Bill l ands in na to ‘Block’ Pti memBers oath-taking on reserved seats
Imran Khan says willing to hold negotiations with ar my
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)
Founder Chairman Imran Khan has expressed his openness to engage in dialogue with the army, proposing that the army designate a representative for these discussions
Pakhtunkhwa s Kurram District claiming 49 lives and leaving more than 200 people injured, have come to a halt, the deputy commissioner (DC) said on Tuesday According to the police and district administration, armed clashes between Boshehra and Maleekhel tribesmen began on the evening of July 24 Despite efforts from a jirga of elders from the Hangu and Orakzai districts to secure a ceasefire fighting continued, with both sides using heavy weapons to target each other s positions The hostilities soon spread to other areas, including Peewar, Tangi, Balishkhel, Khaar Kalay, Maqbal, Kunj Alizai, Para Chamkani and Karman “Both tribes have agreed to a ceasefire and the clashes have been halted since last night Kurram DC Javedullah Mehsud said The parties were made to clear their bunkers and security forces have been deployed, with no gunfire reported at five locations in Kurram District,” he asserted He added that a ceasefire brokered by jirga members on Sunday was “largely” adhered to but fighting resumed on Monday The medical superintendent of the District Headquarters Hospital Dr Mir Hassan Jan reported that the
“We are prepared to negotiate with the army Let them appoint their representative and we will negotiate, Khan stated during an informal conversation with journalists at the court on Tuesday Khan clarified that the PTI has never made allegations against the army but has only criticized it when deemed necessary In his remarks, he also labeled Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz as ‘fascist’
The former prime minister questioned the current political environment referencing the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi What is the SIFC? Who is Mohsin Naqvi? It seems an undeclared martial law is in place in the country ” he remarked He accused Naqvi of being a representative of the army stating Mohsin Naqvi is their representative; he reached his position through their backing ” Khan strongly opposed any dialogue with Naqvi accusing him and the Inspector General of Punjab Police of oppressing PTI supporters I will never talk to Mohsin Naqvi He, along with IG Punjab, has oppressed our people,” he asserted
Addressing the judiciary Khan specifically requested Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamir Farooq to recuse himself from his cases to ensure impartiality I request Aamir Farooq to withdraw from my cases in accordance with the principles of justice There are other judges
in the high court; transfer the cases to someone else ” he urged Khan reiterated the PTI s innocence regarding the May 9 incidents, insisting that CCTV footage would exonerate the party Our innocence in the May 9 incidents will be proven through CCTV footage ” he claimed He maintained that any PTI member found involved should face punishment
“If any PTI member is involved in the May 9 cases then he must be punished he added Khan accused the government of trying to destroy the party by creating conflict between the PTI and the army “The government has only one goal: to destroy our party by instigating a fight between the PTI and the army he concluded
On Tuesday, Imran Khan, PTI’s founder, sought post-arrest bail from a Lahore anti-terrorism court (ATC) concerning multiple cases from the May 9 riots This follows the high court s decision to cancel his physical remand Already in custody, Khan was re-arrested on July 15, a day after he and his wife Bushra Bibi were detained in a new Toshakhana case following their acquittal in the Iddat case This new arrest jeopardized his release prospects Khan’s legal team, led by Barrister Salman Safdar filed a petition for bail arguing that the case against him is politically motivated The petition claims that the accusations of inciting violence were made while Khan was in custody and unable to communicate
The petition outlines ten reasons for granting bail noting that the main charge is abetment related to inciting violence and asserts that this charge is based on outdated and vague allegations
It highlights a delay of five-anda-half months in seeking his ar-
rest and points out that similar cases have previously resulted in bail for Khan It argues that evidence from social media is insufficient for penal action and claims that Khan s continued detention is driven by political motivations The petition stresses that since the only accusation is abetment and he was not present at the scene his continued incarceration is unjustified On July 15 an ATC granted a 10-day physical remand to the police for Khan, though a 30-day remand was requested Khan challenged this remand in the Lahore High Court (LHC) on July 18 for 12 cases linked to violent attacks last year seeking to transfer his custody from police to judicial
The LHC issued notices on July 23, requesting the prosecution to justify the remand On July 25 Justices Tariq Saleem Sheikh and Anwarul Haq Pannun set aside the 10-day physical remand, emphasizing that remand should not be granted without adequate justification
The court also canceled a notification allowing Khan to appear via video link due to security reasons
JI threatens nationwide protests if demands not accepted
Govt proposes buyer-favored terms for PIA stake sale
The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has approved a merger involving significantly reshuffling power generation assets This transaction entails a consortium, mainly comprising textile companies acquiring a 68 89% stake in Engro Powergen Qadirpur Limited (EPQL)
World Bank approves $600m for Türkiye to revive micro enterprises in ear thquake -hit areas
communities We know
and water efficiency measures The SIEs will generate solar energy to power the micro businesses they host, with an estimated 147,030 metric tons per year of carbon emissions expected to be reduced
“The World Bank is committed to supporting Türkiye in its efforts to rebuild the earthquake-affected
ISLAMABAD
S
Judicial Magistrate
Shabbir Bhatti on Tuesday sent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Information Secretary
Raoof Hasan and other employees of the party
secretariat to jail on a 14-day judicial remand for their alleged involvement in anti-state propaganda
Earlier the FIA produced the PTI spokesperson in the court of Judicial Magistrate Shabbir Bhatti and requested a five-day extension in the physical remand of Raoof Hassan but the court rejected the request Hasan, who was arrested last Monday, was initially placed on a two-day remand, followed by a three-day extension and then another two-day remand for further investigation During the proceedings FIA Prosecutor
Sheikh Aamir requested an additional 5-day physical remand citing that a technical report showed all the
one of Project Team Leaders
The Project follows the Post-Earthquake MSME Recovery Project, which provided financing to cover urgent operating expenses of MSMEs in the earthquake-affected areas
suspected members of the PTI’s media cell were communicating with each other He asked the court for an additional five-day remand to continue the investigation However defense counsel Ali Zafar opposed the extension citing Hasan s deteriorating health and asked for his medical examination
In response to the PTI lawyer s request, the court granted permission for Raoof Hassan to undergo a medical check-up Hasan previously informed the court that the allegations against him were baseless
The FIA has booked PTI’s information secretary and several employees the media cell on charges of running anti-state propaganda
The FIA registered the FIR, claiming that PTI activist Ahmad Waqas Janjua revealed during questioning that he, along with the party’s leadership and media cell members, were involved in anti-state activities
The consequences of leaving such threats unpunished are as great as they are unthought-through
TH e government has taken a dim view of the threat made against the Chief Justice of Pakistan in which a leader of the Tehrik labbaik Pakistan, going so far as to offer a reward for his killing The threat was issued over the bail given by a supreme Court bench he headed to a non-Muslim accused of blasphemy The CJP who had drawn down the ire of many ulema for daring to quote Quran in his judgement, is a bit like Punjab Governor salman Taseer, who was assassinated not for committing blasphemy, but for suggesting changes to the blasphemy laws in that he is not so much assured of supporting a blasphemer as casting doubt on the finality of the Holy Prophet The TlP was founded by the late Maulana Khadim Hussain rizvi after a movement over the new nomination form for legislators it is to be noted that both Maulana rizvi and sarwar Qadri the police guard who assassinated Governor Taseer, belonged to the Barelvi school of thought, which had not previously been in the forefront of the anti-blasphemy movement That had been considered something of the preserve of the Deobandi school from the time of Mufti Mahmood the Deonandi scholar who spearheaded the movement, ultimately successful, to declare Qadianis non-Muslim it is worth noting that the Chairman of the Council of islamic ideology, Maulana raghib Hussain Naeemi, himself of the Barelvi school stated the orthodox position that only the government could declare anyone liable to be killed, or waajibul qatl There are two questions that the statement raises first, that assumes the state itself rules according to the sharia second the rule of law stressed a strongly by islam only applies if the judicial arm is considered part of the state authority
One of the purposes of the creation of Pakistan had been to avoid theory very weaponization of religion that is now being fought off The problem the government faces is shown by the figure of the CJP himself He presides over a system of law inherited from the raj There have been some grafts of the sharia on it, but the legal system remains basically that given by the British reconciling this with the wishes of the people which is to live their life according to the principles of islam, is not easy, but it is not impossible
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
F o u r t h N e t a n y a h u a d d r e s s t o c o n g r e s s
Is r a e l i Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu s visit to the Us to address a joint session of Congress provided us with a lot to digest it was his fourth such invitation more than any other world leader in history (surpassing the UK’s Winston Churchill who made the transatlantic trek to address Congress on three occasions) as was the case on the three earlier visits Netanyahu and the republican speaker of the House who had extended the invitation, each used the other to serve their own purposes speaker Michael Johnson sought to exploit Netanyahu’s address both to embarrass President Biden and to further the GOP’s effort to make support for israel a “wedge issue” in the upcoming election Netanyahu was only too willing to play along with Johnson s game as he has long viewed the republican Party (especially the 40 percent of the party who are right-wing “born-again” Christians) as a more reliable partner for israel than the more liberal-leaning american Jewish community This is why for the past several decades he has courted republican leaders and accepted three other GOP invitations to challenge Democratic presidents Clinton (over the Oslo Process) in 1995, and Obama in 2011 (over the 1967 borders) and in 2015 (over the iran nuclear deal) another factor in Netanyahu’s eagerness to speak to Congress was to demonstrate his mastery over Us politics to an israeli public that has turned against his rule Johnson may have scored a point toward his goal but it may prove to be a Pyrrhic victory The republicans turned out in force and gave the israeli PM scores of standing ovations during his one-hour oration But the speech was boycotted by more than one-quarter of the Democrats, with many of those who were in attendance sitting silently refusing to stand or applaud Netanyahu s speech itself was a startling mix of Herzlian colonialism and neoconservative Manichaeism echoing the racist rhetoric of Political Zionism s founder, Netanyahu opened his remarks calling the conflict a clash between barbarism and civilization,” and “between those who glorify death and those who sanctify life ” and like Herzl he described israel as both the West’s agent defending its interests in the Middle east and the civilizing agent
that would transform the region from being a backwater of oppression, poverty, and war into a thriving oasis of dignity prosperity and peace ” The neoconservative thread in Netanyahu’s remarks were also striking That political ideology which came to power during the reagan administration is a secularized version of a peculiar version of Christian evangelical thought Both share characteristics of Manichaeism: there are forces of absolute good and absolute evil in the world; not only is there no possibility of compromise between them in fact conflict is inevitable and necessary; and if fought with total commitment good will always triumph with evil ultimately eradicated During the reagan era, the evil was defined as the soviet Union and its allies in Netanyahu s view the source of all evil is iran and its allies No compromise is possible and diplomacy is seen as weakness and so his appeal to his allies in the West and the arab World is to join him in this cosmic battle against evil with
e c t e d A s H a r r i s p u t i t i n h e r
p o s t - m e e t i n g r e m a r k s , i t Ês n o l o n g e r c o r r e c t t o s e e t h i s c o n f l i c t a s
a „ b i n a r y c h o i c e ‰ T h e r e a r e n e e d s o n b o t h s i d e s t h a t mu s t b e m e t a n d t h ey c a n b e s t b e m e t t h ro u g h p e a c e a n d d i p l o m a .
Restoring integrit y and merit in spor ts leadership
and
marginalization and
The Taliban administration was overthrown by
coalition forces after
on
on
Center in
september 2001 and the Taliban withdrew to
areas following two
of
the Usa-led military withdrew from afghanistan on 30 august 2021, and the Taliban once again seized power This has raised concerns about the rise of an authoritarian regime that women fell prime victim in the oppressive society under Taliban One of the harshest regulations enforced by the Taliban is the ban on women attending education institutions The right to education has been taken away from over a million young women by the shutdown of secondary schools for females The Taliban has defended this prohibition which includes colleges and vocational training centres by claiming that it is against sharia law in addition to being a violation of fundamental human
only teach at the primary level, thousands of female teachers have lost their jobs according to reports in the afghan media, over 14,000 government positions occupied by female teachers have been abolished making it more difficult financially for several people Many women are in desperate situations experiencing extreme psychological stress as a result of their inability to work and support their families according to one publication, 47 percent of women reported having considerable psychological discomfort The war has significantly reduced the availability of health services particularly mental health treatments in afghanistan in addition to acute trauma afghan women also face interpersonal violence and patriarchal attitudes in their society Women may face further oppression in their pursuit of education, skill development, and property inheritance if they continue to adhere to traditional lifestyles and practices including early marriage and adolescent pregnancy The way the traditional court system func-
tions the lack of access to legal counsel and assistance and the irregular and unpredictable changes in governmental rules and regulations all contribute to the oppression of women Under the Taliban government, two afghan women are losing basic rights: school attendance is prohibited for girls wearing the burqa is mandatory long-distance travel is prohibited and access to public amenities is restricted The Taliban has issued numerous decrees that severely restrict women and girls from exercising their basic rights, including liberty, work, and education Those who protest against these oppressive measures face torture Despite women’s lack of voting rights and the non-implementation of a 1919 law intended to raise the marriage age from 18 to 21 years child marriages and rape cases continue to be commonplace strict dress standards apply to women, and they are not allowed to roam freely in public without a male partner The Ministry of Women’s affairs was abolished leaving women without any formal defence against oppression and violence Moreover the area has high rates of maternal and newborn mortality, and women are not allowed to participate in politics Many female activists have moved to neighbouring countries because of the difficult conditions, fearing for their safety
The systematic subjugation by the Taliban is terrible for afghan women and girls in general not just the younger generation it will also do irreversible harm to afghans in the future if left uncontrolled Boys who grow up in an environment that normalizes the dehumanization of women and girls may treat women poorly They are also more susceptible to radicalization which could plant the seeds for security issues that go beyond afghanistan s boundaries The future of afghanistan rests on the empowerment of its women for the stability and development of the nation, their work, education, and general well-being are crucial it is the duty of the international community to uphold the rights of afghan women and to hold the Taliban responsible for their deeds The predicament of afghan women continues to serve as a powerful reminder to the world community of the value of human rights and the necessity of international solidarity in the face of injustice although there will be many obstacles in the way there is hope for a better future for afghan women if activism and support don t stop
The author is an independent researcher who writes on issues concerning national and regional security, focusing on matters having critical impact in these milieus She can be reached at omayaimen333@gmail com
T h e f u t u r e o f A f g h a n i s t a n r e s t s o n t h e e m p ow e r m e n t o f i t s
wo m e n F o r t h e s t a b i l i t y a n d d ev e l o p m e n t o f t h e n a t i o n , t h e i r
wo r k , e d u c a t i o n , a n d g e n e r a l w e l l - b e i n g a r e c r u c i a l I t i s t h e
d u t y o f t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m mu n i t y t o u p h o l d t h e r i g h t s o f
A f g h a n wo m e n a n d t o h o l d t h e Ta l i b a n r e s p o n s i bl e fo r t h e i r d e e d s . T h e p r e d i c a m e n t o f A f g h a n wo m e n c o n t i nu e s t o s e r v e a s a p ow e r f u l r e m i n d e r t o t h e wo r l d c o m mu n i t y o f t h e va l u e o f h u m a n r i g h t s a n d t h e n e c e s s i t y o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l s o l i d a r i t y i n t h e f a c e o f i n j u s t i c e .
Tribal violence and crime
plea
WH i l e we in Pakistan are hurling accusations and threats at each other, india has quietly tightened its grip on indian-Occupied Kashmir and improved its standing along the 3500 Km disputed border by silently building a bridge on the rugged Himalayas gorge This bridge has successfully linked the Kashmir valley to the vast indian plains by train to achieve three strategic objectives: to further tighten its grip on indian-Occupied Kashmir, to contain Pakistan and to meet the perceived rising strategic threat from China
The bridge named Chenab rail Bridge is the highest of its kind in the world and has been hailed as a feat of engineering that will play a pivotal role in both peace and wartime, facilitating the movement of army personnel in larger numbers than was previously possible The 1 315-meter-long steel and concrete $24 million bridge connects two mountains with an arch 359 meters above the Chenab river, completing the vital link of the 272kilometer railway that begins in the garrison city of Udhampur, headquarters of the army’s Northern Command and runs through the region s capital srinagar it terminates a kilometer higher in altitude in Baramulla a gateway trade town near the line of Control with Pakistan The railway cost an estimated $3 9 billion and has been an immense undertaking, with construction beginning nearly three decades ago This bridge is the biggest civil engineering challenge faced by any railway project in india in recent times which would revolutionize logistics in ladakh bordering China, achieving a huge military advantage earlier, the indian military had to stockpile supplies, military equipment, and ammunition transported by road in ladakh for six months every year before the roads closed for winter With the construction of the bridge the military will have a year-long sustainable supply line This project will also give birth to several other road tunnel projects to connect Kashmir and ladakh, not far
Trying to change the status quo
from india s frontiers with China and Pakistan The completion of this vital bridge has given india a multitude of advantages across military, strategic, economic, political, and security dimensions Militarily, it enhances troop mobility and logistical efficiency, enabling rapid deployment and sustained supply lines in indian-Occupied Kashmir strategically it strengthens india s position against China and Pakistan acting as a deterrent and reinforcing territorial control economically, the bridge promotes regional development by attracting investment, boosting trade and enhancing tourism Politically it symbolizes national integration facilitates policy implementation and contributes to political stability by improving living standards security-wise, it bolsters disputed border monitoring and counter-insurgency operations, ensuring civilian safety and reinforcing india’s overall security posture in the region The Chenab rail Bridge represents a significant strategic development with farreaching implications for China-india relations, india-Pakistan dynamics, the Kashmiri struggle for freedom, and the broader south asian region This infrastructure project enhances india’s logistical and military capabilities in the region particularly along the contested borders with China By improving troop and equipment mobility india strengthens its defensive and offensive positions, signaling its readiness to counter any potential threats from China This develop-
ment not only increases india’s military readiness but also supports its broader strategy of counterbalancing China s influence in south asia it would also give much-needed impetus to the strategic interests of both the Usa and the West, which are supporting india and propping it as a counterbalance against China for india-Pakistan relations the Chenab rail Bridge exacerbates existing tensions particularly over the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir The improved infrastructure allows india to bolster its military presence in the area, which, in Pakistan’s view should be a direct threat to its security and territorial claims This increased militarization could lead to further conflicts and heightened diplomatic tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors Moreover, the international community may pay closer attention to the ongoing conflict in Kashmir, potentially influencing geopolitical dynamics and the involvement of global powers The Kashmiri population faces both opportunities and threats from the Chenab rail Bridge While improved infrastructure might bring economic benefits, there are significant concerns about demographic changes and the erosion of Kashmiri autonomy easier access to the region could lead to an influx of outsiders potentially marginalizing the local population and undermining their unique cultural and linguistic identity This development could intensify the resistance among Kashmiris, fueling their long-standing demand for self-determination and merger with Pakistan additionally, the increased militarization facilitated by the
bridge might lead to more human rights violations, drawing international condemnation and support for the Kashmiri cause in the broader context of south asia, the Chenab rail Bridge influences regional stability economic development and strategic alliances By enhancing india s strategic posture the project could destabilize the region by increasing military capabilities and heightening tensions with both Pakistan and China However, improved infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir could also foster economic growth through increased trade and connectivity within india and potentially
Pakistan should also intensify its international diplomacy to highlight that the construction of the Chenab Rail Bridg e in Indian-Occupied Kashmir is a direct violation of the UNSC resolutions By building such strategic infrastructure , India is unilaterally altering the status quo of the region, thereby undermining the spirit and intent of the UNSC resolutions, which call for maintaining the disputed nature of the territor y until a fair and impar tial plebiscite is conducted under UN auspices. This not only challeng es the legal and international status of Jammu and Kashmir but also raises significant concerns about IndiaÊs commitment to resolving the issue peacefully and in accordance with international law.
How the new Iran president could deliver change
Pezeshkian will cer tainly not be able to untangle the G ordian knot that is Iran’s nuclear policies, regional ac tivities, and ties to China and Russia
His drive for renewed diplomac y with the United States will be harder to push through, but he c an persuade K hamenei to suppor t talks and perhaps even approve a modest nuclear agreement
K hamenei ’s suppor t ser ves as a reminder that Pezeshkian is a creature of the Islamic Republic He will not cross the supreme leader, and his stated goal is to craf t a stable politic al centre
IN 2021, iran’s hard-line elites were triumphant Their chosen candidate ebrahim raisi had won the country s carefully staged election with more than 70 percent of the vote Their goal controlling all the country s levers of power in order to make islamist revolutionary fervor its perpetual mainstay was within reach But by the end of the following year, it was clear their agenda was in trouble The economy was in free fall and the hard-liners were failing at the basic tasks of governance The domain in which they appeared most effective enforcing mandatory veiling for women was making the state deeply unpopular When a young woman named Mahsa amini died at the hands of the morality police in september 2022, after being arrested for not wearing her hijab properly, iran was racked with protests staggering inflation and shrinking economic opportunities further infuriated iranians young and old The hard-liners seemed to have transformed nagging dissent into open revolt and so in May after raisi was killed in a helicopter crash, Khamenei saw a chance to correct course Unlike in 2021, Khamenei allowed a reformist, the parliamentarian Masoud Pezeshkian, to run for president Khamenei knew that if reformists were excluded voter turnout would be anemic leading to another spate of unified hard-line control that would erode the legitimacy of the islamic republic Pezeshkian then managed to secure a comfortable, if not overwhelming, victory Despite the failures of the raisi years, this win came as a surprise Most analysts expected that the supreme leader and his allies would maneuver to ensure that a conservative won office still to many observers Pezeshkian s victory is of little consequence Pezeshkian they maintain will not get far in advancing the cause of reform because he will be too weak and too constrained by the supreme leader The U s state Department, for example, dismissed his victory as inconsequential Nothing had changed, the department declared, because the elections had not been free and fair and because “a significant number of iranians chose not to participate at all ” in a sense this conclusion rings true Many candidates were barred from running Khamenei has the final say in most of iran s domestic and international policies, and he appears largely committed to conservative ideals furthermore, the hard-liners still retain significant power in parliament, the media, and various state institutions power they will use to resist fundamental change finally the incoming president
and yet future historians may still mark the 2024 election as the moment when the islamic republic decisively shifted not because Pezeshkian pursued sweeping reforms but because he managed to forge a more moderate islamist regime By moving away from both radical reform and revolutionary idealism Pezeshkian has shown that there is space in iran for a governing coalition made up of moderate reformists and moderate conservatives (as opposed to hard-line conservatives) one that is anchored in pragmatic governance in his campaign, Pezeshkian focused on small social and economic reforms designed to improve the daily lives of people most of which are achievable His drive for renewed diplomacy with the United states will be harder to push through but he can persuade Khamenei to support talks and perhaps even approve a modest nuclear agreement He could in other words move iran beyond the ideological battles that have defined its post-revolutionary history
COMPROMISE CANDIDATE: Today, iran stands at the zenith of its international influence The country and its network of allied militias are commanding newfound fear and respect in the Middle east Tehran s intense opposition to israel is winning it political support across the region The government s nuclear program is at its most expansive point yet, and the state is building alliances with China and russia to counteract the West These successes, however, contrast sharply with the despair felt by many iranians The country’s economy is flailing plagued by U s sanctions gross mismanagement growing corruption and inequality The population is increasingly fed up with conservative clerical leadership such discontent explains why amini s death prompted mass protests and why the demonstrations proved hard to subdue for Khamenei and many in his inner circle the protests served as a wake-up call They illustrated that the hard-liners had failed and that their leadership was unpopular and deeply destabilizing allowing Pezeshkian to run Khamenei apparently hoped might help give the islamic republic a new lease on life by demonstrating a degree of openness without posing much of a threat to the ruling order after all, few expected him to win at the time, Pezeshkian was a relatively obscure member of parliament, even within the already somewhat marginal reformist constituency iran’s moderate bloc featured other more popular candidates who wanted to run for president But they were all disqualified by the Guardian Council the group appointed by the supreme leader that vets candidates Yet once the campaign began, Pezeshkian found ways to make his case to the people Yet unlike some other long-standing officials, he has a reputation for being competent pious and graft free Part Kurdish and part azeri Pezeshkian was able to help bridge the ethnic fissures that afflict iranian society promising to address minority groups long-standing grievances
Critically, Pezeshkian proved to be the rare candidate who could unite iranians with different ideological beliefs He gained traction among some conservatives by pledging allegiance to Khamenei and promising not to try to change the islamic republic’s fundamental identity instead he said his goal was simply to make the daily lives of iranians better by reducing inflation improving governance, easing internet access, and no longer enforcing rigid strictures on women s dress He made a point of casting pragmatism as both a religious virtue and a political necessity
Pezeshkian of course still trailed among conservatives in the contest But he benefited from a rift between the pragmatic moderate conservatives and the dogmatic
hard-liners who had formed the raisi government During the election s first round moderate conservatives supported the candidacy of Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of parliament and a former islamic revolutionary Guard Corps (irGC) commander a small number also backed the cleric Mostafa Pourmohammadi The hard-liners meanwhile rallied to saeed Jalili the former secretary of iran s supreme National security Council During the first round the clashes between the moderate conservatives and Jalili s hard-liners were often caustic and personal Jalili dismissed Ghalibaf as an unserious “construction contractor” (a reference to Ghalibaf ’s tenure as mayor of Tehran and many involvements in construction schemes) Pourmohammadi launched stinging and damaging attacks on Jalili arguing that his policies cost iran billions of dollars in damages and new sanctions Khamenei and his irGC allies likely wanted Ghalibaf to be president irGC media outlets were replete with articles playing up Ghalibaf and criticizing Jalili They circulated photos of Ghalibaf alongside senior irGC commanders and spoke of his close friendship with irGC General Qasem soleimani who was killed in a U s strike in 2020 and remains a hero among conservatives But in the first round Ghalibaf was eliminated as was Pourmohammadi instead, Jalili, relying on the hardliner s political machine, advanced to a head-to-head matchup with Pezeshkian in response, many senior conservative stalwarts and former irGC commanders openly threw their weight behind Pezeshkian’s candidacy iranians concluded that this public conservative defection would not have happened without the supreme leader s quiet assent as a result a sizable chunk of Ghalibaf s and Pourmohammadi s voters among them Ghalibaf s campaign manager swung toward Pezeshkian On July 5, he won the presidency REALM OF THE POSSIBLE: Pezeshkian’s victory was no romp He defeated Jalili by ten percentage points and with record-low turnout The low turnout was thanks in large part to disaffected iranian women many of whom called for election boycotts During the first round of the election, barely 40 percent of eligible voters cast ballots in the runoffs, just over 50 percent did
But a win is a win and Pezeshkian may not need a large popular mandate to advance his agenda since his election he has made clear that his priorities are good governance and bridge building neither of which requires transformative political reforms in an effort to create greater transparency than previous administrations, for example, Pezeshkian’s transition team has established committees charged with selecting ministers based on management expertise and experience rather than loyalty Pezeshkian s team also appears to have prioritized increasing diversity in government according to media reports the incoming president has set selection criteria stipulating that 20 percent of cabinet members should be women, 60 percent should be under the age of 50, and 60 percent should not have previously served as ministers (although, in the name of experience he will appoint former government officials below the rank of ministers ) finally Pezeshkian wants his government to feature both reformists and conservatives fulfilling this last promise may prove to be difficult But the fact that he is making the effort to do so is a break from iran s fractious politics
Once his government is in place, Pezeshkian
Qamar bashir
N ’ S N I N T H P R E S I D E N T
influence of extremists, asserting that regional countries should not allow a few radical voices to misrepresent nearly two billion freethinking Muslims Islam is a religion of peace he said Furthermore he voiced a strong desire for a world where the Palestinian people are liberated from occupation and oppression a world where “no Palestinian child’s dreams are buried under the rubble of their homes” On the domestic front Pezeshkian outlined the goals of his administration promising to prioritize sustainable development, economic strength, and improving living standards of the Iranian people
Tuesday’s ceremony was attended by senior officials from several countries including Armenia Tajikistan Egypt Sudan Iraq Turkey Saudi Arabia Azerbaijan, Cuba and Brazil Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also arrived in Tehran to attend the event European Union envoy Enrique Mora was also present Regional Iran-backed allies were also in attendance namely Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and the head of the Islamic Jihad Ziyad al-Nakhalah
Lebanon s Hezbollah movement was represented by the group s deputy secretary general Naim Qassem while Yemen’s Houthi rebels sent spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam ‘DEATH TO ISRAEL’ Haniyeh and Nakhalah whose groups have been fighting Israel in the Gaza Strip, met with Khamenei and Pezeshkian
“Supporting the cause of the oppressed Palestinian nation will continue with strength and no factor can disrupt our will in this direction said Pezeshkian in a Monday statement Tuesday s swearing-in ceremony cam amid concerns of war between Israel and Lebanon s Hezbollah following a rocket attack from Lebanon on Saturday on the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights Israel has accused Hezbollah of responsibility for the attack that killed 12 children but the Iran-backed Lebanese group has denied any involvement During Tuesday s ceremony, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf gave a speech lambasting what he called Israel’s “crimes” in Gaza Some Iranians present in parliament chanted: Death to Israel Death to America Iran has made support for the Palestinian cause a centrepiece of its foreign policy since the 1979 Islamic revolution
and hailed Hamas s October 7 attack on Israel Iran s president is not head of state, and the ultimate authority rests with the supreme leader a post held by Khamenei for the last 35 years
On Monday Pezeshkian warned Israel against attacking Lebanon saying such an act would have heavy consequences Since his election, Iran s new president has reaffirmed support for the socalled “axis of resistance”, Tehran-aligned groups such as Hezbollah and the Houthis that support Hamas against arch-foe Israel Pezeshkian was the only candidate representing Iran s reformist camp allowed to stand in Iran s presidential election, for which all contenders were approved by the conservative-dominated Guardian Council During his campaign the former health minister had vowed to try and revive a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers which collapsed in 2018 after the United States unilaterally withdrew from agreement The deal gave Iran sanctions relief in return for curbing its nuclear activity Pezeshkian has recently called for constructive relations with European countries even though he accused them of reneging on commitments to mitigate the impact of renewed US sanctions
China urges Japan to expedite disposal of abandoned chemical weapons
CPC leadership sets out economic priorities for H2 2024
observers said Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting of the committee s Political Bureau The remarks are very positive and encouraging as they mirror the CPC leadership s firm resolution to pursue a high-quality development path and sufficient macroeconomic policy maneuvers to enable the country to overcome potential economic headwinds Chinese and foreign scholars said The CPC Central Committee has held a symposium with nonCPC personages to seek opinions and suggestions on the country s current economic situation and economic work for the second half of the year, the Xinhua News Agency reported Xi presided over the symposium and delivered an important speech on Friday
The policy focuses laid out by the recent gatherings have rallied broad confidence on the growth prospects for the
world s second-largest economy with some foreign economists lauding that the measures will ensure the continued success of China s economic miracle in the years to come and offer a sense of continuity and certainty to a world that is growing more complex and volatile Scholars noted that China s economic plans could encourage other Global South countries to follow an independent development path, which in many ways could facilitate the developing countries to “leapfrog to more advanced levels ” According to the meeting the tasks of reform development and stability in the second half of the year are very important and it is necessary to fully implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC and the spirit of the second and third plenums It acknowledged the downsides of the economy including more adverse impacts from changes in the external environment and that effective domestic demand remains insufficient There are still risks and potential dangers in major sectors, as well as challenges resulting from the replacement of traditional growth drivers with new ones
However it noted that those are all issues in the course of development and transformation The meeting called for efforts to raise the awareness of risks, to be prepared to deal with worst-case scenarios, and maintain strategic resolve and confidence in the country’s development
The 20th Central Committee of the CPC adopted a resolution on further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization at its third plenary session The resolution, with economic structural reform as the spearhead, includes more than 300 important reform measures all of which involve reforms across systems mechanisms and institutions In line with the tradition this key meeting is usually held at midyear, when the CPC leadership will update its assessment of economic conditions and finetune economic development plans to guarantee that the objectives listed in the annual Government Work Report will be delivered on time
Analysts stressed that the convenings of the series of tone-setting meetings, which lay out both short-term and longterm policy frameworks, play a pivotal role in stabilizing social expectations and bolstering confidence in China s growth outlook at home and abroad China s GDP expanded 5 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2024, meeting the annual growth target of around 5 percent
Investors have been keenly gauging how the epoch-making meeting will provide policy clues for the second half of 2024 According to them the wording of the meeting sends a very positive signal that the country has an abundant policy toolkit to sustain a recovery trajectory that will hit the annual GDP target
CORPORATE CORNER
Role of Green Taxonomy for Sustainable Investment
Heav y showers trigger flooding, road disruptions across Pakistan ISLAMABAD S TA
The Met Department has issued warnings of potential flooding in multiple regions of Pakistan due to heavy rains Areas at risk include Azad Kashmir northeast Punjab upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Koh-eSulaiman and the adjacent hills of Balochistan
The department also cautioned about possible inundation in the low-lying areas of lower Sindh, south Punjab, Peshawar, and Karachi Rain with strong winds and thunder is anticipated in Islamabad and its surrounding areas while rainfall is also expected in regions such as Chitral Dir Swat Abbottabad Mansehra Haripur Buner Malakand Bajaur, Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera, Peshawar, Mohmand, Kohat, and Dera Ismail Khan Additional areas forecast for rain include Murree, Galiyat, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin Gujrat Lahore Gujranwala Sialkot Sheikhupura Kasur Sargodha Mianwali Faisalabad Jhang DG Khan Bhakkar Multan Khanewal Rahim Yar Khan Zhob Shirani Musakhel, Barkhan, Kohlu, Loralai, Sibbi, Harnai, Ziarat, Quetta, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Dera Bugti, Jaffarabad, Kalat, Khuzdar, Turbat, Panjgur, Karachi Hyderabad Shaheed Benazirabad Sukkur Khairpur Larkana Tharparkar Umarkot Sanghar Mithi Thatta Badin Jamshoro and Dadu
of leading a campaign against the judiciary Speaking to the media in Islamabad, Chaudhary claimed that court decisions are being routinely
disrespected and obstructed
Chaudhary stated that he had heard about Shehbaz Sharif ’s intention to address the National Assembly regarding the judiciary s conduct He warned that such a speech by the Prime Minister would constitute a violation of the constitution and could lead to Shehbaz Sharif ’s disqualification for mocking judicial decisions He further alleged that PML-N
members, including Maryam Nawaz and other MNAs and MPs, are actively undermining the judiciary contributing to increased uncertainty in the country
Chaudhary highlighted that Pakistan is currently facing political and economic crises, and now a judicial crisis has been added to the mix, with Shehbaz
PM takes charge of new c abinet
committee on overseas Pakistanis ’ issues
ISLAMABAD S TA F F
P
R T Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has established a cabinet committee dedicated to resolving the challenges faced by overseas Pakistanis The committee will be led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif himself According to the Secretary of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the committee will include Federal Ministers from several key departments including Overseas Pakistanis Education Foreign Affairs Interior Health Industry and Production and Trade Additionally the National Coordinator of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the
Governor of the State Bank, the Executive Director of Neotech, and the Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) will also be part of this high-level committee This move aims to streamline efforts and create effective solutions to improve the welfare and support for overseas Pakistanis
