ISRAEL’S BRUTALIT Y CONDEMNABLE, GLOBAL INTERVENTION NEEDED TO STOP PALESTINIANS’ BLOODSHED, SAYS PM
BJP regime seizes proper ties wor th crores of two more Kashmiris in Shopian
The
of Aadil Hussain and Muhammad Yaqoob in the district
The BJP regime has mobilized its dreaded and oppressive machinery including the National Investigation Agency and State Investigation Agency to dislodge the Kashmiris from their properties
The Indian BJP government and is puppet regime in IIOJK
shops of many Hurriyat leaders and activists across the occupied territory Terrorism case registered against PTI leaders, law yers for slapping Khawar Maneka
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T A terrorism case has been registered against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
Kashmiris being vic timized for demanding right to self- determination: APHC
SRINAGAR
I N P
The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) expressing serious concern over the deteriorating political and human rights situation in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir has said that the Kashmiri people are suffering persecution at the hands of Indian government led by Narendra Modi for demanding their birthright to self-determination
According to Kashmir Media Service, the APHC spokesman Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas in a statement in Srinagar while denouncing raids cordon and search operations arrests seizure of properties and other atrocities in IIOJK said New Delhi was using these brutal measures to silence the legit-
imate political voices in the occupied territory
He also said the Hurriyat leadership youth and activists are being put behind bars for their political beliefs, with top leadership being implicated in false cases He said the continued illegal detention of Hurriyet leaders in Tihar and other jails is the example of the BJP regime s sinister designs to discredit and silence the Hurriyat leadership
He said that the BJP-led Indian government was using its dreaded probe agencies like National Investigation Agency (NIA) and State Investigation Agency as a weapon to implicate the Kashmiris in false cases to silence their voice for freedom The APHC said besides snatching rights and economy of local people BJP regime have mis-
and
The APHC spokesman said that the world human rights organizations must take notice of unfair trials of Kashmiri Hurriyat leaders and activists in the biased Indian courts He also urged the international community to play its role in facilitating a just and peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people for ensuring durable peace in South Asia
PTI welcomes LHC chief Justice’s decision on notifying six elec tion tribunal judges
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) welcomed the decision of Lahore High Court judge Justice Shahid Karim ordering the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to appoint 6 judges as Election Tribunal within a week
PTI Spokesperson said that Justice Shahid Karim's decision was enough for the puppet electoral watchdog to realise its constitutional role and remain within its constitutional limits He pointed out that in the presence of judges who upheld the constitution and law the ECP s attempts to use judicial powers to protect its masters would remain a mere dream
PTI Spokesperson stated that it was next to possible to justify the ambushed on public mandate through sabotaging the constitution with the help of non-con-
stitutional ordinances or notifications He pointed out that after the statements of Commissioner Rawalpindi and Anwar ul Haq Kakar, the electoral body's numerous decisions had further confirmed the commission's criminal role in rigging the elections PTI Spokesperson stated that the failure to achieve the desired goals to minus PTI from electoral arena that secured a clear-cut majority in the general elections had led to the commission and its masters red-face He emphasised that the court clearly directed the ECP to appoint judges as tribunals within 6 days and the electoral watchdog should shun the practice of pleasing earthly gods and ensure the respect of the court s decision while staying within its constitutional ambit
PTI Spokesperson cautioned that any further clash with the judiciary for the sake of satisfying the personal ego of an individual would only further tarnish the reputation and credibility of the commission
Traders repose full trust in BF leadership, announce suppor t in upcoming SCCI elec tion
Ilyas Bilour while speaking on the occasion reiterated his firm resolve that the BF will continue to serve the traders and the business community without discrimination
Presidents and office bearers of all trades unions and bodies from Peshawar reposed full trust on Businessman Forum under dynamic leadership of former senator Ilyas Ahmad Bilour and announced fully support the Businessman forum in the upcoming election of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry A meeting was held under chairmanship of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Fuad Ishaq at the chamber House to discuss traders issues and their appropriate resolution and devising a comprehensive strategy Businessman Forum leader former senator Ilyas Ahmad Bilour, Anjuman e Tajraan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president and former president of the SCCI Haji Muhammad Afzal former president FPCCI Ghazanfar Bilour the SCCI Senior Vice President Sanaullah Khan vice president Ijaz Khan Afridi former presidents of the chamber Zahidullah Shinwari, Malik Niaz Ahmed, Zulfiqar Ali Khan, Sher Baz Bilour, executive member Haji Ghulam Hussain, Fazal Muqeem Nadeem Rauf Saddar Gul Faiz Rasool Fazal Wahid acting secretary general Muqtasid Ahsan leaders of various market associations trade unions and bodies across Peshawar industrialists and representatives of the business community participated in large numbers in the meeting
He said BF will participate in the elections in a vigorous manner and claimed they will win the election with a majority Bilour said that the BF believes in the selfless service of traders and industrialists and the success of the BF in elections for the last 25 years is evident that it is the only forum of the business community whose leadership is fully capable to solve their problems
The BF has proved it by rendering services without any discrimination due to which the business community fully trusted the leadership as their problems took up with the government and institutions in real sense and also resolved amicably, he added Furthermore, he said the BF has always presented viable solutions of the business community issues and played a key role in providing relief to the community at all levels The BF leader assured that they will continue to serve the business community in future and their problems will be solved on priority basis Earlier during the meeting, business leaders and heads and office bearers of market associations, trade unions and organizations also addressed and informed them about the issues in detail
F d y 31 M y 2024 | KARACHI 02 NEWS ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T P R I M E Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday strongly condemning the recent Israeli attacks on unarmed Palestinians in Rafah area of Gaza has urged the global community to intervene to get stopped the worst barbaric inhuman acts In a televised address on Thursday, he said, I, on behalf of the government and the people of Pakistan, demand that the international community should play its due role to ensure that the people of Palestine and Indian Occupied Kashmir are granted their rightful freedoms and basic human rights Premier Shehbaz Sharif said that due t o t h e u n p r o v o k e d a n d w o r s t b o m b a r dment by the Israeli forces across Gaza, including Rafah, over 36,000 Palestinians, including thousands of children had been martyred so far After the lapse of eight months Israel s thirst for blood is still unquenched as it is now bombarding the crammed camps of Palestinians displaced from across Gaza in Rafah (bordering Egypt),” he added The prime minister said Israel had showed blatant disregard for international law without caring for the International Court of Justice s ruling and the United Nations Security Council s resolutions Not a single global power could prevail on Israel to get stopped bloodshed of Palestinians, he regretted PM Shehbaz said ”I am thankful to the Muslim countries that have raised voices at different international forums including the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the UN Security Council against the Israeli aggression The Saudi Crown Prince and the rulers of the United Arab Emirates Qatar Kuwait and other countries were persistently voicing their support for the hapless Palestinians he added The prime minister also expressed gratitude to the European countries including Spain, Norway and Ireland for recognizing the State of Palestine in the wake of Israel’s atrocious military aggression Their bold and principled decision would hopefully encourage other countries to follow suit in recognizing the statehood of Palestine, he added PM Shehbaz Sharif prayed to Allah Almighty to bring an end to the brutal oppression of the Palestinian people and bless them with an independent State of Palestine where they could live in a free atmosphere He reiterated Pakistan s resolve to continue extending moral political and diplomatic support to the Palestinian people till the establishment of the independent Palestine state ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
erably failed to address even basic issues of the people as a result of which people are living miserable life The onus is on the BJP which besides being in power in India is directly ruling occupied
handpicked Lieutenant Governor Manoj
mil-
Kashmir through its
Sinha and its
itary
police establishment
SRINAGAR I N P
BJP-led
colonial
punish
peace
freedom
organizations in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir has sealed crores of properties of two Kashmiri youth in Shopian district
to Kashmir Media Service, Indian police along with other forces personnel and sleuths of notorious probe agencies attached the properties including lands and shop
Indian government continuing with its
policies to
the
and
loving people and
According
have, so far, seized hundreds of properties across the occupied territory The Indian occupation authorities have already confiscated the headquarters of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference in Srinagar offices shopping complexes schools and institutions belonging to Jamaat-e-Islami and razed to ground the houses and
leaders
lawyers
slapping Khawar
outside a court
Islamabad
to the channel, the First Information
has been registered at Ramna Police Station Islamabad
12 policemen have become witnesses to the slapping incident
was leading the PTI lawyers and activists outside the court When the hearing ended and Khawar Maneka came out Advocate Burki shouted that Maneka had testified against their leader Imran Khan so he should not be left alive The FIR said Advocate Burki then pushed Khawar Maneka and Naeem Panjotha Advocate assaulted him with punches Yesterday, an unpleasant situation developed outside a court in Islamabad when prior to pronouncement of the decision in the illegal nikah case against former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi PTI lawyers and party workers attacked Khawar Maneka, the petitioner in the case Inauguration of new cargo route to strengthen trade ties between China, Pakistan ISLA MA BA D S TA F F R E P O R T Inauguration of new air cargo route to strengthen trade ties between China Pakistan The new route was inaugurated on May 28 linking Guizhou China with Karachi Pakistan According to China Economic Net (CEN) the route was launched with the departure of an all-cargo plane carrying 6 tonnes of freight, including clothing, electronics, and various commodities, from Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou After nearly six hours of flight time the plane arrived in Karachi It will return to Guiyang loaded with blue crabs from Pakistan according to Guiyang Customs The route jointly opened by GUIZHOU CIVIL AVIATION INDUSTRY GROUP CO , LTD and China Logistics Group Co Ltd (China Logistics Group), is planned to be carried out three times a week, carrying goods including hardware accessories, clothing fabrics electronic accessories and so on This air route is significant as it marks the first direct connection between Guizhou and Pakistan as well as the first air freight route linking the province with a Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) country Officials believe that this new route will help establish Guiyang as a cargo distribution center in southwest China and reduce the time for Pakistan's quality fresh products to reach Guizhou Fahad Shahbaz assumes charge as Focal Person PM Youth Program Punjab ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T On this occasion, Fahad Shahbaz emphasized that all necessary steps will be taken for the development of youth He stated, "Our commitment is to provide better opportunities for our youth amplify their voices and take effective measures to address their issues The youth are the future of our country and we must all work together for their development and prosperity This appointment marks a significant step in the continuous efforts to empower young individuals, ensuring their active participation and contribution to the nation's progress ET uncovers interesting finding during NA-48 rigging case hearing ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T The Election Tribunal (ET) overseeing the alleged rigging case in National Assembly Constituency NA-48 has uncovered a significant revelation During a crucial hearing Form 45 of independent candidate Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar and PTI candidate Ali Bukhari were found to be matching, raising eyebrows and sparking intrigue in the ongoing legal battle Amidst a charged atmosphere in the courtroom on Thursday presiding judge Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri issued a stern order in the absence of Returning Officers (ROs) Expressing dissatisfaction over their non-appearance the judge levied a fine of 15 000 rupees, underscoring the gravity of the situation The drama escalated further when the lawyer representing PML-N leader Raja Khurram Nawaz, victor of NA-48, claimed the absence of certified forms However, Justice Jahangiri swiftly rebutted, questioning the plausibility of such a scenario, emphasizing that the Election Commission furnishes all necessary documents to the winning candidates In a bold move the Election Tribunal imposed a hefty fine of 15 15000 rupees on PML-N leader Raja Khurram Nawaz and the Returning Officer for their failure to produce certified copies of Form 45 and the required response As the hearing progressed the spotlight intensified on the comparison of Form 45s of various candidates But the moment of truth arrived when the Form 45s of Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar and PTI candidate Ali Bukhari aligned, hinting at a potential breakthrough in the electoral saga With this revelation, the Election Tribunal took decisive action, bifurcating the scrutiny process for the Islamabad constituencies Notably the tribunal underscored that the case pertaining to NA-46 remains pending keeping the nation on tenterhooks as the legal saga unfolds PESHAWAR A Z I Z B U N E R I The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has announced a plan to collect Rs 1 8 billion in traffic fines next year, with a major increase in penalties for various violations The new rules aim to curb illegal parking and impose heavy fines on motorists who violate traffic laws According to the details, motorcyclists will be fined Rs 200 for parking in non-designated areas while car owners will be charged Rs 300 Heavy vehicles will be fined Rs 500 for the same offense Similarly parking on footpaths will attract a fine of Rs 500 for motorcyclists, Rs 1,000 for car owners, and Rs 1,500 for heavy vehicles Vehicles parked in no-parking zones will be fined according to the type of vehicle Motorcyclists will be charged Rs 200 car owners Rs 300 and heavy vehicles Rs 500 Parking near fire hydrants will attract a fine of Rs 200 for motorcyclists, Rs 300 for car owners, and Rs 500 for heavy vehicles Similarly parking near intersections will attract a fine of Rs 200 for motorcyclists Rs 300 for car owners and Rs 500 for heavy vehicles In addition, parking in no-parking zones will result in fines ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000, depending on the type of vehicle Parking near buildings will also attract fines with motorcyclists facing a penalty of Rs 500 car owners Rs 1 000 and heavy vehicles Rs 2,000 The provincial government has also announced fines for parking at bus stops, with motorcyclists facing a penalty of Rs 200 car owners Rs 300 and heavy vehicles Rs 500 Similarly parking on bridges will attract a fine of Rs 200 for motorcyclists, Rs 300 for car owners, and Rs 500 for heavy vehicles The government believes that the new rules will improve traffic management and reduce congestion in cities The government has also warned that strict action will be taken against those who violate traffic laws, and the fines will be imposed according to the type of vehicle and the nature of the offense K P G ov t a n n o u n c e s h e av y fi n e s o n t r a ffi c v i o l at i o n s PESHAWAR S
F F R E P O R T
(PTI)
and
for
Maneka
in
According
Report (FIR)
and
The channel said the names of 25 accused including PTI lawyers Naeem Panjotha Ali Ijaz Butter Zahid Bashir Dar Usman Gill and Ansar Kayani are included in the FIR According to the FIR, as court proceedings commenced in Islamabad, PTI leaders and lawyers began gathering outside the court Advocate Burki
TA
‘NAB L aw Amend C ase’: Imran complains to C JP about trouble seeking legal advice
The top judge asked if suspects had been given benefits through the NAB amendments, to which Makhdoom replied in the negative adding that the changes to the anti-graft laws had instead specified the scale of the crimes Justice Minallah then asked Did a few individual s punishments not end after the NAB amendments? Was Mian Nawaz Sharif ’s sentence not nullified after making edits in section 9a(v) of the NAB [ordinance]?
pertaining to former military dictator Pervez Musharraf, the Islamabad High Court had addressed NAB investigations
“How can a judge be exempt from NAB laws? Why are we judges [considered] sacred cows? he wondered asserting that no one should be above the law
Here, Justice Mandokhail observed that judges were not included in the definition of Service of Pakistan” but were rather held a Constitutional role
would be provided with the required material and also allowed to meet lawyers, warning that if he sought a legal team’s services, his direct arguments would not be heard in the case
A legal expert s assistance is vital for preparation I want to meet Khawaja Haris and one or two other lawyers Imran insisted
CJP Isa then stated that Haris could meet the ex-premier “whenever he wants” adding “Do not take 50 lawyers with you One or two lawyers can meet the PTI founder when they wish
He also ordered that Imran be provided with the complete case records
While Makhdoom had concluded his arguments in the case, Haris said he would require three hours to present his
sion
“We did not want to
a
” the
adding that Justice Minallah dissented from the
At this point government counsel Makhdoom began presenting his arguments He contended that the NAB amendments were a part of the “government’s policy” and that “the judiciary cannot interfere in the Parliament s powers I ll speak about myself I use social media and read newspapers The prime minister said black sheep , Justice Mandokhail said, in a likely reference to PM Shehbaz Sharif ’s speech on May 28
In response, AGP Awan clarified that the term was “not used for the current judges Justice Mandokhail remarked The NAB law kept being applied to those who remained outside the government Then when those same people come to power, the others get caught in the NAB’s clutches ” Here Justice Minallah asked what reasons had been stated in support of the argument that the amendments were against the Constitution There is mention of initiating cases, which were below the level of corruption set under the law, at other judicial forums,” he noted
“Cases [of corruption] worth Rs500 000 were heard by the Balochistan High Court Justice Mandokhail highlighted The Parliament itself should decide whether to set short sentences or long The Supreme Court can only review whether a law is Constitutional or not,” he added
He stated that the former premier s case pertained to assets and changes were made in the provision about evidence The amendments were made in light of previous SC verdicts, the judge observed Here, CJP Isa asked if the KP government could introduce the NAB law that the Parliament had amended to which Makhdoom replied in the positive The provincial government of KP can make laws on its own, the top judge said Justice Minallah then said that the KP Ehtesab Commission Act was ended there due to losses The government counsel contended that PTI ministers “kept on holding press conferences and making statements against the NAB ordinance Justice Isa then replied, Your arguments are easy that make the minority ruling a majority one’ ” Makhdoom responded: “Even if the Parliament abolishes a punishment under a law it has the power to do so The Parliament can legislate to reduce the burden on the courts
He added that in a majority decision, the NAB was told to take action on corruption of upto Rs100 million, at which Justice Athar Minallah asked how the judiciary could decide the limit of corruption Highlighting that the minority decision had stated that retired judges and generals should not be exempted from NAB law , Justice Minallah asked the government counsel if he agreed with the opinion
“My opinion is exactly the same but the attorney general can give a better answer Makhdoom replied Justice Minallah recalled that in a case
When Imran was allowed to speak CJP Isa asked him whether he would like to present his arguments himself or have Haris argue on his behalf
The ex-premier then sought 30 minutes to present his arguments “I was neither provided with material to prepare nor am allowed to meet lawyers I am in solitary confinement he lamented The PTI founder referring to the general elections held earlier this year said the biggest robbery was committed in the country on February 8 , terming it a matter of life and death for the country”
The chief justice then directed Imran: “Do not speak about this right now We are currently hearing the NAB amendments case
Addressing the CJP, the former prime minister said, Our two petitions related to human rights violations are pending before you ” When asked who his counsel was in those petitions Imran replied Hamid Khan was Hamid Khan is a senior lawyer He had to go abroad hence in one case, a date of his choice has been fixed for hearing, the CJP noted Here, Imran claimed, “Chief justice sahib there is a one-window operation in the [Adiala] jail which is being run by a colonel sahib You may order him to allow my meeting with my legal team They (jail authorities) do not let me meet my legal team I am being kept in solitary confinement here I neither have any material nor a library to prepare for the case ” he added I wanted to meet lawyers previously as well but was not allowed Imran said Justice Isa then assured Imran that he
Individuals involved in, aiding citizens sur veillance ‘ liable for offences ’: IHC
veillance
“PTA shall file a report stating whether any SOPs or instructions have been issued to telecom operators to facilitate lawful interference and/or share telecom data with anyone in breach of provisions of the Fair Trial Act If so, the report will accompany the SOPs or instructions issued along with an explanation regarding the legal authority under which they have been issued ”
The judge directed that the reports be filed by June 14 for perusal and adjourned the hearing to June 25
Y E S T E R D AY’S H E A R I N G
At the outset of the hearing, Justice Sattar asked Additional Attorney General (AAG) Munawar Iqbal Duggal whether the PTA had submitted its response to which he replied that it could not be filed to Tuesday s public holiday
legal provisions for the issuance of warrants allowing surveillance activities
The federal government will also file a report stating whether any phone tapping has taken place since the entry into force of the Fair Trial Act especially in the context of the press reports stating that ISI and IB acknowledged that they undertook phone tapping of thousands of citizens of Pakistan in 2015, the judge said He also ordered the defence, interior and law ministries to file reports on whether phone tapping has occurred since the enactment and entering into force of the Fair Trial Act Justice Sattar also ordered the ISI, IB, intelligence agencies of the military, navy and air force, along with the Islamabad police chief to file individual reports on whether they discharged their statutory obligation to appoint an authorised officer in terms of Section 4 of the Fair Trial Act and complied with the act s requirements in seeking approval for sur-
Responding to the judge s query on what laws allow the recording of citizens’ phone calls, Duggal said the PTA was empowered to record conversations under Section 54 (national security) of the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) Act 1996
The AAG asserted that the surveillance was done under a legal framework” Justice Sattar asked the question again, ordering Duggal to answer “formally not verbally” “Tell me under which laws and sections you are performing surveillance Who gave you the authority to record people s phone calls?
The AAG then requested additional time to submit a response, to which the judge said “These petitions were filed in 2023 How much more time do you need?
According to you no one was allowed to tap mobile phones If you back off from this stance, there will be consequences,” Justice Sattar warned the AAG
He observed “The law says that the federal government can grant permission
but you said it has not been granted The Prime Minister ’s Office (PMO), the PTA and the interior and defence ministries have said no one had been allowed to do so then how as it permitted today? Here the AAG again requested additional time again, at which Justice Sattar expressed his dismay: Did you not know there was a case fixed today? These petitions have been sub judice for a year If the federal government would lie in court how will matters proceed ahead? the IHC judge asked Upon Justice Sattar highlighting that previous reports submitted by various institutions, including the PMO, stated that “no one was allowed legal interception AAG Duggal clarified that the responses pertained to the petitioners in the audio leaks case The judge then asked Duggal to read the relevant sections of the Telegraph Act 1885 He observed: “Illegal surveillance is an offence punishable by law ” The judge noted that the court had taken the federal government s response seriously while the PTA had said that it was not being permitted to record calls When asked if surveillance had been “authorised” at some point and under what rule if so, the AAG replied: “If there are no rules in this regard they should be made The judge in turn asked who would make the rules and under which institution Justice Sattar noted that according to the law, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence (MI) DGs and other grade-20 officers were to be notified who would then file an application seeking permission for surveillance The next step comprised a government official allowing surveillance after reviewing supporting material, which would then finally be approved by the court, the judge added “Privacy has also been considered in this law” he observed
The hearing was then adjourned till the next week with the chief justice saying that the date would be announced after reviewing the schedule T H E N A B L
A S E: In 2022, amendments were made to the country s accountability laws by the then-Pakistan Democratic Movement-led government
The amendments made several changes to the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999 including reducing the term of the NAB chairman and prosecutor general to three years, limiting NAB’s jurisdiction to cases involving over Rs500 million, and transferring all pending inquiries investigations and trials to the relevant authorities
Subsequently Imran had moved the apex court against the amendments claiming that the changes to the NAB law were made to benefit the influential accused persons and legitimise corruption
The petition had pleaded that the fresh amendments tend to scrap corruption cases against the president prime minister chief ministers and ministers and provide an opportunity to the convicted public office-holders to get their convictions undone
In September last year, after 53 hearings the SC announced its 2-1 verdict ordering the restoration of corruption cases against public office holders that were withdrawn due to the amendments and declaring Imran s plea to be maintainable
The next month, a five-judge SC bench took up ICAs against its Sept 15 judgment and stopped accountability courts from issuing a final verdict in graft cases
During the hearing, the judge also inquired if a court’s permission was ever sought under the said laws for “someone’s [call] recordings in secret” “Phone recording and its provision without court permission is punishable the judge asserted
He then asked if the PTA s conditions for granting a license included the said conditions or if the authority had constituted any policy for the same “Was this law implemented in the past year?” the judge asked
Justice Sattar further asked Duggal what action against unlawful telephone recordings Did you investigate how audio leaks go viral on social media?” he asked
The judge noted that if anything was uploaded to social media it could be traced through the IP address We told the FIA and other institutions to track [the leaks] and tell [us their source but] they said they did not have the capability to do so
“This is the institutions’ failure then ” Justice Sattar observed
He further asked why the police and the FIA could not yet file first information reports in the case: If there has been a crime in the country, would you wait for someone to come and complaint to initiate the investigations?”
At one point AAG Duggal said a review committee should be formed to authorise phone surveillance This law has been in place for 11 years [but] no committee, the judge said, wondering the reason for the committee s absence Duggal again said he would answer once he had asked the relevant institutions about it
The AAG then said: I should add a few things; intelligence [agency] officials are also present here [in the courtroom] Justice Sattar quipped, No worries Don’t shy away from intelligence officials; they are everywhere ” At this point the FIA’s additional director of cybercrime appeared before the court and informed that a letter had been written to social media platforms and their response was awaited What will you do if the response does not come for another 10 years?” the judge asked The FIA official answered that an inquiry was ongoing on the matter
03 NEWS Friday 31 May 2024 | K AR ACH KARACHI S TA F F R E P O R T A T least two brothers were killed and two were injured after unidentified gunmen opened fire on their car near Guru Mandir in Karachi Thursday morning police told Geo News According to Superintendent of Police Aleena Rajpar, the incident appears to be a case of target killing in which six suspects on three motorcycles targeted the car All the occupants of the car were identified as brothers and were commuting to the city court for a hearing as per the police Efforts are being made to find out the motive behind the incident said the police The suspects are seen targeting the vehicle in a CCTV footage obtained by Geo News CCTV footage of the incident shows six men on three motorcycles shooting at the car Video provided by author The SP added a 9mm pistol was used in the firing while 18 bullet casings have been recovered from the incident s site The occupants of the car, the police said, were shifted to a private hospital for treatment during which two of them died and the other two remain severely injured while one of them is in critical condition One brother however miraculously survived the attack said the police official The police said it had collected evidence from the crime scene and added that the gun attack had been allegedly carried out due to enmity Earlier SP Rajpar of the Jamshed Quarters, during a presser, said that the police were trying to obtain the CCTV video of the crime scene S h e i n f o r m e d t h e m e d i a t h a t b o t h brothers killed in the gun attack were identified as Sajid Aurangzeb and Omair Aur a n g z e b , w h i l e t h o s e i n j u r e d w e r e Wa j i d and Zubair G O V E R N O R T E S S O R I S E E K S R EP O RT: Meanwhile Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori has sought a report on the incident from the city s police chief a spokesperson of the Governor House said “Those involved in the firing should be immediately arrested the governor in his directives adding that such an incident in the middle of the city is very alarming
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01 If the case used to be broadcast live earlier it should be live-streamed today as well, he observed The KP advocate general said the case pertained to public interest, to which CJP Isa replied “This is a technical case; there is no affair of public interest in it ” When the hearing resumed apologis-
the delay
the proceedings
consultation,
de-
be streamed live
ing for
in
CJP Isa stated, After
we
cided that the hearing would not
make any deci-
in
hurry
top judge said
decision
AW
S C
May 9 planners, perpetrators to be punished for 'collective good of countr y': ISPR CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01 The forum showed concern over the treatment of minorities, especially Muslims, in India and noted the growing fascism being perpetrated to achieve vested political ends " Solidarity was also expressed with the people of occupied Palestine and condemned the serious human rights violations and war crimes perpetrated in Gaza and supported the International Court of Justice s decision to ask for a stop to a military operation in Gaza The participants of the conference also resolved to fully support the government s initiatives for sustainable economic growth and curbing illegal activities added the ISPR Appreciating the high standard of training displayed by various units and formations of the army during exercises and the performance of the officers and troops in counter-terrorism operations, the army chief commended them for their "high morale and round-the-clock operational readiness" "The participants expressed their complete satisfaction with the steps being taken at the Army level for the training administration and welfare of serving and retired officers and troops The forum noted the significant milestone achieved by Pakistan on Youme-Takbir and its stabilizing impact on the region " Prayers by the participants were also offered for the martyrs of security forces and the civilian population PTI strongly rejects registration of false case against PTI legal team ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Spokesperson strongly rejected registration of false concocted and baseless case against members its legal team including Naeem Haider Panjutha Ali Aijaz Butter Usman Riaz Gill and Mirza Asim Baig along others PTI spokesperson also vehemently condemned the inclusion of sections related to terrorism in the false case against the legal team members He demanded that the court should take immediate action against the perpetrators of this heinous conspiracy and bring the culprits to justice PTI Spokesperson miscreants who registered this absurd Iddat case against PTI Founding Chairman Imran Khan and his wife, were making mockery of the law through the state machinery He stated that the vile plan of those flooding the court with filth through a shameless unethical and characterless puppet was foiled the other day CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01 The court order for Wednesday s hearing said that the additional attorney general s responses showed that no entity or agency of the country has been authorised to undertake surveillance or undertake legal interception of telephone calls or telecom data
next date
hearing
intel-
including, inter
Intelligence
IB,
any cit-
Fair Trial
judge of the high court and neither PTA nor the telecom companies shall authorise the use of their services or equipment for purposes of any surveillance or interception of phone calls or data,“ the order reads The judge also ordered the federal government to file reports about requests made under various
Till the
of
the
ligence agencies,
alia, the Inter-Services
and
and police authorities will not surveil
izens, except in accordance with requirements of the
Act and warrants duly issued by a
AT a recent seminar to mark Youm-i-Takbeer Lt Gen (retd) Khalid Kidwai, Adviser to the National Command Authority and a longtime Director of the Strategic Plans Division was categoricaL that Pakistan s nuclear doctrine was No First Use This is more an admission by Pakistan about its own perceptions of the respective Indian and Pakistani conventional capabilities than any reflection of a hung-ho attitude or overly aggressive posture It also has nothing to do with the fact that the USA had a similar first-use doctrine and the USSR had made a no-first-use pledge during the Cold War It is true that Pakistani planners have had more exposure to the USA and Indian to the USSR but the nuclear calculus is roughly the same If one side has a conventional disadvantage as the USA had in Cold War Central Europe, then it will need to balance it by nuclear weapons Similarly if one side has conventional advantage, then it can afford to win conventionally, and refrain from first use, enjoying the kudos of being such a peaceful power If the other side tries to overcome its conventional disadvantage by nuclearising the conflict, then the ‘victim’ side would join in with gusto Pakistan has the strategic disadvantage, and if it finds itself losing the conventional portion of a conflict with India; if faced with the prospect of national defeat, there is no telling what decision may have to be made by the political and military leadership of that time
The decision to nuclearize the conflict will not be made lightly and will be made in the knowledge that the enemy s response will probably be nuclear In this context General Kidwai’s speaking of the three forces’ nuclear commands becomes somewhat ominous, for that is a concept drawn from nuclear deterrence orthodoxy; the need for the survivability of the nuclear option; the ‘second strike capability’ the ability to launch one nuclear strike, absorb one, and then make a second Apart from anything else, the solutions found by the USA and the USSR were prohibitively expensive such as fleets of nuclear submarines or nuclear-armed bombers aloft at all times Unfortunately India seems headed down that path with its acquisition of a nuclear submarine
Another difficulty is that such an arms race involves a space race, as proper targeting and real-time guidance data cannot come from third-party communication satellites Pakistan has often argued that India cannot afford a conventional arms race; all the more reason cannot afford a nuclear one
TH E R E is a quality supposedly peculiar to Jews, a kind of supreme self-confidence or audacity chutzpah best illustrated by the joke about the Jew who murdered his parents got caught was tried and convicted then appealed to the court for mercy while he was being sentenced Because he was an orphan
Something of that chutzpah was in the outlook of Theodor Herzl when, back towards the end of the 19th century he raised the demand of a homeland for the Jews for an Israel It should be remembered that this was the time when pogroms of slaughter against Jews occurred in the Russian Empire which then included parts of modern Poland So with the chutzpah which White Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP) America had imposed upon its Jewish migrants, the Zionists demanded a separate homeland
The demand was for Palestine the ancient homeland of the Jews The only problem was that it was now occupied by people These people were Arab and Muslim though some at least were descended from the Jews of yore However, the project was not just really to restore a Jewish homeland, so much as to establish a Zionist state, one in which Jewish-ness was not really a religious identity so much as an ethnic one while those who had that identity were free to follow a socialistic even atheistic kind of ideology
Some Jews who took their religious identity seriously, were against this Therefore, you have the phenomenon of anti-Zionist Orthodox Jews But make no mistake; a lot of Orthodox Jews are ardent Zionists, and though a minority, have achieved two things: a lot of observance of the Jewish law particularly the Sabbath in Israel; and sustaining Benjamin Netanyahu in government However the Jews underwent what might be called the Mother of all Pogroms, the Holocaust The collective guilt of the victors of World War II led to the British (which then occupied Palestine) to leave it in 1948 so that Israel could be formed One cannot evade the element of chutzpah Nazis had committed a truly horrible crime Holocaust denial has been made a crime That is almost as funny as the bad history that denial represents True, the six million might be something of an exaggeration, but no figure goes below 4 5 million That’s still a lot of people to kill Part of the problem which historians are still trying to sort out is that the Nazis din’t just kill Jews They also killed Poles gypsies communists the mentally retarded homosexuals and many others Each of these categories included Jews and as a result accounting has got fearfully mixed up However, Holocaust denial is a crime, part from being something that would send any group of professional historians roaring with derisive laughter It should be noted that blasphemy against the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is supposedly protected by the principle of freedom of speech as is desecration of the Quran, but Holocaust denial is not
Be that as it may, Jews are now implying that because the Holocaust happened to them they should have the right to massacre someone else That implies that the crimes of the Nazis are to be wreaked on the Palestinians That sounds like chutzpah at its most intense Jews have historically been attracted to the learned professions One of the most prominent Jews of the twelfth century, Maimonidies, was Salahuddin’s physician They could not be judges, except in their own personal-law courts because they did not accept the Sharia as true However they ultimately became lawyers under Western governments Rufus Isaacs of the UK became Marquess of Reading and was an early 20th century Viceroy of India Justice Abraham Fortas became a judge of the US Supreme Court in the middle of the 20th century However traditional affinity to the law does not seem to be helping Israel Previously the Israeli legal strategy seems to have been to avoid the case going to court This is a common strategy among those who fear not just that they will lose the case, but that the court may pass interim orders with an adverse effect That is exactly what is happening to Israel at the moment It may seem ironic that Israel does not accept the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court for its predecessor the International Military Tribunal which tried the surviving Nazi leadership at Nuremberg was the first to try for genocide and was the first judicial notice taken of the Holocaust However, it does not, because then it would lay open to prosecution members of the Israeli Defence Forces for prosecution for war crimes against Palestinians However the ICC has issued warrants for the arrest of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant It has also issued warrants for the Hamas leader in Gaza, Yahya Shinwar, and the Hamas military chief, Muhammad Deif Netanyahu s reaction was interesting: he was upset with the USA for
The problem is that Jews were pretty secure before the Holocaust. Yet it happened. By its brutality in Gaza, it is merely ensuring that a class is produced which will remember Israelis as those who killed so many of them. They have killed so many Gazans that they will now have to kill them all. Lest the sur vivors take veng eance
o f w o r
k i n t h e a g e o f A I
book Power and Progress: Our 1 000-Year Struggle over Technology and Prosperity have explained that technology and innovation have always brought new challenges for humanity Yet they have compared AI with all previous technical and technological achievements of human civilization Eventually they have reached the conclusion that: when the decision making is left to a small elite technology has nefarious outcomes for the majority while it serves the minority decision making So, it can be inferred, AI will upend the future of work, but the consequences depend on the political decisions In the similar context AI will widen the already protracted economic inequality in the world AI penetration is at different levels around the globe According to a recent report by the International Monetary Fund(IMF), in the developed parts, like Europe and the US, AI will affect around 60 percent of the existing jobs Its impact in the developing economies would be less severe because their reliance on cognitive tasks is lower With the passage of time as per the estimates of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), most of the jobs in both developed and developing parts of the world will be replaced with effective and efficient software and AIbased solutions Resultantly income inequality will become nuanced and unbearable AI is rapidly automating human tasks which will result in fewer jobs for more people Take any field of life, automation is going to change it beyond recognition Automation of cognitive tasks through natural language processing (NLP) has reduced the significance of human intelligence in the fields of health education and research Similarly creative tasks
are also getting automated For instance, from composing music to writing articles, AI is doing everything Other fields like transportation, physical labour and routine tasks are also under threat from the inflection of AI It is the right time to recognize the threat and take measures which can safeguard the interests of already oppressed classes of human civilization
There is much to be concerned and alarmed about when it comes to AI Yet, the dystopian future is not the only destination In order to avoid the job losses created by AI governments around the globe must adopt the whole of the government approach to tackle the threats of AI Educational institutions and organizations must reskill and upskill the prospective workforce, which will help them to remain relevant in the changing economic and technological dynamics Youth must be guided that life long learning is inevitable to have a say in the new economic order dominated by technology Moreover the government must support people working in different domains to switch careers and counsel them in learning new technologies AI is going to change the future of work It is the right time for the governments educational institutions and organizations to assist the workers in advancing their skills The regulatory framework should also be more stringent on large scale organizations, so they may equally prefer humans compared to software and robots AI has the potential to become a disaster for workers or a blessing It all depends on the choices of the elected political leadership Governments must realize that AI is a double edged sword The only available option is to use it for the collective benefit of the society otherwise it can lead to disasters for the workers
The author is a civil servant He can be reached at khaliqlakk1@gmail com F u t u r e
Messy traffic
Communication
Salar y issues
Sustainable tourism
Prison capacit y
04 Friday 31 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 N o F i r s t U s e d o c t r i n e
T h e s t r e s s t h a t Pa k i s t a n ’s n u c l e a r d o c t r i n e i s n o t n o - f i r s t - u s e i s m o r e a b o u t i t s c o n v e n t i o n a l p o s t u r e M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor Roti prices A F T E R the much-debated wheat crisis that has kicked of a country-wide brouhaha, the issue of roti and naan prices has added to the strain Despite a prominent decrease in the price of wheat flour, the prices of roti and naan have remained unchanged in Sindh In fact the Sindh government appears to have been playing a role not more than that of an onlooker while naanbais continue with their reluctance to drop the prices MOHSIN RUSTAMANI WAHI PANDHI
T R A F F I C congestion is a great concern for the residents of Quetta Traffic jams during school hours add to the woes, causing immense mental agony to students and commuters alike Higher authorities need to chalk out a feasible plan to manage traffic SOBIDAR KHAN KHILJI QUETTA
woes I F one is eager to visit a town still as backward in terms of communication facilities as the ancient cities of say any civilisation the Mureed Shakh town in Ghotki district would represent an ideal choice There used to be a post office in the area which has remained closed for many months now cutting off the residents from the only available communication facility ABDUL AHAD GHUNYO GHOTKI
T H E recent strike by teachers at the University of Karachi over salary issue was unfortunate as it disrupted the core business of teaching Faculty members play a critical role in shaping the future of society by educating and inspiring generations The university administration must prioritise the issue ensuring that teachers are fairly compen- sated for their work The matter affects the students as they happen to be the victims FATIMA FARHAJ KARACHI
M O O L A Chotok has been in the spotlight as a tourist and picnic point in Wadh tehsil of Khuzdar district The spot has been attracting visitors from across the country This ‘tourism’ has converted the rather serene spot into a massive plastic dump The visitors should have all the fun they want to have but what is the point of spoiling the fun for others? NABEEL SALEEM HUB
T H E capacity of Islamabad s recently announced prison for 2 000 inmates may not be enough On completion the prison would certainly be catering to the needs of all the law- enforcement agencies and courts Hence the capacity of the said prison should be based on the projected requirements of at least 50 years ahead, if not more M SHARAFAT ALI ZIA ISLAMABAD 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 A G I N E you are living in a world where factory workers are robots delivery persons are robots vehicles are driverless and all the manual tasks have been assigned to software and hardware of some sort In such a world efficiency has increased The routine chores are easy and more predictable The Industrial age has been replaced with the AI age The need for professionals in fields like health law coding manufacturing and other repetitive tasks has plummeted Is this a prediction of a dystopia? No It is the unavoidable reality of the near future Generative AI is going to entirely change the way we work, engage in economic activity, and earn our livelihoods It is the right time to recognize the potential of AI and harness it for the upliftment of the neglected segments of society Artificial Intelligence is creating two different scenarios On the one hand, is the development of generative AI For the sake of simplicity, where generative AI performs human-like functions like writing code, graphic designing, preparing reports and generation of new content through commands of voice text and code It is merely the beginning of an end: the end of human dominance over creative and intelligent tasks Now, AI is poised to perform gigantic tasks which were previously performed by humans On the other hand, AI is bringing comprehensive automation in routine tasks In the industrial age and post-industrial age automation was neither perfect nor complete According
office
more
restless
customers than human workers Ostensibly companies will hire their services as the software has no needs like that of humans Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johson in their
I
to a report by Goldman Sachs an investment banking company, AI will replace around 300 million jobs in the next 20 years Similar risk assessments have been predicted by other credible international organizations, too It is important to decipher how AI will shape the future of work First of all the imminent threat is job displacement and unemployment Artificial Intelligence through a complex web of other technologies like big data and machine learning, will take control of the repetitive tasks in manufacturing, industrial, and
establishment For instance AI Chatbots are
effective and
in responding to the queries of the
Th e o p p o r t u n i t i e s w i l l h ave to b e s o u g ht KhAlIq DAD lAK
not sanctioning the ICC, for not recognising the right of a free society to defend itself Another words he is asking for a blanket approval even of war crimes The USA does not approve of the ICC and does not recognise its jurisdiction over its citizens It is not that U forces are incapable of war crimes, but the USA argues that it has its own mechanisms of institutional accountability, best illustrated by the court martial of Lt William Calley for the 1968 My Lai massacre It may be mentioned that he ended up doing just three years house arrest for the massacre of between 357 and 504 unarmed civilians It should be noted that no arrest has been made The Hamas leaders for whose arrests warrants have been issued have not surrendered either but this is the first time any forum has taken notice of Israeli actions It might be remembered that Israel got away with the Sabra and Chatila massacres in 1982 without any sanction, and it perhaps thought that it would get away thus again There is a difference of scale: between 500 and 3700 were slaughtered over three days in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps but now 37 000 have been slaughtered in Gaza over almost seven months Perhaps worse Israel has shown no signs of relenting It has already launched an attack on Gaza City though whether this was the attack which the ICJ prohibited/ The ICJ also ordered that its investigators should get access to the alleged sites of war crimes Again this came in the shape of an interim order It seems that the weight of the Western powers is also being placed to stop an operation It seems that Western powers especially the USA, have missed the point in the face of the bewildering campus protests against Israel One university, Toronto Tech, has even caved in Three European countries Norway Pain and Ireland have recognized Palestine While it seems that drops of water are eroding the stone in view of the US government s obduracy how many generations will this take? The latest Israeli plan seems to be to replace Hamas with some other group, such as the Palestinian Authority from the West Bank But will this gain Israel security? The problem is that Jews were pretty secure before the Holocaust Yet it happened By its brutality in Gaza it is merely ensuring that a class is produced which will remember Israelis as those who killed so many of them They have killed so many Gazans that they will now have to kill them all Lest the survivors take vengeance The writer is a member of staff A
At Penpoint M A N I A Z I
s t u d y i n c h u t z p a h
In a nutshell, AI is going to chang e the future of work. It is the right time for the governments, educational institutions, and organizations to assist the workers in advancing their skills. The regulator y framework should also be more string ent on larg e scale organizations, so they may equally prefer humans compared to software and robots. Le g a l t ro u b l e s n e v e r e n d f o r c r i m i n a l s
Tthe presence of China in the region Key players of this geopolitical landscape are Saudi Arabia Iran and their allies impacting alliances and power dynamics in the region Due to its strategic importance, vast resources and historical significance, the Middle East has been a crucial region The determining role of the Middle East in the global geopolitics is underscored by its serving as connective tissue between Europe Asia and Africa This makes it easier for Arabs to control critical maritime routes and military chokepoints including the Suez Canal, the Turkish Straits, the Straits of Hormuz and the Straits of Gibraltar as well as access to major markets Throughout the 20th century superpowers mainly the USA and USSR were dominant in the Middle East during the Cold Wwar However, the US interventions as a superpower in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Libya dramatically shifted the political landscapes of the Middle East leading to the rise of non-state actors like ISIS and Al-Qaeda and sowing the seeds of regional instability
In recent years, the global order seems to transform into a multi-polar world due to change in power dynamics In this context, China’s economic ascendance, Russia’s assertiveness and the reassertion of the regional powers like Iran and Turkey are reconfiguring the chessboard of the Middle East s geopolitics This shift can be clearly observed as the USA lacked interest in this region mainly after the shale revolution Saudi Arabia, which was the strongest ally of the USA in the region started to reconsider its military dependence on the USA after the 2019 Iranian drone attack Saudi Arabia also diverged
from the USA on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with a cordial visit to Moscow by the foreign minister OPEC+’s decision to cut oil production against US advice showcased a growing divergence in interests Additionally China s involvement in Middle Eastern diplomacy challenges the Western-led order as it is signing deals with major energy producers in Chinese Yuan Its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has gained traction in the region, offering infrastructure investment and economic opportunities In this regard China s successful mediation in the Saudi-Iran peace deal proved a turning point in the shifting global geopolitical sands In March, high-ranked security officials from both countries met in Beijing under Chinese auspices and announced the re-establishment of diplomatic relations after 2016 It shows the growing influence of China in the Middle East driven by geopolitical and economic interests and diminishing the impact of the USA The evident shift in attitude and tentative smiles exchanged by Saudi and Iranian representatives in Beijing mark a noteworthy transformation in the Middle Eastern geopolitics ” While on the other hand the significant impact of the Middle East on the global energy market due to Black Gold is undeniable The Middle East holds approximately 48 percent of the world s proven oil reserves and OPEC plays a crucial role in oil prices through production agreements and policies But due to climate changes the world is trying to reduce
the use of hydrocarbons which urges the Gulf States to explore new markets and diversify their economies beyond oil The GCCASEAN Summit in Riyadh marks a vital shift towards Asia for economic diversification and geopolitical influence The emergence of technology hubs financial centres and infrastructure projects reflect concerted efforts to reshape economic structures and foster sustainable development The transformation of cities like Dubai and establishment of cities like Neom for global business and leisure exemplifies the region s commitment to economic diversification Economic diversification will be central to the upcoming summit and top of the priorities of the GCC states (Dr Mohammad Al-Sulami) The Middle East has also been a hotspot for conflicts and political instability Historical events like the Arab-Israeli conflicts the Iranian Revolution and the Gulf Wars have had far-reaching consequences These conflicts have not only affected the region but also had a global impact, leading to changes in the power dynamics and alliances In recent years, the Middle East has witnessed significant changes such as Arab Spring 2011 and the ongoing conflicts in Syria Yemen and Israel-Palestine These events have further reshaped the regional and global dynamics, changing existing power structure and alliances In this regard, the brutality of Israel on the backing by the West particularly the USA in Gaza and the West Bank raised questions on global justice
sovereignty and human rights It also brought diplomatic challenges for the Gulf States who normalized their relations with Israel in order to enhance their economic ties in the region through Abraham Accord in maintaining balance between their new partnership
m a t i c e n g a g e m e n t s a l l p l ay a p a r t i n i t s i m p o r t a n c e A s t h e r e g i o n n a v i g a t e s t h e c o m p l e x i t i e s o f i t s i n t e r n a l
d y n a m i c s a n d e x t e r n a l i n f l u e n c e s , i t s i m p a c t o n g l o b a l a f f a i r s c o n t i n u e s t o e vo l v e w i t h t h e p a s s a g e o f t i m e T h e s t r a t e g i c i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e M i d d l e E a s t , c o u p l e d w i t h i t s e c o n o m i c t r a n s fo r m a t i o n s a n d c u l t u r a l c o n t r i bu t i o n s , e n s u r e s t h a t i t r e m a i n s a c r i t i c a l p l ay e r i n s h a p i n g t h e f u t u r e g l o b a l o rd e r.
‘Yes, I want a revolution’
R ez a Pa h l av i , t h e e l d e s t s o n o f t h e l a s t S h a h , h a s h i g h h o p e s f o r re g i m e
c h a n g e i n Te h ra n He s p e a k s w i t h D E R S P I E G E L a b o u t w hy h e t h i n k s I ra n i s
r i p e f o r c h a n g e a n d h ow h e h o p e s to b e a p a r t o f i t
SPIEGEL
S u S A N N e Ko e l b l
DER SPIEGEL: Mr Pahlavi, you were an 18-year-old crown prince when you had to leave Tehran 45 years ago as a result of the Iranian Revolution In recent years you have presented yourself as a beacon of hope for a system change in the country Could the death of President Ebrahim Raisi contribute to such a change? He was seen as the likely successor to 88-year-old Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei
Pahlavi: The death of Raisi changes little He was a brutal mass murderer a long-time servant of Ali Khamenei and the Islamic Republic The Iranians do not mourn his death Mr Mokhber
DER SPIEGEL: the former first vice-president who was just appointed interim president
Pahlavi: is a long-time regime functionary in the office of the Supreme Leader and like Raisi he will be at his service as a lackey So the policy of the Islamic Republic will continue with Ali Khamenei as dictator at the top
DER SPIEGEL: You remained in the background for quite some time Now, you are actively fighting for regime change What is it that you want?
Pahlavi: In actuality, I am not saying much differently today than I did 40 years ago I began this mission four decades ago when my country was at war A lot has happened there since I left Iran and given its rich resources and capabilities Iran should have developed into at least the South Korea of the Middle East Instead, we have become the North Korea of the Middle East No one believes in reform anymore and Iranians are looking for a scenario for transition I am stepping in to offer that leadership because there are lots of expectations of me This compels me to step in I want to serve my country
DER SPIEGEL: In 1979 the Iranians chased your father out of the country in disgrace because of his authoritarian style of leadership and social injustices Your family also had to go What gives you the confidence today that the people want you back?
Pahlavi: I receive an overwhelming response; I read what is written in the social media in Iran; I hear Iranians chanting my grandfather s name at football matches; I see young Iranians having my father s signature tattooed on their arms For me, these are clear signs that many Iranians have revised their former position – despite the indoctrination they have been subjected to there for decades
DER SPIEGEL: Tehran is ruled by a brutal autocratic government that demonstrated its determination to defend its power with all its might in the recent mass uprising following the death of 22year-old Iranian-Kurdish woman Mahsa Jina Amini in police custody How do you intend to get rid of them?
DER SPIEGEL: The most recent uprising has cost the lives of over 500 Iranians since 2022 tens of thousands of demonstrators have been arrested and tortured, and some have even been executed Do you want a new Iranian revolution?
Pahlavi: Yes I want a revolution Iranians are still prepared to make sacrifices Because they know that their country is doomed if we don t get rid of this regime
DER SPIEGEL: It’s easy to make such a proclamation from the lobby of a five-star hotel in London
Pahlavi: The last uprising was already a revolution This was their natural response to oppression, not because I called for it The demonstrators chanted “Death to the dictator ” Ali Khamenei the revolutionary leader who represents this regime is rejected by at least 80 percent of Iranian society The regime has crushed this uprising with all instruments of repression, but it is much weaker than ever before It is divided Elements of the military and the paramilitaries are worried that they would be the first victims of acts of revenge in the event of an escalation There are already defectors
DER SPIEGEL: The regime still has many supporters There are many extremely wealthy people in Iran who benefit from this regime and hundreds of thousands of supporters in the security apparatus for whom the current political model is beneficial Why should they change sides?
Pahlavi: The top commanders of the regime benefit the most The lower classes and ranks only get a paycheck which is sometimes not even enough to pay the rent They also drive taxis collect bribes and are completely disillusioned In order to maximize the chances of success of a revolution, we would have to offer as many of them as possible the opportunity for reconciliation
DER SPIEGEL: Should there actually be an overthrow, in other words, you are speaking of a general amnesty to ensure a peaceful transition?
Pahlavi: Of course some people will have to be held accountable for their actions Nevertheless I believe that we must stop the cycle of revenge and retribution That s what sets us apart from the regime We believe in human rights We believe in due process
DER SPIEGEL: When you speak of “us”, who exactly are you referring to?
Pahlavi: Myself and the team I am assembling plus the majority of Iranians who support this viewpoint
DER SPIEGEL: Why have the various forces of the exile opposition been unable to agree on a common approach for decades? Which ones are you cooperating with?
Pahlavi: When you talk about coalitions they are formed by political parties not individuals The recent event in Georgetown where I appeared with representatives of the opposition was largely symbolic But when you look inside Iran, there is much more unity and a united vision That is what matters more
DER SPIEGEL: You have called on the European Union to finally take a firmer stand toward the Islamic Republic What exactly do you mean?
Pahlavi: For decades governments in Washington London Berlin and Paris have tried to avoid confrontation with the regime The result is that 60 percent of the people there live in poverty and the regime, together with its proxies, spreads terrorism in the region and poses a nuclear threat
Pahlavi: Anyone who analyzes this regime, whether inside or outside the country, no longer believes that it can be reformed We see that even radical people who are actually in favor of the regime are turning away such as the former editor-in-chief of Kayhan, one of the country’s most conservative newspapers The man was very close to the supreme leader Ali Khamenei Today he lives in Toronto because he no longer believes in the Islamic Republic and wants change
DER SPIEGEL: A year ago, you visited Israel, an
avowed opponent of the Islamic Republic You discussed your possible return to power with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the head of the Mossad Are you and Netanyahu now united in the fight against the Islamic Republic?
Pahlavi: The aim of this first ever trip by an Iranian politician to Israel was to explain to the Israelis what a secular, democratic Iran could mean for them and the Middle East What it means when the Iranian nation lives in peace with its neighbors and maintains friendly relations and when the country is not hostile towards the Arab world and the existence of Israel Our relations with the Jews have existed since Cyrus the Great
DER SPIEGEL: the Persian king and military strategist who united the Iranian peoples as ruler until 530 B C
Pahlavi: Why shouldn’t Iran conclude an extension of the Abraham Accords with Israel like those concluded between Israel and the United Arab Emirates Bahrain and Morocco? We could call it the Cyrus Agreement Iran could be part of the peace formula for the Middle East – for Saudi Arabia and the people of Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and beyond
DER SPIEGEL: Now, though, your campaign for change is largely focusing on Western democracies: the U S , Europe – and Israel Are you perhaps also interested in a military option to push through a new state order in Tehran?
Pahlavi: Let me be clear: I am not supported by the U S so far, at least not by the current administration, and in no way do I want a military attack or a possible war against my country I am talking exclusively about civil disobedience
DER SPIEGEL: Despite all the sacrifices that Iranians have made so far this approach has yet to find success The recent protests have made that painfully clear once again
Pahlavi: It’s about providing maximum support to the Iranians who want change At the same time, we need to develop an exit scenario and offer a way out to those who are currently trapped within the system of the Islamic Republic I m thinking of principles of national reconciliation like in South Africa: We need a transitional justice system, a constitutional process that legally prepares the transition DER SPIEGEL: You want to make offers to potential defectors?
Pahlavi: In order to lose as few lives as possible in this process we must minimize the resistance of those people who have the weapons So if the rulers try to commit genocide at the last minute, the security forces in the country must become a protective shield for their own people
DER SPIEGEL: How would that work?
Pahlavi: The 90 percent of the armed forces who are not benefitting from the corrupt leaders are not in a tenable situation A regime that only has 10 percent support cannot survive in the long term
DER SPIEGEL: though the country’s rulers have
Pahlavi:
Friday 31 May 2024 COMMENT 05
been holding out for quite some time
Iranian
demise
the Islamic Republic before
threshold
possessing a nuclear weapon
different conflict situation It could be six months or two years from now We have no time to lose DER SPIEGEL: Does that mean that if Iran does obtain nuclear weapons, hopes for a change at the top come to an end? Pahlavi: A nuclear-armed Iran would mean a confrontation that could have catastrophic consequences DER SPIEGEL: During your speech in European Parliament in Brussels last year, you called for the powerful Revolutionary Guards to be designated as a terrorist group, as the U S has done This step would maximize tensions between Iran and Europe What could be achieved by such a step? Pahlavi: Foreign governments should increase pressure on the regime through further sanctions, especially against the Revolutionary Guards What other options do you have against a corrupt mafia that wants to arm itself with nuclear weapons, and if diplomacy doesn’t work and you want to avoid a military conflict? At the same time there needs to be maximum support for dissidents and activists help in funding internet access in Iran and for labor strikes and so on We need to empower all those who are disillusioned with the regime If this happens, more and more radical elements will break away and enter into dialogue with us We need to maximize defections DER SPIEGEL: You were the crown prince of the last monarchy and never relinquished your title In what role would you like to return to Iran: as monarch prime minister or president? Pahlavi: I am not in favor of a monarchy or a republic That is for the Iranians to decide at the ballot box I merely want to be a facilitator of this transition DER SPIEGEL: Do you hope that the current crisis triggered by the death of President Raisi will bring your return to Iran closer? Pahlavi: Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has already called for new elections Of course, they will be rigged again I will call on my compatriots to boycott these socalled elections en masse
The question is not whether the regime will disappear but when and whether we have given
society the maximum support Specifically whether we can accelerate the
of
it reaches the
of
Because then we will have a completely
H E Middle East s strategic location, abundant oil resources, and historical significance make it an important region in global politics For ages it has served as a hub for trade culture and conflicts It has a global impact on politics economy and security From oil production to geopolitical tensions, one cannot overlook the Middle East s contribution in the global shifting sands This made the Arabian geopolitical prism complex which is now greatly being shaped by
with Israel and their traditional support for Palestinians The Middle Eastern countries such as Qatar are actively engaged in diplomatic mediation notably in brokering agreements between conflicting parties in the Middle East like the Afghan peace talks and Gaza ceasefire efforts But the transformation of the shadow war between Israel and Iran, conducted by cyberattacks and proxy wars into face-to-face conflict after the Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus further complicates regional politics It mounted a lot of pressure on Iran internally to retaliate due to its longstanding opposition to Israel and support for the Palestinians and Iran also said that this was an attack on its sovereignty As a result, it launched a first ever direct attack of 170 drones, 130 ballistic missiles and 30 cruise missiles on Israel crossing the line of shadow war and cited Article 51 of the United Nation Charter to have a right of selfdefence The Iranian attack on Israel was a political move rather than a strategic attack But this increasing tension between Iran and Israel faded the peace talks between Israel and Hamas This growing instability in the Middle East has profound impacts on the regional and global geopolitical dynamics along with the energy sector and stock market Therefore the Middle East is playing a multifaceted and complex role in the shifting global order of the world In this regard, its strategic location, energy resources, conflicts, cultural influence and diplomatic engagements all play a part in its importance As the region navigates the complexities of its internal dynamics and external influences its impact on global affairs continues to evolve with the passage of time The strategic importance of the Middle East, coupled with its economic transformations and cultural contributions ensures that it remains a critical player in shaping the future global order The writer is an independent researcher at School of Politics and International Relations Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad, and can be reached at asifasaeedvirk@mail com The Arabian Peninsula tapestr y forms a kaleidoscope of alliances and challenges ASIfA SAeeD N a v i g a t i n g t h e c o m p l e x i t i e s o f a s t r a t e g i c r e g i o n T h e r e fo r e , t h e M i d d l e E a s t i s p l ay i n g a mu l t i f a c e t e d a n d c o m p l e x ro l e i n t h e s h i f t i n g g l o b a l o rd e r o f t h e wo r l d I n t h i s r e g a rd , i t s s t r a t e g i c l o c a t i o n , e n e r g y r e s o u rc e s , c o n f l i c t s , c u l t u r a l i n f l u e n c e a n d d i p l o
Pahlavi visiting Israel in April 2023, seen here with Prime Minister Netanyahu, his wife Sara and then-Minister of Intelligence Gila Gamliel
building of a China-Arab community with a shared future and promote a just and reasonable solution to the Palestinian issue to contribute to peace and stability in the Middle East The 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum adopted a China-Arab states joint
G
FIA decides on probe into Imran's controversial X post
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
The Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) Cyber Crime Wing (CCW) has decided to initiate action against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan following his controversial social media post on X A post on X formerly Twitter was attributed to the former prime minister, which read: Every Pakistani should study the Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report and get to know who was the true traitor, General Yahya Khan or Sheikh Mujibur Rahman " However PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar told a local media outlet later that the post had nothing to do with Imran as he did not see the text of the posts that were uploaded to his account FIA Cyber Crime Wing to probe Imran Khans controversial X post "Imran Khan has nothing to do with this [post] because he did not see its content or other things [The PTI founder] does not approve each and every video or context Gohar also defended the tweet and said it was taken out of context The context and comparison that we drew with 1971 was in a political context and not otherwise nothing about the army," the PTI leader said The post on PTI supremo s account drew severe criticism from all quarters including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif who said Imran s true face was finally in front of the nation But defending the post PTI the former ruling party in a post on the same platform said that the events of 1971 were referred to only as a reminder so people can learn from history as it slammed the criticism In response sources in the FIA told Geo News that the decision to take action was made as a propaganda video which included Mujeeb was uploaded from the PTI founder s account on May 26 The PTI founder is in Adiala Jail, but his account is being used to upload propaganda videos FIA s cyber wing will speak to four people from the PTI on this issue," the sources said
made during a highlevel meeting held on Thursday to review actions taken to stabilize the fertilizer supply chain and regulate prices in the country
The meeting was chaired by Federal Minister for Industries and Production and National Food Security, Rana Tanveer Hussain It was also attended by federal ministers Sardar Awais Leghari and Mussadaq Malik as well as Members of the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah Moeen Wattoo Azhar Khan Leghari Fatehullah Khan, and Nawabzada Mir Jamal Khan Raisani Federal Secretary for Food Security Muhammad Fakhar-e-Alam and
Federal Secretary for Industries
Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry were also present Detailed discussions focused on measures regarding the fertilizer supply chain and pricing were held Minister Rana Tanveer emphasized the importance of ensuring a stable supply of urea during the upcoming sowing season and informed the committee that 0 2 million metric tons of urea is being imported to meet the targets
The minister underscored the government s commitment to stopping fertilizer smuggling and ensuring equitable distribution of urea at affordable prices He announced that stringent monitoring would be implemented for dealers and distributors to prevent black marketing Rana Tanveer Hussain stressed that protecting farmers interests is a top priority for the government He stated that all fertilizer companies and dealers would be required to supply urea
at uniform rates and that a comprehensive strategy has been developed to curb urea black marketing He urged provincial governments to actively participate in implementing the federal government s actions and to monitor fertilizer distributors and dealers closely Strict measures will be taken against those involved in black marketing to ensure transparency, he asserted Reiterating the government’s commitment to preventing the exploitation of farmers by the fertilizer mafia Rana Tanveer pledged zero tolerance for any negligence in providing fertilizers to farmers He mentioned that various agencies would be engaged to bring transparency and accountability to the system ensuring that illegal practices are addressed Farmers can rest assured that their interests will be protected and their needs for fertilizers will be met without any delay or compromise ” he concluded
to him to three-year in prison
Representing the appellant in court advocate Imran Feroze Malik asserted that the prosecution could not provide evidence under the Official Secrets Act
The Secrets Act The Official Secrets Act 1923 criminalizes the disclosure of state
secrets to protect national security
Under this act unauthorized access to, and communication of, sensitive information is punishable by law This legislation is designed to safeguard national security and maintain confidentiality regarding the operations and activities of the state
Violations of the Official Secrets Act are treated as serious offenses, and the law provides for stringent penalties, including imprisonment, to deter individuals from compromising national security
The act applies to both government officials and civilians ensuring that any breach of confidentiality is addressed with the full force of the law
Pakistan urges Afghanistan to apprehend terrorists involved in terrorist attack on C hinese nationals
ISLAMABAD
M I A N A B R A R
Pakistan on Thursday shared with Afghan government its findings of the terror attack of 26 March 2024 at Besham Dasu on Chinese nationals and urged Afghanistan to arrest and handover the perpetrators involved in killing of Chinese nationals
On the special directions of the Prime Minister, Secretary Interior, Muhammad Khurram Agha visited Kabul on 30 May 2024 and held a detailed meeting with the Interim Afghan Deputy Minister for Interior, Muhammad Nabi Omari
During the meeting which focused on the terror attack of 26 March 2024 at Besham the Secretary Interior shared the findings of the Government of Pakistan into the Besham attack and sought Afghanistan’s assistance in apprehending the perpetrators The Afghan side reiterated its commitment to prevent the use of their soil for any terrorist activity against other countries, including Pakistan The Afghan side also agreed to examine the findings of the investigation and expressed the resolve to work with the Pakistan side to take the investigation to its logical conclusion The two sides agreed to remain engaged to confront the threat posed by terrorism to regional countries and to address the concerns raised by Pakistan
Published by Asad Nizami at Plot No 66-C, 1st Floor, 21st Commercial Street, Phase-II (Extension), DHA Karachi and printed at Ibn-e-Hassan Printing Press, Hockey Stadium, Karachi, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited Ph: 021-32640318 Email: newsroom@pakistantoday com pk PR OFIT M O N I T O R I N G D E S K The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has approved a technical supplementary grant (TSG) amounting to Rs2 217 billion for the construction of a second circuit stringing from Jiwani to Gwadar during the current fiscal year 2023-24 As per news reports, the Ministry of Energy (Power Division) submitted a summary to the ECC, indicating that the revised PC-1 for the PSDP project construction of the second circuit stringing from Jiwani to Gwadar was approved by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on March 15 2024, with a total cost of Rs4,540 010 million To accommodate the increase in costs of Rs2 217 billion in the revised PC-I, the Power Division will review its PSDP 2023-24 portfolio and reallocate funds The meeting was informed that the Power Division identified available savings within its portfolio from the following projects: secondary transmission lines and grid stations (HESCO) with Rs500 million; secondary transmission lines and grid stations (SEPCO) with Rs500 million; installation of 2 x 660 MW Coal Fired Power Project Jamshoro with Rs617 million; and land acquisition for the installation of a 1 200 MW solar power plant in District Layyah with Rs600 million The Ministry of Energy sought ECC approval for the surrender of Rs2 217 billion in development expenditure of the Power Division for the current fiscal year ECC approves Rs2.217bn grant for Jiwani-Gwadar circuit stringing 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 4:10 4:58 1 30 5:15 7:02 9:00 Friday 31 May 2024 NEWS PR OFIT M O N I T O R I N G D E S K T H E federal government borrowed Rs 3 649 trillion from scheduled banks for budgetary support from July 1, 2023, to May 17, 2024, which is 116% above the borrowing during the same period of the last fiscal year According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) this significant increase in borrowing was mainly due to slow foreign inflows and less-than-target revenue collection Overall, the government raised Rs 6 796 trillion from scheduled banks during this period compared to Rs 3 146 trillion in the same period of the previous fiscal year (FY23) During this period the federal government repaid Rs 479 billion to the SBP against borrowing of Rs 173 5 billion As per budget documents, interest payments or debt servicing have risen from 85 per cent last year (FY23) to Rs 7 303 trillion for FY24 accounting for 55 per cent of total current expenditure In contrast provincial governments repaid Rs 151 billion to commercial banks from July 1, 2023, to May 17, 2024, compared to borrowing Rs 5 million in the same period of the previous fiscal year Statistics showed that all provinces cumulatively repaid Rs 470 billion to the SBP The Balochistan government returned Rs 66 1 billion, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa repaid Rs 45 6 billion, Sindh repaid Rs 88 billion, and Punjab repaid Rs 270 5 billion to the SBP during the same period Additionally the AJK government retired Rs 38 224 billion and the GilgitBaltistan government borrowed Rs 1 482 billion during this period Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the SBP conducted an auction for short-term government papers, and the federal government borrowed another Rs 501 billion Rs 165 billion was raised from the sale of 3-month T-bills with cut-off yields set at 21 0001 per cent down by 60 basis points Six-month T-bills had cut-off yields of 21 0000 per cent, down by 29 basis points, raising Rs 101 billion, and Rs 233 billion was borrowed from the sale of 12-month MTBs at 20 1004 per cent down by 31 basis points In addition Rs 421 billion was raised through the sale of long-term 5and 10-year Pakistan Investment Bonds (PIBs) in an auction on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 PR OFIT A P P Pakistan and Azerbaijan on Thursday resolved to enhance cooperation in multiple sectors including trade investment energy and connectivity to exploit the huge potential of the friendly relationship between the two countries This was discussed as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov met here in Islamabad and discussed the multidimensional bilateral and regional agenda encompassing bilateral and international matters Addressing a joint press stakeout, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar told the media that both countries would further enhance cooperation in trade, investment connectivity, energy and defense sectors He said the two countries were taking measures to increase bilateral investment especially in the energy sector The joint working group on energy would be critical in promoting cooperation in this sector he added He said both countries also desired to promote parliamentary and cultural exchanges to promote business-to-business and academic linkages besides boosting cooperation in renewable energy The deputy prime minister expressed good wishes for Azerbaijan to host the COP 29 meeting and assured Pakistan s support On this occasion, Azerbaijan s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said that in the meeting with Pakistani counterpart, they discussed ways to strengthen cooperation and strategic partnership to take the bilateral relationship to the next level He said the huge potential for economic and trade cooperation still remained untapped which necessitated the launch of joint economic projects in energy tourism transport, information technology, pharmaceuticals and transport He told the meeting that the 8th Pakistan-Azerbaijan Inter-Governmental Commission to be held in Islamabad later this year would give further impetus to economic cooperation He invited Pakistan s business community to benefit from the conducive business conditions in his country and connectivity projects Mentioning six direct flights between the two countries and the 55,000 Pakistanis visiting Azerbaijan last year, Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said the upcoming COP29 meeting would also create opportunities for cooperation in energy and climate change To a question he said that realizing the adverse impacts of climate change across the world, including the devastation caused by floods in Pakistan, he said Azerbaijan would make efforts to ensure that the developing countries could get the necessary resources to help promote adaptation and execute technical and capacity building projects In this regard DPM Dar said that the floods had inflicted a $34 billion loss to Pakistan and the country was still struggling for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the affected population Responding to another query, he said that energy security and connectivity were high on the incumbent government’s agenda and highlighted Pakistan s ideal strategic location with the potential to provide connectivity to East China South Asian countries and others Earlier, both leaders held delegationlevel talks wherein they reviewed progress on bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional and global developments The two sides expressed strong commitment and resolve to further strengthen bilateral strategic relations and broaden the scope of cooperation in all areas of interest including trade, investment, energy, defence, education, climate action and regional connectivity Pakistan, A zerbaijan resolve to enhance cooperation in trade, energy g AZERBAIJAN ’S FOREIGN MINISTER INVITES PAKISTAN ’S BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO BENEFIT FROM CONDUCIVE BUSINESS CONDITIONS IN HIS COUNTRY AND CONNECTIVITY PROJECTS
PR OFIT G H U L A M A B B A S The federal government is taking decisive steps to ensure an uninterrupted supply of fertilizers to farmers by importing 0 2 million metric tons of urea The decision of importing urea was
t of 0.2m MT urea g S TA B L E S U P P LY O F F E R T I L I S E R TO B E E N S U R E D I N U P C O M I N G S O W I N G S E A S O N; F O O D M I N I S T E R PR OFIT N E W S D E S K The Board of Directors of Lucky TG (Private) Limited (LTG) has granted their approval to buy back/purchase its shares Lucky TG is a joint venture company of Lucky Core Industries Limited (LCI) and Tariq Glass Industries Limited (TGL) Both companies apprised the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) through separate notices on Wednesday about this development in accordance with Sections 96 and 131 of the Securities Act 2015 and the relevant provisions of the Rule Book of the PSX Lucky TG was incorporated to set up a float glass manufacturing facility with a production capacity of up to 1 000 metric tons per day LCI said in its notice The facility was intended to be set up in two phases having a production capacity of 500 metric tons per day each with an expectation that the first phase of the facility would become commercially operational during FY 2024-25, it added However, uncertain economic conditions have caused a delay and necessitated a reassessment of the project timelines During such a period that the project is delayed the funds in Lucky TG remain unutilized read the notice Accordingly the Board of Directors of Lucky TG has granted Lucky TG approval to buyback/purchase its shares in accordance with section 88 of the Companies Act 2017 read with relevant provisions of the Companies Regulations 2024, subject inter alia to obtaining requisite approvals ” The buy-back will be in proportion to the company’s current shareholding (i e 51%) in Lucky TG and the company will continue to retain 51% shareholding in Lucky TG following the buy-back, the notice further elaborated Lucky TG will continue to remain solvent and be able to meet its financial obligations subsequent to the buy-back of shares Lucky TG to buy back its shares due to uncer tain economic conditions g PR OFIT M O N I T O R I N G D E S K The government has enforced the Pakistan Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1952 for six months, granting the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) the authority to take punitive action against employees who disobey lawful orders The act has occasionally been enforced in PIA in the past for certain periods The enforcement on Wednesday, directed by the Ministry of Interior, will remain in effect for six months A notification issued regarding the enforcement stated that the act aims to ensure uninterrupted operations of the airline The act applies to all employees who fail to comply with lawful orders given during their employment or attempt to persuade others to do the same It also covers employees who abandon their jobs without reasonable excuse, absent themselves from work, refuse to work, or leave a designated area without proper authorization Under this act any employee found guilty of an offence may face imprisonment for up to one year and may also be subject to a fine The government s move underscores the importance of maintaining essential services and operational continuity within PIA Gov t enforces essential ser vices act on PIA for six months PR OFIT N E W S D E S K Foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) decreased by $63 million due to external debt repayments during the week ended on May 24 2024 According to the latest data shared by the central bank the total liquid foreign reserves held by the country stood at $14 31 billion as of May, 24 2024 The break-up of the foreign reserves position depicts that reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan stood at $9 09 billion after external repayment of $63 million Whereas net foreign reserves held by commercial banks recorded $5 221 billion SBP-held reser ves down by $63mn due to debt repayment g Borrowing significantly increased also due to less-than-target revenue collection ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday suspended the threeyear jail sentence of an Islamabad Police Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) awarded under the Official Secrets Act IHC s Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani heard ASI Zahoor Ahmed s appeal against the sentence and suspended it, ordering him to submit bail bonds of Rs200,000 The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had registered a case against ASI Ahmed in December 2021 for planning a meeting with a foreign diplomat, intending to hand over sensitive information and documents related to national security to a foreign agent Zahoor was granted bail in January 2022 On May 19 a special court established to hear cases under the Official Secrets Act found the inspector guilty of providing secret documents to a foreign envoy Subsequently, the court sentenced
overnment announces impor
I H C s e t s a s i d e A S I ’s j a i l s e n t e n c e u n d e r O f f i c i a l S e c r e t s A c t
