PM Imran ‘inquires after estranged PTI leader Jahangir Tareen’

Prime Minister Imran Khan spoke to estranged PTI leader Jahangir Tareen over the phone after a long hiatus and inquired after his health, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi confirmed on Monday. Speaking to a local TV channel, Qureshi downplayed the premier’s contact with the ailing disgruntled leader, saying PM Imran called his former close aide as a “goodwill gesture” after he fell ill. According to the media reports, the premier telephoned Tareen before his departure to London, reportedly for medical treatment. The development comes days after two federal ministers urged the prime minister to contact Tareen in an effort to torpedo the chances of success of the opposition’s no-confidence move, sources had told The Express Tribune. It is learnt that the two federal ministers met the prime minister, suggesting him to contact Tareen but got a stony silence from him, the sources added. PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah on Saturday dismissed rumours that estranged PTI leader Tareen was travelling to London to hold a meeting with party supremo Nawaz Sharif. Also read: Jahangir Tareen group may join hands with opp: sources “As per my information, Tareen went for her medical treatment and no meeting is scheduled with Mian Nawaz Sharif," Sanaullah added. The Jahangir Tareen group is considering supporting the opposition in the no-trust move against the PTI-led government, sources had said after the group held a meeting at the residence of Awn Chaudhry under the chairmanship of Tareen. The group gave authority to Tareen to take a final decision. According to sources, the majority of the group’s members decided to enter the political arena with full force and launch the anti-government strategy. Most members of the group suggested standing with the PML-N in the anti-government stance while those hailing from Jhang advised maintaining independent status.

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Inside the journey to escape Ukraine

When Ehteshamul Haque bid farewell to his family in Dera Ismail Khan and boarded a Ukraine-bound plane in the winter of 2020, a lot was on the cards for the medical student but a war that would leave him beseeching his statesmen for emergency evacuation. Even until a week ago, when the chatter about a possible Russian invasion was starting to fill the air in the city of Kharkiv, and civilians were picking up batons, he had hoped for it to pass. “We had contacted the Pakistani embassy, they reassured us that everything was fine and that there were protocols in place if the situation escalates. We asked the university if we could go back home and take our classes online, but they too told us to stay put and that there was nothing to worry about,” he recalled, wheeling his luggage through a packed metro station that had now become a bomb shelter for thousands of people trying to escape the Russian airstrikes. The night of horrors Although one could smell the tension suspended in Kharkiv’s air days ahead of the conflict, the war entered the city on the morning of February 23rd, when a blast in one of the military bases close to the city rattled Ehtesham’s apartment. “We were still uncertain about how bad things were, but Kharkiv is just 40 kilometres from Russian soil and surrounded by military bases, so we knew we were in the eye of the storm,” said the student, relentlessly dialing the emergency hotlines issued by his embassy, after being cooped up for several hours in the metro station, but all at vain. When the realisation of the crisis slowly dawned, what many foreign students like Ehtesham needed to get through the ghastly night of February 23rd, was the comfort of community. “Everyone is too scared to be alone tonight, so people are trying to stay in groups, in case something goes bad,” Priya, an Indian student, recalled updating her family back home over WhatsApp, adding that she’d called her Pakistani friend Areej to stay over with her. The journey to Lviv The next day, on the 24th of February, as news of Moscow’s attack made headlines around the world, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced martial law across the country. Ehtesham, Priya and Areej, who were all students at the Kharkiv National Medical University, were now made aware of the full-scale attack on Ukrainian land and had been instructed to take shelter in bunkers and underground stations until further notice from their embassies. According to text messages exchanged between Priya with her sister in Delhi, the Indian embassy had also been hard to reach, offering little to no help in translocating students from conflict-ridden Kharkiv to safety. “I am scared. We are being asked to walk 20 hours by foot, but it’s not safe out there, and the sirens are constantly blaring to warn us of airstrikes,” she had told her concerned sister. On the other hand, the Pakistani Embassy had issued directives for Pakistanis to turn to Ternopil in Western Ukraine, which is 900 kilometres from the city of Kharkiv, via a tweet. “Ours was the worst-hit city, so getting out of Kharkiv was the main problem. All buses and trains were overbooked. We had no way of going anywhere and no one at the embassy was receiving our calls,” said another Pakistani student, who had been stuck in the metro station without any arrangements for food or water. After almost a day of staying put in the makeshift bomb shelter, a WhatsApp message on a South Asian students’ group had alerted Ehtesham and friends that the airstrikes were soon to target civilian areas and that Kharkiv had been compromised. However, public transport was still unavailable and the embassy had now asked students to change their course to Lviv, a city near the Polish border, from where they were eventually going to be shuttled to Poland. It was evident now that getting on a train would have to be by force. After eight hours of relentlessly trying, a few students including Ehtesham were able to push their way into a packed coach, that was several hours late and took another 18 hours to reach the destination. While at the same time, students from other cities like Ternopil and Kyiv were also beginning to pour into the city of Lviv. “In our correspondence, the embassy had told us that there would be buses ready for us in the city centre,” shared Taimoor, who had escaped the Ukrainian capital amid what he described as “fire raining from the sky,” and landed in Lviv. From there, he joined the other students, on a 35-kilometre trek to the border site, that took almost eight hours in extreme weather, without any food or water, as wartime sirens blared in the distance. The chaos According to Kainat, a student who’d covered some 128 kilometres coming from Ternopil to Lviv, and then over 35 kilometres on foot to the border region, the evacuation site was no different than a warzone. “There were immense crowds and we couldn’t locate anyone from the Pakistani embassy there to guide us, while the Ukrainian authorities were not letting us foreigners pass. All we could do was helplessly sit under the open sky for what seemed like an eternity until the day turned frigid, winds began to cut like glass and there was nothing to shield us from the weather,” she informed, adding that the food handed to them by Ukrainians living close to the border had also run out during the wait. The government, in the meanwhile, had already issued multiple claims of immediate evacuation assistance, when news of stranded Pakistani students began to flood social media spaces back home. “There are immense difficulties at border crossing points due to huge number [of people] wanting to leave Ukraine. Embassy and Ministry is actively engaging Govt of Ukraine to expedite the process,” read a tweet by the Pakistani Embassy in Ukraine. Also read: Ukraine and Russia: What you need to know right now Speaking to a state-owned broadcaster on the morning of February 27, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the Ukraine Dr Noel Khokhar assured that over 125 Pakistani students had already been safely evacuated from the Ukrainian border post, while over 378 were still waiting to cross over and 30 in transit. “We have so far covered 80 per cent of our evacuation from difficult zones, but there is congestion on the border post and we are trying to facilitate the students,” he added. In contrast, however, the students camped by the Polish borders alleged that they had received next to no help from their home embassy in getting here, and much of their evacuation efforts had been a test of self-endurance. “In a matter of one night, we were told to pack our bags and traverse into uncertainty. All our essential documents including birth certificates and transcripts are still with our universities and we have no idea what the future would hold for us,” expressed a student from Kharkiv National Medical University, speaking on behalf of his cohort. Making it to safety It was after another night of waiting that Pakistani students including, Ehtesham, Areej, Kainat and Taimoor, were able to offer their worried friends and family some clarity on their evacuation status. The border finally appeared to be open, and queues of people were seen to be moving ahead. A few hours later, the Pakistani Embassy announced that it had safely evacuated over 606 students to Poland from Ukraine. “Our phones were constantly ringing and some of us were down to our last bar of battery. The thought of losing contact with family was frightening on both ends, but we were relieved to hear that we could all cross over to Poland, despite being among the last groups as Ukrainians were given priority,” shared Kainat. Also read: ‘198 civilians killed’ as Russian, Ukrainian troops come face to face in Kyiv According to sources associated with evacuation services, however, the initial holdup at the border site had been created by Polish authorities, on suspicion that a group of Pakistani citizens who had initially crossed over was unaccounted for. “It then took some diplomatic efforts to convince Polish authorities to reopen their doors and let the remaining Pakistanis cross over,” the source claimed. After what had seemed like an eternity of navigating a warzone, the students could now see themselves a step closer to safety. Per the last updates received, Kainat was issued an exit stamp on her passport at 6:30 PM on Sunday, along with Ehtesham and other students fleeing Ukraine. They were then shuttled to Poland’s capital of Warsaw for further evacuation to Pakistan. At the time of this article’s conclusion, all named Pakistani students had safely reached Warsaw, while the Pakistani government had announced chartering the national-flag carrier to bring the students home. However, some students alleged that getting on the plane has been an uphill battle so far. Responding to which, Pakistan International Airline’s Head of Corporate Communications Abdullah Khan said that the Pakistan government has sought until March 1st to decide whether the plane would be required or not. “A lot of students are still indecisive about heading home or waiting things out in Poland, while some have been citing permission issues from their university. However, we are ready to aid the students as and when needed,” he told The Express Tribune. Disclaimer: Despite several attempts to contact the Pakistani Embassy in Ukraine for their statement on the matter, no word has so far been received.

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Poland assures ‘full support’ to evacuate Pakistanis stranded in Ukraine

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi held a telephonic conversation with his Polish counterpart Zbigniew Rau on Monday and discussed bilateral ties as well as the evacuation of stranded Pakistanis from war-hit Ukraine. The two sides exchanged views on Pakistan-Poland relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest, the Foreign Office said in a statement. FM Qureshi “highly appreciated” the Polish side for receiving Pakistani students and the community being evacuated from Ukraine. He added that Pakistan looked forward to continued assistance from the Polish government during this difficult period. The Polish foreign minister assured of Poland’s full support and facilitation in the evacuation process. Also read: Large number of Pakistanis evacuated from war-hit Ukraine So far, 606 Pakistani including students have been safely evacuated to Poland from Ukraine. Recalling his earlier phone conversation with the Polish foreign minister last September, Qureshi said that Pakistan had close ties with Poland and remained committed to further enhance them across all areas of mutual benefit. Regarding the situation in Ukraine, FM Qureshi expressed Pakistan’s serious concern and underscored Pakistan’s belief that disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. The foreign minister noted that Prime Minister Imran Khan in his recent visit to Moscow had regretted the situation and had hoped that diplomacy could avert a military conflict. The prime minister had further stated that conflict was not in anyone’s interest and that the developing countries were always hit the hardest economically. Qureshi reiterated Pakistan’s strong emphasis on de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy. The two ministers agreed to remain in close contact.

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Govt urged to repeal amendment to 'draconian' PECA Ordinance

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Monday urged the federal government to repeal amendment to "draconian" Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 (PECA) Ordinance, terming it the latest in a "concerted campaign to restrict freedom of expression and stifle dissent". On February 18, the government passed an ordinance amending PECA to make online “defamation” of authorities a criminal offence with harsh penalties. “PECA has been used to silence freedom of expression on the pretext of combating ‘fake news,’ cybercrime, and misinformation,” said Nadia Rahman, acting deputy regional director for South Asia at Amnesty International. Read more: Media bodies reject ‘draconian’ PECA ordinance “This amendment not only violates the Pakistan Constitution, but also puts anyone who questions the government or other state institutions at further risk. It particularly endangers journalists, human rights defenders, and political opponents who run the risk of prosecution for merely doing their jobs.” The statement said that the amendment makes defamation a non-bailable offence, and increases the maximum prison term, if convicted, from three to five years. It also expands the definition of those who can initiate criminal proceedings for defamation, allowing any person or institution to register the complaint. "Pakistan has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which protects the right to freedom of expression. Article 19 of the ICCPR allows for restrictions on freedom of expression to protect the reputations of others, but such restrictions must be necessary and narrowly drawn." It said that Amnesty International and HRW oppose all criminal defamation laws as a disproportionate and unnecessary response to the need to protect reputations that chills freedom of expression. "Expanding PECA’s already overbroad criminal defamation provisions to online statements about government institutions violates Pakistan's international obligations," it added. Also read: IHC takes sting out of PECA 2022 The statement said that by excluding civil society groups and the private sector from consultation on the amendments, the government prevented genuine public scrutiny of the amendments prior to enactment. "The amendment to PECA also makes it incumbent upon courts to conclude trials within six months and furnish monthly progress reports of pending trials, and orders federal and provincial officials to remove any obstacles that may hinder the progress of the proceedings. It is not evident how an already overburdened court system will safeguard people from unfair trials and poor evidence gathering," the groups said. “The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act neither protects the public from legitimate cybercrime concerns nor respects fundamental human rights,” said Patricia Gossman, Asia associate director at Human Rights Watch. “The new amendments will further embed violations of basic rights with a thin veneer of legality.” On February 23, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) restrained the Federal Investigative Agency from making any arrests under the ordinance. "While this offers temporary relief, it is not enough to mitigate the grave impact that the amendment will have on Pakistan’s already imperilled freedom of expression by potentially putting anyone at risk of criminal charges for expressing their views online," HRW and Amnesty said. The statement said that the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 is a draconian law that contains vague and overly broad offences. It has been criticised by Pakistan’s human rights defenders and civil society organisations for criminalising legitimate forms of expression based on supposed national security concerns. "Muzzling online and offline expression is part of an ongoing crackdown on dissent," it added. In 2021, the statement added, the Pakistan Media Development Authority Ordinance was proposed but not enacted which effectively enables press censorship by bringing all media under one regulator, granting the government unchecked powers to punish journalists through steep fines, instituting special “media tribunals”, and appointing government officials to key positions. The draconian Removal and Blocking of Unlawful Online Content (Procedure, Oversight and Safeguards) Rules legislation that would censor online content was enacted in October 2021. “The amendment, in effect, permits authorities to digitally police what people are saying online and levy heavy punishments if they do not like what they are saying,” said Patricia Gossman. “Laws should be centred around protecting human rights, not insulating the government from legitimate criticism. The authorities should either swiftly repeal PECA and this amendment entirely, or substantially amend them to align them with international human rights standards,” Nadia Rahman added.

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PM meets Archbishop of Canterbury, discusses interfaith harmony

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday discussed interfaith harmony, religious tolerance and affinity with the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. According to an official statement, the premier received the Archbishop in Islamabad earlier today. During the meeting, PM Imran reiterated his government's resolve to protect the rights of minorities as enshrined in the Constitution. "Pakistan is a culturally diverse country and is home to various religious minorities including Hindus and Christians and all of them are living peacefully and contributing to the development of Pakistan," he told the Archbishop. Premier Imran lamented that the minorities in India, including Muslims, were being subjected to the worst kind of religious discrimination and intolerance. Also read: Archbishop impressed by mosque’s architecture He further said that the government had established a Rehmatul lil Alameen Authority to promote the message of Islam of interfaith harmony and peaceful co-existence of mankind. Reciprocating, the Archbishop termed religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence of mankind the need of the hour. Earlier, the Archbishop participated in the Sunday mass at Peshawar’s All Saints Church and delivered the message of peace and religious harmony to the participants. On Sunday, the dignitary extensively toured the Grand Mosque in Bahria Town, Lahore and appreciated its architecture, which is a blend of traditional and modern design elements. He also visited the Quran Library in the grand mosque, where 300 to 700 years old manuscripts of the holy scripture in 17 languages are kept.

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Schools in residential areas annoy locals

While private schools help bridge the gap where public schools fall short in terms of providing education, however, for residents of the federal capital their presence in residential areas is a source of nuisance. Choked traffic and a cacophony of car and bus horns is the norm on Islamabad’s already narrow roads and streets during drop-off and pick-up time at schools in residential areas which results in fender benders, bad tempers, carefully crafted insults, and extremely displeased neighbors of the schools. One such neighbor, who lives in close proximity to a busy private school in the G-9 area is Bilal Khan, who while talking to the Express Tribune said that the school made him feel miserable at times. “It is impossible to pass through here in the morning and afternoon. Pick-and-drop vehicles and other cars form multiple lanes and everyone parks in any nook and cranny they can find,” a visibly frustrated Bilal lamented, “I wish I could get a good price for my house so I could sell it any move somewhere peaceful.” Similarly, Yaseen Hashmi, a resident of the I-9/3 area, complained that living close to a school was a source of constant stress for her because of all the noise and traffic. Yaseen said she had lodged multiple complaints to the city administration but nothing could be done about it. Fahim Butt, a shopkeeper in the F-8 area which is home to multiple schools and is one of the most choked areas of the city in the morning and afternoon, also had a bone to pick with the city administration for allowing schools to operate in commercial and residential areas. Read: Govt school gets digital library “I barely get any customers before evening because of the chaotic traffic mess that schools create. Why do they not ask the schools to move from here?” Fahim inquired from the Express Tribune. President of All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association, Abrar Ahmad Khan, when asked about the answer to Butt’s question said that all private schools have been established by obtaining a no objection certificate (NOC) from the concerned authorities. “When parents or pick-up and drop-off vehicles arrive at the school to pick up 300 to 500 children, the traffic will obviously be disrupted for a while,” Abrar said matter-of-factly. Abrar suggested that Islamabad has many alternative roads and residents should use them if they are in a hurry as banishing schools from the inner limits of the city was not a viable solution. A spokesman for the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority, concurring with Abrar’s views, reiterated that all schools in Islamabad are registered after conducting regular inquiries and fulfilling legal requirements and further added that the traffic congestion issues were the responsibility of the district administration and the police. While conceding that due to the influx of vehicles traffic flow was a problem, SP Traffic Islamabad, Rai Mazhar Ali, when asked about the schools in residential areas, said that additional personnel have been deployed in the areas where there are educational institutions in the morning and afternoon. “However, there are no jams or accidents as alternative routes are available to the residents. To further facilitate people we have banned people from parking anywhere they want and traffic police personnel have tightened the check and balance on this,” Rai informed the Express Tribune.   Published in The Express Tribune, February 28th, 2022.

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Karachi world’s fourth largest polluted city: report

Karachi has turned out to be the world's fourth largest polluted city as its air quality index has surged to an unhealthy level of 193, showing utter negligence of the federal and Sindh governments towards environmental reforms, according to a new investigative report released on Sunday. PM2.5 concentration, as per IQAir organisation report, in Karachi has been recorded 11.8 times higher this month which is above the WHO annual air quality guideline value. This clearly proves that the federal and Sindh governments’ claims of making huge investments for improving the environment and public health in the city are nothing but disinformation and misinformation, says the investigation report. The investigation finds that air pollution in Karachi contains solid and liquid particles, and certain gases in the air. The major polluters are transport and industrial emissions followed by burning of garbage, emissions from refrigerators, generators, flying of dust, and stoves used in houses and hotels. The investigation says that all types of forests, including mangroves along Sindh’s coastline, which used to help absorb carbon dioxide and clean air in Karachi, have been hacked to an alarming level. Karachi’s present mangroves forest cover is 50,000 hectares. In the last 50 years, Karachi has lost 10,000 hectares of mangrove forest due to encroachments, commercialisation and infrastructure development. A Sindh Environmental Protection Agency report says that the important ecosystems in Sindh, such as mangroves, have come under extreme pressure due to seawater encroachment and deforestation. There has been mass depletion of mangrove forests in the area due to illegal logging, irrigation and untreated industrial waste. The report says that only 130,000 hectares of mangroves of the 600,000 hectares that existed at the start of the 20th century are now left. The total land area of Sindh is 34.84 million out of which 8 per cent is forest cover. According to international standard, a country should have at least 25 per cent of its total land under forest cover to tackle environmental degradation including air pollution. The new annual economic survey of Pakistan released in June 2021 says that Pakistan is a forest deficient country as it has 5.01 per cent area under its forest cover. According to WHO, air pollution is one of the biggest environmental threats to human health, alongside climate change. From smog hanging over cities to smoke inside the home, air pollution poses a major threat to health. It causes diseases including heart ailments, strokes, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, cancer and pneumonia. Seven million people die globally each year due to exposure to ambient and household air pollution. Read: Untenable toll of air pollution Air pollution is a complex mixture of solid particles, liquid droplets, as well as gases. It can come from many sources such as household fuel burning, industrial chimneys, traffic exhausts, power generation, open burning of waste, agricultural practices, desert dust and many other sources. Air pollutants measured include PM2.5 and PM10 (particles with an aerodynamic diameter of equal or less than 2.5, also called fine, and 10 micrometre respectively), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and sulfur dioxide (SO2). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) can penetrate through the lungs and further enter the body through the bloodstream, affecting all major organs. Exposure to PM2.5 can cause diseases both to the cardiovascular and respiratory system, provoking stroke, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. New research has also shown an association between prenatal exposure to high levels of air pollution and developmental delay at the age of three, as well as psychological and behavioural problems later on, including symptoms of attention deficit, hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression. Read: SEPA seals factory over failure to control pollution Air pollution is a threat to health in all countries, but it hits people in low-and middle-income countries the hardest,” WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. In an interview, National Forum for Environment and Health President Naeem Qureshi said that air pollution was continuously rising in Karachi, mainly due to emissions from transport, followed by industrial emissions and burning of garbage. Transport is creating 70% air pollution in the city. “The federal and provincial governments have formulated environment policies but they are not being implemented in true spirit, as a result, there is no control on pollution in Karachi,” he said. Qureshi maintained that certification system of vehicles in the city was bogus which needed to be improved. There should be effective checking of smoke-emitting vehicles to reduce harmful emissions, he said, adding that mass transit be launched in Karachi at the earliest besides launching electrical vehicles. Separately, Pakistan Medical Association Secretary General SM Qaisar Sajjad noted that Karachi had turned out to be the world’s fourth largest air polluting city. “Air pollution is a slow poison and can even take life in severe conditions,” he said, observing that air pollution contributes to asthma, nose elegy, sore throat, and heart diseases. The PMA president stressed the need to regulate transport and industrial systems, and cease all smoke-emitting and dilapidated vehicles which cause air pollution.

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Pakistan-India water talks to start tomorrow

Pakistan and India will hold talks in Islamabad from March 1 to sort out water issues between the two countries. A 10-member delegation of Indian water experts will arrive in Lahore on Monday via the Wagah border to resolve bilateral water disputes through the 117th session of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC). The Indian delegation will be led by Indian Commissioner for Indus Water Pradeep Saxena while Pakistan will be represented by Indus Water Commissioner Commissioner Mehr Ali Shah. Speaking on the matter, Mehr Ali Shah said that Pakistan objects to a number of projects India is undertaking. He mentioned the 624 MW Kiru hydropower project on the Chenab River, the 15 MW Mandi project on the Pooch River in occupied Kashmir, a 24 MW semi-culvert on the Indus River, and 19 MW Turbok Shewk, 25 MW Hunderman, 19.5 MW Sanko Hydropower project MW and Mangram Sangra on the River Indus from the list of projects Pakistan will raise during the water talks. READ WAPDA chairman laments decline in water availability Last year, the 1,000 MW Pakal Dul and 48 MW Lower Kalnai projects were also discussed during the talks. The commissioner said that the Indian delegation will leave for its home country on March 4 after the meeting concludes. It is worth mentioning here that the two countries meet annually to discussion cooperation on the Indus River system, as proposed under Article VIII of the Indus Water Treaty which the countries signed in 1960 with the intervention of the World Bank. According to the treaty, the commissioners must meet at least once a year in India or Pakistan. The last time they met was during March 23-24, 2021, when a Pakistani delegation visited New Delhi. This meeting was held after a lapse of two years due to the tensions between the two countries following the attack Pulwama attack in 2019 and the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. While this was the official explanation, this paper reported last year that the delay had quite a lot to do with the lingering tensions between the two countries since India suspended the autonomous status of occupied Kashmir on August 5, 2019. At the conclusion of their last meeting, which was reported to be held in a “cordial manner”, both sides had agreed to interact frequently to sort out their issues. Pakistan had also asked India to share the designs of its projects. To this, India had replied that the information would be shared as per the requirements of the treaty.

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Ministers hit out at PPP as they march in Sindh

Federal ministers on Sunday lashed out at the PPP’s Sindh government accusing it of 15 years of “misrule” in the province while addressing the ruling PTI’s supporters in Shikarpur and Jacobabad as the party’s “Sindh Huqooq March” (Sindh’s rights march) passed through Larkana division. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, also the PTI’s vice president, said his party was ready for accountability of its 3.5-year rule, but the PPP would also have to give answers for what it had done in Sindh for the past 15 years. He added that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had left Karachi for Islamabad in the form of a long march to hold Prime Minister Imran Khan accountable for his three and a half years rule. “Our government is willing to give answers but in response, the PPP will also be held accountable for its continuous rule in Sindh since 2008.” Praising PPP founder and former premier Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for being a true son of the soil and recalling the leadership qualities of its slain chairperson Benazir Bhutto, Qureshi asked the people to honestly say if the party being led by its co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari was the same like the one before. The minister also blamed Zardari for “engineering” his defeat in a National Assembly seat in Tharparkar district for which he contested in 2013 and 2018 polls. “Today’s PPP has gone out of the hands of Bhuttos and now in Zardari’s control. In today’s politics, they buy loyalties and the people who do not surrender are intimidated through fear tactics.”He also recalled that when Benazir had wanted to elevate Qureshi as the PPP president, Zardari had opposed the decision and instead suggested the name of late Makhdoom Ahmed Mukhtar. However, he added, Benazir had went ahead with her decision. He believed that the condition of Sindh reminded him of the situation in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa where its people until 2013 had become disappointed because of the unremitting misrule in their province. However, he added, in 2013 they elected the PTI, which restored their hopes through its service delivery. “In 2018, nobody could have thought that the PTI would receive support in Punjab against PML-N. But it happened and both Punjab and K-P voted for the PTI.” Speaking on the occasion, Federal Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar, who is the general secretary of the PTI, maintained that Sindh’s people were really courageous for still smiling even after suffering 14 long years of Zardari’s cruel rule. “Today, Bilawal has set off for the march. Someone should ask them why they are going to Islamabad,” he added. He said almost all subjects concerned with lives of the ordinary people were devolved to the provinces after the 18th constitutional amendment. Also read: PTI leaders slam PPP for plundering Sindh’s resources He added that the Sindh government, consequently, was solely responsible for the health, education, agriculture, irrigation and a range of other services in the province.  “Almost all things related to the daily lives of the people and the means of creating livelihood are in the hands of the provincial government. Then why are they marching to Islamabad?” Umar claimed that in the ongoing fiscal year, a sum of almost Rs2 trillion was being transferred from the Centre to the Sindh government. He asked the people to question the provincial government as to where these billions of rupees were being spent because development was not evident in the province. Federal Ports and Shipping Minister Ali Zaidi, who is also the PTI Sindh president, accused the province’s chief minister Murad Ali Shah of acting as the PPP leadership’s “personal servant”. He added that Zardari was ruling the province like a “mafia”. He claimed that the PTI would form the next government in Sindh as it earlier did in K-P and Punjab, where the status quo politics was skeptical of the party’s victory. He reiterated that the Sindh government was an obstacle in the way of the federal project of providing health cards to the people of the province.

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PPP’s anti-govt long march sets off

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Sunday set off with activists and supporters from Karachi the party’s march towards Islamabad – dubbed the Awami Long March -- as part of its attempts to oust the PTI-led federal government. Prior to the rally’s departure, the PPP chairman addressed a large and charged crowd next to the Mazar-e-Quaid, kicking off the long march with the slogan of “Go Selected Go”. He added that the people of the metropolis had gathered at the venue and were about to stage a march to the federal capital to send the “selected, illegitimate and incompetent” PTI-led government home. “جب تک یہ سلیکٹڈ ہے کوئی صوبہ ترقی نہیں کرسکتا۔ انشاء ﷲ ہم عمران کو بھگائیں گے اور عوامی حکومت بنائیں گے، جس میں سارے صوبوں کو وسائل و حقوق ملیں گے۔” چیئرمین پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری@BBhuttoZardari#AwamiMarch 2/2 pic.twitter.com/bE5trnF1mn — PPP (@MediaCellPPP) February 27, 2022 “Karachi is a city where people come from every province and the economy of the country runs with their sweat and blood. They have been compelled to send [Prime Minister] Imran Khan home because this illegitimate, incapable and incompetent selected government has robbed the people of Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa of their rights,” he told the participants of the rally. “He [PM] has robbed you of your votes and livelihood. This puppet has to go. The entire opposition has decided to send Imran home and the Jiyalas of the PPP are at the forefront of this movement. Now, no power can stop them.” Bilawal maintained that his grandfather, PPP founder and former premier Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (ZAB), and Quaid-e-Awam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had promised that the country would be a parliamentary democracy. “However, this government has attacked our democracy. It has attacked our economy and human rights. We will complete the mission of Quaid-e-Awam [ZAB] and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and defend the 1973 Constitution, the rights of the people and the economy of this country,” he added. The scion of the Bhutto dynasty claimed that the PPP was only the party which has always defended the rights of the people and increased salaries and pensions. “The PPP has given rights to the provinces and made them the owner of their own resources. This puppet Imran Khan wants to do away with the 18th amendment and the NFC [National Finance Commission] award.” Bilawal further said Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah was trying to serve the people of Karachi and rest of the province despite the fact that the “puppet” government of PM Imran had not provided the provinces their due share from the NFC. READ Read Bilawal throws weight behind fresh polls “This government has made Pakistan one of the most corrupt countries in the world. The Transparency International has declared the PTI government as the most corrupt government in history.” The PPP chairman maintained that the “Awami” government would provide resources to the provinces hence all the cities would receive their due share. “It is impossible to achieve anything until this ‘puppet’ is in the government and the ‘PTIMF’ [PTI and IMF] deal is in place. The time has come to bring a no-confidence motion against Imran Khan and send him home. Now with this march, cries will be heard from Bani Gala [residence of the PM Imran]. We will attacks this government after reaching Islamabad.” Bilawal presented 38 demands on the occasion, saying they would be put forward before the people in every city falling on the rally’s journey to Islamabad. They include free and fair elections at all tiers of the government; constitutional governance, adherence to the principle of trichotomy of power and all institutions performing their functions and duties as prescribed under the Constitution. چیئرمین پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری کی قیادت میں عوامی مارچ کا مزار قائد کراچی سے آغاز۔ بی بی آصفہ بھٹو زرداری بھی موجود۔#AwamiMarch pic.twitter.com/CMk8ekkE1y — PPP (@MediaCellPPP) February 27, 2022 The PPP has demanded that parliament and committee system should be strengthened, the role of the parliamentary committee on judicial appointments to the superior courts as envisaged by the Constitution must be revised and an independent Election Commission of Pakistan should be ensured. The party wants to ensure the rule of law and an independent and accountable judiciary. It also seeks the right of all workers to form unions. The PPP also demands the right of students to elect their unions and having a decision-making role in addressing their welfare issues. It also wants the right to freedom of expression to be ensured. The party called for ending the formal and “unannounced” censorship in print and electronic media and a new law for the independence of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) according to the recommendation of the media commission report. It demanded that all “draconian” provisions of the cybercrime law should be repealed and called for the enactment of a data protection law to cover all public bodies. The PPP further demanded the expansion of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and its reforms to cover all women and men in need. In addition, the party wants the setting up of an equality commission to ensure a fair pay and job policy across the board for women and minorities in consultation with the provinces. It also wants effective implementation of the legislation on violence against women, domestic violence, acid attacks and sexual harassment as well as right to equal and safe access to all -- women, children and disabled people -- to public spaces, transport, and facilities. Also, a time-bound commitment for implementing the constitutional promise of compulsory education up till the age of 16; right to affordable healthcare services, including free diagnostics, out-patient care, medicines and hospitalisation through a network of public hospitals and enlisted private hospitals; ensure time-bound achievement of the right to maternal and child health through provision of adequate free-of-cost services and cash compensation for women, who need it to avail those services. Read More Opposition divided over no-trust move, claims Rashid Moreover, it wants effective legislation and enforcement of such legislation against enforced conversions of religious minorities; guarantee of protection of provincial autonomy and entitlements granted by the 18th Amendment as well as by the Constitution generally, such as the NFC award. The party also seeks a national consensus on guaranteeing the Baloch people to make their own choices and decide their destiny and priorities within the constitutional framework of Pakistan; release all political workers except those involved in heinous offences and develop consensus through a political dialogue and bring the Baloch political leadership into the mainstream. The party wants effective implementation of Article 158 of the Constitution pertaining to the ownership and use of petroleum resources by provinces; effective implementation of the National Action Plan against violent extremists; creation of a new province of South Punjab and addressing the issue of neglect and underdevelopment in the region. The PPP has also demanded fiscal autonomy and guarantees to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir over control over revenues and fiscal transfers; workers should be paid a living wage; and the existing minimum wage across the country should be increased to allow the workers to live their lives with dignity and maintain a minimum decent standard of living for themselves and their families. Additionally, it is demanded to establish social protection for all workers including those in informal sectors of the economy; farmers and agricultural workers should get the protection of labour laws; minimum wage, social security and maximum working hours. The PPP said Sindh was the only province to pass a law registering women farm workers and granting them legal recognition and rights. This, the party added, should be extended to the entire country. Finally, the party demanded that a new framework for agricultural prices and subsidies based on ensuring the right to food security and stable prices and incomes for rural and urban Pakistanis alike; the poor should have a legally protected right to housing and protection from arbitrary eviction; and katchi abadis and slums should be regularised through a legal framework with all civic amenities and legal protections extended to them.            

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Couple, their two-month-old daughter murdered over ‘property dispute’

A two-month-old girl was strangled to death and her father and mother were slaughtered in washroom of their residence with their hands cuffed behind their backs in Lahore by unidentified suspects, allegedly over a property dispute, police said. According to officials, 33-year-old advocate Amanat Ali and his family were murdered in their own home in a private housing society within the limits of Chung police station on Sunday. However, the elderly mother of Amanat, who was also present in the house at the time of the incident, was not hurt by the unidentified assailants. Read more: Lahore shocked by quadruple murder Police officials are also taking into account the alleged involvement of Amanat’s brother Ameen in the gruesome triple murder case over a property dispute. The suspect did not show up at the crime scene despite the police's direction. The suspect had recently come out after spending a few years behind bars. The father of the deceased, Amanat had also been murdered a few years back, also allegedly over a property issue. According to the initial investigation, the suspects barged into the house located at the Agris Town on Raiwind Road. They took the victims hostage on the ground floor of the double-story house. Police officials said that the suspects handcuffed Amanat after overpowering him at gunpoint and took him to a washroom and slaughtered him with a sharp-edged weapon. Also read: Wife plotted murder of Sindh Bar Council secretary: police On information of the incident, a heavy contingent of police rushed to the spot. They cordoned off the crime scene and collected forensic evidence. Lahore SSP Investigations Imran Kishwar also visited the crime scene to review the forensic evidence collection procedure. “Police have launched the investigation keeping in view different angles including a property dispute,” he told the media. He said that police had asked the brother of the victim to show up at the crime scene but he did not come. He also shared that the brother had been released from jail recently. Kishwar also added that police had taken other suspects into custody and had been looking for a suspicious car they had spotted in the surroundings. “The investigation teams had been collecting evidence including call data records (CDRs), CCTV footage, eye-witness accounts and family history,” SSP Kishwar said. An investigator, seeking anonymity, shared with The Express Tribune that the police became alert when Amanat’s brother did not show up. They had even searched but could not locate him. He said that reportedly Ameen had a property dispute with his brother. He recently had served a jail term and reportedly lost much of his wealth during this time, he added. Amanat also had a dispute with his cousin over a property and police were investigating the case with this angle as well, he said. "This man [cousin of Amanat] among other suspects was being grilled by police while the teams were trying to locate Ameen and his family," he further added.

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Pakistan urges de-escalation in Russia-Ukraine conflict

Pakistan on Sunday called for de-escalation of tensions between Russia and Ukraine but stopped short of either condemning the Russian invasion or showing explicit support to Kyiv in a calculated move to maintain a delicate balance. For the first time since the start of Russian invasion, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi held a telephonic conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart to discuss the situation. It was also the first high-level contact between Pakistan and Ukraine since Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit to Moscow that had raised many eyebrows on the timing of his trip. Pakistan, however, brushed aside the criticism and insisted that the visit had enhanced its diplomatic space and had nothing to do with the Ukraine crisis. Also read: US has informed Pakistan about ‘Ukraine position’ A statement issued by the foreign office said Qureshi held a telephonic conversation with the foreign minister of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba. It said Foreign Minister Qureshi shared Pakistan’s perspective in detail, reiterating serious concern at the situation, underscoring the importance of de-escalation, and stressing the indispensability of diplomacy. Spoke with Ukrainian FM @DmytroKuleba & shared Pakistan’s serious concern, underscoring the imp of de-escalation & indispensability of diplomacy. Appreciate Ukrainian authorities role in evacuation of Pakistani community/students & look forward to continued & swift facilitation. — Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) February 27, 2022 FM Qureshi noted that PM Imran during his recent visit to Moscow regretted the latest situation between Russia and Ukraine and said that Pakistan had hoped diplomacy could avert a military conflict. He stressed that conflict was not in anyone’s interest, and that the developing countries were always hit the hardest economically, in case of conflict. The foreign minister underlined Pakistan’s belief that disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. Qureshi also took up the important matter of evacuation of Pakistani community and students in Ukraine and their safe return to Pakistan. He appreciated the role played by the Ukrainian authorities in the evacuation process and asked for continued facilitation and smooth border crossing at the earliest possible. Read: First PIA evacuation flights to depart for Poland today The two foreign ministers agreed to remain in contact. While Pakistan’s relationship with Russia has been on the upward trajectory, it also has deep defence ties with Ukraine. Ukraine has supplied battle tanks to Pakistan and other equipment. It was because of this reason that Pakistan regularly sends retired military officers as ambassador to Kyiv. Therefore, it is a challenge for Pakistan to walk a tightrope as it is also under pressure from the West to take a clear stance against Russia. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Qureshi has also received a telephone call from Lord Tariq Ahmad, Minister for South Asia, North Africa, the United Nations and the Commonwealth at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The two sides exchanged views on Pakistan-UK relations and regional and international issues of mutual interest, according to an official statement. The foreign minister reiterated the importance Pakistan attaches to its good relations and close cooperation with the UK and other European partners. He hoped that the next round of Strategic Dialogue with the UK will take place in near future. Also read: PM Imran invites Prince Charles, wife Camilla to visit Pakistan On the developments in Ukraine, Qureshi reiterated concerns at the heightened tensions and military escalation. On Pakistan-UK ties, the two sides reiterated their resolve to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year. Lord Ahmad thanked the foreign minister for the detailed exchange and expressed hope that UK and Pakistan will keep on working together on issues of common interest.

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Police nominate 88 suspects in Priyantha lynching case

Police on Saturday submitted a challan to the prosecution -- nominating over 88 people for the gruesome lynching of Priyantha Kumara, a Sri Lankan national who worked as a manager in a factory in Sialkot, in December last year on the allegation that he had committed blasphemy. The videos of the horrific incident have also been included in the challan. A colleague of Priyantha, Malik Adnan, who was seen confronting a group of angry men to shield the Sri Lankan man from the angry mob, has been named as a witness in the case. The prosecution team will review the challan and the trial is expected to start from next week by a special anti-terrorism court at Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail where the suspects have been transferred from Sialkot. On December 3 last year, workers of private factories had brutally lynched the Sri Lankan national on Sialkot’s Wazirabad Road and later set his body on fire, leaving the nation shell-shocked and disgusted. An autopsy report had confirmed a fractured skull and brain protrusion of the victim. Around 99% of the body of the slain Sri Lankan manager was completely burnt. Priyantha had died of brain damage. All the bones, including the victim's arms and hip, were broken with the exception of one foot. Read 'Mian Channu lynching accused to meet same fate as Sialkot lynch mob' A police official had told The Express Tribune at the crime scene that Priyantha was the operational manager at the factory for the past seven years. He was accused by the factory workers of “tearing down Durood Sharif”. Rumours then started circulating across the factory area and a mob started gathering in the morning, he said, adding that police were informed about it much later, at around 12:15 pm. Several gruesome video clips shared on social media showed a mob beating the victim while chanting slogans against blasphemy. Other clips showed his body set ablaze, as well as the overturned wreckage of what was said to be his car. Many in the mob made no attempt to hide their identity and some took selfies in front of the burning corpse. Prime Minister Imran Khan had tweeted that the "horrific, vigilante attack" on the factory and the burning alive of the Sri Lankan man was “a day of shame for Pakistan". Responding to premier’s tweet on the issue, President Dr Arif Alvi had also said the Sialkot incident was “definitely very sad and shameful and not religious in any way whatsoever”. “Islam is a religion established on the cannons of deliberative justice rather than mob lynching.”

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Revealed: Abhinandan carried expired stuff in survival kit

The Indian government’s apathy towards its armed forces can be assessed from the fact that the aviation supplies and other paraphernalia being carried by a pilot who was captured by the Pakistani authorities after his jet was shot down three years ago were expired. It may be recalled that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had launched Operation Swift Retort in broad daylight on February 27, 2019, in response to the violation of its airspace by Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jets in the dark of night on February 26. Two Indian fighter jets a MiG-21 Bison and a SU-30 were shot down by the PAF during the operation. The pilot of the MiG-21, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, was captured by Pakistani authorities as the fighter jet crashed inside Pakistan’s territory, while the other aircraft went down in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The captured pilot was released a day later as a goodwill gesture towards India. Adding insult to injury, India’s air defence system shot down its own helicopter in the “fog of war”. Read Russia vetoes US-backed resolution on Ukraine as India, China, UAE abstain The rare aerial engagement that significantly raised the stakes in the perilous standoff came a day after New Delhi claimed its aircraft had launched an airstrike on what it called the “biggest training camp of Jaish-e-Muhammad” group inside Pakistan – a claim debunked by Islamabad. Now, the fact has come to the fore that the aviation supplies being carried by Abhinandan had expired in 2016. Interestingly, the Indian Air Force has always boasted about dexterity and combat readiness but the presence of expired items implies government’s apathy towards its armed forces. It has been divulged that the life-saving equipment and supplies including first aid kit, painkillers, chocolates and dates being carried by Abhinandan were not fit for consumption. This life-saving stuff comes in handy when an air force pilot parachutes to a location away from population. During this time, the pilot needs eight to 10 hours of supplies so that he can meet his emergency food and other needs without any help.

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Can Karachi ever rid itself of the street crime epidemic?

Most of us living in Karachi either know someone who has, or have personally, been at the receiving end of street crimes in the city. In light of the recent surge in cases, Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah has instructed all the law enforcement agencies to increase their efforts to curb this menace before it spirals out of control. But while the CM has presented electronic tagging as a possible solution, such measures fail to address the true root of the problem. Several factors have resulted in this sudden surge in violent crimes. Rampant inflation and unemployment are becoming two of the primary reasons as to why individuals who are otherwise not involved in criminal activities choose to procure a fire arm and carry out robberies in order to make a quick buck. Some habitual criminals are also speeding up their activities under the garb of the rising prices of commodities. Furthermore, it appears that our law enforcement agencies have misplaced priorities. At a time when they should be focused on rigorously checking pillion riders on motorbikes, they are busy carrying out campaigns against fancy number plates and tinted windows instead, and providing VIP protocols for the rich and powerful. Given that the Sindh police are already understaffed, perhaps for now they should focus on the incidents putting citizens in harms way in the metropolis. However, even if a street criminal is caught (either by the public or by the police), a weak investigation and prosecution process means that they are out on bail in no time and ready to continue with their criminal activities. This is a hapless situation where criminals are empowered enough to have no fear of the law and feel as though they have a clear assurance that even if they get apprehended, they will be out of jail through the legal route. According to police authorities, out of the 7,179 people arrested in recent months, 3,666 were released on bail while 3,513 were acquitted. The involvement of serving and former policemen in street crimes is also a dangerous trend. Such individuals know all the ins and outs, protocols and have connections in the police to avoid being caught. When a serving policeman is colluding with criminal gangs, this weakens the police institution altogether. Additionally, the constant influx of undocumented Afghan refugees in Karachi, and given their poor economic conditions, has meant that their involvement in crimes in the city has also grown with time. Undocumented criminals are harder to trace, and therefore their crime sprees continue until they are caught red-handed. According to the previous Karachi police chief, Inspector General Imran Yaqoob Minhas, many of the crimes being committed in Karachi are done by people who do not reside in the city, and are therefore able to conveniently slip away and escape to their towns and villages. The presence of the beggary mafia, which comprises mostly of non-locals on the streets of Karachi, is also adding to the crime statistics as they are actively or passively involved in several criminal activities. A little comparison with other major cities of Pakistan shows just how big the difference is in terms of street crimes across the country. Lahore and Islamabad, despite having their own fair share of crime, are still below Karachi on the crime index. Rates are far lower in these cities than in Karachi for the main reason that the police force deployed in those cities comprises primarily of locals and not individuals belonging to other cities and provinces. It seems that the Punjab police force is also more organised, disciplined and ruthless when it comes to nabbing criminals. Karachi could perhaps replicate the safe cities project being implemented in Lahore and Islamabad. Now that we have discussed the roots of the problem, we must also address the possible solutions, starting with holding the police force accountable. The station house officer (SHO) of any given locality is fully aware of the criminal activities being carried out in his jurisdiction. He is also aware of the criminal gangs that operate in his precinct. If the SHOs are held accountable and a thorough investigation and audit is carried out, the link between them and the criminals will be broken. Honest police officers are needed to manage the police stations of the most troubled spots. Also, basic sense dictates that in order to apprehend street criminals, Karachi desperately needs investment in smart surveillance practices, and CCTV cameras. Most importantly, street crimes must now be considered an act of terror and be regarded as a non-bailable offence. Street criminals are misusing the loop hole in our prosecution system to avoid being tried in a court of law and are therefore carrying out their activities without any repercussions. The government must also put an immediate ban on the sale and purchase of used phones without proper documentation (sales receipt and phone box) in order to limit the ability of cellphone snatchers to sell the stolen phones. Lastly, it is imperative that a mega city like Karachi has its own police force separate from the Sindh police. Educated young men and women must be inducted into the force without any political intervention, and there should be a system of accountability similar to the one that exists in the Pakistan Army. It goes without saying that many of the problems which lead to street crime in Karachi cannot be addressed overnight, and many of the solutions require the commitment of both the police personnel and Pakistan’s policymakers. But all these issues withstanding, the fact that robbers can block the Korangi causeway and loot over 100 people is simply unacceptable. No amount of mismanagement and lack of resources can excuse such incidents and if we fail to act now, such crimes will only prove to be the tip of the iceberg.

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PM may address nation today on global inflation

Prime Minister Imran Khan is likely to take the nation into confidence on Sunday (today) about the “impact of global inflation” on the country’s economy in a televised address. Sources told The Express Tribune on Saturday that the premier would also brief the nation on his position on the country’s foreign policy. Prior to his address, the sources added, PM Imran would chair a meeting of his economic team on Sunday at his Bani Gala residence. Read more: Wage hike will lift inflation: Baqir The participants of the meeting will be briefed on the current economic situation of the country. After consulting his economic team, the premier will decide about how to go about his address to the nation. The sources said the Prime Minister’s Office had instructed the economic team to stay in the federal capital. The prime minister’s address to the nation comes at a time when a multitude of factors have rendered Pakistan vulnerable to economic shocks, and any catastrophe on the global stage can have serious impacts on the national economy. The government had recently increased fuel prices to a record high to pass on the impact of higher international oil rates and the application of additional petroleum levy, as committed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Also read: Inflation as political burden The finance ministry had announced the decision after the premier agreed to raise levy on all petroleum products by Rs4 per litre to honour the commitment made with the IMF for smooth continuation of the ongoing Extended Fund Facility. On Thursday, Russia's invasion of Ukraine boosted international oil prices above $100 a barrel for the first time since 2014 on concerns over potential global supply disruptions from sanctions on major crude exporter Russia. However, they slipped on Friday as the April Brent crude futures contract fell $1.15, or 1.2%, to settle at $97.93 a barrel, after climbing as high as $101.99. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell $1.22, or 1.3%, to settle at $91.59 a barrel, after hitting a session high of $95.64. Pakistan’s inflation rate is mainly driven by the demand factors as well as international commodity prices, exchange rate, seasonal factors and economic agents’ expectations concerning the future developments of these indicators. Last month, the finance ministry had released its Monthly Economic Outlook report for January 2022 but remained shy of giving an inflation number. “The year-on-year inflation in January 2022 may slightly accelerate,” the ministry’s report had read. However, it had added that month-on-month inflation may decline. Sources in the finance ministry had told The Express Tribune that the projected inflation number for January was around 13%. That was why the ministry had decided against adding it to the official report. (With input from agencies)

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SC needs criminal laws expert judge

After the retirement of former chief justice of Pakistan Asif Saeed Khosa and Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik, the Supreme Court requires a judge who has expertise in criminal laws. A total of 7,485 criminal petitions, 2,763 jail pleas and 767 criminal appeals were pending in the apex court until February 15. Ex-CJP Khosa had mainly focused disposal of criminal matters during his tenure. He was successful in clearing a massive backlog of criminal cases. Justice Malik, who retired in May last year, was also heading a bench that decided criminal matters. Currently, three judges -- Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmed and Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi -- are known to have expertise in criminal laws. However, Justice Qazi Amin Ahmed is retiring next month. Four more SC judges will retire in the next six months. One seat is already vacant. In view of the prevailing situation, one section of lawyers is suggesting that CJP Umar Ata Bandial, being the chairman of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), should recommend the name of any high court judge who has expertise in this area. Also read: Strong judiciary a must for stronger country: Justice Shah However, a few lawyers believe that an SC judge should have expertise to adjudicate a case of any nature. They also say that constitutional judges evolve jurisprudence in criminal cases. SC judge Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah has given a number of landmark judgments in criminal cases. A representative of the Sindh High Court Bar Association said Sindh High Court Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Sheikh should be elevated to the SC to end the tension between bench and bar on judges’ appointment. He added that Justice Sheikh had heard criminal cases throughout his tenure. However, it has been learnt that a few members of the JCP want that the SHC CJ should accept his ad-hoc appointment as an SC judge in view of the commission's last year decision. Later, the JCP may appoint him as a permanent SC judge. One section of the lawyers in Sindh fears that if the SHC CJ accepts his ad-hoc appointment, then it will severely affect the independence of judiciary. Some lawyers want that Justice Qazi Amin Ahmed should be appointed as an ad-hoc judge after his retirement on March 25. However, the superior bars are reluctant to budge from its stance on the seniority principle for the appointment of SC judges. Also read: CJ dismisses notion of judiciary being ‘under pressure’ Even three JCP members -- Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Maqbool Baqar and Justice Sardar Tariq Masood -- have also supported the bars’ demand for adhering to the seniority principle in the absence of objective criteria for judges’ elevation to the top court. It has been learnt that CJP Umar Ata Bandial might summon a meeting of the commission's committee soon to consider amendments to the JCP rules 2010 for improving the criteria for judges’ appointment to the superior courts soon. The committee was formed by former CJP Gulzar Ahmed and now it is headed by incumbent Chief Justice Bandial. Justice Maqbool Baqar, Attorney General for Pakistan Khalid Jawed Khan and Akhtar Hussain are members of the committee. The body will formulate objective criteria to appoint judges, whose competency, integrity, temperament and independence should be beyond any doubt. Senior lawyers say that there is the issue of mistrust about judges’ appointments to the SC. They say that the new CJP should address JCP members’ apprehensions about judges’ appointment. They also believe that there is a need to end the perception of nepotism in the appointment process.

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SC needs criminal laws expert judge

After the retirement of former chief justice of Pakistan Asif Saeed Khosa and Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik, the Supreme Court requires a judge who has expertise in criminal laws. A total of 7,485 criminal petitions, 2,763 jail pleas and 767 criminal appeals were pending in the apex court until February 15. Ex-CJP Khosa had mainly focused disposal of criminal matters during his tenure. He was successful in clearing a massive backlog of criminal cases. Justice Malik, who retired in May last year, was also heading a bench that decided criminal matters. Currently, three judges -- Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin Ahmed and Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi -- are known to have expertise in criminal laws. However, Justice Qazi Amin Ahmed is retiring next month. Four more SC judges will retire in the next six months. One seat is already vacant. In view of the prevailing situation, one section of lawyers is suggesting that CJP Umar Ata Bandial, being the chairman of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), should recommend the name of any high court judge who has expertise in this area. Also read: Strong judiciary a must for stronger country: Justice Shah However, a few lawyers believe that an SC judge should have expertise to adjudicate a case of any nature. They also say that constitutional judges evolve jurisprudence in criminal cases. SC judge Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah has given a number of landmark judgments in criminal cases. A representative of the Sindh High Court Bar Association said Sindh High Court Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Sheikh should be elevated to the SC to end the tension between bench and bar on judges’ appointment. He added that Justice Sheikh had heard criminal cases throughout his tenure. However, it has been learnt that a few members of the JCP want that the SHC CJ should accept his ad-hoc appointment as an SC judge in view of the commission's last year decision. Later, the JCP may appoint him as a permanent SC judge. One section of the lawyers in Sindh fears that if the SHC CJ accepts his ad-hoc appointment, then it will severely affect the independence of judiciary. Some lawyers want that Justice Qazi Amin Ahmed should be appointed as an ad-hoc judge after his retirement on March 25. However, the superior bars are reluctant to budge from its stance on the seniority principle for the appointment of SC judges. Also read: CJ dismisses notion of judiciary being ‘under pressure’ Even three JCP members -- Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Maqbool Baqar and Justice Sardar Tariq Masood -- have also supported the bars’ demand for adhering to the seniority principle in the absence of objective criteria for judges’ elevation to the top court. It has been learnt that CJP Umar Ata Bandial might summon a meeting of the commission's committee soon to consider amendments to the JCP rules 2010 for improving the criteria for judges’ appointment to the superior courts soon. The committee was formed by former CJP Gulzar Ahmed and now it is headed by incumbent Chief Justice Bandial. Justice Maqbool Baqar, Attorney General for Pakistan Khalid Jawed Khan and Akhtar Hussain are members of the committee. The body will formulate objective criteria to appoint judges, whose competency, integrity, temperament and independence should be beyond any doubt. Senior lawyers say that there is the issue of mistrust about judges’ appointments to the SC. They say that the new CJP should address JCP members’ apprehensions about judges’ appointment. They also believe that there is a need to end the perception of nepotism in the appointment process.

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Sports cars trespass Lahore Fort

Dozens of sports cars have been found racing and drifting at the Lahore Fort heritage site. Local sources said members of influential families of Lahore as well as other areas of the province entered the historical  heritage site with their sports cars and indulged in racing, drifting and other competitions. Walled City Authority Director General Kamran Lashari said he was saddened to see racing cars on the fort premises. Wealthy sports car enthusiasts raced on the grounds of Lahore Fort, a world heritage site. Events that may damage the historic structure are strictly prohibited. Punjab CM, Usman Buzdar has ordered an inquiry from the Walled City Authorities. #etribune #news #Lahore #latest pic.twitter.com/7tCi9sastp — The Express Tribune (@etribune) February 26, 2022 He said the permission was granted for two days for an event but the sports car owners continued to trespass the site afterwards. He said the authority would inform the officials concerned about the issue. Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar reportedly taken notice of the reports of car racing and drifting at Shahi Qila. He sought a report from the DG of Walled City of Lahore Authority and ordered an inquiry. The CM said disciplinary action should be taken against the officers who gave the permission. Also read: New plan approved to restore Sajan Singh Haveli The control of the fort had been transferred from the archaeology department to the Walled City Authority and the Punjab government banned all types of private social functions at the site, including weddings and musical programmes. The authority was set up to restore the historic buildings to their original condition. A team of technical experts uses special material for the restoration work so that the cultural heritage does not lose its essence. Special material and techniques were also used for the renovation and repair of the Shahi Qila. The Punjab government as well as the World Bank spend hundreds of millions of rupees annually on its maintenance and repair. A regular visitor to the fort, Rehman Ahmed of Samanabad, lamented that the racing cars allowed to enter the fort were causing damage to the heritage site. Also read: Call for restoration of ecosystem in Potohar region Muhammad Naseer of the old city area said action should be taken against officials responsible for the activity. An official said vehicles carrying cricket players were allowed to drive up to Hazuri Bagh and not the fort. According to a spokesperson for the Lahore commissioner's office, it did not allow car drifting in the fort nor did it give instructions to the Walled City Authority in this regard. The spokesperson said all government institutions had been asked to assist in the video recording of the PSL trophy unveiling. The spokesman added that the Walled City Authority, with its extensive experience in organising such events, had the power to prevent any violations.

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Pakistan seeks to restore Russian ties to pre-1979 era

With Prime Minister Imran Khan’s maiden visit to Moscow, Pakistan has started the process of restoring economic ties to the era of pre-Soviet Union intervention in Afghanistan, seeking its support in rehabilitating power plants and a mega dam to meet energy deficit. Highly placed sources told The Express Tribune that the government has envisaged a plan that seeks to build energy cooperation and deepen defence and security cooperation, including intelligence sharing and procurement of weapons. The plan also includes having greater regional connectivity and promoting people-to-people contacts between Russia and Pakistan. The government’s strategy is also to seek Moscow’s support to exit the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and for getting membership of Nuclear Supplier Group. Pakistan also sought Russia’s help to restore Kashmir status to pre-August 2019 position, a cabinet member who visited Russia along with Prime Minister told The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity. The sources said that Pakistan can build a long-lasting partnership with Russia and China and its many needs can be met by both of these major world powers. Cooperation in the energy sector was discussed in detail and Russia has assured to give every possible assistance to Pakistan, Fawad Chaudhry, the information minister, said while talking to The Express Tribune. Read: Qureshi justifies PM’s Russia visit, says ‘diplomatic space’ increased Pakistan became an ally of the West to stop Soviet Union advances after its invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. This brought an end to economic cooperation between Russia and Pakistan. Moscow had helped Pakistan in setting up an integrated steel mills, building power plants and provided technical assistance in science, Mohsin Sheikh, the director of Pakistan-Russia Business Council, said. Premier Imran’s trip to Russia was overshadowed by Moscow’s attack on Ukraine. After Russian invasion of Ukraine began, European natural gas prices soared by almost 70% and crude oil exceeded $105 a barrel for the first time since 2014 before settling to just under $100. On Friday, the European Union approved a second round of sanctions on Russia, targeting sectors of finance, transport and energy. It imposed export controls and restrictions on new visas. The EU package includes financial sanctions, targeting 70% of the Russian banking market and key state-owned companies, including in defence. London will also target more than 100 Russian companies with asset freezes and travel bans, shut out Russian banks from British financial markets, impose new trade and export restrictions and ban the country’s national airline, Aeroflot, from UK airspace. But the UK, the US and the EU are divided over completely cutting of Russia from global trade by severing it from SWIFT system (the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication), which is the main secure messaging system that banks use to make rapid and secure cross-border payments, allowing international trade to flow smoothly. The sources said that the PM’s visit would help in achieving the goal of having stable multidimensional relations, marked by trust and vibrant interaction. Energy cooperation Prime Minister Imran had almost a three-hour long meeting with President Vladimir Putin followed by a delegation-level meeting with deputy prime minister of Russia. Pakistan was seeking early commencement of 1,100-kilometre long Pakistan Stream Gas pipeline project in six months. The sources said that Pakistan is keen to finalise the shareholders’ agreement, financial agreement and other required agreements for groundbreaking of the project. However, the project faced some early setbacks, which has already delayed finalisation of the shareholders agreement, according to a report appeared in a local newspaper in November. The sources said during the visit, the Pakistani side discussed the possibility of importing LNG from Russia from six months to one year. Read: Russia will return to negotiations after Ukraine's surrender: Lavrov The government also wanted Russian support for modernisation of thermal power and hydropower projects. The government wants upgradation of Muzaffargarh power project, Guddu power plant and Jamshoro power project along with Mangla dam with Russian assistance within one year. Pakistan will finalise a three-year roadmap for economic development within a year and legal framework for facilitating regional connectivity in the next two to three years, the sources said. Defence ties The sources said that deepening defence and security cooperation was also part of Pakistan’s plan that include procurement of new defence equipment from Russia without triggering any sanctions. However, Pakistan has concerns regarding imbalance in strategic stability in South Asia after supply of new air defence system to India by Russia. The government has concerns about supply of Russian modern air defence system to India, the S400 missile system, the sources said. They said that Pakistan also wanted to have institutionalised mechanism for intelligence sharing and for enhancing cooperation in security related matters in six months to one year. For this purpose, there is a plan to finalise pending agreements like agreement on Mutual Protection of Classified Information, agreement on Intellectual Property Rights and agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Ensuring International Information Security. There will be regular consultations between the national security advisers, according to the sources. Pakistan also desired that both the countries should maintain regular high-level contacts and closer coordination and cooperation at the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. It also wants to win Russian support for Pakistan’s membership of Nuclear Supplier Group and Russian support in the FATF, the sources added. The government also desired to get Russian scholarships for Pakistani students to study in Russia and finalise facilitating framework for cooperation between academia, state media of Pakistan and Russia in the next one to two years, they added.

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No-trust motion likely in March

Key opposition leaders have revealed that the flurry of activity in their camp was taking a final shape and it was expected that a no-confidence motion against the government would be presented within the first half of March. Earlier this month, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an anti-government opposition alliance, had announced bringing a no-confidence motion against the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan. However, it had not announced as to when it would proceed with the move. Opposition parties have recently geared up their efforts for the no-trust motion. A senior PPP leader, while refraining to give the exact date, said there would not be much delay in bringing the no-confidence motion as the required numbers were complete and issue was being given its final touches. The PPP stalwart disclosed that the motion was a matter of weeks now, adding that the first or second week of March would be crucial in this connection. Referring to back-to-back meetings of the opposition parties, the PPP leader said they had discussed fresh elections and an interim government as well as the names of the people for key slots provided that the no-confidence move went as per plan. He chuckled when asked to confirm if his name was also being considered for the premiership along with PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif. The PPP leader said matters were carefully being finalised as bringing a no-confidence motion was not only a legal, but a complicated issue. He, however, assured that the move would not take long now. Another PPP leader, requesting anonymity, seconded the notion by saying that the first and second week of March would be important in terms of the no-trust move. They both confirmed that the PPP would proceed with its planned long march against inflation, unemployment and poor governance from February 27. A senior PML-N leader quipped that the no-confidence move would take place before August 16, 2023. “That’s all I can say,” he added. “Leave the timing to us. No-confidence motions are much more complex than they appear.” The opposition parties have also been trying to woo the government’s allies – the PML-Q and MQM-P. The PML-N, PPP and JUI-F have been holding discussions among themselves as well as reaching out to the coalition partners of the ruling party, hoping that they would support the opposition when needed. They have not only been pinning hopes on the allies but also claiming that PTI lawmakers were in touch with them, saying the ruling party’s parliamentarians were only waiting for a signal from the “powerful circles” before jumping ship. Despite the opposition’s frequent meetings in the recent weeks to seek the allies’ support, the coalition partners have only preferred to carefully raise their reservations over the policies but have not yet distanced themselves from the government. On Wednesday, a government’s spokesperson had claimed that three PTI lawmakers were offered money to gain their support for the opposition’s planned no-confidence motion in parliament against the government. Commenting on the opposition forming a committee for finalising the date for the no-confidence motion, the spokesperson said the move was as an attempt to cover up the “failure” of its fresh attempt to oust a democratically-elected government.

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PIA plans to bring back citizens in Ukraine

The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Friday announced that it had prepared a grand operation for the repatriation of about 2,000 Pakistanis from Ukraine, which was currently under attack from Russia. The announcement came as the Foreign Office and the Pakistani embassy in Ukraine said all the Pakistanis there were safe and that special arrangements had been made to evacuate them to Poland by land route. A PIA spokesperson said Boeing-777 aircraft would be used in the special evacuation operation, adding that 2,000 Pakistani nationals, including students, would be airlifted from Poland. The spokesperson added that the flight schedule would be released soon. “PIA CEO [Chief Executive Officer] Air Marshal (retd) Arshad Malik contacted Pakistan’s Ambassador to Ukraine Maj-Gen (retd) Noel Khokhar and offered the PIA’s services for the repatriation of Pakistanis stranded in Ukraine,” the spokesperson added. Read more: Pakistan embassy in Ukraine advises stranded students to travel to Ternopil According to the spokesperson, all Pakistani students would gather in the Ukrainian city of Ternopil. “The Pakistani embassy in Ternopil will transfer all the students to Poland by land route. PIA's Boeing 777 aircraft will then repatriate the students from Poland.” The spokesperson quoted the PIA CEO as saying that it was the tradition of the national carrier to step in when the country needed it. “He [PIA CEO] told the ambassador that the flights are being prepared and the aircraft will depart as soon as the students arrive in Poland.” Earlier on Friday, the country’s embassy in Ukraine advised all Pakistani students to reach Ternopil for their evacuation to Poland. In a statement, the embassy said trains were functioning and tickets were available from Kharkiv to Lviv and Ternopil. “In cities where public transport is not available … [the] embassy has tasked concerned Honorary Education Consultant for arranging transportation and bringing students to Ternopil.” The embassy has also set up a facilitation centre in Ternopil and a reception point at Lvix railway station because the capital city of Kyiv was under attack. Ambassador Dr Khokhar advised the students to follow guidelines for their transportation to Ternopil for their onward evacuation to Poland. “The Embassy is also in close contact with [the] Pakistani Embassies in Poland, Romania and Hungary. All these Missions have been directed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Islamabad to facilitate all Pakistani students coming from Ukraine.” Also read: Ukraine closes airspace to civilian flights amid Russian military action The embassy said it had already gathered 35 Pakistani students in Ternopil and they would be evacuated soon. “Other Pakistani students are being transported to Ternopil and will be evacuated at the earliest.” The statement provided the contact number of two focal persons for facilitation. It said that students could contact Zaib Alam Khan, deputy head of mission, on phone numbers 00380-639578040 and 00923-459374899 and Zahid Abbas, consular assistant, on 00380-638282984. The Pakistani community in Ukraine comprises around 4,000 people but most of them had married to Ukrainians, whereas there are around 2,000 students. The Pakistani students were advised two weeks ago to leave but they refused because their temporary resident permits were not yet issued. As of Friday, most of the families and students had already left Ukraine. However, there are hundreds of students still left in the country. The embassy has asked the remaining students – 240 in Kyiv, 250 in Kharkiv, 60 each in Poltova and Vintsya – to reach the National Medical University, Ternopil, as soon as possible. During the current situation, the Pakistan embassy is working from Ternopil. The embassy is coordinating with the embassy staff in Poland for onward facilitation in the evacuation of the students to Pakistan. The foreign ministry has already instructed the Pakistani embassies in Bucharest, Romania; Budapest, Hungary; and Warsaw, Poland to prepare for receiving the Pakistan nationals. Financial resources had already been provided to the relevant embassy staff even before the start of the war. The mission in Hungary is expecting 15-20 Pakistani students arriving by Friday night or early Saturday (today) morning. The mission in Poland is expecting 50 students in different groups, crossing its border with Ukraine on Friday night or early Saturday morning. The embassy has facilitated in crossing over around 30 students into Poland. It has also arranged the movement of around 65 students stranded in Kharkiv via train. The embassy is looking forward to receive them in Lviv and then help them to reach Poland. Another 35 students, who are at the Ternopil facilitation point, will be facilitated to cross over to Poland or other countries. The embassy said it was coordinating with the PIA through the mission in Warsaw to have a sufficient number of students, who could then be evacuated directly to Pakistan.

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We’re losing our freedom of speech – what will they take next?

The fact that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government had to postpone a National Assembly session in order to put into effect the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Ordinance, 2022 should give us a good indication of just how popular the state expects this amendment to be. By sidestepping parliament in order to ensure that this ordinance can enter into law without any objection or debate, the government seems to have made its intentions clear. Upon inspection of the amendment, it becomes rather evident as to why PTI was in such a rush to steamroll this presidential ordinance so that it could “come into force at once”. Under the amendments made to the existing law, its parametres have been widened so as to ensure that the spreading of any “fake news”, or any sort of online defamation, is now to be considered a non-bailable offence. While this addition in and of itself raises plenty of questions, the ramifications of this presidential decree do not end here. The definition of the individual who can file a complaint under this law i.e. the aggrieved person or their authorised representative, has been broadened in order to include any “company, association or body of people whether incorporated or not, institution, organisation, authority or any other body set up by the government under any law or otherwise”. Furthermore, in order to expedite these cases, courts of law have been instructed to resolve such cases within a six-month timeframe. Hence, not only does this ordinance criminalise defamation against civil and military institutions, as well as public officeholders, it also makes the spreading of fake news punishable under law. All this opens a rather large can of worms. The fact that anyone can be arrested under the pretext of promoting “fake news”, remain detained (unless bail is provided), and then be sentenced to a prison sentence of up to five years, all within a period of six months opens the doors for a whole host of wild and unsubstantiated accusations. In truth, this will only help protect those in power from the criticism they receive, particularly online, since any individual who now puts forth an opinion contrary to the state narrative will be wary of just how swiftly the system can shift into gear to ensure that they are punished. Given just how broad the ambit of “fake news” might be, it is possible that even vague charges lead to prison sentences being handed out. This will only result in a further stranglehold being established over the freedom of expression in Pakistan. As expected, the opposition parties, in particular Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have been highly critical of this amendment, calling it an attempt to “silence the media and the opposition”. This is true. However, there are two supreme ironies here. Firstly, the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act was initially passed in 2016 by the PML-N government. Secondly, similar to what has happened now, PML-N had to face the wrath of the opposition after it bulldozed the amendment through the National Assembly (NA) in 2016. Back in 2015, Shireen Mazari called the Cyber Crimes Bill a “fascist bill”, while President Arif Alvi had stated at the time, “Cyber Crimes Bill as passed by NA Standing Com. is actually close to a ‘Cyber Crime’ itself if allowed to pass. I will move amendments in NA.” Evidently, PTI has changed its tune on the matter since then. The party which decried the Cyber Crimes Bill when it was in the opposition has now strengthened the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act once it came into power. Ultimately, while Pakistan’s political parties continue to bicker amongst themselves on this issue and change their stance when convenient in order to suit their position, the people of Pakistan are the ones who continue to lose the most. The amendments made to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act will only bolster the ability of the state to clamp down on any unwanted criticism, and this is a worrying sign for all those who value freedom of speech in Pakistan.

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Protesting for minorities and women of India but not of our own country

The recent attempts to ban the wearing of the hijab in colleges in the Indian state of Karnataka has been met with global ire and criticism – and rightly so. It has long been argued that the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP), which has a stronghold in Karnataka, desire to implement its Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will only lead to the further marginalisation of non-Hindus in India. Hence, when hijab-wearing Muslim students were not allowed to enter schools and colleges across Karnataka, their protests symbolised the battle Muslims have had to wage against the increasing Islamophobia represented by the BJP. Videos of students being forced to take off their head coverings outside the gates of universities represent a terrifying image of where India is headed as a nation. Naturally, all such measures deserve universal condemnation; however, they must also prompt introspection. Many in Pakistan have voiced their horror and disgust at what is transpiring in India, calling for world authorities and governing bodies to take notice. In particular, Muskan Khan’s bravery and refusal to be intimidated by Hindu far-right goons has been lauded in Pakistan since it symbolises a Muslim woman’s right to wear a hijab. Similar sentiments are on display in Pakistan when other such instances have occurred around the world, such as the proposed banning of the hijab in France. Now, I must state at the outset that all such grievances are perfectly justified. The insistence of any country or citizenry to clamp down on an individual’s freedom to practice their religion must always be called out and condemned. But simultaneously, while we criticise other nations for their shortcomings, we must also understand how we as a country are failing our women and religious minorities too. Let us start with a basic example. How many of the people in Pakistan who are saying that women like Muskan should be allowed to dress how they want in India would have the same attitude towards women in Pakistan? As is demonstrated by the Aurat March year in year out, many men in Pakistan are desperate to police what women wear in public and are ready to argue whether or not it conforms to their pre-established notions of ‘decency’. The simple act of women marching together asking for their fundamental rights to be fulfilled leads to such vitriol, anger and backlash in Pakistan. Perhaps the same men who are calling for Muskan’s rights to be upheld should also try to raise their voices when women’s rights are squashed in Pakistan, or when Qandeel Baloch’s brother is acquitted after committing murder, or when the next honour killing is committed. On a similar note, when calling out religious persecution in other countries, we must also ensure that we do not turn a blind eye to the issues plaguing religious minorities and minority sects in Pakistan. From forced conversions, to false blasphemy charges, to the kidnapping of non-Muslim girls, to the marginalisation of Ahmadis, we as a country have failed on so many fronts. Hence, when we support Muskan’s fight, in the same breath we must also ensure that we call out our own state’s inability to protect the rights of religious minorities and women in Pakistan. Evidently, India is trying to turn the on-going ban into a debate about the hijab in an attempt to hide the fact that at its core, these sentiments are fuelled by the anti-Muslim agenda which the BJP has tried to promulgate for years. If anything, these state sanctioned acts should serve as a grim reminder to all those in Pakistan of just how easily the state can try to wrestle control and freedom away from its citizens. The fight being fought by Muslims in Karnataka and India is an important one, and we must voice our support for it. But this should not make us lose sight of the similar issues we face within our own country – otherwise, all anyone will see is our hypocrisy.

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SCBA challenges objections over Article 62(1)(f) plea

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Friday challenged the objections raised by the top court’s Registrar's Office on its constitutional petition against the lifetime disqualification of lawmakers under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution. Earlier, the Supreme Court Registrar Office had refused to entertain the petition filed by the SCBA. Article 62(1)(f), which sets the precondition for a member of parliament to be “sadiq and amen” (honest and righteous), is the same provision under which former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was disqualified by a five-judge SC bench on July 28, 2017 in the Panama Papers case. Similarly, PTI leader Jahangir Tareen was disqualified by a separate bench of the apex court under the same provision. In 2018, a five-judge SC bench had unanimously held that disqualification handed down under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution was for life. The SCBA petition had requested the top court to proclaim that the proceedings and declarations under Articles 184(3) or 199 of the Constitution did not constitute declarations by a court of law, as per the principles expounded by it. Read SC refuses to entertain plea against lifetime disqualification Last month, the SC Registrar’s Office had returned SCBA petition by raising objections. The Registrar’s Office had stated that the matter had already been settled by five judges of a larger bench. Likewise, an objection was also raised on the locus standi of the petitioner. Now the SCBA has filed an appeal against the objections raised by the Registrar’s Office. The appeal contended that the apex court had evolved and regulated its original jurisdiction under Article 184(3) of the Constitution. “[As] per the jurisprudence of this August Court, the instant Constitutional Petition fulfils the criteria for the exercise of jurisdiction under Article 184(3) of the Constitution. Thus, the order is liable to be set aside.” The appeal added that the instant constitutional petition related not only to the qualification for election to the Senate, but to that for any elected representative, including MNAs, MPAs and office-bearers of local governments. “Thus, the question raised in the instant constitutional petition satisfies the test for public importance as has been held by this court.” The appeal further read that in terms of Article 189 of the constitution, the judgments pronounced by the SC were binding on all other courts in the country. It contended that there was no other forum than the SC that could reexamine the earlier position taken by it by entertaining the instant constitutional petition. “ It is also important to note here that this honourable court, in terms of Article 189 of the Constitution, is the only court empowered to reconsider, reevaluate and reexamine its earlier decisions, especially where novel questions are raised, as is the case in the instant constitutional petition. The petitioners/appellants, therefore, could not seek the relief prayed for before any other court other than this honourable court." The appellants prayed to the SC that the appeal be accepted and the order of the assistant registrar issued on January 29 this year be set aside. “Direction be issued that the constitutional petition filed by the present appellants may graciously be entertained, numbered, registered and placed before the court for its disposal on merits."

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