ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday reserved its judgment on ex-foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s bail plea filed in a case in which he is charged with leaking the contents of a secret document.
A special court set up under the Official Secrets Act charged Qureshi and former prime minister Imran Khan with deliberately leaking the contents of a diplomatic cable for political gain last month.
The saga, which has come to be known popularly as the cipher case, pertains to a diplomatic cable that Khan’s party claims contained a threat from the United States to oust the then-prime minister Khan from office. Qureshi, the then-foreign minister, is accused of handing this document to Khan which reportedly went missing from his possession.
While Khan has filed a post-arrest bail plea at the Supreme Court, Qureshi approached the IHC against his indictment. During a hearing of the plea on Wednesday, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Special Prosecutor Raja Rizwan Abbasi urged the court not to grant Qureshi bail in the case.
“Shah Mahmood Qureshi has committed a serious crime, and he doesn’t deserve bail in the case,” Abbasi said, adding that Qureshi should have stopped Khan from sharing the contents of the letter.
“He [Qureshi] is equally responsible for the crime, and the bail is granted only when there is no evidence available against the accused,” the prosecutor said.
Zulfikar Abbas Naqvi, another special prosecutor in the case, told the court that the trial could be completed within 15-20 days. However, he accused the defense of trying to use different delaying tactics.
Hearings of the cipher case against Khan and Qureshi are being conducted at the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, where both are imprisoned. Khan has been in jail since August when he was convicted in a case relating to the sale of state gifts during his tenure as prime minister.
While the IHC dismissed his conviction subsequently, Khan continues to be in jail on judicial remand in the cipher case.
Qureshi’s counsel, Advocate Ali Bukhari, urged the court to grant bail to his client as he does not have a criminal record.
Bukhari pointed out that it was the job of the prime minister’s principal secretary to set the agenda of the cabinet meeting during which the diplomatic cable was declassified.
However, he said the former premier’s principal secretary was not nominated in the case.
He said the case against Qureshi was registered 17 months after the diplomatic cable arrived, arguing that the ex-foreign minister had not revealed the contents or the document’s origin in any of his public interactions.
“It was my [Qureshi’s] constitutional responsibility to share information [about the cable] with the prime minister,” the former foreign minister told the court.
Qureshi said he would have violated his oath if he had concealed the information from the prime minister.
After hearing arguments from both parties to the case, the court reserved its judgment.
“It is now the court’s discretion to announce the judgment at a suitable time,” Bukhari told Arab News. “We feel this is a simple case and its judgment should be announced as quickly as possible to grant relief to the applicant.”
State secrets’ case: Pakistani court reserves verdict on ex-foreign minister’s bail plea
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State secrets’ case: Pakistani court reserves verdict on ex-foreign minister’s bail plea
- FIA prosecutor argues against Qureshi’s bail, says he committed a ‘serious crime’
- Qureshi, ex-PM Khan are charged with leaking the contents of a secret document
World Bank to help Pakistan’s capital combat smog, improve water and sanitation
- Smog has become a pressing environmental and public health concern for Pakistan in winter
- World Bank and CDA plan to work together to prepare a report to identify causes of the problem
ISLAMABAD: World Bank Country Director Najy Benhassine met Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday to discuss collaborative efforts to address the growing smog crisis and improve access to clean water and sanitation in urban areas, an official statement said
The smog issue has become a pressing environmental and public health concern in Pakistan, particularly in Punjab’s major cities such as Lahore, Multan and Faisalabad, where Air Quality Index levels reached hazardous levels this winter.
Even Islamabad, which has historically enjoyed better air quality, experienced the problem this year, highlighting the urgency to deal with the issue.
According to the interior ministry, the meeting concluded with an agreement to prepare an anti-smog plan for the federal capital through a joint team of the World Bank and the Capital Development Authority (CDA).
“We are ready to formulate an anti-smog strategy in consultation with the CDA,” Benhassine said, noting that a detailed report would be prepared to help identify the causes of the problem.
Meanwhile, Naqvi said the government was introducing Islamabad Water as a dedicated entity to address the city’s water and sanitation needs.
The minister also noted that clean water and sanitation were among the government’s key priorities.
The World Bank has long supported Pakistan in addressing urban challenges, from infrastructure development to disaster recovery.
In recent years, it has financed significant initiatives, including flood relief and housing projects, to aid vulnerable communities and improve urban resilience.
The collaboration on smog mitigation marks a new milestone, highlighting the growing recognition of air quality as a critical component of sustainable urban development.
Pakistan calls for global climate action as floods in Malaysia displace over 37,000
- PM Sharif says climate change is impacting the whole world, necessitating global community to unite
- Pakistan recently reiterated its call for increased climate finance and justice-based solutions in Baku
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday expressed sorrow over the devastating floods in Malaysia, which have displaced over 37,000 people, and highlighted the urgent need for global action to address climate change.
In a message to the Malaysian authorities and people, Sharif expressed solidarity, pledging support for the flood-hit nation.
His statement comes as Pakistan continues to grapple with its own vulnerability to climate change, which has triggered erratic weather patterns, including catastrophic floods, glacial melts, heatwaves and droughts.
Two years ago, floods in Pakistan killed about 1,700 people, caused estimated losses of $35 billion and underscored the country’s exposure to environmental shocks.
“The adverse effects of climate change are engulfing the entire world,” the prime minister said. “The global community must unite to take collective action to mitigate these impacts.”
At the recent COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, Pakistan reiterated its call for increased climate finance and justice-based solutions to support vulnerable nations.
It emphasized that developed countries must provide grants and concessional financing rather than burdening climate-affected nations with debt.
Pakistani authorities could relate with the situation in Malaysia where Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told parliament that torrential rains have affected six Malaysian states, with 322 temporary shelters housing those displaced.
Sharif extended condolences to the victims and assured assistance to Malaysia, noting the long-standing friendship between the two nations.
“Pakistan will do whatever it can to help our brothers and sisters in distress in Malaysia,” he said. “In this difficult hour, Pakistan will not leave Malaysia alone.”
‘Sense of closeness’: Pakistani elephant Madhubala bonds with sisters after 15-year separation
- Madhubala, last elephant held captive at a zoo in Pakistan, was brought from Tanzania in 2009 along with three sisters
- Noor Jehan and Madhubala were moved to Karachi Zoo while Malika and Sonu were taken to Safari Park, Noor Jehan died in 2023
KARACHI: Pakistani elephant Madhubala, recently reunited with her two sisters at the Safari Park in Karachi after 15 years, is socializing and enjoying her new species-appropriate sanctuary, international animal rights organization FOUR PAWS said this week.
Madhubala, Noor Jehan, Malika and Sonia were caught in the wild at a young age and brought to Pakistan together in 2009 but were soon separated, with Noor Jehan and Madhubala moved to the Karachi Zoo and Malika and Sonia to the city’s Safari Park. Noor Jehan died in April 2023 at age 17 following a prolonged illness caused by neglect, leaving Madhubala alone.
On Tuesday, Madhubala, estimated to be 18 years old, was transported from the Karachi Zoo to Safari Park where she reunited with her sisters Malika and Sonia.
“She feels comfortable and I can see that she’s very stable and calm now,” FOUR PAWS vet Dr. Marina Ivanova, who is overseeing the elephant’s care, told Arab News on Wednesday. “Although it’s a new place for her, she, as an elephant, she has this stability, the mental preparedness for change.”
Footage shared by FOUR PAWS showed Madhubala entering the joint family enclosure at the Safari Park on Wednesday and watching her sisters drinking water at a nearby pond. Madhubala is then seen taking a tire, the only souvenir she brought from the Karachi Zoo, and placing it in front of her sisters like a gift. Her sisters seem to return the gesture by inviting Madhubala for a welcome drink at their shared pond.
Elephants are highly social animals who form close bonds with other elephants, and when they meet after being separated engage in elaborate greeting ceremonies. New research has found that elephants also call each other by name, using vocalizations that identify a specific elephant as the intended recipient.
“As soon as released from the transport crate, we realized that Madhubala was feeling very comfortable and could already sense the closeness of her two sisters,” Dr. Amir Khalil, a director at FOUR PAWS, said. “None of us expected her to be so eager to stretch out her trunk toward her two sisters.”
Khalil said the sight of the three elephants playing in the pond together after 15 years of separation had moved bystanders to tears. While it remains to be seen how the social hierarchy between the elephants will develop, he said Madhubala could assume the position of the matriarch.
“In the upcoming days, we will thoroughly examine Madhubala and help her get settled into her new home,” Dr. Khalil said.
“The old tire Madhubala used to play with a lot has now started to turn into a relic of the past and is slowly being replaced by the bonding with her fellow family members.”
FOUR PAWS said the three elephants’ health was being observed by head veterinarian Dr. Frank Göritz from the Leibnitz Institute of Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) who has been involved in the treatment of the elephants since 2021.
In November 2021, after the provincial Sindh High Court had asked FOUR PAWS to assess the wellbeing of the elephants, all four were found to be in need of better diet and medical treatment. Noor Jehan and Madhubala also needed dental surgery due to infections caused by broken tusks. Following the death of Noor Jehan, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation together with FOUR PAWS decided it was not appropriate for Madhubala to stay in captivity at the zoo.
The relocation process for Madhubala, named after a legendary Indian actress, started early on Tuesday morning with the elephant being sedated under the supervision of Dr. Goritz. She was then moved into a crate which was lifted by crane and put on a truck.
The truck, accompanied by police and an expert team from FOUR PAWS, navigated through Karachi’s bustling streets via Lyari Expressway to arrive at the Safari sanctuary some 20 kilometers away from the zoo.
Ahead of the move, the Karachi Safari Park had upgraded its facilities to meet international standards under the supervision of FOUR PAWS. The 5.2-acre elephant sanctuary area in the park now has water elements for bathing, skincare and thermoregulation. Additionally, enrichments such as hay nets, varying substrates like soil, sand, clay, and sawdust, have been provided for Madhubala to dust bathe. There is also a section to hide novel items to encourage foraging. The area is secured by elephant-proof fencing.
“If elephants must remain in captivity, they deserve the best conditions possible,” FOUR PAWS CEO and President Josef Pfabigan told Arab New, adding that the new space would “bring joy” to Madhubala.
Unlike Islamabad’s lone elephant, Kaavan, who was relocated to Cambodia in 2020 after widespread international and local outcry about his conditions, Madhubala has companions at Safari Park, he said.
“This is a different story,” Pfabigan said. “She has her sisters here.”
Pakistan seeks collaboration with Saudi Arabia in education and religious sectors
- Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani, currently visiting the Kingdom, meets Saudi Grand Mufti
- Gilani urges increased exchange of religious scholars in his meeting with Sheikh Abdulaziz
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan aims to enhance cooperation with Saudi Arabia in education and religious sectors, Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani said during a meeting with Kingdom's Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh in Riyadh, state media reported on Thursday.
Gilani arrived in Saudi Arabia on November 25 for a five-day official visit, during which he emphasized the deep-rooted ties between the two nations.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have recently strengthened bilateral cooperation by signing more than 30 memorandums of understanding and agreements worth $2.8 billion.
The deals encompass sectors such as industry, agriculture, information technology, and energy.
"The Senate chairman said Pakistan seeks collaboration with Saudi Arabia in educational and religious sectors," Radio Pakistan reported.
"He also praised the Grand Mufti's efforts in promoting tolerance and harmony, urging increased exchange of religious scholars to strengthen mutual understanding," it added.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have always enjoyed close diplomatic, strategic and people-to-people relations. The Kingdom is home to over 2.6 million Pakistani nationals who are employed by and contribute to various economic sectors.
These Pakistani nationals also make Saudi Arabia the largest source of remittances for their country, repatriating billions of dollars annually.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the Kingdom twice within a span of a few weeks in October and November, highlighting the significance Islamabad places on its ties with Saudi Arabia.
Imran Khan supporters wanted to ‘take over Islamabad through violent protests’ — minister
- Protesters dispersed from Islamabad after sweeping raid by security forces after midnight on Wednesday, Khan’s party says 20 killed
- Government says four troops killed and over 900 protesters, included Afghan nationals, arrested since protest began on Sunday
ISLAMABAD: Jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s supporters had planned to “take over the capital through violent protests,” a Pakistan government spokesperson said on Thursday, a day after security forces dispersed marchers who had breached security barricades to reach the heart of Islamabad to demand Khan’s release.
Thousands of supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party had gathered at the city’s historic D-Chowk square on Tuesday after setting out on Sunday in a protest convoy led by Khan’s wife Bushra Khan and Ali Amin Gandapur, the chief minister of the PTI stronghold province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The convoy broke through several lines of security and reached the edge of the capital’s highly fortified red zone, home to key government and diplomatic buildings.
The protest was called off after security forces raided the site in complete darkness soon after midnight on Wednesday, firing rubber bullets and tear gas, according to police and government officials who deny using live ammunition during the operation, which police conducted alongside paramilitary forces. The PTI says at least 20 of its supporters have been killed, while the government says four troops died.
The Islamabad police chief said on Wednesday 954 people, including Afghan nationals, had been arrested since the protest march began on Sunday.
“They were not peaceful protesters at all as they were armed with guns and slingshots,” Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said at a briefing with members of foreign media in Islamabad. “They wanted to take over the capital through violent protests.”
The minister said the government took “preventative measures” to defuse the situation, denying the use of live ammunition and direct fire on protesters by security forces.
“Both the public hospitals in Islamabad, Polyclinic and PIMS [Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences], have categorically denied receiving any dead bodies of protesters or any gunshot wounds victims,” the information minister said.
“There was no live ammunition with the security forces. Let me say categorically that no massacre was carried out to disperse the protesters.”
The minister accused the PTI of putting out “fake pictures and videos” on social media to exaggerate casualties.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, also present at the briefing, asked the PTI to share the names of its supporters who had been killed, saying the government had exercised “utmost restraint” to prevent bloodshed at the hands of what he described as a “violent mob.”
“The security forces used teargas to disperse the thin number of the armed protesters,” Iqbal added. “We defused the situation with the least intervention of the security forces.”
Gandapur, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province who was leading the protests and fled when the operation began, has accused authorities of using excessive force against protesters who he said were peaceful. He said “hundreds” had sustained bullet wounds.
“Both Imran Khan’s wife and I were attacked directly,” Gandapur told a press conference in the city of Mansehra in the province he rules.
Khan’s wife Bushra Khan escaped unhurt from the protest convoy when the raid began. The PTI had said she would address the press conference with Gandapur on Wednesday, but she did not appear even though the event was delayed by hours.
PTI spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari PTI said earlier that the protest seeking Khan’s release had been called off, citing what he called “the massacre.” But Gandapur said the protest was a “movement” and would continue until Khan himself called it off.
