Pakistan round-up: Islamabad's U-turn on cotton, sugar imports from India, TikTok ban lifted, & more

TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Apr 5, 2021, 20:25 IST

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Pakistan round-up: Islamabad's U-turn on cotton, sugar imports from India, TikTok ban lifted, & more

NEW DELHI: Pakistan government backtracks on plans to import sugar and cotton from India after political backlash, opposition alliance PDM in disarray, and other important news from the neighbouring country over the last week, in our weekly Pakistan round-up.

Here's what made headlines in Pakistan over the last week

Islamabad does U-turn on sugar, cotton imports from India

Pakistan's government made a swift U-turn on plans to allow limited imports of sugar, cotton and wheat from India after a political backlash against the plan.

The government's economic coordination committee said Wednesday that import permits would be approved in a bid to rein in rampant inflation.

But on Thursday interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told reporters the decision had been "deferred" until New Delhi restored Kashmir's special status.

PDM splits as five parties to form new bloc

Opposition alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement has decided to part ways with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Awami National Party.

A new alliance of five opposition parties having 27 members in the Senate is likely to be formed.

The PDM also decided to serve notices to the PPP and the ANP for not attending the alliance meeting on Friday and violating its decision.

Ban on TikTok lifted in Pakistan

The Peshawar High Court on Thursday took back its ban on TikTok.

But it asked the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to let the Chinese app operate in Pakistan but make sure that "immoral content" is not uploaded.

Last month, PTA directed the country's service providers to block users' access to video-sharing app TikTok — in line with the court's orders.

Sindh govt bans wedding functions from April 6

The Sindh government on Wednesday announced it was banning wedding functions from April 6 to April 11.

This comes as the third wave of the coronavirus intensifies and four-five thousand cases are being reported on a daily basis across the country.

A notification from the Home Department announced that broader lockdowns will be imposed in areas with 8% coronavirus positivity ratios.

Swat ATC judge among 4 killed in 'targeted attack'

A judge of a Swat anti-terrorism court (ATC) was among four persons shot dead in an attack on his car near the Ambar Interchange in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Sunday.

The victims, identified as ATC Judge Aftab Afridi, his wife, grandson and daughter-in-law, were travelling from Peshawar to Islamabad via Swabi, according to police.

He added that the assailants fled the scene after the attack.

Revival of Pak-India hockey ties on the cards?

Top officials of the Pakistan Hockey Federation are expected to take up the issue of reviving sporting ties with India on the sidelines of the 47th International Hockey Federation Statutory Congress.

The meeting will be taking place from May 19 to 23 in New Delhi.

PHF officials are planning to hold talks Indian officials regarding revival of hockey ties between the two countries.

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