PML-N leaders against forming federal govt as Saad Rafique suggests PTI-PPP coalition

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February 17, 2024

LAHORE: Senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Khawaja Saad Rafique on Saturday asked the PTI-backed independents and the PPP to jointly form a government in Centre, as the fractured mandate continues fuelling and sustaining political uncertainty in Pakistan.

“No one has absolute majority in the present National Assembly,” said Saad Rafique in a post shared on X – the popular social media platform which was previously known as X.

Countering the narrative spread by political pundits who have been singling out the Nawaz Sharif’s party for leading the country’s affairs after the February 8 elections, he said the formation of the federal government was a joint responsibility of all the parties in the parliament, not the PML-N.

“Independent members supported by PTI should take the initiative, form a joint central government with the PPP. We will congratulate you,” he said, adding that the PML N had no desire to wear “this crown of thorns”.

Earlier on Friday, it was reported that most of the party leaders during a meeting chaired by three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif suggested that the PML-N should not form the federal government and only focus on Punjab where they had secured a majority after the induction of independents.

However, some of them argued otherwise, saying Pakistan was facing serious economic crisis and there was a need to rescue the state.

Speaking on the occasion, Nawaz Sharif said the PML-N must not accept any unprincipled demand forwarded by allied parties just for the sake of coming into power in Centre.

It isn’t Saad Rafique, as Rana Sanaullah, who is a close aide of Nawaz Sharif and heads the Punjab chapter of PML-N, told a private TV channel that the PML-N should not form the federal government and sit on the opposition benches.

One must recall that Nawaz Sharif has already refused to lead the next government and nominated his younger brother Shehhaz Sharif as the prime minister candidate as he didn’t want a split mandate and was aiming at a simple majority.

In this this connection, Maryam Nawaz – the PML-N chief organizer – too had earlier explained the reasons behind Nawaz Sharif not leading the government this time round which would have given him the unmatched distinction of serving Pakistan for fourth time.

Maryam Nawaz said the people had given a clear majority to Nawaz Sharif for his previous three stints as prime minister. “He has made it clear in his speeches during election campaign that he would not become part of any coalition government,” she added.

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Islamabad police expands Red Zone to Faisal Avenue

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Our Correspondent

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February 17, 2024

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad capital police extended Red Zone Ataturk Avenue to Faisal Avenue in order to stop violation of Section 144, informed a police spokesman.

Earlier, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad Dr Akbar Nasir Khan made a request to the local administration to extend the Red Zone from Ataturk Avenue to Faisal Avenue upto Zero Point in a move to formalise a decision which the government had already taken in the wake of the PTI proposed rallies and protest likely to be held today (Saturday).

Meanwhile, he informed that the police had not yet received any application from PTI seeking permission for holding protest or rallies in Islamabad.

He said that since Section 144 has been imposed in federal capital; therefore, no political party is allowed for taking out rally or staging protest in Islamabad.

“We had demanded extra force in order to tackle the expected rally of PTI,” he said adding that strict action would be taken against those found involved in blocking roads or creating hurdles in movement of traffic or ordinary citizens.

He said that police have also beefed up security of Islamabad besides placing special pickets on all the exit and entry points of capital city.

He advised the citizens to keep their CNICs/ other documents with them in order to avoid any inconvenience at police pickets.

He also advised the citizens including women, children and old age people to not visit F-9 Park. The citizens are also asked by the police to alert the law enforcers on ICT 15 Pukar in case of presence of any suspecious element around them

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Rain likely in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, parts of Pakistan during weekend

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Sara Maqsood

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February 17, 2024

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted rains, isolated hailstorm with snowfall over mountains for Islamabad and parts of Pakistan on Saturday and Sunday.

According to the synoptic situation, continental air prevails over most parts of Pakistan. A westerly wave will likely enter western parts of the country on Saturday night. It may grip most upper parts of the country on Sunday.

Under these conditions, cloudy weather with light rain/light snowfall is likely at isolated places in Gilgit-Baltistan, Chitral and surrounding areas on Friday night.

On Saturday and Sunday, partly cloudy/cloudy weather with rain-wind/thunderstorm/snowfall is likely in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan, upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir and adjoining hilly areas. Isolated hailstorms are also likely during the period.

Islamabad’s minimum temperatures will likely remain between 04-06 degrees Celsius on Saturday and Sunday.

Rawalpindi’s minimum temperatures will likely remain between 08-10 C on Saturday and Sunday.

Meanwhile, cold and dry weather prevailed in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and most parts of Pakistan during the last 24 hours. Freezing weather prevailed in the northern parts of the country.

Leh remained the coldest place in the country where the temperature dropped 09 C below freezing.

In Islamabad, minimum temperature was recorded at 04 C. Relative humidity during the morning was recorded at 86 per cent.

In Rawalpindi, minimum temperature was recorded at 08 C. Relative humidity during the morning was recorded at 58 per cent.

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Zainab Naqvi, Karachi-born Tennis player dies in Islamabad

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Our Correspondent

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February 14, 2024

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s young tennis player from Karachi, Zainab Ali Naqvi, passed away in Islamabad, during the ongoing ITF Juniors Tournaments.

As confirmed by the Pakistan Tennis Federation in an official statement, Karachi-born Zainab Ali Naqvi, 17, who was in the capital for the ITF Juniors Tournaments, died, following the practice match in the evening.

Reportedly, Naqvi went to take a bath after getting back from the practice when she was found dead in the restroom, of suspected heart failure.

“Zainab Ali Naqvi, a young tennis player who had come to Islamabad from Karachi to participate in the ITF Juniors Tournaments, passed away last night on 12th February 2024 in Islamabad,” PTF said in a statement.

“Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, President-PTF, Senator Salim Saifullah Khan, Ex-President-PTF, PTF Council members and the tennis fraternity at large offer their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family,” the statement read further. “May Allah bless the departed soul with eternal peace in heaven.”

Notably, the scheduled matches of the tournament, on Tuesday, were postponed in memory of the young sportsperson, while a joint prayer was also offered by all the foreign and Pakistani players, parents, coaches and the PTF Officials and staff.

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Counting of votes begins as polling across country concludes amid heightened security

By

Palwasha Mustafa

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February 8, 2024

ISLAMABAD: Counting has started all over Pakistan as the polling of 12th General Elections, concluded in a largely peaceful manner, except sporadic incidents of violence, as there are varying reports about turnout.

Vote count began in the polling stations as the PTI’s plea for extending time of casting ballot was turned down.

People turn out in droves in many parts of Punjab and, eyewitnesses say, the young and the old showed a great deal of enthusiasm. There were long queues of people at some of the polling stations in Lahore while some polling stations did not have too many people.

Except for internet and mobile services suspension, the polling process reportedly went smooth at most places.

Pakistan temporarily suspended mobile phone services on Thursday to strengthen security as voting began in the country’s national election, the interior ministry said.

The government’s decision comes amidst a rise in militant attacks in the run-up to the election and a day after jailed former prime minister and the PTI founder urged his supporters to wait outside polling booths after voting until results are announced.

“As a result of the recent incidents of terrorism in the country precious lives have been lost, security measures are essential to maintain the law and order situation and deal with possible threats, hence the temporary suspension of mobile services across the country,” the interior ministry said in a message on X.

Two blasts near election offices on Wednesday killed 24 people in the southwestern province of Balochistan.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for the blasts in a message on its Telegram channel. Several other groups, including the TTP and separatist Baloch militants, oppose the Pakistani state and have also carried out attacks in recent months.

The country is on high alert with tens of thousands of troops and paramilitary soldiers on duty across the country, including at polling stations. Pakistan also said it was closing its borders with Iran and Afghanistan for the day for security purposes.

Unofficial first results in the election are expected a few hours after voting closes at 5pm and a clear picture is likely to emerge early on Friday.

The main contests are expected to be between candidates backed by the ex-prime minister whose Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party won the last national election, and the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) of three-time premier Nawaz Sharif who is considered the front-runner.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the 35-year-old son of former premier Benazir Bhutto, has also run an aggressive campaign in an outside bid for the top office.

“The deciding factor is which side the powerful military and its security agencies are on,” said Abbas Nasir, a columnist. “Only a huge turnout in favour of PTI can change its fortunes.”

The two former prime ministers have switched places since the last election in 2018: the PTI founder was believed to be backed by the establishment then and Sharif was in jail on corruption charges.

“Historically, engineered electoral exercises have not produced stability,” Nasir said, adding, “Economic challenges are so serious, grave, and the solutions so very painful that I am unsure how anyone who comes to power will steady the ship.”

If the election does not result in a clear majority for anyone, as analysts are predicting, tackling multiple challenges will be tricky – foremost being seeking a new bailout programme from International Monetary Fund (IMF) after the current one expires in March.

Smaller political parties could play a crucial role in the formation of a government that will need 169 seats in the 336-member National Assembly. Voters directly elect 266 members while there are 70 reserved seats – 60 for women and 10 for non-Muslims – allotted according to the number of seats won by each party.

Independents, many of whom are being backed by the PTI founder, are free to join any party if they win, which could swing fortunes after the vote. He has said his candidates will not back Nawaz or Bilawal.

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Body of young student found from Islamabad seminary’s washroom

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Our Correspondent

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February 8, 2024

ISLAMABAD: Body of a 10-year-old boy was recovered from the washroom of a local seminary in Islamabad’s Aabpara’s police station area in G-6/3, police said.

Abdullah’s jugular vein was slit with a sharp-edged weapon. He was a student of a seminary in Jamia Masjid Bilal.

Police registered the first information report and after the postmortem the dead body was handed over to the family.

A Polyclinic Hospital doctor told police that Abdullah was killed by using a sharp-edged weapon.

Further details will be revealed after the compilation of the postmortem report.

The police claimed that a comprehensive investigation was in progress to detect the reason behind this severe crime.

The police urged anyone with information regarding the matter to come forward and contact them. For reporting any suspicious activities, individuals were encouraged to utilize the emergency helpline 15 or ICT 15 app.

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Renowned actor Sajid Hasan joins IPP

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Our Correspondent

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January 22, 2024

KARACHI: Renowned showbiz personality Sajid Hasan has officially become a part of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), reports said here on Sunday.

Sajid Hasan was presented with the party flag by Mahmood Maulvi, the Provincial President. Welcoming Sajid Hassan into the party, Mahmood Maulvi conveyed his pleasure and enthusiasm.

The veteran actor advocated for a politics of unity, emphasising the importance of bringing people together rather than creating divisions.

Expressing a new perspective, Sajid Hasan stated, “Now we are committed to making a difference for the youth and the nation.”

Meanwhile, IPP President Abdul Aleem Khan said on Sunday that his party will play a vital role in the next government.

Expressing his thoughts in Khanewal, Aleem Khan said, ‘’It is not possible to impress everybody in politics.Who pretends to extend support to everybody is not loyal to anybody in real context.’’

He took a swipe at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) without naming it. ‘’I joined one political party to see the creation of Naya Pakistan. By putting in all the hard work, we made the leader of that party the premier.’’

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Three Varsities in Islamabad close for security concerns

By

Mehtab Cheema

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January 22, 2024

ISLAMABAD: Three universities in Islamabad have been closed for an indefinite period over security concerns, officials within university administrations on Monday said.

The development came after security agencies conducted a search operation in the suburbs of Islamabad late Sunday.

The administrations of Bahria, Air and National Defence Universities issued directives for the closure, they added.

The students were informed about the indefinite closure late at night by the university administration.

As per the sources, the final examinations of university students have also been affected due to the sudden closure.

Meanwhile, police sources said security is already beefed up in the federal capital due to the upcoming elections and ongoing sit-ins by Baloch protesters at the press club.

A day earlier, addressing a press conference in Quetta, Balochistan Caretaker Information Minister Jan Achakzai rebuked the Baloch demonstrators holding a sit-in protest against enforced disappearances in Islamabad.

“Those who were being labelled as missing persons were terrorists [and] killed in Iran,” he claimed while referring to Pakistan’s strikes inside Iran.

The provincial information minister had said Baloch protesters were staging the sit-in in Islamabad for ulterior motives.

“They could disturb the law and order situation. In such a situation, it becomes impossible to stop a terror incident. Those wearing masks in the sit-in can be terrorists of banned outfits,” he added.

In 2023, Pakistan witnessed 1,524 violence-related fatalities and 1463 injuries from as many as 789 terror attacks and counter-terror operations.

According to Annual Security Report released by Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) released last month includes nearly 1000 fatalities among civilians and security forces personnel.

The overall fatalities including those of outlaws mark a record 6-year high, exceeding the 2018 level and highest since 2017. Moreover, the country saw a surge in violence for the third consecutive year with an uptick recorded each year beginning from 2021.

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Man’s body found hanging from bridge in Islamabad

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Our Correspondent

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January 22, 2024

ISLAMABAD: In a shocking incident, a man’s body was found hanging from a bridge in Islamabad, Police reports said here on Monday.

The body kept on hanging for several hours as it was not visible due to dense fog in Islamabad.

As per details, the deceased man whose body was retrieved from the bridge has been identified as Umar, a resident of Mardan’s Katlang area.

The police in its initial report said that the youth had committed suicide, while the investigation has been launched.

Police officials stated that the family of the deceased man was not found even after several hours had passed.

Whereas, the hospital administration said that the incident seemed to be a suicide as per the initial investigation.

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Iran ‘attacks militant bases in Panjgur’; Pakistan condemns airspace violation

By

Sardar Jahanzaib

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January 17, 2024

QUETTA: Iran launched attacks in Pakistan targeting what it described as bases for the militant group Jaysh-al-Adl in the border town of Panjgur in Balochistan, the Iranian state media reported, prompting strong condemnation from Islamabad.

“Two key strongholds of the Jaysh al-Dhulm (Jaish-al-Adl) terrorist group in Pakistan” were “specifically targeted and successfully demolished by a combination of missile and drone attacks”, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency said.

Jaysh-al-Adl has previously mounted attacks on Iranian security forces in the border area with Pakistan. Tuesday’s attack in Balochistan came a day after Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards attacked targets in Iraq and Syria with missiles.

Meanwhile, Pakistan strongly condemned the unprovoked violation of its airspace by Iran, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs saying that the strike inside Pakistani territory killed two children and injured three girls.

“This violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty is completely unacceptable and can have serious consequences,” the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday night. The statement didn’t mention the location of the attacks.

Tasnim reported that the “focal point of this operation was the region known as Kouh-Sabz (green mountain)” in Balochistan.

Local authorities said they had also received information about such an attack, but had no further details at the time of going to print. Reports from the area suggested that a missile hit a mosque, partially damaging it and injuring some people.

In its statement, the foreign office described the incident as an “illegal act”.

It said a strong protest had been lodged with Tehran, while the Iranian charge d’affaires had been called to MoFA to convey “strongest condemnation of this blatant violation”.

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