PML-N says its target is Imran govt, not PPP

The PML-N has made it clear that its target is not the PPP rather its main objective is to get rid of Prime Minister Imran Khan and seek fresh polls.

In the wake of recent bickering between the PML-N and PPP leadership over the NA-133 by-poll, PML-N secretary general Ahsan Iqbal maintained that his party did not want any confrontation with other opposition parties, including the PPP.

“Let me make it clear that the PPP is not our target. Our target is Imran Khan Niazi, his fake system and seeking fresh and fair elections,” Mr Iqbal told a presser at the party’s provincial headquarters in Model Town here on Saturday. “We will not react to whatever statements Zardari sahib gives (against the PML-N leadership).”

A couple of days ago, PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif had advised PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari not to target former premier Nawaz Sharif. Mr Zardari, during his visit to Lahore in connection with the NA-133 by-poll, had taunted Nawaz, saying: “Those who do not wish to die in their homeland can do nothing for the country.”

Reacting to the statement, PML-N leader Tallal Chaudhry, who is considered close to Maryam Nawaz, made some disparaging comments about PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, while party MNA Ali Pervaiz Malik, the son of winning candidate from NA-133 Shaista Pervaiz, also used harsh language about the PPP leadership.

Mr Chaudhry, however, on the directions of the party leadership regretted his choice of words about the PPP leadership in a video statement.

The PPP is of the view that the PML-N leadership has panicked after seeing its (PPP) comeback performance in NA-133. PPP’s Chaudhry Aslam Gill secured over 32,000 votes against PML-N’s Shaista Pervaiz, who bagged 46,000.

Continuing to take on the premier, the PML-N secretary general said: “Imran Niazi is running the foreign policy similar to that of former US president Donald Trump. Niazi, being arrogant and vindictive, can never become a statesman.”

Ahsan Iqbal also asked the prime minister to tell people about the gifts he received from foreign heads of state. “The embezzlement of gifts received by Imran Khan from foreign states is earning Pakistan a bad name. Being sadiq and ameen, the titles he received from former chief justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar, Imran should not hesitate to provide the list of gifts,” he demanded and asked Mr Khan to provide receipts of the foreign funding.

Earlier, on a petition, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had questioned the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government over its “reluctance to disclose” details of the gifts presented to Prime Minister Imran Khan since he assumed office in August 2018.

Mr Iqbal also asked PM Khan to tell people why he was paying nominal income tax despite living in a 300-kanal palatial house in Banigala. “Who is affording the expenditures of his house?” he questioned, adding that the answer lied in the PM allegedly allowing mafias to operate with impunity and make money in sugar, flour, medicines and other areas.

“Imran Niazi has given himself and his cronies NRO [relief, in reference to the National Reconciliation Ordinance] through ordinances to manipulate the accountability system so that in the future no one can lay hands on him and his ministers for their corruption,” he said, alleging that Imran Khan had destroyed the economy and his inability to govern could be seen in every sector.

“In the three-year rule of the PTI, the [China-Pakistan Economic Corridor] projects have been destroyed,” he lamented.

The former interior minister further asked the head of Rangers to take note of its personnel ‘manhandling’ PML-N workers and him in Karachi. “Imran Niazi used the Rangers for his politics. The image of the state institution has been tarnished through this act. The head of the institution should look into this matter as to why it was used for political purposes,” he demanded.

Mr Iqbal also asked the premier to visit Gwadar to redress the grievances of the locals who had been protesting for several days.

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Police shoot man near home of Prince William, Kate Middleton

Police on Saturday said that armed officers shot dead a man in the British capital, near Kensington Palace, the home of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

According to reports, the shooting took place a short walk from the Kensington Palace.

A specialist unit was called out after reports of a man seen with a firearm at a bank and a bookmakers in the Kensington area of the city shortly after 3:00 pm.

Some 20 minutes later, the unit stopped a vehicle and shots were fired. Paramedics, including an air ambulance, were called but the man was pronounced dead just before 4:10 pm.

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Earthquake tremors felt in parts of Sindh, KP

A 4.1-magnitude earthquake was felt in Hyderabad, Kotri and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the wee hours of Sunday.

The magnitude of the earthquake was measured 4.1 on the Richter Scale as per the US Geological Survey. The tremors were felt at 5:27am this morning.

Several areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were also jolted by the earthquake. These include Swat, Shangla, Buner, Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Chitral and Malakand. These areas were jolted by the quake at 4.45am on Sunday morning.

Residents across these cities panicked, and rushed out into the open spaces, reciting the Kalima and other verses from the Holy Quran.

There are no immediate reports of any loss of life or property.

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Sindh Assembly passes local govt act amid session marred by chaos

The Sindh Local Government Act was passed with amendments in the Sindh Assembly on Saturday in a chaotic session that saw loud chants by a fervently protesting Opposition.

The Opposition members surrounded the dias of Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani, with anti-government placards in hand, where they raised slogans and even proceeded to tear up their copies of the agenda, throwing them towards the treasury benches.

Things began to get heated when mere sloganeering and hurling of abuses gave way to physical blows between PTI and PPP members.

Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah expressed great displeasure over the commotion, saying that the Centre had seen such unruly behaviour but now it was being witnessed in Sindh.

"The Centre already had an illiterate government. Now we have an illiterate Opposition in Sindh," he remarked.

He said that the bill is "in accordance with the wishes of the people".

"You must view us (Sindh) as a part of Pakistan," he said, adding: "Do not create an environment in which we are compelled to think any other way."

Shah said that Governor Sindh Imran Ismail had levelled allegations of horse trading on the majority that passed the bill. He said that the Opposition had proposed two amendments, which have been included in the act, and now the amended act will be sent back to the governor for approval.

Speaking of the impact on governance following the amendment to the act, the chief minister said that Sindh's urban areas will have a "town system".

According to the act, the mayor's election will be done with a show of hands and only elected officials will be able to run for mayor.

The mayor will be the co-chairman of Karachi Water and Sewerage Board and chairman of Solid Waste Management Board, he said.

Minister for Information Sindh Saeed Ghani lamented that "abusive language was hurled" at the provincial government officials and that they were insulted.

"Papers were thrown at the speaker and members of the government," he added.

"If someone has troubles at home, they should not bring their frustrations with them to the Assembly," Ghani remarked. It was not clear who he was referring to.

"If you have multiple marriages that are causing strife, find a solution.

"If personal problems are creating difficulties, hit your head against the wall, not in the Assembly," the minister added.

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PM Imran Khan stresses US' role for regional peace, stability

 Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday called on the United States to play its role in maintaining peace and stability in the region, as the situation evolves in Afghanistan and India continues its barbarity in occupied Kashmir.

The prime minister, according to a statement from the PM's Office, stressed America's role during a meeting with a four-member delegation of the US Senate — Senators Angus King, Richard Burr, John Cornyn, and Benjamin Sasse.

All four senators are members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, while senator King is also a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The prime minister underlined that Pakistan values its long-standing relationship with the United States and is committed to expanding it in all spheres, particularly in the economic dimension, the statement said.

PM Imran Khan reiterated that a deeper and stronger partnership between the two countries was mutually beneficial and critical for the region’s peace, security, and prosperity, it added.

Speaking on the evolving situation in Afghanistan, the prime minister emphasised that Pakistan and the US "must have a deeper engagement" to promote the shared objectives of peace, stability, and economic development.

He particularly underscored the urgent need to support the Afghan people by taking all possible measures to prevent a humanitarian crisis and economic collapse.

Apprising the delegation about the continuation of egregious human rights violations in the Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the prime minister said the extremist and exclusionist policies of the RSS-inspired BJP were posing a threat to regional peace and security.

He underscored that, for its part, Pakistan remains ready to pursue measures that would reinforce peace, stability, and prosperity in the region, if the enabling environment was created by India.

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Police lied Arsalan Mehsud was armed: internal investigation

An police team investigating the killing of Arsalan Mehsud in Karachi has declared him “innocent”.

Mehsud, a college student was killed by a police officer in plainclothes in Karachi’s Orangi Town Monday night.

According to sources, the team formed by Karachi West’s DIG Nasir Aftab has said that no shots were fired by the victim and his friend who were returning from tuitions.

Police earlier claimed that Mehsud was shot on suspicion of being a dacoit and a pistol was seized from his possession.

The police officer Tauheed was on intelligence duty with his friend Umair when the killing took place.

According to police, Mehsud, who was riding a motorcycle with his friend Yasir, were signaled to stop. When they didn’t, Tauheed fired the shots which killed Mehsud and injured Yasir.

The investigation revealed that Tauheed had no authority to stop the victim as he was in plainclothes.

After the killing, constable Tauheed was arrested while SHO Orangi Azam Gopang was suspended.

The victim’s father Haji Liaquat Mehsud named Gopang as the perpetrator in a video posted on Twitter.

In the video, he is seen standing by his son’s body, saying, “My son was coming back from coaching… he is neither a thief nor a dacoit. It was a fake encounter. [Orangi] Poney panch police station’s SHO Azam [Gopang] killed him.”

The victim’s uncle said that Tauheed and his friend tried to snatch the motorcycle and opened fire when his nephew resisted.

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Blast in Palestinian camp in south Lebanon injures several

A large explosion rocked a Palestinian camp in the southern Lebanese port city of Tyre on Friday night, injuring about a dozen people, according to rescue workers on the scene and a Palestinian source inside the camp.

NNA reported an unspecified number of deaths, but local media and civil defence workers on the scene said there had been no fatalities. A security source also said fatalities had not been recorded.
The NNA reported that the blast emanated from a weapons depot belonging to the Palestinian group Hamas in the Burj al-Shemali camp. It said a judge had ordered security forces to launch an investigation.

Hamas said in a statement on Saturday that the blast was caused by an electrical fault in a warehouse containing oxygen and gas cylinders for coronavirus patients, as well as detergents and disinfectants.

The fire damaged some property but losses were limited, the group said.

A number of armed Palestinian factions, including Hamas and the Fatah Movement, hold effective control over roughly a dozen Palestinian camps in the country, which Lebanese authorities by custom do not enter.

The area surrounding the blast had been evacuated and rescue crews had deployed, the Palestinian source said.

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