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NO MPOX EMERGENCY, WE NEED TO BE PREPARED TO CHECK VIRUS SPREAD: PM Saturday, 14 September, 2024 I | 9 Rabi ul Awwal, 1446
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CHAIRS HIGH-LEVEL MEETING, DIRECTS AUTHORITIES TO ADOPT ALL NECESSARY MEASURES TO PREVENT VIRUS SPREAD
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ISLAMABAD
STRESSES NEED FOR CONTINUED PREPAREDNESS, PARTICULARLY BY MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND NDMA
STAFF REPORT
RIME Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the current situation and precautionary measures being taken to prevent the spread of Monkeypox (Mpox) in the country. The prime minister emphasized the importance of vigilance and preparedness, directing authorities to adopt all necessary measures to prevent the virus from spreading within the country. “All necessary precautionary measures to prevent Monkeypox should be adopted,” the prime minister said directing the officials concerned to raise public awareness about preventive steps. He also instructed that scanning at all airports, seaports, and land entry points must be strictly enforced to detect any potential cases. The prime minister said Pakistan was not currently facing an emergency situation related to Monkeypox. However, he stressed the need for continued
preparedness, particularly by the Ministry of Health and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). He called for the establishment of quarantine centers across the country to accommodate any affected individuals. During the briefing, officials informed the prime minister that while the African continent remained the most affected by Monkeypox, Pakistan had so
FIA to probe posts from PTI founder’s social media accounts ‘against national security’: Tarar ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Minister for Information, Broadcasting, National Heritage and Culture Attaullah Tarar on Friday said the Federal Investigation Agency would probe into the handling of the PTI founder’s social media accounts which were being used to create chaos and anarchy in the country, and undermining the national security. “He (the PTI founder) should be ashamed of undermining the national security, inciting people for anarchy and committing the sedition,” said the minister while talking to the media. Tarar said the FIA had decided to investigate into the handling of the social media accounts of the jailed PTI founder. It would be ascertained that who is the handler of his social media accounts, and whether such posts were being made on his behest or it was done on directives of someone else, he added. He said a botch attempt had been made to conspire against the sitting chief justice and heads of other institutions. Through these posts, he tried to mobilize the people against two major state institutions which is highly condemnable. The minister said this conspiracy is destined to fail as his accusations against the interior minister and others had nothing to do with the reality. The PTI founder had all the facilities like a presidential suit in the jail, but yet he still resorted to attack the state institutions, he said, adding nobody would be allowed to do so at any cost. He said the FIA would inquire into this issue and the PTI founder would be investigated in this regard. The minister said the message posted on the social media from the account of the PTI founder was tantamount to sedition, and creating an anarchy in the country. He said the PTI founder, in the post, had once again related himself with Sheikh Mujeeb-ur-Rehman, but he seemed to be elusive about the current situation in Bangladesh where the latter’s statues were demolished by the people after realizing the truth about history. The minister said the examples quoted by the PTI founder in his social media posts were condemnable. “There will be an investigation as to who is running the accounts of the PTI’s founder on social media,” he noted.
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far recorded only five cases, all diagnosed after individuals arrived in the country from abroad. The detected cases were of the Clade-II strain, which was considered relatively less dangerous. It was informed that daily review meetings on the situation were being held at the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) to ensure realtime monitoring and response. The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also maintaining communication with Pakistani embassies abroad regarding the global Monkeypox situation. The provinces have been directed to procure and stock testing kits and other equipment, while quarantine centers have been set up in major cities across the country. The meeting was told that some 600,000 people had been screened so far as a precautionary measure. It was further informed that public awareness campaigns were being carried out by the National Institute of Health (NIH), the Ministry of Health, and media outlets to educate the public on Monkeypox. The national helpline, 1166, had also been activated to provide guidance on the disease. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif instructed the NDMA and the Ministry of Health to remain on alert and prepared for any potential emergency. The meeting was attended by chief secretaries of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Health Coordinator Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath, NDMA Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik and senior officials.
PTI’s Gohar Ali urges CJP to clarify stance on extension ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has called on Supreme Court Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa to confirm whether he will accept an extension, stating that such a decision would “clarify” many ongoing concerns. While addressing the media, Gohar emphasized the significant responsibility that lies with Chief Justice Isa. “If Justice Faez Isa refuses to accept an extension, it will set a clear precedent and trend. We respect all judges,” he said. Gohar also expressed frustration over his silencing in the National Assembly, particularly when attempting to respond to remarks made by Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. He criticized Asif’s language towards the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister and condemned his statements. “We may be in the opposition, but we are not your servants,” Gohar remarked. “If we speak, you should have the courage to listen.” Earlier in the day, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif addressed the National Assembly, alleging that PTI leader Ali Amin Gandapur spent the night at the
Kohsar Complex asking for forgiveness. Asif labeled Gandapur “a two-faced man” and warned against trusting him. Asif expressed dissatisfaction with the recent meetings of a parliamentary special committee, accusing it of focusing solely on PTI’s issues rather than addressing broader concerns of the assembly. Gohar condemned Asif’s comments about the special committee, calling it an inappropriate practice. “You only told half the story. We are not walking out; we are here to strengthen this forum. Our women and children have been mistreated,” he added.
Bilawal drops hint on imposition of governor’s rule in KP ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday said that his party does not support governor rule but the option can be considered as a “last resort under limited circumstances” for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the light of the ongoing situation in the province. Reports of the imposition of a governor rule in KP surfaced after Governor Faisal Karim Kundi made a telephone call to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to inform him about the worsening law and order situation in the province, according to sources. While the KP government “fails to restore peace and security” in the province, a rift between the provincial and federal government also arose following CM Ali Amin Gandapur’s proposal of bypassing the Centre and hold direct talks with Afghanistan to address terrorism concerns for lasting peace in the restive bordering regions. The sources said that PM Shehbaz, after KP governor’s call resolved to take immediate steps with the federal interior minister and Kundi — who is a PPP leader — to ensure peace in KP. “PPP generally not in favour of governor rule. There are very limited circumstances for it,” Bilawal said while speaking to journalists after attending the National Assembly session. He said that the 18th Amendment to the Constitution made sure that if a governor rule is imposed anywhere, the provincial assembly has the authority to ensure it is not imposed for a longer period. Speaking about the unrest and increased terrorist activity in KP and Balochistan, the PPP chairman said that KP CM Gandapur is facing “hardships” in his own village. “The Centre and provincial government have to deal with this situation together. For the first time, it is visible that its not just a question of national security but also there is a threat to the establishment of peace,” he said, while regretting that the matter is also being politicised. Responding to a question about the judiciary-centric constitutional amendment, Bilawal said that the PPP’s stance during today’s meeting of the special committee on the Charter of Parliament was that the spirit of the Charter of Democracy should be established again and the working relationship between the opposition and treasury benches should be decided. “We have to strengthen the judiciary so that the burden of cases could be lessened and a common man gets immediate justice,” Bilawal said. As the rumours of a judiciary-centric legislation aiming to extend the retirement age of superior courts’ judges run rife, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif earlier in the day confirmed that the government is poised to introduce a constitutional amendment in the National Assembly (NA) tomorrow (Saturday) as it has achieved the ‘magic number’.
Gandapur spent night in Kohsar Complex pleading for forgiveness, claims Kh Asif ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday alleged that KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur spent the entire night between Sept 8 and 9 at the Kohsar Complex pleading for forgiveness, calling him “a two-faced man” and urging others not to trust him. Speaking on a point of order during the National Assembly session, Kh Asif lambasted Gandapur, stating, “We don’t ask, but they should ask what Ali Amin Gandapur was doing all night at the Kohsar Complex.” Asserting his point regarding Ganda-
pur’s actions, the Defence Minister said, “Gandapur spent the entire night pleading for forgiveness, yet we don’t trust him.” Expressing frustration with the recent meetings of the special parliamentary committee, he alleged that it seemed the committee was focused on solving PTI’s issues rather than addressing the broader concerns of parliament. He announced his decision to step down from the committee, stating that it was not fulfilling its purpose. “I don’t want to be part of a committee that is constantly rehashing old grievances,” he added. Khawaja Asif went on to criticise PTI for its use of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) during its tenure, empha-
sising the need for the party to reflect on its actions over the past four years. He also highlighted how, during PTI’s rule, the party treated leaders like Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz in ways that, in his words, “set no precedent.” The session of the National Assembly was later adjourned until 3 pm the following day. Earlier, in a conversation with journalists, Khawaja Asif reflected on his own time in detention, saying, “We also endured six to seven months in jail. I’m not sure if any arrests were made from within Parliament; it seems they happened outside,” he said. Every political worker has their dig-
nity, and arrests should be made with respect. “Even during my imprisonment, I met my children in handcuffs. This isn’t something unique to Pakistan—it happens everywhere,” he added. On Sept 8, Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur had gone missing after the PTI’s rally held in Sangjani. Barrister Saif expressed concerns in the early hours of the next day, stating that all attempts to reach the Chief Minister Gandapur had failed, and his phone numbers were switched off. Later that day, Ali Amin Gandapur reached the Chief Minister House in Peshawar, after remaining out of contact for more than eight hours.
Peace achieved with nation’s sacrifice would be maintained at all costs: COAS RAWALPINDI
STAFF REPORT
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Asim Munir on Friday reiterated the resolve to “comprehensively defeat hostile terrorist nexus and eliminate activities in the illegal spectrum”, saying the hard-earned peace achieved with nation’s great sacrifice would be maintained at all costs, the military’s media wing said. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Gen Munir’s statement came during a visit to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Orakzai district on Friday, where he met the troops that participated in recent counter-terrorism operations in the Tirah Valley and its surroundings. During the visit, the army chief was given a comprehensive briefing on the overall security situation, ongoing intelligence-
based counter-terrorism operations, and multi-prong measures undertaken to ensure stability in the merged districts. “In his interaction with officers and troops, [the] COAS appreciated their high morale and readiness to give effective response against all types of threats,” the ISPR quoted the COAS as saying. “The COAS reiterated the resolve of security forces to comprehensively defeat hostile terrorist nexus and eliminate activities in the illegal spectrum,” it added. Gen Munir, while paying rich tribute to martyrs of the army and law enforcement agencies (LEAs), said, “The sacrifice of our martyrs strengthen our resolve to fight with utmost dedication and spirit of sacrifice.” The army chief lauded the contributions being made by police and LEAs in KP and said that the Pakistan Army will continue to provide all-out support to KP Police and
other LEAs in enabling them to perform their duties in newly merged districts. He also emphasised the need for continued capacity building of the LEAs. Meanwhile, the COAS also appreciated the support of the local population in assisting security forces, noting that their positive role is essential in sustaining peace in the area. Pakistan has been grappling with an upsurge in terror activities, especially in KP and Balochistan after the banned Tehreek-iTaliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022. According to an annual security report issued by the Centre for Research and Security Studies, the country witnessed 1,524 violence-related fatalities and 1,463 injuries from 789 terror attacks and counter-terror operations in 2023 — marking a record sixyear high. KP and Balochistan were the primary
centres of violence, accounting for over 90 per cent of all fatalities and 84pc of attacks, including incidents of terrorism and security forces operations. Last month, security forces killed at least 25 militants in a series of intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in the Tirah Valley of Khyber district, while four soldiers also embraced mar-
tyrdom in these counter-terrorism operations. According to the ISPR, these operations were based on “robust intelligence” and dealt significant blows to the TTP and its affiliates. It also mentioned that 11 militants were injured in the operations. Among those killed was a key militant leader, Abuzar alias Saddam,” the ISPR had said.