Terrorists martyr Lieutenant Colonel after abduction: ISPR

Lieutenant Colonel Laiq Baig Mirza, a high-ranking official of the Pakistan Army, has embraced martyrdom after terrorists shot him, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed in a statement Thursday.

According to the military's media wing, on the night between July 12-13 a group of 10-12 terrorists abducted Lt Col Laiq shaheed, who was serving in DHA Quetta, along with his cousin Umer Javed near Warchoom, Ziarat, as they were returning to Quetta after visiting Quaid-e-Azam's residency.

On receiving information, Army Quick Reaction Forces were immediately dispatched to chase the fleeing terrorists. They were traced moving to their hideouts in the general area of Mangi Dam.

Following that, a deliberate search operation was launched by security forces using Special Service Group (SSG) troops and helicopters.

Resultantly, on night 13 July, a group of 6-8 terrorists was spotted while moving towards a nullah in nearby mountains by one of the teams of security forces. On sensing their possible encirclement, terrorists shot Lt Col Laiq Shaheed and attempted to flee the site.

In the ensuing exchange of fire, two terrorists were gunned down by the security forces, while a huge cache of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), explosives and ammunition have also been recovered from their hideout.

However, in the process, the remaining terrorists, along with the other abductee Omer, were able to flee for the time being.

Determined to recover the innocent civilian hostage and apprehend perpetrators, a sanitisation operation in the area by security forces continues unabated for the last 36 hours despite bad weather conditions.

Security forces remain resolute to thwart such cowardly attempts at sabotaging the peace, stability and progress of Balochistan, the ISPR said.

from Latest Pakistan News - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/7RbEmP8

Terrorists martyr Lieutenant Colonel after abduction: ISPR

Lieutenant Colonel Laiq Baig Mirza, a high-ranking official of the Pakistan Army, has embraced martyrdom after terrorists shot him, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed in a statement Thursday.

According to the military's media wing, on the night between July 12-13 a group of 10-12 terrorists abducted Lt Col Laiq shaheed, who was serving in DHA Quetta, along with his cousin Umer Javed near Warchoom, Ziarat, as they were returning to Quetta after visiting Quaid-e-Azam's residency.

On receiving information, Army Quick Reaction Forces were immediately dispatched to chase the fleeing terrorists. They were traced moving to their hideouts in the general area of Mangi Dam.

Following that, a deliberate search operation was launched by security forces using Special Service Group (SSG) troops and helicopters.

Resultantly, on night 13 July, a group of 6-8 terrorists was spotted while moving towards a nullah in nearby mountains by one of the teams of security forces. On sensing their possible encirclement, terrorists shot Lt Col Laiq Shaheed and attempted to flee the site.

In the ensuing exchange of fire, two terrorists were gunned down by the security forces, while a huge cache of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), explosives and ammunition have also been recovered from their hideout.

However, in the process, the remaining terrorists, along with the other abductee Omer, were able to flee for the time being.

Determined to recover the innocent civilian hostage and apprehend perpetrators, a sanitisation operation in the area by security forces continues unabated for the last 36 hours despite bad weather conditions.

Security forces remain resolute to thwart such cowardly attempts at sabotaging the peace, stability and progress of Balochistan, the ISPR said.

from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/7RbEmP8

IMF deal to bring economy out of crisis: PM

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that the revival of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme has paved the way for the government to steer the country out of the ongoing financial crisis.

The Fund has said it has reached a staff-level agreement with Pakistan that will pave the way for the disbursement of $1.17 billion, if approved by the IMF board, and that it is considering adding funds to the programme.

In a statement, the IMF said its staff reached an agreement on policies under a review of its Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme that could bring total disbursements under the programme to about $4.2 billion if approved.

The prime minister, in a statement on Twitter, congratulated the Ministry of Finance and Foreign Office teams — led by Minister for Finance Miftah Ismail and Minister for Foreign Affairs Bilawal Bhutto Zardari — for their efforts in getting the IMF programme revived.

 “It was great teamwork. The agreement with the Fund has set the stage to bring the country out of economic difficulties,” PM Shehbaz said.

PML-N leader and former finance minister Ishaq Dar hoped that the development will bring calm to the forex market and contribute to the “long journey to the macroeconomic stability goal”.

An original $6 billion bailout package was signed by former prime minister Imran Khan in 2019, but repeatedly stalled when his government reneged on subsidy agreements and failed to significantly improve tax collection.

The new agreement follows months of deeply unpopular belt-tightening by the government of Shehbaz Sharif, which took power in April and has effectively eliminated fuel subsidies and introduced new measures to broaden the tax base.

The new government has slashed a raft of subsidies to meet the demands of global financial institutions but risks the wrath of an electorate already struggling under the weight of double-digit inflation.

A new coalition government — which came to power after Khan was ousted by a parliamentary no-confidence vote — has said it will make the tough decisions needed to turn the economy around.

In a bid to secure the IMF loan, PM Shehbaz has imposed three fuel price hikes — cumulatively totalling 50% — and raised the cost of electricity to effectively end the subsidies introduced by Khan.

Moreover, in order to meet higher financing needs, the IMF board will also consider an extension of the EFF until the end of June 2023, and an addition of nearly $1 billion which would bring total access under the program to about $7 billion, it said.

"Pakistan is at a challenging economic juncture," Nathan Porter, who headed the IMF team, said in a statement, citing the difficult external environment and domestic policies that fueled demand to unsustainable levels.

from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/jgR8qF3

Sri Lanka announces 18-member squad for Pakistan Test series

Sri Lanka has announced an 18-member squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Pakistan which is set to start on Saturday, July 16.

The Test series will be played under the ICC World Test Championship Cycle of 2021 – 2023.

The first Test will begin at the Galle International Cricket Stadium while the second match is scheduled to be played from July 24-28 at the Colombo stadium.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Test squad played a warm-up match amid a tense situation in the country as protests continue against the government seeking the resignation of the president and prime minister.

The Pakistani authorities are in close contact with their Sri Lankan counterpart and there is no change in the schedule of Test series.

Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne (captain), Pathum Nissanka, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella (Wk), Dinesh Chandimal (Wk), Ramesh Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Prabath Jayasuriya, Dunith Wellalage, Jeffrey Vandersay

Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain, wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood and Yasir Shah

from latest-news - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/ziwKhkm

Imran Khan destroyed Pakistan’s economy: Maryam

PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz Wednesday said Imran Khan established "GPEC — the Gogi-Pinky economic corridor", adding that he kept on robbing Punjab through his family.

Addressing a jalsa in Layyah ahead of the by-polls in 20 constituencies of Punjab, scheduled to be held on July 17, Maryam said that Khan was only focused on converting his residence Bani Gala into “Money Gala”.

She accused Farah Khan — a close aide of former first lady Bushra Bibi — of destroying Punjab. “Imran Khan, now you will have to cry because it is payback time. The people of Pakistan were crying when you were in power,” she said, adding that the nation knows who is to be held accountable for creating a mess in the country.

Regarding the news that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has asked the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) to submit a summary regarding reducing the price of petroleum products in line with a decline in the international market, Maryam said: “Good days are coming.”

The PML-N leader announced that no electricity bills will be received by all those people who consume less than 100 units of electricity.

 “I will not sit peacefully until people of Layyah are living a peaceful life,” she said, adding that inflation will now reduce.

Commenting on the upcoming elections, she asserted that "lions will roar on July 17 in Punjab as PML-N will contest against rising inflation brought by a jackal."

from Latest Pakistan News - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/LRHC0uK

Staff-level agreement sealed with Pakistan, confirms IMF

Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have finally reached a staff-level agreement over the release of $1.17 billion to support the country’s fragile economy, the international money lender revealed Thursday.

"[The] IMF staff and the Pakistani authorities have reached a staff level agreement on policies to complete the combined 7th and 8th reviews of Pakistan’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF)," a statement by the IMF read.

The agreement is subject to approval by the IMF’s executive board.

"Subject to Board approval, about $1,177 million (SDR 894 million) will become available, bringing total disbursements under the program[me] to about $4.2 billion," it said.

In June, Pakistan and the Fund staff achieved substantial progress to strike a consensus on budget 2022-23 after which the IMF shared a draft Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies (MEFP).

On June 28, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail had announced that Pakistan had received the MEFP from the IMF for the combined seventh and eighth reviews.

The IMF team, led by Nathan Porter, has finalised discussions for the combined seventh and eight reviews of Pakistan’s economic program supported by an IMF EFF.

The IMF, in its statement, further said that, to support programme implementation and meet the higher financing needs in FY23, as well as catalyse additional financing, the IMF Board will consider an extension of the EFF until end-June 2023 and an augmentation of access by SDR 720 million that will bring the total access under the EFF to about US$7 billion.

 “Pakistan is at a challenging economic juncture. A difficult external environment combined with procyclical domestic policies fueled domestic demand to unsustainable levels. The resultant economic overheating led to large fiscal and external deficits in FY22, contributed to rising inflation, and eroded reserve buffers," the IMF statement read.

The statement from the international money lender further stated that the programme will stabilise the economy of Pakistan and bring policy actions in line with the IMF-supported programme while protecting the vulnerable, policy priorities, which include the following.

from Latest Pakistan News - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/xtpwGOZ

Imran vows to fight ‘Sharifs-ECP nexus’ in Punjab by-polls

PTI Chairman Imran Khan Wednesday said his fight is against the Sharif family, dissident party members, and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in the upcoming by-polls in Punjab.

Speaking at a public gathering in Jhang ahead of the by-polls on July 17, the former prime minister alleged that Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja meets PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz and Cheif Minister Punjab Hamza Shahbaz.

The former premier said that the elections on Sunday will decide the future of Pakistan, adding that the PTI will have to win the elections to save the country from "looters and America's slaves".

"Our party is thinking about how to save the elections from getting rigged and preparing the polling agents to stop the rigging," said the PTI chairman, adding that they [PML-N] bribes the agents at the women's polling stations.

The PTI leader further said that his party tried to bring electronic voting machines (EVMs) for transparent elections but they could not be implemented.

A day prior, Khan said that the coalition parties had not come into power to reduce inflation but to abolish the corruption cases registered against them.

He declared the upcoming by-elections in the province a “fight for real independence”, urging the masses to support him against the “turncoats and thieves”.      

It is a “jihad” against the thieves imposed on the nation under the US regime-change conspiracy, he added.

from Latest Pakistan News - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/nxwZvQc