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Ex-PM Khan not to face public directly under new security plan for protest march — party official

Children watch a screen broadcasting the address of Pakistani former prime minister Imran Khan a day after an assassination attempt during his long march near Wazirabad, in Islamabad on November 4, 2022. (AFP)
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Updated 11 November 2022
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Ex-PM Khan not to face public directly under new security plan for protest march — party official

  • Khan will be leading the march to Islamabad in a bulletproof vehicle after it reaches Rawalpindi later this month
  • Punjab government sets up five-member joint investigation team to probe shooting that injured Khan and others
Updated 11 November 2022
Aamir Saeed

ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan will not directly face the public under a new security plan for his protest march to Islamabad, an official of Khan’s party said on Friday, a week after the ex-premier was wounded in a gun attack in Wazirabad city. 

Khan started his motorized march toward Islamabad from Lahore late last month to force PM Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition government to announce early elections. 

However, the march was postponed for a week after Khan’s convoy was sprayed with bullets in Wazirabad, a city some 100 kilometers from Lahore, leaving one person dead and Khan among ten others wounded. 

Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party resumed the march with renewed security measures on Thursday as the former premier continues to recover at home, after being initially treated at Shaukat Khanum Hospital in Lahore. 

“We are not going to compromise on Imran Khan’s security,” Mussarat Jamshed Cheema, a member of Khan’s party as well as a spokesperson for the Punjab government, exclusively told Arab News on Friday. 

“From now onwards, he won’t have any direct exposure to the public in the long march.” 

Khan’s party has acquired a new bulletproof container with a bulletproof glass podium atop to safeguard party leaders while traveling and addressing supporters on their way to Islamabad. 

“We are ensuring multi-layered, fool-proof security, what is humanly possible to protect not only our leaders but also the participants of the march from any untoward incident,” Cheema said. 

Khan will be addressing supporters through a video link from his residence until the protest caravans reach Rawalpindi later this month, according to his party. 

The former premier, who was ousted in a no-confidence vote by parliament in April, has since been agitating against the government, whom he accuses of siding with foreign powers to remove him from office. 

The former premier will be leading the march from Rawalpindi to Islamabad in a bullet-proof vehicle with “zero public exposure,” Cheema said. 

“We are forced to do this due to threats to Khan’s life,” she added. 

Before the attack on November 3, TV footage and videos shared online showed people welcoming Khan from their rooftops and overhead bridges, some even shaking hands with the former premier as his container truck passed underneath a flyover. 

Cheema said, the container truck, currently led by Shah Mahmood Qureshi and others, would now be making its way to the capital within a security cordon of the Punjab police, unlike the past when party volunteers were acting as the first line of defense around it. 

“Even top party leaders would not be allowed to ride the container truck without prior permission,” she said. 

“We don’t want to see any recurrence of the Wazirabad-like incident.” 

When asked about the number of Punjab police and other security personnel deployed for the march, Cheema declined to divulge details due to “security reasons.” 

PM Sharif’s government on Thursday issued a summary of expenses it had been bearing to provide security to Khan. 

It said it was spending Rs21.9 million ($101,126) monthly and Rs263 million ($1.2 million) annually to ensure safety of the former premier. 

Also on Friday, the Punjab provincial government, where Khan and his allies are in power, constituted a five-member joint investigation team (JIT) to probe the November 3 shooting, though its timeline for the completion of the probe has yet to be decided. 

Tariq Rustam Chohan, the Lahore police chief, is the convener of the team, which includes no official of the military-led Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the federal Intelligence Bureau (IB) agencies, according to a Home Department notification. 

The Punjab police, after much delay, registered a first information report (FIR) of the incident on November 7, on the directives of the Supreme Court. 

Khan had nominated PM Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and ISI’s Maj. Gen. Faisal Naseer in his complaint to the police, but the FIR did not mention them as suspects. 

“The investigation into the incident was unfortunately on hold due to unnecessary delay in the registration of the FIR, but now it will be expedited and proceeded as per the law,” Cheema said. 

Khan, once widely believed to have been supported by Pakistan’s powerful military establishment, is now considered to have fallen out with the army since his ouster. 

The former premier as well as members and supporters of his party have been criticizing the military for not intervening to block his ouster, which he says was part of a United States-backed “foreign conspiracy.” Washington and Khan’s opponents deny the allegation. 

“The timeline of the investigation will be decided in the next meeting [of home department officials],” Cheema added. 

“Obviously, this investigation is going to be time-bound and with a clear mandate to reach to the bottom of this shooting incident.” 

Topics: PTI long march Imran Khan Pakistan Wazirabad

PM orders routing part of Pakistan’s imports via Gwadar to ‘fully operationalize’ southwestern port

Updated 11 sec ago
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PM orders routing part of Pakistan’s imports via Gwadar to ‘fully operationalize’ southwestern port

  • The prime minister gave instructions while presiding over meeting on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects
  • PM Shehbaz Sharif also called for provision of ‘foolproof security’ to Chinese nationals who are working in Pakistan
Updated 11 sec ago
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed authorities to route a proportion of Pakistan’s imports through the Gwadar port in the southwestern Balochistan province to “fully operationalize” it, Sharif’s office said on Tuesday.

The prime minister gave the directives while presiding over a high-level meeting on projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a major segment of Beijing’s Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.

The Gwadar port lies at the heart of CPEC, under which Beijing has pledged $65 billion for a network of roads, railways, pipelines, and ports in Pakistan that will connect China to the Arabian Sea and help Islamabad expand and modernize its economy.

PM Sharif said Pakistan-China partnership was currently on the “highest ever level” and urged authorities to strive for the positive outcomes of this partnership, according to his office.

“The Prime Minister directed to import a certain proportion of the domestic imports, especially the goods imported by the government, from Gwadar port,” Sharif’s office said in a statement.

China is a major ally and investor in Pakistan and has often financially assisted Islamabad, including in July last year when Beijing granted Pakistan a two-year rollover on a $2.4 billion loan, providing much-needed breathing space to the cash-strapped South Asian nation to tackle an economic crisis.

The prime minister instructed all the ministries to enhance collaboration for swift execution of CPEC’s second phase and warned against any laxity, according to the statement.

He also called for the provision of “foolproof security” to the Chinese nationals working in Pakistan, who have often been targeted by religiously motivated and separatist militants in Pakistan.

Topics: Gawadar

India eyes Iranian port as gateway to Afghanistan, Central Asia, competition with Gwadar — analysts 

Updated 12 min 31 sec ago
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India eyes Iranian port as gateway to Afghanistan, Central Asia, competition with Gwadar — analysts 

  • India has signed 10-year deal to operate Chabahar port
  • India began helping Iran to develop Chabahar in 2016
Updated 12 min 31 sec ago
Sanjay Kumar

NEW DELHI: India’s newly signed deal to operate Iran’s port of Chabahar is expected to provide New Delhi a gateway to landlocked Afghanistan and Central Asia and possibly compete with Pakistan’s Gwadar, analysts said on Tuesday. 

The 10-year contract under which India will invest $120 million in Chabahar’s infrastructure was signed in Tehran on Monday between the state-owned Indian Ports Global Limited and the Port & Maritime Organization of Iran.

India’s Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal welcomed the deal saying the development of Chabahar was an “India-Iran flagship project” and the port would be a “gateway for trade with Afghanistan and broader Central Asian countries.”

New Delhi’s commitment to Chabahar started in May 2016 when Iran, India, and Afghanistan signed a trilateral transit agreement to develop the port into a regional trade hub.

“The signing of the deal signifies the strength of bilateral ties between India and Iran,” said D.P. Srivastava, who was India’s ambassador to Iran when talks on the project started. “The present agreement will build on progress achieved so far.”

India’s 2016 involvement in Chabahar came after Washington eased sanctions on Iran, which were reimposed by Donald Trump’s administration in 2018.

After the signing of Monday’s agreement, US State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters sanctions on Iran remained in place and Washington would enforce them.

Prof. Sujata Ashwarya from the Center for West Asian Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi said it was not likely that sanctions would affect India, as its presence was helping deter China — the main rival of the US — from becoming involved in the Iranian port.

“(India) will effectively keep China out of the project,” Ashwarya said. “If we are there, then China won’t be there, and the US would not impose sanctions.”

Located in Iran’s southeast, Chabahar is less than 100 km from Gwadar in southwestern Pakistan, a flagship project of the multibillion-dollar China–Pakistan Economic Corridor under Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Ashwarya said the Iranian port could be Gwadar’s potential competitor.

“It is an investment in trade facilitation with an eye on making Chabahar a hub,” she said.

“It provides competition to Gwadar, it could potentially lead to a secured corridor to Afghanistan and Central Asia, which means that India’s trade with these regions can flourish and broaden.”

Topics: India Iran Gawadar

Islamabad High Court halts government move to block phone SIMs of non-tax filers

Updated 14 May 2024
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Islamabad High Court halts government move to block phone SIMs of non-tax filers

  • Pakistan’s tax collection body asked the country’s telecom authority to block over half a million SIMs last month
  • The court issued a stay order until May 27 after a telecom firm challenged the decision and called it unconstitutional
Updated 14 May 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani court on Tuesday issued a stay order against a government directive to block cellphone SIMs of users who did not file their tax returns in 2023, as the lawyer of a telecom company argued the decision was taken in violation of the constitution.

Last month, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the country’s tax collection body, ordered the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to block over half a million SIMs belonging to people required to file taxes but who were not appearing on the active taxpayers’ list.

However, telecom companies were reluctant to implement the directives affecting so many subscribers, prompting the PTA to urge the FBR to revisit its directive.

The discussion continued until the telecom companies decided last Friday to initiate a manual process of disabling the SIMs in small batches. It was widely reported in the local media on Tuesday the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had stayed the implementation of the cellphone blockage until May 27.

“Blocking more than 500,000 SIMs will result in a loss of Rs1 billion annually,” Advocate Salman Akram Raja was quoted as saying by Pakistan’s Geo News channel.

Raja, who was representing Zong, told the court the decision taken by the government was in violation to Article 18 of the constitution, which guaranteed freedom of trade, business and profession.

Pakistan has traditionally faced the challenge of convincing people to file tax returns, but the government has now decided to implement stringent measures to address the problem, particularly in the context of negotiations for a new International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan program.

The IMF has urged Pakistan in the past to enhance revenue collection from non-filers as part of broader economic reforms to support social and development initiatives.

In response, the FBR is taking steps like blocking the SIM cards and considering other punitive measures to enforce tax compliance and widen the tax net.

Topics: islamabad high court PTA phones non-tax filers

Pakistan Hajj Mission hires seven catering companies to provide meals to pilgrims in Madinah

Updated 14 May 2024
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Pakistan Hajj Mission hires seven catering companies to provide meals to pilgrims in Madinah

  • At least 9,844 Pakistani pilgrims have arrived in Madinah since May 9 ahead of Hajj pilgrimage in June
  • Catering companies selected through competitive and transparent process, Pakistan Hajj Mission says
Updated 14 May 2024
Shahjahan Khurram

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Hajj Mission has hired seven catering companies in Madinah to oversee food arrangements for pilgrims, state media said on Tuesday, as people arrive in Saudi Arabia’s holy cities from around the world for the upcoming annual pilgrimage in June. 

Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and requires every adult Muslim to undertake the journey to the holy Islamic sites in Makkah at least once in their lifetime if they are financially and physically able. 

Pakistan has a Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims this year, of which 63,805 people will perform the pilgrimage under the government scheme, while the rest will use private tour operators.

This year’s pilgrimage is expected to run from June 14-19. Pakistani state media reported on Monday that over 9,844 pilgrims had arrived in Madinah via 40 flights since Hajj air operations were launched on May 9.

“Pakistan’s Hajj Mission in Madinah Munawwarah has selected the top seven catering companies to provide three-time meals to the intending Hajj pilgrims,” Radio Pakistan reported. 

Pakistan Hajj Mission Director Zia-ur-Rehman Khan told Radio Pakistan the mission had selected seven catering companies out of 29 after a competitive and transparent bidding process. The hiring process started in November 2023 after the mission received approval from Pakistan’s federal cabinet. A five-member committee headed by the director-general of Hajj in Jeddah was subsequently formed to scrutinize bidders and select the best catering companies, Radio Pakistan said. 

Umer Rasheed, the production manager of the Bahar Harr catering service, said the company was preparing meals for 2,800 Pakistani pilgrims currently and the number was likely to swell to 4,000 during peak Hajj season. 

“He said inspection teams from 5-6 Saudi departments, including Food and Drugs, the Firefighting department and the Commerce Ministry, conducted regular visits to their production sites and kitchen, showing zero tolerance for any kind of negligence,” Radio Pakistan said. 
 

Topics: Hajj 2024 Hajj mission in Pakistan

Pakistan, China vow to accelerate key infrastructure projects amid discussions on next CPEC phase

Updated 14 May 2024
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Pakistan, China vow to accelerate key infrastructure projects amid discussions on next CPEC phase

  • The two sides discussed the issue during Ishaq Dar’s meeting with a senior Chinese minister in Beijing
  • Both countries reaffirmed support to each other on issues of core concerns to their governments, people
Updated 14 May 2024
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China have agreed to expedite work on key infrastructure development schemes as the two countries strive to proceed to the next phase of the multibillion-dollar economic corridor project launched in April 2015, the foreign office announced in a release issued in Islamabad on Tuesday.

Last week, Pakistan sent Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal to conduct a series of meetings in Beijing to set the tone for the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Currently, the country’s newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister, Ishaq Dar, is visiting China, where he met with Liu Jianchao, Minister for the International Department of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC), to discuss various dimensions of CPEC.

“The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership between Pakistan and China and to further reinforce mutually beneficial collaboration,” the foreign office said. “They also expressed joint determination to accelerate progress on all CPEC projects including ML-I [Main Line 1] upgradation, Gwadar Port and KKH [Karakoram Highway] realignment.”

The three projects are central to CPEC, with ML-I upgradation, a major railway project, involving the dualization of the existing railway track from Karachi to Peshawar. The development of Gwadar Port and KKH realignment are also vital to enhance trade and connectivity within and beyond the region.

Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s support to China on its core issues. The Chinese minister also said that Beijing would always support Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and socioeconomic development.

The Pakistani deputy prime minister expressed over the killings of Chinese nationals in a suicide attack in Shangla earlier this year. He noted the Pakistani authorities had a firm resolve to counter extremist violence in all its forms and manifestations and bring perpetrators of the Shangla attack to justice.

Dar also invited the Chinese minister to visit Pakistan to co-chair the next meeting of the CPEC Joint Consultative Mechanism of Political Parties this year.

Topics: Pakistan China Ties CPEC

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