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Tuesday, 20 May, 2025 I 22 Ziquad, 1446
Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 313 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
PM HAILS PAKISTAN NAVY’S CRITICAL ROLE IN SAFEGUARDING SEA LINES OF COMMUNICATION BUNYANUM MARSOOS
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LAUDS PAK NAVY FOR MAINTAINING g COMMENDS NAVY FOR ITS RESOLUTE ABSOLUTE MARITIME SOVEREIGNTY POSTURE, OPERATIONAL DEXTERITY, EFFECTIVE THROUGH LAYERED, ASSURED DETERRENT RESPONSE IN COUNTERING SEAWARD DEFENCE ADVERSARIAL MARITIME THREATS
PM office seeks report of alleged share transfer violation by FHL, SPUD energy
The Prime Minister’s Office has directed the Petroleum Division to submit a comprehensive report on alleged violations of the Pakistan Petroleum Rules, 2001, by Frontier Holdings Limited (FHL) and SPUD Energy Pty Limited, specifically regarding the unauthorized transfer of controlling shares. According to official documents, the PM Office issued a letter to the Secretary of the Petroleum Division on May 5, 2025, titled “Urgent Action Required – Violation of Petroleum Rules by Frontier Holdings Limited (FHL) and SPUD Energy PTY Limited.” The directive was prompted by a complaint received by the PM Office dated April 25, 2025. The matter revolves around SPUD and FHL—two petroleum exploration companies linked to Jura Energy Cor-
poration—which recently saw a shift in controlling ownership from Phoenix Holdings Ltd to IDL Investments Ltd. The transfer reportedly occurred without notification to or approval from the Petroleum Division, in apparent violation of regulatory requirements. Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) has also raised alarm over the transaction. In a formal letter dated May 2, 2025, TIP urged the Prime Minister’s Office to investigate the matter, citing a potential breach of Rule 69(d) of the Pakistan Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Rules, 2001. The rule explicitly states: “Without the prior consent of the Government, there shall be no disposition of the share capital of the holder or its parent company in consequence of which any person who, prior to that disposition, had effective control of the holder or its parent company ceases to have such effective control.”
Maqbool Siddiquie. Upon arrival, the Prime Minister was received by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf. Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir and Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Baber Sidhu were also present.
During the visit, the Prime Minister boarded the Type-054A Class Destroyer PNS TAIMUR, where he was briefed by Commander Pakistan Fleet on the Pakistan Navy’s strategic orientation, operational undertakings, and noteworthy contributions during the ongoing operation.
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AHMAD AHMADANI
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KARACHI STAFF REPORT
RIME Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday praised Pakistan Navy’s critical role in safeguarding sea lines of communication and ensuring the uninterrupted flow of maritime trade, while maintaining absolute maritime sovereignty through a layered and assured seaward defence. The prime minister expressed these views during his visit to Pakistan Navy Dockyard to pay tribute to the Pakistan Navy for its pivotal role in Operation Bunyanum Marsoos. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Prime Minister commended
the Pakistan Navy for its resolute posture, operational dexterity, and effective deterrent response in countering adversarial maritime threats. Recalling the Navy’s proud legacy of decisive operations, the Prime Minister underscored that Pakistan Navy remains fully capable of executing high-intensity operations akin to the historic Operation Dwarka, whenever and wherever required. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Mr Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mr Attaulah Tarar, and Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Dr Khalid
Pakistan, China oppose motion to invite Taiwan to WHO’s annual assembly GENEVA
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
Member states of the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday rejected a proposal to invite Taiwan to its annual assembly in Geneva. China, which regards the democratically governed island of Taiwan as its territory, and Pakistan opposed the motion and the assembly accepted Taiwan’s exclusion. Belize and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, who are among just 12 remaining countries with formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, spoke on behalf of a group of countries who brought a proposal to include it as an observer in this year’s WHO meeting. Saint Vincent described Taiwan’s exclusion as “unfair and self-defeating” and Belize’s envoy said it “weakens our collective preparedness and response capabilities”. No major Western country spoke for Taiwan or signed the proposal, and the United States, which plans to quit the WHO, left its seat empty. “The proposal openly challenges the authority of the UN and the post-war international order,” said Chinese Ambassador Chen Xu, who is part of a more than 200-strong Chinese delegation at the meeting. A Chinese Foreign Ministry statement said Taiwanese authorities’ “separatist” stance has led to the loss of a political foundation for its participation in the assembly. It denied that there was any gap in pandemic preparedness due to Taiwan’s exclusion, calling that a “political lie”. Between 2009 and 2016, Taiwan attended WHO assembly sessions as an observer under the administration of then-President Ma Ying-jeou, who signed landmark trade and tourism agreements with China.
Pakistan not to accept any form of ‘regional dominance’; says DG ISPR ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has said that Pakistan would not accept any form of regional dominance. Pakistan is a peace-loving country, but any act of Indian aggression will be met with a swift and decisive response. Speaking in an interview with Anadolu Agency, the military spokesperson said that Pakistan will never bow down to Indian hegemony, adding that “the sooner they [India] realise this, the better it will be for regional peace and the world.” “India is not the US, and Pakistan is not Afghanistan. India is not Israel, and Pakistan is not Palestine. Pakistan will never be deterred,” DG ISPR said, adding that that Islamabad remains committed to its sovereignty and regional stability. Lt Gen Chaudhry also attributed rising extremism and terrorism within India to its domestic policies, particularly crackdowns on religious minorities such as Muslims and Sikhs. “These actions are contributing to increased internal unrest,” he added.
The sharp remarks come in the wake of India’s unilateral suspension of the decadesold Indus Waters Treaty last month, following a deadly attack on tourists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan — a claim Islamabad has categorically denied. Since then, the region has once again been pushed to the brink. In early May, India launched a barrage of cross-border strikes, not only across the Line of Control (LoC) but also into Pakistan’s mainland, claiming it was targeting militant hideouts. Pakistan hit back, targeting 26 Indian military sites before a US-brokered ceasefire brought operations to a halt on May 10. However, calm has remained fragile. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s declaration this week that India would cut off Indus waters flowing into Pakistan has reignited fears of escalation. For Islamabad, such a move is tantamount to an act of war. Separately, speaking with Arab News, DG ISPR cautioned that any move by India to block Pakistan’s water would cross a red line. “It is some madman who can think that he can stop water of 240 million plus people of this country,” he said.
“I hope that time doesn’t come, but it will be such actions that the world will see and the consequences of that we will fight for years and decades to come. Nobody dare stop water of Pakistan.” The DG ISPR revealed that India lost six aircraft, including French-built Rafales and a Mirage 2000, as well as a prized Russianmade S-400 air defence system, during the four-day exchange. Earlier reports had put the number at five, but Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed the sixth loss this week. “I can confirm that the sixth aircraft is a Mirage 2000,” Lt Gen Chaudhry said. “We only targeted the aircraft … We could have taken out more, but we showed restraint,” he noted. Looking ahead, Chaudhry warned that the spectre of renewed conflict will continue to haunt the region unless the core issue – Kashmir – is addressed head-on. “Their policy on Kashmir is not working,” he stated. “Till the time Indians don’t sit and talk about Kashmir, then (as) two countries we sit, and we find a solution to it, the conflict potential is there.” ‘Peace is our first priority’
Separately, in a firm riposte to regional misperceptions, the DG ISPR said that Pakistan is not a belligerent actor but a country that values peace above all. “We are not a violent nation, we are a serious nation. Our first priority is peace,” Lt Gen Chaudhry told RT Arabic in an interview, as reported by PTV News.
“Great and sensible powers like the United States understand better what the spirit of Pakistan’s people is,” he added. Peeling back the layers of the ceasefire negotiations in the wake of Pakistan’s retaliatory Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos, Lt Gen Chaudhry revealed that the initial call for truce came from the Indian side.