ISLAMABAD: Authorities on Sunday initiated a crackdown to zero in on and penalize all individuals responsible for damaging property, as part of three-day protests against a Supreme Court’s verdict to acquit a Christian woman, Aasia Bibi, accused of blasphemy.
The protests ended on Friday after the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) -- a hardline religious political party and the main group leading the demonstrations -- inked a five-point deal with the government to end the sit-ins.
After analyzing the damage caused by the protests, Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Shehryar Afridi, tweeted on Saturday evening that the government of Pakistan wouldn't spare anyone responsible for damaging public property.
He added that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had been instructed to provide the necessary forensic data for evidence. “State is concerned for the loss of citizens, we will leave no stone unturned to identify the source of vandalism. Will stand for all the citizens who suffered from the ppl who vandalized the property of innocent ppl (People). Pakistan has to rise & such anonymous forces will be unveiled.” Afridi's tweet read.
According to the five points of the agreement, a “legal process will be initiated” to put Bibi’s name on the Exit Control List (ECL) which would effectively bar her from leaving the country. It would further ensure that the government does not oppose a petition filed by the TLP to review the judgment in Bibi’s case. The two sides also agreed to take immediate legal action over any casualties that may have occurred during the protests, with an understanding to release all those arrested on October 30 or thereafter with immediate effect.
The TLP -- which emerged as a new political force in Pakistan after bagging more than 2.2 million votes in the July general elections -- “apologized to anyone whose sentiments were hurt” during the protests. Activists criticized the deal, accusing the government of giving in to the extremists, adding that it was “not a good sign for the state”.
“HRCP is seriously concerned at how quickly the government capitulated to the demands of extremist-led mobs, despite its earlier vow to preserve the writ of the state,” the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said in a statement on Sunday.
Government vows to penalize vandals
Government vows to penalize vandals
- Orders authorities to collect forensic data for evidence
- Follows three-day protests against SC verdict to acquit Christian woman accused of blasphemy
Pakistan, global crypto exchange discuss modernizing digital payments, creating job prospects
- Pakistani officials, Binance team discuss coordination between Islamabad, local banks and global exchanges
- Pakistan has attempted to tap into growing crypto market to curb illicit transactions, improve oversight
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s finance officials and the team of a global cryptocurrency exchange on Friday held discussions aimed at modernizing the country’s digital payments system and building local talent pipelines to meet rising demand for blockchain and Web3 skills, the finance ministry said.
The development took place during a high-level meeting between Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) Chairman Bilal bin Saqib, domestic bank presidents and a Binance team led by Global CEO Richard Teng. The meeting was held to advance work on Pakistan’s National Digital Asset Framework, a regulatory setup to govern Pakistan’s digital assets.
Pakistan has been moving to regulate its fast-growing crypto and digital assets market by bringing virtual asset service providers (VASPs) under a formal licensing regime. Officials say the push is aimed at curbing illicit transactions, improving oversight, and encouraging innovation in blockchain-based financial services.
“Participants reviewed opportunities to modernize Pakistan’s digital payments landscape, noting that blockchain-based systems could significantly reduce costs from the country’s $38 billion annual remittance flows,” the finance ministry said in a statement.
“Discussions also emphasized building local talent pipelines to meet rising global demand for blockchain and Web3 skills, creating high-value employment prospects for Pakistani youth.”
Blockchain is a type of digital database that is shared, transparent and tamper-resistant. Instead of being stored on one computer, the data is kept on a distributed network of computers, making it very hard to alter or hack.
Web3 refers to the next generation of the Internet built using blockchain, focusing on giving users more control over their data, identity and digital assets rather than big tech companies controlling it.
Participants of the meeting also discussed sovereign debt tokenization, which is the process of converting a country’s debt such as government bonds, into digital tokens on a blockchain, the ministry said.
Aurangzeb called for close coordination between the government, domestic banks and global exchanges to modernize Pakistan’s payment landscape.
Participants of the meeting also discussed considering a “time-bound amnesty” to encourage users to move assets onto regulated platforms, stressing the need for stronger verifications and a risk-mitigation system.
Pakistan has attempted in recent months to tap into the country’s growing crypto market, crack down on money laundering and terror financing, and promote responsible innovation — a move analysts say could bring an estimated $25 billion in virtual assets into the tax net.
In September, Islamabad invited international crypto exchanges and other VASPs to apply for licenses to operate in the country, a step aimed at formalizing and regulating its fast-growing digital market.
