Current Final

Category: Politics

  • ‘Stop arresting journalists’; Supreme Court orders FIA

    ‘Stop arresting journalists’; Supreme Court orders FIA

    A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, issued a directive instructing the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to refrain from arresting any journalists until the next hearing of the suo motu case concerning the alleged harassment of media personnel.

    During the hearing, the lawyer for the Press Association of the Supreme Court, Barrister Salahuddin, argued that action was taken against journalists in the name of violation of privacy. The chief justice asked the lawyer how he would define privacy.

    Salahuddin said that the FIA had become accustomed to the misuse of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). He added that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had declared PECA’s Section 20 null and void. He replied in negative, when the chief justice asked whether the decision was challenged.

    Chief Justice Isa raised questions about the issuance of notices to journalists under Section 160 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) before the registration of any First Information Report (FIR).

    The chief justice pointed out that many times there was a pressure from the above, so the officials send a notice to ward off the pressure, yet no FIR was registered and no arrest was made. Under this notice, he added, they could call anyone as witness.

    In response, Salahuddin stressed the importance of providing comprehensive details alongside such notices and argued that notices should only be sent after the registration of an FIR. Chief Justice Isa, however, suggested that officials might be reaching out to individuals to ascertain information before proceeding further.

    The court adjourned the hearing until April 2, ordering the FIA to refrain from arresting journalists until then. Chief Justice Isa emphasized that the court would only invalidate legal processes if they were proven illegal, highlighting the need for clarity and adherence to due process in such matters.

  • Five May 9 suspects arrested again after bail from SC

    Five May 9 suspects arrested again after bail from SC

    Five workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) involved in the May 9 riots, who were earlier granted bail by the Supreme Court, have been arrested again under 16 MPO (Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960).

    The MPO order was issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Rawalpindi after which they were arrested. Last night, they were released from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi after the suspects submitted their surety bonds.

    The five suspects — Owais, Saifullah, Nasrullah, Kamran and Waqas — were booked in the May 9 violence case registered at the New Tow Police Station.

    Scores of PTI workers were arrested across the country after the May 9 incident following the arrest of Imran Khan from court premises.

    Last week, a three member bench granted relief to five suspects and emphasized that authorities must differentiate who are the real terrorists. Their surety bonds were worth Rs 50,000 each.

  • Khawaja Asif says Afghanistan ‘source of terrorism’

    Khawaja Asif says Afghanistan ‘source of terrorism’

    Federal Minister for Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan is unlike any other border in the world – terming Afghanistan a ‘source of terrorism’ for Pakistan.

    In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said, “In view of the increase in terrorist incidents, there is a need for a fundamental change in the border situation. The source of terrorism in Pakistan is in Afghanistan and despite our efforts, Kabul is not making any progress in this direction.”

    He also stated that Afghan authorities were aware of all the terrorist hideouts of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operating against Pakistan inside their territory but cooperation from Afghans on this has been negligible.

    The Minister’s comments came in the aftermath of the unfortunate terrorist attack that claimed the lives of six people including five Chinese engineers in Shangla. More importantly, over the past few days a string of terrorist attacks took place including Gawadar Port Authority Complex, PNS Siddiqi naval airbase in Turbat.

  • PM Shehbaz reviews security situation of Chinese citizens in high-level meeting

    PM Shehbaz reviews security situation of Chinese citizens in high-level meeting

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a high-level meeting on Wednesday to review the security situation of foreign nationals, particularly Chinese citizens.

    After a suicide attack on Chinese engineers in Shangla on Tuesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for a high-level security meeting to assess and improve security measures for foreigners, especially focusing on Chinese residents in Pakistan.

    PM Shehbaz also reviewed the overall situation of the country, however, the main focus was on the security of Chinese nationals.

    Federal ministers, heads of security agencies, inspector general of police, and other relevant authorities also participated in the meeting.

    All the participants in the meeting condemned the suicide attack on Chinese engineers in Shangla.

  • Is Pakistan’s spy agency allegedly interfering in legal matters?

    Is Pakistan’s spy agency allegedly interfering in legal matters?

    Calls to investigate the ‘Islamabad High Court (IHC) letter to Supreme Judicial Council’ gain ground as the bar associations of Sindh, Lahore, Islamabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and many senior legal experts express concern.

    Why? Earlier, six judges of the IHC penned a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa expressing worry over alleged interference of intelligence agencies in judicial matters.

    The Sindh High Court Bar Association released a statement which said, “Interference in the affairs of the judiciary is tantamount to attacking the judicial system.”

    Similarly, the Islamabad High Court Bar Association condemned the alleged interference and reaffirmed its faith in the importance of autonomy of judiciary. “Public confidence in the justice system is linked to the independence and autonomy of the judiciary,” the bar said.

    Furthermore, Lahore Bar Association also expressed concerns and said, “Action should be taken against those who violate the constitution and law.” Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council also released a statement, “Interference in judicial matters is condemnable.”

    Meanwhile, the veteran legal expert and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Hamid Khan, commended the six judges for taking this ‘daring initiative’. He also said that this matter is significant and should be investigated in a judicial commission.

  • Maulana Fazlur Rehman announces protests against February polls

    Maulana Fazlur Rehman announces protests against February polls

    Leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam- Fazl (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Wednesday said that his party had decided to boycott by-elections and will be holding protests in different cities from April 25.

    “Just like in 2018 elections, the mandate of people has been stolen in elections of 2024. We decided that our party would not accept the results of recent elections because this parliament is more of a representative of the establishment rather than the people,” said the chief of JUI-F.

    By now, major political parties like Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, JUI-F, and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) have rejected the results of February 8 elections, making the general elections controversial.

    “This is our narrative and we have decided to move forward with it. We will start this movement named ‘Awami Assembly’ from April 25 from Balochistan’s Pishin,” said the JUI-F leader. The second ‘Awami Aseembly’ will begin from Karachi on May 2 and the third phase would be in Peshawar on May 9.

    He also said that his party is in contact with other political parties, “so that a united opinion of people comes forward.”
    He criticized the Elections Commission of Pakistan for neglecting its legal obligations and accused the security agencies of overstepping their boundaries.

  • IHC grants permission to PTI for rally in Islamabad

    IHC grants permission to PTI for rally in Islamabad

    The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday directed the administration authorities of the capital city to allow Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to conduct a rally.

    Previously, district authorities denied permission to PTI for staging a protest against alleged poll-rigging in the general elections 2024 in Islamabad citing security risks.

    “One’s right of assembly cannot be taken away,” IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq said while hearing PTI’s petition seeking the court’s permission for staging the rally. The justice emphasized that public gatherings are for everyone and it should not come under any restrictions.

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad had warned PTI to avoid public gathering without getting a formal approval from relevant authorities.

    Furthermore, according to PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat, the party has moved up the date for holding the rally to April 6.

  • US doesn’t support Pak-Iran gas pipeline project

    US doesn’t support Pak-Iran gas pipeline project

    State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller has stated that the United States does not want the gas pipeline project between Pakistan and Iran to continue. “We do not support this pipeline going forward,” he said.

    The State Department’s statement came right after Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister Musadik Malik hinted that Pakistan would “vigorously” present its case to seek US sanctions waiver for the pipeline.

    It is also important to highlight that a few days ago, the foreign ministry’s spokesperson said that Pakistan does not require any country’s permission to move forward with a regional project.

    “We always advise everyone that doing business with Iran runs the risk of touching upon and coming in contact with our sanctions, and would advise everyone to consider that very carefully,” said Matthew Miller.

    The project began in 2009 and to this day Pakistan has not completed any major portion of construction whereas Iran has completed 900-kilometres of pipeline. That’s also why Iran issued a third notice to Pakistan that it would approach arbitration court to seek penalties.

  • Meray shehd (honey) main kuch milaya gaya thaa, claims Bushra Bibi

    Meray shehd (honey) main kuch milaya gaya thaa, claims Bushra Bibi

    Former first lady, Bushra Bibi has alleged during a hearing on Tuesday that some substance was mixed in her honey in Bani Gala, leading to her becoming unwell.

    “There was something mixed in my honey, and when I came back home after hearing and eating honey, my health worsened.”

    Bushra Bibi also said that if something happens to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, the establishment will be responsible.

    “Life and death are in the hands of Allah,” she said, adding that Imran Khan is physically fit and in good health.

    Bushra Bibi also stated that Khan is in jail for the people of Pakistan, and the masses will not forgive the people in power if something happens to him.

    The PTI founder kept stopping Bushra Bibi from speaking during the hearing yesterday.

  • Six IHC judges call on SJC to probe spy agencies ‘intervention’

    Six IHC judges call on SJC to probe spy agencies ‘intervention’

    In an explosive letter written to Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) headed by Justice Qazi Faez Isa, six judges of the IHC — Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Justice Babar Sattar, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz — called on the SJC to summon a judicial convention over what they called the alleged interference of the executive, including operatives of intelligence agencies.

    “We are writing to seek guidance from the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) with regards to the duty of a judge to report and respond to actions on part of members of the executive, including operatives of intelligence agencies, that seek to interfere with discharge of his/her official functions and qualify as intimidation,” read the letter.

    The Supreme Court had recently declared the removal of former IHC Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui illegal after he had been removed from service when he alleged interference of intelligence agencies in judicial matters.

    It was also stated that in May 2023, “the brother-in-law of an IHC judge was abducted by armed men.” In another incident during the summer of 2023, surveillance equipment was discovered in the residence of another IHC judge and it had private recordings of their family members.

    In their letter, the IHC judges pointed out the lack of guidelines in the code of conduct for judges when they perceive a threat to the judiciary’s independence.