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

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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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Pakistan’s Summit Moment as SCO Delegates Reach Islamabad to Discuss Key Issues

By

Palwasha Mustafa

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October 15, 2024

ISLAMABAD: The two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit begins in the federal capital on Tuesday under a heavy security blanket, with more than 10,000 personnel deployed for the safety of the esteemed delegates.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will preside over the 23rd SCO Summit, with SCO member states represented by the prime ministers of China, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as the First Vice President of Iran and the External Affairs Minister of India.

China will be represented by State Council Premier Li Qiang. The prime minister of Mongolia, as an observer state, and the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan, as a special guest, will also participate in the meeting.

The SCO Council of Heads of Government will discuss ongoing cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, environment, and sociocultural linkages, and review the organization’s performance.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will also hold important bilateral meetings with the visiting heads of delegations on the sidelines of the summit.

The SCO summit is expected to serve as a key platform for fostering regional cooperation, bolstering trade and investment, and enhancing socioeconomic and cultural ties among its member states.

Diplomatic and political experts believe that this important meeting of the heads of government from SCO member states will not only help address pressing regional issues collectively but also significantly enhance Pakistan’s role on the global stage as a leader.

The SCO, which includes member states that account for approximately 40 percent of the global population and 32 percent of the world’s GDP, presents Pakistan with an excellent opportunity to shape its economic and investment future.

The SCO’s origins trace back to the Shanghai Five, established in 1996, and it evolved significantly after Uzbekistan joined in 2001. More recently, Pakistan became a full member in 2017 after performing excellently in its observer role from 2015 to 2017.

Experts assert that the collective strength of the SCO can be harnessed through collaborative initiatives aimed at promoting regional cooperation and deepening economic ties, which are vital for the shared prosperity of all SCO member states.

They further highlight that Pakistan’s significance in the region has increased after the launch of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), making it an ideal destination for investment.

For Pakistan, fostering an environment of open dialogue and cooperation will be essential in addressing key challenges and trade barriers. Experts express hope that Pakistan will effectively present its viewpoint on regional issues during the summit.

They also emphasize that the SCO summit represents a pivotal moment for regional diplomacy and economic cooperation, with the potential to positively impact not only Pakistan but also the wider region.

Meanwhile, the two-day event, to be held at the Jinnah Convention Center on October 16, will bring together leaders from SCO member countries to discuss key regional and international issues.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will host a dinner in honor of the visiting delegations. He will then formally welcome the guests upon their arrival at the convention center. Following the arrival of the guests, reception, and group photos, the conference will officially commence.

According to the Foreign Office, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will inaugurate the conference with a welcome address, followed by speeches from the heads of the foreign delegations.

Later, the event will include the signing of important documents as part of the meeting’s agenda, culminating in concluding remarks from Prime Minister Sharif. A luncheon will also be held in honor of the participants.

At the conclusion of the event, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and the SCO Secretary-General will address the media to share key outcomes and insights from the conference.

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Indian EAM S Jaishankar Reaches Islamabad on Historic Visit

By

Sara Maqsood

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October 15, 2024

ISLAMABAD: The 23rd summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is officially underway in Pakistan as high-profile delegates, including prime ministers and foreign ministers from member nations, have begun arriving in Islamabad for the two-day event.

Prime ministers from three member states have already touched down in the capital for the two-day event, where they were warmly welcomed by federal ministers.

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has touched down in Islamabad, marking a historic moment between the two countries. His presence has sparked interest as it could offer a platform for indirect dialogue between the two neighbouring nations despite ongoing tensions.

This is the first time in around a decade that an Indian external affairs minister has arrived in Pakistan since the previous one by the late Sushma Swaraj. Jaishankar was received at the Nur Khan airbase by Foreign Office Director General (South Asia & SAARC) Ilyas Mehmood Nizami.

Landed in Islamabad to take part in SCO Council of Heads of Government Meeting.

Later, the visiting Indian minister tweeted from his official X handle that he landed in Islamabad for the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting.

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