Pakistan names six high court judges for elevation to top court amid lawyers’ protest

Update Pakistan names six high court judges for elevation to top court amid lawyers’ protest
Lawyers protest in Islamabad, Pakistan, on February 10, 2025 against controversial constitutional amendments. (Social media)
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Updated 10 February 2025
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Pakistan names six high court judges for elevation to top court amid lawyers’ protest

Pakistan names six high court judges for elevation to top court amid lawyers’ protest
  • Announcement came days after four top court judges sought to postpone nominations until a challenge to 26th constitutional amendment was decided
  • The government says the amendment is aimed at providing speedy justice, but lawyers protesting in Islamabad say it will undermine the judiciary

ISLAMABAD: The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), which appoints judges in the superior judiciary, on Monday nominated six high court judges for elevation to the Supreme Court, amid a protest by lawyer bodies in the federal capital of Islamabad.
The announcement of the nomination of judges came from the Supreme Court in a statement, days after four top court judges wrote to Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, who heads the JCP, to postpone Monday’s meeting of the commission and not decide on new judicial appointments until a challenge to the 26th constitutional amendment was decided.
Pakistan’s ruling coalition government passed the contentious amendment in October last year, amid resistance from opposition parties and lawyer bodies. The amendments empowered a parliamentary committee to appoint the Supreme Court’s chief justice for a fixed term of three years, and called for the creation of new group of senior judges to weigh exclusively on constitutional issues.
The government says the amendments are aimed at providing speedy justice to citizens and it is parliament’s right to pass laws it deems fit to ensure its sovereignty, but lawyer bodies protesting in Islamabad said the changes are aimed at undermining the judiciary’s independence.
“The commission, by majority of its total membership, nominated the following Hon’ble’ Judges for their appointment as Judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan,” the top court said in a statement, naming Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar, Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui, Justice Salahuddin Panhwar, Justice Shakeel Ahmad, Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim.
“The Commission also by majority of its total membership nominated Mr. Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb Judge, Islamabad High Court for appointment as the Acting Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.”
Meanwhile, lawyers gathered at various locations in Islamabad, leading to the blockade of multiple roads. The also protested President Asif Ali Zardari’s recent move to transfer three judges from the Sindh, Balochistan and Lahore high courts to the Islamabad High Court (IHC), alleging that it was “unconstitutional” as it undermined the seniority of the judges already serving in the IHC.
Footage shared online showed lawyers chanting slogans against the government and demanding independence of the judiciary. Local media reported deployment of heavy police contingent within the Supreme Court’s premises while entry points to the Red Zone, which houses the highest executive, judicial and legislative authority buildings of the country, were sealed to keep the protesters at bay.
“Our job is very clear and it is that we have to participate in this [protest] and present our stance,” Barrister Ali Zafar, a prominent lawyer, told reporters near Islamabad’s Red Zone area.
Zafar acknowledged that some lawyers were in favor of the judicial transfers and the constitutional amendments, acknowledging that a “division” existed among them.
“There is definitely a division among lawyers, some are on this side and some are on that side,” he said. “But you will see that this movement will keep on growing.”
The Islamabad police, however, assured residents it would ensure their safety despite the protests.
“Islamabad Police is actively working to ensure your safety and to ensure the establishment of law and order throughout the district,” they wrote on X.


WWF, global biopharma giant join hands to protect freshwater resources in Pakistan, India

WWF, global biopharma giant join hands to protect freshwater resources in Pakistan, India
Updated 1 min 1 sec ago
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WWF, global biopharma giant join hands to protect freshwater resources in Pakistan, India

WWF, global biopharma giant join hands to protect freshwater resources in Pakistan, India
  • Freshwater ecosystems have seen an alarming 85 percent decline in wildlife since 1970, WWF says
  • Pakistan’s Indus Basin, in particular, faces threats from pollution, dams and climate change

ISLAMABAD: The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the GSK global biopharma giant have launched a five-year initiative to conserve and restore freshwater resources in water-stressed regions of Pakistan and India, Pakistani state media reported on Tuesday.
The collaboration, running until 2030, will focus on the Indus River Basin in Pakistan and the Sutlej River Basin in India, key areas for medicine production. The initiative aims to replenish over 300,000 cubic meters of water and benefit more than 100,000 people by implementing nature-based solutions.
Key efforts include restoring freshwater habitats, protecting endangered species like river dolphins and otters, and promoting sustainable water management in local communities and farms, the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency reported.
“Ensuring sustainable water supply is critical to delivering life-saving medicines,” Regis Simard, president of global supply chain of GSK that operates three manufacturing sites in these regions, was quoted as saying by the APP.
“Partnering with WWF allows us to drive meaningful change in these vulnerable ecosystems.”
Freshwater ecosystems have seen an alarming 85 percent decline in wildlife populations since 1970, according to WWF’s Living Planet Report. The Indus Basin, in particular, faces threats from pollution, dams and climate change.
The partnership aligns with global biodiversity goals, including the Freshwater Challenge that seeks to restore 300,000 kilometers of rivers and 350 million hectares of wetlands by 2030.
“Pakistan faces severe water scarcity and pollution,” said Hammad Naqi Khan, director-general of WWF-Pakistan, highlighting the urgency of water conservation.
“Companies like GSK are leading by example not just reducing water use but actively replenishing resources.”


Rescued dog helps police find owner’s body, wife and brother-in-law held

Rescued dog helps police find owner’s body, wife and brother-in-law held
Updated 25 March 2025
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Rescued dog helps police find owner’s body, wife and brother-in-law held

Rescued dog helps police find owner’s body, wife and brother-in-law held
  • Omar Hayat, an agricultural worker, had rescued a stray dog with broken legs and nursed it back to health
  • Hayat’s body was buried under a heap of cow dung, which was then set on fire to destroy any evidence

KARACHI: A stray dog rescued and nursed back to health by a Pakistani agricultural laborer led police to its owner’s buried body, exposing a murder plot allegedly orchestrated by the victim’s wife and her brother, officials said on Tuesday.
Omar Hayat was killed last month in a village in Tehsil Chichawatni, located in Punjab province. His wife, Shamim, and her brother, Fida Hussain, were arrested and sent into judicial custody on Monday, according to Station House Officer (SHO) Shahzad Ahmed.
“Omar Hayat had found the dog on the roadside months earlier, with both of his legs broken,” Ahmed told Arab News over the phone. “He took it in and treated its legs. After approximately two months, the dog was able to walk again. Since then, the dog stayed with Hayat all the time.”
The SHO said that when Hayat went missing, the dog began searching for him.
“It sensed its owner’s scent and started digging a pile of burnt cow dung with its legs. It continued this for two days until the legs of the body appeared,” he continued, adding that a local resident, Bilal Shah, saw the remains and informed the police.
“We called the crime scene unit and began collecting evidence,” the police official said.
According to him, the victim’s face had been completely burned, making identification difficult. His wife also refused to identify the body and “continuously misled the police,” he added. However, Hayat’s mother recognized the legs, saying they resembled her son’s, and subsequent DNA testing confirmed the body’s identity.
“We arrested Shamim’s brother, Mudasir, a week ago, and Shamim was arrested two days ago,” the police official said. “Yesterday, both were sent to jail on judicial remand.”
During interrogation, both suspects confessed to murdering Hayat and burying his body under a pile of cow dung, which they set on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence and hinder identification.
“Hayat’s wife said that her husband used drugs and had affairs with other women,” Ahmed said. “After catching him with a woman, his wife went to her brother, and they both murdered him.”
Originally from Multan, Hayat worked at a farmhouse in a Chichawatni village, where he lived with Shamim and their four children.
Shamim belongs to Khanewal, and the couple had been married for 15 years.
 


Amid economic push, Pakistan reviews proposals for investment projects with Azerbaijan

Amid economic push, Pakistan reviews proposals for investment projects with Azerbaijan
Updated 25 March 2025
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Amid economic push, Pakistan reviews proposals for investment projects with Azerbaijan

Amid economic push, Pakistan reviews proposals for investment projects with Azerbaijan
  • Cash-strapped Pakistan is currently navigating a tricky path to recovery under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund bailout program
  • The South Asian country has been making efforts to generate revenue through increased trade and investment deals with friendly nations

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s deputy prime minister, Ishaq Dar, on Tuesday reviewed various proposals for investment projects with Azerbaijan, the Pakistan foreign office said, amid Islamabad’s push for increase trade and investment in the South Asian country.

The development came days after Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev wrote a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and called for joint ventures with Pakistan in defense, energy, economy, logistics and transport sectors to expand Baku’s strategic partnership with Islamabad.

It followed a visit by Sharif to Baku, where he announced the two nations would sign deals in April to boost bilateral investments to $2 billion. Multiple agreements for cooperation in the trade, energy, tourism, education and other sectors were signed during Sharif’s visit in Feb.

On Tuesday, DPM Dar presided over an inter-ministerial meeting on possible investment projects with Azerbaijan and reviewed various proposals in this regard, according to the Pakistani foreign office.

“DPM/FM directed to accelerate the implementation of decisions to boost economic growth and development through viable investment projects,” it said in a statement. “He reaffirmed that strengthening Pakistan-Azerbaijan ties remains a priority as both countries collaborate across various sectors.”

Cash-strapped Pakistan is currently navigating a tricky path to recovery under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program. The South Asian country has been making efforts to generate revenue through increased trade and investment deals with friendly nations and regional and international allies, focusing on export-led growth.

In September last year, Azerbaijan bought JF-17 Block III fighter jets from Pakistan, reportedly in a $1.6bn deal.

During President Aliyev’s visit to Pakistan last year, a joint committee was set up to materialize projects in trade, commerce, information technology, tourism, telecommunication, mineral resources and other sectors. Sharif said at the time the current trade volume of $100 million did not reflect the “true” trade potential between the two countries.


Pakistani YouTube star charged with blasphemy over perfume

Pakistani YouTube star charged with blasphemy over perfume
Updated 25 March 2025
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Pakistani YouTube star charged with blasphemy over perfume

Pakistani YouTube star charged with blasphemy over perfume
  • Rajab Butt has one of the largest online followings in the Muslim-majority country and has been embroiled in controversy for years
  • In a recent video, since deleted from social media accounts, Butt launched his ‘295’ perfume which refers to blasphemy legislation

LAHORE: A Pakistani YouTube star has been charged with blasphemy after launching a perfume named after the very law he has fallen foul of, police said Tuesday.
Rajab Butt has one of the largest online followings in the Muslim-majority country and has been embroiled in controversy for years, including over his brief custody of a lion cub.
In a recent video, since deleted from his social media accounts, Butt launched his “295” perfume which refers to blasphemy legislation in the penal code.
He said it followed a case filed against him last year, over an earlier video that was deemed blasphemous.
His perfume publicity sparked further ire, prompting the leader of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) to file a complaint late Monday.
“Our religious sentiments have been hurt,” said TLP leader Haider Ali Shah Gillani, whose party puts blasphemy as its central concern.
“There are numerous sections in the penal code but why did he choose blasphemy-related sections to name a perfume?,” he told AFP.
“This means you acknowledge the offense and are celebrating it. This is essentially an attempt to normalize such actions,” he said.
A police charge sheet seen by AFP and authenticated by a police official on Tuesday details the accusations against Butt, including blasphemy and cybercrime.
Blasphemy is an incendiary charge in Pakistan, where even unsubstantiated accusations can incite public outrage and lead to lynchings.
In both cases against him, the social media personality risks up to 10 years in prison.
Butt issued an apology video on Sunday, asserting he is not against the country’s blasphemy laws.
“I apologize for the words I uttered during the launch of the perfume,” he said while holding the Holy Qur’an.
“I apologize and announce the discontinuation of this perfume,” he added.
Butt has previously drawn a parallel with his “mentor,” the slain Indian rapper Sidhu Moose Wala, who released a song titled “295” in reference to religious incitement.
In other legal troubles, Butt pleaded guilty in January to owning an undocumented wild animal after accepting a lion cub as a wedding gift.
He avoided jail by promising a judge to post animal rights videos for a year.


Pakistan gets first iPhone trade-in program

Pakistan gets first iPhone trade-in program
Updated 25 March 2025
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Pakistan gets first iPhone trade-in program

Pakistan gets first iPhone trade-in program
  • Jazz, leading digital conglomerate, and Mercantile, Apple’s authorized distributor, launch initiative 
  • Customers can trade in old PTA-approved iPhone 11, newer models for discount on iPhone 16 series

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s leading digital conglomerate Jazz has partnered with Mercantile, Apple’s authorized distributor, to introduce the country’s first-ever iPhone trade-in program, a press release said on Tuesday. 

Under the initiative, customers can trade in their old PTA-approved iPhone 11 or newer models to receive a discount on the latest iPhone 16 series. Jazz and Mercantile are also offering an additional subsidy bonus on top of the trade-in value.

“As a digital leader, Jazz is committed to bridging the digital divide in Pakistan. Our partnership with Mercantile to launch the first iPhone Trade-In Program reflects our focus on innovation and customer convenience,” Ali Fahd, Head of Marketing at Jazz, said. 

“By making premium devices more accessible, we are empowering customers to enhance their digital lifestyle with seamless connectivity and value-added services.”

Nauman Durrani, CEO of Mercantile Pakistan, said the launch would simplify how people in Pakistan could access latest iPhone models:

“By working with Jazz, we’re offering a clear, straightforward way for customers to upgrade from older devices and enjoy a better user experience.”

The program is currently available at Jazz Experience Centers in Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi. The trade-in offer applies to full-price purchases only and is not available on postpaid installment plans at this stage.

In addition to the trade-in program, Jazz has introduced an exclusive six-month bundle for customers purchasing a PTA-approved iPhone 16 through Jazz. This package includes 200GB of Internet, 6 months of free airtime, e-SIM activation, discount vouchers, and handset insurance worth up to Rs. 100,000 covering theft, loss, and damage for 6 months.

Jazz is also offering the iPhone 16 series on an 18-month installment plan for only postpaid customers, providing flexible payment options to suit varying needs.