Page 100 - Pakistan

NIA conducts multi-state raids in Pak-operated Ghazwa-e-Hind case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday conducted raids at multiple locations across three states in connection with a case against the "Ghazwa-e-Hind", a radicalized module being run by Pakistan-based suspects, officials said. Five locations two in Patna and one in Darbhanga (Bihar) and one each in Surat (Gujarat) and Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh) - were raided by the NIA in connection with the case registered last year, the federal agency said. It said incriminating material, including digital devices such as mobile phones and memory cards, SIM cards and documents, were seized during the raids which were conducted at the premises of suspects across three states. The case was registered after the arrest of Marghoob Ahmad Danish alias Tahir of Phulwarisharif area of Patna by Bihar Police on July 14 last year. The NIA took over the case eight days later. Danish was charge-sheeted on January 6 under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Preventi

308 Indians including 42 civilians, 266 fishermen in Pakistan prison

Pakistan on Saturday handed over a list of 308 Indian prisoners, including 42 civil and 266 fishermen, lodged in its jails to the High Commission of India here as part of a bilateral agreement. The step was taken in consistence with the provisions of the 2008 Agreement on Consular Access between the two countries, the Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement. The FO said that the Government of Pakistan today handed over a list of 308 Indian prisoners in Pakistan (42 civilian prisoners and 266 fishermen) to the High Commission of India in Islamabad. It further said that the Government of India handed over the list of Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails to the Pakistan High Commission, New Delhi. According to the list, there are a total of 417 Pakistanis in Indian jails, 343 of whom are civilian prisoners and 74 fishermen. Islamabad urged New Delhi to release and repatriate all those Pakistani civilian prisoners and fishermen, who have completed their respective sentences and their .

Pakistan to send security delegation to India for inspecting ODI WC venues

Pakistan is set to send a security delegation to India for inspecting the venues before giving clearance for the national team's travel to the neighbouring country for this year's ICC ODI World Cup. An official source in the Inter-Provincial Coordination (Sports) Ministry said that the government, including the foreign and interior ministry would decide when to send the security delegation to India once the new chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board was elected after the Eid holidays. "The security delegation will go with representation from the PCB to inspect the venues where Pakistan will play and also the security and other arrangements made for them in the World Cup," he said. He said the delegation would visit Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Ahmedabad, the venue for the marque India-Pakistan match on October 15. "Before any tour to India it is standard practice for the cricket board to seek permission from the government which normally sends a delegation to India,"

IMF approves $3 billion bailout package for Pakistan's ailing economy

In a major relief to cash-strapped Pakistan, the IMF has agreed to inject USD 3 billion into the country's ailing economy after months-long negotiations that pushed it to the brink of default. The Pakistan government and the Washington-based global lender reached a nine-month Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) on Thursday to support the authorities' immediate efforts to stabilise the economy from external shocks. Pakistan's is facing its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1947. The country's economy has been in a free fall mode for the last many years, bringing untold pressure on the poor masses in the form of unchecked inflation, making it almost impossible for a vast number of people to make ends meet. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said that Staff-Level Agreement with the International Monetary Fund would help strengthen Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves and enable the country to achieve economic stability. "I am pleased to announce that Pakistan has ..

Miscreants threaten Sikhs, forcibly stop kirtan at Gurdwara in Pakistan

The miscreants, who were handed over to the police, were released without proper investigation and interrogation, it was alleged

Pak Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto to visit Japan to revive bilateral ties

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is set to make his official maiden visit to Japan from July 1 to 4 to revive the bilateral relations after a considerable hiatus. Pakistan has tried to maintain a fine balance while pursuing ties with its all-weather ally China and its rival Japan. During the visit, Bilawal will be calling Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and will hold a meeting with the National Security Advisor Takeo Akiba, the Foreign Office said. The Foreign Minister's visit signals the revival of leadership level contacts with Japan after a considerable hiatus, it said in a statement, adding that Bilawal will hold delegation-level talks with his Japanese counterpart Yoshimasa Hayashi. He will deliver a lecture at the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), which is a renowned think tank in Japan. Bilawal is also expected to interact with senior officials and executives representing prominent business houses and entities related to the import of Pakistani manpowe

Over 130,000 Afghan refugees will require re-settlement in Pakistan: UNHCR

In the 'Projected Global Resettlement Needs Assessment for 2024', UNHCR anticipates a 20 per cent increase in global refugee resettlement needs for the next year

Pakistan clinches initial approval from IMF for $3 bn loan programme

The staff-level agreement is subject to approval by the IMF Executive Board, with its consideration expected by mid-July, the Washington-based lender said in a statement

IMF deal expected in next 24 hours: Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar

The agreement, which would be subject to approval by the IMF board, has faced an eight-month delay

Pak should break addiction to IMF bailouts, use crisis as an opportunity

The IMF's bailout package - the 23rd for Pakistan since its independence in 1947 - was suspended in November 2022 because the government had not acted on the IMF's conditions for the loan

Pakistan, IMF discussing $2.5 bn on 'short-term standby arrangement'

Cash-strapped Pakistan and the IMF are discussing a new short-term standby arrangement (SBA) worth about USD 2.5 billion to get the country through the political transition to the newly-elected government in the second quarter of the current fiscal year, according to a media report on Wednesday. Pakistan's ninth review by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under the 2019 Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for the release of a USD 1.2 billion tranche is still pending with the programme's expiry on June 30. A new short-term six to nine months standby arrangement (SBA) is being discussed by Pakistan and the IMF worth about USD 2.5bn, the remaining part of the EEF expiring on June 30, the Dawn newspaper reported. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday discussed the IMF programme with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and expressed hope that coordination on the points of the bailout programme would lead to a decision from the global lender in a day or two, a statement

Pak govt tells SC trial of those involved in May 9 attacks yet to begin

The Pakistan government on Tuesday informed the Supreme Court that the trial of civilians allegedly involved in attacks on the army facilities has not yet started in the military courts. A six-member bench comprising Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Mazahar Naqvi and Justice Ayesha Malik was hearing the pleas challenging the trial of civilians under the Pakistan Army Act, 1952 and the Official Secret Act, 1923. Attorney General Mansoor Awan told the bench during the hearing that the trial of civilians involved in the May 9 violence was yet to begin after the chief justice on Monday hoped the trial would not commence while the court was hearing the case. The development came as the military spokesman on Monday told the media that 102 civilians were in military custody for trial at 17 military courts which were already functional under the existing laws. No trial has started yet and that also takes time. The ..

Pak PM Sharif asks IMF chief for early release of stalled bailout fund

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a phone call with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on Tuesday during which he expressed hope that the global lender would announce a decision on the release of the bailout fund within a day or two. Pakistan's ninth review by the International Monetary Fund under the 2019 Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for the release of a USD 1.2 billion tranche is still pending with fewer than 10 days remaining until the programme's expiry on June 30. Sharif discussed the IMF programme with Georgieva and expressed hope that coordination on the points of the bailout program would lead to a decision from the global lender in a day or two, a statement by the PM Office said. Pakistan signed a USD 6.5 billion package with the Washington-based IMF in 2019. The plan was derailed several times and the full reimbursement is still pending due to insistence by the donor that Pakistan should complete all formalities. The prime minister also reiterated his .

ICC 'confident' Pakistan will travel to India for ODI World Cup

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is still apprehensive about sending its team to India for the ODI World Cup but International Cricket Council (ICC) is "confident" that the Babar Azam-led team will compete in the 50-over showpiece. The ICC on Tuesday announced the fixtures for the October 5-November 19 tournament and rejected PCB's request to not schedule their matches in Chennai and Bengaluru against specific teams. PCB did not want to play Afghanistan on spin-friendly track in Chennai and also wanted to avoid facing Australia in Benglauru. As part of the announcement in Mumbai, it was confirmed that Pakistan will lock horns with India in Ahmedabad on October 15 and take on Australia (October 20) and Afghanistan (October 23) at pre-decided venues. Soon after the announcement, the PCB made it clear that its participation in the ODI World Cup will be subject to government clearance. "Our participation in the World Cup and us playing in Ahmedabad on October 15 or in Mumbai if we qua

ICC rejects Pakistan's request to change venue of their Word Cup matches

All of the objections raised by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on the schedule and venues for the national team team in the ODI World Cup in India have been rejected by the International Cricket Council (ICC). In the final schedule of the World Cup released on Tuesday by the ICC and BCCI, Pakistan's match against India is scheduled in Ahmedabad as proposed in the draft earlier while PCB's request to switch venues for the matches against Afghanistan and Australia have been ignored. As per wishes of the Pakistan team management, the PCB had asked ICC and BCCI to reschedule its match against Afghanistan from Chennai to Bengaluru and the game against Australia from Bengaluru to Chennai. The Pakistan team management had concerns that given the Chepauk's history of helping spinners, it would leave the side at a disadvantage against Afghanistan, who have quality spinners. But none of Pakistan's objections or requests have been paid heed to and even the semi finals have been scheduled in

Pak protests US' joint statement with India on cross-border terrorism

Pakistan has formally lodged a protest with the US over its joint statement with India against the country's involvement in cross-border terrorism. The Foreign Office here said in an overnight statement that the US Deputy Chief of Mission was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday evening and a demarche was issued to him regarding the US-India joint statement of June 22. Pakistan's concerns and disappointment at the unwarranted, one-sided and misleading references to it in the joint statement were conveyed to the US side," it said. In their joint statement following one-on-one meetings and delegation-level talks on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden called on Pakistan to punish perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot attacks. Later, Prime Minister Modi in his address to the Joint Meeting of the US Congress said there can be "no ifs or buts" in dealing with terrorism and sought action against state sponsors of terrorism, in a veil

US calls on Pak to take steps to disband terrorist groups: Official

The US has been consistently calling on Pakistan to step up efforts to permanently disband all terrorist groups like the LeT, JuD and their various front organisations, a top state department official has said. Addressing the media on Monday, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said the US will raise the issue regularly with Pakistani officials and will continue to work together with it to counter mutual terrorist threats. We have also been consistent on the importance of Pakistan continuing to take steps to permanently disband all terrorist groups, including Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and their various front organisations," he said. "We will raise the issue regularly with Pakistani officials, and will continue to work together to counter mutual terrorist threats, as we discussed during our March 2023 CT dialogue, he said. Miller was responding to a question on the India-US joint statement issued during the state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi here. In the

India summons Pakistani diplomat over attacks on Sikh community members

India on Monday summoned a senior diplomat of the Pakistan High Commission and lodged a strong protest over the recent incidents of attacks on Sikh community members in that country, sources said. The diplomat has been conveyed that Pakistan should ensure the safety and security of its minorities who live in "constant fear of religious persecution", the sources said. Four incidents of attacks on Sikh community members have taken place between April and June and India has taken serious note of these incidents, they said. "India has demanded that Pakistani authorities investigate these violent attacks on Sikh community with sincerity, and share the investigation reports," said a source. "It has also been conveyed that Pakistan should ensure the safety and security of its minorities, who live in constant fear of religious persecution," the source added.

20 dead as heavy rains & lightning hit Pakistan's Punjab province

At least 20 people, including women and children, were killed and over 50 injured in lightning and rain-related incidents in the Punjab province of Pakistan on Monday, officials said. Heavy pre-monsoon rain spells battered most parts of Punjab on Sunday and Monday and are expected to continue till June 30. "Lightning killed eight people while 12 others were either buried alive or electrocuted in related incidents in different parts of Punjab province," Rescue 1122 spokesperson Farooq Ahmad told PTI on Monday. He said lightning struck Narowal, Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib cities, killing eight people, including children, while 10 suffered injuries and are being treated at local hospitals. Ahmad said that five people of a family were buried alive when the roof of their house caved in due to heavy rain in Narowal. A policeman was among eight people electrocuted in Lahore, Shiekhupura, Pasrur, Sialkot and Kamoke in rain-related incidents, he added. Heavy rains and hail storms also c

Pakistan hikes policy rate to 22% to secure IMF deal in a last-ditch effort

"The MPC views this action as necessary to keep real interest rate firmly in positive territory on a forward-looking basis," the central bank said in a statement