Imran Khan’s PTI rejects govt’s offer to resume talks
Islamabad, Jan 31: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership rejected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s offer to resume stalled talks with the government through a parliamentary panel to lower the country’s political temperature. Shehbaz addressed a cabinet meeting on Thursday and said the government was ready to form a parliamentary committee to advance talks with PTI after the Imran Khan-founded party quit negotiations over the non-formation of a judicial commission to probe the events of May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024, according to Geo News. The offer came after the PTI abruptly quit the talks after holding three meetings with the ruling parties’ negotiation committee, maintaining the government failed to constitute judicial commissions within the seven-day deadline in line with its “charter of demands”. (PTI)
Thousands attend annual Biswa Ijtema event in B’desh
Dhaka, Jan 31: Tens of thousands of people gathered on a riverbank near Bangladesh’s capital on Friday to listen to sermons by Islamic scholars at the Biswa Ijtema, or global congregation of Muslim devotees. The three-day annual event will end on Sunday when hundreds of thousands of Muslims are expected to join final prayers like every year. This is the first phase of Biswa Ijtema, while the second phase will be held February 3-5. The third phase will be held February 14-16. Biswa Ijtema is one of the largest gatherings of Muslim devotees, held on the sandy banks of the Turag River in Tongi, just north of Dhaka, the capital. The event dates back to the 1950s when the Tablighi Jamaat movement started hosting the event. (AP)
EU warns Pak on duty-free exporter status
Islamabad, Jan 31: The European Union on Friday warned Pakistan that its status as a duty-free exporter to the bloc will continue to depend on the progress the country makes in addressing concerns about civil and labour rights, and freedom of speech. The warning came as Olof Skoog, the EU’s special representative for human rights, wrapped up a weeklong visit to Islamabad. (AP)
SL prez ready to release Tamil land in Jaffna
Colombo, Jan 31: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Friday assured the northern Tamils that their lands held by the military would be fully returned back to them soon. The Sri Lankan president was visiting Jaffna, the northern capital, for the first time since being elected President in September last year and stated that land belonging to the people should rightfully remain with them. Jaffna is a Tamil-dominated capital city of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. Dissanayake said steps are being taken to expedite the process of returning land to its rightful owners. During the armed conflict since the 80s, the government has continuously seized the land of people for military purposes. From 2015 there have been releases from time to time. (PTI)