Epaper_24-06-15 LHR

the chief justice said We receive letters complaints and oral complaints that interference is being done in the judiciary in which a few institutions naming them is not appropriate are involved ” Justice Ahmad said Citing historical precedents starting with Maulvi Tamizuddin case the LHC CJ emphasized that It s prudent

‘BUDGET NOT BUSINESS FRIENDLY’: PRESIDENT FPCCI SAYS GOVT NOT TAKING ORGANIZED SECTORS INTO

Tcharge consumers The committee also approved a proposal of the Petroleum Division for the release of Rs 9 billion for clearing the outstanding claims of OMCs, including PSO, on account of price differential claims The meeting of the ECC was held under the chair of Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb on Thursday and was attended by Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain, Minister for Petroleum Musadik Masood Malik, Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari Minister of State for Finance & Revenue Ali Pervez Malik federal secretaries and other senior officials of the relevant ministries

The committee also approved the summary of the Power Division for the repayment of the Rs 82 billion finance facility extended to Power Holding Limited (PHL) by Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) It was decided that OGDCL would also clear its liabilities towards the Government of Pakistan from the funds received through this arrangement

The ECC also approved the following Technical Supplementary Grants (TSGs) to various ministries and divisions: n Rs 126 848 million to the Cabinet Division for clearing the requirements of outstanding custom duties/taxes;

n Rs 29 million to the President Secretariat to meet the expenditures under Employee Related Expenses ; n Rs 5,400 million to the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination in favour of the Federal Directorate of Immunization (FDI) for the immunization activity;

n Rs4 4 92 billion to the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit-Baltistan on account of salary & allowances, family assistance packages and social initiatives in the education and health sector in Gilgit-Baltistan n Rs 6 596 million to the Ministry of National Food Security & Research for payment of pending liabilities to PASSCO;

n Rs 370 million to the Ministry of Housing and Works to pay the pending liabilities;

n Rs 332 million to the Ministry of Economic Affairs for developing the Somali National Identification System by NADRA;

n Rs 14,250 million to the Finance Division as Rupee cover to facilitate the successful implementation of the Women Inclusive Finance Project;

n Rs 96 9 million to the Finance Division for the implementation of Audit Management Information System (AMIS);

n Rs 5 billion to the Defence Division as seed money for the Green Tourism Pakistan Project;

n Rs 23 945 billion to the Defence Division against pay shortfalls for the current fiscal year;

n Rs 10 billion to the Ministry of Interior for the clearing of pending liabilities of ration for Headquarters Frontier Corps and Headquarters Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts;

n Rs 0 6 billion to the Ministry of Interior for the raising of 3 additional Corps Headquarters; n 14 Rs 5 986 million to the Ministry of Interior to meet additional fund requirements; n Rs 9 576 million to the Ministry of Interior for the National Academy for Prison Administration; and n Rs 87 million to the Ministry of Interior in respect of Headquarters Frontier Corps KP and Rs 4,637 million in respect of Civil Armed Forces for meeting the operational requirement and pending liabilities of ration

ALIF CAPITAL HOLDINGS ACQUIRES PAKISTANI

extension in Washington Accord was the

of fruitful efforts of the Engineering Accreditation Board It is pertinent to note that Pakistan elected permanent member of Washington Accord an international forum of engineering in 2017 Pakistan also supported Indonesia, Turkiye and other states for

Federal govt ’s budget falls shor t of KP ’s expec tations

PESHAWAR a z I z B u N e R I

The federal government s budget for fiscal year 202425 has dashed the hopes of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government as it has allocated only Rs57 billion for merged districts, contrary to the province s expectations of Rs71 billion

The KP government had earmarked Rs30 billion for development programs and Rs40 billion for accelerated development program in the merged districts totaling Rs70 billion which was expected to be funded by the federal government However, the federal government s budget proposal has allocated only Rs57 billion

as Dir Swat Malakand and others on the evening of June 16 and the following morning The southern parts of the province are likely to experience very hot and dry weather from June 16-18 Punjab and Islamabad will see dust storms and thunderstorm-rains in several cities including Murree, Rawalpindi, and Lahore from the evening of June 16 to the morning of June 17 Most other parts of the province will remain very hot and dry until June 18 From June 18 to 22 varying patterns of rain winds and thunderstorms are expected across numerous districts in Punjab and Islamabad with occasional gaps

LAHORE

I

The Punjab government has introduced a historic and tax-free budget according to Senior Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb during a post-budget press conference in Lahore The budget for the financial year 2024-25 dubbed a cashback budget by Aurangzeb, breaks from traditional budget presentations Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has delivered a tax-free budget, focusing on stability and growth ” she stated Contrary to claims by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Aurangzeb affirmed that the current administration has not co-opted projects initiated by the previous PTI provincial government Aurangzeb

TH E Sindh Budget was presented by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Friday a day after the Punjab Budget on Thursday, which in turn was presented by Finance Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman on a day after Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb presented the Federation’s KP had broken precedent on May 25, when provincial Finance Minister Aftab Alam Afridi presented the budget ahead of the federal That leaves only Balochistan of the provinces to have its budget presented, which should happen on Saturday (today), now that the provincial government has given its approval Incidentally, Balochistan is still the only province to have a budget of less than a trillion rupees Another interesting feature of all provinces (including what has been learnt of Balochistan s) is that they are tax–free Not in the sense that any previous taxes have been lifted but that there has been no change in any of the already existing taxes This leads again to the question being asked about the agriculture income tax, which is a provincial subject, and thus means that the provinces alone have the power of taxing it Technically they do but as it is based on Production Index Units of the land, it has merely replaced the old land revenue, which has been abolished By obtaining some agricultural land one can show income-generating businesses as losing while the income comes from agricultural land The exemption also explains the phenomenon of feudal lords , who pay no income tax because all their (vast) income comes from agriculture These are the people who enter the Assemblies having large sums they can spend on elections, both National and provincial, where they protect their privileges tigerishly The National Assembly never ends the constitutional protection while the provincial assemblies never levy an agricultural income tax This year, none of the provinces has taken any step on this, even though the federal government is facing heavy pressures on its finances It should not be forgotten that

Dedicated

y of

Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit

U r s u l a v o n d e r L e y e n r a c e s f o r s e c o n d t e r m

Is the future of Europe at stake?

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AS the European Union (EU) navigates through a turbulent political landscape Ursula von der Leyen, the incumbent President of the European Commission, is fervently working to secure a second term This pursuit is particularly challenging given the recent EU parliamentary elections where her party the European People s Party (EPP) emerged as the leading group but faces significant opposition from a surging far-right Von der Leyen s efforts highlight the intricate balance of power and the complexities of coalition-building in contemporary European politics

the nomination for a second term from EU leaders If successful the subsequent challenge will be to garner the support of at least 361 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in the newly elected Parliament Achieving this requires forging strate-

compromises On the night of the election results von der Leyen indicated her intent to initially seek support from the socialists and liberals, who had backed her during her first term However, the evolving composition of the Parliament suggests that she may need to extend her coalition-building efforts beyond these traditional allies According to provisional results the EPP has secured approximately 26 percent of the seats in the European Parliament When combined with the Socialists & Democrats and Renew Europe groups, these three blocs collectively command 407 seats This number comfortably surpasses the 361-vote threshold needed for von der Leyen’s nomination Nevertheless turning this theoretical majority into a practical reality hinges on the intricate political negotiations and concessions that will unfold in the coming days and weeks One of the most significant challenges to von

der Leyen’s ambitions is the marked rise in support for far-right parties across Europe In several major EU economies including France and Germany right-wing factions have made substantial electoral gains, reflecting widespread voter discontent with traditional centrist parties In Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) suffered a severe setback finishing in third place behind the conservative opposition and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) The AfD s ascension to second place with around 16 percent of the votes underscores the growing appeal of far-right politics in Germany Meanwhile, in France, the right-wing National Rally (RN) party significantly outperformed President Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance party prompting Macron to dissolve the National Assembly and call for a snap election This dramatic shift in France s political landscape further complicates von der Leyen s task of building a stable majority in the European Parliament Von der Leyen’s strategy to form a “bastion against extremes from the left and from the right” underscores her commitment to maintaining a centrist coalition However this strategy necessitates a series of delicate balancing acts For instance seeking support from the Greens could alienate some conservative members within her own EPP, who oppose key Green Deal climate measures The Greens’ backing could be crucial but it comes with the risk of internal dissent within the EPP Alternatively von der Leyen could seek support from the hard-right European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), led by Italy s Giorgia Meloni The ECR, expected to secure around 71 seats, has been vocal about prioritizing security, migration control, and European values While their support could provide a numerical boost it risks alienating the socialists and liberals who are wary of aligning with hardline right-wing groups Despite these challenges von der Leyen remains optimistic about the ability of centrist forces to hold their ground The centre is holding, she declared, emphasizing the responsibility of centrist parties to counter the rise of extremist factions Her vision for the next term involves building a broad majority that

The outcome of these effor ts will not only determine von der LeyenÊs political future but will also have significant implications for the direction of the European Union in the years to come . The stakes are high, and the political landscape is more complex than ever, making the task of coalition-building a critical and delicate endeavour

The writer is a freelance columnist A r e w e r e a d y ?

again their capacity to weather the storm both metaphorically and literally In the aftermath of calamity communities come together displaying remarkable solidarity and fortitude in the face of adversity It is this spirit of resilience, woven into the fabric of Pakistani society, that offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness

APakistan must actively engage with the global community to access technical expertise financial assistance and best practices in disaster management Regional collaborations and partnerships with neighbouring countries can facilitate knowledge exchange and mutual assistance in times of crisis As we brace ourselves for the impending monsoon we must not lose sight of the underlying structural issues that exacerbate the impact of natural disasters Poverty inequality and environmental degradation are interconnected challenges that demand sustained efforts and enduring solutions Investing in sustainable development, poverty alleviation, and climate resilience is not merely a matter of choice; it is an imperative for our collective survival For how long must Pakistanis live in fear of the monsoon season s wrath? It s a question that weighs heavily on the minds of millions across the nation, particularly those residing in floodprone areas The spectre of inundation, displacement, and loss looms large, casting a shadow of uncertainty over communities already struggling to make ends meet With each passing year the anticipation of devastation becomes a recurring nightmare exacerbating the psychological toll on individuals and families who find themselves perennially on the frontline of nature s fury Yet, amidst the despair, there is also resilience Pakistanis have demonstrated time and

But hope alone is not enough It must be coupled with concrete action and unwavering commitment to building a more resilient future

This necessitates not only short-term measures to mitigate the immediate impact of the monsoon but also long-term investments in sustainable development and climate adaptation Only by addressing the underlying vulnerabilities and inequities can we hope to break free from the cycle of devastation and despair

The spectre of climate change looms large exacerbating the challenges posed by the monsoon season Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, and melting glaciers are all contributing to an increasingly volatile climate landscape In the face of this existential threat there is an urgent need for concerted global action to curb emissions mitigate climate impacts and build resilience in vulnerable communities

As we confront the dual challenges of nature s wrath and financial crisis, let us not lose sight of the inherent resilience and strength that define us as a nation Let us draw inspiration from our collective past and harness it to forge a brighter future for generations to come With proactive measures collaborative efforts and unwavering determination we can transcend the shadows of fear and uncertainty, emerging stronger and more resilient in the face of adversity

As we confront the dual challeng es of natureÊs wrath and financial crisis, let us not lose sight of the inherent resilience and strength that define us as a nation. Let us draw inspiration from our collective past and harness it to forg e a brighter future for g enerations to come

Universit y’s apathy

Water needs

Literar y woes

Minimum no more

TAnzeel KHAnzAdA

M A HossAin

The monsoon is coming

sajjad sHauKat

SModi’s election victor y undermines Indian democracy and secular status

More persec ution ahead for Indian Muslims

Muslims who are being violently targeted by radical Hindus RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had stated on record: “Bharat is Hindu Rashtra and all Bharatiyas are Hindus” Modi had already been a pracharak of the Hindu nationalist-RSS- the ideological parent of his BJP

The BJP won the Indian general elections of 2014 and 2019 on the basis of antiMuslim and anti-Pakistan slogans Since Modi the leader of the extremist ruling party BJP became Indian prime minister he started implementing the ideology of Hindutva (Hindu Nationalism) Again during the election campaign of 2024, the Hindu majority had been mobilsed especially on ‘hate Muslim’ slogans

Modi’s BJP party launched its large-scale state-funded election campaign long before the date for the elections of the Lok Sabha held between April 19 and June 1 this year

The government amended the rules for selecting members of the Election Commission, removed the chief justice from the committee and replaced him with a minister to be appointed by the PM What is then left to say about the impartiality of the Election Commission?

other leaders from his Hindu nationalist party are resorting to blatant Islamophobia”

The Independent reported on May 14: “Indian comedian Shyam Rangeela seeking to take on Narendra Modi as an independent candidate in India s general election said: His application was rejected by the authorities on a technicality Democracy was murdered today”

The Independent reported on May 15: “India grants first citizenships under new law criticised for discriminating against Muslims The citizenship was granted to 14 people on Wednesday amid the ongoing general elections, even as anxious people living in Bangladesh-bordering states continued to protest the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act [CAA and National Register of Citizens (NRC] has been one of the key manifesto promises of Modi and his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party The law implemented in March, grants the right to apply for Indian citizenship to refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who arrived in India before 31 December 2014”

making a mockery of Indian democracy? The international community is watching all this with concern Under the Modi regime other biased parties also started acting upon the ideology of Hindutva, as various developments like unprecedented rise of Hindu fanaticism, persecution of religious minorities such as Muslims Christians Sikhs etc and even lower-caste Hindus like Dalits have been intensified by the prejudiced Hindus But Muslims have become special targets of extremist Hindus Notably, the Indian Constitution declares India to be a secular and democratic state, whch safeguards the rights of religious minorities but under the Modi-led regime discrimination particularly against the Muslims assaults on their places of worships and property ban on beef and cow slaughter, creation of war-like situation with Pakistan and so on, have clearly proved that Hindu fundamentalist outfits such as the RSS Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Bajrang Dal and Shiv Sena especially associated with RSS have been promoting religious and ethnic chauvinism in India by propagating the Hindutva ideology

closure of mosques, shortage of foods, medicines for the patients have further increased the plight of the Kashmiris

Besides under a well-planned hidden agenda Modi-led regime has intensified bringing ethno- demographic changes in IIOJK In this context, Indian various moves such as introduction of new laws, amendment of the laws to facilitate non-Kashmiris and outsiders in order to usurp the rights of the Muslim Kashmiris issuance of domicile certificates to more than 800000 nonKashmiris, registration of almost 2 5 million new non-local voters in the IIOJK failure of fake drama to host G-20 summit on May 22-24, 2023 in the IIOJK, from time to time, violations of the Line of Control (LoC) by shelling inside Pakistanis side of Kashmir in violation of the ceasefire agreement of 2003 might be cited as instance

The top Indian court closed all proceedings relating to the 2002 riots in Gujarat, which killed over a thousand Muslims, as well as the 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid (Mosque) as leaders of the Hindu fanatic parties and Modi were involved

Narendra Modi has raised significant concerns over minority rights, creating fears among India s Muslim community Modi, who has been a polarizing figure since his first term in 2014, has often faced criticism for his government’s stance towards minorities particularly Muslims The BJP under Modi s leadership has been associated with increased societal tensions Modi s tenure has seen a rise in civil society attacks, which many attribute to the BJP s nationalist agenda In fact, encouraged by the fanatic Premier Modi Hindu extremist outfits such as the BJP Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) VHP Bajrang Dal and Shiv Sena including other similar parties have been promoting religious and ethnic chauvinism especially against

On March 21 Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the leader of the opposition Aam Aadmi Party, was arrested by India s financial crime agency, as were other ministers and various entities of the opposition parties India’s main opposition party Congress on May 16 condemned Premier Modi for anti-Muslim comments in election campaign speeches, which has heightened concerns over sectarian tensions Modi had claimed that the main opposition Congress party would redistribute the nation’s wealth to Muslims if it won He accused Congress of planning to commit vote jihad accused that his opponents were rallying Muslims to vote against him India s poll code prohibits sectarian campaigning and opposition parties lodged a complaint about an earlier Modi speech with the election commission which had to announce any sanctions against the premier BBC reported on May 7 Opposition leaders and political commentators say PM Modi, who s seeking a rare third term

On 15 December 2019 despite daily mass protests across every state against the CAA and the NRC which resulted into killing of more than 300 persons-mostly Muslims by the police and prejudiced Hindus, the Modi-led regime has not withdrawn the CAA/NRC attacks on Muslims, their shops burning of their houses mosque etc might be cited as an example World media entities like Al Jazeera pointed out: Most of the Indian media is openly promoting BJP and Narendra Modi Since the announcement of elections, media platforms have been organising events featuring the prime minister and other ministers and BJP leaders giving them every opportunity to promote themselves and their agenda This courtesy has not been extended to opposition leaders Media has also been pushing the narrative that the opposition is weak, the PM remains popular and there is no real alternative to him or the BJP Any independent media organization or new media platform that dares to move away from the government narratives is facing attacks and intimidation from the government who is to police their actions and censure them for

In March-April 2022; Multiple calls by Hindu organisations were made particularly for the economic boycott of Muslim minority in the states of Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh had been supported by state representatives and respective state governments And protests by members of the Muslim minority in response to the decision of the Karnataka High Court to uphold a governmental ban on Muslim girls wearing the hijab in educational institutions are also notable

It is of particular attention that on 5 August 2019 the Modi-led government abrogated articles 35A and 370 of the Constitution, which gave a special status to the disputed territory of Indian-Occupied Kashmir New Delhi bifurcated Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to be ruled by the federal government On the same day strict military lockdown was imposed in Indian-Occupied Kashmir which continues unabated

In this respect, the deployment of more than 900,000 military troops in the IIOJK, who have martyred tens of thousands of the Kashmiris as well as women and children through brutal tactics-fake encounters while

How India is implementing the ‘Israel model’ in Kashmir

Lewis badly Plenty of people, including many on the Post’s talented staff think Bezos should dump him now Meanwhile Lewis s very resistance to press scrutiny has motivated several news organizations to look more deeply into his past; it s possible that some new revelation will make his Post leadership position even more untenable and will force Bezos’ hand But at the moment Bezos probably has no plan B The Post does need to reinvent itself again –it s losing tens of millions of dollars a year, its subscriptions have dropped and its readership has plummeted The Post is far from alone in these challenges, however, and given Bezos’s wealth, the situation does not constitute an emergency Short of firing Lewis and starting over with another search for a CEO – the cleanest best move – what can Bezos do? Several things He should instruct Lewis to publicly commit to giving the newsroom true editorial independence, pledging not only to the staff but to the public that there is a clear line between the business side and the journalists and that he won t breach it again He should reinstate the role of independent ombudsman or public editor – one that the Post maintained for many years but abandoned in 2013 – to provide transparency and accountability to readers (I’m not interested in the job but I do understand its value; I was the New York Times public editor before joining the Post as the media columnist ) And though he has not commented publicly, Bezos should do so now – making clear his personal and unwavering support for accountability-oriented journalism independent from the business side of the company Over the past decade Bezos has been a good steward He has championed the Post s work and its journalists, celebrated their successes, and been supportive in troubled times He has been scrupulous (as far as I know) in not interfering in the paper ’s inevitable coverage of himself –including his personal life – or of Amazon the behemoth company he founded He should demand the same of his new CEO, and of Lewis s anointed editors, and insist on remedial measures, including those outlined here Otherwise, the news organization he owns will bear little resemblance to the one he was so proud to acquire And for many reasons that would be a tragedy Margaret Sullivan is a Guardian US columnist writing on media, politics and culture C a n J e f f B e z o s s a v e t h e

THIS past Sunday Indian right-wing political commentator Anand Ranganathan called for an Israel-like solution in Indian Occupied Kashmir, telling a podcast host: “Israel has catered for its people who were hard done by We haven t; it s as simple as that Despite that yes there may never be a solution because of the ideology of the people who hate Israelis, and the ideology of the people who hate Hindus

The clip went viral on social media Horrified by the mention of an “Israel-like” solution amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza many decried the remarks as a clear call for genocide against Muslims in Indian Occupied Kashmir Ranganathan replied on X (formerly Twitter) that he was not calling for genocide, but rather to prevent another genocide by “rehabilitating the victims, making settlements fighting terror securing borders”

The victims he was referencing are the Kashmiri Pandits Kashmir s minority Hindu population a vast majority of whom (around 100,000) left the valley in the 1990s under conditions that have been deeply contested

Some right-wing political commentators in India and the diaspora falsely refer to the tragic departure of Pandits from the valley as a genocide weaponising their experiences to further demonise Kashmir s Muslim-majority population, which has been demanding self-determination for decades They see the steps taken by the Indian government in recent years to fully annex the territory as necessary to bring justice to the victims and end terrorism This is not the first time an Indian political or media personality has called for the Israeli model to be implemented in Indian Occupied Kashmir r In November 2019, just months after the Indian government removed Kashmir’s semiautonomous status the Indian consul general in New York City Sandeep Chakravorty said India would build settlements modelled after Israel for the return of the Hindu population to Indian Occupied Kashmir

SETTLER-COLONIAL

PROJECTS:

Ranganathan’s comments have been criticised by many in India’s liberal left who oppose the US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza and certainly do not want their country - which recently gave a third albeit less enthusiastic mandate to the Hindu nationalist prime minister Narendra Modi - to be compared with Israel

Many have also sought to differentiate the struggles in Kashmir and Palestine “Those who liken Kashmir to Palestine mostly the hard right and Islamists understand neither the Kashmir dispute nor the Palestine question Stanly Johny foreign affairs editor for The Hindu, wrote on X

Some Indian leftists who are sympathetic to the Palestinian cause simply refuse to acknowledge the similarities between the settlercolonial projects of Israel and India For them Palestinians are engaged in a legitimate struggle against Israeli settler-colonialism while Kashmir is one of two things: a territorial dispute between India and Pakistan, in which the latter has backed terrorists and separatists , or a domestic law-and-order problem involving a handful of unruly Kashmiri elements

The more sympathetic of them will acknowledge that India must deal more constructively with Kashmiris while still maintaining that Indian Occupied Kashmir is an integral part of India To be sure, Kashmir and Palestine are not identical, nor are any other two global regions But their struggles share a common source: British colonisation

In Palestine this resulted in the Balfour Declaration of 1917 which promised a national home for the Jewish people on Palestinian lands In Kashmir, under the 1846 Treaty of Amritsar, the British sold the territory to a Hindu warlord from Jammu, resulting in the brutal suppression of the Muslim-majority population

The freedom struggle in both contexts predated the monumental events of 1947-48 when both regions were subject to a partition, although there were significant differences between the two The UN partition plan in Palestine affirmed Israeli settler-colonialism, while the partition of the Indian subcontinent resulted from the inability of the two primary parties in British India to agree on powersharing after the departure of the British DISPLACEMENT AND ETHNIC CLEANSING: The births of India and Israel also meant the displacement and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians through the Nakba and Kashmiris through the Jammu massacre

After the first India-Pakistan war the territory of Kashmir was divided between the two new nation-states Palestine and Kashmir were among the earliest issues debated in the newly formed United Nations, subject to the whims and failures of the liberal international order

The UN called for a plebiscite to be held in the entirety of Kashmir which India did not allow; this has defined the movement for self-determination for nearly eight decades India s subsequent rule in Indian Occupied Kashmir has been managed through client regimes such as the National Conference and the People’s Democratic Party - who like their Palestinian Authority counterparts effectively subcontract the colonial project

Whereas the Israeli colonial project has been identified as such, especially in progressive and leftist circles, there is less awareness about India’s rule in Indian Occupied Kashmir This is due to broader geopolitics where for decades India has presented itself as a vanguard of the anti-colonial world; but also because of India s soft power which seeks to project a violent, majoritarian state as non-violent, diverse, and the world s largest democracy”, incapable of subjugating an entire population against their will In some ways then the liberal left is correct that India is not Israel This is because India has done a much better job of masking its colonial occupation and war crimes in Kashmir But fundamentally, for both states, the anxieties are demographic For Israel, the presence of Palestinians poses

a demographic time bomb for the Jewish state” and must be dealt with For India, the presence of Kashmiri Muslims, a demographic majority that has fiercely contested Indian sovereignty must be replaced by Hindus for India to fully assert its rule CHILLING REMINDER: Beyond attempting to untangle the two movements, there is another problem with the liberal left discourse: The Israel model is already being implemented in Indian Occupied Kashmir The longstanding relationship between India and Israel goes beyond military ties and shared tactics of suppression to also include ideological links between Zionism and Hindutva, including in the diaspora Fundamentally, this model, utilised by other (settler-)colonial powers historically and at present seeks to suppress liberation movements replace indigenous communities grab land and erase history While brandishing its liberal democratic secular credentials, it labels people s movements as terrorism , and portrays victims as perpetrators It gives complete authority for the state to do as it wishes to crush dissent overlooking all norms of international law In Kashmir the Israel model has not happened just since 2019 when India revoked Kashmir s semi-autonomous status The Indian National Congress, known as the “secular” party in India, deployed elements of this model while forcibly trying to “integrate” Kashmiri Muslims after 1947 In my research I argue that for many decades this happened through development or empowerment or the politics of life - a strategy that the Israeli government also used in the occupied West Bank and Gaza after the 1967 war When that failed in the late 1980s after it was met with armed resistance and mass popular mobilisation for freedom in Indian Occupied Kashmir the Indian government used counter-revolutionary tactics similar to Israel s These included massacres, torture, sexual violence, preventive detention, extrajudicial killings and home demolitions, to name just a few Indian forces have trained with the Israeli army to learn how

R afah conflic t intensifies as Biden blames Hamas for truce delay

At the G7

Biden pointed to Hamas as the major stumbling block in negotiations for a Gaza truce and a hostage release “Hamas’s refusal to agree is the biggest hang-up so far despite presenting a proposal similar to what s now on the table Biden stated during a press conference Efforts for a

in

C hin, New Zealand vow to expand trade, exchanges

NEW TA X IMPOSED TO COMBAT ILLICIT CIGARETTE TRADE

K I S TA N s regulated cigarette manufacturers have expressed support for the government s decision to impose a federal excise duty (FED) on the raw material used in cigarette production acetate tow This move aims to bring tax evaders into

CG Zhao S hiren explores C hina’s expanding role in global and regional politics, its benefits for Pakistan The Centre for Aerospace & Security Studies (CASS) Lahore, hosted His Excellency Zhao Shiren, the Consul General of the People s Republic of China, for an enlightening guest lecture titled "China’s Growing Influence in Global and Regional Politics: Benefits for Pakistan” on 14 June 2024 Mr Ameer Abdullah Khan Senior Researcher CASS Lahore introduced the speaker The distinguished guest highlighted the importance

in this regard He praised the strong partnership between Pakistan and China and noted significant trade growth and investment opportunities under the CPEC mphasising Pakistan s future economic and social growth he highlighted the importance of embracing global green and digital initiatives PR

Parliamentar y Committee greenlights elevation of judges to SC

agreed on all candidates presented by the JCP These included Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court; Aqeel Ahmad Abbasi the Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court; and Shahid Bilal, a justice at the Lahore High Court

The JCP had previously deliberated on these appointments last week proposing these names for the Supreme Court s three vacant positions This session presided over by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, aimed to fill seats left open by retirements and resignations Chief Justice Isa had convened this crucial JCP session last month where discussions focused on candidates from a pool of nine judges which included the chief justices of

both the Lahore and Sindh High Courts The meeting featured prominent JCP members, including Justices Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Munib Akhtar, Yahaya Afridi, and Amin-ud-Din Khan Other notable attendees were Justice (retd) Manzoor Ahmed Malik Federal Minister for Law Azam Nazir Tarar, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, and Pakistan Bar Council representative advocate Akhtar Hussain The current constitution allows for 17 Supreme Court judges but only 14 are serving including Chief Justice Isa