ISLAMABAD: An accountability court judge said on Sunday he had ruled in a corruption case against former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the “basis of evidence,” rejecting accusations by the daughter of the jailed leader that her father was wrongfully convicted because the judge was “blackmailed” into issuing a wrongful verdict.
At a press conference flanked by senior leaders of the Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) party on Saturday, Maryam Nawaz Sharif said accountability judge Arshad Malik had confessed during a meeting with PMLN leader Nasir Butt that he was forced to issue an “unjust” verdict against Sharif by ‘people’ who blackmailed him with a “personal video.” The video of Malik’s conversation with Butt was ostensibly filmed in secret, without his permission.
Sharif was sentenced to seven years in prison and fined $25 million on corruption charges by Judge Malik in December last year who ruled that the three-time prime minister was unable to prove the source of income that had led to his ownership of a steel mill in Saudi Arabia. Under Pakistani law, this is taken to prove corruption. On the same day, Malik acquitted Sharif in a second case relating to Flagship Investments, a company established by his son, Hasan Nawaz, that owns luxury properties in Britain.
“If I had to bow to pressure or any material greed, I would not have exonerated [Nawaz Sharif] in one case and handed down punishment in another one,” Malik said in a press statement on Sunday. “I want to clarify it there was neither any direct or indirect pressure on me nor was there any greed. I decided all these cases on the basis of evidence.”
He added that representatives of the Sharif family had offered him bribes repeatedly to rule in the former prime minister’s favor and also threatened him: “I decided to stay firm … entrusted my life and wealth to Allah,” Malik said.
He said the video shown in Maryam’s presser was “fake and concocted,” urging legal action against those involved in making it.
Describing the clip as “divine help” for her family, Maryam had described during her press conference that the judge could be heard in the video highlighting several flaws in his own verdict that he wanted Nasir Butt to convey to the Sharif family lawyers to help him get an acquittal verdict in appeal hearings.
Sharif has always termed the charges against him politically motivated and accused the military and courts of working together to end his political career and destabilize the PMLN party. Both deny the charge.
PMLN spokesperson Marrium Aurangzeb rejected Malik’s accusations that he was offered bribes or threatened by Sharif family representatives, and said if there was pressure on the judge, he should have come forward earlier while the cases were being heard.
“If there was pressure on him, he should have told Supreme Court ... that Sharif family representatives had offered him a bribe,” she told Arab News on Sunday.
A day earlier, Pakistan’s de facto information minister, Firdous Ashiq Awan, had condemned the allegations against the accountability judge and said the PML-N had maligned the judiciary. She said a forensic audit of the video would be conducted, adding that it was important to ascertain if the contents of the video were “real or tampered.”
Pakistan’s Electronic Media regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has also sent a notice to several private news channels over the live broadcast of Maryam’s press conference, calling it “in violation of PEMRA laws and code of conduct.”
On Sunday, opposition leader and chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party, Bilawal Bhutto, expressed “grave concern” over Maryam’s allegations and called upon the superior judiciary to take appropriate action.
“If for some reason the judiciary is not inclined to address such issues then the opposition parties must deliberate on it and formulate a united course of action,” Bilawal’s spokesperson senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said.
Politics professor Dr. Rasul Bakhsh Rais said if the video was indeed genuine, then “the burden of proof is on the honorable judge to prove he was blackmailed.”
“Ethically, professionally and legally, a judge, such as him, is wrong and guilty of miscarriage of justice if he admits that he has given a verdict under pressure,” Rais said. “I think the judge has been drafted into playing politics in support of the Sharif family. He had an option to recuse himself from the case if he felt someone was placing him under pressure.”
Pakistani judge rejects accusations he ruled against ex-PM Sharif under duress
Pakistani judge rejects accusations he ruled against ex-PM Sharif under duress
- Says decided all cases “on the basis of evidence” despite being offered bribes and threatened by Sharifs
- Sharif’s daughter held a press conference on Saturday, showed a secretly-filmed video of the judge admitting he wrote verdicts under pressure
Pakistan’s tailors measure up against Eid craze for pret
- Customer preferences are shifting toward ready-to-wear fashion, impacting tailoring businesses
- Women say they opt for pret for its convenience, affordability and accessibility over custom tailoring
ISLAMABAD: With a measuring tape draped around his neck, Muhammad Shafiq cut through a piece of fabric, expertly following along yellow chalk markings he had made according to the exact size of a client.
Each year, the demand for custom-made clothing skyrockets ahead of the Muslim festivals of Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha, with tailoring shops in Islamabad and other cities of Pakistan bustling with women eager to get their dresses made in time. The exercise requires long shopping trips to malls and bazaars to buy cloth in various fabrics and prints, or ordering them online, and then giving them to tailors to fashion into outfits as per customized measurements and styles.
But in the past few years, many tailoring businesses have had to contend with a growing preference for ready-to-wear fashion, chosen for its convenience, affordability, and accessibility, allowing women and men alike to easily find stylish and fashionable garments without the need for custom tailoring or extensive shopping trips.
“It’s not that there is no work at all but earlier we would have advanced bookings almost a month before Eid,” Shafiq, 53, who has been a tailor for four decades, told Arab News at his cramped shop in the Pakistani capital earlier this month.
“But now it’s down to around 10 days [of advanced bookings]. Many people don’t have the time to get clothes stitched and opt for boutique-made, ready-to-wear outfits.”
“CONVENIENCE”
Ready-to-wear clothing is widely available at Pakistani stores, department stores, and online platforms, making it easier to find and purchase. Pret collections also often reflect current fashion trends, allowing consumers to stay up to date with the latest styles. And instead of scheduling fittings and waiting for custom-made garments, consumers can simply try on and purchase ready-to-wear pieces on the go.
Arslan Haider, a designer and store manager, said boutiques and designer brands were certainly reshaping fashion preferences on holidays like Eid.
“During events like Eid, the market sees a surge in business and new fashion trends emerge in stores, which helps businesses flourish,” Haider told Arab News.
But tailoring still worked as a cheaper option in some cases, he said, and the older generation, more concerned with perfect fittings, preferred bespoke clothing while younger people were more inclined toward pret.
“Stitched clothes come with stylish designs and they eliminate the need for multiple visits to tailors to provide measurements and other accessories,” Haider said, adding that the convenience was a serious consideration for many customers.
“Unstitched clothes require at least seven to eight days with a tailor, and there’s always a risk of error. With stitched clothing, customers get a standardized product, whether they buy online or from a store,” he said.
Farida Qureshi, a UK-based customer visiting Pakistan for Eid, said she preferred ready-to-wear fashion as it saved time and effort. Getting an outfit stitched, on the other hand, did not just require buying the cloth and paying a visit to the tailor, but also purchasing matching accessories such as laces, beads and buttons, which was a time-consuming task.
“Finding everything in one place, ready-made is far easier than visiting different shops and then waiting for a tailor,” Qureshi said.
But there are still those who want the personalized touch of a tailor on their Eid dresses.
“I do buy ready-made clothes, but I often face size issues,” Qureshi said. “With my tailor, I get exactly what I want.”
Which is why business still thrives for many tailors like Shafiq, who work up to 16 hours daily during Ramadan to complete Eid orders.
“Some people want a perfect fit, something that ready-made clothes can’t always provide,” he said.
“I have customers who have been coming to me for years because they know I already have their measurements and can tailor their Eid clothes exactly to their liking.”
Pakistan’s Punjab to deploy over 47,000 police personnel for security on Eid Al-Fitr
- Eid-Al-Fitr is widely expected to take place in Pakistan on Monday, subject to sighting of the moon
- Attacks during Eid are rare in Pakistan, however, country has seen surge in militant attacks recently
ISLAMABAD: Over 47,000 police personnel will be deployed across Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province during the Eid Al-Fitr holidays to ensure security for its citizens, a statement from the provincial police said on Sunday.
Eid Al-Fitr is widely expected to take place in Pakistan on Monday, subject to the sighting of the moon. The three-day holiday marks the end of Ramadan, Islam’s holy month of fasting.
Though attacks during Eid are rare in Pakistan, the country has seen a surge in militant attacks in its western provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan that border Afghanistan in recent months.
“More than 47,000 officers and personnel will be deployed for more than 29,000 Eid gatherings across the province on Eid-Al-Fitr,” Punjab Police wrote on social media platform X.
“Mosques, imambargahs, markets and important places will be continuously monitored with CCTV cameras,” it added.
It said over 21,000 officers and personnel, including women cops, will be deployed at markets and important places across the province on the eve of Eid.
The statement said regional police officers (RPOs) and district police officers (DPOs) will monitor security arrangements during the three-day Muslim holiday.
“Strict action will be taken against miscreants harassing women and families,” Punjab Police warned. “One-wheeling, aerial firing, hooliganism and kite flying are not allowed.”
Separately, Islamabad Police said it would deploy over 3,500 police personnel in the capital during Eid Al-Fitr for security arrangements.
It said over 500 traffic officials will manage the smooth flow of traffic in the city during the holidays.
Pakistan’s Balochistan bans night travel on key highways amid surge in militant attacks
- Balochistan bans travel across highways in Zhob, Nushki, Gwadar, Musakhel and Kachhi districts from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm
- Militant violence, including a train siege, suicide blast and ethnic killings, have increased in Balochistan this month
QUETTA: The government in Pakistan’s restive southwestern Balochistan has banned people from traveling at night on major highways across the province, notifications from multiple deputy commissioners said this week, as it grapples with surging militant attacks.
As per notifications dated Mar. 27 from the deputy commissioners of districts Zhob, Nushki, Gwadar, Musakhel and Kachhi, public and private transport have been banned from traveling across major highways in Balochistan from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 am.
The ban covers several significant highways, including the Quetta-Taftan highway which connects Pakistan to Iran, the Loralai-Dera Ghazi Khan Road, the Sibi Road, the Coastal Highway, and the Zhob-Dera Ismail Khan Road.
“As per directives from the Balochistan Home Department and in light of the current situation, from Mar. 27 until further notice, all citizens are informed that they should avoid traveling on the Zhob-DI Khan National Highway from 6 p.m. to 6 am,” a notification from the district’s deputy commissioner said.
“Passengers and transporters will be stopped at the New Bus Stand.”
The decision has been taken amid a surge in militant attacks in Balochistan, including an alleged suicide blast on Saturday that targeted a protest camp in Mastung. The blast followed a deadly train siege earlier this month that ended in around 60 deaths, half of whom were separatists behind the assault.
Pakistan has been battling a separatist insurgency in Balochistan for decades, where militants target state forces and foreign nationals in the mineral-rich southwestern province bordering Afghanistan and Iran.
A suicide blast in Nushki district this month killed five, including three paramilitary soldiers, in the province. Militants in Balochistan have also frequently targeted laborers and commuters from the eastern Punjab province.
At least five passengers from Punjab were forcibly offboarded from passenger buses heading to Karachi from Gwadar on Wednesday, after gunmen checked their identity cards and killed them near the southwestern town of Pasni.
World Bank approves $300 million loan to support Pakistan province’s plan to curb smog
- Every year, thick smog triggered by factory and traffic emissions blankets cities in Punjab province
- Punjab’s smog action plan aims to improve air quality in transport, agriculture, energy, other sectors
ISLAMABAD: The World Bank has approved a $300 million concessional loan to support efforts by Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province to improve air quality and battle smog, state-run media reported this week.
Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab, often ranks as the most polluted megacity in the world during the winter season between November and February. Experts say the pollution is primarily caused by factory and traffic emissions. It worsens in winter as farmers burn crop stubble and cooler temperatures and slow-moving winds trap the deadly pollutants.
Lahore’s 14 million residents spent six months breathing concentrations of PM2.5 — tiny particles that can penetrate the lungs and bloodstream — at levels 20 times or more than recommended by the World Health Organization last year, as per data analyzed by AFP.
“The World Bank has approved a concessional loan worth 300 million dollars under the International Development Association (IDA) to support the Punjab Clean Air Program (PCAP),” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported on Saturday.
It said the initiative aims to strengthen air quality management and combat pollution across the province, adding that the PCAP will assist Punjab in implementing its Smog Mitigation Action Plan (SMAP).
The SMAP will seek to introduce several measures to improve air quality, particularly in the transport, agriculture, industry, energy, and municipal services sectors, the state-run media said.
As per the report, World Bank Country Director Pakistan Najy Benhassine described the program as a “landmark initiative” for improving air quality and public health.
“He said the cleaner air will reduce respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, leading to a healthier and more livable environment,” Radio Pakistan said.
The report added that the program will enhance air quality management infrastructure, strengthen regulatory institutions and promote public awareness about pollution control.
“Key interventions under the program include the introduction of 5,000 super seeders to curb crop residue burning, which is one of the main causes of seasonal smog, along with the deployment of 600 electric buses to encourage public transport use,” Radio Pakistan said.
The loan will also be used to increase regulatory-grade air quality monitoring stations across Punjab, with two new fuel testing laboratories to be established to improve fuel quality standards.
The program will promote behavioral change through educational campaigns and citizen engagement, with schools and hospitals, along with other vulnerable groups, to receive targeted adviseries on air pollution health impacts and prevention measures.
This year the smog in Punjab was so thick it could be seen from space and prompted authorities to close schools serving millions of students across the province, including Lahore.
Air pollution can cause sore throats, stinging eyes and respiratory illnesses, while prolonged exposure can trigger strokes, heart disease and lung cancer
With inputs from AFP
Pakistan’s central moon sighting committee to meet today to sight Eid crescent
- Dates for Ramadan, Eid are confirmed by committee via visual observations, testimonies
- Ramadan in Pakistan began on Mar. 2, a day later than in most other Muslim countries
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s central moon sighting committee will meet in the country’s capital today, Sunday, to sight the Shawwal moon and announce the date for Eid Al-Fitr, state-run media reported.
In Pakistan, the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee is tasked with sighting the moon for new Islamic months. Dates for Ramadan and Eid festivals are confirmed by the committee through visual observations and based on testimonies received of the crescent being sighted from several parts of the country.
The sighting of the new moon, or the Shawwal crescent, signifies the end of the fasting month of Ramadan and the beginning of Eid Al-Fitr and its festivities.
“The meeting of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will be held this evening to sight the Moon of Shawwal,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
It said RHC Chairman Maulana Syed Muhammad Abdul Khabir Azad will preside over the meeting, which will be held at the rooftop of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony in Islamabad.
The state broadcaster said zonal meetings of the committee to sight the moon will simultaneously be held in Pakistan’s provincial capitals.
Ramadan in Pakistan began on Mar. 2, a day later than in most other Muslim countries, and Eid is thus widely expected to fall on Mar. 31.
The Shawwal moon was sighted in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, marking the end of the month of Ramadan. Eid Al-Fitr is being celebrated in the Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and other Middle Eastern countries today.
