PM SHEHBA Z TERMS IMRAN AS CAUSE OF ECONOMIC, POLITICAL INSTABILIT Y

g BLAMES IMRAN

For Scrapping Imf

Deal And Violent Protests

ISLAMABAD

S TA F F R E P O R T

PR I M E Minister Shehbaz Sharif Monday said Imran Niazi had a role in deepening economic challenges of Pakistan as he scrapped the deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and his non-stop agitation, long marches and sit-ins caused economic and political instability

In a tweet on the social media platform Twitter he said Looks like Imran Niazi s understanding of the economy and the broader environment in which it operates is quite limited He also conveniently forgets his own role in deepening economic challenges From scrapping the IMF deal he has always wished Pakistan to default This is in addition to the adverse impact his politics of non-stop agitation long marches, and dharna has had on the economy in terms of causing political instability Even Pakistani investors would shy away from investing their capital in such an unstable environment deliberately created by Imran Niazi The terrible events of May 9 alone have cost the economy billions of rupees & are an irrefutable endorsement of his nefarious designs This is not to mention the plethora of corruption cases he is involved in he noted

He further said Yes we do face the economic challenges but the doomsday scenario is past us Sincere efforts are being made to address the challenges through economic belt-tightening and timely policy interventions We are also working with friends and partners to bridge the financing gaps where needed The real challenge for us is to reduce our dependence on imports and bring down inflation, which is possible when we make exports, investment and productivity the engine of the economy This is where our efforts are headed ” he concluded

Visibly ‘fuming’ Dar struggles to answer questions on ‘IMF deal failure’

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday got angry on questions hurled by journalists that was it his failure for not having an (Staff Level Agreement) agreement with the International Monitory Fund (IMF) Ishaq Dar addressed Pakistan’s First International Conference on Islamic Capital Markets here during which he assured the nation that government has been trying to fix the economy The conference was jointly organized by the SECP and AAOIFI Hopes for a resumption of an IMF deal are diminishing, analysts say, with a bailout programme agreed in 2019 due to expire on June 30 at the end of the 2022-23 fiscal year

During the question-answer session a visibly angry Dar refused to answer questions on the new budget and the IMF (deal) Later Dar quickly rebutted the notion asking, Has Pakistan defaulted? He explained the government has ensured all our international payments A journalist asked it is the first time he encountered difficult economic conditions and the economy is not being fixed The finance minister hastened to shun the journalist saying I will see it later Dar said he would like the IMF to clear its 9th review before the budget, which is due to be presented in early June, as all the conditions for that had already been met

The central bank’s foreign reserves have fallen as low as to cover barely a month of controlled imports Pakistan’s economy has slowed with an estimated 0 29% GDP growth for 2022-2023 They have asked for some more things again we are ready to give that too they say that give us budget details, we will give it to them, Dar said in an interview with a private Tv news channel

L O O M I N G D E FA U LT: Only a day back on Sunday, Dar said Pakistan will share its upcoming budget details with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in order to unlock stalled funds

P

g

CALLS PRESIDENT ERDOGAN, FELICITATES ON RE-ELECTION

In the last two decades under your leadership Turkiye made remarkable progress

I believe that under your wise and sagacious leadership Turkiye will continue its journey on the path of progress and prosperity with the same pace ”

“I am certain that Turkiye will play a more effective role for the peace and stability in the Islamic world he said adding Your personal interest in further solidifying and deepening the special relationship between Pakistan and Turkiye is a source of strength and satisfaction”

He said his government was determined to work with President Erdogan to further solidify the bilateral brotherly ties between the two countries in the coming days

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

Contac t: 0307-7338168 ir fan farooq@pakistantoday com pk

C a b i n e t p l a c e s I m r a n , B u s h r a o n E C L

ISLAMABAD T LT P

G A N , F E L I C I TAT E S O N R E -

E L E C T I O N: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday telephoned President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan and congratulated him on his re-election and expressed best wishes for him

Talking to President Erdogan the PM said ”Your re-election is a recognition of your association with the people of Turkiye and impeccable service President Erdogan won the re-election by securing 52 16 per cent of votes against the candidate of combined opposition in the presidential election held on May 28 In his remarks Shehbaz Sharif said

We are desirous of early holding of the seventh meeting of the Strategic Cooperative Council of the two countries,” the prime minister said adding “We are eager to welcome you on your arrival in Pakistan for participation in the meeting

He told President Erdogan that his participation in the meeting would further promote the strategic cooperation of the two brotherly countries in multidimensional fields

The newly elected President of Turkiye thanked the prime minister and reciprocated the warm sentiments of goodwill

President Erdogan also expressed his best wishes for the government and people of Pakistan

The federal cabinet on Monday placed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi names to the Exit Control List (ECL) due to their alleged involvement in illegal transfer of 190 million pounds in the Al-Qadir Trust case

It is pertinent to mention that Islamabad High Court (IHC) has decided to adjudicate the matter relating to bail applications of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case on May 31 as the court has issued summon to Khan for the day

A special division IHC bench comprising Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz will take up the matter at 2pm on May 31

Following the recommendation of NAB Rawalpindi the cabinet approved the inclusion of the names of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi in the exit control list through a circular summary Earlier, the federal government decided to add the names of 80 people, including PTI Chairman Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to the no-fly list Those included in the nofly list and barred from traveling abroad include Imran Khan Bushra Bibi PTI leaders Murad Saeed Maleeka Bukhari Fawad Chaudhry and Hammad Azhar

Pr Ofit Report

In the latest twist in the saga surrounding the Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan, Pakistan International Airlines has leased the building to a New York City firm for a period of three years

The lease has been signed with the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation which will provide residential facilities to ‘housing migrants’ in the hotel

The hotel has long been a prized possession of Pakistan’s national carrier which has been bleeding money from every possible direction for years on end now Back in December 2022, the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation (CCoP) had been in very serious discussions to sell the hotel in a bid to bolster the PIA’s finances and stop it from being privatised

The hotel s origins

In use by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) since the late 1970s, the Roosevelt Hotel occupies a unique place both in the history of the United States and Pakistan’s national airline One of the grand-old buildings of 19th century New York the hotel

The Supreme Court adjourned the hearing of the Punjab polls review petition after being caught off guard by the AGP arguing that a new law passed has enlarged the scope of review petitions against judgments

Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Awan told the Supreme Court (SC) that the new act had been notified under Article 184 (3) of the Constitution

In view of the new law that was signed by President Arif Alvi on Friday, a larger bench will hear review petitions AG Awan informed the court of the development as a three-member bench headed by CJ Bandial comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar was hearing the ECP’s review petition against the bench’s April 4 order The same three-judge bench had on April 4 ordered the ECP to hold elections in Punjab on May 14

Notably, the federal government and the apex court have been at loggerheads over the provision of polls in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for months During previous proceedings the government had contended that the bench s order encroached on the autonomy of the ECP was bought by developer Paul Milstein in July 1978 In the bid for the hotel s ownership Milstein beat out a number of highprofile middle-eastern investors that wanted to form a consortium and buy the hotel

The very next year in 1979, Milstein ended up leasing the hotel to the PIA which had partnered with Prince Faisal bin Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in the transaction

The lease cost an estimated $35 million and was to run for 20 years Prince Faisal and PIA were to pay $2 7 million to $4 million annually in rent, and they also obtained an option to acquire the hotel after

Meanwhile, the three-member bench had said that the ECP’s review petition would be heard with an open mind and that the government s past will not be used against it However, under the new law, the review will now be heard by a larger bench

The National Assembly on Friday passed the “Supreme Court (Review of Judgements and Orders) Bill 2023 aimed at giving the right of appeal under Article 184 of the constitution – a right which was not available in the past

The bill states that a review petition may be filed within 60 days of the passing of the original order

The statement of objects and reasons of the bill it is necessary to ensure the fundamental right to justice by providing for meaningful review of judgments and orders passed by Supreme Court of Pakistan in exercise of its original jurisdiction under Article 184”

Furthermore it states that in case of SC judgments and orders in the exercise of its original jurisdiction under Article 184 of the Constitution, the scope of review shall be the same as an appeal under Article 185 The bench was visibly surprised to know that President Alvi had signed the bill yesterday

This is quite interesting, remarked CJ Bandial before adjourning proceedings indefinitely

Resultantly, Nawaz Sharif and Jahangir Tareen can now file new review petitions within 60 days

However no review petition has been submitted against the judgment which held that disqualification under Article 62 (1) (f) of the Constitution would be for life

Real estate tycoon Malik Riaz recorded his statement with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) along with former ministers of Imran Khan’s cabinet in the Al Qadir University land allotment case The development surfaced on Wednesday as NAB pursues a graft case against Imran Khan Others included in the case are former federal overseas minister Zulifiqar Bukhari, and former advisor on accountability Shehzad Akbar are also involved in the case were land was allotted for Al Qadir Trust University in exchange for ensuring that the £190 million (Rs70 billion) seized in the UK are returned to Riaz in Pakistan A private television claimed the NAB has recorded an initial statement of Malik Riaz in the case It is pertinent to note that Riaz appeared before the bureau at its Rawalpindi office two weeks ago

Sources claimed that Malik Riaz was questioned about his connection with the case and whether he had allotted land for the varsity details of the allotment agreement and any conditions imposed and records of the same Last year in November NAB had sent a callup notices to property tycoon Malik Riaz and asked him to come up with complete record regarding purchase of 458 kanals in Sohawa Tehsil, the agreement through which Bahria Town donated land to Al Qadir Trust along with revenue documents and details of other property transferred by him or by any of his relatives in favor of Al Qadir Trust or any of its trustees

Pakistan

Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ticketholders from Muzaffargarh Jamshed Khan Dasti and Mian Imran Dhanotar called on PTI Chairman Imran Khan and discussed the current political situation and the worst crackdown against PTI across the country

According to the details, PTI ticketholder from Muzaffargarh PP-274 Jamshed Khan Dasti and PTI candidate from PP-273 Mian Imran Dhanotar held a meeting with the party Chairman at his Zaman Park’s residence on Monday On the occasion Dr Saeed and Ayaz Ahmed were also present In the meeting they discussed the the ongoing worst crackdown against PTI and the prevailing political situation discussed threadbare During the meeting, they held out assurance to PTI Chairman that the people of the entire country and especially of Muzaffargarh were standing alongside him this Jihad for real independence of Pakistan

Ro o s e v e l t H o t e l .

Hotel closure and suggestions galore

According to media reports the hotel took