g SIX PERMANENT, ONE ACTING JUDGE APPOINTED TO APEX COURT
ISLAMABAD
S TA F F R E P O R T
TH E Judicial Commission of Pakistan has approved the appointment of seven judges to the Supreme Court, including the elevation of the chief justices of three high courts, in a key decision expected to shape the country’s judicial landscape Among the nominees are Balochistan High Court Chief Justice Hashim Khan Kakar, Sindh High Court Chief Justice Shafi Siddiqui, and Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq Justice Salahuddin Panhwar Justice Shakeel Ahmad and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim have also been elevated to the Supreme Court Justice Miangul Hassan
g LAWYERS, LAWMAKERS OBSERVE BOYCOTT IN PROTEST TO ‘ ILLEGAL APPOINTMENTS ’ OF JUDGES
Aurangzeb of the Islamabad High Court has also been appointed as acting judge of the Supreme Court Their inclusion strengthens the Supreme Court s bench with experienced legal minds from across the country The approval follows deliberations within the commission, which is responsible for vetting and confirming judicial appointments The revamped JCP met on Monday It was expanded through the 26th Constitutional Amendment
The 13-memner JCP is led by the chief justice of Pakistan, and includes four judges of the apex court, as well as parliamentarians from both treasury and opposition and others The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) convened on Monday to consider the elevation of eight high court judges
Islamabad braces for unrest as bar associations protest judiciar y shakeup
including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was severely impacted as visitors were unable to enter the restricted area In a traffic advisory issued by Islamabad Traffic Police it was confirmed that the Red Zone routes would remain closed from 6 AM on February 10 until further notice Citizens have been advised to use Margalla Road as the sole available route for entering the zone
The advisory further urged the public to seek real-time traffic updates through helpline 1915 or the Traffic Police s social media platforms We request cooperation from the public as we manage the situation,” stated a police spokesperson assuring citizens of assistance in navigating alternative routes
as vehicles formed long queues in attempts to bypass restrictions Public access to government offices
The suspension of metro bus services between Rawalpindi and Islamabad added to the chaos Authorities limited bus operations to the Faiz Ahmed Faiz Station, leaving thousands of daily commuters inconvenienced
to the Supreme Court despite calls from some judges and sections of the legal community to defer the meeting In the last few days four Supreme Court judges and five IHC judges besides JCP member Senator Ali Zafar, wrote separate letters to Chief Justice Afridi to postpone the JCP meeting until decisions on the pending appeals against 26th Amendment and the new seniority list of the IHC judges The All Pakistan Lawyers Action Committee (APLAC), which represented the lawyers, who opposed the 26th Amendment, in a statement endorsed the demand of the four judges about postponement of JCP meeting and delaying the appointment of the new judges The statement signed by several former presidents and office-bearers of the
Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and other bars including Muneer A Malik Hamid Khan Ali Ahmed Kurd Qazi Anwar Abid Zuberi vowed to defend the independence of the judiciary Meanwhile lawyers have been
PTI lawmakers, Supreme Cour t judges boycott Judicial Commission meeting
Lawmakers from Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) and two Supreme Court judges boycotted the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) meeting convened to appoint new judges to the apex court Speaking to reporters, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan confirmed their absence stating “The JCP meeting should have been postponed until the cases against the 26th Amendment were decided Gohar further noted that apart from himself and Senator Ali Zafar, two Supreme Court judges Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Munib Akhtar had also refrained from attending the meeting Days earlier, four Supreme Court judges, including Justices Shah and Akhtar, had formally requested the session’s postponement Similarly Senator
Zafar had written to Chief Justice Yahya Afridi urging him to delay the proceedings Barrister Gohar explained that the meeting was set to decide on the appointment of eight judges while PTI s petitions against the 26th Amendment remained pending He reiterated that both Justices Shah and Akhtar, as well as Barrister Zafar had submitted letters requesting the delay Since our concerns were not addressed and the meeting was not postponed, PTI chose not to participate, Gohar asserted While the Judicial Commission meeting is ongoing, we have opted out ” Echoing similar concerns Barrister Zafar emphasized that the session
without clarity on seniority,”
said, highlighting that the matter remained unresolved
Imran Khan urges CJP Afridi to stand by law, justice
in multiple cases following his ouster from power in April 2022 Blasting the coalition government, the PTI founder said: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif President Asif Ali Zardari and [federal] ministers are all fake There is no hope from parliament It is pertinent to mention that the former ruling party alleges that their mandate was stolen during the February 8 2024 general elections The parliament is not functional It is a fraud parliament, he added
Moving on to the stalled negotiation process between the PTI and the ruling coalition, the former prime minister said that he was not expecting any breakthrough in the talks “I have told my team that the negotiations with the government are useless he added The jailed former prime minister said that his party did not demand a ju-
dicial commission to probe the alleged rigging in the general elections but to investigate the events of May 9 2023 and November 26
The PTI called off the negotiation process due to the “non-cooperation” of the government and delay over the formation of a judicial commission to probe the May 9 2023 violent protests and a crackdown on party protesters in Islamabad on November 26 last year
Referring to recent controversial amendments made to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2016 Khan said: “There was censorship in the past too but now [the government] introduced Peca [amendments]
Censuring the government in connection with the crackdown against the PTI workers, the incarcerated PTI founder said that there was hypocrisy in the garb of democracy and criticism was made akin to treason in the country
Speaking out for freedom of expression, Khan said there was a controlled media in the country, adding that protests and rallies were not allowed by the government
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announced out of the blue last week that the United States would take over the Gaza Strip, remove rubble and unexploded bombs and turn it into the “Riviera of the Middle East ” But while he initially said that Palestinians could be among the world people allowed to live there he has since appeared to harden his position to suggest that they could not Netanyahu on Sunday praised Trump s proposal as “revolutionary”, striking a triumphant tone in a statement to his cabinet following his return from Washington
“President Trump came with a completely different much better vision for Israel said Netanyahu who was reportedly only briefed on the plan shortly before Trump s announcement The reaction from much of the rest of the world has been one of outrage, with Egypt, Jordan, other Arab nations and the Palestinians all rejecting it out of hand The criticism was not limited to the Arab world with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday labeling the plan a scandal adding that the forced relocation of Palestinians would be unacceptable and against international law ” Trump’s plan has also threatened to disrupt the fragile six-week ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and the chances of it progressing to a second more permanent phase Trump, however, repeated his insistence that he could persuade Egypt and Jordan, both major recipients of US military aid to come around “I think I could make a deal with Jordan I think I could make a deal with Egypt You know we give them billions and billions of dollars a year, he told Fox Last year, Trump described Gaza as being “like Monaco,” while his son-in-law Jared Kushner suggested that Israel
IT MINISTER REAFFIRMS PAKISTAN’S COMMITMENT TO
ACCOUNTABILIT Y ON DIGITAL PL ATFORMS
PSDP 2024-25
The government has authorized the utilization of development funds amounting to Rs 628 891 billion, out of a total allocation of Rs1100 billion, for various ongoing and new social sector uplift projects of the federal ministries and divisions during the first seven months (July-January) of the fiscal year 2024-25 under its Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) Out of the total authorized/disbursed amount, the total amount spent so far on the development projects during the corresponding period stood at Rs220 196 billion according to the latest data released by the Ministry of Planning Development and Special Initiatives The detail showed that Rs153 512 billion, out of a total allocated amount of Rs255 854 billion has been disbursed to corporations including National Highway Authority (NHA) National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) and Pakistan Elec-
tric Power Company (PEPCO)
For the Aviation Division, funds amounting to Rs2 206 billion have been disbursed and Rs405 30 million for the Board of Investment Similarly the government authorized Rs48 640 billion to the Cabinet Division Rs 1 839 billion to the Ministry of Climate Change, Rs771 million to the Commerce Division, Rs 254 80 million to the Ministry of Communications (other than NHA) Rs3 231 billion to the Defence Division Rs2 076 billion to the Defence Production Division Rs322 35 million for the Establishment Division, Rs12 450 billion to the Federal Education and Professional Training Division, Rs2 129 billion to the Finance Division Rs145 106 billion to Provinces and Special Areas Rs36 669 billion to the Higher Education Commission Rs4 109 billion to the Housing and Works Division, Rs62 40 million to the Human Rights Division, Rs1 494 billion to the Industries and Production Division, Rs2 205 billion to the Information and Broadcasting Division Rs8 375 billion to the Information
Technology and Telecom Division,
and Intelligence Bureau to compile a comprehensive list of all illegal decant-
GOVT REINTRODUCES PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES TO ADDRESS RICE SHIPMENT INTERCEPTIONS
Atreatments such as heat treatment controlled atmospheric treatment or gamma irradiation Countries such as Australia, India, the USA, Russia, Mexico, and New Zealand have already replaced ALP with alternative treatments Additionally concerns have been raised over Italy s NPPO (National Plant Protection Organization) returning a rice shipment infested with the red flour beetle Experts argue that this pest is not classified as a quarantine pest in the EU and that Italy could have permitted onshore disinfestation rather than rejecting the shipment outright
2 C O M P
D S The new circular requires exporters to ensure that rice shipments comply with MRL, Mycotoxin levels, and heavy metal testing as certified by PNAC-accredited laboratories in line with the Codex Alimentarius Commission However sources claim this requirement has been in place since 2022 when the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) and M/oNFSR introduced third-party testing by SGS Despite this, interceptions have continued 3 CONTAMINANT-FREE SHIPMENTS
As per the circular rice shipments must be free from extraneous materials such as weed seeds and soil Ironically, the current head of the quarantine department, under the influence of importers through intermediaries, framed Pakistan’s import conditions to align with those of Australia India the USA Rus-
of the red flour beetle indicating that stored grain pests have developed resistance to this fumigant Experts stress the urgent need to replace ALP with
sia New Zealand and Mexico However these conditions were already part of Pakistan s Plant Quarantine Rules and IPPC guidelines Despite introducing news measures, industry insiders reveal that the following policy measures have been disregarded by the federal ministry Two months ago the Federal Minister directed Secretary Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry and Mr Waqas Alam to obtain phytosanitary import conditions for Pakistani rice from all 185 contracting parties of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) via Pakistan’s official IPPC contact point
Similarly the minister ordered the acquisition of food safety conditions from all Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) contracting parties through the designated Pakistani Codex point within the DPP However, despite the notification of the National Food Safety Committee in August 2024 the Secretary of M/oNFSR has yet to convene a meeting to discuss its implementation
The Pakistani IPPC contact point sent official requests to importing countries for their phytosanitary import conditions before issuing phytosanitary certificates Many countries responded with varied conditions However instead of implementing these conditions per country an inexperienced customs team imposed its own regulations violating Rules 62, 63, and 64 of Pakistan s Plant Quarantine Rules and IPPC/CAC provisions Moreover, critical tests for mineral oil and GMO presence both flagged in EU interceptions in 2023 and 2024 were ignored
Despite federal ministerial directives the DPP has failed to implement or maintain SPS conditions from its trading partners Experts argue that rice interceptions will persist because M/oNFSR is deflecting blame by proposing the creation of a new food safety authority mirroring the failed Punjab Saaf Pani Company model
IMPACT ON PAKISTAN’S RICE
EXPORTS: These reintroduced phytosanitary measures are ostensibly aimed at reducing rice rejections and bans due to MRL and Aflatoxin concerns However, industry insiders believe the real intent is to create a façade of action rather than addressing the root causes Pakistan s rice exports have already suffered due to a severe shortage of technical officials for inspections, leading to delays in issuing phytosanitary certificates and causing missed transport vessels Exporters are increasingly frustrated by these delays and the failure to appoint additional inspectors Earlier an inquiry committee chaired by former Interior Secretary Shahid Khan commissioned by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif investigated the causes of rice interceptions in the EU The committee blamed 17 DPP inspectors and former Director General Muhammad
NA panel urges FBR to consult IMF on tax policies impac ting cotton sec tor
now been successfully completed read the notice sent to the PSX
systems such as RFID to regulate production and trade
A comprehensive report on overbilling criteria used by power distribution companies has also been requested detailing complaint resolution mechanisms and accountability measures for those responsible for excessive billing
The committee has mandated that chief executives of all electricity distribution companies (Discos) attend the next meeting via Zoom to provide explanations and participate in discussions on addressing over-billing concerns within the agricultural sector
The committee emphasized that the FBR should engage with the Ministry of Commerce and consult the IMF if current tax measures are found ineffective in stabilizing the cotton sector Additionally the Ministry of Energy (Power Division) has been directed to formulate short-term relief measures to address high electricity costs for farmers particularly as discussions continue on canceling contracts with five Independent Power Producers (IPPs)
TPL Trakker expressed confidence that the partnership will drive business expansion, improve operational efficiencies and strengthen the company’s market position for long-term success The company has notified the Trading Right Entitlement Certificate (TREC) holders of the PSX about the development, in compliance with Section 96 of the Securities Act, 2015, and PSX regulations TPL Vehicle Tracking (Private) Limited was incorporated in Pakistan on December 27 2016 as a private limited company under the repealed Companies Ordinance, 1984 (now Companies Act, 2017) The name of the company was changed to TPL Trakker (Private) Limited on November 30 2017 The company is a subsidiary of TPL Corp Limited and TPL Holdings (Private) Limited is the ultimate parent company The principal activities of the Company include the
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Capproach is essential Strengthening legal frameworks is crucial not only by enhancing existing laws but also by ensuring rigorous enforcement Increasing penalties for violators and improving the capacity of labour inspectors will help create a more accountable system Expanding educational opportunities is another vital aspect of this strategy By making education more accessible particularly for marginalized communities the cycle of child labour can be disrupted Initiatives aimed at improving school infrastructure, providing scholarships, and enhancing teacher training will be instrumental in encouraging families to prioritize education over work
Addressing poverty through targeted economic development programs is also paramount Providing financial support to vulnerable families and creating job opportunities can alleviate the economic pressures that drive children into the workforce Moreover community-based programs can promote
significant challenge for effective regulation and protection of children
Socioeconomic factors play a crucial role in perpetuating child labour High levels of poverty and limited access to education compel families to rely on the income generated by their children This economic necessity often outweighs the perceived benefits of education, leading to a cycle of poverty that is difficult to escape Moreover, cultural attitudes towards child labour often rooted in traditional practices contribute to its normalization within communities making it essential to engage in sustained awareness campaigns that highlight the importance of education To effectively combat child labour in Pakistan, a comprehensive and multifaceted
Initiatives like Child Labour Schools under Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal and the National Education Policy offer financial suppor t to low-income families, enhance school infrastructure, and improve teacher training Pakistan has made progress in research and policy development through collaborations with organizations like ILO and UNICEF, yet weak law enforcement, inadequate monitoring, and the exploitation of legal loopholes continue to undermine effor ts
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world is confronted with pressing challenges of its time in terms of climate change, energy, security, water scarcity agriculture and deadly human diseases IAEA offers us the gateway in the form of nuclear energy as the most feasible solution IAEA has been at the forefront in promoting the peaceful use of nuclear technology by expanding
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Development Goals (SDGs) This cooperation is further reinforced through the regular visits of IAEA dignitaries to Pakistan aimed at promoting and enhancing the capabilities of the country s nuclear facilities These visits facilitate the exchange of expertise, help ensure adherence to international nuclear safety and security standards and acquaint with the latest nuclear developments in fields of energy agriculture and medicine
The peaceful uses of nuclear energy bring numerous benefits to the States To unlock the full potential of nuclear technology, IAEA fully supports the countries for the optimal utilization of nuclear potentials by providing The agency extends its support to utilize nuclear energy’s benefits while maintaining the highest standards of safety and security Agency s initiatives, such as Atoms 4Food, which uses nuclear technology to enhance agricultural productivity; Rays of Hope, which focuses on improving cancer care; Atoms4NetZero and Atoms4Climate initiatives help countries
use nuclear energy to address climate change, which promotes nuclear technology for sustainable development have not only been crucial but have also earned global recognition Additionally nuclear energy is also applied in water desalination and environmental monitoring These efforts highlight the essential role of nuclear energy in meeting global challenges
As a member of IAEA Board of Governors Pakistan regularly contributes to the Agency s decision making The country was elected for a two-year term from 2024 to 2026 during the 68th Session of the IAEA s General Conference in Vienna (2024) This is also an acknowledgement of Pakistan s long-standing commitment to the IAEA’s Statute of promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy It is Pakistan’s 21 t term as a board member
In the upcoming week DG IAEA Rafael Grossi will be paying his second official visit to the country Such visits are a regular norm of the Pakistan-IAEA interaction Earlier, former DG IAEA Yukiya Amano visited Pakistan twice during his tenure in 2014 and 2018 During his visit in 2018 DG Amano lauded Pakistan s efforts by saying IAEA greatly values cooperation with Pakistan in peaceful uses of nuclear technology He further added, Your country is an experienced user of peaceful nuclear technology You have the knowledge; you have the pool of well-trained people to do their job We [IAEA and Pakistan] have a fruitful two-way relationship Such visits
have played a key role in further solidifying the longstanding cooperation between Pakistan and IAEA During his maiden visit in February 2023 the incumbent DG IAEA labeled Pakistan as having the world-class and impeccable nuclear safety record, while addressing a seminar titled, Climate Change Mitigation and the Role of Nuclear Energy ” This recognition serves as a testament to Pakistan’s flawless nuclear safety standards and underscores the country s commitment to maintaining high safety protocols in utilizing the nuclear domain He noted that the country has technical and engineering capacities for building new nuclear power plants including Small Modular Reactors which indicates a favorable future for nuclear energy and achieving SDGs
Previously DG IAEA Grossi had a productive exchange on the country s comprehensive and cohesive peaceful uses of its nuclear capacity with the country’s leadership and visited several key nuclear facilities across the country DG IAEA visited Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH) an IAEA partner highlighted its work in human health, nutrition and water analysis He also toured the National Institute of Safety and Security, Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) and Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and expressed his satisfaction over the safety standards of the nuclear facilities At the Nuclear Medicine Oncology and Radiotherapy Institute (NORI), an anchor center of IAEA, DG Grossi inaugurated a Cyberknife facility for cancer treatment, calling it a milestone for Pakistan during his two day visit He highlighted that Pakistan can become a regional center under the IAEA s Rays of Hope initiative which aims to improve cancer care access in low and middle income countries In Faisalabad, Grossi visited the Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB)
designating it as an IAEA Anchor Centre in agriculture and
There has been a growing collaboration between Pakistan and IAEA in the peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology across various sectors The upcoming visit aims to explore the latest advancements in nuclear science and technology, offering exper tise and multiple oppor tunities for socio-economic development of the countr y It ser ves as an acknowledgment of the tireless effor ts of Pakistani scientists, researchers, technicians and staff members of the countr yÊs nuclear facilities in adhering to international safety protocols during their nuclear endeavors. The upcoming visit fur ther symboliz es PakistanÊs commitment as a responsible nuclear state which is devoted to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy for the uplift of the countr y.
AS the Trump administration gets underway, key aspects of how it will approach China remain unclear It’s especially uncertain what consensus will emerge among Trump s team on the nature and scope of the threat that China poses During his confirmation hearing, Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserted that the People s Republic of China is “the most potent and dangerous near-peer adversary this nation has ever confronted ” Along similar lines Trump’s national security adviser Mike Waltz has stated that we are I believe in a cold war with China because its goal is replacing the American Dream and American leadership around the world with the Chinese Dream and Chinese leadership Does Trump himself share this view of the China threat? He rarely, if ever, talks about it in such strategic or ideological terms His approach is often described as more transactional focused on the opportunities provided by the relationship he has (or thinks he has) with Chinese leader Xi Jinping Contrary to the prevailing view of Xi as a brutal dictator and the view among many in GOP circles that diplomatic engagement with Beijing is futile or dangerous Trump said publicly last month that “I like President Xi very much I’ve always liked him We always had a very good relationship And it is my expectation that we will solve many problems together Whether Trump s approach will be consistent with the principles of his national security team or the interests of the United States remains to be seen The meager results of his personal diplomacy during his first term with Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un not to mention Xi himself should be examined for clues and lessons In the meantime Trump s advisers should also reexamine Rubio s and Waltz s views of Beijing s strategic intentions They would benefit greatly from a new book by Brookings Institution Fellow Melanie Sisson entitled The United States, China, and the Competition for Control In this slim volume (less than 100 pages of text before the endnotes) Sisson persuasively refutes the notion that China is seeking to supplant the United States as the global hegemon Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi told Rubio in their first phone conversation that we have no intention of overtaking or replacing anyone ” This was readily dismissed as typical Chinese disingenuousness However, those who claim that China seeks world domination never seem to confront the logic of the argument Do the math How would Chinese global hegemony come about and how would it operate? Is it possible that Beijing has the resources to make it happen and that the competing resources and resistance of the rest of the world could not prevent it? What reason do Chinese leaders have to believe that they could achieve and sustain it? They are amply familiar with the reasons why many historical bids by other great powers for regional or global hegemony failed or did not survive That is why Beijing is focused instead on maximizing China s wealth, power,
China is not seeking to remake world order
China’s goal is not to usurp the US role and unilaterally set the rules of international behavior but instead to increase its role relative to that of the United States in setting the rules
U S power and influence This is the competition for control that Sisson addresses in her book It is not a zero-sum contest because China s goal is not to usurp the U S role and unilaterally set the rules of international behavior but instead to increase its role relative to that of the United States in setting the rules One of the central points here is that Chinese and U S interests are competitive but not irreconcilable As Sisson observes the widespread view that China s vision for world order is definitionally antithetical to the United States is a conviction [that] has preceded the evidence ” Sisson acknowledges the literature supporting the argument that Beijing is “seeking actively to displace and ultimately to replace the United States as the world s most influential indeed the world s dominant actor and intends to do so by establishing an illiberal hegemony first regionally, and then globally In particular, she cites The Strategy of Denial by Elbridge Colby (nominated to be Trump’s Undersecretary of Defense for Policy; The World According to China by Elizabeth Economy (who worked in Biden’s Commerce Department); and The Long Game by Rush Doshi (who worked in Biden s National Security Council) However like some other analysts, Sisson asserts that key elements of the argument are based heavily on selective and debatable interpretations of Chinese policy statements and documents
The core challenge to the United States is not that Beijing seeks to remake the international order in the image of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) system but simply that it wants the existing order to legitimize the CCP system and let it participate in writing the rules This is disconcerting to the United States because of the CCP s effectiveness and the external leverage this has given China
As Sisson observes, what Washington is really confronting is “China’s success in demonstrating that its illiberal political system is socially stable economically productive and militarily capable and that this in itself will make it harder for the United States to pursue its goals and interests This has fueled anxiety that a world in which Beijing is allowed to exercise international leadership to any greater extent than it does already will be a world hostile to liberal principles and menacing to the United States ” And this in turn has been the impetus for the inflated notion that China seeks to undermine the world order in ways that are fundamentally incompatible with U S interests
This exaggerated threat perception serves several purposes Pointing to an existential threat from China allows Washington to divert attention from the self-inflicted vulnerabilities that have undercut U S competitiveness It also deflects the hard policy choices that might be required for constructive engagement with Beijing Why consider compromises with China if the CCP isn t interested in peaceful coexistence and is instead determined to impose its will on the United States and the rest of the world? Finally, as Sisson notes with concern, the narrative of China’s pursuit of global hegemony is being used as the basis for a confrontational and exclusively competitive approach to Beijing that is probably increasing both costs and risks for the United States
To support the alternative notion that constructive engagement with China is both possible and necessary, Sisson briefly traces the history of Washington s and Beijing’s respective approaches to the post-1945 international order On the U S side she notes that much of what Washington associates with that order today “are not products of its founders design but of American power and its embrace of liberalism
Moreover, Washington largely adopted the view that both its security and that of the international order itself require other countries to subscribe to its values even
though it has been inconsistent with the post-war order s founding principles of free trade and multilateralism
For its part, China was represented at the establishment of the post-war order by the Nationalist (KMT) Government, which later fled to Taiwan in 1949 However CCP leaders eventually endorsed that order because they believed it could provide both internal stability and protection against disruptive external agents and influences and challenges to China s sovereignty and territorial integrity After the Cold War, however, Beijing remained somewhat uncomfortable with the U S approach to multilateralism, which the Chinese predictably interpreted as aimed at perpetuating American hegemony China’s own approach has thus been aimed at pursuing a range of policies that are consistent with a state responding to an environment in which it recognizes threats to its interests at the same time that it sees opportunities to advance them
On balance, Sisson asserts that China, far from opting out or of seeking to obstruct or overturn the post-war order ’s institutions ” has “integrated itself into them and from there worked within their procedures to gain and exercise influence Although openly critical of some of the rules Beijing s emphasis has been on advocating reform from within the system and strengthening its bargaining position in the process It is certainly true that China like the United States engages in “diplomatic dissembling, economic and military coercion, and selective interpretations of history to pursue its interests ” But Sisson concludes that what China has said and done over time and into the present day suggests that China is more in support of than opposed to the founding principles and institutions of the post-war order Notwithstanding this historical balance sheet, Sisson reiterates that many in Washington have “adopted a narrative about U S -China competition that is as insistent about America’s attachment to the post-war order as it is about China s intent to supplant it with a less legitimate and more dangerous one
What is obscured in this narrative is the difference between an existential threat and a geostrategic challenge Sisson acknowledges that “China’s growing power makes it possible to imagine an international order that privileges America’s liberal preferences less and China s illiberal preferences more But this is not (or at least need not be) a winner-take-all contest Neither side s preferences would necessarily negate or exclude the other s Also, efforts by China to alter the balance of preferences do not themselves constitute a major break with the principles and institutions of the post-war order and should not be the basis for extrapolation about China’s ambitions to create a new one ” So what is to be done? One of Sisson s most compelling observations is that the U S narrative makes order the object of great power conflict, not the means of managing it It is a dangerous inversion, one that converts negotiating the rules of international affairs into a competition to set them ” The bottom line is that Washington needs to recognize that it cannot unilaterally set the terms of either the U S -China relationship or the international order Instead the United States simply needs to get down to the business of working out those terms through sustained strategic engagement with Beijing Contrary to the presumption of irreconcilable differences, Sisson notes that there is common ground from
Yusra Mushtaq
ALMOST ALL NATIONS MISS UN DEADLINE FOR NEW CLIMATE TARGETS
Pak istan’s Economic Plague: L and M afia
MUHAMMAD ABDULLAH QAISAR
China deplores and strongly opposes the latest joint statement made by the United States and Japan concerning China, as it is a brazen interference in China’s domestic affairs, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Monday The joint statement released last week expressed support for Taiwan s so-called meaningful participation in international organizations and reaffirmed that Article V of the U S -Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security applies to the Diaoyu Dao an inherent part of China’s territory In response Guo stated at a daily news briefing that the China-related content of the joint statement blatantly interferes in China s internal affairs, smears China and plays up regional tensions China has lodged solemn representations with Japan Guo said Reiterating that the Taiwan question is purely China s internal affairs and central to its core interests Guo
warned that the country will not tolerate any external interference
He also emphasized that both the United States and Japan have made solemn commitments to China on the Taiwan question and called on Japan to be more cautious in words and actions given its grave historical responsibility for invading and colonizing Taiwan
He said if those countries really care about peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits they should abide by the one-China principle and unequivocally oppose Taiwan independence Guo stressed that Taiwan region’s participation in the activities of international organizations must and can only be handled in line with the oneChina principle adding that Taiwan does not have any ground reason or right to join international organizations whose membership is confined to sovereign states
The Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands have always been part of China s territory and it is legitimate and lawful for China to conduct activities in relevant waters, Guo said
Mass graves in Libya reveal grim toll on migrants amid abuse allegations
operations continuing in the area
LAHORE A G E N C I E S
Libyan authorities have unearthed nearly 50 bodies from two mass graves in the country s southeastern desert, amid mounting concerns over the systematic abuse of migrants and refugees transiting through the war-torn nation
The Kufra city security directorate confirmed on Sunday that one of the graves located on a farm was discovered on Friday and contained 19 bodies Authorities believe as many as 70 individuals may have been buried at the site based on testimonies from survivors The remains have been transported for autopsies with search
Al-Abreen a humanitarian organisation supporting migrants in Libya s eastern and southern regions revealed that several of the deceased had been shot prior to burial The nationalities and identities of the victims remain unverified
This harrowing find is not unprecedented In a similar incident last year authorities recovered the remains of at least 65 individuals in Shuayrif south of Tripoli
Libya s strategic location makes it a key transit point for migrants from Africa and the Middle East attempting to reach Europe The country shares porous borders with six nations including Chad Niger Sudan and Egypt facilitating human trafficking B e i j i
CM MARYAM NAWAZ LAUNCHES SPECIAL PROJECT TO PROVIDE ASSISTIVE DEVICES TO SPECIAL PERSONS
ABDULLAH QAISAR
havoc on the country s agricultural sector, threatening the livelihoods of millions
The most immediate impact of climate change on Pakistan s agriculture is the decline in crop yields and quality Higher temperatures are accelerating crop maturation, leading to reduced grain filling and lower yields
Moreover changes in rainfall patterns are causing water shortages in some regions while leading to excessive flooding in others This erratic rainfall disrupts planting and harvesting cycles, further impacting agricultural productivity
Extreme weather events such as floods and droughts are also posing significant challenges to Pakistan s agriculture Floods can destroy crops, livestock, and agricultural infrastructure, while droughts can lead to severe water scarcity and land degradation The frequency and intensity of these events are increasing due to climate change making it difficult for farmers to adapt and recover Pakistan s dependence on agriculture for food security and livelihoods makes it particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change The sector employs a significant portion of the population and contributes substantially to the country s GDP Climate change
threatens the food security of millions of Pakistanis especially those living in rural areas
To address the challenges posed by climate change Pakistan must implement comprehensive adaptation and mitigation strategies This includes investing in climate-resilient agricultural practices such as drought-tolerant crop varieties efficient irrigation systems and sustainable land management techniques Additionally, the government needs to strengthen early warning systems to provide farmers with timely information about impending extreme weather events Furthermore Pakistan can benefit from promoting sustainable agricultural practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions This includes promoting agroforestry, which involves planting trees on agricultural land to provide shade improve soil health and sequester carbon Additionally adopting organic farming practices can reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which contribute to climate change
In conclusion, climate change is a growing threat to Pakistan’s agriculture sector, with far-reaching implications for the country’s economy food security and livelihoods By implementing effective adaptation and mitigation strategies promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and seeking international cooperation, Pakistan
The writer is a student at Aitchison college currently completing
Another migrant boat capsizes off Libyan coast, Pakistanis feared among vic tims
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
A migrant vessel carrying 65 pas-
sengers has reportedly capsized near the Marsah Della port in Zawiya Libya with fears that Pakistani nationals may be among those onboard
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) confirmed on Monday that efforts are underway to verify the identities of the passengers and ascertain the extent of casualties
The Pakistani Embassy in Tripoli has dispatched a team to Zawiya Hospital to assist local authorities in the identification of victims and provide necessary consular support “We are actively working to determine the status of Pakistani nationals involved in this tragic incident read an official statement from MoFA
The ministry has activated its Crisis Management Unit to monitor the evolving situation and offer assistance For inquiries citizens
have been encouraged to contact designated helplines: Embassy of Pakistan in Tripoli: +923052185882 (WhatsApp) | +218913870577
Crisis Management Unit Islamabad: 051-9207887 | Email: cmu1@mofa gov pk
This latest tragedy follows a grim pattern of migrant disasters in the Mediterranean where Libya has become a major transit point for individuals seeking passage to Europe often via dangerous sea routes facilitated by human traffickers
In a related incident just last month, a boat carrying 80 passengers capsized near the Moroccan coast Thirteen Pakistanis were confirmed dead while over 40 were reportedly killed by traffickers onboard Only 22 individuals survived the ordeal
Over the past year, multiple maritime catastrophes involving Pakistani nationals have been reported Notably in June 2023 a fishing trawler bound for Italy cap-
sized near Greece, with estimates suggesting as many as 300 Pakistani victims Earlier in April, several Pakistanis lost their lives when boats sank off the western Libyan coast In response to mounting fatalities Pakistani authorities have intensified efforts to curb illegal migration The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has introduced stricter screening protocols at airports leading to the offloading of 2 500 passengers in January at Lahore airport alone Additionally 50 FIA officials have faced dismissal or legal action over alleged involvement in human smuggling networks
Despite these measures, traffickers continue to exploit desperate individuals seeking better opportunities abroad contributing to the growing toll of tragedies in the Mediterranean Sea Authorities have reiterated their call for citizens to refrain from using illegal migration routes underscoring the dangers associated with unregulated travel across international waters
constitutional questions may require hearing by a constitutional bench The court expressed hope for well-prepared arguments in the next proceedings and issued notices to relevant parties PECA, a controversial cybercrime law, has been frequently criticized by media bodies and rights activists who argue that its provisions undermine freedom of expression and digital rights in Pakistan
Nine new judges sworn in at Lahore High Cour t
LAHORE
S TA F F R E P O R T Nine additional judges took their oath of office at the Lahore High Court (LHC) with Chief Justice Aliya Neelum presiding over the swearing-in ceremony held on the court s lawn The newly appointed judges include Justice Hassan Nawaz Makhdoom, Justice Malik Waqar Haider Awan, Justice Sardar Akbar Ali, and Justice Malik Javid Iqbal Wains Justice Syed Ahsan Raza Kazmi Justice Muhammad Jawad Zafar Justice Khalid Ishaq Justice Malik Muhammad Owais Khalid and Justice Chaudhry Sultan Mahmood also took their oath during the ceremony The appointments have increased the court s strength from 34 to 43 judges However, the Lahore High Court continues to face a shortage of 17 judges against its sanctioned strength The oath-taking ceremony was attended by sitting judges law officers and court staff Bar representatives and family members of the newly appointed judges were also present at the event This expansion of the judiciary marks a significant step toward addressing the court s capacity needs, though the remaining vacancies indicate ongoing challenges in achieving full judicial strength
justices
G ove r n m e n t s S u m m i t
g PRIME MINISTER TO DISCUSS GOVERNANCE, INNOVATION, AND ECONOMIC COLLABORATION DURING HIS TWO-DAY VISIT TO DUBAI
Erdogan to visit Pakistan this week for bilateral talks amid Asia tour
the UAE and collaborating with global partners on critical issues
According to Pakistan s Foreign Office, the visit highlights the deep-rooted relationship between Pakistan and the UAE based on mutual trust and cooperation The UAE remains a crucial economic and strategic partner for Pakistan in various sectors This visit comes as Pakistan looks to boost economic cooperation and attract more foreign investment P M S h e h b a
During the summit, PM Shehbaz is expected to deliver a keynote speech, outlining Pakistan’s vision for inclusive economic growth digital transformation and governance reforms The prime minister will also engage in bilateral talks with UAE leaders and participate in meetings with heads of state and multinational CEOs attending the event
ment as the Acting Judge of the Supreme Court The JCP meeting came amid opposition voiced by four apex court judges and the former ruling party, following the recent transfer of judges to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Speaking during Tv talk show Hamid said that there was no consensus in the
