PM EXPRESSES SATISFACTION OVER INFL ATION RATE DROP; ECONOMIC STABILIT Y
Imran
Khan’s Oxford
chancellor bid
labeled ‘affront to women’ in letter to the Guardian
Imran Khan the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has faced significant backlash over his nomination for the position of Oxford University Chancellor In a letter published in the Observer section of The Guardian critics have described Khan as a supporter of the Taliban and labeled his candidacy as an insult to women
The letter argues that Khan s nomination contradicts the values and traditions of Oxford University, questioning whether some-
one who has supported the Taliban, endorsed restrictions on women’s education and referred to Osama bin Laden as a martyr should be considered for such a prestigious role It also highlights Khan s past controversial remarks about women s attire, suggesting that his candidacy disrespects both current and former female graduates of the university Further the letter contends that Khan’s nomination would likely be favored by the Taliban and their sympathizers making it particularly troubling Instead the letter endorses Lady Elish Angiolini as a more suitable candidate for the position Angiolini, praised for her non-po-
litical stance and commitment to making the university more accessible to underprivileged students is presented as a respected and preferable choice for Oxford s Chancellor The author of the letter draws a comparison between Khan and Andrew Tate, a social media influencer known for his problematic views on women, and questions Khan’s availability for the role given his current 14-year prison sentence The letter also criticizes Khan s past praise of China amidst allegations of human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims and challenges his stance on freedom of expression, suggesting it contradicts the values upheld by the university
Pa k i s t a n t r a s h e s I n d i a ’ s s t a n c e o n Ka s h m i r, t e r m i n g i t ‘ d a n g e r o u s l y d e l u s i o n a l ’
ISLAMABAD
S TA F F R E P O R T Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch on Sunday reiterated that the Kashmir dispute is internationally-recognised issue and it must be resolved according to United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people The statement came in an apparent response to recent comments by India’s Minister for External Affairs S Jaishankar on Jammu and Kashmir
The Jammu and Kashmir dispute is an internationally recognised dispute that must be resolved in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people Res-
olution of this unresolved conflict is pivotal to peace and stability in South Asia, Baloch said on Sunday Jaishankar, speaking on Friday, had stated, “I think the era of uninterrupted dialogue with Pakistan is over Actions have consequences and insofar as Jammu and Kashmir is concerned I think Article 370 is done He further added, The issue today is what kind of relationship can we possibly contemplate with Pakistan What I do want to say is that we are not passive and whether events take a positive or negative direction either way we will react In her response, Baloch firmly rejected any notion that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute has been or could be settled unilaterally “Such claims are not only misleading but
dangerously delusional as they blatantly disregard the on-ground realities India s unilateral actions in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) cannot and will not change this reality ” she said Baloch emphasised that while Pakistan remains committed to diplomacy and dialogue it will respond with resolve to any hostile actions True peace and stability in South Asia can only be achieved through a settlement in accordance with UNSC resolutions and the inalienable rights of the Kashmiri people she stated Pakistan called on India to abandon its provocative rhetoric and baseless assertions about IIOJK and engage in meaningful dialogue for a just and lasting resolution of the Kashmir dispute to ensure durable peace in the region
ISRAEL RECOVERS SIX BODIES OF HOSTAGES IN GA Z A
a marginal rise with the 3-month yield at 18 05% and the 1year yield at 16 95% The Pakistani Rupee remained largely stable against the US Dollar, closing the week at 278 54 per Us dollar Sector-wise, the top performers included Jute Transport Exchange Traded Funds Food & Personal Care Products and Textile Weaving with gains of 47 8% 5 9% 5 0% 2 6% and 2 4% week-on-week respectively Conversely, Textile Spinning, Leather & Tanneries, Vanaspati & Allied Products, Real Estate Investment Trust and Paper & Board sectors experienced declines of
Punjab CM launches ‘Apni C
feature government subsidies to lessen financial burdens on the public with easy
of
84 million Among companies, National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) was the top performer up 16 0% week-on-week followed by Colgate-Palmolive (COLG) GlaxoSmithKline (GLAXO) Millat Tractors (MTL), and Mari Petroleum (MARI) On the downside, Abbott Laboratories (ABOT), Avanceon (AVN) Service Industries (SRVI) Sindh Modaraba (SML) and Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) were the major laggards AKD Research anticipates continued positive market momentum, with inflation trends, MPC outcomes, and IMF-related developments being key drivers Sectors benefiting from monetary easing and structural reforms are expected to gain attention, while high dividend-yielding stocks remain favorable amid declining fixed income yields
Apna Ghar
monthly installments for beneficiaries It is expected to generate employment and significantly improve the living conditions of countless families One of the program’s innovative features is offering interestfree loans for home construction marking it as a major initiative for housing in Pakistan Residents can apply for loans up to Rs1 5 million, covering plots up to 10 marlas in rural areas and 5 marlas in urban areas The monthly repayments for these loans are set to be around Rs14 000 with no interest charged For urban centers the program plans to construct four-story flats on government land, which will be allocated through a lottery system and payable in easy installments Additionally, in private housing schemes homes ranging from three to five marlas will be available with the government providing a subsidy of up to Rs 1 million per home Homebuyers in these schemes can become owners by paying off the balance over five years Dr Amjad
Being beaten by Balochistan
CM MARYAM NAWA Z SHARIF MEETS CHAIRMAN AKHUWAT DOCTOR AMJAD SAQIB
APHC-A JK , KLC remembers Syed Ali Geelani on his mar tyrdom day
ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o e R t
All Parties Hurriyat Conference Azad Jammu and Kashmir (APHC-AJK) chapter and Kashmir Liberation Cell organised a conference in Islamabad today in Islamabad on the third martyrdom anniversary of veteran Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani
Chairman of Kashmir Parliamentary Committee
Rana Qasim Noon was the special guest of the conference
The speakers on the occasion paid glowing tributes to Syed Ali Geelani for his valuable services regarding the freedom of Kashmir and Islam and for sticking to his right-based stance till the last breath of his life They threw light on various aspects of Gilani s life In the conference while reiterating the determination to continue the struggle under the guidance of Shaheed Geelani, they said the United Nations Security Council resolutions will be of primary importance for achieving the right to self-determination
Nationwide tree plantation drive through planting 10,000 plants
ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t
In a remarkable display of environmental stewardship and patriotism the alumni of Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) Islamabad successfully planted approximately ten thousand trees across Pakistan from August 10 to 30, this year
This extensive plantation drive, part of the 77th Independence Day celebrations, was conducted in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders articularly higher education institutions according to a press release received here The tree plantation campaign an annual tradition initiated by QAU Alumni in 2017, saw active participation in various regions of Pakistan, including Murree, Swat, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Lahore, Abbottabad, Karachi, Rawalpindi, Quetta, Wah, Multan Division, Gujjar Khan, and Islamabad Notably trees were also planted in Federal colleges
affiliated with QAU and in four newly established fruit orchards at the university, the release said
This year's drive was made possible through collaborations with key partners, including the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in Islamabad, the University of Lahore Ibadat International University Islamabad Chaon Envoy Pakistan Sidra Foundation and other partner institutions The QAU Alumni also announced the next phase of the plantation drive to plant an additional twenty-five thousand trees in various cities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, South Punjab, northern Sindh, and Balochistan, reinforcing the QAU Alumni's ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability and the greening of Pakistan
This collective effort not only marks a significant contribution to the nation s environmental goals but also strengthens the bonds between QAU Alumni and the wider community, fostering a spirit of unity and shared responsibility towards a greener future for Pakistan
PeH, Tehreek- e -S hababul Muslimeen hold rallies in A JK to pay tributes to Geelani
Speakers addressing the rally said that Syed Ali Geelani was the founding leader of the Kashmir freedom movement in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir
They said that Geelani spent a large part of his life in the freedom struggle and fought an unprecedented struggle for the basic right to self-determination for the Kashmiri people
Muhammad Ramadan Advocate Central Chief Organizer Naseer Mir, General Secretary Students Wing Zabir Durrani, Vice Chairman Munir Kunsi, Shabbir Awan, Imtiaz Awan, Arshad Awan, Habibullah Mir, Asif Durrani Nazakat Qureshi and Falak Khan participated in the rally
martyrdom anniversary Syed Ali Geelani passed away on September 1 2021 while under house arrest at his residence in Srinagar where he had been confined for over a decade Pasban-e-Hurriyat organized a protest rally in Muzaffarabad in which a large number of people from all segments of society participated The rally was led by Pasban-e-Hurriyat Chairman Uzair Ahmed Ghazali, Shaukat Javed Mir, Mushtaq ul Islam Raja Aftab Ahmad Khan Raja Muhammad Arif Khan Usman Ali Hashim Chaudhry Muhammad Mushtaq Qari Bilal Ahmad Farooqui Ali Muhammad Butt Abdul Hameed Lone Chaudhry Muhammad Ismail, Shakir-ul-Islam, Jahangir Khan, Raja Sajeed Khan, Qari Maqbool Rehman, Syed Asif Gillani, Javed Ahmed Mughal, Dr Muhammad Manzoor and others
The participants of the rally carried banners on which pictures of Syed Ali Shah Geelani and his sayings were written
They maintained that Geelani even reached the remote areas of Kashmir and Jammu and organized the resistance movement They said that Shaheed Geelani always taught respect for people of all religions in the occupied state
Gillani always demanded to resolve the Kashmir dispute according to the resolutions passed by the United Nations Security Council in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people", they added
Protesters demanded of the UNSC and other international organizations to play their role for the solution of the Kashmir lingering dispute according to wishes of the Kashmiri people
The students wing of Tehreek-e-Shababul Muslimeen Jammu Kashmir organised the rally at Alambardar Chowk, Muzaffarabad under the leadership of Tehreek Shabab Muslim Students Wing Riaz Ahmed Awan Besides various political, religious and social organizations, Ashfaq Ahmad Zengiri, Siddique Dawood Nasir Khattak Inayatullah Qureshi Sardar
The speakers on the occasion paid rich tributes to Syed Ali Geelani for his unparalleled and unprecedented sacrifices while leading the Kashmir freedom movement
They said that Syed Ali Geelani was a symbol of Kashmir s freedom movement who remained steadfast throughout his life for the Kashmir cause
The speakers said the Indian governments could neither buy Syed Ali Geelani s conscience nor could the suppression and oppression of lakhs of Indian forces succeed in bowing his neck
They said that Syed Ali Geelani was a figure of greatness and courage and a symbol of steadfastness against oppression and tyranny He dedicated his life to the freedom struggle of Kashmir and continued the freedom struggle till his death
The speakers said that Syed Ali Geelani was a great Hurriyat leader of the present time who created a great and unparalleled history of greatness and courage The Kashmiri people will always remember his sacrifices and his mission will be continued till complete success, they maintained
villages Sixty villages and 25 schools have also been flooded in katcha area of Sehwan and Manjhand Provincial irrigation department has declared an emergency at Manchhar Lake, MNV drain, and L S Bachao Band and initiated monitoring of the area
TH E resignation of eminent economist Dr Qaisar
Bengali from three government committees formed by the present government to cut expenditures, formulate austerity measures and carry out rightsizing can be ascribed to pique at not having his recommendations carried out At issue, it seems, is his recommendation that posts in Grades 17 to 21 be abolished, rather than in the grades below, which are already not well paid On the other hand, his warning that the economy is on a ventilator due to debts and on the path to destruction indicates that he does not want to be part of the impending train wreck and that he has strong reservations on the ability of the government to avert
Looking specifically at the shooting down of his proposal to abolish officers’ posts he is cutting at the heart of babus’ empire-building tendencies Not only do those officials receive more pay and higher pensions than staff of lower grades, they are also accompanied by a paraphernalia of lower-grade staff such as peons, clerks and PAs, that abolishing one post in Grade 17 or above usually allows other, lower-grade, posts to be abolished
The abolition of the posts recommended by the committee would save Rs 30 billion a year, he claimed However, he said that the federal government was protecting these posts He has accused the government of taking steps against the committees recommendations
The abolition of institutions and merger of departments would have been bad enough for empire-building bureaucrats but abolishing posts would have struck at the heart of those empires
The government is not reforming the administration out of a righteous indignation at past extravagance but because the IMF is insisting on it Actually, it is not the IMF but the state of government finances It finds it difficult to meet the monthly salary bill for government employees, and cutting its expenses is logical However, the might mean abolishing the little empires that have sprung up all over, and thus treading on a lot of toes The government is trying to be popular and save money at the same time, even though this is not really possible Bureaucratic pressure tends towards greater expenditure
The PML(N) has preferred to win over the bureaucracy and work through it Will it be willing to anger it by rootand-branch reform? It may well have no choice if not for the sake of the resigning economist as for the IMF loan it so badly needs
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
HII S TO R I C A L LY, Afghanistan has been the epicentre of poppy cultivation and a leading source of the global opiates supply Even today Afghanistan is considered as one of the world s largest country in the illegal cultivation and production of narcotics and without a doubt its effects are not limited to Afghanistan only, but the smuggling of narcotics has become a major threat to the other countries in the region and beyond The variety of narcotics grown and made in Afghanistan include opium hashish and synthetic drugs which are smuggled internationally through complex and extensive networks After the Taliban regained power in August 2021, the situation in Afghanistan has changed significantly Afghanistan has started moving towards the production of synthetic drugs, particularly methamphetamine, which is more discreet and highly profitable This worrying trend is supported by the increasing number of synthetic drug seizures in Pakistan Pakistan s geographical proximity to Afghanistan puts Pakistan at a greater risk Sharing a long border of 2,611 km, Pakistan faces greater vulnerability to drug trafficking due to ever growing narcotics markets in Afghanistan The inflow and outflow of Afghan drugs continue to pose a grave threat to the health safety and well-being of the Pakistani people, especially the younger generation Afghanistan takes advantage of its long and porous border with Pakistan to smuggle narcotics to Pakistan and for the rest of the world, it has devised and deployed an elaborate network while utilizing well-orchestrated routes and contacts to supply drugs of all kinds For example Afghanistan annually supplies 60 to 80 percent of the opium to the US and European markets According to the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime, after the Taliban’s return to power in 2021 there was a 32 percent increase in opium cultivation in Afghanistan making it the world’s third-largest opium-producing country
In the case of Pakistan Afghanistan s involvement is supported by the fact that, since 2018, Pakistan s Anti- Narcotics Force has arrested 340 foreign nationals, including 184 Afghans, who were involved in drug trafficking The presence of an estimated 1 7 million declared Afghan refugees with the actual figure potentially surpassing 4 million creates a favourable environment for Afghan drug smugglers exploiting linguistic, cultural, and geographical ties Moreover, the Afghan Transit Trade under the APTTA has also been implicated in the smuggling of contraband including precursor chemicals destined for Afghanistan Recently an Afghan-destined container that originated from India containing 9 5 million Alprazolam
N recent years, the world has witnessed a growing tension between global tech entrepreneurs and national governments, with free speech often caught in the crossfire The arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov in Paris has added another chapter to this ongoing saga Durov s detention under charges related to his alleged failure to cooperate with French authorities investigating serious crimes committed using Telegram, has sparked widespread debate Serbian lawmaker Aleksandar Pavic has gone as far as to accuse Western governments of using “mafia tactics” to extort encryption codes from Durov raising concerns about the future of free speech and the role of messaging platforms in modern society On a seemingly routine day, Pavel Durov, the enigmatic founder of Telegram, was arrested upon his arrival at Paris-Le Bourget Airport The charges against him as stated by French prosecutors include potential complicity in drug dealing money laundering and facilitating the distribution of child pornography These charges if proven are undoubtedly serious However, the underlying implications of this arrest have drawn global attention, particularly in light of Durov’s history of resisting government pressures to compromise Telegram’s encryption Aleksandar Pavic a Serbian parliamentarian has not minced words in his criticism of the French authorities In an interview Pavic described the arrest as an attempt to force Durov into handing over Telegram s encryption keys, a move that would allow governments to censor and monitor communications on the platform Pavic likened these tactics to those of a mafia suggesting that the West is resorting to underhanded methods to gain control over one of the few remaining platforms that resist government censorship Pavic s comments also highlight a perceived double standard in how the West deals with issues of free speech and government overreach He pointed out that if Durov had been arrested in Russia Western media and governments would have quickly condemned Moscow as repressive
However when a similar action is taken by France, it is framed as a legitimate effort to combat crime This, Pavic argues, reflects a totalitarian mindset” that is becoming increasingly prevalent in Western democracies
The irony is not lost on observers who recall that Durov himself is a product of Russia a country often criticized by the West for suppression of free speech Durov s journey from Russia to the global stage has been marked by his steadfast commitment
tablets, was held at the Karachi seaport, further highlighting the scale of this illicit trade Furthermore the economic impact of the illegal drug trade in Pakistan is staggering generating an estimated $2 billion each year The UNODC calculates that over 800,000 Pakistanis aged 15 to 64 regularly use heroin, consuming an estimated 44 tons annually The supply chain of which traces back to Afghanistan, the source of a substantial portion of the world’s heroin
But the dangers associated with narcotics go beyond their health and economical effects A concerning connection has emerged between drug activities and terrorism It is also noteworthy that the biggest beneficiary of the revenue generated from drug smuggling under the patronage of the Afghan Taliban are terrorist organizations like alQaeda and the Fitna-Al-Khawarij (FAK) There is strong evidence that the FAK Baloch Liberation Army and Balochistan Liberation Front are involved in the drug trade and smuggling, which remains a major source of their funding
The effects of these nexus are evident from the UNODC’s latest data, which paints a grim picture of this narco-trade on Pakistan’s severe drug addiction crisis According to the report the number of drug users remains alarmingly high with an estimated several million individuals engaged in substance abuse Cannabis remains the most commonly used drug, while injection drug abuse continues to escalate, heightening concerns about potential HIV cases in Pakistan
The alarming rate of 40 000 new drug users per year solidifies Pakistan s status as one of the
T h e W e s t ’ s ‘ M a f i a Ta c t i c s ’ E x p o s e d
Another battle over freedom of speech
to maintaining Telegram s independence from state control which has earned him both admiration and enmity His refusal to cooperate with Russian authorities on similar grounds specifically, to hand over encryption keys led to Telegram being banned in Russia for a time Now, it appears Durov is facing similar pressures in the West raising questions about the true nature of freedom in these socalled liberal democracies
The arrest of Durov is more than just a legal matter; it is a litmus test for the state of free speech in the digital age Telegram, unlike many other social media platforms, has prided itself on offering users a space where their communications are not subject to the same levels of surveillance and cen-
tivists to those with less savoury intentions such as criminals and extremists H ow ever, that commitment to privacy and encryption has made it a target for governments The potential consequences of Durov caving to the pressure are dire Should he decide to comply with the French authorities demands it would set a dangerous precedent signalling to other governments that similar tactics could force tech companies into compromising their
DurovÊs decision will have far-reaching implications, not only for Telegram but for the broader struggle between state control and individual freedom in the digital ag e Whether Durov can continue to resist the „mafia tactics‰ alleg ed by Pavic remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the battle for free speech is far from over
most drug-affected nations globally The surge in injection drug users in Punjab is especially troubling soaring from an estimated 90 000 in 2007 to around 500 000 by 2014 After Punjab the spike has been most visible in the restive northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which borders Afghanistan, a major supplier of meth in the region Furthermore the narcotics threat is gradually transitioning from the physical to the cyber domain Dark web and social media networks are becoming contact platforms for the marketing distribution, and selling/ buying of illicit drugs
There have been cases where the use of cryptocurrency has been employed to avoid financial scrutiny and monitoring by government agencies This emerging trend necessitates robust cyber capabilities including digital forensics and denial to effectively combat these evolving challenges
To address the multifaceted drug problem, including drug-related transnational organized crimes and narco-terrorism, Pakistan’s AntiNarcotics Policy of 2019 serves as a guiding document The policy while laying out several objectives puts emphasis on three main priorities: supply reduction demand reduction and international cooperation developed in accordance with international best practices
It is worth mentioning here that Pakistan has maintained “poppy free status” since 2001 through joint efforts of provincial governments and Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) Poppy eradication is one of the key strands of Pakistan s Anti- Narcotics Policy 2019 However alleviation of the drug menace remains a shared responsibility demanding whole of nation effort Only through a unified and determined effort can Pakistan hope to break the stranglehold of Afghan narcotics and ensure the health safety and well-being of its people
The writer is a freelance columnist
AimAn KhAttAK
Justice for fisher folk
PA K I S TA N and India signed an Agreement of Consular Access in 2008 for the purpose of providing reciprocal consular facilities to each other s prisoners The leading objective of this legal instrument is to redress the formidable obstacles to protect the fundamental rights of prisoners of both countries confined in each other s jails through a collaborative approach and sheer determination
The rights are as providing consular access to prisoners, exchanging lists of prisoners on a defined time, taking care of health verification of national identity keeping governments of both countries well-informed about arrested citizens awarding sentences repatriation of prisoners who have completed their sentences, examining cases of detention and punishment on grounds of security and politics judiciously, and compassionate and humanitarian treatment of prisoners by working collectively for their repatriation No doubt the agreement addressed a lot of challenges and protected the rights of prisoners in jails of both countries However, some clauses of this agreement need to be revisited following exponential changes so that the rights of prisoners and their families could be protected under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) Any accused cannot be deprived of proving his innocence during trial A trial is considered as the backbone of criminal litigation and the criminal justice system That is the reason article 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights terms fair trial as a fundamental right of all and sundry in these words Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him However the Consular Access Agreement does not contain even a single clause or subclause that makes it binding for both countries to give opportunities of fair trial to prisoners of both countries That is the reason incarcerated fishermen of both countries
neither afford lawyers in each others countries nor have fair trial opportunities to prove their innocence They are simply arrested on minor or major offences, presented before a court of law, and awarded sentences without availing the legal right of defence Even prisoners of both countries are kept in prisons after completion of their awarded sentence if the political or border situation between both countries is disturbed The fisherfolk community of India and Pakistan is the most hostile to this deplorable situation Even prisoners after being deprived of from fair trial opportunity are unable to challenge their sentence in higher courts of the land because of financial constraints, lack of interest of governments, lawyers, civil society, and human rights activists, and negligence as well as disinterest of both countries who did not even protect the basic right of prisoners
of
are conducted in
that
or acquit accused persons at the end of a trial However not even a single clause or subclause has been added in the Consular Access Agreement regarding the provision of documents to relatives of prisoners related to trial proceedings of prisoners
Aputative language school endorsed by the German embassy in Tehran funded underground entertainment, illicitly provided scholarships to students and helped employ agents for the German government according to information obtained by the Tehran Times
Earlier this month two branches of the German Language Institute (DSIT) were closed following orders from the Iranian judiciary The Tehran Times has gathered information suggesting that the language school functioned as a covert operation for the German government to influence Iranian citizens and advance Germany s political agenda in Iran
The Tehran Times understands that the DSIT spent half a million Euros annually to support music, film, and entertainment groups aiming to bypass the scrutiny of Iran’s Ministry of Culture, which must review and certify all cultural content before it can be distributed Much of the material funded by this supposed language institute conflicted with Iranian social and cultural values
The money came from the Goethe-Institut an organization officially financed by the German government that has over a hundred branches globally While it presents itself as an independent entity dedicated to promoting the German language and culture numerous reports indicate that the Goethe-Institut frequently functions as a political arm of the German government
Although the DSIT asserts that it has no connections to the Goethe-Institut, documents seized during the closure of two of its branches in Tehran reveal that the language school maintained regular communication with the organization and frequently received directives from its officials The Tehran Times has reviewed multiple of these documents as well as at least nine financial records indicating payments totaling tens of thousands of Euros to individuals not affiliated with the DSIT The records were signed by the language school’s CEO and the German ambassador to Tehran Furthermore the DSIT illegally engaged with Iranian citizens by offering students scholarships for study at German universities a practice unusual for an institute claiming to be merely teaching language In numerous instances, the DSIT assisted
India’s nuclear push
TH E commissioning of INS Arighaat India s second nuclear-powered
I am rendering my free legal services for arrested fishermen in India and Pakistan pm my own expense I got court papers from Pakistan by adopting traditional methods of receiving copies of court files However I am unable to get access to pre-trial and posttrial proceeding documents of Pakistan s fishermen detained in Indian prisons Article 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights safeguards the right to “fair trial” irrespective of nationality religion sect colour or any other discrimination Pakistan and India both are signatories of UDHR However, depriving prisoners of each others countries especially fishermen by not transposing article 10 of UDHR into the Consular Access Agreement regarding legal aid provision of documents of trial proceedings through consular and appointment of defence counsel by accused persons makes the quest for justice fade away evn though it must be brought nearer Even state counsel or counsel at the ex-
pense of the state of both countries cannot defend a foreigner accused for the cause of justice by arguing in his favour because of the allegation of breaching national security by border violation with the suspect accused of being a spy or terrorist In such cases lawyers are pressured by their governments not to plead such cases on merit and with a professional approach Consequently justice will drift away in the absence of a fair trial opportunity and a pressure-resistant and professional lawyer of the accused Thus the Consular Access Agreement must be revisited with special reference to a fair trial opportunity Both countries should establish a legal panel that should be comprised of seniors from the legal fraternity who will contest cases without any pressure and interference of the state No doubt prisoners are of multiple types such as persons who commit minor offences such as
students interested in relocating to Germany by helping them schedule appointments with the German embassy in Tehran Evidence indicates that these students were often recognized as elites in their professional or academic domains
Certain individuals with whom the DSIT established close connections became involved in networks aimed at executing illegal activities or schemes that benefit German and Western interests The Tehran Times may disclose more information on some of these networks in the future
The Tehran Times has also learned that the DSIT lacked the required operating licenses despite operating in Iran since 1995 This means the school evaded taxes on the income generated from its 10,000 annual students According to information compiled by the Tehran Times, the DSIT held a financial balance of 400 billion Tomans in 2022 Germany, still grappling with its imperialist ambitions struggles to accept that a dignified nation has shut down its software center and infiltration hub This is why it views the closure of DSIT as a retaliatory action in response to the shutdown of the Islamic Center Hamburg (IZH), a source familiar with the situation told the Tehran Times Last month, German police conducted an unannounced and unwarranted raid on 53 properties across the country linked to the Islamic Center Hamburg Germany s oldest and leading Shia Muslim center
The move is believed to have been made under pressure from the Israeli lobby in the European country
The Tehran Times has learned that German police verbally assaulted numerous employees of the IZH and its affiliated organizations Reports indicate that officers even confiscated small change from the employees pockets and confronted their family members German media claims the closure of DSIT was a tit-for-tat move for the ban of the IZH In the wake of the language school s closure, the German embassy in Tehran breached diplomatic protocols by sharing tweets from purported Iranian users on Instagram who seemed to ridicule the closure of DSIT “What the German embassy fails to take into account is that at least in Iran citizens have the freedom to express dissent when they disagree with government actions That s while in Germany, individuals face immediate repercussions for speaking out against the government’s backing of the Israeli regime, which is committing genocide in Gaza ” the source said
N o t h i n g h a s c h a n g e d i n I n d i a
More than 150,000 homes have been razed in the last t wo years, leaving nearly 750,000 people homeless
PO L I T I C A L LY motivated bulldozing has returned with a vengeance in India Earlier this month in the state of Madhya Pradesh a local Muslim leader and member of the opposition Congress party watched his home supposedly illegally built reduced to rubble A district official then gloated on social media that justice had been served for recent attacks on the police Meanwhile, in the neighboring state of Uttar Pradesh, bulldozers flattened an “illegal” shopping complex owned by a Muslim functionary of an opposition party who had recently been arrested on charges of gang-raping a minor girl
This bulldozer justice is nothing new In Prime Minister Narendra Modi s India, the homes of those merely suspected of crimes – overwhelmingly Muslims – are frequently demolished with great fanfare, usually on the pretext that they are unauthorized constructions State governments controlled by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have found an ideal tool for brutalizing Muslims and firing up the party s Hindu-supremacist voter base
Besides being used for retribution bulldozers serve as tools to control and demoralize already marginalized communities Not coincidentally, areas where Muslims cluster tend to be targeted for “urban development ” As a result, more than 150 000 homes have been razed in the last two years leaving nearly 750 000 people homeless
Such blatant injustice in a country that bills itself as the world s largest democracy has been normalized to the point that bulldozers now feature in BJP election rallies
Since Modi s re-election in 2019, bulldozer politics (which even has its own Wikipedia entry) has become one of the BJP’s favorite methods of signaling its commitment to Hindu supremacy and muscular governance
But wait: Wasn t India s general election in April-June meant to end such brazen transgressions? Having lost his majority for the first time a humbled Modi we were told, would have to alter his ways to accommodate new allies to form a government Voters had supposedly pulled India “back from the brink” of authoritarian chauvinism and “reasserted India’s
the world At the same time the stakeholders should guard against the temptation of resting on their laurels and becoming complacent China’s nuclear one-upmanship knows no bounds; so does the secrecy of its operations No wonder the US concerned about Beijing’s rapid N-weapon build-up has made a renewed push for holding talks on nuclear arms with the fellow superpower While keeping a close eye on these developments, India should ensure that its ballistic submarine programme continues to uphold the policy of having ‘credible minimum deterrence’ in sync with its ‘no first use’ commitment
air and at sea This is understandable as China has modernised its nuclear programme in recent years starting the production of its next-generation ballistic missile submarine and holding nuclear-armed sea patrols on a regular basis In terms of operational nuclear warheads, China (500) is way ahead of India (172) However, India has close ties with both the US and Russia which have over 1 700 such warheads each Beijing s muscle-flexing in the Indian Ocean Region has been keeping Delhi on its toes According to the Swedish think-tank SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) India is strengthening the undersea leg of its nuclear triad as well as developing long-range missiles The presence of INS Arighaat is expected to send out a strong message to China that India is not to be trifled with in the seas It is commendable that the submarine has indige-
ChAngEzi sAndhu
Ain
China-ASEAN Expo set to attrac t multilateral cooperation
of ASEAN distinctive products into the Chinese market and helping domestic products reach ASEAN members and the global market Additionally, the upcoming expo will launch the Awards for Exhibits Program to promote high-quality products entering the market through the brand effect of the expo Promotional events for the 21st CAEXPO have been held in Australia, Poland, Cambodia, the Philippines, Myanmar and Malaysia During the event tours to Guangxi for Australian and Japanese businesses will help companies from those countries further expand into the Chinese and ASEAN markets organizers said
r g e o f t h e p r o b e T h e C B I r e c e n t l y c o nd u c t e d a s e c o n d r o u n d o f p o l y g r a p h t e
The collaboration between China and Egypt highlights the success of China-Africa space cooperation, leading to notable advancements in satellite exports as well as resource sharing space technology exchange and infrastructure development in the field of space China has developed and launched several satellites for African countries, including two communication satellites for Nigeria in 2007 and 2011, respectively, a communication satellite for Algeria in 2017 a cube satellite for Ethiopia in 2019 a scientific experimental satellite for Sudan in 2019 and MISRSAT-2 for Egypt in 2023 In 2017, China launched Algeria’s first communications satellite Alcomsat-1 which now supports broadcasting television broadband access and mobile and emergency communications The satellite s significance is so profound that its image is featured on Algeria’s 500 Dinar banknotes as a national symbol of pride According to the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Dakar Action Plan (2022-2024), adopted by the 8th Ministerial Conference of FOCAC held in Dakar of Senegal in November 2021 China and Africa would actively work
for the establishment of a China-Africa space cooperation sub-forum under the FOCAC framework Both sides would focus on supporting projects concerning satellite remote sensing and communications satellites to drive the development of the space industry of African countries ENRICHING PEOPLE’S LIVES
A network of satellites and ground stations across the African continent has advanced the space industry and significantly improved local people’s lives For example the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) has been widely used in Africa s agriculture urban planning infrastructure construction and traffic serv-
BOSNIA CRACKS DOWN
Coordinator to Prime Minister on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC & EC)
Romina Khurshid Alam has appreciated he initiatives of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration for transiting to renewable energy and vulnerability of the capital city to climate change impacts In a statement issued here on Sunday she stated that the MoCC & EC had proposed to ICT administration a unique AI based solution to improve air quality of the city to make it model environmentallysustainable and climate-smart city of the
Romina Khurshid Alam highlighted that at present the air quality of
would not only enhance air quality in the capital city but also reduces the associated health risks and attracts more international tourists as well The PM s climate aide Ms Alam said various policies and initiatives such as the electric bus service climate change fund (CCF) Margalla Hills Fund (MHF) and Carbon Credit Programme (CCP) have been already introduced for ICT to enhance climate resilience and environmental sustainability of Islamabad and its peripheral areas
Appreciating these initiatives she emphasized the importance of collective efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate
Saima Kamila Khan, Chief Legal Officer at Jazz (5th from left) with Iqra Musaddaq Chief Legal Officer at STZA alongside their respective teams PR
CYCLONE ASNA SPARES MA JOR CITIES BUT LEAVES DESTRUCTION AND FATALITIES IN ITS WAKE
JI to unite public against feudalism and corruption: Hafiz Naeem
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman chief of Jamaat-e-Islami has vowed to unite the public to challenge the oppressive feudal lords and corrupt capitalists, rejecting any divisions based on ethnicity Speaking at the launch of the membership campaign and a community breakfast in Johar Town, Lahore on Sunday, Rehman said,
“Pakistan does not belong to any general bureaucrat or politician The state is defined by its people not by the military or judiciary He criticised the ruling Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), claiming they were entrenched in power since 1947 based on wealth rather than democratic principles Prominent party leaders including Secretary General Ameerul Azeem Secretary Information Qaiser Sharif and other regional heads were present at the event Rehman emphasised Jamaat-e-Islami s commitment to peaceful political resistance, urging the people of Balochistan to fight their case at Minar-e-Pakistan “Today, we officially launch the second phase of the Haq Do Awam Ko (Give People Their Rights) movement ” he announced “I invite everyone to join Jamaat-e-Islami become our allies in ending injustice establishing justice and dismantling the class system He stated that Jamaat-e-Islami is the only party truly representing the people, advocating for basic rights, and prioritising public service He criticised both the government and the opposition for having the same agenda of waiting for their turn to loot the country
The situation has become so severe that educational institutions have turned into drug dens 26 million children are out of school and 74% of youth want to leave the country, Rehman warned He highlighted rising inflation, unemployment, and lack of access to health and education as critical issues, with electricity bills becoming a burden on citizens Rehman urged people not to lose hope and sit at home declaring that the struggle for rights had begun We will speak to students youth women labourers and farmers, and we will not rest until we secure our rights, he stated
Since Pakistan’s inception, Jamaat-e-Islami has been active on all fronts, Rehman claimed, including humanitarian work youth training and responding to natural disasters He announced plans to expand free IT courses under the Banun Qabil initiative with the goal of progressing to degree programmes and advancing Pakistan as a model state
President, PM reaffirm suppor t for Kashmir on Geelani ’s third mar t yrdom anniversar y
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday paid tribute to the heroic struggle of iconic Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Geelani for the rights of the oppressed people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir
In a message he described Geelani as a beacon of hope and resistance inspiring countless Kashmiris to stand firm in their quest for self-determination
The President affirmed that Pakistan will continue to advocate for the realization of the people of IIOJK’s right to self-determination as enshrined in the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson Raoof Hasan has expressed hope that the ongoing deadlock between the PTI and the establishment will soon come to an end, stating that it is in the best interest of the state Speaking in a media interview, Raoof Hasan expressed that the deadlock between the PTI and the military establishemnt should not continue any longer stressed the importance of initiate talks between the PTI and the military without further delay He highlighted that the path to political stability in Pakistan lies in recognizing PTI s mandate, either through judicial means or fresh elections
“PTI does not seek to involve the army in politics engaging in dialogue with the military is necessary as they currently hold significant power in the country Hassan added The PTI spokesperson also suggested that a judicial commission should investigate the events of May 9, and if evidence is found, the party would issue an apology
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also commemorated the veteran Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Gillani on his third martyrdom anniversary stating that Pakistan will always continue the moral diplomatic and political support of the Kashmiri people
He noted that Syed Ali Geelani will always be remembered as a respectable figure in the Kashmir independence movement and praised his firm belief in achieving the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination for which he devoted his entire life
The Prime Minister remarked
that Syed Ali Geelani’s services for the independence of Kashmiri people and struggle for the right of self-determination will always be remembered, and that the hardships of captivity could not weaken the late Kashmiri leader ’s firm commitment
He concluded by saying that Syed Ali Geelani s sacrifices will not go in vain
PTI to expose culprits of May 9 riots after coming into power, says Barrister Saif
PESHAWAR S TA F F R E P O R T
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Advisor for Information Barrister Dr Saif berated the PML-N led incumbent government saying it had nothing to do to stay in limelight except discussing May 9 and PTI founder Imran Khan
The PTI leader gave a response to Ahsan Iqbal’s statements that Imran Khan had to repent for May 9 riots and wouldn t be granted NRO Barrister Saif responded that
the fake government must resign and seek apology from PTI for the May 9 fiasco, they discussed May 9 when they didn’t find any space in the media KP information advisor boasted that the public gave a response on May 9 by giving a mandate to PTI on
made yet as a guilty conscience needed no accuser He added that the judicial inquiry would reveal what were the real motives behind May 9 riots Barrister Saif accused the political opponents for staging May 9 to eliminate PTI but they couldn t succeed in their nefarious aims instead PTI strengthened more
The PTI leader insisted on exposing the perpetrators behind the May 9 riots after coming into power
The PML-N government in Punjab has decided to deny Rs14 per unit relief in electricity bills to domestic consumers in some cases
Sources said that the provincial government had decided that there would be no relief for the consumers
found involved in electricity theft and who had been charged detection bills Similarly relief would not be provided to the three-phase and bi-directional green meters consumers and only single-phase meters consumers would be entitled to it, they disclosed The Punjab cabinet had approved relief for the people of Punjab and Islamabad, consuming 201 to 500 units of electricity, for August and September, at a meeting presided
