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KARACHI/HYDERABAD: Ashura was observed with traditional zeal and fervour across the province where all mourning processions culminated peacefully in all major cities and towns on Sunday amid strict security arrangements.

In Karachi, main procession originated from Nishtar Park and ended at Hussainia Iranian Imambargah in Kharadar. Promi­nent scholar Allama Shehenshah Hussian Naqvi addressed participants of the procession before it started its journey along the designated route.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah accompanied by Karachi mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab, Sindh Minister for Local Bodies Saeed Ghani, his adviser Senator Waqar Mehdi, Sindh Minister for Home Zia Lanjar, Sindh IGP Ghulam Nabi Memon and other senior officials took part in the procession at Naumaish Chowrangi, said a spokesperson for the CM House.

The mourners offered prayers on main M. A. Jinnah Road after which members of the Imamia Students Organisation staged a demonstration against Israel and the United States and other countries for their ‘anti-Islam agenda’ and ongoing atrocities against Palestinian people.

The route was completely sealed on both sides and all the participants were thoroughly frisked by scouts before they were allowed to join the procession while those who had come earlier to attend the majlis at Nishtar Park underwent at least three layers of security checks, all managed by the scouts.

All the shops along the procession’s route had been sealed by police since Sunday night, while police and Rangers personnel were deployed on rooftops for monitoring the procession’s movement.

A team of the Bomb Disposal Squad swept the route ahead of the procession. Buses were arranged at Tower traffic intersection for the transportation of mourners at the culmination of the procession.

In Hyderabad, central procession was brought out from Qadam Gah as per tradition though it started late by an hour this year and subsequently ended late at Karbala Dadan Shah. The procession was organised every year by Anjuman-i-Hyderi (1948) and at least 25 Anjumans were part of the procession.

The mourners performed zohrain prayers at St Mary’s convent school roundabout and afterwards, a majlis was addres­sed by Syed Wasim Hyder Zaidi and Allama Irfan Ali Kazmi.

DIG Tariq Dharejo, SSP Adeel Chandio and deputy commissioner Zain Ul Abiden monitored the procession’s proceedings from a control room set up in City police station.

Local chapters of MQM, PPP and several social welfare organisations had set up camps along the Station Road to provide relief to the mourners.

Another traditional Ashura procession was staged in Khokhar Mohallah and Saddar Bazaar.

In Sukkur and Rohri, dozens of processions were taken out which followed their traditional routes and joined the main procession that originated from central Imambargah amid strict security arrangements.

Majalis were held at several locations along the routes of the processions, where scholars shed light on the philosophy of Karbala.

According to a press release issued by Sukkur DIG office, 9,416 male and female police officials and personnel performed duties from the 1st to the 10th of Muharram.

Mayor Sukkur Barrister Arsalan Islam Sheikh said that Sukkur hosted the largest procession in the country.

In Nawabshah, several processions were taken out throughout Shaheed Benazirabad, Sanghar and Naushahro Feroze districts.

The main procession in Nawabshah emerged from Murtazvi Imambargah, which was joined by a number of small processions.

In Naushahro Feroze, the main procession emerged from Imambargah Baab-i-Haider and culminated at the same location where a majlis was held.

In Sanghar and adjoining towns of Shahdadpur, Sinjhoro, Jam Nawaz Ali, Khipro, many processions were taken out amid tight security.

In Mirpurkhas district and its towns of Mirwah Gorchani, Digri, Jhuddo, Tando Jan Muha­mmad, Naokot, Kot Ghulam Muhammad, Sindhri, Phulady­yoon and Hingorno, several processions were taken out from different Imambargahs amid tight security.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2025

RAWALPINDI: Youm-i-Ashur was observed peacefully in the garrison city on Sunday with traditional religious fervour to commemorate the sacrifices of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his 72 devoted companions in Karbala.

Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider, Punjab Minister for Communication and Works Malik Sohaib Ahmed Berth, along with RPO Babar Sarfraz Alpa, Commissioner Aamer Khattak, Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema, and CPO Syed Khalid Hamdani visited the 10th Muharram procession.

Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider stated that foolproof security is being provided for Ashura processions and majalis. He emphasised that Muharram is a month of peace and brotherhood, during which no one will be allowed to spread chaos.

He directed all institutions to perform their duties diligently and with coordinated efforts, just like they did on the eve of the 9th and 10th Muharram, to ensure the 11th Muharram procession concludes in peace.

Foolproof security arrangements were organised by the district administration and Rawalpindi police. The police, along with law enforcement agencies, worked to maintain law and order in the district. Members of the District Peace Committee also assisted the LEAs in the process.

In Rawalpindi, the main Youm-e-Ashur procession was taken out from Imambargah Ashiq Hussain Teli Mohallah, Imambargah Col Maqbool Hussain, and Imambargah Hifazat Ali Shah situated at Bohar Bazar.

The mourning procession passed through its traditional routes of Jamia Masjid Road, Sarafa Bazaar, Fawara Chowk, College Road, Liaquat Road, Babra Bazaar, Committee Chowk, Trunk Bazaar, Bara Market, and Bunni Chowk. Afterwards, mourners held ‘Sham-e-Gariban’ at Qadeemi Imambargah.

Later, the main Ashura procession reached Raja Bazaar and Purana Qila, where zuljinah processions from Imambargah Kashmirian Tyre Bazaar and Darbar Shah Chan Chiragh merged into the main procession. The main procession concluded at Imambargah Qadeemi after passing through Jamia Masjid Road and Imambara Chowk.

Tehreek-e-Nifaaz Fiqha Jafariya (TNFJ) Pakistan, led by Allama Agha Syed Hussain Muqaddasi, delivered a speech to mourners at Committee Chowk and addressed the media.

He highlighted that the meeting place of freedom fighters and the source of inspiration worldwide is Karbala and the essence of Hussain. He demanded that the Punjab government to revoke the anti-Azadari (mourning) SOPs issued by the previous administration, which are against fundamental rights.

He declared their commitment to ensure mourning is not limited and vowed to sacrifice everything to preserve it.

The Punjab government, he noted, has made good arrangements, but certain SOPs are not correct, and the change of seasons cannot stop or diminish mourning or the immortality of Imam Hussain in Karbala.

“Our beloved homeland, Pakistan, is the product of joint efforts and sacrifices of all schools of thought; the constitution guarantees equal rights to all, and discriminating against anyone violates the constitution,” he contended.

He demanded that the incidents of disturbing the mourners and the elements causing disrepute to the administration should be investigated and those found guilty be punished.

He further stated that government rules and regulations banning mourning in the federal government and especially in Punjab are obstacles to exercising religious rights; obstacles should not be erected in the path of mourning.

The TNFJ head insisted that members of banned parties be expelled from peace committees, while also paying tribute to Shia-Sunni unity during the ten days of Muharram. Rainwater accumulated on the routes of various processions, and Wasa cleared the rainwater before start of the mourning processions.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2025

• CM Murad asks commissioner to conduct survey of 51 ‘extremely’ dilapidated buildings
• Orders FIR against officials found responsible for criminal negligence
• LG minister announces Rs1m compensation for families of each victim
• Shahmir Bhutto posted as new SBCA chief

KARACHI: Four days after the collapse of a five-storey residential building in Lyari, the provincial government has suspended the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) director general and issued notices to occupants of two adjacent buildings to vacate the premises, paving the way for the demolition of the weakened structures.

The decision to this effect was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Friday.

It was also decided to demolish all “dangerous” buildings across the city and introduce a proper procedure for approving building plans.

A notification issued by the chief secretary said that the SBCA DG Ishaque Khuhro’s services were “placed under suspension with immediate effect for the reason of misconduct and inefficiency”.

Shahmir Khan Bhutto, a grade 20 officer serving as the secretary of the chief minister’s inspection, enquiries and implementation team, was notified as the new SBCA chief.

The meeting, held at the CM House, was attended, among others, by Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon, Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar and Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani.

The meeting was informed that there were 588 “dangerous” buildings in Karachi, including 426 in the South district alone.

The chief minister directed the Karachi commissioner to conduct a comprehensive survey to assess the living conditions and ownership status of families residing in these hazardous structures, as 51 buildings had been classified as “extremely dangerous”.

Hours after the meeting, the SBCA issued notices to the occupants of two buildings in close proximity to the collapsed structure to vacate and remove their belongings.

The provincial government’s decision to bring major reforms in the SBCA comes after the five-storey building, with an illegal penthouse constructed on top, collapsed in Lyari, claiming 27 lives.

The sources said that the chief minister expressed extreme displeasure and annoyance at the performance of the SBCA and ordered strict action against the delinquent officials involved in the illegal approval of building plans.

They said the meeting was informed that there was no record of approval of the building plan from the SBCA, and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) had complained in 2022, stating that the building was deemed unsafe in a survey conducted at that time.

The sources said that Mr Khuhro was the SBCA chief when the HRCP had complained about the dangerous building, and a six-member team had carried out the survey and recommended the demolition of the third floor. However, the third floor was never demolished.

The chief minister directed the registration of an FIR against those responsible for criminal negligence and mandated a thorough inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the collapse.

Ministers’ presser

In a subsequent press conference, Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon, LG Minister Saeed Ghani and Home Minister Zia Lanjar provided updates on the decisions made during the emergency meeting.

The senior minister said that the chief minister had also ordered the chief secretary to identify SBCA officers who were responsible for the area in 2022, when the building was declared dangerous.

He said that the Karachi commissioner had been tasked with submitting a detailed report within 24 hours on the number of residents in these hazardous buildings to facilitate prompt demolition efforts.

“A comprehensive survey report of all dangerous buildings is expected within two weeks,” he added.

The LG minister said that other SBCA officials who were suspended included the director, deputy director and building inspectors assigned to Lyari.

He said that the Sindh government had announced Rs1 million in compensation to the families of the 27 deceased people.

The LG minister said that there were 51 buildings in Karachi that were “extremely fragile and should be demolished”.

He said the city commissioner had been directed to provide the number of residents and units in those buildings, as well as details of whether they own the property or have rented it, so that the process of demolishing them could be started.

“The Karachi commissioner also has to provide assessments of the 588 buildings which were declared dangerous within two weeks so that we can decide which of the buildings need to be destroyed and which can be fixed through major repair,” he added.

He said that if any negligence, even by the SBCA DG, was found in the inquiry, then he would also be included in the FIR.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2025

KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari appointed the chief justices to the four high courts on Monday, Dawn.com reported.

The Ministry of Law and Justice on Monday issued notifications regarding the appointments. As per the notifications, Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar is appointed as the chief justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), Justice Muhammad Junaid Ghaffar is appointed chief justice of the Sindh High Court, Justice Rozi Khan Barrech as chief justice of Balochistan High Court and Justice S.M. Attique Shah as Peshawar High Court chief justice.

The notifications stated, “In exercise of the powers conferred under clause (1) of the Article 193 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is pleased to make aforesaid appointments with effect from the date they (judges) makes oath of their offices.”-APP

The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), last week, nominated them.

President Zardari will administer the oath to Justice Dogar at the Presidency, while the chief justices of other high courts will take the oath from the respective provincial governors.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2025

WASHINGTON: Pakistan told the United Nations on Monday it has credible evidence of growing collaboration betw­een terrorist groups such as the banned Teh­reek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), and the Majeed Bri­gade, which aim to target the country’s strategic infrastructure and development projects.

Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, told the General Assembly that these groups were operating from ungoverned spaces inside Afghanistan.

His warning came amid a surge in terrorist violence in Pakistan in recent weeks. On June 28, a suicide attacker rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a military convoy in North Waziristan, killing 16 soldiers and injuring several civilians. Days later, five senior officials — including an Assistant Commissioner — were killed in Bajaur when a roadside bomb hit their vehicle during a routine visit.

Ambassador Ahmad noted that many of these attacks are carried out with sophisticated weapons and equipment left behind by international forces following their 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan.

“These weapons have been used by Afghan-based terrorists to launch increasingly sophisticated attacks against Pakistan, including in the last two weeks,” he said.

Pakistan’s envoy said that the TTP, with an estimated 6,000 fighters, was the largest UN-designated terrorist group operating from Afghan soil, and poses a threat, not just to Pakistan, but to regional and global stability as well. He also identified other groups active in Afghanistan, including IS-Khorasan, Al Qaeda, and various Baloch separatist factions.

“We must ensure that Afghanistan does not become a breeding ground for terrorists that threaten its neighbours and the broader international community,” he said, urging the United Nations and regional powers to act against “spoilers” who could reignite conflict in the region.

Secretary-level talks

Meanwhile, Kabul and Islamabad held their first-ever additional secretary-level talks on Monday, in line with the agreement reached during Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s visit to Afghanistan in April.

Additional Secretary (Afghanistan & West Asia) Ambassador Syed Ali Asad Gillani represented the Pakistani side while the Afghan side was led by First Political Division DG at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mufti Noor Ahmad Noor. The two sides discussed trade and transit cooperation, security, and connectivity, the FO statement said.

Both sides also termed terrorism a serious threat to regional peace and agreed the region can’t develop without addressing security issues. Emphasising the need for “concrete actions against terrorist groups operating on Afghan soil”, the Pakistani delegation noted that such groups undermine the security and hinder regional development.

The meeting also reviewed measures to boost trade, including the facilitation of Afghan transit trade, the removal of 10 per cent processing fee, provision of an insurance guarantee, reduction in scanning and examination, and operationalisation of the track and trace system.

Iftikhar A. Khan in Islamabad also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2025

• Malik Ahmad Khan cites precedent, legal powers to refer cases to ECP
• Rejects claims of bias, terms comments on meeting with CEC contrary to facts
• Federal law minister backs speaker’s ‘unlimited authority’

LAHORE: Punjab Asse­mbly Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan on Monday vehemently defended his neutrality and constitutional auth­ority amid ongoing objections from the opposition regarding his powers to forward references to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Meanwhile, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar also strongly defended Punjab Assembly speaker’s constitutional powers to de-seat members. At a ceremony in Lahore, Tarar asserted that the speaker, as the head of the House, possesses “unlimited powers”.

Addressing a press conference at the Punjab Assembly, Speaker Khan recalled a past precedent where the then-opposition demanded the disqualification of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. “Mem­bers now ask, if a prime minister could be removed on the basis of a controversial judgement like Panama, why can’t action be taken against others under sim­ilar circumstances?” he ques­­­tioned, highlighting what he described as a double standard.

He firmly rejected accusations of bias, stating, “I am not a representative of any political party; I listen to everyone’s point of view. My priority is ensuring the smooth and fair functioning of the House. The speaker reiterated his commitment to honestly fulfilling his role as the custo­dian of the House, admi­tting that some members were suspended and others served with notices strictly in accordance with the rules and procedures.

He refuted the opposition’s claim that he lacks the authority to send references to the ECP, asserting that such powers had been exercised in the past and were legally valid. He also criticised media editorials for misinterpreting his constitutional role and authority.

Mr Khan lamented the repeated disruptions in the assembly, noting that for the past 22 years, no finance minister has been able to deliver a complete budget speech without interruption. “Is it acceptable that for 22 years neither a finance minister nor the president can speak without constant disturbance?”

He stressed the importance of maintaining discipline within the House, reminding the opposition members that while their rights are protected, government representatives also deserve respect and space.

He noted that many misun­derstan­dings could have been avoided through earlier consultation with the assembly secretariat.

He lamented being labeled as the “opposition’s speaker” mer­ely for granting them extended time and privileges, asserting that he had pledged to serve with honesty and fairness from the onset. While acknowledging that parliament allows for protest, he underscored the importance of setting limits to ensure order.

He urged members to listen to his stance, reiterating his constitutional oath and the need for the assembly to function according to its rules. He also stated that before issuing any suspension orders, he wanted to share his perspective with everyone.

He called on all members to avoid repeating past mistakes and urged both government and opposition to ensure mutual respect and adherence to constitutional boundaries within the assembly.

The speaker clarified that while he is not in favour of expelling any individual from the House, saying he will issue an order regarding the 26 opposition members’ references under the Article 63(2) of the Constitution within the next 27 days.

He expressed optimism that meaningful negotiations between the government and opposition can still improve the assembly’s environment.

Drawing a parallel to the disqualification of a prime minister in the Panama case, the speaker said that if a premier can be removed for violating oath under Article 63(2), then it remains a powerful mechanism for holding elected representatives accountable. “I am not Imran Khan, and I don’t want to disqualify people, but I am bound by the Constitution and the law,” he said.

Addressing concerns about his recent meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner, the speaker dismissed the speculation as factually incorrect.

ECP clarification

An ECP spokesperson, in a statement, clarified that various constitutional and administrative office holders routinely meet with the Election Commission to discuss official matters.

He cited numerous past meetings between former president Arif Alvi ECP members, particularly concerning electronic voting machines (EVMs) and internet voting — issues that were outside the president’s mandate.

Similarly, the CEC has met with numerous PTI leaders, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, Pervez Khattak, and former chief minister of KP Mahmood Khan, as well as former Punjab chief minister Usman Buzdar.

The spokesperson questioned why such meetings were acceptable at the time but are now being criticised, asserting that no ECP official met anyone for personal reasons and that it is not against protocol for politicians and political parties to approach the Election Commission.

‘Unlimited powers’

On the other hand, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar strongly defended Punjab Assembly speaker’s constitutional powers to de-seat members. At a ceremony in Lahore, Tarar asserted that the speaker, as the head of the House, possesses “unlimited powers.”

“If any member violates oath, then the speaker can suspend that member,” he stated. While acknowledging the opposition’s right to protest, Mr Tarar warned that “vandalism inside the assembly” would not be considered a peaceful demonstration.

Regarding the reference against 26 MPAs, he affirmed that the speaker has the authority to send such references to the chief election commissi­oner.

The law minister emphasised that while the speaker must remain neutral, he hoped Mr Khan would find a constructive path forward while upholding democratic traditions.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2025