ISLAMABAD: The Home Minister of Balochistan, Mir Ziaullah Langau, on Wednesday announced the arrest of what he described as two key commanders of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), saying security forces had apprehended them in a complex operation that thwarted their plans to establish safe havens in the southwestern province.
The TTP, commonly known as the Pakistani Taliban, is a conglomerate of militant groups formed in 2007, which has been designated a terrorist organization by several countries, including the United States.
Islamabad says the network’s leadership is mostly based in Afghanistan, from where its operatives launch high-profile attacks within Pakistan, including deadly suicide bombings targeting security forces, public spaces and schools. The government in Kabul denies it allows its territory to be used by militants.
Addressing a news conference, Langau congratulated Pakistan’s intelligence agencies on the arrest of the two commanders, Nasrullah alias Maulvi Mansoor and Idris alias Irshad, and played a ‘confessionary’ video of the former, who introduced himself as a member of the TTP’s defense council.
“Before joining the TTP, I participated in terrorist activities from Baitullah Mehsud’s platform since 2005,” he said, referring to one of the founders of the TTP. “When the TTP was established in 2007, I became its member.”
Nasrullah said he had been associated with the militant network for the last 16 years during which he participated in countless operations and fled to Afghanistan during the army’s 2014 Operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan.
He said he was called by the top TTP leader Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud to Kandahar and ordered to go to Balochistan to carry out a special assignment in collaboration with the separatist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
“The aim was to create safe havens in different areas of Balochistan to launch terrorist activities in the province,” Nasrullah said.
The TTP wanted to pursue three objectives, the militant said, including sabotaging the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor by targeting Chinese nationals, kidnapping for ransom to highlight enforced disappearances and discredit local intelligence agencies, and spreading anarchy and frustration among the people of Balochistan.
He said the plan was masterminded with the help of the BLA and that India’s intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), was “behind” it.
“Today, I can say with full confidence that India is behind the entire TTP system, especially in financial matters,” he said. “Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud meets the officials of the Indian secret agency RAW at the Indian embassy in Kabul, which is fully supported by the current Afghan administration.”
Nasrullah also said the Afghan interim government in Kabul was facilitating the TTP network.
It was not immediately clear under what circumstances Nasrullah’s video was recorded and if he was speaking freely or under duress. Neither the Afghan nor the Indian governments have as yet commented on his claims.
The Balochistan province has seen a decades-long insurgency against what separatists call the unfair exploitation of resources in the mineral-rich region.
Most of the separatist groups operate independently, but some recent reports in local media have pointed to increasing cooperation between them and with the TTP.
Pakistani security forces have been their main focus, but in recent years they have also targeted Chinese interests, given Beijing’s increasing economic footprint in the region.
Pakistan minister announces arrest of key Taliban leaders ‘planning’ to establish safe havens in southwest
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Pakistan minister announces arrest of key Taliban leaders ‘planning’ to establish safe havens in southwest
- In recorded message played for media by Balochistan home ministry, TTP leader accuses India and Afghanistan of backing attacks in Pakistan
- It was not immediately clear under what circumstances Nasrullah’s video was recorded and if he was speaking freely or under duress
Pakistan’s upcoming IMF bailout will ‘not be our last’ if tax revenues don’t rise— finmin
- Finance Minister Aurangzeb last month passed tax-heavy budget, earning the ire of opposition and government’s allies
- Pakistan is in talks with International Monetary Fund for fresh bailout program that it hopes will be between $6-8 billion
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will keep seeking financial assistance packages from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) if it does not significantly boost its tax revenues, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Monday.
Aurangzeb’s comments come days after Pakistan’s president signed the federal budget for the current fiscal year, which has been criticized by the opposition, trade bodies and even the government’s allies, for its ambitious tax targets.
The tax-heavy budget aims to raise Rs13 trillion ($46.6bn) by July 2025, a roughly 40 percent increase from the current financial year. Financial experts say the budget is aimed at satisfying the IMF, which has repeatedly asked Islamabad to bring tax reforms to ensure growth in its fragile economy.
Speaking to British newspaper Financial Times, Aurangzeb said he was “relatively confident” of reaching a staff-level agreement with the IMF this month for a loan his government has estimated to be between $6-$8bn.
“But it will not be our last fund program if we don’t bring our tax revenues up,” the minister said.
Pakistan hopes the IMF bailout package will stabilize its economy, one of the worst-performing ones in Asia, that has been troubled by double-digit inflation, slow growth and low foreign reserves.
Pakistan’s economic indicators have recorded an improvement over the past few months, with inflation dropping down to 12.6 percent in June from the record-breaking 38 percent in May 2023. Pakistan’s stock market has registered high growth in recent weeks while the central bank’s foreign reserves have risen to over $9 billion.
“The direction of travel is positive, and investors are showing confidence in the stock market,” Aurangzeb said.
However, he acknowledged Pakistan’s tax collection authority, the Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR), was viewed negatively by the masses.
“People don’t want to deal with the tax authority because of corruption, because of harassment, because of people asking for speed money, facilitation money,” Aurangzeb noted. “That’s not sustainable.”
The finance minister lamented how Pakistan’s economy was reliant on imports, stating that Islamabad had to borrow to pay off existing or accumulating debt.
“We need to create the capacity to repay loans,” Aurangzeb said. “As long as this economy stays import-based, what happens is the moment it heats up . . . we run out of dollars [and] we have to go back to the lender of last resort on our knees.”
Since April, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has visited Saudi Arabia, UAE and China to attract foreign investment in Pakistan’s key sectors. His government has repeatedly assured Pakistan’s allies it seeks not loans but “mutually beneficial” partnerships.
“It’s about time we get real,” Aurangzeb said, pointing to Gulf investors’ demands for equity and board seats. “The ball is in our court to provide bankable, investable projects.”
Pakistan thrash India by 68 runs in World Championship of Legends tournament
- Half-centuries by Sharjeel Khan, Kamran Akmal inspire Pakistan to 68-run win over India
- World Championship of Legends is a T20 cricket tournament that features retired cricketers
ISLAMABAD: Inspired by quickfire half-centuries from Kamran Akmal and Sharjeel Khan, Pakistan Champions defeated arch-rivals India by 68 runs in the World Championship of Legends cricket tournament at Edgbaston on Saturday.
The World Championship of Legends tournament features retired cricketers taking part in a T20 cricket tournament. This year’s edition features teams from Pakistan, India, England, Australia, West Indies and South Africa.
Pakistan batted first in the clash between the two sides at Edgbaston, scoring an impressive 243/4 at the end of their 20 overs. India were able to score only 175/9 from their 20 overs, falling 68 runs short of the target.
“People are happy so we are happy at the end of the day,” Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi told reporters after the match.
When asked about Pakistan’s mammoth total, Afridi remarked:
“We thought about breaking all records today.”
Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Akmal scored 77 runs from 40 balls while left-handed batter Sharjeel Khan scored 72 runs from 30 balls. Middle-order batter Sohaib Maqsood scored 51 from 26 balls while Shoaib Maik pitched in with an impressive 25-run score from 18 balls.
India’s bowlers RP Singh, Anureet Singh, Dhawal Kulkarni and Pawan Negi took one wicket each.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Wahab Riaz and Shoaib Malik returned figures of 3/22 and 3/38 from their overs while pacers Sohail Tanvir and Sohail Khan grabbed one wicket each.
Suresh Raina top-scored from India with 52 runs from 40 balls while opening batter Ambati Rayudu scored 39 runs from 23 balls.
With the latest win, Pakistan remain at the top of the table with three victories while Australia remain at number 2 and India at number three with two wins each and a loss.
South Africa sit at the bottom of the table with two losses and the lowest run-rate of -5.296.
Squads:
Pakistan: Kamran Akmal, Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan (c), Umar Akmal, Sohaib Maqsood, Shoaib Malik, Sharjeel Khan, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez, Aamer Yamin, Wahab Riaz, Saeed Ajmal, Sohail Tanveer, Sohail Khan, Tanveer Ahmed
India: Robin Uthappa, Naman Ojha(w), Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh(c), Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Vinay Kumar, HarbHajjan Singh, Dhawal Kulkarni, Rahul Shukla, RP Singh, Saurabh Tiwary, Anureet Singh, Rahul Sharma, Ambati Rayudu, Pawan Negi
Pakistan to observe first of Muharram on Monday, Ashura on July 17
- Pakistan to observe first of Muharram from Monday, says central moon-sighting committee
- Muharram marks beginning of new Islamic year, religious processions by Shia Muslims in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s central moon sighting committee this week confirmed that it had not sighted the crescent for Muharram, adding that the country would observe the first of the Islamic month from Monday and Ashura on July 17.
Muharram marks the beginning of the new year in the Islamic lunar calendar during which Shia Muslims across Pakistan hold gatherings and organize processions to pay homage to Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Hundreds of thousands take out processions across the country on Ashura, the 10th of Muharram, to mourn Hussain’s martyrdom in Karbala in present-day Iraq centuries ago.
Pakistan’s Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee (RHC) met in Pakistan’s southwestern Quetta city on Saturday evening to spot the Muharram crescent.
“The Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee has announced that the Crescent of Muharram-Ul-Haram 1446 AH was not sighted,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan said.
“He [RHC chairman] said that the 1st Muharram-Ul-Haram will be on Monday and Ashura will be observed on 17th of this month.”
INTERNET SERVICES
Pakistan’s interior ministry said on Friday it had not yet decided whether it would suspend Internet services during the Islamic month.
Militant groups have often targeted Muharram processions and imambargahs, killing hundreds of people in the past, but the Pakistani interior ministry said it had neither accepted nor rejected any request in this regard.
Pakistan’s largest Punjab province has also proposed a ban on all social media platforms from Muharram 6-11 due to security concerns, provincial information minister Azma Bukhari said on Friday.
Social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and TikTok will be suspended across Punjab to control hate material/misinformation, the provincial government said.
Pakistan PM orders ‘exemplary punishment’ for officials found overcharging electricity consumers
- Inquiry report last year revealed 13.76 million Pakistanis were charged for over 30 days of electricity usage
- PM Shehbaz Sharif directs authorities to suspend guilty officials, register cases against them
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif this week directed authorities to take strict action against officers of power distribution companies who were found guilty of overbilling consumers, state-run media reported, as Pakistani brace for another massive power tariff hike this month.
Last year, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) disclosed that Pakistan’s power distribution companies had charged excessive bills to consumers by adopting “illegal and unlawful practices.” This was revealed in a 14-page inquiry report after nationwide protests broke out last year in Pakistan over inflated bills.
The inquiry report revealed the billing cycles carried out by distribution companies ranged from 30 days to 40 days and even more. As per notified tariff terms and conditions, a billing period means a billing month of 30 days or less reckoned from the date of the last meter reading.
The inquiry report revealed that 13.76 million people were charged for more than 30 days of electricity usage, while 0.4 million were sent average bills due to faulty electricity meters.
“The prime minister said that exemplary punishment should be given to those officials who had included extra units in the monthly bills of consumers with their anti-public attitude, besides unmasking them who had sent extra units to the protected consumers’ category, using less than 200 units per month,” the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said.
This was said by PM Sharif as he chaired a high-level meeting to review reforms in the power sector on Saturday, APP reported.
The Pakistani premier tasked the power division to suspend such individuals and ordered the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to register cases against them.
He directed authorities to accelerate their efforts and tap into producing power from renewable energy resources, adding that Pakistan could no longer afford to generate power on imported fuel.
“He also expressed his resolve not to pass on the buck to the poor segment of society of the wrong policies and measures of the past,” the state media said.
Pakistan’s National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has called a public hearing on July 8 on the question of passing on more than Rs700 billion additional burden to electricity consumers during the current fiscal year by jacking up the average national tariff by around Rs5.72 per unit.
The South Asian country approved the tariff to strengthen the government’s position in securing a fresh financial bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as it tries to wiggle out of a macroeconomic crisis.
Pakistan telecom authority proposes framework to tighten control on social media, digital platforms
- PTA wants the OTT services to seek a 15-year authorization to maintain legal operations in the country
- It also wants them not to store the personal data of local consumers beyond Pakistan’s territory
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has developed a regulatory framework for over-the-top (OTT) services, including social media, digital streaming platforms and popular messaging apps, with the aim to exert greater control after eliciting feedback from stakeholders and finalizing it.
The PTA has posted a 14-page document containing all the provisions along with a list of questions for feedback.
The framework specifies three different kinds of OTT services, dealing with communication (such as Skype, WhatsApp and Facebook Messengers), application (like LinkedIn and X) and media (including YouTube, Netflix and Spotify).
It mentions the OTT authorization that these services will have to obtain from the PTA to maintain legal operations in the country.
“This OTT Authorization shall be valid for a period of fifteen (15) years,” it says. “The Licensed OTT Service Provider shall be required to enter into agreement with the TSPs [telecom service providers] licensees.”
It also mentions data localization, saying these services will not be able to store the personal data of local consumers beyond the country’s geographical territories without the PTA’s approval.
Additionally, it highlights the responsibility for the blocking of unlawful online content in accordance with “Section 37 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 and/or as determined by the Authority from time to time.”
The PTA has taken actions against platforms like TikTok, YouTube and Facebook in the past, citing reasons related to immoral, indecent and blasphemous content and even blocking these services.
This has also been criticized by free speech activists in the country that described such official decisions as a form of censorship and to stifle free expression and open access to information.
The final deadline for stakeholders to share their feedback with the telecom authority in July 10.
