E-Paper 25-8-20 LHR by Pakistan Today

SEVEN KILLED AS MONSOON RAINS BATTER K ARACHI WITH MORE SHOWERS LOOMING

g RAIN EMERGENCY DECLARED ACROSS PORT CITY WITH ALL TEAMS PLACED ON HIGH ALERT TO RESPOND TO URBAN FLOODING, TRAFFIC DISRUPTIONS AND OTHER RAIN-RELATED INCIDENTS

g COMMUTERS FACE CHALLENGES A S HOURS-LONG RAIN SPELL LED TO THE CITY ’S MAIN THOROUGHFARES CHOKED WITH TRAFFIC

Flood aﬀects 32 mini power stations in KP

Country” before the ECC seeking approval for this alignment According to industry sources the ECC s decision authorizes NEPRA to determine and apply DISCOs FCAs on K-Electric consumers on the same timelines and terms, while considering the financial sustainability of the power sector and the federal government s

uniform tariff policy Any gap be-

tween the monthly FCA calculated for K-Electric and that of DISCOs will be covered through subsidies or cross-subsidies The new arrangement will take effect from the FCA of June 2025 to be reflected in electricity bills issued in August 2025

The National Electricity Policy 2021, approved by the Council of Common Interests (CCI) provides that while financial self-sustainability is the long-term goal the government may continue to maintain uniform tariffs across regions in line with socio-economic objectives and budgetary constraints So far, while base tariffs and quarterly adjustments have remained uniform across the country the FCA mechanism has been different for K-Electric and DISCOs Because of higher fuel cost references in K-Electric s tariff determinations, the federal government has been bearing the difference in the form of subsidies Officials said the new mechanism would streamline this process and gradually reduce reliance on direct subsidies Section 31 of the Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distri-

bution of Electric Power Act, 1997, requires NEPRA to be guided by the national electricity policy, the national electricity plan and any government guidelines in determining tariffs This provision has now been invoked to harmonize the FCA regime for both K-Electric and DISCOs According to sources, the summary was circulated to the Finance Division and NEPRA for comments The Finance Division supported the proposal on the condition that it should not create additional financial obligations for the government It further suggested that if in the future K-Electric’s FCA impact turns out to be higher than that of DISCOs the arrangement may need reconsideration NEPRA while insisting that FCAs for both K-Electric and DISCOs should continue to be independently calculated based on their respective fuel cost data and generation mix to ensure transparency agreed that consumer-end uniformity could be achieved through policy alignment backed by subsidies or cross-subsidies The regulator also recommended that the implications of introducing a single dispatch model be examined

FAUJI FOUNDATION MOVE FORWARD WITH BINDING OFFER

STAKE IN ATTOCK CEMENT

Armed Forces pay tribute to Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas on his 54th Shahadat anniversar y

t Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), HJ,

this day in 1971, Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas displayed extraordinary resolve and selflessness, embracing martyrdom to safeguard the sovereignty of Pakistan His indomitable spirit loyalty and patriotism remain an enduring source of inspiration for the Armed Forces and the nation His historic act of valor choosing sacrifice over surrender, continues to illuminate our national conscience as a timeless reminder of the price of freedom and the fortitude required to defend the motherland

China-Pakistan cooperation results in 12 deals wor th 235m Yuan at Kashgar Fair

PR OFIT

s ta f f r e p o r t

Twelve cooperation projects between China and Pakistan valued at RMB 235 million were successfully signed at the Pakistan-focused session of the 15th Kashgar-Central and South Asia Commodity Fair held in Kashgar, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region China as reported by China Economic Net (CEN) Themed Sharing Development Opportunities Building CPEC Together the event focused on key sectors including trade, logistics, agriculture, tourism, new energy, and information technology It provided a practical and efficient platform for advancing the upgraded version of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) collaboration The organizer reported that economic and trade exchanges between Kashgar and Pakistan have seen increasing closeness, with trade volume steadily rising In the first half of this year trade between Kashgar and Pakistan increased by 74% year-on-year

S even killed as monsoon

rains batter K arachi

with more showers looming

CONTINUD FROM PAGE 01

Rainwater quickly inundated major roads and residential streets with severe flooding reported in Gulshan-e-Hadeed, where water entered homes and forced residents to shift valuables to higher ground Key intersections such as Hassan Square Nipa Chowrangi Jail Chowrangi Liaquatabad Korangi Karsaz and Malir Expressway also witnessed heavy waterlogging

On the directives of Mayor Murtaza Wahab, a rain emergency has been enforced across Karachi, with all teams placed on high alert to respond to urban flooding traffic disruptions and other rainrelated incidents

Commuters faced challenges as the hours-long rain spell led to the city s main thoroughfares choked with traffic and long lines of vehicles with people reporting reaching home after several hours The traffic police advised citizens to take precautionary measures in light of the situation such as avoiding sudden braking maintaining a slow speed and a safe distance from other vehicles on the road Traffic came to a standstill on major arteries including Shahrah-e-Faisal University Road and II Chundrigar Road while long tailbacks were reported at Nagan Chowrangi Hub River Road and Miran Naka Vehicles broke down on submerged roads, adding to the gridlock Police said traffic flow remained slow on MA Jinnah Road, Liaquat Road, Capri Chowk Gurumandir and adjoining areas Bilawal Chowrangi on Khayaban-e-Saadi also faced heavy congestion DIG Pir Muhammad Shah said roads were partially blocked due to rain, but traffic was moving slowly He added that mobile workshops had been deployed, while SPs, DSPs, SOs, SHOs and other officers were present on the roads to assist commuters Karachi Traffic Police urged commuters to avoid unnecessary travel drive slowly, and maintain distance due to slippery conditions Rescue teams and officers remained deployed across the city to manage flow The Traffic Police helpline 1915 was made available for route guidance

public is advised to contact PDMA’s helpline at 1700 in case of any emergency or weather update Shahzad added RELIEF EFFORTS UNDERWAY KP s Adviser to the Chief Minister, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, in a statement, detailed the relief efforts, saying rescue teams are fully engaged in flood-affected districts An amount of Rs3 billion has been released for the ongoing operations he said adding that around 6 000 personnel are currently deployed as part of the rescue efforts A total of 5,210 people have been safely evacuated, he added Additionally, Barrister Saif said a mobile application has been launched to issue financial compensation to the affected families One hundred and seventy-six (176) rescue centres have been established and at least 100 roads, previously severed due to floods, have now been cleared and restored,”

Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah directed the district administration, the Sindh Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) the health department and Rescue 1122 to remain on high alert amid the situation

He ordered the immediate drainage of rainwater and instructed the relevant administrations to remain in contact with the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) and the PDMA “All deputy commissioners should be present in the field with their staff the chief secretary said The PMD has warned of continued rain in the coming hours, advising residents to remain cautious, especially in low-lying and flood-prone areas

In another development a statement from Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTCL) said it was currently facing data connectivity challenges on its namesake and Ufone services

Our teams are diligently working to restore the services as quickly as possible,” the statement said Internet tracking monitor Netblocks also said its metrics showed major disruption to internet connectivity across Pakistan with high impact to backbone operator PTCL Overall national connectivity is down to 20 per cent of ordinary levels,” it said Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori held a telephonic conversation with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar to brief him on the situation arising from recent heavy rains in Karachi During the call, he informed the DPM about the challenges caused by urban flooding and requested the federal government’s support in improving conditions in the city

Rescue officials said seven people lost their lives in rain-related accidents According to Chhipa a wall collapse near Aqsa Mosque in Orangi Town s Sector 11 5 killed an eight-year-old boy identified as Abdullah, son of Abbas His body was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital

In Gulistan-e-Jauhar s Block 12 four members of a family were killed and a child injured when a house wall gave way The victims included Maryam, 4; Hamza, 3; and Samiya, 24, wife of Mubeen An-

he said According to Barrister Saif

Saif shared that around 822 cases of infectious diseases have been reported so far, for which people are receiving treatment at the medical relief camps S e p

flood victims,

Additionally,

other man, around 28, also died, while a 10-year-old boy sustained injuries Municipal officials warned that further downpours could aggravate flooding in low-lying areas as the city struggled with drainage and power breakdowns POWER OUTAGES GRIP CITY AS URBAN FLOODING HINDERS RESTORATION EFFORTS Power outages were reported across several parts of Karachi amid heavy rainfall since Tuesday morning with many areas still plunged into darkness leaving netizens frustrated as they grapple with daily disruptions and limited access to essential services

K-Electric (KE) spokesperson said that Karachi’s drainage system was overwhelmed by rainfall that far exceeded its designed capacity resulting in urban flooding across the city and complicating power restoration work in several localities In a statement, the utility claimed that its distribution system remains stable, but added that the safety of life and property, and prevention of accidents remains the top priority “At present more than 1 550 of the city s 2 100 feeders are operational the spokesperson said noting that supply restoration continues where conditions allow KE said standing rainwater in various areas continues to hinder restoration efforts as safety clearances are required before ground teams can begin work “As soon as water levels recede and safety is confirmed by teams on ground restoration work resumes in affected areas, the spokesperson added The statement added that fuel supply disruptions in the city have severely affected the mobility of K-Electric’s vehicles while traffic congestion on major roads is also delaying power restoration efforts Power supply has so far been restored in several areas, including Gol Market, Nazimabad C-3 and 3D, Metroville, Orangi No 5, Federal B Area Blocks 7 and 9, Machhar Colony North Karachi Sectors 8 9 11A and 11B Pak Colony Eidgah Ground Moosa Colony FC Area Punjab Colony Clifton Block 5 PNS Johar Khudadad Colony, Shahnawaz

Furniture Market PIB Colony Nafeesabad Iqbal Colony North Nazimabad Blocks J S and T Gulistan-e-Jauhar Blocks 5 6 and 9 Saadi Town and Manzoor Colony Our teams have been on-ground, woring through

FAUJI FOUNDATION MOVE FORWARD WITH BINDING OFFER

STAKE IN ATTOCK CEMENT

Armed Forces pay tribute to Pilot Officer Rashid

embracing martyrdom to safeguard the sovereignty of Pakistan His indomitable spirit loyalty and patriotism remain an enduring source of inspiration for the Armed Forces and the nation His historic act of valor choosing sacrifice over surrender, continues to illuminate our national conscience as a timeless reminder of the price of freedom and the fortitude required to defend the motherland

China-Pakistan cooperation results in 12 deals wor th 235m Yuan at Kashgar Fair

PR OFIT s ta f f r e p o r t

S even killed as monsoon rains

with more showers looming

CONTINUD FROM PAGE 01

Dark clouds covered the city by afternoon followed by heavy showers with strong winds in areas including Surjani Town, Federal B Area, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Qayyumabad, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Malir, Shahrah-eFaisal Nazimabad and New Karachi Rainwater quickly inundated major roads and residential streets with severe flooding reported in Gulshan-e-Hadeed where water entered homes and forced residents to shift valuables to higher ground Key intersections such as Hassan Square, Nipa Chowrangi, Jail Chowrangi, Liaquatabad Korangi Karsaz and Malir Expressway also witnessed heavy waterlogging On the directives of Mayor Murtaza Wahab, a rain emergency has been enforced across Karachi, with all teams placed on high alert to respond to urban flooding traffic disruptions and other rainrelated incidents

Commuters faced challenges as the hours-long rain spell led to the city s main thoroughfares choked with traffic and long lines of vehicles with people reporting reaching home after several hours

The traffic police advised citizens to take precautionary measures in light of the situation such as avoiding sudden braking maintaining a slow speed and a safe distance from other vehicles on the road Traffic came to a standstill on major arteries including Shahrah-e-Faisal, University Road and II Chundrigar Road, while long tailbacks were reported at Nagan Chowrangi Hub River Road and Miran Naka Vehicles broke down on submerged roads adding to the gridlock Police said traffic flow remained slow on MA Jinnah Road, Liaquat Road, Capri Chowk, Gurumandir and adjoining areas Bilawal Chowrangi on Khayaban-e-Saadi also faced heavy congestion DIG Pir Muhammad Shah said roads were partially blocked due to rain but traffic was moving slowly He added that mobile workshops had been deployed, while SPs, DSPs, SOs, SHOs and other officers were present on the roads to assist commuters Karachi Traffic Police urged com-

muters to avoid unnecessary travel, drive slowly, and maintain distance due to slippery conditions Rescue teams and officers remained deployed across the city to manage flow The Traffic Police helpline 1915 was made available for route guidance

Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah directed the district administration, the Sindh Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the health department, and Rescue 1122 to remain on high alert amid the situation

He ordered the immediate drainage of rainwater and instructed the relevant administrations to remain in contact with the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) and the PDMA

“All deputy commissioners should be present in the field with their staff ” the chief secretary said

The PMD has warned of continued rain in the coming hours advising residents to remain cautious, especially in low-lying and flood-prone areas

In another development, a statement from Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTCL) said it was currently facing data connectivity challenges on its namesake and Ufone services

Our teams are diligently working to restore the services as quickly as possible, the statement said Internet tracking monitor Netblocks also said its metrics showed major disruption to internet connectivity across Pakistan with high impact to backbone operator PTCL

Overall national connectivity is down to 20 per cent of ordinary levels,” it said Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori held a telephonic conversation with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar to brief him on the situation arising from recent heavy rains in Karachi During the call he informed the DPM about the challenges caused by urban flooding and requested the federal government’s support in improving conditions in the city

Rescue officials said seven people lost their lives in rain-related accidents According to Chhipa a wall collapse near Aqsa Mosque in Orangi Town s Sector 11 5 killed an eight-year-old boy identified

donate his onemonth salary, cabinet ministers have donated their 15-day salary while assembly members will donate their seven-day salary Barrister Saif said Officers above grade 17 have donated their two-day salary, while government employees from grade 1 to 16 have donated one day’s salary

“The Baltistan Highway, which was blocked six days ago due to the bridge being washed away following severe flooding in the Istak Nullah was restored with the joint efforts of the Pakistan Army and GBDMA A large number of mountaineers tourists and passengers had been stranded due to the

batter K arachi

as Abdullah, son of Abbas His body was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital In Gulistan-e-Jauhar ’s Block 12, four members of a family were killed and a child injured when a house wall gave way The victims included Maryam 4; Hamza 3; and Samiya 24 wife of Mubeen Another man, around 28, also died, while a 10-year-old boy sustained injuries Municipal officials warned that further downpours could aggravate flooding in low-lying areas as the city struggled with drainage and power breakdowns POWER OUTAGES GRIP CITY AS URBAN FLOODING HINDERS RESTORATION EFFORTS

Power outages were reported across several parts of Karachi amid heavy rainfall since Tuesday morning with many areas still plunged into darkness leaving netizens frustrated as they grapple with daily disruptions and limited access to essential services K-Electric (KE) spokesperson said that Karachi’s drainage system was overwhelmed by rainfall that far exceeded its designed capacity resulting in urban flooding across the city and complicating power restoration work in several localities In a statement, the utility claimed that its distribution system remains stable, but added that the safety of life and property, and prevention of accidents remains the top priority “At present more than 1 550 of the city s 2 100 feeders are operational the spokesperson said noting that supply restoration continues where conditions allow KE said standing rainwater in various areas continues to hinder restoration efforts as safety clearances are required before ground teams can begin work As soon as water levels recede and safety is confirmed by teams on ground restoration work resumes in affected areas, the spokesperson added The statement added that fuel supply disruptions in

Nazimabad C-3 and 3D, Metroville, Orangi No 5,

ISBP Governor puts his finger on the nub

T will come as no surprise that the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan knows his economic theory When Jameel Ahmad told a seminar in Karachi on Monday that the key structural challenge to the economy was the low savings rate he was merely expressing an economic orthodoxy He was coy, however, about his own role in this As SBP Governor, he has an extremely crucial role to play in this The theory behind his remark is this: consumption plus savings are equal to income (or GDP) Savings depend on the quality of money It is an economic truism that inflation disincentivizes saving, for if the value of money is going down, the economic actor who has the money, has no real reason to keep the money and defer consumption Money, according to the textbooks, is only money if it acts as a store of value and thus allows for delayed consumption However, inflation means that money buys less as time goes on and proves not to store value Inflation is supposed to be controlled by the SBP mainly through controlling the money supply Of course there is also the danger of sending the economy into recession if inflation stays too low for too long Mr Ahmad has a delicate balancing act to perform However, it is a relief to see him identifying the one single most important factor in the economic picture He noted that there had been an improvement in almost all other indicators, but that the one which stubbornly seemed fixed was the savings rate He spoke about the need to mobilize these resources, about the need to provide more means of investing, but he should have mentioned the steps taken by the SBP to make money itself a store of value The need to keep money cheap, so that it can be used for growth, must be balanced against the need to make savings attractive For this, more attention should be paid to the real rate of return than seems to be the case It should be remembered that while there is a cultural tradition of extravagance our eastern neighbour has overcome it enough to bring its savings rate in line with that seen in economies which have grown in recent years It should not be forgotten that growth is needed to keep a young workforce employed, and that growth can only come from a high savings rate

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

M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit

Opportunit y or the next resource trap?

with Enron s Dabhol power project in the 1990s is a case in point When the Maharashtra state government tried to withdraw from the deal, the contract required the *central* government not Enron to bear the financial penalties To make matters worse, the arbitration venue was London effectively removing the dispute from Indian legal and political control The message was clear: even when the foreign company fails to deliver on its promises the host country still shoulders the losses

THE SAINDAK GOLD LESSON: Pakistan has already learned this lesson the hard way The Saindak project in Balochistan aimed at extracting gold and copper was once hailed as a turning point for regional development But the contract was riddled with disadvantageous terms When the provincial government of Balochistan sought to terminate the deal over its unfairness, the result was shocking: instead of gaining control over its own gold Pakistan was forced to pay out of its own pocket due to punitive clauses buried deep in the agreement This episode demonstrated that even when resource ownership is on paper the wrong contract can turn a national asset into a financial liability A PATTERN THAT REPEATS: From the uranium mines of the Sahel

These clauses are not just legal technicalities they can determine whether a country benefits from its resources or ends up paying for the privilege of giving them away THE ENRON PRECEDENT: India s experience

Minerals are not wealth by themselves; they are only wealth if they are extracted under terms that strengthen national sovereignty, protect the environment, and directly benefit the people . The world is knocking at PakistanÊs mineral door. The question is whether Pakistan will open it as a par tner· or as a pawn.

H o w t h e d i g i t a l a g e i s r e w r i t i n g P a k i s t a n i L i t e r a t u r e

just fresh talent The flood of content can drown out quality Viral popularity often rewards speed and emotional punch over careful craft Some pieces feel more like social media stunts than literature In the online world, short attention spans are yet another problem for today’s authors When your audience is used to skimming endless

entire works are often reposted without credit A story can gain thousands of likes for someone who didn t even write it Such practice hurts both the livelihood and the motivation of genuine writers So how do we keep the good while managing the bad? It is possible by treating digital and print media as partners, not rivals Publishers could run hybrid models serializing novels online to build readership then releasing polished print editions Through literary festivals and live-stream sessions it is possible to engage all book lovers For writers, the internet is a double-edged sword No doubt, it makes sharing easier but it also demands discipline The same tools used for quick posting can be harnessed for deeper research richer collaboration and more thoughtful storytelling Interac-

The pen hasnÊt disappeared; itÊs simply found a new paper. Stories now live on screens as much as on shelves. If we hold on to the qualities that have always defined good writing, then it is possible that this era could expand our literature instead of eroding it. In the end, itÊs not about the medium. Whether words are inked onto a page or glow on a screen, their purpose is the same: to move, to challenge and to connect.

Dr MuhaMMaD anwar Farooq

Pakistan’s floods and International Accountabilit y

Ostates or areas beyond national jurisdiction Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate-induced disasters such as the recent floods is a direct consequence of emissions from industrialized nations Despite contributing

minimally to global emissions Pakistan faces the brunt of climate impacts including extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and melting glaciers These impacts threaten the right to life, health, housing, and an adequate standard of living for Pakistan’s citizens as recognized under international human rights law Every flood destroys livelihoods displaces families and leaves children without schools an assault not only on life but on dignity and the fundamental rights of future generations

THE CASE FOR REPARATIONS: The concept of reparations is grounded in the need to address historical injustices and provide redress to those harmed In the context of climate change, reparations would involve financial and technical support from industrialized nations to assist countries like Pakistan in mitigating and adapting to climate impacts This support should go beyond voluntary aid and take the form of binding commitments and compensation for loss and damage At the 2023 COP28 conference, a Loss and Damage Fund was established to provide financial assistance to countries suffering from climate impacts However the initial pledges to this fund amounted to approximately $700 million a sum that covers less than 0 2 percent of the estimated $400 billion in annual losses developing countries face due to climate change This glaring disparity underscores the insufficiency of current international efforts and the urgent need for a more robust and equitable approach

Mere pledges without accountability cannot prevent future tragedies or restore lives already lost

THE ROLE OF INDUSTRIALIZED NA-

TIONS: The historical responsibility for climate change lies predominantly with industrialized nations which have emitted

the majority of greenhouse gases since the Industrial Revolution The USA for instance, has contributed approximately 25 percent of global cumulative CO₂ emissions, while the European Union has contributed roughly 15 percent In contrast Pakistan’s cumulative emissions are negligible yet it faces some of the most severe consequences of climate change

These nations have a legal and moral obligation to compensate Pakistan and other vulnerable countries for the loss and damage incurred due to their actions This compensation should not be framed as charity or goodwill but as a legal obligation to address the harm caused by their emissions Without such reparations the cycle of injustice continues leaving the most vulnerable populations to bear the cost of a crisis they did not create

STORIES BEHIND THE NUMBERS: numbers alone cannot capture the human suffering behind these floods In Buner entire families were washed away while trying to save livestock or flee collapsing homes Children who survived are now homeless, attending makeshift learning centres under tarpaulins exposed to the harsh monsoon rains Elderly survivors recount how rescue teams arrived too late to save neighbors trapped by sudden landslides Women in remote villages, cut off from roads and aid, struggle to access basic necessities while also caring for traumatized children These stories highlight that climate change is not an abstract problem; it is a matter of human rights and human dignity THE PATH FORWARD To ensure justice and accountability, the following steps should be taken:

1 ESTABLISH A BINDING CLIMATE REPARATIONS FRAMEWORK: In-

dustrialized

The floods in Buner are a stark reminder of the human cost of climate change and the urgent need for reparations. PakistanÊs suffering is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of injustice faced by vulnerable nations. Industrialized nations cannot claim ignorance; they have the means and the responsibility to act. True climate justice requires legally binding reparations, robust funding for loss and damage, and the recognition that human rights are inseparable from environmental stewardship. Only through these measures can we hope to restore dignity to those affected and ensure that tragedies like the Buner floods are not repeated. Reparations are are a legal and moral obligation.

I n d i a ’ s s e l f - d e s t r u c t i v e w a r o n t h e r o o t s o f t h e M u g h a l E m p i r e

Today ’s India would be unrecognizable without the imprint the Mughals had made, and continue to make, on its societ y and c ulture

In recent years, it has severely cur tailed or even abolished the teaching of Mughal histor y in all schools that follow the national curriculum Coverage of the Mughals has been eliminated in Class VII (for students about 12 years old), a little of it appears in Class VIII, none at all in Classes IX to XI, and a shor tened version sur vives in Class XII

Authorities have eliminated the initial ‘a’ from the name of one of Taj Mahal ’s surrounding gardens, so that what had been Aram B agh, the ‘G arden of Tranquilit y ’ , is now R am B agh, the ‘G arden of R am’, the popular Hindu deit y

Law yers in Agra have petitioned the cour ts to declare Taj Mahal, a Hindu temple

Much of modern India’s administrative and legal infrastruc ture was inherited from Mughal prac tices and procedures

“Since R ajput women could become legal wives of the emperor, from Akbar ’s time onwards, an emperor ’s child by a R ajput mother was eligible for the throne

AS is true of autocracies everywhere wrote David Remnick last April this Administration demands a mystical view of an imagined past Although Remnick was referring to Trump’s America, something of the same sort could be said of India today

Informed by Hindutva (Hindu-centric) ideals the country s governing Bharatiya Janata Party imagines a Hindu golden age abruptly cut short when Muslim outsiders invaded and occupied an imagined sacred realm, opening a long and dreary dark age of anti-Hindu violence and tyranny

In 2014 India’s prime minister declared that India had experienced 1 200 years of ‘slavery’ (ghulami) referring to 10 centuries of Muslim rule and two of the British Raj But whereas the British in this view had the good sense to go home, Muslims never left the land they had presumably violated and plundered To say the least, India’s history has become a political minefield

Between the early 16th and the mid-18th century, towards the end of those 12 centuries of alleged “slavery” most of South Asia was dominated by the Mughal Empire a dazzling polity that governed by a dynasty of Muslims was for a while the world s richest and most powerful state Although it declined precipitously during the century before its liquidation by Queen Victoria in 1858, today’s India would be unrecognizable without the imprint the Mughals had made and continue to make on its society and culture It was they who for the first time unified most of South Asia politically

On every August 15 since 1947 India

Fort, built in 1648

Much of modern India’s administrative and legal infrastructure was inherited from Mughal practices and procedures The basis of India s currency system today the rupee was standardized by the Mughals Indian dress architecture languages art and speech are all permeated by Mughal practices and sensibilities

It s hard to imagine Indian music without the sitar, the tabla, or the sarod Almost any Indian restaurant, whether in India or beyond will have its tandoori chicken kebab biryani or shahi paneer One can hardly utter a sentence in a north Indian language without using words borrowed from Persian the Mughals official language

INDIA NOW: India s most popular entertainment medium Bollywood cinema is saturated with dialogue and songs delivered in Urdu a language that rooted in the vernacular tongue of the Mughal court diffused throughout India thanks to its association with imperial patronage and the prestige of the dynasty s principal capital Delhi Yet despite all this and notwithstanding the prime minister s national address at Delhi s Red Fort, India’s government is engaged in a determined drive to erase the Mughals from public consciousness, to the extent possible In recent years it has severely curtailed or even abolished the teaching of Mughal history in all schools that follow the national curriculum Coverage of the Mughals has been eliminated in Class VII (for students about 12 years old), a little of it appears in Class VIII, none at all in Classes IX to XI, and a shortened version survives in Class XII In 2017 a government tourism brochure omitted any mention of the Taj Mahal the acme of Mughal architecture and one of the world s most glorious treasures completed in 1653 Lawyers in Agra the monument s site have even petitioned the courts to have it declared a Hindu temple

Although such radical measures have failed to gain traction, the national government has made more subtle efforts to dissociate the monument from the Mughals and identify it with Hindu sensibilities For example authorities have eliminated the initial a from the name of one of its surrounding gardens so that what had been Aram Bagh the Garden of Tranquility is now Ram Bagh the Garden of Ram , the popular Hindu deity This is the same deity to which India s current government recently dedicated an extravagant temple complex on the site of the Babri Masjid the mosque in

eastern India that the Mughal Empire’s founder had built in 1528, but which a mob of Hindu activists tore down brick by brick in 1992

All of this prompts two related questions: How did a rich Persian-inflected Mughal culture sink such deep roots in today s India in the first place? And why in recent years has the memory of that culture come under siege?

THE ADVENT OF THE MUGHAL-RAJPUT

ALLIANCE: Ever since the early 13th century a series of dynastic houses known collectively as the Delhi sultanate had dominated the north Indian plain The last of these houses the ethnically Afghan Lodis was dislodged by one of the most vivid figures in early modern history, Zahir al-Din Babur (1483-1530) In 1526, Babur led an army of mostly free-born Turkish retainers from his base in Kabul down through the Khyber Pass and onto the wide Indo-Gangetic plain thereby launching what would become the Mughal Empire

As was true for the Delhi sultans the new polity s success lay in controlling access to ancient trade routes connecting Delhi and Lahore with Kabul, Balkh, and Central Asian markets, such as Samarkand and Bukhara For centuries, cotton and other Indian goods moved northwards along this route while horses more than a hundred thousand annually by Babur s day moved southwards to markets across South Asia

War horses had long formed the basis of power for Indian states, together with native war elephants But the larger and stronger horses preferred by Indian rulers had to be continually imported from abroad, especially from Central Asia’s vast long-feathered grasslands where native herds roamed freely

Having established a fledgling kingdom centred on Delhi Agra and Lahore Babur bequeathed to his descendants a durable connection to the cosmopolitan world of Timurid Central Asia, a refined aesthetic sensibility, a love of the natural world reflected in his delightful memoir, the Baburnama, and a passion for gardens Aiming

Noor Zafar

Europe

Satak bridge & Jaglot Skardu road opened, says Minister

‘Right

Man for Right Job’: Railways minister sets

criterion for key postings, promotions Pakistani siblings mark UN WHD-2025 with hear t-wrenching plea for

LAHORE s ta f f r e p o r t

Two Pakistani siblings, Ghulam Bishar Hafi (13) and Ubaydah Al Fiddhah Hafiah (11), have issued a searing call on the occasion of UN World Humanitarian Day 2025 (UN WHD-2025) condemning the global silence over what they describe as the systematic infanticide of Gaza s children In their joint statement the young activists decried the shameless over-delays in the world s response to the worsening crisis, calling it both a humanitarian and moral collapse “This is no longer just a political crisis, it is a moral imperative ” they declared The siblings who launched their ‘Voice for the Voiceless’ campaign last year have chosen an unusual but symbolic form of protest writing impassioned letters in their own blood to world leaders and humanitarian bodies Their latest blood-written resolution describes Gaza’s children as “homeless, restless, and peaceless, on their knees before the collective conscience of the world begging for their next breath ” Raising stark questions they asked How many thousands of innocent children must be systematically starved slaughtered or buried alive before the world calls it genocide? How many schools, hospitals, and maternity wards must be destroyed before the truth is acknowledged?” Citing UNICEF figures, they warned that more than one million children remain trapped in Gaza’s 21-month-long siege systematically denied food medicine and basic aid a situation they call a can t-live-can t-leave tragedy

b i n a r s T h e S h a r e h o l d e r E d u c a t i o n s e c t i o n o f f e r s o n l i n e c o u r s e s w e b i n a r s

The Additional General Manager Mechanical will ensure implementation of these instructions under the supervision of the Chief Executive Officer

exploitation network operating in Muzaffargarh, Punjab, leading to the arrest of two suspects and the rescue of 10 children One of the most significant cases in recent history was the tragic death of six-year-old Zainab Amin in January 2018 whose body was found after she went missing

ISLAMABAD

The Senate on Tuesday passed amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of 1997 reintroducing provisions that allow law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and armed forces to detain individuals suspected of terrorism-related activities for up to three months

This follows the approval of the same amendment by the National Assembly last week The amendment introduced by Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control Muhammad Tallal Badar empowers the government, armed forces, or civil armed forces to order preventive detention for individuals based on reasonable suspicion of their involvement in terrorism

Under the amendment individuals suspected of activities like target killings kidnapping for ransom or extortion can be

detained for up to three months subject to the government s order

The bill amends Section 11EEEE of the ATA and specifies that anyone detained under these provisions will be subject to the constitutional safeguards of Article 10, which ensures protections against arbitrary arrest and detention

The detention will be overseen by a joint investigation team (JIT) comprising police officers intelligence agencies, and civil and armed forces

The bill was passed after a clause-byclause reading, despite attempts by JUI-F

Senator Kamran Murtaza to introduce amendments which were rejected by the majority The statement of objects and reasons for the bill highlights the need for strong measures in response to the current security challenges, asserting that the powers provided are crucial for preventing terrorist activities before they occur

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar de-

fended the amendments emphasizing that the country is facing severe terrorism threats and the proposed amendments were necessary to strengthen anti-terrorism laws

He added that the bill had already passed judicial scrutiny and included a three-year sunset clause

According to Clause 2 of the amendment detainees must be presented before a magistrate within 24 hours of arrest Opposition members, however, raised concerns about the bill s potential to violate constitutional rights PTI’s Barrister Syed Ali Zafar argued that certain provisions contradicted the law and the constitution suggesting the bill be referred to a committee for further review PML-N Senator Irfanul Haque Siddiqui, speaking in favor of the amendments, stressed the need for strict anti-terrorism measures to prevent further attacks He pointed out the loss of nearly 100 000 lives

SC puts oﬀ hearing on PTI founder's plea against bail rejec tion till today

ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of an appeal filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan against the rejection of his bail pleas in cases related to the May 9 mayhem by the Lahore High Court (LHC) A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi and comprising Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Shafi Siddiqui conducted the hearing During the proceedings Salman Safdar counsel for the PTI founder appeared before the court

As the hearing began the CJP noted he could not review some documents submitted by the petitioner At which, the PTI lawyer said the case file primarily included judicial decisions only The review of all relevant docu-

ments is essential,” the chief justice remarked and further directed that any party intending to submit documents must do so by the end of the day so the bench could properly review them before the next hearing

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prosecution to carefully examine the documents submitted by the defense team

Later he adjourned the hearing until 10:30 am tomorrow (August 20)

Imran Khan had moved the SC against the LHC s last month s verdict of rejecting his bail petitions in eight separate cases related to the May 9 riots, including the attack on Jinnah House in Lahore

In the petition the PTI founder argued that a first information report (FIR) lacked sufficient evidence and termed the allegations of his involvement in the riots as baseless

It also stated that since he was in NAB custody at the time, it was im-

possible for him to take part in those riots, besides raising doubts over the case on the basis of "contradictions" in the prosecution statements

Khan also sought further investigation into the case as he suspected mala fide intent on the part of the police for avoiding his arrest for five months

The petitioner maintained that the evidence against him is inadequate while other co-accused have already been granted bail

He also called the delayed police statements unreliable and asserted that he deserves the right to bail

A two-member LHC bench, headed by Justice Shahbaz Ali Rizvi pronounced the reserved verdict on June 24 after lawyers from the petitioner and the government sides concluded their arguments

Previously, on November 27, 2024, the ATC had dismissed Imran's bail pleas in these eight cases

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