Tag: Khyber Pakhtun­khwa

  • ‘Yeh ab tai hogaya hai Imran Khan Pakistan aur 22 crore logo se zyada eham hain’: Twitter reacts to leaked audio

    ‘Yeh ab tai hogaya hai Imran Khan Pakistan aur 22 crore logo se zyada eham hain’: Twitter reacts to leaked audio

    In a leaked audio, former Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin allegedly asked Punjab Finance Minister Mohsin Leghari and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Finance Minister Taimur Jhagra to write letters withdrawing from the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) deal.

    Moments after the leaked audio surfaced on Twitter, both finance ministers and Tarin were under fire for their comments and how their conversations were an attempt by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to sabotage the IMF deal.

    Here are a few reactions.

    Meanwhile, PTI leader Asad Umar and Taimur Jhagra held a press conference following the audio leak between former federal minister Shaukat Tarin and the finance ministers of Punjab and KP.

    Umar said that Tarin, as a former finance minister, had every right to “give advice” to Jhagra and Leghari.

    “There is nothing wrong in Tarin speaking to Jhagra and Leghari on the phone and giving advice,” said Asad Umar.

  • Number of flood affectees may cross 33 million, warns Climate Change Minister

    Number of flood affectees may cross 33 million, warns Climate Change Minister

    Federal Minister of Climate Change Sherry Rehman warned on Sunday (August 28) that the number of those affected by the floods may cross 33 million as the devastating floods continue.

    She said that the government, supported by the United Nations (UN) and other humanitarian agencies, is leading the humanitarian action.

    “Kabul River is still at very high flood level at Nowshera as more than 300,000 cusecs of water was crossing the river,” she said, adding that with 500,000 cusecs, water levels in River Indus at Taunsa, Sukkur and Chashma are at “high flood level”.

    Calling the floods “a perfect storm”, Sherry Rehman added that as relentless rains had battered the southern parts of the country, the floods in the Indus River devastated the northern areas.

    Updating on the relief efforts, she said that as rain has subsided in some areas, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Pakistan Army have amped up rescue efforts.

  • Leaked audio: PTI’s Shaukat Tarin allegedly advising finance ministers in Punjab, KP to sabotage IMF deal

    Leaked audio: PTI’s Shaukat Tarin allegedly advising finance ministers in Punjab, KP to sabotage IMF deal

    In a leaked audio, former Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin allegedly asked Punjab Finance Minister Mohsin Leghari and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Finance Minister Taimur Jhagra to write letters withdrawing from the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) deal.

    ‘You need to say now that we will not be able to honour our commitment’: Shaukat Tarin

    In one leaked audio, Tarin can be heard asking Leghari to tell the IMF that the commitment Punjab made was pre-floods and now the province “cannot honour it” due to massive losses caused by the floods.

    Tarin told Leghari to draft a letter and send it to him for review so it could be sent to the federal government and later on to the IMF representative in Pakistan.

    “You have signed a Rs750 billion [surplus] commitment with the IMF. You now need to tell them that the commitment you made was before the floods, and now [Punjab] has to spend a lot of funds for [the] floods [rehabilitation].”

    “You need to say now that ‘we will not be able to honour our commitment’,” Tarin said.

    The former FM further told Leghari that this is all he [Imran Khan] wants – for pressure to increase on the incumbent government.

    Leghari questioned if this move will affect the state and will Pakistan as a state suffer if the Punjab government does what is being asked to do so?

    “Well, frankly isn’t the state already suffering because of the way they are treating your chairman [Imran Khan] and everybody else? IMF will definitely ask them: where will you get the money from now?” Tarin responded.

    Tarin further said that the party could not bear being mistreated. “We cannot be blackmailed,” Tarin said.

    “This is what was decided yesterday, however, whether we will be releasing this to IMF or not we will ask the chairman,” revealed the former FM.

    ‘By the way, this is a blackmailing tactic’: Taimur Jhagra

    In another leaked audio conversation between Tarin and Jhagra, Tarin asked Jhagra if he had written the letter.

    “I am on the way. I have the previous letter. I will send the letter to you after drafting it,” replied Jhagra.

    Read more: Jhagra responds after Miftah accuses KP govt of jeopardising IMF deal

    “First point [of the letter] would be that we need huge financial aid for restoration of infrastructure and rehabilitation of flood affectees,” Tarin tells the KP finance minister.

    “By the way, this is a blackmailing tactic,” he admitted.

    PTI’s finance minister in KP, Jhagra further said that he knows the number two guy at IMF and he can send the letter to him. He also revealed that he had been in contact with the IMF person and that he had been getting information from him.

    Read more: IMF Executive Board meeting to discuss revival of loan plan today

    It is pertinent to mention here that the IMF executive board will meet today (August 29), to discuss the bailout plan for Pakistan.

    The 8th and 9th tranches, totaling over $1.2 billion, are anticipated to be disbursed with board approval.

  • Punjab on top in sexual, physical assault and domestic abuse cases

    Punjab on top in sexual, physical assault and domestic abuse cases

    At least 133 women were kidnapped and as many as 85 were subjected to rape in Pakistan in the month of July alone, a report has revealed.

    The data has been compiled by the Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO) and the Centre for Research, Development and Communication (CRDC). The cases that have been reported in mainstream media are added in the report.

    Punjab

    A total of 77 cases of physical assault were reported in Punjab — 93 women in Punjab were abducted, 47 cases of sexual assault cases were recorded. As far as domestic violence cases are concerned, Punjab reported 58 cases. Three honour killing incidents took place. At least five cases of workplace harassment were reported in the province. In July, 42 children were sexually abused and 30 children were kidnapped. Meanwhile, 10 children were murdered and eight child labour cases were reported. 10 cases of physical violence against children were recorded. The province also reported three cases of child marriage.

    Sindh

    Sindh recorded 34 physical assault cases. A total of 20 cases of abduction took place, 16 women were subjected to rape, 15 cases of domestic violence were reported and in the name of honour killing, four women were killed in Sindh. Moreover, two work harassment incidents were reported in the province. Over July, 21 children were sexually abused,13 children were kidnapped from Sindh, 14 children were physically abused while five children were murdered in the province. Three cases of child marriage were reported.

    Islamabad

    Six incidents of physical assault occurred in the capital and 15 cases of kidnapping were reported. 10 cases of rape were reported. Four cases of domestic abuse were reported. Ten children were sexually abused and eight children were kidnapped. Two incidents of physical abuse against children were reported and two children were murdered.

    Balochistan

    The province had no reported case of physical assault. Two cases of abduction were reported during the month of July. Balochistan reported one rape incident. When it comes to domestic violence, Balochistan registered zero such incidents. Three children were sexually abused in Balochistan and four children were kidnapped. No physical abuse case was reported. Two children were murdered.

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

    16 incidents of physical assault were reported, three cases of abduction occurred, 11 cases of rape were reported and17 cases of domestic violence were reported in KP. 32 children were sexually abused and 27 children were kidnapped. 11 cases of physical violence against children were reported and three children were murdered. One child labour case was reported.

    DATADownload

  • Man arrested for making videos of women in park without their permission

    Man arrested for making videos of women in park without their permission

    A man in Lakki Marwat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was arrested on Monday for filming women in a recreational park without their consent

    According to the park’s administration, the man recorded videos of burqa-clad women when they were getting on to a ride in the recreational zone.

    The park has a separate area for females. The ride was restricted to men at the time the women were boarding and taking the ride.

    According to the local police, a First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against the suspect. They further stated that other individuals verbally abused the women while the man was filming them.

    Read more- Foreign tourists allegedly harassed during Independence Day celebrations at Pakistan Monument

    In a separate incident, three foreigners, including two women and a man, were harassed by a mob in Shakarparian in Islamabad on Independence Day. In videos that have gone viral on social media, some men could be seen surrounding and harassing the tourists.

  • ‘I am 60 years old, not one PM visited us’: KP flood victim breaks down meeting PM Shehbaz

    ‘I am 60 years old, not one PM visited us’: KP flood victim breaks down meeting PM Shehbaz

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif visited the flood-affected areas of district Tank in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) today (August 4).

    The prime minister took a round of the shelter camps housing the flood-affected people where he interacted with the flood affectees.

    A 60-year-old man told PM Shehbaz how thankful and grateful he was to see him in their hours of distress.

    Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who accompanied the PM during his visit, translated what the man said.

    “I am 60 years old. In my entire life, I haven’t seen any prime minister visiting us. You are the first Prime Minister who has come to share our grief. We are very grateful to you.”

    Read more: PM Shehbaz visits flood-hit Balochistan, orders immediate compensation

    Earlier this week, PM Shehbaz Sharif reached Quetta on a day-long visit on Monday, August 1, to oversee the relief operations in the flood-affected areas of Balochistan and ordered immediate compensation to the flood affectees.

  • Counter-Terrorism Department warns of assassination threat against Imran Khan

    Counter-Terrorism Department warns of assassination threat against Imran Khan

    The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD)’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) wing has issued a warning that terrorists are planning the assassination of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, reports Daily Jang.

    According to the publication, terrorists have given the responsibility to an Afghan assassin to target Khan. However, the assassin handed over the responsibility to others.

    Several PTI leaders have expressed concerns about the threat to Khan’s life.

    Former Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry tweeted in April that a plot to assassinate Khan was reported by security agencies. Therefore, Khan’s security was also increased.

    PTI leader Faisal Vawda had also said that a conspiracy was being hatched to assassinate the then-premier over his refusal to “sell the country”.

    Vawda made these claims on ARY News show “Off the Record” in response to a question about a letter that Khan brandished at the PTI’s March 27 power show in Islamabad and claimed it contained “evidence” of a “foreign conspiracy” to topple his government.

    He also said that the then prime minister was told multiple times that bulletproof glass needed to be installed before his dais at the March 27 rally. “But as always and as usual, he said my [death] will come when Allah wills. Don’t worry about it,” Vawda quoted Khan as saying.

  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reduces free fuel allocation for ministers and govt officials

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reduces free fuel allocation for ministers and govt officials

    Following Sindh, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has decreased free petroleum quotas for all provincial government departments, institutes, and organisations.

    Chief Minister of KP, Mehmood Khan, has approved a 35 per cent reduction in the free gasoline allotment, according to an official notification issued by the KP Chief Secretary.

    The news comes just hours after the Sindh government decided to reduce the Chief Minister’s (CM), ministers’, and provincial government employees’ free fuel quotas.

    Keeping in view a substantial spike in POL prices within the last few days, the decision was made to limit spending and decrease the strain on the national kitty.

    Read more: Petrol quota for ministers, govt officials in Sindh lowered by 40 per cent

    The latest petrol price hike came just hours after the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) approved a power tariff hike of Rs7.91 per unit.

  • Tobacco companies in Pakistan may bump cigarette prices

    Tobacco companies in Pakistan may bump cigarette prices

    Farmers have asked the government and firms to increase the price of future tobacco products in accordance with the current price hikes in pesticides, fertilisers, and other crop preparation and selling charges.

    On May 9, the demand was made at a meeting of Ittehad-e-Kashtkaran in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The participants agreed that the government should reduce agricultural inputs because pesticide, fertiliser, and other costs have risen dramatically.

    Attendees suggested that the price of tobacco be set at Rs350 per kilogramme so that growers may meet the current price increases in pesticides, fertilisers, and other expenses spent during crop preparation and marketing.

    The newly elected officials also encouraged the government to create favourable local marketplaces for agricultural products to aid hardworking farmers. They demanded that the government and tobacco businesses pay the farmers’ outstanding debts immediately.

    Read more: Open market: Lemon being sold at Rs1,100 per kg in Lahore

    Growers also asked the government to develop a policy to prevent tobacco-related industries from moving from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Azad Kashmir and other provinces.

    It should be noted that tobacco is grown in Pakistan, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa accounting for 80 per cent of total production.

    Tobacco products also give Rs135 billion to the federal budget, while the tobacco development tax contributes Rs980 million to the provincial budget.

  • Brother, sister killed in Bannu, alleged assassin captured

    A young boy along with his sister was gunned down by an unidentified killer in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday.

    According to ARY News, the incident occurred in Mando Khel area of Bannu, situated in the jurisdiction of Cantt Police, where the killer murdered both the siblings and fled the scene.

    The police have shifted the dead bodies to a local hospital, and eventually captured the killer. The police have also launched further investigation to ascertain the motive behind the double murder.

    Separately,  a man from Gujranwala city in Punjab identified as Ateeq burned his wife alive for not giving birth to a son, reports ARY. The incident took place in the Kot Shekju area of Gujranwala. He had three daughters.

    Read more- Man burns wife alive for not giving birth to a son

    The man’s sister-in-law allegedly supported him in the crime. According to the authorities, after killing his wife, Ateeq fled the scene with his three daughters.