significant controversy between the federal and provincial governments since the
Khadim Hussain
Soomro and Justice Muhammad Asif from their respective high courts to the IHC Justice Dogar was transferred from the Lahore High Court (LHC), Justice Soomro from the Sindh High Court (SHC) and Justice Asif from the Balochistan High Court (BHC) The controversy centred around the alteration of the seniority list following these transfers Five IHC judges Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Justice Babar Sattar, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan and Justice Saman Rafat
Imtiaz had filed a representation, contending that under the Constitution a high court judge must take a new oath upon transfer to a different high court which should affect their seniority ranking The five judges also did not attend Justice Dogar ’s oath-taking ceremony as the
acting IHC chief justice They subsequently became litigants petitioning the Supreme Court to resolve the controversy surrounding their seniority in the high court following the transfer of new judges from other provinces In the plea moved by senior counsel Muneer A Malik, the petitioners asked the apex court to restrain judges transferred to the high court from performing judicial and administrative functions
The petition, filed under Article 184(3) of the Constitution, also requested the Supreme Court to declare that Acting Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar, Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro and Justice Muhammad Asif cannot be considered judges of IHC until they have taken a fresh oath in accordance with Article 194, read in conjunction with the Third Schedule of the Constitution The petition will be placed be-
of land under cultivation
fore the Constitutional Bench for adjudication once it is taken up for hearing
According to the petition in line with the settled law established by the Supreme Court in the cases of Aslam Awan and Farrukh Irfan, the inter se seniority of the transferred judges should be determined from the date they took oath as justices of the IHC Consequently they will be placed lower in the seniority list than the petitioner judges The petition also requested the apex court to declare illegal the Feb 8 decision on similar representation by then-IHC chief justice Aamer Farooq and contrary to the settled law established by the Supreme Court Consequently the Supreme Court should set aside the decision on representation and the seniority list of Feb 3 According to the plea, the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) wrongfully con-
PTA warns of major service disruption if LDI licenses are revoked
stalments leaving Rs 16 billion unpaid by those unwilling to settle
The details of the why these operators are adamant on not paying these dues have previously been covered in a feature by Profit Rehman emphasised that while show-cause notices have been issued and license cancellations remain under consideration the PTA lacks the legal mandate to independently authorise instalment-based recoveries Supporting this position, Minister of State for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja noted that permitting payments in instalments could set a problematic precedent across sectors potentially creating a regulatory Pandora s box
Even if such payments were accepted she said they would be held in escrow accounts until court proceedings conclude rendering the funds unusable by the government in the meantime Fatima clarified that the PTA cannot take unilateral action, as coordination with the Ministry of IT is legally required She further revealed that the matter remains sub judice with court orders explicitly preventing any enforcement actions for now Amid growing concerns over national connectivity, the committee chair urged the PTA and IT Ministry to engage in dialogue with the LDI companies and work toward a mutually agreeable resolution Concluding the briefing the PTA chairman confirmed that a final decision including potential license revocations would only be made after the conclusion of all ongoing hearings He also cautioned that in the event the government loses in court any recovered funds would have to be returned to the operators
MOC REVIEWS STRATEGY TO COUNTER 29% US TARIFF HIKE
The Federal Board of Revenue s (FBR) Policy and Operation wings have failed to justify their actions before the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO), following complaints that the FBR’s push for online business integration has resulted in significant costs for taxpayers and potential violations of privacy According to a news report, the case stems from the FBR s forceful implementation of SRO 428, which mandates that businesses be integrated into the FBR s e-computerized system The complaint filed by a taxpayer from Lahore claims that the FBR s approach violated privacy laws and im-
posed undue financial burdens The complainant referred to the Supreme Court’s ruling in PLD 2021 SC1 which called for disciplinary and criminal actions against tax officials who breach taxpayer data privacy under Section 216 Despite repeated reminders, FBR officials have not responded to the allegations As a result, the FTO has ordered an investigation into the matter The FTO’s inquiry could provide relief to taxpayers struggling to comply with the FBR s demands which have raised concerns over privacy, particularly regarding the handling of fiscal data by private companies under the FBR’s online system The complainant also raised concerns about the legal basis for allowing private companies to manage taxpayer
information They have requested that the FBR provide full documentation and clarification on the selection process of these private companies emphasising the need for transparency in avoiding favoritism and ensuring compliance with privacy laws Additionally, the FBR is planning to issue two more licenses to private companies to help integrate retailers and other businesses into its electronic invoicing system This brings the total number of pri-
Strengthening cooperation
TRTh a n a culture in Pakistan is the institutionalized attitudes behavior mindsets and issues in police stations or thanas, which generally imply corruption, inefficiency, abuse of authority, and inaccessibility of service to the public although initially applied to the work of a police station today it comes to represent the red tape of the local bureaucracy and more general authoritarian frame of mind in Pakistani law enforcement and local government The culture creates much of the public discontent and is a great challenge to justice and administration Pakistan’s Thana culture originated in the British colonial system of policing The Police act of 1861 gave the foundation to a force intended to govern citizens not serve them Pakistan inherited this police system upon independence in 1947 however it is still not successfully modernized Systemic weaknesses allowed corruption, brutality, and political interference over time to become deeply ingrained within law enforcement agencies In order to facilitate judicial proceedings or file First Information Reports (FIRs) police personnel frequently demand bribes according to a Transparency International investigation, Pakistan s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2024 ranking of 135 out of 180 nations indicates systemic corruption within institutions, including the police Police stations are commonly used by politicians and other influential people to settle personal and political grudges Concerns about the abuse of FIRs in Pakistan have been voiced repeatedly by the human Rights Commission of Pakistan (hRCP) In December 2023, civil society groups and (hRCP) called for the dismissal of fake cases against human rights, labor and political rights campaigners They drew attention to the concerning practice of falsely accusing demonstrators especially those who oppose extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances This technique was perceived as an attempt to stifle dissent and a violation of constitutional rights nearly 60% of FIRs in politically active areas were filed as a result of pressure from powerful individuals, according to a 2021 hRCP report The Pakistani police department has very serious problems such as extrajudicial punishment illegal detention and police custody torture amnesty International documented 1,800 instances of police abuse between 2016 and 2021 In a 2024 PILDaT report, a report indicated that 30% of the police are trained regularly which is a very serious matter because of the lack of professionalism according to a Gallup & Gilani survey conducted in 2025; 35% of Pakistanis particularly those living in cities, have little faith in the police this incapacity
exacerbates public mistrust The situation is made worse by gender insensitivity which leads to harassment and discrimination against women and vulnerable groups according to the aurat Foundation more than 85% of women feel uneasy reporting crimes at traditional thanas, even though there are women’s police officers To restore public trust and uphold justice, these interrelated problems necessitate immediate solutions Justice turns selective instead of being universal when police are driven by corruption and favoritism Pakistan was 140th among 142 in the 2024 World Justice Project Rule of Law Index, 103rd for limits on government authority, 106th for open government, 125th for human rights, 127th for regulatory enforcement 128th for civil justice and 98th for criminal justice Pakistan and afghanistan are the lowest-ranked on the index among the six South asian countries according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics reported crimes increased by 15% in the years 20192023, which reflects an institutional failure and manifests a deteriorating security situation Systemic abuse is highlighted by violations of rights such as police violence enforced disappearances and custodial deaths Pakistan s human Rights Commission reported over 500 deaths in custody from 2018 to 2022 demanding accountability and reforms in the justice system By opening model police stations throughout the province, the Punjab Police launched the Special Initiative of Police Stations (SIPS) in august 2023 with the objectives of helping the people transforming the conventional thana culture and building public trust in the police about 743 police stations of which 84 are in Lahore, are being upgraded In December 2023, City Police Officer Mansoor-ul-haq Rana announced the upgradation of police stations in Multan to improve the ‘thana culture ’ The proposal includes dividing stations
Justice turns selective instead of being universal when police are driven by corruption and favoritism Pakistan was 140th among 142 in the 2024 World Justice Project Rule of Law Index, 103rd for limits on government authority, 106th for open government, 125th for human rights, 127th for regulator y enforcement, 128th for civil justice , and 98th for criminal justice Pakistan and Afghanistan are the lowest-ranked on the index among the six South Asian countries
I n c u l c a t i n g r e a d i n g h a b i t s i n c h i l d r e n
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In the libraries and book clubs, they can discuss their favourite stories with peers and get inspiration from them We live in an era of advanced technologies where children are inclined towards screens more than books It is the responsibility of the parent to integrate technology with reading because, in this digital era, children should be engaged in reading on screen rather than putting them on entertainment and music audiobooks and e-books are available on mobile phones and numerous reading apps have been introduced on mobiles which can provide alternative reading material rather than traditional methods numerous applications offer stories
with animations and voiceovers, which make their experience more immersive here the parents should limit the screen time for their children to engage them in printed stuff extended time on screen can damage their eyesight and short-term memories Rewards and appreciation for reading efforts are yet another key strategy that inculcates children’s reading habits Rewarding a small incentive can further enhance their reading habits build their confidence and motivate them for further readings Parents and educators should assign a task for reading; when they do it, they should be rewarded for their reading tasks Parents and teachers should also suggest them a book for reviewing task This can further deeper their understanding In short convincing children to develop reading habits requires solid strategies and proactive approaches; following these strategies one can put their children on the right path as children grow into avid readers, they can gain knowledge, skills, and a more decadent imagination in the world around them
The writer is the Deputy Director of the library at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad He can be contacted at writetoabidhussain@gmail com
Lives at risk
ArslAn MeHndi nekokArA
Abid HussAin
Trump’s tariff gamble could lead to an economic tsunami
Tduring Trump s first term were actually borne by american companies and
households as tariffs rise once again in 2025, americans are already feeling the sting of higher costs, with businesses passing these additional expenses down the supply chain What begins as an attempt to punish foreign manufacturers quickly turns into a self-inflicted wound on american consumers and industries alike The ramifications of Trump s tariff policy extend far beyond U S borders, creating ripple effects that destabilize the global economy emerging economies like Pakistan which rely heavily on exports to maintain economic growth find themselves squarely in the crosshairs of this protectionist squeeze Industries that once thrived such as textile exports from South asia and electronic components from east asia are now buckling under the weight of diminishing access to U S markets This is not a tactical well-planned move; it is economic warfare conducted with a reckless abandon without a clear endgame or sense of strategy
The immediate and long-term consequences for countries like Pakistan are devastating as tariff barriers mount, the viability of their key export sectors is threatened, resulting in a loss of foreign exchange reduced employment and overall economic stagnation This is not just a disruption; it s an assault on their very economic survival even america s closest allies are not spared from the fallout The european Union, Canada, and South Korea countries that have traditionally stood side-by-side with the U S in championing free trade policies now find themselves considering countermeasures These could range from retaliatory tariffs to the formation of stronger trade alliances with China and other global economic powerhouses The fragmentation of long-standing trade relationships has accelerated the shift towards a multipolar economic world one where U S influence continues to diminish The rules of the global trade game are rapidly being rewritten with Washington s attempts to bully nations into submission proving counterproductive
What we are seeing is not just a shift in trade policies but a recalibration of economic power as nations respond to Trump’s economic isolationism by seeking alternative markets and alliances
The U S s protectionist rampages are not new, however history offers stark lessons on the perils of economic isolationism
The infamous Smoot-hawley Tariff act of 1930 imposed under President herbert hoover remains one of the clearest examples of the disastrous impact of protectionist policies Initially intended to shield american farmers from foreign competition, the Smoot-hawley act sparked an international
trade war that sent global exports plummeting and exacerbated the Great Depression The damage caused by the tariffs took years to undo and left economies around the world reeling Fast forward to the early 2000s and President George W Bush’s steel tariffs faced a similar backlash The World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled the tariffs illegal and under immense pressure from retaliatory threats from the eU and asia, Bush was forced to repeal the measures within two years Yet, despite these clear historical lessons Trump seems oblivious to the catastrophic consequences of such policies charging ahead with a reckless abandon that suggests either overconfidence or a deliberate attempt to stoke economic nationalism at the expense of long-term global stability
For countries like Pakistan, the consequences of Trump’s trade war are immediate and severe The textile sector which is the backbone of Pakistan s export industry relies heavily on access to the U S market With a 29% tariff now slapped on many Pakistani goods, this is not merely a trade barrier; it is an economic shockwave that threatens the stability of key industries, employment, and foreign exchange earnings Pakistani exporters face the grim reality of shrinking profit margins diminished competitiveness and the looming prospect of layoffs Former ambassador Maleeha Lodhi has already warned that Pakistan must urgently explore alternative markets and push for structural reforms to mitigate the impact however in a global economy where major markets are increasingly closed off the task of finding alternative revenue streams is far from easy The loss of a major market like the U S cannot be offset overnight, and the economic repercussions of such a shift are felt immediately across every sector of the economy
One cannot ignore the erratic and impulsive nature of Trump s decision-making process his administration has repeatedly issued sweeping executive orders only to rescind, amend, or face backlash from U S courts, Congress, or the american people Take, for instance, the attempted TikTok ban, the withdrawal from the Paris Climate agreement which President Biden later reversed and the chaotic upheavals in immigration policies that left american citizens and businesses alike uncertain of the direction the country was headed The trade war is merely the latest episode in this cycle of economic and political brinkmanship, where decisions are made hastily without regard for the long-term implications and while Trump s protectionist policies may have their vocal supporters history suggests they will eventually be challenged, potentially even within his own party Legal challenges
could emerge, and the backlash from american businesses and consumers may force Trump to walk back at least some of these tariff measures however by that time much of the damage both economic and diplomatic will have already been done The reality is stark: Trump s tariff war is not a well-thought-out strategy; it is economic adventurism with devastating consequences for the U S and the rest of the world If left unchecked, it threatens to unravel the delicate balance that underpins the global economy The inflationary pressures retaliatory tariffs and fractured trade relationships will not only create ripple effects across industries, financial markets, and supply chains but could lead
of sustainability and transition strategy at Jefferies Financial Group told Marsh (Jefferies coincidentally was one bank Texas found sufficiently loyal to fossil fuels; it became the state s top municipal-bond manager in 2023 ) This is a bit like my wife saying, My husband s not sticking to his diet, so I might as well buy him more donuts ” also, the donut shop gives her a cut of the profit on every dozen Just as it is possible for me to eat healthier it is still physically possible if just barely for the world to achieve net zero and avoid the most catastrophic heating It isn t a matter of engineering but of political will and financial means Banks are a key element in the financial means part of that and they keep choosing to finance oil, gas and coal instead They have pumped $6 9 trillion into those industries since the 2016 Paris agreement that set 1 5 C as a warming target according to a report by the Rainforest action network the Sierra Club and others again, the banks aren t solely to blame If society could get its act together and price carbon emissions to match the destruction they wreak on the world, then those tempting fossil-fuel deals would be far less plentiful
Th e R e has been an uptick in sponsored content from the tobacco and vaping industry claiming that the decline in smoking rates in South africa can be attributed to “alternative tobacco-free nicotine products” articles state that these products are driving public health gains by providing smokers with more satisfying alternatives to traditional cessation aids This untrue narrative is a blatant attempt to mislead the public
The tobacco and vaping industry s claims surrounding a decline in smoking in South africa are an elaborate smoke-screen designed to shift blame and sell products
Taking credit for fewer people smoking is a new industry tactic being employed globally by the e-cigarette industry which includes big tobacco companies What we see here is a textbook example of tobacco industry strategy They aim to distort public health victories and take credit for trends they had nothing to do with This is part of a broader, global strategy to rehabilitate their image by promoting “harm-reduction” narratives Their tactics are designed to obscure the fact that these products are not reducing nicotine addiction but perpetuating it
SMOKING DECLINE BEGAN WELL BEFORE NICOTINE ALTERNATIVES: The facts paint a very different picture South africa experienced its most significant decline in smoking prevalence between 1993 and 2003, well before e-cigarettes or nicotine pouches entered the market During that period smoking prevalence dropped largely due to the implementation of robust tobacco control policies such as higher taxes advertising bans and restrictions on smoking in indoor public places
For example, smoking rates among men fell from 42% in 1998 to 35% in 2003
Overall rates fell as low as about 16% in 2010, but this started increasing in the early 2010s to 2020s with the reemergence of products like hookahs and the advent of e-cigarettes which were heavily marketed to young people and not adequately covered by the law notably these changes were driven by the government s commitment to protecting public health and the efforts of public health advocates not by tobacco companies with novel products, which were nonexistent Contrary to the industry’s claims, evidence shows that the introduction of e-cigarettes to South africa which has been tracked since about 2010 did not sustain or accelerate this downward trend If anything there has been a concerning reversal Since the introduction of e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, smoking prevalence has actually increased Gains that were painstakingly achieved over decades of tobacco control efforts are being rolled back While the percentage of smokers in the population has appeared to plateau population growth has caused the actual number of smokers to rise alarmingly
MAjid nAbi burfAt
TRUMP DEFENDS TARIFFS AS ‘MEDICINE’
AMID GLOBAL MARKET LOSSES
China
CORPORATE CORNER
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to pioneer innovation in higher education with the launch of the Institute of Design Thinking, Entrepreneurship, and Leadership (IDEAL) This groundbreaking initiative marks a significant step in the University’s commitment to promoting agile problem-solving entrepreneurial thinking and collaborative leadership among students and industry professionals alike The inauguration ceremony held
‘ALL DEALS OFF’ IF AFGHAN TALIBAN DON’T COMPLY WITH ISL AMABAD’S CONCERNS: AMB SADIQ
The Taliban government has not responded to the latest remarks by the Pakistani special envoy However, it does not accept Pakistan s stance on the presence of TTP on Afghan soil Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also addressed the seminar on A Holistic Appraisal of the Security and Governance Challenges of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at a local hotel While security forces have made significant sacrifices to bring peace, the issues are still at large from terrorism, corruption poverty smuggling drug trafficking and political issues ” Governor Kundi said In this regard a solid civil-military pact is required to resolve these issues; there is a need for sustainable governance, one that is accountable and efficient,” he further said
Three top terrorists from Fitna-al-Khawarij arrested in K arachi
Sindh Rangers in collaboration with the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), on Monday arrested three high-profile terrorists linked to the proscribed group Fitna-alKhawarij during a joint intelligence-based operation in Karachi
The arrested men Inamullah alias Lala Naeemullah alias Umar Zali, and Muhammad Taib alias Muhammad are believed to be involved in several terrorist activities, including attacks on security forces
The operation was conducted in the Korangi area of Karachi where the terrorists were apprehended along with a significant haul of arms, ammunition, and explosives Fitna-al-Khawarij, formerly known as the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was designated as a banned organization by the government in 2023 The group is notorious for targeting Pakistani security forces and law enforcement agencies The arrest of these individuals is a significant development in the ongoing efforts to combat terrorism in the country
According to the Rangers’ statement Naeemullah who joined Fitna-al-Khawarij in 2014 was a key member of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur faction His father and uncle were also prominent commanders in the group, involved in various attacks against security personnel After relocating to Karachi Naeemullah began organizing and strengthening the group s network in the city Inamullah who joined the group in 2017, was active in the Waziristan region and involved in numerous attacks against security forces He was also working to ex-
pand the group’s activities in Karachi Muhammad Taib who became part of the group in 2023 took over the facilitation role after the death of his brother and had been operating in Karachi
The three suspects were arrested while allegedly planning terrorist activities in Karachi They have been handed over to the CTD for further legal proceedings
The arrest comes amid increasing concerns over the rise in attacks targeting security forces across the country, particularly after the TTP broke a ceasefire with the government in 2022
PTI stands united under Khan’s leadership despite internal differences: Sheikh Waqas
of the Additional District and Session Court in Ferozwala determined that VG s chief editor and reporter Rolf John Widerøe had engaged in a malicious campaign to damage Zahoor s reputation The court found that the publication had deliberately published false statements about Zahoor, which harmed his reputation and subjected him
PESHAWAR S TA F F R E P O R T Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram recently spoke about the party’s upcoming plans for protest revealing that party leader Imran Khan has been consulted and an announcement regarding the action will be made soon
He emphasized that while internal differences are natural in any large political party, PTI remains united under Imran Khan’s leadership
Akram also highlighted that PTI is the only political party in Pakistan that has an accountability committee, which was formed by Imran Khan during his tenure as prime minister He added that despite external criticism from the media or political opponents Imran Khan remains steadfast in his approach
Addressing concerns about the interaction between party members and Imran Khan, Akram mentioned that the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, despite being entitled to meet the party leader had to
wait a month and a half before being granted the opportunity He further criticized the lack of access to Imran Khan s lawyers and family members, despite court orders permitting such meetings
In response to Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif s announcement about reducing electricity prices
Akram pointed out the stark contrast between the current and previous electricity rates He criticized the PML-N government for increasing the price per unit by 30 to 35 rupees with a subsequent claim of economic success after a 7 percent reduction
Akram noted that under PTI s rule, the price per unit of electricity, including taxes, was around 19 to 20 rupees, whereas it had risen to nearly 60 rupees per unit under the current government He challenged the Prime Minister to clarify which price was cheaper: the 25 rupees per unit from PTI s time or the current 60 rupees per unit
The PTI spokesperson also responded to statements from PML-N figures accusing them of attempting
to mislead the public He criticized the PML-N for its role in supporting dictatorship when democracy faced challenges in Pakistan
According to Akram, the PML-N has continually failed the nation selling out the country’s interests for political power He claimed that the party is fragmented and is now attempting to divide PTI, which remains united in its vision under Imran Khan s leadership
Finally Akram underscored the growing frustration among the people of Pakistan regarding the soaring electricity prices which have increased by nearly 400 percent He emphasized that the nation is demanding accountability for the economic devastation caused by the current government and their policies
Akram concluded by asserting that the nation is ready for a decisive struggle to reclaim its mandate, remove incompetent leadership, and restore democracy, rule of law, and constitutional integrity in Pakistan
Balochistan Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Chaudhry emphasised that NIFTAC would enhance Nacta’s operational capacity, making it a more robust institution in the fight against terrorism All recommendations presented by Chauhan were unanimously approved by the
