ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday began the process to choose the new chief justice of the country, following the passage of a controversial constitutional amendment that empowered parliament to appoint the top judge among other changes.
The current Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa is due to retire this Friday. Previously, the Supreme Court’s second-most senior judge automatically became the chief justice when the top judge retired at age 65, but analysts say there had been concerns within the government circles that senior judges below Isa and in the high courts had shown leniency to Khan in a number of cases.
In an extraordinary session that began on Sunday and continued overnight into Monday, Pakistan’s parliament passed the 26th Constitutional Amendment that allows a 12-member parliamentary committee to pick the chief justice from a panel of three senior-most judges of the Supreme Court.
“I have the honor to invite your kind attention to Article 175A of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, whereby the chief justice of Pakistan is to be nominated by the special parliamentary committee from among the three most senior judges of the Supreme Court,” Speaker Ayaz Sadiq wrote in a letter to parliamentary heads of political parties in the National Assembly, lower house of parliament.
“Foregoing in view, MNAs [members of the National Assembly] from your party may be nominated for the said committee, accordingly.”
The parliamentary committee will comprise eight members from the National Assembly and four from the Senate, the upper house of parliament.
Sadiq also wrote to Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani to nominate four senators for the panel.
Pakistani politicians have long complained about judicial overreach into matters of governance, stoking tensions between the judiciary and legislature.
Former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) opposition party and the legal fraternity opposed the amendment, saying the changes were aimed at curtailing the powers of judiciary.
Barrister Aqeel Malik, the government’s legal adviser, told Arab News the process of appointing judges to high courts as well as selecting the chief justice from a panel of three senior most judges required greater parliamentary oversight and input.
“This in no way curtails the judiciary’s powers, but it does ensure parliamentary oversight and a greater role in the selection and appointment of judges, all within the constitutional framework,” he said.
“This will ensure not just the seniority principle, but of course other considerations such as legal wisdom, acumen and overall general administrative experience.”
Malik said the parliamentary committee would begin its deliberations immediately and it has until Wednesday to send its recommendations to the prime minister, based on a majority vote among the three senior-most judges for the appointment of the chief justice of Pakistan.
Pakistan’s top court has become a battleground between the government and jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, ruling on issues ranging from a controversial national election to a potential military court trial for Khan and his supporters.
Former cricket star Khan, 71, has been in jail for over a year. His 2022 removal from office and subsequent clashes with the military have triggered Pakistan’s worst political turmoil in decades.
“It is a black day in our constitutional history and for judicial independence,” Gohar Ali Khan, chairman of Khan’s party, said as the Pakistan parliament moved to pass the 26th constitutional amendment in wee hours of Monday.
Pakistan begins process to choose new top judge after passage of contentious constitutional amendment
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Pakistan begins process to choose new top judge after passage of contentious constitutional amendment
- Pakistan parliament has allowed a 12-member parliamentary committee to pick chief justice from a panel of three senior-most judges
- Previously, the Supreme Court’s second-most senior judge automatically became the chief justice when the top judge retired at age 65
Islamabad plans digital remittance solutions for Pakistanis in Gulf via PayPak scheme
- The initiative aims to facilitate secure and structured remittance flows from non-resident Pakistani workers who are based abroad
- Pakistan received over $38.3 billion remittances in last fiscal year, with Pakistanis residing in Gulf contributing a major share
KARACHI: The Pakistani government is planning to facilitate overseas Pakistanis, particularly those in Gulf countries, by providing a technological solution that would enable them to send remittances through a domestic payment scheme, PayPak, the 1Link payment gateway system said on Monday, citing the Prime Minister Youth Programme (PMYP) chief said on Monday.
PMYP Chairman Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan said this in a recent meeting with stakeholders, including 1Link CEO Najeeb Agrawalla and Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA) Chairman Ibrahim Amin, in the country’s commercial capital of Karachi.
Pakistan received over $38.3 billion in remittances from different countries in the financial year ending in June, with Pakistanis residing in Gulf countries contributing a major share to this amount.
Khan said the government was working extensively to serve Pakistanis in the country and overseas by addressing their core issues through innovative, technological and affordable means.
“The government is keen to explore strategic collaboration on empowering overseas Pakistani youth through digital remittance services and expanding PayPak’s reach under the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme,” he was quoted as saying by 1Link.
Khan said Pakistanis living abroad were playing commendable role in contributing to the economy and the PM Digital Youth Hub was exploring various options to honor their services with dedicated facilities and offerings.
Launched in 2016 by 1Link, PayPak is Pakistan’s first and the only domestic payment scheme (DPS), making Pakistan the 28th country in the world to have its own domestic payment system. It aims to spur financial inclusion and digitization across the country.
“We aim to take initiatives to facilitate secure and structured remittance flows from non-resident Pakistani workers, especially those based in Saudi Arabia, UAE and other Gulf countries, while also promoting the use of PayPak for Hajj, Umrah, and other cross-border transactions including 1Bill service for non-resident Pakistanis,” 1Link CEO Agrawalla said.
As a major payment service provider, he said, 1Link proposed extending its technological expertise and platform capabilities to support the development and implementation of both initiatives.
PAFLA Chairman Amin said there were over 4 million Pakistanis residing in Gulf countries who had been contributing to the economy through their hard-earned income, adding that many of them lacked access to reliable, user-friendly technological payment solutions.
“PAFLA, in collaboration with Pakistani diplomatic missions, Pakistan’s banks, and different agencies, will do its best efforts to approach freelancers, blue- and white-collar Pakistani workers through outreach and engagement efforts across Gulf countries,” he said.
Pakistan sent 336,999 nationals abroad for jobs from Jan. 1 to Jun. 30
- Over 10 million individuals have been sent abroad for jobs by Pakistan’s government since 1971, says state media
- Remittances sent by Pakistani individuals employed abroad are crucial for cash-strapped South Asian country
ISLAMABAD: The Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BUEO) sent around 336,999 Pakistanis abroad from January 1 to June 30 this year, state-run media reported on Monday, crediting the government’s policies for increasing employment opportunities for Pakistan’s skilled and unskilled laborers.
Thousands of Pakistanis every year travel abroad for jobs in Gulf countries, Europe, the United States and other nations. Citing data from an official of the BUEO, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said over 10 million emigrants have been provided overseas employment through the bureau since its inception in 1971.
“Through the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BUEO) an attached department of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development from January 1 to June 30, around 336,999 Pakistanis have proceeded abroad for employment,” APP reported.
The official shared that in 2015, 946,571 Pakistanis went abroad for jobs, the highest number ever. The official further said 116,300 foreign jobs are available with BEOE.
“Overseas employment is playing a vital role in reducing the pressure of unemployment at home, besides being a major means of earning foreign exchange in the shape of overseas workers’ remittances,” it added.
The state-run media said the bureau controls, regulates, facilitates and monitors the emigration process followed by the Overseas Employment Promoters (OEPs) in the private sector. It also monitors the “direct employment” mode adopted by individuals, who seek foreign employment either through their own efforts or relatives and friends living abroad.
“The Bureau has been engaged in maintaining comprehensive statistical record of all the migrant workers since 1971, which provides basis for planning and policy formulation by the Economic Division and other interested government departments.
The remittances sent by Pakistani citizens employed abroad is crucial for the South Asian country to shore up its foreign reserves, especially as it grapples with a prolonged economic crisis.
Pakistani PM’s aide warns Imran Khan’s party against stirring ‘instability’ with protest drive
- Khan’s PTI party has launched 90-day anti-government movement to demand ex-PM’s release
- Rana Sanaullah says law will take its course if PTI incites unrest during agitation campaign
ISLAMABAD: A top political adviser to Pakistan’s prime minister on Monday warned jailed former premier Imran Khan’s political party against inciting unrest during a newly announced protest movement to demand his release, as political tensions in the country continue to intensify.
Khan, who was ousted from office in a parliamentary vote in April 2022, has been jailed for nearly two years on multiple charges, which he and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party insist are politically motivated. PTI currently holds power in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and has previously led a number of protest marches toward the capital, Islamabad.
On July 13, PTI launched its latest agitation campaign, describing it as a 90-day “do-or-die” protest. The announcement followed the suspension of 26 PTI lawmakers in Punjab and the Supreme Court’s rejection of the party’s bid to reclaim reserved parliamentary seats for minorities and women.
“They have now planned a program lasting over 90 days. In this, if they remain peaceful, it’s fine, it’s their democratic right,” Rana Sanaullah, adviser to the prime minister on political and public affairs, said in an interview with a local news channel.
“And if they take the law in their hands and try to create instability in the country then definitely the law will take its course.”
Sanaullah also accused Khan’s party of bypassing the government and seeking intervention from the military, commonly referred to in Pakistan as “the establishment.”
“They did not talk about speaking with the government [to resolve their issues],” he added. “They want to speak to the establishment, they are trying to straighten out their affairs through them.”
The latest protest drive was finalized at a meeting in Lahore on July 12, attended by PTI leader and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur who alleged that the PTI was being denied its right to peaceful protest. He vowed that the party would mobilize supporters nationwide before marching toward the capital.
Earlier this month, Khan’s sister announced that his sons, Sulaiman and Kasim, would join the protest campaign in Pakistan after returning from the United States, where they will seek to raise awareness about alleged human rights violations against Khan and his party.
PTI has organized a series of nationwide demonstrations since last year, calling for Khan’s release and an independent investigation into the February 2024 general elections. During one such protest in November 2024, the government said four security personnel were killed in clashes with Khan supporters, an allegation PTI denies.
The government maintains that the 2024 elections were free and fair and accuses the PTI of undermining democratic processes and causing economic stability through confrontational tactics. Pakistan’s military, long a powerful force in national politics, denies accusations of political interference or any role in Khan’s ouster or imprisonment.
Saudi consortium launches $50 million fund to ease pilgrimage costs for Pakistanis — CEO
- Pilgrimage fund aims to reduce Hajj costs by 20 percent and Umrah by 25 percent by September
- Consortium says Pakistanis spend over $5 billion annually on travel to Saudi Arabia
KARACHI: A Saudi-based consortium of travel and hospitality companies has launched a $50 million fund to reduce the cost of Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages for Pakistani travelers by as early as September, the group’s chief executive said on Monday.
The consortium includes online Umrah booking platform Funadiq.com, Emaar Al Diyafa Group of hotels, Skyline Travel Company and other firms operating in Makkah. Its stated goal is to modernize the infrastructure and operations of Pakistani travel agencies to help them meet Saudi regulatory standards and better serve pilgrims.
The consortium’s CEO Mohammad Salman Arain told Arab News the main objective behind setting up the fund is to upgrade travel agencies’ infrastructure and operations in every major Pakistani city.
He said the fund is expected to lower Hajj costs by 20 percent and Umrah costs by 25 percent for Pakistani pilgrims.
“On average, [Umrah for one person] is Rs300,000 ($1,054) and we expect that by September, a small travel agent would be able to offer it to his customers at Rs240,000 ($844) to Rs250,000 ($879),” Arain said in a telephone interview on Monday.
Arain attributed the current high costs to inefficiencies in the way many Pakistani travel agents operate:
“Once we help them operate better then Umrah will become cheaper for our pilgrims.”
His company, Umrah Companions, also launched what it calls the world’s first AI-powered Umrah agent this month, designed to help digitally savvy pilgrims customize their travel packages based on cost and convenience.
The consortium will also help Pakistani Hajj organizers adapt to Saudi Arabia’s evolving regulations.
“This should make Hajj better organized and cheaper as well,” Arain said.
In a separate statement, Funadiq.com said over 2 million Pakistanis travel to Saudi Arabia each year for pilgrimage and spend more than $5 billion annually, making Pakistan one of the world’s largest pilgrimage markets.
“Yet despite these numbers, the sector continues to suffer from poor management,” the company said. “More than 67,000 pilgrims missed Hajj this year alone.”
That figure refers to a large portion of Pakistan’s private Hajj quota that went unutilized this year due to reported delays by travel companies in completing payment and registration requirements, according to Funadiq.com.
Private operators have blamed the shortfall on technical glitches, payment delays, and poor coordination between service providers. Pakistan’s government fulfilled its full allocation of over 88,000 pilgrims.
The Saudi consortium’s investment will be used for technology upgrades, staff training, and process improvements in small- and medium-sized travel agencies. These improvements could make the booking process 50 percent faster, Funadiq.com said.
“We are stepping in to help change that, working closely with the government, airlines, and private sector partners,” the company added.
Pakistan warns of more rains, floods as monsoon death toll hits 105 since June
- Third spell of seasonal rains expected to begin July 14, meteorological department says
- Punjab reports highest number of fatalities, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned on Monday heavy monsoon downpours are likely to trigger flash floods and landslides across several regions of the country this week, as the death toll from rain-related incidents since June 26 rose to 105.
The toll includes 40 deaths in Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province, followed by 31 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 17 in Sindh, 16 in Balochistan, and one reported fatality in Azad Kashmir, according to official figures.
A total of 211 people have been injured in rain-related incidents, with Punjab again reporting the highest number (111), followed by KP (54), Sindh (7), Azad Kashmir (5), and Balochistan (4).
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has warned that a third spell of monsoon rains is expected to begin across the country from today, Monday, July 14.
“A low-pressure area (LPA) presently located over northwest Madhya Pradesh (India) is likely to affect Pakistan during next 24 to 72 hours,” the PMD said in its forecast.
“Under the influence of this weather system, strong monsoon currents are expected to penetrate central and upper parts [of the country]. A westerly wave is also present over upper parts of the country.”
The PMD said heavy rains with wind and thunderstorms are likely in most parts of KP, Punjab, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Islamabad and northeast and southern Balochistan on Monday.
“Scattered heavy falls (at times very heavy) are likely in Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Punjab, and northeastern Balochistan,” it added.
Authorities have warned of possible landslides and mudslides in hilly areas such as Murree, Galliyat, KP, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, which could result in road closures and blockades.
“Heavy downpour may cause urban flood in low-lying areas of Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Nowshera, and Peshawar,” the PMD said. “Caution is advised for the public.”
The NDMA has called on provincial and district administrations to prepare emergency response teams, ensure the availability of rescue machinery, and clear drainage systems in urban areas. Tourists have been advised to avoid high-altitude areas during the period of heavy rainfall.
Pakistan, a country of more than 240 million people, is among the nations most vulnerable to climate change. In 2022, record monsoon rains combined with glacial melt caused catastrophic flooding that affected 33 million people and killed more than 1,700.
