ISLAMABAD, JUL 23: The embattled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday established a hunger strike camp outside the Parliament House in Islamabad to demand release of the party founder Imran Khan and other leaders.

The former ruling party has faced back-to-back setbacks in a few days as its central secretariat in the federal capital was sealed by the authorities earlier today a day after the party’s Information Secretary Raoof Hasan was nabbed along with the otherparty workers.

A day earlier, Islamabad police took Hasan into custody from the party’s Central Secretariat for heading a digital media cell and its alleged involvement in running anti-Pakistan propaganda.

Speaking to journalists outside parliament, the party chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said that the hunger strike will be observed daily till 8pm as a token protest against “injustice” and for the PTI founder’s release and the supremacy of the parliament.

He added that he conveyed his party’s reservations to National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq over “illegal and unconstitutional actions”.

Gohar strongly condemned the sealing of the party’s secretariat in the federal capital.

It is noteworthy to mention here that the Islamabad administration sealed the PTI’s central office earlier today over “lack of fire and life safety arrangements”.

In a notice, which was obtained by Geo News, the administration said that the building lacked up-to-date fire extinguishers, emergency evacuation plan, an independent power source for the emergency system, and standard electric wiring.

The PTI secretariat was sealed by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) two months ago during an anti-encroachment operation in which a portion of the party’s central office was demolished. However, the party office reopened following the directives of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

Another PTI senior leader and former NA speaker Asad Qaiser said: “Our first demand is to release the PTI founder, his wife Bushra Bibi and other detainees, including Hasan and party workers.”

He held the federal government responsible for the recent wave of lawlessness and inflation across the country.

Qaiser urged the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government to immediately resign over “bad governance and mismanaging the economy”.

PTI’s Secretary-General Omar Ayub Khan said that the token hunger strike was being observed for the release of the incarcerated former premier, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi and other arrested leaders and workers.

The opposition leader in the National Assembly censured the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) for sealing the PTI’s central office once again. Instead of the PTI secretariat, the MCI should seal its own office “where mice running everywhere”, he slammed.

Several PTI lawmakers joined the hunger strike camp including Gohar, Qaiser, Omar, Shibli Faraz, Latif Khosa, Ali Muhammad Khan, Falak Naz Chitrali, Sheikh Waqas, Senator Humayun Mohmand, Saifullah Abro, Shabbir Ali Qureshi, Sahibzada Sibghatullah, Mehboob Shah, Sajid Mohmand, Dawar Kundi, and others.

KARACHI, JUL 23 /DNA/ – Abdul Mohamin Khan, Acting President FPCCI, has apprised that, on behalf of the entire business, industry and trade community of Pakistan, FPCCI will plead the case of unbearable capacity charges of IPPs to the apex forums of the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) and special investment facilitation council (SIFC) – as the last resort to save the economy and the people of Pakistan.

Mr. Abdul Mohamin Khan, Acting President FPCCI, highlighted that despite the repeated and unrelenting expression of its concerns and apprehensions – loud and clear – pertaining to IPPs capacity charges, the business community is still not being taken on board for the consultative process to resolve the issue at the earliest; despite being the primary stakeholder of the issue.

Acting FPCCI Chief presented the charter of demands vis-à-vis power sector: (i) forensic audit of independent power producers (IPPs) should be ordered (ii) capacity charges of IPPs should be abolished and only generated electricity should be paid (iii) power purchase agreements with IPPs should be renegotiated in a fair and transparent manner.

Mr. Abdul Mohamin Khan, Acting President FPCCI, maintained that the country has paid the capacity charges of approximately PKR. 2,000 billion in the FY24; and, the same will further steeply rise to PKR. 2,700 – 2,800 billion in the FY25.

Mr. Abdul Mohamin Khan elaborated that guarantees to IPPs indexed to the US dollar mean any depreciation of the Pakistani rupee increases returns for IPPs – adding debilitating financial burden on the government and the public alike.

FPCCI demands that a comprehensive review of IPP agreements; price re-evaluation within legal bounds and improved oversight to prevent over-invoicing are utmost needed. Examining the energy infrastructure for clauses related to misinformation and fraud is also required. The federal government must devise a strategy to deal with IPPs and ensure affordable electricity prices for the industry in the national interest, Mr. Abdul Mohamin Khan proposed.

 ISLAMABAD, Jul 23 (APP/DNA): Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), in collaboration with BF Technologies, has introduced e-commerce skills and online certificate courses and has commenced admissions for them.

According to the AIOU, these courses include Amazon Virtual Assistant (Private Label and Wholesale), Virtual Store Manager (Daraz), Virtual Trade (Alibaba), Shopify Dropshipping, and Facebook Executive Marketing.

The Vice Chancellor, Professor Dr. Nasir Mahmood, while stating the objectives of introducing these courses, mentioned that the aim is to promote a business mindset among students so that they can improve their family lifestyle as well as contribute to the socio-economic betterment of the country. The last date to apply for these programs is September 5th.

Additionally, admissions for the Fall 2024 semester for Matric, FA, ICom, BS, MS, MPhil, and PhD programs are also open. Details are available on the university’s website www.aiou.edu.pk.

ISLAMABAD, Jul 23 (DNA): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday chaired a meeting of the National Export Development Boar wherein he tasked the authorities concerned to take the country’s annual exports to $60 billion within three years.

The prime minister asked the commerce ministry and other relevant departments to take all necessary measures to achieve the given target.

He said the country’s exports crossed the $30 billion mark during the previous fiscal year, and the government’s policies also took the IT exports to over $3.2 billion.

The prime minister asked the ministry to resolve the issues pointed out by the exporters and present a report within two weeks. He said that he would personally chair the National Export Development Board meeting every one-and-half months.

Calling for collective efforts for the country’s development, he paid tribute to the business community and investors for their role in increasing exports despite tough circumstances.

Prime Minister Shehbaz asked the commerce ministry to finalise the policy proposals, in coordination with representatives of the potential export sectors. He also tasked the Ministry of National Food Security to improve extension services, in coordination with provinces, to enhance agricultural exports.

He instructed for exporting of quality seeds and agricultural products after further processing and taking measures to introduce crop varieties with high yields.

He said that the delivery time of Pakistani goods to Europe and America should be reduced by solving the problems related to the shipping of exports immediately. Similarly, the commerce ministry and Board of Investment should ensure cooperation regarding the transfer of Chinese export industries to Pakistan.

He also called for carrying out research and development, innovation and brand development to increase the export of Pakistani goods.

The prime minister warned against any delay by the Federal Board of Revenue in refunds to the exporters, besides emphasising the trade officers in Pakistan’s missions abroad to promote Pakistan’s exports and for guiding the exporters.

The prime minister tasked the power ministry to present a comprehensive plan to provide low-cost electricity to the industries.

Highlighting the crucial role of the private sector for national development, he called for the sector’s inclusion in the policymaking process.

The representatives of the export sector appreciated the prime minister for his frequent meetings to resolve their problems and called his keen interest in the export sector “very encouraging”.

They also appreciated the prime minister’s initiative to ensure timely refunds by the FBR to the export industry

The meeting was briefed about the steps taken for the uplift of the export sector. It was told that the country’s exports crossed the $30 billion mark this year and a five-year plan to double the exports was also presented in the meeting.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, federal ministers Jam Kamal Khan, Ahad Khan Cheema, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Abdul Aleem Khan, Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Sardar Awais Leghari and Dr Musaddiq Malik, Ministers of State Ali Pervaiz Malik and Shaza Fatima Khwaja, Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Jahanzaib Khan, State Bank Governor, PM’s Coordinator Rana Ehsan Afzal, relevant FBR officers and representatives of textiles, IT, leather, agriculture and other sectors attended the meeting.

ISLAMABAD, JUL 22: Secretary-General of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Omar Ayub, stated on Monday that the narrative of “digital terrorism” was being constructed and that laws were being used to undermine their party.

Party’s chairman Gohar Ali Khan and former NA speaker Asad Qaiser, also interacted with the presser that was led by Ayub at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad today (Monday).

Islamabad Police arrested PTI’s Information Secretary Raoof Hasan from the party’s Central Secretariat on Monday for allegedly running a digital media cell engaged in propaganda against Pakistan and its integrity.

“The PTI’s digital media cell has become a centre for [spreading] international disinformation, from where anti-Pakistan propaganda is disseminated globally,” the police said after the raid on the PTI office.

Shortly before the PTI statement, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry told a press conference in Rawalpindi, “It is time for the nation to stand up against militants and digital terrorists.”

“Digital terrorism is being done on social media. The army is standing up against terrorists and digital terrorists. The time has come for the entire nation to stand up against them,” the DG ISPR said without naming any entity.

Condemning Hasan’s arrest, the PTI chairman said the party would fight for him and added that the police had seized all records from the party’s main office. He stated that the party would leave no resource untapped to get Hasan released at the earliest.

The PTI chief hoped that the court would set him free as there were no cases against him. “We haven’t been briefed about the FIR (first information report) so far,” he said.

The government had said it would take parliament into confidence over the plan to launch a military operation, the Azm-e-Istehkam operation, against terrorism, Gohar said adding that the briefing never took place however.

He said that several PTI lawmakers had been booked ever since the Supreme Court announced its short order in the reserved seats’ case, adding that, the apex court’s ruling would be implemented.

The PTI’s central secretariat was sealed before noon on Monday and police took away all the affidavits of the PTI’s MNAs and MPAs regarding their affiliation with the party, Gohar said.

The PTI chief said that he had stayed with Hasan for a while after the latter’s arrest because the PTI information secretary was unwell; however, the police asked him to leave as there was no case against him.

During the presser, Ayub termed Hasan’s arrest as an act of desperation on the government’s part after the SC’s reserved seats’ ruling. Today’s police raid was meant to snatch the affidavits of the PTI’s MNAs and MPAs, he said.

Court approves Imran, Bushra’s 7-day physical remand in Toshakhana case

Special Correspondent

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has admitted that he gave a call for a protest outside the army headquarters in Rawalpindi before his arrest.

The former prime minister made the admission while speaking to the journalists during a hearing of a case inside Adiala prisons.

“I had given a call for holding a peaceful protest outside the General Headquarters (GHQ) before my arrest,” Imran Khan said, adding that police and Rangers attacked my house in Zaman Park on 14 March.

“Later on March 18, the law enforcers again forcibly barged into my house,” he said, adding that on the same day, the Judicial Complex witnessed shelling inside and outside its compound.

The cricketer-turned-politician referred to an incident last year when, ahead of his appearance before the court of Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal, fierce clashes erupted between his supporters and security personnel.

Back then, he had claimed that the government was planning to either assassinate or arrest him inside the Judicial Complex.

Recalling the March 18 incident, he said he understood that he would be arrested, adding that he then called for a peaceful protest in front of the army’s headquarters before his arrest.

The PTI founder said his counsels assured him that they would be part of the investigation and surrender to the police for arrest.

Replying to a question, the 71-year-old former premier said martial law was better than a technocratic regime, adding, “An unannounced martial law, however, remains in place in the country, aleready.”

BMI, a Fitch Solutions company, in its “Pakistan Country Risk Report” published on July 18, predicted who would fill the vacuum created by the “anticipated ouster” of the incumbent government.

Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry says Azm-e-Istehkam not military operation, but comprehensive, integrated campaign against terrorism

DNA/Staff Report

RAWALPINDI: Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) has said that the armed forces are already rendering sacrifices in the battle against terrorists and stressed that it is time for the nation to stand up against militants and “digital terrorists”.

The DG ISPR, while speaking during a press conference in Rawalpindi on Monday, said: “Digital terrorism is being done on social media. The army is standing up against terrorists and digital terrorists. The time has come for the entire nation to stand up against them.”

Lieutenant General Chaudhry said that unfortunately, serious issues were also being politicised in Pakistan, presenting Azm-e-Istehkam as an example.

“Azm-e-Istehkam is a comprehensive and integrated counter-terrorism campaign, not a military operation per se as it is being presented,” the DG ISPR said during a press conference in Rawalpindi.

Recalling that an Apex Committee — the country’s top security body — meeting was held on June 22 over Azm-e-Istehkam, he said that the statement following the huddle noted that “we have made an anti-terrorism policy with national consensus”.

The DG ISPR, addressing concerns over the campaign, said that no-go areas do not exist across the country, clarifying that there would be no more displacements due to Azm-e-Istehkam.

As there was much hue and cry over the newly announced campaign, the army’s spokesperson informed journalists that the Prime Minister’s Office released a statement on June 24 to clarify the matter.

“Azm-e-Istehkam is not a military operation. Why is Azm-e-Istehkam being made controversial? There’s a strong lobby which wants the objectives of Azm-e-Istehkam not to be fulfilled. It is being politicised.”

“Why did a mafia, political mafia, and an illegal mafia say that they would not let this [campaign] happen?” he questioned, adding that a certain political mafia wants to make Azm-e-Istehkam controversial.

Providing statistics over the ongoing operations, he said that the army is conducting four to five operations per hour on a daily basis — clarifying that the war against terrorism was already in full form.

The security forces conducted 22,409 intelligence-based operations this year, he said, explaining further that armed forces, police, intelligence agencies, and other law enforcement agencies are conducting more than 112 operations daily.

“During these operations, 31 high-value targets have been killed. This year 137 officers and soldiers laid their lives in the operations,” the army’s spokesperson told journalists.

Lt Gen Chaudhry explained that the army had cleared several areas of terrorists but if the governments do not ensure reconstruction of those areas, then the army will have to deploy its forces over there to “hold the area”.

“The army is clearing the areas, holding it, and then it is the provincial government’s task to build and transfer. If you don’t build and transfer to the people, then terrorists will emerge again and you will remain in a vicious cycle of ‘clear and hold’.”

The DG ISPR explained that if such a cycle continues, then it will be easier for certain elements to incite the locals of the area against the army and a false narrative would also be made against the forces.

“In conclusion, Azm-e-Istehkam is a comprehensive campaign against terrorism. If we follow it, it will not just wipe out terrorism, but also the country. The stakes are very high.”

Moving on in the press conference, he said that on July 15, eight military personnel embraced martyrdom and sent “all terrorists to hell”. He informed journalists that Sepoy Saqib threw himself onto the grenade to save everyone else.

“The very next day, people in Bannu staged a march, saying that they wanted peace. Some armed personnel were also part of the peace march,” the DG ISPR said.

Providing details about the march, in which a person died while several others were injured, he said that people participating in the demonstration had broken down an under-construction wall while they had also looted a supply depot.

“Some armed people opened fire, which led to the loss of life. In Bannu, the army personnel followed their response SOP accordingly. Similarly, people had also raised questions as to why did the army not fire on May 9.”

Explaining the SOP of the army, he said that if an “anarchist group” approaches a military installation, it is first given a warning, and then it is dealt with.

“It is the provincial government’s job to control a mob, not the army’s. However, at the same time, people can definitely hold their peace march,” the spokesperson said.

While he showed footage of the Bannu incident and said that armed personnel could be seen, he stressed: “Hold demonstrations against terrorists.”