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Imran Khan’s party denies seeking concessions for jailed leader through negotiations

Imran Khan’s party denies seeking concessions for jailed leader through negotiations
People walk past a banner with a picture of the former Prime Minister Imran Khan outside the party office of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), in Lahore, Pakistan on February 9, 2024. (REUTERS/File)
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Updated 4 min 4 sec ago
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Imran Khan’s party denies seeking concessions for jailed leader through negotiations

Imran Khan’s party denies seeking concessions for jailed leader through negotiations
  • Shibli Faraz says Khan is in prison for the people of Pakistan and is firm on his ‘principled stance’
  • He calls PTI a peaceful party that stands against ‘fascism’ and demands rule of law in Pakistan
Updated 4 min 4 sec ago
Muhammad Ibrahim
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ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party on Saturday challenged the perception its ongoing negotiations with the government were aimed at securing concessions for its jailed leader, calling instead for constitutionalism and rule of law in the country.
The government and PTI formally began talks this month to address political differences and end deep polarization that has impacted Pakistan’s fragile economy. Khan, who has been imprisoned for more than a year, has called for a timeline to advance the talks, the release of PTI political prisoners and the establishment of judicial commissions to investigate violent protests on May 9 last year and Nov. 26 this year, which the government claims were orchestrated by PTI supporters.
“We completely reject the perception that these negotiations are held because the [party’s] founding chairman Imran Khan is seeking concessions for himself,” Shibli Faraz, a senior PTI leader, said during a joint news conference with other top colleagues.
“He will not be part of any arrangement which builds a perception that he’s doing this for himself,” he continued. “He is in prison for the people of Pakistan and he is firm on his principled stance.”
Faraz reiterated that his party was facing political victimization, saying its leaders, including Khan, had been targeted through politically motivated cases.
He also emphasized PTI’s commitment to peaceful political activism.
“We are a peaceful party and peaceful protest has always been our way,” he said, adding: “We are not in favor of any violence or extremism, but we firmly stand against fascism. We disagree with undemocratic ways and condemn them. This country should run on the basis of the constitution.”
Faraz also criticized what he described as selective application of the constitution, calling for consistency and adherence to democratic principles.

Topics: Imran Khan Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party

Karachi paralyzed as protests erupt in solidarity with violence-hit Kurram district

Karachi paralyzed as protests erupt in solidarity with violence-hit Kurram district
Updated 5 sec ago
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Karachi paralyzed as protests erupt in solidarity with violence-hit Kurram district

Karachi paralyzed as protests erupt in solidarity with violence-hit Kurram district
  • Mayor Murtaza Wahab affirms people’s right to protest but asks them not to disrupt life in the city
  • Demonstrators call protests in Karachi vital to draw attention to the ‘overlooked’ crisis in Kurram
Updated 5 sec ago
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi remained paralyzed for a second consecutive day on Saturday as protesters staged sit-ins at ten locations to show solidarity with demonstrators in Kurram, where violence and a lack of medical access have claimed over 130 lives.
Kurram, a northwestern district of around 600,000 people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has long been a hotspot for tribal and sectarian violence, with authorities struggling to maintain control.
The area’s situation has necessitated travel in convoys escorted by security personnel, yet it failed to prevent an attack on Nov. 21, when gunmen ambushed a convoy, killing 52 people. The attack sparked further violence and road closures, restricting access to medicine, food and fuel in the region.
A grand jirga, or council of political and tribal elders, has attempted to mediate between rival factions, as protests in Parachinar, the main city in Kurram, have spread to Karachi, where the mayor, Murtaza Wahab, has criticized demonstrators for disrupting daily life in the metropolis.
“These protesters told [provincial minister] Nasir Shah Sahib that they were protesting peacefully on the side and had not blocked roads,” he told the media. “I informed him and the chief minister [Murad Ali Shah] that this was not true. Roads are indeed blocked, and people are facing difficulties.”
While affirming his support for the constitutional right to protest, he emphasized such actions should not disrupt life in a city.
“If the aim of a protest is to inconvenience people, disrupt a city’s system, prevent ambulances and fire brigades from operating, or hinder police and administrative vehicles, then I believe this is inappropriate,” he continued.
Wahab urged the protesters to move to designated areas for such protests.
“The media will cover your protest,” he added. “But if your aim is to paralyze the city, no responsible state can allow this.”
Karachi’s protests were called by the Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM), a Shia organization, with demonstrators blocking main thoroughfares, including Shahrah-e-Faisal, which connects the airport to the city’s Red Zone, home to sensitive government installations, and major hotels. Another area that has been choked is Numaish, a vital junction linking the city’s central district to its commercial hubs.
MWM’s Karachi spokesperson, Syed Ahmad Naqvi, told Arab News the protests in Karachi were tied to the Parachinar sit-in.
“We are staging sit-ins at ten locations, and these will continue as long as the Parachinar protest persists,” he said. “Once their demands are met, the protests in Karachi will also end.”
Naqvi said the protests in Karachi were essential for drawing attention to the “overlooked crisis in Kurram.”
“Large-scale protests in Karachi highlight the situation in Kurram, where many precious lives have been lost in recent weeks but have received no attention,” he said.

Topics: karachi protest kurram district parachinar

Pakistan repels Afghan-based militant incursion amid escalating tensions — security sources

Pakistan repels Afghan-based militant incursion amid escalating tensions — security sources
Updated 28 December 2024
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Pakistan repels Afghan-based militant incursion amid escalating tensions — security sources

Pakistan repels Afghan-based militant incursion amid escalating tensions — security sources
  • Sources accuse Afghan Taliban of ‘persistently assisting’ armed militants instead of apprehending them
  • They say no fatalities happened on Pakistan’s side, but over 15 militants and Afghan Taliban were killed
Updated 28 December 2024
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: Pakistan’s security forces thwarted an attempted cross-border incursion by militants allegedly facilitated by Afghan Taliban authorities, security sources said on Saturday after Afghanistan’s defense ministry claimed its forces targeted several locations in Pakistan in response to airstrikes earlier this week.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused Kabul of sheltering Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants and has urged Afghan officials not to allow armed factions to use their soil to target neighboring states. Afghan authorities deny these allegations, saying Pakistan’s security challenges are its internal matter.
On Thursday, Afghan authorities reported airstrikes by Pakistan’s military in an eastern border town that they said had killed 46 people. The strikes came days after the TTP claimed responsibility for killing 16 Pakistani soldiers near the Afghan border.
“On the night of December 27-28, 20 to 25 khawarij [TTP militants], using Afghan Taliban border posts, attempted to infiltrate Pakistan at two locations in Kurram and North Waziristan,” Pakistani security sources said. “Pakistani forces acted promptly, thwarting the incursion.”
They reported yet another incursion in the morning, saying it was also repelled.
“In retaliation, khawarij and Afghan Taliban jointly opened unprovoked heavy fire on Pakistani posts,” they added.
Pakistan’s forces responded decisively, reportedly inflicting significant losses on the attackers.
“Initial reports indicate that over 15 khawarij and Afghan Taliban personnel were killed, with many others injured,” the sources said. “Effective counter-fire forced the Afghan Taliban to abandon six posts.”
No fatalities were reported on the Pakistani side, though three soldiers sustained injuries. Security sources also noted Afghanistan’s unwillingness to control TTP elements operating freely on its soil, saying it strained bilateral relations.
“Instead of curbing these terrorist elements, the Afghan Taliban persistently assist them,” the sources maintain. “TTP militants operate with impunity in Afghanistan, using its territory for anti-Pakistan activities.”

Topics: Pakistan Afghanistan border Pakistan Taliban Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Pakistan Afghan Ties

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Pakistan launches landmark trade route linking China to UAE via Khunjerab Pass

Pakistan launches landmark trade route linking China to UAE via Khunjerab Pass
Updated 28 December 2024
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Pakistan launches landmark trade route linking China to UAE via Khunjerab Pass

Pakistan launches landmark trade route linking China to UAE via Khunjerab Pass
  • Consignment from China is expected to reach the UAE in 10 days as compared to 30 days via sea-route
  • Traders welcome the development, hoping the arrangement will turn Pakistan into a major hub of trade
Updated 28 December 2024
Nisar Ali

KHAPLU, Gilgit-Baltistan: In a first, Pakistan’s National Logistics Corporation (NLC) has launched its maiden multimodal Transports Internationaux Routiers (TIR) transportation, linking China to the United Arab Emirates via the Khunjerab Pass, in a move hailed as a “good omen” for Pakistan’s trade and logistics sectors.
The TIR system, an international customs transit framework, streamlines cross-border trade by enabling goods to move through multiple countries with minimal customs interference.
At over 4,600 meters above sea level, the Khunjerab Pass connects Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region with China’s Xinjiang province, serving as a strategic gateway for trade between South Asia and Europe.
The pass, situated in the Karakoram Range, has only facilitated bilateral trade in the past, with China primarily importing textiles, agricultural products and daily commodities, while exporting plants and herbs.
“This achievement signifies a major leap forward in the operationalization of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), utilizing the shortest and most efficient route from China to the Gulf region via Pakistan,” the NLC said in a statement.

This handout photograph, released by Pakistan’s National Logistics Corporation on December 28, 2024, shows officials launching country’s maiden multimodal Transports Internationaux Routiers transportation route at the Khunjerab Pass, Gilgit-Baltistan. (Photo courtesy: NLC)

“This milestone also reflects a significant step toward ensuring year-round functionality of the Khunjerab Pass, a vital gateway for regional trade,” it added.
The NLC said the journey commenced with one of its trucks, laden with electronic equipment, departing from Kashgar, China, en route to the Jebel Ali Port in Dubai. The first stop was at NLC Dry Port in Sost, where a ceremony marked the historic occasion, it added.
“The cargo container, after being transported via NLC trucks from Kashgar to Karachi, will embark on the sea leg of its journey to its final destination at Jebel Ali Port,” the statement informed.

This handout photograph, released by Pakistan’s National Logistics Corporation on December 28, 2024, shows a general view of the Kashi Free Trade Zone in Kashi, Xinjiang. (Photo courtesy: NLC)

The consignment from China is expected to reach the UAE in 10 days as compared to 30 days via sea-route.
Traders and local business leaders associated with the Khunjerab Pass welcomed the launch.
“This is a good omen for Pakistan’s economy,” Imran Ali, a former president of the Gilgit-Baltistan Chambers of Commerce, told Arab News over the phone, adding it would particularly benefit the traders in the region and the local community.
“Pakistan will become a major trade hub as China gets access to the Middle East through this route,” he continued. “The economic activities in Gilgit-Baltistan and Gwadar will get a boost and unemployment will end in the region.”
Muhammad Iqbal, president of the Gilgit-Baltistan Importers and Exporters Association, agreed with him.

This handout photograph, released by Pakistan’s National Logistics Corporation on December 28, 2024, shows a Pakistani truck crossing the checkpoint at the Kashi Free Trade Zone in Kashi, Xinjiang. (Photo courtesy: NLC)

“The launching of TIR between China and the Middle East through Pakistan will change the fate of the country,” he told Arab News. “The country will make more revenue and the economic conditions of traders and locals will improve.”
According to the Gilgit-Baltistan Collectorate of Customs, a record revenue of Rs9.5 billion ($34.87 million) was collected from the Sost Dry Port during the first two quarters of the fiscal year 2024-25, compared to Rs6.5 billion ($23.4 million) during the same period last year.
Additionally, the anti-smuggling team confiscated goods worth Rs600 million ($2.16 million).

Topics: Pakistan China Ties Khunjerab Pass Pakistan China trade China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

Rain washes out first session on Day 3 of first test between South Africa and Pakistan

Rain washes out first session on Day 3 of first test between South Africa and Pakistan
Updated 28 December 2024
AP
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Rain washes out first session on Day 3 of first test between South Africa and Pakistan

Rain washes out first session on Day 3 of first test between South Africa and Pakistan
  • South Africa wants a victory for a place in next year’s World Test Championship final
  • The host team claimed a 90-run lead after Markram and Bosch scored half centuries
Updated 28 December 2024
AP

CENTURION, South Africa: Rain delayed the start of the third day’s play in the first cricket test between South Africa and Pakistan with no play possible before lunch on Saturday.
The entire first session was washed out at SuperSport Park with Pakistan scheduled to resume its second innings at 88-3 – still trailing South Africa by two runs.
South Africa has plenty of time left to press its bid for a place in next year’s World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The home team needs to win one of the two test matches against Pakistan for a guaranteed place in next June’s WTC final at Lord’s.
South Africa claimed a 90-run first innings lead on the back of half centuries from Aiden Markram and debutant Corbin Bosch, who smashed an unbeaten 81 on a dream debut.
Bosch's scintillating knock, which featured 15 fours, was the highest score by a No. 9 batter on debut in test history.
Pakistan had been bowled out for 211 as Bosch claimed a wicket with his first ball and finished with impressive figures of 4-63.
Paceman Dane Paterson took 5-61 on a wicket where both teams have packed their line-ups with four fast bowlers each, going into the game without a specialist spinner.

Topics: Pakistan vs South Africa

Afghanistan says its forces targeted ‘several points’ in Pakistan in retaliation for this week’s airstrikes

Afghanistan says its forces targeted ‘several points’ in Pakistan in retaliation for this week’s airstrikes
Updated 28 December 2024
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Afghanistan says its forces targeted ‘several points’ in Pakistan in retaliation for this week’s airstrikes

Afghanistan says its forces targeted ‘several points’ in Pakistan in retaliation for this week’s airstrikes
  • The skirmishes mark the latest spike in hostilities on the frontier between Afghanistan and Pakistan
  • A Pakistani defense source says fighting along the border led to ‘heavy casualties’ on the Afghan side
Updated 28 December 2024
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: Afghan Taliban forces targeted “several points” in neighboring Pakistan in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes this week, Afghanistan’s defense ministry said on Saturday, marking the latest surge in hostilities along the disputed frontier between the two nations.
The Durand Line, established as the boundary between Afghanistan and British India in 1893, has been a persistent source of contention, with no Afghan government ever recognizing it as an international border. Tensions along this frontier further escalated since the Taliban takeover of Kabul in 2021, further straining relations between the two countries.
The Afghan defense ministry statement did not mention Pakistan, but said the strikes were conducted “beyond the assumptive lines,” an expression used by the authorities in Kabul to refer to the country’s border with Pakistan.
A Pakistani security source acknowledged the attack, saying the skirmishes had injured three soldiers and resulted in “heavy casualties” on the Afghan side.
“Several points beyond the assumptive lines where the attacks in Afghanistan were organized and coordinated from wicked elements’ hideaways, centers and supporters; were targeted in retaliation from the southern side of the country,” the Afghan defense ministry said on X.
The Pakistani security source said around 20-25 members of “Fitna Al-Khwarij,” a reference to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), attempted to infiltrate Pakistan’s border in Kurram and North Waziristan districts while “using border posts of the Afghan Taliban.”
The TTP leadership is reportedly based in Afghanistan. Pakistan has frequently accused the Taliban government of facilitating attacks by the militant network against its security forces and civilians, urging Kabul to prevent its territory from being used by such armed factions.
The Afghan Taliban, however, deny these allegations, asserting that Pakistan’s security problems are internal matters that require attention from the Islamabad government.
“Upon failure of the infiltration attempt, TTP members and the Afghan Taliban [forces] opened fire on Pakistani posts using heavy weapons early morning on Dec. 28,” the Pakistani security source said. “Pakistani forces retaliated to this unprovoked fire and there were reports of deaths of more than 15 TTP members and Afghan Taliban forces.”
The border skirmish followed Pakistan’s reported airstrikes in an eastern town of Afghanistan, which targeted alleged TTP hideouts, amid allegations by Pakistani officials of cross-border militant attacks.
Afghan authorities claimed the victims of the strikes included residents from Pakistan’s border regions, who were uprooted during military operations against TTP fighters in recent years, with the United Nations (UN) expressing concern over civilian casualties and urging an investigation.
The Pakistan military, however, pledged to dismantle “terrorist networks” to safeguard its citizens, without acknowledging the airstrikes.

Topics: Pakistan Afghan Ties Pakistan Afghan Taliban Afghan Taliban

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