ISLAMABAD – Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday refused to respond to the notice sent by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in a case pertaining to prohibited funding.

Former PM and former Attorney General Anwar Mansoor Khan on behalf of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman sent a reply to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). The reply was sent to Amina Baig, Deputy Director of FIA Commercial Bank Circle, Islamabad, in which he termed FIA s malice in sending the notice.

Imran Khan in his written response told that he was neither bound nor obliged to provide information and will take legal action against the agency if notice is not withdrawn in two days. It further stated that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) did not give a decision but issued a report.

Scope of investigation

Earlier today, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) decided to expand the scope of prohibited funding received by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to foreign countries.

FIA will now investigate the case in America, Britain, and any other country where PTI received funding from. Investigation agencies of different countries will also be contacted and taken on board.

FIA will collect the information regarding the companies and personalities of these countries that deposited funds in PTI accounts and for this help will be taken from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Crime Agency and other agencies.

Currently, the investigation into the prohibited funding case is still in the stage of collecting records and accounts. In the second phase, the obtained information will be compiled to file charges.

FIA initiated investigation into the case on August 5 after the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) announced its decision on August 2.

In the first phase, five investigation teams have been formed. These teams will work in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Islamabad and Quetta.

According to FIA officials, various records related to the case will be summoned from the Federal Board of Revenue and Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan. FIA headquarters will supervise the entire investigation.

ECP verdict

On August 2, the commission in its verdict in prohibited funding case against the PTI had ruled that the party received funds from business tycoon Arif Naqvi and from 34 foreign nationals. It went on to say that the party had taken ownership of eight accounts and kept 16 hidden.

Unknown accounts have also come to light, said the commission in its verdict, adding that hiding accounts is a “violation” of Article 17 of the Constitution.

The electoral watchdog had also decided to issue a show-cause notice to the PTI to explain why the commission should not seize the funds it received. The commission said that PTI chief Imran Khan had submitted a “misdeclaration”.

The ECP had reserved its verdict in prohibited funding case — previously referred to as the foreign funding case — after the conclusion of arguments from both sides of the case on June 21.

The case was filed by PTI founding member Akbar S. Babar and was pending since November 14, 2014. Babar had alleged serious financial irregularities in the party’s funding from Pakistan and abroad. In March 2018, a scrutiny committee was constituted to examine the PTI financing. The committee submitted its report on January 4, after 95 hearings and nearly four years.

ISLAMABAD, AUG 17 /DNA/ – The UK’s International Trade Secretary, The Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP, launched the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), providing tariff reductions and simpler terms of trade to 65 countries, including Pakistan, which will be implemented early next year.

The scheme will help these countries grow and prosper, and in turn tackle poverty by harnessing the power of trade. The DCTS replaces the UK’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP), a preferential trading system that provides tariff removals and reductions on various products.

Under the DCTS, Pakistan will continue to benefit from duty-free exports to the UK. In addition, the DCTS will remove tariffs on over 156 additional products. It will also simplify some seasonal tariffs, meaning additional and simpler access for Pakistan’s exports to the UK.

Total trade (goods and services) between the UK and Pakistan each year currently stands £2.9bn. In total, 94% of goods exported from Pakistan will be eligible for duty-free access to the UK. Pakistan will save £120m in tariffs on exports to the UK under the scheme.

Pakistan, and other DCTS countries, will also be supported to participate in the international trading system through the UK’s Trade Centre of Excellence, which will provide specialist support so that they can fully participate in the global trading system. This will include support on meeting trade standards, and participating in multilateral trade fora. 

UK’s Trade Director for Pakistan and British Deputy High Commissioner, Karachi, Sarah Mooney, said:

“A prosperous UK-Pakistan relationship matters. As we celebrate 75 years of our bilateral relations, we want to further cement our strong ties and double bilateral trade by 2025. The newly announced DCTS Scheme will be pivotal in achieving this.”

DNA

Our cultural heritage is very strong: Abdullah Mehmood, Farooq Riaz says that he has spent 28 years of his life in collecting ancient artifacts. People do not have awareness about old things, due to which they do not know their value

Saifullah

Rawalpindi: An exhibition of Farooq Riaz’s ancient works related to Mughal and British rule was organized in Punjab Arts Council. The exhibition was inaugurated by Additional Deputy Commissioner Revenue Rawalpindi Abdullah Mahmood and Director Arts Council Waqar Ahmad.

 Historical locks, watches, timepieces, swords, musical instruments, lamps, pots, coins, currency notes, postcards, stamps, historical documents are kept in the exhibition. Old weapons of Mughal and British era, guns, swords and spears, Video and still cameras are also part of the exhibition. Chief guest Abdullah Mahmood said on this occasion that every society has its own traditions, civilization and culture.

Culture of any region, nation or country is not only its historical interpreter rather; no society can remain connected to its history without preserving its culture. We should be proud that our cultural heritage is very strong. Farooq Riaz has taken care of our heritage for which I congratulate him. Farooq Riaz said that he has spent 28 years of his life in collecting ancient artifacts. People do not have awareness about old things, due to which they do not know their value.

The purpose of the exhibition is to raise this awareness among people. Old things are valuable, so they should protect them. Director Arts Council Waqar Ahmed said that Arts Council has always nurtured talent. Dozens of artists have made the name of Pakistan internationally known by using the platform of the Arts Council. The exhibition will continue till August 19 at the Arts Council.

From Our Correspondent 

PESHAWAR: Members of the business community in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa strongly reacted over the recent hike in petrol price, what, they say, a gradual decrease in price of crude oil is witnessing in the global market, despite the fact that fuel prices continue to upward in the country. The community demanded to bring down fuel prices in line with the international market.

Traders remarked that the incumbent coalition government is completely directionless, alleging it is putting the national economy at stake at the behest of international financial lenders and jacking up fuel prices on their dictation.

The business community expressed fear cost of doing business would be further increased after frequent hike in fuel prices, besides the already sluggish industrial growth would become a complete standstill in the country.

A new wave of inflation would come as a result of the present coalition government to further hike fuel price, commented Imran Khan Mohmand, an acting president of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), according to a statement issued here on Wednesday.

The acting SCCI chief viewed the present government flawed economic policies have brought negative impacts on the economy while spiraling ‘price-hike’ also elevated miseries of poor masses.

Imran Mohmand criticized the ‘double-standard’ policy, which is being adopted by incumbent coalition government completely incomprehensible, as it is making tall claims about taking practical steps for provision relief to poor masses while on the other hand adding to their miseries by jacking up fuel prices, he added.

“We completely reject the recent fuel price hike of Rs6 per/litre,”

The acting chief observed fuel prices are consistently downward in the global market, while oil prices frequently escalate instead of decreasing in line with the international market, which is unjustifiable and reflecting the present government ‘anti-masses’ policy.  

Imran Mohmand criticised the inconsistent policies of the present coalition government that had brought the country’s economy on the brink of destruction.

He termed incessant drop in country’s export, foreign exchange reserves, surging circular debts, and putting national economy on direction by obtaining loans from foreign lenders, as a testimony of the present government flawed economic policies.

The acting chief stressed the need of enhancing exports and efficiently tapping indigenous resources, natural reserves to stabilize the national economy.

Imran Mohmand urged the incumbent coalition government to review its economic policies for the best interest of businesses, economy and the country. 

He demanded the government to announce a special relief package for small traders and shopkeepers.

The acting SCCI chief warned that the incumbent government couldn’t restrain from putting the national economy on stake at the behest of foreign financial institutions and not bring down fuel prices in line with the international market then the chamber along with traders’ community will lodge strong protest.

Islamabad, AUG 17 /DNA/ – “Workshop on the Promotion and Development of the Islamic Countries Common Market and Exchange Project”, which was held with the contributions of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Economic and Commercial Cooperation Standing Committee (COMCEC), OIC Research and Training Center (SESRIC) and Ankara Commodity Exchange (ATB) in Ankara.

In the workshop where the steps taken within the scope of the project, which envisages the establishment of a database, information network and web page among small-scale enterprises, family farmers and cooperatives in OIC member countries, the promotion and development of the web portal (www.icpcem.com) were also discussed.

Mehmet Daniş, Deputy Minister of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, shared information on trade between Islamic countries at the workshop.

Pointing out that trade has come to a more important point than production, Mr. Umar Masood Ur Rehman, Vice President Federation Of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce & Industry drew the attention of the audience to the fact that trade between Islamic countries is not enough as per existing potential which is currently at 132 billion dollar. In other words, it corresponds to 11 percent of the world’s agricultural exports. while we cover a population of 21 percent.

Stating that the e-commerce sector is growing all over the world, Umar Masood Ur Rehman said, “We also need to develop our trade in accordance with the new rules and urged on Cooperation and solidarity with the platform will increase.

ISLAMABAD, AUG 17 /DNA/ – Chairman of National Business Group Pakistan, President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum, and All Karachi Industrial Alliance, and former provincial minister Mian Zahid Hussain on Wednesday said the development of some countries that became independent after Pakistan has become a cause of surprise for the whole world.

On the other hand, the majority of people living in Pakistan are facing poverty and hunger which is the direct result of the wrong priorities of the rulers.

The situation in Pakistan is the most alarming in the region except for Afghanistan, while the situation in Iran, which has been under international sanctions for decades, is better than in Pakistan.

Talking to the business community, the veteran business leader said thatthe reason for Pakistan’s worrying situation is the priorities of most of our rulers, while the situation in other countries in the region, including China, Bangladesh and India, is due to the good priorities of their rulers.

Pakistan has received more loans and aid from other countries in the region, but investment in human development has not been prioritized, due to which the economy has not been able to develop, he added.

The business leader said that due to these policies, neither the economy developed nor poverty decreased, but the problems of corruption and militancy have increased.

During the policy-making process, the pleasure of the electorate was always prioritized over the economic interests of the country so that the rulers could extend their stay in power, he observed.

Mian Zahid Hussain said that every government raised the slogans of reforms, but meaningful reforms were always considered against their interests, so they had to take loans from IFM repeatedly, while the reforms suggested by the international organization have never been fully implemented.

He added that many were pinning high hopes on the incumbent government, but so far there has been no progress in the privatization of failed government institutions, theft of electricity and gas, elimination of line losses, restoration of agriculture and increase in exports.

The government’s focus seems to be on getting a loan from the IMF, he said, adding that it is impossible to realize the dream of development and eradication of poverty without fundamental reforms.

Islamabad, AUG 17 /DNA/ – Senior Kashmiri Leader and Chairman Jammu & Kashmir Salvation Movement (JKSM) Altaf Ahmed Bhat in a statement here in Islamabad has said that the Modi-led BJP Govt of India is forcefully, illegally defying all international laws and resolutions changing the identity, demography, and socio-economic fabric of Jammu & Kashmir.

The Govt of India ever since the illegal action on Aug 5, is hell-bent on making the lives of Kashmiris miserable, from target killing, destruction of property, Business and snatching of education. While in the latest bid at Hinduization, the Modi regime has decided to rename 199 schools, colleges & roads in IIOJK. BJP’s name-changing spree is aimed at erasing Muslim culture and its imprints from IIOJK. Bhat added.

Senior Kashmiri leader added that India uses terrorism as a state policy to intimidate Kashmiris, using its military might to subdue Kashmiris’ freedom sentiments and refrain Kashmiris from freedom movement. 

Chairman JKSM Bhat added that we have lost hundreds of thousands of lives for freedom for our motherland, Indian state-sponsored repression can’t break the will of Kashmiris for Freedom.Kashmiris are determined to protect their unique identity & culture, come what may. Modi’s evil tactics can’t stop Kashmiris from pursuing their just struggle for freedom.

Chairman JKSM said that World’s silence is emboldening India to increase its repression in IIOJK and appealed to the International community and Human Rights organizations to intervene and held India accountable for violations of Human Rights, int’l laws and resolutions on Kashmir.