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Rs 15.00 | Vol XIII No 353 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
Thursday, 22 June, 2023 I 3 Zil Hajj, 1444
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Prime suspect among 15 human traffickers arrested
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RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif instructed Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan to oversee the investigation and develop necessary legislative proposals to effectively combat human trafficking. He also urged the committee investigating the Greece shipwreck incident to expedite its proceedings and present a report promptly. Chairing a high-level meeting to address the Greece boat incident, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his dismay over the failure to prevent criminal activities related to human smuggling. He questioned the lack of concrete preventive measures despite repeated incidents of this nature. The Prime Minister demanded that all those involved in human smuggling be brought to justice without delay, and he instructed the relevant authorities to take immediate action. The meeting, attended by Federal Ministers Rana Sanaullah and Marriyum Aurangzeb, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatimi, DG FIA, Chief Secretary Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and other senior officials, focused on the latest developments regarding the tragic incident. The Mediterranean Sea boat sinking near Greece on June 14 resulted in 104 survivors, including 12 individuals from Pakistan, while the bodies of 79 victims have been recovered thus far. The meeting highlighted the round-the-
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clock operations of a coordination cell established within the Ministry of Interior, which allows families of missing persons to seek assistance at any time. It was reported that ten First Information Reports (FIRs) had been registered following the incident, leading to the arrest of 15 individuals, including the main suspect. Authorities revealed that an organized network spanning multiple countries is involved in human trafficking activities. The Prime Minister instructed the FIA to conduct a comprehensive investigation
Alvi designates Isa as next chief justice ISLAMABAD
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President Arif Alvi has formally appointed Justice Qazi Faez Isa, a senior puisne judge of the Supreme Court, as the next chief justice of Pakistan. The appointment will take effect on September 17, following the retirement of the incumbent chief justice, Umar Ata Bandial. In accordance with Article 179 of the Constitution, the presidency issued a statement confirming that Justice Umar Ata Bandial will reach retirement age on September 16. The announcement further read: “The President has appointed the Chief Justice in accordance with Article 175 of the Constitution. Justice Qazi Faez Isa will be sworn in by the President on September 17, 2023.”
promptly and implement effective measures to prevent such incidents in the future. Furthermore, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the Commissioner of Gujranwala to identify and promptly apprehend the agents responsible for heinous acts of human trafficking in the district. He stressed the importance of maintaining constant communication with the victims’ families and instructed relevant institutions to remain in contact. Additionally, he urged the Pakistani embassy in Greece to establish continuous contact with Greek authorities regarding the incident.
At least 15 human traffickers — including the prime suspect — have been arrested so far during the ongoing countrywide crackdown linked with the migrant boat tragedy off the coast of Greece, authorities told a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday. Chairing the high-level huddle regarding human smuggling and the recent capsizing of a boat in the Mediterranean near Greece, the premier directed the authorities concerned to bring the responsible for human trafficking to book at the earliest. Authorities in Europe still have no clear idea how many people were aboard the ill-fated boat when it sank last week — estimates range from 400 to over 700 — but likely hundreds came from Pakistan, and many from Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK). The United Nations Human Rights office said in a statement on Sunday that at least 500 people were still missing and that dozens of people were known to have perished. A good number of women and children were among the missing persons in the “horrific tragedy”. The ferry boat was carrying up to 750 people that went down 50 nautical miles off Pylos in southern Greece, it further said. During the meeting, PM Shehbaz expressed resentment over not taking timely action to check human smuggling and taking concrete steps despite the repetition of such incidents. He directed Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah to supervise the investigation process and formulate recommendations related to the necessary legislation to prevent human trafficking. The prime minister also ordered the investigation committee to submit the report after completing it at the earliest. The meeting was informed that ten FIRs had been registered after the incident. It was further briefed that 104 people including 12 Pakistanis had been rescued, while 74 bodies had been recovered. The premier also directed the relevant institutions to be in constant contact with the families of the victims, while the Pakistani embassy in Greece was further instructed to stay in touch with the Greece authorities regarding the incident. Earlier today, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) apprehended two alleged human traffickers from Gujranwala linked with the migrant boat tragedy off the coast of Libya in February this year. The development came after the FIA expanded the scope of its investigation into the recent Greece shipwreck incident and formed teams in major cities to bring the human traffickers to justice.
PSX plunges on IMF deal ‘dillydallying,’ disappointing budget
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Uncertainty promptes investors to adopt a wait-and-see approach PROFIT
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The Pakistan Stock Exchange experienced a sharp decline as the benchmark KSE-100 index dropped 418 points or 1.06 percent, closing at 40,220.79. The bearish sentiment was attributed to a lack of progress on a Staff Level Agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and a “disappointing” budget for fiscal year 2024. The budget’s proposed taxes, including an across-theboard super tax, a 10 percent tax on bonus shares, and a 50 percent tax on abnormal profits, which discouraged investors and contributed to the market downturn. With less than 10 days left until the June 30 deadline of Pakistan’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) with the IMF, the absence of a signed agreement raised concerns. The IMF deal is crucial for Pakistan, and the fear of default without its support added to the cautious sentiment among
investors. The uncertainty surrounding the IMF agreement prompted investors to adopt a wait-and-see approach, despite attractive dividend yields and price-earning ratios available in the market. The bearish trend in the stock market was driven by a combination of factors, including economic uncertainty, dismal data on foreign direct investment, which fell by 21 percent for Jul-May 2023, and delays in the IMF bailout programme.
Dar updates US envoy on ongoing IMF negotiations as deadline approaches
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IMF has raised concerns about certain measures proposed in FY24's budget PROFIT
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Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday met with US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome to discuss the ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), providing an update on the progress made. The Ministry of Finance issued a statement affirming the government’s commitment to completing the programme with the IMF before the impending deadline.
Pakistan’s ninth review under the 2019 Extended Fund Facility (EFF), which aims to secure $1.2 billion, remains pending with less than 10 days remaining until the programme’s expiration on June 30. Last week, the IMF raised concerns about certain measures proposed in Pakistan’s fiscal year 2024 budget, which were seen as contradicting the conditions of the EFF programme. Esther Perez Ruiz, the IMF representative for Pakistan, emphasised that Pakistan needs to address three key issues,
including the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, before the pending tranche can be released. As the deadline approaches and the IMF’s reservations regarding the budget persist, concerns have grown about the likelihood of a successful agreement. Despite the challenges, the government has expressed its flexibility and ongoing engagement with the IMF to find a mutually beneficial solution. Pakistan’s dwindling foreign reserves have heightened the urgency for an IMF bailout, as failure to secure it could re-
sult in default. Dar also highlighted the government’s efforts to reduce the fiscal gap and fulfill national and international financial obligations. The statement further mentioned the government’s economic policies and priorities to address the current economic challenges and foster stability and growth. Bloome expressed confidence in the government’s economic programes and extended his support to strengthen bilateral economic, investment, and trade relations between the two countries.
CJP-led larger bench takes up pleas against military court trials today ISLAMABAD
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Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial on Wednesday formed a ninemember larger bench to take up petitions for hearing on Thursday against trial of civilians in military courts under Army Act. The larger bench led by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, comprising of: Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Ayesha Malik. The development comes a day after former chief justice Jawwad S Khawaja challenged the coalition government’s decision to hold trials of May 9 rioters in military courts, asking if civilian institutions including the Supreme Court can endorse
“militarisation of justice”. “This case is also about power flowing from the barrel of a gun. It is about the
power of the army. The army controls businesses and land. Historically, it has exercised power and influence over our po-
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Titanic sub: Rescuers race against time after hearing undersea sounds BOSTON ReuteRS
Rescue teams were racing on Wednesday to trace the origin of sounds heard from the depths of the North Atlantic in a search for a tourist submersible with five people on board that vanished on its descent to the century-old wreck of the Titanic. The US Coast Guard said remotely operated vehicle (ROV) searches were deployed in the area where Canadian aircraft detected the undersea noises on Tuesday, as the clock ticked in the last 24 hours of the missing craft’s presumed air supply. “Those ROV searches have yielded negative results but continue,” the US Coast Guard wrote on Twitter on Wednesday. The 21-foot (6.4-meter) submersible Titan, operated by US-based OceanGate Expeditions, began its descent at 8:00 am (1200 GMT) on Sunday, according to the US Coast Guard. It lost contact with its parent surface vessel soon after that during what should have been a two-hour dive to the Titanic. The mini-sub was designed to remain underwater for 96 hours, according to its specifications. That would give its occupants enough air until roughly 1200 GMT on Thursday, if it remained intact. Experts said a range of factors affected that deadline including whether it still had power in the icy depths. The wreck of the British ocean liner, which sank when it hit an iceberg on its maiden voyage in 1912, lies on the seabed at a depth of about 12,500 feet (3,810 meters). It is about 900 miles (1,450 km) east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and 400 miles south of St. John’s, Newfoundland. Those aboard the submersible, the highlight of a tourist expedition that costs $250,000 per person, included British billionaire and adventurer Hamish Harding, 58, and Pakistani-born businessman Shahzada Dawood, 48, with his 19-year-old son Suleman, who are both British citizens. French explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77, and Stockton Rush, founder and chief executive of OceanGate Expeditions, were also reported to be on board. The authorities have not confirmed the identity of any passenger.
litical dispensation. Its power and reach extend far beyond its constitutional role. If not a state within a state, it is regarded as an entity distinct from the government and referred to as the ‘establishment’. “The question for our civilian institutions including this court is whether the militarization of justice will be endorsed,” said a 39-page constitution petition filed through Khwaja Ahmad Hosain advocate. The former top judge asked if Pakistanis as a nation want to march backwards in time “with banners flying and drums beating to old tunes”. “Or do we see a better tomorrow with public officeholders and institutions operating within constitutionally assigned domains? It is a fundamental question that continues to plague us as a nation. The answer will shape the future,” he added. He said trials of civilians in military courts do not meet international fair trial standards: the right to a public
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03 hearing is not guaranteed, there is no right to a reasoned judgment, there are no details about where trials are conducted, and even the details of the charges are kept secret. “The decision to try civilians by military courts when the civilian courts are functioning is incompatible with the Constitution and a violation of fundamental rights guaranteed therein.” The petitioner noted that all four types of court martial—general court martial, district court martial, summary court martial, and field general court martial—are not impartial or independent tribunals. “The ‘judges’ are all serving officers of the military. They do not have any legal training, security of tenure, or other prerequisites which underpin judicial independence. “All those involved in the proceedings of the court martial are part of and dependent on the executive branch from appointment until retirement,” he added. The petitioner said trials in military courts lack transparency. The hearings are held in private and behind closed doors. Section 93 of the Pakistan Army Act 1952 states, “persons subject to this Act who commits any offence against it may be tried and punished for such offence in any place whatsoever.”