Pakistan rejects Modi’s regional Peace stateMent
tInstead
of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry termed India the main sponsor of terrorism in
Addressing
by Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, the DG ISPR said: The latest attack in Balochistan and other terrorist incidents that took place in the past we understand that the main sponsor of these [attacks] is your eastern neighbor ” The outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) during the attack on the Jaffar
and Afghanistan reached an agreement on
for
reopening of the Torkham trade route for
movement The breakthrough came during a Pak-Afghan jirga held to address border tensions at the Khyber-Torkham crossing Pakistani jirga member told media that both sides agreed to halt hostilities and restore trade and travel at the crucial border crossing
As part of the agreement the joint jirga decided to temporarily suspend disputed construction by Afghan forces The Afghan delegation has requested time until this evening to consult their authorities on the matter Hussain said that the Afghan jirga would brief their officials on halting the construction and that the issue would be deferred until the next meeting of the Joint Chamber of Commerce The final decision on the disputed construction will be taken
during that session while trade activities at the crossing will resume in the meantime The date for the next meeting will be decided through mutual consultation Additionally officials from Pakistan’s Frontier Corps (FC) and Afghan authorities are set to meet today The reopening of the Torkham trade route is expected following their discussions The border crossing was shut on February 21 after tensions escalated when Afghan forces began construction inside Pakistani territory
PESHAWAR
Pakistan s security forces on Monday successfully
thwarted two separate terror attacks in Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa (KP), forcing militants to flee after facing
tack on the Khyber Jamrud Bypass checkpoint
in the country had been exceptional He emphasized that Afiniti was “thrilled” with the caliber of talent available in Pakistan, which has contributed significantly to the company s success On the occasion Aurangzeb expressed
his appreciation for Afiniti s growth and its continued investment in Pakistan He noted that information technology (IT) and ITenabled services, along with agriculture, represent major growth sectors for Pakistan with the unique advantage that much of the input for these sectors remains local He assured the delegation that the government is committed to creating an enabling ecosystem for both IT and agriculture to thrive He briefed the delegation on a range of taxation reforms aimed at modernizing the tax system through the use of peopleprocessed technology and end-to-end digitalization He stressed the government s goal of broadening the tax base, including bringing previously non-compliant sectors into the tax net This, he explained, would provide greater space for sectors that are over-taxed such as the
Additionally Minister Aurangzeb pro-
vided
positive sign for the country s foreign
exchange earnings
2 Imports of Goods: Imports saw a slower increase, growing by 11 4% to $38 3 billion, as compared to the same period last year This was due to government efforts to reduce the import of non-essential goods and a moderation in domestic demand
3 Remittances: Worker remittances remained a strong contributor, totaling $23 97 billion in the period, up from $18 08 billion last year These inflows have been vital in stabilizing Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves 4 Reduction in Services Trade Deficit: The trade deficit in services also narrowed, contributing to the overall improvement in the balance of payments The goods and services trade deficit stood at $18 8 billion in Jul-Feb FY25 an improvement from $24 6 billion in the same period last year
While the primary income deficit widened slightly due to higher foreign debt servicing, the overall current account balance showed resilience aided
by Pakistan s strategic economic adjustments and ongoing efforts to attract foreign investment The balance on secondary income also saw a positive uptick, driven by higher remittances and transfers from the Pakistani diaspora However the financial account remained under pressure with a net borrowing of $401 million recorded in the same period, reflecting ongoing challenges in securing consistent foreign investment Despite this, Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves remained stable, bolstered by inflows
(PTI) supported by foreign funding played a role in spreading this misinformation through social media Appealing for unity, Hanif Abbasi urged all political parties to join hands in the fight against terrorism He said the entire nation is standing behind the armed forces and expressed confidence that Pakistan s security forces will defeat terrorism with the people s support He also spoke about the issues faced by retired railway employees regarding their pensions Abbasi assured that the government is working to resolve these problems soon
M o n to r i n g d e S k
The Ministry of Finance has issued a formal clarification in response to recent media reports suggesting that Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb had hinted that salaries and pensions for government employees would not be increased in the upcoming fiscal year The clarification issued on Monday, refutes these claims, stating that the finance minister did not make such a statement The confusion arose following a written response from Aurangzeb to a question posed in the National Assembly (NA) Media outlets reported that the finance minister had suggested there would be no increases in government employee compensation in the
2025-26 budget However, the Finance Division categorically denied these reports asserting that they were not based on facts
The finance minister did not make any such announcement or statement, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement “The news reports attributing this statement to him are not accurate ” The statement further clarified that during his address to the National Assembly Aurangzeb did not mention any plans to revise the pay scales or salaries of government employees Instead, the ministry confirmed that, in response to a question raised by a Member of the Assembly it had provided a written explanation stating that the revision of pay scales salaries and allowances for federal government employees for the upcoming fiscal year is not under cur-
rent consideration The clarification comes at a time when concerns about government employee salaries and pensions are a significant topic of public discussion particularly in light of inflationary pressures and economic challenges As the government prepares to present its budget for the financial year 2025-26, any mention of adjustments to employee compensation is closely watched
The Ministry of Finance s statement aims to dispel confusion and reassure the public that no official decisions regarding pay revisions have been made With the government set to finalize the upcoming budget it remains to be seen whether any further announcements regarding government employee benefits will be made in the coming weeks
Pakistan to boost exports to $60 billion in 5 years: Jam Kamal
ISLAMABAD A P P
The National Assembly was informed on Monday that a comprehensive plan has been devised to increase Pakistan s exports to $60 billion within the next five years
The Minister for Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan, highlighted that the Ministry of Commerce, along with other government departments is working to enhance exports and reduce the trade deficit A significant achievement in this regard is the restoration of rice exports to Bangladesh, with plans to increase the volume from 60,000 tons to 200,000 tons During the National Assembly’s question hour in response to a query from Sahar Kamran Minister Jam Kamal Khan acknowledged the existing trade deficit and emphasized efforts to boost exports to address this gap He pointed out key challenges, including limited value addition, lack of technology restricted market access and underutilization of trade agreements such as GSP Plus and access to U S
markets He noted that while Pakistan has struggled to achieve surplus exports in recent years, steps are being taken to bridge the gap between imports and exports The Minister stated that the Ministry of Commerce in collaboration with the Ministry of Industries and Production has been working to reduce business costs and promote manufacturing trade diplomacy, and value addition
He added that tariff reforms and policy adjustments are being implemented to support exporters
Responding to a question from Syed Rafiullah the Minister reiterated that increasing exports and reducing the trade deficit is a collective effort involving multiple government agencies The Ministry of Energy is working on lowering production costs, the Ministry of Power is addressing power allocation and pricing structures while the Ministries of National Food Security Science and Technology and Ports and Shipping are focusing on their respective domains to facilitate trade The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has been tasked with addressing tax-related barriers to exports
Book Review: O f Literature and Histor y
ers related to the two works separately Starting with two leading Anglophone literary luminaries viz Shahid Suhrawardy (1890-1965) and Ahmed Ali (1910-1994) in the newly created Pakistan in the year 1947 Pakistani English literature came to assume a new contemporary voice in the 1960s with London-based Zulfikar Ghose (19352022) and Lahore-based Taufiq Rafat (19271998) The community of indigenous writers of English including the Pakistani diaspora writing in English on alien soils gradually expanded enfolding writers like Maki Kureishi (1927-1995) Daud Kamal (19351987) Kaleem Omar (1937-2009), Bapsi Sidhwa (1938-2024), Shuja Nawaz (b 1939), Adrian A Husain (b 1942), Salman Tarik Kureshi (b 1943), Ejaz Rahim (b 1946), Tariq Rahman (b 1949) Alamgir Hashmi (b 1951) Waqas Khwaja (b 1952) Sara Suleri Goodyear (1953-2022) Aamer Hussein (b 1955) M Athar Tahir (b 1956) et al In the introduction to the book, the compiler/editor has extensively probed the making of the Pakistani literature in English from its genesis to germination into a veritable form of art During the course of this onerous exercise she must have had to scale a wide range of Anglophone literary activity both native and diasporic, with a view to formulating, determining and finally highlighting the vortices of its (Pakistani English literature’s) increasingly vast but variegated content
The format of the book is simple terse and definitive To begin with, the compiler/editor introduces an author briefly with necessary references and antecedents besides a cursory critical ascertainment of his creative work and style followed by a discreet sample of his literary output The catalogue of the selected authors includes names, among others, of Taufiq Rafat, Abdullah Hussein, Zulfikar Ghose, Bapsi Sidhwa, Adrian A Husain, Akbar S Ahmed, Salman Tarik Kureshi Tariq Ali Tahira Naqvi Ejaz Rahim Shuja Nawaz Tariq Rahman Alamgir Hashmi Waqas Khwaja Sara Suleri Goodyear M Athar Tahir Hanif Kureishi, Imtiaz Dharker, Moniza Alvi, Aamer Hussein, Syeda Henna Babar Ali, Tariq Mehmood (Ali), Fawzia Afzal-Khan, Feryal Ali Gauhar, Ayub Khan Din, Daniyal Moinuddin Mohammed Hanif Harris Khalique Nadeem Aslam Rizwan Akhtar Uzma Aslam Khan Mohsin Hamid Bina Shah Kamila Shamsie Shahbano Bilgrami Shandana Minhas, Omar Shahid Hamid, Sabyn Javeri, Usman Ali, Fatima Bhutto, Kanza Javed, and Sarvat Hasin After Dr Tariq Rahman’s ‘A History of Pakistani Literature in English the instant book is a valuable addition to the extant
toriograph as it were of Pakistani literature
He emphasized that reducing inflation and policy rates would further support export growth The Minister also highlighted positive trends in textile, food, leather, and surgical exports Additionally Pakistan is reviewing trade agreements and removing tariff barriers to strengthen its international trade position Addressing a supplementary question from Dr Shazia Sobia, the Minister noted that efforts are underway to expand meat exports to Indonesia, Malaysia, and the European Union He reaffirmed Pakistan’s status as a major rice exporter competing with India in global markets Despite Indian rice prices being 20% lower Pakistan has maintained its market presence, and the resumption of rice exports to Bangladesh is a major success
The Minister also discussed efforts to boost horticulture exports facilitate linkages between Pakistani growers and foreign markets and enhance domestic agricultural productivity He mentioned that in 2024, an international agricultural expo was held in Pakistan, attracting 15 companies from South Korea to engage with local farmers and traders
ISLAMABAD
Syed AfSAr SAjid
Ddialogue and conflict resolution would be evident Instead what is seen is a strategy of scapegoating that serves political interests but does little to advance meaningful progress To its credit Pakistan s foreign ministry has responded decisively rejecting this one-sided narrative and calling out India’s own troubling record in the region This assertive stance is
GILGIT BALTISTAN situated in the north of Pakistan and surrounded by the HinduKush Himalayas and Karakorum ranges is home to world-renowned glaciers such as Siachen and Biafo The people of Gilgit Baltistan, whose lives are intricately intertwined with these glaciers, rely on glacier water for their needs However, due to global warming, glaciers are melting at a very high rate causing floods in the summer and water scarcity in the winter This is not just an environmental issue but a matter of survival for the local population To address this water scarcity the indigenous people of Gilgit Baltistan have been practicing a conventional method of glacier growing in different villages
G L A C I E R G R O W I N G: Glacier growing techniques encourage the growth of ice patches in the northern areas of Pakistan Gilgit Baltistan is mainly inhabited by two major ethnic groups, Balti and Gilgiti, who speak the Balti and Shina languages Balti language is primarily spoken by the people living in Baltistan, while the Shina language is mainly spoken by those living in Gilgit Both Balti and Gilgiti growers have practiced the conventional method of glacier grafting These indigenous people believe that glaciers are endowed with life Glacier growth is also mentioned in several local stories and anecdotes There is no written document on this method of glacier growing Instead, stories are the vehicles for transmitting knowledge on how to carry out glacier growing A verb in Balti called Gang Xso refers to glacier growing In the Balti language Gang means ice , while Xso means growing The Gang is also referred to as filling up, which depicts the filling-up nature of ice In the Shina language, “Gamok Sanoke” refers to glacier growing Where “Gamok” means “glacier” and “Sanoke” means “making ”
R S: The local population believes glaciers are living entities; therefore, they differentiate them into female and male glaciers The Balti people use the term mo gang for female glaciers and “pho gang” for male glaciers Similarly the Shina people use “sonche gamok” for female glaciers and beero game for male glaciers This gender categorization of glaciers is not a grammatical phenomenon but rather exhibits a view of glaciers as having an intrinsic or natural gender
“Glaciers are viewed as animate; therefore, to grow a glacier, one needs to marry a female and a male glacier” The locals use their own techniques to distinguish female and male glaciers According to locals a female glacier is a glacier that grows and gives much water Some also added that a female glacier has a white or bluish colour A male glacier is a glacier
that gives little water moves slowly has a black colour, and is covered in soil and rocks According to the glacier growers, there are two types of glaciers in Shigar Valley 1 First Nallah (a side valley carrying a stream in Balti) has a big glacier but little water comes from it So they called it po glacier 2 Second Nallah has a smaller glacier but produces much water, which is called a mo glacier
The glacier growers believe that
there simply isn t enough water to share when needed Decades of inaction have led to a situation where provinces are forced to fight over a stagnant water supply rather than focusing on increasing availability through better storage, conservation and management THE 1991 INDUS WATER APPORTIONMENT ACCORD: A FORGOTTEN VISION: The 1991 Indus Water Apportionment Accord was a landmark agreement designed to ensure the fair distribution of Pakistan’s most precious resource However over time discussions around the Accord have become narrowly focused on Clause 2 which deals with water apportionment while neglecting the broader forward-looking provisions aimed at securing Pakistan s water future
This agreement was never meant to be just a water distribution formula It laid out a comprehensive vision for water management, addressing storage development surplus distribution ecological sustainability provincial autonomy and efficiency in water use Unfor-
tunately, delays in implementing key provisions especially the construction of new reservoirs have turned water allocation into a source of conflict rather than cooperation To truly understand the significance of the Accord, we must go beyond Clause 2 and explore its holistic framework, clause by clause CLAUSE 2: NOT THE WHOLE ACCORD Clause 2 of the Accord established provincial water allocations from a total of 114 35 Million Acre-Feet (MAF) These allocations were based on provincial demands and needs However, at the time of the Accord, 102 73 MAF was already in use, creating a gap between existing usage and the newly allocated shares The agreed allocations were as follows: Despite being a cornerstone of the Accord Clause 2 was never meant to define the entire agreement It was always intended to function alongside other key provisions, particularly those related to storage development (Clause 6), surplus distribution (Clause 4), ecological protection (Clause 7) and efficiency improvements (Clause 14) Unfortunately the failure to implement these provisions has led to recurring disputes over water shortages overshadowing the broader vision of the Accord
CLAUSE 4: MANAGING SURPLUS AND F
TO
Clause 4 provided a mechanism for fairly distributing surplus water particularly during the Kharif season among the provinces: Punjab: 37% Sindh: 37% Balochistan: 12%
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 14%
However without adequate storage this clause remains ineffective The Accord envisioned that additional reservoirs would allow provinces to better manage seasonal surpluses and prevent wastage Yet, because planned reservoirs were never built, surplus water often flows unused into the sea, while shortages continue to spark inter-provincial disputes
One of the most crucial but overlooked provisions of the Accord is Clause 6, which explicitly recognized the need for new reservoirs: “The need for storages, wherever feasible on the Indus and other rivers was admitted and recognized by the participants for planned future agricultural development Had this clause been fully implemented Pakistan would have been far better equipped to manage water distribution
due to the failure in building new storage facilities CLAUSE 7: ECOLOGICAL PROTECTION The Accord also recognized the importance of minimum downstream water flows to prevent sea intrusion and protect Sindh s delta Sindh initially proposed a 10 MAF minimum flow, but further studies suggested: A minimum annual release
Women’s health
to disputes rather than solutions In order to realize the full potential of the Accord, Pakistan must take urgent steps to address its shortcomings The construction of new reservoirs must be prioritized to meet the country s growing water demands Additionally fair surplus distribution mechanisms should be reinforced by improving flood management and infrastructure Ensuring ecological protections is also crucial to prevent further environmental degradation particularly in Sindh’s delta region Furthermore provinces should be empowered to develop their own water resources as originally envisioned in the Accord Finally, agricultural needs must be prioritized over hydropower generation to support national food security
The 1991 Accord is not outdated it is an untapped solution for Pakistan’s water challenges By shifting the focus from conflict to implementation Pakistan can secure its water future for generations to come
The writer is a former irrigation minister of Punjab
Mohsin leghAri
Tcrackdowns, and strict counterterrorism laws terrorism in Pakistan continues to adapt and finding new ways for eradicating terrorism in the country To effectively combat this evolving challenge Pakistan must adopt modern technology, especially Artificial Intelligence (AI) which can play a key role in improving security and preventing attacks before they happen Terrorism is generally defined as the use of violence fear or threats to achieve political religious or ideological goals Terrorism in Pakistan is multifaceted religious extremism led by groups like Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), aims to enforce a strict version of Islamic law Ethno-nationalist separatism such as the actions of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) pushes for regional independence In recent years cyberterrorism has also become a major concern with extremist groups using social media, encrypted apps, and the dark web to spread propaganda, recruit members, and plan attacks in secret Given these complex and evolving threats, Pakistan’s counterterrorism strategy must go beyond traditional security measures and embrace advanced technology to detect and prevent attacks more effectively Pakistan has taken major steps to combat terrorism through military operations, intelligence-based crackdowns, and legal reforms Operations such as Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ulFasaad both of which successfully dismantled terrorist hideouts and weakened militant networks in the country Intelligence agencies, particularly the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) have played a key role in tracking and eliminating terrorist threats Meanwhile,
Laws like the Anti-Terrorism Act have given law enforcement agencies greater authority to detain and prosecute suspected terrorists Additionally, stricter border controls, especially along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border have been introduced to prevent cross-border militant movements While these measures have helped reduce large-scale terrorism they remain largely reactive, addressing threats only after they occur The biggest challenge with traditional counterterrorism methods is their inability to predict and prevent attacks before they happen Given the unpredictable nature of terrorism Pakistan needs a more advanced approach such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) that can play a significant role in combating terrorism AI can significantly strengthen Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts by improving intelligence gathering surveillance cybersecurity and precision targeting One of the most effective AI applications is predictive analytics which enables security agencies to detect patterns in terrorist activities and anticipate attacks before they happen AI algorithms can process massive amounts of intelligence data, such as surveillance footage intercepted communications and financial transactions to identify suspicious behaviors and high-risk individuals Unlike human analysts who may overlook critical details, AI can detect anomalies and provide early warnings, allowing law enforcement to intervene before an attack takes place Another crucial AI tool is facial recognition technology which can identify known terrorists in real-time AI-powered surveillance cameras installed at airports railway stations, and border crossings can instantly compare faces against terrorist watchlists, alerting authorities as soon as a suspect is detected Countries like China and Israel have successfully implemented AI-driven security systems to prevent attacks and track down extremists Given Pakistan s history of public bombings and targeted killings adopting AI-enhanced surveillance can help secure crowded areas and critical infrastructure from potential threats Beyond physical security AI is also transforming cybersecurity and online counterterrorism by monitoring and neutralizing extremist propaganda before it spreads Terrorist organizations increasingly use the internet to radicalize and recruit followers, making online platforms a crucial battleground in modern counterterrorism efforts AI-powered systems can scan social media encrypted messaging apps and extremist forums to detect radical content trace its ori-
gins and flag potential threats In countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, AI-driven tools have helped dismantle online terror networks before they could execute attacks As Pakistan faces growing concerns about online radicalization deploying AI-powered monitoring solutions is essential to curb the spread of extremist ideologies In addition to intelligence gathering AI can revolutionize drone technology for counterterrorism operations AI-powered drones equipped with advanced imaging and tracking systems can monitor remote areas detect terrorist hideouts and assist in precision strikes with minimal collateral damage The United States has successfully used AI-integrated drones to eliminate high-profile terrorist leaders in the Middle East, significantly weakening militant groups Pakistan’s security forces can leverage AI-driven drones to enhance surveillance in volatile regions like Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) where terrorists often operate in rugged and inaccessible terrains By adopting AI-based counterterrorism tools, Pakistan can shift from reactive responses to proactive threat prevention, strengthening national security in the long run Several countries have successfully integrated AI into their counterterrorism strategies demonstrating its effectiveness in intelligence gathering, surveillance, and threat prevention Israel s elite intelligence unit, Unit 8200, has developed AI-powered tools that analyze intercepted communications to predict and prevent terrorist attacks These AI-driven systems function similarly
Terrorism is g enerally defined as the use of violence , fear, or threats to achieve political, religious, or ideological goals. Terrorism in Pakistan is multifaceted, religious extremism led by groups like TTP, aims to enforce a strict version of Islamic law
to ChatGPT but are trained on security-sensitive data enabling real-time analysis of militant activities Similarly the United States leverages AI for monitoring extremist activities online using sophisticated algorithms to track terrorist networks across social media platforms, encrypted messaging apps, and the dark web AI also plays a critical role in coordinating precision strikes helping U S forces neutralize high-profile terrorist leaders while minimizing collateral damage Also The United Kingdom employs AI-driven surveillance systems to enhance public security by scanning crowded areas for suspicious behavior and identifying potential threats before an attack occurs AI-powered analytics process vast amounts of video
Through Mani Shankar Aiyar’s eyes
fection he has received from the people of Pakistan
sitting for the Indian Civil Services Examination to enable him to fulfil his ambition of joining the Indian Foreign Service He cleared the written examination and the interview and was ranked seventh in the list, which meant he could now live his dream After attaining an all-India rank of seven, he
THE RAJIV I KNEW: In assessing the second volume one must keep in mind that it was originally written as a part of his memoirs (Memoirs of a Maverick: The First Fifty Years 1941-1991) but since it turned out to be much more than his personal recollections of Rajiv and acquired the shape of a biography, it was decided to bring it out as a separate book In his own words, what Aiyar has done is to “fairly assess the high and low points of Rajiv Gandhi s prime ministership This is not a book written by a historian or social scientist presenting an objective view of Rajiv Gandhi s life and work It is unabashedly an account written by an admirer who worked closely with the protagonist and believes not in his infallibility but in his essential integrity, decency and honesty of purpose
between December 1989 and May 1990, a total of 134 innocent people were killed by militants and of them Hindus numbered 72 This implies that an almost similar number that is 63 Muslims were killed
That these were not some freak figures is revealed by an RTI response from the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Srinagar dated November 27, 2021, which states that the total number of Kashmiri Pandits killed since ‘the inception of militancy in 1990 is eighty-nine’, compared to the killing of people of other faiths (principally Muslim) that stands at 1 635 In other words while the militants targeted all those whom they thought stood in the way of their separatist agenda and this included Muslims in large numbers, Governor Jagmohan and his administration decided that Hindus were their prime target and that the only way to protect them was to remove them from Kashmir altogether!
that he lost his heart, and never got it back He went to Karachi as the Consul General and used his stint there to build the closest of bonds – personal, cultural, social and political –with the leaders and the people of his host country This experience convinced him of the enormous goodwill that the people of Pakistan have for India and Indians notwithstanding the positions adopted by governments of the two countries It also led to the conviction which he continues to hold that India has not built on this foundation to strengthen ties with Pakistan, but has allowed itself to be trapped in the game of retaliation denying visas to
The first chapter deals with the three accords signed by Rajiv Gandhi in Punjab Assam and Mizoram and the agreements with Farooq Abdullah in Jammu and Kashmir and with Ghishing in Darjeeling His account of the developments in Jammu and Kashmir is particularly interesting, as it questions many widely prevalent notions about what caused the militancy to flare up in 1990 with blame being assigned to alleged rigging of the 1987 assembly elections by Farooq Abdullah held after the Rajiv-Farooq Agreement of November 1986 He insists that though the charge of rigging by Farooq may have been true the situation was under control as long as Rajiv was prime minister till November of 1989 Instead, he argues that militancy flared up as a direct consequence of the release of five terrorists by the newlyformed V P Singh government in December 1989 as part of the deal to secure the release of the home minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed s daughter Rubaiya
Added to it was the role of Jagmohan who was sent as governor by Singh He dissolved the assembly, allowed the law and order situation to deteriorate rapidly, declared that Kashmiri Pandits were no longer safe, and actively arranged for their transportation out of the valley His own memoirs Aiyar demonstrates do not support Jagmohan s claims of exclusive targeting of Kashmiri Pandits Jagmohan records that according to his own police statistics during his tenure as governor
A MAVERICK IN POLITICS: 1991-2024: The last volume of his memoirs chronicles the time from the beginning of his first term as an MP in 1991 till the time the manuscript was completed in June 2024, a period of about 33 years He shares with us his experiences as an MP keen to work for the welfare of his constituency and its inhabitants and how many grand schemes fell flat and how he then learnt to ask people especially the poor what they wanted And imagine his surprise when he learnt that the first priority of the poorest who were the scheduled castes, was safe access to burial grounds, as they could not use the main roads of the village for fear of the upper castes The next priority was a community hall where the people could meet to chat welcome an important guest or celebrate a wedding This was followed by pattas for house-sites and hand pumps for water This experience strengthened his belief in the ne-
Saqib HuSSain MugHeri
daily press briefing when asked to comment on Taiwan s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities plan to promote the establishment of new institutions in certain countries and use Taiwan instead of Taipei to name these institutions Mao said that the one-China principle is a universally recognized norm governing interna-
CORPORATE CORNER
CM MARYAM NAWA Z INTRODUCES SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR SPECIAL CHILDREN IN PUNJAB
stating: ISLAMABAD
SAP, a global leader in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions, continues to revolutionize operations for International Textile Limited (ITL) one of Pakistan’s largest towel manufacturers and
emphasizing the government s commitment to economic stability industrial growth and business facilitation Mr Akhtar highlighted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif s vision for a stable and progressive economy, noting that despite financial challenges, Pakistan has made remarkable progress Under the leadership of the Prime Minister the country has demonstrated resilience in the face of
Thighlighted that Khan was being accommodated as per the relevant standard operating procedures (SOPs) agreed in March 2024, and was allowed to meet lawyers, family and friends on two designated days in the week
The former PM the plea adds was also allowed to hold a WhatsApp call with his sons from time to time on humanitarian grounds and was also benefiting from all the privileges available to him under Pakistan Prison Rules 1978
The SOPs were later amended in November 2024 wherein the petitioner the superintendent was required to get the names of the visitors from Khan himself all of the conditions which were in fact complied with by the authorities
Meanwhile, the applicant’s lawyer lamented that they had to appear before the court five days a week in related cases and instead would have to do so only once if the cases were amalgamated and fixed before the same bench
The court then approved the plea directing consolidation of the cases concerned and the formation of a larger bench
NAB seals numerous Bahria Town properties over cases against Malik Riaz
carried out rapidly, it added
rently under investigation”
the security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country Cour t issues arrest warrants for PTI leaders in Judicial Complex attack case
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on Tuesday declared senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Murad Saeed Hammad Azhar and former party leader Farrukh Habib as absconders in the Judicial Complex attack case The decision comes after their repeated failure to appear before the court despite multiple summons ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra presided over the proceedings pertaining to two separate cases lodged at Islamabad s Ramna Police Station The cases are linked to violent clashes that erupted during PTI founder Imran Khan s appearance at the Judicial Complex where he was seeking bail in several legal matters The court also issued non-bailable arrest warrants for additional PTI leaders, including Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi and Raja Basharat over their continued absence from hearings Judge Sipra noted the persistent non-compliance of the accused with court directives and termed their absence deliberate During the hearing, several accused who were present in court marked their attendance The judge subsequently adjourned further proceedings in both cases until April 7, directing law enforcement to execute the warrants and produce the absconding leaders before the court The cases stem from an incident on March 18 2023 when a large number of PTI supporters accompanied Imran Khan to the Judicial Complex Protesters reportedly removed security barriers, forced entry into the premises, vandalized property, and disrupted judicial proceedings
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Monday said it had sealed numerous commercial and residential properties of property tycoon Malik Riaz across the country over corruption cases filed against him On Jan 21, the watchdog warned the public against investing in Bahria Town s Dubai project and said it was seeking Riaz s extradition Later NAB began extradition efforts for Riaz and his son In February, NAB had [filed] a reference against Riaz, ex-Sindh chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah Minister Sharjeel Memon and others for land transfer to Bahria Town The watchdog also filed two corruption references over illegal land occupation in Rakh Takht Pari and New Murree In a press release issued on Monday, NAB said it “once again informs the public that several cases of fraud and deception against Malik Riaz Ahmed owner of Bahria Town and others are cur-
It further said it had also filed several references against Riaz and others in accountability courts in Karachi and Islamabad and the courts have summoned them all In these cases, there are allegations and irrefutable evidence against Malik Riaz Ahmed and his associates for illegally occupying not only the government but also private land in the name of Bahria Town in Karachi Takht Pari Rawalpindi, and New Murree, establishing housing societies without permission, and defrauding people of billions of rupees”
“In recent actions related to this numerous commercial and residential properties of Bahria Town in Karachi Lahore Takht Pari, New Murree/Golf City, and Islamabad have been sealed, including multi-story commercial buildings ” NAB stated Additionally hundreds of bank accounts and vehicles of Bahria Town have been frozen and further actions in this regard are being
“NAB will continue its legal actions against Bahria Town Pakistan without any delay or pressure to fully protect the rights of the citizens of Pakistan the anti-corruption watchdog said Malik Riaz Ahmed, who is currently residing in Dubai as a court absconder in the NCA [UK’s National Crime Agency] case has recently launched a new project of construction of luxury apartments there it said NAB has prima facie evidence that certain individuals from Pakistan are criminally aiding Malik Riaz Ahmed in this process by transferring their money to Dubai for investment in this project
Since NAB has also strong evidence of money laundering against Malik Riaz Ahmed and his associates, these funds have been sent to foreign countries through illegal means Any funds transferred from Pakistan for this project will be considered money laundering and legal action will be taken against the involved elements without discrimination, the press release read
S TA F F R E P O R T
In a significant development in the high-profile murder case of Mustafa Amir his mother Wajiha
Amir has disclosed new information regarding the suspects alleged plans to dispose of her son s body
Speaking to local media, Wajiha claimed that Sheraz, one of the accused, was the first to suggest dumping Mustafa’s body in Balochistan She dismissed Sheraz s attempts to distance himself from the crime alleging that he was equally involved in the murder
Sheraz is not an innocent bystander He’s spinning lies to save himself but he was part of it from the beginning ” she asserted Wajiha expressed dissatisfaction over the investigation s handling of key individuals particularly Kamran Qureshi, the father of prime suspect Armaghan
She alleged that Kamran advised his son to flee after learning about the murder, yet law enforcement had not questioned him thoroughly
“Why isn’t Kamran Qureshi being interrogated? He needs to be held accountable she demanded
According to police sources, the suspects destroyed Mustafa s mobile phone in an apparent attempt to eliminate evidence Wajiha also denied allegations that her son had any involvement in drug trafficking calling such claims baseless and an attempt to tarnish his reputation
My son did not visit Armaghan’s house to sell drugs This narrative is a lie ” she said
Addressing reports of ransom calls she clarified that although she had received one in January it was unrelated to Armaghan I never claimed Armaghan asked for ransom There was a call,
but they couldn t prove they had Mustafa, she explained The murder investigation report details a gruesome sequence of events Armaghan allegedly attacked Mustafa with an iron rod following a personal dispute Along with Sheraz he tied Mustafa s hands and feet, placed him in the trunk of a car, and later transported his body to Hub, where they set the vehicle on fire
The report also highlights Armaghan s murky past He was previously implicated in a drug-related case in 2019 and had secured bail The bungalow where he ran a call center was reportedly guarded by dozens of security personnel and illegally housed exotic animals including lion cubs
As the investigation continues Wajiha Amir is calling for a transparent inquiry to ensure that everyone involved, directly or indirectly, is brought to justice
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Monday apprehended a suspect from Banigala Islamabad for allegedly running an anti-state campaign on social media in the aftermath of the Jaffar Express terror attack
The accused, identified as Haider Saeed, was later presented before a local court which granted a three-day physical remand for further investigation
According to an FIA spokesperson the suspect was actively engaged in spreading negative propaganda against state institutions through his social media platforms He is also accused of promoting and glorifying banned outfits including the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) following the deadly assault on the Quetta-bound Jaffar Express
The train carrying 440 passengers came under attack last week in the Bolan region of Balochistan Militants affiliated with the banned BLA opened fire on the train, held
passengers hostage, and engaged in a standoff with security forces The two-day operation resulted in the elimination of 33 terrorists However 26 hostages including 18 security personnel were martyred during the attack The final rescue phase concluded without further harm to any hostages In connection with the incident, the FIA launched an inquiry into social media campaigns allegedly aimed at spreading misinformation and inciting unrest During the raid in Banigala authorities seized Haider Saeed s digital devices which according to officials, contain evidence of his
KARACHI