Amid the violent protests and political chaos, many political commentators feared that either the army will take over or an emergency would be imposed by the government.
However, federal ministers and Director-General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry laid the rumors to rest on Friday evening.
Talking on Geo News’ programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’, the DG ISPR said that the imposition of martial law is out of the question as the whole army wholeheartedly supports democracy and will continue to do so.
In response to unverified reports that army officers have resigned due to the ongoing chaos, the spokesperson snubbed the speculations, categorically stating that not one person had resigned.
After Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters attacked army installations, the ISPR said that May 9, 2023, would go down in history as a “dark chapter”.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb also rebutted news regarding the “imposition of emergency” in the country.
“The reports circulating in the media regarding the imposition of emergency in the country are baseless,” she said, adding that no such decision was taken in the meeting of the Federal Cabinet, the minister said in news statement.
The information minister urged the media to verify facts before airing or publishing any news.
A day earlier, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that an emergency is a constitutional option but there is no chance of imposing martial law.
According to media reports, the cabinet proposed an emergency to Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif but no final decision took place.
Caryn Marjorie, a Snapchat influencer with 1.8 million subscribers, has launched an AI-powered, voice-based chatbot called CarynAI. The chatbot, described as a “virtual girlfriend,” allows Marjorie’s followers to have private and personalised conversations with an AI version of the influencer.
The bot, designed by Forever Voices, an AI company, and developed using OpenAI’s GPT4 software, has generated $71,610 in revenue after one week of beta testing with over 1,000 users paying $1 per minute to use it. Marjorie hopes that CarynAI will “cure loneliness” and even features cognitive-behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy to rebuild physical and emotional confidence that has been taken away by the pandemic.
However, CarynAI has sparked discourse around the ethics of companion chatbots, as it is not supposed to engage in sexually explicit interactions, but Marjorie stated that it had gone “rogue” and that her team is working around the clock to prevent this from happening again.
Moreover, Irina Raicu, the director of internet ethics at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University, expressed concern that CarynAI’s claims to potentially “cure loneliness” are not backed up by sufficient psychological or sociological research, and the chatbot adds “a second layer of unreality” to parasocial relationships between influencers and fans.
Despite the backlash and even death threats, Marjorie is proud of her team’s work, with CarynAI being the first step in the right direction to cure loneliness. However, Raicu emphasised that influencers should be aware of the Federal Trade Commission’s guidance on artificial intelligence products, and Meyer, CEO of Forever Voices, said that his company takes ethics seriously and is looking to hire a chief ethics officer. On Friday, Marjorie tweeted that “if you are rude to CarynAI, it will dump you.”
All educational institutes across the province have been reopened on Saturday, The Punjab Education Department said in a notification.
The notification said that all educational institutes, including schools, colleges and universities have been reopened. However, medical colleges and universities will remain closed on May 11 and 12.
On the other hand, Cambridge exams in Pakistan will be resumed from May 15 (Monday) onwards, the British Council announced on Friday.
Schools were closed due to countrywide protests against the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan. The former Prime Minister reached his Zaman Park residence in Lahore late on Friday night.
The government is expected to present an overall budget deficit of 5.1 per cent of the GDP for the fiscal year 2023-24, as stated in the delayed Budget Strategy Paper (BSP) to be presented before the federal cabinet. A recent report by The News highlighted that the paper will be tabled amid the government’s failure to revive the stalled International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme.
The budget-making process has already been affected by uncertainty on both the IMF and political fronts. Nonetheless, the government has decided to present the next budget on June 9. Despite failing to reach a staff-level agreement with the IMF, the government will present the BSP for a medium-term period of three years. The proposed federal government budget deficit stands at 6.4 per cent of the GDP, while the overall deficit of the country is estimated to be lowered to 5.1 per cent of the GDP for the next financial year.
In addition, the BSP for the upcoming fiscal year has proposed an allocation of Rs1.7 trillion for the defence budget compared to Rs1.56 trillion in the outgoing fiscal year. The overall primary surplus of budget deficit is estimated to be 0.3 per cent of the GDP for the next fiscal year, up from the previous projection of 0.2 per cent for the outgoing year.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has been set a target of Rs9.2 trillion for the next budget, and the finance ministry suggests this is on the higher side. The FBR estimates that it could collect Rs7.2 trillion in the outgoing fiscal year against the targeted Rs7.64 trillion. In the next budget, the FBR could collect up to Rs8.6 trillion, subject to import restrictions being lifted, which could boost revenue collection. The government is projecting a GDP growth rate of 3.4 per cent for the next fiscal year, while inflation is expected to hover around 21 per cent.
According to the IMF’s latest press briefing, the country may experience stagflation, which means low growth and higher inflation rates. If stagflation continues, it could lead to rising poverty and unemployment in Pakistan. The current account deficit is estimated to be approximately $8 billion for the next budget, and there is hope that import restrictions will be gradually lifted during the next financial year.
The BSP has to be approved by the federal government under the Public Finance Management Act, which states that the paper must contain quantified macroeconomic and fiscal projections for the medium-term, be approved by April 15 of each year, and published on the Finance Division’s official website. Upon approval, the Finance Division will issue indicative budget ceilings to ministries and divisions.
The minister for finance will also discuss the budget strategy paper with the Standing Committees for Finance and Revenue in the Senate and the National Assembly. The government may extend the deadline mentioned in Sub-section (1) of the PFM Act in case of an extreme requirement.
Indian Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri came under social media fire after stating that Imran Khan has “illegally” used ‘‘Hum Dekhenge” song in a video for his instagram handle.
The song was recently used in the Indian movie, The Kashmir Files.
Vivek Agnihotri shared a clip of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Instagram post. In the video “Hum Dekhenge” is playing in the background.
The Filmmaker, in his tweet wrote, “See the power of Indic cinema. The official account of @ImranKhanPTI is using the official song of #TheKashmirFiles illegally in his official video on Instagram.” This incident exposes the double standards of Pakistan when it comes to intellectual property and copyright infringement.”
Hum Dekhenge is a revolutionary poem written by Urdu poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz in 1979 after the military coup by Zia ul haq. It was first sung by Iqbal Bano and the poem has been part of the Pakistan socialist movement since the 1980s.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan— who is currently facing charges on multiple counts in various cases—has said that there is only one man who is deciding every matter.
Without naming Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, Imran said that one person fears that if he comes into power, his seat will be gone, however, he has no intention of doing that.
On Tuesday, the former PM was arrested from IHC by NAB authorities in the Al-Qadir case, however, two days later Supreme Court termed the arrest illegal.
In March, after the Zaman Park operation episode took place, Khan accused the establishment of interfering in politics, emphasising that nothing happens in the country without the permission of COAS Munir.
Islamabad High Court (IHC) has said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan can’t be arrested till Monday morning.
Reportedly, Khan has been granted bail in all cases which were under the high court.
As there is a possibility that Khan can be arrested again, he has decided not to step out of court without a written order.
SC releases Imran but to be produced before Islamabad High Court tomorrow
On Thursday, the top court declared Khan’s arrest “illegal” and ask for his immediate release from National Accountability Bureau (NAB) custody.
The court also demanded that Khan should be produced before the court, then gave their verdict. The top court bench also directed Khan to present himself before IHC on Friday till then he can stay in Police Lines Guesthouse.
Khan also made some statements, he alleged that he was hit with sticks and was abducted like a terrorist.
He also said that he was under arrest and does not want unrest in the country. According to him, he was also unaware of the violent protests that were going on in support of him.
After the SC verdict in Khan’s favour, PTI called off protests in various cities.
Following are the remarks made by SC judges when they heard Khan’s plea against his arrest:
“The NAB authorities and the ICT Police shall ensure foolproof security to the petitioner [Imran} until his production in the Islamabad High Court in this regard,” the court order stated.
“Whilst the petitioner is in the Police Guest House, he shall be entitled to meet up to 10 guests. These persons shall be allowed to stay with the petitioner as long as desired by him”, court said.
Before Khan’s appearance before the top court, Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said that NAB had committed “contempt of court”. “They should have taken permission from the court’s registrar before the arrest. Court staffers were also subjected to abuse,” he added.
He emphasised that courts should be accessible to everyone for relief and that individuals should feel safe to approach the courts.
“No one can be arrested from the Supreme Court, a high court or an accountability court,” the CJP noted
Marriyum Aurangzeb says Supreme Court for providing ‘relief’ to Imran
Federal Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb censured the Supreme Court for providing “relief” to Imran.
“The SC is giving relief to a criminal, a terrorist, a gangster who leads armed groups,” said Aurangzeb.
“If courts support armed groups, encourage them, then similar relief should be given to all people,” said Marriyum.
“Real contempt of court happens when the country’s courts become shelters for armed groups and terrorists,” she added.
More than 60 domestic and international flights from various airlines have been cancelled due to the unstable situation in Pakistan, with many other flights being uncertain about their arrival and departure.
The cancellations have affected flights to major cities such as Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, where the number of passengers has decreased.
According to the airport schedule, more than 60 domestic and foreign flights from various airlines have been cancelled, including flights from Karachi to Jeddah, Madinah, Muscat, Dubai, Riyadh, Baghdad, and Baku. The arrival and departure schedule of Karachi Airport provides a comprehensive list of the affected flights, including those cancelled between Karachi and Islamabad, Lahore, Turbat, and Peshawar.
To ensure that their travel plans are not disrupted, passengers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest updates on flight status.
According to Minute Mirror, the following flights have been canceled according to the arrival and departure schedule of Karachi Airport:
Karachi to Jeddah: ER 811 and ER 812
Karachi to Medina: PK 743
Salam Air flight to Muscat: OV 292
Emirates Air flights to Dubai: EK 605 and 604, EK 609 and 608
Karachi to Muscat: WY 323 and 324
Karachi to Riyadh: PK 729
Flight to Baghdad: IF 331 and IF 332
PIA flight from Baku to Karachi: K 154
The following flights have been canceled between Karachi and Islamabad:
PK369
PF121
PF122
9P670
9P871
PA200
PF127
ER502
The following flights have been canceled between Lahore and Islamabad:
PK302
PK303
9P840
9P841
PF141
ER520
PA406
PK306
PF147
The following flights have been canceled between Karachi and Turbat:
PK501
The following flights have been canceled between Karachi and Peshawar:
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The Asia Internet Coalition (AIC), an industry association of major internet and technology companies, has released a statement urging the Pakistani government to consider the serious consequences of their recent actions on the people and economy of the country.
The AIC has called for the immediate restoration of internet access in Pakistan. Jeff Paine, the Managing Director of the AIC, has expressed concern that the government’s actions will damage the country’s reputation as an investment destination, and has urged the government to focus on the opportunities presented by the digital economy to promote overall economic growth.
More than one hundred prominent members of the Pakistani business community, tech entrepreneurs, and civil society have condemned the government’s use of partial and complete internet shutdowns, as well as targeted content and app blocking.
These actions have been taken in response to recent nationwide protests. Tens of millions of Pakistanis rely on internet-dependent services for essential business activities, and by blocking or shutting down these services, the government is limiting civic space, creating economic uncertainty, and disrupting access to healthcare, emergency services, and financial services.
The government’s decision to shut down mobile internet services across the country has resulted in significant revenue losses for mobile phone companies and online taxi and bike services. This decision was made in response to the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, which led to nationwide protests.
As a result of the internet shutdown, online taxi and bike services have been unavailable for the past two days, causing inconvenience to commuters who depend on these services for transportation.
According to sources in the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, there are no plans to restore internet access in the country today.
