t h e country was recently witnessing a rise in “organised propaganda” against the armed forces based on “false and concocted news
He also said that a false narrative was being propagated against the army and its leadership on social media, where digital terrorists were using tools such as
cell phones, computers, falsehood, and propaganda to impose their will on society “akin to terrorists” Echoing similar sentiments, PM Shehbaz declared a zero-tolerance policy for propaganda against the armed forces
The kind of things being propagated about General Asim Munir and his family on PTI s official website is woeful, something that we have never heard or seen before,” PM Shehbaz said during the meeting “Therefore the time has come for us to become fully cognizant that we will under no circumstances tolerate such actions against our motherland, innocent people, or the armed forces of Pakistan
The prime minister added that the nation needed to unite against “such malicious campaigns” and stressed the
importance of respecting the armed forces for making immense sacrifices in the fight against terrorism to ensure peace and stability in the country
The Prime Minister highlighted a surge in terrorism particularly in KP and Balochistan attributing it to an organized conspiracy involving neighboring countries He emphasized the need for dialogue while denouncing the TTP’s recent attacks and destruction of peace PM Shehbaz also criticized the May 9 gang s attempts to destabilize the country and challenged new tactics targeting citizens and the army He vowed not to tolerate actions undermining national security and stability
The premier also denounced Israel’s actions in Palestine stating that the
deaths of 40,000 Palestinians and the in-
effective UN resolutions against Israel must be strongly condemned
Regarding attacks on Pakistani embassies including a recent incident in Germany and similar events in London
Shebaz expressed deep concern and urged the Foreign Minister to take firm action to ensure that host nations uphold the safety of Pakistani missions
Premier Shehbaz said that the cabinet has approved visa-free entry to businessmen and citizens of friendly countries The approval was given on the recommendation of the Ministry of Interior for visa-free entry to residents of 126 countries
GOVT DECIDED IN PRINCIPLE TO BAN PTI: TARAR Information Minister Atta Tarar in the meantime said at a TV programme on Tuesday said that the government had decided in principle to ban the PTI
Earlier, on July 15, the information minister said the ruling coalition had decided to ban the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) He told a press conference that the federal government would file a case to ban the PTI
The government would keep the current situation in mind before taking a step in this regard, he added
“The PTI and the country cannot go together he categorically stated
The government s earlier stance was that consultations were underway among the ruling allies regarding the decision to ban the opposition party
The PPP seems to on the fence, though it has approached the Supreme Court to challenge the July 12 verdict that awarded reserved seats to the PTI and recognised it as a parliamentary party
ASIAN MARKETS L ACK DIRECTION AS DISAPPOINTING US TECH EARNINGS IMPACT STOCKS; YEN STRENGTHENS
the shareholding between the two companies aiming to enhance the investment opportunities of the enterprise
As per the Scheme of Arrangement, approved by the Board of Engro Corporation on May 17, 2024, DH Corporation Limited shall be demerged into two legal entities whereby all its assets liabilities and obligations other than its investment in the shares of Engro Corp shall vest into a New Company, DH Partners Limited against which DHPL
Granas,
Direction for the government
ON E of the more important moments for the present government came on Tuesday at a meeting of the Export Promotion Board when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif who was chairing the meeting, disclosed the government’s export target for the medium term: doubling them in the next three years, adding $30 billion to the present $30 billion It could well be argued that the steps ordered taken by Mr Sharif were such as merely worked to improve the efficiency of current exports instead of creating the kind of breakthrough that would be necessary for the achievement of the highly ambitious target It should be remembered that so far, the government had not given the kind of target for exports that showed it was serious about dealing with the debt trap Pakistan had got into, which required the kind of forex earnings that the targeted growth seems to require
If indeed the target can be met, then the economy will begin to recover as export industries will need more and more workers to man its factories thus leading to the creation of the sorts of jobs that are needed to handle the youth bulge in the population It should be kept in mind that the IMF, which had taken over the country s economic policy, in exchange for its aid packages had not dealt with the issue of economic growth and job creation nor with the earning of foreign exchange necessary to service its debt Increasing exports meets both issues, for the consequent economic growth will lead to higher revenues for the government as well as make it easier for the government to use those revenues to buy the foreign exchange necessary to service that debt
The devil, as they say, is in the details, and it will be no easy task for the government to increase exports by anywhere near the amount the PM wants Luckily Pakistan’s imports are relatively inelastic which means they will not rise in proportion to increased forex availability However, the government’s attempts to substitute thermal power (based on imported oil) for locally produced renewables will be key, as the country cannot afford to meet
T h e r e l i g i o u s m i n d s e t
Dangers to guard against
PI E T Y especially of the new-found and over-zealous variety comes with several pitfalls For instance, a very high percentage of religious folks of this ilk fail to resist the temptation of looking down in contempt upon those who (in their opinion) have yet to see the light and are therefore (in their view) stuck quite hopelessly in moral depths It takes extraordinary and constant vigilance to guard against it This danger for the religious folks is well-known That many still succumb to it is another matter, however A relatively lesser-known danger that the more zealous amongst the religious folks are prone to; and which I propose to talk about today was summarized best in his characteristically succinct and undiplomatic manner by Prophet Jesus (AS) Addressing scribes and Pharisees he had said: Woe unto you hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone Ye blind guides which strain at a gnat and swallow a camel
[Matthew 23:23-24] One marvels at the fact that despite the many paraphrases and translations that the scriptures have had to suffer the eloquence and the impact of the words Jesus would originally have used to convey the thought are still very much intact Picking and choosing in religion; that is, obsessing about the relatively minor issues while ignoring the fundamental and vital ones has some extremely deep roots in the psychology of men and women who sign up for a cause (for any number of reasons) but are not convinced enough to be quite committed to it They are not willing to put in hard work for any significant improvement in their lives; but at the same time feel that appearances need to be kept up, for themselves if not for others That is where stressing (in an exaggerated and overenthusiastic manner) on minor and insignificant issues comes in so handy as far as they are concerned
Let us consider the Muslims of today who are second to absolutely nobody when it comes to this sort of behaviour To take up an example, the Quran explicitly instructs women not to display their ‘adornments’ to those who have no business seeing them [24:31] The Arabic word (zeenat) has often been mistranslated and misconstrued (especially in the In-
dian subcontinent) to mean the women’s beauty The word actually means anything done to enhance or accentuate a woman’s attractiveness It therefore refers to things such as jewellery and make-up Barring those who take the opposite extreme view– that it is mandatory to cover up everything including the face and the hair–, women for the most part– including the very religious ones– think absolutely nothing of wearing jewellery
C r i c k e t D i p l o m a c y
TUSA as well The love of cricket has become an undeniable part of the country’s social landscape The social and cultural fabric of the country has witnessed cricket as one of the few unifying forces in Pakistani society and its consolidated public support to the nation s pride and unity beyond ethnic, ideological, and cultural social divisions A brief overview of Pakistan s cricket history and the increasing inclination of its sportsmen into politics has further sensitized the public love of cricket Pakistan’s cricket history has shown that the country s common culture has been integrated with the performance of the Pakistan cricket team in international tournaments The love of cricket has penetrated the young generations, and the aspiration to join the national team has become a common passion among youth This situation has resulted in the creation of various cricket clubs and school and street cricket teams across the country School- and university-level cricket teams have become an essential part of their extra-curricular activities under the broader concept of supporting physical fitness activities in the youth In Pakistani education institutions, it is widely believed that participation in sports teams instills a sense of teamwork in young people In short the country has several societal and cultural attributes related to cricket and respect for cricket s victory has been associated with a sense of national pride and societal unity The question of cricket victory has been recognized widely by all segments of Pakistani society as a symbol of national image worldwide In this way international cricket tournaments generally and Pakistan-India matches specifically, have become common celebrations in Pakistan, which often witnessed mass public gatherings and festivity arrangements across the country Akin to Pakistan’s reputation attached to the India-Pakistan match the match with the USA followed similar trends in which the general public was more concerned with the cricket team s performance instead of considering sports as an instrument of diplomatic cooperation between nations The match between both states was an appreciable development enabling them to diversify
their bilateral cooperative bonds However the reaction of Pakistani society has made it a matter of the nation s prestige among the cricketing nations The defeat in the match augmented the existing patterns of anti-Americanism in Pakistani society Without understanding Pakistan’s cricketing strength cemented in the greater values of the soft image in playing a match with the United States the general public translated victory as a serious public concern Thus, it is appropriate to maintain that cricket generates a sense of unity and patriotism in public when the cricket team performs well and secures victory, contrasting to the defeats that offended the general public and let them develop various conspires cemented in illogical explanations with irrational arguments in Pakistan
In this way, the governments of both nations need to realize the expanding wave of anti-US sentiments in Pakistan, which has led the general public to examine various joint PakistanUS cooperative efforts critically Regarding cricket diplomacy the cricket-playing nation Pakistan must promote the positive image of cricket matches and tournaments in the society where public support for sports holds substantial potential for improving the conventional framework of Islamabad’s foreign relations with other nations
In the case of Pakistan-US relations promoting positive visualizations of sports competition between Islamabad and Washington in public could empower Pakistan s government to expand its cultural ties with the US through developing mutual understanding at the political level In this way a shared vision of cricket diplomacy between two states will become an appropriate opportunity for improving bilateral relations while considering it a powerful diplomatic tool to bridge existing societal differences
There is no harm in saying that the cricket diplomacy between Islamabad and Washington could serve both states’ greater interests, which could ultimately support their bilateral vision of economic cooperation and an enhanced framework of people-to-people contacts
The writer is an Assistant Professor Department of International Relations NUML Islamabad He can be reached at arehman@numl edu pk
There is no harm in saying that the cricket diplomacy between Islamabad and Washington could ser ve both statesÊ greater interests, which could ultimately suppor t their bilateral vision of economic cooperation and an enhanced framework of people-to-people contacts
Beyond legislation
hASAn AFtAB SAeeD
Harris vs. Trump: What’s next for Pakistan
TH E divine approval seemed to suddenly turn away from US President Joe Biden after he fumbled lost his words and struggled to maintain the sequence while making points showing visible signs of aging during his debate with Republican challenger Donald Trump Later, he contracted coronavirus, perhaps seen as the final push of the divine to move him out of the president’s slot The “Huma ” the “Bird of Paradise ” which had been protecting his presidency flew away in search of a new abode For the first time it found not a man but a woman of mixed heritage Black and Tamil bestowing her with the strength and charisma to enter the race to become the first-ever female president of the world’s most powerful country in known history
She was nominated by Joe Biden as his successor but this was only half the battle won She still has to pass many tests and cross numerous formidable hurdles to officially secure her position as the Democratic nominee and run for the presidency With the broadest smile exuding confidence and competence she is well-prepared for the challenge but the path ahead is steep with stiff competition from many men with impressive CVs and compelling credentials
However, fate seems to be smiling on her She has already made significant strides towards securing the Democratic nomination for the presidency She has successfully garnered the support of enough Democratic delegates and top Democrats including elected officials, party leaders, and political organizations, have rallied behind her following President Joe Biden’s decision to drop his bid for reelection She has set a new 24-hour record of raising $48 million for
presidential donations and several state delegations including Texas and California have confirmed their support But who is Kamala Harris? Shew was born on 20 October 1964, is a member of the Third Baptist Church of San Francisco, a mixed race with a Black and South Asian heritage Her mother the late Shyamala
Gopalan a PhD was of Indian Tamil descent from Madras (now Chennai) India Her father, Donald Jasper Harris, is of Jamaican descent and is an economist and professor emeritus at Stanford University Kamala has one sibling, a younger sister named Maya Harris who is a lawyer public policy advocate and political analyst and who served as a senior policy advisor to Hillary Clinton s 2016 presidential campaign She is married to Douglas Emhoff, an attorney They got married on 22 August 2014 She does not have biological children but is a stepmother to Emhoff ’s two children from his previous marriage Cole and Ella Emhoff Kamala Harris earned a Juris Doctor (J D ) from the University of California Hastings College of the Law, in 1989 She began her legal career as a deputy district attorney in Alameda County, later serving as San Francisco’s District Attorney from 2004 to 2011 and as California’s Attorney General until 2017 Her career culminated with her election as Vice President alongside President Joe Biden in 2020
Like all countries, Pakistan is closely watching the ups and downs of the U S elections Pakistan, like others, is evaluating both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris for their
expected policies toward Asia South Asia and Pakistan Pakistan has already experienced Trump s presidency, so his policies may not come as a surprise However, Trump had some positive aspects for Pakistan He prioritized counter-terrorism and used military force and economic sanctions to curb terrorism His administration carried out drone strikes and targeted terrorist leaders in Afghanistan and Pakistan In Afghanistan, Trump focused on reducing U S military presence while negotiating with the Taliban, leading to the Doha Agreement aimed at withdrawing U S troops His approach to countries perceived to harbor terrorists involved applying pressure through sanctions and military actions Regarding the Kashmir dispute, Trump generally supported India s position, occasionally offering to mediate between India and Pakistan but his administration was less vocal about human rights concerns in the region Trump s view of Pakistan-China relations was generally wary seeing Pakistan primarily through the lens of counter-terrorism and regional stability rather than as a broader geopolitical partner He strengthened U S -India relations viewing India as a key strategic partner to counterbalance China s influence in the region which sometimes strained U S -Pakistan relations On the other hand Kamala Harris is likely to maintain a strong stance on counterterrorism, emphasizing a combination of military, diplomatic, and economic tools She is expected to support initiatives that enhance regional
and
counter-terrorism efforts In Afghanistan Harris
ensuring
the country
focus
become a haven for terrorists again, emphasizing diplomatic solutions and international cooperation On the Kashmir dispute Harris may take a more balanced approach emphasizing human rights and democratic values She
previously expressed concerns about the
uation in Kashmir, which could lead to a more vocal stance on human rights issues Regarding Pakistan-China relations, Harris is likely to acknowledge their
For Pakistan, this comparison seems to tilt in favour of Kamala Harris becoming President of the USA However, the true test will come once her policies take shape after she assumes office and confronts the ground realities and complexities of g eopolitics She will only realiz e the full impact of the intricate layers of bilateral and multilateral relations after assuming the mantle of power Pakistan may likely be overshadowed by larg er issues such as the Russia-Ukraine war, the China-Taiwan standoff, the trade and innovation war between the U S and China, and the Israel-Gaza conflict to name a few
Twindow when the curfew is called off – the city is tense Curfew was relaxed today, July 22, from 10 am to 5 pm, and offices and banks were open from 11-3 pm The only people who ventured out any distance from home, whether or not they had a curfew pass are people on essential duty Hospital staff journalists fire service people People could be seen in the back streets where there appears to be generally no military or police presence but there are also reports of people being hunted down and killed in alleyways, a source of intense fear The policing is also site-specific The Maghreb azaan
Media owners confide that their headlines are dictated by military intelligence Their own culpability, they conveniently ignore Even the headlines, some say, are dictated by security agencies
The Communist Par ty of Bangladesh has demanded fresh general elections, while Rashtra Sanskar Andolan (Movement for State Reform) has demanded the government’s resignation
Unusual for diplomats, the UN Resident Coordinator had asked the FM about the alleged use of UN-marked armoured personnel carriers and helicopters to suppress protesters
We now have email and WhatsApp access at home, but no YouTube, no Facebook, and no social media My niece, two roads down, has none
The media has largely long stopped behaving as the four th estate and has morphed into a PR network
night that Rocky has been released He has his camera For the moment we know nothing more The brutality of the Bangladesh Police under the instruction of Sheikh Hasina is evident in the shooting of their own unarmed citizens during the student protest News trickles in through our network that anyone taking injured students to hospital, even if they be helpful bystanders, are also getting arrested by plainclothes police Injured students themselves are getting arrested, as soon as they are well enough to be released They don’t always get beaten up or put in jail Sometimes it is just extortion A friend s brother was released upon paying a ransom of Tk one lakh just short of $ 1 000 – a lot of money in Bangladesh Newspapers also report Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus bucking the government narrative with a statement to the international community on Monday “Bangladesh has been engulfed in a crisis that only seems to get worse each passing day High school students have been amongst the victims It is July 23 as I continue writing this essay Local news channels reported last night, July 22, that there had been ‘no untoward incident’, though a friend provides eye witness reports of two students and two passers-by being killed by the police in the Notun Bazar area of Dhaka A young rag picker had been shot dead in a different part of the city She also talks of the smart tanks stationed outside her house in Gulshan The foreign minister Hasan Mahmud had summoned the diplomatic community to brief them on the current situation, with a presentation It didn’t go quite as planned Unusual for diplomats the UN Resident Coordinator had asked the FM about the alleged use of UNmarked armoured personnel carriers and helicopters to suppress protesters The outgoing US Ambassador Peter Haas, who had been instrumental in the US government s sanctions against the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) for its human rights abuses, was the one to respond to the FM, “I am surprised you did not show the footage of police firing at unarmed protesters ” There are dissenting voices among civil society despite the fear and repression Thirty-three eminent citizens have asked the government to apologise unconditionally to citizens for all the deaths of protesters since 16th July The Communist Party of Bangladesh has demanded fresh general elections, while Rashtra Sanskar Andolan (Movement for State Reform) has demanded the government’s resignation Twenty-five women’s rights activists and teachers termed the Supreme Court s verdict on quota system a trap to confuse the ongoing just protests against the fascist government My partner Rahnuma and I are both aware that martyrs do not do good reporting Working with limited resources, along with our wider team of dedicated activists, we have been looking out for each other I have been out on the streets on most occasions Rahnuma being my bodyguard Even in this warlike environment some show solidarity and want updates A few even ask for
selfies, while heavy set Awami League types scowl from a distance Curfew and trigger-happy security forces have made it difficult to visit friends in hospital finding safe homes and getting supplies Finding ways to beat the Internet ban and get messages such as this one out has been far from easy We ve managed so far It is for you readers to take the next steps to freedom
Broadband connection was restored last night i e , July 23 but selectively We now have email and WhatsApp access at home but no YouTube no Facebook and no social media My niece two roads down has none
Meanwhile the spin doctors are working overtime
The students, who were called razaakars (war of liberation collaborators) a week ago, then became komolmoti shishu” (sweet innocent kids) a few days later, and are now “obujh chhatro” (naive students) whom the ‘’dushkritikari o jongi” (miscreants and terrorists) have exploited
The PM met with the business community on Monday afternoon They were concerned about the effect this problem was having on the nation s economy Parts of the discussion was aired on TV The PM absolved the quota protesters of any ill-deeds, they are not the reason the army has been brought in, she reminded us
Strange then that one of the demands by the protestors is that all charges against them be dropped
There is silence about the ongoing arrests of students The spin doctors are working overtime to fit the quota protests which spilled over into a nationwide uprising, into the government s holdall explanation, the BNP-JamaatShibir are responsible ” They will not be spared They are the ones trying to hold back the country and turn back the development process The entire cabinet nods
Some of the party faithfuls come to the podium to hail the PM for her leadership and for thwarting the opposition s evil plans so successfully They assure her that the nation will continue in its glorious journey under her able leadership They would like her to be Prime Minister “for life ” The images of Sheikh Hasina and her father ‘Bangabandhu’ (friend of Bengal) Sheikh Mujibur Rahman plastered along every wall across the country the billboards and banners that litter the countryside the Bangabandhu corner required by law to be present in every library and prominently placed at the airport and all important buildings, collectively create the North Korea-like adulation of the great leader As in North Korea the Bangladeshi leader has total control The Argentinian army’s loss in the Malvinas (Falklands) Islands while a loss for the nation resulted in an unexpected gain It broke the aura of invincibility of the army, which allowed the resistance to build and eventually overthrow the military regime It is one of the few instances where the
THE WIRE S h a h i d u l a l a m
Foreign ministers of China, Uk raine exchange views on Uk raine crisis
for a sound and steady development of ChinaUkraine ties China and Ukraine are friendly countries with their strategic partnership established more than a decade ago, he said The two countries have treated
Ear th breaks hottest day record for second day in a row
LONDON
R e u t e R S
The world again registered its hottest day on record on Monday July 22 inching past Sunday which had just taken the title according to preliminary data from a European Union monitoring agency As heatwaves sizzled around the world and wildfires engulfed parts of the Mediterranean, Russia and Canada, the global average surface air temperature rose to 17 15 degrees Celsius (62 87 degrees Fahrenheit) on Monday That was
0 06 C (0 11 F) higher than Sunday s record according to the EU s Copernicus Climate Change Service, which has tracked such data since 1940
This includes temperatures in the Southern Hemisphere which is currently in winter, bringing down the worldwide average Scientists said it was possible that Tuesday or Wednesday of this week could again surpass Monday’s record as temperature peaks generally happen in clusters
The last record hot day was in July 2023 when the daily peak was broken across four consecutive days from July 3 through 6 Before that, it was set in August 2016 What makes this year ’s record unusual is that unlike in 2023 and 2016 the world in April moved out of the El Nino climate pattern which generally amplifies global temperatures owing to warmerthan-usual waters in the Eastern Pacific Karsten Haustein a climate scientist at Leipzig University in Germany said it was remarkable that the record had been breached again now with the world well into the “neutral” phase of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation
This points to the greater-than-ever influ-
ence of climate change driven by the burning of fossil fuels in boosting global temperatures This past Monday might have set a new global record for warmest absolute global average temperature ever – by that I mean going back tens of thousands of years Haustein said ASIA BOILS China has issued a series of heat alerts this week, with dozens of weather stations in parts of central and northwestern China recording temperatures in excess of 40 C (104 F) The central Chinese city of Wuhan which hosted an international climate change meeting this week issued a heat red alert early on Wednesday after temperatures hit 42 2 C (108 F) a day earlier Taiwan was also bracing for the impact of Typhoon Gaemi on Wednesday with factories and financial markets shut down amid forecasts of torrential rain Wind speeds at its centre were approaching their second highest ever recorded for the Western Pacific Ocean on Wednesday afternoon China’s state weather bureau also issued a typhoon red alert Scientists say climate change is making typhoons – tropical cyclones which gain energy by feeding on ocean heat –more intense capable of reaching greater
wind speeds and dumping more rain Japan too has experienced recordbreaking heat throughout July Heat stroke alerts were issued in 39 of the country’s 47 prefectures on Monday, with temperatures exceeding 37C (99 F) BURNING DOWN More than 40 million Americans on Tuesday were facing dangerous temperatures largely in the US West where wind gusts and dry conditions stoked dozens of wildfires Excessive heat will continue to blanket an area stretching from the US Southwest north through Nevada and into Idaho and Montana over the next two days before milder temperatures
KE's cit ywide crackdown on electricit y theft: 980 FIRs filed
ergy has issued notifications regarding the
the board of directors (BODs) of
BOARDS
s ta f f r e p o r t
The Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights, Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar has launched the Awaz App, a groundbreaking mobile application designed to address and report human rights violations effectively This initiative marks a significant advancement in the country s efforts to enhance the protection and welfare of individuals
The Awaz App is a testament to the Ministry of Human Rights' commitment to utilizing technology for social good, ensuring rapid responses to critical human rights issues The App allows users to report human rights violations including cases of missing or abducted children directly through the platform These reports are immediately forwarded to relevant authorities for redressal
Upon receiving a report, the app activates an Alert System that triggers a coordinated response involving law enforcement, government departments, and community organizations Crucial information about reported incidents is disseminated through various channels including social media WhatsApp groups news outlets and public announcements This approach maximizes public awareness and engagement Law enforcement agencies are mobilized to initiate search operations and investigations to locate missing or abducted individuals promptly The app’s primary objective is to ensure the safe recovery of victims with comprehensive support services provided once
Administrator MCI and other concerned formations The Member Finance provided a detailed briefing on the CDA's fiscal status and revenue generation efforts It was decided that revenue generation status will be presented on a weekly basis detailing both targets and achievements to ensure transparency and accountability Progress on directives issued was shared by all members, reflecting upon the status of these directives Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa emphasized the need for regular oversight by instructing that weekly board meetings be held to track progress and make necessary decisions promptly Several major initiatives were discussed in detailed during the meeting These included the computerization of land and property records, the operationalization of a smart app for essential services and the beautification of the Diplomatic Enclave and parks The Serena Chowk underpass project a one-window operation for customer facilitation and ongoing mega road infrastructure projects were also discussed, signaling the CDA's comprehensive and multi-pronged approach to overall development of Islamabad city This initiatives aim to streamline CDA's operations boost revenue generation and expedite development projects across Islamabad
underscored Haleon's commitment
moting self-care through
brands which are known for their foundation in science innovation and a deep understanding of basic human necessities The event featured interactive brand sessions and expert panel discussions creating an immersive environment for attendees to experience the benefits of self-care firsthand Haleon, the maker of wellknown brands such as Sensodyne, Panadol, CAC1000 Plus, Voltral, Eno Paradontax Hydrozole T-Day
and Qalsium-D, showcased its dedication towards enhancing the quality of life through effective healthcare solutions Each brand session provided valuable insights into how Haleon supports self-care while also emphasizing the role of reliable and innovative healthcare products accessibility for all Farhan M Haroon CEO & General Manager of Haleon Pakistan shared his vision for the future of self-care in the country Speaking at the event, Farhan said, Empowering
ISLAMABAD
fore courts
During a meeting held late Monday, CM Gandapur addressed the concerns of the Bannu jirga members He clarified the InterServices Public Relations (ISPR) position on
Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, describing it as a strategic approach rather than a conventional military operation
“The ISPR has clarified that Azm-e-Istehkam is a strategy to combat terrorism and extremism Gandapur informed the jirga members
The jirga s demands will be presented to the apex committee in a meeting expected tomorrow The session will outline the terms of reference (ToRs) for establishing a committee to investigate the Bannu incident according to sources
The forthcoming apex committee meeting will include K-P chief secretary, additional secretary home, corps commander Peshawar, K-P inspector general (IG), and other senior officials
It is worth noting that several political parties including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F)
Awami National Party (ANP), and Jamaate-Islami (JI), had expressed concerns over
the launch of the new operation, urging the authorities to consult parliament
ISPR Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry emphasised during a press conference in Rawalpindi that Azm-e-Istehkam is a comprehensive counter-terrorism campaign, not a military operation
Detailing the new counterterrorism strategy, Gandapur informed the jirga that the KP police and the CTD would conduct search operations with security forces providing support as needed The provincial police will handle actions against armed individuals and increase patrolling duties
The CM also announced measures to strengthen the police and CTD in Bannu,
dapur assured the
‘IT WAS FALSE FL AG OPERATION’
Imran rebuts claims on inciting GHQ protests on M ay 9
extended the
Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC)
remand of
Shah Mehmood Qureshi for 12
cases about May 9
days in
court ordered the police to submit challan of the case by August 5 Due to security concerns, Qureshi was not produced in court, and the prosecution requested a proceeding without his presence The court allowed the proceeding without Qureshi’s presence and marked through a video WhatsApp call Earlier the PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi was sent on judicial remand over alleged involvement in May 9 riots The court after rejecting the plea to extend the physical remand sent the PTI leader to judicial remand under police custody for 14 days Qureshi, who is already in jail, was interrogated in Adiala Jail during his physical remand period It is to be noted that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had acquitted former prime minister Imran Khan and PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi in cypher case IHC Chief Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb announced the verdict on the pleas challenging their conviction in the Cypher Case In January this year, PTI founder and party’s vice-chairman were sentenced to 10 years each in prison in Cypher Case However the two are not expected to be released from prison due to Imran s arrest in a new Toshakhana reference and Qureshi s arrest in May 9 cases
PTI-led opposition alliance announces countr y-wide protest on Friday ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led opposition alliance announced a country-wide protest on Friday for the release of innocent prisoners including the party founder Imran Khan Speaking to media persons after a meeting of the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-eAyen, the PTI-led opposition alliance, former Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser said that they would be holding peaceful protest demonstrations across the country on Friday He said that they are protesting for the three prime demands including the end of sky-rocketed inflation, the establishment of peace, and the release of the PTI founder and all other political prisoners who have been behind the bars in ‘fabricated’ cases “The incumbent federal government enjoys a fake mandate ” Asad Qaiser added Speaking on the occasion Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai claimed that Imran Khan is the most popular leader in Pakistan at present The PkMAP chief vowed to struggle for the release of all political prisoners, including the PTI founder “The entire nation is requested to participate in the protests for the great cause Mahmood Khan Achakzai added The PkMAP chief said that they are ready to take every step to take Pakistan out of crises Majlis Wahdat-eMuslimeen (MWM) Chiarman Allama Raja Nasir Abbas said that the government is mulling to impose Article 6 against the PTI founder
Incarcerated founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)
Imran Khan on Wednesday rebutted the narrative being created to link him with inciting the public to protest at General Headquarters (GHQ) during the May 9 riots In a statement released on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) the former premier clarified that there has never been an instance of violent protests in the nearly three-decade history of PTI Over the past two and a half years, the worst tactics were used against PTI to incite violence,” he added In November 2022 he said that there was an assassination attempt on him and even his request for an FIR of his choice was denied
The former prime minister further revealed that his residence was attacked twice by military personnel On one occasion, during his court appearance, there was a deliberate plan to assassinate him by deploying plainclothes individuals, he added On May 9 he explained that the masses were incited by the humiliating abduction of a former prime minister and the leader of Pakistan s largest and most popular political party which could have led to a major incident
He added that PTI s political training does not include elements of violence and the party believes in political, constitutional, and legal struggles
Imran Khan said that May 9 was a false flag operation “Those who stole the CCTV footage of May 9 are the real culprits of that day Their intellect is such that they compare the May 9 incident to the Capitol Hill protest in the USA where a thorough investigation and review of CCTV footage led to the punishment of only those involved, without implicating the entire Republican Party,” he added
A day earlier Senator Faisal Vawda accused PTI founder Imran Khan of being responsible of prevailing political instability claiming that former DG Inter-Services Intelligence Lt-Gen (r) Faiz Hameed had provided tangle evidence, linking Khan to vandalism and riots on May 9 I cannot champion law and democracy when multiple cases are pending against me in courts Some time ago, I revealed that Imran Khan’s close associate, Faiz Hameed provided evidence of Khan’s involvement in the May 9 vandalism revealed Vawda during an interview with a private TV channel
To a question if Faiz Hameed had advised the protest at GHQ on May 9, the ex-minister clarified, This was not Faiz Hameed s suggestion, rather Imran Khan was part of the entire scheme ” Vawda claimed that Imran had admitted to directing his supporters to march towards GHQ elaborating that parties like PML-N PPP JUI-F and MQM-P had also clashed with the establishment in the past but eventually sat down for negotiations
Justice M inallah wishes cour ts remain open to mar tial law threats
ISLAMABAD
S ta f f
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Supreme Court of Pakistan’s Justice Athar Minallah on Wednesday expressed the desire for courts to remain open whenever there is a threat of martial law in the country which has experienced three martial laws
In his address at an event of the New York City Bar Association, Justice Minallah said: I wish every time there s a threat of martial law, the courts remain open
The judge’s response came in response to a question, when a participant in the event asked him why did he open the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on April 9 2022 at midnight the day when former prime minister Imran Khan was ousted from power Justice Minallah criticised certain television channels for creating an environment suggestive of imminent martial law in Pakistan, although he refrained from naming any specific channels
“A martial law atmosphere is being created I don’t want to name the TV channel but it is making it seem as if martial law is about to be imposed he remarked
Reflecting on historical events he lamented that the courts were not open on key dates when martial laws were imposed The nation has seen a total of three martial laws 1958–1971, 1977–1988, 1999–2008 spanning decades since its independence in 1947
The judge who served as the IHC chief justice from 2018-2022 told the participant that when he was appointed to the high-ranking office he issued a circular
that the high court would operate 24/7 “1,400 benefited from that circular Nobody knows about them because they were not political people they were ordinary people Only the Islamabad High Court did that The high court was open for everyone Justice Minallah said I wish the courts were open on 12 October 1999, when Pervez Musharraf ousted the elected prime minister I wish the courts were open on 5 July 1977, when Ziaul Haq removed the elected prime minister ” he said “A private television] channel created a situation as if martial law is going to be imposed the senior jurist said about the news being aired amid the session on the noconfidence motion against then-PM Khan in April 2022 If anyone had attempted to remove unconstitutionally an elected prime minister till then, Imran Khan, then it would have been a test of the Islamabad High Court, whether it stands to uphold the Constitution
