ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR: Tension continued to mount in Pakistan on Sunday as the government vowed to prevent any disruption in Islamabad during a high-level visit by the Belarus president, as supporters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan began marching to the capital to demand his release.
Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party is spearheading a “long march” to the capital after more than a year of his incarceration on charges he claims are politically motivated. The party is also protesting alleged rigging in February’s general elections and raising concerns about judicial independence, which it says has been undermined by recent constitutional amendments, a claim the government denies.
Security in Islamabad has been tightened, with paramilitary forces deployed and major roads sealed with shipping containers. The interior ministry has suspended mobile data services in sensitive areas, and highways have been blocked to thwart the arrival of protesters.
Addressing the media in Islamabad, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi criticizing PTI’s timing ahead of the three-day visit of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko to discuss for bilateral economic cooperation.
“Protecting the lives and property of citizens is a priority,” he said. “Disruption during the arrival of foreign guests will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Anyone spreading chaos will be arrested.”
Naqvi also urged Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, a close aide of ex-PM Khan, to prioritize stability in his own province instead of staging protests, calling such demonstrations harmful to national interests.
He also informed the authorities had detained “extremists” in Islamabad.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also questioned PTI’s motives, describing its protest as “a deliberate conspiracy against the country’s honor and dignity.”
Earlier, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal accused Khan’s party of attempting to disrupt Pakistan’s economic recovery by launching a demonstration right ahead of the Belarusian president’s visit.
“I am hopeful this drama will end tonight, and normalcy will return,” he said at a press conference in Lahore.
Iqbal defended the government’s strict measures, highlighting its responsibility to ensure law and order.
Meanwhile, residents of Islamabad said they were already grappling with disruptions. Mohammad Hayat, a 32-year-old fruit vendor, lamented the impact of the ongoing political friction between the government and the opposition party on his livelihood.
“Since morning, I haven’t had a single customer. Roads are blocked, people can’t come out, and my fruit is perishing,” he said.
Another resident, Sayyed Sarmad from E-16 sector, criticized the road closures, claiming, “A girl died in an ambulance yesterday. The government should allow protests but manage them better.”
PTI leaders also remained resolute as caravans from KP headed toward Islamabad.
Asif Khan, a party lawmaker, declared “we will go to our destination at any cost,” highlighting transportation challenges as booked vehicles were allegedly blocked. “We arranged vehicles from other districts and captured videos to show our strength,” he added.
Iman Tahir, a women’s leader from Attock, underscored the movement’s peaceful nature.
“We have always been peaceful and will go peacefully this time again,” she said. “Today, all of Pakistan will rise, and Khan’s final call will be a successful one.”
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, leading the rally, reiterated his commitment while traveling in official protocol.
“We are going to D-Chowk at any cost, and we will not return before reaching D-Chowk,” he said at the Peshawar Motorway toll plaza, referring to an iconic spot in Islamabad that has witnessed political protests for decades.
Another PTI lawmaker, Arbab Sher Ali, echoed the party’s determination to reach the federal capital, saying, “We are instructed to reach Islamabad and are following Khan’s directives. If we can’t reach today, we will reach tomorrow or the day after.”
PTI leaders have hinted at an indefinite sit-in in Islamabad, saying the will not return until their demands are met by the government.
Pakistan vows order as Imran Khan’s party launches protest amid Belarusian delegation visit
https://arab.news/93h73
Pakistan vows order as Imran Khan’s party launches protest amid Belarusian delegation visit
- Deputy PM questions PTI motives, calling protest march ‘conspiracy’ against Pakistan’s honor
- Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi asks Ali Amin Gandapur to prioritize stability in his own province
Pakistan says won’t build new canals, dousing row over key irrigation project
- Government launched project in Feb. to build network of six canals on Indus to irrigate millions of acres of barren lands
- Critics say project would trigger water shortages, weeks of protests forced government to pause plans last week
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s government on Monday decided not to build new canals on River Indus, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office said, following weeks of protests in the southern Sindh province over the key irrigation project.
Pakistan’s government launched the ambitious agricultural project in February to build a network of six canals on the Indus. The government said it aimed to irrigate millions of acres of barren lands and ensure food security for 240 million people of the country.
But critics said the project would trigger water shortages in the southern parts of the country, mainly Sindh. The project sparked protests by lawyers, civil society and supporters of nationalist parties that disrupted trade and traffic on National Highway in Sindh, forcing the government last week to pause it.
On Monday, PM Sharif summoned a meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI), a constitutional body aimed at resolving the disputes between the federation and its provinces, to discuss the irrigation project and heightened tensions with New Delhi over a recent attack in Kashmir among other things.
“Federal Government has decided that no new canals will be built without mutual understanding from CCI,” Sharif’s office said in a statement after the meeting. “It has been decided that the Federal Government will not move further until mutual understanding is evolved among the provinces.”
The development comes at a time when India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan that splits Indus River and its tributaries between Pakistan and India, threatening Pakistan’s food security. Islamabad has described the move as an “act of war” and said it would take “all appropriate steps” to safeguard its due share of water.
Sharif’s office said the government was forming a committee to engage all provincial governments to chart out a long-term consensus roadmap for the development of an agriculture policy and water management infrastructure across Pakistan, adding that water rights of all provinces were enshrined in the Water Apportionment Accord-1991 and Water Policy-2018.
“The committee will propose solutions to Pakistan’s long-term agriculture needs and water use of all provinces in line with the two consensus documents,” it said, adding that any concerns on the proposals would be addressed through due diligence among all stakeholders.
“Water is one of the most precious commodities and the makers of the constitution recognized this, mandating all water disputes to be resolved amicably through mutual understanding.”
Azad Kashmir residents condemn Indian threats to cut water, warn against escalation
- Ties plummeted as Delhi blamed Pakistan of being behind attack last week in Indian-administered Kashmir
- Both nations have since announced a series of punitive measures against each other aimed to downgrade ties
CHAKOTHI, Pakistan: Residents of Chakothi, a town in Pakistan-administered Kashmir situated on the Line of Control with India, have condemned Indian threats to cut off water supply and warned against any escalation to war.
The latest diplomatic crisis between the cross-border neighbors was triggered by the killing of 26 men at a popular tourist destination in Indian-administered Kashmir on Tuesday April 22, in the worst attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai shootings.
India blames Pakistan for the attack. Pakistan denies responsibility and called for a neutral probe.
After the attack, India and Pakistan unleashed a raft of measures against each other, with Pakistan closing its airspace to Indian airlines and India suspending the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty that regulates water-sharing from the Indus River and its tributaries.
Chakothi is a strategically sensitive area on the LoC, along the Line of Control (LOC), which runs 742km (460 miles), dividing Indian- and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, and acts as part of the de facto border between the two countries. The military frontline, which runs through inhospitable terrain, has separated hundreds of families and even divided villages and mountains.
Chatkothi on Sunday expressed determination to defend their land against any aggression and were unfazed by India’s threats to cut off water supply.
“We’re not intimidated,” said Ahmed Abbasi, a resident of the area. “We’ve faced such challenges before and won’t back down.”
Raja Ali, a local resident, echoed similar sentiments, saying, “We’d rather die as martyrs than become a burden in old age. We’ll keep moving forward, unafraid of death.”
Chakothi, the last major settlement before the heavily militarized Line of Control, has frequently seen cross-border shelling during periods of India-Pakistan tensions.
Pakistan says next few days ‘crucial’ amid specter of military incursion by India
- “If something has to happen, will occur in next two to four days, otherwise immediate danger will pass,” defense minister says
- Pakistan and India have downgraded ties since last week’s attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 tourists
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said on Monday the next few days were “crucial” with regards to a possible Indian military incursion, as tensions surged between the two countries over an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir last week.
The attack killed 26 people and triggered outrage in India along with calls for action against Pakistan, whom it says is involved, accusations Islamabad has denied. India has long accused Pakistan of backing militancy in Kashmir, a region both nations claim and have fought two wars over. Islamabad says it only provides diplomatic and moral support to Kashmiris in their struggle for self-determination.
Tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations continued to boil on Monday, and experts and officials in Islamabad both raised the specter of limited airstrikes or special forces raids near the border with Pakistan.
Following a report by Reuters quoting Defense Minister Khawaja Asif as saying an Indian military excursion was “imminent,” he told a local news channel that he had said only that the next few days were “crucial.”
“The threat [of Indian attacks] is there, there is absolutely no doubt about it, but I have not suggested anything about its inevitability,” Asif told Geo News on Monday night.
“If something has to happen, then it will occur in the next two to four days … otherwise the immediate danger will pass.”
He added that if “war” was imposed on Pakistan, it was prepared for a “full response”:
“Our armed forces have 100 percent preparation, be it in our waters, air or soil. No one should have a doubt about this.”
Asif’s remarks followed a key meeting presided over by Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister Ishaq Dar to discuss India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, which was one of the punitive measures it announced to downgrade ties with Islamabad following Tuesday’s attack. The treaty splits the Indus River Basin and its tributaries between Pakistan and India and ensures water for 80 percent of Pakistani farms.
“Pakistan will take all appropriate steps to safeguard its due share of water, guaranteed by the Indus Waters Treaty,” the Pakistani foreign ministry said in a statement after the meeting, quoting Dar.
“Pakistan will continue to advocate for the full implementation of the Treaty to ensure the protection of its water rights and the well-being of its people.”
The statement said India’s “unilateral and illegal” move to hold the treaty in abeyance contravened established norms of inter-state relations, international law, and the treaty’s own provisions.
“Noting that the waters of the Indus River System remain a lifeline for Pakistan’s 240 million people, he [Dar] deplored the Indian attempts to weaponize water,” the ministry added.
Earlier on Monday, Asif told Reuters Islamabad had approached friendly countries, including Gulf states and China, and also briefed Britain, the United States and others on the situation.
“Some of our friends in the Arabian Gulf have talked to both sides,” Asif said, without naming the countries.
China said on Monday it hoped for restraint and welcomed all measures to cool down the situation. Asif said the United States was thus far “staying away” from intervening in the matter.
Riyadh and Tehran have also both offered to mediate the crisis.
Pakistan and India have fought multiple wars, including two over the disputed region of Kashmir, since their independence from British rule in 1947.
In the past, New Delhi has accused Islamabad of backing militants who carried out the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which killed more than 166 people, including foreigners. Pakistan denies the accusations.
Diplomatic relations between Pakistan and India were weak even before the latest conflict as Pakistan had expelled India’s envoy and not posted its own ambassador in New Delhi after India revoked the semi-autonomous status of Kashmir in 2019.
Pakistan stocks slide on surging tensions with neighboring India
- The stock market shed 1,405.44 points, or 1.22 percent, to close at 115,469.34 points
- The below-expectation corporate results also disappointed investors, an analyst says
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Stock Exchange plunged and lost more than 1,400 points in intraday trading, traders and analysts said on Monday, as rising tensions with India triggered geopolitical jitters and fueled a wave of investor selling at the market.
The benchmark KSE-100 index shed 1,405.44 points, or 1.22 percent, to close at 115,469.34 points after touching an intraday high of 116,658.94 points on Monday, according to stock traders.
The development came amid heightened tensions between Pakistan and India over the killing of 26 tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22. New Delhi has blamed the attack on Pakistan, Islamabad denies any complicity.
"The prevailing negative sentiment was largely driven by escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, which heightened investor concerns and weighed heavily on overall market confidence," Karachi-based Topline Securities brokerage firm said.
It said companies like SYS, LUCK, MEBL and HBL contributed 489 points to the index, while ENGRO, UBL, MARI, EFERT and PSO shaved off 907 points from the benchmark.
"Despite the risk-averse sentiment, overall participation remained firm with volumes clocking in at 421 million shares and a turnover of Rs26.43 billion," the firm said in its review.
The market saw an overall trade of 533 million shares, valued at Rs33.7 billion.
Below-expectation corporate results also disappointed investors, according to Muhammad Rizwan, a director at Chase Securities.
Companies like Systems Limited (SYS), Lucky Cement Limited (LUCK), Meezan Bank Limited (MEBL) and Habib Bank Limited (HBL) contributed 489 points to the index, while ENGRO, United Bank Limited (UBL), Mari Energies Limited (MARI), Engro Fertilizers (EFERT) and Pakistan State Oil (PSO) shaved off 907 points from the benchmark.
"National Refinery Limited (NRL), Pak Electron Limited (PAEL) and Engro Holding disappointed investors, impacting stocks in a range of 5.4 percent to 9.7 percent," Rizwan said.
First six Hajj flights from Pakistan depart for Saudi Arabia today
- 114,000 Pakistanis are expected to perform Hajj pilgrimage in 2025
- Record-breaking 2.5 million Muslims expected to perform Hajj this year
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s 33-day-long Hajj flights operation will be launched today, Tuesday, with six flights set to depart for Saudi Arabia, state media reported on Monday.
This year’s annual pilgrimage will take place in June, with nearly 89,000 Pakistanis expected to travel to Saudi Arabia under the government scheme and 23,620 Pakistanis performing Hajj through private tour operators.
“The Hajj flight operation to airlift intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia is commencing from tomorrow [Tuesday],” Radio Pakistan said in its report.
“On the first day of the Hajj flight operation, six flights will be operated: two from Lahore and one each from Islamabad, Karachi, Quetta and Multan.”
Around 89,000 pilgrims traveling under the government scheme will travel to Makkah and Madinah through 342 flights. The last Hajj flight will depart on May 31.
Around 50,500 Pakistani pilgrims will travel to Saudi Arabia under Saudi Arabia’s Makkah Route Initiative, which aims to streamline the immigration process for pilgrims to Makkah. The initiative was launched in 2019 by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and has been implemented in five countries: Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Morocco, and Bangladesh.
Under the initiative, pilgrims are able to complete their immigration requirements at their home country’s airports before they depart for Saudi Arabia. This saves pilgrims several hours upon arrival in the Kingdom, as they can simply enter the country without having to go through immigration again.
Under the Makkah Route Initiative, 28,000 pilgrims will depart for the Kingdom from Islamabad while the remaining 22,500 will fly from the southern port city of Karachi.
While a precise number of worldwide pilgrims for Hajj 2025 is difficult to determine in advance, projections suggest it will be a record-breaking year, with over 2.5 million Muslims performing the pilgrimage.
