Islamabad ready for 'biggest' political power show

The federal capital is all set to host a major political power show as the workers of ruling PTI from different parts of the country have started reaching the Parade Ground, where Prime Minister Imran Khan's PTI will stage the "biggest" rally.

PTI is all set to stage its "Amr-bel-Maroof" public gathering successfully in Islamabad as the political pressure mounts with the opposition parties also marching towards Islamabad ahead of the vote of no-confidence against PM Imran Khan.

The PTI has called their public gathering "Amr-bel-Maroof" in response to the Opposition’s no-trust motion to show support to the prime minister.

"Today is a battle for Pakistan [...] and not for PTI, it's a battle for the future of our nation," Prime Minister Imran Khan said in a message issued hours before the gathering.

The premier urged the citizens willing to attend the rally to leave their homes early as there would be rush and blockages on the roads. He said that he fears that the people might not reach the venue on time.

"We are out to make Pakistan's history today," PM Imran Khan concluded.

Stage set

As the clock ticks towards PTI's rally, all the preparations of the event also move towards completion. The stage for the "biggest" rally has been made using 36 containers while a special container has been placed for the senior leadership.

Moreover, a special enclosure has been prepared for women where 800 seats have been arranged. The enclosure has been surrounded by safety sheets and barbed wires for security.

For the male participants of the rally, 6,000 chairs have been placed, while the organisers say that an order for 30,000 seats has been made.

Meanwhile, the workers and leaders of the JUI-F, representing the opposition parties' alliance, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), are already at the venue of their rally to be held tomorrow (Monday) at Srinagar Highway. Whereas, PML-N caravan, “Mehngai Mukao March”, led by Maryam Nawaz and leader of the Opposition in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz are also on their way to join PDM to "say goodbye to the already ousted prime minister".

Prime Minister Imran Khan had tasked party leaders to gather one million people for the rally. Addressing a rally in Swat recently, the premier had urged the nation to reach Islamabad on March 27 to tell the world that Pakistanis "stand with the truth and are against corruption".

The interior minister said that everyone is allowed to hold public gatherings in Islamabad; however, according to the directions by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, no one will be allowed to enter the Red Zone.

He warned that nobody will be allowed to take the law into their hands as the apex court has tasked the interior ministry to maintain the law and order situation in the federal capital.

‘Those who stage sit-ins will be arrested’

Responding to the Opposition’s warning to stage a sit-in in Islamabad, the interior minister cautioned them against doing so and said action will be taken according to the directives issued by the court.

He said that the Opposition would have to seek permission again if they wanted to hold a rally today as well since they had been permitted to hold a gathering on Saturday only.

“If they stage a sit-in they will be arrested,” he said, adding that the federal government also has the authority to call army under Article 245 following approvals from the prime minister and the cabinet.

 

“Mehngai Mukao March”

PML-N’s “Mehngai Mukao March” kick-started on Saturday from Lahore's Model Town in the leadership of party's vice president, Maryam's leadership.

“[Prime Minister] Imran Khan‘s government has gone he is shouting every day. The government has gone we are going to say goodbye to it, Maryam said.

The PML-N leader said that the “people are echoing” the name of party supremo Nawaz Sharif due to the “incompetent government and inflation”.

“The government has gone a goodbye is left only. He’s (Imran Khan) is pleading but nothing will happen now,” said the PML-N leader. She added that move to oust PM Imran was taken by the government and not the Opposition.

Talking about the government allies who are yet to make a decision, Maryam said that no one will stand with the premier as his own party members were ditching him.

Since then all eyes have been on Islamabad as the Opposition is trying to cajole the PTI allies to leave the government, while PM Imran Khan and his ministers are trying to ensure that the allies do not jump ship.

Apart from the allies, many PTI lawmakers have also come out in the open and started to express their frustrations against PM Imran. However, they are yet to decide whether they would support the motion or go against it.

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JUI-F 'Mehngai' march enters Punjab

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Mehngai march which started from Karachi, Sindh has entered Punjab on Friday. The participants of JUI-F Mehngai march, who are on their way to Islamabad to participate in the joint opposition protest against PTI-led government, were warmly received by a large number of JUI-F supporters at the Iqbalabad Interchange.

Tight security arrangement had been made when the participants reached Rahim Yar Khan. A large number of JUI-F workers also joined the caravan in Rahim Yar Khan.

After a short stay in Rahim Yar Khan, the JUI-F  Mehngai  march left for Multan via Motorway. The JUI-F caravan is scheduled to reach Islamabad on March 27.

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PDM caravans head to Islamabad

Supporters of opposition alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) are heading to the federal capital for power show amid heightened political tensions.

Caravans of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) from Sindh have entered Punjab and will reach Islamabad after passing through various cities of Punjab, where they will also be greeted and joined by workers of the opposition.

Read more: CJP Bandial says prerogative to form benches always lies with chief justice

Meanwhile, supporters of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will leave for Islamabad from Lahore’s Model Town under the leadership of Maryam Nawaz and Hamza Shahbaz.

Banners and posters in support of long march can be found in entire Lahore while local leaders of PML-N have been directed to gather supporters and reach Model Town office to join the central caravan lead by Hamza and Maryam.

Spokesperson of PML-N, Marriyum Aurangzeb urged people to join the long march and said that nation should stand with opposition in this decisive hour.

This march is a ray of hope for inflation stricken people of the country. This will prove to be a no-confidence motion against the government.

Meanwhile, the local administration of Islamabad has issued a show-cause notice to JUI-F organisers over the NOC violation ahead of the Islamabad public gathering.

The administration stated that JUI-F installed the stage in mid of the road of the Srinagar Highway and Abdul Majeed Hazarvi violated the NOC conditions.

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US, EU announce new partnership to undercut Russian energy

The United States and European Union on Friday announced a new partnership to reduce the continent’s reliance on Russian energy, a step top officials characterized as the start of a years-long initiative to further isolate Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine.

U.S. President Joe Biden asserted that Russian President Vladimir Putin uses energy to “coerce and manipulate his neighbors” and uses the profits from its sale to “drive his war machine.”

Read more: CPEC extend to Afghanistan says China

Biden said the partnership he announced jointly with a top European Union official will turn that dynamic on its head by reducing Europe’s dependence on Russian energy sources, as well reducing the continent’s demand for gas overall.

The president said such a step is not “only the right thing to do from a moral standpoint” but “it’s going to put us on a stronger strategic footing.”

Under the plan, the U.S. and other nations will increase liquified natural gas exports to Europe by 15 billion cubic meters this year, though U.S. officials were unable to say exactly which countries will provide the extra energy this year. Even larger shipments would be delivered in the future. .

At the same time, they will try to keep their climate goals on track by powering gas infrastructure with clean energy and reducing methane leaks that can worsen global warming.

Although the initiative will likely require new facilities for importing liquified natural gas, the partnership is also geared toward reducing reliance on fossil fuels in the long run through energy efficiency and alternative sources of energy, according to the White House.

Ursula von der Leyen, head of the EU’s executive arm, said it is important for Europe to shift away from Russia and toward energy suppliers that are trustworthy, friendly and reliable.
“We aim to reduce this dependence on Russian fossil fuels and get rid of it,” she said.

Read more: KSE-100 index gains over 300 points on high yields

Russian energy is a key source of income and political leverage for Moscow. Almost 40% of the European Union’s natural gas comes from Russia to heat homes, generate electricity and power industry.

Biden was leaving Brussels after the announcement and heading to Rzeszów in Poland, where U.S. troops are based roughly an hour’s drive from the Ukrainian border.

He will be briefed on the humanitarian response to the refugees streaming out of Ukraine and those still suffering inside the country. He also will meet with U.S. service members from the 82nd Airborne Division, who serve alongside Polish troops.

Biden is then expected to fly to Warsaw for talks Saturday with Polish President Andrzej Duda and an address to the Polish people before he departs for Washington.

While in Brussels, Biden participated in a trio of summits hosted by NATO, the Group of Seven industrialized nations and the European Union, all on Thursday. The extraordinary series of meetings reflects heightened concerns about the war in Ukraine, which has entered its second month.

Although Ukraine has resisted the Russian invasion much more successfully than initially expected, the conflict has become a grueling and bloody affair, with thousands of casualties on each side and millions of refugees fleeing the country.

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Jordan king hosts leaders of UAE, Egypt and Iraq for rare meeting

Jordan s King Abdullah II hosted leaders from Egypt, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates on Friday for "consultative" talks, state media said. The meeting with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi in the Red Sea port city of Aqaba was "consultative", according to state television.

An official source requesting anonymity told AFP that the "consultative brotherly meeting dealt with recent international and regional developments". The source did not elaborate.

Read more: Nato will ‘respond’ if Russia uses chemical weapons in Ukraine

A statement from the royal court said others in attendance included Jordan s Crown Prince Hussein and Saudi Minister of State Prince Turki bin Mohammad bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz.

The meeting comes just a day before US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is due to travel to Israel, the West Bank, Morocco and Algeria to discuss the Ukraine war, Israeli-Palestinian relations and Iran.

Israel said it would host a "historic summit" from Sunday of top diplomats from the United States and three Arab states with which it has normalised ties -- the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco.

Earlier in the week, Egypt hosted the Israeli and UAE leaders for unprecedented three-way talks as Russia s invasion of Ukraine rocks energy and food markets and major powers inch toward a revived Iran nuclear deal.

The summit was held in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh between Sisi, the Abu Dhabi crown prince and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

Analyst Oraib al-Rantawi, head of the Al-Quds Center for Political Studies, said "most" of the parties to Friday s meeting in Jordan are "historic allies and friends of Washington but are linked to Moscow through deep ties and interests".

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Corona claims 4 more deaths across the country

Pakistan has reported 4 more deaths in the last 24 hours by novel coronavirus as the number of confirmed positive cases has surged to 1,523,590. The nationwide tally of fatalities has jumped to 30,340 on Saturday.

According to the latest figures issued by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), 189 persons were tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.

Read more: Corona claims 2 more deaths across the country

Pakistan has conducted 30,417 tests in the past 24 hours out of which 189 persons were tested positive for the disease. The COVID Positivity Ratio was recorded at 0.62 percent.

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Corona claims 4 more deaths across the country

Pakistan has reported 4 more deaths in the last 24 hours by novel coronavirus as the number of confirmed positive cases has surged to 1,523,590. The nationwide tally of fatalities has jumped to 30,340 on Saturday.

According to the latest figures issued by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), 189 persons were tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.

Read more: Corona claims 2 more deaths across the country

Pakistan has conducted 30,417 tests in the past 24 hours out of which 189 persons were tested positive for the disease. The COVID Positivity Ratio was recorded at 0.62 percent.

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