Tag: Pakistan

  • Father kills sleeping son for not offering fajr prayers

    Father kills sleeping son for not offering fajr prayers

    In a shocking incident, a 24-year-old man named Muhammad Sohail was killed by his father for not offering fajr prayers on Wednesday morning.

    The incident took place in the Gulistan-e-Johar area of Karachi where the father, identified as Haji Muhammad Saeed, returned from offering fajr prayers and found his son sleeping. Without any warning, the father hit the boy with a hammer, killing him.

    The accused claimed that he had repeatedly warned his children, including Sohail, to offer prayers on time, but the victim did not pay heed. Frustrated and angry, he lost control and killed his own son.

    The police were notified of the crime and have arrested the accused. A hammer and a knife, which are believed to have been used in the murder, were also found at the crime scene.

    A murder case has also been registered against the father.

  • Six terrorists shot down by CTD in Lakki Marwat operation

    Six terrorists shot down by CTD in Lakki Marwat operation

    At least six terrorists were gunned down during an operation in the Dadowala area of Lakki Marwat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), counter-terrorism department (CTD) officials have confirmed.

    According to the CTD, ammunition and explosives were recovered from the slain terrorists who were involved in terror attacks and assaults on security forces.

    CTD added that the operation was launched after it received information regarding the presence of the terrorists in Dadowala. The department added that the terrorists were planning to launch an attack on the Abbasia police check post.

    Terrorism is rising again across the country as attacks increased since the end of the ceasefire with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) last year.

  • Yamaha passes sales tax burden to customers: YBR 125G price increased to Rs353,000

    Yamaha passes sales tax burden to customers: YBR 125G price increased to Rs353,000

    Yamaha has recently announced its first price increase of 2023, affecting all of its motorcycles. The latest announcement marks the second increase in prices since December, with the highest increase being up to Rs3,500.

    Despite this, Yamaha has implemented the smallest price increases compared to its competitors and has only raised its bike prices once this year.

    In contrast, Yamaha increased its bike prices seven times last year. Due to the persistent economic issues in Pakistan, dealers and industry experts are anticipating further price hikes this year.

    According to recent data, a significant proportion of bike manufacturing has been localised in Pakistan. As such, there appears to be little justification for motorcycle manufacturers to frequently and substantially increase their prices.

    Variant Old Price (Rs) New Price (Rs) Increase (Rs)
    YB 125Z 305,500 308,500 3,000
    YB 125Z DX 327,000 330,500 3,500
    YBR 125 336,000 339,500 3,500
    YBR 125G 349,500 353,000 3,500
    YBR 125G (Matte Gray) 352,500 356,000 3,500
  • Aurat March 2023: Feminism in the time of crisis

    Aurat March 2023: Feminism in the time of crisis

    Feminist social movement Aurat March has unveiled their theme for this year: Feminism in the time of crisis.

    The movement elaborated on the significance behind this theme on Twitter, revealing that it will address the ongoing security, climate and economic issues currently plaguing the country.

    “We demand a feminist response to these crisis: one that centers the voices and experiences of one of the most affected and prioritizes justice and equity for all.

    These responses must be democratic and equitable. A Pakistan plagued by regional, ethnic and class inequity is unacceptable. We cannot afford to ignore the intersectional impacts of these crises any longer.

    Pakistan is plagued with challenges on multiple fronts including security and safety crisis, economic crisis, climate crisis and a relentless crisis of gendered violence. We know that these issues are deeply rooted in the patriarchal system that prioritize masculine politics and ignores the needs and rights of gender minorities and marginalized communities.

    It’s time to demand a better future for all.

    Join us on 8th March.”

  • President Alvi approves mini-budget amidst concerns of pushing Pakistanis into deeper poverty

    President Alvi approves mini-budget amidst concerns of pushing Pakistanis into deeper poverty

    President Dr Arif Alvi has given his approval for the Finance (Supplementary) Bill 2023, also known as the mini-budget, under Article 75 of the Constitution, which requires the president to assent to a bill presented to him within 10 days.

    National Assembly had passed the Rs170 billion mini-budget with some modifications, which will have an annual impact of about Rs550 billion.

    The budget’s approval has brought Pakistan closer to an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) but at the cost of pushing people deeper into the poverty trap.

    The majority of the taxation measures were implemented, although the president had not given his assent when the National Assembly passed the bill.

    Finance Minister Ishaq Dar admitted during his wind-up speech that inflation was unbearable for the people and blamed the maladministration of the previous government of former prime minister Imran Khan.

    Dar also admitted that the news stories about Rs675 billion to Rs700 billion taxes were not untrue and the IMF had demanded those measures, which the government did not accept. Dar added that almost all major issues with the IMF had been sorted out, and Pakistan is now very near to the staff-level agreement.

  • China’s $700 million loan to boost Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves

    China’s $700 million loan to boost Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves

    Pakistan’s Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has announced that the Board of China Development Bank has approved a credit facility of $700 million for Pakistan, and all formalities have been completed.

    This announcement was made through a tweet, and the loan is expected to be received by the State Bank of Pakistan this week, which will help to boost the country’s forex reserves.

    According to Reuters, the credit facility, provided by the state-owned China Development Bank, will increase Pakistan’s forex reserves by about 20 per cent. This comes at a time when the country is in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to unlock funds from a $6.5 billion bailout. The loan is in addition to other facilities that China has already extended to Pakistan, and a finance ministry official has stated that the money could arrive as early as Thursday.

    China Development Bank did not respond to a faxed request for comment. Currently, China is Pakistan’s largest creditor, and its commercial banks hold approximately 30 per cent of the country’s external debt.

  • IMF likely to announce staff level agreement with Pakistan by this week

    IMF likely to announce staff level agreement with Pakistan by this week

    According to Syed Naveed Qamar, the Federal Minister for Commerce, Pakistan has taken all necessary measures to unfreeze a $6.5 billion credit line and is expected to reach a staff level agreement (SLA) on Extended Fund Facility (EFF) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) this week.

    Dr Aisha Ghaus Pasha, the Minister of State for Finance, stated that Pakistan and the IMF are close to reaching an SLA, but that basic structural reforms are necessary regardless of whether they are part of the IMF program or not.

    After the formal announcement, Pakistan will receive a $1.2 billion tranche under the EFF. Qamar stated that the agreement would give investors and creditors confidence in Pakistan’s stabilising economy and that their money would remain protected.

    Qamar emphasized that the IMF program is the beginning of other funds flowing in and that increased imports would benefit exports.

    However, Pakistan is struggling to meet the tough conditions set by the IMF, such as increasing its low tax base, ending exemptions for the export sector, and raising artificially low energy prices. The country is in dire need of funds as the State Bank of Pakistan-held foreign exchange reserves only cover one month of imports.

    To meet IMF conditions, Pakistan has raised taxes, cut subsidies, and devalued its currency. Additionally, a supplementary finance bill was approved that increases sales tax from 17 per cent to 25 per cent on imports and raises general sales tax from 17 per cent to 18 per cent, increasing the burden on already inflation-stricken people.

  • No luxury cars, no five-star hotels, federal cabinet’s perks and salaries cut amid economic crisis

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has announced major cuts in perks and facilities that were being given to the federal cabinet as the economic crisis worsens.

    Addressing a press conference on Wednesday in Islamabad, the Premier, flanked by members of the federal cabinet, said that ministers, state ministers and special advisers had decided “willingly” to forego their salaries and perks. He said that all ministers would now pay their own telephone, electricity, water and gas bills.

    The premier further said that federal ministers would also travel in economy class and will not stay in five-star hotels during foreign trips.

    He asserted that no cabinet member or government officer will use a luxury car, adding that “Until June 2024, there will be a complete ban on purchasing all types of new cars.”

    The head of government also said that “to conserve gas and electricity, advice for opening offices at 7:30am during summer has been accepted.”

    Shehbaz Sharif said that it has also been decided that government employees will not be allotted more than one plot, saying that this would be implemented from tomorrow.

    He said that in terms of food, only a single dish would be allowed at government events.

    Talking about the Toshakhana, the premier said that the federal cabinet has decided that no one will be allowed to retain state gifts worth more than $300 (approx. Rs70,000). He also added that the government has decided to make the Toshakhana record public.

    Responding to a question from a reporter, PM Shehbaz said that the measures would save Rs200 billion annually.

    He said that matters with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are at the “last stage” and hoped that everything will go well.

    The development has taken place while Pakistan is eyeing a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) this week as the country reels under a foreign reserve shortage.

    Earlier this week, the National Assembly passed the IMF-dictated Finance (Supplementary) Bill 2023, seeking to impose an additional Rs170 billion in taxes.

  • ‘Why order investgation on hearsay’; Justice Faiz Isa says cipher investigation is govt’s job

    ‘Why order investgation on hearsay’; Justice Faiz Isa says cipher investigation is govt’s job

    The Supreme Court on Wednesday has rejected all three pleas seeking an investigation into a cipher — presented by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)- endorsing objections raised by the apex court’s registrar.

    Justice Qazi Faiz Isa heard the in-chamber appeals filed by the PTI against the registrar’s objections to the petitions seeking an investigation into the cipher — the cable from the United States of America, allegedly threatening that Imran Khan’s government should be overthrown.

    Asking if dealing with foreign affairs the court’s job, the judge said, “Did Imran Khan make any decision to investigate the matter as the prime minister?”

    He added: “Imran Khan had all the powers to have an investigation conducted. All authorities are under the prime minister.”

    He asked what the court could do in the cipher matter.

    “How can we order an investigation based on hearsay? We do not believe in speculations,” Justice Isa stated.

     “Why do you bring such cases before us? We already have so much on our plate,” the judge asked the petitioners.

    Categorically stating that he will not interfere in state matters, Justice Isa dismissed the three appeals and upheld the registrar’s objections.  

    “How can the judiciary interfere in government affairs? I will not interfere in state matters and neither will allow the government to interfere in judicial matters,” said Justice Isa.

    The judge observed that the Parliament is right beside the Supreme Court, telling the petitioners to “go ask them Parliament” to give them the “authority to intervene into state matters.”

  • ‘Biased’; Rana Sanaullah calls out two Supreme Court judges for conduct towards PML-N

    ‘Biased’; Rana Sanaullah calls out two Supreme Court judges for conduct towards PML-N

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Wednesday objected to the impartiality of two Supreme Court judges, terming their conduct “biased” towards Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

    In a series of tweets, Sanaullah naming Justice Ejaz ul Hassan and Justice Mazahir Ali Akbar Naqvi, alleged that they “have a biased attitude towards the PML-N”.

    The minister, while naming both the justices, said one was a supervising judge in the case against Nawaz Sharif and the party doesn’t expect justice.

    He also mentioned a purported audio leak related to the second judge, saying that it had raised questions on his impartiality.

    “Both judges have given verdicts in dozens of cases against Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif. Panama, party leadership, Pakpattan allotment case, Ramzan sugar mills cases are included in the list,” the minister added.

    “The legal team of PML-N will ask the two judges to recuse themselves from the benches hearing the cases of Nawaz Sharif and other leaders of the party,” Sanaullah stated, adding that the two judges will be asked not to hear cases of the PML-N.