Epaper_23-03-19 KHI

India invites Asif for multilateral SCO summit All institutions responsible to ensure Profit

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Shaheen leads Qalandars to clinch HBL PSL 8 trophy

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Imran vows legal actIon as polIce clear ‘no-go’ area In Zaman park

ZAMAN PARK CLeARed, POLICe FOuNd BOMBS ANd ARMS

tomorrow (Sunday).

Court cancels Imran’s arrest warrant in Toshakhana case

ISLAMABAD staff report

ORMeRprime minister and

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earlier, a huge contingent of Punjab Police ‘raided’ Imran Khan’s house in Zaman Park neighbourhood, pulled down the security barrier, main gate of the house and trees besides the camps installed for workers and guests.

The police resorted to batoncharge on workers and employees present there and arrested over a dozen supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party on Saturday, after the former prime minister headed to the Toshakhana hearing in Islamabad.

In a series of tweets on Saturday, the former premier said the police’s “assault” on his house was a contempt of court.

“We had agreed that an SP [superintendent of police] with one of our people would implement a search warrant because we knew otherwise they would plant stuff on their own, which they did,” he added.

‘Cleared no-go area and recovered weapons’ earlier, Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) dr usman Anwar claimed that weapons were recovered during today’s search operation.

“We have recovered weapons from Imran Khan’s house. There are more arms present there. An impression was being given that it is a no-go area but we have cleared it,” the Punjab IGP said during a press conference, flanked by Caretaker Punjab Minister for Information Amir Mir. The IGP said that police con-

PTI Chief Imran Khan vowed to take [legal action] against the Punjab police for “vandalizing and violating sanctity of his Zaman Park residence and violence” against party work while Fawad Ch moved LHC against the violation of ToRs agreed on the court’s orders.ducted search operation outside Zaman Park on ATC judge orders.

He claimed that petrol bombs were thrown at police personnel by PTI workers during search operation around Zaman Park.

“Police entered Zaman Park to arrest suspects who hurled petrol bombs and stones on constables from inside Zaman Park residence,” he claimed, adding that all “terrorists” present inside

Zaman Park house had been apprehended.

The IGP further claimed that a cache of explosives, petrol bombs, and bomb-making materials had been recovered from the site. He clarified that police had not entered the area where Imran’s wife was present. usman Anwar said that all those suspects arrested from Zaman Park would be produced before court

Reacting to the police action, Imran asked, “under what law did they [police] break the gate, pull down trees and barge into the house heavily armed. Worse, they did this after I left to present myself before Islamabad court, and Bushra bibi, a totally private nonpolitical person, was alone in house. This is a total violation of the Islamic principle of sanctity of chadar & char diwari.”

He also announced “immediately” taking up the contempt issue, violation of the sanctity of his home and the violence against his party workers and his domestic staff with judiciary.

Meanwhile, the PTI on Saturday filed a petition in Lahore High Court against the ‘illegal’ search operation conducted at former prime minister Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence by the Punjab police, allegedly violating the TORs agreed by the provincial administration, police and PTI leadership.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

Imran: committee to lead party if I’m arrested

LAHORE staff report

Former prime minister Imran Khan has formed a committee to lead his Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party if he is arrested, he told Reuters hours before the appearance before a court in Islamabad that had issued arrest warrants for him.

Khan has led country-wide protests after his ouster from power last year and has had a spate of cases registered against him. The police unsuccessfully

tried to arrest him on Tuesday, leading to intense clashes with his party workers.

“I have made a committee which will obviously take decisions once — if — I’m inside” jail, the 70-year-old said in an interview in his Lahore home before heading to Islamabad early on Saturday. He noted there were 94 cases against him.

Khan, who was shot and wounded while campaigning in November, says the threat to his life is greater than before and asserted — without providing evi-

dence — that his political opponents and the military want to block him from standing in elections later this year. The military and government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government has denied being behind the cases. The military — which has an outsized role in Pakistan, having ruled the country for nearly half of its 75-year history — has claimed it remains neutral towards politics.

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Cabinet approves salary, perks equivalent to SC judge for NAB chief

ISLAMABAD ahmad ahmadani

Federal cabinet, through circulation of summary, has approved the salary package, perquisites and fringe benefits of Lt. General (R) Nazir Ahmad Butt as Chairman, National Accountability Bureau (NAB), it was learnt on Saturday.

According to sources, the Ministry of Law and Justice after obtaining approval and authorization from the Minister of Law and Justice has solicited the approval of the federal cabinet through circulation of the summary for determination of terms and conditions of the Chairman NAB as admissible to a judge of a Supreme

Court of Pakistan.

As per section 6(b)(v) of the National Accountability Ordinance, 199, as amended vide (National Accountability 2nd Amendment Act, 2022), the Federal Government may determine terms and conditions of the Chairman NAB.

Sources said that after obtaining cabinet’s approval, Chairman NAB will get Rs 17 lakh per month salary, government residence, two vehicles while he will also get a plot of two kanals in the federal capital.

NAB chairman will further get 2000 units of electricity per month and 600 litres of petrol each month, they added.

It is relevant to note here that his (Chairman

NAB) predecessor had also enjoyed the same terms and conditions.

Chairman NAB holds an extremely sensitive position and is entrusted with extraordinary responsibilities. Being head of the leading organization engaged in anti-corruption and accountability process, his status and perquisites would commensurate with that of a judge of Supreme Court of Pakistan, said documents.

It is pertinent to mention here that Lt. General (R) Nazir Ahmad has been appointed as Chairman NAB vide Ministry of Law and Justice notification dated 6th March 2023 and he has assumed the charge of the post of Chairman NAB on the same day.

FBR warns Megaplus of blacklisting

g deLL dISTRIBuTOR FAILed TO SuPPLy 4,300 COMPuTeRS

The Additional district and Sessions Court Islamabad on Saturday cancelled the arrest warrants of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, issued in Toshakhana case and adjourned the hearing till March 30, after marking his attendance.

Additional district and Sessions Judge (AdSJ) Zafar Iqbal ordered Imran Khan to ensure his presence in the next hearing and adjourned the hearing till March 30 for arguments about admissibility of the case. during the hearing, Judge Zafar Iqbal permitted Imran Khan to mark his attendance from the car outside the Islamabad Judicial Complex in Toshakhana case due clashes between police and workers of PTI who were not allowed to enter the premises.

As PTI Chairman Imran Khan and his motorcade reached outside the Judicial Complex, the Islamabad police allegedly started tear-gas on party workers who retaliated with pelting stones on the police personnel.

The Islamabad Police had blocked all the roads leading to the judicial complex with containers.

Later, the Additional Sessions Judge decided to mark Imran Khan’s attendance at the gate of the judicial complex, and allow him to return.

“The hearing and appearance cannot proceed due to current situation,” the judge said, ordering all to disperse after marking attendance. “There is no need for shelling or pelting of stones, the hearing cannot be held today,” he added.

‘Order sheet missing’: As the hearing resumed again, Judge Zafar Iqbal inquired about the order sheet, sent to mark attendance of Imran Kham.

In response, Superintendent of Police (SP) Sameen Malik said that PTI leader Shibli Faraz had the documents.

The SP claimed that he was unaware of whether the PTI chief signed the document or not. However, Barrister Gohar said: “I took the signatures from Imran Khan,” adding that on the way back, the police started shelling and SP Malik took the file from him.

The Barrister noted that a video of the entire incident is available. Meanwhile, Judge Iqbal told SP Malik to go find court documents terming them ‘very important’.

Advocate Khawaja Harris claimed that the SP was lying. At this, the judge said he does not want a war and directed the parties to take things forward smoothly. Consequently, the court directed SP Malik and Barrister Gohar to submit their written statements to the court. The judge then adjourned the hearing till March 30 and summoned Imran in his personal capacity again.

‘All legal process completed’

Talking to ARy News exclusively, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi told said that “all legal process for the signature has been completed”.

The former foreign minister also claimed that Imran Khan was now departing from the Judicial Complex. He also condemned the operation at Zaman Park and actions of Islamabad police against the PTI workers, saying that petitions have been filed in Islamabad and Lahore High Courts.

A large number of PTI leaders, including Faisal Javed, Murad Saeed, Asad umar and workers accompanied the convoy of the former premier. Keeping in view the security reasons, Islamabad Chief Commissioner Noorul Amin Mengal had shifted the hearing from F-8 Court Complex to the Judicial Complex in G-11. ‘London Plan’: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Saturday claimed that he was aware that the government would arrest him as he headed to the Islamabad court to attend the Toshakhana case hearing.

Taking to Twitter, the PTI chief, who is en route to Islamabad said: “It is now clear that, despite my having gotten bail in all my cases, the PdM govt intends to arrest me. despite knowing their malafide intentions, I am proceeding to Islamabad & the court because I believe in rule of law. But ill intent of this cabal of crooks shd be clear to all.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

ISLAMABAD shahzad paracha Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has warned Megaplus, one of the largest and oldest dell authorized distributors in Pakistan, to blacklist its proceedings on failure to supply 4,300 desktop com-

Last month FBR directed the company to furnish a delivery schedule and submit a performance guarantee latest by Feb 21, 2023 and warned of blacklisting the proceedings if the deadline is not met, in accordance with Rule 18 of PPRA Rules 2004.

puters. According to Profit’s sources, FBR has written a second letter to Megaplus with regard to supplying 4,300 desktop computers. A year ago in April 2022, Megaplus successfully won the bid for supplying 4,300 computer systems worth Rs 902 million. The delivery of equipment was supposed to have been completed within 18-20 weeks after issuance of the purchase order but it has still not been made. Sources further said that Megaplus has neither provided a delivery schedule nor submitted a performance guarantee. It also must be mentioned that CeO of Megaplus, Asim Bukhari,

Lenovo has already finished production of 4,300 desktops for FBR which are ready for pickup from their uAe warehouse. Court case Recently, Megaplus has also filed a petition in court to stop FBR from taking any adverse action including encashment of securities, blacklisting breach etc. The company also requested the court to grant a decision in its favor for the termination of the contract of the order of 4,300 computer systems. Megaplus believes that due to the non-issuance of Letter of Credit by the state bank, timely execution of contract could not be done. Therefore, carrying the

2004 it had submitted a bank guarantee of Rs 58,000 on a bid security of Rs 11,580,000 on August 8, 2022, and requested the amount to be reimbursed.

Kasuri gets lifetime achievement award, calls for an end to internal disunity

LAHORE staff RepoRt

mIAnKhurshid Mahmud

Kasuri, former Foreign Minister of Pakistan, has emphasized the need for internal unity if Pakistan is to make meaningful progress in the field of foreign policy. He said that in the current state of disunity and lack of direction in Pakistan, no country, friend or foe, knows how or who to deal with in Pakistan. He said this was a very dangerous situation and could not be allowed to continue and that it was the primary duty of all the stakeholders in Pakistan to bring this to an end. He made

these remarks at the Government College University, Lahore while accepting Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions in International Relations and Diplomacy, promoting Pakistan’s relations with major world powers and neighbours and for his efforts to promote regional peace and connectivity.

Mr. Kasuri expressed his happiness at the fact that the recent book ‘In Pursuit of Peace’ by Ambassador S. K Lambah of India who had been the backchannel negotiator between Pakistan and India during PM Manmohan Singh’s tenure had comprehensively confirmed that what Mr. Kasuri had said in his book ‘neither a Hawk nor a Dove’ published much earlier that Pakistan and India had agreed to resolve all outstanding

over 20 cops injured in clashes with Pti workers; 25 bikes and four vehicles damaged

ISLAMABAD app

More than 20 cops including the Superintendent of Police (Operations) Islamabad and Superintendent of Police were injured in clashes with PTI workers here on Saturday. According to a press note issued by Islamabad police, more than 20 police and FC officials including Superintendent of Police (Operations) Islamabad Malik JameelZafar and Superintendent of Police (Saddar) were injured when the PTI protesters attacked the police from all sides with petrol bombs and fired tear gas shells during the hearing of PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the judicial complex in the Toshakhana case. The miscreants also set fire more than 25 motorcycles and vandalized four police vehicles. The angry protesters also set fire to the police post as well as trees and continued to attack the police from all sides. The Islamabad Capital Police had made foolproof security arrangements in the judicial complex as per court orders for the appearance of Imran Khan. More than 4,000 officers and personnel of Islamabad Police, Punjab and FC were deployed on duty. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad Dr. Akbar nasir Khan visited the judicial complex and directed all the officers and men to be on alert and perform their duty to avoid any kind of unexpected situation. Earlier, the spokesperson of Islamabad Capital Police on Saturday conveyed the imposition of Section 144 in Islamabad. no person carrying arms was allowed to enter Islamabad. People accompanying the rally were asked to enter Islamabad without arms. Islamabad Police requested the Punjab government to prevent armed persons from coming along with the rally as all internal roads of Islamabad were kept open.

Islamabad Police also requested the political workers to avoid unusual sensation and intimidation. It was asked to follow court orders and code of conduct as 12 journalists including three female reporters as per list were allowed inside the judicial complex. According to press note, Islamabad Capital Police respect and will continue to respect people from all walks of life. Police issued an advisory to give way to ambulances as well as fire engines and take care of women, children and the elderly. It was appealed repeatedly to stay calm, cooperate with the police and avoid damaging plants and trees. Those who parked their vehicles on the road were requested to park them at a safe place due to risk of damage to private property. The public was warned to keep the Srinagar Highway open for traffic while the entrances to Islamabad were kept open. The PTI workers on the Srinagar Highway near Islamabad Chowk blocked the road and police tried to open it. It was requested to avoid violation of one way as it could affect the flow of traffic. A spokesman of Islamabad Capital Police issued an advisory that Imran Khan's convoy was coming from the wrong way on Srinagar Highway. Due to taking of wrong route, the risk increased and traffic mess was observed.

ombudsman urges multan admin to accelerate handling of local cases

LAHORE staff RepoRt

Punjab Ombudsman retired Maj. Azam Suleman Khan has directed the Multan administration to take swift action in resolving public complaints related to provincial government departments, especially police and revenue departments, to protect public rights. He said this in a meeting with district administration officers in the office of Commissioner Multan Amir Khattak. During the meeting, which was attended by Adviser (headquarters) Shafiq Hussain Bukhari, Regional Police Officer Sohail Chaudhary, Deputy Commissioner Umar Jahangir, City Police Officer Mansoor ul-Haq Rana, among others, the provincial ombudsman emphasized the importance of addressing public grievances promptly and efficiently, as it encourages more efficient public administration and provides a cost-effective dispute resolution mechanism to the people. He also highlighted the importance of the platform of district ombudsman offices and encouraged the administration to work closely with them to ensure that citizens’ complaints are resolved in a timely and effective manner. “Many of the complaints we receive relate to police and revenue departments, and it is essential that we work together to address these issues and ensure that citizens’ rights are protected,” said Khan. “I urge the Multan administration to take timely actions to address these complaints and work closely with the regional ombudsman office to resolve the public grievances.” In addition, the Ombudsman instructed the focal persons of provincial departments to respond promptly to cases sent by the head office and regional ombudsman offices. He also acknowledged the district offices’ role in facilitating plaintiffs in resolving their issues and praised the diligent use of information technology, which has made the process of public relief more efficient. Earlier, Ombudsman Khan chaired a departmental meeting at the Multan office to review the performance of consultants and an advisor of ten districts of southern Punjab.

issues including Jammu and Kashmir. Kasuri expressed his pleasant surprise at Lambah’s revelation that Modi asked him to continue the dialogue in 2014 on the same Four Points Formula. The former FM said that he was aware that because of the negativity engendered by Hindutva supporters under the Modi government, the relationship between the two countries had become exceedingly tense. PM Modi, Kasuri said, cannot rule India forever.

Even at the best of times, he was able to secure about 37% of the total votes with an overwhelming majority voting for parties who are by and large opposed to the current policies of the BJP government on Muslims, Kashmir and Pakistan. Furthermore, he said, there was no guarantee that Modi would not change

these policies, either before or after elections.

After all Modi had paid a surprise visit to Lahore in December 2015 to meet former PM nawaz Sharif.Besides India, he said, during his tenure, exceptionally close relationship was forged between Pakistan and Bangladesh and he remained in a close personal relationship with his counterpart, Morshed Khan He also made sure to cultivate close relationship with PM Khalida Zia and the then opposition leader and current PM, Hasina Wajed. Similarly, close ties were developed with nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives. Mr. Kasuri went on to describe the success of the government at that time in establishing close relationship with the US and China, at the same time. A broad based Strategic Partnership

Agreement with the United States was formalized which aimed to promote cooperation in different fields including economic development, science and technology, education, energy, agriculture, and a regular strategic dialogue. Pakistan had the largest fulbright program for sending students to the US. Additionally, he added, US agreed to not only sell new F-16s, which it had denied to Pakistan for long, but also agreed to upgrade Pakistan’s fleet of F-16s.

Evacuee trust’s properties worth Rs75b yet to be retrieved

ISLAMABAD Ghulam abbas

Out of its properties worth around Rs 100 billion being encroached/ illegally occupied across the country, the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) has recovered 3,598 acres of land worth Rs 25 billion by mid of this month.

The recovery of the precious properties/agricultural land has been possible under the supervision of chairman of the one-man commission on minorities’ rights and protection, Dr Shoaib Suddle, constituted by the

Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2019.

The commission was also given the task by the apex court around four months ago to ensure that the dues of the ETPB are covered from the tenants of properties and the illegally occupied land too was retrieved. The new responsibilities were given to the Commission by the SCP after an audit report was submitted to the apex court. Led by the One-man Commission ETPB has recovered more than 25 percent of assets illegally occupied for more than two decades within a span of three months. According to details available with this scribe, the ETPB, with the help of

Three terrorists killed in Awaran operation

RAWALPINDI staff RepoRt

Security forces have killed three terrorists in Balochistan’s Awaran district during an intelligencebased operation (IBO), the military said in a statement on Saturday. The operation was initiated from March 15 to intercept a terrorist group operating in general area of South Awaran, says a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

It said that the terrorists were linked with firing and improvised explosive devices incidents along Turbat-Awaran Road and surrounding areas.

“Based on credible information, multiple ambushes had been laid along different routes in the area frequented by the terrorists for last three days,” it added. It said that a party of three terrorists was intercepted while moving towards their hideout. On being blocked, they opened fire on the security forces, it added.

During ensuing heavy exchange of fire, the military’s media wing said, all three terrorists were killed, while a cache of arms and ammunition has been recovered.

“Pakistan Army in step with nation remains

RAWALPINDI staff RepoRt

Awami Muslim League (AML) Chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Saturday the regime change operation behind toppling Imran Khan’s government was going to be exposed. In a series of tweets, the former interior minister hit out at the ruling coalition’s rhetoric that they put their politics at risk to save the country, adding that the government had pushed Pakistan to the verge of default.

“Public is always top priority of the state but the government has destroyed the masses,” he apparently lamented gloomy economic situation that has made it difficult for a common man to arrange a

Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and as per findings of forensic audit 2021-22, is retrieving its occupied land in various districts of Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The rights and protection commission, headed by Dr Shoab Suddle, who is also the former inspector general of police, was formed on the orders of the Supreme Court in the aftermath of the Peshawar church attack to audit the properties of minorities. As per the details, the first quarterly report compiled by the Commission has highlighted that out of around Rs2.94 billion recoverable dues (rental etc of properties) Rs694 has been

recovered up to March. The board has taken control of 3598 acres of land as of March 2023 out of the total occupied 15008 acres of land worth around Rs 100 billion across the country whereas 11410 acres of land are yet to be retrieved. The estimated cost of the retrieved land, as per officials, was Rs 24.912 billion (Rs 25 bn). Most of the occupied properties of ETPB were in districts of Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur of Sindh and Quetta of Balochistan where only 1436 acres properties/land worth Rs 3 billion have been retrieved so far out of 9953 acres of land.

naB closes inquiry against engr amir muqam over lack of evidence

PESHAWAR app

determined to thwart attempts at sabotaging peace, stability and progress of Balochistan,” the statement further said.

On Wednesday, the security forces identified a location of the terrorists and recovered huge cache of arms and ammunition after launching an IBO in general area Boghra Road, Chaman, the military’s media wing said.

A statement issued by the ISPR said that the IBO was carried out to search a suspected hideout of terrorists who were linked with recent firing incidents on law enforcement agencies and civilians in the Chaman area besides planting of improvised explosive devices in surrounding areas.

The national Accountability Bureau (nAB), Peshawar has closed an inquiry into allegations of assets beyond known sources of income and accumulation of assets beyond known sources of income against the Adviser to the Prime Minister and others due to the absence of credible evidence. The decision to close the inquiry was made based on the findings of the final inquiry report and recommendations of the authority's Executive Board, which stated that there was a lack of cogent evidence to pursue the case further. According to a notification, the nAB chairman approved the closure of the inquiry against Amir Muqam, a former MnA and Adviser to the ex-Prime Minister, Muqam had been under investigation for his alleged involvement in these cases. When asked to comment on the closure of the inquiry, Engr Amir Muqam while thanking Allah Almighty condemned the former government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for framing baseless cases against the opponents.

court freezes rs10b property, 22 bank accounts of Pervaiz elahi's son, daughters-in-law

LAHORE app

square meal for family. He said the public would prefer hunger over compromise on national assets. He said the government was unable to secure $6 billion assurance from friendly state, making it difficult for it to sign agreement with the IMF to receive the bailout package. Stated that inflation has surged to 50 per cent, he demanded that the sensitive speech of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar should be made public. He said Foreign Secretary Asad Majeed’s tour to China was crucial, adding that Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari should have visited the friendly country. He said the government was scrambling to seek funds from various countries but the solution to the problems was lying under its nose.

A local court on Saturday directed the authorities to freeze Rs10 billion worth of land and 22 bank accounts of Rasikh Elahi, his wife and their frontmen in a money-laundering case. Rasikh Elahi is the son of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Pervaiz Elahi. The court also ordered freezing of the property and bank accounts of Moonis Elahi’s wife and Chaudhry family’s frontmen Qaiser Bhatti and Abid Bhatti. The total land that all the accused own in this case is 17,420 kanal. Also, 22 accounts of the accused are being frozen because Rs3.5 billion were transferred to these accounts. According to the media reports, ill-gotten money was laundered through unnamed bank accounts and companies. The Chaudhry family allegedly accumulated assets worth billions during their last stint in power. All these bank accounts and properties have been frozen under the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2010 on the basis of the evidence provided by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

Pakistan claims credit for Saudi-Iran deal

ISLAMABAD monitoRinG RepoRt

The Foreign Office has sought to claim credit for new detente between Saudi Arabia and Iran, observing Pakistan “had played its part in facilitating dialogue” to diffuse years of hostility that had threatened stability and security in the Gulf and helped fuel conflicts in the Middle East from Yemen to Syria.

The long-time rivals agreed last Friday to re-establish relations, in a deal brokered by China and announced after four days of previously undisclosed talks in Beijing between top security officials from the two Islamic nations.

Saudi Arabia cut ties with Iran in 2016 after its embassy in Tehran was stormed during a dispute between the two countries over Riyadh’s execution of a Shi’ite cleric.

The kingdom also has blamed Iran for missile and drone attacks on its oil facilities in 2019 as well as attacks on tankers in Gulf waters. Iran denied the charges.

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi

movement has also carried out crossborder missile and drone attacks into Saudi Arabia, which leads a coalition fighting the Houthis, and in 2022 extended the strikes to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Speaking at her weekly briefing on

Friday, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said: “Pakistan, like several other countries and friends of both Iran and Saudi Arabia, had played its part in facilitating dialogue.”

“In this context, I would also like to recall that the first meeting of the two

foreign ministers took place in Islamabad on the sidelines of the OIC meeting [in March of last year].”

Organised by the government of Imran Khan, the gathering in Islamabad of the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, for the first time, saw the attendance of China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, as a special guest, a development many noted underscored Beijing’s increasing influence among Muslim nations.

Before that, in 2019, Khan embarked on a diplomatic offensive to ease the neighbouring nation’s tensions with Saudi Arabia and the United States.

Welcoming the latest development, Baloch said: “it was obvious that this agreement was a result of China’s meditation efforts and the constructive talks that it had facilitated, and the two sides were able to resolve their differences.”

“Pakistan does not wish to take away credit from China in this latest agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia on normalisation of relations and congratulates them on their successful diplomatic efforts,” she added.

‘Regime change operation’ to be exposed: Sh Rashid

uBs eyeing swooP for credit suisse amid fears of BanKing contagion

PROfIT ReuteRs

uBS AG (UBSG.S) was examining on Saturday a takeover of its embattled Swiss peer Credit Suisse (CSGn.S), sources said, a move that could allay fears that an unfolding crisis might destabilise the global banking system.

The 167-year-old Credit Suisse is the biggest name ensnared in the market turmoil unleashed by the collapse of U.S. lenders Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank over the past week, during which the Swiss bank lost a quarter of its stock market value.

To get the crisis under control, UBS was coming under pressure from the Swiss authorities to carry out a takeover of its local rival, two people with knowledge of the matter said. The plan could see the Swiss government offer a guarantee against the risks involved, while Credit Suisse’s Swiss business could be spun off.

UBS, Credit Suisse and Switzerland’s financial regulator FInMA declined to comment. The Financial Times cited people familiar with the matter as saying UBS, Credit Suisse and regulators were rushing to finalise a deal on a merger as soon as Saturday evening.

Credit Suisse Chief Financial Officer

Dixit Joshi and his teams were meeting over the weekend to assess their options for the bank, people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters, and the were multiple reports of interest from rivals. U.S. financial giant BlackRock (BLK.n) said it had no plans or interest in a rival bid for Credit Suisse, while Bloomberg reported that Deutsche Bank was looking at the possibility of buying some of the bank’s assets.

Credit Suisse’s share price swung wildly during the week, and it was forced to tap $54 billion in central bank funding.

The mood in Switzerland, long considered an icon of banking stability, was pensive as executives wrestled with the future of the country’s biggest lenders.

court cancels imran’s arrest warrants in toshakhana case

CONTINUED fROM PAgE 01

“This is part of London Plan where commitments were made to bring absconder nawaz Sharif to power as quid pro quo for agreeing to one appointment,” he added.

Security meaSureS: Stringent security measures have been put in place outside the judicial complex in Islamabad’s G-11. A large contingent of police has been deployed to the area to take charge of security. In a statement, theIslamabad police’s spokesperson said that Section 144 (ban on public gatherings and display of weapons) has been imposed in the federal capital. In a tweet, the capital police said a traffic plan had been issued, and citizens were advised to avoid unnecessary movement towards the areas of G-11 and G-10. “Chief commissioner Islamabad has directed citizens to cooperate with the authorities and avoid unnecessary movement to ensure the smooth implementation of the traffic plan.” On Friday, Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s non-bailable arrest warrants in the Toshakhana case till March 18. IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq suspended former premier Imran Khan’s arrest warrants and barred police from arresting him till March 18. IHC CJ, while passing the orders, also instructed the sessions court and Islamabad police to provide adequate security to Imran Khan. toShakhana caSe: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan in the Toshakhana reference under Article 63(1)(p). In the written judgment, the ECP said: “As per the statement of Imran Khan he had purchased the gifts from Toshakhana paying 21.564 million rupees while the Cabinet Division said that the gifts had a value of 107.943 million.” “The amount in his bank account was around half of the value of the state gifts. Imran Khan was bound to declare the cash and bank details in his returns but he didn’t declare it,” ECP decision read. “Imran Khan being declared disqualified and unseated from his national Assembly seat,” the ECP said, adding: “He has been disqualified under Article 63, 1(P), over submitting a false statement and declaration”. The judgement added that the former premier was found to be indulged in corrupt practices under sections 167 and 173 of the constitution. “A criminal proceeding will be initiated against him over filing a false statement.” “His disqualification under Article 63, 1(P) has been for his current parliament membership”, the ECP said in its 36-page detailed judgment of the reference. Subsequently, the ECP had approached the Islamabad sessions court seeking proceedings against Imran under criminal law.

‘Police, workerS claSheS leave

Several officialS, workerS injured’:

The federal police on Saturday claimed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers set police vehicles on fire as law enforcers clashed with party workers during former premier Imran Khan’s appearance in Tosha Khana case at Islamabad’s Judicial Complex. The Judicial Complex of Islamabad turned into a battlefield during the appearance of the PTI Chairman before court in Toshakhana case.

“Banks in permanent stress” read the front page headline of the neue Zuercher Zeitung newspaper on Saturday.

Credit Suisse ranks among the world’s largest wealth managers and is considered one of 30 global systemically important banks whose failure would cause ripples throughout the entire financial system.

In a sign of its vulnerability, at least four of Credit Suisse’s major rivals, including Societe Generale SA (SOGn.PA) and Deutsche Bank AG (DBKGn.DE), have put restrictions on their trades involving the Swiss bank or its securities, five people with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

Goldman Sachs cut its recommendation on exposure to European bank debt, saying a lack of clarity on Credit Suisse’s future would put pressure on the broader sector in the region.

The sector’s fundamentals were stronger and the global systemic linkages weaker than at the time of the global financial crisis, Goldman analyst Lotfi Karoui wrote in note to clients. This trend greatly limited the risk

of a potential vicious circle of counterparty credit losses, Karoui noted.

“However, a more forceful policy response is likely needed to bring some stability,” Karoui said. market troubleS linger

Already this week, big U.S. banks provided a $30 billion lifeline for smaller lender First Republic (FRC.n), while U.S. banks altogether have sought a record $153 billion in emergency liquidity from the Federal Reserve in recent days.

his reflected “funding and liquidity strains on banks, driven by weakening depositor confidence,” said ratings agency Moody’s, which this week downgraded its outlook on the U.S. banking system to negative.

In Washington, focus turned to greater oversight to ensure that banks and their executives are held accountable.

U.S. President Joe Biden called on Congress to give regulators greater power over the sector, including imposing higher fines, clawing back funds and barring

KP likely to cut ADP by Rs70b due to financial crisis

PESHAWAR aziz buneRi

Due to financial crisis, the Annual Development Program (ADP) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is feared to be cut by more than 70%, while work on the next year’s ADP is yet to be started.

The KP finance department sources said that the ADP has been frozen in november, last year, and now it has been practically ended despite the fact that over 4 and a half months are remaining in the current financial year. Some funds were released for new projects but it was not enough to make an impact.

The financial crisis has reached such a level that only salaries are being paid to employees working on development projects and all other operations have been stopped completely. According to sources, the finance department does not have funds for the ADP and there is no possibility of improvement in

the situation during the next few months.

On the other hand, according to sources of provincial Planning and Development (P&D) Department, the estimated ADP was Rs 319 billion of which Rs 87 billion have been utilised so far.

Similarly, Rs 99.11 billion ADP was unveiled for the tribal belt of which only Rs 10.63 billion have been spent which is 25% i.e. less than a quarter of the allocated development fund.

However, by the end of the financial year, there is a fear that the ADP will be reduced by more than 70%. Sources stated that some more fund would be utilised on development projects in terms of salaries and other expenditure.

Meanwhile, the development program of 202324 financial year is not being worked on and because of the financial crisis, thus, there are fear that budget of the next financial year will also be severely affected.

Criminal gangs escalate activities in upper Sindh amid police operation

SUKKUR staff RepoRt

Criminal activities have reportedly increased in upper Sindh areas in recent weeks, police said, as gangs of outlaws and dacoits appear to have intensified their operations following a police operation against them in several districts.

According to police officials, the dacoits have kidnapped seven people from various areas and have robbed several passengers on highways.

In one instance, a gang of outlaws blocked a section of the Karachi-Peshawar Indus Highway near napar Kot in the Shikarpur district, robbing passengers of cash and valuables, and taking a passenger, Abdul Karim, hostage to their hideouts in

the riverine area.

Police have cordoned off the area and are conducting a search for the hostage.

Moreover, relatives of the hostage have blocked the highway in protest against the police’s failure to protect the passengers and are demanding the immediate recovery of their loved ones.

In another incident, a group of dacoits kidnapped two car occupants in the Kandhra area near Rohri. However, the police chased the kidnappers and found the hostages’ car abandoned on a roadside. They later received information that the kidnappers had released one of the hostages, who had reached his home safely. The recent surge in criminal activity in upper Sindh areas is alarming and requires urgent action by law enforcement agencies, residents said.

CM directs immediate arrest of culprits involved in Jhal Magsi firing

QUETTA app

Chief Minister of Balochistan Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo has expressed grief and sorrow over the killing of three people in the firing incident in Jhal Magsi district. The chief minister asked the Deputy Commissioner Jhal Magsi to present him a report on the incident at earliest. According to the initial report of the DC JhalMagsi, the incident is an indication of tribal enmity.

While directing the immediate arrest of the elements involved in the shooting incident, the chief minister said no one would be allowed to take the law into their hands under the guise of caste and tribal disputes. He also directed the health authorities to provide best treatment facilities to the injured. Terming tribal conflicts as a major reason for the breakdown of peace in the province, the CM said jirga is an important part of the ancient traditions of Balochistan to resolve tribal disputes".

Imran vows legal action as police clear ‘no-go’ area in Zaman Park

CONTINUED fROM PAgE 01

PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry filed the petition through Advocate Azhar Siddique, requesting the court to pass directions to chief secretary, Inspector General Police (IGP) Punjab, caretaker chief minister Punjab and others to immediately stop and refrain from restarting the “illegal operation” in future.

The petitioner contended in his petition that a brutal and illegal police operation by the use of force and heavy artillery is underway at the residence of PTI chief and former prime minister Imran Khan in sheer disregard of privacy of female citizens including the wife of Imran Khan. The operation seems to have been ‘evilly designed’ to be run as soon as Imran Khan left for Islamabad to appear before a court in Toshakhana case.

“The illegal unlawful operation is being carried out by the police which is also the sheer violation of the TORs agreed on March 16,2023 by and between the members of provincial administration of Punjab and PTI concerning security, jalsas, rallies, processions and other points.

“This petition was filed to protect the fundamental and political rights in view of the most recent police operation being brutally carried out at Zaman Park despite reaching to the TORs. Police damaged personal property of PTI’s head Imran Khan as well as have broken into his house by dismantling the main entrance gate of his house through using a crane. The act of the police is a sheer violation of article 9,14,15,16,23 and 24 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973. The natural, fundamental and constitutional right of privacy of the petitioner has been seriously jeopardized by the arbitrary and unlawful operation.

“Everything was settled regarding execution of search warrants between provincial administration, police and PTI through the TORs.” ‘Police offenSive followed a volatile Stand-off between Pti SuPPorterS’: The police offensive followed the volatile stand-off between his supporters and security forces outside his home.

“Punjab police have led an assault on my house in Zaman Park where Bushra Begum [Khan’s spouse] is alone,” Imran Khan said in a tweet. “Under what law are they doing this? This is part of the London plan where commitments were made to bring absconder nawaz Sharif to power as quid pro quo for agreeing to one appointment [sic],” he added, apparently referring to the appointment in november last year of Gen. Asim Munir as the military chief. Police entered his property after Khan arrived in the capital for the court appearance. Earlier this week, police and Khan’s supporters clashed outside his home for over 24 hours earlier during the arrest attempt.

fawad ch, other Pti leaderS barred from viSiting Zaman Park: The Punjab police on Saturday barred Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior vice president Fawad Chaudhry and other party leaders from visiting Zaman Park residence of former prime minister Imran Khan.

According to details, the police barred PTI senior vice president Fawad Chaudhry and other party leaders –Shireen Mazari, Manza Hasan and Hasaan Khawar – from visiting Zaman Park.

The PTI leaders attempt to walk towards Imran Khan’s residence due to closure of roads. In a statement, the party senior vice president termed the police move to block roads

‘unconstitutional and illegal’.

Fawad said that the ‘atrocities’ by the police in Zaman Park was recorded on camera. “What happened in Zaman Park today was a mockery of the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) decision,” he added.

aSad umar writeS to cjP over ‘illegal’ Zaman Park oPeration: PTI

Secretary General Asad Umar wrote to Chief Justice of Pakistan over the ‘illegal’ Zaman Park operation.

In the letter addressed to CJP, Asad Umar said that the court ordered to present PTI chief Imran Khan before the court. He urged the CJP to take notice of illegally stopping the former prime minister Imran Khan from appearing before the judicial complex. Asad Umar said that Imran Khan is travelling to Islamabad from Lahore to appear before the honourable court. The PTI leader told the CJP that the Lahore High court granted bail to Imran Khan in nine cases yesterday and prohibited the administration from any action against the PTI chairman Imran Khan.

However, the Punjab police broke into Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence, violating the court orders.

‘admin confiScateS container Placed outSide imran’S reSidence’: The Lahore administration confiscated the 14 feet high container arranged for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, following the police operation at Zaman park on Saturday.

After the police raided the PTI chairman Imran Khan’s residence, the administration authorities confiscated the 14 feet high container placed outside it.

The authorities placed the container on the road next to the Beijing Underpass.

officials from failed banks.

Banking stocks globally have been battered since Silicon Valley Bank collapsed, raising questions about other weaknesses in the financial system.

U.S. regional bank shares fell sharply on Friday and the S&P Banks index (.SPXBK) posted its worst two-week calendar loss since the pandemic shook markets in March 2020, slumping 21.5%.

First Republic Bank ended Friday down 32.8%, bringing its losses over the last 10 sessions to more than 80%.

While support from some of the biggest names in U.S. banking prevented First Republic’s collapse, investors were startled by disclosures on its cash position and how much emergency liquidity it needed.

The failure of SVB, meanwhile, brought into focus how a relentless campaign of interest rate hikes by the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banks – including the European Central Bank this week – was putting pressure on the banking sector.

Many analysts and regulators have said SVB’s downfall was due to its specialised, tech-focused business model, while the wider banking system was much more robust thanks to reforms adopted in the years after the global financial crisis. But a senior official at China’s central bank said on Saturday that high interest rates in the major developed economies could continue to cause problems for the financial system.

imran: committee to lead party if i’m arrested

CONTINUED fROM PAgE 01

Khan said there is no reason he should be arrested now, because he had bail on all his cases. If convicted in a case, Khan could face disqualification from contesting the elections scheduled for november. “The establishment right now somehow feels threatened by me. And that is the issue,” he said. The police attempt to arrest Khan led to clashes in which dozens of people were injured. “My life is even more at threat than it was then,” he said, adding that he was worried about the reaction to his arrest or any attempt to assassinate him. “I feel that there would be a very strong reaction, and it would be a reaction all over Pakistan.” The former prime minister has generated popular support among Pakistanis amid decades-high inflation and a crippling economic slowdown as the country implements painful fiscal reforms to avert default. Thousands have rallied behind him every time he has called for demonstrations. “I just think that those who are trying to do this just cannot comprehend the situation. Unfortunately, the mind that is thinking of either killing me or putting me in jail, I don’t think they comprehend where Pakistan is situated right now.” Khan said the military had had a role in pushing him out of power after relations soured with the previous army chief, Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, who retired in november. He said the new chief, Gen. Asim Munir, was following the same policy. The military has previously denied his claims. “Throughout our 70-75 year history, you know, (the military) have a role. But that role has to be balanced now. You have to have that equilibrium now, because that previous balance is not workable anymore,” he said.

alvi urges ombudsman to enhance capacity, raise awareness for swift justice

ISLAMABAD staff RepoRt

President Dr Arif Alvi has called for the federal ombudsman to increase its efforts to inform people about its role in providing swift and cost-effective justice against maladministration by federal government organisations. During a meeting with Ejaz Ahmed Qureshi, the president emphasised the importance of enhancing the institution’s capacity and reach to address grievances in far-flung areas of the country. Qureshi informed the president that the institution received a record-breaking 164,174 complaints in 2022, a 50 percent increase from the previous year. The federal ombudsman disposed of 157,770 complaints in 2022 and established one-window facilitation desks at all international airports to assist overseas Pakistanis.

‘Police arreSt Pti workerS, uProot camPS’: The Punjab Police removed illegal camps and barricades, and arrested several PTI workers after it completed search operation at the residence of former prime minister Imran Khan in Zaman Park area.

Police in a statement said the operation was launched after an anti-terrorism court issued search warrants on Friday. They said a woman police officer was first to enter the house of the PTI chief in line with the orders of the court. Sources said nearly 10,000 security personnel took part in the grand operation in which camps established by party workers outside Imran Khan’s home and alongside Canal Road were removed by the anti-encroachment teams using bulldozers. ‘Zaman Park cleared, Police found bombS and armS’: Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Saturday claimed that Zaman Park was cleared and police found 16 rifles from Imran Khan’s residence.

“Zaman Park was a ‘no-go area’ causing hassle for general public,” Sanaullah said. “I.G. Punjab will bring all things before the nation,” federal minister said.

“Police had search warrant for the PTI leader’s home and found 16 rifles from the residence,” he said. “People also pelted stones at policemen today, which went to the area to clear the ‘no-go area’, he said.

“All ‘terrorists’ in Zaman Park have been arrested, while arms and bombs have been found,” Rana Sanaullah claimed. “A bullet-proof bunker has been built in Imran Khan’s residence. Policemen don’t enter in the house as Imran Khan’s wife was staying there,” interior minister said. “A bomb-making factory was found in Zaman Park. What found from the premises will be produced before the court,” he said.

Interior Minister said that there is no plan to arrest Imran Khan, he is appearing before the court, “it was our objective” he said.

COMMENT

Raid without purpose

Ray of hope extinguished

Anyhope that the events of the last few days would lead to a withdrawal and a return of sanity was dashed by the police raid on Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence in Lahore during his absence in Islamabad where the Islamabad High Court granted him bail in the cases against him. The only logic behind the raid seemed to have been a desire by the police to regain pride lost during the successful defence of Zaman Park by PTI workers, who physically prevented The Islamabad Police from implementing the orders of an Islamabad court demanding that he appear before it so that he could be indicted in the Toshakhana case. There was a hope raised that matters were headed towards dialogue by Mr Khan and the government both saying they were ready for talks. That hope has now been dashed, apparently by the government giving in to the police desire to outdo Imran’s show of ‘strngth’ which he rather puerilely showed by refusing to comply with the warrants.

It is not known why the Zaman Park premises were se4arched, with indications that recoveries had been brought in by the police, leaving them open to the charge of planting evidence. The fallout is not that the government will negotiate from a position of strength, but Mr Khan, who has already shown his ego matters to him and his workers, is unlikely to talk to those who violated his privacy. It is ironic that the security of the PSL has been dragged into this issue, because the police was also needed for its security, yet while the PSL is a symbol of security and normalcy, the events at Zaman Park point in much the other direction.

Something has gone terribly wrong when a quiet and peaceable upscale neighbourhood like Zaman Park becomes a battlefield, not just noisy, but also actually unsafe, as peaceful residents trying to get on with their lives, found that tear gas, so liberally used on Thursday, made resident’s eyes water. But then, Zman Park residents not only do nothave court warrants served on them in criminal cases, and they do not expect to have neighbours who resist such service. They are more used to being inconvenienced by police security (resident inldue not just an ex-PM, but an ex-minister and thechildren of an ex-minister), not by policemen serving warrants.

A. Niazi

Joint Editor Umar Aziz Executive Editor

Criminal Justice System & Women Empowerment Laws

Much has been done, but not enough

ChAnGezi sAndhu

InPakistan, women have been sweltering in the heat of numerous social, legal, cultural and economic challenges since the day of inception. Gender-based violence, workplace harassment, depriving women of their fundamental rights as guaranteed in constitution of Pakistan 1973, low wages, and much more are the most important issues which are considered major barriers in women empowerment. The roots of most of the issues can be traced back to patriarchal family patterns. Mostly males are sexually depressed and frustrated in our society that perpetuate harassment at the workplace, in public places, and commit physical and verbal violence. Following some ground realities while investigation of rape cases, black sheep in the police department, legal fraternity, and prosecution are major impediments who have a direct or indirect nexus with women gangs which misuse the laws related to women for the sake of material interests.

The role of prosecution is very important in criminal cases whose major role is to assist judges to dig out reality so that justice could be provided to the aggrieved person. However, prosecution spoils mostly cases because of some malpractices, lack of interest and material benefits. even, defective investigation by the Investigation Officer (IO) leads to misguiding the prosecution and judge during the phase of trial. even police, especially the IO, adopts certain traditional ways to extract money from both parties, victim and culprit, which is a major barrier in the dispensation of justice. Witnesses are also threatened about recording their statements by the police as well as by the culprit.

So, disappearance of witnesses is another main hindrance to giving justice to aggrieved women in rape and harassment cases.

On the Index of Georgetown Institute’s Women, Peace, and Security, Pakistan has been ranked among the worst societies regarding gender-based violence.

As a nation, we are 164th out of 167. The Reuters Foundation declared Pakistan the most dangerous country for women. Available statistics are very shocking. 70 to 90 percent married women face physical, psychological or economic abuse from their partners or other males of the family while living in a joint family system.

Strict laws following the societal ground realities with fair implementation can improve the worst condition. no doubt, serious steps have been taken by Pakistan to fulfill its obligations for provision of a safe environment and secure future to women by overcoming challenges being faced by women.

Many laws have been passed in previous years to establish an effective mechanism for protection, relief and rehabilitation of women such as Anti-rape (Investigation and Trial) Act, 2021, Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2021, the enforcement of Women’s Property Rights Act, 2020, Prevention of electronic Crimes Act, 2016, Protection Against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2010, Women in Distress and Detention Fund Act, 1996 with amendments in 2018 and 2012, the Dowry and Bridal Gift (Restriction) Act, 1976, Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929, Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 1984 (Stripping of women’s clothes, 354A), Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, and 2004 (Badal-i-sulh, Honor Killing).

The Punjab Assembly also took drastic measures to protect the rights of women regarding harassment, rape, trial of rape, property right and investigation of rape. Punjab Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2012, Punjab Fair Representation of Women Act 2014, the Punjab Reproductive, Maternal, neonatal and child health Authority Act, 2014, Punjab Protection of Women against Violence Act, 2016, Punjab Women Protection Authority Act, 2017, and many other laws which directly or indirectly deal women have been enforced which are considered as great milestones Women are feeling more secure and more empowered because of these laws.

The Sindh government also gives special attention to women rights to build a conducive environment for women in the province. For that purposes, Sindh Reproductive Healthcare Rights Act, 2019, Sindh Women Agricultural Workers Act, 2019, Sind Commission on the Status of Women Act, 2016, Sindh Child Marriage Restraint, Act, 2013, Sindh Protection of Human Rights Act, 2013, Sind Child Protection Authority Act, 2013, and Sindh Hindu Marriage Act, 2016 have been enforced so that women could feel secure and protected.

Ukraine Crisis and Fear of Biological Weapons

The crisis has exposed the limitations of the current Convention

col on the Prohibition of Wartime Use of Asphyxiating, Poisonous, or Other Gases and Bacteriological Methods of Warfare (Geneva Gas Protocol). It prohibits "bacteriological techniques of warfare" and has 146 States Parties, including the USA, Ukraine, and Russia.

After the Second World War, the League of nations and the Un urged nations to eliminate all "mass destruction-adaptable" weapons, including biological ones.

that fall under the purview of the Convention.

Later on, Russia requested a formal consultation conference under Article V of the Biological Weapons Convention. The purpose of the conference would be to "resolve the concerns with the USA and Ukraine over their compliance" with the Convention. In accordance with Article V of the Convention, States are required "to consult one another and to cooperate in settling any difficulties which may arise in respect to it”.

Gul-i-AyeshA BhAtti

InMarch 2022, in the initial phase of the Ukraine Crisis, Russia claimed to have discovered proof that the USA and Ukraine had produced biological weapons in violation of international law. In a statement, Russia claimed to have discovered "proof of an emergency clean-up” done by the Kiev administration that was aimed at eliminating traces of the military-biological program, in Ukraine, financed by the U.S. Department of Defense. In support of Russia's assertion, a representative for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that the U.S. Department of Defense employed "26 bio-labs and other associated facilities in Ukraine to undertake bio-military preparations" and had "total control" over them.

The Russian claims were referred to as "preposterous" by a White House spokesperson and were called "complete nonsense" by the U.S. State Department, which also said that Ukraine does not have any biological weapons research facilities.

At the Un Security Council, Russia has frequently expressed worries about US biological labs secretly being operated in Ukraine during the conflict. In response, the Security Council was informed by the Un Under Secretary General and High Representative for Disarmament that "there was no proof of any biological weapons programs in Ukraine."

It’s not the first time that a state is showing concerns regarding the use of biological weapons by another state; however, the whole process of investigation is vague and needs a lot of reforms. Although the Biological Weapons Convention functions as an arms control and disarmament convention by outlawing the creation, manufacture, acquisition, transfer, and stockpiling of biological and toxin weapons, it requires modification in terms of investigation methods and avoiding being influenced by one party only.

The 1972 Biological Weapon Convention took effect on 26 March 1975. The Convention now has 183 States Parties, including the USA, Ukraine, and Russia, and four signatures. In 1925, the League of nations enacted the Proto-

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, states considered disarmament issues and biological warfare threats. These efforts led to the 1971 Biological Weapons Convention, which prohibits the development, manufacturing, and stockpiling of biological and toxin weapons and their destruction.

nonetheless, during the cold war, Russia and the USA accused each other of breaking the biological weapon convention. nothing can be proven without an inquiry mechanism.

A recent similar incident came to the surface when Russian diplomats outlined concerns towards the USA and Ukraine on their adherence to the Biological Weapons Convention on 13 June 2022. The USA's role in "activities of biological laboratories in the territory of Ukraine," in particular, was questioned by Russia. The original diplomatic document, which is not available in the public domain, was later described by Russia as requesting a "bilateral consultation procedure" with the USA and Ukraine over the implementation of Articles I and IV of the Biological Weapons Convention.

The Convention appears to favor a few powerful States over compliance and accountability. So, the Convention's function in international law is vital, especially in cases like Russia's charges of US biological weapons in Ukraine. In this regard, international lawmakers should evaluate thoroughly and critically how states continue to violate international law, particularly the Biological Weapons Convention, without being held accountable

Over 80 countries, including Russia, the USA, and Ukraine, joined the official consultative session in Geneva in September 2022. The closed-door meeting included only Biological Weapons Convention States Parties and signatories. Despite cataloguing States' documentary submissions, Geneva debate information is not released. 35 delegations either endorsed or rejected Russia's claims while the USA and Ukraine conducted scientific research. Belarus, Cuba, Iran, nicaragua, Syria, and Venezuela may have contributed to Russia's allegations. China was "extremely disturbed" and demanded an impartial international investigation of American biological research.

Technically, the convention's dispute resolution seems inadequate. If Russia's charges are true, the meeting had no conclusions of fact, legal conclusion, or sanction for the USA and Ukraine. The summit did not censure or change American policy beyond the few States that back Russia.

KPK governments also legislated to provide protection to the basic rights of women following the spirit of the Constitution. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Domestic Violence against Women Act, 2021, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Reproductive Healthcare Rights Act, 2020, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa enforcement of Women Ownership Act, 2012 are the most important laws which have been enforced in the province. The situation of women rights in the province of Balochistan is volatile. Inhuman cultural practices are being perceived as the major impediments for their welfare and protection in different spheres of life. To mitigate the effects of cultural practices and other challenges, governments of Balochistan made great strides regarding formulation of laws to overcome the gender-based challenges.

The Balochistan Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2014, Balochistan Harassment of Women at Work Place Act, 2014, Balochistan Child Protection Act, 2016, Balochistan Witness Protection Act 2016 and certain other laws are playing a vital role for protection of women rights in the province. All departments, including lawyers, prosecution and police, should play their role to protect the rights of women. Malpractices should be discouraged so that justice could be dispensed. The state should also realize the malpractices by black sheep of each department and should legislate to discourage the tendency with fair implementation of the laws related to women\ so that we could meet our pledges being a party to Convention on the elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, International Covenant on economic Social and Cultural Rights (ICeSCR), and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

Author is practicing as a civil and criminal litigator. He is also a researcher on international law and human rights.

The writer can be reached at Ch.changezi.sandhu111@gmail.com

Editor’s mail

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A narrow escape

PRAnKSTeRSmake crank calls to harass or trick people in society. Some naïve people like me fall victim to such unknown callers and expose themselves to the risk of fraud. Crank calls are often made to ascertain people’s personal and private information, most of which is related to bank accounts and ATM pin codes.

I recently received an unknown call. The caller pretended to be from the State Bank of Pakistan, and addressed me by my name along with other details. I was told that my ATM card would be blocked within a few days, and some information was required for verification before the card could be revalidated. I was asked to share my account number and ATM pin code. I was about to do that, but, thankfully, I somehow smelled the rat and disconnected the call abruptly without giving any information at all. I immediately called my bank and was shocked to learn that I had narrowly escaped a fraud. I asked my branch manager to trace out the caller and get him punished as per law but was disappointed to know that the caller was out of reach. Will the relevant authorities do something in this regard?

FARHAN RAUF TURBAT

Telecom sharks

FORtelecommunication companies, Pakistan is a jungle in letter and in spirit as there is nobody to hold them accountable for their poor and customer-unfriendly services. The customers are at their mercy.

Almost every subscriber of theirs has gone through this excruciating experience when the prepaid balance evaporates without any knowledge or willingness of the users. A promo message alerts the users that a certain service has been subscribed to their account, and this much amount has been deducted. Many of us have tried to talk to the helpline to lodge our complaints, but that is another ordeal because the callers are put on hold till, as they say, the cows come home. A robotic voice greets us. After choosing from a list of options, we manage to troubleshoot our concerns with the help of that robotic voice. After a long wait while constantly sticking our mobile phone to our ear, the luckier of us get access to the customer care representative. We speak our heart out to them, but they quite indifferently put the whole blame on the callers, telling them that they must have subscribed to the promos or advertisements. Despite earnest assurances to the contrary, we are told that if we follow the directions sent via text messages, we will not receive that particular promo or advertisement, and, hence, no deduction will be made in the future.

Article 1 forbids the creation, production, stockpiling, acquisition, or retention of biological agents or toxins, as well as of weapons, tools, and delivery systems intended to employ such agents or toxins. In addition, Article IV mandates that States "take necessary steps" to guarantee that their territory is not utilized to create, acquire, or hold onto biological agents, poisons, or other materials

The Convention appears to favor a few powerful States over compliance and accountability. So, the Convention's function in international law is vital, especially in cases like Russia's charges of US biological weapons in Ukraine. In this regard, international lawmakers should evaluate thoroughly and critically how states continue to violate international law, particularly the Biological Weapons Convention, without being held accountable.

The writer can be reached at guleayeshabhatti@gmail.com

But just days later, it happens all over again; the balance again starts leaking. The irony is that the customers are asked to unsubscribe the service they have been tethered to unknowingly and involuntarily. To add insult to injury, we are made to wait even when the call to the helpline is paid or extra charges are to be paid to talk to the customer care representative. Though we are apprised by the pre-recorded automatic voice that our call will be recorded for ‘quality of service’, nobody cares about the jugglery and chicanery on the part of the company representatives.

The telecommunication companies must be reined in from deducting even a single penny from the customers’ balance without their prior approval. Secondly, the telecommunication companies must facilitate customers’ access to their call centres; lodging a complaint should not be cumbersome. Another avoidable nuisance that these companies cause is their promo texts and calls at odd hours. Sometimes we happen to await a call on some urgent matter and there comes a call or a text from these companies advertising their services. It is suggested that the companies either specify the time window for their promo calls and messages, or attribute a particular ringtone to their promos to save their customers from any distur-bance. All their manoeuvres need to be user-friendly, not money-minting.

All departments, including lawyers, prosecution and police, should play their role to protect the rights of women. Malpractices should be discouraged so that justice could be dispensed. The state should also realize the malpractices by black sheep of each department and should legislate to discourage the tendency with fair implementation of the laws related to women

The Saudi-Iranian Peace

Take-homes for Pakistan

THelast week has been a tense one for Pakistan.

In the backdrop of that, there have been developments on the international scene; whose key players incidentally are the states from whom Pakistan has been influenced in one way or another. The rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, courtesy China, is a game changing development. Its minute details also illustrate the fact that Pakistan’s importance has vanished gradually, even for its friends.

To compare; in the backdrop of the post-1965 period, when China helped Pakistan in overcoming the military sanctions from the USA and equipped Pakistan with its ground and air gadgetry. The favor, which Pakistan returned in a way with helping China open up with the United States; Kissinger’s secret flight to the then Peking; on board a PIA jet. This time when China must have been thinking over finding intermediaries for talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia, it was not Pakistan, which China engaged; rather it was Iraq and Oman, to say the least.

Coming back to the recent deal; the result of that diplomatic exercise has been a big decision of the two ideological states; trying to find ways to live with each other in a manner that ensures stability in the region. Iran and Saudi Arabia, in plain words, have vowed to bury the differences and make a new beginning. That beginning initiative has found skeptics; who feel that the agreement is a nonstarter. Furthermore, it has drawn flak from the ‘extremist’ elements; who feel that their wholesale and retail shops of hate and divide will be closed indefinitely as the consequence of that diplomatic beginning.

On the international scene, analysts are not wrong in pointing out that the USA has been caught off guard by the Chinese in economic and geostrategic terms. The Chinese intervention for peace between its two major trading partners has strengthened the Chinese image as a positive diplomatic force in the economic world. Compared to that the USA’s image as a power which ‘discourages’ trade through sanctions and proxy wars has

been reinforced. everyone in the world knows that if the Sheikhdoms are left to fend for themselves; they will certainly mend fences with non-Arab powers like the Turks and Iranians. Rapprochement between Saudis and Turks has been moving ahead despite the fact that both countries have been serious contenders for the leadership of the Sunni world. It has been the Iranian-Saudi file for the leadership of the Ummah, which has been long unattended and the one, which was scribbled through by the Chinese.

Another possible impact on the international scene; the amicable settlement in yemen to the advantage of all sides, the simmering political crisis in Bahrain; another theatre where Iranians and Saudis had locked horns since long, can be the positive takeaways within the Muslim body. For the Israeli state; it is a complex game; where it might have to start afresh to safeguard its goals. Until the Chinese intervention, it has been a foregone conclusion that Saudis will be leading the strike package for any antiIranian military initiative if the need arises. With the diplomatic opening on card and possible resumption of direct flights between Tehran and Riyadh as discussed in Iranian media, the Saudi support to any JCPOA failure-related military participation would be a doubtful affair. That situation can potentially force the Israeli decision makers to act in haste; go for behind-the-scene stealth operations and other cvert aggressive tactics. Any such eventuality will certainly cause geopolitical tension in the region, but its impact will be more like the 1967 war when Muslim world, inclusive of the pro-west Iran, was united against Israel.

In the backdrop of the teargasfilled theatrics taking place in major cities of the country, the country might actually be heading towards the electoral process at last. Given the fact that the USA and Pakistan need each other, it might also influence which civilian leader can be an asset for looking forward into a stable relationship. Towards that end, much is left to the respected readers to sort out

the Islamic Republic of Iran locked horns; partly over leadership of the Muslim body and partly due to divergent worldviews. That divergence became more pronounced with the relative identity of the foundation scripture identified as Sunni sourced and Shia sourced. In both the states, the role of clergy is confirmed though its modalities are differently placed. It will be an encouraging development, if the warring factions call it a day and the sectarian element in politics, administration and everyday life of the Pakistani populace is minimized, if not eliminated. However, the damage done in the last four decades from either side will be difficult to erase and undo. Of critical importance will be the fence-mending clerics; whose efforts will be of critical importance going forward.

rest is ‘history of instability’.

The impact on Pakistan will be an interesting development to watch. Pakistan has been a battleground of ideas and beliefs since the two states Saudi Arabia and

Fear of TikTok is idiotic. Will they ban chopsticks next?

TIKTOK IS A MASSIVELY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS. IT HAS BEEN DOWNLOADED MORE THAN 2 BILLION TIMES GLOBALLY, YET IT IS BEING PORTRAYED AS MALICIOUS BY INCREASINGLY HYSTERICAL NEWS REPORTS

Inmy working life as a journalist

I have been routinely searched many times before entering a criminal courtroom to report on a hearing. Once, an over-zealous security guard examined the backpack in which I carried my laptop, camera, digital recorder and sundry other workrelated items. After peering into the bag, he reached inside and removed a charger and cable for a mobile phone, telling me that I would get it back only when I left the building. When I asked him why he was confiscating an ordinary electrical plug, he replied: "Because people come here to steal our electricity."

I had no intention to charge up my mobile phone in any power socket, not least because this was a time when the use of mobile electrical devicesphones especially - was not permitted in courtrooms. However, even though there was no evidence I could, or would, charge my phone, the guard's mere misguided suspicion was enough for him to act pre-emptively.

Is this, I wonder, how the British government was thinking of TikTok when it took the decision to ban the app from government-owned smartphones and other devices? not because there was clear evidence of any security threat, but because they have a vague notion that there might be.

TikTok is a massively successful business. It has been downloaded more than 2 billion times globally, yet it is being portrayed as malicious by increasingly hysterical news reports. The truth is that it has a large target on its back simply because it is Chinese-owned. Politicians are muttering increasingly agitated criticisms, even though they probably don't know their apps from their elbows. In the current tensions existing between China and the West, they can find capital in attacking Beijing. And now both the British and the US governments are limiting the use of the app on the grounds that it might constitute a security risk. The evidence for this seems to be - rather like that of the courtroom security guardmere suspicion.

What drives this suspicion? Is there real evidence? Will anyone please show me the proof? Or is itlike, unfortunately, so many things these days - enough for it to be Chinese for it to be traduced by politicians in my part of the world, and for this casual, racially-charged slander to be faithfully repeated, often without challenge, in the media. Perhaps there is

something to worry about, something that only security services know and which they say they cannot share with ordinary people. However, after the lies told by our governments for example, to justify illegal war in Iraq we can be forgiven for refusing to accept their assertions at face value. Their "word" has been degraded, and xenophobia is not evidence.

Barely a year ago, the British government was launching its own TikTok channel. now, it is slavishly following America's ill-informed lead, along with Canada and the european Union, and declaring it a threat. Confusingly, some politicians are suggesting its citizens might want to stop using the app on their phones, while at least one UK government minister says he will continue to create video for the platform on his private devices.

There are contradictory messages from the US too. Some senators are calling for the app to be banned from their country, and dozens of states have introduced TikTok bans on their official devices. yet when one cautious state, Connecticut, was considering a similar move and asked the FBI for advice the Bureau admitted to having no further evidence to support the claims of security risk.

Despite TikTok's denials, and the paucity of evidence, and a plethora of international experts highlighting the massive hypocrisy that non-Chinese apps such as Facebook and Google harvest much more data than their Beijingbased rival, and despite there being nothing to prove it is a greater risk than any other social media, this Sinophobic witch-hunt gathers pace. What is driving this suspicion? evidence? Fear? Or simply the knowledge that TikTok is Chinese?

In this kind of deranged atmosphere, fear will always trump facts, and we should be concerned at where this will lead.

Where will we end up? Perhaps chopsticks will be banned by nATO for fear of being used to tap out encrypted messages by clicking in a secret rhythm on dining tables. Or they will be outlawed as potential weapons, disguised as eating utensils. Perhaps the traditional dancing dragons of Chinese new year will be exposed as not representations of mythical creatures but rather as a military device inside which the People's Liberation Army can smuggle its battalions into cities all over the UK and America. It's idiotic, yes, and idiocy is not evidence. And neither is xenophobia.

The author is a journalist and lecturer living in Britain.

Turning to the geopolitical aspect, Pakistan is standing again in a 1979 era, for precisely similar reasons of engagement into the geopolitical plans. In 1979, the loss of Iran through the Islamic revolution left the USA with no anchor in the region. The 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan could have been the deposed Shah’s prized assignment, if he has been around and not deposed in February 1979. The post-revolution government looked at the Afghan developments from its own perspective. The USA, after the natural demise of CenTOm was desperate to have friendly feet in the region. The Zia military government, already short of legitimacy, especially after the hanging of Bhutto in April 1979, was more than willing to align with the USA. While Carter, exhausted by the hostage crisis, had not much to offer to the Pakistanis, it was Ronald Reagan, the succeeding Republican US president, who practically enrolled Pakistan for the role, which was to be taken by Iran, if it had been in the US axis. However, the slack was taken up by Pakistan. The

Today, with China, Iran and Saudi Arabia all on one page; Pakistan, despite its claim of being China’s erstwhile friend, the Saudis’ brother in faith; and tied to Iran by similar cultural foundations, it is effectively out of the league. With the CPeC in shambles, China finds no attraction to re-engage Pakistan. With the Iranian gas pipeline getting rusty, Iran is not enthusiastic about Pakistanis. For the Saudis, Pakistan is little more than a beggar in need and that too a ‘clever beggar’.

For Pakistan, it seems like another 1979 moment. The USA will certainly try to reclaim whatever space it can have in the region. The Pakistani economic and geopolitical imperatives force it to look that way. In the backdrop of the standoff between the PTI chief Imran Khan and the PDM government, seeking his arrest from his Lahore residence, the Tweet of US top diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad sounded predictive. Khalilzad’s nonminced advice to the decision makers in Pakistan to call elections, avoid arrest of political leaders and create consensus on problem solving all indicate that the USA has stakes in a stable Pakistan, and in its civil and military leadership.

For Pakistan, the game plan is very clear. In the backdrop of the teargas-filled theatrics taking place in major cities of the country, the country might actually be heading towards the electoral process at last. Given the fact that the USA and Pakistan need each other, it might also influence which civilian leader can be an asset for looking forward into a stable relationship. Towards that end, much is left to the respected readers to sort out.

The writer is a freelance columnist

On China and debt distress

ABOUT ONE-FIFTH OF LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES ARE ESTIMATED TO ALREADY SUFFER FROM DEBT DISTRESS, AND HALF OF THE LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES ARE IN DANGER OF IT

can spiral out of control and impact the entire financial system. Remember how the Greek debt crisis affected the european Union (eU), the US and several other countries. This risk also applies to Sri Lanka.

LENDING A HELPING HAND TO SRI

miDDle easT moniTor seyMAnur yönt

WITHOUTChina's participation in joint efforts in debt restructuring, it is not possible to quickly ease the burden on many debt-distressed countries. However, even if not impossible, it is a difficult task. Some may think that the debt default of Sri Lanka is a far-flung problem in a distant land. However, this is far from the case for many reasons. Given that this affects food security and basic needs, protecting people's fundamental human rights must be a concern to us all. In Sri Lanka, one in three households is food insecure and people struggle to obtain essential medicines, as basic as painkillers. Political instability exacerbates the situation. Moreover, Sri Lanka owes many creditors, including US and europe-based institutional investors, the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, China and Japan. These creditors are not receiving their money back and, thus, cannot provide credit to other countries in need.

Finally, a debt crisis in any given country

LANKA: Some of the reasons mentioned above led the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to step in. In September 2022, the IMF reached a staff-level agreement with Sri Lanka, providing funding of about $2.9 billion. Such financing was destined to restore the country's financial and economic stability. However, the IMF conditioned funding upon receiving financing assurances from Sri Lanka's official creditors. In March 2023, all Sri Lanka's major creditors, including China, gave the country financing assurances. Therefore, the loan will be considered by the IMF executive Board, which constitutes great news for Sri Lanka to deal with its default.

But Sri Lanka is just one country that is going through financial problems. About onefifth of low-income countries are estimated to already suffer from debt distress, and half of the low-income countries are in danger of it. This means the risk for the financial system is greater than thought. This also means countries and financial institutions should, without delay, collaboratively act upon the debt distress and debt unsustainability problems. In other words, governments and financial institutions should go beyond geopolitical disputes and find a way to create a functioning forum for discussion on debt restructuring, which must include China – a major creditor.

CHINA: A KEY ACTOR IN SAVING

MANY: China is a significant creditor, which many underdeveloped nations appreciate because Beijing has less extensive conditions than other creditors, including the IMF. Moreover, China grants loans more quickly than

other creditors. As a result, China is a major creditor of several African countries. Many of the latter are on the brink of debt distress. This is why China should be a part of a functioning and collaborative forum comprising major creditors, including the Paris Club members. But this goal is challenging and was tried before to no avail. For example, the G20 Common Framework for Debt Treatments adopted a similar plan. Countries, including Zambia, Ghana and Chad, applied to be part of the framework. However, this group was ineffective and dysfunctional, as its members had little in common. Consequently, they could not implement the decisions they agreed on. A similar problem could arise again in collaborative forums that include China. Beijing's reluctance to cooperate and disclose its lending terms will complicate things. Creditors' different approaches to debt restructuring, such as write-downs and maturity extensions, are another persistent problem.

IS THERE A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL?

Still, there is hope. China and other creditors managed to somehow work together in Zambia's debt restructuring process. The same is now happening with Sri Lanka. This shows that creditors can benefit from their Zambia and Sri Lanka experiences and conduct the debt restructuring process in a coordinated, timely and effective manner. Otherwise, people living in those nations will suffer deeply, and those with close relations with them will also suffer, destabilising the system and jeopardising the world's economy. In an integrated world economy, there is no faraway problem in a distant land. Therefore, we should all be concerned, and all major creditors should not hesitate to swiftly take action to facilitate debt restructuring processes.

Daily sTar editoriAl

OURfinancial investigators seem to have a habit of sitting back and waiting for information to fall into their laps, as their inaction in various corruption cases will suggest. But to fail to act even when valuable information is available is callous at best, and collusive at worst. This is what happened after a Washington-based organisation in May last year reported the purchase of Dubai real estate by 459 Bangladeshi nationals, presumably with laundered money. But even after about 10 months have passed, and despite a High Court order issued on January 15 to investigate the matter, relevant agencies have failed to take action. This is quite disturbing. As per a report by this daily, the court had ordered the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), national Board of Revenue (nBR), and Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to initiate the investigation and share their findings within one month. But they have done neither, apparently because they haven't received a written copy of the order. you cannot help but wonder: Why would they delay action on such a technicality, particularly when the message was unmistakeable? Why would they need to be told to do what they should be doing anyway?

There are many instances where the investigating agencies launched probes based on media reports, without requiring a court order. For example, in 2020 and 2021, the ACC went through 2,167

media reports as its primary source of information and picked some cases for investigation. The other agencies have done the same from time to time. Their inaction in this case thus raises suspicion. Is it lack of respect to the court? Is it lack of coordination for which our state institutions are so notorious? Or is there a higher motive given how powerful money launderers are?

Investigation, it should be noted, is but the first step in the direction of justice. Ideally, it would be followed by filing of cases, then further investigations leading to charge sheets, then a lengthy trial process given the capacity of our judiciary, and finally a conviction, if we're being really optimistic. But if the first step takes so long to initiate, what will happen in the subsequent stages? After all, as a november 2022 assessment shows, some 976 money laundering cases have been registered in the country since 2003, of which only 203 have been disposed of. In total, 856 cases filed on charges of laundering money have been pending with various trial courts for years. It almost seems like the whole system is designed to protect money launderers. As a result, billions of taka have already left the country illegally. We have often expressed our concerns about the state of agencies dealing with money laundering and other financial crimes. The ACC, in particular, remains ill-equipped in this regard. We have also seen repeated foot-dragging under various pretexts. We think the government owes it to its own economic ambitions to stop this disastrous trend, and punish the corrupt and scammers, however well-connected they may be. For now, it must investigate the allegation of illegal real estate purchase in Dubai.

XI’s RussIA vIsIT TO HElp nAvIgATE BIlATERAl TIEs, BOOsT glOBAl sTABIlITY

ISlaMaBaD

StAFF report

CHINESEPresident Xi Jinping’s upcoming state visit to Russia, his first foreign trip since being reelected as Chinese president, will be a trip of friendship, cooperation and peace. The visit, scheduled for March 20-22, is set to map out the blueprint for the development of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era. It will also push ahead with the practical cooperation between the two countries, and inject strong impetus into the endeavor to maintain peace and prosperity so as to jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind.

‘China-Russia ties should ‘move forward steadily’ in turbulent world’

Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui told media that the more turbulent the world is, the more important it is for ChinaRussia relations to move forward steadily. The ambassador said that no matter how the international situation changes, the ChinaRussia comprehensive strategic partnership

of coordination for a new era will continue to move forward at a higher level under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state.

Zhang said the heads of state of China and Russia have maintained close contacts and exchanged views on bilateral cooperation and major international issues, which is the compass and anchor of the development of bilateral relations.

Xi and Putin have reached a series of important strategic consensuses on promoting an upgrade of bilateral relations, maintaining regional security and stability, and building a community with a shared future for mankind, Zhang noted.

Over the past 10 years, the China-Russia relationship has entered a new era, with bilateral cooperation achieving new results, and strategic coordination reaching new levels, he said.

The ambassador stressed that facing multiple challenges such as the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, the complex evolution of the international situation and a weak global economic recovery, China-Russia economic and trade cooperation has withstood the pressure and continued to advance.

In 2022, bilateral trade between China and Russia hit a record-high of $190.27 billion, Zhang noted, adding that energy trade has played an even more pivotal role in bilateral trade, while China’s exports of mechanical and electrical products, automobiles and auto parts to Russia have all seen substantial growth.

The proportion of settlements in local currencies continued to grow, with Russian banks carrying out extensive RMB business, he said.

Noting the ever-deepening sub-national cooperation between the two countries,

India tensions rise as Australia refuses to ban pro-Khalistan referendum

NEw DElHI App

Tensions have escalated between India and Australia over the upcoming Khalistan Referendum organised by the pro-secessionist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) on Monday in the city of Brisbane.

The Indian government has demanded a ban on voting, which seeks to create an independent Khalistan state for Sikhs in India, citing its potential to challenge India’s territorial integrity. However, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has refused to stop the legal right to expression of pro-Khalistan Sikhs in Australia, stating that all local laws are being followed. The dispute has led to protests and the closure of Indian diplomatic facilities in Australia. Last week, dozens of pro-Khalistan Sikhs forced the closure of India’s honorary consulate in Brisbane by blockading the entry and raising slogans for justice.

On Monday, the Australian government issued an updated travel advisory for its citizens against travel-

ing to India, citing a “high risk of violence” in certain states, including the northwestern state of Punjab. The advisory has irked the Indian government, which has taken up the issue with the Australian authorities.

The recent alleged incidents of attacks on temples in Australia as well as pro-Khalistani activities in that country were raised by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese in a recent phone call. The Indian leader had reportedly expressed concern after over 50,000 Sikhs turned up to vote for the Khalistan Referendum in Melbourne for the first phase at the end of January this year, which led to clashes between Sikhs and Hindu groups outside the voting centre and several arrests.

SFJ has accused hardline Hindutva supporters in Australia of attacking Sikhs and defacing Khalistan banners hung at Sikh temples. SFJ General Counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has declared that the March 19 “Battlefield-Brisbane” Khalistan Referendum Voting Centre is dedicated to Harmeet Singh Bhaowal and Baljinder Kaur, who were bombed to

Zhang said local institutions and enterprises from both sides have actively participated in the China International Import Expo, the Canton Fair, the Eastern Economic Forum and the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, further synergizing cooperation requirements and fully unleashing cooperation potential.

The Heihe-Blagoveshchensk cross-border highway bridge, the Tongjiang-Nizhneleninskoye cross-border railway bridge and other boundary river bridges have opened to the traffic one after another, and cross-border

logistics and transport channels have been further expanded, he said.

Following China’s optimization and adjustment of epidemic prevention measures, customs clearance at ports of the two countries has gradually returned to the pre-pandemic mode, effectively ensuring the smooth flow of personnel and goods between the two sides, he said.

“In the first two months of this year, bilateral trade sustained strong growth momentum, reaching $33.69 billion, up 25.9 percent year on year, which was a good start,” Zhang said. “It demonstrates again that the foundation of bilateral economic and trade cooperation remains solid.”

As neighboring countries, China and Russia enjoy strong political mutual trust, high economic complementarity and great cooperation potential, he said, adding that more Russian companies have shown strong willingness to cooperate with the Chinese side.

“We believe that the China-Russia trade will reach new heights in 2023, and we strive to achieve the trade target of $200 billion by the end of this year set by the two heads of state,” he said.

‘I’M BACK’: Trump returns to Facebook, YouTube after two-year ban

NEw YorK AFp

death along with their nine-month-old son Pavittar Singh by the Indian police forces in Haryana in 1992.

“While Modi regime is pursuing violence to crush the Khalistan Referendum, SFJ is using voting to resolve the decades-old conflict between the Sikhs and the Union of India,” said Pannun in a video message. He urged PM Albanese to educate PM Modi that seeking secession and independence through voting cannot be labelled as terrorism in a democracy. The Australian government has also advised its citizens not to travel to Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and the India-Pakistan border (except the Atari-Wagah border crossing) due to the risk of armed clashes.

US leadership role in Middle East facing deep challenges

waSHINGToN AFp

China’s shock success at bringing Saudi Arabia and Iran together has challenged the United States’ longstanding role as the key outside power broker in the Middle East. Beijing’s persuading archrivals Riyadh and Tehran to reestablish diplomatic relations upstaged the United States just as Washington appears powerless to intervene in the political tensions in Israel over the Netanyahu government’s sharp-right turn, which has inflamed Palestinians.

“Anything that can help reduce tensions, avoid conflict and deter in any way dangerous and destabilising actions by Iran is a good thing,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday on the

Saudi-Iran deal announced on March 10.

US officials have tried to minimise Beijing’s role in the region, saying it is far from supplanting the United States: much of the Middle East still sits under the Pentagon’s security umbrella.

But China’s breakthrough is a real challenge, as Washington remains deeply preoccupied with the Ukraine war and, over the long term, with blunting Beijing’s diplomatic and military advance in the Indo-Pacific region.

James Ryan, Director of the Middle East program at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, said Washington is happy if anyone can contribute to Middle East regional stability, even rival China.

“The Biden administration has very clearly said that when it comes to the Middle East they’re going

Bank Alfalah commits Rs49m to building schools in flood-hit areas

Karachi: Bank Alfalah, the biggest corporate donor for the flood-affected communities, has partnered with The Citizens Foundation (TCF) to fund the construction of a primary school in Asif Nagar in Nawabshah, Sindh, for PKR 49 million. Bank Alfalah's contribution towards rebuilding schools is particularly noteworthy given that more than 25,000 schools have been damaged in Pakistan. The donated amount will facilitate the building of a TCF primary school, contributing to the organisation's efforts to increase literacy in areas where education is hindered by flood damage. The school will provide education from kindergarten to fifth grade comprising 30 students in every class with an overall operational capacity of 180 students, 8 faculty and 5 non-faculty members to ensure a reasonable teacher-student ratio. It will be a purpose-built primary school with essential facilities like running water, electricity, classrooms, and a library and resource centre for the children affected by the catastrophic floods.

The signing of the agreement was held at the TCF’s headquarters in Karachi in the presence of Atif BajwaPresident and CEO of Bank Alfalah, along with Asad M Saleem - Co-founder and Chairman of the Board, Ateed Riaz-Co-founder and Zia Akhtar Abbas- Executive Vice President among other notables from both the organisations. Speaking at the occasion, Atif Bajwa, President and CEO of Bank Alfalah, said “Bank Alfalah, is leading from the front when it comes to creating access to the opportunities and tools needed to build a prosperous future. Through our commitment to TCF, we aim to uplift the lives of our nation’s future generations and empower them on their journey towards a brighter future. We are proud of this initiative, and look forward to supporting more infrastructural and capacity-building initiatives in the future, as well.” pr

to favour security, they’re going to favour stability,” he told AFP. “American involvement just overall is going to be more on the sidelines than it has been in the past,” a message the Saudis “very clearly” understand, Ryan said. tenSe tieS with riyadh: China stepped in in a period when the US views Iran as a major threat to the region and yet its own relations with longtime ally Saudi Arabia have frayed. Meanwhile, its ability to intervene in IsraeliPalestinian disputes has greatly diminished.

Despite scoring a huge $37 billion contract to sell more Boeing jets to the Saudis this week, Washington’s ties with Riyadh have been tense since President Joe Biden ordered a review of the relationship in October.

Ahsan Iqbal inaugurates PAEC’s Diagnostic Center in Narowal

Narowal pr

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal inaugurated Diagnostic Center Narowal (DCN) here on Saturday. The DCN is a satellite center of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) established at Narowal for diagnosis of cancer patients from the district and surrounding areas.

Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission is running 19 cancer hospitals throughout the country which are catering to medical needs of over 70% of the cancer patients in Pakistan. The PCI of DCN as Phase-II of Gujranwala Institute of Nuclear Medicine (GINUM) was approved in 2017 owing to the keen interest and special efforts of Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives. Ground breaking of the DCN project was also performed by Prof. Ahsan Iqbal.

Nuclear Medicine and Radiology departments have been established at DCN to provide

diagnostic services to the general public of the area. The center is equipped with the latest medical equipment including SPECT/CT Gamma Camera, Digital Radiography, Digital Mammography, Ultrasound, Immunoassay Lab. and Hot Lab facilities. The DCN has been designed in such a way that it could also cope with the future needs of Medical Oncology.

In his speech as chief guest the minister paid rich tributes to the scientists and engineers of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission saying he was happy to welcome heroes of Pakistan who made the defence of the country unconquerable.

Former president Donald Trump wrote his first posts on his reinstated Facebook and YouTube accounts Friday, more than two years after he was banned over the US Capitol insurrection. “I’M BACK,” Trump exclaimed, alongside a 12-second video clip that appeared to show him giving his victory speech after winning the 2016 election saying: “Sorry to keep you waiting — complicated business.” The 76-year-old Republican leader — who is running for president again — has been unable to post any content for his 34 million Facebook followers and 2.6 million YouTube subscribers. The platforms benched Trump days after the January 6, 2021 insurrection, when a mob of his supporters seeking to halt the certification of his election defeat to Joe Biden stormed the US Capitol in Washington. He was sanctioned for posting content that the platforms said incited unrest, with YouTube announcing his reinstatement on Friday, two months after Facebook said it was unlocking his account. The former reality TV star had spent weeks falsely claiming that the presidential election was stolen from him, and he was subsequently impeached for inciting the riot. “Starting today, the Donald J. Trump channel is no longer restricted and can upload new content,” YouTube said in a statement. “We carefully evaluated the continued risk of real-world violence, while balancing the chance for voters to hear equally from major national candidates in the run-up to an election.” Staying off twitter?

Republican leaders raged against Trump being booted from Facebook, while a group of Democrats in Congress had urged parent company Meta to extend the ban to keep “dangerous and unfounded election denial content off its platform.” The social networking giant announced in January it was reinstating Trump’s accounts on Facebook and Instagram with “new guardrails.” Trump’s lawyer Scott Gast had written to the company, based in California’s Bay Area, saying it had “dramatically distorted and inhibited the public discourse.” The former president’s Twitter account, which has 87 million followers, was also blocked after the riot, leaving him to communicate through his own platform Truth Social, where he has fewer than five million followers.

HABIBMETRO celebrates Women's Day to ‘Embrace Women, Embrace Equity’

KaraChi: Pakistan – HABIBMETRO BANK, held a grand event in celebration of International Women's Day on March 13, 2023, at Area 51, Karachi. The event, which was themed "Embrace Women, Embrace Equity," aimed to empower and showcase the talent and potential of women in all aspects of life. In a true celebration of women's skills and abilities, the event was completely led by womenfrom photography to music and entertainment programs. The event was a remarkable reflection of the immense talent and leadership qualities of women and truly shone a spotlight on their capabilities. pr

UMT holds 24th Convocation 2023: A celebration of academic excellence and achievements

laHorE pr

University of Management and Technology (UMT) held its 24th Convocation 2023 at the Expo Center, Lahore. Total 1389 graduates were given degrees in the various disciplines on this occasion. According to the details 827 Bachelors, 126 Masters, 405 MS/MPhil and 31 PhD degrees were conferred.

Furthermore, 13 Patron’s Gold Medals, 12 Rector’s Silver Medals, 02 Rector’s Academic Excellence Awards Gold Medals, 01 Certificate of Excellence, 01 UMT Best Teacher Award along with cash prize of Rs. 100,000, 08 UMT Best School Teacher Awards along with cash prize of Rs. 25,000 each, 07 University Level Best Researcher Awards, 07 School Level Best Researcher Awards and 08 Research Publication Awards for MS/MPhil students were given away on the occasion.

Rector UMT Dr Asif Raza in his welcome address expressed his gratitude to the Chief Guest Muhammad

Baligh Ur Rehman (Governor Punjab) for gracing the convocation with his presence. Dr. Asif Raza whole heartedly congratulated the graduating students, their parents and the UMT faculty and acknowledged their hard work and dedication. During his speech, he highlighted the various milestones achieved by UMT and commended the vision of Dr. Hasan Sohaib Murad Shaheed. He praised the efforts of UMT leadership, faculty and management in helping UMT become the leading private sector university in the country and

one of the top 600 universities globally. I urge you to use your knowledge and skills to create positive change in your communities and contribute to the betterment of society, said Dr. Asif Raza.

Muhammad BalighurRehman, Governor Punjab and Patron UMT congratulated all the graduates and appreciated their hard work, resilience and perseverance. He said that it is an honor for me to witness the 24th convocation of the UMT. Mr. Governor highlighted that our achievements are due to the teamwork and support of many people around us and we should be grateful to them, especially our parents and teachers. He further expressed that UMT has provided you with an enabling environment and commendable management. Advising the graduates, Mr. BalighurRehman said that the recipe for success includes a clear vision, strong character and moral values, constant improvement and patience. Along with the degree good character is needed to climb the ladder of success, he added.

AmId lEgAl wrAnglIng, ImrAn SAyS

‘london PlAn’ undErwAy to ArrESt HIm

LAHore/ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

IMRANKhan said he was aware of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government’s intention to arrest him as the former prime minister, who is due to appear before a judge to face charges in the Toshakhana case, arrived in Islamabad for the hearing. His message to supporters and workers of his Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party came after repeated attempts from law enforcement authorities to arrest him for missing previous hearings.

In a video message shared on Twitter, Khan said: “I am going to court despite knowing they’ll arrest me because I believe in the rule of law.”

He also claimed that a premeditated plan to arrest him was in place and alleged that it was part of a larger “London plan” orchestrated allegedly by deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Khan’s arrival at the Judicial Complex was marred by allegations of violence. Television footage showed a group of supporters accompanying Khan attempted to escort him onto the court premises, but the

Punjab election: Scrutiny of nominations for general, reserved seats begins

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

police prevented them from doing so due to security arrangements.

The police claimed the party workers began to pelt stones at them.

The opposition party has also accused the police of shelling Khan’s vehicle.

Senator Ejaz Chaudhary said Khan’s convoy was outside the courts, and that “intense shelling on [Khan’s] car right now.”

Separately, in an audio message released to the media, Khan said he had been waiting outside the door of the building for 15 minutes and was attempt-

ing to enter, but the police had used tear gas and erected checkpoints to prevent him from doing so.

Despite the obstacles, Khan said he remained outside the complex and was still attempting to enter.

The case: The case is based on a complaint the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) filed against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman on charges of misusing his office to sell state gifts.

It centres on a government department known as Toshakhana — which

Another electricity price hike by K-Electric

during the Mughal era referred to the treasure houses kept by the subcontinent’s princely rulers to store and display gifts lavished on them. Government officials must declare all gifts to the Cabinet Division, but are allowed to keep those below a certain value.

More expensive items must go to Toshakhana under the administrative control of the Cabinet Division, but in some cases, the recipient can buy them back at around 50 percent of their value — a discount Khan raised from 20 percent while in office.

The ruling coalition of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) parties has for months alleged Khan and his wife, Bushra Maneka, received, and later sold, lavish gifts worth millions during trips abroad. They included luxury watches, jewellery, designer handbags and perfumes. Despite multiple previous hearings, Khan has managed to evade arrest by law enforcement personnel.

Accompanied by a convoy of party workers, Khan departed from his residence in the Zaman Park neighbourhood of Lahore and was en route to Islamabad, according to his party.

India invites Asif for multilateral SCO summit

ISLAMABAD anadolu agency

India has invited Pakistan to attend the defense ministers’ meeting, which will be held next month in April.

As the chair of the eight-nation Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), India has invited all members.

“As SCO chair, we’ve sent invitations to all SCO members for intergovernmental events. I can’t say(whether Pakistan will attend the meeting),” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told reporters when asked about India’s invitation to Pakistan’s defence minister for the SCO meet.

However, there has been no response from Pakistan regarding Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif attending this meeting taking place in India.

istani minister after 2011, when foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khan visited India.

Then-prime minister Nawaz Sharif visited India in May 2014 to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi after a thumping victory in the general elections.

Indian external affairs minister at that time, Sushma Swaraj, visited Pakistan in December 2015 and later, Narendra Modi also visited Pakistan.

Sharat Sabharwal, a former diplomat who had served as Indian high commissioner to Pakistan, told Anadolu Agency that this invitation is not unusual.

“As chair of the SCO, all members have to be sent invitations for the meeting. Pakistan is a member. That’s normal and nothing surprising at all.

KE SEEKS RS1.66 PER UNIT HIKE IN TARIFF UNDER FUEL CHARGES ADJUSTMENT FOR FEBRUARY

profIt report

iSlamabad

Customers of K-Electric (KE) are likely to face another power tariff hike by Rs 1.66 per unit on account of Fuel Charge Adjustment (FCA) for the month of February 2023.

KE has filed a request with National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) for monthly FCA for the month of February 2023 under Multi Year Tariff (MYT) 2017-2023. The hearing is scheduled to be held on 30th March 2023 in this regard.

According to sources, if the NEPRA approves Rs 1.66 increase in power tariff under the head monthly FCA then Karachiites will generate an additional revenue to the tune of Rs 1.86 billion.

NEPRA through a public hearing notice has invited all the affected parties to raise any objections as permissible under the law.

It is pertinent to mention that MYT determination prescribes mechanisms for adjustment in the MYT on a monthly and quarterly basis.

Scrutiny of the Punjab Assembly candidates’ nomination papers, including general seats and special seats for women and minorities has been underway. The scrutiny of nomination papers of the candidates for 297 general seats, 66 reserved seats for women and eight minorities’ seats, has been began on Saturday.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has established an online Scrutiny Cell to provide legal assistance and support to 297 Returning Officers (ROs) during the rigorous scrutiny of nomination papers of candidates vying for provincial assembly seats of Punjab.

The ECP spokesperson earlier said that the special software links several government agencies such as the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), National Accountability Bureau (NAB), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), PTCL, Wapda and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) with the Election Commission Secretariat. The Cell, tasked to work round the clock, was also equipped with fax, telephone, and internet facilities.

The necessary proforma and Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) have been devised and provided to all the Returning Officers (ROs) to help them carry out their duties effectively.

The Returning Officer would have access to the online available information of every candidate. The defaulter of any department or a wanted person could not pass through the scrutiny.

The ROs will conduct scrutiny of nomination papers for general seats at their offices.

The ECP has appointed election commissioner Punjab as the RO for reserved seats of women and minorities.

The ECP spokesperson said that the scrutiny process will be completed by March 22 as per the schedule. All political parties have submitted their priority lists with the returning officer for reserved seats. Polling for the election of Punjab Assembly will be held on April 30.

If Pakistan decides to send its minister to India, it will be the first high-level visit of any Pak-

Whether they attend it or not, that is altogether a different issue,” said Sabharwal. He further said that the SCO chief justice meeting

hosted by India was not attended by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

It was attended by another justice, he added.

India invited Pakistan for the SCO Chief Justice meeting held in New Delhi from March 10-12.

The SCO is made up of eight member countries, which include India, Russia, China, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

The members discuss matters of regional concern, security, growth, and multilateral relations. The organization focuses on promoting economic, political, and military cooperation among its members.

The relations between the two arch-rival countries plummeted to a new low after August 2019, when India scrapped the longstanding special status of occupied Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in Islamabad downgrading its diplomatic ties with New Delhi.

All institutions responsible to ensure writ of govt: Marriyum

LAHore Staff RepoRt

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Saturday that all state institutions were responsible for the establishment of the writ of the government.

“Allowing the accused to come to courts with crowds would give a message that the justice system and law in Pakistan are afraid of terrorists, thugs, goons, threats and abuses,” she said while addressing a press conference here.

“Imran’s antics are giving the wrong message that powerful people are above the law,” the minister said, adding that Imran Khan was not afraid of playing with national interests, hatching conspiracies and blatantly violating the law and the Constitution.

The minister questioned whether the justice system was “afraid of terrorists and petrol bombs”.

“When a Ladla (a darling), a hooligan, a scoundrel comes to courts like this and he gets a bundle relief package from the court, it gives the wrong message,” she maintained. She said that Imran Khan illegally dissolved the National Assembly fearing the success of the noconfidence motion by compelling the President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker National Assembly to violate the Constitution.

The miniter said Imran Khan had brainwashed

Imran moves IHC to avert possible arrest; bail plea filed in five cases

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

Former prime minister Imran Khan Saturday moved the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against his possible arrest as he headed to the Islamabad court to attend the Toshakhana case hearing.

In the petition, the PTI chairman maintained that Islamabad police had blocked the roads, leading to the judicial complex and also blocked the motorway and other highways to create hurdles. “As Imran was en route to Islamabad, the Punjab Police stormed his Zaman Park residence in Lahore, while the “doors and walls have been raised to the ground,” it stated.

The PTI chief prayed to the IHC to immediately stop authorities from illegally arresting him in any case or inquiry or investigation before any law enforcement agency, including the National Accountability Bureau without the permission of this court. Imran Khan’s motorcade has entered Islamabad after a brief interruption at the federal capital’s toll plaza to appear before district and session court in the Toshakhana case. Stringent security measures were put in place outside the judicial complex in Islamabad’s G-11. A large contingent of police was deployed in the area to ensure foolproof security. In a statement, the Islamabad police’s spokesperson said that Section 144 (ban on public gatherings and display of weapons) has been imposed in the federal capital.

Khan’s bail plea in five cases filed in aTc: On the other hand, the team of Pakistan Tehreeki-Insaf (PTI) lawyers has filed Party chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan’s bail plea in five cases in the Anti-Terrorism Court. As per details, five FIRs are registered against the PTI chief Imran Khan, two FIRs are registered in Ramna Police Station, two in Khanna Police Station and one in Bhara Kahu Police Station.

the youth and has been instigating them to attack the state and national institutions. She lamented that “a thief, a terrorist and corrupt person” was still at large. She reminded that Imran Khan has not appeared in this case since the start of its hearing in the Election Commission of Pakistan from 18 August 2022. The minister said that on August 18, August 21, 2022, January 31, 2023, February 7, 2023, Imran Khan did not appear in the Islamabad High Court. On January 31, when Imran Khan was to be indicted, he got exemption from personal appearance. She said that he did not appear in Islamabad High Court on March 9,2023 and he got relief from there too.

Earlier, the Islamabad police had registered a case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and other party leaders for attacking, vandalizing, and damaging the judicial complex during the former premier appearance. The leaders of a “political party” were leading the mob, adding that they provoked the people, which led to vandalism, the FIR added. An attempt was made to attack the Federal Judicial Complex and the Islamabad High Court (IHC) under a plan, it said.

In the FIR, the police maintained that government property was damaged at the judicial complex. “Armed PTI workers threatened to kill police officials and others at the judicial complex,” it added.

Shaheen leads Qalandars to clinch HBL PSL 8 trophy

LAHore mian abRaR

Lahore Qalandars on Saturday defeated

Multan Sultans by one run to clinch HBL PSL 8 title in a last over thriller with Shaheen Shah Afridi leading Lahore with brilliant skills in both batting and bowling.

Afridi scored blistering 44 runs not out in only 15 balls while later showed his class with ball and claimed four wickets for 51 runs in his stipulated four overs. He was also declared Man of the Final.

Multan Sultans Captain Mohammad

Rizwan led the charge of Multan Sultans after being set for a challenging 201 target in the final match by Qalandars.

Rizwan scored 34 runs of 23 balls but the real challenge came from Rilee Rossouw

who scored 52 runs of 32 balls. Rossouw’s innings was laced with seven boundaries and two sixes.

However, Rossouw lacked a trust worthy partner after Rizwan left him. In the final overs, Khushdil Shah and Abbas Afridi lifted Sultans with few boundaries but Shah failed to take the Sultans across the winning line.

Ace bowler from Qalandars, Mohammad Zaman, held his nerves as he bowled a brilliant last over to make sure his team restrict the Sultans to 199.

The Lahore Qalandars struggled to start the crucial game perfectly but they managed to touch 34 runs in the first three overs, with opener Tahir Baig scoring 30 off 18 balls, he was dismissed by Ihsanullah.

After Baig’s exit, Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique stitched 57 in 38 balls

for the second wicket. Abdullah Shadique starred by playing a knock of 65 before being outfoxed by Anwar Ali.

The middle order of the hosts however tumbled as Sultan’s bowling line spit fire, taking four back-to-back wickets. Spinner Usama Mir got three wickets in his first two overs as he outfoxed Fakhar Zaman, Sam Billings, and Ahsan Hafeez.

Later, Khushdil Shah got Sikandar Raza on mere 1. Skipper Shaheen Afridi again displayed A-game with batting as he played a quick knock of 44, courtesy of 5 maximums.

Cool and composed Lahore Qalandars have decided to bat first against inform Multan Sultans during the final of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore today on Saturday.

Photo by Zubair Mehfooz