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53% of journalists lost jobs, over 50% of media houses shut down in Afghanistan after the takeover by Taliban, hailed for organising a press conference

OpIndia Staff
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53% of journalists lost jobs, over 50% of media houses shut down in Afghanistan after the takeover by Taliban, hailed for organising a press conference

On Saturday (March 18), the Afghanistan National Journalists Union (ANJU) published a report, highlighting that 53% of journalists in the country lost their jobs after the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban.

The report also pointed out that over 50% of media outlets had shut down operations since August 2021, primarily due to financial losses. In a statement, ANJU member Masroor Lutfi said, “Most media employees have left Afghanistan. The media community is facing several problems.”

He further added, “It faces economic difficulties, and restrictions have been placed on the media’s activities in Afghanistan. Besides this, the suspension or closure of the protective laws of the media community is a big challenge.”

ANJU published the damming report on the occasion of National Journalists’ Day in Afghanistan on March 18. Several journalists in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan have raised concerns about their deteriorating economic condition and lack of access to information.

A journalist named Mustafa Shahriar told Tolo News, “We ask government officials and related officials to pay serious attention to the problems of journalists and ensure their safety.”

Another journalist, Raqib Fayaz, lamented, “Twenty-seven of Hoot, the Journalist’s Day, is celebrated when the lack of information access continues to be considered a difficulty and this community is still dealing with major economic issues.”

When Indian liberals were ‘salivating’ over press conference by the Taliban

Shortly after taking over Afghanistan by force in August 2021, the Islamist outfit Taliban held a press conference in Kabul. The left-liberal ecosystem in India was so “impressed” by the press conference that they used it to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A series of tweets popped up on the micro-blogging platform, shaming PM Modi for not holding a press conference since he assumed office in 2014.

Tweet by alleged comedian Aditi. Source: Twitter
Tweet by alleged activist Gurmeher Kaur. Source: Twitter
Tweet by Michael Kugelman. Source: Twitter
Tweet by alleged journalist Richa Singh. Source: Twitter

For Indian ‘liberals’, the Taliban is better than the Indian Prime Minister because they held a press conference.

Prime Minister Modi since he came to power first in 2014 has been interacting with the people of India through his radio programme Mann Ki Baat. He regularly posts updates on social media sites as well. However, since he ‘has not held press conference’, the Taliban is better.

Amidst Amritpal crackdown, Sidhu Moose Wala’s father appeals to Punjab Police to allow ‘sangat’ to attend his late son’s ‘barsi’

OpIndia Staff
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Amidst Amritpal crackdown, Sidhu Moose Wala’s father appeals to Punjab Police to allow ‘sangat’ to attend his late son’s ‘barsi’

Balkaur Singh, the father of the late Punjabi musician Sidhu Moose Wala, has appealed to the Punjab police to allow ‘sangat’ (community people) to reach the venue of his son’s ‘barsi,’ amidst the tumultuous Amritpal Singh situation in Punjab. The singer’s first death anniversary is being observed today at the New Grain Market in Mansa.

He conveyed that it is a religious function and assured the police that the event will be peaceful and free from any kind of violence.

Yesterday, he asked his son’s fans and admirers to attend the anniversary of his son’s death in large numbers. He alleged that people are not being allowed to attend the occasion. He asked attendees to keep the peace at the venue and arrive on time.

He further alleged that the current situation (crackdown on Amritpal Singh) in Punjab is a ploy to prevent people from assembling at his son’s death anniversary and the Khalistan proponent is also a target of this conspiracy.

He said, “Police and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government need to answer why they particularly chose to take action against Amritpal today. Probably it was a plan to stop masses from reaching my son’s barsi gathering.”

He added, that Amritpal too was to attend Moose Wala’s ‘barsi.’ “For the past few days, we were being told that he will come to visit us. He might have attended the ‘barsi’ too. He has always been cordial to us”, he added.

He complained, “We haven’t got justice till date. If the motive (behind crackdown) was to stop masses from attending our event, it won’t succeed.” He announced, “I had told ministers that thousands of my son’s supporters can gather within an hour of my call.”

A ‘calculated’ scheme to destroy Moose Wala’s image, according to Singh, is what led the mobster Lawrence Bishnoi to appear on television for an interview just before the anniversary of the death of his son. He argued that the latter was being portrayed as a ‘national hero’.

“A criminal sitting inside a jail is calling himself a nationalist and talking about eliminating drugs. What can be a bigger irony than this? It was all done days ahead of our program to tarnish my son’s image and by trying to link him with gangsters,” he protested.

Despite the fact that his son Sidhu Moose Wala, whose real name was Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, was killed on May 29 of last year, Balkaur Singh proclaimed, that they scheduled his first death anniversary celebration for March 19 because ‘the weather will be too hot in April and May and the only feasible location (Anaj Mandi) will be completely booked due to arrival of wheat crop.’

Delhi Police reach the residence of Rahul Gandhi to gather details about his ‘women gang raped’ remark

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi Police reach the residence of Rahul Gandhi to gather details about his ‘women gang raped’ remark

On Sunday (March 19), a team of Delhi police arrived at the residence of Rahul Gandhi after he claimed that two women confided in him about being gang raped during the Kashmir leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. The police team was led by Special CP (Law and Order) Sagar Preet Hooda.

The development comes three days after the police sent a notice to the Congress leader, seeking information about the victims so that appropriate action could be taken in the case.

While speaking about the matter, Special CP (Law and Order) Sagar Preet Hooda said, “Information has been passed on to Rahul Gandhi that we are here now…We are here to gather details from him so that immediate action can be taken against the accused and justice can be rendered.”

He explained that the police took cognisance of the matter after Rahul Gandhi’s claims went viral on social media.

While speaking about the matter, veteran Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, “It has been 45 days since Bharat Jodo Yatra ended. They (Delhi police) are going for questioning after 45 days.”

“If they are so much concerned why didn’t they go to him in February? Rahul Gandhi’s legal team will respond to it as per law,” he brazened it out.

While it is true that Rahul Gandhi initially spoke of the victims at Srinagar on January 30 this year, the Congress scion reiterated his claims during his anti-India tirade at the University of Cambridge on February 28.

“In one particular case, a girl told me that she was raped. I asked her to call the police. She declined to do so, saying that she would be shamed by society,” Rahul Gandhi had said in Srinagar.

He also made similar claims during his talk at Cambridge university. The Congress scion said that two women had approached him during his Bharat Jodo Yatra and held his hand. He said that one of the women told him, “my sister and I were gang raped by five men.”

Rahul Gandhi said that when he offered to call the cops, they declined, saying that they would be shamed and remain unmarried. According to him, the duo only confided in him because they thought of the Congress leader as their ‘brother’.

Four arrested aides of fugitive Amritpal Singh shifted to Dibrugarh in Assam by special IAF aircraft

OpIndia Staff
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Four arrested aides of fugitive Amritpal Singh shifted to Dibrugarh in Assam by special IAF aircraft

Amidst a crackdown on pro-Khalistan ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief Amritpal Singh, four of his arrested aides have been moved to Dibrugarh in Assam on Sunday, March 19.

Reportedly, the case of Amritpal Singh’s aides would be handled by Assam’s top police official.

Four detained associates of Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh were flown to Dibrugarh by a Special Air Force aircraft. The arrested persons will most likely be imprisoned in the Dibrugarh Central Jail. They were accompanied by a 27-member Punjab Police team, including the IG Prison.

At Mohanbari Airport, they were received by Dibrugarh’s Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Superintendent of Police (SP) amid tight security. The four arrested Waris Punjab De members were shifted to the bus at the runway of the airport itself, and a large team of Assam police escorted them to the jail. They were lodged in prison after medical tests.

Talking to reporters in Dibrugarh, Tejbir Singh Hundal of Punjab Police, the SP Investigation in Hoshiarpur, said that four persons have been shifted to Assam. He refused to divulge the names of the persons when asked, saying it will be disclosed later. He confirmed that the arrested persons will be kept at Dibrugarh Central Jail.

Security has been tightened at the jail, and additional Assam police forces have been deployed apart from the regular jail guards.

It is notable that just 2 days ago, senior officials of Assam Police visited the Dibrugarh Central Jail. Before the official confirmation, local media was reporting increased security activities at the Dibrugarh airport and around the jail. According to the speculations by media, all arrested members of Waris Punjab De will be shifted out of Punjab, as Punjab will see massive protests against the arrests, and there could be law and order situations, given how the organisation had seized a police station to release one of the arrested members.

Notably, Jalandhar Commissioner Kuldeep Singh Chahal on Saturday late evening confirmed that the radical leader has been declared a “fugitive”.

“Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh has been declared a fugitive. His two cars were seized and gunmen nabbed. We also checked if the firearms of his security escorts had been procured legally. A case has been registered. Punjab Police have launched a manhunt for Amritpal Singh and we are hopeful that he will be arrested soon. A total of 78 people have been arrested so far and further searches and raids are underway,” Chahal said in an exclusive interview with ANI.

Amritpal’s rise in Punjab

Amritpal Singh was a supporter of Deep Sidhu and actively participated in online campaigns and scissions with the pro-Khalistani late actor-turned-activist Sidhu who had founded Waris Punjab De in 2021. After Sidhu died in a road accident, Amritpal Singh took over the organisation. At that time, he was in Dubai. He returned to India in September 2022 and officially took charge of the organisation. Since then, his rise has been seen in a similar timeline to the rise of Khalistani terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in the late 1980s.

Punjab: ‘We will arrest Amritpal Singh soon’ – Jalandhar Commissioner of Police assures law and order will be maintained

OpIndia Staff
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Punjab: ‘We will arrest Amritpal Singh soon’ – Jalandhar Commissioner of Police assures law and order will be maintained

On March 19, Jalandhar Commissioner of Police Kuldeep Singh Chahal said that the search operation to find Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh is still on, and he will be arrested soon. Punjab Police intercepted Amritpal’s convoy on March 18 and arrested his associates, but Amritpal managed to escape.

Speaking to the media, CP Chahal said, “The search is still on. Our main aim is to maintain law and order in Punjab. The state police are capable of maintaining law and order at any cost. No one is allowed to disturb peace in the state. We will take strict action if anyone attempts to disturb the harmony.”

When asked about Amritpal Singh’s escape, he said, “It is a Police-thief game. Sometimes they manage to escape. But ultimately, we will arrest him soon enough. We chased his car for 20-25 KMs. As he was in the front, he had some advantage. He changed his vehicle and escaped. We have arrested his associated and recovered weapons. The police are registering cases accordingly.”

It is unclear if the weapons recovered were licensed or not. Investigation into the matter is underway.

Punjab Police’s Operation against Amritpal Singh

On March 18, Punjab Police launched a massive crackdown on pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh and his associates in Punjab. Security personnel from Central agencies, including CRPF in the state for the G20 summit, joined the operation with Punjab Police. The Police arrested 78 associates of Amritpal Singh during the operation. However, Amritpal Singh was on the run when this report was written. Punjab Police issued an advisory not to believe rumours on social media. Furthermore, internet services were shut in the state until March 19, 12 PM, and extended to March 20, 12 PM. Punjab Government imposed Section 144 in the state to ensure law and order.

Brother-sister duo remain locked inside their home in Ambala for 20 years, rescued

OpIndia Staff
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Brother-sister duo remain locked inside their home in Ambala for 20 years, rescued

On Saturday, March 18, a brother-sister duo who were locked inside their house for 20 years were rescued in Boh village of Ambala Cantt in Haryana. The brother-sister duo has been identified as Sunil and Indu Sharma.

Indu and Sunil had locked themselves in their own house 20 years ago after the demise of their parents. Reportedly, Surya Prakash Sharma, the father of the rescued siblings was an Ayurvedic doctor. It is being said that Indu and Sunil are mentally not well. Indu has Master of Arts (MA) and Bachelor of Education (B..Ed) degrees.

Social service organizations Manukhta Di Seva and Vande Mataram Dal rescued the duo and took them to Ludhiana where the two will be provided due care.

The two managed to survive as their neighbours regularly provided them with food. However, the two looked emaciated when they were rescued.

According to reports, Indu and Sunil fell into depression following the passing of their parents, and despite repeated requests from relatives to leave their home, they refused to listen and remained there for 20 years.

According to Mintu Malwa, a member of the “Manukhta Di Sewa” organisation, his organisation helps those who have no family or relatives or are mentally ill. Indu and Sunil were saved as soon as they learned about them and started gathering information about them. Despite having a decent education, both are currently in poor health. “Our organization will try to give better life to both of them,” Malwa remarked.

Amritpal dumped his phone, escaped in his Merc SUV, report reveals how Singh evaded arrest

OpIndia Staff
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Amritpal dumped his phone, escaped in his Merc SUV, report reveals how Singh evaded arrest

On March 18, the “hope” of Khalistanis reportedly sped away in his posh Mercedes SUV to get away from the Punjab Police near Jalandhar. As per the News18 report, his car and phone were found dumped in a ditch to throw the police officials off his trail. In a late evening press release, Punjab Police said Amritpal Singh was still on the run.

Singh was about to leave his house at his parental village Jallupur Khera for Jalandhar when Police initiated a massive operation to arrest him. The police force stayed at the village border to arrest him. Singh was travelling in his SUV with two SUVs in front and back. Police wanted to arrest him outside his village, where he has a stronghold, and any operation could have led to a law and order issue.

When his vehicle reached Shahkot-Malsian road near Jalandhar, around 60 police cars intercepted his convoy. One of the SUCs was hit. Two of the SUV were stopped by the police, and the police arrested seven armed gunmen of Singh. However, Singh managed to escape. A video by Singh’s aide went viral on social media, where they appealed to his supporters to gather and block the police.

Later, his SUV and phone were found ditched in a village near Nakodar. Some reports suggest he managed to escape on a bike. Police suspected he was hiding in Sarinh village of Nakodar, where a search operation was conducted to nab him. Some speculations have been made that the National Investigation Agency might take over the case once Singh gets arrested, and he could be booked under the National Security Act (NSA).

Funding from Pakistan

Notably, it was reported that Singh’s treasurer Basant Singh received funds from Pakistan earlier. While Amritpal Singh was in Dubai, he reportedly maintained close contact with Jaswant Singh Rode, the brother of Lakhbir Singh Rode, the chief of the Pakistan-based International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF). Amritpal Singh currently heads ‘Waris Punjab De’. Furthermore, the source also revealed that Amritpal Singh’s treasurer, Basant Singh Daulatpura, was receiving funds from Pakistan.

Amritpal’s rise in Punjab

Amritpal Singh was a follower of Deep Sidhu and actively participated in online campaigns and scissions with the pro-Khalistani late actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu who had founded Waris Punjab De in 2021. After Sidhu died in a road accident, Amritpal Singh took over the organisation. At that time, he was in Dubai. He returned to India in September and officially took charge of the organisation. Since then, his rise has been seen in a similar timeline to the rise of Khalistani terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in the late 1980s.

Amritpal Singh’s “close aide and financer” arrested: Sources

ANI
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Amritpal Singh’s “close aide and financer” arrested: Sources

As efforts are underway to nab pro-Khalistan ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief Amritpal Singh, an alleged advisor and financer of the “fugitive” has been arrested, central agency sources informed. 

As per the sources, Daljeet Singh Kalsi alias Sarabjeet Singh Kalsi, who is an alleged advisor and financer of Amritpal Singh, has been arrested by the authorities. This comes after the Punjab Police on Saturday launched a massive crackdown against the ‘Waris De Punjab’ chief. 

Earlier today, police personnel were deployed outside Amritpal Singh’s residence in Jallupur Khera village in Amritsar, and security was enhanced across the state as the Khalistani sympathiser outfit chief is currently on the run, as per the police. 

Earlier on Saturday late evening, Jalandhar Commissioner Kuldeep Singh Chahal confirmed that the radical leader had been declared a “fugitive”. 

In an exclusive interview with ANI, the Jalandhar Commissioner said, “Waris Punjab De’ chief Amritpal Singh has been declared a fugitive. His two cars were seized and gunmen nabbed. We also checked if the firearms of his security escorts had been procured legally. A case has been registered. Punjab Police have launched a manhunt for Amritpal Singh and we are hopeful that he will be arrested soon. A total of 78 people have been arrested so far and further searches and raids are underway”. 
Amritpal Singh’s father, however, claimed that Punjab Police conducted searches at his residence in Amritsar but did not find “anything illegal”. 

Tarsem Singh, Amritpal’s father, on late Saturday night said the police should have arrested him before he left the house. 

“We don’t have any information about his whereabouts. They carried out a search at our residence for 3-4 hours but did not find anything illegal. Police should have arrested him before he left home,” said Tarsem Singh in an exclusive interview with ANI on Saturday. 

Sharing more details, the official spokesperson of Punjab Police said, “On Saturday afternoon, several activists of WPD were intercepted by the Police at the Shahkot-Malsian Road in Jalandhar district and seven persons were arrested on the spot. Several others including Amritpal Singh are on the run and a massive manhunt has been launched to nab them.” 

“During the statewide operation, nine weapons, including one .315 bore rifle, seven rifles of 12 bore, one revolver and 373 live cartridges of different calibres have been recovered so far,” said an officer. 

The spokesperson informed that WPD elements are involved in four criminal cases relating to spreading disharmony among classes, attempt to murder, attacking police persons and creating obstructions in the lawful discharge of duties of public servants. 
“Case FIR No. 39 dated 24-02-2023 stands registered against WPD elements for the attack on Ajnala Police Station,” he added. 

He said that all persons involved in criminal offences shall be dealt with in accordance with the law and all persons wanted by the police should offer themselves to the process of law. Their constitutional rights of legal defence shall be protected, he added. 
Police requested all the citizens not to pay heed to fake news and rumours. 

“Situation in the state is completely stable. All persons indulging in mischievous activities for disturbing peace and harmony in the state shall be dealt with strictly,” the police said. 

Earlier in the day, mobile Internet services were also suspended in several districts of Punjab until 12 noon on Sunday. 

The police action came almost over three weeks after Amritpal’s supporters clashed with uniformed personnel at the Ajnala police station on the outskirts of Amritsar last month, demanding the release of one of Amritpal’s close aides, Lovepreet Toofan. 

On February 23, thousands of his supporters stormed the Ajnala police station, flashing swords and high-calibre firearms and threatening the police with dire consequences if they did not release Lovepreet Toofan, who was arrested for allegedly assaulting and abducting a man. 

The supporters, brandishing swords and guns, broke through police barricades erected outside the Ajnala police station. 

The police later said “in the light of the evidence presented”, it has been decided that Lovepreet Singh Toofan will be discharged. 
Lovepreet Singh was released from jail on February 24 following orders of a court in Ajnala on an application by the police. 

Reacting to the incident, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had said that these “1,000 people” don’t represent Punjab, and alleged that they are “funded by Pakistan” to disrupt peace in the state.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

International toolkit gets activated as Punjab Police continues its manhunt against Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh

OpIndia Staff
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International toolkit gets activated as Punjab Police continues its manhunt against Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh

As the Punjab police intensified its manhunt to nab Amritpal Singh and his aides on Saturday (March 18), support poured in for the pro-Khalistan leader from across the globe.

In a concerted effort to defame India, Singh’s sympathisers insinuated that the Sikh community is in danger in India and that the pro-Khalistan leader is a martyr of sorts.

Canada-based ‘World Sikh Organisation’ claimed, “The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) condemns the security operations in Punjab to arrest Sikh leader, Bhai Amritpal Singh.” It also attempted to create fear in the international community about the shutdown of internet in the State of Punjab.

Indian-origin Canadian politician, Jagmeet Singh, tweeted, “I am deeply concerned by reports that India has suspended civil liberties and imposed an internet blackout throughout the state of Punjab.”

As part of the international toolkit, he was quick to associate the action of Punjab police to nab Amritpal Singh with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. “These draconian measures are unsettling for many given their historical use to execute extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances during the 1984 Sikh Genocide,” Singh added.

Some of Amritpal Singh’s sympathisers tried to deviate the public discourse from his arrest to the temporary internet shutdown (which is meant to prevent unrest, chaos and organised violence in Punjab).

Another Canadian politician, Tim S Uppal, wrote, “Very concerned about reports coming out of Punjab, India. The government has suspended internet services and restricted gatherings of more than 4 people in some areas. We are closely following the situation.”

Canada-based poet, Rupi Kaur, claimed, “Mass arrests of Sikh activists are taking place in Punjab. at least 78 people taken. Internet and SMS have been shut down in areas along with crackdowns on gatherings. Sikh media outlets and pages have been blocked.”

Khalsa Aid (Canada) director, Jindi Singh KA, alleged, “The burden of fighting for Sikh Rights yet again falls at the feet of Sikh Youth Activists, who are now being rounded up by Punjab Police, with the internet cut & gathering of 4+ banned.”

“Is this the behavior of a mature democracy? We remember the State Violence of the 80s & 90s,” he added.

One Twitter user, H Gill, even tried to mobilise pro-Khalistan elements in New York to protest against the manhunt against Amritpal Singh.

The toolkit controversy and its origins

The monicker ‘toolkit’ has become a shorthand for the systemic targeting of India and its institutions by a vicious cabal of journalists, activists and politicians.

It was first popularised by infamous global climate activist Greta Thunberg, who inadvertently revealed the sinister global campaign in a tweet during the anti-farm law protests in India in February 2021.

The document shared by Greta Thunberg listed a series of actions that people across the world could take to pressurise the Indian Government over the cause of agitating farmers.

As part of the plan, celebrities including Rihanna, Mia Khalifa and Canadian MP Jagmeet and others came forward in support of the anti-farm law protests. The ‘toolkit’ shared by Greta Thunberg has made it clear that it was part of a larger conspiracy to cause unrest in India.

Later, in May 2021, another Congress toolkit began doing the rounds on social media, which suggested ways to paint the Kumbh Mela as a ‘Covid-10 super-spreader.’

Pakistanis attack their PM for being busy watching cricket while the country spirals into political chaos and economic crisis

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistanis attack their PM for being busy watching cricket while the country spirals into political chaos and economic crisis

Even when Pakistan is faced with a mounting economic crisis with no visible signs of relief, Pakistan’s Prime Minister prioritizes watching cricket match over fixing the country’s economy in shambles. On Saturday, March 18, PM Shehbaz Sharif lauded Pakistani cricketer Shaheen Shah Afridi for his 44 runs off 15 balls knock against Multan Sultans at the Pakistan Super League (PSL)- the cheaper version of the Indian Premier League (IPL). 

Praising the Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Afridi, the Pakistani Prime Minister tweeted, “Another Afridi with such power hitting…”

A Twitter user named FAIQ tweeted, “Ain’t no way this nigga watching PSL Final while there a literal civil war going on in the country.”

Several Pakistani Twitter users advised the Pakistani PM to focus on the country instead of watching cricket.

One ‘Ajeeb’ replied to Sharif’s tweet calling him ‘Talka Insaan’ (bald man) and urged him to focus on Pakistan. “Abey mulk pe dhyan de takla insaan,” Ajeed tweeted.

Another user advised Sharif to focus on the country’s economy.

One Umar Ishtiaq tweeted, “Apny logun per zulam kar k yeh baighairat match dekh rha ha (After inflicting atrocities on his people this Shameless is watching match).

Hamid Khan wrote, “begherat tu match dhaik mulk jal raha (the country is burning and this shameless is watching match).”

Pakistani entertainer Sehar Shinwari known for her anti-India rants and attention-seeking gimmicks also criticized PM Sharif and wrote, “Country is on the verge of default, IMF is asking to end our nuclear program, the worst ever political and human rights situation in the country and you are busy watching PSL. Shame on you.”

One Husain Afzal taunted PM Sharif for his ‘great services’ in the last 11 months. “Mr. Prime is busy watching cricket, as Pakistan recorded the highest inflation rate, no IMF deal as yet… Thank you very much Mr. Shehbaz Sharif for your great services in the last 11 months for the homeland,” Afzal replied.

Pakistan-IMF meeting over bail-out fails

Pakistan has been hit by its worst-ever economic crisis with skyrocketing inflation, supply chain disruptions, and depleting foreign reserves alongside a political crisis.

The talks for a much-needed bailout package between International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Pakistan failed in February this year, posing a serious question about the country’s ability to repay international loans. Pakistan is in talks with the IMF on a $1.1 billion funding round, which is part of a $6.5 billion bailout package signed in 2019. While an IMF team was in Pakistan to discuss the deal, the talks collapsed as they failed to reach a staff-level agreement within the stipulated time. Following this, Shehbaz Sharif-led ruling coalition decided to significantly increase tax rates to meet with IMF’s conditions.

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