TALKS TO COLLAPSE IF GOVT FAILS ON FORMING JUDICIAL COMMISSION: HAMID RAZA In partnership with
Friday, 17 January, 2025 I 16 Rajabul Murajjab, 1446
PTI SUBMITS ‘CHARTER OF DEMANDS’ IN WRITING, INCLUDING PROBE INTO MAY 9, NOV 26 EVENTS AT THIRD ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS
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SIC CHIEF SAYS AFTER AGREEMENT OVER JUDICIAL COMMISSION, TERMS OF REFERENCE (TORS), CAN BE DISCUSSED
SALEEM JADOON
AHIBZADA Hamid Raza, a member of the negotiating team of the PTI and chairman Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), said that the next round of dialogue will not happen if the government appeared to be disagreed with the constitution of judicial commission. Talking to media ahead of third round of talks with government on Thursday, Hamid Raza said,” We will share with the government everything in writing today”. He said, after agreement over the judicial commission, the terms of reference (TORs), can be discussed. “The next round of talks won’t take place in case of the government’s disagreement over the judicial commission,” he further said. Hamid Raza said that the election tribunal should be allowed to work independently over the issue of Form-45 and 47 after the judicial commission and release of political prisoners. Hamid Raza said that the delay in talks is not on our part but it is from the government. He also denied one-on-one meeting of the PTI’s Barrister Gohar with someone. PTI submits its written demands to govt On the other hand, the Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday submitted its written demands including Chief Justice of Pakistan CJP led commission to investigate May 9 events as well as probe into the incidents took place from Nov 24 to Nov 26, 2024. Opposition Leader in National Assembly Omar Ayub submitted the charter of demands to National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, who played a ‘facilitator’s role’ in bringing both government and opposition sit together and negotiate. The charter of demands submitted by the PTI carried signature of all six members includ-
ing Omar Ayub, Ali Amin Gandapur, Salman Akram Raja, and Sahibzada Hamid Raza. The demands were presented during the
third round of negotiations between the government and the PTI negotiation committees held on Thursday.
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to the media, emphasizing the importance of following the directives of PTI’s founder. He explained that any future disclosures regarding meetings would only be made when Imran personally instructed him to do so. Barrister Gohar reaffirmed that all actions taken by him are in line with Imran's guidance, describing the talks with General Munir as a positive development for the country’s stability. Gohar also highlighted PTI’s primary demands, including the formation of a judicial commission to investigate two significant incidents.
Imran lauds Gohar and Gandapur's meeting with COAS as ‘positive development’
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)'s founding chairman Imran Khan has welcomed the meeting between the party's incumbent Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur with Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir. The meeting, held in Peshawar, aimed to address key political and security concerns, Express News reported. After his meeting with Imran Khan at Adiala Jail, Barrister Gohar spoke informally
Soldier martyred, four injured as convoy of vehicles attacked in restive Kurram: officials PESHAWAR
STAFF REPORT
STAFF REPORT
A soldier was martyred and four others were injured when a convoy of vehicles carrying food and medical supplies to Parachinar came under attack by miscreants at Bagan area of restive Lower Kurram on Thursday, the security officials confirmed. Hangu Assistant Commissioner (AC) Saeed Mannan informed the media that a convoy comprising 35 vehicles had left from Thall and was on its way to Parachinar when it came under fire. “The administration is working to bring the situation under control after the attack in Bagan,” AC Mannan said. Meanwhile, Additional Deputy Commissioner Shaukat Ali said: “One soldier of the was martyred and four were injured in the attack. Three vehicles in the convoy were damaged. “Action was also taken against the terrorists of the attack. Six terrorists were killed and 10 were injured in the retaliatory action.” Sajid Turi, a former federal minister from Kurram, said small and large weapons were used in the attack. Senior police official Sahaib Gul confirmed to AFP that following the attack, 21 trucks retreated from the area while others remained stranded. Additionally, intense gunfire erupted at two other locations after the incident and it is still ongoing, Gul said, adding that some trucks had “caught fire” as a result of the ambush. Kurram Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ashfaq Khan told AFP that “firing is ongoing” outside Thall. A day ago, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the situation in Kurram was “returning to normal” as 25 vehicles of a second convoy carrying essentials reached the district. On Monday, Adviser to the KP Chief Minister on Information Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif said the demolition of bunkers had begun in Kurram district under the peace agreement. Clashes over decades-old land disputes have claimed at least 130 lives since November, with food and medicine shortages reported due to weeks-long road blockades. A peace agreement was signed on January 1, but the route connecting Parachinar remained blocked. On January 4, a government convoy was attacked near Bagan, injuring Kurram’s deputy commissioner and leaving the convoy stranded. Eight illegal bunkers in Kurram destroyed under peace deal On the other hand, so far eight illegal bunkers in Kurram have been razed to the ground as their demolition continues under the peace deal that had reached between the warring factions. Bunkers have been demolished in Balishkhel and Khar Kali areas. On the other hand, locals have said that the closure of roads has resulted in a shortage of food items due to which their prices have gone through the roof. The local administration has said that as soon as roads are cleared, a large consignment of food items will be dispatched to Kurram. It has further said that the process to raise a special protection force has begun so that the road connecting Thall to Parachinar could be made secure.
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Facilitated by Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, the third round of negotiations between the government and PTI’s negotiation committees were at the Parliament House. The government committee includes – Irfan Siddiqui, Rana Sanaullah, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, and Farooq Sattar, while PTI’s committee consists of Omar Ayub, Asad Qaiser, Ali Amin Gandapur, Allama Raja Nasser Abbas, and Sahibzada Hamid Raza. The written demands state that one commission should inquire into the arrest of the founder of PTI on May 9, the entry of Rangers and police into the Islamabad High Court, and the investigation of CCTV footage related to the events of May 9 after the founder’s arrest. The Federal government should form two Commissions of Inquiry, consisting of the Chief Justice or three judges of the
Supreme Court. The commission should be established under the Commission of Inquiry Act 2017, and the appointment of the judges should be made within 7 days with mutual consent between PTI and the government. PTI’s demand also includes an inquiry into whether media censorship was imposed concerning May 9 events and whether journalists were harassed. The commission should investigate the nationwide internet shutdown and identify those responsible. PTI’s demand also includes an inquiry into whether media censorship was imposed concerning May 9 events and whether journalists were harassed. The commission should investigate the nationwide internet shutdown and identify those responsible. PTI calls for the commission to identify those responsible for excessive use of force against the protesters, investigate difficulties in registering FIRs, and probe incidents of media censorship.
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talks are being held between PTI and other parties, except with the government’s negotiating team,” Siddiqui pointed out. Irfan Siddiqui, compared the charter of demands presented by Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) to a charge sheet against the current government, calling it a “pack of accusations” largely based on unfounded allegations. He stated that the government negotiation committee, after consulting with its coalition partners, would issue a formal written response to PTI’s demands within seven working days.
Govt to officially reply PTI’s ‘pack of accusations’ by Jan 26: Siddiqui STAFF REPORT
The spokesperson for the government’s negotiation committee Irfan Siddiqui, on Thursday strongly rejected PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan’s statement about the politicization of the security-related meeting in Peshawar. Accompanied by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, he expressed disappointment over Gohar’s statement, arguing that the PTI leader had undermined his own negotiating team. “No direct
PM Shehbaz orders increase in loan limit for SMEs to Rs1.5m
global standards. The Prime Minister reiterated his government’s commitment to facilitating the growth of small and medium enterprises, recognizing their vital role in driving economic development. He emphasized that supporting SMEs is essential for boosting exports and increasing
employment opportunities. He further emphasized the government’s focus on empowering youth and women entrepreneurs, enabling them to not only create selfemployment opportunities but also generate jobs for others. In line with these objectives, the meeting also reviewed efforts to simplify the loan application process for SMEs, making it more accessible for a larger number of enterprises. Additionally, the Prime Minister was briefed on the upcoming launch of financial literacy and training programs for SMEs, which are expected to start by February this year. By mid-year, a program to introduce SMEs to modern technology will also be rolled out. Shehbaz Sharif concluded the meeting by reiterating the government’s determination to promote SMEs as a cornerstone of the country’s economic development.
mittee will work closely with the government’s allied parties and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to ensure a comprehensive response to PTI’s requests. The third round of talks between the two sides took place on Thursday, where PTI’s delegation, led by senior leaders including Omar Ayub, formally presented their written demands. One of the primary demands raised by PTI in these negotiations was the establishment of two in-
quiry commissions—one to investigate the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan on May 9, 2023, which led to nationwide unrest, and another to probe incidents between November 24 and November 27, 2024. The demand includes investigating the police and military involvement in Imran Khan’s arrest and the subsequent violence, as well as examining CCTV footage related to the events of May 9.
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STAFF REPORT
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed immediate steps to conduct a comprehensive survey of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across the country to provide them with enhanced support. During a meeting held in Islamabad on Thursday, the prime minister ordered that the loan limit for small businesses under the Prime Minister’s Youth Program be increased from Rs500,000 to Rs1.5 million. In addition to this, Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the need for designing a special package aimed at women entrepreneurs in small businesses. He highlighted the importance of adopting international best practices and models from developed nations to bring the facilities offered to SMEs in line with
Sanaullah claims PTI withdrew demand for return of electoral mandate ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Advisor to Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah on Thursday announced on Thursday that after extensive negotiations, PTI has withdrawn its demand for the return of its electoral mandate. Sanaullah revealed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had formed a special committee to address the written demands submitted by the opposition. The com-
Over 40 Pakistanis among presumed dead as boat capsizes near Morocco ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
A migrant boat carrying 80 passengers capsized near Morocco, with over 40 Pakistanis reportedly among those presumed dead, the Foreign Office (FO) confirmed on Thursday. According to the migrant rights group Walking Borders, the tragedy unfolded after the boat, which had departed Mauritania on January 2, spent 13 days at sea without rescue. Moroccan authorities managed to save 36 passengers a day earlier, while 44 others, including 40 Pakistanis, are feared drowned. The group’s CEO, Helena Maleno, stated that the vessel had been attempting the perilous journey to Spain’s Canary Islands. “They spent 13 days of anguish on the crossing without anyone coming to rescue them,” she said. The FO’s press release indicated that the Pakistani embassy in Rabat is actively coordinating with local authorities to provide assistance to survivors, including several Pakistanis now housed in a camp near Dakhla. A team from the embassy has been dispatched to facilitate support for the affected nationals. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered a detailed report on the incident and emphasized stringent measures against human trafficking. “Strict action will be taken against those responsible for this heinous crime. No negligence will be tolerated,” he said. The tragedy has prompted widespread calls for greater action to prevent such incidents. Former president Asif Ali Zardari expressed sorrow over the deaths and stressed the importance of comprehensive efforts to combat human trafficking networks. Meanwhile, Spain’s maritime rescue service said it had been alerted to a missing boat on January 10 but could not confirm if it was the same vessel. NGOs, including Walking Borders and Alarm Phone, had previously warned authorities about a boat in distress six days before the wreck. In 2024 alone, a record 10,457 migrants died attempting to reach Spain, with the majority perishing along the dangerous Atlantic route from West Africa to the Canary Islands, according to Walking Borders.
UAE rolls over of $2 billion loan to Pakistan: SBP PROFIT
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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has confirmed the rollover of its two deposits of $1 billion each, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) announced on Thursday. The deposits, placed with the SBP for another one year, were maturing in January 2025. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had confirmed on Tuesday that the Gulf nation rolled over a $2 billion loan deposit, granting Pakistan a substantial fiscal respite. PM Shehbaz had met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Rahim Yar Khan, where the
Gulf nation’s top leader proposed rolling over the loan. “He happily informed me that $2 billion owed by Pakistan in January was being extended by the UAE. He proposed it himself and immediately issued [directives as well],” the prime minister said. The prime minister said the UAE president vowed to back Pakistan in its bid for economic stability based on the nations’ historic brotherly ties. Prime Minister Shehbaz also described his meeting with the UAE president as positive and productive, noting that discussions centred on investment opportunities. Shehbaz emphasised measures aimed at enhancing mutual ties and re-
vealed that a specific goal had been set. “This target will create a favourable impression regarding investment,” he added.
Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves stand at $16.45 billion as of January 10, with SBP-held reserves at $11.73 billion.