ISLAMABAD: After igniting a storm over his ‘conditional’ support for the controversial Kalabagh Dam, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Tuesday doubled down on his statement, saying it was the need of the hour.
The KP CM’s support for the long-proposed-but-never-built project stirred a veritable hornet’s nest, with even his own party leaders opposing his endorsement for the controversial project.
However, the maverick politician’s views prompted endorsement from unlikely quarters — the Punjab government, led by PML-N.
A day earlier, at rain-hit event held at KP House in Islamabad, the KP CM had expressed ‘conditional support’ for projects like the Kalabagh Dam, saying they were necessary for the sake of future generations.
However, in the same breath, he said that the reservations of all stakeholders, including provinces, should be addressed prior to its construction.
Political circles have been abuzz since then, with many struggling to decide whether to view his remarks as courageous or foolhardy.
In another interaction with journalists in the capital on Tuesday, CM Gandapur referred to international studies that favoured the construction of the controversial Kalabagh Dam.
He said he had brought up the issue during a recent meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI), but claimed that some “foolish people” were against it.
Meanwhile, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari on Tuesday said that for the first time, the Punjab government had found itself in agreement with the KP CM on this issue. Speaking at a presser, she said that Punjab endorsed what Mr Gandapur had said about the Kalabagh Dam.
She said that Pakistan was among the countries most severely affected by climate change, making the construction of new dams a national necessity. She even suggested that all provinces should work on a joint action plan.
But the KP CM’s statement had his own party puzzled. PTI leader and former National Assembly speak Asad Qaiser told Dawn Mr Gandapur’s statement did not reflect party policy.
“The party has always made it clear that there should not be any controversial project in Pakistan. At the moment, there is need to strengthen the federation. The policy of Imran Khan is very clear, no such project can be started without consensus and the same has been suggested by the party’s Central Executive Committee,” he said.
Asked why he thought the chief minister would make such a statement, Mr Qaiser said that Gandapur should not have discussed the controversial issue.
“I cannot fathom how he has made the statement without discussing it within the party. I would say that it is his personal opinion and not party policy”, he added.
Meanwhile, PTI Sindh leader Haleem Adil Sheikh called the proposal a “dead horse” which the party has never supported.
In a statement, Mr Sheikh said that jailed PTI founder Imran Khan had repeatedly opposed the controversial dam’s construction during his tenure, making the party’s stance clear.PPP leader Nisar Khuhro also expressed his annoyance over the KP CM’s statement, recalling that Sindh, KP and Balochistan have opposed the project in the past.
• AGP report finds Rs507bn scheme plagued by tunnel collapses, delays and cost overruns • Flagship project falls short on water rights, power output
ISLAMABAD: The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has declared the Rs507 billion Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project a failure in terms of objectives, planning and execution, saying it neither secured Pakistan’s water rights nor delivered the designed energy output, as its multiple tunnel faults and collapses have raised serious questions about the quality of work on a project of national importance.
In its performance audit report for 2022-23, submitted to the president and parliament, the AGP noted that the findings did not even include the major collapse of the headrace tunnel last year, which has kept the project shut. The report was finalised based on responses from Wapda’s management to audit objections.
According to the report, the project faced considerable delays despite the provision of tunnel boring machines (TBMs) meant to speed up excavation, mainly due to design changes.
“The project could not reap envisaged benefits of generation of planned electricity, establishment of water rights over Neelum River, selling of carbon credits under CDM, and completion of mitigation measures to safeguard the environment,” the AGP said.
Although the first unit was commissioned in 2018, contractors failed to complete pending punch list items, fulfil contractual obligations, or supply spare parts needed for smooth operation. “The major collapse in the tailrace tunnel (TRT) of the powerhouse just a few years after construction also casts doubt on the quality of design and works,” it added.
The report recalled that Wapda was to execute the project in line with the original PC-I, approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) in December 1989 at a cost of Rs15.012bn. After three intermediate revisions, Ecnec approved the fourth revised PC-I in May 2018 at Rs506.808bn, against which Rs423.446bn had been spent up to June 2023.
The project was delayed by almost eight years, raising its cost from Rs84.502bn (first revised PC-I) to Rs419.454bn, a cost overrun of Rs334.952bn. The AGP said the project was not executed efficiently as resources were poorly managed and timelines under PC-I were ignored. Contractual issues also remained unresolved due to contractors’ delays.
On its effectiveness, the audit concluded the project failed to deliver its objectives of cheap electricity and securing water rights over the Neelum River. The TRT collapse forced the powerhouse to remain shut until March 2023, leading to massive generation losses and worsening load shedding. “Neither the envisaged benefits of generating 5,150GWh annually were achieved nor water rights over the Neelum River established, particularly after Pakistan lost the Kishenganga case in the International Court of Arbitration,” the report noted.
The four generating units came online between July and December 2018. Funding was arranged through cash development loans from the federal government, Wapda’s own equity, the Neelum-Jhelum surcharge on electricity consumers, and local and foreign loans. The audit was conducted under INTOSAI Auditing Standards, Performance Audit Manual, and relevant rules.
Key audit findings included failure to generate the planned 5,150GWh annually, failure to establish water rights on the Neelum/Kishenganga, a nine-year time overrun, and a cost overrun of Rs338.944bn. Other serious lapses cited were an increase in the project’s payback period from five to 12 years, non-realisation of $50.133m in revenue under the Clean Development Mechanism, reduced annual generation, and environmental damage due to poor studies at the planning stage worth Rs3.05bn.
The report also highlighted Rs70.44bn in lost revenue due to non-approval of reference tariff by Nepra, Rs20.387bn in generation losses from the TRT collapse without inquiry, unjustified excess payment of Rs1.78bn to contractors without verifying raw stone aggregate quantities, non-recovery of costs for unexecuted telecom works and advance payments for an 11kV overhead line, undue benefits to contractors due to non-reinstatement of spoil deposits, non-indemnification of a Rs42bn insurance claim for the TRT collapse, and non-supply of spare parts and failure to execute punch list items by contractors.
The AGP concluded that the Neelum-Jhelum project fell short on nearly every planned objective, leaving behind massive financial losses, unresolved contractual disputes, and serious structural flaws.
• Hanif Abbasi suggests defence minister resign instead of ‘abusing bureaucracy for publicity’ • PTI boycotts NA proceedings, holds parallel ‘public assembly’ outside Parliament House
ISLAMABAD: Differences within the federal cabinet surfaced on Tuesday during a National Assembly debate on the flood crisis when Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi openly criticised Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif for his remarks on the government’s handling of the disaster.
Although he did not name his cabinet colleague, Mr Abbasi made multiple references to the defence minister’s speech on the floor of the house a day earlier.
He even suggested that Mr Asif resign from the cabinet instead of “levelling allegations against parliament and abusing bureaucracy only to gain [media] publicity”.
Meanwhile, members of the opposition PTI boycotted the proceedings and staged a parallel “public assembly” outside Parliament House to protest alleged political victimisation.
Speaking in the debate, Mr Abbasi accused some politicians of attacking institutions simply to go viral on social media. “If this is all they have to say, they should leave the government benches and sit in the opposition, because such language does not suit treasury members,” said Mr Abbasi, who was elected MNA from Rawalpindi.
On Monday, Khawaja Asif had described the recent devastation as a “man-made disaster”, blaming politicians and bureaucrats for unchecked encroachments on waterways and for allowing housing societies and hotels on riverbeds.
He also urged local government elections, criticising his own party’s government in Punjab for failing to hold them.
He also blamed a “contracting company” for the flood devastation in his home constituency, Sialkot.
Responding to the defence minister’s speech, Mr Abbasi said that those who had been a part of the system for the past 40 years were now criticising the system and “demanding local government elections”.
Mr Abbasi took the floor when Mr Asif had already left the assembly hall after briefly attending the proceedings.
“Does a contractor dare to carry out substandard work and run away with money in Rawalpindi?” said Mr Abbasi, stating that it was the responsibility of the MNAs to keep a check on such activities.
He said blaming the entire bureaucracy was unfair, noting that the obsession with going viral in politics had become a “disease”. “I have seen politicians resigning from the cabinet whenever a finger is raised at them. They left the ministry but stayed in the party,” he said while indirectly suggesting the defence minister resign from the cabinet.
Federal Minister for Water Resources Mueen Wattoo said surveys were underway to assess flood-related losses, including damage to crops, livestock, and houses, with compensation to be provided to all affected families. He said estimates were being finalised to ensure timely financial assistance.
PTI’s protest
Earlier, before leading a walkout, PTI leader Asad Qaiser said his party was standing with the flood victims and the leadership had already directed the party workers to visit the affected areas.
However, he said the party had decided to boycott the National Assembly proceedings to protest the policies of the “fascist” government, adding that the PTI members had already submitted their resignations from the standing committees.
Meanwhile, talking to reporters after his meeting with former prime minister Imran Khan at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said the party’s decision to resign from standing committees was “final and irreversible”.
Quoting the jailed former prime minister, he reportedly said that Imran Khan fully endorsed the party’s decision to boycott by-elections and supported the resignations submitted by members from parliamentary committees.
• Ravi at Sidhnai in exceptionally high flood at 1am with 173,000 cusecs flow • Explosives used at Mai Safura dyke to protect irrigation structures • Multan faces flood threat; 100 villages at risk near Muhammad Wala • Chenab floods devastate homes, crops in Jhang; locals allege favouritism • PM reviews flood response from Beijing • PMD forecasts more rains
LAHORE: The authorities started breaching dykes as the raging Chenab and Ravi rivers threaten to unleash an unprecedented deluge towards the densely populated cities of south Punjab as the water levels reach critical gauges near the headworks of Sidhnai and Muhammad Wala.
In a statement released after midnight on Wednesday, the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said the Ravi River at Head Sidhnai had entered an extremely high flood stage.
To avert a major disaster, controlled breaches were carried out at the Mai Safura dyke near Head Sidhnai. PDMA officials confirmed that two cuts were made using explosives to release pressure on the embankment.
PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia said the breaches were executed under emergency circumstances to protect vital irrigation structures. He stressed that the decision was unavoidable, as rising floodwaters posed a severe threat to the safety of the embankment and surrounding infrastructure.
The breaches came as the Punjab government took emergency measures, including placing explosives at three strategic locations to conduct controlled breaches and prevent catastrophic urban flooding.
The convergence of the Ravi with the Chenab at Ahmadpur Sial is expected to significantly raise water levels in the Chenab, amplifying flood threats for the districts of Khanewal, Multan and Muzaffargarh. Authorities installed dynamite upstream of Sidhnai Headworks, at Head Muhammad Wala, and near Sher Shah to protect critical infrastructure.
The Sidhnai breach will affect Pirmahal, Khanewal, Kot Diwan, Kund Sargana, Kund Malkani, Kabirwala Maqsoodpur and Behrampur.
The breach before Head Muhammad Wala will submerge more than 100 villages and mouzas of the district Multan, including Muhammad Pur Ghota, Sorij Miani, Qasim Bela, Muzaffarabad and mouza Wolwat.
While the breach at Sher Shah will submerge mouza Jungle Wala, Gadar Kachumer, mouza Buch, Sehri Wala, Sultanpur Hamar, mouza Jamoor, Khanpur Qazi and others.
High flood in River Tawi
Earlier, the PDMA chief said that high flooding might occur in the Tawi River. Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Mr Kathia said: “An alert was issued by the Indian High Commission and a high flood may occur in the River Tawi.”
The Chenab River’s flow has increased by 60,000 cusecs in one hour, he added. Heavy rains were lashing India-held Jammu’s Tawi, and heavy showers were also happening in northern Punjab, he said, adding that the water flow would increase.
Water flow
According to the Flood Forecasting Division’s data released at 1am on Wednesday, the Chenab River at Marala Headworks was in high flood and flowing at 237,678 cusecs, with a rising trend.
Head Khanki was in medium flood and was flowing at 166,529 cusecs (rising trend), while Qadirabad was in low flood and was flowing at 128,078 cusecs (steady). Head Trimmu was also in high flood at 385,911 cusecs, but the flow was falling.
On the Ravi River, Head Sidhnai was in exceptionally high flood with a flow of 173,734 cusecs and rising. Upstream, Balloki was in high flood at 125,930 (steady), Shahdara in low flood at 49,280 (steady), and Jassar also in low flood at 63,720 (rising).
On the Sutlej River, Head Ganda Singh Wala was in exceptionally high flood at 269,501 cusecs (steady), Head Sulemanki was in high flood at 124,913 cusecs (steady) while Head Islam was in medium flood at 95,727 cusecs (steady).
At Panjnad, where five rivers — the Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Jhelum, and Chenab — converge, the water flow was 169,207 cusecs (steady) and fell into the category of low flood.
MULTAN: Heavy machinery is being deployed to raise protective dykes, with soil and sandbags, near Head Muhammad Wala.—APP
Multan under threat
Multan Commissioner Amir Kareem Khan said the city is still under the threat of flood, and explosives were installed to breach the Head Muhammad Wala protective dyke if it attained the maximum gauge level of 417.
He said that a committee of experts would decide whether to conduct a controlled breach in any dyke after reviewing three major factors: whether the water level is reaching a critical gauge, whether the water is creating a threat to infrastructure (such as the Head Muhammad Wala Bridge), and whether the rising water will damage the protective dyke.
Mr Khan said that the water flow from Trimmu Barrage was slow and the water level reached the critical gauge at Jhok Vaince, from where the Multan district starts.
The rescue operation in the district was complete, and the water level did not reach the critical gauge at Head Muhammad Wala yet and was flowing at 409 feet from sea level, he added.
Meanwhile, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said that around one million people and over 700,000 livestock had been relocated to safer areas. In total, 3,243 villages and a population of more than 2.4m had been affected by the floods,” she said.
“The government has set up 395 relief camps, providing shelter and food to affected families, along with 392 medical camps and 336 veterinary camps to ensure the protection of both human and animal lives.”
Homes, crops damaged in Jhang
Floodwaters from the Chenab have devastated crops and homes across Jhang district, particularly in Chund Bharwana, Daduana Kuhna and Ahmadpur Sial, where rice and sugarcane fields and mud houses were destroyed.
While a breach near Rivaz Bridge helped divert water and protect some areas, locals said no government relief reached them, with aid instead coming from nearby philanthropists.
In Ahmadpur Sial, residents accused the authorities of creating a breach on the wrong side of the Sultan Bahoo Bridge to protect influential landowners’ crops, which they said worsened the destruction in Garh Maharaja.
However, district officials rejected allegations of favouritism, insisting the breach decision was made after consultation.
More rains forecast
The Pakistan Meteorological Department predicted scattered thunderstorms and isolated showers over the next 24 hours in river catchments and divisions, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sahiwal, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur.
The Pakistan Commission of Indus Waters reported a high flood in the Tawi River, warning that it would impact downstream districts via the Chenab, including Gujrat, Gujranwala, Sialkot and Narowal.
The Flood Forecasting Division has also cautioned that the Chenab at Marala, Khanki and Qadirabad is likely to reach high flood levels within 24 hours, with associated tributaries and nullahs expected to swell across multiple divisions and districts.
PM reviews flood response
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level review meeting on the country’s flood situation and rescue and relief efforts from Beijing, where he is on an official visit.
The premier briefly set aside his engagements to receive a detailed briefing from the chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), chief secretaries of Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and other relevant departments.
The NDMA reported close coordination with provincial governments and disaster management authorities to monitor river flows at Trimmu, Balloki, Sidhnai, Ganda Singh Wala and Sulemanki, while flood peaks were expected at Panjnad before moving downstream to Guddu Barrage in Sindh by Sept 6.
PM Shehbaz directed the National Highway Authority and the Ministry of Energy to prioritise restoration of damaged communication routes and electricity transmission systems. He stressed that federal and provincial governments must work in full coordination to ensure the timely evacuation of families, distribution of relief goods, and rehabilitation of affected infrastructure.
• PM expresses gratitude for ‘unflinching support to Pakistan’s territorial integrity, sovereignty’; Beijing raises issue of its nationals’ security • Pakistan, Russia keen to boost trade; Putin invites Shehbaz to visit
ISLAMABAD: Chinese President Xi Jinping in a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday pledged support for Pakistan’s home-grown capacity for development, expressing readiness to build China-Pakistan Economic Corridor 2.0 and upgrade the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement, and step up cooperation in industries, agriculture, and mining sectors.
Separately, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that bilateral trade between Pakistan and Russia required to be enhanced and stressed on taking steps in this regard, while also extending invitation to PM Shehbaz to visit Russia in November.
The PM, who held separate meetings with President Xi and President Putin in Bejing during his visit to China to attend SCO summit, expressed gratitude to both countries for what he called ‘unflinching support to Pakistan’s territorial integrity, sovereignty’ and hope that the strong ties would add to the progress and prosperity of the region.
According to PM Office, Pakistan and China on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the iron-clad and all-weather strategic cooperative partnership through enhanced cooperation, reflecting their unique bilateral relationship.
The bilateral ties and cooperation were discussed in a meeting between PM Shehbaz and Chinese President Xi at the Great Hall of the People, wherein they agreed that the relationship between both countries was unique and unparalleled, which should be reflected in their enhanced cooperation.
PM Shehbaz appreciated “China’s unflinching support to Pakistan’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and socio-economic development, as well as the significance of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as a flagship project of President Xi’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to help both countries to build an even stronger Pakistan-China community with a shared future”.
He reaffirmed the desire to continue working closely with China for the successful implementation of the next phase of upgraded CPEC, with its five new corridors.
BEIJING: PM Shehbaz Sharif shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin.—APP
The PM Office quoted President Xi as saying that China would continue to assist Pakistan in all fields of economic growth and development, especially as the two countries were now ushering in second phase of CPEC that would focus on Pakistan’s most important economic sectors.
PM Shehbaz renewed his “most cordial” invitation to President Xi to undertake an official visit to Pakistan next year when both countries would celebrate the 75th anniversary of establishment of Pakistan-China diplomatic ties.
Security issue
Also, President Xi said China supports Pakistan’s efforts to combat terrorism and hopes “effective measures” would be taken to “ensure the safety and security of Chinese personnel, projects, and institutions in Pakistan, to create a secure environment for bilateral cooperation”.
According to Reuters, China pressed Pakistan to improve security of Chinese nationals, who have been repeatedly attacked by militants while working on Beijing-funded multi-billion-dollar infrastructure projects in the South Asian country.
However, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who joined the PM in China and attended the meeting with President Xi, confirmed to Dawn that the Chinese head of state has raised the issue of Chinese nationals’ security in Pakistan. “He (President Xi) said security is important,” the minister quoted the Chinese president as saying.
Meeting with Putin
Meanwhile, PM Shehbaz met President Putin and expressed gratitude to the Russian president for supporting Pakistan, saying that was viewed as ‘a balancing act in the region’.
Both leaders agreed to further enhance the bilateral ties and cooperation between the two countries in diverse fields.
PM Shehbaz said Pakistan respected Russia’s ties with India and wanted to establish very strong relations of its own, which would be “supplementary and complementary”.
Responding to Putin’s invitation to attend the SCO Heads of Government Summit in November, the premier replied that he was looking forward to it.
President Putin said, “Pakistan has always been a traditional partner and remains as such in Asia, and we cherish these ties,” adding that both sides had agreed to intensify their bilateral relations.
He noted that their bilateral trade needed to be enhanced and stressed taking steps to address the issue.
ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Tuesday announced a public holiday for Sept 6 on account of Eid Miladun Nabi (peace be upon him), Dawn.com reports. A notification in this regard was issued by the Cabinet Division.
Last week, the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee had announced that Eid Miladun Nabi will fall on coming Saturday. September 6 will also mark the country’s 60th Defence Day, commemorating the sacrifices of the fallen heroes of the 1965 war against India.
Ahead of a full-court meeting of the Islamabad High Court, scheduled for today, two IHC judges have raised serious questions about the lack of transparency in the high court.
Justice Babar Sattar and Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan have written separate letters to IHC Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar. Copies of the letters have also been sent to all IHC judges.
Both judges urged the IHC CJ to include the points raised in the letters in the full-court meeting.
Justice Babar Sattar highlighted the lack of transparency and rationale in the listing of cases and the preparation of rosters under the watch of Justice Dogar, who was transferred to the IHC from the Lahore High Court amid a protest by five IHC judges, including Justice Sattar and Justice Khan.
“As opposed to respected institutional norms, you have created rosters that exclude senior judges, including the IHC Senior Puisne Judge (Mohsin Akhtar Kayani), from heading divisional benches.”
He asked whether the listing of cases should rest on the whims of the CJ or whether there should be transparency in deciding who hears which case, while matching the expertise of judges to the work assigned to them.
“We write in our judgments every day that public officials aren’t kings and that their administrative powers are neither unfettered nor should they be exercised in a colorable manner.
“The cause lists issued under your watch show that cases are mostly assigned to transferred and additional judges, leaving out permanent judges of the IHC who opposed your transfer to the IHC.
“While exercising the administrative powers of the IHC, should one not remember that judges, including the CJ, are public officials too — and not kings?” he asked. Justice Babar Sattar also highlighted the IHC’s alleged failure to exercise supervision and control over the subordinate judiciary.
“Is the IHC discharging its obligation to supervise and control courts subordinate to it, or does it continue to look like a game of musical chairs played predominantly by deputationists, as required by Article 203 of the Constitution?
“Can judges of the Islamabad District Judiciary manning such courts discharge their judicial functions without fear? Does the IHC not have the responsibility to develop the district judiciary as an independent institution possessed of integrity and efficiency?”
Justice Sattar also told the IHC CJ that under his watch, they have seen the office refusing to issue cause lists in breach of judicial orders and cases being transferred from the docket of one court to another.
“Most recently, we have seen the issuance of rosters to deprive two judges (including me) of their dockets in a move to render them dysfunctional with regard to their single-bench work. These may be successful maneuvers in rendering some judges irrelevant.
“Our judicial history is replete with similar malpractices that spread during authoritarian times. But is such subversion of judicial independence justifiable?” he asked.
The letter also objected to the composition of committees which are “undermining” the high court’s collegiate character. Justice Sattar told the IHC CJ that he had excluded two senior IHC judges from administrative committees.
He also said that the IHC CJ had assumed powers to issue a circular requiring judges to seek an NOC from him to travel out of the country, essentially placing judges on the Exit Control List.
“Neither the Constitution nor the law vests such rule-making power in the office of the CJ to exercise authority over his peers. The draft rules circulated for consideration during the full-court meeting also seek to concentrate all administrative powers in the office of the CJ.”
The IHC judge said that judges are among the highest-paid public officials and should be strictly held to account for their performance by the public.
“But shouldn’t there be an agreed objective framework for performance evaluation? Under your watch, the IHC has issued skewed statistics. These statistics are designed to cultivate an impression that some judges work super efficiently, while others do not work at all.
“What if a curious researcher were to investigate the nature (and number) of cases assigned to the ‘performing’ judges versus others, and the nature, quality, and length of orders that make up their disposal figures?
“Should we not put together a consensual performance-evaluation criterion as well as guidance for which judgments are to be reported, to earnestly seek to enhance our performance and hold ourselves to account, instead of engaging in deceptive advertising?” the letter said.
Referring to the letters, former additional attorney general Tariq Mahmood Khokhar said the prerogative of a chief justice to act as master of the roster is not an absolute dominion but a constitutional trust.
“The power of the roster cannot be weaponized to marginalise judges in order to shield the executive. It appears that a tool of administration has been turned into an instrument of bench-packing.”
Khokhar stated that in liberal rule-of-law countries such as the UK, USA, Canada and Australia, case allocation is regulated by transparent rules, randomisation, and collegial safeguards. “No Chief Justice there may arbitrarily sideline colleagues.”
He said that in India, the power is exercised fairly and cannot be weaponized to marginalise judges or manipulate outcomes. The inaction of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in the face of such shenanigans is a “legal astonishment” signalling acquiescence in executive capture of the judiciary.
“Judicial independence belongs not to some judges but to the entire judiciary; to curtail it by administrative subterfuge is a constitutional impropriety of the gravest order. I cannot imagine any independent judiciary with such ludicrous segregation,” he said.
He added that Pakistan no longer has structural safeguards: transparent rostering, random allocation, collegial decision-making for sensitive cases, and effective judicial oversight.
“We are seeing judicial independence versus administrative discretion. A Chief Justice as master of the roster transcends independent puisne judges, rule of law, separation of powers, transparency and impartiality. This is judicial tyranny under the garb of an inverted ‘administrative prerogative’.
“In an era of inverted ‘jurisprudence,’ our descent into a judicial abyss continues.”
Advocate Abdul Moiz Jaferii stated that this is another manifestation of rule by roster, which has been prevalent for a number of years to crush and control independent judges.
“It became more public when former chief justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial started running the entire Supreme Court through a roster of three judges.” He said it was basically sacrificing judicial efficiency at the altar of control.
“The manifestation we see here is all the more unfortunate because two stellar judges have been reduced in their role and scope. We are now awaiting the next axe, which we are told might be another fiddle with the Constitution – and that might just serve as the last straw,” Jaferii added.
Tent cities for flood victims have been set up near homes in the affected areas of Punjab.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif was informed during a briefing that a tent city has been set up along with a flood relief camp in Athara Hazari tehsil of Jhang district.
Officials said arrangements have been made to provide accommodation and food to flood victims in the tent city. Doctors and medical staff are also present and free medicines are being provided to patients in flood relief camps.
A temporary helipad has also been made in the flood relief camp to deal with emergencies.
The chief minister was informed that tent cities have also been set up for flood victims in Kot Khaira and Government High School Ahmedpur Sial, where arrangements for children and women have been made separately.
She was informed that thousands of villages in 32 districts of Punjab had been affected by unusual flooding in five rivers. 3,338 rescuers on 806 boats are involved in rescue operations across the province.
According to an official statement, more than 918,000 people across Punjab had been shifted to safe places before the biggest flood of the province’s history hit it.
Rescue operations are still under way in various areas to save people and livestock.
The chief minister was informed that 21,620 people and 611,000 animals had been evacuated safely in the last 24 hours.
The victims residing in relief camps are being served meals thrice a day.
Rescue teams are also providing food door-to-door in flood-affected areas by using boats for travelling.
The chief minister was informed that food is being delivered to thousands of families living in their homes in flood-affected areas.
Supply of dry ration to flood victims across the province has also begun on the instruction of the chief minister.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said no flood-affected person should be deprived of food.
She was informed that special breakfast had been arranged for families residing in flood relief camps at Dhakar Farm Pakpattan, Fazil Shah Khanewal, Sahiwal and in other areas. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said fodder for livestock was also being provided in Burewala and other flood-affected areas, besides distribution of food and dry ration in affected areas of all tehsils of Bahawalnagar district located on a river belt.
She said milk was also being provided to young children of affected families in relief camps of Tehsil Shujaabad, besides the provision of food and ration in flood-affected areas of Kabirwala.
Through a statement issued on Tuesday, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed deep sorrow over the demise of Haji Hanif Khan, father of MPA Malik Ahmad Saeed and maternal uncle of Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan. She extended her heartfelt sympathies and condolence to the bereaved family.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also expressed grief over the demise of senior actor Anwar Ali. She paid tribute to the deceased for his invaluable services in art and culture.
At least 22 killed in three separate attacks in Pakistani border provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Published On 2 Sep 20252 Sep 2025
At least 11 people have been killed in what police officials suspect to be a suicide bombing targeting a political rally in southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta.
“The reports we have say that the bomb went off in a parking area as the people were leaving the rally,” Government official Hamza Shafaat told the Reuters news agency on Tuesday, adding that another 30 people were injured.
Sajid Tareen, a senior leader of the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), also confirmed that the explosion occurred in the car park after the rally was concluded and that several party members were wounded.
Hundreds of workers from the BNP-M from the Balochistan province gathered at Quetta’s Shahwani Stadium to observe the anniversary of the party founder Sardar Ataullah Mengal’s death.
His son Sardar Akhtar Mengal, who was in attendance, is believed to be safe, Shafaat said.
Another attack in Balochistan, near the border with Iran, claimed five lives on Tuesday.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the blasts.
Quetta is the capital of restive Balochistan province, which borders Afghanistan and Iran. Baloch separatist fighters operate in the region and have claimed attacks in the past.
Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest and most resource-rich province, but also its poorest, regularly ranking among the lowest on human development indicator scorecards.
Earlier in the day, at least six soldiers were killed when rebels attacked the headquarters of the Federal Constabulary in the Bannu district of the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
A group linked to the Pakistan Taliban reportedly claimed responsibility for this attack.
Last year was the deadliest year in Pakistan in nearly a decade. The data reveals that 2,526 people were killed in attacks in 2024 – including nearly 700 security personnel, more than 900 civilians, and approximately 900 armed fighters.
