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US terms Pakistan ‘major’ non-Nato ally, Nato partner

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  • US to work with Pakistan on regional security, defence cooperation.
  • State Dept avoids delving into details on COAS visit.
  • COAS Asim Munir is currently on an official US visit.

WASHINGTON: The United States acknowledges Pakistan’s significance as a “major” ally and plans to partner with it on regional security and defence cooperation.

Responding to a question during a presser on Tuesday, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said Pakistan is a major non-North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) ally and a Nato partner.

The US comment comes at a time when Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir is on his maiden official visit to the US since assuming office in November last year.

The visit comes a day after the conclusion of a two-day stay of US Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West in Pakistan.

The army chief, during his visit, is scheduled to meet senior military and other government officials. However, details of the COAS’s visit have not been disclosed by the military’s media wing.

Responding to a question about the army chief’s official visit, the spokesperson did not delve into the details of his prospective meetings. However, it did share Washington’s wish to partner with Pakistan on regional security and defence cooperation.

“Generally speaking, we look forward to partnering with them on regional security and defence cooperation,” the spokesperson said.

Indian SC ruling on Article 370

In response to another question, the State Department mentioned it is keeping an eye on the developments in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) after India’s top court upheld Delhi’s controversial decision to revoke the special status of the state.

“We continue to follow developments in Jammu and Kashmir closely, noting the Supreme Court’s recent ruling,” the US State Department spokesperson said responding to The News.

“We look forward to further steps by the Indian government to fulfil its pledges to restore political normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir including by holding assembly elections as stipulated in the Supreme Court’s ruling,” it said.

It should be noted that the army chief’s visit coincides with the Indian Supreme Court’s verdict upholding the abrogation of Article 370, which strips the IIOJK of its special status.

This also means that during the visit by the COAS, discussion could be held on this pressing issue.

The Indian SC stated that the occupied territory was an integral part of the country.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government in August 2019 unilaterally abrogated the special status of the occupied valley and deployed tens of thousands of troops in a bid to ward off protests against the illegal move.

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Sheikh Rasheed says PTI and government negotiations won’t provide any results.

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Sheikh Rasheed voiced his worries about the nation’s ongoing political dilemma while speaking outside the Anti-Terrorism Court.

According to Sheikh Rasheed, a committee was established to negotiate, but the process has not produced any tangible results. In order to emphasize the seriousness of the situation, he said, “Political conditions are extremely bad.”

He made the joke, “Even after war, if negotiations fail, then it will all come down to judo karate,” in reference to the next steps.

“Everyone there prays for Pakistan’s betterment,” Sheikh Rasheed, who had returned from Saudi Arabia, said. He emphasized the necessity for the nation’s circumstances to improve and stabilize.

Assad Qaiser, a former speaker and PTI leader, had earlier called on Speaker Ayaz Sadiq of the National Assembly to discuss the official start of talks with the government.

The two leaders shared their opinions on bringing parties together on matters of national importance and reducing political tensions and conflict.

“I will persuade my people, you persuade the hardliners in your party,” Ayaz Sadiq said to Assad Qaiser.

The party’s founder is in jail, and the PTI leadership has asked to meet with him. “We will continue to confer with him,” Assad Qaiser declared.

Earlier, PTI leader Shaukat Yousafzai stated that if the discussions don’t begin, a campaign of civil disobedience will begin on December 14.

Speaking to the media Regarding the meetings, Yousafzai claimed that the government ministers were making insincere remarks.

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Bushra Bibi maintains bail as the IHC concludes the FIA’s petition.

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The Islamabad High Court (IHC) conducted a hearing about the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) plea for the revocation of Bushra Bibi’s bail.

The court, led by Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, rejected the FIA’s petition during the hearing.

Judicial Proceedings

Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb sought information regarding Bushra Bibi’s location, to which her attorney, Barrister Salman Safdar, affirmed her attendance in court.

The judge urged the counsel to regard the matters with gravity, underscoring the necessity of adherence to trial protocols.

The court sought details about instances where Bushra Bibi had been exempted from attending trial hearings and clarified that if the High Court grants bail and the accused fails to appear, the trial court holds the authority to cancel the bail.

Justice Aurangzeb assured that such actions would not amount to contempt of the High Court’s order.

Based on these considerations, the court closed the proceedings and dismissed the FIA’s plea.

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The Supreme Court has granted the appeal of the PTI founder for a judicial probe into the events of May 9.

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The Supreme Court has officially accepted the plea submitted by the PTI chairman for a judicial probe into the events of May 9 for a comprehensive hearing.

The constitutional bench of the Supreme Court annulled the registrar’s office’s objections to the petition and instructed the office to allocate a case number and arrange the hearing.

The PTI chairman was represented by prominent attorney Hamid Khan, who appeared in court to argue for the petition’s admission.

The Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) already convicted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in connection with the incidents on May 9 and denied his bail on eight distinct counts.

The court’s finding was delivered in a six-page written order by ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gul.

The written ruling emphasized substantial evidence against the PTI founder, comprising audio and visual recordings of his directives to incite violence.

The court observed that witnesses had provided testimony on the conspiracy planned by Imran Khan at Zaman Park, where he purportedly strategized for his possible arrest by intending to disrupt state functions via his supporters.

Imran Khan’s legal counsel contended that he was in custody at the time of the incidents, proposing that bail be granted in accordance with precedents where bail was awarded in like circumstances following detention.

Nevertheless, the court rejected this argument, underscoring that the case’s nature was not a trifling issue of conspiracy or incitement.

The prosecution established that Mr. Khan had explicitly incited assaults on military and governmental facilities and had galvanized both his commanders and supporters to adhere to his directives.

The decision additionally cited the Lahore High Court’s finding regarding a prior release granted to Ijaz Chaudhry, highlighting Imran Khan’s involvement in the conspiracy. The court dismissed the defense’s challenge over the prosecution’s lack of specificity concerning the date, time, or location of the purported conspiracy, affirming that the scheme was allegedly devised on May 7 and May 9 at Zaman Park.

The prosecution asserts that undercover police officers, masquerading as PTI supporters, intercepted discussions outlining the scheme.

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