JCP ALLOWS ACTING CHIEF JUSTICES OF HIGH COURTS TO ‘CONTINUE SERVING TOP ROLES’
s ta f f r e p o r t
TH E Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on Tuesday de-
cided to allow the acting chief justices of all the four high courts to continue serving in the top roles according to a statement issued by the Supreme Court
The JCP, convened with Justice Yahya Afridi, held four consecutive meetings to make a decision related to the appointments and reached a consensus in each meeting to allow the acting chief justices to continue serving in the top roles the SC statement said It added that subsequently letters were issued to the prime minister s principal secretary, informing the government about the nominations and requesting the forwarding of the same to the president for their appointment
by an oath-taking ceremony by mid-July On Saturday, President Asif Ali Zardari had already formally declared Justice Dogar the “senior-most judge” of the IHC following the issuance of a revised seniority list by the Ministry of Law and Justice g
The letters said that Justice Sarfraz Dogar was nominated as the new chief justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Rozi Khan Barrech as the chief justice for the Balochistan High Court (BHC), Justice Syed Muhammad Attique Shah for the Peshawar High Court, and Justice Junaid Ghaffar for the Sindh High Court (SHC) Justice S M Atiq Shah second on the seniority list of Peshawar High Court judges was selected over other candidates including Justice Ejaz Anwar and Justice Arshad Ali, after a thorough evaluation However, the appointment faced opposition from Supreme Court Justices Mansoor Ali Shah and Munib Akhtar as well as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa s Law Minister and two PTI-nominated JCP members Justice Mansoor Ali Shah raised objections during the meeting, arguing that decisions on the 26th Constitutional Amendment should take precedence Jus-
tice Munib Akhtar, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Law Minister, and the two PTI members supported this stance Despite the dissent the majority vote secured Justice Shah s appointment with the President of Pakistan expected to issue a formal notification soon, followed
AURANGZEB URGES JUST FINANCIAL REFORMS, UNVEILS
duced disasters Pakistan was advancing wide-ranging domestic reforms He introduced Pakistan s new five-year National Economic Transformation Plan titled Uraan Pakistan , anchored in five core pillars: Exports, E-Pakistan, Environment, Energy and Infrastructure, and Equity He explained that through
visions, the gap narrowed to Rs178 billion
In June, the FBR collected Rs1 499 trillion missing the monthly target of Rs1 664 trillion by Rs166 billion However June s collection was 26%
Despite
address fiscal gaps The final budgetary shortfall stands at Rs1 176 trillion but after the downward re-
Govt abolishes elec tricity duty on bills, offers relief to consumers
bills Starting July 2025 electricity duty will no longer be collected through bills Leghari requested provincial governments to explore alternative methods for collecting provincial levies and duties He expressed confidence that this change will make electricity bills clearer and easier for consumers to understand ensuring that they only pay for the cost of electricity The minister also sought cooperation from the chief ministers in identifying and implementing alternative revenue collection methods to support the success of this initiative
Tdecision aimed at curbing market distortions comes after exporters were found circumventing previous anti-dumping measures on galvanized steel by slightly altering the product
The NTC s action follows its first-ever anticircumvention investigation, which found that Galvalume steel coated with a mixture of zinc and aluminum was essentially the same as galvanized steel but not initially covered under anti-dumping duties
This modification allowed foreign exporters to bypass the tariffs imposed on galvanized steel, which had been set between 6 09% and 40 47% in 2017 The decision is hailed as a milestone in Pakistan’s
trade remedy efforts with industry leaders praising it as a victory for fair competition and rule-based trade The imposition of the new duty aims to close the loophole that allowed the circumvention ensuring that the local steel industry no longer suffers from reduced market share and suppressed prices
The NTC’s investigation, which covered steel products with a thickness between 0 15 mm to 2 75 mm, found that Galvalume products had the same physical and chemical characteristics and production methods as the previously targeted galvanized steel The commission s findings confirmed that these products were undermining the effectiveness of trade remedies, leading to further injury to the domestic market Industry officials expressed satisfaction with the NTC’s ruling emphasizing that it will provide relief to key local steel manufacturers They said that the imposition of this duty is expected to protect local sales volumes counteract unfair imports and reinforce Pakistan s commitment to enforcing international trade laws
PR OFIT
s ta f f r e p o r t The Competition Appellate
It was 2006 and tim Kaine had recently won the Virginia gubernatorial election I was at a meeting at Democratic Party headquarters with a group of party officials One opined I believe that one of the lessons we should learn from tim Kaine s victory was that we need to talk more about our religion Kaine did and he won We should do it too Over the month that followed, I observed that same official on tV and at public events awkwardly and uncomfortably talking about religion Finally at our next meeting I decided to speak with him I held back last month and didn t challenge your observation about tim Kaine s victory But I need to tell you that I don t believe he won because he talked about religion He won because he was authentic Because his religion is an important part of his identity, he had to talk about it and he did so comfortably After listening to you over the past few weeks it s clear that religion isn t an important part of your life and so when you try to force it you sound inauthentic Please only talk about who you are I was reminded of this incident after watching Zohran Mamdani’s victory in New York City’s Democratic Party primary election Over the next few days the pundits and consultants had a field day giving selfserving explanations for his win One who s been pushing the party to support young candidates to challenge its old guard, said, Mamdani won because he s young We need more young candidates to defeat old-timers ” A consultant who earns his living designing messaging for poll-driven candidates noted Mamdani’s victory is “a great example of how far you can go if you genuinely centre your campaign in an engaging way around the issue that voters overwhelmingly say in surveys they care the most about Still others pointed to his main opponent s record of sexual harassment, corruption, and cronyism there was also the fact that instead of relying on millions of dollars in tV ads Zohran Mamdani directly engaged with tens of thousands of voters up close and personal Last but not least there were those who said that he won because of his avowedly progressive socialist agenda calling for free public transportation, rent freeze, free childcare, and city-owned grocery stores in underserved areas While all of the above may, to varying degrees, be true, even adding all of them together would be insufficient to account for Mamdani s striking victory the reason Zohran Mamdani won was because he was authentic and unflappable He was comfortable in his own skin, unapologetic about his deeply held beliefs, and able to be direct and honest with the
media and voters with whom he engaged In this same vein it was refreshing to see him field questions about statements he had made about Israel and Palestinian rights Most other candidates I ve known, when put in that position, hesitate and shift uncomfortably in their seats trying to recall how their “advisors” told them to handle tough questions When they respond they offer an incoherent word salad that reeks of inauthenticity and satisfies no one Not so with Mamdani When questioned about his positions on Israel or Palestinian rights he answers directly without hesitation, neutralizing the issue not with confusion, but with clarity and honesty Look at these two quotes from his election night victory speech “I promise you will not always agree with me but I will never hide from you If you are hurting I will
Because the DemocratsÊ consultant class will cower in the face of this onslaught, they will apply pressure on Zohran Mamdani tr ying to convince him to tamp down his progressive ag enda and back off his suppor t for Palestinians They will want to neuter him by inviting him to „join the fold‰ of consultant-driven mush-mouthed politicians
Zoomer hustle
led to an increased demand for artificial cooling as well the shortage of water, food security, health risks and increasing demand for energy may result in climate change-induced migration to the adjacent provinces and could create serious sociopolitical issues and social unrest the Northern region in the province was well-known for its abundant fruit and dense tree cover which provided a variety of fruits and the Quetta city used to be called the fruit basket of the country However the previous five to six years have seen a significant decrease in the amount of tree cover due to changes in temperature and a decrease in the amount of water available Some districts of Balochistan are also prone to flooding including Naseerabad, Jaffarabad, Lasbela, Jal Magsi, Bolan (Kachhi), Khuzdar, Qila Saifullah and Qila Abdullah these areas
get floods every year, albeit, the severity varies depending on the region each year, severe flooding causes thousands of people to be displaced and affected the coastline of Balochistan which is about 70 percent of Pakistan s coastline is vulnerable to the rise in sea level this may result in cyclonic activities and saltwater intrusion into groundwater, affecting fisheries, coastal ecosystem, and livelihoods Balochistan remains disproportionately susceptible to the adverse effects of climate change due to its unique socio-economic and environmental vulnerabilities these are further exacerbated by insufficient infrastructure limited technological capabilities, and socio-economic constraints Balochistan must contend with a dual imperative, addressing the immediate impacts of climate change while simultaneously tackling deep seated structural deficiencies emerging threats such as escalating food insecurity and water shortages enhancing Balochistan s climate resilience requires the mainstreaming of adaptation measures into provincial development frameworks, the strengthening of institutional capacities, and the adoption of inclusive, community centered resource management practices Investing in clean energy solutions which represents a pivotal opportunity to mitigate the multifaceted impacts of climate change while advancing sustainable development and improving the socio-economic conditions of the region s population
The author is Research Officer at Balochistan Think Tank Network Quetta He can be reached at muneebnasar@yahoo com
Enhancing BalochistanÊs climate resilience requires the mainstreaming of adaptation measures into provincial development frameworks, the strengthening of institutional capacities, and the adoption of inclusive , community centered resource manag ement practices. Investing in clean energy solutions, which represents a pivotal oppor tunity to mitigate the multifaceted impacts of climate chang e while advancing sustainable development and improving the socio-economic.
Targeting the vulnerable
Muneeb ur rahMan
When the river rises
policy and warnings; Provincial and District Disaster Management Authorities must translate those warnings into local action closing hazard zones evacuating people training communities, and preparing rapid response teams Yet when rain began swelling the Swat River the picnic spots stayed open There were no barriers no community policing to clear riverbanks no visible signage or onthe-ground drills Helicopters arrived late Bystanders filmed instead of rescuing because there was no coordinated plan This is not just administrative negligence it is a breach of the Constitution THE LAW DEMANDS PROTECTION: Article 9 of Pakistan s Constitution guarantees the right to life In Shehla Zia v WAPDA (1994), the Supreme Court confirmed that this includes a clean and safe environment Justice Saleem Akhtar held that “Any action taken which may create hazards of life will be encroaching upon the personal rights of a citizen to enjoy the life according to law In our view the word life constitutionally is so wide that the danger and encroachment complained of would impinge fundamental right of a citizen ” This principle was deepened by the Lahore High Court in Asghar Leghari v Federation (2015) which found the government s failure to implement its climate policy an unconstitutional breach of citizens rights Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah held that the delay and lethargy of the State in implementing the Framework on Climate Change offends the fundamental rights of the citizens ” The Court created a Climate Change Commission to ensure that climate adaptation is not left to dusty files and empty promises
Most recently, Parliament embedded this further through the introduction of Article 9A, which now directly guarantees every cit-
izen’s right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment an explicit constitutional mandate for climate-safe governance When a tragedy like Swat occurs despite advanced warnings clear hazard mapping and a functioning legal framework, it shows a failure not of law but of will The state s international obligations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement reinforce this domestic duty to protect vulnerable communities through adaptation and disaster preparedness
responsibilities: NDMA coordinates
WHEN India s 2024 general election results were announced a year ago, they surprised almost everyone The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party which was expected to win its third straight parliamentary majority took less than 240 of the country s 545 seats Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised his supporters a supermajority in parliament; instead, he was forced into a coalition with other parties It is the first time Modi has ever had to depend on politicians from outside the BJP to prop up his government
The election results were naturally celebrated by India s opposition They were also celebrated by millions of ordinary Indians who have been repressed by Modi s Hindu nationalist policies As prime minister, Modi revoked the special status of Indian Occupied Kashmir, the country’s only Muslim-majority state He enacted a series of citizenship laws that discriminate against Muslims And his government constructed a temple to Ram on the site of a former mosque in Ayodhya the mythical birthplace of the eponymous hero of a Hindu epic Modi s most recent campaign celebrated these achievements, and the prime minister engaged in the trademark Muslim-baiting and Islamophobia that helped him decisively win previous elections When he then failed to sweep the 2024 contest liberals concluded there were limits to Hindu nationalism The BJP they thought might finally be losing its grip over the country It is true that the election diminished Modi The prime minister s personal charisma, traditionally considered an invaluable asset, appears to have lost some of its sway But the BJP has won most of the regional elections that have taken place since the national one, including in places where it was expected to lose It has done so without moderating its Hindu nationalist stance Instead its shift was tactical Rather than relying on Modi it began depending more on the 100-year-old Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh its parent body and India s overarching Hindu nationalist organization In many ways, this is a return to the norm The RSS exercised control over the BJP until Modi won an overwhelming victory in 2014 Although Modi is still ideologically beholden to the body his political popularity ensured that he did not have to answer to it Unlike previous BJP leaders, he did not travel to the RSS headquarters to meet the organization s leader Instead, the RSS chief came to him But no more: in March, Modi made a pilgrimage to the organization’s headquarters for the first time since becoming prime minister The most recent state election campaigns
port It is
ever It has
mobilized It is thus well prepared to dominate India for years to come, no matter who its leader is Modi, it seems, is a mere mortal But the RSS isn’t
CASTE CONSOLIDATION: At first blush the 2024 Indian elections looked rather straightforward The BJP lost 63 seats Its primary rival, the Indian National Congress, gained 47 The country, then, appeared to be like any of the other states around the world where incumbents struggled But most of the Congress party’s pickups came at the expense of smaller parties not by flipping BJP seats In fact the BJP was not pushed back in any region where it was in a one-to-one contest with the Congress Instead the BJP lost almost half its seats in a single state, Uttar Pradesh, where it was bested by the regional Samajwadi Party It lost those seats not because of mass anger at Hindu nationalism but because the Samajwadi Party mastered the BJP’s own template Over the last 20 years the BJP has consolidated India s smaller and less dominant castes into an electoral coalition by giving them a small measure of political power, something the Congress did not manage to do in its decades in power The BJP accomplished this by sealing alliances with the smaller political parties that represent these castes and by providing lower-caste peoples with some electoral representation in its own ranks The BJP then merged these so-called backward castes with its high-caste base creating an electoral juggernaut that was hard for any opponent to beat But the Samajwadi Party did it by providing space within its own ranks for backward-caste leaders and giving a substantial number of tickets to backward-caste candidates It thus flipped dozens of seats The Congress however failed to appreciate this Instead it treated 2024 as a vindication and changed nothing as it geared up for state-level contests In the October elections held in the northern state of Haryana, for instance, the Congress put all its money on earning the support of a single, dominant farming caste the Jats The BJP, meanwhile consolidated its old coalition of backward castes rallying them in opposition The party won 48 out of 90 seats in Haryana s parliament more than it had before while the Congress won just 37 It was a major upset Notably the BJP s campaign in Haryana made little mention of Modi The prime minister s face was not in all the party’s posters, as it usually is The BJP’s slogans and proposals were not built around Modi’s speeches, as they typically are Instead the party relied on a substantial grassroots effort by the RSS to consolidate castes and turn out votes RSS apparatchiks worked in small neighborhoods across the state mobilizing voters Before the elections, the RSS replaced the incumbent BJP chief minister who hailed from a dominant urban caste with a politician from a marginalized one These efforts ultimately pushed the BJP to victory checking momentum against the party after its national setback The BJP followed a similar template to win the November elections in Maharashtra India s second-largest state Once again, the party consolidated the country s various castes into a single electoral bloc Once again, it did so not by relying on Modi but on the RSS (which is headquartered there) Then, in February of this year, the party won in Delhi The victory in the capital was particularly notable: Delhi is India s biggest metropolitan
city, and as such, it usually follows different political patterns than does most of the country But the RSS was able to import the caste politics of rural regions to dislodge the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party which had won the prior two contests by focusing on education and health while adopting a flexible approach to Hindu fundamentalism (The BJP was also aided by the Congress, which needlessly divided the anti-BJP vote by running candidates in almost all of the city’s constituencies ) The BJP of course does not solely depend on grassroots mobilization to win elections The party has also advantaged itself by taking authoritarian measures cowing media outlets harassing opponents and exercising ever greater sway over India s Election Commission After seizing control of the commission appointments process and stacking it with loyalists, the body began picking voting dates and schedules that benefit Hindu nationalist candidates The Election Commission has also become increasingly opaque ducking questions about voter rolls and registration But these factors were all present in the 2024 national election where the BJP underperformed The recent wins thus mark a bigger organizational triumph
MEET THE NEW BOSS, SAME AS THE OLD
BOSS: The Delhi Haryana and Maharashtra elections have shown that the decline of Modi is not the decline of Hindu nationalism They have also reset the movement s internal power politics Modi may still be the face of Hindu nationalism But the RSS is now in command It will not be subservient to the prime minister or to any one person The RSS is likely happy with this reversion The RSS helped create the BJP in the early 1980s and it steered the party for most of its history Modi began his career as an RSS apparatchik before being sent by the organization to work for the BJP It was not until he as prime minister, built a powerful electoral base that he was free to ignore the RSS chief and, eventually, direct the organization This arrangement yielded dividends for the RSS as Modi made
Noor Zafar
Rs16 billion has been estimated for the establishment of medical colleges in Narowal Okara and Layyah A plan to establish burn units in Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan at a cost of Rs4 billion is also being made part of the current budget Rs 7 billion has been allocated for the establishment of a teaching hospital in
Sialkot, while Rs 8 5 billion has been estimated for the establishment of a children’s hospital in Rawalpindi It is a matter of great pride and mention that for the first time in the history of Punjab a huge amount of Rs 79 5
and “ethical standards” among ministers “The
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Court has made its ruling said a statement ‘CRITICAL DILUTION’ Paetongtarn s Pheu Thai party has already been abandoned by a key conservative coalition partner over the scandal and thousands protested against her leadership in Bangkok over the weekend Thailand’s king on Tuesday approved Paetongtarn s cabinet reshuffle after her allies quit She assigned herself the culture minister
forging a Chinese path of leveraging marine resources to achieve strength
It was noted at the meeting that the basic requirement for advancing the building of a unified national market is to unify underlying market institutions market infrastructure government conduct regulatory enforcement and markets of production factors and resources, while continuously expanding and opening up both internally and externally
Efforts must be made to regulate enterprises’ disorderly price competition by laws and regulations standardize government procurement as well as tendering and bidding processes regulate local governments investment attraction practices and facilitate sales of export-oriented products in the domestic market
It is also imperative to improve fiscal and taxation systems, statistics and accounting systems, and credit systems to foster a unified national market, and to refine evaluation frameworks for high-quality development and a system for assessing officials performance
To promote the high-quality development of the marine economy there should be a greater focus on innovation-driven growth, efficient coordination, industrial renewal, harmony between humans and the sea, and win-win cooperation, according to the meeting It also emphasized increasing policy support and encouraging private capital participation in the marine economy C
CORPORATE CORNER
CM MARYAM ORDERS ESTABLISHMENT
Fatima Fertilizer’s Sarsabz Tabeer launches healthcare initiative in collaboration with MASH, Punjab Gov t
As part of its ongoing commitment to empower rural women and female farmers, Fatima Fertilizer, under its flagship Sarsabz Tabeer initiative, has launched a new health-focused intervention in collaboration with Mukhtar A Sheikh Memorial Welfare Hospital (MASH) and the Government of Punjab The first Free Medical Camp under this new health initiative was successfully held on June 26th at THQ Hospital Kehrorpaka, Lodhran, targeting underserved communities where access to quality healthcare remains a challenge The camp provided free medical consultations and medicines to a total of 400 participants including female farmers children and their families with a panel of specialists from various fields, including Gynecology, Pediatrics, Nephrology, Family Medicine, Neurology, and Ophthalmology The event was attended by Multan Division Commissioner Amir Kareem Khan Assistant Commissioner Ashraf Saleh Khan and Babar Khan Marketing Head who led the camp on behalf of MASH along with Noor Malik Brand Manager at Fatima Fertilizer
Zafar Masud runs through emotional moments of his sur vival from PIA’ plane crash in SSGC’s Pinnacle-Talks
ISLAMABAD
s ta f f r e p o r t
SSGC s Corporate Communication Department (CCD) launched an exclusive speakers session entitled Pinnacle-Talks in front of a packed house in its head office auditorium Pinnacle-Talks is designed to feature high profile personalities who will share their success stories with SSGC’s employees The inaugural session of PinnacleTalks featured Mr Zafar Masud President and CEO of Bank of Punjab One of Pakistan s most accomplished business leaders, with around 30 years of proven succession development finance, energy, corporate governance, and management, Mr Masud wrote ‘SEAT IC’ an inspiring book based on the ordeal of PIA’s flight 8303 crash in Karachi on May 22 2020 in which he miraculously escaped death along with a young man named Zubair This first session of PinnacleTalks began with a welcome address by SSGC s Chairperson, Dr Shamshad Akhtar, NI who described Mr Masud as a true Pakistani
Pakistan’s first multi-brand dining destination ‘The Commune’ launched
Minister highlights Pakistan’s reform-driven agricultural strategy at Global FAO Forum
s
f f r e p o r t Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Mr Rana Tanveer Hussain, represented Pakistan today at the 44th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Conference held in Rome Addressing a high-level gathering of international delegates the Minister reaffirmed Pakistan s unwavering commitment to developing sustainable, climate-resilient, and inclusive agrifood systems that not only ensure national food security but also contribute to global efforts in eradicating hunger malnutrition and poverty In his address Mr Hussain stated that Pakistan is undergoing wide-ranging national reforms aimed at modernizing its agricultural sector These reforms focus on enhancing food safety standards, promoting innovation, encouraging crop diversification, and empowering smallholder farmers The Minister highlighted that these measures are designed to create a more equitable and robust food system that improves nutrition supports livelihoods and ensures long-term food security for all While reflecting on the broader global context, the Minister emphasized that food security and environmental sustainability are universal challenges that require collective responses He noted that Pakistan values international cooperation as a key pillar in its agricultural development strategy By sharing knowledge aligning with global best practices and learning from other nations Pakistan aims to contribute meaningfully to global food governance and resilience-building efforts
GOVT HAS DECIDED TO ENHANCE WATER STORAGE CAPACIT Y DUE TO INDIA’S ACTIONS: PM SHEHBA Z
SC rejects PTI’s request for reser ved seats order
ISLAMABAD N e w s D e s k
The Supreme Court has denied an application by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) requesting the issuance of an Order of the Court’ signed by 12 judges The order, which was posted on the Supreme Court’s website, was a subject of dispute as PTI counsel Hamid Khan and Salman Akram Raja had sought a certified copy A court official advised the advocate on record (AOR) to
‘Another Milestone’: Pakistan assumes rotating presidenc y of UNSC
Pakistan achieved another milestone on the diplomatic front as Islamabad assumed the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the month of July, according to a Foreign Office statement issued on Tuesday Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also confirmed the development in a post on X that comes weeks after Pakistan was named vice-chair of the United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) Counter-Terrorism Committee Under the role Pakistan is tasked with overseeing implementation of resolution 1373 (2001) concerning international anti-terror efforts
Today, Pakistan assumes the presidency of the UN Security Council for July 2025, during its 8th term (2025–26) as an elected member of the UNSC ” FM Dar stated in a post on X Pakistan takes on this responsibility with humility conviction and profound commitment to the UN Charter, international law, and multilateralism,” the FM added while further highlighting that the country’s role as UNSC president comes at a time of escalating conflicts and humanitarian crises across the world
We will strive to steer the Security Council towards responsive and effective action grounded in dialogue diplomacy and peaceful dispute resolution he remarked
Back in January, Pakistan had begun its eighth term for two years (2025-26) as a non-permanent member of the 15-member body
The UNSC has 15 members five of which Britain China France Russia and the United States are permanent ones The 10 non-permanent seats of the Council are allocated by geographic region, with five replaced each year
The key UN body is considered to be the most powerful body of the United Nations The council which is tasked to maintain international peace and security, can make legally binding decisions and has the power to impose sanctions and authorize the use of force against states
