ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s information minister Marriyum Aurangzeb dismissed rumors related to the imposition of emergency in the country on Friday, reported the state media, as people speculated the government could take the decision following the release of ex-premier Imran Khan who was arrested earlier this week on corruption charges.
The country’s top court on Thursday declared Khan’s arrest from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) illegal before he managed to secure a two-week bail from the judiciary that ordered the authorities not to arrest him in any other case until May 17.
“Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb has termed media reports regarding the imposition of emergency in the country as baseless,” Radio Pakistan reported. “She said no decision regarding the imposition of emergency was taken in today’s cabinet meeting.”
Pakistan’s federal cabinet reviewed the country’s overall political situation on Friday, condemning the Supreme Court’s decision to give relief to the former prime minister who was facing serious corruption allegations.
It also pointed out that Khan’s followers had indulged in violent protests, clashes with law enforcement personnel and set fire to government buildings and public property.
The information minister also urged media organizations to refrain from carrying news stories without verification.
Government dismisses rumors of emergency in Pakistan as ‘baseless’
https://arab.news/pbsx2
Government dismisses rumors of emergency in Pakistan as ‘baseless’
- Pakistan witnessed political turmoil and violent protests following the arrest of ex-PM Khan this week
- Marriyum Aurangzeb urges media organizations to refrain from carrying news reports without verification
Pakistan says it seized 32 square kilometers inside Afghanistan as border clashes escalate
- Security official describes ‘limited tactical action’ in Gudwana after Afghan assaults
- Islamabad accuses Kabul of sheltering militants as UN, China and Russia urge restraint
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has seized a 32-square-kilometer area inside Afghanistan following overnight fighting, a security official said on Saturday, as cross-border clashes between the two countries escalated sharply.
A Pakistani security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said troops carried out a “limited tactical action” in the Gudwana area opposite the Zhob sector along the frontier, capturing Afghan territory after responding to attacks on Pakistani positions.
“On the night of Feb. 26/27, posts opposite the Zhob sector launched anticipated physical attacks on multiple Pakistani positions,” the official said, referring to fighters linked to Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities, whom Islamabad identifies as Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan (TTA).
“In response to aggressive unprovoked fire and physical attacks, Pakistan security forces launched a limited tactical action on the night of Feb. 27/28 in the general area of Gudwana with a view to capture TTA Tahir Post,” he continued, adding that 32 square kilometers of Afghan territory were seized.
The official said special combat teams crossed the border after preparatory bombardment, supported by intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets providing “real-time battlefield awareness.”
He said 24 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed and 37 wounded, with no Pakistani casualties reported.
The claims could not be independently verified, and there was no immediate confirmation from Taliban authorities in Kabul of any territorial loss in the Gudwana area.
The latest clashes erupted after Pakistani airstrikes targeted what Islamabad described as militant hideouts inside Afghanistan over the weekend, triggering retaliatory fire along the frontier and sharply escalating long-running tensions. Islamabad accuses Kabul of sheltering Pakistani Taliban militants responsible for attacks inside Pakistan, an allegation that Afghanistan denies.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Saturday evening that 352 Afghan Taliban fighters had been killed and more than 535 wounded since the latest phase of hostilities began.
Tarar said Pakistani strikes had destroyed 130 check posts, 171 tanks and armored vehicles and targeted 41 locations across Afghanistan by air. Those figures could not be independently verified.
The United Nations, as well as China and Russia, have called for restraint.
The United States said Pakistan has the right to defend itself against cross-border militancy.
