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Friday, 7 March, 2025 I 6 Ramazan, 1446
Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 241 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
ARMY CHIEF VOWS TO BRING PLANNERS, FACILITATORS OF BANNU CANTT ATTACK TO JUSTICE
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SAYS NATIONAL UNITY IS IMPERATIVE IN FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM
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RAWALPINDI
DEATH TOLL IN TERRORIST ATTACK INCREASES TO 18 ON WEDNESDAY
STAFF REPORT
HIEF of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir on Thursday vowed to bring the planners and facilitators of the recent terrorist attack on Bannu Cantonment to justice “wherever they may be”, the military’s media wing said. A statement issued from the InterServices Public Relations (ISPR) said the army chief visited Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district on Thursday in the wake of Tuesday’s attack. Two explosive-laden vehicles were rammed into the cantonment’s perimeter by a group of terrorists who wanted to breach it. As a result of the blasts, several houses and a mosque adjacent to the boundary wall were damaged. The death toll in the attack increased to 18 on Wednesday as Pakistan claimed that 16 terrorists who attacked the highsecurity zone were getting instructions from their handlers in Afghanistan. The ISPR had said the security forces engaged the terrorists with precision, eliminating all 16 terrorists, including four suicide bombers. The military media wing added that during the intense exchange of fire, five
soldiers, after putting up heroic resistance, embraced martyrdom in the line of duty. The ISPR said COAS Munir, during his visit, expressed “profound condolences to the families of innocent civilians who lost their lives in this heinous and cowardly terrorist incident”. He also assured that while the incident’s perpetrators were neutralised instantly, the “planners and facilitators of the dastardly attack would also be brought to justice soon, wherever they may be”.
Dar lands in Saudi Arabia to participate in OIC foreign ministers’ meeting JEDDAH
STAFF REPORT
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar landed in Saudi Arabia on Thursday to participate in the Extraordinary Session of the OIC foreign ministers meeting in Jeddah on the Palestine crisis. The OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) Foreign Ministers meeting has been called to address the situation in Palestine. This high-level meeting will focus on collective measures to address the deteriorating situation in Palestine, stopping Israeli actions against Palestinians, the resulting humanitarian crisis, and the unlawful and unethical proposals for displacing Palestinians from their ancestral lands. Upon his arrival in Saudi Arabia, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar visited Madinah where he visited the Prophet’s P.B.U.H Mosque and offered prayers. The visit underscores Pakistan’s dedication to fostering peace and collaboration within the Islamic community, as well as its unwavering support for the Palestinian cause. At the Conference, the deputy prime minister will reaffirm Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people and their just cause, a statement from DPM’s Office said Ishaq Dar will advocate for the full withdrawal of Israel from all occupied territories, including Jerusalem and denounce the unacceptable proposal for further displacing Palestinians.
The army chief underscored that the “barbaric targeting” of civilians, including children, women and the elderly, “exposed the true intentions” of terrorists as enemies of Islam. “Emphasising the pivotal role of the local community, he reiterated that national unity is imperative in the fight against terrorism and assured that the armed forces would spare no effort in ensuring the safety and security of the people of Pakistan,” the statement added.
FO rejects Indian FM’s ‘baseless claims’ on AJK, asks to vacate occupied Kashmir ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan has strongly rejected the remarks made by the Indian External Affairs Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, on Jammu and Kashmir during an event at the Chatham House in London. At his weekly media briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said the remarks misrepresent the ground realities and contravene the international law. He said Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally-recognized disputed territory. The relevant UN Security Council resolutions clearly stipulate that the final status of the Jammu and Kashmir is to be determined through a free and impartial plebiscite under the UN auspices. He said India’s prevarication cannot change this reality. The spokesperson said we also wish to underscore that any electoral exercise, pursuant to Indian Constitution, cannot serve as a substitute to grant of right to self-determination. Similarly, the decades-old
grievances of the Kashmiri people cannot be meaningfully addressed through economic activity down the barrel of a gun. Shafqat Ali Khan said instead of making baseless claims about Azad Jammu and Kashmir, India should vacate the large territories of Jammu and Kashmir, under its occupation for last seventy-seven years. He emphasized that New Delhi must realize that a peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and wishes of
SSGC reactivates shuttered LPG plant ISLAMABAD
AHMAD AHMADANI
The Board of Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGC) has approved the reactivation of the Jamshoro Joint Venture Limited (JJVL) LPG plant, which has been non-operational for more than four and a half years. The decision is expected to help ease supply constraints in the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) market and reduce reliance on costly imports. According to informed sources, the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) played a key role in facilitating a settlement agreement between SSGC and JJVL. The agreement, officially endorsed by the SSGC Board, is a major step toward restoring the plant’s operations. The sources revealed that the prolonged
The COAS was briefed on ongoing operations during his visit and the overall security situation of the area. He also visited Combined Military Hospital Bannu to check up on the health and well-being of the injured soldiers, acknowledging their resilience and unwavering dedication. The army chief commended the high morale and steadfast resolve of the troops, reaffirming that the military would continue to serve as a bulwark against terrorism to ensure the state’s security and stability. Addressing the troops, COAS Munir lauded their heroic actions, recognising their swift and decisive response in neutralising the attackers and thwarting their nefarious designs, adding that the fight against terrorists and their facilitators acting on the behest of hostile elements would continue until its logical conclusion. The army chief highlighted that terrorist groups, including the proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), continued to operate from Afghan soil against Pakistan. He underscored that the use of foreign weapons and equipment in recent terrorist attacks was clear evidence that Afghanistan remained a safe haven for such elements. He reaffirmed that no entity would be allowed to disrupt Pakistan’s peace and stability.
closure of the JJVL plant resulted in an estimated financial loss of Rs. 96 billion. Under the newly agreed terms, SSGC will receive 66% of the plant’s revenue—up from the previous 57.54%—while JJVL is now required to supply 25% of its LPG production to SSGC at OGRA-notified prices. Both SSGC and JJVL have appointed focal persons to finalize the details of the agreement, which is expected to be completed within a week. While the installed capacity of JJVL’s LPG plant exceeds 500 metric tons, actual production will depend on the composition of the gas supplied to the facility. Industry insiders estimate that it will take approximately 40 days to resume full LPG production. Interestingly, sources noted that Petroleum Minister Musadik Malik has shown little interest in the revival of local LPG production from JJVL’s plant. Instead,
the Kashmiri people, is imperative for a lasting peace in South Asia. Replying to a question, the spokesperson said Pakistan has been witnessing an alarming increase in provocative statements from different Indian leaders asserting unwarranted claims on Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He said, however, historical facts, legal principles, moral considerations and ground realities refute all these factitious claims. He said the Indian leaders would be wise to help implement the United Nations resolutions on Kashmir instead of harboring delusions of grandeur. Answering yet another question about recent arrest of Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) top tier operational commander Shareefullah and his handing over to the United States, the spokesperson said the intelligence cooperation between Pakistan and the United States is long standing. He mentioned that Pakistani law enforcement agencies’ efforts against terrorists including Islamic State Khorasan Province have resulted in significant successes.
they credited the SIFC for taking the initiative and making concerted efforts to resolve the longstanding issues that led to the plant’s forced closure. Due to SIFC’s intervention, the SSGC Board, in its meeting on Thursday, approved the resumption of LPG production at JJVL’s facility. With the revival of local LPG production, Pakistan is expected to see a reduction in its import bill while also addressing the ongoing LPG supply shortfall, sources added. When contacted, Chairman JJVL, Iqbal Z. Ahmed, stated that despite the prolonged shutdown, the company continued to pay salaries, provide Ramadan packages, and distribute Eid gifts to all its employees. He emphasized that not a single staff member was laid off during the closure period. Responding to queries, Fasih Ahmed, Director of JJVL, confirmed that the SSGC
US court indicts Kabul bombing suspect Sharifullah after Pakistan’s intelligence-led arrest WASHINGTON
NEWS DESK
Mohammad Sharifullah, a key suspect in the 2021 Kabul airport bombing, appeared before a US federal court on March 5, 2025, after being captured in Pakistan and extradited to the United States. The suicide attack at Abbey Gate during the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan resulted in the deaths of 13 American service members and approximately 170 Afghan civilians. Sharifullah, an alleged Daesh-K operative, has been charged with providing material support to a terrorist organization leading to death and faces a potential life sentence if convicted. According to an FBI affidavit, Sharifullah confessed to guiding the suicide bomber to the airport and coordinating the attack with other Daesh-K militants. Investigators believe he played a central role in facilitating multiple other terror operations carried out by the group. Sharifullah, who joined Daesh-K in 2016, used a Dari translator in court due to his limited English proficiency. His next hearing is scheduled for March 10, 2025. Sharifullah was apprehended near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in a special intelligenceled operation conducted by Pakistan’s security forces, following a US intelligence tip-off. Recognized as a high-value target, Sharifullah was identified as the mastermind behind the Abbey Gate bombing—one of the deadliest moments of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. During a Congress address, US President Donald Trump announced the arrest, stating: “Three and a half years ago, a [Daesh] terrorist killed 13 American service members and countless others in the Abbey Gate bombing.
Govt officers to declare assets by September under IMF conditions ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Government officers in the country have been instructed to declare their assets by September 2025 as part of compliance with International Monetary Fund (IMF) requirements. According to media reports, the September deadline has been set to ensure transparency among public officials. The move is aligned with Pakistan’s commitments under the IMF programme, which is currently under review. An IMF delegation is in Pakistan for discussions to unlock a $1 billion loan tranche under the ongoing $7 billion programme. Sources revealed that Pakistani authorities will present a draft asset declaration framework to the global lender. Additionally, the government has decided to launch a digital portal to facilitate asset disclosures, fulfilling a key IMF demand. The ongoing negotiations have also covered external financing, the operationalisation plan for the Tax Policy Unit, inflation comparisons with regional countries, and national economic accounts, according to the Finance Ministry. Officials further reviewed the Labour Force Survey, Family Budget Survey, and Living Standards reports as part of discussions. Sources said key discussions with the IMF delegation also focused on electricity and gas tariffs, circular debt, and other financial challenges. The draft for government officials’ asset declarations is expected to be finalised in today’s negotiations and will then be formally shared with the IMF.
Board has approved the resumption of gas supplies to JJVL under terms negotiated transparently with SIFC’s facilitation. He explained that the new agreement, based on a previously Supreme Court-endorsed contract, strengthens Pakistan’s energy security, reduces reliance on costly LPG imports, and fosters a competitive market.
Despite a challenging four-and-a-halfyear shutdown, JJVL maintained its facility and workforce, reaffirming its commitment to the country’s energy sector. Fasih Ahmed further noted that SIFC’s intervention was instrumental in overcoming bureaucratic hurdles, paving the way for JJVL to resume production within 45 to 60 days.