KARACHI: Security forces cleared a five-storey police compound on the port city’s main thoroughfare in an hours-long operation during which three militants of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were killed while two policemen, one Rangers official and a citizen embraced martyrdom on Friday evening.
At least 19 men, mostly police and Rangers officials, sustained injuries in the exchange of fire with militants who stormed the heavily guarded Karachi Police Office after lobbing a hand grenade at its main entrance, police and hospital officials said.

The outlawed TTP on the social media claimed responsibility for the latest ambush, which came as a grim reminder of attacks on Bannu CTD complex and Peshawar Police Lines mosque in recent months.

Just half an hour after sunset in the port city, officials said, three militants parked an Indus Corolla car at the KPO entrance before hurling a hand grenade at the gate. Wearing shalwar kameez, the militants brought with them “three bags of food”, indicating their preparation for a prolonged siege, DIG East-Zone Muquddas Haider, who was among the senior officers leading the operation, told Dawn on late Friday night.

While officials initially said exact number of militants could not be ascertained who attacked the metropolis police chief office at around 7:10pm, Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister Barrister Murtaza Wahab after midnight shared details of 23 casualties — four martyred and 19 injured — on Twitter.

He earlier had tweeted, “The latest information is that 4 people were martyred (2 policemen, 1 rangers & 1 civilian) while 14 people are injured, who are being treated. Out of the injured 1 person is critical while the condition of 13 injured persons is stable.”

Multiple explosions were heard during the joint operation, which was completed at 10:48pm, by Pakistan Rangers, army and police personnel.
DIG Haider said there were three attackers, all clad in shalwar kameez. One of them blew himself up on the fourth floor of the building during the operation, while two others were shot dead on the rooftop, he said.

Meanwhile, APP quoted UN deputy spokesman Farhan Aziz Haq as condemning the attack in response to a question.
He said: “We condemn all terrorist attacks and we send condolences to the families of the victims of the attack and to the government of Pakistan.”
KARACHI: Security personnel take position after terrorists stormed the five-storey building of Karachi Police Office, on Friday.—Reuters Footage shared on social media, though unverified, showed flames and smoke emitting from the top floor of the highrise, with the sound of an explosion and a man uttering ‘God is great’ while cautioning people to stay away and that another blast might occur.
Both tracks of the busy Sharea Faisal, which links the city centre with airport, remained shut for traffic for hours during the clearance operation.
According to Rangers’ spokesperson, an officer of brigadier rank led the anti-terrorist operation during which all five floors of the building were cleared at night.
In a statement, police spokesperson said this was a major operation, which was completed by DIGs of RRF, South and East, respectively, as well as Rangers and army personnel.
During the operation, according to the police, one terrorist blew up an explosive jacket while the police firing left his two accomplices others dead.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah also reached the Command and Control Centre at IGP office after receiving information about the attack and monitored the operation.
He directed the DIGs concerned and the Rangers officers to send personnel from their respective zones to the site.
Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed said that three bodies of law enforcers and a civilian were brought at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. She said the martyred officials were identified as police constable Ghulam Abbas and Rangers sub-inspector Taimur, while the identity of another police official could not be ascertained immediately.
A civilian, Ajmal Masih, was also among the deceased, the police surgeon added.
The Rangers spokesperson later said the martyred SI Taimur originally hailed from Multan, adding that their six personnel were also injured during the operation.
According Dr Syed, some of the injured were identified as Edhi worker Sajid, Rangers personnel Abdul Raheem, Imran, Tahir, Umair, Abdul Latif and Aftab, and policemen Latif, Abdul Khaliq, Rizwan, Haji Abdul Razzaq and Sarab.
In a late night statement, the CM appreciated the professional capabilities of the policemen saying: “Our law enforcers demonstrated their courage and bravery and got the KPO cleared.” He said police, Rangers and other law enforcement agencies personnel demonstrated their bravery by killing all the terrorists. He said he was happy to see the whole nation was united against terrorists.
He also expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and said, “We would never let the heirs of the martyred alone.”
Later, he directed the police to get Sharea Faisal opened for traffic.
Earlier in the evening, foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari while condemning the attack said: “Sindh police have bravely faced and crushed terrorism before. We have full faith they will do so again, such cowardly attacks will not deter us.”
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, meanwhile, told Geo News that the federal government was in touch with the Sindh police.
He said he had spoken to the chief secretary and IGP who confirmed that six to seven terrorists entered the building by hurling a hand grenade after parking the vehicle. Since a general security threat existed following the Peshawar mosque attack, all the institutions were fully alert across the country, he said.

ISLAMABAD: Despite its attempt to expedite pas­sage of fiscal measures mandated by the Internat­i­o­nal Monetary Fund (IMF), the government was forced to head to parliament on Tuesday after President Arif Alvi “adv­ised” Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to take parliament into confidence over the Rs170 billion in new taxes that are being levied.
Soon after the presid­ent’s ‘refusal’, a cabinet meeting was convened to approve the tax amendment bill — Finance Bill 2023 — which would be tabled in both houses of parliament on Wednesday (today), as per a statement issued by the PM Office after the meeting.
The sta­tement added that an ‘austerity package’ targeting government expenditure was also in its final stages.
Interestingly, hours be­fore Finance Minister Ishaq Dar was reportedly snubbed by the president, National Assembly Spea­ker Raja Pervez Ashraf adjourned a joint sitting of parliament until Feb 28.
For the government, it is a race against time as it wants to implement tax me­a­sures by Feb 15 to sec­ure the early release of an IMF tranche much needed to beef up shrinking foreign exchange reserves.
In light of this urgency, the National Assembly and Senate will meet in the evening today to take up the bill.
A statement on Twitter by the Presi­dent’s Office said that sessions of both houses of parliament have been summoned to meet today (Wednesday).
Mr Dar was also supposed to talk to the media in the evening; how­ever, the finance min­istry later issued a statement saying the media talk was cancelled and the bill for new tax measures would be tabled in parliament today.

‘Only taxes’

Initially, the governm­ent had planned to introduce “tax and non-tax mea­­sures” to generate funds to the tune of Rs170 billion. However, in a last-minute change, it decided to drop proposals pertaining to non-tax measures, particularly the flood levy to the tune of Rs100 billion.
In a late-night development, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) issued SRO178 to enhance a federal excise duty on locally manufactured cigarettes which would generate up to Rs60bn in taxes on tobacco products.
The government will generate Rs55 billion more through a 1 per cent increase in GST – from 17pc to 18pc. The remaining Rs55bn will be collected through an increase in excise duty on airlines tickets, sugary drinks and an increase in withholding tax rates.

Alvi’s advice to Dar
Earlier in the day, Mr Dar called on President Arif Alvi to apprise him about the talks with the IMF for the revival of the programme.
An official announcement by the presidency said that President Dr Arif Alvi advised Finance Minister Ishaq Dar that it would be more appropriate to take parliament into confidence on this important subject and that a session be called immediately so that the bill is enacted without delay.
The president appreciated the efforts of the government in negotiating an agreement with the IMF, and assured that the state of Pakistan would stand by the commitments made by the government with the IMF.
The spokesperson of the presidency declined to comment on the meeting, saying everything is covered in the official statement.
A source in the finance division said the advice from the president carried a “political meaning” as he wanted the PDM government to take “political ownership” of the tax measures and the president would accord approval to the bill soon after its passage from parliament, claiming that the president wanted to keep his distance from what is being considered an “unpopular move”, which could open the floodgates of inflation.
Syed Irfan Raza in Islamabad also contributed to this report

HYDERABAD: A class-six female student apparently committed suicide at a private school, located within the jurisdiction of the Nasim Nagar police station, in Qasimabad on Monday.
The 12-year-old girl, Memoona, daughter of Zulfiqar Narejo, jumped from the third floor of the school building.
Close circuit television (CCTV) camera footage showed that Memoona stood up on her own school bag to scale the railing and jump down.
According to Hyderabad SSP Amjad Shaikh, a man tried to prevent her from jumping down but could not reach her on time.
Another footage showed her falling on the ground floor where other students were present. “Her CCTV footage shows that she has committed suicide,” said the SSP.
CCTV footage shows the girl stepping over railing, jumping down
He said her mother, was not initially willing for an autopsy but later agreed when she was told that it was necessary in such cases.
Preliminary inquiry suggested that the girl was quite sensitive and apparently disturbed, said the SSP.
Nasim Nagar SHO Farhan Memon told Dawn that the incident occurred at around 2:30pm. Soon after receiving the information, the police along with forensic wing personnel rushed to the school for collection of evidence and preservation of crime scene.
He said that the school administration was initially reluctant to allow police access to the scene of incident. “School’s staff shifted the body to the Liaquat University Hospital on their own and police reached there later. Parents were unwilling to share anything with us,” said the SHO.
Dr Sanobar performed the full autopsy at LUH’s city branch. “Her face was completely smashed as she fell upside down. But I won’t comment on the cause of her death. We have preserved sample for DNA as well,” Dr Sanobar told Dawn.
The girl’s father is the sub-registrar at revenue department and posted in Karachi. The girl’s family members, school’s principal and staff also rushed to the hospital.
According to additional police surgeon Dr Wasim, a complete autopsy was conducted by the MLO concerned but she did not share her opinion. He said that her CT scan examination was also done. He said initial report of her autopsy, to be issued by Dr Sanobar, was awaited.

LAHORE: Pakistan was created along the lines of an Islamic welfare state, but successive rulers pursued their vested interests and did not let rule of law prevail, which is a guarantee for democracy and prosperity in the country, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said on Monday.
In the current situation, Mr Khan said, the Constitution of Pakistan requires that fresh elections be held within 90 days of the dissolution of the assembly, but all state institutions were making lame excuses like funds shortage to delay elections — which would be a blatant violation of the Constitution.
Addressing intellectuals, religious scholars and students in a televised address from his Zaman Park residence on Monday, the former premier said he went to Russia and convinced President Vladimir Putin to give wheat and fuel at cheaper rates to Pakistan as being supplied to India.
Back home, he said, the former army chief asked him to condemn Russia for invading Ukraine.
Claims Gen Bajwa asked him to condemn Russia after he had convinced Putin to sell Pakistan cheap fuel, wheat
“I told the former army chief that India, which is a strategic ally of the US, was staying neutral and Pakistan should also not get involved in the war between two countries,” Khan said and added that to his surprise, the former army chief himself condemned Russia at a security seminar “to appease the US”.
“With the support of Russia, India reduced its inflation from 7.5 per cent to 5.5pc, but Pakistan’s inflation rate rose from 12pc to 30pc.
The PTI chairman alleged the past rulers had violated Pakistan’s sovereignty by focusing only on looting national wealth and then getting NROs to protect their loot.
“No system was allowed to prevail in Pakistan that could bring the powerful under the law and protect the fundamental rights of the weak,” he said.
Citing example of Singapore, Mr Khan said the country increased its per capita income to $60,000 after punishing its corrupt ministers and looters of national exchequer.
“In Pakistan, per capita income reduced to $2,000 just because it [the system] protected the looters and criminals for being powerful,” he said.
The former premier said his government introduced health card to offer quality healthcare services at public as well as private hospitals up to Rs1 million, which emerged as a massive social protection for the poor in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, as well as, northern areas.
“It is a matter of grave concern that the incumbent PDM government rolled it [health card] back,” he alleged.
The PTI chairman urged the nation to join his ‘Haqeeqi Azadi’ (real freedom) movement to break shackles and bring the powerful under the law of the land.
“Pakistan will have no bright future, if the powerful continued going scot-free after looting the country,” the former premier asserted.

WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Pakistan resumed their talks on Monday, with Islamabad hoping that these virtual discussions lead to a deal that eases up ever-increasing pressure on the country’s ailing economy.
In Islamabad, Finance Secretary Hamed Yaqoob Sheikh told Reuters the “duration (of the talks) cannot be confirmed but we intend to wrap these up at the soonest”.
Pakistan held 10 days of intensive talks with an IMF delegation in Islamabad — from Jan 31 to Feb 9 — but could not reach a deal.
The IMF, however, said in an earlier statement that both sides have agreed to stay engaged and “virtual discussions will continue in the coming days to finalize the implementation details” of the policies discussed in Islamabad.
Insiders say Fund wants Pakistan to start work on agreed measures before releasing next tranche
The talks in Islamabad focused on the ninth review of an IMF Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement with Pakistan, concluded in 2019.
The IMF appreciated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s commitment to implement policies needed to safeguard macroeconomic stability and described the discussions as constructive.
The IMF also acknowledged they made “considerable progress … on policy measures to address domestic and external imbalances”. The Fund highlighted the key priorities discussed in Islamabad, which included increasing revenue, reducing untargeted subsidies, and scaling up social protection programmes.
Diplomatic observers in Washington say the IMF wants Pakistan to start implementing the suggested measures. The sources point out that the IMF statement issued after the Islamabad talks underlined this issue as well.
“The timely and decisive implementation of these policies along with resolute financial support from official partners are critical for Pakistan to successfully regain macroeconomic stability and advance its sustainable development,” the IMF said.
The ‘official partners’ identified in this statement include international financial institutions like the IMF as well as Pakistan’s bilateral partners such as China and Saudi Arabia that the sources said were reluctant to extend financial support to Pakistan without an IMF package.
“The IMF is adamant, no deal without implementation,” said a diplomatic source.
When asked if Pakistan was close to clinching a deal with the lender, a senior Pakistani government figure told Dawn: “Not that I am aware of. This time, they want to make sure that we do not renege on our pledges.”
Former FBR chairman Shabbar Zaidi tweeted, “We do not have any choice other than IMF. All stakeholders have to be on board.” He also suggested removing the “impression that politics and political considerations are overriding economics”, because “at stake is Pakistan.”
“What a tragedy! A country of 224 million people with nuclear capability waiting for consent from junior IMF officers after uselessly delaying the programme for 3 months,” he wrote.

The Supreme Court was informed on Monday that Kenyan authorities were not granting access to the team investigating the murder of journalist Arshad Sharif, who was shot dead last year.
The remarks came as the apex court resumed hearing the suo motu notice of the murder. A five-member bench, comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Jamal Mandokhel, Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar, heard the case.
At the previous hearing, the top court had asked investigators to discuss with the foreign ministry the possibility of involving the United Nations in the murder probe.
It had also said that the court would not interfere in the investigation. “The court is giving freedom to the JIT for probe and the matter should be investigated transparently as the court is very serious about transparent investigations,” the bench had said.
Earlier, a 592-page fact-finding report furnished before the court concluded that the murder was a “planned targeted assassination” that purportedly involved “transnational characters”. The investigators also contested the version put forth by the Kenyan police that Mr Sharif’s killing was a “case of mistaken identity”.
Today’s hearing
At the outset of today’s hearing, Additional Attorney General (AAG) Aamir Rehman told the court that two reports on Sharif’s murder had been submitted in court, one by the Foreign Office and the other by the special joint investigation team (SJIT).
He said that the Kenyan authorities had accepted Pakistan’s request for mutual cooperation in the investigation. “Kenyan authorities have started taking legal action against the two police officials who opened fire at Arshad Sharif’s car.”
However, JIT chief Owais Ahmed said the investigation team had not yet received any material related to Sharif’s murder. “Kenyan officials are not granting us full access needed for the investigation,” he told the court.
At that, AAG Rehman also said that Kenyan authorities had not yet given Pakistan complete access to the crime site. “They have only expressed agreement over mutual legal cooperation.”
Upon hearing this, Justice Naqvi said: “Tell the court clearly whether you have found strong evidence from the investigation conducted in Kenya or not.”
The JIT chief responded that the team was “in contact” with the Kenyan and UAE authorities. He added that the JIT had met doctors and police officials in Kenya, while the UAE officials had yet not allowed the team to conduct an investigation there.
At that, Justice Bandial said that Kenya was a sovereign country and “we should not blame anyone”.
“We have to instead see if the SJIT has correctly conducted investigations in Kenya and UAE,” the top judge remarked, adding that it was yet to be seen if the team was even ready for the investigation.
The CJP pointed out that “mistakes were made both in Pakistan and abroad” in the case.
“Why and on whose directions was the fact-finding committee’s report released,” he asked, observing that the report’s release had alerted the suspects.
“Did the SJIT conduct an inquiry on all the points presented in the fact-finding committee’s report? Which foreign agencies have the SJIT requested cooperation from,” Justice Bandial further inquired.
“There is a mess up between contacting Kenya and going there,” he said, adding that it was the Foreign Office’s responsibility to investigate this.
“Something happened after the fact-finding committee’s report was released because of which Kenya is not cooperating anymore,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Justice Mazhar observed that the Kenyan foreign minister had assured the Foreign Office of cooperation. “Then why was the special JIT not allowed to go to the murder site?
“The same story is being told to us from the first day,” the judge said.
Here, AAG Rehman stated that it was important to maintain diplomatic relations with Kenya. “This matter is complicated,” he said.
On the other hand, Justice Ahsan said that there were three aspects to Sharif’s murder. “Who forced him to leave Pakistan? Was an inquiry initiated on who registered cases against Sharif? What was he shown that forced him to leave?
“When all these links are connected, you will automatically find out who wanted to get rid of Arshad Sharif,” he added.
The AAG informed the court that those who filed cases against Sharif were being investigated. “The names of some government officers came forth, they were also investigated,” he said. “Can’t say anything about who was behind registering cases against Arshad Sharif.”
At this, Justice Naqvi warned the AAG to not “play with the court”. “This was the first stage [of investigation] which could not be completed,” the judge said. “Did the JIT go to have fun in Kenya and UAE?”
Meanwhile, Justice Ahsan inquired about the whereabouts of Sharif’s mobile phone and other belongings.
“His mobile and Ipad are with Kenya’s IT department,” the JIT head replied, adding that the rest of his belongings had been received.
Here, Justice Naqvi asked where the other JIT members were to which Ahmed replied that three of them were present in court.
“Why did the rest of the members not come? Is it not the investigation team’s duty to be present [in court],” Justice Naqvi stated.
Justice Naqvi also questioned why the statements of Khurram and Waqar, who were present with Sharif, were not recorded.
The AAG said Kenyan authorities only permitted the JIT to meet the public prosecutor director. “Kenyan authorities assured us of cooperation but did not let us visit the site of the incident.”
Justice Naqvi then asked why Pakistani authorities were not seeking help from the United Nations. At this, the AAG replied that Kenya was a friendly country and had supported Pakistan on every international forum.
“We do not want to take a step where we lose bilateral and global cooperation,” he said. “For now, the need to seek the UN’s help hadn’t arisen.”
At one point, the chief justice said the JIT would have to look into how the case is moving forward. “Who was bearing Arshad Sharif’s expenses and why?” he asked.
He further said that the Pakistan embassy should also seek help from lawyers and journalists in Nairobi. He advised the authorities concerned to try getting their hands on the Kenyan investigation report into the matter.
The CJP directed the foreign ministry to find out why Kenyan authorities had initially announced to cooperate but had then backtracked. The hearing was subsequently adjourned till the first week of March.
The killing
Sharif had left Pakistan in August last year after a number of cases were registered against him. It was reported that he was initially staying in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after which he went to Kenya, where he was shot dead.
Initially, Kenyan media had quoted the local police as saying Sharif was shot dead by police in a case of “mistaken identity”.
But later reports from the Kenyan media reconstructed the events surrounding the killing, stating that an occupant in Sharif’s car at the time of his killing was believed to have shot at paramilitary General Service Unit (GSU) officers.