Pakistan police hold protests over militant attacks, cop killings in northwest province

Police and locals hold protest over increase in militant attacks in Lakki Marwat district, Pakistan, on September 10, 2024. (Lakki Marwat Police)
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Updated 10 September 2024
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Pakistan police hold protests over militant attacks, cop killings in northwest province

  • At least 75 policemen killed in ambushes and target killings in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2024
  • Lakki Marwat sit-in enters second day as civil society, political representatives, tribal elders join protest

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Police in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province are staging a sit-in in the district of Lakki Marwat against a surge in militant attacks and the targeted assassinations of officers, with police and tribal elders on Tuesday saying the police department needed to be empowered to restore peace and stability in the volatile region.

The sit-in by policemen, who have been joined by representatives of civil society and political parties as well as tribal elders and members of the public, entered its second day on Tuesday, days after unidentified gunmen attacked a police van in Lakki Marwat, killing an officer. Two brothers of a serving police man in Lakki Marwat were also gunned down last week. 

Pakistan has seen a rise in militant attacks in recent weeks, with many of them taking place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where groups like the outlawed Pakistani Taliban, or TTP, have stepped up attacks, daily targeting security forces convoys and check posts, and carrying out targeted killings and kidnappings of law enforcers and government officials.

At least 75 policemen have been killed in ambushes and target killings in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2024, according to police figures. 

“Only last week, an investigation officer and two brothers of a police officer were killed by unidentified gunmen. These kinds of attacks have created a sense of insecurity among policemen, which has forced them to launch protests to get their constitutional rights of protection for themselves and the community,” Lakki Marwat police spokesman Shahid Marwat told Arab News.

He said hundreds of policemen were taking part in the protest and were blocking the main Karachi-Peshawar Highway. Local supporters of all political parties and members of civil society and tribal jirgas had also joined the demonstration in solidarity with police, Marwat said. 

The volatile Lakki Marwat district is located on the edge of Pakistan’s restive tribal regions that border Afghanistan, from where Islamabad says militants mainly associated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) frequently launch attacks, targeting police and other security forces. Islamabad has even blamed Kabul’s Afghan Taliban rulers of facilitating anti-Pakistan militants. Kabul denies the charges. 

Anees Khan Marwat, a senior Lakki Marwat police officer, said the protesters had two demands: security against targeted killings and withdrawal of the army from the district as well as the empowerment of police.

“Our protest will continue until the acceptance of our two demands,” he told Arab News. 

Local elder Misbahullah Marwat said the region’s population was backing the police force and many members of the public had joined the sit-in because daily attacks on police officials were “no longer acceptable” to the people of the province.

“Police with active support from the local population can deal with militants and other issues pertaining to security,” he said. 

In similar protests in KP’s Bannu in July, protest leaders rejected plans to launch a new military operation in the province and demanded that a spike in militant attacks in the region be tackled by empowering and better equipping civilian agencies like the police and the counter-terrorism department.


Pakistan says developing nations need $6.8 trillion by 2030 to meet climate pledges

Updated 58 min 32 sec ago
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Pakistan says developing nations need $6.8 trillion by 2030 to meet climate pledges

  • PM Sharif calls on donor countries to give 0.7 percent of gross national income as development assistance, use existing climate funds
  • Premier says debt cannot become “acceptable new normal” in climate financing, calls for focus on non-debt financing solutions

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday developing countries would need an estimated $6.8 trillion by 2030 to implement less than half of their current nationally determined contributions (NDCs), or national action plans for reducing emissions and adapting to climate impacts defined by the Paris Agreement.

Nearly 200 nations have gathered in Baku, Azerbaijan, for COP29 climate talks this week to thrash out the details of a deal known as the New Collective Quantified Goal, designed to deliver billions of dollars of climate finance to the regions that need it the most. But the United States, Europe and others say they will only commit to the fund if the list of countries contributing to it is widened to include the likes of China, South Korea and Singapore, and the resulting deadlock could block progress during the talks.

Meanwhile, COP29 follows a year of weather disasters that have emboldened developing countries in their demands for climate cash. 

Pakistan is ranked the 5th most vulnerable country to climate change, according to the Global Climate Risk Index. In 2022, devastating floods killed over 1,700 people and affected over 33 million, with economic losses exceeding $30 billion. International donors pledged over $9 billion last January to aid Pakistan’s flood recovery but officials say little of the promised funds have been received so far.

“Developing countries will need an estimated $6.8 trillion by 2030 to implement less than half their current NDCs,” Sharif said in an address on the sidelines of the World Leaders’ Climate Action Summit.

“Donor countries should fulfill their commitment to provide 0.7 percent of their gross national income [as development assistance] and capitalize existing climate funds.”

One such commitment, the $100 billion Annual Climate Finance pledge established over a decade ago at COP15, is now reported by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development to have reached only $160 billion, Sharif said. 

“Despite this number remaining a tiny proportion of the defined need, a significant part of this financing is dispersed in the form of loans, further enhancing the debt burden on developing nations and potentially pushing them toward mounting debt traps, I call them death traps,” Sharif added.

“Pakistan alongside many other developing countries calls for stronger, more equitable climate finance mechanisms. Debt cannot become the acceptable new normal in climate financing which is why we must resume focus on non-debt financing solutions, enabling countries to fund climate initiatives.”

Sharif also called on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to set up a committee to review NDCs “periodically.”

“We need to double adaptation financing from present level and loss and damage funds must be enhanced and directed toward resilient infrastructure and other pressing needs,” Sharif added.

Governments last year pledged $800 million toward a new ‘loss and damage’ fund to help poorer nations being hit by climate-fueled disasters. The fund, which has a director and a host nation, will now be deciding how the funds should be dispersed and calling for more contributions at COP29.

On Tuesday, the world’s top multilateral banks, including the World Bank, European Investment Bank and Asian Development Bank, pledged to ramp up climate finance to low and middle income countries to $120 billion a year by 2030 as part of efforts at COP29 to agree to an ambitious annual target.

Reaffirming a goal of capping global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average by 2050, the new figure is a more than 60 percent increase on what the group of 10 multilateral development banks (MDBs) had funneled to poorer nations last year, according to a statement released during the UN climate summit.

The new figure includes $42 billion to help adapt to the impacts of extreme weather, a 70 percent increase over the 2023 number.


Emerging fintech operator in Middle East, Pakistan to acquire FINCA Microfinance Bank

Updated 12 November 2024
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Emerging fintech operator in Middle East, Pakistan to acquire FINCA Microfinance Bank

  • FINCA operates in 108 cities in Pakistan, providing state-of-the-art deposit and payment solutions 
  • ABHI established global headquarters in Abu Dhabi in Jan. 2024, has expended to Dubai and Saudi Arabia 

KARACHI: Abhi Private Limited, an emerging fintech operator in the Middle East and Pakistan, and leading tech conglomerate TPL Corp. Limited, are all set to jointly acquire FINCA Microfinance Bank Limited, a statement from Abhi said on Tuesday. 

FINCA Pakistan, part of a global FINCA network, operates in 108 cities across Pakistan, providing state-of-the-art deposit and payment solutions, including micro-credit facilities aimed at improving livelihoods. 

ABHI established its global headquarters in Abu Dhabi in January 2024 and has also expanded its business through partnerships in Dubai and Saudi Arabia.

“The strategic alliance between Abhi and TPL Corp. aims to reshape financial inclusion efforts across Pakistan by combining FINCA’s extensive microfinance network and expertise with Abhi’s innovative digital solutions and TPL Corp’s presence in retail, insurance and technology sectors,” Abhi said in a statement. 

“By bringing together these complementary strengths, the partnership is set to diversify and expand access to financial products and services that cater to underserved communities, including rural populations, small businesses, and lower-income individuals.”

The acquisition will combine TPL’s diverse business portfolio and FINCA Pakistan’s established presence and deep knowledge of the market, with the combined entity being “well-positioned to introduce customer-focused solutions that can make a tangible difference in underserved regions.”

“At Abhi, we’ve always believed in creating accessible financial solutions for everyone,” said Omair Ansari, CEO & Co-founder of Abhi. 

“By joining forces with TPL, we’re making a stride toward expanding our reach and delivering impactful financial products to millions of Pakistanis who have previously lacked access to essential services.”

Looking ahead, Abhi, TPL and FINCA plan to focus on delivering a new range of financial products “tailored to underserved communities, driving financial inclusion and contributing to the nation’s economic growth.”

“FINCA Pakistan delivered on its promise to develop a nationwide microfinance network that is creating economic opportunity throughout Pakistan, especially for women,” said Jeff Smith, chair of the FINCA Pakistan Board of Directors. 

“Abhi and TPL share FINCA’s commitment to expanding access to financial services for small entrepreneurs. The infusion of new capital and more comprehensive digital services have the potential to significantly accelerate financial inclusion in Pakistan.”
 


Top leaders of Imran Khan’s party briefly arrested, released in Pakistan’s Rawalpindi

Updated 12 November 2024
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Top leaders of Imran Khan’s party briefly arrested, released in Pakistan’s Rawalpindi

  • Leader of the opposition in the national assembly and other PTI leaders had arrived at Adiala jail to meet Khan
  • Ex-PM has been in jail since August last year and faces a slew of legal challenges he says are politically motivated 

ISLAMABAD: Top aides of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan were briefly detained before being released in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi as they arrived to meet their leader at a local prison, his party said on Tuesday, with police saying they were arrested for breaking a law against public gatherings. 

Leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub Khan, and several other leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), had arrived at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail to meet Khan when they were arrested for what Punjab Police has described as violating Section 144 of the Pakistan Penal Code, a legal provision that empowers district administrations to prohibit the assembly of four or more people in an area for a limited period. 

“PTI workers were detained for violating Section 144 but were released after being issued a warning,” Punjab Police Spokesperson Sajjadul Hassan told media. 

The PTI says the leaders were detained to block them from meeting Khan who has been imprisoned since August last year and faces a slew of legal cases, from corruption to terrorism, which he says are politically motivated. 

“PTI leadership has been set free, after being kept in custody till the time for scheduled meeting with Imran Khan was over,” the party said in a text message to reporters.

In a post on X, the PTI said the arrests showed the “blatant misuse of power” of the ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s PML-N party, which it said was “aimed at silencing PTI leaders and anyone standing with Imran Khan.”

“This assault on political freedoms is a grave warning for all citizens. The nation must stand up for itself, get organized, and peacefully protest,” the PTI said. “This is not an issue of any one person or party; it is a matter of Pakistan’s survival and integrity.”

Since his ouster from the PM’s office in 2022 in a parliamentary no-trust vote, Khan has been embroiled in over 150 cases and has been sentenced in several, including to three years, 10 years, 14 years and seven years to be served concurrently under Pakistani law. Khan’s convictions were later overturned in appeals but he cannot be freed due to other, pending cases against him.

He has maintained his innocence and has argued that the cases are an attempt to sideline him politically by keeping him out of the public area. The government denies it is persecuting Khan or his party. 


Pakistan spinner Noman Ali bags ICC’s prestigious men’s Player of the Month award

Updated 12 November 2024
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Pakistan spinner Noman Ali bags ICC’s prestigious men’s Player of the Month award

  • Noman Ali, along with spinner Sajid Khan, was instrumental in Pakistan’s Test series win over England last month 
  • Ali’s returned his career-best figures in second Test at Multan, taking 8/46 to help Pakistan secure 152-run victory

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani spinner Noman Ali bagged the International Cricket Council’s ‘Men’s Player of the Month’ award for October, cricket’s global governing body said on Tuesday, for his stellar 20 wickets in last month’s Test series against England that helped his team secure a 2-1 series victory. 

Ali took 11 wickets in the second Test match against England in Multan while he grabbed nine wickets in the second Test to ensure Pakistan beat England. In the first Test, Pakistan beat England by 152 runs while in the second, they completed a nine-wicket rout of the former ODI world champions. 

Ali and spinner Sajid Khan were both picked up for the second and third Test matches in Multan and Rawalpindi, respectively, after Pakistan dropped cricket stars Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and pacer Naseem Shah. The gamble paid off, as Khan and Ali spun Pakistan to a series victory on pitches that were made spin-friendly by curators via large fans and heaters. 

“I am delighted to be named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month and deeply grateful to all my teammates who helped me put my best performances forward to help Pakistan win a historic home Test series against England,” Ali said in a statement shared by the ICC. “It is always exciting to be a part of such memorable wins for your country.”

The award win comes after Noman entered the top ten of the ICC Men’s Test Bowling Rankings for the first time last month, bowling expertly in tandem with Khan. This was the career-best figures for the left-arm Pakistani spinner. 

Ali also contributed with the bat in the first innings of the third Test match in Rawalpindi, playing an impressive 45-run knock at number nine to help his side gain an impressive 77-run lead. 

Ali, a Test specialist, could next feature in Pakistan’s Test series against South Africa. The green shirts are scheduled to play two Test matches in the African country, three ODIs and three T20Is in December and January 2025. 

West Indies will also tour Pakistan for a two-match Test series in January 2025. 


Cop ‘facilitator’ of attack on Pakistan police compound that killed 86 arrested — official

Updated 12 November 2024
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Cop ‘facilitator’ of attack on Pakistan police compound that killed 86 arrested — official

  • Chief of police says suspect arranged suicide jackets, explosives and militants from Afghanistan
  • Suicide bomber struck mosque inside police compound in Jan 2023, Kabul denies involvement 

PESHAWAR: A policeman considered the main suspect in planning a deadly blast at a police compound in northwestern Pakistan last year has been arrested, the Inspector General Police of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (IGP) province said on Tuesday. 

A suicide bomber struck a crowded mosque inside the Peshawar Police Lines compound on Jan. 30, 2023, killing 86 and injuring nearly 250 people who had gathered for an afternoon prayer congregation. Most of the casualties were police officers. It was not clear how the bomber was able to slip into the walled compound, which houses the police headquarters in the northwestern city of Peshawar and is itself located in a high-security zone with other government buildings.

Addressing a press conference in Peshawar, IGP Akhtar Hayat Khan Gandapur said the suspect had been identified as Muhammad Wali, a police constable in Peshawar who had been arrested on Oct. 11 this year from the city’s Jamil Chawak. Two suicide jackets were recovered from the suspect who was nabbed in a joint operation by police and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD).

 “The suspect was involved in providing suicide jackets, explosives, and terrorists from Afghanistan,” Gandapur said, explaining Wali’s alleged involvement in the planning of the attack. 

“The suspect is affiliated with the banned organization Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA),” he added, referring to a subgroup of Pakistan’s indigenous Taliban movement, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

“He joined the police in 2019 and took leave three years ago and traveled to Afghanistan … The suspect provided the map of Police Lines to the suicide attacker through Telegram [messaging service] and escorted him from Khyber [district bordering Afghanistan] to Peshawar’s Pir Zakori area.”

Gandapur said the “facilitator” had received Rs 0.2 million for his assistance in the attack, adding that he was involved in other attacks as well for which he would move suicide jackets and explosives between various locations.

Pakistan has repeatedly blamed a surge in terror attacks on neighboring Afghanistan, saying most assaults are carried out by Afghan nationals and their facilitators and by TTP and other militants who cross over into Pakistan from neighboring Afghanistan. 

The Taliban government in Kabul says Pakistan’s security challenges are a domestic issue and cannot be blamed on the neighbor.