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Personal physician of Pakistan’s Imran Khan gives ‘okay’ report after examination allowed — party

Personal physician of Pakistan’s Imran Khan gives ‘okay’ report after examination allowed — party
Police personnel stand guard near a signboard reading 'police check post Adiala' at the entrance of Adiala jail after the hearing of Pakistan's jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan in Rawalpindi on January 31, 2024. (AFP/File)
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Updated 04 November 2024
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Personal physician of Pakistan’s Imran Khan gives ‘okay’ report after examination allowed — party

Personal physician of Pakistan’s Imran Khan gives ‘okay’ report after examination allowed — party
  • Dr. Asim Yousaf examines ex-prime minister’s health with a team of doctors from PIMS Hospital
  • Khan has been in jail since August last year and faces more than 200 legal cases since his ouster
Updated 04 November 2024
Hasaan Ali Khan
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ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan’s personal physician has given a positive assessment of his health after all his reports turned out to be “okay,” Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said on Monday.
Dr. Asim Yousaf, the ex-premier’s personal physician, along with a team of doctors from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) was allowed to examine Khan’s health, following weeks of claims made by the PTI regarding “mistreatment” being meted out to the ex-premier, who has been in jail since August last year.
The party claims also prompted Khan’s ex-wife, Jemima Goldsmith, to express concerns about his condition. Consequently, a team of doctors was allowed to visit Khan in jail who found him in good health.
“The personal physician of Imran Khan, Dr. Asim Yousaf was allowed in, to examine the former PM, along with another team of doctors from Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences hospital Islamabad, with an okay report on his physical health,” the PTI said in a statement.
The former premier had petitioned the Islamabad High Court in October to grant permission for regular medical examination by his personal physicians.
Khan, who served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022, has been entangled in more than 200 legal cases since he was ousted, in what he says is a campaign to keep him from returning to power. Pakistani authorities deny the allegation.
In April, the former cricket star and his wife had their 14-year prison sentences for graft suspended by a high court.
Khan then had a 10-year sentence for treason overturned last month but remains in Adiala jail, south of the capital Islamabad, over an illegal marriage conviction.
He had been cleared for release before that trio of sentences in the days running up to Pakistan’s February 8 general elections.

Topics: PTI Imran Khan Arab News Pakistan

Imran Khan aide says Islamabad police ‘unfairly targeting’ ethnic Pashtuns after anti-government protests

Imran Khan aide says Islamabad police ‘unfairly targeting’ ethnic Pashtuns after anti-government protests
Updated 04 December 2024
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Imran Khan aide says Islamabad police ‘unfairly targeting’ ethnic Pashtuns after anti-government protests

Imran Khan aide says Islamabad police ‘unfairly targeting’ ethnic Pashtuns after anti-government protests
  • Gandapur is chief minister of Pashtun-majority Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where Khan’s party is in power
  • Islamabad Police says legal action is being taken only against miscreant elements involved in violent protests
Updated 04 December 2024
Shahjahan Khurram

ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Wednesday accused Islamabad Police of “unfairly targeting” ethnic Pashtuns with arbitrary arrests and racial discrimination following violent, anti-government protests in the capital last month. 

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Gandapur accused Islamabad Police of arresting Pashtun laborers illegally and subjecting them to racial discrimination following last month’s protest by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party in the capital, held to demand his release from prison. 

Gandapur is the chief minister of KP, a Pashtun-majority province where Khan’s party is in power. The government says thousands of protesters arrived in Islamabad from KP, rather than Punjab or the federal capital. The protest march to the capital was led by Gandapur and Khan’s wife Bushra Khan. 

The government says at least three personnel of the paramilitary Rangers force were killed while one cop lost his life, as Khan supporters clashed with law enforcers. The PTI says at least 20 of its supporters were killed and “hundreds” were wounded after being shot. The police denies this and says it arrested over 1,150 miscreants involved in the violent protests.

“I wish to bring to your attention a matter of concern regarding the treatment of Pashtun laborers in Islamabad, particularly in relation to the arbitrary rounding up and the filing of unfounded ATA [Anti-Terrorism Act] FIRS against them,” Gandapur wrote.

“These individuals, who are primarily involved in low-paying jobs, have been unfairly targeted in the aftermath of the recent incidents involving peaceful political protests organized by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.”

He said ethnic Pashtun laborers did not choose to arrive in the Pakistani capital but had been forced to come here after being displaced due to the prolonged effects of the so-called War on Terror, and various military operations over the past two decades. 

Gandapur warned Sharif that such actions risk fostering “a sense of alienation and exclusion among communities,” saying it could ultimately lead to greater divisions and undermine the unity of the federation. 

“I kindly request that you review the situation of the Pashtun workers in Islamabad and take immediate action to quash the bogus FIRS and release those who have been unjustly detained,” he wrote. 

Meanwhile, Islamabad Police rejected Gandapur’s allegations in a post on social media platform X. 

“During the recent public order situation, no peaceful Pashtun was ever detained,” Islamabad Police wrote. 

“Legal action has been taken against miscreant elements, and not on the basis of any nationality or region.” 

The capital police condemned the “negative propaganda,” against it, terming it a conspiracy against Pakistan’s national security. 

“The brave and courageous Pashtuns are the protectors of this homeland and the pride of the Pakistani nation,” it added. 

Topics: islamabad police PTI protest PTI protests

Pakistan, Russia ink 8 agreements related to health, education and trade in Moscow

Pakistan, Russia ink 8 agreements related to health, education and trade in Moscow
Updated 04 December 2024
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Pakistan, Russia ink 8 agreements related to health, education and trade in Moscow

Pakistan, Russia ink 8 agreements related to health, education and trade in Moscow
  • Pakistan’s energy minister leads delegation in 9th Inter-Government Commission meeting with Russia
  • Pakistan and Russia, once bitter rivals during Cold War era, have moved closer in recent months
Updated 04 December 2024
Aamir Saeed

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Russia signed eight memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in the fields of health, trade and education on Wednesday, the energy ministry said, as Islamabad eyes foreign investment and enhanced cooperation to stabilize its fragile economy. 

The agreements were signed during the 9th Inter-Governmental Commission meeting in Moscow between Pakistan and Russia. The Pakistani side is being led by Federal Minister for Energy Sardar Awais Leghari as Islamabad and Moscow discuss different bilateral trade options.

“Federal Minister for Energy Sardar Owais Ahmed Leghari, who is in Moscow along with a delegation, signed eight agreements between Russia and Pakistan,” the ministry said. 

One of the eight agreements was between Pakistan’s COMSATS and Peshawar University with Russian educational institutions, the ministry said, while others related to the production of insulin and enhancing trade and industrial cooperation. 

Pakistan and Russia, once Cold War rivals, have warmed up to each other in recent years through regular business and trade interactions. As Islamabad seeks to enhance its role as a transit hub for landlocked economies in Central Asia, it has expressed interest in connecting with Russia through Central Asia for bilateral trade.

Islamabad’s ties with Russia also saw significant improvement last year after Pakistan started purchasing Russian crude oil at a discount. Geopolitical tensions triggered fuel prices to more than double in Pakistan last year, forcing the country to opt for cheaper sources of fuel. 

In 2023, Pakistan’s bilateral trade with Russia reached $1 billion. This was an increase from 2022, when Russia exported $505 million to Pakistan and Pakistan exported $75.8 million to Russia.

Topics: Pakistan Russia Ties

Five militants killed in operation in northwest Pakistan — army

Five militants killed in operation in northwest Pakistan — army
Updated 04 December 2024
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Five militants killed in operation in northwest Pakistan — army

Five militants killed in operation in northwest Pakistan — army
  • Pakistani security forces launch intelligence-based operation in Lakki Marwat district
  • Pakistan has suffered a surge in violence in its western provinces since November 2022
Updated 04 December 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces shot dead five militants in the country’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province in an intelligence-based operation, the military’s media wing said on Wednesday, as Islamabad battles surging militancy. 

The operation was conducted in KP’s restive Lakki Marwat district, where militants mostly from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have conducted attacks on security forces in the past. 

“During the conduct of operation, own troops effectively engaged khwarij location and resultantly, five khwarij were sent to hell, while two Khwarij also got injured,” the military’s media wing said, referring to the outlawed TTP. 

The military said that a sanitization operation was being conducted to eliminate any militants in the area. 

“Security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country,” it said. 

Pakistan witnessed a spike in militant violence in its two western provinces, KP and Balochistan, since the Pakistani Taliban called off their fragile truce with the government in November 2022. The group has intensified its attacks in recent months.

Islamabad has blamed the surge in violence on militants operating out of neighboring Afghanistan. Kabul denies the allegation and says rising violence in Pakistan is a domestic issue of Islamabad.

Topics: militancy in Pakistan

Pakistan petroleum minister says no deal with Russia on importing crude oil next year

Pakistan petroleum minister says no deal with Russia on importing crude oil next year
Updated 04 December 2024
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Pakistan petroleum minister says no deal with Russia on importing crude oil next year

Pakistan petroleum minister says no deal with Russia on importing crude oil next year
  • Musadik Malik rejects news report of Pakistan restarting crude oil trade with Russia from January
  • Pakistan pursuing $8-$10 billion Saudi investment for a greenfield oil refinery, says petroleum minister
Updated 04 December 2024
Aamir Saeed

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister Musadik Malik on Wednesday clarified that Islamabad had not reached any agreement with Moscow to import crude oil from Russia at a discounted rate. 

The minister was rebutting a report in The News, a Pakistani English-language daily, which claimed that Islamabad and Moscow have agreed to restart their crude oil trade from January 2025.

The report said that the deal between the two sides was reached during the recent 9th Inter-Governmental Commission meeting in Moscow. As per the deal, the Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL) would import one cargo each month under the government-to-government arrangement, the report said. 

“The reports of importing crude from Russia on the discounted rate are false,” Malik told reporters at an informal briefing. “No deal is reached with Russia regarding import of the crude oil.”

Meanwhile, in a letter addressed to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), the PRL also rejected the news report. 

“We would like to clarify that no such agreement has been made,” it said. “We remain committed to transparency and will keep our stakeholders informed of any developments directly through our official channels.”

Separately, Malik said the government was pursuing an investment from Saudi Arabia for around $8-$10 billion for a greenfield refinery project, adding that a feasibility report for it would be available by the end of this month.

“We will receive the draft of the feasibility report by December 24,” he said. “This greenfield refinery project will fetch an investment of $8-$10 billion.”

The minister said that multiple Saudi companies were taking an interest in Pakistan’s mining sector.

He spoke about Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signing agreements in October worth $2.8 billion for investments in different sectors including energy, information technology and food.

“We have signed 34 MoUs and seven agreements with Saudi Arabia worth $2.8 billion in a recent period of the government,” Malik said. 

He said that the Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL) and a Saudi company were close to signing another agreement of $1.7 billion. 

Talking about the much-stalled Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project, Malik said the government would try to get sanctions waived from the US to complete it. 

“We will try to get exemption on the US sanctions to complete the IP gas pipeline project,” he said. “It is not in the interest of the country to talk further on it.”

The countries signed an agreement to construct the pipeline from Iran’s South Fars gas field to Pakistan’s Balochistan and Sindh provinces in 2010, but work on Pakistan’s portion has been held up due to fears of US sanctions.

The 1,900 kilometer (1,180 mile) pipeline was meant to supply 750 million to one billion cubic feet per day of natural gas for 25 years to meet Pakistan’s rising energy needs.

Malik said no additional cargo of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) was being imported from Qatar for the winter season as a surplus quantity of the commodity was already available for consumption.

“We have held up five additional cargos of the LNG for now, and five other cargos could also be delayed for the next year,” the minister said.

Topics: Pakistan Russia Ties discounted Russian crude oil

Pakistan conducts ‘Winter Freeze’ simulation exercise to prepare for smog, earthquake disasters

Pakistan conducts ‘Winter Freeze’ simulation exercise to prepare for smog, earthquake disasters
Updated 04 December 2024
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Pakistan conducts ‘Winter Freeze’ simulation exercise to prepare for smog, earthquake disasters

Pakistan conducts ‘Winter Freeze’ simulation exercise to prepare for smog, earthquake disasters
  • Simulation exercise involved scenarios such as severe blizzard, smog and earthquakes
  • Law enforcement agencies, disaster management authorities partake in two-day exercise
Updated 04 December 2024
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) concluded a two-day “Winter Freeze” simulation exercise (SimEx) on Wednesday to strengthen the country’s disaster preparedness and response mechanism against winter-related disasters such as cold weather, smog and earthquakes. 

Simulation exercises are used to test and improve a community’s preparedness for disasters and help it prepare contingency plans. 

Pakistan is ranked as the 5th most vulnerable country to climate change, according to the Global Climate Risk Index. In 2022, devastating floods affected over 33 million people and caused economic losses exceeding $30 billion, highlighting the country’s high susceptibility to extreme weather events.

“The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) conducted a National Simulation Exercise (SimEx), titled ‘Winter Freeze’ from 3rd to 4th December 2024 at NDMA HQs,” the NDMA said. 

It said the simulation included a series of challenging scenarios such as a severe blizzard hitting Pakistan’s northern areas that triggered snowstorms, road blockages and power outages and caused tourists to be stranded in different parts of the country.

“The exercise also simulated a major earthquake in northern Balochistan and southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, testing the effectiveness of rescue operations, medical response and mobilization of humanitarian response in remote areas,” the authority said. 

Heavy smog covered parts of Pakistan’s Punjab province in October and November while the country has suffered from devastating earthquakes, floods and other disasters in the past. 

The simulation also addressed severe smog conditions in Punjab, particularly in Lahore, focusing on the health impacts, emergency medical responses and measures to prevent the dangers of air pollution, the NDMA added. 

The provincial disaster management authorities, the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA), law enforcement bodies and representatives of humanitarian organizations participated in the exercise. 

“Participants acknowledged the platform provided by NDMA for preparedness and timely measures to deal with disasters and also gave their feedback and suggestions so that possible future disasters can be avoided,” the NDMA said.

Topics: National Disaster Management Authority of Pakistan (NDMA) pakistan climate change Pakistan Smog

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