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VISIT UNDERSCORES COMMITMENT TO DEEPENING TIES, LAUNCH NEXT PHASE OF CPEC, INCLUDES PIVOTAL PROJECTS
STAFF REPORT
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday reached China on a five-day official visit, scheduled from June 4 to June 8, with investment to be high on the agenda. “PM Shehbaz Sharif has arrived in Shenzhen, China on an official visit,” a statement from Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said. “Upon arrival he was welcomed by Vice Mayor of Shenzhen city of China Mr Luo Huanghao.” His visit comes at the invitation of Li Qiang, China’s Premier, who is hosting Sharif for the first time since the latter’s assumption of office earlier this year. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and other senior Ministers of the Cabinet are accompanying the Prime Minister in his first official visit to China since assuming office. Shenzhen is the first stop during the Prime Minister’s official visit to China. During his two-day stay in Shenzhen, the Prime Minister and his delegation will meet the leadership of the Guangdong Province and Shenzhen Municipal Government as well as leading Chinese companies in innovation and high-tech sectors. The Prime Minister will also inaugurate the Pakistan-China Business Conference in line with his vision to support,
promote and lead collaboration between the businessmen of the two countries. A business delegation of leading Pakistani businesspersons will attend the Conference for collaboration with the influential Chinese counterparts. Shenzhen is the hub of China’s innovation, technology and research led companies and enterprises. The visit to Shenzhen aims to bolster economic cooperation in export-oriented innovation-led advanced technologies, high-tech development and Information and Communication Technologies. Additionally, Sharif will address the
IHC stays execution of 5 court-martialled former Navy officials ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has stayed the execution of five ex-Navy officers who were previously sentenced to death through a general court martial decree, it emerged on Tuesday. IHC’s Justice Babar Sattar issued a written order for Monday’s hearing on the request of Navy officers who said they were not provided legal assistance during the general court martial order. The court order said the counsels for the petitioners argued that the documents permissible to be shared with their clients, such as the abstract of evidence and court of inquiry, were also not shared with them. The lawyers asserted that an appeal was filed against the death sentence without access to these documents and was dismissed, adding that the reasons for the appeal court upholding the sentence were not shared with the petitioners. Furthermore, the lawyers said that they were given limited access to documents despite a court order and this prevented the petitioners from defending their rights. Meanwhile, Assistant Attorney General (AAG) Akeel Akhtar Raja said that Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf had the authority to access the documents and according to rule 193 of the Pakistan Navy Rules, 1961, discretion was vested with him to form “an opinion that supply of any proceedings may be prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state”. The AAG that in terms of the above rule, the naval chief had formed an opinion in the cases that sharing details of the proceedings, including the findings recorded by the general court martial and the order passed in appeal upholding the death penalty, “would be detrimental to the safety or the interests of the state”. When asked as to whether the naval chief’s opinion was placed on file, the AAG replied in the negative and Deputy Judge Advocate General Hamid Hayat said that it would be available with the Pakistan Navy headquarters. “The question before the court is as to how the interests of the state are to be balanced against the interests of an individual to his right to live as well as his right to due process guaranteed by Articles 9 and 10A of the Constitution. “It appears to be the contention of the state is that given the opinion of the chief of naval staff that proceedings and reasoning for passing the death sentence cannot be shared with those against whom such death sentences have been passed, they have no further remedy under the law and the Constitution. “The question therefore arises as to how the interests of the state in secrecy are to be balanced against the interests of a citizen to be informed of the reasons for which the state has decided to hang him and to provide him the relevant reasoning and material to be able to defend himself,” the order reads. It directed that “given that the fundamental question of protection of right to life and due process is in question, the petitioners shall not be executed till the disposal of the petition.” The order instructed the respondents to file the naval chief’s opinion within three weeks, along with the reasoning, about why he formed the opinion that sharing the proceedings about the petitioners would be detrimental to the state’s interests. The case was adjourned to July 1.
Business-to-Business Forum. This forum will serve as a platform for dialogue between representatives of 79 Pakistani businesses and their Chinese counterparts, focusing on reinforcing the strategic cooperative partnership that has flourished over the years through initiatives like the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). This visit underscores the ongoing commitment to deepening ties, with both nations poised to launch the next phase of the CPEC. This includes pivotal projects such as the upgrade of the Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway, further development of Gwadar Port, and improvements
to the Karakoram Highway. Since the inception of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), substantial achievements have been recorded under CPEC, with investments totaling $25.4 billion. These projects have not only generated 236,000 jobs but have also developed significant infrastructure including highways, power generation facilities, and a core transmission network which collectively bolster Pakistan’s socio-economic landscape. Furthermore, the Chinese diplomatic representative emphasised the transformative impact of these initiatives, noting the completion and operational success of numerous projects that contribute significantly to the regional development. Looking ahead, Sharif’s visit is set to enhance collaboration across various sectors including industry, agriculture, mining, energy, and information technology, while also promoting trade liberalisation. In preparation for this visit, Prime Minister Sharif conducted a strategic meeting last week, focusing on optimising the outcomes of the upcoming business engagements with China. He directed officials to devise strategies to attract Chinese industries to Pakistan, promising full governmental support and facilitation. Additionally, he has called upon Pakistan’s ambassador to China to ensure comprehensive support for the Pakistani delegates during their interactions in China.
PTI lost party symbol due to ECP errors, Justice Akhter on SIC reserve seats case KARACHI
STAFF REPORT
Justice Munib Akhtar Akhtar during the full court hearing on reserved seats case highlighted a string of legal mistakes made by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) that compelled PTIbacked candidates to contest elections as independents. He further stated that the issue regarding reserved seats came down to whether these candidates should be “denied those reserved seats simply because now they have taken shelter under [the Sunni Ittehad Council].” These remarks were made as
the full bench of the apex court resumed hearing the SIC’s plea o Tuesday against the denial of reserved seats in assemblies for women and minorities. A 13-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justices Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Munib Akhtar, Yahya Afridi, Aminuddin Khan, Mandokhail, Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Ayesha Malik, Athar Minallah, Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Shahid Waheed, Irfan Saadat Khan and Naeem Akhtar Afghan, resumed the hearing today. SIC’s lawyer, Advocate Faisal Siddiqui, asserted that although the SIC didn’t participate in the elec-
tions as a party, independent candidates did indeed take part. He further emphasized that the SIC did provide a list of its candidates, but the ECP rejected it, claiming that the party hadn’t contested the elections. CJP Isa pointed out that the SIC had identified itself as a parliamentary political party twice and as a political party once. In response, Advocate Siddiqui argued that a political party could also be a parliamentary political party. “The Constitution makes a distinction between a parliamentary political party and a political party,” noted the chief justice.
‘Contempt Proceedings’: Vawda unfazed as Kamal tenders apology to SC KARACHI/ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
MQM-P leader Mustafa Kamal on Tuesday tendered an unconditional apology to the Supreme Court for his recent remarks against the top judiciary while Senator Faisal Vawda refused to tender an apology and submitted a reply to the contempt of court notice. The Supreme Court (SC) had issued contempt of court notices to independent Senator Faisal Vawda and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) MNA Mustafa Kamal over anti-judiciary rhetoric. The apex took suo moto notice of press conferences held by Senator Faisal Vawda and Kamal wherein they demanded evidence of interference in the judiciary. The top court then issued notices to both leaders and asked them to submit their response before the court. Kamal on Tuesday submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court Karachi Registry in response to the notice. In his affidavit, Kamal stated that he holds the highest respect for the judges of the top court and could not even imagine undermining the authority and reputation of the judiciary. “I apology unconditionally for my statement regarding the judiciary, especially at the press conference on May 15. I seek forgiveness from the honourable court and leave myself at the mercy of the court,” he stated in the affidavit. Vawda submits reply in Supreme Court On the other hand, Senator Faisal Vawda submitted reply in the Supreme Court over a contempt of court notice and refused to tender an unconditional apology over a press conference on May 15.
Court fixes Bushra Bibi’s plea against Iddat case for June 7 ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Bushra Bibi, the wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, Tuesday moved a district and sessions court in the federal capital, seeking an early hearing of her appeals filed against her conviction in the iddat case. In her petition, the former first lady argued that the appeals against conviction are scheduled for hearing in the local court, requesting it to fix the appeals for hearing this week. Following her appeal, the court fixed the hearing of the appeals on June 7, seeking arguments on the case. The plea by Bushra has been filed a day after the Islamabad High Court accepted District and Sessions Judge Shahrukh Arjumand’s request seeking transfer of the iddat case to another court. The IHC’s decision came days after the judge wrote a letter to its registrar, stating it would not be appropriate for him to announce the verdict in the aforementioned case due to reservations raised by Bushra’s former husband and petitioner Khawar Maneka. Following the judge’s request, the IHC transferred the case to the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majuka. Bushra Bibi’s lawyers, Salman Safdar and Khalid Yusuf, appeared in Judge Majuka’s court, requesting the suspension of the sentence which has been pending since March 11. Safdar said that the verdict was handed down on March 29, but Maneka expressed his lack of confidence in the judge — which has delayed the hearing.