25-10-2025

Month: July 2024

PM seeks int’l community’s recognition of Pakistan’s Afghan refugee burden

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has asked the international community to recognise Pakistan’s efforts in hosting Afghan refugees and demonstrate collective responsibility as the country itself battles with major economic issues.

The PM’s remarks came on Tuesday during a meeting with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi, who is in Pakistan from July 7-9.

During the meeting, PM Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to address the protection and safety needs of people in vulnerable situations.

He also underscored that the international community needed to be mindful of the socio-economic challenges and security threats being faced by Pakistan in this regard.

While recalling Pakistan’s longstanding partnership with UNHCR, the prime minister appreciated the UN agency’s support to Islamabad in hosting Afghan refugees for over four decades.

He noted that despite numerous challenges, Pakistan had hosted Afghan refugees with exemplary respect and dignity.

PM Shehbaz sought UNHCR’s support in mobilising adequate resources to supplement Pakistan’s efforts, urging the UN body to play its role in promoting durable solutions to address the situation of Afghan refugees, including through safe and dignified return and reintegration in their homeland, as well as third-country relocation.

The UN high commissioner expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s generosity and hospitality in hosting millions of Afghan refugees for the past many decades and assured that UNHCR would continue to work closely with Pakistan to fulfill the basic needs of the Afghan refugees.

5 security personnel martyred in KP

A military officer was martyred in an exchange of fire with militants in North Waziristan, while three soldiers lost their lives in an attack, and 12 others were injured in the South Waziristan district. Separately, a police officer and his three minor nephews lost their lives in Lakki Marwat district on Tuesday.

Captain Muhammad Osama bin Arshad, 24, a resident of Rawalpindi district, was martyred during a fire exchange between security forces and militants in the district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

During the gunfight, the security forces effectively targeted the militants, resulting in the deaths of two militants, the ISPR added.

A sanitisation operation was underway to eliminate any remaining militants in the area. “Security forces of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve,” it added.

PM Shehbaz Sharif and KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur expressed their grief over the martyrdom of Captain Osama.

Three soldiers martyred

In the South Waziristan district, three soldiers were martyred during an intense exchange of fire with militants, the ISPR said.

It identified the three soldiers as Sepoy Asadullah, 30, a resident of Matiari district; Sepoy Muhammad Sufyan, 28, a resident of Dera Ismail Khan district; and Non-Combatant Bearer Zain Ali, 24, a resident of Bahawalnagar district.

Lakki Marwat attack

In Lakki Marwat, four family members, including a police officer, lost their lives and a minor was injured when unidentified assailants opened fire on their vehicle near Kurram Bridge on the Indus Highway, within the jurisdiction of Dadiwala police station.

“Head Constable Saadullah and his family were travelling to Peshawar from Titterkhel for medical treatment,” an official said. The attackers suddenly emerged and sprayed the car with bullets, injuring the police officer and his three nephews. Two women in the car remained unharmed.

Constable Saadullah, 37, and his nephews — Abdul Rehman, 8; Sufyan, 12; and Sayyam, 12 — were seriously injured in the attack and died on the way to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Serai Naurang town. Another injured minor, Farmanullah, was transferred to a hospital in Peshawar.

Constable Saadullah, who was stationed at the Shaheed Haibat Ali Khan Police Station in Darra Pezu town, hailed from Titterkhel town.

After the incident, a large police contingent arrived at the scene and launched a search operation for the attackers. Counterterrorism department personnel and investigation experts also collected evidence at the crime scene.

The cop’s body was taken to the police lines, where his funeral prayer was offered before being transported to Titterkhel for burial with full official honours. The attack occurred near a dense forest along the Kurram River, known locally as ‘Darga’.

Separately, three women were injured when a mortar shell struck a police officer’s house in Tappi, North Waziristan. Police reported that the injured women were taken to the hospital for treatment.

Brazil to implement free trade accord with Palestinian Authority

“The agreement is a concrete contribution to an economically viable Palestinian state, which can live peacefully and harmoniously with its neighbors,” Brazil’s foreign ministry said on Monday in a statement.

It said Brazil, which recognises a Palestinian state and allowed a Palestinian embassy to be built in the Brazilian capital in 2010, ratified the agreement on Friday between the Mercosur trade bloc of South America and the Palestinian Authority that had been signed in 2011.

Uruguay has backed the Palestine deal, a foreign ministry source said, adding that there was little resistance since Mercosur has a similar agreement with Israel.

It was not clear whether other Mercosur members would follow Brazil’s lead. Argentina’s right-wing government of President Javier Milei is not expected to do so. Paraguay’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Palestinian ambassador in Brasilia, Ibrahim Al Zeben, called Brazil’s decision “courageous, supportive and timely.” It is “the effective way to support peace in Palestine,” he said in a message, adding that he hopes Palestine trade with Mercosur, currently only $32 million a year, will grow.

Seven migrants found dead off Turkish coast

Turkiye’s coastguard arrived at the scene after a fishing boat in the area raised the alarm at 10:47am (0747 GMT) and 19 migrants were rescued, Yerlikaya said on the X social media platform. “One helicopter, four coastguard vessels and a diving team were involved in the search and rescue operation”, he added.

Meanwhile, the UN human rights chief said on Tuesday that his office was following up on reports of a mass grave in the desert along the Libya-Tunisia border, after the bodies of at least 65 migrants were found at another site this year.

Volker Turk denounced widespread violations against migrants and refugees in Libya, which straddles a dangerous transit route through the Sahara Desert and across the southern Mediterranean.

Abuses against migrants were being “perpetrated at scale, with impunity” by both state and non-state actors, Turk said, listing crimes including human trafficking, torture, forced labour, extortion, starvation, detention and mass expulsions.

‘Saudis tried to protect Russian assets in Europe’

Sources familiar with the matter disclosed to Bloomberg that Saudi Arabia’s finance ministry expressed opposition to this proposed confiscation, intended to aid Ukraine, during discussions with select G7 counterparts.

The report highlighted Saudi Arabia’s potential influence on European decisions, noting the kingdom’s substantial holdings in euro and French bonds, estimated to be worth tens of billions of euros, which could sway deliberations. However, it emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s holdings alone might not suffice to alter European policy, but the situation could shift if other countries were to follow Riyadh’s lead.

A Saudi official acknowledged the unusual nature of such threats from the government but affirmed that they had conveyed the potential repercussions of asset seizures to G7 members. Another source cited by Bloomberg indicated that Saudi Arabia’s position moderated somewhat after the G7 nations adopted a proposal that avoided direct seizure of the assets.

Analyzing the potential impact of Saudi Arabia’s stance, the report underscored that while the kingdom lacks enough European bond holdings to destabilize the securities market, European officials expressed concerns over a possible “domino effect” if other nations were inspired to dump their holdings in imitation of Riyadh. Such a scenario, though hypothetical, could exacerbate Europe’s economic challenges already compounded by sanctions against Russia.

In response to these developments, European authorities have decided, despite pressure from the United States and Britain, to abstain from seizing the principal sums of Russia’s frozen assets, opting instead to withdraw only accrued interest. As a result, Ukraine is expected to receive commitments rather than direct financial disbursements from these assets.

Reports from European media outlets highlighted the logistical challenges and legal complexities involved, acknowledging that attempting to seize the entire $300bn of Russia’s frozen state assets would be “nearly impossible.” In light of this realization, European Union leaders reached a compromise during a recent G7 summit held in Italy.

Under this compromise, Ukraine is set to receive a $50bn loan, secured by the interest generated from the frozen assets. This approach aims to provide tangible financial support to Ukraine while navigating the legal and geopolitical constraints surrounding the asset freeze issue.

While the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and other allies advocate for the complete seizure of Russia’s frozen assets to bolster support for Ukraine, certain European officials are hesitant, citing concerns over setting a controversial legal precedent.

These officials worry about potential repercussions, including legal challenges from Russia alleging breaches of international law.

PM says defence spending commitment ‘cast iron’

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said the UK has a “cast iron commitment” to spending 2.5% of national income on defence – but is still refusing to put a timeline on when the promise will be delivered.

Sir Keir has travelled to Washington for the annual summit of the Nato defence alliance, less than a week after he won the general election.

He and his wife Victoria have been invited to the White House by President Joe Biden.

The prime minister has said the new government will begin a review of the defence capabilities the country needs in the future, which will set out a “roadmap” to reaching the 2.5% target.

“At a time when we face multiple threats at home and abroad, we must make sure we are ready to defend ourselves,” Sir Keir said.

“That’s why I have immediately ordered a root-and-branch review that will secure Britain’s defences for the future.”

Speaking ahead of his departure to Washington, Sir Keir told reporters he was committed to spending 2.5% of GDP – a measure of the size of the economy – on defence “within our fiscal rules”.

But he added: “That strategic review needs to come first.”

This suggests it will not happen quickly.

Pressed by journalists travelling with him to Washington on where the 2.5% pledge stood in his priority list of spending, he said: “The defence and security of the nation… is the first priority of government. That is well understood by me.”

The prime minister added that the strategic review was “wider than the money question, it is obviously looking at the challenges that we face, the capabilities and making sure that the two match”.

During the election campaign, the Conservatives pledged to reach 2.5% by 2030 and criticised Labour for not matching their commitment.

Labour has insisted it will hit the target when the nation’s finances allow.

Nato members have pledged to spend at least 2% of their GDP on defence by 2024 – but many are falling short of the target.

Some 23 of the alliance’s 32 member countries are projected to meet the target this year.

The UK currently spends just over 2% of its GDP on defence.

The PM is joined on this trip by Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Defence Secretary John Healey and the Paymaster General Nick Thomas-Symonds, who has a responsibility for the UK’s relations with its European neighbours.

Labour is very conscious the party is often not trusted on defence and national security – and so the language chosen by these new senior ministers is striking in its conviction, to try to underline that the party has changed from the era of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.

Mr Healey said “Britain’s commitment to Nato is unshakeable”, while Mr Lammy said “Nato is part of Britain’s DNA”.

Sir Keir said the summit “should be seen as a clear and united resolve by Nato allies … to stand with Ukraine and stand up to Russian aggression”.

He said the package of support for Ukraine the UK was seeking to advance at the Nato summit “goes beyond the support that’s been put in before”.

This trip will also provide the prime minister with a first chance to meet fellow world leaders in his new role.

It will be the first time he has ever met President Biden.

He has met other leaders of Nato member states before, such as President Emmanuel Macron of France and Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany.

PM says it would be a shame to go back to IMF again after 3 years

QUETTA: Lamenting that the burden of debt has mortgaged the future of nation’s generations, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said it will be a matter of great shame if Pakistan has to once again return to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for another loan after three years.

“To free ourselves from this cycle of debt, the federal and provincial governments, along with the relevant institutions, must work together,” the premier said while addressing a signing ceremony to launch a significant initiative aimed at the solarisation of agricultural tube wells in Balochistan on Monday.

“If we make this collective effort, future generations will be grateful. However, if we fail to make tough decisions, we will find ourselves seeking assistance from the IMF once again,” the PM, who was on a daylong visit to Quetta, said.

Pakistan is looking to strike a staff-level deal on an IMF bailout of more than $6 billion this month after addressing all of the Washington-based lender’s requirements in its annual budget.

Moreover, the country’s debt has soared since the mid-2000s, as authorities failed to invest a gusher of loans from international bondholders and countries including China and Gulf nations into productive, export-oriented sectors.

Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb warned on Sunday that Pakistan would continue to seek the IMF bailouts “if it fails to boost tax revenue”.

The finance czar said that he was “relatively confident” of reaching a staff-level agreement with the global lender this month for an estimated loan of $6 to $8 billion.

“But it will not be our last Fund programme if we don’t bring our tax revenues up,” said the finance minister while speaking during an interview with the Financial Times.

The federal government presented the tax-loaded Rs18.877 trillion budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 (FY25) last month, aimed at shoring up public revenue and satisfying the IMF, which has repeatedly demanded improved tax collection.

The budget aims to raise Rs13 trillion by next July, a roughly 40% increase from the current financial year, to bring down a ruinous debt burden that has caused 57% of government revenue to be swallowed by interest payments.

Maintaining that turning to the IMF was a necessity, the PM Shehbaz said Pakistan had to finalise a deal with the IMF this month.

“Tomorrow in Islamabad, I will discuss measures to provide relief to the poor. The federal government stands with Balochistan in its development and prosperity. We will embrace anyone who genuinely cares for the well-being of Balochistan and Pakistan.”

PM Shehbaz further said that security and maintenance of law and order were imperative for investment to flow into Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Regarding Gwadar, he said: “I am not complaining, but the Safe City project there has been halted. Gwadar, by the grace of God, will prove to be more beneficial than the Reko Diq mines. We are committed to transforming Gwadar into a magnificent port. Together, we will eradicate the scourge of terrorism.”

Solarisation of tube wells in Balochistan

The solarisation of agricultural tube wells in Balochistan, the premier said, was part of the broader government efforts to address the economic challenges facing Pakistan and to promote sustainable development in the region.

“The government is commitment to economic reforms, security, and development, particularly in the underserved regions of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” the PM added.

During the ceremony, the prime minister oversaw the signing of the agreement between the federal and the Balochistan governments in Quetta. Federal ministers, the governor and the chief minister of Balochistan, and members of the provincial cabinet were also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, PM Shehbaz said the federal government in cooperation with the Balochistan government would shift around 28,000 agricultural tube wells of the province from electricity to solar energy.

He said the total cost of “this project is Rs55 billion and its 70% will be provided by the federal government”, while the rest by the Balochistan government.

Premier Shehbaz said that Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti had assured that the solarisation of tube wells would be completed in three months and it would help save around Rs90 billion annually.

“In the next phase, we are going for the solarisation of 1 million agricultural tube wells across the country, saving $3.5 billion, being spent on imported fuel every year,” the PM added.

He also said a 10% quota had been earmarked for the students of Balochistan, who would be sent to China at government expense for the latest professional training in the agriculture sector.

Similarly, a 10% quota has been reserved for the students of Balochistan to get training in the field of Information Technology under the Chinese company Huawei, the premier said adding that funds had been allocated in the federal budget for the establishment of Danish Schools in Balochistan.

He expressed the hope that Balochistan Governor Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail, CM Bugti, and the entire provincial cabinet would continue playing their due role for the development and prosperity of the province.

Meanwhile, Governor Mandokhail met with the Prime Minister, discussing the conversion of the province’s tube wells to solar power, party matters, and other mutual interests.

The governor expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for his special interest in the province’s development and prosperity. Both leaders agreed to further strengthen and enhance the relationship between the federal and provincial governments.

President Zardari signs into law bill amending Elections Act

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday approved the Election (Amendment) Bill 2024, which empowers the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to appoint retired judges of high courts to election tribunals.

Under the amendment to the Elections Act, 2017, the ECP would not need consultation with the respective chief justices for the appointment of retired judges as election tribunals.

Through the Election Amendment Bill, the amendments were made in the Section 140 of the Election Act 2017.

After the amendment, the chief justice of the high court concerned will be consulted in case of appointment of a serving judge in a election tribunal, a press release issued by the President House said.

After the president’s approval under Article 75 of the Constitution, the election bill has become an act.

The Election (Amendment) Bill 2024 was passed by the National Assembly on June 28 and by the Senate on July 4, amid strong opposition from the  opposition legislators’

The Supreme Court had taken up an appeal by the election governing body in the ongoing row between the ECP and the LHC regarding the appointment of judges to the election tribunals regarding the February 8 polls.

On May 29, the LHC held that under Article 219(c) read with Article 222(b) of the Constitution, the LHC chief justice enjoyed primacy in the appointment of election tribunals under Section 140 of the Elections Act, 2017.

Later, the apex court suspended the LHC judgment and its notification regarding the appointment of eight election tribunals in Punjab for hearing election dispute cases, till the completion of consultation between the two sides.

Modi urged to defer implementation of new criminal laws

India this month replaced its criminal justice system — the Indian Penal Code of 1860, the 1973 Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872 — with new laws.

The new laws, in force since July 1, expand police powers on pre-trial detention of an accused and introduce the death penalty for gang-rape of women aged under 18, among other provisions. They also mandate judges to issue written rulings within 45 days after a trial ends and for charges to be framed within 60 days of the first court hearing in a case.

Indian lawyers fear old cases could continue to drag on as the ruling deadlines apply only to new cases after July 1. And there is confusion which laws — old or new — will apply to cases registered after July 1 for a crime committed before that date. “It only increases and complicates work for lawyers,” said Delhi-based lawyer Shadan Farasat, adding that many provisions will need to be interpreted afresh by courts which could increase litigation.

Two lawyer associations with more than 13,000 members in India’s southern state of Tamil Nadu have announced plans to boycott court work in protest against the laws.

India’s home ministry and law ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

India says thousands of judiciary officials, public prosecutors and police officers have been trained in how to apply the new laws. Modi’s government says there are “various misconceptions” being spread about the laws which are “victim-centric” and will make the system “most modern” in the world.

“The new laws have made forensic investigation mandatory in offences punishable by 7 years or more, which will help speed up justice and take the conviction rate up to 90pc,” the government said last week. The new laws also add punishment for crimes such as mob lynching and hate speeches, but have faced criticism for not offering any protection to men if they are raped.

Iran won’t soften anti-Israel stance, says president-elect

“The Islamic Republic has always supported the resistance of the people of the region against the illegitimate Zionist regime,” Pezeshkian said in a message to Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah.

The comments signalled no change in the regional policies of the incoming government under the relatively moderate Pezeshkian who defeated his hardline rival in last weeks runoff election.

“I am certain that the resistance movements in the region will not allow this regime to continue its warmongering and criminal policies against the oppressed people of Palestine and other nations of the region,” Iranian media quoted Pezeshkian as saying.

Hezbollah and Hamas are part of a group of Iranian-backed factions in the region known as the Axis of Resistance. Israel did not immediately comment on Pezeshkian’s remarks.

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