In a dramatic U-turn, the Pakistani cabinet has deferred the import of sugar and cotton from India. The&nbsp;flip flop came&nbsp;a day after the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet had given approval for import of white sugar from India up to 500,000 metric tonne&nbsp;till June 30, and import of cotton till the date.&nbsp;

Restoration of special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir has been a key issue for Islamabad vis a vis import of sugar and cotton.&nbsp;

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Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said, "Cabinet deferred the decision, till India reverses the 5th August decision of 2019, till that time it won't be easy to normalise the things".

Pakistani Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid, speaking to reporters after the Cabinet meet, said, "We have deferred the import of sugar and cotton till India reverses its decision of removal of Article 370 from Kashmir".

India had removed article 370 or special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019. As a reaction to it, Islamabad recalled its envoy from New Delhi, cut trade ties and people-to-people relationship by suspending train and bus services.&nbsp;

Pakistani government sources told WION that Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari, Sheikh Rashid, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Finance Minister Asad Umar had opposed the proposal by ECC on imports from India, which led to the matter being deferred in the federal Cabinet meeting.

Earlier today,&nbsp;sources in Delhi told WION they were fine with Pakistan's decision to import sugar and cotton from India. Pakistan doesn't require any permission to import from India as New Delhi hasn't banned exports to Pakistan.

The development comes&nbsp;even as there has been some positive sentiment by both Delhi and Islamabad.&nbsp;

Earlier this year, militaries of both the countries came up with a joint statement for observance of the 2003 ceasefire pace at Line of Control.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had written to Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Pakistan's National Day on March 23, to which the latter replied. Other than this, while on his visit to Colombo, the Pakistani PM's plane had requested for the use of Indian air space.&nbsp;

There have not been any formal talks between the two sides for years now, and ties deteriorated after the 2019 Pulwama terror attack.

In a dramatic U-turn, the Pakistani cabinet has deferred the import of sugar and cotton from India. The flip flop came a day after the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet had given approval for import of white sugar from India up to 500,000 metric tonne till June 30, and import of cotton till the date.

In a dramatic U-turn, the Pakistani cabinet has deferred the import of sugar and cotton from India. The flip flop came a day after the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet had given approval for import of white sugar from India up to 500,000 metric tonne till June 30, and import of cotton till the date. Restoration of special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir has been a key issue for Islamabad vis a vis import of sugar and cotton. Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said, "Cabinet deferred the decision, till India reverses the 5th August decision of 2019, till that time it won't be easy to normalise the things". Pakistani Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid, speaking to reporters after the Cabinet meet, said, "We have deferred the import of sugar and cotton till India reverses its decision of removal of Article 370 from Kashmir". India had removed article 370 or special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019. As a reaction to it, Islamabad recalled its envoy from New Delhi, cut trade ties and people-to-people relationship by suspending train and bus services. Pakistani government sources told WION that Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari, Sheikh Rashid, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Finance Minister Asad Umar had opposed the proposal by ECC on imports from India, which led to the matter being deferred in the federal Cabinet meeting. Earlier today, sources in Delhi told WION they were fine with Pakistan's decision to import sugar and cotton from India. Pakistan doesn't require any permission to import from India as New Delhi hasn't banned exports to Pakistan. The development comes even as there has been some positive sentiment by both Delhi and Islamabad. Earlier this year, militaries of both the countries came up with a joint statement for observance of the 2003 ceasefire pace at Line of Control. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had written to Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Pakistan's National Day on March 23, to which the latter replied. Other than this, while on his visit to Colombo, the Pakistani PM's plane had requested for the use of Indian air space. There have not been any formal talks between the two sides for years now, and ties deteriorated after the 2019 Pulwama terror attack.

Flip flop! Pakistan makes a U-turn on import of cotton, sugar from India, citing Kashmir

The gradual restoration of bilateral trade ties between India-Pakistan has brightened after the new ceasefire agreement along the Line of Control in February.

Amid fears of a shortage of industrial input in textile production, the Textile ministry of Pakistan has recommended the lifting of a ban on the import of cotton from India to bridge the raw material shortfall the country’s textile sector was facing.

The Ministry of Textile Industry has sought permission from the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet to lift the ban on the import of cotton and cotton yarn from India, the Dawn News reported, quoting official sources.

”We already submitted the summary to the ECC more than a week ago to lift the ban,” an official said, adding the decision of the coordination committee will then be placed before the federal Cabinet for formal approval.

Prime Minister Khan, as in-charge of the Commerce and Textile Ministry, has already approved the summary to be placed before the ECC, the report said.

The low yield of cotton bales in Pakistan has created problems, paving the way for import from India. The government’s decision to consider lifting the ban from India came as a big relief for the value-added textile sector, which seeks access to cheap raw materials. Currently, cotton and yarn imports are allowed from all countries except India.

Pakistan suspended trade ties with India after New Delhi revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019. Pakistan has been unsuccessfully trying to drum up international support against India for withdrawing Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and bifurcating it into two Union territories in August 2019.

In May 2020, Pakistan lifted the ban on the import of medicines and raw material from India to ensure there is no shortage of essential drugs amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This was the first step of reversing the complete suspension of trade with India.

Commerce Adviser Razak Dawood tweeted, ”A meeting was held with the Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI escalating prices of cotton yarn were discussed. He was sympathetic towards the value-added sectors &amp; advised that in order to ease the pressure on yarn and keep the momentum of value-added exports.” ”All steps be taken through cross-border imports of cotton yarn including by land. A summary will be presented at the next ECC to ensure availability of cotton and yarn in the coming months,” the commerce adviser said in another tweet.

The textile sector has hailed the government’s move. Pakistan Textile Exporters Association Chairman Khurram Mukhtar in a tweet said that the import of raw cotton, yarn and grey fabric from India will bridge the gap in demand and supply. It will enable Pakistani exporters to continue growth momentum, he said.

According to reports, against the annual estimated consumption of a minimum of 12 million bales, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research expects only 7.7 million bales production this year. However, cotton ginners have given the lowest production estimates of only 5.5 million bales for this year.

There is a minimum shortfall of six million bales and Pakistan has so far imported roughly 688,305 metric tonnes of cotton and yarn, costing USD 1.1 billion, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. There is still a gap of about 3.5 million bales that needs to be filled through imports.

Due to a shortage of cotton and yarn, the users were compelled to import them from the United States, Brazil and Uzbekistan.

Imports from India would be far cheaper and would reach Pakistan within three to four days. Importing yarn from other countries was not only expensive but would also take one to two months to reach Pakistan.

(With input from agencies)

The gradual restoration of bilateral trade ties between India-Pakistan has brightened after the new ceasefire agreement along the Line of Control in February. Amid fears of a shortage of industrial input in textile production, the Textile ministry of Pakistan has recommended the lifting of a ban on the import of cotton from India to bridge the raw material shortfall the country’s textile sector was facing.

The gradual restoration of bilateral trade ties between India-Pakistan has brightened after the new ceasefire agreement along the Line of Control in February. Amid fears of a shortage of industrial input in textile production, the Textile ministry of Pakistan has recommended the lifting of a ban on the import of cotton from India to bridge the raw material shortfall the country’s textile sector was facing. The Ministry of Textile Industry has sought permission from the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet to lift the ban on the import of cotton and cotton yarn from India, the Dawn News reported, quoting official sources. ”We already submitted the summary to the ECC more than a week ago to lift the ban,” an official said, adding the decision of the coordination committee will then be placed before the federal Cabinet for formal approval. Prime Minister Khan, as in-charge of the Commerce and Textile Ministry, has already approved the summary to be placed before the ECC, the report said. The low yield of cotton bales in Pakistan has created problems, paving the way for import from India. The government’s decision to consider lifting the ban from India came as a big relief for the value-added textile sector, which seeks access to cheap raw materials. Currently, cotton and yarn imports are allowed from all countries except India. Pakistan suspended trade ties with India after New Delhi revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019. Pakistan has been unsuccessfully trying to drum up international support against India for withdrawing Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and bifurcating it into two Union territories in August 2019. In May 2020, Pakistan lifted the ban on the import of medicines and raw material from India to ensure there is no shortage of essential drugs amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This was the first step of reversing the complete suspension of trade with India. Commerce Adviser Razak Dawood tweeted, ”A meeting was held with the Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI escalating prices of cotton yarn were discussed. He was sympathetic towards the value-added sectors & advised that in order to ease the pressure on yarn and keep the momentum of value-added exports.” ”All steps be taken through cross-border imports of cotton yarn including by land. A summary will be presented at the next ECC to ensure availability of cotton and yarn in the coming months,” the commerce adviser said in another tweet. The textile sector has hailed the government’s move. Pakistan Textile Exporters Association Chairman Khurram Mukhtar in a tweet said that the import of raw cotton, yarn and grey fabric from India will bridge the gap in demand and supply. It will enable Pakistani exporters to continue growth momentum, he said. According to reports, against the annual estimated consumption of a minimum of 12 million bales, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research expects only 7.7 million bales production this year. However, cotton ginners have given the lowest production estimates of only 5.5 million bales for this year. There is a minimum shortfall of six million bales and Pakistan has so far imported roughly 688,305 metric tonnes of cotton and yarn, costing USD 1.1 billion, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. There is still a gap of about 3.5 million bales that needs to be filled through imports. Due to a shortage of cotton and yarn, the users were compelled to import them from the United States, Brazil and Uzbekistan. Imports from India would be far cheaper and would reach Pakistan within three to four days. Importing yarn from other countries was not only expensive but would also take one to two months to reach Pakistan. (With input from agencies)

Pakistan’s Textile Ministry asks Imran Khan govt to lift ban on import of cotton from India

Terming Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan government "illegitimate" and "incompetent", Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that supporters of the government are "culprits" and involved in all the problems being faced by the country at present.

Addressing a gathering of JUI-F workers in Tank on Monday, Fazlur Rehman said the incumbent government did not have the right to stay in office as it is a "product of fraud", Geo News reported. "This illegitimate government is a product of fraud. I am bound by the oath I have taken [...] In this situation, we have to do principled politics," he said, adding that the country belongs to everyone and that it was not anyone's personal property.

He added that all Opposition parties were on the same page that the 2018 general elections were "rigged". "Pakistan is facing internal and external problems," he said, adding that the state would be strong when its economic conditions improved.

Fazlur Rehman's remarks come a day after several political leaders of the PDM addressed crowds gathered on Sunday at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh in Larkana to commemorate the 13th death anniversary of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

Fazlur Rehman, who is also the chief of the PM, said the next meeting of the leadership of the alliance will be held on January 1 in Lahore to formulate its future strategy. The PDM has demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan till January 31 and in case of no resignation, it has announced a long march.

Terming Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan government "illegitimate" and "incompetent", Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that supporters of the government are "culprits" and involved in all the problems being faced by the country at present.

Terming Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan government "illegitimate" and "incompetent", Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that supporters of the government are "culprits" and involved in all the problems being faced by the country at present. Addressing a gathering of JUI-F workers in Tank on Monday, Fazlur Rehman said the incumbent government did not have the right to stay in office as it is a "product of fraud", Geo News reported. "This illegitimate government is a product of fraud. I am bound by the oath I have taken [...] In this situation, we have to do principled politics," he said, adding that the country belongs to everyone and that it was not anyone's personal property. He added that all Opposition parties were on the same page that the 2018 general elections were "rigged". "Pakistan is facing internal and external problems," he said, adding that the state would be strong when its economic conditions improved. Fazlur Rehman's remarks come a day after several political leaders of the PDM addressed crowds gathered on Sunday at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh in Larkana to commemorate the 13th death anniversary of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. Fazlur Rehman, who is also the chief of the PM, said the next meeting of the leadership of the alliance will be held on January 1 in Lahore to formulate its future strategy. The PDM has demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan till January 31 and in case of no resignation, it has announced a long march.

Imran Khan government is illegitimate, incompetent: Pakistan's united opposition Chief Fazlur Rehman

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday reshuffled his Cabinet, days after a top court barred un-elected advisers and special assistants from heading the Cabinet committees.

This is the fourth Cabinet shakeup since Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) came to power in 2018. The reshuffle followed the December 7 verdict of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) barring un-elected advisers and special assistants from heading Cabinet committees.

The court ruled that special assistants and advisers to the prime minister were not members of the Cabinet and therefore, cannot be part of Cabinet proceedings.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/world-bank-approves-300-milllion-loan-for-cash-strapped-pakistan-348879" hreflang="en">World Bank approves $300 milllion loan for cash-strapped Pakistan</a>

On Friday, Khan elevated Sheikh Rashid Ahmed as interior minister and appointed Dr. Abdul Hafeez Sheikh as finance minister.

=State-run Radio Pakistan reported that Ahmed was already a part of the Cabinet working as minister for railways, while Hafeez Sheikh was serving as advisor on finance and revenue.

Hafeez Sheikh is not an elected member and he could not lead several committees. He was appointed as minister under Article 91 (9) of the Constitution and can serve as a minister for six months. He must be elected as a member of the National Assembly or Senate to continue after that. 
Brigadier (Retd) Ijaz Ahmad Shah who was serving the interior minister was appointed as minister for narcotics control, while Azam Khan Swati was appointed as minister for railways.

It is believed that Hafeez Sheikh would be made a senator in March when the election for the upper house is scheduled to be held. 
The most notable elevation in the new Cabinet is that of Ahmed, who despite failing to improve the functioning of the railways, was given the charge of the interior ministry, a key portfolio.

The IHC judgment noted that Article 93 of the Constitution allows the prime minister to appoint up to five advisors and conferring of a federal minister status on an advisor is "only for the purpose of perks and privileges" and "does not make the advisor a federal minister as such".

The court had subsequently set aside the notification of the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation, headed by Hafeez. The move was seen as a major blow to government's privatisation efforts that were being spearheaded by un-elected members of the federal Cabinet, the Dawn newspaper reported.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday reshuffled his Cabinet, days after a top court barred un-elected advisers and special assistants from heading the Cabinet committees.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday reshuffled his Cabinet, days after a top court barred un-elected advisers and special assistants from heading the Cabinet committees. This is the fourth Cabinet shakeup since Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) came to power in 2018. The reshuffle followed the December 7 verdict of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) barring un-elected advisers and special assistants from heading Cabinet committees. The court ruled that special assistants and advisers to the prime minister were not members of the Cabinet and therefore, cannot be part of Cabinet proceedings. Also read: World Bank approves $300 milllion loan for cash-strapped Pakistan On Friday, Khan elevated Sheikh Rashid Ahmed as interior minister and appointed Dr. Abdul Hafeez Sheikh as finance minister. =State-run Radio Pakistan reported that Ahmed was already a part of the Cabinet working as minister for railways, while Hafeez Sheikh was serving as advisor on finance and revenue. Hafeez Sheikh is not an elected member and he could not lead several committees. He was appointed as minister under Article 91 (9) of the Constitution and can serve as a minister for six months. He must be elected as a member of the National Assembly or Senate to continue after that. Brigadier (Retd) Ijaz Ahmad Shah who was serving the interior minister was appointed as minister for narcotics control, while Azam Khan Swati was appointed as minister for railways. It is believed that Hafeez Sheikh would be made a senator in March when the election for the upper house is scheduled to be held. The most notable elevation in the new Cabinet is that of Ahmed, who despite failing to improve the functioning of the railways, was given the charge of the interior ministry, a key portfolio. The IHC judgment noted that Article 93 of the Constitution allows the prime minister to appoint up to five advisors and conferring of a federal minister status on an advisor is "only for the purpose of perks and privileges" and "does not make the advisor a federal minister as such". The court had subsequently set aside the notification of the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation, headed by Hafeez. The move was seen as a major blow to government's privatisation efforts that were being spearheaded by un-elected members of the federal Cabinet, the Dawn newspaper reported.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan reshuffles Cabinet on court's directive

What is Pakistan planning on the first anniversary of India's Kashmir decision? WION has accessed exclusive details of Pakistan's information war campaign. On the 5th of August - the Imran Khan government is planning a series of events to protest India's Kashmir move.

Gravitas Exclusive: One year of India's Kashmir decision, Pakistan plans propaganda campaign

The lockdown in Pakistan has been extended until April 30. The partial lockdown had come into effect since March 26 but Pakistan's responses have been slow and have faced much criticism. Watch report.

Imran Khan's government adopt South Korea's model | Coronavirus Pandemic

The Pakistan government has pledged $3 million to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation’s (SAARC) COVID-19 Emergency Fund. However, it has set a condition that the facility is administered by the Saarc secretariat. Pakistan is the last of SAARC's eight members to contribute to the fund. Watch report.

Pakistan government pledges $3 MN to SAARC COVID-19 Fund | Coronavirus Pandemic

Pakistan has boycotted India led SAARC meet on the coronavirus crisis. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the video conference of all the SAARC member nations to discuss the remedy for the coronavirus outbreak in the SAARC nations.

SAARC meet: Pakistan engages in petty politics amid coronavirus crisis

Pakistan refuses to attend SAARC meet on COVID-19

A day after reports emerged of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/abducted-pakistan-journalist-gul-bukhari-returns-home-142485">Gul Bukhari </a>being summoned by Pakistan's anti-terrorism squad, the London-based activist hit back at authorities with a cryptic tweet.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/latest-south-asia-news-pakistani-activist-gul-bukhari-threatened-with-terror-charges-280220">Also Read:&nbsp;Pakistan's anti-terror wing summons activist Gul Bukhari</a>

"I’m a terrorist. Please fear me," <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-army-denies-abducting-british-activist-143352">Gul Bukhari</a> said in a tweet, adding,"the terrorist," with an emoji while taking a dig&nbsp;at Pakistan&nbsp;officials.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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I’m a terrorist. Please fear me.
— Gul Bukhari (@GulBukhari) <a href="https://twitter.com/GulBukhari/status/1227656347522564098?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"Committee to protect journalists, CPJ, slams the Pakistan government over slapping terrorism charges on me," she said in her tweet.

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The terrorist. 😂 <a href="https://t.co/DhftobdFVu">https://t.co/DhftobdFVu</a>
— Gul Bukhari (@GulBukhari) <a href="https://twitter.com/GulBukhari/status/1227655080805117954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The anti-terror wing had accused the activist of harbouring anti-Pakistan agenda, being a part of a cyber-terrorism ring and being associated with the Haqqani network and the Balochistan Liberation army.&nbsp;

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Committee to Protect Journalists, CPJ, slams the Pakistan government over slapping terrorism charges on me. <a href="https://t.co/tXRuForbGQ">https://t.co/tXRuForbGQ</a>
— Gul Bukhari (@GulBukhari) <a href="https://twitter.com/GulBukhari/status/1227654052655267840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2020</a></blockquote>
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According to the summon,&nbsp;Bukhari's property can be confiscated if she does not respond in the next 30 days.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/abducted-pakistan-journalist-gul-bukhari-returns-home-142485">Also Read: Abducted Pakistan journalist Gul Bukhari returns home</a>

Bukhari has been a strong critic of the Pakistan army and has consistently questioned the extra-constitutional influence that the army has had over the civilian government in Pakistan.

Two years ago Bukhari was abducted by an unidentified group of people but was released later. She is now based in London.&nbsp;

A day after reports emerged of Gul Bukhari being summoned by Pakistan's anti-terrorism squad, the London-based activist hit back at authorities with a cryptic tweet.

A day after reports emerged of Gul Bukhari being summoned by Pakistan's anti-terrorism squad, the London-based activist hit back at authorities with a cryptic tweet. Also Read: Pakistan's anti-terror wing summons activist Gul Bukhari "I’m a terrorist. Please fear me," Gul Bukhari said in a tweet, adding,"the terrorist," with an emoji while taking a dig at Pakistan officials. I’m a terrorist. Please fear me. — Gul Bukhari (@GulBukhari) February 12, 2020 × "Committee to protect journalists, CPJ, slams the Pakistan government over slapping terrorism charges on me," she said in her tweet. The terrorist. 😂 https://t.co/DhftobdFVu — Gul Bukhari (@GulBukhari) February 12, 2020 × The anti-terror wing had accused the activist of harbouring anti-Pakistan agenda, being a part of a cyber-terrorism ring and being associated with the Haqqani network and the Balochistan Liberation army. Committee to Protect Journalists, CPJ, slams the Pakistan government over slapping terrorism charges on me. https://t.co/tXRuForbGQ — Gul Bukhari (@GulBukhari) February 12, 2020 × According to the summon, Bukhari's property can be confiscated if she does not respond in the next 30 days. Also Read: Abducted Pakistan journalist Gul Bukhari returns home Bukhari has been a strong critic of the Pakistan army and has consistently questioned the extra-constitutional influence that the army has had over the civilian government in Pakistan. Two years ago Bukhari was abducted by an unidentified group of people but was released later. She is now based in London.

I'm a terrorist, please fear me, says Pak activist Gul Bukhari after anti-terror wing summon

Hundreds of Pakistani students are trapped in China. But the Imran Khan government has no plans to evacuate them. As the deadly Wuhan virus spreads, Pakistani citizens are appealing for help.

Coronavirus outbreak: Pak people urged Imran govt to evacuate them from China

Wuhan Virus: Pak refuses to help stranded citizens | Gravitas

Pakistan has now directly targeted WION.

Pakistan higher education commission has issued a circular against the WION mobile app asking the government employees to refrain from installing the app on their mobile phones.

The circular says: "The WION application takes suspicious permissions to access camera, storage etc and shared its data on servers hosted in India."

"Users are advised to refrain from downloading or installing WION app as soon as possible. If already installed WION then same must be immediately uninstalled."&nbsp;

The Pakistan government has internally circulated their so called advice within the government offices. 
<img alt="Pakistan bans WION app" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="73d3cc7d-9541-49f5-8ef0-d8ca1801479c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202020-01-30T184314.033.jpg" />

Now, the mobile phone app of WION has become dangerous to Pakistan government employees over something which is a standard feature of most apps these days.

Pakistan's media censorship is not new to the world. The last two years have seen a rapid decline in media freedom in Pakistan. The Pakistan&nbsp;national media has been&nbsp;witnessing one of the darkest periods in decades and the situation has remarkably deteriorated post-2018 prime ministerial elections.&nbsp;&nbsp;

National television news channels like - channel 24, abbtak news, and Capital TV&nbsp;were taken off air across the country in July last year after airing a live press conference by opposition leader Maryam Nawaz.&nbsp;

Media rights watchdogs had condemned the suspension of three Pakistani television news channels calling the move indicative of "disturbing dictatorial tendencies".

Pakistan ranks 142 out of 180 countries on reporters without borders' World Press Freedom Index. After targeting news organisations within the country, Pakistan has expanded its sustained campaign of censorship to India citing national security.

Pakistan has now directly targeted WION. Pakistan higher education commission has issued a circular against the WION mobile app asking the government employees to refrain from installing the app on their mobile phones.

Pakistan has now directly targeted WION. Pakistan higher education commission has issued a circular against the WION mobile app asking the government employees to refrain from installing the app on their mobile phones. The circular says: "The WION application takes suspicious permissions to access camera, storage etc and shared its data on servers hosted in India." "Users are advised to refrain from downloading or installing WION app as soon as possible. If already installed WION then same must be immediately uninstalled." The Pakistan government has internally circulated their so called advice within the government offices. Now, the mobile phone app of WION has become dangerous to Pakistan government employees over something which is a standard feature of most apps these days. Pakistan's media censorship is not new to the world. The last two years have seen a rapid decline in media freedom in Pakistan. The Pakistan national media has been witnessing one of the darkest periods in decades and the situation has remarkably deteriorated post-2018 prime ministerial elections. National television news channels like - channel 24, abbtak news, and Capital TV were taken off air across the country in July last year after airing a live press conference by opposition leader Maryam Nawaz. Media rights watchdogs had condemned the suspension of three Pakistani television news channels calling the move indicative of "disturbing dictatorial tendencies". Pakistan ranks 142 out of 180 countries on reporters without borders' World Press Freedom Index. After targeting news organisations within the country, Pakistan has expanded its sustained campaign of censorship to India citing national security.

Pakistan government targets WION app

In Pakistan, the clash between the lawyers and doctors at a Lahore hospital has taken an ugly twist resulting in the death of three patients. The political parties are now attacking the Imran Khan government as the area of the clash is governed by the Imran Khan government.

WION Dispatch: Lawyers stir in Pakistan claims lives of 3, Opposition targets Imran Khan

Forget About Outsiders, Imran Khan Government Does Not Seem To Have Support At Home. Are Pakistanis convinced with the arguments of their own government? Especially with the crackdown on any form of dissent. Activists in Gilgit-Baltistan, even prominent actors have all launched a tirade against Pakistan government. This report explores the criticism that Khan is facing in Pakistan.

WION Gravitas: Do Pakistanis support their own government?

Three members of the Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed-led Jamaat-ud-Dawa have been arrested on the charges of terror financing in Pakistan's Punjab province, amid pressure from the global community on Islamabad to rein in the militant groups.

In a statement issued here late Thursday, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab police said it arrested the three members during a raid on their hideout in Faisalabad, some 150 kilometres from Lahore.

"Millions of rupees have been recovered from their possession which they had collected for terror financing," it said.

The CTD also said a report had been submitted to the Anti-Terrorism Court in Faisalabad against them.

Last week, the Pakistani authorities arrested over 10 members of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror group in Punjab on similar charges.

A nation-wide crackdown against terror financing has been underway, police said.

The Pakistan government has launched a crackdown against the outlawed organisations under the National Action Plan 2015 to eliminate militancy and extremism from the country's soil.

The Imran Khan-led government has also announced the freezing of accounts and seizure of assets linked to organisations banned by the UN Security Council.

Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Saeed has been keeping a low profile after Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government took control of the JuD and its wing Falahai Insaniat Foundation's (FIF) properties, including seminaries and mosques, across the country.

On February 21, the Pakistan government announced it had banned the JuD and FIF, amid intense global pressure to rein in the militant groups following the February 14 Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 CRPF jawans.

Saeed has been barred from entering the JuD headquarters in Lahore and is reportedly spending most of his time at his Jauhar Town Lahore residence.

Saeed's brother-in-law <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/hafiz-saeeds-brother-in-law-abdul-rehman-makki-arrested-in-pakistan-218896">Hafiz Abdur Rehman Makki </a>was also arrested this month on charges of making for hate speech and criticising the Pakistan government's action against 'terror' financing.

He has detained at camp jail Lahore for 90 days under a public security order.

According to officials, JuD's network includes 300 seminaries and schools, hospitals, a publishing house and ambulance service. The two groups have about 50,000 volunteers and hundreds of other paid workers.

The JuD is believed to be the front organisation for the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) which is responsible for carrying out the Mumbai attack that killed 166 people. It had been declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the US in June 2014.

The US Department of the Treasury has designated its chief Saeed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, and the US, since 2012, has offered a $10 million rewards for information that brings Saeed to justice.

Saeed was listed under UN Security Council Resolution 1267 in December 2008. He was released from house arrest in Pakistan in November 2017.&nbsp;

Three members of the Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed-led Jamaat-ud-Dawa have been arrested on the charges of terror financing in Pakistan's Punjab province, amid pressure from the global community on Islamabad to rein in the militant groups.

Three members of the Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed-led Jamaat-ud-Dawa have been arrested on the charges of terror financing in Pakistan's Punjab province, amid pressure from the global community on Islamabad to rein in the militant groups. In a statement issued here late Thursday, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab police said it arrested the three members during a raid on their hideout in Faisalabad, some 150 kilometres from Lahore. "Millions of rupees have been recovered from their possession which they had collected for terror financing," it said. The CTD also said a report had been submitted to the Anti-Terrorism Court in Faisalabad against them. Last week, the Pakistani authorities arrested over 10 members of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror group in Punjab on similar charges. A nation-wide crackdown against terror financing has been underway, police said. The Pakistan government has launched a crackdown against the outlawed organisations under the National Action Plan 2015 to eliminate militancy and extremism from the country's soil. The Imran Khan-led government has also announced the freezing of accounts and seizure of assets linked to organisations banned by the UN Security Council. Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Saeed has been keeping a low profile after Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government took control of the JuD and its wing Falahai Insaniat Foundation's (FIF) properties, including seminaries and mosques, across the country. On February 21, the Pakistan government announced it had banned the JuD and FIF, amid intense global pressure to rein in the militant groups following the February 14 Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 CRPF jawans. Saeed has been barred from entering the JuD headquarters in Lahore and is reportedly spending most of his time at his Jauhar Town Lahore residence. Saeed's brother-in-law Hafiz Abdur Rehman Makki was also arrested this month on charges of making for hate speech and criticising the Pakistan government's action against 'terror' financing. He has detained at camp jail Lahore for 90 days under a public security order. According to officials, JuD's network includes 300 seminaries and schools, hospitals, a publishing house and ambulance service. The two groups have about 50,000 volunteers and hundreds of other paid workers. The JuD is believed to be the front organisation for the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) which is responsible for carrying out the Mumbai attack that killed 166 people. It had been declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the US in June 2014. The US Department of the Treasury has designated its chief Saeed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, and the US, since 2012, has offered a $10 million rewards for information that brings Saeed to justice. Saeed was listed under UN Security Council Resolution 1267 in December 2008. He was released from house arrest in Pakistan in November 2017.

Pakistan authorities arrest 3 Jamaat-ud-Dawa members from Punjab province

The Imran Khan government has filed a complaint of misconduct against some Supreme Court and High Court judges for hiding their foreign properties in countries like Spain and the UK, according to a media report on Tuesday.

President Arif Alvi has sent a reference of misconduct against three apex court judges who, allegedly, did not declare their foreign properties in their wealth statements, The Express Tribune reported.

However, there is no official confirmation whether the Supreme Judicial Council has received the reference against the judges.

The references, prepared by the law ministry, were filed with the help of a former Supreme Court judge, the report said.

The wife of one of the judges purchased some property in Spain which was not disclosed in his wealth statement, the report said.

Legal experts said they would see whether the spouse is listed as a dependent in the tax records of the judge.

A complaint has also been lodged against a few high courts judges, one of whom allegedly owns inherent property in the UK.

The cash-strapped Imran Khan government has vowed to bring back all ill-gotten wealth of people who have stashed them abroad.&nbsp;

The Imran Khan government has filed a complaint of misconduct against some Supreme Court and High Court judges for hiding their foreign properties in countries like Spain and the UK, according to a media report on Tuesday.

The Imran Khan government has filed a complaint of misconduct against some Supreme Court and High Court judges for hiding their foreign properties in countries like Spain and the UK, according to a media report on Tuesday. President Arif Alvi has sent a reference of misconduct against three apex court judges who, allegedly, did not declare their foreign properties in their wealth statements, The Express Tribune reported. However, there is no official confirmation whether the Supreme Judicial Council has received the reference against the judges. The references, prepared by the law ministry, were filed with the help of a former Supreme Court judge, the report said. The wife of one of the judges purchased some property in Spain which was not disclosed in his wealth statement, the report said. Legal experts said they would see whether the spouse is listed as a dependent in the tax records of the judge. A complaint has also been lodged against a few high courts judges, one of whom allegedly owns inherent property in the UK. The cash-strapped Imran Khan government has vowed to bring back all ill-gotten wealth of people who have stashed them abroad.

Pakistan turns heat on top judges, files cases for not disclosing properties abroad

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