Islamabad: Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain has said the government is considering more incentives and concession to attract Chinese investors.

Rana Tanveer Hussain said Special Economic Zones have significant importance for Foreign Direct Investment in the country.

He was addressing a ceremony at Pakistan-China Institute in Islamabad on Friday., he

The Minister said relocation of Chinese industries to Pakistan is an important opportunity for country's development. He assured to provide complete security to Chinese companies in Pakistan.

Islamabad: Tajikistan Ambassador Sharifzoda Yusuf Toir paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Friday.

The Prime Minister welcomed the Ambassador and wished him a successful tenure in Pakistan.

While fondly recalling his recent visit to Dushanbe earlier this month, the Prime Minister said he was touched by the warm welcome extended to him and hailed the friendly and productive discussions with President Emomali Rahmon during the visit.

Expressing satisfaction at the Memoranda of Understanding and agreements signed between the two sides during his visit, the Prime Minister urged that timely implementation and follow up will strengthen bilateral ties even further.

Shehbaz Sharif renewed his invitation to Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at his earliest convenience. He added that Pakistan is looking forward to Tajikistan's participation in the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Islamabad in October this year.

The Tajik Ambassador briefed the Prime Minister on a number of proposals aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation in various fields including education, agriculture and defence as well as connectivity through land and air routes.

While noting the proposals, the Prime Minister tasked relevant Ministries to get in touch with the Tajik Ambassador for further discussions. Regional connectivity projects including CASA-1000 also came under discussion.

The Tajik Ambassador thanked Shehbaz Sharif for receiving him, conveyed greetings of his President to the Prime Minister and expressed his country's desire to further enhance its relations with Pakistan.

Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday approved the appointment of ad hoc judges to the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

According to a statement issued by the Presidency, the President gave approval under Article 182 of the Constitution.

The judges include former Apex Court judges Justice Sardar Tariq Masood and Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel. They will be appointed as ad hoc judges to the Supreme Court for a period of one year.

Islamabad: Pakistan on Friday rejected Indian Prime Minister’s belligerent remarks made in Drass, Ladakh.

The Foreign Office in a statement said that bravado and jingoism undermine regional peace and are totally counter-productive for resolution of long-standing disputes between Pakistan and India, especially the core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir.

It further said the Indian leaders’ rhetorical statements cannot deflect international attention from India’s heavy-handed approach to suppress the Kashmiri people’s just struggle for realization of their fundamental rights and freedoms, particularly their inalienable right to self-determination.

Instead of maligning others for terrorism, India should reflect on its own campaign of orchestrating targeted assassinations, subversion and terrorism in foreign territories.

Pakistan stands resolute in its intent and ability to safeguard its sovereignty against any aggression, as exemplified by its robust response to India’s reckless incursion in February 2019.

The Foreign Office said while Pakistan is ready to counter India’s aggressive actions, it remains committed to promoting peace and stability in the region.

Lahore: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporter Aneela Riaz, also known as Neeli Pari, and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) activist Tahir Anjum reportedly staged an incident to gain fame within their respective parties, the police sources said on Friday.

Neeli Pari has been accused of assaulting Tahir Anjum for criticizing PTI founder Imran Khan, but police sources claim the incident was premeditated. They stated that the two individuals knew each other beforehand and had even met prior to the altercation. The motive behind this staged drama was to gain popularity within their parties.

Police reports indicate that Neeli Pari was arrested at Tahir Anjum’s residence, where she had allegedly gone to apologize. Both individuals have reportedly confessed to planning the incident.

Earlier, a local court in Lahore sent Neeli Pari to jail on judicial remand. The PTI activist was presented before a judicial magistrate, who rejected the police request for her physical remand and instead ordered her judicial remand.

The incident took place outside the Punjab Assembly, where PTI was holding a symbolic hunger strike protesting the incarceration of Imran Khan. During this event, PTI activists stopped the vehicle of the PML-N cultural wing leader and began to assault him. Footage shows Neeli Pari slapping Tahir Anjum before he was rescued by his party workers.

Lahore: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) “Businessmen Conference” on Independent Power Producers (IPPs) was held at FPCCI Regional Office Lahore on Friday.

 Addressing the FPCCI “Businessmen Conference,” Former caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said that the issue of IPPs is 24 million people, including industry. The problem of IPPs is under discussion in the Senate; the rights of the people have been fighting for the small battles of the people before. Astronomy sitting on social media is spreading frustration about the country; the future of the country is bright. IPPs are not scoring points by raising the issue. We will resolve the problem through dialogue.

Former Caretaker Federal Minister for Commerce, Industries, Investment & Interior and FPCCI Economic Policy Business Development Think Tank Chairman Dr Gohar Ejaz said that the negligence of the government agencies of IPPs was being put on the public. A forensic audit of IPPs should be conducted. The whole of Pakistan is saying with a voice that has been affected by the IPPs that we have to find a solution to terminate the deal with IPPs in every case.  We never want our country to go into crisis. There will be a policy that Pakistan will move forward. There is electricity, but the problem is the cost of electricity. How will we fight the world for expensive electricity?

Atif Ikram Sheikh, President FPCCI and Patron-in-Chief United Business Group (UBG) and Former Caretaker Provincial Minister for Industries, Commerce and Energy and Patron in Chief United Business Group (UBG) SM Tanveer announced that, on behalf of the entire business, industry, and trade community of Pakistan, FPCCI would plead the case of unbearable capacity charges of IPPs to the apex forums of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC)-as the last resort to save the economy and the people of Pakistan.

They stressed that the problem would also be explained and a solution given. The business community has said industries are shutting down due to expensive electricity and excessive markups.

They further said that it is impossible to do business at this electricity rate. Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakarhas has been elected president of the FPCCI Economic Policy Business Development Think Tank. Electricity is so expensive. The electricity bill is unbearable. Due to incorrect contracts, capsat charges have to be paid; electricity prices are the biggest problem in Pakistan right now. Annual Rs 2,000 billion is being removed from the pockets of 24 crore people regarding capacity charges, and 25 % of the industry has been closed. Such IPPs cannot run the country.

Rawalpindi: In response to government road closures and arrests, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) shifted its strategy and announced sit-ins at three locations in the federal capital on Friday.

Following JI's call for protests against increased power bills, containers were placed to block routes from the Red Zone and Rawalpindi to the capital, and the metro bus service in Rawalpindi was suspended, causing significant inconvenience for passengers.

Key intersections in the Red Zone, such as D Chowk, Nadra Chowk, and Sarina Chowk, have been sealed with containers.

Police have also arrested JI workers from various locations. However, JI has now revised its approach.

JI spokesperson Qaiser Sharif reported that 1,150 party workers were arrested nationwide. He announced sit-ins at Murree Road in Rawalpindi, Zero Point in Islamabad, and Chungi No 26, with Hafiz Naeemur Rehman leading the sit-in at Zero Point in Islamabad.

Section 144 in Punjab, Islamabad

The federal and Punjab governments have imposed Section 144 in Punjab and Islamabad amid PTI and JI plans for nationwide protests. According to the notification, Section 144 will be in effect from Friday, July 26 to Sunday, July 28.

The Home Department stated that there would be a ban on rallies, sit-ins, and protests from July 26 to 28 due to terrorism threats, as public gatherings could be easy targets for militants.

JI Secretary General Ameerul Azeem claimed that police conducted raids on the homes of JI leaders in various cities, targeting them to disrupt the demonstration. He reported numerous incidents of police raids, arrests, and mistreatment of women.

Govt warned

Earlier on Thursday, JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman warned the government that it would be held responsible if the party is prevented from entering Islamabad for their planned protest against electricity price hikes and inflation. He stated that they believe in peaceful political resistance to secure public rights and are not afraid of arrests.

Rehman emphasized that the historic sit-in on Friday, July 26, will represent 250 million Pakistanis and will be held peacefully at D-Chowk. He noted that convoys from across the country were on their way to join the sit-in and urged the administration to provide a venue for the protest. He also welcomed any political party that wishes to participate.

Ahead of the sit-in, police in various areas of Punjab and Rawalpindi raided the homes of JI leaders and officials, arresting several. The police raided the house of JI's central secretary general, Ameerul Azim, but did not find him, instead arresting his driver, Shaukat Mahmood.

Islamabad:  Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) claimed that around 1,150 of its activists were detained across various cities while attempting to march to Islamabad to protest against rising inflation.

JI's protest targets the recent sharp increase in electricity prices, while PTI's nationwide demonstrations are focused on calling for the release of its founder, Imran Khan, and other detained leaders.

The federal capital has been heavily fortified with containers, effectively cutting it off from nearby Rawalpindi and surrounding areas.

The strict security measures, including road blockades, have been implemented to prevent protest gatherings, leading to significant traffic disruptions across the city.

Section 144 remains in effect in both Punjab and the federal capital, banning assemblies, processions, and protests ahead of planned opposition rallies.

Law enforcement personnel have been deployed throughout Islamabad to ensure compliance with the restrictions, and citizens are advised to avoid participating in unauthorized activities.

Several JI members were arrested by the Islamabad police while attempting to gather at D-Chowk in defiance of Section 144. Additional arrests occurred in Lahore as protesters attempted to march towards the capital.

In response to the restrictions and arrests, JI's Rawalpindi Emir Arif Sherazi announced that the sit-in would be relocated to Liaquat Bagh instead of D-Chowk, where it will continue until the party’s demands are met. JI Emir Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, leading a march from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is expected to join the protest at Liaquat Bagh.

Rawalpindi Central Police Officer Khalid Mahmood Hamdani stated that JI was granted permission to hold a rally at Liaquat Bagh under certain conditions. He assured that the situation remained peaceful and warned that any attempts to disrupt it would not be tolerated.

Addressing the protestors at I-8 Islamabad, Hafiz Naeem declared that the protest was a fight for the people's rights and called for the release of detained JI members. He emphasized that the sit-in was only beginning and vowed that the protesters would remain until their demands were met.

Roads from Rawalpindi to Islamabad were blocked with containers as JI protesters attempted to enter the capital.

The police deployed at the Faizabad interchange managed the incoming protesters, while roads leading to Parliament House from D-Chowk were blocked with barricades.

 Traffic continued to flow without major disruptions, and protesters at these locations were either dispersed or detained.

The authorities stated that protests in the Red Zone are not permitted due to its sensitive nature.