PM SHEHBA Z UNVEILS MASSIVE INCENTIVES FOR EXPATS WITH JOB QUOTAS, CIVIL AWARDS
3 j aw aans m ar t y red, 16 inj ured in IED blas t t arget ing B alochis t an Cons t abular y bus
Rind stated that 16 others were injured due to the blast, out of whom two were in critical condition No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far However, Mastung Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Younas Magsi put the number of those injured at 18 “All wounded cops have been shifted to a hospital while those seriously injured were being taken to Quetta about 50 kilometres away from Mastung Rind informed He added that an investigation report on the incident has been sought
when a vehicle carrying policemen returning from Kalat was targeted with an improvised explosive device (IED),” Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind said in a statement after the incident
The Balochistan Constabulary officials were deployed at a sit-in being staged by the Balochistan National Party Mengal (BNP-M) the spokesperson said The BNP-M s sit-in at Mastung against the arrests of Baloch activists entered its 19th day on Tuesday Just on the second day of their protest, BNP-M chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal and others had remained unhurt after a suicide blast near their rally According to DSP Magsi, the policemen were stationed as additional deployment with Levies in Mastung’s Kund Mas area He added that more than 40 cops were returning from duty on Tuesday when the police vehicle carrying them was targeted On a daily basis, our policemen used to return to Mastung Police Lines after performing their duties, Magsi said Local administration official Raja Muhammad Akram also told AFP that the bus was carrying around 40 police officers when it was hit by the blast
CoNSumeRS likely to get Relief
Wapda justifies Rs1.74trn cost surge in Dasu project , cites rupee depreciation, securit y concerns
The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has responded to criticism from the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) regarding the steep rise in the cost of the
also comprises top-tier international consultants including experts from Japan and Turkiye, who supervise the project s implementation Regarding the project s financial structure, Wapda explained that contracts, including the relocation of the Karakoram Highway were awarded through international competitive bidding with most costs denominated in local currency The costs associated with foreign exchange were relatively small The Dasu project, initially scheduled to begin in June 2014 and complete in December 2019, was delayed due to land acquisition issues Work finally commenced in January 2020 after a revision of land acquisition rates approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) in October 2019 Wapda s explanation was presented during CDWP proceedings, where officials argued that despite the cost increases justifications had been provided for the project s delays and associated escalations The CDWP has referred the project for final consideration by Ecnec
cess with its IMF programme The outlook remains stable “The upgrade reflects Fitch’s increased confidence that Pakistan will sustain its recent progress on narrowing budget deficits and implementing structural reforms the global ratings agency said noting this would support its IMF programme performance and funding availability Fitch expects the government’s fiscal deficit to narrow to 6% of GDP in FY25 and around 5% in the medium term compared to nearly 7% in FY24
We expect the primary surplus to more than double to over 2% of GDP in FY25, it added, stating that lower inflation and imports may drag tax revenue growth but the impact would be cush-
PR OFIT
M o N i to r i N g D e s k The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has highlighted several key governance challenges in Pakistan noting that the country’s civil service is heavily politicised accountability mechanisms are weak and anti-corruption policies are inconsistent These issues, the IMF warned, contribute to broader governance weaknesses and increase the risk of corruption, The Express Tribune reported
The findings were presented following the conclusion of a 12-day visit by an IMF legal mission led by Joel Turkewitz which engaged with around 30 government organizations and departments The mission was
part of finalising the Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment report which is expected to be released in August 2025 One of the central concerns raised by the IMF is the political influence over the civil service, with the report noting that the heads of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and their boards are often appointed based on political considerations For example last year the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government altered the boards of eight out of ten power distribution companies The IMF s report emphasises that the politicisation of key positions within the bureaucracy has led to inefficiencies and lack of accountability with many civil servants protected from punishment for corruption
The IMF mission also found that Pak-
ioned by reduced spending and stronger provincial surpluses
On structural benchmarks the agency highlighted that provincial governments have legislated hikes in agricultural income tax and praised Pakistan for its earlier “strong performance” under the previous short-term IMF arrangement that ended in April 2024
The rating agency expects GDP growth to recover modestly projecting 3% growth for FY25 Inflation is forecast to average 5% during the year, easing from over 20% seen in FY23–FY24 However, it warned that inflation may pick up again to 8% in FY26
On the external front Fitch noted that the country posted a current account surplus of $700 million in the first eight months of FY25 We expect external deficits to widen on stronger domestic demand,” it said, but added that the gap would likely remain below 1% of GDP over the next few years Fitch estimates Pakistan s foreign exchange reserves stood just below $18 billion in March 2025 covering nearly three months of external pay-
istan lacks a unified anti-corruption policy
Multiple agencies including the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and provincial anti-corruption departments, are tasked with addressing corruption, but their efforts are fragmented and often inconsistent Amendments to the accountability law have weakened NAB’s role and the Right to Information Act (RIA) is selectively applied undermining transparency Another significant issue highlighted was the weak organizational accountability within key institutions such as the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) and the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) The AGP s role in ensuring proper use of public funds and the CCP s respon-
ments up from less than $8 billion in early 2023 This buildup has been aided by central bank purchases from the interbank market
However, the agency flagged risks related to political volatility and future IMF compliance “The current apparent consensus within Pakistan on the need for reform could weaken over time ” Fitch cautioned adding Technical challenges will also be significant
The agency also warned that high interest payments forecast at 59% of revenue in FY25,
sibility for preventing monopolies and ensuring fair market competition have been compromised by inefficiencies and a lack of effective enforcement
According to the Tribune report, the IMF also noted that the country s judicial system is slow and burdened with a large backlog of cases, further contributing to governance challenges Additionally the IMF found that Pakistan s policy priorities often focus on short-term goals undermining long-term planning and decision-making
The mission called for reforms to address these structural issues, recommending more cohesive decision-making processes better accountability frameworks and stronger institutional safeguards to combat corruption
Fast Cables expands produc tion capacity with new copper upcasting plant
PM S hehbaz unveils massive incentives for expats with job quotas, civil
n d e m n e d t h e v e n o m o u s n a r r a t i v e s o n s o c i a l m e d i a t a rg e t i n g t h e m i l i t a r y, u rg i n g t h e n a t i o n t o c o u n t e r s u c h p r o p a g a n d a t h r o u g h l o g i c a n d patriotism P M S h e h b a z r e a ff i r m e d P a k i s t a n ’s commitment to the just causes of Kashmir and G a z a d e n o u n c i n g t h e b r u t a l c e a s e f i r e v i o l a t i o n s a n d t h e m a r t y r d o m o f 5 0 0 0 0 Muslims in Gaza H e c r i t i c i s e d t h e p r e v i o u s g o v e r n m e n t f o r b r e a c h i n g t h e I M F a g r e e m e n t , w h i c h h a r m e d Pakistan’s reputation, and lauded the efforts by c u r r e n t a n d f o r m e r c o a l i t i o n g o v e r n m e n t s f o r stabilising the economy T h e p r i m e m i n i s t e r p l e d g e d t o p e r
04
COMMENT
Going after processed foods
TH E Health ministry has recommended that processed goods, both foods and beverages, should be taxed to discourage people from using them The money raised would go to spending on health That is perhaps the ‘weakest’ suggestion for this year s budget and would win kudos for certain officials It would be piled on to the sales tax already levied on such items as soft drinks, sweetmeats, baked goods and confectionery This could open a Pandora’s Box as the food industry fights back one would expect insidious attempts to sell the idea that processing is good
Actually there is overwhelming evidence that processed food causes a wide range of diseases, but medical science changes There is no mention of oils and cholesterol, and there is the finding that the low density lipids in clarified butter (Desi ghee) is good but the high density lipids in vegetable ghee is actually bad for you We suffer from neither an obesity crisis, nor a diabetes crisis, though both conditions have increased rather than taxes it would be better to raise awareness by education For that, there should be more spending on education rather than fight rich countries’ diseases by taxiing processed foods, would it not be a better public-health intervention to ensure that every Pakistani got his or her daily calorie requirement?
Besides, what to do bout milk? Is its use to be encouraged or discouraged> And which milk? Loose or packet? And what about met? Should discouraging taxes be imposed on meat animals or at point of sale?
There is also the crucial issue of how the tax proceeds re to be transferred Will they form part of the Federal Divisible Pool? If they do, how can the federal government ensure that the provinces spend the money on health rather than new cars for ministers? It must not be forgotten that health is a provincial subject and it is possible that they might have different priorities Even if the intention of this measure is conceded, the intervention seems ill-conceived, more meant to demonstrate ‘weakness’ rather than motivated by actual concern for the welfare of the public Also, unless the spending is tied down, which it cannot be, it is more than likely that the revenue raised will go to general administration and interest payments
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
Fr o m 2013 to 2017, I served as a White House appointee to the US Commission on International religious Freedom Annually we would review the practises of countries around the world as they impacted the ability of their citizens and residents to freely practise their faiths We would then issue reports that would identify countries (about two dozen) that violated religious freedom, together with our recommendations for actions the US government could take to bring these countries into compliance Early on I could see that there was deep resistance to any examination of Israel by some commissioners, both republican and Democratic appointees
In my first month as a commissioner, I was dragged into a bizarre battle over a Christmas op-ed the Commission wanted to publish expressing concern that “in the land where Jesus was born Christians feared celebrating Christmas As examples the article cited a few Arab countries (weirdly including Lebanon and Syria) and added Pakistan and Nigeria for good measure When I asked about Palestinian Christians, the response was a near hysterical rejection more like a “How dare you?”
And when a year later the Commission received a visit from the roman Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem seeking our support for a few rather small requests he had of Israeli authorities (such as visas for priests and unimpeded passage for Christians between Israel and the West Bank at Christmas and Easter), he was startled when two of my colleagues not only rejected his appeal, but insisted that his priority ought to be demanding that Hamas disarm Knowing that it would be an uphill battle I wanted to make the best case possible before proposing that the Commission investigate Israel I asked a team of attorneys to prepare an extensive brief on Israel s repressive actions that impacted Palestinian Christians and muslims and Israeli non-orthodox Jews The study was modeled on the Commission’s own treatment of other cases of hostile occupations Turkey in Cyprus and russia in Crimea both of which had been criticized by the Commission in its annual reports When I submitted the report, together with an-
other Democratic appointee (who was Jewish and was deeply concerned with the treatment of non-orthodox Jews in Israel), we were greeted with a firestorm of abuse our report was not discussed (or even read) Instead I was subjected to the charge of being antisemitic because two Commissioners charged that I was singling Israel out for criticism This accusation is a hallmark of the International Holocaust remembrance Alliance s definition of antisemitism that equates criticism of Israel with antisemitism It is used to silence critics of the state my response to my colleagues on the Commission was to remind them that I had voted with them every year to criticize the practices of two dozen
gling Israel out for criticism It was they who were singling Israel out as the one country that could not be criticized This is the “Israel exception ” Israel can violate religious freedom international law humanitarian law US laws regarding the use of aid to violate human rights and the lives of civilians and yet never be criticized And if it is criticized those who do so are deemed antisemites This insidious situation has allowed Israel to operate with impunity Its impact has not only taken a toll on the lives and fortunes of Palestinians Lebanese Syrians and others it is now being weaponized here in the USA putting at risk our basic freedoms This acceptance of the IHrA definition has been with us since the first Trump Administration s Department of Education formally adopted it A dozen states have also legislated its use After several failed efforts to have it passed by Congress, it may very well pass this year most concerning has been the way the current Trump Administration has weaponized the Department of Education s use of the IHrA definition to threaten universities into taking measures that violate academic freedom and free speech on campuses, the firing of some faculty members, the cancelling
We have reached the point where the „Israel/Palestine exception‰ not only distor ts our foreign policy and erodes our stated commitments to international law and covenants, but also compromises our right to free speech and assembly and the right to petition our government As we have witnessed in recent weeks, it is threatening academic freedom and the very idea of the university in American life
China’s AI advantage
Wstandards China aims to raise the proportion of surface water of fairly good quality to 85 percent by 2025 and eliminate surface water below Grade V quality the worst classification altogether Additionally, plans are underway to recover water levels in 53 driedup bodies and restore native fish species in 107 major aquatic ecosystems by 2025 For Bangladesh adopting elements of China s river Chief System could significantly enhance local governance of water resources Tailored strategies such as one river, one Policy, which emphasizes localized solutions based on specific river characteristics, could be adapted to Bangladesh’s context Furthermore, integrating advanced technologies like satellite monitoring and data analytics into water management systems could provide real-time insights into resource availability and pollution levels Economic benefits from improved water management are substantial A study on irrigation practices in Bangladesh revealed that adopting efficient methods like alternate wetting and drying (AWD) could save approximately $140 million annually by reducing irrigation costs without compromising crop yields Eliminating system losses in water distribution could save an additional $543 million annually Proper conservation practices in local drainage channels (khal), small water bodies (beel), larger wetlands (haor), and ponds could add $362 million annually to the economy Collectively these measures have the potential to save over $1 34 billion annually Implementing a comprehensive master plan comes with challenges Unlike China, which primarily manages domestic rivers, Bangladesh shares major rivers with neighbouring countries like India and Nepal Transboundary disputes over water allocation can complicate efforts to
implement long-term strategies Diplomatic negotiations will be crucial to ensure equitable sharing of resources from rivers such as the Ganges Brahmaputra and meghna Institutional capacity is another critical factor Effective implementation requires robust frameworks for monitoring progress and enforcing regulations across multiple sectors Currently, many government agencies responsible for water management operate independently with limited collaboration a situation that could hinder the execution of an integrated master plan moreover funding remains a significant concern Developing infrastructure for sustainable water management will require substantial investments that may exceed domestic budgetary capacities
Despite these hurdles seeking Chinese assistance reflects Bangladesh s forward-thinking approach By leveraging China s expertise in sustainable development and ecological restoration, Bangladesh has an opportunity to address its pressing challenges while laying the foundation for long-term resilience The collaboration also holds geopolitical significance as it underscores Dhaka s willingness to diversify partnerships on critical infrastructure projects amidst shifting dynamics in South Asia While India has traditionally been Bangladesh s closest ally on transboundary river issues through agreements like the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty (1996) China’s involvement signals Dhaka’s intent to explore alternative alliances In conclusion Bangladesh s decision to seek a 50-year master plan from China represents both ambition and pragmatism in addressing its complex water challenges If successfully implemented with careful adaptation to local contexts, it could pave the way for sustainable resource use while improving public health outcomes and boosting economic growth across sectors such as agriculture and industry Like any ambitious initiative the journey from plan to reality will require commitment from policymakers alongside substantial investments into institutional capacity-building and regional cooperation
The writer is a freelance columnist
In conclusion, BangladeshÊs decision to seek a 50-year master plan from China represents both ambition and pragmatism in addressing its complex water challeng es If successfully implemented with careful adaptation to local contexts, it could pave the way for sustainable resource use while improving public health outcomes and boosting economic growth across sectors such as agriculture and industr y
Canals or crisis
Fix border routes
Avian slaughter
Let justice lead the code
Ifelt personal Not just because it validated much of the work my colleagues and I have done but because it recognizes that the judicial crisis of delay and inefficiency is real, and that technology especially AI is now part of the solution I have long maintained that Pakistan cannot afford to treat AI as a novelty When our courts are burdened with millions of unresolved cases and litigants wait years sometimes decades for basic relief, the constitutional promise under Article 10A (fair trial) and Article 37(d) (inexpensive and expeditious justice) begins to feel like fiction The Supreme Court has now rightly declared that delays are a constitutional failure and that AI if properly governed can help cure it But let us be absolutely clear: this is not a green light for techno-utopianism The Court drew a principled boundary: AI must serve the judge not replace the judge It can assist in legal research refine draft judgments support administrative tasks and enhance clarity but the final moral interpretive, and constitutional responsibility
belongs only to the human judge That is the only legitimate model And I have spent years building it In 2023, I published ChatGPT for Lawyers turned out to be a bestseller book on Amazon, that offered the first in-depth, practical guide to how legal professionals can ethically integrate generative AI into their workflows I didn t write it as theory; I wrote it as a working lawyer and a technologist I wrote it because I feared we were being left behind and because I believed we could lead Soon after, with some great people I met, I co-developed Yourmunshi a legal AI assistant trained specifically on Pakistani statutes judicial language and procedural logic This wasn t an imported tool It was built for our system, our courts, our lawyers And it came with guardrails: every output required human approval, every citation was traceable, and no conclusions were ever final without verification
To ensure lawyers and judges weren t left behind we conducted countrywide events throughout 2024 from Islamabad to Karachi and beyond We gave live demos of Yourmunshi and the use of AI, offered hands-on training, and invited district judges court staff bar councils and law students to understand how AI could empower not undermine their practice The results were clear: the appetite is there The system is ready What it needs now is leadership This Supreme Court judgment provides precisely that It rightly identifies the opportunities: AIpowered legal research tools like Westlaw Casetext Judge-GPT and ChatGPT can revolutionize how courts handle volume Drafting tools like BriefCatch and Wordrake can elevate the clarity and professionalism of ju-
dicial writing And case allocation algorithms already used in China Kazakhstan and several EU jurisdictions can reduce discretion, eliminate judge-shopping, and restore public trust
But the Court is equally aware of the dangers It warns of “automation bias,” where human oversight weakens in the face of AI suggestions It identifies hallucinations false citations or incorrect interpretations It stresses that AI lacks the empathy, discretion, and moral courage required for true adjudication And it makes it crystal clear: any attempt to delegate core judicial functions to machines would not only be improper it would be judicial misconduct In other words AI must be the clerk not the conscience of the court
The Court has now directed the National Judicial (Policy making) Committee and the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan to prepare comprehensive guidelines This is a critical step But it must not be treated as a purely administrative exercise We need an inclusive technically grounded, and constitutionally aware consultation process one that includes judges, legal technologists, AI ethicists, bar associations and civil society
This is where we must look outward as well The EU AI Act rightly classifies judicial AI systems as high-risk It mandates human oversight, transparency, explainability, and fairness It prohibits fully automated legal decisions and insists that no AI tool regardless of its accuracy can replace the judgment of a human being Pakistan should draw clear inspiration from this regulatory model our legal tradition is no less sacred than Europe
In my role as technology lawyer, and through my work, I have already been in touch with exper ts across the UK, the US, and Saudi Arabia There is a global demand for how emerging democracies manage this moment The world is watching to see whether countries like ours can innovate without compromising judicial independence .
happened at Albusaidi’s home on Saturday
2
CODE? There has been much said about reform needed with civil codes across communities to make everyone more ‘equal’ The real intent is perhaps to make everything uniform or more in keeping with the Hindu Code A former Union minister for minority affairs, who last piloted Waqf amendments in 2013 points to how the essence of Waqf is to emphasise the role charity and welfare play in the Islamic scheme of institutions This is sought to be erased and gagged by attacking the spirit of it Zakat qurbani and waqf are critical indicators of Islam s preoccupation with charity and human welfare he writes This unique slice of diversity is nixed with a preoccupation to meet a larger ideological goal and end up with more ‘uniformity’ This, once allowed to succeed does not hurt muslims alone or their ‘way of life’ alone As innumerable examples make clear the uniforming impulse will come for all of India The lack of tolerance for language diversity, regional identities and lack of respect for a spectrum of political ideas has already made that very clear
3 A MUSLIM? AFTER FIVE YEARS, PLEASE The proposed law has a clause whereby someone who has converted to Islam can only make an endowment five years after conversion
But in Islam, only the acceptance of the kalma is needed to turn a person into a muslim No thirdparty or cleric plays a role For the Indian state to suddenly introduce five years as a minimum period needed to qualify as a bonafide muslim is more indicative of Zia-ul-Haq s Pakistan where definitions of who a good (or better) muslim were set Today, with muslims, tomorrow with any faith Can arbitrary rules be made up for when someone is a Hindu and when not? Allowing the BJP-led NDA to do this opens a backdoor for all faiths to now receive benediction from the union government on who they are!
4 WHEN ARTICLE 14 IS VIOLATED FOR ANY GROUP OF INDIANS its implications resound for all Indians Article 14 says that all Indians are equal What must apply to Waqf boards should apply to similar institutions of other faiths Legal expert Faizan mustafa asks if this is the right Waqf He asks if non-Hindus would be even allowed, let alone mandated on temple boards Buddhists are already protesting what they see as effective control by Hindus of the most holy site for them the mahabodhi temple at Bodhgaya They want the Bodh Gaya Temple Act 1949 repealed The effective primacy of nonBuddhists – the Hindu heading the Buddhist temple s board – has been in place since 1949 Insecurity has led to agitations as Buddhists sense the
Bill is anything but just a muslim issue
The Tehran Times had obtained new information about what went on that day and whether any concrete results could be expected from the first major encounter between the two states in several months The talks began around 3:00 pm local time at the residence of omani Foreign minister Badr bin Hamad Albusaidi, who acted as a gobetween From the Iranian side Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and from the American side Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff were present at the top diplomat s home Less than 10 written messages were exchanged with Araghchi delivering the first one The two officials accompanying delegations stayed at their hotels Witkoff arrived in oman with two individuals accompanying him, one of them a nuclear expert He exchanged greetings with Araghchi as the two were departing their separate rooms at the end of the session
WHAT WAS SAID: In his messages Araghchi declared that Iran is not engaging in the indirect talks for show and that it is not trying to play a game of chicken, according to information obtained by the Tehran Times Tehran s primary objective is to gauge the U S side’s sincerity and determine the feasibility of reaching an agreement he told Witkoff Araghchi emphasized that Iran wants a win-win agreement It would not under any circumstances agree to dismantle its nuclear program However he stated that the country would be willing to take steps to provide assurances against the militarization of its nuclear activities The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would be the only external entity permitted access to Iran’s nuclear sites What Tehran wants in return is for sanctions to be removed on several sectors once those sanctions are re-
moved, the U S cannot bring them back under other pretexts Araghchi also stipulated that a general framework agreement was necessary for the continuation of the talks If the U S objects to the framework proposed by Iran during the initial session it should present its own alternative for Iran to consider The Tehran Times has learned that Witkoff, for his part, acknowledged that Washington needs to make concessions He did not mention the potential dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program, nor did he reference the original accord the JCPoA from which former U S President Donald Trump withdrew in 2018
WHAT’S HAPPENING ON THE SIDELINES: A key development revealed to The Tehran Times suggests that European states may be attempting to sabotage the talks, as they believe they must also be part of them Germany, Britain, and France argue that, as the only parties having the capability or will to trigger the snapback mechanism (set to expire by mid-october and designed to reinstate pre-JCPoA UN sanctions against Iran) they should not be kept in the dark Consequently they are trying to get Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu somewhat involved in the negotiations so they would be able to influence the process Iran, however, told the U S on Saturday that it would be on Washington to make sure snap back does not get activated Europeans are also considering additional measures to exert pressure on Iran including designating the Islamic revolution Guard Corps (IrGC) as a terrorist entity The Tehran Times understands that they are currently seeking individual member state support before bringing the proposal to the European Parliament Furthermore,
economic isolation may be within reach
We are neither overly optimistic nor pessimistic regarding them After all it is a process which was decided and its first steps have been well implemented, Khamenei said in a meeting with law-
London hosts talks to find ‘pathway’ to end Sudan war
makers, according to state media Tehran has approached the talks warily doubting the likelihood of an agreement and suspicious of Trump who abandoned Tehran s 2015 nuclear pact with six powers during his first term in 2018 and has repeatedly threatened to bomb Iran if there is no deal
“From here on, it (the talks) must be followed through carefully with red lines clearly defined for both the other side and for us The negotiations may lead to results or they may not said Khamenei Avoid linking the country s fate to these talks Since relations with Washington collapsed after Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution that ousted the US-backed Shah enmity toward the United States has always been a rallying point for Iran s clerical rulers
But inflation unemployment and lack of investment as a result of crippling sanctions, reimposed after Trump ditched the 2015 nuclear pact, persuaded Khamenei to support talks with the Trump administration Separately Iran s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the country s military capabilities were off limits, ahead of a second round of talks with the United States on its nuclear programme
“National security and defence and military power are among the red lines of the Islamic Republic of Iran which cannot be discussed or negotiated under any circumstances Guards spokesman Ali
LONDON Ag e n c i e s Senior officials gather in London on Tuesday aiming to chart a pathway to peace for Sudan on the second anniversary of its brutal civil conflict, but without the presence of the warring parties Dubbed the “forgotten war”, the conflict which erupted on April 15 2023 between Sudan’s regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Sup-
Mohammad Naini said, quoted by state broadcaster IRIB Trump addressed reporters on Monday regarding Iran saying I ll solve that problem and that s almost an easy one The US leader also threatened to attack Iran s nuclear facilities and called Iranian authorities “radicals” who should not possess nuclear weapons Iran has repeatedly denied seeking an atomic bomb insisting its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes especially the provision of energy Late on Sunday, Iran s official IRNA news agency said the country s regional influence and its missile capabilities were among its “red lines” in the talks On April 12, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in Oman for “indirect talks according to Iranian officials and media Araghchi s office has said he will travel to Moscow at the end of this week for talks with
to the school The funding freeze comes after the Trump administration said last month it was reviewing $9 billion in federal contracts and grants to Harvard as part of a crackdown on what it claims is antisemitism that erupted on college campuses during pro-Palestinian protests in the past 18 months On Monday, a Department of Education task force on combating antisemitism accused America’s oldest university of having a “troubling entitlement mindset that is endemic in our nation s most prestigious universities and colleges that federal investment does not come with the responsibility to uphold civil rights laws The exchange escalates the highstakes dispute between the Trump administration and some of the world’s richest universities that has raised concerns about speech and academic freedoms
The administration has frozen hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding for numerous universities pressing the institutions to make policy changes and citing what it says is a failure to fight
antisemitism on campus Deportation proceedings have begun against some detained foreign students who took part in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, while visas for hundreds of other students have been cancelled Harvard President Alan Garber wrote in a public letter on Monday that demands made by the Department of Education last week would allow the federal government to control the Harvard community and threaten the school s values as a private institution devoted to the pursuit, production, and dissemination of knowledge No government regardless of which party is in power should dictate what private universities can teach whom they can admit and hire and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue Garber wrote However he also said viewing allegations of antisemitism As we defend Harvard we will continue to nurture a thriving culture of open inquiry on our campus; develop the tools, skills, and practices needed to engage constructively with one another; and broaden the intellectual and viewpoint diversity within our community ” The issue of antisemitism on campus erupted before Trump took office for his second term following pro-Palestinian student protests last year at several universities White House spokesman Harrison Fields said in a statement on Monday that Trump was “working to Make Higher Education Great Again by ending unchecked anti-Semitism and ensuring federal taxpayer dollars do not fund Harvard s support of dangerous racial discrimination or racially motivated violence
CORPORATE CORNER
C M M A R YA M N AW A Z M E ET S U S C O N G R E S S D E L E G AT I O N
RIQST Lahore to par ticipate in Sustainabilit y Expo 2025
The Rahimia Institute of Quranic Sciences Trust Lahore (RIQST) is participating as an exhibitor in the Sustainability Expo 2025 organized under the auspices of Allama Iqbal Open University The one-day event will be held on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, commencing at 9:00 am and concluding at 5:00 PM The primary objective of the institute’s participation is to raise awareness about its published research works and introduce literary enthusiasts to the institute s intellectual and research contributions The participation of students faculty members as well as youth from twin cities, professionals, and individuals from diverse fields of life will underscore the conscious class’s recognition of the importance of scholarly resources and the value of reading This event will not only serve as a platform to promote a culture of book appreciation but will also contribute to enhancing knowledge and awareness among the younger generation For further details or participation inquiries, please contact the institute directly
Sindh govt decides to
during the meeting, Sindh Senior
Sharjeel Inam Memon stated that 10
road safety in detail It also took key decisions regarding the development of a modern commercial vehicle inspection system Following the instructions of Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon the meeting also decided to establish Motor Vehicle Inspection (MVI) centers for the inspection of commercial vehicles along the National Highway and Super Highways
Inspection (MVI) centers are being established across Sindh for the inspection of commercial vehicles He noted that two MVI centers are already operational in Karachi, and emphasized that work on the remaining centers should be completed as soon as possible He added that the establishment of Motor Vehicle Inspection (MVI) centers on National Highways and Super Highways will help ensure the fitness of vehicles before they enter the city
AYA Z SADIQ REFUTES GOHAR’S CL AIMS, SAYS US DELEGATION FOCUSED ON BIL ATERAL ISSUES
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has denied receiving any invitation or notice for a recent meeting between government officials and a United States delegation Speaking to reporters on Monday, Gohar emphasized that neither an official invitation nor communication via WhatsApp had been made to him regarding the discussions He reiterated PTI s position that any agreements made should prioritize Pakistan s interests and underscored the importance of support from heads of friendly nations
judge of the Supreme Court (SC) according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) had nominated Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Najafi as a judge of the SC “In exercise of the powers conferred under clause (1) of Article 177 read with clause (8) of Article 175A of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the President of Pakistan, is pleased to appoint Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, judge LHC as judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan with ef-
fect from the date he makes oath of his office, the notification by the presidency read Last week, the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) led by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi approved the elevation of Justice Ali Baqar Najafi to the Supreme Court by a majority vote of 9 to 4
The nominees for the two vacant slots of the SC had to be selected from the five senior-most LHC judges As per the seniority list of the LHC incumbent Chief Justice Alia Neelum was at the top She was followed by Senior Puisne Judge Shujaat Ali Khan, and justices Najafi, Abid Aziz Sheikh and Sadaqat Ali Khan
The appointment has been made under Articles 177(1) and 175A(8) of the Constitution ac-
cording to the notification Article 177(1) provides, The chief justice of Pakistan shall be appointed by the president, and each of the other judges shall be appointed by the president after consultation with the chief justice Article 175A(8) was one of the clauses amended under the 26th Amendment Clause 8 earlier said the JCP may forward its nominations for each vacancy of SC high court or FSC judges to an eight-member parliamentary committee which would have sent to the premier who would forward it to the president Under an amendment to the clause, the JCP will now send its nominations directly to the “prime minister who shall forward the same to the president for appointment
BHC asks petitioner to approach home dept for Mahrang’s release
BHC
prising
Chief Justice Ejaz Ahmed Swati and Justice Muhammad Aamir Rana while disposing of the petition asked the petitioner to approach the home department for release of BYC chief organiser Dr Mahrang Baloch A day earlier the BHC had reserved verdict on the petition filed by Nadia Baloch Mahrang s sister challenging the detention of the BYC leader and other activists who had been sent to jail under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance The high court observed that the petitioner first present their complaints before the home department to ascertain whether the MPO was legal or not After hearing, the petitioner s counsel Advocate Imran Baloch stated that they had approached the court with request for the release of Mahrang and declaring the MPO order as illegal We had told the court to ap-
prise us on details of Mahrang’s case and that is our legal right ” Baloch said However instead of getting details from the government, the court directed us to approach the home department, he expressed disappointment On March 21, police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse BYC protesters who had staged a sit-in on the Sariab Road near the University of Balochistan against alleged enforced disappearances The situation further escalated when BYC chief organiser Mahrang was arrested in the early hours the next day and was booked under terror charges along with 150 others
Senator Durrani visits families of labourers mar tyred in Iran
BAHAWALPUR S TA F F R E P O R T
Senior politician and former federal minister Muhammad Ali Durrani accompanied by his wife visited the homes of laborers from Bahawalpur who were martyred in a terrorist attack in Iran s Sistan province Durrani met with the grieving families of Khalid Shaheed in Mehrab Wala and Jamshed Shaheed at Chakki Mor, ex-
pressing condolences and offering prayers for the departed souls Durrani urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to provide
