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PM CALLS FOR STRICT ACTION AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING GANGS
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Tuesday, 7 January, 2025 I 6 Rajabul Murajjab, 1446
ORDERS CONFISCATION OF PROPERTIES, ASSETS BELONGING TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING GROUPS
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LAUDS FIA FOR TARGETING OFFICIALS AIDING TRAFFICKERS, URGES ACTION TO DISMANTLE NETWORKS
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ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
RIME Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday ordered the confiscation of properties and assets belonging to human trafficking groups in the country, as the government ramps up the crackdown to curb the issue. that strict legal action be taken against all human trafficking groups in the country, including the confiscation of their properties and assets, to set a strong example. The Prime Minister’s orders were issued after chairing a review meeting on the measures being taken to combat human trafficking in Pakistan, according to the PM Office Media Wing. The Prime Minister commended the recent actions by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) against government officials involved in human trafficking and urged that more rigorous punitive measures be taken against the facilitators of these illicit networks. He further directed that the prosecution process be made more effective, with top lawyers appointed for legal proceedings, in consultation with the Ministry of Law and Justice. The meeting was briefed on the progress of ongoing actions against human trafficking, the legal measures being taken against facilitators, and the status of legislation aimed at eradicating human trafficking in the country. The
Additionally, he urged the promotion of technical training institutions that could supply skilled professionals to the global workforce and called for stricter screening procedures at airports to prevent illegal travel. The Prime Minister’s directive comes on the heels of his recent orders for stringent action against officials within the FIA linked to human traffickers, following the tragic boat incident off the coast of Greece that claimed the lives of five Pakistani nationals. Since the tragedy, authorities have accelerated efforts to address the growing issue of human trafficking. The FIA has registered cases against three traffickers and arrested two of its own officers for negligence.
Prime Minister emphasized the importance of swiftly addressing such cases to protect Pakistan’s global reputation. Also present at the meeting were Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Federal Minister for Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Engineer Amir Muqam, and senior officials from relevant departments. PM Shehbaz instructed the Foreign Office to engage with international authorities to expedite the extradition of Pakistanis involved in human trafficking operations abroad. He also directed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, to launch an awareness campaign to inform the public about using legal channels for overseas employment.
Ahsan Iqbal downplays PPP’s coalition exit warning KARACHI
STAFF REPORT
Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal, Ahsan Iqbal on Monday downplayed the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) warning of quitting the coalition government, characterising the political disagreements as “family-like differences” that can be resolved internally. “There’s always a bit of a musical rhythm within a coalition government, just like within a family. Siblings might have disagreements, but it doesn’t mean there’s a serious rift,” Iqbal told reporters in Karachi. His remarks came after PPP spokesperson Shazia Marri expressed dissatisfaction with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led federal government, accusing it of sidelining her party in decision-making processes. Marri warned that the coalition government would collapse if the PPP withdrew its support, citing grievances over the establishment of the Pakistan Maritime & Sea Port Authority and the delay in convening the Council of Common Interests (CCI). Iqbal, however, reassured that both parties remain committed to Pakistan’s development. “The PML-N and the PPP have distinct ideologies, but we are united for the country’s betterment. This collaboration is the essence of the Charter of Democracy signed by Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto,” he said. The planning minister emphasised the need for cooperative politics, noting that confrontation would not benefit the nation in its current circumstances. He added that Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb would soon convene the long-awaited National Finance Commission (NFC) meeting. Addressing concerns over Pakistan’s digital infrastructure, Iqbal highlighted the importance of securing cyberspace, comparing it to protecting the nation’s physical borders. “Technology is both an opportunity and a threat. Cyberspace is a new frontier, and every country is striving to defend it,” he said, noting that Pakistan has been slow to address these challenges.
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Inspector Zubair Ashraf and Sub Inspector Shahid Imran were arrested for failing to properly screen passengers at Faisalabad Airport, including those involved in the ill-fated Greece boat incident. The FIA has also initiated disciplinary proceedings against 18 of its officers and placed 31 officials on the passport control list in connection with the tragedy. Meanwhile, crackdowns on trafficking syndicates have been carried out across multiple cities, leading to arrests of key figures. Among those apprehended was Imran Hussain, also known as Mani, a notorious human trafficker linked to the Libya boat disaster. Hussain had extorted Rs 2.4 million from each of six victims before they were sent from Pakistan to Libya, where they were held in safe houses and eventually perished in the boat disaster. Hussain, a member of an international trafficking syndicate, had six cases filed against him in Gujrat. The FIA has also made arrests in Faisalabad, Chiniot, Gujranwala, and Nankana Sahib, where traffickers typically charge around Rs 1.4 million per person, with an advance of Rs 250,000 per traveler. The international scale of the human trafficking crisis is underscored by a report from the Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras, which reveals that approximately 30 people die every day while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach Spain.
Iqbal’s ‘peace mission’ fails as tensions between PPP, PML-N escalate further ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Despite Ahsan Iqbal’s peace mission and visit to Karachi, tensions soured between Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) further, with PPP deciding to openly criticise the government’s policies. Sources privy to the developments told that the PPP leadership has authorised its leaders to publicly criticise the government’s decisions and directed them to challenge its policies, especially in federal and provincial governments. The PPP leadership has reportedly issued detailed guidelines for its members, advising them to actively criticise the government’s ineffective and flawed policies. The party has expressed concern that remaining silent on the
government’s actions would be seen as tacit approval, thus instructing party officials to raise their voices against what they see as detrimental policies. According to party sources, the PPP believes that silence on critical issues could lead to political damage, with the blame for the government’s poor decisions po-
tentially falling on the opposition party. The leadership is determined not to let the government’s failures tarnish the party’s image. In line with these instructions, PPP has tasked its central and provincial leaders with focusing on the flaws in the federal government’s strategies and openly addressing them in the political arena.
KP House suffered damage worth Rs30m after police raid: report PESHAWAR
STAFF REPORT
A parliamentary report has estimated damages exceeding Rs30 million at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) House in Islamabad following a police raid during a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest on October 5, 2024. The raid, aimed at arresting KP Chief Minister Ali
Amin Gandapur, resulted in extensive losses, including missing weapons, cash, and electronics. The report, prepared by a 12-member committee led by Muneer Hussain Laghmani, detailed damages to property, vehicles, and personal belongings of the chief minister and his staff. The findings are set to be presented in the KP Assembly.
Verdict against Imran, Bushra in £190m Al-Qadir Trust case postponed yet again to Jan 13 ISLAMABAD
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
An Islamabad accountability court on Monday yet again postponed its verdict expected on Monday in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust corruption reference against ex-premier Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi due to the unavailability of a judge. Imran and Bushra were indicted in the case on February 27, shortly after the general elections. The case alleges that Imran and Bushra obtained billions of rupees and land worth hundreds of kanals from Bahria Town Ltd for legalising Rs50 billion that was identified and returned to the country by the United Kingdom during the previous PTI government. On Sunday, amid rumours about the verdict being deferred, Khalid Yousuf Chaudhry, one of the lawyers representing Imran and Bushra, stated that there had been no confirmation that the verdict had been postponed. The decision could not be pronounced today because Judge Nasir Javed Rana was on leave. This is the second time the verdict for this case has been postponed. On December 18, the court reserved its verdict after the defence wrapped its reasoning, saying the verdict would be announced on Dec 23. Then while presiding over the hearing on Dec 23, Judge Rana postponed the hearing till Jan 6 owing to the court going on winter vacation from Dec 24 to Jan 1. In December 2023, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed a corruption reference against Imran and seven others, including his wife, in connection with the Al-Qadir University Trust. The reference filed by NAB alleged that Imran, who is currently in jail, played a “pivotal role in the illicit transfer of funds meant for the state of Pakistan into an account designated for the payment of land by Bahria Town, Karachi”. It also claimed that despite being given multiple opportunities to justify and provide information, the accused deliberately, with mala fide intention, refused to give information on one pretext or another. The reference said the “accused […] were given multiple opportunities to justify and provide information, but they deliberately, with mala fide intention, refused to provide the information on one or the other pretext. “Furthermore, it is established through their responses that they have nothing in their defence to rebut the above-mentioned allegations. Thus, they all have committed an offence” under the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO). It added that the investigation proceedings and findings so far “established that accused persons in connivance with each other have committed the offence of corruption and corrupt practices” as defined under the NAO. The reference said Imran played a “pivotal role” in the illicit transfer of funds which were meant for the state which ultimately benefited Riaz. Akbar, a former special assistant to the premier and Asset Recovery Unit chief, played a “crucial role” in the “illegal design of the funds” which were meant for the state, the reference said. Among the most significant losses were items belonging to the chief minister, valued at Rs3.5 million. These included an M4 rifle worth Rs2.5 million, an iPhone priced at Rs600,000, bulletproof jackets, and other personal effects. Two vehicles sustained damages worth Rs 1 million. The report further outlined that Rs4 million in weapons, Rs2 million in cash, and Rs4.5 million in mobile devices and power banks were unaccounted for. Damage to guest rooms, CCTV systems, and other facilities was estimated at Rs 1 million, while repairs to doors, windows, and family quarters were calculated at Rs900,000.
PTI blames govt’s ‘non-seriousness, reckless statements’ for derailment of dialogue process ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) secretary information Sheikh Waqas Akram on Monday denounced the federal and Punjab governments for making “nonsensical statements” aimed at disrupting the political environment to create an excuse to bring to a halt the ongoing political dialogue. PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said that the government’s cronies should not doubt the PTI’s intentions pertaining to the parlays, rather the talks have made no headway due to the fascist regime’s non-serious and coercive attitude. Waqas urged the “mandate thieves” to rein in the rogue elements within their own ranks, who were determined to sabotage the negotiation process and had become major obstacles to its success. He emphasized that PTI’s commitment
to resolving the current political impasse was clear when Imran Khan took the initiative to form an empowered negotiating committee, but the fascist regime failed to reciprocate with equal seriousness. Waqas continued that the authoritarian government had unleashed its political jockers to unfairly target PTI, diverting attention from its own ineptness and powerlessness, to undermine the dialogue. PTI secretary informatuion expressed surprise at the Islamabad accountability court’s sudden postponement of its long-awaited verdict again in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case against Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, due to a judge’s unavailability. He lamented that the unrepresentative government was exploiting the court system to deliberately delay the decision, thereby unjustly prolonging the detention of PTI’s founder despite lacking any valid grounds for his imprisonment.
Waqas stated that similar to the Iddat case, the Al-Qadir case lacked merit and substance, adding that if the details of this case are exposed, it would not only embarrass Pakistan’s judicial system globally but would undermine its credibility as well. He condemned the Punjab thief minister for threatening students who spoke out against her fake government’s excesses and anti-poor policies, reminding her that the laptops given to students were bought with public funds, not her personal wealth. Waqas stated that the students could not be silenced by intimidation and laptops as they would raise their voice against her illegitimate and fascist regime. He said that PTI should be not be blamed for moving the goalposts, as its demands had been very clear and consistent since the inception of the dialogue process i.e., the releasing all under trail prisoners including Imran Khan and establishing an empowered
judicial commission consisting senior most judges of the apex court tasked to probe May
9 false flag operation and Islamabad massacre to hold perpetrators accountable.
ISLAMABAD: Negotiations between the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have hit a standstill, with no progress made toward scheduling the third round of talks. It reports in media that PTI’s failure to present a written Charter of Demands has become the primary reason for the impasse. According to sources, there has been no contact from either side with the Speaker’s office to arrange the third round of negotiations. PTI, following its meeting with the party founder, is expected to finalize its position on the Charter of Demands.
However, the government is reluctant to move forward in the absence of such a document, viewing the Charter as a necessary step to ensure formal negotiations. The government’s stance, according to sources, is that if PTI insists on a written Charter of Demands, it will also require a formal written agreement from the opposition party. PTI, however, is interpreting the request for a written Charter as a call for an NROlike agreement, which has led to further complications in the talks. STAFF REPORT
‘Lack of trust’: No progress as PTI-govt talks hit a snag