Page 106 - Pakistan

Imran Khan appears before Islamabad HC for hearings in multiple cases

He is also expected to appear before an anti-terrorism court in 10 cases related to violating Section 144 and threatening a female judge

China-Pakistan collab in Shaksgam Valley poses threat to India: Report

China's traditional aggression across the LAC in fact diverts India's attention from China's illegal land grab in PoK, this is a strategic reality to be faced with in the medium future

Toshakhana case: Court grants protective bail to Imran Khan till June 21

A Pakistani court on Wednesday granted protective bail to former prime minister Imran Khan till June 21 after a fresh FIR was registered against him for committing forgery in selling the state gifts. Earlier on Wednesday, the Pakistan government registered a case of fraud and forgery against former prime minister Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi and their close aides for allegedly preparing and submitting fake and forged receipts regarding Toshakhana gifts. The Lahore High Court (LHC) also stopped police from arresting Khan's wife Bushra Bibi till June 13 in any case.

Imran Khan booked under anti-terrorism law after murder of SC lawyer

Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan has been booked under the anti-terrorism law in the murder case of a supreme court lawyer, his party said on Wednesday. Advocate Abdul Razzaq Shar was killed on Tuesday in a drive-by shooting in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, while on his way to the provincial high court when targeted by the unknown assailants.

Pakistan PM Sharif tells FinMin to follow IMF parameters in budget: Report

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the finance ministry to ensure that the budget is in line with the parameters set by the IMF, amid ongoing negotiations with the global lender for a bailout package for the cash-strapped country, according to a media report on Wednesday. The country's budget is likely to be presented on Friday. A week back, Sharif held a telephone conversation with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and urged her to revive the USD 6.5 billion deal that was initially signed in 2019 and is set to expire by the end of this month. Geo News, citing an informed source, said Sharif, during a meeting with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday, expressed optimism that the government would reach an agreement with the IMF. The source also dismissed speculation that the government would present a populist election-year budget and said, "Pakistan can't afford any budget that violates the set basics of the IMF." The prime

India is winning at every single front, says Pakistani American businessman

India is winning on every single front and the world needs to learn from this, an eminent Pakistani American businessman has said while lamenting that the political and economic situation back home was "sad and dire". Sajid Tarar, a pro-Donald Trump Republican Party leader, also said the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US later this month is going to be a landmark one. Modi is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. It will be a landmark visit of Modi to the US. And imagine the foreign policy of India, that they (the United States) are offering it NATO Plus membership. India is not interested in it because they want to enjoy its relationship with Russia," he said on Tuesday. Tarar was referring to the recent resolution passed by the Select China Committee of the House of Representatives which has recommended that India be included in NATO Plus membership. "At the same time, they already have BRICS (Brazil, ..

Pakistan's economy likely to grow by 2% in next fiscal year: World Bank

The World Bank has projected Pakistan's economy to grow by two per cent in the next fiscal year, much lower than the 3.5 per cent target set by the country's top economic body, saying the lasting effects of the August 2022 floods, along with policy uncertainty and limited foreign exchange resources have depressed activity in the country. The conflicting estimates by the World Bank and the National Economic Council came on Tuesday, reported the Dawn newspaper. In Pakistan, the lasting effects of the August 2022 floods, along with policy uncertainty and limited foreign exchange resources to pay for imports of food, energy, and intermediate inputs, have depressed activity, with industrial production contracting by about 25 per cent in the year to March 2023, the bank said in its latest Global Economic Prospects report. It said that the continuing effect of last year's floods in Pakistan, compounded by worsening social tensions, high inflation, and policy uncertainty, is estimated to ha

Pakistan's Chief Justice wants to track down a Twitter handle. Here's why

A series of audio leaks have sparked much controversy in Pakistan, raising concerns about the neutrality of the higher judiciary in the country

Pakistan issues 215 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India: Pak High Commission

The Pakistan high commission on Tuesday said it issued 215 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to facilitate their participation at an event to be held on the eve of 'martyrdom day' of Guru Arjan Dev. Under the provision of a bilateral protocol on visits to religious shrines, Sikh and Hindu pilgrims from India visit Pakistan every year. Pakistani pilgrims also visit India every year under the protocol. "The Pakistan High Commission has issued 215 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to participate in the annual festival scheduled on the eve of Martyrdom Day of Guru Arjan Dev to be held in Pakistan from June 8-17," the mission said. It said the issuance of the visas is in line with Pakistan's commitment to fully implement the bilateral protocol on visits to religious shrines of 1974. "On the occasion Charg d'Affaires Salman Sharif wished the pilgrims a rewarding and fulfilling journey. He further stated that Pakistan remains committed to preserving sacred religious places as well as ...

Lahore HC confirms former Pak PM Imran's pre-arrest bail in murder case

In March, Police booked Khan, also chief of PTI party, in the murder case, accusing him of "concealing facts and evidence" about the death of Ali Bilal alias Zille Shah, a party worker

Pak SC wants parties to agree on holding general, provincial polls together

Pakistan's Supreme Court expects the country's warring political parties to reach a consensus on holding general elections and provincial polls for all the legislatures on the same day to end the polarisation in the polity, a media report said on Tuesday. "It is appreciable that the political leadership of the country made efforts to resolve the present political impasse. Political issues can best be addressed through dialogue and consensus, said a written order issued by a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Monday. The bench was hearing a petition seeking to hold elections for all assemblies on the same day. We, therefore, expect the political parties in the country to heal the polarisation in the polity and to arrive at a single date for holding general elections to all the constitutional assemblies," the bench said in its order.

Pakistan govt's debt swells by 34.1% to Rs 58.6 trillion: Central bank data

The Pakistan government's total debt has increased 34.1 per cent year-on-year to Rs 58.6 trillion at the end of April, according to the latest report by the country's central bank. The increase was 2.6 per cent on a month-on-month basis, Dawn newspaper reported on Tuesday. The domestic debt amounted to Rs 36.5 trillion (62.3 per cent) while the external debt accounted for a 37.6 per cent share with Rs 22 trillion at the end of April. On an annual basis, the increase in external debt remained 49.1 per cent, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) data showed. There was no change in the external debt figure from a month ago. Within the domestic debt, the largest share was of the federal government bonds that represented almost Rs25 trillion worth of loans. Other major contributors to the domestic debt were short-term loans (Rs7.2 trillion) and unfunded debt (Rs2.9 trillion) that included money borrowed through National Savings Schemes. Funds obtained through federal government bonds rose 3

Pak's aviation body chief slams airport security for 'harassing passengers'

Pakistan's aviation body chief has accused the customs and security officials of harassing passengers at the country's airports to extort money. Khaqan Murtaza, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), made the allegations while briefing the Senate Standing Committee's meeting on Aviation at the Parliament House on Monday, Dawn newspaper reported on Tuesday. Murtaza alleged that the Customs, Airport Security Force (ASF) and Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) officials "continue to collect money by harassing passengers," the paper said. The meeting chaired by Senator Hidayatullah highlighted the lack of coordination among agencies at airports and pointed out impolite attitudes with passengers, some participants had experienced. "You will not find any uniformed armed personnel at any airport in the world," Murtaza said. "It looks like an aggressive atmosphere that is unheard of elsewhere. It feels as if we live in a cantonment." Committee Chairman Hidayatullah also raised .

Pak PM calls for providing relief to poor, middle class in budget 2023-24

Cash-strapped Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the authorities to take major steps in the budget for the welfare of poor and middle class, in an effort to make it people-friendly ahead of general elections which are expected in October. "Despite economic challenges, special measures should be taken for the protection of vulnerable sections of society," he said while chairing a meeting on Monday to finalise measures to provide relief to the poor and middle classes of society. Pakistan, currently in the throes of a major political as well as economic crisis, is grappling with high external debt, a weak local currency and dwindling foreign exchange reserves. The inflation level rose by a whopping 36.4 per cent in the year in April, driven mainly by food prices. This is the highest in South Asia, and up from 35.4 per cent in March, according to the country's statistics bureau. The budget 2023-24 is expected to be presented in the parliament on June 9 and the ...

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf members threatened to quit party: Imran Khan

"I had never thought this would happen. I only have 2 options now: either commit suicide or hold a press conference," he added

Pakistan's budget proposals: OICCI asks govt to abolish super tax

As cash-strapped Pakistan struggles to increase tax base, the Overseas Investors Chambers of Commerce & Industries (OICCI) has asked the government to abolish super tax and bring trade, services, real estate and agriculture sector into the tax net in line with their share in the economy, a media report said on Monday. The OICCI - which serves as a platform to promote foreign investments into Pakistan - presented its taxation proposals for 2023-24 budget to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, the News International reported. "The OICCI recommended the abolishment of super tax for all sectors and capping the corporate tax rate at 29 per cent. It suggested that no further increase in effective tax rate should be made as it is already greater than the regional competitive rates, the paper reported. The general rate for minimum tax should be reduced to 0.25 per cent and carry forward of minimum tax credit be allowed for at least 5 years as prior to 2022, recommended the OICCI. The overseas ...

Imran Khan likely to be tried in military court: Pak's defence minister

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said the chances were that former prime minister Imran Khan could be tried in a military court for his alleged involvement in the May 9 incidents in which military and state installations were attacked by his party workers, according to a media report on Sunday. Khan, 70, could stand trial in a military court if evidence of his involvement in the May 9 violence surfaced in the coming days, Asif was quoted as saying by The Express Tribune newspaper. He also confirmed that no case had been registered against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief so far in connection with the May 9 attacks. Definitelythere are chances that Imran Khan can be tried in a military court, the minister said while responding to a question if the deposed premier could be prosecuted under the Army Act. His remarks came days after Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that Khan will be tried in a military court as the former prime minister was the "architect" of the May

Kashmir's situation won't improve till India, Pak hold dialogue: Abdullah

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday said holding the G20 event in Kashmir will not benefit tourism in the Valley till India and Pakistan resolve the "future" of the Union Territory through dialogue. He also said Jammu and Kashmir was suffering heavy losses because of the lack of an elected government. "The question is whether we will benefit in terms of tourism arrivals from these countries? That cannot happen till the situation here does not improve and the situation will not improve till the two big countries do not hold dialogue on how to shape the future of this state," Abdullah told reporters here. The NC president was responding to a question whether holding of the G20 meeting in Srinagar would benefit the union territory. "We did. The roads which were in bad shape for many years were repaired. The walls got a fresh coat of paint. The street lights started working. So we did benefit from it," he said. Over lack of an elected government in J and K, Abdulla

Pak Police serves court summons to Imran Khan in judge threatening case

The Islamabad Police visited former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's residence in Lahore to serve the court summons in judge threatening case, Pakistan-based Geo News reported

Pak hikes next fiscal's budget; hints at holding general polls this year

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led Pakistan's coalition government has decided to throw open its coffers for massive public spending during the next financial year, finally giving the strongest signal to hold the general elections on time this year, according to a media report on Saturday. The evidence has been gleaned from the 31 per cent hike in the next fiscal year's federal development budget to Rs 950 billion, reported the Express Tribune newspaper. The decision to increase the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) from the earlier proposed Rs 700 billion to Rs 950 billion was taken by Prime Minister Sharif, minutes before the scheduled meeting of the Annual Plan Coordination Committee (APCC) on Friday. The paper reported that the confusion was apparent as the Ministry of Planning had distributed the APCC working paper among all stakeholders based on the Rs 700 billion PSDP size. But Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal told the media that the size of the PSDP will be Rs 950 ...