Monsoon rains claim 9 more lives in Balochistan

During the last 24 hours, at least nine more people died in Balochistan. According to a Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) report, around 13,000 homes have also been damaged in the flash floods.

The heavy monsoon spells have rendered Balochistan calamity stricken as at least 136 people have so far been confirmed dead due to flood related incidents.

In Quetta, sinkholes were formed on many roads due to heavy rainfall.

On the other hand, Punjab’s Jhang and Ranjanpur districts reeled under flood waves. The River Chenab overflowed near Jhang and water entered the populated areas.

Officials feared overflowing Chenab could also cause floods near Gujranwala.

In Rajanpur, which was hit by floods earlier this week, the Pakistan Army continues to carry out rescue operations. It has also set up medical and relief camps.

In Dera Ghazi Khan, the flood water was receding and people who had migrated from the area were returning homes.

However, in the Sindh province, several villages near Gambat have been flooded and the road link between Khairpur and Gambat and Kangri was lost.

Sri Lanka president seeks unity government to save economy

Sri Lanka’s new president Ranil Wickremesinghe has formally invited MPs to join an all-party unity government to revive the bankrupt economy by undertaking painful reforms, his office said on Sunday.

Wickremesinghe took office earlier this month after public anger over the island nation’s worst economic crisis forced his predecessor Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country and quit.

In a meeting on Saturday with the influential monks of the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, one of Buddhism’s most sacred shrines, Wickremesinghe outlined his plans.

“As the president, I wish to start a new journey,” Wickremesinghe was quoted as telling the monks in his first meeting with the powerful Buddhist clergy since taking office.

“I would like to get all the parties together and go on that journey as well as to form an all-party government.”

He has written to all lawmakers asking them to join a unity government.

A former opposition MP, Wickremesinghe, 73, took up the premiership for the sixth time in May after Rajapaksa’s elder brother Mahinda resigned and there were no other takers for the job.

Wickremesinghe went onto become the president after Gotabaya escaped on July 9 when tens of thousands of protesters angry at the economic crisis stormed the presidential palace.

He fled to Singapore from where he resigned five days later and Wickremesinghe became interim president and later won a vote in parliament confirming his ascension.

Sri Lanka’s 22 million people have endured months of lengthy blackouts, record inflation and shortages of food, fuel and medicines. Since late last year, the country has run out of foreign exchange to finance even the most essential imports.

In April, Sri Lanka defaulted on its $51 billion foreign debt and opened bailout talks with the International Monetary Fund.

Wickremesinghe told monks that the economy would decline further this year with a contraction of 7.0 per cent, but expected a recovery next year.

“I am working to re-stabilise this economy and build the economy in such a way that the country can be developed by 2023, 2024.

“It is a difficult task. But if you don’t do it now, it will be more difficult. We should think about whether we should try to cure the patient by giving medicine or let the patient die without giving medicine,” he added.

He said inflation currently running at 60.8pc could go up further.

After his election as president, Wickremesinghe, while ordering security forces to clear protest sites, has appointed an interim cabinet leaving the door open for others to join.

He has called a new session of parliament from Wednesday and is expected to expand the 18-member cabinet to accommodate members from opposition parties.

Joe Biden again tests positive for Covid, returns to isolation

US President Joe Biden again tested positive for Covid-19 on Saturday, according to a statement from the White House physician, although he is experiencing no symptoms and feels “quite well.”

Biden, who tested positive for the disease nine days ago but then tested negative twice earlier this week, will resume isolation procedures, and his positive test is believed to be “rebound” positivity experienced by some Covid patients, according to White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor.

Biden tweeted about his positive case, saying it can happen to a “small minority of folks.”

“I've got no symptoms but I am going to isolate for the safety of everyone around me. I’m still at work, and will be back on the road soon,” he tweeted.

Folks, today I tested positive for COVID again.

This happens with a small minority of folks.

I’ve got no symptoms but I am going to isolate for the safety of everyone around me.

I’m still at work, and will be back on the road soon.

— President Biden (@POTUS) July 30, 2022

The positive test jeopardizes a Tuesday trip to Michigan Biden had planned to tout the recent passage of legislation to boost the semiconductor industry, which the White House announced earlier on Saturday.

O’Connor said Biden, who is 79, tested negative for the last four days, and there is no plan to reinitiate treatment given his lack of symptoms.

Biden previously descr­ibed his experience with Covid as mild, saying he was able to continue working while in isolation and attributed his relative ease with the disease to vaccines and other treatments.

O’Connor had previously said Biden would be tested regularly to watch for a potential “rebound” Covid-19 case, which can be experienced by some patients who have been treated with Paxlovid, the drug the president received.

Coalition govt will not bow to anyone's dictation: Fazl

Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman Saturday said that the Opposition is not scared of anyone, no matter how much they are powerful or are a part of any organisation.

Speaking at a press conference in Peshawar, the JUI-F chief said that the allied parties will fight a political and constitutional war instead of surrendering.

"The coalition government will not become anyone's slave," he told the institutions.

"If the institutions form cases against us, we will respond strongly against them," said Fazl, claiming that "the institutions are standing with the PTI".

Major setback to govt after SC declares Pervez Elahi CM Punjab, removes Hamza Shahbaz

The PDM chief said that the coalition government will not get bullied by anyone. "All the allied parties will contest together in the by-elections," he added.

Criticising the Supreme Court's decision of electing Pervez Elahi as the chief minister of Punjab, Fazl said that the judiciary is the most important institution of the state and it is everyone's duty to respect it.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on July 26 declared the ruling of Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari in the Punjab chief minister's election "illegal" and ruled that PTI's candidate Elahi will be the new CM of the province.

"However, the state gets destroyed if the judge becomes controversial by his behaviour and facilitates one side," he highlighted, adding that there will be severe consequences if a judge, through his behaviour, shows he is taking sides with someone.

Talking about the current deteriorating situation of the country, Fazl said that he did not know that the situation has turned worse. "The PTI had stricken such deals with the international institutions which they are not obeying now and due to lack of trust, the International Monetary Fund and the United States are creating issues for the government," said the JUI-F chief.

Talking about the alleged foreign conspiracy, the PDM chief denied it and said that "Imran Khan was brought in by an international force."

"A US consulate has been paying the rent of Imran Khan's house for nine years and money was taken by India and Israel in the foreign funding case," he alleged.

PTI mulls filing judicial reference against CEC

PTI has decided to file a judicial reference against Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, as the party takes its tirade with the ECP chief up a notch.

The decision came during a high-level PTI meeting chaired by Imran Khan, where the party leaders reviewed the coalition government's recent meeting with the CEC and other Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) members.

Khan and other PTI leaders have repeatedly demanded that the chief election commissioner resign from his post and the ECP be reconstituted before the next general elections.

The meeting's participants also exchanged views over the ECP's attitude in the foreign funding case, according to sources.

The PTI also decided that provincial governments would also take action against the election commission, and the provincial assemblies — in Punjab and Kyber Pakhtunkhwa — would pass no-confidence resolutions against the ECP.

The meeting comes after Khan and his party have come under fire following a Financial Times report, which revealed that businessman Arif Naqvi's Cayman Island company, Wootton Cricket Ltd, provided funds to the PTI — which were of foreign origin.

The PTI has denied claims that it has received foreign funds and maintained that Overseas Pakistanis have donated to the party. But the government is persistently demanding that the ECP announce the verdict in the PTI's foreign funding case at the earliest — which was filed in 2014.

Just hours after the FT report, a delegation of representatives of the ruling coalition Friday met the chief election commissioner and four members of the ECP.

They urged the ECP officials to announce the PTI foreign funding case verdict early and said it was the people’s right to know from whose agents the party had been taking money for politics.

Court grants pre-arrest bail to IK in Azadi March violence cases

An Islamabad district and sessions court on Saturday confirmed the pre-arrest bails of PTI chairman Imran Khan in 10 cases pertaining to alleged violence and damage to public property during the party’s “Azadi March” on May 25.

The ex-premier appeared in the court of Judge Kamran Basharat Mufti alongside his counsel Babar Awan and PTI leader Shahbaz Gill.

Imran had applied for pre-arrest bail in 15 FIRs registered against him at 11 police stations of the federal capital.

During the hearing today, Awan said that his client had been booked in 15 cases of the “same nature” and requested that he be granted bail.

At this, the judge asked the prosecutor if he had any objections.

The court, subsequently, confirmed Imran’s pre-arrest bails in 10 cases and instructed him to submit surety bonds of Rs5,000.

In another case, registered under sections of treason at the Kohsar police station, the court granted the PTI chief interim bail. The judge has summoned the record of the case at the next hearing, scheduled on September 8.

On May 26, a first information report (FIR) was registered at 1:50am at the Kohsar police station at the complaint of Sub-Inspector (SI) Asif Raza under Sections 109 (abetment), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 186 (obstructing public service), 188 (disobedience), 353 (assault on public servant), 427 (causing damage) and 435 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

SI Raza, in the FIR, said he was on duty, along with other police personnel, at Jinnah Avenue’s China Chowk when at 11pm, 100-150 people with PTI flags suddenly moved towards Express Chowk.

He said the police tried to stop the PTI supporters due to the imposition of Section 144 in Islamabad but they did not listen and instead allegedly pelted stones at the police officers and also set fire to trees.

Raza said 36 individuals, who were acting at the “behest of Imran and other PTI leadership”, were “brought under control”.

Meanwhile, the second FIR was registered at 3:20am on the complaint of SI Ghulam Sarwar under the same sections as the prior FIR. Sarwar claimed that he and other police officers were on duty at Express Chowk when at 12:30am, 100-150 PTI protesters — allegedly equipped with rods and flammable materials — “chanted slogans, incited people and set fire to the trees and Metro Bus station” near Geo Chowk, along with smashing the windows of Geo News’ office.

SI Sarwar alleged that as the police tried to disperse the crowd, the PTI workers resorted to pelting stones and also damaged a government bus. He added that 39 individuals were subsequently arrested.

Meanwhile, on May 28, a Dawn report revealed that 11 more cases were registered against the PTI leadership, including Imran, and other PTI activists under different sections of the PPC by the Loi Bher, Secretariat police, Aabapra police, Golra police, Bhara Kahu police, Tarnol police, and Koral police among others.

Imran Khan’s march for “haqeeqi azadi” — true freedom — was preceded by the authorities invoking of Section 144, a measure used to curb gatherings. Shipping containers were put in place on major thoroughfares to block their path.

Undeterred by the moves, the marchers, who tried to force through the containers to make their way to Islamabad, were met with tear gas as police tried to disperse them. Police also charged at them with batons.

Television footage showed smoke rising from the ground and fires in the green belts adjacent to Islamabad’s main roads. The government claimed that the PTI supporters had set the fires whereas the claim from the PTI camp was that the fires were a result of police shelling. Neither claim could be independently verified.

Monsoon rains: 19 more perish, hundreds marooned in Balochistan, KP

Heavy rains and floods have unleashed devastation in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, leaving 19 more dead and hundreds of others stranded in both provinces, disaster management authorities said.

Relentless monsoon rains have pummeled the country and spelled disaster in towns, cities and villages alike.

The Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps have been aiding the civil administration in rescue and relief operations in the provinces.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif departed for Balochistan to visit the flood-affected areas of the province and review the rescue and relief operations in the province, Information Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Saturday.

She tweeted that the premier had reached Jacobabad where he was briefed by officials of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the chief secretary of Balochistan.

After Balochistan, he will also visit Punjab and Sindh.

Balochistan in particular has seen uncharacteristically heavy rains during the monsoon season this year. In the last 24 hours, nine of a family drowned after they were swept away by the floods, the PDMA said in an update.

The deceased include seven children and a woman.

According to Balochistan Chief Secretary Abdul Aziz Uqaili, since June 1, rains have taken the lives of 124 people and damaged 10,000 houses in the province.

At a press conference on Friday, he revealed that floods damaged approximately 565 km of roads and 197,930-acre of agricultural land while 712 livestock also died.

He said 17,500 people affected by heavy rains and flash floods were rescued while the federal and the provincial governments have announced Rs1 million compensation for the deceased.

Section 144 has been enforced in the province and the citizens have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel for 10 days, Uqaili added.

Meanwhile, the road link of Balochistan with Sindh was completely cut off after a bridge and a road connecting the two provinces were damaged in Lasbela and Khuzdar, respectively.

Traffic on the Quetta-Karachi highway was still suspended due to collapsing of major bridges and sweeping away of big portions of the highway.

Separately, trade between Pakistan and Iran was suspended after rains and flash floods washed away Quetta-Zahedan rail track at various points

A rescue operation by the PDMA and the Pakistan Army is underway in the province. On Saturday, relief goods were sent to flood-affected people in Quetta, Nasirabad, Jaffarabad, Dera Bughti, Khuzdar, Noshki and Kila Saifullah.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, at least 10 people were killed and 17 injured in floods and roof collapses, according to a report issued by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).

It said that in the last 36 hours, nearly 100 houses were completely damaged in the floods leaving residents stranded in waist-high water and no roof. The most-affected areas include Khyber, Mansehra, Lower Dir, Buner, Swabi and Dera Ismail Khan.

The PDMA has warned that there were high-level floods in the Kabul and Jandi rivers and instructed administration to relocate people living in neighbouring areas.

It added that the public could reach out to 1700 in case of an emergency situation.

PM Shehbaz, Hamza to be indicted on Sept 7 in money laundering case

A special court in Lahore on Saturday fixed September 7 for the indictment of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, his son Hamza Shahbaz, and others, for their alleged involvement in money laundering of Rs16 billion in the sugar scam case.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) booked Shehbaz and his sons Hamza and Suleman in November 2021 under sections 419, 420, 468, 471, 34 and 109 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and r/w 3/4 of the Anti Money Laundering Act. Suleman Shehbaz is absconding in the UK.

During the hearing today, property details of Suleman, who was declared a proclaimed offender in the multi-billion-rupee money laundering case, were submitted in the court.

In December 2021, the FIA had submitted the challan against Shehbaz and Hamza before the special court for their alleged involvement in laundering an amount of Rs16 billion in the sugar scam case.

According to the FIA report submitted to the court, the investigation team has "detected 28 benami accounts of the Shehbaz family through which money laundering of Rs16.3bn was committed during 2008-18. The FIA examined the money trail of 17,000 credit transactions."

The report added that the amount was kept in "hidden accounts" and "given to Shehbaz in a personal capacity".

This amount (Rs16 billion) has nothing to do with the sugar business (of Shehbaz family), it claimed. The money received from the accounts of low-wage employees by Shehbaz was transferred outside Pakistan via hundi/hawala networks, ultimately destined for the beneficial use of his family members, the FIA had alleged.

"Eleven low-paid employees of the Sharif group who 'held and possessed' the laundered proceeds on behalf of the principal accused, are found guilty of facilitating money laundering. The three other co-accused of the Sharif group also actively facilitated the money laundering," the agency had said.

No political party can use foreign funds as per law: Musadik Malik

Minister of State for Petroleum Dr Musadik Malik said as per law of the land, no political party could get funds from other than Pakistani citizens.

“If anyone has to do politics in Pakistan, funds can only be received from Pakistani citizens, not anyone else you cannot take funds from any foreign state or its cabinet member, if taken, it will not only be considered illegal but the party will also be ceased as per Pakistani laws ” he said while addressing a news conference.

He said an international newspaper had narrated the story of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s foreign funds, which the party leadership received from Arif Naqvi, chief executive of a foreign company, ‘Abraj Capital’, which was being run with foreigners’ investment.

He said Arif Naqvi, working as the ‘fund manager’ of foreign investors, was now facing jail in the United Kingdom on charges of fraudulent activities and for involvement in different ‘black money schemes’.

Musadik Malik said a cricket club was established abroad for sending funds to the PTI and in that regard the first payment of $1.2 million was received from the Abraj Investment. The PTI also got £2 million from the cabinet member of a foreign country, he added.

He recalled that Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz leader Nawaz Sharif was disqualified lifetime by the apex court for just holding an ‘Iqama’ (residential permit) of his son’s company.

PM lauds security forces for successful operation against terrorists

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday lauded the security forces for carrying out a successful operation against terrorists in district Kech, Balochistan.

The prime minister also condoled the death of Havaldar Hidayatullah from Lakki Marwat, who embraced shahadat during the operation. The entire nation saluted the sacrifices of its shuhada, he added.

He also prayed for the speedy recovery of Naek Wazir Muhammad who was injured during the operation.

On Friday, Inter-Services Public Relations said that security forces killed six terrorists during an operation conducted by security forces in the general area of Hoshab, district Kech of Balochistan.

In a brief statement, the military’s media wing said the operation was conducted on information regarding the movement of a terrorist group on motorcycles towards Panjgur from Kech.

"Security forces immediately cordoned the area and started a search operation to apprehend the terrorists," the ISPR said, adding that once surrounded, the terrorists opened indiscriminate fire on security forces.

The ISPR mentioned that a heavy exchange of fire took place between terrorists and security forces and a large cache of arms and ammunition has been recovered.

"During engagement, Havaldar Hidayat Ullah embraced shahadat while Naik Mir Muhammad got injured," the military’s media wing added.

 

Pakistan has no plans of holding bilateral meeting with India: FM

Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Bilawal Bhutto asserted that Pakistan has no plans of holding any bilateral meeting with India.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto, who is currently attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting in Uzbekistan's capital, on Saturday said that the government was taking measures to improve its ties with all the counties, including the United States.

Bilawal held six bilateral meetings with foreign ministers of Central Asian countries on the sidelines of the conference which is being held in connection with preparations for the SCO Heads of State meeting scheduled to be held in September.

Bilawal held meetings with his counterparts from Afghanistan, China, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan.

“There are no plans of any meetings between Indian and Pakistani prime ministers in September,” Bilawal said, adding that both India and Pakistan are part of the SCO and the two countries are only engaged in the context of the broad-based activities of the organisation.

The foreign minister said: “India is our neighbouring country. While one can decide on a lot of things, one cannot choose its neighbours, therefore, we should get used to living with them.”

Bilawal recalled that after 2019, constructive dialogue with India became difficult, while statements based on Islamophobia by Indian officials are further creating hurdles in dialogue.

Reacting to Imran Khan’s criticism that said relations between Pakistan and the US weaken during the tenure of the coalition government, the foreign minister said, “There is no truth in Imran Khan’s claims.”

Khan tried to strengthen relations with Washington when he was in power, he said and asked what was their fault if he failed to boost ties with the US.

Mazari loses no-confidence motion

Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari on Friday lost the no-confidence motion passed by the provincial assembly, after he annulled 10 votes during the polls, a move which was deemed to be “unconstitutional.”

On Friday, after PTI’s Sibtain Khan took charge as the new speaker of the House, former law minister Raja Basharat presented a resolution seeking permission to initiate no-confidence proceedings against Mazari as the deputy speaker. The resolution was approved for voting.

After midnight, the voting began in the Punjab Assembly on the no-trust motion against Mazari through a secret ballot in which 186 lawmakers voted against Mazari, bringing his term as the deputy speaker to a premature end.

The newly-elected Punjab Assembly Speaker Sibtain Khan announced the result after vote count. The opposition alliance did not take part in the voting process.

Govt working to improve education standard: Rana Tanveer

Federal Education Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain says the government is working to improve education standard in the country in accordance with international standard.

Talking to media persons in Karachi on Friday, the Minister said a new system of training for teachers is being introduced.

Rana Tanveer Hussain said Higher Education Commission has been asked to introduce Ranking for universities at national level. He said skill based education will help youth to get job opportunities abroad.

The Minister said all education boards are being linked for integrated policies and steps are being taken to increase enrollment.

PDMA Issues Alert Of High Level Flood In River Chenab

Provincial Disaster Management Authority has issued alert for high flood in Chenab river.

The high flood in the river is expected at at Marala Headworks in Sialkot district, Khanki headworks in Gujranwala district and Qadirabad headworks in Mandi Bahauddin district within next 24 to 48 hours, PDMA has warned.

The PDMA has advised all concerned departments to get completely prepared to tackle any emergency situation. The authority has also advised for cancellation of the leaves of staff and getting heavy machinery prepared to tackle any contingency.

Flood Forecasting Division has reported that water flow in River Chenab at Akhnor has reached 273,950 cusec and is rising continuously.

All relevant departments have been directed to remain alert and complete their preparation.

PDMA has advised all the authorities concerned to take all-out measures for evacuation of people.

Punjab Assembly to elect new speaker today

The election for the Punjab Assembly speaker will be held today.

The Punjab Assembly is all set to elect a new speaker on Friday to fill the position left vacant by Pervaiz Elahi who has become the province’s chief minister. 

Tough contest is expected between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz . PTI and PML-Q have jointly fielded Sibtain Khan whereas Malik Saif ul Malook Khokhar of PML-N is the opposition’s candidate.

Meanwhile, no confidence against Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Mir Dost Muhammad Mazari was also moved on Thursday and voting in this regard is also expected today.

Parliamentary Leader in the Provincial Assembly Raja Bisharat submitted no-confidence motion against Dost Muhammad Mazari, which was passed by the house’s majority.

NA speaker accepts resignations of 11 PTI MNAs

National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf accepted the resignations of 11 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf members exactly 109 days after they resigned from their seats.

The NA speaker accepted the resignations of several key PTI leaders, including former human rights minister Shireen Mazari, ex-interior minister Ijaz Ahmed Shah, ex-state minister for parliamentary affairs Ali Muhammad Khan and ex-state minister for information and broadcasting Farrukh Habib.

The other PTI lawmakers whose resignations have been accepted are Fazal Muhammad Khan, Shaukat Ali, Fakhar Zaman Khan, Jamil Ahmed Khan, Muhammad Akram Cheema, Abdul Shakoor Shad and Shandana Gulzar Khan. Mazari and Shandana were elected on the reserved seats for women from Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, respectively.

All of the lawmakers had resigned on April 11 when former premier Imran Khan was being ousted through a no-confidence motion by the then united opposition and the incumbent ruling alliance.

اسپیکر قومی اسمبلی @RPAPPP نے پی ٹی آئی کے 11 مستعفی ممبران قومی اسمبلی کے استعفے قبول کر لیے۔

قومی اسمبلی سیکرٹریٹ کی جانب سے استعفوں کے نوٹیفیکیشن جاری۔

اسپیکر قومی اسمبلی نے استعفے آئین پاکستان کی آرٹیکل 64 کی شق (1) کے تحت تفویص اختیارات کو بروئے کار لاتے ہوئے منظور کیے۔ https://t.co/oOOxPuqyyb

— National Assembly of Pakistan?? (@NAofPakistan) July 28, 2022

Pakistan urges enhanced D-8 economic ties

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar called on Wednesday for creating a 'Private Sector Coordination Facility' to boost economic cooperation among the Developing-Eight (D-8) countries.

Khar spoke virtually at the 20th session of the D-8 Council of Foreign Ministers, hosted by Bangladesh, the Foreign Office said. She called for creating a conducive environment for trade through facilitative legal frameworks, and equal opportunities for investment and business.

Khar underscored that Pakistan's vision of geo-economics had socio-economic growth, connectivity, and development at its core. Through the cooperation and partnerships, the D-8 countries could realise their true economic potential.

Khar highlighted that Pakistan’s location afforded critical overland and maritime connectivity to key regions of Asia – Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and China – that made Pakistan among the most pivotal states in the world, geo-politically. “We were confident that through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), this geo-political asset will rapidly turn into a geo-economic dividend.”

The Bangladesh foreign minister, in his capacity as the chair of the council of ministers, presided over the meeting. Foreign ministers of Turkiye and Iran, and minister of state of Nigeria, alongside senior officials from Egypt, Indonesia and Malaysia, also participated in the meeting.

The council meeting was preceded by the 45th Session of the D-8 Commission, which adopted a series of major decisions building on the progress achieved. One of the key decisions taken by the council was to fully operationalise the Preferential Trade Agreement by October 31, 2022 with a view to achieving the intra-D-8 trade target of $500 billion agreed under the Decennial Road Map 2020-30.

In recognition of the role of trade in enhancing economic cooperation, and to promote financial and payment systems, the meeting also agreed to operationalise within the next two years the D-8 Payment Card system, D-8 Clearing House, D-8 Qualified Industrial and Economic Zones, D-8 Creative Economy and Financial Centre, D-8 Halal Food Sector Cooperation, and D-8 Barter Trading System.

The ministers agreed to the need for enhancing financial and human resources for the D-8 Secretariat. The meeting also tasked the Secretariat to further review project proposals for financial support by the D-8 member states.

It acknowledged with appreciation the desire of Azerbaijan to become a member of the D-8. The ministers agreed to hold a special session of the D-8 Commission in October this year to make final recommendations with regards to the criteria for accession of new member states to the D-8. A report to the effect would be considered for adoption by the next council of ministers session.

The D-8 Group, established in Istanbul on June 15, 1997, includes Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkiye. The year 2022 marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of D-8.

Based in Istanbul, the organisation is currently led by Ambassador Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam of Nigeria, who assumed the position of Secretary-General on January 1, 2022.

Sanaullah urges Imran to dissolve KP, Punjab assemblies before demanding early elections

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Thursday urged former prime minister Imran Khan to dissolve assemblies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab — where his party is in power — saying that it was a prerequisite of his demand for general elections.

The minister made the statement at a press conference in Islamabad as he insisted that the PTI chief would “never prefer early polls” and that “he is making such demands only to discredit the government.”

Sanaullah said PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif wanted the country to move towards elections, however, “this man [Imran] is asking for the sacking of chief election commissioner without realising that fact that the CEC cannot be replaced without fulfillment of a required constitutional process.”

“The nomination for the current CEC was proposed by Imran when he was in the government, and now he could only be removed through the consent of judicial council,” he added.

He said the ECP chief could not be sacked on mere threats hurled by Imran.

He asked Imran to dissolve the two assemblies if he was “sincere” in his demand for early polls.

The interior minister demanded the ECP to “immediately announce” the verdict in the foreign funding case, which has been reserved for eight weeks.

Sanaullah claimed the PML-N would “sweep” Punjab if elections were held, saying “we will form our government”.

The minister also blamed the PTI government for the current inflation the country was facing. “They signed an agreement with the IMF and we just implemented it.”

He said the incumbent government only raised the power tariff and did nothing else that added to the country’s soaring inflation.

“The history will tell that we took the right decisions by saving the country from imminent default.”

To a question, Sanaullah said the case of Model Town had already been decided wherein the allegations against his party leaders could not be proved.

JCP rejects CJP Bandial's nominees for Supreme Court elevation

The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) Thursday rejected Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial's nominated judges of higher courts for their appointment to the Supreme Court.

CJP Bandial presided over the judicial commission's session, where a total of five judges, two from the Sindh High Court and three from the Lahore High Court (LHC), were considered.

The chief justice, Justice Aijazul Ahsan, and Justice Sajjad Ali Shah voted in favour of the nominees, while Justice (retd) Sarmad Jalal Usmani voted in favour of three judges from LHC and voted against the SHC nominees, sources said.

However, according to sources, their votes were less as Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Tariq Masood, Attorney-General Ashtar Ausaf Ali, and Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar voted against all the five nominees.

Upon receiving five votes against the nominees, the chief justice ended the session without reaching a decision, sources added.

Had they been approved, then in line with Article 175-A of the Constitution of Pakistan, the JCP would have forwarded the list to the parliamentary committees for the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court.

Just two days before the JCP session, senior puisne judge Justice Isa had written a letter to the commission, seeking postponement of today's meeting, stating that the matter "requires utmost care and due deliberation as it is a matter of extreme delicacy".

The justice has severely criticised CJP Bandial for scheduling the meeting at such a time when he (Isa) is not able to physically attend the meeting as he is currently on leave abroad.

Addressing the chief justice he said: "CJ please do not ridicule the JCP and your nominees by contravening the Constitution. The JCP deserves to be treated with respect and consideration by its Chairman."

"Therefore, I request that the JCP meeting should be postponed. Instead, let us first meet to consider how to proceed further in the matter. And, if Chief Justice and senior puisne judges of the high courts are to be bypassed then to first develop for consideration of the JCP criteria for nominees since the then senior most judge failed to accomplish the task assigned to him," Justice Isa wrote.

Apart from this, bar associations of all the provinces, representatives of the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan, Pakistan Bar Council, and other bars opposed the elevation of high courts' junior judges to the apex court.

The demand came during a meeting of the bars on the same day. They sought amendments to Article 175-A and Article 209 for unifying the forum for the appointment and dismissal of judges.

Exhibition on Gilgit Baltistan’s Gemstone and Mineral Sector

two-day Exhibition on Gilgit Baltistan’s Gemstone and Mineral Sector is being organized at The Centaurus Mall Ground Floor Atrium from July 27th - July 28th, 2022 for the promotion of the hidden treasures of Gilgit-Baltistan.

The Mines and Minerals Department of Gilgit-Baltistan is organizing the exhibition as a pioneering initiative of the department to uplift the minerals and gemstones sector of Gilgit- Baltistan.

On the first day, honorable governor G-B Syed Amjad Ali Zaidi attended the event as chief guest. Expressing his views on the occasion, the governor appreciated the efforts of G-B government especially the department of Minerals and Mines for holding the exhibition and said he believed it would go a long way to showcasing G-B gemstones in international market.

This exhibition has been supported by The Centaurus and Pakistan Gemstone and Mineral Association (PGMA). The supporters of the event including Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan, The Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Executive Officer of the Centaurus Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, and the Group Director Dr. Sardar Rashid Ilyas Khan played a pivotal role in organizing and executing the said festival.

The exhibition was also attended by notable international businessmen including Naseer Uddin Rupani who expressed their appreciation for the Government’s efforts in promoting the minerals and gemstones of Gilgit-Baltistan and shared their ideas for the sustainable growth of the industry.

The exhibition aims at promoting the mineral and mining section of Gilgit-Baltistan which is enriched with 80% of Pakistan’s mineral base, and this exhibition is expected to play a major role to explore the mineral potential of this land.

The Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan would be visiting the exhibition on the second day as part of supporting the government’s initiative.
More than 20 businesses are taking part in this unique exhibition where a variety of rare gems, gem crystals, minerals, and finished jewelry representing the wide diversity and color of precious stones, from the land of treasures are showcased.

The stage for the exhibition is set, and all participants/exhibitors are unveiling a valuable collection of precious stones, rocks, and rare minerals in all shapes, colors, and price ranges showing the diversity and beauty of the region. This event is designed to facilitate gemstone and mineral businesses in Gilgit-Baltistan, and it will also provide an opportunity for local businesses to expand their business potential around the country and beyond.

The final day of the exhibition is set on July 28th, 2022 and people from all backgrounds are invited to attend.

Pakistan Army assisting civil administration in rescue & relief efforts in flood affected areas

Pakistan Army and FC troops are assisting civil administration in rescue and relief efforts in the flood affected areas of Balochistan, Punjab and Sindh.

Two army aviation helicopters have been flown from Karachi to Othal, Lasbella. The helicopters will now shift stranded people to safer places and also transport necessary relief items.

General Officer Commanding at Gwadar visited Othal area to oversee rescue and relief efforts.

Ground rescue and relief teams are busy in Othal and Jhal Magsi to shift people to safer places and providing food and water to local residents.

Doctors and paramedics are providing medical care to the affected people.

The coastal highway has been opened for all types of traffic.

Efforts are being made to repair the damaged communication infrastructure and restore utilities.

Protection bund in Turbat which was breached has been repaired.

In Punjab, troops are assisting civil administration in relief efforts in DG Khan. Two medical camps have been established by Army to provide medical care to local people affected by the floods.

Apart from dewatering efforts in Karachi, troops are busy in relief efforts in Jamshoro and Gharo areas.

Asif Zardari tests positive for Covid-19

Former president Asif Ali Zardari has tested positive for Covid-19 with mild symptoms, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto said Thursday.

Sharing the news on his Twitter handle, Bilawal said that the party's co-chairman was not only vaccinated but had also received booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccine.

"He is fully vaccinated, boosted, isolating with mild symptoms and undergoing treatment. We are praying for his swift recovery," Bilawal added.

President Zardari has tested positive for Covid. He is fully vaccinated, boosted, isolating with mild symptoms and undergoing treatment. We are praying for his swift recovery.

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) July 28, 2022

All state organs should act within domains stipulated by constitution: PM

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that all state organs should act within the domains stipulated by constitution for a smooth and effective working of democratic system.

In a tweet on Thursday, he said it was also the core of his argument during the speech at the National Assembly.

Shehbaz Sharif said we will be moving in a circle getting nowhere without understanding it.

 The core of my argument during my speech at NA was that for a democratic system to work smoothly & effectively, it is important that all state organs act within the domains stipulated by Constitution. Without understanding this, we will be moving in a circle, getting nowhere.

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 28, 2022

PTI finalises Sibtain Khan's name for Punjab Assembly speaker's post

The PTI has finalised the name of the former provincial minister for forestry, wildlife and fisheries Sibtain Khan for the post of speaker of the Punjab Assembly.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday declared the ruling of Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari in the Punjab chief minister's election "illegal", and ruled that PTI's candidate Pervez Elahi will be the new CM of the province.

Following the verdict, PML-N's Hamza Shahbaz was removed from office with immediate effect and the Punjab cabinet was dissolved. The court also declared that all the appointments carried out under Hamza's rule null and void.

According to the sources, Sibtain's name was finalised during a meeting between PTI Chairperson Imran Khan and CM Elahi. The party chairperson will also seek the opinions of other leaders regarding his choice of candidate.

Meanwhile, the speaker's office in the Punjab Assembly has been turned into the chief minister's office for Elahi.

The old office for the chief minister has been turned into the speaker's office.

Haleem Adil Sheikh Arrested From Jamshoro

Opposition Leader in Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh has been arrested by a team of anti-corruption establishment from Jamshoro.

The PTI leader Haleem Adil Sheikh went to an anti-corruption court in Jamshoro to appear before it, however, the ACE team arrested him from outside the premise.

An associate of the PTI leader accompanying him at the time of the arrest said that they went to the court to file their replies in the case. “We went to join the probe but they arrested him in another case registered against him,” he said.

He added that Haleem Adil is currently being kept at a police station and the police have shown them a letter from anti-corruption East Karachi on which orders the arrest was made.

 

Banning me from Punjab will result in governor’s rule: Sanaullah

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that any ban on his or other ministers’ entry into Punjab would lead to governor rule in the country’s most powerful province.

Sanaullah warned of imposing governor's rule in Punjab after the Supreme Court removed Hamza Shahbaz as the chief minister and instated Imran Khan-backed Pervez Elahi to the top office.

"The summary to impose governor's rule is being drafted, and I personally have started work on it," Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah told a press conference.

The interior minister said if his entry into Punjab is banned, it might lead to the imposition of the governor's rule in Pakistan's most populated province as PTI leaders had suggested prohibiting his entry in Punjab.

The interior minister’s statement came in response to reporters’ query over the new Punjab government’s apparent plans to impose an embargo on a few federal ministers including Rana Sanaullah in an effort to pressurise the federal government to call early elections.

The interior minister said that the SC's decision will lead to further deterioration in the political arena which is a major reason for the rupee's fast depreciation.

Sanaullah added that after the no-confidence motion against former prime minister Imran Khan was successful, the PML-N opined for moving towards snap polls, indicating that the coalition partners did not agree.

He also added that once general polls take place, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif will come back to the country and lead the election campaigns.

"But now, the federal government is a government of coalition partners, and this coalition has formed governments in Sindh and Balochistan. The federal government has its own significance," he said.

President Alvi administers oath to Pervez Elahi as CM Punjab

Hours after the Supreme Court struck down Punjab Assembly deputy speaker’s ruling, President Dr Arif Alvi administered the oath of Punjab chief minister to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf candidate Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi at the President House.

Earlier, it was decided to host the swearing-in ceremony at the Governor House but to the Punjab governor's dismay, the ceremony was shifted to President House, Islamabad following his refusal to administer oath.

Elahi reached Islamabad at 1am on Wednesday morning to take the oath of office via a special flight from Lahore. Elahi was declared the chief minister elect by a Supreme Court ruling on Tuesday, which said that he should take oath of office by 11:30pm. The ruling said that if the Punjab governor did not administer the oath, Elahi would be sworn in by the president.

On the journey from Lahore, Elahi was accompanied by Zain Qureshi, Mian Mahmoodur Rashid, Murad Ras and Chaudhry Wajahat.

Constitution's rule accepted, people's mandate respected today: Qureshi

Following the verdict of the Supreme Court of Pakistan to instate PTI's candidate Pervez Elahi as the chief minister of Punjab, the party's senior vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that "today, the Constitution's rule has been accepted and the Pakistani people's mandate has been respected".

"On July 17, the people of Pakistan accepted Imran Khan's narrative wholeheartedly and we reject this imported government," the ex-foreign minister said in a press conference.

A three-member bench of the Supreme Court today declared Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari's ruling in the Punjab Chief Minister election "illegal" and ruled that Pervez Elahi will be the new CM of the province.

The Supreme Court's short order declared Pervez Elahi as the duly elected chief minister of Punjab as it ruled that he had obtained 186 votes compared to Hamza's 179.

The order also declared that the oath of office administered to Hamza was "without lawful authority and of no legal effect".

Berating the deputy speaker's ruling, Qureshi said Mazari "trampled the Constitution and did not follow the principles", adding that he did not care about the law.

He said that the judiciary tolerated the criticism with patience and fulfilled its responsibility. "The coalition government tried to employ delaying tactics to intimidate the judiciary."

Qureshi said that the decision has proved that Pakistan's judiciary is independent.

Former minister for planning and development Asad Umar said that Pakistan's politics has taken a new direction.

"There was a foreign conspiracy, however, Imran Khan did not bow before anyone or tolerate anyone's dictation," he said.

PTI's Senator Faisal Javed termed the decision as Imran Khan's victory and said that the decision was according to the law and Constitution, adding that the party wants the general elections to be announced immediately.

Tech giants to self-regulate in reducing harmful content in New Zealand

Big tech companies agreed on Monday to reduce harmful online content in New Zealand, making a move that critics said dodged the alternative of government regulation.

Meta Platforms Inc, Alphabet-owned Google, TikTok, Amazon.com Inc and Twitter had signed a code of practice, said Netsafe, a government-funded internet-safety group.

The companies would follow the code as self-regulation, Netsafe chief Brent Carey said in a statement.

"There are too many Kiwis being bullied, harassed, and abused online, which is why the industry has rallied together to protect users," Carey said in a statement.

Industry lobby group NZTech will be responsible for the companies meeting obligations, which include reducing harmful content online, reporting how they do that and supporting independent evaluation of results.

"We hope the governance framework will enable it to evolve alongside local conditions, while at the same time respecting the fundamental rights of freedom of expression," said NZTech chief executive Graeme Muller.

Meta and TikTok said in statements they were enthusiastic about the code making online platforms safer and more transparent.

Interest groups want more detail, however - for example, about sanctions for any failure by the companies to comply and about a mechanism for public complaints.

They also point to the pact being administered by an industry body, not the government.

"This is a weak attempt to preempt regulation – in New Zealand and overseas – by promoting an industry-led model," Mandy Henk, chief executive of Tohatoha NZ, a non-profit organisation that lobbies on the social impact of technology, said in a statement.

The framework that the companies agreed to is called the Aotearoa New Zealand Code of Practice for Online Safety and Harms.

New Zealand has been a leader in trying to stamp out violent extremism online. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and French President Emmanuel Macron in 2019 launched a global initiative to end online hate.

Azad Jammu and Kashmir to hold local body polls in September

After 31 years, the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Election Commission (AJ&K EC) will hold local government elections in the month of September on party basis.

This was announced by the Chief Election Commissioner CEC Justice Retd Abdul Rasheed Sulehria on Tuesday along with AJ&K EC members Farooq Niaz and Farhat Ali Mir while addressing the media.

"The apex court of AJ&K has given us a deadline to conduct polls before October 12, 2022 however, we are ready to conduct them in the month of September this year," said CEC Justice Retd Sulehria.

Senior Member AJ&K EC Farooq Niaz said that all arrangements have been completed to ensure impartial local bodies polls aimed at shifting the power to the people at the grassroots level. "Real beauty of democracy lies in the local government system where people have access at Union Council level to get their civic problems solved."

“We are also supporting giving funds according to the population at all UCs to conduct these elections in a peaceful environment."

Member AJ&K EC Farhat Ali Mir said that the first phase for the arrangements was delimitation which has been completed on time while the second phase was the completion of voter lists, and the task has already been achieved before the deadline.

He added that more than Rs900 million would be spent on the elections and in this connection, the EC has received Rs300 million so far.

Mir further said to ensure transparent elections, deputy commissioners in all ten districts of AJ&K will work as focal persons of the Election Commission.

More than 5,192 polling stations have been established while in general elections there were only 5,123 polling stations, the election commission official said.

The official added that at the returning officers (ROs) level, election preparations have been completed.

To a question, Mir said that there is no change in the local government election procedure and they will be conducted on the same pattern as the 1991 local body polls.

To another question regarding the educational qualification for the candidates, the EC official said that matriculation is mandatory while the age should be above 25 years.

To ensure peaceful elections, deployment of additional troops of Frontier Constabulary, FC and Rangers will be discussed with the federal government, Mir concluded.

China, Pakistan agree on third parties participation in CPEC: Zhao Lijian

China has reiterated its commitment to work with Pakistan to push forward all CPEC projects in a safe, smooth, and high-quality manner, to better benefit the two countries and their people.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian, during his regular briefing in Beijing said China is ready to follow through on the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries in this regard.

He said China and Pakistan have agreed on participation of third parties in CPEC and exchanges among media and think tanks, including promoting cooperation schemes involving third parties in line with the existing consensus and extending CPEC projects to Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, in a tweet, Pakistan's Ambassador to China Moin-ul-Haque said the third meeting of CPEC Joint Working Group on International Cooperation placed emphasis on high-quality development of CPEC.

He said as an open and inclusive platform, both sides welcomed interested third parties to benefit from avenues for mutually beneficial cooperation opened by CPEC.

PDMA issues alert on opening of Tarbela Dam spillway

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa disaster management authorities have issued a warning to take preventative action against flooding before opening the spillway of Tarbela Dam to flush out extra water and make room for fresh inflow.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) issued a warning that the spillway gates of the dam would be opened in the following 24 hours due to rising water levels, which could result in a lower-level flood in the Indus River.

It asked the district administrations in Swabi, Haripur and Nowshera to adopt precautionary measures for the safety of life and property.

The current water inflow in Tarbela Dam was recorded at 243,000 cusecs while the outflow was 136,800, adding that the water level at the dam had surged to 1,511 feet.

The authority also asked people residing alongside the banks of the Indus River to stay vigilant and observe water’s flow in the river, advising them to relocate their animals and essential household items to safer places in case of a water surge.

Rescue operations underway in Karachi’s rain affected areas

Rescue and Relief operations are underway in rain affected areas of Karachi and civic agencies are busy in draining stagnant rain water from low-lying areas.

According to media reports staff of different departments including local bodies is busy in ensuring cleanliness in affected areas.

Most of the roads and areas have been cleared by civic agencies by using machinery and de-watering pumps.

Meanwhile complete ban has been imposed by commissioner Karachi on swimming in the sea due to on-going rains and high tides in the sea.

CM punjab election: SC reserves judgement

The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved its verdict on PML-Q leader Chaudhry Parvez Elahi’s petition challenging the deputy speaker’s ruling in the recently held re-election for the Punjab chief minister, which led to Hamza Shehbaz’s victory.

A three-member bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial and Justices Ijazul Ahsan and Munib Akhtar is expected to announce the decision today evening.

Earlier today, the counsel for Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Mohammad Mazari, Irfan Qadir, informed the Supreme Court that his client had instructed him not to participate further in the case proceedings and he would instead file a petition for review of the court’s decision not to constitute a full bench.

PPP counsel Farooq H. Naek also declined to participate in the court proceedings. However, they both stayed in the courtroom and watched the proceedings.

During the election, Mazari had decided against counting the votes of 10 PML-Q lawmakers, which were cast in Elahi’s favour, citing a letter written by party President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain in which he had instructed them to vote for Hamza instead.

Coalition Govt to boycott court proceedings

Leaders of the coalition government announced to boycott the court’s proceedings after the Supreme Court rejected the plea seeking the formation of a full court bench in petitions related to the Punjab chief minister’s re-election.

The coalition parties opted to boycott the court’s proceeding after a three-member bench comprising Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, and Justice Munib Akhtar turned down the government’s request for constituting a full court to hear the pleas regarding election of the Chief Minister of Punjab.

The PDM chief said that they would not appear before this bench for this case and will boycott it.

“If the full court is rejected, we also reject this decision of the judiciary, we will not appear before this bench and we will boycott the case,” he added.

Fazl said that the coalition govt did not want any interference in its affairs that impacts the administrative functioning, adding that the incumbent government, given mandate by the people, was not being allowed to function properly.

The PDM chief said that the proposal for the formation of the full bench was given to restore the public’s trust in courts but the courts should also assess their role and hold themselves accountable as well.

Fazl said the government wanted to fortify the judiciary but the decisions should speak themselves.

Speaking on the occasion Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari stressed that only three judges could not decide the destiny of the nation.

Former prime minister and PML-N Vice President Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, while addressing the press conference, said it was a “test” for the Supreme Court as it was a requirement of justice that a judge or bench recuse themselves from a case in which fingers were raised on them.

“This is done in every court in the world where there is rule of law and the constitution,” he said.

COAS lauds armed forces for helping people as rains wreak havoc

As persistent rains wreak havoc in Pakistan, particularly in Sindh, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday appreciated the efforts of formations in relief operations to mitigate the challenges of people affected due to floods and heavy rainfall in the country, the military said in a statement.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army chief expressed these remarks during the 249th Corps Commanders’ Conference held at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.

The ISPR said that the forum took a comprehensive review of the security situation with a particular focus on the border and internal security. The COAS lauded successful ongoing counter-terrorism operations and paid rich tribute to the supreme sacrifices of officers and men to ensure the security of borders and the safety of the masses.

The statement said that General Bajwa also appreciated the efforts of formations in relief operations to mitigate the challenges of people affected owing to floods and heavy downpours in the country.

The forum reaffirmed the resolve of the armed forces to extend complete support to civil administration in rescue and rehabilitation activities.

Torrential rains continued for the second day in Karachi leaving at least five people dead in various incidents of electrocution during the past 24 hours.

The electrocution incidents reportedly took place in the areas of Tesar Town, Lyari, Liaquatabad and SITE.

Acting Sindh Governor Agha Siraj Durrani, while expressing regret over the loss of precious human lives during the rains, urged people to stay at home.

Meanwhile, due to heavy rainfall, most of the city areas remained submerged in water, with all major highways flooded, causing serious difficulties to the city’s inhabitants and paralysing normal life.

Saddar reported the highest rainfall in the city with 217 millimetres of rain. Furthermore, residents living near suburban areas including Malir River were forced to relocate after several feet of water flooded the streets. All the while, the poor drainage system of the port city continued to add to its problems.

The rains are expected to continue till July 26, with the new monsoon spell in various districts of rural Sindh that may be expected by July 27.

The district administration of Hyderabad is setting up 29 relief camps in the city to deal with any emergencies during the new spell of monsoon rains, which may continue till Tuesday.

According to a notification issued by the district administration, the relief camps are being established in schools and colleges and would be supervised by the relevant principals.

The monsoon rains have resulted in the deaths of more than 300 people, including 118 children and damaged 8,889 houses, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

A report issued by the NDMA stated that 99 deaths were reported in Balochistan, 61 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), 60 in Punjab, 70 in Sindh, eight in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), five in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and one death was reported in Islamabad.

Nearly 300 people were also injured in the rain-related incidents.

Volcanic eruption triggers highest-level alert in Japan

A volcano on Japan's major western island of Kyushu, called Sakurajima, erupted at about 8:05 p.m. (1105 GMT) on Sunday, the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) said, but media said there were no immediate reports of damage.

"Eruptions are continuing, with another massive one reported early on Monday morning. Volcanic smoke reached a height of 2,200 meters (7,218 feet)," the weather officials said.

There were reports of volanic stones raining down at a distance of 2.5 km (1.5 miles) from the volcano, NHK public television had earlier said, adding that the eruption alert level had been raised to 5, the highest, with some areas advised to evacuate.

Sakurajima is one of Japan's most active volcanoes and eruptions of varying levels take place on a regular basis. In 2019 it spewed ash 5.5 km (3.4 miles) high.

Video footage from Sunday's eruption showed what appeared to be a red mass flowing down one side of the volcano, with red projectiles shooting out while smoke, hard to see in the darkness, billowed up.

Most of the city of Kagoshima is across the bay from the volcano but several residential areas within about 3 km (1.9 miles) of the crater may be ordered to evacuate, NHK had said.

Officials at Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's office were gathering information about the situation, it was quoted as saying.

Russian FM reassures Egypt on grain delivery

Russia’s top diplomat reassured Egyptian leaders on Sunday that their orders for Russian grain would be met as he began a tour of African countries dependent on imports for their food supply.

“We confirmed the commitment of Russian exporters of cereal products to meet their orders in full,” Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a news conference after talks with Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry.

“President Vladimir Putin stressed this during a recent telephone call with Egyptian President (Abdel Fattah) al-Sisi.” Lavrov’s visit comes hot on the heels of a landmark deal Russia and Ukraine signed on Friday with the United Nations and Turkey aimed at relieving a global food crisis caused by blocked Black Sea grain deliveries.

Between 20 million and 25 million tonnes of grain have been blocked in Ukrainian ports since Russian troops invaded in February, as Ukraine has laid naval mines to prevent an amphibious invasion of its coast.

The deal provides for the creation of safe corridors for grain exports from three Ukrainian ports, and also seeks to facilitate Russian grain exports by removing them from the scope of Western sanctions.

“The (UN) secretary general (Antonio Guterres) took responsibility for lifting these illicit restrictions, imposed by the United States and the European Union against (Russian) financial and supply chains,” Lavrov said.

Ukraine, the two countries accounted for 85 percent of wheat imports to Egypt, which has been heavily impacted by what

Lavrov called “the so-called world food crisis” in an address to the Arab League in Cairo later Sunday.

Lavrov met Arab League head Ahmed Aboul Gheit and representatives of the 22 nations that make up the pan-Arab bloc.

The United States has sought to isolate Russia on the global stage over its invasion of Ukraine, but has faced less success in the Arab world, where many countries are hesitant to strain relations with Moscow.

Many such as Egypt have not clearly sided with either Russia or Ukraine, leading Lavrov on Sunday to praise Arab countries’ and the League’s “balanced, fair, responsible position”.

Several member states are heavily dependent on wheat imports from Ukraine and have been reeling from food insecurity, which Lavrov said Sunday had been “bluntly, unconditionally” blamed on Russia, “as if the food crisis started on the day we launched our special military operation in Ukraine”.

In addition to the coronavirus pandemic and supply chain problems, the diplomat said the crisis “was aggravated by the illegal Western sanctions against the Russian Federation”.

Despite a Russian strike on Ukraine’s port of Odessa Saturday, which Kyiv called a “spit in the face” to the freshly inked deal with Turkey and the UN, Lavrov lauded the agreement Sunday.

He told Arab leaders it will compel “Western countries to lift limitations and stop preventing Russian grain from being delivered to the buyers”.

After Egypt, Russia’s top diplomat is to visit Uganda, Ethiopia and Congo.

Sri Lanka president’s office to reopen after crackdown

Sri Lanka’s besieged presidential office will reopen on Monday (Jul 25), police said, days after anti-government demonstrators were flushed out in a military crackdown that triggered international condemnation.

Widespread public anger over the island’s unprecedented economic crisis saw protesters storm and occupy the colonial-era building earlier this month.

Soldiers were forced to rescue then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa from his nearby residence on the same day, with the leader fleeing to Singapore and resigning days later.

Troops armed with batons and automatic weapons cleared the 92-year-old presidential secretariat in a pre-dawn raid on Friday on the orders of Rajapaksa’s successor, Ranil Wickremesinghe.

At least 48 people were wounded and nine arrested in the operation, during which security forces tore down tents set up by protesters outside the complex since April.

“The office is ready for reopening from Monday,” said a police official on Sunday, who declined to be named as he was not authorised to speak to the media.

“The siege of the secretariat, which lasted since May 9, has now been lifted.”

Police said forensic experts had been called in to check damage to the presidential secretariat and gather evidence.

Western governments, the United Nations and human rights groups have condemned Wickremesinghe for using violence against unarmed protesters who had announced their intention to vacate the site later on Friday.

Wickremesinghe defended the crackdown and said he had told Colombo-based diplomats on Friday that blocking government buildings was unacceptable.

Police spokesman Nihal Talduwa said protesters were free to continue their demonstrations at a designated site near the presidential office.

“They can remain at the official protest site. The government may even open a few more places for demonstrators in the city,” Talduwa said on Sunday.

The military operation to clear the secretariat building and its immediate surroundings came less than 24 hours after Wickremesinghe was sworn in and just before a new Cabinet was appointed.

Sri Lanka’s 22 million people have also endured months of lengthy blackouts, record inflation and shortages of food, fuel and petrol.

Its government is officially bankrupt, having defaulted on its US$51 billion foreign debt, and is currently in bailout talks with the International Monetary Fund.

The economic crisis which fuelled the protest campaign shows no sign of easing, but the government announced on Sunday it would reopen schools which had remained shut for the better part of a month.

The education ministry said students and teachers will be asked to return to school only for three days each week as transport is still hampered by a national fuel shortage.

Miles-long queues of motorists waiting to fill up were seen across the country Sunday despite the government introducing a rationing system.

New president Wickremesinghe has said he will unveil a fresh budget for the rest of the year in August as previous revenue and expenditure estimates were unrealistic.

Coalition govt to request SC for full bench on cases related to Article 63-A

The coalition government has decided to file a petition in the Supreme Court (SC) for the formation of a full court bench to hear cases related to the interpretation of Article 63-A of the Constitution, related to the status of defecting lawmakers, according to a statement issued by Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb on Sunday.

The issue was thrust into the limelight on Friday when Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Mohammad Mazari decided not to count PML-Q's votes in the Punjab chief minister’s election, deeming them to be against party head Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain's directions and thus handing Hamza Shehbaz the victory over PML-Q leader Chaudhry Parvez Elahi.

Mazari's ruling was challenged by Elahi in a petition filed and in Saturday's hearing at the SC's Lahore registry, the apex court allowed Hamza to stay as a “trustee” Punjab chief minister till Monday.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial had also remarked that prima facie, the deputy speaker’s ruling was against the apex court’s verdict in the Article 63-A reference.

As the closely watched Saturday proceedings came to an end, the PML-N began publicly pushing for a full court bench and questioned the “one-sidedness” of the decision from a “particular bench” of the apex court.

The government alliance has now decided to formally move the SC in this regard, the information minister said today.

The leaders of the government alliance will also address a press conference at 10:30am on Monday.

The leaders will then go to the apex court with their lawyers to request the formation of a full court bench that jointly hears cases related to the election of Punjab's chief minister, the Supreme Court Bar Association's (SCBA) review petition of the SC's opinion on Article 63-A and other related petitions.

The statement said the PPP, PML-N and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl will go to the SC, while the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, Balochistan National Party, Balochistan Awami Party and other allied parties will be among the petitioners as well.

"The lawyers of all the parties will argue in the Supreme Court on Article 63-A of the Constitution," the statement said.

A day ago, the ruling alliance issued a declaration, demanding that the chief justice of Pakistan constitute a full court to hear the petition against the Punjab chief minister’s election, calling it “an important national, political and constitutional matter”.

The declaration stated that the Constitution had drawn a clear line of authority between the legislature, judiciary, and the administration, which an “arrogant, anti-constitution and fascist” person was trying to erase.

The component parties of the ruling coalition said in the declaration that they would not compromise on the Constitution, democracy, and the right of the people to rule.

On May 17, the SC had decided on a presidential reference seeking interpretation of Article 63-A that the votes of defecting lawmakers will not be counted.

Subsequently, on June 23, the SCBA filed a petition in the apex court on for a review of its decision.

Full court bench is 'requirement of justice': law minister

Meanwhile, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar addressed a press conference in Lahore with Punjab government spokesperson Attaullah Tarar, calling for the formation of a full court bench to hear cases related to Article 63-A's interpretation.

He said cases such as the SCBA's review petition or Friday's Punjab CM election or appeals of de-seated dissident PTI MPAs were all linked together. "The most foundational case is Article 63-A's interpretation with which all these matters are solved," he added.

Referring to Hamza, the law minister said that if a representative of the people was to be sent home through a legal decision then it was a requirement of justice, transparency and independence for a full court bench to hear the matter.

He also rejected allegations of the PML-N being behind a recent social media trend that criticised apex court judges and said his party highly respected state institutions.

Hundreds protest Tunisia constitution ahead of vote

Hundreds of people protested Saturday in Tunis against a draft constitution put forward by President Kais Saied, demanding his resignation before Tunisia votes on the disputed charter.

The referendum will take place a year to the day after Saied sacked the government and suspended parliament in a decisive blow against the country’s often chaotic young democracy.

“Get out”, the demonstrators yelled as they waved Tunisia’s red-and-white flag at a gathering on Habib Bourguiba Avenue in the capital.

“The people want the fall of Kais Saied; the people want the fall of the constitution,” chanted those who rallied in response to a call by the National Salvation Front (FSN) opposition alliance.

Tunisia is preparing to vote tomorrow on a draft constitution that would enshrine the vast powers that Saied has exercised since he sacked the government and suspended parliament on July 25 last year.

Imran feels noose around him tightening in foreign funding case: Ahsan

Planning minister Ahsan Iqbal, in reaction to a news report of a national reconciliation in the works, has attributed it to PTI Chairman Imran Khan feeling the "noose around him tightening" in the foreign funding case.

"Perhaps Imran Khan feels the noose around him tightening in the foreign funding case and so he has suggested such talks take place," Iqbal said.

The PML-N leader warned that no dialogue can be held for an "NRO" in the foreign funding case.

He said he is unaware of any plans for general elections to be held in October.

The establishment is considering a "soft intervention" under which it may mediate between PTI Chairman Imran Khan and the coalition parties — comprising PML-N, PPP, JUI-F, and others.

Sources said that there are chances of a "grand dialogue" between the Opposition and the government with the intervention of the establishment.

The development comes as the Pakistani rupee continues its downward trend against the US dollar and the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) also witnessing constant plunges in recent sessions — both markets recording historic lows.

Not only this, but there has also been persistent political instability since Khan's ouster from power with political parties in a tug of war over Punjab.

Hamza Shahbaz of the PML-N, a candidate of the present coalition government, took oath twice as Punjab chief minister in the last four months but with his appointment challenged time and again in the courts, the matter has now gone to him being appointed a trustee chief minister until Monday.

The situation has given way to the likelihood for the next general elections to take place soon, with the sources putting the time frame at October.

 

Sri Lankan security forces raid protest camp as new leaders sworn in

Sri Lankan security forces raided and partially cleared a protest camp occupying government grounds in Colombo early on Friday, fuelling fears that President Ranil Wickremesinghe had launched a crackdown a day after being sworn in.

Media footage showed soldiers in riot gear and armed with assault rifles tearing down the camp, set up in April by protesters enraged by the country's economic collapse and acute shortages of fuel, food and medicine.

Wickremesinghe, a six-time prime minister, was sworn in as president on Thursday after winning a parliamentary vote to succeed Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled to Singapore last week in the wake of massive public protests triggered by Sri Lanka's worst economic crisis in seven decades.

"A joint operation involving the military, police and police special forces was launched in the early hours to recover the presidential secretariat from the protesters as they have no legal right to hold it," police spokesperson Nalin Thalduwa told Reuters.

Nine people arrested in the pre-dawn raid were later granted bail by a Colombo court, police said.

Protesters had feared a crackdown after Wickremesinghe as acting head of state on Monday imposed a national state of emergency. Many regard him as an ally of Rajapaksa.

Previous emergency regulations have been used to give powers to the military to arrest protesters and curtail the right to demonstrate.

A representative of the United Nations and Western envoys urged the government to exercise restraint, saying the use of force could further destabilise the island nation, whose economy desperately needs an International Monetary Fund bailout, having virtually run out of dollars to pay for vital imports.

The United States' ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, said she had met the new president to express "grave concern" over the violence against protesters in Colombo on Friday.

"This is not the time to crack down on citizens, but instead to look ahead at the immediate and tangible steps the Government can take to regain the trust of the people, restore stability, and rebuild the economy," Chung said in a tweet.

Just hours after security forces moved against the protest camp, another Rajapaksa ally, senior lawmaker Dinesh Gunawardena, was sworn in as Sri Lanka's new prime minister.

Seventeen other ministers completed the cabinet, with former finance minister Ali Sabry becoming foreign minister, while sources said Wickremesinghe would keep the finance portfolio.

As Wickremesinghe, lawmakers and officials listened to Gunawardena being sworn in at the prime minister's office, uniformed military officers sat on one side of the room.

Angered by the pre-dawn raids, hundreds of protesters marched from the city's main railway station towards the Galle Face protest site, where military and riot police manning barricades held them back.

"The very first day he used the armed forces - this is the face of Ranil Wickremesinghe," said Rajeevkanth Rajkumar, a construction company executive who was among the protesters. "We don't want any more innocent people to be injured. But we will go to that place (the protest site) at any cost."

Opposition politician Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who lost the vote for the presidency, said on Twitter: "Let's bring down the brutal ... regime that viciously attacked the protesters at Galle Face".

Soon after midnight on Friday hundreds of security personnel had surrounded the "Gota Go Gama" protest camp, mockingly named after Rajapaksa, and then had begun to tear down tents in front of the secretariat, according to protest organisers.

Security forces appeared to have taken control of the entire secretariat, which was earlier this month seized by protesters along with the president and prime minister's official residences. The residences were later handed back to government authorities.

At least 50 protesters were injured in Friday's clashes, the organisers said, including some journalists who were beaten by security forces. Hospital sources said two were hospitalised.

"They beat us really cruelly," said Buddhika Abeyrathne, 34, a protester who witnessed the raid but did not appear injured himself. "Mr Wickremesinghe doesn’t know what democracy is."