After third round of talks, Pakistan PM forms committee on demands by Imran Khan’s party

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Updated 16 January 2025
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After third round of talks, Pakistan PM forms committee on demands by Imran Khan’s party

After third round of talks, Pakistan PM forms committee on demands by Imran Khan’s party
  • Khan’s party is demanding release of political prisoners, judicial probe into allegations it led violent protests
  • Committee features members of government’s ally political parties, will issue “final response,” says PM’s aide

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s prime minister has constituted a committee comprising members of its ally political parties to respond to a “Charter of Demands” submitted by ex-PM Imran Khan’s party, Shehbaz Sharif’s aide said after a fresh round of talks between the government and the opposition to ease political tensions concluded on Thursday. 
Khan’s ouster in a parliamentary vote of no-confidence in 2022 has since plunged the country into long-term political crisis, particularly since the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was jailed in August 2023 on corruption and other charges and remains behind bars. Khan’s party and supporters regularly hold protests calling for his release, with some of the demonstrations turning violent, including one in November last year in which the government says four troops were killed and the PTI says 12 of its supporters died. 
Khan’s brief arrest on May 9, 2023, in a land graft case had also sparked countrywide protests that saw his supporters attack and ransack military installations in an unprecedented backlash against Pakistan’s powerful army generals. Hundreds of PTI supporters and leaders were subsequently arrested and dozens remain in jail as they face trail before civilian and military courts. 
Khan last month set up a negotiating committee of top PTI leaders to open dialogue with the government on two main demands: the release of political prisoners and the establishment of judicial commissions to investigate the May 9, 2023, and Nov. 26, 2024 protests. The first round of talks took place on Dec. 23 and the second on Jan. 2, while the third was held today, Thursday. 
“The prime minister has constituted a committee which has the representation of all ally parties,” Rana Sanaullah, the prime minister’s adviser on political affairs, told reporters at a news conference. 
“This committee will prepare an effective response to this Charter of Demands, which we will present to the PTI or the opposition committee in the same manner. That will be the final response,” he added. 
Sanaullah said one of the PTI’s principal demands since the past 10-11 months was that the results of the February 2024 general election, which the party claims were manipulated, be reversed. He said the PTI has “resigned” from the demand and did not mention it in the third round of talks between the two sides. 

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PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan, meanwhile, hoped on Wednesday that the government would consider the party’s demands seriously. 
“We hope that if [the government] participates with seriousness, an open mind, and sincerity, a solution can be found to all the issues,” he told reporters.
The talks opened last month as Khan had threatened a civil disobedience movement and amid growing concerns he could face trial by a military court for allegedly inciting attacks on sensitive security installations during the May 9 protests.
The negotiations also began two days after 25 civilians were sentenced by a military court to periods of two to 10 years of “rigorous imprisonment” in connection with the attacks on military facilities on May 9, 2023. Just days later on Dec. 26, another 60 civilians were sentenced by a military court to jail time ranging from 2 to 10 years.
Khan, facing a slew of legal cases from jail, says all charges against him are politically motivated to keep him and his party out of power. Khan had to sit out February 2024 general election as convicted felons cannot run for public office in Pakistan.


Pakistan fires 13 federal agency officials for involvement in 2024 Greek boat tragedy

Pakistan fires 13 federal agency officials for involvement in 2024 Greek boat tragedy
Updated 22 sec ago
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Pakistan fires 13 federal agency officials for involvement in 2024 Greek boat tragedy

Pakistan fires 13 federal agency officials for involvement in 2024 Greek boat tragedy
  • Five Pakistanis were killed when migrant boat sank near Greek island Gavdos in December
  • Investigation agency says fired 37 members earlier for involvement in migrant boat tragedies

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) announced on Wednesday it has sacked 13 members for being involved in the 2024 Greek boat tragedy that resulted in the deaths of five citizens, saying that its crackdown against human traffickers in the country was continuing. 
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered strict action against human trafficking rings that lure Pakistani migrants with the fake promise of a better life in return for money, and help them undertake perilous illegal journeys via sea to Europe. 
Five Pakistanis were killed when a migrant boat sank near the Greek island of Gavdos in December 2024. Another migrant boat sank capsized near the coast of Morocco on Jan. 15 carrying 86 migrants on board. Sixty-six Pakistanis were on the ship, according to migrant rights group Walking Borders.
“An inspector, two sub-inspectors, two head constables and eight constables were dismissed from service for their involvement in the 2024 Greek boat accident,” an FIA spokesperson said in a statement.
The FIA said promotions of three constables had been halted, adding that all dismissed officials were stationed at the airport in Pakistan’s eastern city of Faisalabad. 
It said 37 FIA officials had been removed from service earlier for their involvement in various boat accidents. 
“Actions continue against officials involved in a boat accident on the prime minister’s instructions,” the agency said. 
In 2023, hundreds of migrants, including 262 Pakistanis, drowned when an overcrowded vessel capsized and sank in international waters off the southwestern Greek coastal town of Pylos. It was one of the deadliest boat disasters ever recorded in the Mediterranean Sea.


‘You are our front face in entire region,’ US businessman close to Trump tells Pakistan

‘You are our front face in entire region,’ US businessman close to Trump tells Pakistan
Updated 18 min 51 sec ago
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‘You are our front face in entire region,’ US businessman close to Trump tells Pakistan

‘You are our front face in entire region,’ US businessman close to Trump tells Pakistan
  • Gentry Beach is on two-day visit to Pakistan leading a delegation of American investors 
  • Ties between Pakistan, US were strained during ex-American president Biden’s tenure

ISLAMABAD: US businessman and Texas hedge fund manager Gentry Beach, believed to be close to American President Donald Trump, referred to Pakistan as Washington’s “front face” in the region on Wednesday, saying the future was bright for bilateral ties and economic cooperation between the two countries.
Ties between Pakistan and US, once close allies during the Cold War era and after the September 11, 2001 attacks, remained strained during former president Joe Biden’s presidency. Ties recently suffered after US officials criticized Pakistan for not sufficiently supporting their military efforts against the Taliban following the 9/11 attacks. Islamabad denies sheltering Taliban fighters and helping them regain control of Afghanistan in August 2021.
During Biden’s presidency, Washington also grew close to Islamabad’s arch-rival New Delhi in its bid to counter China’s growing influence in Asia. India is an important member of the “Quad,” a diplomatic partnership between Australia, India, Japan, and the US which experts widely believe aims to counter China. 
Beach arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday leading a high-level delegation of American investors for a two-day visit to the country. Speaking to reporters, the American businessman criticized the manner Biden pulled American troops out of Pakistan, urging Islamabad to “disregard” the way the previous American administration treated it. 
“America cares about Pakistan. And I believe that together we can be very, very strong,” Beach said. “And we need Pakistan. You are our front face in this entire region, very important.”
The American investor said he believed the administrations in both Pakistan and the US would work together to make “a good business environment” between the two countries. 
“And Pakistan has something that America needs, and America has something that Pakistan needs,” Beach said. “That’s a wonderful situation for us to both be in.”
Beach said his delegation was interested in investing in Pakistan’s real estate, energy and minerals sectors. He cited Pakistan’s large reserves of gold, platinum and other precious metals. Pakistani officials estimate $6 trillion worth of natural deposits in the country.
He also said the delegation would bring in a team of experts to evaluate Pakistan’s “underappreciated” oil and gas sector, praising the country’s existing gas infrastructure. 
Despite Pakistan’s challenging investment climate, the US is one of its largest sources of FDI. US companies have profitable operations across a range of sectors, notably franchise operations, fast-moving consumer goods, agribusiness, and financial services. 
Other sectors attracting US interest include ICT, renewable energy and health care services.


Pakistan president signs controversial cybercrime bill into law

Pakistan president signs controversial cybercrime bill into law
Updated 29 January 2025
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Pakistan president signs controversial cybercrime bill into law

Pakistan president signs controversial cybercrime bill into law
  • Pakistani journalists, opposition leaders fear new law will be used to censor social media platforms
  • Government says law will protect journalists and won’t be used to suppress freedom of expression

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari signed into law on Wednesday a controversial bill passed by both houses of parliament, state-run media reported, despite criticism from the country’s opposition and prominent journalists who say it curtails their right to freedom of expression. 
The development took place a day after Pakistan’s upper house of parliament followed the National Assembly by passing The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Amendment Bill, 2025, amid protests by opposition leaders and journalists who fear the new legislation will be used to censor social media platforms. After both houses passed the bill, it needed the president’s assent to become law. 
Pakistan adopted the much-criticized Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) in 2016, granting sweeping powers to regulators to block private information they deemed illegal. The law provided for up to seven years in prison for “recruiting, funding and planning of terrorism” online. It also allowed “authorized officers” to require anyone to unlock any computer, mobile phone or other device during an investigation. The government said at the time restrictions under the new law were needed to ensure security against growing threats such as terrorism and to crack down on unauthorized access, electronic fraud and online harassment. 
The new amendment bill now proposes the establishment of the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority to perform a range of functions related to social media, including awareness, training, regulation, enlistment and blocking. SMPRA would be able to order the immediate blocking of unlawful content targeting judges, the armed forces, parliament or provincial assemblies or material which promotes and encourages terrorism and other forms of violence against the state or its institutions. The law also makes spreading disinformation a criminal offense punishable by three years in prison and a fine of two million rupees ($7,150).
“President Asif Ali Zardari has assented The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Amendment Bill, 2025, The Digital Nation Pakistan Bill, 2025 and The National Commission on the Status of Women (Amendment) Bill 2025,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. 


The main opposition party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, called the law “draconian” on Tuesday, saying it would be used to suppress media freedom.
“We will challenge this and we will keep resisting till this black law is taken back,” the party said in a statement released to media. 
A copy of the bill seen by Arab News has set imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of Rs2 million or both for “whoever intentionally disseminates, publicly exhibits, or transmits any information through any information system, that he knows or has reason to believe to be false or fake and likely to cause or create a sense of fear, panic or disorder or unrest in general public or society.”
Information Minister Ataullah Tarar told reporters last week that the bill will protect journalists and not harm them. 
“This is the first time the government has defined what social media is,” Tarar said. “There is already a system in place for print and electronic media and complaints can be registered against them.”
He said “working journalists” should not feel threatened by the bill, which had to be passed because the Federal Investigation Agency, previously responsible for handling cybercrime, “does not have the capacity to handle child pornography or AI deep fake cases.”


Tarar said the government was also aiming to bring social media journalists, including those operating YouTube accounts, under the tax framework.
The operative part of the new bill outlines that the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority would have the power to issue directions to a social media platform for the removal or blocking of online content if it was against the ideology of Pakistan, incited the public to violate the law or take the law in own hands with a view to coerce, intimidate or terrorize the public, individuals, groups, communities, government officials and institutions, incited the public to cause damage to governmental or private property or coerced or intimidated the public and thereby prevented them from carrying on their lawful trade and disrupted civic life.
The authority will also crack down on anyone inciting hatred and contempt on a religious, sectarian or ethnic basis as well as against obscene or pornographic content and deep fakes. 
Rights activists say the new bill is part of a widespread digital crackdown that includes a ban on X since February last year, restrictions on VPN use and the implementation of a national firewall. 
The government says the measures are not aimed at censorship.


Texas investor close to Trump eyes investments in Pakistan housing, energy, mineral sectors

Texas investor close to Trump eyes investments in Pakistan housing, energy, mineral sectors
Updated 35 min 23 sec ago
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Texas investor close to Trump eyes investments in Pakistan housing, energy, mineral sectors

Texas investor close to Trump eyes investments in Pakistan housing, energy, mineral sectors
  • US business delegation led by Gentry Beach arrived in Pakistan for a two-day visit on Tuesday to explore business opportunities
  • Despite the challenging business climate, the United States is one of Pakistan’s largest sources of foreign direct investment

ISLAMABAD: US investor and Texas hedge fund manager Gentry Beach, believed to be close to American President Donald Trump, said on Wednesday he was eyeing investments in Pakistan’s real estate, mineral and energy sectors.
A US business delegation led by Beach arrived in Pakistan for a two-day visit on Tuesday to explore business opportunities, particularly in sectors like mining and minerals, renewable energy, infrastructure development and technology.
Cash-strapped Pakistan, desperate to escape a prolonged macroeconomic crisis, been seeking investments from regional and other foreign allies to shore up its $350 billion economy. 
“Real estate’s going to be our first place of investment, it’s going to be a significant real estate investment,” Beach told reporters in Islamabad when asked about key sectors he was interested in investing in. “We are going to launch in a few different areas some incredible projects.”
Part of the delegation’s real estate plans included building “super high-end luxury branded” villas.
“We have a number of brands that really want to come to Pakistan,” he said. “And so we are very excited to build the highest-end product that’s ever been built in Pakistan.”

A delegation of leading US Investors led by Gentry Beach meets Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on January 29, 2025. (Photo courtesy: PMO)


Beach said the delegation was also considering investments in Pakistani minerals, citing the country’s large reserves of gold, platinum and other precious metals. Pakistani officials estimate $6 trillion worth of natural deposits in the country.
“We have several locations and due diligence that we are working on right now,” Beach explained. “We’re bringing in the teams as we speak to evaluate those. I believe that we will have one of those [agreements on minerals] signed, agreed to and funding in the next two weeks.”
The American businessman acknowledged the problem of the US having outsourced its supply chain to China for rare earth elements. 
“And that’s over, okay. We don’t have many enemies in the world but China is a place that is becoming more difficult for us for sure,” Beach said.
“And I would tell you that we are taking this into our own hands and we are going to get out and get the critical minerals that America and American businesses need,” he added, saying Pakistan would be an important partner in this shift.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif speaks during a with a delegation of US Investors led by Gentry Beach in Islamabad on January 29, 2025. (Photo courtesy: PMO)

Beach said teams would be coming next month to evaluate Pakistan’s oil and gas sector, appreciating the country’s “incredible natural gas infrastructure already in place.”
“You have the infrastructure, you never go to a developing country where the infrastructure is already in place and you have to just supply the gas,” he said. “That is a huge opportunity.”
Beach said the US could bring in Western technology in drilling in Pakistan and “develop things very quickly.”
“We see ourselves as the first one through the door,” he said. “Then we are going to bring lots of Western companies through the door.”
Pakistan in 2023 nearly defaulted on the payment of foreign debts when the International Monetary Fund rescued it by agreeing to a $3 billion bailout to Pakistan. Last year, Islamabad secured a new $7 billion loan deal from the IMF. Since then, the country’s economy has started improving with weekly inflation coming down from 27 percent in 2023 to 1.8 percent earlier this month. 
Sharif has also vowed to reduce dependence on foreign loans in the coming years and seek more direct investment. 

A delegation of leading US Investors led by Gentry Beach meets Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on January 29, 2025. (Photo courtesy: PMO)

Pakistan’s business and investment landscape poses considerable challenges. Complex and inconsistent regulations, inadequate protection of intellectual property rights, and ever-changing taxation policies are some of the many business climate challenges cited by investors. Security concerns marked by internal and regional conflicts also undermine investor confidence in protection and profitability of their investments. The Pakistani government launched the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in June 2023 to attract foreign investment from allies and other nations. Since its creation, the SIFC’s scope has expanded into a wide range of policy areas.
Despite the challenging investment climate, the United States is one of Pakistan’s largest sources of FDI. US companies have profitable operations across a range of sectors, notably franchise operations, fast-moving consumer goods, agribusiness, and financial services. Other sectors attracting US interest include ICT, renewable energy and health care services.


UK team begins Pakistan aviation audit ahead of resumption of PIA flights

UK team begins Pakistan aviation audit ahead of resumption of PIA flights
Updated 29 January 2025
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UK team begins Pakistan aviation audit ahead of resumption of PIA flights

UK team begins Pakistan aviation audit ahead of resumption of PIA flights
  • UK team to examine aviation safety protocols, evaluate operational procedures
  • European safety agency in November lifted 2020 bar on PIA operating in bloc

KARACHI: A delegation of the United Kingdom’s Department for Transport and Civil Aviation Authority began a safety audit of Pakistan’s aviation standards on Wednesday, a civil aviation spokesperson confirmed, ahead of the resumption of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights between the two countries.
The UK team arrived in Pakistan on Monday to examine aviation safety protocols, review documentation and evaluate operational procedures in Pakistan, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) said. The UK delegation is also scheduled to visit airlines to assess compliance with international standards. 
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) lifted its ban on PIA operating in the bloc in November, ending a restriction imposed in 2020 over concerns about the ability of Pakistani authorities and its Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) to ensure compliance with international aviation standards. 
The suspension followed an investigation into the validity of pilots’ licenses issued in the country after a PIA plane crash that killed 97 people. PIA resumed Europe operations with a flight from Islamabad to Paris on Jan 10. 
 “The audit is underway right now,” Air Commodore (retired) Shahid Qadir, a PCAA spokesperson, told Arab News. “We have made our preparations and are hopeful for a positive outcome.”
In a statement earlier this week, the PCAA said its officials had been engaged in technical talks with UK authorities for months. 
EASA said in November that the decision to allow PIA to operate in the EU was based on the “significant efforts” made by the PCAA.
Pakistan had grounded 262 of its 860 pilots, including 141 of PIA’s 434, whose licenses were deemed “dubious” by the then aviation minister. The investigation ultimately did not reveal any major concerns but the suspension remained in place.
The ban was costing PIA nearly Rs40 billion ($144 million) in revenue annually, according to government records presented in parliament.