ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top court criticized a speech delivered by British High Commissioner Jane Marriot in a letter that emerged in the media on Wednesday, saying her reservations about the judiciary’s role in the conduct of the February 8 general elections, which were widely seen as manipulated, were “unjustified.”
The letter written on May 3 referred to the British diplomat’s speech at the Asma Jahangir Conference held last month in Lahore, wherein she said not all political parties were allowed to fully participate in the electoral contest. Her speech, quoted in the media, specifically mentioned the “legal processes” that deprived them of “recognizable party symbols.”
Many Pakistani political parties criticized the last general elections, saying they did not get the required “level playing field” to perform in the national polls. The complaint made by former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party was particularly high-pitched, as most of its top leadership found itself behind bars on a number of charges amid a crackdown against them that began after violent protests on May 9, which broke out after Khan was briefly detained in a corruption case.
The PTI was also prevented from using its electoral symbol of a cricket bat after a protracted judicial battle by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in a case relating to flawed intra-party polls.
“The law enacted by Parliament (Election Act, 2017) requires democracy within political parties via the holding of periodical intra-party elections; to forestall autocracy, or even dictatorship within them,” the letter written by the Supreme Court registrar explained. “To ensure compliance with this democratic principle the law stipulates that if a political party does not hold intra-party elections, then it would not be eligible for an election symbol.”
“A political party (which had itself voted in this law) did not hold the mandated intra-party elections,” it continued. “The Supreme Court reiterated what the law stipulated ... Therefore, you Excellency’s criticism with regard to this decision, with utmost respect, was unjustified.”
The letter written on the instructions of Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa noted that the proceedings of the hearing were live televised for the public.
It also highlighted other steps taken by the top court to strengthen democracy in the country and make the national and provincial elections possible earlier this year.
The Supreme Court registrar also maintained that Britain had also made several mistakes in the past which had led to unbearable suffering to people in different parts of the world. It specifically mentioned the overthrow of Iran’s Mohammad Mossadegh’s government in 1953 and the adoption of the Belfour Declarations that led to the creation of Israel.
It maintained the Supreme Court had acknowledged its past mistakes, adding this should also be done with the British government.
“Let us all stand up and be counted for equality, peace and humanity,” it continued.
Pakistan’s top court rebukes British envoy’s critique of election conduct as ‘unjustified’
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Pakistan’s top court rebukes British envoy’s critique of election conduct as ‘unjustified’
- British envoy said last month not all parties could fully participate in the polls, some were deprived of election symbols
- The Supreme Court mentions the past mistakes of British governments that caused suffering to millions around the world
Pakistan PM discusses Middle East crisis with Saudi Crown Prince, calls for de-escalation
- Heightened tensions after Iranian missile attack on US base in Qatar spark fears of wider Gulf conflict
- Sharif also holds third call with Iranian president in as many days, urges diplomacy to restore peace
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday spoke by phone with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss the situation in the Middle East amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel.
The call followed Israeli and United States strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory missile attack on a US base in Qatar on Tuesday. Qatar condemned the Iranian strikes as a “flagrant violation” of its sovereignty, raising fears the crisis could draw in other regional powers if not defused.
During the call, Sharif said Pakistan supported immediate de-escalation of the Iran-Israel conflict and its peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy.
“While referring to last night’s attacks, he called for adherence to international law and the UN Charter principles by all sides,” Sharif’s office said after the telephone discussion with the Saudi Crown Prince. “In this context, the Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Kingdom’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Sharif also praised the Saudi crown prince’s efforts to restore calm, describing them as reflective of the kingdom’s leadership role in the Muslim world and its position as a peacemaker, according to his office.
The crown prince, for his part, appreciated Pakistan’s show of solidarity and acknowledged Islamabad’s constructive role in supporting a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
“His Royal Highness said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was fully committed to efforts aimed at fostering lasting peace and stability in the Middle East,” Sharif’s office said.
On Monday, US President Donald Trump said Israel and Iran had agreed to a “complete and total ceasefire” to be phased in over 24 hours. However, Israel warned of possible missile launches from Iran early Tuesday, and the launches began after 4am local time in Tehran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran would halt its attacks if Israel ended its airstrikes.
It was unclear how the latest developments would affect the planned ceasefire.
Separately on Tuesday, Sharif held a third phone call in as many days with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and again urged dialogue and diplomacy to restore peace in the region.
The crisis has left Islamabad navigating a delicate balance between ties with Iran, other Gulf partners and the United States, which remains one of Pakistan’s largest trading partners and a major source of military and economic assistance.
“The prime minister said that Pakistan was closely following the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East,” Sharif’s office said after the call with Pezeshkian. “He reiterated Pakistan’s support for Iran at all diplomatic forums, including at the UN Security Council and the OIC [Organization of Islamic Cooperation], while calling for adherence to international law and the UN Charter principles.”
Army major among two soldiers, 11 militants killed in Pakistan’s restive northwest
- The casualties occurred during an intelligence-based operation in South Waziristan district, which borders Afghanistan
- Pakistan and India often accuse each other of backing militant groups that launch cross-border attacks on the other’s soil
ISLAMABAD: Two Pakistani soldiers, including an army major, and 11 militants were killed in a shootout in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the Pakistani military said on Tuesday.
The operation was conducted in KP’s South Waziristan district, which borders Afghanistan, on intelligence reports about the presence of “Indian-sponsored” militants, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.
The intense exchange of fire killed 11 militants and injured seven others. The shootout also left two Pakistani soldiers, Major Moiz Abbas Shah and Lance Naik Jibran Ullah, dead.
“Sanitization operation is being conducted to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored kharji [militant] found in the area,” the ISPR said in a statement.
Pakistan and India often blame each other for supporting militancy.
Islamabad accuses 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.
Pakistan has struggled to contain a surge in militancy in KP since a fragile truce between the Pakistani Taliban, or the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and Islamabad broke down in late 2022. The TTP and other militant groups have frequently targeted security forces convoys and check-posts, besides targeted killings and kidnappings of law enforcers and government officials in the region in recent months.
In a statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to Major Shah and Lance Naik Jibran Ullah for thwarting the evil designs of the enemy.
“We will continue the fight against the scourge of terrorism until it is completely eradicated from the country,” he said. “The entire nation, including me, stands by our Pakistani forces in their unwavering resolve to protect the homeland.”
In call with Iran president, Pakistan PM urges dialogue to restore peace in Middle East
- The development came a day after Tehran attacked a US base in Qatar in retaliation for airstrikes on its nuclear facilities
- The crisis appeared to put Islamabad in a difficult position to balance its equation with Iran, other Gulf partners, and the US
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian for the third time in as many days and urged dialogue and diplomacy to restore peace in the Middle East, Sharif’s office said.
The development came a day after Tehran attacked a United States (US) base in Qatar in retaliation for US airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities late last week. The US strikes followed days of Israeli attacks on Iran’s nuclear program and military leadership.
Qatar condemned the Iranian missile attack and called it a “flagrant violation” of its sovereignty, saying it reserved the right to respond directly and in accordance with the international law. The Iranian attack raised fears about a wider conflict in the already volatile region.
The crisis appeared to put Islamabad in a difficult position to balance its equation with Iran, other Gulf partners, and the US, which remains one of Pakistan’s largest trading partners and a critical source of military and economic assistance.
“The prime minister said that Pakistan was closely following the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East. He emphasized the importance of restoring peace through dialogue and diplomacy,” Sharif’s office said after his telephonic conversation with the Iranian president.
“He reiterated Pakistan’s support for Iran at all diplomatic forums, including at the UN Security Council and the OIC [Organization of Islamic Cooperation], while calling for adherence to international law and the UN Charter principles, by all sides.”
The development came hours after US President Donald Trump said that Israel and Iran had agreed to a “complete and total ceasefire” to be phased in over 24 hours.
But Israel warned its public to take shelter after detecting missile launches from Iran early Tuesday. The launches came after 4am local time in Tehran, the time Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran would stop its attacks if Israel ended their airstrikes.
It was unclear yet how the latest developments would impact the possible ceasefire agreement.
President Pezeshkian appreciated Pakistan’s consistent and principled support to Iran throughout the crisis, according to Sharif’s office.
“He also acknowledged Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting a peaceful resolution to the conflict,” it said. “The two leaders agreed on the importance of unity among the Ummah during this most challenging time. They agreed to remain in touch.”
Pakistan boosts intelligence-sharing with Gulf states to curb drug trafficking
- The development comes months after Islamabad hosted the Pakistan-Gulf Cooperation Council Counter-Narcotics Conference
- Oman has appointed its drug liaison officer in Pakistan, reflecting shared commitment to drug-free Gulf and South Asia
KARACHI: Pakistan and Gulf countries have intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking by enhancing intelligence-sharing, Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) said on Tuesday, with Oman appointing a drug liaison officer in Islamabad.
The development comes months after Islamabad hosted the Pakistan-Gulf Cooperation Council (Pak-GCC) Counter-Narcotics Conference, marking the first-ever formal assembly of anti-narcotics leadership from Pakistan and all six GCC member states, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait along with special observers from Italy.
For years, drug traffickers have exploited geographical and technological loopholes, using Pakistan as a transit hub and GCC nations as lucrative markets, according to the ANF. Despite ongoing efforts, the scale of smuggling seizures continues to expand, with traffickers now leveraging the dark web, cryptocurrency, and synthetic drug manufacturing to evade law enforcement agencies.
“During the conference, the Director-General of Narcotics of the Sultanate of Oman announced the appointment of drug liaison officer in Pakistan,” the ANF said in a statement.
“Acting on this decision, Mr. Suleiman Al-Hanai has been appointed as Oman’s first Drug Liaison Officer in Pakistan who has assumed his official responsibilities in Islamabad.”
The announcement signals a new phase in relations between the two countries as they align their efforts in the global war on drugs, according to the ANF. The appointment reflects a shared commitment by Pakistan and Oman to safeguard their societies and promote a drug-free environment across the Gulf and South Asian regions.
In recent years, the ANF has successfully intercepted tones of illicit drugs, dismantled trafficking rings through road, border, dry port, airport and sea routes, and strengthened global relationships. With its advanced intelligence capabilities and strategic operations, the ANF has intensified collaboration with GCC security agencies, ensuring that traffickers find no safe passage between these regions.
In June 2024, the ANF also stepped up its international cooperation against drug trafficking through a workshop backed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, uniting national, regional and global agencies to strengthen data-sharing and coordination.
Pakistan stocks see strong recovery as Iran-Israel ceasefire reports boost investor sentiment
- US President Donald Trump said Monday that Israel and Iran had agreed to a ‘complete’ ceasefire to be phased in over 24 hours
- Analyst says the momentum is likely to continue, with valuations still shy of a long-term mean and due to market-friendly budget
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Tuesday witnessed a strong recovery amid a reported ceasefire between Israel and Iran, traders and analysts said.
On Monday, United States (US) President Donald Trump said on social media that Israel and Iran had agreed to a “complete and total ceasefire” to be phased in over 24 hours.
The benchmark KSE-100 index surged by 6,079 points, or 5.23 percent, to close at 122,246 points on Tuesday afternoon, compared to the previous day’s close of 116,167 points.
“Stocks closed near all-time high after Iran, Israel agreed to a ceasefire receding fears of escalation in the Middle East tensions,” Ahsan Mehanti of Arif Habib Corporation told Arab News.
“Upbeat economic data on cement sales for Jul-May’25, bull run in global equities and receding fears over high inflation, impact on exports for supply disruptions over Middle East conflict played a catalyst role in the record bullish close.”
Raza Jafri, head of research at Intermarket Securities Ltd., attributed the momentum to reduction in international oil prices along with settling regional tensions.
In volatile trading on Tuesday, crude futures slumped more than five percent after Trump’s declaration of the Iran-Israel ceasefire.
“With valuations still shy of a long-term mean and Pakistan having recently unveiled a market-friendly budget, bullish momentum is expected to continue,” Jafri added.
On Monday, Pakistan’s stocks and currency markets had tumbled as investors reacted to the US foray into the Israel-Iran conflict a day earlier.
Monday’s 3.2 percent fall to 116,167 points was the worst since May 8, when the index had plunged 5.9 percent day-on-day during the India-Pakistan military standoff.
