By Hamza Ameer

Islamabad, Feb 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) Pakistan's dismal economic condition and its struggle to meet the demands of the International Monetary Fund (OMF), imposing taxes, increasing rate of inflation and snowballing petroleum prices have not only forced the Shehbaz Sharif-led government to introduce an austerity drive, but have also affected the capability and capacity of the military establishment to launch a counter-terrorism offensive.

The country's military establishment has been asked by the government to provide a plan on how they can cut their non-combat expenditure, given the nature of the severe economic crisis.

Experts say that while terrorism and groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and others continue to carry out coordinated attacks in different parts of the country, the military establishment is not in a position to launch a counter-terrorism offensive, which can be allocated with enough financial assistance to sustain it.

It would also not be wrong to maintain that terror groups, who are re-organising in different parts of the country, are also aware that they have the leverage, time and space as the military establishment may keep itself limited to IBOs (Intelligence Based Operations) or small scaled offensives, due to its bad financial conditions.

In view of the current situation of the country, experts believe that launching a military offensive may just not be possible for the military establishment.

"Pakistan's armed forces and its intelligence agencies are well aware of the country's financial situation. And they would not find themselves in a position to launch operations like 'Zarb-e-Azb' and 'Raddul Fasad' to root out terrorists from its soil," said senior analyst Javed Siddique.

"And the fact that Pakistan's financial problems hinder the way of an all-out counter-terrorism operation by the armed forces, our neighboring Afghanistan and the Taliban regime there, along with the Pakistani Taliban can continue to enjoy each other's support and try to make full use of this vulnerable financial condition of the country," he added.

However, other military experts say that the resurgence of terrorism in the country does not need an all-out offensive and can be tackled through small scale operations as the militant groups have not yet been able to establishment themselves inside Pakistan and are using various sleeper cells for coordination and implementation of their terror plans.

"Pakistan armed forces have foiled tons of terror attack attempts, nabbed hundreds of TTP militants through ongoing IBOs (Intelligence Based Operations) and would continue to do so in the coming days as well," said an official with knowledge of the ongoing military operations.

"We are well aware of our limitations and are also aware that Pakistan's financial condition is not normal. But we should not forget that these financial gaps should not allow terrorism to prosper, and the armed forces are doing everything to ensure that terrorists do not get a single easy breath on Pakistani soil."

Source: IANS

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By Yashwant Raj

Washington, Feb 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) Pakistan has had more than 20 bailouts from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and is reportedly preparing to seek another one, even as it has still to receive the last tranche from the bailout programme currently underway.

That's roughly a bailout every 3.5 years since independence.

This might not be a sign of failed state or economy, but it's surely a resume crying for a reserved spot outside the IMF headquarters on 19th Street, NW Washington D.C., for a Pakistani representative with a hat and a bowl.

Pakistani officials have just announced that they have accepted -- unwillingly -- all the conditions set by the IMF to access the remaining $1 billion of the $6.5 billion of the bailout package cleared in 2019.

"We have to accept, unwillingly, the strict conditions for the IMF deal," Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday.

Sharif did not have a choice. His country's foreign reserve has dipped to $3 billion, which is just enough for Pakistan to see through the next three weeks.

Its long-time lenders in West Asia, whose generosity Islamabad had come to rely on, also let it be known that their money was also tied to Pakistan's agreement to the policy conditions laid out by the IMF for it to release the last tranche.

China, which already accounts for 30% of Pakistan's external debt, has extended a loan of $700 million to enable Islamabad to pay some of that same external debt. But it's really the pusher passing a free hit to an addict to keep them hooked.

Pakistan and IMF officials had been in negotiations since early February. A team of IMF officials was in Islamabad. The team left for Washington without a deal.

"Considerable progress was made during the mission on policy measures to address domestic and external imbalances," the fund said in a statement. And it went on to spell out its conditions that had not been met until then.

"Key priorities include strengthening the fiscal position with permanent revenue measures and reduction in un-targeted subsidies, while scaling up social protection to help the most vulnerable and those affected by the floods; allowing the exchange rate to be market determined to gradually eliminate the foreign exchange shortage; and enhancing energy provision by preventing further accumulation of circular debt and ensuring the viability of the energy sector."

In short, the IMF wants Pakistan to withdraw fuel subsidies and let the burden of rising prices fall directly on consumers, removal of other subsidies and raising taxes.

That remaining $1 billion will be released when the two sides sign the agreement, which should be a mere formality now that the Sharif government has relented.

Pakistan may need another bailout package to climb out of the ongoing economic mess and there are reports a fresh request is on the way. The IMF did not respond to an email asking if Pakistan had made such a request.

Pakistan has had 22 IMF bailout starting with $25 million in December 1958, two months after the country saw its first military coup, by General Ayub Khan. And then the rest.

Source: IANS

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By Hamza Ameer

Islamabad, Feb 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) After being widely criticised for plunging the masses into a dangerous wave of inflation, price hikes and taxes, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led Pakistan coalition government has now come up with an austerity plan to avert the economic meltdown aiming to save the government over Rs 200 billion per annum.

In a latest, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has asked all of his ministers and advisers to relinquish their salaries, benefits and luxury cars and to fly economy class to help the government save millions of rupees to avert the loomimng economic meltdown threats the country is facing.

The step comes amid the Shehbaz Sharif government doing anything and everything to resume the stalled Extended Funding Programme (EFF) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to secure funds worth $1.1 billion, which will be provided after approval of the ninth review of the IMF plan for Pakistan.

"The IMF deal settlement and resumption is in its final stages. We have had to impose new taxes, introduce mini-budget and increase prices to meet their demands. This has been done with a very heavy heart because this deal was not done by our government. It was done by Imran Khan and we are now forced to comply with it and fulfil all of its shortcomings," said Shehbaz Sharif while announcing the government's austerity plan.

It is in the same line that fresh austerity drive to cut expenditures is being introduced to stave off an economic meltdown and meet the country's balance of payments crisis. This comes at a time when Pakistan's central bank, the State Bank of Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves are already reeling before a three-week import cover, while the inflation maintains its consistency at high levels.

"Far-reaching results of these measures will come to the fore. We will save around Rs 200 billion due to such measures. Although these measures would not give any significant relief to already inflation-hit people, they would give them a sense that the government realised their pain and agony," said premier Shehbaz Sharif.

As per the austerity plan, the size of the cabinet will be reduced, which currently is one of the biggest in the country's history with 85 members, which includes 34 federal ministers, seven ministers of state, four advisors and at least 40 special assistants to the Prime Minister.

It has also been decided that all federal cabinet ministers, advisers and special assistants would not take salaries and will also pay their utility bills from their own pockets. Moreover, the members will also return all luxury vehicles, which would later be auctioned and that the members would fly in economy class air tickets during their domestic and foreign trips, during which, assisting staff will no longer be accompanying them.

All government offices would be opened at 7:30 a.m. to save electricity and gas, while import of luxury items and official vehicles will be banned, a government official would be able to own only one official plot, foreign visits will be filtered and minimised and online zoom meetings will be preferred, cabinet members would not stay in 5-star hotels, big houses allotted to government officials will be recovered and sold, and the government will also implement a 15 per cent cut in expenses of government institutions, while the armed forces will also reduce non-combat expenditures.

Shehbaz Sharif also called on the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Chief Justices of High Courts and other courts of all provinces, chief ministers of provinces to implement similar measures to help the country come out of its prevailing economic crisis.

It is pertinent to mention that the latest austerity measures announced by the government do not have a very positive history of implementation in the past. The government earlier announced similar measures for market closure timings and other steps, which were notified but were not implemented.

However, this time, the government seems resolute to ensure implementation of its directives to help the country avoid a financial and economic meltdown.

Source: IANS

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By Hamza Ameer

Islamabad, Feb 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) Pakistan's economic conditions, which fell from bad to worse and seems to be on coarse towards becoming a disaster, have had a massive negative impact on the lives of the common man, who is facing the worst possible outpour of government's increased taxes, inflation and is also being affected by massive joblessness, triggered due to closure of many industries in the country.

As the International Monetary Fund (IMF) stands rigid on its pre-conditions to Pakistan on tax reforms, the government seems to be looking towards the already stressed masses to bear the brunt of the reform implementations by increasing prices of gas, electricity, petroleum products, and taxes on basic commodities.

This is being done at a time when the country's industrial sector is deteriorating due to the closure of imports and Lease Credit (LC), forcing many multi-national and national manufacturers to shut their plants in the country and lay off thousands of employees.

At the moment, inflation in Pakistan is hovering around 27.5 per cent and if it can be seen in parallel to widespread closure of various sectors, causing an increase in poverty and starvation, it will not be difficult to realize that the life of a common man has become almost impossible to manage.

"I used to be a permanent employee of an MNC (multinational company) with at least 16,000 employees in Pakistan. But due to the ban on imports by the government, the company had to shrink its operations and has laid off at least 30 per cent of its staff", said a former employee.

"When you fall from a stable MNC job to being jobless, that also at a time when even drinking water is getting beyond the buying reach of a common man, when everything from fuel to gas to basic eatables have become expensive, when a normal house hold's monthly expense has increased by at least 40 to 50 per cent, where there are no jobs in the market as the markets are shutting down... what do you do? How do you survive?" he queried.

In Pakistan, this tagline has become a common word of mouth "Pakistan mein aata mehenga hai aur jaan sasti", which means "human life in Pakistan has become cheaper than flour".

This most certainly highlights the dire and devastating affect, inflation, new taxes and price hikes have had on the lives of the masses, who are not only suffering to increased inflation but are also losing hopes of survival due to joblessness, poverty and starvation.

Source: IANS

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By Hamza Ameer

Islamabad, Feb 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) Since his ouster from power, former Pakistan Prime Minister and PTI chief Imran Khan has been holding the Shehbaz Sharif government responsible for the economic crisis facing the county, and claiming that only he can bail out the country.

However, the big question is whether Khan has any plan for revival of the cash-strapped country.

Khan has been addressing his supporters detailing how his government was doing better in terms of financial policy makings and economic growth of the country.

Khan claimed that the Shehbaz Sharif government plunged the country into severe economic crisis and is leading it towards a complete financial blackout.

However, analyst say that Khan's way out to the current financial crisis in the country is directly linked with his reinstatement as the country's prime minister, that also with a two-third majority, which he claims would bring political stability to the country and get it out of political uncertainty, which impacts the financial uncertainty prevailing in the financial market and in the eyes of the international donors and lenders in relations to Pakistan.

Khan has repeatedly reiterated his demands of holding early general elections in the country to bring about political stability, which he has insisted is the prime basis on which, the country will pave the way towards financial stability.

While what Khan demands seems one probable and suited way to have clarity into Pakistan's ruling power center, which should have a government, in office for at least five-years and which should take officer through an election and be and elected one representative of the masses; many believe that the Khan's demand is pre-conditioned with the prime demand that he should be brought back to power through early elections, a demand which is attached with a "threat of spreading political unrest" in the country.

"Imran Khan demands that he should be brought back to power by the military establishment, who he accuses, were the ones who ousted him from power and supported his political rivals to gang up against him," stated Adnan Shauqat, a political analyst.

"Imran Khan, in the same breath also says that if he is not brought into power with a two-third majority; the country will plunge further into miseries, economic crisis and political chaos... which in itself is a threat. We see today, since Imran Khan was ousted from office, he has done anything and everything to malign the military establishment, reach out to global powers and lenders to not give money to Pakistan, call on IMF to not revive the crucial funding programme, and even arranged for rallies outside the UN office, demanding countries not to fund Pakistan for flood-relief as well," he added.

Khan has also stated that if political stability through early general elections is not achieved, the financial situation in the country will continue to worsen and would come at a stage, where no one would be able to run the country.

And it would not be wrong that the current economic state of the country, coupled with political chaos is most certainly moving Pakistan towards bankruptcy. Unfortunately, no political party, in power or in opposition, seems to have a plan to keep the sinking economic ship of the country afloat.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, March 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz told Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday that his "game is over now", Dawn reported.

"Your electoral prospects in the wake of inflation and lack of governance are bleak. You know you have lost the game and the upcoming elections."

Maryam said that every party goes through "these phases" but none ever used foul language the way Imran Khan did. "You ridicule opponents. You oppose Maulana Fazlur Rehman. You mimic Bilawal."

And, the PML-N leader went on, the Pakistani Prime Minister looks like a joker while he's at it, Dawn reported.

"I urge people not to let their children watch such speeches," Maryam said, stressing that despite facing several injustices Nawaz Sharif never "let go of his moral principles".

Talking to the media outside the Islamabad High Court, she slammed the premier for bad-mouthing the opposition in his speeches. "I have heard his speeches and he sounds like a defeated man (in them)."

"Four years are sufficient to show the performance of a person. Imran Khan should know that people have shown him the red card."

Referring to the no-confidence motion, she called it karma for the Pakistan Prime Minister.

"You had called out Nawaz's politics. Today, the same Nawaz has beaten you by entering your homes while sitting abroad. Now, you are the one paying visits to people with one or two seats", Dawn reported.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, March 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday lauded India for having an "independent foreign policy" that was favourable to its own people, Express Tribune reported.

He maintained that like India -- which imported oil from Russia despite American sanctions and despite being an ally of the US -- his foreign policy would also favour the people of Pakistan, the report said.

"I haven't bowed before anyone and will not let my nation bow either," Imran said.

The Pakistan premier maintained that he said "absolutely not" to the European Union envoy who sought Pakistan's support against Russia in the Russia-Ukraine conflict because "they broke protocol by making the request".

He added that Pakistan would have gained nothing by complying with the EU's request.

"We became part of America's war against terror in Afghanistan and lost 80,000 people and $100 billion," he said, asking Shehbaz Sharif what did Pakistan gain from the war on terror, Express Tribune reported.

Khan has once again urged the dissident lawmakers to return to the ruling PTI's fold, saying that he was ready to forgive them like a 'compassionate father' amid looming vote on no-trust motion against him, Express Tribune reported.

"Return to the party's fold or face social boycott," he warned the dissenting PTI members while addressing a public gathering in Dargai -- a small town in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's Malaknad district on Sunday.

"People will not trust you -- youth are aware of whatever happening in the country, this is the age of social media where it is difficult to hide anything," he said.

The Pakistan premier also warned the estranged lawmakers of dire consequences if they "sold their conscience" and cast vote against the party line in the National Assembly.

Source: IANS

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Sialkot (Pakistan), March 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) A fire erupted in an army ammunition shed Sunday morning in Sialkot garrison area, Pakistan military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations has confirmed, Samaa TV reported.

The fire, caused due to a short circuit, has been put out as a result of "swift and effective response". No life or property loss was reported, the report said.

Earlier on Sunday, Twitter users began posting videos said to be from Sialkot in which smoke could be seen billowing far away. They reported loud blasts were also heard.

Urdu News has quoted Sialkot District Police Officer (DPO) Umer Saeed Malik saying that the fire erupted early morning in cantonment area after which several blasts happened.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) At least 21 people died of cold after they were stranded in their cars during the snowstorm in Murree in Pakistan on Friday night, according to Pakistan Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed, Samaa TV reported.

The hill station was crowded after tourists headed there to witness snowfall. On Friday night, the government imposed a ban on the entry of tourists to Murree and Galiyat region. They won't be allowed to go beyond Satra Meel Toll Plaza, Rasheed said, except in the case of extreme emergency.

On Saturday, the minister revealed that so far, 23,000 cars have been brought back, while an operation is underway to rescue 1,000 more cars trapped in the snow. Heavy machinery has been called in to clear the roads as well. According to reports, this week, nearly 140,000 vehicles entered Murree.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people spent Friday night on the roads. Local residents have been out on the streets distributing warms clothes, blankets, and food to stranded tourists, the report said.

The deaths took place because roads were blocked and people were stuck in their cars for hours. They couldn't reach their hotels.

Meanwhile, Pakistan opposition leaders have questioned the role of the government during the crisis.

"Where was the government? What was the PM doing now? Why weren't they prepared," asked PML-N's Hamza Shahbaz.

PPP Vice-President Sherry Rehman said the government "surely needs to be more vigilant about the flood of tourists on the Galiat [sic] routes in extreme weather".

Source: IANS

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Rawalpindi, Dec 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) A Pakistani policeman was killed and two others were injured in a shooting incident in Rawalpindi, an official said on Tuesday.

Unknown gunmen riding on motorcycles opened fire at a police party performing patrolling duty in the Pir Wadhai area late Monday night, Assistant Superintendent of Police in Rawalpindi Beenish Fatima told Xinhua news agency.

The gunmen fled the scene after the attack, the official said, adding that the two critically injured policemen have been rushed to a hospital in the district.

A heavy contingent of police force reached the site to investigate the matter, and a search operation was launched to arrest the attackers.

No group or individual has claimed the attack yet.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, Dec 9 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said that it has approved a $603 million results-based lending programme to strengthen and expand social protection programs in Pakistan.

The programme will support the implementation of Ehsaas program, Pakistan's national social protection and poverty reduction strategy, the ADB said in a statement.

It added that under the Integrated Social Protection Development Programme, the ADB will provide loan of $600 million and $3 million grant from the Asian Development Fund, reports Xinhua news agency.

The ADB will also administer a $24 million grant to Pakistan from the Education Above All Foundation.

The programme supports the Ehsaas goal of expanding cash transfers to improve access to primary and secondary education up to class 10 for children and adolescents of poor families, especially girls, and enhancing health services and nutrition for women, adolescent girls, and poor children, according to the statement.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, Dec 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) Pakistan President Arif Alvi said that sustained comprehensive efforts were required at the national level to tackle the looming threat of water scarcity and ensuing food insecurity in the country.

Climate change is the key factor affecting the reliability of water resources across the globe and raising concerns about the future of water availability and food security in countries including Pakistan, the President said while addressing a conference on water management.

"There is a serious threat of water scarcity in Pakistan by 2035 owing to the country's increasing vulnerability to climate change," Xinhua news agency quoted Alvi as saying.

He added that several areas of Pakistan have already started facing increased water scarcity with a critical need for climate adaptation in the water sector.

The President said that urgent actions are required for the management of water resources and improved system of water conservation at the national and local levels.

The Pakistan government has made solid progress in achieving key principles defined under the National Water Policy and called for an integrated approach among provinces for its complete implementation.

To address the issue of water management, Alvi emphasised on the practices to reduce water consumption including drip irrigation, water recycling and reallocating water for more valuable uses.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, Dec 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) A terror plot was foiled in Pakistan's Balochistan province after the police defused a bomb in a busy area, a top official said.

The counter-terrorism department of police received an intelligence tip-off regarding the terrorist plan to launch an attack near the deputy commissioner's office in Gwadar, police officer Tariq Mastoi told Xinhua news agency.

"Two terrorists parked a motorbike with explosives hidden in its speaker box outside the office and were trying to flee when police busted them," he added.

Mastoi said the terrorists were planning to explode the improvised explosive device hidden inside with remote control, but failed due to the vigilance of law enforcement agencies.

He did not reveal the identity of the militants who were shifted to an unknown location for investigation.

Meanwhile, sources from paramilitary troops Levies told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that personnel from both police and the troops cordoned off the area and security has been beefed up in the district.

Source: IANS

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Peshawar, Nov 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) Two policemen were killed in a firing in Pakistan's Peshawar city, police said on Wednesday.

Police officers in the area told local media that security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation early Wednesday morning to arrest suspects in Hayatabad area of Peshawar, Xinhua news agency reported.

Being surrounded by security forces, the suspects opened fire and killed two policemen on the spot, said police, adding that the assailants managed to flee from the scene.

The area was cordoned off following the incident and a hunt was on to nab the assailants.

Earlier on Monday, a policeman was killed in Peshawar when unknown gunmen opened fire on him while he was returning home off duty.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, Nov 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) At least six people were killed and three others injured after a car fell into a ravine in Pakistan's Upper Kohistan district on Wednesday, local media reported.

According to the reports, a car carrying nine members of a family fell into the ravine in Lotar area of Upper Kohistan, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, reports Xinhua news agency.

Local residents, police and rescue teams rushed to the site and shifted the bodies and the injured to a nearby hospital.

The deceased were travelling to attend a wedding function when the accident took place, the reports said.

Hospital officials feared that the death toll might further rise because the wounded are in critical condition.

Police said that the accident resulted from overspeeding when the driver lost control of the car.

Source: IANS

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By Sanjeev Sharma

New Delhi, Nov 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) Families of disappeared people in Pakistan reported that their efforts to compel authorities to return their loved ones through the courts were unsuccessful, a report by Amnesty International said.

Although cases have been documented as far back as the mid-1980s, the practice has been routinely used by Pakistan's intelligence services since the inception of the so-called "War on Terror" in 2001, to target human rights defenders, political activists, students, and journalists, with the fate of hundreds of victims still unknown, the report said.

As per the report, Ali Imtiaz said that when summoned by the court, no one from the intelligence agencies or authorities appeared in court.

In cases when the authorities did appear in court, they would still not provide answers for the families.

Sammi Baloch recounted that when the authorities appeared before the court, they claimed her father had travelled to Afghanistan to train as a separatist, but they could not show any evidence to substantiate these claims.

"Unfortunately, these allegations and unsubstantiated claims are not limited to the authorities: two people Amnesty International spoke to described facing such unsubstantiated claims and allegations from the judges hearing their cases. One person reported that the judge suggested her husband had run away and not disappeared," the report said.

Shabana Majeed described a scene where she was in a court hearing with other families of the disappeared, begging a judge for answers and justice about their missing loved ones, and the judge responded by shouting and berating the families with harsh language.

The report said people who access the justice system must be treated in a free, fair and impartial manner; the conduct of the judge in this instance is a violation of this right. The lack of progress in these cases, where families of the disappeared are treated without empathy or humanity, is indicative of the difficulties surrounding cases of enforced disappearances and the struggles of families who are fighting for information and justice for their missing loved ones.

In 2011, on the orders of the Pakistan Supreme Court, the Pakistan Ministry of Interior set up the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (COIED).

The mandate of this commission is to trace the location of a 'disappeared' person, find out who is responsible (whether State, individual or institution), ensure an FIR is registered and recommend standard operating procedures to law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

According to the COIED's monthly report for September 2021, it has received 8,122 cases since its inception, of which 2,274 remain unresolved.

In September 2021, the Commission disposed of 27 cases, where 24 people had been traced, 13 returned home, six were confined in internment centres, five were confined in jail and three were deemed not to be cases of enforced disappearance.

Civil society and families of the disappeared, who have no representation on the COIED, have criticized the commission for not using the powers vested in it to investigate cases of enforced disappearances or bring those suspected of criminal responsibility to justice.

In 2020, the International Commission of Jurists stated that in nine years of operation the COIED had not held a single perpetrator of an enforced disappearance accountable for the crime. 50 Families of the disappeared who spoke to Amnesty International reported that after multiple hearings, those whose cases were before the COIED have received no answers or justice.

All of the families whose cases were before the COIED and who spoke to Amnesty International are still waiting for any information about their loved ones, in some instances years after proceedings were instigated through the COIED.

(Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at Sanjeev.s@ians.in)

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, Nov 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) At least six people were killed and 10 others injured in two separate road accidents in Pakistan in the last 24 hours, local media reported on Tuesday.

At least two students were killed and 10 others injured when a school van on Tuesday morning collided with a train while passing through an unmanned railway crossing in Sheikhupura city, Punjab province, reports Xinhua news agency.

Rescue workers and the local people retrieved the victims and rushed them to a nearby hospital.

The accident reportedly occurred due to the negligence of the van driver who managed to escape.

In the second accident in Islamabad, four people were killed on Monday night when a car overturned after hitting a road divider and eventually collided with four other vehicles, causing serious injuries to four people.

The rescue team reached the spot and shifted the injured to a hospital where they succumbed to their injuries during the treatment.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, Nov 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) Three soldiers were killed in separate anti-terror operations in Pakistan, an army statement said.

Pakistani security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation about presence of externally supported terrorists in Hoshab area of the southwest Balochistan province, the military's media wing said in the statement.

"On being surrounded by the security forces, an engagement ensued in which terrorists suffered heavy losses," Xinhua news agency quoted the statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations as saying.

It adding that two soldiers were killed in the clash.

In a separate incident, another soldier was killed while clearing an improvised explosive device planted by terrorists along a route frequented by civilians, said the statement.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, Nov 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) At least seven people, including two policemen, were injured in a blast in Pakistan's Quetta city, police said.

A police van was passing by when the explosion occurred in the Nawa Killi area of Quetta, the capital of the Balochistan province, an official told Xinhua news agency.

The bomb weighing around 4-5 kg was fixed on a motorcycle parked on the road and was detonated by remote control device by the miscreants, he said.

Following the blast, security forces and rescue teams rushed to the site and shifted the injured to a nearby hospital.

Security forces condoned off the area and started a search operation.

No group or individual has claimed the attack yet.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, Nov 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) Pakistani law enforcement agencies have foiled a terror bid and arrested a militant affiliated to a banned outfit in Quetta city, police said.

The militant was arrested during a targeted operation based on an intelligence tip-off at a hideout in the Sariab area of Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, Xinhua news agency quoted the police as saying.

The police said that a search operation was also been launched in the area to look for any accomplice of the arrested terrorist.

Police personnel also seized explosives, arms and other sensitive materials from the terrorist's possession.

The militant was shifted to an undisclosed location for further interrogation shortly after the arrest.

A case has also been registered against him, according to the police officials.

Source: IANS

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By Hamza Ameer

Islamabad, Nov 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Pakistan government has called on India to reopen the Kartarpur Corridor and allow pilgrims to cross over into Pakistan on the occasion of Guru Nanak Dev's birth aniiversary celebrations from November 17 to 26.

Marking the second anniversary of the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor, Pakistan has expressed hope that India would allow pilgrims to travel through the corridor in the spirit of cooperation.

"In the upcoming Guru Nanak's birth anniversary celebrations from November 17-26, we look forward to hosting devotees from India and around the world," read a statement issued by the Pakistan Foreign Office.

"In the last two years, the corridor has not only fulfilled the earnest desire of the Sikh community around the world for easy access to the revered site, but is also reflective of the primacy that Pakistan accords to all religious minorities in the country. The corridor has opened new vistas for the promotion of inter-faith harmony," the statement added.

It also reminded that the Kartarpur Corridor was described by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres as the "Corridor of Hope" during his visit to Kartarpur Sahib in February 2020.

Pakistan has also criticised India for refraining from opening the corridor despite reopening and resumption of international travels all over the world and opening of all religious places in the country.

"The Kartarpur Corridor was reopened on June 29, 2020 under the Covid related protocols after its temporary closure due to the pandemic on March 16, 2020. India, despite resumption of international travel all over the world, and opening of all religious places in that country and repeated calls by the Sikh community, is yet to open the corridor from its side and allow pilgrims to visit Kartarpur Sahib," the statement read.

Pakistan has also highlighted that "the magnificent newly-built Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur complex is a gift by the people of Pakistan and their leadership to the Sikh community in India and worldwide.

"Two years ago on this day, the Kartarpur Corridor was inaugurated by Prime Minister Imran Khan on the event of the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak," read the statement.

As per details, Pakistan is willing to allow at least 3,000 devotees from across the world to participate in the upcoming birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak and it is looking forward to India to reciprocate its offer with the same cooperation.

Source: IANS

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Tehran, Nov 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) Iran and Pakistan have agreed to increase their mutual trade to $5 billion by 2023, Iranian Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade Reza Fatemi Amin said.

"Iran is ready to remove trade barriers with Pakistan to improve economic relations between the two countries," Fatemi Amin said at the 9th meeting of the Iran-Pakistan Joint Trade Committee in Tehran.

He said both countries stressed the need for a precise plan that facilitates investment in Iran for Pakistani entrepreneurs.

Two offices will be established with the mission of fixing difficulties in trade between Iran and Pakistan, and Iran expects the task to be achieved within three months, the Minister added.

Also within three months, he noted, free trade arrangements agreed by the two countries will be implemented.

Abdul Razak Dawood, advisor to the Pakistani Prime Minister for commerce and investment, attended the committee meeting in Tehran and voiced his satisfaction over the attained results.

Dawood conveyed Prime Minister Imran Khan intention of developing Pakistan's trade in the region, especially with Iran, and voiced optimism over the prospects of economic cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.

Iran and Pakistan have planned to create joint specialized working groups that discuss banking, customs, transportation, markets, trade, and quarantine issues related to the expansion of bilateral commerce.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, Nov 3 (SocialNews.XYZ) Islamabad has been witnessing a continuous increase in dengue cases as 94 more patients were reported in the last 24 hours, health authorities in the Pakistani capital said on Wednesday.

One more dengue patient died in the capital, local media reported Wednesday morning, taking this year's total death toll from the disease in the city to 15.

Islamabad District Health Officer Zaeem Zia told local media that 56 cases were diagnosed in the suburbs of Islamabad and 38 in the urban areas, reports Xinhua news agency.

According to the health authorities, the total number of dengue ases this year has reached to 3,737 in the capital with 2,140 reported in the suburbs and 1,597 in the urban parts.

The city's district health officer told local media that 784 residual spray and 98 fogging actions were carried out in different parts of Islamabad during the past 24 hours to counter the spread of the disease and wipe out the potential breeding sites of the mosquito larvae.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, Nov 3 (SocialNews.XYZ) Fifteen people were killed and 10 others seriously injured after a passenger van fell into a ravine in Pakistan on Wednesday, police said.

The van carrying 25 people fell into the deep ravine when the driver tried to negotiate a sharp turn in the mountainous terrain of Kotli district, a local policeman told Xinhua news agency.

He said that the accident took place at about 10 a.m. and the van was destroyed in the incident.

Rescue work is underway and the bodies and the injured are being recovered by volunteers and rescue officials.

"The condition of all of the recovered injured people is very serious and doctors at a nearby hospital are trying hard to save them," he added.

The van was on its way to Rawalpindi from a town in Kotli district.

"The fan fell deep into the ravine, far away from the road after sliding off from the mountain, and it is taking rescue teams a lot of effort to recover the injured and the bodies," he added.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, Nov 3 (SocialNews.XYZ) Fourteen people were injured in a bomb explosion in Kharan district of Pakistan's Balochistan province, police sources said.

About four to five kg of explosives fixed in a motorbike were detonated by unknown militants at a busy road of the district, sources told Xinhua news agency, adding that all of the injured were civilians.

The injured have been shifted to a nearby hospital where four of them are reported to be in critical condition.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet, and police have kicked off the investigation process at the blast site.

Chief Minister of Balochistan Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo condemned the attack and directed the hospital to provide the best possible medical treatment to the injured.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, Nov 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Four terrorists were killed in a clash with police in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, local authorities said in a statement on Tuesday.

The counter-terrorism department of police conducted the operation in Hangu district on an intelligence tip-off regarding the presence of some high-profile targets in a compound, Xinhua news agency quoted the statement as saying.

During the operation, an exchange of fire broke out in which four terrorists were killed while four others escaped by taking advantage of the darkness.

Police seized arms and ammunition from the militants' hideout and kicked off a search operation for the fleeing terrorists.

The killed terrorists were involved in planning and executing attacks on polio eradication teams, kidnapping for ransom, street crimes and terrorist attacks on police and civilians, according to the statement.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, Oct 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) At least four people were killed and nine others injured in a road accident in Pakistan's Punjab province on Sunday, said rescue officials.

The accident took place when a passenger van carrying around 20 passengers turned turtle in the Attock district, Xinhua news agency quoted the officials as saying.

Police said the over-speeding van overturned after the driver lost control over the vehicle due to brake failure.

The van was on its way to Rawalpindi district.

Following the crash, police along with rescue teams reached the spot and shifted the injured to a nearby hospital where several of them are said to be in critical condition.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, Oct 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) Islamabad has been facing a continuous rise in dengue fever cases with 123 more patients reported during the past 24 hours, health authorities in the Pakistani capital said on Thursday.

Islamabad District Health Officer Zaeem Zia told local media that 57 patients were reported in the suburbs of the capital city and 66 in the urban areas, reports Xinhua news agency.

According to the authorities, the total tally of dengue fever cases this year has surged to 3,206 in the capital with 1,881 reported in suburbs and 1,325 in the urban parts.

Zia told local media that 820 residual spray and 135 fogging actions were carried out in different parts of Islamabad during the past 24 hours to counter the spread of the disease and wipe out the potential breeding sites of the mosquito larvae.

In Rawalpindi, 75 dengue fever patients were admitted to different hospitals of the city in the past 24 hours, local media reported.

The Pakistani government is taking special measures at dengue hotspots across the country to curb the augmenting wave of the disease.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, Oct 25 (SocialNews.XYZ) A policeman was killed in firing by unidentified gunmen in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province while he was on a polio vaccination duty, according to police officials.

Unknown assailants opened fire on the police constable near the Multan Road area of Dera Ismail Khan district, a local police official told Xinhua news agency.

The injured constable succumbed to his injuries while being shifted to a hospital, the official said, adding that the attackers fled the scene afterwards, and a search operation is underway to arrest them.

The gunmen also took away the victim's official weapon and a vehicle, according to local reports.

In a similar incident in August, a police officer assigned to guard polio vaccination workers was killed in firing incident in Dera Ismail Khan.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, Oct 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) Pakistan is witnessing a continuous rise of dengue cases and in the last 24 hours, an additional 832 people were infected in different areas of the country, health authorities said.

The new cases were detected in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, as well as in the capital city of Islamabad, reports Xinhua news agency.

In Islamabad, 118 new cases were reported in the past 24 hours, including 79 recorded in the suburbs, bringing the city's total tally to 2,721, District Health Officer Zaeem Zia told local media.

In the cited period, 168 more dengue cases were detected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, taking the total number of infections to 4,672 in the province, local media said.

Five people have died from the disease in the province and 214 patients are currently hospitalized.

Meanwhile, 546 more dengue cases were recorded in Punjab, a health official told local media, adding that 361 of them were found in the provincial capital Lahore.

According to the official data, the total number of dengue cases across the province have risen to 9,491, with 6,294 of them reported in Lahore alone.

The Pakistani government is taking special measures at the dengue hotspots in order to curb the spread of the disease.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, Oct 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) Nine Islamic State (IS) terrorists were killed during a raid in Pakistan's Balochistan province, a police official said on Saturday.

The police forces of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) conducted the intelligence-based raid on Friday after getting confirmed information about the militants hiding in the Roshi area of Mastung district of the province, CTD official Mehmood Ali told Xinhua news agency.

As soon as the CTD personnel entered and cordoned off the area, the terrorists opened fire and tried to flee, causing the police to respond effectively, said the official, adding that nine of the terrorists were killed during an intense exchange of fire.

The killed militants were involved in a number of recent terror activities in Balochistan, according to the CTD.

A huge cache of arms and ammunition, including explosives, hand grenades and assault rifles were also recovered from the group's hideout during the operation.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, Oct 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) Two Pakistani soldiers and a terrorist were killed during an exchange of fire in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, an army statement said.

The security forces conducted an operation in the North Waziristan tribal district on receiving a tip-off regarding the presence of terrorists in the area, the military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in the statement.

"During intense exchange of fire, a terrorist was killed. Weapon and ammunition were also recovered," Xinhua news agency quoted the statement as saying.

The military did not reveal the name of the group against whom the operation was conducted.

A surge in terrorist attacks on security forces has recently been witnessed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, Oct 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) Four people were killed in an explosion targeting law enforcement officials in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a senior police official said.

Wednesday night's victims comprised two policemen and two Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, who were investigating another blast that also took place in the same area in Bajaur district, District Police Officer Abdul Samad Khan told Xinhua news agency.

"In the afternoon blast, some elders from the area were injured when their vehicle was attacked near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. When the police and FC reached the site for investigation, the second and major blast happened, leaving the four killed right at the spot."

He said that both attacks were launched by improvised explosive devices fixed and hidden in the grass near the road.

"A joint investigation and a search operation by police and FC are underway in the area, and we will be able to trace and nab the fleeing militants soon," he added.

No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

Once a hotbed of militancy, the tribal districts of the country including Bajaur started to see peace, following extensive operations by the Pakistani military to flush out militants.

Source: IANS

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Lahore, Oct 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) Seven members of a family were killed in a fire that erupted in their house located in Muzaffargarh district of Pakistan's Punjab province on Sunday, local officials said.

The family members were asleep when the big fire broke out, giving them no chance to escape, local media reported citing a district emergency officer as saying

Among the killed were two women and four children aged between two months and 10 years, Xinhua news agency reported.

An investigation was launched to determine the cause of the fire.

Source: IANS

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Tehran, Oct 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) Iranian and Pakistani military commanders have agreed to cooperate in manufacturing military vessels and submarine maintenance, state media reported.

In a visit to Pakistan Navy's shipyards in the port city of Karachi, Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, visiting Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, was briefed on the process of building warships, boats and submarines, Xinhua news agency quoted the state media report as saying.

The military officials of the two neighbours agreed to work together on the construction and maintenance of ships and submarines, according to the report.

The two sides also agreed to share experiences in various naval fields to fight against drug trafficking and terrorism, as well as exchange students.

According to a similar report by Iran's official IRNA news agency, the military officials of Tehran and Islamabad also stressed for regional cooperation for ensuring the security in the region.

In the meantime, Baqeri drew upon the importance of maritime security at the common sea borders by conducting joint exercises.

Source: IANS

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