Category: 1. Pakistan

MUZAFFARABAD: A man accused of spying for India and sharing sensitive information in return for hefty payments was handed over to Saddar police after interrogation.

Police sources said an FIR against Mohammad Ubaid Jahangir, a resident of Dhakki Basniar Kuiyan village on the outskirts of Rawalakot, had been kept secret to facilitate smooth investigation after his arrest by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on July 23.

He was later shifted to Saddar Police Station, Muzaffarabad.

According to the FIR, a copy of which was seen by Dawn, the suspect had been spying for India’s intelligence agency, supplying photographs of sensitive installations and other classified information in exchange for large sums of money.

In particular, he had sent via WhatsApp and other digital devices the GPS location and photographs of Bilal Masjid in Muzaffarabad’s Shawai neighbourhood, which was struck by Indian missiles on the night of May 6, the document stated.

The FIR maintained that his conduct was prejudicial to the interests and security of Pakistan and the State of Jammu and Kashmir, amounting to offences under Section 3/3A of the Official Secrets Act, 1923.

He was also booked under Section 54 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The case was registered on the complaint of ASI Mushtaq Ahmed, in-charge of the Field Investigation Unit of CTD in Muzaffarabad.

Confirming the development, SHO Saddar Naveedul Hassan said the FIR had been kept confidential until the completion of initial interrogation.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2025

ISLAMABAD:

Since the enactment of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, the Supreme Court on Thursday granted the first relief to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan by accepting his bail petitions in eight cases linked to the May 9, 2023 violent incidents.

According to legal minds, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi passed a very cautious order, which could be considered as an attempt to provide a win-win situation for both sides — the prosecution and the petitioner.

Many lawyers had expected the apex court to remand the matter back to the Lahore High Court (LHC) — which had rejected the bail application in June — for re-hearing. However, the SC bench led by Chief Justice Afridi granted bail.

The court refrained from commenting on the LHC judgment that had declared Imran Khan the perpetrator of the May 9 conspiracy. Lawyers noted that while the LHC had denied bail on conspiracy charges, the apex court extended relief to Khan.

Former additional attorney general Tariq Mahmood Khokhar said that the LHC, while refusing bail to Imran Khan, recorded “definite findings” on contested facts, thereby straying beyond its jurisdiction, prejudicing the trial, and undermining the presumption of innocence.

“Such an approach is impermissible in bail jurisprudence. Superior courts across all rule-of-law jurisdictions have consistently disapproved of this course, and our own jurisprudence, though chequered, has hitherto been no exception to the universally accepted principle,” he said.

Khokhar stated that the LHC erred fundamentally — whether out of ignorance, incompetence, or mala fides. “Many observers believe, regrettably, a combination of all three,” he opined.

Still, he stated, more troubling is the response of the Supreme Court. In paragraph 7 of its order, it noted the “definite findings” but failed to draw the necessary conclusions. “This omission, at once institutional and personal, is astonishingly inexplicable.”

Khokhar believed that the Supreme Court ought to have reaffirmed the impermissibility of such findings, disapproved the high court’s observations, and clarified that they should stand effaced, with the trial court proceedings uninfluenced.

“In cases such as this, precedents exist for passing strictures against the errant judges. Even amidst the ravages of our judicial, constitutional and democratic ruins, the chief justice had an opportunity to avoid the worst and enhance the moral and public legitimacy of a failing institution; the opportunity was missed.”

The adjournments of the two preceding dates of hearings, gave rise to a public perception that the court and the prosecution were in sync, operating in visible alignment, he continued. He added that the absence of judicial disapproval and displeasure at the high court’s “definite findings” reinforced a generally-held belief that the chief justice lacked “authority”.

The eventual grant of bail was a relief and therefore most welcome to the nation here and its diaspora abroad, but unfortunately it was considered a consequence not of judicial assertion, but of a shift in State policy.

Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, who himself is an accused in the May 9 cases said that the Supreme Court had clearly set aside the LHC’s overreach in its decision of rejecting Imran’s bail, but it stopped short of reprimanding the LHC judges.

Notably, this is not the first time the same LHC bench has had its decision overturned by the Supreme Court. It appeared that certain LHC judges were positioning themselves as an appellate court, asserting their views above Supreme Court judgments.

Chaudhry stated that if the Supreme Court did not curb this tendency, it would “severely undermine the hierarchical order of the courts,” he added.

While commenting on the written order, Sarwar Muzaffar Shah advocate said that the ruling reminded him of a tribute to American judge Frank Caprio, whom he had been reading about earlier in the day. “He was loved and respected because he believed that law should serve the people; and he did not consider it blind,” Shah said.

While the substance of the order was correct, Shah said, it remained weak. “It follows the motto that law is blind. This order should have been a strong one, considering what is happening in our country – the erosion of judicial independence through executive interference and the weakening of public trust in our justice system,” he said.

“An ideal judicial order is the one in which the court demonstrates both judicial acumen and judicial courage. However, this order does not demonstrate either. It shows that the court is characteristically playing too safe. Playing too safe is proving dangerous for the justice system of our country,” he added.

Since the enactment of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, there is perception that the superior courts are unable to protect the rights of those who are aggrieved with executive’s actions.

“CJ Afridi and the three-members of constitutional benches committee are being considered as the biggest beneficiary of 26th Constitutional Amendment. They are facing battle of perception. CJ Afridi needs to be aware that institution’s reputation will be restored through judgments rather than reforms agenda with the collaboration of the executive.”

Electricity demand and generation profiles are not supposed to transform dramatically within the span of just twelve months.

Yet, Pakistan’s July 2025 versus July 2024 hourly electricity curves tell a strikingly different story — one that is increasingly being scripted not inside the control rooms of the NTDC or NPCC, but by the uncoordinated solar rush playing out on rooftops across the country.

Look closely at the two charts. The demand and generation profiles for July 2025 reveal steep midday dips, followed by sharp evening rebounds.

Compare this with 2024, where the curves were relatively smoother, and the contrast is glaring. These are not seasonal anomalies, nor random fluctuations. They are structural shifts in the way electricity is being consumed and produced.

And at the heart of it is solar energy — particularly the explosion of off-grid and net-metered rooftop installations.

In July 2024, demand stayed broadly within the 18,000–20,000 MW range for much of the day, with the evening peak and morning troughs being manageable. Generation, too, followed the conventional rhythm. Fast forward to July 2025, however, and the midday collapse is unmistakable.

Demand during hours 9–14 has dropped nearly 2,000 MW below last year’s comparable levels. Simultaneously, system generation has also receded in those hours, only to swing upward in the evening as solar contribution fades and consumers rush back to the grid.

This is the classic “duck curve” — a pattern already familiar in markets like California, now emerging in Pakistan with startling speed.

Except here, it is not being managed through utility-scale renewables or carefully planned capacity additions. Instead, it is being driven bottom-up, with households and businesses rushing to insulate themselves from high tariffs and unreliable supply through solar panels, often with little coordination or system-level foresight.

The implications are profound. For one, traditional demand projections are becoming increasingly unreliable.

A flat 4–5 percent annual increase in demand no longer captures the hourly dynamics that now matter more than ever. Daytime demand is being shaved off by solar self-generation, while evening demand is intensifying, requiring expensive plants or imported fuel-based capacity to fire up at precisely the time when the system is most stressed.

Second, the current approach to capacity addition — long-term, baseload-heavy, and slow-moving — risks being fundamentally misaligned with this new reality. Adding coal or RLNG plants to a system where the midday demand troughs are deepening makes little economic sense. Instead, flexible, fast-ramping, and storage-backed options should become the core of planning.

Third, and perhaps most critically, the solar pricing regime itself needs urgent rationalization. Net metering was designed to incentivize adoption, but its unchecked expansion is creating distortions. If left unaddressed, the costs of balancing the system during evening peaks will fall disproportionately on non-solar consumers, deepening inequities and exacerbating circular debt.

Pakistan’s power sector has long suffered from planning that looks backward instead of forward. These hourly profiles are flashing a warning sign in real time: the energy transition is happening faster than official forecasts anticipate. Policies that continue to treat solar as a marginal side story will soon find themselves completely detached from reality.

What is needed now is a recalibration of the entire planning framework around the new demand-generation interplay. That means aligning capacity additions with hourly realities, integrating storage solutions, incentivizing demand-side management, and revisiting net metering tariffs to reflect actual system costs.

Twelve months apart, the graphs of July 2024 and July 2025 may appear as just another set of lines. But behind them is a revolution in motion — one that is already dictating terms. Whether policymakers catch up in time will determine if this revolution leads to stability and sustainability, or deeper imbalances in Pakistan’s power sector.

ISLAMABAD: The government has held in abeyance the recovery of RLNG actualisation cost arrears from consumers.

This was revealed by textile and garments producers and exporters to Business Recorder, after a meeting with Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb.

“On taking up the matter by APTMA management, government has held in abeyance recovery of RLNG actualization cost arrears from consumers. Member mills are requested not to pay any such arrears or installment(s) to SNGPL till further advice from APTMA”, confirmed participants of the meeting.

APTMA demands SNGPL waive gas bill arrears

The delegation was led by Shahzad Saleem of Nishat Chunian Ltd and comprising Aamir Fayyaz of Kohinoor Mills, Amer Abdullah of Sapphire Group, Shahzad Ahmad of Arshad Corporation, Rehman Naseem of Fazal Cloth, Khurram Mukhtar of Sadaqat Textiles, and Anees Khawaja of Mahmood Group. Senior officers from the Finance Division and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) were also present.

Official statement issued by the Finance Division noted that the delegation shared their perspectives on the current state of the textile sector and its future outlook, emphasising both the opportunities for further enhancing Pakistan’s export competitiveness and the challenges that need to be addressed to sustain growth momentum.

Aurangzeb acknowledged the vital role of the textile industry as the backbone of Pakistan’s export base and a key contributor to employment and industrial development. He underlined the government’s commitment to strengthening this sector by providing an enabling environment that supports growth, competitiveness, and resilience in the face of global market dynamics.

The minister reaffirmed that the government is pursuing comprehensive reforms aimed at reducing structural bottlenecks, rationalising the tax framework, and ensuring greater policy continuity.

He highlighted that broadening the tax base, rationalising expenditures, and aligning fiscal measures with industrial priorities are central to the government’s economic reform agenda.

He further noted that the forthcoming industrial policy would reflect market realities and industry expectations, ensuring that the concerns of key sectors are addressed in a timely and effective manner. He added that the relocation of the Tax Policy Office to the Finance Division will help strengthen policy design and continuity, with a sharper focus on supporting industrial growth and export expansion.

Aurangzeb assured the delegation of continued engagement and regular interaction, stressing the importance of a structured feedback mechanism between the government and industry stakeholders. He emphasised that the government remains committed to consultative decision-making and a whole-of-government approach in advancing the country’s economic and export objectives.

The finance minister reaffirmed that the textile sector will remain a central pillar of Pakistan’s future economic strategy, with its growth and competitiveness being treated as a top priority in the broader agenda of reforms and sustainable development based on investment and export-led growth.

However, the official statement did not mention any decision regarding holding in abeyance recovery of RLNG actualisation cost arrears from consumers.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025

Karachi [Pakistan], August 22 (ANI): At least two people were killed and 33 others sustained injuries after an explosion took place in a warehouse located in a densely populated area near Karachi’s Taj Medical Complex on Thursday, Dawn reported, citing officials.

Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed told Dawn that 20 injured persons were admitted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, including two with critical injuries, while 14 others were brought to Civil Hospital Karachi’s trauma centre. Later in the day, she confirmed that a 16-year-old boy was found dead at the warehouse site, while another critically wounded patient succumbed to injuries.

According to Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassaanul Haseeb Khan, the explosion occurred in the basement of a three-storey building where families lived on the upper floors. “Raw material used in firecracker preparation was stored in the facility. Initial investigations suggest that a short circuit sparked a fire, leading to a massive explosion due to highly inflammable material,” he told Dawn.

The blast caused significant structural damage, bringing down concrete blocks on parked vehicles and shattering windows of nearby buildings. Firefighting teams from Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and Rescue 1122 deployed 12 fire tenders to contain the blaze, which reignited several times due to the presence of combustible material. Dense smoke further complicated operations, Haseeb Khan said.

However, Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) senior official Raja Umer Khattab contradicted initial claims, saying the facility contained explosive material rather than mere firecracker components.

“CTD had seized two tons of explosive material in this area in the recent past,” he said, noting that the raw material in fireworks could also be used in bombs.

“As per the relevant laws, up to 50 kilogrammes of firecracker material may be stored in a shop with certain conditions and SOPs (standard operating procedures) in place,” Khattab said.

He noted that while firecracker production and import are regulated in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through licenses, there was no legal industry for such manufacturing in Sindh. The official stressed that the godown was illegally operating in the residential locality.

Meanwhile, Karachi Traffic Police said MA Jinnah Road was closed for traffic due to the fire, with diversions arranged towards Society Signal and Ali Raza Imambargah. Citizens were advised to call helpline 1915 for alternative routes.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah directed officials to ensure immediate medical care for the injured and submit a detailed report after the fire is brought under control. “There is no permission to produce materials near populated areas, which can cause damage,” he said in a statement.

The incident comes weeks after a major blaze at Karachi Export Processing Zone in Landhi injured eight and damaged multiple factories. (ANI)

(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Supreme Court granted bail on Thursday to jailed former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan in eight cases linked to the May 9, 2023 violence, when his supporters stormed government buildings and military installations after his brief detention.The relief, however, offers little respite to the PTI founder. Khan, in prison for more than two years, remains behind bars in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust graft case, while several other corruption and terrorism-related trials remain pending against him.Khan was first jailed in Aug 2023 in a case involving the sale of state gifts. An anti-terrorism court later refused him bail in cases connected to the May 9 riots, and on June 24 the Lahore high court also dismissed his plea, prompting him to challenge the decision in the Supreme Court.The top court’s order comes days after army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir’s remarks in Brussels stirred a storm back home. Munir was quoted as saying that Khan should “apologise for the May 9 violence, sit silently in Banigala (his residence in Islamabad), and let the present system complete its term”.The comments sparked a furious backlash from PTI’s large social media base, which sees Khan’s continued incarceration as part of a wider military-led effort to crush the party. Party leaders said the remarks were proof that Khan’s legal battles are being dictated not in courtrooms but from Rawalpindi.Political observers say the episode underscores Pakistan’s enduring civil-military imbalance. Once considered close to the establishment, Khan has emerged as its most vocal critic since his ouster in April 2022. His confrontation with Munir is now seen as the defining contest in Pakistan’s power struggle, overshadowing judicial proceedings and parliamentary debates.“The message is clear – Khan will only be allowed political space if he apologises and withdraws from active politics,” a senior analyst in Islamabad said. “This is less about legal cases and more about forcing him into silence.”Khan’s supporters, meanwhile, hailed Thursday’s court ruling as a moral victory. But with his convictions intact and multiple cases still hanging over him, the former prime minister remains far from freedom.

Shahrez Khan, nephew of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan and son of his sister Aleema Khan, was arrested on Thursday, with police confirming it early Friday after reports he had been “taken by armed men” from his Lahore residence.

DIG Investigation Zeeshan Raza, in a statement, said that Shahrez was wanted in connection with the May 9 cases and would be produced before a court today.

“Those involved in anti-state activities do not deserve any leniency,” DIG Raza added.

Earlier in the day, the PTI spokesperson said Shahrez had been “abducted” just a day after he and his wife were “illegally offloaded” from a Lahore airport flight.

He further claimed that Shahrez was “tortured before his two children” by the armed men who entered his bedroom by breaking the door.

“Shahrez Khan has no connection to any political activity,” he added, and demanded that the chief justice immediately take notice of the incident and ensure his safe recovery.

PTI Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja wrote on X: “Aleema Bibi’s home in Lahore has been attacked by men in plain clothes.”

“Her son, Shahrez, has been abducted, the family harassed, and the staff beaten up,” he added.

Aleema remains in the spotlight for her strong push for ex-premier Khan’s release and fiery statements for her brother’s party, at times clashing with PTI’s top leadership.

Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, speaking on Geo News’ programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath”, reacted to the PTI’s claims and said that the Lahore police chief denied the arrest of Aleema’s son.

“Aleema Khan’s allegation will remain an allegation until it’s proved [with evidence],” said Sanaullah, adding that in another scenario, he would be presented before the court in 24 hours.