Six terrorists killed in Tank North Waziristan operations: ISPR

In a significant blow to terrorist activities, six individuals linked to terrorist groups were killed in successful operations conducted by security forces in the districts of Tank and North Waziristan, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Friday evening. According to the the military's media wing, an exchange of fire broke out between Pakistani troops and the terrorists late on the night of Thursday, June 29, in the Manzai region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Tank district. Security forces effectively engaged the terrorists, resulting in three of them being killed. A significant quantity of weapons and ammunition was recovered from the deceased terrorists, it said. In a separate encounter in the Razmak area of the province's North Waziristan district, three additional terrorists were killed in a fierce gunfight with security forces. Also read Terror commander among 3 killed in Bajaur IBO ISPR stated that the slain terrorists were actively involved in carrying out terror activities against security forces, and were responsible for the deaths of innocent civilians. The area is currently being sanitised to ensure the elimination of any remaining terrorists, said the ISPR. The local population expressed their appreciation for the successful operations and pledged their full support in the fight against terrorism. The military's actions are seen as crucial in the ongoing battle to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the region, it added.

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FM Bilawal to pay a four-day visit to Japan from July 1

Minister for Foreign Affairs Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is scheduled to pay a four-day visit to Japan from July 1 to 4 at the invitation of the Japanese government. “The Foreign Minister’s visit signals the revival of leadership level contacts with Japan after a considerable hiatus,” a spokesperson for the Foreign Office said. Pakistan and Japan enjoy a long-standing time-tested relationship characterized by warmth, cordiality and commonality of views on issues. During the visit, the foreign minister will hold delegation-level talks with his Japanese counterpart Yoshimasa Hayashi. He will also call on the Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, and will hold a meeting with the National Security Advisor of Japan, Takeo Akiba. The Pakistani foreign minister will deliver a talk at the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), which is a renowned Japanese think-tank. FM Bilawal is also expected to interact with senior officials and executives representing prominent business houses and entities related to the import of Pakistani manpower to Japan. Earlier this week, Pakistan's foreign secretary, Asad Majeed Khan, held bilateral political consultations with his Japanese counterpart Shigeo Yamada in Tokyo. According to a Foreign Officre press release, both sides reviewed significant aspects of Pakistan-Japan relations during the consultations, agreeing to spare no effort to preserve, promote, and diversify the longstanding robust relationship. Important regional and international issues were also discussed in depth, it said. The Foreign Secretary also called on Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Takei Shunsuke and National Security Advisor Takeo Akiba, and also interacted with Shun Imaizumi, President of the Japan-Pakistan Association.

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PM Shehbaz to attend SCO virtual summit on July 4

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is set to participate in the 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of State (CHS) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to be conducted in a video-conference format on July 4, 2023. The invitation for the Pakistani prime minister to attend the SCO-CHS was extended by the Indian Prime Minister in his capacity as the current Chair of the SCO, according to a statement from the PM's Office. The forthcoming CHS, the highest forum of the SCO, will have leaders deliberating on significant global and regional issues, and mapping out the future direction of cooperation among SCO member states. This year, the SCO CHS will also welcome Iran as a new member of the organisation. Also read India move surprises Pakistan, other SCO members The participation of the prime minister in the CHS reflects the high importance that Pakistan attributes to the SCO, the PM Office said. The SCO is viewed as a crucial forum for regional security and prosperity and provides a platform for increased engagement with the region. Earlier this month, Pakistan and other SCO members were surprised over the India’s sudden move to host the summit in July virtually instead of in-person. “It was a surprise for everyone,” a Foreign Office official had said reacting to the announcement by New Delhi. The official, while speaking on the condition of anonymity, told The Express Tribune that Pakistan came to know about the decision through a letter written by India to SCO members including Islamabad on Tuesday. The official said Pakistan’s initial perception was that India decided not to hold the summit in-person possibly because of the lack of confirmation by Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to attend the event in New Delhi. If both the Chinese and Russian presidents skipped the summit in-person, that would have been a diplomatic embarrassment for India, according to the official. India is the current president of the SCO, which comprises Russia, China, Pakistan and key Central Asian states. It assumed the rotating chairmanship of the SCO at the Samarkand Summit on September 16, 2022. (With input from APP)

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Pakistan IMF reach staff-level pact on crucial $3 billion bailout

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reached a staff-level pact with Pakistan on a $3 billion stand-by arrangement, the lender said, a decision long awaited by the South Asian nation which is teetering on the brink of default. The deal, subject to approval by the IMF board in July, came hours before the current agreement with the IMF expires later on Friday. Although essentially a bridge loan, it offers much respite to Pakistan, which is battling an acute balance of payments crisis and falling foreign exchange reserves. The agreement will enable Pakistan to achieve economic stability, and put the country "on the path of sustainable economic growth, God willing," said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Alhamdulillah, I am pleased to announce that Pakistan has reached a Staff-Level Agreement with the IMF on a nine-month US$3 billion Stand-By Arrangement. This Arrangement will help strengthen Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves, enable Pakistan to achieve economic stability, and… — Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) June 30, 2023 Pakistan will receive formal documents on the deal later on Friday from the IMF, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar told Reuters, which he said he would "sign, seal and return by tonight." He had said on Thursday the deal was expected any time soon. Pakistan's sovereign dollar bonds were trading higher after the announcement, with the 2024 issue enjoying the biggest gains, up more than eight cents at just above 70 cents in the dollar, according to Tradeweb data. The gains were most pronounced in shorter-dated bonds, reflecting lingering scepticism over the longer-term fiscal outlook for the country. The country's domestic stock and currency markets were closed on Friday due to Eid festival holidays. With sky-high inflation and foreign exchange reserves barely enough to cover one month of controlled imports, analysts say Pakistan's economic crisis could have spiralled into a debt default in the absence of an IMF deal. Read Pakistan sets sights on stop-gap IMF deal The $3 billion funding, spread over nine months, is higher than expected. The country was awaiting the release of the remaining $2.5 billion from a $6.5 billion bailout package agreed in 2019, which expires on Friday. The IMF funding will also unlock other bilateral and multilateral external financing and debt rollovers, particularly from friendly countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which have already pledged around $3 billion. "This will support near-term policy efforts and replenish gross reserves, with the aim of bringing them to more comfortable levels," the IMF said. Power Price Hikes The new stand-by arrangement builds on the 2019 programme, IMF official Nathan Porter said on Thursday, adding that Pakistan's economy had faced several challenges in recent times, including devastating floods last year and commodity price hikes following the war in Ukraine. "Despite the authorities' efforts to reduce imports and the trade deficit, reserves have declined to very low levels. Liquidity conditions in the power sector also remain acute," Porter said in a statement. "Given these challenges, the new arrangement would provide a policy anchor and a framework for financial support from multilateral and bilateral partners in the period ahead." Porter also pointed out the power sector's buildup of arrears and frequent power outages. Reforms in the energy sector, which has accumulated nearly 3.6 trillion Pakistani rupees ($12.58 billion) in debt, has been a cornerstone of the discussions with the IMF. Read more Even debt restructuring may not be enough: experts The IMF would want steadfast policy implementation by Pakistan to overcome challenges, "particularly in the energy sector," the statement said. "The authorities' programme also includes ongoing efforts to strengthen the viability of the energy sector (including through a timely FY24 annual rebasing)," the lender said, which means a rise in electricity tariffs in the fiscal year. Government sources told Reuters that the hike will come ahead of the IMF board review of the bailout in mid-July. Painful Reforms Islamabad has taken a slew of policy measures since an IMF team arrived in Pakistan earlier this year, including a revised 2023-24 budget last week to meet the lender's demands. Other adjustments demanded by the IMF before clinching the deal included reversing subsidies in power and export sectors, hikes in energy and fuel prices, jacking up the key policy rate to 22%, a market-based currency exchange rate and arranging for external financing. It also got Pakistan to raise over 385 billion rupee ($1.34 billion) in new taxation through a supplementary budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year and the revised budget for 2023-24. Going forward, the IMF said, the central bank should remain pro-active to reduce inflation and maintain a foreign exchange framework. The painful adjustments have already fuelled all time high inflation of 38% year-on-year in May. "The FY24 budget advances a primary surplus of around 0.4 percent of GDP by taking some steps to broaden the tax base and increase tax collection from under-taxed sectors," Porter said, adding it also ensured space to strengthen support for the vulnerable through a cash handout programme. He said it will be important that the budget is executed as planned, and authorities resist pressures for unbudgeted spending or tax exemptions in the period ahead. "This new programme is far better than our expectations," said Mohammed Sohail of Topline Securities in Karachi, adding there were a lot of uncertainties on what would happen after a new government comes to power later in the year. "This funding of 3 billion dollars and for 9 months will definitely help restore some investor confidence," he said.

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IMF deal expected in next 24 hours: Dar

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has said that a staff level agreement for a crucial bailout deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was "very close" and expected in the next 24 hours. Islamabad is racing against time to unlock at least $1.1 billion under the lender's ninth review of a $6.5-billion Extended Fund Facility agreed in 2019. The programme expires on Friday. "We are very close to signing a staff level agreement with the IMF," Dar told Reuters late on Thursday. "I think it should come sometime tonight or maximum within 24 hours ... We have finalised everything." A source familiar with talks told Reuters that Pakistan and the IMF were also in discussions for the release of the full $2.5 billion pending under the IMF programme. Read more: PSX shows signs of recovery amidst economic struggles The source said the staff level agreement was to set to initially unlock around $1.1 billion and then be followed by a "standby agreement" which could release the rest after the programme finishes on Saturday. A representative for the IMF in Pakistan did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The agreement, which would be subject to approval by the IMF board, has faced an eight-month delay. The funds under discussion would offer some respite to Pakistan which is battling an acute balance of payments crisis and falling foreign exchange reserves. A total of $4 billion have already been released. Dar had earlier told media the government was working on a mechanism to try to unlock the full $2.5 billion pending under the IMF programme. It was unclear what portion of the funds would be released in the announcement he expected in the next 24 hours.

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Over a dozen high-risk prisoners escape from Chaman jail

Over a dozen high-risk prisoners escaped from the Chaman District Jail in Balochistan on Thursday, causing a major security breach and prompting a swift response from local law enforcement agencies. The jailbreak occurred early Thursday morning during the period allotted for Eid prayers. According to police officials, prisoners from Barrack No. 4, who were mostly implicated in serious crimes such as murder and attempted murder, staged a surprise attack on the police officers on duty. Armed with the crutches of disabled inmates, more than 15 prisoners overwhelmed the on-duty officers, managed to snatch an official Kalashnikov from a sentry posted at the main gate, and opened fire. In the ensuing chaos, one police officer was injured and has since been hospitalised. The prisoners then shot open the main gate's lock, enabling their escape. The group of escapees included more than 12 prisoners. The Chaman District Jail is situated on Taj Road, near the city's police station. Following the escape, the police, along with the Quick Response Force (QRF), immediately initiated a search operation, according to Superintendent of Police Naeem Achakzai. An encounter between police and the escapees in the areas of Hudi Pakht and Gorai Kahol lead to the death of one fugitive and the injury of two others, who were subsequently taken to the hospital. SP Achakzai raised the possibility that external facilitators may have aided the prisoners in their escape. He also acknowledged that the police presence in the jail had been reduced due to the Eid celebrations, as several officers had been assigned to duties at Eidgahs.

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High transportation costs drive up animal prices

People thronged cattle markets to buy sacrificial animals, but many of the animals remained unsold due to their sky-high prices. After receiving their salaries, government and private sector employees also visited the markets on the first official holiday on Wednesday. However, most of them seemed to complain about inflated animal rates, while cattle sellers claimed that insufficient supply from Punjab and Sindh provinces had driven the prices high. Sellers said that cattle markets had a large number of visitors, but serious buyers were few. People mostly inquired about the prices, took selfies with animals, and left. Meanwhile, cattle traders insisted that affluent people preferred goats and sheep for health reasons, as they feared that other sacrificial animals were infected with cattle skin disease. A visit to different sale points also revealed that the price of a normal-sized goat, sheep, or lamb ranged from Rs65,000 to Rs75,000, while a medium-sized cow and calf ranged from Rs140,000 to Rs300,000. “Transporting animals from South Punjab to cities like Lahore, Rawalpindi, or Faisalabad has become a pricey affair,” said Imran Ali, a livestock trader from Narang Mandi. When asked about the high prices, he said. Published in The Express Tribune, June 29th, 2023.

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Army wishes happy Eidul Azha to fellow Pakistanis

The armed forces of Pakistan, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) and services chiefs wished a very happy Eidul Azha to fellow Pakistanis, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated in a statement. “Eidul Azha gives us a message of peace, unity, fraternity and selfless sacrifice for the humanity,” the statement said. Read more: Govt announces long weekend ahead of Eid celebrations “Let us remember and honour Shahuda of Pakistan on this day who sacrificed their lives for the motherland. They will forever be etched in our hearts.” The first day of Eidul Azha, which marks the end of the Hajj which is one of the five pillars of Islam and should be undertaken by every Muslim who can afford to do so, will be celebrated across Pakistan today.

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Article 209 doesnt apply to retired judges rules SC

The Supreme Court has held that Article 209 — which deals with the removal of a superior court judge on account of misconduct — does not apply to a person who has retired or resigned from the office of a judge of the apex court or a high court. “On the logic of the proposition such a complaint (against alleged misconduct of a superior court judge) could conceivably be filed even years after the retirement or resignation. “Such an outcome is quite obviously beyond the contemplation of the Constitution. This is yet another reason why the proposition postulated cannot be regarded as correct," said a six-page order authored by Justice Munib Akhtar. Justice Akhtar was part of a division bench also including Justice Ijazul Ahsan that dismissed a constitution petition filed by civil society members seeking guidelines to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), the constitutional forum that can hold judges of superior court accountable. The verdict said the Constitution draws a distinction between a person, who, at the relevant time, holds office as a judge and the one, who, having held that office in the past, does not.  It said Article 209 applies only to the former and not the latter. “Thus, e.g., clauses (2) and (3) of Article 202 refer, respectively, to a ‘person who has held office’ ‘as a judge of the Supreme Court or of a High Court’ or ‘as a permanent Judge’. “In similar vein, Article 182 allows, inter alia, for ‘a person who has held the office of a judge of [the Supreme] Court’ to attend sittings of the court as an ad hoc judge, and then goes on to state that “while so attending an ad hoc judge shall have the same power and jurisdiction as a judge of the SC”. Other such examples, it said, are also to be found. This bolsters the conclusion that Article 209 has no application in the postulated situation. Finally, it must be noted that if accepted the logic of the proposition could be taken to the point that a complaint could even be filed under Article 209 against a judge who has retired or resigned after he has left office, in relation to allegations of misconduct while in office. This is so because the petitioners advance the proposition on the basis of what they regard to be a matter of principle. If such a principle exists then arguably its application cannot be limited to the fortuitous circumstance as to whether there was a complaint pending against the allegedly errant judge as on the date he retired or resigned. “On the logic of the proposition such a complaint could conceivably be filed even years after the retirement or resignation. Such an outcome is quite obviously beyond the contemplation of the Constitution. This is yet another reason why the proposition postulated cannot be regarded as correct.” The judgment noted that the petitioners asked this court to give directions or guidelines to regulate the case management of the SJC’s docket, a list of cases for trial or people having cases pending. “It is our view that, with respect, it would be inappropriate to do so. “Firstly, such directions or guidelines would either, in terms, be so general or broad as to end up being essentially no more than mere platitudes, or be so detailed and minute as to essentially take over the functions and powers of the Council. “Neither outcome would, for obvious reasons, be desirable. In particular, the latter may be contrary to what is within the jurisdiction of the Court in relation to Article 209. Secondly, if some balance can be struck between these two extremes, there would still be a difficulty.” It said any directions issued or guidelines laid down would of course hold the field over time and therefore and thereby tend to end up providing too rigid and even, eventually, ossified a framework for the SJC. "This would be so because it would not be possible for the latter to itself alter (or even replace) the framework so erected, in order to meet the inevitable changes over time in its docket—both as to the quantum and the nature of the complaints—and other variations in relevant circumstances. “The council would then have to approach the court from time to time to seek further suitable directions and guidelines, by way of alterations in, or even substitution of, the framework. “Obviously, such an outcome would not be desirable. The Council ought at all times to have the power to control its own docket and manage its affairs in a flexible manner that suits its purposes and allows it to perform the constitutional duties with which it is tasked. “We are therefore of the view that it would be inadvisable and inappropriate for the court to grant the relief sought,” it said. The judgment also referred to SC judgment in the Shaukat Aziz Sadiqui case and said that in this decision the claim was by the judges being proceeded against, as to a denial of their fundamental rights. Even then, the court held (while recognizing that the judge concerned could waive his right to privacy) that the ultimate decision, as to whether to proceed in terms of paragraph 13 or to allow “open” proceedings, was that of the council itself. "That decision could be taken at any time and even against the wishes of the judge concerned, for reasons as set out in the earlier part of the judgment. And in respect of the particular cases before it the court did not make an order of its own, leaving it to the council to do so in terms of para 96," it said.

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FIA moves to obtain physical remand of Elahi

The Federal Investigation Agency on Tuesday challenged the move of not granting the physical remand of former Punjab chief minister Pervaiz Elahi in a graft case in the district and sessions court. According to the FIA appeal, the judicial magistrate announced the decision contrary to the facts. “A money laundering investigation is required against Elahi,” the appeal added. The FIA in its appeal requested the court to annul the order of the judicial magistrate. The additional sessions judge issued a notice on the appeal, seeking a response on July 4. On Monday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Central President Elahi was arrested once again after a Lahore special court on Saturday granted him bail against surety bonds worth Rs10,000 in a graft case. Read Elahi rearrested after release from jail According to sources, there was a high probability that Elahi would be rearrested after his release as a heavy contingent of police arrived outside the District Camp Jail. The FIA team arrested former Punjab chief minister Elahi in an armored vehicle and took him from the jail. The FIA team arrested him in case number 6. The FIA produced Elahi in district and sessions court, seeking his 14-day physical remand. The investigation officer said that Elahi had been arrested in a new case of suspicious transactions worth missions of rupees.  The court rejected the FIA's request for a physical remand, sending Elahi to jail on judicial remand.

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Rainfall expected during Eid in Karachi

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecasted rain accompanied by dust and thunderstorms in Karachi on the second day of Eidul Azha. Moreover, various districts in rural Sindh are likely to experience moderate to heavy rainfall until June 30. Tuesday saw warm weather in the metropolitan city, with increased humidity due to the absence of sea breeze. The maximum recorded temperature reached 37 degrees Celsius, while it felt even hotter. According to the PMD’s Early Warning Centre, the city is expected to have slightly hot and humid weather with partial cloud cover on the first day of Eid. Light rain and drizzle are expected during the night and morning hours over the next two days. On Tuesday, Karachi experienced hot and humid weather, with a humidity level of 63%. The sea breeze subsided in the afternoon, intensifying the heat. The maximum recorded temperature was 37 degrees Celsius. In Dadu and Jacobabad districts of rural Sindh, the mercury climbed to 43 degrees. Also read Death toll from rains in Punjab hits 20 The PMD predicts moderate to heavy rainfall accompanied by dust and thunderstorms in Qamber Shahdadkot, Dadu, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Ghotki, Sukkur, Khairpur, Nowshero Feroze, Matiyari, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, and Mirpurkhas until June 30. Meanwhile, the PMD has released a review of the monsoon climate for July to September, indicating that Sindh is likely to receive 17 per cent less rainfall than the average. Furthermore, certain areas in Sindh, Balochistan, and lower Punjab may experience heatwaves due to higher-than-expected temperatures. The melting glaciers pose an increased risk of flash floods. Based on the current assessment of monsoon weather, most areas of the country are expected to receive normal rainfall during the monsoon season, with slightly above-average rainfall projected for upper Punjab, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Conversely, the southwestern parts of Sindh and Balochistan may experience below-normal rainfall. Central and southern Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan may face water shortages in cotton-growing regions due to slightly below-normal rainfall. Seasonal crops, vegetables, and gardens in these areas may also experience water scarcity. Drought conditions may arise in Sindh and Balochistan regions due to lower-than-normal rainfall.

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PM directs rainwater draining

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed the provincial and district authorities to immediately take rainwater drainage measures in Lahore. Taking notice of the problems faced by the dwellers of Lahore, the prime minister also directed the relevant authorities to remain alert in the situation arising out of the current rainy spell, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release. No leniency should be shown in addressing the public issues and grievances, it was further added. The authorities were tasked to continuously monitor the situation with prompt measures in place. APP

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Another blow to PTI as 21 ticker-holders from Sahiwal jump ship

A total of 21 candidates, leaders, and workers from Punjab's Sahiwal district announced on Monday that they are parting ways with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) — another significant blow to from the former ruling party which landed in hot waters following the May 9 riots. Notable among the departing members are Amjad Joya, Ameer Hamza, Nasir Hameed, and Majid Dogar from Pakpattan. These individuals have bid farewell to the party, further weakening PTI's influence in the area, Express News reported. Amjad held the party ticket from NA-140, Hamza from PP-194, and Majid from PP-195. They were widely recognised as formidable political figures in the Pakpattan region. Read more: 'Khan sahib, Allah Hafiz': Imran Ismail bids farewell to PTI The exodus extends beyond Pakpattan, with six members, including Chaudhry Waseem, Abdul Hameed, and Sarfaraz from Okara, resigning from their party positions. Additionally, more than six members, including Muhammad Khan, Chaudhry Asfar, and Shahid from Sahiwal, have also chosen to leave the party. All party workers from Sahiwal region have also parted ways with PTI due to the events of May 9. As the crackdown on PTI by law enforcement intensified in the aftermath of the May 9 violence, numerous PTI leaders, including close confidants of former premier Imran Khan, have been defecting from the party, leading to what the PTI chief referred to as "forced divorces." Despite some leaders being temporarily released on court orders, many were re-arrested, indicating that the crackdown showed no signs of easing. Prominent PTI figures, such as Shireen Mazari, Aamir Kiani, Imran Ismail, Amin Aslam, Mahmood Moulvi, Aftab Siddiqui, Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, Firdous Ashiq Awan, Musarrat Cheema, Abrarul Haq and others, have announced their departure from the former ruling party. Asad Umar, a close aide of the PTI chief, resigned from his posts as the secretary-general and members of the party's core committee, citing the ongoing situation. His decision came shortly after Fawad Chaudhry, another trusted aide of Imran, also quit the PTI. However, senior PTI leaders Dr Yasmin Rashid, Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Mehmoodur Rasheed have expressed their continued support for the party chief, reaffirming their commitment to remain with the PTI.

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PMD predicts more rains in various parts of country

Rain-wind thundershower is expected in Punjab, Islamabad, Potohar region, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, northeast and east Balochistan, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan during the next 24 hours, Isolated heavy falls (with isolated hailstorms) are also expected in Kashmir, upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and south Punjab. According to the synoptic situation, a seasonal low was lying over northeast Balochistan. A westerly wave was also affecting the upper and western parts of the country. During the last 24 hours, rain wind-thunderstorm occurred in Punjab, Islamabad, Potohar region, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, north/east Balochistan and Kashmir. Read more: Rain breaks heat spell in Lahore During the last 24 hours rainfall recorded in Punjab: Lahore (Airport 255mm, Lakshmi Chowk 241, Pani Wala Talab 236, Qurtaba Chowk 230, Gulshan-e-Ravi 213, Nister Town 202, Iqbal Town 178, City 172, Tajpura 165, Jail Road 163, Johar Town 155, Gulberg 130, Mughalpura 126, Chowk Nakhuda 125, Samanabad 120, Farrukhabad 115, Upper Mall 103), Sialkot (City 89, Airport 76), Islamabad (Airport 77, City 56), Jhelum 67, Kasur 62, Narowal 58, Mangla 56, Rawalpindi (Chaklala 55), Gujrat 54, Mandi Bahauddin 53, Gujranwala 45, Murree 39, Chakwal 38, Faisalabad 32, Attock 30, Sargodha City 19, Hafizabad 12, DG Khan, Okara 08, Faisalabad (Allama Iqbal Colony 06, Dogar Basti 12, Madina Town 15, GMA water works 10, Ghulshan colony 02), Bhakkar, Joharabad 02. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa: Mardan 81, Bannu 41, Peshawar Airport 37, Balakot 36, Kakul 25, Peshawar City 22, Bacha Khan Airport 20, Cherat 11, Pattan 11, Dir 08, Malam Jabba, Saidu Sharif 03, D I Khan Airport, Lower Dir 02, Parachinar 01. Kashmir: Rawalakot 40, Muzaffarabad (City 33, Airport 25), Garhi Dopatta 21, Kotli 18. Balochistan: Bar Khan 33, Khuzdar 26, Zhob 18, Lasbela, Ormara, Quetta 02, Kalat, Samungli 01, Gilgit-Baltistan: Bagrote 05, Gilgit 03mm. The maximum temperatures recorded were Nokkundi, Dalbandin 45 °C, Sibbi and Jacobabad 44 °C.

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Pakistan criticises migration policies at Geneva

Pakistan and several African nations called for more protections for migrants at the UN Human Rights Council on Monday following the shipwreck off the Greek coast. At least 82 people died and hundreds more are feared dead in the June 12-13 shipwreck along the world's most deadly migration route from Libya to Italy. Pakistan, which had 350 of its nationals aboard the ship that capsized and sank, said the incident was a "grim reminder of the protection gaps". "The human cost of such a status quo is unacceptable," Pakistan's deputy permanent ambassador, Zaman Mehdi, told the 47-member council in unusually frank comments. Read more: Desperate crossings and Pakistani dreams "Gaps in responsibility sharing, arrangements for the safe and timely search and rescue, disembarkation of all people rescued at sea and accountability must be plugged in the spirit of solidarity." The envoy for Gambia, a country from which many migrants depart on perilous journeys towards Europe, said that the issue required "urgent attention". Felipe Gonzalez Morales, UN Special Rapporteur on Migration, called on states to end the criminalisation of irregular migrants and find regular pathways for them. He also reiterated a call made by hundreds of NGOs for the rights body to create a new international investigative body looking at human rights abuses committed against migrants. The idea is being discussed as part of the ongoing council session in Geneva.

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FIA arrests five more in human trafficking case

The anti-human trafficking circle of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Rawalpindi arrested five more alleged human traffickers on Sunday as part of the nationwide crackdown launched in the wake of the Greece boat tragedy. At least 750 people – half of them Pakistanis – were believed to be on board a fishing trawler carrying illegal migrants to Italy capsized off the coast of Greece on June 14. Only 104 people, including 12 Pakistanis survived. A couple of days later, the prime minister ordered a crackdown against networks involved in smugglers, with the interior minister overseeing the investigation. So far, at least 29 people have been arrested and 71 cases registered against men who charged as much as Rs3 million while promising to get people to Europe. The investigation is being led by FIA Islamabad zone. As part of the investigation, the Rawalpind FIA conducted raids in Jhang, Kallar Syedan and Peshawar. It said six men, identified as Tanveer Ahmed, Muhammad Yousuf, Junaid Mehmood, Muhammad Islam, Haider Ali and Doran Khan, were arrested for taking money from people to send them to Europe illegally. Meanwhile, authorities continue to collect DNA samples of the families of the 193 people missing in the wake of the tragedy to ascertain their identities. Published in The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2023.

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PML-N faces backlash for hiring top lawyer

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led coalition government is facing criticism from its supporters for engaging famous lawyer Dr Farogh Naseem to defend the trial of civilians in military courts on behalf of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Sources said Dr Naseem has arrived in Islamabad to appear today (Monday) before a seven-member larger bench of the Supreme Court that is hearing petitions against court martial of the suspects who vandalized army installations after the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on May 9. “The government is under fire from its supporters and is now having second thoughts. Maybe he [Naseem] will not appear before the court,” said a member of the federal cabinet while requesting not to be named. He, however, did not tell as to what was the nature of the criticism. Despite his political views, Dr Farogh Naseem is known as a competent lawyer. He is also a senator who was elected to the upper house of parliament on the ticket of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), which is now an ally of the PML-N. He represented former military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf before a special court in a high treason case in 2014 as well as former army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa when the issue of extension in his term of service landed in the apex court in November 2019. Dr Naseem, who served as the federal law minister during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rule, had resigned from his position to defend a presidential reference filed against Supreme Court senior puisne judge Qazi Faez Isa. A senior lawyer said perhaps on second thought, the government does not want to annoy Justice Isa and his supporters. Justice Isa is already notified as chief justice of Pakistan with effect from September 17. Justice Isa and Dr Naseem even exchanged harsh words in a meeting of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) during the PTI rule in July 2021. The government has also approached senior lawyer Shah Khawar but a final decision regarding him will be taken today (Monday). Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Accountability Irfan Qadir is also requested to join the government legal team. He has yet to take a final decision in this regard. At the last hearing of the case, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, who is leading the seven-member bench, said the bench would try to conclude the proceeding by Tuesday. It is expected that everything regarding the government's engagement of private counsels will become clear today.

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Lightning kills 6 in upper Punjab

Six people, including two minors, were killed and five others, including a woman, sustained injuries when lightning struck different areas of Punjab, rescue officials said on Sunday. According to the officials, two people died on the spot in lightning incidents in and around Narowal. They were identified as Muhammad Siddique, 70, a resident of Ghaziwal Colony and Bilal, 20, a resident of village of Kanon. Among the injured, they added, were Naseer, 30, a resident of village Kotli Ramdas and Abdul Rahman, 22, a resident of village Chailiwali. Officials said that four people died and three others were injured in separate lightning incidents in Pasrur and Shikargarh. According to the rescue officials, the injured sustained serious burn injuries, adding that they were referred to Lahore for further treatment after giving them first-aid at the government hospitals in their areas. Read more: Country to receive scattered pre-monsoon rainfall from today The lightning incidents occurred ahead of warning of pre-monsoon rains in several parts of the country. Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman said that heavy rain might cause urban flooding and trigger landslides in mountainous areas. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), scattered rainfall and thunderstorms were expected throughout the week till June 30 in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). Similarly, rain might lash Sindh, Balochistan and Southern Punjab from June 26 to June 29. Flash floods were also feared in Dera Ghazi Khan and adjoining areas of northeast Balochistan on June 27, it added. Read: Power shortfall exceeds 6,500MW amid searing heat The minister directed all relevant departments to remain alert and advised tourists to exercise caution. “Citizens are requested to stay away from weak infrastructure, power poles, and watercourses during strong winds and rains,” tweeted Rehman. According to the PMD, the central and upper regions of Sindh could expect scorching heat. Additionally, it mentioned the likelihood of an occasional duststorm or light rain in Dadu, Kambar Shahdadkot, and Jacobabad districts during the evening. In the Tharparker district, Karachi, and along the coastal areas, there might be a few instances of light rain or drizzle overnight and in the early morning, the PMD said in its latest weather outlook. The PMD issued a warning about potential urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Gujranwala, and Lahore on June 26 and 27 due to heavy rainfall. It also warned of flash flooding by hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan and in Balochistan on June 27. It cautioned against the possibility of landslides in vulnerable regions such as Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, and the hilly areas of the K-P. Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) provided safety guidelines to citizens, particularly in mountainous areas where there was a risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). (WITH INPUT FROM OUR ISLAMABAD CORRESPONDENT)

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Lightning kills 6 in upper Punjab

Six people, including two minors, were killed and five others, including a woman, sustained injuries when lightning struck different areas of Punjab, rescue officials said on Sunday. According to the officials, two people died on the spot in lightning incidents in and around Narowal. They were identified as Muhammad Siddique, 70, a resident of Ghaziwal Colony and Bilal, 20, a resident of village of Kanon. Among the injured, they added, were Naseer, 30, a resident of village Kotli Ramdas and Abdul Rahman, 22, a resident of village Chailiwali. Officials said that four people died and three others were injured in separate lightning incidents in Pasrur and Shikargarh. According to the rescue officials, the injured sustained serious burn injuries, adding that they were referred to Lahore for further treatment after giving them first-aid at the government hospitals in their areas. Read more: Country to receive scattered pre-monsoon rainfall from today The lightning incidents occurred ahead of warning of pre-monsoon rains in several parts of the country. Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman said that heavy rain might cause urban flooding and trigger landslides in mountainous areas. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), scattered rainfall and thunderstorms were expected throughout the week till June 30 in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). Similarly, rain might lash Sindh, Balochistan and Southern Punjab from June 26 to June 29. Flash floods were also feared in Dera Ghazi Khan and adjoining areas of northeast Balochistan on June 27, it added. Read: Power shortfall exceeds 6,500MW amid searing heat The minister directed all relevant departments to remain alert and advised tourists to exercise caution. “Citizens are requested to stay away from weak infrastructure, power poles, and watercourses during strong winds and rains,” tweeted Rehman. According to the PMD, the central and upper regions of Sindh could expect scorching heat. Additionally, it mentioned the likelihood of an occasional duststorm or light rain in Dadu, Kambar Shahdadkot, and Jacobabad districts during the evening. In the Tharparker district, Karachi, and along the coastal areas, there might be a few instances of light rain or drizzle overnight and in the early morning, the PMD said in its latest weather outlook. The PMD issued a warning about potential urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Gujranwala, and Lahore on June 26 and 27 due to heavy rainfall. It also warned of flash flooding by hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan and in Balochistan on June 27. It cautioned against the possibility of landslides in vulnerable regions such as Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, and the hilly areas of the K-P. Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) provided safety guidelines to citizens, particularly in mountainous areas where there was a risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). (WITH INPUT FROM OUR ISLAMABAD CORRESPONDENT)

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Elahi granted bail in money laundering case

A Lahore special court on Saturday granted PTI Central President Pervaiz Elahi post-arrest bail in a money laundering case. On June 21, Elahi was taken into custody by the Federal Investigation Agency from the district jail in the case. The FIA had requested physical custody but a district court denied it and sent the former Punjab chief minister to jail on judicial remand. The FIA has accused him of money laundering via five companies and frontmen. As the proceedings began, Elahi’s counsel Amjad Pervez appeared in court while his client was in jail. After hearing the details of the case, Judge Bakht Fakhar Bahzad issued an order for the PTI central president’s release from the District Camp Jail. The order stated that Elahi was to be released “if not wanted in any other case and after confirmation of surety bonds”. The court accepted Elahi’s bail plea against surety bonds worth Rs10,000. According to sources, there is a high probability that Elahi would be released after his release as a heavy contingent of police arrived outside the District Camp Jail. The sources said an armored police vehicle had also reached outside the jail. “Heavy police security has been deployed outside the jail.”

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Court seeks reply on Sulemans acquittal plea

A Lahore special central court has sought replies from the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) on the acquittal pleas of accused persons, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s son Suleman Shehbaz, in the alleged Rs16 billion money laundering case by July 10. Judge Bakht Fakhar Bahzad also directed the JIT to submit its reply on the questionnaire containing 30 questions. The judge directed the quarters concerned to submit the JIT record compiled to probe this case. The judge also directed all investigation officers of the case to ensure their presence on the next date of hearing. As the proceedings commenced, petitioner Suleman’s counsel Amjad Pervez argued that it was a politically motivated case that was made during the PTI's tenure and its mastermind was former adviser to PM on accountability Shahzad Akbar. “How Suleman was declared a proclaimed offender when he was out of the country,” the judge asked. Counsel Pervez said, “We are asking the same question but at that time no one was ready to respond to us.” He argued that this case relied upon different tales, adding that no substantial evidence was available on record against one Tahir Naqvi. He argued that the main accused had already been acquitted in this case. “The allegations levelled against my client have nothing to do with reality.” The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) alleged Rs25 billion but submitted a challan of Rs16 billion. “No evidence is on record to establish money laundering occurred through the accounts of Suleman Shehbaz,” he said.Earlier proceedings The FIA had given a clean chit to Suleman, intimating the court that "no evidence of his involvement in the money laundering case was found". The FIA submitted the challan before the special central court judge, arguing that no evidence of receiving kickbacks has been found against Suleman and the other accused in the alleged Rs16 billion money laundering case. After that, the petitioners Suleman and Naqvi withdrew their bail pleas. After Suleman had been declared a proclaimed offender in this case, he filed a bail plea on December 23, 2022 and then joined the investigation. This court had already acquitted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son, Hamza Shehbaz, in the money laundering case. Earlier, the court had granted pre-arrest bail to Suleman in this case.

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Three alleged robbers killed in encounter

Three suspects killed by police in a shootout near Saddar police station were identified on Saturday. The dead suspects hailed from Faisalabad and were wanted by police in connection with heinous crimes, including murder, attempted murder, terrorism and robbery. While speaking to Express, DPO Mansoor Aman stated that the three suspects killed in the encounter on Saturday night were Imran Mani, Sarwar and Sabir Hussain, all residents of Faisalabad district. They were wanted in dozens of cases registered by police in Faisalabad, Nankana Sahib, Okara and other districts. These three suspects were treated as extremely dangerous and were considered a sign of danger, DPO Mansoor Aman said. Police are conducting operations to capture the accomplices of the deceased suspects. The bodies of the dead suspects were turned over to their heirs after necessary legal action. DPO Aman hailed the team that involved in the police encounter and announced cash prizes and certificates of appreciation. Police encounters are very common in Punjab, and Okara has seen several over the past few years. In October of last year, five suspects were killed by police during an encounter. Four alleged robbers who had been on the run after having martyred a sub-inspector were killed in an alleged police encounter in the limits of Shah Bhore Police Station on Tuesday afternoon. According to DPO Furqan Bilal, Sub-Inspector Sarwar Akram, in charge of the Farid Nagar Chowki in Pakpattan, had been martyred and two other policemen injured when they came under attack by the robbers in Pakpattan in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Sub-Inspector Sarwar Akram and his colleagues had intercepted the robbers after they had looted a wedding party. In the exchange of fire, Sarwar embraced martyrdom while two of his associates sustained injuries. One bandit was killed in retaliatory fire while six other bandits fled towards Yusufwala area of Sahiwal. Police teams from Pakpattan and Sahiwal mounted a chase to get the culprits. In the meantime, the fugitives entered the jurisdiction of Shah Bhore Police Station in Okara from Sahiwal. On receiving this information, DPO Furqan Bilal sent a heavy police force to Shah Bhore area to arrest the bandits. Upon seeing the police party, the robbers entered a nearby agriculture farm where they took positions and started firing at the police party. On retaliatory fire by the police, four robbers were killed, but two of their accomplices escaped. To arrest the bandits who had escaped, DPO Farqan Bilal cordoned off the entire district and formed different teams. The bodies of the dead robbers were shifted to the DHQ Hospital under the supervision by the SHO of Shah Bhore Police Station. Police also recovered a huge amount of looted goods, gold ornaments and weapons from the possession of the dead robbers.According to DPO Furqan Bilal, the dead robbers had not been identified yet. The funeral prayers of Shaheed Sub-Inspector Mohammad Sarwar Akram of Pakpattan Police was offered at the DPO Office in Pakpattan. Published in The Express Tribune, June 25th, 2023.

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Exploiting hope: The agents smuggling people from Pakistan

Malik Shiraz is frantically searching for his brothers in Kalamata, a small town on the southern Greek coast engulfed in a frenzy since last week’s deadly migrant shipwreck. “It was such a small boat. Why did the agents put so many people on it?” he pleaded, desperation palpable in his voice. By “agents,” he meant the human smugglers who arrange the perilous journeys – mostly with fake documents and through illegal channels – for people seeking a better life abroad, with Europe being a particularly preferred destination. Shiraz’s brothers, Qaiser and Tahir, were among the estimated 700 people who were on a boat heading from Libya to Italy when it sank in the Mediterranean near Greece’s coast on June 14. All but 104 survivors were killed in the disaster, the deadliest such incident in years. Hundreds of them were from Pakistan, but the final figure is yet to be established. In its latest update on Friday, the Pakistani government said approximately 350 of its nationals were on the boat and the bodies of 82 have been recovered. Shiraz is all too familiar with how human smugglers operate in Pakistan. He is one of the thousands of desperate Pakistanis who have paid exorbitant sums to these individuals over the years to reach Europe. He arrived in Europe on a boat from Greece in 2015, without any documents, after paying 150,000 Pakistani rupees ($525). He was in Germany for a while, before eventually settling in Italy. He came to Greece from Italy this week to seek answers and hopefully find his brothers, whom he had strictly warned against following his path to Europe. “I told them this was a dangerous route. I told them to come legally, but they trusted the agents,” Shiraz, who hails from Gujrat in northeastern Pakistan, told Anadolu in a phone call. Social media ‘game’ For something so illegal, human smugglers in Pakistan are operating quite openly, especially on social media. Read more: Death toll from migrant boat sinking off southwestern Greece climbs to 79 There are entire Facebook groups dedicated to the illicit business. They are also active on TikTok, giving desperate people the hope of reaching European shores – but only if they can cough up thousands of dollars. These groups are full of jargon such as “dunky,” a word derived from dinghy and used to refer to an illegal boat crossing. Another commonly used word is “game,” used to refer to any journey, from “road game” to “ship game” and “taxi game.” Reaching out to the smugglers is as simple as messaging anyone on Facebook. Using an anonymous account, Anadolu contacted a person who had posted an advertisement on one of the groups. Within minutes, the person replied with an offer to arrange a trip from Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, to Italy via Greece and Serbia, all for $12,000. Others offer the route that was taken by the migrants who perished last week: a flight from Karachi to Dubai, followed by a layover of four to five hours before a flight to Egypt, and then on to Libya and Italy. Despite being the more expensive option, this route has been gaining popularity as countries tighten border controls. ‘Big money’ “Human smuggling is a lucrative business and makes big money,” said Asad Iqbal Butt, a prominent activist who is the co-chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). These agents “can collaborate with local enforcement authorities, officials at borders, and can have their people in the airlines or the travel agency business as well,” he explained. They also work with people in other countries, known as “sub-agents,” he added. Agents reportedly collected between 2.3 million rupees ($8,000) and 3.5 million rupees ($12,200) from Pakistanis who were on the ill-fated trawler that sank last week. In some cases, the smugglers allow people to pay after the journey, a sort of tactic to build trust. Abid Rajorvi, who has lost two cousins in the Greece disaster, shared the story of another cousin who made it to Italy without having to pay anything upfront. “They told my cousin to bring $2,000 to $2,500 with him. They paid for his flight tickets (Karachi to Dubai to Egypt) themselves,” he told Anadolu in a phone call. “Once my cousin was about to get on the boat from Libya for Italy, they told his family in Pakistan to make the complete payment to an agent here.” Rajorvi is from Bandli, a village in Pakistan-administered Kashmir that he said has lost 28 men in the Greece shipwreck. He shed light on the staggering financial burden that families take on to pay agents, saying many people sell off properties, jewellery and essentially use up their life savings. ‘Worldwide phenomenon’ In Pakistan, the main law enforcement authority on the matter is the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). Since the June 14 disaster, the agency has launched an extensive crackdown, arresting at least 27 traffickers and registering 70 cases, a spokesperson said on Friday. However, the FIA has faced criticism for its inability to stamp out the networks of traffickers, with accusations against it ranging from negligence to complicity. “If anyone in the FIA is responsible for or involved in human smuggling, they should be held accountable,” said Bashir Memon, a former head of the agency. However, he asserted that migrant smuggling and trafficking is a “worldwide phenomenon and not just limited to Pakistan.” One of the difficulties in tracking down these smugglers is that any person could be an agent in Pakistan, Memon explained. “It could be anyone; a mason, a restaurant worker, or an actual travel agent. Also, they don’t work alone, they have strong networks,” he added. According to Memon, there has been a spike in the number of people trying to exit Pakistan through illegal means, particularly due to the worsening economic situation. “Smugglers are targeting people mostly living in Gujrat and Gujranwala,” he told Anadolu, referring to two cities in Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province. Butt, the HRCP official, said another visible change is the socioeconomic status of the people trying to leave Pakistan illegally. “This used to be more prevalent among lower income groups, but now we’re seeing a rise among middle-class families,” he added. On the action now being taken against traffickers, Butt was fearful that the victims’ families would back out and not press charges, saying that has been a problem in the past. “Families could take back the cases because the agents will offer to repay them, or to send someone else from their family to Europe for free,” he said. In an ironic twist of fate, one of the families mourning a loss in the latest tragedy is that of an alleged trafficker. “There was an agent who sent his own son this time. He is now behind bars and his son is dead,” said Rajorvi, the man in Bandli. “So, what the agents do to others can also happen to them.”

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Maryam reaches Dubai important meeting with Nawaz on the cards

Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Saturday reached Dubai where she is expected to hold an “important meeting” with her father and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif. Party sources said important political issues will be discussed in the meeting today. The agenda of the meeting is reportedly the former prime minister’s return to Pakistan, general elections and the names of candidates for the caretaker setup. Moreover, a meeting of the senior leadership of the party, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif who is currently in London, under the chairmanship of Nawaz Sharif is also expected to take place via video link. Earlier today, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb tweeted about Maryam’s departure saying that she has left for Dubai on a “private visit”, adding that the chief organiser is being accompanied by her family. Read Tareen forms new political party پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ن) کی نائب صدر اور چیف آرگنائزر مریم نواز شریف نجی دورے پہ دبئی روانہ ہوگئی ہیں۔ پارٹی قائد جناب محمد نواز شریف پہلے ہی دبئی پہنچ چکے ہیں۔ فیملی کے دیگر ارکان بھی ان کے ہمراہ ہیں — Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) June 24, 2023 It is pertinent to note that Jahangir Tareen and Aun Chaudhry, leader of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party, are also present in London at the moment. In this regard, sources say that Tareen and Aun Chaudhry are also expected to meet the prime minister in the British capital. PM Shehbaz reached London on a private visit a day earlier after completing his tour of France where he is expected to stay for three days.

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Food dept suggests wheat auction

The caretaker Punjab government, in consultation with the federal authorities, has prepared recommendations for initiating a new system to provide cheap flour to the white collar people while giving cash subsidy for the purpise to the poor under the Benazir Income Support Programme. According to sources, the food department will stop issuing quota to the mills and auction government wheat in proportion to the population of each district. The reserve price of the government wheat auction will be kept lower than the open market. Flour mill owners will be eligible to participate in the auction. The mills will be bound to produce 70kg of flour out of 100kg of wheat. Punjab Food Secretary Mian Zaman Wattoo told The Express Tribune that the department would determine the price of the flour produced from the auctioned government wheat, which might be substantially less than the market rates. He said the incidental expenses would be borne by the government so that the people could get cheap flour. The sale of flour produced from government wheat will be done through the Price App. The Pakistan Farmers Association welcomed the targeted cash subsidy, but rejected the wheat auction proposal as unworkable, saying it would benefit a few flour mills and destroy the remaining industry. The food secretary insisted that the official wheat quota was against the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) Rules and flaws in the system had come to light. He said there had been increasing complaints that some flour mills had been causing loss to the national exchequer by selling the wheat at high prices in the open market instead of producing flour. He said the government was moving towards targeted subsidy and the distribution of free flour among deserving people under the Ramazan package was a step in this direction. Now the government has decided that the registered eligible persons will not be given free bags but cash subsidy. The secretary said the Price App had been improved after fixing the flaws encountered during the free flour scheme. After the Eid holidays, the food department will start the experimental phase of the new system in some major cities, including Lahore, and then a final decision will be taken by September. Zaman Wattoo said the rules and regulations were being formulated for the government wheat auction, which would be transparent. He termed baseless a perception that the department would auction the wheat at higher than the purchase price. The official said the wheat would be auctioned at a much lower price than the market and the government would fix a low retail price of flour before the auction. He asserted that providing cheap flour to the middle class with wheat auction while giving cash subsidy to the poor would eliminate all the flaws and corruption of the quota system. Under the new proposals, the provincial government will allow 10 to 15 per cent increase in the pre-allocated wheat auction quota for a district when necessary, while the food director will also have the authority to increase the limit of a district by 5% when necessary. Digital record of each bag of auctioned wheat flour will be kept. The secretary said the food directorate checked the ratio of produced flour, while the Punjab Food Authority would check it for safety standards. Pakistan Flour Mills Association chairman Asim Raza Ahmed said the decision to give targeted cash subsidy to deserving people was very good initiative, because giving bags of flour increased the financial burden while not benefitting much people. However, he termed impractical the proposal of government wheat auction. He said the government had forcibly bought wheat from the farmers at the official rate, while the flour mills were not allowed to buy it. If a mill bought wheat, the vehicle unloaded at a government centre. He said the mills currently had 600,000 tonnes wheat stock, while the department has 400,000 tonnes. He alleged that by auctioning the wheat to a few mills, an attempt was being made to destroy the rest of the industry. The food department releases wheat to keep prices stable. The auction proposal is a case of cartelisation, the mill owners' leader alleged. He said the food department should immediately stop procurement of wheat so that mills could acquire the commodity. Published in The Express Tribune, June 24th, 2023.

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Dutch envoy outlines plans to deepen cooperation

The Ambassador of the Netherlands to Pakistan Henny Fokel De Vries Friday highlighted the longstanding bilateral relationship between the two countries while calling for further boosting cooperation in trade, climate change, and cultural exchange. In an exclusive interview, Ambassador De Vries discussed various areas of cooperation and outlined plans to deepen the partnership as the Netherlands and Pakistan celebrate 75 years of diplomatic ties. The ambassador noted that Pakistan ranks as the sixth-largest non-European trade partner for the Netherlands, while the Netherlands ranks as the fifth-largest trading partner for Pakistan. Recognising the strategic coastal location of the Netherlands as a gateway to Europe, Ambassador De Vries expressed her enthusiasm for further enhancing these trade ties. Addressing the challenge of climate change and water management, Ambassador De Vries stressed the joint responsibility of developed countries, particularly European nations, to support countries like Pakistan. She highlighted the expertise of the Netherlands in water management and expressed the commitment to collaborate closely with Pakistan to find sustainable solutions. It's worth noting that to commemorate 75 years of bilateral relations, various cultural initiatives and celebrations are taking place. Published in The Express Tribune, June 24th, 2023.

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Alvi for boosting ties with Korea Sri Lanka

President Dr Arif Alvi has emphasised the need for enhanced economic, trade, and cultural cooperation with South Korea and Sri Lanka to strengthen bilateral ties. During separate meetings with the outgoing Ambassador of the Republic of Korea Suh Sangpyo and the outgoing High Commissioner of Sri Lanka Vice Admiral (r) Mohan Wijewickrama, President Alvi expressed Pakistan's high regard for its multifaceted relationship with both nations. He highlighted the collaboration between the two countries in various domains, including politics, economy, science, culture, and people-to-people connections. The President emphasised Pakistan's openness to business and investment from its friends and partners, extending a special invitation for Korean investment across different sectors. He also emphasised the importance of promoting cultural ties, inviting Korean tourists to visit Pakistan's captivating mountaineering and religious tourism sites, particularly those associated with Buddhism and the Gandhara Civilization. Published in The Express Tribune, June 24th, 2023.

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SC again fails to give a message of unity

The judges of the Supreme Court have lost another opportunity to give a message to the public that they are a “united institution” when it comes to upholding the rule of law and the Constitution. On Thursday, lawyers’ excitement was dampened when the next chief justice of Pakistan (CJP), Qazi Faez Isa, and the SC’s third senior most judge, Sardar Tariq Masood, refused to sit in the larger bench hearing petitions challenging the trial of civilians in military courts until the court makes a final decision about the SC (Practice and Procedure) Act 2023, a law that regulates CJP's discretionary powers. The Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act 2023 was suspended in April by an eight-judge larger bench comprising CJP Umar Ata Bandial’s “like-minded judges”. Some experts believe that CJP Bandial should have consulted Justice Isa about his availability before forming the nine-member larger bench given the fact that Justice Isa had not been sitting in any court bench for the last couple of months. Justice Isa revealed in an open court that on a query of CJP Bandial, he had explained in writing why he was not sitting in court benches. Justice Isa believes that the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act, 2023 which regulates the CJP's discretionary powers cannot be suspended by the court. A law can either be struck down or endorsed, he said. The judge said he was expecting that the final decision on the fate of this law would be given soon. However, the stay on operation of the law still continues. Some lawyers are also not happy with Justice Isa for taking a hard stance. They believe that when all judges including those who are ideologically close to him are sitting in benches then Justice Isa should do the same. Differences among apex court judges allegedly started when the Supreme Court in September 2019 took up Justice Isa and his wife’s petitions against a presidential reference that accused him of hiding his family members’ foreign assets and sought his removal. No sincere efforts were made to end the perception that judges are divided. A legal expert said a difference of opinion is different from a clash within an institution on the manner of its working. No full court meeting has been held for the last three years. He said Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah has rightly described the CJP’s powers as a one-man show. Political supporters’ opinions about these judges are also divided. Ruling parties are accusing CJP Bandial while the supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are criticizing Justice Isa of partiality.  Some experts believe that judges need to improve their perception in this polarized environment. The division in the SC is weakening the institution and its moral authority. On Thursday, a seven-member larger bench heard the petitions against military courts when the two SC judges refused to hear the matter. The judges expressed their reservation over the procedure adopted to transfer cases from anti-terrorism courts (ATC) to military courts. At the end, CJP Bandial through Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Awan sent a message to the establishment that lawyers should not be harassed and journalists should be freed. It is witnessed that the military establishment is very emotional about the May 9 incidents and there is a debate as to what will be the implications for the judges if they halt trials of civilians in military courts. Incumbent CJP Bandial is retiring on September 17. "To paraphrase Lincoln, the nine-member bench today recorded yet another 'astonisher' in our checkered judicial history. The recurrence of such 'astonisher' on the rump (reduced numbers) bench cannot be ruled out," said former additional attorney general Tariq Mahmood Khokhar. “The formation of a larger bench has not placated the implacable. The incident has not done justice or equity. The schism in the SC is deeper than previously imagined," he added.

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Asif sees political motives in SC pleas

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday stressed the need to stop the judiciary from “further interfering in [the affairs of] parliament”, saying that it had already meddled enough with the powers of the house. “The matter of the trial of civilians in military courts has been taken to the Supreme Court... during the previous regime, 24 to 25 people were sentenced by military courts,” the defence minister said during the session of the National Assembly held under the chairmanship of Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. “The SC bench has split, but the results will come out today or tomorrow,” he stated. Asif added that the people who had raised this issue had political interests, adding that the petitioners had reservations with their respective parties. On the May 9 violence wherein sensitive state institutions and memorials of martyrs were attacked, Asif said: “Such crimes are not found in our history. The state cannot afford such crimes.” Read more: Judiciary must be prevented from interfering in matters of Parliament: Asif The comments by the minister came as the top court heard pleas against the trial of the alleged May 9 rioters in military courts. On Wednesday, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial formed a nine-member larger bench to hear petitions filed by former CJP Jawad S Khawaja and others. The defence minister said that no one should put at stake the honour and dignity of the country for political purposes. “A person should leave behind a legacy so that people remember him in good words.” Asif said that those who were sacrificing their lives for “our country are our benefactors”. “I appeal to the house to protect our honour. The message should go out from this house that we will not compromise on our honour,” he added. The minister said that it was not known whether anyone had been tried in military courts for this crime but it was known that some people would be tried in military courts. He also said that apparently on May 9, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chief encouraged those who were seen as political workers to spread violence. He reiterated that it was shameful to even talk about what was done with the memorials of the martyrs, adding that the attackers of the General Head Quarters (GHQ) had been identified, however, some of them were still at large. The speaker then made his remarks, saying that there was a risk of conflict in the area of former Balochistan chief minister MNA Akhtar Mengal in Balochistan. He directed the defence minister to contact the relevant authorities and intervene in the matter to avoid the conflict. Asif replied that he would contact the relevant authorities and issue instructions to look into the matter immediately. He also assured that he would try his best to prevent the conflict.

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Humayun Akhtar parts ways with PTI

Senior politician and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Humayun Akhtar Khan, the son of General Akhtar Abdur Rahman, on Thursday parted ways with the former ruling party. "From the creation of Pakistan to this day, our family has had an enduring connection with the Pakistan Army, and we take pride in the martyrdom of General Akhtar Abdul Rahman,” he was quoted as saying by the local media in a statement. He said that the sacrifices and blood of the martyrs will never be forgotten by the nation. “The events of May 9 have deeply saddened our family, just like the entire nation. Being a descendant of a martyr myself, the damage inflicted on the memorials of the martyrs was a source of immense pain for me, and no matter how much it is condemned it will remain insufficient." Read more: Former federal minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan quits PTI Khan stated that under the circumstances, it is no longer possible for him to remain a part of PTI, therefore, he is announcing his departure from the former ruling party. He emphasised, "The people of Pakistan have always held immense respect for the armed forces of Pakistan, and I am confident that this affectionate bond between the nation and its guardians will remain strong." Khan joins a long list of PTI members who quit the party after the events of May 9 and heightened crackdowns against party leaders by law enforcement agencies. Read PTI leaders on a legal rollercoaster Other leaders who quit the former ruling party include Fawad Chaudhry, Shireen Mazari, Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, Malik Amin Aslam, Mahmood Moulvi, Amir Kayani, Jai Prakash, Aftab Siddiqui, Sanjay Gangwani, Ghulam Sarwar Khan and others. Chaos broke out across the country on May 9 when protestors took to the streets in retaliation to the PTI chief’s arrest from Islamabad High Court premises by troops of the paramilitary Rangers. Rioters resorted to vandalism of state property including the Lahore Corps Commander’s House (Jinnah House) and the military’s General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. The government blocked internet services for four days in a bid to quell protests, restricted access to social media in the days that followed and has launched a severe crackdown against suspects allegedly involved in the rioting. Several PTI leaders have broken away from the party since then with some renouncing politics altogether. Several of these leaders announced their decisions after multiple arrests and detentions.

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Lal Masjid cleric booked on terror charges

Maulana Abdul Aziz of Lal Masjid, who along with four others opened fire on a police party in the federal capital on Wednesday, has been booked under terrorism charges. The first information report (FIR) of the case was registered at the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) police station by its station house officer (SHO). The FIR invokes six sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, including 324 (attempt to commit murder), as well as sections 7 (punishment for acts of terrorism) and 11E (measure to be taken against a proscribed organisation) of the Anti-Terrorism Act. On Wednesday, a CTD team purportedly went to the Lal Masjid area to ask him to appear before them and explain his return as prayer leader as well as efforts to seize the area of the former children’s library. Read more: Maulana Aziz returns to Lal Majid’s pulpit after 2014 civil society face-off According to the FIR, the team in the area spotted a “suspicious” vehicle which was signalled to stop. However, three men – including two armed with sub-machine guns (SMG) – opened fire at the police. The three men, Murad Khan, Abrar Ahmad and Sarfaraz Hussein, were arrested. Aziz and another man managed to escape. The FIR identified him as the driver Manzoor. The four people other than Aziz have also been booked. The FIR added that Aziz’s name included in the fourth schedule — a section of the ATA under which someone suspected of terrorism is kept under observation. It added that Aziz and his accomplices fired at the police with the intent to kill. The police recovered the SMGs, while the two men bearing the weapons failed to provide the permit, the FIR continued. They also recovered 11 shell casings from the scene.

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Farmer wins Rs300k in wheat contest

Haseeb Khan, a farmer from Qasba Gujrat, won the grand prize of Rs300,000 after he recorded a wheat yield of 2.24 tons per acre in the district level wheat production contest, an official release said on Wednesday.  Muhammad Pehelwan from Rangpur secured second place with a yield of 2.02 tons per acre and won a Rs200,000 prize, while Muhammad Amjad from tahsil Jatoi took third with a yield of 1.79 tons per acre and received a Rs100,000 cash award from Deputy Commissioner Salman Khan Lodhi. The DC said that farmers can go beyond the wheat yield they achieved by taking good care of their crops, in accordance with the guidelines provided by the agriculture officials. Deputy Director Agriculture Rana Habib Ur Rahman and a number of farmers were present on the occasion. Published in The Express Tribune, June 22nd, 2023.

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Interim Punjab govt lacks mandate to give land to army: LHC

The Lahore High Court has ruled that the caretaker Punjab government lacked the constitutional mandate to hand over around one million acres of state land to the army for corporate agriculture farming. LHC’s Justice Abid Hussain Chattha noted in his detailed verdict issued on Wednesday that neither the caretaker Punjab government nor the armed forces of Pakistan had the constitutional or legal authority to engage in corporate farming. The judge wrote that any land allotted to the military for corporate farming be returned to the Punjab government. He added that necessary steps should be taken to sensitise each member of the armed forces regarding its constitutional and legal mandate and the consequences of possible violations. “The argument that the Caretaker Cabinet was merely implementing an already approved CAF [corporate agriculture farming] initiative of the previously Elected Government in furtherance of ‘in principle’ approval of the latter is a mere fantasy. Hence, the approval of the new SOCs [Statement of Conditions] by the Caretaker Cabinet was unlawful and of no legal effect,” the verdict read. “The Army Act has been promulgated for the effective operation and functioning of the Pakistan Army and is employed to run the institution. There is no provision therein which allows the Pakistan Army to undertake any function beyond the prescribed constitutional mandate in Article 245 of the Constitution,” it continued. “It is declared that the Armed Forces including the Pakistan Army and/or its subordinate or attached Departments/offices lack constitutional and legal mandate to indulge and participate in CAF initiative and policy in terms of Article 245 of the Constitution,” the judgment noted. The court directed that a certified copy of this judgment should be transmitted to the federal government through the cabinet division secretary; defence ministry secretary; chairman of the joint chiefs of staff committee; COAS; chief of the naval staff; and chief of the air staff. A notification issued by the GHQ Land Directorate on March 10 read that 45,267 acres of farm land had been handed over to Pakistan Army in different districts of Punjab. The GHQ Land Directorate wrote to the Punjab chief secretary, Board of Revenue and Agriculture, forest, livestock and irrigation departments secretaries for handing over of 42,724 acres in Kaloor Kot and Mankera tehsils in Bhakkar, 1,818 acres in Quaidabad and Khushab tehsils in Khushab, and 725 acres in Chichawatni tehsil of Sahiwal. The letter referred to a notification of the Punjab government dated February 20, 2023, and a joint venture agreement signed on March 8. Following this development, the caretaker set-up in Punjab immediately signed a pact with the army to hand over the land it had mentioned in its letter to it. On March 30, the LHC issued a two-page verdict, stopping the province’s caretaker government from extending any “lease of state land” for this purpose.

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PPP politics not against personalities: FM

Foreign Minister and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday said that people avenged vote rigging in 2018 through democratic means by sending the “incompetent” packing through a no-confidence motion. Addressing the opening ceremony of Lyari’s Kakri Sports Complex and a university convocation in DHA, the foreign minister said that the PPP did not do politics against personalities, urging the youth to reject those who were inciting violence and hatred. He said that the PPP’s battle was against poverty, unemployment, and inflation. He asked his supporters to get ready, as “good days” were ahead for the party and assured them that the PPP would redress the problems facing the people. “The Peoples Party believes in democracy. We avenged rigging in the 2018 election by successfully moving a no-confidence motion [against former prime minister Imran Khan last year] and sending the incompetent one home,” Bilawal told the gathering in Lyari. “The good days for the PPP are about to begin. We are not battling against any political party but poverty, inflation and unemployment,” Bilawal said. “It has been proved in the local bodies elections that when the umpire does not interfere, the PPP wins.” Stressing that “we all have to resolve the people’s problems together”, Bilawal said that his party’s government in Sindh was giving opportunities to the youth. “We are trying to solve people’s problems.” Bilawal also spoke about his personal attachment to the Lyari neighbourhood. He mentioned that it was the same Kakri Ground, where his mother late Benazir Bhutto and his father Asif Ali Zardari got married. "The struggle for the country’s progress started from these streets. They were the people of Lyari who challenged dictator Ziaul Haq. You challenged [another military dictator Pervez] Musharraf from Kakri Ground and defeated martial laws," he said. “Lyari and my family have a special relationship spanning over three generations,” he said. “The people of Lyari as well as all of Karachi will be given the right to health and sports. Provision of opportunities is the right of the youth [of Karachi],” he added. The PPP chairman said that Wednesday marked the birth anniversary of Benazir Bhutto, adding that on her 70 anniversary, he inaugurated the sports complex at the venue of her wedding. On the occasion, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, and Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab were also present. Later, Bilawal and Aseefa were witnessed cutting a birthday cake to commemorate their mother’s anniversary. Earlier, Bilawal attended the third convocation of the DHA Suffa University. Speaking on the occasion, he said the Pakistan’s real capital was its youth but stressed that the country belonged to everyone. He told the academia, students, their parents and the guests that the PPP’s politics was not against personalities, urging them to reject those elements who wanted to incite violence by misleading the youth. “We are facing the challenges of rising inflation. The time has come for the youth to take over the country. We have to work together to end poverty and unemployment,” he said, urging to reject anyone who incited them to violence and hate speech. “Today is the age of information technology and artificial intelligence. Our young generation believes in transparency and merit but we have to end hatred and divisions in politics. Our goal should be prosperity and development,” he exhorted. At the convocation, Bilawal distributed 26 gold medals and 13 silver medals among position holders, while 270 passed-out students were given degrees. Sindh Chief Minister Murad also distributed degrees among engineering and science students.

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NAB seeks details of Elahis bank accounts

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore has in an inquiry sought details of bank accounts of former chief minister Pervaiz Elahi and others from State Bank of Pakistan. In a letter to the SBP, the anti-graft body said, “An inquiry is being conducted against Elahi and others, therefore, all banks under your jurisdiction in Punjab should be directed to search accounts since inception and furnish attested copies of following bank record in respect of the persons, including Ch Aurangzaib, Khurram Shehzad, Malik Nadeern, Ahmed Tahir Ayub, Tanveer Abbas and others.” NAB added, “Record/documents of all bank accounts ie active or closed, finance facilities, lockers, credit cards or any other facility etc are required.” The details sought included certified copies of vouchers of debit/credit transactions of Rs200,000 and above, detail of debit/credit foreign transactions (F TTs) of all amounts and copies of swift messages (separately) along with detail showing trail of transactions. Meanwhile, a magisterial court in Lahore sent PTI Central President Elahi on a 14-day judicial remand in an alleged money laundering case. Read more: Elahi sent on 14-day judicial remand The judge observed that no incriminating material was available on record to justify the former Punjab CM’s physical remand. The investigation officer of the case requested Elahi’s 14-day physical remand for the completion of the probe. Elahi’s counsel contended that the allegations levelled in the FIR against his client did not mention his name. He pointed out that the whole story of the FIR revolved around his client’s son, Moonis Elahi. The judge issued directions to produce him on July 5 along with a report under Section 173 of CrPC. In a related development, the Islamabad High Court rejected a protective bail plea of PTI leaders Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Asad Umar in a case filed against them at the Tarnol police station. It gave them time till Thursday (today) to appear before the court. On the judge’s query where the two PTI leaders were, their lawyers apprised him that they were in a vehicle parked outside the IHC and could not enter the court fearing their arrest. The judge gave them until Thursday to appear before the court if they wanted their bail plea to be heard. Separately, former federal minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan on Wednesday was arrested in Islamabad in connection with the May 9 riots. Sarwar, who served as the aviation minister in the PTI-led cabinet, had managed to evade arrest for over a month. He was rounded up in the early hours of the day from his friend’s residence. Former PTI MNA Mansoor Hayat Khan and former Punjab MPA Ammar Siddique Khan, who were with Sarwar at the time of the raid, were also taken into custody. Police said a case was registered against Sarwar at the Taxila police station under terrorism charges. The PTI leaders were also wanted by the Rawalpindi police over their alleged involvement in the May 9 violence.

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PTI serves show-cause notice on Khattak

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday issued a show-cause notice to former Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) chief minister and ex-party provincial president Pervez Khattak over allegations of inciting the party members to revolt. PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan issued the show-cause notice, reading: “It has come to the notice of the party leadership that you are contacting party members and inciting them to leave the party. “In view of these reported activities, you are hereby called to explain yourself in writing within seven days of this notice. If your reply is unsatisfactory or you do not respond, further action will be taken as per party policy and rules.” Read more: NAB seeks details of Elahi’s bank accounts PTI Peshawar Deputy Secretary Information Khalid Khan Supari also revealed that Khattak was in contact with party leaders for the past several days and was trying to convince them to leave the party. Khattak had served as the K-P chief minister as well as the defence minister during the PTI government in K-P and at the Centre. It should be noted that Khattak announced his resignation from all PTI positions during a news conference in Islamabad last month. He condemned the incidents of May 9 and called for action against those who were responsible. Subsequently, Khattak refuted reports of his separation from the PTI, asserting that he remained a part of the party but had resigned from his posts.

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CJP Bandial forms nine-member bench over military court trials

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial has formed a nine-member larger bench led by himself to take up petitions on Thursday against trial of civilians before military courts under Army Act. Apart from the chief justice, the bench comprises Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Ayesha Malik. The development comes a day after former chief justice Jawwad S Khawaja challenged the coalition government’s decision to hold trials of May 9 rioters in military courts, asking if civilian institutions including the Supreme Court can endorse “militarisation of justice”. "This case is also about power flowing from the barrel of a gun. It is about the power of the army. The army controls businesses and land. Historically, it has exercised power and influence over our political dispensation. Its power and reach extend far beyond its constitutional role. If not a state within a state, it is regarded as an entity distinct from the government and referred to as the ‘establishment’. “The question for our civilian institutions including this court is whether the militarization of justice will be endorsed,” said a 39-page constitution petition filed through Khwaja Ahmad Hosain advocate. The former top judge asked if Pakistanis as a nation want to march backwards in time "with banners flying and drums beating to old tunes". Read more: Military court trials of civilians challenged “Or do we see a better tomorrow with public officeholders and institutions operating within constitutionally assigned domains? It is a fundamental question that continues to plague us as a nation. The answer will shape the future," he added. He said trials of civilians in military courts do not meet international fair trial standards: the right to a public hearing is not guaranteed, there is no right to a reasoned judgment, there are no details about where trials are conducted, and even the details of the charges are kept secret. “The decision to try civilians by military courts when the civilian courts are functioning is incompatible with the Constitution and a violation of fundamental rights guaranteed therein.” The petitioner noted that all four types of court martial—general court martial, district court martial, summary court martial, and field general court martial—are not impartial or independent tribunals. “The ‘judges’ are all serving officers of the military. They do not have any legal training, security of tenure, or other prerequisites which underpin judicial independence. “All those involved in the proceedings of the court martial are part of and dependent on the executive branch from appointment until retirement,” he added. The petitioner said trials in military courts lack transparency. The hearings are held in private and behind closed doors. Section 93 of the Pakistan Army Act 1952 states, “persons subject to this Act who commits any offence against it may be tried and punished for such offence in any place whatsoever.”

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Woman throws minor daughter into well

In a chilling act of revenge, a woman tossed her six-year-old daughter into a well in Sarara village, a suburb of Haripur. The incident unfolded when the culprit, identified as Sadia Bibi, contacted Saddar Police Station in Haripur to report her own crime. Upon hearing the girl's cries emanating from the well, locals rushed to the scene, joined by the police who successfully rescued the child. Acting swiftly on the information provided by Sadia Bibi, Amir Khan from Saddar Police Station led the operation. According to Sadia Bibi's statement, Nisar and Wajid forcefully snatched her daughter and callously threw her into a nearby well in the Thathi Paswal neighborhood. The girl tragically lost her life, and her body remained floating in the well. Following the arrival of the police, the girl was rescued alive and immediately questioned by the police and the residents. Recounting the harrowing experience, the child revealed that her biological mother had brought her to the well and thrown her into the well. Fortunately, her cries and pleas for help compelled the gathering crowd to save her. Based on the girl's testimony, the police promptly arrested Sadia Bibi. During initial interrogations, she confessed to the crime. She disclosed that her husband, Gohar Rehman, along with his son and other individuals, were involved in a murder case registered a few days prior in Sarara. Published in The Express Tribune, June 21st, 2023.

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Pakistan to benefit from UKs new trading scheme

Commerce Minister Syed Naveed Qamar said on Tuesday that a new scheme replaced the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) to help drive business between Pakistan and the United Kingdom (UK), reducing the country’s need for aid. According to a press release, the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) had now entered into effect, providing simpler terms of trade to Pakistan, removing tariffs on over 156 additional products, and simplifying some seasonal tariffs. Some of the specific goods which benefited the most from the DCTS in Pakistan, include over £ 250 million ($320 million) of average annual exports to the UK of bed linen and almost £100 million of jeans which would each receive a 12% reduction in import duty. The DCTS covers 37 countries in Africa and 26 in Asia, Oceania and Middle East, and two in the Americas. The scheme was announced last year, and legislation has since been finalised to bring it into force. Syed Naveed Qamar's visit to the UK this month was vital to bring the DCTS into effect for Pakistan. The total volume of trade in goods and services between the UK and Pakistan each year currently stands at £4.4 billion ($5.63 billion). It is expected that £120 million ($153.6 million) in tariffs will be saved on exports to the UK under the scheme. The international trading system through the UK's Trade Centre of Excellence, will provide specialist support for participating in the global trading system. “This important new scheme will further strengthen the economic ties between our two great countries, helping Pakistan to boost its exports to the UK and benefit from the power of trade for development", Qamar said in a statement. APP

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Govt ordered to form court for those who flee country during trials

Special Court Central Judge Bakht Fakhar Bahzad has directed the federal government to establish a special court to bring to justice those individuals who have fled abroad during their trials. This ruling came in response to a case involving several accused persons who had left the country. The court has requested a report from the relevant authorities by August 30, 2023, and has cited sections 93-A and 93-B of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cr.P.C.) as the basis for the decision. Judge Bahzad, in his detailed judgment, noted that it appears the federal government, since the inclusion of sections 93-A and 93-B of the Cr.P.C., has either unintentionally or for reasons known only to them, left a gap. This gap has allowed influential accused individuals who have managed to abscond abroad to avoid being held accountable. He stated that there is no such authority which could proceed against the absconders. Expressing concern over the federal government's consistent failure to adhere to the provisions of sections 93-A and 93-B of the Cr.P.C., the judge remarked that this raises questions about the state of the rule of law in Pakistan and the ability to address public grievances. The judge stated that the court's order must not be disregarded by the federal government, as it cannot be allowed to be ignored. The legislature has bestowed upon this court the power to punish those who violate court orders, he added. He further emphasised that the violators of orders issued by the court cannot escape legal consequences. Therefore, the judge questioned, the justification of the federal government in denying the court's orders while the benefits of these orders are not enjoyed by the general public. He stated that the federal government cannot be allowed to sabotage the statutory provisions of law and the orders passed by this court. Such undesirable behaviour of all the federal governments established in Pakistan needs to be curbed and dealt with iron hand to uphold the dignity of the court, to prevent abuse of process of law and to establish the rule of law in this country, he added. He stated that despite the court's orders, government departments have been engaged in a series of written exchanges, failing to comply with the court's directives. Instead of promptly adhering to the court's orders, they have chosen to engage in unproductive discussions, he added. He said that a thorough examination of sections 93-A and 93-B of the Cr.P.C. reveals that summonses issued by Pakistani courts must be served outside the country within the jurisdiction of a court established or authorised by the federal government's foreign jurisdiction. The court is required to send duplicate summonses to the presiding officer of the relevant foreign court, either by post or through other means. The same applies when warrants are issued for the accused's production. If the conditions and procedures specified in sections 93-A and 93-B of the Cr.P.C. are not met, an accused person cannot be declared a proclaimed offender, even if they manage to flee from Pakistan before standing trial, he added. Judge Bahzad questioned whether the central government had established a court to handle the service of summonses and execution of warrants for accused individuals who have managed to evade criminal cases pending against them. Incorrect reports Moreover, the judge expressed dismay over the Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) failure to comply with the court's orders. It has been discovered that incorrect compliance reports were occasionally submitted by the FIA, stating that the accused persons had already left the country, he added. He said that time and again warnings were issued to Director FIA for not deputing “mentally distorted and insufficient persons” in this court for execution of the warrants of arrests. The judge at one stage mentioned that it seems Director FIA has become unconcerned that what is happening in this court and how the prosecution is being conducted.

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