Pakistan's Punjab police on Wednesday confirmed the arrest of Abdul Rehman Makki, the brother-in-law of JuD chief Hafiz Saeed.

Makki was arrested late Tuesday night on charges of hate speech as part of the national action plan from Gujranwala.

Under the national action plan, hate speech has been defined as&nbsp;a criminal offence. The plan also prohibits&nbsp;banned organisations to collect any donations.

Abdul Rehman Makki is the deputy Ameer of Jamaat ud Dawa (JuD), second in command to Hafiz Saeed and Saeed's brother-in-law as well.

Makki had recently delivered&nbsp;a speech criticising the recent terror outfits in Pakistan.

He had also appealed for collecting funds for JuD and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) and had also criticised the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) greylisting of Pakistan.

Makki's speech was a direct confrontation with the state and challenged its writ on the implementation of the National Action Plan.

Following the&nbsp;arrest of Makki, the Punjab province was put on high alert.

Pakistan's Punjab police on Wednesday confirmed the arrest of Abdul Rehman Makki, the brother-in-law of JuD chief Hafiz Saeed. Makki was arrested late Tuesday night on charges of hate speech as part of the national action plan from Gujranwala.

Pakistan's Punjab police on Wednesday confirmed the arrest of Abdul Rehman Makki, the brother-in-law of JuD chief Hafiz Saeed. Makki was arrested late Tuesday night on charges of hate speech as part of the national action plan from Gujranwala. Under the national action plan, hate speech has been defined as a criminal offence. The plan also prohibits banned organisations to collect any donations. Abdul Rehman Makki is the deputy Ameer of Jamaat ud Dawa (JuD), second in command to Hafiz Saeed and Saeed's brother-in-law as well. Makki had recently delivered a speech criticising the recent terror outfits in Pakistan. He had also appealed for collecting funds for JuD and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) and had also criticised the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) greylisting of Pakistan. Makki's speech was a direct confrontation with the state and challenged its writ on the implementation of the National Action Plan. Following the arrest of Makki, the Punjab province was put on high alert.

Hafiz Saeed's brother in law Abdul Rehman Makki arrested in Pakistan

This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the morning from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning, May 14th 2019

An improvised bomb rigged to a motorcycle and apparently targeting a police vehicle exploded near a mosque in the western Pakistani city of Quetta on Monday (May 13), killing at least four policemen and wounding 11,

Blast in Pakistani city Quetta kills four police

After a deep internal review of the recent conflict with Pakistan,<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-strike-heres-why-balakot-was-chosen-by-indian-air-force-199792"> the Indian Army is planning to deploy</a> a number of its air defence units close to the border to thwart aerial threats emanating from Pakistan.

"Some of the fighting formations including air defence and other defensive formations are now planned to be moved closer to the borders," top Army sources told ANI.

"With these air defence units deployed closer to the border, we would be able to tackle any possible aerial strike from enemy side and thwart it close to the border itself," they said.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-inside-indias-balakot-airstrikes-new-report-uncovers-fresh-insights-217094/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The sources said the location of the air defence units deployed in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Gujarat and Rajasthan were reviewed by the force and it was felt that a number of them can be moved to forward locations to thwart enemy aerial strikes close to the borders itself.

The air defence assets of the Indian Army include the indigenous Akash air defence missile systems along with the Russian Kvadrat and other old legacy systems. The force is also set to receive the latest MR-SAM air defence system which has been produced by the DRD-Israel joint venture.

After India hit the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Balakot town of Khyber Pakhtunwa province of Pakistan, the neighbouring country launched a big aerial attack in Jammu sector along the Line of Control.

Even though the attack was thwarted by the Air Force air defence fighters including the MiG-21s and the Su-30MKIs and one Pakistani F-16 was also shot down, it was felt that presence of air defence units in the area could have caused more damage to the Pakistanis.

Due to the aggressive response of the Air Force, the Pakistanis could come only a couple of kilometres inside the Indian territory.

The Pakistani air attack on February 27 was in response to the Balakot hits by the Indian Air Force a day earlier.

After a deep internal review of the recent conflict with Pakistan, the Indian Army is planning to deploy a number of its air defence units close to the border to thwart aerial threats emanating from Pakistan.

After a deep internal review of the recent conflict with Pakistan, the Indian Army is planning to deploy a number of its air defence units close to the border to thwart aerial threats emanating from Pakistan. "Some of the fighting formations including air defence and other defensive formations are now planned to be moved closer to the borders," top Army sources told ANI. "With these air defence units deployed closer to the border, we would be able to tackle any possible aerial strike from enemy side and thwart it close to the border itself," they said. The sources said the location of the air defence units deployed in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Gujarat and Rajasthan were reviewed by the force and it was felt that a number of them can be moved to forward locations to thwart enemy aerial strikes close to the borders itself. The air defence assets of the Indian Army include the indigenous Akash air defence missile systems along with the Russian Kvadrat and other old legacy systems. The force is also set to receive the latest MR-SAM air defence system which has been produced by the DRD-Israel joint venture. After India hit the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Balakot town of Khyber Pakhtunwa province of Pakistan, the neighbouring country launched a big aerial attack in Jammu sector along the Line of Control. Even though the attack was thwarted by the Air Force air defence fighters including the MiG-21s and the Su-30MKIs and one Pakistani F-16 was also shot down, it was felt that presence of air defence units in the area could have caused more damage to the Pakistanis. Due to the aggressive response of the Air Force, the Pakistanis could come only a couple of kilometres inside the Indian territory. The Pakistani air attack on February 27 was in response to the Balakot hits by the Indian Air Force a day earlier.

Indian Army to move air defence units closer to Pakistan border post-Balakot strikes

Pakistan has secured a $6bn bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as the country battles to stave off an economic crisis.

WION CHAT: Lawrence Sellin, Retd U.S Army Col on IMF bailout to Pakistan

After years of ill-treatment, the Pakistani women have appealed to PM Modi and Pak PM to enable their travel to India and have also said that they want to live in India. Watch full video to know more.

We Want to live in India, says Pakistani women

An improvised bomb rigged to a motorcycle and apparently targeting a police vehicle exploded near a mosque in the western Pakistani city of Quetta on Monday, killing at least four policemen and wounding 11, officials said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, which came amid high security during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Quetta police chief Abdul Razzaq Cheema said the four dead were all police and there were two police among the wounded.

Last week, at least 10 people were killed in a suicide attack on a police van guarding a major Sufi shrine in the eastern city of Lahore.

Ziaullah Langove, home affairs minister in the province of Balochistan said Monday's bomb targeted police guarding the mosque, where people were performing evening prayers.

An improvised bomb rigged to a motorcycle and apparently targeting a police vehicle exploded near a mosque in the western Pakistani city of Quetta on Monday, killing at least four policemen and wounding 11, officials said.

An improvised bomb rigged to a motorcycle and apparently targeting a police vehicle exploded near a mosque in the western Pakistani city of Quetta on Monday, killing at least four policemen and wounding 11, officials said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, which came amid high security during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Quetta police chief Abdul Razzaq Cheema said the four dead were all police and there were two police among the wounded. Last week, at least 10 people were killed in a suicide attack on a police van guarding a major Sufi shrine in the eastern city of Lahore. Ziaullah Langove, home affairs minister in the province of Balochistan said Monday's bomb targeted police guarding the mosque, where people were performing evening prayers.

Blast in Pakistani city Quetta kills four policemen

Pakistan Army's Invisible Hand In The Election Of Imran Khan Is Turning Into An Epic Failure As The Country Stares At A Political Economic Collapse.

Gravitas: Is Pakistan Army's Project Imran Turning Out To Be Dud?

Imran Khan Promised The World To Pakistan's Public. But A Look At The Economy Makes For Dismal Viewing.

Gravitas: In Naya Pakistan, The Macro Indicators Look Bleak

Pakistan Gets Another Bailout From IMF, But With Riders.

Gravitas: Is The IMF Bailout A Lifeline For Pakistan's Economy?

Gravitas: Is Pakistan A Bailout Nation?

Pakistan is facing a "challenging" economic environment and "decisive" policies and reforms are needed to stabilise the economy, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned as it reached a deal with the cash-strapped government of Prime Minister Imran Khan on a $6 billion bailout to stave off a financial crisis.

The funding, which still needs <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/imf-agrees-to-6-billion-bailout-for-pakistan-but-wants-action-on-terror-funding-218179">approval from the IMF's management</a>, would be provided over three years. The agreement comes after months of negotiations that saw the sacking of Pakistan's finance minister, the governor of the central bank as well as the top revenue officer.

Pakistan has faced an economic crisis with short supplies of foreign currency reserves and stagnating growth. In February, the central bank had only $8 billion left in foreign reserves.

"Pakistan is facing a challenging economic environment, with lacklustre growth, elevated inflation, high indebtedness, and a weak external position," IMF representative Ernesto Ramirez Rigo said in a statement on Sunday after the agreement was reached with the Pakistan government.

"This reflects the legacy of uneven and procyclical economic policies in recent years aiming to boost growth, but at the expense of rising vulnerabilities and lingering structural and institutional weaknesses.&nbsp;

The authorities recognise the need to address these challenges, as well as to tackle the large informality in the economy, the low spending in human capital, and poverty," he said.

"The Pakistani authorities and the IMF team have reached a staff-level agreement on economic policies that could be supported by a 39-month Extended Fund Arrangement (EFF) for about $6 billion," Rigo said.&nbsp;

The agreement is subject to IMF management approval and to approval by the Executive Board, subject to the timely implementation of prior actions and confirmation of international partners' financial commitments.

He said the bailout programme aims to support the Pakistani authorities' strategy for stronger and more balanced growth by reducing domestic and external imbalances, improving the business environment, strengthening institutions, increasing transparency, and protecting social spending.

Pakistan has so far received a total of $9.1 billion in financial aid packages from friendly countries like China, Saudi Arabia and the UAE during the current fiscal year.&nbsp;

Adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh said the government could not have bridged the financing gap of $12 billion on its own that he said was created by a weak economy.

Asked to share the conditions that Pakistan has agreed to as part of the agreement, Shaikh said there were many things desired by the Fund that the government already saw as being in the country's interest; they include aligning expenditure with resources, improve the functioning of loss-making state-owned enterprises, curtail the subsidies available to the wealthy classes and tax the rich segments.

"These structural changes are in our interest if we want to take our people in the direction of prosperity and improve their quality of life," he was quoted as saying by Dawn newspaper.

He said because the government wants to send "a signal of financial discipline" and resolve fiscal challenges, the programme would entail raising prices in some areas in order to recover the costs.

"However the government is focused on not putting too much burden on the common man," Shaikh said.

The IMF statement said, the forthcoming budget for FY2019/20 would be a first critical step in the authorities' fiscal strategy.&nbsp;

The budget will aim for a primary deficit of 0.6 per cent of GDP supported by tax policy revenue mobilization measures to eliminate exemptions, curtail special treatments, and improve tax administration.&nbsp;

This will be accompanied by prudent spending growth aimed at preserving essential development spending, with the goal of protecting the most vulnerable segments of society.

The Imran Khan government on May 4 appointed Dr Reza Baqir a Pakistani economist working for the IMF as the governor of the State Bank of Pakistan after Tariq Bajwa resigned from the post of governor of Pakistan's central bank.

The government also appointed Ahmed Mujtaba Memon to the key post of Federal Board of Revenue chairman, which also fell vacant after the removal of Jahanzeb Khan, the chairman of the tax collection body.

The key appointments come weeks after Finance Minister Asad Umar was asked to step down amid bailout negotiations with the IMF, suggesting the government wants to overhaul its financial team amid weakening growth rates and soaring inflation.

Last month, Prime Minister Khan appointed Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh as Adviser on Finance in place of Umar, as inflation rose to its highest in six years.

Pakistan is facing a "challenging" economic environment and "decisive" policies and reforms are needed to stabilise the economy, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned as it reached a deal with the cash-strapped government of Prime Minister Imran Khan on a $6 billion bailout to stave off a financial crisis.

Pakistan is facing a "challenging" economic environment and "decisive" policies and reforms are needed to stabilise the economy, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned as it reached a deal with the cash-strapped government of Prime Minister Imran Khan on a $6 billion bailout to stave off a financial crisis. The funding, which still needs approval from the IMF's management, would be provided over three years. The agreement comes after months of negotiations that saw the sacking of Pakistan's finance minister, the governor of the central bank as well as the top revenue officer. Pakistan has faced an economic crisis with short supplies of foreign currency reserves and stagnating growth. In February, the central bank had only $8 billion left in foreign reserves. "Pakistan is facing a challenging economic environment, with lacklustre growth, elevated inflation, high indebtedness, and a weak external position," IMF representative Ernesto Ramirez Rigo said in a statement on Sunday after the agreement was reached with the Pakistan government. "This reflects the legacy of uneven and procyclical economic policies in recent years aiming to boost growth, but at the expense of rising vulnerabilities and lingering structural and institutional weaknesses. The authorities recognise the need to address these challenges, as well as to tackle the large informality in the economy, the low spending in human capital, and poverty," he said. "The Pakistani authorities and the IMF team have reached a staff-level agreement on economic policies that could be supported by a 39-month Extended Fund Arrangement (EFF) for about $6 billion," Rigo said. The agreement is subject to IMF management approval and to approval by the Executive Board, subject to the timely implementation of prior actions and confirmation of international partners' financial commitments. He said the bailout programme aims to support the Pakistani authorities' strategy for stronger and more balanced growth by reducing domestic and external imbalances, improving the business environment, strengthening institutions, increasing transparency, and protecting social spending. Pakistan has so far received a total of $9.1 billion in financial aid packages from friendly countries like China, Saudi Arabia and the UAE during the current fiscal year. Adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh said the government could not have bridged the financing gap of $12 billion on its own that he said was created by a weak economy. Asked to share the conditions that Pakistan has agreed to as part of the agreement, Shaikh said there were many things desired by the Fund that the government already saw as being in the country's interest; they include aligning expenditure with resources, improve the functioning of loss-making state-owned enterprises, curtail the subsidies available to the wealthy classes and tax the rich segments. "These structural changes are in our interest if we want to take our people in the direction of prosperity and improve their quality of life," he was quoted as saying by Dawn newspaper. He said because the government wants to send "a signal of financial discipline" and resolve fiscal challenges, the programme would entail raising prices in some areas in order to recover the costs. "However the government is focused on not putting too much burden on the common man," Shaikh said. The IMF statement said, the forthcoming budget for FY2019/20 would be a first critical step in the authorities' fiscal strategy. The budget will aim for a primary deficit of 0.6 per cent of GDP supported by tax policy revenue mobilization measures to eliminate exemptions, curtail special treatments, and improve tax administration. This will be accompanied by prudent spending growth aimed at preserving essential development spending, with the goal of protecting the most vulnerable segments of society. The Imran Khan government on May 4 appointed Dr Reza Baqir a Pakistani economist working for the IMF as the governor of the State Bank of Pakistan after Tariq Bajwa resigned from the post of governor of Pakistan's central bank. The government also appointed Ahmed Mujtaba Memon to the key post of Federal Board of Revenue chairman, which also fell vacant after the removal of Jahanzeb Khan, the chairman of the tax collection body. The key appointments come weeks after Finance Minister Asad Umar was asked to step down amid bailout negotiations with the IMF, suggesting the government wants to overhaul its financial team amid weakening growth rates and soaring inflation. Last month, Prime Minister Khan appointed Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh as Adviser on Finance in place of Umar, as inflation rose to its highest in six years.

'Decisive' policies and reforms must for Pakistan's economic stability: IMF

The death toll in the suicide attack targeting one of Pakistan's oldest and most revered <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/death-toll-rises-to-11-in-lahore-suicide-attack-outside-sufi-shrine-217175/amp">Sufi shrines in Lahore</a> has risen to 13 as another civilian succumbed to his injuries, a media report said Monday.

Tahir Aslam, 18, was working at a shop near the shrine. He was among the critically injured and was brought to the Mayo Hospital where he has succumbed to his injuries.

He was rushed to the hospital after the blast which has claimed the lives of six policemen and seven civilians, the Dawn newspaper reported.

A senior police official told the daily on condition of anonymity that security forces had yet to make any substantial progress in the investigations into the attack.

He said that although they had arrested a few suspects from Lahore, they were no big leads.

A suicide bomber blew himself up outside the Data Darbar shrine, the largest Sufi shrine in South Asia on Wednesday, the second day of the fasting month of Ramzan. A CCTV footage showed a teenage boy wearing black shalwar kameez and a suicide vest coming closer to the vehicle of elite force before blowing himself up.

Punjab Inspector General of Police Arif Nawaz has said it was a suicide attack as the target was the vehicle of the elite force that was stationed outside the shrine of Sufi saint Ali Hajvari commonly known as Data Darbar.

"Police was the target. 100 per cent," he said.

Lahore police spokesman Syed Mubashir has said the police have arrested four suspects with the help of CCTV cameras in the city.

The rickshaw used to transport the suicide bomber to the shrine has been identified, he added.

The CCTV footage shows the rickshaw driver approached the bomber as the latter emerged from Garhi Shahu area, some seven kilometres from the shrine.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-pm-imran-khan-slams-hotel-attack-as-bid-to-damage-economy-218007">Prime Minister Imran Khan</a> condemned the attack and has directed the Punjab government to provide all assistance to the injured and families of victims.

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has ordered an inquiry into the attack.

The famous shrine is visited by hundreds of thousands of people each year. In 2010, the heavily-guarded shrine was targeted in a suicide attack that killed more than 40 people.

Police also confirmed that Hizbul Ahrar had claimed responsibility for sending the teenage suicide bomber to the shrine.

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab has examined the records of three terror groups, including the Ghazi Force and Jamaatul Ahrar.

Hizbul Ahrar is a splinter group of Jamaatul Ahrar headed by Muqarram Shah from Afghanistan. It separated from Jamaatul Ahrar due to internal rifts.

It started operating separately to target primarily the law enforcement agencies in various parts of Pakistan, the police said, adding the CTD is also following other leads, like the possibility of the involvement of Islamic State terror group.&nbsp;

The death toll in the suicide attack targeting one of Pakistan's oldest and most revered Sufi shrines in Lahore has risen to 13 as another civilian succumbed to his injuries, a media report said Monday.

The death toll in the suicide attack targeting one of Pakistan's oldest and most revered Sufi shrines in Lahore has risen to 13 as another civilian succumbed to his injuries, a media report said Monday. Tahir Aslam, 18, was working at a shop near the shrine. He was among the critically injured and was brought to the Mayo Hospital where he has succumbed to his injuries. He was rushed to the hospital after the blast which has claimed the lives of six policemen and seven civilians, the Dawn newspaper reported. A senior police official told the daily on condition of anonymity that security forces had yet to make any substantial progress in the investigations into the attack. He said that although they had arrested a few suspects from Lahore, they were no big leads. A suicide bomber blew himself up outside the Data Darbar shrine, the largest Sufi shrine in South Asia on Wednesday, the second day of the fasting month of Ramzan. A CCTV footage showed a teenage boy wearing black shalwar kameez and a suicide vest coming closer to the vehicle of elite force before blowing himself up. Punjab Inspector General of Police Arif Nawaz has said it was a suicide attack as the target was the vehicle of the elite force that was stationed outside the shrine of Sufi saint Ali Hajvari commonly known as Data Darbar. "Police was the target. 100 per cent," he said. Lahore police spokesman Syed Mubashir has said the police have arrested four suspects with the help of CCTV cameras in the city. The rickshaw used to transport the suicide bomber to the shrine has been identified, he added. The CCTV footage shows the rickshaw driver approached the bomber as the latter emerged from Garhi Shahu area, some seven kilometres from the shrine. Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the attack and has directed the Punjab government to provide all assistance to the injured and families of victims. Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has ordered an inquiry into the attack. The famous shrine is visited by hundreds of thousands of people each year. In 2010, the heavily-guarded shrine was targeted in a suicide attack that killed more than 40 people. Police also confirmed that Hizbul Ahrar had claimed responsibility for sending the teenage suicide bomber to the shrine. The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab has examined the records of three terror groups, including the Ghazi Force and Jamaatul Ahrar. Hizbul Ahrar is a splinter group of Jamaatul Ahrar headed by Muqarram Shah from Afghanistan. It separated from Jamaatul Ahrar due to internal rifts. It started operating separately to target primarily the law enforcement agencies in various parts of Pakistan, the police said, adding the CTD is also following other leads, like the possibility of the involvement of Islamic State terror group.

Death toll rises to 13 in Lahore Sufi shrine suicide attack

Five people including a soldier were killed after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-pm-imran-khan-slams-hotel-attack-as-bid-to-damage-economy-218007">gunmen stormed a luxury hotel in the southwestern Pakistani city of Gwadar</a>, the centrepiece of a multi-billion dollar Chinese infrastructure project, the military said Sunday.&nbsp;

The soldier was among security forces who rushed to the five-star Pearl Continental Hotel after the attack on Saturday.

During the attack "5 individuals got Shaheed (martyred) including 4 hotel employees and a Pakistan Navy soldier," the military said in a statement. One of the hotel staff killed was a security guard shot at the entrance. &nbsp;

Six others were injured including four security service officers and two hotel staff members.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/4-killed-as-armed-militants-storm-5-star-hotel-in-pakistans-gwadar-port-city-police-217847">military said all three terrorists had been killed</a>. Local police had earlier claimed there had been four attackers.&nbsp;

A Baloch separatist group, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), claimed responsibility for the attack via Twitter.

Prime minister Imran Khan said the attack was a bid to "sabotage prosperity".

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/security-guard-killed-as-gunmen-attack-hotel-in-pakistans-gwadar-217851/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"Such attempts, especially in Balochistan, are an effort to sabotage our economic projects and prosperity. We shall not allow these agendas to succeed," Khan said in a statement issued by his office.&nbsp;

The Chinese embassy in Islamabad also strongly condemned the incident.&nbsp;

'The next Dubai'

The Pearl Continental, part of Pakistan's largest five-star hotel chain, is the only luxury hotel in Gwadar, frequented by foreign and Pakistani business delegations as well as diplomats.

It sits isolated on a ridge overlooking the Arabian Sea port city that was formerly a small fishing village, but now touted by officials as "the next Dubai" thanks to the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Part of China's Belt and Road initiative, CPEC seeks to connect the western Chinese province of Xinjiang with Gwadar, with the development of the port as the plan's flagship project.

Gwadar will provide China with safer and more direct access to the oil-rich Middle East than the waterway trade route it currently uses through the narrow Malacca Straits.

But it has also drawn its share of attacks -- particularly from separatists who have long complained that residents of Pakistan's poorest and largest province do not receive a fair share of profits from its resources.

The BLA has targeted Chinese workers in Pakistan multiple times, including during a brazen daylight attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi which killed four people in November last year.

At the time, the BLA branded Beijing "an oppressor".

Balochistan is tightly guarded by the Pakistani military, who have been targeting insurgents there since 2004. The army has been repeatedly accused by international rights groups of abuses there, but denies all allegations.

The attack was the second deadly attack in a prominent Pakistan city this week, after a suicide blast claimed by the Pakistani Taliban at one of the country's oldest and most popular Sufi shrines killed at least 12 people in the eastern city of Lahore.

Five people including a soldier were killed after gunmen stormed a luxury hotel in the southwestern Pakistani city of Gwadar, the centrepiece of a multi-billion dollar Chinese infrastructure project, the military said Sunday.

Five people including a soldier were killed after gunmen stormed a luxury hotel in the southwestern Pakistani city of Gwadar, the centrepiece of a multi-billion dollar Chinese infrastructure project, the military said Sunday. The soldier was among security forces who rushed to the five-star Pearl Continental Hotel after the attack on Saturday. During the attack "5 individuals got Shaheed (martyred) including 4 hotel employees and a Pakistan Navy soldier," the military said in a statement. One of the hotel staff killed was a security guard shot at the entrance. Six others were injured including four security service officers and two hotel staff members. The military said all three terrorists had been killed. Local police had earlier claimed there had been four attackers. A Baloch separatist group, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), claimed responsibility for the attack via Twitter. Prime minister Imran Khan said the attack was a bid to "sabotage prosperity". "Such attempts, especially in Balochistan, are an effort to sabotage our economic projects and prosperity. We shall not allow these agendas to succeed," Khan said in a statement issued by his office. The Chinese embassy in Islamabad also strongly condemned the incident. 'The next Dubai' The Pearl Continental, part of Pakistan's largest five-star hotel chain, is the only luxury hotel in Gwadar, frequented by foreign and Pakistani business delegations as well as diplomats. It sits isolated on a ridge overlooking the Arabian Sea port city that was formerly a small fishing village, but now touted by officials as "the next Dubai" thanks to the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Part of China's Belt and Road initiative, CPEC seeks to connect the western Chinese province of Xinjiang with Gwadar, with the development of the port as the plan's flagship project. Gwadar will provide China with safer and more direct access to the oil-rich Middle East than the waterway trade route it currently uses through the narrow Malacca Straits. But it has also drawn its share of attacks -- particularly from separatists who have long complained that residents of Pakistan's poorest and largest province do not receive a fair share of profits from its resources. The BLA has targeted Chinese workers in Pakistan multiple times, including during a brazen daylight attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi which killed four people in November last year. At the time, the BLA branded Beijing "an oppressor". Balochistan is tightly guarded by the Pakistani military, who have been targeting insurgents there since 2004. The army has been repeatedly accused by international rights groups of abuses there, but denies all allegations. The attack was the second deadly attack in a prominent Pakistan city this week, after a suicide blast claimed by the Pakistani Taliban at one of the country's oldest and most popular Sufi shrines killed at least 12 people in the eastern city of Lahore.

Five dead in Pakistan luxury hotel attack: Military

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/live-lok-sabha-phase-6-elections-voting-begins-for-59-constituencies-across-seven-states-217872">Live Lok Sabha phase 6 elections: Despite violence, West Bengal stuns with over 80% turnout till 6pm</a>

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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-nation-says-rebel-pullout-from-yemen-ports-on-track-218105">United Nation says rebel pullout from Yemen ports on track</a>

The United Nations said Sunday that a Yemeni rebel withdrawal from key Red Sea ports was proceeding as planned after the government accused the insurgents of faking the pullout.

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The United States moved its Israel embassy to Jerusalem nearly a year ago in the culmination of a diplomatic rupture that coincided with a bloodbath on the Gaza border.

As President Donald Trump's administration prepares to present its long-promised plan to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, what has changed?

Live Lok Sabha phase 6 elections: Despite violence, West Bengal stuns with over 80% turnout till 6pm AAP's South Delhi candidate Raghav Chadha said on Sunday that voting in the city-state was a positive sign for his party but the BJP workers had done 'bogus votes' in Sangam Vihar during the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha election.

Live Lok Sabha phase 6 elections: Despite violence, West Bengal stuns with over 80% turnout till 6pm AAP's South Delhi candidate Raghav Chadha said on Sunday that voting in the city-state was a positive sign for his party but the BJP workers had done 'bogus votes' in Sangam Vihar during the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha election. He Pakistan to review re-opening of airspace for Indian flights; minister says no change in status quo Pakistan will review re-opening of its airspace for Indian flights on May 15 amid heightened Indo-Pak military tensions, a civil aviation official said Sunday, but a senior minister indicated that the status quo will remain till the elections are over in India. United Nation says rebel pullout from Yemen ports on track The United Nations said Sunday that a Yemeni rebel withdrawal from key Red Sea ports was proceeding as planned after the government accused the insurgents of faking the pullout. Hinduja brothers top UK rich list, Reuben brothers second Indian-origin brothers dominate the annual rich list of Britain's wealthiest, with the Hinduja brothers ranked at No 1 with a fortune of 22 billion pounds followed by Mumbai-born Reuben brothers in second place with 18.66 billion pounds. A year after US embassy move to Jerusalem, where do things stand The United States moved its Israel embassy to Jerusalem nearly a year ago in the culmination of a diplomatic rupture that coincided with a bloodbath on the Gaza border. As President Donald Trump's administration prepares to present its long-promised plan to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, what has changed?

News brief: Big stories of the day

Security forces surrounded the attackers in a staircase leading to the top floor of the building, it said, adding that a security operation to clear the area was ongoing. Watch WION Pak Bureau chief Anas Mallick reports from Pakistan.

Security guard killed as Gunmen attack hotel in Pakistan's Gwadar

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - May 11th, 2019

A terror attack is reportedly underway at the Pearl Continent Hotel in Pakistan's Gwadar port city. Reports have confirmed the presence of terrorists inside the hotel. The exchange of gunfire is underway between terrorists and security forces, the reports said. Gunshots also heard around the hotel.

Breaking: Terrorists storm Pearl Continental Hotel in Pakistan's Gwadar, gunfight underway

The talks between cash-strapped Pakistan and the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/pakistan/imran-khan-asks-people-of-pakistan-to-bear-with-rising-inflation-217696">IMF</a> will continue over the weekend after the parleys between the two sides reached a deadlock due to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-growth-to-hit-eight-year-low-as-imf-bailout-looms-217509">Prime Minister Imran Khan</a>'s reservations over heavy taxation the people would have to bear, according to a media report on Saturday.

Head of IMF Mission to Pakistan Ernesto Rigo is currently in Islamabad as the country hopes to strike a deal with the global lender for a three-year bailout package totalling around $6.5 billion.

We have made good progress in our discussions with the visiting IMF Mission. Consultations will continue over the weekend, Khaqan Hasan Najeeb, the spokesman of the Finance Ministry, was quoted as saying by the Express Tribune.

Sources in the ministry of finance said that there were at least three main sticking points that led to inconclusive talks till the last day of the IMF visit. As of Thursday, the top management of the Ministry of Finance was hopeful to conclude the deal and the IMF team had planned to return on May 11, the report said.

But things went off the track after the IMF insisted on the inclusion of some new conditions in the programme, which appeared unreasonable.

Prime Minister Imran Khan also expressed reservations over massive additional taxes burden that the nation will bear from July this year, provided both sides reach an agreement, it said.

Pakistan has accepted the IMF's demands of flexible exchange rate regime, withdrawal of subsidies, containing borrowing from the central bank and reinitiating the privatisation programme.

The talks remained inconclusive despite Pakistan conceded to almost everything that the IMF asked for, the report said.

Pakistan and the IMF are engaged to finalise the bailout package for the past eight months. It was the second visit by the IMF staff level team during the past five months that again could not conclude the deal within the due time.

The sources said the IMF has sent a draft of the proposed agreement to Washington for vetting that includes some new conditions which were not part of negotiations in the first round of talks.&nbsp;

The talks between cash-strapped Pakistan and the IMF will continue over the weekend after the parleys between the two sides reached a deadlock due to Prime Minister Imran Khan's reservations over heavy taxation the people would have to bear, according to a media report on Saturday.

The talks between cash-strapped Pakistan and the IMF will continue over the weekend after the parleys between the two sides reached a deadlock due to Prime Minister Imran Khan's reservations over heavy taxation the people would have to bear, according to a media report on Saturday. Head of IMF Mission to Pakistan Ernesto Rigo is currently in Islamabad as the country hopes to strike a deal with the global lender for a three-year bailout package totalling around $6.5 billion. We have made good progress in our discussions with the visiting IMF Mission. Consultations will continue over the weekend, Khaqan Hasan Najeeb, the spokesman of the Finance Ministry, was quoted as saying by the Express Tribune. Sources in the ministry of finance said that there were at least three main sticking points that led to inconclusive talks till the last day of the IMF visit. As of Thursday, the top management of the Ministry of Finance was hopeful to conclude the deal and the IMF team had planned to return on May 11, the report said. But things went off the track after the IMF insisted on the inclusion of some new conditions in the programme, which appeared unreasonable. Prime Minister Imran Khan also expressed reservations over massive additional taxes burden that the nation will bear from July this year, provided both sides reach an agreement, it said. Pakistan has accepted the IMF's demands of flexible exchange rate regime, withdrawal of subsidies, containing borrowing from the central bank and reinitiating the privatisation programme. The talks remained inconclusive despite Pakistan conceded to almost everything that the IMF asked for, the report said. Pakistan and the IMF are engaged to finalise the bailout package for the past eight months. It was the second visit by the IMF staff level team during the past five months that again could not conclude the deal within the due time. The sources said the IMF has sent a draft of the proposed agreement to Washington for vetting that includes some new conditions which were not part of negotiations in the first round of talks.

Pakistan to continue talks with IMF on bailout over weekend

Threats, arrests, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/never-been-on-social-media-your-privacy-may-still-be-at-risk-says-study-191971">blocked accounts and restricted posts</a> -- Big Brother is watching more closely than ever in Pakistan as authorities accelerate efforts to censor <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-social-media-bill-sparks-freedom-of-speech-concerns-198633">social networks</a>, further reducing an already shrunken space for dissent.

In the past 18 months, a slew of journalists, activists, and government opponents –- both at home and overseas -- have faced intimidation or the threat of legal action for their online posts.&nbsp;

Censorship is already rife among Pakistan's mainstream media, with the Committee to Protect Journalists noting last year that the military had "quietly but effectively" imposed strict limits on the scope of general news reporting.

Platforms such as Facebook and Twitter were regarded as the last holdouts of dissenting voices, but now that has changed.

In February, authorities announced the creation of a new enforcement arm to root out social media users accused of spreading "hate speech and violence" as part of the crackdown.

Gul Bukhari, a columnist and sometime government critic who was briefly abducted by unidentified men last year, said the assault on social media was carefully organised and coordinated.

"It is the last frontier they try to conquer," Bukhari explained.

&nbsp;Silence dissent&nbsp;

Journalist Rizwan-ur-Rehman Razi was among the people targeted. He was arrested in February at home in the eastern city of Lahore for publishing "defamatory and obnoxious" content against the state.

A few days earlier, he had criticised extra-judicial executions allegedly committed by the security forces, according to a copy of his tweets seen by AFP.

Released after two nights, he has not tweeted since, and his posts have been deleted.

The net cast by the crackdown is a wide one, with Shahzad Ahmad, director of the digital security NGO Bytes for All, pointing to the harassment of civil rights activists, the political opposition, and bloggers.

According to Annie Zaman, an expert on cyber-censorship in Pakistan, this is made possible by an all-encompassing 2016 law that prohibits online posts that are deemed to compromise state security or offend anything from "the glory of Islam" to non-defined notions of "decency and morality".

"Because this law is vague, it gave more space to the authorities to censor online," Zaman said.

Offenders can face up to 14 years in prison.

The military signalled its involvement in the campaign as early as June last year, when spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor boasted of the capacity to monitor social media accounts during a televised press conference.

In a clear warning, Ghafoor briefly showed an image of what appeared to be specific Twitter handles and names.

Facebook and Twitter transparency reports show the crackdown was already well underway last year, with a huge spike in requests by the Pakistani government seeking to censor online activity.

Facebook restricted more content in Pakistan than in any other country in the first six months of 2018, according to its transparency figures from that time period, which are the most recently available.

The social media giant said it restricted the availability of 2,203 pieces of content in total -- a seven-fold jump from the previous six months.

All but 87 of the items had been reported by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority "as allegedly violating local laws prohibiting blasphemy, anti-judiciary content, and condemnation of the country's independence," it said.

The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority did not respond to requests for comment.

&nbsp;'Overstepping boundaries'&nbsp;

Twitter figures for the same time period showed a similar trend, with requests to remove content from 3,004 accounts in Pakistan compared to 674 in the second half of 2017.

A Twitter spokesman said the vast majority of the requests had come from the government and stressed that the company had acquiesced to none of them.

"The authorities are no longer hiding their agenda (or policy) to silence internet-mediated dissent," said Rabia Mehmood, a researcher for Amnesty International.

"While the current censorship is exceptionally intense, over the years, one message has been consistent that criticism of policies of the Pakistan military will not be tolerated."

Even those posting on social media from overseas have found themselves targeted.

Twitter routinely sends out a notice to users notifying them when the company receives complaints that their posts have violated a country's laws.

AFP has found dozens of users who received such a message warning they had violated Pakistani laws -- including 11 who had tweeted from beyond Pakistan's borders, in countries such as Australia, the US and Canada.

The requests represent "a government censor overstepping jurisdiction boundaries", said Jillian York, an expert at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), an American NGO.

Threats, arrests, blocked accounts and restricted posts -- Big Brother is watching more closely than ever in Pakistan as authorities accelerate efforts to censor social networks, further reducing an already shrunken space for dissent.

Threats, arrests, blocked accounts and restricted posts -- Big Brother is watching more closely than ever in Pakistan as authorities accelerate efforts to censor social networks, further reducing an already shrunken space for dissent. In the past 18 months, a slew of journalists, activists, and government opponents –- both at home and overseas -- have faced intimidation or the threat of legal action for their online posts. Censorship is already rife among Pakistan's mainstream media, with the Committee to Protect Journalists noting last year that the military had "quietly but effectively" imposed strict limits on the scope of general news reporting. Platforms such as Facebook and Twitter were regarded as the last holdouts of dissenting voices, but now that has changed. In February, authorities announced the creation of a new enforcement arm to root out social media users accused of spreading "hate speech and violence" as part of the crackdown. Gul Bukhari, a columnist and sometime government critic who was briefly abducted by unidentified men last year, said the assault on social media was carefully organised and coordinated. "It is the last frontier they try to conquer," Bukhari explained. Silence dissent Journalist Rizwan-ur-Rehman Razi was among the people targeted. He was arrested in February at home in the eastern city of Lahore for publishing "defamatory and obnoxious" content against the state. A few days earlier, he had criticised extra-judicial executions allegedly committed by the security forces, according to a copy of his tweets seen by AFP. Released after two nights, he has not tweeted since, and his posts have been deleted. The net cast by the crackdown is a wide one, with Shahzad Ahmad, director of the digital security NGO Bytes for All, pointing to the harassment of civil rights activists, the political opposition, and bloggers. According to Annie Zaman, an expert on cyber-censorship in Pakistan, this is made possible by an all-encompassing 2016 law that prohibits online posts that are deemed to compromise state security or offend anything from "the glory of Islam" to non-defined notions of "decency and morality". "Because this law is vague, it gave more space to the authorities to censor online," Zaman said. Offenders can face up to 14 years in prison. The military signalled its involvement in the campaign as early as June last year, when spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor boasted of the capacity to monitor social media accounts during a televised press conference. In a clear warning, Ghafoor briefly showed an image of what appeared to be specific Twitter handles and names. Facebook and Twitter transparency reports show the crackdown was already well underway last year, with a huge spike in requests by the Pakistani government seeking to censor online activity. Facebook restricted more content in Pakistan than in any other country in the first six months of 2018, according to its transparency figures from that time period, which are the most recently available. The social media giant said it restricted the availability of 2,203 pieces of content in total -- a seven-fold jump from the previous six months. All but 87 of the items had been reported by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority "as allegedly violating local laws prohibiting blasphemy, anti-judiciary content, and condemnation of the country's independence," it said. The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority did not respond to requests for comment. 'Overstepping boundaries' Twitter figures for the same time period showed a similar trend, with requests to remove content from 3,004 accounts in Pakistan compared to 674 in the second half of 2017. A Twitter spokesman said the vast majority of the requests had come from the government and stressed that the company had acquiesced to none of them. "The authorities are no longer hiding their agenda (or policy) to silence internet-mediated dissent," said Rabia Mehmood, a researcher for Amnesty International. "While the current censorship is exceptionally intense, over the years, one message has been consistent that criticism of policies of the Pakistan military will not be tolerated." Even those posting on social media from overseas have found themselves targeted. Twitter routinely sends out a notice to users notifying them when the company receives complaints that their posts have violated a country's laws. AFP has found dozens of users who received such a message warning they had violated Pakistani laws -- including 11 who had tweeted from beyond Pakistan's borders, in countries such as Australia, the US and Canada. The requests represent "a government censor overstepping jurisdiction boundaries", said Jillian York, an expert at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), an American NGO.

Social networks under intense surveillance in Pakistan

A spate of arrests of Chinese nationals allegedly involved in fake marriages with Pakistani women and reports of human trafficking and organ trade have forced China to send a "task force" to Islamabad to quickly deal with the issues that could "undermine" the bilateral all-weather ties.

Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Friday arrested three more <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/over-20-chinese-arrested-for-girls-trafficking-in-pakistan-217106">Chinese nationals suspected of involvement in fake marriages</a> and human trafficking from the Islamabad airport, Dawn newspaper reported.

The FIA's immigration cell also took into custody three local women who were accompanying the Chinese men. The three couples were intercepted as they were about to leave for China, it said.

On Thursday, the FIA announced that it had taken 11 Chinese nationals into custody for a probe into a transnational gang allegedly involved in prostitution and illegal organ trade.

In Islamabad, the Chinese embassy said it has noted media reports and that Pakistan has taken measures in accordance with its domestic laws and regulations.&nbsp;

"Relevant cases are now under investigation," the mission said in a press release, adding that the Ministry of Public Security of China has sent a "task force to Pakistan to carry out law enforcement cooperation with the Pakistani side".

An FIA press release detailed how the agency had come to know about the suspected ring, which involves large sums of money changing hands for the contracting of fake marriages between vulnerable Pakistani women and Chinese men. The women are later allegedly trafficked into prostitution in China.

Nazir Ahmad, the father of one of the victims, registered a complaint with the FIA and told them that how some agents contacted him and lured him into marrying his daughter to a Chinese, the Express Tribune reported.

The agents assured Nazir, for a brief period, he would be accompanying his daughter abroad where she would also be allowed to work.

After marrying 'Musa', the girl travelled to Islamabad and left for China.&nbsp;

After some time, the girl called her father to reveal that the family had been duped, the report said.

According to Nazir's daughter, her husband who had not converted to Islam was forcing her into prostitution.

When Nazir contacted the agents, he was told to contact their boss Wei Linping in Islamabad. When Nazir contacted Wei, he was told that the agents had received Rs 2 million and he would have to pay the amount to get his daughter back.

Nazir was warned that the girl would be forced into prostitution or illegal organ transplantation if he did not pay the amount, the Express Tribune report said.

After the Pakistani High Commission intervened, the victim was recovered. In her appearance before the FIA, she revealed that the den of this gang was located in Johar Town in Lahore, Punjab province.

The Chinese embassy statement said Beijing will further strengthen cooperation with the law enforcement agencies in Pakistan, effectively combat crime, so as to protect the legitimate rights and interests of the two peoples, and jointly safeguard China-Pakistan friendly relations.

"It is worth noting that several media reports have fabricated facts and spread rumours. According to investigations by the Ministry of Public Security of China, there is no forced prostitution or sale of human organs for those Pakistani women who stay in China after marriage with Chinese," the statement said.&nbsp;

"We hope that the media reports should seek truth from facts, be objective and fair. We hope the people of China and Pakistan do not believe the rumours.&nbsp;

"We will never allow a few criminals to undermine China-Pakistan friendship and hurt the friendly feelings between two peoples," the statement said.&nbsp;

A spate of arrests of Chinese nationals allegedly involved in fake marriages with Pakistani women and reports of human trafficking and organ trade have forced China to send a "task force" to Islamabad to quickly deal with the issues that could "undermine" the bilateral all-weather ties.

A spate of arrests of Chinese nationals allegedly involved in fake marriages with Pakistani women and reports of human trafficking and organ trade have forced China to send a "task force" to Islamabad to quickly deal with the issues that could "undermine" the bilateral all-weather ties. Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Friday arrested three more Chinese nationals suspected of involvement in fake marriages and human trafficking from the Islamabad airport, Dawn newspaper reported. The FIA's immigration cell also took into custody three local women who were accompanying the Chinese men. The three couples were intercepted as they were about to leave for China, it said. On Thursday, the FIA announced that it had taken 11 Chinese nationals into custody for a probe into a transnational gang allegedly involved in prostitution and illegal organ trade. In Islamabad, the Chinese embassy said it has noted media reports and that Pakistan has taken measures in accordance with its domestic laws and regulations. "Relevant cases are now under investigation," the mission said in a press release, adding that the Ministry of Public Security of China has sent a "task force to Pakistan to carry out law enforcement cooperation with the Pakistani side". An FIA press release detailed how the agency had come to know about the suspected ring, which involves large sums of money changing hands for the contracting of fake marriages between vulnerable Pakistani women and Chinese men. The women are later allegedly trafficked into prostitution in China. Nazir Ahmad, the father of one of the victims, registered a complaint with the FIA and told them that how some agents contacted him and lured him into marrying his daughter to a Chinese, the Express Tribune reported. The agents assured Nazir, for a brief period, he would be accompanying his daughter abroad where she would also be allowed to work. After marrying 'Musa', the girl travelled to Islamabad and left for China. After some time, the girl called her father to reveal that the family had been duped, the report said. According to Nazir's daughter, her husband who had not converted to Islam was forcing her into prostitution. When Nazir contacted the agents, he was told to contact their boss Wei Linping in Islamabad. When Nazir contacted Wei, he was told that the agents had received Rs 2 million and he would have to pay the amount to get his daughter back. Nazir was warned that the girl would be forced into prostitution or illegal organ transplantation if he did not pay the amount, the Express Tribune report said. After the Pakistani High Commission intervened, the victim was recovered. In her appearance before the FIA, she revealed that the den of this gang was located in Johar Town in Lahore, Punjab province. The Chinese embassy statement said Beijing will further strengthen cooperation with the law enforcement agencies in Pakistan, effectively combat crime, so as to protect the legitimate rights and interests of the two peoples, and jointly safeguard China-Pakistan friendly relations. "It is worth noting that several media reports have fabricated facts and spread rumours. According to investigations by the Ministry of Public Security of China, there is no forced prostitution or sale of human organs for those Pakistani women who stay in China after marriage with Chinese," the statement said. "We hope that the media reports should seek truth from facts, be objective and fair. We hope the people of China and Pakistan do not believe the rumours. "We will never allow a few criminals to undermine China-Pakistan friendship and hurt the friendly feelings between two peoples," the statement said.

China sends 'task force' to Pakistan to deal with fake marriage, human trafficking

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-taliban-faction-claims-responsibility-for-blast-in-lahore-216950">Pakistan</a>'s growth rate is set to hit an eight-year low, a government report predicted Friday, with all major indicators down as the country continues negotiating its 22nd bailout from the International Monetary Fund.

A report by the National Accounts Committee, released late Thursday, forecast growth of a mere 3.3 per cent in the current fiscal year against a projected target of 6.2 per cent.&nbsp;

"These are provisional data, not final, but <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-appoints-former-imf-official-as-new-state-bank-of-pakistan-governor-216057">Pakistan's economy</a> is witnessing a slowdown," Muzammil Aslam, an independent economist, said.

The report came as an IMF mission to Pakistan was expected to conclude its visit Friday, where it has been holding negotiations over a long-delayed bailout to stave off a potential balance-of-payments crisis.&nbsp;

A deal could be announced shortly, according to local media.

"We expect an IMF package similar to the one Pakistan obtained in 2008," Aslam, who heads Emerging Economic Research, said.

Then, Pakistan got a $7.6 billion loan for five years to support its programme to stabilise and rebuild the economy.

Analysts have warned that any fresh IMF deal could come with restrictions that would hobble Prime Minister Imran Khan's grand promises to build an Islamic welfare state.&nbsp;

Discontent is already growing over the measures the government has taken to fend off the crisis, including devaluing the rupee by some 30 per cent since January 2018, sending inflation to five-year highs.&nbsp;

"I had to halve my blood pressure medicine does as we can't afford to buy expensive medicines," Shehla Samad, a 45-year housewife, told AFP in Karachi recently.

The IMF has issued an even more grim forecast for Pakistan, predicting economic growth of 2.9 per cent -- a 10-year low -- for the current fiscal year.

Government officials said last month they have reached an "agreement in principle" with the IMF.

But Khan's finance minister Asad Umar, who was leading negotiations, quit after a cabinet reshuffle last month.

"We need to take some difficult decisions and we need to show some patience... Don't expect that there will be miracles and rivers of honey and milk," Umar warned after his resignation.

The negotiations are now being led by Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, a former World Bank official who was Pakistan's finance minister from 2010-2013.

The US has warned that it will be watching closely to ensure Pakistan does not use IMF money to repay debts to China, which has poured billions into the country for infrastructure projects under its Belt and Road Initiative.

Pakistan, which joined the IMF in 1950, has had 21 bailouts since then. Its most recent loan was issued in 2013, worth $6.6 billion.

The United Arab Emirates, Pakistan's largest trading partner in the Middle East and a major investment source, recently offered $3 billion to support the battered economy.

Islamabad also secured $6 billion in funding from Saudi Arabia and struck a 12-month deal for a cash lifeline during Khan's visit to the kingdom in October.

Pakistan's growth rate is set to hit an eight-year low, a government report predicted Friday, with all major indicators down as the country continues negotiating its 22nd bailout from the International Monetary Fund.

Pakistan's growth rate is set to hit an eight-year low, a government report predicted Friday, with all major indicators down as the country continues negotiating its 22nd bailout from the International Monetary Fund. A report by the National Accounts Committee, released late Thursday, forecast growth of a mere 3.3 per cent in the current fiscal year against a projected target of 6.2 per cent. "These are provisional data, not final, but Pakistan's economy is witnessing a slowdown," Muzammil Aslam, an independent economist, said. The report came as an IMF mission to Pakistan was expected to conclude its visit Friday, where it has been holding negotiations over a long-delayed bailout to stave off a potential balance-of-payments crisis. A deal could be announced shortly, according to local media. "We expect an IMF package similar to the one Pakistan obtained in 2008," Aslam, who heads Emerging Economic Research, said. Then, Pakistan got a $7.6 billion loan for five years to support its programme to stabilise and rebuild the economy. Analysts have warned that any fresh IMF deal could come with restrictions that would hobble Prime Minister Imran Khan's grand promises to build an Islamic welfare state. Discontent is already growing over the measures the government has taken to fend off the crisis, including devaluing the rupee by some 30 per cent since January 2018, sending inflation to five-year highs. "I had to halve my blood pressure medicine does as we can't afford to buy expensive medicines," Shehla Samad, a 45-year housewife, told AFP in Karachi recently. The IMF has issued an even more grim forecast for Pakistan, predicting economic growth of 2.9 per cent -- a 10-year low -- for the current fiscal year. Government officials said last month they have reached an "agreement in principle" with the IMF. But Khan's finance minister Asad Umar, who was leading negotiations, quit after a cabinet reshuffle last month. "We need to take some difficult decisions and we need to show some patience... Don't expect that there will be miracles and rivers of honey and milk," Umar warned after his resignation. The negotiations are now being led by Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, a former World Bank official who was Pakistan's finance minister from 2010-2013. The US has warned that it will be watching closely to ensure Pakistan does not use IMF money to repay debts to China, which has poured billions into the country for infrastructure projects under its Belt and Road Initiative. Pakistan, which joined the IMF in 1950, has had 21 bailouts since then. Its most recent loan was issued in 2013, worth $6.6 billion. The United Arab Emirates, Pakistan's largest trading partner in the Middle East and a major investment source, recently offered $3 billion to support the battered economy. Islamabad also secured $6 billion in funding from Saudi Arabia and struck a 12-month deal for a cash lifeline during Khan's visit to the kingdom in October.

Pakistan's growth to hit eight-year low as IMF bailout looms

The death toll rose to 11 on Thursday in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-blast-near-elite-police-vehicle-in-lahore-2-dead-19-injured-216892">powerful suicide blast</a> outside one of Pakistan's oldest and most revered Sufi shrines in Lahore as another policeman succumbed to his injuries, officials said.

The attack, which occurred during the Muslim holy month of Ramazan, was carried out by a teenage <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-taliban-faction-claims-responsibility-for-blast-in-lahore-216950">Taliban suicide bomber</a> who blew himself up outside the densely-populated 11th-century shrine on Wednesday.

So far, 11 people, including six police commandos, have lost their lives, Geo News reported, adding that as many as 26 others have been injured.

The powerful blast took place outside the Data Darbar shrine, the largest Sufi shrine in South Asia, where the elite police personnel were deployed for security.

A CCTV footage showed that a teenage boy wearing black 'shalwar kameez' and a suicide vest came closer to the vehicle of elite force and blew himself up.

"The suicide bomber is about 15 years old and made no suspected movement before blowing himself up," Lahore police spokesperson Syed Mubashir told PTI on Wednesday.

He said that two suspects have been taken into custody.

The Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JeA), a breakaway faction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the attack.

Punjab Inspector General Police Arif Nawaz told reporters that it was a suicide attack and the target was the vehicle of the elite force that was stationed outside the shrine of Sufi saint Ali Hajvari popularly known as Data Darbar.

The blast shattered the windows in nearby vehicles and buildings.

Wednesday was the second day of Muslim holy month of Ramazan. The Data Darbar area is thickly populated and the shrine attracts thousands of visitors every day.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has condemned the attack and directed the Punjab government to provide all assistance to the injured and families of victims. Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has ordered an inquiry.

Educational institutions near the shrine have been closed for Thursday.

The shrine is visited by hundreds of thousands of people each year.

In 2010, the shrine was targeted in a suicide attack that killed more than 40 people. Since then, the area has been increasingly hemmed in by heavy security, with visitors forced to pass through several layers of screening before they can enter the complex.&nbsp;

The death toll rose to 11 on Thursday in the powerful suicide blast outside one of Pakistan's oldest and most revered Sufi shrines in Lahore as another policeman succumbed to his injuries, officials said.

The death toll rose to 11 on Thursday in the powerful suicide blast outside one of Pakistan's oldest and most revered Sufi shrines in Lahore as another policeman succumbed to his injuries, officials said. The attack, which occurred during the Muslim holy month of Ramazan, was carried out by a teenage Taliban suicide bomber who blew himself up outside the densely-populated 11th-century shrine on Wednesday. So far, 11 people, including six police commandos, have lost their lives, Geo News reported, adding that as many as 26 others have been injured. The powerful blast took place outside the Data Darbar shrine, the largest Sufi shrine in South Asia, where the elite police personnel were deployed for security. A CCTV footage showed that a teenage boy wearing black 'shalwar kameez' and a suicide vest came closer to the vehicle of elite force and blew himself up. "The suicide bomber is about 15 years old and made no suspected movement before blowing himself up," Lahore police spokesperson Syed Mubashir told PTI on Wednesday. He said that two suspects have been taken into custody. The Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JeA), a breakaway faction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the attack. Punjab Inspector General Police Arif Nawaz told reporters that it was a suicide attack and the target was the vehicle of the elite force that was stationed outside the shrine of Sufi saint Ali Hajvari popularly known as Data Darbar. The blast shattered the windows in nearby vehicles and buildings. Wednesday was the second day of Muslim holy month of Ramazan. The Data Darbar area is thickly populated and the shrine attracts thousands of visitors every day. Prime Minister Imran Khan has condemned the attack and directed the Punjab government to provide all assistance to the injured and families of victims. Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has ordered an inquiry. Educational institutions near the shrine have been closed for Thursday. The shrine is visited by hundreds of thousands of people each year. In 2010, the shrine was targeted in a suicide attack that killed more than 40 people. Since then, the area has been increasingly hemmed in by heavy security, with visitors forced to pass through several layers of screening before they can enter the complex.

Death toll rises to 11 in Lahore suicide attack outside Sufi shrine

Pakistan has an important role to play in the ongoing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/united-states-to-consult-india-on-afghan-peace-process-216789">Afghan peace process</a>, the Acting US Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan told lawmakers Wednesday with another top American general opposing any move to withdraw troops from the war-torn country.

General Joseph Dunford, the Chairman of US Joint Chiefs of Staff, agreed with Shanahan during a Senate Committee hearing on the country's defence budget for the fiscal year 2020 beginning October 1, when Senator Lindsay Graham asked a question on the ongoing Afghan peace process.

"It's in our national security interest to have a counterterrorism platform. Do you agree that we'll never get a peaceful resolution until Pakistan denies the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-says-india-pakistan-clashes-will-affect-afghan-peace-process-200007">Taliban</a>'s safe haven?" Graham asked during the Congressional hearing.

"I believe Pakistan plays an important role," Shanahan said in response.&nbsp;

"I do (agree), senator," Dunford said.

Responding to a question, Shanahan agreed ISISK is getting larger, not smaller in Afghanistan and a counterterrorism platform is still required in the war-torn country. Shanahan said the current South Asia strategy of President Trump offers the best chance for peace in Afghanistan. "Our current policy remains the South Asia strategy. Our best chance for peace and this is probably the best in 40 years, is taking place right now. I would say our policy is to fight and talk. We're fighting the Taliban to pressure them into a reduction in violence," he said.

The United States is making progress on its South Asia policy, he said.

"Do you anticipate US forces coming home from Afghanistan anytime soon, or are we looking at an indefinite garrison type situation? How would you explain our current policy and the conditions for US withdrawal for the American people in a clear and simple way?" Senator Tom Udall asked.

General Dunford insisted that the US policy should be to put pressure on terrorist groups that pose threat to the US. "It's my judgment today, based on the threat from South Asia, that we need to continue to put pressure on those terrorist groups or they'll pose a threat to the United States," he said.

"I know it's frustrating to you and the American people for us to be there for such a long period of time. It's just my judgment right now that the conditions for a complete withdrawal aren't there," he said.&nbsp;

"The conditions for continuing to decrease our presence in the region as we have and increase the responsibility of, in this case, the Afghan forces to provide security for themselves, I think we can expect that to happen," he added.

"While I'm not anything other than realistic about the current negotiations we have and the peace process, it is the first time in many, many years where we've had some opportunity now to pursue a peaceful resolution to the war in Afghanistan. And at the end of the day, I don't believe there is a military solution, and I think will need to maintain a counterterrorism presence as long as an insurgency continues in Afghanistan," Dunford said.

Dunford said that there are about 20 groups in the region that he would describe as violent extremist groups. A handful of those groups have clearly demonstrated the intent to attack the homeland and to attack American citizens. The pressure that US's counterterrorism efforts have put on those groups over the last years have prevented another 9/11, he noted.

"Difficult to prove, but from the time I've spent Afghanistan -- I have been a commander there -- I am confident, if you want to think about this in terms of term insurance, once you stop paying the premium, you no longer have insurance. What we are doing in Afghanistan today, in my judgment, is a commensurate level of effort to threat," Dunford told the lawmakers.&nbsp;

Pakistan has an important role to play in the ongoing Afghan peace process, the Acting US Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan told lawmakers Wednesday with another top American general opposing any move to withdraw troops from the war-torn country.

Pakistan has an important role to play in the ongoing Afghan peace process, the Acting US Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan told lawmakers Wednesday with another top American general opposing any move to withdraw troops from the war-torn country. General Joseph Dunford, the Chairman of US Joint Chiefs of Staff, agreed with Shanahan during a Senate Committee hearing on the country's defence budget for the fiscal year 2020 beginning October 1, when Senator Lindsay Graham asked a question on the ongoing Afghan peace process. "It's in our national security interest to have a counterterrorism platform. Do you agree that we'll never get a peaceful resolution until Pakistan denies the Taliban's safe haven?" Graham asked during the Congressional hearing. "I believe Pakistan plays an important role," Shanahan said in response. "I do (agree), senator," Dunford said. Responding to a question, Shanahan agreed ISISK is getting larger, not smaller in Afghanistan and a counterterrorism platform is still required in the war-torn country. Shanahan said the current South Asia strategy of President Trump offers the best chance for peace in Afghanistan. "Our current policy remains the South Asia strategy. Our best chance for peace and this is probably the best in 40 years, is taking place right now. I would say our policy is to fight and talk. We're fighting the Taliban to pressure them into a reduction in violence," he said. The United States is making progress on its South Asia policy, he said. "Do you anticipate US forces coming home from Afghanistan anytime soon, or are we looking at an indefinite garrison type situation? How would you explain our current policy and the conditions for US withdrawal for the American people in a clear and simple way?" Senator Tom Udall asked. General Dunford insisted that the US policy should be to put pressure on terrorist groups that pose threat to the US. "It's my judgment today, based on the threat from South Asia, that we need to continue to put pressure on those terrorist groups or they'll pose a threat to the United States," he said. "I know it's frustrating to you and the American people for us to be there for such a long period of time. It's just my judgment right now that the conditions for a complete withdrawal aren't there," he said. "The conditions for continuing to decrease our presence in the region as we have and increase the responsibility of, in this case, the Afghan forces to provide security for themselves, I think we can expect that to happen," he added. "While I'm not anything other than realistic about the current negotiations we have and the peace process, it is the first time in many, many years where we've had some opportunity now to pursue a peaceful resolution to the war in Afghanistan. And at the end of the day, I don't believe there is a military solution, and I think will need to maintain a counterterrorism presence as long as an insurgency continues in Afghanistan," Dunford said. Dunford said that there are about 20 groups in the region that he would describe as violent extremist groups. A handful of those groups have clearly demonstrated the intent to attack the homeland and to attack American citizens. The pressure that US's counterterrorism efforts have put on those groups over the last years have prevented another 9/11, he noted. "Difficult to prove, but from the time I've spent Afghanistan -- I have been a commander there -- I am confident, if you want to think about this in terms of term insurance, once you stop paying the premium, you no longer have insurance. What we are doing in Afghanistan today, in my judgment, is a commensurate level of effort to threat," Dunford told the lawmakers.

Pakistan plays important role in Afghan peace process: Acting US Defence Secretary

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