No-trust voting on April 3

The voting on the opposition’s no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan will take place on the coming Sunday (April 3) after the opposition, irked by the adjournment of the National Assembly session earlier in the day within minutes after it began, accused him of trying to escape the resolution.  “On coming Sunday, it will be decided in which direction this country will go,” the premier said during a live address to the nation on Thursday. Earlier in the day, the PTI-led government "literally ran away from conducting voting on the no-confidence motion" submitted against PM Imran as the National Assembly session was once again put off till April 3. Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri adjourned the proceedings after seeing the strength of the opposition parties’ lawmakers, who repeatedly asked him to hold voting on the motion instead of proceeding ahead with Q&A session. One after the other, the opposition members, whose questions were taken up, told the deputy speaker that they were not interested in seeking answers from the treasury benches and Suri should go for voting on the motion. The first sign of the opposition’s strength was visible when it defeated Adviser to the PM on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan’s request that the National Assembly hall be allowed to be used for holding a meeting of the National Security Committee. Read: Opposition, MQM-P reach agreement on no-trust move Accordingly to opposition leaders, they managed to convince the deputy speaker to opt for a voice vote. After seeing that the opposition parties had more members present in the House than the treasury benches, he didn’t “bother to go for a vote count”, they added. Interestingly, the treasury lawmakers left the hall immediately but the opposition parties stayed in the House for a while and chanted slogans including “Go Niazi Go” for a few minutes. Later, they left the lower house of parliament. PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, who is also the leader of the opposition in the NA, later told reporters that the joint opposition had defeated PM Imran. “It [joint opposition] has proved that the PTI-led government has lost its majority in the House,” he added, while interacting with the media accompanied by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and other opposition leaders. Shehbaz claimed that the deputy speaker had “violated” the Constitution by not holding a vote on the no-confidence motion. “The entire nation and judiciary is seeing how PTI-led government is abrogating the Constitution... the joint opposition showed its strength in the National Assembly today… 172 MNAs asked deputy speaker to hold voting on the no-trust motion.” He said PM Imran could no longer remain in the office as he had been “defeated morally, constitutionally and legally”. Speaking on the occasion, Bilawal said the opposition had proved that it had the majority in the lower house of the parliament “by producing 175” MNAs. He added that PM Imran had run out of options. Read Timeline: No-trust move against Prime Minister Imran Khan “The only safe passage [for him] is to resign from the post,” the PPP chairman said, while calling upon the premier to stop “damaging” the country’s foreign policy to save his government. Shehbaz termed the ‘threat letter’ a “fraud”, saying there was nothing unusual about the diplomatic cable. BNP-M chief Akhtar Mengal said the united opposition had shown its majority and it was in front of everyone. “The Kaptaan [PM Imran] is absent from day one,” he added. “The Constitution is considered a joke and the legislature a comedy theatre.” Earlier on his arrival at the Parliament House, PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari, while responding to a query, said he did not need to see the ‘threat letter’ as it was ‘fake’. The former president, who was accompanied by his daughter Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, added that PM Imran and his mandate were “fake” as well. “The only honourable way left for him [Pm Imran] is to resign so that Shehbaz Sharif can take over as the prime minister.”

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Pakistan lodges protest with US over ‘threatening memo’

Pakistan late on Thursday night lodged a formal protest with the US over a threatening letter that warned of dire consequences if the opposition’s no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan failed. Acting US envoy in Islamabad was summoned to the Foreign Ministry over the "threatening" letter, hours after the country’s top decision-making body on national security voiced concerns over the issue during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan. A Foreign Office official confirmed that a demarche was also handed over to the acting US envoy, adding that the US was told that the use of such undiplomatic language was unacceptable, the official said. “As decided in the National Security Committee meeting held on 31 March 2022, the requisite demarches have been made through diplomatic channels,” the Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement in the early hours of Friday. Also read: Pakistan to issue 'strong demarche' to foreign country over 'threatening letter' The decision to hand over the demarche to the US was taken during the NSC meeting, which was also attended by federal ministers for defence, energy, information, interior, finance, human rights and planning, besides chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, services chiefs, national security adviser and senior officers. The NSC meeting was convened against the backdrop of alleged “foreign-funded plot” against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government. The presence of the alleged plot was based on a diplomatic cable the Pakistani ambassador in Washington wrote to the Foreign Office earlier this month. The secret memo contains minutes of the meeting between the Pakistani envoy and a US official. According to the government, the US official conveyed a threatening message, stating that if the vote of no-confidence did not succeed the country would have to face consequences. Prime Minister Imran, in a televised address to the nation on Thursday, insisted that a certain foreign power wanted to see his ouster because he was pursuing an independent foreign policy. A handout issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said that the national security adviser briefed the committee on the formal communication of a senior official of a foreign country to Pakistan’s ambassador in the said country in a formal meeting, which was duly conveyed by the ambassador to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The committee expressed grave concern at the communication, terming the language used by the foreign official undiplomatic. The committee concluded that the communication amounted to blatant interference in the internal affairs of Pakistan by the country in question, which was unacceptable under any circumstances. The committee decided that Pakistan would issue a strong demarche to the country in question both in Islamabad and in the country’s capital through proper channel in keeping with diplomatic norms. The participants also endorsed the decision taken in the special cabinet meeting on Wednesday, chaired by Prime Minister Imran, to take parliament into confidence through an in-camera briefing of the National Security Committee of Parliament. Also read: PM says foreign powers conspiring to topple govt However, the NSC did not say if the letter constituted a conspiracy against the sitting government and did not suggest if the opposition parties were part of the plan. There was no decision either to order an inquiry to look into the controversy. This, observers believe, may be an effort to downplay the conspiracy element on part of the military leadership, which initially was not willing to take the matter seriously. In the official statement, the NSC was cautious that the protest would be lodged with that foreign country keeping with diplomatic norms. This indicates that there is unlikely Pakistan takes any harsh steps other than issuing a demarche to the US.

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'Legal minefield awaits opposition after no-confidence'

The opposition may have secured for itself a favourable spot in the National Assembly as the race to 172 nears the final stretch. But there is little chance that political uncertainty will, too, end with the conclusion of the no-confidence vote. The political battle may well head towards a legal minefield. According to Article 94 of the Constitution, the president is entitled to ask the prime minister to continue to hold office until his successor enters office. Taking to its logical conclusion in the current scenario, PM Imran Khan will continue occupying the office until his successor enters. Moreover, a cabinet member revealed to The Express Tribune that although the joint opposition moved a resolution for no-confidence against PM Khan as well as the election of his successor in the National Assembly, the NA Speaker has the authority vested in him to adjourn the session after completing the process of no-confidence motion on Sunday for an indefinite period. Also read: No-confidence vote on Sunday, which will decide our nation's destiny: PM For the election of a new leader of the house, the speaker may again summon the session in view of Article 54 of the Constitution, which says that the custodian of the house may summon a session within 14 days, the source explained. He said that the Supreme Court has already held that they are not interested to intervene in internal proceedings of the parliament. Therefore, he added, the NA speaker has immense discretionary powers to conduct the proceedings. Meanwhile, legal team members of opposition parties have also expressed serious apprehensions over the conduct of NA Speaker Asad Qaiser for his partisan handling of proceedings and continuous violation of rules. “Keeping in view the dubious role of Speaker NA, I had suggested to the opposition leadership to move a no-confidence motion against Asad Qaiser first,” a legal mind of the opposition party said. He said that Asad Qaiser was misusing his authority by delaying the process. Also read: Pakistan lodges protest with US over ‘threatening memo’ The lawyer further said that President Arif Alvi is also providing grounds for his impeachment by delaying the process. However, senior lawyers are of the opinion that after losing the majority in the National Assembly, PM Khan should graciously step down in the national interest as the political instability is also severally affecting the country's economy. Meanwhile, PTI has issued a show-cause notice to disgruntled MNAs in violation of Article 63A (1)(a) of the Constitution. Under this provision, a lawmaker could be de seated by joining another parliamentary party. PTI lawyers believe that disgruntled members' meetings with opposition parties leaders are enough to prove that they violated Article 63A (1) (a) of the Constitution. However senior lawyers that defection could not be proved by attending meetings with opposition parties.

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Opposition lambasts PM’s speech, terms him ‘security risk’ for country

Soon after his address to the nation, many opposition leaders have lashed out at Prime Minister Imran Khan and termed him a “security risk” for linking the no-confidence motion with the ‘foreign conspiracy’ to influence the country’s foreign policy. PM Imran on Tuesday delivered an address to the nation ahead of the voting on-trust motion wherein he alleged that the opposition's bigwigs – Shehbaz Sharif, Asif Zardari and Maulana Fazlur Rehman – part of a foreign-funded conspiracy to influence Pakistan’s “independent” foreign policy. PML-N President and Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif termed the premier a “security risk” for the country. Responding to PM Imran‘s address, Shehbaz said “Niazi” had brought Pakistan into the cross-hairs in a desperate attempt to hang on to power. “Once Imran gets done with his speech he should concentrate on getting the 172 members in parliament because that’s the only thing that matters.” The PML-N president said the premier’s “incompetence, corruption and arrogance” had only caused economic, social and foreign policy crises in the country. He stressed that in his “desperation and frustration”, the premier was damaging diplomatic relations with Pakistan which is why it is imperative that he should be banned from delivering these “catastrophic speeches”. Shehbaz once again pointed out that to this day PM Imran had not shown the letter to parliament and the people, and was only sharing select contents of the document and his perception of them. Also read: No-confidence vote on Sunday, which will decide our nation's destiny: PM “Not showing the letter means there is no letter, Imran Niazi is once again telling a new lie as he usually does,” Shehbaz said. JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman questioned if PM Imran had really received the 'threatening letter' then “why the ambassador was not summoned to record the protest”. Terming the PM’s claim of foreign conspiracy a lie, Fazl said: “You came into power through a conspiracy but you are being removed due to your incompetency.” “Honestly, this man [PM Imran] is on a rampage! He has to be gagged or muzzled before he makes a joke out of the country,” said PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz in a tweet from her official handle. Honestly this man is on a rampage! He has to be gagged or muzzled before he makes a joke out of the country. — Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) March 31, 2022 “He proves every day that he is not fit for the post of the prime minster,” she added. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said that he did not bother to watch the PM’s address. “I believe that he is repeating the same things. The Pakistani people are aware of his lies now, they know that this man has not fulfilled one promise in the past three years. Every promise has been a U-turn or betrayal,” said the PPP leader while speaking to a local TV channel. He also asked the premier to take an "honourable exit" instead of trying to find a “safe exit”. “He should have resigned in today’s speech. He should face us in the voting on Sunday and respect the democracy. He should not try to fool the people of Pakistan.” Former finance minister and PML-N leader Ishaq Dar said after “destroying” Pakistan’s Economy, PM Imran carried out “drone strike" on [country’s foreign policy. “After destroying Pakistan’s Economy, and before leaving PM office in couple of days, #ImranNiazi did a drone attack on foreign policy of Pakistan in his last address to the Nation just for the sake of his petty political gain and to pose that he is a [political] martyr,” he wrote on his official Twitter handle. After destroying Pakistan’s Economy, and before leaving PM office in couple of days, #ImranNiazi did a drone attack on foreign policy of Pakistan in his last address to the Nation just for the sake of his petty political gain and to pose that he is a martyr.#Shameless_action — Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) March 31, 2022  

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Opposition lambasts PM’s speech, terms him ‘security risk’ for country

Soon after his address to the nation, many opposition leaders have lashed out at Prime Minister Imran Khan and termed him a “security risk” for linking the no-confidence motion with the ‘foreign conspiracy’ to influence the country’s foreign policy. PM Imran on Tuesday delivered an address to the nation ahead of the voting on-trust motion wherein he alleged that the opposition's bigwigs – Shehbaz Sharif, Asif Zardari and Maulana Fazlur Rehman – part of a foreign-funded conspiracy to influence Pakistan’s “independent” foreign policy. PML-N President and Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif termed the premier a “security risk” for the country. Responding to PM Imran‘s address, Shehbaz said “Niazi” had brought Pakistan into the cross-hairs in a desperate attempt to hang on to power. “Once Imran gets done with his speech he should concentrate on getting the 172 members in parliament because that’s the only thing that matters.” The PML-N president said the premier’s “incompetence, corruption and arrogance” had only caused economic, social and foreign policy crises in the country. He stressed that in his “desperation and frustration”, the premier was damaging diplomatic relations with Pakistan which is why it is imperative that he should be banned from delivering these “catastrophic speeches”. Shehbaz once again pointed out that to this day PM Imran had not shown the letter to parliament and the people, and was only sharing select contents of the document and his perception of them. Also read: No-confidence vote on Sunday, which will decide our nation's destiny: PM “Not showing the letter means there is no letter, Imran Niazi is once again telling a new lie as he usually does,” Shehbaz said. JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman questioned if PM Imran had really received the 'threatening letter' then “why the ambassador was not summoned to record the protest”. Terming the PM’s claim of foreign conspiracy a lie, Fazl said: “You came into power through a conspiracy but you are being removed due to your incompetency.” “Honestly, this man [PM Imran] is on a rampage! He has to be gagged or muzzled before he makes a joke out of the country,” said PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz in a tweet from her official handle. Honestly this man is on a rampage! He has to be gagged or muzzled before he makes a joke out of the country. — Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) March 31, 2022 “He proves every day that he is not fit for the post of the prime minster,” she added. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said that he did not bother to watch the PM’s address. “I believe that he is repeating the same things. The Pakistani people are aware of his lies now, they know that this man has not fulfilled one promise in the past three years. Every promise has been a U-turn or betrayal,” said the PPP leader while speaking to a local TV channel. He also asked the premier to take an "honourable exit" instead of trying to find a “safe exit”. “He should have resigned in today’s speech. He should face us in the voting on Sunday and respect the democracy. He should not try to fool the people of Pakistan.” Former finance minister and PML-N leader Ishaq Dar said after “destroying” Pakistan’s Economy, PM Imran carried out “drone strike" on [country’s foreign policy. “After destroying Pakistan’s Economy, and before leaving PM office in couple of days, #ImranNiazi did a drone attack on foreign policy of Pakistan in his last address to the Nation just for the sake of his petty political gain and to pose that he is a [political] martyr,” he wrote on his official Twitter handle. After destroying Pakistan’s Economy, and before leaving PM office in couple of days, #ImranNiazi did a drone attack on foreign policy of Pakistan in his last address to the Nation just for the sake of his petty political gain and to pose that he is a martyr.#Shameless_action — Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) March 31, 2022  

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Some opposition leaders 'part of global conspiracy' to topple govt: Fawad

Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Thursday said that some of the leaders of the opposition were "involved in the global conspiracy to topple the incumbent government". "If the government was being removed constitutionally then there would have been no issues but some opposition leaders are involved in this conspiracy and are taking dictation from foreign forces," he said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad. Fawad said that the fundamental objective of the conspiracy was to remove Prime Minister Imran Khan from his office."If this was an organic movement then why the opposition is boycotting the meetings? Why don't they see the prove themselves." He cleared that not all leaders of the opposition were involved in the conspiracy and said that maybe the dissenting PTI MNAs are also unaware. "Many PTI MNAs who are now with the opposition must be thinking that this is an organic movement. I want to ask them to hold their decision. They should come to NSC meetings and see the proof for themselves," he added. The information minister said that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's meeting with people from India and Israel are well-known, adding that some of the media persons were also involved in the conspiracy. "It [the conspiracy] originated from the apartment of Nawaz Sharif in London and was ending here," he added. Read more: Imran terms no-trust a foreign conspiracy Reiterating his earlier stance, the government spokesperson said that PM Imran "will fight till the ball" as it was for the sovereignty of the country. "Whenever there is an independent foreign policy in a country, the price of it has to be paid by its leaders," he added. He said that the document, which according to him was conveyed to Pakistan by some country, was presented in National Security Committee (NSC) meeting today. Also read: IHC expects PM will not make content of 'threat letter' public On the occasion, Energy Minister Hammad Azhar said that the opposition's moves prove that it was indeed a conspiracy. "When we received the document, the opposition had not tabled the no-confidence motion but it was mentioned in the document," he added. Hammad said that the "foreign force" is confidence that the next government would be a friendly one. LIVE #APPNews : Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting @fawadchaudhry talks to media #Islamabad https://t.co/KuFqncu7t6 — APP 🇵🇰 (@appcsocialmedia) March 31, 2022  

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World should not shun Afghans' plight due to new crises: FM

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday stressed that new humanitarian situations emerging in other parts of the world should not move the focus away from the dire needs of millions of Afghans. He was addressing a high-level ministerial meeting on supporting the humanitarian response in Afghanistan which was held in a virtual format. The meeting was convened by the UN Secretary-General, joined by member state co-hosts including Qatar, the United Kingdom and Germany. In his video address, the foreign minister called upon the international community to support the Afghan people in their journey towards sustainable peace and development. Read more: A pragmatic approach toward Afghanistan He underscored the importance of durable solutions including the provision of livelihood opportunities and ensuring access to basic necessities such as food, health and education for the Afghan population. FM Qureshi recalled that Pakistan had been at the forefront of humanitarian efforts for Afghanistan including facilitating evacuations and relocations, and establishment of a humanitarian corridor for the delivery of relief goods through air and land routes. He noted that Pakistan had airlifted humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and dispatched wheat flour and medical supplies via land as part of a $30 million humanitarian assistance package for Afghanistan. "Over the years, Pakistan had earmarked over $1 billion for a range of development projects in Afghanistan. Pakistan also continued to host around 4 million Afghan refugees," he added. Also read: Trans-border river between Afghanistan and Pakistan The foreign minister also apprised the meeting of Pakistan’s efforts through the platform of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for the operationalisation of ‘Afghanistan Humanitarian Trust Fund’; decision to establish ‘Afghanistan Food Security Programme’; and the appointment of a Special Envoy of the OIC Secretary-General for Afghanistan. The foreign minister reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to continue the provision of humanitarian relief to the Afghan people, under the UN and OIC umbrella, as well as through bilateral channels, in addition to facilitating the UN in its humanitarian relief efforts by providing logistical and other support through Pakistan. Emphasising that humanitarian assistance should be unconditional and apolitical, in line with international principles, Qureshi called for concerted international efforts to help Afghanistan build a sustainable economy and reintegrate into the global supply chains and banking system. The main objective of the meeting was to secure scaled-up resources for addressing the unprecedented level of humanitarian needs in Afghanistan. At the start of 2022, the United Nations had launched an appeal for over $4.4 billion in that regard.

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Article 63-A can’t be considered ‘redundant’: CJP

Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial on Wednesday observed that Article 63-A of the Constitution could not be considered “redundant”. “When a system is not strong, then the court should come forward to enforce the Constitution, the CJP noted while hearing presidential reference seeking the interpretation and scope of Article 63-A. A five-judge larger bench, headed by the CJP, is hearing the matter. The CJP noted that the party head could condone defection by not sending declaration to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). However, he added that the court had no option except the enforcement of the Constitution. The top judge further remarked that some issues should have left for the political process, but he was still not convinced in this matter. Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan, who is also on the bench, noted that defection was immoral and opportunistic as the entire system suffered because of it. Also read: Article 63-A does not mention lifetime disqualification, says SC He added that if a lawmaker act in violation of Article 63-A, then he would fall within the purview of Article 62(1)(f). During the hearing, Makhdoom Ali Khan, the counsel for the PML-N, questioned the timing regarding filing of presidential reference in this case. He added that the purpose of the reference was to curb corrupt practices, which were already done in the Senate elections last year. He asked as to as why the ruling party head had not taken action against the MNAs, who were allegedly involved in corrupt practices during the Senate elections and waited for a year. The lawyer also said the court could not look into morality. He also raised questions on the maintainability of the reference. In his written submission, the lawyer stated that the reference was pre-mature, vague and speculative. “It seeks declarations in advance with regard to the consequences which may flow from an “exercise of vote in a particular way by the members of National Assembly (MNAs) of a particular party on an as yet undetermined future day,” it read. Also read: SC may put off Article 63-A reference till April 4 “The reference does not seek an opinion on a question of law of public importance. It seeks a re-writing of the Constitution. It wants this hon’ble court to read the word ‘disqualification’ into Article 63-A of the Constitution. Further, on the premise that since no duration of alleged ‘disqualification’ is provided in Article 63-A, the words ‘lifetime’ be read in by this hon’ble court. Further still, it seeks that the vote(s) against the prime minister by any member of his party be disregarded.” The counsel further argued that the reference also did not seek an interpretation of constitutional text. “It seeks to read the current political needs of the leader of a political party into the text of the Constitution under the thin guise of an unsullied and pure political process. At the same time its object is to intimidate and threaten.” The lawyer argued that the partisan use of Article 186 by the president to satisfy such needs threatened to make one who is the head of the state and represented the unity of the republic a “football of the contending factions”. "No questions of law of public importance have been raised in the reference that requires an opinion from this hon’ble court. All that is sought is that the transient political expediency of the day be declared a constitutional principle," the written submission read.

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No-trust debate kicks off in NA today

The debate on the no-confidence motion in the National Assembly will begin on Thursday (today) as the political temperature in the federal capital is at its peak. According to the schedule issued on Wednesday by NA Secretariat, the resolution submitted by Shehbaz Sharif, the PML-N president and leader of the opposition in the House, for a discussion on the no-trust motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan is on the list of agendas for the day. “Through this Resolution under clause (1) of Article 95 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, this House resolves that it has no-confidence in the Prime Minister, Mr Imran Khan, and consequently he should cease to hold office under clause (4),” it read. Other items include a call attention notice by MNA Faheem Khan to the defence minister to a matter of urgent public importance regarding “non-payment of salaries to the councillors in the cantonment boards of the country, causing grave concern amongst the public”. Adviser to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan will introduce a bill to further amend the Elections Act, 2017 [The Elections (Second Amendment) Bill, 2022]. Also read: Opposition urges PM Imran to resign as PTI loses majority in NA Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid will lay before the National Assembly the National Database and Registration Authority (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 as required by clause (2) of Article 89. The adviser to the prime minister on parliamentary affairs will lay before the House the Elections (Amendment) Ordinance, 2022 as required by clause (2) of Article 89. The interior minister will move a resolution to extend the Islamabad Capital Territory Trust (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 for a further period of 120 starting from March 3, 2022. The adviser to the prime minister on parliamentary affairs will move a resolution to extend the Pakistan Nursing Council (Emergency Management) Ordinance, 2021 for a further period of 120 starting from. April 2, 2022. Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin will lay before the National Assembly the Fiscal and Debt Policy Statement, January, 2022, as required by section 6 and 7 of the Fiscal Responsibility and Debt Limitation Act, 2005. He will also lay before the House the Mid-Year Budget Review Report FY 2021-22, as required by section 34(1) of the Public Finance Management Act, 2019. NA Standing Committee on Communications Chairman Ibad Ullah Khan will move a motion that the delay in the presentation of the report of the parliamentary panel on the bill to amend the National Highways Safety Ordinance, 2000 [The National Highways Safety (Amendment) Bill, 2021], till Thursday be condoned.

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No-trust vote: Sindh nationalist parties unhappy with PPP, MQM-P pact

Hours after Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leadership reached written agreements, Sindhi nationalist parties on Wednesday expressed "serious concerns" over it. Speaking to the media Ayaz Latif Palijo of the Qaumi Awami Tehreek (QAT) said that political parties have the right to make or break an alliance, but it should not be done at the cost of punishing the people of Sindh. "The PPP for the sake of its own interest is selling resources of Sindh to the MQM-P and devising a plan of sharing jobs, funds and kickbacks which is not tolerable," he said, adding that in the last tenure the MQM-P, with the help of the PPP, inducted many "terrorists" in various government departments. Read more: Opposition urges PM Imran to resign as PTI loses majority in NA "It looks like the same practice is being repeated in the name of agreement between both the parties," he said. Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party's Dr Qadir Magsi, while rejecting the agreement to appoint MQM-P administrators in various districts of Sindh, called it a grave violation of merit. "We reject the distribution on the basis of ethnicity. This aims to control cities and towns of Sindh by appointing MQM-P administrators having a terrorist background," Magsi said, adding that his party would start the movement against the agreement and would not allow the PPP to "hijack" Sindh at the hand of the MQM-P. Syed Zain Shah of Sindh United Party (SUP) was of the view that Sindh is not the property of the PPP to hand over it to the MQM-P and people living in the province would come out against any nefarious design to loot and plunder the resources of the province. Read more: Imran directs MNAs to stay away from no-trust session "We wonder whether the Sindh government is going to withdraw the terrorist cases lodged against MQM-P activists. It's one of the points in the agreement," Zain claimed. Meanwhile, there was a hue and cry on social media as activists, writers and civil society members demanded of the PPP and other opposition parties make public the agreement with the MQM-P so that people should have an idea under what terms and condition the agreement was inked.

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Serious threat to PM Imran's life, claims Vawda

In a startling claim on Wednesday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) leader Faisal Vawda "revealed" that "a plan is being hatched to assassinate Prime Minister Imran Khan, as political tensions on the rise owing to the no-trust motion to oust the latter from power. Reiterating the urgent need for amplified security, ruling party leaders urged the premier to use bulletproof glass while addressing rallies, Express News quoted Vawda as saying while talking to a private news channel this evening, PM Imran, he added, shrugged off their concerns and said that "he will die when it is his time to die". Commenting on the remarks, Vawda said: "PM Imran is a brave and courageous man; he won't compromise on Pakistan, neither will he allow the bowing of nation before anyone." The PTI stalwart went on to say that the premier had received such threats earlier too, adding that now a conspiracy is afoot to implement the "plan". Also read: Opposition urges PM Imran to resign as PTI loses majority in NA The move comes hours after the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) parted ways with the ruling party after it announced its support for the opposition parties on their no-trust motion against PM Imran. After deliberating for weeks, the opposition parties finally managed to persuade the government’s coalition partner to go against the PM on the no-confidence motion, and now with the MQM-P’s support, the government has apparently lost its majority in the assembly. Though the resignation has not yet been accepted, MQM-P’s move has left both PTI and PML-Q red-faced as they have lost three crucial wickets — PM Imran, CM Buzdar and would-be CM Elahi — on a single delivery. With MQM-P siding with the opposition, the opposition officially now has more than the required numbers to oust PM Imran’s government through the vote of no confidence even without the PTI’s roughly two dozen dissidents. The suspense in the wake of the no-confidence motion gripped the country for the past several weeks and everything else was put on the back burner: the only thing that continued by PM Imran was the use of inappropriate language, resorting to name-calling, and luring the allies and dissident members through requests and threats.

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PM says he can’t name country behind ‘lettergate’ fearing repercussions

Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Wednesday that the opposition parties’ no-confidence motion against him was a ‘huge foreign conspiracy against Pakistan’, saying he can’t name the country which sent the ‘threat letter’, fearing repercussions for the country. While referring to ‘threat letter’ that he referred to in his public rally in Islamabad on March 27, the prime minister said that the letter states that Pakistan will face serious consequences if the no-confidence motion fails, adding that the language of the letter was extremely harsh and the no-trust motion has been mentioned several times in it. The details about premier’s remarks emerged after he convened an urgent meeting of federal cabinet to discuss the issue of “international conspiracy to topple his government through a secret letter”. Though the heads of the allied parties were also requested to attend the meeting, MQM-P and BAP leadership excused on grounds that they were busy with other things. Later on, the premier discussed the contents of the letter with journalists in a separate meeting. Also read: IHC expects PM will not make content of 'threat letter' public Initially, the ‘lettergate’ controversy arose after PM Imran claimed in the public rally that there was a “foreign-funded plot” being hatched against his government and waved a letter to the crowed but without divulging its contents. PM Imran insisted that efforts were being made to seek his ouster since he pursued an “independent foreign policy” and produced the letter as an evidence of the existence of the conspiracy aimed at toppling his government. Meanwhile, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain while sharing the details of the meetings said that PM Imran took the federal cabinet into confidence over the ‘threat letter’. “The letter’s content was shared with the federal cabinet as it was shared by our ambassador with the government under the Official Secret Act,” the information minister said, adding that the gist of the letter had also been shared with some anchorpersons as well. “In the next phase, we have a plan to table the letter in an in-camera session of parliament,” Fawad said, adding that the government has already expressed its desire to share the letter with the Chief Justice of Pakistan. “The kind of language, plan and threats given in the letter are unacceptable for any sovereign country,” Fawad maintained, adding that PM Imran would continue to fight for the country’s integrity, sovereignty and the respect of nation. Read more: Resignation not an option, PM will ‘fight till last ball’: Fawad Meanwhile, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser tweeted: “If the Parliamentary leaders from government and opposition side agree, the issue of the sensitive letter can be discussed at in camera meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security.” If the Parliamentry leaders from Government and Opposition side agree, the issue of the sensitive letter can be discussed at in camera meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security. — Asad Qaiser (@AsadQaiserPTI) March 30, 2022 Commenting on a meeting between PM and the army chief, Fawad said that neither the premier has been asked to resign nor will he resign. While ruling out the possibility of PM’s resignation, he said “Imran Khan would fight till the last ball.” He also equated the current political situation with the 1992 Cricket World Cup when the Pakistan team had a poor start but eventually won the title beating England in the final. Fawad predicted a bleak political future for dissident members of the ruling party in the National Assembly. In addition, he said the PTI had a firm stand that Pakistan Army was a guarantor of the national security and stability. Unlike the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz which attempted to “conquer” the institutions during its government tenures, Fawad said, PTI has been working with army in close coordination for the national progress and prosperity. Following a meeting with the journalists, an anchorperson revealed that eyes of several members of the federal cabinet welled up with tears when they heard the contents of the ‘secret letter’. The anchorpersons also revealed that Planning Minister Asad Umar shared some details and showed the letter conveyed on March 7 from a distance. They said that the clear threats have been given through the letter, saying it was also shared with the army chief and the DG ISI. Also read: Opposition urges PM Imran to resign as PTI loses majority in NA One of the participants of the meeting said that it was clearly stated in the letter that the country concerned was not happy with the policies of the government. In case the no-confidence motion succeeds, he said that the sender country has said that it will “forgive everything”. Otherwise, he said, there will be difficult days ahead. Earlier in the day, PM Imran while speaking during a ceremony in Islamabad marking the launch of the e-passports facility said that the no-confidence motion was a “democratic” right in a parliamentary democracy but the current no-trust move was “funded by foreign powers”. Imran said that foreign powers could not accept leadership that worked for the people of Pakistan and criticised the United States’ War on Terror, saying Pakistan “sacrificed its interest” for foreign powers but they never “valued” its sacrifices. It was in that ceremony the premier said that he would show the letter to senior journalists and allied parties to show that it was “real”. “People think there is a drama going on… this is not a drama. We just wanted to protect our national interests and that is why we cannot disclose who has threatened us,” he said.  Reportedly, the letter was also shared with the military leadership but the relevant quarters revealed that they had “no knowledge” of any such plot and neither did they see any evidence. Separately, the prime minister postponed his address to the nation. Earlier in the day, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said PM would address the nation in the evening. However, Senator Faisal Javed Khan shared in the evening that the address was postponed.

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Resignation not an option, PM will ‘fight till last ball’: Fawad

Hours after ally the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) announced parting ways with the PTI-led government and the opposition claimed having the requisite number to oust the prime minister, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said Imran Khan "won't step down at any cost and will fight till the last ball”. “We are going to conduct an in-camera session to reveal the contents of the [threat] letter received by PM,” Fawad said as he spoke to media persons flanked by PM’s aide Shahbaz Gill. The “threat letter” Prime Minister Imran Khan had claimed in a March 27 public gathering was evidence of “foreign powers” behind the opposition’s no-confidence move to oust his government. “For Imran Khan, resignation is not an option and I can assure you that he wasn’t asked to do so during his meeting with the army chief [General Qamar],” he added. LIVE #APPNews : Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting @fawadchaudhry talks to media #Islamabad https://t.co/yPAPjVBZfq — APP 🇵🇰 (@appcsocialmedia) March 30, 2022 According to the federal minister, the tone, threat and the “plan” stated in the letter can’t be acceptable for any sovereign country. He added that the government had also offered to show the letter to the chief justice. “Let me make it clear that Imran Khan will fight against this for the integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan as well as for the integrity of the nation,” he added. “This is a situation similar the 1992 Cricket World Cup when we seemed at the back-foot when we weren’t,” he quipped. Fawad went on to add, “Everyone will see [how the situation will turn into Premier Khan’s favour once the game changed.” On the MQM-P parting ways with the government, he said “those sitting in Sindh can’t even realise what has happened to them.” While responding to a question, the info minister said the PTI government believed in taking the institutions onboard unlike Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) who always wanted to conquer them. Speaking on the occasion, Gill said the PM was at first sent a “soft signal”, followed by a harsh response, adding he would not bow to the powers that be. Later, Fawad took to Twitter, saying "Prime Mininter! Imran Khan in-sha-Allah." وزیر اعظم ! عمران خان انشاللہ — Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) March 30, 2022 He also posted an image captioned, "Dwarves are trying to knock out a giant." Dwarves trying to knock out a giant… #PakPolitics pic.twitter.com/eRGmJ2Voiu — Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) March 30, 2022 Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf stalwart Shehryar Afridi also posted a message online in support of the PM, saying "he will never give up." PM Imran Khan will never give up IA. He is a fighter. A symbol of courage & bravery. Allah won’t let him down IA. — Shehryar Afridi (@ShehryarAfridi1) March 30, 2022 Another ruling party senator Faisal Javed Khan expressed confidence that PM Is "winning the game." PM Imran Khan is winning 100% insha'ALLAH. — Faisal Javed Khan (@FaisalJavedKhan) March 30, 2022 Meanwhile, there were unconfirmed reports of the presence of 190 lawmakers at the Punjab House, providing ground to the opposotion's claims that they had the required majority to oust the ruling party from power.

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IHC expects PM will not make content of 'threat letter' public

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday expressed confidence that Prime Minister Imran Khan, as an elected representative, would not make content of a letter – which the premier had claimed in a March 27 public gathering was evidence of “foreign powers” behind the opposition’s no-confidence move to oust his government – public. IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah said in the court order that he hoped the prime minister "would not disclose any information or act in breach of the Official Secrets Act, 1923 nor the oath taken by him under the Constitution". Also read: Plea seeking probe into ‘threat letter’ to PM filed in SC "Any decision taken by the worthy Prime Minister has to be in consonance with his obligations under the Official Secrets Act, 1923 and in letter and spirit of the oath of the office," he wrote in the order a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune. The court, it read, has trust and confidence that the worthy prime minister would not reveal any information which may be prejudicial to the national interest and national integrity of Pakistan nor that he would act in any manner that would have the effect of violating his oath. Read more: PM Imran to show 'threatening letter' to allies, journalists The controversy arose after Premier Imran, in his speech at a public rally on Sunday, claimed that there was a "foreign-funded plot" being hatched against his government. He showed a letter, but without divulging its contents, as evidence of the existence of the conspiracy aimed at toppling his government. Imran insisted that efforts were being made to seek his ouster since he pursued an "independent" foreign policy. Since his revelations, many questions are being asked including whether the letter was written by any country or was an internal assessment shared by one of the foreign diplomatic missions of Pakistan. Also read: Opposition urges PM Imran to resign as PTI loses majority in NA The "threat letter" was also shared with the military leadership, according to Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. But relevant quarters revealed that they had "no knowledge" of any such plot and neither did they see any evidence. Earlier today, PM Imran said that he will show the letter to senior journalists and government allies. However, the idea was later dropped. Meanwhile, a scheduled address to the nation by the premier was also postponed and no reason was given in this regard by the ruling party officials.

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Man accused of murdering wife, son arrested

Police on Tuesday arrested the man who had allegedly slaughtered his wife and five-month-old infant two days ago. SSP (Investigation) Capt (retd.) Rai Ajmal, along with Khurrianwala DSP Usman Warraich and SHO Rai Arshad, said this while addressing a press conference. The media were informed that on March 28, the accused, Shan alias Shani, had allegedly killed his wife Shumaila Bibi and five-month-old son at his house with the help of his father Arshad and brother Qaisar over a domestic issue. The SSP added that Shan had fled the crime scene, and the father of the accused, Arshad, informed the police about the dual-murder incident. DSP Usman Warraich and SHO Rai Arshad had arrived at the crime scene and collected evidence. They had also taken the father of the accused, Arshad, into custody due to contradiction in his statements. He then told the police that he, along with his sons, had murdered Shumaila Bibi and her five-month-old son Hamza over “domestic misconduct”, the SSP told the media. The SSP said that police managed to arrest Shan after Arshad identified certain areas where he thought his son could be hiding. The SSP said that Shan had been wanting his wife’s younger sister’s hand for his brother Qaiser. When Shumaila's father Zulfiqar, a resident of 626 GB, refused to marry her younger daughter to Qaiser, the accused started quarrelling with his wife and even started her character assassination. Four hours after the incident, Arshad reported the double-murder incident and tried to hoodwink the police to hide his alleged involvement in the matter. However, police got suspicious on the basis of his contradictory statements and also because of the fact that he took four hours to report about the murders to the police. In response to a question, the SSP said that in most of the cases of murder in the family, the plaintiffs preferred to go for reconciliation “due to which we apply Section 311 TP of the Pakistan Penal Code in such cases in which the chances of reconciliation are less, and the case is sent to the court for hearing”. Published in The Express Tribune, March 30th, 2022.

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Opposition, MQM-P reach agreement on no-trust move

The joint opposition and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) finally reached an agreement on late Tuesday night regarding the no-confidence motion tabled against Prime Minister Imran Khan in the National Assembly. The united opposition and MQM have reached an agreement. Rabta committee MQM & PPP CEC will ratify said agreement. We will then share details with the media in a press conference tomorrow IA. Congratulations Pakistan. — BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) March 29, 2022 The MQM-P spokesperson officially confirmed that an agreement was drafted with the opposition, saying details of the agreement would be revealed in a news conference at 4pm on Wednesday. “The united opposition and MQM-P have reached an agreement. The MQM-P’s Rabita Committee and the PPP’s CEC will ratify the said agreement. We will then share the details with the media in a news conference. Congratulations Pakistan,” PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari tweeted. متحدہ اپوزیشن اور متحدہ قومی موومنٹ پاکستان کے درمیان معاہدہ نے حتمی شکل اختیار کر لی ہے پیپلز پارٹی کی سی ای سی، ایم کیو ایم پاکستان کی رابطہ کمیٹی مجوزہ معاہدے کی توثیق کے بعد اس کی تفصیلات سے کل شام۴ بجے باضابطہ میڈیا کو آگاہ کیا جائے گا۔ @MQMPKOfficial @PPP_Org @pmln_org — Faisal Subzwari (@faisalsubzwari) March 29, 2022 Reportedly, the MQM-P joined the opposition after the PML-Q decided to side with the government when Premier Imran took resignation from Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and offered the position to PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi in exchange for the party’s support on the no-trust motion against him. READ Opposition leaders ‘bid farewell’ to PM Imran at PDM power show Apparently, as the MQM-P has chosen sides, the opposition parties will have more than the required numbers to oust PM Imran through the vote of no confidence even without the PTI’s roughly two dozen dissidents. The decision had to be announced in a late night news conference of the joint opposition and the MQM-P leadership at the Parliament Lodges but at around 3am, it was decided to make the announcement on Wednesday at 4pm. Sources said that both the sides reached written agreements at provincial and federal level, assuring the MQM-P that all their demands would be fulfilled. الحمد للّٰہ متحدہ اپوزیشن اور متحدہ قومی موومنٹ پاکستان کے درمیان معاہدہ نے حتمی شکل اختیار کر لی ہے پیپلز پارٹی کی سی ای سی اور ایم کیو ایم پاکستان کی رابطہ کمیٹی مجوزہ معاہدے کی توثیق کے بعد اس کی تفصیلات سے کل شام چار بجے باضابطہ میڈیا کو آگاہ کیا جائے گا۔ — Khawaja Saad Rafique (@KhSaad_Rafique) March 29, 2022 The MQM-P has been seeking an answer to its demands from both the government and the opposition in writing, saying that the party would side with whoever comes up with a better response as it has to satisfy its voters and supporters. The demands included opening of the party’s offices, recovery of missing party workers, discarding of “fake” cases against the party leadership and workers, among other things.

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Shujaat rejects reports of rift within PML-Q

Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat on Tuesday denied the reports of a rift among the leaders of the PML-Q as baseless, saying his “family and the party are on the same page”. The remarks of the PML-Q chief came in the wake of the deal between the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Punjab-based party wherein Prime Minister Imran Khan agreed to give the coveted slot of the Punjab chief minister to Pervaiz Elahi in return for the support on the no-confidence motion submitted by the opposition. The deal reportedly prompted a rift within the party with Tariq Bashir Cheema revolting against the decision and announcing to vote against PM Imran. Cheema also resigned from the federal cabinet, giving rise to speculations regarding a rift in the Chaudhrys of Gujrat. In response to the reports in the media about the rift, Shujaat said all decisions were taken after consultations with him. “I endorse all these decisions,” he said, adding that the “rumours” making rounds in the media were false. Read No-trust motion tabled in NA amid hullabaloo The PML-Q chief said, “I don’t like to issue clarifications but I will still make it clear that I am considered as the patriarch.” All the decisions, taken in the party and the family so far, have my approval, he said, adding that it was inappropriate to twist the facts. Shujaat said the number of youngsters in the current assemblies was higher compared to previous assemblies and it was “wrong to make allegations against them”. He added that the use of money in politics should not be allowed as "literate people especially don’t like such practices". The PML-Q president said people who wanted to take “political advantage” by disseminating false information will not succeed. He added that one should not indulge in propaganda by "dubbing an opinion as a decision".

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PM has full faith in judges’ integrity, AGP tells SC

The Supreme Court was apprised by Attorney General for Pakistan Khalid Jawed Khan on Tuesday that Prime Minister Imran Khan had full faith on the integrity and impartiality of judges. In response to Supreme Court judges’ concern regarding the PM’s speech, the AGP stated that Imran Khan has great respect and regard for the Supreme Court and the judges of the court. "In his Kamalia speech, he was referring to the unfortunate attack on the Supreme Court in 1997 and the circumstances leading to the highly controversial removal of late chief justice Sajjad Ali Shah. It was in that specific context that he was referring to his apprehensions. However, the prime minister unreservedly reiterates his full faith and confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the hon’ble judges of this court,” the AGP statement says. A five-judge larger bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, has directed Islamabad police to arrest PTI workers who attacked the Sindh House. The advocate general of Islamabad is asked to submit a report in this regard today (Wednesday). Earlier, Islamabad AG Niazullah Niazi stated that the accused would be arrested in view of the new version of the FIR incorporated by the Sindh government. Also read: Switching loyalties to change govt ‘a mockery of system’   Meanwhile, during the hearing of the presidential reference, the AGP stated that in case of defection under Article 63A of the Constitution, the court could hold lifetime disqualification by incorporating Article 62 (1)(f) of the Constitution. The court may hold that the defected MNA could be disqualified for five years or he could be just de-seated for the ongoing term. The AG said that defection was worse than misdeclaration which led to lifetime disqualification for lawmakers. He also referred Samiullah Baloch judgment wherein the court justified lifetime disqualification for lawmakers in violation of Article 62 (1)(f) of the Constitution. The AGP concluded his arguments. Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail observed that going for re-election after defection was not an ordinary punishment. He wondered why lawmakers were being deprived of giving right of vote in view of Article 95 of the Constitution. CJP Bandial noted that they were not legislators but they just could interpret the Constitution. Justice Ijazul Ahsan noted that none of the political parties stated that defection should be permitted. The PML-N's attorney submitted written submissions. Makhdoom Ali Khan, the counsel for PML-N, has started his arguments on the presidential reference. In his written submission, he stated that reference is pre-mature, vague and speculative. It seeks declarations in advance with regard to the consequences which may flow from an “exercise of vote in a particular way by the members of National Assembly (MNAs) of a particular party on an as yet undetermined future day". "The reference seeks the intervention of the court to eliminate dissent by declaring, as constitutional, a consequence not stated in the Constitution. The reference seeks nothing short of liquidating the political life and future, as legislators, of the dissenters. Dissent is sought to be curbed by suppressing dissenters. Democracy is sought to be purified, through the intervention of the court, by impeding the political process. Such pleas for purity cannot disguise what is, in fact, sought: a thwarting of the political process," the written submission says. Also read: Arrest those who stormed Sindh House in 24 hours, orders SC It is also stated that none of the members have defected in terms of Article 63A of the Constitution. Mere criticism of government or its head or its policies is not defection. Yet, the reference seeks that it be declared that anyone who so ventures, irrespective of the reasons for such action, will be disqualified for life from being elected as a legislator and his vote will be disregarded. Further, this declaration be made in advance, it adds. "During the hearing of the reference, on March 21, 2022, the learned AGP candidly stated before this hon’ble court that the reference did not relate to nor shall it affect the resolution for vote of no-confidence presently pending before the National Assembly. That makes the questions posed by the reference purely academic. "It is trite law that legal proceedings are not undertaken by the courts merely for academic reasons. "Constitution elaborates what constitutes defection and its consequences, in Article 63A of the Constitution. It also states the procedure to be followed and the remedies available. These include a right of appeal to this hon’ble court. All the questions raised, in the reference, can be decided, if and when, they come in appeal before this hon’ble court, in an actual case. "The reference, however, on the basis of assumptions, seeks a blanket ruling, in advance, with respect to a possible exercise of vote in a particular manner. This is both extraordinary and with great respect impermissible. "The reference does not seek an opinion on a question of law of public importance. It seeks a re-writing of the Constitution. It wants this hon’ble court to read the word ‘disqualification’ into Article 63A of the Constitution. Further, on the premise that since no duration of alleged ‘disqualification’ is provided in Article 63A, the words ‘lifetime’ be read in by this hon’ble court. Further still, it seeks that the vote(s) against the prime minister by any member of his party be disregarded. "The reference also does not seek an interpretation of constitutional text. It seeks to read the current political needs of the leader of a political party into the text of the Constitution under the thin guise of an unsullied and pure political process. At the same time its object is to intimidate and threaten. "The partisan use of Article 186 by the president to satisfy such needs threatens to make one who is the head of the state and represents the unity of the republic a ‘football of the contending factions’. "No questions of law of public importance have been raised in the reference which require an opinion from this hon’ble court. All that is sought is that the transient political expediency of the day be declared a constitutional principle," the written submission says.

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Six Pakistani officers, soldiers among UN peacekeepers martyred in copter crash

At least eight UN peacekeepers including six Pakistan Army officers and soldiers were martyred after their helicopter crashed in Democratic Republic of Congo, the military said on Tuesday. “Pakistan Aviation Unit is deployed in UN Mission Congo on peace keeping duties since 2011. On Mar 29, 22 while undertaking a reconnaissance mission in Congo, 1 PUMA Helicopter crashed,” read a statement issued by military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). It said the exact cause of crash is yet to be ascertained and eight UN peacekeepers on board including six Pakistan Army officers/soldiers have embraced martyrdom. The ISPR identified the martyred official as Lt Col Asif Ali Awan, (Pilot), Maj Saad Nomani (Co Pilot), Maj Faizan Ali, ​​N/Sub Sami Ullah Khan (Flight Engineer), Havaldar Muhammad Ismail (Crew Chief) and L/Hav Muhamad Jamil (Gunner). Earlier in the day, the UN Stabilisation Mission in the DR Congo (MONUSCO) said in a tweet that it had "lost contact" with one of its helicopters which was on a reconnaissance mission in the region. Also read: Pakistan’s long journey in keeping peace "The causes of this disappearance are not yet known. Research is ongoing," the mission said. Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed his "deep sense of shock and grief", his office said, paying tribute to the global peace effort by the country's armed forces. Sources in civil society groups in the region said fighting resumed Tuesday morning between government troops and the rebels from M23, also known as the Congolese Revolutionary Army. M23 was defeated by the army in 2013 but has resurfaced since November and been accused of staging several raids on military strongholds around Rutshuru. (With input from AFP)

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WATCH: French girl embraces Islam, marries Pakistani man

A French girl who became friends with a Pakistani guy has arrived in the country and tied the knot with the love of her life. Jaimin, now named Zoya after she embraced Islam, had befriended Ali Raza, resident of Arif Wala in the Pakpattan district of Punjab, Express News reported. The girl travelled all the way to Pakistan with her mother and willfully embraced Islam, after which she was married to Raza. In April last year, in yet another example of love beyond borders, an American woman travelled from the United States to find her love in Pakistan. Also read: American woman ties the knot with Pakistani TikToker 40-year-old Daniel, resident of Washington DC, reached Rawalpindi and married Afshan Raj, 27-year-old TikToker, after embracing Islam. Raj, a resident of Rehmantabad area, while talking to The Express Tribune, said that a few months ago, the American woman liked and commented on one of his videos which ignited a conversation in the comments section. "I cannot believe that I have married Hafza," the TikToker was quoted as saying while referring to Daniel with her new name after converting to Islam. https://ift.tt/rGYPALF  

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Afghanistan is a ‘shared responsibility’, reiterates Pakistan

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday said that Afghanistan must not be seen through a regional prism, but as a “shared and collective responsibility”. “Instability in Afghanistan will have negative consequences for the entire world,” he said in his address at a seminar on ‘Perspectives on the evolving situation in Afghanistan’ organised by the Centre for Afghanistan, Middle East & Africa (CAMEA) of the Institute of Strategic Studies. The day-long seminar held in collaboration with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) focused on the situation in Afghanistan, particularly in the perspective of the humanitarian crisis. The foreign minister said that the emergence of new conflicts did not mean that the world can afford to forget old ones, adding that the wounds of 40 years of war and bloodshed in Afghanistan would take a long time to heal. “Failure is not an option. If the world community fails Afghanistan yet again, it will result in a fresh influx of refugees, enhanced space for terrorism, and a rise in drug trafficking,” he said. He hoped that with the help of regional countries and international partners, the proud Afghan nation could once again rise to become an important country in terms of regional peace and stability, economic trade, and regional connectivity. The foreign minister that since August 15, 2021, the interim Afghan government remained embattled with the humanitarian and economic crises, as well as a liquidity crunch, exacerbated by the lack of a functional banking system. He also mentioned some positive aspects, mainly internal stability, no civil war, the opening of girls’ schools, and the interim government’s commitment to addressing terrorism. He said that Afghanistan currently stood at a critical crossroads as for the first time in over 40 years, there was a single unified dispensation over its entire territory. The foreign minister said that more than four decades of war and bloodshed were over and there had been a demonstrable decrease in corruption, leading to an increase in revenue. He said that there was a hope that Afghanistan had the potential to move towards a viable and sustainable future. Also read: NA session adjourned after no-confidence tabled against PM Imran “Therefore, the immediate task that the international community, in general, and regional countries, in particular, need to focus on, is the stabilisation of the country,” he added. Qureshi said that Pakistan had always advocated consistent engagement with Afghanistan and stressed the importance of delinking humanitarian assistance from political considerations. “Pakistan believes that continued engagement between the interim Afghan government and the international community would help ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for Afghanistan,” he said. He also said that if the international community repeated its past mistakes and abandoned Afghanistan, the fallout would not only affect the region but would be felt globally. “Besides the immediate need to avert a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, we also have to focus on long-term infrastructure and connectivity projects in Afghanistan,” he added. He further said that in the long run, Afghanistan had the potential to develop as the trade and energy corridor for the region. “We are working with Afghanistan in following up on key infrastructure and connectivity projects, a facilitative regime to assist the easy movement of people and goods across the border, and to augment the capacity of Afghan institutions,” he added. Pakistan being a neighboring country, the foreign minister said, had a major stake in the peace and stability of Afghanistan. He mentioned that Pakistan established the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan Forum to forge a regional consensus regarding Afghanistan. “Pakistan has been a key partner in all Afghanistan-centered mechanisms for assisting our Afghan brethren in these testing times,” he said. He recalled that Pakistan hosted the Troika Plus meeting and the 17th Extraordinary Session of the OIC-CFM on the situation in Afghanistan. Pakistan also successfully hosted the regular session of OIC-CFM in Islamabad on 22-23 March 2022. He mentioned that Pakistan had pledged in-kind humanitarian assistance of Rs5 billion (around $ 30 million) to Afghanistan, adding that Pakistan was acting as a channel to facilitate the flow of international humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. He further said that Pakistan had even enabled India to supply 50,000 MT wheat to Afghanistan by allowing it transit facility. Qureshi said that stability in Afghanistan was critical for the prosperity of South Asia and the wider world.   

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No-trust motion tabled in NA amid hullabaloo

After much ado, the no-confidence motion was finally tabled on Monday in the National Assembly against Prime Minister Imran Khan by Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif. Before the tabling of the motion, the NA Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri, who was presiding over the session, asked the lawmakers in favour of the motion to rise so that the count could be made. Within minutes, the deputy speaker announced that a total of 161 members of the opposition parties were present in the assembly and, thus, the leave for presenting the motion against the prime minister was granted. As the opposition leader stood up to present the motion, the treasury benches resorted to name-calling and continued making noise; some constantly shouted “cherry blossom” while other PTI lawmakers kept calling the opposition members “chor” (thieves). Nevertheless, the opposition leader presented the motion amid hue and cry made by the government lawmakers and desk-thumping from the opposition members. “This House is of the view that the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, has lost the confidence of the majority of the members of the National Assembly of Pakistan, therefore he should cease to hold office,” Shehbaz read. "Through this resolution, under Clause 1 of Article 95 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, this House resolves that it has no confidence in the prime minister, Imran Khan Niazi, and consequently, he shall cease to hold office under Clause 4," the PML-N president readout. Subsequently, the deputy speaker took not much time in announcing that the session was adjourned till March 31 for debate – and probably vote as well, that would decide the fate of the premier. On March 25, the lower house of parliament was scheduled to take up the no-trust motion, but following parliamentary traditions on the demise of a lawmaker, only Fateha was offered and speeches were given after which the NA speaker adjourned the session till March 28 (Monday). The session had started with the recitation of the Holy Quran and prayers were held for PTI MNA Khayal Zaman. Ruling PTI's Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Shireen Mazari, Asad Umar and Ali Muhammad Khan were among those who attended the session, as well as Grand Democratic Alliance's Dr Fahmida Mirza. From the opposition’s ranks, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto  Zardari and PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari were present. Read: Opposition submits no-trust motion against Punjab CM Buzdar The opposition, which has 162 members, filed the con-confidence motion on March 8. The motion, moved by 152 opposition members, said that Prime Minister Imran had lost the confidence of the house. The ruling coalition currently has the support of 179 members of the National Assembly. The no-confidence move comes as Pakistan faces a recurring economic crisis, with the incumbent government banking on the International Monetary Fund to release the next tranche of a $6 billion rescue package to shore up dwindling foreign currency reserves. Imran, 69, a former captain of Pakistan's national cricket team, lost a parliamentary majority with a series of defections from his party, and a united opposition is calling on him to step down. He has vowed to fight to stay put. In his power show on Sunday, Imran blamed a foreign-funded conspiracy for trying to topple his government. China is a long-time supporter and Pakistan, a traditional ally of the West, abstained from voting as the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly reprimanded Russia for invading Ukraine. Nearly 20 defections in the ruling party and cracks in Imran’s coalition partners have made him short of the 172 votes, a simple majority, needed to hold on to power. To try to survive, the government announced it would give the post of chief minister of the country's largest province, Punjab, to one of its coalition partners. But another ruling coalition party decided to join the opposition, making the opposition stronger with 168 votes. The opposition and analysts said the prime minister has fallen out with the powerful military, which mostly determines who will rule, a charge both Imran and the military deny. (With input from reuters)

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Fawad accuses opposition of following a ‘global conspiracy’

Federal Minister for Information Chaudhry Fawad Hussain on Monday alleged that the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan was part of “global conspiracy” and local political players whose leader was sitting in London had conspired against Pakistan. Talking to the media along with Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar outside the Supreme Court (SC), the federal minister said that “political dwarfs” like Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Asif Ali Zardari and Shehbaz Sharif were planning to enslave Pakistan permanently as these were the “puppets” whose control was in the hands of a person sitting in London. LIVE #APPNews : Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting @fawadchaudhry along with Federal Minister for Energy @Hammad_Azhar talks to media outside Supreme Court #Islamabad https://t.co/QUMcw46M9L — APP 🇵🇰 (@appcsocialmedia) March 28, 2022 Alluding to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif, he said that this person was involved in a conspiracy against Pakistan in collaboration with the international establishment. The minister said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had given the preliminary information about this conspiracy in Sunday’s public meeting and with the passage of time, the rest of the pages would also be laid before the people. “This conspiracy is not against Imran Khan but against the people of Pakistan,” Fawad said, adding that its objective was to subjugate the people of Pakistan. He said that in 1930s and 1940s, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah fought against global colonialism and, on the same pattern, PM Imran was also fighting a two-way battle. He is exposing the conspiracy of the local establishment on the one hand and fighting the international establishment against Pakistan on the other, he added. Also read: NA session adjourned after no-confidence tabled against PM Imran Thanking the people of Pakistan for the “historic public meeting”, Fawad said that from Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) to Karachi, from the mountains of Quetta and Chaghi to Lahore and from Lahore to Islamabad, the manner in which the people responded to PM Imran’s leadership and held the largest gathering in history of Pakistan was highly commendable. The doors and walls of Islamabad were shaken by the footsteps of the participants of the Amr Bil Ma’ruf rally, he claimed. He said that earlier, he had stated that those who had tabled the no-confidence motion would have to go through one million people but after Sunday’s meeting, they would have to go through over 200 million people to vote against Prime Minister Imran. The minister said that proceedings on the reference filed by the president in the apex court were being held and the attorney general was giving his arguments. The attorney general has pleaded that Pakistan was a country with a parliamentary system of government and political parties were an integral part of this system, he added. Terming the party discipline important in this system, he said that interpretation of Article 63-A was necessary for lifelong disqualification of turncoats to ensure a stable parliamentary system. He also said that if there were penalties for violators of party discipline, the unholy practice of sale and purchase of people’s loyalties would end forever. He added that the loyalties of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) elected members were bought and kept in Sindh House, but he saluted those MNAs who turned down such offers and stood by PM Imran. He hoped that the apex court in this reference will impose lifelong disqualification for the members involved in floor crossing and it would give a ruling that their votes would not be counted.

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Will removing Buzdar do the magic?

Will the embattled prime minister’s hurried decision to replace Usman Buzdar and nominate Chaudhry Pervez Elahi as Punjab’s chief minister lend his seemingly faltering government a new lease on life and help him survive the opposition’s no-confidence motion? The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has been facing strong criticism for its failure to handle political mismanagement in Punjab – the heartland of political ground – and the lack of mechanism within the party to redress the grievances of lawmakers. “The nomination of Elahi as CM Punjab will resolve this issue,” said a PTI leader, speaking on the condition of anonymity. The member of the ruling party, who is endorsing the prime minister’s move, also revealed that ‘powerful circles' are also backing Elahi’s nomination for the province’s top slot. He expressed hope that things were headed in the right direction after the PTI’s massive rally in the federal capital. “Likewise, PM acted wisely by not wagging a finger at the security establishment in his speech. These things are favouring PM Khan and now powerful circles have soft corners regarding him,” he claimed. The party leader assessed that the situation will go in favour of PM Khan soon. “If not then at least this move will secure Punjab, which is relevant for future politics,” he added. ‘Tareen wary of Elahi nomination’ On the other hand, a disgruntled PTI leader ruled out the possibility that the Jahangir Tareen faction would throw weight behind the nomination, adding that around 20 MPAs of the ruling are affiliated with the Tareen group. “Even two more MPAs have approached us to join the group,” he added. He said that if the PML-N leadership assured them of tickets for the next elections then they would support their candidate for Punjab chief minister. Read Opposition submits no-trust motion against Punjab CM Buzdar However, he admitted that the pendency of presidential reference in the apex court is affecting the no-confidence move as MPAs are fearing the SC observations regarding lifetime disqualification. Senior lawyers are also wondering as to why the top court is delaying the matter, saying a delay in deciding reference is translating into political advantages for the ruling party. Meanwhile, a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmaker said that there was no chance that seven PPP MPAs will support Elahi’s nomination for Punjab CM. It was also learnt that Elahi’s nomination remains disputed within PML-Q as over four MNAs are ready to support the no-confidence motion against PM. However, political analysts believe that if PM Khan has nominated Elahi as chief minister with the consultation of powerful circles then disgruntled members would be compelled to support him. They also say that if PTI claims are true that they are getting blessings from powerful circles then the situation will further get transparent in the next 48 hours.

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Setback for PTI as BAP takes opposition’s side

The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) received another setback from Balochistan on Monday, as the provincially-ruling Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) parted ways with it and announced its support for the opposition’s no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan. The announcement was made by senior BAP leader and National Assembly member (MNA) Mir Khalid Khan Magsi at a joint press conference with top opposition leaders, Shehbaz Sharif, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Asif Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. https://t.co/Q8aZNKP5DF — PML(N) (@pmln_org) March 28, 2022 Magsi told reporters that his party had reached the conclusion to join the opposition after consultation. “Balochistan has been deprived” and the party wanted the province’s issues addressed. “That is why BAP has decided to support the opposition,” he added. BAP is the latest departure from the PTI-led coalition. On Sunday, Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) MNA Shahzain Bugti resigned from the post of special assistant to prime minister and joined the opposition camp. Earlier, PTI leader Yar Muhammad Rind had also quit. At the press conference at a private hotel in Islamabad, four MNAs of BAP were present. However, Defence Production Minister Zubaida Jalal was conspicuous by her absence and it was stated that she had not parted ways with the government. On the occasion, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Zardari welcomed BAP to the opposition fold, saying that they valued its decision. “The government that will be formed as a result of the success of the no-confidence motion will support the people of Balochistan in overcoming their sense of deprivation,” Shehbaz, also the opposition leader in the National Assembly, said in his brief remarks at the outset of the press conference. On the occasion, former president Asif Zardari said that Shahbaz Sharif would soon become the prime minister, adding that the decision taken by BAP was in the best interest of the country. He assured that the opposition parties would serve Balochistan well. Read more: Govt, PML-Q 'seal the deal' as Buzdar quits Punjab CM slot for Pervaiz Elahi At the presser, Magsi expressed annoyance when a reporter asked on whose instructions they toppled the PML-N-led government in Balochistan in the past. He told the reporter not to ask irrelevant questions and asked why he was afraid of mentioning the name of army. Speaking on the occasion, Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) chief Akhtar Mengal told reporters that circumstances, and not the army, forced the opposition to bring the no-confidence motion against the prime minister. Mengal stressed that all opposition parties were on the same page. He said that they were ridiculed instead of resolving the problems of Balochistan. “We are succeeding on the no-confidence motion, as the government numbers were falling. Delaying tactics are being used on the no-confidence motion.” In response to another question about the letter showed by Prime Minister Imran Khan during his public meeting in Islamabad on Sunday night, Shehbaz Sharif said that Imran should bring the letter to parliament. When pointed out that the PML-Quaid had decided to stay with the PTI, Fazl, also the president of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), said there was still room for a dialogue with the PML-Q. “Initially, the Q-League had 7 members and BAP had 5, now BAP members are 7 and Q-League had 5.” On the occasion, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that his party had been struggling for the restoration of democracy for the past three generations. “We have taken these steps for the restoration of democracy,” he said. “We have brought a democratic no-confidence. Our numbers were complete on 8th March [the day of filing the no-confidence motion]. We welcome Khalid Magsi and his party, and also Shahzain Bugti, who announced his support yesterday. We will combat the issues that Pakistan is faced with,” he added

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FM Qureshi set to embark on China trip today

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday said that he would be leaving for China on Tuesday (today) where he is scheduled to meet a number of foreign ministers of various countries. In a statement, Qureshi said during his visit to China, he would also hold meetings with his counterparts from the Central Asian countries, besides meeting the foreign ministers of Russia and Iran. During these meetings, he said, regional issues, peace and stability would be discussed, while issues related to the economic security of the region, bilateral relations and Afghanistan would also be reviewed. Qureshi said Pakistan enjoyed good relations with all the countries and it wanted to foster these ties further. He recalled that a large number of countries had recently attended the OIC session in Pakistan. Also read: NA session adjourned after no-confidence tabled against PM Imran The foreign minister went on to say that a certain country had expressed reservation over the Russian visit but they had reminded that it was a bilateral visit. No confidence motion The foreign minister also said that in a democratic system, the public took decisions. He regretted that during the recent no trust move, bribes had been doled out which was not a good thing for democracy. Qureshi, who is also the vice-chairman of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, said they had conveyed to the ally Muttahida Qaumi Movement that Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid had decided to support the PTI. He further stated that the decisions made by the PML-Q would hopefully help the MQM-P in reaching theirs too. "Ousting governments from power on the basis of money is a detrimental practice," the minister warned. According to him, the government opted for geo-economics in relations with the regional countries.

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Fawad flays 'local players' part of 'global conspiracy' against PM

Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry has said that the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan is part of a global conspiracy and local political players are a part of it. Talking to media persons flanked by Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar outside the Supreme Court on Monday, the federal minister added that the leader of these political players is in London's Mayfair’s apartments. LIVE #APPNews : Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting @fawadchaudhry along with Federal Minister for Energy @Hammad_Azhar talks to media outside Supreme Court #Islamabad https://t.co/QUMcw46M9L — APP 🇵🇰 (@appcsocialmedia) March 28, 2022 Calling the main opposition leaders "political dwarfs", Fawad said they are planning to enslave the country as these are the puppets whose control is in the hands of the man sitting in London. Alluding to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, the PTI leader said he is involved in a conspiracy against the country in collaboration with the international establishment. Fawad further said PM Imran had given preliminary information about the conspiracy in Islamabad's power show on Sunday and with the passage of time, the rest of the pages would also be unveiled before the nation. “This conspiracy is not against Imran Khan but against the people of Pakistan,” he remarked, adding that its "objective is to subjugate the people of Pakistan". Also read: NA session adjourned after no-confidence tabled against PM Imran Earlier today, embattled PM Imran succeeded in wooing his estranged ally PML-Q to support him on the matter of the no-confidence motion tabled against him by the joint opposition in the National Assembly. Moreover, Premier Imran’s special assistant on political communication Shahbaz Gill said that Punjab Chief Minister Usman Bazdar had submitted his resignation to the prime minister who had decided in principle to nominate PML-Q senior leader Chaudhry Pervez Elahi as Punjab CM. The much-anticipated session of the National Assembly to deliberate on the no-trust vote filed against the prime minister was adjourned till March 31 after Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif tabled the motion. On March 25, the lower house of parliament was scheduled to take up the no-confidence motion, but following parliamentary traditions on the demise of a lawmaker, only Fateha was offered and speeches were given after which the NA speaker adjourned the session till today. The opposition, which has 162 members, filed the on-trust motion on March 8. The motion said that Prime Minister Imran had lost the confidence of the house.

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UNCTAD lists Pakistan among vulnerable countries

Developing countries need urgent action to help manage their debt following the food and fuel price surges triggered by the war in Ukraine, a top UN official told AFP. The Covid-19 pandemic has already reduced developing countries' financial leeway and increased their debt, said Rebeca Grynspan, secretary-general of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), which helps developing countries integrate into the global economy. "On top of what we already had, how to face the rise in prices of fuels, of food and fertilisers? That's a very difficult problem. Many countries are already feeling it," she told AFP in an interview. The cost of freight has shot up by 34 percent since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, according to UNCTAD. Transportation issues and global supply chain disruptions are also driving up costs and prices. Developing countries will not be able to cope without help and need solutions for their liquidity and debt problems, said Grynspan. Also read: No confidence in the economy "We need a better mechanism for debt restructuring and debt relief," the former vice president of Costa Rica said, calling for the issue to be discussed in the G20, and at the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) meetings next month. UNCTAD says developing countries are expected to need $310 billion to service external public debt in 2022, equivalent to 9.2 percent of the outstanding stock of external public debt at the end of 2020. It said Angola, Egypt, Mongolia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka were among countries that appear vulnerable to seeing their economies ground to a halt due in part to towering debt servicing levels. The IMF announced last week that Egypt would seek financial support from the institution. Grynspan denounced the enormous pressure that debt servicing places on developing countries. "After the Second World War, when support was being given to Germany, it was established that Germany wouldn't be able to pay in debt service more than five percent of their export earnings," she said. By comparison, debt servicing has now reached 15 percent of export earnings in the least-developed countries, and 34 percent in small island developing states. "These are countries that are under huge stress," said Grynspan. Also read: External vulnerability takes economy back to stabilisation The economist, who is the first woman to lead UNCTAD, called for a suspension of debt servicing for low-income countries, as had been the case during the pandemic until the end of 2021. "We need to renew the debt suspension initiative for the low-income countries. We have to do that quickly. If not, they will be unable to pay their debts," she said. She also called for a surge in funding granted to multilateral development banks, including regional development banks, for them to provide increased support to low-income states. Coordinated action is urgently needed, said Grynspan, to avoid Russia's war in Ukraine triggering a "domino effect" of crises in debt, hunger and the global financial architecture. Net food importers will suffer the most from the economic repercussions of the war, according to UNCTAD, which lists 36 countries as highly dependent on wheat imports from Ukraine and Russia -- mostly in Africa and the Middle East. "The world has the necessary amount of food, of fuels, of fertiliser, of financing to face this crisis in the developing countries," Grynspan said. "The problem is distribution."

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Wasim Akram graces KPL showcase at Expo 2020

The festivities of the Kashmir Premier League showcase at Expo 2020 concluded on Sunday with astounding events leaving a phenomenal impact on visitors from around the world. Chief Guest Wasim Akram, the vice president of KPL, accompanied by Guests of Honor UAE Ambassador Afzaal Mehmood and Finance Minister of AJK Abdul Majid Khan graced the closing day and highly treasured this three-day-long extravaganza for the people visiting the Kashmir Gallery at Pakistan Pavilion. Arif Malik, the president of KPL, in his inaugural remarks said that KPL Season 1 heralded great shifts in technological advancement, improved international exposure, increased trade, culture, and tourism of AJK with a positive impact on the Kashmir region. “We launched the KPL Showcase Event at the right moment to set the tone for economic and tourism development and create a positive environment for businesses to thrive in AJK.” Read More: Wasim Khan to address HBL PSL franchises' reservations over KPL Furthermore, the initiative of the cricket academy at Muzaffarabad will enhance the skills of Kashmiri youth as well as the sports culture of AJK. He said that KPL Season 2 with the increased number of franchises and with its finals in the United Kingdom will be a major catalyst for AJK. Wasim Akram declared KPL to be a game-changer league not only for the youth of Kashmir but exclusively for the future of AJK with a long-lasting impact on the economy, sports culture, social harmony, and tourism.

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PML-N upbeat about PML-Q’s backing against PM

As political chaos churns up on the eve of the National Assembly’s no-confidence session, a high-level delegation of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) called on Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q)’s Chaudhry brothers’ residence in Islamabad on Sunday to hammer out an agreement for the no-trust vote. Following the one-and-half-hour meeting, PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique declared to the media that the ice has been broken, adding that both the parties share cordial ties. “I hope the PML-Q will support the joint opposition in the National Assembly on the no-confidence motion,” he added. While highlighting that Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has always helped the PML-N, Rafique recalled that the former had issued production orders for PML-N lawmakers facing cases against them. Chaudhry brothers visited the residence of PML-N leaders in every difficult situation and on funerals, he added. Slot for CM Punjab In the short media interaction after the meeting, PML-Q leader Tariq Bashir Cheema also confirmed that the meeting with the PML-N leadership remained successful. Also read: PTI unable to break ice in talks with PML-Q He lamented that PML-Q, as a coalition partner, did not have good experience with the ruling party during the past three years of its government. However, both sides dodged questions related to the possibility of Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi being nominated as Punjab’s chief minister. Sources disclosed that the meeting was held in a cordial environment. The PML-Q leaders warmly welcomed the opposition delegation and extensively discussed the current political situation. The PML-N delegation also conveyed the PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s message to the Chaudhry brothers. It is pertinent to mention that a day ago, the ruling party had also told the PML-Q leadership that it was ready to give any other concession to its one of the main allies but not the chief ministership of Punjab in return for their support in the National Assembly on the no-trust motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan. Sources indicated that the PML-Q is weighing its options by holding meetings with both sides. Sunday’s meet-up was to seek promise for Punjab’s chief ministership from the PML-N if they support the opposition alliance to oust Prime Minister Imran Khan.   Also read: PML-Q's Elahi advises PM Imran to remain cautious of aides Earlier, it was reported that Nawaz Sharif had refused to give Punjab Chief Minister’s office to Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi. A day earlier, PTI Vice Chairman Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and President PTI K-P chapter and Defense Minister Pervez Khattak met with Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, Federal Ministers Tariq Bashir Cheema and Moonis Elahi. Qureshi and Khattak conveyed the message of Prime Minister Imran Khan to the PML-Q leadership. Tariq Bashir Cheema apprised them of the problems their party has been facing for the last three and a half years and their solutions were openly discussed. The PTI leaders said that they would inform Prime Minister Imran Khan about the whole situation. Another round of talks between the PML-N and PML-Q is expected before the National Assembly Session today.

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PTI ‘flop show’ reflects Imran’s defeat: Maulana Fazl

Hours after the ruling PTI concluded its much-hyped public gathering in Islamabad, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman termed it as a “flop show”. “Despite using government resources, he [Prime Minister Imran Khan] failed to even fill seats at the ground..today we are announcing your defeat and our victory,” Fazl said while addressing his party workers in Islamabad late Saturday night. Responding to PM Imran’s claims that foreign elements are conspiring to overthrow his government, the PDM chief alleged that the premier is himself a “foreign agent” who he said is installed into power to damage the country’s national interests. “I want to clearly state that your agenda is to recognise Israel... You were imposed on the country to fulfil the foreign agenda..,” he added. Maulana Fazl, who also heads anti-government alliance PDM, said he had revealed this in the past as well that the West wanted to weaken Pakistan. “First, they created political instability in Pakistan through the Panama scandal and then created economic instability,” he added. “But I salute people of the country that they did not let any foreign conspiracy succeed in the country.” Also read: Foreign powers behind ‘conspiracy’ to overthrow my govt, says PM The JUI-F chief said that PM Imran was no more in a position to give an NRO-like deal to anyone, claiming that he has lost the power. “Your [PM Imran] days have been numbered... You are begging for the NRO but we are not accepting... now you are under our control and we can make you stand at any roundabout of the country,” the JUI-F leader said. He also posed a question that did people get any surprise at the PTI’s rally. “People did get the surprise in the shape of Shahzain Bugti's resignation... just wait more will come,” he added. “Now papers cannot save you, you have been defeated.” Fazl also accused the premier of surrendering Pakistan’s economy and comprising on the Kashmir issue. “You usurped their [Kashmiri] rights... you handed their rights to Narendra Modi.”

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'Lackluster' Islamabad rally has buried Imran's politics: Maryam

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice-President Maryam Nawaz on Sunday claimed that the ruling party's power show in Islamabad had failed, saying the latter can take heed from the former for two successful rallies within a time span of just 24 hours. "[Prime Minister] Imran Khan could not gather 10,000 people, let alone 10 million," Maryam said as she addressed a charged gathering in Gujranwala. Gujranwala 🥇 pic.twitter.com/zGlcVRUY3X — Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) March 27, 2022 According to the PML-N leader, the people of Islamabad had proved that they are not supporting the PTI. "Islamabad has buried Imran Khan's politics today," she said and thanked the people of the federal capital for their 'no-trust vote'. In an apparent taunt aimed at PM Imran, she said: "You couldn't gather a good total even at a farewell meeting." Commenting on the premier's remarks regarding a "conspiracy to oust him from power', she asked if the international conspirers were behind the distancing of his allies from the ruling party. Gujranwala! Twice in less than 24 hours! Masha’Allah ♥️🥇 pic.twitter.com/Y13RkmT2RS — Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) March 27, 2022 "On the other hand, Nawaz Sharif has deprived the ruling party of two dozen of its members of the National Assembly," she added. Also read: Foreign powers behind ‘conspiracy’ to overthrow my govt, says PM She also called the prime minister a thief involved in the stealing of flour and sugar, and told latter that the PML-N won't tolerate abusive language anymore Maryam reiterated that Premier Imran was 'the biggest mice of the country' who wouldn't stop raising a hue and cry seeing his imminent ouster from power. Responding to the prime minister's criticism at ex-premier and her father Nawaz Shairf, she said: "He doesn't badmouth the military when he steps foot abroad." شیر انشاءاللہ اک واری فیر#مہنگائی_مکاؤ_مارچ pic.twitter.com/tAztsjzYIm — PML(N) (@pmln_org) March 27, 2022 "Had you been entrusted with any secrets, they would've have been broadcast by now," she told the incumbent prime minister. While concluding, Maryam told the crowd that Nawaz Sharif and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif will return to power and change the fate of the country. Addressing a large gathering in Islamabad's Parade Ground, PM Imran said that foreign powers are involved in the ‘conspiracy’ to overthrow his coalition government at the Centre through a no-confidence motion tabled by the country’s joint opposition. The premier also said that he would not spare 'corrupt leaders' even if he had to step down from his post. https://ift.tt/e4HOYVP Addressing the Gujranwala rally, Hamza Shehbaz said Prime Minister Imran Khan couldn’t prove a rupee’s corruption against Nawaz Sharif. “The people of Gujranwala have today cast their vote of no-confidence against the PM by taking to the streets.” He also accused PM Imran of failing to provide answers for the foreign funding case, saying public will soon hold him accountable. “The masses will end Imran’s rule and the youth will come forward to play their role for the country's progress.”  

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