Category: 1. Pakistan

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KARACHI, Jul 03 (APP):Sindh Senior Minister and Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon, on Thursday said that the Sindh government has adopted foolproof security arrangements for Muharram.

He stated that the Chief Minister of Sindh held meetings with scholars from various schools of thought and reviewed the security plan for gatherings and processions during the mourning period.

Memon added that 14,546 police personnel will be deployed for gatherings and 35,116 for Muharram processions, with over 14,000 additional personnel assigned to ensure the security of all events.

Addressing a press conference in Karachi, Sindh Senior Minister and Provincial Minister for Information, Transport, and Mass Transit, Sharjeel Inam Memon announced that a total of 49,662 police personnel will be deployed across Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Mirpurkhas, and Shaheed Benazirabad from the 8th to 10th of Muharram to prevent any untoward incidents.

Sharjeel Memon stated that the Commissioner of Karachi had issued a notification on April 15, 2025, imposing a ban on the movement of rickshaws on 11 major highways in the city. He clarified that the ban does not apply to all of Karachi but is limited to specific main roads. This measure, he added, has been implemented under the Sindh Motor Vehicle Ordinance, 1965.

He stated that it is the administrative authority of the government to regulate traffic and ensure convenience for citizens. He also questioned whether rickshaws operate on major highways in any other part of the country.

Speaking about the education sector, SharjeelMemon said that the Sindh government has recruited 93,118 teachers across the province, including 58,613 men and 31,075 women. He added that 2,100 teachers were appointed under the minority quota, while 1,330 positions were filled by individuals with special abilities.

He said that the recruitment process carried out through the IBA test with complete transparency, leaving no room for criticism. As a result of these measures, 5,000 previously closed schools have been reopened. Currently, 5.5 million children are enrolled in government schools across Sindh, 4 million in private schools, and 1 million in Sindh Education Foundation schools.

Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon further stated that the Sindh government has taken revolutionary steps in key sectors such as health, energy, infrastructure, and climate change. He noted that after the devastating floods of 2022, the government successfully began achieving its target of constructing 2.1 million houses. He also emphasized that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari raised his voice on climate change at the global level, while the Sindh government undertook extensive mangrove plantation efforts to promote environmental protection.

Sharjeel Memon remarked that Ali Amin Gandapur does not require an opposition, as he acts as his own opposition. He criticized the deteriorating law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding that the Chief Minister is focused on making threats to attack Islamabad while remaining oblivious to the pressing issues within his own province.

He said that Jamaat-e-Islami has never fulfilled its responsibilities in Karachi and has consistently engaged in the politics of sedition. He said that while the Sindh government tolerates criticism, it will not allow anyone to dictate its policies. He added that the government had also proposed allocating a large designated area for protests to ensure that public life remains unaffected.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for the rapid implementation of a nationwide digital transaction system and said that it is essential to ensure transparency and modernise Pakistan’s economy.

Chairing a weekly meeting on the development of a cashless and digital economy at the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday, Shehbaz emphasised on the need to facilitate digital payments between citizens and businesses, and to promote public awareness of digital platforms.

“The digital system is vital to improve transparency and must be implemented countrywide,” he said.

He directed the three newly formed committees the Digital Payments Innovation and Adoption Committee, the Digital Public Infrastructure Committee and the Government Payments Committee to collaborate closely with stakeholders and submit actionable recommendations.

The prime minister was briefed that the State Bank of Pakistan is preparing a simplified digital payment strategy to onboard more merchants and expand mobile adoption.

Read: Cashless economy a necessity for fiscal resilience: FinMin

Targets include increasing mobile app users from 95 million to 120m, and the number of merchants using QR codes from 0.9m to 2m. The total volume of digital payments is projected to grow from Rs7.5 billion to Rs12b.

Shehbaz instructed that these targets should be doubled to accelerate progress.

Officials informed the meeting that the “Digital National Pakistan” initiative is underway, and the Islamabad City mobile app has already recorded 1.3m downloads. Through the app, Rs15.5b has been collected under the ICT excise and taxation department.

The government is also advancing the Digital Pakistan ID project and e-stamping services will soon launch in Islamabad.

Plans are in place to extend free Wi-Fi services across Islamabad in hospitals, schools, offices, parks and metro stations.

Shehbaz directed that these digital services be extended to federal areas, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The meeting was attended by Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima, Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, Advisor Dr Tauqir Shah and Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani, along with other senior officials.

Baloch pro-independence leader Hyrbyair Marri has sharply criticised Pakistan’s assumption of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) presidency for the month of July, calling it “a profound affront to global human rights” and a dangerous move that threatens global stability.In a post on X, Marri accused the UN of legitimising a state he described as built on oppression and deception. “When the accused are handed the gavel, international credibility erodes,” Marri said, warning that privilege has replaced accountability in global diplomacy.Referring to a recent statement by Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN on promoting peace and diplomacy, Marri called it ironic. “The very country preaching peace today has exported terrorism and jihad while practising religious persecution at home,” he stated.Marri cited Pakistan’s alleged historical record of human rights abuses, including its involvement in the killing of Afghans during decades of conflict, the 1971 genocide of Bengalis, and its role in the suppression of Palestinians during General Zia-ul-Haq’s tenure. “Then-Brigadier Zia allegedly murdered thousands of Palestinians in Jordan,” Marri said.He accused Pakistan of continuing its violent campaign against the Baloch people since annexing Balochistan in 1948, in what he described as a violation of Article 2 of the UN Charter. “Pakistan has forcefully killed and disappeared hundreds of thousands of Baloch,” he said.Marri recalled key betrayals in Baloch history, including the imprisonment of Prince Abdul Kareem, the younger brother of the Khan of Kalat, who was jailed for 17 years after seeking negotiations, and the hanging of the sons of Nawab Nauroz Khan despite Pakistan’s sworn assurance of safe talks. “Pakistan swore on the Quran to honour the talks, then publicly desecrated it twice,” Marri said.He further warned that Pakistan remains an artificial and militarised state, dominated by a Punjabi elite that suppresses minority national identities through enforced disappearances, torture, religious conversions, and extrajudicial killings.Marri concluded by urging the international community to reconsider its engagement with Pakistan. “Your decision lends moral sanction to a regime steeped in terror and oppression. Accountability must never yield to privilege,” he said, calling on democratic nations to revoke Pakistan’s UNSC presidency and recognise it as a rogue state.

The Lahore High Court has issued its written verdict on Thursday, rejecting the bail petitions of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder in eight cases related to the May 9 violence. The court ruled that the argument that the PTI founder was in jail on May 9 is not acceptable.

Citing police testimonies, the court noted that, according to officials, the plan for the May 9 incidents was finalised on May 4 and was allegedly masterminded by the PTI founder himself.

The verdict further stated that the nature of the PTI founder’s role was different from that of other co-accused, as he was a leader whose words and statements led to damage to state property.

The court observed that criminal force was used to pressure state institutions and the government, and the prosecution has presented audio and video recordings along with transcripts as evidence of the PTI founder’s alleged conspiracy and involvement.

The judgment added that the conspiratorial language and speeches delivered by the PTI founder incited the public, resulting in attacks on state institutions.

The court concluded that the material on record directly pointed to the PTI founder’s active role in instigating the events of May 9, justifying the rejection of his bail applications.