Marriyum Aurangzeb says, Dollar hike evidence of govt agreeing to IMF's conditions

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb on Friday said that the latest hike in the dollar serves as evidence that the government has agreed to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) conditions.

The PML-N leader’s comments came in reaction to the US dollar hitting an all-time high of Rs142 in the interbank market on Friday morning.

“The government has come to an agreement with IMF and is lying to the nation. The public should be told under which conditions the agreement has been made with the monetary watchdog,” Aurangzeb demanded.

Criticising Finance Minister Asad Umar’s comments during a ceremony to mark Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s 100-days in power, she said, “Asad Umar lied and deceived the nation yesterday. Overnight the dishonest and fake government has robbed the nation.”

Aurangzeb expressed concern that the latest depreciation of the rupee would lead to an even worse price hike.

“Imran-led government should resign over its lies and fraud,” she said.

“It has been proven that running a government and solving problems of the nation is not under their [PTI] control. Time and circumstances are telling us that this ‘chicken and egg’ government cannot run the country," the PML-N leader added.

Georgia elects French-born candidate as first female president

Ruling party candidate Salome Zurabishvili has won Georgia's presidential election with 59.52% of the vote, the election commission has said, with all ballots counted.

The French-born politician beat her rival Grigol Vashadze, who ran from an alliance of 11 opposition parties led by exiled ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili's United National Movement (UNM), and who ultimately took 40.48% of the vote.

Ms Zurabishvili is a former French career diplomat who served as Georgia's foreign minister from 2004 to 2005.

She said that her election as the ex-Soviet country's first female president shows that voters have chosen closer integration with Europe.

"It is now important to show that this country has chosen Europe," Ms Zurabishvili told journalists, saying that "for that purpose, Georgians have elected a European woman president."

The presidential elections in Georgia were "competitive" and candidates were able to campaign freely, international observers said.

But observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe also noted that the ruling party's candidate "enjoyed an undue advantage" due to the misuse of administrative resources.

Jamal Khashoggi: Canada levels sanctions on 17 Saudi nationals

Canada has imposed sanctions on 17 Saudi nationals allegedly linked to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The sanctions will freeze the assets of those individuals in Canada, said the country's foreign minister in a statement.

They will also be barred from entering into Canada.

Canada joins France, the US and Germany in imposing targeted sanctions related to the murder of the prominent Saudi journalist.

The sanctions announcement comes as world leaders, including the Saudi crown prince, gather in Buenos Aires for the G20 meeting.

The sanctions target Saudi Arabian nationals who are, in the opinion of the government of Canada, responsible for, or complicit in, Khashoggi's killing, Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said in the statement.

Khashoggi was killed on 2 October in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was not on the list of the 17 individuals sanctioned by Canada.

"The murder of Jamal Khashoggi is abhorrent and represents an unconscionable attack on the freedom of expression of all individuals," Ms Freeland said.

"Those responsible for Jamal Khashoggi's murder must be held to account and must face justice."

Canada says it is also currently reviewing its arms sales to Saudi Arabia.

G7 nations and other world leaders have called for an investigation into the journalist's death.

 

Pak Formally Invites PM Mahathir To Be Special Guest On Pakistan Day

Pakistan extended formal invitation to Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad for a state visit, and also be a chief guest on Pakistan Day event.

According to Pakistani High Commission, Nafees Zakaria met Mahathir Mohamad and gave an invite for state visit.

Zakaria said that the prime minister is satisfied with the results of the visit to Malaysia. He said that sending skilled workforce should be observed and investors should come to Pakistan.

On Nov 20, the prime minister went to Malaysia for a two-day visit and invited Dr Mahathir to visit Pakistan as chief guest on Pakistan Day on March 23—which he accepted.

GB minister's misbehaviour with airport staff: CJP summons Islamabad IGP

The Supreme Court on Friday summoned the Islamabad inspector general of police (IGP) while hearing a case of Gilgit Baltistan (GB) Tourism Minister Fida Hussain’s alleged misbehavior with Islamabad airport arrival incharge.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar heard the case regarding the alleged misbehaviour of the GB minister with the arrival incharge at the Islamabad airport after his flight was delayed on November 16.

Censuring the GB minister over his misbehavior, the chief justice asked Hussain, “Did you push the airport staff? Are you an educated person?”

The minister admitted that he had pushed the airport staff.

Justice Nisar then questioned, “Were you in your senses at the time? How did you interfere in official affairs?”

“A poor man was mocked at the airport,” the top judge remarked. “We will call the Islamabad IGP and get a case registered against you,” he further told Hussain.

At this, the GB tourism minister said, “I did not push him owing to ill intentions. I pushed him, but there is a story behind it.”

On November 16, Justice Nisar had taken notice of the alleged misbehaviour of Gilgit Baltistan Tourism Minister Fida Hussain with the arrival incharge at the Islamabad airport.

As per media reports, the incident took place over a flight delay due to bad weather and the minister pushed the arrival incharge so hard that he stumbled, a SC press release had stated.

The GB minister was among passengers of PK-507 scheduled to travel from Islamabad to Gilgit who protested after their flight was delayed due to bad weather.

A video of Hussain showed him pushing the airport official saying not to “waste his time.” In another video, Hussain was also seen burning clothes at the airport and stopping staff who came to extinguish the fire. The protest came to an end after assurances by the airport manager.

SC seeks details of Aleema Khan’s property, tax amnesty

The Supreme Court on Friday, while hearing a suo motu case on foreign properties owned by Pakistani nationals, directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to present property and tax amnesty details of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar is hearing the suo motu case on foreign bank accounts and assets owned by Pakistani citizens.

As the hearing went under way, the matter pertaining to the PM’s sister owing property abroad was also raised and the FBR adopted an ambiguous attitude towards it.

The chief justice asked the FBR chairman, “Does Aleema Khan own any property in the United Arab Emirates.” The FBR chairman in response said, “There is no official confirmation regarding this as yet.”

“If Aleema Khan declared the property in her amnesty scheme then the matter is confidential. If the court orders, we will present a record of the amnesty scheme,” the FBR chairman added.

Justice Nisar then inquired, “Does Aleema Khan own any property in Dubai or did she declare any foreign property in her amnesty scheme. This matter is being highlighted for days now.” At this, a member of the land revenue board said that Aleema Khan owns a property abroad.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan remarked, “To claim the amnesty scheme, foreign properties need to be declared. Why are you not telling us this when the chief justice is asking you.” The member of the land revenue board responded, “I was talking about confidential details.”

Justice Nisar turned to the member of the land revenue board and said, “Is Aleema Khan’s property in your name or is it your property? Why do you keep bringing up that it is confidential?”

The chief justice ordered, “Provide us with sealed details of Aleema Khan’s property. We will review the details ourselves.” The bench also sought details of Aleema Khan’s tax records.

Further, Justice Nisar told FBR and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials, “We want results in the case on foreign properties owned by Pakistani citizens.”

“You sent notices to all of Pakistan and there is no focus on the properties the court had asked for,” the top judge remarked.

US dollar hits all-time high of Rs142 in interbank market

The US dollar hit an all-time high of Rs142 in the interbank market on Friday.

The greenback gained by Rs8 to touch the new high in the interbank market.

The rise in dollar comes owing to the widening current account deficit.

On November 23, the US dollar rose to a record high against the rupee as it reached Rs135.30 in the open market.

The government borrowed a total of $1.58 billion during the first four months (July-October) of the current fiscal year.

In the first two months of the fiscal year (July and August), the caretaker government took out loans of $820 million. With the new Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government in power, the borrowing continued. The government borrowed over $760.4 million during the months of September and October.

$320 million were borrowed from commercial banks, $230 million from China and $70 million from Islamic Development Bank.

Overall, the government is expected to borrow close to over $9.69 billion during the 2019 fiscal year.