Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit Baltistan and State and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Provincial President Engineer Amir Muqam and Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi here on Tuesday discussed the prevailing political situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
During the meeting, both leaders expressed deep concern over the lack of good governance, worsening law and order, and what they termed as record-breaking corruption under the current provincial administration.
They described the present provincial government as highly detrimental to the interests of the province.
The two leaders also consulted on the Supreme Court’s recent verdict on reserved seats and its implications for the political landscape in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Issues related to Kashmir, the situation in the merged tribal districts, and the misuse of federal funds allocated for these areas by the provincial government were also discussed.
The leaders condemned what they called the provincial administration’s misappropriation of these funds and emphasized the need to address the growing concerns of the people in the merged districts.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said the government is not considering any proposal to shut down or merge national institutions of academic, literary, historical, or cultural significance.
He was talking to PML-N Parliamentary Leader in the Upper House Senator Irfan Siddiqui, who called on him in Islamabad today (Tuesday).
Declaring sources of knowledge and literature as the spirit of a society, the Prime Minister said Pakistan possesses a rich heritage of civilization and culture, which is a source of national pride. He said on the contrary, the government will strive to make these institutions stronger, more effective and more productive so that society can be cleansed of extremism and country’s true soft image can emerge before the world.
Irfan Siddiqui informed the Prime Minister about the concerns among intellectuals, writers, poets, and artists across the country regarding the recommendations of the government’s rightsizing committee to shut down or merge scholastic institutions. He also reminded Shehbaz Sharif that during ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s previous tenure, special attention was given to these institutions and their performance was widely appreciated across all sectors of society.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif further said societies that sideline knowledge, literature and the fine arts fall prey to mechanical thinking and lose feelings of delicate human emotions. He added that the government will soon form a committee to improve the management and performance of these institutions and expand their scope and mandate in line with the demands of the modern era.
Irfan Siddiqui thanked the Prime Minister for his clear stance on academic and literary institutions.
JCP approves chief justices of Islamabad, Peshawar, Sindh and Balochistan high courts
Judicial Commission of Pakistan meeting chaired by CJP Yahya Afridi
Topline
Justice Sarfraz Dogar approved as Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court
Justice SM Attique Shah’s name approved for top judge at Peshawar High Court
Justice Rozi Khan and Justice Junaid Ghaffar to head Balochistan and Sindh high courts respectively
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) has approved the appointment of permanent chief justices for four high courts.
Justice Sarfraz Dogar has been approved as Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court, Justice SM Attique Shah of the Peshawar High Court, Justice Rozi Khan as Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court, and Justice Junaid Ghaffar as Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court.
According to sources, the meeting of the Judicial Commission was chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi to consider appointments for permanent chief justices of the high courts of Sindh, Balochistan, Peshawar, and Islamabad. The names of the three most senior judges from each court were reviewed during the session.
Read also: Peshawar High Court halts oath-taking of reserved seat MPAs
The Judicial Commission comprises 13 permanent members. However, in the case of High Court Chief Justice appointments, the number of commission members rises to 16, and a majority of at least nine members is required for the approval of a nomination.
The Judicial Commission includes the Chief Justice of Pakistan, four judges of the Supreme Court, the Attorney General, two government representatives, and two opposition members.
In addition, Ahsan Bhoon represented the Pakistan Bar in the commission, while Roshan Khursheed Bharucha, nominated by the Speaker of the National Assembly, also participated. For the appointment of provincial Chief Justices, the relevant Provincial Law Minister, a representative of the High Court Bar, and a former High Court judge were also present at the meeting.
Justice Mansoor Shah raises objection
Senior Supreme Court judge Justice Mansoor Ali Shah raised an objection during a Judicial Commission meeting, demanding that a decision on the 26th Constitutional Amendment be made before proceeding with any appointments.
Justice Muneeb Akhtar and two PTI members of the commission supported his stance.
Justice Mansoor objected during the proceedings, insisting that the unresolved issue of the 26th Amendment should be addressed first. PTI’s judicial commission members and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Law Minister also backed his view.
Earlier, PTI Senator Ali Zafar, a member of the Judicial Commission, spoke to the media outside the Supreme Court. He reiterated PTI’s stance that the most senior judge should be appointed as Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court. He added that the matter of judges’ seniority in the IHC is still pending in an intra-court appeal.
He emphasized that until a final decision is made on the seniority matter, further discussions should be avoided. “Our position will be reflected in our vote,” he said, without disclosing how PTI members plan to vote.
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ISLAMABAD, July 1 (Xinhua) — Pakistan’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs on Tuesday announced a comprehensive plan to expand operations at Gwadar Port by establishing new shipping lines and introducing a ferry service to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the ministry said in a statement.
Chairing a meeting here, Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said the initiative is part of a broader strategy to boost regional connectivity, enhance Pakistan’s maritime trade, and develop Gwadar into a major transshipment and logistics hub in the Arabian Sea.
The federal minister added that the expansion would support growing trade with Central Asia and the Middle East, while positioning Gwadar as a central node in regional supply chains.
As part of the initiative, the ministry also plans to launch a ferry service from Gwadar to GCC countries to provide affordable and direct maritime transport for passengers and cargo.
Located in the county’s southwest Balochistan province, the port is a key component of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Launched in 2013, the flagship project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative connects Gwadar port with Kashgar in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. ■
Representational image of inmates behind jail bars. — Unsplash/File
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India on Tuesday exchanged lists of prisoners held in each other’s custody, in accordance with the 2008 Agreement on Consular Access, which requires the exchange to take place twice a year—on 1st January and 1st July.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan handed over a list of 246 Indian or believed-to-be-Indian prisoners—comprising 53 civilians and 193 fishermen—to a representative of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
Simultaneously, India shared with a Pakistani diplomat in New Delhi a list of 463 Pakistani or believed-to-be-Pakistani prisoners, including 382 civilians and 81 fishermen.
Pakistan has called for the immediate release and repatriation of all Pakistani nationals who have completed their sentences and whose nationality has been verified.
Islamabad also requested special consular access for all believed-to-be-Pakistani prisoners, including those with physical or mental health conditions, to expedite the confirmation of their national status.
In its communication, Pakistan further urged India to grant consular access to all prisoners still awaiting it, and to ensure the safety, security, and welfare of all Pakistani detainees in Indian custody.
The Foreign Office reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to prioritising humanitarian matters and affirmed its continued efforts to secure the early return of all Pakistani prisoners held in Indian jails.
