Epaper_24-05-22 LHR

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WORKING TO FACILITATE PRIVATE SECTOR TO HELP PUSH

ON RIGHT TRACK:

IHC issues notices on pleas challenging Dar ’s appointment as

Haider Panjhuta said that this matter has already been settled and the verdict was also uploaded on the website Panjhuta said that after the verdict was removed from the website, the bench was reconstituted through a press release Justice Jahangiri asked Panjhuta if he was a lawyer in this case To this he replied that he was a proxy counsel

The judge then said that Justice Kayani and Justice Tahir gave an opinion in this case At this, Advocate Shah said that this was the opinion of two judges and the verdict was not signed by the chief justice “How can we provide relief when the petition has been dismissed? questioned Justice Jahangiri Advocate Shah said that he needed some time to prepare adding that he could only assist the court after reading the verdict Justice Jahangiri said that the IHC CJ recused himself from the bench and two judges had given their verdict The court said that the disqualification

In par tnership with Profit We d n e s d a y, 2 2 M a y, 2 0 2 4 I | 1 3 Z i l - Q a d a h , 1 4 4 5 R s 2 0 0 0 | Vo l X I V N o 3 2 2 I 8 Pa g e s I La h o r e E d i t i o n PM forms body to hold consultations on Peca 2016 amendments ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T The federal government on Tuesday notified an eight-member special committee to conduct consultations on the proposed amendments to the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Acts (Peca) 2016 According to a notification issued by the Prime Minister ’s Office, the special committee will be responsible for reviewing Peca 2016 and ensure political consensus on the proposed amendments in the Act by holding consultations with all stakeholders The committee will also make recommendations regarding the amendments provide support for the Secretariat of the Ministry of Information Technology, and submit its recommendations to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif within 15 days According to the publication, the committee will be led by Adviser to Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah and comprise Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar Education Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja Senator Sherry Rehman, Nawabzada Khalid Magsi, and Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan During its meeting on May 14, the cabinet okayed devising a special committee for consultations regarding the amendments being proposed for Peca 2016 Last week The News learnt from government sources that a special cabinet committee invited media houses and other stakeholders for consultation on the proposed amendment bill and establishment of the Digital Rights Protection Authority This issue came up in the last meeting of the federal cabinet during which review of the said amendment was stressed to ensure consensus before it was presented in the Parliament According to sources the purpose of establishing the Social Media Regulatory Authority was to advise the government on matters related to digital rights responsible use of the Internet and ensuring compliance with regulations With its plans regarding the amendments the government aims to protect the privacy of private lives of citizens from threats posed by social media Earlier this month, sources told Geo News that PM Shehbaz had approved a draft to amend the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 as part of the federal government’s decision to regulate social media through legislation The proposed amendment bill was recommended by the cabinet s Legal Reforms Committee which suggested the establishment of the Digital Rights Protection Authority, which will fall under the Ministry of Information Technology s jurisdiction, they added g SAYS DUE TO GOVT POLICIES, INFLATION RATE IS ON NOSEDIVE g E X P R E S S E S S AT I S FA C T I O N O V E R E C O N O M I C S I T U AT I O N I N C O U N T R Y g COMMITTEE WILL REVIEW PECA 2016, ENSURE CONSENSUS ON AMENDMENTS AND SUBMIT RECOMMENDATIONS WITHIN 15 DAYS
ECONOMY
PM ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T P R I M E Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday while expressing satisfaction over the economic situation of the country, said that from day first, they had been working to provide facilities to the private sector for the economic development provision of job opportunities and expansion of businesses and investment He observed that due to the government s policies, the inflation rate in the country was on the nosedive and through governance they had been taking steps to pass on the effects of the reduction in the price hike to the common man The prime minister expressed these views while chairing the first meeting of the Economic Advisory Council PM Office Media Wing said in a press release The meeting was attended by council members including Jahangir Khan Tareen Saqib Sherazi, Shahzad Saleem, Mussadiq Zulqarnain, Dr Ejaz Nabi, Asif Pir, Zaid Bashir, Salman Ahmed and Sheharyar Chishti Federal Ministers Ahad Khan Cheema Ahsan Iqbal Muhammad Aurangzeb Ali Pervaiz Malik Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Dr Jehanzeb Khan PM Coordinator Rana Ahsan Afzal governor SBP and relevant senior officials were also present The prime minister observed that the positive trends in the stock market reflected trust of the business community and investors in the government s policies adding they would provide further facilities to the foreign investors and business community in the next fiscal budget The prime minister said that they would reduce the tax ratio on common man and would increase the number of tax filers For the digitization of the country’s economy they were taking steps on priority basis he said adding that they would ensure provision of quality seeds and timely supply of fertilizers to the farmers for increasing their yield per acre He further assured to promote small and medium level industry to save agricultural products from wastage The prime minister directed for removal of all hurdles in acquiring visa by the foreign investors and business people The meeting was apprised that due to the government s investment and business friendly policies, the confidence of the local and foreign investors had been strengthened which was reflected in the bullish trends of the stock market Giving briefing over the economic indicators the meeting was apprised that during the third quarter of the current fiscal year, the agri sector showed a growth rate of 6 25 percent which was higher by 2 27 percent in the corresponding period last year Similarly the industrial and service sectors also witnessed tangible growth rate The inflation rate had been reduced from 38 percent to 17 percent and the government was immediately ensuring its trickle down effects upon the common man During the meeting, the council members presented different proposals for the economic stability and for different sectors The prime minister directed for submission of comprehensive recommendations in the next meeting related to necessary steps for increasing country s exports ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday issued notices seeking replies from the respondents on the petition challenging the appointment of Ishaq Dar as deputy prime minister IHC Chief Justice Amir Farooq presided over hearing of the petitions filed by Fahad Shabbir and Sher Afzal Marwat The judge inquired from the petitioners counsels about the judgement of Lahore High Court on the matter, asking about the difference between the past and present pleas Marwat s counsel Riaz Hanif Rahi submitted that on April 28 with the approval of the prime minister a notification was issued for the appointment of Ishaq Dar as the deputy prime minister He added that the prime minister is an elected office, while there is no mention of the deputy prime minister in the law Similarly the post of prime minister is a constitutional post while there is no provision of the post of deputy prime minister Advocate Rahi continued He said the Cabinet Division is not authorised to issue any notification for the appointment of deputy prime minister under the constitution He said that Dar has already been working as foreign minister The court inquired him that whether he asserts that a minister cannot hold two portfolios Advocate Rahi said two positions have been given to a single person for his personal benefit at the expense of the public The petitioner ’s counsel argued that a person who is illegally appointed cannot enjoy the benefits on state expenses Moreover the appointment of a deputy prime minister is a violation of Article 91 of the constitution The Chief justice issued notices to the attorney general for Pakistan the federal government the Cabinet Division secretary the prime minister and Ishaq Dar and adjourned the case till June 12
prime
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T The Islamabad High Court, during proceedings on Tuesday rejected a petition that sought to disqualify Imran Khan the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in connection with the Tyrian White case The petition was filed against Khan for purportedly failing to disclose White as his daughter in the nomination papers submitted for the 2018 general elections Today, a new bench of the Islamabad High Court considered the plea ultimately dismissing it The bench comprising Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri Justice Arbab Mohammad Tahir and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz heard the case The case had been pending since May 2023 after a three-member bench hearing the case was dissolved by IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq The decision was taken after the opinions of two judges regarding the plea’s maintainability were uploaded on the court website The bench comprised IHC CJ Aamer Farooq Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir and had reserved the verdict in the case on March 30 last year However, Justice Kayani and Justice Tahir had opined against the petition s maintainability and uploaded their opinion on the IHC official website which was later removed The high court explained that without the signatures of the bench head Justice Farooq the opinion of two judges could not be declared the bench verdict and uploaded to the court website As the hearing started, the petitioner s lawyer, Advocate Hamid Ali Shah, said that Salman Akram Raja had filed an adjournment petition in this case Khan’s lawyer Naeem
deputy
minister
bench
majority
issued
the
I H C r e j e c t s p l e a s e e k i n g I m r a n K h a n’ s d i s q u a l i f i c a t i o n i n Ty r i a n W h i t e c a s e
plea against Khan had already been dismissed by the
The
decision has already been
remarked
court

IMF seeks draf t of

Iranian people not to forget concern of Pakistan over death of President Raisi: Envoy

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t Ambassador of Iran Reza Amiri Moghadam has extended his heartfelt gratitude to the government and people of Pakistan for expressing sympathies and solidarity over the martyrdom of President Seyed Ebrahim Raisi Foreign Minister Hussain Amirabdullahian and other dignitaries

tragic incident Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam while describing Pakistan a great friend of Iran said that President Raisi s vision of strengthening and promoting Pakistan-Iran relations would continue and all the agreements inked on the occasion of his recent visit to Pakistan will be implemented letter and spirit and that there will be no change in the foreign policy of Iran He especially expressed his thanks to President and Prime Minister of Pakistan for sharing their deep concern and grief over the tragedy S p e a

President Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari

Wednesday 22 May 2024 | LAHORE 02 NEWS ISLAMABAD a h M a D a h M a Da n i T HE Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), while determining the revenue requirements for Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has reduced gas prices by 10% for SNGPL and 4% for SSGC for the financial year 2024-25 According to OGRA’s determination, the average prescribed price for SNGPL has been set at Rs 1635 90 per Million British Thermal Units (MMBTU) of gas This represents a decrease of Rs 179 17 per MMBTU, amounting to a 10% reduction from the previous rates Additionally, OGRA has addressed the financial shortfall claimed by SNGPL for previous years SNGPL had claimed a shortfall of Rs 862 6 billion in their petition but OGRA s calculations have determined the shortfall to be Rs 580 5 billion For Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) OGRA has determined the average prescribed price at Rs 1401 25/MMBTU This marks a reduction of Rs 59 23/MMBTU, which is a 4% decrease from the previous pricing OGRA has requested the federal government’s advice on category-wise sale prices indicating that any revisions will be notified accordingly once the government s recommendations are received Until then the existing category-wise natural gas sale prices will remain in effect This approach ensures stability and continuity in gas pricing while allowing time for comprehensive policy development It is relevant to note that OGRA has requested the federal government to advise on category-wise sale prices And any revision as advised by the federal government shall be accordingly notified by OGRA while till such time the existing category-wise natural gas sale prices shall continue to prevail It is pertinent to mention that OGRA s move to lower gas prices and address financial discrepancies has highlighted the OGRA s proactive approach to managing the energy sector ’s financial health Similarly, the reductions in gas prices for both SNGPL and SSGC are expected to have a positive impact on consumers and industries reliant on natural gas ultimately contributing to economic stability and growth in Pakistan The decision has come as a relief for consumers who have been burdened by high gas prices and it aims to stabilize the energy sector by providing a more affordable energy source O G
B Y 1 0 % F O R S N G P L , 4 % F O R S S G C F O R F Y 2 0 24 - 2 5 PR OFIT S ta f f R e p o R t Pakistan imported mobile phones worth $1 462 billion during the first 10 months (July-April) of the current fiscal year 2023-24, marking a 209 07% increase compared to $473 287 million in the same period last fiscal year According to the data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) mobile phone imports in April 2024 rose by 5 44% month-on-month (MoM) to $161 393 million from $153 045 million in March 2024 Year-on-year (YoY) imports surged by 1,424 42% compared to $10 587 million in April 2023 In rupee terms mobile phone imports totaled Rs414 276 billion a 279 52% increase from Rs109 158 billion during the first 10 months of the fiscal year Overall telecom imports stood at $1 834 billion during July-April 2023-24, showing a 135 44% increase from $77 359 million during the same period last fiscal year In April 2024, telecom imports increased by 515 52% YoY to $211 663 million from $34 388 million in April 2023 and by 12 02% MoM from $188 942 million in March 2024 In a related development local manufacturing plants produced 6 1 million mobile handsets in the first two months (January-February) of 2024, compared to 0 3 million imported commercially In February, 3 83 million handsets were manufactured locally versus 0 06 million imported Data from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) indicates that 60% of mobile devices on the network are smartphones while 40% are 2G handsets Despite challenges in importing accessories due to restrictions on opening letters of credit (LCs), commercial imports of mobile handsets increased Pakistan’s mobile phone impor ts surge 200% to $1.462b in 10MFY24 g A v e r a g e p r e s c r i b e d p r i c e f o r S N G P L h a s b e e n s e t a t R s 1 6 3 5 . 9 0 p e r m m b t u , w h i l e f o r S S G C , i t i s d e t e r m i n e d a t R s 1 4 0 1 . 2 5 p e r m m b t u g I n r u p e e t e r m s , m o b i l e p h o n e i m p o r t s t o t a l e d R s 4 1 4 b i n t h e f i r s t 1 0 m o n t h s o f F Y 2 4 Federal Gov t to present budget 2024-25 on June 7 PR OFIT n e w S D e S k The federal government will present the budget for the next financial year 2024-25 in the National Assembly on June 7 The budget session will start on June 6, and Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb will present the budget the following day The budget will also be laid in the Senate on June 7 The Senate will discuss the budget and prepare recommendations within 14 days, as stipulated by rule 130 of the Rule of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate 2012 After the budget presentation the Speaker of the National Assembly will adjourn the House for two days resuming on Monday to start discussions on the budget These discussions will continue until the end of June when the House is expected to approve the budget PR OFIT M o n i to R i n g D e S k The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has asked Pakistan to share the draft of its upcoming investment policy and ensure transparency in the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) The News reported that the global lender also inquired about tax exemptions for the forthcoming Special Economic Zones (SEZs) under the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Regarding the SIFC, Pakistan informed the IMF’s assessment team that the new investment policy is under preparation and will be announced after thorough deliberations The IMF team emphasizing the need for transparency in the SIFC s operations, inquired about potential investments in various projects and specifically asked about the privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and other state-owned enterprises (SOEs) For the upcoming four SEZs under CPEC the Board of Investment officials informed the IMF that there are currently over two dozen SEZs, with four more being added These SEZs will receive similar tax incentives as others The forthcoming investment policy, focusing on SEZs, will be unveiled in due course The IMF has requested a draft of this investment policy On non-tax revenue targets the IMF has proposed maximizing non-tax revenues including increasing the Petroleum Development Levy (PDL) to raise up to Rs1 08 trillion in the next fiscal year or imposing a Carbon levy to offset the zero rate of GST on petroleum products The IMF also recommended an 18% GST on petrol and diesel along with the PDL The government is considering imposing a levy to ensure it does not become part of the federal divisible pool under the NFC Award, thereby not being distributed among the provinces
R A C U T S G A S P R I C E S
Pakistan’s new investment polic y, transparenc y in SIFC operations Auto loans plunge 24% to Rs236bn in April, marking 22 months of decline PR OFIT S ta f f R e p o R t Auto loans dropped 24% year-on-year to Rs236 billion in April 2024 continuing downward for the 22nd consecutive month due to higher borrowing costs and economic constraints reduced consumer demand According to the latest data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), April saw a 2% monthon-month decrease in auto loans, with the amount of car financing falling from Rs239 billion in March Auto financing has been negatively impacted by stabilisation measures over the past two years including high interest rates and stricter prudential rules The Pakistan Automotive Manufacturing Association reported that sales of passenger cars increased by 16% in April compared with the previous month when 7 672 units were sold However year-on-year sales increased by 212% Over the 10 months (July-April) of the current fiscal year 2023-24 total passenger car sales fell by 29% to 63,000 units due to rising costs, high loan rates, increased tariffs and taxes, and a slowing economy Analysts attributed the decline in car financing to increased borrowing costs and general economic activity constraints a Arif Habib Ltd. announces pro-rata allocation for oversubscribed IPAK shares LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t Arif Habib Limited (AHL) serving as the lead manager and joint book runner for the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of International Packaging Films Limited (IPAK), has announced the pro-rata allocation of shares due to an oversubscription The public subscription for IPAK conducted on May 15 and 16 2024 received applications for 17 566 100 ordinary shares slightly exceeding the set issue size of 17,526,364 shares In a communication to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Tuesday, AHL detailed that any applications exceeding the issue size will be proportionally distributed among investors who subscribed for over 2 000 shares This approach ensures a fair allocation process amidst heightened investor interest This IPO marks a significant moment for IPAK as it taps into the public market to bolster its financial footing and expand operations g G l o b a l l e n d e r i n q u i r e s a b o u t t a x e x e m p t i o n s f o r S p e c i a l E c o n o m i c Z o n e s u n d e r C P E C , r e c o m m e n d s 1 8 % G S T o n p e t r o l a n d d i e s e l a l o n g w i t h Pe t r o l e u m D e v e l o p m e n t Le v y ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to depart for Tehran on Wednesday to attend the funeral of slain Iranian president, Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash on May 19 According to a statement issued by Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday PM Shehbaz would participate in the funeral ceremony in Tehran where leaders from around the world including Muslim-majority countries are expected to attend Raisi, along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, Governor of East Azerbaijan Province Malek Rahmati, head of Raisi’s bodyguard team Mehdi Mousavi and Iranian Supreme Leader ’s representative in the province Mohammad Ali Al-eHashem died in a helicopter crash in northern Azerbaijan on May 19 The Pakistani government had expressed its condolences to the Iranian government and people over the tragic loss of life “We are deeply saddened by the untimely demise of President Raisi and extend our deepest condolences to the people and government of Iran ” said a statement from the Prime Minister s Office Prime Minister Shehbaz announced that Pakistan will observe a day of mourning and the flag will fly at half-mast as a mark of respect for President Raisi and his companions, and in solidarity with brotherly country of Iran He recalled that Pakistan had the pleasure of hosting President Raisi and Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian on a historic visit less than a month ago and remembered them as good friends of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif also visited the Iranian embassy He expressed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and the people of Iran in the time of sorrow and grief “Our sympathies and prayers are with the family members of the martyrs and the people of Iran ” Shehbaz said The funeral ceremony is scheduled to take place in Tehran on Wednesday, and Shehbaz is expected to pay his respects to the late Iranian leader As part of the five days of mourning declared yesterday in Iran tomorrow will be a public holiday A large funeral will take place in Tehran the capital where Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei is expected to lead a prayer On Thursday, Raisi will be buried in his hometown of Mashhad, with Friday set to be the final day of official mourning The Pakistani government has also passed a resolution in the National Assembly condemning the death of Raisi and expressing solidarity with the Iranian people We stand in solidarity with the people of Iran in this hour of grief and pay our respects to the late President Raisi,” said the resolution Sharif ’s visit to Tehran is seen as a gesture of goodwill and solidarity with the Iranian government and people and is expected to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries GDP grows modestly at 2.09% in Q3F Y24 PR OFIT M o n to R i n g D e S k Pakistan s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) experienced modest growth, registering a 2 09% increase during the third quarter of the fiscal year 2023-24 according to the latest data released by the National Accounts Committee (NAC) after its 109th meeting The NAC has also revised its growth estimates for the first two quarters of the fiscal year upwards; Q1 now stands at 2 71% and Q2 at 1 79%, reflecting an improvement from the initial estimates of 2 50% and 1 0% respectively Sector-wise, the agriculture sector showed robust growth at 3 94% driven largely by significant increases in important crops such as wheat which grew by 2 89% The industry sector also saw a healthy increase of 3 84%, despite a 15 75% contraction in the construction industry This growth was mainly supported by gains in mining and quarrying, largescale manufacturing, and a remarkable 37 3% rise in the electricity gas and water supply sub-sectors However the services sector exhibited slower growth at 0 83% with a mixed performance across its components Notably information and communication, finance and insurance activities, and public administration and social security all saw declines, while education surged by 10 38% The committee highlighted that the revised figures for Q1 showed that agriculture remained stable at a growth rate of 8 59% and improvements were noted in Q2 for this sector due to upward revisions in important and other crops In contrast, industrial activities saw a revision from negative growth to a slight increase, attributed to positive developments in mining and quarrying and less severe contractions in construction Looking forward the government has set a provisional GDP growth target of 2 38% for the ongoing fiscal year with agriculture expected to grow by 6 25% while industry and services are both projected to expand by 1 21%
g E c o n o m i c c o n s t r a i n t s a n d h i g h i n t e r e s t r a t e s c u r b c o n s u m e r b o r r o w i n g f o r c a r s
a
a
other high-ups
the
i n g o n t h e o c c a s i o n , I C C I
said t h a t l a t e P r e s i d e n t R a i s i w a s a b o l d s i n c e r e a n d d e d i c a t e d l e a d e r o f t h e I s l a m i c w o r l d H i s e ff o r t s f o r p e a c e a n d s e r v i c e s f o r t h e n a t i o n a r e u n f o rg e t t a b l e a n d r e s t o r a t i o n o f diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia was one of his big achievements for unity of the Muslim Ummah which elevated h i s s t a t u r e a s a t r u e l e a d e r o f t h e I s l a m i c w o r l d H e a l s o r e c a l l e d t h e crystal clear stance of the late President over the Palestine issue Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari said that the late President was keen to boost Pakistan-Iran trade upto $10 billion and we are determined to fulfil his dream He said that martyrdom of President Raisis is not the loss of Iranian nation only but the entire Muslim world and prayed to Allah Almighty for grant of the highest place in Jannah to the departed souls The President also registered his sentiments in the Condolence Book placed in the Embassy Former President ICCI Zafar Bakhtawari said that the late President was a statesman whose contributions to his country and reinforcing Pakistan-Iran relations and regional cooperation will always be remembered Executive member Maqsood Tabish mentioned his elevation from an orphan child to the President of the Islamic state of Iran ICCI members Imran Chheena, Khalid Chaudhry were also the part of the delegation a
attend funeral of Iranian
in Tehran
in the consequence of
helicopter crash This was stated by him while talking to President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari who along with
delegation visited to the Embassy to condole the death of President Raisi and
in
k
PM Shehbaz to
President Ebrahim Raisi

O pposition, civil society bodies, journalists rejec t Punjab Defamation Bill as ‘regressive’

It

voting on the bill, even for a week, at the request of journalists On the occasion, the press gallery members walked out of the assembly to boycott the proceedings They rejected the bill as a curb on free media

It said that the bill s provisions which allow defamation actions to be initiated without proof of actual damage

and imposing extortionate fines, amounted to nothing less than legal intimidation tactics Furthermore the bill’s broad definition of journalists and newspapers to include social media users set a dangerous precedent for stifling freedom of expression online, the statement said “The proposed punishments, including the possibility of blocking social media accounts are disproportionate and antithetical to democratic principles it said

The alliance urged the Punjab government to heed civil society and stakeholders voices and reverse the effort to pass another regressive legislation akin to Peca (Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act) It called for the defamation bill to be scrapped entirely demanding the gov-

ernor of Punjab to not sign the bill It said that future attempts to address disinformation and hate speech on online platforms should be initiated with inclusive consultations at the national level

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Tuesday said that a black law is being implemented Speaking to the media outside Lahore s Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Omar stated that they will resist the black law in the national and provincial assemblies He stated that according to the constitution, no one’s speech can be banned Omar Ayub added that whosoever talked about Ayub Khan’s martial law ask him what Nawaz Sharif did He further said that Babar Awan

and

the

Pakistani mountaineer Sirbaz Khan scales Mount Everest without supplementar y ox ygen

Earlier this year Sirbaz had to delay his plan to summit Shishapangma his 14th and final eightthousander after Chinese authorities refused to open the mountain for climbing this season

KARACHI S TA

Senior Sindh Minister Sharjeel Memon has announced that the provincial government is set to purchase modern weapons to counter the heavily armed robbers operating in the region

Speaking to the media, Memon revealed that the robbers in the Kacha area are equipped with advanced weaponry, prompting the Sindh government to seek federal assistance for acquiring similar arms for the police force The delivery of these modern weapons is expected soon

Memon emphasized that joint operations by police

and Rangers are ongoing in Kutch, with Rangers deployed wherever necessary

Additionally, the minister highlighted

and other drugs, labeling users as “suicide bombers” for society He affirmed that comprehensive operations by excise and narcotics control along with active police involvement are targeting the gutka mafia and other drug-related activities S indh govt to purchase modern weapons to combat robbers: S harjeel Memon

03 NEWS Wednesday 22 May 2024 LAHORE ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Bill’s definition of ‘journalists’ and ‘newspapers’ set a dangerous precedent for stifling freedom of expression A day after the passage of Punjab Defamation Bill (2024) by the provincial assembly, more than 80 civil society organisations on Tuesday registered protest against the legislation while Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Omar Ayub stated they will resist the black law in the national and provincial assemblies On Monday the Punjab Assembly passed the Punjab Defamation Bill, 2024, amid protests by the PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council and journalists covering parliamentary proceedings
SIC members tore apart copies of the bill after the House passed it through a voice vote
press release issued by civil society and journalists on Tuesday said they outrightly reject the Punjab Defamation Bill, given that it was a gross infringement on the fundamental rights of freedom of expression and press freedom
The
A
bill served
a dra-
tool
suppress dissent
criticism
particularly tar-
wider public
Special
absence
standing
Finance
delay
said that the
as
conian and regressive
to
and
and
geted journalists and the
Vetted by the
Committee-1 in the
of
committees the bill was tabled by Punjab
Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman after the PML-N government refused to
O P P O S I T I O N TO R E S I S T D E FA M AT I O N B I L L:
court
don’t
the
to travel all over Pakistan
one
note
approved
2024
has explained the whole law to the
‘I am grateful to the court who gave justice I
have
will
in
day these are all false cases Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Babar Awan added that the Chief Minister
Law Minister are insulting
court The law made to arrest the journalists will not work they will approach the court against it He stated that PTI stands with the journalists The Dubai Leaks case should be opened immediately, the work of the judiciary is to uphold the rights of the people It is pertinent to
that the Punjab Assembly had
the Defamation Bill
yesterday
g OMAR AYUB TERMS LEGISLATION A S BLACK LAW, SAYING THEY WILL RESIST IT IN NA, PROVINCIAL A SSEMBLIES LAHORE S TA F F R E P O R T P U N J A B Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif reached LDA Avenue-1 to launch a pilot project to make Lahore the best eco-friendly residential city She inaugurated LDA Avenue-1 Central Park covering an area of 87 canals and planted a sapling there LDA DG Tahir Farooq briefed the CM about the Central Park Project u p g r a d e d L D A E n f o r c e m e n t Squad and other related issues She was briefed that in LDA Avenue1 S o c i e t y, i n n o v a t i v e s t e p s h a v e b e e n taken to protect and beautify the environment The Central Park of LDA Avenue-1 a pilot model park is a major step in this direction It was also briefed that a jogging track walkways kids play area open gym and b a d m i n t o n c o u r t ; b e s i d e s a c a f e t e r i a mosque and rose garden have been established in LDA Avenue-1 Central Park Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif was briefed that apart from LDA Avenue1 Central Park, solar streetlights have also b e e n i n s t a l l e d o n w a l k w a y s M o r e o v e r specific vending points have been set up for the purchase of food items Arrangements for rainwater harvesting and cycling have also been made A model cemetery has been built there T h e c h i e f m i n i s t e r w a s a p p r i s e d t h a t the LDA enforcement squad is being supp l i e d w i t h n e w u n i f o r m , e q u i p m e n t a n d machinery She visited vending points of LDA Avenue-1 where fruits and vegetables were available for sale on clean and newly designed carts It s a good arrangement but I will come and check again sometime the CM said T h e C M a l s o i n s p e c t e d t h e L D A u pgraded enforcement squad She gave keys o f n e w b i k e s t o t h e e n f o r c e m e n t s q u a d Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Information & Culture Minister A z m a Z a h i d B u k h a r i , S p e c i a l A s s i s t a n t Zeeshan Malik MNA Afzal Khokhar and M PA S a n i a A s h i q a c c o m p a n i e d M a d a m Chief Minister Chief Secretary and other relevant senior officers were also present
PRojECt to
ECo-fRIEndly CIt y NEWS DESK Pakistan s ace mountaineer Sirbaz Khan added another feather to his cap on Tuesday when he successfully scaled the world’s highest mountain Everest without using supplementary oxygen Sirbaz who had previously summitted the 8849-meter peak using bottled oxygen, reached the top earlier today at around 12:30 PM PST becoming only the second Pakistani to scale the mountain without using oxygen
Sidpara was the first to achieve this feat The Hunza-based climber is also the first Pakistani to climb 11 peaks over 8,000 meters without using oxygen support In total he has climbed 13 eight-thousanders Among the 13 eight-thousanders that Sirbaz has already climbed, only Annapurna and Kangchenjunga were summited using oxygen support
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KARACHI S TA F F R E P O R T The Sindh government on Tuesday decided to stick to the plan and announced the summer vacations for schools from June 1 to July 31, according to a notification issued on Tuesday The Sindh Education and Literacy Department in the notification said that the summer vacations are as per the decision of the steering committee Just like Punjab a proposal to prepone summer vacations in Sindh was under consideration due to heatwave A day earlier the Punjab government announced further seven-day holidays for all the public and private schools from May 25 to 31 because of scorching heat Meanwhile the Board of Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK) also postponed the ninth and matric exams from May 21-27 due to extreme weather conditions in the metropolis A notification issued by the board stated that the decision has been taken in view of the heatwave alert issued by the National Disaster Management Authority and Provincial Disaster Management Authority A severe heatwave is expected to hit Punjab and Sindh from today (Tuesday) and to deal with the scorching heat authorities at both the federal and provincial levels have taken precautions to protect people from the deadly consequences such as heat-related illnesses Chances of an increase in heat-related issues such as heat stroke are likely to impact the population and are considered the most extreme form of heat-related illnesses with mortality rates ranging from 10% to 80% No change in schedule of summer vac ations in S indh Acting President visits Iranian Embassy, offers condolences ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Acting President Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani visited the Embassy of Iran on Tuesday to offer condolences over the sad demise of the Iranian President Dr Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, the Foreign Minister and others in the helicopter accident in Iran The Acting President expressed deep grief on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan saying that the whole nation was saddened and shared the grief of the Iranian brothers and sisters He termed the tragic death of the Iranian President as a great loss for the Islamic world He highlighted that President Raisi was a noble soul, a scholar and a great friend of Pakistan and that the Muslim Ummah lost a great leader Talking to the Iranian Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam the Acting President said that Pakistan and Iran enjoyed excellent relations based on historical, cultural, and literary linkages He remarked that both countries needed to promote people-topeople contacts and parliamentary exchanges to bring the two brotherly countries further closer The Ambassador of Iran said that Pakistan and Iran enjoyed excellent relations and promotion of ties with Pakistan was a cornerstone of Iran s foreign policy He informed that the Supreme Leader of Iran placed special emphasis on promoting relations with Pakistan, saying that the recent visit of the late President Raisi took place in this context The Ambassador expressed gratitude to the people and government of Pakistan for their messages and sentiments sharing the grief of the Iranian people Earlier, the Acting President, Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani, also penned condolatory remarks in the visitor ’s book at the Iranian embassy Pakistan obser ves day of mourning for Iranian crash victims ISLAMABAD N E W S D E S K The country is observing a day of mourning on Tuesday as a show of solidarity with the government and people of Iran after a helicopter crash claimed the lives of Iranian President Sayyed Ebrahim Raisi and other senior officials Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared today as a day of mourning on Monday As a mark of respect the national flag is at half-mast across the country President Ebrahim Raisi and seven others, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, died in a helicopter crash in the country’s northwest on May 19 The deaths were confirmed by the Iranian government on the morning of May 20 President Zardari and PM Sharif expressed profound shock and sorrow over the tragic death of the Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash as the government announced a day of mourning in the country While extending his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of the Iranian president the foreign minister and others who lost their lives in the accident Zardari described the tragic incident as a great loss not only for Iran but also for the entire Muslim Ummah Today, Pakistan mourns the loss of a great friend Just last month, we had the honour of hosting him in Pakistan ” Railway fares decreased by over 50 percent LAHORE S TA F F R E P O R T In view of the recent decline in diesel prices, the Pakistan Railways Department has announced a significant reduction in train fares across various classes The official notification regarding the fare reduction has been issued and is effective immediately The fare reduction applies to train journeys ranging from one to 200 kilometres for all classes of trains benefitting passengers travelling shorter distances The most notable reductions are seen in the economy and AC classes According to the railway authorities, the economy class fares on certain routes have been reduced by up to 54% For instance the minimum fare for the economy class on the Lahore to Rawalpindi route has decreased from Rs250 to Rs100 Similarly, the economy class fare for the Khyber Mail, covering distances from 1km to 130km has also been reduced from Rs250 to Rs100 Passengers travelling in AC class will also enjoy a significant reduction with fares cut by 40% across various routes This move comes as a relief to daily commuters and occasional travellers alike, who will benefit from the lowered cost of train travel The Railways Department emphasizes that this fare reduction aims to pass on the benefits of decreased fuel costs to the public and make rail travel more affordable The implementation of these new fares has started on Tuesday as confirmed by the railway authorities in Lahore For more detailed information about the specific fare reductions and to plan your journey, passengers are encouraged to check the official Railways website
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Iranian President R aisi ’s sudden death teaches us lessons

TH I S was a commonality that Pakistan and Iran, which share many commonalities could have done without Back in 1988, Pakistan went through the trauma of losing a head of state in an air crash Almost 36 years on, Iran is going through the same experience There are large differences The Pakistani who was killed, Gen Ziaul Haq, was a military ruler, who had the same year dismissed the elected government and taken back power into his own hands President ebrahim raisi was the eighth elected President of Iran and was merely head of government He had only been elected once Apart from the first and second Presidents, seven have served two terms It is not that Iran has not lost a president before President muhammad Ali rajai was assassinated at a meeting along with the Prime minister (a position now abolished) President raisi was accompanied by the Foreign minister A lesson to the world should be how the Iranian state has recovered The first vice-president, mohammad mokhber, has stepped up to the plate and will act as President till the June 28 presidential elections (like Pakistan’s and unlike the USA’s there is an election to a full term if there is a midterm vacancy; no one serves out the remainder of the term Come July, Iran will have a new President in place This is exactly what happened when President rajai was assassinated in 1981 At that time, the country was already at war with Iraq, the conflict having started the year before It is a coincidence that another country at war Ukraine also should have had polls and its President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, actually had his constitutionally prescribed term come to an end, but he will continue in office on the greyhound that there’s a war on Iran didn’t think of that excuse back in 1981 nor did the other combatant in the war with Ukraine, which went ahead with presidential elections this march However Pakistan delayed its last elections on less solid reasons than a war being on; simply because of delimitations The excuse that Pakistan is not an old democracy won t wash either, for nor is Iran, while Ukraine actually started having consecutive elections after Pakistan did While Pakistan joins Iran in its sorrow, it must also take to heart the example of a system that functions, no matter what happens

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

M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit

of 96 By any def-

was courageous and selfless on the battlefield, fearless and principled in elective office, an advocate for justice and equity, and, in all instances a truth-teller even when he paid a price for speaking out Pete entered the national consciousness in 1967 when following the death of the incumbent representative he won a special election to Congress There were two aspects about that contest that attracted attention Pete’s

Campaign (PHrC) and was looking for members of Congress to support cases of Palestinian victims of rights abuse Knowing that he was a courageous advocate I went to see him Being young and intense I sat down across from him and immediately began pressing my case At one point, Pete cracked a joke, but too intent on pressing forward I continued He stopped and asked what I thought of what he had said I responded that what I was saying was serious and continued He stopped me again and said I ll tell you what s serious I have supporters in my district who ve been friends of mine for years who would be upset if they even knew I was meeting with you to discuss Palestinian rights You don’t know me yet want me to take a stance on something that would offend them Why don t you think that over get a sense of humour and come back and see me? I was stunned and left After reflecting on what he had said, I never approached another elected official the same way I

that an election could be won by opposing the war in Vietnam once in Congress, Pete continued to challenge both his party and the nation As a recipient of two of the highest awards the military gives for valor and two Purple Hearts, Pete knew the horrors of combat and was compelled to oppose a war that had already taken too many lives and could never be won He opposed Nixon s continuation of the conflict and after the 1972 election when it was revealed that Nixon ordered covert operatives to break into his Democratic opponent s headquarters and then tried to cover up this crime Pete became the first republican in Congress to call on Nixon to resign from office I first met Pete a few years later in the mid-1970s and in that first meeting he taught me a lesson I never forgot I had started the Palestine Human rights

Is Indian democracy a hoax?

business in India, impeding investment, limiting innovation, and distorting market dynamics The BJP regime, which has been in power since 2014 has exploited these fault lines in Indian society to stir hate but gather popular nationalist and religious extremist votes The BJP is a political offshoot of the rSS a rightwing Hindu fundamentalist group which not only advocates racial superiority but regards Nazi Germany as an ideal The BJP after coming to power has started working on rSS’ decades-old agenda; religiously cleansing India only for Hindus rewriting Indian history through textbooks even changing centuriesold names of Indian cities only because of muslim affiliation and ultimately establishing a greater Hindu rashtra There has been a great surge in hate crimes against muslims other minorities and even lower-caste Hindus with entrenching BJP rule over the last decade According to Hindutva Watch a USA-based research organization 255 incidents of advocacy of hatred and violence targeting muslims were recorded in the first six months of 2023 The US State Department in its annual report on religious freedom expressed concerns over open calls for genocide against muslims lynching and other hate-fuelled violence attacks on places of worship and home demolitions, and in some cases impunity and even clemency for those who have engaged in attacks on religious minorities” in India The fascist and authoritarian measures have not been limited to religious minorities After dismantling and crushing India s secular face through actions like revoking article 370 and 35-A in the disputed Kashmir region, now the BJP regime prior to election 2024, has been on a sprint to neutralize any political threat through coercive government force Cm Dehli Arvind Kejriwal was arrested just days before elections without any conviction or money trail while the media was forced to stop covering the news of the biggest electoral bond scam which was linked to the ruling party moreover, top opposition party Congress c o m p l a i n e d t h a t i t s b a n k a c c o u n t s w e r e frozen to sabotage its election campaign and the income tax department issued Congress a fine of rs 17 billion in a case several years

old on the other hand, newspapers have refused to publish paid advertisements of opposition parties According to the news agency mint opposition candidates are threatened through eD and IT to withdraw their nominations In one such incident T h e G u a rd i a n wrote mukesh Dalal, from the ruling Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) won the Gujrat seat by default after every other candidate was either disqualified or dropped out of the race It was the first time in

nuclear weapons led by a supremacist hyper-nationalist and fascist right-wing regime in a volatile region like South Asia? There has been a time-tested phenomenon that regimes and groups living upon hatred violence and dividing people are like the proverbial Frankenstein monster; they invariably outgrow their creators and sympathizers often turning on them Indian extraterritorial assassinations in Canada and the USA are a few such incidents and a possible glimpse of the future to come Ahmad Ali is a research fellow at Epis Think tank Germany and an intern at Kashmir institute of International relations He can be reached at Ali7664556@gmail com

There has been a time-tested phenomenon that regimes and groups living upon hatred, violence and dividing people are like the proverbial Frankenstein monster; they invariably outgrow their creators and sympathizers, often turning on them. Indian extraterritorial assassinations in Canada and the USA are a few such incidents and a possible glimpse of the future to come.

Tourism conundrum

Media representation

04 Wednesday 22 May 2024 COMMENT Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965 I K arachi – Ph: 021-32640318 I Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545 I Web: www pakistantoday com pk I Email: editorial@pakistantoday com pk A n o t h e r c r i s i s f o r a n e i g h b o u r
To U r I S m plays a pivotal role in the economic development of a country offering myriad opportunities for growth and prosperity It serves as a significant source of revenue generating income through accommodation transportation, dining, entertainment, and souvenirs Despite Pakistan boasting numerous tourist sites, many of them are undervalued and poorly maintained Gorakh Hill Station, a mountain peak in Dadu district, Sindh, is a prime example With an elevation of 1,700 meters Gorakh Hill Station stands as one of the highest plateaus in Sindh nestled within the Kirthar mountain range on the border between Sindh and Balochistan provinces During the summer Gorakh Hill Station enjoys a pleasant temperature of about 20 C which drops below 0 C during the winter, occasionally graced by rare snowfall During my recent trip to Gorakh Hill, I observed a lack of instructors and signboards along the roads, hindering visitors’ navigation Furthermore, essential goods, particularly water were being sold at exorbitant prices Accommodation and transportation facilities were woefully inadequate Unsurprisingly the poor infrastructure made reaching the destination challenging for visitors regrettably lives are at risk as many tourists have lost their lives while ascending the hill Unfortunately, the authorities concerned have turned a deaf ear to this critical issue It is imperative for the government and relevant authorities to take notice and implement urgent measures to address these issues and ensure the safety of visitors SYED ZAMIN ALI LARKANA
I N Pakistan the term Aashna has become commonplace in media and everyday language to refer to a female companion or partner While seemingly innocuous, the casual use of this term belies deeper issues of gender inequality and perpetuates harmful stereotypes that undermine women’s rights and dignity originating from Urdu the term ‘Aashna’ connotes companionship and intimacy However its widespread usage in Pakistani media often reduces women to mere objects of companionship devoid of agency and individuality This not only reflects a lack of respect for women s autonomy but also reinforces patriarchal norms dictating women s roles solely within the context of their relationships with men moreover, the use of ‘Aashna’ in media contributes to the objectification of women, reducing them to mere accessories or trophies for male characters By relegating women to passive companions Pakistani media perpetuates harmful gender dynamics and reinforces traditional roles that limit women s opportunities for self-expression and advancement Furthermore the normalisation of Aashna in media reflects a broader disregard for women s rights and human dignity In a society where women already face systemic discrimination and gender-based violence, the casual use of language that diminishes their status only serves to further marginalise and disempower them The impact of this linguistic norm extends beyond media representation; it influences societal perceptions of women and shapes attitudes towards gender equality When women are consistently portrayed as subordinate to men it reinforces the notion that their worth is contingent upon their relationship to men, rather than their inherent value as individuals To address this issue, media outlets should refrain from using language that reduces women to passive roles or perpetuates stereotypes Instead, they should strive to depict women as multifaceted individuals with their own ambitions aspirations and identities beyond their relationships with men moreover efforts to promote gender equality in media should be accompanied by broader initiatives to address the root causes of gender inequality in Pakistani society This includes investing in education, empowering women economically, and challenging patriarchal norms that limit women s autonomy and opportunities SHAZIA IQBAL TURBAT E d i t o r ’ s m a i l Send your letters to: Letters to Editor Pakistan Today 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah Lahore Pakistan E-mail: letters@pakistantoday com pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively M o r e t h a n 8 0 c o u n t r i e s r e p r esenting half of the world s popul a t i o n w i l l h a v e e l e c t i o n s t h i s year India is currently continui n g i t s d e m o c r a t i c e x p e r i m e n t India’s elections for its parliament began on April 19 With over a billion eligible voters India’s elections are widely regarded as the world s largest democratic exercise– yet they a r e s e r i o u s l y u n s e t t l i n g T h e r e s u l t s w h i c h are expected to confirm modi s reign, will be a n n o u n c e d o n J u n e 4 N a r e n d r a m o d i , t h e current prime minister, is running for a third term, making the fabric of the world’s greate s t d e m o c r a c y a p p e a r i n c o n t r a d i c t i o n r eg i o n a l i s m a n d i d e n t i t y p o l i t i c s c o n t i n u e t o affect electoral outcomes while coalition politics shape governance dynamics The election process is longer than ever, spanning six w e e k s , w h i c h s u b s t a n t i a l l y a d v a n t a g e s modi’s party, which has extraordinarily wells t o c k e d c a m p a i g n c o ff e r s f i l l e d w i t h o l ig a r c h s a n d a c c u s e d o f a b u s e s o f t a x a n d investigative authorities India navigates a difficult political environment, as this is a country that has lived through the long-term effects and vestiges of colonialism Under the facade of development and economic growth, there are deeply entrenched inequities religious persecution and astonishingly persistent and pervasive poverty It is also plagued by an outmoded caste system gender inequality and violence against women Corruption has always been a major hindrance to India s economic, political, and social development How should a country’s overall progress be measured? Should it be based solely on nuclear power space exploration achievements or the number of new billionaires produced? millions of Indians remain locked in a cycle of poverty, with inadequate access to education, healthcare, or employment possibilities Furthermore, the prevalence of corruption has a significant impact on India’s economic development with studies suggesting that it costs the nation billions of dollars each year According to last year s World economic Forum global competitiveness report, corruption is one of the most difficult aspects of conducting
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main opponent was the former film star, Shirley Temple Black Not only was she “America’s darling” but she was endorsed by fellow actor ronald reagan a rising star in California politics Also compelling was the fact that Pete mcCloskey was a highly decorated marine Colonel who was running as a vocal critic of the Vietnam war Pete won that election and his next seven reelection contests His victory, the first by a republican opponent of the war sent shockwaves through Congress sending the message to his colleagues and future candidates
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learned that it was important to build relationships, to get to know people you want to influence and let them know you It was the way my father succeeded in his grocery store His customers liked and trusted him In politics I needed to do the same In any case, eventually I went back to see Pete He not only endorsed the case I was presenting but also became a strong supporter of Palestinian rights and the PHrC During his time in Congress Pete was a champion for women s rights the environment (as author of the endangered Species Act and co-founder of earth Day), and of course, Palestinian rights In 1980, he travelled to Beirut with fellow representatives Nick rahall, mary rose oakar, and merv Dymally to meet with Yasir Arafat, challenging the US “no talk policy” with the PLo And as Israeli bombs were falling on Beirut in 1982 they returned again to meet with Arafat It was at that meeting that Pete got Arafat s signature on a statement that the PLo accepts all United Nations resolutions relevant to the Palestine questions After visiting other Arab countries on that same visit, Pete made the following statement to press: “In every Arab heart there is the inexorable conviction [that the Israeli invasion would not be happening] without the consent and indeed the approval of the United States We pay the price for that hatred growing in a substantial part of the world After leaving Congress, Pete s activism on behalf of justice continued In the late 1980s he and former Congressman Paul Findley founded the Council for the National Interest in an effort to change America s middle east policy to align with America s interests He also provided legal support to the survivors of the USS Liberty, the naval vessel targeted and sunk by Israeli bombs during the 1967 war And in 1993, he filed a lawsuit against the Anti-Defamation League on behalf of a group of pro-Palestinian and anti-Apartheid activists charging the ADL with violating California s constitutional right to privacy by illegally obtaining and using the activists personal information to defame or silence them A week before he passed away, I had the chance to speak with him I reminded him of the lessons he taught me and what a hero he had always been to those of us who still wanted to believe that there were elected officials who could be principled nonpartisan fighters for justice He made me tear up when he replied how he had also been inspired by my life s work He may be gone, but the lessons he taught will live on You can be principled and personable In politics like business relationships matter And if you fight for what you believe in not only will you feel good about yourself but at the end of the day it will be known that yours was a life well lived That was Pete mcCloskey The writer is President of the Arab American Institute P e t e M c C l o s k e y : A n A m e r i c a n H e r o O n e a d vo c at e f o r t h e t r u t h i s n o m o re Washington Watch D r J a m e s J Z o g b y
T h e l e s s o n s h e t a u g h t w i l l l i v e o n . Yo u c a n b e p r i n c i p l e d a n d p e rs o n a bl e . I n p o l i t i c s , l i k e bu s i n e s s , r e l a t i o n s h i p s m a t t e r. A n d i f yo u f i g h t fo r w h a t yo u b e l i ev e i n , n o t o n ly w i l l yo u fe e l g o o d a b o u t yo u rs e l f, bu t a t t h e e n d o f t h e d ay, i t w i l l b e k n ow n t h a t yo u rs w a s a l i fe w e l l l i v e d T h a t w a s Pe t e M c C l o s k ey

Why is the USA responsible for Raisi’s Heli Crash

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thus faced significant limitations It was only equipped with outdated emergency Locator Transmitters, which often failed to activate during crashes and had high false alarm rates, making it difficult to locate downed aircraft radar tracking was limited by range and terrain creating blind spots in mountainous or remote areas while large expanses of ocean and remote regions were beyond radar reach manual position reporting by pilots was prone to human error and communication blackouts due to signal interference and range limitations Though ground-based navigational aids like Vor and NDB provided general directional information to the downed helicopter it lacked the precision needed for pinpointing crash locations Additionally, while Flight Data recorders (FDrs) and Cockpit Voice recorders (CVrs) were valuable for post-crash investigation they did not assist in the immediate location of the aircraft

Had there been no sanctions the helicopter carrying important passengers could have long ago been replaced, or upgraded with latest tracking devices, combining advanced GPS, ADS-B, and satellite communication technologies These devices include emergency Locator Transmitters (eLTs) like the

Kannad Integra and Artex 345, which use integrated GPS and dual-frequency transmitters for precise location tracking

It could have been equipped with Portable aviation GPS units such as the Garmin aera 660 and Garmin D2 mach 1 Aviator Smartwatch providing detailed flight mapping and real-time data, enhancing search efforts

Additionally it could also have been equipped with the Garmin GDL 52 a portable ADS-B receiver and the Garmin inreach mini satellite communicator which offers comprehensive tracking and SoS functionalities, ensuring effective rescue operations even in remote areas moreover, even the weather forecast system due to sanctions is outdated and does not give a full picture to the navigators about the weather conditions Had it been given the true picture the president may have advised to postpone the flight until flying conditions are improved

This is not the only tragedy faced by the Iranian nation due to the sanctions which had made air travel extremely dangerous and perilous and have so far resulted in the loss of 2000 precious lives due to the accidents which could have been avoided if the flying objects were upgraded, refurbished or replaced with new ones There have also been conspiracy theories circulating not only in the social media but as well as in the traditional media saying that somehow Israel was involved in this crash to avenge the Iranian attack on Israel with drones rockets and cruise missiles a few days ago If this theory hold ground now or any time in future the entire region will be plunged in total chaos as the alleged Iranian

proxies in the middle east like Hamas, Hezbollah, Iraq Brigade, Houthis and Iranfriendly armed groups in Syria will do whatever in their power to avenge attack on Iran’s second most important leaders who are known to be ultra hardliner highly religious and pro revolutionary person and are the most likely aspirant to replace the religious head of Iran Ayatollah Khomeini moreover, in a scenario which so far has no concrete evidence it cannot be ruled out completely if Israel was blamed for the crash of a helicopter carrying the Iranian president Iran would likely react with outrage, accusing Israel of an act of war, which could lead to military mobilization and retaliatory threats The regional implications would be significant with potential destabilization across the middle east Globally the United States as a key ally of Israel would be drawn into the conflict facing pressure to support Israel while trying to prevent a full-scale war USIran relations would likely deteriorate further, impacting diplomatic efforts and nuclear deal negotiations Internationally powers like russia China and the european Union would call for restraint and engage in intense diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation

The global oil markets would likely see a spike in prices due to fears of supply disruptions, affecting economies worldwide Longterm effects could include accelerated nuclear proliferation in the middle east and shifts in geopolitical alliances as countries reassess their security and foreign policy strategies At least as if now the darkness the weather in the mountainous region of what is called in local language Tawal, located between Azerbaijan and Iran, is still under deep fog very cold and raining which has turned

IN November as India s election campaign was beginning to take shape, a catchphrase coined by Prime minister Narendra modi s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) started gaining traction “modi ki guarantee” (modi’s guarantee) was positioned by the governing party as the personal promise of the vastly popular prime minister to Indian voters as the BJP tried to draw a contrast with the seemingly hodgepodge coalition of opposition parties railing against it The BJP launched advertisements on Google with that tagline in the third week of November But around the same time, another organisation started pumping in millions of rupees into an almost identical-sounding campaign: “modi sarkar ki guarantee (modi government s guarantee) The videos in that campaign which would continue for months often referred simply to modi s guarantee In one such advertisement, aired on February 23, an actor portraying a young entrepreneur reassures a father apprehensive about his son’s career choice by telling him “Papa there is modi’s guarantee modi ji has promised that he will make India one of the places with the most unicorn startups Towards the end he confidently asserts that thanks to modi s guarantee every startup will start in India only these advertisements were not from the BJP They were paid for by the Indian taxpayer and were part of a campaign rolled out by the Indian government’s advertising agency the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) At least one other campaign with multiple advertisements unveiled in march also echoed the wording and look of the BJP s election slogans on march 22, the country s largest opposition party, the Indian National Congress, filed a complaint with the election Commission of India (eCI) – the constitutional body overseeing the country’s elections – alleging that these CBC advertisements violated election rules by misusing public funds for the governing party s campaign Now an Al Jazeera investigation reveals the scale of

pattern modi ensures that he and he alone will exercise any power in India, marathe said Al Jazeera sought responses from the CBC’s director-general Dhirendra ojha and two additional director-generals rajesh Kumar Jha and Ajay Agrawal to the allegations against the organisation on may 10 They have not responded

‘TAKING MISUSE TO NEW HEIGHTS’ In early march, Lalu Prasad Yadav, a veteran opposition leader, mocked the Indian prime minister for not having a family: modi left his wife when he was younger and has no children In response BJP leaders changed their social media profiles adding modi ka parivar (modi s family) next to their names As with modi ki guarantee , the CBC released advertisements with similar themes on YouTube and Google Ads, promoting the “modi ka parivar” campaign These advertisements are some of the agency’s most expensive individual advertisements to date In an advertisement published on march 9 modi is seen celebrating the festival of Diwali with the armed forces The family members of a soldier missing – who miss their son, husband and father – say modi celebrates Diwali with soldiers because he is part of their family They announce “We are all modi’s family” For the advertisement which ran for five days to reach between 6 and 7 million people the government agency spent about 550 thousand rupees ($6 600) one of its most expensive individual advertisements

In its complaint to the election Commission, the Congress also accused the modi government of politicising the country’s armed forces Then, in April, a week before the first phase of India’s mammoth election the BJP released its campaign manifesto featuring a photo of modi the party s saffron colours and the slogan modi ki guarantee all elements used in the CBC s publicly funded advertisements

To be clear, transparency experts and former election officials say that parties in power have long tried to use public infrastructure for their campaigning In June 1975 India’s then-Prime minister Indira Gandhi was disqualified from office after a court found her guilty of using government machinery for her campaign This government has not invented the misuse of public funds for self-promotional advertisements, said Vipul mudgal, the chief executive of Common Cause, a New Delhi-based watchdog civil society organisation, whose petition with the Supreme Court also led to the scrapping of the modi government s controversial electoral bonds scheme in February 2024

ing the misuse to new heights

MORE MONEY, MORE FREEDOM TO ADVERTISE

In may 2023 nearly a year before the start of India’s 2024 elections an executive order by the modi government increased the budget of the CBC by 275 percent from 2 billion rupees ($24 million) to about 7 5 billion rupees ($90 million) This order required ministries and government departments to allocate 40 percent of their advertising and publicity budgets to the CBC, significantly expanding the agency’s resources in an election year on social media platform X Congress leader Jairam ramesh criticised the budget increase and said that like other government agencies the CBC would be the spearhead of the modi Govt s election campaign for 2024 But the BJP s Kutty said the increase in the government s promotional budget was only in keeping with the country s economic growth “India is a developing country and the sixth-largest economy globally India’s budget allocations are expected to increase naturally he said These allegations are baseless Still that budget needed one more rule tweak to enable the CBC s online spending

That change came in November 2023, when the government adopted a new Digital Advertisement Policy, which allowed the CBC – which until then could only advertise via traditional mediums such as newspapers TV radio and outdoor advertisements – to post advertisements on digital platforms like Google Within days the organisation began to swamp Google with the modi Sarkar ki guarantee advertisements

While the CBC s $4 65 million spending on Google advertisements pales in comparison with its total advertisement spend of 30 billion rupees ($360m) across mediums in the four years between 2018-2019 and 20222023 it reflects a broader surge in digital political spending in the 2024 election

Before the 2019 general election in India between November 1, 2018, and march 15, 2019, the total spending on political Google advertisements was 11 77 million rupees ($140,000), of which more than 99 percent was spent by the BJP

In the same period before the current elections between November 1 2023 and 15 march 2024 the total political advertisement spend amounted to nearly 1 3 billion rupees ($15 9 million) more than 100 times the 2019 figure

party had spent in almost six years– between June 2018 and march 15 2024 – according to Google Ads Transparency data in this period And many of the CBC advertisements were part of the campaigns with slogans that independent election transparency activists and the opposition say were too close to the BJP s promotional messages opposition

Abdulla Kutty the BJP s national vice president told Al Jazeera that government advertisements promoting their work, schemes and programmes have been a common practice since independence” In 2003 and then again in 2022 Common Cause filed petitions with the Supreme Court seeking stricter regulation over government advertising that tips over into promotional campaigning for the governing party In 2015, the Supreme Court established guidelines stating that government advertising should not promote political interests and must be related to the government’s responsibilities But nearly a decade later, the challenge has only grown say transparency activists

SY Quraishi a former chief election commissioner who oversaw Indian elections between 2010 and 2012 said that the election Commission has long been demanding that government advertisements with political connotations be made illegal for at least six months before the elections to maintain the level playing field”

“However government after government ignored the proposal ” Quraishi said And mudgal of Common Cause said that while all political parties in power had exploited government resources for campaigning this government is responsible for expanding the game, tak-

The 2023 Google News Initiative and Kantar survey showed that 93 percent of Indian language users access news via YouTube About 80 percent of Indian internet users who are eligible to vote consume content via YouTube making it one of the most influential media platforms in India more than 90 percent of the CBC s advertisement spend on Google was on videos

The surge in spending on Google promotions also exposes weaknesses in India’s regulatory mechanism to oversee political advertisement spending by the government say experts

PERILS OF A ‘BRUTE MAJORITY’

The 2015 Supreme Court order barring overt political partisanship in government advertisements led to the creation of the Committee on Content regulation of Government Advertisements (CCrGA), which was tasked with watching over all publicly-funded advertisements But the committee s members are appointed by the very government whose advertisements it is meant to scrutinise And it only has the power to recommend suggestions on advertisements to India s ministry of Information and Broadcasting – to which the CBC reports Since it was set up in 2016, the CCrGA’s actions have primarily targeted the Aam Aadmi Party’s government in New Delhi which has also been criticised by the Supreme Court for a bloated advertising budget meanwhile once elections are announced the election Commission is in charge of ensuring that campaign rules are followed opposition parties have repeatedly criticised the poll panel, accusing it of bias in favour of the BJP marathe, the AAP spokesperson, and senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan told Al Jazeera they had little hope that the electoral Commission would act on the complaints against the CBC Quraishi the former election commission boss said that while the electoral Commission ought to act against all complaints, its mandate on election spending

Wednesday 22 May 2024 COMMENT 05
the CBC s spending on government advertisements that appear to mimic the BJP s campaign messages and that, according to critics, raise questions about the ability of non-partisan institutions to ensure a level playing field in the election The government s communication agency spent nearly 387 million rupees ($4 65m) on Google advertisements in just under four months from when it first started advertising regularly on the online platform in November, until march 15, when it last launched an advertisement India’s national elections were formally announced on march 15 From that point on government agencies are barred from any advertisements In fact in these 113 days the CBC was India s largest spender on political advertisements on Google while the BJP stood in second place with 314 million rupees ($3 7m) The CBC spending in this period was 41 percent more than the 275 million rupees ($3 3m) that the primary opposition Congress
parties have long accused the BJP, under modi of turning supposedly neutral government agencies into extensions of their machinery – a charge the BJP has denied To
spokesperson for the Aam Aadmi Party
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kicked in only on march 15, when the dates for the seven-phase vote were announced The CBC has not advertised since march 15 The BJP has consistently pushed back against opposition allegations that India s election machinery – from institutions like the electoral Commission to the electronic voting machines – are biased or doctored to help modi s party win India s governing party points out that the opposition has won multiple state legislature elections under the same mechanism Still said Niranjan Sahoo an expert on political funding reforms at the observer research Foundation institutions tasked with accountability in India s parliamentary setup typically do better when the ruling government lacks a brute majority and must rely on coalition partners” The modi government enjoys the biggest majority of any government in 35 years I n d i a n g o v e r n m e n t a g
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H e helicopter carrying Iranian President ebrahim raisi was 45 years old It had earlier
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the terrain muddy and slippery making ground search almost impossible though at this time there are 42 search teams on the site and all army and revolutionary guard resources have been committed but there is no good news so far The Turkish drone however succeeded in locating heat emitting objects in the vicinity giving some kind of concrete location but reaching this location will take quite some time meanwhile, the Iranian media has been changing the semantics of the incident from hard landing to accident and from accident to crash The key differences lie in the severity of impact extent of damage likelihood of injuries and the recoverability of the aircraft with hard landings being less severe than crashes which typically involve complete destruction and severe consequences, thus preparing the Iranian people for the worst-case scenario, which trasnspired If the Iranian president had survived an air crash the Iranian nation and Iran’s proxies around the world would likely have celebrated his survival as a sign of resilience and strength However, now in Iran, there might be public gatherings, speeches, and displays of support for the president Iranian proxies in other countries, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon or various militias in Iraq might also organize events to express their support and loyalty Now that the Iranian president has died in the air crash, the reaction would likely be one of shock and mourning in Iran and among its proxies There would likely be official mourning periods public displays of grief and statements of condolences from Iran s allies and proxies The death of the president could also lead to a period of uncertainty and potential power struggles within Iran, which could have implications for regional stability and Iran’s foreign policy The writer retired as Press Secretary the President and is former Press Minister at Embassy of Pakistan to France and former MD Shalimar Recording & Broadcasting Company Limited
Qamar bashir
I f t h e I r a n i a n p r e s i d e n t h a d s u r v i v e d a n a i r c r a s h , t h e I r a n i a n n a t i o n a n d I r a n Ês p rox i e s a ro u n d t h e wo r l d wo u l d l i k e l y h a v e c e l e b r a t e d h i s s u r v i va l a s a s i g n o f r e s i l i e n c e a n d s t r e n g t h . H o w e v e r, n o w i n I r a n , t h e r e m i g h t b e p u b l i c g a t h e r i n g s , s p e e c h e s , a n d d i s p l ay s o f s u p p o r t fo r t h e p r e s i d e n t . I r a n i a n p rox i e s i n o t h e r c o u n t r i e s , s u c h a s H e z b o l l a h i n L e b a n o n o r va r i o u s m i l i t i a s i n I r a q , m i g h t a l s o o r g a n i z e e v e n t s t o e x p r e s s t h e i r s u p p o r t a n d l oya l t y. AL JAZEERA a n k e t n a r aWa D PHASE V POLL Amid campaign heat, real issues eclipsed A S voters head to the polling stations in the fifth phase of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections they will determine the fate of 695 candidates vying for 49 seats across six states and two union territories, including Ladakh With this phase, 428 seats would have been covered, leaving 115 for the final two phases Key candidates in this round include the BJP s Smriti Irani (Amethi) and rajnath Singh (Lucknow) and the Congress rahul Gandhi (raebareli) The long-drawn-out polls being held amid a heatwave might be causing ennui, but the campaigning has been anything but dull Political parties have gone all out to capture voters’ attention often drawing the ire of the election Commission of India (eCI) Prime minister Narendra modi has sought to clarify his remarks about muslims suggesting that the reference to large families pertained to poorer sections of society meanwhile, Sam Pitroda of the Congress resigned, following a backlash over his allegedly racist comments In West Bengal BJP candidate and retired judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay received a show-cause notice from the eCI for his derogatory comments about Cm mamata Banerjee The Aam Aadmi Party is in turmoil over allegations levelled by its rajya Sabha mP Swati maliwal against Arvind Kejriwal s aide Bibhav Kumar, allowing the BJP to capitalise on the controversy And then there was Kangana ranaut As a result several key issues that impact the lives of citizens have been overshadowed Political rhetoric has increasingly steered clear of a meaningful debate, focusing on personal attacks and inflammatory statements This trend is eroding the integrity of the democratic engagement, undermining the voters’ capability to make informed decisions TRIBUNE e D to r i a l

IRANIANS PAY L AST RESPECTS TO L ATE PRESIDENT RAISI KILLED IN HELICOPTER CRASH

W d d y 22 M y 2024 | LAHORE 06 NEWS TABRIZ A F P T E N S of thousands of Iranians gathered on Tuesday to mourn president Ebrahim Raisi and seven members of his entourage who were killed in a helicopter crash on a fogshrouded mountainside Waving Iranian flags and portraits of the late president mourners set off from a central square in the northwestern city of Tabriz where Raisi was headed when his helicopter crashed on Sunday They walked behind a lorry carrying the coffins of Raisi and those who died with him who also included foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian “We, the members of the government who had the honour to serve this beloved president the hardworking president pledge to our dear people and leader to follow the path of these martyrs,” Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said in a speech Everyone has come to bid farewell to the martyred president and his companions regardless of their faction, ethnicity or language ” said Tabriz lawmaker Masoud Pezeshkian However although state TV said a large crowd appeared in Tabriz, some insiders see a stark contrast in public grief compared with past commemorations for the deaths of other senior figures in the Islamic Republic s 45-year history While Iran proclaimed five days of mourning for Raisi, there was little of the emotional rhetoric that accompanied the death of Qasem Soleimani a senior commander of the elite Revolutionary Guards killed by a US missile in 2020 in Iraq whose funeral drew huge crowds of mourners weeping with sorrow and rage The helicopter lost communications while it was on its way back to Tabriz after Raisi attended the inauguration of a joint dam project on the Aras River, which forms part of the border with Azerbaijan, in a ceremony with his counterpart Ilham Aliyev A massive search and rescue operation was launched on Sunday when two other helicopters flying alongside Raisi’s lost contact with his aircraft in bad weather State television announced his death in a report early on Monday, saying “the servant of the Iranian nation Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi has achieved the highest level of martyrdom showing pictures of him as a voice recited the Holy Quran Killed alongside the president and the foreign minister were provincial officials and members of his security team
BEIJING S TA F F C O R R E S P O N D E N T China on Tuesday said it hopes that the ICC will uphold an objective and fair stance and exercise its powers in accordance with the law after the International Criminal Court (ICC) applied for arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders Some Chinese experts said the ICC seeking Israel and Hamas warrants serves more of a symbolic pressure as its enforcement mechanism faces challenges Yet, they noted the move will still increase moral and public pressure against Israel, leading to greater scrutiny under international law ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan said on Monday that his office had applied for arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders for alleged crimes committed during the Hamas-led October 7 attack on southern Israel and Israel s subsequent war on Gaza, Al Jazeera reported on Monday Khan announced his office had “reasonable grounds” to believe that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant bear criminal responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity, the media report said “We have noted relevant reports We want to stress that the international community has overwhelming consensus on the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and ending the humanitarian crisis suffered by the Palestinians Wang Wenbin spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday The collective punishment of the Palestinian people should not continue any longer, Wang noted China has always stood on the side of fairness and justice and on the side of international law on the Palestinian issue We support all efforts of the international community to promote a comprehensive fair and lasting solution to the issue, the spokesperson said, noting that China hopes the ICC will uphold an objective and fair stance and exercise its powers in accordance with the law Both the US and Israel rejected the latest ICC act as US President Joe Biden called the application for an arrest warrant for Netanyahu and Gallant outrageous, and Netanyahu said the ICC decision was a disgrace and an attack on Israel The application was made as Gaza has been undergoing an intensifying humanitarian crisis with the living conditions continuing to deteriorate in certain parts of Rafah and as the number of causalities continues to increase, according to a UN Security Council briefing on Monday C hina hopes ICC to uphold objec tive view on Palestine -Israel conflic t What’s happening in Gaza is not genocide: Biden WASHINGTON R E U T E R S US President Joe Biden strongly defended Israel on Monday saying Israeli forces are not committing genocide in their military campaign against the Hamas resistance group in Gaza in a rejection of criticism from pro-Palestinian protesters What s happening in Gaza is not genocide We reject that,” Biden alleged at a Jewish American Heritage Month event at the White House Biden has faced protests at many of his events around the country from pro-Palestinian advocates who have labelled him Genocide Joe for his steadfast support for Israel s war crimes in Gaza In remarks at the White House event, Biden stressed his belief that Israel was the “victim” dating back to the October 7 attack on southern Israel by Palestinian resistance group Hamas who allegedly killed 1 200 people and took hundreds of captives He said US support for the safety and security of Israelis is ironclad

RDA SEES OVER 6% DROP IN APRIL INFLOWS, SBP REPORTS

of the country s women who face physical and emotional violence was launched her at a local hotel in the federal capital on Tuesday

Developed by women’s rights

CSO Shirkat Gah – Women s Resource Centre in collaboration with the National Commission of Status on Women (NCSW) and the technical support from LUMS, the Humqadam App connects survivors with legal and other services The project was funded by the UN Trust Fund

The App was widely appreciated by all speakers, including Ms Nilofar Bakhtiar, Chair NCSW, five MNAs, and senior government officials who called the App timely and much needed while they lamented the lax implementation of relevant laws the absence of integrated data and persistent negative cultural norms that allow impunity for violence against women Shirkat Gah Executive Director

Farida Shaheed said, “Genderbased violence is a huge issue across Pakistan But when violence happens women as well as their helpers rarely know who to call where to go what their rights are or what services exist The Humqadam App provides the answers, detailing national and provincial resources and details of existing services in 16 districts ” Speaking on the occasion NCSW Chairperson Nilofar Bakhtiar said there was a need to re-prioritise policies concerning women, which had been on the backburner for quite some time, and the GBV was a first priority for NCSW

The chairperson said Sindh Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa did not have the NCSW chapters while the commission itself was working without a regular board for more than one year “A woman who is a victim of domestic violence cannot look towards her family for support and this is where this [mobile] application helps she said adding that the initiative would also help in the capacity building of law enforcers and the health authorities Former MNA, Mehnaz Akbar Aziz stressed the need to raise awareness to make this initiative successful by introducing this in universities among women lawyers, and influencers which she termed the pockets of change Her talk was followed by a detailed presentation by Shirkat Gah coordinator Sana Raza and Dr Salman Shahid from LUMS who played a key role in the development of the application Ms Raza said the platform was developed to create awareness from the grassroots to the very top” in a bid to engage the whole society

Bank of K hyber profits dip as expenses rise

KP govt decides to close B oK's Islamabad head office

has directed the Bank of Khyber (BoK) to immediately shut down its Islamabad head office and relocate its employees to Peshawar

The BoK had established a 2nd head office in federal capital Islamabad without permission of the provincial government incurring a budget of Rs

07 neWs Wednesday 22 May 2024 lahore CORPORATE CORNER Bezos’ Blue Origin launches first crew to edge of space since 2022 grounding ISLAMABAD A G E N C I E S Jeff Bezos space company Blue Origin launched a six-person crew – including the first US Black astronaut candidate from the 1960s – from West Texas to the edge of space on Sunday, resuming its centerpiece space tourism business for the first time since its suborbital New Shepard rocket was grounded in 2022 I am ecstatic ” Ed Dwight who at age 90 years and eight months became the oldest person in space said upon landing Dwight and the other passengers seated in a gumdrop-shaped capsule atop the rocket, were launched from Blue Origin facilities near the remote desert town of Van Horn The rocket separated from the capsule which then ascended further beyond the boundary of Earth’s atmosphere to 65 7 miles (105 7 km) while the booster returned to land as planned The capsule then returned to Earth under parachutes, capping a mission lasting roughly 10 minutes One of the capsule’s three parachutes did not fully inflate, a hitch that may draw scrutiny before the rocket’s next flight Dwight was the first Black astronaut candidate who was picked by former US President
S TA F F R E P O R T A user-friendly Humqadam mobile application to assist more than onethird
ISLAMABAD
‘ H u m q a d a m’ a p p l a u n c h e d to s u p p o r t s u r v i vo r s o f g e n d e r - b a s e d v i o l e n c e PR OFIT M O N I T O R I N G D E S K T H E State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reported a decrease in inflows through the Roshan Digital Account (RDA) for April, with total contributions amounting to $171 million, marking a decline of over 6% from $182 million in March 2024 Of the total inflows in April $11 million has been repatriated and $123 million has been utilized within the country This leaves a net repatriable liability of $36 million for the month According to the SBP the number of RDA accounts saw an increase reaching 689,650 by the end of April, up from 679,792 at the end of March, reflecting a growth of 9,858 accounts within a month Cumulative inflows since the inception of the RDA have now reached $7 831 billion with $1 587 billion repatriated and $4 925 billion used locally resulting in a total net repatriable liability of $1 319 billion as of the end of April Specifically, out of the total outstanding liability $840 million is tied up in Naya Pakistan Certificates This includes $317 million in conventional NPCs and $523 million in Islamic instruments Additionally, $418 million is maintained as balances in accounts Roshan Equity Investments also experienced a decrease totaling only $33 million for the month
g I n f l o w s d i p t o $ 1 7 1 m i n A p r i l Gas theft crackdown: another 42 connections disconnected in Punjab, KP and Islamabad L A H O R E: In Lahore, the team disconnected 12 connections on illegal use of gas while another two on use of compressor and imposed fine of Rs 0 23 million against gas theft cases In Multan 07 connections were disconnected on illegal use and one on use of compressor by the regional team In Karak the company disconnected 06 connections on account of direct use of gas and illegal use of gas and amount of Rs 2 01 million have been booked against gas theft cases The regional team of Shiekhupura disconnected 05 connections on illegal use of gas and also booked an amount of Rs 0 04 against gas theft cases In Mardan the team disconnected 05 connections on illegal use of gas and also imposed a fine of Rs 0 2 million against gas pilfers The regional team of Gujrat disconnected one connection on illegal use of gas and also booked an amount of Rs 0 0004 million against gas theft cases In Faisalabad the team disconnected 02 connections on illegal use of gas and also booked an amount of Rs 0 07 million against gas pilferes The regional team of Gujranwala disconnected one connection on use of compressor and also booked an amount of Rs 0 31 million against gas theft cases STAFF REPORT B I S P chairperson reviews anti-fraud measures with technology wing ISLAMABAD: Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Mrs Rubina Khalid, held an important meeting with the BISP Technology Wing to discuss the ongoing efforts and future strategies to counter fraudulent activities associated with BISP The meeting was also attended by the Additional Secretary BISP, Dr Muhammad Tahir Noor The primary focus of the meeting was to brief the Chairperson about the Technology Wing’s functions and the measures taken so far to combat fraud Mrs Rubina Khalid emphasized the need to publicly identify and shame those involved in fraudulent activities that defame BISP She advocated for a name and shame policy to deter future misconduct and protect the integrity of the program During the meeting, Mrs Rubina Khalid instructed the Technology team to organize a meeting next week with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and other relevant stakeholders to address and resolve security issues collaboratively PR AkzoNobel's debut ‘D ulux Experience Store’ brings magic of paint to consumers in twin cities I S L A M A B A D: Ushering in a new era of immersive experience for Dulux paint consumers in Islamabad and Rawalpindi AkzoNobel Pakistan Ltd today inaugurated its first Dulux Experience Store in the city in the IBM Mall, T chowk, Main GT Road, Rawalpindi A first-of-its-kind concept in the Pakistan paint industry, the Dulux Experience Store is developed on the concept of “See, Touch and Feel” helping paint consumers relish Dulux’s superior quality and customer service under one roof At AkzoNobel we always go the extra mile working with and for our consumers to anticipate their needs, tailor specific solutions and exceed their expectations – taking them further than they can go Our decorative paint brand Dulux is privileged to the first choice PR PESHAWAR S TA F F R E P O R T T h e B a n k o f K h y b e r ( B o K ) r e p o r t e d a d e c l i n e i n profits for the first quarter of 2024 ending March 31st This decrease is attributed to a surge in operational expenses Bank documents reveal a significant rise in operational expenditures, which squeezed profits and earnings per share (EPS) Compared to the same period last year BoK's net profit fell by Rs 132 million landing at Rs 1 514 billion for Q1 2024 Profit after tax also saw a drop, going from Rs 938 664 million in Q1 2023 to Rs 772 232 million this quarter The bank s EPS suffered as well declining from Rs 0 81 to Rs 0 67 Foreign exchange income also dipped slightly reaching Rs 227 268 million compared to Rs 242 671 million last year These combined factors – rising operational costs and declining income – impacted the bank s financial performance To improve profitability in the coming quarters BoK's management will need to address these issues
PESHAWAR A Z I Z B U N E R I In a move aimed at streamlining operations and curbing unnecessary expenditure the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government
100mn and additional annual expenses of Rs 2 2 crore The government has expressed concerns over the "unnecessary" expenditure and the impact on the bank's performance The government sources claimed that closing the Islamabad office and relocating employees aim to improve the bank's performance and provide better services to the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa The move is expected to bring all operations under one roof eliminating unnecessary expenditure and enhancing the bank s overall efficiency The Islamabad office had hired 80 employees, with 50 more in the
of being recruited, all of whom have been transferred to Peshawar The government has also instructed the bank to relocate all employees to Peshawar where a state-of-the-art head office has already been established The BoK was established to provide banking services to the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly the youth The current provincial government and private members of the bank s board had deemed the establishment of a second head office in Islamabad as an unwise qqqdecision, leading to administrative issues and unnecessary expenditure
process
JazzCash introduces payment via-link: S implifying business transac tions I S L A M A B A D: JazzCash, Pakistan's largest fintech organisation, has unveiled Payment-viaLink a feature set to simplify payments particularly for small business owners With a thriving community of nearly 300 000 merchants on JazzCash this feature is designed to streamline their transactions and enhance their overall user experience "The inspiration behind Payment via Link stems from our pursuit of simplifying transactions for our customers " said Aamir Aftab Chief Product Officer JazzCash "In today's digital economy where every second counts there is an increasing demand for a payment method that simplifies and accelerates transactions, be it local or international "Payment-via-Link is designed to simplify and enhance the payment experience for both businesses and customers This online payment method enables people to request payments from clients through personalised links that can be shared via email SMS or other channels With just a click clients are redirected to a secure Mastercard-hosted payment page, where they can complete transactions using their preferred debit or credit cards STAFF REPORT LKMW T chairman inaugurates Color Doppler Ultrasound Machine Latif Kapadia Memorial Welfare Trust (LKMWT) held a celebratory event to mark the successful acquisition of a state-of-the-art ultrasound machine for Medi-Health Clinic I, one of LKMWT’s four healthcare facilities dedicated to the service of the underprivileged in Karachi Ahmed Kapadia Chairman LKMWT along with his sister Tahira Ahmed cut the ribbon to officially announce the successful acquisition The ceremony was held at Medi-Health Clinic I and attended by members of the clinic staff “Upgrading one’s skills is crucial in today’s fast changing world ” Kapadia spoke on the occasion If we can t upgrade our technological prowess it is not possible to provide comprehensive healthcare to the underprivileged PR CO M S AT S U n i ve r s i t y h o s t s A m b a s s a d o r A k u a S e k y i wa A h e n ko r a f r o m G h a n a The Rector of COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Prof Dr Sajid Qamar, received H E Ambassador Akua Sekyiwa Ahenkora, Coordinating Director of the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of Ghana here to the CUI campus on Thursday Ambassador Ahenkora is a prominent figure in Ghana s diplomatic landscape with extensive experience in international relations in various capacities She was accompanied by her Assistant Director, Ms Bridget Suglo Nambah, and Pakistan’s Foreign Service Academy Liaison Officer Ms Iram Batool PR IESCO CEO addresses customers concerns via Facebook Live, Phone tomorrow I S L A M A B A D: Chief Executive IESCO Dr Muhammad Amjad Khan will conduct facebook live E Kachary on Thursday 23rd May 2024 (Thursday) From 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Consumers can contact Chief Executive IESCO via Facebook ID CEO-IESCO E-Kachery or call at Tel No 051-9253105 according to above given scheduled to register and resolve their electricityrelated issues While registering complaints customers are required to provide their name bill reference number and contact number PR Pakistan Energy Symposium 2024: OICCI, S hell Pakistan unite to address energy challenges I S L A M A B A D: Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) and Shell Pakistan Limited are jointly hosting the Pakistan Energy Symposium This dynamic event, curated by Nutshell Group, will take place on May 22, 2024, at a local hotel in Islamabad and aims to address the pressing energy challenges and opportunities in Pakistan The Pakistan Energy Symposium - Powering the Future will bring together leading experts policymakers industry leaders and stakeholders to engage in meaningful dialogue on the future of energy in Pakistan The symposium will cover a wide range of topics, including sustainable energy solutions, energy security innovation in the energy sector and policy frameworks to support the energy transition The event aims to drive progress and innovation in the energy sector Attendees can expect a day of insightful discussions, valuable networking, and forward-thinking ideas that will shape Pakistan’s energy landscape PR Mashreq Pakistan selec ts PTCL to expedite digital transformation journey I S L A M A B A D: Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) and Mashreq Pakistan a part of Mashreq which is the leading financial institution in the MENA region, have signed an agreement for the provisioning of primary data center colocation services at PTCL’s Tier-III Data Center facility In the esteemed presence of Mohamed Abdel Razek Group Head of Technology Transformation and Information Mashreq Muhammad Hamayun Sajjad, CEO, Mashreq Pakistan, and Umar Farooqi, Group Director Enterprise PTCL, Mashreq Pakistan s Chief Information Officer, Khurram Abid, and PTCL’s Group Chief Business Services Officer, Zarrar Hasham Khan signed the agreement at a special ceremony recently held at PTCL Data Center II Karachi PTCL is providing Mashreq Pakistan with its state-of-the-art infrastructure and platform solutions that are equipped PR

PM SHEHBA Z SHARIF UNDERTAKES VISIT TO UAE TODAY AMID PUSH FOR INVESTMENT

Hassan was bleeding profusely after the attack and was immediately taken inside the TV channel’s office by staff members An investigation into the inci-

Faizabad Sit-In: Cabinet dissatisfied with repor t of probe commission

The federal cabinet on Tuesday directed to constitute a special committee of the cabinet to submit its recommendations about Faizabad sit-in (dharna) after expressing dissatisfaction with the report of an Inquiry Commission constituted to probe the sit-in

The cabinet at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, expressed dissatisfaction with the Inquiry Commission report of the Faizabad sit-in (dharna) saying that the commission had not adhered to its Terms of Reference (ToR)

The meeting directed to constitute a special committee of the cabinet that would submit its recommendations in this regard

During the meeting the Attorney General for Pakistan submitted an inquiry report about the matter and gave a detailed briefing to the cabinet members

The cabinet also adopted a resolution expressing condolences over the shahadat of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and their companions in a helicopter crash

The meeting also approved the recommendation of Ministry of Interior for duty and tax exemption on the equipment donated to Balochistan police by Guangdong Public Security Department China However under Federal Excise Tax 2005 the federal excise duty would be imposed on these items

The cabinet directed that in future, such donations and grants

would be exempted from taxes

It also approved signing of memorandum of understanding between Pakistan and the United Kingdom with regard to handing over of three accused of Pakistani nationality following recommendations of the Ministry of Interior

During the meeting the National Livestock Breeding Policy 2022 was presented by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research and the cabinet directed it to resubmit it after holding consultations with the private sector

While on the recommendation of ministry of national food security and research the cabinet approved in principle the legislation work related to National Animal Health, Welfare and Veterinary Public Health Act 2024 A Cabinet Committee on Legislative would comprehensively look into the matter

The prime minister also directed for formulation of a mechanism under a private-public partnership project for establishing a quality slaughterhouse for Islamabad and its surrounding areas

The cabinet on the recommendation of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) granted its approval to ex-post facto on the relief goods dispatched to the Palestinians by the NDMA

The meeting was apprised that the government of Pakistan had sent 931 tons of relief goods via six airplanes and two ships

Published by Asad Nizami at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965 Email: newsroom@pakistantoday com pk PRAYER TIMINGS FA J R S U N R I S E Z U H R A S R M AG H R I B S H A 4:20 5:02 1 30 5:15 7:00 8:45 Wednesday 22 May 2024 NEWS ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T P R I M E Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif will undertake an official visit to United Arab Emirates (UAE) on May 23 (tomorrow), sources informed on Tuesday During his visit PM Shehbaz Sharif will hold meetings with the United Arab Emirates leadership Apart from federal ministers the PM will also be accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, according to the PML-N sources Sources said that he will also hold meetings with the Pakistani community and investors in the UAE Ahead of his visit to the Gulf country the prime minister will visit Tehran on Wednesday (tomorrow) to offer condolences on the sad demise of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian and other high ranking officials in a helicopter crash Prime Minister Shehbaz will hold meetings with UAE leadership which according to sources, would focus on persuading the Gulf country to invest in Pakistan The government is eyeing billions of dollars investment from Gulf countries particularly from Saudi Arabia and UAE to shore up the country s foreign reserves and spur industrial growth The civil-military led Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) was established during the first term of Shehbaz government The council is meant to offer one window operation to foreign investors The SIFC has since then identified several potential areas for Saudi and UAE investors The government is offering lucrative returns to Arab investors in the fields of agriculture, mines and minerals, energy and other sectors I n o n e o f t h e i n t e r a c t i o n s w i t h b u s i n e s s c o m m u n i t y i n L a h o r e l a s t year the army chief hoped that under t h e S I F C , S a u d i A r a b i a a n d U A E would invest a whopping $70 billion in the next 3 to 5 years The UAE is home to around 1 7 million Pakistanis who have been playing a pivotal role in the success story of the UAE, for the last five decades, contributing to the progress, prosperity and economic development of the two brotherly countries In his last visit Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered condolences to United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sad demise of his brother Sheikh Saeed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan The prime minister was accompanied by Federal Minister for Finance Muhammad Ishaq Dar Special Assistant to Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi and Ambassador of Pakistan to UAE Faisal Niaz Tirmizi PM Shehbaz Sharif conveyed the profound sympathies and condolences of the leadership Government and people of Pakistan to the president of UAE on his brother s demise which was received with great warmth by Shiekh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan PTI lambasts ‘mandate thieves’ for targeting upright judges ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Central Information Secretary Raoof Hasan came down hard on the mandate thieves for their organized assaults, onslaught and malicious campaign against upright judges especially in the aftermath of the letter penned by six judges of IHC and the inputs received from high courts which were a clear reflective of a silent revolution brewing within the judiciary However he made it clear that PTI would standby the judiciary and law and would continue its struggle for supremacy of constitution and rule of law come what may Speaking at a press conference here on Tuesday, he said that the judiciary was under all-out assault at the hands of those fraudulently imposed on the country through forged form 47 after high courts judges took bold stand for independence of judiciary by exerting their own authority Raoof stated that the wakening in judiciary faced strong resistance from mandate thieves because independent judiciary and neutral judges did not suit them that was the reason they resorted to mudslinging against IHC six judges and even leaked their families’ details after they wrote a letter detailing the meddling of spy agencies in the judiciary s affairs in a bid to pressurize them to take decisions of their choice However, he pointed out that silent revolution was taking place in judiciary as other high courts also endorsed interference in their affairs, which further worried the national criminals because they did not have roots in the public adding that they had a long history of buying judges and attacking courts He recalled that the mafia suited judges like Rafiq Tarar and Justice Qayyum who were ready to give verdicts as per their aspirations on merely a phone call, adding that time changed but unfortunately the mentality of these criminals witnessed further degradation as they wanted total control of all state institutions Raoof pointed that the public sentiments changed and it s glimpse was seen recently in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and it was high time the government should realize the sensitivity of the situation in Pakistan before it was too late He recalled that the Commissioner Rawalpindi exposed the reality of February 8 general elections but he was disappeared and no one knew about his whereabouts PTI CIS said that LHC Chief Justice proposed 8 names for elections tribunals but only two names were approved by the Punjab government and asked the LHC Chief justice to present a penal of judges, which was against the law and constitution He stated that LHC chief justice refused to budge an inch from his just stance and rejected the unjust demand of the provincial government Raoof pointed out that the mandate thieves were even scared of PTI Founding Chairman Imran Khan s shadows, which could be judged from the reaction over his leaked picture from court room, as the government instantly ordered probe into the photo leak He said that the proceeding of the fake and fabricated Iddat case against Imran Khan was being delayed just to prolong his unlawful stay in the jail; however he made it clear that he would fight all bogus cases in the court of law but would not strike a deal in any circumstances About Punjab Defamation Bill, Raoof said that the fake Form 47 government wanted to with such absurd legislation aimed to stifle dissent and critique by imposing draconian measures adding that Punjab government continued its legacy of controlling media and journalists Raoof said that PTI strongly rejected the Punjab Defamation bill and urged journalists organizations and human rights organisations including HRCP, PFUJ, APNS, CPNE and PUJ to jointly raise voice against this unjust move to foil the government’s nefarious plot Four officers held responsible for wheat impor t scandal suspended ISLAMABAD N E W S D E S K In the scandal involving the import of surplus wheat during the caretaker government, the responsible individuals have been identified According to government sources, the Prime Minister has approved the recommendations of the inquiry committee Sources state that in light of these recommendations approval has been given to suspend four officers from the Federal Ministry of National Food Security Formal action has been approved against the former Federal Secretary of National Food Security, Muhammad Asif, and the suspension of former DG Plant Protection, A D Abid, has also been approved According to sources, Food Security Commissioner I, Dr Waseem and Director Sohail have also been approved for suspension The responsible officers have been charged with poor planning and negligence It is noteworthy that the import of surplus wheat caused the wheat market in the country to crash, forcing farmers to sell their wheat at lower prices ISLAMABAD N E W S D E S K Stepping up his defense amidst legal troubles, Senator Faisal Vawda on Monday claimed he was being unfairly targeted with contempt notices while others blatantly guilty of contempt were escaping punishment simply because they are popular In an interview with a private TV channel Vawda stated that the mother of all contempts occurred on May 9 when the nation s martyrs were dishonored He criticized the apparent leniency towards those including PTI who have openly shown contempt of court suggesting a double standard in the application of justice I did not even point to anyone in particular, did not address anyone, yet I was served with a contempt of court notice he said Vawda referred to a Supreme Court judge s comments accusing him of being a proxy No sitting judge in the history of the world has ever hurled such accusations,” he asserted He claimed his actions have provided the Pakistani nation with a narrative unlike any other by the grace of Allah Commenting on his calls for judicial reforms, the senator said he has sparked a demand for swift and fair justice “I am pushing for judicial reforms so that people entangled in issues such as employment and land disputes get the justice they deserve Challenging the judge Vawda demanded If you call me a proxy show me the evidence If 240 million Pakistanis are clamoring for reforms, why not summon them all to the court?” Vawd a d o u b l e s d o w n , c h a l l e n g e s j u d g e t o p r e s e n t e v i d e n ce f o r b e i n g c a l l e d ‘p r ox y ’ Pak-Tajik FMs underline early implementation of CASA-1000 ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a bilateral meeting with Tajikistan FM Sirojiddin Muhriddin on the sidelines of SCO Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting in Astana The two Foreign Ministers reaffirmed commitment to further strengthen bilateral cooperation and high-level dialogue They underlined the early implementation of CASA-1000 project and other connectivity and regional integration projects for mutual benefit of the two countries and the wider region Pakistan all set to launch communication satellite PAKSAT MM1 ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T The Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) on Tuesday announced the launch of Pakistan s Multi Mission Communication Satellite PAKSAT MM1 The satellite will be launched on May 30, 2024 from XiChang Satellite Launch Centre (XSLC), China, the national space agency said, adding that the project is part of the National Space Program 2047 In light of the statement released today the PAKSAT MM1 was conceived as a joint venture between Suparco and Chinese aerospace industry keeping in sight the growing needs of the country in the broadspectrum of communication and connectivity “This satellite project is a hallmark of technological cooperation between Peoples’ Republic of China and Pakistan ” the statement read It added that the satellite based on advanced communication technologies will play a pivotal role in the socio-economic uplift of the country It will prove to be a stepping stone in the transformation of the country into Digital Pakistan, Suparco said The agency stated that the launch ceremony will be shown live for media from its establishments in Karachi and Islamabad It should be noted that so far Pakistan has sent at least six assets in space such as BADR-A BADR-B PAKSAT 1-R PRSS-1 PakTes 1-A and iCube Qamar Earlier this month, iCube-Qamar, Pakistan s first satellite mission to the moon, sent the first-ever images of the moon captured in the lunar orbit following its ascent in the space This remarkable development according to IST made Qamar become the first Pakistani satellite to enter the lunar orbit and completed its rotation in 12 hours The development was termed as a a great success overall by scientists Three charged in Imran Khan Wazirabad attack case Three suspects involved in the attack on PTI founder Imran Khan during the long march in Wazirabad have been charged The anti-terrorism court in Gujranwala heard the case regarding the attack on Imran Khan During the hearing the charges were read out to the suspects in court including the main suspect Naveed and the suspects Waqas and Tayyab Butt All three suspects pleaded not guilty After the indictment proceedings the court adjourned the hearing until May 25 It is noteworthy that the main suspect, Naveed, is accused of shooting at Imran Khan, while the suspects Waqas and Tayyab Butt are accused of facilitating and providing weapons N E W S D E S K
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Information Secretary Raoof Hasan was injured after being attacked by unknown persons in Islamabad on Tuesday According to initial reports Hassan was attacked with a knife by unknown assailants outside a private TV channel s office who fled the scene shortly after Eyewitnesses said
dent has been launched, and police are scanning CCTV footage to identify the attackers Hassan s condition is reported to be stable, and he is receiving medical treatment at a local hospital
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
P T I ’s R a o o f H a s a n s t a b b e d by u n i d e n t i f i e d at t a c ke r s i n I s l a m a b a d

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