Says PML-N political survival lies in ridding the party from Sharifs

DNA
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson has blasted the PML-N for its political somersaults and advised the party to register itself with new name as a ‘clique of clowns’ since its entire leadership including the absconder leader were busy in political acrobats because they do not have any narrative to face the public.
Reacting strongly to the PML-N’s volte-face on its narrative, PTI spokesperson said that the ‘clique of clowns’ started its narrative from accountability of judges and generals but now it’s corrupt and convicted leadership decided to leave the matter of accountability to the divine justice.
He made it clear that the PML-N did not have any political program, because it was not a political party but a group of clowns and self-centered greedy people who did not bother about the interest of the country and its people but just came to the country to the rule.
PTI spokesperson stated that it could be judged from the fact that the entire party’s leadership including the cowardly fugitive were involved in staging dramas under the guise of new narrative ahead of the homecoming of the convicted fugitive to gain public attention because they had nothing to offer people to run their campaign in the next general elections.
Therefore, he suggested that PML-N should better to register itself with new name as a ‘group of jokers’ since its leadership did not have any political program but they were well-versed in political somersaults.
PTI spokesperson went on to say that during the last two weeks, the group of clowns under the leadership of their ringmaster had been demonstrating their political acrobatic tricks such as spitting and swallowing statements and walking on one leg.
He said that the series were started from the accountability of judges and generals and culminated by entrusting matters to Allah, adding that the meetings of the PML-N were fast shrinking into the closed alleys while the Calibri Queen’s passion and venomous speeches were turning into a literature of modesty and humility.
PTI Spokesperson stated that the entire preparatory plan for the fugitive’s homecoming has turned into a shoe-polishing campaign. However, he suggested that the only way of political survival for the PML-N was to rid the party from the Sharifs.
He underlined that the nation was fully ready to hold the clique of clowns including the fugitive accountable for their loot and plunders.
PTI Spokesperson made it clear that free, fair and transparent elections would prove to be the final nail in the coffin of the politics of this group of jockers.

DNA

Islamabad, 4 OCT: Participants of the 53rd PN Staff Course at Pakistan Navy War College (PNWC), Lahore, visited the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad, to gain exposure to independent think tanks and their role in the contemporary world and in enhancing strategic capabilities.

The delegation of 79 officers, headed by Commodore Ehsan Ahmed Khan SI(M), comprised faculty members of PNWC and participant officers of the Staff Course.

Vice Chairman IPS Ambassador (r) Syed Abrar Hussain introduced IPS, its mandate, and its research domains to the delegates, while General Manager Operations Naufil Shahrukh gave a detailed presentation about the Institute’s activities to promote research, dialogue, publishing, and human and technological development activities for policy and governance with particular reference to its maritime policy desk.

While addressing the officers on the ‘Role of Think Tanks in the Contemporary World’, Chairman IPS Khalid Rahman explained how the world and warfare have changed over the centuries. He described how building a case and justifying the cause of waging war has become necessary.

He said that, unlike the past several centuries, along with physical might, the strength and propagation of indigenous narrative have also become a significant aspect of warfare in the contemporary world.

In this regard, an effective role is performed by the research organizations and think tanks which filter information in this era of information overload and support indigenous opinions and analyses through participating in the policy process and deriving insights from a pool of experts, intellectuals, and practitioners.

He further emphasized that in today’s world, where merit and morality are being sacrificed against money and the market, wars and conflicts will not stop happening. That’s why the militaries and nations need to ensure preparedness through narrative and perception management as well.

Speaking on the occasion, Commodore Ehsan stressed the importance of education and learning. He said that it is critical to know ourselves before the adversary in order to construct and promote indigenous narratives. He accentuated that the indigenous narrative cannot be propagated without reflection on present norms and without writing and talking about them.

At the end of the event, the delegation thanked IPS officials on behalf of PNWC for hosting the delegates.

ISLAMABAD, OCT 4 /DNA/ – The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized a conference on Rehmat ulil Aalameen Hazrat Muhammad (P.B.U.H). Sheikh Silsa Naqshbandiyya Owaisya and Head of Tanzeem Al-Ikhwan Pakistan Hazrat Ameer Abdul Qadeer Awan Madzala-ul-Aali was the chief guest.

Speaking on this occasion, Hazrat Ameer Abdul Qadir Awan Madzala Al Aali shed light on the life of Hazrat Muhammad (P.B.U.H) in detail. He said that Allah SWT had sent Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) as a mercy and a source of guidance for the people of the whole world and by adopting the principles of his life, we can achieve success in this world and the hereafter.

He said that the birth and death of Hazrat Muhammad (P.B.U.H) took place in the month of Rabi al-Awwal, so this month has special significance in Islamic history. He said that the life of Hazrat Muhammad (P.B.U.H) is a book of guidance for the whole of humanity to achieve in this world and the hereafter. He said that Islam has also given golden principles for the economy and emphasized on the circulation of wealth in the society so that the wealth does not accumulate in a few hands. He said that by adopting the system of Zakat and Ushar, Pakistan can get rid of debts.

He said that the example of the interest-based economy like filling water in a strainer, so by getting rid of interest-based financial system and adopting the system of Zakat and Ushar, the economy can be brought out of difficulties. He said that the prevention of smuggling is yielding beneficial results for the economy and and stressed that all immoral and illegal sources of revenue leakages should be plugged to improve the economy. He said that despite being an agricultural country, people in Pakistan are facing food inflation which is unfortunate. He stressed that government should provide unadulterated fertilizers and seeds to the farmers that would make significant improvement in agricultural productivity and reduce food inflation.

He stressed for promoting industrialization to strengthen the Pakistan’s economy. He said that by adopting the principles of Islam, non-Muslim countries have become developed nations today and Muslims are lagging behind in the race of development. Therefore, there is a need to strictly follow the life of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) in every field of life, including business and economy to achieve better success. In the end, he offered Dua for recently deceased former Vice President ICCI Muhammad Hussain and other deceased members of ICCI as well as the deceased family members of the participants.

Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, welcomed Hazrat Ameer Abdul Qadeer Awan Madzala-ul-Aali, Head of Tanzeem Al-Ikhwan Pakistan and hoped that his Bayan on Seerat e Nabvi would be very beneficial to the participants. He stressed that the well-to-do of society should take better care of poor people to help reduce poverty and promote prosperity.

Faad Waheed, Senior Vice President ICCI thanked the Chief Guest and all the participants for attending the Seerat conference.

Engr. Azharul Islam Zafar Vice President ICCI, Akhtar Hussain, ICCI Religious Affairs Committee Convener Tariq Nusrat Wani and others were also present on the occasion.

ISLAMABAD, OCT 4 /DNA/ – In most countries, the debate on policy and reform is led by the research community, something that is missing in Pakistan so far. To fill in this gap, the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), Islamabad, has initiated an effort to bring in all the think-tanks on a table.

It is time that the think-tanks accept the challenge and develop a reform agenda to take the country out of the current crises, on a permanent basis. The upcoming elections further necessitate the need to generate a debate on the way to take the country forward.

The third moot under this initiative is being organised by PIDE on October 5, 2023, which is to be attended by over 35 think-tanks of the country.

ISLAMABAD, OCT 4 /DNA/ – The Centre for Afghanistan, Middle East and Africa (CAMEA) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), in collaboration with the United States Institute for Peace (USIP), is holding an International Conference on “Navigating Peace & Security in the Region & Beyond: Pakistan’s Role” on 5-6 October 2023.

The Conference is aimed at undertaking a strategic scan of the developments at the international level and in the adjoining regions of Pakistan. Today’s world situation, as is quite evident, continues to be marked by extreme fluidity and even volatility in many places. Major-power competition, war, active and simmering military conflicts, trans-national terrorism, aftermath of pandemic, economic downturn, unresolved disputes, the existential threat of climate change, and a looming population explosion are but a few illustrations of what countries across the globe are faced with.  A visibly evolving global order, with its attendant consequences, is throwing up new challenges and making the quest for stability a strategic imperative. Regardless of their size or stature, nations recognize the compelling necessity and desirability of adhering to established international norms and fostering cooperative frameworks. Pakistan is no exception.

Besides, Pakistan’s pivotal geographic location places it at the crossroads of vast geo-economic opportunities, including connectivity, trade and energy flows, and developmental partnerships. As it tackles the complex geo-strategic landscape, and accentuates its own pivot to geo-economics, Pakistan has before it a range of opportunities in the political, diplomatic and economic domains, which it must seize and actualize with active and innovative external engagement.

Within this backdrop, the ISSI (CAMEA) in collaboration with USIP, is bringing together a group of eminent national and international speakers, academics and thought leaders to delve deeper into the various facets of changing global dynamics and the role Pakistan can play in navigating peace and security in the region and beyond. The Conference will also explore the opportunities for Pakistan and the United States to find new vistas for bilateral cooperation as well as collaboration on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

The inaugural session of the Conference will be held on 5 October, featuring Remarks by DG ISSI Ambassador Sohail Mahmood and Vice President USIP Dr. Andrew Wilder and a Keynote Address by Special Representative for Afghanistan Ambassador Asif Durrani. The various Working Sessions would focus on Afghanistan, the Middle East, Pakistan-U.S. relations, innovative approaches to non-traditional security challenges, global perspectives on regional peace and security, and cooperation on counter-terrorism. The Conference will conclude on 6 October 2023.

RAWALPINDI, OCT 4: Army chief General Asim Munir on Tuesday discussed “recent regional developments” with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, the US Department of Defence said in a statement.

In a brief statement, the defence department said the chief of army staff (COAS) and Secretary Austin discussed the regional matters during a phone call. They also discussed areas of mutual interest between the two countries.

The military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), is yet to issue a statement on the phone call.

This is the second time that Gen Munir and the US secretary have spoken on the phone.

The last time they spoke was in January of this year, when the US defence secretary had called Gen Munir to congratulate him on taking charge as the army chief.

The call comes amid a spike in terror activities since Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) announced an end to a ceasefire with Pakistan last year in November, the forces have ramped up operations against militants.

Pakistani authorities have blamed Afghanistan for allowing militants to use its soil, with interim Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti saying that 14 of 24 suicide bombings in the country this year were carried out by Afghan nationals.

The government, as a result of these activities, has ordered all illegal immigrants, including 1.73 million Afghan nationals, to leave the country or face expulsion.

According to a statistical report released by the independent think tank Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), at least 271 militant attacks took place during the first half of 2023, resulting in the loss of 389 lives and injuring 656 individuals.

Terror activities in the country soared by 79% during the period.

Islamabad, OCT 4: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday ruled that hearing on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s bail plea in cipher case registered under Official Secrets Act will take place in an open court.

The IHC announced a verdict that it reserved earlier this week on FIA’s plea seeking in-camera hearing on the PTI chief’s bail application in the cipher case.

In the verdict today, the IHC said open court hearing on the bail petition will be held on October 9. However, the IHC said arguments by lawyers on documents regarded as sensitive will be heard in-camera.

The FIA on Monday had appealed to the IHC for an in-camera hearing on Khan’s bail plea in the cipher case as it is fearful that an open court hearing could harm Pakistan’s diplomatic ties with other states if the matter is discussed publicly.

FIA Special Prosecutor Shah Khawar had told the court that under the Official Secrets Act, a trial cannot be made public, adding that they would move a similar plea in the trial court.

“There are some statements and information that cannot be made public,” said the lawyer. He added that they also have to place statements related to other countries before the court.

“Sharing such information in an open court can affect Pakistan’s diplomatic ties with other countries,” said Khawar.

The PTI chief’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, had opposed the FIA’s plea for an in-camera hearing. 

Last month, the PTI chief moved IHC seeking post-arrest bail in the cipher case.

The special court — established under the Official Secrets Act and hearing the case registered against the PTI chief and his party’s Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi — had rejected the post-arrest bail applications of Khan and the senior politician.

Both the leaders are currently on judicial remand till October 10 in the cipher case.

The FIA booked them under the Official Secrets Act for allegedly misplacing and misusing the classified document for vested political interests in August this year.

Subsequently, both leaders were arrested in connection with the investigation into the case and a special court was established under the Official Secrets Act to try the accused.