Scientists find new layer in Earth's inner core

A research team from Australian National University (ANU) found evidence of a new layer within the Earth's inner core.

The "innermost inner core" is like an iron-nickel alloy ball which is a "fossilized record" of Earth's ancient history, professor Hrvoje Tkalčić explained.

The scientists found the new layer in the core by studying seismic waves that traveled back and forth across the Earth's entire diameter around five times.

The team from ANU believes the discovery hints at major events in the Earth's past that had a major impact on the planet, which could possibly explain the formation of the magnetic field.

The magnetic field plays an important role in shielding the Earth from harmful radiation and keeping water from drifting into space.

The discovery will prove to be a stepping stone and open doorways to studying other fields like the barren planet of Mars.

Moody’s downgrades Pakistan’s credit rating to ‘Caa3’

Moody's Investors Service has downgraded the government of Pakistan's local and foreign currency credit ratings to Caa3 from Caa1 in the wake of the drop in the country's foreign exchange reserves and rise in risk of default on foreign debt repayment.

The global rating agency has, however, "changed the outlook to stable from negative," according to a statement on Tuesday.

The agency has also downgraded the rating for the senior unsecured MTN programme to (P)Caa3 from (P)Caa1.

"The decision to downgrade the ratings is driven by Moody's assessment that Pakistan's increasingly fragile liquidity and external position significantly raises default risks to a level consistent with a Caa3 rating," it said.

In particular, the country's foreign exchange reserves have fallen to extremely low levels, far lower than necessary to cover its imports needs and external debt obligations over the immediate and medium term.

Although the government is implementing some tax measures to meet the conditions of the IMF programme and a disbursement by the IMF may help to cover the country's immediate needs, "weak governance and heightened social risks impede Pakistan's ability to continually implement the range of policies that would secure large amounts of financing and decisively mitigate risks to the balance of payments".

The stable outlook reflects Moody's assessment that the pressures that Pakistan faces are consistent with a Caa3 rating level, with broadly balanced risks. "Significant external financing becoming available in the very near term, such as through the disbursement of the next tranches under the current IMF programme and related financing, would reduce default risk potentially to a level consistent with a higher rating."

However, in the current extremely fragile balance of payments situation, disbursements may not be secured in time to avoid a default. Moreover, beyond the life of the current IMF programme that ends in June 2023, there is very limited visibility on Pakistan's sources of financing for its sizeable external payments needs, Moody's said.

Election suo motu: Supreme Court to announce verdict tomorrow

The Supreme Court of Pakistan Tuesday reserved the verdict in the suo motu notice taken over the election date of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab, with the decision set to be announced tomorrow (Wednesday) at around 11:30am.

A five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail conducted the hearings for two consecutive days — from Monday to Tuesday.

"I would like to thank all the lawyers who have assisted us throughout the hearings. I cannot say when will we be back [to announce the verdict]," the CJP said after the parties involved in the case wrapped up their arguments. Although the verdict was expected today, the CJP's secretary informed the open court that the decision will be unveiled tomorrow.

The top court had also earlier today asked the political parties — the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the ruling alliance — to agree upon a mutual date for the elections, but they could not reach a consensus. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's (PML-N) lawyer asked the court to continue the proceedings as the coalition partners needed more time to consult with each other.

The SC had taken the suo motu notice of an apparent delay in the elections of the two assemblies, on February 23, following President Arif Alvi's announcement of the date of polls, a move that drew strong criticism from the government

As per the CJP, the suo motu notice had been taken to assess who was eligible to issue the date for polls and who had the constitutional responsibility of conducting elections and when.

A nine-member larger bench was constituted initially to hear the case but the bench was reconstituted after four judges — Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Yahya Afridi — of the bench recused themselves.

At the outset of the hearing today, Attorney General for Pakistan Shehzad Ata Elahi informed the court that he was ready to give arguments.

He also raised an objection to the Supreme Court Bar Association President Abid Zuberi, saying that his name had been removed from the judicial order.

At this, CJP Bandial said that the court sees the SCBA as an institution. "What is written in the court is not part of a judicial order. It becomes an order when the judges sign it," he remarked.

After this, Zuberi started his arguments.

"Supreme Court has declared it in the past that the elections should be held in 90 days," Zuberi stated. At this, Justice Mandokhail remarked that the presidents and governors were bound to follow the Cabinet's advice as per the Constitution.

"Can the president or governors give the election date on their own," he inquired. Meanwhile, CJP Bandial remarked that the governor wasn't constitutionally bound to follow anyone's advice regarding the appointment of a caretaker government or deciding the election date.

While Justice Mazhar added that "no one's advice is needed where there is discretion." Moving on, the CJP asked that who would issue the notification for the assembly dissolution.

Responding to the question, Zuberi said that the notification for the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly had been issued by the law secretary.

At this point, Justice Akhtar remarked that the 90-day period starts right after the assembly has been dissolved.

Meanwhile, Justice Shah inquired if the caretaker chief minister could advise the governor on the election date.

To this, Zuberi said that the caretaker setup and the election date are announced simultaneously. Justice Shah asked whether the governor could reject the caretaker government's advice.

At this, Zuberi replied that the caretaker setup's job was to look after government affairs instead of giving a date for the polls, which is the governor's prerogative.

While referring to the Saifullah case, Zuberi said that the 12-member bench, in that case, had declared the election process a must.

At this, Justice Mandokhail remarked that Article 48 of the Constitution states that every act and step taken by the president would be on the government's advice.

CJP Bandial seconded Justice Mandokhail's remark, saying that the deciding a date for the polls would be based on the advice under Article 48. While Justice Akhtar remarked that the caretaker setup is appointed after seven days after the assembly's dissolution.

"Harmony among different clauses of the Constitution is necessary," he added. Meanwhile, Justice Mazhar remarked that in Punjab's case, the ministry of law had issued the notification, not the governor.

Justice Mandokhail said that the government can still tell the governor to conduct elections, as per the Constitution. Justice Shah wondered how could the governor refuse to conduct elections if he receives the government's advice regarding the poll date.

Moving on, Zuberi stated that the caretaker setup was established in Punjab on January 22. Justice Mazhar remarked: "A basic question is that the governor is saying that he didn't dissolve the assembly."

Zuberi shared that as per Article 105(3) mentions the process of giving an election date. Justice Mandokhail said that the government is not bound to give a date for polls.

Zuberi then complained that the date for the polls has not been announced even after so many days.

To this, CJP Bandial asked Zuberi if he was arguing that the government wasn't fulfilling its constitutional duty.

"Holding elections within 90 days is the spirit of the Constitution," he observed, adding that the court would ask the AGP to assist it on the legal points.

Meanwhile, Zuberi contended that the president would announce a date for the polls if the duration of the assembly ends.

"I contend that fixing the date of polls is the prerogative of the president," he added.

At this, Justice Mazhar remarked that a 52-day margin would be kept whenever the governor gives the date.

Meanwhile, Justice Mandokhail remarked: "President's powers have not been stated directly by the Constitution."

"The action will be taken as per the law if the Constitution doesn't have the powers," he said, adding that the laws are based on the Constitution.

Meanwhile, Justice Shah inquired under which law the president was "writing the letters".

At this, Zuberi said that the president had written the letters for consultations.

To this, the judge replied that the Constitution does not state anywhere about holding consultations.

"If we assume that the law allows the president, even then he is bound to [follow] the advice," Justice Mandokhail remarked.

Meanwhile, Justice Shah said that the caretaker government can also ask for deciding a date.

At this, CJP Bandial remarked that the court would decide if the president needed consultation or not, after hearing the other parties in the case.

Zuberi argued that the governor wasn't bound to follow the advice for announcing the date of the election. The same authority as the governor has been given to the president, he added.

"The president either is not bound to [follow] the advice," Zuberi said while wrapping up his arguments.

Justice Shah remarked that the governor was bound to follow if he was advised to decide an election date.

After this, the AGP Shehzad Ata Elahi started his arguments.

"The president can give a date for the election only in case of the dissolution of the National Assembly," he said. He added that the other scenario in which the president can give dates for elections is when polls are being conducted countrywide.

At this, CJP Bandial remarked that the president's powers to make a decision at the discretion and on advice had a difference.

AGP Elahi then argued that the ECP wouldn't follow the orders if the governor tells it to hold the election a day after the assembly's dissolution.

At this, Justice Akhtar remarked that the governor had to keep the Election Act in view as well.

The AGP remarked that the elections should be held in 90 days and the duration shouldn't be prolonged.

Justice Shah asked if the ECP could delay the election if the date is announced by the governor.

At this, the AGP replied that the electoral body can ask for holding elections in 89 days if the governor orders conducting election on the 85th day after the dissolution of the assembly.

On this, CJP Bandial remarked that it was the reason that the governor has been bound to hold consultation with the ECP.

"Whether it is the president or the governor, everyone is bound by the Constitution and law," he said

To this, Justice Mazhar suggested holding a consultation between the governor and ECP and giving a date tomorrow.

At this point, the court adjourned the hearing for half an hour.

When the hearing reconvened, the AGP continued his arguments and said that the Constitution cannot be interpreted through parliamentary legislation.

"The Constitution is supreme and it doesn't allow the president to announce a date of the election," he added.

He said that the Lahore High Court had clearly said that conducting the elections and announcing a date for it was ECP's authority.

He further stated that the elections were a "subject" for the Centre.

At this, Justice Akhtar said that the ECP has to decide a date for the election and the governor has to announce it.

Justice Mandokhail interjected and wondered if everything was clear then what was the fight about?

Meanwhile, CJP Bandial observed that the hearing of intra-court appeals in the LHC was being adjourned for 14 days. He asked why was such an important constitutional issue was being deferred for long periods.

Moreover, the CJP also inquired under which clause of the Constitution, the ECP has been given the power to decide the poll date.

On this, Justice Mazhar said that the ECP's authority starts after the announcement of the election date, as per the Constitution.

The CJP then remarked that the president had some democratic and some non-democratic powers over the date.

At this, Justice Mazhar asked why don't abolish Section 57 if the president is not authorised to give the election date. He asked if anyone had challenged Section 57 for being contradictory to the Constitution.

The judge also asked for the AGP's opinion that who had the authority to give the date.

Responding to the query, AGP Elahi said that the ECP had the authority to give a date for the election.

In response to AGP’s comment, Justice Mandokhail said that no consultation was needed if the ECP had to announce the date.

However, Justice Akhtar asked where would the governor and president's role go if that was the case.

"Is the president's role of a newscaster that he makes the announcement," he said, adding that the ECP should use its website if it was just about making an announcement.

At this, the CJP remarked that ECP's role is important under any circumstances.

"According to you president's role is central while the other side says it is consultative," CJP Bandial said while addressing Justice Akhtar.

On this, Justice Akhtar asked if the duration of the election campaign could be shortened.

Responding to the question, ECP's lawyer maintained that the printing process of the ballot papers required time. He, however, said that the duration of the election campaign can be shortened up to two weeks.

Justice Akhtar remarked that implementing the constitution was more important.

On this point, AGP Elahi contended that wouldn't the 1988's election become controversial if elections have to be conducted in 90 days?

He said that the 2008 polls were also held after the designated period.

At this, CJP reminded the AGP that in 2008 there was a big tragedy. The CJP was referring to the murder of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

At this, Justice Mandokhail reiterated the question of who will give the date.

"Had the matter of fixing a date been clarified in the law, we wouldn't be standing at this point today," he remarked.

At this, CJP Bandial remarked that the court would apply Article 254 where it is valid.

Justice Mazhar added that ECP had recommended a date to the governor.

On the other hand, Justice Mandokhail inquired whether the caretaker cabinet can send a summary to the governor.

At this, the AGP replied in negation.

While Justice Mazhar asked how long should the president wait if the prime minister does not send him the advice.

On this point, Justice Mandokhail remarked that the Parliament could have made a law and given the responsibility to someone.

The AGP told the court that if laws are passed today then the Parliament is mocked that it is incomplete. He also reiterated that the ECP should give the date of polls as the 90 days period is close to completion.

"If the dictation on the election date has to come from somewhere else then the ECP can refuse to fulfil other responsibilities as well," he said while completing his arguments.

The AGP completed his arguments on this point and the ECP’s lawyer started presenting the electoral body’s point of view.

While starting the arguments, ECP's lawyer Shehryar Swati said that the electoral body had to work under the Constitution.

He said that the Punjab and KP elections were being discussed in the case while the ECP can give the dates for Senate, presidential and by-elections.

The lawyer stressed that they have been maintaining the stance that governor has to give the election date.

At this, CJP Bandial remarked that the chief minister's advice to dissolve the assembly has a different efficacy as even if the governor doesn't dissolve the assembly, the order has to be followed.

At this, Justice Mandokhail asked if the ECP's lawyer meant the governor would give a date for whether he dissolves the assembly or not.

The lawyer told the bench that the governor states that he did not dissolve the assembly. He added that the ECP wrote to the governor to appoint a date from April 9 to 13.

At this, CJP Bandial asked if the governor issues the election date unilaterally or after consultation. He also wondered if the governor is aware of the ECP's schedule.

Swati then said that the consultation between ECP and the governor wasn't required.

At this, Justice Mazhar remarked that the LHC had directed the governor to hold a consultation and instead the governor filed an intra-court appeal.

The ECP lawyer told the bench that they had held a meeting with the governor on LHC’s directives.

On this point, CJP inquired if the ECP had spoken to the KP governor about a date for the polls.

The ECP lawyer said that they had written letters to the governor.

"All the institutions are bound to assist the ECP during elections," remarked Justice Mazhar.

While informing the court about the consultation with the KP governor, the ECP's lawyer said that the latter neither gave a date nor held any consultation despite reminders.

He said that the KP governor cited the peace and security situation in the province as the reason and asked the ECP to contact the agencies.

“According to Governor KP, the date should be fixed after consulting other institutions,” observed CJP Bandial. He added that it was the ECP’s responsibility to be active in election matters.

“ECP’s job was to complete its work and contact the governor again. Election Commission should not just write letters,” said CJP Bandial.

At this, the CJP directed ECP to announce a date for the elections in Punjab after consulting with other stakeholders including the governor.

The court then summoned the KP advocate general on the rostrum and asked what was the meaning of the governor’s letter.

At this KP advocate general maintained that the governor would be authorised to decide a date only if he dissolved the assembly, but in KP's case, the assembly had been dissolved on the chief minister's advice.

Later, the SC directed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders Shireen Mazari and Fawad Chaudhry to consult with party chairman, Imran Khan, and coalition partners' lawyers to consult with their leaders and update the court by 4pm.

Meanwhile, Justice Shah told the parties to inform the court whether or not they can decide the date together.

"The court can only tell that who has to give the date," he added.

Meanwhile, CJP Bandial remarked: "No constitutional body can increase the designated period for the elections except for the court."

He said that Article 254 was for exempting the delay in elections and can be applied in case of natural disaster or war.

"The stability will not be achieved if the elections are not held on time," the CJP observed.

Once the hearing resumed, Naek told the bench that he has consulted with the PPP leadership, and they have informed him that it is not the job of the political parties to issue the date for elections.

PML-N's lawyer, Awan, said that the coalition partners — including PPP and PML-N — have to hold consultations over the issue. He requested the court to continue proceedings and asked for more time.

Resuming his arguments, Naek said President Alvi had announced the date for elections without consulting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which is "unconstitutional".

"He also did not consult the election commission."

Justice Akhtar then said that if the assembly has completed its term, then who will advise the president? "It is important to hold elections within two months after an assembly has completed its term."

Justice Akhtar said that the president can send the summary back after 14 days, however, this process of sending the summary back and forth will waste around 25 days.

He added that the president can also ask the prime minister to take a vote of confidence and does not need his advice for that.

Interjecting, Naek said that the president sent announced the election date without consulting the prime minister and stressed that it was against the Constitution.

CJP Bandial said that in the current circumstances, it was crucial to hold elections within 90 days, adding that Peshawar and Lahore's high courts have delayed the issue as well.

The chief justice remarked that today was the second consecutive day that the top court was hearing the suo motu notice and noted that the SC would favour none, but the Constitution.

Naek told the CJP that the SC could ask the high courts to issue the cases at the earliest.

CJP Bandial then told Naek that the SC is holding hearings over the matter to resolve it and noted that despite being understaffed, the top court had wrapped up 24 big issues in a year.

Justice Akhtar then said that it is the president's discretion and that he can announce the election date. He added that the supreme commander should gear up immediately after an assembly's tenure has been completed.

Then the CJP said that the court is not favouring anyone and it was just following the Constitution, while Naek asked the chief justice again to tell the high courts for expediting the process.

The CJP told Naek that it was too late for that and that the top court took the suo motu notice to ensure that the Constitution is implemented.

"Nobody was worried when the assembly was dissolved on January 14. Farooq Naek sahib, did you hear the count? Mr Farooq Naek sahib, you are also right to point out that the courts should not interfere in political matters."

The CJP also told Naek that in the last two years, the top court has taken very less — two to be exact — suo motu notices. "In the ongoing year, this is the first suo motu notice that we have taken and we are trying to determine who has the constitutional authority to announce the election date."

Naek then told the bench that in line with the top court's rules, whenever a petitioner moves the Supreme Court, they have to inform the SC whether their issues are pending in other courts or not.

"PTI did not tell the Supreme Court in its constitutional petition that their cases are pending in the high courts. I want to talk about something and then I'll complete my arguments: Judicial activism that started in 2007 is now turning into judicial restraint."

During the hearing, President Alvi's lawyer Salman Akram Raja said that his client has decided to withdraw his notification for the general elections in KP as the province's governor had dissolved the assembly — unlike Punjab, where the governor did not.

"The president has stated that it is the right of the governor to issue the election date," Raja said, at which Justice Mazhar asked why he hasn't taken the advice back yet.

"He will take it back soon," Raja responded.

Elon Musk recruits team to develop OpenAI's ChatGPT rival

Elon Musk has approached AI researchers in recent weeks about forming a new research lab to develop an alternative to OpenAI's ChatGPT, internatiional media reported on Monday, citing people with direct knowledge of the effort.

Tesla and Twitter chief Musk has been recruiting Igor Babuschkin, a researcher who recently left Alphabet's DeepMind AI unit, the report said.

The report comes after ChatGPT, a text-based chatbot developed by OpenAI that can draft prose, poetry or even computer code on command, gained widespread attention in Silicon Valley.

Musk, who had co-founded OpenAI along with Silicon Valley investor Sam Altman in 2015 as a nonprofit startup, had left its board in 2018, but chimed in with his take on the chatbot, calling it "scary good".

Musk and Babuschkin have discussed assembling a team to pursue AI research but the project is still in the early stages, with no concrete plan to develop specific products, the report said quoting an interview with the latter.

Babuschkin added that has not officially signed onto the Musk initiative, according to the report.

Musk and Babuschkin could not be reached immediately for comments.

Islamabad court issues arrest warrant for Imran Khan in Toshakhana case

A local court in Islamabad on Tuesday issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case.

Additional sessions judge Zafar Iqbal issued the arrest warrant. The court issued arrest warrant and adjourned the hearing till March 7.

Earlier, the former chairman secured interim bail in two different cases — the prohibited funding and terror cases — after he arrived at the judicial complex in Islamabad to attend hearings of the cases.

The special judge central Rakhshanda Shaheen announced the reserved verdict on the bail before arrest plea of Khan.

The Federal Investigation Agency had registered a case against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief and 10 others over accusations of receiving foreign funding. The case had been registered by the FIA Corporate Banking Circle.

In another case, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan secured interim bail from an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad in a case related to protests outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

ATC judge Raja Jawad Abbas announced the verdict after the former premier appeared before the judge amid tight security for nearly after four months as he was recovering from the bullet wounds.

The interim bail of Imran Khan was approved till March 9 against a surety bond of Rs100,000.

It is pertinent to mention here that several members of the local leadership of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were booked in a case over alleged vandalism during the protests in Islamabad after the Election Commission of Pakistan disqualified the former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief in Toshakhana reference.

Cases were also registered against PTI leaders including Senator Faisal Javed, Aamir Kayani, Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi, Raja Rashid Hafeez, Umer Tanveer Butt, Rashid Naeem Abbasi and Raja Majid.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan in the Toshakhana reference under Article 63(1)(p).

Imran Khan secures bail in two separate cases

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has secured bail in two separate cases by courts in Islamabad.

The banking court approved bail of defiant politician in the prohibited funding case, while the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) granted him bail in the case related to protests outside the officeof electoral watchdog.

Former premier and chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan reached the judicial complex in Islamabad with hoards of supporters.

Khan left his Lahore residence in the early hours on Tuesday and reached the capital with huge convoy of party supporters.

In recent development, PTI leaders sought an exemption of party chief from an in-person appearance before an Islamabad sessions’ court in the Toshakhana reference wherein his indictment is expected today.

Initially, the cricketer-turned-politician planned to travel to Islamabad via flight but due to last-minute changes in his travel plans, the former PM departed for the capital via the Motorway.

Another instance of scuffle was reported outside Imran Khan’s Bani Gala residence in Islamabad where the district administration removed barriers.

The decision on Imran Khan’s indictment in the Toshakhana case is also expected to be finalized on the same day.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened on the roads leading to the court, and a heavy contingent of police is deployed outside the court on Imran Khan’s arrival while the road toward the judicial complex has been closed to the public.

 

Justice Yahya Afridi questions invoking suo motu jurisdiction

Justice Yahya Afridi of the Supreme Court has objected to invoking suo motu jurisdiction by the chief justice in the election date case.

In his additional note, made public on Monday along with the court order on the February 23 hearing, the apex court judge questioned the logic behind taking the suo motu notice despite the fact that the matter was pending before the high court in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Justice Afridi also recused himself from the nine-member bench hearing the case after which a new five-judge bench was constituted headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial.

“For detailed reasons to be recorded later, it appears that prima facie these petitions fall within the purview of Article 184(3) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973. However, it would not be judicially appropriate to exercise the power to make an order under the aforementioned provision of the constitution given that the matters raised in the petitions are presently pending adjudication before the Lahore High Court (LHC) in Intra-Court Appeal No. 11096 of 2023, Contempt of Court Petition No. 10468/W/2023, and the Peshawar High Court in Writ Petition No. 407-P/2023.”

While noting that the jurisdiction under Article 184(3) is “not affected by the pendency” of any matter before any other court or forum, the LHC verdict and “peculiarly charged and unflinching contested political stances” taken by the parties, warrant this court to show “judicial restraint” to bolster the principle of propriety.

The judge further added that this is to avoid any adverse reflection on the Supreme Court’s judicial pre-emptive eagerness to decide.

“Therefore, passing any finding or remarks during the proceeding of the present petitions by this court would not only prejudice the contested claims of the parties in the said petition/appeal pending before the respective high courts but, more importantly, offend the hierarchical judicial domain of the high court as envisaged under the Constitution. It would also disturb the judicial propriety that the high court deserves in the safe, mature, and respectful administration of justice. Accordingly, I dismiss these three petitions.”

“Having decided that exercising powers under Article 184(3) of the Constitution in the present three petitions pending before us would not be appropriate, I find that my continuing to hear the said petitions is of no avail. However, I leave it to the worthy chief justice to decide my retention in the present bench hearing the said petitions.”

Two soldiers martyred in exchange of fire with terrorists in North Waziristan: ISPR

Two Pakistan Army soldiers were martyred in the Spinwam area of North Waziristan tribal district during a gunfight with terrorists, the military’s media affairs wing said on Monday.

The statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) identified the martyrs as 25-year-old Sepoy Imran Ullah from Bajaur and 21-year-old Sepoy Afzal Khan from Upper Dir.

“On 26 February, an exchange of fire took place between terrorists and security forces in the general area of Spinwam, North Waziristan district. Own troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location,” the ISPR said.

“Resultantly, two terrorists were killed, while two terrorists were apprehended. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the terrorists,” it stated, adding that the killed terrorists remained actively involved in terror activities against security forces and innocent citizens.

The military’s media wing said sanitisation of the area was being carried out to eliminate other terrorists in the area.

“Pakistan Army is determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve,” the statement concluded.

The exchange of fire comes amid a surge in terrorist activities across the country, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its ceasefire with the government in November.

On February 13, seven TTP militants were killed when cops repulsed an attack on a police van carrying three detained militants to Bannu from North Waziristan.

On Feb 3, the ISPR said two terrorists were killed during an exchange of fire between terrorists and security forces in the Esham area of the North Waziristan district.

Zelenskiy fires a top Ukrainian military commander

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Sunday fired a senior military commander helping lead the fight against Russian troops in the country's embattled east but gave no reason for the move.

In a one-line decree, Zelenskiy announced the dismissal of Eduard Moskalyov as commander of the joint forces of Ukraine, which are engaged in battles in the Donbas region.

Zelenskiy mentioned Moskalyov in a daily address on Friday when listing the military commanders he had spoken to. Moskalyov had been in the post since March 2022, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine.

According to international media reports, Russian forces are making concerted efforts to capture the two eastern regions that make up the Donbas, and Zelenskiy has in recent weeks variously described the military situation in the east as difficult and painful.

Pro-Moscow units are focusing their efforts on the city of Bakhmut, mounting repeated assaults despite suffering what Ukrainian and Western officials say are heavy casualties.

In a Facebook post, the Ukrainian armed forces' general staff said Russian troops had carried out several unsuccessful attacks in the Bakhmut area on Sunday.

Court rejects Imran Khan’s plea to move hearing in Toshakhana case

A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Monday rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s request to transfer the hearing of Toshakhana reference to the judicial complex.

Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal presided over the hearing in the case filed by Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) leader Mohsin Shah Nawaz Ranjha.

The case pertains to attempted murder in the context of the protest held after the Toshakhana reference decision, in which former premier’s lawyers Babar Awan and Ali Bukhari appeared before the court.

Awan told the court that Imran will come to Islamabad on Tuesday. Moreover, a request for an exception for appearance today was also filed in the court, in which security measures were requested for Imran's appearance in the court tomorrow.

The PTI chief’s lawyer furthered that the ministry of interior has given a statement that there is a “fear of attack on Imran”, adding that “there may be a suicide attack on him during his appearance”.

Awan then assured of the PTI chief’s appearance in the court tomorrow.

He added that the prime minister, interior minister, inspector general and chief commissioner should take responsibility for Imran’s security, adding that they will not accept the responsibility of anyone below these ranks.

During the hearing, the lawyers, on behalf of the plaintiff, requested to form a medical board and stated that the bail is void if the person doesn’t appear before the court.

Requesting the court to cancel Imran’s bail, the plaintiff’s lawyers said, “Imran Khan also appeared in Lahore High Court, is this not a court?”

Irked at the request to transfer the hearing of the case, Judge Iqbal remarked that this is the first time, the court is being asked to move to another place.

“The court has to stay here, the court will not go anywhere,” stated the judge.

To this, the PTI chief’s lawyer replied that the former prime minister was earlier attacked, adding that it is “important to appear before the court, but it is also important to save lives.”

The court then inquired about the findings of the case. To this, the investigation officer replied that NADRA has been unable to identify the accused.

Judge Iqbal further directed the investigating officer to submit a written reply regarding the findings and also ordered him to complete the investigation by tomorrow.

The district and sessions court, while giving a verdict on various applications, rejected Imran's request to transfer the hearing of the Toshakhana case to the judicial complex.

President Alvi stresses need to bring intellectual change in society

President Dr. Arif Alvi has stressed the need to bring intellectual change in the society to deal with the challenges of current world.

Addressing the convocation ceremony at Air University Islamabad on Monday, he said we should acquire modern strengths in warfare including cyber to deal with the propaganda of our enemies.

Highlighting the importance of cyber strength in modern warfare, the President expressed regret that Pakistan lies nowhere in world cyber ranking.

For this purpose, the President said we should promote modern skill based education to utilize the power of our youth for country's development. He said if we will not provide modern education to our children then country's youth bulge would convert into youth burden.

The President said our 22 million children are out of schools which could become burden for the state in future, therefore, we need to educate them in modern fields including cyber security as its demand is rising around the globe.

Quoting the example of Chinese development, the President stressed that our political leadership should waste no time to decide the future of our youth which is a greater part of country's population.

Court approves three-day physical remand of Lt Gen (retd) Amjad Shoaib

A local court in the federal capital on Monday rejected the police's plea and approved a three-day physical remand of Lieutenant General (retd) Amjad Shoaib.

The former military officer was presented in the court of Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah today after he was arrested by the Islamabad Police early this morning on charges of inciting the public against national institutions.

During the hearing, the prosecution informed the court about the case registered against the former three-star general and requested a seven-day physical remand.

Prosecutor Adnan contended that the ex-general, through his statement on TV, tried to spread hate between the government, the opposition and the government employees.

The lawyer also told the court that they require a photogrammetric test of the former military officer and have to take him to Lahore for the purpose.

The prosecutor then requested the court to approve seven-day physical remand of Lt Gen (retd) Shoaib.

Meanwhile, Lt Gen (retd) Shoaib’s lawyer Mudassir Khalid Abbasi opposed the physical remand request and instead urged the court to discharge the case.

“The sections inserted in the FIR do not apply to Amjad Shoaib,” said the lawyer. He added that his client only gave an example of a certain situation.

The lawyer also contended that the case against Shoaib was registered on "political grounds", adding that his client was also being harassed.

“If legitimate criticism is wrong then eliminate opposition from the system,” argued Abbasi.

Shoaib’s other lawyer Qaiser Imam told the court that the former military officer had admitted uttering the words and there was no need to conduct photogrammetric and voice matching tests.

However, the prosecution told the magistrate that it was necessary for the trial to carry out the tests.

Moving on, Riasat Ali Azad, Shoaib’s third lawyer, told the court that his client is a patriot. He also shared that his client had fought the 1965 and 1971 wars.

All three lawyers of the former military officer then requested the court to discharge the case. While the prosecution opposed the request to discharge the case.

Earlier today, cops from the Ramna police station apprehended the former army officer from his residence in the federal capital after a first information report (FIR) was registered against him.

The FIR was registered against Lt Gen (retd) Shoaib on February 25 at Islamabad’s Ramna Police Station.

The FIR was registered under Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups, etc) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

 

21 truck relief convoy from Pakistan reaches Turkiye

A 21-truck convoy carrying 275-ton relief assistance goods from Pakistan reached at Malatya, one of the worst hit cities by the earthquake.

The truck convoy carrying mainly winterized tents, blankets and other essential relief goods departed from Pakistan on February 11 and reached Turkiye via Iran.

The convoy was received by Deputy Mayor Malatya Hakan Ezgi, Ambassador Fazli Corman of Turkish MOFA, Pakistan Embassy Deputy Ambassador, Abbas Sarwar Qureshi, Commander Mehmet Bhaktiyar and officials from AFAD and local administration.

Under the directions of the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, an air bridge was established immediately between Islamabad and Ankara on 6th February to transport rescue teams and deliver essential relief goods.

As of now, twenty flights have brought relief assistance goods to Turkiye. A ship carrying earthquake relief goods is also scheduled to leave Pakistan for Turkiye soon.

Speaking on the occasion, Abbas Sarwar Qureshi stated that Pakistan and Turkiye have a glorious history of supporting each other under all circumstances.

Deputy Mayor Hakan Ezgi said that the trucks have not only brought relief goods but tons of prayers and best wishes from Pakistanis whose hearts beat with the hearts of Turkish brethren.

NA-193 by-poll: Vote count underway as polling ends

The counting of votes is underway as polling for by-election in Rajanpur’s NA-193, National Assembly constituency, concluded.

The voting in Rajanpur began at 8am today and continued till 5pm. The NA-193 seat had fallen vacant following the death of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) MNA Sardar Mohammad Jaffar Khan Leghari in December 2022.

In videos shared by the electoral body today, a number of voters can be seen gathered inside the polling stations.

A total 11 candidates are contesting NA-193 Rajanpur by-poll, but the main contest is expected between the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Emaar Owais Leghari and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Mohsin Leghari.

237 polling stations have been set up in the constituency, of which 68 are declared sensitive. 2,650 police personnel have been deployed to deal with any untoward situation while Rangers and Army personnel will also patrol the area.

Earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) accused the district administration of non-cooperation in the organisation of by-polls in NA-193 Rajanpur constituency.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) wrote a letter to the Punjab chief secretary to register a complaint against the non-cooperation of the district administration of the NA-193 Rajanpur by-poll.

LHCBA elects first-ever woman secretary

In an unprecedented move, Sabahat Rizvi became the first ever woman to be elected as the Lahore High Court Bar Association's (LHCBA) secretary since its establishment.

Rizvi was elected as the first female secretary after bagging 4,310 votes in the LHC Bar Association's polls that took place on Saturday.

Rizvi was supported by the majority of lawyers and Asma Jahangir's AGHS Legal Aid Cell Team.

Another woman, Rabia Bajwa, was elected to the vice-president’s seat by grabbing 3,590 votes.

Meanwhile, the Professional Group led by Hamid Khan won the presidential slot in the polls by defeating an independent group. Ishtiaq A Khan won the seat of the president by bagging 7,293 votes, while his opponent, Lehrasib Gondal, could get only 3,372 votes.

On the finance secretary’s position, Muhammad Shahrukh Shahbaz Warraich won by securing 7,109 votes.

The total strength of the registered voters was 26,043, out of which 24,271 were men and 1,772 were women lawyers. As many as 10,576 voters exercised their right to vote.

PSL 8: Najam Sethi reaches out to PM Shehbaz to break deadlock with Punjab govt

To resolve the ongoing deadlock over security expenditures for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight’s Lahore and Rawalpindi leg, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee Chairman Najam Sethi has reached out to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for assistance.

The fate of PSL fixtures in the two Punjab cities, including the final scheduled in Lahore on March 19, remains uncertain as Punjab’s interim Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi insists that his cabinet is not willing to sanction the expenses for holding the tournament.

Last year, the Punjab government reportedly spent Rs600 million on the PSL. However, Naqvi has said that his cabinet is not ready to sanction the expenses this time due to being an interim setup.

Sethi, who briefed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif today (Sunday) on the issue of security expenses, has received assurances of complete support and assistance from the premier.

The PCB chairman said that the matches will have to be shifted to Karachi if the government does not stop demanding money for security, refusing to fulfill the demands.

Sethi said that the PSL is a national tournament and the national institutions are responsible for its arrangements.

Previously, the government had sought Rs500 million, out of which Rs50m had been provided. When the PCB refused to give any more money, the government reduced the remaining amount to Rs250m, however, the cricket board refused that too.

Afterward, the PCB decided that only two matches of the ongoing PSL8 will be held in Lahore, and the remaining shifted to Karachi.

At least 30 dead in southern Italy after migrant shipwreck

More than 30 people have died and more than 40 have survived a migrant boat shipwreck in southern Italy, a spokesman for the Italian firefighters' service said on Sunday.

According to international media reports, the shipwreck took place near Steccato di Cutro, a seaside resort on the eastern coast of Calabria, the region that forms the tip of Italy's boot.

The death toll "has surpassed 30," Danilo Maida, spokesman for the firefighters' service in Calabria told reportrs, adding that the count was provisional.

Firefighters and other emergency services were looking for more survivors at sea using jet skis, but conditions were harsh, making the search difficult, he added.

Earlier, Italian media reported that 27 bodies were found on the beach, and that more bodies were spotted at sea.

"It is a huge tragedy which shows the absolute need to act firmly against irregular migration channels," Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said in a statement.

It is "essential" to stop sea crossings which, offering migrants the 'illusory mirage of a better life' in Europe, enrich traffickers and "cause tragedies like today's", he added.

Italy is one of the main landing points for migrants trying to enter Europe by sea. The so-called central Mediterranean route is known as one of the world's most dangerous.

According to the International Organisation for Migration's Missing Migrants Project, 20,333 people have died or gone missing in the central Mediterranean since 2014.

Mbappe, Benzema and Messi up for FIFA Best award

Just like in the World Cup final, Paris Saint-Germain teammates Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe go up against one another for The Best FIFA Men’s Player prize for 2022 on Monday, with Ballon d’Or Karim Benzema the other contender.

The ceremony takes place in Paris, and Messi appears as the favourite to add another individual gong to his collection after leading Argentina to glory over Mbappe’s France in that epic encounter in Qatar.

Messi has won the Ballon d’Or seven times and claimed the FIFA award — inaugurated in 2016 following FIFA’s split with Ballon d’Or organisers France Football — once in 2019.

In the last two years, Messi has made the podium as Robert Lewandowski has won the title, but the 35-year-old’s career-crowning World Cup triumph was the defining moment of 2022.

The winner is decided by a jury comprised of the coach and captain of every men’s national team and one journalist from each country but fans can also vote.

Mbappe became the first player to score a World Cup final hat-trick since Geoff Hurst in 1966 as he dragged France to a 3-3 draw after extra time — despite two goals by Messi — before they eventually succumbed in a shoot-out.

Mbappe, who turned 24 just after the final, was the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals, one more than Messi, who claimed the Golden Ball for best player.

He was also comfortably PSG’s most important player in the year leading up to the World Cup, despite being joined there by Messi — he was Ligue 1’s leading scorer and France’s player of the year.

However, their World Cup achievements overshadow everything else. “Because Messi won the World Cup he has the biggest chance of winning, that’s a fact,” admitted Ruud Gullit, himself a former Ballon d’Or winner.

Dutchman Gullit was speaking in his role as a member of the Laureus Academy, which recently included Mbappe and Messi among the nominees for their own awards.

“But I have so much respect for Mbappe. For me, he is on the same level. What he did in the final, to take that responsibility was unbelievable,” he added.

Putellas up for women’s gong

Benzema’s chances of winning another individual honour were hit after he missed the World Cup due to injury.

Exiled from the French team for five and a half years because of his involvement in a blackmail scandal over a sex tape involving a former teammate, Benzema’s Ballon d’Or win last October had completed his own career redemption.

The Real Madrid striker, now 35, scored 44 goals in 46 games for his club last season, inspiring them to glory in the Champions League and La Liga. He has continued to bang in the goals this season.

“I am really, really proud of my journey,” he declared after claiming the Ballon d’Or.

Current Ballon d’Or Alexia Putellas, who won the Best award last year, is again nominated for the women’s prize, despite being out since July with a knee injury.

England forward Beth Mead and US star Alex Morgan are the other finalists. Argentina’s Lionel Scaloni is up for the men’s coach’s honour along with Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti and Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola.

Sarina Wiegman, who won Euro 2022 with England, is up for the women’s coach award with Sonia Bompastor of Lyon and Brazil’s Pia Sundhage.

Brazil star Richarlison’s World Cup strike against Serbia is one of three nominees for the Puskas Award for best goal, named after Hungary great Ferenc Puskas.

Marseille’s Dimitri Payet and Polish amputee player Marcin Oleksy are also nominated, while there is also a category for the best male and female goalkeeper.

Blinken eyes US inroads in Central Asia as Ukraine rattles nerves

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is heading to Central Asia hoping that greater US engagement will reassure former Soviet republics rattled by the Ukraine war, although Russia’s historic clout limits the extent of cooperation.

Days after the anniversary of the Ukraine invasion, the top US diplomat will hold talks on Tuesday in Kazakhstan and then Uzbekistan and meet jointly with foreign ministers of all five ex-Soviet Central Asian states in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana.

Donald Lu, the top US diplomat for South and Central Asia, said the United States was realistic that the five nations were not going to end their relationships with Russia or their other giant neighbour, China, which has been boosting its own presence.

But he said Blinken would show that the United States is a “reliable partner” and different from Moscow and Beijing.

“We have something to offer in terms of engagement economically, but we also have something to offer in terms of the values that we bring to the table,” Lu told reporters.

After a year of travelling the world to rally support for Ukraine, Blinken’s mission may be his most subtle yet.

Diplomats and experts say that Central Asian leaders are walking a tightrope due to formal security agreements with Moscow and Russia’s overwhelming security and economic influence, including as a destination for labourers.

All five abstained or did not vote as the UN General Assembly on Thursday demanded that Russian forces leave Ukraine.

For the United States, “the sky is the limit in Central Asia right now”, said Jennifer Brick Murtazashvili, an expert on the region at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the University of Pittsburgh.

“There is a real desire among the leaders of these nations to move away from Russia. I think they realize that Russia is a threat to them, but by geography, there’s very little they can do about it, and their economic situation doesn’t give them a lot of options,” she said.

“So I think there’s a real opportunity for the United States to be creative, to engage with the leaders of these countries and sort of meet them where they are.” -

Complex stance

Kazakhstan, with which Russia has its longest land border, has among the most complex relationships with Moscow. It has been mindful of the rights of its sizable ethnic Russian minority — even more so after President Vladimir Putin pointed to Ukraine’s treatment of Russian speakers in justifying his invasion.

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who will meet Blinken, last year travelled to see Putin and reaffirmed their partnership with Russia.

But he recently spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and urged a negotiated end to the conflict based on international law, and Kazakhstan has welcomed tens of thousands of Russians fleeing conscription.

The month before the Ukraine invasion, Tokayev had called in Russian-led forces to help regain control after riots but he quickly asked them to leave following public opposition.

Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon made waves in October when a video went viral of him giving Putin a rare public scolding at a regional meeting, accusing Russia of ignoring the interests of the Central Asian countries.

The United States has seen glimmers of hope for human rights, a longstanding concern in a region historically run by authoritarians.

Lu pointed to the recent conviction in Kazakhstan of police officers accused of torture during last year’s unrest, as well as Uzbekistan’s rapid abolition of forced and child labour in cotton harvests.

“It’s really quite remarkable. I don’t know that we have seen that sort of speedy progress paralleled anywhere else in the world,” Lu said.

Treated as ‘backwater’?

The Ukraine war is not the first time that an international crisis has thrown a greater spotlight on Central Asia.

Uzbekistan initially took a leading role in supporting the US military in its war in Afghanistan, which President Joe Biden ended in 2021.

The last secretary of state to visit, Mike Pompeo, in 2020 pushed Central Asians to curb ties with Beijing as he highlighted human rights concerns in Beijing’s adjacent Xinjiang region.

Murtazashvili said the United States had made the mistake of seeing Central Asia as a “backwater” linked to other policies and would do better with a strategy that values regional leaders’ autonomy.

“These countries are actually in a really interesting position to balance Russia and China off against one another, and many of them have done this pretty skillfully,” she said.

Explosion reported in Balochistan’s Barkhan

An explosion was reported inside the Rakhni market in Balochistan’s Barkhan on Sunday morning.

Footage run on television showed a number of injured people being taken to the nearby hospital.

The police have reached the site along with rescue officials and cordoned it off.

Torkham border reopens days after Pakistan delegation visits Kabul

Torkham border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been reopened for business activities.

As per details, the official sources said that loaded vehicles from both the sides arrived at the Torkham border.

The Pakistan custom officials have also confirmed the opening of business activities at the Pak-Afghan border.

Earlier, the Customs officials seized a container with consignment of urea fertilizer at Torkham border crossing.

Additional Collector Customs Muhammad Tayeb had said that the department’s officials during search of an export container at the border crossing, recovered a consignment of 40 tonnes of urea fertilizer, being smuggled to Afghanistan.

Meta heats up Big Tech's AI arms race with new language model

Meta Platforms Inc said on Friday it was releasing to researchers a new large language model, the core software of a new artificial intelligence system, heating up an AI arms race as Big Tech companies rush to integrate the technology into their products and impress investors.

The public battle to dominate the AI technology space kicked off late last year with the launch of Microsoft-backed OpenAI's ChatGPT and prompted tech heavyweights from Alphabet Inc to China's Baidu Inc, to trumpet their own offerings.

Meta's LLaMA, short for Large Language Model Meta AI, will be available under non-commercial license to researchers and entities affiliated with government, civil society, and academia, it said in a blog.

Large language models mine vast amounts of text in order to summarize information and generate content. They can answer questions, for instance, with sentences that can read as though written by humans.

The model, which Meta said requires "far less" computing power than previous offerings, is trained on 20 languages with a focus on those with Latin and Cyrillic alphabets.

AI has emerged as a bright spot for investments in the tech industry, whose slowing growth has prompted widespread layoffs and a cutback on experimental bets.

Meta said LLaMA could outperform competitors that examine more parameters, or variables that the algorithm takes into account.

Specifically, it said a version of LLaMA with 13 billion parameters can outperform GPT-3, a recent predecessor to the model on which ChatGPT is built.

It described its 65-billion-parameter LLaMA model as "competitive" with Google's Chinchilla70B and PaLM-540B, which are even larger than the model that Google used to show off its Bard chat-powered search.

Meta in May last year released large language model OPT-175B, also aimed at researchers, which formed the basis of a new iteration of its chatbot BlenderBot.

It later introduced a model called Galactica, which could write scientific articles and solve math problems, but quickly pulled down the demo after it generated authoritative-sounding false responses.

Two killed as under-construction Bhara Kahu bypass shuttering collapses

At least two labourers were killed after an under-construction Bhara Kahu bypass flyover collapsed early Saturday morning, police sources reported.

Rescue teams rushed to the incident site and pulled three labourers out of rubble, wheras two succumbed to injuries, Islamabad Capital Territory spokesman said.

According to rescue officials, heavy construction material was being pitched on it when the portion caved in.

Later on Inspector General Police Islamabad Dr Akbar Nasir Khan, Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) Noor-ul- Amin Mangal along with assistant commissioner Secretariat Aneel Saeed and other officials visited the incident site to supervise the rescue operation.

Meanwhile, a committee under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Irfan Nawaz Memon was also constituted to review all aspects related to the incident.

The 5.6 km-long Bhara Kahu bypass (including a 1km flyover) starts from Murree Road at Malpur and culminates on Murree Road near the Jugi bus stop from where the flyover begins till the end of the local bazaar towards Murree.

Zahir Shah appointed acting NAB chairman

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has appointed Zahir Shah as its acting chairman after Aftab Sultan resigned from the position on Tuesday, it emerged on Saturday.

In a notification issued by the bureau on Friday, Shah has been designated the role with effect from Feb 22 “in pursuance of the proviso to Section 6b(v)” (chairman National Accountability Bureau) of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999.

Shah’s appointment comes on the heels of the sudden resignation of Aftab Sultan as the NAB chairman after only seven months at the anti-graft body’s helm.

Sultan cited “interference” and “pressure” as the reasons for his departure, but did not elaborate who was pressuring him. The main opposition PTI seized on these remarks as evidence of him being coerced to file corruption references against their chief Imran Khan.

Shah has acted as the bureau’s Director General (Operations) Zahir Shah in the past and was subsequently appointed as its deputy chairman in October 2021.

He has been serving with NAB for almost two decades and has held key positions in the organisation.

Shah had also performed his duties as the acting chairman for the anti-graft watchdog for about a month in June 2022, following which Aftab Sultan was appointed for the role.

Death toll climbs above 50,000 after Turkey, Syria earthquakes

The number of people killed by the earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria earlier this month has now passed 50,000, according to the latest figures from both countries.

According to international media reports, in Turkey alone, 44,218 people died as a result of the earthquakes, the country’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said on Friday, while the latest announced death toll in Syria was 5,914.

The first earthquake on February 6 that hit southeastern Turkey and northern Syria measured a magnitude of 7.7 and a second, a little later, measured 7.6. The region has been rocked by more than 9,000 aftershocks since, according to the AFAD.

Nearly 240,000 rescue workers, including volunteers, continue to work in the 11 quake-hit provinces in Turkey. Some of the areas affected by the quakes were initially difficult to access but recovery efforts continue and casualty numbers are rising as they progress.

There have been no reports of survivors being rescued in recent days.

Nearly 530,000 people have been evacuated from the disaster area in Turkey alone and the Turkish government has said that 173,000 buildings have so far been recorded as collapsed or severely damaged, with more than 1.9 million people taking refuge in temporary shelters or hotels and public facilities.

Some 20 million people in Turkey have been affected by the quake, while the United Nations estimates 8.8 million people have been affected in Syria. Less information has come from Syria where many people were already living in precarious conditions after years of civil war.

Many survivors have left the parts of southern Turkey hit by the quake or have been settled in tents, container homes and other government-sponsored accommodation.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pledged to rebuild homes within a year, although experts have said the authorities should put safety before speed.

Prohibited funding case: Banking court summons Imran Khan on Feb 28

A banking court has ordered the former prime minister and PTI chairman Imran Khan to appear before court on February 28 in prohibited funding case.

As per details, the banking court judge Rakhshanda Shaheen heard the prohibited funding case against Imran Khan and others.

The PTI chief Imran Khan’s legal team submitted the copy of IHC order to the banking court. His counsel Naeem Haider Panjotha said that IHC has ordered Imran Khan appear before banking court on February 28.

The hearing was also adjourned till February 28.

Earlier local media reports had said that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) decided to arrest PTI chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan in a prohibited funding case.

A four-member team has been formed for the arrest, while a summary has been forwarded to the DG FIA for final approval.

It is pertinent to note here that the Investigation Agency had registered a case against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief and 10 others over accusations of receiving foreign funding. The case had been registered by the FIA Corporate Banking Circle.

The case’s First Information Report (FIR) stated that the accused including the former premier violated Foreign Exchange Act and all of the nominated persons were beneficiaries of the private bank account.

PM Shehbaz emphasizes to forge unity to make Pakistan economic tiger

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has emphasized to forge national unity to alleviate poverty and make Pakistan an economic tiger.

He was chairing a review meeting on the implementation of the National Action Plan attended by civil and military leadership in Islamabad.

The Prime Minister said after the Peshawar attack, the government also invited all the stakeholders for a meeting but one particular party did not bother to attend it.

He said Pakistan currently faces economic challenges and expressed the hope that the situation would improve after the matters with the International Monetary Fund were finalised in near future.

He maintained that the state of Pakistan was above all and even the government's coalition parties put their political interests at stake for the sake of the country and to improve the economic situation.

Mentioning the killings and arrest of terrorists during different military actions, Prime Minister Shehbaz said the security agencies were making their efforts to ensure the security of citizens.

Gujrat ATC issues arrest warrants for Rana Sanaullah in terrorism case

An anti-terrorism court in Gujrat issued bailable arrest warrants for Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Friday for allegedly threatening the judiciary and government officials in his public speeches.

The directives were issued by Accountability Judge Rana Zahid.

A terrorism case was registered against Sanaullah in August last year. The first information report (FIR) stated that during his speeches on April 15, 2021, and January 29, 2022, the interior minister had threatened to stop the judiciary from doing its job and kill the children of the Punjab police officials.

The case was taken up by the ATC in Gujrat today.

At the outset of the hearing, the police furnished before the court its final report on the case with the omission of the minister’s name in it. The judge, however, rejected the report and issued notices to Gujrat’s SP investigation, the deputy superintendent of police, and investigating officer.

The court also directed law enforcers to arrest and produce the minister before the ATC on March 7.

The FIR

The complaint, was registered on the complaint of a citizen, Sheikh Shekaz Aslam, under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (punishment for acts of terrorism), and sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 189 (threat of injury to public servant) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

“The purpose of Sanaullah’s statements was to terrorise the judiciary, chief secretary, commissioner and people of the country,” the FIR said. “His aim was to stop the officials from working and prevent them from fulfilling their lawful responsibilities.”

It added that the minister’s speeches had created fear in the judiciary, bureaucracy, police, administration and the nation. Furthermore, it was pleaded in the FIR that Sanaullah should be probed for his comments and be punished “to create an example for other citizens speaking against government officials”.

US ties vital for Pakistan's economic stability: Ned Price

The United States said that its robust trade relationship with Pakistan was crucial as the country recovers from the effects of the devastating floods last year.

Addressing a press briefing in Washington on Thursday, US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said that the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council ministerial meeting hosted by the US Trade Representative Ambassador Tai exemplified American commitment to deepening economic and commercial ties with Pakistan.

"We believe that a robust trade relationship between the United States and Pakistan is more important than ever to bolster Pakistan’s economic stability as it recovers from devastating floods, while at the same time also providing opportunity to Americans and to American businesses in this country, exposing them to new markets — Pakistani markets in this case," he said.

The US trade relationship with Pakistan has helped both Pakistani industries and consumers, he said, adding, "We have long been Pakistan’s largest export market, with potential for even further growth."

The State Department spokesman said that his country believed that there was great potential to expand bilateral trade with Pakistan further, particularly in energy, agricultural equipment and products, franchising, retail trade, information and communications technology products and services.

America has been a leading investor in Pakistan for the past two decades, and in the past year the country's investments have increased by some 50 percent, he maintained.

US investment in Pakistan is the highest it’s been in over a decade, and US corporations have announced more than $1.5 billion in investment plans in Pakistan since 2019, he said, adding, "US companies and their local affiliates, moreover, are among Pakistan’s largest employers, with roughly 80 US companies directly employing more than 120,000 Pakistanis."

Price also spoke about the terror threat facing Pakistan. He said that the US engagement was rooted in the fact that terrorism is a threat that has taken many Pakistani, Afghan, other innocent lives over the course of far too many years now.

"The United States and Pakistan have a shared interest in ensuring the Taliban live up to the commitments that they have made, and that terrorist groups that may be active in Afghanistan — like Daesh, TTP, al-Qaida, are no longer able to threaten regional stability," he asserted.

In fiery Sargodha speech, Maryam goes after senior SC judges for ‘conspiring against Nawaz’

PML-N Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz, in a fiery speech on Thursday, came down hard on a “cabal of five”, among which were former and serving members of the judiciary, whom she accused of “conspiring” against PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif.

Addressing a workers’ convention in Sargodha, Maryam — who is currently on a reorganisation tour to shape her party’s narrative — said: “Ever since this watch thief left the government, our ears are tired of hearing ‘there was a conspiracy, there was a conspiracy’.”

Her watch-related jibe was aimed at PTI chief Imran Khan, who has acknowledged that he sold a wristwatch he had procured from the state treasury during his time as as the prime minister.

“Today, I will tell the nation that the real conspiracy took place against Nawaz Sharif,” Maryam roared.

On the PML-N leader’s cue, a video screen showed a combo picture of the five people she held responsible, saying: “The people of Sargodha should also see the ones behind the conspiracy”.

The pictures included ex-Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed, former chief justices Asif Khosa and Saqib Nisar, and two sitting Supreme Court judges, who are currently part of a top court bench hearing a suo motu case to determine who has the constitutional responsibility and authority to announce the date for elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The Pakistan Bar Council has called on one of the judges to “voluntarily recuse to remain as part of the bench”.

It is pertinent to mention that over the past week audio clips have also surfaced on social media wherein ex-Punjab chief minister Parvez Elahi — who has now joined the PTI — is purportedly heard giving directives for fixing cases before one of the two judges Maryam named.

“What can you see on the screen? Can you see the cabal of five? Those visible on the screen are responsible for Pakistan’s crisis,” she said, alleging that the ex-ISI chief, who had “appointed himself the chief of army staff”, was their head.

“Because he wanted to be [the] chief and he needed pawns. He needed a political face. Nawaz Sharif could never be that pawn […] so who did he choose? Imran Khan the watch thief.”

She alleged that a leader of a political party, who is also a part of the ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), told her that when Gen (retd) Hameed was asked why he was doing wrong by Nawaz, the ex-spymaster replied that the PML-N supremo needed to be “cut to size”.

One of the two serving judges shown on the screen, Maryam said, was part of the bench that disqualified Nawaz in the Panama Papers case. “He is dreaming of becoming the chief justice […] It has been five to six years since Nawaz was disqualified but he is still sitting as a judge in every case against Nawaz.”

The PML-N leader claimed that when Imran’s 2014 sit-in failed, ex-CJP Khosa told the PTI chief to bring the Panama case before him so that Nawaz could be disqualified.

“In those days, every verdict was against Nawaz […] PML-N leaders were singled out and disqualified. Today, when the establishment has tossed aside the basket of trash named Imran, these two three judges have carried it.”

She said that at a time when the PTI’s long march had failed and when Imran had dissolved the two provincial assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the two judges had taken it upon themselves to bring him back into power. She accused the judges of trying to “give [a new lease of] life to Imran’s impending political death”.

She alleged that ex-ISI chief Gen (retd) Hameed was “still sitting somewhere and operating”. She said that the former spymaster was not making these moves out of his “love for Imran”, but was doing it in fear of the crimes he had committed during the last five years. “He knows he made billions and then sent those billions to Dubai and other Gulf countries.”

Maryam also played the audio purportedly featuring former Punjab chief minister Elahi and one of the top court judges.

“Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial sahab, the people of Sargodha know that bench fixing is taking place, why are you unaware bench fixing is taking place?”

Maryam further said that the two top court judges had taken notice of the transfer of Lahore capital city police officer (CCPO) and “brought back Imran’s man”.

“And then, while hearing the case, they suddenly landed on [the topic of] elections. It’s a good thing. The PML-N is not scared of elections […] they reached [the topic of elections] and a nine-member bench was constituted which again includes these two judges.”

She further said: “Instead of holding these two judges accountable, they were included in the nine-member bench. Two senior most judges whose integrity has never been questioned were left out of the nine-member bench but these two were included.”

Addressing the top court, Maryam said: “You have sat down to ponder the responsibility of the electoral watchdog. You have sat down to ponder the responsibility of the government. You have sat down to ponder the responsibility of the governor. Sure, go for it but did you ever pay attention to your basic responsibility? Your responsibility is to make non-controversial benches. Are you fulfilling that responsibility?”

The PML-N leader said that even the country’s bar councils had protested against the inclusion of the two judges in the bench hearing the suo motu case regarding the Punjab and KP elections.

“Where will Pakistan go if Imran is rescued by a few SC judges?” she asked, adding that the PTI chief was merely a “front man”.

On Sunday, Maryam, in light of the leaked audio clip purportedly featuring Elahi and one of the Sup­reme Court judges, had asked for accountability in the judiciary and said Pakistan needed “honest jud­ges” instead of the ones who allegedly favoured Imran.

Addressing a workers convention in Rawalpindi, the PML-N senior vice president said that judges named in the audio leak should have “moral courage” to resign from their post.

She said the entire judiciary was not lopsided but there were only some judges in the judiciary who were allegedly biased. “Imran Khan is looking to get support from the judiciary to come back to power after failing to get support from the establishment,” she alleged.

She claimed there were some followers of former spymaster Gen (retd) Hameed in the judiciary and they needed to be held “accountable”.

US weapons sales to get stricter human rights review under Biden

US President Joe Biden’s administration unveiled on Thursday a long-awaited overhaul of arms export policy with increased emphasis on human rights, backing off a Trump-era policy of giving more weight to commercial concerns.

As Reuters reported on Wednesday, the new Commercial Arms Transfer (CAT) policy covers a review of security assistance, government-to-government weapons transfers, and licensed commercial sales of US-origin military equipment and services overseen by the State Department as well as the Defence and Commerce departments, including firearms commonly available in the United States.

Defence companies and activists scrutinise such policies for insight into the administration’s posture as it balances the commercial interests of exporters like Lockheed Martin Co and Raytheon Technologies against the country’s stated commitment to human rights.

One change is how the CAT policy addresses the possibility that arms from the United States could be used for major human rights violations, State Department officials said.

Under the new policy, a weapons transfer will not be approved if the State Department assesses the arms “more likely than not” will be used to commit or facilitate genocide, crimes against humanity, breaches of the Geneva conventions, or serious violations of international law.

Previous CAT policy had said such transfers would not be authorised only when Washington had “actual knowledge” that the arms would be used in such actions.

“We are looking at a policy of prevention when there is a risk of violation of human rights,” one official said. The policy also allows deals to be canceled if rights violations are documented after they are announced.

The officials declined to specify countries or past deals that the new policy might affect.

Rhetoric vs rights reality

Advocates have long questioned weapons sales to countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates over the civilian toll of the war in Yemen.

Biden’s administration was criticised last year for approving the potential sale of radars and aircraft to Egypt despite what Human Rights Watch called Egypt’s “atrocious human rights record”.

“Unfortunately, the Biden administration has a mixed record on these issues so far,” William Hartung, a senior research fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, said in an emailed statement, adding that the administration “will have to change course if they are going to live up to the rhetoric of the new policy”.

The change could also affect exports of smaller weapons such as assault rifles that can be used against domestic populations. Some of this has been under the aegis of the Commerce Department since the administration of former Republican President Donald Trump.

The new CAT policy has been in development for months. Reuters reported in 2021 that the Biden administration was considering a CAT policy shift to emphasise human rights.

The United States is by far the world’s biggest arms merchant, selling some $150 billion in weapons, services, and training a year.

The US Arms Export Control Act requires Congress to be notified of major foreign defence sales agreements, and an informal review process allows the Democratic and Republican leaders of foreign affairs committees to vet such agreements.

Lawmakers often raise rights concerns. For example, Senator Bob Menendez, Democratic chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, opposes the sale of Lockheed Martin F-16 aircraft to Turkey for reasons including disregard for human rights.

Trump viewed weapons deals as a way to generate US jobs. He rolled out a CAT policy in 2018 that gave commercial concerns as much weight as human rights in deciding whether to approve weapons sales.