Epaper_23-06-20 LHR

Tuesday, 20 June, 2023

I 1 Zil Hajj, 1444

In par tnership with Profit

GREECE SHIPWRECK TRAGEDY: FIA ARRESTS ‘KEY SUSPECT’ FROM GUJRAT

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

ASannounced by the prime minister, Pakistan observed a day of mourning on Monday for citizens who died when a fishing trawler packed with migrants sank off the Greek coast.

As many as 750 men, women and children from Syria, Egypt, the Palestinian territories and Pakistan were on board the vessel, trying to reach relatives in Europe.

The Greek coast guard has defended its response to the tragedy that left more than 500 migrants presumed drowned. The vessel sank on Wednesday.

Last week, Shehbaz Sharif expressed his grief over the tragedy and said Monday would be observed as a day of mourning, with the national flag flying at half-staff. He previously said that Pakistan’s embassy in Athens has identified 12 nationals who were rescued by the coast guard. There was no official information on how many Pakistanis were onboard the vessel, how many survived or how many perished.

Meanwhile, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) announced they had apprehended a “key suspect” from Gujrat.

In a statement released today, a spokesperson for the agency disclosed its Anti-Human Trafficking Circle in Gujrat had successfully captured a crucial suspect linked to the tragic boat incident.

The suspect, identified as Waqas Ahmed, allegedly received Rs2.3 million from an individual seeking assistance for an illegal journey to Greece. The spokesperson added the agency is also investigating the suspect’s involvement in acquiring money from other citizens.

Originating from Wazirabad, the apprehended suspect was believed to have played

a significant role in the trafficking operation. The FIA further revealed that they are conducting raids to apprehend additional individuals involved in similar human trafficking activities. According to the spokesperson, a total of three “key suspects”

faster. They say the migrants insisted they didn’t need any help, but non-governmental organizations say they received a number of calls for help. The sinking was one of the worst disasters of its kind this year.

Meanwhile, police in Azad Jammu and Kashmir said Sunday they arrested 12 people involved in sending local youths to Libya for the onward journey to Europe. Senior officer Khalid Chauhan said police picked up the suspects amid a crackdown on human traffickers. Police are interrogating them for their alleged roles in luring, trapping and sending locals abroad after extracting huge amounts of money from them.

IN TODAY’S ISSUE

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SC reserves verdict in petitions challenging review of judgement law

associated with the tragic incident have been apprehended thus far. The investigations are ongoing, with the authorities committed to bringing all responsible parties to justice.

WORST DIASASTER: Greek authorities have been criticised for their failure to act

Around 28 people from the Koi Ratta area in the district of Kotli have gone to Libya for onward travel to Europe, police said. Local official Chaudhry Haq Nawaz said there was still no confirmation on how many young men from the area were onboard the ill-fated boat, or how many are among the dead or missing.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

Khawaja Asif calls for firm action against human traffickers

ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has called for a firm action against those involved in sending the people abroad illegally. Acting upon his call, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) registered four separate cases against human traffickers involved in the Greece shipwreck tragedy.

Asif while speaking in the National Assembly on Monday, expressed deep grief and sorrow over the deaths of Pakistani migrants in a boat incident near the coast of Greece. He said the government and the opposition parties should work collectively to initiate a stern action against these human traffickers and this illegal movement must stop.

He said some people have been arrested in the country, but their nexus also exists in other different countries as well. The Defence Minister said the nation is observing a day of mourning today to express solidarity with the bereaved families of boat tragedy. The Chair, in his remarks, said that the Greece Boat tragedy has aggrieved the entire nation.

He said the government must take action against the human traffickers and stressed that the people should also be educated about the hazards of illegal immigration. Earlier, at the outset, the House offered fateha for the departed souls of Pakistani migrants died in a boat incident near the coast of Greece as well as those who died in other accidents in the country.

As many as 78 Pakistani nationals drowned when the ill-fated boat with reportedly 400 to 750 people onboard sank in the Mediterranean Sea near the Greek coast. According to media reports, some 104 people were rescued and sent to Kalamata, Greece. Cases were registered against the human traffickers in Gujrat and Gujranwala on the complaints of the people rescued in the boat wreckage tragedy. STAFF REPORT

IMF board meetings schedule set without Pakistan

PROFIT INP

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board has issued meetings scheduled till June 29 without Pakistan as the ninth review under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme still remains pending, sources said.

Pakistan has barely enough currency reserves to cover one month’s imports. It had hoped to have $1.1 billion of the funds released in November – but the IMF has insisted on a number of conditions before it makes any more disbursements.

Sources privy to the development said the IMF had to meet for the release of $1.1 billion tranche under the 9th review of the EFF programme which is expiring on June 30. Pakistani authorities are optimistic that the fund will complete the ninth review before the deadline and the meeting for the release of the tranche to Pakistan can be summoned at any time.

It may be noted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in his telephonic conversation with the IMF chief requested for the early completion of the 9th review for the release of the loan.

Last week, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) expressed dissatisfaction with Pakistan’s recently presented budget. Policy talks are underway with Pakistan. However, the draft FY24 Budget ‘misses’ an opportunity to broaden the tax base in a more progressive way, Esther Perez Ruiz, the International Monetary Fund’s resident representative for Pakistan said.

Esther Perez Ruiz further added that the long list of new tax expenditures further reduces the fairness of the tax system and undercuts the resources needed for vulnerable recipients in the Benazir Income Support Programme.

PM Shehbaz lauds China for supporting Pakistan during ‘tough

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday lauded Chinese government for extending all-out support to Pakistan during challenging economic times and expressed resolve to steer the country out of crisis.

“China is fully supporting Pakistan and $1 billion have been received from China,” the premier said while addressing the PM’s National Innovation Awards ceremony here on Monday.

In a major boost to the forex reserves, China announced refinancing $1 billion loan in Pakistan, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) confirmed late on Friday.

The news of the refinancing came after Finance Minister Ishaq Dar informed the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue on Friday that China would be refinancing the $1 billion loan it had given to Pakistan earlier.

“$1 billion will come from China today or on Monday,” Dar had told the lawmakers. He also said that talks are ongoing with the Bank of China for a loan of $300 million. He added that Pakistan would also receive dollars under China’s swap agreement.

Speaking at the ceremony ear-

lier today, the prime minister also praised Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE for helping Pakistan in the challenging times. PM Shehbaz emphasised the need for getting rid of foreign loans saying the friendly countries also urged Pakistan to use foreign loans efficiently to fully utilise the potential of natural resources.

The prime minister said Pakistan has been “blessed” with natural resources and it has capacity to become self-sufficient. “We will come out of the economic and financial challenges,” the premier said. He also proposed non-partisan agenda to lift the country out of crisis saying that all stakeholders including opposition parties

PROFIT SHAHAB OMER

The Cabinet of Punjab, under the supervision of the caretaker government, has approved the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, effective from July 1, 2023, to October 30, 2023. The four-month budget, presented by the Punjab Treasury Department, has been given the green light, adhering to Article 126 of the constitution. The estimated total expenditure for this period amounts to PKR 1719.3 billion.

Among the notable highlights of the budget is a substantial increase in allocations for education and health, with both sectors seeing a 31% budgetary surge. Additionally, the basic salaries of government employees will witness a 30% hike, bringing muchneeded relief to the public sector workforce.

In a move to encourage growth in the IT industry, all provincial taxes on the sector have been eliminated. Furthermore, the Punjab government also establishment a PKR 1 billion for journalist endowment fund.

Addressing social welfare concerns, the budget allocates an amount of PKR 7 billion, moreover, an allocation of PKR 120.4 billion has been set aside for efficient service delivery. It is noteworthy that the budget does not impose any new taxes on the public. The proposal to increase stamp duty by 3% has been rejected, and the rate will remain at 1%.

The energy sector receives a capital investment of PKR 16.4 billion, which will contribute to the development and improvement of the sector. Additionally, the agricultural sector will benefit from an approved allocation of PKR 47.6 billion, aimed at boosting agricultural growth and enhancing farmers’ livelihoods.

Mujahid Sher Dil, the Secretary of the Finance, explained the budget’s provisions to control inflation. Furthermore, the Punjab government has taken the initiative to repay loans amounting to PKR 60 billion, which were acquired from banks for wheat procurement.

“This measure will help reduce the daily interest payment of PKR 25 crore from the

provincial treasury. It is expected that these loans will be fully repaid within the next four months, allowing the saved interest amount to be utilized for public welfare projects,” he said. In addressing pension-related concerns, the Secretary Finance announced a 5% increase for pensioners aged 60 to 80, while retired employees above the age of 80 will receive an approximate 20% increase in their pensions.

“This decision rectifies the previous practice of stopping pension payments on the day of retirement, forcing retirees to wait for one and a half years to receive their pension documents. With the Punjab government’s approval, retired employees will now be able to receive 65% of their pension one year after retiring, bringing significant relief to pensioners,” he added.

Secretary also clarified that election expenses are the responsibility of the federal government. However, the provincial government will allocate funds for security expenditures during general elections. Additionally, the increase in the wheat subsidy loan is a re-

needed to agree on the economic and foreign policy agenda to ensure continuation of the policies.

In the past, he said as Khadime-Punjab, he introduced the Punjab Skills Development Company initiative which was first launched in the southern Punjab. He said that millions of rupees were spent not on brick and mortar type of structures, but training was imparted to the talented youth.

They gave away Rs10,000 per student and companies trained them, he added. Further elaborating his point of view, the prime minister said governments always played a catalyst role to spur activities for industries and agriculture.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

The Supreme Court on Monday reserved its judgement on petitions challenging the Supreme Court (Review of Judgements and Orders) Act 2023.

The Act widened the scope of review in cases decided under Article 184(3) of the Constitution which states that “without prejudice to the provisions of Article 199, the Supreme Court shall if it considers that a question of public importance with reference to the enforcement of any of the Fundamental Rights conferred by Chapter 1 of Part II is involved, have the power to make an order of the nature mentioned in the said Article”.

A three-member bench of the apex court led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Ijazul Ahsan heard the matter.

The chief justice maintained that the judges would consult with each other and give a decision soon.

During the hearing today, the Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Dr Mansoor Awan came to the rostrum and said he would give arguments regarding the legislative authority of the Parliament, adding that several judgements of the SC pertained to the legislative power of the Parliament.

He continued that Article 184(3) reserved a separate scope for revision in cases and the perception of exploitation of some people from the right of revision appeal was incorrect.

CJP Bandial questioned if the AGP was saying that the Constitution was exploiting people before the right of appeal. He further asked how the entire Constitution could be ignored for a constitutional issue.

Awan said that before Article 184(3) there was no way of review, and no one was abused by government legislation.

The chief justice said that the government can legislate but it did not seem right to give the right of appeal in review. He continued that in Article 184(3) cases, very thoughtful decisions should be taken to grant the right of appeal.

According to the CJP, in India, there was no right of direct revisional appeal in Article 184(3) cases. Last week, Justice Bandial said that law related to the scope of review should be framed carefully with the advice of the Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) as he has experience in litigations.

The CJP wondered whether a review could be merged with an appeal as he expressed reservations about the newly introduced Supreme Court (Review of Judgments and Orders) Act 2023.

“Some grounds should be added for reviewing the judgments given under Article 184(3) of the Constitution,” the chief justice said, “otherwise, that would mean rehearing the case.”

Nonetheless, the CJP said that the court would welcome the decision to provide a remedy in judgments decided under the original jurisdiction provisioned by Article 184(3) of the Constitution.

In May, a three-member bench headed by CJP Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar was hearing the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) review petition against its April order with regard to elections in Punjab when the AGP revealed that a new law enlarging the scope of review petitions had been enacted.

Subsequently, the apex court decided to hear the petitions filed against the review law together with the poll authority’s review plea.

firmed that as soon as the election date is announced, the caretaker government will oversee the electoral process.

sult of the previous untargeted subsidy, where even affluent individuals were benefiting from the prescribed price of wheat. The new budget aims to provide targeted relief for public welfare, which may include cash transfers alongside subsidies on food items.

Later in a press conference, the provincial minister of Information and Culture Aamir Mir, along with Provincial Minister for Industries and Commerce SM Tanveer, expressed satisfaction with the people-friendly budget presented by the caretaker government.

Amir Mir commended Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s leadership in crafting a budget that does not impose new taxes and abolishes the sales tax on IT-related businesses, promoting IT exports. Furthermore, the budget allocates 70 billion rupees to provide relief to the poor.

The Provincial Minister highlighted that the caretaker government is working under the supervision of the Election Commission, and the Chief Minister’s selection was made by the commission. He con-

Provincial Minister SM Tanveer revealed that the caretaker government has initiated the reduction of a 600 billion rupee loan obtained from Punjab Bank and other banks for wheat procurement.

“The current daily interest payment amounts to 250 million rupees, and if not addressed, the loan would accumulate to 1,000 billion rupees in 2024 and 2,000 billion rupees in 2025, requiring a daily interest payment of 800 million rupees. This loan repayment initiative by the Punjab government will allow the saved interest amount to be directed towards the welfare of the people. Furthermore, the caretaker government aims to complete 50% of ongoing development schemes in the province within the next four months. The Punjab Thermal Power Company Limited will expedite the completion of the 1,240megawatt RLNG-based power plant within the next two months, aided by an allocation of 16 billion rupees. The budget also reflects a 31% increase in the allocation for education and health sectors, and a 20% increase in pensions for pensioners above the age of 80,” he added.

times’

No new taxes in Punjab ‘mini-budget’ as allocations for health and education increased

UNNATURAL PDM ALLIANCE IS SPLITTING, SAYS QURESHI

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

PAKISTANTehreek-e-Insaaf

(PTI) Co-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that the PDM alliance has disintegrated, only a formal announcement is needed. Talking to media here at the F-8 courts on Monday, he said disintegration of the alliance started yesterday [when PPP chief Bilawal complained of low allocation for Sindh in budget]. Practically, the alliance has dismembered, he added. “I had said that the PDM alliance is an unnatural alliance. It is beginning of the end, the alliance is crumbling,” Qureshi continued.

He said Bilawal expressed his concern

[on budget allocations for Sindh] in a rally in Swat yesterday. “Bilawal is right. Why was there no mention of the allocation of Sindh in the budget?”

The PTI leader said he was aware of the devastation caused by last year’s floods in Sindh. Rehabilitation of the displaced people was not possible without huge allocation in the budget. And the PML-N government had not allocated funds for the purpose, he maintained.

Regarding rift between the PPP and the PML-N, Qureshi said the ministers were objecting to the by-election of Azad Kashmir. They accused the PPP of “massive rigging” in the by-election. Despite alleging rigging in the Azad Kashmir by-polls, 14 PML-N members voted Murtaza Wahab in the mayoral election, Qureshi observed.

These are the indications of an imminent split in the alliance, he remarked. He said it was difficult to deceive the educated youth by rhetoric.

“The things are different now.”

About the upcoming general elections, he announced to name candidates [of the PTI] in every constituency. Everyone has the right to find their candidates, he added.

Qureshi also expressed his deepest condolence with the bereaved families of over 300 Pakistanis who lost their lives in the Greece boat disaster, saying that economic meltdown, state sponsored censorship and culture of fear and insecurity leading them to find any means necessary to leave.

He said: “My deepest condolences go to the families of over 300 Pakistanis who

lost their lives in the Greece boat disaster.”

He said that young men, women and children all victims of human smuggling networks, made to journey through unspeakable conditions that ultimately led to the loss of their lives.

“May the families of all the victims be given the solace they need, to bear such a tragic loss,” he prayed. He further urged that the state must find, punish and put an end to human trafficking networks in Pakistan, adding that equally, they must create a Pakistan where people see and have a future.

“No Pakistani should have to bear the brunt of a total economic meltdown, state sponsored censorship and this culture of fear and insecurity, leading them to find any means necessary to leave,” he added.

Karot Hydropower Project central to President Xi’s people-centric development vision: Mushahid

ISLAMABAD

Mian abRaR

Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Defence, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed

Monday said the Karot Hydropower Project built as the flagship initiative under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was central to the Chinese President Xi Jinping’s iconic vision of people-centric development rolled out in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The chairman led a delegation comprising of members of the Parliament to the Karot Hydropower Project (KHP) site in Kahuta on the occasion of the project’s first anniversary and the 10th anniversary of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and BRI.

Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed who is also Chairman of Pakistan China Institute (PCI) was flanked by Executive Director of Pakistan China Institute Mustafa Haider Sayed.

It was the first cross-party parliamentary delegation of its kind to visit the Karot Hydropower Project, which included Senator Waleed Iqbal (PTI), Senator Taj Haider (PPP), Senator Sadia Abbasi (PML-N), Senator Palwasha Muhammad Zai Khan (PPPP) and Senator

Muhammad Asad Ali Khan Junejo. Senator Mushahid said Karot Hydropower Project was the strong pillar of CPEC and was tantamount to the vision of Chinese President Xi Jinping who demanded the development that ensured its benefits to people at the grassroots level.

While extending his gratitude to the China Three Gorges South Asia Investment Limited (CSAIL), Senator Mushahid commended the commitment and quality of work shown during the

Court extends interim bail of PTI chief in six cases

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The interim bail of Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) chairman and former prime minister in six cases registered against him in Islamabad was extended on Monday. In six cases registered against PTI chief at Karachi Company police station, PS Secretariat, Ramana police station and Tarnol police station, he appeared before the Islamabad court. The judge during hearing, asked Salman Safdar, the lawyer of Chairman PTI, when do you want to join the investigation. “We want to join the investigation today at this court building,” Safdar replied to the judge. I don’t have the power to order the PTI chief to join the investigation in this building. Later the court extended interim bail of the former prime minister in six cases until July 4. The PTI chief had been facing over 100 cases under different charges in the country. Earlier on May 23, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) extended interim bail of former premier and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan in eight cases registered against him.

execution of KHP. He said the CPEC project was changing but rather diversifying Pakistan’s economy and the lives of its people.

“China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG) has done miracle at Karot despite various challenges and it is a living example of the BRI and CPEC success,” he added. He said that KHP was an excellent example of energy security and green technology securing people of Pakistan.

PPP’s Murtaza Wahab takes oath as Karachi mayor

KARACHI Staff RepoRt

While lauding the Community Investment Plan (CIP) implemented by the CSAIL under its corporate social responsibility, Senator Mushahid said the CTG had invested over Rs 650 million that helped in building schools, healthcare facilities and road infrastructure in the project. The top of it was Tehsil Headquarters Hospital (THQ) Kahuta which was a 60bed facility catering the needs of masses of the local and adjoining areas and bearing a patient load of 30,000 patients per month. He also appreciated the fully funded scholarships offered by the CSAIL to local masses to study in China.

Senator Mushahid said the CPEC’s early harvest projects were completed in time in Pakistan that provided over 150,000 jobs, 6,000 megawatts (MW) power generation, 1,000 kilometers highways and motorways construction where 4,000 Pakistani students were studying in China which was a great change. “China came to Pakistan for investment at the time when no Muslim or Western country was ready to invest a penny in Pakistan due to terrorism, and alarming situation in Afghanistan,” he said.

PTI chief visits Latif Khosa’s residence, demands strict actions against attackers

LAHORE Staff RepoRt

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI)

Chairman Imran Khan Monday arrived at the residence of senior jurist Latif Khosa and strongly condemned the gun attack on his house, demanding strict action against those responsible for cowardice attack.

During the meeting, PTI Chairman stressed the need for initiating a comprehensive investigation into the attack in order to bring the responsible to book.

On the occasion, Imran Khan expressed deep concern and regret over the curb on freedom of expression, non-implementation of the constitution and law, the worst violations of human rights and the rapidly shrinking civil liberties in the country.

PTI Chairman lauded Latif Khosa for his bold stand for upholding supremacy of the constitution and the

rule of law in the country. They strong condemned the murder of constitution, law, independent judiciary and democratic values in the country through use of oppression, repression and fascism. During the meeting, they agreed on starting a struggle for restoration of

the constitution in its true form without any further delay to save the country from falling into the deep abyss of dictatorship. They also agreed to speed up their peaceful democratic struggle for the protection of basic human rights enshrined under the constitution.

JI demands formation of JIT to probe into Karachi mayor election

KARACHI Staff RepoRt

Hafiz Naeemur Rehman the chief of Jamaat-i-Islami’s Karachi chapter on Monday said they would move the court and demanded formation of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to ascertain why the union council chairmen belonging to the PTI remained absent on the day election was for the port city’s mayor.

Representatives from all the spy agencies should be made part of the JIT to determine how these elected members

went missing during the process, said Rehman told media and accused the PPP and the ECP (Election Commission of Pakistan) of having a nexus. Describing the election of PPP’s Murtaza Wahab as Karachi mayor a robbery committed against the city’s mandate and totally fake, he said the process was exposed the reality of PPP and ECP. The JI’s local head said they would also stage a “massive protest” outside the ECP office in Islamabad, adding that the top electoral body would have to declare the election invalid and rectify all the

Iran deports 45 trespassers back to Pakistan

CHAGAI

Staff RepoRt

Iranian border officials have arrested 45 Pakistan nationals who had trespassed into Iran and deported them back to their country on Monday. Iran’s officials handed over 45 persons to Pakistan’s border officials who had crossed into the country in hope to illegally emigrate to Europe for economic reasons. “The deportees were intending to illegally emigrate to Greece and other European countries via Iran,” Pakistan’s border officials said. “Those deported from Iran have been handed over to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for investigation,” border authorities said. “Most of the deportees belong to Punjab province,” officials added. The issue of illegal immigrants has highlighted on global level with recent boat sinking incident near the coast of Greece, in which several Pakistani nationals have reported died.Pakistan is observing a day of mourning today over the deaths of its nationals in the boat tragedy. At least 78 people were drowned when the illfated boat with reportedly 400 to 750 people onboard sank in the Mediterranean Sea near the Greek coast. Meanwhile, some 104 people were rescued and sent to Kalamata, Greece, as per to the latest media reports. On Sunday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced to observe mourning day on Monday (today) and constituted a four-member high-level committee to probe into the death of dozens of Pakistanis in the tragedy.

mistakes. Rehman said the failure to hold fair and free local government polls in Karachi was just a trailer and questioned how the body would be able to hold elections across the country. “This was just a trailer; the entire film is yet to be unveiled.”

“How can we trust this institution to hold unbiased elections? If the ECP works as a facilitator for parties, how will democracy flourish in Pakistan?”

Last week, Wahab was elected Karachi mayor by defeating Rehman while Salman Abdullah, also of PPP, grabbed the deputy

mayor’s slot. Wahab bagged 173 votes while Rehman could secure 161 votes only. Out of 366 members, 333 members were present at the polling venue while 33 members could not reach the polling venue to cast their vote.

The results triggered a clash between the PPP and JI supporters, as rival political workers, armed with clubs and sticks, pelted each other with stones and created chaos. Police and Rangers sprang into action and dispersed the mob by mounting baton-charge while also arresting some of the troublemakers.

PPP’s Murtaza Wahab took oath as the Karachi mayor at a ceremony held at the city’s Polo Ground on Monday. According to updates on the PPP’s Twitter, party’s Salman Murad was also sworn in as the city’s deputy mayor at the ceremony. Sindh Election Commissioner Ejaz Anwar Chauhan administered the oath to Wahab and Salman while Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Governor Kamran Tessori and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari were also present on the occasion. Both Wahab and Salam won the elections for their respective posts on June 15 in a contest that was marred by clashes and controversy, with the Jamaat-iIslami — the PPP’s sole contender for the mayor’s seat — alleging that the ruling party in Sindh use force to ensure its victory. Prior to the mayor’s election, the PPP had formed an alliance with the PML-N and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, taking their combined strength to 173, while the JI had the support of 61 PTI members, taking the expected number of votes for its candidate, JI Karachi chief Naeemur Rehman, to 192. While Wahab secured all 173 expected votes, Rehman only managed to get 160 after 30 union council members abstained from the polling process. However, the JI has alleged that the provincial government had coerced the PTI members and rejected the polls. The party also observed ‘Black Day’ on June 17 and held protests across the country over the election results, and it has now announced a protest outside the Election Commission of Pakistan’s office in Islamabad. JI announces protest outside ECP in Islamabad Earlier today, JI Karachi chief Naeemur Rehman said on that his party would stage a protest outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) office in Islamabad on June 23 (Friday) against the PPP government’s alleged use of force to win the Karachi mayoral election. “It will be a massive protest and we will question the ECP about the polls it held in Karachi […] the ECP will have to declare the election invalid and rectify all its mistakes,” he said. Addressing a press conference in Karachi today, JI’s Rehman said that the party was mulling taking a convoy of protesters from Karachi to the federal capital on June 23. “We can’t accept these fake and rigged elections,” he asserted, adding that the PPP had “unlawfully held Karachi’s mandate” to keep its “donkey network” active. Rehman went on to say that the ECP had completely failed to hold free and fair elections in Karachi, questioning how the body would be able to hold polls across the country. “This was just a trailer, the entire film is yet to be unveiled.”

MNA Ali Wazir arrested from Bannu

BANNU Staff RepoRt

Member of the National Assembly from South Waziristan and PTM leader Ali Wazir was arrested in Bannu on Monday and shifted to Miranshah. According to official sources, security forces personnel took Ali Wazir, who was travelling to Razmak from Miranshah, into custody from Damdeel checkpost. Police have registered an FIR against Manzoor Pishtin, Ali Wazir and other leaders for holding a protest against the abduction of PTM activists. Ali Wazir had been released after more than two years in prison in February this year. He had been arrested in December 2020 on charges of various charges of sedition.

Pakistan-Iran sign MoU to enhance maritime cooperation

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Pakistan and Iran have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance maritime cooperation, and to enhance and diversify bilateral trade and expand cooperation in mutual interest.

The Pakistani delegation led by Secretary Defence Lieutenant General (R) Hamood Uz Zaman Khan was welcomed by the Iranian Deputy Defense Minister.

The MoU was signed between Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) and the Iranian border guards during the visit of Secretary Defence, Lt.Gen (Retd)

Hamooduz Zaman to Iran. It will strengthen relations between PMSA and Iranian border guards.

Upon arrival in Tehran, the Secretary Defence was welcomed by the Iranian Deputy Defence Minister.

During interaction, the Iranian Deputy Defence Minister expressed best wishes for Pakistan’s political and military leadership.

The Secretary Defence emphasized the importance of bilateral relations between Pakistan and Iran. He also expressed the hope that bilateral relations will continue to evolve on principles of mutual respect and shared common interests.

both sides

IHC DEMANDS RESPONSE FROM STATE WITHIN FOUR WEEKS IN AUDIO LEAKS CASE

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has instructed the attorney general of Pakistan to present his reply in the audio leaks case within a period of four weeks. Justice Babar Sattar presided over the hearing of a petition filed by the son of former chief justice Saqib Nisar regarding his summoning before the special committee investigating the alleged audio tapes involving judges and politicians.

During the proceedings, the court directed Mansoor Usman Awan to submit his reply within four weeks and also ordered him to provide copies of the reply to all parties involved.

The court extended the injunction against summoning the former chief justice’s son before the special committee.

On May 31, the IHC suspended the summons issued to Najam Saqib, Nisar’s son, by the Parliamentary Committee established to investigate the alleged audio leaks, and set a deadline of June 19 for the government to respond to the case. The court had asked the government to disclose the individuals responsible for recording the audio conversations.

In his petition, Saqib had requested the court to halt the proceedings of the parliamentary panel led by Aslam Bhootani, claiming that the committee was formed in violation of National Assembly rules.

He also argued that although he was not summoned by the committee, the committee’s secretary had still asked him to appear before the panel.

During the recent hearing, Awan, court advisor Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, and the petitioner’s lawyer Sardar Latif Khosa appeared before the court.

The court has appointed Ahsan, Mian Raza Rabbani, Makhdoom Ali Khan, and Barrister Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha as amici curiae (friends of the court).

The attorney general informed the court that the matter was under judicial consideration in the Supreme Court and requested the IHC to wait for the apex court’s decision on the issues discussed. Accordingly, the court adjourned the case until August 16.

Karachi witnesses sharp increase in street crimes

KARACHI

Staff RepoRt

Crimes ratio in Karachi has increased as police data shows 44 citizens were killed by muggers, 38 suspected robbers were killed in ‘encounters’, over 5,600 motorbikes, 518 cars snatched/stolen in the first five months of 2023.

According to the data compiled by the Sindh police, as many as 44 Karachiites were murdered by robbers from January to May this year. However, the number of people killed during the

Sajid Sadpara to summit Nanga

same period last year was 26, indicating that murders by robbers had doubled during the current year.

Police list incidents of mobile phone snatching, robberies, motorcycle/car snatching and theft in the category of street crime. The data of the Sindh police shows an overall situation of serious lawlessness in the provincial capital.

The data shows Karachi witnessed 116 shop robberies and 1,713 other robberies during the first five months. At least 518 cars were taken away from citizens during the same period, of which

Parbat without supplemental oxygen

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Pakistani mountaineer Sajid Ali Sadpara has announced to summit Nanga Parbat without supplemental oxygen. Speaking to reporters at the Nepal Embassy in Islamabad on Monday, Sajid Sadpara said that he was on his way to Nanga Parbat base camp and he would summit it next month along with his friends. The internationally renowned mountain climber, Sajid Sadpara said Nanga Parbat is 8,126 meters high and it is the ninth highest mountain in the world. He said he wanted to climb all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters without supplemental oxygen, adding that so far he had climbed 6 highest peaks without supplemental oxygen. With an elated sense of pride, he said that he was the son of legendary mountaineer Ali Sadpara and “I’m proud of it’. He said he wanted to fulfill his father’s dream by climbing all 14 peaks. Sajid Sadpara tweeted on Thursday that he was departing for Nanga Parbat Expedition 2023 from Islamabad to Chilas and he would be climbing without supplemental oxygen. On April 15, Sajid Ali Sadpara made history as he became the first Pakistani to scale the Nepal’s 8,091 metre tall Annapurna mountain without the support of highaltitude porters and supplemental oxygen. In April 2021, climbers Sirbaz Khan and Muhammad Abdul Joshi had become the first Pakistanis to summit Annapurna, but with supplemental oxygen and not in Alpine style. The type of ascent, where climbers are not supported by high-altitude porters from base camp to the summit, is called Alpine style.

PML-N to participate in general elections with winning strategy: Rana

ISLAMABAD app

Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah on Monday said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) would participate in the general elections with a winning strategy. We have evolved a strategy for winning the next elections being held in October or November this year, he said while talking to a private television channel. Commenting on the rift between PPP and the ruling party’s government, he said, there is no rift among the coalition partners. “We are running the government smoothly, “ he said. About Greek’s tragedy, he said, “it is a very sad incident.” Human trafficking, he said is an issue that must be addressed to control such incidents in the future. About PTI Chairman, he said that investigations are underway against Imran Khan. He said PTI had been involved in creating a law and order situation on May 9. He said that action would be taken after the completion of the inquiry against the PTI Chairman.

46 were snatched at gunpoint and 472 were stolen. Over 11,500 cell phones snatched or stolen.

Some 4,441 motorcycles were stolen and 1,191 snatched at gunpoint during the first five months. The number of mobile phones snatched or stolen during the same period stands at 11,936. The police claimed to have arrested 477 suspects in injured condition during such encounters.

The data suggests that as much as 38 suspected robbers were killed in alleged police encounters during the

January-May period. The year started with the killing of 25-year-old Jahangir Sohail who had been shot dead outside his home on the very first day of the year, and since then, a citizen is murdered, statistically on average, on almost every third day. In a number of cases, armed criminals shot several citizens who did not resist physically or even verbally. However, the police categorized all such cases as “robbery resistance” regardless of the fact whether a victim put up resistance or not.

MoU signed to strengthen research collaboration on CPEC

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Centre for BRI and China Studies (CBRICS), Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (IPDS) and Centre for China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CCPEC), Kashi University (KSU) to strengthen research collaboration on CPEC.

The MoU was inked during the third Muztagata Forum, an International Symposium dedicated to CPEC, held in Kashgar, China, on June 18.

Through the MoU, according to Gwadar Pro on Monday, CBRICS and CCPEC are committed to organizing joint research projects, conferences, seminars, and workshops that bring together scholars, experts, and policymakers from China, Pakistan, and beyond.

Nafisa optimistic about coalition partners addressing PPP concerns

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The collaboration will also facilitate faculty and student exchange programs, enabling the exchange of ideas, experiences, and cultural understanding between the two institutions.

The collaboration between CBRICS and CCPEC aims to foster academic cooperation, exchange of knowledge, and joint research endeavors in the field of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and Belt and Road Initiative studies.

The partnership seeks to deepen the understanding of the economic, social, and geopolitical dynamics surrounding CPEC and its implications for regional connectivity, sustainable development, and peace.

By leveraging the expertise and resources of both institutions, the collaboration intends to contribute to the scholarly discourse, policy formulation, and strategic thinking related to CPEC and the broader Belt and Road Initiative.

PM Shehbaz lauds China for supporting Pakistan during ‘tough times’

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

Whereas thousands of laptops were given to the high achievers in the Punjab province on pure merit, the same were also distributed in Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir, he added. The prime minister said during the Covid pandemic, those laptops helped the students to continue their educational activities, besides providing them with self-employment opportunities. He said during the tenure of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, laptops were also distributed by the Federal Government. He said it was his desire to provide laptops to every child of the country. On the occasion, the prime minister called the ambassador of Azerbaijan

ISLAMABAD app

Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Musadiq Malik on Monday said that Pakistan Muslim League-N, last governments had given many programs for people’s prosperity and the country’s development.

Talking to a private television channel, he said that the PML-N had provided many jobs to people besides constructing motorways, power plants, hospitals, educational institutions, metro buses, orange trains, clean drinking water plants, laptop schemes, green, blue and yellow bus services for twin cities. Commenting on Greek human tragedy, he said, it is a sad incident. He said that Pakistan is rich in natural resources which must be utilized in a proper manner. In reply to a question about inflation, he said, we are facing inflation

on stage and appreciated Azerbaijan leadership for an agreement to supply LNG (liquefied natural gas) to Pakistan.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Youth Affairs Shaza Fatima Khawaja, in her speech, said meetings of the youth with top business ideas would also be arranged with the investors to implement their ideas. She said Rs 100 billion business loans were dispersed in the last decade while over one million free laptops had been distributed among talented students that proved lifechanging for them. On average, she said, Rs 7 billion per year business loans was distributed in last 10 years while Rs 30 billion in business loans were distributed among the youth in last one year.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MNA Nafisa Shah expressed hope on Monday that coalition partners would address the ruling party’s concerns regarding the allocation of the budget for rehabilitating flood victims. She also emphasized the need to prepare for timely and transparent elections. In an interview with a news station, Shah said her party neither advocated for early nor delayed general elections. She stressed that elections should be conducted in accordance with the Constitution and democratic principles. Shah considered timely elections as a crucial step to overcome the prevailing chaos and instability in the country. She asserted that no one should dare to deprive the people of their right to elect representatives and choose their government. Shah further highlighted the PPP’s appreciation for its dedicated workers, who have made sacrifices and supported the party during challenging times. When asked about potential confrontation or deadlock, Shah emphasized that the PPP seeks peaceful resolution through dialogue and prefers table talks to address any issues. In response to another question, Shah said that while the PPP is always prepared for elections, they will continue to support coalition partners until the completion of their respective terms in the assemblies. The lawmaker assured that the PPP will stand by its allies and provide assistance during challenging circumstances.

Naqvi reviews treatment facilities at Punjab Institute of Cardiology

LAHORE

Staff RepoRt

The caretaker chief minister of Punjab, Mohsin Naqvi, paid a visit to the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) on Monday where he inspected the emergency wards, inquired about the patients’ health, and reviewed the treatment facilities available. Naqvi spoke with patients to inquire about heart bypass and angiography facilities. He also took note of the shortage of angioplasty guiding catheters at the hospital and promptly directed the health secretary to ensure their immediate provision. Furthermore, Naqvi reviewed the availability of primary angiography facilities for cardiac patients and assessed the cleanliness arrangements at the PIC. Acknowledging the dedication of the doctors and paramedical staff despite the high number of patients, the chief minister said: “Efforts are being made to enhance the treatment facilities at the PIC.” He also instructed the health secretary to address the shortage of angioplasty guiding catheters at the institute.

Greece shipwreck tragedy: FIA Arrests ‘key suspect’ from Gujrat

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

but it is a global issue. He said that the government is trying to provide maximum relief to the poor masses. He said there are also many organizations like Edhi and charity institutions working in Pakistan for poor people. He said that PML-N, government had made agreements to achieve progress in TAPI, and Russian Oil for Pakistan. He said that the government had also initiated health programs to facilitate poor families. About elections, he said the PML-N, would win the general elections with a thumping majority.

Senate continues discussion on budget for next fiscal year

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

The Senate continued discussion on the budget for next fiscal year on Monday. Taking floor of the House, Senator Engineer Rukhsana Zuberi called for drafting a Charter of Economy to bring economic stability in the country. She stressed on implementing the proposed minimum wages in the country.

Rukhsana Zuberi said the Information

Technology sector has great potential for posting an increase in the export of the country. She stressed on minimizing the taxes on Information Technology sector.

The Senator said Solarization in the country should be encouraged to promote renewable energy. In his remarks, Senator Fida Muhammad called upon all political parties to take joint action to strengthen economy of the country. He said we should set aside our differences

and work together for national interest.

Senator Mohammad Abdul Qadir said we need to take tough decisions to bring sustainable growth in the country. He said the government should work on feasibilities for construction of dams in Balochistan. At the outset, the House offered Fateha for the departed souls of Pakistani migrants died in the boat incident near the coast of Greece. Senator Mushtaq Ahmad led the prayer.

He said efforts are underway to collect relatives’ DNA and the test results will be sent to Greece to help identify victims. People have been offering their support to relatives of those presumed to have been on the boat. Raja Sakundar, of Bindian village in Kotli, said his four nephews aged 18 to 36 remain missing. “We were informed by the media (of the tragedy). When children are not found or die, you can understand what a parent goes through,” he said. Raja Muhammad Majeed asked the Pakistani government to bring back his nephew, Raja Awais. “If he is dead, bring back (the) body,” he said. “When we bury him here, his mother, sisters and others can go to his grave and offer prayers. We will be patient.”

PML-N given many programs for people’s prosperity: Musadiq

Tragedy at Sea

A call for accountability and compassion

IN the vast expanse of the Mediterranean Sea, another heart-wrenching incident unfolds, leaving hundreds of lives in a perilous balance. Over 600 migrants embarked on a treacherous journey from Libya to seek refuge on European shores, only to meet a tragic fate when their vessel capsized. The majority of the passengers were from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Egypt, Palestine, and Syria. Shockingly, up to 300 Pakistanis may have perished. This recurring tragedy forces us to confront the economic, political, and environmental crises that compel people to flee their homes.

Questions arise about the role of Greek authorities, who were present and had interacted with the ill-fated boat before it sank. Attempts were made to tow the vessel, raising concerns about the potential contribution to the tragic outcome. However, a broader inquiry looms: how could such a calamity unfold in the presence of maritime authorities? A comprehensive and impartial investigation is needed to understand the events that transpired from the initial alert to the vessel’s capsizing. The failure of coastal authorities to provide assistance underscores systemic issues within European policies, rather than the actions of a single institution.

Beyond assigning blame, we must understand why individuals from developing nations, like Pakistan, leave their homelands. This is not the first time Pakistani migrants have lost their lives at sea. In an earlier tragic incident, Shahida Raza, a talented sportswoman unable to afford medical treatment for her son, perished when their migrant vessel crashed. Shahida sought a better future for her child. This narrative epitomizes the tragedy that unfolds when an incapable government neglects a network of human smugglers preying on desperate individuals. Few victims’ families filed complaints against the smugglers, perhaps due to limited expectations of justice or fear of retribution. When a government fails to fulfill its social contract and address a pressing issue that escalates into a deadly crisis, it becomes a crime.

Governments and international organizations must act to address the underlying causes of mass migration. This holistic approach includes economic opportunities and dismantling human trafficking networks. Combining compassion with pragmatic solutions, we can create a future where no one risks their lives for safety and prosperity.

As the world grapples with these devastating incidents, rhetoric must translate into action. Extending a helping hand to those in need and tackling root causes are paramount. Together, we can forge a path towards a compassionate and equitable world, where no life is lost at sea in pursuit of a brighter future.

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late)

Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami Editor

M. A. Niazi Joint Editor Umar Aziz Executive Editor

Sympathy

Potential and actuality

The best-of-creation-question revisited

pacity. Similarly, it is hard to find bovine and saurian counterparts of Albert Schweitzer, Abdus Sattar Edhi or Mother Teresa. These, most certainly, belong to the credit column of humanity’s ledger. But there is the inevitable debit column as well. For when man decides to tie in his lot with hedonism (which he often does), he gives bonobos and swine a real run for their money.

ment. Worse still, what with parroting having become their second nature, they often sincerely believe themselves to be the source of those ideas. In public discourses, most of the instances of slogans masquerading as thought can be classified as parroting, which no parrot in the world is capable of.

NOBODY knows who first referred to human beings as the best of creation. The only thing that can be said with any sort of certainty is that it must have been a human being. A story is narrated about Prophet Moses who, pointing to a lizard asked God why He had created such a creature. To which God is supposed to have retorted that the lizard in question had just asked Him why He had created Moses. Although obviously apocryphal, the story raises a good point. For there is a huge subjective element involved in such judgment calls. While we do not know what cattle say to one another while they graze away on the meadows, it is a safe bet that they think rather highly of the bovine species – certainly higher in the hierarchy of creation than human beings. Besdies (and this is probably of more concern to humans), the distinction between man and beast is getting hazier all the time.

There is no denying that man is capable of remarkable feats. There is no way a lizard or a cow could ever have come up with Hamlet, the theory of relativity or Symphony #40. Only men (and in some cases women) demonstrate this sort of creative ca-

Whatever one may think of the man-created-in-theimage-of-God metaphor (another rather self-congratulatory expression), there is little doubt that there is a divine spark in him somewhere. This spark, when man resolves to preserve and nurture it, results in his turning into a remarkable individual, like the prophets of God and their committed followers. But when the same man decides to imitate the mannerisms and fashion statements of stars and media personalities, it is impossible to find an ape who can even come close to him when it comes to the art of imitation.

Parrots, despite having many merits, have earned the unfortunate reputation for mindless repetition of sentences and phrases, usually at the most inopportune of moments. The verb ‘parrot’ in the English language is unfair to the raucous bird, considering the fact that in every household, office, factory and classroom one is sure to find men with a habit of repeating second-rate political or ideological arguments that they have only heard last night on some TV show, passing it on as their own argu-

For there is a huge subjective element involved in such judgment calls. While we do not know what cattle say to one another while they graze away on the meadows, it is a safe bet that they think rather highly of the bovine species – certainly higher in the hierarchy of creation than human beings. Besdies (and this is probably of more concern to humans), the distinction between man and beast is getting hazier all the time.

b.ILLNESS OR INJURY: Sympathy is frequently shown to individuals facing health challenges, such as a serious illness, chronic condition, or significant injury. It can involve providing emotional support, helping with practical needs, or offering assistance in navigating medical treatments.

c.PERSONAL SETBACKS: Sympathy can be expressed when someone experiences personal setbacks, such as the loss of a job, financial difficulties, or relationship problems. It entails understanding and acknowledging their distress and offering empathy and support.

someone within the context of a personal connection, such as a family member, friend, or colleague.

e.GLOBAL SYMPATHY: Global sympathy extends beyond personal connections and encompasses empathy and concern for people on a broader scale. It involves caring about and expressing support for individuals and communities worldwide who are experiencing adversity or suffering.

f.CONDITIONAL SYMPATHY:

The nature of cats as lazy, entitled creatures that are happy to lie around all day, bossing their ‘owners’ around has been immortalized by Jim Davis in the character of Garfield. There is no denying the accuracy of Davis’s depiction, but modern civilization produces untold number of couch potatoes (Jim Davis’s fellow human beings) who, in lethargy, lazing around and entitlement stakes, put the most sluggish and ungrateful of cats to shame.

Up until a few decades ago, cattle and sheep were absolutely unsurpassed when it came to grazing for hours on end. Not any more though, for they have unquestionably been relegated to the second-place. Modern man, with a seemingly inexhaustible capacity to munch on gums, Cheetos, fries, cookies, cakes and sweets, now rules this roost as well.

Modern intellectual man (of whom there is a surplus today) has also trumped the ruminants in the fine art of regurgitation. Only, where the animals do it with food, the self-proclaimed intellectual does it with what he likes to refer to as ideas and beliefs. Hence the daily encounters one has with men believing their own propaganda with all the satisfaction at their disposal.

We owe all the architectural marvels, culinary delights, works of music, art and literature, and scientific achievements to many remarkable men. However, Homo sapiens have another side to them as well. They can easily be lazier than sloths, more vicious than crocodiles, dumber than killdeer, greedier than squirrels and more gluttonous than pigs. Unfortunately, an overwhelming majority of them ends up answering to one (or more) of these descriptions.

In the hierarchy of creatures then, man is certainly up there. Potentially, that is. Sadly, few manage to convert that potential into actuality. Those who want to, must first stop competing with and beating the beasts at their game.

The author is a connoisseur of music, literature, and food (but not drinks). He can be reached at www.facebook.com/hasanaftabsaeed

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Novel financing

WAYS OF EXPRESSING AND CARING

Sympathy is a term used to describe the feeling of compassion, understanding, and care for someone who is experiencing pain, suffering, or hardship. It involves recognising and acknowledging the emotions and struggles of others, and expressing support and concern for their wellbeing. When we feel sympathy towards someone, we are able to empathise with their situation and imagine what it must be like to be in their shoes. It can be expressed through various means, including offering kind words, providing a listening ear, helping, or providing practical help. It is often shown in times of grief, loss, illness, or other challenging circumstances. It is important to note that sympathy is different from empathy, although the two terms are closely related. While sympathy involves understanding and caring for someone’s situation, empathy goes a step further by actually sharing and experiencing the emotions of the other person. Expressing sympathy can be a way to provide solace, support, and reassurance to those in need, and it can foster a sense of connection and understanding between individuals. The beginning of sympathy often arises from witnessing or learning about someone’s hardship, pain, or distress. It is a response to recognising and acknowledging the emotional state of another person. The initial trigger can vary, such as hearing about a loss, illness, or difficult life circumstances through personal interaction, news, or other sources of information. Upon becoming aware of someone’s situation, individuals may experience an emotional reaction that leads to sympathy. This emotional response can be influenced by personal experiences, values, and beliefs, as well as cultural and social factors. The starting point of sympathy involves the recognition of another person’s suffering or challenge, which then prompts a compassionate and caring response. This response can manifest as a desire to offer support, understanding, and comfort to the person in need.

CIRCUMSTANCES OF SYMPATHY

Sympathy can arise in various situations where individuals experience pain, suffering, or hardship and it may be expressed in:

a.BEREAVEMENT: When someone loses a loved one, sympathy is often extended to them to offer comfort and support during their grieving process.

d.NATURAL DISASTERS OR TRAGEDIES: In the aftermath of natural disasters, accidents, or other tragic events, sympathy is often extended to affected individuals or communities. It includes providing assistance, donating resources, or offering emotional support to help them recover and rebuild.

e.EMOTIONAL DISTRESS: Sympathy can be shown to individuals experiencing emotional distress, such as depression, anxiety, or trauma. It involves listening, validating their feelings, and offering understanding and encouragement.

f.SOCIAL INJUSTICE: Sympathy is often expressed in response to instances of social injustice, discrimination, or systemic oppression. It can involve standing in solidarity, advocating for change, or supporting marginalized communities.

g.PERSONAL CHALLENGES: Sympathy may be shown when individuals face personal challenges, such as financial struggles, addiction, or loss of a home.

KINDS OF SYMPATHY

There are different kinds of sympathy that can be experienced and expressed based on the nature of the situation and the depth of emotional connection. It can largely include:

a.EMOTIONAL SYMPATHY: This is the most common form of sympathy, where individuals feel and express emotional support for someone in distress. It involves understanding and sharing the emotions of the person, offering comfort, and showing empathy.

b.PRACTICAL SYMPATHY: Practical sympathy focuses on providing tangible assistance or practical help to alleviate the difficulties faced by someone. It can involve offering resources, taking care of daily tasks, or providing physical support to make their situation more manageable.

c.SOCIAL SYMPATHY: Social sympathy refers to expressing support and solidarity through social means. This can include raising awareness about an issue, participating in advocacy or fund raising efforts, or engaging in collective actions to address the underlying causes of someone’s hardship.

d.RELATIONAL SYMPATHY: Relational sympathy is specific to interpersonal relationships. It involves offering comfort, understanding, and support to

Conditional sympathy refers to sympathy that is dependent on certain circumstances or criteria. It might be based on shared values, beliefs, or personal experiences that influence the level of empathy and support extended to someone. These different types of sympathy are not mutually exclusive and can often overlap or coexist depending on the situation and individuals involved.

RESEARCH FINDINGS ON SYMPATHY

Research on sympathy has explored various aspects of this complex emotion, shedding light on its psychological, social, and physiological dimensions. The key research findings are:

a.EMPATHY AND PERSPECTIVETAKING: Sympathy is closely linked to empathy and perspective-taking abilities. Research has shown that individuals who are more skilled at empathising with others and imagining their perspectives are more likely to experience and express sympathy.

b.DEVELOPMENTAL PATTERNS: Research suggests that sympathy develops and strengthens over the course of childhood and adolescence. Young children may show rudimentary forms of sympathy, but as they grow older, their ability to understand and respond to others’ emotions deepens.

c.INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES: Studies have explored individual differences in sympathy, highlighting that factors such as personality traits, cultural influences, and personal experiences can shape the extent and expression of sympathy.

d.EMOTIONAL CONTAGION: Sympathy can be influenced by emotional contagion, wherein individuals unconsciously mimic and internalise the emotional states of others. This phenomenon plays a role in the transmission and amplification of sympathetic responses.

e.SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS AND SUPPORT: Sympathy is closely tied to social relationships and support networks. Research indicates that receiving sympathy from others can have positive effects on well-being and resilience, particularly during times of adversity.

f.PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOUR: Sympathy is associated with increased prosocial behaviour, such as helping, comforting, and providing support to others. Studies have shown that individuals high in sympathy are more likely to engage in acts of kindness and altruism.

THE concept of blue finance has grabbed considerable international attention as a policy instrument to refresh economies and target cooperative growth of local communities by preserving the oceanic environment and related resources.

Blue finance focusses on ocean-linked sectors, including but not limited to shipping, seafood, marine renewable energy, including coastal wind energy, ocean thermal energy and tidal energy, port construction, coastal tourism, coastal infrastructure, offshore oil, and gas exploration, etc.

Blue finance is all about monetary tools or reserves that ensure the conservation of the ocean environment. Moreover, it addresses the resources of relevance that boost the ocean economy. The expansion of blue finance is thus critical since it supports and promotes the global transformation into economic growth associated with ocean sustainability. It applies to any debt format, including private placement, securitisation, and investments like blue bonds.

The emerging global intimidations in the form of climate change and man-made pollution have been challenging concerning the growth of blue finance. The quest for sustainability and conservation of the marine ecosystem, and resources allied with economic growth are progressively accepted as global necessities and are the primary notion of the blue economy. In this regard, the consumption and production of solid waste materials, such as nuclear waste, plastic, etc., have also been addressed regarding local and international legislation.

For Pakistan, there is a growing need to research and highlight the potential for ocean financing and the challenges focusing on the subthemes, such as marine conservation, fisheries and coastal infrastructure. The financial community shall be guided properly regarding the contexts to safeguard investment to attain the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)-14, namely ‘life below water’, enabling conservation and sustainability using the oceans, seas and marine resources.

DR INTIKHAB ULFAT KARACHI

Silence of the West

INDIA’S stratagem of holding the summit meeting of the heads of states in Srinagar, the capital of occupied Kashmir, was an attempt to gain international recognition of its contro- versial annexation of disputed territory.

The strategy failed miserably as some of the G20 countries either refused to attend the Srinagar moot, or delayed the confirmation of their participation, which was clearly a diplomatic snub of sorts. China, a G20 powerhouse, was the most outspoken entity as it flatly refused to attend the summit. It announced its decision early and specifically mentioned the venue of the summit as the reason behind its decision, saying it was “firmly opposed to holding … meetings in disputed territory”. That was as unambiguous as it gets.

The most unfortunate part of the whole episode, however, was the decision by G20 members from the Western world to attend the summit regardless of the controversy surrounding the event. These very powers are never tired of crying hoarse over Russian military intervention in Ukraine, but chose to attend the summit in a territory occupied by India. That was as hypocritical as it gets.

During the meeting, as per reports by global media, India took all the steps that it could to ‘sanitise the situation’. New Delhi accelerated raids, arrests and persecution of the local people ahead of the summit.

The UN rapporteur on minority rights noted that by organising the meeting in Srinagar, India sought to normalise brutal and repressive denial of the rights of Kashmiri Muslims. The office of the rapporteur further said that G20 was unwittingly providing a venue of support to India’s violation of human rights in disputed regions. The silence of the entire West on the matter was criminal, to say the very least.

Similarly, it is hard to find bovine and saurian counterparts of Albert Schweitzer, Abdus Sattar Edhi or Mother Teresa. These, most certainly, belong to the credit column of humanityÊs ledger.

Dr rajkumar singh

The US and the EU need a new roadmap to solve the Serbia-Kosovo conflict

Serb Municipalities and their potential implications for Kosovo’s territorial integrity. Even though he was imprisoned during the war, he was well aware of the atrocities and war crimes committed by Serbia against Albanian Kosovars and he still suffers from psychological scars the war inflicted on him and his countrymen. He resents Vucic’s continuing refusal to account for thousands of missing Albanian Kosovars believed to be buried in mass graves.

Moreover, Kurti does not trust Vucic to deliver on any promises he makes, which explains his reluctance to follow through on commitments he made, including several of the provisions in the Franco-German plans. He still has an antiAmerican streak from the time he was in the opposition, albeit he recognizes the indispensable role of the US as the guardian of Kosovo’s security and independence.

cooperation with the EU and full adherence to the rules and agreements that bind the EU together. By dispatching the police to Northern Kosovo in an extremely sensitive context and time without consultation with the EU, he ignored the advice of the EU to reduce the tension and maintain calm, which suggests to the EU that he is not a reliable partner.

Second, since the EU and the US are the guardians of Kosovo’s security and independence, Kurti must demonstrate greater trust in their judgment as neither wants to compromise Kosovo’s independence and territorial integrity. Kurti should sign off on the Association of Serb Municipalities without any further delay. In addition, he should begin to implement the Franco-German accord and put Vucic rather than himself on the defensive.

Exerting pressure on and/or persuading Vucic to fully implement the Franco-German agreement, which is central to the reconciliation process between the two countries

In dealing with Vucic, the EU is fully aware that unlike Kurti, by virtue of his connection to Putin, Vucic is not as free to act transparently to advance Serbia’s integration with the EU. But given Serbia’s aspiration to become an EU member state, he has to come around and accept the inevitability of coexistence with an independent Kosovo.

Vucic must stop defying and denying Kosovo’s independence publicly, knowing that its independence is irreversible. He must stop instigating ethnic Serbs in Kosovo to rebel against Pristina as he has recently done following the elections in the three Serb-dominated municipalities.

THE recent demonstrations following municipal elections in the three Serb-majority municipalities in northern Kosovo, and the events that followed, strongly suggest how raw the nerves are between Prime Minister Kurti and ethnic Serbs in Kosovo, as well as between Kurti and Serbia’s President Vucic. They demonstrate how far apart they remain, and how distrustful they are of each other.

The unfortunate developments that occurred before and after the demonstrations include: the dispatch of police by Kurti to quell the demonstrations; Kurti’s refusal to sign off on the Association of Serb Municipalities; Vucic’s refusal to sign the Franco-German agreement even though he agreed verbally to abide by its provisions; Vucic’s call on Kosovar Serbs to boycott the elections and “resist the occupation;” and his dispatch of a Serbian military contingency to the border with Kosovo. The violent flareup that ensued, in which 30 KFOR peacekeepers were injured, prompted intense criticism by the EU and the US of Kurti’s misguided action.

To maintain stability in the Balkans and make tangible progress in the negotiations between the two sides, the EU and the US must consider the factors that continue to weigh heavily on the thinking and attitudes of both Vucic and Kurti. First, there is a need to understand and address the psychological dimension of the conflict that continues to haunt them. Second, there should be a clear framework that spells out the cost and benefit if they negotiate in good faith and deliver on the promised concessions they make. And finally, the EU must demonstrate their keenness to facilitate the process of integration and spell out what Vucic and Kurti would gain to advance their integration into the EU, to which both strongly aspire.

Before delving deeper, it is necessary to have a better grasp of the character of these two leaders, their strength and weakness, what they want to achieve, and how they want to be perceived by their own publics, their allies, and their foes.

Kurti is a nationalist for whom Kosovo’s independence is sacrosanct and cannot under any circumstances be compromised. This explains his resistance to the Association of

Vucic has a no less complicated personality and set of hang-ups. He is a nationalist to the core who plays at the public sentiment. He staunchly refuses to recognize Kosovo’s independence as he stated in his appearance on Happy TV : “The Serbian leadership will not sign a capitulation, will not support the membership of the self-proclaimed Republic of Kosovo in the United Nations, and will not recognize its independence.” He hardly ever negotiates in good faith, as was demonstrated by his first accepting the Franco-German plan in Ohrid, North Macedonia on March 18 but then refusing to sign it, which he in fact stated weeks in advance. “As for signing something (in Ohrid),” he said, “I’m not planning anything.” He consistently encouraged ethnic Serbs in Kosovo to defy the central government as he called on them to boycott the elections and not abide the authorities in Pristina.

Moreover, although he professes to seek integration into the EU, he does not share Western values. He is authoritarian, and a denier of war crimes committed by the Serbian army against Albanian Kosovars. He has maintained close ties with Russia, Serbia’s traditional Slavic ally, especially because Belgrade still depends heavily on Russia for military hardware and training and because there are strong religious ties between the Serbian and Russian Orthodox Churches. He relies on Moscow’s opposition to Kosovo’s independence in the UN and is fearful of Putin’s ire should he toe the Western line, particularly now as the Ukraine war is raging. Finally, he refused to join the sanctions against Russia, and is unlikely to change his position as long as Putin is in power. WHAT THE EU SHOULD DO: The EU with the full support of the US should develop a new strategy that would induce both Kosovo and Serbia to cooperate and accept the eventuality of mutual recognition through a process of reconciliation and intermediate agreements in which both countries develop a vested interest. The EU needs to provide a clear horizon for both Kosovo and Serbia based on reciprocity and a full adherence to any agreed-upon issue.

In dealing with Kurti, the EU must first make it clear that integration into the bloc is a process that requires full

If one perceives a shift towards free speech absolutism as an inherently far-right position, then perhaps it is not Twitter that has changed, but rather our understanding of what liberal ideals truly entail. At its core, liberalism champions open discussion, civil liberties, and the right to express one’s opinion without fear of retribution. If these are now far-right qualities, then we indeed find ourselves in a paradoxical situation.

Third, as a prospective EU member, Kurti should demonstrate considerable sensitivity regarding the West’s concerns over the stability of the Balkans, especially now due to the war in Ukraine and Putin’s determination to do everything he can to destabilize the region and engage the West in another volatile front.

Fourth, however distrustful Kurti is of Vucic, he must learn to deal with him and demonstrate to the EU that he will always negotiate in good faith. He should not allow any failure in the negotiating process to be attributed to him while enhancing his credibility with the EU, which is central to advancing Kosovo’s integration.

Fifth, Kurti ought to pay far greater attention to his domestic affairs. He ought to progressively meet the EU’s socio-economic, educational, cultural, and human rights standards. He should weed out corruption, encourage foreign investments, create jobs to prevent the brain drain which is hampering Kosovo’s growth and progress, invest in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and housing, and tend to the needs of the poor, especially children.

Since Kurti has cast Kosovo’s fate with the EU, he must now demonstrate that Pristina is worthy of EU membership, because, regardless of when that might happen, its voice will be equal to that of France, Germany, Italy, and every other member state. This will be an incredible feat for Kosovo, which also carries an awesome responsibility. His standing with the EU and the US is currently questionable; the burden is on him to prove that he is trustworthy and has the leadership quality, the acumen, and the skills to live up to the call of the hour.

The EU on its part should offer Kosovo a framework for its prospective integration by reciprocating Pristina’s commitment to follow EU guidelines and condition the process of integration to the progress that Kosovo makes on all fronts. The areas where Kosovo wants to realize important gains and where the EU and the US can play a critical role include the following:

Membership in international organizations;

Recognition of its independence by the five EU states that have not yet recognized Kosovo—Romania, Cyprus, Greece, Spain, and Slovakia; Opening a dialogue with the EU in connection with the integration process;

He should slowly and gradually distance himself from Russia and be reminded of Moscow’s growing international isolation, its military failures in Ukraine, and its much-diminished global stature and power; it is becoming an uncertain ally on whom he cannot depend.

Moreover, Vucic should actively persuade the Serbs in the north of Kosovo to return to the institutions and play a constructive role to stabilize the area. He should sign and fully adhere to the Franco-German agreement to enhance his credibility, which presently is in tatters. Vucic should also should take steps to normalize relations with Kosovo by reaching interim agreements regarding water distribution from Lake Ujmani and mining at Trepça Mine, expanding trade, and encouraging cultural ties, student exchanges, and more.

Although these activities do not constitute recognition of Kosovo, they will prepare the Serbian public psychologically for such an eventuality, especially once Putin departs the political scene.

In return, the EU should offer Serbia a roadmap that would lead to full integration and open up a dialogue towards that end. The EU should also develop and agree on a quid pro quo so that Vucic will know what he might receive in return for any concession he makes. This includes compliance to the provision of any accord, verbal or otherwise, especially the Franco-German agreement which is crucial to bring an end to the conflict between Serbia and Kosovo.

Since for the EU and the US, solving the SerbianKosovar conflict is critical to the stability of the Balkans, they should change the dynamic of the conflict between Belgrade and Pristina by offering a roadmap to integration with the EU that both countries aspire for.

It is now up to Vucic and Kurti to either squander the prospect of becoming an integral part of the European community, or work together, seize the opportunity, and enjoy the growth, prosperity, and security accorded to all member states of the EU.

Dr Alon Ben-Meir is a professor of international relations at the Centre for Global Affairs at NYU. He teaches courses on international negotiation and Middle Eastern studies. alon@alonben-meir.com

France: Veiled Muslim women and the politics of the new secularism

gion of the dominated” but also, previously, of the colonised under “protection” or French domination. France has thus built a relationship of domination with Islam and Muslims, and sometimes even an enterprise - at times concealed, at times assumed - to domesticate Islam and Muslims.

RT ian milEs ChEong

EVER since its inception, Twitter has stood as a nexus of conversation, debate, and exchange of ideas. Today, the platform, now under the stewardship of Elon Musk, continues this tradition, albeit with changes that invite a closer examination. Critics have labeled these changes as a descent into right-wing extremism. However, upon closer inspection, these claims seem more rooted in the fear of a genuine marketplace of ideas than any objective transformation of Twitter’s purpose or ideology.

Twitter has become a “hellsite,” the critics proclaim. Yet, the reality is that under Musk’s leadership, Twitter has undergone a metamorphosis. Its evolution is not towards an ideological extreme, but towards a reclamation of its initial promise: a platform where every voice, every perspective, is given an opportunity to be heard.

Critics are pointing out the supposed transformation of Twitter into a “right-wing social network,” as Charlie Warzel recently wrote in his article for The Atlantic. They see Musk’s leadership and his vocal opposition to what he calls “the woke mind virus” as proof of this. However, their rhetoric conveniently overlooks the fact that having an aversion to what one perceives as extreme political correctness does not automatically align one with far-right ideology.

Moreover, the argument seems to purposefully conflate the platform with its users. It is crucial to remember that the presence of conservative voices on Twitter does not transform it into a “right-wing social network.” Twitter, like any social media platform, is a mirror of society, reflecting the ideologies and beliefs of its diverse user base. Pointing to the partnership between Twitter and conservative figures, such as Florida Governor and presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis, Tucker Carlson, and personalities from The Daily Wire, critics assert that the platform is acting as a “launchpad for right-wing political leaders.”

However, one must question whether such an assertion would hold if these partnerships were with liberal figures instead. Would the platform then be labeled a “far-left social network?” Unlikely. The freedom to express differing viewpoints, whether liberal, conservative, or otherwise, should not be seen as an endorsement of those views by the platform. Instead, it should be understood as a celebration of free speech, which is a cornerstone of any functioning democracy.

The same critics argue that Twitter is turning into an echo chamber for the far-right, pointing to instances where accounts that were previously banned for violating Twitter’s rules were reinstated. Yet, is it not plausible that these account reinstatements represent a recalibration of what constitutes acceptable discourse on the platform?

Perhaps Musk’s Twitter is moving away from previous standards, which many had viewed as excessively censorious, towards a more open arena of debate and dialogue.

The critics warn that Twitter, by leaning into this supposed right-wing echo chamber, may be on the road to becoming “boring” and predictable, much like other social networks that cater to a specific ideology. However, their argument is based on a false premise. Twitter is not catering to a particular ideology, but is rather simply opening the doors wider for discourse and debate.

It is disingenuous to label a platform as “far-right” or “far-left” solely based on the users it hosts. Twitter is not endorsing any particular ideological stance by allowing different voices to be heard; it is merely providing a space for these views to be expressed.

The presence of conservatives, liberals, and those in between, should be viewed as a reflection of our heterogeneous society rather than as a political endorsement from Twitter or Musk himself. The strength of any democracy lies in its ability to accommodate various perspectives and engage in healthy dialogue. Twitter, under Musk, seems to be doing just that.

The critics are quick to point out that under Musk, Twitter is becoming a bastion for figures who have been deplatformed elsewhere due to their controversial views. While this criticism holds some merit, it also falls into a simplistic trap. Social media platforms have a duty to balance their community guidelines with the ideals of free speech, a task that is increasingly challenging in our polarized times.

Musk’s decision to offer a podium to these voices could be seen as a challenge to the overzealous censorship that some users felt was part of the previous Twitter regime – and there is plenty of evidence in the Twitter Files to back these assertions. There is also concern abound about Twitter’s survival and relevance in the social media landscape, speculating that it could fade away due to becoming an echo chamber of right-wing discourse. However, this view dismisses the reality of Twitter’s vast and diverse user base. Not everyone using Twitter shares the same political alignment or viewpoint. The site thrives on the vibrancy and diversity of its users, a far cry from being a monotonous echo chamber. The very fact that critics can openly express their concerns about Twitter on the platform is a testament to its commitment to free speech. Lastly, it is important to understand that the character of a social media platform, Twitter included, does not solely reflect the values of its owners or managers. It also mirrors the values, ideas, and discourses of its user base. As a space, where everyone from world leaders to everyday people can express their thoughts freely, Twitter is more than just a social media platform — it is the new town square of our world in the digital plane.

Instead of hastily labeling Twitter a “right-wing social network,” we should appreciate it for what it truly is – a dynamic platform dedicated to the open exchange of ideas. If we were to find ourselves sharing a digital space with someone whose ideas drastically differ from ours, we should consider it not a threat, but an opportunity to broaden our own perspectives. After all, it is in the crucible of robust and uninhibited debate that the most profound ideas are often forged. And for that, we should be grateful.

Ian Miles Cheong is a political and cultural commentator. His work has been featured on The Rebel, Penthouse, Human Events, and The Post Millennial.

THE exclusion of Muslim women who wear the headscarf in France reveals the hegemonic order enforced in the country, as well as the sexism and racism that characterise it. In my book, Are Muslim Women Not Women?, I borrow from bell hooks, an African-American intellectual, and apply to Muslim women who wear the Islamic headscarf in France the question she asked about the exclusion of Black women from the feminist struggle.

In the end, they, too, are excluded from the cause of women. This is what struck me in 2017 during a public debate on the question “Does secularism guarantee equality between men and women?”, an event organised by the Senate delegation for women’s rights.

In the heart of the Luxembourg Palace, I was publicly booed because I had dared to respond to feminists who were advocating for an even wider ban on the veil.

“If I understand correctly, you want to exclude women under the guise of gender equality,” I said. “Isn’t that paradoxical? Need I remind you that under the veil, there are women.”

These women oppose women who choose to wear the headscarf in France, comparing them to those who suffer in Iran, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan, where they are forced to wear it. These very women are fighting in these countries to be able to survive as women, to go about their lives freely, to study or work or to become top athletes. And yet, there we were in the process of deciding on the merits - about “equality between men and women” - of excluding them from participation in the Olympic Games because they wore what is imposed on them in their countries.

RADICAL OTHERNESS: This dilemma guided the writing of this book, the chapters of which come from sections of my doctoral thesis, Assignment to Radical Alterity and Paths to Emancipation: A Study of the Agency of French Muslim Women. I wanted to focus my remarks on the origin of the discrimination and exclusion that target Muslim women who wear the headscarf.

To do so, I traced the fabrication of “the radical otherness” of French people of African and North African descent, which finds its origins in the exclusion and stigmatisation of post-colonial immigrants in the 19th century and, before that, in the way French imperialism viewed Islam as “the imperial enemy”, as the French philosopher Mohamed Amer Meziane has explored. I relied on many authors to retrace this socio-history, in particular the Algerian sociologist of “emigration-immigration”, Abdelmalek Sayad, who was a true precursor of a new sociology of Islam.

In this work, I paid particular attention to questioning the framework from which we think about social phenomena, without which biases and unexamined assumptions, especially regarding North/South relations, prevent objective reflection. Islam is a “dominated” religion because it is a “reli-

Tracing the political socio-history of the marginalisation of immigrant and Muslim populations of African and North African origin has allowed me to study the filiation between the hated figure - the incarnation of “heretical femininity” - of “veiled women” and her ascendants.

UNDESIRABLE AND ILLEGITIMATE: This is what I propose in my work, where I focus on this “figure”, on the political discursive construction of which it is the object, and on the alleged or perceived dangerousness associated with that figure. Women who wear a headscarf are not only undesirable and illegitimate in the eyes of the nation - they are undisciplined creatures who must be educated and converted. If they resist, they become dangerous and are then stigmatised as such: now they are the Muslim enemies.

The goal is to prevent them, in a “civilised” way, from evolving in their society by restricting their access to certain spaces and certain functions through the creation and expansion of rules of religious neutrality that are incompatible with the wearing of the headscarf.

Laws and regulations, speeches and attacks, make them, in the eyes of their detractors, women stripped of their humanity and their femininity.

I then describe the discriminations, the exclusions; their mechanisms but also the forms of domination and their alienating effects. I also identify the alliances that are created to protect the French hegemonic order, in particular between feminist groups and political groups that come together to reorient and redefine secularism - what I call the policies of the new secularism.

Ultimately, what is at stake is the preservation and centrality of a hegemonic and, it must be remembered, normative order. Its centrality allows me to conceptualise the notion of paradoxical femininity.

A PARADOXICAL FEMININITY: In the game of domination, women are positioned on a scale designed to evaluate their conformity to “good” femininity. “Bad” femininity, meaning bad or dangerous women, are disqualified, caricatured, despised and stigmatised - they are targeted as heretics to the hegemonic order. And the women who personify this bad femininity endorse a paradoxical femininity: they embody both a heretical femininity vis-a-vis the partisans of the new secularism and a hegemonic femininity vis-a-vis the supporters of an orthodox reading of Islam. My book also aims at a disalienation vis-a-vis the hegemonic order and more specifically one of its mainsprings: hegemonic femininity. This is why

I have also chosen to name the alienation of the dominant group a racial hegemony, which is never recognised as such but which is nonetheless real, as is the case with universalist feminists.

I also name the alienation of the dominated, who find themselves locked up despite themselves in a reactionary posture towards the power that the dominants exercise over them.

Relations of domination imply effects: alienation is unknown, implicit and mechanical. It affects perceptions and perspectives, worldviews and bodies.

This aspect seems central to me. Excerpts from interviews provide a striking account of how Islamophobic domination distorts the bodies of the women concerned, altering their self-esteem, which sometimes leads to the desire to distinguish themselves from the group of stigmatised peers. This distinction is also a source of alienation and illustrates the incorporation of social contempt, racism and Islamophobia.

Twitter is not a far-right platform, but a place for voicing all opinions

MIDDLE EAST EYE hananE karimi

It is naïve to assume that given the current geopolitical conditions in the Balkans a resolution can be found unless the EU and the US develop a clearly articulated cost-and-benefit strategy

Dr alon BEn mEir

PRESIDENT XI JINPING MEETS WITH US SECRETARY OF STATE ANTONY BLINKEN

BEIJING MiAn AbRAR

CHINESE President Xi Jinping met with U.S. Secretary of State

Antony Blinken at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday.President Xi pointed out that the world needs a generally stable China-U.S. relationship, and whether the two countries can find the right way to get along bears on the future of humanity.

The Chinese, like the Americans, are dignified, confident and self-reliant people, and they both have the right to pursue a better life, he said.

Noting that the common interests of the two countries should be valued and their respective success is an opportunity instead of a threat to each other, Xi said the two countries should act with a sense of responsibility

for history, for the people and for the world, and handle China-U.S. relations properly. In this way, they may contribute to global peace and development, and help make the world, which is changing and turbulent, more stable, certain and constructive, added Xi. He stressed that major-country competition does not represent the trend of the times, still less can it solve America’s own problems or the challenges facing the world. China respects U.S. interests and does not seek to challenge or displace the United States, and in the same vein, the United States needs to respect China and must not hurt China’s legitimate rights and interests, said Xi. “Neither side should try to shape the other side by its own will, still less deprive the other side of its legitimate right to development.” Xi said China always hopes to see a sound and steady China-U.S. relationship

and believes that the two major countries can overcome various difficulties and find the right way to get along based on mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, calling on the U.S. side to adopt a rational and pragmatic attitude and work with China in the same direction.

The Chinese president pointed out that the two sides need to remain committed to the common understandings he and U.S. President Joe Biden reached in Bali, and translate the positive statements into actions so as to stabilize and improve China-U.S. relations. Blinken, for his part, conveyed President Biden’s greetings to President Xi. He said Biden believes that the United States and China have an obligation to responsibly manage their relations. This is in the interest of the United States, China and the world, he said, adding that the United States is committed to returning to the agenda set by the

two presidents in Bali.

The United States stands by the commitments made by Biden, namely the United States does not seek a new Cold War, it does not seek to change China’s system, its alliances are not directed at China, it does not support “Taiwan independence,” and it does not seek conflict with China, said Blinken.

Russia says regional free trade pact with Iran possible by year-end

PROFIT ReuteRs

A free trade zone agreement between Iran, Russia and several countries that cover the vast Eurasian region spreading from the borders of Eastern Europe to Western China is possible by the end of the year, Russia’s TASS news agency reported on Monday.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk told the state TASS agency in an interview that talks between the Eurasian Economic Union – which

comprises Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia – and Iran are in their final stages.

“We are moving forward,” Overchuk said. “We very much hope that such an agreement can be signed by the end of the year.”

Both the region and Iran have taken on additional significance for the Kremlin after Western sanctions over Moscow’s invasion in Ukraine limited Russia’s foreign trade routes and forced it to look for markets outside Europe.

However, despite tighter ties be-

tween Moscow and Tehran since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and began big purchases of Iranian-made drones to attack the country, trade between the two markets have grown only moderately.

Russian-Iranian commodity turnover rose 20% in 2022, according to government data, two-thirds the overall growth rate Moscow saw with China, another key partner with whom Russia has expanded political and economic alliance in the past two years. The regional agreement with Iran

would replace and expand an interim pact that already provides a reduction in customs duties on hundreds of categories of goods.

In November 2022, Russia started swapping oil products with Iran and in March, Tehran said it counts on “huge volumes” of both oil and gas swaps with Moscow.

Overchuk also told TASS, without providing much detail, that negotiations among the Eurasian Economic Union countries on creating a common gas market continue.

Chinese premier calls for new development in China-Germany ties

BERLIN stAff coRRespondent

Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived here on Sunday for an official visit to Germany, where he will also hold the seventh ChinaGermany inter-governmental consultation.

Upon his arrival, Li said Beijing is ready to work with Berlin to further explore cooperation potential and push for new development in bilateral ties.

Li noted that Germany is the first stop of his first overseas visit since he became Chinese premier, and this visit will carry forward the two countries’ traditional friendship, and deepen their cooperation.

Last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping excanged congratulations and held a telephoe conversation with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of

diplomatic relations, providing strategic guidance for the development of bilateral ties, said Li.

In recent years, the China-Germany relationship has seen steady progress, Li said, adding that bilateral cooperation has been continuously deepened and expanded, with new achievements being made in such areas as economy and trade, technologies, people-topeople and cultural exchanges, as well as green development.

He pointed out that the sev-

enth China-Germany inter-governmental consultation is the first time the newly formed governments of two countries interface with each other in such an allaround fashion. The Chinese side is ready to engage in frank and in-depth exchanges with the German side based on the principles of mutual respect, seeking common ground while reserving differences, and achieving mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, to further explore cooperation potential, properly handle differences, and enrich their all-

round strategic partnership, so as to send a positive and strong signal for maintaining stable global supply chains and world peace and prosperity, Li said. Noting that the world today has arrived at a new period of turbulence and changes, Li said the more chaos and changes this world is witnessing, the stronger a need should be advocated for the people of the two countries to carry forward their traditional friendship, enhance exchanges and cooperation, pool their wisdom, overcome challenges, and seize opportunities.

He added, the U.S. side looks forward to having high-level engagement with the Chinese side, keeping open lines of communication, responsibly managing differences, and pursuing dialogue, exchanges and cooperation.

Xi asked Blinken to convey his regards to President Biden.

Muslims’ body opposes Indian government proposal to apply same civil laws to all religions

NEW DELHI Agencies

India’s largest socioreligious Muslim organisation on Monday rejected the government’s move to seek public and religious organisations’ views on the Uniform Civil Code, which meant that all people, regardless of region or religion, would be subject to the same set of civil laws.

The Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind said in a statement that the Uniform Civil Code is completely contrary to the religious freedom and fundamental rights guaranteed to citizens in Articles 25, and 26 of the Constitution and that the organization will protest it within the legal framework.

The civil code governs marriage, divorce, succession, and other major social issues, and Muslims publicly protested against changes to Islamic laws, particularly those pertaining to divorce, when the Law Commission of India first proposed them in 2018. The commission issued a Consultation Paper on “Reform of Family Law,” in which it stated that “forming a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is neither necessary nor desirable at this stage.”

However, the commission on June 14 asked the public and registered religious organizations to submit their opinion on the civil code within 30 days.

Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, while opposing the latest government move unequivocally, claims that it is part of an attempt to undermine citizens’ religious freedom and the original spirit of the Constitution.

“Our constitution is a secular constitution, in which every citizen has been given full religious freedom, and he has been also given the right to choose the religion of his choice, because there is no official religion for the Indian state, and it gives complete freedom to all its citizens,” it said.

Turkish celebrity Engin Altan features in latest ‘Dubai Presents’ campaign

NOT-BY-

EFFORTS NEEDED TO RESTORE CONFIDENCE, ENCOURAGE LEGAL REMITTANCE CHANNELS

ISLAMABAD NEWS DESK

WRITINGfor Dawn, author Nasir Jamal explains that the potential for remittances sent by overseas Pakistani workers and the diaspora to increase to $50 billion exists if the illegal money transfer operations known as Hawala/Hundi are eliminated.

Market operators estimate that the illicit global remittance trade could be as high as 80% of the legitimate transactions, which amount to $700 billion.

The actual size of the global remittance market is nearly double that of the legal trade, indicating the widespread nature of the illicit remittance trade, making it challenging for any single country to tackle comprehensively. Pakistan is no exception to this issue, as stated by Naqqash Hafiz, the executive head of Ace Money Transfer, a company based in England.

While remittances experienced a significant increase of over 35% from $23.1

billion in FY20 to a peak of $31.3 billion in FY22, the ongoing fiscal year has seen a substantial drop. In the first 11 months until May, the country has lost $3.7 billion in remittances, with inflows decreasing by almost 13% to $24.8 billion compared to $28.5 billion the previous year.

The amount lost in remittances over the past year is more than three times the size of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) tranche of $1.2 billion that the government has been struggling to secure for the last seven months. Remittances have played a crucial role in supporting Pakistan's external account in the absence of sufficient foreign assistance.

To address the severe balance of payments crisis and the uncertainty surrounding the restoration of a suspended $6.7 billion funding program with the IMF, the government aims to achieve $33 billion in remittances in the next fiscal year, according to budget documents for FY24. However, many experts argue that this target is unrealistic given the economic and political turmoil, as well

as the growth of the informal foreign exchange market. Karachi, along with Cape Town and Dubai, is one of the four cities globally closely connected to the Hundi/Hawala trade networks. Extensive networks operate from Karachi, and in various places, including Europe, the majority of individuals associated with legal money transfer markets are Pakistanis, followed by Indians, Bangladeshis, and others.

One of the main reasons for the decline in remittances is the significant gap between the official interbank exchange rate and the grey market, where the exchange rate recently reached over Rs20 to a dollar. This gap has incentivized overseas Pakistanis to choose illegal channels to remit money for family support and investments.

The depreciation of the Pakistani rupee, consistent over time, is another crucial factor contributing to the drop in remittances. Many overseas Pakistanis send money for investment in property, stocks, etc., but they have incurred significant

Tribal chieftains, their sponsor equally responsible for deprivation of Balochistan: Hidayatur Rehman Baloch

LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Secretary General Jamaat-e-Islami

Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism welcomed to the city one of Turkiye’s most beloved stars, Engin Altan Duzyatan, as part of the ongoing campaign ‘Dubai Presents’, which aims to increase visits by travellers from Dubai's international source markets, including Turkiye. PR

Deaf Reach Becomes the First Pakistani Program in the Muslim World to win the Hamdan-ICESCO Award

Karachi:-Deaf Reach, a program of Family Educational Services Foundation (FESF), becomes the first Pakistani program to win the notable Hamdan-ICESCO Prize for Voluntary Development of Education Facilities in the Islamic world. The award recognizes individuals and organizations leading charitable and voluntary efforts in the field of education. PR

PIA shareholders meet in Karachi

CEO PIA, AVM Amir Hayat addressed the shareholders present at the meeting and attended by PIA Chief Financial Officer Amos Nadeem, Department Chiefs, Senior management officials at PIA Training Centre Auditorium.Shareholders also attended the meeting via Video link.PIA generated total revenue of PKR 172 billion in the year 2022 which as compared to previous financial year is nearly 100 percent increase.He said that PIA management sees a positive outlook ahead based on the present scenario with rise in travel demand. PR

Faysal Bank collaborates with PICG for Environment Social Governance

Karachi:-Faysal Bank, one of the leading Islamic banks of Pakistan collaborates with the Pakistan Institute of Corporate Governance (PICG) to reinforce that they care for the environmental, social, and governance (ESG). Climate change is a reality and Pakistan stands as a frontline state in that regard. It is but our collective responsibility of the private sector to play a stronger role by adopting sustainable practices to create an environmentally sustainable Pakistan for tomorrow. The change includes environmental concerns, social and financial inclusivity, health & well-being, equity, and human rights. PR

(JI) Balochistan, Maulana Hidayatur Rehman Baloch has held the sardars of Balochistan and their sponsors equally responsible for the deprivations of the people of the province.

While addressing a press conference at Lahore Press Club on Monday said, “We are Pakistanis, not traitors. Stop deserting us.”

Chairman Balochistan Rights Movement (Haq Do Tehreek Balochistan), Maulana Hidayatur Rehman Baloch, who recently se-

cured bail from the Supreme Court after four and half months’ detention on false and fabricated charges, said he was put in jail only because he was demanding clean drinking water, education and health facilities for the locals of Gwadar.

He said the people of Balochistan wanted due share in the CPEC and they were not opposing any development. He said the inhuman treatment with the locals on security check posts was cause of concern for him, demanding removal of unnecessary pickets.

The JI leader expressed concern over corruption and unfair distribution of resources and said

over 70 percent money from a project went unchecked in the province. He said the people of Balochistan were not against Punjab and Punjabis, rather both faced oppression from the hands of powerful and feudal lords. Baloch said there was not even a single hospital in Gwadar and other areas for the local community and poor had to go to Karachi for minor treatments. He said the plunder of the resources of Balochistan continued and those who were the real owners of the wealth were deprived. He said he would continue raising voice for the rights of the people.

MoIB must pay retirement benefits to PBC employees, directs President

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

President Dr Arif Alvi on Monday directed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoIB) to pay retirement benefits to 38 employees of Radio Pakistan within three months as their families were facing hardships due to delayed payments.

A revenue-generating institution, such as Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC), was facing an acute shortage of financial resources, he noted.

Dr. Arif Alvi emphasized taking up the matter of providing funds to PBC at the highest level and directed the Secretary MoIB to seek approval of the

competent authority to obtain funds for payment in lieu of pension, gratuity, and commutation within three months and report compliance to Wafaqi Mohtasib. These remarks were given by him while disposing of a representation filed by PBC against a decision of the Wafaqi Mohtasib directing it to make the payment to the aggrieved employees. The act of non-payment of benefits to employees under the garb of financial constraints amounted to maladministration, he added.

The Mohtasib had regretted that the superannuated employees were roaming to get their genuine and legal rights, in such old ages, where every penny was a basic necessity of that retired employee.

Islamabad capital police saved Rs 183.7 million through Police Khidmat Markaz single shift

islamabad: In a noteworthy display of dedication, the Islamabad Capital Police's Khidmat Markaz F-6 has been providing various facilities to a significant number of citizens, totaling 34,737, during the past three months, despite working for only eight hours a day. Surprisingly, in the same months of 2022, when the Khidmat Markaz operated on a 24/7 basis, services were provided to 29,001 citizens. The Government of Pakistan cost-saving policy implementation at the F-6 Khidmat Markaz, where work shifted to a single shift, has resulted in savings exceeding PKR 183.6 million annually.According to details, Islamabad Capital City Police Officer (ICCPO) Dr. Akbar Nasir Khan issued orders in March to work a single shift at the F-6 Khidmat Markaz instead of operating on a 24/7 basis as per the government's cost-saving policy. Despite the shorter working hours, the Khidmat Markaz managed to provide various facilities to 34,737 citizens during the past three months. In contrast, in the same months of 2022, when the Markaz operated 24/7, services were extended to 29,001 citizens. PR

Sajid Hussain directs for a thorough report on Jāmshoro Coal Mines incident

"We will ensure that those responsible for the incident are brought to justice," said the Federal Minister.It should be noted that two laborers who belonged to a tribe hailing from the district of Karam Seharif in Sindh, lost their lives due to suffocation in Jāmshoro Coal Mines during work According to rescue officials, the incident occurred because of a rope breaking while they were working in the mine.Initial investigations revealed that the incident occurred on a disputed land belonging to the Goharullah Off Fath Group, which has been in dispute for a long time The owners were previously stopped from working on the land, and the case is currently under investigation by the Sindh High Court, NAB, and other government agencies P R

Commander Iran Nav y c alls on Air C hief

losses due to currency devaluation in the past year. This has undermined confidence and discouraged further investment.

Other factors affecting remittances include the poor financial conditions in the US and Europe, with rising living costs, inflation, rent, and job losses due to a weak economy. The disposable income of Pakistanis residing abroad has decreased, impacting their ability to send remittances. Furthermore, overall financial and political instability in Pakistan has discouraged overseas Pakistanis from sending their savings back home.

The change in government in the country has also played a role in the decline of remittances. Pakistani workers and the diaspora who supported a particular political party, especially its leader, were driven by their political views to contribute to Pakistan, which led to significant growth in remittances over the past two financial years. However, this drive has diminished with the political change.

To read the full article visit www.dawn.com

Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, Commander of Islamic Republic of Iran Navy called on Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu Chief of the Air Staff Pakistan Air Force in his office today The meeting was focused on areas of mutual interest and regional developments.During the meeting, Chief of the Air Staff highlighted that the advancement in space, electronic warfare, cyber and niche technologies coupled with artificial intelligence had profoundly affected the traditional environment of national security He briefed the visiting dignitary about various ongoing

islamabad: Commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy Rear Admiral Shahram Irani visited Naval Headquarters Islamabad and called-on Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi.Upon arrival at Naval Headquarters, Commander of the Iranian Navy was received by the Naval Chief and was presented a Guard of Honour. After wreath laying at Shuhada monument, the visiting dignitary was introduced to Principal Staff Officers at Naval Headquarters. PR

POTENTIAL FOR OVERSEAS PAKISTANI REMITTANCES TO REACH $50BN IF ILLEGAL MONEY TRANSFERS ARE CURBED

CAsh-stRAPPEd gOvt inCREAsEs sAlARY, AllOwAnCEs And AdditiOnAl PRivilEgEs OF PARliAmEntARiAns

RS1300 CRORES SET ASIDE FOR 450 PARLIAMENTARIANS IN FY24 BUDGET

PROFIT SHAHZAD PARACHA

ONEwould think that in a country that is undergoing a severe financial crunch, where the government is strapped for cash and is fighting against its political mandate to balance a budget, austerity would be the first step taken by the legislative bodies. However, the details of the proposed federal budget 2023 are contrary to that. Not only has the government proposed to increase salary, allowances and other privileges of parliamentarians but according to media reports, 3 bills pertaining to the privileges of senate chairman and members were also passed in quick succession before the conclusion of Friday’s session.

Overall, The federal government has allocated Rs 13 billion (1300 crore) budget for Parliamentarians including Chairman and Deputy Chairman Senate, Speaker and Deputy Speaker National Assembly and members of lower and upper house of Parliament. This is to say that for every parliamentarian, a gross amount of 2.9 crore/annum has been allocated on average.

The highest increase, in this regard, has been made in the salaries al-

lowances as well as travel and transportation expenses of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Senate.

The Federal government has allocated Rs 26.4 crore budget for Speaker and Deputy Speaker National Assembly for the next year 2023-24, increasing it by Rs 17.3 crore as the Finance division had allocated Rs 9.1 crore in the budget of 2023-24 for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.

While making an increase of Rs 12.6 crores, the budget of National Assembly members surged to almost Rs 148 crore in 2023-24 from Rs 135 crore in 2022-23.

Documents show that the government has also increased the budget of the opposition leader in the National Assembly which increased to Rs 47 lakh in 2023-24 from Rs 38.7 lakh in 2022-23.

Meanwhile, an increase in the budget of Rs 24 lakh , which was initially at Rs 94 lakh in 2022-23, was also made for the Chairman of Kashmir Committee.

Similarly, the government has also allocated Rs 11.7 crore as budget for Chairman and Deputy Chairman Senate for next fiscal year. This marks a record increase of Rs 4.9 crore. While the other increases are marked as proposed under the budget for 2023-24. Media reports

Balochistan unveils Rs750b budget for FY2023-24

QUETTA STAFF REPORT

The Balochistan government on Monday unveiled a budget with a total outlay of Rs750 billion and a deficit of Rs49 billion.

As per the budget document, Rs437 billion have been allocated for non-development expenditures whereas Rs229 are proposed for Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).

The provincial finance minister, Engineer Zmarak Khan Achakzai, while announcing the budget, said that a 35% hike has been proposed in the salaries of government employees from grade-1 to grade-16.

Similarly, a 30% increase in the salaries of grade-17 to grade-22 employees has been recommended. The pensions of retired employees have been jacked up by 17.5%, he added.

In addition to this, the budget document revealed, the minimum wage of a labourer of the provincial government has been increased to Rs32,000 from Rs25,000. The document stated that 4,389 new positions have been created in the budget whereas the province will receive Rs521 billion under the NFC award for the next fiscal year.

The budget document revealed that the estimated income from the expansion of Sui gas pipeline is Rs55 billion whereas the province would also receive Rs37 billion in terms of foreign assistance.

It further said that the estimated total revenue for Balochistan for the next fiscal year is Rs701 billion.

Zilhaj moon sighted in Pakistan, Eidul Azha on June 29

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Zilhaj moon has been sighted and Eidul Azha will be celebrated across the country on Thursday, June 29, Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad announced on Monday.

The announcement was made following a meeting of Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee convened in Karachi for the sighting of the crescent of the Islamic month of Zilhaj. Zonal and district committees in Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and other areas also held their meetings.

The testimonies for sighting of Zilhaj moon were received from various parts of the country including Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar, Maulana Azad said. As per tradition, the Ministry of Religious Affairs will soon issue a notification based on the confirmation received by the committee.

The central and zonal Ruet-e-Hilal committees were also accompanied by meteorological experts as well as members of the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) for the moon sighting in Pakistan. The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee convenes on the 29th of each Islamic month and officially declares the sighting of the moon.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had predicted the new moon to be born on June 18 at 9:37 pm local time, with the sighting expected on June 19.

Audio leaks inquiry commission: sC upholds may 26 order

have confirmed that a private member bill for the increase in the salaries of Chairman and Deputy Chairman senate has already been passed during the senate session on Friday.

According to reports, the bill The Chairman Senate (Salaries, Allowance and Privileges) Act, 2023, will benefit all the past, present and all future Senate chairmens at the cost of taxpayers’ money.

As published, the Section 21 of the Bill reads, “Every person who has held the office of Chairman for a full term of three years, shall be entitled for life to full security detail that is to say six sentries at the declared residence, four personnel of police, anti-terrorism force, rangers, frontier corps or frontier constabulary in one squad vehicle, for which the federal government in Islamabad, or a provincial government in the respective province, shall make the required arrangements.”

In Section 16 the bill says that, the chairman shall be entitled to such personal staff as may be prescribed by the Finance Committee, which shall be authorised to provide personal staff, regular or contractual, not exceeding the limit of 12 in number who has held the office of chairman for a full term.

The Section 20 reads as, “The Finance Committee of the Senate may

grant the chairman and the person who has held such office for a full term of three years, such additional privileges as it may deem fit.”

The Chairman senate, however stated that, “such reports were not based on solid facts and there was wrong information being communicated related to this bill.” He says that in the bill, the old act of 1975 was rectified and corrected as per the decisions of the concerned committees from time to time. The chairman said that this bill was presented with an objective to make clarity on the matter without getting any financial benefit.

Coming to the presented budget FY24, the revised allocated budget for Chairman and Deputy Chairman Senate was already recorded at Rs 6.9 crore during the current year 2022-23. Documents show that the government has allocated Rs 65.1 crores budget in 2023-24 for ‘Members of the Senate’ against the total revised allocation of Rs 56.3 crore in 2022-23. This shows an increase of Rs 8.76 crores in the Pay and other allowances of Senators.

The documents of the budget also show that the budget of the Leader of the House and Opposition leader in the Senate has surged to Rs 61 lakh and Rs 75.9 lakh respectively.

Roadmap devised to reconstruct infrastructure destroyed by 2022 flood: Dar

PROFIT INP

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar informed the Lower House of the Parliament on Monday that a comprehensive roadmap has been devised for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the infrastructure destroyed by the 2022 flood.

Responding to the concerns of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) lawmaker Dr Nafisa Shah in the National Assembly, he said, “Immediate relief work has already been done throughout the country with the disbursement of Rs25000 per family through the BISP programme. Almost Rs100 billion have already been spent in addition to the assistance extended by NDMA in kind.”

Ishaq Dar said that the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet had recently approved Rs12 billion to replenish the stock of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), keeping in view the predicted threats of the monsoon and the cyclone.

Following the widespread destruction caused by the heavy rains and floods, he said a comprehensive report had been prepared in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), European Union and the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives that suggested the economic and physical loses stood at around $30.3 billion.

The finance minister said that funds valuing $16.3 billion were required to execute the physical work like repair of damaged houses and infrastructure, under the ‘4RF’ strategy i.e. resilient, recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

he said less than $400 million were received while the pledges were made for bearing 50 per cent financing for the reconstruction and rehabilitation work.

Ishaq Dar said a committee, comprising the Sindh Chief Minister, and federal ministers including

Khursheed Ahmed Shah, Syed Naveed Qamar and Sherry Rehman, was holding meetings and the roadmap in this regard had almost been devised.

“It (the reconstruction & rehabilitation) will be like a 4-5 year medium-term development plan. It is not an issue and will be resolved as there are no two opinions. Roughly $11 billion, out of $16.3 billion will be spent in Sindh under the 4RF policy,” he said.

The finance minister assured the PPPP lawmaker that ‘everything is under planning as work is going on it,’ so there was nothing to worry about. “The work is in progress and hopefully it will be concluded today.”

Commenting on another issue, he said originally the Charter of Democracy (CoD) was signed with the ‘code of conduct’ that whosoever was elected to power, should not be backstabbed, adding afterwards civilmilitary relations, constitutional amendments as a result of which 18th, NFC award, legal reforms, truth & reconciliation commission.“I was in all that process.”

Ishaq Dar said all things [included in the CoD] had been implemented except the Constitutional Code and the Truth & Reconciliation Commission.

During 2013-18, he said he had constantly been advocating and offering for devising a Charter of Economy (C0E) so that whosoever came into power followed it in the supreme national interest.

Endorsing the views of Dr Nafisa Shah in this regard, the minister said “I think once the budget [ongoing budget session of the Parliament] is over, all-out efforts should be made to prepare a charter of economy to come out of the mess in which the nation had stuck.

“The quagmire is bigger than 1999 when the nuclear tests were carried out and the country faced international sanctions,” Ishaq Dar said, adding the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had overcome it in a short span of time.

“Now the declining graph [of the national economy] has stopped, and has attained stability. We need to make collective efforts to take it towards a growth trajectory, which will be achieved by the grace of Allah Almighty,” he remarked.

Power generation from Neelum Jhelum likely to resume by July-end

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Power Generation from Neelum Jhelum Hydel Power Station is likely to resume by the end of July as hectic efforts are underway to complete the remedial works being carried out in the tail race tunnel of the project.

This was stated in the briefing given to the Chairman WAPDA Engr Lt Gen (R) Sajjad Ghani during his visit to the project on Monday. The chairman had a detailed visit of the 3.5-Km long tail race tunnel, the affected stretch in particular.

The consultants, dilating upon the progress of rehabilitation works, briefed the Chairman that concrete lining is in progress in the area that had collapsed and caused a blockade of the tail race tunnel.

The rest of the affected area is also being strengthened through lattice girders and rock bolting followed by shotcrete inside the tunnel. The contractor has been carrying out rehabilitation works roundthe-clock in accordance with the guidelines of international consultants.

Engr Lt Gen (R) Sajjad Ghani urged the project team to complete the remedial works as per the timeline and re-start Neelum Jhelum Hydel Power Station by the end of next month without any compromise on the structural integrity of the project.

Later, Chairman WAPDA presided over Board of Directors (BOD) meeting of Neelum Jhelum Hydro Power Company, held at the project site. The BOD Members also visited the power house and the tunnel.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) on Monday upheld its May 26 order staying the proceedings of an inquiry commission led by Justice Qazi Faez Isa, probing the veracity of recent audio leaks and their impact on the independence of the judiciary.

The apex court issued an order for the previous hearing of the petitions filed against the inquiry commission. In the written order, the SC stated that the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Awan had raised objections to the three judges included in the bench.

During the hearing, Awan said that the three judges should separate from the bench, while the petitioner’s lawyer gave counterarguments.

After hearing the arguments of both parties, the court reserved its verdict, stating that the order of May 26 will stand till the objections raised on the formation of the bench are decided and the hearing of the case was adjourned for an indefinite period.

Earlier, the federal government had objected to the inclusion of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Atta Bandial, Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan and Justice Muneeb Akhtar in the bench.

On May 26, the apex court had stayed the proceedings of an inquiry commission led by Justice Qazi Faez Isa, probing the veracity of recent audio leaks and their impact on the independence of the judiciary.

A five-judge SC bench, which apart from the chief justice, included Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Shahid Waheed, issued the order while hearing four petitions filed by PTI Chairman Imran Khan, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Abid Zuberi as well as others against the inquiry commission formed by the federal government. The commission also included Balochistan High Court Chief Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq. During the hearing, the AGP sought permission to make a preliminary submission, saying that CJP Bandial ought to consider recusing himself from the bench on account of a certain conflict of interest.

The order, however, maintained that it was an accepted and settled constitutional principle, acted upon several times in the constitution of commissions, that whenever a sitting judge was intended to be made a member of the body, the permission of the chief justice of Pakistan had to be sought first. The order further noted that as the federal government appeared to have acted unilaterally in this matter, a “constitutional principle” of the highest importance had been, prima facie, “breached”.

The order also noted that therefore, prima facie, the very constitution of the commission was cast in doubt.

no political differences between PPP, Pml-n, claims Bilawal

KARACHI

STAFF REPORT

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Monday responded to the reports of rifts between his party and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), saying that there are no “no political differences” between the ruling parties. “The PPP’s committee will meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif today once again. There is no political difference with the PML-N, however, there can be differences in policy,” said Bilawal while addressing the media persons after Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab’s oath-taking ceremony. His comments came after differences emerged between the PPP and PML-N regarding administrative matters in the province of Punjab and the federal budget. The PPP members had shared their concerns with Bilawal, saying the government is not paying heed to their requests.

“There has been a good working relationship with the PML-N leaders. However, it is our right to have a difference of opinion and we will continue to raise it on a relevant forum,” said the PPP chairman. Bilawal said that he doesn’t see any political difference with the PML-N in future as well.

Talking about the concerns of his party, the chairman said that the PPP wants a non-controversial census, adding that they had issues with the previous census as well. “I think that this census will remain controversial in the future,” he added.

Bilawal also spoke about the funds for the rehabilitation of the flood victims in Sindh, hoping that the reservation of funds will be resolved and the federal government should contribute to the relief. He added that they will place the party’s manifesto before the entire nation. He also said that PPP cochairman Asif Ali Zardari is coming back soon and will go to Lahore. Bilawal had earlier said his party will abstain from endorsing the recently-announced budget in the National Assembly unless the commitments made to the party regarding areas affected by flooding are honoured. A high-level meeting, chaired by the premier, between the two political entities took place last week; however, the PPP chairman was unable to attend the meeting, as he was out of Islamabad.

Amid rumours, Moonis Elahi says his father stands with PTI

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader and former federal minister Chaudhry Moonis Elahi on Monday quashed rumours about his father’s return to the Shujaat-led Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), saying that Chaudhry Parvez Elahi was standing strong and there was no truth in such rumours.

“He’s in PTI and standing strong AH,” Moonis Elahi wrote on social media blogging site, Twitter, while responding to rumours about his father’s alleged return to the PML-Q fold.

The clarification came following rumours spreading about Elahi’s return to the PML-Q after PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain held a quiet meeting with Pak-

istan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) President Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and his cousin in Camp Jail, Lahore on Monday and inquired after his health.

Shujaat’s son, Salik Hussain, was also present during the meeting which lasted for about an hour. According to insiders, Shujaat inquired about his brother’s well-being. The meeting also involved discussions about the political situation in the country.

Sources privy to the meeting said that during the meeting, Chaudhry Shujaat persuaded Elahi to return to the PML-Q but Elahi resisted. The sources said that Shujaat also expressed concerns over the ill-treatment meted to Elahi. Later, Shujaat told media that Elahi looked frail and his feet were swollen. Meanwhile, Elahi’s son Moonis Elahi

tweeted that his father was not being allowed to meet his lawyers, while his mother is also not being granted permission for a meeting with Parvez Elahi.

Moonis said that Inspector General (IG) Prisons himself took Shujaat and his son Salik Hussain to meet Elahi, but Elahi’s lawyers and his mother were being denied permission for a meeting.

“Now they will say that they have already arranged meetings for family members this week,” he concluded.

The former chief minister was sent to prison on June 4 for a 14-day judicial remand by a judicial magistrate in Lahore after he was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) in a case pertaining to bribery and illegal recruitments.

Elahi is among the remaining members

of the PTI leadership standing with the party.

Most of the senior party leaders, including Fawad Chaudhry, Usman Buzdar, Maleeka

Bokhari and Shireen Mazari, have called it quits, with some of them announcing a break from politics altogether.