Pakistan records over 80 COVID-19 deaths, 2,184 infections in a day

The statistics of National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has shown that the coronavirus pandemic claims 82 more lives, whereas, 2,184 new infections were reported during the last 24 hours, reported on Saturday.

In the past 24 hours, 82 more people succumbed to the disease, taking the death toll to 10,258. 1,745 patients have recovered from the virus in a day.

The total count of active cases is 35,130.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), with fresh inclusion of the infections in the country the national tally of cases now currently stands at 484,362.

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PDM is hatching conspiracies against Pakistan’s armed forces: PM Imran Khan

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday accused the Opposition alliance of hatching conspiracies against him and Pakistan’s armed forces.

The prime minister, in an interview with Dunya News, asked his rivals to cite an example where the military has transgressed from its powers and backed the government.

PM Imran said the recent report by EU DisinfoLab has exposed the leaders of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), as those media outlets which target Pakistan with fake propaganda are also backing them.

“They both have the same agenda; attack Imran Khan and the Pakistan Army,” the premier said.

He said the country is facing an international conspiracy targeting the Pakistan Army, with PDM leaders taking part in it by directly attacking the country’s top military brass.

PM Imran said he doesn’t interfere in any institution, and the government enjoys exemplary relations with the military because the latter knows that he is not corrupt and working for the betterment of the country.

“The military will stand with any prime minister who works for Pakistan’s betterment,” he said.

The prime minister said the military wants to see a strong Pakistan under a patriotic government that has no stakes outside the country.

He said any nation that goes under heavy debt loses independence in its foreign policy and its sovereignty, which no military would ever want.

He said that the opposition is in a fix because it has failed to prove any rigging in the election and is facing a prime minister who is not prepared to give them an NRO, unlike General (retd) Pervaiz Musharraf.

The prime minister reassured that short of accountability, he is willing to discuss any issue with the opposition.

PM Imran said the corrupt opposition cannot run a campaign for the public as their entire movement is for NRO. He said he never made excuses of not being prepared but talked about being briefed before assuming office as the prime minister.

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PMD’s internal rifts exposed in Jati Umrah meeting: Firdous

Special Assistant to the Punjab Chief Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan on Saturday claimed that internal differences within the ranks of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) exposed in today’s Jati Umrah meeting.

Talking to journalists, Firdous Ashiq Awan said that PMD’s leadership could not agree on a common agenda despite holding a six-hour-long session today.

She maintained that PMD’s narrative had died in Jati Umrah. The special assistant said that the opposition parties had formed the alliance to protect their personal interests. PDM has nothing to do with national and public issues, Firdous added.

Earlier today, divisions had emerged within the ranks of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) as top leaders of the opposition alliance discuss the future course of action against the incumbent government.

According to sources having knowledge of the discussion during the PDM meeting, the differences had emerged over issues pertaining to resignations from assemblies and participation in the Senate elections and by-polls.

The meeting had been attended by PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, PPP leaders Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto via video link while the other PDM leaders attended the meeting at Jati Umra in person.a

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Shares at PSX rally on first day of new year

On the first day of the new year, the stock market kicked off with a bang as the benchmark KSE-100 index rose nearly 1,119 points during intraday trading.

The index — which had opened the year at 43,55 — had risen 918 points to 44,673 at around 11:30am.

After the break for Friday prayers, shares continued an upward trajectory, reaching the day's high of 44,875 – up 1,119 points or 2.5 per cent – by 2:38pm.

But late in the afternoon, the index shed almost half of these gain, closing at 44,435, down 679.42 points — or 1.55 per cent — for the day.

Deputy Head of Research at AKD Securities, Ali Asghar Poonwala, while talking to Dawn.com, said the reason behind the new-year rally was an expectation that liquidity will improve in the power supply chain.

"It's mostly from the market grapevine indicating improved liquidity in the power chain, with clearances made in November and December resting higher than usual.

"This fueled a bullish sentiment in an otherwise neglected independent power producers (IPPs) and the state oil marketing company PSO (Pakistan State Oil) which remained marred by circular debt related dues."

He added that a possible hike in the base consumer tariff by the government — a core requirement of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) — will improve liquidity further.

On Thursday, the benchmark KSE-100 index gained 60.62 points to close 2020 at 43,755, which was about the same as closing at the 30-month high of 43,767 points seen on Dec 17. On an annualised basis, the index provided a return of 7pc in calendar year 2020.

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Babar Azam’s inclusion in playing XI for second Test remains doubtful

Pakistani captain Babar Azam’s inclusion in the playing XI for the second Test against kiwis remains up in the air as the team’s think-tank has yet to take the final decision.

Azam was ruled out of New Zealand T20Is after suffering a fracture in his right thumb during a practice session last month.

Amid fears of risk involved in his inclusion at this stage, the decision-makers are keeping their fingers crossed considering the fact Pakistan has an important home series against South Africa coming up shortly.

“We have not yet decided whether or not Babar will be playing in the second Test. We would be making a final decision in a day or two. Babar is feeling much better now but still, there are some doubts about his 100% fitness. But when it comes to deciding on a batsman of Babar’s stature, sometimes we get ready to take small risks,” a source within the team revealed.

The source added that the situation will become much clearer once the team begins training today (Friday) in Christchurch. “Training in the next couple of days will give us a better picture of Babar’s fitness.”

“Babar will undergo a fitness test on Saturday. Though he bowled and batted during the training session, however, the final decision is yet to be taken the” the source said.

Commenting on who would be dropped down the order if the team management decides to include captain Babar in the playing lineup, the source said: “I think it is too early to say anything about batting order. After taking the decision in this regard, we would be making up our mind about batting order.”

Azam, however, has started practice and was seen going through his paces, the final verdict regarding his inclusion in the playing XI is yet to be taken. Pakistan are already trailing in the two-match Test series.

Haris Sohail would likely be missing from the lineup if Babar is included in the team. The tour’s selection committee will have to choose Haris or Abid.

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PMD’s internal rifts exposed in Jati Umrah meeting: Firdous

Special Assistant to the Punjab Chief Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan on Saturday claimed that internal differences within the ranks of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) exposed in today’s Jati Umrah meeting.

Talking to journalists, Firdous Ashiq Awan said that PMD’s leadership could not agree on a common agenda despite holding a six-hour-long session today.

She maintained that PMD’s narrative had died in Jati Umrah. The special assistant said that the opposition parties had formed the alliance to protect their personal interests. PDM has nothing to do with national and public issues, Firdous added.

Earlier today, divisions had emerged within the ranks of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) as top leaders of the opposition alliance discuss the future course of action against the incumbent government.

According to sources having knowledge of the discussion during the PDM meeting, the differences had emerged over issues pertaining to resignations from assemblies and participation in the Senate elections and by-polls.

The meeting had been attended by PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, PPP leaders Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto via video link while the other PDM leaders attended the meeting at Jati Umra in person.a

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PM Imran Khan says remarks on unpreparedness taken out of context

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said that his remarks that he was not prepared to take charge of the government were taken out of context as he meant that no one could understand regarding the internal working of the institutions while sitting outside.

The prime minister in an interview with a local television negated the impression that he wasn’t ready and said that he cited an example of the US president, who is briefed by the national institutions two months ahead of assuming his powers.

“Now when Joe Biden will take charge as US President, he will have complete knowledge of the systems in place,” he said adding he talked about that sort of a briefing, which was quoted out of context.

The prime minister said that half of the tax revenue of the country is spent on repaying the debts and when they assumed power, the country’s fiscal deficit had reached US$20 billion. “During the first 60 years, Pakistan’s debt stood at US$6 billion which jumped to US$30 billion during the next 10 years,” he said.

Imran Khan rejected any differences with coalition partners in the federal government and said that he enjoys a good relationship with MQM-P, PML-Q and GDA.

He lamented that the entire politics of the opposition parties revolve around the bid to get an NRO, however, he would not comprise on the matter.

“If I’ll join hands with them then who will make them accountable for their wrongdoings,” he said.

The prime minister said that the opposition had given deadlines for overturning their government multiple times. “Even when COVID-19 hit the country, Shehbaz Sharif came back from London to put pressure on the government,” Imran Khan said adding that their attempts against him have failed in the past and will face the same fate in the future.

I am the prime minister of a common man, not the elite class, he said adding that it was due to the trust reposed on him by masses that the country has witnessed a record surge in remittances and exports.

To a question regarding frequent changes in his team, Imran Khan said that he reshuffles his team frequently to find a suitable man for a position and further warned that action would be taken against any of his ministers if an allegation of corruption is proved against them.

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