Four Rangers Officials Martyred in Deadly Attack by PTI Workers

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November 26, 2024

ISLAMABAD: Tensions escalated on Monday night as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protesters clashed with security personnel at various locations in Islamabad.

Miscreants rammed a vehicle into Rangers personnel on the Srinagar Highway in which four personnel were martyred, while five Rangers and police officials were seriously injured, security sources said.

So far, four Rangers and two police personnel have been martyred in the attacks on law enforcement agencies by PTI protesters on their way to Islamabad to stage a protest sit-in.

The sources said that over a hundred police personnel have been injured so far, many of them seriously.

Earlier on Monday evening, a Rangers official was injured at Chungi No 26 in Islamabad in an alleged attack by PTI workers.

According to security sources, protesters pelted stones and fired at Rangers and police personnel, which injured one Rangers officer. He was shifted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) for treatment.

The sources said that all the miscreants involved in the attack were being identified. “All malicious elements will be brought to book,” they insisted.

Previously, as the procession of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Bushra Bibi moved toward Islamabad, incidents of violence intensified in several areas.

Miscreants reportedly attacked law enforcement personnel under the guise of protests, leading to significant casualties. Police Constable Mubashir, 46, died of a head injury sustained during a violent confrontation at Hakla Interchange. He was under treatment at a hospital.

The constable, a resident of Muzaffargarh, leaves behind two daughters and a son.

Moreover, over 100 police personnel have been injured in the violence at the hands of miscreants in various areas. The injured personnel suffered wounds on their heads, arms, and legs, while the process of identifying the suspects through CCTV footage is underway.

In Attock, the situation escalated further when three police officers were critically injured in a shooting incident near Katti Pahari. Constable Wajid, hailing from Faisalabad, sustained a bullet wound to the neck and remains in critical condition, while Constable Samiullah, from Sargodha, was shot in the leg.

A third official, Constable Samiullah from Sargodha, was also seriously injured in Attock due to the stone-pelting by PTI protesters. He was admitted to a hospital in Hasanabdal for medical treatment. All three officers were deployed on special duty in the region.

Dozens of policemen have been injured at Katti Pahari and admitted to various hospitals. Authorities are using CCTV footage to identify and apprehend the culprits involved in these violent incidents.

At least 23 police personnel were injured during a violent altercation with PTI workers on the Ghazi Barotha Bridge, police officials reported on Monday.

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Army Deployed in Islamabad, Given Shoot-on-Sight Orders

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Palwasha Mustafa

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November 26, 2024

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Government has deployed Pakistan Army in Islamabad under Article 245 of the Constitution to assist civil authorities in maintaining law and order amid escalating violence in the city.

Security sources said early on Tuesday that the deployment follows incidents of attacks on law enforcement agencies.

The sources said orders have been issued to deal with anarchists and miscreants with an iron hand, with clear directives to shoot such elements on sight.

They further said all measures are being taken to deal with any kind of terrorist act by anarchists and terrorist elements.

Meanwhile, miscreants rammed a vehicle into Rangers personnel on the Srinagar Highway in Islamabad, resulting in the martyrdom of four Rangers officials. Five others, including Rangers and police officials, sustained serious injuries.

Security sources also confirmed that two police officers have been martyred in similar attacks. Over 100 police personnel have also been injured, with many in critical condition in various areas since the PTI launched its protest march on Islamabad.

Article 245(1) of the Constitution states that the armed forces shall, under the federal government’s directions, “defend Pakistan against external aggression or threat of war, and, subject to law, act in aid of civil power when called upon to do so”.

It further states that the validity of any direction issued by the government under clause (1) shall not be called in question in any court. A high court shall not exercise any jurisdiction under Article 199 in relation to any area in which the armed forces are acting in aid of civil power in pursuance of Article 245.

In a media talk late on Monday night in Islamabad, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had hinted at the possibility of imposing a curfew, deplyoying the army or “any third option” if they were compelled by the PTI workers resorting to violence in Islamabad.

He had warned the PTI that they should go to the Sangjani area and hold their protest there, as they will not be allowed to enter Islamabad.

“If we have to impose a curfew, resort to Section 245 (seeking the army’s assistance) or a third option, we will take it. This is why we’re saying in advance that we will take extreme steps if we have to,” Naqvi said.

The interior minister said there are people involved and they are trying to ensure that there is no loss of life, adding that the protesters have tried every opportunity to create bloodshed. “When they open fire, the response will also be in the form of fire,” he remarked, adding that the PTI was given an option to shift the protest site to Sangjani.

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Over 82 People Killed in Three Days of Sectarian Violence in KP

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Irfanullah Khan

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November 24, 2024

PESHAWAR: Three days of bitter sectarian gunfights in Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtukhwa over 82 persons have been killed 156 more people have injured, local Police official said on Sunday.

Pakistan is a Sunni-majority country but Kurram district of KP, near the border with Afghanistan, has a large Shiite population and the communities have clashed for decades.

The latest bout of violence began on Thursday when two separate convoys of Shiite Muslims travelling under police escort were ambushed, killing at least 43 and sparking two days of gun battles.

“The clashes and convoy attacks on November 21, 22, and 23 have resulted in 82 fatalities and 156 injuries,” said a local administration official speaking on condition of anonymity.

“Among the deceased 16 were Sunni, while 66 belonged to the Shia community,” he told AFP.

Around 300 families fled on Saturday as the gunfights with both light and heavy weapons continued into the night, however no fresh casualties were reported on Sunday morning.

“The mobile network across Kurram remains suspended and traffic on the main highway is halted,” said the local administration official.

Police have regularly struggled to stymy violence in Kurram, which was part of the semi-autonomous Federally Administered Tribal Areas until it was merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018.

A delegation from the provincial government held talks with the Shiite community on Saturday and is scheduled to meet the Sunni community later on Sunday.

A security official in the provincial capital of Peshawar told AFP the negotiators’ helicopter had come under fire as it arrived in the region, although no one was harmed.

“Our priority today is to broker a ceasefire between both sides. Once that is achieved, we can begin addressing the underlying issues,” provincial Law Minister Aftab Alam Afridi said Sunday.

Last month at least 16 people, including three women and two children, were killed in a sectarian clash in Kurram.

Previous clashes in July and September killed dozens of people and ended only after a jirga, or tribal council, called a ceasefire.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said 79 people died between July and October in sectarian clashes.

Several hundred people demonstrated against the violence on Friday in Pakistan’s second largest city of Lahore and Karachi, the country’s commercial hub.

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PTI Final Call: Islamabad Sealed, Highways Blocked Amid Security Warnings

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Sara Maqsood

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November 24, 2024

ISLAMABAD: The Final call of the Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) on November 24 was failed to give any impact as the government has blocked all highways, motorways and railway system all across the country to keep the protesters away from the Federal Capital.

Hundreds of PTI law-makers and workers were held in Peshawar, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Multan and other cities, besides cellular services have also been disrupted.

On the other hand the PTI has failed to give any impact regarding of the much hyped ‘Final Call’ given by Imran Khan the incarcerated party chief.

Fate of irony is that the convoy from Peshawar the stronghold of the PTI where it is leading the provincial government has failed to emerged and march towards Islamabad.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, Ali Amin Gandapur was unable to leave the provincial metropolise amid internal disagreements and logistical challenges, sources revealed.

Reportedly, Bushri Bibi, a key figure within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), expressed her intention to participate in the ongoing protest. However, PTI leader Ali Amin Gandapur has prohibited her from joining, citing the already precarious situation faced by the party.

“There are already enough difficulties for us,” Gandapur reportedly stated, emphasizing the need to avoid any missteps at this critical juncture. Meanwhile, Bushri Bibi remained firm in her stance, asserting that she is adhering to the directives of PTI Chairman Imran Khan.

Sources in PTI KP have disclosed that the disagreement led to a heated discussion between Gandapur and Bushri Bibi. “I am following Khan Sahib’s orders,” both leaders maintained during their exchange.

The inability to resolve these differences and the ongoing logistical hurdles are raising concerns about the party’s ability to manage its protest efforts effectively.

Observers suggest that after multiple setbacks, PTI cannot afford another failure, making internal cohesion crucial at this time.

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Imran Khan Urges PTI Supporters to March to Islamabad on Nov 24

By

Tanzeel Ahmed

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November 13, 2024

RAWALPINDI: Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has announced a protest march towards Islamabad on November 24, his lawyer and sister said on Wednesday.

“Imran Khan says this is the final call for a [anti-government] protest. The PTI founder has stressed that the party’s entire leadership will be part of the march,” lawyer Faisal Chaudhry told reporters in Rawalpindi on Wednesday.

The protest will not only take place in Islamabad, but throughout Pakistan and across the world where Imran’s supporters are present, Chaudhry said.

The lawyer said that the party founder had also formed a committee for the march and asked not to reveal the names of those who are part of it as Imran fears they’ll be arrested.

All party leaders are aware of their responsibilities, the lawyer said, adding that the committee would have the authority to call off the protest — ensuring that no single person calls the shots.

There was much disappointment, as previously said by PTI leader Ali Zafar, when Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur ended the Swabi rally without a date for the protest. This added to the existing frustration of the workers who were part of the Islamabad protest last month, which ended abruptly.

The lawyer further added that KP CM Gandpur would also lead a convoy from the province on the PTI founder’s directions.

Detailing the demands of the protest, Chaudhry said that the party demands the withdrawal of the contentious 26th Constitutional Amendment, “return of PTI’s mandate”, and release of workers who are in jails without trials.

Before this announcement, sources had informed The News that although the PTI founder demanded a date for do-or-die ultimate protest and possible sit-in in Islamabad, he was being persuaded by the party’s senior leaders it may backfire if such a protest is announced without proper planning and considering all pros and cons.

Meanwhile, two days back, Adviser to Prime Minister on Political And Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah had warned that the PTI founder was “mistreating” his party workers and supporters by giving a “do-or-die” protest call, warning that it could lead to a crackdown on them.

Aleema, Imran’s sister, informed reporters in Rawalpindi that the PTI founder has called for a nationwide protest. The PTI founder has urged supporters to come out for the protest in Islamabad, she said.

“He also told Pakistanis to decide whether they wanted to live under martial law or enjoy freedom,” she said, adding that Imran’s message was directed at farmers, lawyers, civil society, and students.

Imran, she said, has asked them to come out on the streets and demand their rights, judicial protection, rule of law, and the return of the party’s “stolen mandate”.

Aleema said that on February 8, when the general elections were staged, the public came out for democracy, and voted against the system of oppression.

On February 9, she added, the people’s mandate was stolen and a few individuals were handed power. She also added that the 26th Constitutional Amendment had set the stage for a ten-year-long martial law.

Now, she said, Imran is calling on the nation, farmers, lawyers, civil society, overseas Pakistanis, and students to rise for their future.

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Worst Air Pollution in Capital; Smog, Fog Forecast Across Country

By

Editor

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November 13, 2024

ISLAMABAD: Air Pollution of Islamabad continues to worsen, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching a hazardous level of 210, according to recent reports.

This level is 26.9 per cent higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended guidelines, posing health risks, especially for those with respiratory conditions. Residents are advised to wear masks to mitigate exposure to harmful pollutants.

The Pakistan Meteoroligical Department (PMD) has forecast dry weather to persist in and around Islamabad along with smog and foggy conditions.

Meanwhile, Karachi is experiencing a shift in weather. The Met Department reported that the city’s morning temperatures are cool and chilly, though dry heat prevails during the day.

Karachi’s current temperature stands at 26 degrees Celsius, with the highest likely to go to 34 degrees. The minimum recorded temperature was 22 degrees Celsius, and the humidity level is at 86%. Pollution levels have also been recorded, with 137 PM2.5 particulate matter in the air, indicating moderate pollution.

The Met Department also issued warnings of smog and fog across various regions in Pakistan due to dry weather conditions. These include cities in Punjab like Lahore, Kasur, Okara, Hafizabad, Toba Tek Sindh, Jhang, Narowal, Sialkot, and others, where dense fog and smog are expected. Chance of fog and smog are also likely in Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Mangala, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Sheikhupura, Sahiwal and Faisalabad.

Smog is also likely in areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa such as Peshawar, Mardan, Kohistan and Kohat. Chitral, Dir, Swat, and surrounding areas may experience cloudy weather, with rain and snowfall on the mountainous regions.

In Sindh, districts including Sukkur and Larkana may see foggy conditions in the early morning and late-night hours, while most of Balochistan will remain dry with cooler temperatures in the hilly areas during mornings and nights.

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IMF Looking for Strict Review of Pakistan Bailout Package

By

Palwasha Mustafa

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November 13, 2024

ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is looking to revert back to a three-month review schedule of the $7 billion bailout package after seeing early slippages, but the Pakistani authorities insist that no final decision has so far been taken.

The issue of returning to the quarterly reviews surfaced during an unscheduled visit of the IMF mission that had to rush to Islamabad to keep the program on track.

The finance ministry is also struggling to keep the provinces on the right track, ministry sources said.

They said that a quarterly review would help in constant monitoring of about 40 conditions agreed under the $7 billion deal. However, the officials told that there was no final decision on the issue of the biannual and the quarterly reviews.

About six weeks ago, the IMF board had approved the $7 billion deal and released the $1.1 billion upfront. The remaining amount of around $6 billion will be distributed in six equal tranches, subject to the successful completion of half-yearly reviews.

The completion and the approval of the first review was scheduled for March next year but due to multiple challenges on the fiscal, taxation and external financing fronts, the mission arrived before time. The last Extended Fund Facility (EEF) of the 2019-22 deal was also based on the quarterly reviews.

In case of the quarterly reviews, the IMF can ensure strong implementation by keeping a close check on the government, the sources said. The quarterly reviews would also strengthen the hands of the Ministry of Finance to ensure monitoring of the 40 conditions, they added.

IMF Mission took the first round of briefings from various ministries, while Mission Chief Nathan Porter held opening talks with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Jameel Ahmad on Tuesday.

The IMF’s new Resident Representative to Pakistan Mahir Bicini also attended the opening meeting. The finance minister hosted a luncheon in honour of the outgoing representative Esther Perez. The finance ministry did not issue a press statement after the opening session.

The IMF held different rounds of discussions on the issues of Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) performance, reliability of the power sector statistics and performance of the macroeconomic targets. An important round was also held on the status of the implementation of the National Fiscal Pact.

The FBR gave an overview of its performance during the first quarter. The IMF was told that the three-month shortfall of Rs90 billion was because the macroeconomic assumptions went off the mark.

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Earthquake of 5.3 Magnitude Jolts Islamabad, Peshawar Other Parts

By

Sara Maqsood

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November 13, 2024

ISLAMABAD: Earthquake has jolted the Federal Capital (Islamabad), Peshawar and surrounding areas of the capital and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday.

According to the Seismological Centre, tremors were also reported in Swabi, Malakand, Battagram, Mardan, Swat, Nowshera, Landi Kotal, Hangu and Abbottabad, as well as in Chitral, Buner, and Mansehra.

The Seismological Centre reported that the earthquake had a magnitude of 5.3 on Richter Scale, with its epicenter located in the Hindukush region of Afghanistan at a depth of 220 kilometres.

Earlier, a 5.7 magnitude earthquake jolted the federal capital and parts of Punjab and KP on September11.

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CJP Says Humane, Effective Prison System Vital for Fair Legal Framework

By

Palwasha Mustafa

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November 4, 2024

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Khan Afridi launched initiatives for comprehensive jail reforms for effective prison system to ensure a fair legal framework.

The discussion was also attended by members from both treasury and opposition political parties Ahad Khan Cheema and Ms Khadijah Shah who have experienced imprisonment in jail.

This session marked the inaugural discussion for developing National Jail Reform Policy, focusing on prison reforms and the welfare of inmates as part of a broader criminal justice reform strategy for Pakistan.

Chief Justice Afridi shared his vision for modernising Pakistan’s criminal justice system, stressing that a humane and effective prison system is essential to ensure a fair legal framework.

He noted that data collected by Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP) reveals a deeply concerning situation nationwide, with 108,643 inmates housed in facilities with an authorized capacity of only 66,625.

Punjab faces particularly severe challenges, with 67,837 prisoners confined in prisons built to accommodate just 36,365. Further analysis shows that 36,128 of these are under-trial prisoners, many of whom have been awaiting trial for over a year, highlighting a critical issue for the justice system.

Chief Justice Afridi emphasised the importance of addressing these urgent issues in Punjab, beginning a phased approach that will ultimately extend to the entire country.

The agenda centered on the LJCP’s proposal, a National Jail Reform Policy in alignment with international standards, including the Nelson Mandela Rules, Bangkok Rules, and Beijing Rules, to ensure humane and rehabilitative management across Pakistan’s correctional facilities.

This proposal received strong support from attendees, who considered a phased plan to promote alternative sentencing options and rehabilitation initiatives for under-trial prisoners.

The Chief Justice of Pakistan constituted a sub-committee comprising Justice (R) Shabbar Raza Rizvi, Ms Saima Amin Khawaja (Advocate), Senator Ahad Khan Cheema and Ms Khadija Shah to inspect the jails across the province and to give recommendations to streamline processes to address the high numbers of under-trial prisoners and promote alternative sentencing options, including community service and probation.

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Aramco Opens Second Fuel Station in Islamabad After Lahore

By

Tanzeel Ahmed

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November 4, 2024

ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia’s leading oil giant, Aramco, has inaugurated its second branded fuel station in Pakistan, strategically located on Embassy Road Islamabad.

This new station, following the first Aramco site in Lahore, offers an array of premium services including an EV charging point, a modern convenience store, a service station, and a tyre shop, setting a high benchmark for quality and customer care in the local market.

The latest addition comes amid positive public feedback, with customers noting the station’s high standards, well-trained staff, and enhanced offerings, which they hope other local stations will emulate. “Foreign investment is a positive force, creating jobs and introducing quality standards that benefit the community,” said one customer.

This expansion marks a significant milestone in Aramco’s retail footprint in Pakistan. In May, Aramco acquired a 40 per cent stake in Gas & Oil Pakistan Ltd. (GO), one of the country’s largest petroleum distributors. Through its partnership with GO, Aramco aims to further expand its retail network, providing world-class fuel and automotive services across Pakistan.

Aramco’s entry into Pakistan’s fuel retail market follows the broader context of Pakistan-Saudi Arabia economic cooperation, where investment projects, including a $5 billion investment package, are underway.

The two nations have historically maintained strong trade, defense, and cultural ties, with Pakistan being a key market for Saudi energy products and the Kingdom serving as the top source of remittances for Pakistan.

Aramco’s new service stations and infrastructure upgrades reflect Saudi Arabia’s continued investment commitment to Pakistan, contributing to economic growth and bringing modern energy solutions to the market.

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