PESHAWAR: Former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan took another U-Turn as he backtracked from the six-day ultimatum he had given to the unity government for the announcement of the fresh elections.
After reaching Islamabad on May 25, Imran Khan surprised many by announcing to call off the much-hyped long march to the capital. However, he had given a six-day deadline to the government for announcing the election date — an ultimatum which expired on Tuesday.
The former premier had vowed to bring an “ocean of people” to the capital if the government did not comply with his demand.
Addressing a social media conference in Peshawar on Wednesday, Khan said that PTI has filed a petition in the Supreme Court for a ‘peaceful protest’ in Islamabad.
“We want protection from the Supreme Court on whether we have the right to peaceful protest and whether the judiciary can allow these ‘criminals’ (government officials) to torture women and children,” he said and added that he will give the call for Islamabad only after the apex court’s verdict.
Imran Khan said that the courts are formed to give protection to the weak, adding they will be better prepared this time while going to Islamabad and will not repeat ‘mistakes’.
Equating the struggle against the present government as jihad, he said that the decisive moment had arrived for the nation. “The government is trying to intimidate people… the shells that were used [against protesters] in Islamabad were the same that were used against the terrorists,” he added.
The PTI chairman said cert ain members of the incumbent government had been committing crimes for the past 30 years but they were still imposed upon the nation. “Shehbaz Sharif and Rana Sanaullah had killed 14 people in broad daylight in Model Town… these people should have been in prison,” he said and added that if the nation defeats the “looters and murderers”, then Pakistan will rise.
Imran Khan further said that the Almighty does not allow anyone to remain ‘neutral’.
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) said Wednesday it was “disappointed” to note that riots took place in the federal capital despite its order to create a balance between both sides — the PTI and the government.
“We are disappointed to note that bona fide effort made by Court was disrespected,” the Supreme Court said in a written order on the plea filed by the Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) against the government’s decision to block roads to stop PTI’s “Azadi March”.
The top court had earlier disposed of the IHCBA’s petition and issued a verbal order a day after PTI Chairman Imran Khan on May 26 had announced calling off the long march.
The court said by acting upon assurances given on behalf of the top leadership of PTI and issuing directions to the government, its order created a balance between the mutual rights and obligations of the protesting people, the ordinary public and the duties of the state.
“This balance was recorded in good faith by the Court whilst trusting the representations made on behalf of the two opposing parties before it. We are disappointed to note that the bona fide effort made by the Court was disrespected,” the apex court said.
The SC said it passed the order — by trusting the representations made and assurances given to the court — to create harmony between the two opposing sides for the sake of protecting the public interest and the constitutional rights of the people.
“In the present case, to say the least, the moral high ground held by the parties has diminished because public rights, interests, and property of the disinterested public have been breached and damaged badly,” the SC said.
The SC said it expects that the high functionaries of the executive throughout the country and the top leadership of the PTI and other political parties shall abide and settle a fair code of securing free, fair, and peaceful political activity in the country leading to the holding of the national election.
Nevertheless, there remains the lurking question of whether the responsibility for the events of yesterday evening comprising reckless acts of mob anger can be blamed upon the senior leadership of the PTI, the top court said.
“So far there is no evidence or allegation that such acts were committed on the instigation of any party or happened randomly. At its most elementary level, the PTI leader appears to have assured the holding of a political rally at the G-9/H-9 ground and therefore not to assemble and sit in another venue including at D-Chowk in G-5 Islamabad.”
However, the court noted, that the attorney-general claims that the PTI workers and supporters moved forward to the D-Chowk area in response to the call made by their leader.
“Notwithstanding the said request by the AGP, we exercise restraint for the time being for a number of reasons,” the court said.
“Firstly, Mr. Imran Khan has called off the rally/public meeting. That gives a recess to the charged mob witnessed last night. Secondly, prudence advises that time be given for sanity to prevail among the stakeholders. In any event, facts and materials need to be collected to establish the sequence of events, the identity of the perpetrators and of the instigators, if any.”
At this stage therefore it is directed that the IGP ICT, the chief commissioner ICT, the secretary Ministry of Interior, the director-general Intelligence Bureau, and the director-general ISI shall file reports answering, the following questions within a week:
At what time did Khan make the announcement for party workers to reach D-Chowk?
When, where and how did the crowd cross the barricade to enter a hitherto closed area?
Was the crowd entering the Red Zone organized or supervised or did it move randomly?
Were there any acts of provocation or breach of assurance by the Government?
Was any action or treatment meted out by the ICT police against the protesters disproportionate to the actual or perceived wrong committed by the protesters?
How many protesters managed to enter the Red Zone? Which security arrangements, if any, were relaxed by the Executive authorities? Whether any security barrier cordons were broken or breached by protestors? Did any protestor/party worker reach the G-9/ H-9 ground?
How many civilians were injured/killed/ hospitalized/arrested?
“There is need for verification of, inter alia, factual aspects of the events that occurred in order for the Court to evaluate and decide whether action for violation of assurances/undertaking given to the Court and recorded in our order ought to be initiated and against whom,” it added.
In a separate note, Justice Yahaya Afridi said he disagreed with Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial that there is no credible material before the SC for initiating independent contempt proceedings against Khan, who allegedly disobeyed the court’s order.
The justice quoted Khan’s statement after the court order: “Wherever Pakistanis are, there is good news: the Supreme Court has issued an order that there will be no hurdles and no one will be arrested. This is why I want all Pakistanis to come out of their homes today evening; people in Islamabad and Rawalpindi should try their best to reach D-Chowk because I will reach there within one-and-a-half-hour.”
“The above statement of Khan, coupled with his conduct that followed thereafter in proceeding beyond the venue decided in the order for the political gathering, is in my opinion, sufficient to prima facie show that Khan disobeyed the order of this court,” Justice Afridi said.
The justice said in light of Khan’s statement, the court should issue a notice to the ousted prime minister seeking an explanation on why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him.
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah has said on Wednesday that the riot march will not be allowed to enter Islamabad under any circumstances as the country cannot be left at the mercy of riot groups and miscreants.
A meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Interior Minister regarding enhancement of operational capacity of Islamabad Police and Frontier Constabulary. Home Secretary Yousuf Naseem Khokhar along with Commandant Frontier Constabulary Salahuddin Mehsud, IG Police Islamabad, Chief Commissioner Islamabad and others participated in the meeting.
Rana Sanaullah said that for maintaining law and order, it has been decided to provide more financial, technical resources and legal support to Islamabad Police and Frontier Constabulary while salaries and allowances of police will be made equal to those of Punjab Police.
He said the government has decided to immediately pay the arrears of Rs 1 billion of the Police Martyrs Package while the Frontier Constabulary will also be provided necessary training to use it as an anti-riot force.
He went on to say that for the foolproof security of the federal capital the government intends to modernize Islamabad Safe City in the style of Lahore, and to ensure law and order as well as street crime the coverage of cameras in Islamabad are being increased to 100 percent.
The minister said the federal cabinet has strongly condemned the violence and attacks on police, Rangers and FC personnel by the miscreants of the riot march. He also paid rich tributes to the police, Rangers and FC for handling them professionally and ensuring law and order.
ISLAMABAD: PTI workers after authorities tried to block them from proceedings towards the capital, where former prime minister Imran Khan plans to hold a large political rally.
Khan is heading to Islamabad from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with a large caravan to demand the removal of the government and an immediate national election.
He vows to hold the “biggest march” in the political history of Pakistan if the government does not agree to his demands. According to the latest update, Khan’s caravan has entered Punjab after supporters removed barricades from the Attock bridge.
Taking to his Twitter handle, Khan confirmed: “We have entered Punjab and will InshaAllah be heading towards Islamabad.”
“No amount of state oppression and fascism by this imported govt can stop or deter our march.”
The former prime minister urged all PTI party workers to come out of their houses and stage protests across the country. “I am reaching Islamabad in the next 2.5 hours,” he announced.
Meanwhile, it is worth mentioning that PTI workers have started reaching D-Chowk and removed the containers placed to seal the area. Police resorted to using tear gas to stop protestors from entering the place.
Meanwhile, PTI protesters in Islamabad had set vehicles and trees on fire in the Blue Area of the federal capital.
According to the police sources, the fire brigade was called immediately to douse the fire; however, the protestors also attacked the fire engine.
The police sources further added that security in the Red Zone area has been increased.
Clashes in Karachi
The PTI workers staged a protest at Karachi’s Numaish Chowrangi and set a police van on fire.
During the demonstrations, several policemen including a superintendent of police (SP) were injured as the protesters pelted stones at them. The police started aerial firing after which the number of protesters increased.
SC orders govt to provide PTI with a ground for jalsa
The Supreme Court directed the federal government to provide the PTI with the ground between the H-9 and G-9 areas of Islamabad to hold its public gathering.
When the hearing resumed after a break, the attorney-general told the three-member bench that the ground, which will be given to the PTI, only had the capacity to accommodate 10,000 people.
He also added that a Sunday bazaar and the Sirinigar Highway were close to the venue.
Earlier today, following the directions of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the two sides had also engaged in a two-hour dialogue, but no breakthrough could be reached.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb has denied reports of an agreement between the federal government and the PTI, calling the news “baseless”.
After reaching Swabi, PTI Chairman Imran Khan addressed the people heading toward the federal capital. In it, he denied all reports of striking an agreement with the government. “We are heading towards Islamabad and there is no chance of settling an agreement with the coalition government.”
“We will stay in Islamabad until the government decided to dissolve assemblies and announces election dates,” he reiterated, adding that they will reach D-Chowk and no hurdle can stop them.
Speaking to a charged crowd, he called the incumbent government a “group of American slaves”. The former prime minister acknowledged that his party workers and leaders were being arrested across the country, while several others were being harassed.
Imran also maintained that staging a protest was the party’s right, adding that he would unite the country and make it a nation.
“All Pakistanis, women, children, families, youth, lawyers, retired army officers, everyone has to come out for real independence,” he said.
The PTI chairman had earlier announced to lead the march from Wali interchange, where he landed in a helicopter. In a video message recorded before leaving the former prime minister said: “This is a decisive moment for Pakistan.”
ISLAMABAD: PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Monday called on the United States for dismissing Donald Lu, assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs, for “bad manners and sheer arrogance as he “threatened” Pakistan.
In an interview with CNN, the ousted prime minister said the US diplomat told Pakistan’s ambassador that unless “you get Imran Khan removed in a vote of no-confidence, which was not tabled but he seemed to know about it, Pakistan will suffer consequences”.
“And then goes on to say, of course, if you get rid of him through the vote of no-confidence, all will be forgiven — such arrogance […] by the way Becky, this guy should be sacked for bad manners and sheer arrogance,” Khan told CNN’s Becky Anderson.
The PTI chairman said he presented the cypher before the federal cabinet, the National Security Council (NSC), as it was a “blatant interference in Pakistan’s affairs”.
When asked whether he got in touch with US President Joe Biden or other officials, Khan said the NSC had decided to issue a demarche and protest to the US in Pakistan as well.
He mentioned that President Arif Alvi had also asked Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial to hold an inquiry into the matter.
In a response to a question, Khan said he had a “perfectly good” relationship with the Donald Trump administration, and it was only when Joe Biden came into power that the relations became strained.
“… for some reason, which I still don’t know, they (Biden administration) never got in touch with me; there was no US ambassador in Pakistan, I had no idea,” Khan said.
The PTI chairman noted that his first priority was the people of Pakistan, and he aspired to import oil from Russia, but for “some reason, this was used against me as if I was being anti-US”.
Giving reasons as to why he believes Washington was behind the regime change, Khan said that the US embassy was calling members of his party, “some of the backbenchers”, who were not happy. “Why were they meeting them?” he questioned, adding that they were the first ones who then jumped ships.
“Why would the US embassy be interested in the backbenchers of our party?” he said.
Replying to a question regarding the current government being an “American replant”, Khan said: “It’s with their blessing […] we all call them imported government but the worst thing is they are a bunch of criminals. 60% of the cabinet is on bail.”
Regarding him being in Moscow on the day when Russia announced war in Ukraine, the former premier reiterated that his visit was planned a long time back and all the stakeholders in Pakistan were on board — the military wanted a hard way from the Russians, the government wanted oil — hence, everything was planned a long time ago.
“How would I know that the day I land in Moscow, President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin would decide to go into Ukraine.
“I would regret the trip to Russia if we had known about the invasion and then I [had] gone in because I do not believe in military solutions,” he said in reply to a question about whether he regretted his trip to Russia or not.
“I do not believe in military solutions and I have opposed all military ways of achieving political ends,” he said.
Speaking about the next elections: “Whenever the next elections take place not only we will run but I can predict right now that this will become the biggest party in Pakistan’s history because the people are so incensed and feel insulted that these criminals are being forced on his who have been plundering the country for 30 years.
“There is anger in Pakistan and unfortunately because of this becoming public […] there is anti-Americanism. When unpopular governments are fostered on the people the resentment then goes to the US. And unfortunately yes there is anti-Americanism in Pakistan,” the former prime minister said.
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari observed Monday that the “harder” Beijing and Islamabad work, the more both countries can “unlock the true economic potential of the Pakistan-China relationship”.
“We feel that the harder we work, the more we can unlock the true economic potential of the Pakistan-China relationship,” Bilawal said in an interview with China’s state-run broadcaster CGTN.
The foreign minister emphasised that the ties with Beijing are the “cornerstone” of Pakistan’s foreign policy.
Bilawal, who was on an official visit to China from May 21 to 22, said that all the coalition partners in the current government attach great importance to the country’s relationship with China.
Bilawal labelled China’s proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) a “truly inspirational” project, adding that “it has enormous economic potential globally.”
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship cooperation program under the BRI, “has contributed immensely” to the economic cooperation between Pakistan and China and created economic opportunities for both Pakistani businesses and Chinese investors, he was quoted by CTGN.
The foreign minister highlighted that the Shehbaz Sharif-led government “is very keen” to enhance ties with China in building CPEC.
“We feel that the harder we work, the more we can unlock the true economic potential of the Pakistan-China relationship,” he said.
Commenting on China’s dynamic zero-COVID approach, the country’s top diplomat said it shows that Beijing “attaches utmost importance” to the people’s lives and health.
JAKARTA: Pakistan hockey team head coach Siegfried Aikman said that his team geared up to exhibit their best against arch-rivals India in their opening Asia Cup match in Jakarta on Monday today.
Talking to media, he announced Pakistan had covered all the bases. “We are ready for India and I feel that every player is eager to deliver his best and to start the Asia Cup in an impressive style,” he said.
The head coach opined that Pakistan achieved the targets during the preparations. “Let me make it clear that we have achieved our goals from the warm-up matches that were only meant for preparations. Following hard training at camps and tour to Europe I feel every player is ready to deliver against a team that is far superior on the FIH ranking list. Despite our weak ranking, I think when it comes to playing against India, you cannot say anything final,” he said.
“Though they have rested some players, there are a few very impressive players on their side. Pakistan have also got almost 80 percent fresh faces, as we are eyeing the future,” Aikman said. Pakistan and India match starts at 4:30 pm PST.
PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday announced to hold Islamabad long march on May 25.
Imran Khan said that the institutions declared that they are neutral then stay neutral. “I tell the police, the bureaucracy and the army we will not be causing any damage. In 26 years of politics, we have always been peaceful”, he added.
Imran Khan exclaimed that this is a war of real independence and they are ready to fight. We prefer death over slavery. He also warned of taking action against the bureaucracy if any illegal action is taken.
Imran Khan said that he has been repeating again and again that his life is in danger.
He also added that it is feared that these people will shut down petrol, diesel and internet, to stop this revolution.
The PTI Chairman stated that on the 25th of May, I will meet you in Islamabad on the Srinagar Highway, you have to reach there at 3pm. I invite all the women because I’ve seen your anger. I had never seen that before. He went on saying that I want people from all walks of life to come because this is Jihad, and not politics.
“I’ve decided and told all my team that we have to be ready to sacrifice our lives,” he added.
Imran Khan made it clear that we will never under any situation accept them. No matter how long we have to remain in Islamabad we will remain there.
He said that the foreign conspiracy against Pakistan was hatched in the United States.The corrupt people joined them for regime change in the country. This conspiracy started eight months ago. I was aware of it since last June.
Further talking about it he said that we have been trying to stop this conspiracy but unfortunately we could not. On March 7, the US Assistant Secretary of State threatened our ambassador. Donald Lu said that if Imran Khan is not removed then there will be problems for Pakistan.
This conspiracy was not against me but against Pakistan, said PTI Chairperson.
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has warned all expatriates of Pakistani origin that their names can be put on the Exit Control List (ECL) if they put up “offensive and seditious” social media posts that may lead to chaos in Pakistan.
“All Pakistani origin expatriates living outside Pakistan are advised to desist from spreading chaos in Pakistan while staying abroad. Their social media posts must not be offensive and seditious,” the FIA spokesperson said in a statement.
The agency directed the expatriates to read the “Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act 2016 (PECA)” to make sure that their social media posts “do not constitute any offence”.
“If they commit any offence, Red Notices through INTERPOL can be issued against them for their arrest. Their names can be put on Exit Control List. They need to avoid commission of any electronic offences,” said the FIA.
It added that its advice was “only for offenders” and law-abiding persons should not worry about it.
“Any attempts by anyone staying anywhere in the world to create disturbance in Pakistan or to defame dignity of a natural person or to act against modesty of a natural person through fake news or fake videos are against the laws of Pakistan,” said the FIA.
The investigation body said that “such attempts” are punishable under Pakistani laws, adding that offenders will be prosecuted whenever possible.
“Hence anyone must avoid committing any such offences through media of any type. All Pakistani citizens are also advised to avoid commission of such offences,” said the FIA spokesperson.
