ISLAMABAD: Federal ministers Khawaja Asif and Sherry Rehman on Tuesday suggested the formation of a “Truth and Reconciliation Commission” for the resolution of Balochistan’s issues after their ally Akhtar Mengal raised the issue of missing persons in the National Assembly.

“Balochistan’s issues must be resolved,” said Asif in the lower house after Mengal briefed the house on the problems facing the province.

The defence minister said that the “elites” of the country have made mistakes and admitted that some of the sins and crimes were committed by the rulers. He also lamented that politicians have spoken on the issue verbally just to get votes.

The minister shared that a battle for power has been ongoing in Pakistan and targeted his party’s arch-rival Imran Khan.

“[Last] government was removed via constitutional and legal way. The person whose government was removed is blackmailing the state,” said Asif. He urged that the battle for power can be fought later.

Asif also deplored that after one and a half years after independence, different opinions were not tolerated.

Khawaja Asif said the points raised by Akhtar Mengal regarding the Balochistan situation are genuine and there is a dire need to heal the wounds of the people of the province. 

He said the problems of Balochistan can be addressed by sitting together with the leaders and people of Balochistan.

On the other hand, Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman said that a war is being fought in the name of religion but it was only a “war of power” — a reference to Imran Khan’s call terming his Azadi March as “jihad” against the government.

The PPP MNA said that they do not want terrorism to increase in the country as it is “ours” and have to save it.

“We should be taken into confidence about the operation that is going on,” said Rehman. She added that Pakistan has been able to wipe out al-Qaeda from its soil through successful operations but now the TTP was taking over.

“The problems of Balochistan should be heard to start reconciliation. We should also hear the bitter truth about the problems of Balochistan,” said Rehman. She also urged the courts to hear human rights cases.

As regards Balochistan, she proposed the formation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to take the situation towards improvement in the province.

Mohsin Dawar also supported the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, saying it is imperative to take the country in the right direction.

ISLAMABAD, Oct 19: /DNA/ – Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar on Tuesday met the Diplomatic Adviser to the French President Emmanuel Bonne and discussed the current status of Pakistan-France bilateral relations.

During the meeting held at Élysée, the official residence of the French president, they also exchanged views on important regional and global matters.

Khar also met today Mr. Bertrand Walckenaer, Additional Director General, French Development Agency (AFD) at Pakistan Embassy in Paris. She lauded AFD’s contribution in energy, sustainable urban development and climate resilience projects in Pakistan. Future cooperation areas also came under discussion.

In the evening, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs held a meeting with Senator Pascal Allizard, President of France-Pakistan Friendship Group in the French Senate and Senator Madam Gisèle Jourda, member of the Group. The meeting was held at the historic building of the French Senate.

MoS appreciated the role played by Senator Allizard in furthering bilateral relations between Pakistan and France, especially in terms of parliamentary cooperation.

Both sides also discussed political, trade, investment, economic , cultural and education ties between the two countries as well as the situation of floods in Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Tuesday approved the federal government’s contempt of court petition against the PTI chief after he announced his long march to the capital.

A five-member larger bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Banidal, will hear the case on Thursday. Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, and Justice Sayyed Mazhar Ali Akbar Naqvi will be part of the bench.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan has warned the government that he has given it “some time” to take a decision on announcing the date for the general elections, otherwise, he will move towards Islamabad — and the march will not be delayed beyond October.

But undeterred by the former prime minister’s repeated warnings, the federal government reprimanded Khan and warned him against marching to the capital.

A top government official told the PTI chairman that even if he has won the October 16 by-elections — in which he created history by winning six National Assembly seats simultaneously and called it a “referendum” on his popularity — it does not give him the right to march to the capital.

If the PTI holds another long march, then it would be the second time they would be coming to Islamabad. The last march was held on May 25 and ended with Khan abruptly calling off the march after reaching Islamabad.

The plea

The federal government last Thursday filed a contempt of court plea against the PTI chairman in the Supreme Court over his long march call to Islamabad.

In its petition, the federal government told the apex court that the PTI chief is making announcements of marching towards Islamabad, which was a violation of a court order.

“Imran Khan is making announcements to attack Islamabad,” says the plea. It urged the Supreme Court to direct the PTI chief to ensure the implementation of its orders related to protests and sit-ins.

The petition has been filed by the interior ministry on behalf of the federal government.

‘Some more time’

In a press conference on Monday, Khan said that his party’s anti-government “Azadi March” would not be delayed past October as they have completed their preparations.

The PTI chairman said: “My march will be held in October if the government does not announce the date for the next general election.”

The PTI chief warned the government that multitudes of people would take to the streets responding to his call to the nation for the anti-government march.

Khan said he was still cutting the government some slack so that they could decide on it. “I am actually giving them some more time before embarking on our long march protest.”

“[Interior Minister] Rana Sanaullah won’t even know what hit him, such is my preparation,” Khan warned the top minister, who recently claimed the government’s preparation was 10 times more as compared to May 25.

He said dialogue was out of the question with the ruling elite. “There’s no negotiation with criminals. You can hold reconciliation talks with Baloch or Sindhi nationalists, but not with the felons like them,” Khan added.

Minister’s warning

Sanaullah had warned that the government would multiply its May 25 policy by 10 if the PTI chairman announces another long march.

Speaking to the media in Faisalabad, the minister also offered an olive branch to the PTI saying that the government is ready for conditional talks with Khan but there would be no unconditional dialogue.

Sana added that it was unacceptable that anyone could come to occupy Islamabad whenever they wanted.

“If Imran Khan wants to hold a long march, he should apply for it. Under Section 144, no one is allowed to roam around with arms, but I found out that the president of the Faisalabad District Bar was roaming in NA-108 with armed people,” he said.

RAWALPINDI, OCT 18 – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday admitted to weakness within his government and said that he will never accept a weak government again.

These views were expressed by the PTI chief [Imran Khan] while meeting the delegation of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) and National Press Club Islamabad. During the meeting, the former premier said, for the last 26 years, he has been doing politics of justice for the sake of democracy and people. Talking about his long march, Imran Khan reiterated that the party’s long march for actual freedom (real freedom) will take place this month.

Talking about the country’s development back in the 1960s, Imran went on to say that in the 60s, Pakistan was economically ahead of Singapore and South Korea, now Singapore’s per capita income is $70,000, while Pakistan’s per capita income is only $2,000. The PTI chief added that Singapore developed on the basis of transparency and justice.

“When our government came, Pakistan was bankrupt, the incumbent government has bankrupted Pakistan in six months. When our government was overthrown, the growth rate in Pakistan was 6 per cent. I had only five days off, that too when I contracted the coronavirus”, said the former prime minister [Imran Khan].

Taking a swipe at PM Shehbaz Sharif, Imran Khan said, “After coming to power, he [Shehbaz Sharif] was acquitted of the cases. When I was in government, the pressure on me increased. NAB and courts were not under my control. Now, the mafias took over the system in Pakistan. They are trying their best to disqualify me, that’s why they are filing cases against me.”

Reiterating that early and transparent elections are the only way out of the current political and economic crisis, Imran said that preparations should be made to carry the movement to its logical conclusion vigorously within the framework of the constitution and law.

The PTI chairman, Imran Khan further said that the political struggle of the PTI is for the supremacy of the constitution and the law, adding that it is impossible to create a prosperous society without the rule of law and justice.

Talking about PTI leader and Senator Azam Swati, Imran said that the culture of lawlessness has flourished and the shameful tradition of violence against Senator Azam Swati and other political activists for mere expression has been revived.