KARACHI: The top American diplomat in Pakistan said on Tuesday people mostly focused on bilateral challenges when discussing United States-Pakistan ties, obscuring the long and mutually beneficial relations between the two countries.
Pakistan and the US cultivated strong defense ties during the Cold War days, yet their relationship was also tested by divergent priorities on various issues. The two countries particularly forged close ties when Pakistan aligned with the US during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.
However, more recent times have seen tensions escalate, particularly after 9/11, when US officials criticized Pakistan for not sufficiently supporting the American military efforts against the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Additionally, the perception of US interference in Pakistani politics has been a contentious issue, highlighted by former prime minister Imran Khan’s allegations that Washington orchestrated his ouster in April 2022, a claim the US authorities have denied.
“It has become commonplace to observe that the United States and Pakistan have sometimes struggled to understand each other,” Ambassador Donald Blome said while addressing a ceremony in Islamabad organized to celebrate the US Independence Day. “But that observation can obscure the long history of partnership and cooperation between our two countries.”
He described the ties between the two states as a journey toward increased prosperity and security for both nations, adding that each step of the way was important.
“I want to stress the strength and durability of the US-Pakistan partnership and as we celebrate Independence Day, we also celebrate the steps we have taken together,” he added.
Ambassador Blome noted the US companies had played a major role in strengthening Pakistan’s economy, adding that his country was “proud to be Pakistan’s largest export market globally.”
He also said the US was helping Pakistan’s energy infrastructure project by upgrading Mangla and Tarbela with new GE turbines.
“The originals lasted for 50 years, and the new versions will last another 50 years – a 100 year investment in Pakistan funded directly, not through loans,” he said. “That’s what we mean by commitment.”
Ambassador Blome also highlighted his country’s support to cultural activities in Pakistan, adding its diplomatic mission also sends over 500 Pakistanis to US each year on educational and professional exchanges.

ISLAMABAD: The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on Tuesday nominated Justice Aalia Neelum as the new chief justice of the Lahore High Court (LHC), making her the first woman to be nominated for the post, local media widely reported. 

The office of the LHC’s chief justice became vacant after Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan was elevated to the Supreme Court on June 7.

Justice Shujaat Ali Khan is the senior most puisne judge of the LHC with Justice Neelum coming in at number three. Although it is not a constitutional requirement to nominate the senior puisne judge of a high court as chief justice, it is very rare that a junior judge is appointed to the post rather than the senior one. 

Her nomination to the post was decided unanimously after a meeting of the JCP chaired by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa was held earlier on Tuesday, local media reported. 

“Congratulations to Justice Aalia Neelum for her nomination as new Lahore High Court Chief Justice,” former Pakistani minister Sherry Rehman wrote on social media platform X. 

“She will be the first woman to hold this position.”

Justice Neelum will be appointed officially to the post after the parliamentary committee on judges appointment greenlights the JCP’s nomination. 

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Justice Neelum was born on Nov. 12, 1966. She secured her LL.B. degree from the University of Punjab in 1995 and enrolled as an advocate on February 1, 1996. 

She was elevated to the LHC’s bench on April 12, 2013, and has rendered numerous reported judgments on numerous important issues. 

“Her area of practice and consultancy covered Constitutional Law, White-Collar Crime, Civil, Criminal, Anti Terrorism laws, NAB, Banking Offences, Special Central Courts Law, and Banking Laws,” the LHC said on its website. 
Justice Neelum also prepared the standing operating procedures (SOPs) for recording evidence during trials in e-courts in Punjab. These sops are now implemented in trial courts across Punjab, the LHC said.