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ISLAMABAD: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad on Thursday issued arrest warrants for 50 PTI leaders, including former president Arif Alvi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, and Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, for failing to appear in a case related to protests held on Nov 26 last year. Judge Abual Hasanat Mohammad Zulqarnain expressed displeasure over the continued non-appearance of the accused despite repeated summons, expanding the list of warrants in a case registered at the Karachi Company Police Station on Nov 26, 2024. The order added 41 PTI leaders to nine others already facing similar orders. Among the prominent figures now liable to be arrested are KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur; Senators Shibli Faraz, Azam Khan Swati and Faisal Javed; and former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser. The list also includes senior lawyers Salman Akram Raja and Shoaib Shaheen; PTI Information Secretary Raoof Hassan; former federal ministers Murad Saeed and...

• Senators ask why LLM development initiative was not open to other stakeholders from industry, academia • Committee discusses bill to establish legal, ethical framework for AI regulation ISLAMABAD: A Senate standing committee on on Thursday questioned the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication over its apparent collaboration with a mobile service provider and a public sector university in a project that aims to develop an indigenous Large Language Model (LLM). LLMs are trained on immense amount of data to make them capable of generating responses based on the input prompt. They are at the back of generative AI tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek. The IT ministry has collaborated with Jazz and the National University of Sciences and Technology to produce Pakistan’s first LLM. Chaired by Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, the meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecommunication expressed concern that the ministry had apparently excluded other capable ...

• Party terms trial ‘politically motivated desperate attempt to crush it’ • Opposition alliance TTAP condemns ‘kangaroo courts’ • Ministers call it ‘timely and commendable decision’ ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: The op­­­­­position PTI on Thursday rejec­ted the verdict of a special anti-terrorism court (ATC) as a politically-motivated “travesty of justi­­ce”, after several senior party lea­ders were sentenced to 10 years in prison for their role in the May 9 riots. In a sharply-worded statement, a PTI spokesperson condemned the ruling, calling it “one of the darkest chapters in the country’s judicial history and nothing short of a judicial murder”. He described the conviction of PTI leaders and workers as a “hasty, one-sided, and politically motivated trial—an utterly failed and desperate attempt to crush the unwavering resolve of PTI’s leadership and loyal workers”. The party claimed the convictions were “acts of revenge” and said the timing was designed to stifle a nationwide protest pla...

• Opposition leader in Senate asks CJP to consider limiting court sessions to reasonable hours to prevent ‘fatigue-induced miscarriage of justice’ • Citing arrest fears, Omar Ayub refuses to meet CJP in Islamabad; suggests rendezvous in KP instead ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Shibli Faraz has requested Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi to order a scrutiny of the procedural conduct of all ongoing May 9 trials for adherence to constitutional mandates and principles of natural justice. In a two-page letter addressed to the CJP, the opposition leader requested the CJP to consider limiting trial court sessions to reasonable hours to prevent fatigue-induced miscarriage of justice and safeguard the right of the accused to engage counsel of their choosing without imposition. This is the second letter written in a row to the top adjudicator, after Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub Khan, penned a four-page letter on allegations of ...

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs on Wednesday criticised the government for banning pilgrims from going to Karbala by road. The committee meeting held on Wednesday was chaired by Senator Attaur Rehman, and featured heated discussions on mismanagement faced during Haj 2024, and the issue faced by Shia pilgrims. The committee discussed the ban imposed on pilgrims intending to travel by land route to Karbala (Iraq) via Iran to take part in Arbaeen rituals. MWM Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, who is also a member of the committee, emphasised that the protection of pilgrims’ religious rights is the fundamental responsibility of the government, and that matters of worship fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and not the Ministry of Interior. Religious Affairs secy says govt exploring options of ‘alternative route’ by sea; panel demands removal of Saudi Arabia-based DG Haj over ‘mismanagement’ He said the interior ministers of ...

• Details remain sketchy despite Trump announcement; no word on tariff rate as Aurangzeb meets key officials • India slapped with 25pc tariff, punished for buying Russian arms, oil through ‘secondary tariffs’ • Six Indian companies face State Dept sanctions for being part of Iran oil, petrochemical trade WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that the US has concluded a deal with Pakistan that will allow the two allies to work together on developing Pakistan’s vast oil reserves. The announcement, posted on his Truth Social account, did not specify whether the two countries have also reached an agreement on tariffs. “We have just concluded a Deal with the Country of Pakistan, whereby Pakistan and the United States will work together on developing their massive Oil Reserves,” Trump wrote. “We are in the process of choosing the Oil Company that will lead this Partnership. Who knows, maybe they’ll be selling Oil to India some day!” Although Pakistan has long clai...

• UN agencies, Rome-based IPC sound alarm; WFP official compares situation to Ethiopian, Biafra famines • UK moves towards ‘recognition’ of Palestinian state; Ishaq Dar calls it ‘test case’ for the world GAZA / LONDON: The besieged territory of Gaza is slipping into famine, UN aid agencies warned on Tuesday, as the death toll from Israel’s nearly 22-month war surpassed 60,000. The World Food Programme (WFP), Unicef and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) warned that time was running out and that Gaza was “on the brink of a full-scale famine”. Meanwhile, the Rome-based Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Initiative (IPC) air-drops will not be enough to avert the “humanitarian catastrophe”. “The worst-case scenario of famine is now unfolding in the Gaza Strip,” said the IPC, a grouping of NGOs and institutions that serves as the world’s main monitor for gauging malnutrition, in a statement. The IPC said its latest data shows that “famine thresholds” have been rea...

• Panel told recent price fluctuations yielded Rs300bn profit for mills; chairman says ‘only 42 families’ benefitted • Officials’ reluctance to share names of mill owners with lawmakers draws rebuke • Committee told Rs150m spent out of Rs1.95bn allocated for flood awareness campaign, rest of the money diverted ISLAMABAD: Amid a hike in sugar price, the Public Accounts Committee was informed on Tuesday that the sugar mills have earned Rs300 billion due to recent fluctuations in the rates of the essential commodity. The Auditor General of Pakistan made these revelations during the meeting of the apex parliamentary panel, which convened the high-stakes session to review the sugar import and export policy, rising prices, and the lack of transparency in the sugar industry. The PAC met under the chairmanship of Junaid Akbar Khan and it was briefed by Industries and Production Secretary Saif Anjum, who stated that price regulation and relevant laws fell under provincial jurisdictions. H...

The Bajaur administration imposed a three-day curfew at 16 places of the district on Tuesday and initiated an operation against militants in the areas. Bajaur District Police Officer Waqas Rafiq confirmed the development to Dawn.com . A notification in this regard issued by Bajaur Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shahid Ali Khan said there was a need to impose restrictions on all kinds of movement on the main roads and outside houses at Badi Siah, Tarkho, Irab, Gat, Agra, Khurchai, Dawagai, Kalan, Legharai, Kitkot, Gillai, Nakhtar, Zarai, Dambarai, Amanata and Zagai area of Tehsil Loe Mamund to prevent any untoward incidents as recommended by the Bajaur District Intelligence Coordination Committee to ensure public safety during targeted actions against militants. The DC imposed a ban on all kinds of movement of individuals outside houses, on roads, vehicles and all forms of traffic on all roads at the above villages with effect from 5am today till 5pm on July 31 (Thursday) under Section 144...

TURNBERRY: US President Donald Trump on Monday set a new deadline of 10 or 12 days for Russia to make progress towards ending the war in Ukr­aine or face consequences, underscoring frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the conflict. Trump has threatened both sanctions on Russia and buyers of its exports unless progress is made. “I’m going to make a new deadline of about … 10 or 12 days from today,” Trump told reporters during a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Scotland. “There’s no reason in waiting… We just don’t see any progress being made.” Trump said he was disappointed in Putin and shortening the 50-day deadline he had set on the issue earlier this month. There was no immediate comment from the Kremlin. Threatens Russia, buyers of its exports with sanctions if progress not made within 12 days Trump, who has expressed anno­yance also with Ukrainian Presi­dent Volodymyr Zelensky, has not always followed up on his tough talk about Putin wit...

STOCKHOLM: Chinese and US officials wrapped the first day in a fresh round of talks in Stockholm on Monday, with the world’s top two economies looking to extend a fragile trade truce in the face of President Donald Trump’s global tariff war. The negotiations in Sweden concluded shortly before 8pm, with neither side offering details on their progress, although a US Treasury department spokesman said they were expected to resume on Tuesday. The United States and China earlier this year imposed triple-digit tariffs on each other in a tit-for-tat escalation, but then walked them back under a temporary agreement reached in May. The expiry of that 90-day truce falls on August 12, but there are indications they could use the Stockholm talks to push it back further. Both sides tight-lipped about outcome as negotiations to resume today The negotiating teams in Stockholm were being led by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Sweden. They were meetin...

The Punjab Assembly session on Monday was thrown into chaos when two brawls erupted between lawmakers, leading to the suspension of a Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA), according to a Dawn.com correspondent present at the scene. Earlier today, opposition member Khalid Nisar Dogar struck ruling PML-N’s Hasan Riaz during the session, before the two were separated by other lawmakers. Footage of the incident has since gone viral. View this post on Instagram Acting speaker Zaheer Iqbal Channar called the altercation “highly inappropriate”. According to the correspondent, the session was adjourned until 2pm on Tuesday by Channar, who summoned government and opposition MPAs to his chambers. He suspended Dogar for 15 sessions under Rule 210 (power to order withdrawal of members or suspend sitting) of the Rules of Procedure of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab, 1997. Speaking to reporters following the fracas, Riaz called it “a dark ...

BUNIA: More than 35 people were killed on Sunday in an attack by Allied Democratic Forces rebels in northeastern DR Congo, ending a months-long period of regional calm, sources said. The ADF, originally formed from former Ugandan rebels and which pledged allegiance to Islamic State in 2019, raided a Catholic church in the town of Komanda where worshippers were gathered for prayer, complained residents of Bunia, the capital of Ituri province. “Last night around 9pm, we heard gunfire near the parish church... so far we have seen 35 bodies,” Dieudonne Katanabo, an Umoja neighbourhood elder, said. “We have at least 31 dead members of the Eucharistic Crusade movement, with six seriously injured... some young people were kidnapped, we have no news of them,” Father Aime Lokana Dhego, parish priest of the Blessed Anuarite parish of Komanda, said. The priest added that seven other bodies had been discovered in the town. Likewise attributing the attack to “ADF rebels”, Christophe Munyanderu,...

• Rs115m disbursed under LJCP’s initiative among over 7,000 deserving litigants since 2012 • SCBA president hopes move will reduce gaps between case hearings A RECENT move by the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP) to expand free legal aid initiatives to all levels of the judiciary is expected to come as a blessing for scores of litigants, whose inability to engage experienced counsel could’ve otherwise delayed their cases indefinitely. The initiative, recently anno­unced by the commission led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi, expands the legal aid facility, which was earlier only available in the lower judiciary. Now, litigants can avail this facility from the magistrate courts right up to the superior judiciary. Since 2012, around Rs115 million have been provided to underprivileged people to help cover the cost of pursuing cases in courts. The funds were provided by the District Legal Empowerment Committees (DLECs), an initiative aimed at ensuring univ...

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Sheh­baz Sharif has approved the development of a modern and world-class digital ecos­ystem in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), directing that globally renowned experts be engaged for this purpose. The premier was chairing a meeting to review progress on FBR reforms in Islamabad on Saturday. He directed the FBR to continue dialogue with the business community over tax compliance concerns, emphasising that any form of harassment will not be tolerated. The government, he stated, remains committed to creating a facilitative environment for businesses across the country. The directive comes amid mounting tensions, as trade associations have announced a nationwide strike in response to budgetary tax measures aimed at documenting the retail sector and curbing tax evasion. An official source told Dawn that the prime minister has directed senior FBR officials to ensure that no member of the business community is subjected to harassment. “We have to keep busin...

• New York meeting to be co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia next week • Israel and US to skip conference; 11 more Palestinians killed • UK plans to airdrop aid, evacuate injured children from Gaza UNITED NATIONS: Fired by France’s imminent recognition of Palestinian statehood, UN members meet next week to breathe life into the push for a two-state solution as Israel, expected to be absent, presses its war in Gaza. Days before the July 28-30 conference on fostering Israeli and Palestinian states living peacefully side-by-side to be co-chaired by Riyadh and Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would formally recognise the State of Palestine in September. His declaration “will breathe new life into a conference that seemed destined to irrelevance,” said Richard Gowan, an analyst at International Crisis Group. “Macron’s announcement changes the game. Other participants will be scrabbling to decide if they should also declare an intent to recognise Palesti...

• Describes lower courts as ‘most valuable component’ of Pakistan’s judicial system • Emphasises institutional support for judges while expecting district judiciary to uphold diligence, humility, empathy, and discipline • Terms ethical integration of AI in court systems top priority ISLAMABAD: Describing the district judiciary as the most precious jewel in the crown of Pakistan’s judicial system, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi on Friday unveiled a road map for safeguarding the judges from external influences by empowering, protecting and providing institutional support to ensure independent discharge of their duties. “It is my dream to see an aggrieved citizen walk confidently into the court of magistrate or a civil court in his own local town instead of being burdened to appr­oach the high court or the Supreme Court for seeking redressal of his grievances,” CJP observed while speaking at a symposium marking the International Day for Judicial Wellbeing under the theme...

• Explanation sought from attorney general as members from both sides of the aisle express concern over stay orders on standing committee proceedings • Senate unanimously adopts resolution condemning Israel’s sovereignty claim over occupied West Bank ISLAMABAD: In a rare move, the attorney gereneral for Pakistan (AGP) has been summoned to appear before the Senate, after lawmakers from both sides of the aisle raised concerns on Friday about alleged interference in House by judiciary, with some senators demanded immediate appearance of principal law officer in the lower house. The issue was raised by former deputy chairman Senate and PPP leader Saleem Mandviwalla while Senator Shahadat Awan, also from PPP, was presiding over the session. Mr Mandviwalla voiced concern the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and Lahore High Court (LHC) had recently issued stay orders against proceedings of the Senate standing committees. He said that throughout his legislative career, he had never witnessed suc...

• Fifth monsoon spell to hit Punjab; urban flooding feared • Landslides may block roads in Murree, Galiyat, GB, AJK • Karakoram Highway blocked again; tourists evacuated via C-130 flights RAWALPINDI / LAHORE / GILGIT: The Pakistan Meteo­rological Department (PMD) has forecast another spell of monsoon rains across the country from July 29 to 31, urging provincial and district administrations to take precautionary measures. According to the Met Office, weak monsoon currents are continuously penetrating the upper and central parts of the country and are likely to intensify next week. A westerly wave is expected to approach on July 29. Rain accompanied by wind and isolated heavy showers is expected in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (including Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, Mirpur) and Gilgit-Baltistan (Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, Shigar) from July 27 to 31 with occasional gaps. In Khyber Pakhtunkhw...

• Achakzai says MPC ‘not symbolic’, aims to find durable solution to country’s problems • Salman Akram Raja asks people to express discontent on Aug 5 as per law, says Imran being denied legal help • MWM chief warns govt against obstructing protest, says will not stay silent in face of injustice ISLAMABAD: Almost a week after finalising its formal structure, a six-party opposition alliance — including the PTI —said it will organise a multi-party conference in Islamabad on July 31 and Aug 1 to discuss the “deepening constitutional and political crises” and restore “true democratic representation”. In a press conference held in the federal capital on Thursday, Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, flanked by other alliance leaders, said it was time for a “serious” national dialogue to steer the country out of the troubled waters. Mr Achakzai emphasised the conference would not be “symbolic”, saying it would bring together political parties, civil socie...