Author: none@none.com (Dawn.com)

The UN Body’s Opinion on Imran Khan’s Detention: A Closer Look Imran Khan, the founder of the PTI, faced legal battles that the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention deemed as politically motivated and without legal basis. The first Toshakhana case accused him of concealing gifts during his time as prime minister, leading to his conviction and subsequent arrest. The UN body highlighted various irregularities in the legal proceedings against Khan, raising concerns about his arbitrary detention and prosecution. The working group emphasized the lack of legal grounding in Imran’s case, stating that his detention appeared to aim at…

The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) leader, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, has announced a protest in Islamabad on July 12 against high taxes and exorbitant electricity tariffs. The protest, part of the Haq Do Awam Ko movement, aims to give rights to the masses and address the economic challenges faced by citizens. Rehman criticized the government’s tax-heavy Finance Bill 2024 and called the budget cruel, stating that it burdens the salaried classes while exempting the elite. He emphasized the need to decrease electricity bills and taxes, urging the privileged sector to reduce perks and lower the power prices. The JI leader highlighted the exodus…

Pakistan Aims for Last IMF Program as Finance Minister Talks Fiscal Policies Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb expressed confidence in securing an extended loan program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and highlighted the role of IMF agreements in achieving macroeconomic stability in Pakistan. Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Aurangzeb, along with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, expressed hopes that the upcoming IMF program would be the country’s last. President Asif Ali Zardari has given assent to the tax-heavy Finance Bill 2024, despite criticism from opposition parties and coalition partners. The government is working on generating additional revenue to meet IMF…

The Government of Pakistan Responds to US Resolution on Democracy Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar made a fiery announcement in the National Assembly in response to a recent US resolution supporting democracy in Pakistan. The resolution, passed overwhelmingly by the US House of Representatives, called for upholding democratic values and investigating election irregularities in Pakistan. The Foreign Office responded, stating that the US resolution showed an incomplete understanding of Pakistan’s political situation. In a bold move, the Pakistani government plans to introduce a resolution countering the US motion, highlighting sovereignty and unity. Dar emphasized the need for unity in passing…

US State Department expresses solidarity with Pakistan in combating terrorism The US State Department recently expressed its support for Pakistan in combating terrorism, stating that no country should have to endure the kind of terrorist attacks that Pakistani people have suffered from. The department emphasized a shared interest with Islamabad in addressing threats to regional security. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led federal government approved a national counter-terrorism campaign, now known as Vision Azm-i-Istehkam, to eliminate extremism and terrorism from the country. This initiative was launched with the consensus of all stakeholders, reflecting a unified commitment to combating these challenges. The State…

Balochistan Home Minister Exposes TTP and BLA Collaboration Balochistan Home Minister Exposes TTP and BLA Collaboration During a press conference in Quetta, Balochistan Home Minister Ziaullah Langau revealed that banned outfits Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) are working together to carry out terrorist attacks in Pakistan, with India as their main backer. Security forces recently apprehended TTP commanders Nasrullah and Idrees, shedding light on their nefarious plans. Langau emphasized the link between the TTP’s aim to establish an Islamic system and the BLA’s anti-government stance, pointing to a common source of funding from India’s RAW. Langau…

The National Assembly witnessed Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb’s announcement that next year’s fiscal budget will prioritize reducing the fiscal deficit through revenue enhancement and reducing unnecessary expenditures. Aurangzeb presented the budget on June 12, with the lower house of parliament deliberating over it for the upcoming fiscal year. Despite initial reservations, the PPP decided to support the budget bill, emphasizing the importance of stability in the country. Criticism from MQM-P members highlighted concerns over taxes impacting the middle-class and causing inflation. PTI leader Asad Qaiser and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman rejected the proposed budget as “IMF” and “anti-people.” FM…

Pakistan Stock Exchange’s KSE-100 index has emerged as Asia’s best performing market this year, with a remarkable 27% surge in dollar terms. According to a report by Bloomberg, the prospects for further growth are strong due to cheap valuations and the government’s efforts to secure a new loan from the IMF. Despite trading at a record high, the index boasts a one-year forward earnings-based valuation of 3.8x – a 50% discount to its average, indicating lucrative investment opportunities. However, political instability remains a concern, as the government’s weak mandate and austerity measures could lead to potential challenges. With a focus…

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif clarified that the upcoming counterterrorism campaign ‘Vision Azm-i-Istehkam’ will focus on intensifying ongoing intelligence-based operations (IBOs) rather than launching a new large-scale military offensive. The aim is to decisively root out terrorists, crime, and violent extremism from the country. The campaign will not involve mass displacement of the local population. After opposition parties raised concerns, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif assured that their reservations would be addressed. The proposed campaign will involve intelligence-based operations and aims to address the rising wave of terrorism in the country. The decision to launch Azm-i-Istehkam follows a meeting of the Central…

The federal government recently launched Operation Azm-i-Istehkam as part of a renewed national counter-terrorism campaign. This operation aims to combat extremism and terrorism in a comprehensive manner. Despite some opposition in Parliament, KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi expressed support for the operation, highlighting the importance of unity in this crucial fight. Kundi suggested that meetings on security and law enforcement should be held in terrorism hotzones across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, involving KP assembly members and federal cabinet officials. He emphasized the need for these discussions to take place in the affected areas rather than in distant, air-conditioned rooms in Islamabad. The…