Epaper_23-06-18 LHR

Profit

298 PAKISTANIS FEARED DEAD AS GREECE HUNTS FOR SHIPWRECK’S SURVIVORS

g FO RELEASES LIST OF PAKISTANIS RESCUED AFTER MIGRANTS BOAT CAPSIZED

RE S C U E R S were scouring the seas off Greece on Saturday in a massive search operation as hopes dwindled for survivors of a shipwreck that estimatedly killed 298 Pakistan nationals

The ship was carrying 310 Pakistan nationals along with other migrants when it met the accident earlier this week The Pakistan embassy in Greece has confirmed that 12 of the citizens had been rescued, adding that the local authorities had managed to recover 78 bodies as search operation continues for fourth day

The embassy said the identity of the bodies was yet to be confirmed It asked the families in Pakistan, whose beloved ones were on the boat, to send verified reports of their DNA tests for crossmatch Sources said over 130 Pakistanis belonged to the Kashmir region

G R E E C E B O AT C R A S H: F O R E -

LEASES LIST OF RESCUED PAK-

ISTANI PEOPLE: The Foreign Office (FO) has released a list of rescued Pakistani people in the capsizing incident of a fishing boat in Greece wherein more than 500 migrants have been presumed drowned

These people include; Muhammad

Adnan Bashir S/o Muhammad Bashir

District Kotli, Haseeb Ur Rehman S/o

Habib ur Rehman, District Kotli,

Muhammad Hamza S/o Abdul Ghafoor,

District Gujranwala Azmat Khan S/o

Muhammad Saleeho District Gujrat

Muhammad Sunny S/o Farooq Ahmed

District Sheikhupura Zahid Akbar S/o

Akbar Ali District Sheikhupura, Mehtab

Ali S/o Muhammad Ashraf, District

Mandi Bahauddin, Rana Husnain S/o

Rana Naseer Ahmad District Sialkot

g PAK MISSION IN CONTACT WITH AUTHORITIES FOR IDENTIFICATION, RECOVERY OF PAKISTANIS

istan Mission in Greece remained in contact with the local authorities for identification and recovery of Pakistani nationals among the deceased and providing relief to the survivors

Earlier on Wednesday hundreds of people were thought to have packed a fishing boat that capsized in international waters about 50 miles (80 km) from the southern coastal town of Pylos while being shadowed by the Greek coast guard

As dawn broke on Thursday a coast guard vessel sailed into the nearby port city of Kalamata, transferring victims of the year s deadliest shipwreck off Greece

By the early hours, the survivors there numbered 104 out of several hundreds

TLP calls off March after successful negotiations with gov t: Sanaullah

ISLAMABAD

S TA F F R E P O R T

Usman Siddique S/o Muhammad Siddique, District Gujrat, Zeeshan Sarwar S/o Ghulam Sarwar, District Gujranwala, Irfan Ahmed S/o Shafi (Hospitlized) and Imran Arain S/o Maqbool (Hospitalized)

A team of the Embassy of Pakistan

has visited them The Embassy is in close contact with Greek authorities for recovery of the missing and confirmation/identification of the deceased Earlier in the day FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that the Pak-

Authorities said it was unclear how many had been aboard the vessel and they were investigating one account from a European rescue-support charity that there could have been 750 people on the 20- to 30 metre-long (65- to 100- foot-long) boat

Speaker NA calls for ster n action against human smugglers

ISLAMABAD: While reacting to the boat disaster which allegedly claimed lives of over 290 Pakistanis National Assembly Speaker Raja Parvez Ashraf has urged the government to take firm action against the human smugglers

Speaking during the National Assembly session on Saturday, he while expressing concerns over the death of migrants including those from Pakistan in the boat accident said the government should take notice of the incident as the human smuggling was a grave crime

The Foreign Office said that a total of 12 Pakistanis were identified among the survivors of the capsized boat off the coast of Greece but so far the number and identity of Pakistani nationals among the deceased was not yet verified

In a statement, the FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said the Pakistan Mission in Greece under the leader-

Previous governments intentionally targeted Lahore with vengeance: PM

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday regretted that during the previous government s dark period, Lahore was intentionally targeted with revenge and the international companies were unjustly harassed

Moreover with political inductions he said the companies and institutes were destroyed

The nation will not forget those who stalled the country s journey towards progress and development the prime minister said while talking to a delegation of Albayrak Group, a renowned Turkish company, led by its President Ahmet Albayrak that called on him, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release

During the meeting the prime minister appreciated the group s services in solid waste management and public transport PM s adviser Ahad Cheema PML-N senior leader Khawaja Hassan, Board members of Albayrak Group and other relevant authorities were present on the occasion

The prime minister said that during their previous tenures, they had provided the residents of Lahore with international standard facilities With global investment they introduced the latest traveling solid waste management facilities and created job opportunities he added

The delegation expressed its deep interest in investment in different sectors of Pakistan

During his recent visit to Turkiye, the Group had apprised the prime minister of its keen interest to invest in different sectors of Pakistan and their upcoming visit

ship of Ambassador Aamar Aftab remained in contact with the local authorities for identification and recovery of Pakistani nationals among the deceased and providing relief to the survivors

The spokespersons further stated Our Mission also remains in contact with the Greek authorities in the identification process of the 78 recovered bodies This identification process will take place through DNA-matching with close family members (parents and children only) ”

Families of likely passengers on board the ill-fated boat were requested to contact Pak Mission in Greece on the 24/7 helpline numbers for verification purposes They were also requested to share DNA reports from authenticated laboratories and the identity documents of the passenger at ‘info@pakistanembassy gr ’

g RESIGNATION PART OF PROLONGED PROCESS BY WHICH ABBASI HAS SLOWLY BEEN PARTING WAYS WITH PML-N

In a surprising turn of events that may dent the PML-N former prime minister Shahid Khaqqan Abbasi has resigned from his position on the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the federal cabinet Well placed sources privy to the happenings at the ECC have informed Profit that Mr Abbasi resigned after developing differences with Dr Musadik Malik over the recently announced Azerbaijan LNG Deal

No official clarification has come from Mr Abbasi whose phone remained off after the news started making the rounds that he had resigned from the ECC Other members of the PML-N and the government also maintained a tactful silence or ignored questions regarding the matter Profit reached out to Maryam Aurangzeb Dr Musadiq Malik Khurram Dastagir and a number of other sources including Mr Abbasi himself but to no avail

Political background

The decision comes merely a day after Abbasi was passed over for any party office at a convention of the PML-N which elected prime minister Shehbaz Sharif as the party s President and elected

Maryam Nawaz as its Senior Vice President the post Abbasi

formerly held within the party

The resignation is part of a process that has been dragging on for months in which Mr Abbasi has slowly distanced himself from the party that took him to the highest office in the land A career politician whose father had also been a Nawaz loyalist, Mr Abbasi has been estranged from the PML-N for the entirety of the time that the PDM government has been in power He first launched the Reimagining Pakistan platform along with Miftah Ismail that many thought would be turned into a political party He was also a vocal critic of the government’s wheat scheme, alleging corruption in it on a grand scale

The LNG tussle

As things stand now Profit s sources have cited that the former prime minister has resigned over differences with Musadiq Malik It is worth mentioning that Abbasi held the petroleum portfolio in the Nawaz Sharif administration of 2013-18 and is known as the architect of Pakistan s switch to LNG

The sources claimed that Mr Abbasi advocated for a private company to procure LNG from Azerbaijan’s SOCAR rather than signing a government-to-government agreement during the course of ECC meeting held on 5th June 2023 where petroleum division

tabled a summary titled Approval of Framework Agreement between PLL and SOCAR

A heated debate reportedly ensued between Dr Musadik Malik and Abbasi during the ECC meeting held on June 5 2023 regarding the signing of the LNG procurement agreement between Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) and SOCAR, which ultimately resulted in a stalemate

Despite the lack of consensus during the initial meeting the Petroleum Division responsible for the deal resubmitted the summary on June 14 2023 However Abbasi s recommendations were not incorporated in the revised version of the summary under which petroleum division sought Approval of Framework Agreement between PLL and SOCAR And the ECC subsequently granted approval to Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) to proceed with the proposed framework agreement with SOCAR

Despite the lack of consensus during the initial meeting the Petroleum Division responsible for the deal resubmitted the summary on June 14, 2023 However, Abbasi's recommendations were not incorporated in the revised version of the summary under which petroleum division sought Approval of Framework Agreement between PLL and SOCAR

Federal Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah has said that the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) had called off its “Pakistan Bachao March” (Save Pakistan March) after successful negotiations with the government

This was announced by him on Saturday while addressing a press conference flanked by TLP s leader Shafiq Amini Rana Sanaullah said that crucial matters were settled with the TLP after the second round of talks Talks were primarily focused on safeguarding the Prophethood and curbing blasphemy which is integral to every Muslim’s faith he added

Regarding the demand of TLP for the Dr Aafia

Siddiqui s release the interior minister described her case as a national issue that saddened every Pakistani

He urged human rights organizations to pay attention to her situation and assured that the government would write a letter to United States (US) authorities regarding her imprisonment considering her 86-year sentence unfair Rana Sanaullah said that the government also accepted other demands of TLP, including a reduction in petrol prices

He said Finance Minister Ishaq Dar briefed the TLP negotiators about how petrol prices were determined and assured them to decrease petrol prices and resolve issues peacefully

The TLP leader appreciated the government for avoiding confrontation, unlike its predecessor

13 die, 15 injure as bus overturns near Kallar Kahar on M-2 motorway

At least 13 people were killed and 15 others sustained injuries when a passenger bus overturned on M-2 Motorway near Kallar Kahar some 133km away from Islamabad on Saturday According to rescuers and police the Jhang-bound Shalimar Express bus coming from Rawalpindi, overturned due to break failure on M-2 motorway near Kallar Kahar Rescue sources said that at least 10 people including women and children were killed while 13 others sustained injuries Upon receiving the information the police and rescue teams arrived on the spot and immediately launched rescue operation The deceased and injured were shifted to the district headquarters hospital According to hospital sources, the death toll could rise as condition of some of the injured persons is critical Earlier in Feb 2023, at least 14 members of a wedding party, including women and children were killed and 64 people were injured after a bus fell into a ravine and overturned near Kallar Kahar Rescue and police officials said that 12 passengers passed away at the spot while two others expired at the hospital The driver of the bus was also killed in the fatal accident

Reportedly all the victims were travelling back to Lahore from Islamabad after attending a marriage ceremony The reason behind the tragic incident is said to be tyre burst while overtaking on motorway

Dar reaffir ms resolve to make debt payments on time

Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Ishaq Dar on Saturday reaffirmed the firm resolve of the government to ensure international payments on time in order to fulfill all the commitments Addressing a press conference, he said that all the arrangements for due payment during the months of May and June were in place, which would also have no impact on foreign exchange reserves held with local commercial banks and State Bank of Pakistan The minister said that by the end of the current month (June), payments of two Chinese banks including $1 billion of China Development Bank and $300 million of Bank of China were due He said the adoption of formal payment

process usually takes time and sometimes it takes months, adding that to simplify the formal procedures, the Ministry of Finance initiated negotiations with both the banks and ask them to make payments before last week Ishaq Dar further informed that the government has paid $1 billion to China Development Bank and $300 million to Bank of China without any extra charges

The payment to China Development Bank was made on June 12, 2023 and under the understanding between both countries the Chinese banks will payback this amount to Pakistan on Friday he added

The minister said that another payment amounting to $300 million was also made on Friday, adding that this payment would also be received to Pakistan within next three to four days, he added The finance minister further said that

all the arrangements for the payment of $1 billion, which was state-to-state payments b e t w e e n b o t h c o u n t r i e s , w e r e a l s o f i n a lized and matters were in order About the rumors regarding winding-up of business by Shell Company the minister said that the Company was not closing its business from Pakistan He said the Company was intended to divert its share to another foreign direct investor, which would have no impact on its business operations and not it was shifting its capital abroad He informed that Shell was not only operating in Pakistan but it was also running its business in many other countries of the world and intended for revising its business plan

C H I N A E M E R G E S A S O N E O F M A I N P L AY E R S I N

PA K I S TA N ’ S T E L E C O M S E C T O R : P E S

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

AS t h e t e l e c o m s e c t o r r e m a i n e d a s i g n i f i c a n t s o u r c e o f r e v e n u e g e n e r a t i o n f o r t h e c o u n t r y t h e s e c t o r c o n t r i b u t e d R s 3 7 8 b i l l i o n ( p r o v i s i o n a l ) t o t h e n a t i o n a l e x c h e q u e r i n t h e f o r m o f g e n e r a l s a l e s t a x , w i t h h o l d i n g t a x , r e g u l a t o r y f e e s , i n i t i a l a n d a n n u a l l i c e n s e f e e s , a n d o t h e r t a x e s d u r i n g J u l y t o D e c e m b e r F

s a y s P a k i s t a n E c o n o m i c S u r v e y

According to PES the telecom sector drew over $ 6 3 billion in investments in Pakistan during 2018 to 2022 Telecom investments reported by telecom operators in FY2022 reached a significant amount of $ 2,073 million due to spectrum acquisition and network expansion, however, it remained low at $ 422 0 million (provisional) during the first two quarters of FY2023

China Mobiles Zong 4G (CMPAK) is one of the main players in Pakistan s telecom sector with its quality services and a growing number of subscribers, contributing revenue

to the national exchequer At the end of March 2023 the total telecom subscriptions (mobile and fixed) in the country were 197 million with total teledensity of 83 2 percent, according to PES 2022-23

Zong 4G, which is the pioneer of 4G services in Pakistan currently holds 24 07% of the total market shares During the first ten months of FY 202223 the market share of Zong 4G has increased from 22 71% to 24 07%, according to statistics available on the official website of the Pakistan

Telecommunication Authority (PTA) As per PTA s statistics by April 2023 Zong

4G has 44 19 million subscribers in the four provinces of Pakistan and 1 5 million subscribers in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB)

A s 5 G i s a t r a n s f o r m a t i v e t e c h n o l o g y a l l o w i n g c o m m u n i t i e s t o a v a i l s o c i o - e c o n o m i c b e n e f i t s o f a n a d v a n c e d a n d d a t a - i n t e n s i v e d i g i t a l e c o n o m y P TA a n d F r e q u e n c y A l l o c a t i o n B o a r d ( FA B ) a n d M o I T T, a r e s y n e r g i z i n g f o r t h e s u c c e s s f u l l a u n c h o f 5 G i n P a k i s t a n

ACE summons former PM Imran, sister on Monday in land corruption case

LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t

The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE)

Punjab has summoned former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan, his sister Uzma Khan, and brother-in-law Ahad Majeed in a land corruption case, spokesperson said on Saturday A c c o r d i n g t o a s t a t e m e n t t h e s p o k e s p e r s o n s a i d t h a t P T I c h i e f h a s b e e n a s k e d t o a p p e a r b e f o r e t h e A C E a t i t s h e a d q u a r t e r s o n J u n e 1 9 , w h e r e a s U z m a a n d M a j e e d h a v e b e e n d i r e c t e d t o p r e s e n t t h e m s e l v e s b e f o r e t h e A C E

D G K

Punjab bans hides collection by non registered NGOs

LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t

The Punjab government on Saturday banned the collection of hides of sacrificial animals by nonregistered NGOs this Eidul Azha In its directives issued to all deputy commissioners and police the provincial home department said that only registered NGOs would be allowed to collect hides City administrations would not allow anyone to collect hides of sacrificial animals without permission and a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the authorities concerned as per the directives of the Punjab government The charity organizations intending to collect the hides of the sacrificial animals have been directed to submit applications to the offices of deputy commissioners for getting permission letter The Home Department has banned the collection of the hides without the approval of the competent authority

JI UC chairman arrested for ‘misbehaving’ with AC

KARACHI

S ta f f R e p o R t

The police detained a Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi UC Chairman on charges of “behavior with Assistant Commissioner Gulberg ” According to details UC-3 Gulberg Town Chairman Afaaq Baig was arrested by the Karachi Police and was kept in custody at the police station for eight hours The police authorities revealed that the UC Chairman was taken into custody on the orders of Assistant Commissioner Gulberg Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) Jahan Dad Khan of Gulberg informed that Afaaq Baig was kept in custody for 8 hours at the Yousuf Plaza police station Karachi The UC Chairman had misbehaved with the Assistant Commissioner which led to his arrest Sources revealed that the UC Chairman Afaaq Baig had been detained at Yousuf Plaza police station since 5pm in the evening The UC chairman stated that he was arrested for opposing the illegal road cutting He stated that pressure was being exerted on him to seek forgiveness from the Assistant Commissioner He added that he will not seek forgiveness from anyone for doing public service It is pertinent to mention here that after receiving information about the arrest, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) workers also gathered outside the police station for the release of the UC Chairman

In a first, Chinese company holds Dragon B oat Festival in Pak istan

ISLAMABAD M i a n a b R a R Ta n g P a k i s t a n , a d i s t i n g u i s h e d e dt e c h S A A S c o m p a n y r o o t e d i n C h i n a h e l d f i r s t - e v e r D r a g o n B o a t F e s t i v a l i n P a k i s t a n t h a t c a p t i v a t e d a t t e n d e e s w i t h i t s p r o f o u n d d i s p l a y o f C h i n e s e c u l t u r e s e a m l e s s l y i n t e r w o v e n w i t h t h e s p i r i t o f friendship and compassion between Pakistan and China

This awe-inspiring event took place on 17th June 2023 in Islamabad leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of those in attendance Gracing the occasion as the esteemed Chief Guest was Engineer Liaquat Ali Jamro, from Sindh TEVTA, whose presence served as a testament to the significance of this cultural exchange

Furthermore the event was graced

by the Director of the Nust China Study Center Ms Xiangyang who delivered a succinct and enlightening introduction to the historical origins of the Dragon Boat Festival, offering attendees a glimpse into its rich heritage

Adding an enchanting melodic charm to the festivities Mr Max Ma and Mr Yasir Zoraiz delighted the audience with their stunning performances, showcasing beautiful songs in Chinese and Urdu Their soulful renditions promoted friendship between Pakistan and China and embodied the harmonious symphony that arises when two cultures intertwine

profound depths to our esteemed Chinese friends

The festival exemplified the power of cultural exchange transcending boundaries through a remarkable amalgamation of delectable cuisine, exquisite art, soulstirring music and inspiring speeches Attendees were left with lasting memories cherishing the beautiful camaraderie forged between the Pakistani and Chinese communities

s e r v i c e s w i l l b r i n g m o r e p r o f o u n d a n d l o n g - t e r m c h a n g e s t o P a k i s t a n s e c o n o m i c t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s o c i a l p r o g r e s s a n d p e o p l e s l i v e l i h o o d i m p r o v e m e n t i n t h e f u t u r e I t i s a l s o e x p e c t e d t h a t 5 G w i l l h a v e a n i m p a c t o n h e a l t h c a r e , a g r i c u l t u r e , a n d e d u c a t i o n

FIA arrests suspected human smuggler

ISLAMABAD ag e n c i e S

The Federal Investigation Agency s (FIA) immigration wing on Thursday arrested in Karachi an alleged human smuggler, who the authorities said had been involved in smuggling people to Libya, including those who had died in a shipwreck earlier this year The FIA said in a statement that the suspect was trying to escape to Azerbaijan on an international flight when he was arrested adding that he had been in hiding for months He was offloaded from his scheduled flight and taken into custody, the FIA said The statement added a case against the suspect was registered at the FIA Anti-Human Trafficking Circle Gujrat and he had been handed over to the authorities there following his arrest There have been two notable incidents of boats drowning off the coast of Libya in the Mediterranean Sea this year in which several Pakistanis had lost their lives The first incident took place in February and the other in April, but the authorities are yet to specify in which case the latest arrest has been made

ECP responsible to announce election date: Tarar

The talented ensemble from the Rang Music and Art School performed stirring Pakistani Classical music, illuminating Pakistani culture’s

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t M i n i s t e r f o r L a w a n d J u s t i c e A z a m N a z e e r Ta r a r o n F r i d a y s a i d t h a t t h e E l e c t i o n C o m m i s s i o n o f P a k i s t a n ( E C P ) i s r e s p o n s i b l e t o a n n o u n c e t h e d a t e o f t h e n e x t g e n e r a l e l e c t i o n s T h e E C P w i l l c o n d u c t t h e n e x t e l e c t i o n s i n a t r a n s p a r e n t m a n n e r, h e s a i d w h i l e t a l k i n g t o a p r i v a t e t e l e v i s i o n c h a n n e l T h e p a r l i a m e n t h e s a i d i s a n i m p o r t a n t n a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n o f P a k i s t a n H e s a i d t h e p a r l i a m e n t i s a n i n s t i t u t i o n t o m a k e l e g i s l a t i o n H e s a i d t h a t t h e j u d i c i a r y c o u l d i n t e r p r e t t h e l e g i s l a t i o n o r a n y l a w o f t h e c o u n t r y I n r e p l y t o a q u e s t i o n a b o u t l i f e t i m e d i s q u a l i f i c a t i o n h e s a i d d e c l a r i n g l i f e t i m e d i s q u a l i f i c a t i o n f o r p o l i t i c a l l e a d e r s i s a h u m a n r i g h t s v i o l a t i o n To a n o t h e r q u e s t i o n h e s a i d i t i s t h e r i g h t o f a n y p o l i t i c a l p a r t y m e m b e r t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e e l e c t i o n s

Punjab decides on trials of May 9 rioters in prisons

Tang Pakistan takes immense pride in fostering such a vibrant cultural exchange, creating awareness of the rich tapestry of Chinese heritage and facilitating a deep understanding between nations This Dragon Boat Festival stood as a testament to the enduring spirit of friendship and compassion that binds Pakistan and China together LAHORE

The Punjab Home Department on Saturday decided to hold trials of all the miscreants involved in May 9 riots inside prisons The Home Department will issue a notification in this regard after the approval of interim Punjab cabinet

The Home Department has asked the police to make arrangements for holding trials of the accused inside jails All the judges hearing the May 9 tragedy cases will go to the jail and conduct the trial Meanwhile, more than a month has passed since the May 9 tragedy struck but a series of confessions made by the miscreants who were affiliated with the PTI is continued According to them the conspiracy of Jinnah House attack was hatched a day before the arrest of PTI

Chairman Imran Khan at his residence in Zaman Park

A PTI worker told the authorities that

Yasmin

ripping the Corps Commander ’s uniform, he added These startling revelations were made none other than a worker of the PTI party which termed the May 9 riots as London Plan On the other hand authorities arrested another culprit of May 9 tragedy They arrested Muhammad Ilyas who is resident of Mandesh village Accused Ilyas’ family strongly condemned the events of May 9

His brother Muhammad Ibrahim told media that Ilyas was misled by the PTI leadership He said that his brother was an active member of the PTI and he had been involved in Imran’s propaganda against Pakistan Army for the last one year “We condemn the tragic incidents of May 9 We also advise other people not to join this propaganda

The PTI has denied its association with all the party workers arrested by the authorities, which is very shameful, he added

rejec ts Yasmin Rashid ’s bail plea in M ay 9 riots c ase

LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t

The bail application of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf stalwart Dr Yasmin who is facing charges of rioting on May 09 has been rejected as Lahore Anti-Terrorism court (ATC) was not satisfied with the grounds taken for bail in the matter AT C J u d g e E j a z A h m e d t u r n e d d o w n t h e b a i l o n F r i d a y, r e s u l t a n t l y s h e w i l l r e m a i n b e h i n d t h e b a r s I t h a s b e e n r e p o r t e d t h a t d u r i n g r e m a n d t h e P u n j a b p o l i c e h a v e s u c c e s s f u l l y o b t a i n e d t h e v e h i c l e a n d s m a r t p h o n e b e l o n g i n g t o D r Ya s m i n R a s h i d a s b o t h t h e a r t i c l e s w e r e a l l e g e d l y u s e d d u r i n g t h e v i o l e n t p r o t e s t s o n

interrogation session with her She has been regularly brought to court in relation to her involvement in the protests A c c o r d i n g t o p o l i c e s o u r c e s , D r Ya s m i n R a s h i d a l l e g e d l y a d m i t t e d t h a t s h e h a d g a t h e r e d p e o p l e f o r t h e p r o t e s t I n o r d e r t o g a t h e r f u r t h e r e v i d e n c e h e r s m a r t p h o n e h a s b e e n s e n t f o r f o r e n s i c a n a l y s i s O n t h e o t h e r h a n d Ya s m i n R a s h i d h a s f i l e d b a i l a p p l i c a t i o n s i n t h r e e a d d i t i o n a l c a s e s I n r e s p o n s e , t h e c o u r t h a s i s s u e d p r o s e c u t i o n n o t i c e

A I T Z A Z C H A L L E N G E S M I L I TA R Y C O U R T

T R I A L S O F C I V I L I A N S I N S C

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

SEASONED legal expert and PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan on Saturday

m o v e d t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t against the authorities decision to try suspects of May 9 riots in military courts

Ch Aitzaz Ahsan in the petition challenged trials of civilians in military courts seeking the court to declare them

unconstitutional

Salman Akram Raja advocate has filed petition on behalf of seasoned lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan Aitzaz Ahsan has petitioned to the apex court to declare the federal government’s decision to conduct civilians trials in military court as null and void

The federal government has rubber stamped the corps commanders decision of conducting trials in the military court, text of the petition read

“The decision of holding military court trial of civilians under Section 2 of the Army Act has been in contravention to Article 59

of the constitution according to the plea

Petitioner has made Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, federal ministers Khawaja Asif, Rana Sanaullah, Chairman PTI, five IGs chief secretaries ministries of law interior defence and cabinet division as parties in the case

The veteran politician stated that the decision was rubber-stamped by the federal cabinet on May 19 and reiterated by the Formation Commanders’ Conference on June 7, the plea added

It said in addition to challenging this decision the petitioner was also moving the court against various laws which provide for the trial of civilians in military courts

Moreover, through resolutions moved by [Defence Minister] Khawaja

Muhammad Asif, the National Assembly purports to have endorsed the decisions to try civilians in military courts on May 22 and June 12

The plea contended that the trial of civilians by military authorities and military forums during peacetime and for essentially civilian offences is a complete anathema to the constitutional separation of powers, the

independence of the judiciary the inalienable right of every Pakistani to be treated in accordance with law, and the fundamental rights of life, liberty, fair trial, and due process”

“They are alien to our constitutional and democratic dispensation and are therefore liable to be set aside

For these reasons, the plea said, it is the petitioner s case that the trial of civilians in military courts, especially under the present circumstances, is illegal, unconstitutional, discriminatory violative of fundamental rights given in various provisions of the Constitution and merits to be declared as such

Moreover, it said the petitioner believed that the decision to try certain individuals allegedly linked with May 9 incidents is [also] illegal and unconstitutional” The plea further stated that Ahsan was deeply aggrieved by the illegal and unconstitutional actions being carried out in the country over the past few months (including the brazen refusal to hold elections within the period prescribed by the Constitution), but especially the decision to

try certain civilians in military courts impugned herein

Mentioning that the decision to hold trials in military courts was “primarily motivated by widely condemned incidents of violence which took place across the country in reaction to the arrest of the PTI chief the plea clarified that it does not seek to defend any person who may actually be involved in the wanton and despicable violence nor does it seek the acquittal of any such persons”

“The primary purpose of this petition is to ensure that none of the thousands of civilians who have admittedly been arrested for allegedly having partaken in that violence and who have been and are being nominated for trial before the military courts be tried by the military courts

T h e p l e a s a i d : “ N o d e f e n c e i s b e i n g made herein with respect to those against w h o m t h e r e m i g h t b e l e g a l l y t e n a b l e e v i d e n c e o f t h e i r p a r t i c i p a t i o n [ i n M a y 9 violence] but what is indeed being sought e v e n o n t h e i r b e h a l f i s t h a t t h e y a l s o b e tried according to due process and fair trial by courts ” The plea also highlighted that a “large-

I m ra n K h a n co n d e m n s ‘a b d u c t i o n’ o f Ad vo c at e B h a n d a r i

LAHORE

S ta f f R e p o R t

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Imran

Khan Saturday strongly condemned what he called the abduction of Advocate

Uzair Bhandari who was one of the most respected senior lawyers of the Supreme Court We are headed towards a full blown martial law, said Khan in a tweet posted with the photo of Mr Bhandari

PTI Chairman said that Advocate

Uzair Bhandari had held a meeting with him regarding the military courts which we will be challenging in the courts

Imran Khan said that Advocate Uzair Bhandari was one of the most respected senior lawyers of the apex court

PTI Chairman said: “On his way out he was abducted by those who cannot be

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

named

because they are above law We are headed towards a full blown martial law Farrukh lambasts govt for keeping Shehryar Afridi unlawfully in death cell TI West Punjab President Farrukh Habib came down hard on the “fascist government” and said that PTI senior leader Shehryar Afridi was kept unlawfully in death cell

In a statement on Saturday Farrukh Habib said that Shehryar Afridi was even not allowed to attend his brother s funeral He said that Shahryar Afridi was held in illegal prison despite termination of 3 MPO Meanwhile Farrukh Habib said that PPP stopped taking ownership of the budget However, he advised the PPP that if the budget was so bad, then they should not pass it through the assembly

And the ECC subsequently granted approval to Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) to proceed with the proposed framework agreement with SOCAR

The ECC's decision, which bypassed Abbasi's suggestions, prompted the former prime minister to tender his resignation from the ECC sources revealed Abbasi deemed the ECC s approval of PLL s agreement with SOCAR as contradictory to his vision and beliefs regarding the LNG deal It is worth noting that this resignation from a key committee holds significant implications within the political landscape, given Abbasi s stature as a senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) Sources close to the matter stressed that the ECC s decision was made with the intent of safeguarding the country s interests

They further revealed that the ECC s approval of the PLL-SOCAR agreement was driven by a belief that it aligns with the nation's energy needs and contributes to addressing the ongoing energy crisis While both Shahid Khaqqan Abbasi and Dr Musadik Malik have been approached for comments on the matter they have opted to remain silent leaving their respective stances undisclosed Despite attempts to secure their perspectives, the reasons behind the differences between Abbasi and Malik remain shrouded in uncertainty The repercussions of Abbasi's resignation from the ECC are expected to ripple through the political landscape potentially leading to further debates and discussions regarding the LNG deal with Azerbaijan As the ECC's decision stands, PLL is authorised to proceed with the execution of the proposed framework agreement with SOCAR solidifying a government-to-government collaboration in the LNG sector The future ramifications of this development on both Pakistan s energy sector and the political dynamics surrounding LNG agreements remain to be seen However, it is evident that Shahid Khaqqan Abbasi's resignation from the ECC has introduced a new chapter in the ongoing discussions and negotiations surrounding the country s energy policies

Arrest warrants of Haider Gilani, others issued in Senate poll rigging case

ISLAM ABA D

Staff RepoRt

Islamabad District and Sessions Court on Friday heard the case and deferred the the indictment proceedings in the alleged Senate election rigging case once again, however the sessions judge issued non-bailable arrest warrants for PPP leader Ali Haider Gilani and other coaccused including Faheem Khan and Captain (retired) Jameel Additional District and Sessions Court Judge Umeed Ali Baloch was hearing the matter Earlier the court has decided to indict three accused persons as it has summoned them for Friday The court ordered police to arrest the accused and present them at the next hearing Later the court adjourned the hearing of the case till July 14

No one exempted from ‘ indiscriminate’ accountability: Ir fan Q adir

LAHORE

Advisor to Prime Minister on Accountability Irfan Qadir on Saturday said that accountability should be held without any discrimination and no one is exempted from accountability

Addressing a press conference at Governor s House in Lahore on Saturday, Irfan Qadir said the government and parliament were standing with the judiciary and there was no ambiguity in the Constitution regarding accountability He added that no one was above the Constitution and law, and everyone would be held accountable

He said until all the institutions were brought under accountability with uniformity supremacy of law could not be established in the country adding that if any institution did not support, then it would be shared with the nation He said their effort was aimed at ensuring that the rule of legal system remains stable in the country until the end of the current government s tenure

We have seen for some time

BY AFNAN WASIF

The criterion set forth by Higher Education Commission (HEC) to appoint a Professor at a university requires a Ph D degree from an HEC-recognized Institution, 15 years of teaching/research experience in HEC recognized University, and 15 research publications

The scholars give their sweat blood and tears to secure the prestigious title of Professor However, Pakistan s politics is so exotic that one spending less than fifteen years of his/her life in deluxe prison can claim that he/she could do wonders if he becomes Prime Minister Minister for Education Finance Foreign Health and Defence etc does not matter whether he/she has ever seen the university gate or not Furthermore, he/she would be considered a seasoned politician and market value may increase if his/her profile has a seal of Adalia or any other jail in Pakistan Pakistanis being the slaves of Englishmen, feel proud to make carbon copies of their certain

that the Supreme Court has become very active for supremacy of the law and the constitution he said He appealed that judges should not get involved in political affairs of the country, but should take steps to ensure justice to people

Irfan Qadir said there was a system of self-accountability in judiciary adding that no one was free for corruption and the case of alleged corruption of a judge of the Islamabad High Court had come to the light, and the alleged audio leaks in this regard had also surfaced He said that politicians and bureaucrats should also be held accountable He said if a person commits malfeasance, he would have to face the consequences Irfan Qadir said the government had set up a commission in which the most senior judge had been included but the judiciary had disabled the commission The right to appeal was given to those involved in serious crimes, but the former prime ministers were sent packing without giving them the right to appeal, he said The advisor said there was an intra-court appeal in the High Court

at that time and no one had said that it was against the Constitution He said the law should apply to all

In response to a question, he said that in the case against Nawaz Sharif, there could be no disqualification for life A law has been passed by the Senate and only five years of disqualification could be imposed under that law When the case would be reopened it would be known whether things went wrong, he said and added that Nawaz Sharif was disqualified for not taking salary from his son To another question he said the coalition government did not have two-thirds majority and the new parliament would make legislation on crucial issues

In response to another question, Irfan Qadir said new laws had been made to strengthen the judicial institutions About trial in military courts Irfan Qadir said if someone wanted to challenge the military courts there was no hurdle for him However, those who attack or vandalize the military installations, whether they are soldiers or civilians their cases would be tried in military courts he concluded

scale crackdown was initiated against the PTI after May 9, which included “media blackouts, breaking and entry into homes and private quarters vandalisation of private property arrests and disappearances of citizens including journalists who speak out in their favour as well as the registration of a large number of FIRs against them Citing media reports, the plea said the Formation Commanders’ Conference had “come to the conclusion that the evidence so far collected [in May 9 cases] is incapable of contradiction and irrefutable Which military court will be daring enough to dispute this unambiguous albeit premature finality of guilt decreed by perhaps the most authoritative forum in the Pakistan Army?” the plea raised the question

Toshakhana case: NAB summons PTI chairman on Monday

ISLAMABAD

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has summoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman once again on June 21 for an inquiry into the Toshakhana case The anti-graft watchdog has summoned the PTI chief in connection with an ongoing inquiry regarding misuse of authority, criminal breach of trust, and illegal gain in selling gifted state assets

The NAB has asked the former prime minister to appear before Combined Investigation Team (CIT) at 11:00 on June 21 for the recording of his statement In the fresh summons the ex-PM has been asked to bring relevant records including details and records of received state gifts, and records of sold state gifts and physically produce the state gifts retained It was alleged that he had subsequently abused his position by retaining the gifted assets worth millions of rupees The reference which alleges that former PM failed to share details of the gifts he retained from the Toshaskhana (during his time as the prime minister) was filed by lawmakers from the ruling coalition last year The Toshakhana issue became a major sticking point in national politics after the Election Commission of Pakistan disqualified the PTI chief for making “false statements and incorrect declaration” last month

LHC fixes for hearing plea against restoration of PTI MNAs for 21st

spheres of life Mostly our political elites also like to enjoy their leisure time in the West

But they do not copy when it comes to the competence and professional capabilities of English political elite serving in a competent and inclusive environment For instance, Jeremy Hunt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, UK is a graduate of Oxford University where he took a first-class honours Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree while studying economics politics and philosophy

Janet Yellen Secretary of the Treasury of Global Sherriff – the US went on to earn her Ph D at Yale University She was an assistant professor at Harvard until 1976 She is Professor Emeritus at the University of California at Berkeley

his father-in-law claiming that he had studied numerous books on economy which enabled his to raise the foreign exchange reserves to $100 billion It would be a wonder and favour for the poor and illiterate people of Pakistan and may be counted as the 8th wonder of the world Actually, we the people are responsible for these sneering political statements Once a top official said in a meeting that, “if you (people) have any problem with them then why do you even cast a single ballot in favor of them?

9, 2023

of May

Association

so-called politicians and putrid political system

by

A great shake -up within the par t y

INTRA-PARTY polls are not expected to spring surprises and the PML(N) intra-party polls were no exception Nobody even contested who was not supposed to and office-bearers were all elected unopposed Office-bearers returned to their previous posts, and thus it appeared that the PML(N) exercise was even more ritualistic than in other parties However, the failure of former PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to contest for the senior vice-presidentship of the party, and of former Finance Minister Miftah Ismail was glaringly noticeable Also though not named Miftah was singled out by Prime Minister Mian Shehbaz Sharif for criticism when he hauled over the coals those who criticized Finance Minister Ishaq Dar Mr Abbasi and Dr Ismail have already been part of a series of seminars titled Reimagining Pakistan along with politicians from other parties in which they have voiced criticism of their own party s performance in office It was then considered only a matter of time before they left the party a process hastened by the arrivals of Senator Dar, who replaced Dr Ismail and Ms Maryam Nawaz who reduced the importance of Mr Abbasi within the party

Another sign of things to come was Mr Shehbaz Sharif announcing that he would resign the presidency to which he had been just elected when elder brother Nawaz returned He was wildly applauded when he said that Mian Nawaz would be elected PM a fourth time He was clearly hinting that Mian Nawaz would return to politics and the country for the next election Viewed along with the passage by the Senate of a five-year limit on all disqualification, rather than the lifetime ban the Supreme Court had found was provided this was as clear an indication that the party now saw its way to ending the legal difficulties which prevent him from holding party office or contesting any election While the legislation is expected to receive smooth passage through the National Assembly, it will face the temporary hurdle of the President and the more permanent one of the Supreme Court Only after those are overcome will the proposed law allow Mian Nawaz back into electoral politics

Intraparty elections have generally been unkind to parties when they are contested As even the PTI most recently experienced, Mr Justice (retd) Wajihuddin first pointed out irregularities and then himself resigned When controlled by the party leadership, they tend to be boring and ritualistic While the PML(N) avoided both it was not because the party leadership did bnot control the process Perhaps it was because there were untamable pressures already building within the party, and the elections merely allowed them to come out into the open THat is a healthy thing and perhaps that is how the PML(N) should view this

Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late)

Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami Editor

M A Niazi

Joint Editor Umar Aziz Executive Editor

RELIGIOUS extremism has become a serious threat to world peace, causing upheaval, violence and instability all over the world This form of extremism, characterized by an intolerant and intolerant belief system has disastrous consequences for society undermining social harmony human rights and inter-religious relations

During the Soviet era, several prominent analysts predicted that Islamic extremism would cause the collapse of the USSR They also believed an underground Muslim movement that had continued throughout the Soviet era would rise up and challenge the communist successors But these concerns are not real In fact until 1999 the fear religious extremism led by radical Islamists would become a serious destabilizing factor in post-Soviet Central Asia seemed excessive Islam's most important role was in the cultural sphere, not as active resistance to the post-Soviet government Besides the rise of Islamism in Tajikistan during the Tajikistan Civil War (19921997) Islam played a minor role in the broader politics of Central Asia In recent years however Islam has gained new importance as a religious tradition and as a form of cultural and political identity in the Central Asian republics Observance of Islamic rituals, introduction of assalamualaikum' as a form of greeting religious marriage daily practice of prayer and attendance of mosques are on the rise The construction of religious buildings also increased significantly The number of uncertified mullahs and the number of mosques has both increased, especially in rural areas In recent years, it is estimated that the number of mosques has increased from 160 to 5000 Several seminaries have been established in Azerbaijan and Tajikistan Large donations are voluntarily collected and used for the construction of mosques and madrasas

A survey in Central Asia shows that the level of religiosity among Muslims, especially among the younger generation and intellectuals, is higher than 10 to 20 years ago To understand the threat of religious extremism it is essential to examine its underlying causes Many factors contribute to the rise and perpetuation of extremist ideologies in religious communities Socio-economic disparities political grievances, lack of education, and cultural alienation often cause feelings of social exclusion and create fertile ground for extremist ideologies

In addition erroneous interpretations of religious texts along with charismatic leaders who manipulate these interpretations for personal gain are important in promoting extremism Religious extremism undermines social harmony by dividing religious communities Instead of promoting peaceful coexistence and mutual respect, extremists incite hatred, intolerance and violence This hostility creates an environment of fear and distrust that disrupts the fabric of

society The impact of these divisions is particularly acute in areas characterized by diverse ethnic and religious groups, as community tensions are often exploited by extremists for their own ends

The erosion of social harmony not only leads to violent conflict but also hinders economic development and social progress Religious extremism often manifests itself in acts of violence and violations of human rights Extremist groups use terrorism bombings and targeted attacks against individuals and communities perceived as distinct or "heretic" These acts of violence result in the loss of innocent lives destruction of infrastructure and the displacement of entire populations Furthermore, extremists often justify their actions by invoking religious doctrines further tarnishing the image of their respective faiths

Bahrain, often leading to civil wars, terrorist activities and geopolitical tensions India is a diverse country with many different religious communities but the rise of Hindu nationalism has increased tension and violence Certain Hindu extremist groups such as the RSS and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) have been linked to attacks against religious minorities, including Christians and Muslims

Addressing the root causes and mitigating their impact requires a comprehensive and collaborative approach involving governments, religious leaders, civil society and international organizations By promoting education and non-sectarianism It is important to note that religious extremism can occur in any religious context and is not limited to any particular belief These examples demonstrate the devastating impact of extremist ideologies and actions of various religions around the world

Furthermore, religious extremism poses a serious threat to human rights Extremist ideologies often deny basic freedoms and rights especially to women religious minorities and dissidents This suppression of individual liberty hinders the development of inclusive and democratic societies and perpetuates cycles of violence and oppression Some prominent examples around the world show it very clearly Terrorism by Islamic extremists: Various Islamic extremist groups such as Al-Qaeda ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) Boko Haram and the Taliban have carried out numerous terrorist attacks worldwide These groups religiously justify their actions and often claim to defend or establish a particular interpretation of Islam through violence

Tensions rose between India's Hindu and Muslim communities, leading to violent clashes and social unrest Religious extremism on both sides contributes to these conflicts often fueled by political agendas and deep-rooted religious divisions In Myanmar tensions continue between the Buddhist majority and Muslim minorities, especially the Rohingya The rise of Buddhist nationalist groups such as the 969 Movement and Ma Ba Ta has fueled hatred and violence against the Rohingya leading to widespread human rights abuses and forced displacement The Middle East faces significant sectarian conflict fueled by religious extremism Conflicts between Sunni and Shia Muslims have fueled violence in countries such as Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and

Unleashing the Realit y of Tectonic Weapons

THE human mind is a remarkable and complicated part of our existence It comprises numerous phenomenal characteristics that bestow it with great strength and intellect This unique intellect and wit does not stop the human mind’s brilliance from embracing new experiences and information It evolves overcoming restrictions and broadening its horizons to unveil the amazing potential concealed inside its depths Humanity s colossal developments and creations are the absolute outcomes of its clever and vicious mind To test these infinite possibilities of intelligence and wit the human mind has soared above the heights of great knowledge and understanding which has made it lurk in the dark, evil shadows of human intelligence In its quest to evolve and advance to every extent, it has devised intricate webs of deception, sowed chaos and destruction, manipulated truths, distorted reality for personal advantage supported oppressive regimes and even participated in violent crimes

But these dark and vile manifestations of the human mind never seemed to cease there; from the development of mass destructive weapons to the planning of genocides, the human intellect and mind have demonstrated enormous malice Wars are fought innocent lives are sacrificed and horrific crimes are committed in order to satisfy benevolent dark intellects and purposes Furthermore, this human intellect has also brought about scientific advancement, which has frequently been helpful, but has often been tarnished by unethical experimentation environmental devastation and the exploitation of vulnerable groups One example of such a vile and dark prospect is considered to be the birth of Tectonic Weapons

Tectonic weapons are considered hypothetical devices that use cutting-edge technology to simulate earthquakes and other natural disasters, and to fulfil these destructive purposes such weapons require immense power and a vast release of energy Tectonic weapons have long been a controversial and mysterious topic These hypothetical devices are said to have the ability to trigger earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and other seismic events in specific locations by interfering with Earth s natural geological processes

Although the idea of tectonic weapons is considered imaginary and baseless its origin and concept can easily be traced back in history such as in 1992, when Aleksey Vsevolovidich Nikolayev, a corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, first defined the concept of a Tectonic Weapon In the mid1990s; secret Soviet programmes called "Mercury and Volcano aimed at developing tectonic weapons which involved a series of experiments in Kyrgyzstan

Moreover, during World War II, New

Zealand s Project Seal attempted to create tsunami waves as a weapon In 1898, famed inventor Nikola Tesla developed a small steampowered mechanical oscillator that produced earthquake-like effects Although all these experiments and claims have been deemed myths speculation about the possibility of tectonic weapons has continued After all in the advanced field of science and technology, nothing is ever considered impossible On the basis of these masked and secretive experiments, many theorists and analysts began to claim the development of Tectonic Weapons considering them to be the source of danger and destruction for mankind But these claims have always been framed as baseless unsupported by scientific evidence, and therefore ignored in a very grave manner Likewise, many of these claims link the d e v a s t a t i n g earthquake in Haiti in 2010 with the use of a T e c t o n i c

Weapon They suggested that the earthquake s severity and timing were not natural but instead the result of intentional manipulation

More recently, an earthquake in Turkey was said to have been intentionally triggered by Europe, which used a tectonic weapon to punish Turkey for its attitude towards the Europ e a n s

But these pointless and futile explanations never satisfied the theorists or society as a whole, since many recent technologies and devices have often hinted at and were found to be involved in manipulating tectonic activity For example Red Mercury a substance that has been the subject of numerous claims and theories over the years is said to be a powerful explosive or a material that is said to be used to create tectonic weapons

Likewise, the HAARP project, funded by the US military has also been considered a tectonic weapon HAARP was said to be designed to study the Earth s ionosphere but some have claimed that it could be used to trigger earthquakes and other natural disasters CERN s (European Organization for Nuclear Research) Large Hadron Collider (LHC), a particle accelerator, has also been considered to influence tectonic activity These claims often propose that the highenergy collisions within the LHC can somehow generate seismic events The concept of t e c t o n i c weapons is also closely related to that of weather warfare which inv o l v e s m a n i p u l a t i n g weather patterns, such as cloud seeding, to gain a military advantage by precipitating a t m o s p h e r i c conditions

The unfeigned question after all these evidences and claims rises: if these tectonic weapons are mere creations of imagination, then for what purpose was a treaty on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques (ENMOD) established? Which was ratified by 75 states and signed by an additional 17, and prohibited the use of environmental modification techniques to cause earthquakes, tsunamis, and other phenomena The existence of such a treaty shows that the international community is aware of the development of tectonic devices, which are denied by international organizations as well as individuals, and their potential dangers, which are too great to be ignored

Moreover, the earthquakes in Japan such as the powerful earthquake and tsunami that struck Tohoku in 2011 resulted in the claim that the event was artificially induced using tectonic weapons for nefarious purposes Claims were even made for regions and countries with high vulnerability to natural disasters particularly developing countries with limited resources and infrastructure These theories claim that tectonic weapons are used to destabilize by inducing unusual patterns of earthquakes or volcanic eruptions in these regions for geopolitical or economic reasons Although many experts and scientists deny any such claims they suggest that not only is the concept of tectonic weapons highly impossible but also not technically feasible plus using them would raise significant ethical concerns

The unfeigned question after all these evidences and claims rises: if these t e c t o n i c weapons are mere creations of imagination, then for what purpose was a treaty on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques (ENMOD) established? Which was ratified by 75 states and signed by an additional 17, and prohibited the use of environmental modification techniques to cause earthquakes, tsunamis, and other phenomena The existence of such a treaty shows that the international community is aware of the development of tectonic devices, which are denied by international organizations as well as individuals, and their potential dangers which are too great to be ignored

Violence by Christian extremists has occurred in central African countries such as the Central African Republic and Nigeria These groups have launched attacks on Muslim communities exacerbating sectarian tensions and leading to reprisals Countering religious extremism requires a multifaceted approach Governments religious leaders civil society and international organizations must work together to address the root causes and mitigate the effects of extremism Education reforms aimed at encouraging critical thinking, promoting tolerance and debunking extremist narratives are essential Investing in quality education and skills training can make opportunities more accessible to marginalized communities thus making extremist ideologies less attractive Interreligious dialogue and the involvement of religious leaders play an important role in promoting mutual understanding and cooperation between different religious communities

By emphasizing shared values religious leaders can counter extremist interpretations and emphasize the importance of peaceful coexistence Efforts should also focus on socioeconomic development reducing inequality and resolving political grievances exploited by extremists Social inclusion efforts that empower marginalized communities and increase their participation in decision-making can help counteract feelings of alienation and marginalization Moreover effective law enforcement and intelligence cooperation is essential to disrupt extremist networks and prevent violence Governments must take steps to identify and arrest individuals involved in extremist activities while protecting civil liberties and human rights Religious extremism poses a serious threat to world peace and endangers social peace human rights and international security

Addressing the root causes and mitigating their impact requires a comprehensive and collaborative approach involving governments, religious leaders, civil society and international organizations By promoting education and non-sectarianism It is important to note that religious extremism can occur in any religious context and is not limited to any particular belief These examples demonstrate the devastating impact of extremist ideologies and actions of various religions around the world

The writer is a freelance columnist

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

Exposing a victim

THERE is no denying that we are living in technologically advanced world with powerful electronic and social media Pakistan is also no exception in this regard More than 30 private TV channels broadcast the news in Pakistan

They have reporters everywhere; from small towns to metropolitan cities

It may be a daunting task for the channels to train all their reporters and provide guidelines for reporting on sensitive issues Recently a news story from Ratodero related to an alleged sexual assault has been circulating on the social media It is ironic that the news was published in local newspapers as well and even disclosed the identity of the victim

A few channels broadcast the news with footage and name of the victim, but blurred the face The same story was also circulated on social media by some journalists even with the picture of the victim where her face could be seen clearly It was not even blurred I requested one of the local journalists to remove the picture of the victim from his post

Instead of removing the picture he defended himself asking if ethics were only meant for him

It is unfortunate that we are into a race for breaking news and getting likes and comments on social media We have become an insensitive society that has no empathy We do not contemplate that this kind of news reporting will not alleviate the pain of the victim, or be helpful to her in getting justice Instead this will definitely traumatise her and exacerbate the problems for her in the future because she will have to face social pressures of all kinds

There are globally accepted and practised guidelines for reporting a story related to sexual assault Article 14 of the country s Constitution also provides the right to privacy for the protection of victims identities

Therefore, journalists must consider the right to privacy of the victim when they cover such sensitive issues Journalists and members of the public must think about the consequences before posting such stuff on social media The departments concerned at federal and provincial tiers must take steps to train and provide guidelines to journalists on how to cover and investigate stories about sexual abuse

SUMAIL HUSSAIN LARKANA

Sorr y, sordid and sad

We, the citizens of Pakistan, want peace and progress in the country For us to function in society, we want a safe place for our children We now pray for stability, and we do not want to see processions, rallies, marches and violence We are so fed up with the lingering misery that we do not want even a peaceful protest We just want peace We just want to be able to go about our lives with peace of mind We do not want anything fancy We just want a normal healthy country Our politicians have made life unbearable, sad and depressing They have made life unliveable Can they not see what they are doing? The nation is experiencing extreme stress and uncertainty We do not know what will happen tomorrow We the people of Pakistan are suffering and suffering because of the vested interests of our politicians Is this not the time to make some sane decisions? We the people are so sick and tired of political shenanigans that we actually want a complete ban on all political parties; each and every one of them True, some politicians may be honest and committed, but, sorry, the time has passed and the world is making fun of us Please ban politics at least for some time, if not permanently We have had enough of uncertainty The politicians have done nothing to suggest that they are the only ones who can run the country We are in a mess How much wrong a team of technocrats can do if they are handed over the task? The upside will be zero uncertainty And that will be a massive relief on its own The people deserve some peace and our politicians cannot provide that The man on the street wants to be saved from the politicians Enough of this drama Someone may please pull the curtain down on this rather sorry, sordid, sad saga SHIREEN AZFAR KARACHI

Amid potentiAl confrontAtion, Blinken set to l And in chinA on t wo-dAy visit todAy

ISLAMABAD

cH I N E S E Foreign Ministry announced that the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken will visit China from June 18 to 19

It has become one of the hottest topics in the international media because of many complicated socio-economic and geostrategic reasons

Blinken s visit to Beijing also carries notion of symbolism and realism in many aspects because both countries are passing through difficult phase of diplomatic engagements due to hawks sitting in the Biden s administration pushing its US policy makers and military brasses towards potential confrontation

In the near past, according to a Gwadar Pro s report, Blinken s visit to China was also delayed in February because of so-called Chinese weather balloon which ultimately proved a failed attempt of the US to accuse China

Unfortunately, the US media is once again creating media hype to malign China of having so-called Chinese espionage center in Cuba just to gain certain political goals Subsequently the Cuban authorities and the Chinese foreign ministry immediately refuted and rejected the so-called US tall claims in this regard

On June 14 Beijing time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang held a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the latter s invitation Qin Gang clearly expressed China s solemn position on its major concerns, including the Taiwan issue, and stressed that the United States should respect them stop meddling in China’s internal affairs and refrain from harming China s sovereignty security and interests in the name of competition

He also expressed the hope that the US side will take practical steps to implement the important consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries during their meeting in Bali as well as

the relevant commitments of the United States, and move in the same direction as China to effectively manage differences foster exchanges and cooperation and promote China-US relations to stop deteriorating and return to the path of healthy and stable development

It was indeed a diplomatic soft reminder to the US side that it should represent a correct attitude for high-level meetings to be held on June 17-18 in Beijing because if Blinken comes to China without seriousness or continues pressuring China to achieve Washington s own goals, the visit would be meaningless Speculations are very high that visit of Blinken to Beijing is going to re-launch the next stage of high-level exchanges between the two countries with the desire of comprehensive dialogue through jointly working to manage divergences Hopes are also high that this visit would be right step in direct direction for achieving mutual reconciliation, securing sustainable mechanism of conflict resolution

Us national plans, kills three young sons in cold blood

Moreover, it would be a giant step to build trustworthy in-person communication channels between two countries permitting both sides to share their concerns handling through diplomatic means It would also provide an ideal opportunity to both the sides to get acquainted with mutual intentions, policy concerns, priority areas, strategic goals and geopolitical vested interests It would be helpful in preventing misjudgments enhancing understanding and managing disagreements

Moreover, during the phone call with Blinken, Qin rightly pinpointed numerous x-factors creating spirits of uncertainty, chaos and diplomatic uneasiness in the China-US relations facing new difficulties and challenges and the responsibility during the beginning of 2023

It is good omen that China has always been following the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in the China-US relations

Diplomats praise China-proposed BRI, refute slander from Western media

Foreign envoys wholeheartedly praised the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) at an investment forum in Beijing on Friday highlighting the fruitful outcomes it has brought to their countries and businesses over the past 10 years since its initiation in 2013, while refuting the politically driven slander against it from the West

They were speaking at the 13th China Overseas Investment Fair held in Beijing where hundreds of guests from governments and companies had gathered to share thoughts on how to create more business connectivity and market opportunities under the BRI

Envoys echoed the benefits of participating in the BRI Pakistani Ambassador to China Moin ul Haque said that the BRI has largely shaped the structure of the global economy and trade and it has completely changed and enriched the concept of regional economic integration and interconnection

The initiative has successfully overturned some suspicions and doubts among members of the international community, and based on the principle of win-win cooperation and mutual benefit, it has built a bridge of trade, business and cultural cooperation among various members of society Haque said

In the past 10 years under the BRI Pakistan has laid 880 kilometers of road networks 13 new energy

projects have been put into operation, and more than 8,000 megawatts of electricity have been added to the national grid

Despite the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic and the challenges of economic recession and natural disasters the original timetable was achieved and the projects in Pakistan were completed on time Haque further noted

Facing the accelerated evolution of the centuryold changes and the new situation of instability, uncertainty and severe challenges to globalization, we should strengthen connectivity and deepen practical cooperation ” Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People s Congress Chen Changzhi said at the event

This connectivity is very important for the economies of various countries and to maintain regional stability, Chen said

The fruits of the BRI are clear In the past decade, China has signed more than 200 Belt and Road cooperation documents with 151 countries and 32 international organizations forming more than 3 000 cooperation projects according to media reports The initiative has stimulated an investment scale of over $1 trillion, created 420,000 jobs for countries along the route, and lifted more than 40 million people out of poverty

“In the face of anti-globalization moves and an uncertain and unpredictable complex international environment we need to focus on the well-being of the

people of all countries, while continuing and deepening practical cooperation in the fields of infrastructure, the green and low-carbon economy, and the digital economy ” said He Zhenwei president of the China Overseas Development Association which hosted the event

The BRI is a unique international initiative It has brought a lot of benefits to African countries in terms of developing the local economy and making the region more sustainable economically, an envoy with an African country who wished to remain anonymous told the Global Times on Thursday

“The West’s slanders about debt-traps are just groundless accusations against China we all know that the BRI has truly helped African countries to develop without pre-conditions he said

The Ambassador of Ethiopia to China Tefera Derbew Yimam also said that what China presents to them is a very sincere friendship, and China also supports the common development and prosperity of Africa

Through the BRI China and Ethiopia have realized interconnection in trade investment culture and civilization which is a model for the world according to the Ambassador of Ethiopia to China Tefera Derbew Yimam

We a r e l o o k i n g f o r w a r d t o s e e i n g a f u r t h e r d e e p e n i n g o f c o o p e r a t i o n b e t w e e n C h i n a a n d A f r i c a , e s p e c i a l l y i n a r e a s s u c h a s a g r i c u l t u r e , m a nu f a c t u r i n g i n f r a s t r u c t u r e e n e rg y a n d m i n i n g ” t h e a m b a s s a d o r s a i d

Uzbekistan’s foreign polic y: Principles of peace and equality

BY RAVSHANBEK ALIMOV

The renewed Constitution of Uzbekistan unites society around the idea of building a new Uzbekistan It states that Uzbekistan’s foreign policy is based on the principles of sovereign equality inviolability of borders territorial integrity of states non-use of force or threat of force peaceful settlement of disputes non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries and other generally recognized principles and norms of international law

In addition, Uzbekistan pursues a peaceful foreign policy aimed at developing bilateral and multilateral relations with states and international organizations Uzbekistan may form alliances join and withdraw from commonwealths and other interstate entities in the interests of the State the people and their welfare and security Global and regional cooperation processes have reached a new level The appreciation of political reforms carried out in our country by the international community has become an acknowledgement of this work President Shavkat Mirziyoyev s international initiatives have received broad support from the international community The foreign policy of the New Uzbekistan has led to fundamental changes in the political atmosphere in Central Asia and to the recognition of close interconnectivity and interdependence at the sub-regional and global levels

In order to strengthen good-neighbourly relations with Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan and Turkmenistan the Government of Uzbekistan has adopted a comprehensive program of measures It aims to bring bilateral and regional relations to a new level As part of the program, practical work is being carried out to organize top-level and highranking reciprocal visits develop trade and economic relations and create favorable conditions for increasing trade turnover and strengthening cooperation In this regard, it is also important to use public diplomacy mechanisms, develop the transit and logistics potential of the region, and modernize transport infrastructure

In order to further strengthen relations with neighbouring countries in the Central and South Asian regions which are important for the development of interconnectivity and cooperation in a spirit of friendship, good neighbourliness, strategic partnership and mutual trust, joint events on various topics have been successfully held with the participation of high-level delegations from nearly 30 partner countries and international organizations and experts from foreign think tanks representing more than 40 states

The Parliament of Uzbekistan, whose importance and powers have been significantly enhanced and expanded in the new version of the Constitution, also actively participates in the development and implementation of a peaceful open and pragmatic foreign policy aimed at mutually beneficial cooperation with all countries both near and far

The Chambers of the Oliy Majlis have established bilateral friendship and cooperation groups with the parliaments of 56 countries and an InterParliamentary Committee for cooperation with the European Parliament to ensure active participation in foreign policy issues The geography of interaction is wide and includes the countries of Central Asia the Commonwealth of Independent States, the states of Asia and Europe, as well as the United States, Canada and Argentina

In what prosecutors termed as the most outrageous act of gun violence in Ohio s law enforcement history a father, identified as Chad Doerman, allegedly lined up and shot dead his three young sons in cold blood with a rifle, CBS reported Saturday

During his court appearance on Friday, Chad Doerman faced three charges of aggravated murder while being restrained and wearing a protective green padded vest commonly used to prevent self-harm

Describing the heinous nature of the crime David Gast, the chief prosecutor of Clermont County, expressed that this was the most horrific act he had encountered throughout his career CBS affiliate WKRC-TV quoted Clermont County Prosecutor Mark Tekulve as saying: “This is by far the most sickening horrifying crime I have seen I can only imagine the terror these little boys felt and experienced as their father their protector was murdering them Doerman was discovered sitting on a doorstep at the residence and was apprehended without any resistance

He was formally charged with three counts of aggravated murder during his arraignment on Friday

In court a prosecutor revealed that Doerman had confessed to the chilling act of aligning the boys in the yard and shooting them

It was revealed that Doerman allegedly stood his three sons, aged 3, 4, and 7, in a line within their residence and subsequently executed them using a rifle Disturbingly one of the boys attempted to escape into a nearby field but Doerman pursued him brought him back to their home in Monroe Township Ohio, and tragically took his life as well Their mother was shot in the hand as she tried to protect her sons, the prosecutor said “The trauma this man has inflicted is unspeakable ” Gast said ” The evil horror of what we know is impossible to process Judge Jason Nagel granted the prosecutor a $20 million bond

He was their world, Gast said

He was their guardian and he executed them in cold blood

According to Gast, Doerman has confessed to planning the killings in advance “We can’t name a person who poses a greater threat to the community ” Gast said

PM’s talent hunt scheme oppor tunity for youth to harness talent: Abbassi

a b b O T T a b a d : Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed Abbassi

Saturday said that Prime Minister ’s Talent Hunt

Youth programe would provide an opportunity to the players to represent Pakistan in the foreign countries

He expressed these views while addressing the football trials at the Police ground in Abbottabad

He said that under PM s talent hunt scheme, there is no need for any sort of recommendations, this scheme is providing opportunities to every talented male and female youth he underlined the need for personal development of youth which would lead to the country to the prosperity in the world

Murtaza Javed Abbassi invited all stakeholders especially his political rivals to come and join hands for the development of Abbottabad which is the central city of the region and said let's make this city an example in tourism and other fields and I am ready to provide my services in this regard While talking about the restriction on the general public in the playing grounds of Abbottabad city including College ground, Kung Football stadium and Police ground police lines, the minister said that he would discuss this issue with chief minister KP to open the grounds for youth in the evening STAFF REPORT

SESSI increases up to seven fold pension for deceased, disabled registered labourers in S indh

K a r a c h I: The Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (SESSI) has decided to increase up to seven times the pension paid to the disabled registered workers and to the families of the deceased registered labourers in the province The decision to this effect was taken at the 165th meeting of the governing body of the SESSI held here on Saturday with Sindh Labour and Human Resources Minister, Saeed Ghani in the chair The meeting approved the surplus budget of SESSI for the upcoming financial year 2023-24 having a total value of Rs 1 777 billion The major increase in SESSI s budget is for the allocation to pay the pension to the disabled registered workers or to families of the deceased labourers The major increase in pension is going to benefit a total of 2572 workers or to their families in Sindh Those getting a monthly pension from Rs 700 to Rs 1,000 will now get Rs 7 000; those receiving a pension from Rs 1001 to 2000 will now get Rs 9 000 and those getting a pension from Rs 2001 to Rs 3750 will now get Rs 12 000 a month after the fresh increase as given in the new budget of SESSI P R

PSW, Ministr y of Maritime

Affairs to reinforce trade via digital integration

K a r a c h I: Pakistan Single Window (PSW) in collaboration with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs has successfully integrated the Marine Fisheries Department (MFD) and Mercantile Marine Department (MMD) into its network of digitally connected entities MFD regulates export of fish and fishery products in Pakistan while MMD is responsible for regulating export of secondhand/used passenger and cargo ships, oil tankers, liquid cargo carriers, and fishing trawlers Further MMD also ensures stowage standards in the export of Dangerous Goods The internal working of both the departments was manual and paper-based which is prone to fraud and forgery besides time consuming Supply chain reliability, safety, and efficiency are key to attracting foreign buyers to a country’s products and enhanced exports Exports of Fish and fishery products play a vital role in the national economy of Pakistan and have the potential to earn millions in foreign exchange Digitization of the cross-border trade related procedures is one significant step towards improving the supply chain efficiency and safety P R

O G D C L s t a r t s p r o d u c t i o n f r o m Wa l i ( B e t t a n i ) o i l & g a s f i e l d

By the grace of Almighty Allah, Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), the operator of the Wali (Bettani) Exploration License with a 100% working interest is delighted to announce commencement of production from the Wali (Bettani) Oil & Gas Field situated in District

Lakki Marwat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province

other facilities was refurbished remodeled and upgraded for

utilization

DERA ISMAIL KHAN S TA F F R E P O R T

P

Fazlur Rehman on Saturday said the government has revived the development journey in the country which was halted during PTI government

He stated this while addressing a public gathering after inaugurating PESCO’s 132-KV Grid Station in Abdulkhel area which was also attended by Federal Minister for Communication Maulana Asad Mahmood, Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO)

Chief Arif Khan Sadozai, Project Director Sardar Aslam Khan Gandapur, JUI-F local leadership and other officers of PESCO were also present

The Abdulkhel grid station was completed with a cost of Rs 95 million which would have four feeders and 40-km long transmission lines

This grid station, benefiting a huge population would help reducing the load on Bandkorai grid station besides removing the backwardness of the area Besides

LAHORE

P R

MCB Bank Limited, one of Pakistan’s leading banks, has established a strategic alliance with Marham Medicare Pvt Ltd a leading healthcare service provider This collaboration aims to empower MCB Bank s digital banking customers by offering them the convenience of finding, booking and consulting doctors digitally Additionally, the partnership includes exclusive packages that incorporate home diagnostics and online medicine delivery services

Through this collaboration MCB Live users will have access to comprehensive healthcare services and various other services, all within the MCB Live app With just a simple click MCB Live users will be able to avail

E D B Y P T I : FA Z L

G O V T R E V I V E S D E V E LO P M E N T J O U R N E Y, H A LT

the electricity related issues including the low voltage would also be resolved through this new grid station The foundation stone of this project was laid down by Jamiat Ulema Islam Fazl (JUI-F)

A K I S TA N Democratic Movement (PDM) Chief MaulanaChief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in 2018

Fazl said he was feeling happy to see that this backward area has been put on the path of development once again

He said the journey of progress, which was halted during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has been started again

During the PTI tenure backwardness was increased, country s economy was ruined and all the mega development projects including China Pakistan Economic Corridor were stopped Besides, the electricity producing projects which were initiated in 2016-17 were also halted he said

The PDM Chief said now the development in the country has been revived

He said an interchange has been built to connect Kattikhel and Rehmanikhel areas on Dera-Hakla Motorway The next interchange would be constructed at Paniala he vowed

Similarly a road has been approved to be constructed from Abdulkhel Inter-

change to Kloorkot via Dhakki and Laali areas, he said and added that it would ensure an easy approach to Punjab for the people of this area who used to go to other province for laboring purpose

This road was approved at the time of approval of CPEC and a bridge was supposed to be built over the Indus River

The previous government had constructed that bridge but no road on either side was built he said and added that now the roads on both sides of the bridge would be constructed

The CPEC which was passing through Daraban would connect Daraban area with Indus Highway via Musazai, Chodhwan, Kirri Shamozai and Ramak

In the same way, three districts including Lakki Marwat Bannu and Karak would also be connected with CPEC

The Bannu road would be connected with Chashma road from three different points including Khundal, Dhakki and Mufti Mahmood Chowk on Dera Bypass Similarly, Yarik to Tank road, Pezu to Tank road and Yarik to Paharpur via Bandkorai road would also be constructed soon Fazl said a widespread road network

was being laid down in the region which would help increasing trade and business activities He was of the view that the better road infrastructure was first step towards development The current government of PDM during its one-year tenure has started multi-projects in Dera Ismail Khan Region, he said Fazl said that he had a clear stance from the very first day that the anti-Pakistan people who were hindrance in the way of national development should be separated from the government as they were following any foreign agenda rather the agenda of Pakistan, adding, his stance has been proven true with the passage of time

“Today, Imran Khan s politics is over and we will also form the next government with the support of masses ” Fazl added

He said this evil would not be allowed to be imposed on this country again

At the end the symbolic keys of two bucket cranes worth Rs 15 million each were also handed over the Dera Ismail Khan and Tank Circles of PESCO Superintendent Engineer of Dera Circle Nadir kundi and Superintendent Engineer of Tank Circle Hayat Barki received the symbolic keys

Pakistan Nav y continues relief operation in c yclone effec ted areas

Marham s specialized services, ensuring easy access to quality healthcare and convenience no matter where they are

leveraging technology and partnerships to deliver innovative solutions to our customers We believe that the well-being of our customers extends beyond financial matters and this collaboration allows us to explore avenues to enhance our services and create a seamless digital ecosystem that integrates finance and healthcare

31,000 c yclone vic tims return home from relief c amps, claims DC

BADIN

S TA F F R E P O R T

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Agha Shah Nawaz has said that around 31 000 cyclone hit people shifted from coas tal areas to s afe places have returned to their homes

Talking to media during the repatriation process victims in Mono Technic College camp, DC said that threat of Cyclone Biparjoy now averted and on the request of people vehicles were provided to them for shifting to their homes DC said that due to Cyclone threat district administration had evacuated 31 000 people from the coastal belt out of which about 17024 people were accommodated in 24 relief camps while remaining people were shifted

on self help basis to their relatives and other places

He said that details of people residing in relief camps were compiled and Ration would be provided to people with the help of Pakistan Army, Rangers and Police to their homes DC said that if the home of any person is completely destroyed due to heavy winds a tent will be given a tent

He further said that the first phase of repatriation of Cyclone hit people has ended while in the Second phase estimate of losses would be ascertained in the coastal belt DC expressed gratitude to the Sindh Government for providing food drinking water Mosquito nets and medicines in relief camps besides arranging transport to Cyclone hit people for early shifting to their homes

More land to be alloc ated for Multan Industrial Estate: SM Tanveer

Caretaker Provincial Minister for Industries and Commerce SM Tanveer on Saturday assured industrialists that more land would be allocated for industrial estate Multan to provide more facilities to industrialists

Holding a meeting with President Multan Chamber of Small Traders and Industry Sheikh Faisal Saeed during his visit of Multan, minister said that government ensuring best facilities for industrialists and traders as industrial development would stabilize the economy of the country He said that the efforts were being made to bring more ease in matters of traders and industrialists He as-

sured the president chamber that problems of industrialists would be resolved on priority and added that more land would be allocated for Multan Industrial Estate The President Chamber of Small Traders and Industry Sheikh Faisal Saeed informed minister about the problems of small traders and industrialists He demanded the provincial minister to establish a small industrial estate for small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) so that the sector could also participate in the process of national development and prosperity He drew attention of the minister towards unnecessary actions by the environment department and said that environment-related SOPs should be made and should be given priority He said that no

K a r a c h I: Pakistan Navy continues wide scale

Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief

(HADR) Operations in coastal areas of Sindh PN Emergency Response Teams in coordination with local administration continued evacuation of personnel from various areas and provided relief goods to aggrieved populace PN troops evacuated over 800 inhabitants from various coastal areas of Keti Bandar Kharo Chan Shah Bandar Baghan Sujawal Chuhar Jamali and Jati City Moreover medical camp was held at Keti Bandar by Sindh government health department in coordination with World Health Organization (WHO) WHO s Country head of Pakistan, Dr Palitha Mahi Pala from Sri Lanka, also visited and monitored health care activities Around 230 people were treated in the medical camp and were also provided with mosquito nets P R

OGRA takes swift action to curb malpractice of under filling at filling stations

one should have the authority sealing any industry which directly affects the business

He further suggested minister that business conditions were already not sustainable and said that the business community could not afford the environmental arrangements or economy like other countries so it would not be appropriate to apply those rules here He said that traders and industrialists could hardly bear restrictions only according to the circumstances Therefore the environment department must be directed to conduct action only under the standard operating procedure (SoP)

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), committed to upholding consumer rights under its "Zero Tolerance Policy," OGRA enforcement team with the Local Administration of District Shekhupura conducted surprise inspection to address a rising number of complaints from the public A dedicated enforcement team, in response to these concerns, conducted comprehensive inspections of multiple filling stations in the area During the investigations, two filling stations in Tehsil Sharaqpur Shareef of Shekhupura District were flagged for engaging in the unethical practice of under filling petroleum products Disturbingly it was discovered that digital devices were illicitly installed within the dispensers, enabling the stations to deliberately provide up to 50% less fuel through remote control manipulation P R

PARC organizes seminar in D ask a with objec tive to enhance rice yields

Later, the President of the chamber lauded the provincial minister for assuring the community of resolving their problems on priority

SRINAGAR A G E N C I E S A vehicle of Indian paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) hit and killed a mother of two boys in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir A c c o r d i n g t o K a s h m i r M e d i a S e r v i c e t h e C R P F v e h i c l e d e l i b e r a t e l y h i t a S c o o t y t h a t l e d t o t h e d e a t h o f a m o t h e r o f t w o y o u n g b o y s a n d i nj u r e d h e r s o n n e a r A b d u l l a h B r i d g e R a j B a g h a r e a o f S r i n a g a r The victim was on right side while the CRPF vehicle deliberately hit them a local told the media men in Srinagar He added that the Indian forces having been bestowed with unbridled powers under black laws like Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) enjoy impunity for killing the people of Jammu and Kashmir

Prominent participants comprised Dr Asif Ali Mirani DG, AED, PARC, Dr Hafiz Sultan Mehmood, Director, Agricultural Engineering Institute, NARC, along with experts, researchers, engineers, program leaders, and representatives from agricultural organizations Dr Ghulam Muhammad Ali Chairman of Pakistan Agricultural Research Council emphasized the significance of rice as Pakistan s second major cash crop, following wheat He highlighted the necessity of modern farming equipment and high-yielding varieties to enhance productivity and combat the impacts of climate change on the agricultural sector Rice cultivation primarily takes place in fertile regions of Sindh Punjab and Balochistan providing a livelihood for a significant number of farmers P R S TA F F R E P O R T

Islamabad: (PR&P PARC) The Agricultural Engineering Institute of Pakistan Agricultural Research Council Islamabad organized a seminar/training program in Daska, Sialkot with the objective of enhancing rice yields through education and training on the advantages of utilizing specialized machinery for rice cultivation and harvesting while highlighting the drawbacks of traditional methods

PAKISTAN HAS NO PROBLEM WITH US DEVELOPING PARTNERSHIP WITH INDIA: KH ASIF

DE F E N C E Minister Khawaja

Asif has said that Islamabad does not have any problem with the United States (US) developing a partnership with India if it is not at the cost of Pakistan

During an exclusive interview with American magazine Newsweek the defence minister said India is a very big market of over 1 3 billion people

Everywhere in the world, the other big economies will need to have them as partners But Pakistan is not a very big economy and [is] a vulnerable economy he added

All we have is a geographical location which is strategic which attracts I would say, not all the good things, it sometimes attracts some things which really make us even more vulnerable ”

The minister said he personally feels that some appreciation is required in Washington about their situation and they should not be pushed into a situation where

they have to make some very hard choices

He maintained that Pakistan has common borders with China Afghanistan Iran and India adding We would like to have good relationships with them

“We would like to improve our relationships with them if the relationship is not good We want to live in peace ” he added

The minister said that Pakistan gives great value to its ties with the US adding We want that relationship to flourish ‘

N

Binance, SEC strike deal to keep US customer assets in countr y

PR OFIT

O V -

E N T ’: Terming the incumbent government in New Delhi “Hindu nationalist” Asif said the Indian outlook towards regional politics completely changed since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came into power

The secular ideology, which India pursued since 1947, since the subcontinent was divided and we became independent that was abandoned because of Modi’s politics ”

Lashing out at Indian PM Modi the minister said If you look at his politics in Gujarat it was again based on anti-mi-

AG Punjab Shan Gul calls it a day

LAHORE

S TA F F R E P O R T

Advocate General (AG) Punjab Muhammad Shan Gul

on Saturday tendered his resignation, highlighting his inability to perform the functions of his office due to domestic commitments which he could no longer

postpone The letter was written to Governor Punjab

Muhammad Balighur Rehman and the chief minister Punjab Mohsin Raza Naqvi contending that he wanted to return to the private sector

It was in the early make of my return to private practice after only recently having not been confirmed as a permanent judge of the Lahore High Court, that I had found myself approached by Mr Mohsin Naqvi the chief minister Punjab Mr Zahid Akhtar Zaman the chief secretary and Mr Ahmed Raza Sarwar the additional chief secretary in relation to my availability to serve as the advocate general of the province At the time I was offered this esteemed position, I had been specifically informed that the appointment was only for a short duration, which prompted me to accept it ” the resignation stated

It further added that at the time of assumption of his office it pains me to highlight that the office was marred with matters that had been pending for over a year, inclusive of opinions sought by various departments and Order XXVII-A notices It gives me great personal joy to consider it an achievement to report that the office at present has no outstanding matters pending”

It is therefore with a heavy [heart] that I must inform you of my inability to perform the functions of my office w e f June 27, 2023, on account of prior domestic commitments which I am no longer able to postpone As such, I would be exceedingly grateful if my resignation from the post of advocate general Punjab is accepted w e f June 27 2023 ”

It has been an honor and privilege to have served this office and province under your kind auspices and I hall forever remain indebted to yourself and the province for this gracious opportunity, said Gul concluding his resignation

Unhappy Punjab Govt set to remove AGP

Previously rumours were rife that unhappy with the failure of Advocate General Punjab (AGP)

Muhammad Shan Gul to make strong cases against the perpetrators of incidents of violence on May 9 the Punjab government on Saturday had decided to seek his resignation

Sources said that the Punjab cabinet had agreed to ask Shan Gull to step down

nority it is based on communal tensions and of voting Hindu nationalist support by fanning sentiments against the community and minorities both Muslims Christians, Buddhists, and so many other communities that are very large

S E T S : To another question the defence minister said that Pakistan’s nuclear capability or nuclear assets are not for any jingoistic or hostile intentions

So, I think it s something which underwrites our security, it s not for any hostile no, absolutely no, absolutely not India had become a nuclear power And we were compelled not to be gobbled by India over the years or over the decades This is something which underwrites the peace in our region and to a great extent, our security Otherwise, we have absolutely no intentions Absolutely no,” he added Asif maintained that it is a program which is certified by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and even as recently as a month back there was a statement from the IAEA that all

the standards even from the United States that our program is safe We will not never never ever cross that threshold That is something that just guarantees our independence, he added

Replaying to a question about balancing relationship with the US China and other regional powers the minister it has been very difficult for Pakistan over the last many decades to maintain the balancing act with the US and with the regional powers like China, “friends in the Arabian Gulf”, Iran, and, Russia

“Foreign Secretary [Antony] Blinken is visiting China let s hope and pray that things improve between China and United States he added

The minister said that once they have economic stability in the country, we will really be in a better position to handle this situation

“Our vulnerability economic vulnerability actually exposes us to so many problems which sometimes we are unable to tackle said the minister

India talks economy with Moody ’s, pitches for ratings upgrade

The Indian government held talks on the state of its economy with Moody s Investors Service on Friday and pitched for a ratings upgrade, two officials said Moody’s rates India at the lowest investment grade of “Baa3” with a “stable” outlook similar to those assigned by S&P and Fitch at BBBThe meeting was an annual event where they discussed the government’s take on the economy to help the credit agencies make their assessments the government

official, who did not want to be identified told reporters Immediately after the meeting another official who also did not want to be identified told reporters that the Indian officials had questioned the ratings agency about its parameters in deciding a country’s rating Global ratings agencies take into account parameters such as growth rate inflation general government debt and short-term external debt as a percentage of GDP

d ia t e l y r e s p o n d t o e - m a i l s s e e ki n g c o m m e n t

PPP senior leader urges Bilawal to par t ways with PDM to strengthen position in Punjab

LAHORE

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) stalwart and former Punjab governor Sardar Latif Khan Khosa proposed to the party leadership on Saturday that it should part ways with the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to strengthen its position in Punjab

Bilawal should not be a part of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif s cabinet, he said, regretting the PPP chairperson’s appointment in April 2022 as the foreign minister

Khosa made these remarks during a press conference held at the Lahore High Court where he was flanked by the lawyers

These parties are the remnants of former military dictator General Zia Ul Haq he said lambasting the constitution of military courts and

trials of civilians under Army Act 1952 in relation to events of May 9

The senior politician added that they would be approaching the Supreme Court to challenge military courts and contended that no civilians can be tried under such courts When asked about the recent attack on his house, Khosa said that if anyone wished to pressurize

him they would soon be saying that they went after the wrong person Law enforcement agencies are obligated to probe this matter he said adding that his house was in no way of less significance than the Lahore Corps Commander s residence (Jinnah House), which was attacked by vandals on May 9 Khosa’s driver was injured a day prior when unidentified miscreants opened fire at his residence in Lahore Shots were fired at the door of the house and a car parked in the garage The driver, Javed, was shifted to a hospital with a gunshot wound to his leg

Shortly after being informed Cantt SP Owais Shafiq reached the site and his team began a probe Initial reports suggest that bullets were fired through rifles and pistols

R E U T E R S

Binance, the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange and Binance US have entered into an agreement with the U S Securities and Exchange Commission to ensure that U S customer assets remain in the United States until a sweeping lawsuit filed this month by the regulatory agency is resolved

The agreement, disclosed in court papers filed late on Friday, still requires the approval of the federal judge overseeing the litigation To make certain that U S customer assets do not go offshore the agreement allows only Binance US employees access to these assets

The SEC on June 5 sued Binance, its CEO and founder Changpeng Zhao and Binance US s operator, alleging that Binance artificially inflated its trading volumes, diverted customer funds, failed to restrict U S customers from its platform and misled investors about its market surveillance controls

The suit and one filed by the SEC the following day against major U S exchange Coinbase (COIN O) represented a dramatic escalation of a crackdown on the industry by U S regulators Under the agreement, which does not resolve the SEC lawsuit Binance US will take steps to make sure that no Binance Holdings officials have access to private keys for its various wallets hardware wallets or root access to Binance US s Amazon Web Services tools the court filings showed The SEC said in a statement released on Saturday that the emergency relief order secured for Binance US customers will protect their assets and ensure that they can continue to withdraw those assets

“Given that Changpeng Zhao and Binance have control of the platforms customers assets and have been able to commingle customer assets or divert customer assets as they please these prohibitions are essential to protecting investor assets, Gurbir Grewal, director of the SEC’s enforcement division, said in the statement

A Binance spokesperson said in a statement on Saturday: Although we maintain that the SEC s request for emergency relief was entirely unwarranted we are pleased that the disagreement over this request was resolved on mutually acceptable terms User funds have been and always will be safe and secure on all Binance-affiliated platforms ”

Under other provisions in the proposed agreement

Binance US will create new crypto wallets to which the global exchange s employees have no access provide additional information to the SEC and agree to an expedited discovery schedule, the filings said

The U S affiliate of Binance halted dollar deposits last week and gave customers a deadline of June 13 to withdraw their dollar funds, after SEC asked a court to freeze its assets

PPP believes in democracy, ready for general elections: Bilawal

Pakistan People s Party (PPP) Chairman and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari here Saturday said that his party strongly believed in democracy and was ready for general election

Addressing a public gathering here at Khwazakhela, he said that any political party that achieved people’s mandate in free and transparent election would have all the right to form Government and address the country s problems He also directed the party workers to start campaign for general election

He said that PPP has recently won by-election and its candidate was elected a Mayor of Karachi that was a big achievement Bilawal Bhutto said PPP has strong roots in masses that would win the upcoming elections and complete the mission of former prime ministers Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Bilawal Bhutto underlined the need for allocation of funds for reconstruction of flood-hit areas in the budget 2023-24 He said that PPP strongly believed in people’s wellbeing and welfare

He paid glowing tributes to the people of Swat, who stood against terrorism with bravery and steadfastness He said PPP Government had fulfilled the promise of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto by hoisting the national flag in Swat Bilawal Bhutto said that democracy was the best revenge and former President Asif Ali Zardari had raised the slogan of Pakistan Khapay after Benazir Bhutto Shaheed was martyred outside Liaquat Bagh on December 27 2007

He said that a selected Prime Minister was ousted from power through a successful no confidence motion under the Constitution He said the entire nation had seen the vandalism and barbaric mindsets of attackers involved on ransacking of defence installations on May 9 after a selected former Prime Minister was arrested in a NAB case Bilawal Bhutto underlined the need for strict action against elements involved in May 9 vandalism so that no one can dare to attack defence installations public and government properties and ransacked statues of martyrs

He said that Quaid-e-Awam ZAB and Benazir Bhutto Shaheed had given all rights to people including employment and land ownership He said majority of the country’s population was comprised on youth and demands of our skilled workforce in Middle East and Europe has increased adding people knew that a selected prime minister had deprived youth of jobs Bilawal said country s problems could be addressed by strictly adhering to the PPP manifesto of Shaheed ZAB and Benazir Bhutto Shaheed He said that PPP has started the revolutionary Benazir Bhutto Income Support Program to eradicate poverty

He said PPP’s struggle is against hunger poverty unemployment and price hike and not against any political party Bilawal Bhutto said that Imran Khan s cypher drama has been badly exposed before masses He said the world was keen to work with Pakistan as evident of USD 10 billion pledges and commitment by the international community for an assistance of the flood victims of Pakistan

He said peace in Afghanistan was vital for regional peace and development Bilawal said that PPP has always given respect and honour to its workers while a selected Prime Minister deceived his workers in the name of change