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Key ally meets Pakistan PM as efforts to pass contentious constitutional amendments gain pace

Key ally meets Pakistan PM as efforts to pass contentious constitutional amendments gain pace
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets former foreign minister and key coalition partner Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari at the Prime Minister Office in Islamabad on October 19, 2024. (PMO)
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Updated 19 October 2024
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Key ally meets Pakistan PM as efforts to pass contentious constitutional amendments gain pace

Key ally meets Pakistan PM as efforts to pass contentious constitutional amendments gain pace
  • PM Shehbaz Sharif’s administration has been attempting to introduce a set of constitutional changes since last month
  • Opposition and prominent lawyers argue the amendments aim to grant more power to the executive in judicial appointments
Updated 19 October 2024
KASHIF IMRAN
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ISLAMABAD: A delegation of a key coalition partner has met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, Sharif’s office said on Saturday, as the ruling coalition intensified its efforts to get a contentious constitutional amendment package approved by parliament.
Sharif’s administration has been attempting to introduce a set of constitutional changes since last month, which the country’s opposition and prominent lawyers argue are aimed at granting more power to the executive in making judicial appointments.
The proposed amendments initially suggested establishing a federal constitutional court, raising the retirement age of superior judges by three years and modifying the process for appointing the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
On Saturday, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) that supports Sharif’s government, led a delegation of the PPP members to a meeting with the prime minister.
“Peoples Party delegation meets with the prime minister,” Sharif’s office said in a statement. “Discussions and consultation on the current political situation took place at the meeting.”
The development came a day after Bhutto-Zardari expressed optimism that the constitutional amendments would soon be adopted as political parties were close to reaching a consensus to secure the required majority.
However, Gohar Khan, chairman of Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) opposition party, said a fourth draft of the constitutional amendments, containing 26 points, was shared with his party on Friday, adding that the PTI was still deliberating on it.
The PTI has previously said the amendments are intended to grant an extension to Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, who is widely thought to be aligned with the government and opposed to its chief rival, ex-PM Khan, though the ruling administration denied the allegation.
Different political parties prepared various drafts of the constitutional amendments during several rounds of negotiations before announcing their agreement on the proposed judicial reforms and submitting it to a parliamentary committee, comprising government and opposition politicians, on Friday.
“The special parliamentary committee has unanimously approved the draft of the 26th Constitutional Amendment today, Friday,” Syed Khursheed Shah, the committee chairman from the PPP, told the media on Friday.
“It will now be presented to the cabinet for approval before being submitted to both houses of parliament.”
Khan’s PTI said its leadership was due to meet their leader today, Saturday, who has been imprisoned in a high-security jail for over a year on multiple charges. The PTI had also given a nationwide protest call for Friday against the constitutional amendments, though its supporters only came out in small numbers in various Pakistani cities.

Topics: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari

Pakistani minister claims enough support to pass contentious amendment seeking judicial reforms

Pakistani minister claims enough support to pass contentious amendment seeking judicial reforms
Updated 29 min 43 sec ago
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Pakistani minister claims enough support to pass contentious amendment seeking judicial reforms

Pakistani minister claims enough support to pass contentious amendment seeking judicial reforms
  • Khawaja Asif says the 26th Constitutional Amendment is designed to uphold the supremacy of parliament
  • PTI says ex-PM Imran Khan has asked the party leadership to continue negotiations over the amendment
Updated 29 min 43 sec ago
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Defense Khawaja Muhammad Asif said on Saturday that the government had enough support in the National Assembly and Senate to pass the 26th Constitutional Amendment, aimed at ensuring parliamentary supremacy through judicial reforms, but sought broader political consensus to solidify the legislation.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s administration has been attempting to introduce a set of constitutional changes since last month, which the country’s opposition and prominent lawyers argue is designed to grant more power to the executive in making judicial appointments.

The proposed amendments initially suggested establishing a federal constitutional court, raising the retirement age of superior judges by three years, and modifying the process for appointing the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The PTI believed the amendments were intended to grant an extension to Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, who is widely thought to be aligned with the government and opposed to its chief rival, ex-PM Imran Khan, though the ruling administration denied the allegation.

Different political parties prepared various drafts of the constitutional amendment during several rounds of negotiations before announcing their agreement on the proposed judicial reforms and submitting it to the parliamentary committee that announced unanimous approval a day earlier.

“We would like to develop a broad-based consensus within the assembly and the Senate,” Asif told the media in Islamabad. “Legislation like this doesn’t happen every day. Occasionally, you feel the need to amend the constitution, and for that, the more consensus that can be developed, the better. Otherwise, I would say that we already have the necessary numbers.”

Speaking about the rationale behind the amendment, he said it was to address the institutional imbalance in Pakistan.

“A major objective of this amendment is to establish the supremacy of Parliament, which is guaranteed by the Constitution,” he explained. “We want to eliminate the encroachment on our turf.”

The minister specifically mentioned Supreme Court verdicts in political matters over the last two to three years, saying they undermined parliamentary decision-making. He noted that the 26th Constitutional Amendment sought to address this issue and confine the judiciary to its own domain.

Asif said all political parties agreed with the objective in principle.

Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan told the media after meeting the party’s founding leader in a high-security prison that ex-PM Khan had allowed his party to continue negotiations over the amendment.

The former prime minister has been in jail for over a year on multiple charges, which he claims are politically motivated.

The PTI chairman said he briefed Khan on the ongoing talks regarding the constitutional amendment, expressing hope that the party would finalize its position after the next round of discussions with its jailed leader on Monday.

 

Topics: 26th Constitutional Amendment Khawaja Muhammad Asif

Pakistani forces kill two militants, capture five in Balochistan operations

Pakistani forces kill two militants, capture five in Balochistan operations
Updated 12 min 39 sec ago
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Pakistani forces kill two militants, capture five in Balochistan operations

Pakistani forces kill two militants, capture five in Balochistan operations
  • Military’s media wing says the militants were involved in several attacks on Pakistani officials and civilians
  • Security forces also recovered a large quantity of weapons, ammunition, explosives and suicide vests
Updated 12 min 39 sec ago
KASHIF IMRAN

ISLAMABAD: Security forces in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province conducted two separate intelligence-based operations, killing two militants and apprehending five more, according to an official statement circulated by the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), on Saturday.
Balochistan, which shares its border with Iran and Afghanistan, has been the scene of a low-level insurgency by separatist Baloch militant groups. Pakistani authorities believe these armed ethnic outfits are also supported by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), whose fighters mainly generate violence in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Nearly two months ago, Balochistan witnessed a series of coordinated militant attacks across different parts of the province, killing more than 50 people. Subsequently, Pakistani officials vowed to launch “smart kinetic operations” to deal with the situation, rather than a full-scale military campaign.
“On 18 October 24, security forces conducted a successful intelligence-based operation in [Balochistan’s] District Pishin on the reported presence of Khwarij [militants],” the ISPR said in the statement. “During the operation, five Khwarij were apprehended, and a large quantity of weapons, ammunition, and explosives, including three suicide vests, were seized.”
The statement said the captured militants were involved in multiple attacks targeting security forces and civilians.
It added that in another operation in District Zhob on October 17, two militants were killed during an intense exchange of fire.
The ISPR said Pakistani forces recovered a large quantity of weapons and ammunition from the possession of the dead militants.
It noted that security forces remain steadfast in their commitment to eradicating militant violence from the country and protecting the people from such armed factions.

Topics: Pakistan Military Militancy

Pakistan’s UN envoy criticizes Israel for undermining global legal order

Pakistan’s UN envoy criticizes Israel for undermining global legal order
Updated 19 October 2024
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Pakistan’s UN envoy criticizes Israel for undermining global legal order

Pakistan’s UN envoy criticizes Israel for undermining global legal order
  • Munir Akram says countries eroding international law seek to impose their own interpretations of it on others
  • He points out that ‘restrictive norms developed by non-inclusive forums’ should not be imposed globally
Updated 19 October 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top diplomat at the United Nations criticized Israel for undermining the global legal order on Friday, saying that countries weakening international norms are often at the forefront of demanding that other states uphold the rules-based system.

Ambassador Munir Akram, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, made this observation while delivering a statement at the Sixth Committee of the world body. The committee handles international legal issues, serving as a forum where member states can discuss and work on questions related to international law. In essence, it is the UN's body responsible for ensuring that legal frameworks are robust and aligned with contemporary challenges.

“Today, we are witnessing before our eyes the destruction of the rule of law at the international level, especially in the genocidal war which Israel has imposed on the people of Palestine and the Middle East,” Akram said while addressing the forum, as reported by the state-owned Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency.

He noted that the world was witnessing similar trends, such as violations of international humanitarian law, the dismantling of arms control and disarmament treaties, violence against religious and ethnic minorities and targeted assassinations in third countries.

“Yet, some countries complicit in this erosion of international law continue to advocate adherence to this rule of law, but only as they interpret and apply it,” he added.

The Pakistani diplomat highlighted the urgent need to clarify the idea of rule of law in international governance, emphasizing the critical relationship between national and international law and the necessity of ensuring that existing laws are properly observed and applied.

Additionally, he expressed concerns about selective interpretation and the imposition of restrictive norms developed by non-inclusive forums, without the consent of all UN member states.

He said these norms, such as arms control regimes, should not be imposed globally without universal participation. He also stressed that international law must be adopted through inclusive platforms, giving all nations equal footing.

Akram also called for a clearer distinction between national obligations and international law, reaffirming that no state should impose its national laws on others through coercive measures, which, he added, constituted a violation of the international rule of law.

The Pakistani envoy urged the committee to task the International Law Commission with clarifying the concept of the rule of law and suggested seeking an advisory opinion on the issue from the International Court of Justice.

Topics: Munir Akram

Palestinian, Jordanian cadets among several others graduate from Pakistan Military Academy

Palestinian, Jordanian cadets among several others graduate from Pakistan Military Academy
Updated 19 October 2024
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Palestinian, Jordanian cadets among several others graduate from Pakistan Military Academy

Palestinian, Jordanian cadets among several others graduate from Pakistan Military Academy
  • Pakistan hosts cadets from friendly countries each year to undergo specialized military training
  • Passed-out cadets hailed from Iraq, Jordan, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Palestine, Sudan and Yemen
Updated 19 October 2024
Muhammad Ibrahim

ISLAMABAD: A passing-out parade of cadets from different training courses was held at the Pakistan Military Academy in Abbottabad, the Pakistani military said on Saturday, with trainees from Palestine, Jordan and several other friendly nations graduating from the prestigious institution.
The parade included cadets from 150th PMA Long Course, 69th Integrated Course, 24th Lady Cadet Course and 36th Technical Graduate Course, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.
Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, graced the occasion as chief guest, who reviewed the parade and gave awards to distinguished cadets.
“Cadets from several friendly countries including Iraq, Jordan, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Palestine, Sudan and Yemen were also graduated from Pakistan Military Academy,” the ISPR said in a statement.

This screengrab, taken from a handout video released by Pakistan’s Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) on October 19, 2024, shows group of fresh graduates take part in passing out parade at the Pakistani Military Academy in Kakul, Abbottabad. (Photo courtesy: ISPR)

The coveted ‘Sword of Honor’ was awarded to Battalion Senior Under Officer Abdullah Afzal of 150th PMA Long Course, while the President’s Gold Medal was given to Battalion Senior Under Officer Babar Ullah Aman of 150th PMA Long Course. Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Overseas Gold Medal went to Senior Under Officer Kshitij Gurung of 150th PMA Long Course from Nepal, according to the ISPR.
Chief of Army Staff Cane was awarded to Course Junior Under Officer Muhammad Umar Sheraz of 36th Technical Graduate Course, while Commandant’s Canes were awarded to Course Junior Under Officer Muhammad Suleman of 69th Integrated Course and Course Under Officer Pakeeza Yaqoob of 24th Lady Cadet Course.
Pakistan, which has fought back militancy for decades, hosts cadets from friendly countries each year to undergo specialized military training.
The South Asian country routinely holds joint air, ground and sea exercises with friendly nations to help foster interoperability and joint deployment concepts to counter threats to regional and global peace.

Topics: Pakistan Army Pakistan Military Academy

Six women killed in separate incidents of violence in Karachi in last 48 hours — police

Six women killed in separate incidents of violence in Karachi in last 48 hours — police
Updated 19 October 2024
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Six women killed in separate incidents of violence in Karachi in last 48 hours — police

Six women killed in separate incidents of violence in Karachi in last 48 hours — police
  • Bodies of four women, murdered under uncertain circumstances, were found inside an apartment building in the Lea Market area of Karachi
  • Domestic violence remains a prevalent issue in Pakistan, where many cases go unreported due to stigma and a lack of resources for victims
Updated 19 October 2024
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: Six women were killed in separate incidents in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi in the last 48 hours, police said on Saturday, with social activists voicing concerns about violence against women in the South Asian country.
Bodies of four women, murdered under uncertain circumstances, were found inside an apartment building in the Lea Market area, according to police officials.
The law enforcers were questioning men of the family, who said they were not present at home when the incident occurred on Friday night.
“The women were brutally killed by having their throats slit and their bodies showed signs of physical assault,” Arif Aziz, a senior superintendent of police (SSP), told Arab News.
“We are investigating the case and any solid conclusions can be drawn once investigations are concluded.”
Speaking to the media, Muhammad Farooq, the head of the family, said his wife, daughter, daughter-in-law and granddaughter were killed while he and his sons were away.
“We knocked on the door upon returning home and when they didn’t open, my son came and opened the door with his key,” he said, adding that he had no idea who killed them.
“We suspect no one and have no enmity with anyone.”
In another incident, a man was arrested for fatally stabbing his pregnant wife in the Shah Faisal Colony area of city, according to police. The suspect, Abdullah, was taken into custody following the incident on Saturday and a murder case has been registered against him.
“The victim was married to Abdullah,” police officer Abdul Hameed told Arab News. “Frequent disputes arose between the couple shortly after their wedding, leading to Laiba leaving her home to stay with her parents.”
Karachi Police Surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed Tariq told Arab News the deceased woman was around five-month pregnant.
“She had single stabbing to the neck,” Tariq said, adding the autopsy of four other women was still undergoing.
In the third incident, a woman was brought dead to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, who had sustained gunshot wounds to her face and head, according to Tariq.
Domestic violence remains a prevalent issue in Pakistan, where many cases go unreported due to social stigma attached with it and a lack of resources for victims.
The Sindh Suhai Sath Organization, a local non-government organization, reported this month that 165 women were killed in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province in 2023, with the actual number of such cases likely to be much higher.
According to a 2020 report by Aurat Foundation, over 11,000 cases of violence against women were reported across Pakistan in 2020. The most common forms of violence were domestic violence (4,775 cases), rape and gang rape (2,297 cases), and murder (1,033 cases).
Mehnaz Rehman, a social scientist and former official of Aurat Foundation, emphasized the need for “gender sensitization” in Pakistani society.
“We need to explain to our boys, our men, and our rulers that they should work with gender sensitivity and recognize everyone as equal human beings,” she said, highlighting the importance of encouraging individuals to “raise their voices against crime and injustice, no matter where it happens.”
Rehman pointed out that while women’s rights activists and international organizations have long fought against such violence, the key to end such crimes “is to view these issues in light of our society’s harsh realities.”

Topics: Karachi Police domestic abuse

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