ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan will make “significant” changes to the federal cabinet within two weeks, information minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain has said, in what is being seen as an effort to keep the ruling coalition intact after the opposition’s announcement it would file a no confidence motion in parliament against the premier.
The chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, has announced his party will launch an anti-government march to the capital from February 27, while an alliance of opposition parties, the Pakistan Democratic Movement, says it will file a no-trust motion in parliament.
The announcements have come as Khan’s government grapples with a chronic economic crisis and rising inflation as well as amid reports of strained ties with the all-powerful military.
“The prime minister will make significant changes in the federal cabinet within two weeks,” Chaudhry told Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper.
A source close to the prime minister told Dawn Khan would appoint five ministers of state in the ministries of defense, planning, education, energy and overseas Pakistanis. The PM has reportedly also instructed Defense Minister Pervez Khattak, Planning Minister Asad Umar, Energy Minister Hammad Azhar and Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood to handle party affairs and take steps to strengthen the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ruling party.
“It has also been learnt that the PTI will induct leaders from its two major coalition partners — the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) — who are likely to get one ministry each,” Dawn reported. “Both the parties have been requesting Mr.Khan to give them at least one more federal ministry.”
PM Khan to make ‘significant’ changes to cabinet within two weeks — spokesperson
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PM Khan to make ‘significant’ changes to cabinet within two weeks — spokesperson
- Opposition alliance has announced it will file a motion of no confidence against Khan in parliament
- Khan’s government is grappling with economic crisis, rising inflation amid reports of strained ties with army
Pakistan urges UN Security Council to sanction separatist BLA group after recent attacks
- Separatist BLA launched attacks in multiple Balochistan cities last week, killing over 50 as per official figures
- Pakistan envoy says since Taliban assumed control of Afghanistan, BLA, other militant groups have a “new lease of life“
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Iftikhar Ahmed this week urged the Security Council to impose sanctions against the separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) militant group and designate it as a “terrorist” group, after its recent coordinated attacks in southwestern Balochistan province.
Pakistan’s military said on Thursday it has concluded security operations in Balochistan against separatists that was launched since Jan. 29, killing 216 militants. The military launched counteroffensive operations in Balochistan after the BLA said it launched coordinated attacks in several parts of the province last Friday and Saturday.
The attacks killed 36 civilians and 22 law enforcement and security forces personnel, Pakistan’s military said. Pakistan’s government has accused India of being involved in the attacks, charges that New Delhi has dismissed.
“We hope the Council will act swiftly to designate BLA under the 1267 sanctions regime acceding to the listing request that is currently under consideration,” Iftikhar said on Wednesday during a UNSC briefing on the topic ‘Threats to International Peace and Security caused by Terrorist Acts.’
The 1267 sanctions regime is a UNSC program that seeks to impose sanctions on individuals and entities associated with “terrorism.”
The regime seeks to impose travel bans, freeze assets and impose an arms embargo on individuals and groups primarily associated with Al-Qaeda or the Taliban.
Ahmad said that after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, “externally sponsored and foreign-funded proxy terrorist groups” such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and the BLA have got a “new lease of life.”
“Operating with virtual impunity from Afghan soil and with the active support of our eastern neighbor, these groups are responsible for heinous terrorist attacks inside Pakistan,” he said.
The Pakistani envoy said it has become imperative to prevent billions of dollars of sophisticated weapons and equipment, which were left behind by foreign forces in Afghanistan, “from falling into the hands of terrorists.”
“There must be accountability of external destabilizing actors who support, finance and arm these groups, including their proxies in Afghanistan,” Ahmad said in a veiled reference to India.
Pakistan’s largest and poorest province, mineral-rich Balochistan borders Iran and Afghanistan and is home to China’s investment in the Gwadar deep-water port and other projects.
Balochistan has been the site of a decades-long insurgency led by ethnic Baloch separatists seeking greater autonomy and a larger share of its natural resources.
They accuse the state of denying locals a fair share of the province’s mineral wealth, charges that are denied by the Pakistani government.
