Epaper_24-04-6 ISB

Pakistan Bar urges SC to constitute full cour t over IHC judges’ letter

court comprising all the judges should hear the case and secret agencies should be prevented from interfering in judicial affairs

The PBC members also appealed in the application that the Judicial Council should be ordered to issue instructions on the reservations of the judges of the Islamabad High Court

It is also stated in the application that the independence of the judiciary is related to fundamental rights and for the independence of the judiciary and the provision of justice, it is necessary to investigate the letters of the judges

On March 25, six Islam abad High Court judges out of a total strength of eight wrote a letter to the Supreme Jud icial Council (SJC) members regarding attempts to pressurise judges through abduction and torture of their relatives as well as secret surveillance

The letter was signed by judges Mohsin Akhtar Kayani Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri Babar Sattar, Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Saman Rafat Imtiaz and addressed to the CJP and Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Munib Akhtar as well as the top judges of the Peshawar High Court and the IHC On Saturday last the federal cabinet had approved the constitution of an inquiry commission headed by ex-chief

Two young girls, boy die af ter father poisons tea in T T Singh

Problems with pensions

I

N S were one of the new concepts introduced in the Subcontinent by the Raj

Along with timely payments of salaries, the idea of retiring its servants and then paying them a pension for the rest of their lives was a mouth-watering induction, one which made a government job so attractive Then there are the payments made to widows and then to minor children Then there were commutations where on retirement the pensioner would draw his pension in advance and not receive it for some time This was funded by deductions from salaries which were invested and used to pay present pensions Any shortfall was to be made up by the government This was one of the holes in the government s finances, as generally there was a shortfall to be made up It was almost inevitable that the IMF would latch onto pensions as an area demanding reform Therefore the present effort at pension reform is not really prompted by a desire to improve the attractiveness of government service, as a desire to cut costs Indeed, even that is a worthy motivation What really drives this is the desire to curry favour with the IMF One result is that there is no ownership in government circles of pension reform and thus there is the danger that the very fabric of government service whether civil or armed might unravel One of the more controversial proposals is that commutation would entail a reduction in the overall pension Further increases in pension are limited to a maximum of 10 percent, and linked to the CPI The medical facilities afforded to pensioners have not come under scrutiny, but that is only a matter of time With pensioners being of advanced age, and thus subject in large numbers to chronic diseases, their need for medicines is expensive It is only a matter

Oature ever recorded

28

2017, and

2010, at Turbat,

(128 7 F)

tan, and Moenjodaro, Sindh, respectively Not only was it the highest temperature ever recorded in Pakistan, but it was also the fourth-highest temperature ever recorded on Earth and the hottest accurately measured temperature ever recorded on the Asian continent The world record rainfall of 620 millimetres (24 in) was reached in Islamabad on 23 July 2001 In just ten hours, that record-breaking downpour happened The Karachi Tidal Station reports a 1 1 mm/yr increase in mean sea level over the past 100 years The sea is devouring land, consuming 80 acres a day on average According to the Human Development Index Pakistan is ranked 125th and its climate is expected to change more than average The main factor contributing to Pakistan s long-term natural hazard mortality is the country s vulnerability to several natural disasters High rates of poverty and malnourishment,

its marginalised people and its political environment makes it highly prone to disasters Pakistan is the eighth most vulnerable country in the world most affected by climate change, according to the 2023 Global Climate Risk Index by Germanwatch, with an annual cost of $14 billion, or five percent of GDP Climate change is also affecting food security leading to acute malnutrition and devastating weather disasters

Thousands of homes now experience food insecurity with tragic incidents countrywide Pakistan also faces an annual median probability of severe meteorological and hydrological drought, with a probability of 25 percent-65 percent across the country The probability of meteorological drought is projected to increase under all emissions pathways with very strong increases

The transition of large areas to ecological zones is causing drought frequency to increase causing significant damage to crops and livelihoods

A study by the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (2021) reveals that Pakistan is facing a significant increase in global temperatures, with a potential rise of 1 3°C - 4 9°C by 2090 This rise is expected to be stronger than average putting pressure on human health livelihoods and ecosystems Changes to Pakistan s rainfall and runoff regimes are uncertain but an increase in drought conditions is likely

Extreme climate events are expected to increase, increasing disaster risk, particularly for vulnerable poor and minority groups Flooding is expected to affect around 5 million people by 2035-2044 and 1 million annually by 2070-2090 Projections suggest yield declines in key food and cash crops and temperature increases are likely to strain urban dwellers and outdoor labourers, increasing the risk of heat-related sickness and death Climate change is creating uncertainty for Pakistan’s water supplies especially in the Indus Basin The Karakoram glaciers are predicted to be impacted by variations in seasonality and

are the depletion of reservoirs and the strain on groundwater, significant land degradation, desertification, and dryland expansion due to human activities such as overgrazing, over-exploitation of water resources, over-cultivation, and excessive fertilizer use The Ministry of Climate Change in Pakistan was established in 2019 to address climate change adaptation energy conservation and fuel mix optimization Research indicates that changing weather patterns will lead to more intense droughts, heat waves, and stronger tropical cyclones To combat these events, policies to prevent floods and droughts, reduce

International cooperation is crucial as global warming effects require concer ted effor ts to create a sustainable future for g enerations to come . Pakistan needs to address the declining productivity of its agri-food system, build resilient cities, accelerate a transition to sustainable energy and low-carbon transpor t, strengthen human capital, and align financing policies to suppor t climate action.

Tby

transparency

When

administered through

means,

can lead to

decisions, violations

rights, and

of public trust in the legal system Additionally, it can perpetuate corruption and abuse of power ultimately weakening the rule of law Since the first constitutional case of Pakistan Moulvi Tameezuddin s case it was the then Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mr Justice Muhammad Munir, who managed to create the mountains of ghost justice in Pakistan which still continue to frustrate our judicial system Allegations of certain elements within the establishment protecting or tolerating practices akin to ghost justice have been made in Pakistan However it s important to approach such claims with caution and recognize that addressing complex issues like this requires a

comprehensive understanding of the political, social and institutional dynamics at play Efforts to combat ghost justice may face challenges including resistance from vested interests or systemic issues within the establishment Nevertheless, advocating for transparency, accountability, and the rule of law remains crucial in addressing such concerns Actually ghost justice undermines the foundations of real justice by bypassing legal procedures eroding trust in the legal system and perpetuating impunity When individuals or groups take the law into their own hands through extrajudicial actions or secret decisions, it undermines the principles of fairness, accountability, and due process This can lead to a breakdown of the rule of law increased violence and a lack of confidence in institutions meant to uphold justice Therefore combating ghost justice is essential for safeguarding the integrity and fairness of the judicial system

The prevalence of ghost justice can contribute to societal instability which in turn can exacerbate poverty When people feel that the legal system is ineffective or unjust they may resort to informal or vigilante methods to resolve disputes This can lead to cycles of violence, disruption of economic activities, and a breakdown of social cohesion, all of which can push communities further into poverty Addressing the root causes of ghost justice such as inequality lack of access to justice and ineffective governance is crucial for promoting both democracy and economic prosperity

A civilized society relies on a fair and transparent justice system to uphold order and protect the rights of its citizens Ghost justice, which operates outside of legal norms and often involves violence or coercion is incompatible with the principles of civilization It undermines the rule of law promotes vigilantism and perpetuates cycles of violence and injustice Therefore, efforts to combat ghost justice and strengthen legal institutions are essential for building and maintaining

g i l a n t e o r g h o s t j u s t i c e . T h i

h e l e g a l s y s t e m m o r e a c c e s s i b l e , t r a n s p a r e n t , a n d f a i r fo r a l l c i t i z e n s

Tof these assaults cannot be overstated They have rocked the foundation of Iranian sovereignty and authority, leaving the nation reeling in disbelief and anguish The Iranian people are struggling to come to terms with the enormity of these losses while their leaders both spiritual and formal are grappling with the profound implications for national security and stability

These events have injected a sense of urgency and determination into Iran’s response The nation finds itself at a critical juncture faced with the imperative to defend its interests and protect its people against further aggression Yet amidst the chaos and uncertainty, there remains a steadfast resolve to stand strong in the face of adversity and to seek justice for those who have fallen victim to these cowardly acts of violence

These attacks are allegedly perpetrated and masterminded by Israel when logically Israel should contain the spread of war in the Middle East where it is fully engaged in war against Hamas and its affiliates in Gaza and the West Banks Houthis in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Daesh in Syria, and therefore it should have avoided bringing Iran into the war theater

A p a r t f ro m e co n o m i c d a m a g e, t h e U S A m ay o n ce a g a i n t h re ate n Pa ki s t a n

However, it appears that Israel has larger plans and is a part of a larger conspiracy to draw Iran into the conflict by employing provocative tactics to force it into the war zone whether it wants to or does not This could later give Israel a real and legitimate excuse to launch a full-scale attack on Iran Israel, confident of its military might, bolstered by the USA’s unquestionable diplomatic political financial and military support has perhaps fully determined to deal with Iran s looming threats once for all

Like it has killed around 40 000 Palestinians in Gaza and continuing unabated with total impunity, it seems hellbent to neutralize Iran’s nuclear threat once and for all, eliminate its missiles, rockets and drone capabilities and bring it down to a point where it can no longer seriously jeopardize Israeli safety and security besides lessen Iran s ability to disrupt the global food and oil supply chain and eradicate its influence and reach in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen Iran, on the other hand, enraged by the unprovoked attack on its Embassy in Syria and the later terrorist attack in Rask while it was still in mourning mode after the twin bomb attack in January 3 in Karman province this year, which had killed over 100 people and wounded many more, including many high-ranking Iranian officials, vowed a harsh revenge after each attack

Soon after the attack in Karman on January 4 the Iranian reaction was swift On

s t a n … G i v e n t h e l i k e l i h o o d o f i n c r e a s e d h o s t i l i t i e s b e t w e e n I r a n a n d I s r a e l a n d t h e p o t e n t i a l i m p a c t o n t h e n a t i o n Ês s e c u r i t y, s ov e r e i g n t y, a n d s a f e t y, t h e Pa k i s t a n i g ov e r n m e n t s h o u l d t a k e t h e s e g ro w i n g t h r e a t s v e r y s e r i o u s l y. I f t h e s e a s s u m p t i o n s c o m e t o p a s s , i t s h o u l d u s e a l l a va i l a b l e d i p l o m a t i c , p o l i t i c a l , a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m mu n i c a t i o n r e s o u rc e s t o p ro t e c t t h e c o u n t r y Ês v i t a l i n t e r e s t s

January 16, using a combination of ballistic missiles and drones, Iran struck targets in Syria Iraq and Pakistan allegedly associated with Israeli intelligence and anti-regime terrorist groups Unlike the other two countries

Pakistan did not wait and after 24 hours launched proportional, highly precise and finally calibrated intelligence based strikes, against hideouts of armed groups in the Sistan-Baluchestan province of Iran and restored the geopolitical and security balance But Israel was waiting patiently to res p o n d t o t h e I r a n i a n b a r r a g e o f b a l l i s t i c missiles and drones attacks on Israeli assets in Syria and Iraq, until it responded t o d a y w i t h l e t h a l a t t a c k s o n t h e I r a n i a n Embassy in Damascus and masterminding the terrorist attack in Rask prompting the Iranian leadership to pledge once again a harsh and befitting response but this time raising the stakes by adding a severe warning, that the time has now come

She was delighted “A lot of people over 50 are very happy there,” he says Pew Research Center data show that 56% of U S adults aged 18-34 have a TikTok account but only half have ever posted a video This behavior is identical to that of users between 35 and 49 years of age on the same social network On TikTok, most of us are voyeurs of what a highly professionalized minority creates For Pew Research Center the ultimate proof of how unimportant it is to socialize there is that 70% of users do not fill in their biography field and have never received a like Generation Z, born between 1997 and 2012, is the most sophisticated generation in the use of social networks and has no need to socialize at least not like their predecessors did They post and they don t care what their followers think They are the true digital natives and they surf the web with their own rules A Gallup survey from 2023 claims that the late Generation Z spends about five hours online every day, but hopping between seven different platforms

They are in the majority on Instagram (Gallup estimates that 80% of gen-zedders will be there by 2027 compared to 79 1% who will have TikTok accounts), but they spend more time on the Chinese platform Struck by confinement during the pandemic, Generation Z saw their school schedules and leisure time contaminated on screens That’s why they are passionate about routines The longer and neater the better: 1 000-step skincare rules for taking a eucalyptus bath hierarchies for organizing the closet by range of whites Order, control and an Anglo-Saxon word for everything: esthetic Curiously a generation that doesn’t seem eager to cultivate anarchy is iconoclastic with its networks: Generation Z spends two-thirds of its day on TikTok but goes to Instagram to send direct messages; it swaps Google for TikTok for searches, and has a good time on X, the former Twitter The gen-zedders have turned X into a huge streaming forum for commenting on reality television According to the Gallup survey while other generations gave Elon Musk

found it the easiest and most intuitive ecosystem for the elderly

TN e t a nya h u m u s t k n o w Te h r a n w i l l re s p o n d m i l i t a r i l y t o t h e at t a c k o n i t s e m b a s s y i n Sy r i a , t h e q u e s t i o n i s w h e t h e r A m e r i c a n t ro o p s w i l l b e a t a rg e t

be, as they try to balance the conflicting considerations weighing on them All one can say with confidence is that Iranian responses will be at times and places of Tehran s choosing

Several possible lines of speculation could apply to Israel s motives in attacking the embassy compound in Damascus Perhaps Israel viewed this as one more operation in its years-long campaign of aerial bombardment of Iran-related targets in Syria Intelligence presented a target of opportunity with the IRGC officers at the embassy compound and Israel seized the opportunity

Or one might view the attack as one more manifestation of the uncontrolled national rage that has characterized Israel since the Hamas operation in October This may be the kind of damaging and careless striking out about which President Biden warned when he told Israelis last October that Americans understood their shock, pain, and rage” but that Israel should not be “consumed” by that rage He noted that the United States had “also made mistakes” amid its rage after 9/11 an oblique reference to launching an offensive war against Iraq a country that had nothing to do with the 9/11 attack

But the bombing of the embassy facility in Damascus was a clear enough escalation (and expansion of Israeli offenses against the laws of war) that it probably reflected a carefully calculated decision at the highest levels of Benjamin Netanyahu s government The calculation did not have much to do with any dent, which is likely to be shortterm and minimal, that loss of the IRGC officers would make in Iranian capabilities Rather the attack was part of an effort to escalate Israel s way out of a situation in which its declared objective of destroying Hamas is out of reach the worldwide isolation of Israel because of its actions in Gaza is becoming undeniable, and even its habitually automatic U S backing has patently softened For Netanyahu personally escalating and expanding the war insofar as this also means continuing it indefinitely is also his only apparent hope for staving off his political and legal difficulties Escalation as an intended way for Israel to work its way out of the Gaza dead end has

to rein in Netanyahu from progressive democrats dismayed at the Palestinian civilian death toll against the risk that may alienate mostly proIsrael independent voters He has so far resisted setting conditions on arms transfers

On Thursday evening, just hours after the call, the Israeli government announced several steps to increase aid flows to Gaza, including opening the Ashdod port and the Erez crossing into northern Gaza and increasing aid deliveries from Jordan It was not clear if the steps would be enough to satisfy US demands

The war on Gaza has laid waste to much of the densely populated territory and displaced most of its 2 3 million people More than 33,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the health ministry in Gaza of which most were women and children Describing their call the White House said Biden called for Israel to announce and implement a series of specific concrete and measurable steps to address civilian harm humanitarian suffering and the safety of aid workers He made clear that US policy concerning Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel s immediate action on these steps, the White House added in a statement US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was more blunt “Look I’ll just say this if we don’t see the changes that we need to see there will be changes in our policy

C h i n a ’s t o p a n t i - g r a f t b o d y vow s i n t e n s i f i e d

c r a c kd ow n o n m i s c o n d u c t, c o r r u p t i o n

doorsteps will be intensified according to a meeting held Wednesday by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) and the National Commission of Supervision Addressing the meeting Liu Jinguo a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and deputy secretary of the CCDI, said that the crackdown was of great concern to the public and bore on the foundations of the CPC’s governance Liu urged disciplinary inspection and supervisory agencies at all levels to timely respond to misconduct and corruption tips The agencies should launch careful and thorough investigations on suspected offenses that have wide and adverse impacts to the public, he added Moreover Liu emphasized the importance of securing access to fairness and justice for the people and called for efforts to ensure the crackdown meets the people s expectations A Party-wide campaign on Party discipline education will be held from April to July this year, according to a meeting of the Central Leading Group for Party Building held in Beijing on Wednesday

out his concerns and Netanyahu defending his approach on Gaza A senior White House official described the conversation as “very direct very straightforward saying it included Vice President Kamala Harris National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Blinken As to what the United States expects, the official said, “We need a comprehensive

This initiative was approved by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee the meeting confirmed

Cai Qi a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chief of the Central Leading Group for Party Building, presided over the meeting and delivered a speech

Li Xi a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and deputy chief of the Central Leading Group for Party Building, attended the meeting and also made a speech

The education campaign is an important move to tighten Party discipline and achieve significant advances in exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance, the meeting said The campaign aims to ensure that the significance of tightening Party discipline and the consequences of violating Party disciplinary rules are both fully understood the meeting added

Wang Yi: China, Vietnam should accelerate maritime cooperation

GUANGXI

S ta f f C o r r e S p o n d e n t

China has always regarded Vietnam as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy and is willing to work with the Vietnamese side to jointly promote the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday Wang also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee made the remarks when meeting with visiting Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in south China Wang said the two sides should work together to promote cooperation in various fields strengthen high-level strategic communication accelerate the synergy of development strategies, and continue to expand cooperation in areas including trade and investment, digital economy, green development new energy and key minerals He called for closer peopleto-people exchanges to strengthen the foundation of public opinion, so that the friendship between China and Vietnam will be more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people He urged both sides to jointly safeguard international justice, practice true multilateralism, and continue to support each other on issues concerning vital interests to each other Both sides should properly manage differences accelerate maritime cooperation and consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and resolve conflicts and differences through win-win cooperation he added Wang emphasized the need to be vigilant

D r Muhammad Amjad S aqib emphasizes crucial role of b I S P employees in program's success

Saqib directed the employees to ensure that assistance amounts are disbursed with utmost honesty and integrity, particularly emphasizing the need for transparency in payments to innocent women He stressed the importance of providing all necessary facilities to needy women during surveys and disbursements, ensuring their comfort and dignity throughout the process

Moreover, Dr Muhammad Amjad Saqib urged the employees to liaise with bank officials to ensure transparent and efficient delivery of funds to deserving women

hard work of the employees

Highlighting the importance of transparency, Dr Muhammad Amjad

Emphasizing the significance of cleanliness and respectful treatment, he encouraged employees to uphold the values of compassion

and empathy while serving the underprivileged Dr Muhammad Amjad Saqib reminded the employees that serving humanity is an act of worship He urged them to recognize the rights of needy women and take practical steps to empower impoverished families thereby contributing to the broader goal of poverty alleviation Later, Dr Muhammad Amjad Saqib also visited the payment campsite in Bahawalpur, where he personally monitored the ongoing payment process for BISP beneficiaries During his visit he interacted with needy women listened to their issues, and instructed officials to address the problems faced by women immediately

R s 2 5 0 m n f i n e i m p o s e d o n f i ve

D i

for defense, the companies largely acknowledged their AT&C-based power cuts attributing them to government policy

However Nepra highlighted that these actions contravened their obligations to ensure equitable and uninterrupted electricity distribution

The investigation revealed that the companies had neglected to improve the technical and financial condition of selected feeders causing undue hardship to consumers

Additionally the Nepra criticised the companies for attributing load shedding to economic conditions, suggesting they also address internal inefficiencies and consider alternative financial management strategies

Nepra stressed the need for transparency, accountability and fair consumer treatment pointi n g o u t o n g o i n g AT & C - b a s e d l o a d s h e d d i n g o n 3 0 % o f K - E l e c t r i c s f e e d e r s w h i c h e x c e e d e d scheduled durations

The regulator reaffirmed that load shedding should only be for technical reasons, not commercial motives, criticising the public sector companies for not adhering to Nepra standards and accusing the Ministry of Energy of directing the load shedding

The reported load-shedding durations varied between 2 5 and 10 hours with companies allegedly concealing inefficiencies under the guise of reducing line losses through AT&C load shedding

Pakistan urges world to take cognizance of Indian net work of ex tra-territorial

S TA F F R E P O R T

The Foreign Office (FO) on Friday said that the Indian network of extra-judicial and extra-territorial killings was now a global phenomenon that required a coordinated international response

The statement was issued after The Guardian, in a report published on Thursday said that the Indian government assassinated individuals in Pakistan as part of a wider strategy to eliminate terrorists living on foreign soil

The report cited intelligence officials from both countries, as well as documents shared by Pakistani investigators saying they shed new light on how India s foreign intelligence agency allegedly began to carry out assassinations abroad as part of an emboldened approach to national security after 2019” India has denied the claims made in the report

In a statement the FO said that India s assassination of Pakistani nationals on Pakistani soil was a clear violation of the country s sovereignty and a breach of the UN Charter

It also highlighted a press conference by Foreign Secretary Syrus Sajjad Qazi in January wherein he

had said there was credible evidence” of links between Indian agents and the assassination of two Pakistani nationals in Sialkot and Rawalakot These cases exposed the increasing sophistication and brazenness of Indian-sponsored terrorist acts inside Pakistan, with striking similarities to the pattern observed in other countries, including Canada and the United States ” the FO said In October 2023 Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had cited what he said was credible evidence of a potential link between Indian agents and the murder of a Sikh separatist leader The next month, the US Department of Justice had said an Indian government official directed an unsuccessful plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist on US soil

It is critical to bring to justice the perpetrators, facilitators, financiers and sponsors of these extrajudicial and extra-territorial killings India must be held accountable internationally for its blatant violation of international law, the FO said Report says Indian involvement in up to 20 killings in Pakistan The Guardian report said that the accounts appeared to “give further weight to allegations that Delhi has implemented a policy of targeting those it considers hostile to India” It noted that India has been publicly accused by Washington and Canada of involvement in the murders of dissident activists The fresh claims relate to almost 20 killings since 2020, carried out by unidentified gunmen in Pakistan While India has previously been unofficially linked to the deaths this is the first time Indian intelligence personnel have discussed the alleged operations in Pakistan, and detailed documenta-

said, these killings were orchestrated by Indian intelligence sleeper cells “mostly operating out of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) It quoted two Indian intelligence officers as saying that RAW s shift to focusing on dissidents abroad” was triggered by the 2019 Pulwama attack which killed scores of security personnel in held Kashmir in February 2019