ISLAMABAD, Nov 3 (DNA): Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar strongly condemned terrorist attack near a police mobile in Dera Ismail Khan, in which four passers-by were killed and 15 police officials and civilians sustained injuries.

According to police, the vehicle carrying elite force personnel was targeted by unknown militants.

In a condolence message, the prime minister expressed deep sorrow and grief over the martyrdom of citizens in the blast.

He also prayed for elevation of ranks of the departed souls in Jannah and grant of courage to the bereaved families to bear this loss with equanimity.

The prime minister instructed the relevant authorities to provide the best medical facilities to the injured.

He said war against terrorists would continue until complete eradication of the scourge of terrorism from the country.

“Thanks to the sacrifices of the law enforcement agencies, we have been thwarting the evil intentions of the terrorists,” he said.

ISLAMABAD, NOV 03 (DNA) — UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, IOM, the UN Migration Agency and UNICEF, the UN Children’s Fund, are deeply concerned for the safety and well-being of children and families affected by the ‘Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan’ and alarmed at the potential consequences of this plan’s implementation.

According to joint UNHCR, IOM & UNICEF statement issued Friday, the majority are Afghans now returning out of fear of arrest or deportation in Pakistan. Afghanistan is deep in the grips of a humanitarian crisis, with ongoing human rights challenges and an impending harsh winter. Almost 30 million people require humanitarian assistance and 3.3 million are internally displaced. 

Since 15 September 2023, an estimated 160,000 Afghans have left Pakistan. Among those, 86 per cent of families reported fear of arrest as the most common reason for leaving the overwhelming majority departing in a rush, and without assistance. Pakistan has a proud tradition of hosting refugees, saving millions of lives.

This generosity is still needed. “Although the Government of Pakistan’s plan specifies repatriation of undocumented foreigners during phase one, there are reports of registered refugees and Afghans possessing legal documents, including Afghan Citizenship Card holders and Afghans scheduled for resettlement being pressurised despite assurances they will be protected. Those include children and women. IOM has received reports of persons being targeted in their homes,” the statement added.

Children face serious protection risks while on the move in Pakistan, in detention centres, crossing borders and upon return to Afghanistan. In these situations, children face risks of physical threats to their safety, family separation, distress, fear, abuse and exploitation.

Children’s access to services including education and healthcare and basic necessities such as food and shelter can be severely disrupted.

More registered Afghan refugees are also approaching UNHCR’s voluntary repatriation centres in Peshawar and Quetta asking to be assisted to return. UNHCR and IOM are stepping up their capacity to help. Voluntary returns are generally slower during the winter.

“Any return needs to be voluntary and done in a safe and orderly manner, with full respect for rights and protection of those in need” stressed UNHCR’s Representative, Philippa Candler. UNHCR and IOM have undertaken intensive engagement with the authorities in Pakistan, including advocating that those whose safety may be at risk are exempted from the government’s deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave by November 1.

”We are appealing to the authorities not to force vulnerable people, including children and families, back to a situation where their lives may be at risk” said IOM’s Chief of Mission, Mio Sato. UNHCR and IOM reiterate their offer to support Pakistan in developing a mechanism to register, manage, and screen people who need continued protection in the country.

“At this time of increased vulnerability, UNICEF calls on the Government of Pakistan to fulfil its obligations to uphold and protect the rights of all children within its borders. A child is a child. Children everywhere must be protected at all times to live with dignity, so they can grow, learn and reach their full potential,” said UNICEF Pakistan Representative, Abdullah Fadil.

UNHCR, IOM and UNICEF continue to appeal to the international community to increase support for hosting vulnerable children and families and refugees in Pakistan. — DNA

ISLAMABAD, NOV 3 /DNA/ – Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Pakistan Office hosted “2023 KOICA Alumni Association of Pakistan (KAAP) Annual Reception” to sharekey outcomes of KOICA alumni activities during the year and future plans while promoting its partnership with the KAAP alumni and Korean enterprises in Pakistan.

KOICA Pakistan Office hosted “2023 KAAP Annual Reception” at Serena hotel, Islamabad. Park Ki Jun, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Je-Ho Yeon(Country Director of KOICA Pakistan Office), Dr. IkramUl-Haq(President of KAAP) attended the annual event. In addition, along with Korean enterprisesStar Hydro Power Limited. and KOAK Power Limited., Pakistan Taekwondo team also joined the event to celebrate their presence.

Referring to the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Pakistan,H.E. Park Ki Jun celebrated the 2023 KAAP Annual Reception, “What you experienced in Koreaisnot just personal achievement, but also a valuable contribution to the development of your community and bilateral relations” adding, “Let’s continue to make efforts to create a brighter future by utilizing the power of international collaboration and innovation”.

Through this event, KAAP looked back on activities such as training program, scholarship program, and knowledge sharing seminar that were supported by KOICA during the year, and shared plans for the volunteer activities and reunion to serve as catalysts for positive change in Pakistan. Additionally, both Star Hydro Power Limited. and KOAK Power Limited. introduced the on-going renewable energy and hydroelectric power projects, positively looking at Pakistan’s growth potential.

Through 2023 KAAP Annual Reception, alumni members promoted their experiences of learning through support activities. In addition, Korean cultural performances such as taekwondo and presentations by Korean companies were held to remind alumni of Korean culture and to share knowledge between alumni and Korean companies.

For 13 years since 2010, KOICA promoted social, cultural, and educational activities among the 1,735 members of the KAAP to strengthen friendly relations between Pakistan and Korea. In addition, KOICA contributed to regional development and harmony through knowledge sharing seminars and volunteer activities led by the alumni.

ISLAMABAD, NOV 03 (DNA) — Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar will embark on an official visit to Tashkent, Uzbekistan to participate in the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Summit commencing on Wednesday next.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said the Prime Minister, at the summit, will reaffirm Pakistan’s commitment to ECO vision 2025 and promotion of cooperation in the areas of trade, transport, connectivity, energy, tourism and economic growth and productivity.

The Prime Minister will present Pakistan’s vision for the future work of the organization and promotion of regional connectivity and mutual prosperity. The Prime Minister will also engage in bilateral discussions with the leadership of Uzbekistan and other participating leaders. — DNA

Ansar M Bhatti

ISLAMABAD: President Arif Alvi and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja Thursday agreed that the general elections will be staged in the country on February 8, 2024.

The development came after an ECP delegation headed by CEC Raja and Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan met Alvi at the President’s Secretariat to discuss the poll date, a statement from Alvi’s office said.

Sources privy to this development said that a consensus was reached with the help of the Attorney General of Pakistan. The Chief Election Commission, when met the President, handed over to him the written letter in which the ECP had proposed February 8 as the election date. The ECP delegation left the Presidency after handing over the letter.

Then the President consulted his legal team and decided to propose February 08 as the election date. The Attorney General conveyed the President message to the ECP and after AG’s efforts the Election Commission decided to agree to the date proposed by the President.

The ECP — in today’s Supreme Court hearing of petitions calling for timely polls across the country — had told the top court that polls would be held on February 11, but the SC asked the commission to consult with the president.

Following the consensus, AGP Awan and CEC Raja will inform the top court about the decision.

The court — in the order issued after the hearing — had instructed the AGP to arrange the meeting between ECP and Alvi, provide the president with the court order, and be available to render assistance.

“We expect that the matter of appointing a date for holding general elections shall be settled, and this court will be informed tomorrow (Friday),” the top court said in the order.

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the three major political parties of the country, had welcomed the ECP announcement that elections in the country will take place on February 11, 2024.

Welcoming the ECP’s announcement, PPP’s Nayyer Bukhari has said that his party has been calling for holding timely elections.

“Unelected individual or cabinet do not have right to rule the country… the elections should have been held within 90 days as per the Constitution,” he said while speaking to Geo News.

PML-N senior leader Ayaz Sadiq welcomed the announcement saying that it’s a positive development and that the process to hold elections has commenced.However, he said fixing date polls is the mandate of the ECP.

PTI lawyer Barrister Ali Zafar had termed the SC proceedings as “histori” as ambiguity regarding the polls ended with it.

“Someone said the polls will be staged while someone said polls will not be staged. It was a worrisome situation,” the senator said while talking to media after the SC hearing

Zafar said that the SC made it clear that the elections were supposed to be staged within 90 days of the dissolution of assemblies.

He then called on the ECP to release an election schedule as per the Constitution after consultation with President Arif Alvi as directed by the court. The good news of elections has been received after a long time, he added.

ISLAMABAD, Nov 2 (DNA):Executive Director (Designate) World Bank (WB), Dr. Tauqeer Hussain Shah on Thursday called on Minister for Finance, Revenue, and Economic Affairs, Dr. Shamshad Akhtar.

Finance Minister appreciated the contributions of Dr. Tauqeer Hussain Shah to public service and hoped that Dr. Shah will utilize his experience in fostering strong collaboration between Pakistan and the World Bank, said press statement issued by finance ministry.

Dr. Shah thanked Finance Minister for her guidance and immense support and assured to focus on enhancing Pakistan’s cooperation with World Bank.

The Ministers for Privatisation & Energy, Chairman SECP, Chairman FBR, Secretaries of Finance & Economic Affairs & Country Director World Bank were also present on the occasion.

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that the general elections in the country will be held on February 11, 2024.

The date was shared with the Supreme Court by the ECP’s lawyer during the hearing of petitions calling for timely polls across the country. 

“Elections in the country will be held in the country [after] completion of delimitation on November 30,” ECP’s lawyer Sajeel Swati told the three-member bench.

The bench consists of Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Amin-Ud-Din Khan. This was the second hearing the three-member bench was holding on the petitions.  

The ECP’s lawyer, while sharing the schedule with the apex court, said that all arrangements including delimitation will be completed by January 29. 

Explaining the delimitation process, the lawyer said it would take them 3 to 5 days to issue the final lists. He added that if 54 days are counted from December 5 then we get January 29 date.

The lawyer said that the ECP was looking to hold the polls on Sunday to make it easier for the people to participate in the elections. He added that under this plan the first Sunday would have fallen on February 4 and the second would be on February 11. 

“We decided on our own that elections should be held on Sunday, February 11,” said the lawyer. 

On hearing this, CJP Isa directed the lawyer to ask the chief election commissioner to consult the president and get back to the court. 

The Supreme Court then adjourned the hearing of the case till 2pm.

Ambiguity over polls

The country has been gripped in political uncertainty ever since the Imran Khan government was removed through a no-confidence motion in April 2022.

The Shehbaz Sharif-led government, that took over from Khan, dissolved the National Assembly on August 9, while Sindh and Balochistan assemblies were also prematurely dissolved to allow the electoral authority to hold elections in the country within 90 days.

Had the assemblies been dissolved on time, the electoral body was constitutionally bound to hold polls in 60 days.

However, the ECP decided against holding polls within the stipulated time as the Council of Common Interest (CCI), days before the dissolution of the assemblies, approved the 7th Population and Housing Census 2023.

The CCI approval made it mandatory for the commission to hold elections following fresh delimitations in light of the results of the census.

Subsequently, on August 17, the ECP announced the schedule of new delimitations to be carried out as per the new census results.

But in September, the commission announced that general elections in the country would take place in the last week of January 2024.

In the same month, the ECP also released the provisional report on the delimitation of constituencies. However, before the announcement, multiple petitions were filed in the Supreme Court against the delay in polls.

All the petitioners had asked the apex court to ensure that polls are held within 90 days.

These petitions were filed during the tenure of former chief justice Umar Ata Bandial, however, they were not fixed for a hearing.

PPP, PML-N hail ECP announcement of polls date

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), two major political parties of the country, have welcomed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announcement that elections in the country will take place on February 11, 2024.

In a major development on Thursday, the ECP’s lawyer informed the Supreme Court’s three-member bench led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa that polls will take place in on February 11.

Following the ECP’s announcement, PPP’s Nayyer Bukhari has said that his party has been calling for holding timely elections.

“Unelected individual or cabinet do not have right to rule the country… the elections should have been held within 90 days as per the Constitution,” he said while speaking to Geo News.

Bukhari said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is answerable to the people and the Supreme Court for not holding elections within 90 days of the dissolution of the assemblies.

Responding to a question, the PPP leader said the caretaker government’s conduct will establish whether all political parties are given level-laying field.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Ayaz Sadiq welcomed the announcement saying that it’s a positive development that the process to hold elections has commenced.

However, he said fixing date polls is the mandate of the ECP.

PML-N leader Irfan Siddiqui told Geo News that the ECP announcement is a positive development as it will ensure stability in the country.

“I welcome this development even more because the announcement came from Supreme Court which has increased its sanctity,” he remarked.

He said it will be difficult for the ECP to backtrack on this date since the polls date was shared with the country’s top court.