March 2023 - Page 7 of 9

UN wants action from China on human rights concerns

GENEVA: United Nations rights chief Volker Turk on Tuesday demanded action from Beijing to address “grave concerns” over the human rights situation in China’s Xinjiang province.

Turk has been under pressure from Western nations and rights organisations to take a firm stand on Xinjiang following a bombshell report by his predecessor which cited possible crimes against humanity in the far-western region.

The UN is concerned about the protection of minorities such as the Uyghurs in Xinjiang and Tibetans, Turk said in his main speech to the current UN Human Rights Council session.

“Regarding China, we have opened up channels of communication with a range of actors to follow up on a variety of human rights issues,” Turk said.

“In the Xinjiang region, my office has documented grave concerns — notably large-scale arbitrary detentions and ongoing family separations — and has made important recommendations that require concrete follow-up.”

Turk also voiced unease over the far-reaching national security law in Hong Kong imposed in 2020 to stamp out dissent following huge and often violent pro-democracy demonstrations.

“We also have concerns about the severe restriction of civic space more generally, including the arbitrary detention of human rights defenders and lawyers, and the impact of the National Security Law in Hong Kong,” he said.

Torture allegations ‘credible’

Turk’s remarks came during his first set-piece speech to the council in Geneva since taking office as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in October.

Just 13 minutes before her term ended on August 31, Turk’s predecessor Michelle Bachelet published a long-awaited report on Xinjiang.

It detailed a string of rights violations against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities, highlighting “credible” allegations of widespread torture, arbitrary detention and violations of religious and reproductive rights.

Beijing vehemently rejects the charges and insists it is running vocational training centres in the region to counter extremism.

Responding to Turk’s speech, Chinese ambassador Chen Xu said that with Beijing’s efforts to combat terrorism and radicalisation, human rights in Xinjiang were “well protected”.

“Xinjiang and Tibet enjoy continuous economic growth, harmonious and stable society, constantly improved livelihood, prosperous culture, peaceful co-existence of all religions and unprecedented achievements in human rights development,” he said.

And since the National Security Law came in, “all legitimate rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people are better protected”.

Last October, Western countries, led by the United States, sought to hold a debate on the Xinjiang report at the Human Rights Council.

But intense Chinese lobbying among the 47 council members saw nations vote 19-17 against discussing the findings, with 11 abstaining.

US ambassador Michele Taylor urged the council Tuesday to “take action to address the egregious and ongoing violation of human rights in Xinjiang”.

British ambassador Simon Manley meanwhile called on Beijing “to stop denying the facts and engage seriously and constructively” with the recommendations from Turk’s office.

And Human Rights Watch’s Geneva director Hilary Power urged the council to investigate “sweeping rights abuses in China, including in Xinjiang,” pointing out that this call had “been made by hundreds of other NGOs from all regions and numerous UN experts.”

North Korea warns US of war if weapons intercepted

SEOUL: North Korea said any move to shoot down one of its test missiles would be considered a declaration of war and blamed joint military exercise between the United States and South Korea for growing tensions

Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un, warned in a statement that Pyongyang would see it as a “declaration of war” if the US took military action against the North’s strategic weapon tests.

She also hinted that the North could fire more missiles into the Pacific Ocean. The United States and its allies have never shot down North Korean ballistic missiles, which are banned by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), but the question drew new scrutiny since the North suggested it will fire more missiles over Japan.

“The Pacific Ocean does not belong to the dominium of the US or Japan,” Kim said.

Analysts have said that if North Korea follows through on its threat to turn the Pacific Ocean into a “firing range”, it would allow the isolated and nuclear-armed state to make technical advances in addition to signalling its military resolve.

In a separate statement, the chief of the Foreign News Section at North Korea’s Foreign Ministry accused the US of “aggravating” the situation by conducting a joint air drill with a B-52 bomber on Monday and planning US-South Korea field exercises.

In response, South Korea’s Unification Ministry, which handles relations with the North, said Pyongyang’s “reckless nuclear and missile development” is to blame for the deteriorating situation.

The United States deployed the B-52 bomber for a joint drill with South Korean fighter jets, in what South Korea’s defence ministry said was a show of force against North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.

The two countries will conduct more than 10 days of large-scale military exercises known as the “Freedom Shield” drills starting next week.

On Tuesday, US and South Korean warplanes practised quickly taking off in a drill designed in response to North Korean threats to destroy airfields, Yonhap news agency reported.

Around 28,500 US troops are stationed in South Korea as a legacy of the 1950-1953 Korean War, which ended in an armistice, rather than a peace treaty, leaving the countries technically at war.

Sri Lanka expects $2.9bn from IMF with China’s support

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka expects final approval from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a $2.9 billion loan in the third or fourth week of this month, the president said on Tuesday, adding that new support from China means all funding requirements had been met.

The country of 22 million people is struggling with its worst economic crisis since its independence from Britain in 1948.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe told parliament there were signs the economy was improving but there was still insufficient foreign currency for all imports, making the IMF deal crucial so other creditors could also start releasing funds.

“Sri Lanka has completed all prior actions that were required by the IMF,” Wickremesinghe said.

He said the Export-Import Bank of China had sent “a new letter” on Monday, and he and the central bank governor had sent a letter of intent to the IMF.

“As a result of this step and financing assurances from India and the Paris Club, we expect approval for the programme either in the third or fourth week of March,” he said.

The country’s international debt and currency roared higher on the news, with bonds adding nearly 3 cents in the dollar while the rupee jumped nearly 8% to a 10-month high.

It was not clear what new support China, the world’s biggest sovereign creditor, extended to Sri Lanka on Monday. In January, the Export-Import Bank of China offered Sri Lanka a two-year moratorium on its debt and said it would support its efforts to secure the IMF loan, which a Sri Lankan source said at the time was not enough to meet IMF conditions.

China and India are Sri Lanka’s biggest lenders. By end-2020, Sri Lanka owed the Export-Import Bank of China $2.83 billion or 3.5% of the island’s external debt, according to IMF data.

A lot of positivity

In total, Sri Lanka owed Chinese lenders $7.4 billion, or nearly a fifth of public external debt, by end-2022, calculations by the China Africa Research Initiative showed.

Sri Lanka’s rupee hit a mid-rate of 325 on Tuesday, appreciating 12%, analysts said, against the central bank-set spot rate of 337.67. The appreciation was driven by better dollar inflows from tourism and remittances, positive sentiment over imminent approval of an IMF deal and a downturn in imports, analysts said.

“There is a lot of positivity around a possible IMF announcement and more dollar loans are expected with an approval of the bailout,” said Udeeshan Jonas, chief strategist at equity research firm CAL Research.

“Also, speculators who were hoarding dollars have started to panic and convert with the rupee starting to appreciate.”

Sri Lanka needs to repay about $6 billion on average each year until 2029 and will have to keep engaging with the IMF, Wickremesinghe said.

Countries in debt distress such as Zambia and Sri Lanka have faced unprecedented delays in securing IMF bailouts as China and Western economies have clashed over how to provide debt relief. Sri Lanka has been waiting for about 187 days to finalise a bailout after reaching a staff-level deal with the IMF.

This compares to a median of 55 days it took low and middle-income countries over the past decade to go from preliminary deal to board sign-off, according to public data from more than 80 cases compiled by Reuters.

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said on Tuesday that his country would continue to participate in the settlement of international debt problems in a constructive manner.

Responding to a question on the sidelines of an annual parliament meeting in Beijing, Qin also said that China should be the last to be accused of causing debt traps in other countries and called on other parties to share the burden.

Govt moves to address Sindh’s concerns on census after Bilawal’s threat

ISLAMABAD: Following Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) “grave” concerns over the ongoing digital census, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal directed the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) to meet with Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday (today

PBS’ Statistician Dr Naeem uz Zafar along with his team will hold a meeting with Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to address his concerns over the ongoing first-ever digital population census 2023.

The seventh meeting of the Census Monitoring Committee was held on Tuesday by Iqbal to review the progress of the digital census. It was briefed by Dr Zafar.

Sindh CM, chief secretaries of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, the National Database and Registration Authority’s (NADRA) chairman, PBS chairman and other representatives attended the meeting.

The meeting decided that the Census Monitoring Committee will meet every week for better coordination and to resolve all the problems immediately.

The planning minister directed the PBS chief to address Sindh’s concerns. The decision was appreciated by CM Shah.

The minister said the government would take all the provinces on board and remove the concerns of the Sindh province, adding that the government believed in taking all decisions by consensus.

“The digital census will have an impact on the future of Pakistan and I cannot afford any kind of controversy and will not compromise on its transparency,” remarked the minister.

He said the federal government was providing all resources to complete the process, as it was a national agenda and the general elections would be based on this census.

“Some miscreants want to sabotage this census, but it is our responsibility to focus on this exercise by ensuring its transparency and accuracy,” said the minister, adding that the federal government was responsible for making the whole process successful by taking on board all the stakeholders.

‘Sindh govt to not support digital census’

On Sunday, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari threatened to quit the ruling alliance and said that the Sindh CM had grave concerns over the ongoing census.

“We had objected to the results of the 2018 census,” he said while terming the digital census in the country a “flawed exercise”.

The PPP leader said that there was a massive difference in the results of the Housing Census in Sindh compared to the other provinces, adding that they had demanded the recounting of 10% of the housing census.

Without naming the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, Bilawal said the 2018 census was aimed at bringing a “selected” into power.

Sindh had been raising objections over the census in the intra-provincial meetings, he went on to say, adding that the provincial government had already sent its objections over the digital census to the federal government.

“Even I did not know that the census would also be held online,” he lamented.

He added, “If polls in one or two provinces will take place based on a different census, and in other provinces, the elections will be held based on a flawed digital census, then this is not acceptable to the PPP.”

The Sindh government will not support the digital census if the federal authorities do not redress their grievances, the PPP chairman further said.

He, however, said that they would support an impartial and scientific census.

COAS Asim Munir ‘rejected’ Imran Khan’s request for meeting

KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: Despite Fawad Chaudhry’s claim that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairperson Imran Khan not seeking a meeting with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Asim Munir, anchorperson Shahzeb Khanzada, citing sources, reported that the former prime minister had indeed sent a message to the army chief but the request was turned down.

The anchor of Geo News programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath” said Gen Asim told the businessmen meeting him Monday night that PTI chief Imran Khan sent him a message seeking a meeting.

The anchor, quoting unnamed sources, said that Gen Asim informed the PTI chief that it was not his job as army chief to meet politicians.

“Gen Asim asserted that the army would neither interfere in politics nor would play any role in it,” sources told the anchor. The army chief maintained that he would not interfere in political matters and the political leadership itself should resolve its issues.

Speaking in the programme, senior anchorperson Hamid Mir said President Arif Alvi had tried to arrange a meeting between Gen Asim and Imran Khan. The army chief told the president that he wants to stay away from politics, Mir added.

“Chairman Imran Khan has never made any request to meet Army chief or any of his representatives likewise President has never approached Chairman PTI with any suggestion of Army Chief for meeting Shahbaz Sharif, speculations in this regard are baseless,” tweeted the former information minister.

The tweet had come in response to journalist Kamran Khan’s claims that the army chief had told business leaders in a meeting that he was trying to ensure that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Khan meet each other to resolve the country’s crisis.

The journalist also claimed that Khan was insistent on meeting the army chief only.

‘Worst is behind us’

According to The News, the army chief, in the meeting with the top 10 businessmen of the country, assured them in the presence of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar that the looming default threat was over and the “worst is behind us” and Pakistan will prevail as a nation.

The military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), is yet to comment on the meeting, but sources said the army chief was optimistic throughout the meeting and was confident that the current economic difficulties would be overcome. He asked the businessmen to stay firm and confident.

According to a source, the army chief told the top businessmen representing different sectors that nations face difficult times and we are also facing tough times, but the worst is behind us and we will prevail. General Asim repeatedly referred to Islamic teachings to assure his audience that Pakistan will successfully overcome the present testing times.

One of the participants, who spoke to the publication on the condition of anonymity, said the businessmen had requested the army chief for the meeting.

The finance minister was invited by the army chief to attend the session, which was termed very successful by the businessmen, the report stated.

The businessmen were told by the army chief and the finance minister all prior conditions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had been met and the Staff-Level Agreement would be secured within days.

The huddle was informed the IMF has asked that agreements with friendly countries for the provision of dollars to boost the country’s foreign exchange reserves should also be documented.

The businessmen were told commitments had been secured from friendly countries for investments in agriculture, mining and IT. The government expects advanced equity from these countries. It was said the civil and military leadership acted in tandem for securing these commitments.

According to a source, the army chief was questioned by the businessmen about why the establishment was not making politicians sit together to overcome the serious challenges faced by the country.

The businessmen conveyed to the army chief the nation expected the military would not allow polarisation and chaos to deepen any further.

At this, the army chief said the military was playing its role and trying to develop unanimity, the source said.

It was also said by one of those present in the meeting that there was only one hurdle in reaching the much-needed unanimity.

Ten businessmen – five each from Lahore and Karachi – met the army chief.

PTI slams business leaders for meeting COAS

Meanwhile, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry strongly criticised the business community leaders who met the army chief to share their concerns on the worsening economic situation.

“The members of the business community who called on the COAS are the same who meet every army chief and government and advice on how to fix Pakistan’s problems. Their only concern is to secure their business interests.”

The former federal minister said, “Pakistan’s real problems are the interest of these groups”.

Fawad added that there can be no economic stability in absence of political stability

The RMT union has called off planned strike action at Network Rail on 16 March, after receiving a new pay offer.

The surprise development will raise hopes of a breakthrough in the long-running dispute between rail workers and the rail industry, which had appeared deadlocked.

RMT members at Network Rail will have a referendum on the updated offer.

But as things stand, workers at 14 train operating companies will still strike on 16 March.

However with workers at Network Rail – which manages the UK’s rail infrastructure – no longer joining them, disruption will not be on the same scale and is likely to vary by operator.

An RMT spokesperson said it would give further updates on the national rail dispute “in the coming days.”

Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haines said he was “relieved” action had been suspended.

RMT members who work for train companies – including train guards – are currently set to continue action, with strikes set for 18 and 30 March and 1 April as well as next Thursday.

The Department of Transport urged the RMT’s leaders to allow members who work at train companies to vote on the final offer.

Last month the RMT rejected what the industry and government described as “best and final” offers.

One was from Network Rail and the other from the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), representing 14 train companies employing guards and station staff.

The employers had previously offered pay rises of 5% for 2022/23 and 4% for 2023/4, in exchange for changes to working practices, which the smaller rail union the TSSA has accepted.

It is understood that no new money has been put on the table by the government as part of the revised offer, but some changes have been made to the pay element of the proposals which were rejected last month.

The RDG has now invited the RMT to hold urgent talks.

“The RMT leadership’s decision to put Network Rail’s deal to its membership is a welcome development, but train operating staff will rightly be asking why their union continues to deny them the opportunity to have their say on our equivalent offer,” the RDG said in a statement.

The RMT has previously said it is “focused on coming to a negotiated settlement” and it had carried out an “in-depth consultation” before the decision to reject the pay offer was made.

The industry and government have said all along that any pay increase must come with changes to working practices.

Now, the RMT has said it is seeking an unconditional pay offer, among other requests.

Strikes have been taking place across the country’s railways since June last year.

Unions have argued any pay offer should reflect the rising cost of living – currently above 10%.

But the rail industry is under pressure to save money, after the pandemic left a hole in its finances. Bosses say reforms need to be agreed, to afford pay increases and modernise the railway.

During industrial action skeleton services have run on some lines with passengers often warned to avoid travelling where possible in case of disruption.

The three candidates vying to replace Nicola Sturgeon as SNP leader have set out their plans for independence during the contest’s first live TV debate.

Humza Yousaf said he wanted to build a “consistent majority” by continuing the party’s radical agenda.

Kate Forbes said a new approach was needed to win over undecided voters, adding “continuity won’t cut it”.

Rival candidate Ash Regan said the SNP had “lost its way” and pledged to unite the broader Yes movement.

The debate, hosted by STV, was marked at points by the candidates’ personal attacks on each other’s political records.

Following Nicola Sturgeon’s decision to step down, all three contenders are running to become both the next SNP leader and Scotland’s first minister.

Mr Yousaf, currently health secretary, pledged to grow support for independence “to new heights” and said he would challenge Westminster’s blocking of gender recognition reforms passed at Holyrood.

Finance Secretary Ms Forbes said it was time for a new generation to lead and that she was ready for the job, stating “more of the same is not a manifesto – it’s an acceptance of mediocrity”.

Ms Regan said the SNP had to use the ballot box via elections as the “gold standard” to gaining independence and said she would “build the foundations for independence” through a dedicated commission and convention, describing the approach of the other candidates as “wishy washy”.

Personal attacks

During an often feisty cross-examination section, Ms Forbes attacked Mr Yousaf’s record as a Scottish government minister.

“You were a transport minister and the trains were never on time, when you were justice secretary the police were stretched to breaking point, and now as health minister we’ve got record high waiting times,” she said.

The three candidates had some feisty exchanges during the first live TV debate of the contest

Asked if he was the “continuity candidate” and if that means he is the “no change candidate”, Mr Yousaf hit back at Ms Forbes, saying: “If change means lurching to the right, Kate, if it means rolling back on progressive values, that’s not the right change”.

Mr Yousaf then raised comments made by Ms Forbes, his cabinet colleague, earlier in the campaign when she said she would not have voted for same-sex marriage if she had been an MSP when the legislation passed.

The health secretary claimed “many people, particularly from our LGBTQ community, say they wouldn’t vote for independence” as a result of this, adding, “forget persuading No voters, you can’t even keep Yes voters.”

But Ms Forbes stressed she had made a “solemn and honest pledge when it comes to upholding and defending the right of every Scot”.

Each candidate was asked if they would invite their rivals into the newly formed cabinet. Ms Forbes said there was “room for Humza Yousaf” if she won the leadership race but quipped, “maybe not in health”.

This debate was the first opportunity to see the candidates directly challenge each other.

The SNP hustings so far have been respectful – even convivial – in tone but the contrasting approaches to achieving the goal of independence are very different, and that was laid bare even before they were given the opportunity to question each other.

First, Ash Regan described Humza Yousaf’s and Kate Forbes’ more gradualist approaches to independence as “wishy washy”.

Then during the cross-examinations, the challenges got personal too.

Ms Forbes hit out at Mr Yousaf’s ministerial record. What makes him think, she asked, that he could do a better job as first minister?

It’s clear the three contenders are in this contest to win it, but they’ll have to tread a fine line between battling each other and handing the opposition a full round of ammunition.

Areas where all three candidates found common ground included increasing welfare payments for children and hitting out at UK immigration plans.

But they were divided on the Scottish Greens remaining part of the Scottish government.

Ms Regan said she would “review” the power sharing agreement to ensure it was “working for the people of Scotland”.

During the debate, Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said on Twitter that Ms Regan’s claim she had spoken to the leaders of all major pro-independence parties earlier on Tuesday was not true.

Ms Regan later clarified that she left a message and had not had her call returned by the party.

Mr Yousaf described the government deal with Mr Harvie’s’ party as “vital”, while Ms Forbes refused to say categorically the arrangement would remain, adding it would be for the Greens to decide if they were happy with her approach if she won the leadership contest.

Future of the monarchy

Asked if they would keep the monarchy in an independent Scotland, Ms Forbes said there were “bigger issues facing Scotland”.

She added: “I am pretty relaxed, I would see us as part of the Commonwealth.”

But both Mr Yousaf and Ms Regan declared themselves to be republicans.

Mr Yousaf said he would “keep the monarchy for a period of time” but added “I would hope an independent Scotland would be a republic in the future”.

Ms Regan said her preference would be to have an elected head of state for an independent Scotland.

And she said in the “new circumstances” after the death of the Queen last year it might be time for the SNP conference to debate if retaining the monarchy was still the right policy for the party “or whether we should move to a policy of having an elected head of state”.

The SNP leadership candidates will take part in an hour-long debate on BBC Scotland next week.

A special edition of the Debate Night programme from Edinburgh will air at 20:00 on Tuesday 14 March on BBC One Scotland.

SNP members can vote for Ms Sturgeon’s successor from 13 March.

The winner will be announced on 27 March.

ECP expected to announce schedule for Punjab elections today

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is expected to announce the schedule for general polls in Punjab today (Tuesday), reported The News citing sources.

President Arif Alvi has already fixed the April 30 (Sunday) as the date for elections in Punjab.

Meanwhile, the sources told the publication that the Election Commision has decided to appoint judicial officers as district returning officers (DROs) and returning officers (ROs) for the upcoming general election in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Sources, privy to the meetings presided by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja at the ECP, told the publication that the electoral body will soon be sending letters to the Lahore High Court (LHC) and Peshawar High Court (PHC) for assistance in this regard.

“As compared to other officials, tasked with the duty of district returning offices and returning officers, the history bears testimony to the fact that there are far fewer complaints in relation to the conduct of election processes. Therefore, the Election Commission is keen to seek cooperation from the judiciary on this count,” they added.

Officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, shared that the decision to write to the two top provincial courts had been taken after Supreme Court’s ruling in the general election delay case.

The operative part of the verdict says: “For election to an assembly, the Commission shall, in the prescribed manner, appoint a district returning officer for each district or a specified area from amongst its own officers subject to availability; by selection from a list of officers provided by the government or a provincial government; or from the subordinate judiciary in consultation with the Chief Justice of the high court concerned.”

Earlier, after the dissolution of Punjab and KP assemblies, the commission had written to the high courts and requested them to appoint judicial officers for election-related duty.

However, the LHC Registrar had informed the ECP that it was unable to spare members of the subordinate judiciary. While the PHC is yet to respond to the ECP’s request.

The ECP sources said the recent apex court judgment had given new hope to the body, which had been not comfortable with the government officers, as they could easily be influenced by the officials.

In this connection, they referred to a large number of complaints, which poured in during the recently-conducted local government polls in Sindh, and the Daska by-election, when the presiding officers mysteriously disappeared to manipulate the election results.

Also in Karachi, some presiding officers expressed ignorance about their signatures on the result forms during Election Commission hearings. Jamaat-e-Islami had filed petitions in relation to six union councils, alleging irregularities therein.

The sources also pointed out that the ECP was not willing to appoint district administration officials due to the shortage of officers.

They added that the ECP was forced to appoint “junior level officers” for election duties, many of whom have political backgrounds and hence can be influenced so easily one way or the other.

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) directed on Tuesday the Aurat March organisers and Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rafia Haider to finalise a location for the march by 2pm.

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) directed on Tuesday the Aurat March organisers and Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rafia Haider to finalise a location for the march by 2pm.

The development came during the hearing of a plea filed by a citizen seeking permission to organise the Aurat March — a women’s rights movement in the country — in Lahore on March 8.

The district administration of Lahore, last week, denied the march organisers permission to hold a public rally.

The local authorities were requested to grant permission for the event, however, the city’s DC turned down the requests citing threat alerts from security agencies as the reason.

During the hearing today, the court ordered both parties to hold consultations to decide on a venue.

The Lahore deputy commissioner and the superintendent of police (SP) Civil Lines appeared in the court.

Justice Anwaar Hussain heard the petition and said that these matters are brought to the court every single time.

The DC said that this time they were requested to grant permission to hold the march at Nasir Bagh. “PSL is also taking place and hence, the teams also travel,” she added.

“Why are public gatherings taking place then?” questioned Justice Hussain.

The court remarked that the police become active when a political leader makes an appearance.

DC Haider said that a clash took place last year during Aurat March.

“You cannot stop them from organising Aurat March,” remarked the LHC.

The public prosecutor suggested that the march could be held outside Press Club.

The court remarked that the administration is directed to maintain the law and order situation in the city. It added that the organisers of the march should also take responsibility that there would be no riots.

“The DC’s notification refusing to give permission for the event is not valid,” said the court.

“When political parties hold public gatherings, they also consult with the administration,” it added.

The court directed both parties to mutually decide on a venue and inform the court by 2pm.

Turkiye’s fractured opposition unites against Erdogan

A last-ditch deal aimed at averting a split of the opposition vote will see CHP chief Kemal Kilicdaroglu name the other five opposition leaders as vice presidents should he end Erdogan’s two-decade rule.

“We would have been eliminated had we split up,” Kilicdaroglu told huge crowds of cheering supporters after emerging from hours of tense talks.

Kilicdaroglu, 74, head of the country’s second-biggest party, aims to emerge from Erdogan’s shadow and oust the president after a two-decade reign that has transformed the Nato member country and major emerging market economy. “Our table is the table of peace. Our only goal is to take the country to days of prosperity, peace and joy,” said Kilicdaroglu.

Polls suggest that the presidential and parliamentary votes in two months will be tight, with the opposition bloc running slightly ahead of the governing alliance.

Month: March 2023