US congressman announces drafting bill against ‘wrongful’ imprisonment of Pakistan ex-PM Khan

US congressman announces drafting bill against ‘wrongful’ imprisonment of Pakistan ex-PM Khan
Security officers escort Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan outside Islamabad High Court, in Islamabad, Pakistan, on May 12, 2023. (Reuters/File)
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Updated 14 February 2025
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US congressman announces drafting bill against ‘wrongful’ imprisonment of Pakistan ex-PM Khan

US congressman announces drafting bill against ‘wrongful’ imprisonment of Pakistan ex-PM Khan
  • Khan says he has written another open letter to Pakistan’s army chief, highlighting the state of democracy, alleged election rigging and rights abuses
  • Army chief denies receiving any letter, while Pakistan’s army, which has ruled the country for half of its history, has said it no longer meddles in politics

ISLAMABAD: United States (US) Congressman Joe Wilson on Thursday announced he was drafting a bill that would aim to ban those in power in Pakistan for “wrongful” imprisonment of former prime minister Imran Khan.

The development came as Khan, who has been in jail since August 2023 on a slew of charges he says are politically motivated, said he had written a third open letter to Pakistan Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir, highlighting the alleged shrinking space for democracy in the country due to rights abuses and “rigging” of last year’s general election.

The former prime minister was ousted from power in April 2022 via a parliamentary vote after falling out with Pakistan’s powerful army generals. Khan blames the military for colluding with his political rivals to orchestrate his ouster, a charge the military denies and reiterates that it does not interfere in political matters.

The army chief has denied receiving any letters from Khan and said he would dispatch them to PM Shehbaz Sharif if he did receive any, the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported on Thursday, following Gen. Munir’s informal interaction with reporters at a luncheon hosted for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Islamabad.

“I am grateful to share that I am drafting the PAKISTAN DEMOCRACY ACT to ban from the United States those in the Pakistan military, government responsible for the wrongful persecution and imprisonment of Imran Khan,” Wilson said on X.

 



Khan fell out with Pakistan army’s top leaders in the lead-up to his ouster from the PM’s office and has since led an unprecedented campaign of defiance against the all-powerful army, which has ruled the South Asian country for nearly half of its 75-year history, and even when not in power, it is considered the invisible guiding hand in politics. The army has in recent years said it no longer interferes in politics.

In his third letter to the army chief shared on X, Khan said he was not asking for any concessions for himself or his party, but only wanted restoration of the army’s reputation in the interest of Pakistan, saying there is “no harmony between the people and the army due to the policies of the establishment.” He also called the army’s repeated denial of interference in politics an “insult to the intelligence of the nation.”

“In this era of social media, nothing can be hidden, every child of the country knows that the army chief runs the system of this country,” he said, adding that democracy functions on morals.

“Democracy can only run if the government has moral strength. After 30 years, democracy was gradually restored in Pakistan, the judiciary became independent through continuous struggle and the media became somewhat free and the country was moving toward improvement. But first our government was removed through a conspiracy, then not only a fake government was imposed but the constitution was broken to impose it on the country again.”

Tensions between Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and the army have remained at fever-pitch especially after Khan’s arrest on May 9, 2023, in a land graft case that sparked countrywide protests. Angry supporters carrying the PTI’s flags attacked and ransacked military installations in an unprecedented backlash against the army.

The military has called the day of the protests a “Black Day” and vowed to punish those involved. Since then, at least 5,000 of Khan’s supporters have been arrested, and dozens of his top party leaders have defected after they faced increasing pressure from the military establishment to do so, according to his supporters. The army denies the allegations.

Thousands of Khan supporters marched toward Islamabad in November 2024 to demand his release from prison. The government says four troops were killed in the ensuing clashes by Khan supporters, a charge the PTI denies and says its loyalists were instead shot and killed.

 


India plans $230 million drone incentive after Pakistan conflict

India plans $230 million drone incentive after Pakistan conflict
Updated 5 sec ago
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India plans $230 million drone incentive after Pakistan conflict

India plans $230 million drone incentive after Pakistan conflict
  • India’s push to build more home-grown drones stems from its assessment of the four-day clash with Pakistan in May
  • The standoff marked the first time New Delhi, Islamabad utilized unmanned aerial vehicles at scale against each other

NEW DELHI: India will launch a $234 million incentive program for civil and military drone makers to reduce their reliance on imported components and counter rival Pakistan’s program built on support from China and Turkiye, three sources told Reuters.

India’s push to build more home-grown drones stems from its assessment of the four-day clash with Pakistan in May that marked the first time New Delhi and Islamabad utilized unmanned aerial vehicles at scale against each other. The nuclear-armed neighbors are now locked in a drones arms race.

New Delhi will launch a 20 billion Indian rupees ($234 million) program for three years that will cover manufacture of drones, components, software, counter drone systems, and services, two government and one industry source, who did not want to be named, told Reuters.

Details of the program have not been previously reported and its planned expenditure is higher than the modest 1.2 billion rupees production-linked incentive scheme New Delhi launched in 2021 to promote drone start-ups, which have struggled to raise capital and invest in research.

India’s civil aviation ministry, which is leading the incentives program, and defense ministry did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment.

Reuters previously reported that India plans to invest heavily in local industry and could spend as much as $470 million on unmanned aerial vehicles over the next 12 to 24 months, in what government and military officers said would be a staggered approach.

In the past, India has mainly imported military drones from its third-largest arms supplier, Israel, but in recent years its nascent drone industry has scaled up its cost-effective offerings, including for the military, although reliance on China continues for certain components such as motors, sensors and imaging systems.

Through the incentives, India is aiming to have at least 40 percent of key drone components made in the country by the end of fiscal year 2028 (April-March), the two government sources said.

“During (the India-Pakistan) conflict there was quite a lot of use of drones, loitering munitions and kamikaze drones on both sides,” Indian Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said last week.

“The lesson that we’ve learned is that we need to double down on our indigenization efforts to ensure that we build a large, effective, military drone manufacturing ecosystem.”

India bans import of drones but not their components and the government has planned additional incentives for manufacturers that procure parts from within the country, the two government sources said.

The state-run Small Industries Development Bank of India would also support the incentive program by providing cheap loans for working capital, research and development needs for the firms, the government sources added.

Currently, there are more than 600 drone manufacturing and associated companies in India, according to estimates shared by an industry source involved in the discussions for the incentives program.


Pakistan to use $1.4 billion IMF climate loan to expand green investment, fiscal space

Pakistan to use $1.4 billion IMF climate loan to expand green investment, fiscal space
Updated 11 min 17 sec ago
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Pakistan to use $1.4 billion IMF climate loan to expand green investment, fiscal space

Pakistan to use $1.4 billion IMF climate loan to expand green investment, fiscal space
  • IMF says reforms will create fiscal space, embed climate goals in budgets and public investment
  • Program aims to unlock private capital, improve disaster coordination, irrigation infrastructure across provinces

KARACHI: Pakistan will use a $1.4 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund’s climate resilience fund to expand fiscal space, embed climate planning into public investment decisions and unlock private-sector capital for green projects, the IMF said on Friday.

The financing, approved by the IMF’s Executive Board in May under its Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), is part of a broader reform program that aims to help Pakistan adapt to increasingly frequent and devastating climate shocks.

Pakistan is the first country in the Middle East and Central Asia region to access the IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Facility. The fund was launched in 2022 to help climate-vulnerable low- and middle-income countries make the structural changes needed to protect their economies and populations.

“The RSF will help build climate resilience in Pakistan by creating fiscal space to address climate vulnerabilities, such as the need to improve climate-resilient adaptation infrastructure,” Mahir Binici, the IMF’s resident representative in Pakistan, told Arab News in a written response.

“It will also boost climate’s prominence in public investment management and budget processes,” he said, “helping Pakistan better identify and target projects needed to strengthen resilience to climate shocks.”

A third pillar of the reforms, Binici said, is improving the overall “enabling environment for green investment” so that banks and private firms could incorporate climate-related risk considerations into their risk management and investment activities.

The RSF financing will be disbursed over a 28-month period and runs alongside Pakistan’s $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF), whose first review was also approved in May, releasing roughly $1 billion in immediate support.

CLIMATE-FINANCE GAP

Pakistan, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, has long struggled to align its public finances with the scale of climate risk it faces. The 2022 floods alone affected over 33 million people and caused more than $30 billion in damages and economic losses.

By reforming how climate priorities are reflected in budget planning and investment screening, the IMF says Pakistan will be better equipped to attract funding and respond to future disasters.

The RSF does not fund individual infrastructure projects. Instead, it supports “policy and institutional reforms that make climate action more effective,” Binici explained.

These include reforms in disaster coordination, water and irrigation infrastructure, and provincial implementation capacity.

Binici said the IMF program supports better coordination between the federal and provincial governments on disaster risk financing, a chronic weakness in past emergency responses, and policy changes that would strengthen water and irrigation management.

“Policy reforms that directly target Pakistan’s water management and irrigation infrastructure would help make farmers more resilient to climate shocks,” he said, adding the focus would be on improving irrigation service standards, reliability, and water supply adequacy.

The reforms also aim to reduce waterlogging, salinity, groundwater depletion, and growing water insecurity, issues that disproportionately impact poor rural communities.

The IMF said its climate program in Pakistan takes a “whole-of-government” approach, with many reforms to be implemented at the provincial level.

“Much of the focus is on improving coordination mechanisms between the federal government and the provinces,” Binici said.


One killed, five injured as residential building collapses in Pakistan’s Karachi

One killed, five injured as residential building collapses in Pakistan’s Karachi
Updated 22 min 3 sec ago
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One killed, five injured as residential building collapses in Pakistan’s Karachi

One killed, five injured as residential building collapses in Pakistan’s Karachi
  • The multi-story building in Karachi’s Lyari neighborhood housed several families
  • Efforts underway to rescue several residents believed to be trapped under rubble

KARACHI: At least one person was killed and five others were injured on Friday after a multi-story residential building came crashing down in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi, the Edhi rescue service said.

Local media reported that the building, located in Karachi’s Lyari neighborhood, housed several families and a number of residents were still believed to be trapped under the rubble.

Television footage showed rescue workers and locals trying to rescue people from under the debris.

“So far one body has been recovered which was shifted through ambulance to Civil Hospital,” the Edhi rescue service said in a statement.

“Five people, including three women, were injured.”

It said rescue efforts were underway to find out survivors.

There was no immediate comment from the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), which regulates buildings and other structures in Karachi, and other civic agencies on whether the building had been declared dangerous.

In Karachi, home to over 20 million people, building collapses often result in significant casualties, with officials accused of allowing faulty construction.

In June 2020, a five-story residential building had collapsed in the same neighborhood, killing at least 25 people.

On April 22, 2024, a three-story building collapsed in North Nazimabad, killing one man and injuring four others. In October 2023, a building collapse in Shah Faisal Colony resulted in five deaths and two injuries.


Trade, connectivity, regional cooperation in focus as Pakistani PM at ECO summit

Trade, connectivity, regional cooperation in focus as Pakistani PM at ECO summit
Updated 04 July 2025
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Trade, connectivity, regional cooperation in focus as Pakistani PM at ECO summit

Trade, connectivity, regional cooperation in focus as Pakistani PM at ECO summit
  • Theme of this year’s summit is “New ECO Vision for a Sustainable and Climate Resilient Future”
  • Sharif will hold bilateral meetings with other leaders attending summit to discuss matters of mutual interest

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will address the 17th Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) summit in Khankendi, Azerbaijan today, where he is expected to present Pakistan’s views on regional and global challenges, trade promotion, sustainable development and enhanced connectivity.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Sharif will also hold bilateral meetings with other leaders attending the summit to discuss matters of mutual interest.

The theme of this year’s summit is “New ECO Vision for a Sustainable and Climate Resilient Future.” 

“Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will participate in the ECO summit in Khankendi, Azerbaijan, where he will speak on global and regional issues, trade promotion, sustainable development, regional connectivity and solutions to regional challenges,” the PMO said.

The summit brings together heads of state and government from ECO member states to discuss economic and political cooperation. 

This is Sharif’s third visit to Azerbaijan in 2025. He last traveled to Baku in May, where he held talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on strengthening bilateral cooperation in energy and trade.

The Economic Cooperation Organization was established in 1985 by Iran, Turkiye and Pakistan and later expanded to include Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The ten-member bloc aims to promote economic, technical and cultural collaboration across Central and South Asia, the Caucasus and the Middle East.


Pakistan says 30 ‘Indian-sponsored’ militants killed trying to cross from Afghanistan

Pakistan says 30 ‘Indian-sponsored’ militants killed trying to cross from Afghanistan
Updated 04 July 2025
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Pakistan says 30 ‘Indian-sponsored’ militants killed trying to cross from Afghanistan

Pakistan says 30 ‘Indian-sponsored’ militants killed trying to cross from Afghanistan
  • Pakistan has witnessed a sharp rise in militant violence in its western regions that border Afghanistan
  • Islamabad often blames these attacks on India and Afghanistan, a charge denied by Kabul and New Delhi

ISLAMABAD: At least 30 “Indian-sponsored” militants were killed while attempting to cross into Pakistan through its border with Afghanistan this week, the Pakistani military said on Friday.

Pakistani security forces intercepted the militants in the restive North Waziristan district, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.

All 30 militants, belonging to “Indian proxy Fitna Al-Khawarij,” a reference to the Pakistani Taliban, were killed as a result of “precise and skillful engagement.”

“A large quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosives was also recovered from the killed Indian-sponsored Khawarij [militants],” the ISPR said in a statement.

“The interim Afghan government also needs to check and prevent the use of Afghan soil by ‘foreign proxies’ for orchestrating terrorist activities against Pakistan.”

New Delhi has not yet commented on the latest statement by the army but has repeatedly denied in the past that it is involved in militancy in Pakistan.

Pakistan has witnessed a sharp rise in violence in its western regions bordering Afghanistan, with Islamabad accusing India of backing militant groups and Afghanistan of allowing the use of its soil for attacks against Pakistan. Kabul and New Delhi deny the allegation.

The North Waziristan district has long been a stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, who have mounted their attacks against Pakistani security forces and checkposts, and law enforcers since late 2022, when their fragile, months-long truce broke down with Islamabad.

On June 28, a suicide attack, claimed by Hafiz Gul Bahadur group of the Pakistani Taliban, killed 13 Pakistani soldiers and injured 29 people, including civilians, in the volatile district that borders Afghanistan, local government and police officials said.

A day later, the district administration imposed a 30-day restriction on the movement of people and vehicles from dusk till dawn, saying it was in the interest of “public safety, law and order, movement of security forces and [to] restrict the movement of outlaws.”

In a statement issued from his office, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised Pakistani security forces for foiling the militant infiltration attempt in North Waziristan.

“We are determined to completely eradicate all forms of terrorism from the country,” he said. “The entire nation salutes their security forces.”