‘NO LENIENCY OR TALKS WITH MISCREANT’: PM DECL ARES ENDGAME OF TERRORISTS
g SAYS NATION UNITED FOR ELIMINATION OF TERRORISM, VOWING SACRIFICES BEING RENDERED WILL NEVER BE SQUANDERED
Shehbaz Sharif
R I M E Minister
on Tuesday categorically an-
nounced that the government would neither hold any talks nor show any leniency to the terrorists who were poised to disrupt the country s journey towards progress
The time has come to eliminate terrorism The sacrifices being rendered for the cause will never be squandered We need to move forward with firm resolve
There is no question of any weakness
We are open to talks with those who believe in the supremacy of Pakistan s constitution and respect its flag But there can be no leniency or talks with those who are enemies in the guise of friends
This is a clear message There are no two opinions on this,” the prime minister said addressing the meeting of the federal cabinet chaired by him on Tuesday
The prime minister began his remarks by reiterating the condemnation of the terror incidents held in different parts of the country during the last couple of days killing dozens of citizens and the
officers and personnel of the security forces
The cabinet members also offered Fateha for the victims of terror incidents and Rana Afzaal, the brother of Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain, who passed away on Monday
The prime minister said that it was no secret that the terrorists of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operating from Afghanistan were behind these terrorist attacks The government has sensitised the Afghan government on the subject and also taken effective actions against them he added
Referring to the killing of passengers in Balochistan on Monday he said such incidents could not terrorize the people Such unholy designs are just meant to impede the country’s progress, ongoing CPEC projects in Balochistan and undermine the relationship between Pakistan and China he remarked
He told the cabinet members that the government had assured to provide allout resources to the armed forces to fight out the terrorists and that the Chief of the Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir and the armed forces personnel were de-
g SUCH UNHOLY DESIGNS MEANT TO IMPEDE PROGRESS, CPEC PROJECTS AND UNDERMINE SINO-PAK RELATIONSHIP: PM
Naqvi says ter rorists in Balochistan will receive a ‘strong message’ soon
QUETTA: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Tuesday stated that there was no need for a major operation in Balochistan and assured that the terrorists would soon receive a “clear message ” saying that terrorists operating in the province can be dealt with by a single Station House Officer (SHO)
Addressing a press conference in Quetta alongside Balochistan Chief Minister Sardar Sarfraz Bugti, Naqvi emphasised that the purpose of his visit was to demonstrate solidarity with the people of Balochistan and to assure them that the federal government fully supports the provincial leadership The federal government is standing firmly behind Chief Minister Bugti who will have our
termined to purge this scourge
“Inshallah their nefarious designs will be foiled provided we identify our enemies and forge unity to eliminate them, he urged Calling the recent terror incidents a “moment of reflection”, Prime Minister Shehbaz reiterated there was no room for terrorists in the country He announced that he would visit Balochistan very soon to hold in-depth
deliberations on the situation and decide on immediate measures Asif urges leaders of Balochistan to take ownership to end menace of terrorism Meanwhile, Minister for Defense Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Tuesday urged the political leaders of Balochistan to take the responsibility and ownership for ending the menace of terrorism in the province
(TTP)
of its affiliate groups, the military s media affairs wing said on Tuesday The ISPR A statement said that the operations were based on “robust intelligence and resulted in major setbacks to Fitna al Khawarij and its affiliates
During these daring and highly successful IBOs being conducted since 20 August 2024, security forces have so far successfully neutralized twenty-five Khwarij including Kharji ring leader Abuzar alias Saddam who has been sent to hell while 11 Khawrij have been injured the statement said However, during the conduct of operations, four brave soldiers, having fought gallantly, paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced Shahadat (martyrdom) ” it said
ISPR Director General (DG) Lieutenant
He had added that security forces and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) conducted 23 622 small and large-scale IBOs in the country this year out of which 2 045 operations were carried out in the second half of July President Zardari lauds security forces for successful operation
Appreciating the security forces for carrying out a successful operation against the Fitna al Khawarij President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed that the state will continue taking action until the complete eradication of terrorism from the country
“Security forces demonstrated courage and sent the terrorists to hell they said and paid tribute to the soldiers who embraced martyrdom during the operations
We will neither compromise on the peace and order of the country nor hesitate to make any sacrifices for the protection of the motherland ” they said Police thwart militant attack on Kurram toll plaza checkpoint in Lakki Marwat On the other hand the police repulsed a late-night attack by militants on a police checkpoint at Kurram Toll Plaza in Lakki Marwat that left one officer injured while another individual died of a heart attack triggered by the terror of the incident 2 5 K h a w a r i j s i n c l u d i n g r
General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that the move was made because the TTP was a mischief-making group that was neither an ideology nor has anything to do with Islam or Pakistan ”
The heavy losses inflicted upon Fitna Al Khawarij in these operations were a testament to the valour and commitment of the security forces to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country it added Earlier this month the government declared TTP as Fitna al-Khawarij and all other terrorists associated with the group as khariji (outcasts) Speaking during a press conference
PAKISTAN BELIEVES IN POWER OF DIGITAL INCLUSION: CHAIRMAN SENATE
Referring
observed that in the realm of cyber security, Pakistan is aware of the critical importance of safeguarding the digital infrastructure As cyber threats continue to escalate globally with a 38% increase in cyber-attacks in 2023 alone we are taking proactive measures to strengthen our cyber security , he remarked Highlighting the
contracts in senate committee hearing
Heav y rain disrupts domestic and international flights across Pakistan
ISLAMABAD
Heavy rain, coupled with administrative challenges, led to widespread disruptions in flight schedules across Pakistan, affecting over 30 flights Airports in major cities like Karachi Islamabad and Lahore witnessed significant delays causing inconvenience to numerous passengers A notable instance of delay was seen in the foreign airline’s flight SV701 from Jeddah, which was delayed by two and a half hours Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) also reported several delays including a two-hour delay for PK-302 from Karachi to Lahore Additionally, PK-300 from Islamabad to Karachi, initially scheduled for 11 am, faced a similar two-hour delay
International flights were not exempt from the disruptions The Karachi-Istanbul flight TK-709 was delayed by three hours now set to depart at 9 am PIA s PK-744 from Madinah to Karachi was delayed by four hours, further complicating travel plans for returning passengers Other affected flights included PK768 from Jeddah to Quetta, which arrived an hour and 15 minutes late and PK-715 from Multan to Madinah now rescheduled for a noon departure after a four-hour delay The Dubai-Islamabad flight PK-134 was also delayed by three hours Flights arriving in Islamabad from Sharjah Dammam Muscat and Dubai experienced delays as well Passengers on PK-713 from Islamabad to Madinah now face a six-hour delay with departure pushed to 10 am Additional delays
were reported for flights from Islamabad to Istanbul Jeddah Muscat and Dubai PIA s domestic routes also felt the impact with the Islamabad-Skardu flight PK-451 rescheduled for 10 am, two and a half hours later than planned The Islamabad-Riyadh flight SV-725 will now depart at 1:40 pm, a four-hour delay while PK-325 from Islamabad to Quetta will leave at 4:30 pm also two and a half hours late The IslamabadKarachi flight PK-369 is delayed by two hours, now set for a 6 pm departure The widespread delays have caused considerable frustration among travellers who expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of timely communication and the disruptions to their travel plans Authorities have yet to issue an official statement addressing the ongoing issues
‘No lenienc y or talks with miscreant’: PM declares endgame of terrorists
Balochistan province, already
with instability, faced multiple attacks in various districts on Monday The attacks began with the destruction of the Dozan railway bridge in the mountainous Bolan Valley This critical infrastructure linked Balochistan with Sindh and Punjab via a train service Reports indicated that its destruction has severed a vital connection, and further isolated the province The Musakhail district witnessed the most horrific incident in which 23 passengers were forced off a bus and brutally slain one after another
The violence did not spare the Kalat district either, where an attack on security forces left 10 people dead, including
five security officials and five civilians In Noshki militants attacked near the Frontier Corps fort resulting in injury to five civilians Further south, in the Sibbi district, six bodies were discovered, adding to the rising toll from the violence Militants also targeted the Daringarh police station in Mastung though fortunately there were no casualties in this attack In the Pishin district a hand grenade attack injured two people, with a government office as the target Meanwhile, in Lasbella, three security officials were murdered in a targeted attack though a major assault was repulsed by the forces In response to the attacks on innocent civilians the military sprang into action and wiped out 21 suspected militants, while a major terrorist attack was thwarted in the Lasbela district
Wh I L E the country has not gone out of control, it is showing signs of creaking at the joints at least 23 travellers were pulled off buses, identified as Punjabis and shot dead by 30 to 40 militants there were also a number of attacks on law enforcement personnel with no less than 14 killed in clearance operations that saw 21 terrorists being killed after 50 people were killed, the province joined Punjab in being affected by terror on a grand scale after it experienced a massacre of 11 policemen in the badlands of Rahim Yar Khan the latest massacre also affects Punjab for the victims hail from districts like Gujranwala, toba tek Singh and Khanewal It was commendable for Balochistan CM Sarfraz Bugti to say that the attack was not aimed against Punjabis but it simply is not true the attacks had the hallmark of Baloch militants, and may indicate that the militants may be getting restive It may even be a response to the operation in the Punjab kutcha which borders Balochistan, and which equally provides its militants a refuge as much as the criminals who seek refuge there It is also worth noting that the terrorists are seeking refuges because their safe havens are under attack by a military operation in the Dera Ismail Khan area a threat to their refuge in the kutcha would be seen by them as an existential threat the Baloch separatists might have become desperate this latest operation seems to be aimed at driving a wedge between Punjab and Balochistan, which means that the narrative of exploitation is not working and this is a desperate attempt to jumpstart it the alliance between Baloch separatists and sectarian militants is worrisome in that respect, because it is not certain how the latter will fit into the equation the Baloch separatists now need Balochistan towns to start receiving bodies, but there are simply not enough Balochistanis in Punjab for this the problem of Balochistan is one of their experiencing interference from the Centre It is not a matter of throwing money at the problem also, it is not Balochistan alone but the entire country which is experiencing this instability What is needed is a firm approach, with the government leading the effort both to solve the province’s developmental issues as well as dealing with the terrorists, whatever ideology they might espouse the government has previously traced the links of Baloch separatists to Indian intelligence Its interference cannot be ruled out
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
Th E 2024 Democratic National Convention was an exhausting roller coaster ride for arab americans and supporters of Palestinian rights It was a messy affair with highs and lows some small victories and some setbacks But on balance the naysayers are wrong because Palestine and supporters of Palestinian rights were big winners during the four days in Chicago We didn’t get language on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict changed in the party platform nor did we get a Palestinian american speaker in prime time from the convention s main stage But the issue of Palestine was front and centre from Monday through thursday and in the days that followed they were little wins, to be sure, but they were victories, nonetheless On Monday, the convention agreed to host a panel on Palestinian suffering at an official site It was co-chaired by Minnesota attorney General (former Congressman) Keith Ellison and myself It featured the compelling testimonies of: Dr tanya haj-hassan who told harrowing stories of children and medical workers who were victims of the genocidal war on Gaza; Layla Elabed, a Palestinian american leader of the national Uncommitted Movement that garnered 750 000 voters protesting the administration’s complicity in the war; former Congressman andy Levin who lost his reelection due to aIPaC spending millions to defeat him; and hala hijazi a Palestinian american Democratic Party fundraiser who had lost scores of family members in Gaza there had been over 30 of these official side pan-
ber of standing ovations in support of the speakers and issues raised It was understood that securing the official sponsorship for the panel wasn t the victory we sought Our goal remains a change in US policy But recognition of Palestinian suffering and Israel s and the USa’s responsibility for producing this genocidal war was important and could not be dismissed News that an Israeli american family would take the convention s main stage to tell about their son who was a hamas-held hostage upped the ante and led us to insist that a Palestinian american also be invited to tell the story of their family in Gaza Days of negotiations followed When the decision was made to not extend an invitation abbas alawieh another of the leaders of the National Uncommitted Movement led a protest walkout from the arena and a sitin in front of the convention I called this campaign decision a bone-headed unforced error It was deeply hurtful to Palestinian americans who felt their humanity wasn’t being recognized It threatened to erase the positives gained by the campaign’s recognition of our panel leaving supporters of Palestinian rights with a sour taste in their mouths But it also meant and this is important to recognize that the issue of Palestine and the effort to silence our voices would once again be elevated to the centre of discussion Over the next 24 hours, we held multiple press conferences and spoke one-on-one with dozens of journalists ensuring that the issue of Palestinian
not true democracy No political party is based on or running through democratic modes and means the learned scholar of Islam as well as of the West and the great poet of Urdu allama Iqbal very correctly told us about Western democracy in the following couplet: Jamhuriyat ik trzi-i-hukppmat hai kai jismain/Bandon kogina jata hai tola nahin jata
(Democracy is that system of government in which/Men are counted not weighed ) During the whole freedom struggle the allIndia National Congress the largest and pio-
neering political party of the Subcontinent, did not raise or use any religious slogan while the Muslim League did and was founded on the basis of religion and that was Islam Quaid-eazam Muhammad ali Jinnah said in a speech delivered on 13 vJanuary 1948 in Peshawar that the demand of Pakistan was not made just to get a country, but to get a laboratory, rather a laboratory to practise Islam today we still feel ashamed that Pakistan could not be the laboratory of the practice of Islam Our country s socio-political and economic structure is not Islamic or democratic It is a universal truth that without being a part or under a religion, Islam, politics is a terribly cruel system Pakistan cannot survive even be safe unless it practises and implements Islam Our forefathers were told by the Quaid and by then Muslim League that only Islamic laws would be implemented in Pakistan but that promise is still waiting to be fulfilled We are duly ashamed at the failure to fulfill If we want to survive, we should abandon inhuman and Un Islamic set-ups forever and that too as early as possible If we are to fill the pot with pure water first we must empty the pot and throw away its dirty water and then clean the pot after that, the pot could be filled with pure water We must avoid following the blind following of the West and un-Islamic ideas We should remove all un-Islamic rules laws principles and practices We should leave blind faith in Western and un-Islamic regulations and imitation The writer is a freelance columnist
Quota Conundrum
Dr MuhaMMaD afzaal
IsRAel-HezBoll AH cl AsH: Us GeneRAl
tIsrael buying Google ads to discredit Un’s top Gaza aid agency: repor t
Saudi cleric barred from Montreal venue over concerns from Jewish groups
“Théâtre Rialto has informed us that they have cancelled host Sheikh Assim Al-Hakeem’s event this weekend and will not host his tour stop CIJA stated on social media The organisation cited the cleric s antisemitic and homophobic rhetoric as a threat to the safety of the local community
as part of a Sunday charity event organised by Penny Appeal Canada However following concerns raised by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) and B nai Brith Canada, the theatre informed the groups that it would not be hosting the event
Delhi
The event was part of Al-Hakeem’s speaking tour across Canada which has sparked outrage from politicians and Jewish organisations
The Eventbrite pages for the Montreal event, as well as upcoming events in London and Vancouver, were deleted following the theatre’s decision Additionally promotional content for the tour was removed
from Penny Appeal Canada’s website and social media channels
The controversy surrounding AlHakeem extends beyond Montreal In Winnipeg where the cleric was scheduled to speak on August 21 B nai Brith Canada called on St Peter s Church and the Archdiocese of Winnipeg to cancel the event Although the Archdiocese issued a statement indicating that the church was instructed to disinvite Al-Hakeem the disinvitation did not occur
The Saudi cleric has a history of making inflammatory statements In a recent video, Al-Hakeem referred to Jews as having an inherent hatred for Muslims claiming that the events in Gaza demonstrated this enmity
conference denounces Waqf Amendment Bill as threat to minorit y rights
A conference organized by the Indian Muslims for Civil Rights (IMCR) in New Delhi strongly denounced the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 labeling it as a planned attempt to seize Waqf properties and a broader threat to the rights of minority groups across India Held at the Ghalib Institute in the Indian capital the event united parliamentarians legal experts and community representatives from across the country in their opposition to the bill
AAP MP Sanjay Singh address-
ing the gathering described the bill as a threat not only to Muslim properties but also to those of other minority communities including Sikhs Buddhists and Hindus Singh called for a collective struggle against the bill warning that failure to unite could result in further encroachments on minority properties Congress MP Naseer Hussain reaffirmed his party’s commitment to opposing the bill He emphasized the need for a unified secular front in this battle and urged Muslim organizations and communities to counter the misinformation surrounding the bill Maulana Fazlur Raheem Mu-
jaddidi, General Secretary of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, labeled the bill as a systematic attempt to dispossess Muslims of their Waqf properties and exacerbate their marginalization Former Indian Minister K Rahman Khan echoed these concerns, framing the bill as part of a decade-long conspiracy against the Muslim community Former MP and IMCR Chairman Mohammad Adeeb committed to presenting any resolutions from the conference to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) while Supreme Court lawyer Mahmood Pracha called for street protests and increased community engagement
CORPORATE CORNER
ment’s handling of the economy, highlighting the influence of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the national budget It is shameful that the
Minister admits Pakistan s budget was dictated by the IMF, he stated He condemned the excessive electricity tariffs imposed on traders and the luxury benefits enjoyed by government officials, adding “While the public bears heavy taxes officials enjoy new vehicles worth millions The elite must adopt a simpler lifestyle; the public can no longer shoulder additional taxes Shahid Ghafoor Paracha stated that traders are fighting for the public, as the taxes directly impact common people “Businesses are on the brink of closure ” Paracha said predicting a historic shutdown on August 28
Chaudhry Muhammad Farooq criticized the penalties imposed on traders despite their compliance with tax regulations “Traders are being harassed with fines amounting to hundreds of thousands The government is worsening the system instead of improving it We ve been left with no choice but to strike Farooq said The All Pakistan Restaurants Association and the Bakers and Sweets Association expressed their full support for the strike stressing that the government’s actions have left traders with no alternative but to demand fair treatment and economic justice In a press conference in Islamabad, key trading community leaders declared that the strike would serve as a public referendum against current economic injustices Kashif Chaudhry
Journalist shot dead in Sindh’s Ghotki
killing and directed the IGP Sindh to arrest immediately the killers of martyred journalist The operation against dacoits should be made more effective, he directed The CM said, We believe in freedom of press ' He prayed that May Allah raise the ranks of the deceased and give patience to the bereaved family
‘All members united’: Barrister Gohar denies existence of any for ward bloc
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan stated that despite various challenges, PTI members remained united, and there was no forward bloc within the party Speaking to the media after a hearing on PTI's intra-party election case at the Election Commission, Khan mentioned that the party submitted documents for the intra-party elections on March 8 for the third time but has yet to receive
occur on time with PTI expected to achieve a clean sweep if they do
JUI-F chief backs nationwide traders’ strike
ISLAMABAD S
F F R
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Tuesday announced full support for the nationwide shutter-down strike announced by the traders bodies on Wednesday (tomorrow) He stated that the strike is fully en-
Iran issues final notice, warns of legal ac tion over delayed IP Gas Pipeline
Iran has issued a final notice to Pakistan, warning that it will take legal action in the Paris Arbitration Court if Islamabad fails to construct its portion of the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline by the extended deadline of September 2024
The IP gas project has faced a decade-long delay due to concerns over potential U S sanctions The Gas Sales Purchase Agreement (GSPA), signed in 2009 under French law designates the Paris-based arbitration court as the forum for resolving disputes between the two nations The court does not recognize US sanctions In 2019, Pakistan and Iran revised their contract, stipulating that Pakistan would complete its portion of the pipeline by 2024 enabling the intake of 750 million cubic feet of gas from Iran daily Iran extended a 180-day deadline for Pakistan to meet its obligations, which is set to expire in September 2024 However Pakistan has yet to make progress on the pipeline Failure to meet the deadline could result in Iran taking the
matter to the arbitration court, potentially leading to a penalty of $18 billion against Pakistan Tehran had previously issued a legal notice to Pakistan in late 2022 warning of the consequences of further delays The News reported, citing official sources, that some top officials in the Petroleum Division are reportedly strategising in response to Iran s final notice The government is considering hiring a foreign law firm to represent Pakistan s case in the arbitration court Senior officials have expressed frustration over the US sanctions stating that efforts to secure a waiver from the US have been unsuccessful
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday directed take effective measures to ensure the complete elimination of terrorism in response to the spate of violence across the country, especially in Balochistan
President Asif Ali Zardari was talking to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti who called on him at The President House said a statement issued by the President House media wing on Tuesday President Zardari discussed the security and law and order situation in the province with the Interior Minister and the Balochistan CM and was briefed on the recent terror incidents
Iran has dismissed Pakistan’s concerns about US sanctions, pointing out that other countries including Iraq and Turkey have continued to use Iranian gas with US waivers Under the original agreement, Pakistan was obligated to pay $1 million per day in penalties to Iran starting from January 1,
A statement issued by the President House said proposals regarding the establishment of law and order in Balochistan were discussed while Zardari stressed the need for effective measures for the complete elimination of terrorists All possible steps should be taken to improve the security situation in Balochistan,” the president told the two officials In Musakhail militants killed 23 people after checking their ID documents In Khadkocha they blocked a highway stormed a police station and held Levies officials hostage In Kalat, attacks on a Levies station, two hotels, and a tribal elder ’s residence left 11 dead and nine injured Meanwhile, six bodies were found in Bolan’s Kolpur area believed to have been shot by mili-
tants In response, security forces neutralised 21 militants as CM Bugti and the interior minister vowed to eliminate terrorism in the province Naqvi vows support for CM Bugti
Earlier in the day Interior Minister Naqvi vowed to stand behind Bugti s government regarding its counterterrorism strategy
Addressing the media in Quetta flanked by CM Bugti Naqvi said: My aim to visit is to let you all and the people of Balochistan know that the federal interior minister is standing behind the Balochistan chief minister
“Whatever decision
