Not coming down easy on him as usual, Twitterati are once again trolling Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan for saying that life is not a fairy tale, and “one gets peace only in his or her grave”.
“Happily ever after is a myth. It’s there only in fairy tales. In real life, one gets peace only when he or she lies in their grave,” the premier said Friday as he addressed the inauguration ceremony of a skills development programme called “Hunarmand”.
It wasn’t later that his statements broke the internet as a majority trolled him, and some called his government out for its “flawed” policies.
Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has admired Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar for initiating the 115-kilometre (km) long Jalalpur Irrigation Project worth $360 million after a delay of 120 years, not knowing that the project was actually conceived, planned, negotiated and approved by his arch-rival and former chief executive of Punjab, Shehbaz Sharif, The News reported.
“I congratulate you all. Today, I admire Punjab CM Usman Buzdar for initiating this project. This project has been delayed for the past 120 years. I am thankful that you started this project because these projects change the lives of the people,” the premier had said at the inauguration ceremony held in Jhelum in the last week of December 2019.
However, official documents revealed that the project was entirely planned, initiated and negotiated by the Shehbaz administration back in 2009 when the then CM had ordered its construction.
According to reports, the feasibility work for the project was completed in 2013 and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) was engaged. It takes three to four years in the processing of such projects’ planning, loan negotiation, environmental studies, population relocation plans among other.
A mega project like the one in question needs years owing to all the necessary surveys and the completion of its designs, which were completed in 2017. All details are also documented on the ADB website.
A copy of the loan agreement shows that it was signed by Pakistan and ADB in April 2018 by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, ahead of which, the project agreement was signed in April 2017 by the then Punjab Irrigation Secretary Asadullah with Shehbaz’s approval.
The Punjab Annual Development Plan (ADP) approved by the Shehbaz government in its budget for fiscal year 2017-18 also reflected the project. From 2013-2018, the Punjab government spent approximately Rs2,998 million to acquire land for this project, and the last allocation of Rs600 million was made in the ADP for 2017-18.
At the planning stage, even alignment of canal was decided in consultation with locals through the lawmakers concerned. In 2016, a number of seminars were also held in Khushab to finalise alignment as per the needs of the farmers.
In ADP for the year 2016-2017, the engineering designs were completed. As much as Rs70 million was spent on this project by PML-N government for engineering design in 2016-2017 and Rs230 million was allocated in 2017-2018. Total expenditure made on land acquisition by the then government was Rs3 billion. A total of 8,000 acres of land was acquired by the previous government, which was a huge administrative exercise while Rs497 million was spent on the engineering design of this project. Detail engineering design took 16 months.
The canal will irrigate 160,000 acres of land in Pind Dadan Khan and Khushab tehsil and interestingly even the people, farmers and residents of these areas are fully aware that project was initiated by Shehbaz in 2013.
As per the official documents, the loan agreement was signed by Shehbaz in 2017 and everything was finalised and commissioned by May 2018, but now the premier has been made to believe that incumbent Punjab CM Buzdar is behind the project.
According to ADB documents, the project is located by the right bank of River Jhelum in Punjab. It will create new non-perennial irrigation services for enhanced agricultural production in Pind Daden Khan and Khushab districts. The project will increase kharif crop intensity by 50 per cent, improve crop yield and reduce land degradation. It will directly benefit over 200,000 rural people; mostly poor.
Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry, who made headlines for slapping journalist Mubasher Lucman on Sunday, has shared as to why is he no longer friends with the anchor he was once seen sharing rather fun moments with.
“It was Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s maiden interview and only six journalists could be invited for it,” Fawad said in an exclusive conversation with The Current, as he started to shed light on how it all started.
The former information minister said that senior anchorperson Kamran Shahid was coincidentally present in the federal capital at the time of Imran’s first interview as the country’s chief executive, and was invited. “Mubasher got upset because he was excluded,” Fawad said as he explained what later became a bone of contention between the two.
When asked if journalists and politicians should be friends, he said the two should be like “colleagues”.
Fawad further said that he would discuss the issue on the floor of the National Assembly later in the day, which he was doing by the time this report was filed.
FAWAD SLAPS MUBASHER:
On Sunday, the federal minister slapped the anchor during a spat over Lucman’s allegations against Fawad regarding TikTok star Hareem Shah.
According to reports, Geo News bureau chief for Lahore, Raees Ansari, said the event took place at the wedding reception of Punjab Irrigation Minister Mohsin Laghari’s son. The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) leaders, Jahangir Tareen and Ishaq Khakwani, were also present at the event.
Ansari revealed that Tareen and Fawad were talking about the allegations that Lucman had levelled on the minister during a TV show, salaciously linking the federal minister to Shah, who recently made headlines after accusing government officials, including lawmakers, of sending her indecent pictures.
It was at that moment that Lucman arrived at the event, triggering a war of words between him and Fawad over the issue. The federal minister reportedly protested against the claims, later slapping and shoving the anchor. The altercation stopped when people intervened and broke up the fight.
Soon after, both Fawad and Lucman left the event.
Chaudhry tacitly admitted to the act, slamming the TV anchor on Twitter, saying: “People like Mubashir Lucman have nothing to do with journalism… they are [sexual slur] who have barged into journalism.”
“It is everyone’s duty to expose [such journalists],” he tweeted.
FIR AGAINST FAWAD:
Meanwhile, Lucman, who had refrained from publicly commenting on the incident, has submitted an application to register a First Information Report (FIR) against the minister.
According to Dawn, Lucman, in his application submitted to the Model Town police station late Sunday night, said he was attending the event along with Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar, Governor Chaudhry Sarwar, Tareen and various federal and provincial ministers.
He said he was talking to his friends when Fawad attacked him along with 10-12 of his “mussala ghundas (armed goons)”.
“They subjected me to severe violence,” the anchorperson said, adding that after threatening him of serious consequences and of murder, they left the site of the incident.
He claimed that prior to this incident, the federal minister had called and threatened to have him killed if he did not stop his allegations.
Lucman further stated in the application that a case should be registered against Fawad and others, while the federal minister says he would move the cyber-crime wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) against the journalist.
As per an application submitted to Punjab inspector general of police (IGP) by the minister’s protocol officer, an FIR against the journalist for defaming and threatening Fawad, as well as his protocol officer, has also been sought.
The protocol officer has also accused Lucman and his accomplices of stealing his wristwatch.
Repeated attempts were made to contact journalist Mubasher Lucman, but he was unavailable.
Three men who robbed Prime Minister Imran Khan’s nephew’s house have been arrested by the police.
According to reports, the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) also recovered the looted valuables from their possession.
PM Khan’s nephew’s Shershah Khan’s house was robbed in the early hours of Saturday.
According to the FIR registered by Shershah, three unidentified persons entered his house around 4 am and stole a Rs3 million cheque, jewellery and an old pistol that belonged to his grandfather. The FIR added that the robbers forced Shershah’s wife to sign the cheque.
Police had suspected the involvement of the gardener’s son and media reports had suggested that the robbers entered through a door that was accidentally left open.
Shershah is the younger son of PM Khan’s sister Aleema Khan.
Shershah Khan with PM Imran’s sons at a family wedding
With United States (US) Secretary of State Mike Pompeo calling Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa to discuss heightening tensions with Tehran following the killing of top Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani, Twitterati are wondering why did Pompeo choose the army chief over Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan or Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
The telephonic conversation came after Iran’s top security body vowed to retaliate in the “right place and time” following Revolutionary Guards commander Soleimani’s death in an airstrike ordered by US President Donald Trump on Friday.
“America should know that its criminal attack on General Soleimani has been the country’s biggest mistake in west Asia, and America will not avoid the consequences of this wrong calculation easily,” the Supreme National Security Council said in a statement.
The dramatic escalation and subsequent fears of “World War III” were followed by both Washington and Tehran alerting their allies.
“#Pakistan’s Chief of Staff General Bajwa and I spoke today about U.S. defensive action to kill Qassem Soleimani. The #Iran regime’s actions in the region are destabilizing and our resolve in protecting American interests, personnel, facilities, and partners will not waver,” Pompeo tweeted on Friday.
#Pakistan‘s Chief of Staff General Bajwa and I spoke today about U.S. defensive action to kill Qassem Soleimani. The #Iran regime’s actions in the region are destabilizing and our resolve in protecting American interests, personnel, facilities, and partners will not waver.
In another tweet, Pompeo disclosed he spoke to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani as well about Soleimani’s killing “to protect American lives at stake”.
Spoke with Afghan President @AshrafGhani on @realDonaldTrump‘s decision to kill Qassem Soleimani to protect American lives at stake. The Iranian regime’s actions are a source of instability throughout the region. The U.S. will protect its people and its interests.
Separately, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) disclosed that the army chief and the US secretary of state discussed “regional situation including possible implications” after the escalation in the Middle East.
“COAS received telephone call from US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Regional situation, including possible implications of recent escalation in Middle East, was discussed,” the military’s media wing tweeted.
COAS received telephone call from US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Regional situation including possible implications of recent escalation in Middle East was discussed. (1of2).
“COAS emphasised need for maximum restraint and constructive engagement by all concerned to de-escalate the situation in broader interest of peace and stability. COAS also reiterated the need for maintaining focus on success of Afghan Peace Process,” read another tweet.
COAS emphasised need for maximum restraint and constructive engagement by all concerned to de-escalate the situation in broader interest of peace and stability. COAS also reiterated the need for maintaining focus on success of Afghan Peace Process.(2of2).
Meanwhile, Twitterati took to Twitter to ask as to why had Pompeo not called PM Imran or FM Qureshi at such a time.
All pretence removed, with the US secretary of state engaging directly with the Pakistani army chief, rather than his counterpart the foreign minister or Pakistan’s prime minister. https://t.co/V6TvvwRHvG
Pompeo calls Gen Bajwa. Not the PM not the FM. and here some incl me believed that extension can be stopped. Where is that SMQ who said now foreign policy will be made in FO.
While Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) has advised both the US and Iran to refrain from taking “unilateral action” against each other and abide by the United Nations (UN) Charter to respect each other’s territorial integrity, the premier has not yet made any statement.
Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and Federal Minister for Planning and Special Initiatives Asad Umar have found the aloo gosht [potato-meat curry] served to them at Faisalabad Panahgah [shelter home] “even better than the one at PM House in Islamabad”.
This was revealed by Umar, who on Friday tweeted:
فیصل آباد میں پناہ گاہ کے دورے پر کھانا کھانے کا موقع ملا. وزیراعظم اور مجھے دونوں کو الو گوشت بہت پسند ایا. وزیراعظم کا کہنا تھا کہ یہ وزیراعظم ہاؤس سے بہتر پکا ہوا ہے
“Got a chance to dine at the shelter home in Faisalabad during our visit. Both I and the prime minister really liked aloo gosht. The premier said it was [even] better than the one he gets to have at PM House,” he wrote.
The tweet came hours after PM Imran and a few members of his team reached Faisalabad to inaugurate the first shelter home in the city, which has been constructed over a four kanal area as part of the government’s flagship Panahgah initiative.
WATCH VIDEO:
Accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar, the premier toured the shelter home to review the facilities being provided by the provincial government to homeless people, and received a briefing by the administration.
Last week, he had directed the chief ministers of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to take steps to provide temporary shelters and food to every person in their respective province in the wake of harsh cold weather.
Given the extremely cold weather conditions I have asked CMs of Punjab & KP to ensure that no person is left out without shelter; & their administrations must take immediate action to provide temporary shelters plus food for those who cannot be accommodated in existing Panagahs.
“Given the extremely cold weather conditions, I have asked CMs of Punjab and KP to ensure that no person is left out without a shelter; and their administrations must take immediate action to provide temporary shelters plus food for those who cannot be accommodated in existing Panahgahs (shelter homes),” the PM had tweeted.
Earlier on Friday, the premier also broke ground on the state-of-the-art Allama Iqbal Industrial City that has been planned over an area of 4,000 acres.
The industrial city is a mega project of the Special Economic Zone of Faisalabad Industrial Estate Development and Management Company (FIEDMC) under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday rejected the bail of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s nephew, Barrister Hassaan Khan Niazi, in the case pertaining to lawyers’ attack on Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) in Lahore last month.
According to ARY News, Niazi turned up late for the hearing, irked by which, ATC Judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta cancelled the former’s interim bail, regretting he showed up late despite being a lawyer.
With Niazi then offering an unconditional apology and filing a new bail application, he and nine of his colleagues were granted bail until January 6.
The bail was granted subject to submission of a surety bond worth Rs100,000.
A group of more than 200 lawyers, who had an ongoing “tussle” with the doctors of the PIC, had stormed the hospital last month, vandalised property and damaged dozens of vehicles besides setting a police van on fire.
At least 52 lawyers were arrested and dozens of others booked after the attack during which at least four patients lost their lives.
A transnational non-profit organisation, International Crisis Group, has warned that any militant attack on Indian forces in held Kashmir could set off an escalation between Pakistan and India, saying that pro-freedom militants were lying low in the troubled vallet, but they were still active.
“India’s heavy-handed military operations in Kashmir over the past few years have inspired a new homegrown generation, whose ranks are likely to swell further after the latest repression,” read its report titled “10 conflicts to watch in 2020”.
Indian fighter planes had violated Pakistani airspace after a pro-freedom militant attack that killed at least 40 paramilitary soldiers in Pulwama on February 19, 2019. In retaliation, Pakistan had shot down two Indian jets over Kashmir on Feb 27, and captured an Indian pilot as well. He, however, was released by Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s government as a “gesture of peace”.
The Crisis Group, which describes itself as “working to prevent wars and shape policies that will build a more peaceful world” , has warned that any Pulwama-like attack on Indian forces in Kashmir would precipitate Indian action against Pakistan.
“In a worst-case scenario, the two nuclear-armed neighbours could stumble into war,” the report said.
The Crisis Group asked New Delhi to lift the communication blackout and release political prisoners in the occupied valley, and asked Pakistan to take action against militants allegedly operating from its soil.
It further urged the international community to push Pakistan and India for talks “before it is too late”.
A loss of Rs462 million to the public exchequer has been detected by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) as it conducted its initial inquiry into the Billion Tree Tsunami Project of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), The Newsreported.
NAB Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal had authorised the inquiry against the flagship project in March last year.
“The NAB regional office has recommended to the headquarters for upgrading the inquiry along with authorisation for separate investigations and six inquiries to unearth the mega scam in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP),” the report said.
Meanwhile, an officer was quoted as saying that NAB officials “had checked only 10 to 20 per cent of only one region out of three, which is the smallest region as compared to Hazara and Swat.
In 2014, the then PTI-led KP government had started the Billion Tree Tsunami Project with Rs14.32 billion utilised for the project execution by the Forest Department.
Allegations of ghost labour, misappropriation and embezzlement of daily wages, enclosures failure and payments against ghost plantations were received by the anti-graft body at its Peshawar bureau earlier.
According to official documents, during the initial inquiry based on proceedings conducted so far, a loss of Rs462 million has been detected. The NAB reports further disclosed that due to the shortfall in the hectare-wise plantation area in Dera Ismail Khan, a loss of Rs80.044 million has been detected.
The regional NAB office has recommended the headquarters to convert the ongoing inquiry into a proper investigation to probe the case. It further recommended four investigations against the divisional forest officer and others regarding misuse of authority, embezzlement, corruption and corrupt practices.
Furthermore, six additional inquiries were also recommended against the officers and officials of the KP Forest Department and others regarding embezzlement, misappropriation, corruption, and corrupt practices in procurement of seeds, polythene bags, machinery, vehicles and office equipment in forest region 1, 2 and 3.
While NAB sources were quoted as confirming that the matter is under scrutiny as per law, media has reportedly been requested to avoid speculations in this regard.
Pakistan’s general government debt, including guarantees and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan, have declined to 84.7 per cent of the GDP, Dawn reported.
According to details, a recently published IMF report has revealed that the decline in debts was a consequence of the government’s smart performance in reducing expenditures, registering primary budget surplus and increasing tax and non-tax revenues during the first five months of the current fiscal year.
“In the first quarter of 2019-20, budget execution by the incumbent government improved considerably, registering a primary surplus of 0.6pc of GDP and an overall deficit of 0.6pc – about 1pc of GDP better than programmed,” the report added.
It said the over-performance was driven by stronger than expected non-tax revenues, accompanied by double-digit growth in tax revenue net of refunds.
At the same time, due to import compression, customs receipts and other external sector-related taxes have suffered (up only 6pc year-on-year), the report said, adding that spending, including by the provinces, has remained prudent.
However, the document observed that in FY19, the budget registered a primary deficit of 3.5pc of GDP and an overall deficit of 8.9pc, against its target of 1.8pc and 7pc, respectively.
Revenue collection at the federal level came in at 2pc of GDP, lower than expected, while total expenditures and provincial fiscal balances were in line with projections, it added. Around three-fourth of the revenue shortfall were due to one-off factors, which are not expected to carry over into FY20.
In particular, delays in renewing telecom licences, a temporary delay in the sale of state assets, and weaker than expected amnesty proceeds contributed around 1pc of GDP, while a shortfall in the transfer of State Bank profits to the budget, stemming from losses related to the exchange rate depreciation in late FY19 added an additional 0.5pc of GDP.
As a consequence of the fiscal slippages and the exchange rate depreciation, but also the government’s decision to increase cash deposits considerably to provide a financing cushion against potentially unfavourable market conditions, government debt (including guarantees and IMF borrowing) rose to 88pc of GDP.
With respect to government’s performance in revenue collection, the report observed that with 34pc nominal growth, compared to 1QFY19, total revenue over-performed the programmed projections by 0.2pc of GDP.
On account of tax policy measures implemented at the beginning of FY20, the domestic component of tax revenue collected by the FBR, recorded robust growth of 25pc.
Growth was particularly strong in sales and direct taxes, where most measures were targeted (including removal of tax exemptions, zero and reduced rates). At the same time, taxes collected at the import stage were impacted by substantial import compression, with a decline in all revenue categories except of sales tax.
Given that more than 40pc of total tax revenue in Pakistan is collected at the import stage, this shortfall had a notable impact on overall tax revenue performance 0.2pc of GDP lower than programmed.
One-off tax revenue inflows (around Rs30bn) also contributed to the overall result and are related to tax advances and tax amnesty receipts that were not collected at the end of FY19 but were realised in the first quarter of 2019-20 instead. Tax revenues collected at provincial level were also strong, increasing by 18pc.
