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  </channel>
  ^
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Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/Dawn-All-News?format=xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" version="2.0">
<channel>
<title>The Dawn News - Home</title>
<link>https://www.dawn.com/</link>
<description>Dawn News</description>
<language>en-Us</language>
<copyright>Copyright 2024</copyright>
<pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 07:37:41 +0500</pubDate>
<lastBuildDate>Wed, 01 May 2024 07:37:41 +0500</lastBuildDate>
<ttl>60</ttl>
<item xmlns:default="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/">
<title>Govt slashes petrol price by Rs5.45, high-speed diesel by Rs8.42</title>
<link>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830588/govt-slashes-petrol-price-by-rs545-high-speed-diesel-by-rs842</link>
<description>The government on Tuesday slashed the price of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) for the next fortnight by Rs5.45 and 8.42, respectively.
In a notification, the finance ministry said the reduction was due to price variations in the international market because of a decreasing trend in prices of petroleum products during the last fortnight.
It said the new petrol price was Rs288.49 per litre and that of HSD was Rs281.96.
 <figure class='media w-full w-full media--stretch media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--twitter '>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/Financegovpk/status/1785377657057595862"></a>
</blockquote>
</div>
</figure>
A fortnight ago, the government had <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1827603">increased</a> the price of petrol and HSD by Rs4.53 and Rs8.14 per litre.
The government has already achieved Rs60 per litre petroleum levy — maximum permissible limit under the law — on both petrol and HSD.
Informed sources had earlier <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1830540/petrol-diesel-prices-likely-to-be-cut-by-rs9-per-litre">told</a> Dawn that the prices of petrol and diesel were expected to drop by about Rs5 and Rs9 per litre, respectively, mainly because of a fall in the international prices and import premiums.
The sources said the prices of petrol and HSD had declined in the international market by about $3 and $5 per barrel, respectively, in the last fortnight.
</description>
<content:encoded xmlns="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[The government on Tuesday slashed the price of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) for the next fortnight by Rs5.45 and 8.42, respectively.
In a notification, the finance ministry said the reduction was due to price variations in the international market because of a decreasing trend in prices of petroleum products during the last fortnight.
It said the new petrol price was Rs288.49 per litre and that of HSD was Rs281.96.
 <figure class='media w-full w-full media--stretch media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--twitter '>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/Financegovpk/status/1785377657057595862"></a>
</blockquote>
</div>
</figure>
A fortnight ago, the government had <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1827603">increased</a> the price of petrol and HSD by Rs4.53 and Rs8.14 per litre.
The government has already achieved Rs60 per litre petroleum levy — maximum permissible limit under the law — on both petrol and HSD.
Informed sources had earlier <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1830540/petrol-diesel-prices-likely-to-be-cut-by-rs9-per-litre">told</a> Dawn that the prices of petrol and diesel were expected to drop by about Rs5 and Rs9 per litre, respectively, mainly because of a fall in the international prices and import premiums.
The sources said the prices of petrol and HSD had declined in the international market by about $3 and $5 per barrel, respectively, in the last fortnight.
]]></content:encoded>
<category>Business</category>
<guid>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830588</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 23:50:01 +0500</pubDate>
<author>none@none.com (Dawn.com)</author>
<media:content url="https://i.dawn.com/large/2024/04/301611426d488db.jpg?r=161608" type="image/jpeg" medium="image" height="480" width="800">
<media:thumbnail url="https://i.dawn.com/thumbnail/2024/04/301611426d488db.jpg?r=161608"/>
<media:title>Motorists wait to fill their vehicles’ tanks at a petrol station in Islamabad following an increase of petroleum prices by the government on Thursday. — AFP
</media:title>
</media:content>
</item>
<item xmlns:default="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/">
<title>Reported Indian role in assassination plots a ‘serious matter’: White House</title>
<link>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830609/reported-indian-role-in-assassination-plots-a-serious-matter-white-house</link>
<description>The White House has said it views the reported role of the Indian intelligence service in two assassination plots in Canada and the United States as a serious matter.
The Washington Post <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/04/29/india-assassination-raw-sikhs-modi/">reported</a> that an officer in India’s intelligence service was directly involved in a <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1791573">foiled plan</a> to assassinate a US citizen who is one of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s most vocal critics in the United States. It said the officer was also involved in the separate <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1776704/indian-envoy-expelled-as-pm-trudeau-links-delhi-to-sikh-leaders-death">shooting death</a> of a Sikh activist last June in Canada.
India’s foreign ministry said the Washington Post report made “unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations on a serious matter” while New Delhi is investigating the issue.
“Speculative and irresponsible comments on it are not helpful,” foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement.
 <figure class='media w-full w-full media--stretch media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--twitter '>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/1785152301306679382"></a>
</blockquote>
</div>
</figure>
“This is a serious matter, and we’re taking that very, very seriously,” White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters. “We’re going to continue to raise our concerns.”
In November, US authorities said an Indian government official had directed the plot in the attempted murder of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh separatist and dual citizen of the United States and Canada.
India has expressed concern about the linkage and dissociated itself from the plot, saying it would formally investigate the concerns of the United States, and take ‘necessary follow-up action’ on the findings of a panel set up on November 18.
Pannun is the general counsel of Sikhs for Justice, a group that India labeled an “unlawful association” in 2019, citing its involvement in extremist activities. Subsequently, in 2020, India listed Pannun as an “individual terrorist”.
 <figure class='media sm:w-1/2 w-full media--right media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--newskitlink '> <iframe
class="nk-iframe" onload="setInterval(()=>{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)"
width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:400px;position:relative"
src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/1794168"
sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"></iframe></div>
</figure>
The issue is a delicate one for both India and the Biden administration in the United States as they try to build closer ties in the face of shared concerns about China’s growing power.
News of the US plot came two months after Canada said it was looking at credible allegations potentially linking Indian agents to the June murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, another Sikh separatist, in a Vancouver suburb.
India strongly rejected Ottawa’s accusations.
 <figure class='media sm:w-1/2 w-full media--right media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--newskitlink '> <iframe
class="nk-iframe" onload="setInterval(()=>{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)"
width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:400px;position:relative"
src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/1825866"
sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"></iframe></div>
</figure>
Earlier this month, the Foreign Office (FO) had said that the Indian network of extra-judicial and extra-territorial killings was now a “global phenomenon” that required a coordinated international response.
The statement was issued after The Guardian had <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/04/indian-government-assassination-allegations-pakistan-intelligence-officials">reported</a> that the Indian government assassinated individuals in Pakistan as part of a wider strategy to eliminate terrorists living on foreign soil.
The report cited intelligence officials from both countries, as well as documents shared by Pakistani investigators, saying they “shed new light on how India’s foreign intelligence agency allegedly began to carry out assassinations abroad as part of an emboldened approach to national security after 2019”.
On January 25, Foreign Secretary Syrus Sajjad Qazi had said in a press conference that there was “<a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1826054/pakistan-denounces-provocative-remarks-by-indian-defence-minister-over-assassination-campaign">credible evidence</a>” of links between Indian agents and the assassination of two Pakistani nationals in Sialkot and Rawalakot.
</description>
<content:encoded xmlns="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[The White House has said it views the reported role of the Indian intelligence service in two assassination plots in Canada and the United States as a serious matter.
The Washington Post <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/04/29/india-assassination-raw-sikhs-modi/">reported</a> that an officer in India’s intelligence service was directly involved in a <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1791573">foiled plan</a> to assassinate a US citizen who is one of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s most vocal critics in the United States. It said the officer was also involved in the separate <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1776704/indian-envoy-expelled-as-pm-trudeau-links-delhi-to-sikh-leaders-death">shooting death</a> of a Sikh activist last June in Canada.
India’s foreign ministry said the Washington Post report made “unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations on a serious matter” while New Delhi is investigating the issue.
“Speculative and irresponsible comments on it are not helpful,” foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement.
 <figure class='media w-full w-full media--stretch media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--twitter '>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/1785152301306679382"></a>
</blockquote>
</div>
</figure>
“This is a serious matter, and we’re taking that very, very seriously,” White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters. “We’re going to continue to raise our concerns.”
In November, US authorities said an Indian government official had directed the plot in the attempted murder of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh separatist and dual citizen of the United States and Canada.
India has expressed concern about the linkage and dissociated itself from the plot, saying it would formally investigate the concerns of the United States, and take ‘necessary follow-up action’ on the findings of a panel set up on November 18.
Pannun is the general counsel of Sikhs for Justice, a group that India labeled an “unlawful association” in 2019, citing its involvement in extremist activities. Subsequently, in 2020, India listed Pannun as an “individual terrorist”.
 <figure class='media sm:w-1/2 w-full media--right media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--newskitlink '> <iframe
class="nk-iframe" onload="setInterval(()=>{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)"
width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:400px;position:relative"
src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/1794168"
sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"></iframe></div>
</figure>
The issue is a delicate one for both India and the Biden administration in the United States as they try to build closer ties in the face of shared concerns about China’s growing power.
News of the US plot came two months after Canada said it was looking at credible allegations potentially linking Indian agents to the June murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, another Sikh separatist, in a Vancouver suburb.
India strongly rejected Ottawa’s accusations.
 <figure class='media sm:w-1/2 w-full media--right media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--newskitlink '> <iframe
class="nk-iframe" onload="setInterval(()=>{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)"
width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:400px;position:relative"
src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/1825866"
sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"></iframe></div>
</figure>
Earlier this month, the Foreign Office (FO) had said that the Indian network of extra-judicial and extra-territorial killings was now a “global phenomenon” that required a coordinated international response.
The statement was issued after The Guardian had <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/04/indian-government-assassination-allegations-pakistan-intelligence-officials">reported</a> that the Indian government assassinated individuals in Pakistan as part of a wider strategy to eliminate terrorists living on foreign soil.
The report cited intelligence officials from both countries, as well as documents shared by Pakistani investigators, saying they “shed new light on how India’s foreign intelligence agency allegedly began to carry out assassinations abroad as part of an emboldened approach to national security after 2019”.
On January 25, Foreign Secretary Syrus Sajjad Qazi had said in a press conference that there was “<a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1826054/pakistan-denounces-provocative-remarks-by-indian-defence-minister-over-assassination-campaign">credible evidence</a>” of links between Indian agents and the assassination of two Pakistani nationals in Sialkot and Rawalakot.
]]></content:encoded>
<category>World</category>
<guid>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830609</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 23:51:43 +0500</pubDate>
<author>none@none.com (Reuters)</author>
<media:content url="https://i.dawn.com/large/2024/04/3022160029a4a44.jpg?r=222320" type="image/jpeg" medium="image" height="480" width="800">
<media:thumbnail url="https://i.dawn.com/thumbnail/2024/04/3022160029a4a44.jpg?r=222320"/>
<media:title>A view of the White House. — Reuters/file
</media:title>
</media:content>
</item>
<item xmlns:default="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/">
<title>President Zardari appoints PML-N’s Rana Sanaullah as PM’s adviser on political affairs</title>
<link>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830602/president-zardari-appoints-pml-ns-rana-sanaullah-as-pms-adviser-on-political-affairs</link>
<description>PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah was appointed as adviser to the prime minister on political and public affairs on Tuesday.
A statement from the Presidency said President Asif Ali Zardari approved the appointment on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s advice under Article 93(1) of the Constitution.
It added that Sanaullah will hold the rank of a federal minister as well.
 <figure class='media w-full w-full media--stretch media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--twitter '>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/PresOfPakistan/status/1785328512678629832"></a>
</blockquote>
</div>
</figure>
Speaking on Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ a day ago, Sanaullah had confirmed that he had a meeting with the prime minister to include him in the federal government.
He added that the two had ultimately decided for PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif to decide the matter after his return from China.
 <figure class='media w-full w-full media--stretch media--embed '>
<div class='media__item media__item--youtube '><iframe src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/F3HxFmfD7ME?enablejsapi=1&controls=1&modestbranding=1&rel=0' allowfullscreen='' frameborder='0' scrolling='no' width='100%' height='100%'></iframe></div>
</figure>
The appointment comes two days after the PML-N government on Sunday appointed Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar — a close confidant of Nawaz — as the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1830191/foreign-minister-ishaq-dar-appointed-deputy-prime-minister">deputy prime minister</a>, in a move that took many by surprise, but drew hardly any criticism from its allies.
Sanaullah served as the interior minister in the Pakistan Democratic Movement-led government. He managed the PML-N’s electoral campaign for the February 8 general polls but <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1812931">lost</a> NA-100’s (Faisalabad-VI) contest to PTI-backed Dr Nisar Jutt with 112,403 votes against 131,996.
</description>
<content:encoded xmlns="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah was appointed as adviser to the prime minister on political and public affairs on Tuesday.
A statement from the Presidency said President Asif Ali Zardari approved the appointment on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s advice under Article 93(1) of the Constitution.
It added that Sanaullah will hold the rank of a federal minister as well.
 <figure class='media w-full w-full media--stretch media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--twitter '>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/PresOfPakistan/status/1785328512678629832"></a>
</blockquote>
</div>
</figure>
Speaking on Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ a day ago, Sanaullah had confirmed that he had a meeting with the prime minister to include him in the federal government.
He added that the two had ultimately decided for PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif to decide the matter after his return from China.
 <figure class='media w-full w-full media--stretch media--embed '>
<div class='media__item media__item--youtube '><iframe src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/F3HxFmfD7ME?enablejsapi=1&controls=1&modestbranding=1&rel=0' allowfullscreen='' frameborder='0' scrolling='no' width='100%' height='100%'></iframe></div>
</figure>
The appointment comes two days after the PML-N government on Sunday appointed Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar — a close confidant of Nawaz — as the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1830191/foreign-minister-ishaq-dar-appointed-deputy-prime-minister">deputy prime minister</a>, in a move that took many by surprise, but drew hardly any criticism from its allies.
Sanaullah served as the interior minister in the Pakistan Democratic Movement-led government. He managed the PML-N’s electoral campaign for the February 8 general polls but <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1812931">lost</a> NA-100’s (Faisalabad-VI) contest to PTI-backed Dr Nisar Jutt with 112,403 votes against 131,996.
]]></content:encoded>
<category>Pakistan</category>
<guid>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830602</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 21:48:52 +0500</pubDate>
<author>none@none.com (Nadir Guramani)</author>
<media:content url="https://i.dawn.com/large/2024/04/3020345751f6016.png?r=205429" type="image/png" medium="image" height="480" width="800">
<media:thumbnail url="https://i.dawn.com/thumbnail/2024/04/3020345751f6016.png?r=205429"/>
<media:title>Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah speaks during Dawn News show “Live with Adil Shahzeb” on Tuesday night. — DawnNewsTV
</media:title>
</media:content>
</item>
<item xmlns:default="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/">
<title>Pakistan’s ‘historic’ lunar mission to be launched on Friday aboard China lunar probe</title>
<link>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830608/pakistans-historic-lunar-mission-to-be-launched-on-friday-aboard-china-lunar-probe</link>
<description>The Institute of Space Technology on Tuesday said Pakistan’s “historic” lunar mission iCube-Q will be launched on May 3 at 12:50pm on board China’s Chang’e 6 lunar probe from Hainan, China.
According to the Institute of Space Technology (IST), the satellite ICUBE-Q has been designed and developed by IST in collaboration with China’s Shanghai University SJTU and Pakistan’s national space agency Suparco.
 <figure class='media sm:w-1/2 w-full media--right media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--newskitlink '> <iframe
class="nk-iframe" onload="setInterval(()=>{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)"
width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:400px;position:relative"
src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/1776295"
sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"></iframe></div>
</figure>
ICUBE-Q orbiter carries two optical cameras to image the lunar surface.
Following successful qualification and testing, iCube-Q has now been integrated with the Chang’e 6 mission.
Chang’e 6 is the sixth in a series of China’s lunar exploration missions.
The launch activity will be telecast live on the IST website and IST social media platforms.
 <figure class='media w-full w-full media--stretch '>
<div class='media__item '><picture><img src='https://www.facebook.com/IST.islamabad/posts/pfbid0335FzYupJM2xtyYCQFg229V7AhG94h66VBxwsS7y45ggG1r5KgvHPPgmUMVUgkiP7l?locale=en_GB' alt='' /></picture></div>
</figure>
China’s lunar mission will touch down on the moon’s far side to collect samples from the surface and return to Earth for research.
The mission holds significance for Pakistan as it will also take a CubeSat Satellite iCube-Q, developed by IST.
 <figure class='media w-full w-full media--stretch media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--twitter '>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/CathayPak/status/1784986592819450136?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet"></a>
</blockquote>
</div>
</figure>
CubeSats are miniature satellites typically characterised by their small size and standardised design.
They are constructed in a cubic shape, consisting of modular components that adhere to specific size constraints.
These satellites often weigh no more than a few kilogrammes and were deployed in space for various purposes.
 <figure class='media sm:w-1/2 w-full media--right media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--newskitlink '> <iframe
class="nk-iframe" onload="setInterval(()=>{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)"
width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:400px;position:relative"
src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/1057688"
sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"></iframe></div>
</figure>
The primary purpose of CubeSats was to facilitate scientific research, technology development, and educational initiatives in space exploration.
These satellites were utilised for a wide range of missions, including Earth observations, remote sensing, atmospheric research, communications, astronomy and technology demonstration.
Due to their compact size and relatively low cost compared to traditional satellites, CubeSats offered opportunities for universities, research institutions and commercial entities to participate in space missions and gather valuable data for scientific advancement and innovation.
They serve as platforms for testing new technologies and concepts, enabling access to space for a broader range of users and promoting collaboration within the space community.
Last year in August, India became the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1771717">first nation</a> to land a craft near the Moon’s south pole, a historic triumph for its ambitious, cut-price space programme.
</description>
<content:encoded xmlns="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[The Institute of Space Technology on Tuesday said Pakistan’s “historic” lunar mission iCube-Q will be launched on May 3 at 12:50pm on board China’s Chang’e 6 lunar probe from Hainan, China.
According to the Institute of Space Technology (IST), the satellite ICUBE-Q has been designed and developed by IST in collaboration with China’s Shanghai University SJTU and Pakistan’s national space agency Suparco.
 <figure class='media sm:w-1/2 w-full media--right media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--newskitlink '> <iframe
class="nk-iframe" onload="setInterval(()=>{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)"
width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:400px;position:relative"
src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/1776295"
sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"></iframe></div>
</figure>
ICUBE-Q orbiter carries two optical cameras to image the lunar surface.
Following successful qualification and testing, iCube-Q has now been integrated with the Chang’e 6 mission.
Chang’e 6 is the sixth in a series of China’s lunar exploration missions.
The launch activity will be telecast live on the IST website and IST social media platforms.
 <figure class='media w-full w-full media--stretch '>
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China’s lunar mission will touch down on the moon’s far side to collect samples from the surface and return to Earth for research.
The mission holds significance for Pakistan as it will also take a CubeSat Satellite iCube-Q, developed by IST.
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CubeSats are miniature satellites typically characterised by their small size and standardised design.
They are constructed in a cubic shape, consisting of modular components that adhere to specific size constraints.
These satellites often weigh no more than a few kilogrammes and were deployed in space for various purposes.
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The primary purpose of CubeSats was to facilitate scientific research, technology development, and educational initiatives in space exploration.
These satellites were utilised for a wide range of missions, including Earth observations, remote sensing, atmospheric research, communications, astronomy and technology demonstration.
Due to their compact size and relatively low cost compared to traditional satellites, CubeSats offered opportunities for universities, research institutions and commercial entities to participate in space missions and gather valuable data for scientific advancement and innovation.
They serve as platforms for testing new technologies and concepts, enabling access to space for a broader range of users and promoting collaboration within the space community.
Last year in August, India became the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1771717">first nation</a> to land a craft near the Moon’s south pole, a historic triumph for its ambitious, cut-price space programme.
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<category>Pakistan</category>
<guid>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830608</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 22:49:37 +0500</pubDate>
<author>none@none.com (APP)</author>
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<media:title>The Chang’e 6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket combination sit atop the launch pad at the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan province, China, April 27. — Reuters
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<title>Justice Minallah says state has to protect judges, independence of judiciary</title>
<link>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830570/justice-minallah-says-state-has-to-protect-judges-independence-of-judiciary</link>
<description>Justice Athar Minallah on Tuesday said the state had to protect the country’s judges and the independence of the judiciary.
He made the remarks as a six-member Supreme Court (SC) bench resumed hearing a case pertaining to <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1824028/ihc-judges-detail-brazen-meddling-in-letter-to-supreme-judicial-council">allegations</a> made by six Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges regarding interference by the country’s security apparatus in judicial matters.
Headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, the bench included justices Minallah, Mansoor Ali Shah, Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Musarrat Hilali and Naeem Akhtar Afghan. The proceedings were streamed live on the SC’s <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.supremecourt.gov.pk/video-link-case-hearing/">website</a> and its <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYo45n7oxaQ">YouTube</a> channel.
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In late March, six IHC judges — out of a total strength of eight — wrote a <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1824028/ihc-judges-detail-brazen-meddling-in-letter-to-supreme-judicial-council">startling letter</a> to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) members, regarding attempts to pressure judges through the abduction and torture of their relatives as well as secret surveillance inside their homes.
The letter was signed by judges Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Babar Sattar, Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Saman Rafat Imtiaz.
A day later, <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1824079">calls had emerged</a> from various quarters for a probe into the investigation, amid which CJP Isa summoned a full court meeting of the SC judges.
In a meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1824383/cjp-pm-agree-to-probe-claims-of-meddling">CJP Isa</a> had decided to form an inquiry commission, which was later <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1824807">approved</a> by the federal cabinet.
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However, ex-CJP Tassaduq Hussain Jillani — tasked to head the one-man inquiry commission — <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1825056">recused himself</a> from the role, urging Justice Isa to “resolve the issues raised in the letter at the institutional level”. At the same time, the top court <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1825056#:~:text=takes%20suo%20motu-,notice,-Meanwhile%2C%20the%20top">took suo motu notice</a> of the matter.
Justice Yahya Afridi, who was among the seven-member bench that presided over the last hearing, had <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1827130">recused himself</a> from the case. At the previous hearing, CJP Isa had <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1825442">asserted</a> that “any attack” on the judiciary’s independence would not be tolerated while hinting at forming a full court to hear the case.
Besides the suo motu, the SC has also taken up more than <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1829904">10 petitions and applications</a> seeking its intervention, which were filed by various bar associations and had been clubbed together.
A week ago, an IHC full court <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1829294/ihc-judges-look-to-create-bulwark-against-meddling">decided</a> to introduce several measures, including the reactivation of “empowered” inspection teams to put an end to the alleged meddling. Later, a four-point “<a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1830287">unanimous proposal</a>”, signed by all eight IHC judges, was issued that largely relied on existing laws to counter any interference.
Today, Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan appeared before the apex court.
The SC ordered the petitioners — the bar councils and associations — to submit a response by the next hearing on May 7, adding that it would be appropriate if it was unanimous.
It also said that the federal government could submit its response or proposals through the AGP if it wanted to do so. CJP Isa said that if the allegations “refer to any [intelligence] agency, the said agency should respond” through the AGP.
<h2><a id="the-hearing" href="#the-hearing" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" title="Permalink"></a>The hearing</h2>
At the outset of the hearing, CJP Isa clarified that prior to the last hearing, the SC’s bench formation committee had “decided that all available judges in Islamabad should immediately convene”.
“There was no pick and choose; whoever was available was put together,” he observed, noting that Justice Afridi had recused himself. Recalling that he had hinted at a full court, Justice Isa said that it could not be convened as two judges were unavailable.
The top judge noted that there was “so much polarisation in the country” and “people may not be so interested in the independence of the judiciary but in their own particular viewpoint to prevail”. Reiterating his remarks from the previous hearing, Justice Isa reiterated that “attacks” against ex-CJP Jillani were “upsetting”.
“If somebody can impose a will upon this court, that is also interference. Interference can be from within, from without, from intelligence agencies, from your colleagues, from your family members, from social media, from everybody else,” CJP Isa said.
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“A judge’s judgment and order shows, speaks, shouts how much interference there is or isn’t; how much independence there is or isn’t,” he added.
During the hearing, the top judge also remarked that he was “not responsible for the history of the Supreme Court. I am only responsible from the day I became chief justice. I have gone ahead with an inclusive approach.”
The chief justice asked AGP Awan if he had gone through the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1830287/ihc-looks-to-counter-meddling-with-same-old-arsenal">recommendations</a> made by the IHC judges, to which the latter replied in the negative. Justice Isa then asked Awan about how to proceed with the matter.
Here, Justice Minallah remarked: “These are not recommendations or suggestions but a charge sheet.”
After the AGP read the proposals out loud, CJP Isa observed, “We should not interfere in the high court’s work. The results of interference in high courts’ matters have not been good in the past.”
Justice Minallah noted that the IHC judges had alleged “continuous meddling” and asked if their recommendations were unanimous. Awan replied that it seemed so, at which the judge observed that no judge had disagreed.
The SC then ordered that the proposals made by the IHC judges be made public. Justice Isa said, “When everything is airing on the media, we may make this public as well.”
When the chief justice asked if a high court was not empowered by the Constitution to implement the said suggestions, AGP Awan replied that it had the authority to take action on all the points.
Justice Isa observed that the SC should limit itself to the high courts’ suggestions and not act on those made by every other person.
“I will never accept any interference from any source and there has <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1829573/received-not-a-single-complaint-of-interference-so-far-under-my-watch-cjp-isa">not been a single complaint</a> since my assumption of this office to me or the SC’s registrar,” the top judge remarked.
He also asked if it amounted to interference when the presidents of the lower judiciary’s bar associations “force their way into the judges’ chambers”.
At this point during the hearing, Justice Minallah emphasised: “If the state becomes the aggressor against a judge, that is what all the high courts are highlighting and that is a serious matter.
“The high court of Lahore is endorsing what the IHC has said […] and we all know that it is happening and has happened,” he added.
Justice Minallah highlighted that the judges “fear reporting” such incidents. In an apparent reference to IHC’s <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1830190/ihc-condemns-malicious-social-media-campaign-against-justice-babar-sattar">Justice Babar Sattar</a>, he said: “Since the last hearing, what has happened to an IHC judge? His personal data which cannot accessed by a private person was put on social media.”
“That is an intimidation,” he observed.
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“The state is to protect the judges and independence of the judiciary. When it becomes the aggressor, which each high court is saying; that is what is the issue and it is happening.
“It is a phenomenon that has happened for the last 76 years and this is what each high court is endorsing. It is happening today,” Justice Minallah observed.
Justice Shah noted that the matter had landed before the SC and questioned if the apex court could “just brush aside” the matter.
“We should empower the high courts. We are, by interfering in this matter, actually empowering the high courts, the district judiciary, the entire judiciary; I don’t think it’s interference in any matter,” he observed.
Justice Shah noted there was a need to “lay down a court which is a clear firewall against all sorts of excesses” and that a “system” needed to be put in place rather than dealing with individual incidents.
Justice Mandokhail said that “especially two of our learned members of the bench have been targeted” since the SC took up the matter. “This is not interference. This is a threat.
“Leave the high court judges aside […] the notice we have taken; what is happening with us? Can there be independence in this manner?” the judge asked.
Justice Minallah remarked that the “entire onus was on the state” when data of judges’ family members was “stolen” from government departments, such as the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra).
“There are judges we know who are just told ‘your child studies at so and so place’ and it is the state which is doing it,” he added.
Justice Hilali wondered why all high courts did not implement the suggested actions by themselves and why they were seeking the SC’s permission.
Justice Shah observed that the high courts had “all powers, including that of contempt of court [notice]”, stressing the need to empower each court of the country.
He said the current suo motu case was “doing wonders” as it had led to the judiciary “mustering the courage” to write the letter.
Meanwhile, Justice Minallah said: “The state is to protect the independence of the judiciary. There has been a partnership between the judiciary and the establishment for the past 76 years. That culture continues.”
CJP Isa then responded: “I don’t know. At least there’s no culture here. […] If there was any interference in my work and if I could not withstand the pressure, I would go home.”
He went on to recall that he had been Balochistan High Court’s (BHC) chief justice for five years and offered to ask the judges there about any alleged interference.
“Since I have been a judge here (at SC), I have fought for the independence of the judiciary from within,” Justice Isa asserted.
“And the greatest threat to independence was from the Supreme Court, not from the outside, in my opinion. I have lived through it; I have experienced it so these are not empty words. Please do not include me in the 76 years of Pakistan’s history and there are many such persons who should not be included.
Justice Minallah responded to CJP Isa, saying: “I haven’t condemned all. There have been exceptions.”
He added that “no one could influence a single judge” during his own tenure as the IHC chief justice.
At one point during the hearing, Justice Shah said, “‘Someone is watching me, someone is noting me, there is a device fixed in this room’ — why does this happen?
“Should this happen? Should there be such a culture in a democratic country?” he asked.
Here, Justice Minallah observed: “Intelligence agencies function under the prime minister. If the intelligence institutions do something, the prime minister and his cabinet are responsible for it.”
He pointed out that “nothing was free” since under the Constitution, the “image of our armed forces has to be protected” as they were the protectors and defenders of the country.
Addressing AGP Awan, CJP Isa questioned who filed review petitions against the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1462170">2019 SC judgment</a> on the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1789510">Faizabad sit-in case</a>.
Remarking that he would “explain how internal interference takes place”, Justice Isa highlighted that the review pleas were not fixed for hearing for more than four years and wondered if there was any clarification for why it was not.
“Is the executive responsible for this as well?” he quipped, adding that the Parliament should play its role here.
“Did the world not know who was running Pakistan at that time?” he asked. “But perhaps you people wanted to save them, perhaps not,” the top judge said while addressing the AGP.
“I had given it in writing that Faiz Hameed was behind this. The matter was left to the then-government,” CJP Isa said, noting that his wife had also <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1667048">recorded her statement</a> at a police station.
“When people deviate from the track, then legislation becomes necessary,” the chief justice asserted, wondering when the government would finally legislate. The CJP remarked that until the Parliament became strong, other powers would continue to strengthen.
Here, Justice Shah questioned under which law intelligence agencies came into existence, and what action could be taken against them in case they interfered in other matters.
Recalling the attorney general’s statement from the previous of “political engineering from 2017-2018”, Justice Minallah asked Awan who was in the government at that time. The AGP replied that it was the PML-N’s tenure, at which the judge asked him, “Are you saying that the government was helpless?”
At this point during the hearing, CJP Isa noted, “The bureaucracy also gets calls; some [judges] work [while] some don’t. Those who don’t are made OSDs (officers on special duty).
Justice Minallah then remarked that there would be no pressure if the judiciary “did not open its doors”. To this, Justice Shah said there should be a case of misconduct against those who did “open the doors”.
Justice Minallah noted that when a judge raised their voice, a smear campaign was launched against him. “Look what the government did when such a major verdict came on the Justice Siddiqui case,” he said. AGP Awan then said, “A few former judges were also involved in this.”
Justice Minallah replied that action should be taken against whoever was involved, even a former chief justice. He remarked that references were filed against a judge if they spoke the truth, at which Justice Isa said: “Those references arrive before us in the end. We should not paint such a poor image of us.”
“You have read the suggestions of three high courts — no one has said there is no intervention,” Justice Minallah said. “This means that interference is taking place.”
Justice Shah also said that no high court had indicated to resolve the issue on their own, stressing the need for a “system that closes the door of interference”.
Here, CJP Isa observed that if the SJC had to make recommendations, it could do so separately and told the AGP to not discuss the council as the bench was hearing the case “on the judicial side, not administrative”.
Justice Shah then said that the bench could “pass any order” while Justice Minallah said the apex court could “strike down as well as amend the SJC’s decisions”. “We can also advise the executive on important matters,” he added.
Justice Mandokhail stated that the court would take all steps while remaining in its jurisdiction.
ہ
At one point, CJP Isa noted, “When we seek reports from intelligence agencies for appointing judges, we give them a chance to interfere. When you have monitoring judges appointed and include them in JITS (joint investigation teams), they will get a chance to interfere.”
“Some people put aside Constitutional interests for personal benefits. Some people were standing at one position at a specific time but were now at a different one,” the top judge added.
Addressing AGP Awan, Justice Minallah highlighted that in a press conference after the meeting between him, CJP Isa and PM Shehbaz, the IHC judges’ move was termed “misconduct”.
The AGP responded it was wrong if their letter was called “misconduct”. He later said, “I have confirmed that the misconduct sentence was not said during the press conference.”
Justice Mandokhail remarked that the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) response was the “most serious” as they had mentioned “receiving death threats”.
Dictating today’s order, the CJP noted that the “five high courts have filed their responses/proposals/suggestions, which were read by the AGP” during the hearing.
The Pakistan Bar Council and the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1829485">SC Bar Association</a> were issued notices, with Justice Isa noting that the PBC had filed its response and the SCBA would file additional proposals by the next hearing. The CJP said other respondents may also provide their recommendations if they wanted.
“It would be appropriate and helpful if the bar associations and bar councils try to come together to file one document on things which they agree with and may also file separately those points which they are not in agreement with,” CJP Isa ordered.
Stating that the apex court wanted to conclude the matter soon, the top judge said the AGP was to submit a reply on behalf of the federation and that a separate document be filed if the federal government had any proposals.
CJP Isa said that if the allegations “refer to any [intelligence] agency, the said agency should respond” through the AGP. “If any specific allegation has emerged, the response to it should also come,” he added.
The court stated that no new petitioners would be made respondents in the case. Subsequently, the hearing was adjourned till May 7.
<h2><a id="contents-of-letter-by-ihc-judges" href="#contents-of-letter-by-ihc-judges" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" title="Permalink"></a>Contents of letter by IHC judges</h2>
Dated March 25, the letter was signed by IHC Justices Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Babar Sattar, Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Saman Rafat Imtiaz.
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It mentioned seven instances of alleged interference and intimidation “to influence the outcome of cases of interest” by the intelligence officials, pointing out that when two out of three judges in the bench hearing the plea to disqualify PTI leader Imran Khan for concealing his alleged daughter opined that the case was not maintainable, they were pressured by “operatives of the ISI” through friends and relatives.
The situation got so stressful that one of the judges had to be admitted to hospital due to high blood pressure, the letter said.
According to the six judges, the matter was brought to the notice of the IHC chief justice and the then-CJP. The former informed the judges that he had “spoken to the DG-C of ISI and had been assured that no official from ISI will approach the judges of the IHC”.
The letter complained that “interference on the part of intelligence operatives” continued even after IHC CJ’s assurance.
It also referred to the abduction of an IHC judge’s brother-in-law by armed men who claimed to be ISI operatives. The victim was “administered electric shocks” and “forced to record a video” making false allegations, apparently against the judge.
“Subsequently, a complaint was filed against the judge of IHC before the SJC, accompanied by an orchestrated media campaign to bring pressure to bear upon the judge to resign.”
The letter revealed that in May 2023, an IHC inspection judge reported to the chief justice that district court judges were being intimidated and crackers were thrown into the house of one additional district and sessions judge.
The judge was even called to the IHC to verify the claims which he confirmed. But instead of probing the allegations, the judge “was made officer on special duty and transferred to IHC, before being sent back to Punjab as he was a judicial officer on deputation”.
The letter said that last year, during routine maintenance, an IHC judge found that his official residence had been bugged with spy cameras concealed in his drawing room and bedroom.
When data from surveillance equipment was recovered, it showed that “private videos of the judge and his family members” were stored. “The matter was brought to the attention of the IHC chief justice. There has been no determination of who installed the equipment and who is to be held accountable,” the letter added.
Along with their letter to the SJC, the six judges also attached copies of letters written to Justice Farooq on May 10, 2023 and Feb 12, 2024.
The letters mentioned, among other complaints, efforts of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) personnel to pressurise IHC judges and probe into the tax records of at least one judge “to seek a certain outcome”.
They added that it was imperative to determine whether there was a “policy on the part of the executive … implemented by intelligence operatives” to intimidate judges.
“[The] allegations of interference by operatives of ISI have been dealt with and relief has been granted to a former judge of IHC who was wronged. We believe that while such action was necessary, it may not be sufficient,” the letter said about Justice Siddiqui’s case.
The judges noted that the SJC’s code of conduct for judges did not outline the response to such incidents “that are tantamount to intimidation and interfere with judicial independence”.
They called for a judicial convention to discuss the interference of intelligence officials “that undermines independence of the judiciary”.
The consultation would help the Supreme Court to determine a course of action that judges could take “when they find themselves at the receiving end”, the letter said.
</description>
<content:encoded xmlns="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[Justice Athar Minallah on Tuesday said the state had to protect the country’s judges and the independence of the judiciary.
He made the remarks as a six-member Supreme Court (SC) bench resumed hearing a case pertaining to <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1824028/ihc-judges-detail-brazen-meddling-in-letter-to-supreme-judicial-council">allegations</a> made by six Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges regarding interference by the country’s security apparatus in judicial matters.
Headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, the bench included justices Minallah, Mansoor Ali Shah, Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Musarrat Hilali and Naeem Akhtar Afghan. The proceedings were streamed live on the SC’s <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.supremecourt.gov.pk/video-link-case-hearing/">website</a> and its <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYo45n7oxaQ">YouTube</a> channel.
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In late March, six IHC judges — out of a total strength of eight — wrote a <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1824028/ihc-judges-detail-brazen-meddling-in-letter-to-supreme-judicial-council">startling letter</a> to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) members, regarding attempts to pressure judges through the abduction and torture of their relatives as well as secret surveillance inside their homes.
The letter was signed by judges Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Babar Sattar, Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Saman Rafat Imtiaz.
A day later, <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1824079">calls had emerged</a> from various quarters for a probe into the investigation, amid which CJP Isa summoned a full court meeting of the SC judges.
In a meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1824383/cjp-pm-agree-to-probe-claims-of-meddling">CJP Isa</a> had decided to form an inquiry commission, which was later <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1824807">approved</a> by the federal cabinet.
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However, ex-CJP Tassaduq Hussain Jillani — tasked to head the one-man inquiry commission — <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1825056">recused himself</a> from the role, urging Justice Isa to “resolve the issues raised in the letter at the institutional level”. At the same time, the top court <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1825056#:~:text=takes%20suo%20motu-,notice,-Meanwhile%2C%20the%20top">took suo motu notice</a> of the matter.
Justice Yahya Afridi, who was among the seven-member bench that presided over the last hearing, had <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1827130">recused himself</a> from the case. At the previous hearing, CJP Isa had <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1825442">asserted</a> that “any attack” on the judiciary’s independence would not be tolerated while hinting at forming a full court to hear the case.
Besides the suo motu, the SC has also taken up more than <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1829904">10 petitions and applications</a> seeking its intervention, which were filed by various bar associations and had been clubbed together.
A week ago, an IHC full court <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1829294/ihc-judges-look-to-create-bulwark-against-meddling">decided</a> to introduce several measures, including the reactivation of “empowered” inspection teams to put an end to the alleged meddling. Later, a four-point “<a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1830287">unanimous proposal</a>”, signed by all eight IHC judges, was issued that largely relied on existing laws to counter any interference.
Today, Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan appeared before the apex court.
The SC ordered the petitioners — the bar councils and associations — to submit a response by the next hearing on May 7, adding that it would be appropriate if it was unanimous.
It also said that the federal government could submit its response or proposals through the AGP if it wanted to do so. CJP Isa said that if the allegations “refer to any [intelligence] agency, the said agency should respond” through the AGP.
<h2><a id="the-hearing" href="#the-hearing" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" title="Permalink"></a>The hearing</h2>
At the outset of the hearing, CJP Isa clarified that prior to the last hearing, the SC’s bench formation committee had “decided that all available judges in Islamabad should immediately convene”.
“There was no pick and choose; whoever was available was put together,” he observed, noting that Justice Afridi had recused himself. Recalling that he had hinted at a full court, Justice Isa said that it could not be convened as two judges were unavailable.
The top judge noted that there was “so much polarisation in the country” and “people may not be so interested in the independence of the judiciary but in their own particular viewpoint to prevail”. Reiterating his remarks from the previous hearing, Justice Isa reiterated that “attacks” against ex-CJP Jillani were “upsetting”.
“If somebody can impose a will upon this court, that is also interference. Interference can be from within, from without, from intelligence agencies, from your colleagues, from your family members, from social media, from everybody else,” CJP Isa said.
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“A judge’s judgment and order shows, speaks, shouts how much interference there is or isn’t; how much independence there is or isn’t,” he added.
During the hearing, the top judge also remarked that he was “not responsible for the history of the Supreme Court. I am only responsible from the day I became chief justice. I have gone ahead with an inclusive approach.”
The chief justice asked AGP Awan if he had gone through the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1830287/ihc-looks-to-counter-meddling-with-same-old-arsenal">recommendations</a> made by the IHC judges, to which the latter replied in the negative. Justice Isa then asked Awan about how to proceed with the matter.
Here, Justice Minallah remarked: “These are not recommendations or suggestions but a charge sheet.”
After the AGP read the proposals out loud, CJP Isa observed, “We should not interfere in the high court’s work. The results of interference in high courts’ matters have not been good in the past.”
Justice Minallah noted that the IHC judges had alleged “continuous meddling” and asked if their recommendations were unanimous. Awan replied that it seemed so, at which the judge observed that no judge had disagreed.
The SC then ordered that the proposals made by the IHC judges be made public. Justice Isa said, “When everything is airing on the media, we may make this public as well.”
When the chief justice asked if a high court was not empowered by the Constitution to implement the said suggestions, AGP Awan replied that it had the authority to take action on all the points.
Justice Isa observed that the SC should limit itself to the high courts’ suggestions and not act on those made by every other person.
“I will never accept any interference from any source and there has <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1829573/received-not-a-single-complaint-of-interference-so-far-under-my-watch-cjp-isa">not been a single complaint</a> since my assumption of this office to me or the SC’s registrar,” the top judge remarked.
He also asked if it amounted to interference when the presidents of the lower judiciary’s bar associations “force their way into the judges’ chambers”.
At this point during the hearing, Justice Minallah emphasised: “If the state becomes the aggressor against a judge, that is what all the high courts are highlighting and that is a serious matter.
“The high court of Lahore is endorsing what the IHC has said […] and we all know that it is happening and has happened,” he added.
Justice Minallah highlighted that the judges “fear reporting” such incidents. In an apparent reference to IHC’s <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1830190/ihc-condemns-malicious-social-media-campaign-against-justice-babar-sattar">Justice Babar Sattar</a>, he said: “Since the last hearing, what has happened to an IHC judge? His personal data which cannot accessed by a private person was put on social media.”
“That is an intimidation,” he observed.
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“The state is to protect the judges and independence of the judiciary. When it becomes the aggressor, which each high court is saying; that is what is the issue and it is happening.
“It is a phenomenon that has happened for the last 76 years and this is what each high court is endorsing. It is happening today,” Justice Minallah observed.
Justice Shah noted that the matter had landed before the SC and questioned if the apex court could “just brush aside” the matter.
“We should empower the high courts. We are, by interfering in this matter, actually empowering the high courts, the district judiciary, the entire judiciary; I don’t think it’s interference in any matter,” he observed.
Justice Shah noted there was a need to “lay down a court which is a clear firewall against all sorts of excesses” and that a “system” needed to be put in place rather than dealing with individual incidents.
Justice Mandokhail said that “especially two of our learned members of the bench have been targeted” since the SC took up the matter. “This is not interference. This is a threat.
“Leave the high court judges aside […] the notice we have taken; what is happening with us? Can there be independence in this manner?” the judge asked.
Justice Minallah remarked that the “entire onus was on the state” when data of judges’ family members was “stolen” from government departments, such as the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra).
“There are judges we know who are just told ‘your child studies at so and so place’ and it is the state which is doing it,” he added.
Justice Hilali wondered why all high courts did not implement the suggested actions by themselves and why they were seeking the SC’s permission.
Justice Shah observed that the high courts had “all powers, including that of contempt of court [notice]”, stressing the need to empower each court of the country.
He said the current suo motu case was “doing wonders” as it had led to the judiciary “mustering the courage” to write the letter.
Meanwhile, Justice Minallah said: “The state is to protect the independence of the judiciary. There has been a partnership between the judiciary and the establishment for the past 76 years. That culture continues.”
CJP Isa then responded: “I don’t know. At least there’s no culture here. […] If there was any interference in my work and if I could not withstand the pressure, I would go home.”
He went on to recall that he had been Balochistan High Court’s (BHC) chief justice for five years and offered to ask the judges there about any alleged interference.
“Since I have been a judge here (at SC), I have fought for the independence of the judiciary from within,” Justice Isa asserted.
“And the greatest threat to independence was from the Supreme Court, not from the outside, in my opinion. I have lived through it; I have experienced it so these are not empty words. Please do not include me in the 76 years of Pakistan’s history and there are many such persons who should not be included.
Justice Minallah responded to CJP Isa, saying: “I haven’t condemned all. There have been exceptions.”
He added that “no one could influence a single judge” during his own tenure as the IHC chief justice.
At one point during the hearing, Justice Shah said, “‘Someone is watching me, someone is noting me, there is a device fixed in this room’ — why does this happen?
“Should this happen? Should there be such a culture in a democratic country?” he asked.
Here, Justice Minallah observed: “Intelligence agencies function under the prime minister. If the intelligence institutions do something, the prime minister and his cabinet are responsible for it.”
He pointed out that “nothing was free” since under the Constitution, the “image of our armed forces has to be protected” as they were the protectors and defenders of the country.
Addressing AGP Awan, CJP Isa questioned who filed review petitions against the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1462170">2019 SC judgment</a> on the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1789510">Faizabad sit-in case</a>.
Remarking that he would “explain how internal interference takes place”, Justice Isa highlighted that the review pleas were not fixed for hearing for more than four years and wondered if there was any clarification for why it was not.
“Is the executive responsible for this as well?” he quipped, adding that the Parliament should play its role here.
“Did the world not know who was running Pakistan at that time?” he asked. “But perhaps you people wanted to save them, perhaps not,” the top judge said while addressing the AGP.
“I had given it in writing that Faiz Hameed was behind this. The matter was left to the then-government,” CJP Isa said, noting that his wife had also <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1667048">recorded her statement</a> at a police station.
“When people deviate from the track, then legislation becomes necessary,” the chief justice asserted, wondering when the government would finally legislate. The CJP remarked that until the Parliament became strong, other powers would continue to strengthen.
Here, Justice Shah questioned under which law intelligence agencies came into existence, and what action could be taken against them in case they interfered in other matters.
Recalling the attorney general’s statement from the previous of “political engineering from 2017-2018”, Justice Minallah asked Awan who was in the government at that time. The AGP replied that it was the PML-N’s tenure, at which the judge asked him, “Are you saying that the government was helpless?”
At this point during the hearing, CJP Isa noted, “The bureaucracy also gets calls; some [judges] work [while] some don’t. Those who don’t are made OSDs (officers on special duty).
Justice Minallah then remarked that there would be no pressure if the judiciary “did not open its doors”. To this, Justice Shah said there should be a case of misconduct against those who did “open the doors”.
Justice Minallah noted that when a judge raised their voice, a smear campaign was launched against him. “Look what the government did when such a major verdict came on the Justice Siddiqui case,” he said. AGP Awan then said, “A few former judges were also involved in this.”
Justice Minallah replied that action should be taken against whoever was involved, even a former chief justice. He remarked that references were filed against a judge if they spoke the truth, at which Justice Isa said: “Those references arrive before us in the end. We should not paint such a poor image of us.”
“You have read the suggestions of three high courts — no one has said there is no intervention,” Justice Minallah said. “This means that interference is taking place.”
Justice Shah also said that no high court had indicated to resolve the issue on their own, stressing the need for a “system that closes the door of interference”.
Here, CJP Isa observed that if the SJC had to make recommendations, it could do so separately and told the AGP to not discuss the council as the bench was hearing the case “on the judicial side, not administrative”.
Justice Shah then said that the bench could “pass any order” while Justice Minallah said the apex court could “strike down as well as amend the SJC’s decisions”. “We can also advise the executive on important matters,” he added.
Justice Mandokhail stated that the court would take all steps while remaining in its jurisdiction.
ہ
At one point, CJP Isa noted, “When we seek reports from intelligence agencies for appointing judges, we give them a chance to interfere. When you have monitoring judges appointed and include them in JITS (joint investigation teams), they will get a chance to interfere.”
“Some people put aside Constitutional interests for personal benefits. Some people were standing at one position at a specific time but were now at a different one,” the top judge added.
Addressing AGP Awan, Justice Minallah highlighted that in a press conference after the meeting between him, CJP Isa and PM Shehbaz, the IHC judges’ move was termed “misconduct”.
The AGP responded it was wrong if their letter was called “misconduct”. He later said, “I have confirmed that the misconduct sentence was not said during the press conference.”
Justice Mandokhail remarked that the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) response was the “most serious” as they had mentioned “receiving death threats”.
Dictating today’s order, the CJP noted that the “five high courts have filed their responses/proposals/suggestions, which were read by the AGP” during the hearing.
The Pakistan Bar Council and the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1829485">SC Bar Association</a> were issued notices, with Justice Isa noting that the PBC had filed its response and the SCBA would file additional proposals by the next hearing. The CJP said other respondents may also provide their recommendations if they wanted.
“It would be appropriate and helpful if the bar associations and bar councils try to come together to file one document on things which they agree with and may also file separately those points which they are not in agreement with,” CJP Isa ordered.
Stating that the apex court wanted to conclude the matter soon, the top judge said the AGP was to submit a reply on behalf of the federation and that a separate document be filed if the federal government had any proposals.
CJP Isa said that if the allegations “refer to any [intelligence] agency, the said agency should respond” through the AGP. “If any specific allegation has emerged, the response to it should also come,” he added.
The court stated that no new petitioners would be made respondents in the case. Subsequently, the hearing was adjourned till May 7.
<h2><a id="contents-of-letter-by-ihc-judges" href="#contents-of-letter-by-ihc-judges" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" title="Permalink"></a>Contents of letter by IHC judges</h2>
Dated March 25, the letter was signed by IHC Justices Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Babar Sattar, Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Saman Rafat Imtiaz.
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It mentioned seven instances of alleged interference and intimidation “to influence the outcome of cases of interest” by the intelligence officials, pointing out that when two out of three judges in the bench hearing the plea to disqualify PTI leader Imran Khan for concealing his alleged daughter opined that the case was not maintainable, they were pressured by “operatives of the ISI” through friends and relatives.
The situation got so stressful that one of the judges had to be admitted to hospital due to high blood pressure, the letter said.
According to the six judges, the matter was brought to the notice of the IHC chief justice and the then-CJP. The former informed the judges that he had “spoken to the DG-C of ISI and had been assured that no official from ISI will approach the judges of the IHC”.
The letter complained that “interference on the part of intelligence operatives” continued even after IHC CJ’s assurance.
It also referred to the abduction of an IHC judge’s brother-in-law by armed men who claimed to be ISI operatives. The victim was “administered electric shocks” and “forced to record a video” making false allegations, apparently against the judge.
“Subsequently, a complaint was filed against the judge of IHC before the SJC, accompanied by an orchestrated media campaign to bring pressure to bear upon the judge to resign.”
The letter revealed that in May 2023, an IHC inspection judge reported to the chief justice that district court judges were being intimidated and crackers were thrown into the house of one additional district and sessions judge.
The judge was even called to the IHC to verify the claims which he confirmed. But instead of probing the allegations, the judge “was made officer on special duty and transferred to IHC, before being sent back to Punjab as he was a judicial officer on deputation”.
The letter said that last year, during routine maintenance, an IHC judge found that his official residence had been bugged with spy cameras concealed in his drawing room and bedroom.
When data from surveillance equipment was recovered, it showed that “private videos of the judge and his family members” were stored. “The matter was brought to the attention of the IHC chief justice. There has been no determination of who installed the equipment and who is to be held accountable,” the letter added.
Along with their letter to the SJC, the six judges also attached copies of letters written to Justice Farooq on May 10, 2023 and Feb 12, 2024.
The letters mentioned, among other complaints, efforts of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) personnel to pressurise IHC judges and probe into the tax records of at least one judge “to seek a certain outcome”.
They added that it was imperative to determine whether there was a “policy on the part of the executive … implemented by intelligence operatives” to intimidate judges.
“[The] allegations of interference by operatives of ISI have been dealt with and relief has been granted to a former judge of IHC who was wronged. We believe that while such action was necessary, it may not be sufficient,” the letter said about Justice Siddiqui’s case.
The judges noted that the SJC’s code of conduct for judges did not outline the response to such incidents “that are tantamount to intimidation and interfere with judicial independence”.
They called for a judicial convention to discuss the interference of intelligence officials “that undermines independence of the judiciary”.
The consultation would help the Supreme Court to determine a course of action that judges could take “when they find themselves at the receiving end”, the letter said.
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<category>Pakistan</category>
<guid>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830570</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 20:23:11 +0500</pubDate>
<author>none@none.com (Abdullah Momand | Dawn.com)</author>
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<media:thumbnail url="https://i.dawn.com/thumbnail/2024/04/301322082c6ac75.png?r=132225"/>
<media:title>Supreme Court on Tuesday resumes hearing a suo motu case pertaining to allegations of interference in judicial affairs. — DawnNewsTV
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<title>7 new deaths take KP toll from rains since Apr 26 to 17: PDMA</title>
<link>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830603/7-new-deaths-take-kp-toll-from-rains-since-apr-26-to-17-pdma</link>
<description>Seven new deaths from rain-related incidents has raised the death toll in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since April 26 to 17, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority.
PDMA spokesperson Anwar Shahzad confirmed the death toll to Dawn.com today and said 23 were injured in different parts of the province.
Shahzad said that nine men, three women and five children were among the deceased whereas nine men, three women and 11 children were injured.
He said the Bajaur district of Malakand division was the most affected district where five people died, ten were injured and 20 houses were damaged.
The KP PDMA spokesman said that 116 houses were damaged due to landslides, roofs and wall collapses.
According to the PDMA report dated April 29, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, 148 cattle also perished in different areas of the province in the landslide and collapse of houses.
Four schools and nine other government infrastructures were damaged during rainfall since April 26.
Shahzad said that the districts most affected by the rain-related incidents were Bajaur, Swat, Mansehra, Battagram, Dir Lower, Malakand, Luki Marwat, Kohat, Orakzai, Shangla, Dir Upper, Mohmand, Buner, Chitral Lower, North Waziristan and Nowshehra.
“We have directed the district administrations of respective districts to be vigilant and continue relief activities in the rain emergency and provide shelters, and food timely if required anywhere in the province,” the PDMA spokesperson said.
National Highway Authority Deputy Director Ghulam Abbas told Dawn.com that the Karakoram highway (KKH) was blocked at Battagram’s Thakot and in parts of Kohistan and Diamer, adding that clearance work was underway to reopen it for traffic.
He said the artery was opened for traffic on Monday late at night and strandees managed to pass the landslide blockades but it was subsequently blocked again after heavy landsliding in the Diamer and Thakot areas.
Abbas added that the road would be opened for traffic in a few hours as the rain had stopped and machinery of the Frontier Works Organisation was at the field for clearing the road.
Separately, the KKH was blocked by women protesters who staged protests against the shortage of wheat and a power outage at Hunza.
Hunza local Muhammad Amen told Dawn.com that the women came out onto the road today demanding wheat and an end to the power outage which was causing problems for them.
He said the protest would continue until the demands were accepted by the government and issues resolved.
</description>
<content:encoded xmlns="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[Seven new deaths from rain-related incidents has raised the death toll in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since April 26 to 17, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority.
PDMA spokesperson Anwar Shahzad confirmed the death toll to Dawn.com today and said 23 were injured in different parts of the province.
Shahzad said that nine men, three women and five children were among the deceased whereas nine men, three women and 11 children were injured.
He said the Bajaur district of Malakand division was the most affected district where five people died, ten were injured and 20 houses were damaged.
The KP PDMA spokesman said that 116 houses were damaged due to landslides, roofs and wall collapses.
According to the PDMA report dated April 29, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, 148 cattle also perished in different areas of the province in the landslide and collapse of houses.
Four schools and nine other government infrastructures were damaged during rainfall since April 26.
Shahzad said that the districts most affected by the rain-related incidents were Bajaur, Swat, Mansehra, Battagram, Dir Lower, Malakand, Luki Marwat, Kohat, Orakzai, Shangla, Dir Upper, Mohmand, Buner, Chitral Lower, North Waziristan and Nowshehra.
“We have directed the district administrations of respective districts to be vigilant and continue relief activities in the rain emergency and provide shelters, and food timely if required anywhere in the province,” the PDMA spokesperson said.
National Highway Authority Deputy Director Ghulam Abbas told Dawn.com that the Karakoram highway (KKH) was blocked at Battagram’s Thakot and in parts of Kohistan and Diamer, adding that clearance work was underway to reopen it for traffic.
He said the artery was opened for traffic on Monday late at night and strandees managed to pass the landslide blockades but it was subsequently blocked again after heavy landsliding in the Diamer and Thakot areas.
Abbas added that the road would be opened for traffic in a few hours as the rain had stopped and machinery of the Frontier Works Organisation was at the field for clearing the road.
Separately, the KKH was blocked by women protesters who staged protests against the shortage of wheat and a power outage at Hunza.
Hunza local Muhammad Amen told Dawn.com that the women came out onto the road today demanding wheat and an end to the power outage which was causing problems for them.
He said the protest would continue until the demands were accepted by the government and issues resolved.
]]></content:encoded>
<category>Pakistan</category>
<guid>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830603</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 23:58:44 +0500</pubDate>
<author>none@none.com (Umar Bacha)</author>
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<media:thumbnail url="https://i.dawn.com/thumbnail/2024/04/3022101066d1ee0.jpg?r=221019"/>
<media:title>A landslide blocks Karakoram Highway at Bisham, Shangla, on Sunday.—Dawn/File
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</media:content>
</item>
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<title>SBP confirms receiving $1.1bn IMF tranche</title>
<link>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830571/sbp-confirms-receiving-11bn-imf-tranche</link>
<description>The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Tuesday said it had received the final $1.1 billion tranche from the International Monetary Fund under the stand-by arrangement.
On Monday, the Fund had <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1830524/imf-okays-release-of-final-11bn-sba-tranche">approved</a> the immediate disbursement of approximately $1.1bn to Pakistan. Its executive board met in Washington and completed the second review under the SBA, bringing total disbursements under the arrangement to about $3 billion.
All board members favoured releasing the last installment except India, which abstained.
“The completion of the second and final review reflects the authorities’ stronger policy efforts under the SBA, which have supported the stabilisation of the economy and the return of modest growth,” the IMF said in a statement.
“To move Pakistan from stabilisation to a strong and sustainable recovery the authorities need to continue their policy and reform efforts, including strict adherence to fiscal targets,” the statement added.
The Fund also reminded Pakistan that while doing so, it also needed to protect the vulnerable from the possible impact of such reforms. The IMF also emphasised the need to adhere to “a market-determined exchange rate to absorb external shocks; and broadening of structural reforms to support stronger and more inclusive growth.
Today, the SBP issued a <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.sbp.org.pk/press/2024/Pr-30-Apr-2024.pdf">statement</a> saying it had received the tranche from the Fund.
“SBP has received SDR (special drawing rights) 828 million (around U$1.1bn) in value [on] April 29, 2024, in its account from IMF. The amount shall be reflected in SBP’s foreign exchange reserves for the week ending on May 3, 2024,” the statement said.
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SDRs are international reserve assets created by the IMF in 1969 and are allocated to member states to supplement existing official reserves.
The approval by the IMF came a day after PM Shehbaz <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1830178">met</a> IMF Managing Director (MD) Kristalina Georgieva on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) special meeting in Riyadh and assured her that the government was fully committed to putting Pakistan’s economy “back on track”.
In a statement released today, PM Shehbaz said the release of the final tranche would bring more economic stability to Pakistan, state-run Radio Pakistan <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.radio.gov.pk/30-04-2024/pm-expresses-satisfaction-over-release-of-last-financial-tranche-by-imf-for-pakistan">reported</a>.
He was quoted as saying that the agreement with the IMF for the SBA had proven to be crucial in “preventing Pakistan from default during the sixteen months of his tenure in the previous government”.
“Tough decisions taken for economic security of Pakistan are yielding positive results now in the form of economic stability,” he said, adding that the government was doing its best to improve the economy and bring development to the country.
The premier asserted that taking a loan was not a success, adding that it would be a success when Pakistan managed to break free from loans.
He expressed the hope that the country would rid itself of the debt cycle and “enter a prosperous era if we continue to work in the right direction”. PM Shehbaz also thanked the Fund for supporting the country during difficult times.
Last year, the IMF Executive Board had <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1762360">approved</a> the nine-month SBA arrangement with Pakistan “to support its economic stabilisation programme”. The approval had allowed for an immediate disbursement of $1.2bn, with the rest phased over the programme’s duration — subject to two quarterly reviews.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1821095">said</a> that Pakistan is now eyeing a “longer and larger” economic bailout package with the IMF. The Fund has <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1820016">said</a> it will support formulating a new economic programme for Pakistan if the government seeks one.
</description>
<content:encoded xmlns="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Tuesday said it had received the final $1.1 billion tranche from the International Monetary Fund under the stand-by arrangement.
On Monday, the Fund had <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1830524/imf-okays-release-of-final-11bn-sba-tranche">approved</a> the immediate disbursement of approximately $1.1bn to Pakistan. Its executive board met in Washington and completed the second review under the SBA, bringing total disbursements under the arrangement to about $3 billion.
All board members favoured releasing the last installment except India, which abstained.
“The completion of the second and final review reflects the authorities’ stronger policy efforts under the SBA, which have supported the stabilisation of the economy and the return of modest growth,” the IMF said in a statement.
“To move Pakistan from stabilisation to a strong and sustainable recovery the authorities need to continue their policy and reform efforts, including strict adherence to fiscal targets,” the statement added.
The Fund also reminded Pakistan that while doing so, it also needed to protect the vulnerable from the possible impact of such reforms. The IMF also emphasised the need to adhere to “a market-determined exchange rate to absorb external shocks; and broadening of structural reforms to support stronger and more inclusive growth.
Today, the SBP issued a <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.sbp.org.pk/press/2024/Pr-30-Apr-2024.pdf">statement</a> saying it had received the tranche from the Fund.
“SBP has received SDR (special drawing rights) 828 million (around U$1.1bn) in value [on] April 29, 2024, in its account from IMF. The amount shall be reflected in SBP’s foreign exchange reserves for the week ending on May 3, 2024,” the statement said.
 <figure class='media w-full w-full media--stretch media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--twitter '>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/StateBank_Pak/status/1785297495050113117"></a>
</blockquote>
</div>
</figure>
SDRs are international reserve assets created by the IMF in 1969 and are allocated to member states to supplement existing official reserves.
The approval by the IMF came a day after PM Shehbaz <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1830178">met</a> IMF Managing Director (MD) Kristalina Georgieva on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) special meeting in Riyadh and assured her that the government was fully committed to putting Pakistan’s economy “back on track”.
In a statement released today, PM Shehbaz said the release of the final tranche would bring more economic stability to Pakistan, state-run Radio Pakistan <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.radio.gov.pk/30-04-2024/pm-expresses-satisfaction-over-release-of-last-financial-tranche-by-imf-for-pakistan">reported</a>.
He was quoted as saying that the agreement with the IMF for the SBA had proven to be crucial in “preventing Pakistan from default during the sixteen months of his tenure in the previous government”.
“Tough decisions taken for economic security of Pakistan are yielding positive results now in the form of economic stability,” he said, adding that the government was doing its best to improve the economy and bring development to the country.
The premier asserted that taking a loan was not a success, adding that it would be a success when Pakistan managed to break free from loans.
He expressed the hope that the country would rid itself of the debt cycle and “enter a prosperous era if we continue to work in the right direction”. PM Shehbaz also thanked the Fund for supporting the country during difficult times.
Last year, the IMF Executive Board had <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1762360">approved</a> the nine-month SBA arrangement with Pakistan “to support its economic stabilisation programme”. The approval had allowed for an immediate disbursement of $1.2bn, with the rest phased over the programme’s duration — subject to two quarterly reviews.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1821095">said</a> that Pakistan is now eyeing a “longer and larger” economic bailout package with the IMF. The Fund has <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1820016">said</a> it will support formulating a new economic programme for Pakistan if the government seeks one.
]]></content:encoded>
<category>Pakistan</category>
<guid>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830571</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 19:20:37 +0500</pubDate>
<author>none@none.com (Dawn.com)</author>
<media:content url="https://i.dawn.com/large/2024/04/301728308dcd508.jpg?r=174634" type="image/jpeg" medium="image" height="480" width="800">
<media:thumbnail url="https://i.dawn.com/thumbnail/2024/04/301728308dcd508.jpg?r=174634"/>
<media:title>The standing committee directed the central bank to hold an immediate meeting with banks to set some standards.—APP/File
</media:title>
</media:content>
</item>
<item xmlns:default="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/">
<title>Inflation to hover at 18.5pc-19.5pc in April: finance ministry</title>
<link>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830599/inflation-to-hover-at-185pc-195pc-in-april-finance-ministry</link>
<description>The finance ministry said on Tuesday that inflation is expected to hover between 18.5 to 19.5 per cent in April and ease in May to 17.5-18.5pc, aiming for a target range of 5-7pc by September next year.
Gross domestic product growth for the second quarter of the fiscal year ending in June is estimated at 1pc and expected to improve in the second half of the fiscal year, it said in its <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.finance.gov.pk/economic/economic_update_April_2024.pdf">monthly report</a>.
 <figure class='media w-full w-full media--stretch media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--twitter '>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/Financegovpk/status/1785229992378372516"></a>
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</figure>
The consumer price index for March was up 20.7pc from the same month last year, the lowest reading in nearly two years and below the finance ministry’s projections for the month.
The State Bank of Pakistan kept its key <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1830361">interest rate unchanged</a> at 22 per cent for the seventh straight policy meeting on a day ago, hours before the International Monetary Fund executive board <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1830524">approved</a> $1.1 billion in funding under a $3bn stand-by arrangment signed last year.
The Monetary Policy Committee said in a statement that it was “prudent” to continue with its monetary policy stance at this stage to bring inflation down to the target range.
It expects inflation to remain on a downward trajectory, but said that recent oil price volatility posed a risk. Consumers’ inflation expectations also edged up in April.
</description>
<content:encoded xmlns="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[The finance ministry said on Tuesday that inflation is expected to hover between 18.5 to 19.5 per cent in April and ease in May to 17.5-18.5pc, aiming for a target range of 5-7pc by September next year.
Gross domestic product growth for the second quarter of the fiscal year ending in June is estimated at 1pc and expected to improve in the second half of the fiscal year, it said in its <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.finance.gov.pk/economic/economic_update_April_2024.pdf">monthly report</a>.
 <figure class='media w-full w-full media--stretch media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--twitter '>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/Financegovpk/status/1785229992378372516"></a>
</blockquote>
</div>
</figure>
The consumer price index for March was up 20.7pc from the same month last year, the lowest reading in nearly two years and below the finance ministry’s projections for the month.
The State Bank of Pakistan kept its key <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1830361">interest rate unchanged</a> at 22 per cent for the seventh straight policy meeting on a day ago, hours before the International Monetary Fund executive board <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1830524">approved</a> $1.1 billion in funding under a $3bn stand-by arrangment signed last year.
The Monetary Policy Committee said in a statement that it was “prudent” to continue with its monetary policy stance at this stage to bring inflation down to the target range.
It expects inflation to remain on a downward trajectory, but said that recent oil price volatility posed a risk. Consumers’ inflation expectations also edged up in April.
]]></content:encoded>
<category>Business</category>
<guid>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830599</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 20:16:53 +0500</pubDate>
<author>none@none.com (Reuters)</author>
<media:content url="https://i.dawn.com/large/2024/04/302007348e97dbb.jpg?r=201211" type="image/jpeg" medium="image" height="480" width="800">
<media:thumbnail url="https://i.dawn.com/thumbnail/2024/04/302007348e97dbb.jpg?r=201211"/>
<media:title>For the lowest income group earning below Rs17,732 per month, the SPI increased by 1.55pc. — AFP/File
</media:title>
</media:content>
</item>
<item xmlns:default="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/">
<title>Uber quits app in Pakistan; to operate through subsidiary brand Careem</title>
<link>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830577/uber-quits-app-in-pakistan-to-operate-through-subsidiary-brand-careem</link>
<description>Uber said on Tuesday that it had made the decision to cease operating its ride-hailing app in Pakistan.
“We’ve made the decision to cease operating the Uber app in Pakistan,” a spokesperson for Uber told Dawn.com.
“Our subsidiary brand Careem will continue to operate, with the Careem app offering ride-hailing services across Pakistan and earning opportunities for drivers,” the spokesperson added.
In 2019, Uber had <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1526070">acquired</a> its rival Careem for $3.1 billion. The two companies had said they would continue to operate their respective regional services and independent brands.
In October 2022, Uber had <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1714625">ceased</a> operations in Karachi, Multan, Faisalabad, Peshawar and Islamabad. It had decided to operate in the five cities through Careem and through the Uber app in Lahore.
In an email sent to users in Lahore today, Uber said it had made the “difficult decision to no longer offer the Uber app services in Lahore as of April 30”.
“Ride-hailing services will continue to be offered through our subsidiary brand Careem and you will have the option to sign up and request a trip on Careem to have a seamless experience,” the email read.
“In light of this, Careem Rides may reach out to you to check in and sign up. Please fill the form provided below by May 3, 2024 if you do not want your details to be shared with Careem.
“If you currently hold Uber Cash balance in your Uber Wallet, we will be communicating with you in due course on the process for reclaiming your Uber Cash balance,” it said as users were also offered a 50 per cent discount on five rides with Careem.
Users in Lahore who tried to access the app were met with the message: “Uber no longer in Lahore”. They were also told they could use Careem to avail 50 per cent off on five rides with code LHR50.
</description>
<content:encoded xmlns="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[Uber said on Tuesday that it had made the decision to cease operating its ride-hailing app in Pakistan.
“We’ve made the decision to cease operating the Uber app in Pakistan,” a spokesperson for Uber told Dawn.com.
“Our subsidiary brand Careem will continue to operate, with the Careem app offering ride-hailing services across Pakistan and earning opportunities for drivers,” the spokesperson added.
In 2019, Uber had <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1526070">acquired</a> its rival Careem for $3.1 billion. The two companies had said they would continue to operate their respective regional services and independent brands.
In October 2022, Uber had <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1714625">ceased</a> operations in Karachi, Multan, Faisalabad, Peshawar and Islamabad. It had decided to operate in the five cities through Careem and through the Uber app in Lahore.
In an email sent to users in Lahore today, Uber said it had made the “difficult decision to no longer offer the Uber app services in Lahore as of April 30”.
“Ride-hailing services will continue to be offered through our subsidiary brand Careem and you will have the option to sign up and request a trip on Careem to have a seamless experience,” the email read.
“In light of this, Careem Rides may reach out to you to check in and sign up. Please fill the form provided below by May 3, 2024 if you do not want your details to be shared with Careem.
“If you currently hold Uber Cash balance in your Uber Wallet, we will be communicating with you in due course on the process for reclaiming your Uber Cash balance,” it said as users were also offered a 50 per cent discount on five rides with Careem.
Users in Lahore who tried to access the app were met with the message: “Uber no longer in Lahore”. They were also told they could use Careem to avail 50 per cent off on five rides with code LHR50.
]]></content:encoded>
<category>Pakistan</category>
<guid>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830577</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 14:48:50 +0500</pubDate>
<author>none@none.com (Dawn.com)</author>
<media:content url="https://i.dawn.com/large/2024/04/30135140f5269b3.jpg?r=135153" type="image/jpeg" medium="image" height="300" width="500">
<media:thumbnail url="https://i.dawn.com/thumbnail/2024/04/30135140f5269b3.jpg?r=135153"/>
<media:title>─ Reuters/File
</media:title>
</media:content>
</item>
<item xmlns:default="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/">
<title>‘Outrageous lie’: Asma Jahangir moot organiser rejects alleged manhandling of pro-Palestine protesters</title>
<link>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830590/outrageous-lie-asma-jahangir-moot-organiser-rejects-alleged-manhandling-of-pro-palestine-protesters</link>
<description>Journalist Munizae Jahangir on Tuesday rejected allegations that people protesting in support of Gaza were manhandled by staff of the 5th Asma Jahangir Conference and termed than an “outrageous lie”.
The 5th Asma Jahangir Conference, titled ‘People’s Mandate: Safeguarding Civil Rights in South Asia’, took place in Lahore over the weekend. A pro-Palestine protester had interrupted and chanted slogans during the German ambassador’s speech on civil rights at the conference on Saturday.
Just moments after the ambassador began his speech, the protester could be heard saying, “Excuse me, Mr ambassador. I am shocked by the audacity that you are here to talk about civil rights while your country is brutally abusing the people speaking for the rights of the Palestinians.”
 <figure class='media sm:w-1/2 w-full media--right media--embed media--uneven'>
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class="nk-iframe" onload="setInterval(()=>{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)"
width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:400px;position:relative"
src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/1829978"
sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"></iframe></div>
</figure>
The Progressive Students Collective (PSC) said its members had “exposed the hypocrisy of German ambassador” and also lashed out at the conference organisers, saying they had “forcefully silenced the voices of students while platforming the facilitators of Pal[estinian] gen[ocide]”. It had also alleged that the organisers “assaulted the students and peeled their skin off”.
The ambassador’s action of telling the protesters to get out had triggered criticism on social media. Lahore-based academic and activist Ammar Ali Jan had also alleged that the student protesters were “dragged and beaten up”.
In a response posted to her account on social media platform X today, conference organiser Munizae said the moot’s management “emphatically denies having beaten up the crowd that chanted slogans” as alleged by Jan.
“It’s an outrageous lie, especially when several cameras were there to capture everything. Once the protest was lodged, women lawyers requested the crowd of men to sit down but they became aggressive and refused to do so.”
 <figure class='media w-full w-full media--stretch media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--twitter '>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/MunizaeJahangir/status/1785262075087892840"></a>
</blockquote>
</div>
</figure>
She said there were “huge security concerns” at the conference and the organisers could not let the disruption continue. “We had to proceed further and feared that the commotion may spiral and lead to a security breach,” she explained.
“One of the organisers went to speak to the male protesters after the incident and invited them to the Gaza session, however, sadly the protesters did not attend the session,” she rued.
“We are committed to freedom of speech unconditionally,” Munizae said, adding that the hoped the media would be far in reporting the issue.
 <figure class='media w-full w-full media--stretch media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--twitter '>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/MunizaeJahangir/status/1785262084713861424"></a>
</blockquote>
</div>
</figure>
She called for coverage to be provided for the session on Gaza where Francesca Albanese — the UN special rapporteur on the rights situation in the Palestinian territories — spoke along with several other pro-Palestinian voices.
“Francesca Albanese called the killings in Gaza a genocide which was a significant statement,” she said.
“Several speakers, including ones opening and closing the conference, called upon an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and to hold Israel accountable for war crimes,” Munizae added.
She concluded that the conference was a platform that was “open to all” and believed in a “meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders” on human rights issues.
 <figure class='media w-full w-full media--stretch media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--twitter '>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/MunizaeJahangir/status/1785262092632666379"></a>
</blockquote>
</div>
</figure>
The fighting in Gaza since the October 7 attack by Israeli has led to a devastating Israeli military offensive that has killed over 34,000 Palestinians, with many women and children.
 <figure class='media sm:w-1/2 w-full media--right media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--newskitlink '> <iframe
class="nk-iframe" onload="setInterval(()=>{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)"
width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:400px;position:relative"
src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/1826580"
sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"></iframe></div>
</figure>
Germany has been among the countries foremost in its support to Israel, particularly with sales of arms. Nicaragua has hauled Germany before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to demand judges impose emergency measures to stop Berlin from providing Israel with weapons and other assistance.
Lawyers for Nicaragua have argued Germany is in breach of the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention, set up in the wake of the Holocaust, by furnishing Israel with weapons.
</description>
<content:encoded xmlns="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[Journalist Munizae Jahangir on Tuesday rejected allegations that people protesting in support of Gaza were manhandled by staff of the 5th Asma Jahangir Conference and termed than an “outrageous lie”.
The 5th Asma Jahangir Conference, titled ‘People’s Mandate: Safeguarding Civil Rights in South Asia’, took place in Lahore over the weekend. A pro-Palestine protester had interrupted and chanted slogans during the German ambassador’s speech on civil rights at the conference on Saturday.
Just moments after the ambassador began his speech, the protester could be heard saying, “Excuse me, Mr ambassador. I am shocked by the audacity that you are here to talk about civil rights while your country is brutally abusing the people speaking for the rights of the Palestinians.”
 <figure class='media sm:w-1/2 w-full media--right media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--newskitlink '> <iframe
class="nk-iframe" onload="setInterval(()=>{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)"
width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:400px;position:relative"
src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/1829978"
sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"></iframe></div>
</figure>
The Progressive Students Collective (PSC) said its members had “exposed the hypocrisy of German ambassador” and also lashed out at the conference organisers, saying they had “forcefully silenced the voices of students while platforming the facilitators of Pal[estinian] gen[ocide]”. It had also alleged that the organisers “assaulted the students and peeled their skin off”.
The ambassador’s action of telling the protesters to get out had triggered criticism on social media. Lahore-based academic and activist Ammar Ali Jan had also alleged that the student protesters were “dragged and beaten up”.
In a response posted to her account on social media platform X today, conference organiser Munizae said the moot’s management “emphatically denies having beaten up the crowd that chanted slogans” as alleged by Jan.
“It’s an outrageous lie, especially when several cameras were there to capture everything. Once the protest was lodged, women lawyers requested the crowd of men to sit down but they became aggressive and refused to do so.”
 <figure class='media w-full w-full media--stretch media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--twitter '>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/MunizaeJahangir/status/1785262075087892840"></a>
</blockquote>
</div>
</figure>
She said there were “huge security concerns” at the conference and the organisers could not let the disruption continue. “We had to proceed further and feared that the commotion may spiral and lead to a security breach,” she explained.
“One of the organisers went to speak to the male protesters after the incident and invited them to the Gaza session, however, sadly the protesters did not attend the session,” she rued.
“We are committed to freedom of speech unconditionally,” Munizae said, adding that the hoped the media would be far in reporting the issue.
 <figure class='media w-full w-full media--stretch media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--twitter '>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/MunizaeJahangir/status/1785262084713861424"></a>
</blockquote>
</div>
</figure>
She called for coverage to be provided for the session on Gaza where Francesca Albanese — the UN special rapporteur on the rights situation in the Palestinian territories — spoke along with several other pro-Palestinian voices.
“Francesca Albanese called the killings in Gaza a genocide which was a significant statement,” she said.
“Several speakers, including ones opening and closing the conference, called upon an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and to hold Israel accountable for war crimes,” Munizae added.
She concluded that the conference was a platform that was “open to all” and believed in a “meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders” on human rights issues.
 <figure class='media w-full w-full media--stretch media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--twitter '>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/MunizaeJahangir/status/1785262092632666379"></a>
</blockquote>
</div>
</figure>
The fighting in Gaza since the October 7 attack by Israeli has led to a devastating Israeli military offensive that has killed over 34,000 Palestinians, with many women and children.
 <figure class='media sm:w-1/2 w-full media--right media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--newskitlink '> <iframe
class="nk-iframe" onload="setInterval(()=>{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)"
width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:400px;position:relative"
src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/1826580"
sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"></iframe></div>
</figure>
Germany has been among the countries foremost in its support to Israel, particularly with sales of arms. Nicaragua has hauled Germany before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to demand judges impose emergency measures to stop Berlin from providing Israel with weapons and other assistance.
Lawyers for Nicaragua have argued Germany is in breach of the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention, set up in the wake of the Holocaust, by furnishing Israel with weapons.
]]></content:encoded>
<category>Pakistan</category>
<guid>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830590</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 19:18:40 +0500</pubDate>
<author>none@none.com (Dawn.com)</author>
<media:content url="https://i.dawn.com/large/2024/04/301912381c4160a.png?r=191256" type="image/png" medium="image" height="480" width="800">
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</item>
<item xmlns:default="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/">
<title>King Charles III resumes public duties as he fights cancer</title>
<link>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830596/king-charles-iii-resumes-public-duties-as-he-fights-cancer</link>
<description>King Charles III on Tuesday reportedly told fellow cancer patients “I’m well”, as he carried out his first official public engagement since being diagnosed with the condition.
The British head of state appeared <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1829926/charles-to-resume-public-duties-after-cancer-diagnosis">relaxed</a> as he and his wife Queen Camilla met patients and staff at the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in central London.
 <figure class='media w-full w-full media--stretch media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--twitter '>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1785219230054424979"></a>
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He talked to patients receiving chemotherapy at a day unit, including 60-year-old Asha Millen, who has bone marrow cancer.
“I said, ‘How are you?’ and he said, ‘I’m well’,” she told reporters afterwards.
Another patient, Lesley Woodbridge, 63, said the king sympathised with her and added: “I’ve got to have my treatment this afternoon as well.”
Charles, 75, suspended most of his duties in February after cancer was <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1811431">found</a> while he was being treated for an enlarged prostate the previous month.
The exact nature of his cancer has not been disclosed but doctors said last week they were “very encouraged” by the progress of his treatment as an out-patient and “positive” about his recovery.
His daughter-in-law Catherine, Princess of Wales, 42, underwent abdominal surgery in January and said in March that she was <a href="https://images.dawn.com/news/1192352">receiving</a> chemotherapy.
Again, no details were given about what type of cancer she has. Kate, as she is widely known, is married to Charles’s elder son and heir Prince William.
<h2><a id="positive" href="#positive" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" title="Permalink"></a>‘Positive’</h2>
Tuesday’s event was the first in a number of planned engagements in the coming weeks and designed to raise awareness of the importance of early cancer diagnosis and highlight innovative research, Buckingham Palace said.
Charles, who <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1709069">succeeded</a> his mother Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, was officially <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1751221">crowned</a> king on May 6 last year.
He has been seen <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1813337">attending</a> church services since his diagnosis and at selected audiences. He has also continued his official state business.
His treatment will continue but his schedule in the coming weeks will be reduced and subject to medical advice, a spokesperson added.
His engagements will include a state visit by Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan in June.
The chief executive of the University College London Hospitals group, David Probert, said Charles “deliberately went out of his way to meet as many staff and patients as he could”.
Patients were “delighted” to see him, he told Sky News, and described the visit as “incredibly uplifting”.
Members of the public last week welcomed the king’s return to some duties, praising him for raising awareness about cancer, which will affect one in two people, according to Cancer Research UK.
<h2><a id="huge-issue" href="#huge-issue" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" title="Permalink"></a>‘Huge issue’</h2>
Probert said the king’s announcement had led to a surge in people looking up symptoms and seeking out treatment.
“It’s a huge issue in today’s society,” Keegan Gray, 23, a demolitions manager from New Zealand, told AFP on Friday.
“A lot of people have cancer and a lot of people they keep it to themselves, they’re a bit shy about it,” he added after the news that Charles would resume some public duties.
Gray said it was “really beautiful” that the king was raising awareness of cancer and the work of treatment clinics.
Charles and Kate’s cancer diagnoses have created a headache for the royal family, with both having postponed public engagements.
William has also taken a step back to support his wife and their three young children, leaving fewer senior royals to fill the schedule.
Camilla, 76, has stepped in to take over many of her husband’s engagements.
Charles’s sister Princess Anne and his youngest brother Prince Edward have also taken on more prominent roles.
Charles’s largely estranged younger son, Prince Harry, is no longer a working royal but is expected in London on May 8 to mark the 10th anniversary of his Invictus Games for disabled military veterans.
He will then join his American wife Meghan on a visit to Nigeria
</description>
<content:encoded xmlns="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[King Charles III on Tuesday reportedly told fellow cancer patients “I’m well”, as he carried out his first official public engagement since being diagnosed with the condition.
The British head of state appeared <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1829926/charles-to-resume-public-duties-after-cancer-diagnosis">relaxed</a> as he and his wife Queen Camilla met patients and staff at the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in central London.
 <figure class='media w-full w-full media--stretch media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--twitter '>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1785219230054424979"></a>
</blockquote>
</div>
</figure>
He talked to patients receiving chemotherapy at a day unit, including 60-year-old Asha Millen, who has bone marrow cancer.
“I said, ‘How are you?’ and he said, ‘I’m well’,” she told reporters afterwards.
Another patient, Lesley Woodbridge, 63, said the king sympathised with her and added: “I’ve got to have my treatment this afternoon as well.”
Charles, 75, suspended most of his duties in February after cancer was <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1811431">found</a> while he was being treated for an enlarged prostate the previous month.
The exact nature of his cancer has not been disclosed but doctors said last week they were “very encouraged” by the progress of his treatment as an out-patient and “positive” about his recovery.
His daughter-in-law Catherine, Princess of Wales, 42, underwent abdominal surgery in January and said in March that she was <a href="https://images.dawn.com/news/1192352">receiving</a> chemotherapy.
Again, no details were given about what type of cancer she has. Kate, as she is widely known, is married to Charles’s elder son and heir Prince William.
<h2><a id="positive" href="#positive" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" title="Permalink"></a>‘Positive’</h2>
Tuesday’s event was the first in a number of planned engagements in the coming weeks and designed to raise awareness of the importance of early cancer diagnosis and highlight innovative research, Buckingham Palace said.
Charles, who <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1709069">succeeded</a> his mother Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, was officially <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1751221">crowned</a> king on May 6 last year.
He has been seen <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1813337">attending</a> church services since his diagnosis and at selected audiences. He has also continued his official state business.
His treatment will continue but his schedule in the coming weeks will be reduced and subject to medical advice, a spokesperson added.
His engagements will include a state visit by Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan in June.
The chief executive of the University College London Hospitals group, David Probert, said Charles “deliberately went out of his way to meet as many staff and patients as he could”.
Patients were “delighted” to see him, he told Sky News, and described the visit as “incredibly uplifting”.
Members of the public last week welcomed the king’s return to some duties, praising him for raising awareness about cancer, which will affect one in two people, according to Cancer Research UK.
<h2><a id="huge-issue" href="#huge-issue" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" title="Permalink"></a>‘Huge issue’</h2>
Probert said the king’s announcement had led to a surge in people looking up symptoms and seeking out treatment.
“It’s a huge issue in today’s society,” Keegan Gray, 23, a demolitions manager from New Zealand, told AFP on Friday.
“A lot of people have cancer and a lot of people they keep it to themselves, they’re a bit shy about it,” he added after the news that Charles would resume some public duties.
Gray said it was “really beautiful” that the king was raising awareness of cancer and the work of treatment clinics.
Charles and Kate’s cancer diagnoses have created a headache for the royal family, with both having postponed public engagements.
William has also taken a step back to support his wife and their three young children, leaving fewer senior royals to fill the schedule.
Camilla, 76, has stepped in to take over many of her husband’s engagements.
Charles’s sister Princess Anne and his youngest brother Prince Edward have also taken on more prominent roles.
Charles’s largely estranged younger son, Prince Harry, is no longer a working royal but is expected in London on May 8 to mark the 10th anniversary of his Invictus Games for disabled military veterans.
He will then join his American wife Meghan on a visit to Nigeria
]]></content:encoded>
<category>World</category>
<guid>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830596</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 18:57:27 +0500</pubDate>
<author>none@none.com (AFP)</author>
<media:content url="https://i.dawn.com/large/2024/04/301848224f0e57a.jpg?r=185727" type="image/jpeg" medium="image" height="480" width="800">
<media:thumbnail url="https://i.dawn.com/thumbnail/2024/04/301848224f0e57a.jpg?r=185727"/>
<media:title>Britain’s King Charles III, holding a bunch of flowers, waves to crowds after to visit to the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in London on April 30. — AFP
</media:title>
</media:content>
</item>
<item xmlns:default="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/">
<title>Gunman kills 6 in attack on Afghan mosque: govt spokesman</title>
<link>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830574/gunman-kills-6-in-attack-on-afghan-mosque-govt-spokesman</link>
<description>A gunman stormed a mosque in western Afghanistan and killed six people, a government spokesman said on Tuesday, with local residents claiming the Shia community had been targeted.
Interior ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qani said that “an unknown armed person shot at civilian worshippers in a mosque” in Herat province’s Guzara district on Monday at around 9pm (4:30pm GMT).
“Six civilians were martyred and one civilian was injured,” he wrote on social media platform X early Tuesday morning.
 <figure class='media w-full w-full media--stretch media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--twitter '>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/abdulmateenqani/status/1785043020569772098?s=46"></a>
</blockquote>
</div>
</figure>
Locals said the mosque served the minority Shia community in a district just south of the provincial capital of Herat city, and the imam and a three-year-old child were among those killed.
They also said a team of three gunmen staged the attack, contradicting the official account.
“One of them was outside and two of them came inside the mosque, shooting the worshippers,” said 60-year-old Ibrahim Akhlaqi, the brother of the slain imam. “It was in the middle of the prayers.”
“Whoever was in the mosque has either been martyred or wounded,” added 23-year-old Sayed Murtaza Hussaini.
<h2><a id="is-threat" href="#is-threat" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" title="Permalink"></a>IS threat</h2>
While no group has claimed the attack, the regional chapter of the militant <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1826214">Islamic State</a> (IS) group is the largest security threat in Afghanistan and has frequently targeted Shia communities.
The Taliban government has pledged to protect religious and ethnic minorities since returning to power in <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1640974">August 2021</a>, but rights monitors say they’ve done little to make good on that promise.
The most <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1713263">notorious attack</a> linked to IS since the Taliban takeover was in 2022, when at least 53 people — including 46 girls and young women — were slain in the suicide bombing of an education centre.
Taliban officials blamed IS for the attack, which happened in a Shia neighbourhood of the capital Kabul.
Afghanistan’s new rulers claim to have ousted IS from the country and are highly sensitive to suggestions the group has found safe haven there since the withdrawal of foreign forces.
Taliban authorities have frequently given death tolls lower than other sources after bombings and gun attacks, or otherwise downplayed them, in an apparent attempt to minimise security threats.
A United Nations Security Council <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n23/210/07/pdf/n2321007.pdf?token=vKkET8ldsPfWvWAdr8&amp;fe=true">report</a> released in January said there had been a decrease in IS attacks in Afghanistan because of “counter-terrorism efforts by the Taliban”.
But the report said IS still had “substantial” recruitment in the country and that the militant group had “the ability to project a threat into the region and beyond”.
</description>
<content:encoded xmlns="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[A gunman stormed a mosque in western Afghanistan and killed six people, a government spokesman said on Tuesday, with local residents claiming the Shia community had been targeted.
Interior ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qani said that “an unknown armed person shot at civilian worshippers in a mosque” in Herat province’s Guzara district on Monday at around 9pm (4:30pm GMT).
“Six civilians were martyred and one civilian was injured,” he wrote on social media platform X early Tuesday morning.
 <figure class='media w-full w-full media--stretch media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--twitter '>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/abdulmateenqani/status/1785043020569772098?s=46"></a>
</blockquote>
</div>
</figure>
Locals said the mosque served the minority Shia community in a district just south of the provincial capital of Herat city, and the imam and a three-year-old child were among those killed.
They also said a team of three gunmen staged the attack, contradicting the official account.
“One of them was outside and two of them came inside the mosque, shooting the worshippers,” said 60-year-old Ibrahim Akhlaqi, the brother of the slain imam. “It was in the middle of the prayers.”
“Whoever was in the mosque has either been martyred or wounded,” added 23-year-old Sayed Murtaza Hussaini.
<h2><a id="is-threat" href="#is-threat" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" title="Permalink"></a>IS threat</h2>
While no group has claimed the attack, the regional chapter of the militant <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1826214">Islamic State</a> (IS) group is the largest security threat in Afghanistan and has frequently targeted Shia communities.
The Taliban government has pledged to protect religious and ethnic minorities since returning to power in <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1640974">August 2021</a>, but rights monitors say they’ve done little to make good on that promise.
The most <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1713263">notorious attack</a> linked to IS since the Taliban takeover was in 2022, when at least 53 people — including 46 girls and young women — were slain in the suicide bombing of an education centre.
Taliban officials blamed IS for the attack, which happened in a Shia neighbourhood of the capital Kabul.
Afghanistan’s new rulers claim to have ousted IS from the country and are highly sensitive to suggestions the group has found safe haven there since the withdrawal of foreign forces.
Taliban authorities have frequently given death tolls lower than other sources after bombings and gun attacks, or otherwise downplayed them, in an apparent attempt to minimise security threats.
A United Nations Security Council <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n23/210/07/pdf/n2321007.pdf?token=vKkET8ldsPfWvWAdr8&fe=true">report</a> released in January said there had been a decrease in IS attacks in Afghanistan because of “counter-terrorism efforts by the Taliban”.
But the report said IS still had “substantial” recruitment in the country and that the militant group had “the ability to project a threat into the region and beyond”.
]]></content:encoded>
<category>World</category>
<guid>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830574</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 16:57:04 +0500</pubDate>
<author>none@none.com (AFP)</author>
<media:content url="https://i.dawn.com/large/2024/04/3015473056aeeaa.jpg?r=155027" type="image/jpeg" medium="image" height="480" width="800">
<media:thumbnail url="https://i.dawn.com/thumbnail/2024/04/3015473056aeeaa.jpg?r=155027"/>
<media:title>Afghans mourn at a burial ceremony of the slain Shia Muslims after gunmen attacked a mosque in Guzara district of Herat province on April 30. — AFP
</media:title>
</media:content>
</item>
<item xmlns:default="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/">
<title>New York’s Columbia University suspends students after call to end Gaza camp unheeded</title>
<link>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830569/new-yorks-columbia-university-suspends-students-after-call-to-end-gaza-camp-unheeded</link>
<description>Columbia University, the epicentre of pro-Palestinian protests that have <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1829631">upended college campuses across the United States</a>, began suspending student demonstrators on Monday after they defied an ultimatum to disperse.
The move follows almost two weeks of protests against Israel’s military offensive in Gaza that have swept through higher education institutions from coast to coast, after around 100 protesters were first <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailNews.php?StoryText=27_04_2024_011_002">arrested</a> at Columbia on April 18.
 <figure class='media sm:w-1/2 w-full media--right media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--newskitlink '> <iframe
class="nk-iframe" onload="setInterval(()=>{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)"
width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:400px;position:relative"
src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/1829896"
sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"></iframe></div>
</figure>
In the latest crackdown, authorities at the prestigious university in New York demanded that the protest encampment be cleared by 2:00pm (1800 GMT) or students would face disciplinary action.
“These repulsive scare tactics mean nothing compared to the deaths of over 34,000 Palestinians,” said a statement, read out by a student at a press conference after the deadline, referring to the death toll in Gaza.
“We will not move until Columbia meets our demands or […] are moved by force,” said the student, who would not give his name.
 <figure class='media w-full w-full media--stretch media--embed '>
<div class='media__item media__item--youtube '><iframe src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ECOAFY90c-E?enablejsapi=1&controls=1&modestbranding=1&rel=0' allowfullscreen='' frameborder='0' scrolling='no' width='100%' height='100%'></iframe></div>
</figure>
A few hours later, Columbia vice president of communications Ben Chang said the university had “begun suspending students as part of this next phase of our efforts to ensure safety on our campus”.
He said students had been warned they would be “placed on suspension, ineligible to complete the semester or graduate, and will be restricted from all academic, residential, and recreational spaces”.
Meanwhile, at the University of Texas at Austin, police clashed with protesters on Monday, including using pepper spray, and made arrests while dismantling an encampment, adding to the more than 350 people detained nationwide over the weekend.
“No encampments will be allowed,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott said on social media. “Instead, arrests are being made.”
Paul Quinzi, of the Austin Lawyers Guild helping those detained, told AFP they estimated “at least 80 arrests, and they are still going.”
Police pushed and shoved away protesters at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, local television footage showed. Students said police deployed teargas and pepper spray to clear them.
VCU said in a statement on social media platform X that it had repeatedly offered opportunities to the protesters, “many of whom were not students […] to leave. Those who did not were subjected to arrest and trespassing.”
Protests against Israel’s offensive in Gaza, with its high Palestinian civilian death toll, have posed a challenge to university administrators trying to balance free speech rights with complaints that the rallies have veered into anti-Semitism and hate.
Footage of police in riot gear summoned at various colleges to break up rallies has been viewed around the world, recalling the protest movement that erupted during the Vietnam War.
<h2><a id="talks-collapse" href="#talks-collapse" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" title="Permalink"></a>Talks collapse</h2>
Columbia University president Minouche Shafik, in a statement on Monday announcing talks had broken down, said: “Many of our Jewish students, and other students as well, have found the atmosphere intolerable in recent weeks.
“Many have left campus, and that is a tragedy,” she said. “Anti-Semitic language and actions are unacceptable and calls for violence are simply abhorrent.”
Protest organisers deny accusations of anti-Semitism, arguing their actions are aimed at Israel’s government and its prosecution of the conflict in Gaza.
They also insist non-student agitators have engineered some of the incidents.
With the school year wrapping up, administrators point to the need to maintain order on campus for exam studies.
“One group’s rights to express their views cannot come at the expense of another group’s right to speak, teach and learn,” said Shafik.
One graduate student protester, who asked to be identified only as “Z,” said: “It’s finals week, everyone is still working on their finals.
“But at the end of the day, school is temporary,” the protester told AFP.
US President Joe Biden’s White House has also attempted to walk a fine line of defending the right to protest while condemning reported acts of anti-Semitism.
“We get that it is a painful moment that Americans are dealing with, and free expression has to be done within the law,” Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Monday.
 <figure class='media w-full w-full media--stretch media--embed '>
<div class='media__item media__item--youtube '><iframe src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/07f5r97sJ7o?enablejsapi=1&controls=1&modestbranding=1&rel=0' allowfullscreen='' frameborder='0' scrolling='no' width='100%' height='100%'></iframe></div>
</figure>
However, Biden’s Republican opponents have seized on the issue, casting the protests as anti-Semitic and threatening to pull federal funding if they aren’t stopped.
“What continues to transpire at Columbia is an utter disgrace. The campus is being overrun by anti-Semitic students and faculty alike,” House Speaker Mike Johnson <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://x.com/speakerjohnson/status/1785040426652602862?s=46&amp;t=wq0bSIDF87uSGvMhqmVPJA">said</a> on X, reiterating his call for Shafik to resign.
 <figure class='media w-full w-full media--stretch media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--twitter '>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/speakerjohnson/status/1785040426652602862?s=46&amp;t=wq0bSIDF87uSGvMhqmVPJA"></a>
</blockquote>
</div>
</figure>
Meanwhile, suspensions were also ongoing at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where president Martha Pollack said student protesters had been “dishonest” by saying they did not intend to form a tented encampment on campus.
Over days of negotiations, students were offered multiple opportunities to move the encampment or face sanctions.
“They declined,” Pollack wrote. “Therefore, more temporary suspensions…
are forthcoming.”
The conflict in Gaza started when Hamas staged an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7 that left around 1,170 people dead, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed almost 34,500 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry.
</description>
<content:encoded xmlns="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[Columbia University, the epicentre of pro-Palestinian protests that have <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1829631">upended college campuses across the United States</a>, began suspending student demonstrators on Monday after they defied an ultimatum to disperse.
The move follows almost two weeks of protests against Israel’s military offensive in Gaza that have swept through higher education institutions from coast to coast, after around 100 protesters were first <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailNews.php?StoryText=27_04_2024_011_002">arrested</a> at Columbia on April 18.
 <figure class='media sm:w-1/2 w-full media--right media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--newskitlink '> <iframe
class="nk-iframe" onload="setInterval(()=>{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)"
width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:400px;position:relative"
src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/1829896"
sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"></iframe></div>
</figure>
In the latest crackdown, authorities at the prestigious university in New York demanded that the protest encampment be cleared by 2:00pm (1800 GMT) or students would face disciplinary action.
“These repulsive scare tactics mean nothing compared to the deaths of over 34,000 Palestinians,” said a statement, read out by a student at a press conference after the deadline, referring to the death toll in Gaza.
“We will not move until Columbia meets our demands or […] are moved by force,” said the student, who would not give his name.
 <figure class='media w-full w-full media--stretch media--embed '>
<div class='media__item media__item--youtube '><iframe src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ECOAFY90c-E?enablejsapi=1&controls=1&modestbranding=1&rel=0' allowfullscreen='' frameborder='0' scrolling='no' width='100%' height='100%'></iframe></div>
</figure>
A few hours later, Columbia vice president of communications Ben Chang said the university had “begun suspending students as part of this next phase of our efforts to ensure safety on our campus”.
He said students had been warned they would be “placed on suspension, ineligible to complete the semester or graduate, and will be restricted from all academic, residential, and recreational spaces”.
Meanwhile, at the University of Texas at Austin, police clashed with protesters on Monday, including using pepper spray, and made arrests while dismantling an encampment, adding to the more than 350 people detained nationwide over the weekend.
“No encampments will be allowed,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott said on social media. “Instead, arrests are being made.”
Paul Quinzi, of the Austin Lawyers Guild helping those detained, told AFP they estimated “at least 80 arrests, and they are still going.”
Police pushed and shoved away protesters at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, local television footage showed. Students said police deployed teargas and pepper spray to clear them.
VCU said in a statement on social media platform X that it had repeatedly offered opportunities to the protesters, “many of whom were not students […] to leave. Those who did not were subjected to arrest and trespassing.”
Protests against Israel’s offensive in Gaza, with its high Palestinian civilian death toll, have posed a challenge to university administrators trying to balance free speech rights with complaints that the rallies have veered into anti-Semitism and hate.
Footage of police in riot gear summoned at various colleges to break up rallies has been viewed around the world, recalling the protest movement that erupted during the Vietnam War.
<h2><a id="talks-collapse" href="#talks-collapse" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" title="Permalink"></a>Talks collapse</h2>
Columbia University president Minouche Shafik, in a statement on Monday announcing talks had broken down, said: “Many of our Jewish students, and other students as well, have found the atmosphere intolerable in recent weeks.
“Many have left campus, and that is a tragedy,” she said. “Anti-Semitic language and actions are unacceptable and calls for violence are simply abhorrent.”
Protest organisers deny accusations of anti-Semitism, arguing their actions are aimed at Israel’s government and its prosecution of the conflict in Gaza.
They also insist non-student agitators have engineered some of the incidents.
With the school year wrapping up, administrators point to the need to maintain order on campus for exam studies.
“One group’s rights to express their views cannot come at the expense of another group’s right to speak, teach and learn,” said Shafik.
One graduate student protester, who asked to be identified only as “Z,” said: “It’s finals week, everyone is still working on their finals.
“But at the end of the day, school is temporary,” the protester told AFP.
US President Joe Biden’s White House has also attempted to walk a fine line of defending the right to protest while condemning reported acts of anti-Semitism.
“We get that it is a painful moment that Americans are dealing with, and free expression has to be done within the law,” Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Monday.
 <figure class='media w-full w-full media--stretch media--embed '>
<div class='media__item media__item--youtube '><iframe src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/07f5r97sJ7o?enablejsapi=1&controls=1&modestbranding=1&rel=0' allowfullscreen='' frameborder='0' scrolling='no' width='100%' height='100%'></iframe></div>
</figure>
However, Biden’s Republican opponents have seized on the issue, casting the protests as anti-Semitic and threatening to pull federal funding if they aren’t stopped.
“What continues to transpire at Columbia is an utter disgrace. The campus is being overrun by anti-Semitic students and faculty alike,” House Speaker Mike Johnson <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://x.com/speakerjohnson/status/1785040426652602862?s=46&t=wq0bSIDF87uSGvMhqmVPJA">said</a> on X, reiterating his call for Shafik to resign.
 <figure class='media w-full w-full media--stretch media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--twitter '>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/speakerjohnson/status/1785040426652602862?s=46&t=wq0bSIDF87uSGvMhqmVPJA"></a>
</blockquote>
</div>
</figure>
Meanwhile, suspensions were also ongoing at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where president Martha Pollack said student protesters had been “dishonest” by saying they did not intend to form a tented encampment on campus.
Over days of negotiations, students were offered multiple opportunities to move the encampment or face sanctions.
“They declined,” Pollack wrote. “Therefore, more temporary suspensions…
are forthcoming.”
The conflict in Gaza started when Hamas staged an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7 that left around 1,170 people dead, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed almost 34,500 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry.
]]></content:encoded>
<category>World</category>
<guid>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830569</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 11:50:49 +0500</pubDate>
<author>none@none.com (AFP)</author>
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<media:thumbnail url="https://i.dawn.com/thumbnail/2024/04/301148334ba4218.jpg?r=114901"/>
<media:title>Protestors wave Palestinian flags on the West Lawn of Columbia University on April 29 in New York. Student demonstrators at Columbia University. — AFP
</media:title>
</media:content>
<media:content url="https://i.dawn.com/large/2024/04/301147323a828e0.jpg?r=114901" type="image/jpeg" medium="image" height="1200" width="2000">
<media:thumbnail url="https://i.dawn.com/thumbnail/2024/04/301147323a828e0.jpg?r=114901"/>
<media:title>Student demonstrators occupy the pro-Palestinian “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” on the West Lawn of Columbia University on April 29. — AFP
</media:title>
</media:content>
</item>
<item xmlns:default="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/">
<title>Scores held in Punjab for protesting govt’s ‘unfair’ wheat policy</title>
<link>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830526/scores-held-in-punjab-for-protesting-govts-unfair-wheat-policy</link>
<description>• Farmers claim hundreds detained across Punjab, police say 46 people in custody 
• Kissan Ittehad leader announces plans to block highways across province; PTI lends support 
• Punjab likely to unveil wheat policy in assembly today
LAHORE: As farmers from across the province thronged The Mall to record their protest against what they believe to be an unfair wheat procurement policy, a heavy contingent of Punjab police in anti-riot gear rounded up scores of their number, on Monday.
The farmers had taken to the streets against an inordinate delay in the purchase of grain and the decision to reduce the provincial procurement quota from over 4 million tonnes to 2.3m tonnes.
 <figure class='media sm:w-1/2 w-full media--right media--uneven media--stretch'>
<div class='media__item '><picture><img src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2024/04/6630549649320.jpg' alt=' Lahore: A protesting farmer is bundled into a prison van by police, on Monday night. &mdash;Murtaza Ali / White Star' /></picture></div>
<figcaption class='media__caption '>Lahore: A protesting farmer is bundled into a prison van by police, on Monday night. —Murtaza Ali / White Star</figcaption>
</figure>
The protesters, led by Kissan Ittehad Pakistan, managed to assemble at the GPO Chowk on The Mall and attempted to march towards the Punjab Assembly, where a heavy contingent of police intercepted them. Police not only blocked the road by placing containers, but also arrested several protesters.
Kissan Ittehad Pakistan General Secretary Mian Umair Masood, who led the demonstration, told Dawn that more than 250 farmers were arrested by police in Lahore. He, however, managed to evade arrest himself.
There were reports that arrests were also made in Rahim Yar Khan, Khanewal, Vehari, Kasur, Multan, Sadiqabad, Pakpattan, Muzaffargarh, and Sahiwal districts. Police sources, however, claimed 46 protesters were taken into custody: 30 from The Mall and 16 from Manga Mandi.
‘Province-wide protests’
Mian Umair said they were planning to block highways across the province with the help of their families and livestock, which would be brought to roads. The protesting farmers have also found their allies in the opposition, particularly the PTI and the Jammat-i-Islami, as well as in lawmakers from the treasury benches who are apprehensive about the procurement policy.
The farming community has found allies in the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Jamaat-i-Islami, whose farmer wing Kisan Board is scheduled to hold protests on Tuesday (today), while those ruling PML-N MPAs belonging to the countryside have also expressed their concerns at the present procurement policy.
The government, however, continued to play down the issue, with its spokesperson Azma Bukhari claiming that the police had not taken any protest leader into custody from anywhere. She said that the government was in contact with “real representative bodies” of the farmers and accused the workers of a political party of launching the protest for “political purposes”.
Procurement policy faults
Punjab — the bread basket of the country — procured over 4 million tonnes of wheat every season to meet its yearly requirements. But, this year the authorities decided to slash the procurement target by half, claiming that there was a carryover stock of 2.3m tonnes already available.
The caretaker government — tasked with the day-to-day affairs and overseeing the elections — imported around 3m tonnes of wheat, which was more than the province’s needs and led to a huge carryover stock leaving little storage capacity.
Likewise, the government had also changed the procedure for applying to sell wheat to the food department. Unlike in the past when the growers were required to submit written applications to procure gunny bags used to pack and transport wheat to procurement centres, the government launched a mobile application for the purpose, conveniently ignoring the fact that a majority of the rural population is not well-versed in technology.
Even then, over 400,000 growers applied for gunny bags; but the government said it would issue six bags per acre and only to those who owned up to six acres of land.
Mian Umair said the government’s decision was mala fide. “Owners of up to six acres of land rarely sell their wheat to the government because they retain almost half of the produce for domestic use and the rest is meant for the aarti (middlemen), fertiliser, and pesticides dealers from whom they had made purchases for their fields on credit.
Similarly, the procurement campaign has also been unusually delayed this year, crashing the local wheat market with middlemen exploiting the situation by buying wheat from the growers at much less than the officially fixed minimum support price of Rs3,900 per 40kg.
These steps raised many an eyebrow even among the ruling party’s elected representatives. The issue also resonated multiple times in the Punjab Assembly and a general discussion was also held.
‘Above normal moisture’
Without clearly committing when to start the procurement drive, Food Minister Bilal Yasin defended the delay saying due to rains the grain carried above normal moisture up to 18 percent. “After drying up this produce will lose weight causing financial loss to the provincial kitty,” he claimed.
Meanwhile, the government is trying to appease the farming community by feeding information that it is considering a Rs130 billion package and also planning to give a subsidy between Rs400 and Rs600 per 40kg instead of increasing the procurement target.
But Kissan Ittehad leader Khalid Batth voiced his suspicion, saying the government would use this policy “as a ploy to relieve pressure” from the farming community for the time being.
Such dilly-dallying measures are disturbing even for the ruling party members, who are under pressure from their rural electorate. Punjab Assembly speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan refused to prorogue the ongoing assembly session, which was to be put off sine die on Monday, when the finance and food ministers said the government would give a wheat policy on Tuesday (today). The speaker suspended the proceedings till Tuesday morning, as some MPAs suggested that the government should pay for wheat in phases if funds were unavailable.
Asif Chaudhry in Lahore also contributed to this report
Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2024
</description>
<content:encoded xmlns="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[• Farmers claim hundreds detained across Punjab, police say 46 people in custody 
• Kissan Ittehad leader announces plans to block highways across province; PTI lends support 
• Punjab likely to unveil wheat policy in assembly today
LAHORE: As farmers from across the province thronged The Mall to record their protest against what they believe to be an unfair wheat procurement policy, a heavy contingent of Punjab police in anti-riot gear rounded up scores of their number, on Monday.
The farmers had taken to the streets against an inordinate delay in the purchase of grain and the decision to reduce the provincial procurement quota from over 4 million tonnes to 2.3m tonnes.
 <figure class='media sm:w-1/2 w-full media--right media--uneven media--stretch'>
<div class='media__item '><picture><img src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2024/04/6630549649320.jpg' alt=' Lahore: A protesting farmer is bundled into a prison van by police, on Monday night. —Murtaza Ali / White Star' /></picture></div>
<figcaption class='media__caption '>Lahore: A protesting farmer is bundled into a prison van by police, on Monday night. —Murtaza Ali / White Star</figcaption>
</figure>
The protesters, led by Kissan Ittehad Pakistan, managed to assemble at the GPO Chowk on The Mall and attempted to march towards the Punjab Assembly, where a heavy contingent of police intercepted them. Police not only blocked the road by placing containers, but also arrested several protesters.
Kissan Ittehad Pakistan General Secretary Mian Umair Masood, who led the demonstration, told Dawn that more than 250 farmers were arrested by police in Lahore. He, however, managed to evade arrest himself.
There were reports that arrests were also made in Rahim Yar Khan, Khanewal, Vehari, Kasur, Multan, Sadiqabad, Pakpattan, Muzaffargarh, and Sahiwal districts. Police sources, however, claimed 46 protesters were taken into custody: 30 from The Mall and 16 from Manga Mandi.
‘Province-wide protests’
Mian Umair said they were planning to block highways across the province with the help of their families and livestock, which would be brought to roads. The protesting farmers have also found their allies in the opposition, particularly the PTI and the Jammat-i-Islami, as well as in lawmakers from the treasury benches who are apprehensive about the procurement policy.
The farming community has found allies in the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Jamaat-i-Islami, whose farmer wing Kisan Board is scheduled to hold protests on Tuesday (today), while those ruling PML-N MPAs belonging to the countryside have also expressed their concerns at the present procurement policy.
The government, however, continued to play down the issue, with its spokesperson Azma Bukhari claiming that the police had not taken any protest leader into custody from anywhere. She said that the government was in contact with “real representative bodies” of the farmers and accused the workers of a political party of launching the protest for “political purposes”.
Procurement policy faults
Punjab — the bread basket of the country — procured over 4 million tonnes of wheat every season to meet its yearly requirements. But, this year the authorities decided to slash the procurement target by half, claiming that there was a carryover stock of 2.3m tonnes already available.
The caretaker government — tasked with the day-to-day affairs and overseeing the elections — imported around 3m tonnes of wheat, which was more than the province’s needs and led to a huge carryover stock leaving little storage capacity.
Likewise, the government had also changed the procedure for applying to sell wheat to the food department. Unlike in the past when the growers were required to submit written applications to procure gunny bags used to pack and transport wheat to procurement centres, the government launched a mobile application for the purpose, conveniently ignoring the fact that a majority of the rural population is not well-versed in technology.
Even then, over 400,000 growers applied for gunny bags; but the government said it would issue six bags per acre and only to those who owned up to six acres of land.
Mian Umair said the government’s decision was mala fide. “Owners of up to six acres of land rarely sell their wheat to the government because they retain almost half of the produce for domestic use and the rest is meant for the aarti (middlemen), fertiliser, and pesticides dealers from whom they had made purchases for their fields on credit.
Similarly, the procurement campaign has also been unusually delayed this year, crashing the local wheat market with middlemen exploiting the situation by buying wheat from the growers at much less than the officially fixed minimum support price of Rs3,900 per 40kg.
These steps raised many an eyebrow even among the ruling party’s elected representatives. The issue also resonated multiple times in the Punjab Assembly and a general discussion was also held.
‘Above normal moisture’
Without clearly committing when to start the procurement drive, Food Minister Bilal Yasin defended the delay saying due to rains the grain carried above normal moisture up to 18 percent. “After drying up this produce will lose weight causing financial loss to the provincial kitty,” he claimed.
Meanwhile, the government is trying to appease the farming community by feeding information that it is considering a Rs130 billion package and also planning to give a subsidy between Rs400 and Rs600 per 40kg instead of increasing the procurement target.
But Kissan Ittehad leader Khalid Batth voiced his suspicion, saying the government would use this policy “as a ploy to relieve pressure” from the farming community for the time being.
Such dilly-dallying measures are disturbing even for the ruling party members, who are under pressure from their rural electorate. Punjab Assembly speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan refused to prorogue the ongoing assembly session, which was to be put off sine die on Monday, when the finance and food ministers said the government would give a wheat policy on Tuesday (today). The speaker suspended the proceedings till Tuesday morning, as some MPAs suggested that the government should pay for wheat in phases if funds were unavailable.
Asif Chaudhry in Lahore also contributed to this report
Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2024
]]></content:encoded>
<category>Pakistan</category>
<guid>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830526</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 10:39:58 +0500</pubDate>
<author>none@none.com (Amjad Mahmood)</author>
<media:content url="https://i.dawn.com/large/2024/04/30103642fe033c2.png?r=103958" type="image/png" medium="image" height="480" width="800">
<media:thumbnail url="https://i.dawn.com/thumbnail/2024/04/30103642fe033c2.png?r=103958"/>
<media:title/>
</media:content>
</item>
<item xmlns:default="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/">
<title>Modi’s ‘inner circle’ implicated in murder plots abroad
</title>
<link>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830523/modis-inner-circle-implicated-in-murder-plots-abroad</link>
<description>WASHINGTON: Even as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1761117/biden-modi-salute-defining-partnership-as-us-invests-big-in-india">basking</a> in American adulation, “an officer in India’s intelligence service was relaying final instructions to a hired hit team to kill one of Modi’s most vocal critics in the United States,” The Washington Post <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/04/29/india-assassination-raw-sikhs-modi/">reported</a> on Monday, painting a damning picture of New Delhi’s operations on foreign soil and the complicity of its top leadership in such transnational suppression.
According to The Post, Vikram Yadav, an officer in India’s spy agency RAW, sent out instructions to a hired hit team while Modi was being <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1761117/biden-modi-salute-defining-partnership-as-us-invests-big-in-india">lavishly entertained</a> at the White House last year.
Higher-ranking RAW officials have also been implicated, according to current and former Western security officials, as part of a sprawling investigation by the CIA, FBI and other agencies that has mapped potential links to Modi’s inner circle.
Quoting reports that have been “closely held within the American government”, The Post said that US intelligence agencies have assessed that the operation targeting Pannun was approved by the RAW chief at the time, Samant Goel.
<blockquote class="blockquote-level-1">
Washington Post investigation details how ‘hit-men’ were hired by RAW agents to assassinate dissidents on US soil
</blockquote>
“The assassination is a priority now,” Yadav said, urging operatives to target and kill Sikh activists in North America.
 <figure class='media sm:w-1/2 w-full media--right media--embed media--uneven'>
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class="nk-iframe" onload="setInterval(()=>{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)"
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src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/1781292"
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“India’s assassination plots in the United States and Canada are part of an expanding wave of aggression against dissident groups seeking protection in other countries,” The Post noted.
The report interpreted Yadav’s memo as indicating that the Indian government was “increasingly willing” to “disregard the sovereignty of the host nations and send agents across borders to subdue political enemies”.
Yadav forwarded details about the target, Sikh activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, including his New York address. As soon as the would-be assassins could confirm that Pannun, a US citizen, was home, “it will be a go ahead from us,” said the memo quoted in the report.
The report also claimed that US spy agencies had assessed that Modi’s national security adviser, Ajit Doval, was probably aware of RAW’s plans to kill Sikh activists, but officials emphasised that no smoking gun evidence had emerged. Neither Doval nor Goel responded to The Post’s calls and text messages seeking comment.
The report also uncovered shocking details of alleged assassination plots orchestrated by RAW agents, also targeting Modi’s critics living in the United States and Canada, shedding light on the lengths to which India went to suppress dissent beyond its borders and the diplomatic fallout that ensued.
The US operation shows how RAW tried to export tactics it has used for years in countries neighboring India, officials said, including the use of criminal syndicates for operations it doesn’t want traced to New Delhi, The Post said.
The Post’s investigation, based on interviews with numerous officials and experts across several countries, highlighted the escalating campaign of aggression by RAW against the Indian diaspora worldwide. Sikhs have been targeted due to their perceived disloyalty to Modi government.
Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2024
</description>
<content:encoded xmlns="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[WASHINGTON: Even as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1761117/biden-modi-salute-defining-partnership-as-us-invests-big-in-india">basking</a> in American adulation, “an officer in India’s intelligence service was relaying final instructions to a hired hit team to kill one of Modi’s most vocal critics in the United States,” The Washington Post <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/04/29/india-assassination-raw-sikhs-modi/">reported</a> on Monday, painting a damning picture of New Delhi’s operations on foreign soil and the complicity of its top leadership in such transnational suppression.
According to The Post, Vikram Yadav, an officer in India’s spy agency RAW, sent out instructions to a hired hit team while Modi was being <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1761117/biden-modi-salute-defining-partnership-as-us-invests-big-in-india">lavishly entertained</a> at the White House last year.
Higher-ranking RAW officials have also been implicated, according to current and former Western security officials, as part of a sprawling investigation by the CIA, FBI and other agencies that has mapped potential links to Modi’s inner circle.
Quoting reports that have been “closely held within the American government”, The Post said that US intelligence agencies have assessed that the operation targeting Pannun was approved by the RAW chief at the time, Samant Goel.
<blockquote class="blockquote-level-1">
Washington Post investigation details how ‘hit-men’ were hired by RAW agents to assassinate dissidents on US soil
</blockquote>
“The assassination is a priority now,” Yadav said, urging operatives to target and kill Sikh activists in North America.
 <figure class='media sm:w-1/2 w-full media--right media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--newskitlink '> <iframe
class="nk-iframe" onload="setInterval(()=>{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)"
width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:400px;position:relative"
src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/1781292"
sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"></iframe></div>
</figure>
“India’s assassination plots in the United States and Canada are part of an expanding wave of aggression against dissident groups seeking protection in other countries,” The Post noted.
The report interpreted Yadav’s memo as indicating that the Indian government was “increasingly willing” to “disregard the sovereignty of the host nations and send agents across borders to subdue political enemies”.
Yadav forwarded details about the target, Sikh activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, including his New York address. As soon as the would-be assassins could confirm that Pannun, a US citizen, was home, “it will be a go ahead from us,” said the memo quoted in the report.
The report also claimed that US spy agencies had assessed that Modi’s national security adviser, Ajit Doval, was probably aware of RAW’s plans to kill Sikh activists, but officials emphasised that no smoking gun evidence had emerged. Neither Doval nor Goel responded to The Post’s calls and text messages seeking comment.
The report also uncovered shocking details of alleged assassination plots orchestrated by RAW agents, also targeting Modi’s critics living in the United States and Canada, shedding light on the lengths to which India went to suppress dissent beyond its borders and the diplomatic fallout that ensued.
The US operation shows how RAW tried to export tactics it has used for years in countries neighboring India, officials said, including the use of criminal syndicates for operations it doesn’t want traced to New Delhi, The Post said.
The Post’s investigation, based on interviews with numerous officials and experts across several countries, highlighted the escalating campaign of aggression by RAW against the Indian diaspora worldwide. Sikhs have been targeted due to their perceived disloyalty to Modi government.
Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2024
]]></content:encoded>
<category>World</category>
<guid>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830523</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 09:09:07 +0500</pubDate>
<author>none@none.com (Our Correspondent)</author>
<media:content url="https://i.dawn.com/large/2024/04/30075338e4052db.jpg?r=075352" type="image/jpeg" medium="image" height="480" width="800">
<media:thumbnail url="https://i.dawn.com/thumbnail/2024/04/30075338e4052db.jpg?r=075352"/>
<media:title>Farmers hold flags as they take part in a three-hour “chakka jam” or road blockade, as part of protests against farm laws on a highway on the outskirts of New Delhi, India, February 6, 2021. — Reuters
</media:title>
</media:content>
</item>
<item xmlns:default="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/">
<title>Petrol, diesel prices likely to be cut by Rs9 per litre
</title>
<link>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830540/petrol-diesel-prices-likely-to-be-cut-by-rs9-per-litre</link>
<description>ISLAMABAD: The petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) prices are set to drop by about Rs5 and Rs9 per litre, respectively, on Tuesday mainly because of a fall in the international prices and import premiums.
Informed sources said the prices of petrol and HSD had declined in the international market by about $3 and $5 per barrel, respectively, in the last fortnight. Depending on the final calculation of the inland freight equalisation margin (IFEM), the price of petrol is projected to come down by Rs4.50-5.20 per litre and that of HSD by Rs8-8.50 per litre.
 <figure class='media sm:w-1/2 w-full media--right media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--newskitlink '> <iframe
class="nk-iframe" onload="setInterval(()=>{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)"
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The petrol import premium has dropped by almost 10pc to $9.60 per barrel from $10.7. This is the second fortnightly fall from $13.50 per barrel in March. On the other hand, however, the rupee lost about 45 paise against the dollar during the fortnight to Rs278.65. The net impact is estimated to be about Rs5 per litre reeducation in petrol price from the existing Rs295.
The HSD price also dropped by about $5 per barrel, and its import premium, paid by Pakistan State Oil, remained unchanged at $6.50 per barrel. Thus, the HSD rate was estimated to be down by Rs8 to Rs8.50 per litre, subject to final exchange rate adjustment and IFEM in pricing, from the current rate of Rs290.38 per litre at the depot stage. Officials said the international market price of petrol had dropped to $96.6 per barrel from $98.5 earlier, while the HSD price to $97.5 from $102.9 per barrel.
Almost a fortnight ago, the government had increased the price of petrol and HSD by Rs4.53 and Rs8.14 per litre for the fortnight ending April 30.
The government has already achieved Rs60 per litre petroleum levy — maximum permissible limit under the law — on both petrol and HSD.
Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2024
</description>
<content:encoded xmlns="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[ISLAMABAD: The petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) prices are set to drop by about Rs5 and Rs9 per litre, respectively, on Tuesday mainly because of a fall in the international prices and import premiums.
Informed sources said the prices of petrol and HSD had declined in the international market by about $3 and $5 per barrel, respectively, in the last fortnight. Depending on the final calculation of the inland freight equalisation margin (IFEM), the price of petrol is projected to come down by Rs4.50-5.20 per litre and that of HSD by Rs8-8.50 per litre.
 <figure class='media sm:w-1/2 w-full media--right media--embed media--uneven'>
<div class='media__item media__item--newskitlink '> <iframe
class="nk-iframe" onload="setInterval(()=>{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)"
width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:400px;position:relative"
src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/1827603"
sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"></iframe></div>
</figure>
The petrol import premium has dropped by almost 10pc to $9.60 per barrel from $10.7. This is the second fortnightly fall from $13.50 per barrel in March. On the other hand, however, the rupee lost about 45 paise against the dollar during the fortnight to Rs278.65. The net impact is estimated to be about Rs5 per litre reeducation in petrol price from the existing Rs295.
The HSD price also dropped by about $5 per barrel, and its import premium, paid by Pakistan State Oil, remained unchanged at $6.50 per barrel. Thus, the HSD rate was estimated to be down by Rs8 to Rs8.50 per litre, subject to final exchange rate adjustment and IFEM in pricing, from the current rate of Rs290.38 per litre at the depot stage. Officials said the international market price of petrol had dropped to $96.6 per barrel from $98.5 earlier, while the HSD price to $97.5 from $102.9 per barrel.
Almost a fortnight ago, the government had increased the price of petrol and HSD by Rs4.53 and Rs8.14 per litre for the fortnight ending April 30.
The government has already achieved Rs60 per litre petroleum levy — maximum permissible limit under the law — on both petrol and HSD.
Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2024
]]></content:encoded>
<category>Business</category>
<guid>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830540</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 10:26:47 +0500</pubDate>
<author>none@none.com (The Newspaper's Staff Reporter)</author>
<media:content url="https://i.dawn.com/large/2024/04/66305b08b792e.jpg" type="image/jpeg" medium="image" height="480" width="800">
<media:thumbnail url="https://i.dawn.com/thumbnail/2024/04/66305b08b792e.jpg"/>
<media:title>Global petroleum prices registered a significant fall in the last fortnight.—AFP/file
</media:title>
</media:content>
</item>
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<title>More pleas pour in as SC resumes meddling case hearing today
</title>
<link>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830504/more-pleas-pour-in-as-sc-resumes-meddling-case-hearing-today</link>
<description>ISLAMABAD: As the Supreme Court resumes hearing on Tuesday (today) of a case relating to <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1824028">alleged meddling</a> by spy agencies in judicial affairs, more petitions are pouring in one after another with a request to become a party in the matter.
On Monday, Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) President Rehan Aziz Malik requested the top court to declare that it was imperative for all state institutions to refrain from overstepping their rightful boundaries and that they must consistently operate and abide by legal framework and principles enshrined in the Constitution.
Headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, a six-judge SC bench will resume hearing of the case it instituted on a <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1824211">suo motu</a>. Other bench members include Justices Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Athar Minallah, Musarrat Hilali and Naeem Akhtar Afghan. Justice Yahya Afridi has already recused himself from the bench.
The Supreme Court has already <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1829904">clubbed</a> a set of 10 petitions and applications seeking its intervention in response to allegations of “intelligence agencies’ meddling in judicial affairs”, which were highlighted in a March 25 letter written to the Supreme Judicial Council by six Islamabad High Court judges.
<blockquote class="blockquote-level-1">
SHCBA seeks order for state institutions to work within designated lawful domain
</blockquote>
The fresh petitions requested the Supreme Court to declare that vesting prerogative to constitute benches and mark cases to the unilateral and unstructured discretion of the chief justices of high courts harms both the external and internal independence of judiciary and violates Articles 10-A, 175, 192 and 202 of the Constitution.
The SHCBA pleaded before the apex court to declare that principles of good governance and the rule of law command that all state institutions must operate within their designated lawful domain.
“They should adhere to the parameters set by the law and the Constitution, ensuring that their actions and behaviour remain within the boundaries established by these legal frameworks. This commitment to upholding the law and respecting the Constitution is vital for the proper functioning of state institutions and for maintaining a just and democratic society,” it argued.
The petition said the high courts should be directed to hold full court meetings and ascertain whether any judges of the respective courts or of courts subordinate to them have similar complaints and to report the same to the Supreme Court.
It requested the apex court to pass orders to safeguard the independence of judiciary and protect it from such intrusions in future and for initiation of appropriate proceedings against any officers or persons responsible, whether through acts of commission or omission.
The petition said the high courts should frame appropriate rules and guidelines on the administrative side detailing how any complaints by judges or staff of the high courts and subordinate courts of external interference in judicial or court-related functions should be reported and how they were to be redressed and, insofar as judges and staff of this court were concerned.
The petition sought a directive for the SC registrar to place proposals in this regard for the consideration of the full court as well as order the federal government to devise appropriate mechanisms for effective scrutiny and oversight over the functioning of intelligence agencies to ensure they do not transgress their lawful domain and to ensure that intelligence agencies are duly regulated through requisite legislation.
Another petition filed on Monday requested the Supreme Court to form an inquiry commission comprising three top court judges to probe the contents and context of the IHC judges’ letter.
Advocate Khudayar Mohla, the petitioner, invoked the SC jurisdiction under Article 184 (3) of the Constitution, making the federal government through prime minister, secretaries of the cabinet division and ministries of law and justice and interior as respondents in the matter.
“This court may constitute an inquiry commission consisting of at least three honourable judges of this court to thoroughly inquire and investigate the matter and contents of the letter of March 25, 2024, written by six learned judges of the IHC to fix responsibility of persons in their official status who had indulged in interfering judicial working of the said learned judges to close backdoor of interference by any executive authority or intelligence agency, etc., in the interest of justice and independence of the judiciary,” said the petition filed through counsel Dr G.M. Chaudhry.
Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2024
</description>
<content:encoded xmlns="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[ISLAMABAD: As the Supreme Court resumes hearing on Tuesday (today) of a case relating to <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1824028">alleged meddling</a> by spy agencies in judicial affairs, more petitions are pouring in one after another with a request to become a party in the matter.
On Monday, Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) President Rehan Aziz Malik requested the top court to declare that it was imperative for all state institutions to refrain from overstepping their rightful boundaries and that they must consistently operate and abide by legal framework and principles enshrined in the Constitution.
Headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, a six-judge SC bench will resume hearing of the case it instituted on a <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1824211">suo motu</a>. Other bench members include Justices Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Athar Minallah, Musarrat Hilali and Naeem Akhtar Afghan. Justice Yahya Afridi has already recused himself from the bench.
The Supreme Court has already <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1829904">clubbed</a> a set of 10 petitions and applications seeking its intervention in response to allegations of “intelligence agencies’ meddling in judicial affairs”, which were highlighted in a March 25 letter written to the Supreme Judicial Council by six Islamabad High Court judges.
<blockquote class="blockquote-level-1">
SHCBA seeks order for state institutions to work within designated lawful domain
</blockquote>
The fresh petitions requested the Supreme Court to declare that vesting prerogative to constitute benches and mark cases to the unilateral and unstructured discretion of the chief justices of high courts harms both the external and internal independence of judiciary and violates Articles 10-A, 175, 192 and 202 of the Constitution.
The SHCBA pleaded before the apex court to declare that principles of good governance and the rule of law command that all state institutions must operate within their designated lawful domain.
“They should adhere to the parameters set by the law and the Constitution, ensuring that their actions and behaviour remain within the boundaries established by these legal frameworks. This commitment to upholding the law and respecting the Constitution is vital for the proper functioning of state institutions and for maintaining a just and democratic society,” it argued.
The petition said the high courts should be directed to hold full court meetings and ascertain whether any judges of the respective courts or of courts subordinate to them have similar complaints and to report the same to the Supreme Court.
It requested the apex court to pass orders to safeguard the independence of judiciary and protect it from such intrusions in future and for initiation of appropriate proceedings against any officers or persons responsible, whether through acts of commission or omission.
The petition said the high courts should frame appropriate rules and guidelines on the administrative side detailing how any complaints by judges or staff of the high courts and subordinate courts of external interference in judicial or court-related functions should be reported and how they were to be redressed and, insofar as judges and staff of this court were concerned.
The petition sought a directive for the SC registrar to place proposals in this regard for the consideration of the full court as well as order the federal government to devise appropriate mechanisms for effective scrutiny and oversight over the functioning of intelligence agencies to ensure they do not transgress their lawful domain and to ensure that intelligence agencies are duly regulated through requisite legislation.
Another petition filed on Monday requested the Supreme Court to form an inquiry commission comprising three top court judges to probe the contents and context of the IHC judges’ letter.
Advocate Khudayar Mohla, the petitioner, invoked the SC jurisdiction under Article 184 (3) of the Constitution, making the federal government through prime minister, secretaries of the cabinet division and ministries of law and justice and interior as respondents in the matter.
“This court may constitute an inquiry commission consisting of at least three honourable judges of this court to thoroughly inquire and investigate the matter and contents of the letter of March 25, 2024, written by six learned judges of the IHC to fix responsibility of persons in their official status who had indulged in interfering judicial working of the said learned judges to close backdoor of interference by any executive authority or intelligence agency, etc., in the interest of justice and independence of the judiciary,” said the petition filed through counsel Dr G.M. Chaudhry.
Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2024
]]></content:encoded>
<category>Pakistan</category>
<guid>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830504</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 10:12:26 +0500</pubDate>
<author>none@none.com (Nasir Iqbal)</author>
<media:content url="https://i.dawn.com/large/2024/04/3010053937fc07b.png?r=101226" type="image/png" medium="image" height="480" width="800">
<media:thumbnail url="https://i.dawn.com/thumbnail/2024/04/3010053937fc07b.png?r=101226"/>
<media:title/>
</media:content>
</item>
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<title>World Immunisation Week is here to remind us we have a ‘shot’ at saving lives</title>
<link>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830380/world-immunisation-week-is-here-to-remind-us-we-have-a-shot-at-saving-lives</link>
<description><a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9935567/">Pakistan leads the world</a> in the tragic toll of neonatal, infant, and child mortality; the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://tribune.com.pk/story/675970/child-mortality-pakistan-has-the-highest-rate-of-first-day-deaths">highest rate of first day deaths</a> and stillbirths — future of promises snuffed out before they even begin. As of 2022, statistics reveal that <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10126599/#:~:text=Additionally%2C%20the%20rate%20of%20Pakistan's,%2C%20leading%20with%2056.9%2F1000.">57 out of every 1,000 livebirths</a> end in the child’s death indicating that Pakistan stands at the precipice of a healthcare crisis, where diseases claim the lives of children with alarming frequency. What’s worse is that the vast majority of these losses are preventable, succumbing to diseases that could have been stopped in their tracks by simple vaccinations.
Against the backdrop of such a grim reality, <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-immunization-week">World Immunisation Week</a>, celebrated from April 24 to April 30, is a global initiative that stands as a powerful reminder of the lifesaving role of vaccines in safeguarding our most vulnerable and shaping a healthier world for generations to come.
In Pakistan, as in every corner of the globe, understanding immunisation schedules, dispelling misconceptions, and fostering collective action are key to ensuring the success of immunisation efforts. However, perhaps the most pivotal strategy in our arsenal lies in confronting head-on the missed opportunities of vaccination (MOV). This, we believe, is the game changer —the silver bullet — that can transform our aspirations into realities, ensuring that no child is left behind, that no precious life is robbed of the shield of immunity they deserve.
<h2><a id="what-are-missed-opportunities-for-vaccination-mov-and-when-do-they-occur" href="#what-are-missed-opportunities-for-vaccination-mov-and-when-do-they-occur" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" title="Permalink"></a>What are missed opportunities for vaccination (MOV) and when do they occur?</h2>
<a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.who.int/teams/immunization-vaccines-and-biologicals/essential-programme-on-immunization/implementation/reducing-missed-opportunities-for-vaccination#:~:text=A%20missed%20opportunity%20for%20vaccination%20(MOV)%20refers%20to%20any%20contact,one%20or%20more%20of%20the">MOV encompasses</a> any interaction with healthcare services involving a child eligible for immunisation — meaning they are either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated for their age and lack any contraindication to immunisation — but fail to receive it by the end of that interaction. This missed opportunity can occur during scheduled vaccination visits, preventive services, routine check-ups like growth monitoring and nutrition assessments, as well as visits related to an illness. It can even happen during visits to healthcare facilities while accompanying a sick relative or family member.
<h2><a id="why-worry-about-mov" href="#why-worry-about-mov" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" title="Permalink"></a>Why worry about MOV?</h2>
Each MOV poses a dual threat to both personal and community health by increasing the likelihood of vaccine-preventable diseases. In countries like Pakistan, where achieving the target of optimal immunisation coverage is already a challenge, addressing and mitigating these missed chances could substantially enhance child health metrics, including growth, development, and reducing mortality rates among children under five years old.
<h2><a id="why-do-mov-occur-at-all" href="#why-do-mov-occur-at-all" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" title="Permalink"></a>Why do MOV occur at all?</h2>
MOV occur due to a <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://publications.jsi.com/JSIInternet/Inc/Common/_download_pub.cfm?id=23763&amp;lid=3#:~:text=The%20reasons%20for%20MOVs%20are,knowledge%20of%20contraindications%20of%20vaccination.">myriad of factors</a>, involving the child, caregiver, and the healthcare system and provider. These encompass instances such as illness coinciding with scheduled immunisation appointments and social disparities, where children from disadvantaged backgrounds face hurdles due to financial limitations or restricted access to healthcare services.
Caregiver-related causes include inadequate education, diminished belief in susceptibility to diseases, apprehensions regarding vaccine side effects, propagation of myths and misconceptions, distrust in the healthcare system, cultural constraints based on gender, and a lack of prioritisation for immunisation, at times exacerbated by the misplacement of vaccination cards.
Provider-related issues encompass insufficient training, staffing shortages, and constrained vaccination schedules or hours, resulting in missed vaccination opportunities. Programmatic policies, such as appointment-only visits, lengthy waiting periods in crowded facilities, designated immunisation days, daily limits on immunisations, and logistical obstacles like transportation issues, also contribute to the problem.
Furthermore, despite well-structured immunisation processes, external challenges such as regional conflicts, natural calamities, population migration, and political influences exert adverse effects on vaccine coverage and utilisation.
<h2><a id="where-does-this-occur" href="#where-does-this-occur" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" title="Permalink"></a>Where does this occur?</h2>
In the wake of the 2022 floods, a joint <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.aku.edu/news/Documents/TPVICS_SHRUCS_R2_Survey_2022_Report.pdf">survey</a> by the World Bank and Aga Khan University unearthed stark regional divides in immunisation coverage. While the aftermath of the floods undoubtedly contributed to infrastructure loss and the disappearance of immunisation records, numerous other factors loom large in this narrative.
As highlighted earlier, rural and peri-urban regions, grappling with lower literacy rates and limited healthcare accessibility, face an uphill battle in locating and reaching remote immunisation facilities. Consequently, these areas harbour a disproportionate number of children with zero vaccine doses, in stark contrast to urban counterparts blessed with robust health infrastructure and ample healthcare knowledge dissemination.
The emergence of pockets of zero dose children in these marginalised areas underscores an urgent call for resource mobilisation. It’s clear that bridging these disparities demands a concerted effort to bolster healthcare accessibility and education, ensuring that no child is left vulnerable to the ravages of preventable diseases.
<h2><a id="its-time-to-turn-the-tide--combat-movs-through-action" href="#its-time-to-turn-the-tide--combat-movs-through-action" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" title="Permalink"></a>It’s time to turn the tide — combat MOVs through action</h2>
To truly enhance child health indicators, we must first confront the various obstacles standing in our way. It begins with a simple yet crucial step: identifying zero dose children at every healthcare encounter and meticulously documenting their status. But the key to transformative change lies in the creation of a synchronised database linked to the country’s National Database and Registration Authority, Nadra — which could be the linchpin of our surveillance and detection efforts against missed opportunities for vaccination.
Automated individualised information tools such as text message-based reminders have long been heralded as powerful tools for disseminating public service messages. Leveraging this technology, we can revolutionise immunisation outreach by providing timely, personalised information to each child registered in the database. These automated reminders would guide caregivers and parents to the nearest healthcare facility or immunisation centre, with detailed directions and scheduling information.
However, our efforts must not stop there. In areas with internet connectivity, we must empower caregivers with the knowledge to locate nearby immunisation centres independently. By equipping them with the tools to navigate local GPS or web mapping systems, we remove yet another barrier to access, ensuring that no child is left behind in the quest for better health.
 <figure class='media sm:w-full w-full media--stretch media--uneven media--stretch'>
<div class='media__item '><picture><img src='https://i.dawn.com/large/2024/04/30153927ca5bcea.png' alt='Directions provided by the author' /></picture></div>
<figcaption class='media__caption '>Directions provided by the author</figcaption>
</figure>
On the national scale, the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.unicef.org/pakistan/media/3096/file/Performance%20Evaluation%20Report%20-%20Lady%20Health%20Workers%20Programme%20in%20Pakistan.pdf">Lady Health Workers (LHW) programme</a> has shown to be a cost-effective approach and has received extensive community support. Expansion of this programme would not only help reinforce trust with vaccinators and improve immunisation coverage but would also serve to increase access to health education. Many rural or underserved areas lack adequate health information, and this expansion would empower communities to make informed health choices, fostering a positive cultural shift in immunisation practices.
Moreover, enhancing disease surveillance systems and establishing a national database would streamline case reporting, communication, and disaster response. This database would pinpoint areas most affected by vaccine preventable diseases and identify high-risk clusters, enabling targeted interventions and redirect focus towards strategies to address MOV.
Furthermore, refining the national immunisation plan would enhance the country’s ability to recognise and overcome immunisation challenges promptly and effectively.
In the context of MOV, the theme of World Immunisation Week this year is particularly important for Pakistan, as it resonates deeply with the challenges and opportunities we face in the realm of immunisation. It is a reminder that immunisation programmes, while complex, are entirely within our reach if we harness the collective power of the government, healthcare professionals, researchers, the community and technology.
A <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.emro.who.int/pak/programmes/expanded-programme-on-immunization.html">child needs</a> only five visits during the first year and one visit during the second year of his/her life to complete the vaccination with six visits against 12 dreadful diseases. With unyielding dedication and community support, this milestone in healthcare is not merely attainable; it’s a testament to our collective commitment to the well-being of our children and society as a whole.
<hr />
Header image: A health worker marks the finger of a child after administering polio vaccine drops during a door-to-door campaign in Lahore on July 20, 2020. — AFP/File
</description>
<content:encoded xmlns="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[<a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9935567/">Pakistan leads the world</a> in the tragic toll of neonatal, infant, and child mortality; the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://tribune.com.pk/story/675970/child-mortality-pakistan-has-the-highest-rate-of-first-day-deaths">highest rate of first day deaths</a> and stillbirths — future of promises snuffed out before they even begin. As of 2022, statistics reveal that <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10126599/#:~:text=Additionally%2C%20the%20rate%20of%20Pakistan's,%2C%20leading%20with%2056.9%2F1000.">57 out of every 1,000 livebirths</a> end in the child’s death indicating that Pakistan stands at the precipice of a healthcare crisis, where diseases claim the lives of children with alarming frequency. What’s worse is that the vast majority of these losses are preventable, succumbing to diseases that could have been stopped in their tracks by simple vaccinations.
Against the backdrop of such a grim reality, <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-immunization-week">World Immunisation Week</a>, celebrated from April 24 to April 30, is a global initiative that stands as a powerful reminder of the lifesaving role of vaccines in safeguarding our most vulnerable and shaping a healthier world for generations to come.
In Pakistan, as in every corner of the globe, understanding immunisation schedules, dispelling misconceptions, and fostering collective action are key to ensuring the success of immunisation efforts. However, perhaps the most pivotal strategy in our arsenal lies in confronting head-on the missed opportunities of vaccination (MOV). This, we believe, is the game changer —the silver bullet — that can transform our aspirations into realities, ensuring that no child is left behind, that no precious life is robbed of the shield of immunity they deserve.
<h2><a id="what-are-missed-opportunities-for-vaccination-mov-and-when-do-they-occur" href="#what-are-missed-opportunities-for-vaccination-mov-and-when-do-they-occur" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" title="Permalink"></a>What are missed opportunities for vaccination (MOV) and when do they occur?</h2>
<a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.who.int/teams/immunization-vaccines-and-biologicals/essential-programme-on-immunization/implementation/reducing-missed-opportunities-for-vaccination#:~:text=A%20missed%20opportunity%20for%20vaccination%20(MOV)%20refers%20to%20any%20contact,one%20or%20more%20of%20the">MOV encompasses</a> any interaction with healthcare services involving a child eligible for immunisation — meaning they are either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated for their age and lack any contraindication to immunisation — but fail to receive it by the end of that interaction. This missed opportunity can occur during scheduled vaccination visits, preventive services, routine check-ups like growth monitoring and nutrition assessments, as well as visits related to an illness. It can even happen during visits to healthcare facilities while accompanying a sick relative or family member.
<h2><a id="why-worry-about-mov" href="#why-worry-about-mov" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" title="Permalink"></a>Why worry about MOV?</h2>
Each MOV poses a dual threat to both personal and community health by increasing the likelihood of vaccine-preventable diseases. In countries like Pakistan, where achieving the target of optimal immunisation coverage is already a challenge, addressing and mitigating these missed chances could substantially enhance child health metrics, including growth, development, and reducing mortality rates among children under five years old.
<h2><a id="why-do-mov-occur-at-all" href="#why-do-mov-occur-at-all" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" title="Permalink"></a>Why do MOV occur at all?</h2>
MOV occur due to a <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://publications.jsi.com/JSIInternet/Inc/Common/_download_pub.cfm?id=23763&lid=3#:~:text=The%20reasons%20for%20MOVs%20are,knowledge%20of%20contraindications%20of%20vaccination.">myriad of factors</a>, involving the child, caregiver, and the healthcare system and provider. These encompass instances such as illness coinciding with scheduled immunisation appointments and social disparities, where children from disadvantaged backgrounds face hurdles due to financial limitations or restricted access to healthcare services.
Caregiver-related causes include inadequate education, diminished belief in susceptibility to diseases, apprehensions regarding vaccine side effects, propagation of myths and misconceptions, distrust in the healthcare system, cultural constraints based on gender, and a lack of prioritisation for immunisation, at times exacerbated by the misplacement of vaccination cards.
Provider-related issues encompass insufficient training, staffing shortages, and constrained vaccination schedules or hours, resulting in missed vaccination opportunities. Programmatic policies, such as appointment-only visits, lengthy waiting periods in crowded facilities, designated immunisation days, daily limits on immunisations, and logistical obstacles like transportation issues, also contribute to the problem.
Furthermore, despite well-structured immunisation processes, external challenges such as regional conflicts, natural calamities, population migration, and political influences exert adverse effects on vaccine coverage and utilisation.
<h2><a id="where-does-this-occur" href="#where-does-this-occur" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" title="Permalink"></a>Where does this occur?</h2>
In the wake of the 2022 floods, a joint <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.aku.edu/news/Documents/TPVICS_SHRUCS_R2_Survey_2022_Report.pdf">survey</a> by the World Bank and Aga Khan University unearthed stark regional divides in immunisation coverage. While the aftermath of the floods undoubtedly contributed to infrastructure loss and the disappearance of immunisation records, numerous other factors loom large in this narrative.
As highlighted earlier, rural and peri-urban regions, grappling with lower literacy rates and limited healthcare accessibility, face an uphill battle in locating and reaching remote immunisation facilities. Consequently, these areas harbour a disproportionate number of children with zero vaccine doses, in stark contrast to urban counterparts blessed with robust health infrastructure and ample healthcare knowledge dissemination.
The emergence of pockets of zero dose children in these marginalised areas underscores an urgent call for resource mobilisation. It’s clear that bridging these disparities demands a concerted effort to bolster healthcare accessibility and education, ensuring that no child is left vulnerable to the ravages of preventable diseases.
<h2><a id="its-time-to-turn-the-tide--combat-movs-through-action" href="#its-time-to-turn-the-tide--combat-movs-through-action" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" title="Permalink"></a>It’s time to turn the tide — combat MOVs through action</h2>
To truly enhance child health indicators, we must first confront the various obstacles standing in our way. It begins with a simple yet crucial step: identifying zero dose children at every healthcare encounter and meticulously documenting their status. But the key to transformative change lies in the creation of a synchronised database linked to the country’s National Database and Registration Authority, Nadra — which could be the linchpin of our surveillance and detection efforts against missed opportunities for vaccination.
Automated individualised information tools such as text message-based reminders have long been heralded as powerful tools for disseminating public service messages. Leveraging this technology, we can revolutionise immunisation outreach by providing timely, personalised information to each child registered in the database. These automated reminders would guide caregivers and parents to the nearest healthcare facility or immunisation centre, with detailed directions and scheduling information.
However, our efforts must not stop there. In areas with internet connectivity, we must empower caregivers with the knowledge to locate nearby immunisation centres independently. By equipping them with the tools to navigate local GPS or web mapping systems, we remove yet another barrier to access, ensuring that no child is left behind in the quest for better health.
 <figure class='media sm:w-full w-full media--stretch media--uneven media--stretch'>
<div class='media__item '><picture><img src='https://i.dawn.com/large/2024/04/30153927ca5bcea.png' alt='Directions provided by the author' /></picture></div>
<figcaption class='media__caption '>Directions provided by the author</figcaption>
</figure>
On the national scale, the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.unicef.org/pakistan/media/3096/file/Performance%20Evaluation%20Report%20-%20Lady%20Health%20Workers%20Programme%20in%20Pakistan.pdf">Lady Health Workers (LHW) programme</a> has shown to be a cost-effective approach and has received extensive community support. Expansion of this programme would not only help reinforce trust with vaccinators and improve immunisation coverage but would also serve to increase access to health education. Many rural or underserved areas lack adequate health information, and this expansion would empower communities to make informed health choices, fostering a positive cultural shift in immunisation practices.
Moreover, enhancing disease surveillance systems and establishing a national database would streamline case reporting, communication, and disaster response. This database would pinpoint areas most affected by vaccine preventable diseases and identify high-risk clusters, enabling targeted interventions and redirect focus towards strategies to address MOV.
Furthermore, refining the national immunisation plan would enhance the country’s ability to recognise and overcome immunisation challenges promptly and effectively.
In the context of MOV, the theme of World Immunisation Week this year is particularly important for Pakistan, as it resonates deeply with the challenges and opportunities we face in the realm of immunisation. It is a reminder that immunisation programmes, while complex, are entirely within our reach if we harness the collective power of the government, healthcare professionals, researchers, the community and technology.
A <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.emro.who.int/pak/programmes/expanded-programme-on-immunization.html">child needs</a> only five visits during the first year and one visit during the second year of his/her life to complete the vaccination with six visits against 12 dreadful diseases. With unyielding dedication and community support, this milestone in healthcare is not merely attainable; it’s a testament to our collective commitment to the well-being of our children and society as a whole.
<hr />
Header image: A health worker marks the finger of a child after administering polio vaccine drops during a door-to-door campaign in Lahore on July 20, 2020. — AFP/File
]]></content:encoded>
<category>Prism</category>
<guid>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830380</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 15:39:49 +0500</pubDate>
<author>none@none.com (Areeba Sultan)</author>
<media:content url="https://i.dawn.com/large/2024/04/30112603dc0edfa.png?r=112917" type="image/png" medium="image" height="600" width="1000">
<media:thumbnail url="https://i.dawn.com/thumbnail/2024/04/30112603dc0edfa.png?r=112917"/>
<media:title/>
</media:content>
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<item xmlns:default="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/">
<title>Saudi Arabia eyes cooperation in agriculture sector
</title>
<link>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830522/saudi-arabia-eyes-cooperation-in-agriculture-sector</link>
<description> <figure class='media sm:w-full w-full media--stretch media--uneven media--stretch'>
<div class='media__item '><picture><img src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2024/04/6630521f00d45.jpg' alt=' PM Shehbaz Sharif meets Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.&mdash;PID ' /></picture></div>
<figcaption class='media__caption '>PM Shehbaz Sharif meets Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.—PID</figcaption>
</figure>
• In meeting with PM, Saudi minister shows interest in developing energy projects 
• Shehbaz says govt pursuing deep-rooted structural reforms, ‘meaningful’ austerity 
• Premier holds talks with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman
ISLAMABAD: Riyadh told Islamabad on Monday that Saudi agriculture companies were looking at Pakistan with great interest and expressed the hope that both countries would benefit from joint ventures for improving the value chain of agriculture economy.
This transpired at Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s meeting with Faisal Al-Ibrahim, Minister of Economy and Planning, and Eng Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on the sidelines of a <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1829971">special World Economic Forum meeting</a>.
At the conclusion of the WEF meeting, PM Shehbaz called on Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and both leaders reiterated to honour the commitment made during the former’s recent visit to kingdom. The two leaders also vowed to enhance bilateral cooperation.
During his meeting with the ministers of economy and agriculture, the PM highlighted the potential of Pakistani agriculture sector and underscored that Pakistan could become a bread basket for the kingdom and could play a critical role in ensuring food security not only for the two countries but for the entire region.
The Saudi minister for agriculture briefed the premier on the fruitful discussions that he and his delegation held in Islamabad on April 15-16.
He said the kingdom valued Pakistan’s strategic and competitive advantages in the field of agriculture and considers Pakistani agricultural sector as a significant area of cooperation.
According to the PM’s Office, the premier also held a meeting with Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud, the Minister of Energy. The Saudi energy minister was accompanied by the CEO &amp; president of Aramco and the chairman of ACWA Power.
The PM underscored various avenues available for energy cooperation between the two countries.The Saudi energy minister showed keen interest in developing energy projects identified by the PM.
PM Shehbaz also held a meeting with Saudi Minister of Commerce Dr Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi. He said the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) was playing an active role in promoting and facilitating foreign investment in the country. The Saudi minister told the prime minister that on the directives of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom was prioritising trade and investment in Pakistan.
WEF session
PM Shehbaz also told a WEF plenary his government was working for deep-rooted structural reforms and meaningful austerity.
He said natural resources are biggest assets of Pakistan and so are the country’s youth.
“The youth are our biggest asset and we have to provide them will modern tools and technology, including education in information technology and artificial intelligence and vocational training, so that they can become self-earners and establish small and medium size businesses and contribute to the nation-building efforts in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia,” he told the plenary meeting of World Economic Forum’s special session on the theme of “Rejuvenating Growth”.
He said it was for the first time in the country’s history that after getting credible input from agencies he had removed high-level officers who were not functioning well and had grey record.
“Our revenue sector is in tatters. What we receive annually in revenue, we lose four times more due to leakages in the system. Unless we plug loopholes we will not recover from our problems in revenue collection,” he explained.
He said there were also problems of inflation and debt trap which was a “death trap”.
The premier also recalled how the Sharif family had turned its fortunes around due to “hard work” and vowed to replicate this secret to rid the country of economic challenges.
PM Shehbaz said his government would promote agriculture through modern technology and by providing best seeds and fertilisers to farmers.
“A huge task is ahead of us and we have to go for higher exports and incentivise our exporters and utilise our mineral resources and fertile land,” he added.
Malaysian PM
PM Shehbaz and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim recalled the historical ties between Pakistan and Malaysia, especially in the fields of education, science &amp; technology and trade, and undertook to further enhance the cooperation in the future, APP adds.
During a meeting with his Malaysian counterpart, Mr Sharif invited a trade and business delegation from Malaysia to Pakistan to discuss enhancing trade and investment relations.
The two sides agreed to have the next meeting of Joint Ministerial Commission in Islamabad soon.
Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2024
</description>
<content:encoded xmlns="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[ <figure class='media sm:w-full w-full media--stretch media--uneven media--stretch'>
<div class='media__item '><picture><img src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2024/04/6630521f00d45.jpg' alt=' PM Shehbaz Sharif meets Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.—PID ' /></picture></div>
<figcaption class='media__caption '>PM Shehbaz Sharif meets Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.—PID</figcaption>
</figure>
• In meeting with PM, Saudi minister shows interest in developing energy projects 
• Shehbaz says govt pursuing deep-rooted structural reforms, ‘meaningful’ austerity 
• Premier holds talks with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman
ISLAMABAD: Riyadh told Islamabad on Monday that Saudi agriculture companies were looking at Pakistan with great interest and expressed the hope that both countries would benefit from joint ventures for improving the value chain of agriculture economy.
This transpired at Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s meeting with Faisal Al-Ibrahim, Minister of Economy and Planning, and Eng Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on the sidelines of a <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1829971">special World Economic Forum meeting</a>.
At the conclusion of the WEF meeting, PM Shehbaz called on Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and both leaders reiterated to honour the commitment made during the former’s recent visit to kingdom. The two leaders also vowed to enhance bilateral cooperation.
During his meeting with the ministers of economy and agriculture, the PM highlighted the potential of Pakistani agriculture sector and underscored that Pakistan could become a bread basket for the kingdom and could play a critical role in ensuring food security not only for the two countries but for the entire region.
The Saudi minister for agriculture briefed the premier on the fruitful discussions that he and his delegation held in Islamabad on April 15-16.
He said the kingdom valued Pakistan’s strategic and competitive advantages in the field of agriculture and considers Pakistani agricultural sector as a significant area of cooperation.
According to the PM’s Office, the premier also held a meeting with Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud, the Minister of Energy. The Saudi energy minister was accompanied by the CEO & president of Aramco and the chairman of ACWA Power.
The PM underscored various avenues available for energy cooperation between the two countries.The Saudi energy minister showed keen interest in developing energy projects identified by the PM.
PM Shehbaz also held a meeting with Saudi Minister of Commerce Dr Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi. He said the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) was playing an active role in promoting and facilitating foreign investment in the country. The Saudi minister told the prime minister that on the directives of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom was prioritising trade and investment in Pakistan.
WEF session
PM Shehbaz also told a WEF plenary his government was working for deep-rooted structural reforms and meaningful austerity.
He said natural resources are biggest assets of Pakistan and so are the country’s youth.
“The youth are our biggest asset and we have to provide them will modern tools and technology, including education in information technology and artificial intelligence and vocational training, so that they can become self-earners and establish small and medium size businesses and contribute to the nation-building efforts in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia,” he told the plenary meeting of World Economic Forum’s special session on the theme of “Rejuvenating Growth”.
He said it was for the first time in the country’s history that after getting credible input from agencies he had removed high-level officers who were not functioning well and had grey record.
“Our revenue sector is in tatters. What we receive annually in revenue, we lose four times more due to leakages in the system. Unless we plug loopholes we will not recover from our problems in revenue collection,” he explained.
He said there were also problems of inflation and debt trap which was a “death trap”.
The premier also recalled how the Sharif family had turned its fortunes around due to “hard work” and vowed to replicate this secret to rid the country of economic challenges.
PM Shehbaz said his government would promote agriculture through modern technology and by providing best seeds and fertilisers to farmers.
“A huge task is ahead of us and we have to go for higher exports and incentivise our exporters and utilise our mineral resources and fertile land,” he added.
Malaysian PM
PM Shehbaz and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim recalled the historical ties between Pakistan and Malaysia, especially in the fields of education, science & technology and trade, and undertook to further enhance the cooperation in the future, APP adds.
During a meeting with his Malaysian counterpart, Mr Sharif invited a trade and business delegation from Malaysia to Pakistan to discuss enhancing trade and investment relations.
The two sides agreed to have the next meeting of Joint Ministerial Commission in Islamabad soon.
Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2024
]]></content:encoded>
<category>World</category>
<guid>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830522</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 08:00:22 +0500</pubDate>
<author>none@none.com (Syed Irfan Raza)</author>
<media:content url="https://i.dawn.com/large/2024/04/30104916187a5f5.png?r=104928" type="image/png" medium="image" height="480" width="800">
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<title>Four get life term for facilitating murder of former MNA Ali Raza Abidi</title>
<link>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830483/four-get-life-term-for-facilitating-murder-of-former-mna-ali-raza-abidi</link>
<description> <figure class='media sm:w-full w-full media--stretch media--uneven media--stretch'>
<div class='media__item '><picture><img src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2024/04/6630065fda15f.jpg' alt=' Ali Raza Abidi ' /></picture></div>
<figcaption class='media__caption '>Ali Raza Abidi</figcaption>
</figure>
KARACHI: Nearly six years after his murder, an antiterrorism court (ATC) on Monday sentenced <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1519203/four-lyari-gangsters-indicted-for-ex-mna-abidis-murder">four men</a>, said to be associated with one of the gangs operating in Lyari, to life imprisonment on two counts in a case pertaining to the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1453528/former-mqm-leader-ali-raza-abidi-shot-dead-in-karachis-dha">murder</a> of former Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan MNA Ali Raza Abidi.
The ATC-XV judge found accused Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Ghazali, Abu Bakar and Abdul Haseeb guilty of facilitating, aiding and abetting the absconding accused in the killing of the MQM leader in 2018 within the jurisdiction of the Gizri police station
The trial was conducted in the judicial complex inside the central prison. Accused Haseeb appeared in court on bail and he was taken into custody after the pronouncement of the verdict.
The court sentenced them to life imprisonment for abetment as well as under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
<blockquote class="blockquote-level-1">
ATC convicts them on abetment, terrorism charges; four hitmen still at large, six years on
</blockquote>
The judge also imposed a fine of Rs200,000 on each convict as compensation to the legal heirs of the deceased. They would have to suffer an additional one-year imprisonment in case of non-payment of the fine.
The court put the case of absconding accused Bilal, Hasnain, Ghulam Mustafa alias Kali Charan and Faizan on dormant file and they would be tried for murder after their arrest. They have already been declared proclaimed offenders.
In its verdict, the court observed: “The punishment to accused is awarded on the concept of retribution, deterrence or reformation. The purpose behind infliction of sentence is twofold. Firstly, it would create such atmosphere which could become deterrence for the people who have inclination towards crime and secondly to work as a medium in reforming the offence.
“Deterrent punishment is not only to maintain balance with gravity of wrong done by person but also to make an example for others as prevented measures for reformation of society,” it added.
During the trial, state prosecutor Ghulam Abbas Dalwani submitted that the four accused did recce of Mr Abidi and facilitated their four absconding accomplices in carrying out the murder.
Defence counsel Abid Zaman argued that no confessional statements were recorded by the investigation officer and pleaded for their acquittal.
However, the court rejected the defence plea and ruled: “The evidence shows that all accused persons in furtherance of their common intention are involved in the commission of murder… and they are equally responsible for the act.”
According to the prosecution, 46-year-old Abidi was shot dead by armed motorcyclists in an attack on his vehicle outside his residence in Defence Housing Authority, Phase-V, on December 25, 2018.
Subsequently, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) arrested accused Farooq and during grilling, he disclosed that he along with his brother Mustafa and other accused conducted recce and made a plan to murder the former MNA.
On a lead provided by held Farooq, the CTD had conducted a raid near the Kakri ground in Lyari and apprehended other three accused presons. At a press conference, the CTD had claimed that the accused were affiliated with criminal gangs operating in Lyari.
The prosecution stated that the accused had tried to torch a motorcycle used in the crime in a Lyari locality.
It said that accused Haseeb disclosed that absconding accused Ghulam Mustafa sent him to the Soldier Bazaar area to meet an unknown person who gave him Rs800,000 for killing the former MNA. He said he had handed the amount to Mustafa.
A case was registered at the Gizri police station on the complaint of victim’s father Akhlaq Hussain Abidi under Sections 302 (premeditated murder), 109 (abetment) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 7 of the ATA.
It may be noted that complainant Akhlaq Abidi passed away around two years ago.
Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2024
</description>
<content:encoded xmlns="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[ <figure class='media sm:w-full w-full media--stretch media--uneven media--stretch'>
<div class='media__item '><picture><img src='https://i.dawn.com/primary/2024/04/6630065fda15f.jpg' alt=' Ali Raza Abidi ' /></picture></div>
<figcaption class='media__caption '>Ali Raza Abidi</figcaption>
</figure>
KARACHI: Nearly six years after his murder, an antiterrorism court (ATC) on Monday sentenced <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1519203/four-lyari-gangsters-indicted-for-ex-mna-abidis-murder">four men</a>, said to be associated with one of the gangs operating in Lyari, to life imprisonment on two counts in a case pertaining to the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1453528/former-mqm-leader-ali-raza-abidi-shot-dead-in-karachis-dha">murder</a> of former Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan MNA Ali Raza Abidi.
The ATC-XV judge found accused Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Ghazali, Abu Bakar and Abdul Haseeb guilty of facilitating, aiding and abetting the absconding accused in the killing of the MQM leader in 2018 within the jurisdiction of the Gizri police station
The trial was conducted in the judicial complex inside the central prison. Accused Haseeb appeared in court on bail and he was taken into custody after the pronouncement of the verdict.
The court sentenced them to life imprisonment for abetment as well as under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
<blockquote class="blockquote-level-1">
ATC convicts them on abetment, terrorism charges; four hitmen still at large, six years on
</blockquote>
The judge also imposed a fine of Rs200,000 on each convict as compensation to the legal heirs of the deceased. They would have to suffer an additional one-year imprisonment in case of non-payment of the fine.
The court put the case of absconding accused Bilal, Hasnain, Ghulam Mustafa alias Kali Charan and Faizan on dormant file and they would be tried for murder after their arrest. They have already been declared proclaimed offenders.
In its verdict, the court observed: “The punishment to accused is awarded on the concept of retribution, deterrence or reformation. The purpose behind infliction of sentence is twofold. Firstly, it would create such atmosphere which could become deterrence for the people who have inclination towards crime and secondly to work as a medium in reforming the offence.
“Deterrent punishment is not only to maintain balance with gravity of wrong done by person but also to make an example for others as prevented measures for reformation of society,” it added.
During the trial, state prosecutor Ghulam Abbas Dalwani submitted that the four accused did recce of Mr Abidi and facilitated their four absconding accomplices in carrying out the murder.
Defence counsel Abid Zaman argued that no confessional statements were recorded by the investigation officer and pleaded for their acquittal.
However, the court rejected the defence plea and ruled: “The evidence shows that all accused persons in furtherance of their common intention are involved in the commission of murder… and they are equally responsible for the act.”
According to the prosecution, 46-year-old Abidi was shot dead by armed motorcyclists in an attack on his vehicle outside his residence in Defence Housing Authority, Phase-V, on December 25, 2018.
Subsequently, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) arrested accused Farooq and during grilling, he disclosed that he along with his brother Mustafa and other accused conducted recce and made a plan to murder the former MNA.
On a lead provided by held Farooq, the CTD had conducted a raid near the Kakri ground in Lyari and apprehended other three accused presons. At a press conference, the CTD had claimed that the accused were affiliated with criminal gangs operating in Lyari.
The prosecution stated that the accused had tried to torch a motorcycle used in the crime in a Lyari locality.
It said that accused Haseeb disclosed that absconding accused Ghulam Mustafa sent him to the Soldier Bazaar area to meet an unknown person who gave him Rs800,000 for killing the former MNA. He said he had handed the amount to Mustafa.
A case was registered at the Gizri police station on the complaint of victim’s father Akhlaq Hussain Abidi under Sections 302 (premeditated murder), 109 (abetment) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 7 of the ATA.
It may be noted that complainant Akhlaq Abidi passed away around two years ago.
Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2024
]]></content:encoded>
<category>Pakistan</category>
<guid>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830483</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 09:43:55 +0500</pubDate>
<author>none@none.com (Sumair Abdullah)</author>
<media:content url="https://i.dawn.com/large/2024/04/3009413368e026e.jpg?r=104854" type="image/jpeg" medium="image" height="428" width="716">
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<title>Fazl announces ‘million marches’ against rigging</title>
<link>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830521/fazl-announces-million-marches-against-rigging</link>
<description>ISLAMABAD: Delivering his maiden speech in the National Assembly, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Monday lambasted the “establishment” for “constantly interfering” in politics and announced his party’s plan to launch a protest movement from next month against the alleged rigging in the Feb 8 polls.
The announcement from the JUI-F chief to begin the protest movement with a “million march” in Karachi on May 2 came as the National Assembly hastily passed the Tax Laws (Amendment) Act 2024 after suspending the rules and without allowing a general debate, prompting the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) members to lodge a protest and stage a walkout.
Before staging the walkout and in an effort to block the passage of the bill, a PTI member pointed out lack of quorum, but Speaker Ayaz Sadiq after a headcount declared the house in order and gave the floor to Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar to present the bill for passage.
The JUI-F chief, who had come to the assembly first time after taking oath on Feb 29, announced that his party would hold “million march” in Karachi on May 2 and in Peshawar on May 9 and warned against any efforts to stop them from carrying out the rallies. “This system is not acceptable to us. If anyone tries to stop [protest marches], he will invite trouble for himself,” he warned while asking the PML-N and the PPP to join him, after handing over government to the PTI.
<blockquote class="blockquote-level-1">
Asks PML-N, PPP to join him; blasts ‘establishment’ over ‘interference’ in politics; NA passes first bill in controversial manner
</blockquote>
“Out of sympathy, I am asking Nawaz Sharif, [PM] Shehbaz Sharif and my son Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari that if you are the representatives of the people, then let’s face the people together. Leave this power, come and sit here [in the opposition benches] and if the PTI is really a larger group [with seats], then give them the government,” he said, adding that perhaps he would be seen as speaking “foolish things”.
Recalling the country’s checkered political history, the Maulana said the country had most of the time remained either under semi-martial laws or complete martial laws. “Does this parliament represent people or has it been constituted by the establishment?” asked the JUI-F chief while criticising the bureaucracy and the “establishment” for deciding as to who would become the prime minister.
The term “establishment” is generally referred to the military top brass that has always been accused of manipulating the elections and political process in the country. He said the parliament even could not do legislation without the approval of the powerful quarters. “How long we will continue to make compromises? How long we will continue to beg before them [establishment]?” he asked. He said they considered that people’s mandate had been stolen in both the 2018 and 2024 elections. He alleged that they had the reports that the assemblies had been “sold and purchased” in the recent elections.
The JUI-F chief regretted that those who should be “subservient” to the politicians had become their “masters”. He alleged some forces controlled the country from behind the wall, but politicians were put on the front to take the brunt and abusing from the people.
The JUI-F chief also expressed his concerns over the law and order situation and alleged that there was no writ of the state in many parts of the country, especially in Balochistan. He said how the terrorists had returned to the country after becoming more powerful despite successful military operations against them in the past. He recalled that former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa had announced they had erected a fence on the Pak-Afghan border, then how those 30,000 to 40,000 people managed to cross the border. He said billions of rupees were spent on the border fencing, but “no one is here to be made accountable”.
The Maulana said Pakistan was justified in asking the Afghan government as to why it had been failing to prevent the terrorists from entering Pakistan, “but you are also here on the border”. “Pakistan has become an insecure state. Who is responsible for it?” he said, adding that his party was not allowed to run election campaign. He said despite the Taliban’s announcement that they would not carry out any action during the elections, the JUI-F leaders continued to receive “threat letters”.
“As soon as the elections are over, the threat letters have also been stopped,” he said, while questioning as to how the militants succeeded in targeting the JUI-F function in Bajaur in which 80 people were killed.
The Maulana also endorsed Asad Qaiser’s demand that the PTI should be allowed to hold public meetings as it was its constitutional right.
Earlier, Mr Qaiser had condemned the government for not allowing PTI’s rallies and for arresting party workers. He remarked Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was the “real prime minister”, but warned that if the PTI was pushed to the wall, they would not let this assembly run.
Tax Laws (Amendment) Act
Later, the NA passed the Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 2024 seeking to amend the Sales Tax Act, 1990 aimed at expediting the process of the recovery of over Rs2 trillion held up in litigation before the Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue (ATIR).
The bill was presented for the passage by the law minister after approval of a motion seeking to suspend the rules under which the bills are referred to the standing committees.
PTI’s Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Opposition Leader Omar Ayub Khan demanded that the passage of the law should be deferred till formation of the standing committees. But the minister said they required to pass the bill before the commencement of the next financial year on July 1.
Immediately after passage of the bill, the speaker then read out the president’s prorogation order.
Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2024
</description>
<content:encoded xmlns="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[ISLAMABAD: Delivering his maiden speech in the National Assembly, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Monday lambasted the “establishment” for “constantly interfering” in politics and announced his party’s plan to launch a protest movement from next month against the alleged rigging in the Feb 8 polls.
The announcement from the JUI-F chief to begin the protest movement with a “million march” in Karachi on May 2 came as the National Assembly hastily passed the Tax Laws (Amendment) Act 2024 after suspending the rules and without allowing a general debate, prompting the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) members to lodge a protest and stage a walkout.
Before staging the walkout and in an effort to block the passage of the bill, a PTI member pointed out lack of quorum, but Speaker Ayaz Sadiq after a headcount declared the house in order and gave the floor to Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar to present the bill for passage.
The JUI-F chief, who had come to the assembly first time after taking oath on Feb 29, announced that his party would hold “million march” in Karachi on May 2 and in Peshawar on May 9 and warned against any efforts to stop them from carrying out the rallies. “This system is not acceptable to us. If anyone tries to stop [protest marches], he will invite trouble for himself,” he warned while asking the PML-N and the PPP to join him, after handing over government to the PTI.
<blockquote class="blockquote-level-1">
Asks PML-N, PPP to join him; blasts ‘establishment’ over ‘interference’ in politics; NA passes first bill in controversial manner
</blockquote>
“Out of sympathy, I am asking Nawaz Sharif, [PM] Shehbaz Sharif and my son Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari that if you are the representatives of the people, then let’s face the people together. Leave this power, come and sit here [in the opposition benches] and if the PTI is really a larger group [with seats], then give them the government,” he said, adding that perhaps he would be seen as speaking “foolish things”.
Recalling the country’s checkered political history, the Maulana said the country had most of the time remained either under semi-martial laws or complete martial laws. “Does this parliament represent people or has it been constituted by the establishment?” asked the JUI-F chief while criticising the bureaucracy and the “establishment” for deciding as to who would become the prime minister.
The term “establishment” is generally referred to the military top brass that has always been accused of manipulating the elections and political process in the country. He said the parliament even could not do legislation without the approval of the powerful quarters. “How long we will continue to make compromises? How long we will continue to beg before them [establishment]?” he asked. He said they considered that people’s mandate had been stolen in both the 2018 and 2024 elections. He alleged that they had the reports that the assemblies had been “sold and purchased” in the recent elections.
The JUI-F chief regretted that those who should be “subservient” to the politicians had become their “masters”. He alleged some forces controlled the country from behind the wall, but politicians were put on the front to take the brunt and abusing from the people.
The JUI-F chief also expressed his concerns over the law and order situation and alleged that there was no writ of the state in many parts of the country, especially in Balochistan. He said how the terrorists had returned to the country after becoming more powerful despite successful military operations against them in the past. He recalled that former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa had announced they had erected a fence on the Pak-Afghan border, then how those 30,000 to 40,000 people managed to cross the border. He said billions of rupees were spent on the border fencing, but “no one is here to be made accountable”.
The Maulana said Pakistan was justified in asking the Afghan government as to why it had been failing to prevent the terrorists from entering Pakistan, “but you are also here on the border”. “Pakistan has become an insecure state. Who is responsible for it?” he said, adding that his party was not allowed to run election campaign. He said despite the Taliban’s announcement that they would not carry out any action during the elections, the JUI-F leaders continued to receive “threat letters”.
“As soon as the elections are over, the threat letters have also been stopped,” he said, while questioning as to how the militants succeeded in targeting the JUI-F function in Bajaur in which 80 people were killed.
The Maulana also endorsed Asad Qaiser’s demand that the PTI should be allowed to hold public meetings as it was its constitutional right.
Earlier, Mr Qaiser had condemned the government for not allowing PTI’s rallies and for arresting party workers. He remarked Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was the “real prime minister”, but warned that if the PTI was pushed to the wall, they would not let this assembly run.
Tax Laws (Amendment) Act
Later, the NA passed the Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 2024 seeking to amend the Sales Tax Act, 1990 aimed at expediting the process of the recovery of over Rs2 trillion held up in litigation before the Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue (ATIR).
The bill was presented for the passage by the law minister after approval of a motion seeking to suspend the rules under which the bills are referred to the standing committees.
PTI’s Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Opposition Leader Omar Ayub Khan demanded that the passage of the law should be deferred till formation of the standing committees. But the minister said they required to pass the bill before the commencement of the next financial year on July 1.
Immediately after passage of the bill, the speaker then read out the president’s prorogation order.
Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2024
]]></content:encoded>
<category>Pakistan</category>
<guid>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830521</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 08:25:02 +0500</pubDate>
<author>none@none.com (Amir Wasim)</author>
<media:content url="https://i.dawn.com/large/2024/04/3008215249254e5.png?r=082502" type="image/png" medium="image" height="480" width="800">
<media:thumbnail url="https://i.dawn.com/thumbnail/2024/04/3008215249254e5.png?r=082502"/>
<media:title/>
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<title>Senators question US firm’s role in FBR digitisation
</title>
<link>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830507/senators-question-us-firms-role-in-fbr-digitisation</link>
<description>ISLAMABAD: Hiring of a US firm for digitisation of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) set off alarm bells in Senate on Monday.
Senator Saadia Abbasi of the PML-N was the first to raise the objection over the feared sharing of crucial FBR data identifying sources of revenues with outsiders.
The objection was raised as a report of a special three-member committee formed to examine money bill seeking to expedite the process of the recovery of over Rs2 trillion held up in litigation before the tribunals and superior courts landed in the House.
Senator Abbasi referred to a news report according to which a proposal by Mckinsey and Co — an American multinational strategy and management consulting firm on FBR’s digitisation. She wondered if there was a dearth of people in Pakistan to do the job.
<blockquote class="blockquote-level-1">
Shibli slams govt urgency to pass money bill; Irfan Siddiqui denies plans to extend judges’ terms
</blockquote>
The senator sought to know as to who had authorised the hiring of Mckinsey and Co while ignoring Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules and standard operating procedures. She noted that tenders should have been invited and insisted that a single individual could not take such decisions.
She then read out a press release that said Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb chaired a meeting of the Steering Committee on Digitalisation of FBR, which was attended by ‘key stakeholders’ including the FBR chairman, CEO Karandaz and representatives from the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation. She asked how the Gates Foundation became a key stakeholder in FBR matters.
“It is an NGO which came to Pakistan for macro-financing,” she said. She regretted that “agenda of others” was imposed on lawmakers and they were being asked to advance it. She said such things would be detrimental for the country.
Leader of the Opposition in Senate Syed Shibli Faraz also endorsed her views and asked as to what was the urgency to pass the money bill. He said the practice of bulldozing laws must come to an end.
He regretted that bills are passed without discussion in the House. He said just three senators examined the money bill, noting that this was “a sophisticated form of bulldozing legislation”. Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar, however, advised the lawmakers on the other side of the aisle to avoid opposition for the sake of opposition and instead support the “positive moves” by the government.
The House later adopted the recommendations made by the special committee through a motion moved by Senator Farooq H. Naek.
‘Extension’ denial
PML-N parliamentary leader Senator Irfan Siddiqui also told the Senate on Monday that there was no plan to give extension to judges. He was responding to the concerns expressed by PTI lawmaker Aon Abbas, who had claimed the legislation was on the cards to extend the tenure of judges.
“We are going to become a rubber-stamp to define the term of judiciary, but the PTI will not become part of it”, the PTI senator had said. He also slammed the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1830190/ihc-condemns-malicious-social-media-campaign-against-justice-babar-sattar">campaign</a> against Islamabad High Court judge Justice Babar Sattar.
Denying any move to extend the term of judges, Senator Siddiqui also termed as unfortunate the trend of mudslinging on judges and said it was condemnable.
Meanwhile, JUI-F’s Maulana Attaur Rehman decried that Khyber Pakhtunwhwa was deprived of full representation in the Senate unlike other provinces and wanted to know what was its crime. “Is it not a crime to add to sense of deprivation of the province?” he asked. He also recalled his party’s stance that it neither accepted the results of 2018 elections nor 2024 polls.
Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2024
</description>
<content:encoded xmlns="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[ISLAMABAD: Hiring of a US firm for digitisation of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) set off alarm bells in Senate on Monday.
Senator Saadia Abbasi of the PML-N was the first to raise the objection over the feared sharing of crucial FBR data identifying sources of revenues with outsiders.
The objection was raised as a report of a special three-member committee formed to examine money bill seeking to expedite the process of the recovery of over Rs2 trillion held up in litigation before the tribunals and superior courts landed in the House.
Senator Abbasi referred to a news report according to which a proposal by Mckinsey and Co — an American multinational strategy and management consulting firm on FBR’s digitisation. She wondered if there was a dearth of people in Pakistan to do the job.
<blockquote class="blockquote-level-1">
Shibli slams govt urgency to pass money bill; Irfan Siddiqui denies plans to extend judges’ terms
</blockquote>
The senator sought to know as to who had authorised the hiring of Mckinsey and Co while ignoring Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules and standard operating procedures. She noted that tenders should have been invited and insisted that a single individual could not take such decisions.
She then read out a press release that said Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb chaired a meeting of the Steering Committee on Digitalisation of FBR, which was attended by ‘key stakeholders’ including the FBR chairman, CEO Karandaz and representatives from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She asked how the Gates Foundation became a key stakeholder in FBR matters.
“It is an NGO which came to Pakistan for macro-financing,” she said. She regretted that “agenda of others” was imposed on lawmakers and they were being asked to advance it. She said such things would be detrimental for the country.
Leader of the Opposition in Senate Syed Shibli Faraz also endorsed her views and asked as to what was the urgency to pass the money bill. He said the practice of bulldozing laws must come to an end.
He regretted that bills are passed without discussion in the House. He said just three senators examined the money bill, noting that this was “a sophisticated form of bulldozing legislation”. Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar, however, advised the lawmakers on the other side of the aisle to avoid opposition for the sake of opposition and instead support the “positive moves” by the government.
The House later adopted the recommendations made by the special committee through a motion moved by Senator Farooq H. Naek.
‘Extension’ denial
PML-N parliamentary leader Senator Irfan Siddiqui also told the Senate on Monday that there was no plan to give extension to judges. He was responding to the concerns expressed by PTI lawmaker Aon Abbas, who had claimed the legislation was on the cards to extend the tenure of judges.
“We are going to become a rubber-stamp to define the term of judiciary, but the PTI will not become part of it”, the PTI senator had said. He also slammed the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1830190/ihc-condemns-malicious-social-media-campaign-against-justice-babar-sattar">campaign</a> against Islamabad High Court judge Justice Babar Sattar.
Denying any move to extend the term of judges, Senator Siddiqui also termed as unfortunate the trend of mudslinging on judges and said it was condemnable.
Meanwhile, JUI-F’s Maulana Attaur Rehman decried that Khyber Pakhtunwhwa was deprived of full representation in the Senate unlike other provinces and wanted to know what was its crime. “Is it not a crime to add to sense of deprivation of the province?” he asked. He also recalled his party’s stance that it neither accepted the results of 2018 elections nor 2024 polls.
Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2024
]]></content:encoded>
<category>Pakistan</category>
<guid>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830507</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 09:51:48 +0500</pubDate>
<author>none@none.com (Iftikhar A. Khan)</author>
<media:content url="https://i.dawn.com/large/2024/04/30095109092768f.png?r=095149" type="image/png" medium="image" height="480" width="800">
<media:thumbnail url="https://i.dawn.com/thumbnail/2024/04/30095109092768f.png?r=095149"/>
<media:title/>
</media:content>
</item>
<item xmlns:default="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/">
<title>PTI slams use of force against protesting farmers
</title>
<link>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830506/pti-slams-use-of-force-against-protesting-farmers</link>
<description>ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has condemned the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1830526/scores-held-in-punjab-for-protesting-govts-unfair-wheat-policy">use of force</a> against the farmers who arrived in Lahore to protest, as the government neither offered a genuine price for their produce nor purchased wheat at all.
A party spokesperson noted that the farmers were coerced to sell wheat in the open market at a much lower rate than the officially fixed rate due to the government’s “anti-poor” policies regarding wheat procurement.
In a statement, he alleged that history showed that whenever PML-N came into power, it economically exploited the country’s farmers.
He warned that the rural economy, especially the farmers, would face billions of rupees in losses due to the possibility of selling wheat at a rate 20 per cent or 25pc less than the farmer support price.
The PTI spokesperson pointed out that the farmers were bearing the brunt of the government’s decision to import three million tonnes more wheat than the locals need in October. He asked the government to provide an explanation for the strategy and rationale behind importing extra wheat at such a high price.
<blockquote class="blockquote-level-1">
Seeks accountability for wheat import by caretakers; condemns appointment of Dar as deputy PM
</blockquote>
He went on to say that the government’s policies would directly impact the public in the form of expensive flour. He reminded that the Imran Khan-led government had adopted a policy to revive the economy by giving farmers better rewards for their hard work.
He highlighted that during the PTI government, farmers were paid reasonable and timely payments for the first time in the history of the country, resulting in a total addition of Rs1,100 billion to the rural economy. He contended that even at present, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has devised a plan under Imran Khan’s farmer-friendly policy to purchase wheat from farmers at a rate of Rs3,900 per 40kg to prevent their exploitation.
PTI demanded that those responsible for importing wheat worth billions of rupees during the caretaker government should be brought to book.
PTI Punjab to support farmers
Separately, PTI central Punjab’s general secretary stated that the incumbent rulers, over the past two years, have economically ruined everyone, including farmers, lawyers, the salaried class, journalists, and social workers.
PTI Punjab’s information secretary, Shaukat Basra, in a video message, urged the farmers to come out of their homes and demand their rights from the PML-N government, which he claimed came to power through fraud and a fake mandate.
He said the PTI would join hands with the farmers and farmer organisations to raise their voice for the procurement of wheat at reasonable rates.
Ishaq Dar’s appointment
Meanwhile, PTI has criticised the appointment of <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1830191/foreign-minister-ishaq-dar-appointed-deputy-prime-minister">Ishaq Dar as deputy prime minister</a>, calling it an act of nepotism. The party spokesperson claimed that there was no provision in Pakistan’s act to appoint a deputy prime minister and that a constitutional amendment was required for such an appointment.
“It is strange that after the brother and daughter, now it has been decided to oblige the father-in-law of the daughter,” he said.
Mansoor Malik in Lahore also contributed to this report
Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2024
</description>
<content:encoded xmlns="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has condemned the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1830526/scores-held-in-punjab-for-protesting-govts-unfair-wheat-policy">use of force</a> against the farmers who arrived in Lahore to protest, as the government neither offered a genuine price for their produce nor purchased wheat at all.
A party spokesperson noted that the farmers were coerced to sell wheat in the open market at a much lower rate than the officially fixed rate due to the government’s “anti-poor” policies regarding wheat procurement.
In a statement, he alleged that history showed that whenever PML-N came into power, it economically exploited the country’s farmers.
He warned that the rural economy, especially the farmers, would face billions of rupees in losses due to the possibility of selling wheat at a rate 20 per cent or 25pc less than the farmer support price.
The PTI spokesperson pointed out that the farmers were bearing the brunt of the government’s decision to import three million tonnes more wheat than the locals need in October. He asked the government to provide an explanation for the strategy and rationale behind importing extra wheat at such a high price.
<blockquote class="blockquote-level-1">
Seeks accountability for wheat import by caretakers; condemns appointment of Dar as deputy PM
</blockquote>
He went on to say that the government’s policies would directly impact the public in the form of expensive flour. He reminded that the Imran Khan-led government had adopted a policy to revive the economy by giving farmers better rewards for their hard work.
He highlighted that during the PTI government, farmers were paid reasonable and timely payments for the first time in the history of the country, resulting in a total addition of Rs1,100 billion to the rural economy. He contended that even at present, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has devised a plan under Imran Khan’s farmer-friendly policy to purchase wheat from farmers at a rate of Rs3,900 per 40kg to prevent their exploitation.
PTI demanded that those responsible for importing wheat worth billions of rupees during the caretaker government should be brought to book.
PTI Punjab to support farmers
Separately, PTI central Punjab’s general secretary stated that the incumbent rulers, over the past two years, have economically ruined everyone, including farmers, lawyers, the salaried class, journalists, and social workers.
PTI Punjab’s information secretary, Shaukat Basra, in a video message, urged the farmers to come out of their homes and demand their rights from the PML-N government, which he claimed came to power through fraud and a fake mandate.
He said the PTI would join hands with the farmers and farmer organisations to raise their voice for the procurement of wheat at reasonable rates.
Ishaq Dar’s appointment
Meanwhile, PTI has criticised the appointment of <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1830191/foreign-minister-ishaq-dar-appointed-deputy-prime-minister">Ishaq Dar as deputy prime minister</a>, calling it an act of nepotism. The party spokesperson claimed that there was no provision in Pakistan’s act to appoint a deputy prime minister and that a constitutional amendment was required for such an appointment.
“It is strange that after the brother and daughter, now it has been decided to oblige the father-in-law of the daughter,” he said.
Mansoor Malik in Lahore also contributed to this report
Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2024
]]></content:encoded>
<category>Pakistan</category>
<guid>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830506</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 10:00:40 +0500</pubDate>
<author>none@none.com (Ikram Junaidi)</author>
<media:content url="https://i.dawn.com/large/2024/04/30100029e27fb8e.jpg?r=100040" type="image/jpeg" medium="image" height="172" width="292">
<media:thumbnail url="https://i.dawn.com/thumbnail/2024/04/30100029e27fb8e.jpg?r=100040"/>
<media:title/>
</media:content>
</item>
<item xmlns:default="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/">
<title>KE eyes Rs19 per unit hike to clear backlog
</title>
<link>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830519/ke-eyes-rs19-per-unit-hike-to-clear-backlog</link>
<description>ISLAMABAD: The Karachi-based K-Electric has sought approval to charge up to Rs18.6 per unit additional fuel cost from power consumers at an average monthly burden of about Rs2 per unit to mop up about Rs28bn additional funds and clear a backlog of about nine months (July 2023 to March 2024).
In a series of petitions filed before the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), the KE presented three different options for additional fuel cost recovery from consumers on a “provisional basis” to clear the backlog and avoid a sudden increase in burden on its consumers.
Nepra has called a public hearing on May 9 for the KE’s petition on provisional monthly fuel charges adjustments (FCA) for the period of July 2023 to March 2024. The KE explained that since its multi-year tariff (2024-30) was currently under regulator’s deliberation, it has filed FCAs based on three scenarios with the request for the approval of any one of the three scenarios and guide recovery mechanism for these nine months to facilitate timely recovery of costs and avoid further accumulation of adjustments to be recovered from customers.
Under the first scenario, the KE has proposed that the FCA be calculated as the difference between actual fuel cost and the reference monthly fuel cost as per the interim tariff currently in place. In this option, the KE sought increase in rates for seven months and reduction in rates for two months, with a net additional revenue of about Rs19bn. The cumulative net impact for nine months works out to be about Rs13 per unit or an average of Rs1.45 per unit per month.
<blockquote>
Higher FCA won’t apply to ‘lifeline consumers’
</blockquote>
In the second option, the KE demanded that it be allowed to charge consumers the difference between the actual and reference monthly fuel cost as per the tariff petition filed by the KE and currently under Nepra’s deliberation. In this case, the utility has also sought fuel cost increase for seven months and reduction for two months with the net accumulative additional fuel cost of Rs18.6 per unit at a monthly average of Rs2.06 per unit for nine months to raise about Rs28bn.
In the third scenario, the KE proposed that the difference between actual fuel costs versus annual weighted average fuel reference costs being considered as per the tariff petition filed by the KE and currently under Nepra’s deliberation. In this case, too, the utility sought additional fuel cost for seven months and reduction for two months. The net combined impact works out to be Rs16.9 per unit at a monthly average of about Rs1.90 per unit and entails a financial impact of about Rs24bn.
The consumers of ex-distribution companies (Discos) have already paid these additional fuel costs ranging between Rs3 and Rs7.5 per unit a month.
On approval, Nepra will also set the mechanism and schedule for recovery of increase in FCAs. The FCA is normally reviewed every month as per the tariff regime applicable across the country and is usually applicable to the consumer’s bills for one month only. However, the KE has a backlog given its delayed tariff petitions and regulatory approvals for monthly, quarterly and annual basis.
The higher FCA, on approval, would be applicable to all consumer categories except lifeline power consumers and protected domestic consumers using up to 300 units, and agricultural consumers and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The adjustment on account of monthly FCA is also applicable to the domestic consumers having Time of Use (ToU) meters irrespective of their consumption level.
Under the tariff mechanism, changes in fuel cost are passed on to consumers only on a monthly basis through automatic mechanism while quarterly tariff adjustments on account of variation in power purchase price, capacity charges, variable operation and maintenance costs, use of system charges and including impact of transmission and distribution losses are built in the base tariff by the federal government.
Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2024
</description>
<content:encoded xmlns="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[ISLAMABAD: The Karachi-based K-Electric has sought approval to charge up to Rs18.6 per unit additional fuel cost from power consumers at an average monthly burden of about Rs2 per unit to mop up about Rs28bn additional funds and clear a backlog of about nine months (July 2023 to March 2024).
In a series of petitions filed before the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), the KE presented three different options for additional fuel cost recovery from consumers on a “provisional basis” to clear the backlog and avoid a sudden increase in burden on its consumers.
Nepra has called a public hearing on May 9 for the KE’s petition on provisional monthly fuel charges adjustments (FCA) for the period of July 2023 to March 2024. The KE explained that since its multi-year tariff (2024-30) was currently under regulator’s deliberation, it has filed FCAs based on three scenarios with the request for the approval of any one of the three scenarios and guide recovery mechanism for these nine months to facilitate timely recovery of costs and avoid further accumulation of adjustments to be recovered from customers.
Under the first scenario, the KE has proposed that the FCA be calculated as the difference between actual fuel cost and the reference monthly fuel cost as per the interim tariff currently in place. In this option, the KE sought increase in rates for seven months and reduction in rates for two months, with a net additional revenue of about Rs19bn. The cumulative net impact for nine months works out to be about Rs13 per unit or an average of Rs1.45 per unit per month.
<blockquote>
Higher FCA won’t apply to ‘lifeline consumers’
</blockquote>
In the second option, the KE demanded that it be allowed to charge consumers the difference between the actual and reference monthly fuel cost as per the tariff petition filed by the KE and currently under Nepra’s deliberation. In this case, the utility has also sought fuel cost increase for seven months and reduction for two months with the net accumulative additional fuel cost of Rs18.6 per unit at a monthly average of Rs2.06 per unit for nine months to raise about Rs28bn.
In the third scenario, the KE proposed that the difference between actual fuel costs versus annual weighted average fuel reference costs being considered as per the tariff petition filed by the KE and currently under Nepra’s deliberation. In this case, too, the utility sought additional fuel cost for seven months and reduction for two months. The net combined impact works out to be Rs16.9 per unit at a monthly average of about Rs1.90 per unit and entails a financial impact of about Rs24bn.
The consumers of ex-distribution companies (Discos) have already paid these additional fuel costs ranging between Rs3 and Rs7.5 per unit a month.
On approval, Nepra will also set the mechanism and schedule for recovery of increase in FCAs. The FCA is normally reviewed every month as per the tariff regime applicable across the country and is usually applicable to the consumer’s bills for one month only. However, the KE has a backlog given its delayed tariff petitions and regulatory approvals for monthly, quarterly and annual basis.
The higher FCA, on approval, would be applicable to all consumer categories except lifeline power consumers and protected domestic consumers using up to 300 units, and agricultural consumers and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The adjustment on account of monthly FCA is also applicable to the domestic consumers having Time of Use (ToU) meters irrespective of their consumption level.
Under the tariff mechanism, changes in fuel cost are passed on to consumers only on a monthly basis through automatic mechanism while quarterly tariff adjustments on account of variation in power purchase price, capacity charges, variable operation and maintenance costs, use of system charges and including impact of transmission and distribution losses are built in the base tariff by the federal government.
Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2024
]]></content:encoded>
<category>Pakistan</category>
<guid>https://www.dawn.com/news/1830519</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2024 06:58:39 +0500</pubDate>
<author>none@none.com (Khaleeq Kiani)</author>
<media:content url="https://i.dawn.com/large/2024/04/30082900370fad1.jpg?r=082909" type="image/jpeg" medium="image" height="480" width="800">
<media:thumbnail url="https://i.dawn.com/thumbnail/2024/04/30082900370fad1.jpg?r=082909"/>
<media:title>The controversy arose when K-Electric moved an appeal against Sindh High Court’s April 14, 2014 verdict restraining the power utility from interrupting electricity supply to KWSB. ─ AFP/File
</media:title>
</media:content>
</item>
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