g TECHNICAL TALKS ON PAKISTAN-IRAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT GAIN MOMENTUM g MINING, AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECTORS IDENTIFIED AS KEY DRIVERS OF BILATERAL GROWTH g BOTH SIDES PLEDGE TO STREAMLINE CUSTOMS, IMPROVE LOGISTICS AND
Pakistan and the United States on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral engagement and promoting regional peace and security as Defence Minister Khawaja Asif held talks with US Chargé d Affaires Natalie Baker in Islamabad According to the Ministry of Defence the meeting focused on matters of mutual interest, including the evolving regional and international security environment and opportunities to further deepen cooperation between the two countries During the meeting Khawaja Asif underscored the importance of sustained engagement and constructive dialogue in advancing the shared objectives of regional peace, security and stability The ministry described the discussions as cordial and constructive, saying they reflected the commitment of both sides to maintaining regular communication and cooperation on issues of mutual interest Pakistan and the United States have maintained a longstanding relationship encompassing security counterterrorism trade investment and regional stability Despite periods of strain, both countries have continued to engage through diplomatic, military and economic channels The meeting comes amid renewed momentum in bilateral relations following Pakistan's diplomatic efforts during the recent US-Iran-Israel conflict which contributed to a ceasefire Since then Washington has acknowledged Islamabad s role in promoting regional stability, with US President Donald Trump publicly praising Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for their efforts The engagement also follows the recent visit of a bipartisan US congressional delegation to Pakistan during which American lawmakers recognised Pakistan s contributions to regional stability and expressed support for expanding economic, commercial and institutional cooperation between the two countries g
Pakistan reaffir ms East Jer usalem stance, condemns Israeli actions at Al- Aqsa
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday reaffirmed Pakistan s categorical rejection of Israeli claims over occupied East Jerusalem, declaring that Israel has no sovereignty over the city or its Islamic and Christian holy sites, while strongly condemning repeated incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque by extremist Israeli settlers
Addressing a ministerial conference on Jerusalem in Amman Dar said Israel s continued actions in the occupied Palestinian territories were violating international law, defying United Nations resolutions and undermining prospects for a just, comprehensive and lasting peace He condemned what he described as repeated incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by extremist Israeli settlers carried out under the protection of Israeli occupation forces and encouraged by senior Israeli ministers
The foreign minister warned that attempts to alter the religious and historical status of Jerusalem were provoking the sentiments of billions of Muslims worldwide and risked further destabilising the region
There should be no ambiguity that Israel has no sovereignty over occupied East Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites Dar said stressing that all measures aimed at changing the city's legal and historical status were null and void under international law
He reaffirmed Pakistan s support for Jordan's historic custodianship of Jerusalem's Islamic and Christian holy sites recognising the Jerusalem Endowment and Al-Aqsa Affairs Department under Jordan s Ministry of Awqaf as the sole legal authority responsible for administering Al-Aqsa Mosque Expressing concern over the continued expansion of illegal Israeli settlements and the worsening humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territories Dar said these policies further entrenched unlawful occupation and violated international law
Referring to Gaza he said that despite improvements following the ceasefire, humanitarian conditions remained critical, with a majority of the population still facing severe food insecurity and healthcare challenges He added that the continued loss of Palestinian lives since the ceasefire raised serious questions about the implementation of the Gaza peace plan Calling for a united response from Arab and Islamic countries Dar urged immediate action to halt violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque, preserve the historical and legal status quo in
Jerusalem, reject settlement expansion, annexation attempts and forced displacement, and support the full implementation of the Gaza Peace Plan and relevant UN Security Council resolutions
He also called for stronger coordination among Islamic countries to safeguard the rights of the Palestinian and Kashmiri peoples through diplomatic and multilateral efforts
On the sidelines of the conference, Dar held bilateral meetings with the foreign ministers of Türkiye Egypt Algeria Jordan and Somalia discussing bilateral relations regional developments and avenues for expanding cooperation in trade, investment, defence, agriculture, information technology and education He also participated in a meeting of the R-4 Group comprising Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye whose foreign ministers reaffirmed their unwavering support for the Palestinian people s right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine based on the pre-June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital
During his meeting with Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Dar appreciated Jordan's role in safeguarding Jerusalem's holy sites and discussed the deteriorating situation in the occupied West Bank as well as recent regional developments including the conflict involving the United States and Iran The two leaders underscored the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in reducing regional tensions and reaffirmed close coordination at bilateral and multilateral forums including the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to promote peace and stability
The PTEA said Pakistan's export performance has remained episodic for decades with periods of strong growth followed by declines
Pakistan invites
Pakistan has invited the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to consider co-financing the Main Line-1 (ML-1) Railway Project highlighting that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and other development partners are already supporting the strategic initiative
The invitation was extended by Pakistan s Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, Ahad Cheema, in a meeting with the President of JICA Dr Tanaka Akihiko who was accompanied by a high-level delegation to discuss avenues for strengthening bilateral development cooperation
The minister emphasized that the modernization of ML-1 would strengthen Pakistan's transportation network, facilitate trade, improve industrial connectivity, and contribute significantly to sustainable economic growth Dr Tanaka acknowledged the importance of the project and stated that JICA would consider the proposal Welcoming the JICA President and his delegation, the minister appreciated JICA's longstanding partnership with Pakistan and acknowledged its signifi-
Government mulls reimposing signature bonus on LPG sales, auction set for August 10
The Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) has signed an agreement with the Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (Pinstech) to develop technology for commercialscale lithium extraction from geothermal brines, following the discovery of high-grade lithium at a well in Khairpur Sindh The News reported
As per the news report advanced geochemical analysis of formation water from the Wahid Bakhsh Well revealed a lithium concentration of 275 milligrams per litre more than three times the 90 mg/L threshold generally considered sufficient for commercial evaluation under international standards
OGDCL has identified eight to
the petroleum special secretary to submit a mechanism for utilisation of Signature Bonus proceeds by next month Until that mechanism exists, there is no guarantee the collected funds will reach consumers, and the assurance that the burden will not be passed on lacks an enforcement mechanism
10 additional wells in Sindh for geothermal brine exploration to assess the extent of lithium-bearing formations The discovery has drawn interest from the Heavy Mechanical Complex (HMC) which is exploring locally produced lithium for electric vehicle batteries and defence applications Sources said HMC is planning a large-scale EV manufacturing facility, making domestic lithium supplies strategically significant
Officials described the find as Pakistan s first confirmed occurrence of lithium in geothermal brines, discovered during OGDCL s pilot geothermal programme
Nearly 80% of global lithium demand comes from EV batteries with consumption projected to rise sharply as countries accelerate electrification Lithium is also used in aerospace, defence, specialty chem-
icals, glass, ceramics and consumer electronics
OGDCL officials said the concentration at Wahid Bakhsh Well is comparable to higher-grade geothermal brine projects under commercial development in Europe and North America
The company has launched a comprehensive evaluation programme covering brine chemistry studies, reservoir mapping, resource confirmation and economic feasibility assessments working with international consultants to meet global technical benchmarks Officials cautioned that extensive technical work remains before commercial production can begin If exploration confirms commercially recoverable reserves the discovery could strengthen Pakistan s position in global critical mineral supply chains, attract foreign investment, and support a domestic battery and EV industry
The hear t of the matter?
S ar fraz B ugti circles around the core of the problem
WHILE speaking on TV, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti may have come to the verge of the issue plaguing his province and thus the country when he said that there would be no talks with the terrorists The question arising was not so much whether any talking was to be done as to who to talk to on the Pakistani side Under the present constitutional arrangement, law and order is purely a provincial matter However, it becomes a federal matter when the federal government is obliged to deployed its own forces, as is being done presently in Balochistan, where the Frontier Corps Balochistan North and he Frontier Corps Balochistan South are presently deployed Mr Bugti’s government thus has the primary role in combating militancy from two sources the Tehrik Taliban Pakistan an opponent he shares with KP and Baloch separatists an opponent he has to handle all on his own The point he has implicitly behind him is that talks do not take place with criminals but do take place with enemy combatants
It is difficult to remember, during an exchange of fire, that the person shooting on the other side is not the enemy, but it has to be done, and it is the duty of the government to ensure that this is done However, the responsibility for law and order seems to be blurred, with the federal government having ultimate responsibility, but the provincial government being operationally responsible Mr Bugti spoke of addressing concerns through legitimate means, but how do you discuss even though democratic means illegitimate concerns like overthrowing the entire system and replacing it with a certain interpretation for the Shariah or leaving the federation Mr Bigti should remember that law and order is not the only provincial responsibility; health and education are too He claimed that much good work in the province was being obscured by terrorism He should remember that this is exactly what the terrorists want, whether religious or separatist He must not forget that both forms of terrorism have their roots in failures of governance, and that too at the provincial level These have to be remedied at the provincial level, not the federal An arrogant dispenser does as much harm as the absence of drugs at the clinic he works at Mr Bugti should work on that aspect too
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
T wo countries, one vision
MAJOR Powers always compete in the international arena for their strategic interests, and they are also influenced by their historical backgrounds China and Russia are the two countries of the present age that have different histories but both seek the revival of their old glory They aim to restore and regain their glory which they enjoyed in the past China is the second largest economy in the world, after the USA, while Russia is not among the world’s top five economies Instead it comes at number 11 in the world by nominal GDP However both countries have been striving to revive their former glory Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin are two nationalist world leaders that share the same vision China was a large and
petition This, in turn, would eventually result in the world’s dependence on
gration
panding
that
rely
Therefore, Beijing under the
launched a
tural and developmental project called the Belt and Road Initiative in 2016 The ambition was to enhance regional connectivity build an alternative route for Chinese trade, and promote trade and cooperation among different states, instead of conflict and com-
If Pakistan’s economy is stabilizing…
Zain ahmad BuTT
Brains in bureaucracy
If Pakistan aspires to build a knowledge economy, prioritising higher education and advanced research are imperative
The Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) is said to be planning extensive civil service reforms This is the right time to ensure the representation of highly qualified professionals including PhD holders, in Pakistan s civil service Traditionally, civil servants retire with only a bachelor ’s or master ’s degree which limits innovative policymaking
these deeper issues are addressed, stronger economic indicators alone will not convince ordinary Pakistanis that the economy is truly improving The encouraging news is that these challenges are not impossible to address Pakistan has already shown that it can restore a measure of economic stability The next step is to make that stability more inclusive A good place to begin is by expanding the tax base fairly so that more people contribute according to their ability allowing the government to invest more in education healthcare infrastructure and social protection without placing additional pressure on existing taxpayers At the same time, creating jobs must become a central goal of economic policy This means investing not only in universities but also in technical and vocational training so that young people develop the skills employers are looking for Rural Pakistan also deserves greater attention Small farmers and local businesses need easier access to affordable credit, modern farm-
ing techniques, reliable irrigation systems, and better market access to improve productivity and incomes Finally climate resilience should no longer be treated as a separate environmental issue Protecting water resources improving flood management, and helping farmers adapt to changing weather patterns are now essential for Pakistan’s long-term economic future These reforms will not produce results overnight but they can ensure that future economic growth is measured not only by stronger statistics but also by better opportunities and living standards for ordinary Pakistanis Pakistan has made important progress in restoring economic stability, and that progress should not be overlooked But stability is only the beginning not the destination An economy cannot be considered truly successful if its benefits are reflected only in government reports while millions of families continue to struggle with rising living costs, uncertain incomes, and limited opportunities The real test of economic policy is whether it improves everyday life, whether young people can find meaningful work whether small businesses can grow with confidence and whether farming families can look to the future with greater security rather than greater uncertainty If Pakistan can build on its recent progress with consistent, inclusive, and forward-looking reforms, today’s stabilization can become tomorrow’s shared prosperity Only then will ordinary Pakistanis begin to feel that the country s economic recovery is not just a headline but a reality
The writer is a freelance columnist
If Pakistan can build on its recent progress with consistent, inclusive, and forward-looking reforms, today’s stabilization can become tomorrow’s shared prosperity. Only then will ordinary Pakistanis begin to feel that the country’s economic recovery is not just a headline, but a reality
Recruiting PhD holders into the civil service would encourage more individuals to pursue advanced studies, thereby fostering nationwide intellectual growth Incorporating PhD holders into government departments can enhance governance, improve decisionmaking, and develop well-researched solutions to the pressing challenges various sectors have been faced with Their expertise can drive progress in economic planning, technological advancement, as well as social development
For Pakistan to compete globally and strengthen its institutions, it must embrace a research-driven culture The inclusion of highly qualified professionals in the civil service will be a concrete step towards better governance which is indeed essential for the country s future
Borrowed strength
IN the wake of recent Pakistani success over India in the limited armed conflict social discussion invariably veers towards China’s help
Although some quarters would like to attribute Pakistan s success to indigenous effort only, it is universally known that both Pakistan and India fought with fighter jets and other war machinery bought from third countries; France and China, basically
The mainstay of Pakistan’s air attack was a combination of Chinese-made J-10Cs, JF-17s, drones and missiles There is no doubt that China helped us in the limited war much more than it has ever helped us in all our previous wars and skirmishes with India
On some occasions the Chinese had in fact plainly advised Pakistan to avoid going to war with India This time it was different Whatever the official position may be, the man on the street is very proud of the help that China provided in the war and is certain that a new normal, in the shape of an all-out Chinese help, has been established People seem to have taken it for granted that the same level of help, if not
Reimagining the federation
Paddress centre-periphery tensions across the country They could also become economic transformation units with strategies suited to regional strengths
But the number 22 must remain a hypothesis not a dogma The final number should emerge from an independent assessment of population, geography, economic viability, resources, security and public consent Provinces should be administrative and developmental units that respect identity without converting every linguistic or subethnic distinction into a territorial claim
The greatest danger is that Pakistan could reproduce its existing failed governance model 22 times If every province acquires an oversized cabinet, governor s house, secretariat, bureaucracy, rent seeking and patronage network the country will create more government without better governance Restructuring must therefore establish a three tier federation: a capable but limited federal government, manageable
provinces and constitutionally empowered local governments The preferable model is a reformed federal parliamentary democracy A winner takes all presidential contest could further personalize politics A semi-presidential hybrid could reproduce the ambiguity and institutional rivalry that have repeatedly weakened Pakistan’s constitutional order Pakistan’s problem has not been a shortage of powerful rulers It has been too much power at the top too little institutional restraint and too little authority at the bottom A parliamentary federation is better suited to coalition building and regional power sharing The prime minister should remain accountable to Parliament, the Senate should be strengthened as guardian of federal balance and directly elected mayors and district governments should control local services
Rule of law must be the non-negotiable foundation No institutional design can succeed while constitutions are suspended, elections manipulated, governments removed through extraconstitutional means courts selectively used or administration shaped by influence rather than law More provinces without legal restraint would merely decentralize arbitrariness, patronage and elite capture No political leader, party, government, military institution intelligence body judge civil servant business group religious organization or provincial authority can stand above the Constitution The armed forces must remain within their defence mandate and subordinate to elected civilian authority Accountability must be independent, courts impartial, elections credible and public officials subject to law
A National Compact must therefore come first Restructuring cannot be imposed by one government party province or institution Political parties, provinces, regional representatives, business and civil society must agree that its purpose is better governance and national unity not electoral manipulation ethnic dilution or resource capture The country must also end its recurring flipocracy between democratic military and hybrid rule Federalism, civilian supremacy and constitutional democracy must become permanent foundations International experience reinforces these conditions Switzerland’s Canton of Jura emerged through negotiation repeated public votes and constitutional consent South Africa s nine provinces formed part of a broader democratic settlement, with defined powers and fiscal equalization rather than a stand alone redrawing of maps India’s Uttarakhand benefited because statehood gave a geographically coherent region focused administration and a development strategy suited to its needs Indonesia s uneven decentralization showed the reverse,
the military less effective He backpedaled during his confirmation hearing, but earlier this year his Pentagon initiated a “review of women in ground combat roles
During his tenure Mr Hegseth has interfered with the promotions of more than a dozen Black or female military leaders In June, he removed all women and two Black officers from the Navy promotion list prompting accusations that he was distorting the promotions system to reflect not professional merit but his own campaign against diversity Mr Hegseth s warrior ethos is an insult to male servicemembers, too, reducing them to a stereotype that denies the complexity of their work and their characters
This isn’t a Rambo movie; here in the real world a good soldier is not defined only by muscle mass stamina and potential to inflict violence; soldiers need judgment patience and self-control Those qualities are the foundation of leadership If there’s a bright spot here, it’s how refreshing it is to see the Trump administration embrace gender-affirming care Testosterone replacement therapy is a hormone treatment as are the therapies taken by many transgender Americans And the executive order banning transgender servicemembers rests in part on an argument that troops must be able to serve without needing any such special medical treatment So how exactly are testosterone injections for cisgender men different from testosterone injections for trans men? The judge currently overseeing a lawsuit against the transgender ban is asking the same question Everyone wants servicemembers to be in good health and fit enough to perform their jobs But the defense secretary s narrow definition of readiness one that doesn t include making the flu shot mandatory won t make the military more capable It’s macho chest-thumping, intended to elevate a cartoonish concept of masculinity and score points with the Internet of Men Meanwhile in case Mr Hegseth
autonomy works only where local capacity, transparent finance and performance accountability accompany it The lesson for Pakistan is that provincial creation succeeds when it is consensual fiscally organized administratively prepared and tied to genuine devolution not when it merely multiplies political offices, patronage structures and rent seeking
Baluchistan will be the test of legitimacy Its grievances include political alienation weak services security operations disappearances and resource disputes Its size supports the case for smaller administrative units, but division without consent could be seen as an attempt to dilute Baluch identity, fragment mineral wealth or weaken bargaining power
A political settlement must precede territorial restructuring Dialogue should include elected representatives peaceful nationalist voices and civil society It must address representation, due process, civilian oversight of security, local employment, resource control and transparency in infrastructure and mineral agreements Reform must be presented as devolution within Baluchistan not the division of Baluchistan
Boundary making should be entrusted to an independent constitutional commission of economists, demographers, geographers, administrators water specialists and affected communities Criteria should include population geography culture economic linkages resources minority protection and access to provincial capitals Proposed maps and fiscal assessments should be published, hearings held and referendums considered in genuinely disputed areas
Natural resources and water require binding rules before borders change Revenues from gas minerals ports and energy projects should be shared among producing communities, provinces, the federation, a national equalization pool and a future-generations fund Local communities must visibly benefit but national wealth cannot become the exclusive property of whichever province contains the wellhead mine or port
New boundaries must not automatically alter water allocations Shares should consider historical use, population, drinking water needs, irrigated area, environmental flows and efficiency, supported by real time measurement and independent technical governance
A provincial succession act should govern the division of assets liabilities employees, pensions, debt, contracts, universities, hospitals and public enterprises Existing contracts should remain valid and disputes go to an independent tribunal Minority rights including language education employment property representation and freedom of movement must be constitutionally protected Most importantly, devolution cannot
fixed terms, predictable revenues and assigned powers Metropolitan mayors and rural districts should control local infrastructure and services The principle should be subsidiarity every function should be performed by the lowest level capable of delivering it effectively
The federation should retain defence, foreign affairs, currency, macroeconomic management and national standards provinces should lead regional development local governments should manage everyday services
Pakistan cannot afford 22 replicas of the existing provincial state Reform must be cost-neutral or near cost-neutral, based on redistribution rather than expansion Most could be organized around existing divisions and districts with established public infrastructure Existing budgets employees and assets should be reassigned rather than duplicated
Assemblies and cabinets should be capped Grand capitals, luxury residences and excessive vehicle fleets should be prohibited Shared digital and procurement systems should reduce duplication while overlapping institutions above must shrink Transition costs in terms of delimitation, elections, digital systems, asset audits and institutional separation could be met through a temporary Provincial Transition Fund over perhaps ten years financed by budget reallocations consolidation savings surplus public land and limited concessional financing External financing should not pay permanent salaries or recurring bureaucracy Fiscal autonomy must
Board of Peace meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a new statement was issued which contradicted Mladenov’s earlier post on X on July 31 in which he explicitly announced Withdrawal must move in lockstep with decommissioning This is no longer the case Israeli media reported the Board of Peace stating, “Contrary to inaccurate reports, we note that the withdrawal of the IDF beyond the Yellow Line will take place only once decommissioning is complete as Hamas committed to the mediators This applies to light weapons heavy weapons and the tunnels alike Rather than inaccurate reports, it should
O il rises af ter Houthi claim of attack on S audi tanker
IRAN SAYS IT WILL BACK HAMAS DECISIONS IN TALKS ON PALESTINE
ISLAMABAD
S TA F F R E P O R T
On the occasion of Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs Gilgit-Baltistan and States & Frontier Regions organized a Solidarity Walk from Radio Pakistan Chowk to DChowk The event witnessed active participation from the Chairman senior officials and employees of the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC), who joined the walk in solidarity with the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK)
Director General NAVTTC
Haider Abbas led the NAVTTC contingent, comprising officials, employees, and students, during the solidarity walk, demonstrating the Commission's unwavering commitment to national unity and solidarity with the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir
The walk commenced at 8:10 a m from Radio Pakistan Chowk At 9:00 a m , all participants observed one minute of silence to pay tribute
to the martyrs of Indian atrocities and to express unwavering solidarity with the people of IIOJK
The ceremony was graced by the Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Gilgit-Baltistan and States & Frontier Regions Engineer Amir Muqam and the Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Syed Mustafa Kamal Representatives from various federal organizations also participated alongside a large number of NAVTTC officers and employees
The NAVTTC contingent carried banners and placards bearing messages in support of the Kash-
miri people s right to self-determination condemning India s illegal actions in IIOJK, and reaffirming solidarity with the oppressed people of Kashmir During the walk, participants reiterated Pakistan s unwavering commitment to extending moral political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people and standing by their just struggle for the right to self-determination
On this occasion NAVTTC s leadership and employees also reaffirmed the Commission s commitment to actively participating in initiatives of national importance and promoting unity and solidarity
PM ORDERS GLOBAL INVESTOR DRIVE, FAST-TRACKS DISCOS PRIVATISATION
ISLAMABAD
A petition has been filed in the Islamabad High Court seeking directions for President Asif Ali Zardari to act on
summary for judicial appointments after an oath-taking ceremony planned for July 27 was put off Advocate Luqman Zafar Chaudhary moved the writ petition through counsel Zahid Asif Chaudhry on Wednesday, asking the court to order approval of the prime minister ’s summary covering the appointment of 19 additional judges and the confirmation of five judges for the Islamabad Lahore, Sindh, Balochistan and Peshawar high courts
The plea says the Judicial Commission of Pakistan, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi recommended the names in meetings held on July 20 and 21 under Article 175A of the Constitution It says Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif then sent the matter to the president for assent under Article 48
According to the petition the president has neither approved the advice nor returned it for reconsideration and that inaction has continued beyond the
constitutional period
The petitioner argues that Article 48(1) requires the president to act on the advice of the cabinet or the prime minister, with only a limited option to seek reconsideration within 15 days and then decide within 10 days after such reconsideration
The petition says the delay has no legal basis and asks the court to declare the continued failure to act beyond the prescribed 15-day period “illegal, without lawful authority and of no legal effect” It also argues that once the constitutional process for judicial nominations is complete the executive role remains time-bound and formal, and cannot be used as a power of veto or indefinite deferral”
ISLAMABAD/KARACHI
S ta f f C o R R e S p o n d e n t
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday staged nationwide protests to mark three years since the imprisonment of its founder Imran Khan demanding his immediate release with Karachi witnessing clashes between protesters and police that disrupted traffic and led to multiple arrests
The party held demonstrations in Karachi, Islamabad, Hyderabad and several cities across Sindh including Mirpurkhas Nawabshah Umerkot Mithi Pano Aqil and Kandhkot as workers rallied against Imran Khan s continued incarceration
In Karachi, PTI supporters attempted to march towards the Karachi Press Club under the leadership of PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh Karachi President Raja Azhar Sindh General Secretary Dr Masroor Sial and Karachi General Secretary Arsalan Khalid Authorities sealed roads leading to the Press Club with containers, triggering severe traffic congestion across Saddar and adjoining areas Police resorted to tear gas shelling and baton charges to disperse protesters after they gathered near Zaibunnisa Street and Fawara Chowk Several PTI workers were detained, including Dr Masroor Sial, while the party claimed more than 10 workers were arrested in Karachi six in Pano Aqil and 15 in Kandhkot PTI alleged that despite seeking of-
Referring to the Munir Hussain Bhatti Advocate v Federation of Pakistan case the petitioner contends that constitutional officeholders must function strictly within the four corners of the Constitution and must not allow extraneous considerations to affect such decisions
The plea further argues that vacancies on the bench are hampering the justice system by slowing case disposal and undermining the right to access to justice and fair trial under Articles 9, 10A and 25 of the Constitution It adds that concerns within the legal fraternity and among the public have grown over what it describes as possible political considerations behind the hold-up
On maintainability the petitioner says Article 248 does not bar the proceedings because the president has been impleaded only in his constitutional and official capacity, not in a personal one
The delay has already begun to affect the superior judiciary s working
The term of one additional judge of the Sindh High Court has expired, while four additional judges of the Peshawar High Court are nearing the end of their tenure despite recommendations by the Judicial Commission for continuation
ficial permission for the protest, police blocked access to the venue and used force against peaceful demonstrators, leaving several workers injured Haleem Adil Sheikh demanded the immediate release of all detained workers while Raja Azhar accused authorities of violating the constitutional right to peaceful assembly Sheikh also criticised the Sindh government for sealing routes to the Karachi Press Club saying it was neither a Red Zone nor a sensitive security area
The traffic disruption prompted Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to order the immediate restoration of traffic flow in Saddar, M A Jinnah Road, Zainab Market and surrounding areas He directed police to deploy additional traffic personnel and submit a report on the situation
Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar also sought a report from the Karachi traffic police chief, directing authorities to clear major roads arrange alternative routes and minimise inconvenience to commuters In Islamabad PTI organised a rally on Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed Road, led by Regional President Amir Mughal and Regional General Secretary Malik Amir Ali Awan Participants carried placards and chanted slogans highlighting Imran Khan s imprisonment inflation unemployment law and order and the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir A peaceful rally was also held in Hyderabad under the joint banner of PTI and Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Ayeen-ePakistan (TTAP)
