QUETTA: The Balochistan Assembly adopted a resolution on Thursday calling upon the federal government to implement the special package announced for the people of Chagai.

During the session held with acting Speaker Mir Quddus Bizenjo in the chair, the house condemned the Kasur child abuse scandal and demanded exemplary punishment for the culprits.

Also read: Balochistan seeks economic package

Opposition member Husna Bano tabled the resolution about the Chagai package. She recalled that Nawaz Sharif, who was prime minister in 1998 also, following nuclear tests at Chagai on May 28 that year, had announced a special package for the people of the small town. However, the package remains to be implemented even after the passage of after 17 years, she said.

Rahila Durrani moved the second resolution, condemning the Kasur child abuse scandal and called for the appointment of a judicial commission and award of exemplary punishment to the perpetrators.

Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Abdur Rahim Ziaratwal, however, reminded Ms Durrani that Punjab government had already appointed the commission to investigate the incident.

After a debate, the Speaker converted the adjournment motion of Nasrullah Zeray into a resolution, asking the federal government to rehabilitate those evicted from a katchi abadi in Islamabad recently and pay compensation to people whose houses had been demolished.

The chair admitted the adjournment motion presented by Husna Bano about the imposition of withholding tax for general debate. Deliberations on the resolution would be held on Saturday.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2015

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http://www.dawn.com/news/1200298/tahira-khoso-murder-case-prime-suspect-found-shot-dead

KARACHI: Independence Day preparations across Karachi were seen to be coming along with unusual enthusiasm on Thursday that included a number of activities such as rallies, fireworks and other functions organised by several organisations and institutions amid improving law and order that has buoyed the confidence of the public to a large extent in the violence-prone metropolis.

Hundreds of stalls of flags and other Independence Day-related souvenirs in all districts of the city emerged as another feature as traders said that unlike in the past, the situation had improved significantly this year that allowed such brisk activity.

“The change in this year’s August 14 compared to the past years is quite obvious,” said Atiq Meer of the Karachi Tajir Ittehad, an association of 300 market and traders’ associations. “We have witnessed tremendous sale of national flags and other products. The people of Karachi celebrate Independence Day every year with national zeal but this year with better law and order and a secure environment has multiplied their celebrations.”

Much of this is because of the prominent involvement of the armed forces, who have been carrying out an operation in the city vowing to cleanse the city of its corrupt and criminal elements. “My apartment is nearby the Corps Commanders, Karachi, office in Napier Barracks and I saw army personnel displaying an extraordinary number of flags. I will not be surprised if tomorrow morning there is a 21-gun salute,” said a Saddar resident.

Illumination at Wazir Mansion.—White Star

“Nearly everyone in my building was installing flags in their balconies, something that I haven’t seen in a long time. The Lucky Star roundabout in Saddar is covered with green and white lighting. The run-up to August 14 seems more than Eid celebrations in the city,” he added.

According to him, the message being sent out is that with the improvement in law and order, the city is thriving economically. “It is more about Pakistan and hence projecting more patriotism.”

At Karachi University hundreds of students marched from the Arts Lobby to the main Silver Jubilee Gate with a huge national flag while the neighbouring NED University of Engineering and Technology organised a cake-cutting ceremony attended by students and faculty members.

At key traffic intersections, including Numaish, Ayesha Manzil, Karsaz, Qayyumabad, Quaidabad, Tower, Do Talwar, Landhi No 6, fireworks were organised by different organisations. Though most of the events are scheduled for Friday, a few organisations couldn’t contain their enthusiasm and came out with plans for Thursday.

Beggars too were not far behind and also tried to capitalise on the celebratory mood. They were seen sticking tiny flags on car windshields and demanding Rs20 for their service.

Moreover, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) organised a rally from Karsaz to Numaish where Majlis-i-Wahdat-i-Muslimeen staged fireworks in the early hours of Independence Day. A rally of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Youth Wing from Lasbela concluded at the Mazar-i-Quaid and the PML-Q announced fireworks outside the Karachi Press Club in the small hours of Friday.

Fashion designers had created special Azadi wardrobes, offering big discounts. Mobile phone companies were also offering Independence Day discounts.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2015

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KARACHI: The Mutta­hi­da Qaumi Movement continued to stick to its guns on the issue of its lawmakers’ resignations, but it informal­ly communicated to the federal government its three main conditions for initiating a dialogue that might lead to the withdrawal of the resignations, it emerged on Thursday.

MQM sources told Dawn that the first condition was establishment of a monitoring committee to oversee the Rangers-led Karachi operation; the second for setting up a judicial commission to investigate “extrajudicial killings” of MQM workers, and the third for the recovery of over 100 MQM workers allegedly in the custody of law-enforcement personnel.

Know more: MQM lawmakers tender resignations

Previously, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had agreed to the MQM’s demand of setting up a monitoring committee, but it was not formed because of unknown reasons.

It appears that the government is mulling over the setting up of the monitoring committee to woo the MQM, as Finance Minister Ishaq Dar told a private TV news channel on Thursday evening that the government would definitely look into the formation of the committee.

In the same programme, senior MQM leader Nadeem Nusrat said that it would be a welcome sign if the government set up the committee to monitor the Karachi operation. He also hinted at taking back the resignation decision when he told the anchor that in politics “decisions are not the line drawn on a rock”.

“Everything is included in the 18-point annexure atta­ched to the resignation of every MQM lawmaker... We have no other demands,” MQM spokesman Amin-ul-Haq said.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2015

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KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Thursday granted an additional amount of Rs336 million for relief of flood victims living in relief camps for one month and directed the fin­ance department to release 50 per cent of the amount to the Provincial Disas­ter Man­a­­g­e­­ment Autho­rity (PDMA) with immediate effect.

The CM directed the deputy commissioners of riverine districts to co-ordinate with the PDMA, monitor and ensure that relief goods, including tents, food, medicines and fodder, was provided to victims in relief camps without any discrimination.

The chief minister, while presiding over a meeting held at CM House to review relief operation, asked officers to pay attention to kat­cha areas downstream Kotri barrage.

PDMA director general Syed Sulman Shah said the flood had displaced 868,939 people of 173,678 families. He said out of these, 234,712 people comprised 46,942 fami­lies who had been acco­m­m­o­dated in relief camps.

He said that the financial implication of provision of 10-day food for 55,000 families was about Rs45.75m which was already being provided.

Senior Minister for Fin­ance Syed Murad Ali Shah informed the meeting that Rs12 million had separately been provided to worst affected riverine districts and Rs7 million to the less affected.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2015

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http://www.dawn.com/news/1200314/the-fishermans-way

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court rejected on Thursday a fresh schedule proposed by the Election Commission of Pakistan for holding local government elections in Punjab and Sindh in three phases and directed the ECP to submit a concrete empirical data justifying the each day of delay in the conduct of the polls.

On Wednesday, the ECP had proposed holding of the elections in the two provinces in three stages, on Nov 14, 29 and Dec 19, instead of the earlier decided schedule of Sept 26.

Also read: ECP submits new local govt poll schedule to SC

“Unfortunately, we are not able to see any empirical justification rather a general and non-specific basis have been mentioned, that too in the shape of media reports and predictions of rains for seeking delay in the local government elections,” regretted Chief Justice designate Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja who heads a three-judge bench which had taken up the new scheme as well as a request by the ECP for modifying the election dates.

This was not satisfactory, he said.

The ECP said in its report that the proposal to hold the elections in three phases had been made in view of the difficulties to be faced because of rains in the month of September and adverse flood situation in large parts of Punjab and Sindh.

Besides, practical difficulties will emerge if the polls are held on the same day in the two provinces because of the shortage of resources and manpower as well as the requirement to maintain law and order. Moreover, the report added, September and October would coincide with Haj and Muharram respectively.

Lessons learnt from the holding of local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in May which drew flak and became controversial for lack of transparency and allegations of rigging also forced the ECP to consider holding the elections in Punjab and Sindh in phases.

Justice Dost Mohammad Khan regretted that elected governments always seemed reluctant and shy to hold local government elections whereas these were held by dictators although they always trampled and suspended the constitution as well as fundamental rights.

In his order, Justice Khawaja again highlighted the constitutional obligation of the provincial governments under Article 140A of the Constitution and said it was a matter of greatest regrets that for the past six years no local bodies’ elections had been held in the two provinces.

After going through the previous order sheets in the matter starting from Dec 5, 2013, the court also mentioned that the respective governments had since been assuring the court in almost more than 15 hearings that the local government polls would be held under Article 140A of the Constitution.

The court adjourned the hearing for Aug 18 and directed the ECP to submit concrete empirical data to justify the delay.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2015

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http://www.dawn.com/news/1200392/airport-runway-to-be-closed-for-12-hours-till-dec-11

ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary committee, on Thursday, approved a section of the electronic crimes bill, allowing investigation agencies to have access to the user data of internet service providers’ (ISP) without prior court permission.

The National Assembly Sub-Committee on Information Technology met to finalise the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill 2015, which has been a subject of debate since it was submitted to parliament earlier this year.

The bill has been heavily criticised by the information technology (IT) industry and the civil society, for being too harsh in its punishments, curtailing civil liberties and giving unlimited powers to investigation agencies.

Court would be informed 24 hours after accessing and preserving data

In their recommendations, critics of the bill and some lawmakers advised the government to amend Section 28 (expedited preservation and acquisition of data) and make approval of the court mandatory for accessing data and making access subject to court approval, investigation agencies would be prevented from abusing the law.

But Director FIA Sabir Ahmed and Deputy Director FIA on Thursday vehemently defended Section 28, urging the lawmakers to allow FIA to access and preserve data first and later inform the court, within 24 hours of doing so.

“Going to court for permission is a time consuming exercise and there a chance that evidence would be lost during that time,” Sabir Ahmed said.

PML-N MNA Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari and PPP MNA Shazia Marri agreed with Mr Ahmed’s arguments, albeit reluctantly.

“Keeping the requirements of investigations in mind, we agree to allow agencies direct access but the law is not yet final. It will be discussed again to determine implementation, when the committee meets again on Tuesday,” Shazi Marri said.

The meeting began on a sour note, with PTI MNA Amjad Khan Niazi walking out for not being included in the subcommittee. While the proposed bill was discussed clause by clause, keeping in view recommendations from stakeholders, all members registered complaints with the Subcommittee Chair retired Major Tahir Iqbal, that they had not been provided with the necessary documents to study the bill.

Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari suggested that no more recommendations be accepted so the law could be finalised.

With only PML-N MNA Farhana Qamar and PML-N Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari present, the subcommittee discussed sections of PEC 2015 to which stakeholders had reservations. Concessions were made to satisfy members and representatives from Ministry of IT, FIA and National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA).

Some terminologies and definitions were changed such as the world ‘intelligence’ was replaced with the word ‘information’.

Section 9, against glorification of an offence and hate speech was passed. Major Tahir Iqbal felt it was necessary to include both accused and convicted in this section.

However, MNA Shazia Marri insisted that Section 9 did not differentiate between the accused and the convicted and this was dangerous.

Similarly, Section 17 regarding hacking into other systems was also approved. Critics had been arguing that this section of the law criminalised creative and ethical hacking in schools, universities and research organisations.

Ministry of IT Member Legal Amina Sohail and Director Legal Nasir Ayyaz argued that the PEC 2015 was in sync with other laws which deal with offences and most definitions and words were copied verbatim from the constitution and the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

Sections 18, 21, 22 and 23 of the bill deal with content on social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter.

Uploading photographs without a person’s consent and sending unsolicited text messages were all criminalised under the cyber crime law.

MNA Shazi Marri expressed her disagreement with the language used in these sections as well as the definitions.

“There are some extremely strict punishments proposed. I cannot approve a law in haste which would negatively impact millions later,” she said.

The subcommittee will discuss the bill again next week.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2015

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KARACHI: A comprehensive plan has been chalked out for the security of the Chinese nationals and professionals visiting the province for projects related to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the Sindh police chief assured neighbouring country’s diplomats and officials on Thursday.

“A five-member delegation led by Chinese consul general Ma Yaou called on Sindh IG Ghulam Hyder Jamali at the central police office,” said a CPO statement.

“The delegation discussed matters pertaining to the security of existing Chinese nationals and those expected to visit Sindh in connection with the CPEC. Expressing its satisfaction over the present police security, the delegation assured IG Sindh for strengthening the cooperation and assistance in terms of training and resources,” the statement added.

IG Jamali informed the delegation that Rapid Response Force (RRF) DIG Dr Ameen Yusufzai had been nominated as focal person of police to deal with the security of all the foreigners, mainly the Chinese nationals. The Chinese consul general on this occasion, nominated the commercial consular of Chinese consulate as focal person for coordination with the police department.

“It was also decided to have regular periodical meetings of the focal persons to achieve the desirable targets,” said the statement.

In his presentation, DIG Yusufzai informed the delegation that for 111 Chinese projects in Sindh, the police ensured provision of security to more than 1,500 Chinese nationals. The SOP draft, he said, had been prepared in this regard and would be finalised within the next couple of days in consultation with the Chinese consulate.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: Just as the government grappled a crisis created by parliamentary resignations by the opposition Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), a minister provoked a boycott by all other opposition parties in the National Assembly on Thursday, paving the way for a key bill rushed through the house on the last day of its monsoon session.

Opposition leader Khursheed Ahmed Shah said they had nothing against the bill seeking to enhance the central bank’s autonomy but that it would not countenance a government disregard for parliament as apparent from empty ministerial benches and some objectionable taunts from Defence Production Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain.

The 31-clause State Bank of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill was listed to be piloted by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, but the job fell to the lot of the parliamentary secretary for his ministry because of the absence of the minister as of most other important cabinet members, apparently for consultations held by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the situation created by Wednesday’s resignations by MQM parliamentarians from both houses of parliament and the Sindh provincial assembly.

The opposition leader advised the government not to act in haste and try for the return of the MQM’s resigning members – 24 in the National Assembly, eight in the Senate and 51 in the Sindh assembly – back to their chambers by addressing their grievances of political victimisation.

But in a second speech later, as the only bill on the day’s agenda was taken up for immediate consideration, he lashed out at the government for the absence of senior ministers, which he said manifested their disregard of parliament.

“Has the government ever thought why situations arise when sometime the PTI goes out and sometime the MQM?” he said, also referring to a four-month boycott of the house last year by the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

“This is because of the government’s non-serious attitude towards parliament that people go out of parliament and resort to street politics,” he said.

“This is wrong,” Minister Tanveer Hussain said, rejecting Mr Shah’s concerns instead of assuaging them and threw a rather daring challenge to him to compare the present situation of ministerial attendance with that of the previous PPP-led coalition government.

Mr Shah accepted the challenge, but found the minister’s response to be an offense to the opposition leader’s position. “If this is the way of the government there is no need for us to sit here,” he said before leading opposition lawmakers out of the house. —Raja Asghar

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: Senators from the treasury and opposition benches accused on Thursday the Karachi Electric (KE) of violating the agreement it had signed with the government at the time of privatisation of the Karachi Electric Supply Company and called for carrying out its “performance audit”.

The harshest remarks came from none other than Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani who said the KE was acting like “a state within the state” as its officials had refused to appear before parliamentary committees.

The upper house unanimously passed a resolution on the eve of the country’s Independence Day, “reiterating its commitment to uphold the vision of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, who had envisioned Pakistan as a democratic, moderate and progressive state, governed by the rule of law and guaranteeing equal rights to all its citizens”.

Through the resolution tabled by the Leader of House Raja Zafarul Haq, the members resolved that the Senate “shall continue to protect the rights of the federating units.”

Speaking on points of order, PML-N’s Chaudhry Tanveer and PPP’s Sassui Palijo appealed to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to withdraw resignations of its legislators and return to parliament so that a message of unity could be sent to the nation on the country’s Independence Day.

Criticising the KE’s performance, several senators asked the government to take over the company because of its failure to improve power distribution system in Karachi.

The demand came during a discussion on the report of the Senate committee on water and power on “unprecedented loss of lives caused by the heatwave of June coupled with power cuts by KE in Karachi” and an adjournment motion on frequent power breakdowns in the city.

PPP’s parliamentary leader Saeed Ghani held the KE responsible for the death of 1,200 people because of heatwave and power breakdowns in the city and said the company was not utilising its full capacity to generate power.

“For God’s sake, take it (KE) over as it is busy only in minting money and has no concerns for masses,” he said.

Ms Palijo termed the KE “killer of 1,200 people” and said it had sacked experienced officials.

KE VERSION: When contacted, KE spokesman Osama Qureshi said that “performance audits” of companies was a routine matter and recently Nepra had conducted such an audit of the company. He claimed that the KE had been declared the second best utility in the country in the recent audit.

Mr Qureshi said it was true that during the peak summer season, the company faced some problems in a few areas for a couple of days, but it was unjustified to criticise its overall performance on the basis of one or two incidents.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: The government has revealed that terrorist organisations are operating around 3,000 websites to promote their nefarious agenda in the country.

This was disclosed by PML-N lawmaker Tahir Iqbal during the meeting of the sub-committee of National Assembly's Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication.

The committee met on Thursday to re-examine the proposals received on the ‘Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill, 2015’ at the Parliament House earlier in the day.

Iqbal said that the government wants to finalise the ‘Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill, 2015’ as soon as possible, since it was demanded by law enforcement agencies to implement the National Action Plan (NAP) in its accordance.

Members of the NA sub-committee discussed several offences and punishments one by one which were severely criticised by the opposition members in the committee, lawyers, NGO’s and members of human rights organisations.

The participants discussed the offences and punishments included in the ‘Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill, 2015’ including glorification of an offence and hate speech, unauthorised use of identity information, unauthorised interception, offences against dignity of natural person, cyber stalking, spamming, spoofing, retention of traffic data, power to manage intelligence and issue directions for removal or blocking access to any intelligence through any information system.

PPP lawmaker Shazia Marri and PML-N legislator Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari — who once held the portfolio of minister for information technology — expressed their concerns on the offences and punishments cited during the meeting.

"It is the responsibility of the committee members to take each clause of the bill seriously," said Marri.

She also asked the representatives of the Ministry of Information Technology to review the punishment on cyber stalking.

“You don’t need to be emotional if you are making a law,” Marri told the members of the committee.

The PPP lawmaker also raised objections on the language used in the Bill.

Leghari asked the convener of the sub-committee to call another meeting next week to discuss the clauses of the Bill one by one with the officials of the ministry of IT, Law, and the representatives FIA and intelligence agencies.

Marri also suggested that the convener should invite all the stakeholders in the next meeting to discuss the Bill in detail.

“We already have enough input from all the stakeholders, we will not consider the criticism of NGO’s on the Bill in future,” PML-N MNA Major (r) Tahir Iqbal said.

The next meeting of the committee will be held on coming Tuesday to finalise the Bill's draft before it is presented in the National Assembly for approval.

Critics of the new cyber crime bill – representatives of industry and civil society – have been arguing that in its present form it gives unbridled powers to investigation authorities and curbs civil liberties.

Moreover, stakeholders have held press briefings, protested on the streets and have threatened to petition the court if the Bill is passed in its present state.

They also point out that the Bill was reduced from a 44-page document to 13 pages, omitting their suggestions aimed at safeguarding human rights.

KARACHI: Investigators have made headway in identifying culprits and their motive for the killing of the four policemen in Korangi on Wednesday, a senior police officer said.

“Police have made a breakthrough in the case. The group involved in the quadruple murder has been identified and credible information has been gathered about them,” said Karachi East DIG Munir Ahmed Shaikh on Thursday.

The initial probe made so far indicated that a particular militant group was involved in the killing of the policemen of the Zaman Town police station.

The forensic report of the weapon used in the quadruple murder confirmed that it was also used in the murder of Preedy SHO Ejaz Khwaja near Akhtar Colony and Syed Iqbal Mehdi who was gunned down on ‘sectarian ground’ in the jurisdiction of the same police station in recent past, said the official.

Also read: Four cops gunned down in Karachi's Korangi area

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2015

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MULTAN/MUZAFFARGARH/SHEIKHUPURA: Three cases of sexual abuse of children surfaced in Multan, Muzaffargarh and Sheikhupura areas while five suspects were arrested in two of the cases on Thursday.

In the first incident, a child was sexually abused in the Mumtazabad area of Multan while police claimed to have arrested three suspects involved in the case and making video of the act.

A resident of Mumtazabad submitted a complaint to police that some people had raped his son and also made a video. The suspects were blackmailing him with the threat to sell the video in the market, he added.

The police, after lodging the case, arrested three of the nominated suspects.

According to an official handout, City Police Officer Azhar Ikram while taking action on the complaint directed the Mumtazabad police to arrest the remaining suspects without delay. He also constituted a police team that was conducting raids to arrest the remaining suspects.

Videos were made in two cases; five suspects arrested

In the second incident, a 12-year-old boy was gang-raped at village Dabbi Shah of Muzaffargarh and police arrested two persons allegedly involved in the crime and recording its footage on mobile phones.

A man told Mahmood Kot police his son went to the village shop on Aug 9 where the two men asked him to accompany them to the nearby fields for picking dates. When he went there, both the suspects held him at knifepoint in the sugarcane field and raped him. He alleged the suspects had uploaded the video to others’ mobile phones besides selling it in the market.

The complainant said the police had delayed registering the case.

Talking to Dawn, District Police Officer Muhammad Awais said the case had been registered and both suspects had been arrested.

In the third incident, a 13-year-old boy was allegedly molested by three people in Pathan Colony in the Ferozewala Police Station area in Sheikhupura district.

The victim was going home when the suspects forcibly took him to a barren place and raped him. They escaped after leaving the boy in an unconscious condition.

Ferozewala police registered a case on the report of the victim’s father and started investigation with no arrest so far.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Awami (PML-A) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Thursday that he had decided to cancel a public meeting at Rawalpindi’s Lal Haveli after receiving threats to his life.

The party chief was scheduled to address his party workers on the eve of Independence Day just like he did every year. This year, the programme was dropped on the suggestion of the local administration and security departments.

Talking to Dawn, the PML-A chief said the administration had claimed that a terrorist group wanted to attack the annual programme, “so we decided to cancel it”. “The administration informed me that it was the same terrorist group which had attacked me three times in the past,” he said.

Sheikh Rashid added that he didn’t want to put the lives of his workers in danger and therefore decided to postpone the event.

Meanwhile in Karachi, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Arif Alvi also revealed that he had received threats to his life.

He informed the National Assembly on Thursday that he had been receiving threats from people who claim to be workers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).

“I have spoken to MQM leader Farooq Sattar about this issue,” said the PTI leader. “For some time now I have been facing death threats by people who claim that they are working for the MQM.”

The PTI and the MQM have been at loggerheads for some time after PTI chief Imran Khan accused MQM chief Altaf Hussain of supporting target killers in Karachi.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: Outgoing Chief Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk had on Thursday a word of caution for all when he said the Supreme Court, as guardian of the constitution, would resist every action of any institution threatening the green book and the state structure formed under it.

“The Supreme Court has demonstrated its determination to preserve and protect our written constitution, thereby protecting and promoting democracy and good governance in Pakistan,” he observed.

Justice Mulk was addressing a full court reference held at the Supreme Court in his honour on reaching superannuation.

Know more: Jawwad S Khawaja to succeed Nasirul Mulk as Chief Justice

Chief Justice designate Jawwad S. Khawaja, Attorney General Salman Aslam Butt, Pakistan Bar Council Vice Chairman Azam Nazir Tarar and Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Fazal-i-Haq Abbasi eulogised the services rendered by the outgoing chief justice during his brief term as top adjudicator of the highest court of the country.

Legal observers attached great significance to the statement of Justice Mulk, especially against the backdrop of the recently announced judgment in which the Supreme Court had accepted the right of parliament to set up military courts under the 21st Amendment to try hardened terrorists, but kept with itself the right of judicial review on any sentence awarded by the military courts if the condition of fair trial was not met.

At the same time, Justice Jawwad Khawaja, while accepting people’s right to comment on or criticise the judgments of courts, regretted that sometimes it was felt that those commenting on the verdicts had either not read the SC verdict or did not understand it.

It is the duty of commentators, analysts and lawyers to review the judgments openheartedly and with full dedication to inform people in an easy-to-understand, straightforward and uncomplicated manner.

Justice Mulk observed that true democracy would come only when the judiciary would actively ensure the executive’s compliance with the dictates of the constitution.

Progress, security and development cannot take place in the absence of safeguards provided in the constitution, he said, adding that democracy was the quintessential requirement for ensuring rule of law, where the weak could raise voice against injustice.

A society where power of the ruler was not politically responsible to the people could turn into despotism and totalitarianism, Justice Mulk warned. But he said he was happy that through a series of orders issued during the year, the apex court had enforced the constitutional requirement of holding local bodies’ elections.

He said people, through the constitution, express a desire for the diffusion of power at the grassroots level and the court had enforced the will of the people hoping that democracy would hold the centres of power and the powerful elite accountable through the force of democracy.

Endeavours by the court would hopefully contribute to creating a more egalitarian and politically conscious Pakistan where “democracy, freedom, equality, tolerance and social justice shall develop as co-joint forces and usher in social, political and economic development of our country”, he said.

Justice Mulk said the apex court remained committed to protecting the constitution in the event of any extra-constitutional intervention.

“We live in an appalling age where human suffering is widespread. From illegal occupation of lands at transnational level to denial of rights to those forced by violence and deprivation to leave their lands and become refugees. But the global community has sadly been neutralised to the voices of the suffering humanity.

“This court has historically been active in ameliorating the suffering of the have-nots by creating jurisprudence for the people to preserve and restore their dignity. It is through implementation and protection of the constitutionally granted rights by an active judiciary that we grant to the oppressed ‘the right to be human’,” Justice Mulk emphasised.

He said that over the past year the apex court had sought to protect and promote the rights of minorities and could proudly say today that through the orders of this court “we have tried to create adequate provisions for the minorities to profess and practice their religions and develop their cultures”.

The Supreme Court would continue to play a role in ensuring that plurality and diversity of faith-practices in the country were protected under the law, he observed.

Justice Mulk emphasised that the public office was a trust and a society would never develop socially and politically if trust of the people was betrayed by those occupying the office as fiduciaries of the people. The apex court is always committed to ensuring that those entrusted with the task of maintaining trust of people by holding public office maintain fidelity to their oath of office and the trust reposed in them.

“It is the task of the judiciary to ensure that rights in a democratic society are balanced with counter-imposed duties,” Justice Mulk said, adding that the judiciary had to play a progressive role in the creation of such a peaceful society by endeavouring to promote adherence to the constitution.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2015

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ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain while addressing a high-level gathering of civilian and military officials to celebrate Independence Day celebrations at the Convention Centre on Friday said Pakistan will not compromise "if there is any threat to territorial sovereignty."

The President, referred to 'undesirable incidents', and said that action is being taken against "negative, destructive elements which have tried to harm to unity of Pakistan".

President Mamnoon speaks at the event. ─ DawnNews screengrab

President Mamnoon Hussain, who was the chief guest at the event, said narrow-mindedness, extremism and terrorism are related to education. To eradicate these elements, he said, modern education must be adopted.

He said the country had been in a state of war and under threat from both internal and external forces. He praised the Pakistan Army for its sacrifices, and also mentioned the students of Peshawar's Army Public School who, he said, sacrificed their lives for the country.

"Operations [against these elements] will continue," the President said adding that "The nation supports the government and Army in the fight against terrorism."

He urged the audience to remember those who were forced to leave their homes because of terrorism. "We have to help them get back home and start living their lives again," he said.

He also asked the gathering to remember flood-affectees who were unable to join in the Independence Day celebrations, and said in the future there should be arrangements made to cope with floods in a more effective manner.

Mamnoon said that analysts claim floods cannot be controlled without reservoirs and dams. He said that work on the Diamer-Bhasha and Dasu dams is underway, and mentioned that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had recently inaugurated a dam in Balochistan.

He spoke of a need for unity against this challenge, and for a need to find a solution to the problem to limit damage by floods and water shortages.

Speaking about the country's economy, he said, "We are working with China on economic projects ... that will benefit the entire region."

General Raheel Sharif at the Convention Centre event. ─ DawnNews screengrab

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq were also present at the event, which was hosted by actors Sanam Jang and Hamza Ali Abbasi.

The country's 69th Independence day kicked off with a 31-gun salute in the federal capital and 21 gun salutes in the provincial capitals.

What if DC comics’ league of greatest heroes was based out of Pakistan?

How different would Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, and The Green Lantern be in a local flavor? How would they tackle local issues? Would they still get along? How would we receive them?

If these are the sort of questions which keep you up late at night, then read on my fellow geek.

Batman

After his wealthy parents are gunned down in a tragic target killing outside a cinema in Karachi and he inherits an empire, the Pakistani version of Bruce Wayne commits to a life of crime fighting.

Recalling his days of playing cricket when certain batsmen would hit his bowling for enormous sixes, he resolves to put the same fear in the heart of criminals and becomes the Batman, hitting the villains of Pakistan on the face with his massive bat.

As a wealthy businessman, Batman owns several corporations in the country, including K-Electric, and uses the electric supply company to schedule load shedding in areas where he wants to operate in the cover of darkness.

Initially, Pakistanis welcome Batman for his promise to bring change, peace, and prosperity to the nation, and appreciate his activity on the streets. But eventually the citizens grow a little weary of Batman when they notice that he is as nutty, if not nuttier than the villains he is claiming to put away. Upon hearing these concerns Batman scoffs, “You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain!”

During the Justice League elections, Batman loses to Superman 4-3, after which he begins to throw wild accusations of rigging, “I am the hero Pakistan deserves and needs right now.”

When the Justice League members disagree, Batman throws a tantrum and resigns from the organization claiming he will go forever, only to sheepishly return later a few days later. Here, he is enraged to find a pacifier at his table. Finally, a reelection occurs, where Batman embarrassingly suffers an even bigger defeat of 6-1 (clearly losing supporters thanks to his madness). Batman’s humiliation is compounded when his partner, Robin is caught trying to rig the election in his favor.

Batman is at further odds with Pakistan when the powerful super villain Darkseid launches terrorist attacks across the country. While the other Justice League members are intent on counterattacking Darkseid, Batman insists on negotiations with the evil ruler, claiming that Pakistan’s drone attacks are why ‘good’ Darkseid became ‘bad’ Darkseid.

The Justice League is further sickened by Batman when after marrying the ambitious Catwoman, he quietly allows her to campaign for a spot on the team.

Batman primarily fights a widespread gang of villains across Karachi, whose leader having fled the city decades ago, now commands his men in melodramatic tones from London, England. He, of course, is most popularly known as The Joker.

Ala Admi (Superman)

With his planet hours away from explosion, Kal El, the last son Krypton was sent as a mere baby to live amongst the people of Earth. His spacecraft landed on a small farm, not in Kansas but in rural Sindh, where he was found by farmers Jamshed and Mairah Karim, who gave him the name Kamal.

Growing up as a farmer, Kamal Karim’s superior strength and speed made him an asset for his parents worth several tractors. It didn’t take long, however, for Kamal Karim to notice the evils of bonded labor enslaving those around him. After embracing his powers he works to end the practice across Pakistan, bringing powerful people to their knees.

But Ala Admi doesn’t stop with Sindh, and vows to fight all evil across Pakistan. He is often at odds with his arch nemesis, an unprincipled bald business man who aims to become the country’s leader.

Aside from dealing with the villains of the nation, Ala Admi’s biggest challenges are to not misuse his superpowers. It is especially difficult for him to restrain himself from using his X-ray vision when doing poondi when traveling at malls.

Martian Arab Prince Hunter (Martian Manhunter)

Martian Manhunter’s frighteningly alien looks scared the people of the first Pakistani town he walked into. Not only did they stone him, but burned his body as well. A TV channel reported on this event:

Fortunately, with his powers of regeneration, the Marian Manhunter restored himself to his original form. After speaking to the other members of the Justice League, Martain Manhunter resolved that while the rest of the Earth’s heroes served mankind, he would protect the animals of the planet.

Martian Manhunter soon moved to Balochistan where he paid for a license to hunt rich Arab princes who come to Pakistan to illegally hunt endangered creatures. Renaming himself as Martian Arab Prince Hunter, he vowed to use his optic blasts to hunt ‘every bustard hunting bastard.’

Paani Admi (Aquaman)

Growing up in Machar Colony, Asim Salan often wondered why he was such a lucky fisherman. On his little boat he would catch thousands more fish a day than anyone. As it turned out, the poor fish were only coming to him because he was the king of Atlantis and had the telepathic powers to command all sea life.

After discovering his powers, Paani Admi uses his abilities to help Pakistan by ending the water shortage crisis across the nation. This doesn’t sit well with the tanker mafia which has grown rich by profiteering from the water shortage across Karachi. Thankfully, Batman partners with Paani Admi to bring them to justice.

Paani Admi and Batman also decide to raid a popular seafood biryani restaurant which is not only backed by a local political party, but is rumored to carry links with foreign agencies. Upon arriving they aren’t surprised to find the seafood is more than a little… raw.

Chacha Cricket (Green Lantern)

If there is one thing Chacha Cricket loves, it is spreading cheer and harmony across the nation. After being visited by an alien being, Chacha Cricket is told that he has been chosen by a magical ring to be a member of the interstellar law enforcement agency known as the Green Lantern Corps.

Limited only by the scope of his imagination, as the new Green Lantern, Chacha Cricket flies across the Pakistani night skies to raise the spirits of its people, especially on Independence Day. He doesn’t do much crime fighting, but always has an encouraging word or two for the Justice League when they are engaged in battle.

Chamak (The Flash)

Popular actor Hamid Ali Akhtar seemed to have a controversial opinion on everything. Whether it was politics, minorities, or gay rights, Hamid would offer an opinion in a flash, often to the ire of his social media followers. For some reason, Hamid was particularly irked when the Supreme Court of another nation on the other side of the planet ruled in favor of gay marriage in a ruling which did not affect him in the least.

Or so we thought.

It was complete mystery why Hamid was so perturbed by gay rights. Until he was struck by lightning that is. The bolt to Hamid’s head not only granted him the power to move faster than anyone, but it also cleared the cobwebs in his head. Finally, Hamid stopped denying who he was, and accepted his true nature.

Now, when the glittering hero isn’t fighting crime alongside the Justice League, Chamak is intent on encouraging equal rights across Pakistan while also looking fabulous.

Hairat Aurat (Wonder Woman)

With her life in peril, the Amazonian princess was sent as a young woman to live with a foster family in Lahore until the threat at her homeland Themyscira was neutralized. Taking the name of Dania, the beautiful young woman quickly grew frustrated by the gender issues in Pakistan.

While at work in the morning, she noticed she was being paid significantly less than her male colleagues. She was also passed over for promotions she deserved. Studying at night, she was often put off by her lewd college professors who would offer her ‘private tutoring’ for free. At social events she was fed up by aunties asking her why she wasn’t married yet. Meanwhile, her Facebook inbox was flooded by friendship requests with poorly worded messages from would be lovers who couldn’t be discouraged.

Dania would also it difficult to enjoy many outdoor activities without feeling stared at or phone numbers thrown at her face.

Finally, Dania decided that Pakistan needed a feminist revolution, and she, as Hairat Aurat, would become a feminist icon. With her fists she beat up every chichora she could get her hands on. Using her ‘dupatta of truth’, she forced every sleazy uncle in the city to confess his behavior to his large angry wife. The dupatta was also used to pinpoint and prosecute misogynist bosses.

She also named and shamed every college professor in Pakistan who had victimized vulnerable female students, and went to every auntie who was overly interested in other people’s affairs, and told them to get a life. They were so scared of her that they did.

Dania visited villages where men pushed their wives into pregnancy and gave talks on family planning. She ended these talks by making snipping sounds with her scissors to make sure the point was driven home.

But Dania didn’t stop there. She started an Instagram account where she uploaded pictures during her menstrual cycle to discourage period shaming. Dania also ran in a marathon without using tampons. This was a little controversial, but no one said anything. Not to Hairat Aurat.

All illustrations are by Rakshanda Khan; text by Noman Ansari

Iraj Aftab, who works in the price control office of the Karachi Commissioner, has called for educational reforms to take the country forward.

Pakistan’s transgender community came out to celebrate the county’s 69th Independence Day with a 700-foot long flag that they meticulously stitched together over 12 days.

Organised by the Sindh chapter of the Gender Interactive Alliance (GIA), hundreds of Khawaja Sarras rolled out the gigantic flag at the Bagh-e-Quaid-e-Azam, previously known as the Polo Ground, in Karachi right before the clock struck 12 on August 13.

Ecstatic and proud of their accomplishment, they walked across the length of the park holding up the flag, shouting “Pakistan Zinadabad!”

Transgenders in Pakistan were awarded the right to register as a third gender on their CNICs in 2012. The Supreme Court had also ordered free education and free health care for the Khawaja Sarra community. However, provincial welfare departments have yet to implement the decision.

As a result, they continue to face discrimination from society. They largely depend on a livelihood of singing and dancing at weddings and birth celebrations. They are also treated as sex objects and often become the victims of violent assault.

However, last night, the open space at Bagh-e-Quaid-e-Azam rang with profound patriotism, thanks to this same community. There is the hope that one day Pakistan’s proudest citizens will stop being stigmatised and discriminated against, and start to gain social recognition in their own country.

According to the vice president of GIA, Mazhar Anjum the making of the flag cost 100,000 rupees .

“We wish to walk abreast all Pakistanis,” GIA’s vice president Mazhar Anjum (left) said. “All we ask for is some respect,” Rani (right) said.

The flag measures 700 feet in length and 50 feet in breadth.

“We put in a lot of hard over this flag; it is to show our love for Pakistan. We value this country with all our hearts and would not hesitate to die for it,” Sapna said.

“I’m glad to see that so many people turned up to stand with us here for Pakistan. This is Pakistani unity!” Sheila said.

The Khawaja Sarra community stitched the flag over the course of 12 days.

“I’m here today because I want to spend this independence day with the country’s most tolerant community,” Sadaqat Ali said.

President of the Sindh chapter of the Gender Interactive Alliance (GIA), Bindiya Rana.

The tiniest patriot at Karachi’s Bagh-e-Quaid-e-Azam.