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PAKISTAN ASKS AFGHANISTAN TO HANDOVER TTP LEADERSHIP
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Thursday, 14 December, 2023 I 29 Jamada Al-Awal, 1445
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Rs 15.00 | Vol XIV No 165 I 8 Pages I Lahore Edition
FO URGES AFGHAN GOVT TO FULFILL ITS OBLIGATIONS g SAYS INDIAN SC HAS NO JURISDICTION ON INTERNATIONALLY AND STOP USE OF ITS SOIL AGAINST PAKISTAN RECOGNIZED JAMMU & KASHMIR DISPUTE ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
OREIGN Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch on Wednesday urged Afghan authorities to handover to Pakistan the terrorist leadership especially that of the TTP involved in terrorist activities inside Pakistan. In an interview here, Mumtaz Zahra said Pakistan will take action against them according to its laws, saying, “We have sufficient evidence against them.” She said the foreign secretary delivered a strong demarche to the Afghan Charge D’Affaires yesterday over the recent deadly attack in Dera Ismail Khan. She said the Foreign Secretary demanded that the Afghan government denounce this act at the highest level, conduct an investigation into it, and take stern action against those responsible. The spokesperson said the Afghan government should fulfill its obligations and not allow the use of its land against Pakistan. When asked about the Indian Supreme Court's judgment endorsing Modi government decision to abrogate the special status of illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, she said it has no legal status and Pakistan has rejected it. Mumtaz Zahra said the Indian Supreme Court has no jurisdiction on internationally recognized disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir. She said no country in the world recognizes IIOJK as an integral part of India. She said the motives behind the Indian move are apparent. As part of a considered campaign, it aims to convert Kashmiris into a minority on their own land, which, she said, the Kashmiri people and Pakistan as a party, will never accept. The spokesperson said Pakistan will continue to raise the voice of Kashmiri people at international level until they get their right to self-determination.
Ready to probe DIK attack; Kabul should not be blamed for every issue: Mujahid
WASHINGTON
ISLAMABAD
AGENCIES
STAFF REPORT
The Afghan Taliban announced on Wednesday that its government is ready to investigate the deadly DI Khan attack, asserting that Kabul should not be blamed for every issue. “Pakistan is a strong military power and they should have prevented such incidents on its territory”, Afghan Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid stated. “We are shocked at the attack in Pakistan. We will look into the demands made by Pakistan,” Zabihullah Mujahid, emphasizing that Afghanistan should not be blamed for every issue and that Pakistan should focus on its security. On Tuesday, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, had reported that a group of six terrorists targeted a security forces' check post in the Daraban general area in DI Khan district in the early hours of Tuesday. The assailants attempted to breach the post, leading to a thwarted attack that culminated in an explosive-laden vehicle being rammed into the post, followed by a suicide bombing.
The spokesperson said Pakistan is ready for talks with India but on equal basis and without compromising on Kashmir cause. She said India will have to roll back the illegal steps of 5th August 2019 for talks with Pakistan. Kashmir dispute will remain a priority as and when talks take place with India. She said Pakistan will never leave alone their Kashmiri brothers and sisters. Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said India was
Day after acquittal in Al-Azizia case, Nawaz says ‘lies evaporated’ ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
US 'strongly condemns' DI Khan terrorist attack
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday asserted that the cases against him were “hollow” and the “lies have evaporated” a day after the Islamabad High Court acquitted him in the Al-Azizia reference. Speaking in a press conference alongside the senior PML-N leadership including Ahsan Iqbal, Ishaq Dar, Maryam Nawaz and Hamza Shehbaz, the PML-N supremo said: “After a long absence, I am grateful to God that I am seeing this day again. “The cases — the fake cases — God has saved me from them.” Yesterday, he was acquitted by the IHC in the AlAzizia reference. It was one of the two graft references that Nawaz was convicted in. He was acquitted in the Avenfield reference on Nov 29 by the same bench. The former PM dismissed the Al-Azizia case filed against him as bogus, asserting, “It wasn’t NAB’s independent decision; NAB was directed to pursue that.” “A judge was appointed and instructed to ensure that Nawaz Sharif gets the punishment,” he alleged while naming a sitting Supreme Court judge who was part of the Panama case. The former premier stated that all the cases filed against him were allegedly orchestrated “to bring our government down and to bring Nawaz Sharif down from his seat of the prime minister.” He mentioned that during the trials, the judges found nothing in the Panama Papers case. He stated, “Because they wanted to punish me, they did not find anything in Panama Papers case. They want me to get out of the chair, so they brought the so-called Iqama case.” Nawaz recalled that one of the judges on the Panamagate bench used the word “godfather” to describe him in the verdict. He questioned, “Do judges use words like these?” He remarked, “First, this trial was false, on top of these, the remarks by the bench, and the media was conducting its own trial.” He also criticised the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for what he perceived as an unjust punishment for him and his daughter. “Those who did all this to the nation should be held accountable,” he stated. He emphasised that it’s not just about what happened to him, stating, “What has occurred with the people of Pakistan, with inflation skyrocketing and their lives becoming miserable, demands accountability.”
The military's media wing stated, "The resulting blasts led to the collapse of the building, causing multiple casualties; 23 brave soldiers embraced shahadat, while all six terrorists were effectively engaged and sent to hell." The Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP), affiliated with the banned Tehreeke-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the attack. To a question about Pakistan's call for an investigation, Mujahid said, "If they ask for an investigation, if they share the details with us, we will do the investigation".
committing extra territorial killings and kidnappings in South Asia but now its network of espionage and terrorism has gone global. Alluding to the killing of a Sikh leader in Canada and the foiling of a plot to kill another Sikh leader in the US, the spokesperson said, gradually but surely, India is exposing before the world. She said the world should be worried over the Indian actions. TERRORISTS FIGHTING A WAR
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed solidarity with Pakistan on Wednesday, a day after a deadly terrorist attack in Dera Ismail Khan martyred 23 military personnel. Blinken said, "The US strongly condemns the terrorist attack at a security post in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa," adding that the country stood with the people of Pakistan “in ensuring perpetrators are brought to justice”. He also offered condolences to the families of the victims. A day earlier, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated that a group of six terrorists attacked a security forces’ check post in the Daraban general area in the early hours of Tuesday. “The attempt to enter the post was effectively thwarted which forced the terrorists to ram an explosive-laden vehicle into the post, followed by a suicide bombing attack," according to the military's media wing. “The resulting blasts led to the collapse of the building, causing multiple casualties; 23 brave soldiers embraced shahadat, while all six terrorists were effectively engaged and sent to hell,” the ISPR added. The Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP), a group that only emerged on the scene in
THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN WON: PM KAKAR: Meanwhile, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar said that militants were fighting a war that had already been won. “I want to tell the accursed attackers that you have already lost the war. This war is won and the Pakistani state has won it,” he said while speaking to the media after visiting those injured in Tuesday’s attack. “It only needs to be announced and only
PTI’s Imran, Qureshi plead not guilty as court indicts them afresh CYPHER CASE ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Special Court established under the Official Secrets Act on Wednesday once again indicted former premier Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cypher case. The proceedings took place at Adiala jail wherein both the PTI leaders pleaded not guilty as the court sought evidence from the prosecution. Imran’s wife Bushra Bibi and his sisters were also in attendance alongside Qureshi’s family and FIA Special Prosecutor Zulfiqar Abbas Naqvi. During the hearing, the judge read out the two-page charge sheet against the PTI leaders, which alleged that the two had violated the Official Secrets Act during their time in office. It alleged that Imran had waved a secret diplomatic document at a public rally on March 27, adding that the accused used the cypher for his own personal interests. Qureshi pleaded his innocence after the charges were read out, while Imran said, “I did something wrong by exposing the domestic and foreign establishment. Add that to the list of charges too.” He further said, “They made us the accused after toppling our government. How can the one who was ousted also be the accused?” Imran further said that this entire “drama” was being staged to save ex-army chief retired Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and US diplomat Donald Lu. The PTI chief that he was “not afraid of the death penalty”, insisting the cypher was written to topple his government. “There is a conspiracy within the cypher
which is being hidden,” he said. “How can there be a fair trial when the media is being muzzled? If a fair trial is not conducted, the responsibility will lie with you for the rest of your life,” Imran said. At this, the judge reminded the PTI chief that this was a court of law and his tone was “not appropriate”. The cypher case pertains to a diplomatic document that the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) charge sheet alleges was never returned by Imran. The PTI has long held that the document contained a threat from the United States to oust Imran as prime minister. Imran and Qureshi were ini-
tially indicted in the case on Oct 23. Both had pleaded not guilty. The trial was being held at Adiala Jail and four witnesses had already recorded their statements, with the fifth being cross-examined when an Islamabad High Court (IHC) division bench termed the government’s notification for a jail trial “erroneous” and scrapped the entire proceedings. As a result of the judgment, the special court started a fresh trial. Last month, Special Court Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain had ruled that the trial proceedings would continue at the Adiala Jail but in an open court.
RAWALPINDI
court as the hearing "lacked transparency" and was carried "impulsively". The counsels further contended that it was because of the same "hasty" decisions that the case's proceedings were declared unconstitutional before by the Islamabad High Court (IHC). They said the PTI will stage a strong protest tomorrow, accusing the prosecutors of wrongly stating that the PTI leaders have been indicted. "No procedure related to indictment was carried out in court today," Safdar reiterated. Furthermore, senior lawyers Sardari Latif Khosa, Aitzaz Ahsan and Salman Akram Raja also separately addressed the media, and denounced not being allowed to attend the jail trial.
'Lacked Transparency': PTI counsels decry cypher case indictment procedure STAFF REPORT
Lawyers representing former PTI chairman Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cypher case decried on Wednesday the indictment procedure adopted in the case. Talking to the media outside Adiala jail after the indictment proceedings, Salman Safdar , counsel for Imran Khan and Barrister Taimur Malik, representing Shah Mahmood Qureshi claimed that neither indictment was carried out in front of them, nor were the accused made to sign the charge-sheet. PTI’s lawyer informed the media that they will be challenging the indictment process in the
February this year, claimed responsibility for the DI Khan attack. Earlier last week, the United States threw its weight behind Pakistan in the wake of renewed threat posed by banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), as the key aide of President Biden said his country stands with Pakistan. The support from the US came at a time when Pakistan is grappling with increased terrorist attacks being perpetrated by the TTP from across the border in Afghanistan. US special Representative for Afghanistan Tom West flew to Pakistan earlier this week and held talks with Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani, Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir and other officials. Before wrapping up his three-day visit, the US pointman for Afghanistan on Saturday in a statement acknowledged the "grave threat" posed by the TTP to Pakistan. "Departing Islamabad after productive two-day visit. Important conversations with [Caretaker Foreign Minister] Jalil Jilani, Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, and Asif Durrani[Pakistan's Special Representative to Afghanistan], and MOI Secretary Durrani about grave security challenges posed by TTP as well as imperative to protect Afghan refugees," he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
the time for this needs to be determined. During this, we may suffer some losses and some the enemy will suffer, but they are fighting a losing battle and we are fighting a war that has already been won.” Kakar said that instead of him reassuring those that were injured, they had bolstered him with their words of encouragement and faith. The premier vowed the state would not back down or surrender to militants.
Power Division asks NEPRA to raise power tariff for KE consumers by Rs 1.71/unit g
NEPRA TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARING ON GOVERNMENT REQUEST REGARDING KE TARIFF PROFIT
AHMAD AHMADANI
The Power Division has requested the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) to raise electricity price for the consumers of K-Electric by Rs 1.71 per unit. NEPRA will hold a public hearing on government requests next Wednesday (20th December 2023). As per details, NEPRA has scheduled a hearing on a motion filed by the Ministry of Energy (power Division) to apply quarterly adjustments (QTA) of PKR 0.4689 per unit and PKR 1.2489 per unit for 2nd and 3rd quarter of FY 22-23 respectively. The request has been filed by the Energy Ministry to maintain uniform tariff across the country, and these charges have already been determined for power distribution companies (DISCOs). It is relevant to note that the NEPRA will scrutinise this request and issue a final decision on the amount to be passed on to customers as per procedure. Power distribution companies across Pakistan operate in a regulated environment, and follow the directions issued by NEPRA and the Government regarding the costs of electricity to be applied to customers’ monthly bills. Hence, individual distribution companies cannot influence the process or make unilateral changes. K-Electric (KE) is a publicly listed company incorporated in Pakistan in 1913 as KESC. Privatised in 2005, KE is the only vertically integrated utility in Pakistan supplying electricity within a 6500 square kilometres territory including Karachi and its adjoining areas. The majority shares (66.4%) of the company are listed in the PSX owned by KES Power, a consortium of investors including Aljomaih Power Limited of Saudi Arabia, National Industries Group (Holding), Kuwait, and the Infrastructure and Growth Capital Fund (IGCF). The Government of Pakistan is also a minority shareholder (24.36%) in the company.
Fitch maintains Pakistan’s ‘CCC’ rating, cautions high external funding risks, political volatility
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AGENCY FORECASTS CURRENT ACCOUNT DEFICIT OF $2 BILLION IN FY24 PROFIT
NEWS DESK
Fitch Ratings, a US-based credit rating agency, has affirmed Pakistan’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘CCC’. Given the country’s substantial medium-term financing requirements, the ‘CCC’ rating reflects concerns about high external funding risks. Despite some stabilization and Pakistan’s performance on its current Stand-by Arrangement (SBA) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF),
Fitch highlights the challenges. “We expect elections to take place as scheduled in February and a follow-up IMF program to be negotiated quickly after the SBA finishes in March 2024, but there is still the risk of delays and uncertainty around Pakistan’s ability to do this,” stated Fitch in a statement released on Wednesday. The credit rating agency emphasized that elections could jeopardize recent reforms, posing risks of renewed political volatility. Regarding the ongoing IMF program, Fitch anticipates unproblematic board approval for the recent staff-level agree-
ment (SLA). Fitch acknowledges the risks related to policy implementation, citing a history of political parties in Pakistan failing to implement or reverse reforms agreed with the IMF. The agency sees a risk that the current consensus on necessary measures could dissipate quickly once economic and external conditions improve. Fitch suggests that any follow-up IMF program would likely require Pakistan to undertake significant structural reforms, potentially facing resistance from vested interests. On the political front, the agency
expects general elections to occur as scheduled in February, foreseeing a coalition government along the lines of Shahbaz Sharif’s government. The credit rating agency notes ambitious funding targets, with the government aiming for a total gross new external financing of $18 billion in FY24, which includes $1.5 billion in Eurobond/sukuk issuance and $4.5 billion in commercial bank borrowing. Fitch forecasts a current account deficit (CAD) of about $2 billion in FY24, in line with FY23, driven by contractionary fiscal policies, lower commodity prices, and lim-
ited foreign exchange (FX) availability. While Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves have recovered on inflows of new funding and limited CADs, Fitch points out that the fiscal deficits remain wide. The consolidated general government (GG) fiscal deficit is expected to narrow to 6.8 percent of GDP in FY24, from an estimated 7.8 percent in FY23. Despite stable debt dynamics owing to high nominal growth, Fitch highlights concerning metrics such as debt/revenue (over 650pc) and interest/revenue (about 60pc), primarily due to very low revenue/GDP.