Search form

You are here

  • Home
  • Pakistan’s ousted PM expresses shock as local court approves Azam Swati’s two-day physical remand


Pakistan’s ousted PM expresses shock as local court approves Azam Swati’s two-day physical remand

An undated file photo of Pakistan's former minister for railways Azam Khan Swati. (Photo courtesy: social media)
Short Url

https://arab.news/5mgwz

Updated 27 November 2022
Follow

Pakistan’s ousted PM expresses shock as local court approves Azam Swati’s two-day physical remand

  • The Federal Investigation Agency arrested the PTI senator and Khan’s close aide from Islamabad earlier in the day
  • He was also arrested last month over a controversial tweet against the army chief, though he was later released
Updated 27 November 2022
KASHIF IMRAN

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan said on Sunday he was “shocked” by the arrest of one his close aides, Azam Swati, for making critical comments against the country’s army chief after a local court approved his two-day physical remand on the request of the Federal Investigation Agency.

The FIA also arrested Swati last month after registering a case against him over a controversial tweet targeting General Qamar Javed Bajwa, though he was later released on bail.

A senior senator belonging to Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, Swati maintained he was stripped and tortured while he was in the custody of the law enforcement agency. He also told a news conference this month that his wife had received an obscene video which featured him and her, though he refused to divulge further details.

Swati addressed a protest rally arranged by Khan’s PTI party in the garrison city of Rawalpindi just a few hours before his arrest wherein he raised the issue of custodial torture and mistreatment of his family once again.

“I am shocked & appalled at how rapidly we are descending into not just a banana republic but a fascist state,” said ex-prime minister Khan in a Twitter post. “How can anyone not understand the pain & suffering Senator Swati underwent with custodial torture & blackmailing video of him & his conservative wife sent to his family?”

The PTI chief maintained Swati was rightly furious about what had happened to him and his family while asking people to resist “state fascism.”

“His justifiable anger & frustration at the injustice meted out to him especially the doors of SC remaining closed to him despite over a fortnight of appeals by Senators in support of him,” he continued. “So he tweets & is arrested again. Everyone must raise their voice against this state fascism.”

 

 

According to local media reports, the FIA sought an eight-day physical remand from a local court in Islamabad but was only granted two days.

“During the hearing, the investigation officer informed the court that the senator was arrested as there were some controversial tweets done by him,” Geo News reported. “He added that the FIA seeks to recover the senator’s Twitter account, mobile and other things.”

However, some PTI leaders said he was arrested for his fiery speech at the protest rally in Rawalpindi.

“Senator Azam Swati arrested again by FIA after he spoke at our Azadi [Freedom] March where he asked some questions and spoke about what happened to him and his family,” Shireen Mazari, a member of Khan’s party and former human rights minister, said on Twitter.

“Is that a crime?”

 

 

 

Swati’s made the comments at the protest rally shortly before Khan announced that his party was quitting the country’s provincial and national assemblies while making his first public appearance since being wounded in a gun attack on November 3.

Khan, a former cricket star turned politician, was ousted in a no-confidence vote in April. He is now in opposition and has been demanding early elections, claiming his ouster was illegal and orchestrated by PM Shehbaz Sharif with the backing of the United States. Sharif and Washington have dismissed the allegations and the current government says the next polls will be held as scheduled in 2023.

Khan launched an anti-government march late last month from the eastern city of Lahore toward Islamabad as part of his campaign to demand snap polls. However, his motorized caravan came under attack by a gunman who killed one man and injured Khan along with ten other party supporters.

Both Khan and Swati have accused officials of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency and others government functionaries of orchestrating the November 3 attack and being behind the alleged custodial torture of PTI members.

The Pakistani military has denied the allegations and insists that it was “neutral” during the political transition earlier this year.

Since Khan’s ouster, anti-army trends and posts on social media have become a routine occurrence in Pakistan, where the military was long feared and for decades ruled either through coups or as the invisible guiding hand in politics.

Topics: Azam Swati Imran Khan

Pakistan government, ex-PM Khan party to again meet on Jan. 2 in bid to ease political tensions

Updated 30 December 2024
Follow

Pakistan government, ex-PM Khan party to again meet on Jan. 2 in bid to ease political tensions

  • Khan’s ouster in a parliamentary vote of no-confidence in 2022 has plunged the country into a prolonged political crisis
  • Both sides last week held first round of talks after the ex-premier threatened a civil dissidence movement in the country
Updated 30 December 2024
KASHIF IMRAN

ISLAMABAD: Ayaz Sadiq, speaker of the lower house of Pakistan’s parliament, has summoned an in-camera meeting of negotiation teams of the government and the opposition on Jan. 2, the National Assembly Secretariat said on Monday, amid efforts to ease prolonged political tensions in the country.
The development came a week after the government and the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of former prime minister Imran Khan held the first round of formal negotiations on Dec. 23, with the PTI asked to present its demands in writing at the next session.

Representative of the government coalition attend the committee meeting in Islamabad, Pakistan, on December 23, 2024. (X/@NAofPakistan/File)

Khan’s ouster in a parliamentary no-trust vote in 2022 has plunged Pakistan into a political crisis, particularly since the PTI founder was jailed in August last year on corruption and other charges and remains behind bars. His party and supporters have regularly held protests calling for his release, with many of the demonstrations turning violent.
“The Honorable Speaker, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, will chair a 2nd meeting (in-camera) on negotiations between Treasury and Opposition on Thursday, the 2nd of January, 2025,” the National Assembly Secretariat said in a notification on Monday.
Khan previously rejected talks with the government, saying his party would only talk to the “real powerbrokers” in Pakistan, the all-powerful army, but earlier this month he set up a negotiating committee of top party members to open a dialogue with the government for the fulfilment of two demands: the release of political prisoners and the establishment of judicial commissions to investigate protests on May 9 last year and Nov. 26 this year, which the government says involved his party supporters, accusing them of attacking military installations and government buildings.

Asad Qaiser (left), member of former Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, speaks during the committee meeting in Islamabad, Pakistan, on December 23, 2024. (X/@NAofPakistan/File)

The talks opened days after Khan threatened a civil dissidence movement and amid growing concerns he may face trial by a military court for allegedly inciting attacks on sensitive security installations during the May 9 protests.
Sadiq last week said the first round of talks were held in a “cordial” environment, calling them vital to end “political polarization” in the country.
“Since some members of the opposition could not join the talks today, we have decided to hold the next meeting on Jan. 2,” he said on Dec. 23. “The opposition will also present a charter of demands in the meeting.”
Speaking to the media after the talks, Khan’s close aide, Asad Qaiser, said the PTI team had asked the government to release all political prisoners, including the former prime minister, and form a judicial commission, comprising senior Supreme Court judges, to probe the May 9 and Nov. 26 protests.
“We should be allowed to hold a meeting with Imran Khan,” Qaiser said. “He is our leader. We will move forward with his instructions.”


The negotiations came days after Pakistan’s military announced prison sentences for 25 people involved in the May 9 protests, which PTI has demanded be investigated. The PTI has also repeatedly said it fears the government and military will try Khan in army courts for the May 9 violence. He is already being tried for the violence in a civilian court.

Topics: Government PTI talks PTI pakistan government

Pakistan stocks surge by more than 3,000 points on hopes of policy rate cuts

Updated 30 December 2024
Follow

Pakistan stocks surge by more than 3,000 points on hopes of policy rate cuts

  • Investor activity remained vibrant on Monday, with a total volume of 1,058 million shares traded
  • Pakistan cut its key policy rate by 200 basis points to 13 percent on Dec. 16, marking fifth straight reduction
Updated 30 December 2024
KASHIF IMRAN

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) opened the week on a positive note and surged by more than 3,000 points on Monday, amid hopes of further policy rate cuts.
The benchmark KSE-100 index soared by 3,907 points, or 3.51 percent percent, to close at 115,258 points, compared to Friday’s close of 111,351 points.
Investor activity remained vibrant, with a total volume of 1,058 million shares traded and a turnover of Rs40.8 billion, while hopes of further policy rate cut boosted market confidence.
“This upward momentum was fueled by optimism surrounding anticipated increases in equity fund allocations by local institutions ahead of the new year,” Topline Securities said in its market review.
“Adding further impetus was a statement from the finance minister over the weekend, suggesting a potential decline in interest rates to single-digit levels in the future.”
Pakistan’s central bank cut its key policy rate by 200 basis points to 13 percent on Dec. 16, it said in a statement. This was a fifth straight reduction since June as the country keeps up efforts to revive a sluggish economy with inflation easing.
The move followed cuts of 150 bps in June, 100 in July, 200 in September, and a record cut of 250 bps in November, that have taken the rate down from an all-time high of 22 percent, set in June 2023 and left unchanged for a year. It takes the total cuts to 900 bps since June.
Pakistan’s economy also grew by 0.92 percent in the first quarter of the fiscal year 2024-25, despite a contraction in the industrial sector, according to data approved by the National Accounts Committee, and released by its Statistics Bureau on Monday.
The growth was driven by positive performances in the agriculture and services sectors, which grew by 1.15 percent and 1.43 percent, respectively, in the first quarter of the fiscal year which ends in June 2025.

Topics: Pakistan Stock Market Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX)

Pakistan reports 68th polio case of this year amid virus resurgence

Updated 30 December 2024
Follow

Pakistan reports 68th polio case of this year amid virus resurgence

  • Pakistan on Monday began a week-long anti-polio vaccination in worst affected Balochistan province
  • Pakistan, along with neighboring Afghanistan, remains the last polio-endemic country in the world
Updated 30 December 2024
NAIMAT KHAN





ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reported another case of polio virus in its northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, authorities said on Monday, taking the nationwide tally to 68 this year.
Polio is a paralyzing disease that has no cure. Multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completion of the routine vaccination schedule for all children under the age of five is essential to provide children high immunity against this terrible disease.
The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad confirmed the wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) case in KP’s Dera Ismail Khan district. This is the 10th polio case of the district this year.
“Pakistan is responding to the resurgence of WPV1 this year,” the country’s polio program said in a statement. “It is crucial for parents to ensure vaccination for all their children under the age of five to keep them protected.”
Of the 68 cases reported this year, 27 were from Balochistan, 20 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 19 from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad, according to the polio program.
It said a sub-national polio vaccination campaign was conducted across Punjab, Sindh, KP, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and Islamabad on December 16–22, vaccinating over 42 million children.
The Balochistan government had postponed the anti-polio drive for two weeks due to security threats and a lack of preparedness stemming from a boycott of the campaign by provincial health staff.
“The campaign’s second phase started today [Monday] in Balochistan,” the polio program said. “To keep children safe, it is critical for parents to welcome vaccinators among them and bring their children forward for vaccination.”
Pakistan, along with neighboring Afghanistan, remains the last polio-endemic country in the world.

Topics: Polio Pakistan Polio cases in Pakistan Polio case

Pakistan’s economy grows 0.92 percent in Q1 of ongoing fiscal year

Updated 30 December 2024
Reuters
Follow

Pakistan’s economy grows 0.92 percent in Q1 of ongoing fiscal year

  • The country is navigating a challenging economic recovery path and has been buttressed by a $7 billion facility from the IMF
  • The growth was driven by positive performances in agriculture and services sectors, which grew by 1.15 percent and 1.43 percent, respectively
Updated 30 December 2024
Reuters

KARACHI: Pakistan’s economy grew by 0.92 percent in the first quarter of the fiscal year 2024-25, despite a contraction in the industrial sector, according to data approved by the National Accounts Committee, and released by its Statistics Bureau on Monday.
The South Asian country is navigating a challenging economic recovery path and has been buttressed by a $7 billion facility from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in September.
The growth was driven by positive performances in the agriculture and services sectors, which grew by 1.15 percent and 1.43 percent, respectively, in the first quarter of the fiscal year which ends in June 2025.
Pakistan’s economy grew by 2.69 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of the previous 2023-24 fiscal year.
However, the industrial sector contracted by 1.03 percent, mainly due to a decline in mining and quarrying activities during July-September, read the report.
The committee compiling the national accounts approved the introduction of quarterly estimates of expenditure of the economy.
On the basis of latest figures of the national accounts aggregates for the last fiscal year, the overall size of the economy stood at 105.6 trillion Pakistani rupees ($379.31 billion).
Annual per capita income in rupees was recorded at 472,263 Pakistani rupees ($1,696.35).
The committee also approved an updated annual growth rate for the last fiscal year 2023-24, which stood at 2.50 percent, slightly lower than the previously estimated 2.52 percent.

Topics: Pakistan economy Pakistan GDP Pakistan GDP growth

Pakistan’s new Gwadar airport set to launch flights to Muscat from Jan. 10

Updated 30 December 2024
Follow

Pakistan’s new Gwadar airport set to launch flights to Muscat from Jan. 10

  • The Chinese-funded airport is capable of handling A-380 aircraft and accommodating up to 4 million passengers annually, PM’s Office says
  • The start of operations at Gwadar airport was delayed because of security review due to militant attacks in Pakistan’s Balochistan in August
Updated 30 December 2024
Hasaan Ali Khan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s new Gwadar International Airport is set to begin flights to Muscat from January 10, the Pakistan prime minister’s office announced on Monday, following a months-long delay in the opening of the airport.
A security review prompted by deadly attacks by separatist militants in Balochistan in August delayed the airport’s opening to the end of this year. The $200-million Chinese-funded airport, which will handle both domestic and international flights, is expected to become one of Pakistan’s largest, according to the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority.
China has pledged over $65 billion in infrastructure, energy and other projects in Pakistan under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Part of President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative, the program in Pakistan is also developing a deep-water port close to the new airport in Gwadar, a joint venture between Pakistan, Oman and China that is close to completion.
On Monday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif presided over a meeting to discuss the airport’s operations and directed authorities to develop a strategy to establish it as a major transit hub, emphasizing the need to improve road connections between the airport and other parts of the country, particularly Balochistan.
“Flights from Gwadar to Muscat will start from Jan.10 next year,” the PM’s office said in a statement. “The Gwadar airport can handle A-380 aircraft and will be capable of accommodating 4 million passengers annually.”
The statement noted that the Gwadar International Airport has obtained necessary certifications from the Pakistan Airports Authority. Additionally, personnel from the Airports Security Force, Pakistan Customs, Anti-Narcotics Force, Federal Investigation Agency, and Border Health Services have been deployed at the airport.
The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plans to increase flights between Karachi and Gwadar to three times a week, while discussions are ongoing with private airlines and carriers from China, Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to launch both domestic and international services, according to the PM’s office. The airport will feature various facilities, including cold storage, cargo sheds, hotels and shopping malls, with banking services arranged through the State Bank of Pakistan.
Although no Chinese projects were targeted in militant attacks in August, they have been frequently attacked in the past by separatists who view China as a foreign invader trying to gain control of impoverished but mineral-rich Balochistan, the site of a decades-long insurgency.
Recent attacks, including one in which two Chinese workers were killed in a suicide bombing in Karachi, have forced Beijing to publicly criticize Pakistan over security lapses and there have been widespread media reports in recent weeks that China wants its own security forces on the ground to protest its nationals and projects, a demand Islamabad has long resisted.
In his remarks, Sharif highlighted that the Gwadar International Airport symbolized the strong China-Pakistan friendship, expressing gratitude to Beijing for constructing an airport with international standards and modern facilities. He also directed the implementation of comprehensive security measures at the airport.
The meeting was attended by Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Economic Affairs Minister Ahsan Khan Cheema, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, and senior government officials. Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, along with Federal Minister for Privatization, Investment, and Communications Abdul Aleem Khan, also participated via video link.

Topics: Gawadar Airport Pakistan Oman ties Gawadar

Latest updates

Chelsea’s title hopes rocked by shock defeat at Ipswich
French ministers in Lebanon for talks month into Israel-Hezbollah truce
France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot (4th L) and Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu (C-L) meet with Lebanon’s army chief.
Two killed in Gaza as aid convoy looted: WFP
A truck transporting humanitarian aid drives in Deir el-Balah on December 29, 2024. (AFP)
India launches its first space docking mission
More than half of Syrian children out of school: Save the Children to AFP

Search form

Print Edition
Read pdf version Subscribe now
© 2024 SAUDI RESEARCH & PUBLISHING COMPANY, All Rights Reserved And subject to Terms of Use Agreement.