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Ex-PM Khan’s party postpones public rally in Islamabad after authorities revoke permission

Ex-PM Khan’s party postpones public rally in Islamabad after authorities revoke permission
Supporters of Pakistan's jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan hold his poster as they celebrate after he was aquitted of leaking state secrets following a court verdict in Karachi on June 3, 2024. (AFP/File)
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Updated 06 July 2024
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Ex-PM Khan’s party postpones public rally in Islamabad after authorities revoke permission

Ex-PM Khan’s party postpones public rally in Islamabad after authorities revoke permission
  • The party was scheduled to hold a public rally on the outskirts of Islamabad to press for the release of Khan who is in jail since August
  • It has filed a petition in Islamabad High Court seeking contempt proceedings against the Islamabad administration for revoking permission
Updated 06 July 2024
Aamir Saeed
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ISLAMABAD: Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party on Saturday announced it was postponing a public rally in Islamabad after the district administration revoked permission for it.
The PTI was scheduled to hold a public gathering on the outskirts of the Pakistani capital for the release of its jailed leader and had secured a permission for it from the district administration on the directives of the Islamabad High Court.
However, hours after the party began preparations for the rally at the designated venue, the Islamabad administration on Friday announced revocation of permission, citing security situation, the start of Muharram and reports of law enforcement agencies.
“PTI jalsa (rally) which was to be held today in Islamabad is postponed till a further date is announced,” Khan’s party said in a statement.
The PTI has moved the Islamabad High Court to initiate contempt proceedings against the Islamabad district administration and police for violating the court orders for a permission to hold the rally.
“All the respondents have started creating hindrance in holding jalsa having connivance with each other from the start of issuance of NoC [no-objection certificate],” the party said in its petition.
It said the reasons cited for the cancelation of the NOC were “malafide,” “based on ulterior motives,” a result of “political victimization” and a “clear contempt” of the court orders. But the petition could not be heard immediately due to unavailability of the IHC chief justice.
Meanwhile, the party convened a meeting of its political committee to discuss the matter and devise a strategy to deal with it, later announcing at a press conference the rally had been postponed.
“We have unanimously decided, as we have moved the court and we got the NOC from the court, that’s why for the time being, today’s public rally that was scheduled to take place at 6pm under the auspices of Tahaffuz-e-Aain-e-Pakistan, we are postponing that rally,” PTI Chairman Gohar Khan said.
The PTI, which aims to mobilize public for the release of its leader, has been struggling to hold rallies across the country since August last year, when Khan was arrested on graft charges.
The party says it has been facing a crackdown and mass arrest of its members for standing by Khan. Pakistani authorities deny the allegations.

Topics: Ex-PM Imran Khan

Islamabad says no plans to enter talks with Pakistani Taliban militant group

Islamabad says no plans to enter talks with Pakistani Taliban militant group
Updated 11 July 2024
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Islamabad says no plans to enter talks with Pakistani Taliban militant group

Islamabad says no plans to enter talks with Pakistani Taliban militant group
  • Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has stepped up attacks against Pakistan security forces in recent months
  • Since last year Pakistan expelled over 600,000 Afghans, saying Afghans are involved in majority of attacks
Updated 11 July 2024
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said on Thursday the federal government had no plans to enter talks with the Pakistani Taliban, amid a surge in militant attacks in the country. 
The Pakistani Taliban, or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an umbrella group of militants, has stepped up attacks against Pakistan security forces in recent months, with daily assaults on army and paramilitary posts and targeted killings of police and government officials. 
Pakistan blames the surge on neighboring Afghanistan, saying Kabul was not doing enough to tackle militant groups using its territory to target Pakistan, which the Afghan Taliban rulers deny. 
“[Government has] no designs to enter into any talks with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan,” Baloch told reporters at a weekly press briefing, saying the TTP was behind the killings of both Pakistani and foreign citizens in Pakistan.
“We expect Afghan authorities to take action against terrorist groups which have found sanctuaries inside Afghanistan and use their territory for terrorist attacks against Pakistan,” Baloch added. 
Since last year, Pakistan has expelled over 600,000 Afghan nationals, saying the majority of militant attacks against its security forces were carried out by Afghans, a charge Kabul has rejected.

Topics: Pakistan Afghanistan

Pakistan and Russia express interest in stronger military ties in high-level defense meeting

Pakistan and Russia express interest in stronger military ties in high-level defense meeting
Updated 11 July 2024
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Pakistan and Russia express interest in stronger military ties in high-level defense meeting

Pakistan and Russia express interest in stronger military ties in high-level defense meeting
  • The two sides discuss issues like trade and energy security during Gen. Sahir Shamshad Mirza’s Russia visit
  • The top security officials also focus on technical cooperation in the fields of defense and counterterrorism
Updated 11 July 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Russia have expressed interest in bolstering military-to-military ties in a high-level meeting between their top defense and security officials, according to a statement released by the military’s media wing in Pakistan on Wednesday.
The two countries have made concerted efforts to improve bilateral relations in recent years. Historically, Pakistan opposed the Soviet Union during the Cold War while aligning with the United States.
However, Islamabad has recently sought to strengthen ties with Moscow, including requests for discounted crude oil to address its balance of payments crisis and high energy import bill, as part of a broader strategy to diversify its international partnerships and economic dependencies.
The recent meetings between the defense officials of the two states took place during Chief of General Staff Sahir Shamshad Mirza’s visit to Russia.
“During the meetings, the participants underscored the importance of working on enhancing cooperation in multiple domains including connectivity, trade, energy and security,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in the statement.
“Both sides discussed areas of mutual interest including bilateral military to military technical cooperation, regional security situation and the menace of terrorism,” it added. “Both sides expressed interest in strengthening bilateral military-to-military relationship.”
Pakistan has traditionally maintained strong military relations with the US, having procured much of its advanced military hardware from Washington.
In recent years, the country has gone into defense production with the assistance of China, which it views as its strongest regional ally.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s summit in Kazakhstan.
Sharif observed the Pakistan-Russia ties had remained on a positive trajectory in recent years, adding they would not be affected by his country’s geopolitical compulsions or relations with other states.

Topics: Pakistan Russia Ties ISPR

‘Pride of the nation’: Two Pakistani female weightlifters win eight gold medals in South Africa

‘Pride of the nation’: Two Pakistani female weightlifters win eight gold medals in South Africa
Updated 11 July 2024
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‘Pride of the nation’: Two Pakistani female weightlifters win eight gold medals in South Africa

‘Pride of the nation’: Two Pakistani female weightlifters win eight gold medals in South Africa
  • Cybil and Veronica Sohail competed in the 52- and 57-kilogram categories, winning four medals each
  • Their third sister, Twinkle Sohail, is scheduled to participate in the weightlifting championship on July 13
Updated 11 July 2024
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: The top official of the Prime Minister’s Youth Program applauded two professional Pakistani female weightlifters on Thursday for winning gold medals at an ongoing sports championship in South Africa, praising their dedication and describing them as the “pride of the nation.”
The Pakistani sisters, Cybil and Veronica Sohail, competed in the 52- and 57-kilogram categories, winning four gold medals each in the squat, bench press, deadlift, and total categories.
Pakistan is actively promoting various sports fields among male and female athletes amid an environment where cricket is overwhelmingly popular.
Female athletes in Pakistan face significant challenges due to societal norms and limited access to facilities, with sports like wrestling and weightlifting usually not considered ideal for women due to cultural perceptions.
“Our daughters like Cybil and Veronica Sohail are the pride of our nation,” Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Program, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, said in a social media post. “These girls have proven their abilities on the global stage by winning gold medals.”
Mashhood said the Sohail sisters had also participated in the Punjab Youth Festival, adding that the Prime Minister’s Youth Program was trying to provide full support to such athletes.
“To engage the country’s youth in positive activities, we need to revive the sports fields,” he added. “Encouraging young Pakistani athletes will enable our country to win more gold medals.”
The two sisters went to South Africa to participate in the tournament after being sponsored by the Punjab Sports Board.
Their third sibling, Twinkle Sohail, is scheduled to compete in another weightlifting category on July 13.

Topics: Sohail Sisters

In a milestone development, Lahore High Court’s first woman chief justice takes oath

In a milestone development, Lahore High Court’s first woman chief justice takes oath
Updated 11 July 2024
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In a milestone development, Lahore High Court’s first woman chief justice takes oath

In a milestone development, Lahore High Court’s first woman chief justice takes oath
  • Justice Aalia Neelum’s appointment was made by CJP Faez Isa in a meeting last week
  • She played a vital role in establishing Gender-Based Violence Courts during her career
Updated 11 July 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: In a historic development, Justice Aalia Neelum took the oath as the first woman Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday, following the approval of her appointment by President Asif Ali Zardari in a notification issued a day earlier.
The LHC has significant importance in dealing with pivotal constitutional and rights-related cases in Pakistan. It has also been served by several highly respected female jurists in the past, though none of them had been elevated to the top position to manage the court’s internal affairs.
A senior Supreme Court judge, Justice Ayesha Malik, was also part of the LHC before she was appointed to the apex court.
“Throughout her career, Justice Miss Aalia Neelum has demonstrated a strong commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment,” Pakistan’s state-owned Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency said in one of its reports.
“She has played a pivotal role in the establishment of Gender-Based Violence Courts and has been a vocal advocate for women’s rights,” it added.
Justice Neelum, who began her legal career in 1996, received a guard of honor before the Punjab Governor, Sardar Saleem Haider Khan, administered her the oath.
According to APP, she quickly took on cases in various domains after joining the legal profession, including constitutional law, white-collar crime, anti-terrorism, accountability and banking laws.
She became an LHC judge in 2015, and her appointment as the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court was made by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan, headed by Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Qazi Faez Isa, last week.

Topics: first woman judge Chief Justice Aalia Neelum lahore high court Pakistani women

Pakistan launches 4,500 scholarships for Afghan students amid ongoing security tensions

Pakistan launches 4,500 scholarships for Afghan students amid ongoing security tensions
Updated 11 July 2024
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Pakistan launches 4,500 scholarships for Afghan students amid ongoing security tensions

Pakistan launches 4,500 scholarships for Afghan students amid ongoing security tensions
  • The scholarships will allow Afghan nationals to study social and natural sciences in Pakistan for the next five years
  • Pakistani officials say relations with Afghanistan remain a high priority, with deputy PM planning a visit to Kabul
Updated 11 July 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday launched 4,500 scholarships for Afghan students aspiring to study social and natural sciences at local universities, amid ongoing security issues between the two countries that prompted Islamabad to launch a deportation drive targeting unregistered Afghans last year.
Pakistan introduced the Allama Iqbal Scholarship program for Afghan nationals in 2009 to strengthen bilateral ties between the two neighboring states.
The program covers tuition fees, accommodation and a monthly stipend for undergraduate, graduate and doctoral studies at Pakistani universities.
The third phase of these scholarships was launched on the same day the federal cabinet approved the extension of registration cards for 1.5 million Afghan refugees for another year.
“Glad to launch the third phase of Allama Iqbal scholarships for Afghan students,” Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, said in a social media post.
“In the coming five years, 4500 Afghan students will pursue studies in social and natural sciences in various universities of Pakistan,” he added.

 
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant attacks in its western provinces bordering Afghanistan since November 2022, following the breakdown of its fragile truce with the proscribed armed network, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Officials in Islamabad have blamed the Afghan government for sheltering TTP militants and providing them sanctuaries to launch attacks in Pakistan, a charge Kabul denies.
Pakistan’s also launched the deportation drive against Afghan nationals last year in November, blaming them for involvement in militant attacks and other crimes in different parts of the country.
More recently, however, representatives of the two countries held meetings in Doha to discuss bilateral issues and resolve their differences.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also told the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs earlier this week that relations with Afghanistan remain a high priority for his country, adding he would soon visit Kabul to meet with interim Afghan administration officials.

Topics: Pakistan Afghanistan Ties Afghan students #scholarships

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