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Express Tribune
02-08-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Opp confab slams 'hybrid fascism'
Listen to article Opposition parties on Friday called for the immediate release of former prime minister Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi and rights activist Dr Mahrang Baloch, while also demanding the dissolution of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), restoration of constitutional supremacy and an end to "military interference" in democratic and judicial affairs. The demands were laid out in a joint declaration at the close of the APC organised by Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Aain Pakistan (TTAP), held from July 31 to August 1 in Islamabad. The venue, initially arranged elsewhere, was abruptly cancelled by the Islamabad administration — a move participants condemned as a blow to the people's constitutional freedoms. The conference was then hosted at the residence of TTAP Vice Chairman Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar. Another key demand in the declaration was the demand that Parliament be taken into confidence regarding a recent meeting between Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir and US President Donald Trump. The opposition noted that critical international developments, including the US-Pakistan trade deal, were now being disclosed by foreign leaders, undermining Pakistan's diplomatic credibility. The participants expressed grave concern over the country's worsening constitutional, political, and economic crisis. They noted widespread public alienation with farmers in distress, the middle class experiencing a 58% decline in purchasing power and youth unemployment exceeding 30%. The conference condemned what it called ongoing fascism and political victimisation. It rejected the sentences handed down by what it described as "kangaroo courts" against opposition leaders and PTI members and termed July 31 a dark day in the country's democratic history. The APC said the fascism, political victimisation and sentences showed "the hybrid regime's agenda [is] to eliminate all opposition." Calling for a new Charter of Democracy, the parties said the constitution, fundamental rights and parliamentary system had severely been undermined. They called for a national consensus on key principles including constitutional supremacy, rule of law, judicial independence, electoral transparency, resolution of regional grievances, press freedom, protection of women's and minority rights. The alliance rejected all constitutional amendments that diluted parliamentary authority and demanded the immediate dissolution of SIFC, calling its formation unconstitutional and a violation of the 18th Amendment. It also demanded revocation of a land lease agreement granting 4.8 million acres to the Green Initiative Company. "This alliance and parties attending the conference declare the establishment of SIFC against the spirit of the 18th amendment and the Constitution and demand that SIFC be dissolved," the declaration read. "The July 8, 2024, agreement between the Presidency and Green Pakistan Initiative is unconstitutional and must be annulled," the statement read, demanding "full provincial status for Gilgit-Baltistan." Participants voiced alarm over rampant corruption and interference in civil and judicial institutions, calling for legal reforms and a truly independent judiciary. They supported six Islamabad High Court judges who had raised concerns about judicial interference and demanded the repeal of the 26th Constitutional Amendment related to judicial appointments. The declaration rejected the conduct of the 2024 general elections, calling them a disgrace to democracy. It called for a new, impartial election commission established through national consensus and immediate general elections under a neutral caretaker setup, which should be free from intelligence agencies' alleged interference. Regarding Balochistan, the parties termed its crisis a national wound and demanded the return of local resource control to indigenous people, an end to extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, disbandment of illegal militias and urgent support for the University of Balochistan. They demanded the release of Dr Mahrang Baloch and withdrawal of false FIRs against BNP leader Sardar Akhtar Mengal and his family. On Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and ex-FATA, the conference supported the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, condemned the CTD's extrajudicial killings, demanded fair representation in the National Finance Commission, withdrawal of appeals against court rulings on unconstitutional regulations and the production of missing persons including, Ali Wazir. The declaration proposed a South Africa-style Truth and Reconciliation Commission, calling for voluntary admissions of constitutional subversion since 1947. It criticised political parties that had abandoned their past commitment to democratic charters. Any changes to the National Finance Commission Award or violations of the 1991 Water Accord were described as attacks on federal unity. The alliance condemned the use of political retaliation and called for mutual respect among political actors. It rejected all forms of media censorship and supported journalists facing legal threats or silencing. Women's rights issues such as honour killings, forced marriages and inheritance denial were highlighted, alongside calls for protections of minority personal laws and prevention of forced conversions. While supporting peaceful relations with all nations except Israel, it urged the parliament to refer Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
Express Tribune
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PTI to submit CCTV footage of police raids
Listen to article The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday allowed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to submit CCTV footage of alleged police raids as part of the official court record. The decision was made by Justice Khalid Ishaq while hearing a petition filed by senior PTI member Akmal Khan, who sought judicial intervention against what he termed illegal police actions targeting party supporters. In his petition, Khan requested the court to restrain police officials from conducting raids and harassing PTI workers and supporters involved in mobilizing for the party's August 5 protest. The petitioner named the Inspector General of Police Punjab, the CCPO Lahore, DIG Operations, and the Station House Officers (SHOs) of Shahdara and Ferozwala (District Sheikhupura) as respondents. He argued that the alleged police actions were in violation of fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution. Read More: APC calls for abolishing SIFC, 26th Amendment, creating new 'Charter of Democracy' Citing constitutional protections, Khan submitted that every citizen has the right to move freely within Pakistan, reside in any part of the country, and assemble peacefully — subject to reasonable legal restrictions in the public interest. He further argued that citizens also have the right to form or join political parties unless such activities are declared prejudicial to national sovereignty or integrity by the federal government and later upheld by the Supreme Court. Justice Ishaq, while accepting PTI's request to include CCTV footage as evidence, noted that any material relevant to the alleged harassment and unlawful actions by police may assist the court in assessing the facts of the case. The court will continue proceedings after examining the submitted footage and hearing responses from the concerned police officials.
Express Tribune
01-08-2025
- Climate
- Express Tribune
PM orders upgradation of Met Office's early warning system
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chairs a high-level meeting in Islamabad regarding the flood situation in Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Photo: Radio Pakistan Listen to article Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed the immediate upgrade and full activation of the Meteorological Department's early warning system as part of federal efforts to mitigate the impact of severe monsoon weather, Radio Pakistan reported. Chairing a high-level meeting on the flood situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), the premier said recent rains have led to tragic incidents across the country, particularly in AJK and G-B, resulting in significant human and financial losses. 'The federal government stands with the governments, administrations, and people of AJK and G-B during this difficult time,' he said, announcing that he would soon visit the flood-hit areas of G-B to express solidarity. He added a federal relief package would also be announced to compensate for the damages 'as much as possible.' Also Read: APC calls for abolishing SIFC, 26th Amendment, creating new 'Charter of Democracy' The prime minister instructed all relevant federal institutions to coordinate closely with the local administrations in assessing damage and accelerating rescue and rehabilitation efforts. He stressed that 'preventing further human and material loss must remain the top priority.' He also ordered immediate restoration of communication infrastructure, particularly roads, damaged by the floods. It is pertinent to mention that the G-B government has declared 37 flood-affected areas as calamity-hit zones and imposed an emergency to manage the crisis. Meanwhile, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik briefed the meeting on the nationwide impact of the monsoon season and upcoming weather forecasts for the region. Also Read: Islamabad Express derails on Pindi-Karachi route According to the NDMA chief, 295 people have so far lost their lives and over 700 others have sustained injuries. More than 1,600 homes have been completely destroyed, while 376 livestock deaths have also been reported. He warned that rivers and streams were experiencing severe pressure due to continuous rainfall. Low-level flooding is anticipated in Tarbela, Chashma, Taunsa, and Kalabagh, while medium-level flooding is likely at Marala and Guddu on the Chenab River. Lt Gen Malik further cautioned that the monsoon season was expected to intensify towards the end of the month. 'NDMA is undertaking comprehensive preparations to ensure that effective preventive and relief measures are in place,' he told the meeting.
Express Tribune
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Imran's sons will join protest: Aleema
The family of the PTI founder Imran Khan, including his sons Suleman Khan and Kasim Khan, will be part of the protest movement called by him, his sister Aleema Khan said on Tuesday. Aleema spoke to the media after her two sisters Uzma and Noreen Khan and party lawyers met the PTI founder in Adiala Jail. Aleema was, however, denied permission for the meeting. She told the reporters that Imran Khan would himself lead the protest movement from inside the jail. "Imran Khan has said that he will lead the protest movement. He is free while in jail but we are prisoners despite being outside," she said. "Our family will be fully involved in the protest movement. Suleman and Kasim have said that after [visiting] America, they will join the movement," she added. "Imran Khan has said that those who could not carry the weight of the movement should leave now," she continued, adding that Imran wanted the movement to peak on August 5, when he would complete two years of incarceration. Letter from jail Senior incarcerated leaders of PTI have penned another joint letter, blasting the government for "destroying" key democratic institutions including the media, judiciary, and parliament. The letter accuses the current rulers of betraying the very spirit of the Charter of Democracy, an agreement once signed by the leaders of the two major political parties, Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto. The letter, by leaders currently incarcerated in Kot Lakhpat Jail, was jointly written by former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, Ejaz Ahmad Chaudhry and Omar Sarfraz Cheema. "The Charter of Democracy was meant to ensure constitutional supremacy and judicial independence," the PTI leaders wrote, "but it has been sabotaged by the very parties that initiated it, all for the sake of personal political gains." The letter argues that the path to pulling Pakistan out of its compounding crises lies in restoring the rule of law and upholding the supremacy of the Constitution. They further alleged that the government has severely undermined democratic principles through legislative overreach and electoral manipulation. "The media has been stifled through the PECA ordinance, the judiciary targeted through the 26th constitutional amendment, and parliament rendered meaningless via Form 47," the letter stated, adding that the people of Pakistan deserve full respect for their democratic rights. The latest letter marks the second such communication in a week from the jailed senior leaders of PTI, who had earlier urged the party to engage in dialogue with the PML-N-led government.
Express Tribune
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PPP endorses need for dialogue with PTI
The PPP has thrown its weight behind calls for dialogue with the PTI, following the surfacing of a letter on social media purportedly written by PTI Punjab's incarcerated leadership. The letter, penned from behind bars, advocates initiating a national dialogue to pull the country back from the brink of political paralysis. PPP Information Secretary Nadeem Afzal, responding to a social media post featuring the letter, said that if the letter was genuine, it represented a positive development. He added that the government should engage PTI in dialogue to strengthen democracy. Afzal said there was a need for a visionary approach, akin to that of former PPP leader Benazir Bhutto, under whose leadership the Charter of Democracy was formulated. The letter, reportedly written by four jailed PTI leaders — former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, former provincial ministers Mehmood-ur-Rasheed and Yasmin Rashid, and former Punjab governor Umar Sarfraz Cheema — stressed the urgent need for dialogue across all platforms, including with the government and the establishment. It also called for the PTI leadership to be granted access to the party's patron-in-chief, Imran Khan, so they could seek his continued guidance on all matters. PPP Central Punjab General Secretary Hasan Murtaza, speaking to The Express Tribune, said dialogue was the appropriate path to resolving longstanding political issues, but stressed that dialogue should be held only with political stakeholders. He said it was time for PTI's founder to "start behaving like a party chief, not a military chief". Commenting on recent developments in the Punjab Assembly, Murtaza said the PPP supported actions taken against PTI's provincial assembly members, arguing that their conduct had warranted such measures.
