Epaper_24-05-17 LHR

JOINS SC HEARING OF APPEALS IN NAB L AW AMEND CASE WITHOUT CHANCE TO SPEAK

would assist the court in the matter Following his remarks, the chief justice asked Haris to present his arguments loudly to ensure Imran can hear via video link

The government’s counsel then began presenting his arguments and informed the apex court that the NAB amendment case was sub judice before the Islamabad High Court (IHC)

When Justice Minallah asked if the petition was accepted by the IHC, Makhdoom replied in the positive

The chief justice then sought the records of the case in the IHC including the order

The former premier appeared via video link from Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail

While the previous hearing was broadcast live today s hearing was not

As the hearing began on Thursday the CJP called Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan to the rostrum along with the government’s counsel, Makhdoom Ali Khan

Khawaja Haris who earlier represented Imran during the first round of litigation also appeared in court The chief justice said he was the counsel in the original case and the court would also like to hear his stance Haris informed the court that he

Justice Minallah inquired about the objections raised by the registrar s office on the plea of the PTI founder, to which Makhdoom responded that the petitioner hadn’t approached any other forum

The development came after the SC on Tuesday hearing the case about the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) laws had ordered the federal and Punjab governments to facilitate Imran s appearance on Thursday via video link from Adiala jail

Justice Athar Minallah part of the five-member bench hearing the case had stated that the top court could not deny an audience to the ex-premier if he wished to appear before it for the case

Dressed in blue, Imran appeared via video link and the PTI circulated a picture of the purported video call which went

Khan’s picture goes viral as SC decides against live broadcast of hearing

The Supreme Court has resumed hearing a case about changes in the accountability laws as former prime minister Imran Khan appeared before it via video link as a petitioner in the matter The anticipated development comes after the Supreme Court on Tuesday, hearing the case about the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) laws, had ordered the federal and Punjab governments to facilitate Imran’s appearance on Thursday via video link from Adiala jail Justice Athar Minallah part of the five-member bench hearing the case had stated that the top court could not deny an audience to the expremier if he wished to appear before it for the case Today the bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and also including Justices Aminuddin Khan, Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Athar Minallah and Hasan Azhar Rizvi resumed hearing the case Imran appeared via video call dressed in blue

While the previous hearing was broadcast live, today s hearing is not If live-streamed, this was expected to be Imran’s first public appearance since his arrest from Zaman Park in

viral with a laptop screen showing him seated in a room wearing a light-blue shirt freshly shaven, and seemingly uninterested as he rested his face on his hand Though the origin of the screen grab could not be verified independently, it appeared to match what was shown on the screen inside the court according to

August last year in the Toshakhana case despite reservations expressed by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar about the SC’s directives A day ago a division bench of the Islamabad High Court granted the former premier bail in the £190 million case on reasonable ground while an Islamabad session court acquitted him in a 2022 case in connection with the Azadi March On the other hand the PTI had expressed apprehensions about a visitors ban in Adiala jail saying the move was implemented to keep the party chief away from the SC proceedings Speaking at a press conference, PTI spokesperson Raoof Hasan had claimed that over the past two days Imran s security guards were suddenly changed at midnight and the hearings in the Al-Qadir Trust, cipher, and Toshakhana cases were postponed under various excuses, while the government’s counsel in the Iddat case suddenly left the country The apex court is seized with a number of intra-court appeals (ICAs) moved by the federal government as well as by a private citizen Zuhair Ahmed Siddiqui, who was an accused in a corruption case but not a party to the challenges to the NAB amendments case

a Reuters reporter present inside the courtroom Up to 15 000 of Imran s supporters waited on the PTI s YouTube channel for the court visuals to be aired, Reuters reported That number fell below 5,000 when it became apparent the live stream was not happening

ISLAMABAD

S TA F F R E P O R T

The Supreme Court on Thursday fixed a case for contempt proceedings against independent Senator Faisal Vawda for today (Friday) The case will be heard by a threemember bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justices Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Irfan Saadat Khan at

judiciary while addressing the media He had said the country s judicial history was not up to the mark and institutions should not be targeted During his press conference Vawda had said that the trend of targeting institutions should be stopped He had said why Justice Sattar had raised his voice one year after the alleged interference”, adding that if the IHC judges had any evidence they should come forward “We will stand with you

However the senator had said institutions should not be targeted on the basis of mere accusations In a Supreme Court hearing on changes to the country’s accountability laws today Justice Athar Minallah had addressed the AGP and said: You have now started threatening the judges through proxies? Will you make a football from our wigs?

The AGP in turn said that Vawda’s press conference was tantamount to contempt “We do not support this action ” AGP Awan said

objectives They reaffirmed commitments to expedite infrastructure projects and strengthen cooperation in agriculture, industry, and technology Ensuring yearround functionality of the Khunjerab Pass for bilateral trade was also highlighted The meeting addressed advancing energy cooperation, fortifying financial ties and acknowledged China’s support during natural disasters in Pakistan Furthermore they celebrated burgeoning cooperation in space exploration and reiterated the importance of regional peace, particularly in resolving disputes such as the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, through established international norms and agreements In parallel amid China s formal acceptance of a permanent Afghan ambassador under the Taliban regime a top aide to

Back in

before the

barely

government

liament was on a legislative

Among these legislation were changes being made to the National Accountability Ordinance which governs how corrupt practices are investigated and dealt with in the country The exact nature of these amendments are part of a complex web of legislation at the time that parliament was undertaking They were not just clipping the wings of NAB, but also curtailing the powers of the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) and making other major amendments to certain laws This must be kept in mind The amendments to the accountability ordinance were passed The amendments curtailed some powers of the NAB Chairman, limited the term of the chairman and prosecutors to three years, and held that NAB would not have jurisdiction over any cases that involved a value of less than

ally eliminate any white-collar crime committed by a public office holder" The petitioner goes to jail At the same time as this Imran Khan was facing a myriad of legal challenges The former prime minister who was first arrested back in May leading to the events of 9th May before being let out

U L E S T O S TA B I

NEW GAS CONNECTIONS BANNED TO PROTECT EXISTING CONSUMERS RIGHTS, NA TOLD

Imran joins SC hearing of appeals in NAB L aw Amend c ase without chance to speak

CONTINUED FR OM PAGE 01

Regarding Imran’s video link appearance, CJP Isa said “the same arrangement will continue”, according to the Reuters reporter Court staff were seen checking how such an image could have been captured when phones or cameras were not allowed in the courtroom, the Reuters reporter said, but the court did not take any formal notice or issue any orders for an investigation Imran remained seated throughout the hearing but looked uncomfortable and kept changing positions when he was not asked any questions by the court even after a couple of hours, according to the Reuters reporter If live-streamed, this

were postponed under various excuses while the government s counsel in the Iddat case suddenly left the country The apex court is seized with a number of intracourt appeals (ICAs) moved by the federal government as well as by a private citizen Zuhair Ahmed Siddiqui

PTA announces unlicensed RLAN operation ( Wi-Fi 6E) in 6 GHz Band in Pakistan

and

Oven,

Phones,

sulting

will

PTA,

tion to empower businesses and bridge the digital divide by providing more reliable and high-speed internet access, ultimately fostering a more inclusive digital economy in Pakistan

Imran K han was supposed to speak at SC today. The c ase in question might determine fate of whitecollar financial crime in Pakistan?

particularly those committed by public office holders, should be investigated and treated I M R A N K H A N S C L A I M S: As the petitioner the case being made by Imran Khan is that the amendments made by parliament were person specific and would derail the process of investigating financial crime in the public sector NAB may be asked to provide details of all such cases which relate to the prominent and influential holders of public office specially regarding cases pertaining to offences of owning assets (movable and immovable) without means the original petition stated Imran further said: The accountability of political actions takes place at the time of elections and is dependent upon laws that ensure free and fair elections; accountability for legal or administrative actions is available to the people by way of judicial review and is dependent upon the existence of a free fair and independent judiciary; while accountability for the functions discharged by the elected representatives of the people in their fiduciary capacity which as a matter of fact permeates all categories is possible only where law specifically provides for such accountability These were all direct hits at the amendments which set a three-year term for the judges of the accountability courts It will also make it binding upon the courts to decide a case within one year Under the proposed law it has been made binding upon NAB to ensure the availability of evidence against an accused prior to his or her arrest

Punjab govt launches ‘Free WiFi ’ projec t in L ahore

MO R E attention is being paid to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari s strictures on the PTI than on his remarks on the need for an ‘agricultural emergency’ during his speech to the National Assembly on the President s address, which is perhaps unfortunate but understandable There is much eagerness to know in which direction are things moving, for Mr Bhutto Zardari’s chances of becoming PM in this Parliament depend on the PTI independents turned Sunni Ittehad Council votaries His accusing them of courting the very powers they criticised may have been accurate or provocative, but his calling for an agriculture compact among the parties opens up a new approach to the vexed question of an economic compact , whereby all parties agree to a common economic policy so that all economic players, whether foreign or local, knew that whatever might happen politically the policy would remain the same This is opposed to the current uncertainty, a symbol of which is that the PTI government tried to oil out of its commitments to the IMF

With parties offering pie-in-the-sky if elected, this would a useful corrective and would ensure the continuity of economic policy which is attributed to oneparty rule whether approved at intervals by the electorate as in the long period of LDP rule after World War II in Japan or through an iron fist as in the hold of the Communist Party on China since it took power in the 1949 Revolution However, for competing parties to come together to hammer out and then agree to a Charter of the Economy has so far proved impossible Perhaps Mr Bhutto Zardari’s suggestion that agriculture be dealt with first could be extended to other sectors of the economy, with parties agreeing to follow consistent policies in one sector about which none held any strong views True, there would be problems where one policy depended on something on which there was no agreement (agriculture would need a consistent power and fuel policy, for example) but the way out is dialogue

There is a problem illustrated both by Mr Bhutto Zardari’s address and the PTI reaction: there must be an agreement on dialogue first Unfortunately, so much distrust has built

Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late)

M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami

NO W that a year has passed, and now that elections have been held, the nation still faces the dilemma it did a year ago when the attacks on military installations and martyrs memorials had taken place in reaction to the arrest of PTI chairman Imran Khan from the premises of the Islamabad High Court by Rangers personnel in a NAB case

Imran was released after a few days, and promptly holed up within his Zaman Park residence in Lahore Ultimately he was arrested from there by a police party which was offered no resistance unlike a previous occasion when there had been resistance by party workers, and the police had to beat a retreat There are two widely differing views of the events, which have not been tested yet in any court, even though bail hearings of arrested PTI workers have provided sufficient opportunity One view propounded by the PTI is that the PTI erupted into protests when they learned of the arrest or rather that their redline had been crossed However the protests remained peaceful, until agents provocateurs, belonging to secret agencies, committed mayhem upon military installations and martyrs’ memorials According to this view, PTI supporters were innocent of all wrongdoing

The other view is that the PTI had used Imran’s arrest as the signal for a coup d état not just against the government but the senior military leadership He was supposed to have been restored to office, with a military leadership of his choice It didn t happen that way, as the attempt to take over GHQ was successfully resisted More importantly, the discipline of the armed forces held The break-up of the party afterwards was perhaps inevitable A party whose members had boasted of their closeness to the military could not retain leaders who were forced to choose loyalties Some still chose Imran The return of Mian Nawaz Sharif and the ensuing election did not lead to the ouster of Imran Khan Clearly he represented something more than his anticorruption message One view would be that he represented a spirit of envy The view that traditional politicians are corrupt is not so much based on a revulsion against corruption, but on envy at those who have succeeded in gaining access to power The ordinary citizen’s life experience is of being kicked around, of what seem arbitrary exercises of power There are certain people who appear to be able to work the system and if need be overcome it Joining that elite is seen as a result of the kind of wealth or job one

and

who

rose after Partition emerged as those who could command enough votes to enter the Assemblies and achieve those heights A landowner had to keep his patwari happy But

if he was elected to the Assembly, he could get access to the Minister who could transfer the patwari’s boss The patwari would realize on which side his bread was buttered May 11 was an attempt to deliver this power structure in the hands of those who wanted to perpetuate Imran Khan in power It did not work What did Imran offer? Some saw the abolition of this structure, some wanted access to it All those who resented anyone having access to it Of course, some had limited access and wanted to preserve at least that much as they had That was what Imran offered

At one level all revolutions offer the revolutionaries increased access However to succeed they must also offer genuine change, based on a belief system Imran s ideology was essentially negative Of course, that assumes that it reached the level of an ideology One reason for its success was that it was so unsystematic It offered a return to the certitudes of childhood with the preservation of traditional culture along with the advantages of modernity

However, the leader was not perfect There were all sorts of questions about his personal life, which may explain why his followers are ready to indulge in fisticuffs to defend him There were enough imperfections so that cases could be registered against him and he was sentenced to jail However though that has ousted him from politics the real case that of involvement in the May 9 incidents has not been brought against him He has been charged, but has been granted bail in those cases Clearly, the evidence, if any, of his planning the indents has not presented to the court His claim that agents provocateurs committed the offences has also not had evidence

May day in histor y of Pakistan

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with

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orchestrated escalation of

of

down the situation and uphold

leadership and its politically charged followers, ignored the growing unrest, thus empowered those who were hell-bent on causing chaos and division in society The riots on May 9 across Pakistan have left deep scars not just on the physical landscape but on the very soul of the nation Adding to the turmoil were the provocative rhetoric and irresponsible actions of the PTI and Imran Khan Instead of taking responsibility and working towards reconciliation the PTI continued to stoke division further polarizing an already fractured society Imran Khan s failure to provide decisive leadership in quelling the unrest only worsened the crisis His reluctance to condemn the violence by his supporters and his refusal to engage in meaningful dialogue with opposition leaders reinforced the perception of a government, which was indifferent to its citizens’ plight Moreover the PTI-led Provincial Government s crackdown on civil liberties after the riots only increased the sense of injustice and alienation among large segments of the population By suppressing dissent and silencing opposing voices, the PTI leadership further undermined trust in democratic institutions and deepened feelings of marginalization among targeted segments of society It is now time to hold people accountable for the miseries they have caused to the nation

As Pakistan marks one year since the May 9 riots, it is imperative to enact necessary legislation to prevent such lapses in the future Pakistan must address the challenges posed by divisive politics and leadership failures, and strive for a society where the rule of law prevails and all individuals are held accountable for their actions Only then can Pakistan begin to rebuild the shattered fabric of national security and move towards a more secure and stable future Scenes of dissension and divisive objectives have cultivated a national character for youth that will take ages to obliterate reversing the tidal wave of anguish and despair It is not only about the Armed Forces but also about the social and moral fabric of society which has been gruesomely hurt by enemies The presser from a spokesperson of the Pakistan armed forces on May 7 clearly enunciated that there would be no deal, no dialogue, with the masterminds, enablers and prompters of the May 9 riots The only graceful exit which can be offered to the PTI is through an unconditional public apology for the heinous crimes committed by its followers on the Black Day The nation s response has been overwhelming and magnanimous All factions and segments regardless of their affiliations have come out in support to unequivocally condemn the May 9 incident People have gathered in large crowds on all fronts to show their dismay against the tragedy The rallies conducted by youth and common masses reflect that the nation has awakened to the reality that the sanctity of state and institutions is of paramount importance

Sarah Khan holds a Bachelors degree in business administration from NUST Business School She writes about things that interest and inspire her

The nationÊs response has been overwhelming and magnanimous All factions and segments, regardless of their affiliations, have come out in suppor t to unequivocally condemn the May 9 incident. People have gathered in large crowds, on all fronts, to show their dismay against the tragedy.

Fault y signals

T V dramas

Librar y timings

Main culprit

Failed Indian attempts for peaceful elections in Indian-Occupied Kashmir

human rights

In d i a has failed to conduct fair and open elections in its Occupied Kashmir The stark realities and alleged atrocities committed by india and its army in indian Occupied Kashmir are visible to the international community Under the leadership of Prime Minister narendra Modi and the BJP india appears to be rigorously adhering to Hindutva ideology characterized by its politics steeped in hypocrisy and falsehoods in india s political landscape, the emergence of Hindutva ideology has significantly influenced electoral dynamics, reshaping the contours of political discourse and identity Hindutva rooted in the concept of Hindu nationalism advocates the supremacy of Hindu culture and values advocating the establishment of a Hindu Rashtra or Hindu state Over time, the proliferation of Hindutva ideology has been accompanied by a variety of election strategies employed by different political entities sparking vehement opposition across the nation indian-Occupied Kashmir plagued by decades of conflict and political instability faces allegations of human rights abuses that loom large over its populace The region s disputed status, coupled with a heavy indian military presence and strict security measures has led to reports of widespread violence extrajudicial killings and systemic oppression drawing condemnation on the international stage notably, there are accusations of excessive force by indian security forces against civilians, particularly during protests, resulting in numerous casualties Reports of severe injuries from pellet guns and allegations of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances further darken the region s landscape

The use of draconian laws like the armed

Forces Special Powers act (aFSPa) and the Public Safety act (PSa) compounds the challenges faced by civilians in indian occupied Kashmir granting broad powers to security forces with minimal accountability Moreover, reports of arbitrary detentions, torture, and ill-treatment of detainees, including children underscore the need for independent investigations and accountability mechanisms These alleged atrocities not only affect individual victims but also corrode the socioeconomic fabric of the entire region

The prolonged conflict and security challenges have severely disrupted the daily lives of millions, hindering access to essential services such as education healthcare and economic opportunities additionally the enduring psychological and collective trauma resulting from years of violence and instability has deeply impacted the Kashmiri populace, fostering ongoing cycles of fear, resentment, and distrust

The people of indian-Occupied Kashmir express a strong desire to disassociate from india driven by a lengthy history of alleged atrocities committed by the indian government and its armed forces The situation in indianOccupied Kashmir remains far from normal, with inhabitants facing significant constraints on their freedom to live and work despite this reality india maintains a facade of normalcy asserting plans for forthcoming elections as evidence of stability while obscuring the true nature of conditions in the region in light of recent failed attempts to misrepresent reality, both the indian Civilian administration and indian army, operating under stringent security measures orchestrated a Voting awareness Campaign (VaC) in the villages of Tithwaal and Seemari near the nauseri sector culminating in a rally in Seemari dignitaries such as Commander 104 Brigade Brigadier M K dass, General Observer Election Bupinder Singh, deputy Commissioner Kupwara ayushi Sudan, SSP Kupwara Shobit Saxena adC Kupwara Mohammad Rouf Rehman among others were present at the event Elections in Tehsil Karna are scheduled for May 20 alongside the VaC, various departmental stalls, including agriculture, Horticulture, Health, and animal Husbandry, were set up to showcase their initiatives and officials collected feedback on their progress Under the direction of the deputy Commissioner Kupwara school children were com-

pelled to participate in an indian-flagged rally at the First Polling Station in Seemari LoC Kabul Bukhari a well-known singer performed a diverse range of songs including Pakistani ones in Punjabi Hindi Pahari and Kashmiri This event was evidently orchestrated to distort reality and suppress the truth, with villagers from Tehsil Karnah coerced into attending The march from Teetwaal to Seemari was forcefully organized under both civilian and military supervision predominantly involving children who have no stake in the elections The musical show was intended to attract attendees, even incorporating Pakistani songs, indicating both frustration and an attempt to appeal to locals’ sentiments toward Pakistan Speeches by Civil administration Officials urging locals to participate in the elections further underscored their apprehension and frustration regarding potential low voter turnout it s evident that organizing such an event under the direct auspices of the indian army aimed to send a coercive message to compel participation in the electoral process Reports suggest that attendees were brought in from outside the state to create the appearance of a large gathering and to ensure the event s perceived success Videos from the event depict a situation akin to a curfew, with most shops closed and restricted movement for the residents However the reality in the area contradicts this portrayal as local sentiment toward india and its policies is unfavorable due to perceived indian atrocities The local populace is disinterested in indian-managed elections This raises the question: if india truly believes that the people of indian-Occupied Kashmir support them why resort to such events under the heavy security presence of its army rather than conducting them openly and publicly?

The falsehoods perpetuated by india Modi, and its leadership are laid bare for the world to see in the intricate web of human interactions, lies often act as a veil concealing reality, obscuring the truth behind a facade of deceit Whether crafted to safeguard oneself manipulate others or mask inconvenient truths lies have remained a pervasive aspect of human behaviour Yet beneath the surface of deception lies a fundamental paradox: the more one endeavours to hide the truth, the more glaringly it clamours to be unveiled Lies manifest in myriad forms from whispered falsehoods within personal relationships to the grand deceit of politics and propaganda in its essence lying involves a calculated distortion or suppression of reality, typically driven by self-interest, fear, or the quest for

How has ‘The Muslim appeasement’ debate affected West Bengal politics?

control nonetheless, the repercussions of falsehoods extend beyond the immediate moment of deceit shaping perceptions corroding trust and sowing seeds of discord and disenchantment One of the most harmful forms of deceit is the manipulation of information through the dissemination of misinformation and disinformation in an era marked by rapid technological progress and widespread connectivity the spread of false narratives and fake news poses a significant threat to public discourse and democratic governance intentional distortion of facts, the promotion of partisan agendas, and the weaponization of information have precipitated a crisis of trust and a decline in confidence in traditional sources of authority and expertise Furthermore lies often serve as a tool for exerting power and control utilized by those in positions of authority to uphold dominance and stifle dissent Particularly, authoritarian regimes rely heavily on a fabric of falsehoods and propaganda to sway public opinion quash opposition and perpetuate their hold on power By distorting reality and crafting alternative narratives such regimes endeavour to construct a false veneer of legitimacy and invulnerability, shielding themselves from accountability and oversight nonetheless, the truth possesses an innate resilience capable of piercing even the most fortified layers of falsehoods and deception

Throughout history there have been numerous instances of courageous individuals and whistleblowers who, at considerable personal risk, have exposed corruption, injustice, and atrocities concealed beneath a facade of lies From journalists uncovering government wrongdoing to activists spotlighting human rights violations the pursuit of truth remains a powerful catalyst for change and accountability despite the complexities of human nature, the innate desire for authenticity and integrity persists, driving moments of reckoning and collective awakening when lies are exposed and truths revealed This challenges established narratives and fuels movements for justice and reform in india and indian occupied Kashmir there s a clear understanding of the duplicity within the indian Government resonating internationally Trust and reliability are pivotal in international relations shaping alliances partnerships and geopolitical dynamics Recent shifts in india s policies have cast doubt on its reliability as a strategic partner and global actor, particularly due to its diminishing commitment to democratic values and

The government’s crackdown on dissent press freedom and civil liberties has drawn international concern as seen in the handling of article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir controversial citizenship laws, and the response to farmer protests These actions have tarnished the remaining india’s democratic image and strained relations with allies india’s assertive foreign policy and unilateral actions exemplified by the border standoff with China in the Galwan Valley highlight its willingness to challenge norms but also raise risks of instability Withdrawal from trade agreements like the RCEP and strained relations with neighbouring countries signal potential setbacks in regional integration and cooperation

Economically protectionist trade policies and regulatory unpredictability have deterred foreign investment, despite initiatives like Make in india This, coupled with strained relations with key partners like the USa, adds to india’s challenges on the global stage While india and the USa have fostered a strategic partnership rooted in shared interests and values tensions have emerged due to disparities in trade, intellectual property rights, and india s deepening relations with Russia This has strained bilateral relations Furthermore, india’s engagement with major powers like Russia and China has sparked concerns among its traditional Western allies prompting questions

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WH E n it comes to West Bengal the narrative runs into the tricky waters as the country walks into the business end of the Lok Sabha polls Considered to be one of the primary roadblocks to nda s vision of 400 seats, West Bengal’s political contours have been heavily shaped by debates on caste and religion The contest is being predicted to go down to the wire as Mamata Banerjee looks to better her 2019 performance which saw Trinamool Congress ceding 18 seats to the BJP who had only managed 2 in 2014 While BJP looks to establish a dominant ground with lofty predictions of their performance in Bengal, Mamata Banerjee believes the people of Bengal will recognise her effort in vouching for a state painted with secular values and her support for all communities of the state although Mamata s Banerjee s strategies to woo voters of different communities especially the Muslims have been targeted by a spate of BJP leaders over the course of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, experts opine that the Muslim voters, making up for almost 30%, will play a crucial role in turning the tide in didi’s favour in the prelude to the elections Banerjee has not minced her criticism aimed at BJP’s attempts at polarising the nation Having called out narendra Modi for the same the TMC has maintained that the BJP s attempts at perpetuating the culture of islamophobia will never find ground in Bengal a vocal critic of the Citizenship amendment act (Caa) and the national Register of Citizens (nRC), Mamata Banerjee has pointed out how both of these walk towards alienating Muslims further in this country i do not like Caa because they have kept five communities on the list lekin Muslims to nikaal diya jaise un log ka Hindustan me koi contribution nahi hai (Muslims were not on the list as if they do not have any contribution to the country), Banerjee had said in a gathering last month The election manifesto released by TMC also has rejected Caa and nRC at the very core “We also promise to repeal the Caa and stop the nRC exercise in the country senior TMC leader amit Mitra had said while unveiling the manifesto The polarisation debate has taken a violent form in Bengal, with the top BJP brass accusing Mamata Banerjee of only catering to Muslim needs, a sentiment which has been shared across opposition parties in the state JP nadda national president of BJP in a recent rally in West Bengal s Behrampore constituency of Murshidabad district which has Bengal s highest Muslim population of 66 28% talked about Mamata Banerjee opposing the Caa to appease Muslims Prime Minister narendra Modi has given citizenship to Hindu and dalit refugees from Bangladesh but Mamata Banerjee opposes it She is appeasing Muslims ” nadda said in a still-complicating episode around sexual abuse and land grabbing accusations against TMC leader Sheikh Shah Jahan in Sandeshkhali the BJP has found another opportunity to rain down heavily on TMC for sheltering Muslim terrorists Mamata Banerjee s government

believes in appeasement dividing people and patronising terrorists But when Pakistan attacks india Modi Ji s government gives a befitting reply by crossing the border, nadda further added Recently at another rally in West Bengal s Srirampur, Home Minister amit Shah targeted Mamata for her recent measures accusing her for her one-dimensional appeasement policy towards Muslims “Mamata Banerjee came into power with the slogan of Ma Maati Manush but this slogan has lost now and Mulla Madrasa and Mafia is there at the ground Tell me should mullas be paid from Bengal s state treasury? Shah said This comes in context of Banerjee’s announcement of a hike of Rs 500 in the monthly allowance of Muslim imams and Hindu priests in august last year addressing a conference of imams and muezzins in Kolkata The imams receive a monthly allowance of Rs 2 500 and muezzins a stipend of Rs 1 000 since 2012 a year after coming to power the TMC government had announced monthly honorariums to imams and muezzins in the state addressing the barbs aimed at her policies that she has been consistently subject to Mamata had said “People have maligned me for my beliefs When i attend iftar during Ramzan my photographs are ridiculed BJP had even attempted to change my name However i don t care about it because it is my duty to see that people of different religions don t fight with one another We don t do any discrimination; BJP does They let go of convicts in the Bilkis Bano case Everyone is witnessing the atrocities on minorities and tribals We have given recognition to 307 unaided madrasahs; 700 more will be recognized this year attacking Banerjee s refusal to attend the Ram Mandir inauguration in January, Shah further added, She doesn t prevent Rohingya (Muslims) from entering india and opposes Ram Mandir inauguration She also denies the permission of ‘durga Visarjan’ but gives leave to Muslim employees in Ramzan ” in a significant move Mamata Banerjee took out an all-faith rally on that very day which saw a sea of people from various religions and sects flooding the streets of Kolkata, in a TMC-orchestrated show of religious harmony Talking about the wave of divisive politics and how BJP was celebrating the day as their “independence day”, Mamata had added, “i don’t believe in politicising religion ahead of elections i am against such practice i have no objection against those worshipping Lord Ram but object to interference with the food habits of people Mamata had also visited a gurudwara in Garcha and a local mosque and church in Park Circus to offer her prayers on that very day according to the Lokniti-CSdS post-poll survey, TMC had secured 75% of the Muslim vote in the 2021 assembly elections which had been instrumental in Banerjee resuming her seat Critics and analysts believe that the Muslim vote in Bengal is to play a crucial role in the elections once again, with Banerjee poised to win most of it However, with a percentage of Muslim voters shifting towards the Left Front and Congress, and the indian Secular Front (iSF) in the Left-Congress mix, the vote consolidation takes a more interesting turn While BJP continues to ride on their attacks on Banerjee and her doctored attempts at Muslim appeasement in the state the TMC targets BJP s anti-islam stance in the context of a barrage of recent polarising speeches and videos posted by the BJP (which talked about the opposition snatching reservations from deserving SC and ST candidates and handing them over to Muslims in the country) as most of South Bengal including Kolkata prepares to go to polls in the coming phases TMC looks to wrestle the wave of polarisation by reinforcing the secular vision of Banerjee and the party, going beyond mere one-dimensional appeasement

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a 10-year

i a

and operation of the Chabahar port on the Gulf of Oman The agreement between indian and iranian port authorities is a major step in india’s long-running ambition to secure a transit route for indian goods to markets in iran afghanistan Central asia and beyond Under the agreement signed between indian Ports Global Limited (iPGL) and the Ports and Maritime Organization of iran (PnO), india will invest a total of $370 million (€341 7 million) in development and financing of the port US WARNS AGAINST DOING BUSINESS WITH IRAN: after the deal was inked in Tehran US State department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters that anyone considering business deals with iran needs to be aware of the potential risk of sanctions they are opening themselves up to ” “US sanctions on iran remain in place and we will continue to enforce them,” Patel said in turn india’s Foreign Minister S Jaishankar commented that the United States had been appreciative of the port s larger relevance in the past in 2018 the United States exempted the port s operations from sanctions to allow the flow of goods and fuel to war-torn afghanistan The terminal has handled more than 90,000 units of container traffic and 2 5 million tons of wheat and other aid for afghanistan “i think it’s a question of communicating convincing and getting people to understand that this is actually for everyone s benefit i do not think people should take a narrow view of it, Jaishankar said GROWING GAP BETWEEN INDIA AND US: indian public policy expert Shanthie Mariet d’Souza, currently a Fulbright-nehru Visiting Chair in public policy at the University of Massachusetts-amherst told dW that the specificity of how sanctions could impact Chabahar s operations remains unclear US sanctions can minimize the full potential of Chabahar as a trade hub, she said However, india s assertive foreign policy choices on the Ukraine war, oil and arms imports from Russia, supporting the Myanmar military and doing business with iran which are at variance with policies pursued by Washington could compel the Biden administration to opt for a different policy towards new delhi she added india s interest in developing the Chabahar port goes all the way back to 2003, when a strategic road map” was

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IHC BANS ‘SLEUTHS’ ENTRY TO COURTROOMS

Justice Babar Sattar ’s ‘dual citizenship’ does not warrant disqualification, IHC tells Vawda

ISLAMABAD

S TA F F R E P O R T

and Sessions Court

Additional and

on Thursday rejected a plea seeking to initiate legal proceedings against former divisional commissioner Liaquat Chatta on charges of electoral misconduct in the general elections Additional District and Sessions Judge Hakim Khan issued a two-page verdict dismissing the application against Chatta citing the ongoing investigations by both the Election Commission and departmental authorities The court emphasized that no cognizable offense had been committed by Chatta and underscored the necessity to await the outcome of the ongoing inquiries The application for registration of the case was filed by Advocate Zeb Fayyaz had named the Rawalpindi City Police Officer (CPO) and the Chowki in-charge Civil Lines as respondents During the court proceedings, Chatta maintained that he was cooperating with the ongoing inquiries being carried by both the Election Commission and department He refuted claims of confession asserting that no crime had been admitted Chatta s allegations of electoral irregularities made in a press conference held shortly after the general elections, had sparked controversy He claimed that 13 constituencies in the National Assembly had witnessed rigged results, implicating high-ranking officials including the Chief Election Commissioner and the Chief Justice Despite these assertions the court s decision underscores the importance of due process and the need for conclusive evidence before legal action can be pursued

IHC judge calls for ‘death penalt y’ for elements behind forced disappearance

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Islamabad High Court (IHC) Judge Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani on Thursday called for the introduction of a law that would impose the death penalty on those responsible for enforced disappearances Justice Kayani made the remarks during a hearing of a petition filed by poet Ahmed Farhad Shah s wife, who went missing two days ago Lawyers Iman Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha represented the petitioner SSP Operations Jameel Zafar was also present on the occasion During the hearing the government lawyer stated that a special investigation team has been formed and efforts are ongoing for Shah s recovery SSP Zafar said that he met Shah s wife saying that the poet was apparently taken from outside his home, but the vehicle s number plates were unreadable due to darkness He said that efforts to trace the vehicles are ongoing with the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) adding that letters have been sent to all intelligence agencies in this regard The court expressed frustration over the lack of progress in the case and asked why those responsible for enforced disappearances are not brought to book Justice Kayani asked the SSP if the agencies responded to their letters The SSP replied that no positive responses have been received He expressed trust in the ability of police but lamented that investigations do not progress beyond a certain point The government lawyer said that those who return after being taken often claim they went to Kaghan , a popular tourist destination in Pakistan Justice Kayani remarked that “unidentified persons” can make people memorise their lessons within 24 hours He said that it was shameful that Shah was taken for speaking about missing persons and everyone knew who was responsible When missing individuals return after months or years, their families urge them to stay silent,” he said Justice Kayani called for legislation enforcing the death penalty for disappearances expressing hope for a Missing Persons Act He noted that those who talk the most about the issue including journalists and political activists go missing He questioned the role of the Ministry of Information and held the secretaries of interior and defence accountable Justice Kayani stated that everyone including himself is accountable He threatened to summon the prime minister if no action is taken against the abductors I told the IG that responsibility lies with him if someone goes missing he said to which the government lawyer responded by saying that efforts were underway for the recovery of the missing poet Justice Kayani questioned if writing to law enforcement agencies would solve the issue He warned of action against everyone if Shah is

The Islamabad High Court responded to the Senator Faisal Vawda s letter on Thursday, seeking disclosure of the correspondence between then-IHC chief justice Athar Minallah and Justice Babar Sattar about the latter ’s green card

The court in its response to the senator maintained that such residency/citizenship is not a disqualification for a judge under the country’s Constitution

The court said: “The information sought by the high court from lawyers being considered for elevation/appointment as judge does not include information regarding residency and/or citizenship of any country other than Pakistan ”

It is pertinent to note that Vawda s letter sent to the IHC on April 30 referred to the social media campaign against Justice Sattar accusing him of holding a nationality of the United States and having a business interest in

AJK-like

a private school in the country

He said that he wrote a letter to the IHC in April but he hasn t received a reply yet

We should get that record as it has been 15 days, he stressed “A press release was issued that said Justice Sattar is Pakistani but I didn’t get a reply CJP

Qazi Faez Isa under Article 19 ordered that every Pakistani can get an answer he said

The conversations between potential candidates for appointment as judges or/an interview with the Hon’ble Chief Justice and/or Senior Puisne Judge of the High Court is not a communication of which record is maintained and minutes taken the IHC letter mentioned

Justice Athar Minallah was IHC chief justice at the time of Justice Babar Sattar ’s appointment as the judge and had disclosed the aforementioned matter during the hearing of the suo motu proceedings in relation to the letter of six IHC judges, which were livestreamed, it was added

‘public uproar’ brewing

Though the federal government somehow managed to pacify the public uproar and violent protests in Azad Jammu Kashmir with acceptance of demands, a similar resentment is feared in Gilgit-Baltistan against the handing over of around 44 tourism sites to new company Green Tourism Limited considered to be a military entity and established under the guidance of Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) Soon after surfacing the list of tourism sites including guest houses and motels being leased out to the company following an agreement signed with the GB government, the social media flooded with strong criticism and opposition to the initiative which according to the locals would deprive them of tourism industry

which has become a lifeline for the past few years Meanwhile leaders of Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen a religio-political party and some other political and civil society representatives, have announced strong opposition to the initiative Though the government through its spokespersons has tried to convince the people that the move will facilitate local and foreign investment in tourism industry, it seems that they are not being able to convince the public, which fear the permanent handing over of the important sites to the private firm or army The initially leased out 44 tourism sites in Gilgit-Baltistan include seven Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) guest houses, 20 PWD motels, and 17 Forest Department sites, which have now been leased out to the company for 30 years When contacted an official

Justice Minallah clarified that Justice Sattar ’s possession of a Green Card was discussed during the Judicial Commission of Pakistan s meeting, where his name was recommended for approval

The now IHC judge has also declared that his possession of the said residency card

This Court does not maintain record of the discussion that transpires in the Judicial Commission of Pakistan Even there is no requirement to refer Article 19-A of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973 which could only be referred when there was any privileged information available to the institutions the letter maintained

It is to note that Vawda has questioned why should a judge have a dual citizenship when assembly members can’t adding that if an assembly makes a law then we will have to make a law about this too

He further urged that the Supreme Judicial Council should interfere in the resolution of this matter

in Gilgit Baltistan

source in the company claimed that despite having immense potential Pakistan lacks a robust tourism ecosystem which could generate up to $30 billion by 2030 Currently, the government-operated tourism resorts are in a shambles, with

remaining non-operational since 2019 The annual liabilities for pay and allowances alone amount to Rs1 billion, highlighting the inefficiencies in the current system In light of these issues, the SIFC has urged the government to establish a new entity, Green Tourism Limited which would be fully government-owned and tasked with the development of tourism in Pakistan The objective is to transform Pakistan into a tourismfriendly destination with adequate service infrastructure in the shortterm while fostering a sustainable tourism ecosystem in the medium to long-term