Epaper_24-06-24 ISB

‘Operation Azm-i-Istehkam’

The PTI chairman said “It is our demand [ ] that if there is any operation whether intelligence-based or fullfledged or in certain districts or villages or tehsils it is necessary to take this Parliament into confidence ”

He told the media that their walkout from the NA session was in protest of being denied the opportunity to speak

He alleged that lawmakers from his party were denied the chance to speak and therefore staged a walkout in protest On the occasion, former NA speaker Asad Qaiser demanded the same: “I simply demand that if any decision has been

Kh Asif accuses of PTI ‘siding’ with ter rorists against ar my

Defence Minister and senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Asif on Sunday accused Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of siding with terrorists against the military PTI is standing with terrorists against the army that s why the party is refusing support for Operation Azme-Istehkam, Kh Asif alleged while speaking during the National Assembly (NA) session chaired by Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Sunday He explained that the decision for Operation Azm-e-Istehkam was made in an Apex Committee meeting, which included PTI members and the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) His remarks prompted protests from the PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) who chanted slogans against the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) operation and the killing of Pashtuns He added, “The voice of minorities

taken [to launch an operation], then it be brought before Parliament and Parliament be taken into confidence ” He declared We cannot endorse any military operation without parlia-

mentary involvement Significant decisions are being made without consulting the opposition ”

D iplomat C lub urges tech firms to join digital revolution

Egyptian travel agents try to sneak people in outside the system, so as to shave money from the price of the Hajj Egypt is actually a good place to do this because it is just across the Red Sea and some Egyptian hajjis just come in for the gathering at Arafat And even those who perform the initial circumambulation of the Kaaba, the farewell circumambulation, as well as spend the night in Muzdalifah and stone the Satan at the Jamarat in Mina, try to sneak in, I suppose they regard the Saudi-imposed limit much as the ID card condition in Pakistan imposed by the Ruet-i-Hilal committee for the sighting of the moon: Something imposed by man, not the Almighty What Saudi Arabia lacks in somebody like Ali Amin Gandapur Someone who could order the Dera Ismail Khan WAPDA to reopen a shut grid

ASEEFA ZARDARI SLAMS BUDGET FY24, HIGHLIGHTS PUBLIC DISCONTENT IN NA DEBUT

ISLAMABAD

N P

IN her inaugural speech in the National Assembly, PPP MNA Aseefa Bhutto Zardari delivered a sharp critique of the Budget 2024 pointing out its inadequacies in addressing the needs of farmers and ordinary citizens amid Pakistan s worsening economic crisis

Highlighting escalating inflation and unemployment rates Aseefa Bhutto daughter of President Asif Zardari and sister of Bilawal Bhutto asserted that the budget fails to represent the public interest During her speech on Sunday, Aseefa

expressed the public’s disappointment with the budget which fell short of their expectations for relief and support particularly in sectors critical to everyday livelihoods

She stressed the urgency of national unity and called for genuine actions to embody tolerance and patience, rather than mere rhetoric

Aseefa also addressed the severe issues of prolonged load shedding during peak heat periods and the struggles faced by the agricultural sector, including the impact of floods and challenges in wheat imports She advocated strongly for policies that would bolster support for farmers and initiate substantial measures to uplift the poorest segments of society

Int ’l bodies urged to ac t against women’s oppression in K ashmir

MUZAFFARABAD s ta f f R e P o R t

On International Widows Day, the women’s wing of Pasban-e-Hurriyat Jammu and Kashmir hosted a seminar in Muzaffarabad titled “Thousands of widows are victims of insecurity in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir This event highlighted the ongoing struggles faced by women in the region under Indian control Prominent figures such as Mahnaz Qureshi Head of the women s wing of Pasban-e-Hurriyat along with Rifat Farooq Sheikh Iqra Awan and Fatima Ghazali led the discussions at the seminar

During the seminar speakers articulated the severe oppression that women have endured in occupied Jammu and Kashmir for over three decades They pointed out that many women have been made widows as their husbands were killed by Indian troops or abducted from their homes, leaving them in a state of perpetual uncertainty The attendees condemned the silence of global institutions and nations that advocate for

No backing for ‘Azm-e-Istehkam’

op without Parliament ’s approval, PTI declares

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

Qaiser questioned the effectiveness of past operations and pointed out the inconsistency of imposing taxes on Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (PATA) while conducting operations Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub said they had wanted to speak during the NA session but were not allowed Demanding “due share and due right Ayub alleged that NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq s attitude towards the opposition was not right The leader of the opposition highlighted the necessity of parliamentary approval for operations

“Chinese officials during their visit expressed concerns over CPEC security he noted Ayub argued that peace can only be achieved through the rule of law, not by force The development comes a day after the Central Apex Committee of National Action Plan chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved Operation Azm-e-Istehkam reinvigorate and re-energise national anti-terrorism campaign for eradication of the terrorism and extremism across the country The meeting held in Islamabad on

Saturday, included key federal cabinet members such as the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Defence Minister Interior Minister Finance Minister Law Minister and Information Minister Chief ministers from all provinces and Gilgit-Baltistan, services chiefs, provincial chief secretaries and other senior civilian military and law enforcement officials also attended

The forum conducted a comprehensive review of the ongoing anti-terrorism campaign and internal security situation It examined the progress of the National Action Plan’s multi-domain principles and highlighted areas where implementation was lacking Emphasis was placed on addressing these shortcomings as a priority

SLOGANEERING, CHAOS IN NA A G A I

TION: The National Assembly session chaired by Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq witnessed chaotic situation when Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-backed members of Sunni Ittehad Councils (SIC) staged a walkout from the House during budget discussion Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Mahesh Kumar Malani criticised the budget as challenging and dictated by the IMF mentioning that their chairman had to reluctantly accept it

Adding to the opposition’s discontent Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) member Shahida Akhtar argued that the budget is full of attractive words but essentially crafted to meet IMF s desires She questioned the increased benefits to IPPs and demanded an audit to ensure transparency

Further criticisms came from Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s (MQM-P) Aminul Haq highlighting that the budget is exhausted by paying interest on loans Haq compared Pakistan s situation unfavourably to Afghanistan and India and called for an agricultural tax on those profiting from wheat sales PPP’s Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah echoed these concerns warning that the budget would increase public hardships and emphasising the need to control population growth to improve fiscal outcomes In response to the walkout, government ministers quickly intervened urging the opposition to return to the assembly

Following these appeals opposition leader Omar Ayub Khan led the members back to the house The Sunni Ittehad Council protested vocally against giving the microphone to Khawaja Asif raising slogans to halt the operations in FATA They also voiced strong opposition to the operations in KP and condemned the killing of Pakhtuns

Five Pakistani soldiers who were mar-

The ceremonies took place in their re-

drawing a

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) released the identities of the fallen soldiers: Havaldar Aqeel Ahmed, 33, from Okara; Lance Naik Muhammad Tafeer, 30, from Poonch; Sepoy Anoush Rafoon,

them then Today, they are demonstrating in support of terrorists and against the army ” Confirming the launch of Operation Istikham-e-Pakistan Asif mentioned that the Apex Committee had approved the continuation of previously incomplete operations, and this decision will be brought to the cabinet and then to the parliament During the NA session on Sunday, PTI and SIC walked out of the parliament in protest after being denied the opportunity to speak on the floor

COMMENT

Yet another operation greenlighted, but will the result be any different?

TH E decision by the Apex Committee of the National Action Plan to launch the Azm-iIstehkam operation was probably immediately caused by the horrific incident in Madyan, Swat district, in which a person accused to desecrating the Holy Quran was lynched by a mob, but was also probably because of a rising tide of violent extremism which manifested itself in seething unrest in KP, where the Army has been continually engaged in the Waziristan districts and their environs The Committee also reviewed the original plans which had led to its setting up, the Army Public School massacre in 2014

A decade has passed, much has changed, but the problem remains The biggest change is the departure of US and NATO forces from Afghanistan However, though it seemed there was great joy in Islamabad over the return of the Taliban to power in Kabul, the situation in Pakistan has worsened, as more people fell victim to terrorism in 2023 than for some years past At one level, Pakistan is in an even worse position with regards to the Taliban, who believe providing the TTP havens a religious obligation, which has been used by it as a sort of license to operate freely

The planned operation is to include not just actions by the military and the law-enforcing agencies, but also an implementation of those portions of the National Action Plan which remain unimplemented For example, if there had been a prevention of the provocative calls over loudspeakers, which led to the gathering of a mob outside the attacked police station, the lynching could have been avoided However, apart from hate speech, there has been a decline in public discourse, and an increase in violent and hate-filled speech

It is perhaps problematic that the PTI is offering to support the operation only if the matter is submitted to Parliament Clearly, this is a delaying tactic, even though the matter is one which will not brook delay Also, Parliament created the Apex Committee precisely so that such matters did not have to be referred to it Referring its decision back to Parliament seems the sort of dithering which has allowed the means of taking the initiative The PTI should realise that there are myriad tools by which parliamentary oversight can be exercised, and it should not be afraid to use them

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

M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit

Mistreatment is essential to the PTI narrative

Tsignificant event in any country and in Pakistan, it has led to intense scrutiny and public interest Speculations about the conditions of his detention have been rife, with some reports suggesting that he was being kept in a death cell, a claim that has now been debunked by the federal government s report to the Supreme Court The federal government s report to the Supreme Court provides a detailed account of Imran Khan s detention conditions According to the report, Khan is not being kept in a death cell but in a regular detention facility that meets the standard requirements for prisoners The report emphasizes that Khan’s basic human rights are being respected and he is provided with necessary amenities including medical care food and communication facilities This report aims to address the concerns raised by Khan s supporters and human rights organizations about his treatment in custody It highlights the government’s commitment to ensuring that even high-profile detainees are treated in accordance with the law and international standards for prisoner treatment The clarification provided by the federal government s report has significant political implications Firstly, it dispels the narrative propagated by Khan’s supporters that he is being subjected to inhumane treatment which could have been used to garner sympathy and political support By providing transparency about

Usman Torwali

ON 26 May a Christian 73-year-old man was nearly lynched by a violent mob in Sargodha but luckily the police arrived at scene and rescued him In 2023, a mob lynched a clergyman who delivered allegedly blasphemous words in his speech at a PTI rally In December 2021 a Sri Lankan factory manager was lynched on allegation of blasphemy in Sialkot Mashal Yousufzai, a student in Mardan University, was lynched by a mob of 400 people in 2017, a horrific act of violence and vigilante justice There are a plethora of such incidents that have been reported in the past few decades Now on 21 June in Swat a tourist who belonged to Sialkot was accused of desecrating the Quran The tourist was spotted at a local hotel in Madyan Swat allegedly throwing away the ashes of a burned Quran

A local resident escorted him to the police station but within hours announcements were called from Mosques and people assembled at the police station The accused man was found with another copy of the Quran on which some words were written difficult to decipher When the police refused to hand over the accused blasphemer to the people, the violent mob attacked and set the mobile vehicle and the police station on fire They took the man away Dragged him throughout Madyan bazar to the other end of the city

The mob chanted infidel swine set him on fire and Allahu Akbar It is reported that in the meanwhile the man had been beheaded however eventually his body was set on fire There were thousands of people gathered and celebrated the death of the suspect

The irony is that no person wished to see whether the ashes were truly of the holy book Quran or whether the words written on the holy Quran were really blasphemous rather they started lynching the man as for them the accusations of blasphemy are enough for killing a man The police or state should not interfere if it is a case of blasphemy

Some people say that the incident was preplanned to disrupt the booming tourist industry and peace of the Swat valley Others are of the opinion that it was an attempt to create a rift between Punjab and KP as these provinces have recently come closer against the powerful lot and have forgotten the long held ethnic grudges Nonetheless, many argue that it is to build the grounds for militant insurgency

However, it is worth noticing that a few weeks ago, a Facebook account belonged to a person from Buner, posted blasphemous materials and had spurred outcry across the Malakand Division especially in Swat protests were staged for an inquiry into the account Hence both the incidents could have common grounds In Pakistan the least amount that is being allo-

Until the nex t incident

cated to a department is to the education department Defense spending is on rise but human development has been neglected in every sphere The occurrence of such sheer brutality should not be surprising These incidents that have been occurring continuously had once been backed by the state Now the matter has escalated to the point that the police station has been attacked which is equivalent to attacking the state Historically between 1947 and 1989 there were only three extra judicial killings and 10 reported cases regarding blasphemy allegations However the numbers rose to 89 killings between 1989 and 2021 and roughly 1500 cases, respectively 10 extra judicial killings and 243 cases were reported only in the year 2014 (Source: CRSS) The numbers are supposed to be higher because all the cases are not reported in the press This has widely been attributed to the introduction of Zia s

BhuttoÊs amendment to the 1973 constitution declaring Ahmadis as non-Muslims, ZiaÊs Islamization and the subsequent political and militar y silence provided fer tile grounds for the TTP and other extremist ideologies to emerg e and penetrate in the ver y fabric of the society However, the ver y psyche has been haunting people for decades and there is no way out

Imran Khan’s detention: My ths and Realities

Khan’s detention conditions, the government aims to undermine any attempts to portray Khan as a victim of political persecution Secondly the report reflects the government s intent to adhere to legal and constitutional norms even in cases involving political adversaries This move can be seen as an attempt to strengthen the rule of law and judicial independence in Pakistan, countering accusations of political vendetta and misuse of state power against opponents From a legal perspective the report to the Supreme Court is crucial in upholding the principles of justice and fairness The judiciary s role in overseeing the treatment of detainees, particularly high-profile political figures, is essential in maintaining public trust in the legal system By presenting a detailed account of Khan’s detention conditions the government ensures that the judiciary is informed and can make decisions based on accurate information The legal proceedings against Imran Khan are ongoing, and the conditions of his detention are likely to be a focal point in these cases Ensuring that he is treated fairly and humanely is not only a legal obligation but also a necessity to maintain the credibility of the judicial process Any perception of bias or mistreatment could have long-term repercussions on the public s confidence in the legal system Khan s detention and the subsequent report to the Supreme Court have broader implications for Pakistani politics The political climate in Pakistan is highly polarized and any development related to Khan a prominent and controversial figure is bound to have ripple effects across the political spectrum The report s findings could potentially affect the public s perception of both Khan and the current government If the government’s claims about Khan’s detention conditions are widely accepted it could weaken the narrative of political victimization promoted by Khan s supporters Conversely if doubts about the report s accuracy persist it could fuel further political unrest and division

The situation surrounding Imran Khan s detention is a reminder of the importance of transparency accountability and adherence to legal

norms in governance As the legal proceedings continue, it is imperative that the government and judiciary ensure that Khan’s rights are protected and that he receives a fair trial For the broader political landscape in Pakistan this episode underscores the need for a more mature and stable political environment where legal processes are respected, and political differences are resolved through democratic means rather than through allegations and counter-allegations of mistreatment and political persecution

The federal government’s report to the Supreme Court clarifying that former Prime Minister Imran Khan is not being kept in a death cell is a significant development in the ongoing saga of his detention This report not only dispels rumors and speculations but also highlights the government’s commitment to legal norms and human rights Khan has been accused of carrying out a propaganda campaign against Pakistani authorities for political gains By portraying himself as a victim of political persecution and spreading misinformation about his detention conditions, Khan aims to garner sympathy and rally support from his followers This strategy seeks to undermine the credibility of the current government and judicial system painting them as oppressive and unjust Such actions not only exacerbate political polarization but also distract from the substantive issues facing the country, ultimately hindering efforts to foster a stable and democratic political environment

The writer is a freelance columnist

Khan has been accused of carr ying out a propaganda campaign against Pakistani authorities for political gains By por traying himself as a victim of political persecution and spreading misinformation about his detention conditions, Khan aims to garner sympathy and rally suppor t from his followers This strategy seeks to undermine the credibility of the current government and judicial system, painting them as oppressive and unjust

Lawlessness

English dominance

Karachi congestion

U n p r e c e d e n t e d b r a i n d r a

Rthat slow down development opportunities In the realm of international migration, migrant individuals stand to gain significantly By seeking employment overseas migrants frequently secure higher-paying

Addressing the brain drain in Pakistan hing es on tackling economic pessimism rooted in political instability

Achieving political stability in Pakistan requires key elements including transparent governance , string ent anti-corruption measures, stable electoral processes, empowered democratic institutions, national unity, and economic reforms. Strengthening law enforcement and encouraging civil society engag ement also play crucial roles in creating a stable political environment conducive to sustainable development and citiz en well-being

positions thereby boosting their income This journey also offers a rich cultural tapestry that nurtures personal growth alongside the promise of safer, more stable living environments Exposure to fresh skills and professional experiences further enriches their career path, while networking opens doors to future opportunities

Households also stand to gain significantly from the international migration of a family member Migrants frequently send remittances back home, boosting household incomes and enabling better living standards, educational pursuits, or entrepreneurial ventures Moreover returning migrants often bring back valuable skills and experiences abroad which not only enhance their job prospects but also benefit others in their community Remittances sent by migrants are also a potential source of diversification of income sources and serve to bolster household resilience to hedge against shocks At a macro level international migration is a catalyst for economic prosperity cultural enrichment and diplomatic harmony Migrant remittances play a crucial role in strengthening foreign exchange reserves, thereby stabilizing national currencies and enhancing the balance of payments As per the Pakistan Economic Survey remittances to Pakistan reached $27 4 billion in FY-23 This places Pakistan sixth among the leading countries in terms of remittance receipts, with the remittances to GDP ratio exceeding 7 percent International migration plays a crucial role in enhancing the labour market dynamics of the country of origin by exporting excess labour Pakistan s current labour force stands at 71 76 million with 4 51 million individuals unemployed Moreover, the labour force is expanding by 1 5 million annually, a number that exceeds the capacity of Pakistan’s current economic landscape to absorb Thus migration helps improve labour market flexibility ensuring that the country can manage its youth bulge and sustain its workforce at optimal levels

Draining talent– the emigration of highly skilled individuals– has short-run and long-run adverse effects on the originating country In the short-run it leads to an immediate reduction in skilled professionals creating gaps in essential services like healthcare education and engineering

Based on the latest Pakistan Economic Sur vey for 202324, over 13 53 million Pakistanis have officially migrated to work in more than 50 countries by April 2024 This places Pakistan in the seventh position among the leading countries of migrant origin, according to the International Migration Repor t of 2022.

and causing a decline in workforce productivity Remaining workers face increased pressure resulting in burnout while organizations incur higher recruitment and training costs In the long-run, persistent brain drain slows economic growth due to reduced innovation and competitiveness It creates educational and knowledge gaps and leads to the loss of intellectual capital crucial for research and development Additionally longterm shortages in healthcare and education professionals deteriorate the quality of these essential services Addressing the brain drain in Pakistan hinges on tackling economic pessimism rooted in political instability Achieving political stability in Pakistan requires key elements including transparent governance, stringent anti-corruption measures, stable

TH E next generation of political leaders in what we continue, fondly, to call western democracy is clear for all to see It has energy, charisma and speaks a language everyone can understand It connects with an electorate neglected by today s elite has strategic patience and plans for the election after the next It s also clear about what it thinks It believes that western civilisation is threatened by Islam, and the native populations are threatened by migrants It subscribes to the clash of civilisations and the great replacement theory And it’s vociferously if not physically pro-Israel I use inverted commas because even in recent history the concept of a Judeo-Christian civilisation is nonsense

No one in 16th century England nor Germany in the 1930s would have dared talk about a Judeo-Christian civilisation for the simple reason that Christians were the main persecutors of Jews But truth does not stop good propaganda When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was interviewed on French television recently he was asked whether anyone could compare as he had just done, the allied landing at Normandy to Israel s attack on Gaza Netanyahu replied in French “Our victory is your victory! It’s the victory of Judeo-Christian civilisation over barbarism It is the victory of France! If we win here you win here he told TF1 The fact that a major French commercial channel gave a platform to a man awaiting an arrest warrant for war crimes produced a large demonstration in Paris But looks should not deceive

MORE THAN POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY: Netanyahu’s framing of his assault on Gaza in terms the Crusaders would understand is shared by large sections of the French political spectrum and everyone not least President Emanuel Macron has played in these waters

It s a short step from criminalising what Macron speciously called Islamist separatism to targeting the freedom of religious worship of six million Muslim French citizens itself

But no one profits more from the collapse of liberalism under Macron than Jordan Bardella the poster boy of the far right and the man tipped one day to become prime minister Go for a walk in all the neighbourhoods where I lived in Seine-Saint-Denis, he said in 2021, speaking of “a demographic sea change” which could “alter the face of France in a few years” It’s a grave mistake to cast Israel’s

Amichai Chikli former member of the far-right Yamina formation and now Israel’s diaspora affairs minister crowed at the resignation of Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo De Croo had gone to Rafah last November before the first hostage release and had been almost a lone voice in Europe in denouncing the slaughter of civilians in Gaza “Supporting terror doesn’t resonate with the Belgian people,” Chikli said That said the links contemporary Israel is nurturing with the far right in Europe go deeper than mere political expediency It s more than just myopic rejoicing as one Haaretz columnist put it

UNHOLY ALLIANCE: An alliance with European political parties who demonise Muslims in the same way the far-right groups nurtured hatred for the Jews has become more than an act of flirtation It has quickly been cemented into a much more extensive alliance in deed as well as word Anyone who thinks these expressions of support by the far right for Israel are merely rhetorical should look at what is happening

Wilders’s ally Gideon (Gidi) Markuszower had his candidacy to become the Netherlands’ new migration and asylum minister revoked after concerns about the connections of the Israeli-born man with Mossad were flagged by the Dutch Intelligence service (AIVD)

The prospect of a far-right government is being seen as a golden opportunity by Israel s security services to place plants into the highest levels of government But most of the time it does not even need them

Serbia’s arms exports to Israel have spiralled since the Gaza offensive began Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) and Haaretz identified six Israeli military flights from Belgrade to Beersheba since October last year, carrying 15 7m euros (almost $17m) worth of arms

Serbian President Aleksandr Vucic said in February that he and Netanyahu had discussed a “further advancement of bilateral relations” for which the Israeli premier expressed my gratitude for his unwavering support both in word and deed

Vucic s Serbian nationalism is unravelling a shaky peace in the Balkans Recently, he appeared alongside the leader of the Serb-led entity within Bosnia-Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik, to call for the unity of ethnic Serbs throughout the region during a rally in Belgrade

Dodik claimed that Republika Srpska the Serb-led entity was committed to the Dayton accords but added ominously that this entity will soon have to seek Serbia s support to resolve its status This is an implicit threat to the Dayton accords which formed a Bosnian state consisting of two entities - a Bosniak-Croat federation and Republika Srpska - held together by string, and a weak central government “It is impossible to live with those who so treacherously and maliciously falsely and secretly tried to impose genocide as a permanent feature of this nation which it is not Dodik said

Dodic is referring to the massacre that took place at Srebrenica in 1995, after the United Nations approved a resolution to establish an International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica thus establishing an annual day of commemoration for the massacre Dodic continues to deny any such genocide of 8 000 Bosniak Muslims men and boys took place It is no coincidence that the Jerusalem Post gave this particular holocaust denier a large amount of space in an uncritical if not to say fawning interview Dodic said about Srebrenica: “It cannot be called genocide Authoritative experts who have devoted their entire professional

lives to the study of genocide have determined that it was not genocide All those with authority on the matter say that it was not genocide I trust these people more than the politicians who decided it was a genocide

This, of course, is music to the ears of his Jerusalem Post interviewer who drew parallels between the nongenocide of Srebrenica to the non-genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, or as the interviewer referred to them “so-called Palestinians” Dodic said: “They don’t like me in the West because I speak my mind directly But if we look back at history there has never been a peaceful coexistence between Palestinians and Jews in the same way that coexistence is not possible here, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, between Muslims and Serbs

The marriage between an Israeli government which has the express intention of forcing as many Palestinians out of the territories it occupies and European far-right extremists who want to expel as many Muslims as they can out of Europe is no coincidence

We had already seen more than one fig leaf falling from the image of Israel as a democratic state under siege from barbaric forces As Israel’s war on Gaza enters its ninth month, no pretence at all is being made to talk the language of democracy

CONTAGIOUS

FASCISM: The recent anniversary of an infamous event at the very start of the Second World War also proved to be revealing It was one day in July 1939 when the St Louis, a ship that set sail for Cuba with over 900 Jewish refugees was rebuffed by the US and Canada When the ship had to return to Europe Adolf Hitler ranted on the radio that it was not only the Nazis who hated Jews See the whole world hates the Jews the Nazi dictator said This is a common sentiment on the Israeli talk shows and in social media about the Palestinians in Israel today The problem with forcing them from their homes in Gaza and the Occupied West Bank, the speaker ’s muse, is that “no-one

Waqas shair

MOSCOW PLEDGES TO RESPOND TO JAPAN’S ‘HOSTILE STANCE’ TOWARD RUSSIA

Deadly landslide kills 8 in central China amid severe weather aler t

members were safe and the ship is currently en route to its next port of call

RAMZIDIN NURIDINOV

Libraries play a key role in education culture and community development providing an invaluable resource for accessing knowledge, preserving cultural heritage, and promoting intellectual growth In the modern information society, they remain an important institution that promotes the education and self-development of people of all ages President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasised during the opening ceremony of the People s Library under the President of the Republic of Turkey in Ankara: Intellectual potential, high morale is what makes a nation strong The source of this invincible power is books and libraries – the great invention of mankind

At the present stage education has become one of the most important areas of state policy The government of the Republic of Uzbekistan pays special attention to the development of this sphere, recognizing its key role in the prosperity of the country In recent years the republic has achieved significant success in the educational domain These achievements are aimed at modernizing the system, improving the quality of education and training, and expanding access to education for all citizens of the country

At the same time special attention is paid to the promotion of reading and the fostering of the reading culture of the population And in the Presidential Decree adopted on September 13, 2017, On the program of comprehensive measures to develop the system of publishing and distributing book products, improving the culture of reading”, clear goals are outlined for the creation of an effective system of information and library services to the population which served to move this area to a new stage of development and contributed to raising the level of social and information culture and the role of libraries, made it possible to develop and implement modern innovative and educational technologies that increase the competitiveness of Uzbekistan in the world market

A G E N C I E S

A Swiss court handed jail sentences to four members of Britain s richest family, the Hindujas, on Friday, labelling them selfish for exploiting Indian staff at their Geneva mansion Lawyers for the Swiss-Indian family members who were not present in court said they would appeal the verdict

The defendants were acquitted of human trafficking but convicted on other charges The family’s fortune is estimated at £37 billion ($47 billion) by the Sunday Times Prakash Hinduja 78 and his wife Kamal 75 received four years and six months each Their son Ajay, 56, and his wife Namrata, 50, were given four-year terms, ruled the presiding judge in Geneva They were convicted of usury for exploiting their vulnerable immigrant staff paying them meagre wages The employees inexperience was exploited, Judge Sabina Mascotto said They had little education or none at all and had no knowledge of their rights

The defendants’ motives were selfish driven by the desire for gain ”

The court acquitted them of human trafficking as the workers had travelled to Switzerland willingly $360 Salary

During the trial, the family was accused of bringing servants from India and confiscating their passports upon arrival in Switzerland Prosecutor Yves Bertossa accused the Hindujas of spending more on their dog than on their domestic employees

The family paid the household staff about 325 francs ($363) a month up to 90 percent less than the standard rate the judge said

“The four Hinduja defendants knew the weak position their employees were in and knew the law in Switzerland Mascotto noted

The family denied the allegations, claiming the prosecutors wanted to do in the Hindujas They had reached a confidential out-of-court settlement with the three employees who accused them leading to the dropping of legal action said the defence

Despite this the prosecution pursued the case due to the seriousness of the charges Following the verdict, Bertossa requested immediate detention for Ajay and Namrata Hinduja citing a flight risk

Global conflict, natural disasters drive record displacement: UN

twice as many internally displaced people today as there were ten years ago – the largest numbers ever recorded Robert Piper, the Special Advisor on Solutions to Internal Displacement said that the current global figure of 76 million represented those who have lost their homes livelihoods their communities and in some cases, their legal identities, because of wars, disasters like earthquakes and floods, and other weather-related disasters ” Internally displaced people (IDPs) unlike refugees have not crossed international borders While some return home relatively quickly, tens of millions get trapped in long-term displacement of five to ten years or longer This protracted displacement is typically the result of conflicts and war, it was pointed out Meanwhile, millions more are displaced due to natural disasters as floods, storms, earthquakes, and wildfires ravage countries around the world The most recent figures gathered by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) revealed that 68 3 million people remained internally displaced due to conflict and violence An estimated 9 1 million people were displaced within Sudan, the largest internally displaced population ever reported This was followed by Syria (7 2 million) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (6 7 million) In war-torn Gaza, more than eight in 10 people have been displaced, amount-

In addition the Presidential Decree “On further improvement of information and library services for the population of the Republic of Uzbekistan was adopted on June 7, 2019 The main goals of the decree are: • improving the regulatory framework in order to ensure high-quality social guarantees to the population for information and library services; development of information and library institutions taking into account modern requirements; • promoting the sustainable development of information and library services the for population in the regions; strengthening the material and technical base of information and library institutions; development of public-private partnerships in the library sector, a network of private and electronic libraries; expanding cooperation with Internet resources that specialize in distributing electronic books to improve the efficiency of libraries and the efficiency of servicing (including paid) users; • ensuring the safety of information and library institutions and the safety of information and library collections as part of the national and world cultural heritage; formation and enhancement of the information culture of society sustainable interest in national history and culture enhancement and promotion of a reading culture; • staffing information and library institutions with qualified specialists

The adoption of this decree expands the range of services in the country including access to electronic resources and holding cultural and educational events as well as improving staff qualifications and introducing modern methods of user service In addition, these changes not only contribute to the development of the information society and economic growth by attracting investment in education and culture but also promote the formation of a literate and informed society which is an important step in the de-

velopment of the country

The Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers dated December 14, 2020 approved the National Program for the Development and Support of a Reading Culture for 2020-2025, which includes the publication of quality books that meet the spiritual educational artistic and aesthetic needs of the population; supporting the activities of publishers and artists, publishing children s literature; translation of the best examples of national and world literature; simplification of the organization of book sales; improving the delivery system for newly published books and distribution of information sources; expansion of international cooperation in the field of online ordering of foreign work, their delivery and distribution In turn, it should be noted that within the framework of the “Uzbekistan - 2030” Strategy special attention is paid to the popularization of masterpieces of Uzbek and world literature The country s leadership strives to instil in citizens a love of reading and ensure access to libraries and information services for everyone The Strategy “Uzbekistan - 2030” puts forward such main goals as increasing the number of young book lovers to five million the annual creation of 100 works of art and 50 books for children and adolescents the publication of the multi-volume book Uzbek adabiyoti khazinasidan ( From the Treasury of Uzbek Literature”), the 100-volume book “Jakhon Bolalar Adabiyoti Durdonalari” (“Pearls of World Children’s Literature ) in Uzbek as well as the digital-

ing to 1 9 million civilians Haiti has also experienced record levels of displacement with 600 000 people forced to leave their homes, double from last year Meanwhile, civil strife in Myanmar has left the vast majority of the three million IDPs there without proper shelter and without access to food and water according to independent UN expert Paula Betancur Addressing the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Friday, Ms Betancur also cited a lack of accountability for human rights abuses as a key driver of displacement while calling for the Human Rights Council’s Member States to acknowledge the individual stories of loss resilience and hope behind the record numbers of displaced While the UN s humanitarian teams helped as many as 50 million IDPs last year Piper has called for more to be done to create sustainable solutions The Secretary-General s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement aims to break this long-term displacement pattern and create durable solutions, to better prevent new displacement crises from emerging and to ensure those facing displacement receive

ization of a book fund of almost 40 million books On November 28 2023 there was signed the Presidential Decree On measures to implement the project A Thousand Books for Youth”, aimed at creating a system for translating books popular in the world into Uzbek that contribute to increasing the intellectual and scientific potential of the younger generation At the same time within the framework of the Olympiad of Five Initiatives , the following 5 projects in the field of reading and intellectual games are annually implemented: “Young Reading Family” “Poetry Competition” “Young Reader” the intellectual game Zakovat and the project Example of Foreign Languages These projects increase the interest of young people in reading books and help expand logical thinking and knowledge through intellectual games The “Young Reader” and “Young Reading Family” competitions are important events held to promote reading the spiritual enrichment of youth and increase their intellectual potential This competition serves to increase interest in books among young people and expand their knowledge and horizons Also, within the framework of the project “A Thousand Books for Youth” the Agency for Youth Affairs will have to work on acquiring rights to use works from authors translating them into Uzbek and preparing for printing and publishing books on the basis of a state order and at the expense of the State budget (with the exception of books published for state higher educational institutions) Two stages have been established for translation into Uzbek and the publication of popular books in the world First: a preliminary list of books is formed annually by the Expert Council Second: the preliminary list is posted in the information systems of the Agency for Youth Affairs for selection by the population by voting and thus

Attock district would embark on a new

of development and

perity as

on a number of development projects including the

of

campuses of universities and health facilities would be initiated during the current fiscal year This was disclosed by Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider while addressing two different public gatherings in Khunda and Jand areas of Attock on Saturday evening He announced that besides the establishment of a dialysis center in Fatehjang, a state of the art facility would also be established in Pindigheb with the

help of local donors He claimed that work on the sub campus of the University of Engineering and Technology Taxila at Jand would be initiated in September this year He said that all resources would be utilized for the welfare of the people of Attock district

Sardar Saleem Haider said he is a proud political worker who has risen to the current position through PPP leadership trust He said that the Pakistan Peoples Party believed in the politics of public welfare and betterment of the public adding that people were the real masters of the country and that was why the party had the agenda based on public welfare “Economic prosperity can be achieved by financially empower-

ing farmers labourers and the underprivileged he added Meanwhile, the Governor paid rich tributes to the martyred Benazir Bhutto on the occasion of her 71st birth anniversary during a function held at the District Council Hall Attock on Sunday The Attock chapter of Pakistan Peoples Party has arranged the ceremony to celebrate her life and legacy as well as to pay tributes to her services for the country He said that Benazir Bhutto was the first woman Prime Minister of the Muslim world and a courageous leader The Governor hailed Benazir Bhutto s courageous struggle for the Party and the nation after the martyrdom of her father

HEC signs contrac t to automate Pak universities with TMC

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) via its Higher Education Development Programme in Pakistan (HEDP) held a contract signing ceremony where key personnel and leadership of HEC and Tally Marks Consulting (TMC) were present

The signing ceremony represents a significant milestone for Pakistan’s higher education sector said a press release Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) receiving state-of-the-art Student Lifecycle Systems (SLC) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) will completely digitise their administrative, accounting, operations and end-to-end student lifecycle processes from admission to degree completion All the leading universities of the world have already adopted

these systems and this activity marks HEC s commitment as well as investment to implement the same in Pakistani HEIs The systems enhance efficiency, and transparency and promptly provide key higher education data for decision making

At the signing ceremony Chairman HEC Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, Executive Director HEC Dr Zia Ul-Qayyum, MD TMC Abdul Haseeb, and Partner Director SAP Amir Shah were present among other senior officials of HEC HEDP TMC and SAP

Speaking at the occasion Dr Mukhtar Ahmed said, We are now one team and it s a great collaboration that will increase the quality of education for all in Pakistan There are 260 plus HEIs in line to be digitized and this signing ceremony is the starting point of a fully digitized education system in Pakistan Collaboration

and commitment of HEIs however remain highly important since this is a seed and will start the process to inspire other HEIs of Pakistan ” Dr Zia Ul-Qayyum reinforced that the private sector should not treat education as a high-profit business but as a part of their social responsibility to serve the nation MD TMC informed that SAP leadership is committed to equipping young Pakistanis with the latest tools and technologies They have already trained more than 2000 students and professionals in Pakistan free of cost as a part of their Corporate Social Responsibility activities

The joint effort of HEC and SAP is a landmark achievement as it

G ovt wont allow PTI to hur t economy : R ana S anaullah

PM Shehbaz Sharif s Adviser on Political and Public Affairs, Rana Sanaullah Khan has said the government has decided not to allow Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) any space for its negative politics of targeting the country s economy for political gains

g KEY POINTS OF CONTENTION INCLUDE UNEQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF TAX BURDEN

The Senate Standing Committee on Finance has strongly criticized the tax measures outlined in the budget for 2024-25 stating that they appear to prioritize International Monetary Fund (IMF) objectives over national interests Led by Chairman Senator Saleem Mandiwalla, the committee concluded its discussions on the Finance Bill 2024 on Saturday and is preparing to submit its recommendations to the Senate Key points of contention include the unequal distribution of the tax burden particularly affecting vulnerable segments of society The committee expressed dismay over the introduction of taxes on essential items like infant milk, which they argue could disproportionately burden families with newborns Officials from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) disclosed that while 337 tax exemptions were removed this fell short of the IMF s requirement to eliminate exemptions on 749 items The IMF has mandated revenue targets including Rs40 billion from milk products and Rs7 billion from stationery items, prompting concerns about the broader impact on the economy Senator Farooq H Naik raised concerns about the implementation of IMF-driven policies without adequate consideration for local circumstances even questioning the proposed tax on graves as an example of the stringent fiscal measures being imposed Senator Anusha Rehman highlighted the potential impact of an 18% sales tax on mobile sets priced below $200, arguing that such measures would disproportionately affect low-income individuals for whom mobile phones are essential tools rather than

The prime minister ’s adviser and key PMLN leader said that in view of the PTI’s past record the government cannot afford to give a free hand to the PTI He was asked about the reasons for government restrictions on PTI s public rallies, meetings and demonstrations

PM Shehbaz’s adviser reminded that the PTI has been repeatedly trying to hurt the country’s economy in order to target the government for its political gains We

cannot allow this he said adding that there was no room for negative politics and the government cannot compromise on the issue of revival of the country’s economy Sanaullah hoped that the political situation would improve in the next few months He was sure that the budget will smoothly pass He said the revival of country s economy was the topmost priority of the government About the PTI politics Sana explained that the political party was trying to hurt the economy for its political gains The PTI he said knows well that if the present government succeeds in getting the country out of the present economic crisis and leads the nation to prosperity the PTI will have nothing to sell to the people

The PTI had announced for Friday (June 21) protest rallies in

different parts of the country for the release of its incarcerated leader Imran Khan

However, the party faced administrative restrictions, including arrests in Islamabad and parts of Punjab The Islamabad administration and Punjab government had imposed Section 144 of CrPC banning rallies and sit-ins for seven days Police, according to media reports, also conducted raids on party leaders’ houses

The PTI spokesman condemned the government for this and said The government has been violating the Constitution for the last two years and there is a law of jungle in Pakistan There cannot be any excuse for keeping Khan behind the bars in false and fabricated cases It is the right of the people to protest and the party had decided to hold peaceful protests

s impact on economic stability and public welfare, advocating for policies that prioritize national interests and mitigate adverse effects on vulnerable segments of society

The Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) on Sunday alerted all the provincial administrations to prepare for the upcoming monsoon rains forecasting an increase of 35% above normal levels In its alert issued to the relevant departments and the district administrations, the PDMA predicted that the monsoon season is set to begin from July 1 in Punjab projecting 15 to 50 mm of rain expected in the first week adding that the second week could see 25 to 35 mm The third week of the rainy season might bring 15 to 25 mm to upper and southern Punjab” it added

The fourth week of July is predicted to have the highest rainfall

with 50 to 70 mm expected Heavy rain with thunderstorms is anticipated across upper, central, and southern Punjab PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia emphasised the need for district administrations to ensure all precautionary measures are in place before the monsoon rains begin He urged the completion of drainage system cleaning and maintenance of water channels as soon as possible highlighting that preemptive measures and cooperation can mitigate the damage caused by natural disasters Kathia noted that ensuring the safety of citizens lives and property is a top priority, with no room for negligence

The PDMA has warned of urban flooding and hill torrents in southern Punjab during the monsoon season

Meanwhile responding to the PDMA alert, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has out all departments concerned on high alert to deal with any situation

Earlier this week Rawalpindi and its surroundings experienced the first pre-monsoon rain signalling the potential danger of monsoon floods in Nullah Leh and other rain drains

In Sindh, the PMD reported that Karachi is forecasted to experience rain and thunderstorms today with the weather expected to remain hot and humid temperatures reaching up to 39 C and humidity at 75%

Last week, the Met Office predicted sweltering temperatures for the first day of Eid followed by rain in the upper regions of Punjab Kashmir and KhyberPakhtunkhwa on the second day

Nawaz Sharif skips budget 2024-25 session

ters of the PML-N had expressed their desire to see the party president as Prime Minister again during a gathering in Islamabad, which some foreign dignitaries also attended On that occasion, a federal minister stated “We want Nawaz Sharif to become Prime Minister again to improve the country s situation

2 3 h e l d, J I T fo r m e d t o p ro b e M a d ya n