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Ex-PM Khan arrested in Islamabad, threatening fresh turmoil in crisis-ridden Pakistan

Private security personnel with bulletproof shields escort former Prime Minister Imran Khan as he arrives to appear in a court, in Islamabad, Pakistan, on May 9, 2023. (AP)
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Updated 09 May 2023
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Ex-PM Khan arrested in Islamabad, threatening fresh turmoil in crisis-ridden Pakistan

  • Rangers arrest Khan in Al-Qadir Trust case relating to purchase and transfer of land for a university in Punjab province
  • Khan will be presented before anti-graft court on Wednesday, his medical examination carried out today in Islamabad
Updated 09 May 2023
Fatimah Amjad

ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan has been arrested in Islamabad by the paramilitary Rangers force, threatening fresh turmoil in the South Asian nation as it faces its most daunting economic crisis to date.

Khan had arrived in the capital city from Lahore and was inside the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for two hearings on Tuesday afternoon when he was arrested in a separate case, the Al-Qadir Trust reference pending before an anti-graft court and relating to the purchase and transfer of land for a university in Punjab province.

The arrest by paramilitary Rangers officials, who reportedly carried arrest warrants, took place a little after 2pm on Tuesday afternoon when Khan entered the building of the IHC. Media reported paramilitary troops had to break several doors, jump through smashed windows and scuffle with Khan’s supporters and lawyers before arresting him and driving off with him in a black Vigo.

“I’m mentally ready to be arrested,” Khan had said in a video message to supporters before he left Lahore for Islamabad.

Khan will be presented before a National Accountability Court tomorrow, Wednesday. His medical examination, usual for suspects after arrests, was carried out on Tuesday.

NAB in a statement said Khan was booked under Section 9A of the National Accountability Ordinance 1999, which relates to “corruption and corrupt practices.”

“The arrest was ordered and implemented by the NAB,” the accountability watchdog said in a statement. “Rangers troops were deployed for the action on the orders of the Ministry of the Interior.”

Police in Islamabad imposed section 144 in the capital, banning public gatherings to preempt protests and rallies in support of Khan. Previous attempts to arrest Khan from his Lahore residence resulted in heavy clashes between his supporters and law enforcement personnel earlier this year.

Meanwhile, local media reported that Khan supporters were gathering in various cities in the country, from Gilgit in the north to Karachi in the south. In the past, Khan has led massive rallies and protest marches in Pakistan.

 

 

Since being ousted from power in a parliamentary no-trust vote last April, over 100 cases have been registered against Khan in various courts in the country, with charges ranging from corruption to terrorism and sedition.

Khan says the cases are politically motivated to crack down on his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, arguably the most popular political party in the country. In recent months, many senior Khan aides have had cases registered against them and been arrested.

The fresh political crisis comes as Pakistan and the IMF are in ongoing talks aimed to resume stalled funding of $1.1 billion due in November from a $6.5-billion program agreed in 2019. The measures have fueled highest ever inflation, posted at 36.4 percent in April.

The IMF funding is crucial for Pakistan to avert default on its external payment obligations during a balance of payment crisis, in which foreign exchange reserves have shrunk to just four weeks of controlled imports.

Khan’s arrest also comes on the heels of the army’s warning about legal action over accusations by Khan that a serving military official, Maj Gen Faisal Naseer, was plotting to kill him.

Just hours before his arrest, Khan doubled down on the allegations in a video message.

Topics: Imran Khan Ex-PM Imran Khan arrested

Amid investment push, Uzbek foreign minister in Pakistan to discuss trade, regional connectivity

Updated 16 sec ago
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Amid investment push, Uzbek foreign minister in Pakistan to discuss trade, regional connectivity

  • Bakhtiyor Saidov’s visit comes at a time when Pakistan wants to bolster economic ties with other states amid financial challenges
  • Pakistan is interested in reliable Central Asian energy sources and sees Uzbekistan as gateway to other markets in the region
Updated 16 sec ago
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov arrived on a two-day visit to Pakistan on Tuesday night, confirmed a brief statement circulated by the foreign office, to hold meetings with senior administration officials in Islamabad and discuss trade and regional connectivity.
Saidov’s visit to Pakistan comes at a time when the country is trying to bolster its economic ties amid ongoing financial challenges.
The diplomatic engagement with Uzbekistan follows a series of visits by officials and business delegations from nations like Saudi Arabia, highlighting a broader strategy to attract foreign investment to vital Pakistani economic sectors such as energy, mining, infrastructure and technology.
The minister’s trip also underscores the strengthening bilateral relations between two countries and aligns with Pakistan’s stated objective of enhancing regional connectivity to ensure greater economic prosperity.
“Foreign Minister Saidov will call on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and hold in-depth talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar on a wide range of bilateral issues of mutual interest, with special focus on trade and connectivity,” the foreign office said in a statement released before his arrival.
“The visit of the Foreign Minister of Republic of Uzbekistan is expected to provide fresh impetus to the friendly relations between the two countries,” it added.
Pakistan views Central Asian countries as crucial partners in enhancing regional trade and energy security.
The region’s vast natural resources, especially oil and gas, can be vital for Pakistan to secure reliable energy sources and diversify its energy imports.
Uzbekistan plays a key role in this equation due to its geographical position and resources, acting as a gateway for Pakistan to access other markets in the region.
Last year, Pakistan’s former caretaker prime minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar visited the Central Asian country to participate in an Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) meeting where he reiterated his country’s commitment to regional cooperation and economic integration.

Topics: Pakistan Uzbekistan Ties

Pakistan invites China to establish industrial zones for electric car manufacturing

Updated 6 min 34 sec ago
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Pakistan invites China to establish industrial zones for electric car manufacturing

  • Earlier this year, Pakistani car maker Sazgar Engineering unveiled electric car made in collaboration with China
  • Road transport is significant contributor to pollution as around 23 percent of Pakistan’s greenhouse gases come from vehicles
Updated 6 min 34 sec ago
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s planning minister has invited China to collaborate with Islamabad in setting up industrial zones to manufacture electric cars amid a renewed push to attract foreign investment, state news agency APP reported on Wednesday. 
The government of Pakistan approved an ambitious National Electric Vehicles Policy (NEVP) in 2019 with the goal of electric vehicles comprising 30 percent of all passenger vehicle and heavy-duty truck sales by 2030, and an even more ambitious target of 90 percent by 2040. For two- and three-wheelers, as well as buses, the policy set a goal of achieving 50 percent of new sales by 2030 and 90 percent by 2040.
In a meeting with Chinese officials on Tuesday, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal invited them to collaborate on the production of electric cars.
“He emphasized Pakistan’s aim to establish industrial zones for the manufacturing of electric cars in collaboration with China, leveraging Pakistan’s competitive advantage to reduce overall production costs and create employment opportunities for Pakistani workers,” APP reported.
Earlier this year, Sazgar Engineering, one of Pakistan’s leading car manufacturers, unveiled the electric vehicle “ORA 3,” manufactured in collaboration with Chinese car manufacturer Great Wall Motors (GWM).
The urban areas of Pakistan exhibit some of the world’s highest levels of air pollution, primarily due to sub-2.5 μm particulate emissions. This issue significantly impairs both the country’s economy and the quality of life of its residents. Road transport is a significant contributor to air pollution as around 23 percent of Pakistan’s greenhouse gas emissions originate from vehicles. 
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also met a delegation of Japanese industrialists in Islamabad and invited them to invest in Pakistan’s electric automotive industry. 
“There is a wide potential for investment in the electric vehicle industry in Pakistan and Japanese companies with the best technology can take full advantage of it,” Sharif told the Japanese group.

Topics: Pakistan china Pakistan China Ties

Pakistan court orders Imran Khan’s wife to be moved from house arrest to Adiala Prison

Updated 20 min 48 sec ago
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Pakistan court orders Imran Khan’s wife to be moved from house arrest to Adiala Prison

  • Bushra Bibi had petitioned court to shift her from Bani Gala home to Adiala Jail where Khan is also imprisoned
  • Bushra has been handed two sentences, 14 years in graft case and 7 years for violating Pakistan’s marriage law
Updated 20 min 48 sec ago
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday ordered that ex-premier Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi be transferred from her Banigala residence, declared a sub-jail, to Adiala Jail, where her husband is incarcerated.
Bushra has been living under house arrest at her husband’s sprawling Bani Gala mansion in Islamabad since Jan. 31 when both were sentenced to 14 years in prison in a case that relates to accusations they undervalued gifts from a state repository and gained profits from selling them while Khan was prime minister from 2018-22. Khan is jailed at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail. 
In February, Khan and his wife were also sentenced to seven years on charges they violated the country’s marriage law when they wed in 2018 — the fourth sentence for Khan and the second for his wife.
Bushra had petitioned the court several months ago that she should be moved to Adiala and the IHC had reserved its verdict in the case on May 2. 
“Court has annulled notification of house arresting former first lady Bushra Bibi at Bani Gala sub-prison and ordered her transfer to Adiala Prison,” Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf political party said in a message to reporters. 
During Thursday’s hearing when the court reserved its judgment, Bushra’s lawyer Usman Gill said after her sentencing in the state repository case by the trial court, his client went to Adiala Jail as per the trial court order which was also forwarded to the jail superintendent. But on the orders of the interior ministry, the chief commissioner issued an “illegal notification for transfer” to Bani Gala, the lawyer argued. 
“There was no instruction from the authorities concerned regarding the transfer from Adiala Jail to Banigala,” he said.
“Neither the provincial government nor did the Punjab prisons inspector general issue any such directive [for transfer] … The place of imprisonment was to be determined by the trial court and not the chief commissioner.”
The state’s counsel argued that Bushra was moved to Bani Gala because of security threats. 
“Were the 141 women who were brought to Adiala after Bushra less privileged?” the judge hearing the case asked, saying they too should be imprisoned at their homes then.
“Sometimes you say that [you] cannot present her [Bushra] in the court as there are threats and at times, you say that the jail is not secure. Are you secure?” the judge quipped. “If I am confined in my home by my own will, I would be very happy but how can a prisoner’s property be turned into a sub-jail against his will?”
The IHC subsequently reserved its verdict on the petition.
CASES
In a separate petition to the court filed last month, Bushar, a deeply religious woman widely believed to be Khan’s spiritual guide, alleged she was being poisoned through contaminated food and subjected to “mental and physical torture which is becoming a serious threat to her health and life.” She also alleged that her room and bathroom had been bugged and multiple hidden cameras installed in a “blatant violation of her privacy, dignity and honor.”
The petition said Bushra was only given ten minutes for meetings with family members and lawyers, with five jail staff supervising at all times.
Khan was first jailed after being handed a three-year prison sentence in August 2023 by the Election Commission for not declaring assets earned from selling gifts worth more than 140 million rupees ($501,000) in state possession and received during his premiership. In January, Khan and Bushra were handed 14-year jail terms following a separate investigation by the country’s top anti-graft body into the same charges involving state gifts. 
An anti-graft court in Islamabad also handed Khan a 10-year jail term in January for revealing state secrets, a week before national elections on Feb. 8. The ruling on his marriage to Bushra and a seven-year sentence each for both also came ahead of the polls.
Khan has also been indicted under Pakistan’s anti-terrorism law in connection with violence against the military that erupted following his brief arrest related to the Al-Qadir case on May 9. A section of Pakistan’s 1997 anti-terrorism act prescribes the death penalty as maximum punishment. Khan has denied the charges under the anti-terrorism law, saying he was in detention when the violence took place. 
Khan’s convictions, which mean he is banned from holding public office, ruled the 71-year-old out of the February general elections. Arguably Pakistan’s most popular politician, Khan says all cases against him are motivated to keep him out of politics.

Topics: Bushra Bibi Imran Khan

Taliban reject Pakistan’s claim Afghan bomber involved in deadly attack on Chinese dam engineers

Updated 08 May 2024
Reuters
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Taliban reject Pakistan’s claim Afghan bomber involved in deadly attack on Chinese dam engineers

  • Afghan defense ministry says the killings of Chinese nationals reflected the weakness of Pakistan’s security agencies
  • Pakistan believes Kabul not doing enough to tackle militant groups, launched airstrikes targeting them in Afghanistan
Updated 08 May 2024
Reuters

KABUL: The Taliban defense ministry on Wednesday rejected Pakistan’s allegations that Afghans were involved in an attack on Chinese engineers, as ties between the neighboring nations sour amidst rising insecurity.
Pakistan’s military had said at a press conference on Tuesday that a suicide bomb attack in March in Pakistan’s northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, that killed five Chinese engineers, was planned in neighboring Afghanistan, and that the bomber was an Afghan national.
“Afghans are not involved in such matters,” said Mufti Enayatullah Khorazmim, the spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Taliban-run Ministry of National Defense.
“Blaming Afghanistan for such incidents is a failed attempt to divert attention from the truth of the matter and we strongly reject it,” he added.
A suicide bomber rammed a vehicle into a convoy of Chinese engineers working on a dam project in northwest Pakistan in March, killing six people.
“The killing of Chinese citizens in an area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that is under tight security cover by the Pakistan Army shows the weakness of the Pakistani security agencies,” Khorazmim said.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have soured in recent months. Islamabad says Kabul is not doing enough to tackle militant groups targeting Pakistan and in March Pakistan carried out airstrikes targeting militants on Afghan territory.
Last year, Pakistan expelled nearly 370,000 undocumented Afghan nationals, saying the majority of suicide attacks against its security forces were carried out by Afghans, a charge Kabul rejected.
Pakistan’s military spokesman said on Tuesday that security for 29,000 Chinese nationals in Pakistan, many of them working on infrastructure projects, was the top priority for security institutions.
The Taliban are also seeking economic ties with China, the first country to formally appoint an ambassador to Kabul under the Taliban, and wish to join China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is Beijing’s $65 billion investment in development and infrastructure.

Topics: Chinese nationals in Pakistan Pakistan Afghanistan

Scientists link intense rainfall to climate change after floods in Pakistan, UAE

Updated 08 May 2024
AFP
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Scientists link intense rainfall to climate change after floods in Pakistan, UAE

  • Climate experts say warmer oceans lead to greater evaporation and warmer air can hold more water vapor
  • Pakistan recorded double the amount of rainfall in April, while UAE received two years of rain in a single day
Updated 08 May 2024
AFP

PARIS: Floods have been tearing a path of destruction across the globe, hammering Kenya, submerging Dubai, and forcing hundreds of thousands of people from Russia to China, Brazil and Somalia from their homes.
Though not all directly attributed to global warming, they are occurring in a year of record-breaking temperatures and underscore what scientists have long warned – that climate change drives more extreme weather.
Climate change isn’t just about rising temperatures but the knock-on effect of all that extra heat being trapped in the atmosphere and seas.
April was the 11th consecutive month to break its own heat record, the EU climate monitor Copernicus said on Wednesday, while ocean temperatures have been off the charts for even longer.
“The recent extreme precipitation events are consistent with what is expected in an increasingly warmer climate,” Sonia Seneviratne, an expert on the UN-mandated IPCC scientific panel, told AFP.
Warmer oceans mean greater evaporation, and warmer air can hold more water vapor.
Scientists even have a calculation for this: for every one degree Celsius in temperature rise, the atmosphere can hold seven percent more moisture.
“This results in more intense rainfall events,” Davide Faranda, an expert on extreme weather at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), told AFP.
In April, Pakistan recorded double the amount of normal monthly rainfall — one province saw 437 percent more than average — while the UAE received about two years’ worth of rain in a single day.
This, however, doesn’t mean everywhere on Earth is getting wetter.
Richard Allan from the University of Reading said “a warmer, thirstier atmosphere is more effective at sapping moisture from one region and feeding this excess water into storms elsewhere.”
This translates into extreme rain and floods in some areas but worse heatwaves and droughts in others, the climate scientist told AFP.
Natural climate variability also influences weather and global rainfall patterns.
This includes cyclical phenomenon like El Nino, which tends to bring heat and rain extremes, and helped fuel the high temperatures seen over land and sea this past year.
While natural variability plays a role “the observed long-term global increase in heavy precipitation has been driven by human-induced climate change,” said Seneviratne.
Carlo Buontempo, a director at Copernicus, said cycles like El Nino ebb and flow but the extra heat trapped by rising greenhouse gas emissions would “keep pushing the global temperature toward new records.”
Considering the overlapping forces at play, attributing any one flood to climate change alone can be fraught, and each event must be taken on a case-by-case basis.
But scientists have developed peer-reviewed methods that allow for the quick comparison of an event today against simulations that consider a world in which global warming had not occurred.
For example, World Weather Attribution, the scientists who pioneered this approach, said the drenching of the UAE and Oman last month was “most likely” exacerbated by global warming caused by burning fossil fuels.
ClimaMeter, another rapid assessment network who use a different methodology, said major floods in China in April were “likely influenced” by global warming and El Nino.
“It can be difficult to disentangle global warming and natural variability” and some weather events are more clear-cut than others, said Flavio Pons, a climatologist who worked on the China assessment.
In the case of devastating floods in Brazil, however, ClimaMeter were able to exclude El Nino as a significant factor and name human-driven climate change as the primary culprit.
Many of the countries swamped by heavy floods at the moment — such as Burundi, Afghanistan and Somalia — rank among the poorest and least able to mobilize a response to such disasters.
But the experience in Dubai showed even wealthy states were not prepared, said Seneviratne.
“We know that a warmer climate is conducive to more severe weather extremes but we cannot predict exactly when and where these extremes will occur,” Joel Hirschi from the UK’s National Oceanography Center told AFP.
“Current levels of preparedness for weather extremes are inadequate... Preparing and investing now is cheaper than delaying action.”

Topics: Dubai Rains Pakistan Floods climate change

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