Corps Commander gave a presentation on challenges faced by Balochistan and how the terrorists, funded by foreign forces, were sowing hatred against Pakistan among the people. He said the civilian government was also taking effective measures for the youth’s uplift. Besides, the officers and the person-
nel of the armed forces were chasing the terrorists with the federal government’s support, he said, and assured the federal government’s support for the capacity building of Levies. He told the meeting that both federal
and provincial governments were taking measures to engage the youth and protect them from being detracted by the antistate elements. He said a 10% additional quota had been allocated for Balochistan in the schemes like laptops and agricul-
tural training in China. Besides, the federal government would spend Rs55 billion to solarise agricultural tube wells in Balochistan. The prime minister said that Moody’s has recently upgraded Pakistan’s rating to indicate the country’s improving economic condition. “This is a long journey. This yet needs more concerted efforts to improve the economy. The whole nation, including the provincial governments, are united on this,” he said. Prime Minister Shehbaz said that the federal government would soon unveil its five-year Home Grown Economic Revival Plan aimed at boosting exports, agriculture, industry, youth’s uplift, skill and vocational training. “We have to take this journey ahead. The nations who work hard and face challenges resolutely achieve excellence. Pakistan will soon achieve economic independence and emerge as an economic power as there is no other way out,” he added.
Federal cabinet green-lights talks with China for major ML-1 railway project ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The federal cabinet has given greenlight to initiate negotiations with Chinese authorities on the Financial Commitment Agreement between Pakistan Railways and China, aiming to upgrade the long-anticipated Mainline1 (ML-1) project – a key project of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Heavy rains triggered incidents claim 68 lives in KP: NDMA ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR SALEEM JADOON
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During a cabinet meeting in Islamabad on Friday chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, it was decided that the final agreement for this advanced railway project would be brought back to the cabinet for approval. The ML-1 project, a key infrastructure development initiative, is set to proceed following the federal government’s approval of the annual budget plan for 2024-25 in June, which marked the beginning of CPEC’s second phase.
The government’s focus under this plan includes enhancing bilateral cooperation across various sectors such as industrial development, agricultural modernisation, socioeconomic growth, scientific research, infrastructure, and energy. Spanning 1,726 kilometres, the ML-1 railway project will be executed in three phases. Upon completion, it is expected to significantly boost Pakistan’s logistics capabilities.
Political leadership, not military capable of uniting people: Imran RAWALPINDI
STAFF REPORT
The recent heavy monsoon rains have caused huge losses and claimed 68 lives in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The province has experienced heavy rainfall over the past four days, with thunderstorms predicted for most of the plains and upper districts, including Peshawar. The continuous rain over the last two days in Peshawar and the surrounding areas has brought a noticeable change in the weather, with cloudy skies and cooler temperatures. Bannu witnessed heavy rainfall yesterday, and the past three days have seen significant rain in Mardan, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi, and parts of the Malakand Division. The NDMA’s report on the impact of the rains indicates that since the beginning of the monsoon season, 68 people have lost their lives in various incidents, including wall and roof collapses. Additionally, 786 homes have been damaged, with over 200 completely destroyed and the remainder partially affected. The majority of the fatalities are children, with 32 recorded deaths, while the rest include women and men. The report also states that 117 people have been injured as a result of the ongoing heavy rains. Meanwhile, flash floods in the tourist region of Kumrat have caused extensive damage, destroying hotels, restaurants, local homes, and crops. The main road leading to Kumrat was washed away at the Brekot point, cutting off access to the area. Additionally, the connecting bridges at Makrala and Thal were also swept away by the floods. According to Tehsil Nazim Kalkot, Zia-ur-Rehman, hundreds of tourists and vehicles are stranded in Kumrat. He has appealed to the provincial government for assistance in rescue and recovery efforts.
Incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan on Friday asserted that only political parties can unite the people, not the military. “Had the military could unite the people, we would not have lost East Pakistan,” he remarked while talking to journalists in Adiala jail on Friday. “PTI is the only party capable of bringing the nation together”, he boasted, expressing his concern about the country’s economic situation, describing it as the greatest challenge facing Pakistan. “I heard earlier that investment in the country was at its lowest in 50 years, but now I’ve learned that this year it’s at the lowest in history”. “The nation’s income is dwindling, debts are rising, and the country is heading towards destruction,” he stated, blaming political instability and growing terrorism for the worsening economy. Imran criticised the February elections, calling them fraudulent and responsible for the ongoing political instability. “On one hand, they blame us for the rise in terrorism due to our settlement plans, and now they claim it’s due to cross-border terrorism,” he said. He questioned who would invest in a country plagued by terrorism from the TTP, criminals in Kacha, and insurgency in Balochistan, while secret agencies
are focused on dismantling PTI. Imran warned of the growing threat of provincialism in Pakistan, pointing to protests in Punjab over terrorism in Balochistan. “PTI is the only federal party; the rest are regional. If PML-N and PPP stop honouring the boots, they will be finished,” he remarked, adding that PTI is the only party present in all four provinces and capable of uniting the nation. He expressed concern that the only federal party in the country is being weakened. “Those making these decisions have no concern for the country. Given the current situation in Balochistan, our efforts should be directed towards bringing the Baloch people on board,” he said. Imran also addressed the recent postponement of the Islamabad rally, noting that it had angered party workers. “Other parties are holding ral-
lies, but we weren’t allowed a single one. We postponed the rally out of concern for the nation, to prevent further chaos,” he explained. He made it clear that there is no place in PTI for those who left the party during difficult times. “I know who abandoned us during bad times. There are very few who left the party out of necessity. Those who were active during good times but left during hardships have no place with us,” Imran stated. Imran also indicated that he would not take back those who left the party easily. “I won’t name anyone, but those who simply walked away from the party won’t be taken back. However, those who endured hardships and remained loyal will have a better decision made in their favour,” he assured. Imran criticised the lack of a fair trial in his case, saying, “Fair trial is my right, but here it’s being torn to shreds”.
PM Shehbaz, Maulana Fazl discuss key political issues ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
In an interesting move, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday visited the residence of President of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman and held dialogue on key political issues. The meeting comes on the heels of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s meeting with the Maulana who is estranged partner of the ruling PML-N. Source say that PM’s meeting was aimed at winning Maulana Fazl’s support for the federal government’s plan to table a Constitutional Amendment. However, there was no official word on the outcome of the meeting. Maulana Fazlur Rehman warmly welcomed the prime minister. The prime minister expressed best wishes for Maulana Fazlur Rehman. During the meeting, the two sides discussed overall political situation of the country. PM Shehbaz Sharif was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Interior Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi and Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar.
12 members family killed as mudslide buries house in Upper Dir SWAT/DIR
SYED SHAHABUDDIN
At least 12 members of the same family, including nine children, were killed in their sleep early Friday morning when heavy rain-triggered mudslide buried their house in the Patrak area of Maidan tehsil in Dir Upper district. Women and children were among the dead and all the bodies have been recovered during the rescue operation, Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Ahmad Faizi confirmed. He said that the main highway leading to Kumrat and the link bridge was also washed away by the River Swat deluge after the Kohistan cloudburst. The Rescue 1122 spokesman said that heavy rain triggered a mudslide fell over the house of a local Wali Muhammad in Patrak area of Kumrat valley. Resultantly, the roof of the house collapsed, burying 12 members of the same family under the debris. Due to the darkness of the night and heavy rain, the local people and the rescue personnel faced difficulties in the rescue operations. Still, despite this, the rescue operations continued and with the help of dozens of local people, the rescue personnel completed the operation in the morning and recovered the dead bodies of three women, two men, and seven children. “Civil Defence, Police and Dir Levies personnel also took part in the operation,” he added. Among those who died were: Naushad’s wife and their four children, Summaya, Yaman Bibi, Taib and Umair Ahmed; Khan Badshah’s wife and their three children – Taqweeb Bibi, Saad, Zohan; Wali Rehman’s wife and daughter, Dua and Nasr Ali son of Wali Muhammad. District Police Officer (DPO) Waqar Ahmed also confirmed the incident and identified the deceased as Noshad Khan, Khan Bacha, Wali Rehman, their respective wives, and their children aged three to 22 years. Heavy rain has lashed parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa all month, including the Malakand and Hazara division, where river flow has also increased. Floods have swept away the main bridge connecting Mansehra and Naran. Recently, a steel bridge was installed for connectivity with Babusar. On the other hand, the link bridge at Makrala and Thal was also swept away by the flood. Hotels, restaurants and houses along with standing crops were also damaged in Kumrat.
Recent flare-up of violence in Balochistan ‘engineered to ruin’ SCO summit: Naqvi ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Friday said that the recent flare-up of violence and terrorist attacks in Balochistan was “engineered to ruin” a Pakistan-hosted Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit scheduled to be held in October. Speaking during a session of the Senate on Friday, Naqvi said: “We have identified clear links showing that they [terrorists] planned to ruin the SCO conference. “A lot of people are in anguish [about SCO meeting] so that it should not be organized,” he said, adding that the attacks were a conspiracy against the summit. The interior minister noted that the Balochistan attacks were devised by not just one body but “terrorist organizations had carried them out together”. “The incident on the night of August 26 was not a normal one. There was complete planning behind it,” the
independent senator emphasized. Under rotating chairmanship, Pakistan is set to host the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting from October 15-16. Islamabad has also sent an invite to India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi despite long-standing tensions over occupied Kashmir and allegations of terrorism. In the latest flare-up of violence, dozens of militants affiliated with the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) — a separatist outfit — launched numerous attacks on Sunday midnight across Balochistan, killing at least 50, including 14 security men. “There is no [military] operation being carried out,” the interior minister clarified, responding to another senator’s statements. Naqvi recalled that during his Thursday visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had “very detailed” discussions with the local political stakeholders, in which various decisions were taken after considering their feedback. “Those who acknowledge Pakistan, we
will highly welcome them. They are very respectable for us, though there can be differences [with us], which we are trying our best to address and will do so. “Those who do not accept the state and
take up arms are terrorists and we will deal with them,” Naqvi vowed. He stressed the need for “clarity and unity” against those who opposed the state. ‘Rs13bn allocated for governance, counterterrorism’ Naqvi also informed the Senate that Rs8 billion have been allocated for Balochistan — Rs1bn for each of the eight divisions — while another Rs5bn for the province’s Counterterrorism Department (CTD). Those Rs8bn would be used to “solve minor issues with the support of the local MNAs and MPAs”, the senator explained. “The biggest issue [in Balochistan] is the shortage of government officers, who are the federal government representatives,” the minister said. Referring to the deputation of the 48th Common Group in Balochistan, the minister said 30-40 officers would head to the province within 10-15 days. Naqvi further said that “more than a
dozen decisions” were taken regarding the province during his visits there. At least 50 people, including 14 security men, lost their lives as militants went on a rampage across the province earlier this week — storming police stations, blowing up railway tracks, and setting fire to almost three dozen vehicles. In response, security forces neutralised 21 militants. Among those killed were 23 people in Musakhail, mostly labourers from Punjab, who were offloaded from trucks and vans and shot dead after an identity check. Naqvi vowed his full support for the Balochistan government in combating terrorism when he visited the province on Tuesday. Following the spate of attacks, PM Shehbaz asserted that there was “no room for any weakness”, also making a one-day visit to the province to assess the security situation there. Similarly, President Asif Ali Zardari ordered effective measures to ensure the “complete elimination” of terrorism.