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Iqbal claimed that the growth target was realistic We are taking those choices which take the country toward stability ” he added The minister did not disclose other budget targets except for the GDP and development spending which he said will be up to Rs 1 15 trillion

According to him the government has estimated a 21 % inflation projection for the fiscal year 2023-24

Iqbal also pointed out the dismal condition of the economy saying the government would not be able to pay off debt fully through federal revenue in the next year This is a defining mo-

ment of where we have reached he said (The country) will need to borrow for the rest of the budget that includes salaries for the government, defense budget, development budget, pension and subsidies,” he added He said that the proposals also included a fiscal deficit target of 7 7 percent of GDP and a revenue collection target of Rs 9 2 trillion

The minister claimed that the NEC was also informed about the development outlook of 2035 under which Pakistan s economy will be at least $ 570 billion whereas, he believes that the country could be of $ $1000 billion economy by 2035 if the development plan is implemented

Development Budget:

During the meeting of NEC on Tuesday the forum also proposed the

hearing against audio leaks commission: sc reserves verdict on plea for judges’ recusal

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

Annual Development Plan (ADP) for the upcoming fiscal year (2023-24) with a total outlay of Rs 2 709 trillion

“The total national outlay contains the development budget of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for only four months due to caretaker set up in the provinces but if their full budget is included in the ADP, it will exceed the figure of Rs3 trillion, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal said in the post-NEC meeting media

Govt decides inclusion of energy reforms in budget

The

on Tuesday decided to make energy reforms a part of the budget 2023-24 in order to cut reliance on imported fuel The decision was taken by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at a high-level meeting on energy-related budgetary proposals that focused on the generation of cheap electricity relief for consumers and launch of solarisation projects The meeting was attended by fed-

eral ministers including Ishaq Dar Khwaja Muhammad Asif, Engineer Khurram Dastagir Khan, and Maryam Aurangzeb, Advisers to PM Ahad Cheema State Ministers Dr Musadik Malik and Ayesha Ghous Pasha PM’s Special Assistant Tariq Bajwa Jahanzeb Khan Chairman Federal Board of Revenue, Chairman WAPDA and the officials concerned Commerce Minister Syed Naveed Qamar Governor State Bank of Pakistan and prominent businessmen joined the meeting through video-link The prime

PM announces mega incentives and job oppor tunities for IT sector in upcoming budget

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday set a target for the IT sector to increase its export up to the tune of $4 5 billion for the next year and directed the relevant authorities to include mega incentives for the Information Technology sector in the fiscal budget 2023-24 to boost country’s IT export

In a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif several recommendations and directions were given to boost the Information Technology (IT) sector in Pakistan and increase its export

The premier set a target for the IT sector to achieve an export value of $4 5 billion in the next year emphasizing the need for significant incentives in the fiscal budget 2023-24

To promote the IT sector, the government plans to introduce a fixed tax regime and has formed a committee to provide recommendations on this matter Additionally special incentives will be provided to new business start-ups in the IT industry along

with concessions for trade and business through modern technology

Recognizing the importance of youth empowerment, the prime minister directed the allocation of a substantial budget for training in the IT sector Currently 45 000 young individuals across the country are undergoing IT training and the government aims to further enhance this initiative

As part of their commitment to supporting youth, the government will distribute 100 000 laptops on a merit basis to facilitate their educational and entrepreneurial pursuits

Furthermore the prime minister approved the creation of special training IT zones to promote entrepreneurship These zones will provide an environment conducive to fostering innovative ideas and setting up successful IT-based businesses

The prime minister highlighted the significance of IT-related recommendations in the upcoming fiscal budget, stating that their approval would generate massive job opportunities for the youth He instructed the relevant authorities to take nec-

essary measures to guide and assist young entrepreneurs in establishing new companies in the IT sector

In order to showcase the potential and opportunities offered by Pakistan’s IT sector the prime minister directed the organization of IT sector road shows abroad These shows will serve as platforms to raise awareness among international stakeholders about the favorable conditions and facilities available in the country’s IT industry

The meeting was attended by key government officials including the Minister for Finance Minister for Information Technology & Telecommunication, Minister for Information and Broadcasting, PM’s Adviser, Minister of State, and other relevant authorities Renowned IT experts and representatives from leading IT companies were also present to contribute their expertise to the discussions With the prime minister s comprehensive approach towards the IT sector, Pakistan is poised to witness significant growth in IT exports job creation and the overall development of the industry

minister directed inclusion of measures in upcoming budget regarding control of power line losses and electricity theft He also ordered the allocation of funds in the budget for the launch of wind and solar energy projects and called for the swift completion of power projects The meeting was informed that under the government s solarisation programme for public buildings, four phases had been completed successfully The steps taken by the government for supply of uninterrupted electricity and gas also came under discussion

Justice Munib Akhtar questioned the government s decision on Tuesday to object to the constitution of the bench hearing petitions filed against the formation of a judicial inquiry commission probing the audio leaks asking whether the government had accepted them as authentic already A five-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) reserved its verdict over the government s application seeking the recusal of three of the judges presiding over the hearing

The larger bench was hearing petitions challenging a judicial inquiry commission probing into the audio leaks allegedly involving current and former members of the superior judiciary and their family members

In addition to Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial the bench includes Justice Ijazul Ahsan

Justice Munib Akhtar Justice Syed Hasan Azhar

Rizvi and Justice Shahid Waheed

On May 20, the federal government had formed the judicial commission to probe into over half-a-dozen leaked audio clips allegedly involving some current and former members of the superior judiciary and their family members to determine their veracity and impact on the independence of the judiciary

The three-man judicial commission is led by SC senior puisne judge Justice Qazi Faez Isa and comprises Balochistan High Court Chief Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Islamabad High Court

Chief Justice Aamer Farooq

As controversy surrounded the five-member bench hearing petitions against the commission the government had sought the recusal of Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar from the bench Last week, the judicial commission probing into these leaked audio clips had also raised objections to the composition of the SC bench hearing pleas against the commission

One of the audio clips allegedly pertains to the motherin-law of the honourable chief justice [of Pakistan]

Honourable Mr Justice Munib Akhtar may also be mentioned in the said recording “And in another audio recording reference is made to case fixation before a particular bench headed by honorable Mr Justice Ijazul Ahsan said a concise statement submitted by the commission s secretary Hafeezullah Khajjak to the SC

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PR OFIT G H U L A M A B B A S
tH E National Economic Council (NEC) the country’s highest forum for economic decisionmaking has approved a target of 3 5 percent GDP growth for the fiscal year 2023-24 budget This growth target represents a significant increase of 1066 67 % compared to the 0 3 % growth rate recorded in the outgoing fiscal year of 2022-23 Despite implementing painful fiscal adjustments and adhering to the reform agenda set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the government remains optimistic about achieving this target The GDP growth rate for the outgoing fiscal year fell significantly to 0 3 % Minister Ahsan Iqbal however defended the realistic nature of the next year s target, emphasizing that the government s choices are aimed at stabilizing the country He made this announcement during a press conference in Islamabad following an NEC meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
talk Under the ADP the minister said the federal government will spend Rs1 150 billion under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP 2023-24) while the provinces will allocate Rs1,559 billion to execute different development projects He said Rs1 150 billion under the PSDP was the highest-ever allocation made in the history of the country terming it a milestone achievement of the incumbent government despite severe financial challenges Govt approves 3.5pc GDp Growth tarGet
f y 2023-24 g N E C A P P R O V E S R S 2 7 0 9 T R A N N U A L D E V E LO P M E N T P L A N F O R N E X T Y E A R g G O V T E S T I M AT E S 2 1 P C I N F L AT I O N P R O J E C T I O N F O R F I S C A L Y E A R 2 0 2 3 - 2 4 PR OFIT S H A H Z A D PA R A C H A The debt stock of the federal government has increased by 34% (Rs14 894 trillion) to Rs 58 6 trillion during the one year tenure of the Premier Shehbaz Sharif government According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) monthly bulletin the total debt stock of the Federal government surged by Rs 14 89 trillion to Rs 58 599 trillion including Rs 36 55 trillion of local and Rs 22 050 trillion of foreign debt during the PM Shahbaz Sharif led Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) regime from April 2022 to April 2023 The unprecedented growth in government debt means that the incumbent government borrowed an average of Rs 41 billion per day in the last one year to run the government affairs The data shows that the domestic borrowing went up by Rs 7 635 trillion to Rs 36 549 trillion during the last one year as the government raised Rs 6 007 trillion through issuing of govt bonds during the last year It is important to note that Pakistan s total revenue target for the FY23 was budgeted at a mere 7 6 trillion he debt of government bonds increased from Rs 18 984 trillion to Rs 24 992 trillion during the period The SBP s on-lending to GoP against SDRs allocation was maintained at Rs 475 billion during the one year Unfunded debt including the financial obligations of the National Savings certificates GP fund and Postal Life Insurance reached to Rs 2 962 trillion from Rs 3 456 trillion mainly due to retirement of debt during the year The short term debt of the government also increased from Rs 5 578 trillion to Rs 7 215 trillion during the year The government raised Rs 1 624 trillion by issuing Market Treasury Bills during the period The financial obligations swelled from Rs 5 526 trillion to Rs 7 150 trillion in April 2023 consequently The external debt increased by almost 50 % or Rs 7 258 trillion from Rs 14 791 trillion to Rs 22 050 trillion Even though Pakistan did not secure huge external loans, this happened mainly due to freefall of local currency against the USD during the period According to the calculation of the SBP the Pak Rupee has depreciated by Rs 98 against USD during this one year The USD has appreciated against PKR from Rs185 to Rs283 since April 2022 Even though the actual amount of external debt was decreased by $2 0 billion from $79 65 billion to $77 68 billion, the rupee value of the debt soared by 50% The government also raised Rs 103 billion through Naya Pakistan Certificates this year the total obligation of which jumped to Rs 138 billion from Rs 35 billion during the one year Govt bor rows Rs41b per day on average during one year in office g DOMESTIC BORROWING UP BY RS7.635TR SINCE APRIL 2022 C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 03 PR OFIT A P P
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C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 03

P T I D E M A N D S R E G I S T R AT I O N O F R A Z Z A Q S H A R ’ S M U R D E R C A S E A G A I N S T P M , I N T E R I O R M I N I S T E R

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

PAKISTAN Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)

Central Information Secretary

Raoof Hassan demanded that the case of murder of Supreme Court (SC) lawyer Abdul Razzaq Shar should be registered against the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and they should be instantly sacked from their official positions so as that justice could be done

Reacting to Attaullah Tarar s press conference, PTI SIC said that the PTI requested the apex court to take immediate

notice of the attempt to implicate PTI

Chairman Imran Khan in another false case

Raoof Hassan rejected the baseless, concocted and absurd allegations of Tarar, adding that the killing of Abdul Razzaq Shar was a continuation of the shameful unconstitutional and illegal campaign to crush PTI which was the only federal political party in the country at present

He went on to say that Tarar s presser was a brutal attempt to cover up the murder of a lawyer and the same characters and elements were responsible for his blood who played the shameful game by orchestrating the May 9 mayhem and vandalism Raoof Hassan said that the same actors

who killed 25 innocent Pakistanis and injured hundreds others on May 9 were involved in this murder as well PTI SIC stated that the ruling group involved in the rampant lawlessness and constitutional as well as in administrative terrorism in the country tried to slaughter the supremacy of people on May 9

Raoof Hasan went on to say that the accusing PTI Chairman for the murder within two hours without investigation was clear indication that another shameful plan was in the making to implicate him in another false and politically motivated case who was already facing over 150 false and fabricated cases

Police inform LHC nine FIRs lodged against PTI vice chairman

LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t

The Punjab Police on Tuesday submitted to the Lahore High Court details of cases registered against Shah Mehmood Qureshi, stating nine FIRs have been lodged against the Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) vice chairperson

The LHC had sought details pertaining to cases registered against the PTI vice chairman on a plea filed by Gauhar Bano Qureshi daughter of Shah Mehmood Qureshi Through the petition she had requested the Lahore High Court for details of undisclosed or new FIRs lodged against the former foreign minister on, and since May 9 2023

The Punjab Police Department submitted that Qureshi is named in five FIRs in Multan and four in Lahore – four FIRs were lodged in Multan on May 9 and another one on May 10 while two FIRs were registered in Lahore on May 10, one

on March 6 and another on March 14 Earlier on Tuesday, LHC s Rawalpindi bench issued directives for Qureshi s immediate release from Adiala Jail and declared his detention ‘illegal’ Justice Chaudhry Abdul Aziz also directed Qureshi to submit an affidavit before the Rawalpindi deputy commissioner within three days of his release

The verdict maintained that the exminister could conduct peaceful political activities according to the Constitution of Pakistan and the law It mandated that he stay away from protests that include vandalism sieges and burning but can hold peaceful protests

In her petition, Gauhar had listed the Punjab chief secretary, Punjab IGP and her father as respondents She prayed the court direct the relevant authorities to ensure Qureshi’s protection and refrain from arresting him in any new criminal case lodged on or after May 9 without permission from the court

Three terrorists killed in attack by ‘accomplices’ in Swat

SWAT S y e d S h a h a b u d d i n

Three terrorists, including two in-custody militants, were killed in an alleged shootout that took place in hills of Banjot area of Mangalwar in Swat on

Tuesday, the Regional Police Officer (RPO)

Malakand Division confirmed According to DIG Malakand Division Nasir Mahmood Satti the CTD and local police were conducting a search operation in Banjot area where last month ( May 23) an exchange of fire between armed men and police occurred, killing one civilian Jamad Ali Khan while a police cop named Waqar Khan was injured in the firing Yesterday on June 5 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police Chief Akhtar Hayat Khan announced the Counter Terrorism Department had arrested militants including a key militant commander Rafiullah and one of his facilitator Asmatullah belonging to TTP Swat group Both the terrorists were also presented before local media However on Tuesday the DIG Malakand Division told to local media persons that the CTD along with local police personnel took the arrested militants – Rafiullah and Asmatullah to Banjot area in the light of information extorted from them for recovery He said that when the CTD and police party were conducting the search operation in the area, an absconding militant Zakirullah and others accomplices fire on them, killing both Rafiullah and Asmatullah on the spot In retaliation of CTD and police the militant Zakirullah was also killed on the spot The other outlaws however managed to flee away in the nearby forest for which search operation by CTD and Police is in progress he concluded

PTI workers should be released like leaders being freed after press conference: Ait zaz

LAHORE

S ta f f R e p o R t

Pakistan People s Party (PPP) senator and senior jurist Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan on Tuesday asked the authorities to release the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers like their leaders being freed and pardoned after a press conference “PTI leaders like Asad Umar and Pervez Khattak released after press conference so the party workers should also be given the chance to be released seasoned politician and constitutional expert Aitzaz Ahsan stressed while addressing a press conference on Tuesday Aitzaz informed that former Prime Minister Imran who is his neighbour and the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial were being “implicated in a false conspiracy ” Aitzaz especially mentioned two videos and audios in his press conference and said there is a video in which the face of a gentleman is visible and he is saying that Chief Justice and Aitzaz Ahsan are conspiring with Imran Khan Aitzaz said it is being said in the video that Aitzaz Ahsan is distributing millions of rupees among the lawyers and it is also being said that the international intelligence agencies Mossad and CIA are supporting them It is repeatedly said in the video that CJP Justice Umar Ata Bandial Aitzaz Ahsan and Imran Khan are making plans, he said adding that this is a large nonsense and idiotic type audio-video Aitzaz raised the question that if the Chief Justice and Imran Khan are distributing money among lawyers then why intelligence and security agencies did not find this out? He expressed surprise over the role of the law enforcement agencies and the Punjab police for not reaching any spot to stop violence on May 9

The petition maintained that hundreds of politically motivated and unlawful FIRs have been registered against PTI leaders and workers, thousands of whom have been picked up and illegally detained The whereabouts of many PTI workers taken into custody are undisclosed

Similarly a number of undisclosed criminal cases have been registered against her father, who is the vice chairperson of the beleaguered party The petitioner said she feared that Qureshi may be arrested unjustifiably again in some undisclosed case or suffer the fate of those being kept in unlawful detention

Bano sought protection from the court from grave violations of rights protected by the Constitution of Pakistan The petitioner pleaded to the court for protection from “the most audacious assault on fundamental rights launched by any executive of this country in furtherance of the most constitutionally abhorrent objective; to prevent or delay

BAGHDAD S ta f f R e p o R t

During his visit to Iraq Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari held meetings with several prominent Iraqi officials He met with Mohammad Rikan Al-Halbusi the Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, Hamam Hammoudi, the head of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, Ammar Hakeem, the president of the Hikmat Party of Iraq, and Abdulamir al-Shamri, the Iraqi Minister of Interior

During the meeting with the Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament Muhammad Riqan Al-Halbusi Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari discussed the relations between Pakistan and Iraq as well as various bilateral issues Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed his belief that cooperation between the two countries in the parliamentary sector will contribute to the strengthening of fraternal relations between Pakistan and Iraq

He emphasized the importance of fostering high-level parliamentary relations between Pakistan and Iraq highlighting the potential for both countries to benefit from sharing their respective experiences and expertise

During the meeting with the President of Iraq s Hikmat

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday disposed of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan s (JI) petition against the 2005 privatisation of K-Electric (KE) as ineffective

During earlier proceedings, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial had said that the top court would not interfere in economic matters as it did not have the required expertise as a bench heard the KE privatisation case

CJP Bandial had advised the petitioner ’s lawyer, Rashid Razvi, to approach the concerned high court in the matter He had highlighted however that the parliament made two laws related to clause 3 of Article 184 – which state that for the court to have original jurisdiction on an issue, it first needs to be of public importance and must involve a violation of fundamental rights enshrined within the Constitution “A lot has happened in the past in Article 184(3) cases observed Justice Athar Minallah during the hearing today, noting that the Pakistan Steel Mill case was also heard under the same provisions

“Why should the court take up this case against the privatisation of KE? he questioned adding that the JI had access to the parliament and urged the party to raise the issue over there instead This plea under Article 184(3) is against the economic policy of the government ” the judge continued “If the parliament fails then the option of the judiciary always remains argued the JI s counsel; but he was snubbed by Justice Minallah who advised him not to say that the parliament has failed”

“Wouldn’t the parliament fail if there is no respect for the institution?”

He said that it became a norm and tradition to blame Imran Khan for all incidents of killing and murder in the country PTI SIC recalled that PTI Chairman was seriously injured in assassination attempt on November 3 but no FIR was registered hitherto He stated that on May 9 some people took advantage of the peaceful protests and vandalized public properties resultantly hundreds of peaceful civilians were injured, but no investigation was carried out so far Raoof Hassan said that it was officially announced to name Imran Khan in another false case of murder of lawyer Abdul Razzaq sans any investigation He recalled that Imran Khan nominated

elections as required by the Constitution in order to ensure that the largest political party in Pakistan may be prevented from the participating or winning such elections”

At the previous hearing LHC Justice Ali Baqar Najafi had directed the relevant parties to submit their report on June 6

On May 23, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had issued directives for Qureshi’s release after he submitted an undertaking to the court However hours later he was re-arrested by the Punjab Police from outside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi

the Prime Minister the Interior Minister and a top intelligence officer in the assassination attempt on his life, adding that PTI Chairman kept updating the nation about notorious designs of these three people constantly Raoof Hassan said that these three people were still in their respective positions who plunged the country into worst crises of its history

He demanded that the murder case of A b d u l R a z z a q S h a r s h o u l d b e r e g i s t e r e d against the Prime Minister and the Interior M i n i s t e r i n s t e a d o f I m r a n K h a n a n d t h e y b o t h s h o u l d b e i n s t a n t l y r e m o v e d f r o m their positions and should be investigated in this regard

IHC extends stay against sealing of Grand Hayatt building

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday extended its stay order till June 22, against sealing of multi-story building of Grand Hayatt Hotel and the actions of NAB and FIA in the matter Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard the case challenging the orders of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for sealing the multi-story building on Constitution Avenue During on Tuesday, the officials of Capital Development Authority (CDA), National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) appeared before the court At the outset of the proceedings the IHC chief justice questioned if the PAC was authorized to issue orders for sealing any building To which, additional prosecutor general NAB requested the court to re-list the said case so that an appropriate answer could also be submitted to the court The court served notices to the respondents on a miscellaneous application of the petitioner for June 22 and adjourned the hearing It may be mentioned that the PAC had ordered to seal the Grand Hayatt Hotel building and instructed the NAB and FIA to take action on the matter However the petitioner had challenged the order before the IHC

Party Ammar Hakeem Bilawal Bhutto Zardari engaged in discussions on various matters of mutual interest, with a particular focus on the political relations between Pakistan and Iraq The leaders exchanged views and perspectives on strengthening the ties between the two countries in the political realm

During the meeting with the head of the Iraqi Islamic Supreme Council Hamam Hammoudi Bilawal Bhutto Zardari underscored the significance of high-level political relations between Pakistan and Iraq for the benefit of both nations The leaders also discussed the potential for increased cooperation in the field of health between Pakistan and Iraq Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed that Pakistan and Iraq share a special bond as best friends deeply connected by religion and traditions

During the meeting between Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Iraqi Interior Minister Abdul Miral AlShamri, they discussed the facilitation of Iraqi visas for Pakistani pilgrims and the business community Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Iraqi Interior Minister Abdul Miral Al-Shamri reached an agreement to enhance cooperation in order to strengthen public relations between the two nations

MoS Khar, Nor wegian FM agree to enhance bilateral cooperation

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and Norway s Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt on Tuesday agreed to work towards the enhancement of bilateral cooperation in multiple spheres During a meeting in Oslo they appreciated 75 years of Pak-Norway relations and agreed on the importance of multilateralism to address regional and global challenges Foreign Office Spokesperson posted on her Twitter handle MoS Hina Rabbani Khar, separately, held bilateral talks with her Norwegian counterpart Erling Rimestad During a meeting the global and regional issues including Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) Afghanistan & Ukraine were discussed Hina Khar expressed gratitude for Norway s support for the flood-affected people of Pakistan, the Spokesperson said in a related tweet The two sides also discussed investments in micro hydro-power plants in Pakistan They agreed to increase cooperation in realms of green energy shipping blue economy and collaboration in higher education and research

Bushra Bibi moves LHC to avoid possible arrest

LAHORE

S ta f f R e p o R t

inquired the judge, urging the JI to uphold the sanctity of the country s highest forum of debate Justice Ayesha Malik also joined her colleague in his reservations over the petition adding that the SC has already decided that such matters are Nepra s jurisdiction

CJP Bandial observed that two judges have raised legal points in the case”, adding that “we will not look into how much investment came in and what were its outcomes

We speak from experience when we say that it is very easy to dismiss and extremely difficult to pull things together, he added The CJP also noted that the privatisation was a result of “unresolved public grievances” and said that “it is difficult to go into details at this point If the SC writes in its orders that it is to stay out of economic matters then that could have farreaching consequences,” CJP Bandial stated as he urged the JI to withdraw its application instead and consult the relevant forum

After judicial observations all the petitioners including the JI withdrew their petitions and the court disposed of the petitions

petition seeking revision of its decision declaring perks granted to former managing director and chairman of Pakistan Television (PTV) Ataul Haq Qasmi as illegal

The apex court has ordered the revision appeals filed to be numbered

The petitioners were also permitted to change their lawyers under the new laws Lawyer Akram Sheikh appeared on behalf of the former PTV MD and lawyer Salman Butt represented Finance Minister Ishaq Dar while Pervez Rashid was also granted permission to change his lawyer

In view of the new law, want to state additional facts in revision appeals ” said Akram Sheikh Upon this CJP Bandial said that a r e v i e w a p p e a l c o u l d b e r e v i e w e d u n d e r t h e r e c e n t l y p a s s e d S u p r e m e

C o u r t ( R e

u r r e v i e w request is pending Justice Ayesha Malik said, Additional points in the p e n d i n g r e v i s i o n m a y a l s o b e s u b m i t t e d t h r o u g h a m i s c e l l a n e o u s application ”

Bushra Bibi the wife of former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday filed a petition in the Lahore High Court seeking a blanket cover in all cases registered against her across the country The move came amid the ongoing crackdown against the party leadership following May 9 attacks on civil and military installations a day the army dubbed as Black Day In her petition, the former first lady feared she could be arrested in any case and sought details of all the disclosed and undisclosed cases registered against her in the country The ex-prime minister ’s wife pleaded with the court to issue an order restraining the police and law enforcers from arresting her in any undisclosed case She made federal and provincial governments, IGs, FIA and other bodies parties in her case BUSHRA BIBI SUMMONED ON JUNE 7

It is pertinent to mention here that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Rawalpindi had summoned the ex-first lady on Wednesday (tomorrow) to record her statement as a trustee of the Al-Qadir University Trust in the £190 million National Crime Agency (NCA) UK settlement case According to sources, Bushra Bibi’s statement would be recorded as a witness NAB under the new law is bound to tell a person whether he is being summoned as an accused or a witness to record the statement Following the procedure the NAB s CIT has already recorded the statements of ministers of the previous government NAB also asked for the records of all the donations received from Al-Qadir University and those who donated to the trust

wed esday 7 Ju e 2023 | ISLAMABAD 02 nEwS
ATAUL HAQ QASMI CASE Separately the SC
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v i e w o f J u d g m e n t s a n d O r d e r s ) B i l l , 2 0 2 3 T h e S C h a d pronounced the decision of the MD P T V c a s e u n d e r 1 8 4 ( 3 ) , ” o b s e r v e d J u s t i c e A t h a r M i n a l l a h “ t h e r e f o r e the petitioners should take advantage o f t h e n e w l a w Yo
FM Bilawal meets several prominent Iraqi officials
SC disposes of JI’s plea against KE privatization as ‘ineffec tive’

PA K I S TA N , C H I N A S I G N M O U F O R D E V E LO P M E N T O F

W AT E R R E S O U R C E S , E N V I R O N M E N TA L P R O T E C T I O N

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

PAKISTAN and China on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding for bilateral cooperation in the utilization and sustainable development of water resources and environmental protection

The MoU between Chang Jiang Water Resources Commission (CWRC) and Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) was signed in a ceremony held at the Pakistani embassy in Beijing Pakistan Ambassador to China Moin Ul Haque and Vice Commissioner of CWRC Wu Daoxi signed the agreement

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

ENERGY CONSERVATION:

T h e M O U c o v e r s w i d e a r e a s o f c o o p e r a t i o n i n c l u d i n g w a t e r c o n s e r v a t i o n , w a t e r s h e d p l a n n i n g , f l o o d c o n t r o l a n d d r o u g h t r e l i e f d e v e l o p m e n t o f w a t e r r e s o u r c e s m a n a g e m e n t a n d o p e r a t i o n o f w a t e r p r o j e c t s e c o l o g i c a l p r o t e c t i o n a l o n g t h e r i v e r s , p r o t e c t i o n o f a q u a t i c s p e c i e s , w a t e r c h a n n e l c o n s t r u c t i o n , e m e r g i n g w a t e r t e c h n o l o g y a n d d e v e l o p m e n t o f r e c r e a t i o n a l p r o j e c t s

Speaking on the occasion Ambassador Moin Ul Haque said that the MOU will pave the way for bilateral cooperation in the utilization and sustainable development of water resources and environmental protection The MOU entails the spirit of the living Indus Initiative launched by the

Government of Pakistan

He invited CWRC to jointly collaborate with WAPDA, the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Climate Change of Pakistan in the initiative Ambassador Haque further acknowledged the contribution of the CWRC in the development of water resources in Pakistan over the years, particularly the support offered by CWRC during last year ’s devastating floods in Pakistan

Wu Daoxi in his speech introduced CWRC s projects in Pakistan and expressed his desire to further enhance engagement with the Pakistani side He further reiterated that the two sides should plan and execute joint projects under the agreement for practical cooperation in this regard

5 % G D P g

Ahsan Iqbal said that the NEC has also approved an energy conservation plan under which shops and commercial centers would be closed by 8pm

Iqbal said that issues pertaining to energy and infrastructure were discussed during the meeting adding that energy is becoming a huge challenge for Pakistan due to global prices Saudi Arabia has cut down oil production by one million barrels, which poses a risk of oil prices rising to $100 per barrel,” he said, highlighting that if the country continued to rely on fossil fuel and oil for its energy needs “our economy will remain vulnerable”

To counter this he said thT one of the measures that the government wanted to implement was energy conservation

12MW power approved for New Gwadar International Airpor t

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

In a groundbreaking development, approximately 12 MW” of electricity has been approved for New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA) to fulfil all its electricity needs for 24 hours without any interruption

On special directives of the Ministry of Planning

Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO) National Power Distribution Company that deals with the power supply system in Baluchistan, has formally sanctioned 12 MW to energize New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA) and has commenced full-scale execution by deputing its special teams on the site QESCO official told Gwadar Pro that tenting and commissioning process is likely to be completed within 10 days as all required paraphernalia like poll erections transmission lines, and electrical input and output circuits have already been aligned with the installed power system

To keep power supply smooth and free from power breakdown, 12 MW will remain available to NGIA round the clock as three power transmission lines will be feeding NGIA It means if one goes out of function then the second will be automatically connected and if the second goes haywire then the third will be present in the system as a backup arrangement, he added Explaining the three power transmission lines, he said: “One power supply is coming from a 286-kilometre long 132kV dual-circuit transmission line through Naal-Basima-Naag-Panjgur the second is coming from the Mund-Pishin-Turbat transmission line to Gwadar Grid Station and the third comes from the Gabd-Remden power transmission line to Jiwini-Gwadar Grid Station With the completion of the electrification process, NGIA is expected to be welcoming national and international flights in the mid of September this year marking a new era of the modern airway that will connect the world with Gwadar

Iqbal recalled that the federal cabinet vowed to enforce decisions under a National Energy Conservation Plan in January this year “But there was no representation of provinces in that meeting So we took it up again in the NEC where provincial government representatives were also present

And now we hope that provincial governments will ensure the implementation of the energy conservation package that has been approved today ”

The energy conservation plan discussed in the federal cabinet in January proposed closure of markets at 8:30pm and wedding halls at 10pm the use of efficient electronic appliances and a 40% reduction in power consumption in government offices

It also recommended the imposition of additional duties on inefficient electric fans, use of light-emitting diode LED bulbs, the introduction of electric bikes and phasing out motorcycles that run on petrol and

t

illuminating street lights only at 50 % capacity

Iqbal said today that the steps for energy conservation recommended under this plan such as the closure of shops and commercial centers by 8pm switching to LED lights and upgrading geysers to make them more energy efficient could help the country save up to $1 billion annually

Speaking specifically about the early closure of shops, Iqbal said even rich nations in Europe and the US could not “afford the luxury of keeping commercial areas open till 10pm or 11pm”

No [country] has an irresponsible lifestyle as us keeping shops open till 1am or 2am

The minister also said that another decision taken regarding the energy sector was to promote green energy “Projects of solar, wind and hydel energy will be promoted and we will not introduce any new project based on imported fuel ” he said

994 acres of railways land retrieved from illegal occ upants in different areas

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Pakistan Railways has retrieved its 994 acres occupied land valuing millions of rupees from illegal occupants during various antiencroachment operations across the country

An official of Ministry of Pakistan Railway said on Tuesday that around 487 acres occupied land was retrieved in Punjab, 142 acres in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 337 acres in Sindh and only 28 acres in Balochistan

He said that about 3 287 acres in Punjab 832 acres in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 5 180 acres in Sindh, and 687 acres of land in Balochistan were being encroached

The PR ministry official said that in light of the directives of the Supreme Court the antiencroachment operations for retrieval of encroached railway land all over the Railway network were initiated and a joint procedure order was issued to all divisional superintendents for retrieval of Railways land from encroachment

The anti-encroachment schedules on a three months basis are being prepared and sent to all concerned in line with the joint procedure order,” the official added He said Pakistan Railways had also decided to accelerate its

ongoing anti-encroachment operation against land grabbers across the country to recoup its land from different individuals groups, and even business organizations who were using it for residential, commercial, and agriculture purposes for decades

“The encroachment operation will be launched with the assistance of Railway Police and district administrations of the relevant provincial governments, he added

He said the government was taking several steps to retrieve encroached land from the land grabbers including a detailed survey being carried out to identify the encroached land occupied by the individuals and under illegal

Non-bailable arrest warrant for Shahbaz Gill issued

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

An additional sessions and district court in Islamabad issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shahbaz Gill in the sedition case registered against him The PTI leader faces multiple cases since making controversial comments about the military establishment on a private TV channel In August of last year he was arrested by the federal government on charges of sedition and inciting the public against state institutions On March 29 this year, the Lahore High Court (LHC) granted Gill permission to travel to the United States for four weeks A three-member bench heard his petition seeking removal of his name from the Exit Control List (ECL) During today s hearing judge Tahir Abbas Sipra issued the arrest warrant as he presided over the hearing today He also rejected Gill s plea seeking exemption from court appearance as the PTI leader filed a petition to appoint a pleader in his place The prosecution further requested for Gill’s surety bonds to be cancelled The court adjourned the hearing for a brief period and called for both parties to present their arguments It also asked the police to submit a report by 11:30 am As the hearing resumed, the judge Sipra maintained that the court had asked for assistance regarding the orders passed by the previous duty judge hearing the case

Monsoon to begin in July this year: Met Office

occupation by various government departments

The official said that First Information Reports (FIRs) were being lodged and cases were registered and sent to PR Judicial Magistrates for expeditious trial

The issue regarding illegal occupation and possession of Pakistan Railways land by government departments and institutions has also been taken up with the concerned departments, he added The official said PR owned 167,690 acres of land across the country of which 90 326 acre was in Punjab 39 428 acres in Sindh 28 228 acres in Balochistan and 9 708 acres in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Hearing against audio leaks commission: SC reser ves verdic t on plea for judges ’ rec usal

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

Today s proceedings

During the proceedings today

Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP)

Mansoor Usman Awan stated the government’s objections to the fivemember bench before reading out loud the orders issued by the apex court after previous proceedings

What is the point you are trying to make? asked the CJP you are missing one important thing that Chief Justice of Pakistan is a constitutional post CJ Bandial went on to express his dismay over the government’s decision to form the commission without informing him No one can assume the charge of CJP on the basis of an assumption In this case, the chief justice was available but wasn t informed about the formation of the commission,” he remarked, telling the AGP to present his argument on these points

The CJ went on to tell AGP Awan to understand the law before reading out legal references AGP Awan insisted he wished to

present his arguments against the constitution of the bench, but CJ Bandial dismissed him saying that if he wanted to point out that three of the judges were “controversial” then he “will have to explain the basis of the assumption of the conflict I would prefer for you to focus on other more important issues, the CJ said, adding that he was concerned more about how the matter was connected to the “independence of the judiciary ” CJ Bandial said that the chief justice is the only forum which can decide whether an SC judge could be spared or not The CJP also asked what could be the objective of maligning judges through these audio leaks Reading out the audio leaks commission’s terms of reference (TORs) the AGP pointed out that one of the leaked audios is related to the CJ s mother-in-law He clarified that he is seeking recusal on account of a conflict of interest Is it your case at this point that the audios are prima facie authentic?” questioned Justice Akhtar However Awan defended the

government s decision to form the commission saying its only purpose was to determine the authenticity of the leaks

“Is the federal government not aware whether the audio leaks are authentic or not? Justice Akhtar asked Senior cabinet members even held press conferences on the leaks is it not true that the interior minister held a press conference? Some audios were even played in the press conference,” the judge noted

Is it lawful for someone who doesn t know about the truth of the audio leaks to raise objections to the bench?

I don t know if anyone held a press conference, said the Attorney General However, the court maintained that the government should have displayed “collective responsibility” Justice Akhtar noted that there would be serious repercussions if a precedent was set whereby a judge would be removed from a case based on an alleged audio leak stressing that recusal required

and later he might seek his recusal on that ground, he said, this option is not available for anyone to come and say that this judge can’t hear this case ” Awan maintained on the contrary that this was the precise reason for the constitution of the commission so that the authenticity of the audio could be determined CJ Bandial went on to ask who planted these audio leaks on social media” as the government has the resources to find out the persons who are recording The AGP responded saying that the commission had been tasked with exploring these questions How were the calls recorded and all such queries will be reviewed by the commission ” he explained adding that the probe was “still in initial stages” Meanwhile Shoaib Shaheen counsel for SCBA President Abid Zuberi contended that audio leaks surfaced after the February 16 order wherein a division bench of the apex court had requested CJP to invoke suo motu jurisdiction regarding the delay in elections of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa assemblies

KARACHI: The Met Office has forecast monsoon this year to start in the beginning of July The climate conditions suggest that most areas may have normal to slightly below-normal rainfall, Pakistan Meteorological Department said in its weather report Northern regions of the country may experience slightly above-normal rainfall, while western parts of Balochistan can expect near-normal rainfall according to report Monsoon wet spell could continue from July to September according to weather report The PMD also pointed out possibility of occasional extreme rainfall events over catchment areas which may generate riverine floods in Indus and other rivers Likelihood of urban flooding, hill torrents and flash floods may also exist due to isolated heavy downpours S ta f f R e p o R t

03 nEwS wednesday 7 J ne 2023 | SLAMABAD
G o v t a p p r o ve s 3 .
r o w t h t a r g e
f o r f i s c a l ye a r 2 0 2 3 - 2 4
legal reasons “Tomorrow
litigant will air certain audio of a judge on social media
every

Clouds refuse to dispel

IT cannot be said that politicians have gone into hibernation Whether they belong to the ruling coalition, or the opposition, they keep on gnawing at the situation in the hope of gaining some advantage for themselves The best example is probably offered by Prime Minister eSharif in an interview to a Turkish news agency while in Ankara He said that his government hopes to seal an IMF deal later this month even though his Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has admitted the IMF will not be releasing the last tranche of its current programme, and is already looking to another Mr Sharif is ever being the optimist and is clearly contemplating a future in which the coalition he heads goes into elections after having successfully negotiated a new IMF programme Meanwhile#e, the President of the PDM, of which Mr Sharif ’s PML(N) is just a component Maulana Fazlur Rehman has predicted that the coalition may engage in local adjustments, but its members will probably contest elections separately This lends credence to but does not confirm rumours that the Maulana is aspiring to the Presidency which will be vacated later this year, while Mr Bilawal Bhuttp Zardari is aiming to become Prime Minister

The PTI meanwhile is no longer bleeding as it was until recently but the departure of another ex-MNA showed that its travails are perhaps not yet over It was significant that former Speaker Asad Qaisar and former party Secretary General Asad Umar denied any contact with party maverick Jahangir Tareen who is heading up a group of ex-PTi men There was a heavy symbolism in their being in court in Islamabad, in connection with the May 9 attacks which began a period of implosion for the PTI

Though the PTI is being put through the grinder for its involvement in the May 9 attacks, there is no indication that the last year of political turmoil is drawing to a close The Supreme Court, from examining the question of adherence to the constitutionally provided time limits, has now retreated into a kind of navel-gazing, with a reserved verdict on whether or not there was any conflict of interest in judges hearing the case of the judicial commission on audio leaks The solution for all of this remains for the two sides to talk to each other,but Mr Qaiser was probably right when he said that the atmosphere did not seem conducive for talks

Dedicated

New course for Ukraine

As a result, many countries in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the Arab World are unwilling to put their eggs in the US basket At the same time many nations of the Global South are unwilling to risk the strong trade relations and investment ties with Russia and China that they have developed And so they have made the strategic decision not to take sides in this conflict which they see as a problem for the USA, NATO, and Russia

terests As a result the appeal to adhere to a rulesbased international order is just a thinly veiled effort to mask an ad hoc American attempt to apply the “rules” it wants to create the “order” it seeks

Given this disconnect and growing distrust between the USA and so many other nations it appears that instead of mobilizing the world against Russian aggression we ve ushered in a new Cold War in which some nations are opposed to our leadership while most are ambivalent, with their feet planted in both camps

IN recent weeks, there have been a number of irresponsible op-eds pressing the Biden Administration to supply more advanced US weapons to Ukraine arguing that the only acceptable outcome to the conflict is a total Russian defeat It is maddening how often these pundits have wrongly sought to justify the expanded use of force in conflict zones

Both Russia and Ukraine are now escalating their attacks Russia continues to find sources to replenish its armaments and the USA is either directly supplying or facilitating its allies transfers of new advanced weapons to Ukraine As a result, any careful assessment of the Russian war on Ukraine must conclude there is no foreseeable end to the conflict Not only is there no end in sight, but also nothing good will come of this horrible war which no one will win

There is no question that Russia is at fault for launching this terrible war of aggression against Ukraine Russia has violated international law by invading a sovereign state, attacking its civilian population, and annexing its territory But because international law is “honored more in the breach than the observance ” the Ukrainians can’t turn to the United Nations or the International Court of Justice for action Both institutions which were created precisely to deal with this sort of criminal behavior are paralyzed by lack of capacity and/or recognition or support from one or another of the major powers

As a result, we’ve seen the world divide into camps, with the USA leading a group of mainly Western states backing Ukraine Russia leading a much smaller coterie of supporters and China while not overtly in the Russian camp playing the nonaligned game with the rest

The Biden Administration s early efforts to isolate and punish Russia through sanctions have had only limited success, with most nations in the Global South opting to remain non-aligned or to pursue what they call “strategic autonomy ”

In some cases this positioning is due to a lack of trust in the USA Given the hubris and topsy-turvy run of US foreign policy during the past two decades, the USA is simply not viewed as a reliable partner

fire ” This is sheer genocide as per the definition of the term provided by the UN acts committed with the intent to destroy in whole or in part a national ethnic racial or religious group

RE S I S TA N C E is a 2020 biographical drama film based on true events of the Holocaust - indeed one of the darkest chapters in human history The film opens in Munich, Nazi Germany, 1938 In the opening scene Bella Ramsey who is playing Elsbeth (aged 10-12) in the movie in the middle of the night hears screams from her mother When she gets out of her room she sees a few Nazis dragging her parents downstairs

She keeps watching them treat her parents inhumanely, dragging, beating, and then throwing them on the floor One then loads his pistol and shoots her mother in the head As she was witnessing all this secretly from behind a door she could not scream but her father screams the loudest hugging his wife Another then moves forward and shoots Elsbeth s father too, in the head

Today, the same that happened to Elsbeth and her family or even worse is happening in the occupied lands of Palestine inflicted by the very descendants of the victims of the Holocaust This is what this piece argues about and recommends a way forward to end the Israeli style of apartheid in Palestine

The recent attack on Muslims in Al-Aqsa Mosque in the holy month of Ramzan is only a glimpse of such Israeli barbarity The irony is that such an attack on a church temple or synagogue would surely have gained ten times more attention in the media But since the victims are Palestinians, not Ukrainians for instance, the incident is taken as a routine Every other day there are Israeli raids in the occupied lands of Palestine, most specifically in the occupied West Bank and besieged Gaza Dreadful scenes screams killings expansionism at the peril of humanity and captures are routine in these occupied lands

In sum the very descendants of the victims of the holocaust have chosen to continue it

Last year alone, 224 Palestinians were killed and 9000 injured by Israeli forces The total death toll of Palestinians since 1948 is estimated as high as over 85 000 including women and children The aged Noam Chomsky an American public intellectual historian and political activist, and Ilan Pappe, an expatriate Israeli historian who has authored multiple books on Israeli atrocities, mention in their book On Palestine, that 2100 Palestinians were killed by the Israeli forces in a 50-day assault on Gaza in August 2014 alone The death toll on the other side was near 100 In another instance back then in 2012 one Israeli was killed by fire from Gaza while 78 Palestinians were killed by Israeli

Yet in another instance, former Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Dayan said on the settlement issue of the Palestinian refugees, “We have no solution you (Palestinian refugees in the occupied West Bank) shall continue to live like dogs and whoever wishes may leave and we will see where this process leads ” These stats and instances should be enough to tell who is the victim and who is the aggressor

What makes most of the Israelis stubborn is their Zionist illogical logic As per the same book mentioned above Zionists believe that God has promised them the land they have occupied and intend to expand Their logic is that Palestinians who neither have a land army air force, navy, nor access to the outer world are a threat to Israel, a state that is backed by the superpower has a professional and well-equipped army and allegedly has some 400 nukes in its possession They also believe naively and want others to believe the same that the Palestinians do not need the same space and fundamental rights as Israelis do In fact

Palestinians are happy to be stuck in their homes

The indoctrination in Israel is so deep that Ilan

Pappe claims that “when an Israeli soldier sees a Palestinian baby he does not see an infant - he sees an enemy In sum, ethnic cleansing is a way of life in the occupied lands On account of such Holocaustic policies, even many Jews in different parts of the world usually protest against Israel s style of apartheid against Palestinians

An Amnesty International report last year also held Israel accountable for committing the crime of apartheid against the Palestinians The report declares unlawful killings of Palestinians, forcible transfers, massive seizures of Palestinian lands and property denial of nationality and citizenship to them and drastic movement restrictions components that amount to apartheid in international law Palestinians are treated as an inferior racial group and systematically deprived of their rights, says Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Agnès Callamard In sum Palestinians are going through a very turbulent time They are forced to live a life that is below human dignity without basic

Then there’s the matter of the USA’s double standard that weakens our ability to bring other nations to our side After our invasions and occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq, our regime change assault on Libya, and our drone attacks in countries across Asia and Africa it is difficult for other nations to see the USA as the beacon of righteousness that must be followed When it comes to the Arab World, this matter of the double standard is especially troubling Other nations will agree that it is completely justified to be outraged over Russia s violation of sovereignty, disproportionate attacks on civilians, forced transfers of Ukrainians from their land, and annexation of territory But what makes the USA claim to moral leadership unconvincing or even hypocritical to many Arabs is our silence in the face of Israel s identical behavior vis a vis Palestinians

Instead of

others

peace and security, investment and trade

The tragic reality that confronts us is the need to recognize that as one side secures new arms, the other will find ways to do so as well And as one side escalates the other will match their escalation As a result this war could go on for years, posing untold dangers to the Ukrainian people and the possibility of expanding into a broader regional war It’s time therefore to put to rest infantile fantasies of a total humiliating defeat for one side or the other and to chart a path toward a resolution of this conflict that no one can win To start, instead of pouring gasoline on the fire the USA should put China to the test by inviting them to join us in mobilizing a new multinational peace coalition to secure Ukrainian sovereignty and security, while pushing back on Russian expansionism

This will require a change of outlook and rhetoric

We will need to offer incentives for peacemaking

Finally there is the argument that countries should band together to oppose Russia s behaviour because it threatens the liberal rules-based international order ” This is a uniquely American construct, developed to sidestep mention of international law or conventions which the USA and its ally Israel have repeatedly violated or the International Criminal Court which the USA has not recognized and to which it only pays lip service when it serves US in-

And instead of pressuring others to support what they have come to see as our war forcing them to nonalign, we should be offering them the alternative to join a campaign for peace and security, investment and trade, that can benefit all of the nations of Eastern and Central Europe This may seem unrealistic but it is a better path than the fool s errand of accelerating this conflict for years to come with the unrealistic expectation that total victory can be won

The writer is President of the Arab American Institute

E d i t o r ’ s m a i l

S e n d y o u r l e t t e r s t o : L e t t e r s t o E d i t o r Pakistan Today 4 - S h a a re y F a t i m a J i n n a h L a h o re P a k i s t a n E - m a i l : l e t t e r s @ p a k i s t a n t o d a y c o m p k L e t t e r s s h o u l d b e a d d re s s e d t o Pakistan Today e x c l u s i v e l y

Exploiting interns

TA K I N G undue advantage of the current market situation employers hire fresh graduates in the name of internship and pay them minimal remuneration for full-time workload Indeed, some of the smarter organisations do not pay anything at all to their interns

On the part of interns they have to keep themselves motivated in the hope of getting their services regularised at the end of the internship period That does not happen The interns are then made to believe that their CVs will become part of human resource database and they would be called whenever an opportunity crops up Needless to say, that seldom happens All that the interns get at the end of the stipulated period is an entry on their CVs This sometimes works

human rights Whether you name it ethnic cleansing or genocide of the Palestinian people, an apartheid regime imposed on the occupied lands of Palestine, or even a holocaust against Palestinians Israeli barbarity fits all these definitions However these atrocities can and should be ended as it is said where there is a will there s a way

Islamabad should get every Israeli atrocity noticed at every possible forum as it does to highlight Indian atrocities in the Indian-Occupied Kashmir to ensure moral support to the Palestinians

As a way forward, a couple of Noam Chomsky s recommendations are worth mentioning; a) academia should change their use of terms like only democracy in the Middle East and such for Israel and should highlight Israeli atrocities; b) the international community should not recognize Israel as a Jewish state However these two recommendations won t be enough to end Israeli atrocities against Palestinians The Muslim-majority countries should condemn Israeli atrocities instead of falling in line to recognize such an illegal illegitimate and illicit Zionist regime The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) should fully promote the Palestinian cause, a cause that it was made for National and international media outlets should also play their due role in bringing Israeli atrocities to notice The International Criminal Court (ICC) should consider the crimes of apartheid against Israel, as recommended by Amnesty International in its last year s report, and states should play their parts in bringing the perpetrators of apartheid to justice Last but certainly not least Islamabad should get every Israeli atrocity noticed at every possible forum as it does to highlight Indian atrocities in the Indian-Occupied Kashmir to ensure moral support to the Palestinians

The organisations make the interns work full-time These poor souls spend their time making photocopies sorting out documents and sometimes even serving tea to their supervisor just to be in the good books of those who matter

This is contrary to what students are told all through their academic life Such practices create a negative perception about work culture in the minds of young graduates In simple words, this whole internship thing, as practised currently, is nothing but corporate exploitation of the young Fresh graduates do need to go through a period of hands-on learning but it should happen without exploitation

ALI GOHAR QAZI SUKKUR

Media priorities

A tragic incident in Ghanche district of Gilgit-Baltistan resulted in the loss of three children, and left three others hospitalised with serious injuries recently The loss of these young souls has left a profound impact on the community, leaving it mourning and struggling to come to terms with the grief

However despite the gravity of the situation the media has been preoccupied with covering the ongoing political farce rather than such incidents that have a direct impact on citizens lives

This failure of the media to cover the incident is a disservice to the victims and their families, and raises serious concerns about the state of journalism in Pakistan

The neglect by the mainstream media of incidents occurring in GB region is not a new phenomenon The people of GB have long been marginalised and their voices have often been overlooked by the national media It is vital that such incidents received the attention they deserve regardless of where they occur in the country The loss of human life especially that of innocent children, must never be ignored or sidelined or downplayed

It is media’s responsibility to report on such incidents with sensitivity and accuracy The lives of these children mattered and their memories should be honoured by ensuring that those responsible are held accountable

The authorities must take immediate action to investigate the incident and hold those responsible accountable for their actions The families of the victims must also receive the emotional and financial support they need during this difficult time

The loss of innocent lives is always tragic, and it is crucial that such incidents are not swept under the rug The media must do better in its reporting and should highlight the plight of marginalised communities such as those in the GB region

This tragedy should be a call to action to demand more from our media, our leaders and ourselves as conscientious society Only then can justice be served RAKHSHANDA

04 Wednesday 7 June 2023 COMMENT Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965 I K arachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9 I Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545 I Web: www pakistantoday com pk I Email: editorial@pakistantoday com pk
Fl u r r i e s o f a c t i v i t y f a i l to l e n d t h e s i t u at i o n c l a r i t y
Washington Watch d R J A m e s J Z o g b y
pressuring
to support what they have come to see as our war, forcing them to non-align, we should be offering them the alternative to join a campaign for
Yousaf Nizami Editor
to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor M A Niazi Joint Editor Umar Aziz Executive Editor
ABBAS GILGIT
The writer
Think Tank
is Research Fellow Balochistan
Network Quetta
T h e i r o n y o f b e c o m i n g w h a t y o u o n c e h a t e d
The descendants of Holocaust victims are carrying out their own Holocaust
Th e ‘ to t a l R u s s i a n d e f e at ’ i s u n re a l i s t i c
AsAdullAh RAisAni

RELIGION has remained a living topic in almost all ages Many have discussed religion in different ways; some have even made religion a topic of acrimonious debate Karl Marx has declared religion to be the opium of the people He mentioned this while writing A Critique on Hegel s Philosophy of Right published in Paris in February 1844 As a result of his writing some Europeans developed misconceptions about religion while others confined it to special occasions such as childbirth marriage and death Marx s work also inspired the foundation of many communist regimes in the 20th Century where religious practices were discouraged officially until these regimes ended in the 1990s

In Western notions of modernity religion has often been labeled as primitive regressive outdated and incompatible with the forward-thinking nature of modern existence The prevailing sentiment has been to dismiss religion, doctrines, creeds, and any form of restrictive lifestyle Throughout history, numerous instances can be found where individuals have actively denied or discarded religious beliefs while others have exploited or twisted religious teachings for their own purposes

Religion is an inner state: Throughout history religion has been a deeply personal and introspective experience Regrettably, religion has also been entangled with violent conflicts, the marginalization of women, the sacrifice of children, the enslavement of individuals, the branding of others as infidels, and the cruel punishments of imprisonment exile or even death Occasionally misguided and peculiar interpretations of religion have led to fatalism intolerance fanaticism superstition internal conflicts social isolation and even instances of suicide

Recently, in April of this year, there were disturbing reports of multiple murders allegedly perpetrated by the custodian of a shrine and his associates in Sargodha This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of how religion can be wrongly manipulated within society prompting important inquiries into the effectiveness of religious beliefs The allure of political power and financial gain has enticed numerous individuals to exploit religion as a means of personal enrichment, resulting in the abuse, misuse, and misinterpretation of religious teachings

Many individuals have crafted religious ideologies to align with their own desires and interests

At times religion has been wielded by tyrannical

R e l i g i o n ,

rulers for authoritarian ends coercing people into unwarranted subjugation A historical example of this can be seen in 1492, when King Ferdinand ascended to power in Spain and positioned himself as the defender of the Christian faith, leading to the expulsion of Jews from Spain and the forced conversion of Muslims to Christianity

In the context of Pakistani politics whenever religion is brought up it is often perceived merely as a means to manipulate the public s religious sentiments for personal political advantages Although it is undeniable that religion has been and still is exploited for political purposes in Pakistan, such sweeping criticism tends to overlook the potential societal advantages that can arise from a thoughtful incorporation of religion into politics

An illustrative instance of this phenomenon is the Riyasat-i-Madina model which was promoted by the former Prime Minister Imran Khan Although there were indications of his utilization of religion prior to the 2018 elections, Khan s religio-political narrative gained significant prominence after he assumed the role of prime minister As observers who have witnessed similar patterns unfold in the past we were swift to dismiss his ambitions as yet another instance of a supposedly secular political leader exploiting religion for personal political advantages

As per the findings of the World Values Survey, a significant majority of 98 percent of Pakistan s population identifies with the Muslim faith Nearly 90 percent of Pakistanis consider religion to be of utmost importance in their lives while 37 percent express strong approval for a system governed by religious law devoid of political parties or elections and an additional 27 percent view it as moderately positive In a country where a substantial portion of the population supports religious influence in governance, the representation of religious perspectives in politics can be considered a democratic entitlement While the abuse of religion rightly deserves

o d e r n i t y a n d P o l i t i c s

condemnation its rightful and appropriate application deserves recognition and admiration

Is Imran Khan s utilization of religion in politics comparable to that of Maulana Fazlur Rehman or other political leaders? Why does the employment of religion in politics often draw criticism from specific sections?

Should religious representation in politics solely rely on the platforms of religious leaders? The focal point should not be whether religion should be wielded as a political tool or not, but rather how religion can be effectively employed in politics to bring about societal benefits Omitting faith from the realm of politics has the potential to inspire reactionary narratives

What sets Khan apart is his proactive approach to realize his religious-political vision He has demonstrated unwavering support for the Muslim world leading to the UN designating March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia Khan has also established the Rahmatul-lil-Alameen Authority in collaboration with esteemed Muslim scholars, aiming to offer practical solutions for prevalent social issues in Pakistan

Additionally he has founded the modern Islamic Al Qadir University which aligns with the global trend of post-secular expansion of religious educational institutions Furthermore, Khan has brought madrassas into the mainstream and placed a renewed emphasis on Islamic education through the implementation of the Single National Curriculum Khan’s comprehensive Ehsaas program which has received international acclaim embodies the realization of his vision for an Islamic welfare state

These initiatives deserve recognition as they illustrate a political leader who harnessed religion not primarily for personal political advantages, but for the greater social welfare of the populace Casual criticism of religion in politics carries significant social consequences When a strong social sentiment is denied an

The utilization of religion in politics is not inherently wrong but is conting ent upon the objectives it ser ves. When religious-political rhetoric is substantiated by actions that bring about positive social transformation, it fosters a restoration of trust among the religious population, instilling a sense of representation and deterring them from embracing fring e narratives. Disregarding religion in mainstream politics would only fur ther legitimiz e reactionar y narratives propagated by cer tain groups with religious inspiration

outlet for expression it tends to manifest through more extremist channels

Just as excluded Baloch individuals may seek solace within militant Baloch organizations, ordinary Muslims who feel unrepresented often find refuge in extremist groups driven by religious inspiration, as observed today with the rise of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan The rapid ascension of TLP should not be viewed as surprising considering the repeated exploitation of Islam by political and non-political entities only to be disregarded once their objectives have been achieved

The utilization of religion in politics is not inherently wrong but is contingent upon the objectives it serves When religious-political rhetoric is substantiated by actions that bring about positive social transformation it fosters a restoration of trust among the religious population instilling a sense of representation and deterring them from embracing fringe narratives Disregarding religion in mainstream politics would only further legitimize reactionary narratives propagated by certain groups with religious inspiration Granting faith its rightful place in Pakistan’s political discourse is crucial for fostering a progressive democratic and unified society

The writer can be reached at: umerphilosopher@gmail com

A convocation of spies

“ The press,” as the editor of the Times wrote in 1852, “lives by disclosure … The statesman’s dut y is precisely the reverse”

that would allow whistleblowers and journalists the right to mount a public interest defence

So do not hold your breath for future Edward Snowdens in this country The British media is by and large not known for holding its security services rigorously to account if at all The British government believed that by ordering the destruction of the Guardian computers, they would effectively silence us In fact, we simply transferred the centre of publications to New York, under the paper ’s then US editor, Janine Gibson And there has been little more than a whisper of protest over the new national security bill or the threatened extradition of Julian Assange

EV E N amid the cacophony of social media most journalism is met with a shrug or a murmur But one story the Guardian published 10 years ago today exploded with the force of an earthquake

The article revealed that the US National Security Agency (NSA) was collecting the phone records of millions of Verizon customers In case anyone doubted the veracity of the claims we were able to publish the top secret court order handed down by the foreign intelligence surveillance court (Fisa) which granted the US government the right to hold and scrutinise the metadata of millions of phone calls by American citizens

The document was marked TOP SECRET//SI//NOFORN – an extremely high level of classification which meant that it was not to be shared with any foreign governments far less Guardian journalists or God forbid Guardian readers Who knows the degree of panic that spread through the upper echelons of the US intelligence system as they tried to work out how such a sensitive document had found its way into the public domain But that will have been nothing to the dawning realisation –in the UK as well as the US – that this was but the tip of a very large and ominous iceberg

Over the following weeks the Guardian (joined by the Washington Post New York Times and ProPublica) led the way in publishing dozens more documents disclosing the extent to which US, UK, Australian and other allied governments were building the apparatus for a system of mass surveillance that George Orwell could hardly have dared imagine when he wrote his dystopic novel Nineteen Eighty-Four

Within a few days the source of the documents

Edward Snowden unmasked himself on the Guardian website and for weeks thereafter the stories dominated the news around the world It has since been memorialised in at least three films, stage dramas, books, numerous academic papers and even an album

It led to multiple court actions in which governments were found to have been in breach of their constitutional and/or legal obligations It led to a scramble by governments to retrospectively pass legislation sanctioning the activities they had been covertly undertaking And it has led to a number of stable-door attempts to make sure journalists could never again do what the Guardian and others did 10 years ago

Even now the British government in hastily revising the laws around official secrecy is trying to ensure that any editor who behaved as I did 10 years ago would face up to 14 years in prison Lamentably, the Labour party is not joining a cross-party coalition

This is curious The notion that the state has no right to enter a home and seize papers was established in English law in the famous case of Entick v Carrington (1765), which later became the basis for the US fourth amendment In a famous passage, Lord Camden declared: “By the laws of England every invasion of private property be it ever so minute is a trespass When I went out to talk about the Snowden case to assorted audiences (including after a suitable gap, at MI5 itself), I would begin by asking who in the audience would be happy to hand over all their papers to a police officer knocking on their front door, even if they assured them they would only examine them if there was sufficient cause

Never in any of these talks did a single member of any audience raise a hand Yes people valued their security and were open to persuasion that with due process and proper oversight, there would be occasions when the state and its agencies should be granted intrusive powers in specific circumstances But the idea of blanket suspicionless surveillance – give us the entire haystack and we ll search for the needle if and when it suits us – was repellent to most people

When it came down to it people didn t much like the idea of a government smashing up newspaper computers to (unsuccessfully) silence the truth coming out It felt somehow unBritish The question I was asked by the home affairs select committee – “Do you love this country?” – grated Why was it unpatriotic to hold the state to account in this way?

Numerous editors from around the world – seeing a determined and prolonged police investigation into this newspaper – wrote in support of the right of a press to scrutinise its government’s security apparatus And, eventually, the Guardian and Washington Post shared the ultimate journalistic accolade of the 2014 Pulitzer prize

So a decade later there are things to celebrate and reasons to worry Please spare a thought for Snowden who, like so many whistleblowers, has paid a heavy personal price for what he (and many others around the world) considered an act of public service

And in the afterglow of the HBO series Succession spare a moment to celebrate a form of newspaper ownership that is as resistant to government interference as any When a group of parliamentarians demanded that the Scott Trust (owners of the Guardian) stop publishing this material, the trust could honestly reply that it had no such power For what it’s worth, I’m as certain as I can be that the threat of 14 years in prison wouldn’t have stopped me either The press as the editor of the Times wrote in 1852 lives by disclosure The statesman s duty is precisely the reverse Amen

OV E R the past weekend, major global media outlets revealed that the heads of intelligence of about two dozen countries held a (formerly) secret meeting in Singapore and had in fact been held annually for several years The venue for the talks was the Shangri-La Hotel also the meeting place for a large, widely known conference called the Shangri-La Dialogue, involving about 600 representatives from around the world Such conferences, perhaps usually smaller are common gatherings of government officials and others who want to be and are allowed to be there

Among the roughly 24 intelligence chiefs at the informal meeting were the heads of U S and Chinese intelligence India s top intelligence chief was also present, as were chiefs from the Five Eyes network (the U S , the U K , Canada, Australia and New Zealand), but no other attendees were identified It was noted that Russia was not represented – whether by its choice or by the organizers’ exclusion is unclear

According to Reuters the source of the information was five separate (and I assume unconnected) people When one person leaks information it is one of those things When five leak the same information simultaneously, it is the equivalent of a press release The existence of these meetings, and the revelation that the U S and China were both there and Russia was not is important What is fascinating is that there was an organized attempt by someone to blow the cover off the meeting That the leakers seem not to have identified the others present is interesting since it suggests the leak came from official sources who respected requests for anonymity – and indicates that those named didn t mind it being revealed that they had attended secret meetings with major powers for some years

Equally interesting is that the meeting of two dozen heads of intelligence could have been kept secret A meeting of such people requires several weeks of logistical planning security preparations and exchange of proposed agendas and position papers Heads of intelligence need to know what they will be dealing with, at least generally Intelligence chiefs know secrets that their governments don’t want blurted out and they aren’t casual about this Their briefings on official positions and authorized threats that might be made require weeks of preparation for the chief and some staff The American head of intelligence can t be casually chatting with the Chinese Obviously, preparations for the Shangri-La Dialogue mostly would have covered the smaller conference But it is hard to believe that 24 national intelligence heads, plus other officials in each country who had to know of the preparations could for years fail to leak a conference such as this

The focus on security might seem less important than the reasons for the leak but in this case they are closely linked The cover of the meeting was blown simultaneously by five sources The loss of secrecy will raise public concern in at least some countries as to why the meetings were held why they were kept secret and what was discussed

and agreed to In democratic countries like the United States intelligence agencies are already distrusted by many If any serious discussions were held, it is hard to believe they took place in the company of all the other nations present I would guess that the meeting was accompanied by secret bilateral meetings, if not by others then by the Americans and Chinese Russia’s absence from the smaller group is also important I doubt that Russia was absent from prior meetings but it was missing from this one Obviously China did not insist that Russia be included The willingness of the Chinese to sit down with other powers without Moscow s presence signifies that Russia is not seen as a great power It was not missed China and India had things to talk about concerning conflict on their border And China and the U S had things to talk about as well I doubt the discussion was about potential war I think that is a distant possibility and any such discussion would be about the substance of war, rules of interception, warning systems and so on At this fundamental level, the discussion more likely would be about geopolitics – more precisely, Russia Recall the alliance between Russia and China that went nowhere There are two likelier subjects There have been rumors that the U S which has an interest in ending the Ukraine war at or near the front has asked China to try to work with its putative ally to end the conflict Discussing China s ability to do this and the price it would demand for its labor might well be at the level of intelligence directors Another, even more probable possibility is that the two countries sensing Russia’s decline want to think of what the future might look like hoping to prevent conflict between the two remaining superpowers

After the meeting it was revealed that India is shifting away from its relationship with Russia, long a major supplier of weapons for India, and toward the United States

Since India has been fighting China along their shared border this agreement like other agreements reached in the Pacific places China in a difficult military position It is locked out of the Pacific and facing an increasingly powerful India to its southwest

It is of course not clear how long this U S relationship with India will last, but for the moment, added to the decline of Russia as an ally and the aggressive actions the U S has taken to form alliances in the Western Pacific, China is in a difficult position I have long argued that China could not risk a war in the Pacific Now in my view China must take steps to deescalate the tension A meeting involving China s head of intelligence and his counterparts from the U S , India, Britain, Australia, Canada and New Zealand – and not Russia – suggests Beijing understands the position it is in and that it had to shift The leaders seemed very careful to make the balance of power public

There has been a spate of speeches and articles in China emphasizing the need to avoid conflict and increase cooperation Given the geopolitical reality they face and studying the Russian experience in Ukraine, the Chinese have a new sense of the way the world works, or a confirmation of a reality they saw months ago and hoped would evaporate It is uncertain if the shift in tone is permanent The test will be if they stop threatening war over Taiwan or at least confine their threats to ritual gestures

But China is on the whole signaling new relations and the intelligence meeting and its publication was sobering

Secret meetings of intelligence heads are dangerous

They can trigger distrust at home, particularly in the United States But the fact that someone wanted the world to know that the meetings had been going on for a long time and who was involved in them indicates that the leakers came from countries that did well at the gathering The other 20 or so retained their anonymity This is a major event in the shifting balance of power

George Friedman is an internationally recognized geopolitical forecaster and strategist on international affairs and the founder and chairman of Geopolitical Futures

Wednesday 7 June 2023
COMMENT 05
A l A n R u s b R i d g e R
M
GUARDIAN
Alan Rusbridger was editor of the Guardian from 1995-2015 He now edits Prospect Magazine
umeR siddique RAnA S e c re t m e e t i n g s o f i n t e l l i g e n c e h e a d s a re d a n g e ro u s. Th e y c a n t r i g g e r d i s t r u s t at h o m e, p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e U n i t e d S t at e s GEOPOLITICAL FUTURES g e o R g e F R i e d m A n
R e l i g i o n i n p o l i t i c s i s w h at t h e p e o p l e wa nt
Ten years ago, Edward Snowden warned us about state spying. Spare a thought for him, and worry about the future

C H I N A D O U B L E S D O W N O N B U I L D I N G

N O R T H E R N B O R D E R F O R E S T P R O J E C T

desertification The country launched the three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program project in 1978

CHINA has doubled down on sustained efforts to do well in the long-term historical mission of the three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program” in a bid to counter sandstorms and soil erosion in its northern region

Over the past four decades the program has increased the forest area by 30 14 million hectares according to 2018 data China s three-North, the northwest, north and northeast regions, is home to deserts, including the Gobi, and a lot of

On Tuesday, President Xi Jinping hailed the work to combat desertification along the northern border as he acknowledged the widespread and hard-to-manage features of the overall desertification situation in the country

The construction of major ecological projects like the three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program can only be made possible under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) ” said Xi while visiting a forest farm in Bayannur City in north China s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

He noted the basic target of consolidating the ecological security barrier of the north while highlighting the new target of making the project an “indestructible green wall of the northern border ” China has taken the lead in the global campaign to green the planet with the highest growth in forest coverage and the largest area of man-made forests A 2019 finding published in Nature Sustainability showed that at least 25 percent of the foliage expansion since the early 2000s globally came from China based on data from NASA satellites ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION

On Monday afternoon Xi visited Ulan Suhai Lake, a rare large grassland lake in the

Iran presents first hypersonic ballistic missile: state media

DUBAI Ag e n c i e s

Iran presented what officials described as its first domestically-made hypersonic ballistic missile on Tuesday, the official IRNA news agency reported, an announcement likely to heighten Western concerns about Tehran’s missile capabilities Iranian state media published pictures of the missile named Fattah at a ceremony attended by President Ebrahim Raisi and commanders of Iran s elite Revolutionary Guards Corps “ T h e p r e c i s i o n - g u i d e d F a t t a h h y p e r s o n i c m i s s i l e h a s a r a n g e o f

1 , 4 0 0 k m a n d i t i s c a p a b l e o f

p e n e t r a t i n g a l l d e f e n c e s h i e l d s , ” A m i r a l i H a j i z a d e h , t h e h e a d o f t h e Guards’ aerospace force was quoted as s a y i n g b y I r a n i a n s t a t e m e d i a Hypersonic missiles can fly at least five times faster than the speed of sound a n d o n a c o m p l e x t r a j e c t o r y, w h i c h m a k e s t h e m d i ff i c u l t t o i n t e r c e p t L a s t y e a r, t h e I s l a m i c R e p u b l i c s a i d i t h a d b u i l t a h y p e r s o n i c b a l l i s t i c m i s s i l e which can manoeuvre in and out of the atmosphere State TV said Iran s Fattah missile can target the enemy s advanced antimissile systems and is a big generational leap in the field of missiles”

I t c a n b y p a s s t h e m o s t a d v a n c e d a n t i - b a l l i s t i c m i s s i l e s y s t e m s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d t h e Z i o n i s t r e g i m e , i n c l u d i n g I s r a e l ’s I r o n D o m e ” I r a n ’s s t a t e T V s a i d F a t t a h s t o p s p e e d r e a c h e d m a c h 1 4 l e v e l s ( 1 5 0 0 0 k m / h ) i t a d d e d

Despite US and European opposition, the Islamic Republic has said it will further develop its defensive missile programme However Western military analysts say Iran sometimes exaggerates its missile capabilities Concerns about Iran s ballistic missiles contributed to then-US President Donald Trump s decision in 2018 to ditch Tehran’s 2015 nuclear pact with six major

world s desert and semi-desert area, where he checked out the ecological restoration efforts there

The lake, which many call the “natural kidney” of the Yellow River plays a vital role in water adjustment purification and flood control of the river

Since the 1990s Ulan Suhai Lake has seen a reduction in its natural recharge water, urban sewage pollution, industrial wastewater pollution and the degradation of its ecological functions among other issues prompting local officials to commence preservation campaigns

According to official data they have reached the second stage of achievement

powers Trump reimposed US sanctions on Iran after exiting the nuclear pact, leading Tehran to resume previously banned nuclear work and reviving US European and Israeli fears that Iran may seek an atomic bomb Iran has consistently denied any such ambition Indirect talks between Tehran and US President Joe Biden’s administration to salvage the nuclear deal have stalled since last September Israel which the Islamic Republic refuses to recognise opposes efforts by world powers to revive Tehran s nuclear deal and has long threatened military action if diplomacy fails

Chinese universities raise tuition

PR OFIT

R e u t e R s

Graduation Rear view of the student with university graduates crowded or Graduation cap in the graduation ceremony Chinese universities are drastically increasing tuition fees this year with some making their first rises in two decades hurt by a reduced national budget for tertiary education and tight local government finances

The higher fees come amid a financial crunch among local governments after three years of disruptive COVID-19 policies a property crisis and a sluggish economy Chinese universities almost all public rely

heavily on state funding Shanghai-based East China University of Science and Technology raised tuition fees by 54% to 7 700 yuan ($1 082) annually for some freshmen majoring in science engineering and physical education, and by 30% in the liberal arts, according to statements issued on Sunday Tuition for science and engineering rose by 40% at Shanghai Dianji University while students majoring in management economics and literature will have to pay 30% more compared with a year earlier according to a notice on Monday In April the financial hub of Shanghai decided after a public hearing to raise tuition – unchanged for over 20 years – for the academic year starting this autumn China’s densely populated southwestern Sichuan

d a y a n d U S c r u d e a s m u c h a s $ 3 3 0 a f t e r S a u d i A r a b i a t h e w o r l d ’s t o p e x p o r t e r s a i d a t t h e w e e k e n d i t s

and northeastern Jilin provinces also raised tuition for different majors with the maximum increase as much as 41% in Sichuan according to local government statements The education ministry s expected budget expenditure for tertiary education in 2023 fell 3 7% to 102 6 billion yuan from the previous year, according to a budget report from the ministry A r e s e a r c h t e a m l e d by senior education experts last month also called for an extensive increase in university tuition for international students according to a study led by Beijing Institute of Technology professor Liu Jin The study suggested increasing tuition fees for international students to as much as 110,000 yuan per year from about 20,000 yuan

o u t p u t w o u l d d r o p b y 1 m i l l i o n b a r r e l s p e r d a y ( b p d ) t o 9 m i l l i o n b p d i n J u l y T h e b e n c h m a r k s p u l l e d b a c k t h o u g h t o m o r e m o d e s t g a i n s b y t h e e n d o f t h e d a y O i l p r i c e s a r e s t i l l i n a b e a r m a rk e t , a n d w e c a n s e e t h a t s o m e a d -

vanced economies have already started t o f a l l i n t o r e c e s s i o n s u c h a s G e rm a n y C M C M a r k e t s a n a l y s t L e o n L i s a i d Market participants are waiting to see if the U S Federal Reserve will hike or hold interest rates in June, and what China’s May trade data on Wednesday will indicate about demand in the world s secondlargest oil consumer Higher interest rates from the Fed could curb energy demand although several analysts say consumption will be strong Markets now peg the chances of the Fed pausing its interest rate hikes this month at 77%, according to the CME FedWatch Tool Demand is still expected to be a positive market driver after the release of recent economic data, with the U S not in a recession and Europe doing fine, said Rystad Energy research director Claudio Galimberti And while China is dealing with

Russia open to dialogue with US on arms control: Kremlin

KREMLIN

Ag e n c i e s

Russia remains open to dialogue with the United States on arms control as it is “extremely important but Moscow is waiting for specific proposals from Washington Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday During a daily briefing Peskov said it was important and positive that U S National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan recently said that the United States is ready to begin talks without preconditions

a new COVID-19 wave that is limiting traffic temporarily it will bounce back soon he said Also the US economy is about to show a very robust summer travel season that should mean gasoline and jet fuel demand is going to be very strong”, said OANDA senior market analyst Edward Moya in a note

with the continuous restoration of biodiversity

The lake has now seen 264 kinds of bird species and 22 kinds of fish species Xi highlighted the importance of preserving the lake on Monday urging continuous efforts The conservation of Ulan Suhai Lake has important implications for the preservation of ecological security of China s northern region, he said SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION

Xi also visited a monitoring center in the Hetao Irrigation area in Bayannur on Tuesday and learned about the informatization methods that can detail local monitoring efforts and promote the efficiency of water resources

PR OFIT R e u t e R s Oil prices edged lower early on Tuesday, coming off gains made the
day as concerns about the
back-
biggest output cut in years Brent crude futures slipped 51 cents to $76 20 a barrel by 0506 GMT The U S West Texas Intermediate crude fell 54 cents to $71 61 a barrel B r e n t h
o
M
previous
global economic
drop outweighed supply worries raised when Saudi Arabia announced its
a d g a i n e d a s m u c h a s $ 2 6 0
n
o n
Wednesday 7 June 2023 | ISLAMABAD ISLAMABAD M A n A b R A R
fees by as much as 54%
O il falls as global economic backdrop outweighs S audi output c ut

CORPORATE CORNER

Philip Morris reinforces commitment to sustainability on World Environment Day

PAKISTANI MANGOES TO EMBARK ON FIRST L AND JOURNEY TO XINJIANG THIS YEAR

the logistics-minded businessman noted

and inspire active participation in promoting planet-friendly practices P R

IT sector can help boost economy: Integration Xperts CEO

K a r a C h I : Information Technology can help the ailing national economy get back on track by not only directly contributing to the inflows and job creation, but also by supporting local organisations in improving their efficiency and profitability, which will generate more revenues for the government This was stated by Umair Azam Founder and CEO of Integration Xperts one of the leading technology firms in Pakistan He said that the IT sector has continually contributed more to the GDP over the past 10 years, which currently stands at 1 percent, with the potential to significantly increase both GDP contribution and exports in the next few years P R

Meezan Bank collaborates with Fauree to develop digital platform for Islamic supply chain financing

K a r a C h I : Meezan Bank, Pakistan’s leading Islamic bank has recently established a partnership with Fauree Tech Pvt Limited a Fintech company specializing in supply chain solutions The partnership shall serve to establish a digital platform for financing suppliers involved in well-organized logistical supply chains associated with reputable corporations The signing ceremony took place with the participation of senior management from both organizations including Syed Tanveer Hussain - General Manager Meezan Bank and Mr Azhar Tasadduq - CEO Fauree along with their respective teams Notably, Dr Saleh AlAmr from Saudi Arabia, - Founder and Group CEO, Jawa Investment also graced the occasion with his virtual presence P R

Mobilink Bank, iConsult boost financial prospec ts for women in KP

I s L a m a b a d : Mobilink Bank, in collaboration with iConsult, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and financial support from the USAID is implementing a social initiative to enhance the financial literacy of 3,000 individuals (1500 women) The initiative will empower the local communities of Nowshehra Charsadda DI Khan and Khyber districts by equipping them with the necessary financial skills and knowledge to make informed decisions Through customized financial solutions, Fori Cash and Fori Cash Plus Loan, Mobilink Bank will offer tailored financial solutions to credit-worthy individuals and extend support to eligible women enabling them to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams To further empower women entrepreneurs, the Bank will also provide subsidized solutions through Bint-e-Hawwa Loan, fostering their growth and success P R

ISLAMABAD

S TA F F R E P O R T

Prime Minister s Coordinator on Economy and Energy

Bilal Azhar Kayani on Tuesday said the Federal Government led by PM Shehbaz Sharif would work out all options to ensure a people-friendly budget for the next fiscal year “The priority will be given to specific measures that are crucial to curb inflation and stabilize economy with maximum relief to the lower and middle ” he said in an exclusive interview with APP

Surely we can opt for a popular budget but it will adversely impact the economy and we will not go for it in the larger national interest, he added

Bilal Kayani said the budget’s main focus would be on development projects as over Rs 1 1 trillion would be allocated on that count including Rs 950 billion for the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) initiatives and Rs 150 billion for the projects under the public-

PA K I S TA N I mangoes will embark on first land journey to Xinjiang China this year We are planning to export [Pakistani] mangoes after 10th June this year to Xinjiang via land route, Tayyab Khan, CEO of logistics company Sadequain Shipping Line told China Economic Net (CEN) in an interview

Having succeeded in shipping the first land containerised seafood cargo from Karachi to Kashgar, China last week, the Karachi-based logistics enterprise will transport Chaunsa mangoes from Pakistan’s major mango-producing city of Multan to Tashkurgan via the Karakoram Highway before distributing them to other cities in Xinjiang Tayyab

told CEN reporter

He added that Currently, we have some customers who need to export 2000 tons of mangoes to Kashgar and Urumqi, but once it starts I hope they will export more ” The transport of mangoes will be un-

dertaken by refrigerated containers that can provide temperature-controlled environment with a range from -20 to 25 degrees Celsius In between this range, all commodities like vegetables fruits fish meat and chicken will be covered ”

KP Governor urges politicians to form 'Char ter of Economy ’ for strengthening countr y economically

PESHAWAR S TA F F R E P O R T

Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Haji Ghulam Ali on Tuesday suggested the formation of Charter of Economy’ to be signed by all the political parties with the objective of strengthening the economic condition of the country

He said in view of the destruction of public and private properties due to vandalism unleased by stalwarts of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on May 9 and 10, its time for politicians to form a charter of economy for keeping trade and commercial activities unaffected by such happenings in future

He expressed these views while speaking with media persons at a function held in Governor House for the presentation of cheque of Rs 10 million to Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce for the construction of its office in Peshawar

A large number of provincial ministers, advisers to Chief Minister KP, leading businessmen, and media men were present at the ceremony

“Political differences should exist in the country which is the beauty of democracy but this should not be taken to a level of animosity and holding of insane protests, not showing any regard for belongings to public and private,” Ghulam Ali remarked

A strong charter of democracy signed by all the political parties ensuring safety and consistency of economic activities and policies can attract foreign investment in the country, Governor opined

KP Governor said he had also discussed the issue of the charter of the economy with former President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari Ghulam Ali also welcomed approval by the Pakistani government of starting barter trade in the region with Iran, Afghanistan and Russia

The decision will have very positive impact on the economy of the country and efforts are underway to involve more countries in this old practice of doing business

Ghulam Ali said in the prevailing circumstances when the country is facing acute shortage of dollars, initiation of business to

business barter trade system is very timely and appropriate decision

In response to a question about payment of dues to Trans Peshawar company for continuation of operation of BRT buses in Peshawar, Haji Ghulam Ali said around 50 percent of payment has been made

Earlier, Governor Haji Ghulam Ali handed over cheque of Rs 10 million for business community for construction of office of FPCCI in Peshawar He said the FPCCI office will serve as center for promotion of trade and investment in the region and provide good opportunity to business community of the region The FPCCI office will be constructed with joint efforts of business community of government

In response to another question about payment of dues of KP government owed by federal government, Governor KP said Federal Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar has held out assurance of clearing all the dues before June 30 next

When asked about holding of elections in the country, Haji Ghulam Ali said elections will be held at scheduled time

Tree plantation launched on World Environment Day

To mark World Environment Day observed on June 5 around the world a tree- plantation ceremony was organized at KPT Sports Complex here in collaboration with Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) Environment Commission and Karachi Port Trust

The event was attended among others by Sarwat Gilani, a well-known TV actress, Special Olympic Pakistan Chairperson Ronak Lakhani Environment Commission Member Tehmina Asif KPT Manager Sports Major (Rtd) Mehmood Riaz and other guests planted saplings along with special children

On this occasion, Sarwat Gilani said that increasing environmental pollution is gradually strengthening its grip on our environment If special attention is not paid to the protection of the city the harmful effects of pollution will increase shortly

She praised the efforts of the POA Environment Commission for the elimination of environmental pollution and appealed to the public to do more to achieve

a happy and healthy society free from density

Acknowledging the efforts of Tehmina Asif, she also appealed to the people to fulfil their national responsibility by planting more greenery and trees ensuring a density-free happy and healthy society

Chairperson of Special Olympic Pakistan Ronak Lakhani said that a pollution-free environment is key for every field including sports A healthy environment ensures a healthy mind and healthy body and as such we should make efforts both collectively and individually to contribute to drives aimed at controlling pollution

Tehmina Asif said that 55% of the waste collected in our country daily includes plastic which is mostly burned and the smoke that rises is very dangerous for human life

Tehmina Asif further said that marine pollution is also very harmful to our aquatic and marine life and also the economy because the employment of millions of fishermen is related to it

We have to protect our sea as well as the land It is necessary to play our full individual and collective role to protect our water resources and eliminate marine pollution she added

DC direc ts to improve anti- dengue ac tivities

RAWALPINDI S TA F F R E P O R T

Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema on Tuesday directed officials concerned to expedite anti-dengue surveillance keeping in view the prevailing weather conditions

Chairing a meeting to review anti-dengue arrangements, he di-

private partnership framework

rected the officials to upgrade the anti-dengue activities and clear the high-risk areas He asked the officials to carry out daily visits to vulnerable dengue sites and monitor the antidengue teams strictly The DC warned that no negligence would be tolerated in this regard adding the aim of taking timely measures against dengue

He said the last Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government had agreed on the “inappropriate conditions” of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and deviated from all the standard protocols Even the then finance secretary had also voiced his opposition to these conditions, but no heed was paid

Moreover, he added, the former prime minister abruptly decided to withdraw from the IMF programme when he felt that he was going to be ousted from power and that pushed the country on the verge of bankruptcy

However we had to take tough decisions that were necessary to avert the default he remarked

He expressed the hope that the staff level agreement with the IMF would be reached soon

Kiyani said the incumbent government had been facing many challenges since it assumed the charge “The previous government had pushed 20 million people below the poverty line and rendered six million jobless due to its wrong economic policies he added

was to completely wipe out the fatal virus Cheema directed that checking and surveillance of commerc i a l p l a z a s , h o t e l s , r e s t a u r a n t s , h o s p i t a l s s c h o o l s a n d c o l l e g e s j u n k y a r d s g r a v e y a r d s u n d e rc o n s t r u c t i o n s i t e s p a r k s o p e n p l o t s a b a n d o n e d s i t e s p e t r o l pumps and all other spots be ensured by all concerned

Tayyab shared that the journey from Multan to Tashkurgan, including customs clearance time in Sost and Tashkurgan, is expected to take approximately 6 days

In addition to mangoes cherries from Pakistan s Gilgit-Baltistan are also expected to debut in Xinjiang he said

This year, we have also had a requirement from Gilgit-Baltistan that they want to export cherries to the Xinjiang region ” he elaborated sharing that the vehicles and containers are already being placed in the cherry-producing region to accommodate the commodity

Tayyab noted that their operations would soon extend to other parts of China, particularly Guangzhou and Shenzhen, adding, “We usually transport cargo by sea but we are planning to divert this cargo through land routes

Federal Minister for Human Rights attends as chief guest opening ceremony of 20th meeting of IPM Group

Federal Minister for Human Rights Mian Riaz

Hussain Pirzada attended as chief guest the opening ceremony of 20th meeting of InterProvincial Ministerial Group (IPMG) in Islamabad

The meeting was organized by National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) with the help of UN Women Chairperson NCSW, Ms Nilofar

Bakhtiar, Country Representative UN Women

Sharmeela Rasool, Ms Andrea S Hillyer Advisor

Gender Security representatives of Bureau of Statistics Planning and Development Departments and Women Development Departments of all provinces and Provincial Commissions on the Status of Women including Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan attended the meeting PR

IESCO issues power suspension schedule for today

According to Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) s spokesman System

Maintenance/Development Work is in process

Therefore power supply of below mentioned

feeders/areas will be temporary suspended as per given schedule:

On 07th June 2023, From 09:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Islamabad Circle Upper Topa Patriata TDCP

Feeders Rawalpindi Cantt Circle FECHS Swan

Garden-I PWD-I NPF-I Dr Town Kohala Morat Feeders, Rawalpindi City Circle, Azizabad, Nogzi, Bajnyal, F-17/1 & 2, Saidpur Road, Chakra Feeders, Chakwal Circle, Daulatala, Adi, Dera Muslim Feeders, From 08:00 AM to 13:00 PM, Attock Circle, Haru Ghori Feeders From 06:00 AM to 05:00 PM

Barut Gala Durbar Mai Toti Khoi Ratta City Chirohi Express Dana Bhal Chirohi Dongee Sri City Kariala Jandrot Dabsi Duttot Majajan City II Cheruhi feeders and surrounding areas will remain closed IESCO management apologizes to its esteemed customers for the power outage If the work is completed ahead of time, the power supply can be restored even before the scheduled time PR

TPL Life successfully roped in 60k potential life insurance agents on Muavin

L a h o r e : TPL Life Muavin, Pakistan’s first virtual earning and learning platform, continues to grow and reach a new milestone of surpassing 60 000 potential life insurance agents registering onto the portal This is in line with TPL Life s vision of enabling Pakistan & every Pakistani digitally, ensuring that economic activity is intrinsic at every step of financial prosperity, highlighting the talent and capabilities that the country fosters "We are thrilled to see the remarkable response to Muavin from users nationwide The platform aligns with our vision of promoting financial inclusion and digitization in Pakistan s insurance industry, said Mr Saad Nissar, CEO of TPL Life He added, It provides a unique opportunity for individuals to become financially independent, contribute to the economy's growth, and access insurance products ” PR

The measures were now being taken to reduce the circular debt in the energy sector while efforts were underway to get petroleum products at economical rate to provide maximum relief to the people he said

Responding a question Bilal Kayani said alternative energy was being promoted which would help reduce dependence on the imported fuel and pressure on foreign exchange reserves Citicising the previous government’s foreign policy he asserted that they had isolated the country internationally The present government had to make extra efforts to reinvigorate diplomatic ties and mend relationships with foreign nations he added As regards the flood-hit areas, Kiyani said the government had been using all its resources for the rehabilitation of victims and reconstruction of the affected areas

“When we will assume the charge of the next government after winning the election we will bring a long-term structural programme to steer out the country out of crises he vowed

S ubsidized ghee prices c ut by Rs80 per kg at all USCs, says spokesman

Utility Stores Corporation of Pakistan has reduced the prices of subsidized ghee provided under the Prime Minister s Relief Package A formal notification has also been issued According to the notification, the prices of subsidized ghee have been reduced by Rs 80 per kg at all stores across the country The subsidized ghee, which was earlier being sold at Rs 490 per kg will now be available at Rs 410 per kg Ghee will be provided at Rs 300 per kg for the registered users under Benazir Income Support Program(BISP) It should be noted that the Utility Stores Corporation is providing special subsidy on basic commodities (flour, sugar, ghee, rice, pulses) under the Prime Minister's Relief Package Apart from this the prices of other branded items available at utility stores are also very low compared to the general market PR

07 NEWS Wednesday 7 June 2023 | SLAMABAD
G o v t t o fo c u s o n p e o p l e - f r i e n d l y b u d g e t w i t h m a x i m u m r e l i e f : B i l a l K ay a n i
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
KARACHI S TA F F R E P O R T
K a r a C h I: Philip Morris Pakistan Limited (PMPKL) successfully organized an event on World Environment Day 2023 at its Karachi Head Office highlighting its strong commitment to environmental conservation and responsibility Under the Beat Plastic Pollution theme, PMPKL recognized the urgent need to address the challenge of protecting the environment As an organization striving for a sustainable future, PMPKL firmly believes in its responsibility to conserve the environment and encourage more sustainable living The event served as a platform to engage employees

PUNJAB MOVES LHC AGAINST YASMIN RASHID’S DISCHARGE FROM JINNAH HOUSE ATTACK CASE

Sarwar as respondents in the plea

that the party workers were armed with firearms and blunt weapons

any other evidence that is necessary in this case

SC passes historic judgment on sexual harassment at workplaces

TH E Punjab government on Tuesday challenged the AntiTerrorism Court s verdict in the Lahore High Court, whereby it had discharged PTI leader Dr Yasmin Rashid from the Jinnah House attack case describing the ATC decision as “illegal contradictory and liable to be set aside

The Punjab government filed the appealed in the LHC against the ATC orders through Deputy Prosecutor General (DPG) Sultan Asghar The DPG made the request on grounds that the judge discharged Dr Yasmin Rashid from the case in haste without giving any reasonable opportunity to the investigation agency for collection of evidence

Hence, the impugned order is against the law, the plea said

The LHC is scheduled to take up the plea for hearing tomorrow (Wednesday)

The petitioner has made Dr Yasmin Rashid the ATC judge DSP (Investigations) Kamran Adil who is convener of the JIT formed to probe the case and Investigation Officer (IO) Inspector Muhammad

On Saturday last the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Lahore discharged PTI Central Punjab president along with 23 other suspects, from Jinnah House, known as Corps Commander House, attack case

The court in its detailed verdict rejected the plea for Ms Rashid s physical remand in case lodged at Sarwar Road police station The court had also ordered her release if she had not been booked in any other case The judge observed that she was summoned in the case based on the disclosure of a co-suspect which had no evidentiary value in the eyes of the law

But next day the Punjab police announced it would be approaching the high court against the ATC s order of discharging Rashid from the case

On Tuesday, the Punjab government filed a plea in the LHC, submitting that North Cantonment Deputy Superintendent of Police Muhammad Ashfaq Rana got a first information report registered on May 9 after he received information that 1,400-1,500 PTI workers, led by Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed and Mian Aslam Iqbal, had “constituted an unlawful assembly and blocked the road leading to Jinnah House” The plea stated

Another journalist ‘picked up’ from residence in Karachi

Zubair Anjum the executive producer at Geo News was purportedly picked up from his residence in Model Colony area of Karachi, it emerged on Tuesday A report published by Geo tv quoted residents of Anjum’s neighbourhood as saying that two police vans and double-cabin vehicles arrived at his home near the Model Colony intersection late on Monday night and took him away

The report also quoted Anjum s brother Wajahat as saying that officials entered their home wielding firearms and that family members were also manhandled “They asked for Zubair bhai and took him away at gunpoint They also took along his mobile phone ” the report added Wajahat said that officials also seized the digital video recorder (DVR) of the CCTV installed in Anjum s neighbourhood

The police did not give any reason for the arrest They did not even let him wear his slippers We repeatedly kept asking what the matter was,” Wajahat said Saadat Ali, another sibling of the journalist, told Dawn com that some men in plainclothes and others wearing police uniforms entered their home at around 1am

He said that some of the men were carrying guns and had their masks on adding that they seemed to be in a hurry and forcibly took his brother away

Meanwhile, the Geo tv report said that a case was registered at the Model Colony police station At the same time the publication quoted Korangi SSP Tariq Nawaz as saying that his force had no information in this regard

He added that no police station or unit had reported taking the journalist into custody

Police from stations in the Korangi district have not arrested Anjum We are investigating the incident,” the publication reported him as saying

C O N D E M N AT I O N S: Separately several media bodies condemned the journalist s alleged abduction and called on the government to take notice

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) demanded the immediate and safe release of the journalist Such unlawful incidents must come to a halt,” it said

The International Federation of Journalists and its affiliate the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists condemned Anjum s disappearance and urged law enforcers and the government to launch an immediate investigation

The Karachi Press Club (KPC) said in a statement that Anjum was one of their members and condemned his “kidnapping at gunpoint” The KPC equated the act with restricting freedom of expression

The KPC also termed the act of forcibly entering the producer s home as state terrorism

In a statement the Sindh Commission for Protection of Journalists and other Media Practitioners said

Anjum was not wanted in any criminal case, therefore, “this is a clear case of abduction”

“It is the duty of the state to protect the life and liberty of all citizens ” it said

It alleged that the said mob raised slogans against the state institutions and said the PTI chief and other party leaders had “directed us to attack the offices and buildings of the Pakistan Army”

According to the plea police officials asked the mob to disperse but despite their repeated warnings the suspects attacked police officials and set police vehicles on fire

It further stated that 53 police officials were injured in the attack while the suspects “forcibly entered Jinnah House after breaking the main gate and took away valuables worth Rs15 million It also alleged that two persons died in firing by Dr Yasmin Rashid and Iqbal

Recounting that Yasmin Rashid was arrested in the case and later discharged by an administrative judge the plea termed the judge s order illegal not sustainable in the eye of law and liable to be set aside

Moreover, it added, while issuing the order, the ATC had not let the investigating officer collect forensic evidence, namely photogrammetry voice matching and polygraph test results “as well as

The plea further said that a mobile phone, vehicle and megaphone was yet to be recovered from Rashid, who had “instigated the public/mob [using a] megaphone and asked the mob/public to move towards Jinnah House to attack it

It highlighted that every person charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 was bound to disclose all information to the investigating officer and as per Section 32 of the Act, its provisions “have an overriding effect over other laws”

Dr Yasmin Rashid is among several PTI leaders and workers who have been arrested amid a crackdown following protests erupted after the party Chairman Imran Khan was arrested by Rangers from the Islamabad High Court in a corruption case on May 9

The former Punjab health minister was initially detained in connection with the events of May 9 under the Maintenance of Public Order

On May 13, however the LHC had ordered her release, but she was re-arrested merely hours later in three more cases pertaining to May 9 including the Jinnah House attack case

Hope will surely rise soon, Q ureshi says af ter release from Adiala Jail

RAWALPINDI

S TA F F R E P O R T

PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood

Qureshi on Tuesday said that he would meet party chief Imran Khan on Wednesday (tomorrow) and share his analysis of the political scenario prevailed in the country after he was release from Adiala Jail after almost a month of incarceration

The flag of justice is in my hand today and I am a part of a movement that wants to see a free Pakistan” Qureshi stated while speaking to the media after his release He expressed gratitude to the lawyers, the PTI and all the people

On the occasion, Qureshi advised the PTI workers to remain steadfast, saying that “hope will surely rise soon”

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf

(PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi was released from Adiala Jail hours after the Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi bench declared his detention ‘illegal’ on Tuesday

The PTI leader said that after meeting with party chairman Imran Khan he will address the media in detail We will try to bring out the innocent people in jail by initiating legal proceedings for their release,” he informed

The PTI leader said he would meet Imran tomorrow I have spent a month in solitary confinement and got time to reflect and think on a lot of things tomorrow I will meet Imran Khan and present him my political analysis and seek guidance,” he stated Qureshi went also thanked his God his family the PTI courts and his legal team for working day and night for his release

I was re-arrested under the MPO [ ] I don t think there was ground for the arrest because how can a prisoner in jail indulge in public disorder? Who can I contact, instruct or incite?”

Addressing PTI supporters, he said “This is a testing and difficult time but don t lose hope because after every night there is a dawn

I think in different jails there are countless innocent people who should be released I will try, and we will pursue their cases after consultation with our legal team ” Qureshi

: Earlier High court judge Justice Chaudhry Abdul Aziz announced the verdict and ordered Qureshi to submit an affidavit to the Rawalpindi deputy commissioner within three days of his release

The verdict maintained that the ex-minister would be able to conduct peaceful political activities according to the Constitution and law, and could address peaceful protests It mandated that he stay away from protests that include vandalism sieges and burning

The superintendent of the Adiala jail was ordered to immediately release Qureshi

During the hearing the court told the law officer to bring forth any speeches or protests Qureshi led, adding that no political leader could control their words in a political gathering

The judge told the law officer to produce any evidence against the PTI VC before the court To this the law officer asked for two days before they could present the evidence

Qureshi was arrested last month by the Islamabad police on multiple charges, including “inciting violent protests” following PTI chief Imran Khan’s arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case on May 9

On May 18 the Islamabad High Court had ordered the former foreign minister s release However, his release was delayed due to his apparent reluctance to provide an undertaking to refrain from engaging in unruly protests

When Qureshi was finally set free on May 23 he was again taken into custody by Punjab police from outside Adiala Jail after his detention orders were issued by the Rawalpindi deputy commissioner

E a r l i e r t o d a y t h e L a h o r e High Court s (LHC) Rawalpindi b e n c h o r d e r e d t h e P T I l e a d e r s i m m e d i a t e r e l e a s e a n d s e t a s i d e his detention orders

SC law yer Abdul R azzaq shot dead in Q uetta

The Supreme Court (SC) unanimously ruled that “sexual harassment at the workplace is not only about physical intimacy or sexual form but also includes discrimination on account of gender In 2021 the apex court had held that sexual intention must be proved in the cases that are proceeded under the Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2010

“The aggrieved person under the provisions of the Act, 2010 has the responsibility to prove that the perpetrator truly had an accompanying sexual intention or overture with his act demeanor behavior and/or conduct read a 12-page judgment authored by Justice Mushir Alam

Justice Alam had been presiding over a three-judge bench that had dismissed a case filed by a female employee of the Pakistan Television (PTV) against her male colleagues One of the accused was represented by Agha Muhammad Ali Advocate

The order had said that the Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2010 (PAHWWA) itself limits the protection it offers to victims of sexual harassment and the court is shackled to interpret it in line with its express charging clause (h) of section 2 of the Act, 2010

“Any other interpretation advanced by this court to enlarge the scope of the charging section will violate the rights guaranteed under Article 12 of Constitution it had added

Then attorney general of Pakistan Khalid Javed Khan had expressed serious apprehension at the time over the ruling, stating that while interpreting PAHWWA the law should have given notice to the AGP office for legal assistance Later a review petition was filled with the apex court that contended the Islamabad High Court as well as the SC while considering and interpreting the provisions of the law, had not issued a notice to the AGP under Order XXVIIA of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908

A three-judge special bench, led by Justice Yahya Afridi and comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Ayesha Malik presided over the proceedings The court ruled that there appears to be an error in the judgment owing to the interpretation of harassment displayed by the Court, which definition is patently against the Act and its Statement of Objects

It went on to state that “both the President and the Islamabad High Court decided the case of Nadia Naz on the understanding that harassment means sexual harassment having a sexual nature and form and did not examine the facts in the context of Nadia Naz s perspective and her understanding of the injury caused In cases of harassment, the victim s perspective is relevant as against the notion of acceptable behaviour “The standard of a reasonable woman should be considered to determine whether there was harassment which rendered the workplace hostile and all relevant factors should be viewed objectively and subjectively In doing so, the order of the President and the judgment of the High Court failed to give due emphasis on the injury claimed and the harmful nature of the events to Nadia Naz Under the circumstances since harassment was understood in a limited context both the order as well as the judgment decided the cases on a mistaken understanding of the law The apex court therefore set aside the previous orders Notably, the SC has expanded the scope of sexual harassment to include discrimination on account of gender and also taken note to make the interpretation of the law gender inclusive allowing for men to also be considered as possible aggrieved parties in cases of workplace harassment The judgment under review [ ] never considered and entirely excluded genderbased discrimination and harassment faced at the workplace,” the court held “Un the context of harassment, the word sexual and sexually are relevant and give meaning to the word harassment which in this context becomes actionable when it relates to the gender being sex-based discrimination as opposed to only meaning coital relations and advances Reading further into the definition of harassment, it appears sex-based discrimination does not have to be limited to sexual activity, rather it is behaviour which is promoted on account of the gender as a result of gender-based power dynamics which behaviour is harmful and not necessarily a product of sexual desire or sexual activity Such harassment is motivated to degrade and demean a person by exploitation, humiliation and hostility which amounts to gender-based harassment and can include unwanted sexual alleviation and sexual coercion “Such behaviour in law becomes harassment at the workplace when it causes interference with work performance or creates an intimidating hostile or offensive work environment and has the effect of punishing the complainant for refusal to comply with a request or is made a condition for employment

O R T

A Supreme Court lawyer Abdul Razzaq Shar was shot dead on

near Airport Road, Quetta Unknown gunmen showered a lawyer of Supreme Court with sixteen bullets and killed him on the way near the airport in

i m r e c e i v e d 1 6 b u l l e t s i n d i ff e r e n t p a r t s o f h i s b o d y The lawyers have boycotted the proceedings in all the courts after the incident While, The leadership of Bar Councils have also stopped more lawyers from rushing to the hospital

Furthermore, it added that “the impugned judgment overlooked the inclusion of men in the definition of complainant which is relevant when seen in the context of the protection given to employees under the Act In his concurring note Justice Afridi further stated that he is remanding the matter to the worthy President of Pakistan for deciding afresh the representation of the petitioner, Nadia Naz, which shall be deemed as pending before him, and be decided in accordance with the law in view of the meaning and

Imran appeals to people of Bagh to vote for Z amir K han in Thursday by- elec tion

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman

Imran Khan on Tuesday appealed to people of Bagh Azad Kashmir to vote for PTI’s candidate Raja Mohammad Zamir Khan in byelection scheduled for Thursday (June 8) because at present only PTI was striving for rule of law in the country

In a video message, the PTI Chairman said that my Pakistanis of Azad Kashmir, by-election is going to be held in Bagh on

June 8, 2023’

“I want you to vote for Raja

Mohammad Zamir Khan who is a PTI’s candidate Khan appealed He stated that currently in Pakistan only

PTI stood for the rule of law in the country adding that the country needed a system based on justice and rule of law the most at this time

I want the people of Bagh to vote for our candidate in order to ensure his victory in the by-election, Khan demanded PTI Chairman stated that all the political parties of the country were currently against the PTI Therefore he demanded that it was their responsibility to support the party that wanted to bring real freedom and democracy to the country Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf

(PTI) Chairman Imran Khan lashed out at the fascist government for causing pain and ordeal to the family of Main Aslam Iqbal

former senior minister Punjab Sharing the ordeal through which Mian Aslam Iqbal s family was facing at the hands of this fascist government the PTI Chairman said that no one was spared from humiliation Imran Khan said: Mian Aslam Iqbal writes the ordeal his family is facing at the hands of this fascist government No one is spared from humiliating his 80 year old mother to brothers relatives or anyone these criminals can get their hands on

The PTI chairman urged that since the mainstream media has now been completely muzzled, through social media everyone must be made aware of the reign of terror unleashed on Pakistan’s biggest party so that it can be kept out of the elections

PRAYER TIMINGS FA J R S U N R I S E Z U H R A S R M AG H R I B S H A 4:10 4:55 1 30 5:15 7:05 9:15 Wednesday 7 June 2023 NEWS Published by Asad Nizami at Plot # 7, Al-Baber Centre, F/8 Markaz, Islamabad, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited Ph: 051-2204545 Email: newsroom@pakistantoday com pk LAHORE S TA F F R E P O R T
M O N I T O R I N G R E P O R T
KARACHI
S TA F F R E P O R T
ISLAMABAD
” QUETTA S TA F F R E P
scope of ‘harassment’
Tuesday
on
Police
deceased
where
being conducted As per the preliminary forens i c e v i d e n c e t h e v i c t
Quetta
Tuesday
said Advocate Abdul Razzaq was shot and killed near Airport Road Alamo Chowk The suspects shot him with a Kalashnikov Police shifted the body of the
lawyer to the Civil Hospital
the post-mortem is
added L H C O R D E R S R E L E A S E O F P I N D I B E N C H
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

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