Epaper_24-02-27 ISB

g M A R YA M N A W A Z E L E C T E D P U N J A B ’ S F I R S T F E M A L E C M A M I D S I C B O Y C OT T g MURAD ALSO MAKES HISTORY WITH ELECTION A S CM SINDH FOR RECORD THIRD TIME

the opposition Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) boycotted the proceedings right from the word go No sooner had Speaker Malik Ahmed Khan explained the procedure for the

of the

minister than the members of the SIC stood up and heckled him by

The SIC

later walked out of the assembly to register their

what they said

mandate Earlier PML-N nominee Maryam Nawaz, who enjoys support of majority in the House, reached the premises and was warmly greeted by the party leaders Maryam, who is the Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) senior vice president became a member of the provincial assembly by winning the Feb 8 general elections from constituency 159 Lahore-XV

The speaker explained the procedure of voting when the assembly session started Later, the assembly secretary briefed the house on the voting procedure In the meanwhile the opposition

cided to proceed without the opposition

At the start of the session, Speaker Khan said only elections will be held for the chief minster and no lawmaker was allowed to speak in today s session

Punjab

CM,

Sharif chalked out

five-year plan for the province and gave me valuable advice every day said Maryam I want to take this moment and tell the youth that you should respect your parents because the prayer of our parents takes us to the position where we never envisioned to be ” the PMLN leader added Outlining the objectives for her provincial government, the Sharif scion maintained the provision of employment, education and healthcare remain key to the PML-N’s vision for Punjab and added that free medicine would be available in all provincial hospitals

the Chief Minister began on a sour note on Monday morning as members of

SC seeks

SIC members raised the objection that house was incomplete as women s reserved seats and minority members have not been named yet Speaker Khan formed a committee to negotiate with the protesters who briefly returned to the assembly but again moved out The speaker then de-

from religious institutions in Mubarak Sani case

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T The Supreme Court on Monday decided to seek assistance from religious institutions in the Mubarak Ahmad Sani case, and issued a notice to the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) The court also issued notices to Jamia Naima Darul Uloom Karachi Jamiat Al-Hadith Quran Academy and Jamita-ul-Natzaar Lahore and sought opinions and reports on the matter within three weeks A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa heard the case During the hearing, Jamaat-eIslami lawyer Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui said that they have also filed a review petition in the case to which the CJP replied “Your petition has been received but has not been read yet Siddiqui added that they believe the court did not provide proper assistance in the case, and that the petitioner never requested to delete the provisions Following these remarks, the court ordered the numbering of JI’s application and adjourned the hearing for three weeks A similar bench during an earlier hearing admitted for hearing a review petition filed by the Punjab government in the case and issued notices for further proceedings on February 26 The petition said that Article 20 of the Constitution was not fully explained in para 9 of the Mubarak Sani case judgment therefore a wrong impression had prevailed It added that religious freedom was not unlimited under Article 20 During the hearing the chief justice remarked that when Article 20 was mentioned then there was no need for explanation He told the Punjab government lawyer that the court would give the explanation According to Article 20 he added religious freedom was subjected to public order and morality

ISLAMABAD

S TA F F R E P O R T

IN T O DAY ’ S S S U E M A R YA M , M U R A D C L I N C H T O P S LO T S I N P U N J A B , S I N D H A S S E M B L I E S C Y P H E R , T O S H A K H A N A C A S E S ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T President Arif Alvi on Monday returned the summary of caretaker parliamentary affairs ministry, objecting to the proposed meeting of the National Assembly scheduled for 10 am on February 26 The president has raised concerns insisting that the process of allocating reserved seats for women and minorities must be completed before calling the National Assembly into session The move has set off a constitutional debate with Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf ulti-

ECP decides to ‘hold open hearing’ on PTI-SIC plea seeking reser ved seats

deputy speaker elections in the house numerically dominated by the party PML-N’s leader A T T E N T I O N Some readers have complained that they are not getting the magazine with their newspaper copy Please call or WhatsApp us at the following number to register a complaint Contac t: 0307-7338168 r fan farooq@pakistantoday com pk

The IHC s two-member division bench comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb conducted the hearing on Khan and co-convict Qureshi s pleas seeking the overturning

by the trial courts in the cipher case

IHC office also removed objections to an appeal submitted by the disqualified prime minister Additionally notices have been issued to the anti-corruption watchdog for Thursday over Khan and Bushra s pleas against their 14-year, each, imprisonment in the Toshakhana case At the outset of the hearing PTI counsel Barrister Ali Zafar argued that unusual occurrences were witnessed during the trial The chief justice remarked that the counsel should point out disagreements at the time of raising arguments during the hearing It is noteworthy to mention here that in the previous hearing a bench was also constituted to hear the bail application of Imran Khan in the £190 million corruption case Last month ex-PM Khan and former foreign minister Qureshi were sentenced to 10 years each in the cipher case by a special court established under the Official Secrets Act 2023 The case pertains to allegations that the former prime minister had made public contents of a secret cable sent by the country s ambassador in Washington to the government in Islamabad The former premier and his spouse had been declared guilty of corrupt practices by the election commission after the emergence of the allegations that Khan purchased the gifts he received as prime minister at throwaway rates and sold them off in the open market for staggering profits Later the duo was sentenced to 14 years in prison with rigorous punishment by an accountability court last month, also disqualifying the former premier for 10 years while handing over a fine of Rs1 57 billion Rs787 million each to the couple IHC issues notices to NAB, FIA on Imran, Bushra’s pleas C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 03

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T After much deliberation the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to hold an open hearing on the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) application seeking allotment of reserved seats after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed lawmakers joined their ranks The decision comes amid expectations that the electoral watchdog would decide on the matter of awarding leftover reserved seats today However the ECP announced that a five-member bench of the electoral body will hold the open hearing tomorrow It also issued notices to Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, SIC Mahmood Khan Maulvi Iqbal

The development comes shortly after it emerged that President Alvi reportedly refused to sign a Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs summary seeking the convening of a National Assembly session President Alvi has maintained that the remaining reserved seats should be allocated before summoning the NA session which is supposed to be held within 21 days of the elections under the Constitution

Following his refusal National Assembly s outgoing Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf decided to convene the inaugural session of the new lower house of parliament on February 29, well-placed sources confirmed Monday The PTI-affiliated independent members joined the SIC in a bid to retain reserved seats since the Constitution entitles parliamentary parties present in the different houses to have a quota of reserved seats for women and minorities

These PTI-affiliated independents joined the SIC in the National and Punjab assemblies last week The idea behind this alliance was for the PTI independents to become a parliamentary group in the houses so they could avail the reserved seats

Well-placed sources told media that the SIC had approached the ECP and asked it to accept their contention of entitlement of reserved seats but ironically hadn’t submitted the list of its nominees for reserved seats till Sunday; the ECP was open on Sunday

despite it being a holiday The SIC chief was approached on Sunday evening to ascertain the reasons for not filing a list of its members but he wasn t available Sources have quoted the constitutional obligations of the ECP in the matter Article 219 says: “The Commission shall be charged with the duty of: (a) preparing electoral rolls for election to the National Assembly Provincial Assemblies and local governments, and revising such rolls periodically to keep them up-to-date; (b) organizing and conducting election to the Senate or to fill casual vacancies in a House or a Provincial Assembly; and (c) appointing Election Tribunals; (d) the holding of general elections to the National Assembly Provincial Assemblies and the local governments; and (e) such other functions as may be specified by an Act of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) The sources have also indicated that the SIC could knock at the door of the superior judiciary regarding its claim on the reserved seats once the ECP makes a decision and if it declines to oblige its submission LAHORE S TA F F R E P O R T PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz was sworn in as the Punjab chief minister at the Governor House on Monday, shortly after she secured a comfortable lead over PTI-nominated Rana Aftab in the Punjab Assembly to become the first woman chief minister of the province The PML-N leader swept the contest after securing 220 votes while the PTI-designate secured none as his party had boycotted the election Maryam was administered the oath by Governor Punjab Baligh-urRehman with her father Nawaz Sharif and uncle Shehbaz Sharif watching from the stage Her son Junaid, Shehbaz s son Hamza and senior PML-N leader Ishaq Dar also attended the ceremony In her maiden speech at the Punjab Assembly Maryam thanked God and her supporters for the win and took a conciliatory tone towards the opposition I want to give a message to the opposition: the doors of my chamber and heart will always remain open for them as they are for my party members ” Today I am upset that the respectable members of the opposition benches are not present here I wish they would be a part of the political and democratic process said the newly-elected chief minister If the opposition was present today, and if they had protested during my speech I would have

mately deciding to call the meeting on Thursday February 29 citing Clause 2 of Article 91 of the Constitution This decision follows consultations with senior officers and constitutional experts of the National Assembly Secretariat, who reviewed the situation arising from the president s refusal to sign the summary According to constitutional provisions the meeting of the National Assembly must be convened within 21 days of the elections, and February 29 is the mandated date under Article 91 If the National Assembly meeting proceeds as scheduled on February 29 the schedule for the new speaker will be released

on the same day after the oath Subsequently on March 1 papers for the speaker s election will be submitted, and on March 2, the speaker will be elected, along with the deputy speaker The process for submitting nomination papers for the election of the prime minister is slated for March 3 followed by the prime minister s election in the National Assembly on March 4 The Election Commission of Pakistan will then conduct the election for the president on March 9 The constitutional timeline also necessitates the meeting of the KhyberPakhtunkhwa Assembly on February 29

PA

PPP

US airman dies after setting himself on fire outside Israeli embassy in protest over Gaza conflict

hostages, 130 of whom remain in Gaza, including 31 presumed dead, according to Israel Washington last week blocked a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza its third such use of its veto on the matter

Some voters in Joe Biden s Democratic Party are attempting to press the president on the issue, with groups of Arab American voters in Michigan pledging to vote “uncommitted” or write in Free Palestine on their ballots in the state s primary on Tuesday

The White House has tried to assuage Arab and Muslim voters concerns in part by portraying the president as frustrated with Benjamin Netanyahu’s government But US weapons have flowed to Israel since October 7 while Washington s efforts to broker a second pause in fighting have so far failed

In an update on ongoing multinational talks on Sunday, the United States said an “understanding” had emerged on a possible deal for Hamas to release hostages and for a new ceasefire in the Gaza conflict Domestic demonstrations have typically involved peaceful street protests, though in December a person outside the Israeli consulate in Atlanta also set themself on fire

A l i N a w a z A w a n , o t h e r s a c q u i t t e d i n A z a d i M a r c h c a s e s

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Ali Nawaz Awan and Raja Khurram Shehzad Nawaz on Monday acquitted in Azadi March cases As per details, a session court in Islamabad heard cases related to the violation of Section 144 during PTI s Azadi March The court sought a response from the jail administration on the bail-seeking appearance of PTI founder Imran Khan Islamabad High Court also acquitted Faisal Arif,

Another PIA flight steward goes ‘missing’ in Canada

n

Nn

My presence here is an acknowledgment of the services of a political worker who endures hardships,” she remarked, adding that history had been created today even if she was minused This is an honour for every daughter of Pakistan as the first woman chief minister of Pakistan is standing before them today I

pray that this continues after me, she added

“We have reached here after passing through a difficult phase” The newly elected Punjab

A r m e d fo r c e s c o m m e m o r at e 5 t h a n n i ve r s a r y o f ‘O p e r at i o n S w i f t R e t o r t ’

S heikh Nuri praises Americ an-Pakistani philanthropist ’s work for Pakistan

The

Khan Tessori held a meeting with Sheikh Nuri Muhammad Ali the custodian of the keys to Roza-e-Rasool (PBUH) at Governor House and thanked him for his role in helping Pakistan

A special ceremony was held in honour of Shaikh Nuri Muhammad Ahmad Ali, at Eidgah shrine in Rawalpindi Shaikh Nuri

Muhammad Ahmad Ali, during his engagements prayed for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan and the Muslim Ummah

Mar yam, Murad clinch top slots in Punjab, Sindh assemblies

Chief Minister insisted that she did not have revenge against anybody in her heart and said she thanked those who inflicted cruelty and vengeance upon her Despite the hardships, I think the opponents have done me a favour by passing me through the hardships for which there is no substitute ” She shed light on the large number of women in the Punjab Assembly saying her victory was a win for every woman This is proof that being a woman can t be a hindrance to realizing your dreams, she stressed She said a visionary leader like Nawaz Sharif has sat on this chair the same seat she has got and from which he made a lot of progress A three-time prime minister has sat on this chair adding that he made Pakistan s defence impregnable for the times to come After my nomination, Nawaz Sharif sat with me and prepared a five-year plan The person whom Punjab remembers as Khadim-e-Ala has also been on this chair Shehbaz Sharif s abilities performance speed are recognized by the whole world Maryam acknowledged that most people are being crushed under inflation I am not competing with any opponent but the performance of the giants within my party ”

K hojaly genocide in NagornoK arabakh a dark chapter of human histor y: S peakers

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

A seminar on “Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing: A Crime against Humanity the 32nd Anniversary of the Khujaly genocide was jointly organized by MUSLIM Institute and the Azerbaijani Embassy in Islamabad on Monday

The speakers of seminar included Chairman, Senate Defence Committee Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed Dewan of Junagadh and Chairman MUSLIM Institute Sahibzada Sultan Ahmed Ali Ambassador of Turkey H E Dr Mehmet Pacaci, Ambassador of Azerbaijan Khazar Farhadov and President CSAIS Institute Maj Gen Khalid Amir Jaffery

The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh was one of the most contentious issues of the twentieth century Armenian nationalists have been following a policy of ethnic cleansing of the Azerbaijani people for the last 200 years From 1948-to 1953, around 150,000 Azerbaijanis were deported from Armenia Similarly in 1988 250 000 Azerbaijanis were forced out from their historical territories thereby leaving Armenia a mono-ethnic state The Khojaly genocide – the unforgettable tragedy of the 20th century – was a result of the aggressive and criminal policy of Armenia Undoubtedly this genocide was a historical crime against humanity In February 1992 Armenian forces reportedly seized the Azeri-populated town of Khojaly Armenian militants started the massacre of civilians in Nagorno-Karabakh In this massacre 613 innocent Azerbaijanis, including 106 women and 83 children were massacred Eight families were exterminated Four hundred and seventy-six people were permanently disabled A total of 1275 people were taken hostage

According to the medical examinations reported in international media several of the victims of the massacre including women, children, and old people were killed with unusual brutality that is even difficult to describe Despite the Armenian occupation and genocide the people of Azerbaijan remained steadfast and as a result of the 2020 Armenian aggression war broke out again and Armenia had to concede defeat after 44 days of conflict

The speakers further said that remembering the martyrs creates stability in the nations At the same time, the narrative of the oppressor needs to be challenged otherwise the atrocities in Indian Illegal Occupied Kashmir Myanmar and other regions cannot be stopped Similarly the perpetrators of genocide in Indian Gujarat and recent Karnataka need to be brought to justice

The speakers said that Pakistan and Azerbaijan are two brotherly Islamic countries which are closely related to each other in the spirit of Islam Relations between the two countries are based on mutual trust, that s why Pakistan has given full moral and diplomatic support to Azerbaijan without any interest in the war caused by Armenia’s illegal occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh

Pakistan has always supported the principle stance of Azerbaijan on Nagorno-Karabakh, that s why Pakistan has not recognized the Armenia till date This position of Pakistan is in fact in line with the ideas of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah the founder of Pakistan

The speakers further stressed that we have to further strengthen the bilateral relations by cooperating with each other at the regional and international levels and promoting bilateral cooperation in other fields including military education trade and other fields while keeping in view the ground realities

If

TDedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit

O p e r a t i o n s w i f t r e t o r t : A s u r p r i s e f o r I n d i a

S a r a N a z e e r

AS the much-anticipated Surprise Day approaches, Indians are seen ultrafrustrated over the setback given to them by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in the Pulwama showdown The PAF is recognized worldwide for its technological and operational excellence, backed up by unflinching national resolve On February 26, 2019, tensions between India and Pakistan soared to a new level, when Indian Air Force (IAF) jets intruded Pakistan’s air space The event received widespread coverage in foreign media allaying fears about a full-fledged war between the two nuclear-armed rivals The events of February 27 2019 however marked a glorious chapter in the history, once Pakistan responded to India’s aggression with a display of might and technology PAF skillfully shot down two Indian fighter planesin reaction to India’s air strikes on an unsubstantiated terrorist training camp in Pakistan

On February 26th India launched airstrikes against what it alleged was a Jaish-e-Mohamd (JeM) training camp in Pakistan s Balakot area Indian Government stated that the strikes were preemptive” and aimed at averting similar terrorist assaults on Indian territory Airborne Early Warning Systems (AWACS) aided the well-practiced mission which included twenty Mirage-2000 planes armed with Israeli Spice-2000 bombs and Crystal Maze missiles Indian Government claimed that IAF had succeeded in killing over 300 terrorists,whereas Pakistan and several international media outlets, who visited the site rejected the baseless assertion, pointing out that there had been no deaths and injuries and that the warheads had completely missed their designated destination which was a regular religious school for village kids rather than being a terrorist camp However, when an Indian aircraft dropped its payload near a hillside, it successfully killed one crow and damaged numerous valuable pine trees

The next day Pakistan’s military responded by shooting down two Indian Air Force fighter planes over the disputed territory of Kashmir While the wreckage and pilot of MiG-21 jet fell inside Pakistani territory, the other jet of IAF i e SukhoiSu-30 crashed on the Indian side of border Pakistan s posture against India on February 27, 2019, was one of the defence and retribution In response to India’s

airstrikes the Pakistani military launched its strikes against Indian military sites along the Line of Control (LoC), which separates Indian and Pakistaniadministered Kashmir Pakistan’s military claimed that its strikes were in self defence and had avoided any civilian casualtiesintentionally The IAF immediately accepted the loss of one of their aircraft and reported that a pilot was also missing Pakistan published a video of a blindfolded guy identifying himself as an Indian Air Force pilot Government of Pakistan praised Operation Swift Retort - PAF’s reprisal attack” as successful on February 27 2019 A “befitting reply” was given in response to “enemy’s misadventure ” according to Pakistan s Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan who also claimed that the PAF s rapid response was the evidence of our steadfast commitment, capacity, and capabilities in defeating the malicious plans of the opponent ” Pakistan Government, immediately called for dialogue and warned of the dangers, if escalation prevailed It was stated that “Pakistan has never been and never will be a part of any regional or global conflict In a symbolic gesture of peace Pakistan not only engaged in diplomatic efforts but also presented the Indian pilot with a hot cup of tea, as an expression of goodwill, which he later termed as “Fantastic” This step demonstrates Pakistan’s resolve to de-escalate while conveying a message of peaceful co-existence Pakistan s stance on India on 27 February 2019 was one ofresolute defence impeccable restraint and

Pa k i s t a n Ês s t a n c e o n I n d i a o n 2 7 F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 9 w a s o n e o f r e s o l u t e d e f e n c e , i m p e c c a b l e r e s t r a i n t a n d d e f t p o l i t i c a l h a n d l i n g o f a h i g h ly vo l a t i l e i s s u e . W h i l e Pa k i s t a n r e s p o n d e d t o I n d i a Ês a g g r e s s i o n w i t h fo rc e , i t a l s o e m p h a s i z e d t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f avo i d i n g w a r a n d c a l l e d fo r d i a l o g u e t o r e s o l v e t h e i s s u e

Pakistan under the damocles sword

deft political handling of a highly volatile issue While Pakistan responded to India s aggression with force, it also emphasized the importance of avoiding war and called for dialogue to resolve the issue The PAF’s prompt and forceful response acts as an indicator of its ability to defend national interests and deter future aggressors PAF also demonstrated the strategic capability to attack targets outside the range of groundbased troops by launching- attacks deep into enemy territory Despite a false flag operation at Pulwama, an Indian effort to attack deep into Pakistan failed, and a PAF counterattack on February 27 demonstrated its conventional and technological supremacy destroying the illusion of Indian military power While Pakistan military is putting in its best to safeguard the air ground and maritime frontiers there are certain political quarters, who are hell-bent to defame Pakistan Armed Forces Recently, a smear vilification campaign was run against PAF by paid lackeys or pawn journalists of external forces, who are inimical to Pakistan The anti-Pakistan groups scared by the PAF s success are using concocted storylines in their propaganda Such a tirade without providing substantial evidence is highly condemnable Those who believe that they can use deceptive techniques to split Pakistan s people and the Armed Forces must realize that their narrative is intrinsically weak and will die on its own Any attempt to create divisions in ranks and file of PAF will be given severe blow by the Armed Forces and the nation This bond will strengthen further with every passing day PAF is a highly competent and dynamic organization, which has continuously proved its capabilities in a variety of fields, including Operation Swift Retort, border monitoring, and counter-terrorism operations The Pakistan Air Force’s exceptional achievements in obtaining cutting-edge capabilities are well recognized not just nationally but also globally The leadership s steadfast commitment cannot be shaken by the evil intents of a few The PAF is determined to expose the culprits of this illegitimate campaign and ensurejustice is delivered The nation is determined to back up its Armed Forces with traditional zeal and nationalistic fervor

The writer is a freelance columnist

Water shor tage in Karachi

I T is a pity that Karachi, which generates huge revenue for the nation, remains deprived of water, which, despite being an essential commodity, is commercially sold by the notorious tanker mafia The artificial shortage and illegal sale of water by the mafia has

Clearing the Air: Combating Smog in Pakistan

IUltimately, combating smog requires concer ted effor ts from government, businesses, civil society, and individuals alike . It is not only a matter of environmental conser vation but also a question of public health and sustainable development By taking decisive action to address the root causes of smog and promoting cleaner, more sustainable practices, we can pave the way towards a cleaner, healthier future for Pakistan

It is time to articulate a Muslim approach to justice and liberation

amplify the impact of government interventions

Ultimately combating smog requires concerted efforts from government businesses, civil society, and individuals alike It is not only a matter of environmental conservation but also a question of public health and sustainable development By taking decisive action to address the root causes of smog and promoting cleaner more sustainable practices we can pave the way towards a cleaner healthier future for Pakistan Let us join hands in clearing the air and securing a brighter tomorrow for generations to come

The writer is a freelance columnist

Mgo out and fight (in the path of Allah) all together If only a group from each group (stay behind) and exert themselves to understand the religion (through studying and research) so that they may advise their people (who go out and fight) as they return to them so that they (the activists) may be well advised and take precautions This is an obvious call for a dual duty of

the Muslim community that reflects division of communal labour and activity One department can be in charge of preserving peace and justice in the land, and the other can engage in learning and research – that is, writing, researching and formulating policy through educational institutions think tanks and NGOs These researchers and academics would then advise policymakers and lawmakers to reform and change laws that are subject to ijtihad and politics (siyasah)

As we call for Muslims to join in direct action in the short term, the Quran calls us to fund and support academic and research institutions for the sake of Muslim longevity This is a model that has yet to be tested and tried in our modern global community But there is historical precedent for it

The great Indian freedom fighter Mawlana Mahmud Hasan was imprisoned in Malta during World War I by the British for resisting their occupation in India Yet while he was in prison, he continued engaging in his academic writings Following his release after the war he continued his revolutionary work at the Islamic Institute of Darul Uloom Deoband in both the political and intellectual realms, seeing them as mirror images of each other Due to his work, he was honoured with the title “Shaykh al-Hind”, a recognition for his incessant efforts at resisting British imperialism and oppression in the Indian subcontinent The effects of his work both in the realms of political activism and intellectual engagement are still felt today through the institutions and movements he was integral to His followers did not see academic engagement as being entirely separate from direct action to liberate the oppressed Mawlana Mahmud Hasan s efforts were contextual to his time and the unique circumstances of early 20th century British imperialism The modern sociopolitical context requires new efforts that are similarly rooted in authentically Islamic content

The secularised language of decolonisation has proven to be a failure at actual and total liberation Even as colonised countries have thrown off the yoke of imperialism in name much of the world remains economically, socially, and culturally within the grasp of imperial powers The need of the hour is to formulate new notions of sovereignty and articulate what an authentically Muslim form of justice would look like in the modern world Muslims must not shy away from being creative in how they explore new possibilities of political and social theory at the local, national and international levels, even (and especially) in contrast to prevailing Western notions of modernity sovereignty and justice Muslim activism that is still rooted in the framework of Western imperial ideology and political theory is not sufficient We must authentically articulate our approach on a theoretical and practical level If modern Muslims are to once again lead the world community in resisting oppression and standing up for justice there is no alternative to a twofold approach that recognises the

and the

struggles that are necessary prerequisites to the manifestation of true

Iinvestment in India, currently at US$15 3bn Saudi Arabia had invested US$3 2bn as of March 2022 while Qatar invested over US$1 5bn in the last year Major projects include the joint development by Indian Saudi Arabian and Emirati oil companies of the US$44bn Ratnagiri Refinery and Petrochemicals project in Maharashtra In addition, India s regional geo-economic focus has driven it to engage with the I2U2 grouping and to join the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) During Modi’s visit to the UAE, the two sides signed an intergovernmental framework agreement on IMEC However both initiatives risk being delayed by the Hamas–Israel war Personal relations between Modi and Gulf leaders including with the UAE s President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, have deepened India s political relationships, building trust and a willingness to work together on sensitive issues This has resulted in increased defence and security cooperation, including on counter-terrorism maritime security and naval cooperation India’s main regional defence and security aim is ensuring sea lines of communication remain open and flowing A small number of Indian ships are regularly deployed in the Indian Ocean region as part of the Indian Navy s mission-based deployments , with a year-round presence in the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman The Indian Navy increased its deployment to 12 ships in response to shipping attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden in order to present itself as a reliable regional partner despite not joining the US-led task force India has also established new military exercises with several Gulf countries to increase cooperation and interoperability as it seeks to become a preferred security partner for the Gulf states The Indian Navy established bilateral exercises with the UAE in 2018, with Qatar in 2019, and

The secularised framework of decolonisation has failed to bring true liberation to the oppresse

Israel strikes deeper into Lebanon after Hezbollah downs drone

PR OFIT R E U T E R S

D e m a n d f o r s t e e l i n I n d i a t h e w o r l d s s e c o n d - b i g g e s t c r u d e s t e e l m a k e r, h a s r a i s e d i r o n o r e c o n s u m p t i o n i n t h e c o u n t r y a n d e a r l i e r t h i s m o n t h

t h e M i n i s t r y o f S t e e l t o t a k e m e a s u r e s t o r e s t r i c t e x p o r t s t o help ensure

Fatah, the faction that controls the PA, and Hamas have made efforts to reach an agreement over a unity

ment and are due to meet in Moscow on Wednesday A senior Hamas official said the move had to be followed by a broader agreement on governance for the Palestinians The resignation of Shtayyeh’s

China’s top legislature star ts sessions this week

according to an official statement released earlier this month

This year ’s two sessions will be focused on highquality development Zhang Shuhua director of the institute of political sciences at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Monday He noted that deputies to the NPC and members of the CPPCC National Committee will likely focus on discussing how to proceed with the high-quality development of economy and how to further boost confidence in the Chinese economy China s first-tier economic heavyweight cities – 26 cities each with a GDP of more than 1 trillion yuan ($139 1 billion) in 2023 – have set their annual GDP targets a notch higher this year, as localities concluded their local two sessions earlier this year Zhang Yiwu a professor from Peking University also a member of the CPPCC National Committee told the Global Times that apart from economic development topics such as stimulating birth rate improving people s welfare and other livelihood issues will also become focal topics Xiong Shuilong, also a member of CPPCC National Committee, proposed that the birth limit be scrapped completely to boost the country’s birth rate and give equal birth support policies to single parents as well as children born out of wedlock The Global Times has noticed that this year s provincial two sessions has seen representatives paying more attention than before to livelihood issues such as marriage, childbirth and the protection of minors

easypaisa par tners with Bank Alfalah for International Remittances

IBA K arachi organizes IBA Leaders Connec t, fostering thought leadership and collaborations

with the audience

G ove r n o r S i n d h v i s i t s D a l f a C at t l e S h ow

KARACHI P R

Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori has said that agriculture livestock, dairy and fisheries are pivotal for the economy of Pakistan and as such the 3rd exhibition of these sectors will ensure promotion of the same

This he said while visiting 3rd Dairy Agriculture Livestock and Fisheries Association (DALFA) exhibition and cattle show here at Expo Centre Karachi Managing Director Badar Expo Solutions Zuhair Naseer and President DALFA Haris Mithan were also present on the occasion He said that all these sectors play an essential role for persons engaged and their livelihood depends upon it “Assembling of all stakeholders at this exhibition

would help grow their business immensely” he added Governor Sindh lauded the increase in exports of meat from Pakistan and said that it would bring much needed foreign exchange to the country As I have been informed that foreign companies have shown great interest in importing meat from Pakistan and their delegates have visited this exhibition to place their orders” he said He further said that despite being an agriculture country it was unfortunate that Pakistan has to import essential commodities We have great potential in every field and there was only a need to streamline our potential and resources to get better results, he opined Governor Sindh, on the occasion visited various stalls of the exhibition and appreciated the beauty and quality of livestock kept there

KARACHI P R

The consultative process for addressing the problem of flooding due to rains, in Karachi has initiated and a meeting of all stake holders in this connection was held here in Karachi to find out a solu-

Mushaal

SHC issues arrest warrants of four accused in Mur taza Bhutto murder case

an interview conducted by senior journalist Iftikhar Ahmed with Naseem Hasan Shah, where it was alleged that the then Chief Justice had animosity towards Bhutto

In response to queries raised by Barrister Salahuddin regarding the conduct of Bhutto s lawyer

US envoy terms women empowerment vital for development ,

allegedly under the control of former dictator General Ziaul Haq If the judiciary was independent, Bhutto would not have been hanged In the appeal of Bhutto, the judicial bench in the Supreme Court which heard the case also included ad-hoc judges he said

Attorney General Mansoor Awan highlighted the challenges to the rule of law during martial law, affirming that the Constitution was effectively abolished during that time

The session saw the citation of

CJP Isa clarified that a client cannot be punished for the conduct of his lawyer CJP Isa said that the court would delve into the criminal aspect of the matter in the next session The hearing was adjourned till today (Tuesday) Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who took over as president of Pakistan immediately after the fall of Dhaka in December 1971, and later became the prime minister after the 1973 Constitution was removed from the government through

Journalist Asad Toor arrested by FIA: legal team

ISLAMABAD

S TA F F R E P O R T

Journalist Asad Ali Toor was arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Monday in connection with allegations of a “malicious campaign” against the superior judiciary in the aftermath of the Supreme Court s decision to deprive PTI of its iconic bat symbol before elections

Human rights lawyer and Toor s counsel Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir confirmed his arrest She said the journalist had arrived at the FIA’s Cyber Crime Reporting Centre in Islamabad earlier in the day to demonstrate his positive intent answer a summons notice issued to him on Saturday and join the inquiry about the campaign against the judiciary She said the team went to the FIA office after acquiring an order from the Islamabad High Court, which instructed the agency to not harass the journalist but he was still taken inside the FIA premises without his legal team

In an update posted on X at 9:05pm Mazari-Hazir said Toor was arrested by the FIA She told media that an FIA official came out of the building, delivered the legal team a handwritten note from Toor and said that the journalist was “formally arrested” Mazari blamed his arrest on the high court’s failure to “protect fundamental rights”

In an earlier post Mazari said that Toor had been detained at the FIA cell for the past few hours Manner in which journalists in this country are being treated is appalling Constitutional Courts must play their role to ensure fundamental rights are not brazenly violated in this manner,” she said Toor’s arrest came after was interrogated for nearly eight hours on Friday by FIA officials in connection with the same case Toor s counsel had posted on social media platform X that the journalist and his legal team left the FIA s cyber crime wing headquarters at 7pm that day after his detention at 10:50am Toor had later thanked his legal team and his supporters for their help and solidarity throughout the incident saying that he faced a “tough time”

The interrogation happened despite the Attorney General for Pakistan assuring the Supreme Court last month that the FIA would not take action before the general election on the notices sent to journalists The apex court had adjourned the hearing in the case till the first week of March

Criticising the arrest,

Cour t allows PTI founder one- on- one meeting with law yers