Category: 1. Pakistan

LAHORE  –  Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan on Monday defended his constitutional obligation to act on disqualification requests filed under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution, while at the same time express-ing strong personal opposition to these controversial clauses.

Addressing a press conference at the Punjab Assembly, the speaker said he was not in favour of expelling any member from the House; however, he was legally bound to decide within 27 days on the requests submitted against 26 opposition lawmakers, or else forward them to the Election Commission of Pakistan.

“It is my constitutional duty to decide on petitions filed against members over alleged oath violations under Articles 62 and 63. The precedent comes from the Supreme Court’s judgment in the Panama case by Jus-tice Asif Saeed Khosa,” he explained. “I am personally the biggest opponent of Articles 62 and 63, and I do not support disqualifying anyone from the Assembly. But if I don’t act, these petitions will automatically be sent to the Chief Election Commissioner in thirty days.”

Ahmad Khan stated that he believes in the supremacy of the Constitution and has always strived to run the Assembly according to the rules and regulations. He emphasized that despite being one of the strongest critics of Articles 62 and 63, it is his constitutional duty to implement them in light of the Supreme Court’s rulings.

The speaker said that the opposition had been given every possible democratic space in the past—from chairing standing committees to leading the Public Accounts Committee—but unfortunately, the opposition turned the Assembly into a forum for constant disruption.

He noted that the opposition is portraying disorder as a political right, but there is no such provision in the Constitution. Parliament is meant for legislation, not protest. If there is disruption during the Order of the Day, proceedings will move forward as per the law.

He further said that the Leader of the Opposition, after consulting constitutional expert Salman Akram Raja, claimed that the Speaker does not have the authority to send a reference. However, the judgment by Jus-tice Asif Saeed Khosa in the Panama Papers case clearly establishes that if members violate their oath, the Speaker must either make a decision or refer the matter to the Election Commission.

Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan categorically stated that he does not believe in the politics of disqualifying anyone, as practiced by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. However, if anyone violates constitutional boundaries or undermines the discipline of the House against party decisions, he will not hesitate to take action.

He made it clear that he holds no grudge against any party or leader but is committed to upholding the sanctity of the House. Any member who violates their constitutional oath will inevitably face action.

The speaker further stated that such actions in the past have laid the foundation for undermining democra-cy in Pakistan. “I do not politicize disqualification,” he said, “but if a reference is received under Article 63(2) of the Constitution, it must be decided accordingly.”

The speaker expressed hope that the government and opposition will engage in meaningful dialogue in the coming days to improve the atmosphere of the House, so that the Punjab Assembly can truly serve as the representative forum of the 120 million people of the province. He formally invited the Opposition to sit with him to discuss the issue of disqualification as over two weeks were left to decide on the matter.  

The speaker also urged the opposition to abandon disruptive tactics, warning that relying on allegations of victimisation against their leaders to justify protests was counterproductive.

“All political parties in Pakistan have faced tough times at one point or another. The best way to resolve grievances is through dialogue—not by disrupting parliamentary proceedings,” he said. “I would be pleased to see the government and opposition use the Punjab Assembly in the best interests of its 120 million peo-ple.”

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Monday visited the residence of Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, where he was warmly welcomed.

During the meeting, the two leaders engaged in a detailed discussion on the country’s prevailing political situation, inter-governmental relations, and ongoing efforts to ensure peace and stability across Pakistan.

Interior Minister Naqvi lauded the Sindh government and police for their effective security arrangements during Muharram-ul-Haram, emphasizing the importance of maintaining law and order during the sensitive period.

Both leaders agreed that political forces across the spectrum must come together to tackle national challenges and promote unity. They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening coordination between the federal and provincial governments for the greater good of the country.

There was once a time when the sound of the Swat River — gushing waters in some places, flapping waves in others — echoed across the mountainous valley. For visitors and locals alike, it was a melody that soothed the darkest of nights and harshest of days. That was years ago. Today, the river stands still and quiet under the weight of those who died in it.

On June 27, a family of 13 tourists from Sialkot drowned in the flooded Swat River. With feet soaked in the cool water, they were having breakfast on the riverbank near Mingora. Unbeknownst to them, the water level was swiftly rising, and within minutes, they found themselves stranded on a mound of sand in the middle of the river.

They stood there, waiting for help to arrive. But by the time it came, the family was swept away by the floodwaters, one by one. The deceased included seven-year-old Ayan; Rubina, 45; Ajwa, 18; Sharmeen, 16; Murab, 18; and Tazmeen, 20; from Sialkot. “They all left the house excited for a vacation, but came back home in white shrouds,” a relative mourned.

Even Swat mourns. “We are ashamed,” said Fazal Wadood, a resident and member of the village defence committee.

The deaths, a video of which went viral on social media, spurred a conversation on social media — about the inefficiency of the local government, the delay in arrival of rescue services and more. But one important factor attributed to the rise in such incidents, as highlighted by locals time and again, remains missing from the discourse: unchecked gravel and sand mining on the bed of the Swat River.

“It has turned our beautiful river into khandarat (ruins),” rued Wadood. “The water used to be our everything … pride, home, livelihood … but it has been reduced to a disaster now.”

The billion-rupee industry

The Swat River is known to be perfect for mining, given its topography. The river flows in the middle of the mountains, making it abundant in gravel and sand, which is a key component of the construction industry. It is a common practice, not just in Pakistan but across the world.

According to activist and academic Dr Rafiullah, the mining process involves digging ditches in the river, approximately 15-20ft deep and 10-15ft wide, and letting the water fill them. When sand and gravel flow down with the water, it accumulates in these ditches, which are then extracted by changing the direction of the river and are subsequently transported to crush plants.

The mining is usually done during the winter months when the flow of the river is slow, while the extraction takes place during summer.

Over the last decade, the mining industry in Swat has seen a boom, with around 350 crush plants established along the path of the 240km-long river, from Kalam to downstream Kanju. Sand is expensive in Swat with a market value of Rs7,000 per daina — a vehicle used to transport the same — while gravel is sold for Rs3,000, making mining a lucrative business.

“The problem is that such ditches have been dug up everywhere, which has turned the river into a well,” Dr Rafiullah told Dawn.com. “Earlier, there was a set route of the river, and so locals were aware where it was deep and where it wasn’t. But when it was dug up, people could no longer tell this because while on the surface, the water remains still, no one knows what is happening underneath.”

Over the past several years, he continued, the people of Swat have lifted their children in coffins. “They were young boys who went to the river for swimming and bathing.” One of them was Wadood’s 17-year-old nephew, whose body was found in a ditch in the town of Aligrama eight days after he had drowned.

Dr Rafiullah said that the incident of June 27 was also to be blamed on this unrestrained mining. “The miner had constructed a protective dyke to divert the water flow just 300-400 meters from where the family was seated, but it broke down due to flashfloods and heavy rain, increasing the water levels.”

“Within minutes, the family found itself stranded in the middle of the river … the mound of sand they stood on was artificial, a result of mining. By the time anyone understood what happened, it was too late,” he regretted.

Even the investigation report prepared following the incident, seen by Dawn.com, highlighted that water from the Swat River was diverted due to construction work, which allowed the tourists to venture into the river, believing that the water level was low. Subsequently, the chief secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa issued orders to ban all kinds of mining.

The rights and wrongs of mining

In Swat, mining falls under the Directorate General of Mines and Minerals KP. The department has divided the river into multiple sectors, and under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa River Protection Act 2017 and Mining of Minor Minerals from River Bed Rules 2022, it issues a yearly lease to local contractors.

“A district-level committee identifies blocks for mining through site visits and then forwards them to a district auction committee, which then reserves or fixes the prices to each block and issues advertisements,” explained Ashfaq Ahmed Saleem, the additional director general of the minerals department.

Subsequently, an open auction is held, and the highest bidder is allotted the lease, which includes all the rules and regulations for mining. “Currently, 24 plants are functioning on the Swat River, of which six have been auctioned against a total bid of Rs47 million,” Saleem told Dawn.com.

“Apart from these six blocks, any activity on other blocks is illegal,” he said, adding that monthly checks were conducted to ensure compliance with the mining rules.

But locals say violations are common and lament the administration’s inaction to stop them. For one, the mining rules say that “the lease shall neither divert the natural course of the river, nullah, stream […] nor obstruct the natural flow or water”, but reshaping the river’s route is a common practice in Swat.

It further says that the mining should be restricted to a maximum depth of three metres, and the distance from the riverbanks should be one-fourth of the river, and should be no less than 7.5 metres. “What happened here, though, was that they dug up the entire river from one side to the other with trenches as deep as 20-30ft,” Swat-based journalist Sohail Asghar Khan pointed out.

And this, he added, was the major reason behind rising river-related deaths in the region. “If you go towards the Khwazakhela side, you will see 15-20 excavation machines along the riverbed … and this is the case across the valley now.”

When asked about these practices, Saleem said contractors violating the laws were issued notices and, in the absence of rectification, the lease was cancelled.

“As far as mining on unauthorised blocks is concerned, when we catch it, we file a complaint with the police and then a case is sent to the judicial magistrate,” he added.

According to data shared by Saleem, over 830 first information reports have been registered against illegal mining activity since 2018. In 2024-25 alone, 92 FIRs were lodged, of which 21 cases are under trial, while fines were imposed on others. Per mining rules, the punishment for illegal mining amounts to Rs0.5 to Rs2 million and up to three years in jail.

Who is to blame?

For his part, Rehmat Ali, the chairman of the Malakand Crush Association, told Dawn.com that the right way of mining involved using river channels instead of blocking the river or rerouting it as mentioned in the rules and regulations.

“The lessee shall neither divert the natural course of the river, nullah, stream nor obstruct the natural flow of water,” it states.

But, Ali lamented, some people were mining via illegal means. “They are not just harming the river but also us, who are doing this the right way,” he rued. According to him, there were about 67,000 families in Swat that were dependent on mining for their livelihoods.

“We have been doing this legally since 2003. We have licenses from the Environmental Protection Agency and all the other relevant departments,” Ali told Dawn.com. “But those who are doing this illegally are putting the economy of Swat at risk.”

He explained that Swat heavily relied on tourism, which meant the construction industry played a key role in the region, and crush was primarily used for the same, along with roads and bridges. “But when we complain to the government, they fail to take any notice.”

Following the drowning incident, the government last week cancelled all the lease agreements for mining in the Swat River and imposed Section 144. However, despite the ban, locals said mining was carried out at places where the administration was nowhere to be seen.

“In fact, just the day after the tourist family was washed away in the floods, these miners were back on the river banks with their excavators,” Wadood said.

Environmental catastrophe

This unregulated mining is not just claiming human lives but also causing irreversible degradation to the ecosystem of the Swat River and its pristine clear waters. “These waters used to be a lullaby for us, but today, all we can hear is the roar of the excavators and the scraping and crunching of the earth they dig,” said Wadood.

The intensified extraction has rapidly and visibly changed the natural course of the river, triggering a host of environmental challenges such as the degradation of agricultural land, erosion, and the destruction of Swat’s flora and fauna.

“Agricultural land downstream, mostly fields of onion and tomato crops are drying up,” said Sadique Akbar, former professor at the University of Engineering and Technology, Swabi. He told Dawn.com that local farmers, who rely on the Swat River for irrigation, complain that their lands have become less fertile and more prone to flooding and erosion.

The river’s water, once a home to nearly 17 fish species native to Swat, now fails to provide them with the sustenance required and has thus caused them to go extinct. This is not just affecting the livelihood of fishermen, but also diminishing Swat’s appeal to tourists flocking to the region.

“These fish used to find their food hidden in the riverbed, but extensive mining means it is no longer there,” said Dr Rafiullah. “Trout, which was once the saugat (gift) of Swat, is no longer found in freshwater anymore. Whatever is there is farm-produced. Desi trout can now only be found upstream in Kalam or Bahrain, where the water is clean.”

This has taken the livelihoods of fishermen in the region, who are now forced to search for other alternatives. Initially, they could catch up to 6kg-7kg of fish, but now, even if they spend an entire day, they can hardly manage a catch, added Sohail Asghar.

Moreover, the lush green trees that once surrounded the river have now completely vanished. Residents say miners cut them down to create roads that could take their excavators and other big machines to the riverbanks. In addition, miners usually collect sand along the banks of the river, which has taken away its beauty. This, despite the mining rules, which state: “after mining of minor minerals, the debris and hindrance shall be removed from the limits of the river or stream.”

Similarly, seasonal birds that would have stopped by the river earlier for food have now stopped coming there.

Sufyan, a resident of Karachi who recently visited the northern areas, described it in these words: “The Swat I saw in pictures is no longer there; instead, a cloud of dust, the buzzing of machines and trucks are everywhere. It is just sad,” he said.

And then, there is this constant fear among the residents of losing their children. Swat does not have many options when it comes to recreational activities for locals; they were dependent on the river for that too — swimming, sitting on the banks, and fishing. But none of that is possible anymore. The river they once called theirs has become a stranger today; nothing about it is the same anymore. Only memories remain.

And so, the question echoes louder than the lost melody of the Swat River: will anything change before more lives and memories are washed away?

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Header image: Men sift sand alongside the Swat River. — AN Photo

GUJRAT  –  Rescue 1122 provided comprehensive emergency services across the district during Ashura, ensuring safety at all religious gatherings and processions, according to District Emergency Officer Umar Akbar Ghuman. From the 1st to 10th Muharram, Rescue 1122 teams remained on high alert, with ambulances, fire vehicles, motorbike units, and medical staff deployed at all sensitive locations, including Majalis venues and procession routes. During the ten-day period, 1,583 individuals received emergency response services. Of these, 1,562 were administered first aid on-site, while 21 were shifted to hospitals for further treatment. More than 300 personnel and 71 volunteers were involved in field operations. DEO Ghuman said Rescue 1122 teams remained fully prepared to handle any untoward incident. He said that no major incident was reported in the district during Ashura. Rescue 1122 reaffirmed its commitment to public safety and timely emergency response on all national and religious occasions.

DHAKA, Bangladesh: Protests in Bangladesh that toppled the government last year triggered a diplomatic pivot, with Dhaka warming toward China after neighboring India was angered by the ousting of its old ally Sheikh Hasina.

One year since the protests, that realignment risks intensifying polarization — and fears of external interference — as political parties in Bangladesh jostle for influence ahead of elections next year.

For the caretaker government, seeking domestic consensus for overhauling democratic institutions in the country of 170 million people, it is another challenge to juggle.

“India-Bangladesh relations have probably never experienced such intense strain before,” said New Delhi-based analyst Praveen Donthi, from the International Crisis Group.

There is deep resentment in Dhaka over the fate of fugitive ex-prime minister Hasina, who escaped a student-led uprising by helicopter in August 2024 and flew to New Delhi as thousands of protesters stormed her palace.

Interim leader Muhammad Yunus said popular anger in Muslim-majority Bangladesh had been “transferred over to India” because Hasina was offered sanctuary by New Delhi’s Hindu nationalist government.

Hasina, 77, has defied extradition orders to attend her crimes against humanity trial, and has already been convicted in absentia for contempt of court with a six-month sentence.

Md Touhid Hossain, who heads Bangladesh’s foreign ministry, said that “the relationship is now at the readjustment stage.”

Nobel Peace Prize winner Yunus’s first state visit was to China in March, a trip that saw him secure $2.1 billion in investments, loans and grants.

Beijing has also courted leading politicians directly.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, a senior leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) — the expected election frontrunner — said China is “keen” to work with the next elected government with “sincerity, steadfastness, love, and affection.”

India has long been wary of China’s growing regional clout and the world’s two most populous countries compete for influence in South Asia, despite a recent diplomatic thaw.

Bangladesh has also moved closer to Pakistan, India’s arch-enemy.

In May, more than 70 people were killed in four days of missile, drone and artillery fire between the forces of New Delhi and Islamabad, sparked by a deadly militant attack on civilians in India-administered Kashmir.

The following month, officials from Dhaka and Islamabad met counterparts in China.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the trio had agreed to “cooperation programs” including in trade, industry, education and agriculture.

Obaidul Haque, who teaches international relations at the University of Dhaka, said talks with Beijing had “borne fruit,” including alternative health care after once popular medical tourism to India was restricted.

“For example, China designated three hospitals for Bangladeshi patients when India made access difficult,” he said.

Bangladesh and Pakistan — which split in 1971 after Dhaka’s independence war — began trade by sea last year, with direct flights also slated.

That sparked worry in New Delhi.

“The current Indian political leadership, owing to its ideological foundations… are unwilling to accept Dhaka under a government they perceive as Islamist and hostile toward India,” Donthi said.

“The visible engagement between Dhaka, Islamabad, and Beijing enhances this perception further.”

Both New Delhi and Bangladesh have imposed trade restrictions on each other.

India, which encircles much of Bangladesh by land, has imposed multiple trade restrictions — including tightening rules on Indian imports of jute fibers, ready-made garments, plastic products and food.

But trade between the neighboring nations remains high, said Md Humayun Kabir, a former Bangladeshi ambassador to Washington, who has also served in India.

But he urged caution, saying Dhaka should “tread carefully forming alliances,” and seek to strengthen “multilateral relations” as a balance.

“Cooperation still exists between the countries, but the warmth is gone,” he said.

Separately, Bangladesh, the world’s second-largest garment exporter, has also been caught in the global shakeup caused by US President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

Dhaka is proposing to buy Boeing planes and boost imports of US wheat, cotton and oil in a bid to reduce the trade deficit, with Yunus in June telling US Secretary of State Marco Rubio of his “commitment to strengthening” ties.

But in terms of regional tensions, analysts say little will change soon — and warn they have the potential to escalate.

“Things might change only if New Delhi is satisfied with the electoral process and sees somebody amenable to it come to power in Dhaka,” the Crisis Group’s Donthi added.

“It is very unlikely that their position will change toward the current government in Dhaka,” he said.

“There may be attempts to undermine it rather than to collaborate.”

LAHORE: Youm-e-Ashur, the 10th of Muharram-ul-Haram, was observed across the country on Sunday with solemnity and reverence in commemoration of the supreme sacrifice rendered by Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his devoted companions in Karbala.

The unmatched sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his companions conveyed a powerful message of protecting the true spirit of Islam. Mourning processions were taken out in all cities and towns of the country to remember this eternal martyrdom of the grandson of Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SAW). Ulema and Zakireen highlighted the bright and candid teachings of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and various aspects of Karbala tragedy.

Elaborate security arrangements had been made across the country to maintain law and order, and avoid any untoward incident during the mourning processions.

In Lahore, the main Zuljinnah procession was taken out from Nisar Haveli inside Mochi Gate of old Lahore Walled City and after passing through traditional route culminated at Karbala Gamay Shah near Data Darbar Complex Sunday evening where Shaam-e-Ghareeban was held.

Meanwhile, Inspector General of the Punjab Police, Dr Usman Anwar, told media that over one hundred thousand officers and jawans of Punjab Police are providing security cover to over five thousand four hundred mourning processions and 2,772 Majalis throughout the province.

Punjab Secretary Home Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi visited the Central Control Room of the Home Department in Lahore. Provincial Minister for Information and Culture, Azma Zahid Bukhari, visited Faisalabad to inspect the arrangements made for the observance of Ashura.

During her visit to various procession routes and Imambargahs, she lauded the efforts of the local administration and security forces in ensuring peaceful and organized Muharram-ul-Haram observances.

Speaking to the media, she emphasized that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had issued clear directives to make exemplary arrangements for Youm-e-Ashur.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025

LAHORE: Mourners of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) said, “Record arrangements have been made for cleanliness on the procession routes in all divisions and districts of Punjab.” A female pilgrim said, “For the first time, Bibi Pak Daman and inner city security, cleanliness and other excellent arrangements were made.”

The mourners added, “Very good and prompt arrangements were made for the provision of medical aid by Rescue 1122, Clinics on Wheels, and field hospitals.”

They observed, “Safe City cameras and drones continue to monitor the processions. Cyber patrolling is also being done for the first time.”

The pilgrims were of the view that in addition to procession routes, excellent food arrangements were also made. They noted, “Very good security arrangements are made, religious rituals are performed in a safe environment.”

They said, “For the first time, same standard of all arrangements including security and cleanliness was seen in the entire province including the south, central and north.”

They added, “This is the first time that arrangements like big and central cities are made in small cities Visitors are coming to see.”

The pilgrims expressed their appreciation for the chief minister by saying, “Weldon Maryam Nawaz Sharif.”

“Please continue the good work,” a visitor requested the chief minister.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court said phenomenon of accused persons’ parading in front of cameras or reporters aggressively questioning the accused in criminal cases while they are in police custody for investigate must end.

A three-judge, headed by Justice Athar Minallah and comprising Justice Irfan Saadat Khan and Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan decided that in a murder case, acquitting the appellant (Shahid Ali), who was convicted under Section 302(b) of the PPC and sentenced to death by the trial court, and upheld by the High Court.

The crime, in this case, relates to the gruesome murder of Wasim Akram, who was around 7 or 8 years old when his lifeless body was discovered lying in a water tank and was recovered by police officials.

According to the case, the appellant was convicted on the basis of an interview recorded by a journalist Afzal Pervaiz (PW-9) while he was on physical remand and in the custody of the investigating officer. “The appellant’s interview was later aired on one of the private television channels ARY NEWS, in its program “Jurm Bolta Hae””.

The trial court as well as the High Court had heavily relied upon this statement by treating it as a confession of guilt made by the appellant.

The judgment authored by Justice Athar Minallah noted that it is not unusual for the electronic media to show accused persons parading in front of the cameras or reporters aggressively questioning the accused in criminal cases while they are in custody during the course of investigation. This phenomenon is deprecated because it gravely violates and undermines the rights of the parties, particularly the accused and gravely interferes with the fairness of a trial.

It is an obligation of each government, federal and provincial, to take immediate effective measures in ensuring that this phenomenon comes to an end. The respective governments are responsible to safeguard the rights of the parties in criminal proceedings, particularly an accused, and the fairness of the process of investigation.

Giving access to persons not associated with the process of investigation and facilitating them to interfere, directly or indirectly, with the criminal proceedings violates the law and gravely affects the fairness of the trial and the rights of an accused. It is a misconduct in the case of an investigator or a person in authority, such as the In charge of a Police Station, to give access to or facilitate any person to interfere with the course of investigation in violation of the procedure prescribed under the CrPC, read with the enabling provisions of other statutes.

The media, whether print or electronic, directed to self regulate its reporting and airing of programmes by setting out and adopting standard operating procedures, having regard to the international best practices.

The Court expected from the regulatory authorities to consider proposing such standard operating procedures in consultation with the stakeholders with the object of safeguarding the rights of the parties, particularly during an investigation.

The judgment said that the power and authority of a magistrate under Section 164 of the CrPC can also not be usurped and made redundant, directly or indirectly, by giving access to private persons to record confessions. Access and permission, therefore, cannot be given to a private person, such as a person engaged in the profession of journalism, to record the statement of an accused in the nature of a confession while he or she is in custody. Any such statement would be inadmissible under the mandate of Article 39 of the Qanun-e-Shahdat Order, 1984.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025