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Pakistan, China move forward with CPEC extension to Afghanistan

After reports of CPEC extension, India strongly objected to the expansion of the CPEC projects in any third country and expressed concern about its sovereignty and territorial integrity…reports Asian Lite News

Pakistan and China have decided to go ahead with a plan to extend China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan despite opposition from India on issues of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

CPEC is a key part of China’s most ambitious project Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), aimed at renewing the country’s ancient trade routes.

India has consistently opposed the USD 60 billion project, which links Pakistan’s southern Gwadar port in Balochistan to China’s western Xinjiang and passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

During Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s official visit to Beijing, China on Wednesday assured Pakistan of its continued support to the country’s sustainable economic and strategic projects.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets Chinese President Xi Jinping.(photo:facebook.com/ShehbazSharif)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang made these commitments during meetings with Shehbaz Sharif at the People’s Great Hall in Beijing, according to the Pakistan Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

“The two sides underscored the need for the international community to provide continued assistance and support to Afghanistan including through unfreezing of Afghanistan’s overseas financial assets. The two sides agreed to continue their humanitarian and economic assistance for the Afghan people and enhance development cooperation in Afghanistan, including through CPEC’s extension to Afghanistan,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

After reports of CPEC extension emerged in July, India strongly objected to the expansion of the CPEC projects in any third country and expressed concern about its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“We have seen reports on encouraging a proposed participation of third countries in so-called CPEC projects. Any such actions by any party directly infringe on India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Ministry of External Affair (MEA) official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.

He said India firmly and consistently opposes projects in the so-called CPEC, which are in Indian territory that has been illegally occupied by Pakistan. “Such activities are inherently illegal, illegitimate and unacceptable, and will be treated accordingly by India,” Bagchi added. (ANI)

ALSO READ: 32% rise in Afghanistan’s opium cultivation

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Afghanistan registers trade surplus with Pakistan

According to the report, Afghan exports are driven by mineral fuel, oils, and products, including the recent surge in coal exports….reports Asian Lite News

Afghanistan registered a merchandise trade surplus of USD 79 million with Pakistan, from July 2021 to June 2022, according to the latest report by the US monitoring agency.

During this time frame, total exports to Pakistan from Afghanistan were worth USD 796.4 million, compared to USD 717 million in Pakistani exports to Afghanistan.

“Afghanistan registered a merchandise trade surplus of USD 79 million with neighboring Pakistan, one of Afghanistan’s largest trading partners, from July 2021 to June 2022, according to the most recent trade data collected by the World Bank,” said Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR).

According to the SIGAR report, Afghan exports are driven by mineral fuel, oils, and products, including the recent surge in coal exports. Other Afghan export items are textile and food items such as fruits and vegetables. Afghanistan’s main imports from Pakistan are food products, followed by pharmaceutical products and wood.

Afghanistan is exporting about 10,000 tons of coal a day to Pakistan, the report said citing a spokesperson for the Taliban’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum.

The SIGAR report said that coal is transported by hundreds of trucks daily across three dedicated border crossings into Pakistan, and both sides are reportedly planning to add more space for additional trucks and open customs facilities for additional operational hours per day, instead of the current 12 hours.

On September 27, the Taliban announced they had signed a provisional deal with Russia to import one million tons of gasoline, one million tons of diesel, 500,000 tons of liquefied petroleum gas, and two million tons wheat to Afghanistan annually.

A Taliban official states that the arrangement will run for an unspecified trial period, after which both sides are expected to sign a longer-term deal if they are content with the arrangement. This is the Taliban’s first known major international economic deal since they seized power.

A Taliban official said they seek to diversify the country’s trading partners and that Russia had offered them a discount to average global commodity prices.

Earlier this quarter, a Taliban delegation traveled to Russia to discuss a barter arrangement trading Russian crude oil products for Afghan produce.

Nuriddin Azizi, the Taliban’s minister of industry and trade, told Russian state media in August that “since Russia is a friendly country to us, we have come to reach an agreement on the import of Russian oil and oil products.” (ANI)

ALSO READ: 32% rise in Afghanistan’s opium cultivation

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After securing third term, Xi buckles up for diplomacy

Delegates to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China - Xi Jinping.(photo:Xinhua/IANS)

It is predicted that Chinese premier Xi Jinping’s re-election as the CCP and the head of the state for the next five years will witness more hard-lined policies with regard to the economy…reports Asian Lite News

After securing his third term as leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and tightening his grip over Beijing, Xi Jinping has now geared up to practice diplomacy as the Chinese President has a busy diplomatic schedule ahead of G20 in Bali. He is also planning to rebuild relations with Europe that got disrupted due to Beijing’s human rights violations involving Uyghurs in Xinjiang, Nikkei Asia reported.

As Xi Jinping has already rejigged members for the politburo in the new term and has tightened his grip on the country, it will be interesting to see how the Chinese leader interacts with US President Joe Biden to discuss relations between the two countries during the G-20 summit in Bali.

It is predicted that Chinese premier Xi Jinping’s re-election as the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the head of the state for the next five years will witness more hard-lined policies with regard to the economy, foreign relations, human rights and public dissent.

Xi sent the National Committee on US-China Relations a message last Wednesday saying China stands ready to work with the US to find the right way to get along with each other to which Biden also sent a congratulatory message, Nikkei Asia reported.

The thing of most interest will be whether Xi meets face-to-face with US President at the G-20 summit as the two leaders have only held telephonic conversations since Biden took his position at the White House.

Moreover, Xi’s diplomacy is seen with the neighbouring nations too after securing the third term as on Monday, he received the leader of Vietnam’s Communist Party, Nguyen Phu Trong, for a meeting in Beijing. Notably, the two countries are involved in a territorial dispute in the South China Sea.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi who is in line to become a top diplomat spoke with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken by phone on Monday (local time) and discussed the need to maintain open lines of communication and responsibly manage the Sino-American relationship, Nikkei Asia reported citing the US State Department readout.

After securing his third term, Xi has surpassed China’s great leader Mao Zedong, hailed as the ‘red sun’. However, with an emboldened Xi, we might witness a world worse than what Mao created, reported Voices Against Autocracy.

Xi’s comfortable filling the Politburo Standing Committee with his close allies forebodes a future where there would be no one in the Chinese political elite to stop him from doing as he pleases, no matter how that might impact the country and the world at large.

The emphasis on security has particularly accelerated under Xi’s reign, as he tides to maintain his political relevance amidst slowing economic growth and the rising geo-political tension with the West. Added to these is the recent surge in internal protests by Chinese citizens against the establishment for a plethora of issues, including the draconian lockdown-led zero-COVID strategy and economic hardships. (ANI)

ALSO READ: EU rights court decision could end extraditions to China

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Chinese envoy pitches for resumption of flights between India, China  

Flight services between the two neighbours have been disrupted ever since coronavirus was first reported in Wuhan in late 2019, and subsequently spread across the world…reports Asian Lite News

Flight services between India and China have been disrupted ever since coronavirus was first reported in Wuhan in late 2019

Direct flights between India and China should start, and the governments of the two countries must work together on this, Chinese Consul-General in Kolkata Zha Liyou said.

Flight services between the two neighbours have been disrupted ever since coronavirus was first reported in Wuhan in late 2019, and subsequently spread across the world.

The flight disruption posed a major challenge for hundreds of Indian students as well as families of Indians working in China and businessmen, though Beijing recently lifted the visa ban after about three years.

“Direct air connectivity between India and China should start and both governments should work towards this. A number of Indian students are now keen to return to China,” Mr. Liyou said at a press briefing on Wednesday evening.

About 23,000 Indian students, mostly studying medicine who were stranded back home due to China’s COVID visa bans, made preparations to travel to China to rejoin their colleges but experienced difficulties due to the absence of direct flights.

Indian passengers are currently travelling to China through Sri Lanka, Nepal and Myanmar, shelling out exorbitant amount of money on steep airfares.

India and China have been in talks for several months to resume limited flight services, but the negotiations made little headway.

ALSO READ: India rejects references to J&K in China-Pak statement

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Pak, China sign MoU for yuan clearance

The MOU was signed by State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Jameel Ahmad and his counterpart at the Peoples Bank of China Yi Gang..rpeorts Asian Lite News

The central banks of Pakistan and China have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on setting up yuan clearing arrangements in the South Asian country to increase the Chinese currency’s usage for cross-border transactions.

The MOU was signed by State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Jameel Ahmad and his counterpart at the Peoples Bank of China Yi Gang, The News reported.

“The establishment of the yuan clearing arrangement in Pakistan will further boost usage of yuan for cross-border transactions among Chinese and Pakistani enterprises and financial institutions,” the SBP said.

It would also promote bilateral trade and investment between the two countries, it central bank added.

The MoU was signed during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s two-day visit to Beijing.

According to analysts, the mechanism will lessen Pakistan’s dependency on US dollars for bilateral transactions and ease the pressure on the country’s external account, The News reported.

“I think it’s a great move and beneficial for trade and investment. It will also reduce reliance on the US dollar for bilateral transactions,” said Mustafa Mustansir, head of research at Taurus Securities.

The yuan clearing arrangement is nothing new to Pakistan as the country has had a currency swap agreement with China since 2011.

But it’s not on large scale for trade purposes.

Fahad Rauf, head of research at Ismail Iqbal Securities, sees the agreement as a positive development, and said that China is a major trading partner for Pakistan.

The collaboration would further improve bilateral relations, he added.

“Once fully implemented, the reliance on dollars will reduce, which will lower the burden on our external account,” The News quoted Rauf as saying.

He was of the view that it would also allow Chinese investors to invest more freely in Pakistan’s markets.

On the other hand, Pakistan would be able to raise debt from Chinese markets, he stated.

China’s President Xi Jinping said his country will continue to assist Pakistan in restoring stability to its finances, according to media reports.

As part of the $65 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Beijing has been involved in significant mining and infrastructural projects in Pakistan, notably the deep-water Gwadar port.

ALSO READ: India rejects references to J&K in China-Pak statement

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More involved in attack on Imran?

Pakistan Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has taken notice of leaking the suspected attacker’s confessional statement after the gun attack on Khan during the long march in Gujranwala…reports Asian Lite News

The attack on former Pakistan Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Imran (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in Wazirabad on Thursday was launched from three different directions in which at least three individuals were involved, the police said, according to a media report.

The police and eyewitnesses said that the bullets were fired from three different directions. One of the assailants, they said, fired on Khan’s container from the roof of a nearby workshop, Samaa TV reported.

Earlier, it had been claimed that there was only one attacker who was apprehended by a member of the crowd. He was identified as Naveed ‘Thua’ (Punjabi slang for scorpion), the report said.

He confessed to launching the attack unilaterally in a confessional video statement recorded and released by the police.

Imran Khan,(grab)

The suspect has been sent to the Saddar police station in Gujrat. The police said that they had recovered a 9 mm handgun from the suspect along with four magazines.

Another man has been arrested by the Punjab Police for the attack on the PTI chief.

Meanwhile, the Punjab police have said that they are searching for a third person with a search operation launched in the area using sniffer dogs, Samaa TV reported.

The police have sealed the area where the attack took place. They have also cordoned off the PTI container with forensic officials collecting evidence.

Pakistan Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has taken notice of leaking the suspected attacker’s confessional statement after the gun attack on Khan during the long march in Gujranwala, ARY News reported.

Elahi ordered the Inspector General (IG) Punjab police to take disciplinary action against the irresponsible officials. After the leaking of the suspect’s confessional statement, the station house officer (SHO) and other officials of the concerned police station were suspended, the report said.

The Chief Minister said in a statement that all mobile phones of the police station’s staffers have been confiscated and they will be sent for forensic audit, the report said.

Elahi also issued directives to hold an inquiry into the incident of the video leak of the suspected attacker. He directed IG Punjab to begin a probe to ascertain the motive of the gun attack that led to Imran Khan syffering bullet injuries in his leg.

The directives were issued in an emergency session chaired by the Punjab CM.

Khan and other PTI leaders were injured after a man opened fire near the PTI reception camp at Allahwala Chowk during the party’s long march.

PTI leader Faisal Javed Khan, who got injured during the attack, confirmed that a party worker or official was killed in the attack while several others were injured.

The assailant has confessed that the former Pakistan Prime Minister was his only target.

“I got angry with Khan for spreading hatred and misleading the people. I only wanted to kill Khan and no one else. I did this on my own will and no one told me to do so. I just got angry on Khan and wanted to kill him,” he could be heard as saying in the leaked video.

ALSO READ: Protests erupt after assassination attempt on Imran Khan

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ISRAEL: Netanyahu-led alliance wins polls

Israeli-Prime-Minister-Benjamin-Netanyahu-gives-a-statement-during-a-televised-press-conference-at-the-Knesset-Yonatan-SindelJINI-via-Xinhua

Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party won 32 seats and his right-wing religious and nationalist bloc won 64 in the 120-seat parliament…reports Asian Lite News

Jerusalem, Nov 4 (IANS) Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a comeback with a decisive victory in the country’s general elections, poll results showed on Thursday.

As the final thousands of votes were being tallied Thursday evening, Prime Minister Yair Lapid called opposition leader Netanyahu to concede the race and congratulate him on his election victory, The Times of Israel reported.

“The State of Israel is above any political considerations,” Lapid said in a statement. “I wish Netanyahu good luck for the people of Israel and the State of Israel.”

Netanyahu will control not just the largest party in the Knesset (Israeli parliament), but is poised to return to power leading a 64-strong majority bloc of his religious and right-wing allies in the 120-member Knesset.

Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party won 32 seats and his right-wing religious and nationalist bloc won 64 in the 120-seat parliament, or Knesset, according to Israel’s Central Elections Committee.

Lapid’s Yesh Atid party won 24 seats and his bloc of right-wing, left-wing and Arab parties secured 51.

Reacting to Netanyahu’s victory, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a tweet, said: “Mazel Tov my friend @netanyahu for your electoral success. I look forward to continuing our joint efforts to deepen the India-Israel strategic partnership.”

Prime Minister Modi also thanked Lapid for giving priority to the India-Israel strategic partnership.

“Thank you @yairlapid for your priority to the India-Israel strategic partnership. I hope to continue our fruitful exchange of ideas for the mutual benefit of our peoples,” he tweeted.

ALSO READ: Israel, Bahrain hold talks to bolster ties

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Protests erupt after assassination attempt on Imran Khan

Protests erupt across Pakistan after attack on Imran Khan

Following the gun attack, protests erupted in different cities across the country against the assassination attempt on Khan during the long march…reports Asian Lite News

Protests erupted in multiple cities across the country after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and other PTI leaders were injured in a gun attack during PTIs long march in Gujranwala, media reports said on Thursday.

Imran Khan and other PTI leaders were injured after a man opened fire near the PTI reception camp at the Allahwala Chowk during the party’s long march, ARY News reported.

Following the gun attack, protests erupted in different cities across the country against the assassination attempt on Khan during the long march, the report said.

PTI workers started demonstrations in 17 localities in Karachi against the gun attack on Khan’s container. The outrageous party workers blocked roads in north Karachi’s Power House Chowrangi, whereas a large number of PTI supporters lodged a protest on Korangi Road.

Police contingents rushed to the protest venues and started negotiations with the protesters to clear the roads. Huge traffic jams were witnessed in different areas as protests broke out on many arterial roads in Karachi.

The PTI workers also held a protest demonstration at Lahore’s Liberty Chowk. Another protest was organised at Murree Road.

In Faisalabad, a large number of protesters gathered outside Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah’s residence.

‘Imran suspects three people’

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary-General Asad Umar said on Thursday that party Chairman Imran Khan suspects three people — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, and a senior military officer — were behind the assassination attempt on him, according to a media report.

“Imran Khan has said that he had the information beforehand that these people might be involved in the assassination attempt on him,” Umar said in a video statement alongside party leader Mian Aslam Iqbal, Geo News reported.

Umar, quoting the PTI chairman, demanded that all three people – the premier, the minister, and the senior military officer – should be removed from their office, the report said.

The PTI leader added that Khan has warned that if these officials are not removed from their office, the party would hold countrywide protests as Pakistan cannot run in this manner anymore.

“If the demands are not met, all the party workers are awaiting Khan’s call, and when he does give that call, protests will take place across the country,” Umar said.

Meanwhile, Sharif has condemned the firing incident in Gujranwala and directed Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah to seek an immediate report from the inspector-general of police and chief secretary of Punjab.

Protests erupted in multiple cities across the country after Khan and other PTI leaders were injured in a gun attack during PTI’s long march in Gujranwala.

Khan and other PTI leaders were injured after a man opened fire near the PTI reception camp at the Allahwala Chowk during the party’s long march, ARY News reported.

Following the gun attack, protests erupted in different cities across the country against the assassination attempt on Khan, the report said.

PTI workers started demonstrations in 17 localities in Karachi against the gun attack. The outrageous party workers blocked roads in north Karachi’s Power House Chowrangi, whereas a large number of PTI supporters lodged a protest on Korangi Road.

ALSO READ: Pakistan: Imran Khan shot and injured at long march

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‘Wanted to kill only Imran’, says attacker

'I only wanted to kill Imran and no one else', says attacker

Other than the PTI top leadership, at least six others others have been injured in the attack, one of whom is in a critical state. As per reports, at least one person has died in the attack….reports Hamza Ameer

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman and former Pakistan Prime Minster Imran Khan survived a deadly attack on Thursday after an assailant reached close to his container and opened fire targeting Khan during the party’s long march in Gujranwala.

Nabbed by the police, the attacker later said that he only wanted to kill Khan and no one else.

The shooter opened a burst of bullets which hit PTI leaders standing next to Khan and also injured the former premier who got shot in the leg.

According to PTI leaders, Khan is presently ‘out of danger’.

As per sources, senior PTI leaders, including Senator Faisal Javed Khan, former Sindh Governor Imran Ismail and Ahmed Chatha, were injured in the firing.

Immediately after the attack, Khan was taken inside the container, after which he was rushed to the local hospital from where he was shifted to the Shaukat Khanam Hospital in Lahore.

Other than the PTI top leadership, at least six others others have been injured in the attack, one of whom is in a critical state. As per reports, at least one person has died in the attack.

The attackers, numbering two, were nabbed by the supporters of PTI present in the march before being handed over to the police.

As per details, one of the attackers is named Faisal Butt, while the other has been identified as Mohammad Naveed.

Faisal said he wanted to kill Khan ever since the latter started his long march from Lahore on October 28.

“I got angry with Khan for spreading hatred and misleading the people. I only wanted to kill Khan and no one else,” said Faisal.

“I did this on my own will and no one told me to do so. I just got angry on Khan and wanted to kill him,” Faisal added.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took immediate notice of the incident and ordered the Interior Ministry to submit a report on the matter.

“I condemn the incident of firing on PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the strongest words. I have directed the Interior Minister for an immediate report on the incident. I pray for the recovery and health of the PTI Chairman and other injured people,” Sharif said.

“The government will extend all the necessary support to the Punjab government for security and investigation. Violence should have no place in our country,” Sharif added.

Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi has also ordered an immediate inquiry into the firing incident.

Imran Khan,(grab)

The attack on Khan came at a time when the slow pace of the long march was being criticised for not having an impact on the government officials, who have stated that the government will not bow down to any of the demands of Khan, which he aims to achieve with the long march.

The march has been moving at a snail’s pace since with a travel time of about four hours or less in a day.

Khan himself had said earlier that time will define if his fight for revolution in the country against the current leadership will be achieved peacefully or through bloodshed.

It is also a fact that Khan is by far the most popular leader in the country at present, and any attempt to assassinate him is bound to trigger widespread chaos and angry protests.

ALSO READ: Pakistan: Imran Khan shot and injured at long march

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Pakistan: Imran Khan shot and injured at long march

Imran Khan,(grab)

Party leader Fawad Chaudhry also confirmed the ‘targeted attack’ and said that Khan has been shot in the leg…reports Asian Lite News

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairperson Imran Khan was injured in a gun attack on his long march container on Day 7 of the party’s ‘Haqeeqi Long March’, confirmed party leader Farrukh Habib, media reports said.

PTI leader Faisal Javed also sustained injuries in the attack, which occurred in Wazirabad. The suspect has been arrested, Express Tribune reported.

Javed said that a PTI worker was killed during the attack, while another was severely injured, as he prayed for the well-being and protection of Khan and everyone else, the report said.

Party leader Fawad Chaudhry also confirmed the ‘targeted attack’ and said that Khan has been shot in the leg. Speaking to a private news channel, he said three people were injured in the attack, including Ahmad Chattha and Faisal Javed.

Party leader Hammad Azhar said PTI’s Ahmed Chattha was shot at twice and is not “out of danger”.

The PTI chief, seemingly in good spirits after the attack on his life, was seen waving to party supporters soon after the attack, Express Tribune reported.

Chaotic scenes broke out near PTI’s reception camp at Allahwala Chowk after gunshots were fired at party chief Imran Khan.

According to PTI leader Imran Ismail, Khan has been shot in the leg “three to four” times, Dawn reported.

Speaking to Bol TV, Ismail said that he was standing next to Khan when the shots were fired in which PTI leader Faisal Javed was also injured.

He added that the attacker was directly in front of the container and was wielding an AK-47, Dawn reported.

According to Geo News, the former Prime Minister has been shifted to a hospital.

PTI leader Shahbaz Gill said, “Imran Khan is our red line and an attempt has been made to cross that red line.”

He also said that Khan will fight till his last breath.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has condemned the firing incident in Gujranwala and directed Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah to seek an immediate report from the inspector-general of police and chief secretary of Punjab.

Khan is leading PTI’s march towards Islamabad which kicked off from Lahore’s Liberty Chowk on October 29. This is the PTI chief’s second long march this year.

Khan, along with his supporters, is expected to stage a sit-in in Islamabad against the Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition government at the end of the march. PTI has not yet confirmed the date of arrival in Islamabad.

According to Khan, the protest march will continue till the date for elections is announced, The News reported.

Earlier, the plan was to reach Islamabad by November 4. It was later revised to November 8-9 and then again revised to November 11. PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry then announced the party will keep changing the date to “tire the government out”.

The political instability in Pakistan has also fuelled economic uncertainty, with international rating agencies questioning if the current government can maintain difficult economic policies in the face of political pressure and looming elections, The News reported.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has directed PTI to ensure peace regardless of the location in Islamabad allotted to the party by the government to hold sit-in and ‘jalsa’.

The observation came during the hearing of PTI’s plea against the government for not issuing the party a no-objection certificate for its sit-in in Islamabad.

ALSO READ: Long march will continue until polls announced: Imran