In partnership with
Profit
Bill proposes ban on ArMy VowS Not to let ‘hArD-eArNeD dual nationality for SuCCeSSeS’ AGAINSt terrorISM Go wASteD judges, bureaucrats Wednesday, 4 September, 2024 I | 29 Safar, 1446
g
COAS CHAIRS CCC MEETING, STRESSES ARMY WOULD CONTINUE ‘COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT TO GOVT FOR SWIFT ACTION AGAINST CRIMINAL MAFIAS
CCC EMPHASIZES MILITARY IS A ‘DISCIPLINED INSTITUTION, UPHOLDING HIGHEST STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONALISM’
FORUM EXPRESSES SATISFACTION OVER ONGOING EFFORTS AGAINST ILLEGAL SPECTRUM OPERATING IN COLLUSION WITH TERRORIST NETWORKS
I g
g
Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 59 I 8 Pages I Lahore Edition
RAWALPINDI
STAFF REPORT
N the wake of the recent flare-up of violence in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military’s top brass on Tuesday vowed not to let “hard-earned successes” against terrorism go wasted or be reversed. According to a press release from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) issued on Tuesday, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir presided over the Corps Commanders’ Conference (CCC) at the General Headquarters to discuss the prevailing geo-strategic environment, national security challenges, and strategic and operational responses to emerging threats. “In assessing the inimical forces, malicious actors, subversive proxies, and the facilitators of Pakistan’s external and internal adversaries, particularly those active in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the forum deliberated on a range of measures to neutralise these threats. “The forum reaffirmed that the Pakistan Army, with the unwavering support of the people, will not allow the hard-
earned successes against terrorism to be reversed,” the ISPR said. In the latest flare-up of violence, dozens of militants affiliated with the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) launched numerous attacks last week across the province, targeting security personnel as well as civilians. At least 50 people, including 14 security men, lost their lives as militants went on a rampage across the province, storming police stations, blowing up rail-
NA puts on hold bill seeking to increase Supreme Court judges ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The National Assembly put on hold the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill 2024, introduced in the Senate a day earlier, proposing an increase in the number of Supreme Court judges. PML-N’s Daniyal Chaudhry presented the bill in the lower house of the parliament, proposing to increase in the number of Supreme Court judges from 17 to 23. However, PTI’s Barrister Gohar opposed the bill, noting that under Articles 74 and 81 of the Constitution, only the government can introduce such a bill. He also opposed another bill, seeking to amend the Contempt of Court Act 2024, arguing that the judiciary must have the right to enforce its orders. Subsequently, NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq halted Chaudhry’s attempt to present the bill and deferred the motion. Abdul Qadir, a senator from Balochistan, who does not belong to any political party, and sides with the opposition benches, moved the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) (Amendment) Bill 2024 in the house meeting. The bill seeks increasing the number of SC judges from 17 to 21 “to address the rising number of pending cases.” The bill seeks substituting the Section 2 of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act 1997 with a new provision that reads, “Maximum Number of Supreme Court Judges other than Chief Justice: The number of Judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan other than the Chief Justice shall be twenty.” Speaking in the Upper House after tabling the bill, Senator Qadir highlighted the growing backlog of cases in the Supreme Court, citing the shortage of judges as a primary cause. “Due to the limited number of judges, cases take years to be scheduled. Hundreds of tax-related cases involving billions of rupees are pending in courts, while we are forced to seek financial aid from other countries to meet our national needs,” he said. There is a perception that in order to give majority to the other camp, the PML-N government is increasing the number of SC judges. Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa is retiring on October 25, but the PML-N government wants that he should remain in office for the continuity of the present system. However, CJP Isa has made it clear that he is not interested in an extension through person specific legislation. However, he may continue if parliament extends the retirement age of every superior court judge for three years. Today’s session, chaired by Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Tuesday, saw several key discussions, including concerns over a corporate farming initiative and the allocation of 4.8 million acres of land.
way tracks, and setting fire to almost three dozen vehicles. In response, security forces neutralised 21 militants. Among those killed were 23 people in Musakhail, mostly labourers from Punjab, who were offloaded from trucks and vans and shot dead after an identity check. The ISPR statement said that recognising the “urgency and significance of a robust and effective legal system”, the army chief stressed that the army would continue to extend “comprehensive sup-
port to the government, administrative apparatus and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in taking swift and lawful action against terrorists, anarchists, and criminal mafias”. The military officers also “expressed satisfaction over ongoing efforts against illegal spectrum operating in collusion with terrorist networks” and underscored the “critical need” to safeguard national cyberspace through “stringent cybersecurity measures”. The forum’s participants paid tribute to martyrs from the armed forces, LEAs, and citizenry who “laid down their lives in Balochistan and KP in pursuit of peace and stability of Pakistan”. The army brass emphasised that the military was a “disciplined institution, upholding the highest standards of professionalism, integrity and loyalty” to the state and itself. “The institution’s well-established and rigorous system of accountability ensures that these values are preserved with unwavering commitment, allowing no room for exceptions or partiality. This strict adherence to accountability fortifies the army’s integrity, ensuring that no individual is above the law or exempt from scrutiny.”
Imran moves IHC against ‘possible’ military custody for trial of May 9 cases
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday filed a petition against the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against his “possible military custody” for the trial of May 9 cases against him. He filed the petition under Article 199 of the Constitution, which mandates a high court to take up a matter when the law does not provide “any other adequate remedy.” Imran has made the Islamabad inspector general (IG) of police, Punjab chief secretary, Punjab IGs for police and prisons, Adiala Jail superintendent, Federal Investigation Agency director general, and the interior, defense, and law secretaries as respondents in the petition. The petitioner argued that since the Lahore High Court (LHC) had quashed (Imran’s) physical remand in the May 9 cases, “reports have been making rounds on television, print, and social media that the petitioner will be handed over to the military authorities for the trial of May 9 and
10, 2023 cases against him. “Many observers and commentators have expressed the view that the army authorities will take the petitioner into custody and try him before a court martial.” It is to be noted that countrywide protests erupted on May 9 last year after the paramilitary Rangers whisked away Imran from the IHC in a corruption case. While the protests were underway, social media was flooded with footage of rioting and vandalism at various spots, including the Lahore Corps Commander’s residence and General Headquarters, the army’s head
of office in Rawalpindi. The already incarcerated former prime minister was “arrested” in these cases on July 15 — just a day after he and his wife, Bushra Bibi, had been apprehended in a new Toshakhana case, following their acquittal in the Iddat case. Imran has previously claimed that there is a plan to try him in the military court. He had also said that arrested former intelligence chief Gen (retired) Faiz Hameed was being forced to turn approver against him to pave the way for his trial in a military court on May 9 cases.
IHC instructs ISI to help police track Faizan, produce him in court today ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday instructed the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to help the police track the whereabouts of missing Faizan Usman and produce him in the court on Wednesday (tomorrow). In a written order IHC Justice Babar Sattar ordered for identifying the persons behind the disappearance of Faizan, ordering the interior and defence secretaries, Islamabad police chief and the ISI sector commander to submit affidavits about whether or not they knew the whereabouts of Faizan. The petitioner, father of missing Faizan Usman,
had submitted in the court that some people in uniform came in cars and searched his house. He added that he was told that his son had links with those associated with the banned organisation. The petitioner stated that after carrying his son, he was threatened with consequences if he approached the law or went to the media. However, he added, two months had passed but his son had not returned. He further said that his son-inlaw who was picked up earlier, was also missing. He said that those people also took laptop, Macbook, and two iPhones. There were about 10 to 15 people, but they were not the police personnel, the petitioner stated, expressing his suspicion that they belonged to the spy agency.
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
An amendment bill seeking to ban the dual nationality of judges and bureaucrats was introduced in the National Assembly on Tuesday. The bill was moved by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) parliamentarian Noor Alam Khan. Khan argued in the assembly that judges of the Supreme Court and High Court, as well as bureaucrats, should not hold dual citizenship to ensure the integrity and impartiality of their positions in public service. He emphasized that a similar ban already applies to the President, Prime Minister, and members of Parliament. The bill has now been referred to the Standing Committee, which will review and consider any potential amendments before returning it to the National Assembly for further debate and approval.
Akhtar Mengal resigns from NA over ‘prevailing situation in Balochistan’ ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Sardar Akhtar Mengal, Member of the National Assembly (MNA) and leader of the Balochistan National Party (BNP), has announced his resignation from the National Assembly, expressing profound frustration with the government’s handling of Balochistan’s issues. In the absence of the National Assembly speaker, Mengal submitted his resignation to the assembly secretary. Speaking to the media alongside Mehmood Khan Achakzai outside Parliament House, Mengal voiced his deep disillusionment with the indifference shown by the government and his fellow parliamentarians toward the ongoing crises in Balochistan. “I had intended to raise the issues of Balochistan in the assembly today,” Mengal stated, but he lamented that “people are not interested in the issue of Balochistan.” Mengal delivered a stark warning, recalling that a parliamentarian had remarked that “Balochistan is slipping out of our hands.” He countered this by declaring, “Balochistan is not slipping out of your hands; it has already slipped out.” He strongly criticized the government’s failure to address the bloodshed in Balochistan and called for unity among political leaders to tackle the province’s challenges. “Everyone should come together on this issue, and a meeting should have been convened to discuss it,” he urged. Mengal also expressed his frustration that discussions about Balochistan are often “blacked out” when raised in the assembly. “Whenever you start talking about this issue, it is blacked out,” he noted. Challenging his critics, Mengal said, “If you disagree with my words, then listen to me with patience. If I’m still wrong, I accept any punishment. Eliminate me in an encounter outside parliament or kill me, but at least listen to me.”
Karsaz road accident: Jail IG says no VIP treatment being given to Natasha Danish KARACHI
STAFF REPORT
Sheeba Shah, the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the women’s barrack at Karachi Central Jail, refuted claims on Monday that the prime suspect in the Karachi Karsaz road accident was receiving special privileges. Speaking to Aaj News, Shah dismissed the reports circulating on social media as “fake.” She emphasized that the suspect, identified as Natasha Iqbal, is being treated no differently than other female inmates in the barrack. “The way other females are here in this barrack… all these fake social media reports, I will term them fake. She [Karachi Karsaz road accident suspect] does not go home,” Shah stated, countering allegations that Natasha was being provided with a separate room and additional facilities. These clarifications follow reports suggesting that Natasha, who was sent to jail on a 14-day judicial remand last month for allegedly causing the deaths of two people in the August 19 accident, was receiving extra amenities. Sheeba Shah explained that the prison operates a barrack system, and Natasha is housed in Barrack No. 4, where she shares the same conditions as other inmates. “She [Natasha] does not have a separate room and is living in one of the six barracks,” Shah said, stressing that Natasha is not receiving any special treatment.
Dar, Blome discuss protection of Afghan refugees, asylum seekers ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and United States Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome on Tuesday discussed the protection of Afghan refugees and asylum seekers in Pakistan, besides several other bilateral issues during a meeting in Islamabad, a statement from the US Embassy said. According to the statement issued by US Mission spokesperson Jonathan Lalley, US Ambassador Blome met Deputy Prime Minister Dar today and discussed issues which included the “protection of Afghan refugees and asylum seekers, economic cooperation, secu-
rity, and counterterrorism and regional cooperation”. It said that the ambassador welcomed the opportunity to hear from the deputy premier on Pakistan’s “priorities in the lead-up to the UN General Assembly” as the country prepared to begin its term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC). Pakistan launched the first round of deportation in November last year, and according to state-run Radio Pakistan, 675,190 Afghans have returned to their country as of August 4 under the drive. While the government had decided to begin the second round of repatriation of holders of Afghan Citizenship Cards (ACC), it last month granted 1.45m Afghan refugees
another year, extending their permitted stay in Pakistan till June 30, 2025. Enhanced bilateral cooperation Meanwhile, a statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO) said that the discussion between Dar and Blome covered various aspects of the bilateral relationship between the countries, including avenues for enhanced cooperation in diverse fields. “They also discussed matters relating to the upcoming session of the UN General Assembly,” the FO said. Pakistan was elected with a massive majority as a non-permanent member of the UNSC last month, pledging to contribute to meeting the challenges that the world was facing.