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BUGTI TO ‘ILLEGAL’ IMMIGRANTS: EXIT PAKISTAN BY NOV 1 OR FACE LAW
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Wednesday, 4 October, 2023 I 17 Rabi ul Awwal, 1445
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SAYS TASK FORCE CONSTITUTED WHICH WILL TAKE ACTION AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
UN OPPOSES EVICTION DEADLINE, SAYING ‘RETURN MUST BE VOLUNTARY AND WITHOUT ANY PRESSURE’
APEX COMMITTEE DECIDES TO WIDEN SCOPE OF ONGOING ACTION AGAINST ALL ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES LIKE DRUG, CURRENCY SMUGGLING, HOARDING, POWER THEFT
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Rs 40.00 | Vol XIV No 94 I 40 Pages I Islamabad Edition
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
NTERIM Interior Minister Sarfaraz Bugti on Tuesday declared that the caretaker federal government set November 1,2023 as deadline for illegal immigrants to leave Pakistan voluntarily, warning that stern action will be taken against those found residing in the country unlawfully after the deadline. “Pakistan is the only country permitting entry of people even without a passport,” Minister Sarfaraz Bugti decried while addressing a press conference in Islamabad after a meeting of the apex committee on the national action plan and eliminating terrorism. Bugti further said that a task force has also been constituted which will take action against illegal immigrants. “Assets owned by illegal immigrants would be confiscated and a web portal is being established to report any illegal activity related to smuggling”, he informed. Sarfraz Bugti elaborated that the names of those who provide any information related to illegal activities would be kept secret. Bugti stressed that the caretaker government’s priority was ensuring the safety of Pakistani citizens. The announcement comes after a deadly suicide blast claimed the lives of at least 60 people in Balochistan’s Mastung and left several others injured last Friday. That same day at least five people
were killed in a blast inside a mosque at Hangu Police Lines in KhyberPakhtunkhwa. Bugti apprised that Afghan nationals were found to be responsible for at least 14 of the 24 suicide bombings in the country this past year. Illegal immigrants should leave before November 1 or they would face forcible expulsion, he said. The minister further warned that businesses being run by illegal migrants would be confiscated. All law enforcement agencies are being mobilised to eliminate terrorism and ensure the exit of illegal foreigners, he stressed Caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi also confirmed the deadline on a post on X, formerly Twitter. The minister stated that, “All illegal immi-
PTI demands recovery of its ‘missing leaders’ ISLAMABAD
grants have 28 days to leave Pakistan.” TASK FORCE CONSTITUTED AT APEX COMMITTEE’S MEETING Earlier in the day, the apex committee of the National Action Plan (NAP), expressing resolve to expel illegal foreign residents and take strict action against their businesses and properties, constituted a task force to scrutinise and do away with fake identity cards and business activities. The committee, which met in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, also decided to widen the scope of ongoing action against illegal activities like drug smuggling, hoarding, smuggling of currency and eatables, illegal money transfer and power theft, a PM Office press release said.
Attended by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, relevant federal ministers, provincial chief ministers and heads of civil and military law enforcement agencies, the apex committee decided that movement at the border would be subject to the passport and visa, in a view to document the processes. The task force that would work under the interior ministry would help scrutinise the fake identity cards, businesses and properties in order to get rid of the same. The participants of the meeting reviewed the internal security situation in the country with a view to overcome the challenges durably. They resolved that despite all odds, the government would ensure implementation of the Constitution and the law as per the public aspirations. The forum reiterated that the use of force was only the state’s mandate and no individual or group would be allowed to use the same. Besides, there was no room for armed political organisations or groups and the people involved in such activities would be dealt away with strictly. In the meeting, it was also highlighted that Islam was a religion of peace and the state would never allow anyone to interpret the religion just to serve own political interests. “The rights and religious freedom of the minorities were the component of Islam and Constitution of Pakistan and the state would ensure their provision,” it said.
Law Ministry notifies jail trial of PTI chief in cypher case
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ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) called upon the caretaker prime minister and the chief election commissioner on Tuesday to take immediate action in recovering their forcibly disappeared leaders and workers. In separate letters addressed to PM Anwaarul Haq Kakar and CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja, PTI’s Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan raised alarm over the mysterious disappearance of the party’s key leaders and workers. As per Khan’s letter, copies of the letters have also been shared with the provincial chief ministers. In his letter, Khan has highlighted names of PTI leaders whose whereabouts are currently unknown. These include Farrukh Habib, Sadaqat Abbasi, Usman Dar, Owais Younis, Irfan Saleem, Abdul Karim Khan, and Awami Muslim League (AML) Chief Sheikh Rashid. The PTI leader has termed the issue of enforced disappearances as the “most serious of all the violations of the law and the Constitution” and “the most blatant and open form of pre-poll rigging” in the context of preparation for a ‘free, fair and impartial election’. Omar stated that the enforced disappearance of these individuals was a blatant violation of the fundamental rights enshrined in Pakistan’s Constitution. He underscored the urgent need for their release and for those responsible for these disappearances to be brought to justice. The letter further states that, “This campaign, with the sole purpose of trying to break PTI, Pakistan’s most popular political party, also makes a complete mockery of the Election Act 2017. In the context of the very primary responsibility of caretaker governments to hold free and fair elections, this campaign of enforced disappearances violates Section.230 (1)(d) in which the Caretaker Government has a duty to “be impartial to every person and political party”, and Section. 186 (d), in which no official can execute any act “calculated to influence the result of the election”.
STAFF REPORT
The Ministry of Law on Tuesday issued a notification to conduct trial of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in Adiala jail in Cypher case after the Law and Justice Division said it had ‘no objection’ to the jail trial. The ministry issued the notification after Special Court Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain wrote a letter to the Ministry of Law, seek a notification regarding jail trial cypher case due to security concerns. Earlier, the FIA submitted challan in the cypher case in the special court constituted under the Official Secrets Act. Both the incarcerated PTI chairman and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi were indicted in the challan. The FIA pleaded to the court for trial and conviction of the PTI chairman and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. The FIA registered a first information report (FIR) on August 15 under the Official Secrets Act on the complaint of the Home Secretary. Former prime minister Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi were nominated in the report, while names of former principal secretary Azam Khan and former planning minister Asad Umar were also mentioned.
FOUR SPECIAL COURT JUDGES APPOINTED Meanwhile, the Ministry of Law and Justice has notified the appointment of four special court judges in different districts of Punjab on deputation basis. According to the notification issued on Tuesday, District and Sessions Judge Amjad Ali Shah will perform as Special Judge Central Rawalpindi with District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Naeem Sheikh deputed as Special Judge Central Gujranwala. Similarly, two other district and sessions judges – Rana Zahid Iqbal and Tanveer Ahmed Sheikh – are appointed in special courts established for Faisalabad and Lahore respectively.
The special courts are sanctioned under Section 8 (i) of the Protection of Pakistan Act, 2014 to provide protection against waging of war or insurrection against the country, prevention of acts threatening its security, speedy trial of offences and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. In this connection, the process stipulates that the government, after consulting with the chief justice concerned, may appoint any person as a special court judge who is or has been a sessions judge in any province of Pakistan, or has been an advocate of the high court for a period of not less than 10 years, and is not more than 70 years of age.
IN TODAY’S ISSUE
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Apex court should acknowledge mistakes of endorsing martial laws: CJP ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Qazi Faez Isa on Tuesday highlighted the havoc being wrought by individuals wielding unchecked power, when martial law is imposed, the solemn oath taken by judges often fades into oblivion, but the judiciary swiftly reacts when parliament enacts laws. The CJP boldly asserted that the apex court should acknowledge its past mistakes concerning its endorsement of martial laws. Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Qazi Faez Isa made the compelling remarks during hearing of the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Act case on Tuesday. A full court bench of the Supreme Court is hearing petitions challenging the SC (Practice and Procedure) Act 2023. The bench, headed by CJP Isa and comprising all 15 judges of the Supreme Court, is hearing the pleas. The full court bench, led by CJP Isa, includes: Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Ayesha A. Malik, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Shahid Waheed, and Justice Musarrat Hilali. The hearing was adjourned till Monday, October 9. The highly anticipated case is being broadcast live on state television, as cameras from PTV have been installed inside Courtroom No.1. The hearing commenced at 9:30am today. Earlier at the start of hearing, the chief justice said the law affected the CJP and the two senior-most judges of the SC. He added that the law would also apply to future chief justices and senior judges of the apex court. Elaborating further, Justice Isa stated that he felt that he should not have been part of the bench, however, as the law affects all judges of the apex court, it was decided that a full court will hear the case. The chief justice said that the court wants to “try to conclude [the case] today”, and added that if lawyers wanted to make additional arguments, they can submit a detailed response. Advocate Ikram Chaudhry, starting his arguments, read the opening paragraph of the SC (Practice and Procedure) Act and argued that the opening indicated that the law was being enacted for a certain or “specific purpose”. The chief justice asked Chaudhry whether the law stated the same or was he implying it and cautioned the counsel against putting words in a statute “which don’t exist”. “If this is your impression then say so.” The lawyer, referring to the provision of appeal under the new Act, said “additions” to Article 183 can only be made with a two-thirds majority in the Parliament and added that Section 8 of the Act had “bulldozed” the concept of the judiciary’s independence. Chaudhry stated that an “effort has been made” to encroach upon a domain that does not fall under the purview of the parliament. He further said that a “truncated” Parliament passed the law and it did not have the authority to make constitutional amendments. The lawyer also argued that the Act “denies the Constitution itself”. “When there is a law, fundamentally unconstitutional, it would be within the Supreme Court’s authority to look into it and declare it ultra vires.” Justice Isa then questioned the lawyer what he exactly meant by the independence of the judiciary, “Is it unique or is it for the people and their rights? Is it a standalone concept that should be defended?” At one point during the hearing CJP Isa remarked that havoc was being created by individuals. He noted that when martial law is imposed, every judge forgets the oath but when Parliament makes a law we react and remind lawmakers about their oath. The apex court should admit its mistakes regarding endorsement of martial laws, said the CJP.
Govt awfully proud of this year’s cotton bumper crop. They shouldn’t be g
TIMELY ACTION AGAINST PEST ATTACKS HELPED BUT BUMPER CROP IS JUST ANOMALY CAUSED BY INT’L COTTON MARKET ANALYSIS PROFIT ABDULLAH NIAZI
The chest thumping was audible on Tuesday when Pakistan’s interim Commerce Minister Gohar Ejaz proudly announced that cotton arrivals in Pakistan had already crossed 5 million bales this year with an entire quarter left in the year. While the thumping may have been slightly muted by the commerce minister proudly posting a picture of a field of white flowers mistaking it for cotton (made worse by the fact that before his latest tryst as a government minister Mr Ejaz was Chairman of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association whose business is based entirely on cotton) there is much to be taken away from this year’s
cotton output. According to data provided by the commerce ministry, 5 million bales of cotton have already been delivered to ginning factories with three months to go in the season. Last year, Pakistan saw its lowest ever output for cotton when the country produced only 4.8 million bales of cotton. As a result, the export-oriented textile industry had to import cotton from the United States to meet the shortfall which was difficult because imports were restricted in the country. This led to textile factories shuttering their doors for long periods of time. So how have things turned around so quickly this year? Essentially because of a trick of the international cotton market. Some context Pakistan’s cotton has been suffering for the past few decades. From the early 1980s up until around 2008 white lint was one of
the most popular crops in the entire country. According to a 2021 report of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), raw cotton consumption grew at an annual growth rate of 7% between 1982 and 2008. In fact, 2008 was witness to the biggest cotton crop in Pakistan’s history at 15.6 million bales. It was a pretty neat system. Textile mills needed lots of cotton to produce clothes and export them and farmers knew that if they grew cotton they would have definite buyers. All in all it was an ideal situation. Until it wasn’t. Between 2007-8 Pakistan was hit by the global recession. The textile industry faced challenges due to high energy costs, rupee depreciation vis-à-vis the US $ and other currencies, and a high cost of doing business. As a result, there was a reduction in the number of textile mills operating in the country from about 450 units in 2009 to 400
units in 2019. This decrease has simultaneously seen the domestic demand for cotton dip in the country. In this time cotton has fallen out of demand, become internationally uncompetitive, and output has fallen by a whopping 65% from 14 million bales being produced in 2005 to 4.9 million bales being produced in 2023. So what happened this year? The expectations this year were high. Cotton generally has fallen out of favour but weather patterns this year it seemed the weather would permit a higher yield. On top of this August proved fateful. As the Kharif season was starting, the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) entered the cotton market to stabilise the white lint prices. TCP announced it would purchase one million bales of lint to stabilise the market so that the growers may get the minimum rate of Rs8,500 per maund as promised by the government at the outset of the sowing season
to woo the farmers back to the crop. But why was the government suddenly so interested in cotton? Essentially, the United States was hit with a low production year. Cotton production in the US in 202223 is forecast to fall by 3.7 million bales from the previous marketing year (MY) to 13.8 million bales, the lowest production level in seven years. This will result in US cotton exports for MY 2022-23 to fall at 12.5 million bales, down by 100,000 bales from the previous month’s forecast and 14 per cent lower than MY 2021-22, according to the US department of agriculture (USDA). US Cotton was facing the same issues as Pakistan — high temperatures and drought in Texas, where 40 percent of US cotton production occurs, have slashed production and exportable supplies. As a result global trade is down by nearly a million bales from the previous month’s forecast.
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