Pakistan ‘temporarily’ resumes trade with China through Khunjerab Pass

This picture taken on June 27, 2017 shows a truck driving along the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway before the Karakorum mountain range near Tashkurgan in China's western Xinjiang province. (AFP)
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Updated 05 August 2020
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Pakistan ‘temporarily’ resumes trade with China through Khunjerab Pass

  • Khunjerab Pass is a border outpost on the Karakoram Highway in the glacier-strewn Gilgit-Baltistan region
  • Pakistan shut all its land borders in March to try to halt the spread of the coronavirus

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s commerce chief, Abdul Razak Dawood, said on Wednesday trade with China had been temporarily resumed through Khunjerab Pass, a border outpost on the Karakoram Highway in the glacier-strewn Gilgit-Baltistan region.

Pakistan shut all its land borders in March to try to halt the spread of the coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19. Khunjerab pass is in a strategic location on the northern border of Pakistan and on the southwest border of China’s Xinjiang province.

“I am pleased to see that trade with China through Khunjerab Pass has resumed temporarily,” Dawood said in a Twitter post. “The opening of border was a longstanding demand of the businessmen, particularly from Gilgit Baltistan region, which remained closed due to Covid-19.”

Dawood added the ministry of commerce team “must be appreciated for their hard work in resolving this issue in consultation with Chinese authorities and other stakeholders.” 

Last month, Pakistan also restored trade operations with Afghanistan at five border terminals — Chaman, Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Angor Adda and Kharlachi — after closing them in mid-March over coronavirus fears.

The Wagah border crossing with India was also opened last month to allow Afghan exports to pass through.
 


Government says Imran Khan’s ‘detailed’ medical report shared, family disputes claim

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Government says Imran Khan’s ‘detailed’ medical report shared, family disputes claim

  • Khan underwent an eye procedure last month, PTI says family was not informed
  • Ex-PM’s sister says only brief notes provided despite Supreme Court assurance

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s government said on Friday a “detailed” medical report of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan had been shared with his family following directions from the prime minister’s office, even as Khan’s relatives disputed the claim and accused jail authorities of withholding information.

Concerns over Khan’s health were raised by his family and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party last month after the government confirmed he was taken from prison to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for a brief eye procedure. Authorities said at the time that Khan’s condition was stable and the treatment routine, while PTI leaders said they were not informed in advance and questioned the lack of transparent medical disclosure.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the report was prepared by PIMS and had been forwarded to the prison authorities and handed over to Khan’s family.

“A letter was written by the Leader of the Opposition to the Prime Minister and PTI Leaders also approached the Supreme Court of Pakistan regarding medical check up of Mr. Imran Ahmad [Khan] Niazi who is serving his sentences in Central Jail Rawalpindi (Adiala),” he said in a social media post on X.

“On directions from Prime Minister’s Office, a detailed report has been sent by Executive Director PIMS Hospital to the Superintendent of Central Jail Rawalpindi (Adiala) which has been handed over to the family,” he added.

https://x.com/TararAttaullah/status/2019749131049381901?s=20 

However, the former prime minister’s sister Aleema Khan said they had not received complete medical reports, despite assurances given by the country’s top judge.

“The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court committed last Friday that Imran Khan’s medical reports would be provided to his family,” she said on X. “Today, when the jail superintendent appeared before the ATC [Anti-Terrorism Court], only two brief notes were submitted.”

https://x.com/Aleema_KhanPK/status/2019738410873741643?s=20

She said the government’s conduct reflected a disregard for the court’s order, urging the Chief Justice of Pakistan to issue a contempt notice to the jail authorities and ensure that Khan’s medical reports were handed over to his family without further delay.

The dispute has renewed tensions surrounding Khan’s incarceration, which has become a flashpoint in Pakistan’s deeply polarized politics. 

Khan, who served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022, has been in prison since August 2023 following multiple convictions that he and his party say are politically motivated, a charge the government denies.