for nationwide protests against alleged political victimization and demanded the release of former premier Imran Khan Despite the restrictions JI began its protests in Islamabad in the evening and claimed that the Islamabad police arrested more than a dozen of its activists and local office-bearers In retaliation to the alleged arrests, the party an-
talks to the party Yesterday both the Islamabad administration and the Punjab government imposed Section 144 apparently to prevent the PTI and Jamaat-e-Islami planned protests The Punjab government has imposed legal provision empowers district administrations to prohibit an assembly of four or more people across the province from July 26 to 29 The restrictions had come as the capital braced for another political showdown as JI announced a sit-in at D-Chowk to protest price hikes high electricity bills, and increased income tax Meanwhile,
Criticises decisions of past govts during address to peace procession in Bannu BANNU
s ta f f r e p o r t
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur criticised the decision of the successive governments asserting that his administration will make its own decisions and will not allow any operations in the province Addressing a peace procession in Bannu on Friday, Gandapur highlighted the historical significance of the Pashtun people in the province emphasising their crucial role in Pakistan's independence He stated We have shed blood and made sacrifices We have suffered due to flawed policies influenced by America s wrong strategies Gandapur firmly declared that as the Chief Minister, he would not permit any operations in the province He remarked, "Dollars have been taken in our name but sacrifice is in our blood and we will continue to sacrifice for this country " He paid tribute to the people of Bannu for their sacrifices and commended the administration for its efforts We will make our own decisions I salute the sacrifices of the people of Bannu, and the administration has played a significant role We have followed your wishes in the Apex Committee " CM also addressed misinformation prevalent in society, stating, "Some elements distort facts The children of madrassas are dear to us Madrassas children have a share in the budget and we will provide all facilities including education to the children of mosques During his speech, he emphasised the importance of self-improvement, warning that those who do not reform will face the consequences He reassured, "No armed groups are visible to me My people are my responsibility and no one will unjustly target them " He further urged Identify and fight against corruption and drugs and I will stand with you Gandapur underscored the importance of national duty, adding, We may disagree individually, but no one will be allowed to insult or hurt the martyrs
nounced
Cour t puts off £190m case against Imran, his spouse until July 30
ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t
The Accountability Court Islamabad on Friday put off the hearing of the 190 million pounds reference against Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi until July 30, due to the absence of both the defendants and their lawyers
Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Ali Warraich presided over the case hearing at Adiala Jail However neither the defendants nor their lawyers appeared in court at the scheduled time
The defense lawyers were absent during the initial hearing leading to a one-hour delay Assistant Lawyer Khalid Yusuf
Chaudhry later informed the court that senior lawyers were on the way and would arrive shortly
The court issued a final warning to the defense lawyers and adjourned the hearing without action until July 30
So far, statements of 34 witnesses have been recorded while cross-examinations of 33 witnesses completed
Among those who testified was former federal minister Per-
vez Khattak who on July 10 recounted that Shehzad Akbar informed the cabinet about funds illegally transferred from Pakistan and confiscated in Britain which were then set to be returned to Pakistan Khattak revealed that this topic was added to the cabinet s agenda as an additional item, with documents presented in sealed envelopes Imran Khan responding to Khattak’s testimony asserted Nawaz Sharif s flats in London must be handed over to Pakistan Earlier on May 15, a divisional bench of the Islamabad High Court, comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice
Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri had granted bail to both Imran Khan in the case
On July 2, Judge Muhammad Ali Warraich also approved Bushra Bibi’s bail plea in the case Last year the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed the corruption reference against the former Prime Minister, his spouse, and others The charges allege that they received land worth millions of dollars as a bribe through the Al-Qadir Trust
This case, which has garnered substantial public attention, involves allegations of corruption related to the Al-Qadir Trust
(G2G) projects business-tobusiness (B2B) cooperation and mechanisms for safe trade and business operations The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has endorsed this proposal During a recent meeting at the Planning Commission, officials discussed strategies for a high-powered delegation s upcoming visit to Russia The railways secretary outlined three
key rail routes to connect with Russia and Central Asian states: Upgrading the Quetta-Taftan rail network, with an MoU signed in June 2024 and a bilateral meeting expected soon to implement the agreement Connecting the Kohat-Kharlachi rail network with Central Asian Republics through Afghanistan after a feasibility study
Establishing the Minelik Express to link Reko Diq with Gwadar, facilitating access to markets in Azerbaijan and Russia and reducing transportation costs However the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has warned of potential challenges in dealing with sanctioned Russian entities but noted that countries like Turkey are conducting transactions with Russia in local currencies Minister for National Food Security and Research and Industries and Pro-
duction supported a proposal for comprehensive plans to negotiate with Russia They sought the SBP s guidance on trading and business with Russia The central bank clarified that transactions not involving sanctioned entities would be permissible though banks would remain cautious due to sanctions and FATF compliance concerns Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal emphasised opportunities to enhance exports to Russia and inquired about trade practices followed by Turkey, the BRICS bloc and other countries in dealings with Russia The SBP suggested exploring a barter trade mechanism to boost ties with Moscow The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommended aligning the delegation’s visit to Russia with the upcoming Inter-Governmental Commission meeting in September 2024
fiscal year 2024-25 from the initially planned Rs12,970 billion to Rs12,913 billion The News reported, quoting official sources that the revised target has been set with specific monthly and quarterly goals to achieve the annual figure For the first quarter of the fiscal year, the tax collection goal is set at Rs2,642 billion, distributed as Rs656 billion for July, Rs898 billion for August, and Rs1,098 billion for September 2024 The adjustment was made possible after rationalizing expenditures which allowed for a reduced tax target while maintaining the overall fiscal deficit and primary surplus targets unchanged for the year
In the previous fiscal year ending June 30 2024 the FBR collected Rs9,311 billion, surpassing the revised target of Rs9,252 billion This increase was partially attributed to advance taxes collected in June
The IMF has emphasised that failure to meet quarterly targets could trigger a contingency plan requiring additional revenue measures within the year
In response to the approved 202425 budget, the FBR introduced the Tajir Dost Special Procedure, 2024 This new scheme implements fixed tax rates ranging from Rs100 to Rs60 000 per month based on shop valuations in 42 cities nationwide Of the 25 989 entries logged in various markets, the majority are taxed at Rs100 per month
The FBR projects to collect Rs50 billion from retailers this fiscal year under this scheme and plans to launch a media campaign to promote online integration for the initiative Additionally the FBR has been active in addressing tax compliance dispatching notices to nearly 5 million potential tax evaders identified by consulting firm McKinsey through withholding data This effort includes following up with individuals who have previously ceased filing their tax returns although there may be overlaps with past notices
Requests for comments from the IMF and FBR regarding these developments remained unanswered at the time of this report’s publication
S TA B L I S H I N G E C O N O M I C Z O N E
FBR to offer a sales tax exemption to mitigate refund claims Refineries have urgently sought government intervention to resolve these issues and ensure the successful implementation of the new refinery policy
The SIFC was informed that refineries are required to sign supplemental agreements with the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) before this policy can be fully implemented However, the new budget measures could
jeopardize the signing of these crucial agreements Earlier three refineries had committed to investing a cumulative $3 billion in plant upgrades aligning with the Pakistan Refining Policy for the Upgradation of Existing/Brownfield Refineries 2023, which was designed to stimulate substantial investments within strict timelines However the recent sales tax exemption on key petroleum products will inhibit refineries from claiming around 70% of the input tax paid adversely affecting financial outcomes as they cannot pass these increased costs onto consumers
Politic ally and personally, the PTI chief has been winning legal battles
TI chief Imran Khan got two bits of good news on Wednesday His party became a parliamentary party when the Election Commission of Pakistan notified that 79 MNAs were PTI members because their forms had contained that identification The Lahore High Court granted his appeal against his being arrested in the May 9 incidents, with the division bench noting that the arrests were made after his appeal against conviction in the iddat case had been accepted The implications was that this was a ploy to keep him behind bars However, neither decision has had the effect of catapulting Mr Khan from Adiala Jail, where he is presently incarcerated, into the Prime Ministers seat in the National Assembly, as devoutly wished by his many fans However, both developments should be seen as the beginning of a process that may well have that effect
It should be remembered that the PTI members, as they now are, could not contest on the party s symbol, and the ECP had to treat them as independents The MNAs who had indicated a party affiliation had been accepted as PTI members, while the MNAs elected as independent, who had not mentioned a party affiliation, and had not submitted any ticket for the party symbol, will need to have their party affiliation verified The ECP has approached the Supreme Court for clarifications about who will be the officebearer to verify the party affiliation of those independents, considering that they had not been allocated the symbol because no officebearer was accepted by the ECP That might all be very well, but the Supreme Court showed that it was more concerned with reality rather than appearance The reality is that the PTI won big in the election, and while the MNAs-elect may well be technically independents, the will of the people must be accepted
The LHC decision may not, to the chagrin of many PTI supporters, result in Mr Khan sweeping out of jail, but it brings that moment closer It is clearly a matter of time, for the LHC took notice of how the charge had been made earlier, but the arrest was only now being made That means the old game of a fresh case whenever someone gets bail or is acquitted, can no longer be played It is perhaps hard lines on the current executive to lose that tool, but there it is
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
N an unprecedented act of unity 14 Palestinian factions, including Fatah and Hamas, signed the Beijing Declaration on July 23, pledging to resolve their differences and bolster Palestinian solidarity This landmark agreement concluded a three-day reconciliation dialogue held in Beijing from July 21 to 23 facilitated by China s growing involvement in Middle Eastern diplomacy During the closing ceremony, which was also attended by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Fatah expressed gratitude to China, acknowledging its unwavering and escalating support for the Palestinian cause This move by Beijing underscores its strategic interest in fostering stability and dialogue in the region presenting a new diplomatic front in the quest for lasting peace As the Palestinian factions move towards a unified front, the international community watches closely, hopeful for a breakthrough in a long-standing conflict With the escalation of Israel’s military operations in Gaza particularly in Rafah global concern over civilian casualties mounts thrusting the issue of Palestinian statehood into the international spotlight once again T h e t w
creasing number of countries, remains the favoured path to resolving the longstanding conflict between Israel and Palestine However the persistent internal divisions among Palestinian factions has long been posing a significant obstacle to achieving this goal The inability of Palestinians to manage these internal frictions has often been cited by Western a n
statehood In response Beijing has taken a proactive role by hosting a new round of interfactional talks among Palestine s major political entities This move aims to foster national reconciliation and ultimately, pave the way for Palestinian statehood These talks not only signal China s growing influence in Middle Eastern diplomacy but also represent a concerted effort by the Palestinians to establish internal order By bridging the divides among Palestinian factions Beijing s mediation could prove crucial in advancing the peace process and realizing the
long-held aspiration of a sovereign Palestinian state The signing of the Beijing Declaration marks a pivotal moment in Palestinian reconciliation efforts For the first time since the latest Palestinian-Israeli conflict erupted factions have come together to agree on a path toward unity This joint statement signifies a major step forward “The core outcome is that the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) is the sole legitimate representative of all Palestinian people An agreement
and the establishment of a provisional national reconciliation government, said Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi Similarly, Mustafa Barghouti, president of the Palestinian National Initiative, stated that all parties involved agreed in principle to join the PLO recognizing it as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people This consensus marks a crucial step towards unifying the Palestinian political landscape, potentially strengthening their collective bargaining power on the international stage Hossam Badran, a member of Hamas’ Political Bureau also commented that the Palestinian factions have reached a preliminary agreement to form a consensus government This government aims to manage the affairs of Palestinians in both Gaza and the West Bank, oversee reconstruction efforts, and prepare the environment for future elections Badran emphasized that this initiative should not be postponed until after the war but should move forward even amidst ongoing conflict He believes that establishing such a government could pave the way for a ceasefire Though this meeting focused primarily on the broad contours of a post-war arrangement– leaving the finer details for future discussions– the Beijing Declaration marks a significant stride towards Palestinian unity The gathering of Palestinian representatives highlights another diplomatic triumph for China following its successful mediation of Saudi-Iranian reconciliation This event showcases
The signing of the Beijing Declaration demonstrates that regional countries have the wisdom to choose the best path for their
ChinaÊs diplomatic effor ts are not just about g eopolitical strategy but about fostering real, lasting peace . The international community can learn much from ChinaÊs balanced approach, which prioritiz es human conscience and collective aspirations over power politics.
C a l l i n g t o e n d k i l l i n g s p r e e i n B a n g l a d e s h
Abeloved country of 170 million people where even the high school students become the victims as they joined the anti-quota movement that began on 1 July following a court order reinstating the reservation facility in all government jobs for the dependants of war veterans
“Engulfed in a serious crisis Bangladesh witnesses millions of students and others protesting nationals have been attacked by the police and Border Guard Bangladesh personnel leading to more than 200 deaths and 700 injuries, some of whom remain in serious health conditions,” exclaimed Professor Yunus, asserting that ‘there must be inve the prestigious Dhaka University campus demanding the abolition of the reservation quota for the dependents of freedom fighters families (who fought against the brutal Pakistani forces), it spread quickly to other university campuses and cities to emerge as a national outrage against the Awami League-led government in
Dhaka The general population who are seemingly unhappy with the Hasina regime which achieved the fourth consecutive victory on January 7 in the national elections with no opposition candidates on the field, joined the movement to make it a major challenge to Hasina The ruling party leaders, including some ministers in Hasina’s cabinet alleged that the antiquota movement was hijacked by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party along with radicalized Jamaate-Islami workers to topple the government They claimed that the so-called agitators with the endorsement of BNP leaders indulged in violent activities BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s son Tarique Rahman who has been living in exile for years was also accused of hatching a conspiracy against the government The ruling party leaders also denied the allegation that the quota facility had benefited the loyalists of Hasina alone The government imposed a nationwide curfew with the shoot-at-sight order on 20 July and deployed military personnel to support the police and civilian authorities The agitation turned violent following the aggression shown by the members of Bangladesh Chhatra League and Juba League (student and youth wing of ruling Awami League) on the agitators Lately the Supreme Court restricted the space for reservation to freedom fighters’ families from 30 to 5 percent But the apex court did not scrap the reservation policy and hence it may not immediately quell down the protest as the students vowed to continue their movement until the particular quota gets abolished The protesting student leaders maintained their additional demands to release all detained leaders, repeal the curfew and reopen the educational institutions across the country Moreover they raised voices for responsibility to be fixed on concerned ministers and officers for the brutal crackdown that resulted in the deaths of scores of agitators The authorities are yet to make any revelation regarding the casualties that may have crossed 150 precious lives from 18 to 21 July Amidst the chaos a young reporter named Hasan Mehedi was killed at Jatrabari area of Dhaka on 18 July Mehedi who worked for Bangla digital media outlet Dhaka Times
was covering the clashes which erupted between the police forces and agitating students, and died of bullet injuries in his head Various global media safety and rights bodies including Paris-based Reporters sans/without Borders (RSF) and Geneva- Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) expressed shock and grief over the killing of Mehedi and demanded a fair probe into the incident that led to his death Over 30 journalists were wounded while covering the protest demonstrations in the last few days PEC president Blaise Lempen while speaking to this writer from Geneva stated that the media persons in Bangladesh have to work in an adverse situation because of many brutal laws formulated by the Bangla government in Dhaka in recent years He urged Dhaka to look into the matter seriously and adequately compensate the bereaved family as early as possible Various governments including that of the USA advised their citizens to avoid travelling to Bangladesh due to the civil unrest for many days The Indian government also advised the citizens not to visit violence-hit Bangladesh immediately Moreover the high commission in Dhaka asked around 15,000 Indian nationals in Bangladesh to avoid non-essential travelling The assistant high commissions in Chittagong Sylhet and Khulna facilitated many Indians along with the students to return home by air or through Akhurah border point in Tripura, Dawki check gate in Meghalaya and Benapole point in West Bengal Thousands of students belonging to various parts of India as well as Bhutan and Nepal had left the violence-ridden country Professor Yunus finally called on world leaders to do everything within their powers to end the violence against those who are exercising their rights to protest The internet and telephone services were thoroughly restricted and so it was unlikely that his fellow citizens could hear the appeal or take their own initiatives Hence the former university professor urged the people of goodwill around the world to add their voices to the call to end this carnage, so that the natives can go back to their mission to build a self-reliant, democratic and peaceful Bangladesh
Nava Thakuria is an independent Indian journalist based in Kamrup Assam
Professor Yunus finally called on world leaders to do everything within their powers to end the violence against those who are exercising their rights to protest The internet and telephone services were thoroughly restricted and so it was unlikely that his fellow citizens could hear the appeal or take their own initiatives.
Ta fickle commodity often dispensed based on wealth or connections rather than merit Weak law enforcement and a culture of impunity creates an environment where the powerful can flout regulations without any consequences, while the average citizen faces an uphill battle seeking redress This erodes trust in the system and discourages entrepreneurship and innovation hindering economic growth This also allows corruption to permeate every level of society eroding trust in public institutions Nepotism and favoritism hinder merit-based appointments, stifling innovation and efficiency A corrupt system perpetuates inequality and undermines social justice The selective application of justice rampant corruption and arbitrary use of power have eroded public trust in the state and undermined the foundations of a functional democracy
PakistanÊs current system, riddled with the flaws mentioned above, is unsustainable. A nation built on a foundation of military dominance and interference, weak rule of law, and a struggling economy cannot hope to prosper in the long run. Only by completely dismantling the status quo and building a system based on democracy, constitution and rule of law can Pakistan unlock its true potential and emerge as a vibrant, prosperous nation.
The government’s decision to prolong the ban on social media will only confirm the public’s suspicion that it is doing so to control the free flow of information about the severity of the atrocities conducted during the protests
it occurred from the very beginning While it claims that the shutdown occurred due to an attack on the data centres in the capital’s Mohakhali area, The Daily Star, upon visiting the centres found no sign of damage to the building that housed them to say nothing of the fact that it’s
so under false pretext can only add to people s growing mistrust of the government at a time when the latter needs to assure the former of its commitment to democratic norms and human rights The government s decision to prolong the ban on social media will only confirm the public s suspicion that it is doing so to control the free
TH E Olympics get underway in Paris shortly and there is growing consternation in France and around the world at the impending participation of Israel in the games The country comes to the Olympics with three accomplishments under its belt, as certified by the International Court of Justice: It is waging a war that involves some actions that may amount to genocide it is in illegal occupation of another nation Palestine and it is subjecting the people of that occupied nation to systemic discrimination based on race religion and ethnic origin Even one of these certificates renders Israel unfit to be at the Olympics All three together add up to grounds for expulsion Let us consider the International Olympics Committee’s own precedents
IOC’S REASONS FOR BANNING RUSSIA: In February 2023, the IOC banned Russia and Belarus because of its invasion of, and ongoing war in, Ukraine
This is what it said at the time: “The IOC condemned the senseless war in the strongest terms on the day of the invasion With no end in sight to the fighting after one year of bloodshed the IOC reiterates its condemnation of the war in Ukraine which is a blatant violation of the Olympic Truce that was in effect at the time and of the Olympic Charter For this reason, the IOC sanctioned the Russian and Belarusian states and governments, who are solely responsible for this war, in an unprecedented way: no international sports events organised in Russia and Belarus; no flag anthems or other national symbols whatsoever displayed; and no government or state officials accredited for any international sports events (emphasis added) In essence, the IOC said that Russia, by invading Ukraine and prolonging the war, had violated the Olympic Truce that was in force for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics
Now let us fast-forward to November 22 2023 when the UNGA adopted the Olympic Truce for the Paris Olympics
The UN resolution calls for the Olympic Truce to be respected from seven days before the Olympic Games in July 2024 until seven days after the Paralympic Games ” The text “Urges Member States to observe the Olympic Truce” in order “to ensure the safe passage access and participation of athletes officials and all other accredited persons taking part in the Games The resolution recalls that the core concept of ekecheiria, historically, has been the cessation of hostilities from seven days before the Olympic Games” Obviously athletes and others can only get safe passage to participate in the Olympics if there is cessation of hostilities i e a ceasefire R u s s i a i s p l a i n l y s t i l l i n v
Olympic Truce and remains barred from the Games
But since individual athletes should not be punished for decisions of their government, the IOC Executive Board on 19/3/2024 issued guidelines for participation of Russian athletes as ‘Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) This means no Russian flag or anthem and no participation as a team The AINs will not participate in the parade of delegations (teams) during the Opening
There are two precedents: the International Olympics Committee’s treatment of Russia for the ongoing Ukraine war, and its 1970 expulsion of Apartheid South Africa
If the IOC does not act immediately to stop Israel – and such Israeli athletes – from par ticipating in the Paris Olympics, it will bring disgrace to the great Olympic movement and render the noble idea of the Olympic Truce totally meaningless
Ceremony since they are individual athletes” the guidelines say and medals won by the AINs will not be displayed in the NOC medal table Apart from ensuring that there is no direct or indirect participation by Russia , the guidelines also prescribe strict eligibility conditions for these individual athletes And one of the conditions is this: “Athletes who actively support the war will not be eligible to be entered or to compete Support personnel who actively support the war will not be entered But what does the IOC mean by athletes who actively support the war ? This is what the IOC s Q&As on Russian participation in the Olympics says: Contracted members of the Russian and Belarusian military or national security agencies are considered to support the war ” “With regard to other active supporting measures all relevant circumstances in particular public statements including those made on social media; participation in prowar demonstrations or events; and the displaying of any symbol supporting the war in Ukraine, for example, the Z symbol, have to be taken into consideration ” (emphasis added)
WHAT APPLIES TO RUSSIA MUST APPLY TO ISRAEL: Based on this background and precedent let us now consider what these IOC guidelines mean for Israel and the Paris Olympics Three facts are incontestable
First, Israel like Russia is in Every day it is bombing the people of Palestine in Gaza, killing innocent civilians Second as Reuters has reported since the start of the conflict in October 2023 more than 300 athletes referees and sports officials have been killed and all sports facilities in Gaza demolished A small contingent of Palestinian athletes will still make it to Paris but “the complete stoppage of every single activity in the country” has wrecked Palestine’s chance to properly compete At least one Palestinian athlete in Gaza Mohammed Hamada a weightlifter who carried the Palestinian flag at the Tokyo Olympics lost 20 kgs and injured his knee during Israel s bombing and failed to qualify for the Paris games Third, regardless of the arguments and justifications provided by Tel Aviv such as ‘rescuing Israeli hostages’ ‘self defence’ etc the International Court of Justice ruled earlier this year that at
wounded hostages “There has been hopeful movement in the talks to secure an agreement on this deal and as I just told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu it is time to get this deal done Harris said Although as vice president she has mostly echoed Biden in firmly backing Israel’s right to defend itself, she made clear on Thursday that she was losing patience with Israel s military approach Israel has a right to defend itself And how it does so matters Harris said In March, she bluntly stated that Israel was not doing enough to ease a humanitarian catastrophe” during its ground offensive in the Palestinian enclave Later she did not rule out “consequences” for Israel if it launched a full-scale invasion of refugeepacked Rafah in southern Gaza A DIVIDED PARTY
should
the overall direction of cooperation, respect the will and choices of their respective people dialogue on an equal footing enhance understanding and cope with the uncertainty of the international situation with the stability of China-EU relations Wang said China will, as always, support the European integration and the EU’s maintaining on strategic autonomy
The Chinese side hopes that the new EU leadership will pursue a rational and pragmatic policy towards China look at China s development in an objective and friendly way, and realize a smooth transition in China-EU relations Wang said the EU’s anti-subsidy investigations into China’s electric vehicles is typical trade protectionism and is not conducive to global green transformation It is hoped that the two sides will find a reasonable solution through dialogue and consultation to jointly safeguard the free trade system and economic globalization Wang noted Borrell said the EU attaches impor-
tance to Europe-China relations and maintains an independent policy towards China noting that the EU is willing to maintain communication with China for the two sides to better understand their respective positions
The EU is not involved in curbing
China
will work with China to sup-
the centrality of ASEAN and prevent
interference and infiltration of external forces he noted The two sides expressed willingness to strengthen cooperation within multilateral mechanisms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS Wang said China fully supports Russia in fulfilling its responsibilities as the rotating chair of BRICS and preparing for the upcoming summit scheduled to be held in the Russian city of Kazan Lavrov said Russia fully supports
mence from August 19 2024 UMT Rector Dr Asif Raza
NBP
stated that following the recent amendments by the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), Pre-medical students are now allowed to pursue engineering for the first time However pre-medical students must pass the engineering entry test A specific quota has been allocated in each engineering department for students with a pre-medical background
Dr Asif further added that this announcement will strengthen UMT s vision UMT is playing a crucial role in promoting higher education under its commitment to serve the nation The university is dedicated to providing scholarship opportunities for students from diverse educational backgrounds to advance in their academic pursuits
KARACHI S ta f f r e p o r t
Mr Rehmat Ali Hasnie, President & CEO National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) expressed his commitment to enhancing loan accessibility for unemployed youth during a productive meeting with KhyberPakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi at the Bank s Head Office Governor Kundi was welcomed by Mr Rehmat Ali Hasnie, and Mr Farooq Hasan, Executive Vice President – Divisional Head Govt of Pakistan & Specialized Agencies The meeting fostered a productive discussion on NBP s role in supporting economic development and enhancing customer service Governor Kundi commended NBP s role as a national
Pak Nav y commissions 3rd offshore patrol vessel PNS HUNAIN in Romania
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy has commissioned its third Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), PNS HUNAIN at Constanta Port Romania Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf graced the occasion as the Chief Guest while Chief of the Defence Staff of Romania General Gheorghita Vlad and Chief of Romanian Navy Vice Admiral Mihai Panait also attended as guests of honour Addressing the ceremony, Admiral Naveed Ashraf emphasized on the significance of the
S 1 2 . 9 1 3 T R N F O L LO W I N G I M F A G R E E M E N T
PM S harif welcomes Tajikistan’s ambassador, disc usses regional connec tivity projec ts
Former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser
with the Memoranda of Understanding and agreements signed during his visit and emphasized the importance of timely implementation and follow-up to further strengthen bilateral relations He reiterated his invitation to President Rahmon to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience and expressed anticipation for Tajikistan s participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting in Islamabad this October Ambassador Toir briefed the Prime Minister on several proposals aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation across various sectors including education, agriculture, defense, and connectivity through land and air routes The Prime Minister instructed
him “At this moment the people of entire Swabi district stand behind our leader like a rock he declared The former NA speaker said that he had stated in the assembly that if the government conducted an operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it will have to pass over his dead body “By the grace of Allah Almighty we raised a strong voice in the assembly and the government had to back down from the operation , he claimed The PTI stalwart said that he had conveyed a message to the party leadership and Imran Khan that he doesn’t want any party position or any post in the standing committees of the National Assembly The love of my people and their trust is enough for me and is real assets to me”, he pointed out He predicted that the time to get rid of this ‘mandate-thief ’ government was drawing near as it s been standing on shaky ground and has only a few months left Apparently alluding to Premier Shehbaz Sharif, the PTI leader said that you are kidnapping our MNAs, offering them money and ministries, and those who refuse are being threatened with fake cases ” “How long do you think you can run the government this way? You have to leave this year , he declared The former NA speaker said that the government had made the lives of the poor miserable, adding that it had become difficult to have two meals a day
relevant ministries to engage with the Tajik Ambassador for further discussions, particularly on regional connectivity projects like CASA1000 Ambassador Toir expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Sharif for the meeting conveyed greetings from President Rahmon, and reiterated Tajikistan s commitment to strengthening its relations with Pakistan
ISLAMABAD N e w S D e S k
Following the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s decision to overturn the Peshawar High Court and election commission rulings declaring the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) eligible for reserved seats the PTI has submitted a detailed list of candidates to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) This submission includes a list of 67 women and 11 minority candidates for reserved seats, covering the National Assembly and the provincial assemblies of Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Prominent figures on this list include Lal Chand Malhi a notable representative of the minority community nominated for a reserved seat and seasoned politician Yasmin Rashid named for a reserved seat in the Punjab Assembly Other notable nominees are Sanam Javed, Aliya Hamza, Kanwal Shauzab, Rubina Shaheen, and Seemabiya Tahir
Earlier, the Supreme Court had issued an 8-5 majority verdict announced by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa setting aside the previous decisions of the Peshawar High Court and the election commission This verdict part of the case concerning the Sunni Ittehad Council was delivered by a 13-member full court of the Supreme Court and was broadcast live The judgment affirmed the PTI s legal standing as a competent political party The Supreme Court emphasized that the loss of an
election symbol does not negate a party s right to participate in elections maintaining PTI s status as a political party The election commission provided the Supreme Court with data on 80 candidates The court ruled that the 39 candidates whose affiliation with PTI was shown would remain PTI candidates, while the remaining 41 candidates were given 15 days to submit affidavits affirming their PTI affiliation The PTI was directed to submit its list for reserved seats within the same timeframe In compliance with the Supreme Court s July 12 decision, the Election Commission of Pakistan began issuing notifications confirming 39 Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) as PTI members This decision was made during a session presided over by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja The notification confirmed that these 39 MNAs who were initially part of the Sunni Ittehad Council and won general elections as independent candidates are now officially recognized as PTI members These MNAs had submitted their PTI tickets to the election commission during the nomination process for the February 8 elections The 39 confirmed MNAs are Amjad Ali Khan Saleem Rehman Sohail Sultan Muhammad Bashir Khan Mehboob Shah Junaid Akbar Ali Khan Jadoon
Asad Qaiser Shahram Khan Mujahid Al Anwar Taj Fazal Muhammad Khan, Arbab Amir Ayub, Shandana Gulzar Khan, Sher Ali Arbab, Asif Khan, Syed Shah Ahad Ali Shah, Shahid Khan, Nasim Ali Shah, Sher Afzal Khan, Usama Ahmed Mela, Shafqat Abbas, Ali Afzal
Sahi Rai Haider Ali Khan Nisar Ahmed Rana Atif
Changaze Ahmad Khan Muhammad Ali Sarfraz Khurram Shahzad Virk Sardar Muhammad Latif Khan Khosa
Rai Hassan Nawaz Khan Malik Muhammad Aamir Dogar, Makhdoom Zain Hussain Qureshi, Rana Muhammad Faraz Noon, Mumtaz Mustafa, Muhammad Shabbir Ali Qureshi, Umber Majeed, Awais Haider Jakhar, and Zartaj Gul
