ISLAMABAD: On the eve of its scheduled mass protest, a Pakistani opposition party on Saturday ruled out any possibility of negotiations with the government until Prime Minister Imran Khan resigned and said it would settle for nothing less.
Fazl-ur-Rehman, chief of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), one of the country’s largest religious political parties, is leading the protest march to oust Khan, citing rigged elections. The protest raises the prospect of political turmoil as the government struggles to stabilize the economy.
The opposition protest caravan will begin moving from the southern city of Karachi on Sunday to the capital Islamabad in the country’s northeast. Protesters from all over the country are scheduled to gather in the federal capital on Oct. 31 to demand Khan’s resignation and the dissolution of the assemblies.
“We will go ahead with our protest as planned until the Prime Minister resigns from his position,” Mufti Kifayatullah, JUI-F senior leader and a close aide of Rehman, told Arab News on Saturday.
“If anybody thinks we will settle for less than that, he is living in a fool’s paradise,” he said.
Negotiation committees of both the government and the opposition held two rounds of talks in Islamabad on Friday night to find middle ground ahead of the protest but failed to do so. Following this, Defense Minister Pervez Khattak who was leading the government team, told media that talks would continue.
“We simply asked them (the government team) if they had brought the PM’s resignation with them. They said no, and the talks were over,” Kifayatullah said.
The opposition committee negotiating with the government had representatives from all opposition parties, including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
Asad Umar, a PTI lawmaker and member of the negotiation committee, admitted that no headway was made in talks with the opposition so far.
“We are trying to settle the issue peacefully,” he told Arab News. “The government is still open for talks to keep the opposition’s protest within the ambit of the law and constitution.”
Umar declined to provide further details on how the government was planning to deal with the protesters.
Khan won last year’s election on a promise to end corruption and help middle-class families but the economy is running into headwinds, as it struggles to avert a balance of payments crisis and prevent its debt from spiraling out of control. In July, the government agreed to a $6 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund and accepted a tough reforms package, which has led to record inflation.
Meanwhile, Rehman, a veteran politician who heads an alliance with several seats in the Parliament, has the ability to mobilize support in numerous religious schools, or madrasas, across the country.
“This is a protest movement and will continue till we achieve our goal,” Rehman said while speaking to media earlier this week.
Pakistani opposition rules out talks with government, to go ahead with protests
Pakistani opposition rules out talks with government, to go ahead with protests
- Protest to oust PM Imran Khan and hold fresh polls in the country kicks off on Sunday
- Government and opposition parties unable to reach middle-ground in negotiations
Pakistan police say four militants killed in operation in Punjab’s Dera Ghazi Khan
- The operation in DG Khan was launched on intelligence reports about militant movement near the Punjab-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border
- Pakistan is currently battling twin insurgencies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which Punjab’s DG Khan district borders
ISLAMABAD: Police killed four militants in a successful operation in Dera Ghazi Khan district of Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province, Pakistani state media reported on Sunday.
The Dera Ghazi Khan, or DG Khan, district borders the southwestern Balochistan and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) where Pakistan has been battling twin insurgencies.
The operation was conducted in DG Khan’s Kot Mubarak area and the law enforcers recovered a sizeable cache of heavy weapons and ammunition from the site of the encounter.
“The swift and effective action of the police teams thwarted the terrorists’ nefarious plans,” the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported, citing officials.
“Inspector General of Punjab Police Dr. Usman Anwar commended the efforts of the Dera Ghazi Khan Police and said the Punjab police stand as a strong barrier against anti-state elements.”
Pakistan is currently battling twin insurgencies: one led by religiously motivated groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), mainly in its Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province and the other by ethno-nationalist Baloch separatist groups in Balochistan.
Militants often seek refuge in border areas of neighboring provinces amid intensifying counter-insurgency operations in KP and Balochistan.
The operation in DG Khan was launched on intelligence reports about militant movement near the Punjab-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border, the APP news agency reported, citing a police spokesman.
“Some suspects fled using cover from bushes and mounds,” it said. “A search-and-sweep operation is ongoing to track them down.”
Pakistan Navy conducts exercise to counter sub-conventional, asymmetric threats to major ports
- The exercise comes weeks after Pakistani and India air and ground forces engaged in a four-day military conflict that killed 70 people
- Reports suggests an Indian aircraft carrier maneuvered toward Karachi, but Pakistan Navy kept it confined to Indian territorial waters
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy has conducted a comprehensive two-day exercise to counter sub-conventional and asymmetric threats to all major ports and harbors, its Directorate General of Public Relations (DGPR) said on Sunday, weeks after a four-day standoff with India.
While air forces and armies of both countries traded jet, drone, missile and artillery strikes last month, the two navies did not reportedly engage each other during the four-day standoff.
Media reports, however, suggested that Indian aircraft carrier Vikrant had maneuvered toward the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi, but Pakistan Navy kept it confined to the Indian territorial waters.
The DGPR said on Sunday the naval exercise was aimed at validating and refining Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs) to ensure robust defense of critical maritime infrastructure against “evolving” asymmetrical threats.
“The exercise involved coordinated operations by PN (Pakistan Navy) Fleet units, Pakistan Marines, SSG (Special Services Group of Navy) and Naval Aviation assets,” it said in a statement.
“The exercise’s scenarios were designed to simulate a range of sub-conventional threats including sabotage, infiltration and unconventional attacks, enabling participating units to enhance inter-agency coordination, situational awareness and rapid response capabilities.”
During the exercise, Pakistan Coast Commander Rear Admiral Faisal Amin visited various operational setups at ports and harbors and witnessed live action simulations carried out by participating units.
“COMCOAST appreciated high level of preparedness and professional conduct demonstrated during the exercises,” the DGPR said.
“He emphasized the importance of maritime installations and added that secure functioning of ports and harbors is directly linked to national economic stability and growth.”
Haris hits maiden hundred as Pakistan whitewash Bangladesh
- Haris, playing in his 17th T20I, carted seven sixes and eight boundaries in his 107 off just 46 balls
- Pakistan chased down 197 runs in 17.2 overs for their first home T20I series win in over three years
LAHORE: Mohammad Haris hit a swashbuckling maiden international century to guide Pakistan to a 3-0 clean sweep of Bangladesh with a seven-wicket win in the third and final Twenty20 international in Lahore on Sunday.
Haris, playing in his 17th T20I, carted seven sixes and eight boundaries in his 107 off just 46 balls as Pakistan chased down a challenging 197-run target in 17.2 overs for their first home T20I series win in three-and-a-half years.
Pakistan won the first two matches by 37 and 57 runs at the same venue.
Parvez Hossain smashed four sixes and seven boundaries in his solid 34-ball 66 to lift Bangladesh to 196-6 in their 20 overs.
Pakistan lost Sahibzada Farhan for one in the first over but Haris, whose hundred came up off 45 balls, added 92 for the second wicket with Saim Ayub and an unbroken 60 for the fourth with Salman Agha who made 15 not out.
Ayub hit four sixes and two boundaries in his 29-ball 45 while Hasan Nawaz scored 13-ball 26 as the home batters enthralled a near-capacity 30,000 crowd at Gaddafi Stadium.
Earlier, Parvez shared a 110-run opening stand with Tanzid Hasan (32-ball 42 with three sixes and as many boundaries) after the tourists were sent in to bat.
The Parvez-Tanzid stand gave Bangladesh an ideal start for their highest T20I total against Pakistan beating the 175-6 they made against them at Pallekele in 2012.
Towhid Hridoy, who scored 25 from 18 balls with a six and two boundaries, then added 49 for the third wicket with Litton Das who made 22.
Fast bowlers Abbas Afridi (2-26) and Hasan Ali (2-38) were the pick of the home bowlers.
Pakistan reaffirms commitment to macroeconomic stability as Ipsos survey shows rising consumer trust
Pakistan reaffirms commitment to macroeconomic stability as Ipsos survey shows rising consumer trust
- The latest Ipsos survey revealed that 42% Pakistanis now believe the country is heading in the right direction
- The development comes amid stabilization of key indicators, including inflation, exchange rate and forex reserves
KARACHI: Pakistan on Sunday reaffirmed its commitment to macroeconomic stability after Ipsos, a Paris-based global market research and consultation firm, said consumer confidence grew in the South Asian country in the second quarter of this year.
The Ipsos survey revealed a significant surge in consumer confidence, with 42% of Pakistanis now believing the country is heading in the right direction — the highest level recorded in six years.
Perceptions of the economy being strong reached their most favorable levels since August 2019, and optimism overtook pessimism that marked a key psychological shift among the population, according to the survey.
Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said the “encouraging” data reflected the success of his government’s disciplined and targeted macroeconomic strategy implemented over the last 14 months.
“He highlighted that consumer confidence in making major purchases and investments has doubled compared to the same period last year, indicating that households are beginning to feel more secure in their financial prospects. Similarly, confidence in job security is now at its highest since 2019, a sign that
labor market conditions are gradually stabilizing in response to pro-growth policies and reforms,” the finance ministry said.
“Senator Aurangzeb reaffirmed that the government remains committed to maintaining macroeconomic stability, accelerating structural reforms, and ensuring that economic growth translates into real and inclusive progress for all citizens.”
The development comes amid stabilization of key economic indicators, including inflation, exchange rate, foreign exchange reserves and fiscal discipline, that has led a renewed public trust in Pakistan, which is currently on path to economic recovery under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program secured in Sept. last year.
Aurangzeb pointed out that this upswing in consumer confidence spans across urban and rural areas, and is particularly evident among youth and women, demonstrating the broad-based nature of the economic turnaround.
He linked this optimism to sustained government efforts to create an enabling environment to enhance private sector growth, exports, social protection and financial inclusion.
“The findings of the IPSOS survey are a timely validation of Pakistan’s economic direction and a clear signal that the country is on a steady path toward recovery and resilience,” the minister said.
India arrests 81 for ‘sympathizing’ with Pakistan
- There has been a clampdown on social media since an April 22 attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir
- New Delhi blamed Pakistan for backing the militants it said carried out the attack, Islamabad denies the allegation
GUWAHATI: Indian police have arrested scores of people for “sympathizing” with Pakistan, a month after the worst conflict between the arch-rivals for decades, a top government official said Sunday.
The arrests took place in the northeastern state of Assam, where Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said “81 anti-nationals are now behind bars for sympathizing with Pak.”
Sarma, from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist ruling party, said in a statement “our systems are constantly tracking anti-national posts on social media and taking actions.”
One of the persons was arrested after he posted a Pakistani flag on his Instagram, Assam police told AFP.
No further details about other arrests were given.
There has been a wider clampdown on social media since an April 22 attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, the deadliest on civilians in the contested Muslim-majority territory in decades.
New Delhi blamed Islamabad for backing the militants it said carried out the attack, charges that Pakistan denied.
India and Pakistan then fought a four-day conflict, their worst standoff since 1999, before a ceasefire was agreed on May 10.
India’s counter-terrorism agency last month arrested a paramilitary police officer for allegedly spying for Pakistan, while authorities have arrested at least 10 other people on espionage charges in May, according to local media.
Sarma is also pushing efforts to stem the contentious issue of illegal immigration.
Assam shares a long and porous border with neighboring Muslim-majority Bangladesh.
Indian media have reported that Assam’s government has allegedly rounded up dozens of alleged Bangladeshis in the past month and taken them to the frontier to cross.
The Times of India newspaper on Saturday reported that Assam was “dumping them in no-man’s land,” suggesting that at least 49 had been pushed back between May 27-29 alone.
The Assam government has not commented on the reports.
Bangladesh, largely encircled by land by India, has seen relations with New Delhi turn icy, after the Dhaka government was toppled in an uprising last year.
Bangladesh has also moved closer to China, as well as to Pakistan.
