Monday, 27 June, 2022 I 27 Dhul-Qadah, 1443 I Rs 40.00 I Vol XII No 358 I 48 Pages I Islamabad Edition
IgnorIng provInces’ role In nAp ImplementAtIon led to rIse In terrorIsm: pm
LAHORE
p
staff report
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday said the role of provincial governments in implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) would be revived which had subsided over last four years and the ignorance of the provinces’ role in the NAP had led to the rise in terrorism. Chairing a meeting to review the law and order situation in the country, Shehbaz Sharif said that it was inevitable to ensure law and order in the country for revival of the national economy and country’s development. He also expressed concern over the rise in street crimes in the country and instructed the law enforcement agencies to take measures for protection of lives and properties of the people. The prime minister said that the public opinion could only be turned in favour of the police and law enforcing agencies only when they show performance. During the meeting, the premier was briefed on the law and order situation across the country as well as Pun-
jab province, terror threats as well as the measures being taken to curb the scourge. The meeting also reviewed implementation of the steps to eliminate the sources of terror financing and relevant laws. The prime minister appreciated the performance of the law enforcement agencies regarding the fulfilment of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)’s action plan. He said the whole nation was united against terrorism and stood side by side with the country’s armed forces. “Our struggle will go on till the elimination of terrorism. The government will never compromise Pakistan’s security and defence,” he remarked. “We will continue our struggle till the complete eradication of terrorism,” the PM said. “We will not compromise on Pakistan’s security and defence.” While directing the law enforcement agencies to ensure protection of lives and property of the people across the country, he said ensuring law and order was a key requirement for the recovery and development of Pakistan’s economy. A recent report by a local think-tank, PICSS, had noted that the lethality of terror attacks rose by 46 per cent in 2021,
with 388 total deaths of which 184 were civilians, stating the remaining 192 of those killed were security forces personnel – a 66 per cent increase in the casualties of Pakistani security forces from the year before. It said that over 600 people were injured in the terror attacks of 2021, including 389 civilians and 217 security forces personnel. The report showed that the average number of militant attacks per month in Pakistan increased from 16 attacks per month in 2020 to 25 monthly attacks in 2021 — the highest on record since 2017. Balochistan was the most turbulent province in 2021 where 170 deaths were recorded in 103 militant attacks. PICSS noted that Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa saw 162 attacks leaving 180 people killed. In Sindh, it said, 15 militant attacks left 23 dead while in Punjab 10 attacks left 10 people dead. Three militant attacks were reported in Islamabad, resulting in three deaths while a single attack was reported in Azad Jammu and Kashmir in 2021. PM NOTICES MNA ABSENCE FROM BUDGET SESSION: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken strict notice of absence of most of the lawmakers in the National Assembly’s budget session, it was learnt on Sunday. Stressing complete quorum during passage of the federal budget 2022-2023, the prime minister has called a meeting of the treasury MNAs, belonging both to the government and the allied parties, on Monday (today) which is aimed at ensuring their presence during the National Assembly’s budget session. Shehbaz Sharif will also host a dinner reception for the lawmakers at the PM House on Monday night. PM Shehbaz will also brief the participants on talks with the IMF. Sources said that PM would seek suggestions from the lawmakers to tackle inflation and other economic challenges.
Two soldiers martyred, seven terrorists killed in NWA gun battle: ISPR RAWALPINDI staff report
Two soldiers were martyred and seven terrorists killed during an exchange of fire in North Waziristan’s Ghulam Khan Kalle area, the military’s media affairs wing said on Sunday. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), soldiers “effectively engaged” the terrorists, killing seven of them and recovering weapons and ammunition from them. It added that the terrorists were “actively involved” in terrorism activities against security forces. The ISPR said that Subedar Munir Hussain, 44, resident of Parachinar, and Havildar Babu Khan, 38, resident of Dera Ismail Khan, “fought gallantly” during the battle and were martyred. “Area clearance is being carried out to eliminate any other terrorists found in the vicinity,” the statement said. A day ago, four terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation conducted by security forces in North Waziristan’s Dossali area. On Friday, two terrorists were killed in Kulachi area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dera Ismail Khan. Meanwhile, four terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based opera-
Vote count underway in violence-hit LG polls in Sindh KARACHI staff report
The first phase of local government elections in Sindh on Sunday remained quite appalling as reports of violence, firing, kidnapping of polling staff, attack on polling stations and disruption in election process are keep pouring in, again taking the vote to a point where its credibility could be questioned. Polling for the first phase of local government elections in Sindh is underway which started at 8am and will continue till 5pm without any break in 14 districts of the province including Sukkur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Larkana, Mirpur Khas, Umarkot, Tharparkar, Sanghar, Naushehro Feroze, Kanbar-ShahdadKot, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Kahmor, Ghoki and Khairpur. But as soon as the balloting started, reports of violence also started trickling. Assailants make polling staff hostage, run away with election material. Some unknown assailants attacked three polling stations in Nawabshah and made the polling staff hostage over there. After making the election staff hostage, the unknown attackers made off with ballot papers, ballot boxes, stamps and other election material. The balloting could not be started as yet in Ghulam Murtaza Bhutto, Nawaz Ali and Social Security polling stations in Union 8
in Nawabshah. On the other hand, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf activists alleged that the attack was launched because the ECP rejected the form of PPP chairman. In another incident, the PTI workers violated the election code when they used their mobile phones inside a polling station in Nawabshah. They took photos of ballot papers and uploaded them on social media. Candidates requested the ECP to take notice of this violation. Besides this, health workers kept on harassing women voters at Ward 9 polling station in Umarkot asking them to cast votes in favor of their candidate. The activists of Tehreek-i-Labbaik (TLP) have disrupted polling in UC 6 Ward No 1, Nadir Shah dispensary in
Nawabshah while raising objection on allotting wrong election symbol during the polls. They objected to the allotment of another election symbol i.e. Queen to the TLP chairman and vice chairmanship contenders other than TLP’s official election symbol of ‘Crane’. The TLP supporters after halting election process, raised slogans against the ECP for allotting wrong symbol. According to reports, a clash broke out between the activists of Pakistan Peoples Party and Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam during the polling in Ward No 10 of Kandkot. Supporters of both the parties beat their opponents with clubs. Several people got injured during the fight and the election staff halted the balloting.
Meanwhile, some armed people kidnapped the poll staff from polling station Tori in UC Daddr in Kandkot. The armed men opened fire and snatched election staff including presiding officer. They also took away ballot boxes with them. A video footage of the incident available in which it could be seen that armed men were kidnapping the staff. The administration called in a heavy contingent of police and Rangers. But so far, the election staff could not recovered. There was a sense of fear in the atmosphere of Tori polling station. According to reports, the polling staff was allegedly kidnapped by Bhio gang. The polling process has not started yet. In another incident, people in village Rasool Bakhsh in Tangwai’s broke open the gate of polling station No 8 and entered the booth. Police tried to stop them but they failed. The polling process was halted in polling station of Farid Mehr in Sukkur following a scuffle between two rival groups. An activist of the JUI was injured in the fight and was shifted to a local hospital. The JUI leader Muhammad Saleh accused the SHO of the area of violence, adding that people who came from outside, they attacked our workers.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 05
tion conducted by security forces in the Dossali area of the North Waziristan district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. "During the exchange of fire, four terrorists got killed. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorists," the military's media affairs wing said. It added that the terrorists were "actively involved in terrorist activities against security forces". On June 24, the Pakistan Army had killed two terrorists in Kulachi area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Dera Ismail Khan district. Earlier, security forces had killed six terrorists belonging to the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) during a search operation in Paroom area in Balochistan's Panjgur district. Security forces had conducted an operation on a tip-off regarding the presence of terrorists in Zamran Range near Paroom. The ISPR said the slain terrorists were involved in attacks on checkposts as well as IED attacks on security convoys in Paroom and surrounding areas of Panjgur. The forces also recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition which, according to the ISPR, were to be used by terrorists for disrupting peace in the area.
more inside
Nawaz Sharif, PM Shehbaz deeply attached to Kashmir cause: Marriyum STORY ON PAGE 03
Amid financial constraints, GB hikes MPAs salaries by up to 135pc STORY ON PAGE 02
Saudi Crown Prince confers top Saudi honour on COAS Bajwa STORY ON BACK PAGE in today’s issue
attention Some readers have complained that they are not getting the magazine with their newspaper copy. Please call or WhatsApp us at the following number to register a complaint. Contact: 0307-7338168 irfan.farooq@pakistantoday.com.pk
