ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top military brass on Friday raised concerns over “unwarranted” criticism of a newly announced operation against militant violence in the country, saying it would assist the government in addressing all security-related challenges undermining investor confidence.
The military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), announced this in a statement circulated after the 265th Corps Commanders’ Conference held at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, presided over by Army Chief General Asim Munir.
The participants reviewed the overall security landscape and focused on Operation Azm-e-Istehkam — or Resolve for Stability — which was announced last month during the meeting of the country’s top security body.
The opposition parties, including former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), raised objections to the planned operation, pointing out that it should have first been debated in the national parliament. They also expressed fears it could create further instability in the country.
“The forum undertook a comprehensive review of internal and external security situation of the country and had detailed discussion on various aspects of ‘Azm-e-Istehkam’, which is aimed at harnessing the national counter terrorism efforts in a synchronized manner to dismantle the nexus of terrorism and illegal spectrum in the country for enduring stability and economic prosperity,” the ISPR said.
“Forum noted with concern the unwarranted criticism by some quarters and deliberate misrepresentation of the vision, only for furthering their vested interests,” it added.
The statement said Pakistan’s military leadership was cognizant of the full spectrum of challenges faced by the country, as it pointed out that it would “shoulder its constitutionally mandated responsibilities with support of the resilient people of Pakistan.”
The conference also raised alarm over the “onslaught of politically motivated digital terrorism” against state institution, saying it was to create despondency among the nation and sow the seeds of discord through “fake news and propaganda.”
“Armed Forces along with the nation are fully aware of all such machinations and stand united and committed in defeating the notorious designs of the enemies of Pakistan,” the ISPR statement maintained.
“Forum reiterated to continue full support of ongoing efforts in uplifting the socioeconomic growth and wholeheartedly assisting the government in curbing all illegal activities which hamper investors’ confidence, economic stability and growth.”
The government’s decision to launch the new operation against militants came against the backdrop of a surge in violence in different parts of the country.
It also came shortly after a top Chinese leader visited Pakistan and expressed concern over militant attacks, noting they causing consternation among investors in his country.
The government plans to hold an all-parties conference in the coming days to take all political stakeholder on board with its anti-militancy plan, though its exact date is yet to be announced.
Army raises alarm over ‘unwarranted’ criticism of anti-militancy operation amid opposition’s concerns
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Army raises alarm over ‘unwarranted’ criticism of anti-militancy operation amid opposition’s concerns
- The army says Operation Azm-e-Istehkam aims to dismantle the nexus of ‘terrorism’ and other crimes
- It says the military will assist the government in addressing challenges that undermine investor confidence
TikTok says took down 20 million videos in Pakistan this year for violating guidelines
- The video-sharing platform made the disclosure in its report for the first quarter of the year
- The app has been banned in Pakistan several times in past over ‘immoral, obscene’ content
KARACHI: Video-sharing platform TikTok has taken down approximately 20 million videos in Pakistan for violating community guidelines, the company said on Monday, underscoring its resolve to effectively combat violations.
TikTok, a social media app that allows users to create and share short-form videos, made the disclosure in its report for the first quarter of the year. The platform has become extremely popular among younger generations, with over a billion active users worldwide.
However, this is not the first time that TikTok has removed videos from Pakistan. In July 2023, the video-sharing app had taken action against 11.7 million videos from Pakistan for the same reason.
“In Pakistan alone, the platform took action against 20,207,878 videos for breaching its community guidelines in the first quarter,” TikTok said in a statement on Monday, following the release of its Community Guidelines Enforcement Report 2024.
In the past, Pakistani authorities have banned the video-sharing service several times, with the first ban instituted in October 2020 over what was described as widespread complaints about allegedly “immoral, obscene, and vulgar” content on the app.
The service has been prohibited from operating in the country thrice more than 15 months since then. In November 2021, a Pakistani court finally reversed the ban after TikTok assured the government it would control the spread of objectionable content.
TikTok said the latest report highlighted the platform’s commitment to transparency, safety and inclusivity apart from how the company reflected its dedication to building trust and ensuring a safe platform for its global community.
The video platform removed 166,997,307 videos worldwide during the Jan-March period of 2024, of which 129,335,793 were identified through an automated detection technology, whereas 6,042,287 videos were reinstated, according to the report. The platform “removed and filtered” 976,479,946 comments also, using the safety tools.
“TikTok aggressively pursued spam accounts and related content, implementing robust measures to prevent the proliferation of automated spam accounts,” the company said, highlighting that 93.9 percent of videos violating guidelines were removed within 24 hours of posting with the removal rate resting at 99.8 percent globally.
TikTok also deleted 21,639,414 accounts suspected of belonging to children under the age of 13, the company said.
Pakistan to conduct fitness tests of players after humiliating T20 World Cup exit
- The 2009 champions suffered a shock defeat to first-timers USA before losing to arch-rivals India in last month’s World Cup
- The national team was dogged by allegations of internal discord and that some players were in squad because of favoritism
LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will be conducting fitness tests for the first time ever in 104 districts across the 16 regions in the country, the PCB said on Monday, weeks after the national side’s humiliating exit from the Twenty20 World Cup.
The 2009 champions crashed out of the World Cup on June 15 after the USA-Ireland match was abandoned because of rain. It was the earliest-ever elimination from a T20 World Cup for Pakistan. They suffered a shock defeat to first-timers USA before losing to arch-rivals India. Pakistan’s only win was against Canada.
Throughout the tournament, the team was dogged by allegations of internal discord and that some players were in the squad because of favoritism and not merit. A week later, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi said players would now be selected only on the basis of fitness and performance in domestic cricket.
“Over 2,300 players are appearing in the ongoing countrywide fitness tests. These tests are being conducted as per the Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi’s vision for incorporating a culture of fitness at grassroots level,” the PCB said in a statement.
In order to assemble squads for the Regional Inter District Senior Tournament 2024-25, 23 players in each district have been shortlisted after the Challenge Cup that took place in April and May. These 23 players in each district are undergoing strenuous fitness and strength testing under the respective district and regional coaches and trainers, according to the PCB.
The players, after passing the fitness test, will be summoned for a 45-day camp in their respective districts leading to the Inter District Senior Tournament in September.
“The PCB has decided to conduct fitness tests at the district level instead of the regional level starting from this domestic season,” said Abdullah Khurram Niazi, a PCB director for domestic cricket operations.
“This initiative will surely push the players to prioritize their fitness right from the start and the culture will then expand to other domestic competitions. With more fitter players participating in the tournaments, the quality of cricket will also increase.”
Kenya court declares police killing of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif unlawful
- Arshad Sharif was shot in the head when Kenyan police opened fire on his car on the outskirts of Nairobi in October 2022
- Lawyer of Sharif’s widow says the court has ordered Kenya to pay 10 million Kenyan shillings ($78,000) in compensation
ISLAMABAD: A Kenyan high court has declared a 2022 police killing of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif unlawful and ordered authorities to initiate criminal proceedings against the two police officers involved in it, the lawyer representing Sharif’s widow said on Monday.
Sharif was considered deeply critical of Pakistan’s powerful military, and a staunch supporter of Imran Khan, Pakistan’s now jailed former prime minister. He left Pakistan in August 2022 after sedition charges were filed against him over an interview with an opposition politician who said junior officers in Pakistan’s military should disobey orders that went against “the will of the majority.”
The popular primetime anchorman was assassinated in Kenya on October 23, 2022. Initially, the Kenyan media quoted the local police as saying that Sharif was shot dead by the police due to “mistaken identity.” Later reports indicated that when Sharif was killed, a man in his car opened fire on officers of the Kenyan Paramilitary General Service Unit.
Sharif’s widow, Javeria Siddique, together with the Kenya Union of Journalists and Kenya Correspondents Association, filed a complaint last year against top Kenyan officials over the “arbitrary and unlawful killing” and their “failure to investigate.” After a total of three hearings, the court reserved its verdict on May 8, which was subsequently announced today, Monday.
“In its decision, the Kenyan High Court has declared the killing unlawful, ordered the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to complete the pending investigation, charge both policemen involved and produce them before the court,” Ochiel Dudley, the lawyer who represented Sharif’s widow, told Arab News.
The court ruled that the DPP and IPOA violated the rights of the victim by failing to prosecute the two police officers, and that “Kenya violated Sharif’s right to life, dignity, and freedom from torture, cruel and degrading treatment,” according to Dudley.
“The court ordered the state to pay 10 million Kenyan shillings ($78,000) with interest from the date of the judgment until the full amount is paid to the victim’s family,” he said.
As a lawyer, Dudley said, he pleaded to get the declaration from the court that the killing was unlawful and it violated both Kenyan and international laws.
“The court has reiterated that the use of extreme force is an extreme measure and should be used only as a last resort, when the life of another is in danger,” he added.
Sharif’s widow, Siddique, hailed the Kenyan court for delivering the verdict within a year.
“Today’s decision is very welcome because Arshad’s case has not been heard by the court in Pakistan for a year, but the Kenyan court has decided the case in less than a year,” she told Arab News.
Siddique expressed her gratitude as the court had accepted all the pleas made by her.
“The most important aspect is that the court accepted that Sharif’s killing was not a result of mistaken identity, but rather a targeted killing,” she said. “This decision will be very significant in ensuring freedom of the press and freedom of expression in the future.”
She said the Kenyan policemen were actually “hired killers” and demanded Pakistani authorities take action against the mastermind of Sharif’s killing.
Sharif had been on the run in Kenya, citing threats to his life in Pakistan, when he was killed on the outskirts of Nairobi. The killing stunned journalists in Pakistan as well as the Pakistani public among whom Sharif had a wide following.
Last year, Pakistan’s then interior minister Rana Sanaullah said there was evidence to suggest Sharif’s was a targeted killing based on initial findings of a team of Pakistani investigators who visited Kenya. Sharif’s body had bruises and torture marks, Sanaullah added.
Pakistan eyes plan to connect to Uzbekistan through rail link
- If built, the railway line will expand multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor into Central Asia
- Pakistan says CPEC open to all regional stakeholders, among whom Central Asia is important in geopolitical terms
ISLAMABAD: A provincial governor has said Pakistan was looking into a plan to connect the city of Rawalpindi with Uzbekistan through a railway link, potentially expanding the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into Central Asia, state-run APP reported on Monday.
Pakistan wants to enhance its role as a pivotal trade and transit hub connecting the landlocked Central Asian countries with the world, leveraging its strategic geographical position. In recent weeks, there has been a flurry of visits, investment talks and economic activity between Pakistan and Central Asian states.
Last month, the Pakistani Ministry of Commerce and Trade Development Authority organized the Pakistan-Uzbekistan Logistics Forum in Tashkent, where officials agreed to set up a joint chamber of commerce and enhance direct flights. In May, Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov visited Pakistan for talks on bilateral trade and regional connectivity. The Pakistani PM also visited Tajikistan and Kazakhstan last week.
CPEC, under which Beijing has pledged more than $60 billion for infrastructure, energy and other projects in Pakistan, is part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China’s modern-day revival of the ancient Silk Road which aims to connect Asia, Europe and Africa through more than 60 countries.
“The proposed expansion aims to lay tracks from Rawalpindi to Kohat [Pakistan] and from Kohat to Parachinar [Pakistan], ultimately connecting to Uzbekistan,” the Associated Press of Pakistan reported on Monday, quoting Faisal Karim Kundi, the governor of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
“The governor expressed optimism that this initiative would significantly benefit both regions, enhancing economic ties between Pakistan and Uzbekistan.”
Last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled a grand plan for Central Asia’s development, from building infrastructure to boosting trade, taking on a new leadership role in a region that has traditionally been a Russian sphere of influence.
The five former Soviet republics, with a network of trade corridors, offer China alternative routes to transport fuel, food and other commodities in the event of disruptions elsewhere.
Pakistan says the CPEC project is open to all interested regional stakeholders, among whom Central Asia is one of the most important in geopolitical terms.
Located in a landlocked but resource-rich region, Central Asian countries need better access to regional markets including Pakistan, China, India, and the countries of West Asia. Meanwhile, Pakistan and China have huge energy demands that can be satisfied by growing trade with Central Asia. CPEC also presents a strategic opportunity for Central Asian states to transport their goods more easily in regional and global markets.
Pakistan leader of the opposition says police raided home to arrest him in ‘terrorism’ case
- Case relates to May 9 riots in which supporters of Khan ransacked government and army buildings
- Many PTI leaders behind bars or on the run from criminal and terrorism charges they say are politically motivated
ISLAMABAD: Omar Ayub Khan, Pakistan’s leader of the opposition in the National Assembly and general secretary of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has said an anti-terrorism court (ATC) had issued arrest warrants against him after which police had raided his home in Islamabad on Sunday amid what the party says is a widening crackdown against its leaders.
Top leaders of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s PTI are facing multiple legal cases they say are part of a state campaign of intimidation and harassment against the popular party. Khan has himself been in prison since last August and numerous PTI leaders are behind bars or on the run from criminal and terrorism charges that they say are politically motivated. Many of the charges were filed after Khan’s first arrest in May last year led to riots in which his supporters attacked and damaged government and military buildings. The ATC case against Omat also relates to the May 9 riots. The government says it is not persecuting the PTI.
On Saturday, the district administration of Islamabad revoked permission for the PTI to hold a rally while Amnesty International last week expressed concern over what it called the ‘forced disappearances’ of three family members of PTI members. The party has also said a senior member of its social media team had been “abducted” ahead of the now postponed Islamabad rally.
The PTI and Khan have also rejected the results of Feb. 8 general elections over rigging after which Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formed a fragile coalition at the center.
“Arrest warrants issued for me for ATC Sargodha. Mianwali police and Islamabad police teams went to my Islamabad house to arrest me a few minutes ago,” Omar said on X, saying the government and intelligence agencies “must be very desperate to arrest the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly.”
“They will prove beyond doubt that there is no rule of law in Pakistan,” Ayub said, adding that the party would continue its “lawful struggle.”
PTI party spokesperson Raoof Hasan told Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper that Omar was not at home when police raided and he was now in a “safe place. He said police required prior permission from the National Assembly speaker before conducting a raid to arrest a lawmaker, which had not been taken.
