Epaper_24-06-1 KHI

D A R R U L E S O U T P O S S I B I L I T Y O F A N Y

L KS W I T H M AY 9 P E R P ET R AT O R S

S

day after the formation commanders conference Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday ruled out the possibility of negotiations with people involved in the May 9 violence asserting that the government was firmly against talks with those who carried out attacks against the state Addressing the media at the Parliament House, Dar claimed he firmly believe in political negotiation and reconciliation but drew a strict line against actions targeting the state

In politics there should always be reconciliation and negotiations but there will be no talks with whoever stands against the state, even if we have a blood relationship with them,” he asserted referring to the PTI

Recalling the 126-day sit-in by the PTI in front of Parliament House Dar noted that it was resolved through dialogue reaffirming his support for peaceful negotiations

However, he highlighted the severity of the May 9 events, which included attacks on important state institutions such as the GHQ and Jinnah House adding that they were unforgivable acts of rebellion No concessions can be made to the elements involved in the May 9 tragedy Anyone standing against the state will not be negotiated with, regardless of any personal relations,” Dar stressed He further emphasised that the stance adopted during the formation commanders meeting mirrors the sentiment of every Pakistani When asked about Justice Athar Minallah’s response to the prime minister ’s statement about “black sheep” in the judiciary Dar sidestepped the issue sug-

US Ambassador discuss counter-ter rorism cooperation

ISLAMABAD

Deputy Prime Minister (PM) and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday met US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome and discussed “mutual priorities” including counterterrorism cooperation According to a statement issued by US Embassy Donald Blome met Deputy PM Ishaq Dar to discuss mutual priorities of the United States and Pakistan “Both leaders discussed counterterrorism cooperation Pakistan’s structural economic reforms and efforts to address security regional and economic challenges it said The US Ambassador reaffirmed the United States support for Pakistan s ongoing economic reforms and

gesting that inquiries should be directed to the PM himself He emphasised respect for the judiciary and stressed the need for all stakeholders to be on the same page to prevent further setbacks for Pakistan Dar also spoke on the country s international standing, dismissing claims of global isolation and highlighting positive economic trends “Pakistan has come out of global isolation and economic stability is moving in a positive direction Inflation is decreasing, and the economy is improving,” he declared hinting at more favourable developments expected from the prime minister s upcoming visit to China

Answering a question about the budget, he noted the unusual timing of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa s budget approval before the federal budget He suggested that the provincial government might need to revise its budget following the federal budget announcement

P TI rej ect s FIA’s p rob e a g a in s t Im ra n in ‘s ocia l m ed ia p os t ’

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)

Core Committee strongly rejected the FIA s probe against PTI Founding Chairman Imran Khan regarding a social media post calling the possible registration of any fresh case in this regard as totally unjustified PTI Core Committee meeting held a detailed review of various aspects of the short documentary film released on social media containing the contents of the Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report

The participants demanded immediate release of Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report in order to save Pakistan from 1971 like internal challenges and to learn lesson from history besides informing the public about the facts and ground realities

The forum noted that in the light of the FIA s notices issued to the party leadership, the PTI legal team has been entrusted with the responsibility to prepare a detailed legal strategy regarding the documentary film containing the contents of Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report on social media

They reiterated the principled stance of conducting national affairs, especially political affairs within the framework of the constitution and law adding that Pak

army should also perform its responsibilities of national defense within the constitutional limits

The participants stated that the fall Dhaka was the most tragic tragedy in our national history, and its causes and motivations were political in every respect

PTI Core Committee recalled that Hamoodur Rahman Commission appointed by the then government of Pakistan, which had mentioned these factors in great detail in its report

Imran refuses to meet FIA team

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran

Khan refused to meet the Federal Investigation Agency s (FIA) cyber crime team in Adiala jail sources revealed As per the sources within Adiala jail the former prime minister refused to become part of the FIA investigation related to his controversial social media post on X, formerly Twitter, without his lawyers

He refused to answer any questions from the FIA team, said the sources “I will answer any question in the presence of lawyers ” he added The sources added that the FIA s probe team took the PTI founder s response in writing The development comes after FIA s cyber crime wing on Thursday decided to initiate action against Khan over his controversial tweet on social media A post on X was attributed to the former PM, which read: Every Pakistani should study the Hamood ur Rahman Commission Report and get to know who was the true traitor General Yahya Khan or Sheikh Mujibur Rahman PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar said that the post had nothing to do with Khan as he did not see the text of the posts that were uploaded to his account The context and comparison that we drew with 1971 was in a political context and not otherwise nothing about the army, the PTI chairman said On the other hand, the former ruling party also defended the post, saying that the events of 1971 were referred to only as a reminder so people can learn from history as it slammed the criticism 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 S TA F F R E

ARAMCO COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF 40% STAKE IN GAS & OIL PAKISTAN

aiming to raise commercial financing for the 4,500MW powerhouse The federal government approved the project’s power generation component at a cost of Rs1 42 trillion two years ago Efforts to secure funding from various international financial institutions have been unsuccessful The government also proposed an investment-debt arrangement with Saudi Arabia, seeking $1 2 billion in equity and $2 3 billion in debt over 10 years but has yet to receive a formal response The Diamer Basha project with a 30% equity and 70% debt ratio, is expected to

Hyderabad c ylinder blast toll rises to seven; 17 critical in Karachi hospital

K I S TA N , U K S I G N A C C O R D F O R

I L AT E R A L L E G A L A S S I S TA N C E

Gov t to target lesser inflation and narrower fiscal deficit in F Y25

Pakistan He said Pakistan and UK government and public relations are at an un-

precedented level Britain attaches great importance to relations with Pakistan, said British Interior Minister He said we appreciate Pakistan’s cooperation in the evacuation of British citizens from Afghanistan British Interior Minister further said that the contribution of Pakistanis living in the UK in cultural, social and economic fields is very important The British Interior Minister also appreciated the performance and services of Mohsin Naqvi as caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab Pakistan High Commissioner to UK Dr Muhammad Faisal British High Commissioner in Pakistan Jane Marriott and senior officials of the British Interior Ministry were also present on the occasion

Fact check: New institute of cardiology in Lahore is not being named after Mar yam Nawaz

A notification doing the rounds on social media and various WhatsApp groups stating that the ‘under construction’ Institute of Cardiology attached with Allama Iqbal Medical College/ Jinnah Hospital Lahore is to be named Maryam Nawaz Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (MNIVCD), Lahore , is absolutely false and fabricated The notification is signed by Senior Planning Officer-II of Punjab Fatima Naureen who while speaking to Pakistan Today outrightly denied the issuance of any such

cialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department

mention of the details of the project in

The notification dated 29th May 2024, also does not appear on the department s website that lists all notifications issued by the department The last notification posted there was on 17th May 2024

The only project that was approved recently was announced by the caretake Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who is currently the Federal Interior Minister and Chairman PCB

The project he announced was to be named ‘Jinnah Institute of Cardiology’

Pakistan thanks China for launching PakSatMM-1

communications satellite

Pakistan’s authorities thanked China for successfully launching a multi-mission communication satellite for Pakistan using a Long March-3B rocket The launch occurred at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan on Thursday Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan Mohammad Ishaq Dar, said that his heartiest congratulations to the nation on the successful launch of the Pakistan Multi-Mission Communication Satellite (PakSat-MM1) He further said that this historic achievement marks a milestone

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

They were of the view that PTI in the light of the worst political events of the past two years and their resemblance with the happenings of the 1970s that consequently led to the tragic event, a sincere message was given to the state decisions makers to revert to the constitutional limits and learn a lesson from the tragic history

The form emphasised that the most important role played in the tragic downfall of East Pakistan was the insult of the public mandate, which even continued today with all its destruction

They noted that PTI Founding pointed out the very deadly consequences of an individual lust of power on the integrity of the country and the nation the constitution democracy and especially its negative implications on our brave forces

PTI Core Committee always recognized the role of its forces as an institution in the performance of national duties such as the defense of national security and integrity within the ambit of the constitution and law The meeting also discussed the contents of the declaration of the 83rd Formation Commanders Conference and the participants principally agreed with the

in our National Space Program made possible with the invaluable support of our great friend and partner China This project exemplifies our strong technological collaboration and enduring friendship with China,” he said “I extend my heartiest congratulations to the people of Pakistan and commend the entire team at Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) for their tireless efforts , he added He added that the satellite will deliver high-speed broadband internet, significantly boosting connectivity especially in underserved areas Pakistan remains committed to promoting science and technology as key

drivers of economic growth and national development This launch demonstrates our resolve to invest in high-tech sectors and develop indigenous capabilities As we celebrate this historic achievement, let us look forward to a future where Pakistan continues to excel in science and technology harnessing the power of connectivity to build a better world for all May our journey into the stars be ever prosperous and peaceful he mentioned Pakistan s Ambassador to China, Khalil Hashmi tweeted that launch of a

formation commanders conference s demand to take legal action against those responsible for the May 9 incidents

They made it clear that PTI was the target of the May 9 false flag operation from the day first and had been demanding a high-level judicial inquiry into the arson vandalism and killing of innocent civilians

PTI Core Committee reminded that PTI Founding Chairman stood in the Supreme Court and condemned the violent incidents of May 9, adding that Imran Khan always insisted restoration of the rule of law through fair and transparent court trials without any reaction or provocation despite being target of the worst state and political revenge

They reiterated the demand of setting up an impartial, empowered and high level judicial commission to probe May 9 incidents from all aspects instead of attempting to subject innocent political activists to worst political victimisation or crush the country s largest political party

PTI Core Committee asked that who ordered the violent, humiliating and completely illegal arrest of Imran Khan from the premises of Islamabad High Court by paramilitary forces

They further raised question as where were the CCTV footages of May 9 includ-

ing the arrest of PTI Founding Chairman and on whose orders were they cleared from all places

The participants stated that Imran Khan’s acquittal in around half a dozen false fabricated and concocted cases related to May 9 due to government s failure to present evidence were sufficient and enough to expose the false accusations levelled against him and his party PTI Core Committee said that the decisions made on the bases on objectivity and facts were indispensable for the strength of institutions and the state instead of making them on the basis of hatred bigotry and personal goals They went on to say that the worst deviation from the constitution, disregard for law and justice, desecration of democracy, fundamental rights and the right to vote of the people and political revenge were the main contributors to the prevailing widespread anxiety in the country and reaction among the people

Therefore, the forum stressed the need that in order to bridge the gap between the people and the state institutions, the state and its institutions must recognize the authority of the people respect their fundamental rights and eliminate dependence on distorted narratives by making the people s

will the basis of national decision-making The meeting, after through a deliberation and comprehensive litigation/strategy, formally approved the decision requesting Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faiz Isa to recuse himself from hearings of cases regarding Imran Khan and PTI They were of the view that hearing our cases by CJP despite his clear conflict of interest had negative impacts on fundamental right to fair trial PTI Core Committee, in its meeting, reviewed

(January-February/MarchApril 2024) –Editor: MazharSalimMujoka Jannat-e-Arzi Abbottabad

Author/Compiler:

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a premier Urdu literary journal with an uninterrupted publication history of almost 88 years It was founded in 1935 by Barkat AliChaudhry, owner of Punjab Book Depot, a leading publishing house of Lahore in those days ‘Adab-e-Latif ’ owed its meteoric rise as a literary journal to, aside fromBarkat AliChaudhry himself a galaxy of editors with a prestigious literary background likeTalib Ansari Badayuni MeerzaAdeeb QateelShifai Faiz Ahmad Faiz Ahmad NadeemQasmi,Iftikhar AliChaudhry, SahirLudhianvi, FikrTaunsvi, Arif Abdul Mateen, IntizarHussain, KishwarNaheed, QasimMahmood Siddiqa Begum

NasirZaidi and MazharSalimMujokaussain Kishwar Nahid, Hameed Akhtral January-February 2024 issue of the magazine comprises Hamd, Na’at, ghazal(s), critiques nazm(s) short stories micro-fiction translations and humorous essays Prominent writers and poets contributing to this issue of the magazine include among others NasimSehar, Wajid Amir, SalimKausar, Sehar Ansari, GhulamHussainSajid, GulzarBukhari,Jan Kashmiri, RafiqSandeelvi Muslim Shamim JavedAkhtarBhatti and Tariq Mahmud March-April 2024 issue of Adab-e-Latif is again an esteemed selective collection of all genres of literature Noted contributors to the issue are Samina Syed, Syed Meraj Jami, SiminKiran, Amin Kunjahi, Imtiaz Ahmad, Naseer Ahmad Nasir, Mahmood Ahmad Qazi AsnathKanwal MumtazHussain Amjad Ali Shakir SalahuddinHaider KhawarEjaz and others MazharSalimMujoka s editorship is a salient feature of the twin issues of the journal He seems to have burnt the proverbial midnight oil to upgrade the quality of the magazine and enlarge its readership besides

eliciting the cooperation of a larger number of writers and poets on its panel of subscribers

‘Jannat-e-Arzi – Abbottabad’ The book is dedicated to renowned poet and litterateur Ejaz Rahim (who himself belongs to Abbottabad and is also a former Commissioner of Abbottabad Division) in token of his services to the people of Hazara It is like a compendium covering different aspects of the historical, geophysical, demographic, socio-cultural and infrastructural growth of the entire region that forms part of the allembracing valley of Hazara Muhammad JamilAbbasi the zestful author/compiler of the book, seems to have taken great pains to collect and collate relevant material, and construct it into a viable, albeit readable, organic entity seeming like a quasi-gazetteer of his native soil (of Abbottabad) The catalogue bears an impressive list of chapters that highlightthe historiccum-spatial grandeur of the scenic valley from different angles, lending the top slot to late Major James Abbottwho was the founder and first deputy commissioner of

Abbottabad deservingly named after him

The book is divided into eight chapters with kaleidoscopic narration of events, venues, men, matters, and institutions all bearing on the history and geography of the picturesque valley of Hazara of which Abbottabad is an integral part Notable sites and locales include therailway station of Havelian Malikpura, Mirpur, Circle Bakot, NawanShaher, Ayubia National Park, Lower Tanawal, Tehsil Lora, theSarban Valley, and the monumental Karakoram Highway whereas notable men include Ghazi Muhammad Dawood Shah Dr Muhammad Naseer Khan MianNuruddinQureshi Hakim Abdul Aziz Chishti, Kamran Ahmad Advocate, Khan BahadurJalaluddin Jalal Baba, Mufti Zubair Bin Salahuddin, Prof Dr SabirKalorvi, SardarMehtab Ahmad Khan Abbasi Engr Dr Farooque Muhammad Iqbal Khan Jadoon Faqira Khan Jadoon Muhammad Ayub KhanTanoli Advocate Abdullah Khan Tanoli Advocate, Muhammad Zeb Khan Tanoli Advocate, Noor Ilahi Khan Advocate, Justice Sajjad Ahmad Jan, Justice Qazi Muhammad Farooque, Justice

Qazi Muhammad Ghazanfar Justice Malik ManzoorHussain SardarBahadur Khan Mufti Muhammad Idrees, famed poet Sultan Sukoon, Mir WaliullahAdeebAbbottabadi Advocate, Maulana Muhammad Ismail Zabeeh

NEPRA Chairman and Power Minister give off sparks

WH I L E Power Minister Awaid Leghari held a press conference to defend the federal government’s present policy of carrying out loadshedding on feeders which did not pay their bills National Electric Power Regulatory Authority Chairman Waseem Mukhtar said that the policy was illegal, and required the government make amendments in the Act At the moment, NEPRA insists that power Distribution Companies which carry out so-called revenue-based loadshedding are acting illegally and are being fined including Rs 50 million each slapped on five DISCOS in April On the other hand Mr Leghari insisted that revenue-based loadshedding was necessary to prevent the circular debt from growing Rs 1 2 trillion a year, and thus leading to further hikes in the electricity tariff There are two issues which need to be teased apart First, the need to prevent electricity theft, and second, why the government needs to appear all tough and macho on this issue The DISCOs are carrying out this revenuebased loadshedding at the height of the hot weather thereby subjecting consumers to the heat irrespective of whether they have paid their bills or not What the DISCOs will not do is reduce their line losses, or take any action to prevent that theft Why should they? They have got Mr Leghari to engage in tigerish defence of policies that can only be described as collective punishment one of the worst aspects of the British Raj when an entire tribe was punished for the felonies of a single individual That system was only recently abolished in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Interestingly, that approach has been revived at the behest

M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor

H e a t w a v e s i n P a k i s t a n a m i d s t c l i m a t e c h a n g e

The problem is only going to get worse

OV E R the past century the surge in greenhouse gas emissions has propelled global warming to the forefront of our planet s challenges With a temperature increase of 0 74°C, Earth has witnessed profound shifts in climate patterns ushering in a cascade of natural disasters such as cyclones floods famines and droughts Climate change marked by these events has inflicted a range of detrimental impacts including habitat degradation deforestation disruption of aquatic ecosystems, shifts in animal migration patterns, species extinction, and alterations to plant growth cycles Despite contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions Pakistan bears a severe brunt of the consequences of global warming The shifting climate poses a grave threat to Pakistan s rich biodiversity, accelerating habitat degradation and putting numerous species at risk of extinction, thereby jeopardizing both environmental sustainability and livelihoods Moreover the escalating frequency of natural disasters such as floods and droughts not only displaces communities but also strains the nation s infrastructure Over the last five decades Pakistan has witnessed a surge in tropical cyclones, coinciding with a noticeable increase in annual mean surface temperatures This phenomenon has been exacerbated by a decline in cloud cover and an uptick in sunshine hours particularly evident in central Pakistan Notably Pakistan holds records for some of the most extreme weather events globally including the highest temperatures ever recorded on Earth at 53 7 C (128 7°F) in Turbat, Balochistan (May 28, 2017), and Moenjo Daro, Sindh (May 26, 2010) Similarly, Islamabad set a world record for rainfall with 620 mm (24 inches) in just ten hours on 23 July 2001 Furthermore the Karachi Tidal Station highlights a steady increase of 1 1 mm per year in mean sea level over the past century resulting in rampant coastal erosion and the loss of approximately 80 acres of land daily Pakistan ranks 125th on the Human Development

R e s u m i n g P a k i s t a n - I n d i a t r a d e

Index and is anticipated to experience climate changes above the global average The country s susceptibility to various natural disasters significantly contributes to its long-term mortality rates Factors such as high poverty levels, malnutrition, societal marginalization, and political instability exacerbate its vulnerability to such disasters Ranking as the 8th most vulnerable nation to climate change in the 2023 Global Climate Risk Index by Germanwatch Pakistan incurs an annual cost of $14 billion equivalent to five percent of its GDP Climate variability has dire consequences for food security, leading to widespread malnutrition and catastrophic weather-related events, resulting in countless households grappling with food shortages nationwide Furthermore Pakistan contends with an annual median probability of severe meteorological and hydrological drought with probabilities ranging from 25 percent to 65 percent across the country Projections indicate a heightened risk of meteorological drought across all emissions scenarios, with substantial expansions of ecological zones exacerbating drought occurrences thereby inflicting significant damage to crops and livelihoods A study by the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (2021) reveals that Pakistan is facing a significant increase in global temperatures, with a potential rise of 1 3°C to 4 9°C by 2090 This rise is expected to be stronger than average, putting pressure on human health, livelihoods, and ecosystems Changes to Pakistan’s rainfall and runoff regimes are uncertain but an increase in drought conditions is likely Extreme climate events are expected to increase increasing disaster risk particularly for vulnerable poor and minority groups Flooding is expected to affect around 5 million people by 20352044 and 1 million annually by 2070-2090 Projections suggest yield declines in key food and cash crops and temperature increases are likely to strain urban dwellers and outdoor labourers increasing the risk of heat-related sickness and death Climate change is creating uncertainty for Pakistan s water supplies, especially in the Indus Basin The Karakoram glaciers are predicted to be impacted by variations in seasonality and yearly rainfall brought on by climate change

TPresently Pakistan is confronted with a serious energy crisis which

is having deep impacts on its economy India is already exporting significant surplus capacity to Bangladesh and Nepal It has the cheapest solar power around the globe Pakistan with easy geographical terrain with India can ameliorate the power crunch by cross border trade of power and refined petroleum Thus given the current economic landscape of Pakistan, trade with India will bring positive impacts on its economy and can foster a conducive environment for regional cooperation in South Asia

Although there is a historical rivalry with India which Pakistan cannot ignore but it could maintain its trade relations with India as happened in the past when India was the largest market for the exports of Pakistan For the resumption of trade with India, Pakistan needs to look at India as a potential market for its goods and industries Both the rivals should separate trade ties from political differences China s colossal trade with India is exemplary Amid border tensions it has outpaced the USA in terms of trade with India

The writer is working as a Research Assistant in Balochistan Think Tank Network (BTTN) Quetta

Although there is a historical rivalr y with India, which Pakistan cannot ignore , but it could maintain its trade relations with India as happened in the past when India was the larg est market for the expor ts of Pakistan. For the resumption of trade with India, Pakistan needs to look at India as a potential market for its goods and industries. Both the rivals should separate trade ties from political differences. ChinaÊs colossal trade with India is exemplar y. Amid border tensions, it has outpaced the USA in terms of trade with India.

Prisoner’s health

Peace of mind

Root cause

MoMMen Khan

Dr Zafar Khan SafDar

The prevalence of smoking among youth

Th

dr M rahiM Nasar

celebrating the day was to inform the public about the danger of using tobacco, drawing attention to the business practices of tobacco companies and the efforts of WhO for fighting the tobacco epidemic and the preventable deaths and diseases it causes The statement further explained what the people around the world could do to claim their right to health and healthy living and to protect future generations in addition to this it emphasized to stop illicit trade of tobacco ban tobacco advertising promotion and sponsorship propagate it as anti-environment and moreover to grow food not tobacco Tobacco users are found everywhere in the world No corner of the world is free from smokers however, their intensity is found more in the low and middle income countries Pakistan is one of these countries where the statistics regarding smoking addicts is growing Though these smokers acknowledge that cigarette smoking is injurious to health and a financial loss; and they are willing to quit it as the research indicates, but in reality, their number is increasing regrettably Youth is the most important segment of a society They are the future of the country so they should be rescued at all costs from smoking habits

The prominent causes behind using tobacco among the young cohort is the perceived accessibility and the unchecked prevalence of cigarettes The studies have outlined that the company society peer smokers electronic smoking (e-smoking) and different flavours in e-smoking are the prominent causes pulling the masses especially youth, to smoking orientation it is

further noted that the negligence and lack of proper supervision of parents or parents being smokers are the other susceptible factors attracting children to the onset of cigarette smoking Additionally, in many cases the smoking trends emerge in youth due to lingering job unavailability and stress during studies Moreover the outlawed selling of e-smoking devices and their open practices in the public places are not the least responsible factors for booming cigarette orientation Using tobacco is equally dangerous to the human body irrespective of age, but ironically it is dealt with adversely in our society we usually observe the elders always prohibit and scold the children for smoking cigarettes but they themselves smoke heavily it seems like smoking is dangerous for children only but good for elders Tobacco use never carries a good fame Besides familial and social stigma it carries physical and mental health issues it brings about lung and heart diseases that is lung cancer cardiovascular disease upper respiratory tract infections (URTis), bronchial asthma in children, chronic impacts on passive smokers, and so on Tobacco kills over 163 600 people each year in Pakistan Additionally 31 000 death cases are reported due to exposure to second-hand smoke The economic loss in this regard is about Rs 615 07 billion which is equal to 1 6 percent of the total national GDP in 2019 The economic cost of smoking was about five times greater than the revenue from the tobacco industry in Pakistan a number of laws ordinances and acts have been formed to counter the tobacco use These laws included Cigarette (printing of warning) ordinance 1979, Prohibition of smoking in enclosed places and protection of nonsmokers health ordinance 2002 Federal excise act 2005 and the Federal excise rules 2005 To make these codes effective and viable several amendments have been made over time Moreover,

Consequent

was passed and 31 May was declared as the world “No Tobacco Day” The purpose of

Hate speech and disinformation in South Africa’s elections

Narendra Modi’s audacity of hate

“ Nseen vividly in the monitoring of social media during elections south Africa is a case in point A powerful big data analysis was recently published about online attacks on women journalists there, raising the alarm about escalation around and after the election several groups working with data are attempting to monitor hate speech and disinformation on social media ahead of south Africa s national and provincial polls At a recent workshop involving 10 of these initiatives participants described trying to detect co-ordinated information operations that could harm the election, including via foreign interference But these researchers can’t get all the data they need because the tech compa-

the researchers can’t do the necessary deep data dives They’ve set out the difficult data conditions they work under in a public statement explaining how they are severely constrained in their access to data

One data source they use is expensive (and limited) packages from marketing brokers (who in turn have purchased data assets wholesale from the platforms)

A second source is from analysing published posts online (which excludes in-group and WhatsApp communications) Using scraped data is limited and labour-intensive Findings are superficial And it s risky: scraping is forbidden in most platforms terms of use

None of the researchers covering south Africa s elections has direct access to the platforms own Application Programme interfaces (APis) These gateways provide a direct pipeline into the computer servers hosting data This major resource is what companies use to profile users amplify content target ads and automate content moderation it s an essential input for monitoring online electoral harms in the EU, the Digital services Act enables vetted researchers to legally demand and receive free, and potentially wide-ranging, APi access to search for “systemic risks” on the platforms it’s also more open in the Us There Meta the multinational technology giant that owns and operates Facebook instagram and WhatsApp cherry-picked 16 researchers in the 2020 elections (of which only five projects have published their findings) The company has subsequently outsourced the judging of Facebook and instagram access requests (from anywhere worldwide) to the University of Michigan One of the south African researchers tried that channel without success Other platforms such as TikTok are still making unilateral decisions even in the Us as to who has data access Outside the EU and the Us, it s hard even to get a dialogue going with the platforms

THE FIGHTBACK: Last November, i invited the bigger tech players to join a workshop in Cape Town on data access and elections in Africa There was effectively no response

O party or candidate shall include in any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities religious or linguistic ” so reads the rulebook for indian elections has anyone told Narendra Modi? india s prime minister has resorted to overtly islamophobic language during the two-month campaign painting india s 200 million Muslims as an existential threat to the hindu majority Laughably, the body charged with conducting free and fair polls did issue a feeble call for restraint from “star campaigners” With the indian election results out next week one commentator warned Mr Modi has put a target on indian Muslims backs redirecting the anger of poor and marginalised hindu communities away from crony capitalists and the privileged upper castes Mr Modi s tirades are meant to distract an electorate suffering from high inflation and a lack of jobs despite rapid economic growth his Bharatiya Janata party’s political strategy is to emphasise threats to hindu civilisation and the need for a united hindu nation against Muslims however Mr Modi has fused this hindu nationalism with the idea that he was sent by God The Congress party s Rahul Gandhi, his main opponent, suggested that anyone else making such a claim needed to see a psychiatrist Religion Karl Marx wrote is the opium of the people This thought still resonates in places where organised religion remains a powerful force That is why Donald Trump also claims to be doing God s work in india, poor people often see politicians as gods delivering relief to numb the pain of reality By claiming to be divine Mr Modi is making devotees

the role of misled punters and the fuel provided by mysterious corporate algorithms MONITORING: Looking at social media in the south African elections the researchers at the recent workshop shared how they were doing their best with what limited data they had They were all monitoring text on social platforms some were monitoring audio, while

The same pattern is evident in an initiative earlier this year by the south African National Editors Forum The forum suggested a dialogue around a human rights impact assessment of online risks to the south African elections They were ignored Against this background, two south African NGOs the Legal Resources Centre and the Campaign for Free Expression are using south Africa s expansive Promotion of Access to information Act to compel platforms to disclose their election plans But the companies have refused to respond, saying they do not fall under south African jurisdiction This has led to appeals being launched to the country’s information Regulator to compel disclosures Further momentum for change may also come from Unesco which is promoting international Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms These highlight transparency and the issue of research

DONALD TRUMP FOUND GUILT Y ON ALL CHARGES IN HUSH MONEY TRIAL

said: “It’s a disgrace And I mean that Mother Teresa could not beat those charges But we’ll see We ll see how we do

According to strategists quoted by The Hill, said: It is to Trump s benefit to create a narrative that the case is stacked against him, lowering the bar in the event he is convicted or allowing him to declare victory against a rigged system in the event he is found not guilty So I ll stay around here This is five weeks and five weeks of really essentially not campaigning, although I took a big lead in the polls over the last few weeks,” he said

“Something is going on Because I think the people of this country see that this is a rigged deal Since the trial of Donald Trump commenced last month, people started wondering about the future of the business mogul who had been indicted four times in different cases Trump was first indicted last year in

Swiss peace conference on Ukraine falls shor t of requests; China won’t attend: FM

China confirmed on Friday that it will not attend a Ukraine peace conference in Switzerland next month, as the meeting falls short of China s requests, according to Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning Mao emphasized that China values the hosting of the Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland and has maintained close communication with Switzerland and relevant parties since the beginning of the year However Mao expressed that the meeting arrangements have fallen short of China s requests and the general expectations of the international community, making it difficult for China to attend the meeting The Chinese spokesperson emphasized that China consistently insists that international conference on Ukraine should have the recognition of both Russia and Ukraine equal participation of all parties and fair discussions on all peace proposals, as these three elements are crucial for the effectiveness of restoring peace

Is

March for his alleged hush-money payment to an adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016, during his maiden bid for the White House However, Donald Trump can still run for the White House despite being convicted Ilya Somin a professor of

Whether

The

Defense chiefs of US, C hina hold ‘construc tive’

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun and U S Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday exchanged views on China-U S relations, military-to-military ties, the Taiwan question, the South China Sea issue, the Ukraine crisis and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict Dong and Austin held talks on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue Asia s annual defense and security forum, in Singapore on Friday afternoon, the first in-person meeting between Chinese and U S defense chiefs since November 2022

It was a positive pragmatic and constructive strategic communication, said Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, at a press briefing after the meeting, which lasted 75 minutes longer than the previously scheduled one hour

The talks took place according to the agreement between China and the U S , said Wu

Generally speaking, the talks have helped both sides enhance understanding of each other to avoid miscalculations ” said Wu

As a next step the two sides will continue to maintain communication and exchanges through military and diplomatic channels, the spokesperson told reporters in Singapore On military-to-military relations

During the talks Dong said the relationship between the two militaries has stabilized which is hardwon, and the two militaries should adhere to the bottom line of nonconflict and non-confrontation and serve as a real stable cornerstone of China-U S relations according to a statement issued by the Chinese Ministry of National Defense

talks in S ingapore

The purpose of communication between the two militaries is to enhance understanding, eliminate misunderstandings and accumulate mutual trust said Dong

The Chinese defense minister urged the U S side not to disregard facts shift blame shirk responsibility or attempt to discredit and suppress others

He also noted that a sound development of a military-to-military relationship between China and the United States is in the common interest of both sides and also follows the general expectation of the international community

The Chinese defense minister expressed hope that the U S will be consistent in its words and deeds act in the same direction as the Chinese side and effectively implement the common understandings reached by the two heads of state

Both sides should adhere to the principles of peace, stability and trust strengthen exchanges take responsibility and promote exchanges so as to explore a way for the two militaries to get along with each other that is in line with their mutual interests and meets the expectations of the rest of the world,

said Dong On the Taiwan question

The Chinese defense minister stated China’s solid position on the Taiwan question Dong said the Taiwan question is an utterly internal affair for China in which external forces have no right to interfere, in comments referring to the U S side sending “congratulations” and a delegation when Lai Ching-te assumed the role of the Taiwan region s new leader weeks ago

What the U S has done seriously violates the one-China principle and the three China-U S joint communiques, breaches its commitments, and sends a seriously wrong signal to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces he said

The Chinese side is resolutely opposed to this Dong urged the U S to correct its wrongdoing, abide by the oneChina principle, and not to assist “Taiwan independence” with force in any way On the South China Sea issue China opposes the deployment of a mid-range missile system by the U S in the Philippines under the excuse of military exercises, Dong told Austin during the talks

relations have constantly achieved new development Since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership in 2013, bilateral cooperation and exchanges in economy and trade, investment, culture and people-topeople exchanges have been further deepened and expanded he said On the occasion of jointly celebrating

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said the minister in the wake of the controversial social media post shared on Khan s official X formerly Twitter account A post on X was attributed to the former premier said: Every Pakistani should study the Hamood ur Rahman Commission Report and get to know who was the true traitor General Yahya Khan or Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Khawaja Asif said the former PM is trying again to create a situation like that on May 9 He went on to add that said attempts are being made to retract the tweet related to the former Bangladeshi president Barrister Gauhar [Khan] clarified that the social media team did not seek permission before tweeting, said the minister, adding that this was the first time that the party had to retract a post on their social media account

“By exaggerating the tragedy of East Pakistan today you want to

increase the tension, he said, slamming Khan and his party

The minister maintained that whether it was in politics or sports the former premier had stung everyone who had done good to him

General [Qamar Javed] Bajwa s father, General Faiz [Hamid] was his uncle, now [he is] dumping all the debris at them,” said Asif commenting on Khan’s relationship dynamics with the former military men when he was in power Meanwhile the Federal Investigation Agency s (FIA) cyber crime team on Thursday decided to initiate action against Khan over his controversial tweet on social media

To pursue an investigation the anti-crime body reached Adiala jail late Thursday night but was turned

down for a meeting by Khan According to the sources within Adiala jail, the former prime minister refused to become part of the FIA investigation related to the controversial social media post Khan refused to answer any questions from the FIA team, said the sources I will answer any question in the presence of lawyers ” he added On the other hand PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar said that the post had nothing to do with Khan as he did not see the text of the posts that were uploaded to his account “The context and comparison that we drew with 1971 was in a political context and not otherwise nothing about the army the PTI chairman said

PTI founder ’s X account being operated from US: Hasan

brewing controversy over social media post PTI Central Information Secretary Raoof Hasan on Friday asserted that the official X account of party founder Imran Khan was being operated from United States as its social media team was based in US “PTI founder Imran Khan is in jail and cannot upload videos on X himself The PTI social media team which operates from United States (US), handles the party s accounts , Raoof Hasan claimed while talking to a private news channel The PTI spokesperson clarified that Imran Khan was unaware of the video related to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the party s assembly members may have retweeted the video in their personal capacity He also stated that an inquiry will be conducted within the party regarding the video issue

Hasan claimed that he had not seen the video due to ‘personal engagements’, but if there is anything objectionable in the video he will discuss it with the social media team which is based in US

He added that if the video is against the party s narrative, it will be rectified Hasan also said that they will fully cooperate if any agency wants to investigate the matter

The PTI leader further said that party founder has not been using his X official handle since his imprisonment, and the party does not have control over digital media

The spokesperson stated that the individuals managing the party’s social media accounts are not party employees and Imran Khan had made a decision regarding the X handle at some point but it was not implemented

He announced that a system will be put in place to ensure that the X handle is operated with proper clearance in the future

The spokesperson also quoted Imran Khan as saying he still believes the Pakistan Army is more important for the country than him

The statement came after Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cybercrime Cell wrote a letter to the authorities seeking access to incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan to inquire about a ‘controversial’ post from his X handle

The text of the letter stated that anti-state propaganda was disseminated through the official social media account of the PTI founder, targeting institutions, particularly the Pakistan Army

The video posted on May 26 aimed to distort facts prompt rebellion among officers and soldiers and create unrest within various state institutions

The FIA Cybercrime Cell noted that this video is a clear violation of the PICA Act 2016 and seeking access to the PTI founder in jail for further investigation