logo
Bugti, SCBAP chief slam India's provocations

Bugti, SCBAP chief slam India's provocations

Express Tribune06-05-2025
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti on Tuesday said that all state institutions and the people must stand united in defending the country's sovereignty, and Balochistan will always be at the forefront of this struggle.
The Balochistan CM expressed his resolve during a meeting with Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan (SCBAP) President Mian Rauf Atta in Quetta.
Bugti said the Balochistan government is making serious efforts, in collaboration with national institutions, bar associations, and political leadership, to resolve provincial challenges, uphold the rule of law, and promote national harmony.
He added that all state institutions and the people must stand united in defending the country's sovereignty, and Balochistan will always be at the forefront of this struggle
On this occasion, SCBAP Vice President Balochistan, Muhammad Ishaq Notezai, and Balochistan High Court Bar Association President Mir Attaullah Langau were also present.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed a range of important national and regional issues, including the prevailing situation along the country's eastern borders.
They agreed that Pakistan, having suffered several tragic incidents of terrorism, strongly condemns all forms of terrorism. They emphasized that any act of aggression against the country's sovereignty should be met with a strong and resolute response.
They also expressed grave concern over India's unilateral actions, which are escalating tensions in the region and bringing the two nuclear-armed nations dangerously close to confrontation.
The suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty was termed a highly provocative move, as water is a fundamental lifeline for the people of Pakistan.
The Bar president expressed complete solidarity with Pakistan's position on behalf of the legal fraternity and reaffirmed their commitment to making every possible sacrifice. He also emphasized the need to strengthen national unity and cohesion.
Mian Rauf Atta briefed the CM about his meetings with various national political leaders aimed at building broad-based consensus on issues facing Balochistan, which was appreciated by the chief minister.
Both sides agreed that a sustainable resolution of Balochistan's longstanding issues lies in continued dialogue, engagement, and adherence to democratic processes. APP
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

PM to India: no compromise on our water share
PM to India: no compromise on our water share

Express Tribune

time12 hours ago

  • Express Tribune

PM to India: no compromise on our water share

Listen to article Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday warned India against choking Pakistan's share of Indus River waters, vowing that not 'a single drop' would be allowed to be stolen. Declaring water the nation's lifeblood, he vowed a decisive response to any attempt to cut the flow amid escalating tensions over New Delhi's move to put the Indus Waters Treaty 'in abeyance', a step Islamabad has condemned as an act of war. 'I want to tell the enemy today that if you threaten to hold our water, then keep this in mind that you cannot snatch even one drop from Pakistan,' he said while speaking at a ceremony in the capital on the occasion of International Youth Day. 'You threaten to stop our water. If you attempt such a move, Pakistan will teach you a lesson you will never forget," he added. Terming water the lifeblood of the nation, the premier asserted there would be 'no compromise' on Pakistan's rights under international accords. He added that a 'new Pakistan' had emerged after the armed forces dealt India a setback on May 10, when the Pakistan Air Force downed six Indian fighter jets, a historic moment for the nation. The premier's remarks came amid India's warning to dry out Pakistan, waging a 'hydel war' against the country. In April, New Delhi announced that it was placing the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) 'in abeyance' following an attack in Pahalgam, in occupied Kashmir, that claimed 26 lives — an incident the Modi-led government, without providing evidence, attributed to Islamabad. Pakistan condemned any move to halt its allocated water flow as an 'act of war', stressing that the IWT contains no clause allowing unilateral suspension. It later signalled the possibility of taking the matter to court, alleging the move breached the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. In June, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, through a supplemental award, ruled that India had no authority to unilaterally suspend the treaty. India, for its part, rejected the court's jurisdiction and refused to accept its rulings. On Monday, the PCA issued an 'Award on Issues of General Interpretation of the IWT' in the Indus Waters case, making clear that India is obliged to 'let flow' the waters of the western rivers for Pakistan's 'unrestricted use'. During his address on Tuesday, PM Shehbaz also announced that 100,000 laptops would be distributed to students on an interest-free and merit-only basis. 'This government believes in transparency and merit, and we will ensure both in the distribution process,' he said. Stressing that the torch of the nation's future was in the hands of its youth, the premier reaffirmed his government's resolve to empower young people through education and technology. He also congratulated the nation ahead of Independence Day and lauded the role of minorities and all segments of society in Pakistan's creation and progress. Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf said the government was taking 'effective measures' for the protection of minorities. 'All citizens have equal rights as per the Constitution,' he said, adding that a 5% quota in jobs had been set for minorities to ensure representation and promote interfaith harmony. Minister of State for Religious Affairs Khel Das Kohistani stressed that Islam respects all religions and that the Constitution safeguards the rights of all citizens. 'The prime minister is taking the country forward in line with the vision of the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah,' he said. Chairman PM Youth Program Rana Mashhood Khan recalled that Pakistan's first youth policy was introduced in 2011 by then–chief minister Shehbaz Sharif. Laptops, soft loans and scholarships were provided to talented students, while the Punjab Educational Endowment Fund – now expanded to the Pakistan Education Endowment Fund – was launched to benefit students nationwide. 'Every child in Pakistan can benefit from this initiative,' he said. Solar power push in G-B Earlier in the day, PM Shehbaz chaired a review meeting following ECNEC's approval of a 100-megawatt solar power project for Gilgit-Baltistan. He directed that the project be completed within a year, pledging to personally monitor its progress. The premier said the initiative would be given top priority to provide uninterrupted, low-cost, and environmentally friendly electricity to the region, which suffers from load-shedding of up to 20 hours a day. 'All infrastructure for the project must be climate-resilient,' he ordered, adding that transparency would be ensured at every stage. The federal government will bear the entire cost of the project, which will see six solar parks in Gilgit, eight in Skardu, and six in Diamer. Solar installations will be fitted on 234 buildings in Gilgit, 179 in Skardu and 68 in Diamer. Battery storage for backup supply and a real-time monitoring system will be part of the scheme, which will adhere to international standards. Calling solarisation the silver bullet for the region's energy crisis, he said integrating renewable energy into the national grid was vital to counter climate change. 'Lighting up Gilgit-Baltistan is not just an infrastructure project; it is a lifeline for its people,' he added. He also directed that hydel and solar generation in the region be planned to ensure an uninterrupted supply during extreme weather. The steering committee will be chaired by Federal Minister for Energy Sardar Owais Khan Leghari, with Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal and Ahad Khan Cheema, PM's Coordinator Musharraf Zaidi, renewable energy expert Dr Gerwin Dreesmann and senior officials in attendance.

PM issues stern warning to India over water rights
PM issues stern warning to India over water rights

Business Recorder

time13 hours ago

  • Business Recorder

PM issues stern warning to India over water rights

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday issued a stern warning to India over water rights amid ongoing disputes surrounding the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), declaring that any attempt to disrupt Pakistan's water supply would be met with a resolute response. Speaking at a function to mark the International Youth Day, the prime minister declared emphatically that not a single drop of water would be taken from Pakistan. 'If you [India] threaten to cut off our water, remember this – you cannot take even a single drop from Pakistan,' he stated. 'Should you dare to do so, we will teach you a lesson so severe that you will be left holding your ears in regret. Pakistan will never be harmed.' Sharif also recounted the events of May, when he said the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) shot down six Indian aircraft, including four Rafale jets, during a four-day conflict, and lauded the military's performance during what he described as a brief but intense confrontation. 'In those four days, our brave soldiers delivered a lesson to Indian that they will never forget,' he maintained. Paying tribute to the sacrifices of the Armed Forces of Pakistan, Sharif emotionally referenced the resolve of soldiers' families. 'These are the sons and soldiers of our Armed Forces, whose mothers prayed for them at the battlefield – 'Go and raise the flag of Pakistan high, defend our borders, and if necessary, lay down your lives. Do not return home unless victorious.'' The prime minister's remarks also coincided with National Minorities Day, observed a day earlier, where he honoured religious minorities for their vital contributions across sectors such as health, education, and defence. 'Our Christian, Hindu, Sikh, and other minority citizens have played an indispensable role, not only in the creation of Pakistan but in building the nation as it stands today,' he affirmed. 'Their service across every field is nothing short of remarkable.' Speaking ahead of Independence Day on 14 August, Sharif invoked the memory of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of the nation, framing the present as a moment for national renewal and youth-led reconstruction. 'A new Pakistan is emerging,' he said, reiterating military's successes especially in the May's skirmishes between the two arch rival countries. While acknowledging India's numerical and resource superiority, Sharif struck a defiant tone. 'India is five times our size and once took pride in its military might,' he asserted. 'That pride was shattered on 10 May.' The prime minister also unveiled a national initiative to provide laptops to students on interest-free instalments under a revived 'Laptop for All' scheme. He pledged the distribution of 100,000 laptops across Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and other provinces would be strictly merit-based. 'There will be no political favouritism, no recommendations,' he said. 'This was my policy in Punjab, and it remains so today. Only merit will build a stronger Pakistan.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025

New book analyses aftermath of Pak-India war
New book analyses aftermath of Pak-India war

Express Tribune

time15 hours ago

  • Express Tribune

New book analyses aftermath of Pak-India war

A highly anticipated new book, "The War That Changed Everything", co-authored by veteran journalist and former Caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi and international affairs scholar Ahmed Hassan Al-Arabi, was officially launched on Monday. The book contains startling revelations about the recent Pakistan-India tensions and provides a historical perspective on Indian state terrorism. Speaking at the book launching ceremony, Murtaza Solangi welcomed dignitaries, including the Ambassador of Azerbaijan, Khazar Farhadov and expressed Pakistan's gratitude to Azerbaijan for its unwavering support during the crisis. Solangi described the publication not as a personal or professional achievement, but as a documentation of courage, sacrifice and national resilience. "This is not our story," he said, "It's a ledger of truth about 250 million brave people who stood firm in the face of deception. "The book traces the events beginning with the Pahalgam massacre on April 22, 2025, where 26 tourists were killed in Kashmir-a tragedy quickly weaponised in political narratives. Solangi and co-author Ahmed Hassan argue that this incident was exploited to justify a broader agenda: framing Pakistan as the aggressor, demonising Kashmiri dissent, and suspending the Indus Waters Treaty. They present detailed evidence, from digital forensics to leaked files, exposing inconsistencies in the official Indian account, suggesting the crisis was manufactured to rally domestic support and deflect attention from internal challenges. "This is not a counter-narrative," Solangi asserted, "it is the narrative." The book meticulously details the timeline, geopolitical consequences and Pakistan's strategic restraint, including the precision of Operation Bunyan Marsoos. He emphasised that the book is not a rebuttal to the Indian propaganda but an excavation of the truth.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store