the spokesman of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, told media that chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur was also missing for many hours while his cellphone was running switched off He told media that Gandapur had
Police in Islamabad initiated legal action against leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party on Monday citing multiple infractions during a recent rally The authorities have opened three separate cases under the Public Order and Peace Act due to the rally’s mismanagement and disturbances The first charge was filed at Sangjani Police Station after the rally continued past its authorized time frame A second complaint emerged at Sumbal Police Station, accusing PTI leaders
28 leaders have been nominated and would be arrested including leader of the opposition Omar Ayub Khan, Zartaj Gul, Zain Qureshi, Amir Mughal and others for ‘violation of the NoC’ issued for the public gathering held on Sunday A heavy contingent of Police gathered outside Parliament House and also sealed the Red Zone completely However, Zartaj Gul MNA and Ali Muhammad Khan managed to flee while Omar Ayub Khan, Sheikh Waqas Akram, Zain Qureshi Sahibzada Hamid Raza and others were inside the Parliament building and tried to contact Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq but he was not reachable According to the parliamentary norms, Police cannot detain any
maker without informing Speaker National Assembly or Chairman Senate Till the filing of the report PTI lawmakers were still inside the parliament house while Police had encircled the parliament building
CJP Isa says no interest in seeking extension
tomorrow,” Justice Isa said
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP)
PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi transferring the case to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) court Imran, 71, has been imprisoned at the Adiala Jail for almost a year upon his conviction in four cases two Toshakhana references the cipher case and the Iddat case in which his wife Bushra Bibi is also jailed Imran s sentences in the Toshakhana references were suspended while he was acquitted by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in the cipher case in June Shortly after the court acquitted him in the Iddat case, however, NAB re-arrested Imran and his spouse in a new Toshakhana case leaving his possible release from prison hanging in the balance On Monday Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Ali Waraich heard the post-arrest bail applications of the party founder and his spouse, who were brought before the court from jail The court declared that following the NAB amendments, the reference in question ceased to come under the anti-graft body’s jurisdiction Therefore it will now be transferred to the FIA court which will rule on bail According to the written judgment a copy of which is available with Dawn com, the court ruled: In the light of the judgement of Hon’ble Supreme Court of Pakistan passed in intra court appeals the 1st, 2nd & 3rd amendments made in National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999 have been revived It stated that the case [does] not fall within the jurisdiction of this court in the light of amended section 5(0) of NAO, 1999, therefore, this court lacks jurisdiction to proceed with [the] case in hand During the hearing, the NAB prosecution team opposed hearing the bail applications and asserted that this court did not have jurisdiction to hear them after the NAB amendments
The court verdict read: According to amended section 4(d) of NAO, 1999, the case which is not triable by this court under amended NAO, 1999 shall, after examination of the record and with the assistance of the National Accountability Bureau be referred it to the appropriate court
Justice Qazi Faez Isa on Monday flatly refused to seek an extension in his tenure Talking to journalists, when one of the reporters, while quoting PML-N stalwart Rana Sanaullah said that if the age limit of all SC judges was increased he (CJP) agreed to an extension, the chief justice said, No, this is not the case He went on to say that in one of the meetings, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah Azam Nazir Tarar and the attorney general of Pakistan were present But Rana Sana was not
He said he had been told the government planned to increase the term of employment of all chief justices (CJs), including him “I said to them that they should extend the term of employment of other CJs But I am not interested I am not sure I will be alive
When a reporter asked why the case of a letter penned down by six judges was not being fixed for the hearing he replied that it was the committee of judges, which had to do that “The bench is not being formed due to the illness of Justice Musarrat Halali ” he explained
He noted that the decision to air cases of public interest was made to provide direct access to court proceedings
The purpose of live transmission was to show our performance to the public Before this people only knew what TV channels or YouTubers reported he explained
The first case broadcast live he pointed out, was the Practice and Procedure Act, which was heard by the full court The ruling led to a transfer of powers from the Chief Justice to a panel of three judges
Chief Justice Isa also highlighted changes in court procedures, including the approval of the
cause list
“Previously the Chief Justice would approve the cause list every Thursday and had the authority to modify it That power has now been abolished, and it is now the Registrar ’s responsibility to schedule cases for hearings The cause list no longer comes to the Chief Justice he said
He further mentioned that he had returned luxury vehicles provided for official use, including a bulletproof Land Cruiser stationed at the Lahore registry
“I told the government to sell these cars and buy buses for the public instead Isa added
Addressing the issue of judges inclinations, the chief justice noted that every judge develops certain tendencies over time”
“It becomes somewhat clear if a case lands with a particular judge whether they would lean towards the prosecution or not This happens all over the world
leader Maryam Nawaz during the rally, describing them as a violation of Pakistan s traditions and an affront to the nation s respect for women He condemned PTI’s governance failures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa noting the lack of major development projects during their tenure and accused them
ISLAMABAD
The Sindh government on Monday announced its intention to reject the proposed amendments by the federal government to the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) Act of 1992
Sources revealed that any changes to the IRSA Act will be firmly opposed, with an adjournment motion expected to be tabled in the Sindh Assembly
It has been decided that all Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) members will stand against any amendment to the IRSA Act Sources also claimed that the federal government aims to repeal the IRSA Water Accord of 1991 and retain control over water distribution powers The 1991 water accord formally titled the Apportionment of Water of the Indus River System Between the Provinces,” was signed by the provinces on March 16 1991 and later approved by the Council of Common Interests on March 21 1991
According to the IRSA Act of 1992, the authority must, after the end of each Kharif and Rabi cropping season submit a water account report to the federal government with copies sent to the provincial governments and WAPDA This report outlines the inflows and water supplies utilized by the provinces relative to their al-
KEY ISSUES ON LDI LICENSE RENEWAL , ACCOUNTABILIT Y, BOARD APPOINTMENTS REVIEWED
Secretary MoITT proposed that the vacation of stay orders on the said matter is crucial to have the matter resolved Also the policy directive from the Federal Government is mandatory for such matters to not arise again in the future
The Chairperson of the Committee also raised concerns about the lack of accountability of the former Secretary specifically inquiring about a letter issued by the Secretary in May 2024 wherein a policy directive was issued by the Ministry, without seeking due approval from the Cabinet The Chairperson requested a list of individuals responsible for overseeing the matter and questioned whether the actions taken were within lawful authority
Telecommunication (MoITT) provided a briefing on the composition of the PTCL Board emphasizing that in line with the Federal Government s
by these companies if their operations are halted Regarding LDI s required payments the
Additionally the Secretary of the Ministry of Information Technology and
West Zone are being transferred to
Following the federal cabinet’s decision to dissolve the Public Works Department (PWD) the Ministry of Housing and Construction has initiated the transfer of PWD employees from grades one to thirteen to various ministries and departments, along with their respective posts and budget allocations This move affects 3 340 workers across four zones of the country According to official documents 2 140 staff members from the North Zone, 477 from the Central Zone, 633 from the South Zone, and 90 from the
Apple’s iPhone 16 to put AI features in foc us, Huawei ’s new phone racks up pre - orders
garnered more than 3 million pre-orders for its Z-shaped tri-fold phone This underscores Huawei s ability to navigate U S sanctions and solidifies its position against Apple in China, where consumers are hankering for more AI features and are willing to pay for them The Chinese market is hungrier for AI features than the U S market said Ben Bajarin CEO and principal analyst at Creative Strategies For Apple, it will be very difficult to bring it to China immediately, so they’ll be going off the merits of the hardware ” Apple unveiled Apple Intelligence at its developer conference in June its take on generative AI that can conjure text images and other content on command But these upgrades will take time
to reach consumers Apple Intelligence features are expected to launch in a software update to the iPhone and iPad operating system likely in October and a full upgrade of Apple s voice assistant Siri is likely to come only early next year, according to media reports Apple Intelligence must be approved by Beijing in order to be released in the Chinese market In July OpenAI blocked access to ChatGPT in China a move that could impact the chatbot s integration into Siri IPhones accounted for more than half of Apple’s $383 billion sales last year, and the new devices are an important update for the Cupertino California-based company that is betting the AI feature will drive consumers to upgrade amid a slowdown in iPhone sales In China, Apple aggressively slashed prices earlier this year, prompted by government restrictions and increased domestic competition The iPhone 16 lineup will be the first Apple smartphones designed around these AI features though those will also be available on iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, the top-end versions of the previous-generation devices New versions of the Apple Watch and AirPods are also expected
The software side and how Apple frames it is the biggest question said
Bajarin Investors will look for if it s compelling enough to have a largerthan-normal upgrade cycle ” Rivals including Alphabet’s Google are also showcasing AI features to try to upend Apple s dominance in the high-end smartphone market Google, developer of the Android operating system which competes with Apple’s iOS traditionally announced its Pixel smartphones in the autumn
This year it pushed the event to August ahead of Apple s announcement Google focused on AI features including Gemini Live, which allows users to hold live voice conversations with a digital assistant Many of the AI features Google announced were also rolled out to the Android-based devices made by manufacturers such as Samsung and Motorola The question is who is going to be the first to combine a truly personal AI assistant with knowledge and information that is accurate and personalized ” said Bob O’Donnell chief analyst for TECHnalysis Research Apple has so far shared a timeline for the release of Apple Intelligence only in the United States, where it is slated to launch on compatible devices in the autumn In June one week after its developer conference Apple said it would delay the release in Europe due to European Union tech rules
Tsector
Suspect
PML-N senator vows legal ac tion against KP CM af ter rally turns violent in Islamabad
FAISALABAD
S ta f f R e p o R t
PML-N Senator Talal Chaudhry On Monday announced plans for legal action against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur accusing him of leading supporters in an attack on Islamabad police during a rally the previous night On Sunday, Chungi No 26, located on the outskirts of Islamabad, turned into a battleground as police clashed with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters The clashes began after PTI supporters allegedly defied the agreedupon routes for their public gathering in Sangjani, leading to a confrontation with the police Police claimed that PTI supporters ignored traffic instructions and insisted on using routes designated for the general public As tensions rose the situation escalated when PTI supporters
began pelting stones at the police
In response the police resorted to a baton charge and tear gas shelling Several protesters were arrested and taken to different police stations In a televised address, Senator Chaudhry condemned the actions, accusing Gandapur of orchestrating the violence He vowed that those responsible including the mastermind behind the attack would face legal consequences and potential jail time
Chaudhry stressed that the law would take its course, predicting that Gandapur ’s future could involve incarceration
He also criticized PTI leaders for focusing solely on their incarcerated party founder Imran Khan rather than addressing pressing issues such as rising inflation, high electricity bills, and economic hardships faced by the public
The senator hinted that PTI might face difficulties in securing permissions for future rallies due to the violation of
agreements with the Islamabad administration He further accused the KP government of corruption, demanding the return of embezzled funds from various projects including the Peshawar metro and the Billion Tree Tsunami initiative In his address Chaudhry also labeled Imran Khan as an Israeli agent basing his accusation on a speculative blog in the Times of Israel
Changing the power equation
Qamar Bashir
H I N A has emerged as the prime driver and a leader of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) not only in the political economic and commercial sectors but also by providing the backbone of infrastructure including roads railroads and air links
China has invested a total of $150 billion reinforcing its broader Eurasian strategic sectoral development
This figure includes direct investments, loans, and financial support provided through various Chinese financial institutions such as the AIIB and the Silk Road Fund
Seeing is believing During my visit to China in August 2024 I witnessed the breathtaking development taking place at a neck-breaking speed, particularly in Xinjiang and Shaanxi provinces, aimed at uplifting the SCO While the SCO may not yet be equal to it is becoming competitive with other regional organizations such as NATO ASEAN the EU and BRICS With two superpowers China and Russia as the engines of influence weight and financial might the SCO currently strong in Central Asia is likely to expand its integration and scope to eventually become a global force This will help balance Western influence, particularly in Eurasia, and serve as a platform for China and Russia to collaborate on regional issues
During the visit we observed that China has established sectoral hubs for all initiatives under the purview of the SCO including security (counter-terrorism, regional stability) through the institutional framework of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) Economic cooperation is being advanced through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with China committing over $50 billion in infrastructure projects such as roads railways and energy pipelines to enhance connectivity within the SCO region China has invested over $10 billion in the Digital Silk Road, focusing on digital infrastructure, including 5G networks, fiber optic cables, and smart city initiatives It has invested $5-7 billion in developing logistics hubs warehousing and cross-border trade facilities It has invested in agricultural R&D and joint ventures within SCO member states at around $2-3 billion which includes funding for advanced farming techniques, seed development, and sustainable agriculture projects Besides providing sectoral hubs for SCO initiatives which we witnessed firsthand China is also pursuing highly capital-intensive bilateral projects with other SCO member countries In Tajikistan China has invested approximately $3 billion in road and power infrastructure projects, while the Khorgos Gateway on the China-Kazakhstan border, a major logistics hub, has seen $2 billion in invest-
Pakistan in the SCO: Silent or Strategic?
ments Energy and industrial projects in Uzbekistan have attracted about $4 billion and agricultural cooperation with Kazakhstan has involved around $1 5 billion The China-Russia energy cooperation particularly through the Power of Siberia gas pipeline, represents a $55 billion investment, while the ChinaMongolia-Russia Economic Corridor has seen investments of $15 billion to enhance connectivity and trade
The dividends of China’s aggressive integration with other SCO members have been immense Since the formation of the SCO bilateral trade and investment with its members have significantly expanded Trade with Russia reached a record $190 billion in 2022, fueled by energy cooperation and infrastructure investments In Central Asia, China’s trade with Kazakhstan surpassed $25 billion Uzbekistan saw trade grow to around $8 billion complemented by Chinese investments in agriculture and industrial sectors
During our discussion a key factor regarding Pakistan s inability to fully utilize the SCO forum became clear Pakistan, with its limited road connectivity, has failed to establish direct road, air, or rail links with other SCO members, especially Central Asian countries (CAC) Belarus and Russia Unlike other SCO countries which have multiple transportation links Pakistan s reliance on the KKH as its only road connection with China makes it vulnerable to disruptions and limits its scope for increasing trade or engaging in regional transportation networks Pakistan lacks direct railroad connections with other SCO member countries including the CAC In contrast China Russia and the CAC are connected via major rail corridors that facilitate trade and transportation
In Tajikistan, China has invested approximately $3 billion in road and power infrastructure projects, while the Khorgos Gateway on the China-Kazakhstan border, a major logistics hub, has seen $2 billion in investments. Energy and industrial projects in Uzbekistan have attracted about $4 billion, and agricultural cooperation with Kazakhstan has involved around $1 5 billion
OThe writer is a freelancer He can be reached at @insafalibangwar98@gmail com T h e w a y i t b e h a v e s
transferring at what they re best known for: cognitive abilities Homo, the Sapiens, reigned the earthly realm owing to their distinguished feature of using cognitive abilities in accordance with their needs and surrounding circumstances Always on the forefront in the survival race is a human feat and fruit of navigating directions accordingly, utilising resources consequently, potentializing the mental capacity to an extraordinary tier Best in the business Sapiens seem to lose the cognition grip with every improvement in Artificial Intelligence projects and machine learning innovations Humans seem transfering the very ability that helped transcend the design of living from civilizational mud huts to skyscraping enclaves to some chatbots that now are on the cusp of consciousness From financial firms to governmental apparatus and from professional individuals to ordinary beings Artificial Intelligence (AI) seems a tangible truth for all with the tech
ligence is an undeniable truth that later may gravitate all human resources into its swift, smooth, efficacious working style black hole The sole species within Kingdom Animalia, humans have been able to realise the potential use of cognition to facilitate thyself and the surrounding throughout millenniums notwithstanding they now are at the cusp to transmit the information and technology the former took thousands of years to garner As of now, the way it behaves, is seemingly preoccupied accumulating and understanding information on how the Sapiens work analyse think and make decisions on a quotidian basis The inappropriate chatbot touch in Saudi Arabia implies the system and the functioning style so far though is novice, however, via rest of developments, Artificial Intelligence projects can overtake the human abilities and may make them their pet as the former have been doing for centuries to less intelligent species AI-generated systems modules chatbots and content are pervasively spread in the digital globe, and given with ease it generates the content and information, the previously murky AI scope now looks clear from distance: the AI is the future And the future is scary The speedy Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) production
makes the future more scarier since once fully functioning AGI s cognitive abilities will be akin to a human s or ever smarter quicker and more accurate The multitasking AGIs work with more effectiveness, are durable, and resilient with minimum or no labour cost, at all It subsumes the potential to supersede human intelligence can exploit the cognitive abilities more severely than humans have been doing or can shift the global economy management under its control in case it denies creator s obedience A creator s adherence can transform the governmental apparatuses, economy, banking, healthcare and other developmental affairs In a nutshell AI does contain potential benefits for humanity and it can be a potential cause for disruption and discontent given its exponential rise to the intelligence ladder Presently capable of moving the chess board pieces can move the Sapiens by its will once its humans turn to face the music The seeds of super intelligence have been drilled deep it’s time to wait and watch what AI has for humans: the tool to trigger the doom or the panacea per se? Given the prophecy papers bombardment in the digital media and random predictions by the renowned individuals, the former seems a more tangible and acceptable prediction, though no one is sure as shooting to which side the AI would shift the balance
AI-g enerated systems, modules, chatbots, and content are per vasively spread in the digital globe , and given with ease it g enerates the content and information, the previously murky AI scope now looks clear from distance: the AI is the future And the future is scar y The speedy Ar tificial General Intellig ence (AGI) production makes the future more scarier since once fully functioning, AGIÊs cognitive abilities will be akin to a humanÊs, or ever smar ter, quicker and more accurate
The fight against TTP
Learning from Bangladesh
Armenia’s strategic realignment in a changing World
Bulgaria Moldova which shares a long bor-
tillery
Tand F-16 fighter jets These acquisitions not only enhance Romania s defensive capabilities but also reinforce its strategic partnership with the United States, further embedding the country within the Western security architecture Romania s defense strategy is not solely focused on external acquisitions; it also aims to revitalize the domestic military industry The Romanian government has prioritized the development of its defense sector to reduce dependency on foreign suppliers and to create a sustainable self-sufficient defense industry This initiative includes fostering partnerships between domestic defense companies and international firms promoting research and development in military technology and investing in the production of indigenous defense systems By strengthening its domestic military industry, Romania seeks to enhance its strategic autonomy while contributing to the broader defense capabilities of the NATO alliance In addition to bolstering its defense capabilities Romania is actively expanding its security cooperation with neighboring countries, particularly Ukraine, Moldova and Bulgaria
The security environment in the Black Sea region has become increasingly volatile due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and Russia s military presence in the region Recognizing the need for a coordinated regional response, Romania has sought to deepen its security ties with Ukraine, which is on the frontlines of the conflict with Russia This cooperation includes joint military exercises intelligence sharing and collaboration on cybersecurity and border security By working closely with Ukraine Romania aims to enhance regional stability and counter the security threats posed by Russia Romania’s security cooperation extends beyond Ukraine to include Moldova and
der with Romania is a key focus of Romanian foreign policy The two countries have deep historical and cultural ties and Romania has been a strong advocate for Moldova s European integration In the security domain, Romania has provided assistance to Moldova in areas such as military training defense reform and border security Romania s support for Moldova is part of a broader strategy to promote stability and security in the region, particularly in the face of potential Russian influence in Moldova Similarly, Romania’s security cooperation with Bulgaria is driven by the shared goal of enhancing regional security in the Black Sea area Romania and Bulgaria both NATO members have participated in joint military exercises and have collaborated on initiatives aimed at strengthening the alliance s eastern flank This cooperation is critical in the context of the broader geopolitical challenges facing the Black Sea region where both countries are working to counterbalance Russian military activities and ensure the security of NATO s southeastern border
While Romania is deepening its ties with the West, Armenia is embarking on a challenging journey of foreign policy reorientation Historically Armenia has been closely aligned with Russia both as a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and through its reliance on Russian military and economic support However, recent developments have prompted Yerevan to reconsider its strategic alliances and seek closer ties with the West Armenia’s reorientation towards the West is driven by several factors First the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict particularly the 2020 war with Azerbaijan exposed the limitations of Armenia s reliance on Russia Despite being a treaty ally, Russia s response during the conflict was perceived by many in Armenia as inadequate leading to a loss of confidence in
Another major challeng e for Armenia is its regional isolation For decades, Armenia has been in a state of conflict with Az erbaijan and Turkey, leading to the closure of its borders with both countries This has limited ArmeniaÊs access to regional markets and trade routes, exacerbating its economic vulnerabilities
Russia as a reliable security guarantor This has fueled a growing desire in Armenia to diversify its foreign policy and reduce its dependence on Russia Second, Armenia’s domestic political scene has shifted in recent years particularly after the 2018 Velvet Revolution which brought a new government to power with a reformist agenda The current Armenian leadership has shown a greater willingness to engage with Western institutions and to pursue closer ties with the European Union and the United States This includes efforts to strengthen democratic governance enhance the rule of law and improve human rights all of which are key areas of cooperation with Western partners However, Armenia s foreign policy reorientation is not without significant challenges The country’s deep-seated dependencies on Russia, particularly in the security and energy sectors pose substantial obstacles to a full-fledged pivot to the West Armenia s
China’s
Agermanium and gallium, which are needed for chips and military communications China produces about 60 per cent of rare earth elements, and processes close to 90 per cent Beijing cites “national security” as the reason for its measures but its command over essential raw materials is ultimately its leverage over Washington in the trade war America s muscle comes from blocking exports of advanced semiconductor technologies to China and hindering Chinese manufacturers ability to sell into its market
The cycle of retaliation has buffeted their economies, and set back global growth and innovation It shows little sign of cooling That means adapting to the new era of fragmented supply chains is necessary to cushion the economic fallout For instance China’s Huawei has worked with domestic chipmaker SMIC to boost cutting-edge chip development There are also signs that Chinese buyers are finding ways to circumvent US restrictions on advanced processors
The US and its allies have set up initiatives like the Mineral Security Partnership to improve critical resource collaboration But such forums need to move quickly from dialogue to action Businesses fear Beijing will keep adding new critical metals to its restrictions and are concerned that chip production will suffer under higher prices and without the right inputs
Stepping up mining and refining efforts is key China dominates both, but there are still significant critical metal reserves outside the country to exploit, including in the west Nyrstar, owned by commodities trading group Trafigura, reckons a zinc smelter facility in Tennessee could meet 80
also in Syria where the arming of rogue gangs currently underway in Gaza served as a reckless and ultimately dangerous strategy for destabilising the Assad regime
at the Palestine Hotel where most of the foreign journalists were staying Journalists Taras Protsyuk of Reuters and Jose Couso of the Spanish network Telecinco were killed A total of three locations housing journalists in Baghdad were targeted and fired upon by US forces that day Echoing recent Israeli army statements in light of the mass murder of Palestinian journalists in Gaza which have stated that “Gaza is not a safe place You should not be there at the end of that bloody day in Iraq then-Pentagon spokesperson Victoria Clarke warned that Baghdad is not a safe place You should not be there The assault on Gaza since October 7 2023 has the dubious record of being the deadliest for media professionals since the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) began keeping records more than thirty years ago deadlier even than Iraq which had set its own macabre record A report from July 2024 by the Gaza government media office puts the number of Palestinian journalists killed at 165 By way of comparison, 68 journalists and media workers were killed worldwide in all of 2022
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) have said that media workers are being deliberately targeted a concern echoed by the CPJ The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS) Let there be no confusion this is an assault on journalism This is a war on truth
And it isn’t just journalists Poets, writers, influencers and medical professionals have been targeted in an attempt to control the narrative and erase the reality of enduring decades-old Palestinian ethnic cleansing
MANUFACTURING CONSENT: In The Question of Palestine (1979), Palestinian intellectual Edward Said wrote, “The creation of Israel was not merely a geopolitical manoeuvre but a calculated effort to ensure Western dominance in the Middle East with Israel serving as a strategic base for American interests
Once Israel is resituated as a US outpost in the Middle East, we are freed from the charade of US accountability of Israel and can interpret Israeli actions in line with the norms that America has previously set in the region most notably in Iraq but
The parallels with the US attacks on journalists in Iraq are striking Then as now, journalists are targeted for providing information which runs counter to official propaganda by the US and its satellite
As ever Western journalists often the first to rightfully question official narratives in the Global South seem at best incapable of deciphering their own government s spin or wilfully complicity in its reproduction Either way, the mass failure to report fairly, accurately or contextually on the latest chapter in the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians is perhaps the final nail in the coffin for younger audiences’s trust in the mainstream media (MSM) which has long been waning Who needs a counter voice to months of videos of injured children screaming out from under the rubble?
As each red line is crossed, from international law to human rights, the protection of health workers and journalists, the free pass being offered to Israel has simultaneously eroded not only the US standing in the world but trust in an international system of laws and cooperation designed to avoid the reproduction of some of the worst chapters of global history
We have degraded the entire system of international law and order for Israel Surely the question every journalist must be asking is, why? And yet
As journalists our failure to speak up for our colleagues and protect them in their times of need has ensured that the very profession has become more dangerous for us all especially for those in frontline reporting situations What to say to terrorists who kidnap and torture journalists now? It s what America’s greatest ally does – and the most ‘moral’ army on earth
A former colleague of mine Al Jazeera English correspondent from Gaza Youmna el Sayed has spoken out about the cowardice of so many Western colleagues to speak up about the truth on the ground As she points out, international journalists and media organisations have not fought enough for access to Gaza
The BBC has often called the ongoing conflict ‘complex’ But as some of my braver colleagues have pointed out it is no more complex than any other conflict It is our job as journalists to cut through rhetoric and misinformation; to explain what is happening and what has led to this that is literally the mandate In no other conflict have I personally witnessed the levels of deliberate obfuscation of the truth as I have seen on the Israeli assault on Gaza by colleagues by journalists whose literal job is to cut through the spin It is a shameful indictment of the deep corruption of our institutions of accountability and a key pillar of any functioning democracy that only a
dr MuhaMMad akraM ZahEEr
CORPORATE CORNER
FBR signs MOU with Lahore Universit y of
Management Sciences
ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
Federal Board of Revenue and the ‘Technology for People Initiative (TPI)’ of Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) signed an MoU at FBR headquarters today The ceremony was witnessed by Chairman FBR Mr Rashid Mahmood Langrial along with other senior officials from FBR and LUMS On behalf of FBR, Mr Muhammad Junaid Jalil Khan, Member Customs (Operations), and on behalf of LUMS, Dr Muhammad Fareed Zaffar Director of TPI-LUMS signed the MoU The MoU aims at future collaboration in the use of machine learning and data analytics The collaboration between Customs and TPI is aimed at enhancing efficacy of Customs Risk Management System to facilitate cross border trade This will help minimize human interface while ensuring improved regulatory compliances including yield of due revenues by enabling Customs to control mis-invoicing This collaboration will also extend to the design of National Targeting Centre (NTC) aimed at profiling and targeting of persons, entities and conveyances which are involved in the movement
IRAN’S PRESIDENT TO VISIT IRAQ
at the hospital and from more discoveries at the site of the accident ” Ibrahim stated It s also possible that more dead bodies could be discovered in the process of the continued evacuation,” he added
The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China has attracted widespread attention and is of great significance Many Pakistani friends care about the implications of this meeting on China-Pakistan cooperation and how Pakistan will benefit from China s high-quality development process I would like to share some of my thoughts and views on the above topics
First, guided by the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, Chinese side stand ready to strengthen exchanges of state governance experiences with Pakistan and jointly advance modernization in our respective countries President Xi Jinping pointed out that Reform and opening up, China s second revolution if you like, has not only profoundly changed the country but also greatly influenced the whole world Especially since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012 China has written a new chapter in its development achieving the two miracles of rapid economic growth and long-term social stability With nearly 100 million impoverished rural population lifted out of poverty, China has historically solved the problem of absolute poverty, and built a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way, contributing to over 70% of the international cause of poverty reduction as well as over 30% of the global growth for years in a row
This is fundamentally attributed to the leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping as the core of the CPC Central Committee and the whole Party, and the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era In particular, President Xi Jinping with extraordinary political courage and strong historical responsibility personally planned and guided the overall design of reforms coordinated and promoted the overall progress and provided firm leadership and guarantee for us to make such historic achievements and realize historic changes, and led the Chinese people to embark on a new journey of advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese modernization
It was at this critical time of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through the Chinese path to modernization that the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee was successfully held in July this year The most important outcome of this Plenary Session was the review and approval of the “Resolution on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization” which proposed over 300 important reform measures and made systematic arrangements for further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese modernization
At present, over 1 4 billion Chinese people are actively implementing the spirit of the Plenary Session and the Resolution, applying the new development philosophy building the new development paradigm and promoting high-quality development marching towards modernization This has and will continue to enhance the overall strength of developing countries bringing about the most progressive major changes in the international circumstances since modern times
President Xi Jinping has pointed out, the modernization we are pursuing is not for China alone but we look forward to achieving modernization together with all countries including the vast developing countries and no one should be left behind on the path to modernization We stand ready to provide new opportunities for world development with the new achievements of Chinese modernization, and would like to first share the experience of state governance with our ironclad friend Pakistan, and provide beneficial reference for Pakistan to promote multiple reform agenda and achieve modernization
Recently, at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on
China-Africa Cooperation President Xi Jinping delivered an important keynote speech emphasizing that we should jointly advance modernization that is just and equitable help ensure equal rights and equal opportunities for all countries; jointly advance modernization that is open and win-win, and build together a model for the delivery of the Global Development Initiative; jointly advance modernization that puts the people first and ensure that all will benefit from the process; jointly advance modernization featuring diversity and inclusiveness and strive together for more fruitful outcomes under the Global Civilization Initiative; jointly advance modernization that is eco-friendly, and jointly push for the global transition to green and low-carbon development; jointly advance modernization underpinned by peace and security and work together to uphold world peace and stability
This also has important guiding significance for China and Pakistan to jointly advance modernization
We stand ready to work with Pakistan, to learn from each other, support each other, through various methods such as party-to-party exchanges, practical cooperation, and talent training so as to both share development experiences and also provide development boost and jointly write new chapters in the reform and development of our respective countries and contribute China and Pakistan s efforts to the world modernization
Second, by taking the implementation of the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee as opportunity, Chinese side stand ready to promote China’s high-standard opening up and accelerate the building of a China-Pakistan community with a shared future
Under the joint leadership of President Xi Jinping and Pakistani leaders, and through our joint efforts, ChinaPakistan cooperation has made comprehensive progress President Xi Jinping exchanged letters with President Asif Ali Zardari and also met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during his visit to China They reached important consensus on advancing China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperation and CPEC construction The relevant authorities of our two countries actively implement the consensus reached by our leaders, and have accelerated forging an “upgraded version” of CPEC while aligning it with Pakistan’s “5Es” Framework Efforts are being made to step up the negotiations on the upgradation the ML-1 and realignment of Karakoram Highway and strive to realize the all yearround function of the Khunjerab-Sost pass at an early date And we have basically decided on sending 1,000 agricultural talents to China for training, and have started coordinating on IT and AI talent training projects For example in Sindh Province where I just visited the Power Plant at Port Qasim Karachi provides low-cost and stable electricity and the Dawood Wind Farm continuously supplies clean energy The Peshawar-Karachi Motorway (Multan -Sukkur section) has reduced the travel time between the two places from 11 hours to within 4 hours The export of dried chili
force Chinese side stand ready to work with Pakistan to promote Global South cooperation and effectively safeguard international fairness and justice and the interests of developing countries The Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee pointed out that China’s modernization is modernization of peaceful development which calls for an equal and orderly multipolar world an universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and getting involved in leading the reform and development of the global governance system At present, peaceful development and win-win cooperation are where global opinion trends and the arc of history bends However there are always some countries that go against the historical trend
ties among countries to share weal and woe Xi said He noted that today s world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, which are testing whether the international community can make the right choice China will continue to follow the path of peaceful development
By further deepening reform in an all-round way and advancing Chinese modernization China will inject stability and certainty into a world fraught with changes and turbulence and create more opportunities for the common development of all countries, Xi said Separately, Xi Jinping also called on China and Spain to build long-term and stable bilateral relations with strategic determination and push ties to a higher level during a meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Beijing During the meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, Xi said China and Spain celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties last year and that the two sides have since maintained close exchanges and interactions at all levels and promoted high-quality cooperation in new areas
Noting that next year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Spain comprehensive strategic partnership he said the two sides should adhere to the original intention of establishing diplomatic ties based on mutual respect and equal treatment, take a holistic and long-term view and add new dimensions to bilateral ties
Xi urged the two sides to utilize platforms such as the Mixed Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation and the China-Spain Joint Commission on Science and Technology Cooperation and promote development in high-tech fields such as artificial intelligence, digital economy, and new energy to achieve mutual benefits and win-win outcomes The Chinese side hopes that Spain will continue to provide a fair equal safe and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese businesses in Spain, he said Both sides should uphold inclusiveness and mutual learning, strengthen cultural exchanges in areas such as language education youth culture and tourism and foster people-to-people friendship Xi added Noting that next year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union Xi said China is ready to work with the EU to review the successful experiences of the bilateral relationship and guide China-EU relations to keep advancing in the direction of independence where the two sides help each other succeed and
AMBASSADOR JIANG ZAIDONG
MCCI CALLS FOR CUTTING DOWN INTEREST
A zma Bokhari C hallenges G andapur, Defends Punjab Women and S lams PTI
Chairperson Rubina khalid hosts live E-katcheri to address beneficiaries’ concerns
The Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed cellular companies to conduct a survey regarding inadequate internet services at the premises of the city court This order came after the court took up a plea concerning the poor mobile and internet connectivity at the Karachi City Court The plea was initiated by the president and the secretary general of the Karachi Bar Association Following the initial hearing the SHC mandated a joint survey by the cellular providers They have been ordered to submit their report within two weeks In related news, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued an update on the recent nationwide internet slowdown According to
cable has experienced a 250G disruption due to rerouting issues between Iran and Qatar Additionally, the SMW 4 cable (1 5T) is currently out of service due to damages near Karachi
of trying to incite the workers He also dismissed allegations of clashes between PTI workers and police as government fabrications intended to lay the groundwork for unjust legal charges against the demonstrators Highlighting the rally s large turnout, he noted that the significant presence under KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur ’s leadership had
C lash on Pak-Afghan border leaves eight Afghan soldiers dead, disrupts trade
Chaudhry
the violation of Section 144 on election day Aziz appeared before Judicial Magistrate Shahid Javed at the Shakargarh court, where his lawyer contested the indictment denying the allegations and calling for a transparent trial Judge Javed scheduled the next hearing for September 25 instructing that prosecution records and witnesses be presented at
S TA F F R E P O R T
A confrontation between Pakistani security forces and the Afghan Taliban near the Kurram district on the Pak-Afghan border on Monday resulted in the deaths of eight Afghan soldiers including two notable commanders and injuries to 16 others
The conflict erupted when the Afghan forces launched an assault using heavy weaponry on a Pak-
istani checkpoint in the Palosin area early Saturday morning
Sources reported significant casualties on the Afghan side, with eight Taliban members killed and several injured during the exchange of fire The deceased included commanders identified as Khalil and Jan Muhammad
As of the latest updates there has been no formal statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) regarding the clash
This incident marks another in
a series of confrontations at the border, with previous attacks by Afghan troops on Pakistani positions being a recurrent issue In response, Pakistan has repeatedly voiced its concerns to Kabul highlighting the Afghan Taliban s role in not only fostering militancy within Pakistan but also in direct attacks along the border
The ongoing hostilities have led to a halt in trade activities between the two nations over the weekend with reports of sporadic gunfire continuing into Sunday although no additional casualties were noted
Earlier in May, the situation escalated to the point where a significant number of residents from Kharlachi were displaced, seeking refuge due to the intense clashes Tribal leaders from both Kurram and Afghanistan had intervened attempting to alleviate the tensions
In a related incident on Sunday, an attack in the Marghan area of central Kurram resulted in the death of an FC official and injuries to three others
The assault targeted an FC checkpoint manned by the Tall Scouts with the assailants fleeing post-attack Emergency services moved the deceased and wounded to a local hospital
