THOSE SPREADING FAKE NEWS FOR ‘VESTED INTEREST’ NEED TO BE BROUGHT TO
TRAWALPINDI
S TA F F R E P O R T
H E top military brass on Thursday expressed concern over the spread of propaganda and disinformation” against the armed forces, stating that those responsible must be brought to justice Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir and high-ranking officers revisited these concerns during the 84th Formation Commanders Conference at General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on Thursday, the military’s media wing said According to a statement from the InterServices Public Relations (ISPR) the participants were briefed on the current internal and external security environment and reviewed the Army s operational readiness to address evolving threats
The top military brass expressed concern about propaganda spread following the deployment of military personnel in Islamabad to secure key government buildings and provide a safe environment for visiting foreign delegations
eignty The forum also paid tribute to law enforcement personnel who embraced martyrdom during the recent violent protests in Islamabad Counterterrorism operations to continue
According to the ISPR, the formation commander also conducted a comprehensive analysis of ongoing counterterrorism operations and expressed their resolve to continue neutralising terrorists and their facilitators aiming to destabilise Pakistan
The forum decided to focus on operations against terrorists active in Balochistan, including the BLA s Majeed Brigade “The Army remains committed to serving the nation & public and guard against all external and internal threats without any bias and political affiliation and any attempt to pitch innocent people against each other and use of violence as an instrument for vested gains can never be tolerated, the ISPR s statement added
Over the past couple of years, social media campaigns against the army have escalated reflecting broader tensions within the country s political and social fabric The government often in tandem with the military has responded with stringent measures aimed at controlling the narrative and stifling dissent
“This pre-planned coordinated and premeditated propaganda reflects the continuity of a sinister design by certain political elements as an attempt to drive a wedge be-
laws and regulations to “check unfettered and unethical use of freedom of expression to spew venom lies and sow the seeds of polarisation
Those spreading fake news for vested political/financial interests need to be identified and brought to justice,” the statement read
The two-day forum lauded the martyrs of the Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies and citizens of Pakistan who sacrificed their lives for the nation s security and sover-
The forum also expressed concern about the “unabated” use of Afghan soil against Pakistan by terrorists especially [those] belonging to Fitna Al Khwarij the term adopted by authorities to designate terrorists It is in the interest of both neighbouring Islamic countries to rather focus
‘May 9 Riots’: Imran among 100 PTI
indicted
GHQ
RAWALPINDI S TA F F R E P O R T
The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Thursday indicted former prime minister Imran Khan among over 100 other PTI leaders in the attack on the General Headquarters (GHQ) case of May 9 riots
Protests erupted across the country following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan from the Islamabad High Court on May 9 2023 Various properties including sensitive military installations were vandalised by protestors like the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, PAF air base in Mianwali and Corps Commander House (Jinnah House)
ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah presided over the hearing of the GHQ attack case at a makeshift court setup in Rawalpindi s Adiala Jail
Over 100 individuals, including Sheikh Rashid, Omar Ayub, Sheikh Rashid Shafiq, Raja Basharat Zartaj Gul were also indicted in the case Following the court s decision opposition leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, was arrested, while former Punjab law minister Raja Basharat was taken into custody from outside the jail
Subsequently the court adjourned the case until December 10
Earlier several PTI leaders including Omar Ayub, Zartaj Gul, Shekh Rashid, Rashid Shafiq, Sadaqat Abbasi, Waseem Qayyum Abbasi Javed Kausar Sajid Qureshi Musarrat Jamshed
Cheema Mohammad Ahmed Chatha and Usman Dar had arrived at Adiala Jail for the hearing
The court had summoned all accused in the GHQ attack case, with charges expected to be formally brought against 120 individuals including PTI’s founder Imran Khan
In addition the court had ordered the appearance of former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi from Lahore Jail The court also instructed that arrests be made for several PTI leaders including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur Shibli Faraz Shireen Mazari Zartaj Gul, Zain Qureshi, and Tayyaba Raja Furthermore, arrest warrants were issued for 45 absconding accused with the court warning that legal proceedings would begin to declare them fugitives if they fail to appear Earlier this year, Imran Khan was arrested in the GHQ attack case, soon after his release warrant
was issued in the cypher case The GHQ attack case report outlines 27 severe charges against Imran Khan and other accused individuals
The report alleges that, under the leadership of former Provincial Law Minister Raja Basharat, the accused stormed the GHQ gate causing significant property damage despite being warned by military personnel to stop
The accused are also alleged to have broken into sensitive areas of GHQ, set fires, threw petrol bombs and created chaos within the premises
According to the report chants such as No Pakistan without Khan and Behind this terrorism is the uniform were allegedly raised, targeting military personnel and attacking the reputation of Pakistan’s armed forces
The investigation report states that attacks were also made on sensitive ISI and GHQ offices, characterizing the protest as a criminal conspiracy
IMF’S EXCHANGE RATE CONDITION KEEPS PKR UNDERVALUED, FUELING INFL ATION, DEBT: REPORT
S upreme Cour t clears way for PIA privatisation as c ase is dismissed
CCP identifies
125 c
ases of market abuse, strengthens effor ts for fair competition
G h u l a m a b b a s
The Market Intelligence Unit (MIU) of the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has identified over 125 instances of anti-competitive practices, showcasing a major stride in CCP’s efforts to address market manipulation and abuse
This was revealed by CCP Chairman Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu during a workshop held in observance of *World Competition Day* on December 5 Dr Sidhu highlighted that the MIU, leveraging advanced data collection and analytical tools is instrumental in uncovering market abuses across various sectors
The MIU s investigations have unveiled notable findings, including 25 cases in financial services, 16 in fastmoving consumer goods (FMCG), and 14 in real estate, among others Dr Sidhu emphasized that the MIU’s
The Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema on Thursday discussed key strategies to boost economic cooperation between Pakistan and Czech Republic
The Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema has expressed enthusiasm for the forthcoming inaugural session of the Pak-Czech Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) during meeting with Ladislav Steinhubel Ambassador of Czech Republic to Pakistan,said a press release issued here
Both sides agreed to form sector-wise Joint Working Groups (JWGs) before JMC in order to make it more productive Ahad Cheema emphasized the importance of the JMC (scheduled to be held on 28-29 April 2025 in Islamabad) in fostering deeper trade and the investment ties, particularly in sectors with untapped potential, and underscored Pakistan’s commitment to ensuring that the session results in actionable impactful outcomes
The Minister noted that the trade volume between both countries in
proactive role is crucial for ensuring fair competition, fostering healthier markets, equitable wealth distribution, and driving innovation He remarked that addressing anti-competitive behavior at its roots significantly enhances the overall market environment
Speaking at the workshop Dr Sidhu stressed the importance of competition in driving economic growth and development He discussed the CCP’s initiatives to revise legal and regulatory frameworks in sectors like energy and services aiming to dismantle entry barriers and protectionist policies impeding competition He expressed optimism that with continued government support and a bolstered CCP the commission is poised to more effectively combat market abuse and promote fairness
The event also featured updates from CCP officials on ongoing inquiries and case studies in sectors such as sugar, automobile, and cement Of-
Pakistan,
ficials highlighted the positive outcomes of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) facilitated by merger clearances, underscoring the CCP’s contribution to creating a more transparent and competitive market
During an interactive session journalists raised concerns about the CCP s challenges in enforcing competition law, particularly the backlog of cases in higher courts CCP officials detailed their strategies to address these hurdles and expedite legal proceedings
The workshop concluded with a call for greater collaboration among media, government, and the public to support the CCP s mandate Dr Sidhu reiterated the necessity of unified efforts to promote a competitive transparent and equitable market in Pakistan
This workshop reaffirmed the CCP s commitment to safeguarding fair competition, marking a significant step towards achieving its long-term goals for market reform and economic stability
C zech disc uss key strategies to boost economic cooperation
ISLAMABAD
COMMENT
Thinking about housing
Real estate should first be about shelter, not
TThe morning after
been a repeat of the 2016 D-Chowk sit-in may have fizzled out in a sort of comedy of errors, but it seems to have caused the party suffering even more damage, of the sort it had experienced on 9 May 2023 The 9 May attacks were meant to protest the arrest of party chief Imran Khan and may be counted successful in the short term because he was released on bail Protests which include arson and robbery (both at Jinnah House Lahore, the residence of the Corps Commander) do not result in relief being permanent Therefore, Imran was arrested again Even before that second arrest, the party began to suffer desertions resignation and a series of party figures who made public statements condemning the PTI and declaring undying loyalty for the armed forces The process culminated with the February elections where the Pakistan Istehkam Party and the PTI Nazriati came into existence, of people who had left the PTI, but had not found a place in some other party PTI protests do not have the effect they are supposed to They also may be outdated which might be strange to say for a party so celebrated for its digital awareness However the ideas of sit-ins and even the abortive jail bharo tehrik come from the Indian Independence Movement, which is after all at least 84, more like 94, years old One almost expects Gandhi’s 1930 Salt March to be repeated After all, there seems to be no other call to be made and the PTI now badly needs a new target The urgency has developed because of the now or never rhetoric around this rally The rally failed not just because of any individuals, though that may have played a role, but because the state was too powerful Though no one has left the party, people have tendered resignations from party offices though none has been accepted One person who came under fire was Salman Akram Raja the Secretary General True the fire so far has been directed at his absence from the rally itself even though it seems to have escaped notice that he is ex officio the Chief Organizer of the party, and if the rally was driven off, he cannot escape blame Omar Ayub Khan, who had only got the job last year, had resigned in September a final time remaining Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly at the time there was talk of a forward bloc being formed in the PTI parliamentary
Secretary who has taken over in September from Raoof Hassan who had himself taken over in May 2023 when Fawad Chaudhry left the party in the dark days after 9 May His failure, like Raja s, is supposed to have been because of the intensity of the blockade
However, considering that the par tyÊs base was attracted precisely because it was not par t of or thodox politics, there is the dang er that the path of dialogue will not be open However, neither the PTI nor any other par ty has ever been troubled by the need to be consistent The PTI might find it has to go down this path because it has run out of options Strictly speaking, having failed to spring Imran, the PTI members should abandon politics, as so many said they would do after May 9. However, they will want to go on, and if the PTI does not give them their preferred path, they will turn to a par ty that will. The PTI members have to decide where they want to go
KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur has also been roundly criticised for running away but his resignation was KP President was not accepted Imran s wife Bushr Bibi also ran away, but did not resign, probably because she holds no office There are also no divorce proceedings The PTI has so far not experienced any high-profile desertions but perhaps that is because there may not be many prominent leaders left in the party Those left in the party are diehard loyalists, who have already resisted the temptation to cut and run However, there have not been any new recruits flowing in Whether or not the PTI can win the next election, or indeed whether it will survive to the next election can be disputed However the PTI stands for something That may not be an ideology but just the loyalty to a single individual Indeed that loyalty may mean that there is no ideology, for while the PPP or the PML(N) pay lip service to some sort of ideology, the PTI does not However, it cannot be said that the PTI stands for nothing The people in the PTI the dedicated voters voted for something Twice There is some dispute about how many votes were given this February but there is no doubt that it got a lot of votes, with its being deprived of its election symbol not preventing independents backed by it receiving a large number of votes, win or lose This time around, the narrative was anti-everybody The anger which had in 2018 been directed against the corruption of previous
Cstance that depend on natural resources Those communities are being directly affected They are facing reduced yields and less food production What we know is that climate change is projected to reduce wheat yields, for example, by 19 percent by 2050, and the Kharif maize yields will be reduced by 18 percent by 2050 So those are very concrete projections and 80 percent of farmers in India are smallholders and they need a lot of support in adapting and dealing with climate change One is that we need a stronger relief system It is clear the current relief system needs reforming, with more anticipatory action, not just responding once an emergency hits That means that there are plenty of tools for climate risk insurance More funds are needed as are better safety net programmes India is very much leading the way, to be honest, on this because of the National Food Security Act, which India has with the Big Four food-based safety nets covering more than a billion people here in this country We all have a lot to learn from these systems and all social protection systems of this kind whether it s midday meals or it s a public distribution system, can always be strengthened and improved The writer is a freelance columnist C l i m a t e c h a n g e a n d f o o d s e c u r i t y
particular concern about certain states, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, where there are particularly vulnerable tribal groups, for in-
Online banking awareness
Emotion to action
MAlAIkA AlI
Crecent resurgence of terrorism in Pakistan has left the infrastructure in shambles and the economy on the brink of collapse
The most significant militant groups involved in recent times are Al-Qaeda, TTP, Afghan Taliban Lashkar-e-Taiba and Lashkar e-Jhangvi Each of them has the same goals but their scope is different AlQaeda mainly operates on a global scale TTP is involved in anti-state activities The Afghan Taliban were grappling with the USA and US-backed governments in Afghanistan and are now ruling it Lashkare-Taiba is majorly considered an insurgent group responsible for violence in Kashmir thus providing strategic depth to Pakistan Jihadi terrorism s roots can be traced to 1979, a time when the USA and USSR were at daggers drawn in Afghanistan Following the withdrawal of both arch-rivals from Afghanistan the region was besieged by a civil war between different factions of militants A year s-long war between these groups continued in the form of a power struggle, thus making Afghanistan uninhabitable for civilians An unchecked and unhindered swarm of refugees entered Pakistan The impoverished northern tribal areas teeming with Afghan refugees were already a herculean task for the governments to govern However with the influx of refugees the state and government were between the devil and the deep sea when trying to administer these areas with effectiveness and efficiency
With the founding of Tehrik Taliban Pakistan in 2009 by Baitullah Mehsud with a fundamentalist ideology to impose Islamic laws true Shariah and an Islamic government in Pakistan the state of Pakistan faced the music of Islamic militancy a product of the terrorist industry, patronized by Pakistan, the USA, and Saudi Arabia National disintegration lack of a top-tobottom approach and decay of democracy have left a vacuum for the growth and nour-
But the challenge must be met
ishment of extremist ideologies in Pakistan
Punjab is the largest and most highly populated province in Pakistan It has an upper hand in civil bureaucracy military resources and development The perilous aftermaths of which are exclusive state policies and a lack of consensus in decision-making at the state level
This has led to a sense of alienation among the people of smaller provinces of Pakistan thus contributing to the inception of subnational tendencies posing an existential threat to Pakistan
Ethnic infighting and separatist movements have gained strength in the recent few years An incessant tiff between the people of South Punjab and Central Punjab along with the Muhajirs and Sindhis has been evident in the near past
This situation will aggravate in the coming days as there is a perpetual demand for linguistic provinces all around Pakistan, a model which is already accepted and adopted by our eastern arch-rival This disunion among people within provinces will lead to weakened governments and the rise of internal insurgency in Pakistan
An arc of militancy extends from Karakoram to Gwadar Many significant terrorist organizations like TTP, Al-Qaeda, AT, LeT, BLA, and BLF are the carriers of violence throughout Pakistan
Social inequalities provincial economic disparity water crises and power distribution conundrums have fueled the flames of terrorism in Balochistan With the exponential increase of violence in Balochistan, the flagship project of CPEC is also under threat Terrorist organizations like BLA and BLF have carried out barbarism against Chinese nationals multiple times thus putting the future of CPEC and foreign investment in Pakistan at risk Gwadar Haq Do a recent
popular slogan, has expressed the discrimination of Balochistan in developmental projects
This unaddressed agony and grievances of people will add more fuel to the fire of the worst form of terrorism in Pakistan Alleged extrajudicial killings forced detentions and illegitimate apprehensions of Baloch people have provided an impetus for state-sponsored terrorism from across borders to come and play their pernicious role in Balochistan
The most prevalent and acceptable notion that provides explicit legitimacy to violence is that the USA wanted to suppress the rise of Muslim rule and the implementation of Shariah in Afghanistan
Another linked and interesting perspective is that the USA wanted to divide and rule the Muslim community and countries
This indifference towards and hate of the USA once a booster of terrorist groups have contributed to radical and socio-religious anti-Americanism
Pakistan s policy towards counter-terrorism has always been unpredictable, and leadership is at sea when trying to design a
workable and pragmatic strategy to eradicate the menace of militancy in Pakistan Pakistan’s failure is firstly due to Pakistan’s consideration of the Taliban government as a potential companion after the USA’s withdrawal Secondly the geostrategic importance of Pakistan can be enhanced by maintaining strong ties with Afghan militants Thirdly, the USA and India are selectively supporting some militant groups in Afghanistan to destabilize Pakistan, so Pakistan can use the Taliban as a counterweight against those groups
There is a never-ending list of reasons for terrorism in Pakistan but liquidating it from its root level is the major concern for the security and administrative authorities of Pakistan The policies designed by different governments in different decades against counter-terrorism are capricious With no learning from the nocuous role of terrorists politicians are yet to decide whether the militants are their friends or foes However, there is no single solution or magic bullet that can fix the problem, but the
TH E relationship between Bangladesh and India is undeniably getting strained Recent events reflect that tensions are continuing to rise On December 2 over 50 protesters reportedly entered the premises of the Bangladesh mission in Tripura’s Agartala and vandalised it, violating the Vienna Convention The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the action was “regrettable ” and ramped up security at all of Bangladesh s diplomatic missions around the country; however uncertainty remains regarding what lies ahead On December 3 the All Tripura Hotels and Restaurant Owners Association announced a temporary ban on serving Bangladeshi tourists, citing the mistreatment of minorities in Bangladesh Earlier, ILS Hospital a multi-specialty private hospital announced that it would not treat any patients from Bangladesh protesting against atrocities on minorities in the neighbouring country The events point to an escalation of anti-Bangladesh sentiments on the Indian side, fostered by a misinformation campaign in sections of the Indian media and government For context, tensions have further simmered since the arrest of former ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari at Dhaka airport on sedition charges and the subsequent killing of Saiful Islam Alif a lawyer and assistant public prosecutor who was fatally attacked with sharp objects during protests after Das was denied bail in Chattogram Arnab Goswami s Republic TV falsely reported the incident claiming, “Muslim lawyer representing ISKCON Chinmoy Das killed ” which went viral spreading through legions of trolls and social media users using the post to further demonise Bangladesh Fact-checking by the chief adviser s press wing revealed that the lawyer representing Das was Subasish Sharma Among those arrested for Alif s murder, two men, Zia Uddin Fahim and Rajiv Bhattacharya alias Suman, were affiliated with Chhatra League, Awami League’s student wing Sheikh Hasina also used the attack on the lawyer to state that the Yunus regime fails to punish these terrorists The Indian media are in many ways aligned with Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League s false rhetoric The day the attack took place in Agartala, India Today also published the news headline, “Mamata Banerjee calls for UN peacekeepers in Bangladesh amid
Bangladesh s Prime Minister following violent protests, the country has witnessed increasing violence against Hindus ” The wording encompasses the narrative that the Awami League which was elected through a farce of an election uses to delegitimise the democratic movement that saw the end of its fascist governance The truth is conveniently warped: Sheikh Hasina unleashed deadly violence on peaceful protesters (which included shooting them on sight), killing hundreds of students The December 2 incident in Agartala followed days after a protest by Bongio Hindu Jagran group Seeking the immediate release of Chinmoy Krishna Das protesters gathered to express grievances to the deputy Bangladesh high commissioner in Kolkata Few representatives were allowed to enter the Deputy High Commission According to The Hindu, Acharya Sanjay Shastri, after submitting a request to the assistant deputy high commissioner, said, “They have listened to our grievances They have assured us that they will carry our voices to the Bangladesh government Large sections of the Indian media left out this segment of the events that transpired when reporting on the clash and the burning of the Bangladesh flag in Kolkata Misinformation (the inadvertent sharing of false or misleading information) and disinformation (the deliberate dissemination of falsehoods to deceive) have been a pervasive problem especially as India continues to voice its concerns regarding Bangladesh ever since the ouster of the Awami League government The exaggeration of attacks on Hindu minorities to provoke the public, drawing parallels with Gaza and Ukraine from sections of the Indian government, serve to further strain the relationship between the two nations With social media playing a huge role in global politics the most terrifying aspect of disinformation is that it is shared and consumed in a decentralised manner where asking social media platforms to fix the crisis has not helped any nation The antiBangladesh sentiment has already spread to the US President-elect Donald Trump, who used it before the election to gain votes It is also being embraced by members of parliament in the United Kingdom On December 2 Labour MP Barry Gardiner embraced the AL narrative referring to the shooting of unarmed citizens as riots and misrepresented Bangladesh as an Islamic state aligning with the Islamophobic rhetoric put forth by the Indian media that Bangladesh is the next Afghanistan According to the 2024 World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report, India is the leading country in terms of misinformation and disinformation prevalence The misinformation machine in India has the potential to wreak havoc in Bangladesh with Indian media channels operating at a global scale In 2019 the EU DisinfoLab identified a network of at least 265 coordinated fake local media outlets operating in over 65 countries, which have links with India By 2020, the network had grown to include 750 fake news websites spanning 116 countries A section of the Indian media such as The Quint has itself addressed the issue of misinformation Articles were published fact-checking the wildfire spread of fake news regarding the violence against minorities which took away attention from the violence that did actually take place, leaving minorities in a more vulnerable position Eminent Indian journalist Salil Tripathi critiques India s diplomatic strategy for its heavy reliance on indi-
vidual leaders, investment into the former leader of Bangladesh, and for overlooking broader spectrum of Bangladeshi society India’s approach, along with misplaced concerns and deeply entrenched culture of misinformation in India poses challenges for bilateral relations
The unequal dynamics between Bangladesh and India are starkly evident in several areas: the water-sharing agreements, where Bangladesh endures water shortages while India benefits from unregulated upstream usage; the persistent trade imbalance favouring India; the harsh treatment of Bangladeshis along the border; and energy projects such as the Adani power plant that serve India s strategic interests India has at times shown interest in Bangladesh s internal affairs whereas Bangladesh has maintained a policy of non-interference in India s domestic issues
The Indian state is fearful of the change in Bangladesh because it is conflating Bangladeshi people’s voice against one leader that it favoured as a verdict against India which is not the case What is unfolding instead is a reflection of India s prejudice against its neighbour evident in the ongoing misinformation campaigns that the state permits to persist, which in fact perpetuates a long-standing legacy of inequity towards minorities in India who are conflated as unwanted Bangladeshi migrants These incidents of discrimination are explored by political scientist Navine Murshed examining India s Bangladesh problem The 2019 Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) passed in India with its discriminatory content portrays Bangladesh as a source of illegal migration and place of religious persecution The current misinformation and disinformation campaign is a continuation of the same sentiment
It must also be mentioned that India was among the leading countries in generating Covid-related misinformation In one instance a video falsely claimed that Bangladeshi citizens were sneaking into India en masse to receive vaccines a narrative that exacerbated xenophobia and strained relations between the two countries
Doctored videos have become a staple of misinformation campaigns in India often with far-reaching consequences In one notorious example a video was circulated purporting to show Bangladeshi citizens burning the Indian flag during a protest The video was later debunked by Soch and AFP Fact Check, revealing it to be from an unrelated event in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in 2009 However the damage was done as such content feeds into pre-existing biases and sows distrust between the two nations
The role of Indian politicians in amplifying misinformation also cannot be ignored From top leaders to regional politicians, many have shared unverified or misleading content and added their sensational analysis of the situation For instance inflammatory posts accusing Bangladesh of harbouring anti-India sentiments or allowing the persecution of Hindus have occasionally been shared by Indian political figures Though pragmatic in his approach as a politician, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has, till this day, deliberately ignored the bloodshed that the previous regime caused in Bangladesh, and amplified the focus on violence against minorities since Bangladesh’s former prime minister fled to India
In recent parliamentary sessions, many prominent MPs have expressed concerns about safety of minorities and urged for diplomacy to ensure Indian interests are protected but urging diplomatic initiatives without addressing the rampant misinformation undermines the effectiveness of such efforts Repeatedly mainstream Indian rhetoric fails to grasp the nuanced political dynamics that shape Bangladesh s unique political landscape One glaring example involved claims that Bangladesh’s interim government was complicit in attacks on Hindu minorities using unverified reports and outdated visuals While Bangladesh does face challenges regarding minority rights the oversimplification and sensationalisation of such incidents fuel mistrust and hostility, making diplomatic engagement more challenging The sensational narratives pushed in India not only undermine Bangladesh’s sovereignty but, as shown by recent events, risk igniting communal tensions within both countries
Misinformation exacerbates the existing tense dynamic creating unnecessary friction over border issues trade disputes and communal incidents A notable example is the controversy over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in India gained prominence between 2019 and 2020 Misleading narratives portrayed Bangladesh as a country willingly expelling its Hindu population ignoring the complex socioeconomic factors at play But what must be realised
MUHAMMAD USAMA RANJHA
jured since the beginning of the
offensive Amnesty also highlighted
significant impact on
vulnerable groups, including journalists and humanitarian workers Furthermore, the report underscores the extensive destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure By mid-2024 satellite images indicated that around 63% of Gaza s buildings had been damaged or destroyed Amnesty compares the level of destruction to no other conflict in the 21st century, describing it as unprecedented in scope The human rights organization also connects Israel’s military operations to broader concerns of genocide The report claims Israel s actions particularly after the Hamas-led attacks
Shoppers at the government-run Township Model Bazaar are now greeted by the gentle sounds of
and
the physical destruction of the group These actions must be carried out with
Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, Federal Minister for Law & Justice and Human Rights met with Ms Stephanie Copus Campbell Australian Ambassador for Gender Equality to discuss advancing gender equality and women s empowerment in Pakistan The discussion focused on legislative frameworks, increasing women’s leadership in government and private sectors and strategies to enhance gender inclusion The Fed-
The Minister also highlighted ongoing partnerships with international and local organizations to advance gender equality, including initiatives to engage men and boys as allies in addressing GenderBased Violence (GBV) and challenging harmful gender norms He stressed the importance of collaborative efforts to overcome cultural and structural barriers to women’s empowerment with a focus on creating sustainable impacts at all levels of society
eral Minister highlighted the government s dedication to gender equality through policy reforms, capacitybuilding initiatives, and efforts to create a more inclusive socio-economic landscape for women He emphasized the Prime Minister s Women Empowerment Package-2024 which focuses on supporting working women through vocational training, leadership development programs, microfinance schemes and initiatives such as Women on Wheels aimed at enhancing women s mobility and economic independence
Ms Campbell recognized these efforts and underscored the importance of addressing societal barriers to ensure women’s equal participation in leadership and economic development She expressed Australia s willingness to continue supporting initiatives that enhance gender-sensitive policies and empower women in Pakistan
Both parties emphasized the significance of sustained cooperation and international alliances to ensure meaningful progress toward an inclusive and equitable society The meeting concluded with mutual expressions of gratitude and a shared commitment to future collaboration
SHOAIB SHAHEEN CL AIMS POLICE USING MOBILE PHONE CHECKS TO PROFILE PTI SUPPORTERS
ISLAMABAD
N E W S D E S K
SE N I O R lawyer and PTI leader, Shoaib Shaheen, has alleged that Islamabad police have been conducting random checks of citizens mobile phones in an attempt to identify and target supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) party
He described this practice as a “highly dangerous act” and condemned it warning of its potential to destabilize the country
This accusation arises amid ongoing tensions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur recently accused the police of ethnic profiling, specifically targeting Pakhtuns Gandapur addressed Prime Minister She-
hbaz Sharif regarding these concerns in an official letter
As of November 28, over 1,400 people were arrested by police in Islamabad and Rawalpindi during a crackdown following PTI protests The protests had been planned in the capital but were dispersed after party leaders retreated in the early hours of November 27
The protests, which lasted three days, led to the deaths of at least four security personnel including a policeman and three Rangers officials PTI claims that 12 of its supporters were killed by police gunfire a claim the government has consistently denied Speaking to reporters outside the Islamabad Anti-Terrorism Court, Shaheen elaborated on the allegations, claiming that police were identifying suspects based on their CNICs and ethnicity specifically
I S L A M A
D: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vehemently denounced the unrepresentative government s courtiers for targeting people of KhyberPakhtunkhwa (KP) and spitting venom against Pakhtuns due to their unwavering support for PTI and its founder, Imran Khan PTI Spokesperson stated that the frustration of the power usurpers was understandable because KP had historically been the
those from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa He further stated that mobile phones were being checked, and if any media or messages linked to Imran Khan were found individuals were arrested Shaheen also expressed concern that even family members visiting detainees were being detained by authorities, calling it a conspiracy to break Pakistan He warned that such actions could deepen divisions and recalled how similar tactics contributed to the unrest in East Pakistan leading to tragic consequences The senior lawyer further emphasized the need to respect the justice sys-
tem and protect the constitutional rights of citizens, criticizing the government for undermining the law with amendments like the 26th Amendment In response an Islamabad police spokesperson denied the allegations of mobile phone checks stating that the checkpoints set up in the city were part of routine security procedures However, reports from two Dawn correspondents contradicted this statement with one describing mobile phone checks at a checkpoint on the Islamabad Expressway where motorcycle riders were stopped for security screenings
Eight Khwarij killed in separate security operations in KP
In a series of successful security operations on 5 December 2024 a total of eight Khwarij (militants) were neutralised by Pakistan s security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province
The first operation took place in the general area of Sararogha South Waziristan District following intelligence reports of Khwarij activity in the region During the operation, security forces effectively engaged the militants, resulting in the deaths of two Khwarij, including the notorious Kharji ring leader Khan Muhammad @Khoryay In addition to his death two other militants were apprehended Khan Muhammad, a key figure behind several terrorist activities in the area, including target killings and extortion, had been on the wanted list of Law Enforcement Agencies The government had
District, where a fierce exchange of fire led to the neutralization of six more Khwarij In both operations the security forces continued their sanitization efforts to ensure that any remaining militants are cleared from the
area The military’s ongoing commitment to eradicating terrorism from Pakistan remains strong with these operations being part of broader efforts to restore peace and stability in the region The successful elimination of these militants further demonstrates Pakistan’s determination to combat terrorism and safeguard the
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
Supreme Court s puisne Judge Mansoor Ali Shah sought the postponement of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan s (JCP) meeting scheduled for Friday (tomorrow), as numerous petitions challenging the 26th Constitutional Amendment are still pending before the apex court In a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi on Thursday, Justice Mansoor raised objection over the current JCP and demanded deciding the pleas to resolve the matter amicably The senior puisne judge said the JCP constituted under the 26th Constitutional Amendment had convened a meeting on December 6 to consider the nominations for the appointment of additional judges of the Sindh High Court and the Peshawar High Court According to the 26th Constitu-
tional Amendment the strength of the Judicial Commission is 13 members
The judicial commission is mandated to appoint judges to the Supreme Court, high courts, and the Federal Shariat Court (FSC) As per the addition of Article 175-A in the Constitution through the 26th Amendment the JCP will be headed by CJP and will also consist of two senators and two MNAs
The commission would also consist of three senior-most judges of the Supreme Court, the most senior judge of the constitutional bench, the Federal Minister for Law and Justice the Attorney General for Pakistan an advocate not having experience of less than 15 years of practice in the Supreme Court to be nominated by the Pakistan Bar Council (for two years)
A woman or non-Muslim member of parliament qualifies to be a parliamentarian to be nominated by the speaker for two years and will
also be part of the key panel
Listing down his reservations over the said meeting Justice Mansoor said the current JCP had been restructured and reconstituted under the 26th Constitutional Amendment of the Constitution and the very constitutional validity of the said Constitutional Amendment had been challenged before the Supreme Court of Pakistan by numerous petitioners from diverse segments of society Over two dozen petitions were currently pending before the Supreme Court in this regard, he maintained “While the outcome of this challenge remains uncertain (it may fail or succeed) a verdict invalidating the Constitutional Amendment would render any actions or decisions taken by this new commission, particularly including nominations for the appointments of additional judges in various high courts null and void
corruption and incitement His political party PTI has been in the midst of protests especially following
Khan s arrest and subsequent legal battles The increase in the number of cases against Imran Khan reflects the continuing legal and political pressures he faces However his supporters remain active in challenging these legal actions claiming they are politically motivated Earlier, the ATC in federal capital sent PTI founder, Imran Khan, on a 14-day judicial remand in a New Town police station case Imran Khan currently confined in Adiala Jail was re-arrested by to police in the New Town PS case after being granted bail in the Toshakhana case The ATC judge Amjad Ali Shah heard the plea and approved his judicial remand in New Town police station and seven other cases The development came after the former prime minister was arrested in seven more cases related to vandalism