ISLAMABAD: The top office-bearer of former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party announced during a crucial court hearing about the party’s election symbol on Saturday his family was “attacked” by people who took away important documents from his residence as the national polls loom next month.
Barrister Gohar Khan, the new PTI chairman, was at the Supreme Court to witness the proceedings initiated by a petition filed by the country’s election regulatory authority that seeks to revoke “cricket bat” as the PTI emblem for the next polls after blaming it for holding a flawed intraparty voting process.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had issued a ruling in this connection last month, though it was challenged by Khan’s party at the Peshawar High Court (PHC) that managed to secure a favorable verdict. The ECP went to the top court in response to file an appeal against the PHC decision, and the new PTI chairman was present at the hearing when he discovered about the incident.
“My family has been attacked,” Barrister Khan approached the rostrum and told the court. “[People] arrived in four pickup trucks and took the computer and documents from my residence. They beat my nephew and son. I just received this information.”
In recent months, the PTI has repeatedly stated that its leaders have been targeted by state agencies, alleging an uneven playing field ahead of the upcoming general elections.
The party has been facing a crackdown following violent protests triggered by the brief detention of ex-PM Khan from an Islamabad court last year in May.
People carrying the PTI flags targeted government buildings, including a top general’s residence in Lahore and the main gate of the army headquarters in Rawalpindi, and setting some of them on fire.
Following Barrister Khan’s statement in court, Islamabad police shared via social media that they had acted on a tip-off and reached a house in search of wanted criminals, only to discover it was the residence of the new PTI chief.
“No violence was inflicted on anyone, nor were any documents taken,” the post continued. “It was a routine operation. Further investigations are being conducted.”
Ex-PM Khan’s party official says family ‘attacked’ during top court hearing on election symbol dispute
https://arab.news/n5gqm
Ex-PM Khan’s party official says family ‘attacked’ during top court hearing on election symbol dispute
- Barrister Gohar Khan says people came in pickup trucks and took the computer, documents from his residence
- Police says they acted on a tip-off and reached a house to arrest criminals, only to discover it was Khan’s home
Pakistan, ADB sign $730 loan agreements to boost SOE reforms, energy infrastructure
- Both sign $330 million Power Transmission Strengthening Project and $400 million SOE Transformation Program loan agreements
- Economic Affairs Division official says Transmission Project will secure Pakistan’s energy future by strengthening national grid’s backbone
KARACHI: Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Thursday signed two loan agreements totaling $730 million to boost reforms in state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and energy infrastructure in the country, the bank said.
The first of the two agreements pertains to the SOE Transformation Program worth $400 million while the second loan, worth $330 million, is for a Power Transmission Strengthening Project, the lender said.
The agreements were signed by ADB Country Director for Pakistan Emma Fan and Pakistan’s Secretary of Economic Affairs Division Humair Karim.
“The agreements demonstrate ADB’s enduring commitment to supporting sustainable and inclusive economic growth in Pakistan,” the ADB said.
Pakistan’s SOEs have incurred losses worth billions of dollars over the years due to financial mismanagement and corruption. These entities, including the country’s national airline Pakistan International Airlines, which was sold to a private group this week, have relied on subsequent government bailouts over the years to operate.
The ADB approved the $400 million loan for SOE reforms on Dec. 12. It said the program seeks to improve governance and optimize the performance of Pakistan’s commercial SOEs.
Karim highlighted that the Power Transmission Strengthening Project will enable reliable evacuation of 2,300 MW from Pakistan’s upcoming hydropower projects, relieve overloading of existing transmission lines and enhance resilience under contingency conditions, the Press Information Department (PID) said.
“The Secretary emphasized that both initiatives are transformative in nature as the Transmission Project will secure Pakistan’s energy future by strengthening the backbone of the national grid whereas the SOE Program will enhance transparency, efficiency and sustainability of state-owned enterprises nationwide,” the PID said.
The ADB has supported reforms by Pakistan to strengthen its public finance and social protection systems. It has also undertaken programs in the country to help with post-flood reconstruction, improve food security and social and human capital.
To date, ADB says it has committed 764 public sector loans, grants and technical assistance totaling $43.4 billion to Pakistan.
