Current Final

Tag: terrorism

  • Imaan Mazari handed to police on three day physical remand

    Imaan Mazari handed to police on three day physical remand

    An anti-terrorism court has handed over Imaan Mazari, the daughter of former federal minister Shireen Mazari, to the police on a three-day physical remand.

    Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Abual Hasanat heard the case against Imaan Mazari in which prosecutor Raja Naveed appeared in court while Zainab Janjua appeared on behalf of Iman Mazari.

    During the hearing, prosecutor Raja Naveed argued that a case had been registered against Imaan Mazari in Bara Kahu police station. The plaintiff accused Imaan Mazari of inciting the youth and instigating them against the state, alleging that he received threats when he broke away from Imaan Mazari’s party.

    Prosecutor Raja Naveed requested the physical remand, which was opposed by her lawyer, saying that a new case was made on the same day that Imaan was supposed to get bail. He asked how can three cases be registered on the same incident.

    She said that a drama is being constructed against Imaan Mazari, while the real purpose of the prosecution against her is something else.

    Imaan’s lawyers requested to discharge her from the case.

    After listening to the arguments of the parties, ATC judge Abual Hasnat reserved the decision, after which she was handed over to the police on a three-day physical remand.

  • America, Pakistan both agree: Taliban need to make sure Afghanistan isn’t used for deshatgardi

    America, Pakistan both agree: Taliban need to make sure Afghanistan isn’t used for deshatgardi

    The United States of America has reiterated that the Taliban administration is responsible for ensuring that Afghanistan is not used for terrorist activities against other countries.

    The development comes as Pakistan blames the Taliban government of harbouring terrorists linked to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

    “Taliban has the responsibility to prevent Afghanistan from being used as a safe haven for launching terrorist attacks,” US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said during a press briefing.

    Earlier, in an unusual statement, the Pakistan Army slammed the sanctuaries available to TTP in Afghanistan for harming Pakistan’s security.

    At the 258th Corps Commanders Conference (CCC) under the chairmanship of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir, the army noted that the TTP had obtained access to the latest weaponry due to their sanctuaries in Afghanistan.

    The military also threatened to take an “effective response” after 12 soldiers were martyred in two attacks.

  • Pakistan Army commits full support to govt’s economic revival drive

    Pakistan Army commits full support to govt’s economic revival drive

    In a strong show of solidarity, the Pakistan Army has pledged unwavering support to the government’s ambitious plans for the economic revival of the country. This commitment was reiterated by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir during the 258th Corps Commanders’ Conference held at the General Headquarters (GHQ).

    The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, reported that the conference paid tribute to the brave soldiers who have made supreme sacrifices in defending their homeland against the persistent threat of terrorism. The participants were extensively briefed on the prevailing internal security situation, with special emphasis on the sanctuaries and freedom of action enjoyed by terrorists affiliated with proscribed organisations such as the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in a neighboring country. The availability of sophisticated weaponry to these terrorists was highlighted as a major factor impacting Pakistan’s security.

    Operational preparedness and training aspects of the army were also thoroughly discussed during the Corps Commanders’ Conference. COAS Asim Munir emphasised the significance of objective training as a cornerstone of professionalism, emphasising the need for remaining vigilant against any potential threats to national security.

    Moreover, the conference shed light on the government’s economic revival plan and the Pakistan Army’s role in uplifting various sectors, including agriculture, information technology, mining and minerals, and defense production. The plan falls under the jurisdiction of the recently established Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), aimed at promoting economic growth and revitalisation.

    It is worth mentioning that the Special Investment Facilitation Council was formed following a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The meeting was attended by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, Chief Ministers, federal and provincial ministers, and other senior government officials. The economic revival plan was unveiled during this meeting, with the objective of bringing about socio-economic prosperity for the people of Pakistan and restoring the country’s rightful position among the international community.

    During the meeting, COAS General Asim Munir expressed the Pakistan Army’s full commitment to support the government’s Economic Revival Plan. The collaboration between the army and the government is seen as crucial in achieving sustainable economic growth and securing a prosperous future for all Pakistanis.

    With the Pakistan Army’s unwavering support and the collective efforts of the government, it is hoped that the Economic Revival Plan will pave the way for a brighter future, enabling Pakistan to reclaim its rightful stature among the comity of nations.

  • Bilawal reminds Imran of the similar US-India statement issued during his time as PM

    Bilawal reminds Imran of the similar US-India statement issued during his time as PM

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday, took to twitter to blame the present government for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States (US) President Joe Biden’s joint statement that asked Pakistan to stop supporting terrorism.

    “Gen Bajwa along with his PDM cronies claimed that I had isolated Pakistan internationally. The question we want to ask him and PDM is that after a year in government and countless trips of Pakistan’s FM to the US, the joint India/US statement reduces Pakistan to a promoter of cross-border terrorism in India and nothing more. No balancing statement about the gross human rights abuse in Kashmir or the appalling treatment of minorities (esp Muslims) in India. So now the imported govt experiment has not just made Pakistan irrelevant internationally but our democracy, rule of law and the entire economic and institutional structure is also collapsing right in front of our eyes,” wrote Imran while sharing the screenshot of the statement.

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, in response to Imran Khan’s tweet, shared a screenshot of a US-India joint statement released after the Modi-Trump meeting of 2020, during Imran Khan’s tenure as Prime Minister. The statement issued during Imran Khan’s government and the statement issued this week have identical wording.

    Bilawal added a playful emoji in his tweet.

  • Modi, Biden demand Pakistan should take the initiative to end ‘cross-border terrorism’

    Modi, Biden demand Pakistan should take the initiative to end ‘cross-border terrorism’

    United States (US) President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi have demanded that Pakistan should ensure that Pakistani land will not be used by terrorists.

    Indian premier is currently visiting the United States.

    The statement has been issued after a meeting between Biden and Modi.

    Both leaders have demanded action against terrorist groups allegedly based in Pakistan, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad.

    “They strongly condemned cross-border terrorism, the use of terrorist proxies and called on Pakistan to take immediate action to ensure that no territory under its control is used for launching terrorist attacks,” the 58-point statement issued by the White House read.

    Both the leaders demanded action against perpetrators of attacks, including the Mumbai and Pathankot incidents.

    The leaders have also demanded that the Afghan Taliban should respect human rights, and the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan.

  • Rare show of unity as PTI calls out Indian FM for remarks about Bilawal

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders on Twitter strongly called out Indian Foreign Minister (FM) S. Jaishankar after he used undiplomatic language for Pakistan and its FM Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari post an important moot of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

    In a media conference, a visibly rattled Jaishankar called Bilawal a “promoter, justifier and spokesperson of a terrorism industry.”

    “Victims of terrorism do not sit together with its perpetrators to discuss terrorism,” he said, adding that “as a member of SCO, Bilawal was treated accordingly.”

    PTI’s Fawad Chaudhry put aside political differences to respond that the Indian FM should be ashamed for passing such remarks.

    “Pakistan has made great sacrifices in the war against terrorism, now the foreign minister of a Hindu extremist group, who is involved in the worst terrorism against its own citizens, should be ashamed of himself for speaking such nonsense.”

    Similarly, Zulfi Bukhari called this a petty act and reminded India of its values.

    He pointed out, “Whatever happened to mehman bhagwan hota hai? Or has that idea gone down the drain just like a secular India.”

    When Bilawal returned back to the country, he held a press conference to brief members of the media about his visit. He also responded to the remarks made by India’s FM, saying that he can’t do anything if their hatred has risen this much.

    Asking if he ever sat with any terrorist, Bilawal was of the view that India not only wants to declare every Muslim a terrorist but also him.

    The minister added that Pakistan itself is a victim of terrorism and is against any appeasement with terrorist organisations.

  • ‘Of course’: Bilawal confirms he shook hands with Indian FM but no bilateral engagement held

    ‘Of course’: Bilawal confirms he shook hands with Indian FM but no bilateral engagement held

    Pakistani Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who just wrapped up his visit to Goa, said that he did shake hands with his Indian counter partner S. Jaishankar at a dinner that was held in an unofficial capacity.

    During an interview with India Today, Bilawal said, “In all our unofficial engagements we always shake hands and we had dinner conversations amongst other foreign ministers but we did not hold a bilateral engagement.”

    Earlier, when both ministers greeted each other in front of the media they didn’t shake hands and this created headlines in India.

    Clearing up the confusion, Bilawal said that his aim to visit India was to attend Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). “Unless India reviews the action it took on August 5, 2019 (abrogation of Article 370), Pakistan is not in a position to engage bilaterally with India.”

    When pointed out by a journalist that “Pakistan can’t sponsor terror directed against India”, the minister, taking a jibe at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said “This wolf whistling around the word terrorism which is ultimately an Islamophobic wolf whistle not only to whip up Hindu sentiment in India but also to brow beat Pakistan, that might be election strategy for some but not effective terrorism strategy”

    The Pakistani foreign minister said the country wishes to quell terrorism “not because India said it or the Indian government said so, but because we want to end this menace”. He said terrorism has caused the “largest number of casualties” in Pakistan among any of the other SCO countries.

    “India will have to explain what Kulbhushan Jadhav, a state actor, a navy commander, was doing in Pakistan carrying out terrorist attacks on Pakistani soil. Does that not come under cross-border terrorism?” he asked.

    Bilawal also reminded Indian Journalist Rajdeep Sardesai that Pakistan is the only country on Earth that has completed two Financial Action Task Force (FATF) objectives.

    He said that it is not productive for India to continue accusing Pakistan of sponsoring terror activities.

    Pointing out that India violated bilateral agreements and international agreements on Aug 5, 2019, by revoking the special status of Jammu Kashmir, Bilawal Bhutto also mentioned the 2007 Samjhauta Express bombing where around 70 people, mostly Pakistanis, were killed. “We are yet to see any justice,” he reminded Sardesai.

    He repeatedly said that both India and Pakistan have different perspectives on terrorism, adding that Pakistan is “willing to engage with any concerns that India might have but India will also have to address our concerns.”

  • ‘Propaganda’: DG ISPR dismisses social media reports of possible martial law

    ‘Propaganda’: DG ISPR dismisses social media reports of possible martial law

    Director-General (DG) of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, on Tuesday, held a press conference solely to brief the media on terrorist attacks that have recently taken place in the country.

    However, a journalist asked the DG about social media reports that claimed that martial law is going to be imposed in the country.

    Terming the reports as “baseless”, the general said that every day and night there are accounts on social media with or without names that spread this kind of this propaganda.

    Pointing out that every person is entitled to have an opinion, he stated, “we think the talks on social media against the army, institutions and their officeholders are not only irresponsible and unwise but unconstitutional.”

    “Our discipline doesn’t give us permission to respond to each and every speculation”, he stated at one point.

    He also reaffirmed that the army doesn’t support any particular political party. “All political parties and all leaders are respectable for us”, the Major General said.

    He was also of the view that it is not in the best interest of the country that the army should be involved in political matters.

    Talking about India, Sharif said New Delhi’s “aggressive designs and baseless accusations and claims” would not change history or occupied Kashmir’s internationally recognised status.

    “If need be, we can take this battle into the enemy’s territory. I also feel it is important to say that if India thinks of any misadventure due to any miscalculation or misunderstanding, then let there be no doubt that the army would give a befitting response with national support.”

  • No more deals with TTP; army determined to get rid of terrorism

    The army’s top brass has vowed to eliminate terrorism, extremism and instability in Pakistan by following a “whole-of-the-system” approach which was approved by the government on Friday.

    In a Corps Commanders’ Conference held in Rawalpindi, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir said that military leadership is cognizant of the full spectrum of the challenges posed by terrorism and it “resolves to shoulder its constitutionally mandated responsibilities with the support of the resilient people of Pakistan”.

    The top tier of the army reiterated the commitment of military forces to fully support national responses against internal and external threats. 

    A day earlier, in a briefing given to the members of the National Assembly (NA), COAS Munir said that negotiations with militants in the past helped terrorists regroup in the country, referring to the Imran Khan government that signed a ceasefire with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

    Earlier, National Security Committee (NSC) also decided to kickstart an all-out comprehensive operation against militant outfits. 

    Since government talks with the TTP broke down in November, the militant group has intensified its attacks across Pakistan including attacks on the police.

  • Donald Blome assures Pakistan of US cooperation on IMF deal

    The US Ambassador to Pakistan, Donald Blome, expressed hope for a deal between Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), stating that Washington was prepared to support the country’s efforts to resume its stalled $6.5 billion bailout program.

    Speaking at an event on Tuesday, Blome assured journalists that the IMF bailout package for Islamabad would take its final shape in a couple of days. He added that the United States was ready to cooperate with Pakistan to help address the issue and expressed a willingness to help Islamabad with its ongoing terrorism challenges.

    Blome recently visited important cities in Pakistan to meet with groups from different walks of life and noted that there had been significant progress in diplomatic relations between the two countries.

    Pakistan and the IMF have been in discussions regarding a stalled bailout package since late last year, with the country seeking a $1.1bn tranche to address its worsening balance of payments crisis and to enable friendly affluent capitals to provide assistance to overcome ongoing financial complexities.

    Both sides are engaged in negotiations to reach a mutually agreeable package that would help the cash-strapped nation come out of its ongoing economic turmoil.

    Interestingly, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar had previously stated that Pakistan would strike a staff-level agreement (SLA) with the IMF in a few days, as the government remained committed to completing the loan program signed in 2019.

    However, after failing to convince the lender, Dar had reportedly contacted the US envoy earlier this week to get “lenient treatment” from the Fund, which has been persistent with its demands.