Here’s what’s happening across the border: 300 workers of far-right party TLP booked for sedition, and China says any attempt to undermine its relations with Pakistan is bound to fail.
Imran Khan to apprise Pak citizens of his govt’s performance
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will apprise the people of his country about his government’s performance in the first 100 days in office, reports Dawn.
Khan, who will address the nation Thursday, is expected to elaborate his government’s performance in the past three months. Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf came to power on 18 August on development promises.
In the run-up to the election, the PM had unveiled the “agenda” the PTI would focus on during the first 100 days if it came to power.
Khan Tuesday reviewed his government’s performance at a meeting held in Prime Minister’s Office in Islamabad. The PM’s adviser on establishment, Mohammad Shahzad Arab, briefed him and other ministers present there about the 100-day plan and laid out the targets achieved so far as well as the ones that are yet to be worked towards.
The 100-day plan would focus on six areas — transforming governance, strengthening the federation, revitalising economic growth, developing agriculture and conserving water, revolutionising social service and ensuring national security.
300 Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan workers arrested for sedition
Around 300 workers and activists of the political-religious group Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan were arrested on charges of sedition and damaging public property Monday, Dawn reports.
The police crackdown began at Faizabad where TLP leaders Inayatul Haq Shah, Farooqul Hassan and others were allegedly trying to lead a protest and incite hatred against the state among people. Those arrested were sent to Mianwali and Bhakkar prisons.
At least 100 of those detained approached the district magistrate and pleaded for bail claiming that they had no links with the TLP.
‘Attempts to undermine Pak-China ties bound to fail’
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Gen. Shuang said Wednesday that attempts to subvert the relations between China and Pakistan are bound to fail, reports Geo TV.
“I would like to stress that any attempt to undermine the friendship between China and Pakistan is doomed to fail,” he said.
Shuang’s statement was in reference to last Friday’s “terror” attack on Chinese consulate in Karachi that killed two policemen and two civilians. All the three attackers were also killed in the ensuing gun battle.
“The Pakistani side said that they will do their utmost to solve the case, firmly crack down on the organisation which is responsible for the attack and redouble their efforts to ensure the safety of the Chinese institutions and the Chinese citizens in Pakistan and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor,” Shuang was quoted as saying.
The Chinese spokesperson also stated that the governments and civilians from both the sides “trust” and “support” each other. He said that “China and Pakistan deserve the title of all-weather strategic cooperative partners”.
He said Pakistan has the potential to protect itself, safeguard China’s interests in it and also protect the lives of Chinese nationals living in the country.
6 Islamabad airport officials suspended for dereliction of duty
Prime Minister Imran Khan has suspended an immigration officer and five other airport officials for dereliction of duty, reports The Express Tribune.
A passenger coming to Pakistan filmed an empty immigration counter and posted a complaint on Pakistan Citizen Web Portal that was created on the instructions of PM Imran Khan.
Those who faced action included FIA immigration’s ASI Tariq Mehmood, Muhammad Idrees, Muhammad Jibran, Qalb Abbas and Umar Zahoor.
Pak animated series wins global award
An animated series made by Pakistani entrepreneurs Saba Khalid and Tino Hahn has won an award at the tve Global Sustainability Awards. The Ultimate Survivor, featuring a chatbot Raaji, was selected under the category ‘Artificial Intelligence: Empowering the future award’, reports Dawn Images.
The duo were recognised for their broader effort to “tackle myths, taboos and confusions about sex and reproductive health of women and men from developing countries” and create stories based on these subjects on their digital content platform, Aurat Raaj.
Khalid said, “Our team is very excited. This is proof that our vision is supported locally and globally. We’re going to continue to use artificial intelligence and animation to deliver our progressive ideas about health, safety and hygiene.”
We did it!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/EBi6EC8VF0
— Saba Khalid (@S_khalid2) November 26, 2018
The tve Global Sustainability Film Awards, now in its seventh year, is a film competition, specifically for companies and institutions and recognises “those whose films most powerfully portray solutions for sustainability”. The competition categories are modelled on UN’s Sustainability Goals.
The 2018 competition awards were given at London’s British Academy of Film and Television Arts on 26 November.