Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Amir Bakhsh Bhutto and Allah Bux Unar along with their companions quit the party, ARY News reported on Thursday.While talking to the journalists, Amir Bakhsh Bhutto condemned May 9 incidents and termed the attacks on military installations terrorism. He added that he has already excused from taking part in politics.He added that he had set some conditions before merging Sindh National Front into PTI, however, the promises remained unfulfilled.Allah Bux Unar alleged that former Sindh government and ex-PTI leader Imran Ismail had received Rs400 million for a Senate seat. He also alleged that Ismail had demanded Rs450 million from Saifullah Abro.Unar claimed that PTI Sindh always remained under the influence of ‘contractors’. “May 9 riots were planned by India to stand Pakistan Army and the nation against each other.”Earlier in the day, former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA from Multan Muhammad Ibrahim Khan decided to quit politics.Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MNA Ibrahim Khan said that he started his politics in 2022 when he was elected from NA 158.He condemned the May 9 attack on the military instalments and public buildings and said that he personally decided to leave politics.Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) General Secretary Yasir Humayun Sarfaraz earlier decided to quit his party over the May 9 violence.

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said political and economic stability of the country is the topmost priority of the PDM led coalition government, ARY News reported. Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Thursday, she said the government is determined to control inflation and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is himself monitoring the relief measures so that their benefit reaches the common man.She said the agriculture policy institute has been revived and work on seed variation is underway on immediate basis for making the country self-reliant in cooking oil production.She says prices of essential commodities have significantly reduced due to prudent policies of the government.Marriyum Aurangzeb said the Prime Minister has started consultations on upcoming budget proposals for various sectors including agriculture and industry.She said Kamyab Jawan Program, Benazir Income support program have been revived to impart maximum benefit to the beneficiaries of these program.The Minister said farmers have been provided relief under the historic Kisaan Package and subsidies on fertilizers, and solarization of agriculture tubewells will be part of the upcoming budget proposals for agriculture sector. She said healthcard budget will also be increased this year.She lamented how the IMF program was suspended by the previous government but today we are trying to fulfill even the most difficult conditions of the IMF to complete the program.The Minister said as political panic dives down, economic panic also wanes. She said while the PML-N led coalition government tried every bit during the last one year to revive the economy, the mindset of hatred , polarization and violence continued to impede our way by violent protests, sit-ins and attacking national institutions and memorials of national heroes.

After teachers' licences, the Sindh government has decided to introduce the first transgender education policy, ARY News reported on Thursday.As per details, the draft for the transgender education policy entered the final phase. Sindh Education Minister Sardar Shah said that transgender persons must have equal rights to get an education.He added that scholarships will also be awarded to transgender persons. The new policy will facilitate transgender persons to get education opportunities.READ: Sindh cabinet approves teachers’ licence policyLast year, the federal government had announced to include transgender persons in Benazir Kafalat Programme. The Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) chairperson Shazia Marri had announced in a tweet that transgender persons have been included in the programme for the first time.She said that transgender persons are part of our society and the government is responsible to protect them. Marri asked the transgender persons to get CNIC and enrol themselves on the programme for getting the benefits.

LAHORE: Punjab police have completed the identification of '2,290 miscreants' who were involved in the May 9 violence, ARY News reported. According to Punjab Police officials, out of the total 4120 miscreants, 2290 have been identified and 1180 were arrested. They further said that 1125 miscreants out of 1800 were identified and 513 are arrested. these miscreants were involved in the attack on Jinnah House in Lahore. May 9 violence: Police complete identification of '2,290 miscreants'Earlier, the Punjab government constituted 10 joint investigation teams (JITs) to probe the May 9 violence in Lahore, wherein military installations including Lahore Corps Commander’s house — also known as Jinnah House were attacked. Read more: JITs constituted to probe May 9 violence in LahoreThe JIT – constituted to probe the attack at the Lahore Corps Commander’s house –will comprise Lahore DIG Security Kamran Adil, SSP Operation Sohaib Ashraf, DSP-SP Raza Zahid, ASP Taimoor Khan and Investigation Incharge Muhammad Sarwar.

MASTUNG: Six passengers killed and seven others sustained injuries when a passenger Wagon collided with a coaster in Mastung, Quetta, ARY News reported on Thursday.According to details, a passenger wagon collided with a coaster coming from the opposite direction on Karachi National Highway, killing six passengers and leaving seven injured.The severely injured and dead bodies were shifted to Shaheed Ghaous Bakhsh Raisani Hospital. Emergency was declared in the hospital. The killed people are from Mastung, Quetta, Jaffarabad and Qala Abdullah whereas the injured are from Khuzdar.Earlier, in another dreadful road crash at least 32 police personnel, returning from the Eid holiday got injured after a bus overturned in Bahawalnagar.Read more: 32 cops injured after bus overturns in BahawalnagarAccording to police officials, the speeding bus was carrying recruits who were returning to their centre after the Eid holidays.The injured police personnel were shifted to the district hospital. The accident occurred by the negligence of the bus driver but he escaped the spot of the accident, the police officials added.In another accident, a passenger bus taking people to a wedding ceremony overturned due to flood water in Larkana, resulting in the death of six persons including the bride’s mother.The incident took place when the bus fell into the flood water due to an embankment, the bus overturned and several revellers were trapped under the bus.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Pervaiz Elahi has been arrested from outside his residence in Lahore today, ARY News reported on Thursday.PTI President Pervaiz Elahi has been arrested by the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) officials and a police team from his residence, Zahoor Palace, in Lahore.He was shifted to an undisclosed location by the police and ACE teams. The PTI president was booked in corruption cases in Mandi Bahauddin and Gujranwala.The senior politician was not appearing before the court despite the cancellation of bail. The PTI president's residence was raided by ACE and police officials multiple times since the cancellation of his bail.Police said that a case was lodged against Pervaiz Elahi under different sections including ATA. They added that he was wanted to police after the bail cancellation. “After ACE, police will take action against Pervaiz Elahi,” they said.Caretaker Information Minister Punjab Amir Mir said that resistance was made during Pervaiz Elahi’s arrest today and he was not opening the door of his bulletproof vehicle. The PTI president was wanted to ACE Punjab, he added.Amir Mir claimed that the politician was hiding in his residence and arrested today while trying to flee. The caretaker information minister said that Pervaiz Elahi was accused of receiving kickbacks in development schemes.DG ACE Punjab Sohail Zafar Chattha told the media that the anti-corruption court had directed to produce Pervaiz Elahi till June 6. He was booked in misuse of power case in Gujrat, Chattha said.The DG ACE said that they will not disclose the location where Pervaiz Elahi will be kept.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s annual inflation rose to 37.97 per cent year-on-year in May, the statistics bureau said in a report on Thursday, showing a continued uptick in the highest-ever inflation in the country.The CPI stood at 36.4pc in April, which the bureau said at the time was the highest in their records.The month-on-month rise in May was 1.58pc, the bureau said in a press release, adding vegetables, pulses and chicken prices posted the biggest increases.Inflation has been on an upward trend since early this year after the government took painful measures as part of the fiscal adjustments demanded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to unlock stalled funding, which still hasn't been disbursed.The breakup of components suggested that food inflation in urban areas soared by a staggering 48.1% in May 2023 compared to May 2022. The rural areas fared no better with 52.4% price rise on a year-on-year basis.In its Monthly Economic Outlook for May, the Ministry of Finance stated that “the inflation for the month of May 2023 may remain in the range of 34-36%”.It added that improvement in the global supply chain will ease out domestic prices in the coming months.With additional input from Reuters

ISLAMABAD: The National assembly committee to probe the audio leaks of the former chief justice Saqib Nisar’s son Najam Saqib meets here with Muhammad Aslam Bhutani in chair, ARY News reported on Thursday."The committee have powers equal to civil magistrate under the constitution," Special Secretary of the National Assembly briefed the session."The special committee have powers equal to a standing committee under Rule 25 of the constitution," the meeting was informed. "The committees could summon any person concerned with the matter under the parliamentary probe as per sub-rule iii of the Rule 227," the session was briefed."If someone avoiding the committee hearing, he or she could be summoned with a warrant," committee's meeting was told.Chairman of the parliamentary body informed the committee that Najam Saqib was summoned in previous meeting, but he didn't turn up. The committee issued another notice to Najam Saqib and others for appearing before the committee.The committee also directed the finance ministry to submit record of six months' bank transactions of the concerned persons within 15 days.The National assembly constituted a parliamentary committee to probe into the audio leaks of former chief justice Saqib Nisar’s son Najam Saqib in early May after a purported audio leak of Najam Saqib and a PTI ticket holder emerged online.

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Thursday directed authorities concerned to resolve land issues for the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project, ARY News reported.The chief minister issued these directives while chairing a meeting related to KCR.Addressing the meeting, Karachi Circular Railways (KCR) project is vital for addressing traffic issues of the city.He further said that the Sindh government is taking steps for early start of the project and directed officials concerned that documentation of the project be completed at earliest.The chief minister further directed them to resolve the land issue for the project and expressed the hope that work on the project will soon be started after getting it approved from China and Pakistan joint working group.Earlier in April, it emerged that Pakistan has asked China to expedite work on $2bn Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) and $10 billion Mainline-1 (ML-1) — the 1,872km railway track as agreed between the leadership of the two nations in November.According to a statement released by the Ministry of Planning and Development, Pakistan “requested strong support of National Development and Reforms Commission (NDRC) and other relevant Chinese government institutions to advance implementation of important projects like ML-1, KCR and key energy projects in line with the leadership consensus.”During Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Beijing last year, the Chinese political leadership agreed to fast-track processing for ML-1 by immediately triggering their respective teams. KCR project The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) last year in November approved Rs292.4 billion funds for the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project with a foreign share of Rs263 billion.The project envisages the construction of 44-kilometre-long and dedicated track of modern urban Railway in Karachi starting from Drigh road, passing through areas including Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Federal B area, Liaquatabad, North Nazimabad, Nazimabad, SITE, and Liyari, according to the state news agency.

The aura of electoral process is all pervasive and it has become a symbol of governance that is proper and lawful. Electoral process is the mechanism through which peaceful and consensual transfer of political power takes place in a democratic polity.The concept and practice is now so deep rooted that even authoritarian regimes are constrained to hold elections of some kind to legitimise their hold on power. The most important aspect of this process is the transparency associated with it and it is here that variations are noted that ultimately determine the legitimacy of governance.As with all exercises associated with power the electoral process is also not free from manipulation. The predominantly subjective nature of electoral process further complicates the matter.The intense pull of this subject has resulted in a plethora of electoral reform proposals forwarded by countless organisations, specialists, commentators and wide array of public.Since this is a public welfare measure affecting all and sundry therefore a vast input from a cross section of citizenry should always be encouraged along with wide publicity accorded to this exercise.It is now the norm that considers an electoral system as the only process that determines allocation of parliamentary seats commensurate with voting strength of a party. It is pointed out that political parties, as the vehicles of democratic political power, are driven to governance through an election mechanism.It is essential therefore to align the mechanism of political composition with the nuances of electoral mechanism and this is where the crucial aspect of electoral reforms lays it emphasis.In this context, it is imperative to deliberate upon genetic composition, underlying assumptions, inherent limitations and supple variations of electoral reforms in Pakistan so that they become all encompassing and considered legitimate by citizenry.They should be aimed to assist an institutionalised democratic system by consolidating the right to rule.More importantly, the electoral process should be considered a continuous national exercise irrespective of the fact that its occurrence is periodic. One of its essential aims should be to improve quality and equality of representation.It should also address manageability of party system since it could not solely be done through legislative measures construed widely to favour political class only. The electoral reform should clearly draw lines between the roles played by executive and judicial sectors.The fragility of Pakistan’s democracy is unique even in nascent democracies. It is due to an invisible arbitrary force that holds overriding clout in political domain and, to obtain desired results, massively intervenes in electoral process.The intervention is aggravated by the fact that the perception and goals of this arbitrary force are in direct opposition to democratic ideals and practice.The teething troubles restrained Pakistan from holding nationwide elections based on universal suffrage for the first 23 years of its existence despite being created through an electoral process till democratic order was folded by arbitrary forces who completely upturned the parliamentary practice adhered to by founding fathers to achieve a separate state.The worst effect of the lengthening shadows of arbitrary rule was the initiative wrested by the establishment to plan, organise and manipulate every election exercise in Pakistan.Therefore, contrary to electoral reform in established democracies where people value traditional practices associated with electoral process, Pakistan requires a real and complete break with the past. It is easier said than done but any reform content is required to make it clear that any interference, overt or covert, in an election by anyone from outside the designated electoral machinery will be done under pain of punishment.This aspect should be widely publicised and independent watchdogs, local and international, should be exhorted to look into this aspect specifically. It should become a mandatory part of proposed electoral reform package.While considering electoral reform it should be kept in view that adherence to ‘winner-take-all’ Westminster electoral practice complicates electoral process in Pakistan. This method shuts out the loser from any share in state’s resources even if the winner gets minimum majority. Such radical loss for half a decade plays havoc in an agrarian society like Pakistan where influence of familial connection runs supreme.The impact of such win-lose situation is widespread because it is estimated that almost half of the electoral representation is vested in political families. Since the watershed year of 1970 ushering in the first one man-one vote polls in the country though such representation is gradually getting reduced yet their indirect impact is still very strong particularly in the largest province of Pakistan.Although similar connections in political arena are clearly found in industrialised democracies but their impact there is marginalised by intense pluralism ensuring dispersal of equitable power to all stake holders.The only relief granted in this respect could be reduction in assembly tenure from 5 to 4 years. Five year’s tenure is rather long in the current fast moving political environment.Pakistani political circles however insist that the electoral exercise is vast entailing high levels of expenditure. Moreover, the administrative and logistic requirement of this exercise is too cumbersome and that it is more appropriate to adhere to 5-year cycle.It is also suggested that the provincial elections may be held on separate dates so as to ensure that they remain free of the impact created by national polls. Many experts however point out that reduction in legislature tenures may not adversely affect representative prowess but may increase performance level.The emphasis placed on voter turnout should be watered down. Democratic polities often complain about voter apathy but accept it nevertheless because their long electoral experience has taught them that it is the expression of average General Will that counts and not its level.In Pakistan the urge for high voter turnout is directly proportional to rigging therefore it should be realistically assessed, even curbed, if possible. A push to achieve higher voter turnout distorts the electoral picture, exposes it to manipulation and increases election costs. It also attracts smaller groups to resort to malpractices just to prove their numerical influence.Another factor is the continuous delimitation of constituencies and it should be an essential ingredient of electoral reform package. A fixed time frame for delimitation exercise may be initiated keeping in view the relatively fast-changing demographics and population shifts in the country.It is rather surprising to observe that Pakistan with more than a population of 230 million elects a representative house composed of only 272 directly elected members. Pakistan’s typical political matrix may be better served if the areas of representation are reduced increasing number of representatives.Here again the difficulty is with the census as almost all political stakeholders question its veracity with the result that it has become extremely difficult to delimit constituencies.The recent failure to achieve a national consensus on census is surely going to create impediments for the elections to be held in near future. Yet another aspect that required reforming is the setup in place for carrying out the electoral exercise.The current controversy about the intent, writ and jurisdiction of the Election Commission of Pakistan is expected to increase as plenty of questions are raised about this statutory body and it may not be possible to satisfy the growing clamour about its efficacy in the days to come.

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has suspended 49 detention notifications under MPO 3 on 49 applications, ARY News reported on Thursday.The high court has ordered release of citizens detained in Sanghar, Mirpur Khas, Jacobabad, Shaheed Benazirabad and Sukkur jails."Detainees should be released, if not wanted to police in another case," the court ordered.The court has also ordered the detainees to deposit Rs. 10,000 surety bond each.The court also ordered authorities to shift the persons arrested in other cases to Karachi jail from interior of Sindh.The persons arrested in other cases should contact concerned courts, the bench advised. "How could people visit interior of Sindh to meet prisoners, when they have not sufficient money to each," the court posed question.The bench also ordered shifting of a detained woman in Sukkur jail to Karachi with police security."Her detention notification has been taken back," Additional Advocate General Jawad Dero told the court.AAG Sindh and Sindh Home Department sought time from the court for written reply.The court adjourned further hearing of petitions after summer vacations.Violent protests broke out across Pakistan after PTI chairman was arrested on May 09 from the Islamabad High Court (IHC).The law enforcement agencies arrested scores of persons involved in violent protests and several PTI leaders were arrested under the maintenance of public order to ensure law and order.

ISLAMABAD: Despite economic challenges, a proposal has been made to allocate Rs89 billion in the budget for parliamentarian's developmental schemes, ARY News reported on Thursday, quoting sources. Sources revealed that a proposal to allocate Rs89 billion for the developmental schemes of parliamentarians has been included in the budget, While compared to the current year's original budget, an increase of Rs19 billion has been proposed for parliamentarian projects.Sources claimed that Rs70 billion was allocated for parliamentarians' schemes for the current fiscal year which is now increased to Rs111 billion.READ: PM Shehbaz seeks formation of committees to finalise farmers’ budget proposalsSources further mentioned that a proposal to allocate Rs99 billion for water projects in the upcoming fiscal year and Rs92 billion for National Highway Authority (NHA) has been presented for the next year's budget.A budget of Rs55 billion has been proposed for the merged districts in the upcoming fiscal year, Rs51 billion for electricity projects, and Rs44 billion for Higher Education Commission (HEC) projects.Moreover, a proposal to allocate Rs32 billion for railway developmental projects has been made.These funds have been prepared from the total developmental budget of Rs700 billion.Sources revealed that with a total volume reached at Rs900 billion for the developmental budget, a 10 per cent increase in funds will be made.

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial on Thursday adjourned the hearing on petitions against the Supreme Court (Practice & Procedure) Act, 2023 — a law that aims to curtail the suo moto powers of the CJP – till next week, ARY News reported.An eight-member larger bench of the apex court — headed by CJP Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Ayesha A Malik, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Shahid Waheed — heard the petitions.At the outset of hearing, the top court judge said that the government should consult the Supreme Court regarding the legislation related to the judiciary.To which, the Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan said the federal government had decided to review the legislation by taking apex court into consideration.Here, CJP welcomed the govt’s move, adding “We are happy that the government and Parliament are bringing amendments to overlapping laws.”The hearing was then adjourned till next week.The billThe passed bill – the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023 – aims at giving the power of taking suo motu notice to a three-member committee comprising senior judges including Chief Justice. It also aims to have transparent proceedings in the apex court and includes the right to appeal.Regarding the constitution of benches, the bill states that every cause, matter or appeal before the apex court would be heard and disposed of by a bench constituted by a committee comprising the CJP and the two senior-most judges. It added that the decisions of the committee would be taken by a majority.Read more: NA notifies law clipping CJP’s suo motu powersRegarding exercising the apex court’s original jurisdiction, the bill said that any matter invoking the use of Article 184(3) would first be placed before the above mentioned committee.The bill says that if the committee is of the view that a question of public importance with reference to the enforcement of any of the fundamental rights conferred by Chapter I of Part II of the Constitution is involved, it shall constitute a bench comprising not less than three judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan which may also include the members of the committee, for adjudication of the matter.The bill additionally said that a party would have the right to appoint its counsel of choice for filing a review application under Article 188 of the Constitution.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend the inauguration ceremony of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on June 3, confirmed Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch on Thursday.The prime minister is paying the visit at the invitation of President Erdogan, who was re-elected to his office on May 28.“The prime minister’s visit will be a reaffirmation of the deep-rooted fraternal ties between Pakistan and Turkiye,” Mumtaz Zahra Baloch at a weekly press briefing.The FO spokesperson said the prime minister would convey warm felicitations on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan to President Erdogan.The prime minister would also extend an invitation to President Erdogan to attend the 7th Meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) in Islamabad, she said.President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Sunday won Turkey’s presidential election, defeating opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu in runoff vote and stretching his rule into a third decade.With 99.43% of the votes counted, preliminary official results announced by Turkey’s Supreme Election Council (YSK) on Sunday showed Erdogan winning with 52.14% of the votes. Kilicdaroglu received 47.86%.Meanwhile, FO spokesperson Baloch said that Minister of State (MoS) for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar will undertake official visits to Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Belgium from June 5-13.“The MoS will hold meetings at the ministerial level to discuss political engagement and cooperation in development, trade and climate change,” she said.She will also meet lawmakers and local entrepreneurs. In Belgium, she will hold meetings with Members of the European Parliament and senior officials of the European Commission.In Sweden, the Minister of State will attend the annual meeting of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) as a keynote speaker. She will present Pakistan’s perspective on issues of regional and global importance and interact with leading European decision-makers, experts, think tanks, and influencers for debates on foreign policy priorities and challenges.The FO spokesperson said Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was currently in Jordan to attend the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein at the invitation of the Royal family of Jordan.From Jordan, FM Bilawal will travel to Iraq from the 5th to 7th of June at the invitation of the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dr. Fuad Hussein. This is Foreign Minister’s first visit to Iraq.“During the visit, the Foreign Minister will meet the Iraqi leadership. In his meeting with his counterpart, the two sides will discuss a range of issues of common interest and explore avenues of bilateral cooperation,” she said.Furthermore, the FO spokesperson said Pakistan was deeply concerned over India’s latest move seeking the death penalty for prominent Kashmiri leader, Yasin Malik.Last year, Yasin Malik was awarded a life sentence in a contrived case, marked by fabricated charges and denial of fair trial. He is being held in inhumane conditions in the notorious Tihar jail despite his deteriorating health.She urged the Indian authorities to bring an end to the “farce of a trial” of Yasin Malik and provide him with quality health treatment and allowed him to live freely among his family.

LAHORE: Punjab police officials recovered firearm from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Ejaz Chaudhary's possession during the remand period, ARY News reported on Thursday. In a significant development regarding the ongoing investigation about the events of May 9, PTI leader Ejaz Chaudhary was found in possession of a pistol during his remand period.The Lahore police acted swiftly and successfully recovered the firearm, and sent it to forensics lab. The police said that the forensic report of the recovered arm will be the part of the investigation.It is pertinent to mention here that the PTI leader Ejaz Chaudhary is accused of armed protest on May 9, after the arrest of the PTI chief from Islamabad High Court.READ: PTI’s Ejaz Chaudhry re-arrested shortly after getting out of jailMeanwhile, the photogrammetric test of Ejaz has been conducted, which will determine the authenticity of the suspect's videos from May 9. May 9 events Violent clashes broke out across Pakistan after the former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan were arrested at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday.The protests were held in remote and major cities as the party workers are agitated due to their chairman’s arrest, with Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad summoning the armed forces to ensure law and order.Army installations and Corps Commander’s house in Lahore came under attack during a protest by PTI workers.It was also reported that Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations Ali Nasir Rizvi sustained severe injuries while clearing.

RAWALPINDI: Two Pakistan army soldiers embraced martyrdom after terrorists from across the Iran border targeted a security forces’ post in Balochistan, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Thursday.According to the military’s media wing, a group of terrorists targeted a security forces’ post in Singwan area of District Kech in Balochistan along the Pakistan-Iran border.Since troops on the post were already alert and responded gallantly with all available weapons, a heavy fire exchange ensued, the ISPR said, adding that the security forces pushed back the terrorists successfully;However, during the intense fire exchange, two soldiers embraced martyrdom while fighting bravely with the terrorists.Read more: Terrorists attack police picket in Dera Ismail KhanThe martyred soldiers were identified as Sepoy Hasnain Ishtiaq, a 34 years-old resident of district Dera Ghazi Khan, and Sepoy Inayat Ullah, a 27 years-old resident of district Jhal Magsi.The ISPR said that the security forces have launched an immediate sanitisation operation in the area and are in communication with Iranian authorities across as well to deny terrorists any opportunity to escape.It said that the security forces, in step with the nation, remain determined to thwart attempts at sabotaging peace and stability all along the borders in Balochistan.

KARACHI: Sindh Transport & Mass Transit Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Thursday directed authorities concerned to complete mobile app work for the Peoples Bus Service, ARY News reported.The minister issued these directives while chairing a transport department meeting here.In the meeting, the minister was briefed on the operation of the bus service, its new routes, the ITS and the establishment of a command & control room.The transport minister further directed authorities concerned to activate the intelligent transport system (ITS) in all the buses of the service.Read More: Karachi: What’s the latest route of Peoples Bus Service?He said the mobile app will facilitate citizens in tracking buses in real-time and make payments online, while CCTV cameras, screens, live tracking and monitoring facilities will be activated with the installation of the ITS in the buses.Speaking on the occasion, the provincial minister said that the citizens would be able to track the bus service and pay through mobile application.

KARACHI: Other political parties not digesting victory of the People's Party in local government elections, PPP Karachi president and provincial minister Saeed Ghani said on Thursday.In a media talk, Ghani said that these political parties deem Karachi as their fiefdom, but one could win and lose an election."A magician had assured Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman that he will become the mayor of Karachi," he sarcastically said. "Now he shall ask that magician about failure of his magic," he said.He will become emir of Jamaat Islami but his hands carrying no lines of becoming mayor of Karachi."Most of the PTI members had said before May 09 that they will not vote to Jamaat-e-Islamabad," he said."Hafiz Naeem should be a happy man if reaches near to 160," Saeed Ghani said about the mayor's election."People's Party and the allies' votes reach nearing 173," he said. "One should avoid indulging in ethnicity and prejudice after losing an election," he advised.Talking on provincial budget, Ghani said that the budget will be presented in the assembly in June and Sindh government have education and health as priority sectors.

RAWALPINDI: Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) on Thursday foiled a drug smuggling bid, arrested an individual swallowed capsules filled with drugs from Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore, ARY News reported.According to the details, the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) and Airports Security Force (ASF) has launched a countrywide operation against drug trafficking.The spokesman stated that, as many as four hashish-filled capsules have been recovered from the stomach of an accused at Lahore's Allama Iqbal International Airport.READ: Maritime, Customs foils attempt to smuggle narcotics worth Rs2bnIn another operation, a suspect was arrested at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, who was trying to smuggle 1.24 kilogram of ice. The arrested individual had concealed the smuggled ice in three jam bottles.The spokesperson further stated that the cases have been registered against the arrested suspects under the Anti-Narcotics Act, meanwhile, further investigations are underway.

ISLAMABAD: The government of Pakistan will not extend current International Monetary Fund (IMF) program, which is set to end on June 30, citing sources ARY News reported on Thursday.Pakistan intends to secure a new bailout from the IMF.Preparations have been underway by the Ministry of Finance to seek new IMF package in August.Special Assistant Tariq Bajwa and the secretary finance working over a bid to seek new IMF loan package, sources said."There will be imminent threat of default if Pakistan didn't materialize a new loan package with the international monetary fund," sources said."Pakistan has to repay nine to 11 billion dollars more in international payments by December this year," sources said."Overall, the country bound to make payments of 22 to 24 billion dollars in the next fiscal year's budget," according to sources.Sources at the finance ministry said that the new loan package will be more demanding than the current bailout. "The new bailout program will be for more than three years," sources added.According to reports, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had informed the fund’s Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva about Pakistan’s intention to secure a new bailout.The prime minister had revealed Pakistan’s intentions to sign a follow-up bailout package during his telephonic conversation with the IMF managing director on the weekend.Pakistan’s current $6.5 billion programme stood derailed, and the efforts made to revive it for the past seven months could not materialize.