All eyes on Pakistan Supreme Court, set to rule on parliamentary reserved seats case

Update All eyes on Pakistan Supreme Court, set to rule on parliamentary reserved seats case
Commuters ride past the Pakistan’s Supreme Court building in Islamabad on January 12, 2024. (AFP/File)
Short Url
Updated 12 July 2024
Follow

All eyes on Pakistan Supreme Court, set to rule on parliamentary reserved seats case

All eyes on Pakistan Supreme Court, set to rule on parliamentary reserved seats case
  • Under election rules, parties are allotted reserved seats in proportion to number of parliamentary seats they win in polls
  • Khan’s party hopes to win back 70 seats that were allotted to other parties which are now part of the PM Sharif-led ruling coalition

ISLAMABAD: All eyes are on Pakistan’s top court today, Friday, set to deliver a verdict on a set of petitions challenging the denial of reserved seats in parliament to the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) party, which is backed by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court had reserved its verdict in the case, which could see 70 seats for women and minorities that were allotted to the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after Feb. 8 general elections go to the Khan-backed alliance.
A simple majority in Pakistan’s parliament is 169 out a total 336 seats. Candidates backed by Khan had won the most seats, 93, in the polls but did not have the numbers to form a government. 
“A 13-member bench [of the Supreme Court] will announce the decision at noon [12pm] Friday,” the PTI said in a text message sent to reporters with a copy of the cause list issued by the top court on Thursday.
All candidates from Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party were forced to contest the February polls as independents after the party lost its election symbol on technical grounds. After the election, these candidates joined the Sunni Ittehad Council party to claim a share of 70 reserved seats for women and minorities allotted in proportion to the parliamentary seats a party wins in elections. 
The Election Commission (ECP) however ruled that the SIC was not eligible for the reserved seats and a Peshawar court upheld the decision, dealing a blow to the embattled PTI’s governing prospects and proving to be a major setback for Khan, who has been in jail since last August. The Supreme Court subsequently overruled these verdicts and has since last month been hearing petitions filed by SIC to restore the seats to the opposition alliance.
PM Sharif formed a weak coalition with other parties after the general elections produced a hung parliament. Sharif’s PML-N party’s 79 and the PPP’s 54 seats together made a simple majority in parliament to form a government at the center and they also roped in smaller parties in the coalition. 
Khan and his party have rejected the results of the elections, alleging widespread rigging, which the ECP denies.
In Pakistan, parties are allocated 70 reserved seats — 60 for women, 10 for non-Muslims — in proportion to the number of seats won in general elections. This completes the National Assembly’s total 336 seats. Independents are not eligible for reserved seats.
Without the reserved seats, Sharif’s ruling coalition will lose its two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, without which the government cannot push through constitutional amendments.


Pakistanis among foreign students wary as Trump expands crackdown on elite universities

Pakistanis among foreign students wary as Trump expands crackdown on elite universities
Updated 17 sec ago
Follow

Pakistanis among foreign students wary as Trump expands crackdown on elite universities

Pakistanis among foreign students wary as Trump expands crackdown on elite universities
  • Trump’s crackdown is prompting some international students to abandon applications to campuses in the United States
  • Sial, Harvard student from Pakistan, says foreign students like him were “made to fight this battle which no one signed up for”

Cambridge, United States: Donald Trump’s expanding crackdown on elite universities is prompting some international students to abandon applications to campuses in the United States and spreading stress and anxiety among those already enrolled.

The president has upended the country’s reputation among foreign students, who number around one million, as he presses a campaign against US universities he sees as obstructing his “Make America Great Again” populist agenda.

He has blocked Harvard hosting international scholars in a maneuver being challenged legally, targeted non-citizen campus activists for deportation, and most recently suspended student visa processing across the board.

Harvard applied mathematics and economic student Abdullah Shahid Sial, 20, said the Trump administration’s campaign against US universities that the president accused of being hotbeds of liberal bias and anti-Semitism had been “dehumanizing.”

“It’s really unfortunate that this is the case for 18, 19, and 20-year-olds who came here without any family, and in most cases, haven’t been to the US before,” said Sial, who is from Pakistan and hopes to be able to return to Harvard next academic year.

Sial said he advised acquaintances to have backup plans if US colleges became inaccessible, and that a friend applied to Harvard’s law school, as well as Columbia’s, and two less reputable British institutions — ultimately opting to go to the UK.

“He definitely liked Harvard way more (but) he doesn’t want this amount of uncertainty surrounding his education,” Sial said.

Karl Molden, a Harvard government and classics student from Austria, said Trump’s move to block the university from hosting and enrolling foreign students meant he was unsure if he would be able to return after summer vacation.

While that decision — affecting some 27 percent of the overall Harvard population — was paused by a judge pending a hearing Thursday, the move still threw student plans into chaos.

“I kind of figured I would be in the target group of Trump. I’m personally right in the middle of it, so an option for me would be to study abroad... I have applied to study at Oxford because of all the action” taken by Trump, said Molden, 21.

“It’s just really hard”

Harvard academics say they have already started to feel the impact of Trump’s vendetta against the school, in feedback from colleagues based outside the United States.

“I’ve already heard this from professors in other countries who say ‘we encourage our best students to go to the United States’,” Harvard professor Ryan Enos told AFP at a noisy rally against Trump’s policies Tuesday, adding “we wonder if we can tell them that anymore.”

The halt to visa processing revealed this week is reportedly to allow for more stringent screening of applicants’ social media — and protest activity.

“International students already represent the most tracked and vetted category of nonimmigrants in the United States. It is a poor use of taxpayer dollars,” said the NAFSA Association of International Educators non-profit.

Trump, meanwhile, continued his assault on Harvard, saying university leaders have “got to behave themselves.

“Harvard is treating our country with great disrespect, and all they’re doing is getting in deeper and deeper,” he said Wednesday in the White House.

One Spanish student of politics and statistics, who declined to be named for fear of retaliation, told AFP she would not be deterred from pursuing her planned year abroad at Columbia University.

“It’s scary, because we think to ourselves that all our activity on social networks could be monitored, for example, if we like pro-Palestinian posts or anti-Trump posts. All of that could see us denied a visa,” she said.

Students due to return to Harvard after the summer break are in limbo pending a ruling on Harvard’s exclusion from the foreign student system.

“I’m completely in the dark,” said 20-year-old Alfred Williamson, a Welsh-Danish physics and government student in his second year at Harvard.

“As for my other options, and like all other international students, I’m just clinging on to the hope that Harvard will win this battle against the White House.”

Sial, the Harvard student from Pakistan, said foreign students like him were “made to fight this battle which no one signed up for.”

“It’s really unfortunate that it’s come down to that.”


International rights bodies write joint letter to Pakistani PM calling for releases of Baloch activists

International rights bodies write joint letter to Pakistani PM calling for releases of Baloch activists
Updated 13 min 52 sec ago
Follow

International rights bodies write joint letter to Pakistani PM calling for releases of Baloch activists

International rights bodies write joint letter to Pakistani PM calling for releases of Baloch activists
  • Dr. Mahrang Baloch, one of the leading campaigners for Baloch minority, was arrested in March on charges of terrorism, sedition
  • In Balochistan, impoverished province that borders Afghanistan and Iran, security forces are battling a growing separatist insurgency

ISLAMABAD: Amnesty International along with four other human rights organizations on Wednesday wrote to the Pakistani prime minister, calling for an end to the “harassment and arbitrary detention” of Baloch human rights defenders (HRDs) exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, particularly in Balochistan province. 

The letter comes in the wake of Dr. Mahrang Baloch, one of the leading campaigners for the Baloch minority and the leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), and a number of other activists, being arrested in March on charges of terrorism, sedition and murder.

Security forces are battling a growing insurgency in Balochistan, an impoverished province that borders Afghanistan and Iran. Rights groups say the violence has been countered with a severe crackdown that has swept up innocent people. Authorities deny heavy handedness.

“All five organizations — Amnesty International, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), Front Line Defenders, International Federation for Human Rights, World Organization Against Torture — appeal to Pakistan’s Prime Minister to release Baloch human rights defenders and end the crackdown on dissent in line with Pakistan’s international human rights obligations,” Amnesty Internation said on X, sharing a copy of the joint letter.

The joint letter called on the government to take the following steps:

Immediately and unconditionally release all Baloch HRDs and their family members “arbitrarily detained solely for peacefully exercising their rights in line with the right to liberty and safety”; drop all charges against them; pending their release, ensure the safety of HRDs and family members, including by sharing accurate information about their whereabouts, providing effective access to family members, legal counsel and medical treatment; conduct a thorough, impartial, effective and transparent investigation into the allegations of torture and mistreatment by Pakistani authorities of Baloch HRDs under detention; end the crackdown against HRDs, journalists, protesters and dissidents by ensuring their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are fully protected; cease all forms of reprisals against family members of HRDs; and conduct an “effective, prompt, thorough and impartial investigation into the unlawful use of force” against protesters including Dr. Baloch on March 21 in Quetta and bring those suspected of responsibility to justice through fair trials.

Activists say in the crackdown against militancy in Balochistan, authorities have harassed and even carried out extrajudicial killings of Baloch civilians. Pakistani authorities reject the “baseless allegations.”

A dozen UN experts called on Pakistan in March to immediately release Baloch rights defenders, including Dr. Baloch, and to end the repression of their peaceful protests. UN special rapporteur for human rights defenders Mary Lawlor said she was “disturbed by reports of further mistreatment in prison.”

Balochistan is the site of a long-running separatist movement, with insurgent groups accusing the state of unfairly exploiting Balochistan’s rich gas and mineral resources. The federal and provincial governments deny this, saying they are spending billions of rupees on the uplift of the province’s people. 


Violent Pakistan storms trigger floods, landslides killing 10

Violent Pakistan storms trigger floods, landslides killing 10
Updated 43 min 56 sec ago
Follow

Violent Pakistan storms trigger floods, landslides killing 10

Violent Pakistan storms trigger floods, landslides killing 10
  • Strong winds, thunderstorms trigger flash floods, destroy homes in central and northern parts of Pakistan
  • Storms on Saturday killed at least 14 people and injured more than 100 more across the country

Muzaffarabad, Pakistan: At least 10 people were killed and 43 injured as strong winds and thunderstorms triggered flash floods and destroyed homes in central and northern parts of Pakistan, officials said Wednesday.

Four women and a man died in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and three in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the State Disaster Management Authority said, while other officials said two died in Punjab.

“One person is still missing,” Haroon Rasheed, a senior government official in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, told AFP, adding that 12 houses and a mosque were destroyed in one village.

Women walk past a damaged mosque, a day after flash floods in Balgran village near Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir on May 28, 2025. (AFP)

Storms on Saturday killed at least 14 people and injured over 100 more across the country, which is grappling with increasingly frequent extreme weather events blamed on climate change.

Stormy weather is expected to continue in northern and central parts of the country until Saturday, according to the National Disaster Management Authority.

Soaring temperatures in April and May are becoming more common in Pakistan, which usually sees summer begin in early June.

Temperatures reached near-record levels in April — as high as 46.5 Celsius (116 Fahrenheit) in parts of Punjab.

Schools in Punjab and southwestern Balochistan provinces have closed early for summer vacations because of the heat.


Pakistan, Iran agree to increase number of flights for pilgrims

Pakistan, Iran agree to increase number of flights for pilgrims
Updated 37 min 6 sec ago
Follow

Pakistan, Iran agree to increase number of flights for pilgrims

Pakistan, Iran agree to increase number of flights for pilgrims
  • Pakistan-Iran border to remain open 24 hours during Muharram and Arbaeen to facilitate pilgrims
  • Iranian government will provide accommodation and meals for 5,000 Pakistani pilgrims in Mashhad

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iran have agreed to increase the number of flights for pilgrims and keep their shared border open round the clock during Muharram and Arbaeen, state news agency APP reported on Wednesday.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni in Tehran on Wednesday, where both countries made several important decisions to facilitate pilgrims and improve border cooperation.

While there is no precise official count, approximately 700,000 Pakistani pilgrims visit Iran annually for religious purposes, particularly for Arbaeen, a significant religious observance in Shia Islam, marking the 40th day after the Day of Ashura. It commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), at the Battle of Karbala. Arbaeen is also the end of a 40-day mourning period for Imam Hussain.

“The two ministers agreed that the Pakistan-Iran border will remain open 24 hours a day during Muharram and Arbaeen to facilitate religious pilgrims,” APP reported. 

“Both sides also agreed to increase the number of flights for pilgrims and discussed sending pilgrims by sea.”

The Iranian government will also provide accommodation and meals for 5,000 Pakistani pilgrims in Mashhad, the city most famous and revered for housing the tomb of Imam Reza, the eighth Shia Imam. Every year, millions of pilgrims visit the Imam Reza shrine and pay their tributes.

“To solve issues quickly, a hotline will be set up between the two countries. A special three-nation meeting involving Pakistan, Iran, and Iraq will be held in Mashhad before Arbaeen to plan better arrangements for pilgrims,” APP added. 

Significant pilgrimages occur in Iran, especially at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, the Fatima Masumeh Shrine in Qom, and the Shah Cheragh Shrine in Shiraz. 

These shrines are dedicated to revered figures in Shia Islam and are major pilgrimage destinations for Shia Muslims, including from Pakistan. 


Agha and Hasan star in Pakistan’s win over Bangladesh in first T20

Agha and Hasan star in Pakistan’s win over Bangladesh in first T20
Updated 29 May 2025
Follow

Agha and Hasan star in Pakistan’s win over Bangladesh in first T20

Agha and Hasan star in Pakistan’s win over Bangladesh in first T20
  • Agha struck a career-best 56 to guide Pakistan to 201-7
  • Hasan took 5-30 to dismiss tourists for 164 in 19.2 overs

LAHORE: Skipper Salman Agha hit a career best knock and pacer Hasan Ali grabbed his first five wicket haul as Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 37 runs in the first T20 international in Lahore on Wednesday.

Agha struck a career-best 56 to guide Pakistan to 201-7 before Hasan took 5-30 to dismiss the tourists for 164 in 19.2 overs at Qaddafi Stadium.

The win gives the home team a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Allrounder Shadab Khan, who also struck a quick 48, then dismissed rival skipper Litton Das for a 30-ball 48 to break a fighting 63-run stand for the third wicket that lifted Bangladesh from 37-2.

Litton hit three sixes and a boundary and had steadied the innings with Towhid Hridoy who scored 17, but the later batters could not capitalize on the platform.

Pacer Hasan ended Jaker Ali’s knock of 36 (21 balls with three sixes and a boundary), Tanzim Hasan for one and Shoriful Islam for five to cap a succesful return to international cricket after a year-long injury lay-off.

Hasan said he was happy and satisfied.

“The last eight months were very tough because it was a career-threatening injury, so I am happy to have contributed to the team’s win,” said Hasan, who underwent elbow surgery last year.

“I did hard work during the rehab and it’s a reward for that hard work,” said Hasan.

Bangladesh skipper Litton was unhappy.

“All over the game, we didn’t bowl well, bat well and field well,” said Litton. “We have to come back strongly with two games still to play.”

Earlier, Agha struck a 34-ball 56, with eight fours and a six, while Hasan Nawaz’s 22-ball 44 with four sixes helped Pakistan pass 200 after the hosts won the toss and chose to bat.

The captain, whose previous T20 best of 51 not out came against New Zealand in March, added 48 for the third wicket with Mohammad Haris and 65 for the fourth with Nawaz.

Pakistan were struggling at 5-2 after the loss of openers Saim Ayub, for a duck, and Fakhar Zaman in the first two overs.

Shadab scored a 25-ball 48 to help Pakistan add 58 in the last five overs.

All six Bangladesh bowlers were among the wickets, with left-arm seamer Islam taking 2-32 in three overs.

The remaining two matches are on Friday and Sunday, also in Lahore.