Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Monday paid tribute to United Nation (UN) peacekeeping forces. “On the occasion of International Day of UN Peacekeepers, we pay tribute to the 75 years long history of UN Peacekeeping. As a top troop contributor since 1960, over 200,000 Pakistani men & women have served with valour in 46 UN Peacekeeping Missions in all parts of the world 168 of our bravest have sacrificed their lives in this noble cause,” Bilawal wrote in his tweet.
“Over 4,300 peacekeepers including female officers are serving with distinction under UN flag today. We reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that peacekeeping remains an effective mechanism for int’l peace & security,” the foreign minister added.
168 of our bravest have sacrificed their lives in this noble cause. Over 4,300 🇵🇰 peacekeepers incl female officers are serving with distinction under UN flag today. We reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that 🇺🇳 peacekeeping remains an effective mechanism for int’l peace &…
— Bilawal Bhutto Zardari (@BBhuttoZardari) May 29, 2023
The International Day of UN Peacekeepers is being observed today to highlight the role of the force in world peace.
Over the past 75 years, United Nations Peacekeepers have saved countless precious lives for global peace and security.
This day commemorates the efforts of the United Nations to eliminate human suffering, establish a situation of lasting peace and order in countries with wars and internal conflicts.
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial on Monday postponed the hearing of the Election Commission of Pakistan’s petition asking the top court to reconsider its April 4 order of holding elections for Punjab Assembly on May 14.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, comprising of Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar, heard the case.
The hearing was adjourned after Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan informed the court that the law amending the Supreme Court Rules has come into effect and was signed by the President. As per the law, judicial decisions made under Article 184 III of the Constitution can now be appealed.
“Judgments and orders made prior to commencement of this Act. The right to file a review petition shall also be available to an aggrieved person against whom an order has been made under clause (3) of Article 184 of Constitution, prior to commencement of this Act.”
"Judgments and orders made prior to commencement of this Act. The right to file a review petition shall also be available to an aggrieved person against whom an order has been made under clause (3) of Article 184 of Constitution, prior to commencement of this Act",says new law. pic.twitter.com/J0VTnUUgFB
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif and Jahangir Tareen can now file new review petitions on their disqualifications within 60 days.
The bill becoming law after the President signed it has taken the legal fraternity and media by surprise.
The Chief justice termed the development as 'interesting'.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar appeared on Geo News programme Jirga on Sunday where he discussed politics and the economy.
While talking about the possibility of negotiating with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Dar said that negotiations with Imran Khan can be held if he took “corrective measures: apologises to the nation, admits his mistake and promises not to do anything like May 9 in the future.”
The minister claimed that before May 9, when violent protests broke out, the government had “sincere intentions” when it talked with PTI, with the two parties reaching an agreement on all issues other than the election date.
Separately, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said that there is no space for negotiations with PTI in current circumstances.
“There used to be an environment and agenda for holding parleys on any issue. But the existing atmosphere is not suitable for talks,” he said while talking to reporters in Lahore. Imran Khan on May 27 constituted a seven-member negotiation committee for talks with the incumbent government over elections.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Sunday that Pakistan intends to provide the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with comprehensive details of its upcoming budget, with the aim of facilitating the release of delayed funds. During an interview, Dar confirmed that the IMF has requested further information regarding the budget, and Pakistan is prepared to comply with this requirement.
Pakistan’s receipt of $1.1 billion in funding from the IMF, as part of a $6.5 billion rescue package established in 2019, has encountered delays since November. In February, both the IMF and Pakistan engaged in two weeks of discussions in Islamabad, aiming to conclude the 9th review. However, the funds have not yet been disbursed by the IMF, which is crucial for Pakistan to access additional bilateral and multilateral financing.
Expressing his concerns, Dar emphasised his desire for the IMF to release the funds prior to the budget’s scheduled presentation in early June. He asserted that combining the 9th and 10th reviews would be unjust, and therefore advocated for a separate assessment of the current situation.
In summary, Pakistan’s Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has underscored the country’s commitment to fulfilling the IMF’s request for detailed budget information. This step is intended to overcome the impasse in the release of funds, which are vital for Pakistan to access other forms of financial assistance. Minister Dar has further urged the IMF to release the funds prior to the budget presentation, highlighting the unfairness of merging two distinct reviews.
After a video showing an alleged altercation between models Hasnain Lehri and Nirma Jacob at the Texpo Fashion Week went viral on Saturday, Lehri has come up with a response.
In the video, the female super model can be seen distraught after Lehri allegedly physically and verbally assaulted her, demanding that event organisers take her safety seriously.
Several models and influential designers like Kamiar Rokni, Eman Suleman and Zara Peerzada have taken to social media to condemn the incident, and demanded that the abuser be held accountable for his actions.
Now in a statement to Express Tribune, Lehri has denied that he physically assaulted Jacob:
“I categorically deny all accusations of physical altercation and abuse. I come from a very respectful family, we aren’t the kind of people who would get into an issue as petty as this.”
He went on to explain how the events had unfolded, which began when Jacob bumped in to him during the ramp walk:
“During the crossing at the ramp, Jacob hit my shoulder. We went backstage and she walked towards me, asking me to learn how to walk on the ramp. This resulted in an argument and she brought my deceased father into the conversation.”
He added that there were witnesses like organisers Tehmina Khaled, Tehmim and choreographer Nubain Ali, to whom Lehri had gone to raising concern, and they had told Lehri that Jacob was known for her unprofessional behavior with other models.
Lehri revealed how the fight had started `”When the show was done, I packed my bag, readying to leave; Nubain approached me and asked me what the issue was. As Nubain and I were discussing, this is when [Jacob] returned and started the argument again,” Lehri went on. “She then told me to f–k off, and I said it back. That’s when she took out her phone and started recording me.”
Lehri went on to reveal that he asked Jacob four times not to record her, after which he had snatched the phone from her hands:
“This isn’t acceptable and I took her phone. That is all I did. I took the phone from her hand and kept it with me because she was recording me without my consent. She just wanted to show her side of the story. I wish I had taken out my phone and started recording how [Jacob] was misbehaving as well.”
Lehri denied that he had raised his hand on Jacob, and said Jacob and her friends were trying to intimidate him:
“With God as my witness, I can swear on the Holy Book that all I did was take her phone. I didn’t assault anyone, I didn’t physically abuse her. [Jacob’s] three friends teamed up against me. They will support her.”
Addressing the fact that he refused to give back Jacob’s phone, and the arrival of the police, Lehri revealed that the police could see that he didn’t assault the female model, which is why they had let him go:
“If I was in the wrong and the alleged physical assault did happen, why would the police let me leave? I was free to go. I respect my fraternity but [Jacob] is grossly manipulating the whole situation.”
The Government of Punjab has responded to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan’s allegation of female supporters of his party being harassed in jails.
“It’s not a surprise that one political party is spreading baseless lies about mistreatment of women in custody for attacks on public/military buildings,” a tweet from the official Twitter account of Punjab Govt read.
“Everyone in Punjab jails is being dealt with under relevant laws and the public should NOT believe in these lies. Law-enforcing agencies are making sure that all culprits of May 9 attacks are captured and tried as per applicable laws. No one should pay heed to yet another misinformation campaign by a political party.”
It’s not a surprise that one political party is spreading baseless lies about mistreatment of women in custody for attacks on public/military buildings. Everyone in Punjab jails is being dealt under relevant laws and public should NOT believe in these lies. Law-enforcing agencies…
— Government of Punjab (@GovtofPunjabPK) May 28, 2023
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan, in a address to the nation on Sunday, claimed that he has received reports that women belonging to his party are being harassed in jails.
He requested the judiciary to take suo motu action against the arrests. While talking about the people leaving his party, Imran said that those quitting the party had been threatened and pressurised to do so.
Maritime Affairs Minister Faisal Sabzwari revealed that a comprehensive agreement to secure a noteworthy investment of $500 million from Gulf countries is currently in the final stages of preparation. To facilitate this endeavor, an intergovernmental agreement policy will be presented to the law ministry on Monday.
Its potential approval will lay the groundwork for direct foreign investment, in accordance with the conditions outlined by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
During an address to members of the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), Minister Sabzwari informed them that Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are collaboratively operating under a government-to-government (G2G) agreement. This partnership is focused on three key projects, including the establishment of bulk terminals.
As outlined in a press release by KATI, Mr Sabzwari revealed plans to develop industrial parks spanning 1,250 acres within Port Qasim. These parks will provide a range of facilities designed to attract foreign investors.
Mr Sabzwari acknowledged that there have been no tariff increases at the port, although the implementation of digitalization is still pending. Additionally, limitations on leases have been imposed. He added that terminal charges have recently been adjusted from 60 cents to 80 cents, resulting in a modest 1.5 per cent increase in production costs for industrialists.
Furthermore, the minister highlighted the successful consultations conducted with various stakeholders, including container operators, to mitigate demurrage charges and penalties at the port. As a result, Karachi Port has eradicated all penalties associated with these charges.
According to Dawn, the minister also announced the acquisition of a maritime vessel for transporting edible oil, thus expanding the fleet at Karachi port. In addition to this development, approval has been granted for the construction of a beach wall at Karachi Fish Harbour, aimed at promoting tourism and recreational activities. Furthermore, plans have been set in motion to establish a laboratory dedicated to marine fisheries.
Previously, KATI President Faraz-ur-Rehman stressed the importance of regulating shipping companies and proposed the implementation of a system for demurrage charges and penalties based on the value of containers. He suggested that this system should be made accessible online, similar to the shipping booking system WeBoC.
Zubair Chayya, Deputy Patron-in-Chief of KATI, expressed that Pakistan, with its extensive 1,400-kilometre-long coastline and abundant marine resources, including highly sought-after fish species, should prioritize utilizing the coastal region for tourism, thereby reaping substantial economic benefits.
A backstage video filmed at the Texpo Fashion Week, showing an alleged altercation between models Hasnain Lehri and Nimra Jacob has gone viral on social media.
According to sources, female model Nimra Jacob had been assaulted by Lehri, after which she can be seen demanding from show organisers to take models’ safety seriously. At one point in the video, Lehri is seen being restrained by a few men present backstage.
Pakistan’s top most fashion models Hasnain Lehri and Nimra Jacob involved in a clash following Texpo Fashion Show in Karachi. According to the eye witnesses, Lehri took Jacob’s mobile for allegedly filming him at the backstage and Jacob accused Lehri for raising a hand on her.… pic.twitter.com/HiRRM8I66C
— Times of Karachi (@TOKCityOfLights) May 27, 2023
Since the video went viral, Jacob has addressed the incident on Instagram, demanding better treatment for models working in the fashion industry:
“You cannot mistreat me. You can’t bully me. And you surely will not put your hands on me without consequences. We, in the fashion industry, have seen too much abuse, disrespect, and complete, utter negligence for our safety to tolerate it anymore. I have no space in my heart for forgiveness when it comes to abuse, harassment, bullying, assault, etc. Without any plausible cause, threats were made at me. I was verbally abused, and physically assaulted. My property was taken and used to blackmail me. My female colleagues were harmed in the process of trying to protect me.
“This all happened at work,” the super model continued. “Where I made sure to bring it to the attention of the management that I was being threatened by the perpetuator before he even became violent. The management should have taken action the first time I mentioned concern for my safety. I’m lucky there were eye witnesses to this man’s horrific actions, there were people who witnesses it all. As traumatized as I am, I’m not standing alone.”
“I refuse to let anyone abuse, threaten, intimidate, or belittle my colleagues or myself in any way.
“Today I stand to let you know that I will call out these abusers, harassers, bullies for exactly who/what they are. Every single one of them. If we want the industry to be a safe space, we need to collectively take a stand and check disrespect at the door. We need to demand accountability for those who are supposed to ensure our safety at work. And demand zero tolerance for the perpetuators involved in spewing such violence and aggression at the workplace. I’m done with this toxic, abusive culture. No more! Enough is enough!”
Soon other notable fashion figures like designer Kamiar Rokni condemned the incident as well as toxic male behavior on his Instagram account, stating that he was standing in solidarity with female models:
“Toxic male behaviour needs to be addressed in the fashion industry. Violence against girls backstage at a fashion show is a new low. This cannot be allowed to happen again it is up to us to come together and make this a safe space for our girls. Our models are an invaluable part of our industry and we can’t stand around while they are abused.”
Model Fatima Ahsan, who was also spotted in the viral video, took to Instagram to address the incident, and demanded that show organizers and sponsors make safer environments for their models:
“So everyone’s been seeing videos from the show backstage and sending them to me, asking if I’m okay, thank you so much for your love and concern. I am fine. The incident took place with another model and could’ve happened to anyone. Luckily it didn’t escalate. But we live in a fragile country and today’s incident just reinforces how no one takes the woman’s side. We weren’t secure in the environment. And the men (except for 1 or 2), they either stood and watched or tried to brush our concerns under the table and get the women to retract. Later they said let them deal with it themselves, let’s leave. Yes, let’s leave the women by themselves in an already unsafe environment. No one in charge – none of the organisers – nobody took responsibility it was only the female models that came together and took a stand.
To all the men, show organisers, and everyone innvolved. Do better. You just walked away from injustice and we’ll remember that.”
Model Zara Peerzada called out the organisers who hire toxic men for their shows, and asked designers to stop being complicit:
“Stop hiring violent males to walk your shows, be in your shoots. It’s not complicated. How about when you see abuse taking place you address and intervene? It’s not complicated. Stop doing empowerment campaigns for women to sell your clothes when you don’t have an ounce of respect for them or their safety. It’s not complicated. This is not an isolated incident.”
Visual artist and designer Rehan Bashir called this a case that showed how “standards within the industry keep plummenting towards abysmal depths”, and expressed solidarity with female models
On Thursday, the federal government of Pakistan introduced rules to enforce the ‘Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Act, 2021’ throughout the capital city and territories, banning corporal punishment in public and private schools.
According to Dawn, the law was passed three years ago, however the rules were updated a couple of months ago and the act was finally launched on Thursday.
According to the act, teachers who are found guilty of inflicting violence on students will be punished through major penalities like compulsory retirement, dismissal from service or demotion to a lower post. Minor penalties include withholding promotion for a specific period or increment or financial advancement in accordance with the rules or orders pertaining to the service or post.
The law states:
“The child has the right to be shown respect for his personality and individuality and shall not be made subject to corporal punishment or any other humiliating or degrading treatment.”
Speaking at the launch at the Islamabad Model College for Girls in F-10/2, the Minister of Federal Education Rana Tanveer Hussain praised the act as a shift towards fostering a culture of non-violence and empowering the rights of children:
“Let us work together to implement these rules effectively and create an environment where every child feels safe and nurtured.”
Convener of the Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights and Parliamentary Secretary Law and Justice, Mehnaz Akber Aziz, who was also present at the ceremony, discussed the significance of the rules towards improving the lives of children:
“The launch of the Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Rules is a testament to our commitment to ensuring children’s well-being and upholding their rights. These rules will provide clear guidelines and enforce strict measures to eradicate corporal punishment from educational institutions and child-related settings throughout Islamabad. I hope this will also incentivise the currently 2.4 million out-of-school children to head to schools.”
United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative Abdullah A. Fadil spoke on why corporal punishment must be outlawed in Pakistan:
“Corporal punishment can inflict immediate pain and suffering, and sadly may also cause irrevocable damage that can last a lifetime. We need to act now and put all our weight behind this act so that all children in Pakistan are able to learn and grow in a safe environment and are protected in a society which respects and upholds their rights and dignity.”
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has nominated a total of seven people from his party for holding negotiations with the incumbent government.
The team includes the party’s Senior Vice President Shah Mahmood Qureshi, former federal minister Hammad Azhar, former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, Murad Saeed and others.
According to PTI, the team will discuss the matter of elections with the government.
After the recent string of PTI leaders leaving the party, Khan expressed willingness to negotiate with “anyone who is in power”.
However, the government does not seem willing to hold talks with the embattled PTI.
Before the May 9 riots, several rounds of talks took place between PTI and the government to decide on the matter of elections but no fruitful result came out.
‘It is an appeal for NRO, not dialogue’: Govt doesn’t want to hold talks with Imran
Earlier, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb clearly stated that no talks Khan will take place.
Stating that those who attacked the state must be punished, she said that talks aren’t held with such people. “It is an appeal for NRO, not dialogue”, the minister said.
Pointing out that Imran had realised the importance of talks only after his party had been shattered, she said, “Now you are saying that you want to hold talks after torching schools, hospitals and ambulances?”
She also accused Imran of poisoning the minds of youth by spreading chaos in the country.
