In partnership with
Bajwa, Faiz PAKISTAN DEMANDS PROBE INTO ATTACKS Calling Hameed for probe into Faizabad sit-in not to ON GAZA HOSPITALS, RESIDENTIAL AREAS benefit country: Bugti
Profit
Saturday, 2 December, 2023 I 17 Jamada Al-Awal, 1445
FO SPOKESPERSON SAYS NO MEETING PLANNED BETWEEN PM KAKAR, INDIA’S MODI
A g
g
ISLAMABAD
SAYS ISLAMABAD DOESN’T CONSIDER IT APPROPRIATE TO RESPOND TO AFGHAN OFFICIALS ANTI-PAKISTAN STATEMENTS
STAFF REPORT
S world leaders converge in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28), Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that no meeting is planned between the India and Pakistani leadership. “No meeting is planned between Pak-India leadership in Dubai,” said Baloch during her weekly press briefing. The spokesperson’s comment comes as Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar is in the UAE to represent Pakistan. At the same time, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also in the UAE for the COP28 summit. Earlier the PM Office, in a statement on the visit, said that the premier would hold meetings with various world leaders on the sidelines of the conference without naming them. On the other hand during weekly briefing here, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahrah Baloch expressed concern over the Palestine situation. She said that Pakistan demanded an
investigation into the attacks on hospitals, mosques and residential areas in Gaza by the Israeli forces. She said atrocities on Palestinians should be stopped as Israel continued to annihilate unarmed people of Gaza. She said Pakistan stands along Palestinians. The spokesperson said that Pakistan was delivering aid to Gaza through
PM Kakar meets Dutch counterpart; invites firms for investment in Pakistan DUBAI
STAFF REPORT
Caretaker Prime Minister (PM) Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Friday met Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte wherein he invited the Dutch firms to invest in multiple sectors of Pakistan. The prime minister met his Dutch counterpart at the sidelines of 28th UN Conference of Parties (COP28), which commenced in Dubai’s Expo City on Thursday with 52,000 party delegates and 90,000 non-party delegates joining this year’s proceedings. During the meeting, they appreciated the celebrations held in Islamabad and The Hague to mark 75 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year. This was the second meeting of both leaders after the one held in New York, United States on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session. A statement released by the PMO said the two leaders discussed bilateral relations and exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual interest, including the situation in Afghanistan. “They also discussed the evolving human rights and humanitarian situation in Gaza,” the statement said. PM Kakar underscored that Pakistan and the Netherlands should work together bilaterally as well as through the European Union on matters of mutual interest. Both the leaders expressed satisfaction on the upward trajectory in bilateral relations between Pakistan and the Netherlands. Kakar also highlighted the “importance of concrete outcome on climate action and referred to Pakistan’s climate vulnerabilities despite being one of the lowest carbons emitters,” it said, adding that he also invited the Dutch prime minister to visit Pakistan. The prime minister also invited Dutch firms to invest in agriculture, horticulture, water management and renewable energy sectors of Pakistan.
Rs 15.00 | Vol XIV No 153 I 8 Pages I Lahore Edition
Rafah crossing. “The world is facing difficulties in delivering aid to besieged Gazans due to Israel’s blockade,” Ms. Baloch added. She said Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has raised voice in favor of Palestine and strongly condemned the ongoing Israeli brutalities. She urged the international commu-
nity to take immediate action on the situation in Palestine. Ms Baloch said that India was committing serious violations of human rights in its occupied Kashmir. The world should take notice of Indian oppression of Kashmiri people and force India to stop atrocities. Speaking about Afghanistan, the spokesperson said that the country has been in political turmoil for a long time. The international community has a responsibility to help the Afghan people and rebuild the country. “Pakistan sympathizes with the Afghan people for long uncertainty,” she continued. The spokesperson said Islamabad doesn’t consider it appropriate to respond to the anti-Pakistan statements by the Afghan officials. She said repatriation of Afghans living illegally was going on smoothly. A large number of them are returning voluntarily. Now, Afghan citizens will be required to obtain a visa to visit Pakistan, she stated. The spokesperson expressed concern on use of Afghan territory for terrorism in Pakistan. “We hope that the Afghan authorities will take action against the TTP, the banned outfit involved in terrorist activities in Pakistan,” Ms Baloch concluded.
NAB files reference against Imran, Bushra Bibi and six others AL-QADIR TRUST CASE ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday filed a reference against PTI Chairman Imran Khan and seven others, including the ex-premier’s wife Bushra Bibi and property tycoon Malik Riaz, in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case. The case alleges that Imran and his wife obtained billions of rupees and land worth hundreds of kanals from Bahria Town Ltd for legalising Rs50 billion that was identified and returned to the country by the UK during the previous PTI government. Imran was initially arrested in the case earlier this year from the premises of the Islamabad High Court but was later released after the Supreme Court declared the arrest unlawful. On Nov 14, the PTI chief, who is already imprisoned in Adiala Jail in the cipher case, was again arrested by the accountability watchdog in the case. He was then handed over to the watchdog on physical remand, before being sent on judicial remand. The others named in the reference include Farhat Shahzadi, a close friend of Imran’s spouse, former special assistants to the prime minister (SAPM) Mirza Shahzad Akbar and Zulfi Bukhari, legal expert for the PTI govern-
ment’s Assets Recovery Unit (ARU) Ziaul Mustafa Nasim and Ahmed Riaz. The accountability watchdog submitted the reference against Imran and others to an accountability court in Islamabad earlier today. It said the “accused […] were given multiple opportunities to justify and provide information, but they deliberately, with malafide intention, refused to provide the information on one or the other pretext. “Furthermore, it is established through their responses that they have nothing in their defence to rebut the above-mentioned allegations. Thus, they all have committed an offence” under the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO). It added that the investigation proceedings and findings so far “established that accused persons in connivance with each other have committed the offence of corruption and corrupt practices” as defined under the NAO. The reference said Imran played a “pivotal role” in the illicit transfer of funds which were meant for the state which ultimately benefited Riaz. Akbar, the former SAPM and Asset Recovery Unit chief, played a “crucial role” in the “illegal design of the funds” which were meant for the state, the reference said. Malik, the reference said, had “actively aided, abetted and as-
sisted and acted in conspiracy” with the other respondents for the diversion of funds earmarked for the state. Bushra Bibi and Shahzadi also played a “significant” and “crucial” role in the “illegal activities”, the latter also a “front woman” for Imran and his wife, it said. The reference said that it was “just and proper” to proceed against the eight suspects as there was “sufficient incriminating evidence” available to justify the reference. It pleaded that the eight suspects be tried and punished in accordance with the law by the court or any other to which the reference was entrusted. The case relates to the alleged illegal acquisition of land for and construction of Al-Qadir University involving unlawful benefit given in the recovery of prime proceeds (140 million pounds) through the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) in a money laundering case against real estate tycoon Riaz and his family. Imran is also accused of misleading the cabinet by concealing the facts related to the settlement agreement. Money was received under the settlement agreement (140m pounds) and was supposed to be deposited in the national exchequer. But it was adjusted in the recovery of Rs450bn liabilities of Bahria Town Karachi (BTK).
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti on Friday emphasized that moving forward was always in the interest of Pakistan, saying summoning former COAS Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and former ISI DG Gen Faiz Hameed for probe into 2017 Faizabad sit-in case would be of no benefit for the country. “This is the court’s job and a commission has been formed and it would not be appropriate to comment on that, but in my opinion, moving forward has always been beneficial for us,” the caretaker minister said during an interview with a private TV channel. To a question as if he would facilitate the commission in summoning the former military men, Bugti said: “Why would they ask us to facilitate? If they [Faiz and Bajwa] are called, they would appear [before the commission] themselves, they are citizens of Pakistan. “But how beneficial this is for Pakistan or not is a big question mark,” he said, adding that in his opinion this won’t be favourable for the country. The federal government had on Nov 15 formed a fresh commission to probe the Faizabad sit-in and issued a notification of the same, which was then submitted before a Supreme Court bench hearing appeals against its 2019 verdict in the case. During the hearing, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faez Isa had said the commission was empowered to call anyone for investigation and no one would be exempt. According to the notification issued by the government, the commission has been tasked with probing the various aspects of the Faizabad sit-in, including the role of intelligence agencies’ officials. It will submit its findings in a report to the federal government within two months. So far, the commission has summoned former Punjab and Islamabad police chiefs Arif Nawaz and Sultan Azam Temuri, respectively, former Rawalpindi division commissioner Nadeem Aslam Chaudhary, ex-premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and former interior minister Ahsan Iqbal. Neither Bajwa nor Faiz have been summoned by the panel as yet. 78pc rise in terrorism in last eight months Talking about the overall law and order situation in the country, Bugti said there had been a 78 per cent increase in terrorism across Pakistan in the last eight months. “We face a big challenge from the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and Baloch separatists and this challenge has always been present,” he stated, pointing out that the same was not a new phenomena. The minister said it was unfortunate that the country moved towards a policy of appeasement.
CJ Isa to auction SC’s luxury vehicles for public welfare ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (SC) Qazi Faiz Isa decided to auction the opulent vehicles allocated to the Chief Justice’s office. The Registrar of the SC has officially communicated the decision by sending letters to the cabinet secretary and Punjab chief secretary, instructing them to proceed with the auction as per CJ Isa’s directive. The auction will include a 2020 Mercedes Benz, valued at Rs61 million, and a bulletproof Land Cruiser provided by the Punjab government. SC registrar letter wrote: “The decision reflects a stance against the importation of luxury vehicles for constitutional positions. CJ Qazi Faiz Isa refrained from utilizing either of the specified vehicles and funds generated from the auction should be directed towards public transport initiatives.” The letter stressed that the decision reflected the Chief Justice’s commitment to utilizing resources for the greater public welfare.
Over 178 killed, 589 injured as Israeli resumes bombing Gaza GAZA
AGENCIES
Dozens of Palestinians killed since Israel resumed attacks on Gaza after expiration of truce on Friday with the health officials put the number of at over 178. The Health Ministry in Gaza said casualties rising after resumption of bombing. The ministry said in a statement that 178 Palestinians have been killed and 589 injured since morning. Most of the dead and wounded are women and children, it said. Israeli army drops leaflets telling people in parts of already bombarded and densely populated southern Gaza to evacuate to nearby areas, signalling an expanding offensive. More than 15,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 7. In Israel, the official death toll stands at about 1,200. Earlier in the day, Israeli military said ‘resumed combat’ in Gaza after truce with Hamas expired. A temporary truce between Israel and Hamas expired on Friday, with the Israeli army saying combat operations had resumed and a journalist witnessing air and artillery strikes on Gaza City. “Hamas violated the operational pause, and in addition, fired toward Israeli territory,” the army said in a statement, adding it had “resumed combat against the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip”. Israeli warplanes are carrying out a series of strikes, and artillery fire inside Gaza City, it reports. Drones could also be heard
in the air over the south of the territory for the first time since the truce. Minutes after a week-long truce between Israel and Hamas broke down earlier today, Israeli military vehicles were firing in northwest Gaza. A temporary truce between Israel and Hamas that was due to end at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) on Friday expired, with neither side announcing a deal to extend it, added Reuters. In the hour before the truce was set to end, Israel said it intercepted a rocket fired from Gaza and Hamas-affiliated media reported sounds of explosions and gunfire in the north of the Palestinian enclave. Further sirens warning of rockets sounded again in Israeli areas near Gaza just minutes before the deadline, the Israeli military said. There was no immediate comment from Hamas or claim of responsibility for the launches. The seven-day pause, which began on November 24 and was extended twice, had allowed for the exchange of dozens of hostages held in Gaza for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and facilitated the entry of humanitarian aid into the shattered enclave. Qatar and Egypt have been making intensive efforts to extend the truce following the exchange on Thursday of the latest batch of eight hostages and 30 Palestinian prisoners. Israel had previously set the release of 10 hostages a day as the minimum it would accept to pause its ground assault and bombardment. "We're ready for all possibilities.... Without that, we're going back to the combat," Mark Regev, an adviser to Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said on CNN ahead of the expiry of the truce. Israel has sworn to annihilate Hamas, which rules Gaza, in response to the October 7 raid the resistance group carried out in Israel’s territories against the latter’s continuous violation of Palestinian rights. Israel retaliated with intense bombardment and a ground invasion. Palestinian health authorities deemed reliable by the United Nations say more than 15,000 Gazans have been confirmed killed. Thursday's releases brought the totals freed during the truce to 105 hostages and 240 Palestinian prisoners. With fewer Israeli women and
children left in captivity, lengthening the truce could require setting new terms for Hamas to release Israeli men, including soldiers. The militant group could in turn seek to have Palestinian male prisoners handed over. So far, three Palestinian prisoners have been freed for each Israeli hostage. GAZA GOVT SAYS 3 JOURNALISTS KILLED IN ISRAELI RAIDS: Gaza’s government has said three journalists have been killed in Israeli raids as fierce fighting has resumed after a week-long truce, AFP reports. The government press office identified the three as cameraman Muntassir alSawwaf, who worked for Turkey’s Anadolu
state news agency, his brother Marwan, who worked as a soundman, and cameraman Abdullah Darwish. It said their deaths brought to 73 the number of journalists killed since the Israeli offensive began on October 7. The Turkish agency confirmed the death of Sawwaf and two others whom it did not name in southern Gaza. “We are concerned about the lives of our colleagues, who fulfil their duties with great devotion under very difficult conditions,” Anadolu general director Serdar Karagoz said. ISRAELI ARMY SAYS IT RECOVERS BODY OF ISRAELI CAPTIVE IN GAZA: The Israeli army says it recovered the body of Ofir Tzarfati in Gaza a few days ago and has notified his family. According to the Times of Israel, the military said Tzarfati’s body was “brought back to Israel this morning for burial”. Tzarfati was taken captive from the Supernova music festival on October 7 when Hamas attacked the site outside the Re’im kibbutz, about 5.3km (3.3 miles) from the fence that separates Gaza from southern Israel. UNICEF SPOKESPERSON: ‘NIGHTMARE’ FOR GAZA GETS WORSE WITH END OF TRUCE: James Elder tells Al Jazeera that the right kind of aid has been getting to the people of the Gaza Strip over the last seven days during the pause in fighting. “But today it came to a grinding halt,” he said. “The only thing we really saw today was more casualties and fear returning to children.” The aid has been “so critical, it cannot stop, we know it’s not enough”, he continued.