Category: 1. Pakistan

Islamabad district and sessions courts on Thursday sentenced 12 PTI supporters to six months in jail in cases pertaining to last year’s November “Final Call” protests, while acquitting one person.

Ex-premier Imran Khan had called for nationwide protests on November 24, demanding the “restoration” of the PTI’s electoral mandate and the reversal of the 26th Amendment.

Following a state crackdown, the party claimed a dozen deaths of its supporters, which the government officially denied, while four Rangers personnel and a cop were martyred during the protests.

Judicial Magistrates Ahmad Shahzad Gondal and Mureed Abbas today heard three separate cases filed under the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order (Papo) Act, which had been passed just two months prior to the protests.

One first information report (FIR) was registered at Islamabad’s Tarnol police station on November 24, while two were filed at the Ramna station on November 26 (FIRs 976 and 977). All 12 convicts were ordered to be sent to Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail.

According to court orders, which are available with Dawn.com, three people — Banaras Khan, Hazratullah Saeed and Irfanullah Shahwali — were sentenced to six months of “simple imprisonment” in FIR 976. The case was registered under Section 8 (conditions for assembly) of the Papo Act and Section 188 (disobedience to order promulgated by public servant) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

The convicts were already in custody, had pleaded not guilty to the charges and had not produced any witnesses in their defence, according to the order.

“The object of this protest was against the law and Constitution of Pakistan,” the judgement observed, noting PTI’s “deliberate choice of prohibited venues and its defiance of administrative directives”.

In the FIR 977 case, six men — Waheedullah Zahid, Fazalur Rehman, Ibrahim Bakhtiar, Khurram Shahzad, Muhammad Banaras and Rafiullah Darwash — were handed six months of “simple imprisonment”. Hammad Aziz, who was on bail, was acquitted.

In the Tarnol police station case, Muhammad Danish, Muhammad Essa, Ijaz Hussain, Muhammad Ishaq and Shahab Khan were given a similar sentence.

Islamabad ATC suspends arrest warrant for Omar Ayub in protest case

Separately, an Islamabad anti-terrorism court (ATC) suspended a bailable arrest warrant for National Assembly Opposition Leader Omar Ayub in a case related to a protest in October last year.

PTI protesters and the Islamabad police clashed on Oct 4, 2024, as hundreds of party activists defied security measures and road blockades to gather at multiple locations days before the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. Over 100 PTI supporters, along with ex-premier Imran Khan’s two sisters, were taken into custody.’

ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra had issued the arrest warrant earlier today as he heard a case filed at the Shahzad Town police station last year.

Advocates Sardar Masroof Khan, Zahid Bashir Dar, Murtaza Toori and Mirza Asim were among the lawyers present on the PTI leaders’ behalf.

During the hearing, Judge Sipra issued a bailable arrest warrant for Ayub and ordered that any previous bail granted to suspects who were absent today be cancelled.

However, the judge accepted Senator Azam Swati’s plea seeking exemption from attendance, which was filed yesterday, according to Masroof. Subsequently, the hearing was adjourned till July 30.

Later in the day, former law minister Babar Awan appeared as Ayub’s counsel and submitted an application seeking exemption from attendance, along with a medical report.

Awan contended that his client had not received a notice of summons from the court.

The application, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, said the PTI lawmaker was unable to appear in court due to “ill health” and was advised bed rest.

“The non-appearance of the applicant is neither deliberate nor intentional,” the application stated.

Subsequently, Judge Sipra suspended Ayub’s arrest warrant.

In a video statement yesterday, Advocate Masroof lamented the “speed with which these cases are being heard”.

He noted that some suspects had come from faraway areas such as Azad Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Mardan, having no place to stay overnight in Islamabad to attend today’s hearing.

“If these trials will be bulldozed in such a manner and you won’t give them a fair trial, then it will become very difficult for you to fulfil the requirements of justice,” the lawyer said, requesting courts to punish those guilty but not convict those who were not involved.

Today’s development comes within days of two ATCs sentencing PTI bigwigs to as many as 10 years in jail in cases related to the violent May 9, 2023 countrywide riots.

A Lahore ATC handed down at least eight leaders 10-year rigorous imprisonment, while acquitting six others. A Sargodha ATC also convicted as many as 32 accused, including MNA Ahmad Chattha and Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Ahmed Khan Bhachar.

In May, the Islamabad police’s prosecution nominated the PTI’s top leadership — including Ayub, Chairman Gohar Khan, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Barris­ter Muhammad Ali Saif — in another case over the October 4 protests filed at the Koral police station.

Earlier this month, a Lahore ATC also declared PTI’s Hammad Azhar and Rana Shahbaz Ahmed as proclaimed offenders in two cases related to an alleged attack on Punjab police during a simultaneous protest as party workers reached Minar-i-Pakistan despite the government’s security measures.

Other cases over the clashes had also been registered at the Noon and Ramna police stations in the federal capital.

KARACHI:

The Pakistan Navy on Thursday launched the locally designed and developed Gun Boat PNS Sahiwal at a ceremony held at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KS&EW).

Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ovais Ahmed Bilgrami, attended the event as chief guest. The vessel, developed under the Navy’s policy of indigenisation and self-reliance, has been designed by the Navy’s Platform Design Wing and was under construction at KS&EW.

Speaking on the occasion, Vice Admiral Bilgrami praised the collaborative efforts of the Platform Design Wing and KS&EW, describing the project as a significant milestone in Pakistan’s indigenous shipbuilding capability.

He also acknowledged the Ministry of Defence Production (MoDP) for its continued support in strengthening the country’s maritime industrial base.

Highlighting the vessel’s capabilities, he noted that the Gun Boat is equipped with high-performance, long-range semi-automatic guns, enabling it to perform a range of maritime security operations with enhanced efficiency.

Photo: X/ Pakistan Navy

The platform is designed for versatility and can operate effectively in both coastal and open-sea environments.

The vice admiral further stated that the Navy is considering the series production of similar vessels to support ongoing modernisation efforts and promote the sustained growth of local shipbuilding infrastructure.

The ceremony was attended by senior officials from the Pakistan Navy, MoDP, KS&EW, and representatives from the shipbuilding industry.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Eight newly elected members from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) officially took oath as Senators during a session of the upper house held under the chairmanship of Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani.

The Senators who took the oath include Talha Mahmood, Rubina Khalid, Niaz Ahmed, Faisal Javed, Noorul Haq Qadri, and Mirza Muhammad Afridi. However, Murad Saeed, Azam Sawati, and Rubina Naz didn’t take the oath.

Chairman Gillani administered the oath and extended congratulations to the newly inducted members.

Lawmakers from both the government and opposition benches also congratulated the incoming Senators on their new roles.

Also read: ATC issues bailable arrest warrants for Omar Ayub

Among the total 11 Senators elected from KP, notable names include independents Murad Saeed, Faisal Javed, Mirza Afridi, and Noorul Haq Qadri; Niaz Ahmed from PML-N; Ataul Haq from JUI-F; and Talha Mahmood from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

For the women’s seats, Rubina Khalid (PPP) and independent candidate Rubina Naz were elected, while on technocrat seats, independent Azam Swati and JUI-F’s Dilawar Khan secured victories.

Separately, PML-N’s Hafiz Abdul Karim was elected from Punjab to the Senate on the seat that fell vacant after the passing of Senator Sajid Mir.

• Security forces conducted an IBO. 
• Three terrorists of Fitna al-Hindustan killed.
• Sanitisation operation is being conducted.
  

RAWALPINDI: An army major and another security personnel were martyred during an operation in Balochistan’s Mastung district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Thursday.

In a statement, the military’s media wing said the incident took place on Wednesday when the security Forces were conducting an intelligence-based operation in the district, on the reported presence of terrorists belonging to the Indian proxy, Fitna al-Hindustan.

During the conduct of the operation, the Pakistani troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location and as a result, three terrorists were sent to hell, the military’s media wing said.

However, during the intense fire exchange, Major Zeeyyad Salim Awal, 31, a resident of Khushab, a brave officer who was leading his troops from the front, fought gallantly, paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced shahadat.

The ISPR statement added that apart from the major, another brave son of the soil, Sepoy Nazam Hussain, 22, a resident of Jhelum district, embraced martyrdom.

A sanitisation operation is being conducted to eliminate any other Indian sponsored terrorists found in the area.

The security forces of Pakistan, it said, are determined to wipe out the menace of Indian Sponsored Terrorism from the country, and such sacrifices of our brave men further strengthen our resolve.

RAWALPINDI:

A Pakistan Army major and a sepoy embraced martyrdom while three terrorists belonging to the Indian-backed group “Fitna al Hindustan” were killed during an intelligence-based operation in Balochistan’s Mastung district, the military said on Thursday.

According to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operation was launched on July 23 following reports of terrorist presence in the area.

“During the conduct of the operation, own troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location, and resultantly, three terrorists were sent to hell,” the statement said.

However, during the intense exchange of fire, Major Zeeyyad Salim Awal, 31, a resident of Khushab district, was martyred while leading his troops from the front. He was accompanied in martyrdom by Sepoy Nazam Hussain, 22, from Jhelum district.

The military said a sanitisation operation was ongoing to ensure the elimination of any other Indian-sponsored terrorists in the vicinity.

“The security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of Indian-sponsored terrorism from the country, and such sacrifices of our brave men further strengthen our resolve,” the ISPR said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday appreciated the World Bank’s (WB) support for Pakistan’s position in light of India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).

In April, India held the IWT in abeyance following the attack in occupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam that killed 26 — an incident New Delhi blamed on Islamabad without evidence. Pakistan termed any attempt to suspend its water share an “act of war”, noting that the IWT had no provision for unilateral suspension.

In a meeting with the WB’s regional vice president for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MENAAP), Ousmane Dione, in Islamabad, the premier acknowledged the institution’s principled support for Pakistan’s legitimate position on India’s “unilateral and unlawful actions”, which undermined “important international agreements” such as the IWT.

He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to upholding international law, achieving prosperity, maintaining regional peace and reiterated the country’s resolve to resolve all issues through dialogue.

The prime minister further thanked the WB for its timely and generous assistance during the devastating floods of 2022, which helped Pakistan initiate immediate relief efforts and begin reconstruction and rehabilitation activities.

He especially thanked World Bank President Ajay Banga and former country director for Pakistan Najy Benhassine for their pivotal role in advancing the new country partnership framework (CPF) for Pakistan.

In January, Pakistan became the first country to launch a longer-term CPF with the WB, after the bank’s board of directors approved the 10-year programme and pledged to provide $20 billion to Pakistan.

According to a World Bank statement, the new framework for the country aimed to “support inclusive and sustainable development through a strong focus on building human capital”, in addition to fostering durable private sector growth.

PM Shehbaz appreciated the strategic role of the CPF in supporting Pakistan’s development priorities, particularly in the areas of energy, human capital, climate change, and governance reforms.

Dione expressed gratitude to the premier for the warm hospitality extended during his visit to Pakistan.

He reaffirmed the WB’s commitment to deepening and expanding its longstanding partnership with Pakistan and enhancing collaboration in key sectors of the economy.

Dione appreciated Pakistan’s ongoing macroeconomic recovery and praised the prime minister’s government for steering the country toward financial stability and sustainable growth.

He particularly commended the current administration’s reform agenda, noting the premier’s strong leadership in advancing institutional reforms, restoring investor confidence, and promoting inclusive economic development.

PM Shehbaz and Dione expressed a shared commitment to further strengthening cooperation in the coming years, to achieve long-term development goals and build a prosperous future for the people of Pakistan.

S&P Global Ratings upgraded Pakistan’s credit rating, citing better financial conditions in a boost for the government’s efforts to bolster the South Asian country’s economy.

It upgraded Pakistan to ‘B-’ from ‘CCC+’, with a stable outlook on its long-term rating. Other countries that S&P rates similarly are Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya and Ecuador. Most dollar bonds extended gains.

A landmark contribution to the field of diplomacy, “The Currency of Influence: Economic Diplomacy and Public Perception through Public Diplomacy,” authored by Ambassador (Retd) Dr. Ahmed Ali Sirohey, was officially launched at the Secretariat of OIC-COMSTECH here on Thursday.

Published by AISI Publications in 2024, the book offers a profound exploration of the evolving dynamics of public and economic diplomacy, blending theoretical insight with real-world experience—particularly drawn from Dr. Sirohey’s tenure as Pakistan’s Ambassador to Niger, said a press release.

The launch ceremony was attended by an esteemed audience of diplomats, civil society leaders, academics, and COMSTECH officials, underscoring the relevance of diplomacy in shaping Pakistan’s global image.

Spanning 23 chapters, The Currency of Influence highlights the role of soft power, cultural understanding, patience, and public engagement as critical instruments in modern international relations. From diplomatic strategies to field case studies, the book is a rich resource for scholars, policymakers, and students of international affairs.
 
The book included a foreword by former Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood, enhancing its academic value. Already, it has been described as a “masterpiece of modern diplomatic thought” in both academic and diplomatic circles.

Prof. Dr M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General of COMSTECH, lauded Dr. Sirohey’s contribution to diplomacy, praising his service in Africa and his efforts to elevate Pakistan’s international presence. He emphasized the importance of intellectual contributions like this in projecting a positive national narrative.

Currently serving as Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Ahmed Ali Sirohey shared personal insights during the event and reflected on the importance of science diplomacy and knowledge-sharing among OIC member states, especially the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in Africa.

He also expressed gratitude to COMSTECH for advancing policy-oriented platforms that encourage innovation and strategic dialogue in diplomacy.

With The Currency of Influence, Dr. Ahmed Ali Sirohey provides a compelling blueprint for understanding how influence, narrative, and strategic engagement shape today’s global diplomatic landscape. This work is a timely and essential read for practitioners and students alike.

Twelve workers of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have been sentenced to six months in prison by two separate courts in Islamabad for staging a protest on November 26 without official permission.

The convictions came in three separate cases registered under the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order (PAPO) Act—two at Ramna Police Station and one at Tarnol Police Station. Judicial Magistrate Ahmed Shehzad Gondal issued verdicts in the two Ramna cases, while Judicial Magistrate Mureed Abbas ruled on the Tarnol matter.

Out of 13 accused, one individual was acquitted, while the remaining 12 were found guilty of participating in an unlawful assembly.

The courts ruled that the demonstration lacked prior approval, constituting a breach of public order regulations. The prosecution, led by Special Public Prosecutor Muhammad Usman Rana, argued that the protest did not qualify as a peaceful or constitutionally protected gathering.

Rana asserted that the demonstration sought to exert unconstitutional pressure on the government, justifying state intervention to preserve public order. He emphasized that while peaceful protest is a right, it is subject to legal boundaries under national and international frameworks such as the Constitution, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

“When the law is violated,” the prosecutor stated, “there must be consequences.”