KARACHI: A Fly Jinnah flight on Monday made an emergency landing at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said, adding all passengers and crew members safely off-loaded from the plane.
The flight, FL-846, left Karachi in the country’s south for the eastern city of Lahore on Monday evening, according to the (PAA).
The captain reported smoke in the cargo compartment and gave a ‘mayday’ call at 7:15 near Lahore.
“Fly Jinnah flight, FL-846, safely landed at the Lahore at 7:23 pm,” the PAA said in a statement. “[Officials of] the Airport Authority’s Fire Department were present on the spot to deal with any emergency as per the SOPs (standard operating procedures).”
All passengers and crew were safely offloaded through emergency exit of the plane and at 7:57pm, the fire department cleared the plane following an inspection, according to the PAA.
Officials have ordered an investigation into the incident.
Pakistan’s aviation protocols have faced significant scrutiny since 2020 following a scandal wherein approximately 262 out of 860 active Pakistani pilots were said to have obtained fake licenses, leading to the grounding of around 150 pilots from the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and other carriers.
The revelation came in the wake of the tragic crash of a PIA flight, PK-8303, in Karachi on May 22, 2020, resulting in the suspension of PIA’s operations in the European Union (EU) and other regions and prompting calls for regulatory reforms to improve safety standards and transparency.
Fly Jinnah flight makes emergency landing in Lahore, all passengers and crew safe
https://arab.news/gfh38
Fly Jinnah flight makes emergency landing in Lahore, all passengers and crew safe
- The plane made emergency landing after the captain reported smoke in its cargo compartment
- Pakistan’s aviation protocols have faced significant scrutiny since a PIA plane crash in 2020
Pakistan reaffirms commitment to strengthen ties with Saudi Arabia at 94th National Day celebrations
Pakistan reaffirms commitment to strengthen ties with Saudi Arabia at 94th National Day celebrations
- Saudi Arabia celebrates Sept. 23 as its National Day to commemorate Kingdom’s unification
- President Asif Ali Zardari says both nations will work together for unity, peace and progress
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday reaffirmed Pakistan’s determination to further strengthen bilateral cooperation with Saudi Arabia as the Kingdom marked its 94th National Day.
Saudi Arabia celebrates its National Day, also known as Al-Yaom-ul-Watany, on September 23 each year to commemorate the unification of the Kingdom and its founding by King Abdulaziz in 1932.
The Saudi embassy in Islamabad organized an event to celebrate the day, with President Zardari attending the ceremony as the chief guest. Members of Pakistan’s federal cabinet, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, religious scholars, diplomats, dignitaries, and civilian and military officials also participated in the event.
President Zardari extended his felicitations to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the people of Saudi Arabia on their National Day. He noted that the two brotherly countries enjoyed cordial relations in various fields and always supported each other in challenging times.
“On this day, we reaffirm our commitment to further enhancing our bilateral relations in the areas of trade, business and culture,” he said, while addressing the event. “We will continue to work together for the advancement of our nations, the unity of Muslim Ummah, and the promotion of peace and stability in the region and beyond.”
The Pakistan president appreciated Crown Prince Mohammed’s Vision 2030, which he said had placed Saudi Arabia on a path to greater progress and prosperity.
“The Kingdom has embarked on a journey of progress and modernization through Vision 2030 as the bold initiatives being taken to diversify the economy and empower the youth to build a vibrant society are truly inspiring,” he added.
Saudi Arabia is consolidating its economy along modern lines under the Vision 2030 program. The strategic development framework intends to cut the Kingdom’s reliance on oil and is aimed at developing public service sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, recreation and tourism.
President Zardari expressed his gratitude to Saudi Arabia for its continued support to Pakistan and for hosting nearly 2.7 million Pakistanis, who were not only a source of remittances to the South Asian country, but they were also making contributions to the Kingdom’s social and economic development.
In his video message played at the event, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid a tribute to the visionary leadership of King Salman for steadfastly guiding the Kingdom toward progress and prosperity, while upholding the sacred responsibilities of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.
“We also highly commend the sagacious and farsighted vision of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman whose initiatives have positioned Saudi Arabia as a beacon of modernity, innovation and economic growth,” he said, adding that the Kingdom was assuming a global leadership role.
“The Kingdom is making remarkable strides in ease of doing business, surpassing the world’s largest economies, embracing modern techniques as it is in fact among the countries that are leading in science, technology, innovation and enterprise.”
Sharif thanked the Kingdom for standing by Pakistan in difficult times.
“The people of Pakistan join me in acknowledging from the core of our hearts the Kingdom’s generosity in helping stabilize Pakistan’s economic situation from time to time,” he said. “These historic gestures have touched us deeply and profoundly forever.”
In his speech, Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki said it was a “glorious day” in the history of the Kingdom, which symbolized unity, prosperity and a long journey of progress.
“The Kingdom is witnessing tremendous transformations that have included all areas of life, from economy to education, health and infrastructure,” he said, adding that the Kingdom went through several stages of growth and development until it became a model in the Arab and Islamic worlds.
“The Kingdom continues to play its leadership role in the Arab and Islamic worlds, especially with regard to defending the issues of the Islamic nations and supporting the stability of the region.”
The depth of the historical and fraternal relations that bound Pakistan and Saudi Arabia added a special dimension of pride and appreciation to this national occasion, he said.
“Today, we are not only celebrating a national occasion, but we are also celebrating the strengthening of bilateral relations that are growing stronger day after day,” the ambassador added.
Pakistan, UK eye major trade boost amid high-ranking British official’s visit to Islamabad
- Oliver Christian has facilitated over £78 billion in investment and export deals apart from playing a key role in launching the UK Global Investment Summit
- In meeting with Pakistan’s commerce minister, the UK trade commissioner acknowledged Pakistan’s potential and assured support for increasing trade volume
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United Kingdom (UK) expect a major boost in bilateral trade between the two countries, the Pakistani commerce ministry said on Monday, following the arrival of British Trade Commissioner Oliver Christian in Islamabad on a three-day visit.
Christian, who serves as the Trade Commissioner for the Middle East and Pakistan as well as the UK counsel general to Dubai, landed in Islamabad over the weekend on his first-ever trip to strengthen economic and trade links with Pakistan.
He has facilitated over £78 billion in investment and export deals apart from playing a key role in launching the UK Global Investment Summit and the Office of Investment, according to the British high commission in Islamabad.
On Monday, the UK trade commissioner, met with Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal to explore avenues to enhance bilateral trade, the Pakistani commerce ministry said.
“The meeting highlighted the need for sectoral collaboration and a business-to-business matchmaking approach to target growth areas in both countries,” it said in a statement. “Jam Kamal emphasized Pakistan’s immense potential in the food sector, particularly through value addition.”
Kamal underscored his government’s commitment to expanding trade and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s plan to achieve an ambitious export growth target of $60 billion from the existing $30 billion. He highlighted Pakistan’s success in organizing an International Food and Agriculture Exhibition in Karachi on Aug. 9-11, where more than 800 foreign delegates participated.
“This was the first event of its kind, with such a large international presence and it opened doors to significant business opportunities,” the minister said.
Citing Pakistan’s growing exports in information technology, mining, horticulture and dairy, Kamal discussed the potential for future exports, including olive products. “Pakistan is on its way to becoming a significant olive exporter, with vast cultivation underway,” he shared.
The UK trade commissioner acknowledged Pakistan’s vast potential and assured full support for increasing the trade volume between the two nations, according to the Pakistani commerce ministry. Both sides emphasized the importance of the UK-Pakistan Trade Dialogue, a platform to be established soon to promote trade and investment.
As the UK diversifies its import sources post-Brexit, Kamal highlighted Pakistan’s potential to become a key supplier of food products to the UK, given its compliance with international standards.
Pakistan and the UK have a long and multifaceted relationship, with the latter hosting a large Pakistani diaspora community. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also accepted an invitation by King Charles III over a telephone call last week to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa next month from October 21-26.
Earlier this month, Pakistan’s deputy premier Ishaq Dar also embarked on a five-day official visit to London, where he held wide-ranging discussions with the new British administration.
During his visit, Christian will announce significant new partnerships, including a strategic transnational education agreement between Beaconhouse International College and the University of Essex, the British high commission said on Sunday. The partnership with Essex University aimed to provide Pakistani students access to world-class education in business, computing and law subjects, it added.
The high commission said Britain’s Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust partnered with Novacare hospitals to set up a 250-bed hospital in Islamabad, which would open in 2026 and offer 28 clinical services along international standards.
Terming Pakistan as the third-largest trade partner, British Deputy High Commissioner Sarah Mooney said on Sunday the UK was committed to “driving economic development,” while addressing challenges that “hold back growth.”
“This visit reinforces our commitment to working together to unlock opportunities to benefit both countries,” she said.
Christain said British firms operating in Pakistan were market leaders in their respective fields that were “trusted by millions of consumers.”
“We are dedicated to strengthening our economic relationship with Pakistan, not just through investments and partnerships but by working together to demonstrate the opportunity here for UK businesses,” he said.
The high commission said the UK was Pakistan’s third-largest export market, with the total trade amounting to $5 billion in the four quarters leading up to the end of 2024.
Six killed, 25 injured as rival tribes clash over property dispute in northwest Pakistan
- The clashes erupted over piece of land in Kurram tribal district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which borders Afghanistan
- Both sides used heavy and small weapons to pound each other, blocking Parachinar-Peshawar highway for traffic
PESHAWAR: At least six persons have been killed and 25 others injured in three days of armed clashes over a property dispute between rival tribes in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, an official said on Monday, as tribal elders and local officials strive for a ceasefire between the warring parties.
The clashes erupted over a piece of land claimed by both sides in the Kurram tribal district of KP, which is located along Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan and has witnessed deadly tribal conflicts as well as sectarian and militant attacks in the past.
A major conflict that began in 2007 continued for years before it was ended with the help of a jirga, a council of tribal elders, in 2011. However, another round of clashes broke out over a property dispute in July this year that left 38 dead and 158 injured in the same district.
“We have received six dead and 25 injured during the last three days, with some of the wounded having been discharged after treatment,” Dr. Mir Hassan Jan, medical superintendent (MS) at the district headquarters hospital in Parachinar, told Arab News.
The Kurram police said the warring tribes used both heavy and small weapons to pound rival positions in the last three days, and the clashes blocked several routes, including Parachinar-Peshawar highway, for traffic.
Kurram Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud informed the media that tribal elders, security officials and the district administration were trying to resolve the issue through negotiations.
KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur directed police and district administration to take action and help reach a ceasefire between the warring tribes through a jirga.
“For the last one year, issues about law and order have been taking place in Kurram, which should be resolved permanently,” Gandapur said in a statement. “For a durable solution to the problem, a committee comprising members of national and provincial assemblies, local elders and law enforcement agencies should be formed to take warring tribes on board to resolve the issue once and for all.”
Brig (retd) Said Nazeer Mohmand, a security expert, told Arab News that the involvement of “foreign elements” and rumors played a major role in igniting sectarian tensions in the religiously sensitive district.
In the first phase, he suggested, security and district administration officials, backed by local elders, should discourage the involvement of foreign elements belonging to different sectarian groups.
“If we see the issue from a historical perspective, rumors and unfounded news always flare up fights in Kurram district,” Mohmand said. “Secondly, controlling foreign elements is of paramount importance to discourage armed clashes in the district.”
Mohmand emphasized the formation of committees comprising members from all tribes as well as security and district administration officials to keep a check on the situation regularly.
“The committee then should hold regular meetings to nip the evil in the bud and deny any space to foreign elements and rumors from spreading,” he said. “This way, we will be able to somehow to control things in this sensitive part of the region.”
Election body’s denial of recognition to ex-PM Khan party infringed upon electorate’s rights — Pakistan court
- The Supreme Court issues detailed verdict in a case relating to allocation of reserved parliamentary seats to former prime minister Imran Khan’s PTI party
- Law minister says a way to allocate reserved seats needs to be figured out after amendments to election laws, court verdict did not answer questions in this regard
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) on Monday issued a detailed verdict in a case relating to reserved seats claimed by former prime minister Imran Khan’s party, ruling that the election commission’s decision to deny recognition to a major political party infringed upon the electorate’s rights.
The 70-page judgment, authored by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, was released days after National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq wrote to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), arguing that the Supreme Court’s short order in the case was “incapable of implementation” due to amendments made to the Elections Act 2017.
Sadiq referred to the top court’s 8-5 majority verdict issued on July 12, in which the court had declared Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party eligible for allocation of reserved parliamentary seats months after the ECP forced the PTI candidates to contest the February 8 national election as independents. The ECP took the decision after the PTI lost its election symbol in the wake of a prolonged legal battle for not holding proper intra-party polls. Subsequently, the election body refused reserved seats to the PTI on technical grounds, saying they were only meant for political parties and not for independent candidates.
The Supreme Court overturned the ECP’s decision and said it had misconstrued an earlier verdict relating to election symbols by depriving the PTI of reserved seats. Instead of giving the seats to the party, however, the election body filed a petition to seek guidance on the matter and questioned the validity of the party’s organizational structure under the circumstances. The detailed judgment by the Supreme Court clarified that a party’s constitutional right to participate in elections was not impacted by the absence of an electoral symbol.
“When election authorities engaged in actions, such as unlawfully denying the recognition of a major political party and treating its nominated candidates as independents, they not only compromise the rights of these candidates but also significantly infringe upon the rights of the electorate and corrode their own institutional legitimacy,” the detailed verdict read.
The court ruled that the constitution and the law did not prevent any political party from fielding candidates, referring to the ECP’s decision to strip the PTI of its election symbol of a ‘cricket bat’ over irregularities in intraparty elections.
“The ECP’s March 1 decision is contradictory to the constitution and has no legal value,” the court ruled, with regard to the election body’s denial of reserved seats to the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) and its decision to instead give them to other political parties on the principle of proportional representation. Khan-backed candidates had joined the SIC after the Feb. 8 polls, in a bid to claim their share of reserved parliamentary seats.
When the election commission “errs or makes significant mistakes impacting the electoral process,” the court said that judicial intervention became necessary to rectify them and ensure electoral justice.
“This court is not handicapped by any technicality or rule of practice or procedure, nor is the exercise of this power by the court dependent on an application by a party,” it added.
“The procedural formality of first accepting PTI’s application and then granting it the relief does not carry much weight where the court’s concern is the protection of the right to vote of the people (the electorate) guaranteed under Articles 17 (2) and 19 of the constitution, more than the right of any political party — whether it be SIC or PTI or any other party,” the verdict read.
LAWS ‘REMAIN INTACT’
Speaking at a press conference, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said Article 104 A, which concerns reserved seats, of the constitution and Section 66, which requires an election candidate to file certificate of party affiliation, of the Elections Act 2017 were valid laws.
“With these laws present, it has to be figured out how these seats will be allocated now,” he said. “What is the way to override the law? These are the questions that haven’t been answered in the detailed verdict.”
He said the new laws “remain intact” after the parliament made amendments to Section 66 and inserted Article 104A into the Elections Act 2017, adding that he was upset by the “strictly worded verdict.”
KHAN’S PARTY URGES ALLOCATION OF RESERVED SEATS
Following the issuance of the detailed verdict, PTI Chairman Gohar Khan urged the ECP to issue a notification of their reserved seats as directed by the Supreme Court.
“Today, we urge the ECP to issue a notification of reserved seats for our 38 members of National Assembly,” he said. “Despite their fourth meeting, they did not issue a notification of our seats.”
According to the Supreme Court’s decision, he said, reserved seats would only be allotted to a party whose candidates won in election or independent candidates that joined it.
“Reserved seats are the PTI party’s right as stated by the Supreme Court,” he said.
‘VERDICT REMOVED AMBIGUITIES’
Legal experts believe that after the explanations provided in the detailed verdict, the ECP has no choice but to implement the Supreme Court’s order in letter and spirit.
“The SCP has provided all the details and reasons quoting constitutional provisions for reaching the short decision which has removed all ambiguities earlier raised by the ECP and now the commission has no other option but to implement the decision,” Anwar Mansoor Khan, a former attorney general of Pakistan, told Arab News.
He said if the ECP did not comply with the order, the court may initiate legal action, including contempt proceedings, against the electoral body.
“This confrontation between two top institutions is not good and will harm the country,” he added.
Saiful Malook, an expert on constitutional law, said the Constitution of Pakistan mandated all judgments of the Supreme Court to be binding on both judicial and executive authorities in the country.
“That is the constitutional mandate and constitutional mandate cannot be taken away through an ordinary legislation of amending the Elections Act,” he told Arab News, referring to the National Assembly speaker’s letter to the ECP.
“If the Supreme Court judgment is directing something to be done in a particular way, the Elections Act cannot stop it. The election commission, according to Article 189 and Article 190 of the constitution, they are bound by the constitutional mandate to do whatever the Supreme Court has ordered.”
Malook said Pakistan’s judicial system would “collapse” if the ECP and the government further resisted the implementation of this order.
Pakistan Taliban deny attack on convoy of foreign ambassadors
- The convoy of more than 10 foreign ambassadors was passing through the picturesque town of Malam Jabba when it was hit by a roadside bomb
- Diplomats from Russia, Portugal, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Indonesia, Vietnam and other countries were part of the convoy
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani Taliban on Monday denied carrying out a roadside bomb attack on a police convoy escorting foreign ambassadors that killed a policeman.
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in a statement said it had “nothing to do with the attack” in the northwest of the country, which also wounded three other officers.
The convoy of more than 10 foreign ambassadors was passing through the picturesque town of Malam Jabba in the Swat district when it was hit by a roadside bomb.
Top diplomats from Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Portugal, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Indonesia and Vietnam were part of the convoy.
In a statement, the Russian embassy said its ambassador was taking part in the trip along with several other ambassadors.
The foreigners were unhurt in the incident and later returned to Islamabad, Pakistan’s foreign office said on Sunday.
Police officials said the trip was organized by Islamabad and Swat’s Chamber of Commerce to promote the region’s local industries, including handicrafts and gemstones.
Swat — a snow-capped mountain valley split by turquoise waters — is one of Pakistan’s most famed beauty spots, but its reputation has a dark side.
In 2012 Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by the TTP while campaigning as a schoolgirl for education, activism that later earned her the Nobel Peace Prize.
The Pakistani Taliba historically has roots in Afghanistan and shares the same ideology as the Afghan Taliban.
From 2007 to 2009, they killed thousands of civilians and seized control of several districts before being driven back by the military.
Pakistan has witnessed a dramatic uptick in attacks since the Taliban seized control in 2021 of Kabul, but diplomats are rarely targeted.
Islamabad says such offensives are being launched from neighboring Afghanistan by various militant groups, many linked to the TTP, which the Taliban authorities deny.
