Pakistan's vital interests must be safeguarded in 5th generation warfare: COAS

Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday chaired the Corps Commanders Conference to review the situation at Line of Control, Afghan Peace Process, fifth-generation warfare and other matters.

Taking to Twitter, DG ISPR shared the details of the meeting held at General Headquarters (GHQ) and said that the forum was briefed on evolving regional environment and operational developments especially situation along LOC.

Pakistan’s positive role and contributions in Afghanistan Peace Process, the situation along Western Border including fencing progress and Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad was also discussed during the meeting, the army’s media wing said.

Increased ceasefire violations (CFVs) along the LOC targeting civil population by the Indian military and blatant human rights violations in the occupied Jammu and Kashmir were noted as a major cause of concern for regional peace and stability, the ISPR said.

The conference also extensively deliberated upon prevalent situation inside the occupied territory and evolving situation in Afghanistan with an impact on Pakistan’s security dynamics.

CCC presided by #COAS held at GHQ. Forum was briefed on evolving regional environment & operational developments especially situation along LOC, Pakistan’s positive role & contributions in Afghanistan Peace Process, situation along Western Border including fencing progress (1/6) pic.twitter.com/cSQfOQkYuG

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) September 9, 2020

The ISPR release further highlighted that COVID-19, locust control measures and support to national polio campaign also came under discussion during the meeting.

The corps commander conference expressed satisfaction over positive developments and indicators in all domains and improved security situation across the country.

COAS Qamar Javed Bajwa stressed upon the need to enhance combat readiness levels in the wake of evolving strategic and regional milieu.

“Fifth-generation warfare and hybrid application by anti-Pakistan elements against Pakistan’s vital interests must be safeguarded in synchronization with Government policies,” the army chief reiterated.

He lauded formations’ operational readiness and sustained efforts during internal security deployment in aid of civil power particularly the efforts during Muharram and flood relief duties.

COAS appreciated the high state of morale in the army and directed commanders to ensure the welfare of troops during prolonged and extensive operational and internal security deployments.

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United States formally announces troop reduction in Iraq

The United States military on Wednesday announced that it would be reducing its presence in Iraq from 5,200 to 3,000 troops this month, formalising a move that had been long expected.

Last month, Reuters reported that the United States was expected to reduce its troops presence in Iraq by about a third.

The United States has around 5,200 troops that were deployed in Iraq to fight the militant Islamic State group. Officials in the US-led coalition say Iraqi forces are now mostly able to handle the remnants of the militant group on their own.

"We are continuing to expand on our partner capacity programmes that enable Iraqi forces and allow us to reduce our footprint in Iraq," Marine General Frank McKenzie, the head of US Central Command, said during a visit to Iraq.

A senior administration official had said on Tuesday that President Donald Trump would be announcing a reduction of US troops from Iraq.

The United States and Iraq in June affirmed their commitment to the reduction of US troops in the country in coming months, with no plans by Washington to maintain permanent bases or a permanent military presence.

In 2016 Trump campaigned on ending America's “endless wars,” but US troops remain in countries like Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, albeit in smaller numbers.

Last month during a meeting with the Iraqi prime minister, Trump redoubled his promise to withdraw the US troops still in Iraq.

Trump's meeting with the Iraqi leader came amid a new spike in tensions between Washington and Tehran after Washington said it would seek to reinstate all previously suspended US sanctions on Iran at the United Nations.

Iraq's parliament had voted earlier this year for the departure of foreign troops from Iraq, and United States and other coalition troops have been leaving as part of a drawdown.

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Imran Khan should take charge of helping rain affectees: Bilawal

PPP Chairman Bilawal Butto-Zardari on Wednesday urged the federal government and Prime Minister Imran Khan to "come and sit" with the people of the province who have been affected by the recent flooding and torrential rainfall instead of making "five-hour trips".

Addressing a press conference in Mirpurkhas, where hundreds of thousands have been displaced due to monsoon rainfall, Bilawal said: "The prime minister should be seen standing with those citizens affected by the rains."

His comments come a day after the federal cabinet decided against releasing funds directly to the provincial government for the victims of the flood and rain-hit areas. The federal government, instead, will utilise the funds itself. “We cannot give even a penny to Sindh for the flood victims unless we are told about the exact losses,” Information Minister Shibli Faraz had said during a press conference after the cabinet meeting.

Bilawal, speaking in Mirpurkhas, urged the premier to take charge as kaptaan by fulfilling the need for reconstruction, rehabilitation and relief. "We can't leave our farmers and those affected by the rains helpless like this."

Bilawal stated that recent rains have wreaked havoc in several parts of the country. "In Sindh, rainfall and floods have affected 2.25 million citizens. All of Pakistan will need to unite to deal with this national disaster so that we can provide relief to the people."

He added that the recent rains and subsequent floods was not the only crises the nation has had to deal with. "The poor people of the province and of the country have been struggling under the mounting burden on their backs," he said, citing the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic and locusts.

He added that because of these "historic rains", extra support needed to be given to the people. "Agriculture is the backbone of the economy. When agriculture is affected, so is the country's economy.

"The PTI's manifesto mentions declaring an agricultural emergency which has not been done so far. After this historic rainfall and locust attacks, now is the time to declare an agricultural emergency to provide relief to farmers."

He added that the provincial government was utilising all of its resources to address the problems being faced by the people. "We have exhausted our stock of tents. We are ordering more, but we know that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) will have some."

Those sitting in Islamabad, who can't pinpoint Mirpurkhas on a map, don't understand that it will take time to clear out the rainwater, he said. During this time, you have to provide aid to the people, he said.

"All of us will have to become one to provide help to those affected," he said. "The Sindh government will stand by its people in need, but we will not be able to fulfill their requirements on our own. For that, all of Pakistan will need to become one."

The prime minister had visited Karachi last week and in the presence of Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, unveiled the Rs1.1 trillion package at the Governor House for Karachi’s chronic issues, including provision of clean drinking water, cleaning of drains and sewage and solid waste disposal within three years.

'Selective accountability'

Changing gears, Bilawal also commented on cases filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against former president and his father Asif Ali Zardari.

"Not only are these cases politically motivated, but they are a joke." He added that the country's laws applied differently to those in the ruling PTI and those in the opposition.

Commenting on the recent reports on the assets of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Information and Broadcasting retired Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa, Bilawal stated that if former heads of state had to give an answer, then so should the rest.

 

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PML-N challenges Shoaib Dastagir’s removal as Punjab IG in LHC

A Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader on Wednesday filed a writ petition in the Lahore High Court challenging the Punjab government's decision to remove Shoaib Dastagir from the post of Inspector General of Police.

The petition, filed by PML-N leader Malik Ahmed, named the Cabinet division secretary, the Punjab additional chief secretary, Dastagir, newly appointed Punjab IG Inam Ghani, Additional IG (Operations) Zulfiqar Hameed and Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Muhammad Umar Sheikh as respondents.

The petition has been fixed for hearing for tomorrow (Thursday) at 9am. LHC Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan will preside over the hearing.

On Wednesday, the federal government appointed Ghani as the new Punjab Inspector General of Police — the sixth police chief of the province since the PTI came into power two years ago.

Dastagir had stopped working after Umar Sheikh, who was posted as Lahore CCPO earlier this month, allegedly spoke against the provincial police chief (PPO) during a meeting with senior officers.

Reportedly, Dastagir later met the prime minister and the chief minister and sought a probe into the alleged misconduct by the new CCPO and appropriate action, asking to otherwise be transferred to another position.

Separately, speaking to the media for the first time since assuming the charge of Punjab's IGP, Ghani said that every police official, including the CCPO, was answerable to the provincial police chief.

Read more: Shoaib Dastagir removed after alleged row with Lahore CCPO, Inam Ghani new IGP P…

"We are all government officials and we don't go anywhere by choice. The government posted me here, so I am here. [Other officials] are also posted by the government.

"They have a JD (job description) and responsibilities. If they fulfil them, I'll definitely be comfortable [working] with them. If any official, even if it is the CCPO, does not work properly, then I will not be comfortable with them," he said.

Responding to a question regarding AIG Tariq Masood Yasin's refusal to work with Ghani citing "seniority", the IGP said: "We are batchmates. He is ahead of me in roll number but apart from that, we are from the same batch.

"If [any officer] of this rank, BS-20, BS-21, is not comfortable in working, it is their right to say so and we will try to accommodate him somewhere he is comfortable."

'Politicising the police force'
According to the petition filed today, pre-mature transfers in the police force violate the Police Order (2002) and the Punjab government's rules of business.

It says that the Punjab government, instead of implementing the Police Order (2002) has "further politicised the police force and shown the door to recalcitrant and independent minded officers without any regard for their independence and tenure protected by the law".

"The Punjab government has changed six IGs in two years and the average tenure is four months," it states. "The frequent and arbitrary transfers of senior-most officials send a wave of resentment among the police community." The petition also notes that three CCPOs have been posted and transferred in the last two years.

The petition urges the court to declare notifications regarding the appointment of the provincial police officer and the CCPO as "unconstitutional".

It also urges the court to declare that the provincial government should appoint a CCPO only on the recommendation of the provincial police officer.

It also asks the court to declare that a "PPO and CCPO enjoy security of tenure for three years and that a premature transfer can only take place if premature transfer proceedings are initiated on the grounds of 'unsatisfactory performance' after providing an opportunity of hearing before the relevant Public Safety Commission".

It adds that the commission and the government has to agree to transfer the officer.

The petition also asks the court to direct the constitution of a broad-based independent commission to supervise the effective implementation of the Police Order, 2002 and direct this commission to give recommendations regarding police reforms in the province.

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Imran Khan should take charge of helping rain affectees: Bilawal

PPP Chairman Bilawal Butto-Zardari on Wednesday urged the federal government and Prime Minister Imran Khan to "come and sit" with the people of the province who have been affected by the recent flooding and torrential rainfall instead of making "five-hour trips".

Addressing a press conference in Mirpurkhas, where hundreds of thousands have been displaced due to monsoon rainfall, Bilawal said: "The prime minister should be seen standing with those citizens affected by the rains."

His comments come a day after the federal cabinet decided against releasing funds directly to the provincial government for the victims of the flood and rain-hit areas. The federal government, instead, will utilise the funds itself. “We cannot give even a penny to Sindh for the flood victims unless we are told about the exact losses,” Information Minister Shibli Faraz had said during a press conference after the cabinet meeting.

Bilawal, speaking in Mirpurkhas, urged the premier to take charge as kaptaan by fulfilling the need for reconstruction, rehabilitation and relief. "We can't leave our farmers and those affected by the rains helpless like this."

Bilawal stated that recent rains have wreaked havoc in several parts of the country. "In Sindh, rainfall and floods have affected 2.25 million citizens. All of Pakistan will need to unite to deal with this national disaster so that we can provide relief to the people."

He added that the recent rains and subsequent floods was not the only crises the nation has had to deal with. "The poor people of the province and of the country have been struggling under the mounting burden on their backs," he said, citing the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic and locusts.

He added that because of these "historic rains", extra support needed to be given to the people. "Agriculture is the backbone of the economy. When agriculture is affected, so is the country's economy.

"The PTI's manifesto mentions declaring an agricultural emergency which has not been done so far. After this historic rainfall and locust attacks, now is the time to declare an agricultural emergency to provide relief to farmers."

He added that the provincial government was utilising all of its resources to address the problems being faced by the people. "We have exhausted our stock of tents. We are ordering more, but we know that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) will have some."

Those sitting in Islamabad, who can't pinpoint Mirpurkhas on a map, don't understand that it will take time to clear out the rainwater, he said. During this time, you have to provide aid to the people, he said.

"All of us will have to become one to provide help to those affected," he said. "The Sindh government will stand by its people in need, but we will not be able to fulfill their requirements on our own. For that, all of Pakistan will need to become one."

The prime minister had visited Karachi last week and in the presence of Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, unveiled the Rs1.1 trillion package at the Governor House for Karachi’s chronic issues, including provision of clean drinking water, cleaning of drains and sewage and solid waste disposal within three years.

'Selective accountability'

Changing gears, Bilawal also commented on cases filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against former president and his father Asif Ali Zardari.

"Not only are these cases politically motivated, but they are a joke." He added that the country's laws applied differently to those in the ruling PTI and those in the opposition.

Commenting on the recent reports on the assets of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Information and Broadcasting retired Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa, Bilawal stated that if former heads of state had to give an answer, then so should the rest.

 

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PML-N challenges Shoaib Dastagir’s removal as Punjab IG in LHC

A Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader on Wednesday filed a writ petition in the Lahore High Court challenging the Punjab government's decision to remove Shoaib Dastagir from the post of Inspector General of Police.

The petition, filed by PML-N leader Malik Ahmed, named the Cabinet division secretary, the Punjab additional chief secretary, Dastagir, newly appointed Punjab IG Inam Ghani, Additional IG (Operations) Zulfiqar Hameed and Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Muhammad Umar Sheikh as respondents.

The petition has been fixed for hearing for tomorrow (Thursday) at 9am. LHC Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan will preside over the hearing.

On Wednesday, the federal government appointed Ghani as the new Punjab Inspector General of Police — the sixth police chief of the province since the PTI came into power two years ago.

Dastagir had stopped working after Umar Sheikh, who was posted as Lahore CCPO earlier this month, allegedly spoke against the provincial police chief (PPO) during a meeting with senior officers.

Reportedly, Dastagir later met the prime minister and the chief minister and sought a probe into the alleged misconduct by the new CCPO and appropriate action, asking to otherwise be transferred to another position.

Separately, speaking to the media for the first time since assuming the charge of Punjab's IGP, Ghani said that every police official, including the CCPO, was answerable to the provincial police chief.

Read more: Shoaib Dastagir removed after alleged row with Lahore CCPO, Inam Ghani new IGP P…

"We are all government officials and we don't go anywhere by choice. The government posted me here, so I am here. [Other officials] are also posted by the government.

"They have a JD (job description) and responsibilities. If they fulfil them, I'll definitely be comfortable [working] with them. If any official, even if it is the CCPO, does not work properly, then I will not be comfortable with them," he said.

Responding to a question regarding AIG Tariq Masood Yasin's refusal to work with Ghani citing "seniority", the IGP said: "We are batchmates. He is ahead of me in roll number but apart from that, we are from the same batch.

"If [any officer] of this rank, BS-20, BS-21, is not comfortable in working, it is their right to say so and we will try to accommodate him somewhere he is comfortable."

'Politicising the police force'
According to the petition filed today, pre-mature transfers in the police force violate the Police Order (2002) and the Punjab government's rules of business.

It says that the Punjab government, instead of implementing the Police Order (2002) has "further politicised the police force and shown the door to recalcitrant and independent minded officers without any regard for their independence and tenure protected by the law".

"The Punjab government has changed six IGs in two years and the average tenure is four months," it states. "The frequent and arbitrary transfers of senior-most officials send a wave of resentment among the police community." The petition also notes that three CCPOs have been posted and transferred in the last two years.

The petition urges the court to declare notifications regarding the appointment of the provincial police officer and the CCPO as "unconstitutional".

It also urges the court to declare that the provincial government should appoint a CCPO only on the recommendation of the provincial police officer.

It also asks the court to declare that a "PPO and CCPO enjoy security of tenure for three years and that a premature transfer can only take place if premature transfer proceedings are initiated on the grounds of 'unsatisfactory performance' after providing an opportunity of hearing before the relevant Public Safety Commission".

It adds that the commission and the government has to agree to transfer the officer.

The petition also asks the court to direct the constitution of a broad-based independent commission to supervise the effective implementation of the Police Order, 2002 and direct this commission to give recommendations regarding police reforms in the province.

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United States formally announces troop reduction in Iraq

The United States military on Wednesday announced that it would be reducing its presence in Iraq from 5,200 to 3,000 troops this month, formalising a move that had been long expected.

Last month, Reuters reported that the United States was expected to reduce its troops presence in Iraq by about a third.

The United States has around 5,200 troops that were deployed in Iraq to fight the militant Islamic State group. Officials in the US-led coalition say Iraqi forces are now mostly able to handle the remnants of the militant group on their own.

"We are continuing to expand on our partner capacity programmes that enable Iraqi forces and allow us to reduce our footprint in Iraq," Marine General Frank McKenzie, the head of US Central Command, said during a visit to Iraq.

A senior administration official had said on Tuesday that President Donald Trump would be announcing a reduction of US troops from Iraq.

The United States and Iraq in June affirmed their commitment to the reduction of US troops in the country in coming months, with no plans by Washington to maintain permanent bases or a permanent military presence.

In 2016 Trump campaigned on ending America's “endless wars,” but US troops remain in countries like Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, albeit in smaller numbers.

Last month during a meeting with the Iraqi prime minister, Trump redoubled his promise to withdraw the US troops still in Iraq.

Trump's meeting with the Iraqi leader came amid a new spike in tensions between Washington and Tehran after Washington said it would seek to reinstate all previously suspended US sanctions on Iran at the United Nations.

Iraq's parliament had voted earlier this year for the departure of foreign troops from Iraq, and United States and other coalition troops have been leaving as part of a drawdown.

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