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  • ‘Long March will be dealt with iron hands’: PML-N leaders and ministers react to Khan’s long march

    ‘Long March will be dealt with iron hands’: PML-N leaders and ministers react to Khan’s long march

    After Imran Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday announced that his long march will commence from Friday, federal ministers and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders came forward, stating that the government will deal strongly with the marchers who are planning to come to Islamabad.

    Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal said that the long march was announced because Khan wants National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) to escape punishment in the foreign funding and Toshakhana cases.

    PML-N leader and former federal minister Abid Sher Ali said that, “The government will deal with the long march with iron hands. There is no leniency for certified thieves”.

    Meanwhile, PML-N leader and former Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that Khan can do whatever he wants but the government is not going anywhere. “Imran Khan may launch a long march or do as he wishes, the government will remain as it is,” he stressed.

    While speaking on the Geo News’ programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath‘ he said that neither politics nor democracy will survive in the country if a tradition takes hold to overthrow the government through long marches.

    He posed a question: “Why does a long march take place whenever bilateral relations with China get off the ground?” Moreover, he mentioned that the last time when the long march was announced, Chinese President Xi Jinping was set to visit Pakistan.

    It is pertinent to mention here that in 2014, President Xi had to call off his scheduled visit to Pakistan because of the political unrest in the country caused by long march in the federal capital. At the time, the Chinese ambassador had even approached Khan to suspend his protest for a few days in order to allow the visit to take place. However, he refused.

    On October 25, Khan announced his party’s much-awaited long march. The march will begin on Friday, October 28 from Lahore’s Liberty Chowk at 11am.

  • Saudi Arabia to set up $12 billion refinery, petrochemical complex in Pakistan

    Saudi Arabia to set up $12 billion refinery, petrochemical complex in Pakistan

    The government has convinced Saudi Arabia to resume a significant project to build a cutting-edge deep conversion refinery and petrochemical complex in Pakistan.

    A high-ranking team from the kingdom led by Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman will visit Pakistan in the final week of November, when a formal announcement is anticipated in this regard, according to a top official at the Energy Ministry.

    According to Geo, the Pakistani government reportedly made a tremendous effort to convince the kingdom to uphold the memoranda of understanding and invest in Pakistan. Riyadh and Washington are at odds over a reduction in the supply of oil on the world market, and Islamabad has thrown its support behind Riyadh in this dispute.

    Saudi Arabia signed MoUs in February 2019 during Mohammad Bin Salman’s visit to Pakistan for an investment of $21 billion in a number of economic sectors, including the $12 billion deep conversion refinery and petrochemical complex project.

    At this regard, the Saudi oil tycoon Aramco also carried out research, which concluded that building a refinery in Gwadar was not practical. However, the official claimed that it may be erected in Hub, Balochistan, or close to Karachi.

    Later, the insider claimed, when relations between Imran Khan’s administration and Saudi Arabia became tense, the kingdom’s top leaders essentially put $21 billion in MoUs on hold that had been inked in February 2019.

    According to the source, the Ministry of Petroleum is currently updating the draught for the refining policy in order to attract investment for the construction of new refineries.

    In addition to broadening the tax holiday’s application, the government is considering offering investors profitability at 14–15% instead of the 9% that was previously promised in the PTI administration’s plan for policy refinement.

  • High court says Imran Khan is not restricted from contesting in future elections

    High court says Imran Khan is not restricted from contesting in future elections

    After the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) verdict de-seating Imran Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) approached Islamabad High Court (IHC) to challenge the commission’s decision to disqualify him.

    On Monday, the high court rejected Imran Khan’s request to suspend the ECP order instantly in the Toshakhana reference on the basis of which he had been disqualified.

    However, IHC Chief Justice (CJ) Athar Minallah observed that Khan had not been barred from contesting in future elections, adding that he “won’t face any problems” to contest in the NA-45 (Kurram-I) by-election. The by-election is scheduled to be held on October 30.

    Moreover, CJ said that Khan’s disqualification by the ECP is only to the extent of the seat he was notified on.

    During the hearing today, Khan’s lawyer Barrister Ali Zafar said that his client had been disqualified ahead of the by-election in Kurram and a stay order is needed because the PTI chairman is contesting from the seat.

    The IHC chief justice then observed, “Imran Khan is not disqualified for that election”, adding that he would not face any problems in this regard.

    Justice Minallah also pointed out that the ECP’s detailed judgment is not available yet.

    The chief justice observed that it is normal practice to issue a detailed judgment later.

    “Wait for the [written] verdict. This is a routine matter. The Election Commission is not delaying it,” he stated.

    On October 21, ECP in a consensus verdict, disqualified former Prime Minister Khan and ruled that he is no more a member of the National Assembly (NA) in Toshakhana reference.

    Khan was disqualified under Article 63(1)(p) for misdeclaration.

  • Islamabad police books PTI’s Senator Faisal Javed and others on terrorism charges for protesting after Khan’s disqualification

    Islamabad police books PTI’s Senator Faisal Javed and others on terrorism charges for protesting after Khan’s disqualification

    The Islamabad police have registered cases against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Senator Faisal Javed Khan and others on terrorism charges for protesting against Friday’s Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) verdict which disqualified PTI Chairman Imran Khan.

    A First Information Report (FIR) was registered against PTI leaders on Friday on the complaint of Subinspector Inamullah at Islamabad’s I-9 police station.

    The FIR said police officers in an official vehicle were posted at Faizabad to maintain the law and order and security situation. It said that around 8pm on Friday, a large PTI rally of around 1,000 to 1,200 people carrying sticks and rods started moving towards Faizabad.

    The complaint named PTI leaders Amir Kiani, Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi, Faisal Javed Khan, Raja Rashid Hafeez, Umer Tanveer Butt, Rashid Naseem Abbasi and Raja Majid.

    It added that the demonstrators advanced while running over the police contingent with vehicles with the “intent to kill”.

    It is pertinent to mention that PTI workers across Pakistan came out of the streets protesting against their party chairman’s disqualification, however later at night, Imran Khan called for an end to the protests.

  • No decision has been reached so far on COAS appointment: Khawaja Asif

    No decision has been reached so far on COAS appointment: Khawaja Asif

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has revealed that no decision has been reached by the federal government yet about the appointment of a new Chief of Army Staff (COAS).

    According to the defence minister, the selection process for the new army chief will likely begin within the next five to seven days.

    Talking in Geo News’ programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath”, the minister said five names will be forwarded and then Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif will pick one of those names. He was of the view that the appointment is quite a simple method as this exercise has been conducted several times in the past too.

    The appointment for the COAS position is due to take place in November.

    About the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) planned long march, the federal minister said that the government will not be blackmailed by the PTI if the party comes to Islamabad.

    The minister also said that no negotiations have taken place with PTI. “A couple of meetings took place because of Imran’s old acquaintances”, he added.

    On the contrary, Khan has claimed that negotiations were indeed held. He also warned the government to give a date for early general elections or else he will announce a date for the long march within the current month.

    Discussing the recent by-elections held on the past Sunday, Asif said that if Khan had let his party candidates run from their respective constituencies instead of contesting himself, the results would have been different.

    During the show, he also hinted towards keeping the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) alliance in place in the next elections.

  • ‘Misogynistic, bigoted’: Twitter calls out Imran Khan’s ‘mardon mein ghustee hai’ comment

    ‘Misogynistic, bigoted’: Twitter calls out Imran Khan’s ‘mardon mein ghustee hai’ comment

    Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, on Tuesday, passed sexist comments about journalist Gharidah Farooqi, saying: “Woh mardon mei ghussay gi toh aisa hi hoga” (If she will enter into men’s sphere, then this is what will happen).

    During a meeting with the delegation of the National Press Club and the Rawalpindi/Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ), Khan said that “Farooqi goes into the crowd and then says that she is being harassed”.

    Along with these remarks, he stated that he will also ask his party workers to act in right manner.

    Twitter did not take kindly to the former Prime Minister’s remarks.

    https://twitter.com/KhawajaUsmanUk/status/1582499392241946626?s=20&t=ko0ajmHMlYDkl2WbeQbVNg
    ‘Agar ilzaam saabit huva toh mai sahafat chorr doonga’: Saleem Safi challenges IK for calling him a ‘lifafa’

    On the same occasion, Khan alleged that Journalist Saleem Safi is a lifafa (biased) journalist.

    When asked by a journalist that why he [Imran Khan] called journalists lifafa, he responded by saying that he has never called any journalist lifafa except for Saleem Safi.

    Responding to this, Safi challenged Imran Khan to prove himself. The senior journalist said in a statement that a committee consisting of PTI’s Murad Saeed, Shibli Faraz and Fawad Chaudhry should be formed under the leadership of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) president to investigate this matter.

    He said that if he is proved to be a liar, then the punishment of a thief will be his punishment and he will leave journalism and if Imran Khan is proved to be a liar, then he will have to leave politics and apologise.

    He also said that he will get to the end of this matter.

  • Rana Sanaullah warns PTI again after Imran says party is all ready for long march

    Rana Sanaullah warns PTI again after Imran says party is all ready for long march

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has warned Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, again that the federal government will respond with “full force” if he announces a long march and enters Islamabad.

    On Monday, the federal minister said that Khan has started the culture of bringing huge crowds out on the streets, but the government knows how to end it.

    Speaking about the by-elections in which PTI won the majority of the seats, Sanauallah said that while the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has “responsibly carried out its job in the by-polls”, Khan was busy “spreading propaganda against the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).”

    Rana Sanaullah revealed that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif will lead his party’s next election campaign.

    Despite the warning, the PTI chief said the long march will be announced within this month. He told the federal government to announce a date for general elections in a few days or else the long march date will be announced. Imran Khan stressed that all preparations for the long march have been completed.

    Last week, Sanaullah warned Khan about his party’s long march, saying, “Jab yeh long march ke liye aayeinge [Islamabad], iss ko pakar kar ulta kardeinge” (We will hang Khan upside down if he takes his long march into Islamabad).

    The federal minister also said that there is a possibility of Khan and other party leaders being arrested during the long march.

  • Uber ceases operations in 5 Pakistani cities

    Uber ceases operations in 5 Pakistani cities

    According to a statement released by Uber on Tuesday, it has stopped operating in Karachi, Multan, Faisalabad, Peshawar, and Islamabad.

    A statement on the company’s website says, “Uber is dedicated to Pakistan. We will continue to serve these five cities via our subsidiary brand Careem and continue to run the Uber app in Lahore.”

    Uber will keep providing its services in Lahore while also introducing new products to “help earners through these challenging times.”

    It declared that it would inform its customers and business partners in the five locations of how to use and seamlessly switch to Careem.

    “When we acquired Careem, it was always our belief that the two companies could come together to complement each other’s strengths and better serve the region through tailored experiences,” the statement added.

    According to Dawn, the company said it was aware this was a “difficult time” for its teams, which had “worked incredibly hard to build this business over the past few years”.

    “We greatly appreciate everyone’s contributions and our priority is to minimise the impact on our employees, drivers, riders, and Hero partners who use the Uber app during this change in Karachi, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Multan and Peshawar,” the statement reads.

    Uber finalised the $3.1 billion acquisition of rival Careem in 2020. At the time, it was said that Careem and Uber will continue to operate as distinct businesses and provide their own regional services.

    By the time the purchase was completed, Uber had acquired Careem’s mobility, delivery, and payments operations throughout the larger Middle East, including its key markets in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates.

  • Gilgit-Baltistan minister, abducted by militants, returns home

    Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Prisons Minister Colonel (retd) Abaidullah Baig has returned home after being abducted by militants on Friday while en route to Skardu from Islamabad.

    According to police, the minister was travelling with two foreigners when abducted by terrorists.

    Geo News’ sources have said that the kidnappers had demanded the release of their jailed accomplices.

    Earlier, former GB government spokesperson Faizullah told Geo News that he has spoken to the minister and talks were underway for the release. He had said he was present at the Jirga where negotiations were held with the kidnappers.

    Faizullah said that the militants had kept Baig and his companions in a house for six hours. They were released at 3am after negotiations.

    Baig was elected from Hunza 6 on a PTI ticket and he is a member of the GB Legislative Assembly since 2020.

  • Islamabad to soon get electric buses

    Islamabad to soon get electric buses

    Electric buses for intra-city travel will shortly be introduced by the Capital Development Authority (CDA). Electric buses will be used on six distinct public transportation lines, according to CDA authorities. The department will also make room for bus charging stations.

    CDA will open the tender for bus consultancy on 12th October. By the end of December, the first shipment of electric buses will arrive in Islamabad. Three e-bus base stations will be built by CDA.

    The introduction of electric buses has been a recent priority for CDA. The government started testing these buses in the Twin Cities, and now the project might soon see a concrete follow-up.

    Capt. (Ret.) Usman Younis, CDA Chairman, said that the first phase will involve the provision of transportation on six congested roads. The administration would purchase buses for seven more routes in the second phase, he added.