Epaper_24-06-9 ISB

The spokesperson for the Qassam Brigades who goes by nom de guerre Abu Obeida says that the attacks carried out today by the Israeli military in central Gaza represent a complex war crime

He also said that “the first to be harmed by [the Israeli army] are its prisoners” in a reference to

ables, and

the cessation of the main electric generator Medical sources announced the inability of the ambulance and emergency system to respond to distress calls and transport the wounded in the central Governorate stressing that the occupation deliberately undermined the medical system by targeting 130 ambulances and

camps in the central Gaza Strip In a related context occupation warboats bombed the shores of the Gaza Sea in the vicinity of the port west of Gaza City Hamas military spokesman says Is-

Acting Punjab gover nor signs controversial defamation bill into law

internationally Reacting to the development Lahore Press Club President Arshad Ansari slammed the Pakistan Peoples Party s (PPP) deceptive attitude saying that the party de-

ceived journalists The bill was signed by the acting governor by sending the Punjab governor on leave under a plan, said Ansari The senior journalist added that the PPP was apparently with the journalists and was conniving with the provincial government from within A meeting of the action committee will be called soon and future strategy will be announced, said the journalist Farieha Aziz co-founder of Bolo Bhi, an organisation focused on advocacy, policy, and research on digital rights and civic responsibility insisted that the law must be challenged Speaking to media Aziz maintained that the fact this bill has received the assent of the governor shows consultations were for optics She added that the government does not care for input or to legislate in a democratic and transparent manner The Defamation Bill which now goes on to become an Act has been introduced to privilege the ruling elite and control all dissent through hefty fines by introducing a

claimant-friendly law without recourse for defendants as it should exist in accordance with the principles of natural justice said the Bolo Bhi co-founder Aziz, a vocal proponent of free speech, added that this will create a chilling effect and there will be selective casualties

Earlier Governor Khan a PPP stalwart had promised that all stakeholders would be taken into consultation before signing this bill

However, in his absence, Malik Muhammad Ahmad took over and signed the bill turning it into a law Speaking during the Geo News programme Capital Talk last month the Punjab governor had urged the provincial government to review the defamation bill passed by the legislature He maintained that there is a need to review the defamation bill of the Punjab Assembly as it was not the final word and that the provincial government should review it again and remove the objectionable clauses

PAKISTAN, CHINA AGREE ON CPEC UPGRADATION, ADVANCE TO 2ND PHASE

President constitutes National Economic Council with PM in the Chair

for Defence Muhammad Aurangzeb Minister for Finance and Revenue and Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives The chief ministers’ nominees include Marriyum Aurangzeb Senior Minister for Planning and Development Environment Protection and Climate Change; Forestry Fisheries and Wildlife; Chief Minister s Special Initiatives, Punjab, Jam Khan Shoro, Minister for Irrigation, Sindh, Muzammil Aslam,

Advisor to the Chief Minister on Finance Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Zahoor Ahmed Buledi Minister for Planning and Development, Balochistan By special invitation, Ahad Iqbal Cheema, Minister for Economic Affairs Division Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Secretary Finance Division Secretary Economic Affairs Division and Secretary Planning Development and Special Initiatives Division can also participate in the meeting

volatility, participation decreased by 5 3% weekon-week with the average daily traded volume falling to 423 million shares compared to 447 million shares in the previous week The PKR appreciated by 0 05% week-on-week to close at 278 2 against the USD Other major news during the week included the FBR exceeding its May revenue target by Rs 15 21 billion, Pakistan’s obligation to repay $10 billion by July a 7% increase in May petroleum product sales to 1 39 million tons yearon-year and an almost 8% increase in cement sales during May Sector-wise, Paper & Board, Jute, and Textile spinning were among the top performers, up 18 4%, 12 3%, and 5 0% week-on-week respectively Conversely Investment Banks/Securities companies Exploration & Production and Refinery were among the worst performers declining by 8 6%, 5 7%, and 5 5% week-on-week, respectively In terms of flows, major net selling was recorded by Individuals with a net sell of $8 9 million

i o n s G i l a n i r e a s s u r e d t h a t t h e P P P s t a n d s f i r m i n s u p p o r t o f t h e f r e e d o m o f t h e m e d i a T h e H u m a n R i g h t s C o m m i s s i o n o f P a k i s t a n ( H R C P ) h a d a l s o e x p r e s s

On the other hand Insurance and Banks/DFI absorbed most of the selling with a net buy of $7 0 million and $6 8 million respectively Top-performing companies during the week were YOUW (up 5 3% weekon-week), SHEL (up 4 5% week-on-week) MTL (up 3 9% weekon-week) SEARL (up 3 2% week-on-week) and TRG (up 2 8% week-on-week) The top laggards were CEPB (down 9 3% week-on-week), FFBL (down 8 8% week-on-week), PSX (down 7 6% week-on-week), PIBTL (down 7 3% week-on-week), and OGDC (down 7 3% week-on-week) Brokerage frims forecasted the upcoming MPC meeting on June 10th will be in the spotlight with any rate cut expected to shift the market s focus towards cyclical sectors Additionally, the Federal Budget 2025 will significantly influence investor sentiment “Given the prevailing uncertainties the market is likely to remain volatile in the short run with clarity expected to emerge after the budget announcement, it added

WASA UNDER FINANCIAL STRAIN AS STATE DEPARTMENTS DEFAULT ON RS82M

Measles, pneumonia outbreak esc alates in Pattoki, claiming more young lives

i

The 8th meeting of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

provincial cabinet, held at the Chief Minister House, was presided over by Chief Minister Sardar Ali Amin Gandapur The meeting underscored key initiatives to strengthen the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police enhance revenue from the mineral sector and improve the execution of developmental schemes Chief Minister Sardar Ali Amin Gandapur emphasized the allocation of additional resources to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police to bolster law and order in the province He also highlighted the need for improved revenue generation from the mineral sector through better structures and processes The establishment of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minerals Development and Management Company (KPMDMC) was lauded as a positive step towards responsible mining and international marketing of minerals The meeting of the provincial cabinet was attended by Ministers Advisors Special Assistants Chief Secretary Additional Chief Secretaries and relevant administrative secretaries The cabinet approved the proposal for the establishment and incorporation of KPMDMC, which will focus on exploring, developing, excavating, processing, and marketing minerals with an emphasis on mechanized economic excavation Draft bill for amendment in section 116-A of the Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1965 duly endorsed by Law & Finance Departments was placed before the provincial cabinet

Shibli Faraz urges

to re-allocate the 25% quota/share of traffic fines from traffic education, awareness, purchase of machinery & equipment to 15% and the remaining 10% to be remitted to the Police Welfare Fund The provincial cabinet has approved this summary of the Home and Tribal Affairs Department In order to introduce online payment system and integrate the existing Motor Vehicle Registration System, Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Department to introduce a complete IT solution through an MOU with KP IT Board on payment of service charges equitant to once percent Agreeing to the proposal the cabinet approved the proposal for a period of one year A summary for clearance of compensation cases with respect to property losses of citizens of South Waziristan upper at the cost of Rs 1 5 billion was presented in the cabinet meeting The cabinet approved the summary as non-ADP scheme/AIP titled Citizen Losses Compensation Programme South Waziristan Upper ’ The amount will be paid by the Federal Government Requisition of 500 troops as ex-pot facto sanction and requisition of 200 new troops as security for foreign nationals are working in various projects in Hazara Division was

Taxation proposals

WHILE Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb focus on their visit to China and their government s efforts to finds the money needed to keep the country afloat, various taxation proposals are floating around Islamabad in anticipation of their return which will help raise the money needed for the IMF package on which they are banking heavily Among the proposals doing the rounds is the obvious one of raising the sales tax from 17 percent to 18 percent This tax was meant as a valueadded tax, one which would lead to the documentation of the economy, and greater incometax compliance Instead it has become a moneyspinner in its own right and whenever the IMF puts pressure on the Central Board of Revenue it advocates a raise in the GST It is already at 17 percent, and the proposal is for it to be raised to 18 percent This proposal comes despite the opinion that a GST rise would be inflationary This does not get into the argument about whether the rate is too much Such an inflationary measure is being made at a time when inflation is slowing Another problem is that the sales tax is a form of regressive taxation which tax officials don t like, not so much because it is unfair, but it falls on that segment of the population that finds it difficult to pay What happens when people cannot afford food?

As for supposedly progressive taxation like the income tax the CBR is looking at once again imposing a turnover tax on traders something which has been tried before, but which had to withdrawn after a traders protest which was backed by the present ruling party Even the Prime Minister has spoken of leakages within the system which are costing huge amounts of revenue IMF pressure is going to be almost overwhelmingly in favour of the turnover tax It is not just supposed to boost revenue by Rs 400 billion a year but bring into the taX net those who did not avail the government scheme to get in The turnover tax will operate like a withholding tax, and will apply only to nonfilers The government hopes to profit by this filer-nonfiler distinction in other areas, such as among importers Amidst all this activity the real solution to Pakistan’s debt trap exporting enough to service external debt calmly without every repayment becoming a crisis

De e pe ning the Ro hingy a crisis

BKamaluddiN mazumdar

ANGLADESH faces intensifying pressure to accept more Rohingya after a renewed flare-up of violence in Rakhine between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA) a burden the government in Dhaka insists it cannot bear An estimated 45,000 Rohingya have reportedly fled to an area on the Naf River near the border with Bangladesh, seeking shelter UN rights office spokeswoman Elizabeth Throssell proposed Bangladesh to allow those Rohingya citing humanitarian grounds UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Thomas Andrews appealed to the government of Bangladesh to "reverse its closed border policy" and demonstrate their humanitarian support for the Rohingya once again But the Bangladeshi government is holding firm arguing that it already hosts over a million Rohingya refugees and cannot take in any more The international community has seemingly diverted its attention from the plight of the million-plus refugees who are still subsisting within camps in Bangladesh, with the ever-dwindling flow of aid and a multitude of other global events, like the Ukraine war and the Gaza crisis It has yet to offer any concrete

measures for the sustainable return of all Rohingya refugees and displaced persons from Myanmar, opting for mealy-mouthed assurances and words that they are working towards cooperation Although international communities including United Nations organizations and Western countries have assured that they would facilitate the return of the forcibly displaced people by creating a congenial atmosphere in Myanmar not a single Rohingya has gone back home so far The International community and rights groups need to understand that Bangladesh can neither keep on sheltering Rohingyas for a longer period nor allow any new influx- due to its impact on the economy high population density and national security concerns While they acknowledge that ration cuts inadequate infrastructure spiralling violence and reported forced recruitment by Rohingya militant groups have threatened the lives and well-being of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, they must realise that putting pressure on Bangladesh to accept new refugees will not help the Rohingya anyway OLD PROBLEMS NEW CHALLENGES: Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan made Bangladesh s position clear, saying that no more Rohingya or Myanmar nationals would be allowed to enter Bangladesh Accepting any new influx of Rohingya from Myanmar would simply worsen Bangladesh s already massive burden of sheltering over a million Rohingya who have migrated here over the decades the largest of

The international community has a moral obligation to guarantee that the Rohingya get justice– and the only way to do so is to put pressure on Myanmar to acknowledge its shortcomings to facilitate the safe repatriation of refugees As the situation in Rakhine state remains severe, with recurrent clashes between the Arakan Army and the Tatmadaw providing no apparent resolution, sustaining the lives of over 1 3 million Rohingya is a massive challenge for Bangladesh Therefore, instead of forcing Bangladesh to accept new migrants, we expect the international community to provide not just quick financial relief but also a long-term and effective solution to the crisis

Apathy

or textures to indicate important junctions or milestones in building predictable building design and use of bigger font in all notices and signboards can be few examples of how buildings can be made accessible Similarly, learning material should be made

available in the preferred mode of communication of the student For example textbooks can be provided in hard copies, large prints, pdf or word files and audio formats Considering the fact that Punjab text book board has already made e-books available on their website, the only thing needed is to make those books screen reader friendly In the long run large print and audio options can also be incorporated to ensure that textbooks are accessible for diverse learners Another important aspect is personnel training and readiness because without taking teachers on board, efforts towards inclusion cannot be successful Pre-service training should prepare prospective teachers for teaching diverse classrooms The practicum should be made mandatory part of teacher training where they should teach classrooms having students with special needs alongside typically growing students In-service training programmes should also allocate considerable time for teaching inclusive pedagogy Online teacher training resources can also be utilized for this purpose Without involving community partners including parents in programme implementation and the review process the effects of inclusive education cannot translate into long-lasting societal change Parents should be made an essential part of the decision making process They not only play a crucial role in academic progress of their own child but can also play a significant role in mobilizing community resources to support inclusion of differently abled in academic as well as other social settings A big barrier hindering inclusion of students with special needs in education is ever increasing focus on standardization and inflexible examination systems Diversity-friendly education asks for a flexible and more holistic approach towards learning assessment A three-hour written exam cannot provide equal opportunity to all students for demonstrating their learning A more thorough, just and differentiated approach towards assessment is required to let inclusive education thrive in our country My suggestions might seem overwhelming or too resource-exhaustive to some readers Let me share some insights from my practical interactions with teachers practicing inclusion in

schools situated in different rural areas of KPK Punjab and Gilgit Baltistan As a trainer I got the opportunity to conduct a series of training sessions with these teachers during the last month One thing that was common among all those teachers was that they had such big hearts filled with compassion and passion It really amazed me that lack of resources and limited access to technology could not lower their commitment Through training sessions and informal interactions with them I tried to explore how they have become successful in making their rural schools inclusive The most important things that I was able to identify included commitment of the higher management of the school Inclusive education not only means providing accommodations and modifications for students with special needs, it also involves an overall change in the philosophy of the school Committed and supportive higher management of the school becomes crucial in such a situation Secondly I noticed that only those teachers were able to successfully transform their classrooms into diversity-friendly environments who had an inner urge to do so Inclusion requires passion and dedication, therefore without teachers believing in the real soul of inclusion, it cannot be imposed on them

Another important aspect that came into my notice was that teachers used their creativity to develop low cost teaching aids to support the learning of their students In these efforts parents and community support also played an important role Therefore, schools that have close contact with the parents and community and where teachers are willing to think out of the box limited resources do not limit learning opportunities I have seen teachers transforming empty match boxes, bottle caps, cartons and other such waste material into amazing teaching aids The only thing important is that they understood the requirements of their students and grasped the real objective of a specific learning activity Continuous professional development and hands-on trainings can play an important role

for

and ample

Hub roads

Unending protest

Birds and heatwaves

Critical questions

Latest wave of refugees may be straw that broke the camel’s back

yone is tr ying

Nabila Chaudhry

50 PALESTINIANS KILLED IN ISRAELI ASSAULT AS ISRAEL RESCUES FOUR HOSTAGES IN GA Z A

Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka leaders to attend Narendra Modi’s

UN passes China-proposed resolution to establish

International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations

The 78th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday unanimously adopted a resolution proposed by China to establish the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations The resolution states that all civilizational achievements are “the collective heritage of humankind ” It advocates for respecting the diversity of civilizations and emphasizes the crucial role of dialogue among civilizations in maintaining world peace, promoting common development, enhancing human well-being, and achieving collective progress The resolution calls for “equal dialogue and mutual respect among different civilizations fully reflecting the core essence of the Global Civilization Initiative It designates June 10 as the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations Fu Cong China’s permanent representative to the United Nations introduced the draft resolution at the UNGA plenary

enhancing understanding and trust promoting people-to-people connectivity and strengthening solidarity and cooperation This initiative injects positive energy into the global effort to address common challenges It demonstrates “China’s firm support for multilateralism” and the work of the United Nations highlighting China s responsibility as a major country in an era of unprecedented changes, Fu Cong said

China launches first open marine big-data ser vice platform

activists in Raipur the capital of Chhattisgarh, India

The incident involved Chand Mian, Guddu Khan, and Saddam Khan, who were legally transporting buffaloes in a truck They were ambushed on the Mahanadi Bridge near Arang by 10-12 individuals identified as Hindutva extremists The assailants dragged the men from the truck and subjected them to a brutal assault Chand Mian and Guddu Khan were tragically thrown off the bridge, resulting in their deaths Saddam Khan, who survived the attack, is currently receiving medical treatment for severe injuries at a private hospital in Raipur

China launched its first open marine big-data service platform dubbed Ocean Cloud on Saturday a ministry official said Ocean Cloud is a national online service platform for marine data and information products, said Wang Hua, director of the marine early warning and monitoring department with the Ministry of Natural Resources It works to pool national data from the global ocean three-dimensional observation network facilitate marine information connectivity among departments, and boost global marine information exchange, he said at a ceremony to mark the World Ocean Day in Xiamen, east China’s Fujian Province The platform can further strengthen marine data integration services unify the technical standards for marine data sharing and circulation and improve the application quality of marine data products Wang said

KENYA AUTHORISES RELEASE OF 1,300 CONTAINERS OF PAKISTANI RICE

LAHORE S TA F F R E P O R T

Chairman of the Prime Minister ’s Youth Program (PMYP) Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan has stressed empowering the country s youth, declaring the strategy as essential for driving development

Addressing a ceremony after the inauguration of the Prime Minister Youth Development Centre at Lahore College Women University (LCWU) here on Saturday he emphasised the importance of utilising the potential of youth for national progress, stating that without utilizing the abilities of youth, national development is not possible

Rana Mashhod Ahmed Khan said that Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is committed to empowering the youth alongside economic revitalization, adding that the Prime Minister ’s Youth Program is working to equip young people with skills to

face future challenges, targeting to provide skill training to one million boys and girls this year, creating job opportunities in Pakistan and abroad

The chairman expressed his vision to propel Pakistan s IT industry to a $25 billion market

Rana Mashhood highlighted the current IT industry’s value at $2 5 billion and following Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif ’s vision aims to increase it tenfold

The inclusion of female students in the Youth Loan Program has been increased from 11 percent to 30 percent, he announced Highlighted the need to provide educational and healthy recreational opportunities for the youth he emphasized that youth are the future of Pakistan Despite economic challenges and stringent IMF conditions, the government remains committed to providing a better future for the youth he added

The timely and positive steps taken by the government have put the economy on the right track, with every sector progressing towards improvement he mentioned China s investment in various sectors is also contributing to Pakistan s economic growth, with billions of dollars being invested in the country, which is a cause for celebration Inflation is decreasing and CPEC is being revived which will open more doors for the country s economy and development, he asserted

The Prime Minister s Youth Program is determined to equip young people with skills to face future challenges with plans underway to launch the biggest project in history for youth empowerment including Youth Empowerment and Women Empowerment, in the budget on June 12 This year, the Laptop Scheme will see an increase in quantity and quality

Furthermore, the existing power grid infrastructure in Pakistan faces challenges in integrating large-scale solar power generation The grid requires upgrades and modernization to handle the fluctuating nature of solar energy production A lack of awareness and education about the benefits of solar energy among the public also impedes wider adoption H

Solar energy offers significant economic benefits Shifting towards solar power can reduce Pakistan s dependence on imported fossil fuels, leading to a decrease in the foreign exchange burden Additionally solar energy creates new job opportunities in the installation maintenance and manufacturing sectors of the solar power industry As solar technology continues to evolve, the cost of solar panels and installations is decreasing, making it a more accessible and attractive option for both individual households and businesses Environmental sustainability is another major advantage Solar energy production generates minimal pollution, unlike traditional fossil fuel-based power plants that emit harmful greenhouse gases and pollutants Embracing solar power can significantly contribute to Pakistan s efforts to combat climate change and create a cleaner environment for future generations Furthermore solar panels require

investment in research, innovation, and technology Blue Economy is transnational in nature and it’s progression along with preservation requires efforts and collaboration particularly its demands polycentric multi-level multi-actor and multinational interventions Pakistan s Blue Economy, especially in the province of Balochistan, holds significant potential due to its extensive coastline and rich maritime resources The country’s strategic location at the junction of the Arabian Peninsula further enhances its value as a major trade route However rapid industrial growth and a burgeoning population present challenges to sustainable economic planning To address these issues and fully exploit its maritime potential, Pakistan needs to invest in strategic human resource development create effective policies and focus on sustainable blue growth To this effect the country needs to put in titanic efforts across all spheres to bear out its national and international commitments towards Blue Economy and Sustainable Development Key projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework have played an immense role in the transformation towards Blue Economy Through CPEC investments have been made in various sectors which work to benefit blue economy Gwadar Port and Free Zone, Construction of Desalination Plants, Fish Landing Jetty and Boat Making Industry are few of the projects that focus on the blue economy and try to uplift the people of Gwadar through CPEC The Pakistan Navy s initiatives in the Blue Economy have been pivotal for the sustainable development and prosperity of the country in areas of blue economy With its

minimal water for operation a crucial consideration in a waterscarce country like Pakistan Despite its numerous advantages, the current state of solar power adoption in Pakistan remains limited High upfront costs associated with installing solar panels can be a barrier for individual households and small businesses Limited access to financing options further hinders widespread adoption Additionally, the lack of a robust net metering system which allows individuals to sell excess solar energy back to the grid discourages investment in solar solutions

strategic geographical location and maritime potential, along with control over vital sea routes Pakistan plays a significant role in regional trade The Navy s contribution to maritime security is particularly crucial for the successful execution of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

PM VISITS HISTORICAL CHINESE TERRACOTTA WARRIORS MUSEUM IN XI’AN

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) two major opposition parties which hitherto were each other s rivals, have reached quite close to entering an alliance against the government, sources said on Saturday Sources further said that the former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan had given an assurance that JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman s reservations would be addressed and that a three-member committee had been

constituted to settle differences between the two parties on his instructions On the other hand they disclosed that the former prime minister s message had been conveyed to the JUI-F chief If both parties reach an agreement on the formation of an alliance, Imran and Fazl would sign the document Reports of a possible alliance between both the parties which have remained bitterly opposed to each other has been doing rounds on the media for quite some time now Claims of rigging in the February 8 general elections brought the

PTI and the JUI-F close to each other, leaving everybody by surprise as the people were not expecting that ice between both the parties would melt at least in near future There have also been meetings between the delegations of the two parties

The goodwill increased to such an extent that the JUI-F chief had to state that his past references to the PTI founder as an agent of Jews were mere political statements The bridging of differences prompted the PML-N to make overtures to Maulana Fazl, but the latter showed no sign of giving up

In a significant move to enhance agricultural skills Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced plans to send 1,000 Pakistani students to the Yangling Agricultural Demonstration Base in China for advanced training fully funded by the government

This decision was made during his official visit to China specifically while touring the demonstration base in Xi an on Saturday Prime Minister Sharif has directed the Pakistani ambassador and relevant officials to fi-

nalize the project details with their Chinese counterparts Additionally during his visit Prime Minister Sharif invited the Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University to establish a campus in Pakistan, offering full government support for the initiative

The prime minister was given a comprehensive tour of the facility including the Pakistani Pavilion which showcases local products He was briefed on the international agricultural research collaborations at the base, highlighting Pakistan’s role as the first collaborator among 26 participat-

ing countries The prime minister emphasised the government s commitment to agricultural innovation to improve per-acre yield and enhance the processing of Pakistani products to boost exports

He also visited a modern plant production factory where he observed demonstrations of vertical farming techniques Accompanying the prime minister were Federal Ministers Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Ahsan Iqbal, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar, Dr Musadik Malik, and Rana Tanveer Hussain

Senior politician and former information minister Mohammad Ali

Durrani advised the government to drop cases against former prime minister Imran Khan and his party leaders in a bid to create an enabling environment for political reconciliation economic revival in the country

Now is the time to seize the opportunity for political reconciliation and stability in the country If tensions escalate further, the government may be at risk as it will create a meltdown effect,” Durrani said in an exclusive conversation with a private TV channel

Durrani referred to polarization and the wave of public resentment and said political stability is a must for materializing the efforts being made for economic recovery

Talking about the recent judicial orders he said that the government must take steps to avoid

further embarrassment and give Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) an opportunity to engage in political dialogue

The manner with which the government is facing humiliation in the courts over cases against the PTI founder and his party, is not beneficial for the government or democracy ” he added

He said that PTI founder has refused to cut a deal but he never refused from engaging in a dialogue

The dialogue would take place in the parliament rather than through any other institution, he emphasized Durrani said that friendly countries and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are also urging the government to adopt a conciliatory role and promote political stability

He said that the government should initiate broad-based dialogue by releasing all political prisoners to prevent further shocks and ensure a better future aligning the country on a democratic and constitutional path

He further stated that the government belongs to the country just as much as the opposition does and all political parties must eventually face the public in future elections

Durrani pointed out that the responsibility lies with the leader of Pakistan Muslim League (N) and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif who would also want to pursue reconciliation for political stability in the country

There is no doubt that Nawaz Sharif ranks among the astute and wisest political leaders in the country and is the reason behind PMLN’s popularity and success The political strategy at this juncture would benefit or harm none other than Nawaz Sharif he said

Responding to a question about the possibility of three-time prime minister s return to power, Durrani said that the country currently needs persuasive leader who can restore public trust in democracy and the constitution through reconciliation