‘Stop fooling puBlic’: imran aSkS rulerS to Bring looted money Back

LAHoRE Staff RepoRt

rEACTING‘angrily’ to austerity measures announced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday, former prime minister Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan heaped scorn at the Pakistan Democratic Movement-led (PDM) government, asking rulers to bring back the country’s “looted money”.

“If you want to do something [for the country], then bring your [looted] money back from abroad,” Khan said on Wednesday live telecast via video link from his Zaman Park residence where he has been recuperating since he was injured in an assassination attempt in Wazirabad on November 3.

At the same time, the PTI chief paid a tribute to his party workers and supporters

anp to boycott national assembly by-elections in kp

PESHAWAR

Staff RepoRt in Lahore for participating in the ‘Jail Bharo Tehreek’ — the court arrest movement which kick-started on Wednesday.

The incumbent government unveiled austerity measures to save Rs200 billion — aimed to keep the country afloat as the nation buckles up to meet the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) terms to unlock the next tranche worth $1.1 billion loan facility.

Two days ago, the lower house of parliament also unanimously approved

Corporate Corner

the government’s much-needed Rs170 billion ‘mini-budget’ — a move mandatory for seeking the global lender’s loan.

Coming down hard on the PDM, a group of eleven political parties, coalition government, Imran Khan said the rulers should “stop fooling people” by sharing plans to cut down the number of government vehicles and sell land. “I thought there would a big decision. [They must be] worried about the nation.”

He also reiterated the government’s promise to fix the country. “Even an enemy won’t do what has happened [in the country] in the last 10 months.” The coalition government came into power after overthrowing the Imran Khan-led PTI regime through a vote of no-confidence last April.

Lamenting the state of the economy, the deposed premier said: “Industries have shut down and people have become unemployed.

Sindh police ban use of smartphones during official duties

In response to the recent terror attack on the Karachi Police Office, the Sindh police have implemented a new policy prohibiting police personnel from using smartphones while on duty. The chief of provincial police made the decision after discovering that many officers were frequently using their phones during official assignments.

uneSco int’l mother language day observed at Bangladesh High commission in karachi

21 February is the International Mother Language, which is being observed by UNESCO and its 193 member countries across the globe every year since 2000. Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Karachi also organized a program on the significance of the day at its Chancery in the evening on 21 February 2023.

The Awami National Party (ANP) has decided to boycott by-elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on National Assembly seats in protest against the decision of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) whose sole candidate will contest on multiple seats. ANP leader Aimal Wali Khan said on Wednesday his party would not take part in the elections as a certain party, without naming PTI, brings only one candidate, former prime minister Imran Khan, to contest on all the seats. “A socalled political party (PTI) has made a joke of the electoral system. They are wasting billions of rupees of public exchequer by nominating only one candidate for multiple seats and then there will be the repeat of the voting exercise in case one candidate wins these seats as he can retain only one seat,” Wali Khan rued. He claimed that a certain party was busy in creating an atmosphere of political intolerance and sullying the parliament’s prestige. Keeping in view the severe economic crisis the country was going through, it would be an injustice if billions would be spent on byelections when general polls were due after three months. Wali Khan said that the ANP had announced its candidates for the polls on 18 NA seats and the party was ready to contest the polls. “If general elections will be held tomorrow, the ANP is ready to contest polls with full force,” he asserted. He said that the request to boycott the by-elections came from the ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). “The ANP has decided not to take part in the by-elections after holding consultations with all of its allies,” Wali Khan said, thanking party workers who ran a “vigorous” election campaign in a short period of time.

Effective immediately, police officials and officers are prohibited from using smartphones while performing their duties, particularly during field security duty. Those found violating the policy will be subject to disciplinary action, as ap- proved by the competent authority. The order has been disseminated to all additional IGs in Sindh, as well as to DIGs, SSPs, and DIGs headquarters.

The police hope that this new policy will help ensure that officers remain focused on their official duties and maintain a high level of security awareness.

CJP takes suo motu notice of delay in Punjab, KP polls

continUEd fRoM PAgE 01

“Constitutional authorities appear to hold divergent, and perhaps even conflicting, views on the issue. Thus, several federal ministers appear to have contested the authority asserted by the president. Since ministers act under the constitutional rule of collective responsibility it appears, prima facie, that this is the view taken by the federal cabinet as a whole.

“There is, to put it shortly, a lack of clarity on a matter of high constitutional importance,” CJP Bandial said. He noted that statements attributed to the electoral watchdog showed that it was not being provided the “requisite assistance and support, in particular by the provision of necessary funds, personnel and security, as would enable it to hold the general elections in accordance with the Constitution”.

In light of the above, the CJP said: “I am of the view that the issues raised require immediate consideration and resolution by this court. Several provisions of the Constitution need to be considered, as