Epaper_24-05-1 ISB

STATE IS TO PROTECT JUDGES, INDEPENDENCE OF JUDICIARY, SAYS JUSTICE MINALL AH

May 7 adding that it would be appropriate if it was unanimous It also said that the federal government could submit its response or proposals through the AGP if it wanted to do so CJP Isa said that if the allegations “refer to any [intelligence] agency the said agency should respond through the AGP

Babar Sattar Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Saman Rafat Imtiaz

On Tuesday, Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan represented the government before the apex court

The SC ordered the petitioners the bar councils and associations to submit a response by the next hearing on

At the outset of the hearing, CJP Isa clarified that prior to the last hearing, the SC’s bench formation committee had “decided that all available judges in Islamabad should immediately convene”

There was no pick and choose; whoever was available was put together, he observed, noting that Justice Afridi had recused himself Recalling that he had hinted at a full court, Justice Isa said that it could not be convened as two judges were unavailable The top judge noted that there was so

much polarisation in the country and people may not be so interested in the independence of the judiciary but in their own particular viewpoint to prevail” Reiterating his remarks from the previous hearing Justice Isa reiterated that “attacks” against ex-CJP Jillani were upsetting If somebody can impose a will upon this court, that is also interference Interference can be from within, from without, from intelligence agencies, from your colleagues from your family members from social media from everybody else CJP Isa said A judge s judgment and order shows, speaks, shouts how much interference there is or isn t; how much independence there is or isn’t,” he added During the hearing the top judge also remarked that he was “not responsible for the history of the Supreme Court

I am only responsible from the day I became chief justice I have gone ahead with an inclusive approach The chief justice asked AGP Awan if he had gone through the recommendations made by the IHC judges, to which the latter replied in the negative Justice Isa then asked Awan about how to proceed with the matter Here Justice Minallah remarked: These are not recommendations or suggestions but a charge sheet

After the AGP read the proposals out loud CJP Isa observed “We should not interfere in the high court s work The results of interference in high courts matters have not been good in the past Justice Minallah noted that the IHC judges had alleged continuous meddling” and asked if their recommendations were unanimous Awan replied that it seemed so at which the judge observed that no judge had disagreed

The SC then ordered that the proposals made by the IHC judges be made public Justice Isa said, When everything is airing on the media, we may make this public as well ” When the chief justice asked if a high court was not empowered by the Constitution to implement the said suggestions AGP Awan replied that it had the authority to take action on all the points Justice Isa observed that the SC should limit itself to the high courts’ suggestions and not act on those made by every other person

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GOVT IMPLEMENTS NEW FINANCIAL CONTROLS TO MANAGE PUBLIC FUNDS

details in returns for the year 2024 during nomination proceedings

The petitioner s counsel contended that it was no longer the authority of ECP to ask for the previous year s assets’ details, adding that all the details were available on the website of the Election Commission

The counsels stated that the returning officer reviewed the asset details extensively and the entire record was available on the ECP s website The court suspended the ECP’s call-up notice and sought a reply from it at the next hearing scheduled for May 22 It is pertinent to mention here that the ECP had issued a notice to the KP CM to appear before the commission on April 30 and submit details of his last year s assets

stating that Gandapur wrongfully claimed ownership of 735 kanal of land in the Kulachi tehsil of Dera Ismail Khan district According to Kafeel the land, temporarily transferred to Gandapur, rightfully belongs to Asif Khan Documents suggest Gandapur acknowledged his role as merely a titular owner, with Asif Khan being the true proprietor Kafeel said in the petition Further controversy stems from the K-P CM s 2020 financial declaration in which he reported purchasing a Toyota Land Cruiser (YB-777) with proceeds from the disputed land sale The petitioner argues that the act indicates a failure to meet the integrity standards required for his position as an MPA

S

E T I T I O N: Meanwhile, a separate bench comprising five members, led by the chief election commissioner disposed of the plea seeking Gandapur ’s

counsels for the KP chief minister argued that the ECP overstepped its authority by seeking clarification on returns of 2022/23 They maintained that Gandapur had already provided asset

T H E P E T I T I O N: Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI) leader Muhammad Kafeel filed a petition with the ECP last month

PTI lambasts Punjab govt for ‘economic murder ’ of farmers

strongly condemned the harassment and use of force against the famers

PTI Spokesperson in a stronglyworded reaction over the farmers protest against the mandate theft government s delay in procuring wheat and harassment of farmers, vehemently denounced the detention of Punjab Kissan Board head and harassment

Umar was Pakistan s finance minister)

Fast losing ground Engro started contemplating the idea of setting up an LNG import terminal With their $1 1 billion plant built, if the government was unwilling to provide the gas, Engro would simply import it What followed was bureaucratic and governmental hell The Zardari administration of the time was hesitant to grant permissions So when the Nawaz Sharif administration came in in 2013 with Shahid Khaqan Abbasi as their energy man, it seemed Engro would have the opportunity to finally make their terminal

E N T E R A B B A S I It took two years after Shahid Khaqan took over the ministry, but he reached an agreement with Engro The government finally initiated the process of opening up bids to allow companies to set up LNG import terminals Engro was among the very first companies to apply and won the bid

This is where the accountability watchdog begins to have a problem

Keep in mind that the idea for an LNG terminal was proposed by Engro, essentially shot down by the Zardari administration, and then finally accepted by the next government after Engro advocated heavily for it It would make sense that the contract would thus be awarded to Engro after a fair bidding process

But NAB would later make three main allegations about the process: That the government agreed to pay capacity charges to Engro which would be a burden on the national exchequer indicating the government gave Engro a deal that was suspiciously sweet That Engro was given the contract for Terminal-1 as the result of favouritism on the part of the government and might have been done in exchange for monetary benefit

by Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

That another undue personal favour was done for Sheikh Imran ul Haque then CEO of Engro Elengy when he was offered the position of managing director of Pakistan State Oil which he accepted The details of these allegations have been broken down by Profit in a previous story as well

PA K I S TA N But to summarise the matter, NAB failed to specify that Abbasi and other former government officials broke government rules in awarding those contracts The accountability reference also failed to specify exactly how Engro Elengy, or Sheikh Imranul Haque personally, violated the law There was also seemingly no reason given for why Engro’s Chairman Hussain Dawood and their Board Member Abdul Samad Dawood were named in the reference either The issue of capacity charges was a moot point in the first place NAB seems to have had an issue with the concept of capacity

gun was that during the time when these deals were taking place from 2013-17 unexplained deposits of Rs1 294 billion were deposited in the bank account of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, and Rs 1 426 billion were received in the accounts of his son Abdullah Abbasi There was no apparent link between these deposits and the Engro deal or anything linking the two But NAB seemed to take causation as correlation

As part of the process, Mr Abbasi was arrested in 2019 In 2021 he was granted bail by an accountability court that ruled there was never any conflict over non-transparency in the LNG terminal case The court in its detailed verdict on the bail said that the accountability watchdog s case is not based on whether or not the former petroleum minister took financial benefit “There was no conflict over whether or not there was transparency in the LNG ter-

State is to protec t judges, independence of judiciar y, says Justice Minallah Infighting comes

powers, including that of contempt of court [notice]”, stressing the need to empower each court of the country

He said the current suo motu case was doing wonders as it had led to the judiciary mustering the courage to write the letter

Meanwhile, Justice Minallah said: The state is to protect the independence of the judiciary There has been a partnership between the judiciary and the establishment for the past 76 years That culture continues ”

CJP Isa said, noting that his wife had also recorded her statement at a police station

When people deviate from the track then legislation becomes necessary the chief justice asserted wondering when the government would finally legislate The CJP remarked that until the Parliament became strong, other powers would continue to strengthen

the aggressor against a judge, that is what all the high courts are highlighting and that is a serious matter “The high court of Lahore is endorsing what the IHC has said [ ] and we all know that it is happening and has happened he added Justice Minallah highlighted that the judges fear reporting such incidents In an apparent reference to IHC s Justice Babar Sattar, he said: Since the last hearing, what has happened to an IHC judge? His personal data which cannot accessed by a private person was put on social media ” “That is an intimidation ” he observed

The state is to protect the judges and independence of the judiciary When it becomes the aggressor which each high court is saying; that is what is the issue and it is happening It is a phenomenon that has happened for the last 76 years and this is what each high court is endorsing It is happening today,” Justice Minallah observed Justice Shah noted that the matter had landed before the SC and questioned if the apex court could just brush aside the matter

We should empower the high courts We are by interfering in this matter, actually empowering the high courts, the district judiciary, the entire judiciary; I don t think it’s interference in any matter,” he observed

Justice Shah noted there was a need to “lay down a court which is a clear firewall against all sorts of excesses and that a system needed to be put in place rather than dealing with individual incidents

Justice Mandokhail said that especially two of our learned members of the bench have been targeted since the SC took up the matter

“This is not interference This is a threat

“Leave the high court judges aside [ ] the notice we have taken; what is happening with us? Can there be independence in this manner? the judge asked

Justice Minallah remarked that the entire onus was on the state when data of judges family members was stolen from government departments, such as the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra)

“There are judges we know who are just told ‘your child studies at so and so place’ and it is the state which is doing it he added

Justice Hilali wondered why all high courts did not implement the suggested actions by themselves and why they were seeking the SC s permission

Justice Shah observed that the high courts had all

CJP Isa then responded: “I don’t know At least there s no culture here [ ] If there was any interference in my work and if I could not withstand the pressure, I would go home He went on to recall that he had been Balochistan High Court s (BHC) chief justice for five years and offered to ask the judges there about any alleged interference “Since I have been a judge here (at SC) I have fought for the independence of the judiciary from within Justice Isa asserted

And the greatest threat to independence was from the Supreme Court not from the outside in my opinion I have lived through it; I have experienced it so these are not empty words Please do not include me in the 76 years of Pakistan’s history and there are many such persons who should not be included

Justice Minallah responded to CJP Isa saying: I haven t condemned all There have been exceptions

He added that no one could influence a single judge during his own tenure as the IHC chief justice

At one point during the hearing, Justice Shah said,

“‘Someone is watching me, someone is noting me, there is a device fixed in this room’ why does this happen?

“Should this happen? Should there be such a culture in a democratic country? he asked

Here Justice Minallah observed: Intelligence agencies function under the prime minister If the intelligence institutions do something, the prime minister and his cabinet are responsible for it ”

He pointed out that “nothing was free” since under the Constitution the “image of our armed forces has to be protected as they were the protectors and defenders of the country Addressing AGP Awan CJP Isa questioned who filed review petitions against the 2019 SC judgment on the Faizabad sit-in case

Remarking that he would “explain how internal interference takes place”, Justice Isa highlighted that the review pleas were not fixed for hearing for more than four years and wondered if there was any clarification for why it was not Is the executive responsible for this as well? he quipped adding that the Parliament should play its role here Did the world not know who was running Pakistan at that time? he asked But perhaps you people wanted to save them, perhaps not,” the top judge said while addressing the AGP

“I had given it in writing that Faiz Hameed was behind this The matter was left to the then-government

Here, Justice Shah questioned under which law intelligence agencies came into existence and what action could be taken against them in case they interfered in other matters

Recalling the attorney general s statement from the previous of political engineering from 2017-2018 , Justice Minallah asked Awan who was in the government at that time The AGP replied that it was the PMLN’s tenure, at which the judge asked him, “Are you saying that the government was helpless?”

At this point during the hearing CJP Isa noted The bureaucracy also gets calls; some [judges] work [while] some don t Those who don t are made OSDs (officers on special duty)

Justice Minallah then remarked that there would be no pressure if the judiciary “did not open its doors” To this Justice Shah said there should be a case of misconduct against those who did open the doors

Justice Minallah noted that when a judge raised their voice a smear campaign was launched against him Look what the government did when such a major verdict came on the Justice Siddiqui case, he said AGP Awan then said, “A few former judges were also involved in this ” Justice Minallah replied that action should be taken against whoever was involved even a former chief justice He remarked that references were filed against a judge if they spoke the truth, at which Justice Isa said: Those references arrive before us in the end We should not paint such a poor image of us ”

“You have read the suggestions of three high courts no one has said there is no intervention ” Justice Minallah Justice Shah also said that no high court had indicated to resolve the issue on their own stressing the need for a system that closes the door of interference

Here, CJP Isa observed that if the SJC had to make recommendations, it could do so separately and told the AGP to not discuss the council as the bench was hearing the case “on the judicial side not administrative” Justice Shah then said that the bench could pass any order while Justice Minallah said the apex court could strike down as well as amend the SJC s decisions We can also advise the executive on important matters, he added

Justice Mandokhail stated that the court would take all steps while remaining in its jurisdiction ہ At one point

CJP Isa noted

“When we seek reports from intelligence agencies for appointing judges we give them a chance to interfere When you have monitoring judges appointed and include them in JITS (joint investigation teams), they will get a chance to interfere ” “Some people put aside Constitutional interests for personal benefits Some people were standing at one position at a specific time but were now at a different one the top judge added

Addressing AGP Awan Justice Minallah highlighted that in a press conference after the meeting between him, CJP Isa and PM Shehbaz, the IHC judges’ move was termed “misconduct”

The AGP responded it was wrong if their letter was called “misconduct” He later said “I have confirmed that the misconduct sentence was not said during the press conference Justice Mandokhail remarked that the Peshawar High Court s (PHC) response was the most serious as they had mentioned receiving death threats

The SC then issued notices to the Pakistan Bar Council and the SC Bar Association seeking their recommendations The CJP added that other respondents may also provide their input if they wanted It would be appropriate and helpful if the bar associations and bar councils try to come together to file one document on things which

AS expected, though perhaps delayed longer than the Pakistan government would have liked, the IMF s Board of Directors voted to release the last of three tranches of its Stand-By Agreement with Pakistan worth $1 1 billlion The BoD’s approval was perhaps merely a formality after the mission in March reached a staff-level agreement, and it also marks the successful completion of an IMF programme by Pakistan, which is relatively rare However, it is not so much the symbolism of a completion that counts as much as the fact that the IMF views Pakistan’s economic managers as being on the right track As the Pakistan government has said repeatedly and as the IMF has acknowledged Pakistan wants another IMF package an Extended Structural Adjustment Facility The Pakistan economy has therefore already had a number of steps carried out which the IMF would have insisted In fact, some of its anticipated measures have also already been carried out However there is still much more to be done especially in the area of broadening the tax base The IMF need not be right by definition but its prescriptions are not necessarily wrong Its prescriptions must be adopted when they are right, with rightness not being defined as popular

Interestingly, both IMF MD Kristalina Georgieve and Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif were together in Riyadh attending the World Economic Summit in Riyadh and met on the sidelines after the approval Mr Sharif had already announced his commitment to carrying out further reforms The IMF’s official announcement also expressed the hope that Pakistan would stay the course, and pay attention to those stricken by poverty This seemed more a hope for the future programme rather than a wrap-up of the SBA Mr Sharif while addressing the WEF plenary said that there were leakages galore in revenue collection and mentioned the recent suspension and transfers of CBR officials as an example of what his government was doing to carry out reforms

However, while both release of the last SBA, and the positive Shahbaz-Georgieva meeting bode well for the future, the new IMF programme will be useless unless it is used for the purpose for which it is intended–economic reform Mr Sharif identified the debt trap and inflation as the main challenges facing the economy He must realise that the first especially cannot be solved unless the country finds a reliable way of earning more foreign exchange Otherwise, the next IMF programme will merely worsen the problem than help it

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

M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit

in trouble because of Gaza

the river to the sea Palestine will be free” is actually a call to commit genocide against Jews in Israel

They recently passed a Congressional resolution making that very point Using such deliberately distorted interpretations of the slogans used by the students in support of Palestinians, they ve pressured some university presidents to resign and have made life uncomfortable for others

What’s been ignored is that in most of the encampments a disproportionately large number of the protesters are Jewish students Ironically while one Jewish leader was advising Jewish students at Columbia University to stay home and not come to campus because it was unsafe for them and was urging New York’s governor to call in National Guard units to restore order on campus the Jewish students in the encampment were holding an interfaith Passover Seder Later New York City police were ordered onto campus to disband the encampment This was followed by similar police actions in Texas, California, and Georgia where disturbing levels of violence (tear gas rubber bullets tasers and baton beatings) were used against the peaceful protestors Instead of dampening the students commitment to continuing these protests the actions by the police, elected officials, and university administrators have hardened the protesters resolve And so the day after the encampments were forcibly disbanded, the students returned, reestablishing their protest sites With the ire of the students directed not only at Israel s genocidal behaviors in Gaza but also at how the Biden administration has enabled this war to continue the way these campus protests are playing out does not bode well for the President during this election year

Comparisons are being made to the 1968 antiVietnam war protests and the role they played in costing Democrats the presidency Having been a participant in the protest politics both in that period and the current one I can attest to the similarities as well as some important differences Vietnam was the first war that was televised, bringing it into American homes We saw the im-

posefully disruptive At times they’ve occupied central locations on campus They ve also chanted as demonstrators are wont to do Yet as noted by respected observers who ve visited the protest sites, the protests have been peaceful and orderly Goaded by Republican congressional leadership and a few pro-Israel Jewish organizations, there’s been an effort to paint these demonstrations as antisemitic and a threat to the safety of Jewish students

The members of Congress have latched onto this exploiting it as a wedge issue and portraying the protesting students as liberal elites, captive to antiIsrael groups Both the Republican leadership and the small but influential group of Jewish leaders have used their respective platforms to repeatedly argue that chants used by some of the students are inherently antisemitic For example they ve said that from

Should the war continue for several more months and the scene at this summerÊs Democratic Convention in Chicago be as ugly as it was in 1968, many young voters will be hard pressed to vote for Mr Biden They wonÊt vote for Mr Trump Most likely theyÊll either vote for a third par ty or not vote at all

Seeking innovative Justice for Sur vival….

system are significant and multifaceted, ranging from inefficiencies and delays to issues with access and fairness Addressing these issues will require comprehensive reforms potentially incorporating innovative approaches to improve the efficiency, transparency, and effectiveness of the system Collaborative efforts between stakeholders, including government, legal fraternity, civil society, and international partners, may be essential in revitalizing the justice system to better serve the needs of the people

justice system can empower marginalized communities, protect their rights, and provide opportunities for economic advancement By ensuring equal access to justice, promoting rule of law, and combating corruption, societies can create an environment where individuals can thrive breaking the cycle of poverty for generations to come

AI concerns

shortcomings of traditional justice systems Innovative justice indeed holds significant promise for addressing the evolving needs of society By embracing new ideas and approaches, we can create more effective, fair, and efficient systems that better serve individuals and communities Implementing an innovative justice system could indeed help address some of the inefficiencies and shortcomings of the current legal system By leveraging technology alternative dispute resolution methods and communitybased approaches, we can potentially streamline processes, reduce backlog, enhance access to justice, and promote fairness and effectiveness in resolving disputes and administering justice

The challenges faced by Pakistan’s justice

The advancement of technology and society as a whole presents an opportunity to modernize and improve the justice system By embracing innovative technologies, alternative dispute resolution methods, and community-based approaches we can make the justice system more accessible efficient and fair for all It s essential to continually adapt and evolve our systems to meet the needs of a rapidly changing world Justice is fundamental to a functioning society While compromises may sometimes be made in various aspects of life, ensuring a fair and effective justice system is essential for upholding the rule of law protecting individual rights and maintaining social order It s crucial to prioritize efforts to strengthen and improve the justice system to uphold these principles and promote a just and equitable society A just and effective justice system is indeed crucial for fostering prosperity in society When individuals and businesses have confidence in the legal framework and trust that their rights will be protected they are more likely to engage in economic activities invest and innovate A fair and transparent justice system also promotes stability, encourages entrepreneurship, attracts investment, and enhances overall economic growth Moreover it contributes to social cohesion reduces crime and fosters a conducive environment for development and progress Thus the benefits of a well-functioning justice system extend far beyond the realm of law and order, positively impacting various aspects of societal well-being and prosperity Once Nelson Mandela said you may kill poverty by justice not by charity His wisdom underscores the transformative power of justice in addressing poverty and inequality While charity and aid can provide immediate relief, sustainable solutions to poverty often require addressing root causes, such as systemic injustice and inequality A fair and inclusive

The impact of a flawed justice system on a country s development cannot be overstated Pakistan, like many other nations, faces challenges in this regard A fair and efficient justice system is essential for economic growth social stability and overall prosperity When people lack confidence in the legal framework it can deter investment hinder entrepreneurship and perpetuate inequality

Addressing the issues within Pakistan s justice system is crucial for unlocking the country’s full potential Reforms aimed at improving access to justice enhancing transparency and combating corruption can pave the way for economic development and social progress By prioritizing justice reform Pakistan can create a more conducive environment for growth and unleash its true potential

The prevalence of the “might is right” principle in Pakistan where power often dictates outcomes over justice and fairness is a concerning issue This undermines the rule of law erodes trust in institutions and perpetuates a cycle of impunity Addressing this issue requires comprehensive reforms aimed at strengthening institutions, ensuring accountability, and promoting the rule of law By upholding the principles of justice and equality Pakistan can move towards a more just and inclusive society where the rule of law prevails over the rule of power It s concerning if justice isn t a priority for the government, as a fair and effective justice system is essential for the well-being and progress of a society However, governments have competing priorities and sometimes issues like economic development security and political stability may take precedence Nevertheless neglecting justice can have long-term consequences including undermining trust in institutions, perpetuating inequality, and hindering socio-economic development It’s essential for governments to recognize the importance of justice and allocate resources and attention accordingly to address the needs of their citizens effectively Innovative approaches to justice delivery such as leveraging technology for faster and more accessible solutions, can greatly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of legal systems Embracing such advancements could help address the challenges of delays and costs associated with traditional court processes A fair and efficient justice system is crucial for the stability and progress of any nation Innovation in justice delivery can enhance access to justice, uphold the rule of law, and promote social harmony,

Feudalism

Great move

When interests clash with values

TH E USA has a long history of promoting values like human rights, environmental conservation, nuclear non-proliferation; and democratic values such as liberty minority rights sovereignty and so on The USA advocates these values on the global stage and urges other states to uphold the same principles It often calls out other states like China for disregarding human rights and causing environmental damage US officials validate their attempts to make regime changes and their military interventions by saying those were efforts to propagate universal human rights and democratic values However, the USA did not take such a strong stance when its ally Israel disregarded human rights values and violated international law Often the USA has to make a trade-off and choose either its long-propagated values or realpolitik (strategic interests) The realpolitik approach in foreign policy is when countries prefer strategic interests over moral values States take a pragmatic approach to gain geo-political advantage irrespective of ethical considerations Whenever this clash happens the USA often chooses its strategic interests over values During the Cold War American priorities shifted to defeat the USSR by all means It supported many dictators, murderers, and right-wing leaders, as long as they sided with the USA against communism In Chile Salvador Allende a democratically elected socialist was overthrown by a coup sponsored by the US in 1973 The new military dictator, Augusto Pinochet, had a record of human rights abuse The US, despite its pro-democracy stance, maintained close relations with Pakistani dictators because they served the US interests The US even normalized relations with the communist China President Nixon hoped that improved relations with China would benefit the USA against the USSR

In the Vietnam War the Nixon Administration wanted to either win the war or end it in a way that the American public accepted it So they took an extreme step to cut the supplies of the North Vietnamese and they carpet-bombed neighbouring Cambodia This attack was disproportionate and indiscriminate inflicting mass civilian casualties America dropped 2 7 million tons of bombs on Cambodia causing huge environmental damage The instability in Cambodia gave rise to radical communist groups such as the Khmer Rouge which eventually conducted the Cambodian genocide The USA showed no concern for the humanitarian loss and environmental damage in the attempt to win the war Again in the 1980s, the USA supported right-wing military dictators to counter leftist influence in central America particularly Nicaragua and El Salvador The biggest controversy in the period was the Iran-Contra affair in which the US covertly supplied arms to Iran intending to free US prisoners held in Lebanon The US used that money to fund Contras (rebels opposing the socialist government) in Nicaragua This was a violation of US policy as the US considered Iran a terrorism-sponsoring state The US Congress has also prohibited direct military aid to Contras because of their brutal military tactics and human rights abuses in the Nicaraguan civil war The whole Iran-Contra affair was done covertly which questioned the transparency of the Reagan Administration It contradicted the US government’s public stance of boycotting terrorist-sponsoring states and its commitments to human

rights and democracy In the Iran-Iraq war, there was strong evidence that Iraq used chemical weapons against Iran The USA still gave tacit support to dictator Saddam Hussain in this war to contain the revolutionary forces in Iran The USA has a controversial role in many other Middle-Eastern countries such as supporting Saudi Arabia despite its human rights violations and role in Yemen These are just some instances where the USA s actions contradicted its values of democracy, human rights environmental conservation nuclear non-proliferation and so on The realpolitik approach of the USA is evident in the Israel-Palestine conflict Israel has reportedly killed 35,000 Palestinians so far, since the Hamas attack on October 7 South Africa filed a genocide case against Israel at the ICJ This case is one of the five genocide cases ICJ has ever handled The ICJ considering this case for further hearing itself speaks of the gravity of the charges Despite the huge backlash the USA still maintains its unwavering support for Israel

This realpolitik approach explains why the USA supports Israel Historically, the USA did support a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestine conflict The USA has raised concerns about the issue of the continued expansion of settlements in Israel calling it a hindrance to peace But its approach leans more in favour of Israel The US avoids officially calling settlements “illegal” to avoid having to place sanctions on Israel It has always vetoed resolutions against Israel The Trump Administration

s a l I l t r I Pat h I

protect India s mothers and sisters whose wealth was in danger, singling out the coveted mangalsutra (sacred necklace) that married women wear to indicate their marital status Modi s implication was that Congress would take it away and redistribute it to infiltrators and those who have more children – veiled references to Muslims (A BJP spokesperson said infiltrators referred to foreigners, not Indian Muslims ) This is not dog-whistle politics its meaning is audible to all Indians It feeds into Hindu fears and is intended to arouse Hindus: it was dangerous and blatantly divisive After thousands of voters complained that Modi s speech violated the code of conduct for elections, the Election Commission of India sought a response from

won’t desert him Modi has “delivered many of the contentious issues that were on Hindu nationalists wish list: the supreme court has upheld the government s decision to revoke Indian Occupied Kashmir s special status, his government has outlawed the Muslim practice of “instant divorce”, and the Rama temple has been built in Ayodhya after the supreme court ruled in Hindus’ favour The high-speed train he promised is nowhere near completion but other trains that run faster than traditional locomotives have been introduced There are swanky motorways and toll highways, though some with sparse traffic, bridges and airports The wealthy praise “infrastructure development” and continue to support him But the fact remains that youth unemployment is at an all-time high; according to the International Labour Organization, 83% of India s unemployed are in this group Hunger among the poor is chronic As many as 800 million Indians rely on subsidised food rations from the government The number of billionaires in Forbes’s list of the world s wealthiest people shows an increasing number of Indians but inequality has worsened significantly, and India today has greater income inequality than during the British Raj, according to the World Inequality Lab Worse, southern states are bitter because they are likely to lose influence in a future parliament if the next delimitation commission redraws boundaries rewarding more populous states (typically in the north) The tax distribution system, too, is unfair, according to southern states, which have to cajole the federal government to act in a just and fair manner Lately the supreme court and other courts have complicated Modi’s best-laid plans first by declaring the opaque electoral bonds system that his government implemented as unconstitutional and arbitrary Some courts have begun granting bail or releasing human rights defenders and academics who for years have been jailed without being charged Modi’s followers assert he will get more than 400 seats out of 543 this time and predicting any election outcome is a fool s errand But the desperation is palpable – in one constituency in Modi s home state, Gujarat, his candidate was declared elected unopposed after the Congress candidate was rejected for alleged discrepancies in his paperwork – the party has suggested foul play Such events suggest anxiety that things may not be going as planned Hence the discarding of the mask; hence an openly dangerous speech Meanwhile, Indian officials speak of the great carnival of democracy, and many in the west praise “the world’s largest democracy” (More accurately it is the world’s most populous country to hold elections regularly ) Western bankers and information technology pioneers are busy flattering and boosting India At such a time, no amount of mild criticism from the US state department will get attention, nor would it get noticed that the overseas Indian status of a French journalist Vanessa Dougnac was revoked (she is married to an Indian) and an Australian reporter Avani Dias was told her visa would not be extended Nitasha Kaul, a British academic of Indian origin, was denied entry into India Modi may still win the election, but the loss will be India’s Salil Tripathi is a writer based in New York and is on the board of PEN International

N November the Justice Department unsealed an indictment containing the shocking charge that an official of India s government not identified by name, led a brazen conspiracy to assassinate a dissident Sikh political activist on U S soil Now that charge has become even more grave with The Post’s revelation that U S officials have identified the plotter as Vikram Yadav an officer in India s spy agency the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and have concluded the operation was approved by the RAW chief at the time, Samant Goel India should get to the bottom of this appalling murder-for-hire case and the United States should make clear that this country will not tolerate such crimes on its territory It appears those who hatched the conspiracy were working for the highest levels of the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi While the plot was moving ahead last June Mr Modi was being feted at the White House for his commitment to democracy The Post reports that U S spy agencies have tentatively assessed that Mr Modi s national security adviser, Ajit Doval, was probably aware of RAW’s plans to kill Sikh activists but officials said no proof has emerged The target was to be Gurpatwant Singh Pannun a U S citizen general counsel for the New York-based Sikhs for Justice, a group that advocates for some or all of Punjab state in northern India to secede and form an independent Sikh state According to the indictment the

plotters hired Nikhil Gupta, an associate in India who has been involved in weapons and narcotics trafficking to orchestrate the assassination including hiring a killer in the United States At the request of the United States, Mr Gupta was arrested while traveling to Prague at the end of June and has been charged with murder for hire which he denies The killing was not carried out The plot was unfolding just when another Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was killed outside a Sikh temple in British Columbia Mr Nijjar was an associate of Mr Pannun According to the indictment, on June 20, two days before Mr Modi spoke at the White House the chief plotter now identified as Mr Yadav sent Mr Gupta a news article about the Canada murder and told him the assassination of Mr Pannun is a priority now Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced in September that Canada had “credible evidence” of India’s involvement in Nijjar ’s death

Both cases mark a serious and disturbing escalation in transnational repression governments brazenly attempting to punish, kidnap or assassinate critics, activists, dissidents and journalists far beyond their own borders, violating the laws and norms of other countries with impunity The practice has become alarmingly frequent including in the United States According to Freedom House, the top 10 perpetrators are: China, Turkey, Tajikistan, Russia, Egypt, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus Iran and Rwanda

The United States has strategic interests in a solid long-term relationship with India which President Biden has correctly pursued in hopes India will prove a

bulwark against China’s rising power But India must live up to Mr Modi’s claim that democracy runs in our veins This means treating India s minorities with respect and dignity a test on which it is clearly failing It also means demanding accountability for wrongdoing The assassination plot cries out for a full and honest investigation that has yet to be carried out The Biden administration is treating the India case with kid gloves The Post reports that CIA Director William J Burns and other officials have demanded accountability, but the administration has not imposed expulsions,

saleha JaveD

INDIA ‘SHOCKED’ AS MUSK’S SURPRISE CHINA VISIT LEAVES THEM SPURNED

US overc apacity of anxiety stemming from

a lack of confidence: C hinese FM

narrative to manipulate perception and politicize trade with the real purpose being holding back China’s high-quality development and depriving China of its legitimate right to development, Lin Jian, spokesperson from China s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a routine press briefing on Tuesday, in a latest response to Washington s false narratives targeting Chinese new energy vehicles (NEVs) There isn t a China overcapacity, but a US overcapacity of anxiety stemming from a lack of confidence and smears against China the spokesperson said The remarks were made in response to media questions regarding the rhetoric by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his recent visit to China He pointed fingers at China over so-called “unfair trade practices and the potential consequences of industrial overcapacity to global and US markets naming some industries including electric vehicles batteries, and solar panels

The China overcapacity accusation may look like an economic discussion but the truth is the accusation is built on false logic and ignores more than 200 years of the basic concept of comparative advantage in Western economics, Lin said

When China’s electric vehicle exports account for only 12 percent of its production it’s labeled as overcapacity But consider this: Germany exports 80 percent of its automobile production followed

by Japan s 50 percent and the US 25 percent Wouldn t that be considered more serious overcapacity?” Lin asked Moreover according to estimates from the International Energy Agency to realize carbon neutrality the world will need 45 million NEVs by 2030, 4 5 times that of the demand of 2022

“When the global capacity is still far below the market demand how could there be overcapacity?”

Lin asked In contrary to the US narrowminded narratives in new energy development, China has taken an open stance in the field, welcoming businesses worldwide to develop cooperation together for win-win outcomes as it is well reflected at the 2024 18th Beijing International Automotive Exhibition Beijing Auto Show, which takes place from April 25 to May 4

The auto show features more than 1 500 exhibiting companies 278 new energy models and 117 global premieres including 30 premieres by multinational companies

The event was attended by ex-

ecutives from renowned international car companies such as BMW, Volkswagen, and Nissan, demonstrating their regard for the Chinese market and their expectations for working more closely with China

Recently German carmakers Volkswagen and BMW announced additional investments in China totaling five billion euros each, aiming to ramp up their layouts in the manufacturing of electric and smart vehicles in China

These facts and statistics not only reveal global automakers optimism for the growth potential of China s mega-sized market and their confidence in China’s development outlook, but also are the most convincing argument against the so-called Chinese overcapacity Lin said Chinese experts also refuted the US intensified discourse of overcapacity narratives Speaking with the media, Cui Dongshu secretary-general of the China Passenger Car Association said that actual demand for NEVs remain huge in both China and around the world

At the invitation of China, representatives of the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah) and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) recently came here for in-depth and candid

PAKISTAN’S FIRST DIGITAL CIT Y TO BE ESTABLISHED IN KP’S HARIPUR

stakeholder workshops aimed at creating awareness about the National Adaptation Plan and encouraging stakeholders to join the cause of addressing the challenges posed by climate change and its impact on agriculture PR

PM&DC takes swift ac tion in response to tragic death of medic al student

I S L A M A B A D: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) has swiftly responded to the tragic death of a medical student allegedly due to misconduct and mistreatment of the staff of Avicenna Medical College Lahore towards students by launching a comprehensive investigation into the matter The PM&DC, as the apex regulatory body for medical and

upholding the highest standards of professionalism, ethics, and patient care the PM&DC has initiated a thorough investigation to ascertain the facts surrounding the incident PM&DC sought comments from the Avicenna Medical College about the unfortunate incident stating to reply on priority with comprehensive details PR

H u awe i D i g i t

KARACHI S TA F

P O R T Indus Motor Company (IMC) announced its financial results for the nine-month period ending March 31, 2024, that witnessed a 61% increase in profit after tax, to PKR 9 41 billion, compared to PKR 5 84 billion for the same period last year IMC s net sales turnover for the nine-month period decreased to Rs 98 23 billion as compared to Rs 135 03 billion in the same period last year The combined sales of Completely Knocked Down (CKD)

The Company produced 13 217 vehicles during the period registering an 51% decrease as compared to 26 848 units produced in the same period last year Expressing his views, CEO IMC, Ali Asghar Jamali, said, “With plummeting customer demand it’s been a tough nine months and adding fuel to

been

cars

wreaked

try We

ate and

over the

Other contributors to the volume drop have been higher duties and taxes along with the deteriorating economic situation Any further hike in duties and taxes will be detrimental to the auto industry and will also reduce the overall revenue to the Government from this sector

P&G Pakistan takes home Champion of 2023 Award at 6th Annual O I CC I Women Empowerment

KARACHI S TA F F R E P O R T

In acknowledgment of its efforts in promoting women empowerment and fostering a diverse and fair workplace environment, P&G Pakistan today was awarded with the prestigious 'Champion of 2023 title at the 6th annual OICCI Women Empowerment Awards hosted by the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) OICCI, the oldest and largest investment chamber, plays a major role in the growth of commerce and industry in the country with 200 plus members representing 35 different countries and 14 different sectors of

trade and industry OICCI Women Empowerment Awards are the continuation of the OICCI Women initiative which was launched to encourage member companies to become role models to empower women in the workforce and create gender equality within their respective organizations Promoting gender equality and diversity has been a long-standing mission of P&G Pakistan The company has been actively working to raise their voice to tackle gender bias, remove barriers to education for girls, create economic opportunities for women through corporate and brand programs and policy advocacy achieve an inclu-

Awards

sive, gender-equal environment within P&G while also advocating for gender and intersectional equality in workplaces everywhere so that everyone can contribute to their full potential Commenting on the receipt of this prestigious award the SVP and CEO of P&G Pakistan Adil Farhat said “We're honored to be named the 2023 Champion by OICCI at the Women Empowerment Awards for the second consecutive year This recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to gender equality With women comprising over 50% of leadership and key roles across our sites we re proud of the progress we have made

LAHORE P R Ibrahim Hasan Murad President of the University of Management and Technology (UMT) extended his appreciation to all the workforce of Pakistan, especially those serving the public directly, while addressing the walk specially organized on the occasion of International Labors Day Ibrahim Murad met with UMT labour and valued their efforts President UMT and Former Provincial Minister of Local Government Ibrahim Murad, expressed that 1st May is the day we celebrate the dedication and tireless

there is a huge responsibility on the shoulders of public servants and leaders who play a

AC acquits ex-PM Abbasi, Engro Corporation chief, others in LNG Terminal reference

former prime minister and others

The Accountability Court (AC) Islamabad on Tuesday acquitted former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Engro Corporation Chairman Mr Hussain Dawood, Director Mr Abdul Samad Dawood and former CEO Mr Sheikh Imranul Haq in the award of the LNG contract to Engro Elengy Terminal Limited

The decision comes after the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) opted to withdraw its reference against Abbasi and other as no evidence was found to prove any illegality irregularity or loss to the national exchequer

Judge Nasir Javed Rana presided over the hearing, wherein Abbasi along with accompanied by his legal team, was present The court announced its verdict on NAB s plea seeking the withdrawal of the reference against the

Deputy Prosecutor Azhar Maqbool informed the court of the NAB s decision to withdraw the reference against Abbasi, Engro Corporation Chairman Mr Hussain Dawood, Director Mr Abdul Samad Dawood, and former CEO Mr Sheikh Imranul Haq and others

In 2019 NAB detained Abbasi for alleged corruption related to the award of a multi-billion rupee import contract for LNG in 2013 when he was the federal minister for petroleum and natural resources

The allegation centred on the accused being awarded the LNG Terminal-1 contract through a nontransparent process Public officials were accused of misusing their authority, resulting in wrongful gains and losses amounting to billions of rupees

It is worth noting that Abbasi was granted bail in 2021 by an accountability court which stated that there was no conflict over non-

transparency in the LNG terminal case The court emphasized the need for further investigation into whether the LNG terminal was developed in the public interest

The detailed verdict on the bail highlighted the absence of evidence supporting the necessity of detaining Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and others stating that NAB failed to prove its case regarding the corruption in the LNG terminal deal

Engro Corporation welcomes court verdict

In a statement, Engro Corporation welcomes this much awaited decision of the Accountability Court saying the Engro has always strived to act in a fair and transparent manner in all its business and commercial commitments Over the last six decades, the Company has built its reputation through a strong focus on effective corporate governance ethics and integrity and compliance with the laws of the land it said

PM Shehbaz stresses debt elimination as IMF greenlights $1.1bn tranche

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the paramount importance of reducing debt as he responded to the International Monetary Fund s (IMF) approval of the final $1 1 billion tranche for Pakistan under the $3 billion Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) He underscored that authentic success lies in eliminating debt rather than acquiring further loans

PM Shehbaz expressed contentment over the approval of the third tranche by the Washingtonbased lender, which had already disbursed $1 9 billion to Pakistan under the agreement He com-

mended the financial team, including Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, for their dedication, stating that the $1 1 billion tranche would enhance economic stability

government s arduous decisions concerning the economy, noting

proving and stabilizing economic indicators

PM Shehbaz’s comments followed the completion of the IMF Executive Board s final review of Pakistan s economic reform program supported by the SBA The IMF’s decision enables the immediate disbursement of SDR 828 million bringing total disbursements under the arrangement to

SDR 2 250 billion Antoinette Sayeh, IMF’s Deputy Managing Director and Chair, highlighted Pakistan’s positive economic indicators and urged Islamabad to capitalize on this stability through sustained macroeconomic policies and structural reforms beyond the current arrangement Pakistan has formally requested a new bailout package from the IMF potentially ranging between $6 to $8 billion under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) with the option of augmentation through climate financing The specifics of the package will be determined after consensus on the major aspects of the program in May 2024

Omar strongly condemns ‘abduc tion’ of MNA Shafqat’s brother, demands his immediate release

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Secretary General and Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan strongly condemned the abduction of MNA Advocate Shafqat Awan s younger brother Advocate Wasim Awan from Sargodha by unknown people, demanding an immediate release of Advocate Wasim

In his strongly-worded reaction over the abduction of Wasim Awan, PTI Secretary General said that Advocate Shafqat Awan s younger brother was kidnapped from Sargodha City a short while ago by unknown people most probably intelligence operatives Omar stated that these unconstitutional actions have adversely affected Pakistan We have repeatedly raised this issue in Parliament, demonstrated against it, and

members of the Judiciary have written a letter to the Chief Justice, he added The Opposition Leader went on to say that these unlawful actions were being noted by the global community and it was one of the primary reasons for not investing in Pakistan Nobody wants to invest in a country that has no rule of law because that country is branded as a ‘Banana Republic’,” he lamented

At least 143 k illed in unusually heav y April rains ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T