ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani high court on Saturday directed the Prime Minister’s Office to instruct all military and civil intelligence agencies against “contacting or approaching” any judges or members of their staff, amid accusations of interference and intimidation by spies in judicial decisions.
The interim order by the Lahore High Court in the central Pakistani province of Punjab comes in the background of several senior judges accusing the military’s premier spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), of meddling in judicial proceedings to influence verdicts. The army denies it interferes in political matters. It has so far refrained from commenting on any accusations regarding the ISI’s alleged interference and intimidation.
In the most high-profile accusations, six Islamabad High Court judges earlier this year wrote a letter to the Supreme Judicial Council watchdog and accused the ISI of intimidating and coercing them over legal cases, particularly “politically consequential” ones. The judges provided various examples of alleged interference, including a case concerning Pakistan’s imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan. The letter also mentioned incidents where the judges said their relatives were abducted and tortured and their homes were secretly surveilled, aiming to coerce them into delivering favorable judgments in specific cases.
In the case in which the LHC issued the latest interim order, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) judge in the city of Sargodha had filed a complaint alleging harassment by ISI personnel after he refused a meeting in his chambers.
“Instructions shall go out by the Prime Minister’s Office to all civil or military agencies including the Intelligence Bureau as well as ISI regarding strict instructions not to approach or contact any judge whether of the superior judiciary or sub-ordinate judiciary or any member of their staff in future,” a four-page order by the court, seen by Arab News on Saturday, read.
“Such instruction in clear words and writing shall be placed before this court on the next date of hearing.”
The court also directed all ATC judges across the Punjab province to download call recording applications on their mobile phones.
“They shall be bound to record all such calls which they receive and about which the learned judges have apprehensions that they have been made to influence any judicial proceedings before them,” the interim order said.
In February 2019, the Supreme Court delivered a scathing verdict on the military and intelligence agencies exceeding their mandate and meddling in politics over their handling of protests in 2017 by a religious-political party.
The Supreme Court had been investigating the “Faizabad protest,” which saw a hard-line group paralyze the capital Islamabad over accusations of blasphemy against a sitting minister. The inquiry also looked at the role of security agencies, including in 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 at the time over how to handle the protests. The army’s role particularly came under criticism after video footage shared on social media showed a senior officer from the ISI giving 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, now the chief justice of Pakistan, said in their verdict.
“Instead when (protest) participants received cash handouts from men in uniform, the perception of their involvement gained traction.”
In the past, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has also accused the ISI of intimidating court decisions, including those that led to convictions of his elder brother Nawaz Sharif after his ouster from the prime minister’s office in 2017. Ex-PM Imran Khan and his party have also alleged harassment by intelligence agencies.
The powerful army plays an oversized role in Pakistani politics. The country has been ruled by military regimes for almost half its history since independence from Britain in 1947. Khan and the elder Sharif both have alleged that they were ousted by the military after they fell out with the generals. The army denies this.
‘Spies vs jurists’ row: Lahore court directs PM to bar intel agencies from contacting judges
https://arab.news/m8j37
‘Spies vs jurists’ row: Lahore court directs PM to bar intel agencies from contacting judges
- In recent months many judges have accused ISI officials of harassing them and trying to meddle in judicial matters
- Army has so far refrained from commenting on any accusations regarding ISI’s alleged interference and intimidation
AI Umrah assistant to cut costs, enhance experience for Pakistan’s 2 million annual pilgrims
- Launched by Umrah Companions last week, “Ibraheem” offers personalized guidance in multiple languages, including Urdu
- Pilgrims from Pakistan face confusing logistics, language barriers and high costs due to inefficient travel agency practices
ISLAMABAD: A Saudi-backed consortium has launched what it says is the world’s first artificial intelligence-powered Umrah advisor, “Ibraheem,” aimed at simplifying pilgrimage planning and reducing costs for millions of Muslims, including more than two million Pakistanis who travel to the Kingdom each year.
Ibraheem has been developed by Pakistani company Umrah Companions and is powered by Funadiq, a Saudi-based Destination Management Company specializing in Hajj and Umrah services.
The tool was launched last week and is designed to offer pilgrims personalized guidance in multiple languages, including Urdu and Roman Urdu, with the goal of cutting Umrah-related expenses by as much as 20 percent.
Pakistan is among the world’s largest pilgrimage markets, with over $5 billion spent annually by citizens traveling for Umrah and Hajj.
“Today, 93% of global Muslims cannot afford Hajj and Umrah. It is too expensive,” said Mohammad Salman Arain, CEO of Umrah Companions, in an interview with Arab News. “It is becoming expensive because we are not removing the inefficiencies in the processes — and that is what our mission is.”
Pakistanis often face language barriers, lack of personalized travel information, and high costs when arranging Umrah trips through human agents, many of whom offer fixed packages with little customization. Arain said the AI assistant overcomes these issues by adapting to each user’s needs, whether they are traveling with elderly parents, young children, or have budget constraints.
The platform currently supports ten languages, including Urdu, Roman Urdu, Arabic and English, and provides real-time recommendations on flights, hotels, food, weather, medical facilities and even services such as wheelchair availability near the Haram in Makkah.
“You can start with a very simple question: ‘I want to travel in August. Give me an estimated budget for four people,’” Arain said. “Ibraheem will then suggest premium or budget options, tell you whether hotels are suitable for elderly companions, and help build your itinerary.”
The tool’s language offerings and its flexibility for use on smartphones and low-bandwidth environments make it particularly suitable for Pakistani blue- and white-collar workers living in the Gulf, a group that often lacks access to transparent and user-friendly tech tools for pilgrimage planning.
“We are building to make everybody's life easier. It is not for us only,” Arain added. “This is available for everyone and every single Muslim in the world.”
Umrah Companions is also working on outreach to Pakistani freelancers and overseas workers through diplomatic missions, Pakistani banks, and diaspora associations, especially in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, where a majority of Pakistani pilgrims are based.
While the service is focused on Umrah for now, Arain said it was already learning and being trained for Hajj season.
Once a pilgrim arrives in the Kingdom, the AI agent continues to provide support, from locating wheelchairs at Haram gates to suggesting restaurants and responding to emergencies, the chief executive explained.
The tool has already contributed to a 25% increase in website traffic, according to Arain, and is currently being built as an open platform available for use by all Muslims, regardless of which company they book their pilgrimage through.
The launch of the AI platform also aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goal to improve the pilgrimage experience through digital transformation and accessibility.
Arain said the initiative complements the Kingdom’s efforts to modernize religious tourism and ensure cost-effective pilgrimage options for lower-income Muslims.
“We believe this is going to revolutionize [pilgrimage],” Arain said, “and it is very much in line with what the Saudi Vision 2030 is doing to enhance the pilgrimage experience.”
China’s Xi, Pakistan’s Dar pledge unity as SCO faces regional strains
- President Xi Jinping emphasizes importance of the regional cooperation under the SCO framework
- India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is also attending the regional event
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday highlighted his country’s commitment to strengthening ties with China and reaffirmed a shared vision for regional peace and development during an interaction with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the joint call of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Foreign Ministers in Beijing.
The interaction took place on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) meeting, a key diplomatic gathering aimed at preparing the groundwork for the upcoming SCO Leaders’ Summit later this year. The CFM convened to review progress on multilateral cooperation and set the agenda for endorsement by heads of state.
“Delighted to meet earlier today with President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing,” Dar said in a post on social media platform X. “Conveyed the warm greetings of the leadership, government and people of Pakistan. As iron-clad brothers and All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partners, we remain committed to deepening Pak-China enduring friendship and advancing shared regional goals.”
Islamabad and Beijing are long-time allies and have been jointly working on multibillion-dollar infrastructure, energy and connectivity initiatives under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The corridor provides China direct access to the Arabian Sea through Pakistan’s Gwadar port, while enabling Pakistan to modernize its infrastructure and strengthen regional trade links.
The foreign office of Pakistan said in a statement released earlier today that President Xi emphasized the importance of regional cooperation under the SCO framework, an organization spanning the Eurasian landmass and representing a significant portion of the global population.
Also present at the conference was India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
The CFM conference comes nearly two months after a tense four-day military standoff between Pakistan and India, during which both sides exchanged missiles, drones and artillery fire before agreeing to a US-brokered ceasefire.
Pakistan reviews carbon market plans with UNEP-backed SPAR6C initiative
- Islamabad is advancing carbon policy launched at COP last year with focus on student training and new trading projects
- Pakistan has pledged to cut projected emissions by 50 percent by 2030, conditional on international financing and support
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s climate change minister has reaffirmed the country’s commitment to rolling out its first national carbon market, following a meeting on Tuesday with a United Nations-backed initiative helping the country build on carbon market policy guidelines launched last year.
Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr. Musadik Malik hosted a delegation from SPAR6C, the Supporting Preparedness for Article 6 Cooperation program, which is overseen by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The five-year project is helping Pakistan, Colombia, Thailand and Zambia develop the capacity to trade carbon credits under Article 6 of the Paris climate accord.
“Pakistan is committed to building a robust, transparent, and inclusive carbon market,” Malik said, according to a statement released by his office, adding that deeper cooperation with international partners and the domestic private sector will be key to delivering on the country’s climate goals.
The ministry noted that the meeting reviewed support for Pakistani students who have been trained or conducted research on emissions trading under SPAR6C. Both sides also discussed “ongoing and upcoming carbon trading opportunities in Pakistan and potential projects under evaluation,” though no new agreements were announced.
Pakistan presented its draft carbon market policy guidelines at COP28 in Dubai last year and has been preparing to formally roll them out at COP29 in Baku later this year. Under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, countries can cooperate on cutting emissions by trading carbon credits, potentially unlocking new revenue streams for developing economies.
The South Asian nation does not yet have an operational carbon trading platform but has launched policy guidelines and is developing systems to implement its first market. It ranks among the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, facing frequent floods and heatwaves, while contributing only a fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions.
It has pledged to cut projected emissions by 50 percent by 2030, conditional on international financing and support. SPAR6C’s work in Pakistan includes technical assistance, student training and pilot activities to help the country develop robust standards for carbon trading.
Pakistan seeks US tariff access, taps Mideast funds as it re-engages global markets
- Finance minister says improving macroeconomic indicators strengthening case to tap international markets
- Pakistan has successfully arranged $1 billion in commercial financing from Middle Eastern, Aurangzeb tells Moody’s
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is re-engaging with global financial markets, tapping funding from the Middle East and pursuing preferential tariff access with the United States as it works to stabilize its economy and attract fresh investment, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Tuesday.
Pakistan has “successfully arranged $1 billion in commercial financing from the Middle Eastern region” and plans to launch an inaugural Panda bond while exploring a Eurobond and other international debt markets as its credit ratings improve, Aurangzeb said during a briefing with the Moody’s rating agency on Tuesday.
“These changes, together with improving macroeconomic indicators and the reform momentum, would be positively acknowledged by rating agencies, further strengthening Pakistan’s case to tap international markets and deepen its external sector stability,” the finance minister said.
The virtual session, attended by the State Bank governor and senior officials, also highlighted “ongoing discussions with the United States on preferential tariff access,” which the minister described as “making encouraging headway.”
The finance team cited key progress under Pakistan’s IMF-backed economic plan. Recent reforms include “prudent fiscal measures” in the new budget, trade and tariff liberalization for export-led growth, and steps to rationalize spending.
Aurangzeb also pointed to signs of recovery, including a sharp drop in inflation, a lower policy rate, a stable exchange rate, a current account surplus and foreign reserves rising above $14 billion by the end of June.
He underlined plans to raise the tax-to-GDP ratio to 13–13.5 percent in the coming years through technology-driven tax administration, digitization and tougher enforcement.
Under the prime minister’s direct oversight, he said, a “Rs. 2 trillion revenue delta” was achieved this year through “autonomous efforts.”
Despite repeated external and fiscal pressures, Pakistan says it hopes improved ratings and renewed investor confidence will lower borrowing costs and keep the economy on a sustainable path.
“Pakistan is ready to carry forward this journey of resilience, reform, and recovery to unlock long-term, inclusive, and export-oriented economic growth,” Aurangzeb said.
UK launches eVisas for Pakistani students, workers
- New system will help applicants prove their status easily while keeping their passports
- British officials say eVisas will eventually cover all visa types for UK-bound travelers
ISLAMABAD: The United Kingdom on Tuesday said it was replacing physical visa stickers with digital immigration status records, or eVisas, for most Pakistani students and workers to streamline the application process and make it easier to prove immigration status.
The change means that main applicants traveling to the UK on study or work-related visas will no longer need a physical sticker in their passport. Instead, they will use an online UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account to access and share proof of their status.
“These changes to the UK visa system will make it much simpler for students and workers to prove their identity and visa status. It also means applicants can hold onto their passports, saving them time,” British High Commissioner Jane Marriott said in a statement.
The rollout of eVisas for Pakistani nationals is part of a broader shift toward digital border and immigration systems across the UK. The government says millions of people already use eVisas on select routes, and the system is designed to be more secure and convenient than physical documents.
The new eVisa option covers routes including students (including short-term study), Skilled Workers (including Health and Care visas), Global Talent, International Sportsperson, Youth Mobility Scheme, and various Global Business Mobility and Temporary Work categories.
Holders will be able to link their passport to their UKVI account to make international travel smoother and can securely share their status with employers or landlords in England using the “view and prove” service.
Physical sticker visas will still be required for dependents, general visitors, or any applicants not traveling for study or work. Existing physical visas will remain valid until they expire.
The shift comes as the UK tightens immigration rules for some categories but aims to make the application process more efficient for students and skilled workers, two groups that make up a large share of Pakistani migrants to the UK each year. According to UK Home Office data, tens of thousands of Pakistani nationals travel to the UK annually for higher education and employment opportunities.
The British government said the eVisa system would eventually be expanded to cover all visa routes to create “a more secure and streamlined process for all UK visa customers.”
