News roundup of the top stories from the Pakistani press today.
Ban on Afghans in Islamabad
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has announced no Afghan nationals will be permitted to reside in Islamabad after Dec. 31, 2024 unless they secure permission from relevant authorities. The decision appears motivated by the arrest of 37 alleged Afghan nationals from the PTI’s “do-or-die” protest that saw Islamabad become a battleground earlier this week.
No End to Violence in Kurram
Latest reports from Parachinar suggest the death toll from ongoing clashes between warring Shia and Sunni tribes has risen to 102, with 138 injured. Violations to a 7-day ceasefire persist, with efforts of elders to achieve calm proving elusive. The unrest has led to closures of major arteries, triggering shortages of food, oil and medicines, worsening the hardships of the general public.
New Legal Woes for PTI
Islamabad police have filed 8 new cases against the PTI’s leadership, including Imran Khan, over their alleged role in instigating unrest during the protest in the federal capital. Apart from Khan, the cases name his wife, Bushra, Salman Akram Raja, Ali Amin Gandapur and Sheikh Waqas Akram. The FIRs include charges related to terrorism, assault on police, violations of Section 144.
PSX Rebounds
Two days after the PTI’s protesters vacated Islamabad, the Pakistan Stock Exchange rallied, finally crossing the historic milestone of 100,000 points on Thursday morning. Economic experts have noted the benchmark KSE-100 has soared from 40,000 to 100,000 in just 17 months, crediting a new IMF deal, fiscal and monetary discipline, and persistent declines in inflation and the interest rate.
Looming ban on PTI?
“Independent” Senator Faisal Vawda, widely perceived as a “spokesman” for the establishment, has claimed this week’s Islamabad protest will be used as pretext to impose a ban on the PTI. The announcement follows a decision by the ruling PMLN to table a resolution in the Balochistan Assembly seeking a ban on the PTI over its “anti-state” actions.
Security Threat in Peshawar
The U.S. Mission to Pakistan has issued a security alert for the Serena Hotel in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa capital Peshawar. In its advisory, the Mission has urged its personnel to avoid the location from Nov. 27 through Dec. 16, 2024. It similarly urges all U.S. citizens to avoid the hotel and the area around it during this period due to the prevailing security situation.
Imran Khan to Remain in Jail
An Anti-Terrorism Court in Lahore has rejected bail petitions of former prime minister Imran Khan, who has been incarcerated at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail since September 2023, in eight cases related to the May 9, 2023 riots. The decision dampens expectations of PTI supporters for Khan’s early release, with his legal team vowing to challenge the ruling in the Lahore High Court.
Tensions over Casualties in PTI Protest
The ruling government and the PTI are clashing over the deaths allegedly caused by law enforcement agencies during the opposition party’s Islamabad protest. The PTI earlier released pictures of eight victims, but PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja has claimed around 20 party supporters lost their lives. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi maintains no one died due to police action.
Good News for the Economy
In its monthly inflation outlook, the Finance Ministry has stated the country’s economic performance in the ongoing fiscal year is better than expectations. Noting the industrial sector is still lagging, the report claims inflation will continue to decline. Industrial decline, it says, will be covered by remittances and exports. On the agricultural sector, it states the wheat crop is on track to achieve its target.
PTI Sit-in ‘Ongoing’
Addressing a press conference in Mansehra after feeling the PTI’s sit-in with Bushra, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has claimed the protest is ongoing. Claiming sit-ins don’t require people to remain in place, he says the protest was staged on the call of former prime minister Imran Khan and can only end once he says it is finished.