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
Heavy rains, thunderstorms claim more than 25 lives in Pakistan
- Moist currents have penetrated Pakistan over the past one week, with rains lashing upper and central regions
- Moist currents have penetrated Pakistan over the past one week, with rains lashing upper and central regions
ISLAMABAD: Heavy rains and thunderstorms have killed eight people in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, authorities said on Friday, taking the nationwide death from rain-related incidents to at least 26.
Moist currents have penetrated Pakistan over the past one week and under the influence of this weather system, isolated heavy rains and hail and thunderstorms have lashed several areas in upper and central parts of the country.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said fresh downpours, which began on May 27, have damaged 25 homes in Mardan, Swabi, Peshawar, Shangla, Swat, Torghar, Mohmand, Mansehra and Haripur, killing eight and injuring 21 people.
“Among the deceased are five men, two women, and a child,” the PDMA said in a statement. “The injured include ten men, five women and six children.”
Earlier this week, Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority chief Irfan Ali Kathia confirmed heavy rains had killed 18 people and injured 110 people in the eastern province.
Pakistan has seen erratic changes in its weather patterns which have led to frequent heat waves, untimely rains, storms, cyclones and droughts in recent years. Scientists have blamed the events on human-driven climate change.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast that the current spell of rains will continue till May 31.
“PDMA has instructed local administrations to provide immediate support to affected families and ensure that the injured receive proper medical care,” the KP authority said.
“Citizens are urged to report any emergencies by calling 1700.”
In 2022, devastating floods, blamed on human-driven climate change, killed more than 1,700 Pakistanis, affected another 33 million and caused the country over $30 billion in economic losses.
Four soldiers, seven ‘Indian-sponsored’ militants killed in Pakistan’s northwest, military says
- Islamabad has lately accused India of orchestrating several militant attacks in Pakistan, New Delhi denies allegations
- Both neighbors this month traded missiles, drones and artillery fire in their worst standoff in more than two decades
ISLAMABAD: Four Pakistani soldiers and seven “Indian-sponsored” militants were killed in separate encounters in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the Pakistani military said late Thursday.
Islamabad has accused India of orchestrating several militant attacks in Pakistan, amid heightened tensions between the two neighbors since traded fire earlier this month in worst fighting between them in decades. New Delhi denies the allegations.
On Thursday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing, said the militants attempted to attack a security forces’ check-post in KP’s North Waziristan district, which was effectively thwarted by Pakistani forces.
“Indian sponsored khwarij [militants] attempted to attack a Security Forces Check Post in general area Shawal, North Waziristan District. The attempt was effectively thwarted by own troops and in ensuing fire exchange, six Indian sponsored khwarij were sent to hell,” it said in a statement.
“However, during intense fire exchange, Lt. Daniyal Ismail… a brave young officer who was leading his troops from front, fought gallantly and embraced Shahadat along with his three men.”
Pakistani security forces neutralized one more “Indian-sponsored” militant in another encounter in the Chitral district, according to the ISPR.
“Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored kharji found in the area,” it added.
Pakistan and India often accuse each other of supporting militancy. This month’s standoff, which saw the neighbors trade missiles, drones and artillery fire, was triggered by an attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir that India blamed on Pakistan. Islamabad has denied involvement.
Islamabad blames India of backing a separatist insurgency in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province as well as religiously motivated militant groups, like the Pakistani Taliban, in KP. India denies the allegations.
Minister says Pakistan State Oil to expand into renewable energy
- Pakistan’s largest fuel supplier’s plan signals a shift away from a fossil fuel-reliant energy mix
- Ali Pervaiz Malik calls advancing transition to clean energy central to government’s energy vision
KARACHI: Pakistan State Oil (PSO), the country’s largest fuel supplier, is preparing to diversify its operations into renewable energy and emerging sectors of the energy market, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said during a high-level visit to the company’s Karachi headquarters on Thursday.
The move signals a strategic shift in Pakistan’s state-owned energy sector as it seeks to modernize infrastructure, reduce emissions and align with global trends toward sustainability.
Malik’s visit, part of a broader government outreach to key industry stakeholders, comes amid the government’s continuing efforts to reform Pakistan’s fossil fuel-reliant energy mix and enhance long-term resilience.
“The government is fully committed to steering Pakistan’s energy sector toward greater resilience, sustainability and innovation,” Malik said during meetings with PSO leadership and board members. “Enhancing fuel quality, reducing emissions and advancing the transition to clean energy are central to this vision.”
During the visit, PSO’s top management briefed the minister on the company’s performance, supply chain stability and automation initiatives.
Officials also outlined plans to modernize PSO’s infrastructure and develop forward-looking strategies to enter the renewable energy space, though no specific projects were announced.
Malik praised PSO’s role in maintaining reliable fuel supplies nationwide and pledged the government’s full support in helping the company address operational challenges.
He emphasized that policy alignment and cross-sector coordination would be key to creating a more efficient and consumer-focused energy ecosystem.
The minister also met with representatives of the Oil Companies Advisory Committee (OCAC) and the Petroleum Dealers Association, where discussions focused on regulatory bottlenecks, profit margins and broader sectoral reforms.
He assured participants that their concerns would be addressed through structured engagement.
“In the best interest of the country, all stakeholders must collaborate with a shared commitment to progress,” Malik said. “Together, we can build a modern energy sector that meets the evolving needs of our nation.”
Pakistan has faced recurring energy crises in recent years, with high fuel import bills, inconsistent power supplies and delayed infrastructure upgrades straining the economy. While some private and semi-public entities have begun pivoting to renewables, PSO’s potential entry into the sector is expected to mark one of the first serious moves by a major state player.
During Tajikistan visit, Pakistan PM urges world to hold India accountable for ‘acts of war’
- Shehbaz Sharif made the remarks during a meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in Dushanbe
- He will attend a glacier preservation conference in Tajikistan, present Pakistan’s stance on climate change
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday urged the international community to hold India accountable for what he described as “acts of war” earlier this month, saying the region could not afford New Delhi’s “irresponsible and unlawful actions.”
Sharif made the remarks during a meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in Dushanbe, where the two leaders discussed regional security, economic ties and cooperation on climate issues.
His statement came just days after a military confrontation between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan, which saw the two countries exchange missile, drone and artillery fire between them.
Sharif arrived in Tajikistan’s capital on the final leg of a five-day regional diplomacy tour that earlier took him to Türkiye, Iran and Azerbaijan, as Islamabad seeks to reinforce strategic ties and shore up support following the South Asian standoff.
He was received in Dushanbe by Tajik Prime Minister Qohir Rasulzoda and later attended a bilateral meeting with President Rahmon at the Qasr-e-Millat.
“The Prime Minister underscored that our region could not afford India’s irresponsible and unlawful actions since 7 May 2025, which amounted to acts of war and violation the UN Charter and international law,” a statement released by his office said after the meeting. “The Prime Minister urged the international community to hold India accountable, reiterating that Pakistan desires peace, but will defend its sovereignty with full resolve if challenged.”
President Rahmon, expressing concern over the recent conflict, said he was “very worried” about the events of early May and praised Sharif’s leadership in helping restore peace and stability. He also called Pakistan a “trusted partner” and reaffirmed Tajikistan’s commitment to deepening cooperation across all sectors.
The two leaders reviewed progress under the Strategic Partnership Agreement signed in 2024 and pledged to expand collaboration in trade, defense, education, technology and counterterrorism. They also agreed to accelerate work on the CASA-1000 energy project, a regional initiative to transmit surplus hydroelectric power from Central Asia to South Asia, which they termed a “pivotal initiative” for regional integration.
Sharif underscored Pakistan’s push for deeper connectivity with Central Asia through infrastructure and transit links, citing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a linchpin of that strategy. He also briefed the Tajik president on Pakistan’s role in regional peace efforts and acknowledged Tajikistan’s leadership in water diplomacy and glacier preservation.
The Pakistani prime minister is in Dushanbe to attend the International High-Level Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation, where he is expected to speak on the impact of climate change on Pakistan and call for stronger global cooperation on environmental issues.
Earlier this week, Sharif held talks in Türkiye, Iran and Azerbaijan, including a trilateral summit with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Lachin, where the three leaders pledged to deepen regional cooperation and transform fraternal ties into a strategic partnership.
Pakistani high court to hear Imran Khan’s appeal in Al-Qadir land bribe case on June 5
- Khan and his wife Bushra were sentenced four months ago, call the case politically motivated
- Authorities say they used Al-Qadir trust to receive land as a bribe from a real estate developer
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) will take up the Al-Qadir Trust case involving former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife on June 5, marking the first hearing since the couple was sentenced over four months ago, the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said Thursday.
A Pakistani court sentenced Khan to 14 years and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to seven years in prison last January. The centers on allegations that they received land as a bribe from real estate tycoon Malik Riaz Hussain through their charitable foundation, the Al-Qadir Trust.
The trust, founded in 2018 while Khan was still in office, is accused by authorities of being used as a front for illegal benefits.
The PTI has long maintained the case lacks merit and repeatedly requested the high court to hear their petition to suspend the convictions. This is the first time the IHC has scheduled proceedings since the lower court verdict in January, which was delayed at least three times before being delivered.
“Al-Qadir Trust case is scheduled for hearing on June 5,” the PTI said in a statement during the day.
The hearing will be conducted by a two-member IHC bench led by acting Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif, according to the court’s cause list.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan, speaking to reporters outside the Supreme Court earlier this week, said the party had met with the chief justice to press for the case to be listed.
“Release [of Khan and his wife] will take place once the case is heard,” Gohar told reporters. “We still hope the case will be heard on June 5.”
The Al-Qadir case stems from £190 million that the UK repatriated to Pakistan in 2019 after the Pakistani real estate tycoon settled a British investigation into suspected criminal assets.
Authorities allege that instead of depositing the funds in Pakistan’s national treasury, Khan’s government used the money to help Hussain pay court-imposed fines in a separate case related to land acquired illegally in Karachi at below-market rates.
Khan, who has been in jail since August 2023 and is facing a slew of legal cases, says all charges against him are politically motivated.
He accuses Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the country’s powerful military of orchestrating the crackdown to sideline him, a claim both Sharif and military officials deny.
