Pakistan interior minister denies attending anti-China function in US

ISLAMABAD: Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan on Sunday reiterated his demand for overseas Pakistanis to boycott sending remittances to the country, amid renewed political tensions between his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and the government. 

The development takes place as talks between the government and the PTI that began last month broke down this week. Talks were suspended after Khan’s party told the government it would not partake in the process if judicial commissions to investigate anti-government protests of May 9, 2023 and November 2024 are not formed. 

On May 9, 2023, angry Khan supporters are accused of rampaging through military offices and installations while on Nov. 26, 2024, they gathered in Pakistan’s capital to demand Khan’s release. The government says four troops were killed in the November protests while the PTI says its supporters also died in clashes. 

Pakistan’s Information Minister Ataullah Tarar this week criticized the PTI for ending talks “unilaterally,” saying the party took the decision in a hurry. The government’s negotiation committee says it will respond to the PTI’s demands formally on Jan. 28. 

“Once again, I urge overseas Pakistanis to continue their boycott of foreign currency remittances,” a post on Khan’s X account read. “Sending money to this government strengthens the very hands that are tightening the noose around your necks.”

Foreign workers’ remittances from countries such as Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, US, UK and others are important for cash-strapped Pakistan to shore up its foreign reserves and stabilize its fragile economy. 

Khan also repeated his demand for supporters to mark Pakistan’s election anniversary on Feb. 8 as a “Black Day.” The PTI alleges that the results of the contentious election last year, marked by delayed vote results and suspension of Internet and mobile services countrywide, were manipulated by the caretaker government at the time and Pakistan’s election commission to keep it away from power. Both deny Khan’s allegations 

“Prepare to observe a nationwide ‘Black Day’ on February 8th,” the post read. “People from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and northern Punjab should gather in Swabi for protests, while others must hold demonstrations in their respective cities.”

Khan was ousted from power in 2022 after what is widely believed to be a falling out with the country’s powerful top generals. The army denies it interferes in politics.

He has been in prison since August 2023 and faces a slew of legal challenges that ruled him out of the Feb. 8 general elections and which he says are politically motivated to keep him and his party away from power. 

Khan has either been acquitted or his sentences have been suspended in most cases. However, in the latest blow, Khan was handed a 14-year jail sentence in a land corruption case last week. 

All cases against Khan have been tried inside prison, away from the public or media eye, on security grounds.
 

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD) this week organized a climate action event in the city to promote sustainable solutions and highlight the dangers of deteriorating weather patterns, the Pakistani embassy in the UAE said. 

The event on Friday was a collaboration between community climate action platform Extreme Hangout Dubai, social enterprise Earth Warriors and the Pakistan Youth Forum. 

It featured climate advocates and members of the Pakistani community in the UAE, and Pakistan’s Consul General in Dubai Hussain Muhammad.

“Pakistan remains committed to be part of the solution,” Muhammad was quoted as saying by the Pakistani embassy in UAE. “However, global solidarity, climate finance, and technology transfer are essential to tackling this crisis.”

The event featured entrepreneurial stalls showcasing innovative eco-friendly solutions, keynote speeches and panel discussions by experts, activists and youth leaders who engaged in insightful discussions on climate action strategies and the importance of collective efforts.

The event also included performances and artistic presentations highlighting the beauty of nature and the necessity of preserving it for future generations. 

“The Consul General encouraged the Pakistani community in the UAE to act as global ambassadors for Pakistan’s climate challenges through storytelling, social media and community engagement to raise awareness and bring change,” the embassy’s statement said. 

The South Asian country is counted among the most severely threatened countries in terms of climate–induced challenges, especially in the context of its dependency on climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, water, natural resources and the environment, and socio-economic issues such as poverty. 

Unusually heavy monsoon rains and melting of glaciers in June 2022 triggered flash floods across the country which killed over 1,700 people and dealt damages to critical infrastructure across the country. 

Pakistan estimates damages from the floods to be around $33 billion.