Inflation rate highest since Great Recession

The consumer price in Pakistan rose to nearly 25% in July – the highest surge since October 2008 – as people suffered from the double-edged sword of food and energy prices with transport inflation peaking to a record 65%. The annual inflation rate increased to 24.9% in July 2022, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistic reported on Monday, beating the expectations of the Ministry of Finance that four days ago had projected around 21% inflation. It was the highest increase in consumer prices since October 2008 amid a steep slide in the value of the rupee that slipped to a record low of Rs239 to a dollar. This will contribute to a big price shock which will be felt in the coming months. Transport prices recorded the biggest increase of nearly 65% on back of petrol prices that saw 94.4% increase in urban areas and almost 100% in rural areas, followed by food and non-alcoholic beverages. The monthly inflation rate jumped 4.3% in July over June–probably the second highest increase in a single month in the history of Pakistan. Amid skyrocketing prices, the government on Sunday directed the Federal Board of Revenue to prepare a mini-budget of Rs30 billion to compensate the supplementary grant of the same value that the Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet approved for the Pakistan State Oil. However, the people no more have the capacity to bear the burden of additional taxes, as they have been forced to pay record petrol, electricity and gas prices in addition to an increase in their tax burden in the budget. The core inflation, calculated after excluding the volatile energy and food prices, also surged to 12% last month in urban areas and 14.6% in rural areas, which may become an excuse for the State Bank of Pakistan to further increase the interest rates. The government committed with the International Monetary Fund to keep the real interest rates positive. The PBS reported that the CPI-based inflation rate increased to 23.6% in urban areas –a jump of another 3.8% in a single month. In villages and towns, the inflation rate skyrocketed to nearly 27% -- an increase of 3.3% in just one month. The constant double-digit inflation in the country has eroded the people’s purchasing power and the decision to slap more taxes may now force them to reprioritise their expenses from health and education to meet essential food needs. The pace of food inflation surged to 27.4% from 24% a month ago in cities and to nearly 30% in villages and towns last month, according to the PBS. The real cost of inflation is on political stability and high inflation can cause a serious damage to social stability, according to the KTrade Securities. The most famous example of course is Germany post-WW-I. Even the recent Arab Spring was caused by high food inflation, it added. The prices of both non-perishable and perishable food products increased significantly last month. The food group prices surged over 29% in July compared to the same month a year ago. Prices of perishable food items increased 33%, according to the PBS. The low-middle and middle-income groups started crumbling under an unbearable increase in the cost of living. The SBP had increased the key policy rate to 15% to curb inflation and correct external sector imbalances. The central bank so far failed to contain inflation despite almost doubling the interest rates. The federal government set the inflation target at 11.5% for this fiscal year but the SBP distanced itself from the official target, saying that the inflation may remain in the range of 18% to 20% during the current fiscal year. The prices of all essential products seemed to slip out of the control of authorities, particularly crucial kitchen items like edible oil. The prices of onions jumped 100% last month compared to a year ago, followed by a 90% increase in the rates of pulses in the rural areas and 83% for various types of ghee and cooking oil, according to the PBS. The rates of petrol were almost double in June over a year ago, followed by 87% increase in prices of electricity. The alcoholic beverages and tobacco group prices soared 22.5%, clothing and footwear 14.6%, housing, water, electricity and gas fuels group prices surged 22% and transport 65%. The cost of hotels also increased 25% last month, according to the PBS.

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Memorial summer camp concludes

The eight-day summer camp organised to pay tributes to SHO Imran Abbas, who was killed in a targeted killing by criminals in Rawalpindi, concluded on Monday. Racecourse Police Station SHO Mian Imran Abbas was killed on March 07 last year. The SHO along with his wife, and their four children was heading towards the Civil Lines area after having a dinner at a nearby hotel. On their way, two unidentified motorcycle riders opened fire at them, killing SHO Imran on the spot. The speakers paid rich tributes to the martyred SHO at the closing ceremony which was also attended by Imran's widow and his four children. A documentary on his martyrdom was also screened. The children displayed superb judo-karate and self-defense skills during the closing ceremony. Speaking at the event, SP Headquarters Rawalpindi Police Malik Tariq Mehboob said stated that Imran Abbas was a tremendous example of bravery and heroism in the police service, and his father, Mian Abbas, who was also a police officer, had died on duty as well. According to SHO Aizaz Azeem, Mian Imran Abbas had always worked hard in the field to eradicate criminals. The widow of the martyred SHO said that she received a lot of support in the wake of her husband's martyrdom, and her kids have shown a desire to follow in their father’s footsteps. The eldest son of the martyred SHO, nine-year-old Muhammad Ibrahim Imran, expressed pride in the death of his father as a martyr. He shared his desire to follow in his father's footsteps by joining the police force and serving with courage and bravery. Eight-year-old, Muhammad Ahmed Imran, said he would join the police service by passing CSS. Similarly, eight-year-old Hadiya Imran and six-year-old Zamar Imran, both daughters of the martyred SHO, said that they aim to become military doctors after completing their studies. Furthermore, the mother of martyred SHO, Imran Abbas, praised her son for being courageous, kind, and constantly displaying the spirit of goodness and kindness at the ceremony. She also stated that, in the police force, my husband Mian Abbas too died as a martyr. “I wasn't aware that my son would depart from us this soon and that my daughter-in-law would also become a widow just like me,” she said. The widow of the martyred SHO said that following her husband's martyrdom, her children have developed new levels of bravery. My sons have decided to join the police department with courage and bravery like their martyred father and grandfather, and her daughter's desire to become military doctors, makes her feel very proud. Ensuring their success has become her life's mission, she added.   Published in The Express Tribune, August 2nd, 2022.

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US drone strike kills al Qaeda chief Zawahiri in Afghanistan

The US conducted a "successful" counterterrorism operation against a "significant" al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Afghanistan over the weekend, a senior administration official said. President Biden on Monday night at 7:30pm ET is expected to address the nation from the White House on the operation. "Over the weekend, the United States conducted a counterterrorism operation against a significant al Qaeda target in Afghanistan," the senior administration official told Fox News on Monday. "The operation was successful and there were no civilian casualties." Two intelligence sources told Fox News Zawahiri was killed in the CIA drone strike. In reaction to the news of the operation, former vice president Dick Cheney told Fox News Digital that it was good that they got him. “I've been out of the business for many years, so I am waiting to learn all the facts.” Also read: Al Qaeda chief appears in 9/11 anniversary video amid death rumours Cheney served under former president George W Bush, whose administration led the Global War on Terror after the attacks on Sept 11, 2001. The Biden administration closed the US Embassy in Kabul and withdrew all military assets from Afghanistan on Aug 31, 2021, ending the United States' longest war. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Mark Milley, last September, warned lawmakers that terror groups like al Qaeda may be able to grow much faster following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, at the time, said that the focus of continued US military efforts in Afghanistan would be countering terrorist threats, not the Taliban. Austin said the US would "keep an eye on" al Qaeda, the extremist network whose use of Afghanistan as a haven for planning the 9/11 attacks on the United States was the reason US forces invaded Afghanistan in 2001. Zawahiri appeared in a video last year commemorating 20 years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks despite rumours that he died months earlier. Zawahiri was appointed the successor to Osama bin Laden in June 2011, a month after the terrorist leader was shot and killed by US forces at a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

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Prohibited funding case: Fingers crossed as ECP pronounces ruling today

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday (today) will hand down its much-awaited ruling in the prohibited funding case that has been looming over the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for eight years, as the party continues to voice its misgivings over the "biased" handling of the case proceedings by the top election supervisory body. A three-member bench of the ECP will announce the verdict — reserved in June earlier this year — at 10am today, according to the top electoral body’s cause list issued on Monday. Will ECP disqualify PTI? With the ECP’s ruling hours away, legal experts weigh in on the relevant laws regulating the funding of political parties, reckoning that in case prohibited funding is proved, PTI will still escape disqualification. Article 6(3) of the Political Parties Act 2002 is very relevant in the case. The provisions say: "any contribution made, directly or indirectly, by any foreign government, multi-national or domestically incorporated public or private company, firm, trade or professional association shall be prohibited and the parties may accept contributions and donations only from individuals". Also read:  PTI set to file ‘judicial reference’ against CEC over ‘unlawful’ meeting According to the provision, there is no bar for individuals to donate funds to a political party. Interestingly, there is no allegation that the PTI received funds from any other state institution or agency. Likewise, the Election Act 2017 will not be applicable to the PTI case. The party accounts that are being scrutinised pertain to the year preceding 2013. SC judgment on foreign funding The Supreme Court has already discussed in detail the question of foreign funding in its 2017 judgment on a petition filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi, who had sought the disqualification of Imran Khan. The SC bench led by the former chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar, while making a distinction between a ‘foreign aided’ party and ‘prohibited funding’, referred to the case on December 16, 2017, to the ECP for a probe. The judgment noted that it is the duty of the ECP to scrutinise accounts of political parties on the touchstone of Article 6(3) of the PPO read in the light of Article 17(3) of the Constitution. Also read: 'PTI directly benefited from foreign funding' PML-N’s counsel Akram Sheikh had submitted that the PTI is a ‘foreign-aided’ political party in terms of Article 2(c) (iii) of the Political Parties Ordinance (PPO) 2002 as it received contributions prohibited under Article 6(3) thereof read with Article 17(3) of the Constitution. He had argued that despite the above-stated position, Imran Khan personally issued certificates to the ECP in terms of Article 13(2) of the PPO to the effect that PTI “does not receive funds from prohibited sources”, meaning thereby that it is not a foreign-aided political party. These certificates make a misdeclaration of fact and thus the Respondent (Imran Khan) has proven himself to be not sagacious, righteous or honest. “He is, therefore, liable to be disqualified from holding elective office or being elected thereto under Articles 62(1) (f) and (g), and 63(1)(p) of the Constitution,” he had said. However, the apex court in its judgment had noted that it is not the case that the PTI was formed or organised at the instance of any government or political party of a foreign country or is affiliated to or associated with any government or political party of a foreign country, or receives any aid, financial or otherwise, from any government or political party of a foreign country. Rather, the allegation is that the PTI has been receiving financial contributions and/or a portion of its funds from foreign nationals as not only the directors of the PTI USA LLC are American citizens, but contributions have been collected from individuals and the companies that are admittedly foreign nationals. What if a party is foreign-aided? The judgment had noted that under the 1962 Act, ‘foreign aided’ political party means a party which has been formed or organised at the instance of any government or political party of a foreign country; or is affiliated to or associated with any government or political party of a foreign country; or receives any aid, financial or otherwise, from any government or political party of a foreign. It stated that where the federal government is satisfied that a political party is a foreign-aided party or has been formed or is operating in a manner prejudicial to the sovereignty or integrity of Pakistan or is indulging in terrorism, it shall make such declaration by notification in the official gazette. “Within fifteen days of making a declaration under Clause (1), the federal government shall refer the matter to the SC whose decision on such reference shall be final. Where the Supreme Court upholds the declaration made against a political party under Clause (1), such party shall stand dissolved forthwith. In case of prohibited funding The court had declared that any contribution or donation which is prohibited under the PPO shall be confiscated in favour of the state in the manner as may be prescribed. It had also referred to the relevant law, which says where the ECP decides that the contributions or donations, as the case may be, accepted by the political parties are prohibited under Clause (3) of Article 6, it shall, subject to notice to the party and after giving an opportunity of being heard, direct the same to be confiscated in favour of the state to be deposited in government treasury or sub-treasury. During the hearing on August 1, 2017, former CJP Nisar observed that the penal consequence of a collection of funds through prohibited sources is confiscation and not disqualification of the party’s chief. However, PML-N counsel Akram Sheikh had referred to the Arshad Lodhi case judgment in which a parliamentarian was disqualified for submitting a false affidavit. Legal experts believe that after the Khawaja Muhammad Asif case, new jurisprudence has evolved wherein the courts examine the intention of any lawmaker before giving a declaration under Article 62 (1)(f) of the Constitution, whose punishment is a lifetime disqualification The court in the Khawaja Asif case laid down an ‘objective criteria’ to test the honesty of lawmakers by declaring that Article 62(1)(f) cannot be applied to every omission or non-disclosure of assets. “Mere omission to list an asset cannot be labelled as dishonesty unless some wrongdoing is associated with its acquisition or retention which is duly established in judicial proceedings,” said the judgment authored by Justice Faisal Arab. Chaudhry Faisal Hussain advocate, who has appeared on behalf of PTI in this case, also said it is not a foreign funding case but a prohibited funding case and both have different penal consequences. He said similar allegations of getting funds through prohibited sources are being faced by other major political parties. Therefore, the ECP must also examine the details of their accounts. In the Faisal Vawda case, the court is also examining whether ECP is the court of law to issue a declaration under Article 62 (1) (f) of the Constitution. If it is established that PTI received funds through prohibited sources then only a show cause would be issued to explain its position. As the PTI brace for the ruling – that could potentially tank its political fortunes – with bated breath, it is anticipated that even if the case is over and done, the consequences would only be beginning as Imran Khan ups the ante against the electoral body he has accused of bias and renews calls for fresh protests against it on the eve of verdict's announcement. Nonetheless, the beleaguered coalition government, smarting from a shocking defeat in Punjab at the hands of the former ruling party they muscled out from power just three months ago, has indicated they are not ready to rest on their laurels, adamant on turning the case into 'political albatross' for the PTI. On the other hand, the PTI has denied the funds it raised were underhanded or illegal and has stressed that all other political parties should also be investigated for foreign funding, deploring the “discriminatory” treatment meted out to it. It should be noted that the foreign funding case was filed by PTI founding member Akbar S Babar, who is no longer part of the party, alleging serious financial irregularities in the PTI’s funding from Pakistan and abroad. On January 4 this year, an ECP scrutiny committee report unearthed that the PTI had concealed several accounts and around Rs310 million between 2008 and 2013 from the electoral body. It had further disclosed that the party had received $44,000 from 88 foreign donors during this period. The undisclosed accounts have been mentioned in a report by the State Bank of Pakistan. The scrutiny committee had also included its analysis of the bank accounts in the report. Govt presses ECP to give verdict The development came as constituent parties of the coalition government led by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had been calling upon the ECP to announce the verdict in the case at the earliest. Leaders of the ruling coalition from the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Friday met senior officials of the ECP, including the chief election commissioner (CEC), in an effort to convince the electoral body to announce its verdict reserved in the prohibited funding case involving the PTI. Addressing a news conference after the meeting, PML-N leader and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that the joint delegation spoke with the ECP officials, urging them to “decide the case of prohibited foreign funding as soon as possible”. “The prohibited funding case has been ongoing for eight years,” he had said. “The election law says that if a party takes money from a foreign individual, it has to be declared.” Subsequently, the PTI announced to file a ‘judicial reference’ against CEC Sikander Sultan Raja and other members of the ECP for allegedly violating the code of conduct. Imran announces 'peaceful protest' outside ECP Meanwhile, PTI chief and former prime minister Imran Khan continued his tirade against the electoral body Monday and announced to hold a peaceful protest outside of the ECP on Thursday, demanding Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja’s resignation. Addressing the members at the PTI's national council meeting in the federal capital, he demanded that the election commission refrains from conducting the next general elections under any circumstances. The party chairperson said that he will hold elections within his party after the general elections to ensure meritocracy. The former prime minister said that he wanted electronic voting machines (EVMs) for free and fair elections but the chief election commissioner (CEC) tried every way possible to sabotage it. "The ruling parties disagreed with holding elections through EVMs because they wanted to rig the elections. Before the by-elections in Punjab, our party was the only one preparing to stop the polls from getting rigged," he added. A day earlier, the PTI chief had a day earlier formally directed his legal team to initiate the process of filing the reference against the CEC and ECP members for meeting a delegation of the ruling alliance and discussing the prohibited funding case against PTI with them.

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Prohibited funding case: Fingers crossed as ECP pronounces ruling today

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday (today) will hand down its much-awaited ruling in the prohibited funding case that has been looming over the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for eight years, as the party continues to voice its misgivings over the "biased" handling of the case proceedings by the top election supervisory body. A three-member bench of the ECP will announce the verdict — reserved in June earlier this year — at 10am today, according to the top electoral body’s cause list issued on Monday. Will ECP disqualify PTI? With the ECP’s ruling hours away, legal experts weigh in on the relevant laws regulating the funding of political parties, reckoning that in case prohibited funding is proved, PTI will still escape disqualification. Article 6(3) of the Political Parties Act 2002 is very relevant in the case. The provisions say: "any contribution made, directly or indirectly, by any foreign government, multi-national or domestically incorporated public or private company, firm, trade or professional association shall be prohibited and the parties may accept contributions and donations only from individuals". Also read:  PTI set to file ‘judicial reference’ against CEC over ‘unlawful’ meeting According to the provision, there is no bar for individuals to donate funds to a political party. Interestingly, there is no allegation that the PTI received funds from any other state institution or agency. Likewise, the Election Act 2017 will not be applicable to the PTI case. The party accounts that are being scrutinised pertain to the year preceding 2013. SC judgment on foreign funding The Supreme Court has already discussed in detail the question of foreign funding in its 2017 judgment on a petition filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi, who had sought the disqualification of Imran Khan. The SC bench led by the former chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar, while making a distinction between a ‘foreign aided’ party and ‘prohibited funding’, referred to the case on December 16, 2017, to the ECP for a probe. The judgment noted that it is the duty of the ECP to scrutinise accounts of political parties on the touchstone of Article 6(3) of the PPO read in the light of Article 17(3) of the Constitution. Also read: 'PTI directly benefited from foreign funding' PML-N’s counsel Akram Sheikh had submitted that the PTI is a ‘foreign-aided’ political party in terms of Article 2(c) (iii) of the Political Parties Ordinance (PPO) 2002 as it received contributions prohibited under Article 6(3) thereof read with Article 17(3) of the Constitution. He had argued that despite the above-stated position, Imran Khan personally issued certificates to the ECP in terms of Article 13(2) of the PPO to the effect that PTI “does not receive funds from prohibited sources”, meaning thereby that it is not a foreign-aided political party. These certificates make a misdeclaration of fact and thus the Respondent (Imran Khan) has proven himself to be not sagacious, righteous or honest. “He is, therefore, liable to be disqualified from holding elective office or being elected thereto under Articles 62(1) (f) and (g), and 63(1)(p) of the Constitution,” he had said. However, the apex court in its judgment had noted that it is not the case that the PTI was formed or organised at the instance of any government or political party of a foreign country or is affiliated to or associated with any government or political party of a foreign country, or receives any aid, financial or otherwise, from any government or political party of a foreign country. Rather, the allegation is that the PTI has been receiving financial contributions and/or a portion of its funds from foreign nationals as not only the directors of the PTI USA LLC are American citizens, but contributions have been collected from individuals and the companies that are admittedly foreign nationals. What if a party is foreign-aided? The judgment had noted that under the 1962 Act, ‘foreign aided’ political party means a party which has been formed or organised at the instance of any government or political party of a foreign country; or is affiliated to or associated with any government or political party of a foreign country; or receives any aid, financial or otherwise, from any government or political party of a foreign. It stated that where the federal government is satisfied that a political party is a foreign-aided party or has been formed or is operating in a manner prejudicial to the sovereignty or integrity of Pakistan or is indulging in terrorism, it shall make such declaration by notification in the official gazette. “Within fifteen days of making a declaration under Clause (1), the federal government shall refer the matter to the SC whose decision on such reference shall be final. Where the Supreme Court upholds the declaration made against a political party under Clause (1), such party shall stand dissolved forthwith. In case of prohibited funding The court had declared that any contribution or donation which is prohibited under the PPO shall be confiscated in favour of the state in the manner as may be prescribed. It had also referred to the relevant law, which says where the ECP decides that the contributions or donations, as the case may be, accepted by the political parties are prohibited under Clause (3) of Article 6, it shall, subject to notice to the party and after giving an opportunity of being heard, direct the same to be confiscated in favour of the state to be deposited in government treasury or sub-treasury. During the hearing on August 1, 2017, former CJP Nisar observed that the penal consequence of a collection of funds through prohibited sources is confiscation and not disqualification of the party’s chief. However, PML-N counsel Akram Sheikh had referred to the Arshad Lodhi case judgment in which a parliamentarian was disqualified for submitting a false affidavit. Legal experts believe that after the Khawaja Muhammad Asif case, new jurisprudence has evolved wherein the courts examine the intention of any lawmaker before giving a declaration under Article 62 (1)(f) of the Constitution, whose punishment is a lifetime disqualification The court in the Khawaja Asif case laid down an ‘objective criteria’ to test the honesty of lawmakers by declaring that Article 62(1)(f) cannot be applied to every omission or non-disclosure of assets. “Mere omission to list an asset cannot be labelled as dishonesty unless some wrongdoing is associated with its acquisition or retention which is duly established in judicial proceedings,” said the judgment authored by Justice Faisal Arab. Chaudhry Faisal Hussain advocate, who has appeared on behalf of PTI in this case, also said it is not a foreign funding case but a prohibited funding case and both have different penal consequences. He said similar allegations of getting funds through prohibited sources are being faced by other major political parties. Therefore, the ECP must also examine the details of their accounts. In the Faisal Vawda case, the court is also examining whether ECP is the court of law to issue a declaration under Article 62 (1) (f) of the Constitution. If it is established that PTI received funds through prohibited sources then only a show cause would be issued to explain its position. As the PTI brace for the ruling – that could potentially tank its political fortunes – with bated breath, it is anticipated that even if the case is over and done, the consequences would only be beginning as Imran Khan ups the ante against the electoral body he has accused of bias and renews calls for fresh protests against it on the eve of verdict's announcement. Nonetheless, the beleaguered coalition government, smarting from a shocking defeat in Punjab at the hands of the former ruling party they muscled out from power just three months ago, has indicated they are not ready to rest on their laurels, adamant on turning the case into 'political albatross' for the PTI. On the other hand, the PTI has denied the funds it raised were underhanded or illegal and has stressed that all other political parties should also be investigated for foreign funding, deploring the “discriminatory” treatment meted out to it. It should be noted that the foreign funding case was filed by PTI founding member Akbar S Babar, who is no longer part of the party, alleging serious financial irregularities in the PTI’s funding from Pakistan and abroad. On January 4 this year, an ECP scrutiny committee report unearthed that the PTI had concealed several accounts and around Rs310 million between 2008 and 2013 from the electoral body. It had further disclosed that the party had received $44,000 from 88 foreign donors during this period. The undisclosed accounts have been mentioned in a report by the State Bank of Pakistan. The scrutiny committee had also included its analysis of the bank accounts in the report. Govt presses ECP to give verdict The development came as constituent parties of the coalition government led by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had been calling upon the ECP to announce the verdict in the case at the earliest. Leaders of the ruling coalition from the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Friday met senior officials of the ECP, including the chief election commissioner (CEC), in an effort to convince the electoral body to announce its verdict reserved in the prohibited funding case involving the PTI. Addressing a news conference after the meeting, PML-N leader and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that the joint delegation spoke with the ECP officials, urging them to “decide the case of prohibited foreign funding as soon as possible”. “The prohibited funding case has been ongoing for eight years,” he had said. “The election law says that if a party takes money from a foreign individual, it has to be declared.” Subsequently, the PTI announced to file a ‘judicial reference’ against CEC Sikander Sultan Raja and other members of the ECP for allegedly violating the code of conduct. Imran announces 'peaceful protest' outside ECP Meanwhile, PTI chief and former prime minister Imran Khan continued his tirade against the electoral body Monday and announced to hold a peaceful protest outside of the ECP on Thursday, demanding Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja’s resignation. Addressing the members at the PTI's national council meeting in the federal capital, he demanded that the election commission refrains from conducting the next general elections under any circumstances. The party chairperson said that he will hold elections within his party after the general elections to ensure meritocracy. The former prime minister said that he wanted electronic voting machines (EVMs) for free and fair elections but the chief election commissioner (CEC) tried every way possible to sabotage it. "The ruling parties disagreed with holding elections through EVMs because they wanted to rig the elections. Before the by-elections in Punjab, our party was the only one preparing to stop the polls from getting rigged," he added. A day earlier, the PTI chief had a day earlier formally directed his legal team to initiate the process of filing the reference against the CEC and ECP members for meeting a delegation of the ruling alliance and discussing the prohibited funding case against PTI with them.

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Cop's nose, lips chopped off in Jhang over 'spreading woman's objectionable video'

A police official's nose and lips were chopped off in Punjab's Jhang district over allegations of spreading an objectionable video of a woman to the entire village. According to BBC Urdu, the man was rushed to the Civil Hospital Jhang where the medico-legal officer (MLO) confirmed police constable Qasim Hayat has got 13 wounds. However, his condition is said to be out of danger. District Police Officer (DPO) Jhang Rashid Hidayat said that the husband and son of the woman were among three suspects who have been arrested. There are allegations on the police constable that he had shared an objectionable video of the woman and a case is also pending against him in this regard, he said, adding that Rashid was suspended from his duties. Rashid said that an investigation was underway against Qasim when the suspects took the law into their hands and badly tortured the police constable. Read more: Four arrested for harassing, blackmailing woman in Karachi As per the first information report (FIR), the police constable allegedly had relations with the woman and he had threatened her that he would kill her son if she refused to meet him. It stated that when the woman met Qasim, he forcefully made an objectionable video of the woman, later blackmailing her but when she stopped paying money, the policeman spread the video to the entire village. After the video went viral, a case was registered on the complaint of the woman's son at a local police station. The police include Sections 354, 384 and 292 of the Pakistan Penal Code. However, he was not arrested. Also read: Two booked for sharing obscene video of elderly man A police spokesperson said that the suspect had acquired a pre-arrest bail from a local court and the investigation about the sharing of the video was underway. A cousin of the police official Tahir Imran said that the investigation so far has not been able to prove that Qasim had shared the video, adding that his cousin was attacked despite being on bail. He further said that both parties are neighbours and suspected that the cause of the conflict might be something else as it is often the case in rural areas.

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Army helicopter with six on board including Quetta corps commander goes missing

A Pakistan Army aviation helicopter – which was on flood relief operations in Lasbela, Balochistan – went missing after it lost contact with air traffic control (ATC), the military said in a statement on Monday. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said as many as six individuals were on board including Commander 12 Corps Lieutenant General Sarfraz Ali, who was supervising flood relief operations in Balochistan. “Search operation is underway,” it added. A Pakistan army aviation helicopter which was on flood relief operations in Lasbela, Balochistan lost contact with ATC. 6 individuals were on board including Commander 12 Corps who was supervising flood relief operations in Balochistan. Search operation is underway.DTF — DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) August 1, 2022   The armed forces teams’ rescue and relief operations were underway across the country including in the flood-hit areas of Balochistan as the province’s death toll from devastating floods rose to 149 including 46 children on Monday. According to a report released by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, a total of 13,535 houses have collapsed or are partially damaged due to the ongoing heavy rains and floods. The rains and flood have also severely affected six highways covering 640 kilometres. Moreover, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed concerns over the disappearance of the military helicopter. “The entire nation is praying to Allah Almighty for the safety, security and return of these sons of the country who were out to help the flood victims,” the premier wrote on his official Twitter handle. بلوچستان سے آرمی ایوی ایشن کے ہیلی کاپٹر کی گمشدگی تشویشناک ہے۔ پوری قوم اللہ تعالیٰ کے حضور سیلاب متاثرین کی مدد پر نکلنے والے وطن کے ان بیٹوں کی سلامتی، حفاظت اور بخیریت واپسی کے لئے دعا گو ہے۔ ان شاءاللہ — Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) August 1, 2022 (This is a breaking story. More details will follow shortly. Please refresh the page for the updated version)

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