ADELEGATION from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led by Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, successfully obtained production orders for its arrested members of the National Assembly (MNAs) after a meeting with Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Wednesday
The PTI delegation which included Dawar Kundi and Ali Muhammad Khan met Speaker Ayaz Sadiq in his chamber, pressing for the release of detained MNAs
“You announced yesterday that production orders would be issued but they have not yet been released to bring our arrested members to the assembly You made a verbal promise and we are here today for the written orders, Barrister Gohar stated during the meeting Later, speaking to the media outside Parliament House Barrister Gohar confirmed that Speaker Sadiq had issued the production orders ensuring the presence of the arrested PTI members in the assembly by tomorrow (Thursday) In a related development, the National Assembly’s Sergeant-at-Arms, Ashfaq Ashraf along with four other security personnel was suspended for four months following arrests that took place within the parliament building The suspended officers include Security Assistant Waqas Ahmed and Junior Security Assistants Ubaidullah, Waheed Safdar, and Muhammad Haroon
The suspensions followed an internal review of the incident wherein arrests of PTI lawmakers were made from inside the assembly premises Earlier this week, police entered the National Assembly and arrested prominent PTI leaders, including Sahibzada Hamid Raza, leader of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Barrister Gohar Ali Khan Sher Afzal Marwat and Advocate Shoaib Shaheen The arrests were made in connection with a PTI rally in the capital that defied emergency laws enacted shortly before the event Meanwhile in a bid to ease tensions between the government and opposition Speaker Sadiq proposed a Charter of Parliament aimed at promoting cooperation be-
tween all political factions despite ongoing leadership conflicts Addressing the parliamentarians during the session the NA Speaker suggested that, even if party leaders fail to agree, members of parliament should still work towards signing a cross-party charter, emphasizing such an initiative would strengthen parliamentary collaboration and discipline The session witnessed interruptions from PTI members who demanded the immediate issuance of production orders for their arrested colleagues Pakistan People s Party (PPP) leader Khursheed Shah intervened, urging the house to allow PTI members to speak Referring to past incidents Speaker Sadiq noted that production orders for detained members were not issued during
the PTI government However, he assured that he would act in the best interest of the assembly stating “I will do what is right ” He also announced the formation of a committee to address the issue promptly Earlier, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Tuesday suspended five security officials for four months, days after
PTI lawmakers were arrested from inside the Parliament House According to an “office order” issued
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ISLAMABAD
S ta f f R e p o R t
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz on Wednesday sought a referral of Ramazan Sugar Mills reference back to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) after the Supreme Court’s verdict reinstating amendments to the National Accountability Ordinance 1999
This comes a day after incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan and wife Bushra Bibi sought acquittal in £190m case under NAB amendments On September 6, the apex court accepted intra-court appeals filed against the September 15 2023 majority judgement striking down the amendments to the National Accountability Ordinance While reinstating the amendments introduced to the NAB Law, the Supreme Court observed that Imran failed to establish that NAB amendments were unconstitutional During hearing of Ramazan Sugar Mills reference on Wednesday the counsels for the fatherson argued that the reference against their clients is inadmissible after the Supreme Court s verdict and that the accountability court lacks jurisdiction to proceed with the case anymore At which, the court asked the lawyers to file an application for the transfer of sugar mills reference to the anti-graft body and adjourned the hearing till October 1 Meanwhile it also accepted Hamza Shehbaz s plea for exemption from personal appearance On February 18, 2019, the anti-graft crusader filed a reference against Hamza and Shehbaz, alleging that the former Punjab chief minister had misused his authority to get a 10km sludge carrier constructed in district Chiniot to facilitate Ramzan Sugar Mills owned by his sons
The anti-corruption bureau had alleged that the project had inflicted a loss of Rs213 million to the national exchequer The reference was reopened in November 2023 after the amendments introduced by the coalition government of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) were struck down Earlier Imran also sought acquittal from the £190 million case under the NAB amendments which he had challenged The deposed prime minister s lawyer told the accountability court in Rawalpindi s Adiala jail that the case was no longer valid after the verdict as all the cabinet decisions are protected in NAB amendments NAB AMENDMENTS Under the amendments the NAB was restricted from investigating into any graft case worth less than Rs500 million besides curtailing the accountability body s powers to probe into a fraud case unless its victims are more than 100 It also modified the NAB law to keep an accused in its custody for a maximum of 14 days which was later exceeded to 30 days
We do not wish to sow hatred because it harms the nation However, we will continue to speak out for our rights, justice, and true freedom ” He added that the Constitution allows the people to defend their rights Our challenges and goals are different but we are caught up in other distractions Until we
PAKISTAN AGREES TO IMF BAN ON NEW ECONOMIC ZONES
Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has successfully recovered Rs 27 million in penalties from Reliance Paints and Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) by exercising its authority under Section 40(2)(a) of the Competition Act 2010 through the attachment of their bank accounts
According to a press release, these recoveries are part of the CCP’s broader strategy to enforce its mandate of ensuring a level playing field across all sectors demonstrating its commitment to tackling anti-competitive practices
Over the past year, the CCP has recovered a total of Rs 69 million in penalties, accounting for 25% of the total amount recovered since the Commission’s establishment in 2007
This significant progress under-
scores the CCP’s ongoing vigilance and effectiveness in promoting fair competition and protecting consumer interests To date the CCP has recovered Rs 269 million in penalties In case of Reliance Paints, the enquiry was initiated following a formal complaint from Akzo Nobel Pakistan Ltd alleging that the company was fixing minimum resale prices and penalizing dealers and retailers for not complying with its pricing directives
The CCP s enquiry confirmed that Reliance Paints practices were restricting competition not only among its dealers but also between Reliance and its competitors as rigid retail prices prevented discounts to consumers
As a result the CCP imposed a Rs 5 million fine which was later reduced to Rs 2 5 million by the Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT), although the Tribunal upheld the CCP’s findings
In another instance, the CCP has imposed a fine of Rs 25 million on Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) for abusing its dominant position in the low-carbon steel market The enquiry conducted by the CCP from November 2008 to February 2009 revealed that PSM had engaged in anti-competitive practices by unfairly restricting access to specific grades of steel billets namely SAE 1008 and SAE 1010 PSM was found to have denied supply to Frontier Foundry (FFPL) while preferentially supplying other buyers This selective distribution distorted competition in the downstream market where PSM holds a monopoly These cases highlight the CCP s proactive stance in safeguarding competitive
This incident highlights the ongoing concerns surrounding lithium-ion battery safety in critical infrastructure such as datacenters A similar incident occurred in 2021 when French cloud provider OVH lost one of its datacenters due to a fire in an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system Alibaba Cloud ser vices disrupted
situation, Alibaba Cloud s disaster recovery protocols were successfully activated, and failover mechanisms functioned as intended This ensured that its highavailability cloud products continued operating within agreed service levels though some users had to manually migrate their workloads to maintain service continuity As the incident unfolded, certain services were temporarily taken offline due to the elevated temperatures within the datacenter By 20:04 SGT on Tues-
day, the situation remained unresolved, with staff unable to re-enter the firedamaged building Further complications arose early Wednesday morning at 01:46 SGT when water leaks likely resulting from firefighting efforts created a new risk of electrical short circuits This necessitated an emergency shutdown of electrical systems in one of the buildings Digital Realty confirmed that portions of the facility were powered down at 01:45 SGT on Wednesday to prevent further damage In the meantime Alibaba Cloud worked to restore network services in unaffected areas of the complex The fire not only disrupted Alibaba Cloud’s operations but also impacted other platforms reliant on the same infrastructure Companies like Digital Ocean IaaS provider Coolify and content delivery network Cloudflare reported service outages and performance degradation, according to online user complaints
Desert in Skardu, the Thal Desert in Bhakkar, Punjab, and the Cholistan Desert in Bahawalpur, Punjab One of the notable farming projects between China and Pakistan in Thal Desert gained significant attention last year as it successfully cultivated a variety of crops and trees including Rhodes grass, wheat, alfalfa, orchards, citrus fruits, mangoes, guavas, bamboo, olives, dates, and Bari Located in Rangpur Muzaffargarh in Punjab the project is equipped with advanced agricultural water-efficient machinery known as the central pivot system Similarly, Green Pakistan Initiative, led by Land Information and Management System (LIMS) is focusing on revitalizing agriculture in the Cholistan desert This initiative uses modern agricultural technology to improve farming and livestock management The project has introduced smart agricultural machinery imported from China, marking a major shift
towards modern farming techniques under the Corporate Farming Initiative
Experts believe that during a time when Pakistan’s economy needs stimulation across various sectors innovative desert projects can significantly contribute to positive growth by enhancing food security and improving livelihoods
Several such projects have the potential to transform deserts into productive agricultural and even aquaculture hubs
Another similar project is going on successfully in the Cholistan desert of Bahawalpur Punjab Abdul Hafeez Director of Operations at Dayzee Farms informed Gwadar Pro that
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During the period of his suspension, he will be entitled to draw pay and allowances as admissible under the applicable rules,” the order read While not specifying the reason for the move it said the action was taken under rule 5(1) (suspension and leave) of the Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 2020 Under the said rule, the appointing authority “may place any civil servant under suspension or send him on leave against whom proceedings are proposed to be initiated for an initial period of 120 days at one time In a separate note the suspension orders for Security Assistant Waqas Ahmed (grade-14 official) as well as three junior security assistants (grade-9 officials) namely Obaidullah Muhammad Waheed Safdar and Muhammad Haroon respectively were issued The four officials were also placed under suspension for 120 days and entitled to draw pay and allowances as admissible under the applicable rules
On Tuesday, declaring that he would lodge a first information report (FIR) himself if need be the NA speaker had sought footage from all entry gates of the Parliament House for evidence-based action
Sadiq also held deliberations with parliamentary leaders and members of the lower house, with Ali Muhammad Khan and Shandana Gulzar of the PTI and PMLN’s Rana Sanaullah among those present during the meeting During the meeting he said there would be no compromise on the dignity and prestige of parliament It was therefore, decided to formulate some rules of the game to avoid the recurrence of such incidents in the future
Later, the speaker had also summoned Islamabad’s Inspector General of Police (IGP) Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi to his chamber to get details of the arrests and ordered him to produce the detained MNAs in parliament On Monday night a day after the PTI held its Sangjani power show law enforcement agencies launched a crackdown on the PTI’s top leadership arresting at least three key members from different areas of Islamabad while forcing others to take shelter in the Parliament House
By 11pm on Monday, there were confirmed reports about the arrest of firebrand leader Sher Afzal Marwat, Waziristan MNA Zubair Khan and lawyer Shoaib Shaheen who was taken into custody from his office in G-9
At least 11 MNAs arrested included Marwat, Zubair, Chief Whip in NA Malik Amir Dogar, Sheikh Waqqas Akram, Bannu lawmaker Nasim Ali Shah, Zain Qureshi Ahmed Chattha Awais Haider Jakhar Syed Shah Ahad Ali Shah Yousuf Khattak and Abdul Latif Chitrali
After being freed by the Islamabad police on Tuesday, PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan clarified that he had surrendered himself for arrest when Marwat was taken into custody
Meanwhile Gohar announced a boycott of NA proceedings by all PTI MNAs except nine to ten as the recent events continued to come under discussion in today’s assembly session Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly Gohar said Until an inquiry is conducted into September 10 events and
ISLAMABAD/LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday paid tribute to Begum Kulsoom Nawaz the former first lady and wife of PML-N President Nawaz Sharif for her contributions to the country and democracy on her sixth death anniversary Kulsoom Nawaz was born on March 29, 1948, into a Kashmiri family in Lahore A highly educated woman, she earned a PhD in Urdu literature and authored several books including Rajab Ali Beg ka Tehzeebi Sha oor and Jabr aur Jamhooriat In 1971 she married Nawaz Sharif who went on to become the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the leader of PML-N In a statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed the family’s continued grief saying they have yet to fully
come to terms with her passing He described her as the “mother of democracy ” emphasizing her unwavering courage and support for Nawaz Sharif during difficult times She stood as a protective shield for Nawaz Sharif, he remarked Shehbaz Sharif specifically praised her leadership in opposing General Pervez Musharraf ’s regime following Nawaz Sharif s imprisonment in October 1999 During that time Kulsoom Nawaz took on the mantle of party leadership, playing a key role in uniting opposition parties against the dictatorship
This resistance earned her the title
“Mother of Democracy ” The prime minister said her movement against dictatorship remains a bright chapter in Pakistan s political history He also spoke of her personal qualities, recalling her deep love for Islam, the Quran, and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) He
we are satisfied, PTI MNAs, except for nine to 10 will not participate in this parliament s proceedings We will not attend your committees meetings This is our protest, the PTI leader asserted It has come to my knowledge that Bilawal sahib has also tried [to address our concerns] and I thank him for that,” he added The PTI chairman clarified: “Under no circumstance would the PTI resign from the parliament or any assembly nor have we announced as such
Regarding the arrests of 10 MNAs , Gohar called on the NA deputy speaker to not conduct an inquiry that led to the suspension of “some innocent ordinary people but to go to the depth of it” During his address Gohar warned the treasury benches that if PTI s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government wanted, it could also file cases against ministers of the ruling coalition However, the PTI MNA said he chose not to engage in “tit-for-tat” actions Recalling the suspension of PTI’s Punjab MPAs for 15 sessions Gohar said he faced pressure as the party s chairman but when a KP lawmaker from the ruling parties misbehaved , he chose to not have them suspended in return “We want the political forces to be strengthened so that unpolitical forces won’t get a chance ” the PTI chairman said
In his address, PPP Chairman Bilawal-Bhutto Zardari also struck a reconciliatory tone as he called for politics of revenge to be shunned “If the government’s only job is to decide who should we jail today as Khan did this to us and ruined the air so [ ] you
emphasized her embodiment of Eastern values noting that she showed great respect to elders affection to children and always spoke with wisdom
The prime minister concluded by praying for her soul s eternal peace and for patience for her family Known for her grace, dignity, compassion, generosity, and tolerance Kulsoom Nawaz played an essential role in her husband s political
COMMENT
TH E Shehbaz government, not without prodding from the IMF, has put its hand in the hornets nest, and gone for a number of pension reforms These have not been meant to bring the pension system up to date which should be the real reason for any reform, but so as to save money As government servants mostly do not have trade unions, there was no formal input from those who would be affected The problem with pension reform is that it is an emotive issue not merely a matter of rupees and paisas One of the prime attractions of government service is that it is a ‘pensionable job ’ It is something of an island in a job market where the private sector enterprises have not developed pension schemes of their own and where trade unions have not developed pension funds of their own It might well be noted that the recent student protests in Bangladesh, which toppled an apparently well-entrenched government, was over quotas in government jobs
One of the most explosive changes is going to be the reduction of the pension by up to 20 percent if the government employee chooses to retire before reaching the age of 60, but after qualifying after 25 years of service This seems to contradict the offer of a golden handshake to those government employees who will be rendered surplus by the proposed downsizing of various departments and the abolition of some If pensions are reduced when employees do their math they might come to the conclusion that the game will not be worth the candle, and they would do better to remain in service for as long as possible After all, the purpose of a golden handshake is to persuade the employee that with the capital sum he will get he will be able to replace the benefits he will be forgoing by leaving service early, including the pension benefit This is not meant to exonerate government servants from having been guilty of dereliction of duty They have not served the state as it deserved and most notably they did not avoid corruption if they could help it The concept of the government pensioner eking out a
Tof Imran Khan the configuration of election results based on Form 45 the release of arrested workers the Army stepping back from politics and ensuring the judiciary s independence However, ironically, the government ended up aiding the PTI s cause by placing containers to block all routes to the venue, dispersing the crowd with tear gas and making a series of arrests after the event These unnecessary and poorly thought-out actions by the government ultimately played into the PTI s hands As the media shifted its focus from the lessthan-expected turnout to the government s aggressive and disproportionate response, it inadvertently boosted the PTI’s narrative Had the government not taken such measures, it might have dampened PTI’s momentum, demoralized its leadership and disillusioned its supporters But unfortunately for the government and establishment and fortunately for the PTI the government did exactly what it should have avoided
To add insult to the injury, the arrest of PTI parliamentarians within the premises of Parliament and the rumors of abduction of the Chief Minister and other leaders catapulted the popularity of the PTI to new heights increased its sympathy vote and conversely eroded the political capital of the government and the establishment Instead of exercising grace and restraint, the government responded to the tall claims, threats, and foul language from the opposition with even worse language Rana Sanaullah, the government spokesman and de facto spokesperson for the establishment hurled even more severe accusations and threats reminiscent of the way Sultan Rahi used to challenge villains in old movies He went as far as to challenge the KP Chief Minister daring him to enter Punjab and face severe consequences Sanaullah warned that the Chief Minister would not be allowed to hold a public meeting at Minar-e-Pakistan and would be insulted in a manner even worse than what was done to the Punjab Chief Minister These statements flagrantly disregarded the constitutional rights guaranteed to every citizen of Pakistan Article 15 of the Constitution ensures the freedom of movement, stating, Every citizen shall have the right to remain in, and, subject to any reasonable restriction imposed by law in the public interest enter and move freely throughout Pakistan and to reside and settle in any part thereof Further Article 16 guarantees the *freedom of assembly* pro-
viding that Every citizen shall have the right to assemble peacefully and without arms, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interest of public order ” Finally, Article 19 guarantees freedom of speech ensuring that every citizen has the right to express their views subject to restrictions related to the glory of Islam national security and public order The threats and challenges issued by the government s spokesperson clearly violated these fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution, which protect every citizen, including public figures like the KP Chief Minister
In its reactive press conference the PTI accused the government and establishment of subverting the Constitution violating laws and regulations disrespecting the sanctity of Parliament abducting party leaders and workers, and suffocating the freedoms of the press, speech, and assembly rights guaranteed under the Constitution
During the press conference the PTI leaders expressed regret for any inadvertent remarks made against the state the military and women in general However they stood by the substantive parts of the speech particularly those delivered by the KP Chief Minister The General Secretary fully endorsed the Chief Minister ’s statements regarding the role of the Army Specifically, he supported the claim that the military should “put its house in order” and return to its barracks vacating roles not constitutionally mandated to them He emphasized that
G a z a ’ s s t u d e n t s a r e w a i t i n g
t h e l aw a n d o rd e r s i t u a t i o n , h e i g h t e n e d p o l i t i c a l t e n s i o n s , a n d
f u r t h e r e
manage emotions leading to irritability mood swings and behavioural issues Students avoid social interactions due to feelings of fear shame, or guilt Also, an important effect is grief over the loss of their beloved ones
Doubtlessly, some organizations are performing their best to keep students safe from fear and sadness UNRW UNICEF and Save the Children are donating textbooks stationery and technology to schools and students Providing education and social services to Palestinian refugees in Gaza The Gaza community mental health programme offers psychological support and counseling to students and families Some organizations are donating rebuilding and renovating schools that were damaged during conflict Another organization Emergency Assistance provides aid during times of crisis Such organizations work tirelessly to support Gaza students, helping them access quality education and overcome the challenges they face Additionally some countries came in front to help for students and modify them including Turkey which provides scholarships educational resources and infrastructure as well as other countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Indonesia,
Egypt Jordan Norway Sweden Switzerland and Canada Also these countries provide financial aid support educational resources and vocational training Israel has crossed her limits, attacking schools, hospitals, and other civilian buildings She has violated humanitarian laws Humanitarian laws also known as international law are a set of rules that regulate the conduct of war and armed conflicts to protect civilian prisoners of war and other vulnerable populations The main principle of humanitarian law includes distinguishing between military targets and civilians and avoiding targeting civilians Additionally, these laws prohibit targeting civilians, collective punishment torture unnecessary suffering attacks on civilian objects and using human shields Mainly humanitarian laws apply to all the parties involved in armed conflicts including states, rebels, and other non-state actors Its purpose is to limit the effects of war on civilians and promote respect for human life and dignity
The UN has acknowledged the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip with a high number of civilian causalties including women and children Also severe shortages of food drinkable water, and medical supplies exist The UN has urged all parties to respect international humanitarian law and to take steps to prevent further human suffering so that students cannot be deprived of education and can be safeguarded psychologically
The writer is Research Officer Baluchistan Think Tank Network (BTTN)
The UN has acknowledged the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip with a high number of civilian causalties, including women and children Also, severe shor tages of food, drinkable water, and medical supplies exist The UN has urged all par ties to respect international humanitarian law and to take steps to prevent fur ther human suffering so that students cannot be deprived of education and can be safeguarded psychologically
Cultural setback
baShir
Mujeeb ur rehMan SooMro
Promise and perils of intracy toplasmic sperm injection in animal breeding and conser vation
Ijection (ICSI) has become a transformative technique in the field of reproductive biology particularly in animal breeding and conservation
This advanced micromanipulation method involves the direct injection of a single sperm cell into a mature oocyte effectively bypassing the natural fertilization process Initially developed for human infertility treatments
ICSI has found applications in various animal species, including livestock and endangered species However, while ICSI presents numerous advantages, it also raises significant concerns regarding the health and welfare of the animals involved as well as ethical considerations surrounding its use The promise of ICSI lies in its ability to address infertility issues that may arise from various factors, including age, genetic abnormalities, or poor sperm quality In domestic animals, such as cattle and sheep, ICSI can facilitate the breeding of genetically superior individuals thereby enhancing productivity and improving herd quality This is particularly beneficial in the context of livestock farming where maximizing genetic potential is crucial for economic viability By allowing the use of sperm from elite sires, ICSI can help maintain genetic diversity and prevent the loss of valuable traits that might otherwise occur through conventional breeding methods
In addition to its applications in agriculture ICSI plays a vital role in conservation ef-
forts for endangered species Many species face reproductive challenges due to a limited gene pool habitat loss and other environmental pressures ICSI offers a glimmer of hope by enabling the use of cryopreserved sperm from genetically valuable individuals, thus preserving genetic material that can be used to bolster populations For example ICSI has been successfully employed in species such as the giant panda where traditional breeding methods have proven difficult By facilitating the creation of viable embryos ICSI can contribute to the recovery of populations that are on the brink of extinction Despite its potential benefits, the use of ICSI in animals is not without its drawbacks
One of the primary concerns is the risk of developmental abnormalities in offspring Research has shown that ICSI can lead to conditions such as large offspring syndrome (LOS) in ruminants, characterized by increased birth weight and associated complications This syndrome is thought to result from improper embryo culture conditions and may have long-term implications for the health of the offspring Studies have indicated that animals produced through ICSI may be more susceptible to metabolic disorders and other health issues, raising questions about the overall welfare of these individuals Moreover the technique of ICSI itself can introduce genetic concerns Abnormal
chromosome segregation during the first mitotic division can result in embryos that do not develop normally or lead to spontaneous abortions This raises significant questions about the genetic integrity of the offspring produced through ICSI Long-term studies in rodent models have revealed various health risks associated with ICSI including aberrant transcriptional changes that persist into adulthood These changes can manifest as altered glucose metabolism, decreased reproductive capacity, and increased susceptibility to diseases In addition to these health risks ICSI has been linked to behavioural issues in offspring Research in mice has shown that females produced through ICSI exhibit increased anxiety, deficits in spatial memory, and other cognitive impairments Such findings highlight the potential for ICSI to affect not only the physical health of animals but also their behavioural and psychological well-being The implications of these findings are particularly concerning in the context of conservation, where the survival of endangered species often hinges on their ability to adapt to changing environments and social structures
Another significant concern surrounding ICSI is the ethical implications of manipulating reproductive processes in animals Critics argue that the use of advanced reproductive technologies can violate the integrity and autonomy of animals, leading to ethical dilemmas regarding their treatment and welfare The
manipulation of reproductive processes raises questions about the naturalness of breeding and the potential for harm to the animals involved Many people believe that interventions like ICSI cross a line between natural and unnatural processes potentially leading to suffering and distress for the animals Public sentiment regarding the use of ICSI in animals is increasingly critical with growing calls for transparency and accountability in the application of reproductive technologies Animal rights advocates argue that the welfare of individual animals must be prioritized over the potential benefits to agriculture or conservation This perspective emphasizes the importance of considering the emotional and psychological well-being of animals, as well as their physical health As society becomes more aware of the ethical implications of animal research and breeding practices it is essential that scientists and policymakers engage in open dialogues about the responsible use of technologies like ICSI Regulatory oversight is another crucial aspect of the discussion surrounding ICSI in animals As the use of this technology continues to expand it is imperative that regulatory bodies establish guidelines and standards to ensure the welfare of the animals involved This includes evaluating the necessity and justification for using ICSI in various contexts, particularly when it may cause distress or harm to the animals Ongoing research and careful monitoring are es-
The intracytoplasmic sperm injection represents a significant advancement in the field of animal reproduction, offering promising solutions for infer tility and conser vation challeng es. However, the potential risks and ethical concerns associated with its use cannot be overlooked As we continue to explore the applications of ICSI in animals, it is essential to approach this technology with caution and consideration for the welfare of the animals involved By carefully weighing the risks and benefits and prioritizing animal welfare in research and policy, we can work towards a future where the promise of ICSI is realiz ed while minimizing the potential for harm
Israeli academia is directly complicit in the crimes of the state
P“O L I T I C S should be kept out of academia! This is how many in Western academia respond to calls from fellow professors and students for a boycott of Israeli academic institutions over their complicity in the country s decades-long occupation of Palestinian territory oppression of Palestinian people and the ongoing genocidal war on Gaza
They claim that universities are sites of civil discourse , free speech and open inquiry” And that participating in an academic boycott especially over an issue as divisive as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is simply not acceptable for any higher education institution that needs to be politically neutral to fulfil its function Further many outright deny Israeli academia s complicity in the state s crimes, saying it is unfair and unproductive to punish “independent” institutions of learning for the war crimes and violations of international law committed by their government There is of course so much to unpack and criticise in these arguments In such a time of tragedy, amid a war the International Court of Justice (ICJ) judged to be a plausible genocide”, it is perhaps futile and even inappropriate to investigate the naivete (or is it ignorance?) that informs the belief that universities are and should remain neutral But after the official Palestinian death toll has surpassed the grim milestone of 40,000, with thousands still unaccounted for, and every single university in Gaza has been reduced to rubble with no end in sight for Israel’s war, there is significant use in interrogating the complicity of Israeli academia in the ongoing atrocities Censorship has been a weapon that Israeli universities have wielded systematically against those daring to speak up for Palestinian rights and against Israel s excesses for many decades but especially since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 One of the most prominent recent victims of this weapon has been Professor Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI) In mid-April this year she was arrested by the Israeli police for her criticism of Zionism and Israel’s ongoing genocidal campaign in Gaza For months before her arrest ShalhoubKevorkian had been the target of a smear campaign which aimed to depict her words and writings as an incitement of violence against the State of Israel While this campaign was publicly led by Israeli authorities and the media, its roots can be traced back to Shalhoub-Kevorkian’s employer
In late October last year the HUJI leadership sent Shalhoub-Kevorkian a letter expressing their shock disgust and deep disappointment over her decision to sign a petition calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a political solution to the wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict that would end the occupation and apartheid The letter stated that the president and rector were ashamed that university staff included the likes of ShalhoubKevorkian and that she should consider leaving her position at the institution The leadership publicly distributed this letter and, in doing so, ramped up the public campaign against her In March, after Shalhoub-Kevorkian called for the abolition of Zionism during a TV interview the leadership sent her a letter of suspension in which it called her a national and international embarrassment adding that HUJI is a proud Israeli, public and Zionist institution The letter was once again made public and even sent directly to some members of the Knesset Shalhoub-Kevorkian said the letter “fueled an incitement campaign that included dangerous and unprecedented threats targeting her and her family More generally silencing doxing and disciplinary action against pro-Palestinian voices have been the order of the day at Israeli higher education institutions Since October 7, addresses and pictures of the homes of Palestinian students at Israeli universities have been shared on social media The Council for Higher Education has also required that Israeli universities and colleges investigate all complaints against students and faculty who make public statements that are perceived as sympathetic to organisations like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad Of course more often than not in this context all expressions of solidarity with Palestine are perceived and treated as an incitement of violence against Israelis Besides silencing Israel s critics, universities have been proactive in their attempts to nurture global support for Israel during its military campaign in Gaza In the early days after October 7 the president of Tel Aviv University (TAU) published a statement declaring that TAU had harnessed all its strength and abilities to support the nationwide efforts He went on to criticise those calling for a boycott of Israeli academic institutions and “certain leaders of academic institutions” abroad who had failed to shut down Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaigns Against this background he said TAU had added media outreach to its efforts and that students were being recruited to operate in the social networks, to refute the terrible lies that might influence naïve unknowing audiences who are unaware of what our enemy has done to us”
Less than a week after this statement international students at TAU launched a social media task force in solidarity with Israel Students running the initiative said that they were committed to “disseminating truthful information and fact-based information”, claiming that Israel was fighting “a war of humanity against terrorism of good versus evil
The University of Haifa has also vehemently supported Israeli forces and their assault on Gaza It mobilised fundraising campaigns, which included providing financial support to its “student soldiers” on the
front lines The university has donated bulletproof vests to special forces Like TAU the University of Haifa also set up an initiative to drum up support for Israel The campaign s aim was to convince international audiences that any criticism of Israel s war effort in Gaza is unjust and that those advocating for Palestinian rights are either misinformed or pro-terror As part of this campaign the university put out a series of multi-language videos featuring its students and faculty members to set the record straight about October 7 Most videos simply repeat Israeli government talking points, including claims that pro-Palestine activism is in fact proHamas and that the slogan “From the river to the sea Palestine will be free” is a call for a second Holocaust against the Jewish people
The University of Haifa leadership has also been at the forefront of the Israeli campaign to counter the BDS movement and the international efforts to initiate a boycott of Israeli academic institutions In June this year, the current rector Professor Mouna Maroun joined forces with other academics from Haifa the Weizmann Institute of Science and HUJI and published an article in Nature arguing that boycotting Israel academia would be counterproductive because it overlooks students and faculty who “identify as Arab or Palestinian” ignores Israeli academia’s “proven record of supporting human rights and challenging government policies and undermines efforts to promote inclusivity within the Israeli scientific community
Of course, none of this is true As anthropologist Maya Wind’s authoritative book Towers of Ivory and Steel reveals, Israeli universities have long contributed to Palestinian oppression Academic disciplines degree programs campus infrastructure and research laboratories all service Israeli occupation and apartheid, while universities violate the rights of Palestinians to education, stifle critical scholarship, and violently repress student dissent ” Now more than ever there is a growing awareness of this role of Israeli academia As the Israeli atrocities in Gaza are streamed live on social media feeds all across the world and Israeli universities position themselves as the foremost defenders and facilitators of this war, the argument that academia is neutral and independent is losing ground And Israeli authorities are on high alert In April the Israeli Innovation Science and Technology Ministry published a report showing that there was a sharp decrease in willingness to cooperate with Israeli academia According to the report, the boycott efforts primarily but not exclusively affected “research in the fields of medicine biology physics space and computer science Minister of Innovation Science and Technology Gila Gamliel instructed the ministry officials to formulate strategies to counter the boycott For now, as Israel continues its campaign in Gaza with impunity, it seems that the surge of boycotts will also continue In
sential to address the potential health risks associated with ICSI and to ensure that the benefits of the technology are realized without compromising animal welfare In light of these concerns, it is essential to adopt a balanced approach to the use of ICSI in animals While the technique offers significant potential benefits for breeding and conservation it is crucial to prioritize animal welfare and ethical considerations
Researchers and practitioners must continue to explore ways to optimize ICSI and minimize the risks of developmental abnormalities and long-term health issues This includes refining the techniques used in ICSI improving embryo culture conditions and conducting long-term studies to fully understand the implications of ICSI on animal health and well-being
Moreover, there is a need for interdisciplinary collaboration among scientists ethicists policymakers and the public to ensure that the use of ICSI aligns with societal values and ethical standards By fostering open dialogues and
The
IN an era where Bangladesh desperately needs to foster critical thinking and innovation, a look at the spending priorities of the ousted Awami League government during its 15 years of rule paints a troubling picture This analysis exposes the stark contrast between the government s lavish expenditure on spyware versus its paltry investment in academic research between 2009 and 2024 While national security is undoubtedly important, one must question whether the scales have tipped dangerously in favor of watching minds at the expense of nurturing them The numbers reported by various media and rights platforms over the years speak for themselves, revealing a government more interested in monitoring citizens than nurturing their intellect For example, spyware spending skyrocketed from a mere $3 million in 2012 to an eye-watering $25 million in 2024 a staggering 733 percent increase In stark contrast academic research funding crawled from $50 million in 2010 to just $90 million in 2024 a comparatively anemic 80 percent growth This disparity becomes even more alarming when we dig deeper Reportedly a shocking 70 percent of so-called “academic research funds over the past 15 years were squandered on construction and procurement in a trickle-down embezzlement model, keeping bureaucrats, pseudo-intellectuals, and other interest groups aligned with the interests of the regime that consequently leveraged managing elections political upheavals and dissenters This cronyism left actual empirical research across STEM social sciences, and humanities with a budget so thin that it was practically transparent, so to speak Is it any wonder that our scholarly output is so abysmal? Meanwhile the government’s appetite for surveillance seemed to be insatiable The period from 2015 to 2020 saw a particularly aggressive push for spyware acquisition: in 2016, $10 million was allocated for surveillance systems; in 2018, $15 million was poured into digital monitoring; in 2022 a whopping $20 million was budgeted for spyware and related technologies; and in 2024 the budget was projected to reach $25 million But even these (official) figures may just be the tip of the iceberg Anonymous industry sources suggest a staggering
Anonymous sources involved in data traffic have exposed the state s underhanded tactics, revealing that these costs were deliberately obfuscated within seemingly innocuous budget items The government disguised these surveillance expenditures as mundane office events routine supplies, construction materials, and basic technological equipment for various ministries and security agencies It can be argued that the state
Fayyaz salih hussain
IAF wing commander booked for rape af ter officer ’s complaint in Srinagar
with her during the investigation on January 29 and 30, which she found inappropriate She claims that the investigation was abruptly closed to cover up administrative errors
She further accused senior IAF officers of not taking her complaint seriously stating that it took two months for the station to assemble an internal committee She expressed disappointment in the committee’s bias alleging that medical examinations were delayed and crucial witnesses were not summoned despite her insistence The internal committee later deemed the incident inconclusive due to a lack of eyewitnesses
and mental torture” over the past two years, primarily by authorities at the Srinagar Air Force Station according to Indian Express In her complaint she detailed an inci-
dent that allegedly took place during the New Year s Eve party at the Officers Mess on December 31, 2023 She claims that around 2am on Jan 1, the wing commander asked her to come to his room under the pretext of giving her a New Year gift Once there she alleges he forced her into a sexual act after misleading her about the whereabouts of his family
The officer recounted her experience, saying she repeatedly resisted and eventually managed to escape She described the mental turmoil she endured, stating that as an unmarried woman new to the military environment, she felt ashamed and devastated Her internal struggle over whether to report the incident left her in a state of mental shock
The officer eventually filed a complaint leading to an internal investigation by a colonel-rank officer She reported that the wing commander was made to sit
The officer also complained of ongoing mental harassment and social ostracism including unauthorized monitoring of her communications and harassment of those she interacted with After finding that no action was being taken by IAF authorities, she turned to the Jammu and Kashmir Police to file the FIR, seeking appropriate legal action against those involved
C hina, Russia agree to strengthen strategic consultation, cooperation
t China is willing to strengthen strategic communication with Russia and continuously enrich the strategic connotations of bilateral ties Wang Yi director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, said in a meeting with Secretary of the Russian Federation Security Council Sergei Shoigu on Tuesday in St Petersburg During the meeting Wang also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee noted that in face of unprecedented changes in a century, the stable and healthy development of China-Russia relations are fundamentally due to the guidance of the two countries’ heads of state This year based on the new starting point of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia, the two sides have maintained exchanges at all levels, implemented important consensus reached by the heads of state, and further consolidated the political and social foundation of China-Russia eternal good-neighborliness and friendly relations comprehensive strategic coordination and mutually beneficial cooperation
for win-win outcomes Wang said He stressed that China is willing to strengthen strategic communication with Russia, give full play to the role of the China-Russia strategic security consultation mechanism and the BRICS Meeting of High Representatives on National Security mechanism and continuously enrich the strategic connotations of China-Russia relations
Meanwhile Wang said that China supports Russia s work as the rotating chair of BRICS and is willing to join hands to deepen mutual trust and cooperation among BRICS countries to shape the BRICS mechanism into a major channel for emerging powers to make their voices heard and an important platform for solidarity and cooperation of the Global South and to continuously create new paradigms for “BRICS+” cooperation
For his part Shoigu stated that highlevel exchanges between Russia and China and fruitful cooperation in various fields have highlighted the high level of RussiaChina strategic cooperation He thanked China for its support of Russia as the rotating chair of BRICS and expressed Russia’s willingness to continue strengthening strategic communication with China closely coordinating cooperation and en-
Kamala Harris puts Donald Trump on defensive in fier y debate
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)'s Tax Education Department organized a training session at Iqra University Islamabad which was attended by the students and faculty members of the university The FBR team that visited Iqra University, Islamabad, included
Secretary Tax Education Muhammad Alamzeb Khan, Second Secretary Ms Angel David Second
Secretary Muhammad Zahid Awan
Inspector Salman Khaliq and Coordinator Muhammad Zia Farooqi
Secretary Tax Education Muhammad Alamzeb Khan and Ms Angel David briefed the participants about the importance of a tax culture and emphasized that as taxpayers we should fulfill our national responsibilities The Dean of Social Sciences
AKU’s
Iqra
The International Student Research Conference, organized by students from AKU s Medical College, brought together over 1000 students from 30 universities for two days of networking and learning The conference, themed ‘Assembling Today’s Brightest for Tomorrow’s Breakthroughs featured carefully curated scientific and teaching sessions journal clubs hospitality sessions meetings with professors and poster presentations
Keynote speaker Dr Hasan Badre Alam, Chair of Surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, encouraged students to find a purpose stating, “At the start of your academic journey you must create a purpose that can sustain you for years to come We encourage students to
IHC to take up Imran Khan’s plea against possible military custody today
Eid Milad-un-Nabi celebrations lead to attacks by Hindu extremists in Gujarat
s D e s k
Communal violence has erupted in Gujarat India with significant unrest reported in the cities of Bharuch and Surat The clashes have primarily targeted Muslim communities following objections from extremist Hindu groups to the display of Eid Milad-un-Nabi flags and banners in predominantly Muslim areas The violence began when groups armed with sticks and rods, chanting “Jai Shri Ram ” attacked properties and vehicles owned by Muslims The situation escalated further as some of the celebratory flags for Eid Milad-un-Nabi were forcibly removed leading to heightened tensions and widespread damage Reports confirm that several people, including women and children, have been injured in these clashes Local police are facing criticism for their response, with allegations of partiality towards the attackers Instead of addressing the violence critics claim the police have disproportionately targeted members of the Muslim community leading to the arrest of 27 individuals the majority of whom are Muslims This incident comes on the heels of a previous confrontation involving far-right Hindu nationalists and foreign university students during Ramazan At Gujarat University, students from countries such as Afghanistan Sri Lanka and Tajikistan were involved in a dispute that escalated into violence and vandalism The Ministry of External Affairs reported injuries to at least two foreign students and the state government has pledged to take stringent action against those responsible These recent outbreaks of violence reflect a broader trend of growing religious polarisation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government Concerns have been raised about increasing intolerance and divisive policies particularly as Modi s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prepares for upcoming national elections Other incidents in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, such as the placement of saffron flags on a Christian church, underscore the deepening religious rift across the country The rising tide of communal unrest in Gujarat and beyond highlights the urgent need for measures to address religious tensions and promote harmony in India
PHC
grants transit
bail to PTI leaders in Islamabad rally case
ISLAMABAD s
The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday granted transit bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Omar Ayub, Asad Qaiser, Faisal Amin, and Zartaj Gul in cases related to the party’s Islamabad rally held on September 8 Justice Shakeel Ahmed presided over the case approving the petitions and extending their bail until October 10 zhe PTI leaders had approached the court seeking protection from arrest following legal actions initiated by the Islamabad administration, which filed cases against them for concluding their rally two hours later than the approved time In their petitions Ayub and Qaiser argued that they intended to appear before the relevant courts but feared being detained They requested the court s intervention to prevent their arrest Speaking to the media, Ayub questioned the actions of masked individuals entering Parliament to apprehend lawmakers, highlighting the importance of upholding democratic norms He stated that such actions undermined democracy and pointed out that Ali Amin Gandapur who was also present holds a key leadership role representing 40 million people This development follows a broader crackdown by Islamabad police on PTI leaders, including the arrest of Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan outside Parliament for allegedly breaching the newly implemented public gathering regulations Security in the capital was heightened with police sealing off entry and exit points to the Red Zone including D-Chowk Nadra Chowk and Serena while Margalla Road remained open for traffic PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan, however, managed to leave the Parliament premises without being detained
tives
luded
involvement in
Fazl rejec ts govt ’s claim of suppor t for constitutional amendment
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur
Rehman has rejected government claims that his party supports proposed constitutional amendments, stressing that no opposition party, including the JUI-F, will back any legislation that contradicts the Constitution or democracy Maulana Fazlur Rehman met with senior politician Muhammad Ali Durrani at his residence in Islamabad late on Wednesday night Fazlur Rehman reaffirming his party s opposition stance, stated, JUI-F will remain part of the opposition, and no opposition party will support any legislation that undermines the Constitution or democracy ” He criticised the government saying “The government’s existence and actions are against the interests of the people The power should come from the public and we will not allow anyone to steal the mandate in the future Muhammad Ali Durrani supported Fazlur Rehman’s stance, remarking, “You have always stood on the right side of history and have been a guardian of political traditions and democratic values
On Monday, the government displayed its parliamentary strength during separate dinner receptions hosted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Zardari Insiders claimed that the ruling coalition secured the support of 224 members in the National Assembly enough to pass the proposed constitutional amendments
Both the prime minister and the president, addressing the parliamentarians, emphasised the importance of unity to overcome the country’s challenges and strengthen parliamentary democracy for political stability and development
: Already burdened power consumers across the country will face an additional burden of approximately Rs 34 billion and 23 crore in three months from September to November 2024 as National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has notified power tariff hike
According to NEPRA notification dated 11th September 2024 the Authority (NEPRA) has decided to allow the positive quarterly adjustments of Rs 43 230 million pertaining to the 4th quarter of the FY 202324 in a period of 03 months i e September to November 2024 at a uniform rate of Rs I 7432/kWh to be applicable to all consumer categories, except lifeline consumers and prepaid consumers “In pursuance of Proviso (ii) to Sub-Section 7 of Section 31 of the Regulation of Generation Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power Act 1997 (XL of 1997) NEPRA hereby notifies complete Decision of the Authority in the matter of Requests filed by XWDISCOs for Periodic Adjustment in Tariff for the 4th Quarter of FY 2023-24 already intimated to the Ministry of Energy (Power Division) dated September 06, 2024,” said NEPRA notification The Authority has decided to allow the application of instant quarterly adjustments on the consumers of K-Electric as well with the same applicability period Accordingly the instant quarterly adjustment of Rs 1 7432/kWh shall also be charged from the consumers
