Imran’s sons applied for visas, new NICOPs after losing their old ones: Aleema RAWALPINDI
Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOPs)
This is a lie Imran Khan has stopped his children from coming to Pakistan The only issue they are facing is that their NICOP cards have lost His children have applied for new NICOPs and visas ” Aleema told reporters outside Adiala Jail on Saturday A day earlier In a statement shared on X Aleema revealed that Sulaiman and Kasim had submitted their visa applications a few days ago She said the High Commission had confirmed receipt of the applications and conveyed that their approval was pending with the Ministry of Interior However Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry has raised questions regarding the nationality status of former prime minister Imran Khan s children citing Aleema s earlier statement that the children hold National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) Responding to her post on X, Chaudhry said, “You previously stated that the children hold NICOPs If that is true they do not require visas to enter Pakistan If they do need visas that means they are not Pakistani Nationals What is the real truth behind it all? Further speaking on the matter outside Adiala Jail, Aleema added that she had the tracking numbers of the visa applications,
and greater people-to-people exchanges Dr Pezeshkian arrived earlier in Lahore, where PML-N
Aurangzeb and Punjab Information Minister
‘Clear message’ conveyed to gandapur not to allow any operation in Kp: imran Khan
S ta f f R e p o R t
Incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan has conveyed a clear message to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, asking him not to allow any military operation in the province or its tribal areas it appeared on Saturday In a message from Imran posted today on his X account, which is not operated by him, the former prime minister said, “I convey a clear message to Ali Amin that the federation must not be allowed to conduct another military operation in KP and the tribal areas Earlier this week, security forces launched Operation Sarbakaf ’ against terrorists in Bajaur ’s Lowi Mamund tehsil and imposed a three-day curfew in the region
However a day later the PK government led by Ali Gandapur and his party strongly opposed any military operation, terming the move as an overstepping of the constitutional limits But the next day, CM Gandapur appeared to have thrown full weight behind a targeted operation against militants His statement came in complete contrast to the one issued on Tuesday night following a PTI parliamentary meeting, in which he vowed to take stringent measures such as the withdrawal of the Action in Aid of Civil Power Regulations 2011
Though CM Gandapur took a U-turn, his party, the ruling PTI, had denounced the Bajaur operation, alleging that the decision bypassed the constitutionally elected government and it was nothing but a dangerous replay of past mistakes Confrontation between the
army and the people destroys the institution of the army Operations are not a solution to any problem Issues should be resolved through dialogue in accordance with the system there Afghanistan is our Muslim neighbouring country Relations with them should also be improved, and issues should be addressed through discussions
Responding to the party founder ’s instruction from his personal account Gandapur said that keeping in mind Imran s thinking he had hosted today the first of several jirgas on restoring law and order in the province
Similarly, media reports claimed that PTI founder Imran Khan has criticized Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur suggesting that he should resign if he fails to maintain law and order in the province, according to sources
“If Ali Amin Gandapur cannot restore peace he should step down reports quoted the PTI founder as saying He further remarked that if
Gandapur is unable to resolve governance issues, someone else should be given a chance Privileges reinstated Meanwhile sources added that the PTI founder s jail privileges have been reinstated including access to books and newspapers Additionally, he was allowed a one-hour phone conversation with his children on the previous day He reportedly told prison officials that his children are welcome to visit him However he learned during the phone call that their National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOPs) had expired Imran, as per sources, said he had never asked his children to come to Pakistan for political protests Pakistan witnessed a surge in terror activities particularly in its Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan provinces, since the return of Taliban rulers in Afghanistan in 2021
At least 476 incidents of terrorism were reported across KP during the
ISLAMABAD
Senate panel finds collusive practices and irregularities in
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using foreign loans The committee revealed concerns of collusive practices, conflicts of interest, and potential corruption in the awarding of contracts for the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Tranche-III corridor project according to a news report Ad powered by advergic com
US sanctions force vessels with Russian oil to divert from India, sources say
oil revenue seen as funding its war against Ukraine have been increasingly hitting Russian oil supplies for India which buys more
Panel of top bureaucrats shor tlisted for World Bank Executive Director position Government finalises candidates for World Bank and ADB ED posts, awaiting Prime Minister ’s approval
on India’s east coast while Guanyin and Tassos were headed to ports in western India according to trade sources and Russian ports data Tighter Western sanctions aimed at cutting Rus-
third of its oil needs from Russia Tagor is now heading to Dalian in China, while Tassos is diverting to Port Said in Egypt, the data shows Guanyin remains on course to Sikka, a port used by Reliance Industries and Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd Indian Oil Corp which was to receive the Tagor shipment and BPCL did not respond to Reuters emailed requests for comment Zulu Shipping, linked to Panama-flagged Tassos and Tagor, and Guanyin-owner Silver Tetra Marine could not be reached for comments Both companies are under U S sanctions A Reliance spokesperson said that neither of these two vessels Guanyin and Tassos is coming to us Reliance has previously purchased oil in Guanyin Separately, two other vessels, Achilles and Elyte, loaded with Russian oil, are preparing to discharge Russian Urals for Reliance, according to LSEG data Both these vessels are sanctioned by Britain and the European Union India has condemned the EU sanctions
Iranian president arrives in Islamabad to boost cooperation, trade ties
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
The Iranian president also penned remarks in the visitors book expressing admiration for Allama Iqbal s contributions to Islamic philosophy and the Pakistan Movement Tight security arrangements were in place to ensure the safety of him and his delegation throughout the visit
PM Shehbaz had met with Pezeshkian during his visit to Iran in late May which was part of his regional tour to friendly countries aimed at expressing gratitude for their support during the conflict with India
Pezeshkian is the second Iranian president to visit Pakistan in as many years Late Ebrahim Raisi had visited the country in April last year, just a month before he died in a helicopter crash
According to Iran’s state media IRNA before departing for Pakistan Pezeshkian emphasised the plan to elevate
their annual trade exchanges to $10 billion The two countries had agreed in April last year to boost trade over the next five years
The president termed the trade relations between Tehran and Islamabad as “good” and identified boosting trade with Pakistan via land air and sea as priorities for this trip the report added
Through Pakistan, Iran can connect to the Silk Road linking China and Pakistan, and the route can then extend through Iran to Europe,” he said
Emphasising that security and border issues were of great importance to both Iran and Pakistan he stressed that regional security must be achieved through cooperation according to IRNA
Pezeshkian noted that the two neighbours have enjoyed good, friendly, and deep-rooted relations since Pakistan s independence
The two countries cooperate in
B a l u c h i
IHowever the recent rally on the Stock Exchange
was not caused by the interest rate remaining unchanged, but because of the trade deal with the USA Though that deal had a number of imponderables stock exchange investors felt upbeat enough about the economy to be bullish, apparently reasoning that the deal left Pakistan s economy about as competitive with its regional competitors as it could hope to be In particular the fact that Pakistan tariff was 19 percent, while India s 20 percent, Bangladesh’s and Sri Lanka’s 20 percent, meant that Pakistan would not be seriously undercut in the USA just because of a tariff differential Though the margin is paper-thin, if anything, it is Pakistan which has the advantage That news was enhanced by the recent reduction in the petrol price which means that one of the main causes of imported inflation, international oil prices, was not working against anti-inflationary efforts
One of the main worries of the government is that no one seems to have noticed the fall in inflation The primary reason must be the failure of the economy to pick up, of incomes to rise, and thus for disposable incomes to increase leading to greater production to meet the increase in demand Though inflation has been beaten back, no one seems to be giving the government enough credit However, it can take a little comfort from the fact that the past deflation was just that, and not the precursor of an economy heading towards the sort of recession that is both politically and economically cataclysmic, not to mention socially ruinous
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
N July, a horrendous video appeared on social media of a young couple, learnt subsequently to be Bano Bibi and Ahsan Ullah, being shot to death in broad daylight in the Deghari (Dagari) region of Baluchistan in Quetta district They were according to the FIR declared as karo-kari by a local tribal jirga presided over by a tribal elder, Sardar Sherbaz Khan Satakzai, at the behest of the brother of the woman, who later shot them When the woman was brought to execution, she resisted and even stated indefinitely that she was lawfully married possessing a lawyer's marriage certificate and also with a certain number of children in a former marriage Once the video spread between 11 and 14 suspects were apprehended by security forces, and a murder case was registered against them under antiterror laws They were assigned to the serious crimes investigation division and the authorities even exhumed the woman s body for forensic analysis The Chief Justice of the Baluchistan High Court Mr Justice Rozi Khan Barrech took suo motu notice and ordered the top provincial officials and police hierarchy to face the court and brief it on the case Leadership condemnation was quick at the provincial and federal levels On July 23 the Baluchistan Assembly unanimously passed a resolution moved by its Women Parliamentary Caucus calling the killings barbaric for which no justification was admitted on behalf of any so-called tribal or cultural values of honour, affirmed that justice is the sole duty of the state The Senate of Pakistan followed suit on July 24 with a cross-party resolution introduced by Senator Sherry Rehman the Senate chairman and other speakers condemning killings as an act of insult to constitutional guarantees and wanting an honest inquiry and prosecution of all the parties involved and also those who either called or approved the jirga The tribal jirgas and feudal elders maintain excessive influence in rural regions of Baluchistan, and in general areas of power are weak or concede to traditional discipline These councils engage in de facto forms of justice commonly coming up with judg-
ments that clearly contravene state laws and constitutional rights Legal and gender scholars point out the fact that jirgas have historically found their origin as a means of resolving local disputes with speed and without resorting to forms of legal proceedings in a formal court However, their results are promoting, in a number of cases, violence and discrimination against the rights of the individuals, and most notably the women in the interests of upholding their honour or that of the tribe As the recent Baluchistan incident signified the state institutions fail when it comes to sustaining the rule of law in the areas where jirgas persist In this case the woman s own family is said to not have registered an FIR on their own, which goes to show how there might be enforced biases to adhere to the tribal rules and how this was even hampering the initial investigations by the police
Article 25 of the Constitution of Pakistan provides that Pakistan is an equalized country irrespective of the sex of the people It officially forbids discrimination, and the right to life and due process are ascertained according to the national law Honour Killings Legislation: The act came in the form of the Criminal Law Act (Amendment) of 2004 and 2016 and presented certain new provisions on the matter of honour killings and higher penalties for them, to fill the loopholes of the previous acts that perceived such crimes committed as manslaughter and forgivable according to the provisions of qisas and diyat
Nevertheless legal theorists say such reforms have not delivered at the implementation level In most instances police deny filing FIRs; judges exercise defences of grave and sudden provocation to give out relatively low sentences; and convictions are not common, particularly when the offenders are members of strong tribal/political families In Baluchistan in 2024 rpf over 32 reported honour killings one was convicted In 2024 the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan documented 405 honoUr killings in the country; activists emphasized that the figure is heavily underreported in honoUr killing cases and that there is also systemic impunity This tragedy signals critical gaps: 1 Enforcement in Rural and Tribal Areas The state should impose its control on the
Unless there is a systematic change of laws, particularly the application and decommissioning of parallel jirga control coupled with the cultural transformation, this case will end up being a futile annotation of another sad exception to the notion of impunity To those who champion changes in law, this is the challenge: to convert the law into practice, to unseat the cultural authority of honour violence, and to establish the rights of women as inalienable and not dependent on the pact of the tribes That way alone can Pakistan inch towards a future where the freedom of choice is not punished
THE China-Pakistan Economic Corridor popularly known by its abbreviation CPEC was a long -term strategic programme being implemented by time-tested, all -weather, iron brother China in Pakistan CPEC as such was designed to foster industrialization, trade facilitation, regional connectivity integration within the global value chains and socio-economic development The CPEC initiative also focused on poverty alleviation agricultural modernization operationalization of Gwadar Port, and promoting the blue economy CPEC duly encouraged and promoted third-party participation Recognizing the evolving global landscape, the scope of CPEC has been broadened to also include cooperation in Science and Information Technology reinforcing its comprehensive development framework At the core of the CPED lay a strategic vision to connect Gwadar Port in south western Pakistan to China s Xinjiang region through an extensive network of roads and railways In its first phase CPEC had prioritized Early Harvest Projects focusing heavily on energy and infrastructure These early investments had duly addressed the critical deficiencies and established a solid foundation for accelerated economic growth and around 38 projects were completed in numerous sectors worth more than $25 billion As a result of such accomplishments, Pakistan had noted a rise in industrial activity
improved logistics and growing investor confidence and delivered a long-term stimulus to the national economy Looking ahead, the emphasis of CPEC was quite rightly shifting toward inclusive socio-economic development and achieving targets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by focusing on five corridors i e Growth Innovation Green Development Livelihood Improvement and Regional Openness which were aligned with the National Transformational Plan based on SEs Export, Equity, E-Pakistan, Energy and Environment objectives outlined in URAAN Pakistan Meanwhile Science and Technology cooperation was also being actively pursued with an emphasis on technology transfer and upgradation, for supporting Pakistan s sustainable development and enhancing productivity across various sectors CPEC as such continued to evolve as a transformative platform for promoting and strengthening regional cooperation economic resilience and shared growth As regards performance the CPEC continued to make quite significant strides during the just ended financial year 2024-25, making key achievements across various sectors A standout development was the progress in the establishment of four priority Special Economic Zones (SEZs): Rashakai Allama Iqbal Industrial City Dhabeji and Boston supporting industrial growth technology transfer and innovation in line with the SDGs, These SEZs were central to Pakistan's industrialization agenda in the second
PC-1 for Karakoram Highway's Thakot-Raikot section, had also been approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) Pakistani members of the Joint Technical Committee for KKH had visited China in April 2025 for finalizing the financial and implementation terms, paving the way for construction commencement soon The KKH realignment had been necessitated due to the construction of Dasu Dam In the Energy sector, the successful completion of the 884 MW Suki Kinari Hydropower Project has added quite significant clean energy to the national grid, reinforcing Pakistan's transition towards renewable and sustainable energy sources Additionally, protocols had also been signed between China and Pakistan facilitating the export of key agricultural products, including boiled meat, cherries, and chilli, opening new markets and generating valuable foreign exchange earnings
phase of the CPEC
Phase-1 of the Rashakai and Boston SEZs had been quite successfully completed with the registration of 21 and 17 enterprises respectively Rashakai SEZ housed three Chinese enterprises, and focus was now on conducting more marketing campaigns/roadshows for attracting relocation of more foreign enterprises Allama Iqbal Industrial City was also making leads in development work, and numerous industrial plots had already been allocatedto both domestic and international investors, and several enterprises were by now nearing their operational readiness These developments were expected to drive job creation enhance industrial output and further strengthen Pakistan s economic base The New Gwadar International Airport, a critical component of the CPEC initiative for enhancing regional connectivity, had since been completed, inaugurated by PM Shehbaz Sharif and was now fully operational marking a key step toward transforming Gwadar Port into a major commercial hub PC-1 for Karakoram Highway s Thakot-Raikot section had also been approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) Pakistani members of the Joint Technical Committee for KKH had visited China in April 2025 for finalizing the financial and implementation terms paving the way for construction commencement soon The KKH realignment had been necessitated due to the construction of Dasu Dam
In the Energy sector, the successful completion of the 884 MW Suki Kinari Hydropower Project has added quite significant clean energy to the national grid reinforcing Pakistan's transition towards renewable and sustainable energy sources Additionally protocols had also been signed between China and Pakistan facilitating the export of key agricultural products, including boiled meat, cherries, and chilli, opening new markets and generating valuable foreign exchange earnings It is also worth mentioning here that the Ministry of Planning Development and Special Initiatives of Pakistan and National development and Reforms Commission of China had jointly held a high-level seminar in Beijing in December for aligning the five corridors of CPEC with URAAN Pakistan
The writer is Lahore-based Freelance Journalist Columnist and retired Deputy Controller (News) Radio Pakistan Islamabad and can be reached at zahidriffat@gmail com C P E C g r e a t g a m e c h a n g e r Still not out of control at 4 1 percent
Bring back student unions
from histor y
Rubab ali
A state failing to give people their rights
A symbol of friendship
IInternational Criminal Court and other UN agencies enabling war crimes investigations into Israel s actions in Gaza and the West Bank and making arms sales and military aid to Israel politically toxic and legally indefensible Europe could impose sanctions on settlement goods halt arms trade and channel reconstruction funds directly to Palestine under state-to-state frameworks bypassing Israel s control over humanitarian aid and dismantling its stranglehold on Gaza s survival Most importantly, recognition would allow Palestine to demand humanitarian corridors international peacekeeping forces and binding UN resolutions for reconstruction and protection breaking the decadeslong cycle of siege starvation and slaughter that turned Gaza and the West Bank into open-air prisons
This historic shift is not theoretical; it is being built statement by statement leader by leader as the world finally breaks decades of silence that allowed Israeli crimes to go unchallenged On January 20 at the 19th NAM Summit in Kampala, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered one of his most forceful rebukes of Israeli policy to date, declaring, “The refusal to accept the two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians and the denial of the right to statehood for the Palestinian people are unacceptable The right of the Palestinian people to build their own state must be recognized by all With over 120 NAM nations present, the call drew unanimous applause, a collective moral judgment against Israel’s policies of siege and occupation
This wave of recognition gained early momentum on 28 May 2024 when Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez formally recognized Palestine, calling it a historic move
e n c e , c h o o s i n g j u s t i c e o v e r c o m p l i c i t y , c h o o s i n g s t a t e h o o d o v e r s t a t e l e s s n e s s , c h o o s i n g l i f e o v e r s l a u g h t e r T h e w o r l d h a s l o o k e d i n t o t h e m i r r o r a n d s e e n t h e c r u e l f a c e o f I s r a e l ’ s a c t i o n s a n d a t l o n g l a s t , i t i s c h o o s i n g t o s t a n d w i t h P a l e s t i n e , w i t h r e c o g n i t i o n , l a w , a n d m o r a l i t y a s i t s w e a p o n f o r l o n g - d e n i e d p e a c e
towards justice and the only route to achieve peace Spain joined Ireland Norway and 144 other nations that had already acknowledged Palestinian sovereignty, long before the latest atrocities in Gaza forced the world’s attention On 25 July 2025 French President Emmanuel Macron stunned Washington and Tel Aviv by announcing that France would recognize Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September, stating, We cannot resign ourselves to endless war Recognizing Palestine is not a reward for violence but a step toward peace, justice, and shared humanity ” France a permanent UN Security Council member shattered the decades-old Western condition that Palestinian statehood required Israeli approval a condition perpetually sabotaged by occupation and annexation Just days later, on July 29, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer convened an emergency Cabinet meeting and declared “We will recognize a Palestinian state before the UN General Assembly unless Israel takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agrees to a ceasefire, halts annexation in the West Bank, and commits to a two-state solution ” The UK, once one of Israel’s staunchest allies is now preparing to break from Washington s unconditional support a dramatic shift driven by growing domestic and international outrage
At a high-level UN conference on July 22, co-chaired by France and the UAE, France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Elro Baro described Gaza as “a charnel house where corpses look famished and spirits are desperate The time for half-measures is over France will fully recognize Palestine by September The conference saw Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations back this roadmap, while the Palestinian Authority pledged democratic reforms, elections in 2026, an end to militant funding and Hamas’ exclusion from Gaza s future governance removing long-standing excuses Israel has used to block statehood Even long-standing defenders of Israel are faltering During his July 2025 visit to Scotland, US President Donald Trump, once Netanyahu’s most loyal ally admitted publicly “There is starvation in Gaza and we have to get more involved in distributing aid Though still reluctant to confront Israel directly, his acknowledgment signals cracks in Washington s unwavering shield, driven by global outrage and domestic anger over
TDHAKA TRIBUNE O l i M d A b d u l l A h C h Ow d h u r y T h i s h i s t o r i c s h i f t i s n o t t h e o r e t i c a l ; i t i s b e i n g b u i l t s t a t e m e n t b y s t a t e m e n t , l e a d e r b y l e a d e r a s t h e w o r l d f i n a l l y b r e a k s d e c a d e s o f s i l e n c e t h a t a l l o w e d I s r a e l i c r i m e s t o g o u n c h a l l e n g e d
2000, Africa had no billionaires Today it is home to 23 billionaires, predominantly male, whose combined wealth has soared by 56 percent over the past five years reaching an astounding $112 6bn Today no two nations better illustrate Africa s stark wealth disparity and oligarchic dominance than Nigeria and South Africa, and no business leader exemplifies the rise of crony capitalism on the continent more than Aliko Dangote Here is why Twentyfive years ago Dangote was simply an ambitious multimillionaire businessman Then, on February 23, 1999, he made a substantial donation to General Olusegun Obasanjo’s presidential campaign That seemingly benign investment proved decisive for his business trajectory A year later the Obasanjo administration embarked on a sweeping privatisation of stateowned enterprises, aiming to liberalise the economy, attract private investment and foster domestic entrepreneurship under the Backward Integration Policy (BIP) Dangote acquired Benue Cement in 2000 and Obajana Cement in 2002 laying the foundations for Dangote Cement now Africa s largest cement producer Between 2010 and 2015, Dangote Cement reportedly paid an effective tax rate of less than 1 percent on profits of approximately 1 trillion Nigerian naira (about $6bn at 2015 exchange rates) Dangote himself became Nigeria s richest entrepreneur in 2007 attaining billionaire status amid the company s rapid expansion Since then, the quid pro quo strategies between Dangote and the Obasanjo administration have become a conventional aspect of Nigerian politics and business albeit a controversial one Critics argue that the BIP has stifled competition and fostered monopolistic practices in key sectors like sugar and cement, disproportionately benefitting politically
connected elites – including Dangote – at the expense of smaller enterprises and ordinary Nigerians
Nigeria is richly endowed with natural resources and possesses world-class human capital Nevertheless more than 112 million people, nearly half of Nigeria s population, live in poverty, based on the most recent population estimates of around 227 million At the same time the country’s five wealthiest individuals dominating sectors such as oil and gas banking telecommunications and real estate have amassed a combined fortune of $29 9bn
The dysfunctional system that has enabled Nigeria’s “big five” entrepreneurs and fostered oligarchic patterns is not unique to Nigeria South Africa Africa’s most industrialised nation confronts similar but distinct challenges in its post-apartheid era
After apartheid ended on April 27 1994 the African National Congress (ANC) introduced Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and Broad-Based BEE initiatives (BBBEE) These policies aimed to advance the effective participation of Black people in the economy achieve higher growth increase employment and ensure fairer income distribution
However, over time, the ANC itself acknowledged that these affirmative action programs have not appreciably benefitted most Black South Africans especially Black women In the 31 years since apartheid economic conditions have only marginally improved While a few Black business leaders have emerged, they continue to succeed within a system engineered to favour a narrow elite
One such example is Patrice Motsepe a mining magnate and among Africa’s richest individuals with an estimated net worth of approximately $3bn Supporters view him as a tangible beneficiary of post-apartheid economic transformation, but critics, including
economist Moeletsi Mbeki, argue that his wealth reflects crony capitalism rather than broad-based entrepreneurship Motsepe who is also the brother-in-law of President Cyril Ramaphosa remains a rare exception in a system marked by elite capture By April 2025, South Africa s official unemployment rate stood at 32 9 percent, equating to about 8 2 million people actively seeking work while the broader rate including discouraged jobseekers rose to 43 1 percent Around the same time approximately 34 3 million South Africans or more than half the population, were living in poverty
Meanwhile, the Oppenheimer family, whose immense fortune in diamond mining has deep historical roots tied to South Africa s colonial past continues to expand its wealth A Harvard Growth Lab study published in November 2023 concluded that three decades after the end of apartheid, the economy is defined by stagnation and exclusion, and current strategies are not achieving inclusion and empowerment in practice
Unsurprisingly the most prominent beneficiaries of BEE initiatives have been ANC insiders and aligned business elites including President Ramaphosa, former Gauteng Premier Tokyo Sexwale, Saki Macozoma, a former ANC MP, and Bridgette Radebe, sister to Motsepe and wife of ANC stalwart Jeff Radebe
This distinct class of elites starkly contrasts with BEE s intended beneficiaries everyday South Africans Instead these individuals are grappling with the lingering consequences of oligarchic state capture, widespread corruption, poor service delivery and sustained cuts to education and health budgets
Nigeria shares this pattern At the very least Dangote s vast wealth should represent the pinnacle of success in a thriving African economy Instead, he exemplifies Africa s
most prominent and wealthiest oligarch, demonstrating how proximity to political power can create controversial paths to fortune Regrettably almost every African country has its own Dangote or Motsepe whose influence hinders fair and inclusive economic development Crony capitalism is a sharp
I O N S I N T O A B R A H A M A C C O R D S
Muslim passenger slapped during panic attack on Indian airline
and reminded him that Russia possessed Soviet-era nuclear strike capabilities of last resort after Trump told Medvedev to watch his words In response to a post by US Senator Lindsey Graham reiterating America s seriousness to reach a peace deal, the former Russian president wrote: It s not for you or Trump to dictate when to ‘get at the peace table’ Negotiations will end when all the objectives of our military operation have been achieved NEW DELHI s ta f f r e p o r t
A disturbing incident aboard an IndiGo flight from Mumbai to Kolkata has gone viral on social media triggering widespread anger and calls for punitive action after a Muslim passenger suffering a panic attack was slapped by a fellow traveller According to Indian media reports, the incident took place on Friday as the flight was taxiing for take-off A young Muslim man began exhibiting signs of distress re-
portedly sobbing and pleading to be let off the plane Instead of offering assistance one passenger physically assaulted him by slapping him across the face as he walked past, an act that was captured on video and widely circulated online The shocking footage drew immediate condemnation with many social media users decrying the incident as a blatant act of Islamophobia Commentators demanded that the aggressor be permanently banned from flying and placed on India s no-fly list for unruly passengers
In response to the backlash, IndiGo issued a statement condemning the assault calling the behaviour completely unacceptable and reaffirming its commitment to the safety and dignity of all passengers
The airline said that the attacker was handed over to security authorities upon arrival and that the incident had been reported to the relevant regulatory agencies
The airline is now going to initiate action under the unruly flyer rules that could see him being put on the no fly list for some time
X i, Nepali president exchange greetings on 70th anniversar y of ties
BEIJING
M i a n a b r a r
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Nepali counterpart Ram Chandra Poudel on Friday exchanged congratulations on the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries
Noting that China and Nepal are connected by mountains and rivers and their friendly exchanges have a long history Xi said that no matter how the international and regional situations change the two countries have always respected each other, treated each other as
equals and engaged in mutually beneficial cooperation setting a model for friendly relations between countries with different social systems and of different sizes
In recent years, China-Nepal relations have seen sound and stable development and political mutual trust has grown ever stronger said Xi adding that the Belt and Road cooperation as well as cooperation in various fields have witnessed increasing expansion, and the strategic partnership of cooperation featuring ever-lasting friendship for development and prosperity between the two sides
has been continuously deepened Xi said that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Nepal relations, and is ready to work with Poudel to take the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to carry forward the traditional friendship strengthen exchanges and cooperation in all fields so as to better benefit the peoples of both countries, and contribute to regional peace and development For his part, Poudel said that over the past 70 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties the two countries have consistently upheld mutual trust
Bangladesh to unveil democratic overhauls on revolution anniversar y
s ta f f r e p o r t Bangladesh’s interim government announced on Saturday that it will unveil its slate of democratic reforms on August 5, marking the first anniversary of the overthrow of the previous autocratic administration The South Asian nation with a population of around 170 million, has been in political turmoil since a student-led revolt ousted then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5 2024 ending her 15-year rule Muhammad Yunus the 85year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner who is leading the caretaker government as its chief adviser until elections are held has said he inherited a completely broken down system of public administration Yunus previously pledged to unveil a big package to overhaul democratic institutions But efforts to reach agreements have made slow progress as political parties jostle for power ahead of elections, slated for early 2026 Yunus s government has warned that political power struggles risk jeopardising the gains that have been made
Randhawa heads high level meeting to review per formance of CDA
NAWA Z SHARIF, CM MARYAM ACCORD WARM WELCOME TO IRANIAN PRESIDENT
Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has lauded the role of Pakistan s journalist community and Gen Z on the digital front during the recent Pakistan-India conflict describing them as a national asset According to the press release issued by the Media Cell Bilawal House, Chairman PPP, while addressing a ceremony at the Sindh Chief Minister ’s House marking the 75th anniversary of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) commended the organization s long and distinguished struggle for safeguarding freedom of expression and strengthening democracy during periods of authoritarian rule He said that the PFUJ is not just an organization but a movement one in which every generation of journalists has played a vital role Whether during the MRD movement or the struggle for the restoration of democracy under the ARD, the journalist community across the country stood shoulder to shoulder with political workers and pro-democracy leaders unwavering in their fight for the right to freedom of expression and press freedom He recalled a moment during the ARD-led struggle, saying: "I remember the time when the then-dictator, in his final days in power, began imposing restrictions even on television channels and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto stood firmly with you (journalists), side by side " Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
7th Meeting of FPCCI Central Standing Committee on Public Relations hold at ABA Aleem
Room B2 Federation of pakistan chamber of Commerce and Industry head office Karachi Added by Mr Shujaat ali baig Convenior/Syed Turab Shah Deputy Convenior of FPCCI Centrel Standing Committee on Public Relations Discus up comming event very importent 14 August Independence day and Markah-e-Haq Celebrations
Meeting attend by Mudassir Alam Direcetor Marketing Profit Magazine, Iram Fawad Executiv Secretary Quaid-e-Azam House Shahbaz Islam Cheif
Marketing Officer SSGC Farha Javed Convenior of women empower committee Ali Pasnani
Deputy CEO Union Microfinance Bank Changez Hassan Khan PRO PIA, Kashif Rafi Registratr Elma University, Sohail Ahmed Siddiqui, Zia ul Islam Zubairi Director Netshel Pakistan, Ali Asghar and zoom Hamid Mirza Head of Corporate Communication Silk Bank from Lahore Ammar
Muzaffar Marketing K-Electric from Karachi Ali
Ibrahim Head of Corporate Communication Hasho
Group from Islamabad After that Meeting with Mr Zaki Ejaz acting president FPCCI
of
PM ORDERS SEPARATE AIRPORT IMMIGRATION COUNTERS FOR
PRIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday ordered the establishment of separate immigration counters at all international airports to facilitate foreign passengers and boost tourism and investment A press release from the Prime Minister s Office said the decision was taken to promote tourism in the country ensure continuity of business activities and facilitate foreign investment
It added that the establishment of the counters would reduce the immigration processing time at the airports The statement also said that Pakista-
TO BOOST TOURISM, INVESTMENT
nis returning to the country would be able to complete their immigration process in a shorter time after the establishment of separate and designated counters for foreigners The initiative is part of a strategy to make Pakistan more attractive and friendly for global tourists, investors, and business delegations,” the PMO said In February, Pakistan won the Best Partner Pavilion Award at the New York Travel and Adventure Show 2025 The two-day event is the largest US travel show organised annually for travel enthusiasts from across the world In January, Gilgit-Baltistan
Suspect admits to killing law yer Shamsul Islam in Karachi
Iranian president ’s visit to fur ther advance Pak-Iran bilateral ties: Tarar
Masoud Pezeshkian along with his delegation which would spend a busy day in Pakistan to further advance the bilateral cooperation between the two brotherly countries Their stay in Islamabad included bilateral meetings and a warm reception, the minister said while talking to the media along with Chief Commissioner Islamabad and Chairman of Capital Development Authority Muhammad Ali Randhawa after reviewing the arrangements
Office
Earlier in the day, Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Lahore on two day state visit where he was received by PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Iran s President paid visit to the mausoleum of Allama Iqbal in the historic city where he laid floral wreathe on the tom and offered fateha Later he left for Islamabad after brief stay in Lahore President Masoud Pezeshkian arriving in Pakistan on
said Dr Pezeshkian will be
panied by a high-level delegation, including Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi other
The FO said President Pezeshkian will meet President Zardari the Chairman of the Senate, and the Speaker and also hold delegation-level talks with PM Shehbaz Sharif The visit aimed at promoting political economic and cultural relations a spokesman earlier said
IBO
LAHORE/RAJANPUR s ta f f r e p o r t The Punjab Police on Saturday claimed to have neutralized a notorious Katcha gangster Najam alias Najmi Lund, in a targeted operation in Katcha of Rajanpur the police spokesperson confirmed A spokesperson for the Punjab Police said that Najmi Lund was wanted in numerous heinous cases in the region He said that the Rajanpur police carried out a targeted operation against Katcha criminals, killing the notorious gang leader identified as Najam, alias Najmi Lund, a history-sheeter wanted in numerous cases of a heinous nature “One dacoit was arrested in injured condition ” the Punjab Police spokesperson said while sharing details of the operation He stated that during an intelligencebased operation by the Rajanpur Police, a fierce exchange of fire took place between the criminals and the police As a result, Najam Lund, a dacoit wanted for dozens of heinous crimes, including buffalo theft, murder and kidnapping for ransom was killed The body of the deceased dacoit was taken into police custody and further legal action has begun he said adding that Rajanpur Police also set ablaze the criminals hideouts Punjab IG Police Dr Usman Anwar lauded Rajanpur Police for the significant success against Katcha criminals Rajanpur DPO Farooq Amjad said that the successful operation was carried out applying modern technology and a well-organized strategy A heavy contingent of district police and elite forces participated in the operation
302 Search and Sweep Operations Conducted across Punjab Meanwhile, the Punjab Police continued intelligencebased search sweep and combing operations across the province including Lahore
Tarar said the whole route from airport has been decorated with Pakistani and Iranian flags while portraits of Pakistani and Iranian leadership are displayed across the city, creating an environment of festivity in Islamabad to welcome the Iranian president “This is a very crucial visit as the Iranian president is visiting on the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif the minister said adding that their meeting took place in Azerbaijan that was further supplemented with a successful visit of the prime minister to Iran along with Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir
C hina, Pakistan vow to implement B2B cooperation under CPEC Phase -II
ISLAMABAD
s ta f f r e p o r t
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal met Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong on Saturday to discuss the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)
Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, with a particular focus on industrial development and business-to-business cooperation under CPEC Phase II Iqbal conveyed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif s
goodwill message to Beijing and praised China s support during recent regional tensions The people of Pakistan take
All distric t consumer cour ts abolished across Punjab
courts and government
682 cases were under adjudication in
cases According to court officials in Rawalpindi District, all active cases are being transferred to the office of the District and Sessions Judge A comprehensive list along with case files is being prepared and will be submitted within the next two days Following this, the District and Sessions Judge will reassign the cases to the relevant Additional Sessions Judges for further legal proceedings
