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BILAWAL ENDORSES ‘USE OF FORCE’ AGAINST OPPOSITION TO BRING POLITICAL STABILITY Sunday, 1 December, 2024 I | 28 Jamadi ul Awwal, 1446
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PPP CHIEF CALLS FOR A NEW NAP TO COMBAT TERRORISM, RECOGNISING URGENT NEED TO ADDRESS GROWING SECURITY THREATS
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 145 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
SAYS SOME POLITICAL PARTIES ARE NOT PRACTICING POLITICS WITHIN POLITICAL FRAMEWORK
Man pushed off container injured but ‘completely fine’: Tarar ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
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KARACHI STAFF REPORT
HAIRMAN of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, on Saturday called for political stability in Pakistan, whether it requires “dialogue between the government and opposition or the use of force”. Speaking at a rally marking the PPP’s 57th founding anniversary in Sukkur, Bhutto highlighted that achieving peace and economic stability in Pakistan required national consensus, underlining that political differences must not hinder the country’s progress. “Political stability is essential for the country’s future, whether achieved through dialogue or, if necessary, through firm measures,” Bhutto stated. He also called for a new National Action
Plan (NAP) to combat terrorism, recognising the country’s urgent need to address growing security threats. Bilawal Bhutto urged all political parties and activists to strive for democracy and the supremacy of the constitution in the country, as other issues can only be addressed after achieving political stability. He emphasized that the opposition plays a crucial role in ensuring political stability, as they are not presenting themselves as a democratic and political opposition. Critisizing, PTI for protest and making choas in Islamabad, he mentioned that some political parties in Pakistan are not practicing politics within the political framework. The events of May 9 and what happened in Islamabad are not politics. Politicians must engage in political processes to limit the role of institutions to their constitutional boundaries. Bilawal added that politicians should
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Saturday said a man who was reportedly pushed off a container during the PTI’s Islamabad protest this week was injured but “completely fine”, refuting claims circulating online about his death. On November 26, Islamabad witnessed pitched battles between security forces and PTI supporters as the latter inched towards the heavily barricaded D-Chowk for the party’s ‘final call’ powershow, with intense teargas shelling used to disperse the protesters. A picture captured by an AFP photographer showed the man hanging off a corner of the container as the uniformed men stood on top of the container. Various posts on social media claimed the man had died. Apparently referring to the incident, in a televised address aired today,
resolve issues through dialogue. It is his desire that both the government and opposition work together to establish political stability in the country, with the government bearing more responsibility in this regard. He stated that some opposition parties want to engage in political opposition, while others adopt an anti-political and undemocratic approach. The opposition adopting a democratic and politi-
Tarar said: “Propaganda was done that a person was offering prayers and was killed by pushing him down. “He is a resident of Mandi Bahauddin and is completely fine. His video has emerged, he got hurt on the arm and has bandages,” the minister confirmed. Tarar went on to claim that the person was recording a TikTok video as he had “challenged his friend”, and was not offering prayers in reality. The information minister did not state any further details about the man’s identity or specify if he was currently admitted to any hospital. A day earlier, PTI’s MNA from Mandi Bahauddin (NA-85), Haji Imtiaz Ahmed Chaudhary, stated the man’s name as Tahir Abbas Tarar in a Facebook post. A picture shared by MNA Choudhary showed a man lying on what seemed to be a sofa, with his both arms fully bandaged. “May Allah bless you with good health and wellness,” he wrote.
cal stance should be responded to accordingly. If the opposition continues with an undemocratic stance, the government will respond in the same manner. Bilawal emphasized that they always advocate for negotiations and dialogue, but the opposition parties are seeking talks with the establishment rather than with political parties. If this approach to politics continues, both PTI and the country will suffer.
Journalist Matiullah Jan released from jail after ATC grants him bail ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Senior journalist Matiullah Jan was released from Adiala Jail on Saturday after the Islamabad Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) granted his bail in a terrorism and narcotics case registered by the Margalla Police, widely derided as being “bogus” and “fabricated.” Jan’s counsel Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir confirmed the development in a post on X. Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) judge Tahir Abbas Sipra approved the bail plea against surety bonds worth Rs10,000 each and ordered the authorities to release Matiullah Jan. A day ago, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended the two-day physical remand of Matiullah Jan allowed by the ATC. As per details, Chief Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir issued the orders and directed authorities to consider the senior journalist in judicial custody. Prior to this, Matiullah’s physical remand was challenged in Islamabad High Court (IHC). The Journalist was presented before ATC judge Tahir Abbas Sipra today, after the anchor’s legal team filed his bail petition. Advocates Imaan, Hadi Ali Chattha and Attaullah Kundi appeared as Jan’s counsels in the court. During the hearing, Judge Sipra ordered Jan to be sent on judicial remand. While prosecutor Raja Naveed opposed the bail petition, the judge approved it on surety bonds worth Rs10,000. At the outset of the proceedings, the ATC Judge inquired when Jan would be presented before the court, to which the investigation officer replied that he would be brought to court at 12pm. “Present Matiullah before the court as soon as possible,” the judge ordered. The Judge sought a copy of the IHC order as soon as Jan was produced in the court and directed that it be added to the case record. “I am sending him to jail on judicial remand,” the judge ordered, as per yesterday’s IHC directives. Jan’s lawyer Kundi requested the court to take up the bail plea, noting it was filed earlier today. “Your bail petition comprised seven pages,” the judge as he issued notices to respondents. “Issuing notices means that if the prosecution wishes to present arguments, it may do so,” Judge Sipra said. “I had also said the other day that appearing on TV screens has damaged journalists,” the judge remarked. “They are making a video of the prosecutor viral,” he noted, asking where a certain prominent journalist today as he noted his absence.
PM reaffirms Pakistan’s commitment Dar, Kh Asif dismiss PTI claims on to strengthen national HIV response deaths during protest as ‘malicious’ and ‘absolutely false’ ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said Pakistan stood united with the global community in reaffirming its firm commitment to strengthening the national HIV response and ensuring that no one was left behind. The theme, “Take the Rights Path : My health, My right,” reminds us that the journey to eliminate AIDS as a public health threat begins with a firm commitment to human rights, the prime minister said in a message in connection with World AIDS Day 2024. He said upholding the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights and promoting the inclusion of all communities were essential for eradicating AIDS as a public health threat. “Healthcare is a fundamental right. Through our collective efforts, we will ensure that all our citizens enjoy this fundamental right in an equitable manner. By working together, we will continue to strengthen our
health systems and expand access to essential services for our citizens,” the prime minister added. He highlighted that HIV/AIDS remained a health challenge and a significant socio-economic issue that threatened livelihoods, disrupts families, and deepens inequalities. Gaps in testing and treatment coverage call for deep introspection – a call to
reach the most vulnerable, making strategies to be truly responsive to those at risk, and ensuring that our policies evolve to meet the shifting dynamics of the epidemic. “Despite our collective efforts, the HIV epidemic in Pakistan continues to grow, underscoring the need for bold, innovative, and sustainable interventions. It is only through the strategy rooted in equality and inclusion that we can halt the spread of HIV. Strong political will, effective leadership, and enhanced financial commitments are essential to implementing a rights-based national HIV strategy,” he remarked. PM Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that the urgent challenges that needed our attention were eliminating spread of HIV/AIDS through needle sharing among people who inject drugs, safe blood transfusion, and eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission. We must also address the vulnerabilities of marginalized groups, particularly adolescent girls and young women, who face heightened risks of HIV infection.
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DPM REFUTES ALLEGATIONS OF STATE BRUTALITY AND INDISCRIMINATE FIRING BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES ISLAMABAD/SIALKOT STAFF REPORT
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday strongly refuted allegations of state brutality and indiscriminate firing by law enforcement authorities during recent clashes with protestors. In a statement issued by the Deputy Prime Minister Office, Ishaq Dar labeled the claims of gunshot wounds and unwarranted violence as “malicious” and “absolutely false,” urging to provide evidence such as “graves and dead bodies” to substantiate the accusations. He said the so-called protestors came armed with heavy ammunition and tear gas canisters. “The mob was determined to create chaos and ready to kill. Our
security and law enforcement agencies exercised maximum restraint with patience despite deaths within their ranks,” he said adding that the PTI leaders abandoned their workers and were now developing a ridiculous and lies-based narrative of state brutality. The statement came after PTI made several claims that their workers were shot dead during Islamabad protest. Kh Asif berates PTI for creating propaganda of dead bodies Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif berated the opposition PTI for creating propaganda of dead bodies in its protest in Islamabad. Talking to media in Sialkot, he blamed the PTI for attacking Rangers and police personnel in its protest on Nov 24.
Kh Asif criticised the PTI leadership for fleeing the protest venue when they met resistance, saying no such example of fleeing was found in the history of wars. He stated that every PTI leader was quoting different casualty numbers and the KP CM was claiming thousands of dead. The PTI was creating a false narrative, he said. Kh Asif asked about evidence of videos by families of deceased to verify the claims of casualties. The defence minister insisted that the KP government attacked the federal capital by misusing resources. He recalled the incidents where the PTI sabotaged the Chinese president’s visit in 2014, SCO conference and Belarusian president’s visit.