Army expected to launch military courts in two weeks to try rioters — Pakistan special prosecutor

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party activists and supporters of former Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran gather outside headquarters of the frontier corps during a protest against the arrest of their leader, in Peshawar on May 9, 2023. (Photo courtesy: AFP)
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Updated 19 May 2023
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Army expected to launch military courts in two weeks to try rioters — Pakistan special prosecutor

  •  Amy has said those found involved in violence following ex-PM Khan’s arrest last week would be tried under Pakistan Army Act
  • Legal experts and rights groups say military courts deprive civilians of basic rights, including contracting lawyer of choice

ISLAMABAD: A special prosecutor of the Pakistan federal government said on Friday the army was “expected” to constitute military courts within two weeks to try suspects accused of attacking army installations during countrywide protests in the wake of the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan last week.

The detention of Khan in a land fraud case on May 9 was met by days-long violent protests by his supporters, who torched cars and buildings, including military installations. Hundreds were arrested in the aftermath, with the army announcing that those found involved in the violence would be tried under relevant Pakistani laws, including the Pakistan Army Act.

The Pakistan Army Act of 1952 established military courts primarily to try members of the military or enemies of the state. Civilians accused of offenses such as waging war against the armed forces or law enforcement agencies, or attacking military installations or inciting mutiny, can be tried by military courts under a federal government order.

The army did not respond to calls and messages seeking comment for this story.

“Pakistan army is expected to constitute military courts under the army act in two weeks to try those involved in the riots,” Special Prosecutor Raja Rizwan Abbasi told Arab News on Friday, defending the trial of civilians by military courts under the Army and Official Secrets Acts.

“It is quite legal and lawful to institute the process,” the government lawyer said.

The Official Secrets Act prohibited attacks on, and the infringement and trespassing of, military installations, with those found guilt liable to be tried under the Army Act, Abbasi explained.

“Once the [military] courts are formed, the accused would have a fair chance to defend themselves to prove their innocence,” he said, adding that those convicted by military courts could appeal the judgment in an appeal court within the army, and subsequently also file “a writ petition in a high court after their mercy plea was rejected by the army chief.”

“If a convict thinks there was any malafide in the trial in military courts, he may file a writ petition in a high court,” Abbasi added.

He said the army would not need parliamentary or cabinet approval to form military courts as it was already empowered to do so under the Army Act.

“The army act empowers the military to constitute the courts and try civilians involved in abetment, planning and attacks on its installations,” he added.

Military courts operate under a separate system from the civilian legal system and are run by military officers. The judges are also military personnel and cases are tried at military installations. Trials are closed to outsiders, and no media presence is allowed.

The courts have faced widespread criticism from within Pakistan and rights organizations globally because of their secretive nature and their existence alongside a functioning civilian legal system.

“It is alarming to note that the Pakistani Army has stated its intention to try civilians under military laws, possibly in military courts. Trying civilians in military courts is contrary to international law,” Dinushika Dissanayake, Deputy Regional Director for South Asia at Amnesty International, said this week.

“This is purely an intimidation tactic, designed to crack down on dissent by exercising fear of an institution that has never been held to account for its overreach.”

The army has said in the past trials held at military courts are fair and guarantee human and legal rights.


Pakistan working on ‘comprehensive, effective’ strategy to eliminate militants— PM 

Updated 31 July 2025
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Pakistan working on ‘comprehensive, effective’ strategy to eliminate militants— PM 

  • Shehbaz Sharif chairs high-level meeting attended by Pakistan army chief and senior ministers to review law and order situation
  • Sharif notes ground operations, relevant legislation and “meaningful public engagement” have been effectively utilized by authorities

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said his government is working on a “comprehensive, effective and actionable strategy” to completely eliminate militant outfits in the country, state-run media reported, as Islamabad grapples with a rise in militant attacks in its western provinces. 

Pakistan has struggled to contain increasing militant attacks in its northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and southwestern Balochistan provinces in recent months, where it faces twin insurgencies launched by the Pakistani Taliban and separatist Baloch militant outfits.

Sharif chaired a meeting of the Steering Committee on Counterterrorism and Establishment of the State’s Writ (Harden the State) in Islamabad, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan said in a report. The meeting was attended by senior military and government officials, including Field Marshal General Syed Asim Munir, Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, National Security Adviser Lt. Gen. Muhammad Asim Malik, the four provincial chief secretaries, police chiefs, senior ministers and officials.

“He [Sharif] said Pakistan is working on a comprehensive, effective, and actionable strategy for the complete elimination of anti-social elements including Fitna Al-Hindustan and Khawarij,” Radio Pakistan said. 

Pakistan’s military frequently uses “Fitna-al-Khawarij” for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and “Fitna-al-Hindustan,” to describe the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and other separatist outfits. Islamabad accuses New Delhi of arming and funding militant groups in KP and Balochistan, a charge India denies. Pakistan also blames Afghanistan for providing sanctuaries to militants that it says launch attacks on Pakistani soil. Kabul has always denied the allegations. 

Sharif said Pakistan has adopted a multi-dimensional strategy in its war against “terrorism,” noting that ground operations, relevant legislation, meaningful public engagement, and discouragement of extremist ideologies have been effectively utilized by authorities.

“He directed the committee to ensure effective coordination between the federal and the provincial governments and strictly implement its recommendations,” the report added. 

The Pakistani prime minister highlighted that a peaceful and “terrorism-free strong state structure” is essential to restore investors’ confidence at the international level. Sharif said the government’s reforms, such as the digitization of several systems and improvement in the tax system, were restoring investors’ confidence. 

A day earlier, Pakistan’s army chief addressed participants at the 16th National Workshop Balochistan in Rawalpindi where he reiterated the military’s commitment to eliminating militancy. Munir had said during his speech that violent extremism must be countered, while calling for a unified national response.

Separatist groups in Balochistan have long accused the Pakistani state of exploiting the province’s vast natural resources, ranging from gas and coal to copper and gold, without equitably sharing the benefits with local communities. They claim successive governments have prioritized extraction over development, leaving the region impoverished despite its mineral wealth.

Pakistani authorities have, however, consistently rejected such accusations, maintaining that a significant number of development projects are underway to uplift Balochistan’s economy, improve infrastructure and expand access to education and health care.

In KP, the TTP has launched some of the deadliest attacks against law enforcers and civilians in its bid to impose its own version of Islam in the country. 


Top Pakistani general meets Egyptian president, leadership to discuss military, counterterrorism cooperation

Updated 31 July 2025
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Top Pakistani general meets Egyptian president, leadership to discuss military, counterterrorism cooperation

  • Pakistan’s chairman joints chiefs of staff committee is in Cairo for the third round of Defense and Security Talks with Egypt
  • General Sahir Shamshad Mirza meets Al-Azhar’s grand imam to discuss importance of religious harmony, says Pakistan military

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani top general met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and the country’s senior civil and defense leadership on Thursday to discuss regional situation, military and counterterrorism cooperation, the Pakistani military’s media wing said. 

General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, who is Pakistan’s chairman joint chiefs of staff committee (CJCSC), is in Egypt for the third round of defense and security talks between the two countries. During the visit, he met senior Egyptian officials such as El-Sisi, General Abdel Mageed Ahmed Abdel Mageed Saqr, minister of defense and military production and commander-in-chief of the Egyptian Armed Forces, Admiral Osama Mounier Mohamed Rabie. 

He also met the chairman and managing director of the Suez Canal Authority, as well as Professor Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed El-Tayeb, the grand imam of the Al-Azhar institute, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing, said. 

“Discussions focused on bilateral military cooperation, security, counterterrorism and prevailing regional situation,” the ISPR said. “Dignitaries from both sides emphasized upon the shared interest in further strengthening and expanding existing military-to-military relationship in the domains of training, joint military exercises and defense cooperation.”

Speaking to El-Tayeb, Mirza highlighted the importance of religious and inter-faith harmony to promote tolerance, inclusivity and address the underlying causes of “terrorism,” the military’s media wing said. 

“Egyptian dignitaries lauded the professionalism of Pakistan Armed Forces and acknowledged their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism,” the ISPR said. 

Mirza was presented a guard of honor by an Egyptian Armed Forces contingent upon his arrival at the Ministry of Defense, the military’s media wing said. 

Pakistan and Egypt have cordial ties and both countries have resolved in recent years to facilitate businessmen with visas, exchange trade-related information and promote private-sector contacts.

Earlier this month, senior officials of Pakistan and Egypt discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation in agriculture, food security and farming, with Islamabad expressing interest in learning from Cairo’s successful experiences in these areas.


Economists blame lax regulation, call for reforms to resolve Pakistan’s recurring sugar crisis

Updated 31 July 2025
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Economists blame lax regulation, call for reforms to resolve Pakistan’s recurring sugar crisis

  • Retailers, sugar suppliers report prices have surged to $0.71 per kg despite being set at $0.61 per kg by Pakistani authorities
  • Pakistan’s food security minister denies sugar shortage reports, says country has sufficient stocks to meet annual consumption 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani economists on Thursday blamed weak enforcement of regulations by the government and lack of transparency for the recurring sugar crisis in the country, stressing the urgent need for reforms in the sugar industry to resolve the problem. 

In Pakistan, high sugar prices have often triggered public outcry and become flashpoints for opposition criticism, with recurring allegations of hoarding and cartelization, especially during election years or periods of economic volatility.

Sugar crisis has once again started to make headlines in Pakistan, with retailers and suppliers reporting that prices of the commodity have risen sharply to Rs200 [$0.71] per kilogram in many parts of the country. This development takes place despite the government’s announcement earlier this month that it has capped sugar’s retail price at Rs173 [$0.61] per kilogram. 

“The sugar crisis is not new, it recurs every two to three years regardless of which party is in power, even under military regimes,” Dr. Kaiser Bengali, a leading economist, told Arab News.

“This pattern continues due to weak enforcement, lack of transparency in stock reporting and poor regulatory oversight at all levels.” 

The economist said the crisis was caused primarily by a powerful cartel of sugar mill owners who manipulated prices by influencing both the federal and provincial governments’ policy decisions.

Bengali explained that these sugar mill owners, many of whom were politically connected, created artificial shortages to drive up prices and maximize their profits.

“Each year, mill owners pressure the government to allow sugar exports, claiming they need to clear old stock to begin the crushing season,” Dr. Bengali said.

He said mill owners also demanded subsidies under the pretext of covering price differentials, only to later cause domestic shortages and raise sugar prices.

Pakistan’s Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain refuted reports of a sugar shortage in the country, alleging that a perception was being created as if there were major issues regarding the availability, supply and pricing of sugar.

“The government launched a crackdown on hoarders and profiteers, including retailers and even mill owners, in an effort to curb market manipulation,” Hussain told Arab News after addressing a press briefing on the issue.

“We have also fined shopkeepers Rs180 million ($639,000) who were selling [sugar] at higher prices,” the minister said. 

In a press statement released by his ministry, Hussain said Pakistan currently has 5.8 million metric tons of sugar from this year’s production in stock and with the buffer stock of 500,000 metric tons, the total availability stands at 6.3 million metric tons. He said this is sufficient to meet the annual domestic consumption requirement, which is also around 6.3 million metric tons.

The statement said Pakistan exported 750,000 metric tons of surplus sugar last year, earning $402 million. The ministry said this export decision was not an “abrupt” one but was taken after thorough verification of data from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and other departments. 

Responding to criticism over the government’s export and import decisions, Hussain told Arab News said such narratives ignored a ten-year trend in Pakistan where sugar exports typically followed the crushing season and were sometimes followed by imports of the commodity.

He acknowledged that initial projections for the 2024–25 season estimated sugar production at 7 million metric tons, slightly above the previous year. However, the adverse effects of climate change affected agricultural output, including sugarcane yield.

“As a result, actual production dropped to 5.8 million metric tons,” he said. 

’NO QUICK FIXES’

Pakistani business reporter Shehbaz Rana, who has extensively reported on the matter, said the control of sugar mills by politically powerful families was the major reason for the crisis. 

“The only viable solution is full deregulation of the sugar supply chain, removing government controls over production, pricing, imports and exports to dismantle cartel structures and foster true market competition,” Rana said. 

Economist Dr. Khaqan Najeeb, Pakistan’s former finance adviser, said the sugar sector’s crisis underscored the urgent need to move beyond “reactive firefighting” and adopt structured, tech-driven, and market-aligned frameworks.

“Addressing this challenge requires deep policy expertise and a commitment to serious, evidence-based reform,,” he told Arab News.

He pointed out the need for six key sugar sector reforms: improving per-acre yields, promoting ethanol and bagasse power, deregulating the market, enforcing anti-cartel laws, using technology to monitor the supply chain, and setting transparent, formula-based pricing with timely farmer payments.

“These are not quick fixes — they demand consistent, hard work, but after years of misaligned interventions through poorly timed exports and imports, one thing is clear, there is no easy solution, only the hard path of structural reform,” he added. 


Pakistan T20 captain backs ‘fine’ blend of youth, experience ahead of West Indies series

Updated 31 July 2025
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Pakistan T20 captain backs ‘fine’ blend of youth, experience ahead of West Indies series

  • Pakistan face West Indies in three-match T20I series starting Aug. 1 in Florida
  • Green Shirts will then face West Indies in three-match ODI series from Aug. 8-12

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan T20 captain Salman Ali Agha has expressed confidence in the team’s “fine” blend of youth and experience as they take on the West Indies in the United States for a three-match series starting Aug. 1, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said this week.

The three T20Is, beginning on Thursday, July 31 (1 August, 5 am Pakistan Standard Time) at the Central Broward Park and Broward County Stadium in Florida is the first meeting between the two teams in T20Is since December 2021.

The second and third T20I are scheduled to take place on 2 and 3 August at the same venue with the first ball slated to be bowled at 8pm local time (3 and 4 August, 5 am Pakistan Standard Time).

“We have a fine blend of youth and experience in our squad, and it is highly productive that we are going into yet another T20 series as the build-up toward the T20 World Cup picks up pace,” Agha said. 

Pakistan’s T20 squad comprises experienced cricketers such as Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf along with youngsters Abrar Ahmed, Hassan Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan, Sufyan Moqim and Saim Ayub. 

“We are really looking forward to playing at this wonderful venue and our time here so far has been exciting,” the Pakistan captain said. “I feel the three T20 will also be entertaining and as a team we are eagerly looking forward to take the field.”

He added that Pakistan will need to play their best game to “outfox a formidable T20 side.”

The ODIs will be played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad & Tobago on August 8, 10 and 12, with Mohammad Rizwan set to lead Pakistan as its captain.

Pakistan will take the field in Lauderhill for the second time, having previously defeated Ireland by three wickets at the same venue during the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

Pakistan has won 15 out of 21 T20s played against the West Indies, while the hosts have won three matches, with three ending without a result.

Pakistan and the West Indies will be looking to bounce back from their recent T20I series defeats against Bangladesh and Australia, respectively.

PAKISTAN SQUADS:

ODI: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufyan Moqim

T20I: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wicket-keeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufyan Moqim


Pakistan ruling party chief discusses strengthening bilateral defense, economic ties with Saudi envoy

Updated 31 July 2025
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Pakistan ruling party chief discusses strengthening bilateral defense, economic ties with Saudi envoy

  • Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz meet Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki 
  • Maintaining close contact with Saudi Arabia at consular level is a top priority of Punjab government, says Nawaz 

ISLAMABAD: The president of Pakistan’s ruling Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party Nawaz Sharif and his daughter, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, met Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki on Thursday to discuss strengthening bilateral defense, political and economic ties between the two countries, an official of the Punjab government said. 

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy close defense, economic and diplomatic ties. In recent months, the two countries have sought closer economic cooperation, with Islamabad and Riyadh signing 34 business-to-business agreements last year worth $2.8 billion. 

During their meeting, Sharif and the Punjab chief minister conveyed their sincere wishes and respect for Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the public relations officer to the Punjab chief minister said in a message circulated to media.

“The meeting included discussions on matters of mutual interest, economic cooperation, defense partnership, and unity of the Muslim Ummah,” the statement said. 

It added that both sides reaffirmed to further strengthen the historic, political, economic and defense ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

“Both sides agreed to expand defense partnership, joint training, intelligence sharing and mutual cooperation,” it said. 

The Punjab chief minister said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia’s relationship is based on mutual trust, shared values and long-standing brotherhood.

“Relations with Saudi Arabia are a central pillar of Pakistan’s foreign policy, which continues to grow stronger in political, economic, and other sectors,” she was quoted as saying. 

Nawaz said Islamabad is grateful to Saudi Arabia for hosting 2.5 million Pakistani expatriates in the Kingdom. 

“Maintaining close and continuous contact with Saudi Arabia at the consular level is a top priority of the Punjab government,” she added. 

Apart from being a key regional ally and close business partner, Saudi Arabia also happens to be the largest source of foreign remittances for Pakistan.
These remittances are a lifeline for Pakistan’s cash-strapped economy, playing a critical role in stabilizing foreign exchange reserves and its supporting balance of payments.