PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE PICKS JUSTICE AFRIDI AS NEXT CJP AMID PTI BOYCOTT
g Defence Minister says two-third of nine committee members decided in favour of Justice Afridi after a ‘ ver y good discussion’
ISLAMABAD
S TA F F R E P O R T
TH E newly-constituted Special Parliamentary Committee (SPC) nominated Justice Yahya Afridi as the next chief justice of Pakistan amid the Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf s (PTI) boycott of the committee meeting, announced by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar Tuesday night After the passage of 26th Constitutional Amendment the committee was constituted to nominate the next CJP from among the three senior most judges of the Supreme Court judges The two other judges in contention were Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Munib Akhtar The members of both the PTI and Sunni Ittehad Council abstained from the SPC meeting
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Law Minister Tarar said: With a two-third majority, Justice Yahya Afridi’s nomination has been sent to the prime minister ” Elaborating further while speaking in an interview to a private TV channel Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said two-third of the nine committee members present had decided in favour of Justice Afridi after a “very good discussion” He maintained that all three judges under consideration were respectable individuals and hoped that any fissures in the judiciary would now come to an end CJP Qazi Faez Isa is set to retire as the top judge on October 25 Justice Shah was previously set to be the next CJP under the seniority principle Elevated to the apex court in June 2018 Justice Afridi will become the 30th
(PTI) on Tuesday served show-cause notices on its lawmakers for allegedly defying the party line during voting for the 26th constitutional amendment The PTI served show-cause notices on its lawmakers, including Zain Qureshi Aslam Ghuman Muqdad Ali Khan and Riyaz Fatiana directing them to submit a reply for showing indiscipline by violating the party s discipline The notice read that the government had planned to attack the independence of the judiciary by introducing constitutional amendments
“All PTI MNAs and Senators were directed not to support the constitution amendment bill ” the notice read It added that all PTI senators and MNAs were instructed not to vote on the amendments and to stay in a safe and designated place and all members were bound to follow the instructions of the party Earlier, PTI MNA Zain Qureshi that he chose to go into hiding on advice of his father Shah Mehmood Qureshi
In a video statement Zain revealed that he was ordered to disappear by his father Shah Mehmood Qureshi
“I could never think of voting for this constitutional amendment,” Zain stated, debunking reports of him supporting the tweaks He labeled these claims baseless propaganda
Zain further explained that his father summoned him to Lahore where he remains imprisoned in a different case According to Zain, his father insisted against approving the constitutional amendment in any case
“Misleading propaganda is being spread against me regarding my support for the constitutional amendment he said
ISLAMABAD S TA
R E P O R T
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan on Tuesday declared that the party s political committee decided it would not participate in the meeting of the parliamentary committee tasked with the appointment of the new Chief Justice of Pakistan PTI’s Barrister Gohar Ali Khan Barrister Ali Zafar and SIC chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza abstained from the committee s meeting Earlier in the day, speaking to the media outside the Islamabad High Court that the PTI had submitted names to the speaker for the parliamentary committee before its political committee decided to boycott proceedings The decision was conveyed after a meeting between members of the parliamentary subcommittee and representatives from the PTI-SIC held in the speaker s chamber on Tuesday Despite efforts by the committee including National Assembly Speaker
CJP In December 2016 he took oath as the youngest chief justice of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) Born on January 23, 1965, Justice Afridi hails from KP’s Kohat Region He
Pakistan and India renewed the agreement for another five years to allow Indian Sikh yatrees to visit Gurudwara Kartarpur via visa-free corridor
The foreign office announced here on Tuesday the renewal of the agreement, which was originally signed on October 24, 2019 for a five-year term and was due to expire its initial duration on October 24 2024
The Government of Pakistan has announced the renewal of the Agreement between the Republic of India and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for
Sardar Ayaz Sadiq to convince the PTI members to attend Barrister Gohar Ali Khan confirmed that their political committee had decided to abstain from the proceedings We have made our decision We will not be part of this committee’s meetings,” Gohar Ali Khan stated, following discussions in Speaker Sadiq s office Later Barrister Gohar said that The political committee s decision is the party s decision, we didn t differentiate that these are our judges and those are theirs However, as per the law the senior most should be appointed PTI Central Information Secretary Waqas Akram earlier announced in a post on X that the party s political committee decided it would not participate in the meeting In a statement on X PTI leader Zulfi Bukhari said: Of course we will not be part of any parliamentary committee S TA
also has the distinction of becoming the first chief justice of the high court from the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata)
the facilitation of pilgrims to visit Gurudwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, Narowal, Pakistan for an additional period of five years,” read a foreign office statement “Agreement’s renewal underscores Pakistan s enduring commitment to fostering interfaith harmony and peaceful coexistence, it added
The agreement continues to offer visa-free access to pilgrims from India enabling them to visit the sacred site of Gurudwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur where Baba Guru Nanak the revered founder of Sikhism, spent his final days Since its inception, the corridor has facilitated the pilgrimage of thousands of worshippers to this holy site
The Kartarpur Corridor fulfills the long-cherished aspirations of the Sikh community for an access to one of their most revered religious landmarks,” the foreign office said
The foreign office said it reflected Pakistan s recognition of the importance of safeguarding the rights of religious minorities
The Kartarpur initiative was the first visa-free corridor established between Pakistan and India
Earlier Sikh Yatrees had to take a longer route to visit Kartarpur shrine and endure many bottle necks to obtain a visa
The opening of the corridor has allowed Sikh yatrees to visit their holy shrine without any hassle
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday sought the Adiala Jail Superintendent s reply to a petition filed by incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, seeking permission for regular medical examination by his personal physicians
IHC s Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb heard the petition and issued a notice of the Adiala jail superintendent for Wednesday (tomorrow) Advocate Khalid Yousaf appeared before the court on behalf of the PTI founder During the proceedings Justice Aurangzeb directed the Superintendent of Adiala Jail to submit a reply by tomorrow However, the State Council informed the court that the PTI founder is already being examined three times a day by medical professionals Furthermore on Octo-
ISLAMABAD a p p
Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja has said that innovation in data networks, cloud computing, artificial intelligence and 5G are crucial for Pakistan’s economic growth and addressing key challenges such as in healthcare education and sustainable development
Speaking at the Sanog-42 Conference, the minister highlighted the importance of regional cooperation in enhancing Pakistan’s digital infrastructure and in developing inclusive, secure and sustainable technologies She affirmed the government s commitment to strengthening the IT and telecom sectors through various initiatives
We have launched IT parks in Islamabad and Karachi, supporting over 1,300 startups through our National Incubation Centres Our Digital Pakistan Policy aims to boost e-governance cybersecurity and entrepreneurship she stated She acknowledged the telecom sector s significant contribution to the national economy and added that the upcoming 5G spectrum auction, scheduled for early 2025 alongside policies such as the National Fiberisation Policy and spectrum sharing would accelerate growth
The minister noted Pakistan s progress in cybersecurity, placing it among top-tier nations in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index This advancement reflects our strong commitment across all cybersecurity pillars, positioning us alongside leading
AI, 5G termed crucial for addressing challenges
countries in cybersecurity readiness, she said She highlighted the IT sector ’s thriving exports which had already surpassed $3 billion Initiatives such as the local Chromebook manufacturing by Google and Islamabad s transformation into a Model Digital City underscore the country’s vibrant
Meetings clouded by wars,
slow growth, US elec tion
both the party and the public would hold these MPs accountable We will make an example of them Saif declared
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi leader of the Awam Pakistan Party has voiced strong criticism of the recent constitutional amendment claiming it curtails the Supreme Court s powers and alters the process for appointing judges
In an interview with a private TV channel Abbasi condemned the government for pushing through the amendment without public consultation arguing that the fast-tracked process lacked transparency and accountability He emphasized that his party was not involved in the legislative process, which was enacted within just 12 hours including the gazette notification Abbasi remarked I have never seen such
amendment serves
raising
centralize
rather than address
Abbasi questioned the amendment’s impact on the judiciary, expressing concern over the potential for creating a nominal judge role and undermining the court s authority He also pointed out the growing influence of Supreme Court registries, warning that this could significantly affect case management and appointments
The Awam Pakistan Party chief urged the government to engage the public in discussions on the amendment stating that it does not represent the people s interests He warned that the new judicial framework could create more obstacles for citizens seeking justice Abbasi also called for greater trans-
He praised Maulana Fazlur Rehman for standing against what he called a potential crisis brought on by the amendment referring to him as one of the last remaining democrats in the country Amid ongoing political turmoil Abbasi criticized the opposition for failing to engage in meaningful discussions about the amendment in the
Robbers open fire on passenger coach in Bannu, 10 injured in attack
ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t Pakistan has reaffirmed its opposition to the proposed treaty banning the production of fissile material used as fuel for nuclear weapons asserting that States that do not need to produce enriched uranium after having already amassed several tons of it in excess are pushing for this discriminatory pact “A treaty which only results in a cut-off in the future production of fissile material would be a non-starter given that it would perpetuate asymmetries and will have no added value for nuclear disarmament Ambassador Usman Iqbal Jadoon, deputy permanent representative to the UN, told the General Assembly’s First Committee, which deals with disarmament and international security matters The States which do not need to produce fissile material after having already amassed several tonnes of fissile material in excess, are pushing for cost-free proposals such as quantitative capping of fissile material as the next logical step he said In these diversionary tactics he pointed out they are joined with fervour by the States who rely on others for extended deterrence and nuclearweapon-sharing arrangements ” If the proponents of the FMCT (fissile material cut-off treaty) are serious in addressing the issue of fissile material production they should start by rejecting double standards and ceasing nuclear cooperation with a country in South Asia
Parliamentar y Committee picks Justice
from Law College, Punjab University, in 1988, and did his LLM from Jesus College, Cambridge University, UK, in 1990 He had also remained a good sportsman and had remained a member of Cambridge University Polo Team in 1990 and was awarded gold medal for best sportsman Aitcheson College, Lahore, in 1982
During his legal career, Justice Afridi appeared in several high-profile cases Legal circles considered him a competent lawyer who was well versed in constitutional and corporate law He also served as assistant advocate general in his early career until 1994
It was in 1993 when he got fame for successfully defending the government in cases pertaining to disqualification of several al-
in the PHC
but their petitions were dismissed Following his elevation to the PHC bench Justice Afridi also served as inspection judge for different districts He also remained the chairman of the Labour Appellate Tribunal, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, company judge of the Abbottabad circuit bench head of the KP Subordinate Judiciary Service Tribunal chairman of the Enrollment Committee of Lawyers at Abbottabad Bench and Peshawar and administrative judge of anti-terrorism courts Changes in appointment process and committee meeting The newly enacted 26th Constitutional Amendment has brought numerous changes pertaining to the judiciary among which is the process of appointing the CJP Under amendments to clause 3 of Article 175A, instead of the president appointing the most senior judge of the Supreme Court as the CJP, the top judge will now be “appointed on the recommendation of the Special Parliamentary Committee from amongst the three most senior SC judges Under a new clause 3C of Article 175A the first nomination after the Amendment was in force is to be sent within three days prior to the retirement” of the outgoing CJP
This set the deadline for the SPC to send its nomination by tonight as Justice Isa is to retire on October 25
The SPC which was formed a day ago by Speaker Sadiq, comprises eight MNAs and four senators nominated by their respective parliamentary leaders Political parties
have representation in the committee based on their strength in the parliament
The committee comprised PML-N s Asif Ahsan Iqbal Shaista Pervaiz Malik and Tarar; PPP s Raja Pervez Ashraf, Naveed Qamar and Senator Farooq H Naek; SIC s Hamid Raza; PTI-affiliated MNA Gohar Khan and Senator Ali Zafar; Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan MNA Rana Ansar; and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl s Senator Kamran Murtaza
According to a notification issued by the NA secretariat, the in-camera meeting of the special committee was scheduled for 4pm Arriving for the meeting, Ashraf went inside without answering questions of reporters while Senator Murtaza said he had not yet received the names of the judges Meanwhile Iqbal hoped that the next CJP s name would be finalised today, adding that there was no predecided name and it would be discussed in the committee meeting Earlier in a post on X he quoted Greek philosopher Socrates to say: “Four things belong to a judge: to listen courteously to answer wisely to consider soberly and to decide impartially None of the committee members associated with the PTI showed up for the meeting Talking to reporters outside the meeting room Tarar said nine committee members were present adding that as per the Constitution eight people were required to make a decision regarding the CJP He added that it was also stated that the committee’s proceedings would not be
halted if any seat was left vacant or a member skipped the meeting
The required number is present But despite that we are democratic-minded people and the beauty of democracy is in inclusiveness and everyone uniting He said Sadiq, Ashraf, Iqbal, Murtaza and Ansar were requested to visit and compel the PTI-SIC members to reconsider and join the meeting
This is a major national issue so it is our wish and we have decided to definitely make one attempt to request them to come and attend the meeting We will reconvene the second session at 8:30pm again today ” A press release from the NA secretariat said the sub-committee requested Speaker Sadiq to arrange a meeting which he did so in his chambers between members of the sub-committee and Barrister Gohar
The SIC was invited by the NA speaker and members of the committee to participate ” the press release said adding that Barrister Gohar told them that the PTI’s political committee had decided that he would not attend the proceedings Speaking to the media after the meeting in the NA speaker s chambers, Barrister Gohar said the party had decided that the manner of the 26th constitutional amendment’s passage was unconstitutional and therefore the PTI would not participate in the proceedings of a committee formed as a result of the new legal reforms I excused myself from participation We will not join the committee We are not
going into isolation We have already been participating and that is why we are sitting in
04
COMMENT
Amendment operationalised
nO sooner had Parliament passed the 26th Amendment that it began to use it The day after it received the presidential assent, the Parliamentary Committee for the appointment of the Chief Justice of Pakistan met and though the PTI members had been duly named to the Committee, they refused to be part of the process The passage itself was made with the help of five floorcrossers in the national Assembly, but none in the Senate
Already the PTI has promised to take action against them, though they might claim to be independents While PTI desertions were not needed in the Senate, BnM votes were needed, even though party chief Akhtar Mengal has said he will send references against the lot as a result of which one Senator has sent in his resignation
The Parliamentary Committee’s first hurdle was the boycott of the proceedings by the PIT and SIC members The boycott was probably a principled reflection of the PTI s stand, whereby it has already challenged the amendment on the ground of the basic structure doctrine which says that even amendments to the Constitution may be struck down by the Supreme Court if they are inconsistent with the basic structure of the Constitution It is perhaps anomalous enough that members were nominated at all by the Opposition but for it to be part of the proceedings would have invalidated its stand PTI parliamentary party leader Gohar Ali Khan’s complaint of being allocated fewer numbers seems a mere quibble in view of the fact that the PTI does not recognise the amendment at all Mr Khan is the one who has said that the PTI would repeal the amendment when it came back to office
It could be argued that the amendment was carried out in haste
More serious is the perception that the appointment of the CJP has been given back to the Executive While a parliamentary committee has been set up the decision is to be by a majority which would normally be the government’s
n the run-up to the november election we are witnessing a massive expenditure of “dark money in a disinformation campaign designed to depress the Arab American vote in Michigan and the American Jewish vote in Pennsylvania During the past three election cycles we ve seen “dark money” play an increasingly important role in US elections Dark money refers to expenditures from groups that ostensibly operate independently from official campaigns and whose funds need not be reported We ve also seen disinformation campaigns before; that is organized efforts to use deceptive misleading, or exaggerated claims for political advantage A dark money group undertook such an effort in 2000, when it sought to derail Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign with a sizable television ad buy claiming he was too old (despite the fact that the candidate against whom he was running was about the same age) or that he was too radical to win (despite the fact that Sanders had already won most of that year s primaries and polls showed him beating the expected Republican nominee by a larger margin than any of the other Democrats in the field) What made
What we’re seeing in this election is more dark money disinformation but with a deceptively ingenious twist A pro-Donald Trump group is spending tens of millions of dollars targeting both Arab American and American Jewish voters in two battleground states, Michigan and Pennsylvania, with contradictory messaging designed to discourage them from voting for the Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris This effort includes direct mail and digital ads on social media platforms like: X (formerly Twitter) YouTube Snapchat Instagram and Facebook Almost daily Michigan s Arab Americans voters in precincts of heavy concentration are receiving glossy mailings with messages like: Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff: Unwavering Support for Israel” or “Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff the ultimate pro-Israel power couple” or “Kamala Harris and Elissa Slotkin [the Democratic candidate for Senate in Michigan]: The proven team we can trust to stand up for the Jewish community And targeted video messaging on social media sites saying things like “Kamala Harris stands with Israel ” Meanwhile, in
However, this giving of the power to a committee is a far cry from the past, when the Prime Minister, very much the head of the executive, would sign a file and that was it The procedure is still far from perfect, but there has been some attempt made to pull back the judiciary Amidst all the hullabaloo, it seems as if an important milestone for the government has been overcome, that of escaping an embarrassing failure M A Niazi
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late)
of using both disinformation and misinformation for a political end That effort s success encouraged more pro-Israel dark money groups to join the fray in 2022 and 2024 spending well over $100 million in more than a dozen congressional races Once again, they promoted misleading or exaggerated claims calling into question the character or leadership qualities of the candidates they opposed without ever mentioning that their goal was to defeat those whom they deemed insufficiently pro-Israel
I am reminded that on two separate occasions in the last two years a group of Democratic National Committee members tried to get the party to ban the use of dark money in primaries. We warned that allowing billionaire Republican donors to skew our elections with disinformation and misinformation was a threat to our democracy. Both times the party leadership blocked our effort to have a vote on our resolution. Little did we know that just a year later, the very dark money disinformation effort funded by Republican donors about which we warned could very well contribute to upending the campaign of the Democratic nominee for president
J a i s h a n k a r ’ s s e l e c t i v e d i p l o m
a c y
teract with its neighbour
This refusal to confront core concerns through conversation merely exacerbates the divide between the two countries continuing a cycle of distrust and antagonism To establish long-term stability in South Asia both India and Pakistan must be prepared to tackle their differences via open communication and productive interaction In this context, the SCO, with its emphasis on multilateral cooperation, provides a crucial forum for these debates even if they do not explicitly address bilateral concerns Pakistan s hosting of the summit demonstrates its commitment to multilateralism and regional integration, despite strained relations with India With its strategic location, economic potential, and terrorism combat experience Pakistan can build alliances with China and Russia to shape the SCO’s future while avoiding alienation from Western allies
phasized the “three evils” of terrorism without addressing internal issues like the Kashmir turmoil and the Manipur insurgency This selective focus on external threats, while ignoring internal unrest, underscores a broader challenge for India, which seeks to maintain its regional dominance while deflecting criticism of its domestic policies
Jaishankar s reliance on sovereignty and territorial integrity highlighted India s disapproval of regional projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which have become emblems of Pakistan s economic revival and China’s increasing influence in South Asia CPEC which passes through territories wrongly claimed by India has been a source of contention between the two nations with India viewing the project as a violation of its territorial integrity This stance, while consistent with India s broader foreign policy objectives, highlights the tension between regional economic cooperation and national sovereignty India’s objection to CPEC reflects a broader concern about China s strategic initiatives in Pakistan and Central Asia which threaten to shift regional power dynamics In this context, analysts may criticize India s promotion of cooperation in multilateral forums such as the SCO while opposing regional initiatives such as CPEC and restricting trade relations with Pakistan revealing a pattern of selective regionalism that undermines broader efforts at integration
Jaishankar s speech emphasized the importance of reforming the United nations Sec u r i
global aspirations India’s plan to have a permanent seat on the UnSC is part of a broader strategy to strengthen its position
India and Pakistan, with India s present leadership, the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is maintaining an increasingly harsh posture on the matter The removal of Article 370 which guar-
unilateral
cannot be pushed under the rug by diplomatic posturing alone The Kashmir conflict will continue to impede regional stability in South Asia The only way to achieve long-term peace in the area is via dialogue, not isolation However, India’s present strategy which includes boycotting even basic diplomatic engagements such as bilateral discussions or cricket matches with Pakistan reflects a larger unwillingness to in-
The SCO Summit is a crucial moment in Pakistan s diplomatic efforts India s involvement, despite the typical conflicts, emphasizes the crucial need for Pakistan to express its leadership in promoting multilateralism and regional cooperation By exploiting projects like CPEC and tackling security concerns via real conversation Pakistan can fight India s selective participation and boost its own strategic importance
However, the path ahead requires prudent diplomacy Pakistan must strike a balance between its objectives inside the SCO and avoiding alienation from major global allies especially given the organization s reputation for counterbalancing Western influence The summit provides Pakistan with a rare opportunity to raise its profile, but success will be determined by its ability to handle these issues, going beyond rhetoric to generate significant contributions to regional peace and economic integration
The author is an independent researcher who can be reached at omayaimen333@gmail com
However, the path ahead requires prudent diplomacy Pakistan must strike a balance between its objectives inside the SCO and avoiding alienation from major global allies, especially given the organizationÊs reputation for counterbalancing Western influence . The summit provides Pakistan with a rare oppor tunity to raise its profile , but success will be determined by its ability to handle these issues, going beyond rhetoric to g enerate significant contributions to regional peace and economic integration.
B ilateral conflic ts threaten multilateral cooperation
Aiming dark money at Arab Americ ans and Americ an Jews
Defeat of Modi’s narrative in Indian-Occupied Kashmir elections
The Modi government is only increasing the disaffec tion
community
The conflict in Jammu and Kashmir has roots in the 1947 partition of India
groups, activists, and opposition parties strongly opposing policies perceived as discriminatory Protests often led by students and minority organizations have called for a reaffirmation of India s secular ethos and an end to communal politics
Internationally, these developments have faced significant criticism Human rights organizations and foreign governments have voiced concerns about the treatment of minorities in India urging the Modi administration to uphold its commitments to equality and justice Since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in 2014, human rights violations against minority communities in India have come increasingly under scrutiny The government’s policies and actions have raised serious concerns about the treatment of religious and ethnic minorities particularly Muslims, Christians, and Dalits
One of the most concerning trends during Modi’s tenure has been the rise in communal violence High-profile incidents such as the Delhi riots in February 2020 resulted in numerous deaths and injuries primarily impacting Muslim communities Under Modi s administration, there have been growing reports of violence and harassment targeting religious practices
Following the princely state s forced accession to India, various political, social, and religious tensions emerged, resulting in several wars and ongoing insurgency The situation worsened after the Indian government s unilateral abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 which stripped the region of its special status and led to widespread unrest Reports of violence in Indian-occupied Kashmir have surged under the Modi government with security forces accused of using excessive force to suppress protests arising from perceived injustices and human rights violations Encounters with freedom fighters have often resulted in civilian casualties, and the use of pellet guns, a contentious crowd control measure, has caused severe injuries, especially among young people
Numerous organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have documented various human rights violations in Indian-occupied Kashmir Since 2014, there has been a significant increase in arbitrary detentions, with political leaders activists and ordinary citizens being held without formal charges
government In recent years particularly following constitutional changes by the central government, these powers have expanded significantly The Governor now has enhanced legislative authority, allowing for greater control over local laws and policies This shift enables the Governor to influence critical areas such as land use public safety and law enforcement often sidelining locally elected governments
Critics argue that this undermines the democratic process and erodes local autonomy
The Governor ’s increased authority extends to key appointments within the state administration including the selection of bureaucrats and heads of public institutions which can lead to local governance being heavily influenced by the central government This centralization of power can diminish the effectiveness of local leaders and institutions In matters of security and law enforcement the Governor now wields significant influence raising concerns about the militarization of governance as security forces often operate under the Governor s directives
Kashmiris view accession to Pakistan as a viable solution to their aspirations often citing shared religious and cultural ties, as well as a perceived historical connection They believe that joining Pakistan would offer a framework for self-determination allowing them to preserve their identity and manage their affairs more autonomously The policies of the BJP-led government have intensified feelings of alienation among the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir Reports of human rights violations, heavy-handed security measures and economic neglect have fueled discontent As trust in Indian governance erodes calls for self-determination and accession to Pakistan are gaining momentum
The youth of Indian-occupied Kashmir, who have grown up amid conflict and unrest, are particularly vocal in their demands for change They are increasingly participating in political discourse advocating for their rights and expressing a desire for self-determination This demographic views its struggle for the future as intrinsically linked to the broader aspirations of the Kashmiri people
that the process may disproportionately affect Muslims, who might struggle to provide the necessary documentation The combination of the NRC and CAA has intensified fears of statelessness among many Modi’s government has also promoted policies that favor Hindu cultural values such as cow protection which can disproportionately impact Muslim communities involved in the cattle trade These policies have sometimes led to violence against minorities and fostered an atmosphere of intolerance Under Modi’s leadership instances of communal violence have increased often fueled by hate speech and rhetoric from party leaders and affiliated groups
The BJP has sought to reshape educational curricula to emphasize Hindu history and culture This shift has raised concerns about the erasure of a pluralistic narrative in favor of a majoritarian one The actions of Modi s government have sparked intense public discourse with many civil society
The Modi administration has also faced criticism for its crackdown on dissent particularly against activists and journalists who speak out against human rights violations
Numerous cases have emerged where activists advocating for minority rights have been arrested on charges ranging from sedition to terrorism This suppression creates a chilling effect discouraging individuals and organizations from advocating for the rights of marginalized communities
Concerns have also been raised about the government s approach to education and cultural representation Efforts to revise school curricula often emphasize Hindu achievements and narratives while downplaying the contributions of minorities which can alienate minority students and foster an environment where they feel excluded from the national narrative
In Indian-occupied Kashmir, human rights concerns have also intensified, especially since the BJP came to power in 2014
The region with its long history of conflict and tension has seen an escalation of violence and repression alarming human rights organizations and the international
The harsh Public Safety Act (PSA) has been frequently employed to imprison individuals for extended periods without trial Reports of torture and mistreatment in detention facilities have surfaced, with former detainees sharing their harrowing experiences The government has enacted strict measures to control the flow of information with internet shutdowns becoming common particularly during times of unrest Journalists and media outlets face harassment and censorship, making it difficult to accurately report on the situation Human rights defenders and activists in IIOJK have experienced increased scrutiny and harassment often facing threats intimidation and legal action for speaking out against government policies and human rights abuses
The international community has voiced concerns about the situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir, with various countries and human rights organizations calling for investigations into these abuses However India s diplomatic influence and strategic importance have often muted strong responses from global powers
Traditionally, the Governor of Indianoccupied Kashmir acted as a representative of the President of India and held specific powers including oversight of the state
The expanded powers of the Governor facilitate the rapid implementation of central government policies in Indian-occupied Kashmir often without adequate local consultation This has resulted in tensions between local political leaders and the central government Residents believe these changes undermine the region s democratic fabric, concentrating decision-making authority in the hands of unelected officials
The lack of local representation in governance exacerbates feelings of alienation among the people as policies imposed from New Delhi without local input have led to widespread discontent There are concerns that the expanded powers could be misused to suppress dissent, stifle opposition, and curtail freedoms further exacerbating the region’s already tense political climate The people of Indian-occupied Kashmir have long faced the question of their political future, navigating competing narratives of nationalism and identity Amid ongoing political turmoil, a significant portion is increasingly expressing a desire for self-determination and potential accession to Pakistan The unresolved status of Kashmir has intensified tensions between India and Pakistan with the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir often at the centre of this geopolitical struggle, their voices and aspirations frequently overlooked Residents seek the right to self-determination
The people of Indian-occupied Kashmir are dissatisfied with India Modi the BJP and its anti-Kashmiri policies Modi’s narrative of governance and division has resulted in significant
f o r I s ra e l a n d t h e J e w i s h
D i a s p o ra , re p e ate d l y f l a g g e d f o r ce n s o r s h i p p o s t s by
St u d e nt s f o r J u s t i ce i n Pa l e s t i n e
Cu t l e r d i d n o t re s p o n d to a re q u e s t f o r co m m e nt ;
M e t a d e c l i n e d a re q u e s t to i nte r v i e w h e r
“VOICE OF THE GOVERNMENT”: Cutler joined Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, in 2016 after years of highlevel work in the Israeli government Her resumé includes several years at the Israeli Embassy in Washington D C where she worked in public affairs and as its chief of staff from 2013 to 2016 as well as a stint as a campaign adviser for the right-wing Likud party and nearly five years as an adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Upon her hiring in 2016, Gilad Erdan, then minister of public security strategic affairs and information celebrated the move saying it marked an advance in dialogue between the State of Israel and Facebook In interviews about her job, Cutler has stated explicitly that she acts as a liaison between Meta and the Israeli government, whose perspectives she represents inside the company In 2017 Cutler told the Israeli business outlet Calcalist that Facebook works very closely with the cyber departments of the Ministry of Justice and the police and with other elements in the army and Shin Bet, Israel s domestic intelligence agency, on matters of content removal “We are not the experts, they are in the field this is their field ” A 2020 profile in the Jerusalem Post described Cutler as Our woman at Facebook hired to represent Israel s interests on the largest and most active social network in the world In an interview with the paper, she explained, “My job is to represent Facebook to Israel, and represent Israel to Facebook ” In a follow-up interview for the Post’s YouTube channel Cutler added that inside the company part of my job is to be a representative for the people of Israeli [a] voice of the government for their concerns inside of our company Asked Do they listen? by the show s host, Cutler replied, “Of course they do, and I think that’s one of the most exciting parts about my job that I have an opportunity to really influence the way that we look at policy and explain things on the ground
at the table Electronic Frontier Foundation s Director for International Freedom of Expression Jillian York told The Intercept
FLAGGED FOR MODERATION:
is flagged, a separate team of experts then reviews whether it violates our policies ” Cutler did not respond to a request for comment; Meta declined a request to interview her Lever said that The Intercept s line of questioning deliberately misrepresents how our processes work but declined to say how so
Though Meta has extensive government relations and lobbying operations aimed at capitals around the world, few other governments enjoy their own dedicated high-level contact within the company The company employs no counterpart to Cutler s role solely representing Palestinian viewpoints; tens of millions of Meta users across the entire Middle East and all of North Africa share one policy director A single policy lead oversees the entire Southeast Asian nations market with a population of nearly 700 million This raises concerns among experts about a deep power imbalance inside Facebook when it comes to moderating discussion of a war that to date has killed at least 40,000 Gazans
“If Meta wishes to behave ethically, it must ensure that Palestinians also have a seat
Records reviewed by The Intercept show Cutler pushed for the removal of an SJP post promoting a reading list of books including authors associated with two Marxist-Leninist militant groups, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine Though it remains a Meta-designated terrorist group according to a copy of the list obtained by The Intercept in 2021 the DFLP has not been considered a terrorist organization by the U S government since 1999, when it was delisted by the State Department primarily because of the absence of terrorist activity ” The PFLP remains designated by both Meta and the United States According to a source familiar with Cutler s actions these efforts have included lobbying for the deletion of posts quoting celebrated Palestinian novelist Ghassan Kanafani, who served as a PFLP spokesperson nearly 60 years ago and was assassinated by Israel in 1972 Kanafani whose works have been widely translated and published in countries around the world enjoys global literary renown and mainstream recognition; his 1969 novella Returning to Haifa was cited as a recommended book by a guest on the New York Times podcast “The Ezra Klein Show” last year Internal records show Cutler later lobbied for the removal of an SJP Instagram post describing Leila Khaled an 80-yearold former PFLP member who helped hijack TWA Flight 840 in 1969 and has in the decades since become an outspoken icon of Palestinian solidarity as “empowering ” These same records demonstrate Cutler regularly singled out Instagram content belonging to SJP at the University of California Los Angeles claiming to policy colleagues that this chapter had been associated with violent protests, citing an Israeli news report about an April 29 melee at the school’s Gaza solidarity encampment Local and national press accounts described a peaceful protest until a pro-Israeli mob attacked the encampment with fists weapons and bear spray, injuring 15 people Throughout the year, Cutler internally flagged several SJP UCLA posts, including those mentioning a reading list of PFLP-associated authors an on-campus “PFLP study group and a post containing a red triangle emoji a reference to Hamas combat operations that has become a broader symbol of Palestinian resistance Mona, a UCLA undergraduate and SJP member who spoke on the condition of being only identified by her first name said the
Cu t l e r ’s a c t i o n s, t h e s e e f f o r t s h ave i n c l u d e d l o b b y i n g f o r
t h e d e l e t i o n o f p o s t s q u o t i n g c e l e b r at e d Pa l e s t i n i a n n o ve l i s t G h a s s a n K a n a f a n i
chapter s Instagram account was periodically unable to post or share content, which the group attributed to enforcement actions by Meta In August, the organization’s chapter at Columbia University reported its Instagram account had been deactivated without explanation A member of SJP Columbia said the chapter did not have a record of deleted Instagram content but recalled Meta removing multiple posts that quoted Kanafani The Israeli government has been vehement in its criticism of anti-Zionist groups like SJP and Jewish Voice for Peace and has denounced campus organizing as an attempt to import terrorism to American college campuses Records show Cutler has requested the deletion of non-student content, too Following Iran’s October 1 missile attack against Israel Cutler quickly flagged video uploaded to Instagram of Palestinians cheering from the Gaza Strip Records show Cutler has also repeatedly lobbied to censor the Instagram account of Lebanese satellite TV network Al Mayadeen when it posted sympathetic content about the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah These actions are “Typical Jordana ” according to Ashraf Zeitoon Facebook s former Middle East and North Africa policy chief No one in the world could tell me that a lot of what she does is not an overreach of her authority Zeitoon, who departed the company in 2017, told The Intercept that Cutler ’s role inside Meta differed from those of other regional policy managers That s the job of a government employee a political appointee If I was head of public policy for Jordan, and I went on TV and said I represent the interests of Jordan within Meta, I would be fired the second day,” said Zeitoon, a Jordanian national whose mandate at Meta was to oversee the whole of the Middle East and North Africa That s the job of a government employee a political appointee None of us was ever hired with the premise that we re representing our governments BuzzFeed News reported that in 2017 Facebook employees had “raised concerns about Cutler’s role and whose interests she prioritizes evidenced by an argument over whether the West Bank should be considered occupied territories in Facebook s rules Zeitoon recalled this clash as emblematic of Cutler s tenure, adding that when he was there, she “tried to influence decision makers within the company to designate the West Bank as a ‘disputed’ territory” rather than using the term occupied a phrasing used by the United Nations when describing the region Zeitoon doubted the Meta spokesperson s claim that all internal escalations are treated equally, no matter who submits them Recalling his time working in a high-ranking role at the company he said his complaints received immediate attention: My report goes to the top, he said He expects the same would be
aBdul BaSit alvi
Ta complete separation between religion and state The inclusion of the term secular in the Preamble merely clarifies the inherent philosophy of the Constitution
developed a digital MIS system in collaboration with Local Government Department to ensure accountability transparency and sustainability This will help the municipal committee Jacobabad to manage safe drinking water, waste water, and solid waste, which will also be implemented in five other districts of Sindh Participants were informed about the entire MIS System through a detailed presentation
Paec's nori hospital holds breast cancer awareness activit y, walk
Nuclear Medicine Oncology and Radiotherapy Institute (NORI) a flagship hospital of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) in Islamabad held breast cancer awareness activity here on Tuesday Begum Fehmin Ali, wife of Chairman PAEC was the chief guest on the occasion In her address she appreciated the contribution of 19 Atomic Energy Cancer Hospitals (AECHs) being run by PAEC in diagnosis and treatment of cancer irrespective of the stage of the disease and financial status of the patients as well as spreading awareness about the disease She paid rich tributes to AECH NORI for leading the noble cause of cancer care and spreading awareness among masses especially women Mrs Chairman PAEC also stressed on the need to further intensify the efforts in this regard
sahibzadi mahin Khan appointed to boD of PiDc
KARACHI S TA
The Government of Pakistan Industries and Production Division is pleased to announce the appointment of Sahibzadi Mahin Khan to the Board of Directors (BoD) of Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation Private Limited (PIDC) as an Independent Director This prestigious appointment reflects the government’s commitment to fostering diverse, innovative leadership as part of its strategic vision for Pakistan s industrial development This appointment highlights the increasing emphasis on women s empowerment and the promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in leadership roles across the
UAE investors keen to invest in energy sectors: Nasir Shah
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TAB I L I T Y, PUB L I C W EL FARE: PM
g K-Electric evaluating decision, multi-year tariffs for distribution and supply under review
which he said had uplifted Pakistan s image Holding the summit despite challenges with terrorism and security on top was a great success for the country he said and appreciated the efforts by the ministries of foreign affairs information and broadcasting, and interior, law enforcement agencies, police,
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Tuesday opposed the bail plea of Bushra Bibi, wife of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, during the hearing of the Toshakhana-II case at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) The case presided over by Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb was adjourned to Wednesday (tomorrow) after the FIA reiterated opposition to the bail plea
Bushra Bibi’s legal counsel, Barrister Salman Safdar argued that the charges against his client were not substantial and that a private buyer had undervalued the gifts in question He claimed that the custom officers determined the value of the goods later, finding no wrongdoing on her part
“The custom officers later found no suspect Safdar argued contending that the whole matter was blown out of proportion
However, Justice Aurangzeb questioned whether it was the then Prime Minister Imran Khan’s decision to take the gift after paying only 50 percent of the value as alleged
The FIA prosecutor Zulfikar Abbas Naqvi responded that no such precedent existed where a person could take gifts from the
Toshakhana by paying half of the estimated value He affirmed that the FIA would oppose the bail plea due to the seriousness of the charges
The case pertains to Bushra Bibi allegedly retaining valuable Bulgari jewelry during a visit to Saudi Arabia in 2021 According to the investigation the jewelry set including a necklace earrings bracelet and ring was not properly declared or deposited in the Toshakhana, leading to significant financial losses to the national exchequer
The NAB investigation revealed that the total value of the jewelry set was approximately Rs75 million and the undervaluation of the set caused a loss of Rs32 85 million to the treasury
The legal troubles of Bushra Bibi and Imran Khan in connection with Toshakhana date back to earlier in 2023 when both were accused of retaining gifts given to them during foreign visits
The Toshakhana rules mandate that officials must declare all gifts received during their official foreign trips Both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi allegedly kept highvalue gifts while paying only a portion of their worth which is now the subject of legal proceedings
The ongoing legal saga escalated in July when both Imran
Khan and Bushra Bibi were arrested after the Islamabad district and sessions court acquitted them in a separate case, involving their controversial Nikkah during the Iddat period
Despite their acquittal in the Nikkah case the couple was immediately rearrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the Toshakhana reference
To recall, in yet another setback for the couple, the court had also summoned them for indictment in a new Toshakhana reference on October 2 further complicating their legal troubles
This new reference emerged after the Supreme Court s verdict restored amendments to anti-corruption laws, transferring the case from NAB to FIA The indictment hearing comes after months of legal maneuvering by the prosecution and defense teams with the FIA now taking charge of the investigation
The FIA s opposition to Bushra Bibi’s bail is seen as a key moment in the case with the agency arguing that her role in the retention of high-value gifts particularly the Bulgari jewelry set constitutes a serious violation of the Toshakhana rules and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Ordinance 1999
Netizen challenges 26th Amendment, calls it violation of judicial independence
ISLAMABAD
S TA F F R E P O R T
A citizen has filed a petition in the Supreme Court of Pakistan challenging the 26th Constitutional Amendment arguing that it encroaches on judicial matters and violates the separation of powers
The federal government has been named as the respondent in the constitutional petition, which urges the court to declare the amendment void
The petitioner contends that while Parliament has the authority to amend the Constitution with a two-thirds majority, it cannot interfere with judicial matters The plea claims that the 26th Amendment undermines the basic framework of the Constitution by giving the government control over the appointment of the Chief Justice and altering the composition of the Judicial Commission
The petition requests the Supreme Court to rule the amend-
ment as a violation of fundamental rights and judicial independence
In a separate case, the 26th Amendment has also been challenged in the Sindh High Court where Advocate Illahi Bux has filed a petition The petitioner seeks to nullify sections 8 11 and 14 of the amendment, arguing that they conflict with constitutional principles Secretaries of the Cabinet Division, Law and Justice, and other concerned officials have been made respondents in the case
