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RESTIVE KURRAM ‘CALM’ AS DC, SIX OTHERS INJURED IN ATTACK ON GOVT CONVOY
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Sunday, 5 January, 2025 I 4 Rajabul Murajjab, 1446
KP GOVT SPOKESPERSON CONFIRMS SITUATION UNDER CONTROL, INJURED KURRAM DC SHIFTED TO PESHAWAR
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PESHAWAR/KOHAT STAFF REPORT
HE situation in Kurram is well “under control” after a government convoy came under firing by unknown assailants, leaving Kurram Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud along with six others injured in Bagan area of the restive region. “Kurram DC Javedullah Mehsud was injured when unknown assailants fired at a convoy he was travelling in near Bagan on Saturday,” Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesperson Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif confirmed. The District administration officials said that, in addition to the DC, six others were injured, including a Frontier Constabulary personnel, a policeman, and four civilians who were passing by. The firing incident comes as an aid convoy carrying food and other basic necessities was expected to leave for Kurram to end the over 80-day-long road blockade of the restive region. On Wednesday, the KP government announced that both warring tribes in Kurram districts had finally signed a peace agreement after weeks of efforts to broker a ceasefire amid violence in the area. Clashes stemming from decades-old land disputes have claimed at least 130 lives since November, with food and medicine shortages reported due to weeks-long road blockades. The main sit-in against road clo-
sures in the district — being staged outside the Parachinar Press Club — would continue, as its organisers decided to keep their agitation going until roads are open and secure. Another protest, demanding compensation for damage caused to homes and markets, was also underway in the Bagan area of Lower Kurram. Barrister Saif said in a statement that all travel and security-related arrangements were in place for the protection of the convoy. Barrister Saif said that arrangements were being made to shift the DC to Peshawar via helicopter after he was brought to Alizai Hospital. However, he said later in the day that
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PM, PRESIDENT, KUNDI AND MOHSIN NAQVI CONDEMN FIRING ON GOVT VEHICLES IN LOWER KURRAM
Govt taking measures to facilitate SMEs promotion: PM Shehbaz g
DC Mehsud was being shifted to Thall Combined Military Hospital (CMH)
where he was being provided with medical facilities.
Pakistan has been battling a resurgence of militant violence in its western border regions since the Taliban’s 2021 return to power in Afghanistan. BLA Claims Responsibility for Attack The banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), through its suicide unit, the Majeed Brigade, claimed responsibility for the attack on the convoy in Turbat. A statement released by the group confirmed their involvement, adding that a detailed statement would be issued to the media soon. Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rand said that SSP Zohair
Mohsin had sustained minor injuries in the blast and that efforts were ongoing to determine the nature of the attack. Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti condemned the tragic bombing, expressing profound grief over the loss of precious lives. In a statement, Bugti remarked that those targeting innocent individuals are unworthy of being called human. He extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, emphasizing that the provincial government stands in solidarity with them during this time of sorrow.
Qaiser replied, “The whole committee will fail. This process needs to be gradual
and careful while keeping the interests of the public in mind.”
ISLAMABAD: Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday stated that there has been no significant progress in the ongoing dialogue between the government and PTI, claiming that the government is under no pressure to engage in talks with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). “The purpose of negotiations is to reduce political tensions and that is the only pressure”, Defence Minister Kh Asif asserted while talking to aprivate TV channel. He added that PTI has been given a week’s time, and there are expectations of
progress in the discussions. “The negotiations have so far been limited to discussions without any concrete outcomes,” said Asif. “There is absolutely no pressure on the government to negotiate with PTI; we are exploring a path to reduce political tension.” He further stated that had the government been under pressure to engage in talks, the country’s economy would not have been on the path to recovery. Asif pointed to the ongoing economic recovery as proof that the end of political tension is contributing positively to the nation’s financial landscape. STAFF REPORT
Bomb blast in Turbat leaves four dead, several injured TURBAT
STAFF REPORT
A bomb attack on a Frontier Corps (FC) bus in Balochistan’s Turbat has resulted in the death of four people, including the bus conductor, and injuries to 38 others, police said. Five of the injured individuals are in critical condition, the police said. Police and security forces contingent has cordoned off the area. Among the injured were SSP Serious Crime Wing Zohaib Mohsin and six members of his family, who were passing by at the time of the explosion.
Talks to cease if govt doesn’t ensure ‘uninterrupted access’ to Imran: Qaiser ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Asad Qaiser, the senior PTI leader, declared on Saturday that negotiations with the government to de-escalate political tensions would cease unless the party gained unrestricted access to former Prime Minister Imran Khan for consultation, asserting that only Khan could make [the final] decisions. “We have requested uninterrupted access to Imran Khan and if that does not happen, we will not be in a position to make any commitments or for talks to move forward,” former NA speaker Asad Qaiser elaborated while speaking during a private TV programme on Saturday. He said the government had also agreed in principle with the demand for daily meetings. Drawing a comparison
with the PPP and the PML-N, the PTI leader questioned, “Do you think they do anything without the permission of Nawaz Sharif, or Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari or Asif Zardari? “The reality is reality. Only Imran Khan will make the main decisions,” he stated. Qaiser said that if Imran could not make decisions, then the talks would no longer be able to continue. “If he has any reservations about the negotiations and distances himself from them, then they no longer matter.” The PTI leader said that the committee was creating an environment for talks and acting as a facilitator so that “matters can be resolved properly”. He added that there needed to be uninterrupted access to other incarcerated party leaders for political consultations. When asked if he would leave the committee if access was not granted,
No pressure for talks with PTI, claims Kh Asif
PRIME MINISTER STRESSES ALL-OUT EFFORTS REQUIRED TO MAKE LOCAL INDUSTRY PART OF GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said that small and medium scale businesses are backbone of the country’s economy, emphasizing the government was taking all possible measures to provide facilities to small and big scale businesses. He said this while presiding over a meeting for promoting the small and medium scale businesses and related to the Small Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) here on Saturday. PM Shehbaz said that all-out efforts were required to make industries of Pakistan a part of global supply chain. He said the center and all provinces should work together for development of small and medium enterprises. The meeting gave briefing about the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority’s performance. The meeting told that the SMEDA board had been formed as per the direction of the prime minister and meeting of its board of directors were being held regularly. A process had been started to get services of international experts for development of the SMEs sector and the chief secretaries of Giligit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir had been included in the SMEs sector steering committee. The State Bank of Pakistan had issued directions to banks to make forms easy and simple for giving loans to SMEs. The meeting told that the Ministry of Industries and Production had improved liaison with provincial governments for development of SMEs. Sindh and Balochistan governments had prepared a comprehensive strategy for SMEs while governments of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir were making strategies in this regard. The meeting further told that as per the direction of the prime minister the data of SMEs in the country was being collected. The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain and other officers.
PTI blasts govt for ‘causing $1.62b losses’ due to internet shutdown PESHAWAR
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) slammed the illegitimate government for throttling the internet in an attempt to target PTI under the false pretext of security concerns despite its significant economic implications. According to recent ranking, Pakistan topped world in economic losses due to internet shutdowns last year, even leaving far behind countries like Sudan and Myanmar, which were ravaged by civil wars. Reacting to the report, released by Top10VPN.com, an independent VPN reviewer, PTI Central Information Secretary (CIS) Sheikh Waqas Akram said that Pakistan topped the charts with a cumulative fi-
nancial impact of $1.62 billion, which was alarming, despite the fact the overall worldwide cost of internet shutdowns dropped by 15.8 per cent in 2024. He lambasted the Minister of State for IT and the PTA chairman for concocting baseless and lame excuses to justify the government’s wrong, self-serving and anti-people policy of throttling internet speeds each time, as a 24-hour internet shutdown alone resulting in a staggering loss of Rs1.3 billion. Sh Waqas flayed the illegitimate government’s reckless and short-sighted move to prioritize their own interests at the expense of the nation and its people. He emphasized that the government should refrain from scapegoating the internet for Pakistan’s deteriorating security situa-
tion. Instead, he argued that the root cause lied in their misguided priorities and flawed policies, adding that during Imran Khan’s tenure, the country experienced a period of exemplary peace. However, Sh Waqas lamented that the country witnessed a wave of terrorism after the ouster of PTI-led government through regime change conspiracy because self-centered and short-sighted people were fraudulently imposed on the country, who stashed all their assets abroad and just came Pakistan to rule. PTI CIS asserted that the power-hungry clique’s ill-advised policy would have farreaching devastating economic consequences for the country including the loss of substantial foreign exchange earnings and
potential business contracts. However, he stated that the government was hell-bent on suppressing dissenting voices to conceal their own ineptitude and incompetence. He emphasized that despite the government’s much-touted plans, such as the ‘Uraan Pakistan’ initiative and the upcoming 5G spectrum auction, the country’s economic flight would remain a dream until the duffers recognized the crucial role of investing in IT sectors, which was the main driving force to economic growth. Waqas urged that the government should abandon its reliance on fairy tales and unrealistic plans, which have failed to deliver tangible results. Instead, he pressed the government to focus on crafting a well-orchestrated strategy that leverages the vast
potential of the IT sector to propel economic growth and drive meaningful progress. PTI CIS said that the government of political dwarfs, lacking the vision, obsessed with implementing flawed policies that throttle the internet, repeatedly shutting down services with flimsy excuses, leading to a mass exodus of IT professionals and leaving countless young people without jobs. He sounded the alarm that this ill-conceived policy would further erode the confidence of foreign investors in Pakistan, pushing the country to the brink of a complete business meltdown. By prioritizing their own interests over the nation’s wellbeing, Waqas feared that the government risked undermining the very foundations of Pakistan’s economy.