In partnership with
Profit
Tuesday, 4 March, 2025 I 3 Ramazan, 1446
Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 238 I 8 Pages I Karachi Edition
SC WONDERS HOW CIVILIAN TRIALS WILL RESUME IF TRANSFERRED FROM MILITARY COURTS JUSTICE NAQVI QUESTIONS WHETHER POLICE INVESTIGATIONS WERE SLOWER COMPARED TO MILITARY TRIALS
S
g
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
UPREME Court’s Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar on Monday inquired about the stage from where the trials of civilians would resume if the cases are transferred from a military court to an anti-terrorism court (ATC). The query was raised during the hearing of intra-court appeals against the military trial of civilians before a constitutional bench of the top court. The bench, led by Justice Amin Uddin Khan and comprising other judges including Justice Mazhar, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Hassan Azhar Naqvi and Justice Naeem Afghan, heard arguments from civil society’s lawyer Faisal
Siddiqi, who contended that the core issue was not how 105 suspects had been selected for military trial but whether the law allowed military trials at all. Justice Amin noted that the transfer of suspects was a matter of record and asked whether the lawyer had challenged Section 94 of the Army Act. Siddiqi responded that at the time of the suspects’ custody, their crimes had not yet been determined, and that the unlimited discretionary power granted under Section 94 had also been challenged. He argued that a commanding officer initiates a handover request under Section 94, and that the officer making the decision has unlimited authority, unlike the prime minister, who has limited powers. He stressed that there should be a structured framework for such powers.
g
JUSTICE MANDOKHAIL ASKS WHETHER ATC HAD AUTHORITY TO REJECT A HANDOVER REQUEST
At this, Justice Naqvi questioned whether police investigations were slower compared to military trials and asked if sufficient evidence existed at the time of the suspects’ handover. Siddiqi replied that the presence or absence of evidence was not the issue, but rather the absolute authority in transferring suspects. Here, Justice Mandokhail asked whether an ATC had the authority to reject a handover request. To which, Siddiqi responded in affirmation. Justice Amin then remarked that such a defence on the suspects’ behalf could have been pursued before the ATC or in an appeal. Meanwhile, Justice Mazhar asked whether the court had decided on the commanding officer’s request without notifying the suspects. At this, Justice Mandokhail pointed out that Section 94
applies only to those under the Army Act, and after the ATC’s decision, the suspects fell under the said law. He remarked that the ATCs also had the authority to reject the commanding officer’s request. Siddiqi argued that the decision to conduct a court-martial was supposed to be made before the suspects’ custody, questioning how a handover could occur without a prior court-martial decision. Here, Justice Naqvi asked whether the request for custody by the commanding officer provided any reasons. At this, Siddiqi apprised the bench that no reason had been mentioned in the commanding officer’s request. However, Justice Afghan intervened, saying that the reasons had been stated in the request, specifically citing offences under the Official Secrets Act.
High Commissioner of U.K. calls on PM ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
High Commissioner of the United Kingdom Ms. Jane Marriott, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at Prime Minister House on Monday. The Prime Minister conveyed his greetings to His Majesty King Charles III and wished him a quick recovery to full health. He also reiterated his invitation to His Majesty for undertaking a royal visit to Pakistan at his earliest convenience. The Prime Minister also expressed satisfaction at the progress made in bilateral ties between the two countries. While discussing the global situation, the Prime Minister emphasized the need for collective efforts to build lasting peace in Gaza and Ukraine. The High Commissioner said that the U.K. was committed to strengthening its ties with Pakistan and to continue partnering in the country’s national progress and development.
Inflation drops to a 9-year low of 1.5% in February 2025 g
ECONOMIC STABILIZATION UNDER IMF PROGRAM AND GLOBAL PRICE EASING CONTRIBUTE TO SIGNIFICANT DECLINE PROFIT
NEWS DESK
In February 2025, Pakistan’s inflation rate experienced a significant decline, falling to 1.5% year-on-year (YoY), the lowest it has been since September 2015, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). This decrease comes as the nation embarks on its economic recovery under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) support program. The February figure is well below the finance ministry’s anticipated range of 2-3%, and represents a sharp drop from January’s rate of 2.4%. Inflation in urban areas was recorded at
1.8%, while rural areas saw a slightly lower rate of 1.1%. The cumulative inflation for the first eight months of the fiscal year (July-February) stood at 5.85%, a drastic reduction compared to the 27.96% observed during the same period last year. Waqas Ghani, Head of Research at JS Global, attributed the decrease to the favorable base effect from last year’s high inflation, but cautioned that food prices could rise during Ramadan despite the overall downward trend. The inflationary drop is largely credited to the IMF-backed stabilization program and easing global commodity prices. However, authorities expect inflation to slightly
increase to around 3-4% by March. In a related development, Punjab’s Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has ordered a robust crackdown on inflation in the province. She directed all commissioners and deputy commissioners to launch an effective campaign against price gouging and ensure official price lists are prominently displayed. The chief minister also called for stringent monitoring of essential food item supplies and measures to curb hoarding. She has tasked the Punjab Chief Secretary with overseeing the anti-gouging and anti-hoarding efforts and mandated daily comprehensive reports on food prices, quality, and availability.
PM expresses satisfaction at continuous decrease in inflation ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Monday expressed satisfaction at the continuous decrease in inflation related to consumer price index. In a statement, he said the present government was completing its one year and on this occasion it was a very good news. He said it was matter of great satisfaction that the
rate of inflation dropped to 1.5 percent in February, 2025 which was the lowest rate of inflation since September 2015. The rate of inflation from July 2024 to February 2025 was 5.9 percent while in the last financial year during the same period inflation was at 28 percent, and this showed a remarkable decrease, he added. The prime minister said due to the magnificent government’s economic team efforts, the economic indicators were improving with every passing day.