ISLAMABAD, JUL 6: Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Saturday said that “tainted” politicians will not be part of the newly launched political party “Awaam Pakistan”.

“Politicians with tainted reputations will not be a part of Awaam Pakistan,” Khaqan said while speaking at a press conference in Islamabad flanked by his former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Miftah Ismail and Mehtab Abbasi.

The party’s launching comes as Khaqan, along with Miftah, ex-Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) member Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar had parted ways from their former parties after developing differences with their leadership in recent months

With the trio hinting at establishing a new political platform for months, Abbasi, in April of this year, approached the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for the registration of a new political party.

The party’s today’s launch was announced last month by Miftah, who while speaking to Geo News, said that their party aimed to change the entire governance system of the country with the masses as core sources of decision-making.

‘Predatory system cannot continue’
Speaking at the occasion, Miftah said that the existing “predatory” system cannot continue in the country.

“Are you running East India Company,” Miftah said, adding: “This system of the hunter and the hunted cannot continue.”

Lambasting the federal government for its budget for the fiscal year 2024-25, the ex-finance czar said that those earning merely Rs50,000 per month are asked to pay tax, but no tax is demanded from the one owning thousands of acres of land.
“The tax on the salaried class has been doubled in the budget […] the middle class is being crushed,” Miftah said, stressing that the budget in essence is a reflection of the ruling elite’s priorities.

The ex-minister’s comments refer to the tax-heavy Finance Bill 2024, which was assented by President Asif Ali Zardari last week, wherein the government has set out a challenging tax revenue target of Rs13 trillion for the year starting July 1, up about 40% from the current year to strengthen the case for a new rescue deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The rise in the tax target is made up of a 48% increase in direct taxes and a 35% hike in indirect taxes over revised estimates of the current year. Non-tax revenue, including petroleum levies, is seen increasing by a whopping 64%.

Addressing the recently announced anti-terrorism drive “Operation Azm-e-Istehkam,” the politician said: “Today we are going to conduct another operation […] why these operations are needed again and again because you cannot end poverty.”

His remarks come as the federal cabinet last week approved the launch of the counter-terrorism operation following the National Action Plan’s Central Apex Committee’s recommendations to root out militance from the country.

With opposition parties voicing concerns over the anti-terror operation, the government has decided to convene an all-parties conference (APC) “to gain political parties’ confidence” over its decision.

DNA

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership expressed distrust in the Chief Justice of Pakistan and demanded his recusal from the benches hearing related to PTI and its Founding Chairman Imran Khan and vowed that they would continue their fight for the restoration of constitutional supremacy and rule of law despite all odds.

Addressing a press conference along with PTI senior leadership including Shamim Naqvi, Shandana Gulzar, Shoaib Shaheen and Shaukat Basra, PTI Central Information Secretary Raoof Hasan said that the CJP should recues himself from all PTI related cases because justice could not be done in his presence in the benches.

He said that PTI Chairman-for-life also categorically expressed his distrust in the CJP but ironically he sat in all benches despite his clear bias against Khan and PTI, which was quite visible from his conduct.

“Now we are sure that we will not get justice, as Justice Gulzar’s led five-member bench also said that Qazi Faiz Isa could not hear our cases, our lawyers believe that we will not get justice, so our cases should be heard by someone else,” he added

Raoof strongly condemned the abduction of Rizwan Ahmed, a senior member of PTI’s media department while coming from his home to office, adding it was another living example of state repression, terrorism and fascism.

“After the murderous attack on me, this cruelty and brutality shows that the state wants to paralyze the media department of the party so that Imran Khan and PTI’s narrative cannot reach the people,” he maintained.

However, he made it clear that each and every one of them would resist this fascism like soldiers and would reach his narrative to the people as long as they were alive despite all adversarial circumstances.

PTI CSI revealed that they came to know that Rizwan was abducted by FIA and they would move the court to ensure his earliest release.

Raoof stated that they were fighting against the state fascism as they had never seen such a tyranny during the past 75 years. He made it clear that PTI would hold Tarnor jalsa, as they got the NOC after great and long struggle.

Speaking on the occasion, Shoaib Shaheen vowed said that they would continue their struggle for the supremacy of the constitution and rule of law despite all odds, as the puppet government was hell-bent to deprive them of their legal and constitutional rights.

He noted that they wanted the decisions should be made based on law and constitutions hence they wanted CJP should not sit in benches hearing Khan’s cases, as they had already raised legal and constitutional objections on his presence in all such benches; hence he should not sit in benches hearing Khan cases in future because he expressed his no-confidence in Qazi.

 Shoaib made it clear that PTI would hold a historic jalsa as wrong and misleading news were being spread in this regard, adding that people across the country would take part in the public gathering despite all sort of impediments being created by the mandate thieves even after the clear court’s orders.

Muhammad Ishtiaq Chaudhry Advocate said: “Let me clarify one thing after meeting Imran Khan, we have no trust in Qazi Faiz Isa.”

Speaking on the occasion, Shandana Gulzar said that if Khan and his wife was not save in this country what to talk of an ordinary citizen as what they did with Azam Swati family.

Shoukat Basra demanded immediate release of Rizwan Malik, his brother and Azhar Mashwani’s brothers and vowed that such shameful and brutal tactics could not dampen their courage.

He announced that all 180 PTI MNAs and MPs from across the country would appear before the court and would express their in writing distrust and no-confidence on Qaz.

Speaking on the occasion, Naqvi refuted reports of groupings within the party and said that all PTI members were united as a unified team under leadership of Imran Khan and they would continue their struggle until make the dream of haqeeqi Azadi a reality.

RAWALPINDI, JUL 05 (DNA) —Over 931 Traffic Wardens under the supervision of inspectors and DSPs would perform duties on city roads to control traffic flow during Muharram.

According to a City Traffic Officer (CTO), Rawalpindi Tamoor Khan, Traffic Police Officers, and Wardens have also been directed to take action against vehicles having tinted glasses, revolving lights, unregistered vehicles and motorcycles and others moving without improper and fake number plates.

In order to ensure the security of the mourning processions during Muharram-ul-Harram, the City Traffic Police (CTP) Rawalpindi has issued a comprehensive traffic plan.  According to the plan, there would be a complete ban on parking any vehicle or pushcart on the route of the procession. Fork lifters would move with Muharram processions.

The CTO informed that the wardens have been directed to remove all kinds of encroachments from the procession routes besides keeping a vigil on suspected persons and things.  Entry of vehicles on the route of the processions would be blocked by erecting barricades and other hurdles, the CTO added.

The CTO said, Traffic Police officials would be deployed along with district police personnel to ensure the security of the mourners.  Strict disciplinary action would be taken against the delinquent officials, the CTO said.

He informed that traffic load would be diverted to alternate routes during mourning processions.  A control room would be set up at Traffic Headquarters to monitor the situation while motorists who seek help and assistance can use the CTP helpline 051-9272616. — DNA

ISLAMABAD, JUL 5: The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will meet in Quetta on Saturday to sight the crescent of Muharramul Haram 1446 Hijri. However, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said that the Muharram “moon is not likely to be seen tomorrow.

Chairman of the moon-sighting body Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad will preside over the meeting to sight the moon for the first month of the Islamic calendar.

The meetings of zonal and district bodies of the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will also simultaneously be held at their respective headquarters.

Meantime, the PMD, in its statement issued on June 20, said that the new moon of Muharram would be born on the crossing conjunction point at 03:57 PST on July 6. According to astronomical parameters, there is no chance of sighting the new moon of Muharram on the evening of July 6, i.e. on the 29th of Zilhij 1445 AH.

The PMD said that the weather is expected to be partly cloudy or cloudy in most parts of the country as the moon-sighting body gets busy.

Moreover, the federal government rejected several provincial governments’ requests to suspend access to social media platforms during a few days of Muharramul Haram, according to sources.

The provincial governments had sought the suspension of six social media applications for around a week during Muharram due to security concerns. 

Faithful hold processions across the country in Muharram, while religious scholars address huge gatherings amid tight security, with thousands of law enforcers deployed to ensure security during the month.

RAWALPINDI, JUL 5 /DNA/ – General Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), Chief of Army Staff (COAS) presided over 265th Corps Commanders’ Conference (CCC) held at GHQ.

Forum paid rich tribute to the supreme sacrifices of Shuhadas of the Armed Forces, Law Enforcement Agencies and the citizens who have laid their lives for peace and stability in the country.

The forum undertook a comprehensive review of internal and external security situation of the country and had detailed discussion on various aspects of “Azm-e-Istehkam”, which is aimed at harnessing the national counter terrorism efforts in a synchronised manner to dismantle the nexus of terrorism and illegal spectrum in the country for enduring stability and economic prosperity. Forum noted with concern the unwarranted criticism by some quarters and deliberate misrepresentation of the vision, only for furthering their vested interests.

The forum also deliberated upon regional security situation, especially Afghanistan and reaffirmed its commitment to regional peace and security.

The forum expressed solidarity with the people of Kashmir and Palestine. Forum condemned serious human rights violations, war crimes and genocide being perpetrated in Kashmir and Gaza.

The forum affirmed that military leadership is cognizant of the full spectrum of the challenges and resolved to shoulder its constitutionally mandated responsibilities with support of the resilient people of Pakistan.

The forum underscored that onslaught of politically motivated digital terrorism, unleashed by conspirators, duly abetted by their foreign cohorts against state institutions is meant to induce despondency in the nation and sow discord through peddling of blatant lies, fake news and propaganda. However, the Armed Forces along with the nation are fully aware of all such machinations and stand united and committed in defeating the notorious designs of the enemies of Pakistan.

Forum reiterated to continue full support of ongoing efforts in uplifting the socioeconomic growth and wholeheartedly assisting the government in curbing all illegal activities which hamper investors’ confidence, economic stability and growth.

Expressing full satisfaction on Army’s commitment to national security, COAS stressed upon maintaining high standards of professionalism and operational preparedness. To conclude, COAS remarked that Pakistan Army has always been fully prepared to thwart all internal and external challenges and play its due role in the stability and prosperity of Pakistan, regardless of the challenges posed.

ASTANA, JUL 3 /DNA/ – Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in an inaugural session of Pakistan-Turkiye-Azerbaijan Trilateral Summit along with  President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit, on 3 July 2024.