Saturday, 18 September, 2021 I 10 Safar, 1443 I Rs 15.00 I Vol XII No 79 I 12 Pages I Karachi Edition
New ZealaNd abaNdoN PakistaN series at last miNute over âsecurity threatâ g
INTERIoR MINIsTER sEEs 'CoNsPIRACy'; loCAl CRICkET sTARTs BlAsT kIwIs FoR BAIlINg oUT
ISLAMABAD
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AkIsTANI authorities on Friday smelled a âwell-conceived conspiracyâ behind the cancellation of New Zealandâs cricket series in Pakistan but the officials stopped short of naming the country who conspired to get the trip cancelled. Minister for Interior sheikh Rasheed Ahmed told a press conference here that there was a âconspiracyâ behind the cancellation of New Zealand tour to Pakistan â the teamâs first in 18 years. However, he did not divulge further details. An official source, however, said that there was âno substantial evidenceâ about any threat shared with Pakistan while the New Zealand team had taken a âunilateral decisionâ to cancel their trip which suggested that there may be some âpolitical reasonsâ behind the cancellation of the trip.
âIt looks to be a well-conceived plan aimed at political vendetta. There was no terrorist threat and neither any evidence was shared with Pakistan,â the official source said. Asked what could be the possible reason for the cancellation, the official said that the enemy would be hatching a conspiracy to spoil Pakistanâs achieving peace in the region. Meanwhile, Rasheed also stopped short of sharing the name of the country or agency involved in the conspiracy but hastened to add that the tour cancellation âan attempt to damage Pakistanâs efforts for peace in the regionâ. âThe [New Zealand] teamâs security incharge spoke to our officials in the morning and informed them of a threat. when the officials asked for further details, the New Zealand security in-charge did not have any information to share with us,â he added. The minister said that the country had deployed commandos from Pakistan
coroNavirus iN
PakistaN
CONFIRMED CASES:
1,218,749
LAST UPDATED AT 7:22 AM ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2021
DAY'S DEATH TOLL:
NEW CASES:
68
2,928
RECOVERED:
DEATHS:
1,125,952 27,072 SINDH:
PUNJAB:
448,658
419,423
KPK:
BALOCHISTAN:
170,391 AJK/GB:
32,707 ISLAMABAD:
33,628/10,222
103,720
Armyâs special services group (ssg), soldiers and 4,000 policemen for the matches in Rawalpindi. âwe also tried to convince them to play the match without spectators. But they did not agree to it,â he said. Rasheed said that the governmentâs team also reached out to Prime Minister Imran khan, who is currently in Dushanbe to participate in the 20th shanghai Cooperation organisation Council of Heads of state (sCo-CHs) summit and requested him to intervene. âThe PM also called New Zealandâs Prime Minister [Jacinda Ardern] and assured [her] of [providing] complete security to the kiwis. The New Zealand prime minister said there was no issue of a threat,â said the interior minister, adding that the New Zealand Prime Minister said her government had âreceived intelligenceâ that the team could be attacked when it steps out to go to the stadium. âIt is their decision. we had deployed heavy security for the New Zealand team. Pakistan is a peace promoter in the world. And this tour was cancelled through a conspiracy. It is their (NZâs) problem and what they decide,â asserted the minister. The minister said that the National Crisis Management Cell had also tried to convince the Black Caps not to call off their tour but they did not agree. The minister noted that New Zealandâs security team had visited Pakistan four months ago and the tour itself had been scheduled months before the Aug 31 deadline for withdrawal of international forces from neighbouring Afghanistan. He said that none of our intelligence agencies, which are among the best in the world, have any information about a threat. âPakistan is playing a major role in the region and the enemy does not want us to prosper. Indian media has been defaming Pakistan,â the interior minister said, adding that Indian designs would be foiled.
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UK removes Pakistan from travel red list In a major development, the United kingdom has removed Pakistan from its âred list countriesâ for travel, British High Commissioner Christian Turner announced. âPleased to confirm Pakistan is off the red list. I know how difficult the last 5 months were for so many who rely on close links between Pakistan & Uk,â he wrote on his official Twitter handle on Friday. âFrom oct 4, if youâre fully [vaccinated] you wonât need a pre-departure test before arrival into England from a non-red country and from later in oct, will be able to replace the day 2 PCR test with a cheaper lateral flow,â he added. He also thanked Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umer, Prime Ministerâs aide on health Dr Faisal sultan, National Command and operation Centre and other relevant departments for their close âfor their close collaborationâ. In a follow-up tweet, Turner said the Uk will continue to work closely with Pakistan to ensure data sharing and safeguard public health in both countries. âNo one is safe until everyone is safe.â welcoming the decision, NCoC head Asad Umar said, âgood to know finally the right decision taken to take Pakistan off red list. Uk high commission in Pak has been supportive throughout.â He also appreciated Uk parliamentariansâ âfor conveying facts about the Covid-19 situation in Pak-
We have to resolve Afghan issue collectively, PM Imran tells SCO nations DUSHANBE staff report
Prime Minister Imran khan on Friday has asked sCo nations to work collectively for resolution of the Aghan issue. The summit gathered the Presidents of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, kyrgyzstan, kazakhstan, Iran, leaders of observer states, foreign ministers, and heads of international and regional organizations. Vladimir Norov, sCo secretary-general and Jumakhon giyasov, Director Executive Committee of sCo Regional Anti-Terrorist structure were also present. Prime Minister said addressing the threats to international and regional peace and security was a vital interest for sCo, alongside Foreign Minister shah Mahmood Qureshi, National security Adviser Moeed yusuf and Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry. Addressing the sCo Head of states summit, PM Imran khan said that the region is facing numerous challenges and we have to work collectively to resolve the issues including the Afghan problem.
istanâ. âAmbassador your efforts are commendableâŚ.. good news after depressing day for cricket,â Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said. special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal sultan termed the decision âgreat newsâ for travellers. He also appreciated the British high commissioner and Uk government officials for engaging with Pakistani officials for an âindepth understanding of our epidemic response and systems as well as the ongoing sharing of data and information to enable disease securityâ. The news comes a day after concerns were raised by the Uk about the lack of genomic surveillance and the low testing rate in Pakistan, which had been speculated as a potential reason to keep Pakistan on the red list. Minister for Human Rights shireen Mazari, who had previously criticised the Uk governmentâs âfeeble excuseâ for retaining Pakistan on the red list, credited Prime Minister Imran khanâs âstrong stanceâ on the issue, Uk MPs and databased responses by the sAPM on health and the National Command and operation Centre, for the change in travel status. âPak was dealt with unfairly so it was time for the Uk govt to put things right!â she said. news Desk
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more inside
Pakistan maintains downwards trend in daily Covid-19 cases STORY ON PAGE 03
Major work on CPEC projects done by PTI govt: Asad Umar STORY ON PAGE 02
It is time for the world to stand with Afghanistan, as we know that the past kabul government was running on 75 percent international aid. The world should accept ground realities about Afghanistan, he maintained. on Pakistanâs stance about the new Afghan government, the premier said, Islamabad respects the sovereignty of Afghanistan and we think that any decision regarding Afghanistan should be taken by the people of the country.
Afghanistan is a country, which cannot be ruled from outside neither it can be left all alone. He pointed out that a ânew realityâ has been established in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover and the world should accept that. âThe Taliban must fulfill the pledges made, above all for an inclusive political structure where all ethnic groups are represented. This is vital for Afghanistanâs stability,â he said.
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COAS awards degrees, medals to graduating students at GCU Lahore STORY ON BACK PAGE
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