ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa on Thursday sought explanations from multiple litigants who are seeking to withdraw review petitions filed against a 2019 Supreme Court judgment that questioned the role of state agencies in failing to counter the threat of extremist groups and urged the all-powerful army to stay out of politics.
In the landmark 2019 verdict, the court had warned the military and intelligence agencies they must not exceed their constitutional mandate and meddle in politics in a rebuke over their handling of the so-called “Faizabad sit-in” in 2017 in which the hard-line religious political party, the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), paralyzed the capital with protests over the issue of blasphemy.
The verdict was a rare public calling out of the powerful army, which has ruled for nearly half of Pakistan’s history and has in recent years been criticized for resuming a more active role in politics. The military denies it interferes in political affairs.
After the verdict, pleas were filed against it by the Ministry of Defense, the Intelligence Bureau, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) party and others.
“Why is everyone so afraid to speak the truth,” the chief justice remarked after multiple petitioners, including the federal government, PTI and PEMRA, informed the court they were withdrawing their pleas.
The CJ is part of a three-member bench that resumed hearing the petitions after four years and ordered all the parties seeking to withdraw their petitions to submit their explanations for doing so in writing by October 27. The hearing was adjourned till November 1.
“OPEN ANOTHER CAN OF WORMS”
“They all [petitioners] filed review petitions in the Supreme Court hoping to get the adverse observations in the verdict set aside by a larger bench, but the matter was not heard for four years,” advocate Col. (retired) Inamur Rahim told Arab News, explaining why the petitioners were now withdrawing their appeals.
“Now they all, including the federal government, are withdrawing their petitions because they know they will have to point out flaws in the judgment as mentioned in their petitions, and will have to justify the military personnel’s involvement in the sit-in,” Rahim said.
“The court proceedings would open another can of worms, especially for the army and intelligence agencies, therefore they are withdrawing their petitions, saying they don’t want to point out any flaws in the judgment.”
The lawyer said the court was now expected to give a final judgment in the case directing the federal government to implement it:
“The army may want to close the case once and for all now, saying since all those officers pointed out in the judgment have retired from service, therefore this matter is closed … This seems to be a win-win for both the Supreme Court and the army.”
The 2019 judgment came after a Supreme Court inquiry that looked at the role of security agencies in the Faizabad sit-in, including ending the standoff through mediation.
Seven people were killed and nearly 200 wounded when police initially tried but failed to remove protesters.
The military is widely seen to have disagreed with civilian authorities over how to handle the protests. The unrest had weakened the then previous Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, which had fallen out with the armed forces.
“UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES”
The army’s role came under criticism after video footage shared on social media showed a senior officer from the military-run Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) spy agency distributing cash to protesters after a deal was struck to end the blockade.
“The involvement of ISI and of the members of the Armed Forces in politics, media and other ‘unlawful activities’ should have stopped,” Supreme Court Justices Mushir Alam and Qazi Faez Isa, who was not yet chief justice, said in their verdict.
“Instead, when (protest) participants received cash handouts from men in uniform, the perception of their involvement gained traction.”
The Supreme Court also criticized the military’s influential media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), for commenting on political matters such as the contested 2018 election, where the military was accused of helping Prime Minister Imran Khan into power.
“The Constitution emphatically prohibits members of the Armed Forces from engaging in any kind of political activity, which includes supporting a political party, faction or individual,” the justices said.
“All intelligence agencies ... and the ISPR must not exceed their respective mandates.”
The 43-page judgment added:
“The constitution emphatically prohibits members of the armed forces from engaging in any kind of political activity, which includes supporting a political party, faction or individual … The Government of Pakistan through the Ministry of Defense and the respective Chiefs of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force are directed to initiate action against the personnel under their command who are found to have violated their oath.”
The judgment also directed all intelligence agencies not to exceed their respective mandates or limit free speech by putting pressure on media houses during such protests.
“They [the agencies] cannot curtail the freedom of speech and expression and do not have the authority to interfere with broadcasts and publications, in the management of broadcasters/publishers and in the distribution of newspapers.”
Court verdict rebuking Pakistan army’s ‘political activities’ in spotlight as chief justice hears appeals
https://arab.news/nh8x6
Court verdict rebuking Pakistan army’s ‘political activities’ in spotlight as chief justice hears appeals
- 2019 judgment came after court investigated “Faizabad protest” in which Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan paralyze the capital
- Inquiry also looked at the role of the army and security agencies in the sit-in, including ending the standoff through mediation
‘Meet with Ghalib’: Urdu festival in Dubai to bring iconic poet to life via hologram
- Two-day Urdu festival “Jashn-e-Rekhta” will be held from Feb. 1-2 at Dubai’s Zabeel Park
- Mirza Ghalib (1797-1869) is considered by experts, critics as the greatest Urdu poet of all time
ISLAMABAD: Jashn-e-Rekhta, an annual festival celebrating the Urdu language, will bring to life celebrated poet Mirza Asadullah Baig Khan during its 2025 edition in Dubai via a life-sized hologram next month, the organizer said on Wednesday, offering an enthralling experience for millions of fans of the poet in the subcontinent.
Khan was born on Dec. 27, 1797, in India’s Agra city and was a well-known poet in the Persian and Urdu languages. Referred to popularly simply as “Ghalib,” he remains one of the most popular and influential masters of the Urdu language in both India and Pakistan long after his death in 1869. His poetry is characterized by sadness, the result of a tragic life that saw him orphaned at an early age and losing all seven of his children in their infancy.
Jashn-e-Rekhta is an annual event organized by Rekhta International Cultural Events since 2015. It celebrates Urdu and is dedicated to its language, literature and culture. The two-day festival will be held in Dubai from Feb.1-2 at the iconic Zabeel Park.
The event will bring together around 100 artists, poets and performers from India, Pakistan and other countries. Along with Ghalib’s hologram, another standout feature is the “Dial-e-Poet,” an artificial intelligence (AI) powered rotary phone booth that allows attendees to listen to the voices of iconic poets such as Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Jaun Elia and Ahmed Faraz.
“We will have a hologram display where a real life-size holographic image of Ghalib will appear and we, in fact, are calling it meet with Mirza Ghalib, as he actually narrates his two-and-half-minute speech,” Satish Gupta, the head of programs and festivals at Rekhta told Arab News over the phone from Dubai.
“It will be like he is attending the festival himself just to give his followers a feeling of actually meeting him.”
Gupta described the festival as “more than just an event,” calling it a celebration of Urdu’s beauty and its power to bridge cultures and bring people together.
The “Dial-A-Poet” experience features vintage rotary phones where visitors can dial specific numbers assigned to five iconic poets, including Rahat Indori, Ahmed Faraz and Faiz Ahmed Faiz, he said.
“Using advanced AI voice cloning, the phones play pre-recorded recitations of the poets’ works, offering a one-way interaction that brings their timeless poetry to life in an innovative and immersive way,” Gupta said.
He said the festival will feature around 10 to 12 programs featuring over 95 artists, lead performers and their teams.
“The lineup includes groups, bands and dance troupes from India, Pakistan and a Sufi qawwali group from Bali, Indonesia,” he added.
Gupta said the festival’s first day will showcase the debut performance of a women’s qawwali group presenting the essence of spiritual music.
“This will be followed by Piyush Mishra’s Ballimaaraan, exploring the cultural ties between Delhi and Lahore through music and Shafqat Amanat Ali’s Maah-e-Tamaam, offering a soulful and rhythmic musical journey,” he said.
The second day of the festival will feature a panel discussion on Urdu in films. Participants include prominent Pakistani actors Saba Qamar, Imran Abbas and Adeel Hashmi, Gupta said.
This will be followed by a session involving famed Indian poet, lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar and Pakistani screenwriter Zehra Nigah, who will discuss the connection between films and Urdu literature.
“Arfa Sayeda Zehra and Samina Peerzada will explore Urdu as a language of love and friendship, while Ali Sethi’s musical performance, Shaam Dhale, will conclude the festival on a romantic note,” he said.
In addition to the performances, visitors can enjoy the “Aiwan-e-Zaiqa Food Festival” highlighting South Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines, or explore the Rekhta Bazaar featuring books, handicrafts and merchandise that celebrate Urdu’s artistic heritage, Gupta said.
Saudi Arabia says SFD could contribute over $100 million to Pakistan’s mining infrastructure
- The Kingdom is hosting a three-day Future Minerals Forum summit from Jan. 14-16 in Saudi capital
- Saudi minister Bandar Alkhorayef says Manara Minerals looking at investing in Pakistan’s Reko Diq mine
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Mining Minister Bandar Alkhorayef told Reuters on Wednesday that mining company Manara Minerals was looking at investing in Pakistan’s Reko Diq mine, saying that the Saudi Development Fund could contribute over $100 million to Pakistan’s mining infrastructure.
Executives from Manara visited Pakistan in May last year for talks about buying a stake in the Reko Diq mine, considered one of the world’s largest underdeveloped copper-gold areas by global mining company Barrick Gold, which owns the project jointly with Pakistan.
Manara, a joint venture between state-controlled miner Ma’aden and the $925 billion Public Investment Fund (PIF), was set up as part of the kingdom’s efforts to diversify its economy away from oil, including by buying minority stakes in assets overseas.
“Part of what we are looking at is how we can help Pakistan also in some infrastructure,” Alkhorayef said in an interview on the sidelines of the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh.
“Without that infrastructure the economics of the deal are not attractive, so through the Saudi Development Fund we are thinking about how we can finance it.”
He also spoke about Saudi Arabian state oil giant Aramco’s project to extract lithium, saying it is “promising, but not yet commercially viable.”
Aramco has partnered with the King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (KAUST) for the pilot, Bandar Alkhorayef said.
Lithium Infinity, also known as Lihytech, a start-up launched out of KAUST, is leading the extraction project with cooperation from Saudi mining company Ma’aden and Aramco.
Lithium is a key component in the batteries of electric cars, laptops, and smartphones. Reuters previously reported that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates’ national oil companies planned to extract the mineral from oil runoffs.
Pakistan’s army, foreign office reject Indian army chief’s ‘epicenter of terrorism’ allegations
- India’s army chief this week accused Pakistan of being involved in infiltration attempts by “terrorists” in India
- Pakistan’s army says statement “contrary to facts,” attempt to divert attention from “brutality” in Indian-held Kashmir
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army and foreign office on Wednesday rejected Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi’s recent statement in which he referred to Pakistan as the “epicenter of terrorism,” dismissing his remarks as an attempt to deflect the world’s attention from alleged brutalities in disputed Kashmir by New Delhi.
In a statement on India’s Army Day on Monday, Gen. Dwivedi accused Pakistan of “orchestrating” infiltration attempts in India, describing Pakistan as the “epicenter of terrorism.” He said 60 percent of the “terrorists” India eliminated last year were of Pakistan origin.
Nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan have fought two out of three wars over the disputed Himalayan Kashmir valley. Both claim the territory in full but administer only parts of it. India accuses Pakistan of arming militants in the Kashmir territory under its control, allegations that Islamabad has denied. Pakistan, on the other hand, accuses India of repressing the rights of Kashmiris in India and denying them the right of self-determination.
“Insinuating Pakistan as the epicenter of terrorism by the Indian Army Chief, is not only contrary to facts, but also an exercise in futility to beat the dead horse of India’s default position — blaming Pakistan for indigenous reaction to state-sponsored brutality,” a statement from the army’s media wing said.
The Inter-Services Public Relations, the army’s media wing, said Dwivedi’s remarks were a case of “extreme duplicity” aimed to diverting the world’s attention from India’s “brutality” in the region of Kashmir under its control.
The army said that such repression has only strengthened the resolve of Kashmiris for their right of self-determination, which is enshrined in the UN Security Council Resolutions.
“Instead of trying to conjure up a non-existent terror infrastructure in Pakistan, it would be wise not to indulge in self-delusion, and appreciate the ground reality,” the army said. “Pakistan takes strong exception to such baseless and unfounded statements.”
In a separate statement earlier on Wednesday, the foreign office rejected Gen. Dwivedi’s “baseless accusations and unfounded assertions.”
“Pakistan also underscores that provocative statements of this nature are counterproductive to regional peace and stability,” the foreign office said.
Political tensions between the two countries have remained high since 2019 when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi withdrew Jammu and Kashmir’s special autonomy in 2019 and split the former state into two federal territories.
Pakistan described the move as unilateral and illegal, saying it was aimed at tightening India’s grip on the Muslim-majority region. Islamabad suspended trade with New Delhi and downgraded diplomatic ties with its neighbor following the decision.
Saudi aid agency KSrelief distributes over 2,000 food parcels in Pakistan
- Food parcels in flood-affected Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regions, benefiting 13,159 people
- Latest initiative forms part of this year’s Food Security Support Project in Pakistan by KSrelief
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has distributed 2,028 food parcels in Pakistan’s flood-affected Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regions, benefiting 13,159 people, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
Sunday’s initiative forms part of this year’s Food Security Support Project in Pakistan.
The aid reflects the Kingdom’s ongoing humanitarian efforts through KSrelief to assist needy individuals in Pakistan.
Pakistan to cut tariff for electric vehicle charging stations by 45%
- The government aims for 30% of vehicles to run on electricity by 2030
- It has announced a 15-day registration process for charging stations
KARACHI: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided a 45 percent reduction in electricity tariffs for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, cutting rates from Rs71.10 per unit to Rs39.70 per unit, said Pakistan’s Energy Minister Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari on Wednesday.
Pakistan has actively promoted EV adoption to combat environmental challenges, reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels and improve urban air quality. Under its Electric Vehicle Policy 2019-2024, the government aims for 30 percent of vehicles to run on electricity by 2030.
However, inadequate charging infrastructure, frequent power outages and the high cost of EVs have hindered progress.
“Today, the prime minister has decided that including taxes, we were charging a tariff of Rs71.10 [$0.26] to these charging stations,” Leghari told reporters in Islamabad. “What the distribution companies used to charge them, we are reducing it approximately by 45 percent and announcing a tariff of Rs39.70 [$0.18] today.”
Leghari said that there were no charging stations for motorbikes, three-wheelers and rickshaws in Pakistani neighborhood.
“And the reason for that absence is the high cost of electricity,” he added. “And the absence of laws and regulations on the basis of which this business can start.”
A statement issued by the power division said the country’s first-ever regulations for establishing EV charging stations and battery swapping points was being implemented under the National Energy Conservation Authority, with an official gazette notification issued.
It highlighted the economic benefits of these measures, saying that switching motorcycles to electric technology at an average cost of Rs50,000 could save $6 billion annually on fuel.
Similarly, electrifying three-wheeled rickshaws could significantly reduce urban travel costs and help combat air pollution.
The reduced EV charging costs are also expected to lower transportation expenses, positively impacting goods delivery and essential commodity prices.
The government has decided to support these initiatives through a one-window registration process for setting up charging stations and battery points, allowing approvals within 15 days.
Registration fees have been set at Rs50,000 to encourage local and foreign investment.
Prime Minister Sharif, while presiding over a meeting in Islamabad, also praised the power division’s policy on electric vehicles, describing it as “highly encouraging.”
He emphasized that the adoption of electric vehicles would reduce foreign exchange expenditure on petrol and diesel imports while providing an environmentally friendly mode of transportation.
The PM also directed the relevant authorities to actively promote the government’s policy on electric vehicles.
