CIVIL-MILITARY LEADERS TERM QUAID’S VISION
Tleges held contests centred on his principles of unity faith and discipline State-run media aired documentaries and programmes to honour Jinnah’s role in Pakistan’s creation, while newspapers featured special supplements detailing his enduring legacy PM SHEHBAZ PRESIDENT ZARDARI PAY HOMAGE TO QUAID Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to Quaid-e-Azam, acknowledging his extraordinary vision courage and unwavering determination that led to the creation of Pakistan In his message
The events seek to promote Quaid-eAzam s vision of Pakistan as a progressive inclusive and democratic state while also shedding light on his life, hardships, and accomplishments
The special event of the day was the change of guard ceremony in Karachi at Mazar-e-Quaid, the mausoleum of the Father of the Nation A contingent of the Pakistan Military Academy Kakul assumed guard duty in a formal parade Major General Iftakhar Hassan Chowdhry Commandant of the academy served as the chief guest He laid a floral wreath, offered fateha, and penned his thoughts in the visitors book Corps Commander Karachi Lieutenant General Babar Iftikhar also visited the Quaid’s mausoleum to pay homage to the Father of the Nation on the occasion of his 148th birth anniversary The Corps Commander Karachi laid floral wreath on the mazar and offered Fatiha Lt-Gen Babar Iftikhar also recorded his comments in the guest book and paid rich tribute to Quaid-e-Azam for his services Furthermore, special ceremonies were organised nationwide, including seminars, cultural exhibitions, and debates that explored Jinnah’s leadership and vision for Pakistan Schools and col-
Mujahid on Wednesday claimed that Pakistan airstrikes in Afghanistan s eastern Paktika province killed at least 46 people, including women and children Mujahid condemned the attack, describing it as “clear aggression,” and reaffirmed that the Taliban government would not leave such actions unaddressed The Afghan defence ministry issued a statement condemning the airstrikes stating that the Islamic Emirate would defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity This follows a series of deadly cross-border exchanges between Pakistan and Afghanistan since the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul in 2021 Tensions have escalated particularly in the border regions where Pakistan has
KIssAN ITTehAd ThreATeNs ProTesT IN cAPITAl
over WheAT PrIces ANd rIsING INPUT cosTs
CCP disc usses reforms to enhance competition in power sec tor
The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) convened a high-profile dissemination session at its head office to present the findings and recommendations from its recently published Competition Assessment Study on the Power Sector The session was spearheaded by CCP Members Mr Saeed Ahmad Nawaz Mr Salman Amin and Ms Bushra Naz Malik aiming to address regulatory bottlenecks and foster a more competitive electricity market The event brought together senior officials from key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Energy (Power Division) National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) and various power distribution and regulatory bodies such as LESCO IESCO and the Privatization Commission The discussion revolved around actionable steps to improve the power sector ’s competitiveness Central to the recommendations was the implementa-
tion of the Competitive Trading Bilateral Contract Market (CTBCM) model, which allows power generation and distribution companies to directly negotiate contracts for electricity sales
The CTBCM aims to introduce retail competition reducing dependency on monopolistic state-run utilities and offering consumers more choices
Highlighting the importance of corporate governance in addressing inefficiencies often seen in state monopolies Mr Saeed Ahmad Nawaz noted that monopolistic practices result in reduced transparency and accountability Drawing parallels with Pakistan s telecommunications and banking sectors, he emphasized how increased competition has delivered better consumer choices and efficiency gains urging the power sector to follow a similar path
Decentralization and a competitive framework are critical to attracting foreign investment and ensuring the long-term sustainability of Pakistan’s power sector ” Nawaz said Ms Kishware Khan Director
General of CCP, along with Assistant Director Mr Samiullah Jan Afridi provided a detailed presentation on the methodology key findings and recommendations of the Competition Assessment Study They outlined systemic challenges, including regulatory rigidity, market concentration, and barriers to entry which hinder the sector ’s progress
The study advocates for reforming the regulatory framework encouraging private sector participation, and fostering competition through transparent pricing and market operations
Stakeholders actively participated in the discussion raising pertinent questions and providing constructive feedback CCP officials addressed these concerns emphasizing their commitment to ensuring a level playing field for all market participants
The reforms discussed hold significance not only for improving the power sector s efficiency but also for reducing electricity costs for consumers ensuring energy security and attracting foreign direct investment CCP s advocacy aligns with its broader mandate to promote fair competition across sectors benefiting businesses and consumers alike
Pakistan Railways begins local production of high-speed coaches after Chinese tech transfer
World BANK APProves AddITIoNAl $450m FINANcING
Gas
OFIT M o n to r i n g D e s k Pakistan s economy has sustained a loss of $194 million (Rs53 374 billion) over the past four months due to a reduction in local gas production by 329 mmcfd equating to a monthly adverse impact of $48 million (Rs13 344 billion) The value of curtailed local gas, when matched with RLNG costs, stands at $500 million (Rs139 billion) According to a news report, the curtailment has also caused crude oil production losses amounting to Rs5 billion and cost the national exchequer Rs20 billion in lost tax revenue These figures disclosed in the latest data, highlight the decision to close local oil and gas wells to justify importing spot LNG cargo Despite earlier considerations to import LNG at $15 per MMBTU a ministerial meeting chaired by Deputy
Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on December 16 2024 decided against purchasing spot LNG for January Members of the National Assembly criticized the government for prioritizing costly LNG imports over utilizing cheaper local gas Energy companies, including MOL Group, OGDCL, and Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) have expressed frustration over the forced gas curtailments MOL Group reported curtailments of 110 mmcfd in the Tal Block, warning of risks to reservoir integrity and productivity OGDCL reported an $8 million revenue loss over the past eight weeks due to curtailed production of 1 461 mmcfd of gas 26 394 barrels of oil and 1 391 MT of LPG PPL highlighted the negative impact of curtailed production on field development plans, operational longevity, and investor confidence Persistent gas curtailments and a lack of clear resolution
are eroding stakeholder trust, jeopardizing investment in Pakistan s energy sector Authorities from the Petroleum Division attributed the gas curtailment to efforts to manage national transmission network pressure caused by RLNG consumption in the power sector However they failed to justify the $194 million loss resulting from a 50% reduction in local gas production over the past four months
Data reveals that gas curtailments included reductions of 50 mmcfd from Sui (SML) 25 mmcfd from Qadirpur 70 mmcfd from Mari (Ghazij + HRL) 30 mmcfd from Mari-GTH, 45 mmcfd from Nashpa, and 80 mmcfd from MOL, among others The authorities also noted that lower GDP growth and high gas tariffs have reduced gas consumption by 150 mmcf per month To manage LNG supplies the Power Division shifted five LNG cargos initially scheduled for 2025 to 2026 However, stakeholders warn that continued mismanagement and gas curtailments could have dire consequences for the country’s energy sector and broader economy
D ewan Farooque Motors to launch locally assembled elec tric truck in Pakistan
yet been disclosed Riaz emphasized that it will offer considerable savings compared to fuel-powered alternatives In October, Dewan Farooque Motors dispatched the first lot of its locally assembled Honri EV electric vehicles to Eco-Green Motors Limited Riaz noted Unlike other companies in Pakistan that import fully finished electric vehicles Honri EV is the country s first fully locally assembled electric vehicle In just two months, we have sold more than 100 units of the Honor EV,” he added Highlighting the potential in Pakistan s automotive
produced
He
set to begin in 2025 While the price of the truck has not
COMMENT
The terror spreads
Disturbing incidents in India show that Dalits are also the targets of caste-Hindu hatred
TH E recent incidents of violence against Dalits in India show that the Hindu majority which elected the BJP thrice is not just against Muslims but also against the lower castes The violence shown in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh betray the BJP as being dedicated to caste-ist politics Indeed, this means that the whole of India is caste-ist, and that the venom against Muslims is not because they ruled India under the Mughals, but because they are outside the caste hierarchy Indeed those Muslims who are descended from converts from Hinduism, had committed the crime of trying to escape the bonds of the caste system In Maharashtra, Somnath Surywanshi, a Dalit activist died in police custody He had been arrested for taking part in the protests against an earlier desecration of a replica of the Constitution, which had been next to a statue of Dr B R Ambedkar, a Dalit who headed the committee which drafted the Indian Constitution Though the issue is seen as one of pro- and anti-Constitution activists it is clearly on Dalit and anti-Dalit lines, Dalits are demanding punishment of the policeman responsible for the death of Mr Suryavanshi Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has visited the area indicating that the matter is becoming a partisan football In UP a Dalit boy 17, was invited to a birthday party, where he was stripped, urinated upon, and forced to lick his own spittle off the ground This was all filmed and then posted on the Internet He then committed suicide One is not only aghast at the crime but also the mental poverty of those committing it The BJP has done nothing to alleviate this deprivation, because it wishes to keep on exploiting it
India has now experienced more than a decade of BJP rule and the caste-ist nature of its Hindu extremism are becoming clear Not for it the lip service of the Congress, whose Mahatma Gandhi said the Dalits were to be called Harijans, which was a name for devotees of Krishna Pakistanis can count themselves lucky on a lucky escape in that Pakistan was created for otherwise they would have suffered similar constant humiliation After all, it is not a matter of having carved out a separate homeland Dalits never did such a thing Indeed, such Dalit figures as Dr Ambedkar bought into the Indian project Little did he know that Nehruvian socialism ws just a cover for Hindu cste-sim and extremism
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
On human nature
NAT U R E in general and human nature in particular has incessantly received so much bad press that a mere mention of it in most gatherings is the surest way to attract ridicule One must grudgingly give it to the atheists that while they have never made a coherent case for their atheism such has been the persistence of their crusade against human nature that they have succeeded in making it something unmentionable on almost all forums So much so that not only are theists reluctant in public to invoke nature or arguments based on it, but many of them have come to feel ashamed of even privately subscribing to them Why the idea of human nature is utterly unacceptable for the atheist and must therefore be rejected with all the force at his disposal is that it is not easy if its reality is conceded to reject its implications It is an extremely slippery slope for him once he admits human nature, for then he finds it impossible to explain its source The atheist’s standard response to any mention of it is therefore a parroting of the materialistic empirical view of man that has been in vogue for some time now That there is no such thing as an objective human nature– it is all nurture instead People develop differently in different parts of the world and have also been different in the various ages At any given time, they are what they are solely because of their individual experiences and environments So it is that despite its obvious and many weaknesses John Locke s tabula rasa continues to remain popular especially among those who feel threatened by anything that might hint at a common, objective human nature For once that is granted, the appearance of God, as the author of that nature is only the next logical step The atheists would have none of that In contrast the theistic stance is this: Man arrives in the world equipped with the capacity to distinguish between true and false right (good) and wrong (evil) and beautiful and ugly (cognitive moral and aesthetic senses respectively) What is more, he cannot help passing judgment in terms of these categories on all things that he subsequently comes across That although the data that he passes his judgments on only comes via his senses once he
starts experiences the world, he comes pre-wired in a particular way to process that incoming information This default setting is referred to as human nature and it is the same for everybody Man is not always true to his nature as it is not binding on him like some of his animal behaviour and dictates of his bodily functions and limitations are but all men start their lives from this setting It is this default setting that the atheist rejects He insists instead on the ‘blank slate’ at birth for everybody The atheist goes to great lengths to reject human nature He claims that morality being subjective cannot be a common denominator for all– implying in turn that there is no Creator This argument suffers from two major weaknesses The first problem is that when he dismisses morality by citing different stances on euthanasia or some such issue (for example), he sweeps under the carpet a thousand moral
Revitalizing Multan: Addressing brain drain and fostering local trust
Sweet turns sour
provide alternatives for professionals seeking to utilize their qualifications and expertise without relocating to overpopulated metropolises
THE NEED FOR LOCAL TRUST AND INVESTMENT: For Multan to realize its full potential, a paradigm shift is essential Local businesses, residents, and organizations must recognize and value the talent within their city This shift involves not only trusting but actively investing in local professionals including lawyers doctors engineers and educators By doing so Multan can foster an environment that encourages intellectual growth and professional development
Supporting local talent has several benefits: n Economic Retention: Money spent on local services circulates within the community boosting economic growth n Professional Development: Fair compensation for local professionals motivates others to excel in their fields, knowing their efforts will be valued n Community Empowerment: Trusting local experts fosters a sense of community pride and self-reliance
MULTAN’S POTENTIAL AS A PROVIN-
CIAL CAPITAL: Looking ahead, Multan has the potential to serve as the capital of a proposed Saraiki province Its strategic location cultural significance and economic contributions make it a viable candidate However to assume such a role Multan must address internal challenges including the brain drain and the undervaluation of its professionals Elevating local talent is not only a matter of equity but also a strategic necessity for positioning Multan as a regional powerhouse
STEPS FORWARD: PROMOTE LOCAL
SUCCESS STORIES: Highlighting the achievements of Multan-based professionals can shift perceptions and build trust within the
community 1 ENHANCE PROFESSIONALNETWORKS: Establishing robust local professional associations can provide support continuous education, and advocacy for fair compensation
2 PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS: Educating the public about the qualifications and successes of local professionals can encourage trust in local services
3 INCENTIVIZE LOCAL ENGAGEMENT: Offering incentives for businesses that hire local professionals can encourage the utilization of local talent
4 INVEST IN EDUCATION AND TRAINING: Ensuring that local educational institutions provide top-tier training will produce highly qualified professionals ready to serve the community 5 CREATE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES: Develop policies and programs that attract industries and businesses to Multan, providing a foundation for sustained economic growth and reducing the need for migration Multan stands at a crossroads By addressing the challenges of brain drain the undervaluation of local professionals, and the lack of opportunities, the city can unlock its vast potential Trusting and investing in local talent is not merely a matter of fairness; it is a strategic imperative that will determine Multan’s future trajectory For the legal fraternity and all other professionals in Multan this shift could pave the way for sustained growth and the city s elevation as a provincial capital More importantly, it will ensure that cities like Multan play a pivotal role in accommodating the needs of Pakistan’s growing population and fostering an inclusive and sustainable future
The writer is a lawyer (L L B LUMS L L M Notre Dame Law School) practicing in Multan
Multan stands at a crossroads. By addressing the challenges of brain drain, the undervaluation of local professionals, and the lack of opportunities, the city can unlock its vast potential Trusting and investing in local talent is not merely a matter of fairness; it is a strategic imperative that will determine MultanÊs future trajectory For the legal fraternity and all other professionals in Multan, this shift could pave the way for sustained growth and the cityÊs elevation as a provincial capital
Noor ZAFAr
The energy paradox
Sof how leveraging international funding and public-private partnerships can unlatch a country’s solar prospects According to the World Bank this is the world’s largest concentrated solar power plant and has not only boosted Morocco s energy production but has also spurred economic growth by creating jobs Furthermore, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Pakistan’s coastal regions and wind corridors, particularly in Sindh and Balochistan are capable of generating 50 000 MW of electricity annually The Jhimpir Wind Corridor alone could meet a major portion of the country s demand, as the wind corridor has a gross wind power capacity of 50,000 MW Currently, it provides over 70 percent of Pakistan’s total wind power generation Additionally there are over 20 operational wind farms in the JWC with more in the development phase The average speed is over 7 meters per second, making it an ideal location for wind power generation Pakistan s total electricity demand is around 30,000 MW With the potential to generate 50,000 MW, the JWC alone could theoretically exceed this demand A case in point is Denmark s remarkable journey in wind energy which serves as a riveting model for Pakistan In 2019 wind power contributed a sizable 47 percent of Denmark s electricity supply, a testament to decades of strategic policy-making, technological innovation and unwavering commitment to renewable energy The country implemented policies like feed-in tariffs and tax incentives to encourage investment and development Vestas, a Danish company, has a become global leader in manufacturing turbine technology The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that Denmark has the highest share of wind power in its electricity mix
among OECD countries Moreover the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) data shows Denmark s impressive contribution to global wind power capacity and its leadership in wind turbine manufacturing A paper by The University of Leeds on Agricultural Waste Biomass Energy Potential In Pakistan reports that agriculture alone contributes over 20 percent to Pakistan s GDP, generating ample biomass waste This waste could be converted into biogas and bioenergy, providing sustainable energy sources while addressing waste management issues However the country has made negligible progress in harnessing this resource One noteworthy initiative is Pakistan Environment Trust (PET) s BioVentures project which promises to reduce emissions and improve AQI by making use of biomass energy The project Net Zero Pakistan initiative (NZP) focuses on sustainability and aims to establish a national-level supply chain while Zarea Pakistan s largest B2B commodities platform plays a central role in connecting industries with high-quality biomass products Zarea provides access to locally sourced biomass materials like bagasse, rice husk, and corn cobs helping businesses transition to greener more cost-effective energy sources However as Pakistan s biomass generation is low in terms of global standards the amount of waste produced can be easily repurposed Brazil is an example of successful biomass integration, as, according to a report, Implementation of Bioenergy in Brazil 2021 Update by the IEA biomass contributes approximately 8 4 percent to the total energy supply In 2022 Pakistan s hydropower generation reached an astounding 34 58 billion kilowatt hours, demonstrating the substantial contribution of this renewable energy source to the country’s energy production The hydropower capacity stood at 10 83 million kilowatts adorning the existing infrastruc-
ture s capacity to tackle water resources for energy production Moreover the total potential for hydropower in Pakistan is estimated to be around 60,000 megawatts, stipulating valuable room for growth and development in this sector which have been halted by issues such as inefficiencies political delays and a lack of funding China’s Three Gorges Dam is a prime example of the potential of large-scale hydroelectric projects It produces 22 500 MW of power significantly contributing to China s energy Its installed capacity of 22,500 MW illustrates the ability of hydropower to meet energy demands sustainably producing 101 6 TWh in 2018 The construction cost of this project was $31 765 billion a testament to the investment required for such infrastructure but its contribution to total energy supply justifies the cost and the challenges associated with acquiring such a budget Pakistan’s move to renewable energy sources has been fraught with obstacles: political instability infrastructural deficiencies and financial constraints with the high public debt-to-GDP ratio reaching 73 5 percent in FY22 limiting the government s ability to allocate sufficient funds towards the promotion of sustainable energy without highlighting it’s debt With the debt-to-GDP ratio increasing the reliance on borrowing makes it impossible to set aside funds for such projects Short-term gains and personal interests have further affected Pakistan s policymaking, with fossil fuel lobbies hindering the progress of renewable energy initiatives, as such was evident in 2021 when the government moved to shelve these projects in favour of coal power plants The decision was driven by political pressure which argued that coal was a more reliable, immediate solution This not only delayed renewable energy projects, but also exacerbated environmental concerns and the finan-
Marco Rubio: From ‘per fect little puppet’ to most dangerous man alive
Across much of Latin Americ a, the new S ecretar y of State is known as ‘Narco Rubio’
Rubio has strongly suppor ted Israel in its c ampaign against its neighbors
we won’t have the ability to sanction them ”
He also suppor ted the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, condemning B iden for his pullout from K abul
TR U M P who promises to be the most proIsrael president ever has picked a cabinet replete with neoconservative, pro-war voices Rubio, however, may be the most belligerent of all of them, and his ascension to the most powerful position in Trump’s team does not bode well for the world
SANCTIONING CHINA THE WORLD: Of all the situations to trigger a global nuclear war, a confrontation with Beijing appears among the most likely The U S has constructed a network of over 300 military bases encircling China – another nuclear-armed state Rubio is doing more than almost anyone to make that doomsday scenario an eventuality He has made clear that he supports Taiwanese independence breaking more than a half-century of official U S policy in the process His Taiwan Peace Through Strength Act promotes direct military collaboration between the U S and Taiwan and calls for increased arms spending on the island Rubio was also one of the faces of the 2014 Hong Kong protest movement a U S -backed attempt to wrest the island city from Chinese influence He invited the movement s leaders to Washington, D C , and attempted to introduce legislation to force the United States into supporting Hong Kong’s independence At home, he has led the clampdown on Chinese businesses such as Huawei and has spearheaded a movement to uncover and stamp out China s supposed undue influence over American media and educational institutions
Unsurprisingly, then, the former Florida senator also supports a trade war and sanctions against China and, indeed, much of the world, including Russia, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Iran Unilateral sanctions of course are illegal under international law However Rubio believes the United States can and should use its economic might to crush countries resisting Washington s dictates The waning power of the dollar as the global reserve currency, though, makes this increasingly difficult As Rubio lamented on Fox News last year, Brazil, the largest country in Latin America signed a comprehensive trade agreement with China whereby goods and services would be paid for in local currencies rather than the dollar: They re creating a secondary economy in the world, totally independent of
GENOCIDE DENIER: Rubio has strongly supported Israel in its campaign against its neighbors Israel takes extraordinary steps to avoid civilian losses, he said during a solidarity visit to Tel Aviv earlier this year, adding that the problem is that its enemies “don’t value human life ” “Israel has consistently sought peace with the Palestinians Israelis rightfully living in their historic homeland are not the impediment to peace; the Palestinians are he wrote in a letter to his predecessor, Antony Blinken When asked by activists from peace group CODEPINK whether he supports an end to Israeli atrocities he answered in the negative stating “On the contrary I want them to destroy every element of Hamas they can get their hands on These people are vicious animals
NARCO RUBIO: Hailing from the notoriously conservative Cuban-American community in Florida, Latin American policy has always been among Rubio’s chief interests Described as the unofficial Secretary of State for Latin America during Trump s first term he will undoubtedly hold enormous influence over U S policy in the region in the years to come This is bad news for the people of Cuba, Nicaragua, Bolivia, and Venezuela, all of whom have watched as Rubio supported coup attempts against their countries In 2019 for example he went as far as directly tweeting images of the capture death and bloody assassination of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi at Nicolás Maduro during an ongoing U Sbacked coup against the Venezuelan president Rubio has always favored a more aggressive, punitive approach to Cuba Last year, for example, he introduced legislation to ensure that Cuba would remain on the U S State Sponsor of Terrorism List offering no evidence of the island s supposed support for such groups A right-wing conservative Christian Rubio has also made well known his contempt for much less radical Latin American leaders, such as Mexico s Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Brazil’s Lula da Silva On the other hand he has openly embraced far-right presidents like Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro (in power between 2019 and 2023) and Argentina s Javier Milei Rubio has attempted to link Maduro with the organized drug trade, insisting, with little evidence, that the Venezuelan leader is a narcotics kingpin On this issue, he appears to be living in a glasshouse; his own brother-in-law is a cocaine drug lord Orlando Cicilia spent 12 years in a Florida prison for crimes related to the smuggling and distribution of cocaine Rubio enjoys a very close relationship with Cicilia and after the latter s release from prison used his political position to pressure a Florida regulator to grant him a real estate license Across much of Latin America, the new Secretary of State is known as “Narco Rubio ”
NEOCON WARMONGER: A consummate Washington insider Rubio cheerled the U S action in Libya that led to Gaddafi s execution and the country being turned into a failed state replete with open-air slave markets He also supported the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan condemning Biden for his pullout from Kabul in 2021 In addition he helped Saudi Arabia in its war against Yemen while expressing outrage over alleged Houthi human rights abuses minuscule in comparison with the Saudi-led, U S -backed war Studies by Brown University have shown that America’s post-9/11 wars have killed at least 4 5 million people and displaced at least 37 million more One of the most shocking stories arising from the Global War on Terror is the torture camp at Guantánamo Bay By the mid-2010s the facility was causing such negative publicity for the U S that the Obama administration was reportedly considering shutting it down Rubio, however, was enthusiastic in his support for the center, promising to reopen it if elected president He also supported the dramatic expansion of the surveillance state into American life voting to continue the practice of collecting vast amounts of data on ordinary American citizens, and has effectively argued that First Amendment protections should not be applied to anti-Israel campus protestors SHELDON ADELSON’S “PERFECT LITTLE PUPPET : Few in 2016 would have predicted Rubio s rise to become arguably the most powerful man in Trump s cabinet The Floridian was once one of Trump s fiercest critics, describing him as a fraud when the two were battling for the Republican Presidential nomination “I think it is time to unmask [Trump] for what he is ” he said during a campaign speech in Oklahoma City adding: He’s trying to take over the conservative movement even though he s not a conservative but more importantly he s a con I mean, he s a conman who is taking advantage of people s fears and anxieties about the future, portraying himself as some sort of strong guy He’s not a strong guy ” Trump was if anything even more scathing towards Rubio stating that [Pro-Israel billioniare] Sheldon Adelson is looking to give big dollars to Rubio because he feels he can mold him into his perfect little puppet I agree! One of Adelson s key issues is stopping the rise of clean, renewable energy, and in that, he found an ally in Rubio who consistently denied the reality of man-made climate change stating that there was “no scientific evidence to back up the theory
ears were trained to see the invisible and hear the voiceless And playing these men and women were a remarkable lot of actors From Shabana Azmi the bright young FTII-trained daughter of two Leftist artistes to Smita Patil the thoughtful young newsreader who came from a political family in Maharashtra
movie He understood the margins of society in a clear-eyed and dispassionate way The trials of Hansa Wadkar based on her memoir formed the basis of one of his most memorable movies Bhumika (1977) which saw a diabolical performance from Amol Palekar, was a character
on Wednesday and review the case further before potentially seeking an arrest warrant Yoon also did not respond to a separate summons from prosecutors on December 15 related to the martial law declaration Yoon s failure to comply with the summons has led to growing criticism with opposition groups calling for his arrest
amid Israel s ongoing military operations in Gaza, which have resulted in at least 45,361 Palestinian deaths and 107,803 injuries since October 7 2023 The violence began after a Hamas-led operation into Israel, which killed 1,139 people and took about 200 captives Israel's “retaliation” has led to widespread displacement, leaving much of Gaza in ruins Francis now in his 12th Christmas as pontiff also called for an end to conflicts around the world including in Lebanon, Mali, Mozambique, Haiti, Venezuela, and Nicaragua I invite every individual, and all people of all nations to become pilgrims of hope to silence the sounds of arms and overcome divisions he urged CALLS FOR PEACE IN UKRAINE, SUDAN The Pope also addressed the war in Ukraine, calling for the “sound of arms to be silenced in war-torn
LAHORE
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari has said that the Father of the Nation is our role model and celebrating his services in just one day is insufficient Today all provincial ministers and the bureaucracy are together paying tribute to Quaid-e-Azam It is easy to kill, or burn, but giving people happiness is very difficult Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is serving the public day and night just like her father She has entrusted me with the responsibility of bringing back the culture of Punjab As the Minister of Culture I am making efforts to revive Punjab s culture In this regard, we have formed a committee We will restore the vibrancy of every theatre
a long time there has been no work on Punjab s culture; now there is a dire need to promote it According to the vision of the Chief Minister of Punjab, we must promote culture The Information Minister further mentioned that
campaigns across the city, with the support of the Islamabad business community On this occasion, CTO Islamabad said that ITP special squads patrol various areas and key boulevards of the city These squads are directed to conduct regular checks and issue fines for vehicles involved in environmental pollution in the city The aim of this initiative is to provide awareness, a clean environment for citizens and ensure the safety of their health
Tİk a establishes media studio in pakistan KARACHI S TA F F R E P O R T Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA)
and Pakistan and expressed his belief that the PakTürkiye Media Centre established by TİKA would further enhance and solidify this friendship Vice-Chancellor Dr Sarosh Hashmat Lodhi highlighted their long -held dream of having a studio for online and remote education thanking TİKA profoundly for making this dream a reality Following the speeches the Pak-Türkiye Media Centre was officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony
Father of nation timeless role model: Bokhari
CAN REVISIT CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE CALL
IF TALKS BEAR FRUIT: SH WAQAS AKRAM
JUI-F claims dispute with govt on Madrassah Registration Bill resolved
ISLAMABAD
S ta f f R e p o R t
Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Senator Kamran
Jamiat
Murtaza announced on Wednesday that the differences between the government and his party regarding the Madrassah Registration Bill have been resolved
the case to Dec 27 The assistant attorney general told the court that the matter pertains to AJK since Mr Khan went missing from that territory and an FIR has also been registered there However, Justice Kayani overruled the objection, saying that the petitioner was aggrieved by the commission, which is based in Islamabad Justice Kiyani remarked that the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances neither works nor allows others to work questioning its purpose and effectiveness He suggested that if the commission had been functioning properly, petitioners would not need to approach the IHC for relief Let alone continue, such a commission should be shut down,” he said The petitioner, Nazima Fatehyab, was represented by lawyer Imaan Mazari, while the Assistant Attorney General and a representative of the Ministry of Defence appeared on behalf of the federation
Speaking to a local news channel, he confirmed that a gazette notification for the bill, which aligns with the 26th Constitutional Amendment is expected to be issued within the next two days The bill which was previously passed by both houses of Parliament had become a point of contention between JUI-F and the government Following a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman the government reportedly agreed to all demands made by the Ittehad-e-Tanzeemat-e-Madaris which was pushing for changes to the bill
The legislation aims to amend the procedure for registering madrassas shifting the responsibility from the education ministry to the industries ministry
Despite being passed in parliament, the bill was returned by President Asif Ali Zardari due to legal objections Under Article 75(2) of Pakistan’s Constitution the bill must be reconsidered in a joint sitting of parliament if the president refuses to sign it Senator Murtaza stated that he and Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar had finalised the draft of the legislation and that the issue would be resolved upon the issuance of the notification
Additionally, an amendment is expected to be made to the act which will give madrassas the discretion to register either with the Ministry of Education or under the Society Registration Act
However concerns remain about the potential repercussions of the bill Sources report that President Zardari raised eight objections regarding the bill, particularly regarding the registration of madrassas under the Societies Act
The president expressed concerns that such a move could lead to sanctions from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and jeopardise Pakistan s international standing
He also highlighted the possibility of increased sectarianism and the proliferation of seminaries, which could destabilize law and order He cautioned that these issues should be carefully considered during the drafting of the legislation
Despite these objections Senator Murtaza is confident that the notification will be issued shortly and the issue will be resolved to the satisfaction of all stakeholders involved
Thirteen terrorists were killed during fire exchange with security forces in an intelligencebased operation (IBO) conducted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s South Waziristan district the military’s media wing reported on Wednesday
A statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the security forces conducted the intelligence-based operation (IBO) in general area Sararogha, South Waziristan District The operation was conducted following reports about the presence of khwarij on December 24-25
The ISPR said security forces effectively engaged khwarij location as a result of which 13 khwarij were sent to hell
Killed khwarij remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against the security forces as well as killing of innocent civilians,” the military said “Sanitisation operation is being carried out to eliminate any other kharji found in the area as security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country, it added The country has been grappling with a sharp uptick in the number of attacks targeting security forces and other law enforcement agencies particularly in Balochistan and KP after the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) broke a ceasefire agreement with the government in 2022 According to the interior ministry, in the past 10 months, 948 out of 1,566 terrorism incidents reported occurred in KP, resulting in 583 deaths (out of a total of 924 martyrdom)
The recent operation came after 16 soldiers were martyred on Saturday when terrorists attacked a checkpost in Makeen in South Waziristan, while eight terrorists were