sunday, 3 July, 2022 I 3 Zil hajj, 1443 I rs 15.00 I vol XII no 364 I 12 Pages I lahore edition
cracks appear in pML-n aMid ruMours of dar repLacing Miftah g
Kh asif, abbasi come out in support of ‘under fire’ miftah ismail
ISLAMABAD
a
staff report
mid rumours of return of nawaz sharif’s economic wizard ishaq dar, divisions have deepened within the ranks of the ruling pml-n as senior pml-n leaders Khawaja asif and shahid Khaqan abbasi saturday came out in support of finance minister miftah ismail after the finance minister hinted that he was facing criticism within the party ranks. the finance minister is under pressure since the government announced multiple hikes in petroleum products and the delay in the revival of the international monetary fund bailout programme. along with this, the news of senior leader ishaq dar’s return to pakistan has also added fuel to the fire as
g
‘gracious support’ will help me perform my job with greater vigour: miftah
many believe that miftah may be shown the door and asked to hand over the reins of the finance ministry to senator-elect. the possible changeover, just a few months after the coalition government took office, has left economists and commentators concerned over its possible impact on the economy and the ongoing talks with the imf. earlier, the finance minister said that he was “not supposed to” appear on national television the night before to announce a hike in the prices of petroleum products but he did so after being asked by prime minister shehbaz sharif. his comments came after a clip of his appearance on a television show was shared on social media. however, the defence minister appreciated his colleague for exe-
cuting his duties “under difficult circumstances” and called him one of the “hardest working” member of pm shehbaz’s team. “fm miftah is among the hardest working members of pm’s team, accessible to all stakeholders. he is performing very well under difficult circumstances, with immense criticism from vested interests — including, and unfortunately, from within pml-n. time to show solidarity with miftah,” tweeted the defence minister. miftah responded Khawaja with gratitude for the ‘gracious and kind’ support. “Khawaja sahib i am grateful for your kind and gracious tweet. this will help me perform my job with greater vigour. thank you sir,” he wrote in a subsequent tweet. hours after asif’s tweet, senior pml-n leader shahid Khaqan abbasi also came out in miftah’s support. “miftah ismail’s knowledge of economics and the pakistan economy is without parallel in pakistan politics today. he is one of the most effective members of pm’s cabinet,” said the former prime minister. the pml-n leader said that the finance minister “played a crucial role in saving pakistan from default and in implementing pml-n’s economic reform agenda”. miftah promptly responded with thanks. “sir thank you for your tweet and support. i am humbled by it and inshaallah will continue to perform to the best of my abilities,” he wrote in response to abbasi’s tweet.
sanaullah warns Imran against holding ‘seditious rallies’ in federal capital ISLAMABAD staff report
interior minister rana sanaullah on saturday warned pti chief imran Khan that his “seditious” rallies won’t be tolerated in the federal capital as this page of anyone sabotaging, threatening or surrounding islamabad has been torn away. “the state is now rid of such threats forever. imran Khan should correct his matters and refrain from creating rebellion and instability in the country. he should indulge in peaceful and national politics,” sanaullah said while speaking to media here on saturday. “all the political parties in the country at the moment are on one side, trying to solve the ongoing crises, while imran Khan is busy abusing everyone and playing the politics of hatred,” the minister said, underscoring the need for political consensus. the interior minister also promised to use “fresh” and “updated” tear gas against pti supporters ahead of the party’s rally in islamabad’s parade ground today — “if the need arises”— advising the participants not to give cause to such a situation. his remarks come as preparations are under way for the party’s power show at the capital’s parade ground today. former prime minister imran Khan will lead a caravan from rawalpindi to the venue in islamabad. his tear gas mention also follows the opposition party’s accusations that the islamabad police had used expired tear gas against pti supporters during the party’s may 25 azadi march — the day former prime minister imran Khan had marched onto the capital for “haqeeqi azadi (true freedom)” along with his party. the marchers were, however, stopped from heading towards d-chowk by the police through tear gas shelling. later, inspector general of police (igp) islamabad dr akbar nasir Khan had said that tear gas used on the protesters had caused irritation in the eyes only. “expired tear gas shells were not used. no other chemicals were used to disperse the crowds on may 25.” at a press conference today, sanaullah said that the expired tear gas, which he claimed was bought by his “predecessors”, had finished. “now they will get everything effective, fresh and up-
dated if the need arises. “but it would be better if they don’t create a situation,” he suggested. the minister also lauded the islamabad police for bringing the situation under control just through rubber bullets and tear gas. “i want to tell them that they didn’t just save islamabad that day, but also democracy.” at the beginning of his talk, sanaullah announced an increase in the salaries of islamabad police. “they had always demanded that their salaries should be equal to those of punjab police. and we have finally accepted their demands in this budget.” this will have an impact of rs788 million on the budget, he added. sanaullah also revealed that payments of rs1.2 billion to the families of martyrs, which were pending for the past four years, would immediately be disbursed as well. separately, a 100-bed hospital will also be built for the islamabad police, he continued, adding that this was important because police officers risked their lives for the security and protection of the public. “i am thankful to prime minister shehbaz sharif who didn’t delay this project despite the current financial crunch.” the minister further announced that the government had increased the ration allowance of frontier corps officers and it would now be equal to that of other armed forces. “fc officers didn’t have any riot equipment and they would just help the police. so we have decided to give funds for riot training of 2,000 officers,” he added.
Khan cautions PTI workers against rigging Punjab by-polls ISLAMABAD staff report
former prime minister and pakistan tehreek-e-insaf (pti) chairman imran Khan sunday warned his party workers and supporters of being wary of rigging during the upcoming by-polls in punjab, now that “the umpires have sided with the government.” addressing his party’s massive power show here at parade ground, Khan asked the state institutions as to why did they allow ‘crooks’ to come into power by toppling his legitimate government through a no-trust vote in parliament earlier this year. “i did not stage a sit-in because we knew that a sea of people will come out in the evening and there were chances of clashes as people were angry due to police crackdown on protesters,” he said while referring to the much-hyped ‘haqeeqi azadi march’ protest that he called off abruptly in may. imran said the incumbent rulers wanted pti to clash with institutions and law enforcement agencies but his decision to end the protest in the federal capital averted bloodshed. the former premier said the incumbent rulers did not have any stake in the country as all their “stolen assets” were stashed abroad. “it makes no difference to them if currency depreciates and country suffers setbacks because they don’t have to live
and die here,” he added. calling the sharif and Zardari families corrupt, imran asked the institutions, “why did you allow thieves to be imposed on pakistan”. “is curbing corruption from the country only my responsibility? they closed down corruption cases worth billions of rupees by amending the nab law,” he remarked. “isn’t it your responsibility too? or only i am responsible to protect this country,” the former pm asked the institutions. “people have taken to the streets across the country and they are sending the message through protests to the institutions that there is still time to save this country from thieves.” imran said people neither have accepted the “us conspiracy” nor will they allow these “thieves” to rule. while referring to a statement of prime minister shehbaz sharif and other political leaders, imran said no premier ever in the world has called his nation “beggars”. “these two families have been ruling this country for 30 years then who is responsible for destroying this country,” imran said while referring to defence minister Khawaja asif’s statement that country was on ventilator. “i want to send a message to everyone that if someone thinks that people of this country will accept those who worship money, then listen to me you are wrong.” the pti chairman led a convoy to the venue from rawalpindi earlier in the day.
the pti leaders have set-up screens in major cities across the country including Karachi, lahore, hyderabad, and sukkur among others to live telecast his speech. ‘Imran Khan’s revoluTIon Is here’: former interior minister sheikh rashid, addressing the parade ground rally, warned the government leaders to not underestimate the reach imran Khan has and that his message has entered every home in pakistan. last month, imran had called upon his supporters to stage countrywide peaceful protests against the rising inflation and amendments to the nab law
on july 2 (today). earlier today, the pti leaders had alleged that the incumbent government led by prime minister shehbaz sharif was interfering with the rally preparations. former interior minister sheikh rashid ahmed claimed banners with statements against pti chief imran Khan were hung in rawalpindi prior to the party rally. alongside rashid, leaders of the former ruling party also alleged that the government was attempting to interfere with the rally’s preparation. the banners were allegedly put up on friday night, accusing the former premier of corruption. a day earlier, pti received permission from the islamabad district magistrate’s office to hold a rally in the federal capital on july 2. Code of ConduCT: pti had given an undertaking to the district administration of islamabad and agreed to 39 conditions for holding a rally on july 2. pti islamabad chapter president of the central secretariat ali nawaz awan signed the undertaking – code of conduct – before islamabad’s deputy commissioner taking full responsibility for any untoward incident and agreeing to be held responsible in case of violation of the agreement. through the code of conduct, the party has agreed that the gathering shall not disturb or disrupt the fundamental rights of citizens, including the right to free-
dom of movement, trade and business, and education, and has assured that it will not block any road – islamabad expressway, murree road or service roads. the former ruling party agreed that the gathering shall end at 12 midnight, stating that it will be the organiser’s duty to ensure the dispersal after the event ends. it nodded that the participants shall not indulge in violence or clashes. under the agreement, the organisers are bound to ensure that the participants are dispersed peacefully, and they do not spend the night or subsequent nights at the parade ground the pti also agreed that the participants shall not enter the red Zone of islamabad; organisers are responsible for the internal security arrangements of the participants and providing the list of the participants to the local police in advance; and that they will be responsible for any damage caused to the public or private property. in the code, it signed a condition that no anti-state, religious, and anti-national slogans shall be made; effigy or flag of any party shall not be burnt; weapons would not be allowed, and the law enforcers can search any vehicle or person coming to attend the gathering. the undertaking also stated that the organisers will respect the fundamental human rights of other stakeholders and the general public.