as investors brush off Trump’s tariffs
Mengal makes ‘three demands’ as par ty ’s sit-in enters 7th day
MASTUNG/QUETTA
S TA F F R E P O R T
Balochistan National Party-Mengal
(BNP-M) chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal on Thursday announced three demands as the party s sit-in being staged in Mastung entered its seventh day Deadlock persists between the provincial government and the BNP-M leadership as the second round of talks between the government’s negotiation team and the party ended without producing any results While addressing the sit-in Mengal said the government can continue to use force as per its wishes, but it will be held responsible for the consequences ”
The BNP-M chief said the party has three demands – Either release all prisoners of the BYC including women or then let us march on to Quetta, where we can hold a peaceful sit-in there Or then arrest us
He informed that the demands were put forwards to the provincial government delegation comprising Zahoor Ahmed Buledi Bakht Muhammad Kakar Ubaidullah Gorgage, as well as Additional Home Chief Secretary Zahid Saleem, and the Kalat Commissioner
“There are no demands other than this nor is there any other option Mengal said We have presented our clear demands to the government from day one
Mengal said the government s delegation had asked for more time for consultation after the second round of talks “The deadlock persists
despite two more days being sought for consultation which ends tonight ”
He added: “If all prisoners including women are not released we will march towards Quetta
The Balochistan government is the only government in the world that shuts its roads and causes inconvenience to its people ” he said
He noted that after the government halted the long march the number of participants at the sit-in increased instead of decreasing because people wanted the recovery of their loved ones, which is why they were joining the sit-in in droves
The BNP has held its sit-in on one side of the Mastung National Highway while the government has closed all major and minor highways leading to Quetta, including the Lakpass Tunnel, Mastung, and Kolpur
On the other hand mobile networks and internet in different areas of Quetta remained shut-
down, which not only causing difficulties for the public but also worsening the situation Quetta s land connection with 12 other districts in Balochistan has been cut off for the past seven days due to the closure of highways, including the Quetta-Karachi National Highway as the administration has dug ditches on Lakpass and surrounding highways
The BNP-M had announced a long march from Wadh to Quetta last Friday to protest against the arrests of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leaders and activists including Dr Mahrang Baloch and Sammi Deen Baloch as well as the police crackdown on their sit-in in Quetta Sammi was released on Tuesday A day earlier, Mengal announced that he would announce new demonstrations on Thursday (today) as talks with a government delegation bore no fruit
D U C T I O N T O D AY
The Gwadar Pak-China Friendship Hospital, supported by China, has achieved a significant milestone by conducting its first-ever laser-assisted bladder stone surgery marking a new chapter in the city’s healthcare history
The groundbreaking surgery known as cystolitholapaxy utilized modern laser technology to break down and remove bladder stones in a procedure that sets new benchmarks for medical procedures in the region
During the surgery surgeons employed a cystoscope an instrument designed to locate the bladder stones Once identified laser technology was used to break the stones into smaller, manageable pieces, which were then extracted by the surgical team This method, which offers a minimally invasive approach, marks an important advancement in medical care for the residents of Gwadar This innovative procedure is part of the hospital’s ongoing effort to provide advanced and cost-free healthcare to the underserved population of Gwadar The hospital s commitment to offering free medical services is further reflected in its introduction of Endourology in February, a minimally invasive surgical technique that utilizes a camera to treat urological issues
The Gwadar Pak-China Friendship Hospital which operates under the supervision of the Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) and
leading to the first payment of Rs 6 billion to the thenNorth-West Frontier Province (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) in 1992 This methodology was later endorsed by the National Finance Commission (NFC) and the Supreme Court in 1997 However, inconsistencies in payments have led to accumulated dues of Rs 75 billion for the province The letter also detailed how an interim arrangement,
ratified by the CCI in 2016, set the NHP rate at Rs 1 10 per kilowatt-hour with a 5% annual indexation Despite these agreements the payments to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been irregular prompting the provincial government to push for full implementation of the KCM formula Gandapur further referred to a 2019 committee report that verified the province was owed Rs 128 billion in NHP for the financial year 2016-17 He urged the Prime Minister to convene a meeting of the out-of-thebox committee, formed to address these payments, in order to ensure a fair and constitutional resolution The Chief Minister expressed confidence that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would lead efforts to resolve the matter in the province
US stocks rout deepens on Trump tariffs as Nasdaq, S&P tumble
rather than process-focused diplomacy, Schenker said Recession and stagflation risks are rising with tariff uncertainty,” he added
Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani has been appointed as the founding chairman of the newly established InterParliamentary Speakers’ Conference (ISC) This designation follows Gilani’s recent participation in a high-level briefing session held in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia where discussions were held regarding the upcoming Inter-Parliamentary Speakers Conference The decision to appoint him was made in recognition of his experience and leadership in strengthening interparliamentary relations The appointment is considered a significant development for Pakistan reflecting the country s growing influence within international parliamentary circles As the founding chairman, Gilani is expected to play a key role in fostering regional cooperation and facilitating collaborative efforts among various parliaments to address shared issues like economic growth trade and diplomatic relations
Trump’s tariffs
US President Donald Trump did on Wednesday what he had said he would do, and impose a slew of tariffs on a large number of countries, with an executive order, and the intention of reducing the trade imbalances that have cost the USA jobs and growth The economists round the globe have joined the affected governments in predicting that there will be a global economic slowdown, even as there may be a rekindling of inflation in the USA as imported goods grow dearer and while any US-made substitutes also increase their prices One of this prime targets has been China, for not only has it been slapped with additional tariffs that bring its total up to 54 percent, but countries where it exported goods so that they could manufacture finished goods for export to the US have been targeted like Cambodia Vietnam Thailand and Taiwan being hit with tariffs between 32 percent and 49 percent
One suspicion that has been raised is that these tariffs are an attempt to reverse whatever has happened in the last 20 years or so in the name of globalization Trump also represents the protectionist and isolationist trend in US politics, which had been in abeyance since World War II The tariffs have also been applied to US allies, with the European Union with a 20 percent tariff imposed on it Britain with a 10 percent tariff India with 26 percent and Ukraine with 10 percent Pakistan has had a 29 percent tariff imposed, which will probably hit the textile industry hard, and it should be remembered that the new tariffs are supposed to adjust for non-tariff barriers One of the immediate effects has been the start of a decline in the world oil price as traders prepare for reduced demand due to the expected contraction R trump has upended the world, and he may have helped send the USA into recession The problem, is that he faces no accountability electorally being in his last term What he has done fails to recognize the basic problem, which is with the US economy; it is no longer the workshop of the world because it is no longer competitive, and no tariffs, non-tariff barriers or sanctions, or economic tools can fix that
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
Going to meet the man at Penpoint
I a
O W that Eid is over, the country is about to see whether he Pakistan Tehrik Insaf has enough strength to launch a movement that would lead to the release of its founder Imran Khan though the first test will be whether it can cobble together an opposition alliance that will launch a bigger challenge to the government than the PTI has done in its solo efforts so far Throughout the holy month the nation was left to observe the PTI’ wooing of the smaller opposition parties The prospect being held out was of an opposition alliance able to exert sufficient street power to achieve the PTI s aims The PTII is probably now learning the hardheaded reason for political politeness It is not because politicians are members of the same club, as because you never know when you may need them There may have been a schoolboy s satisfaction for Imran and his followers for having called Maulana Fazlur Rerhman Maulvi Diesel but now that is coming back to haunt the PTI If the coalition falls through, one of the main reasons will be because the JUI(F) does not trust the PTI, with one of the main reasons being that the PTI has been derisive about the party leader and that too without having even charged him for corruption during its own tenure in office
Another reason why the JUI(F) will be wary of the PTI is because it is competitive with it in KP In the local body elections there in 2021 and 2022, the JUI(F) had done well Though that success was not repeated in the 2024 general elections it is one of the reasons both parties are wary of each other
The PTI may not view the JUI(F) as a perfect fit but it does not really have that much choice The JUI(F) has street power in the sense that its leaders include madressa leaders who have large student bodies at their command, but the PTI has its own kind of streetpower though that has not yielded the result the PTI wanted The PTI has been focussed on getting Imran released But all its various efforts seem to have come to no avail so far
The last hurrah seems to have been in October at the abortive D-Chowk rally, which ended with teargassing and firing, but no evidence of anyone being killed, or Imran being released That was supposed to be a ‘do-or-die’ effort but it was succeeded by a call for civil disobedience That fizzled out and dissolved into government-PTI talks which ultimately went nowhere
One view of the alliance-building and possible movement is that it is because the opposition has to keep active during the current tenure, and has no issues it can raise There is always the economy but the upward trend in economic indicators does not allow the PTI to go after the government the way the PML(N) went after the PTI government The default scare of 2023 has long been over, and after the last
letters to the IMF about elections the PTI seems to have stopped even trying There has been no real evidence of a decline in PTTI support except perhaps for the disheartening effect of failure, or the absence of any event that might cause it to be rejuvenated PTI infighting has been such as to cause concern, especially for any prospective allies The prospect of an opposition movement has caused concern for the government especially after the PTI s failure to attend the parliamentary National Security Committee s meeting on the Jaffar Express train hijack One problem that the PTI faced because of the hijack is that the focus on terrorism in general caused a garish light to be thrown on KP, which is also in the grip of terrorism though not separatists but religious militants Apart from the fact that the PTI has held the reins of the KP government since 2013 and thus cannot escape at least some responsibility for that province s law and order situation, the PTI s provincial chapter is facing party infighting, with KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur facing increasing criticism, which did not disappear when he was stripped of the provincial presidency which was given to the rival Junaid Akbar the MNA who is likely to vie for the CM s slot The recent call for the resignation of KP Speaker Babar Swat is another indication of a controversy the party could have done without The combination also is not right The PTI needs to break the PPP away from the PML(N) if it wishes to bring down the Shehbaz government and the JUI(F) is also crucial in this process but the JUI(F) is assumed not to be an entirely free agent Even if it is not in the phrase Imran made so popular entirely on the same page , it is supposed to be largely so These days, the PPP is
T h e P h y s i c a l T h e r a p y M a f i a & S D G s
important for the government to incentivize the development of more internships and job placement opportunities as well as fostering collaboration between educational institutions and healthcare providers This would help graduates gain practical experience while still in their academic programmes and smooth their transition
into full-time employment In addition to facilitating their move into full-time employment this would enable graduates to obtain real-world experience while still enrolled in their degrees This will support the achievement of SDGs 3, 4, and 8, promoting a healthier, more educated, and economically stable future of Pakistan But without urgent action, Pakistan faces a future where countless graduates are left jobless their skills wasted and their dreams unfulfilled The time to act is now Pakistan must provide opportunities for physical therapy graduates to thrive to invest in the future of its healthcare workforce A healthier, better-educated, and more economically secure future for the nation can be ensured by assisting in the accomplishment of SDGs 3 4 and 8 Pakistan can create an educational system that prepares students for the workforce a healthcare system that offers highquality treatment, and economic growth powered by qualified individuals with the right help Action must be taken immediately, and both the government and educational institutions bear the burden of improving and supporting the environment for physical therapy graduates
The writer is a Islamabad-based Doctor of Physical Therapy human rights activist and research scholar He can be reached at abdullah5718199@gmail com
Ethics over prestige
I N an era
Israel in 1978, Lari has demonstrated the moral strength and integrity that make her not only an exemplary architect but also a beacon of humanitarian consciousness Lari s decision to reject the award is a profound act of solidarity with the Palestinian people The Wolf Prize, which aims to promote ‘friendly relations between peoples’
millions who feel helpless but seek ways to voice their opposition to injustice
Lari has made a lasting impact on both architecture and social activism Her work spans from grand structures to sustainable low-cost housing for marginalised communities, notably aiding flood victims in Sindh Beyond design, she prioritises social responsibility, earning prestigious accolades such as the 2023 Royal Gold Medal for Architecture and the 2020 Jane Drew Prize Her work embodies ethical, inclusive architecture that empowers marginalised communities and reshapes architecture s societal role By refusing the Wolf Prize Lari has reinforced the idea that professional excellence must be accompanied by moral responsibility Her courageous stand reminds the world that architecture is not just about building structures; it is about shaping societies and standing up for justice In doing so she has become an inspiration not only for architects but for all individuals who seek to align their professional achievements with ethical principles DR INTIKHAB ULFAT KARACHI
Bitter thirst
T
Tof ideological and social transformation and uses violent activities to further their aims Community policing is a pro-active measure, focusing on effective collaboration between LEAs and respective communities to identify prevent prohibit rehabilitate and to prevent recidivism Moreover the more powerful a community is, the more capable it will be of handling radicalization Pakistan is in the forefront of fighting against extremism and terrorism The nonstate actors are active in fuelling unrest in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Both provinces are facing the brunt of insurgency and militancy The recent train-jacking in Balochistan by the Balochistan Liberation Army is a horrendous terrorist incident which has compelled the security forces to think about adoption of hard policy and kinetic measures to smash the outlawed militias Likewise Tehreek Taliban Pakistan and its affiliates are wreaking havoc in KP However, the use of kinetic measures have not so far eliminated nefarious militant elements, despite thousands of lives having been sacrificed in the quest of preserving peace and stability Community policing and neighbourhood
policing are two different but interlinked concepts, which identify the need for the police to work with the communities they police Public support is essential to effectively combat extremism and terrorism
Community participation includes crime prevention and detection consultative groups, exhibition and support activities, victim support schemes, juvenile schemes, interaction with public representatives, and the business community in order to help the distressed people of society through the effective and cost-effective involvement of notable community members
The families of militants and society at large play a pivotal role in the sustained reformation of extremists The stakeholders should know the radicalization process as first comes the ideological engagement then the individual becomes radicalized then some sort of event becomes a catalyst resulting in violent extremism However Counter
Violent Extremism can be defined as Proactive actions to counter efforts by extremists to recruit, radicalize, and mobilize followers to violence
Neighbourhood policing is essentially geographically based and its functionality restricted to territorial and political boundaries the term acknowledges that several communities may exist within a geographical area
Community policing is the delivery style that predominantly relies on the police understanding and responding to each different community building trust identification of symptoms of radicalization engagement of local leaders widespread education enlightenment, involvement of youth and rehabilitation of strayed terrorist elements within a
geographical neighbourhood Moreover, human resources of intelligence can be augmented with the active involvement of civil society Enhanced and fostered trusting partnership with the community will definitely build resilience against violent extremism
Community policing is predominantly based on preventive and proactive an effective public-police partnership helps in addressing the diverse issues of public nuisance Besides handling criminal issues, it strengthens civic engagement enhances community awareness about redoubtable issues and creates understanding about organized asymmetric nature of crimes There comes a signal crime analysis regarding insecurity indicators and panic drivers in the Muslim communities There are three significant signal crimes such as drug problems burglary and provocative hate crimes The hate racial prejudice and discriminatory crimes are paramount in infusing a sense of injustice, insecurity and pushing individuals toward the malady of radicalization Forging partnerships with public and private community stakeholders, socializing with residents and community leaders sharing information and investigating reports of suspicious or unusual behaviour are all components of community policing that are easily accommodative to prevention of terrorism and combating violent extremism Pakistani society is very much resilient, resolute and brave on the front of combating violent extremism The menace of militancy extremism and terrorism has engulfed Pakistan and the smokescreen has started to shed off through hard military measures Pakistani society has exhibited unprecedented bravery,
will and capacity to counter extremism and obscurantism by devising indigenous rehabilitation frameworks and propagating a counter-narrative in the accepted vernacular to yield magnificent results The exhaustive and elaborative study
i l i t a n cy i n s o c i e t y. R eva m p i n g a n d r e fo r m i n g t h e c r i m i n a l j u s t i c e s y s t e m mu s t
b e d o n e w h o l e h e a r t e d ly. Po l i t i c a l r e c o n c i l i a t i o n o f a l l s t a k e h o l d e rs i n B a l o ch i s t a n w i l l p rov e t o b e t h e l a s t n a i l i n t h e c o f f i n o f ex t r e m i s m . M i l i t a n t o u t f i t s a n d a r m e d g a n g s s h o u l d b e s t r a i t j a ck e t e d t o i n h i b i t t h e i r n e f a r i o u s a c t i v i t i e s . F i g h t i n g ag a i n s t
ex t r e m i s m r e q u i r e s a w h o l e o f s o c i e t y a p p ro a ch . U n d o u b t e d ly, t h e g r i eva n c e s o f t h e
B a l o ch n e e d t o b e t a k e n i n t o a c c o u n t fo r t h e fo r mu l a t i o n o f b e t t e r p o l i cy w h i ch b r i n g s p e a c e , c o h e r e n c e , n a t i o n a l i n t e g r a t i o n a n d s o l i d a r i t y i n B a l o ch i s t a n .
do away with the three-language formula include Tamil and English and remove Hindi completely in all the schools in Tamil Nadu (Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister CN Annadurai)
TH E language revolution of 1965 did not achieve complete success in eliminating Hindi, but the movement against Hindi’s dominance had a great impact in Tamil Nadu Supporters of Hindi were described as frauds and equated with Vibhishana Ravana s brother who defected to Rama s side and opponents of Hindi were respected as idealists and as brave, self-respecting soldiers and protectors of Tamil This public mood was the reason for the DMK alliance’s historic victory in the 1967 election In the general election of 1957 the DMK had won 15 seats with a vote share of 12 8 per cent In 1962 it won 50 seats with a vote share of 27 1 per cent In the general election of 1967 that was conducted within two years of the language revolution of 1965, the DMK won 138 seats with a vote share of 41 21 per cent Congress was routed and lost power
The DMK formed the government and Arignar Anna assumed office as Chief Minister Tamils were overjoyed; as the revolutionary poet Bharathidasan said: Only a Tamil who has researched Tamil should become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu ” That was the beginning of a new history and a golden age The defeat of the Congress in Tamil Nadu in the general election of 1967 stunned nationalists, because the party was known for its belief, bordering on arrogance, that it was invincible So much so that Kamaraj had declared that he could win lying down Rajaji’s repartee was: “No doubt you’d lie down but you can t win The Congress hopes tumbled like a house of cards
The DMK which rode to power on the antiHindi and pro-Tamil wave of 1965, enacted laws and implemented plans encouraging the movement against the imposition of Hindi and initiatives to protect and develop Tamil On the Tamil Nadu government’s emblem the words Satyameva Jayate were replaced with their pure Tamil equivalent Vaaimaiye Vellum State Secretariat became Thalaimai Seyalagam Parry s Corner became Paari Munai Kellys, a Chennai locality, became Killiyur “Express Bus” became “Viraivu Vandi” The Second World Tamil Conference was held with a
painted inside State Transport Corporation buses The Anna government introduced the practice of reading out one Tirukkural every day to mark the beginning of the State Assembly s proceedings It encouraged the principle of making Tamil omnipresent in Tamil social life with the slogan Engum Tamil, Edhilum Tamil (Tamil Everywhere, Tamil in Everything) Above all, the State’s name was changed from Madras State to Tamil Nadu (Tamil country) which was considered the crowning of Tamil nationalism The Indian government was forced to amend the Official Languages Act 1963 as a result of the success of the anti-Hindi movement in Tamil Nadu, the DMK s rise to power, and the rapid spread of anti-Hindi feelings among the nonHindi-speaking people in other states Fearing loss of support among non-Hindispeaking people and worsening of the situation unless it amended the Act to ensure the continuance of English as the official language the government introduced a Bill seeking to amend the Act of Parliament on November 27, 1967 Hindi fanatics opposed the Bill, arguing that they did not have the power to amend the Act in such a way as to ensure the continuance of English as an official language and that such a move was unconstitutional Speaking on behalf of the DMK, Nanjil K Manoharan said, The government has the power to make that amendment I want to make it clear that as far as the DMK is concerned, it will not accept any legal measure other than a constitutional amendment in this regard Home Minister YB Chavan replied saying that the introduction of the Bill was just and legal because it was not a new Bill but one seeking to amend an earlier Act The Hindi fanatics in the House did not relent and demanded a division The Bill received 181 favourable votes and 25 opposing votes Among those who voted against it were MM Joshi (Jana Sangh) and Madhu Limaye (Socialist Party) The parliamentary debate on the Bill began on December 7, 1967 The Hindi fanatics opposed the Bill, arguing that it was unnecessary to allow English to continue as the official language, that it would harm national unity, and that everyone should accept Hindi as the official language as it was recognised as such by the Constitution The members from non-Hindi-speaking regions welcomed the amendment The Congress members spoke in favour of the Bill in line with the party s whip to maintain organisational discipline Although Communist leaders such as SA Dange supported the Bill they spoke strongly against English The DMK was the only defender of the interests of non-Hindi-speaking people Its members made forceful speeches with evidence Supporting the Bill, AK Sen made a nuanced point: The Constitutional provision on the official language says Hindi in Nagari script is the official language It uses the word ‘shall’ Had the word “is” been used instead of the word shall an amendment of this type could not have been made The word shall has been used implying that there can be a change in the Official Language Act in future As soon he said this, the Hindi fanatics raised a hue and cry
In his speech Acharya Kripalani strongly criticised the supporters of Hindi and English equally He said Hindi supporters were enacting a deceptive drama in the language issue and that they spoke frenziedly in this House He accused them of enrolling their children in English medium schools Many said at the time that English had developed as a national language like all other Indian languages Communist Party of India leader SA Dange argued against including Sanskrit in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution He said: Why was Sanskrit, which was not spoken in any part in India, and not even by a large part of the intelligentsia added in the Schedule? Was it for your communication with God? Communication with God in this country is carried on in other languages as well in English in the Bible in Arabic in the Quran, in Sanskrit in the Gita, and the Gita reader does not understand the Sanskrit of the Gita at all Then why was it incorporated? Because that is an expression of the Hinduism that dominates the framers of the Constitution ” The debate continued for three days Although many members took part in it it was K Anbazhagan Leader of the DMK Parliamentary Party, who spoke at length on the issue, giving a satisfactory explanation of his position He said: “Hindi is the common language of North India It is not the common language of South India I do not want to be cowed down before Hindi imperialism in any shape or form I want to make people understand this: whatever is the position of Hindi in this country, the same position should be given to our language, Tamil As my friends from other linguistic regions would agree, Bengali, Marathi and all the regional languages should get equal opportunity and parity in this country I suggest our language(s) should become the official language of this country right up to the Centre Till then the Hindi people should wait If they want to take us with them, if they want to create confidence in us, if they feel that all belong to the same Bharat
ON March 20, Iranians in Iran and in the diaspora commemorated Nowruz, the Persian New Year Typically U S administrations have used the occasion to practice some soft power diplomacy In the past America s Nowruz greetings have taken pains to highlight Iran s proud pre-Islamic heritage, underscore its immense civilizational potential and draw a distinction between the country’s historic greatness and its current repressive clerical regime
Not this year, however The congratulatory message from the new Trump White House on March 19 was decidedly pro forma At a paltry 109 words the missive didn’t include any of the strategic messaging employed by previous administrations contenting itself with wishes for a joyous holiday That minimalist approach is an alarming signal of what might be to come as the Trump administration pivots toward engagement with Iran s ayatollahs Signs of such a shift are everywhere True, President Donald Trump has now reinstated his first term policy of “maximum pressure” against the Islamic Republic But he has also coupled it with an offer of renewed negotiations with Iran s clerical regime And while that outreach in principle comes with an expiration date, the goalposts of America s approach to Iran appear to be shifting significantly Thus in a recent interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson the president s point-man for Mideast policy Steve Witkoff argued in favor of engagement with the Iranian regime in order to clear up “misconceptions” about its nuclear ambitions As astute observers have noted that
sug-
Dr MuhaMMaD rizwan Bhatti
disputes including the EU’s anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese EVs and China s anti-dumping probe into EU brandy exports They reaffirmed their commitment to resolving these economic and trade differences through dialogue and consultation, in line with the important consensus reached by Chinese and European leaders
The two sides have agreed to restart proposed price commitment talks regarding the EU s anti-subsidy case involving Chinese EVs promptly, aiming to foster a favorable environment for enhanced investment and industrial collaboration between Chinese and European firms
Given the case’s complexity and at the EU s request China has decided to lawfully extend the investigation period for the brandy anti-dumping case, He Yadong added He Yadong noted that the two sides also discussed other key issues, including the EU’s foreign subsidy investigations cosmetics regulations agricultural and food product market access and government procurement policies Both parties reiterated their commitment to maintaining mutual market openness and ensuring a fair competitive environment for corporate cooperation
BUDAPEST
n e w s D e s k
Hungary has officially announced its decision to begin the process of withdrawing from the International Criminal Court (ICC), following a state visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is facing an arrest warrant from the court over alleged war crimes committed during the Israeli military operations in Gaza
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban condemned the ICC s warrant describing it as brazen and unacceptable arguing that the court had lost its legitimacy by targeting a democratically elected leader engaged in self-defense
Orban has been a staunch supporter of Netanyahu and Israel often opposing European Union actions that criticize Israel’s policies The Hungarian government’s decision to withdraw from the ICC came shortly after Netanyahu s arrival in Budapest which occurred just one day after the ICC issued its arrest warrant in November
Orban’s government has expressed its belief that Hungary is not legally bound by the Rome Statute, which was ratified by Hungary in 2001 but never fully transposed into national law Therefore Hungary claims it has no obligation to enforce the ICC s warrants
Gergely Gulyas Orban s chief of staff confirmed that the government would formally initiate the withdrawal process from the ICC later in the day Given
Orban’s political dominance in the Hungarian parliament the bill for the country’s withdrawal is expected to pass smoothly
NEW DELHI Ag e n c i e s
The Indian Muslim community has strongly criticized the recently introduced Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, which seeks to grant more administrative powers to the district administration over Waqf properties
The bill an amendment to the Waqf Act of 1995 has been rejected by several prominent Muslim organizations Mohammad Fazlur Rahim Mujaddidi, General Secretary of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), condemned the bill as discriminatory, claiming it infringes on the constitutional rights of Muslims and undermines their ability to manage their religious properties He further emphasized that the bill was communally driven and opposed the concentration of authority in the hands of district officials Similarly Yasoob Abbas the General Secretary of the All India Shia Personal Law Board (AISPLB) called the bill un-
The move to leave the ICC follows previous actions by Orban and Hungary s long-standing reluctance to align with international sanctions and criticisms, notably U S sanctions on ICC prosecutor Karim Khan imposed earlier this year Orban had previously mentioned that Hungary should reconsider its participation in the ICC given the sanctions imposed by its allies especially the United States The ICC issued a warrant for Netanyahu s arrest and that of Israel s former defense chief, accusing them of crimes including murder, persecution, and using starvation
acceptable and announced plans to challenge it in the Supreme Court should it pass Abbas raised concerns over the bill’s potential to harm Waqf properties by transferring significant powers to district magistrates and commissioners which could lead to mismanagement and encroachment Religious scholar Dr Rehan Akhtar, an assistant professor at Aligarh Muslim University, also expressed fears that the bill could lead to the seizure or tampering with Waqf properties which are managed by the Muslim community for religious and charitable purposes He urged that a law be enacted to prevent such encroachments The bill has also sparked strong opposition from India’s political factions, particularly the opposition alliance Gaurav Gogoi of Congress criticized the government s move accusing it
Sab
Eid’ Initiative: Bringing Eid Joys to Patients Away from Home
early morning Eid prayers and the heartfelt embrace of family members, while women are unable to partake in the excitement of Chand Raat, adorning their hands with Mehendi and preparing for the festivities Patients who have traveled from small towns to major cities for medical care also feel the absence of their loved ones more acutely during this time Recognizing the emotional and psychological challenges faced by these patients, the Hum Sab Ki Eid’ initiative, supported by Getz Pharma, brought the spirit of Eid to hospitals across the country
on
alert throughout the players’ movement, while full-
rehearsals will be conducted before their
He said a command and control center will be established during the matches and search and combing operations will be carried out in different areas Close coordination will be maintained among all law enforcement agencies to ensure seamless security arrangements Similarly, a comprehensive security plan will be devised for various VVIP movements during the matches A traffic management program will also be issued to ensure smooth traffic flow and facilitate the public IG Rizvi emphasized that security measures would be made foolproof during the PSL He added that Safe City smart cars, mobile jammers, and surveillance vehicles would be deployed in the convoy to enhance security and ensure effective
Pakistan to enhance bilateral cooperation with Belarus: Abdul Aleem K han
Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani shakes hands with H E Tan Sri Dato (Dr) Johari bin Abdul, Speaker of House of Representative of Malaysia and incumbent
of ASEAN, during his recent visit to
IMF delegAtIon begIns vIsIt to PAkIstAn to AssIst In shAPIng 2025-26 FederAl budget
Pakistan has strongly condemned Israel s ongoing military offensive in Palestine, including the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, which took place on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr
In a statement issued on Thursday the Foreign Office criticized Israel s actions including its military targeting of Palestinian civilians and infrastructure Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan condemned Israel’s aggressive actions which he described as a direct violation of international law and humanitarian principles He particularly denounced the deliberate attack on a UN-run clinic in Jabalia, which had been sheltering over 700 displaced civilians
This attack Khan said highlights Israel s blatant disregard for international humanitarian law adding that such actions amount to war crimes
The spokesperson also expressed grave concern over Israel’s ongoing campaign to seize Palestinian land including the illegal occupation of the Morag Corridor and its broader aim of ethnic cleansing in Palestine He called these actions part of Israel s expansionist agenda, which further exac-
erbates tensions in the region Khan further condemned Israel’s storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the holy month of Eid-ul-Fitr describing it as a sacrilegious act that violates the sanctity of one of Islam s most revered sites
He emphasized that this action was not only provocative but was part of Israel’s efforts to escalate the ongoing conflict and further its territorial ambitions all while undermining regional peace and stability
The ongoing violence in Gaza which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of Palestinian civilians, including women, children, and medical personnel was also condemned Khan highlighted the massive destruction of civilian infrastructure and the forced displacement of
Palestinians as part of Israel s military campaign He called these actions morally indefensible and legally unjustifiable Pakistan reaffirmed its strong and unwavering support for the Palestinian people s right to self-determination and an independent state based on the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital
The statement called on the international community to hold Israel accountable for its violations of international law and to take concrete steps to end the occupation and bring justice to the Palestinian people
The Foreign Office’s statement concluded by reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to standing with Palestine in its struggle for freedom dignity and sovereignty
K arachi police arrest fake police duo involved in kidnappings, robberies
KARACHI S TA F F R E P O R T
Two individuals have been arrested in Karachi for allegedly impersonating police officers and committing robberies and kidnappings via an online platform police confirmed on Thursday According to a press release by Karachi District East Police, the suspects used to steal personal data from a private digital site and contact customers to arrange deliveries Upon reaching the customers doorsteps the suspects would be
dressed in fake police uniforms and carry out house robberies and kidnappings Gulshan-e-Iqbal Station House Officer (SHO) Naeem Rajput, working with his team identified the suspects through CCTV footage obtained from various crime scenes The police then arrested the two men in connection with a series of robberies and abductions reported in the Gulshane-Iqbal area During the arrest the police recovered illegal firearms including two 30-bore pistols with ammuni-
tion, mobile phones, stolen watches, and other items The suspects were also in possession of a vehicle with a fake number plate BKY-361 which was seized by the police Authorities are now investigating the car s records to gather more information
The arrested individuals, upon interrogation, revealed the details of several criminal activities they had been involved in According to their confession they had committed robberies and kidnappings across Karachi
In particular, the suspects described incidents where they pretended to be police officers in order to gain access to homes and steal valuables including cash jewelry and electronic items
One of the most notable incidents took place on March 6 when the suspects entered a house in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Block 1 After gaining the victim’s trust by posing as police officers they looted four mobile phones an LED TV gold ornaments watches and cash The suspects then kidnapped the victim and took him to various ATMs in Karachi, forcing him to withdraw money
she said, adding that the people felt disillusioned by the plans She warned that if the project went ahead the province might face an acute shortage of water even for drinking purposes Sheikh called for the immediate abandonment of the canal project to prevent the province from facing further challenges, including the risk of turning barren She also warned of escalating protests if the government proceeded with the project
