Imran Khan says no more talks with military or government, announces rally on Sept. 22 - family

A woman walks past a poster of Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan near his Banigala residence, in Islamabad on December 23, 2023. (AFP/File)
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Updated 11 September 2024
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Imran Khan says no more talks with military or government, announces rally on Sept. 22 - family

  • Khan says the ‘establishment’ asked him to postpone Islamabad rally from Aug. 22 to Sept. 8 for security reasons
  • He maintains they promised to facilitate the rally in return, but instead blocked all roads leading to the venue

ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced his refusal to engage with the “establishment or government,” according to a message from prison shared by his sister on Wednesday, warning that his party is ready to proceed with another public rally on September 22, even without official permission.
Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party held a rally on the outskirts of Islamabad on Sunday, demanding his release from prison after his arrest over a year ago on multiple charges, which he claims are fabricated to keep him out of power. Clashes broke out between his supporters and the police on the day of the rally, with a top PTI leader and Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur, warning the government to release Khan within two weeks or his party would free him from jail on its own.
This was followed by a police crackdown on PTI lawmakers, who were arrested from the parliament building, prompting the party to announce a nationwide protest on Friday.
In his message, Khan said the “establishment,” a euphemism for the country’s powerful military, had previously asked to postpone his rally from August 22 to September 8, citing intelligence reports of security threats.
“They gave their reassurance for complete facilitation if the jalsa [rally] was shifted to 8th September,” the ex-premier’s message, shared by his sister Aleema Khanum on social media, said. “Instead, they placed thousands of containers across every entry point into Islamabad.”
Objecting to the dispersal of his party supporters with tear gas and the arrest of lawmakers from parliament, he said, “There will be no further talks with the establishment or government.”
“Rest assured,” he continued, “We will go ahead with the jalsa on [September] 22. NOC [no-objection certificate] or no NOC.”
Khan’s party had already announced a rally in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore on September 22.
His message comes after PTI leaders held a news conference on Tuesday, saying they would take their party’s political struggle to the streets, apart from fighting legal and political battles in court and parliament.


Chinese PM virtually inaugurates Beijing-funded airport in Pakistan's restive southwest

Updated 9 sec ago
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Chinese PM virtually inaugurates Beijing-funded airport in Pakistan's restive southwest

  • Premier Li Qiang said the start of operations at the Gwadar airport will help boost investment and trade in Pakistan’s western regions
  • The inauguration of the airport had been delayed amid deadly attacks by separatist militants in the Balochistan province in recent months

ISLAMABAD: Chinese Premier Li Qiang virtually inaugurated on Monday a Chinese-funded airport in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, saying it would bring more investment and trade opportunities to the South Asian country.

The start of operations at the $200-million Gwadar International Airport had been delayed amid deadly attacks by separatist militants in the southwestern Pakistani province in recent months.

Li inaugurated the airport alongside Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during his visit to Islamabad to attend a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on Oct 15-16.

This marks the first visit by a Chinese prime minister to Pakistan in 11 years. Li is leading a high-level delegation of ministers and officials on the visit that runs from October 14 till October 17.

“I believe that the inauguration of the new airport will significantly enhance the security of the Gwadar region, capitalize integration of port shipping and bring more investment and trade opportunities to Pakistan's western regions,” the Chinese premier said, while addressing the inauguration ceremony.

China, a key regional ally and investor, has invested billions in Pakistan through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a network of transport, energy and infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing regional trade and connectivity.

Li said through the concerted efforts of both sides, CPEC had produced significant outcomes and played a positive role in Pakistan's economic and social development as well as regional integration.

“China will continue to work with Pakistan to uphold the principle of planning together, building together and benefiting together, engaging in open, green and clean cooperation and pursue the goal of high standard people sustainability in order to make the model project of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation,” he said.

Speaking at the ceremony, Sharif said the new international airport would not only transform the economy of Gwadar, a port city in Balochistan that lies at the heart of CPEC, but also positively impact Pakistan’s overall economy.

"I want to assure you that I will work with you very closely, not only to promote CPEC’s second phase, but also to promote peace and security for the people of China and Pakistan," he added.

MoU signing

In a televised ceremony, the two prime ministers witnessed the signing of several memorandums of understanding (MoUs), agreements and protocols aimed at enhancing cooperation between Pakistan and China in various fields.

The agreements were aimed at promoting cooperation within the CPEC Livelihood Working Group, strengthening collaboration in information and communication technology, advancing cooperation on water conservancy facilities, flood control and disaster reduction, enhancing security cooperation, and supporting the construction of joint laboratories.

Additionally, agreements on a currency swap between the People’s Bank of China and the State Bank of Pakistan as well as co-production of television programs were also reached between the two countries.

“Exchange of MoUs between Pakistan and China in agriculture, commerce and other fields will shape into agreements very soon through joint efforts of both the countries,” Sharif said, after the signing ceremony.

The Pakistan prime minister's office said Sharif and his Chinese counterpart also held a delegation-level meeting and discussed all aspects of bilateral relations as well as regional and global issues of mutual interest. 

“The two leaders reiterated their support for each other on all core issues and expressed their commitment for high-quality development of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Phase 2,” Sharif's office said, adding that both leaders emphasized on the need for timely completion of all ongoing projects.

Sharif also assured Premier Li of Pakistan's commitment to ensure the safety of Chinese residents and projects in Pakistan, it added.

 


Major tech show in Dubai offers Pakistan opportunity to increase IT exports manifolds — envoy

Updated 41 min 35 sec ago
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Major tech show in Dubai offers Pakistan opportunity to increase IT exports manifolds — envoy

  • The annual GITEX Global exhibition is considered one of the world’s largest tech shows that connects industry leaders with major tech and innovation startups
  • Pakistan's ambassador encourages business leaders, IT professionals to visit the Pakistan pavilion, where 24 exhibitors are showcasing innovative technologies

ISLAMABAD: The four-day Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) 2024, being held in Dubai from Oct. 14 till Oct. 18, offers Pakistan an opportunity to boost its Information Technology (IT) exports by tapping into new markets, Pakistan's Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Faisal Niaz Tirmizi said on Monday, as he inaugurated Pakistan's pavilion at the event.

The annual GITEX Global exhibition is considered one of the world’s largest tech shows that connects industry leaders with major tech and innovation startups as well as government officials, expert investors and corporate buyers. This year’s exhibition will run from Oct. 14 to Oct. 18.

Pakistan aims to showcase its growing capabilities in the IT sector through a contingent of 24 leading exhibitors at the event, which is being held at the Dubai World Trade Centre and offers an opportunity for companies to connect with global tech leaders, investors, and potential partners.

"It's a great opportunity for business leaders and IT experts from Pakistan to meet their counterparts from around the world to increase exports of Pakistan from $3.2 billion to manifolds," Ambassador Tirmizi said, after inaugurating the Pakistan pavilion.

He encouraged business leaders and IT professionals to visit the pavilion, where 24 exhibitors are showcasing innovative technologies and services, highlighting the substantial growth of Pakistan’s IT exports to the UAE that had risen by 34% to $265 million.

The Pakistani ambassador acknowledged collaborative efforts by the Pakistani Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT), Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), Pakistan Software Houses Association (PASHA), and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in organizing and showcasing Pakistan’s IT industry at the exhibition.

“Their joint efforts have made it possible for Pakistan to present its full spectrum of capabilities at GITEX Global,” the ambassador said.

“Pakistan, with the third-largest English-speaking population and the second-largest provider of freelance IT services globally, is uniquely positioned to expand its IT exports.”

GITEX Global is known for bringing together global tech giants, governments, start-ups, and investors, offering a platform for transformative innovations. Pakistan’s involvement in the event demonstrates its commitment to advancing its digital economy and enhancing its global footprint in the tech industry.

 


Indian FM’s visit to Pakistan unlikely to thaw frosty ties, experts say

Updated 58 min 22 sec ago
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Indian FM’s visit to Pakistan unlikely to thaw frosty ties, experts say

  • Jaishankar has said he will not discuss bilateral relations during Pakistan visit
  • High-level trip may still contribute to ‘slight improvement’ to India-Pakistan ties  

NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s visit to Islamabad is unlikely to thaw frosty relations between India and Pakistan as both countries struggle with their domestic issues, experts said on Monday ahead of the first such trip by a high-level Indian official.

The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed last Friday that Jaishankar will be leading the Indian delegation to attend the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization — a 10-member trans-regional economic and security body established by China and Russia — from Oct. 15 to 16 in the Pakistani capital. 

Jaishankar has said he will not discuss bilateral relations during the visit. 

India has fought three wars with its nuclear-armed neighbor, including two over control of the disputed Kashmir region in the Himalayas.

India controls Jammu and Kashmir, which is part of the larger Kashmiri territory that has been the subject of international dispute since the 1947 partition of the Indian subcontinent into Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan.

Both countries, which claim Kashmir in full and rule in part, further downgraded their diplomatic ties in tit-for-tat moves in 2019, after India unilaterally stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its limited constitutional autonomy. In protest, Pakistan also suspended all bilateral trade. 

“It would contribute in certain ways in thawing the relationship that has been frozen for the last 10 years and may provide an opportunity for India to construct, begin conversation with Pakistan,” Sanjay Kapoor, analyst and political editor, told Arab News. 

Yet Pakistan’s political instability and security challenges are also a drawback to potential bilateral engagements, said Prof. Harsh V. Pant, vice president of the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi. 

“Pakistan is in such a febrile that who to talk to is a big question,” he told Arab News.

“The way political challenges are rising for the Pakistani government, they are quite substantive and there is no way in which a unified machinery exists … even if India wants to have a conversation with Pakistan and take that conversation forward.” 

Unless “something fundamental shifts” in Islamabad concerning its approach to regional security and terrorism, Pant said that India will not be “very incentivized to engage with Pakistan.”

Cross-border terrorism was a top-of-mind issue for the Indian government, said Manish Chand, president of the think tank Center for Global India Insights. 

“Pakistan has not done anything tangible, concrete” to address Delhi’s concerns over the matter, he told Arab News, adding that any dialogue with Islamabad also depended on the Indian public perception and mood, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party lost its absolute majority in parliament in June. 

“This government, the BJP, does not want to be seen as soft on Pakistan or cross-border terror, so they don’t want to take a political chance because that would mean that it could be they will face cracking political scrutiny,” Chand told Arab News. 

Despite the challenges, Jaishankar’s trip should still be seen as a “very positive gesture” that may lead “to a slight improvement” in bilateral relations, which “may eventually lead to some tangible move leading to reengagement at some level or revival of the dialogue process,” he said. 

But Prof. Siddiq Wahid, a Srinagar-based political analyst, said engaging with Pakistan is not a priority for the Indian government. 

“The current Indian government is hampered by itself-image of India in the world. That self-image is of a major global player. As a result it thinks that time is on its side and it does not have to deal with Islamabad,” he told Arab News.

“Meanwhile, the regional rivalry between Delhi and Islamabad continues to fester.” 


Pakistan’s deadline to file income tax returns ends today

Updated 14 October 2024
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Pakistan’s deadline to file income tax returns ends today

  • The Federal Board of Revenue had extended the Sept. 30 deadline by two weeks
  • Pakistan has one of the lowest tax ratios in the world, according to the World Bank

ISLAMABAD: The deadline for Pakistanis to file their income tax returns ends today, Monday, following the expiry of a two-week extension given by the country's tax regulator.

Pakistan has one of the lowest tax ratios in the world, according to the World Bank. The South Asian country’s failure to generate tax revenues in higher amounts stems from the fact that it has a narrow tax base, low compliance rate, an inefficient tax administration and massive tax evasion, the international financial institution has said.

Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) announced last month it had extended the Sept. 30 deadline for filing income tax returns to Oct. 14.

“The FBR made the decision in view of requests from various trade bodies, Tax Bar Associations and general public,” it said in a notification. 

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) last month approved a $7 billion loan for Pakistan, critical for the South Asian country to meet its external financial obligations and strengthen its national currency. One of the key demands of the IMF from Pakistan has been to improve its tax administration and broaden its tax base.

The South Asian country aims to collect an ambitious $46 billion through taxes this financial year. Authorities have identified 4.9 million taxable persons in the country by using modern technology.

In Sept., Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced the country’s tax filers this year had almost doubled from 1.6 million last year to 3.2 million. He also disclosed that last year Pakistan recorded at least 300,000 new tax filers while this year, the figure had already swelled to 723,000.

 


Seven Pakistani fishermen reunite with families after release from Indian jails

Updated 14 October 2024
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Seven Pakistani fishermen reunite with families after release from Indian jails

  • Pakistani charity Edhi Foundation facilitated travel of these fishermen from Lahore to Karachi, where they were reunited with their families
  • The fishermen urged Pakistan, India to refrain from detaining impoverished fisherfolk, who are routinely detained by both maritime agencies

KARACHI: Seven Pakistani fishermen reunited with their families in the southern port city of Karachi on Monday after languishing for years in Indian prisons, a Pakistani charity said.

The charity organization, Edhi Foundation, was handed over these fishermen by Pakistani authorities last Friday to facilitate their return to Karachi, according to Muhammad Ameen, an official at the Edhi Foundation.

The charity covered transportation costs for the fishermen from Lahore, where they had arrived from India, and gave each one of them Rs10,000 ($36) for household expenses upon arrival in Karachi.

Indian and Pakistani fishermen are routinely detained by both maritime agencies on charges of illegally entering each other's territorial waters. The nuclear-armed nations’ borders are not clearly defined in the Arabian Sea and many fishing boats lack the technology to steer clear of any intrusion. 

“Whether it’s Indian or Pakistani fishermen, they are all poor,” said 26-year-old Allah Bachayo, who spent nearly four years away from his family after his boat drifted into Indian waters due to a malfunction in 2020.

“If both sides can come together to release Pakistani fishermen in India and Indian fishermen here, it would be a great kindness.”

Another fisherman, Ghulam Mustafa Shah, 19, was reunited with his mother, Shehrbano Bibi, and two younger siblings after having spent nearly three years in an Indian prison.

“I begged for alms to feed my children,” Bibi told Arab News at the Edhi Foundation office in Karachi, adding that Shah was her eldest son and the family’s main breadwinner, whose imprisonment forced her to ask others for support.

“I am very happy. It is a greater occasion than Eid for me,” she said, warmly embracing her son.

Shah, who had accidentally crossed into the Indian waters along with nine other fishermen in Jan. 2022, described his prison time as "painful," recalling that his requests to speak with his family were denied multiple times.

“I missed my mother a lot,” he said. “I would cry the whole day, but no one would listen to me. I banged my head [against the walls], but no one accepted my request.”

Ameen, the Edhi Foundation official, said that another 79 Pakistani fishermen were incarcerated in India, urging authorities to make efforts for their release too.