Current Final

Category: Politics

  • Afghanistan calls back ambassador, others after abduction of ambassador’s daughter

    Afghanistan on Sunday called back its ambassador and all senior diplomats from Islamabad following the abduction of Ambassador Alikhel’s daughter.

    “Following the abduction of the Afghan Ambassador’s daughter in Pakistan, the Leadership of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan called back Afghanistan’s Ambassador and senior diplomats from Pakistan until all security threats are addressed including the arrest and trial of the perpetrators of abduction,” the statement said.

    “An Afghan delegation will visit Pakistan soon to assess and follow up on the case and all related issues; subsequent actions will follow based on the findings.”

    Pakistan’s Foreign Office reacted to Afghanistan’s decision: “The decision by the Government of Afghanistan to recall its Ambassador and senior diplomats from Pakistan is unfortunate and regrettable,” said the FO.

    “The reported abduction and assault of Afghan Ambassador’s daughter are being investigated and followed-up at the highest level on the instructions of PM,” the statement added further.

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed has claimed that the Afghan ambassador’s daughter was not abducted and that it is an Indian conspiracy. He was speaking on Geo News’ programme ‘Naya Pakistan’.

    Earlier on Sunday, while addressing a press conference, Sheikh Rasheed said that the case will be resolved soon adding, “Afghanistan’s ambassador’s daughter took a cab to Khadda Market for shopping.”

    “We also have footage of her getting out of a taxi at a Rawalpindi shopping mall,” he added. The interior minister further said that a first information report has been registered.

    Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi says he has scheduled a phone call with the Afghan foreign minister tomorrow and hopes the Afghan government will review its stance.

    On July 17, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan released a statement stating: “On July 16, the daughter of the Afghan Ambassador to Islamabad, Ms Silsila Alikhil, was ‘abducted’ for several hours and ‘severely tortured’ by unknown individuals on her way home.”

    Prime Minister Imran Khan had ordered an inquiry into the incident.

  • Afghan Ambassador’s daughter released after being held hostage in Islamabad: Afghan Foreign Ministry

    Afghan Ambassador’s daughter released after being held hostage in Islamabad: Afghan Foreign Ministry

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan released a statement stating: “On July 16, the daughter of the Afghan Ambassador to Islamabad, Ms Silsila Alikhil, was ‘abducted’ for several hours and ‘severely tortured’ by unknown individuals on her way home.”

    After being released from being held hostage, the Ambassador’s daughter was taken to the hospital.

    “The [Afghan] Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on the Government of Pakistan to take immediate necessary actions to ensure full security of the Afghan Embassy and Consulates as well as the immunity of the country’s diplomats and their families in accordance with international treaties and conventions,” read the statement.

    Responding to media queries in this regard, the Spokesperson of Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the daughter of the Afghan ambassador was “assaulted while riding a rented vehicle”.

    According to the statement, the Islamabad Police launched a thorough investigation while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant security authorities are closely in contact with the ambassador and his family. The Afghan Ambassador’s security has been beefed up. “It is reiterated that the safety and security of the diplomatic missions, as well as the diplomats and their families, is of utmost importance. Such incidents can and will not be tolerated,” says the statement by the Foreign Ministry.

    According to the medical report tweeted by journalist Ghulam Abbas Shah, the police brought in Ms Silsila. There were rope marks on her wrist and ankle.

    Journalist Mubashir Zaidi tweeted, “She [Silsila Alikhil] was thrown after 5 hours with her hands & feet tied. A tissue paper & rupees 50 note with the message ‘your turn is next’ and ‘communist’ tied to her dupatta.”

    Journalist Salman Masood tweeted that senior Pakistani officials are dismissing the claims of the Afghan foreign ministry and have dubbed the alleged abduction as a “baseless accusation to defame Pakistan”.

    There has been no official statement released by Pakistan’s Foreign Office at the moment.

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Sherry Rehman condemned the incident.

  • Pakistan receives more than 1.2 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine

    Pakistan has received more than 1.2 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine as part of the global COVAX initiative, Express Tribune has reported.

    Sajid Shah, spokesperson of the Heath Ministry, told The Express Tribune that more than 1.2 million doses of the vaccine have reached Islamabad.

    In May, Pakistan received first shipment of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

    During the last 24 hours, Pakistan administered 513,292 doses of the vaccines. So far, 22,735,993 doses have been administered in Pakistan.

    Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar on Friday said unvaccinated people were seven times more likely to contract the coronavirus than those inoculated.

  • 15 Chinese officials to investigate Dasu bus tragedy: Sheikh Rasheed

    15 Chinese officials to investigate Dasu bus tragedy: Sheikh Rasheed

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid said that 15 Chinese officials have been included in the ongoing investigation of the Dasu bus tragedy in which 13 people, including nine Chinese nationals, were killed, reports Dawn.

    Addressing a press conference, Rasheed said, “The investigation of the event is at its final stages and the highest institutions of Pakistan are investigating it. Fifteen individuals from China have been included [in the investigation] as well.”

    “We completely reassure the Chinese government that these culprits, hidden hands and enemies of CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) and China-Pakistan friendship will never be forgiven at any cost,” he added.

    Nine Chinese nationals and three Pakistanis lost their lives on Wednesday. Chinese workers and accompanying Pakistani staff were proceeding to their workplace for an ongoing project, as per a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA). 

    China had announced that it was sending a team to Pakistan to deal with the aftermath of the incident. “Today China will send a cross-departmental joint working group to Pakistan to help with relevant work,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian had said at a media briefing in Beijing.

    A team comprising of 15 Chinese officials has reached Pakistan to probe into the Dasu bus tragedy.

    Chinese ambassador to Pakistan has visited the site of the shuttle bus explosion near the Dasu Hydropower plant to investigate the cause, together with the Pakistani military and a Chinese team.

  • Asad Umar says unvaccinated people are seven times more likely to get Covid

    Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar on Friday said unvaccinated people were seven times more likely to contract the coronavirus than those inoculated.

    After the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) meeting, the minister said vaccination was the only way solution to the virus.

    Umar later took to Twitter and said, “The data analytics run by the NCOC team shows that comparative data of Pakistani’s who have been vaccinated versus those who are not vaccinated shows a marked difference in risk. The unvaccinated Pakistani’s are at 7 times higher risk of getting covid. Please get vaccinated.”

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Faisal Sultan said every day around 2,500 new cases were being reported, warning that the Delta variant was spreading fast.

  • Maryam Nawaz alleges conspiracy to kill Nawaz Sharif when he was jailed

    Maryam Nawaz alleges conspiracy to kill Nawaz Sharif when he was jailed

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz has alleged that there was a conspiracy to murder Nawaz Sharif when he was in jail.

    “Opponents start to tremble as soon as they hear the name of Nawaz Sharif. He was ousted on the basis of Iqama. His position as a prime Minister was snatched from him,” said the Maryam while addressing a rally in Azad Kashmir.

    "There was a conspiracy, a plan to kill Nawaz Sharif while he was still in jail," added Maryam.

    “The Cabinet Meeting spends its time planning to stop Nawaz Sharif rather than investing its time for doing the public some good,” said Maryam.
    

    “Nawaz Sharif resides in London and beats [the Opponents through votes] in their house in every election,” added Maryam Nawaz.

  • Govt to amend NAB laws, PM Khan confirms

    Govt to amend NAB laws, PM Khan confirms

    Prime Minister Imran Khan Thursday assured the Pakistani business community in Tashkent that his government was working on changing the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) laws relating to bureaucrats and businessmen. 

    The prime minister told the entrepreneurs that the present government was committed to removing obstructions in the way of various businesses and industries, including the pharmaceutical industry.

    The premier said the government is facing difficulty in finding quality Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) for government institutions as such experts mostly remain unwilling due to fear of NAB.

    He said that with a change in the NAB law, the government will get quality people from bureaucrats and the business communities. That is why, he said, the NAB law regarding bureaucracy and businessmen is being changed.

    The prime minister’s statement about the amendment in NAB laws comes days after Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin told Geo News in ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ that the civil bureaucracy is scared of the anti-graft body and the government is working to change the NAB laws.

    “The NAB law will change in a few weeks. The bureaucracy is not working at all because of the NAB,” said Tarin.

    NAB rejected the Finance Minister’s claim. In a statement, NAB said that bureaucrats should not fear the anti-graft watchdog if they are carrying out their jobs in line with the Constitution, as it slammed the “constant propaganda” against the accountability bureau.

    The aim behind the propaganda is to “discredit NAB and discourage the bureaucracy” from doing its job, the anti-graft body said, adding: “Bureaucracy is the backbone of any country; NAB respects the bureaucracy and values ​​its services.”

    “Corruption is the root of all evils. If the bureaucracy acts in accordance with the Constitution, it does not need to be afraid of NAB,” it added.

  • ‘To blame Pakistan is extremely unfair’: PM Khan tells Ashraf Ghani

    ‘To blame Pakistan is extremely unfair’: PM Khan tells Ashraf Ghani

    Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday countered Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s claims about Pakistan’s “negative role” in the Afghan peace process and said, “To blame Pakistan for what is going on in Afghanistan I feel is extremely unfair.” PM Khan was addressing the international conference on “Central and South Asia Regional Connectivity: Challenges and Opportunities” during his two-day visit to Uzbekistan.

    “President Ghani, let me just say that the country that will be most affected by turmoil in Afghanistan is Pakistan. Pakistan suffered 70,000 casualties in the last 15 years. The last thing Pakistan wants is more conflict,” the premier said

    “To blame Pakistan for what is going on in Afghanistan, I feel, is extremely unfair,” said PM Khan.

    “Why would I come to Kabul if I was not interested in peace? The whole idea was that Afghanistan should have looked at Pakistan as a partner in peace. I feel really disappointed that we have been blamed for what is going on in Afghanistan.”

    “I repeat, the last thing we want is turbulence in Afghanistan,” said PM Khan.

    PM Khan added, “What is happening in Afghanistan is over two decades of conflict, deep divisions, and unfortunately the United States (US) seeking a military solution when there was no one. When there were 150,000 Nato troops in Afghanistan, the greatest military machine, that was the time to ask the Taliban to come on the table. Why were the Taliban to compromise when their existing date was given and with only a few thousand American troops left? Why would they [Taliban] listen to us, when they are sensing victory?”

    He said that he had a conversation with Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev about how all the neighbours in the region can help the Afghan peace process. 

    “All neighbours are interested in a peace settlement in Afghanistan. There are already three million Afghan refugees in Pakistan. We are petrified that will be another flow of refugees coming in. We do not have the capacity or the economic strength to bear another flow of refugees. So I can assure you again, if any country is trying its best of all the countries in the world, it’s Pakistan today.”

     Director-General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Faiz Hameed Friday rejected the allegations of infiltration levelled by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

     Afghan president had levelled unsubstantiated accusations against Pakistan, saying that 10,000 fighters had crossed over into Afghanistan from Pakistan.

    “If talks fail, we will fight the Taliban,” said Ghani. “This is the last chance for peace,” he had said.

    DG ISI explicitly stated that these accusations against Pakistan are not true. In fact, infiltration is being done from Afghanistan, he added.

    “We want peace in the neighbouring country as a peaceful and stable Afghanistan is in the interest of Pakistan and other countries,” DG ISI said.

    He said that Pakistan is not supporting any group in Afghanistan. “We are interested in a negotiated settlement among all the Afghan groups,” added DG ISI.

  • ‘I know probably more history of Uzbekistan than most people in Uzbekistan’: PM Khan

    ‘I know probably more history of Uzbekistan than most people in Uzbekistan’: PM Khan

    Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday, while speaking to the Pakistan-Uzbekistan Business Forum, said: ” I am a student of history. So I know probably more history of Uzbekistan than most people in Uzbekistan.”

    Twitterati reacted to PM’s comments.

    Zebunnisa Burki wrote, “Our best student of history, making us proud [Clapping emoji inserted ]”

    A Twitter user tweeted, “I know probably more history of humans than humans.”

    Another Twitter user said, “Dear PM you never disappoint us. I love this confidence. Carry on.”

    Another account shared the same video and tweeted: “[PM Khan] knows West better than [the] West. But [PM] doesn’t know about [the] Mafia people sitting in his government.

  • PM Khan assures Chinese counterpart about thorough investigation in Dasu incident

    PM Khan assures Chinese counterpart about thorough investigation in Dasu incident

    Prime Minister Imran Khan has assured Chinese Premier Li Keqiang of making every effort into the Dasu bus incident, in which 12 people were killed, including nine Chinese nationals, reports Geo News.

    In a telephonic conversation, PM Khan offered his condolences over the death of the Chinese nationals.

    “All efforts will be made to investigate the incident,” PM said.

    He further added that the security and protection of Chinese citizens in Pakistan is the government’s top priority.

    Beijing, meanwhile, reacted sharply to the incident by postponing a meeting of the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) scheduled for Friday. The meeting was to be held through a video link, reported Dawn.

    CPEC Authority Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Asim Bajwa announced the postponement of the meeting on Twitter. “JCC-10 meeting on #CPEC which was scheduled to be held on 16th July 21, has been postponed to a later date after Eid. The fresh date will be shared as finalized. Meanwhile, preparations continue,” he said.

    On Thursday, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry took to Twitter and said, “Initial investigations into Dassu incident have now confirmed traces of explosives, terrorism cannot be ruled out,” contradicting the statement by his party’s Foreign Minister.

    “Prime Minister Imran Khan is personally supervising all developments, in this regard Govt is in close coordination with the Chinese embassy we are committed to fighting the menace of terrorism together,” tweeted Fawad.

    Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, on behalf of the government and the people of Pakistan, had expressed sincere condolences to the Chinese side over the heavy Chinese casualties. He said that the preliminary investigation shows that the incident was “an accident and no background of terrorist attacks has been found”.