Profit WORLD COURT ORDERS ISRAEL TO HALT ASSAULT ON GAZA’S RAFAH In partnership with
Saturday, 25 May, 2024 I |16 Zil-Qadah, 1445
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XIV No 325 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
ORDERS OPENING OF RAFAH CROSSING TO ALLOW IN HUMANITARIAN AID, SAYING IT MUST PROVIDE INVESTIGATORS ACCESS TO BESIEGED ENCLAVE
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ORDER ADOPTED BY PANEL OF 15 JUDGES FROM AROUND WORLD IN A 13-2 VOTE
PM welcomes Int’l Court’s ruling, Ireland’s recognition of Palestine ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
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THE HAGUE AGENCIES
UDGES at the top United Nations court ordered Israel on Friday to halt its military assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah in a landmark emergency ruling on South Africa’s case accusing Israel of genocide. Reading out the ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the body’s president Nawaf Salam said the situation in the Palestinian enclave had deteriorated since the court last ordered Israel to take steps to improve it. Conditions had been met for a new emergency order. “The state of Israel shall immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in the Rafah governorate, which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that
could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part,” he said. The court also ordered Israel to open the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza to allow in humanitarian aid and said it must provide access to the besieged enclave for investigators and report back on its progress within one month. The order was adopted by the panel of 15 judges from around the world in a 13-2 vote, opposed only by judges from Uganda and Israel itself. It was handed down a week after it was requested by South Africa as part of a case accusing Israel of genocide. The ICJ is the highest UN body for hearing disputes between states. Its rulings are final and binding but have been ignored in the past. The court has no enforcement powers. Outside, a small group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators waved flags and
‘Pakistan, IMF make significant progress on staff-level agreement’ PROFIT
NEWS DESK
Pakistani authorities and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) team made significant progress toward reaching a Staff Level Agreement (SLA) on a comprehensive economic policy and reform program that can be supported under an Extended Fund Facility (EFF). At the request of the Pakistani authorities, an IMF team, led by Nathan Porter, the IMF’s Mission Chief to Pakistan, visited Islamabad during May 13-23, 2024, to discuss Pakistan’s plans for a home-grown economic program that can be supported under the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility, the IMF said in a press statement. “Building on the economic stabilisation achieved through the successful completion of the 2023 Standby Arrangement, the IMF and the Pakistani authorities made significant progress toward reaching a Staff Level Agreement (SLA) on a comprehensive economic policy and reform program that can be supported under an Extended Fund Facility (EFF),” Porter said in a statement at the end of the visit. The authorities’ reform program aims to move Pakistan from economic stabilisation to strong, inclusive, and resilient growth. To achieve this, the authorities plan to continue to strengthen public finances to reduce vulnerabilities by improving domestic revenue mobilisation through fairer taxation while scaling up spending for human capital, social protection, and climate resilience; secure energy sector viability, including reforms to reduce the high cost of energy; continue progress towards low and stable inflation by appropriate monetary and exchange rate policies; improve public service provision through state-owned enterprise (SOE) restructuring and privatization; and promote private sector development, by securing a level-playing field for investment and stronger governance, th statement added.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday welcomed the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on a petition filed against genocide in Palestine. The prime minister paid tributes to the courage of the 13 ICJ judges who made the decision and thanked South Africa for filing the petition. In a statement, he reiterated Pakistan’s support for the Palestinians and pledged to continue fighting for their rights. He said Pakistan had extended support to the petition filed by South Africa. The prime minister called upon the United Nations Security Council and the international community to im-
played a rap on a boom box calling for a free Palestine. Israel has repeatedly dismissed the case’s accusations of genocide as baseless, arguing in court that its operations in Gaza are self-defence and targeted at Hamas fighters who attacked Israel on October 7. An Israeli government spokesman said on the eve of Friday’s decision that “no power on Earth will stop Israel from protecting its citizens and going after Hamas in Gaza.” Israel launched its assault on the southern city of Rafah this month, forc-
mediately implement the International Court’s decision to stop the Israeli operation in Gaza. He also urged the international community to ensure the provision of humanitarian aid and relief to the people of Palestine, besides providing immediate access to the United Nations investigation commission to Gaza and Rafah. Pakistan would continue to play its role in protecting the basic human and legal rights of the Palestinian people, the prime minister assured. PM lauds Ireland’s decision to recognize Palestine as independent state Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the Government of Ireland’s recent decision to recognize Palestine as an independent state.
ing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to flee a city that had become a refuge to around half of the population’s 2.3 million people. Rafah, on Gaza’s southern edge, has also been the main route in for aid, and international organisations say the Israeli operation has cut off the enclave and raised the risk of famine. South Africa’s lawyers asked the ICJ last week to impose emergency measures, saying Israel’s attacks on Rafah must be stopped to ensure the survival of the Palestinian people
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ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
the recovery of missing poet by May 24, accepting the attorney general for Pakistan’s (AGP) request for additional time for this purpose. At the outset of the hearing, the AGP requested an extension of two to four days for Shah’s recovery, assuring the court that the law enforcement agencies would be able to locate him within the timeframe. The court granted the requested extension, with Justice Kayani questioning whether or not the AGP had given the assurance after consultation with the federal government. The AGP replied that he had the federal government’s complete backing. The petitioner’s lawyer Imaan Mazari expressed frustration over the recurring instances of individuals being “forcibly” disappeared. “It always happens, they pick up people and then say that we
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IHC summons law minister, ISI, MI, IB officials in poet abduction case
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday ordered live broadcast of all cases involving missing persons and summoned several high-ranking officials to appear in person on May 29 in the case of missing poet Ahmed Farhad Shah. During the hearing, journalists informed the court about the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) notification. The court permitted the reporting of the proceedings, underscoring the significance of the case. Shah, a journalist and poet, went missing from his home in Islamabad on May 14. Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani issued an eight-page written order in Urdu, demanding the appearance of the Federal Minister for Law, the Sector Commander of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the Military Intelligence (MI) Director, the Director of Intelligence Bureau (IB), and the secretaries of defence and interior. The court’s directive stated that if the abducted individual is recovered before the next hearing, a written report must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office. This marks the first time the Islamabad High Court has issued a written order in Urdu, authored by Justice Kayani. On Tuesday, the IHC ordered
Reko Diq project sees major shift as Pakistan agrees to sell 15% stake to Saudi Arabia
don’t have them,” she added. She continued that it was not just one case and emphasised that she represented such matters every day. Mazari then pressed the AGP on progress made in the past six days in Shah’s case, suggesting that if the agencies were not involved, the kidnappers should “at least be traceable”. Commenting on the absence of the defence secretary, she contended that he had never appeared in court whenever he was summoned. Justice Kayani stressed the need to finish this culture. “If a prime minister can appear before the court, everyone else can do so as well,” he added, noting that nobody was higher in rank than the premier. The AGP assured the court that all resources would be used to track down the missing poet.
PRELIMINARY DEAL STRUCK FOR SAUDI ACQUISITION OF REKO DIQ STAKES, WITH OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT EXPECTED SOON PROFIT
MONITORING DESK
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have reached a preliminary agreement for Islamabad to sell a 15% share of its holdings in the Reko Diq mining project to Saudi investors. This move comes as Barrick Gold Corporation, a key stakeholder in the project, declined to divest its shares in this multibillion-dollar venture. The divestment will adjust Pakistan’s total share in the project from 50% down to 35%, according to a report by The News. The provincial government of Balochistan will maintain its 25% stake, while the share held by Pakistan’s federal government’s State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) will decrease from 25% to 10%. This development positions Pakistan as a minority shareholder, a change that, according to official sources, is manageable given Pakistan’s prior experience with joint ventures in various sectors, including telecommunications and banking. Officials reassured that protective clauses in the current Reko Diq agreement would prevent Barrick Gold from making unilateral decisions, particularly concerning significant investments. These provisions ensure that Pakistan can intervene if necessary, maintaining some level of control over the project’s direction. The anticipated deal comes at a critical time, as Pakistan’s investment-to-GDP ratio has hit a historic low over the past 50 years. The involvement of Saudi Arabia is expected to boost the investment climate significantly. Top government officials indicated that an official announcement regarding the agreement is expected in the coming weeks. This deal is part of a broader strategy to enhance foreign investment, with Saudi Arabia expressing interest in increasing its stakes further in the future. Additionally, the signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which includes a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) providing international arbitration rights, is set to reinforce this investment framework. High-level visits between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, including recent trips by Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff and a Saudi minister to Pakistan, have been instrumental in advancing these multibillion-dollar investment discussions. With the ratification of the FTA and BIT awaiting final signatures, Pakistan has agreed to a structured process for resolving investment disputes, incorporating an obligatory eight-month domestic resolution period before escalating to international arbitration forums such as the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) or International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).
Wheat Import Scandal: Caretaker government cleared, officials blamed g
FIVE OFFICIALS FROM MNOFSR SUSPENDED OVER ALLOWING OF WHEAT IMPORT IN 2023 PROFIT
GHULAM ABBAS
The wheat import scandal, stemming from the decision by the interim government to allow the free import of wheat by the private sector has finally reached a conclusion. The scandal which led to widespread protests and criticism from farmers has concluded its investigation with the suspension of five officials for 120 days: former Additional Secretary Incharge of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFSR), Capt. Retd. Muhammad Asif; Food Security Commissioner-II Imtiaz Ali Gopang; and Allah Ditta Abid, former Director General of the Department of Plant Protection (DPP). Additionally, Dr. Waseem ul Hassan, Food Security Commissioner-I, and Director Sohail, who were not directly involved in the wheat import policy, were also suspended based on the inquiry committee’s recommendations. Director Sohail, who has never held the position of Director General in the DPP, was suspended without clear reasons.
Insiders claim that additional recommendations were made to obscure the issue, protecting the real culprits in the government while using irrelevant officers as scapegoats. Insiders also revealed that the presence of Mr. Imtiaz Ali Gopand, Food Security Commissioner-II in the meeting held in the Prime Minister office and chaired by Mian Shehbaz Sharif pertaining to wheat crises on 21st May along with the Secretary, MNoFSR, Dr. Muhammad Fakhar Alam Irfan, and the Federal Minister, Rana Tanveer Hussain, irked Mian Shehbaz Sharif. Witnessing Gopang in the meeting, the Prime Minister got angry and questioned Mr. Asad Rehman Gilani, the principal secretary, why the official has not been suspended so far despite being responsible for a wheat crisis in the country. The gentleman could not explain the reason in the meeting. Even though he explained later that he had drafted the summary as dictated and desired by the former additional secretary incharge, MNFSR, Capt. Retd. Muhammad Mehmood. Later the Principal Secretary instructed
the Secretary Establishment to issue suspension orders of Capt. Retd. Muhammad Asif and Dr. Waseem ul Hassan, FSC-I, two officers from the MNFSR and Mr. Allah Ditta Abid, and Mr. Sohail, two officers from the DPP in addition to Mr. Imtiaz Ali Gopang, Food Security Commissioner-I. Sources claimed that a senior member of the preliminary inquiry committee constituted by the Prime Minister on April 29, 2024, excluded Capt. Retd. Muhammad Mehmood, from the list of key accused. This was allegedly done to protect him and divert attention from the real culprits. The investigation, which lasted over a month, did not summon any officials from the caretaker government nor Capt. Retd. Muhammad Mehmood, the former Additional Secretary Incharge who initiated the wheat import summary. This raised questions about the impartiality of the inquiry. Critical questions remain unanswered: who initiated the wheat import summary from MNFSR during the interim period? Why did the Finance Division support pri-
vate sector wheat imports instead of importing through the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP)? Why was regulatory duty-free import allowed even after the shortfall was addressed? Why did the newly elected government not take action before the wheat crisis escalated? Why was Capt. Retd. Muhammad Mehmood not suspended? The import of surplus wheat caused the local market to crash, forcing farmers to sell their wheat at lower prices. Farmers in Punjab, in particular, are facing hardship due to decreased government procurement and plummeting prices, which have dropped to Rs. 3000 per maund. It is feared that the inquiry committee, by penalizing a few seemingly uninvolved officials, attempted to shield the real culprits in the wheat scandal, who are close to the current administration. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had ordered an investigation into the continued wheat imports post-February 2024, demanding a report within a week. However, the terms of reference were later expanded, prolonging the investigation. Documents reveal that the decision to
allow duty-free wheat imports by the private sector, without restrictions on volume and timelines, was made by the caretaker government on the proposal of Capt. Retd. Muhammad Mehmood. The Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MoNFS&R) had estimated a shortfall of 2.4 million metric tons, but Pakistan reportedly imported around 3.6 million metric tons, resulting in a surplus of 1.2 million metric tons. This surplus, combined with the arrival of wheat during the domestic peak season, disrupted provincial procurement targets, leading to widespread farmer protests. Historically, the Punjab Food Department procures 7 to 8 million tons of wheat in total but currently has around 2.5 million tons in stock. Their failure to meet procurement targets has exacerbated the crisis. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) government offered to buy wheat directly from farmers, but the Punjab government refused. These factors have made the inquiry controversial and raised doubts about the credibility of the committee and the government’s actions.