Latest news with #Islamabad
Arab News
an hour ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan's Imran Khan orders party to stay silent on infighting, focus on protests
ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan on Wednesday urged party members to put aside their grievances amid reports of rifts within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and focus on the ongoing protest movement, reiterating that the time for negotiations with the government 'has passed.' Reports of a rift within the party began to emerge after Ali Amin Gandapur, a close Khan aide and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) chief minister, announced on July 13 that a 90-day 'do-or-die' protest drive against the government is underway. The protest call, however, appeared to contradict an earlier call for a nationwide protest posted on Khan's official X account, set to culminate on August 5. The day marks the second anniversary of the former prime minister's imprisonment on corruption charges. Speculation of conflicts within the party further grew after senior PTI leader and Punjab Chief Organizer Aliya Hamza Malik publicly voiced concerns on X about a lack of clarity around the campaign. Malik questioned the origin of the 90-day plan and asked for details on the party's strategy to secure Khan's release. According to a statement shared from his official X account, Khan told his family and lawyers at Adiala Jail where he is imprisoned, that he and others from the PTI are currently undergoing 'some of the harshest imprisonments.' 'Therefore, I direct every member of the party to put aside all personal grievances,' the statement read. 'Publicly airing internal matters or individual concerns before the media is entirely unacceptable.' Khan instructed his party members, both juniors and seniors, to avoid sharing 'internal differences' on social media, electronic media, print media or other platforms, urging them to 'focus exclusively' on the protest movement. 'If any party official fails to participate in this movement, I will make the final decision about them myself, even from within jail,' he warned. The cricketer-turned-politician directed the PTI leadership to decide about nominations for the party's Senate tickets through 'mutual consultation.' Khan urged his party supporters to continue protesting against the government. 'The time for negotiations has passed,' the statement said. 'What remains now is the time for the nation to rise in protest.' Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar last week dismissed the party's protest call as a 'political gimmick.' 'PTI has lost street power and its credibility, and is heading toward irrelevance,' the minister said. Khan was ousted from the PM's office in a no-confidence vote in April 2022 and jailed in August 2023. Since then, the PTI has repeatedly mobilized street protests, including a large march to Islamabad in November 2024, to demand his release and challenge the legitimacy of the February 2024 general election. The government accuses the PTI of using the protests to incite instability and disrupt efforts at economic recovery. Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari said earlier this week that peaceful protest was a democratic right of every individual. However, she accused the PTI of abusing that right in the past. 'PTI has a history of violence and anarchy,' she told reporters. 'No political party is allowed to attack with weapons as Pakistan is our red line.' Hundreds of PTI supporters were arrested after riots allegedly incited by the party against the military on May 9, 2023. The government also says four soldiers were killed in November protests last year. PTI denies the charges.
Arab News
2 hours ago
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan to close national chain of subsidized retail stores amid privatization push
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will shut down the state-owned Utility Stores Corporation (USC) by July 31 as part of a broader government effort to restructure and privatize loss-making public sector entities, according to a statement from the finance ministry carried by state broadcaster Radio Pakistan on Wednesday. The decision follows years of declining performance, mismanagement allegations, and heavy financial losses at the USC, a nationwide retail chain originally established in 1971 to provide essential commodities at subsidized prices to low-income households. The stores were once a key instrument in the government's food security and price control policies but have faced mounting criticism over inefficiency, politicized staffing and weak oversight. A high-level committee formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to oversee the closure and privatization of the USC met on Wednesday in Islamabad, with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb chairing the session. The committee is responsible for ensuring a transparent shutdown process, designing a fair Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) for USC employees and recommending a timeline for privatization or asset disposal. 'All operations of Utility Stores Corporation will be closed by 31st of this month in accordance with the government's directives,' the Radio Pakistan report said. The committee 'discussed at length the formulation of a fair and financially viable Voluntary Separation Scheme for the Utility Stores employees' and examined various aspects including its potential size, fiscal impact, and legal implications. To support the analysis, a sub-committee led by the secretary of the Establishment Division has been formed and will submit recommendations on the structure and feasibility of the VSS by the end of the week. The committee also advised that the government's Privatization Commission be consulted on whether the USC's assets should be sold off or restructured for privatization. The closure of the USC marks a significant step in Pakistan's ongoing efforts to reduce the burden of state-owned enterprises on the national budget in line with reforms encouraged by the International Monetary Fund. Over the years, several audits and parliamentary reviews have pointed to chronic inefficiencies at the USC, including procurement irregularities and an inability to meet its mandate effectively in remote and underserved areas.
Arab News
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan to send Islamabad Police officers to Beijing for AI, modern policing training
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's interior ministry announced on Wednesday that the government would send Islamabad Police officers to Beijing so that they can receive training in artificial intelligence and modern policing methods. Pakistan has recently undertaken measures to enhance its policing methods, especially as it faces surging militant attacks in its northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and southwestern Balochistan provinces. These efforts include digitizing police records, hiring more women police officers and releasing public awareness videos on social media platforms. Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met Beijing Police Department's Deputy Director General Gao Jianxin in Islamabad. The two sides discussed collaboration between the police forces of Islamabad and Beijing, the interior ministry said. 'During the meeting, it was decided that officers of Islamabad police will be sent to Beijing for training in modern policing and advanced technologies,' the ministry said in a statement. 'These officers will participate in various training courses conducted by the Beijing Police Department. They will also receive special training in the use of artificial intelligence to further improve the policing system,' it added. The minister said Pakistan would benefit from the 'highly efficient and technologically advanced' Beijing police force, adding that the use of modern technology was essential for public safety and crime prevention. Naqvi also highlighted the importance of timely information sharing to tackle militancy, crime, drug trafficking and human smuggling, the ministry said. He accepted the Beijing Police's offer to provide anti-riot training to the Islamabad police, the statement said.
Arab News
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan navy chief calls for enhancing drone capabilities for maritime security
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf on Wednesday called for increasing the country's capabilities in drones and unmanned systems to counter threats at sea, the navy said. These comments from Ashraf came while he chaired a meeting of the navy's Command & Staff Conference at the Naval Headquarters in Islamabad. The conference is the apex decision-making forum of the navy, where its chief, principal staff officers and field commanders review policies and strategic plans. 'Admiral Naveed Ashraf also emphasized the development of capabilities in unmanned systems, including drones and unmanned surface/underwater vessels, to enhance surveillance and response capabilities,' the navy's media wing said in a statement. Ashraf underscored the importance of maintaining perpetual combat readiness to effectively counter both traditional and non-traditional threats in the maritime domain, the statement added. He appreciated the navy's efforts to maintain maritime security during Pakistan's four-day military conflict with India in May, highlighting the country's 'robust defense capabilities.' 'Naval Chief commended PN's proactive measures in ensuring continuous flow of supplies through Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOCs) and uninterrupted operations at seaports,' the navy said. Unmanned systems and drones help a country detect threats, track enemy movements and monitor maritime borders without risking lives. These monitoring systems are cost-effective as well, helping navies extend their reach without the need for additional ships or personnel.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
UK lifts years-long ban on Pakistani airlines after improvement in air safety standards
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Britain has lifted a years-long ban on Pakistani airlines following improvements in the country's aviation safety standards, the British diplomatic mission in Islamabad said Wednesday. The U.K.'s Air Safety Committee imposed the ban after Pakistan's aviation minister in June 2020 disclosed that nearly one-third of the country's pilots had cheated on their licensing exams. The claim came after a Pakistan International Airlines crash killed 97 people on May 24, 2020, in the southern city of Karachi. Wednesday's announcement follows a broader international recognition of Pakistan's efforts to improve air safety. Earlier this year, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency also lifted its five-year-long ban, allowing the national flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines to resume direct flights to Europe. British High Commissioner Jane Marriott said that after 'extensive engagement' between the U.K.'s Air Safety Committee and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, restrictions on Pakistani airlines have now been lifted. U.K. diplomatic missions in Commonwealth countries are known as high commissions and are equivalent to embassies. However, Marriott said individual airlines will still need to apply for operating permits from the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority. 'I'm grateful to aviation experts in both the U.K. and Pakistan for their collaborative work to meet international safety standards,' she said. 'While it will take time for flights to resume, once the logistics are in place, I look forward to using a Pakistani carrier when visiting family and friends." The high commission emphasized that decisions on delisting countries or carriers from the U.K. Air Safety List are made through an independent safety process overseen by the Air Safety Committee. With more than 1.6 million people of Pakistani heritage living in the U.K., and thousands of British nationals residing in Pakistan, it said the move will help families to reconnect and potentially boost bilateral trade ties. Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif welcomed the decision. Speaking at a televised news conference on Wednesday, he attributed the ban to what he described as 'baseless' remarks made by former aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan. He said Khan's claim tarnished the country's image and triggered significant financial losses for Pakistan International Airlines. Munir Ahmed, The Associated Press
