Epaper_24-03-31 KHI

TPTI rejects ex- CJP ’s appointment to head ‘letter-gate’ inquir y commission

Imran appoints focal persons for prison meetings after SOPs agreement

Gov t mulls ‘extending’ Chief Justice’s tenure

‘In

convicts the rioters were charged according to the following terms: rigorous imprisonment for five years and a Rs10 000 fine with simple imprisonment of a further 10 days in case of default under Section 6(2i) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 rigorous imprisonment for five years and a Rs10 000 fine with simple imprisonment of a further 10 days in case of default under Section 6(2m) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 • rigorous imprisonment for five years and a Rs10,000 fine, with simple imprisonment

• rigorous imprisonment for one year under PPC Section 427 (mischief causing damage amounting to Rs50) rigorous imprisonment for one year under PPC Section 431 (mischief by injury to public road bridge river or channel) The warrant said the sentences would r

The Rahwali Cantt police had registered a case against suspects involved in an attack on the cantonment in Gujranwala in which

At the time, Senior Superintendent of Police (Investigation) Usman Tariq Butt had also received injuries The first information report was registered under the anti-terrorism law as well as on the charges of attempted murder

The sentence was announced today by ATC Judge Natasha Naseem Sipra As per a warrant of commitment on sentence of the

Finance Minister urges banks to raise financing for priority sectors

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan has appointed Barrister Gohar, Sher Afzal Marwat and Barrister Umair Niazi as focal persons for conducting meetings with him in prison This decision comes following the establishment of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) between Imran Khan and the Superintendent of Adiala Jail under which both parties have mutually agreed and signed According to the SOPs, three focal persons have been designated by Imran Khan to facilitate meetings in the jail Barrister Gohar Ali Khan Sher Afzal Marwat and Barrister Umair Niazi will oversee the organization of these meetings as per the agreed protocols Under the SOPs each focal person will nominate two individuals for meetings with Imran Khan in jail These meetings are scheduled to take place twice a week with Tuesdays reserved for meetings with Imran Khan s family members and Thursdays for interactions with lawyers and other political figures However, any meeting requested under court orders will be subject to Imran Khan s consent Moreover it has been confirmed that the ban on meetings with Imran Khan and other prisoners in Adiala Jail has been lifted Adiala Jail Superintendent Asad Javed Waraich affirmed the lifting of the ban stating that now all prisoners, including Imran Khan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, and Parvez Elahi, can meet according to the prescribed procedure This development marks a significant shift allowing for improved communication and interaction between Imran Khan and other inmates in accordance with established protocols and legal requirements

PM Sharif shares five-year economic plan with cabinet

Rising temperatures, longer heatwaves taking its toll on Pakistan

unwavering support for Prime Minister Imran Khan expressing confidence in his ability to effectively represent the party in the Senate Bukhari s decision underscores the importance of party unity within PTI By prioritizing the party’s well-being over personal ambition, Bukhari exemplifies the party’s dedication to its core principles While this development necessitates strategic adjustments for the upcoming elections Bukhari s actions demonstrate the unwavering commitment within PTI s ranks

FBR’s Rs2544b revenue needs judiciar y’s attention: Kh Asif

Farhatullah

Babar says Biden didn’t greet Shehbaz on assuming office

Bodies

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

AMBASSADOR of Iraq to Pakistan Hamid Abbas Lafta has trade between Pakistan and Iraq through Gwadar and Basra seaports would be further strengthened bilateral relations between the two countries taking them to new heights

The two sides are committed to foster their multilateral relationship and that Pakistani manpower has a vast spectrum in the fields of agriculture, medical and petrochemical in Iraq ”

He said that the two countries also enjoy exemplary ties in the field of defence and that Iraq has recently procured a complete package of Super Mushahk from Pakistan

The Ambassador was talking to a delegation of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) led by its President Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari which

called on him here on Saturday

Envoy Hamid Abbas Lafta said that both the countries always demonstrate complete harmony at regional and international forums adding that Iraq is a country of opportunities with strong economy having annual budget of $110 billion and wants to promote ties with all the countries

Although both Pakistan and Iraq were bonded in strong relationship yet the trade relations were at the lowest level which needed to be enhanced and for this purpose the Chambers of both the sides can play a significant role he mentioned

The envoy further said that the Iraqi government has unveiled its national action plan for the investments and the Pakistani businessmen have to come forward to avail these opportunities

Hamid Abbas further said that the doors of his embassy are open for the business community of Pakistan in particular for the ICCI and that the Embassy will feel pride in

sharing

IHC judges ’ letter: Justice (r) Tassaduq

Jillani to head probe commission

Multan

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

The commission will also be at liberty to investigate any other matter during the course of the inquiry if it feels the issue to be important The inquiry commission would submit its report in sixty days The federal cabinet repudiated the allegations of the IHC judges and declared them to be “inappropriate” adding that the consensus of its members was that they believed in the separation of powers of state institutions as per the Constitution PM Shehbaz reiterated his faith in the principle of the judiciary’s independence of the judiciary and the division of constitutional powers He briefed the cabinet members on his meeting with the chief justice and they expressed their complete support of the decisions and actions taken so far ccording to insiders, the Terms of References (ToRs) were formed by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and the Attorney General of Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan The IHC judges Justice

Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Justice Babar Sattar, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz had on March 26 sent a letter to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) urging it to convene a judicial convention over the alleged interference of intelligence agencies in judicial affairs

Earlier, the Supreme Court on Wednesday held a full court meeting to deliberate on a letter by the six Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges about alleged interference of spy agencies with judicial functions Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa among other judges of the top court attended the meeting that lasted for over two hours in the federal capital JUSTICE (RETD) JILANI

In October 2017, the government nominated the former chief justice as judge ad hoc in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Kulbushan Jadhav case He served as a judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan from July 31 2004 to December 11 2013 and subsequently as the 21st chief justice of Pakistan from December 12, 2013 until July 5, 2014 He was born on July 6 1949 in

He

,

, ‘transnational child abduction,’ and ‘religious tolerance’ JUDGES’ LETTER Dated March 25 the letter was signed by IHC Justices Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Babar Sattar, Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Saman Rafat Imtiaz

It mentioned seven instances of alleged interference and intimidation to influence the outcome of cases of interest by the intelligence officials pointing out that when two out of three judges in the bench hearing the plea to disqualify PTI leader Imran Khan for concealing his alleged daughter opined that the case was not maintainable they were pressured by operatives of the ISI through friends and relatives

The situation got so stressful that one of the judges had to be admitted to hospital due to high blood pressure, the letter said According to the six judges the matter was brought to the notice of the IHC chief justice and the then-CJP The former informed the judges that

he had spoken to the DG-C of ISI and had been assured that no official from ISI will approach the judges of the IHC The letter complained that “interference on the part of intelligence operatives” continued even after IHC CJ’s assurance It also referred to the abduction of an IHC judge s brother-in-law by armed men who claimed to be ISI operatives The victim was administered electric shocks and “forced to record a video” making false allegations apparently against the judge Subsequently a complaint was filed against the judge of IHC before the SJC, accompanied by an orchestrated media campaign to bring pressure to bear upon the judge to resign ”The letter revealed that in May 2023 an IHC inspection judge reported to the chief justice that district court judges were being intimidated and crackers were thrown into the house of one additional district and sessions judge Te judge was even called to the IHC to verify the claims which he confirmed But instead of probing the allegations the judge was made officer on special duty and transferred to IHC, before being sent back to Punjab as he was a judicial officer on deputation” The letter said that last year during routine maintenance an IHC judge found that his official residence had been bugged with spy cameras concealed in his drawing room and bedroom When data from surveillance equipment was recovered, it showed that “private videos of the judge and his family members”

Pakistanis likely to enjoy extended Eidul Fitr holidays

LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t P a k i s t a n i e m p l o y e e s a r e i n f o r a t r e a t t h i s E i d - u lF i t r w i t h t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f e x t e n d e d h o l i d a y s T h e D e p a r t m e n t o f M e t e o r o l o g y p r e d i c t s R a m a d a n t o l a s t 2 9 d a y s m a k i n g t h e f i r s t o ff i c i a l h o l i d a y f a l l o n Tu e s d a y, A p r i l 9 t h T h i s c o u l d b e f o l l o w e d b y a f o u r- d a y g o v e r n m e n t h o l i d a y s t r e t c h f r o m A p r i l 9 t h t o 1 2 t h S i n c e S a t u r d a y a n d S u n d a y a r e w e e k e n d s a l r e a d y t h e t o t a l b r e a k c o u l d r e a c h s i x d a y s H o w e v e r t h e g o o d n e w s d o e s n t s t o p t h e r e S i n c e S a t u r d a y A p r i l 6 t h f a l l s b e f o r e E i d m a n y g o v e r n m e n t e m p l o y e e s a r e e x p e c t e d t o t a k e l e a v e , e x t e n d i n g t h e i r b r e a k t o a p o t e n t i a l n i n e d a y s Wi t h j u s t o n e o r t w o a d d i t i o n a l d a y s o ff , t h i s c o u l d t r a n s l a t e t o a s i g n i f i c a n t v a c a t i o n p e r i o d T h e e x c i t e m e n t f o r E i d i s b u i l d i n g g l o b a l l y w i t h p r e p a r a t i o n s u n d e r w a y i n P a k i s t a n a s w e l l C h a i r m a n o f t h e R u w i t H i l a l C o m m i t t e e M a u l a n a A b d u l K h a b i r A z a d h a s u s e d s c i e n t i f i c c a l c u l a t i o n s t o p r e d i c t a p o s s i b l e E i d s i g h t i n g o n t h e 2 9 t h o f R a m a d a n T h i s s u g g e s t s E i d - u l - F i t r c o u l d b e c e l e b r a t e d o n We d n e s d a y, A p r i l 1 0 t h , i n P a k i s t a n M a u l a n a A z a d ’s c a l c u l a t i o n s i n d i c a t e t h e m o o n m i g h t b e a r o u n d 2 0 h o u r s o l d w i t h a 1 0 - d e g r e e v i s i b i l i t y a n g l e a t s i g h t i n g A s t r o n o m e r s a d d a n o t h e r i n t e r e s t i n g d e t a i l : t h e b i r t h o f t h e S h a w w a l m o o n m i g h t c o i n c i d e w i t h a s o l a r e c l i p s e o n A p r i l 8 t h I f t h e m o o n a p p e a r s b e f o r e m i d n i g h t , i t w o u l d b e v i s i b l e a f t e r s u n s e t t h e f o l l o w i n g d a y i n m o s t M u s l i m c o u n t r i e s A n o ff i c i a l a n n o u n c e m e n t r e g a r d i n g t h e f i n a l h o l i d a y s c h e d u l e i s s t i l l a w a i t e d f r o m t

implemented by intelligence operatives to intimidate judges

Economic recover y govt ’s top priorit y, says Tarar

C h i n e s e i n v e s t i g a t o r s a r r i v e

Th e B h a s h a m i n c i d e nt h a s to b e c l e a re d u p to s ave Pa k- Ch i n a t i e s

THE arrival of a team of Chinese investigators indicates that the Chinese government is placing great significance on the incident The accepting of the team by the Pakistan government is also of importance, for local police forces are apt to view such a tea s being sent as a slur on their abilities and for the government to bhave overcome any such resentment shows that it has also placed great importance on this visit This is one of the biggest incidents of terrorism against Chinese working in Pakistan, as five Chinese engineers were killed, along with a Pakistani security guard Those killed on Tuesday were working on the Dasu hydroelectric project

The project had been targeted before in 2021 when a bus attack killed 13 Chinese workers The immediate suspicion to arise would be some business rivalry was at work However, there is no crowd of firms building hydroelectric projects, so that can probably be ruled out However, there have been a number of attacks on Chinese personnel working on various ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor projects the most recent being at the Turbat naval base on March 205 and at Gwadar on March 25 These are not usual targets for religious terrorists, but fit in with the pattern established by Baloh separatists

At the same time, Bhasham seems off the separatists beaten track However, there have been other indications that Baloch separatists have formed an alliance with religious extremists like the TTP Behind the Baloch separatists is the hand of India’s RAW which is probably anxious to mend fences with the CIA The USA has been wary of India ever since its murder plot against a Indian-born pro-Khalistan US citizen, but sees it as a major bulwark in its fight against China

Hopefully the Chinese investigators will help in the effort to establish which non-state actors are behind the attack and which states are backing them The Chinese team is also giving advice on what security measures need to be taken The security must not be so much that it stops its subjects from working, but it must be enough to save their lives To prevent future attacks it will be necessary to detect those responsible for this one It will not suffice but it will be a useful starting point

Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

M A Niazi

Editor

Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit

Kthe enthusiasm and rivalry during kite flying Aerial firing had become a permanent feature of Basant Children running after stray kites caused accidents The usage of metallic string increased the ratio of electrocution The scenario is really horrible Furthermore, the usage of Nylon and plastic Manja Chemical string and prominently kite Manja coated the cotton thread with a mix of glue and crushed glass, are a redoubtable mixture which causes the death of commuters, because this deadly mixture makes the thread unbreakable but cuts the neck of innocent motorcycle and cycle riders

In view of precious loss of life in Faisalabad RPO Dr Muhammad Abid Khan took the judicious decision to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against the kite flying violators As per data, Faisalabad region police registered 2710 cases and arrested 2715 accused including vendors and manufacturers As many as 254,321 kites and 7214 bundle of kite strings were seized Likewise, a massive crackdown is ongoing across the province

G i v e n t h e g r i e v o u s h u r t a n d d e a t h c a u s e d b y k i t e f l y i n g , i t i s a n u n d e n i a b l e f a c t t h a t i t i s n o l o n g e r a r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t y T h o u g h s o m e s e g m e n t s o f s o c i e t y v i e w t h a t t h e r e s h o u l d b e s o m e r e l a x a t i o n f o r s a f e k i t e f l y i n g k e e p i n g t h e s e n t i m e n t a n d e n t h u s i a s m o f p e o p l e r a t h e r h a v i n g a b r o a d p r o h i b i t i o n o f k i t e f l y i n g . H o w e v e r , t h e p e r i l s a r e g a l o r e . K i t e f l y i n g i s n o t o n l y d a n g e r o u s f o r p e o p l e b u t a l s o f o r b i r d s a n d o t h e r a n i m a l s T h e r e s p o n s i b l e m u s t b e t a k e n t o t a s k a n d c r a c k d o w n a g a i n s t t h e v i o l a t o r s m u s t b e s u s t a i n e d a n d c u l m i n a t e d t o t h e l o g i c a l e n d

T h e G e o p o l i t i c s o f A r t i f i c i a l I n t e l l i g e n c e F r a g m e n t a t i o n , C o n f l i c t , a n d Cy b e r s e c u r i t y

TAs kite flying is prohibited, there is a dire need to curb this menace with an iron hand Simply banning kite flying is not a perfect solution as the people resort to surreptitious and stealthy kite flying and manufacturing practices Moreover the community is insensitive to the perils of kite flying Given the grim situation, it has become necessary to eradicate this nasty practice by using all possible measures No one can gainsay the fact that human life is most precious and no compromise can be made at the cost of human life Banning kite-flying requires a whole-ofsociety approach The community should play a proactive role in the eradication of this menace The campaign should include but not be limited to conducting awareness seminars, walks and exercising of dialogue at academic institutions to sensitize students and community about the hazards of kite flying Pamphlets and awareness books should be distributed among citizens and students People can also be educated through announcements on electronic, print and social media about the potential tragedies of this fun sport The punishment of kite flying offences is not enough So the punishment should be enhanced keeping in view the role of violators There should be commensurate punishments for manufacturers, vendors and kite flyers Police require to take stringent measures to curb the manufacturing transportation dispatching vending and flying of kites However in order to escape arrest, people are now involved in the online sale of Manja string and kites So, police should monitor the online sale sites to identify the culprits and apprehend the accused involved in this deadly business Moreover police should take peomises from courier services and transporters to not cater to delivery related to kites and chemical string Given the grievous hurt and death caused by kite flying it is an undeniable fact that it is no longer a recreational activity Though some segments of society view that there should be some relaxation for safe kite flying keeping the sentiment and enthusiasm of people rather having a broad prohibition of kite flying However the perils are galore Kite flying is not only dangerous for people but also for birds and other animals The responsible must be taken to task and crackdown against the violators must be sustained and culminated to the logical end

Dr Muhammad Rizwan Bhatti is Ph D in Political Science and can be reached at rizwanbh79@gmail com

Women outlaws

TURBAT

Cancer treatment

Climate change

The Indomitable Spirit of China-Pakistan Cooperation

the cost

Tand esteemed deeply Their unwa-

vering support and genuine gestures of affection resonate profoundly within our hearts The enemy recognising the significance of our relationship maliciously targeted our Chinese friends, knowing that such an act would evoke intense pain, sorrow, and outrage across every corner of Pakistan This collective anguish transcends geographical social and governmental boundaries profoundly impacting every Pakistani who holds our Chinese brothers and sisters close to their hearts

In times of adversity our Chinese counterparts have consistently extended their helping hands to us, demonstrating unwavering support and solidarity without any expectation of reciprocity They epitomize true family members standing by us through thick and thin The cowardly attack not only inflicted physical harm but also inflicted a deep wound on the collective spirit of our nation serving as a stark reminder of the invaluable bond we share with our Chinese brethren What the enemy failed to comprehend is that the bond between the Chinese and Pakistanis transcends mere material considerations it is a connection of blood and soul The people of both nations are intertwined as one body and one soul When any part of this body is harmed, the entire entity feels the pain However rather than driving a wedge between us cowardly attacks only serve to strengthen our resolve and deepen our unity

In the face of such heinous and repreh e n s i b l e a c t s t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s c o u l d have been dire if they had targeted nationals of any other country There may have been swift actions such as the withdrawal o f n a t i o n a l s f r o m P a k i s t a n , i s s u a n c e o f travel advisories halting of ongoing projects and advisories to cease business act i v i t i e s w i t h P a k i s t a n T h r e a t e n i n g statements may have been issued, placing blame on Pakistan and its security forces f o r f a i l i n g t o p r o t e c t t h e i r c i t i z e n s a n d workers within the country

The statement issued by the articulate spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry stood in stark contrast to what might have been expected from any other nation under similar circumstances Strongly condemning the terrorist attack, the spokesperson reaffirmed the unwavering bond

between China and Pakistan, describing them as "all-weather strategic cooperative partners and iron-clad brothers Furthermore the spokesperson emphasized the critical role of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Pakistan's socio economic development asserting that no attempt to undermine this cooperation would succeed Expressing China s staunch opposition to terrorism in all its forms, the spokesperson reiterated firm support for Pakistan in its fight against terrorism Promising even stronger commitment to safeguard the safety and security of Chinese personnel, projects, and institutions in Pakistan, the statement delivered a resounding message to the terrorists and their backers

This robust and unequivocal response undoubtedly dealt a significant blow to the terrorists and their network of masterminds handlers financiers abettors and facilitators It must have left them feeling frustrated and dejected, as their sinister aims and objectives were thwarted The statement served as a powerful deterrent, rendering their strategy planning financial resources and human assets futile in the face of unwavering solidarity between China and Pakistan

The heartless terrorists are undoubtedly well aware of the formidable prowess professional competence, and the far-reaching effectiveness of the Pakistani armed forces and security forces Once a target is set they execute their operations with meticulous planning and finesse Retribution for such cowardly acts will not be delayed

These terrorists are also cognizant of the history of the Pakistani military which has a track record of delivering swift and decisive responses From repelling Indian aggression to defending the nation s sovereignty against incursions from Iran and Afghanistan the Pakistani armed forces have demonstrated their strength and resolve time and again

Furthermore, the same military force stood resilient against the might of the USSR during its invasion of Afghanistan in 1979

Not only did Pakistan resist the invasion but it also played a pivotal role in ultimately defeating and dismantling the USSR, freeing numerous nations from its dominance in the process It s only a matter of time before the long arm of our security forces tracks down the perpetrators of this heinous and cowardly attack whose target wasn t an equal adversary but innocent unarmed civilians This wasn t an act of bravery or gallantry but one of cowardice and cunning Rest assured such actions will not go unpunished, regardless of

G i v e n t h e g r i e v o u s h u r t a n d d e a t h c a u s e d b y k i t e f l y i n g , i t i s a n u n d e n i a b l e f a c t t h a t i t i s n o l o n g e r a r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t y T h o u g h s o m e s e g m e n t s o f s o c i e t y v i e w t h a t t h e r e s h o u l d b e s o m e r e l a x a t i o n f o r s a f e k i t e f l y i n g k e e p i n g t h e s e n t i m e n t a n d e n t h u s i a s m o f p e o p l e r a t h e r h a v i n g a b r o a d p r o h i b i t i o n o f k i t e f l y i n g H o w e v e r , t h e p e r i l s a r e g a l o r e K i t e f l y i n g i s n o t o n l y d a n g e r o u s f o r p e o p l e b u t a l s o f o r b i r d s a n d o t h e r a n i m a l s T h e r e s p o n s i b l e m u s t b e t a k e n t o t a s k a n d c r a c k d o w n a g a i n s t t h e v i o l a t o r s m u s t b e s u s t a i n e d a n d c u l m i n a t e d t o t h e l o g i c a l e n d

UK extremism: Naming and shaming of Muslim groups aims to stifle all dissent

Moscow massacre proves the West has created a Frankenstein monster on its own doorstep B

S u p p o r t f o r Pa l e s t i n e h a s b e e n u s e d t o c r i m i n a l i s e M u s l i m p o l i t i c a l vo i c e s t h a t d i s s e n t f ro m t h e o r t h o d ox y o f l i b e r a l d e m o c r a c y

G ove’s announcement is a politic ally oppor tune, grandiose ramping-up of the state’s longstanding vilific ation of Muslim civic ac tor

The highest echelons of Pakistani leadership, both civilian and armed forces deeply aggrieved, hurt and anguished by these cowardly attacks has also set in place an elaborate mechanism to rootout terrorism once for all This includes full activation of the 14point National Action Plan which unanimously conceived after the APS Peshawar incident played a pivotal role in defeating terrorism on our soil

Furthermore tighter and foolproof border control measures will be enforced to halt the cross-border movement of terrorists Efforts to push out illegal aliens will be intensified to shrink the space for abettors and facilitators of terrorism Both foreign and local facilitators and abettors will be held accountable and brought to justice Moreover, all safe havens and sanctuaries of terrorists will be identified and neutralized

Equally aggressive actions are likely to be initiated on the diplomatic front to garner international support in countering terrorism and addressing its root causes Diplomatically Pakistan will engage in active diplomacy by convening multilateral forums such as the United Nations and regional organizations to advocate for collective action against terrorism Politically Pakistan is working to address the root causes of terrorism by promoting socio-economic development education, and by implementing policies aimed at reducing poverty, inequality, and marginalization which are often exploited by extremist groups to recruit followers Furthermore Pakistan actively counters extremist narratives and propaganda through public diplomacy campaigns and religious outreach programs by challenging extremist ideologies through education and media initiatives

Despite the cowardly act of terrorism targeting our esteemed Chinese brothers and sisters and irrespective of the outcomes of kinetic and diplomatic counter-terrorism efforts the enduring friendship between China and Pakistan, along with the profound bond of love and affection between the Chinese and Pakistani people will only grow stronger with each passing day

The writer retired as Press Secretary the the President, and is former Press Minister at Embassy of Paikistan to France and former MD Shalimar Recording & Broadcasting Company Limited

Th e C ro c u s H a l l te r ro r i s t at t a c k r a l l i e d wo r l d s y m p at hy m a s s i ve l y f o r R u s s i a , w h i l e B i d e n ‘s p r i m e c o n c e r n i s to s e q u e s te r Ze l e n s k y s o t h at a l l i s n o t l o s t

Topportune, grandiose ramping-up of the state’s longstanding vilification of Muslim civic actors and denigration of Muslim concerns Its actual impact in terms of government relations, is little more than a tidying up of loose ends There are however two key features related to the timing and substance of this development that we would do well to take note of Gove’s extremism definition comes amid almost six months of sustained and growing grassroots proPalestinian protests mobilised in response to six months of a sustained and horrific genocidal Israeli onslaught against Gaza Thousands of people from countless different political persuasions and identities have marched and spoken out, week after week - outraged at the UK government’s continued complicity with this genocide

In just this short period several government ministers have disparaged protests as antisemitic hate marches and expressions of Islamist “primacy”, and falsely depicted them as a nihilistic disturbance to the public order that threatens social cohesion It is no coincidence that the government s unequivocal ideological commitment to “stand with Israel” is matched by its equally unequivocal obsession with misrepresenting the mounting wave of dissent as the work of rabid, traitorous ideologues

By this logic, popular calls for an end to genocide and an end to the UK’s complicity in it cannot be motivated by ethics, because especially for Muslim activists in the securitised nation-state, British values have been prescribed as the only ethics acceptable in the public sphere In terms of substance alongside naming Muslim voices that he considered to be extremist, Gove approvingly mentioned a number of alternative voices

In my opinion what is interesting about these alternative voices is that they present a very specific narrative about “conflict in the Middle East” This narrative speaks of two neighbouring peoples locked in some sort of perpetual feud, the origins of which have been lost in the mists of time While interfaith dialogue can be a laudable exercise in education exchange and bridge-building its cynical deployment to create orchestrated counter-narratives about Muslims and Jews discovering one another ’s humanity through interaction obscures the realities of settler-colonialism and an ongoing occupation enacted with vicious impunity Crucially, it deflects attention from the British state’s role and responsibility - both historic and present - and displaces the onus onto community leaders who, it is implied,

might hope to alleviate matters through shared charitable projects and tough conversations over cups of tea

INSIDIOUS DOMESTICATION

OF ISLAM

This type of manoeuvring absolves politicians and political structures in the same breath as it indicts religious communities by utilising them as pawns to be burdened with discharging an impossible and completely inappropriate task

It is precisely because Muslim grassroots voices are alive to the history and dimensions of this occupation that they set little stock in such initiatives which demean their experiences not to mention their intellects and imaginations - containing them by elevating the idea of getting along over the ethical goal of saving lives and seeking justice

Going back to Muslim political agency, this approach not only drowns out, but actively delegitimises and demonises, authentic voices via statefunded astroturfing par excellence It is thus a prime example of the insidious domestication of Islam in Britain

In his speech, Gove was at pains to differentiate between Islam (a “great”, “spiritual” and “virtuous” faith) and Islamism (a totalitarian ideology ) But in truth, this is a coloniser s distinction, which is not recognised by adherents of the faith

first thing Secondly the perpetrators did not behave like vintage ISIS killers on suicide missions nor were they answering the call of ‘jihad’ They were ethnic Tajiks who admitted that they were lured by money Expert opinion based on the published videos is also that their movements inside the mall during the operation did not show battle skills characteristic of well-trained fighters, and they had ‘poor muzzle discipline’ which means they had only minimal rifle training Simply put the storyline that this was an ISIS attack won t fly It is intended as a red herring to confuse dumb-witted folks abroad That said the US military has been ‘retooling’ erstwhile ISIS fighters who are largely unemployed nowadays after the deadly Russian-Iranian offensive in Syria to crush them Russia s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) went on record as recently as February 13 saying that the US is recruiting the erstwhile jihadist fighters to carry out terrorist attacks on the territory of Russia and CIS countries According to the SVR statement “Sixty such terrorists with combat experience in the Middle East were selected this year in January they are undergoing a fast-track training course at the US base in Syria s Al-Tanf, where they are being taught how to make and use improvised explosive devices as well as subversive methods Particular emphasis is paid to planning attacks on heavily guarded facilities including foreign diplomatic missions In the near future, there are plans to deploy militants in small groups to the territory of Russia and the CIS countries The SVR noted that special attention was paid to the involvement of natives of the Russian North Caucasus and Central Asia ”

This is not to say that the four perpetrators set out from Al-Tanf like the four knights in TS Eliot s play ‘Murder in the Cathedral’ As a matter of fact, the men could have been picked up from anywhere

Significantly US President Joe Biden who is not lost for words to vilify Russia on any account even using abusive epithets has in this case chosen to keep mum and would rather wait for the findings of the Russian investigators The Americans appear to be nervous about what the Russian side already knows about their involvement in the affair Not a single leader in the non-western world parroted the US narrative about the ISIS role

The high probability is that US intelligence had gotten wind of something brewing in Budanov s kitchen after Nuland s visit Evidently, the prime concern of the Biden Administration is to sequester Zelensky so that all is not lost downstream Indeed the Crocus City Hall attack rallied world

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WASHINGTON M I A N A B R A R

JO E Biden on Friday acknowledged the pain being felt by many Arab Americans over the war in Gaza and over US support of Israel and its military offensive that has left Arabs Muslims and anti-war activists angry and disappointed

Many Muslims and Arabs in the United States have urged the Democratic president to call for a permanent ceasefire, stop the sale of weapons to Israel and use more leverage to protect civilian lives as a humanitarian crisis unfolds in Gaza

We must also pause to reflect on the pain being felt by so many in the Arab American community with the war in Gaza, Biden said in a proclamation on Arab American Heritage Month released by the White House adding he was “devastated by the suffering However hours after Biden s Friday statement the Washington Post reported that his government had signed off on additional bombs

and warplanes for Israel in recent days worth billions of dollars Israel is the leading recipient of U S foreign aid and the U S vetoed multiple votes at the United Nations calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza assault, before abstaining from a vote in late March

The Biden administration has issued proclamations since 2021 ahead of April which is observed as Arab American Heritage Month

This year s proclamation was longer than previous ones due to Biden’s comments on Gaza Protests demanding a ceasefire in Gaza have occurred in many US cities in recent months including near airports opens new tab and bridges in

unlikely to back Biden’s rival, Republican former President Donald Trump but observers note they could sit out the election and deny Biden crucial votes They had overwhelmingly supported Biden in 2020 Biden said on Friday he was working to increase humanitarian aid into Gaza free captives taken by Hamas fighters and establish an immediate ceasefire lasting at least six weeks Biden also said Arab Americans have been a target of hate crimes while noting the fatal October stabbing of 6-year-old Palestinian American Wadea Al-Fayoume in Illinois the November shooting of three students opens new tab of Palestinian descent in Vermont and the February stabbing of a Palestinian American man, in Texax Israel’s brutal military assault on Gaza has killed over 32 000 people according to the local health ministry displaced nearly all of its 2 3 million population put the enclave on the brink of starvation and led to accusations of genocide that Israel denies

C hina ‘deplores ’ US statement on HKSAR, urges respec t for rule of law

WASHINGTON

The Chinese embassy in the United States on Friday said “China strongly deplores and firmly opposes the Hong Kong Policy Act Report by the U S Department of State, and the relevant statement issued by U S Secretary of State Antony Blinken A spokesperson for the embassy said in a statement that the U S has time and again discredited and smeared the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) s Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, threatening to impose unwarranted unilateral sanctions on the HKSAR and even putting sanctions on Hong Kong officials performing their duties China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this, read the statement The U S should immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and other internal affairs of

The ordinance will enable Hong Kong to better leverage its unique status and strengths better deepen exchanges and cooperation with various countries and regions and better consolidate its status as an international financial, shipping and trade center, added the spokesperson

The spokesperson also accused the U S of double standards on national security issues saying the U S itself has an airtight national security system with a large number of laws and unparalleled extraterritoriality, but it keeps pointing fingers at the HKSAR’s Safeguarding National Security Ordinance

This is sheer political manipulation and hypocritical double standards said the spokesperson

The spokesperson urged the U S to respect China s sovereignty and the rule of law in the HKSAR, and immediately stop meddling in its affairs

China, it added The HKSAR s Safeguarding National Security Ordinance took effect on March 23 marking the completion of legislation work stipulated by Article 23 of the HKSAR Basic Law plugging a national security loophole The ordinance makes full reference to the experience of other countries, especially common law jurisdictions and it fully respects and protects human rights clearly defines elements of crime and distinguishes between crime and noncrime, said the spokesperson for the Chinese embassy It provides effective protection for the normal business activities of foreign institutions organizations and personnel in Hong Kong and their need for international exchanges, the spokesperson added It does not at all undermine the high degree of autonomy in Hong Kong nor does it change the current capitalist system and way of life in Hong Kong, said the spokesperson

Masterc

IMF proposes uniform cigarette taxation to tackle economic losses, health concerns

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

t

PSX welcomes Federal Finance Minister ’s visit with a Gong Ceremony

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recently proposed a uniform taxation on tobacco sector to tackle the significant economic losses suffered by Pakistan due to the dominance of the cigarette industry high consumption rates and subsequent health cost over the years

In its report, the IMF has urged Pakistan to implement uniform taxation on cigarettes, emphasizing the need to address health concerns and generate maximum revenue from the sector

The IMF s recommendation comes in the wake of a significant decline in cigarette consumption by 20-25 percent following an increase in taxes on tobacco products

It also advocates subjecting ecigarettes to similar taxation as traditional tobacco products highlighting comparable health impacts Health activists have rallied behind the IMF s recommendations, echoing the need for restructuring tobacco taxation in Pakistan

The Sustainable Development

Policy Institute (SDPI) has previously highlighted discrepancies in the tax collection framework According to SDPI s report based on FBR data, Pakistan suffered a loss of Rs 567 billion in revenue over the past seven years Former federal Minister for National Health Services Dr Nadeem Jan also advocated for a substantial 50 percent tax increase on tobacco products to deter consumption, especially among youth,

severe

concerns His demand is based on article 6 of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Pakistan s commitment to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) underscores the importance of a unified pricing system for cigarettes to regulate the industry effectively and discourage consumption

The World Health Organization (WHO) advocates

think tank finalizing recommendations for tax reforms

Rana Mashhood takes charge as Chairman Prime Minister ’s Youth Programm

ISLAMABAD

S TA F F R E P O R T

The appointment of Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan as the Chairman of Prime Minister ’s Youth Programme has been made With a distinguished career in public service and a passion for youth empowerment, Rana Mashhood brings a wealth of experience and dedication to his new role Mashhood's appointment underscores the government s commitment to prioritize the development and well-being of the youth of the nation His extensive background in education and advocacy makes him uniquely suited to lead initiatives aimed at harnessing the potential of young minds across

am fully com-

Navigating Carbon Market: A pathway for Pakistan's sustainable

development

ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) highlight the complexities and the urgent need for effective policy instruments in this domain The primary goal of carbon trading is to incentivize the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions thereby mitigating the impact of carbon dioxide on the environment Dr Suleri poignantly noted that our very existence, ecology, food security, and livelihoods hinge on our collective efforts to preserve the environment The transition to renewable energy while technologically feasible faces significant hurdles in terms of infrastructure development necessitating a phased approach PR

G e t z P h a r m a r e j e c t s d i s s e m

Getz Pharma issues this statement in response to the recent dissemination of false information about its product Risek IV 40 mg injection on electronic and social media These malicious attempts aim to undermine the brand reputation of our product

On February 12, 2024, the Federal Inspector of Drugs-IV, while conducting market surveillance in Moro Sindh identified counterfeit Risek 40mg IV injections at the premises of M/s Qalanari Medicos on Hospital Road Moro Nowsheroferoz

One dead, 14 others injured in Quetta blast

18 of total of 147 candidates contesting Senate elections elected unopposed

Tribunal issues written verdic t on Murad S aeed appeal, clearing him for S enate polls

PESHAWAR S TA F F R E P O R T Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former federal minister Murad Saeed was allowed to contest the Senate election and the Peshawar High Court’s Election Appellate Tribunal issued its written verdict on Saturday

According to the verdict the Appellate Tribunal rejected all the eight objections raised against the PTI leader The tribunal, in its verdict, said the signatures of the attester and endorser on the papers were genuine

It said that Murad Saeed had deposited the penalty amount imposed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)

In the written ruling, the tribunal said that absconders had the right to contest the elections “Papers cannot be rejected on the basis of absconding The tribunal said Murad Saeed had also revealed his assets besides documents submitted by the candidate through power of attorney were also correct

Earlier on Monday, the Appellate Tribunal of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Monday allowed PTI leaders – Murad Saeed Khurram Zeeshan and Azam Swati to contest Senate elections

The PTI leaders had challenged the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision on rejection of their papers for various reasons

The tribunal comprising Justice Shakeel Ahmed announced the verdict it had reserved earlier and overturned the initial rejection of their nomination papers for the upcoming Senate election scheduled for April 2 Murad Saeed and Khurram Zeeshan have been cleared for election on general seats while Swati will contest on the technocrat seat

Last week, the Appellate Tribunal of Lahore High Court (LHC) reversed the ECP’s decision to re-

ject PTI worker Sanam Javed’s nomination and allowed her to contest the Senate polls LHC Justice Shahid Bilal Hasan of the tribunal pronounced a reserved verdict that was reserved on Thursday after the completion of arguments from both sides

The electoral watchdog has already appointed returning officers and polling officers for the forthcoming elections on 48 seats of the Senate

As per the ECP, in all the provinces elections will be held for seven general seats, two women seats and two technocrat seats Apart from this there will be an election for one minority seat from Punjab and one minority seat from Sindh while one general and one technocrat seat from Islamabad

The ECP has further informed that relevant Provincial Election Commissioners have been appointed as Returning Officers for the Senate elections in all four provinces

For Islamabad the director general, training, ECP, has been appointed as the Returning Officer

Twelve Senators each will be elected from Sindh and Punjab and two from Islamabad while 11 Senators each will be elected from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan

Only seven of total 126 superior cour t judges are women: L JCP repor t

Five dead as rain, hailstorm lash par ts of KP, Balochistan, Punjab

QUETTA/PESHAWAR

Israel illegally confiscated 27,000 decares of West Bank land since Oc t. 7: Palestinian Authority