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SC EXPUNGES ‘CONTROVERSIAL PARAGRAPHS’ FROM MUBARAK SANI CASE ORDER Friday, 23 August, 2024 I | 17 Safar, 1446
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 54 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
g ‘I PRAY IN EVERY PRAYER THAT MAY COURT SEEKS ASSISTANCE FROM CLERICS PRESENT IN COURTROOM, INCLUDING JUI-F CHIEF, GOD PREVENT ME FROM MAKING MUFTI SHER, SAHIBZADA ABUL KHAIR, OTHERS ANY WRONG DECISIONS: CJP
Apex court orders demolition of Monal restaurant ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
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ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
HE Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday accepted the federal government's appeal for corrections in the Mubarak Sani review decision and expunged all ‘controversial paragraphs’ from its previous order, ruling that the expunged paragraphs cannot be used as a judicial precedent. The court removed paragraphs 7, 42, and 49-C from the review decision, following requests from religious scholars present in court. The Supreme Court clarified that the federal government had sought a review of the decision and considered recommendations from the Council of Islamic Ideology
(CII). The removed paragraphs mentioned the banned book and proselytisation activities of the Ahmadi community. During the hearing, Maulana Fazlur Rehman advised the court to limit its role to granting bail. The Supreme Court also accepted the Punjab government’s urgent application seeking omissions of certain portions from the court’s July 24 revised verdict in the Mubarak Sani case after taking input from scholars. On February 6, a Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa-led two-judge SC bench, overturned the conviction of Mubarak Sani, who was accused of an offence in 2019 under the Punjab Holy Quran (Printing and Recording) (Amendment) Act. In its judgment, the court noted that the offence that the de-
fendant had been accused of was not criminalised till 2021. Consequently, the apex court set aside the conviction and ordered release of the petitioner. The decision was subsequently challenged by the Punjab government on the
grounds that paragraph 9 of the order, regarding Article 20 of the Constitution, needed to be modified as the rights of the citizens as envisaged under the provision were not absolute and instead subject to law, public order, and morality.
All major economic indicators showing positive trends: FinMin g
COAS emphasizes significance of education, critical thinking & innovation to address security challenges RAWALPINDI
STAFF REPORT
The Supreme Court of Pakistan has released a detailed 25-page judgment authored by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa on the relocation of Monal Restaurant from the Margalla Hills National Park. The judgment underscores the intrinsic value of nature, stating, “The fundamental right to life, and to live it with dignity (Articles 9 and 14 of the Constitution), entails living in a world abundant with various species. It is scientifically established that the absence of birds, animals, insects, trees, plants, clean rivers, and unpolluted air signifies the precursor of our own destruction. Scientific research affirms that nothing in nature is devoid of value and purpose.” The order specifies that on Sep-
tember 11, 2024, the Wildlife Board will assume control of the premises, including Monal, La Montana, and Gloria Jeans, with support from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Islamabad Capital Territory Police. The area will be barricaded, and the structures are to be demolished with minimal disturbance to wildlife and avoidance of damage to the trees within the National Park. The debris is to be appropriately removed and not disposed of within the park’s limits. The Wildlife Board will then consider how to best utilize the mountain ridge formerly occupied by the restaurants, potentially consulting with experts and environmentalists on whether to remove the foundations or use them to create an artificial lake for collecting rainwater to help extinguish fires in the National Park.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Syed Asim Munir on Thursday emphasized the significance of education, critical thinking, and innovation in addressing contemporary security challenges. COAS General Syed Asim Munir was speaking during a meeting with a delegation of 44 students from Harvard Business School (HBS) Trek-2024, representing nine different countries, who called on the COAS here at the General Headquarters, an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) news release said. The interactive session provided a platform to share perspectives on Pakistan’s pivotal role in promoting regional peace and stability, its unwavering efforts against terrorism, and its commitment to upholding democratic values. The Army Chief highlighted Pakistan’s vast potential and encouraged the attendees to form their own opinions based on personal experiences. He also cautioned against the perils of misinformation and fake news in the digital age, urging the students to navigate this landscape with discernment. The COAS highlighted Pakistan’s vast potential and encouraged the attendees to form their own opinions based on personal experiences. He also cautioned against the perils of misinformation and fake news in the digital age, urging the students to navigate this landscape with discernment. The Harvard students expressed their gratitude to the COAS for facilitating a constructive and enlightening interaction. This engagement follows the COAS’s earlier interaction with students from various universities at the General Headquarters on 20 August, underscoring his commitment to nurturing and inspiring the nation’s youth.
AURANGZEB EMPHASIZES POSITIVE ECONOMIC INDICATORS AND FOREIGN INVESTOR CONFIDENCE DURING BUNA-RAAST CONNECTIVITY PROJECT LAUNCH PROFIT
STAFF REPORT
Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, announced on Thursday that Pakistan has achieved macroeconomic stability, with all major economic indicators showing positive trends. Senator Aurangzeb made these remarks while addressing the Inaugural Ceremony of the Buna-Raast Connectivity Project Implementation Phase. He emphasized that the country is currently experiencing a phase of economic stability, which lays the foundation for sustainable economic growth. He highlighted that key economic indicators, including foreign reserves, workers’ remittances, policy rates, exchange rate, revenue collection, and twin deficits such as the Current Account, are all showing positive momentum. This, he added, reflects growing confidence among foreign investors in Pakistan’s economy. “We have a two-month import cover, and the exchange rate is stable,” Aurangzeb stated. He
also noted that in the past two months, foreign companies and potential investors have shown increased interest in investing in various sectors of the economy. The minister further explained that the government is focusing on the digital economy, with an emphasis on documenting the local economy through digitization. He credited the government’s prudent economic policies, reforms, and administrative measures for the receipt of $3 billion in workers’ remittances in July 2024 alone. Aurangzeb highlighted the government’s prioritization of tax and energy reforms, along with broader structural reforms aimed at achieving sustainable economic growth. He described the “BunaRaast Connectivity Project” as an exemplary initiative between Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), which will facilitate legal transactions and advance the digital economy in the country. He also noted that Pakistan endorses KSA’s Vision 2030 and has drawn lessons from this economic
vision to support sustainable growth in Pakistan. Buna, operated by the Arab Regional Payments Clearing and Settlement Organization (ARPCSO) under the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF), is a crossborder payment system that enables financial institutions and central banks in the Arab region and beyond to send and receive payments in local and key international currencies securely and costeffectively. Buna offers modern payment solutions that adhere to international standards, principles, and compliance requirements. The Raast Instant Payment System, developed by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), is a transformational initiative built on the state-of-the-art ISO 20022 standard. Raast is designed to be a simple, free, fast, interoperable, and secure payment option for customers. Since the launch of its Personto-Person (P2P) payments use case in February 2022, around 34 million Raast IDs have been created, with over 270 million transactions amounting to approximately PKR 5.5 trillion (around USD 19 billion) processed to date.
Will announce a five-year economic plan very soon as parameters finalised: PM g
SBP’s Raast payment mechanism will be linked with Arab Monetary Fund’s Buna system to facilitate millions of overseas workers PROFIT
STAFF REPORT
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday launched the Buna-Raast connectivity project to facilitate overseas Pakistanis in Arab countries in sending remittances through a swift, affordable, and effective mechanism. Addressing the launch ceremony, the Prime Minister stated that the project would not only simplify the digital remittance process but also help boost Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves. Under the Buna-Raast connectivity project, the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) Raast payment system will be linked with the Arab Monetary Fund’s Buna system to benefit millions of overseas workers, he added. Calling it a significant step forward in promoting financial transactions through modern techniques, the Prime Minister said the project would expand the reach of Pakistan’s digital payment infrastructure. “This signifies how 21st-century Pakistan is advancing by integrating modern technologies into people’s lives. This is the first cross-border real-time payment system linkage that will make remittances more affordable and accessible,” he remarked. Moreover, Prime Minister Shehbaz mentioned that the project has the potential to evolve into a future model of a broader payment system, facilitating transactions across regions, with the potential for over $20 billion in annual payments. Economic Revival Plan The Prime Minister announced that he would unveil a five-year economic revival plan in the coming weeks, with broad parameters already finalized through months of deliberations with stakeholders.
Two students killed, five injured in Attock school van attack
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ATTOCK
STAFF REPORT
At least two schoolchildren were killed and five others injured in a gun attack on a school van in Punjab’s Attock district on Thursday morning. According to the police, unidentified gunmen opened fire on a school van in Dheri Kot area of Attock, resulting in the death of two children. Rescue teams rushed to the spot and shifted the injured children and van driver to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital Attock. Meanwhile, the local police also reached the crime scene and shifted the dead bodies of the children to the hospital after collecting evidence. According to rescue officials, five children aged between five and 10 were injured in the attack. They have been shifted to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital for treatment, they added. The initial investigation suggests the gunmen targeted the van due to a personal enmity with the driver, Attock District Police Officer (DPO) Sardar Ghayas Gul said. The unidentified persons fled the scene after the crime, according to Rescue 1122 Punjab. Meanwhile, Punjab IG Police Dr Usman Anwar took notice of the attack and has sought a report from the Regional Police Officer (RPO) Rawalpindi.
11 cops martyred as riverine bandits attack police vehicles in Kacha area of RY Khan RAHIM YAR KHAN
SALEEM JADOON
At least 11 policemen were martyred and seven others injured in a riverine bandits attack on police vehicles in the Kacha area of Rahim Yar Khan on Thursday. According to police officials, the assailants targeted police vehicles with rocket launchers at the Machhka Camp 2, where officers were preparing to rotate
shifts. Machhka Camp 2 has been established to curb the movement of bandits in the region. The police official informed that around 25 heavily armed bandits carried out the attack, destroying the police vehicles and killing 11 policemen on the spot. Seven other policemen sustained injuries, they added. On information, a large contingent of district police was dispatched to the
scene under the supervision of RY Khan District Police Officer Imran along with ambulances to evacuate the injured. The police officials told the media that two police vans with more than 20 cops were trapped in rainwater in the locality when bandits launched rockets at them. As a result of the fierce attack, nearly a dozen cops were martyred while seven others were wounded and four went missing, the police added.
Bahawalpur Regional Police Officer (RPO) Rai Babar Saeed confirmed that 11 personnel were martyred and seven were injured in the attack. A statement from the Punjab police said that two police vans were on their way back from weekly duties in Rahim Yar Khan’s riverine Machaka area when one of them developed some fault, after which there were sudden rocket attacks.
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ECC seeks report on concessions granted ECC approves export of additional to sectors already recognized as industries 100,000 MT of sugar g
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DELIBERATES ON DECLARING WAREHOUSING AND LOGISTICS SECTOR AS INDUSTRY AFTER PROVINCIAL APPROVALS PROFIT
STAFF REPORT
The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has sought a detailed report on the current concessions granted to sectors already recognized as industries, as part of its ongoing discussions to possibly extend industry status to the warehousing and logistics sector. According to a news report by BR, this directive emerged during a recent ECC meeting, where the Ministry of Industries and Production presented a pro-
posal to declare warehousing as an industry. The discussion follows a directive from the Prime Minister after his meeting with the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on April 25, 2024. Business leaders highlighted various challenges, including the difficulties in securing industry status for the warehousing sector, which they believe is hampering business growth and investment. The Ministry of Commerce had earlier received a formal request from the Warehousing and Logistics Association of Pakistan to recognize the warehousing and
logistics sector as an industry. The Ministry of Industries and Production emphasized that the warehousing sector’s advanced supply chain solutions and technical services are integral to business development, exports, and overall economic growth. Historically, the federal government had granted industry status to ten different sectors between 1990 and 2009, with the last such recognition occurring before the 18th Constitutional Amendment in 2010, which devolved industryrelated matters to provincial governments.
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PROFIT
STAFF REPORT
The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) granted approval on Thursday for the export of an additional 100,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar, subject to specific conditions. The decision was made during a meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Muhammad Aurangzeb, following a summary presented by the Ministry of Industries & Production. This approval comes after the ECC’s earlier decisions to allow the export of 40,000 MT of sugar earlier in August and 150,000 MT in June 2024. The ECC em-
phasized the need for a structured approach to sugar exports, especially considering the procedural delays encountered in previous allocations. One of the key conditions set by the ECC includes extending the allowable period for sugar export from 45 to 60 days from the date of quota allocation by the respective Cane Commissioner. Additionally, the committee mandated that export proceeds from Afghanistan must be received in advance through banking channels, while proceeds for exports to other destinations via Letter of Credit (LC) are permitted within 60 days of opening the LC.
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