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IHC STAYS CYPHER CASE TRIAL TILL JAN 11, CITING ‘LEGAL GLITCHES’ friday, 29 December, 2023 I 15 Jamada al-Sani, 1445

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Bench notes special court proceeding with a daily trial against SC orders Says law being used dates back to when Pakistan didn’t exist, in fact, it wasn’t even an Indian law

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Rs 15.00 | Vol XIV No 180 I 8 Pages I Karachi Edition

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

HE Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday issued a stay order on PTI founder Imran Khan’s plea against in-camera cypher trial till January 11, citing “legal glitches.”

The short order was passed by IHC’s Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb on Imran’s petition challenging the in-camera cypher trial being conducted at Adiala Jail and subsequent developments, including the framing of charges and a gag order on the media.

During the hearing today, Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan and Additional AGP Munawwar Iqbal Duggal appeared in court. The FIA’s prosecution team was also in attendance while PTI’s Barrister Salman Akram Raja attended the proceedings via video link. The written order, Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb said the special court judge was conducting the trial on a daily basis as per an earlier direction of the IHC but the same was set aside by the Supreme Court. It added that the special court judge was proceeding with a daily trial despite the apex court order and directed that further hearings be stayed “in order to prevent these proceedings from becoming fait accompli”.

The Special Court (Official Secrets Act) had begun the cypher trial afresh last week at the Adiala jail after Imran and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi were indicted for a second time in the case on Dec 13.

The cypher case pertains to a diplomatic document that the Federal Investigation Agency’s charge sheet alleges was

never returned by Imran. The PTI has long held that the document contained a threat from the United States to oust Imran as prime minister.

The former premier and his aide Qureshi, who is also behind bars, were first indicted in the case on Oct 23. Both had pleaded not guilty. Four witnesses had already recorded their statements when the IHC termed the government’s notification for a jail trial “erroneous” and scrapped the entire proceedings.

The IHC had endorsed Imran’s indictment, disposing of his plea against the same, but had also instructed the special court judge to ensure a “fair trial”. On Friday, the Supreme Court had approved the post-arrest bails of Imran and Qureshi.

While Imran remains incarcerated in other cases, it was expected that the PTI vice chairman would be released. However, Qureshi was manhandled and re-arrested outside Adiala jail by Punjab police yesterday in connection with a case pertaining to the attack on the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on May 9.

Earlier in the day, the IHC, while

hearing a PTI petition seeking an immediate stay order on the cipher trial, had issued a notice to the federation. At the outset of the proceedings, PTI counsel Salman Usman Gul sought an immediate stay order on the cipher trial. However, the request was rejected as Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb said notices would be first issued to the respondents.

The court then issued a notice to the federation and sought its responses to the PTI petition. It also issued directives for all case documents to be submitted to the IHC. At one point, Justice Aurangzeb inquired if an authorised government officer could directly approach the court and file a complaint. Gul responded in the affirmative but highlighted that a first information report, not a complaint, had been registered in the cipher case. “The case is being heard daily. So far, statements of 25 witnesses have been recorded and three were cross-examined,” the lawyer revealed, adding that there were a total of 28 witnesses in the case.

Gul also requested that the IHC di-

rect the special court to conduct the trial after five to six days. “The special court can complete the trial during this time,” he warned. However, Justice Aurangzeb said the court was first issuing notices and adjourned the hearing.

At the outset, Justice Aurangzeb said he needed answers to two questions.

“This court had ordered that an open trial should be held, why are in-camera proceedings being conducted? Security is not the court’s jurisdiction and we won’t interfere in this,” he remarked.

The judge also inquired why in-camera proceedings were being held when the trial was conducted in jail. “Open trial should also be held in jail,” he said, adding that the public should be allowed to attend the hearing.

“We were told that family members and media persons were allowed to attend the hearing. But now, once again, a petition has been filed stating that the proceedings have been declared in-camera,” Justice Aurangzeb noted.

For his part, AGP Awan responded that just the recording of testimonies, not the entire trial, was being held incamera. He said the testimonies of 25 witnesses were to be recorded in the case of which the statements of 13 had been recorded and two witnesses had been cross-examined. “The defence lawyers have not yet cross-examined 10 remaining witnesses,” he said, adding that the gag order on media was issued after the testimonies of 13 witnesses had been recorded. Here, the court asked if family members were still allowed to attend the hearing to which the AGP said the media too was allowed to cover the trial after the statements of the remaining 12 other witnesses were recorded. “How was the media allowed when the trial court order [on in-camera proceedings] was not challenged?” the IHC asked.

Court turns down police request for 30-day physical remand in GHQ attack case RAWALPINDI

Staff RepoRt

The court of a judicial magistrate on Thursday rejected the police request for a 30-day physical remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi and sent him to jail on Judicial remand in 12 cases registered against him following May 9 riots.

Qureshi was presented before Duty Magistrate Syed Jahangir Ali’s court in the GHQ attack case under strict security. At the outset of the hearing, police sought a 30-day physical remand of the former foreign minister but the plea was opposed by the lawyers of the PTI vice president. The lawyers argued that those named in the May 9 violence cases were acquitted and urged the court to acquit Shah Mahmood Qureshi. On Wednesday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vice chairman, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, was manhandled and rearrested from outside Adiala jail.

Punjab’s RA Bazaar police station

cops rearrested Shah Mahmood Qureshi after his release from Adiala Jail on bail in cypher case on Supreme Court orders.

The release came after police pleaded to end the 15-day detention orders of the former foreign minister under 3-MPO. ‘PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY TORTURED’ During proceedings, PTI Vice Chair-

man Shah Mahmood Qureshi told a Rawalpindi court on Thursday that he was “physically and mentally tortured” in prison last night.

The PTI leader said this while recording his statement during a hearing at the Rawalpindi Judicial Complex.

Qureshi was released from Adiala Jail on Wednesday after the Supreme

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Thursday said that in view of shocking situation of Palestine, the government of Pakistan had completely banned all kinds of events regarding the New Year celebrations to express solidarity with the oppressed Palestinians. In a special televised message, he said the entire Pakistani nation and the Muslim Ummah were deeply saddened by the massacre of the oppressed Palestinians, especially the innocent children, and the genocide of innocent Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. “Since October 7, 2023, more than 21,000 innocent Palestinians have been martyred due to the brutality of the Israeli forces, including a large number of innocent children, which has reached around 9,000,” the prime minister remarked. He said to stop the Israeli bloodshed, Pakistan had raised its voice for the oppressed Palestinians at every forum of the world and it would always continue to speak in future as well. PM Kakar pointed out that Pakistan had sent two consignments of relief goods to help its Palestinian brothers and sisters, while the third consignment was also being sent soon. Likewise, he said the government of Pakistan was in close contact with Egypt and Jordan for timely relief of the Palestinians, evacuation of the injured from Gaza and their treatment. The prime minister prayed to Allah Almighty that may the sun of the new year rise with the message of peace, prosperity and harmony for Pakistan and rest of the world.

ECP ‘reportedly’ moves SC against PHC’s decision on CONTINUED ON PAGE 03 RO Kohat suspension

Qureshi says he was ‘tortured physically and mentally’ as court sends him to jail on remand g

Govt bans New Year celebrations in solidarity with oppressed Palestinians

Court had approved his post-arrest bail in the cypher case. However, the PTI leader, who tried to talk to the Punjab police on multiple occasions, was “pushed and whisked away” from outside the prison. It was later found out that the former foreign minister was arrested in connection with a case pertaining to the attack on General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on May 9. He was initially moved to the Cantt police station by the police, who maltreated him.

Today, Qureshi was brought to the court of Duty Magistrate Syed Jahangir Ali in a police armoured vehicle. A video shared by the PTI on social media showed policemen escorting a handcuffed Qureshi to the court.

Speaking to media persons ahead of the hearing, the PTI leader’s daughter Meher Bano Qureshi expressed displeasure at the security arrangement made outside the court. “It seems as if they are presenting a terrorist,” she said.

“No one is allowed to enter the Judicial Complex,” Meher Bano pointed out, adding that the police’s behaviour was disappointing.

ISLAMABAD

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) ‘reportedly’ on Thursday filed an appeal in the Supreme Court (SC) against the decision of Peshawar High Court (PHC) regarding suspending Kohat returning officer.

The PHC had suspended the commission’s order regarding the appointment of Irfanullah as returning officer (RO) for PK-91 Kohat-II. The ECP was of the view that the constituency PK-91 Kohat was now technically without a returning officer and it was become difficult for the commission to conduct elections in these circumstances. The scrutiny of nomination papers would continue till December 30, and due to hindrance in security of nomination papers, the elections in PK-91 were also feared to be delayed. Only yesterday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had expressed concerns over the Peshawar High Court (PHC) order against the appointment of a returning officer, noting “it is becoming difficult” for the electoral body to hold polls. The concerns were expressed in the ECP huddle on Wednesday, wherein the electoral decided to file an appeal in the Supreme Court against the PHC order suspending the appointment of Irfanullah as RO for PK-91 Kohat-II. Sources informed the decision was taken after the ECP discussed threadbare the matter and sought legal opinion from the commission’s experts.

“The meeting noted that following the PHC order, the very constituency is now technically without a returning officer. In these circumstances, it is becoming difficult for the Election Commission of Pakistan to conduct elections,” sources said, referring to the commission’s huddle here at its secretariat, after having received the provincial high court order.

Army top brass reiterates all ‘requisite, necessary support’ to ECP for Feb 8 elections CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

RAWALPINDI

Staff RepoRt

Pakistan Army’s top brass on Thursday vowed to provide all “requisite and necessary support” to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for the conduct of upcoming general elections, scheduled for February 8, 2024 in the country, the military’s media wing said on Thursday.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), in a statement, the army affirmation was made during the two-day-long 261st Corps Commanders’ Conference (CCC) — held at the General Headquarters, with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir in the chair.

“Forum noted that requisite and necessary support will also be extended to Election Commission of Pakistan for forthcoming general elections,” the military’s media wing said.

‘Ongoing Actions Illegal Economic Activities Reviewed’ The high-level moot took a “holistic review” of the government’s ongoing actions against smuggling, money laundering, power theft and hoarding of essential items amongst other illegal economic activities.

“Pakistan Army will continue to provide all-out support to relevant government institutions and LEAs (law enforcement agencies) to curb such crimes,” the ISPR said.

It added that the forum was briefed on the operational preparedness of formations and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir (COAS) stressed the need for “continuously maintaining operational excellence in cognitive and physical realms and pursuit

of high standards of motivation and training”. The meeting’s participants further reiterated their support for the government’s ongoing efforts to promote socioeconomic growth and encourage foreign investment under the umbrella of the Special Investment Facilitation Council.

The forum also expressed full solidarity with Palestinians and condemned the “serious human rights violations and war crimes”

Staff RepoRt

being perpetrated in the Gaza Strip by the Israeli military after the October 7 surprise Hamas attack.

The military moot reiterated the government’s stance of demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis.

TERRORISTS TO BE DEALT WITH ‘FULL MIGHT OF STATE’ Separately, the forum addressed the

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03 issue of rising terrorism in the country and resolved that “all terrorists, their facilitators and abettors, working on the behest of hostile forces to destablise Pakistan will be dealt with full might of the state.”

The army moot also reiterated the military’s resolve to “defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan against direct and indirect threats”.

The ISPR said the participants were briefed on the prevalent geo-strategic environment, the challenges to national security and the army’s strategy in response to the evolving threat.

“The sanctuaries and liberty of action available to the terrorists of proscribed TTP (Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan) and other groups of that ilk in a neighbouring country and availability of latest weapons to the terrorists were noted as serious points of concern impacting security of Pakistan,” the ISPR said.

The forum paid tribute to the “supreme sacrifices” of martyrs such as officers and men of the armed forces, LEAs and citizens who laid their lives to ensure peace and stability in the country.

The participants also offered prayers for the martyrs, including those of the Dera Ismail Khan attack.

Ahead of the much-awaited polls, several political actors have warned that there are security threats to the February 8 elections and given the recent rise in terrorism, they demanded that the law and order situation should be conducive.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

02 NEWS

SBP SETS MECHANISM FOR ITM FACILITY IN IMPORTING INPUT GOODS

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PROFIT

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HE State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has outlined the procedure for accessing the International Toll Manufacturing (ITM) facility within the Export Facilitation Scheme (EFS), allowing the import of input goods directly or indirectly from foreign principals without requiring any remittance of foreign exchange.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), through SRO 1093(I)/2023 dated August 23, 2023, has added a new chapter, “Export Facilitation Scheme (EFS)-2021,” to Customs Rules 2001.

Rule 885 outlines the process for In-

ternational Toll Manufacturing (ITM), allowing the import of input goods without foreign exchange remittance, subject to specified terms and conditions.

To facilitate EFS, including importcum-export transactions under ITM, Pakistan Customs/WeBOC has developed a module. A checkbox labeled “EFS toll manufacturer” has been incorporated into the GD type “Export Facilitation Scheme.”

Once relevant formalities are completed, license holders can avail the EFS ITM facility, according to SBP. Under the mechanism, import and export of goods under ITM will be conducted through a single Authorized Dealer (AD) for reconciliation and reporting purposes.

During import, ADs must provide a fi-

Hina Shah to contest election against Qaim Ali Shah

nancial instrument (FI) on a ‘remittance not involved from Pakistan’ basis in Pakistan Single Window (PSW) before filing ‘EFS import GD.’ At the time of export, ADs will provide FI in PSW equivalent to the service charges/value added before filing ‘EFS export GDs.’ These service charges will be received as foreign remittance from abroad, and ADs will submit bank credit advice (BCA) against the respective FI in PSW to confirm the receipt/realization of service charges for the release of security submitted to Customs by the local importer-cumexporter at the import stage.

SBP has instructed ADs to report the realization of foreign exchange equivalent

to the service charges to the SBP. In cases of non-realization or delays in the realization of export proceeds, ADs are required to report such cases as overdue following existing procedures.

ADs are also mandated to conduct Know Your Customer (KYC) and Customer Due Diligence (CDD) of the applicants, ensuring compliance with EFS scheme parameters and all applicable rules and regulations, including the Framework for Managing Risks of Trade-Based Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing.

To operationalize this arrangement, ADs, as part of their due diligence exercise, will obtain an EFS license/authorization from Pakistan Customs and other necessary documents.

Nisar Afzal cleared in corruption probe, NAB confirms ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

KHAIRPUR

Staff RepoRt

Hina Shah Jeelani to contest election against her uncle Qaim Ali Shah, senior Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader and former chief minister Sindh, on PS-26. Following acceptance of nomination papers, Hina Shah Jeelani said she will give tough time to her uncle Qaim Ali Shah in the upcoming general elections, scheduled to take place on February 8. Shah said her uncle Qaim Ali Shah has become old. “Sain has become old now, he is not taking rest, nor giving us a chance.” It is to be noted that the niece and uncle will contest the election for the Sindh Assembly seat from Khairpur (PS-26). As the nation holds its breath, the political narrative unfolds, offering a glimpse into the dynamics that will shape the representation in the National Assembly. The next few days will be crucial, setting the stage for the political players and their constituents as they navigate the intricate web of scrutiny and decision-making in this pivotal election season.

SBP designates Bank of Khyber as e-stamping agent in KP PROFIT

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The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the Bank of Khyber (BoK) have formalized an Agency Agreement, designating BoK as the collecting agent for e-stamping services in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) as part of the launched e-stamping project. This initiative is said to be in line with the KP government’s commitment to promoting digital services and facilitating ease of business within the region. Leveraging technology, residents of KP can now effortlessly procure stamp papers with a simple online process provided by BoK, according to the agreement. The estamping project will be implemented across the province in phases, contributing to increased revenue collection and ensuring comprehensive data reconciliation. The shift to e-stamping brings various advantages, including enhanced public convenience, time savings, elimination of paper-related fraud, prevention of government revenue leakage, and the secure storage of information in digital format for transparency. The new system facilitates online verification of both judicial and non-judicial stamp papers, minimizing the risk of fraud and enabling the responsible reuse of stamps. Additionally, for property transactions, the stamp duty value is determined using DC valuation tables based on location, covered area, and property type (residential or commercial). Furthermore, this valuation method will help curb tax evasion and prevent income leakage from understating property values, a practice often associated with manual stamping. The implementation of these features is anticipated to lead to a substantial increase in the collection of stamp duties.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Rawalpindi has confirmed that it has closed investigations into allegations of corruption and corrupt practices against British Pakistani businessman Nisar Ahmed Afzal, his brother Saghir Ahmed Afzal and others.

Upon reviewing the final investigation report and recommendations from the Executive Board Meeting of NAB, (EBM-NAB) the Director General of NAB Rawalpindi sanctioned the closure of the investigation, according to a notification issued by NAB’s Islamabad headquarters .

“Based on the findings in the final investigation report and the recommendations made during the Executive Board meeting on 14-11-2023, the competent authority has sanctioned the closure of the investigation. The decision has been made to refer the matter to the FIA,” announced the NAB, adding the decision is being made public with approval of Director General NAB Rawalpindi.

Nisar Afzal and others were probed under National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999 for obtaining a UK mortgage and transferring funds to associates’ accounts in Pakistan. The money was allegedly used to acquire assets under benamidars, with abettors concealing the real source.

The NAB made the announcement a few weeks after the Islamabad High Court set-aside freezing orders on several properties of Nisar Ahmed Afzal

while observing that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had demonstrated high-handedness in its dealing in several ways – in a case that started on request of the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) related to £60M alleged Birmingham Mortgage fraud case.

The IHC’s Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan noted that several properties of Nisar Afzal and family members were frozen in Islamabad by the NAB in November 2021 for the purpose of recovery – on behalf of the UK authorities – but the agency failed to file a reference and failed to furnish any evidence of criminality against the British Pakistani family.

Interestingly, the NAB seized Afzal’s properties after UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) announced in November 2021 it has dropped the investigation into Nisar Afzal bringing the matter to a close as there was no realistic prospect of a successful conviction,

primarily due to lack of evidence.

However, NAB authorities in Pakistan froze Afzal’s assets on a request by the UK govt which was sent originally in 2017 and the NAB accepted it in November 2021 when the original case was already over. The NAB froze around eight properties of Afzal which included those properties in Islamabad as well which were purchased long before the alleged offence in the UK. IHC Justices Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan observed that NAB froze properties of Nisar Afzal and family for UK authorities’ recovery in November 2021 but the agency didn’t file a reference or provide evidence of criminality. T The judges criticized NAB for victimizing individuals unfairly and emphasized that NAB cannot hide behind its previous authority when the issue has been closed. They clarified that if FIA intends to proceed, they can do so under the law, but NAB’s freezing orders are set aside, respecting the right to property under the Constitution.

In November 2021, the SFO closed the 15-year probe into Nisar Ahmed Afzal. Criminal proceedings ceased, assets were returned, and he’s no longer under arrest warrant or Restraint Orders. The Birmingham Mortgage Fraud case, one of the UK’s largest, led Afzal to flee to Pakistan in 2006, claiming injustice and a high-profile conspiracy.

The SFO decided to close the case against Nisar Afzal due to lack of sufficient evidence and a lack of realistic prospect of a successful prosecution.

Solangi, Iranian envoy emphasize enhancing bilateral cooperation in diverse sectors ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

Caretaker Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Solangi has emphasized and Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam have emphasized the need of enhancing bilateral cooperation in diverse sectors.

During a meeting held in Islamabad on Thursday, they said, “Boosting mutual cooperation between and Iran in trade and economic sectors, especially in the scope of ECO organization, corridor from East to West, bilateral cooperation on the ports and expansion of relations is need of hour.”

Murtaza Solangi and Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam discussed cooperation in the fields of media, exchange of cultural delegations, bilateral trade relations and Iran Expo 2024 during the meeting.

The two sides on the part of both countries expressed the willingness to explore opportunities for promoting bilateral relations.

Information Minister Murtaza Solangi said that Pakistan valued the brotherly relations with Iran as both were bound by deep religious, cultural and linguistic relations.

“Cooperation between the two countries in the fields of media is the need of the hour,” he said adding Pakistan was keen to promote cooperation with Iran in the fields of film

and drama.

Murtaza Solangi said a memorandum of understanding has already been signed between the Associated Press of Pakistan and the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). Additionally, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and Iran’s Audio Visual Media Regulatory Authority (SATRA) and the Directorate of Electronic Media and Publications, Pakistan Television and Iran’s audiovisual and cinema sector, had been working on the MoUs to promote bilateral cooperation, he added.

They agreed to expedite the process of agreement between Pakistan Television Corporation and Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.

The visit of Iran’s cultural delegation to Pakistan was also discussed in the meeting. Solangi said that the visit of Iran’s cultural delegation to Pakistan was welcome since these visits would promote cultural relations between the two countries.

The Cultural delegation of Iran would be visiting media houses, press clubs and other cultural institutions of Pakistan, he added.

The Ambassador of Iran informed the minister about the opening of Bureau Office of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting in Islamabad.

The Bureau Office of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting will start its working in the third week of January next year, he added.

The establishment of the Bureau office of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting would further promote cooperation in the field of information between the two countries, Mortaza Solangi said.

He said several such agreements were under discussion to enhance cooperation between television, films, cinema, literary and linguistic institutions with Iran. “These agreements will help to present our culture and traditions in true light”, he added.

The Minister also informed the Iranian Ambassador about the steps regarding the upcoming elections in Pakistan. The primary mandate of the caretaker government, he added, was to assist in the electoral process.

Conducting fair, transparent and impartial elections was the priority of the government which was providing all possible facilities to the Election Commission of Pakistan in this regard.

The Iranian ambassador appreciated the caretaker government’s resolve to hold fair, transparent and impartial elections in Pakistan. Discussion regarding Iran Expo 2024 was also held in the meeting. Iran Expo 2024 is an important opportunity to promote trade relations between the two countries as Pakistan was determined to work with Iran to promote mutual economic relations. Iran Expo 2024 will provide a dynamic platform for businesses from both countries, the Iranian ambassador said.

Friday, 29 December, 2023 | KARACHI

NUST names auditorium after Azerbaijan’s national leader Heydar Aliyev ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) unveiled Heydar Aliyev auditorium, built to pay tribute to Heydar Aliyevóthe national leader of Azerbaijanóon the occasion of the centenary of his birth. Azerbaijan ambassador Khizr Farhadov, diplomats of various countries, government officials and a large number of teachers and students of the university were present on the occasion. The Embassy of Azerbaijan hosted the event highlighting the life and diplomatic services of Heydar Aliyev. During the event, Ambassador Farhadov expressed his gratitude for the lasting friendship between Pakistan and Azerbaijan, especially the Karabakh conflict. He acknowledged the unwavering diplomatic support from the people and government of Pakistan. Ambassador Farhadov said that Pakistan is the first country to recognize Azerbaijan, which promoted historical relations.

Heydar Aliyev Auditorium is a proof of the strong ties between Azerbaijan and Pakistan, while addressing the ceremony, pro-rector research, innovation aid commercialization (NUST). Dr Rizwan Riaz highlighted the important partnership between the two countries and numerous collaborations in the universities of Azerbaijan and Pakistan and also highlighted the role of NUST in creating opportunities.

Pakistan condemns India’s decision to ban Masarrat’s JKML in IIOJK ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch has said that Pakistan strongly condemns the decision of the Indian authorities to ban the Jammu and Kashmir Muslim League headed by illegally detained Masarrat Alam Butt. Mumtaz Zahra Baloch at a weekly press briefing in Islamabad said Indian forces in occupied Jammu and Kashmir continued to put curbs on the residents and the Kashmiri leaders. “Putting restrictions on Kashmiri leaders is India’s disrespect for international norms,” she said, adding that India must lift the ban and release the incarcerated political prisoners. Asked if the coming year held any prospects of resumption of ties with India, the spokesperson said India needed to take steps to create an environment for a dialogue. She, however, categorically pointed out that the dialogue with India could only take place based on “equality, respect and with discussion on Jammu and Kashmir as the priority issue”. The FO spokesperson dismissed the report about India demanding Pakistan to hand over the founder of Lashkare-Taiba, Hafiz Saeed in connection with the Pulwama incident.

Profit repatriation by foreign investors jumps 312% to $532m in five months PROFIT

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Foreign investors repatriated $532 million in profits and dividends from their investments in Pakistan during July-November of the current fiscal year (FY24), reported The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Wednesday.

This is a 312 percent increase from the $129 million repatriated in the same period of the previous fiscal year (FY23). The SBP attributed the rise in repatriation to the easing of capital controls that were imposed last year to deal with the foreign exchange crisis. Pakistan also received a loan from the IMF to boost its foreign exchange reserves.

The data showed that the repatriation from Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) increased by 377 percent and 58 percent, respectively. The FDI repatriation amounted to $491 million, while the FPI repatriation was $41 million.

The Petroleum Refining sector had the highest repatriation of $78 million, followed by the Food sector with $68.6 million and the Transport sector with $68.4 million. In November alone, the repatriation was $47 million, of which $35.1 million was from FDI and $11.7 million was from FPI. Analysts expect the repatriation trend to continue as the economy improves.

Govt urged to frame economic policies in consultation with chambers g

TAX REFORMS AND RATIONALISATION TO BE PROVIDED FOR KP INDUSTRIES: SCCI PESHAWAR

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Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Fuad Ishaq emphasised the need of holding consultation with chambers and stakeholders before framing economic policies, and tax-reforms.

The SCCI chief also demanded review on IPPs agreements to overcome the rising energy crisis and control on high electricity tariffs. He sought pragmatic steps for provi-

sion of electricity and gas on subsidised rates to industries in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Fuad Ishaq was addressing a meeting during a Inland Study Tour of the 34th Senior Management Course Officers of National Institute of Management (NIM) Islamabad.

The meeting was attended by SCCI vice president Ijaz Khan Afridi, executive member Muhammad Ismail Safi, former president Faiz Muhammad Faizi, former senior vice presidents Ziaul Haq Sarhadi, Imran Khan Mohmand, former vice president

Shuja Muhammad, and former executive member Muhammad Aurangzeb and others.

A detailed multi-media presentation was given regarding the chamber history and its objectives to the visiting senior officers here at SCCI house.

The SCCI president said bureaucracy has played a pivotal role in framing policies. He, however, called for taking chambers and stakeholders on board before formulation of policies and tax-reforms initiatives so that it will enable them to execute them at every level.

Fuad Ishaq while responding to various queries of senior officers stressed that it is essential to ensure uninterrupted electricity and gas supply to industries in KP. He called for rationalisation in the taxation system

through reforms.

KP is self-sufficient and has a surplus in gas production. Even though the total gas production of KP is 550mmcfds its total consumption is 196 mmcfds, in which industries only consume 35 mmcfds in gas and 40 mmcfds in CNG, Ishaq explained.

He said that despite the fact that uninterrupted electricity and gas was unavailable to industries in the KP, it is still being sold on highest tariffs to consumers of the province.

Under article 158-A of the constitution of the country, Fuad Ishaq said that KP has first right to exploit their natural resources, but it is highly unfortunate that for the last 13 years, not a single gas connection was provided to industries in the province.

Replying to a question regarding illegal trade/smuggling, the SCCI chief said that it would be better if tariffs/duties of 224 items are bought at par with \Afghanistan and Iran to curb the menace of smuggling. He also suggested provision of electricity to industries on wheeling charges.

Later, Directing Staff, NIM Islamabad Muhammad Imran also spoke on the occasion and thanked the SCCI chief and members for hosting the undertraining senior officers of various government departments.

Muhammad Imran assured that policies should be framed in consultation with chambers, and stakeholders and suggestions of SCCI would be presented to their respective departments to incorporate them in policies.

Friday, 29 December, 2023 | KARACHI

ECP FAILS TO CURB ABDUCTION, HARASSMENT OF PTI CANDIDATES, SECONDERS, PROPOSERS

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ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

S the elections is fast approaching, an alarming upsurge has been witnessed in the detentions and abductions of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) candidates’ seconders and proposers across the country, besides refusing to allow scrutiny of their nomination papers at the time when candidates of other political parties navigate the intricate web of scrutiny in a hassle-free manner.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (EPC) completely failed in providing a conducive environment and level playing field for conducting free, fair and transparent general elections in the country slated to be held on February 8, 2024, which was evident from the ongoing spree of detentions, abductions and harassments of PTI candidates and their seconders and proposers.

The gravity of the situation could be

IHC stays cypher case trial till Jan 11, citing ‘legal glitches’

judged from the fact that the women seconder and proposer for PTI district Attock President and candidate for PP-01 Hazro Attock Qazi Ahmad Akbar were kidnapped, besides the election staff continued to harass PTI candidates illegally during the process of scrutiny of their nomination papers.

Reacting to the unlawful act, Qazi Ahmed Akbar made it clear that he would echo the slogan of ‘Imran Khan Zindabad’ all the time as they could not be petrified as their conscience was satisfied.

PTI Attock President vowed that they would continue to the just fight with Imran Khan till making the dream of ‘Haqeeqi Azadi’ a reality.

He went on to say that a number of FIRs including anti-corruption were filed against him, besides destroying his businesses and picking up people working with him me were picked up.

However, Qazi Ahmad Akbar categorically stated that all these brutal tactics did not work, because nothing could frustrate

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

At that, Awan said there was a procedure followed under which people in the court were told to leave when statements of witnesses were recorded. They were allowed to enter the court once the same was completed. He added that witnesses in the cipher case were divided into three categories. “The cross-examination of 10 witnesses in the case is remaining but during some testimonies, the media was sent out of court,” the AGP stated.

However, Justice Aurangzeb said that from what Awan described “this doesn’t look like an open trial to me”. “You can’t tell people to come and go whenever you want to,” he asserted. On the other hand, Awan argued that the witnesses included three officials of the foreign ministry who had received and decoded the cipher. Their statements were recorded on Dec 15, he added. The AGP further said that the government would approach the court to record the statement of the cipher’s custodian.

Justice Aurangzeb said he had tried to explain what an open trial was multiple times but it was neither clear to the [trial court] judge nor the prosecution. “The law being used dates back to when Pakistan did not exist, in fact, it wasn’t even an Indian law,” he said. The IHC judge added that the world was unaware of human and fundamental rights in 1923. “This case is the first impression in front of us … the judiciary has to examine it,” he said and asked how many witnesses had recorded their statements when the SC had granted post-arrest bail to Imran and Qureshi. Thirteen, the AGP replied. Here, Justice Aurangzeb remarked that the SC had noted in its order that the evidence in the case was insufficient. “Let’s suppose that an appeal comes tomorrow and I am hearing it, what will you expect from me?” he asked.

ECP ‘reportedly’ moves SC against PHC’s decision on RO Kohat suspension CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

They pointed out that under Article 218, it is the constitutional mandate of the Election Commission to conduct the elections in a free, fair and transparent manner and all the government institutions are bound to lend support and cooperation to it in carrying out the extremely important national duty.

Sources said the commission had another detailed meeting that discussed the Tuesday’s order of PHC to grant Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf ‘bat’ as an election symbol, suspending its recent order. The Election Commission reviewed the matter and decided to hold another meeting on Thursday (today) prior to taking a decision in relation to the PHC order.

CJCSC distributes degrees, medals to graduates at 41st Convocation Army Medical College RAWALPINDI

Staff RepoRt

General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee (CJCSC) attended, as chief guest, the 41st convocation ceremony of 42nd MBBS and 21st BDS course, held at Army Medical College, Rawalpindi.

The JCSC Chairman awarded degrees and medals to the graduating students. Dr Qurat Ul Ain Azam was awarded President’s Gold Medal for being best all-round student for 42nd MBBS course, while Dr Tayyaba Zafar was awarded President's Gold Medal for being the best all-round student for 21st BDS course. Capt Taimoor Khalid was awarded COAS Gold Medal for being the best military cadet.

Speaking on the occasion, the JCSC

Chairman congratulated the graduating students and their parents and wished the graduating doctors success in their future endeavours.

Talking about Wednesday’s arrest, she said the scenes had created a “joke out of Pakistan in a neighbouring country”. “Even the neighbouring country would be wondering how a former foreign minister is being treated,” Meher Bano regretted.

THE HEARING: As the hearing commenced, Qureshi said he wanted to record his statement before the court. He highlighted that three judges of the apex court had approved his bail against surety bonds of Rs1 million. The PTI leader highlighted that before he could obtain the robkar (release order), it emerged that orders had been issued to detain Qureshi under the Maintenance of Public Order. “How am I a threat to the public? I have been in jail for several months,” Qureshi said. He added that he had been told in Adiala Jail that the MPO orders against him would be withdrawn but the date was later extended to Dec 27 instead of Dec 26.

Qureshi said he had been detained from inside Adiala Jail illegally, highlighting that he had been a member of the Parliament five times. The PTI leader further stated that police officials had kicked and ridiculed him, claiming that he wasn’t taken to a doctor despite multiple requests.

“A team came to me saying that they wanted to record a statement on the May 9 violence. These people want to nominate me in cases related to May 9,” he said. “I was in Karachi on May 9 … my wife was undergoing surgery (that day).” The PTI vice chairman

He also acknowledged the contributions of Army Medical College in producing quality doctors, who serve the nation selflessly.

Army top brass reiterates all ‘requisite, necessary support’ to ECP for Feb 8 elections CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

Militancy has surged in the country ever since the outlawed Tehreek-eTaliban Pakistan (TTP) called off its truce with Islamabad and began targeting military personnel, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan. Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies’ data shows that shows that there were 623 militant attacks in 2023, compared to 380 such attacks in 2022. Among total attacks in the outgoing year, 29 were suicide attacks; whereas in 2022, 15 were suicide attacks.

But to ensure the law and order situation, the election commission had demanded the army to be deployed at

polling stations in static and quick response force modes — to which the military has now seemingly agreed.

GAZA AND KASHMIR: The Army Commanders expressed serious concern on continued repression and human rights violations by Indian military forces in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the ISPR said.

The Forum expressed serious concern over continued repression and reprehensible human rights’ violations by Indian military forces in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The recent acts of abduction, torture and killing of civilians by the Indian Army were unequivocally condemned by the participants. Such

acts constitute grave crimes against humanity and cannot dampen the spirit of the brave Kashmiris who are struggling for their lawful right of self- determination. Pakistan would keep supporting its Kashmiri brethren with all political, moral and diplomatic support for resolution of Kashmir issue according to international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions. The forum expressed full solidarity with the people of Palestine and condemned serious human rights’ violations and war crimes being perpetrated in Gaza while reiterating Government’s stance of demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict, the ISPR added.

CPEC promotes economic transformation and regional integration: experts ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

The speakers during a webinar on Thursday highlighted a pivotal role played by the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in fostering a community for a shared future between China and Pakistan.

The Webinar on “A Decade of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor” was organized by the Centre for BRI and China Studies, Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (IPDS) and Pakistan Research Center, Inner Mongolia Honder College of Arts and Sciences, China, in collaboration with the Alliance of China Pakistan Research Centres. The mega initiative had significantly transformed Pakistan’s economic landscape and con-

Qureshi says he was ‘tortured physically and mentally’ as court sends him to jail on remand CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

pearance in his personal capacity for scrutiny, because as per law, the candidate presence was not mandatory during scrutiny process. He said that the son of IPP leader Aamir Kayani got his father’s nomination papers approved from the same constituency a few moments ago, which clearly reflected that the electoral watchdog miserably failed in creating conducive environment for elections.

The lawyer vowed that they would challenge this unlawful act at all forums.

Senior jurist Abuzar Salman Niazi said: “Went to RO office on Thursday. Despite having court orders and fulfillment of codal formalities, the police didn’t allow scrutiny of nomination papers of Sheikh Imtiaz Ahmed.” He said that Punjab police was trying to usurp role of ECP and verifying identity of Seconders and Proposers.

“Hugely unfortunate, how ECP is failing and Police is interfering despite clear directions from Supreme Court of Pakistan,” he lamented.

him; hence they resorted to pressurizing our women, the seconder and proposer, who were both women, were kidnapped.

He pointed out that the entire administration machinery was working and active for his political opponents at the constituency but he vowed that his struggle and fight against the unabated and continued cruelty and brutality would continue in all circumstances.

The lawyer for PTI candidates for constituency NA-55 Muhammad Basharat Raja and Muhammad Nasir Raja said that the process to unlawfully harass PTI candidates was continued, as the Rawalpindi Cantt RO refused to allow scrutiny of the nomination papers of PTI candidates for NA-55. He said that the ROs were making illegal demands from PTI candidates, which was based on mala fide intention while candidates of their political parties were being provided special facilities.

The lawyer termed the RO’s demand illegal seeking Basharat Raja Basharat ap-

also alleged that he was kept in a cold cell last night and wasn’t allowed to sleep. “I was tortured mentally and physically,” he claimed.

Meanwhile, the prosecutor sought a three-day physical remand of Qureshi. He argued that remand in terrorism cases could be taken for even 90 days, adding that he had reports from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority.

QURESHI’S DAUGHTER SEEKS LEVEL PLAYING FIELD: In a two-page letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday, Meher Bano asked the chief election commissioner to ensure level playing for her father and prevent his political victimisation at the hands of the police.

The letter said that Qureshi was the PTI vice chairman who was “unlawfully detained at Adiala Jail and subsequently abducted by the police during the last 24 hours and he has not been produced before any court so far”.

“All of this is happening during the period of the published election schedule and is tantamount to denying the largest political party of the country, to quote the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s above-mentioned order, a ‘level playing field’,” she added. She said that it was expected that the ECP would fulfil its constitutional responsibilities and ensure the safety and release of Qureshi. Mehar Bano said that it was unfortunate that despite the clear orders of the Supreme Court granting bail to Qureshi on December 22, his release did not materialise till December 27.

tributing to poverty reduction, the speakers said, adding the implementation of connectivity projects, particularly in farm-to-market initiatives, had brought revolutionary changes to agriculture and industrial development in Pakistan. While looking at the decade of CPEC’s impact, they said the global community must recognize its status as a game changer and a fate changer.

President of IPDS Dr. Farhat Asif emphasized the significance of the webinar, introducing the forthcoming book, “CPEC: A Decade of Transformation across Pakistan – Regional Impacts and Progress,” a collaborative effort of both institutes. Director of the Pakistan Research Center Richer Tang Jun offered insights into the book, focusing on the developmental strides made over the decade.

NEWS 03

China ice-snow tourism promotion season launched in Pakistan ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

The 2024 China Ice & Snow Tourism Overseas Promotion Season has been launched in Pakistan by China Cultural Center in collaboration with Culture Office of the Embassy of China in Pakistan. The event was launched in Pakistan in December 2023 and will go through the end of January 2024.

Numerous promotional videos, documentaries, and exhibitions will be aired on China Cultural Center in Pakistan’s official Facebook page, as well as Official WeChat Account, Twitter Account of Zhang Heqing, Cultural Counsellor at the Chinese embassy in Islamabad and the Center’s Director, and other platforms. It aims to help Pakistani audiences and netizens worldwide have a deeper appreciation for China’s ice and snow culture and tourism, which will encourage them to visit China and experience this beauty by themselves.

Ufone 4G, Huawei deploy World’s First Microwave Super Hub Solution in Commercial Network

ISLAMABAD: In a groundbreaking collaboration, Ufone 4G and Huawei have unveiled commercial deployment of world’s first Microwave Super Hub solution, showcasing Huawei's innovative feature of intelligent dynamic power control at large traffic hub sites.

The genesis of the Super Hub stems from the challenges associated with the dense link deployment at hub sites driven by ever growing cellular backhaul demands, the scarcity of existing spectrum resources and the complexities involved in acquiring & maintaining new frequency bands / equipment, all of which led to challenges in high degree of spectrum reuse and scalability. This cutting-edge solution significantly enhances spectral efficiency by allowing for the reuse of the same frequency at a remarkable 20° separation: a phenomenal improvement over the existing industry standard of 90° separation. pReSS ReLeaSe

04 COMMENT

The lost symbol

Old tactics

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The re-arrest of Shah Mahmood Qureshi after release show the old tactics are still used

Evidence that the playing field is tilted

HE re-arrest of PTI Vice Chairman and former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi shows that there are some forces within the government which are not interested in giving his party a level playing field. Mr Qureshi had been granted bail by the Islamabad High Court in the cipher case, for which he had been arrested, and was undergoing trial in jail. He should have been allowed to go free, but an order under the MPO was made by the DC Rawalpindi, putting him under detention so that there would be no disturbance created. Such orders have usually been struck down in the first appearance in a high court. That order was withdrawn the next day, Wednesday, but when Mr Qureshi was released, he was immediately re-arrested, though it was not clear on what charge. It was said that he was being charged with complicity in the events of May 9. That turned out to be the case when he was presented in the court of the duty magistrate on Thursday. The magistrate sent him on a 14day judicial remand, though he denied the police the thee-day physical remand it had also asked for.

Perhaps the problem the police faced was effecting the arrest. Mr Qureshi’s co-accused in the cipher case, PTI Chairman Imran Khan, was not released, though also granted bail, because he was already arrested in the Toshakhana case. However, Mr Qureshi had not been arrested in any other case. Once he had got bail, only that hastily issued MPO order held him in jail, and it was withdrawn before the IHC could rule on it; Mr Qureshi was arrested in the May 9 cases. The most immediate lesson is that the courts are to be set at naught, and if someone is to be held, he will stay held, with at least the administration cooperating. The re-arrest is probably also bad news for Mr Khan, whose May 9 cases have not been touched for some time, as it implies that even if he struggles through the cipher and Toshakhana cases, he and his legal team will still have the May 9 cases to deal with.

The May 9 cases have now become fundamental, with the Returning Officers having all earlier been informed by the Rawalpindi Police about 63 persons accused of involvement in the May 9 attacks. The effort to drive the PTI out of the election seems to be overcoming the need to have a fair election in which all take part.

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor Editor Umar Aziz M. A. Niazi Joint Editor

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Executive Editor

M A niAZi

HE Pakistan Tehrik Insaf has had its symbol taken away from it. Of course, the reason, that it did not follow its own constitution, may have been true, but it did not exactly give the impression of the PTI getting a level playing field for the February 8 elections. This is because the PTI had its intra-party elections scanned with greater attention than other parties did. It has been restored by the Peshawar High Court while it hears an appeal, but that is a rather shaky restoration.

Of course, as the saying goes, two wrongs do not make a right. If one party has not had a proper examination of its claims, that does not preclude one of another’s. The PTI first came under the radar because it failed to conduct the required intra-party elections on time. It finally did so, but instead of a mere formality, dissident member Akbar S. Babar appealed against the elections, and the Election Commission of Pakistan decided that they did not fulfil the requirements for registration.

Perhaps nothing else so symbolises the PTI not enjoying a level playing field as this. It is not really a matter of whether the law has been applied or not, as it appears to have been done correctly. What is of perhaps more consequence is that the law has perhaps been not applied as rigorously to other parties. It may be a factor in the PTI’s case that an appeal was made, and the ECP can say it did not investigate the other parties because no one preferred an appeal, The symbol is given because, at the time it was introduced, the electorate was overwhelmingly illiterate, something which is still true for a majority. The idea was that though the illiterate could not read the name of the candidate or party, they could recognise the symbol and stamp it.

If a party is allotted a symbol, then only one of its candidates gets the symbol, the person named in a letter to the Returning Officer. That letter has to be signed by one of the party officebearer recognised as such by the ECP. In fact, it is that letter which is the ‘party ticket,’ At present, because the PTI has no officebearers whose election is recognised by the ECP, its symbol cannot be allocated. However, as the RO is bound to allocate independent candidates the symbol (from an approved list) they ask for, it is open to the PTI to have its members contest as independents, but to ask for the same symbol in each constituency.

The MQM contested its first election that way, back in 1988, with all its candidates asking for, and getting, the ‘kite’ symbol. They then proceeded to form a group in Parliament, the so-called Haq Parast Group, which was necessary so that they could all be seated together, and not be mixed in with the other independents.

Independents have to make a choice of parties quickly, because the women’s and minorities’ reserved seats are allocated to the parties in proportion to the number of general seats they have won.

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Yousaf Nizami

At Penpoint

Parties make independents join them so that they can claim more seats. Women’s and minorities’ seats are not open to independents, so any PTI members elected would not be able to combine and have their women elected. Another problem for the PTI is the potential for desertion. A party candidate enters the House already committed to the parliamentary party of that party. He is committed to vote according to the decisions of its leader on votes of confidence, votes of no-confidence, and budgets.

Indeed, according to the Supreme Court’s judgement on Article 63A, dealing with floorcrossing, even if he votes against the party whip, his vote is to be counted as being cast as directed.

However, an independent is not so bound. When it is needed by the establishment, even party affiliations do not count. The episode of the formation of the PPP Patriots after the 2002 election, so that the government-backed PML(Q) could get a majority, should be remembered in this context. However, while the concept of a faction being formed exists in India, it does not in Pakistan. That means any PTIaffiliated independents elected could be inveigled into joining some other party. As the PTI independents may contain a proportion of ‘electables’, who are considered obedient to the establishment, and who joined the PTI up to 2018 because they were advised to by the quarters now inimical to it, such independents would be as resistant to changing their colours as the Patriots were.

The PTI already does not have much of a chance.

Its candidates, whether for MNA or MPA, have not only got diminishing chances of winning, in an election where filing their papers has been an uphill struggle, but their party is not going to be even part of the government, let alone the ruling party. That means that affiliation to the PTI will mean that they will have no access to ministries, unless they desert. They will face life as an opposition member, which means that officials who should be submissive will arrogantly insist upon following the rules. Police and revenue officials will display a contumely that had been

Like many other legal provisions, the PPO has been used by the establishment to prick political parties. However, for the first time, it has been used to wound one. Previously, the PPP and the PML(N) remained one step ahead. This time, however, the PTI may have lost its all-important symbol

Fixing Baloch issue with state atrocities?

The Baloch protesters took a discouraging message from Islamabad

Ali JAn MAqsood

SLAMABAD’S brutishness against peaceful Baloch marchers resembled the capital’s approach towards Balochistan from Day One. Where peaceful protests are deemed a right of every citizen under the banner of human rights across the globe, including Pakistan, Baloch have always had to face resistance for the peaceful exercise of that right.

If not a colony, what can we term Balochistan?

What shocks an ordinary and prudent person, excluding Baloch, is sending a committee of ministers for negotiations on one hand, while denying their legal status as equal citizens, on the other. If not hypocrisy, what does one’s dictionary term it?

The state has been very unfair towards the Baloch, but consistently asking the Baloch to be fair to them. One cannot clap with only one hand.

In the Baloch case, the state institutions– including Islamabad police and its masters– have no regard for the superior courts either. When the Islamabad High Court issued orders of releasing the arrested Baloch marchers, including women, children and old-ages, the IGP Islamabad, on record, said they were being released.

The very same night, the Islamabad Police’s official Twitter Account handler tweeted that they were released, on which a committee of federal ministers also held a media conference claiming the same. But it was fake. They were not released then. In fact, they were being pushed inside buses for deportation to Quetta.

As a prominent journalist commented, “With this deportation, the state is sending a message to Balochistan that they are a different country.”

When summoned back in the IHC, with witnesses including the journalist, the IG had to release the given persons the other day– that too very late in the night. But what amazes even more is, the IGP told lies to the superior court, and so did the federal ministers in the conference, but there was no punishment or strict accountability for any of them. Seems like they have an extra bit of privilege owing to their identity. Or perhaps the courts are hapless. If the courts are hapless, why should Baloch protesters demand to produce their loved ones before the courts? Balach was also produced before a court in Turbat, but was killed in a fake encounter later on. How can one believe in courts now?

However, such behaviour is less shocking for Balochistan as these are common things which happen in the Baloch areas routinely. But what has led the world– and the Pakistanis– to close their eyes over all this? Apart from very few, the majority have still closed their eyes towards the Baloch grievances. Let all the rest that happen back in Balochistan, what actually happened in Islamabad only, they have turned a blind eye towards that as well. When they have

no reason to own Balochistan, what pushes the Baloch to do so?

Balochistan, on the other hand, had a belief– somehow– that Islamabad was the city where they could be directly listened to. But after how the city has responded towards the Baloch, they are less likely to travel back to the Pakistani capital for the attainment of their rights and recording their voices. But still you will find several people from the country asking: “What is the problem of the Baloch?”

Each time the Baloch get to face this question. But never do they get an answer. Or perhaps posing the question is what is asked only.

When unheard peacefully, they, more likely the youth, choose other ways to record their protests. When that is done, the state machinery will have no right to even question the youth joining the militancy. Because it is the state which is reluctant to negotiate when they are peaceful. Using water-cannons in the freezing weather, tear gas, and arresting with batoncharges are what Baloch have been facing in the

Friday, 29 December, 2023

country for a lobg time. They are not new, neither successful, attempts to break the Baloch courage, but they contribute to further strengthen the Baloch resistance.

No doubt, Balochistan is presently a war zone. A war between state institutions and “Baloch militants” is underway on power and control of the region. Amidst the war, state institutions are involved in fuelling enforced disappearances of the Baloch, particularly the students. They are then labelled with charges of ‘terrorism’ and are never produced in a court of law. They are sometimes killed extra-judicially as is the recent case of Balach Mola Bakhsh, first abducted for years, as is the case with Zakir Majeed, Dr Deen Mobammad Baloch, Zahid Kurd Baloch, Shabbir Baloch, Asad Baloch and several other Baloch. Apart from stimulating the insurgency and building a sense of hatred for the state, enforced disappearances and killings in fake encounters have contributed no better.

The writer is a freelance columnist

absent as long as there was a PTI government, while the local health and education department officials will no longer carry out the transfers they want.

An MNA or MPA whose party is in the opposition finds that he or she has considerable influence, but that will be nothing compared to what their defeated rivals enjoy. Because of that, because followers attach themselves to the leader who can get them released from prison when they are arrested, get the local patwari to issue a fard without too excessive a fee or get a file moved onwards from the clerk who has been sitting on it, the member might find that being in opposition means a dwindling of support come election time.

The PTI is perhaps in thicker soup than it realizes, because it has now become subject to the sort of schoolboyish interference that reflects both malignity and a low mentality. The PPP experienced this when it obtained the arrow symbol in 1988. Opponents put up independents who got the ‘pencil’ symbol. They clearly did not hope to win, but only to confuse the voters who needed a symbol to know who to vote for.

Such shenanigans have never really worked, which indicates that the electoral symbol is not really that much needed by voters, who are actually very sharp politically, even if illiterate. However, the symbol is needed to make operational the Political Parties Order, under which the ECP passed its orders against the PTI elections. The Order was made in 2002 by the Musharraf regime to control access to the 2002 election. It replaced the 1962 Political Parties Order, which had been promulgated by the Ayub regime, because it was then engaged in preparing the ground for the takeover by Ayub Khan of the Muslim League. It might be remembered that the PML that year split into the pro-Ayub Convention League and the antiAyub Council League.

It might be remembered that legislative control over what constitutes a political party, and executive control over such matters as internal party democracy, are unusual for voluntary associations. The PPO was essentially a means of control. It might be remembered that after it was promulgated, the PPP-Parliamentarians obtained registration with Makhdum Amin Fahim as Chairman, and contested that election. Similarly, the PML(N) had Makhum Javed Hashmi replace Mian Nawaz Sharif as President.

Mian Nawaz Sharif being replaced by brother Shehbaz was also a result.

Like many other legal provisions, the PPO has been used by the establishment to prick political parties. However, for the first time, it has been used to wound one. Previously, the PPP and the PML(N) remained one step ahead. This time, however, the PTI may have lost its all-important symbol.

The writer is a member of staff

Editor’s mail

Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan.

E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively

Enhancing life

ONCE it was akin to heresy if one believed that science could help people live longer. However, with the capture of tinny culprit bacterium under the microscope, it was evident that it was the cause of devastating disease outbreaks across the ancient world, including the black plague. Today, once the killer of humans, bacteria can be utilised to enhance human lives. A Russian scientist named Anatoli Brouchkov has found life-changing bacteria that help humans live longer. The bacterium, named Bacillus F, has been discovered inside the frozen mountains of Siberia. The scientists deem it to be humans’ key to immortality. Should we be worried?

KOMAL ISLAM KARACHI

Digital citizenship

EVERY citizen has a responsibility to respect all members of society, adhere to laws, and avoid plagiarism—a serious offence where one presents someone else’s work as their own. Software privacy involves the illegal reproduction of licensed software for personal use, distribution, or sale, with legal consequences for violators. Maintaining digital civility, following internet ethics, and using computers for legitimate work are crucial practices. Just as in interactions with family and friends, it’s essential to recognize that cybercriminals exploit networks to access personal information through methods like password tracking. Applying basic rules of legality in daily life is equally relevant in cyberspace.

HAJIRA BATOOL RAWALPINDI

Collective impact

No doubt, Balochistan is presently a war zone. A war between state institutions and „Baloch militants‰ is underway on power and control of the region. Amidst the war, state institutions are involved in fuelling enforced disappearances of the Baloch, particularly the students. They are then labelled with charges of ÂterrorismÊ and are never produced in a court of law. They are sometimes killed extra-judicially as is the recent case of Balach Mola Bakhsh, first abducted for years, as is the case with Zakir Majeed, Dr Deen Mobammad Baloch, Zahid Kurd Baloch, Shabbir Baloch, Asad Baloch and several other Baloch.

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

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IN the face of numerous global challenges such as wars, pandemics, and climate change, many individuals feel a sense of despair and hopelessness.

There’s a tendency to wait for a charismatic leader, a ‘superman,’ to emerge and solve these problems. The “Great Men Theory” proposes that history is shaped by a few exceptional individuals, but this oversimplification neglects the role of common people.

Thomas Carlyle’s theory attributing universal history to great men is flawed. History is a collective result of individual actions, from the poorest peasant to the decorated general. Blaming those in power for societal issues is common, but the truth is that everyone shares culpability.

If leaders like Hitler rise to power, it’s because the masses support them.

Leadership is defined by followership.

The character of those in power becomes crucial as the destructive power of states increases. If the masses choose leaders with negative traits, they can’t expect positive outcomes. Little people with questionable qualities are rising to leadership positions, attracting millions of followers.

Leadership, traditionally associated with positive attributes, is now defined by the followers it attracts. The world is facing collapse, and the exceptional individuals who could make a difference are not chosen as leaders.

The rise of figures like Trump is attributed to personal and impersonal factors, with populism playing a significant role. Masses are behind the rise of populism, contributing to leaders’ ascent.

Common people have become pessimistic, waiting for a saviour instead of realising their own potential. They blame the system for their inaction. However, individual actions can bring about change, as seen in examples like Muhammad Bouazizi. Instead of waiting for great leaders, individuals should strive to effect change themselves and be receptive to the ideas of truly talented people.

HALEEMA SADIA KALLAR SYEDAN

Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

Terrorism on foreign soil

COMMENT 05

Friday, 29 December, 2023

International law and role of the International community

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dr MOhaMMed Nafees Zakaria

ERRORISM is condemnable. Terrorism sponsored by a UN member on the soil of another UN sovereign member is a punishable crime, whether it is seen under domestic law or International. When these terrorist acts are committed by a UN member state on a community discriminated against for their belief, religion or culture with the aim of exterminating or terrorizing to deter or suppress them, or for causing displacement or mass exodus or crush their right to self-determination, then it falls in the domain of crimes against humanity for which there are international laws, Conventions and judicial mechanisms demand the perpetrators be called to account, irrespective of whether the sponsors are states or individual perpetrators.

India, the so-called world’s largest democracy (mocker racy) has a history of wars against people of various ethnic, religious and culture orientations including the Naxal-Maoist people, Sikh Community, and peoples of the north-east states called the Seven Sisters namely; Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland.

Successive Indian Governments have been endeavouring to suppress and terrorise these communities. Persecution of the people belonging to the identified states and Jammu and Kashmir have been going on during successive Indian governments, but this became more pronounced, making headlines in the international media constantly ever since the BJP Government under Modi’s leadership assumed the helm.

Extrajudicial killings, public lynchings,

enforced disappearances, and demographic changes are the hallmarks of PM Narendra Modi’s regime.

The international community’s apathy, particularly the criminal silence maintained by the USA, which is nurturing India as a counterweight to China, and the double standards of the world’s champions of democracy and human rights, have encouraged India so much that it has started carrying out assassinations of the leaders of the Sikh community on foreign soils.

The assassination of Canadian Sikh Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, in June this year sent shock waves across the globe.

Early this month, the US Department of Justice announced that it had foiled an alleged plot by an Indian official to assassinate a Sikh activist and US citizen in New York City.

It is important to assess the reactions of both the USA and Canada following the assassination in Canada of its citizen and the unearthing of an assassination plot in the USA. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service submitted a report in 2017 to warn the Canadian Government that Indian Intelligence Agency RAW’s networks in Canada were planning attacks on Sikhs in Canada and to influence elections in Canada with the Indian diplomatic mission’s facilitation.

The Report identified two diplomats. CSIS had irrefutable evidence of Indian manoeuvring in the 2016 elections. But vested interests stopped the Canadian government from taking action. The Indian activities

continued while the Canadian government looked the other way.

However, the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar compelled PM Justin Trudeau to reveal before Parliament that at the G-20 summit in India he had told US President Joe Biden and PM Modi that India had killed Nijjar. Trudeau then went public.

The US government’s reaction to the Indian involvement in the killing of Nijjar has been a muted one. Even after the US Justice Department’s unearthing of the assassination plot and the close US-Canada working under the 5 Eye intelligence mechanism, there had not been any reaction of consequence to India. The USA had always envisioned India as a lynchpin of its policy in the Asia-Pacific to counter China’s exponential economic rise as a challenger to US dominance and Russian assertion of its military might. The USA’s vested interest to court India as its proxy in the region of its two historical Great Game adversaries and challengers, the USA has crossed all limits to favour India.

It did not sanction India over its purchase of S-400 missiles from Russia while it sanctioned others for the same breach of the US sanctions act called ‘Countering American Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) of 2017.’ The US also did not object to Indian overtures to Iran despite the US sanctions against Iran. The US has been massively assisting India to build its arms with technology transfer.

The USA has signed three foundational and strategically very sensitive agreements during 2016-2020, called LEMOA, COMCASA and BECA. The USA exercises double standards selectively. Besides India in

There are numerous reports of inhuman treatment meted out to the Sikh minority in India including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and other world human rights organizations. If the assassination on foreign soil goes unpunished it will set an ugly precedent that would render the UN and International Conventions irrelevant

Why is CIA openly discussing its misdeeds against China?

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The CIA has indicated that rebuilding its spy network in China is currently their main focus and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future GLOBAL TIMES editOrial

HE information leaked by some former and current US intelligence officials to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has truly made people speechless. It is claimed that the CIA’s spy network in China, which was “systematically rounded up” by Chinese counter-intelligence a decade ago, has been difficult to recover. The CIA claimed that it is currently struggling to rebuild the network.

CIA Director William Burns revealed that the budget resources devoted to the China mission have more than doubled over the past three years.

As is well-known, the US has been engaging in large-scale, indiscriminate surveillance and espionage worldwide for a long time, earning itself the title of a veritable “surveillance empire.” Such actions, which are essentially clandestine and go against international law and fundamental norms of international relations, cannot withstand public scrutiny. However, when Americans openly discuss these activities, there is no sense of shame or guilt. Instead, there is even a somewhat inexplicable sense of “justice,” as if engaging in espionage is a privilege exclusively enjoyed by the US. This is not due to the “good psychological disposition” of the US but rather a manifestation of unbridled audacity and shamelessness that has developed after prolonged dominance - the ugly display of the “American exceptionalism” doctrine.

However, at the same time, this perplexing, lengthy article helps us understand why American political elites often fall into a kind of paranoid delusion, believing that China is constantly surveilling military bases across the US, eavesdropping on sensitive information,

and stealing vital documents, among other things. Despite possessing the world’s most formidable national strength, they exhibit a heightened sense of insecurity. If the outside world found it hard to understand this in the past, this WSJ article indicates that their fear ironically stems from their own actions.

The WSJ has exposed quite a bit this time. Firstly, it revealed the public proclamation by the CIA of engaging in espionage activities against China, possibly in an attempt to exaggerate its own value and seek increased budgetary support from Congress. However, this also amounts to self-incrimination. When the US hypes and targets alleged “Chinese spies,” it consistently fails to provide concrete evidence.

Instead, it initiates a smear campaign against China and subsequently demands China to prove its innocence. This pattern reveals that the US is fully aware of the lack of legitimacy in these “spy” allegations, yet shamelessly continues to clamor as if “no one can do anything about it.” The US is always very self-confident for being “right,” but its notion of “righteousness” differs fundamentally from the universally accepted definition.

Secondly, it proves that China’s counter-espionage work is highly effective. It has dismantled the US spy network in China and prevented it from rebuilding for 10 years. This is a major achievement in counter-espionage, causing the US to stumble in the face of China’s robust antiespionage defense. When China revised its Counter-Espionage Law, it faced criticism from Western public opinion. Now it appears that the intention behind this criticism was to pressure China into removing its defenses and allowing their spies to operate freely within China’s borders. Fortunately, China has not fallen into this trap.

China has been able to defend against espionage in the past, and will also have the

ability to render CIA infiltration useless in the future.

Thirdly, it reminds us that the string of counter-espionage must be tightened.

The CIA has indicated that rebuilding its spy network in China is currently their main focus and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future. In 2021, there were reports that the CIA established a mission center for China, the only single-country mission center at the agency.

All of this may make the situation of China’s counter-espionage more complex and severe. It is important to emphasize that the fight against espionage does not conflict with China’s high-level opening-up to the outside world, and normal foreign exchanges will not be disturbed or affected. Tightening the string of counter-espionage does not mean suspecting every foreigner as a spy just because of their nationality.

This year, Chinese singer Dao Lang released a highly popular song called “Luocha Haishi,” which has been played over 10 billion times, breaking the Guinness World Record. The “Luocha Kingdom” in the song is inspired by Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, a collection of Classical Chinese stories by Qing dynasty writer Pu Songling, in which ugliness is portrayed as beauty and black and white are confused. Many Chinese netizens have noticed that this “Luocha Kingdom” is very similar to today’s US in many aspects. The WSJ article vividly depicts the CIA’s portrayal of ugliness as beauty and the confusion of black and white. The mainstream perception of the international community cannot be distorted. After the illegal surveillance by the US on its allies such as South Korea, Japan, and Germany was exposed, these countries ultimately chose to swallow insult and humiliation silently, but China cannot do the same.

federal oversight. To further increase transparency, Congress recently passed a bipartisan bill tightening the requirements for reporting foreign gifts. Lowering the reporting threshold from $250,000 to $50,000. For adversarial countries, the threshold would be $0. The Deterrent Act passed the U.S. House on December 6, 2023, with 31 Democrats voting with Republicans to pass the bill.

According to a recent study, higher levels of campus antisemitism and a decline in free speech norms are associated with unreported foreign funding of American universities from authoritarian governments. An astounding 300% increase in antisemitism at U.S. universities has been linked to $13 billion in undisclosed foreign funds from 2014 to 2019. The undisclosed donations had been made by governments in the Middle East,

China, and Russia. Harvard, Yale, and Georgetown Universities were among the top recipients of concealed donations.

China, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia are three of the top five countries that have donated billions of dollars to American universities. “Roughly one out of every four of those [gifts and grants] have come from” China, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, which “often don’t have U.S. interests at heart,” according to Adam Andrzejewski, CEO of Open The Books.

The largest source of funding was Qatar, which contributed about $5 billion, and Saudi Arabia, which contributed about $3 billion. Chinese students attend American universities at a higher rate than those of any other nation, and since 2014, the Chinese government has given more than $1 billion to support higher education in the country.

Foreign funding of the US academia

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OFF THE PRESS Overview

OREIGN nations have donated $43 billion to American universities since 1990. The Department of Education published a report in October 2020 that highlighted funding from foreign adversaries was “massively underreported” by elite universities. The conclusions were drawn from investigations into the underreporting of millions of dollars’ worth of gifts and contracts from China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar at twelve prestigious American universities.

Since 1986, Universities were required by the federal government to report gifts and contracts they received from overseas nations but the reporting requirements had been hampered by lax

Asia-Pacific, the USA courts Israel in view of its strategic interests in the oil-rich Middle East. Currently, a case in point is American cruel bias against Palestine in the face of the ongoing genocide by Israel in Gaza.

Given the US influence over Australia and its practical demonstration on a number of occasions, it can’t be ruled out that Australian discrimination against the Sikhs whereby it did not allow the Referendum for Khalistan, recently, could be under pressure of the USA. The condemnable Indian act of assassination of Hardeep Singh achieved two objectives. One, messaging to the Sikhs pursuing the Khalistan movement that they were not beyond India’s reach regardless of their location. Two, embarrassing Canada for rejecting Indian objections to allowing the Khalistan Referendum in Canada in September 2022 and issuing adverse travel advisory for visitors to India. It was a message for the Canadian leadership that India could kill its citizens at will and it couldn’t do anything about it.

Even though India conspired to kill a Canadian citizen in its sovereign territory, the reaction was not close to what any other sovereign state would have taken. Lack of warranted reaction damaged Canada’s reputation among its own citizens and expatriates’ community.

Canada remains massively under the USA influence given Canada’s economic and commercial dependence on the USA to the extent of 80 percent.

There is no doubt India mastered the art of staging terrorist attacks not just on its own soil while blaming others, but also on foreign soils.

Use of foreign soil for perpetrating terrorism by India is not a new phenomenon.

None other than the US Secretary of Defence, Chuck Hagel, said in 2011 that: “India Finances Trouble in Afghanistan’s neighbouring country using Afghan soil.”

His statement was later authenticated by the voluntary statements made by Ehsanullah Ehsan, who was first the spokesperson for the terrorist organizations like the Tehrik Taliban Pakistan and later Jamaat ul Ahrar.

Ehsan shared how Indian state agency RAW funded the two terrorist organizations for terrorist activities.

The departure of the British Empire from the Subcontinent was envisaged as ush-

ering in an era for coming into existence of a number of new states. Sikhs were among the significant entities with their history of sovereignty in line with the Sikh religious teachings of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak. They eyed Punjab to be their Khalistan but with Muslims in majority, Punjab was divided. However, the connivance between the British Empire and Hindu Leaders was instrumental in the drawing of boundaries with inferior designs.

Sikhs have ruled part of the Subcontinent during the 19th century under Maharaja Ranjit Singh and fought wars with the British. It would not be beyond conception to think that the British, in view of their adversarial past with the Sikh Empire and Hindus being Sikh Empire’s subjects, devised the lasting problematic partition plan for 1947. Indian hostility against Sikh community is the most targeted one. The region and its people have been in turbulence ever since. Mistreatment of Sikhs as a minority, gave an impetus to their separatist campaign called Khalistan Movement. 2023 witnessed overwhelming votes in a referendum in favour of an independent state for the Sikhs.

In 1984, the then Indian PM Indra Gandhi ordered ‘Operation Blue Star’ to crush the Khalistan Movement. Sikhs leadership was targeted while Sikh temples or gurdwaras including their most sacred Golden Temple, were destroyed. A large number of Sikh leaders were killed in the operation.

There are numerous reports of inhuman treatment meted out to the Sikh minority in India including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and other world human rights organizations. If the assassination on foreign soil goes unpunished it will set an ugly precedent that would render the UN and International Conventions irrelevant.

The writer is a seasoned diplomat with expertise in Peace and Security, having served in various international roles. He is the Founder Patron-in-Chief of the Belt and Road Initiative for Sustainable Development (BRISD) and can be reached at nafees111@gmail.com.

Israel’s butcher’s bill is growing as never-ending conflict beckons Netanyahu is, however, promising that the destruction of Hamas will take place ‘in full compliance with international law’, begging the question what sort of international law books he is consulting

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MIDDLE EAST MONITOR dr BiNOy kaMpMark

HE Governor of the Bank of Israel is worried. Amir Yaron is keeping an eye on the ballooning costs of his country’s war against the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. The government of Benjamin Netanyahu promised initially to increase the defence budget by NIS 20 billion ($5.48bn) per annum in the aftermath of the war.

However, according to a document from the Finance Ministry presented to the Knesset Finance Committee on 25 December, that figure is likely to be NIS 10bn higher.

The ministry is also projecting that the war against the Palestinians will cost somewhere in the order of NIS 50bn ($13.8bn). Of this, NIS 9.6bn will go towards expenses such as evacuating residents close to the nominal international borders in the north and south of the occupation state, buttressing emergency forces, and rehabilitation.

The increased military budget is predictable and in keeping with the proclivities of the Israeli state. What is striking is that Prime Minister Netanyahu has regarded Israeli defence expenditure as generally inadequate when looked at as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP).

Between 2012 and 2022, military expenditure as a percentage of GDP fell from 5.64 per cent to 4.51 per cent. Doing so enables him to have two bites at the same rotten cherry: to claim he was blameless for that decline in military expenditure; and to show that he intends to rectify a problem for which he was hardly blameless.

The mid-December supplementary budget for 2023, NIS 28.9bn, was intended to cover the ongoing conflict with the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia. Its approval, though, was hardly universal. Opponents of the budget noted the allocation of hundreds of millions of shekels towards “coalition funds” intended for non-war related projects relevant to parliamentarians and ministers. Benny Gantz’s National Unity Party, a coalition partner, would have nothing to do with it. Intelligence minister Gila Gamliel was absent from the vote, while Yuli Edelstein of Netanyahu’s own Likud Party abstained. Opposition leader Yair Lapid pointed his finger at the rising budget deficit.

Bank Governor Yaron gave vent to some of his concerns on 18 December. “During this pe-

riod, more than at any other time, and as investors, rating agencies, financial markets and the public as a whole are carefully examining policymaking in Israel, it is necessary to manage economic policy – fiscal and monetary – with great responsibility,” he urged.

Rising body counts interest Yaron less than budget figures and reputational damage in the markets, although killing Palestinians is proving an expensive business. “The government will have to find the right balance between financing war expenses and the expected increase in the defence budget and the need to continue investing in other civilian budgets, which are already low, in particular in growth engines such as infrastructure and education.”

He has every reason to assume that costs will continue to balloon. For one thing, Netanyahu’s idea of peace in the current conflict reads like a blueprint for ongoing, lengthy massacres, accompanied by permanent mass incarceration; the destruction of Hamas itself; the demilitarisation of Gaza; and a Palestinian society free of so-called radical elements. This is a nightmare for humanitarians and the belt-tighteners in the finance ministry alike.

Notably, the plan says nothing about Palestinian statehood which, in the scheme of Israel’s aims, has been euthanised. Gaza, the designated monstrosity Israel nourished as a supposedly useful tool to keep Palestinian ambitions in check, is to be turned into a prison entity that sounds pretty much like it was prior to the 7 October attack by Hamas.

A “temporary security zone on the perimeter of Gaza and an inspection mechanism on the border between Gaza and Egypt” will be established in accordance with “Israel’s security needs”. The zone will also serve to prevent “smuggling of weapons into the territory”, which sounds much like the original blockade, lasting 16 years and counting, that was meant to achieve the same objective.

Netanyahu is, however, promising that the destruction of Hamas will take place “in full compliance with international law”, begging the question what sort of international law books he is consulting. Given various official statements from his cabinet and the Israel Defence Forces, it must be the law of the jungle.

That same standard of legal analysis has permitted the generously expansive massacre of over 20,000 Palestinians, more than half of whom were children and women, the ongoing flattening of Gaza, and the total destruction of critical infrastructure.

Given that Israeli law, alongside military and administrative policy, does nothing other than encourage the radicalisation of Palestinians and the fertilising of resistance soil, this is delusionary. The current war will simply prove to be the same as previous ones: protean, adjustable and shape changing. Seemingly never-ending conflict by other means beckons, with the continued growth of hatred, leaving Israel with a massive butcher’s bill and a growing casualty list that it is only now chewing over.

06 NEWS

US ALLIES RELUCTANT ON RED SEA TASK FORCE

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ROME/ MADRID/ WASHINGTON agenCieS

S President Joe Biden hoped to present a firm international response to Yemen’s Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping by launching a new maritime force, but a week after its launch many allies don’t want to be associated with it, publicly, or at all.

Two of America’s European allies who were listed as contributors to Operation Prosperity Guardian – Italy and Spain – issued statements appearing to distance themselves from the maritime force.

The Pentagon says the force is a defensive coalition of more than 20 nations to ensure billions of dollars’ worth of commerce can flow freely through a vital shipping chokepoint in Red Sea waters off Yemen.

But nearly half of those countries have so far not come forward to acknowledge their contributions or allowed the US to do so. Those contributions can range from dispatching warships to merely sending a staff officer.

The reluctance of some US allies to link themselves to the effort partly reflects the fissures created by the conflict in Gaza, which has seen Biden maintain firm support for Israel even as international criticism rises over its offensive, which Gaza’s health ministry says has killed more than 21,000 Palestinians.

“European governments are very worried that part of their potential electorate will turn against them,” said David Hernandez, a professor of international relations at the

Friday, 29 December, 2023 | KARACHI

Complutense University of Madrid, noting that the European public is increasingly critical of Israel and wary of being drawn into a conflict.

The Houthis have attacked or seized a dozen ships with missiles and drones since Nov 19.

The navies of the United States, Britain and France have each shot down Houthilaunched drones or missiles.

A person familiar with Biden administration thinking said the US believes escalating Houthi attacks call for an international response separate from the conflict raging in Gaza. The Rea Sea is the entry point for ships using the Suez Canal, which handles about 12% of worldwide trade and is vital for the movement of goods between Asia and Europe. Houthi attacks have seen some ships rerouted around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, substantially increasing sailing time and costs.

Denmark’s giant container firm Maersk said on Saturday it would resume shipping operations in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. But Germany’s Hapag Lloyd said on Wednesday it still believes the Red Sea is too dangerous and will continue to send ships around the Cape of Good Hope.

While the US says 20 countries have signed up for its maritime task force, it has announced the names of only 12.

“We’ll allow other countries, defer to them to talk about their participation,” US Major General Patrick Ryder told reporters last week.

The EU has signaled its support of the maritime task force with a joint statement

condemning the Houthi attacks.

Although Britain, Greece and others have publicly embraced the US operation, several mentioned in the US announcement were quick to say they are not directly involved.

Italy’s defense ministry said that it would send a ship to the Red Sea following requests from Italian ship owners and not as part of the US operation. France said it supports efforts to secure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea but that its ships would remain under French command.

Spain has said it will not join Operation Prosperity Guardian and opposes using an existing EU anti-piracy mission, Atalanta, to protect Red Sea shipping. But on Wednesday, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he was willing to consider the creation of a different mission to tackle the problem.

Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates earlier proclaimed no interest in the venture Public anger over Israel’s Gaza offensive helps explain some of the reluctance of political leaders. A recent Yougov poll found that strong majorities of Western Europeans – particularly Spain and Italy – think Israel should stop military action in Gaza.

There is also the risk that participating countries become subject to Houthi retaliation. The person familiar with the U.S. administration’s thinking says that it is this risk – rather disagreements over Gaza – driving some countries to steer clear of the effort.

That appears to be the case for India, which is unlikely to join the U.S. operation, according to a senior Indian military official.

An Indian government official said the gov-

ernment worries that aligning itself with the U.S. could make it more of a target.

In reality, many European and Gulf countries already participate in one of several U.S.-led military groups in the Middle East, including the 39-nation Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).

The EU’s Atalanta operation already cooperates in a “reciprocal relationship” with CMF, according to a spokesperson for the group. That means that some countries not formally joining the Red Sea maritime task force could still coordinate patrols with the US Navy.

For example, while Italy – a member of Atalanta – has not said it will join Operation Prosperity Guardian, an Italian government source told Reuters that the US -led coalition is satisfied with Italy’s contribution.

The source added that the decision to

China-US military video call ‘positive and constructive,’ says China BEIJING

Staff CorreSpondent

A recent video call between the chiefs of staff of the Chinese and U.S. militaries has produced positive and constructive outcomes, the Chinese Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

Chief of the Joint Staff Department of China’s Central Military Commission Liu Zhenli held talks via video link with Charles Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the U.S. military, on December 21.

During the talks, the two sides exchanged candid and in-depth views on implementing the important military-related consensus reached between the two heads of state in San Francisco and on other issues of common interest, said Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry, at a monthly press briefing in Beijing. “The video call yielded positive and constructive outcomes.”

The conversation between the two military representatives came weeks after Chinese President Xi Jinping met with his U.S. counterpart, Joe Biden, in San Fran-

cisco, where the two leaders agreed to resume a respectful and equitable high-level military-to-military communication, the China-U.S. Defense Policy Coordination Talks, and the China-U.S. Military Maritime Consultative Agreement meetings and conduct telephone conversations between theater commanders.

“Going forward, we expect the U.S. side to work with us in the same direction

and take concrete actions on the basis of equality and respect to promote the sound and steady development of the ChinaU.S. military-to-military relationship,” said Wu at Thursday’s briefing.

As for specific exchange programs, the defense authorities of the two countries are in communication and coordination with each other, he added.

Commerce Ministry hits back at U.S.

investigation into China-made legacy chips The Chinese Ministry of Commerce on Thursday criticized the U.S. move to investigate the use and procurement of China-made legacy ships in the supply chain of its semiconductor and defense industries.

The U.S. Commerce Department said recently that it will conduct the investigation to evaluate the industries’ reliance on Chinese chips to minimize what it calls “national security risks posed by China.”

Speaking at a regular press briefing on Thursday, He Yadong, spokesperson for the Ministry, said any behavior that violates market rules and fragments the global semiconductor market will not only harm the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies but also the interests of semiconductor companies of all countries, including the United States. It will disrupt the stability of the global industrial and supply chains.

China will pay close attention to the development and impacts of the U.S. measure and resolutely safeguard its own interests, the spokesperson added.

Iran’s supreme leader leads funeral prayers for senior Revolutionary Guards adviser SYRIA

agenCieS

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei led prayers on Thursday at the funeral of Sayyed Razi Mousavi, a senior Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) adviser killed in what Iran said was an Israeli air strike in Syria.

State television said Khamenei paid tribute “to this martyr’s tireless struggle and called for his companionship with the guardians of God.” Mousavi was one of the most experienced and effective commanders of the resistance front, said Major General Hossein Salami, chief commander of the Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

“Our revenge for the martyrdom of Sayyed Razi will be nothing less than the removal of the Zionist regime,” Salami said in a televised funeral speech, adding that he

had defended the Muslim nation for almost 33 years.

“I am hopeful that soon, God permitting, the great and honorable Palestinian fighters will wipe out the geographical and political name of this evil and fake

regime.” Mourners chanted “Death to America, Death to Israel”.

Musavi’s body was flown from Syria to the holy Shi’ite city of Najaf in Iraq on Wednesday before being taken for burial in Tehran.

An Israeli military spokesperson declined specific comment about Mousavi’s death on Monday, but said it took whatever action was necessary to defend the country. Since the eruption of war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7, Iran-backed groups have mounted operations against Israel, while others, including resistance groups in Iraq, have threatened US interests. For years, Israel has carried out attacks against what it describes as Iran-linked targets in Syria, where Tehran’s influence has grown since it backed President Bashar al-Assad in the civil war that erupted in 2011.

send a naval frigate as part of existing operations was a way to speed the deployment and did not require a new parliamentary authorization.

The US effort to draw international support for its Red Sea security push comes as the United States faces pressure on multiple fronts from Iran’s military proxies in the region. So far, the United States has carried out limited retaliatory air strikes against the resistance groups in Iraq and Syria, but it has refrained from doing so in Yemen.

Michael Mulroy, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East under the Trump administration, said the Pentagon’s goal with the new maritime coalition appeared to be to make any future Houthi attacks an international issue in order to divorce it from the IsraelHamas war.

India reports 702 fresh Covid cases, 6 deaths in last 24 hours: report NEW DELHI agenCieS

A recent surge in Covid-19 cases in India has led to six deaths and 702 new infections reported across the country as of Thursday, local media reports said citing the latest figures from the Indian health ministry With this, the country’s active caseload stands at 4,097 amid growing concerns about the new JN.1 Covid variant, which was first reported in New Delhi on Wednesday, the city’s Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj was quoted by Indian media. Two of the deaths were reported in Maharashtra, and one each in Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal and New Delhi within the last 24 hours. Classified as a variant of interest by the World Health Organisation (WHO), JN.1 is a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant and has been identified as the most prevalent strain in the United States, accounting for over 44 per cent of cases there.

The resurgence of cases in India is being closely monitored after the JN.1 variant was detected across several states, with the health ministry reporting a total of 109 cases as of December 26. The highest number of cases were reported in Gujarat and Karnataka, with 36 and 34 cases respectively, followed

by Goa, Maharashtra, Kerala, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana.

India targeting high-profile journalists with spyware: Amnesty NEW DELHI

India’s government has recently targeted high-profile journalists with Pegasus spyware, Amnesty International and The Washington Post said in a joint investigation published Thursday. Created by Israeli firm NSO Group and sold to governments around the world, Pegasus software can be used to access a phone’s messages and emails, peruse photos, eavesdrop on calls, track locations and even film the owner with the camera. Amnesty said journalists Siddharth Varadarajan of The Wire and Anand Mangnale of The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project had been targeted with the spyware on their iPhones, with the latest identified case occurring in October.

“Our latest findings show that increasingly, journalists in India face the threat of unlawful surveillance simply for doing their jobs, alongside other tools of repression including imprisonment under draconian laws, smear campaigns, harassment, and intimidation,” said Donncha O Cearbhaill, Head of Amnesty International’s Security Lab.

Chinese Defense Ministry vows measures against US-back Philippine provocations BEIJING

Staff CorreSpondent

The Chinese Defense Ministry on Thursday vowed not to turn a blind eye toward the Philippines’ repeated provocations and harassment, and demanded that the US immediately stop interfering in the South China Sea issue.

Spokesperson Senior Colonel Wu Qian made the statements at a regular press conference on Thursday when asked to comment on remarks from the Philippines that the China Coast Guard (CCG) used water cannons to attack and rammed Philippine vessels near Ren’ai Jiao (also known as Ren’ai Reef), and used long-range sonic devices and military-grade lasers against Philippine crew members.

Wu denied the Philippine hype, reiterating that it was the Philippine side that disregarded repeated warnings from the Chinese side, insisted on sending vessels to intrude into the adjacent waters of China’s Ren’ai Jiao, and provocatively rammed a China

Coast Guard vessel and caused a scratch.

The CCG took necessary enforcement measures in accordance with law, which were totally justified and legitimate, Wu said, adding that China has no intention or necessity to use the so-called sonic or laser weapon. Wu noted that the Philippine side had claimed to be carrying humanitarian supplies, but the supply vessels were actually carrying journalists and they propagated disinformation.

“In my view, these are not humanitarian supplies at all, it is deliberately creating an incident, playing victim and putting on a show in the guise of humanitarian supplies,” Wu said. China is always committed to resolving differences through dialogue and consultation and making joint efforts to maintain maritime stability, but we will not turn a blind eye toward the Philippines’ repeated provocations and harassment, the spokesperson said.

Chen Xiangmiao, director of the World Navy Research Center at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told

the Global Times that the CCG’s measures including the use of water cannons were very restrained, as they are defensive, not aggressive.

But China’s restraint is based on the premise that it must safeguard its rights and interests, which must not be challenged or doubted, Chen said.

At the Defense Ministry press conference, Wu also slammed the US’ groundless criticism of China’s safeguarding of legitimate rights, saying that the US incited the Philippines’ provocations for its own selfish interests and attempted to use the USPhilippines Mutual Defense Treaty to threaten China. “This does not work on China,” he said.

The Ren’ai Jiao issue is between China and the Philippines, and has nothing to do with any third party, Wu said, demanding that the US immediately stop interfering in the South China Sea issue, stop inciting the Philippines’ infringing provocations, and safeguard regional peace and stability through action.

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Friday, 29 December, 2023 | KARACHI

CORPORATE CORNER

Former principal National College of Arts Ustad Bashir Ahmed Bobby takes keen interest in artwork at an exhibition.

OGDCL organizes three-day free surgical eye camp at Chak Naurang Oil Field in Chakwal ISLAMABAD

staff report

The Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, organized a three-day Free Surgical Eye Camp at its CSR Dispensary in Chak Naurang, located in the Chakwal district of Punjab in collaboration with the Al-Shifa Eye Trust Hospital. The eye camp, held from December 24 to 26, aimed to provide essential eye care services to the local community. During the free eye camp, a total number of 1290 patients were screened at the OPD and received essential preliminary assessments.

Among them, 762 patients were provided with vision glasses, and 40 patients received post-operation dark glasses. Special glasses were provided to 285 patients, addressing specific visual needs.

Moreover, 55 patients underwent Lab/COVID-19 tests during the camp. Furthermore, a total number of 40 eye surgeries were performed, contributing to the long-term improvement of the patients' eye health. Patients who availed themselves of the services expressed their complete satisfaction with the overall process at the eye camp. OGDCL, under its CSR program, covered all expenses incurred during the three-day camp, including laser/phaco surgery, provision of vision glasses, and medicines. OGDCL is committed to enhancing the health and wellbeing of communities in and around its operational areas. Through corporate social responsibility initiatives, OGDCL aims to positively impact the lives of residents and contribute to the overall prosperity of the regions it serves. The Executive Director (HR/Admin) and General Manager (CSR) of OGDCL also visited the eye camp site and met with staff of eye camp and also patients and other community members.

AirSial turns three as management cuts cake SIALKOT

staff report

The management of AirSial organized a ceremony to mark the three 3 years of operation. In this regard, AirSial Chairman Fazal Jilani, CEO Amin Ahsan, Senior Vice Chairman Qaiser Iqbal Baryar, Vice Chairman Umar Mir, Chaudhry Umar Nawaz Saroya and other staff members cut a cake to celebrate the auspicious occasion at AirSial head office.

On the occasion, the AirSial top management reiterated their commitment to maintain quality of service and modern facilities to the passengers.

They also announced that from the mid-January of 2024, the airline will start operations for UK, adding that the AirSial will flights for UAE, Qatar, Iraq and Iran in the new year and AirSial has completed all necessary rules and regulations in this regard. On the other hand, industrial, social and police personalities of Sialkot and journalists have congratulated Chairman Air Sial Fazal Jilani, CEO Amin Ahsan, Senior Vice Chairman Qaiser Iqbal Baryar, Vice Chairman Umar Mir, Chaudhry Umar Nawaz Saroya on achieving the three years milestone. They expressed the hope that the airline will further the standard of its services and will provide better and modern facilities to the passengers.

Govt urged to curb illicit trade for sustainable socio-economic growth in Pakistan ISLAMABAD

staff report

Addressing illicit trade is vital for Pakistan's longterm socio-economic progress. This not only provides essential revenue to the government but also boosts investments in crucial areas like health, education, and infrastructure, which are key for the nation's advancement. An international report on tax evasion has pointed out the significant impact of illicit trade on Pakistan’s economy. The report highlights a startling difference in tax collection due to illegal activities in important sectors such as real estate, tobacco, tyres and lubricants, pharmaceuticals, and tea. Alone tobacco sector causing Rs 240 billion to the economy. The report indicates an annual loss of about Rs. 956 billion to the national exchequer due to illicit trade in these five sectors.

This substantial loss emphasizes the urgent need to address illegal trade and fortify the country's economic foundation. Shifting trade from illegal to formal channels brings numerous socio-economic benefits. This approach supports sustainable economic growth by allowing the government to allocate resources to critical sectors such as health, education, and infrastructure, in a way that promotes inclusive growth and social welfare.

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BHC ANNULS SBK TESTS, ORDERS RE-TAKING OF TESTS FOR EDUCATION DEPARTMENT VACANCIES news

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obaid abrar Khan

HE Balochistan High Court (BHC) has annulled Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University’s test for education department vacancies and ordered re-taking of all tests through Higher Education Commission (HEC).

The court ordered that HEC will conduct the test before 29 February 2024 and complete all the processes before 31 March 2024.

The court also ordered to submit inquiry report on the test against the 8690 vacant posts of different nomenclatures of teaching staff (BPS-09 to 15) conducted by Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University (SBKWU).

The judgment, available with Pakistan Today, states that the education Department on the strength that gross illegalities and irregularities are being committed in the Department particularly

by the ex-government (Education Minister), while the test conducted by the department through Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University (SBKWU) is also against the recruitment policy framed by the Government of Balochistan.

The order said the SBKWU is neither a qualified body to conduct test nor is having any testing service and nor even any experience to conduct such test, that too of the teaching staff at school level. The appointment of such a large number of teachers through an unauthorized and inexperience body in haphazard and cursory manner clearly demonstrates the intention of the appointing authority, however, no concrete steps were taken to ensure the transparency in the entire process.

BHC in its judgment said appointments are being made on basis of nepotism, favoritism, corrupt practices and corruption will have direct impact upon the future generation of the province at large; that the appointments are being

made on the basis Recruitment Policy 2019, however, the said policy is neither transparent nor in line with the judgments rendered by this court from time to time.

The judgment said SBKWU was awarded contract to conduct the test against the vacant posts, however, the university has further sublet the contract to a private testing service, which is again in violation of the Policy; whereas this court in number of judgments has declared the process of conducting test through private testing service to be illegal, but again awarding the contract or subletting the contract to the private testing service is not only illegal but in clear violation of the judgments of this court.

The Secretary S&GAD while agreeing with the proposal also pointed out that the Provincial Cabinet in its meeting held on 12th August 2020 has already expressed dissatisfaction on Private Testing Service, thus, the Provincial Minster for Education Balochistan and Provincial Minister for Law & Parliamentary Affairs

approached several universities outside Balochistan to find out if they were interested in conducting the screening test.

However, only IBA Sukkur and NUML University expressed their interest, but the Chief Minister while approving the name of the NUML University also directed to solicit the expression of interest of Universities in Balochistan for conducting the screening test and interviews. Meanwhile, the SBKWU submitted bids, which being lowest was accepted and Letter of Acceptance dated 20th February 2023, was issued to the SBKWU, thereafter, contract agreement dated 23rd February 2023 was executed between the parties.

The BHC ordered to issue new advertisement for inviting fresh applications shall be made within 15 days, while the testing process shall be initiated by or before 15th January 2024, which shall be completed by or before 29th February 2024 and thereafter, the process shall be completed before 31st March 2024.

HBFC signs term finance facility agreement with HBL to strengthen its home financing portfolio KARACHI

staff report

House Building Finance Company (HBFC), Pakistan's pioneering specialized housing finance institution with a legacy spanning over 70 years, has officially signed a Term Finance Facility Agreement with HBL, Pakistan’s leading bank.

Under the terms of this agreement, HBL becomes the first commercial bank to provide PKR 1 billion to HBFC payable over 5 years, earmarked for the expansion of HBFC’s home finance portfolio.

This strategic initiative will enable HBFC to effectively pursue its mission of making accessible and affordable housing loans available to its targeted client base.

Faisal N. Lalani, Head International Banking - HBL commenting on the alliance expressed, “HBL

Passing out parade held at PAF Airmen Academy Korangi creek consistently seeks opportunities for meaningful collaboration. We recognize HBFC as a trustworthy partner for fostering growth in the housing finance sector. This partnership underscores our shared commitment to advancing housing finance solutions in the country, contributing to the overall development.”

Speaking at the ceremony, Imran Ahad, Managing Director &

CEO – HBFC stated, “We are thankful to HBL for extending this financing arrangement to HBFC. This represents another step in the ever-strengthening relationship between the two organizations.

The favorable terms of this financing agreement will certainly boost HBFC’s efforts to expand the Home Finance proposition, reaching an even broader client base."

Zong 4G and HANDS initiate collaborative effort to make digital education accessible for youth KARACHI

staff report

Zong 4G, Pakistan's Leading Telecommunication Company has partnered with the Health and Nutrition Development Society (HANDS) to set up a revolutionary Digital Lab at the FAS School in Noor Muhammad Goth near Karachi.

As a part of Zong 4G's Sustainability Program, this partnership aims to provide students in marginalized areas with top-notch technological systems to empower their digital skills and provide access to the digital world. The school presently serves 120 students and is consistently broadening its scope to guarantee the provision of high-quality education for more students.

HANDS is a non-profit organization working effortlessly to improve healthcare and education systems, alleviate poverty, and build infrastructure in Pakistan. Both Zong 4G and HANDS are motivated to bridge the digital gap in Pakistan by providing students with unrestricted digital access to foster knowledge imperatives and help them excel in the digital world. The school previously faced challenges in delivering digital access to children but is now optimistic regarding the positive impact of the newly established digital lab in facilitating a more seamless and enjoyable educational experience for students.

In reference to the recent collaboration, the official spokesperson for Zong 4G articulated, 'Zong 4G views the support and development of educational institutions in Pakistan as a primary commitment.

Cadet college Petaro celebrates 61st parents’ day KARACH

staff report

An impressive ceremony of 61st parents’ day was held at Cadet College Petaro. Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Naveed Ashraf graced the occasion as Chief Guest.

While addressing the gathering Chief Guest appreciated the quality of infrastructure, facilities, faculty and learning environment at Cadet College Petaro. He emphasised that such efforts will surely contribute in prosperity and progress of country as education is the only way out to progress. He also commended the collaborative efforts of Govt of Sindh, Commander Karachi, college administration and faculty for all out efforts to augment educational standards at the college.

Furthermore, he advised the cadets that besides education they should also focus on character building.

Principal Cadet College Petaro, Commodore (Retd) Mushtaq Ahmed welcomed the guests and presented the annual college report. In his address, the principal highlighted the remarkable performance achieved by the cadets in academics, sports and co-cur-

KARACHI

staff report

Passing out Parade of Aero Apprentices was held at PAF Airmen Academy, Korangi Creek, Karachi, today. Air Marshal Irfan Ahmad, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Air Defence), Pakistan Air Force, was Chief Guest at the occasion. Earlier, Air Vice Marshal Syed Imran Majid Ali, Air Officer Commanding, PAF Academy Korangi Creek, received the Chief Guest. A total of 1410 Aero Apprentices including 66 trainees from Pakistan Navy and 01 trainee from Sri Lanka have successfully completed their technical training.

While addressing the ceremony, the chief guest said, "PAF is a highly professional organization that is venerated as a combat efficient force and has always come up to the expectations of the nation during testing times through its historic valour, operational preparedness and professional excellence". He further said that PAF is equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry and has full potential to defend the aerial boundaries of the motherland. The chief guest emphasized that the current security scenario calls for a fully harmonized training of PAF workforce that is fully capable of protecting and maintaining its next generation defence assets. He congratulated the graduating airmen and wished them a bright future and success in their upcoming professional assignments.

Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Air Defence) also commended the Academy Instructional Staff for their sincere endeavors and commitment to the cause of training. Later, the worthy chief guest awarded trophies to the distinction holders. Chief of the Air Staff Trophy for Overall Best Performance was awarded to Aircraftman Talha Usman whereas Asghar Khan Trophy for the Overall Best Performance in Aeronautics was clinched by Aircraftman Muhammad Arslan.

Rank Pinning ceremony of newly promoted SP’s held ISLAMABAD

staff report

ricular activities. He also mentioned about some of the development works completed during this year and progress on undergoing works at Cadet College Petaro.

Later, Chief Guest gave away the prizes to the award winners and congratulated them for their outstanding performance. Moreover, he appreciated cadets for immaculate turn out during annual parade, horseridding, tent-pegging, gymnastic, P.T show, physical fitness and their skills displayed in exhibition.

A large number of civil and military officials, parents and other dignitaries attended the ceremony.

Islamabad Capital City Police Officer (ICCPO) Dr. Akbar Nasir Khan on Thursday pinned the badges to Islamabad Capital Police two Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) after their promotion to the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP), a public relations officer said.

He said that, a ceremony was held at the Central Police Office in which ICCPO Dr. Akbar Nasir Khan and Capital Police Officer (CPO) Headquarters formally pinned the badges to the newly promoted Superintendent of Police (SP) Mahar Munawar and Superintendent of Police (SP) Kazim Naqvi. The ICCPO Dr. Akbar Nasir Khan congratulated the officers on their promotion and wished them all the best for their future endeavors. He said that departmental promotion and increase in rank in the police service actually reflects an increase in responsibilities therefore, the promoted officers should make equal implementation of law, observance of merit and best service delivery and protection to citizens their motto and goal.

KP caretaker cabinet charts course for progress in crucial meeting PESHAWAR

staff report

A meeting of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa caretaker cabinet was held at Civil Secretariat Peshawar presided by Chief Minister Syed Arshad Hussain Shah on Thursday. The cabinet members and administrative secretaries participated in the meeting and deliberated on different agenda items taking important decisions pertaining to public interest in the province. These decisions are related to health, energy, communication, adjudication, finance, emergencies, good governance and development matters.

The caretaker cabinet approved the provision of Rs.60 million for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Medical Transplantation Regulatory Authority. The Authority aims to regulate, control and monitor all human organ transplantation and the various committees constituted under the KP Medical

Transplantation Regulatory Authority Act 2014. It was informed during the briefing to the cabinet that the authority recognizes medical institutions, hospitals and transplant surgeons/physicians for practice of operative surgery in transplantation, grafting of human organs, tissues and cells, inspects recognized medical institutions and hospitals for examination of quality of transplantation, follow up of medical care of donors and recipients. It investigates and holds inquiries into the allegations of breach of any provision of this Act in the prescribed manner. It also addresses religious cultural and ethical issues that may arise related to transplantation. It was told that the authority has recognized five medical institutions or hospitals for kidney transplantation six for corneal transplantation and one bone bank, while three medical institutions registration is in the process. The meeting was informed that more than 421 kidney transplants 450

corneal transplants 41 bone grafting have been performed through regulated procedures in recognized medical institutions of the Province. The cabinet approved the reconstitution of the technical committee envisioned in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government Rest Houses and Tourism Properties (Development, Management and Regulation) Act 2020. Technically, the reconstitution was necessitated by the shuffling in the Provincial Cabinet and reinvigorating the tourism sector. It was also directed that Commissioners Malakand and Hazara Divisions be taken as co-opt members concerning the properties located in their respective jurisdictions.

The cabinet approved the amendment in special purpose Kumrat and Kalash Development Authority Rules 2020. Under Section 19 (2) of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Act 2019, the Special Purpose Kumrat Development Authority was established which was followed by the notifica-

tion of special purpose Kumrat Developed Authority Rules 2020.

This time the Director General Special Purpose Kumrat Developed Authority furnished Service Rules/Regulations for Employees of Special Purpose Authority and Building Regulations 2022 which were approved. Similarly, the amendment was required in special purpose Kalash Valley Development Authority rules empowering it to make by-laws to carry out the purpose of the Rules so framed already. The authorities concerned were directed to ensure the facilitation and safety of the tourists and also the tourist attractions areas at KohatParachinar and Bajaur-Barawal transit.

It also approved the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Deserving Artists Welfare Endowment Fund Rules 2022 for carrying out the purpose of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Deserving Artist Welfare Endowment Fund Act 2022.

BALOCH PROTESTERS GIVE GOVT SEVEN-DAY TIMEFRAME TO MEET DEMANDS

Friday, 29 December, 2023

pRayeR timiNGs

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staff RepoRt

against all peaceful protesters should be taken back.

“If the state does not hold sincere negotiations on the above demands and does not show seriousness and if the treatment of the past week with protesters continues then after seven days, the movement will express its disappointment with all state institutions against state policies of genocide and treating Balochistan like a colony, and put its case before the Baloch people.”

She added that the Baloch people would then be the ones to decide matters.

Dr Mahrang said the state would have to make clear in the week to the people how serious it was about the “Baloch genocide”.

She said the state would have to practically prove and end all human rights violations and illegal measures in Balochistan.

“The decision will be in the court of the

Baloch people if the state is not ready to change its colonial mindset.”

At the outset of her press conference, Dr Mahrang alleged that the state was exerting power over the past week to bring the Baloch sit-in to an end.

Criticising the brutal treatment meted out to the protesters by the police and the administration, she remarked how the events took place in the federal capital instead of some backwater area of Balochistan.

“No person should now be under any doubt or suspicion of the state violence against the Baloch.”

She said how the state had treated the protesters “like enemies” and elements had harassed their camp in the night provided that “the state is using every kind of measure against the Baloch.”

Lashing out at some from the journalistic

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), one of the groups organising the Baloch protest march in Islamabad, accused the police of sabotaging their seminar preparations in the capital, by allegedly switching off their sound system.

The BYC also shared videos of police at the venue outside the National Press Club. In one of the videos, Dr Mahrang Baloch, another organiser of the protest that is demanding an end to enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings of their community, can be heard requesting a policeman to leave and not disrupt their programme.

Rights activist Sammi Deen Baloch posted a video of the speakers being lifted

community too, she said when the state action failed, “state personnel in the garb of journalism” were used to “torture” the protesters by attempting to create a false narrative. “The whole of Balochistan is in the grip of state violence and barbarism currently and every day there seems to be an increase in this. When the state treats peaceful protesters like this in front of the global media then you can understand what the state’s behaviour is

ECC urges EOBI to tackle Rs2tr pension liabilities ISLAMABAD

Ghulam abbas

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has directed the Employee Old Age Institution (EOBI) to address the ballooning pension-related liabilities exceeding Rs 2 trillion.

During Thursday’s ECC meeting, a summary presented by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development sought approval for EOBI’s budget. The committee commended EOBI’s progress, noting a substantial increase of approximately Rs. 100 billion in contribution collections.

Stressing the adherence to the budget calendar, the ECC mandated the formulation of a comprehensive long-term strategy to tackle the Rs. 2 trillion pen-

sion liabilities, subsequently approving the organization’s proposed budget.

Chaired by Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue, and Economic Affairs, Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, the ECC meeting included key dignitaries such as Minister of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Mr. Sami Saeed, Minister for Energy Mr. Muhammad Ali, Minister for Communications, Maritimes Affairs, and Railways Mr. Shahid Ashraf Tarar, Minister for Law and Justice Mr. Ahmed Irfan Aslam, Advisor to PM on Finance Dr. Waqar Masood, Chairman FBR Malik Amjed Zubair Tiwana, Chairperson EOBI Ms. Naheed Durrani, Federal Secretaries, and senior officials from relevant ministries.

The discussions also centered on the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics’ detailed

presentation about inflation dynamics and recent trends in essential commodity prices. In response, the ECC directed the National Price Monitoring Committee to coordinate consistently with provincial governments to stabilize prices and combat hoarding practices.

The ECC also discussed the approval of the TAPI (Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India gas pipelines) project as a Qualified Investment Incentive Package under the Foreign Investment (Promotion and Protection) Act, 2022 (FIPPA). Acknowledging its significance, the ECC supported its prompt initiation while emphasizing the need for further scrutiny on legal aspects, incentives, and concessions under the FIPPA Act. The meeting addressed the Power

Division’s presentation on resolving capacity deduction issues related to coalbased projects and approving a side agreement with Port Qasim Electric Power Company (PQEPCL). Following deliberations, the ECC approved the proposed settlement with PQEPCL as presented by the Power Division.

Simultaneously, the Cabinet Committee on State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) endorsed the publication of a consolidated report covering the performance of State-Owned Enterprises for FY 2019-2020, 2020-2021 & 2021-2022.

The ECC meeting underscored the government’s dedication to economic stability, prudent decision-making, and transparent governance, emphasizing collaboration and strategic planning to address crucial national concerns.

RO reserves decision on objections to Imran’s nominations for NA-122 Lahore LAHORE

staff RepoRt

The returning officer (RO) on Thursday reserved decision on objections raised against the nomination papers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan for NA-122 Lahore and is likely to announce it on December 30.

The RO reserved the decision the PML-N’s candidate’s application, raising objections to the nominations submitted by the former premier for the constituency NA-122 Lahore after hearing detailed arguments from both sides.

The returning officer’s office was packed with PTI’s lawyers and as proceedings commenced, Imran’s counsels – Advocate Muhammad Azhar Siddique and Rai Muhammad Ali, told the RO that the objections were not maintainable and need to be rejected.

On the other hand, the argument of counsel for objector, PML-N’s former MPA and current candidate for provincial assembly Mian Naseer, revolved around how could a convicted person could be allowed to contest elections. He implored

the RO that candidate Imran’s sentence was suspended while his disqualification still exists.

He asked if Imran’s counsels could produce a copy of any order by the apex court regarding their appeal which is

pending in the Toshakhana case and further asked if PTI’s counsel could produce the same for suspension of Imran’s disqualification.

Siddique argued that Imran had not been disqualified under Article 62 and

63 and there is proper procedure enshrined in the Constitution regarding disqualification.

When asked by the RO whether any court had suspended the disqualification, Siddiqui said they will provide details “shortly”.

On the objection whether Imran’s seconder belonged to the relevant constituency, Ali argued that the seconder and proposer belonged to NA-122 and the delimitation of the constituency was changed post-December 15 and by that date, the ECP had announced the election schedule.

“It is binding upon the ECP to not delimit any constituency before four months of the elections. This conspiracy was hatched merely to keep Imran at bay from contesting elections,” he contended.

When asked by the RO why the party had not challenged the delimitations, Siddique said the apex court had stated that matters related to delimitations would be heard after the general elections.

He further argued PTI did not raise any objection over the disqualification of Nawaz.

Khadija Shah released after court grants her bail in May 9 case QUETTA

staff RepoRt

Renowned fashion designer Khadija Shah, who was arrested by Quetta Police in connection with her alleged role in the May 9 incidents, was finally released after the being granted bail on Thursday by a local court in Quetta.

The anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Quetta issued the bail order, directing the police to release Shah.

The decision to grant bail was made

by ATC Judge Saadat Khan Bazai, following an application submitted by Shah’s legal representative, Syed Iqbal

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’34 more released’: Baloch protesters accuse capital police of disrupting seminar preparations

ISLAMABAD

staff RepoRt

HE Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), one of the groups organising the Baloch protest march in Islamabad, on Thursday issued a seven-day ultimatum to the government to meet all its demands or the movement would put forth its case before the Baloch people.

Dr Mahrang Baloch, one of the organisers of the protest that is demanding an end to enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings of their community, said in an Islamabad press conference today that the government was being given a week for negotiations on the following demands.

Dr Mahrang said that a fact-finding mission headed by a UN Working Group should be sent for a detailed investigation into rights violations in Balochistan, an agreement should be signed under the auspices of the Working Group for the elimination of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, all victims of enforced disappearances should be immediately released, restrictions should be put on the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and “state-sponsored death squads” should be eliminated as well.

She further demanded that the Ministry of Interior should “confess” to the alleged deaths of disappeared persons in fake encounters, adding that an acknowledgement letter be issued regarding this and a press conference held with the names of all victims.

Dr Mahrang also said that fake cases

FAJR SUNRISE

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Shah Advocate, according to court sources.

Quetta police had earlier filed an application in the ATC, seeking transit remand for Shah. The application cited a murder and attempted murder case registered against the famous designer at Quetta’s Bijli Road police station. Shah had been brought from Lahore by Quetta police earlier this month.

During the proceedings on Thursday, according to the sources, the mother of Shah and her six-year-old daughter were present. The police stated in their application that the suspect’s warrant had been obtained from the ATC in Quetta.

Syed Iqbal Shah Advocate, during the proceedings, stated that Khadija Shah was arrested in connection with the May 9

protests outside BA Mall, adding that they had challenged the arrest of the fashion designer.

and taken away as a crowd looks on.

At the venue, one of the organisers, Saira, from Khuzdar said: “We were going to hold a press conference but the police tried to take away the speakers and the participants.

“The police and the administration are panickig. There is no household in Balochistan that has not found a mutilated body. Institutions make our household members disappear before our very eyes.”

She lamented that previously mutilated bodies would be found, but now people are being “killed in fake encounters”. The development comes days after hundreds of participants of the long march were detained by the capital police, which the police said had subsequently released in batches earlier this week. However, the BYC says several protesters were still in custody.

without the presence of the media or the internet.” She said Baloch people across the country had come out to the streets and demonstrated to the state that the community would no longer accept “state terrorism”.

Criticising the government, she said on the one hand it talked about negotiations to solve issues and on the other hand, the protesters were subjected to violence, arrests and abductions.

Election 2024: Interim govt allocates Rs17b for security ISLAMABAD

staff RepoRt

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday allocated Rs 17 billion for security related to the upcoming general election in 2024, sources said. A meeting was held to overview the security arrangements for the upcoming general elections scheduled to be held on February 08, 2024. According to well-informed sources, the meeting – attended by the Inspector Generals (IGs) of all four provinces – briefed the meeting members about the polling day security arrangements. Reports indicate that to ensure a peaceful election in the country, a total of 600,000 police officials are necessarily required. Sources further revealed that only 200,000 police officials are currently available leaving a significant shortfall, with an additional 400,000 personnel required to meet the basic security requirements for the upcoming general elections. Meanwhile, 58 percent of polling stations declared sensitive.

Finance Ministry forecasts decline in inflation to 24-25% in January PROFIT

News Desk

The Ministry of Finance has projected a gradual decrease in inflation starting this month, citing improved supply conditions, relief from imported inflationary pressures, and the influence of a high-base effect. According to the Monthly Economic Update and Outlook for December released on Wednesday, inflation is expected to hover between 27.5-28.5 percent in December 2023, with a further decline to 24-25 percent forecasted for January 2024. Despite administered price increases, particularly in gas rates, the ministry expects inflation for the remaining months of FY24 to remain at a moderate level. Stable exchange rates, controlled aggregate demand, improved supply conditions, a moderation in international commodity prices, and a favorable base effect contribute to this outlook.

FBR initiates overhaul of Customs operations with 16 working groups PROFIT

News Desk

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has taken a significant step toward revamping Customs operations in Pakistan by announcing the formation of 16 working groups. The initiative aims to assess and potentially modify existing laws and procedures, with a particular focus on replacing the Web-Based One Customs (WeBOC) system. The designated working groups cover various aspects of Customs operations, including Appraisement, Preventive measures (including Anti-smuggling, Confiscation, and auctions), Exports and Quota Management, Transit, Criminal Proceedings, Case management functions, Post Clearance Audit, and Valuation, among others. The FBR has outlined the Terms of Reference (ToRs) for the working groups, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive business process analysis. To facilitate this, international consultants have been engaged to develop artifacts for a new digital system to replace WeBOC. This consultancy extends to proposing changes in laws and procedures, as well as implementing effective change management strategies.

A Project Implementation Committee (PIC) has been established by the FBR to oversee the consultancy process, and in support of the PIC, Working Groups have been formed to address specific workstreams within Pakistan Customs.

Published by Asad Nizami at Plot No 66-C, 1st Floor, 21st Commercial Street, Phase-II (Extension), DHA Karachi and printed at Ibn-e-Hassan Printing Press, Hockey Stadium, Karachi, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited. Ph: 021-35381208-9. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk