Latest news with #OperationZarb-e-Azb
Business Recorder
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
TTP continues to jeopardise Pak-Afghan ties: SAPM Sadiq
ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) and Special Representative on Afghanistan, Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq has said the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is posing a serious challenge within Afghanistan and continues to jeopardise Pakistan-Afghanistan relations. He stated this while speaking at a seminar organised by Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) on Tuesday. Ambassador Sadiq disclosed publically that suicide bombers are being trained in camps established inside Afghanistan and then sold to various militant groups. He highlighted that defunct TTP operatives have not only joined ranks with ISIS, ISKP and other Jihadist groups but have also continued to operate within Afghanistan with considerable impunity. He, however, remarked that there was a high time after Operation Zarb-e-Azb when we had the opportunity to dismantle the TTP network once for all. Some militants crossed the border, while others transformed into sleeper cells within Pakistan, Ambassador Sadiq pointed out. He revealed that the previous Afghan government even had considered TTP a potential threat and conducted crackdown against them. Sadiq expressed disappointment with the current Taliban-led government in Kabul, stating that Afghan soil being used for terrorism against Pakistan but the country's concerns regarding safe havens were not adequately addressed. 'TTP is still active and its armed operatives have not abandoned the path of destabilising Pakistan.' He also highlighted that TTP had provided the Afghan Taliban with suicide bombers, financial aid, intelligence, and weaponry during the conflict years. He warned that the interim Afghan government fears that action against TTP may push the group toward aligning with Daesh. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
India.com
28-04-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Coward Pakistan has lost every war against India but Pakistani army officers still wear medals on their uniforms due to...
New Delhi: Pakistan has fought several wars with India and has lost all of them. Not only against India, but whenever Pakistan encounters other countries, the Pakistani army has to face humiliation. However, whenever you see a Pakistani army officer, they are usually adorned with several medals on their uniform. In this context, a common question arises, if the Pakistani army always faces defeat, then what are the soldiers carrying so many medals for? Let's explore the story behind these medals of the Pakistan Army. Pakistan has lost to India in the India-Pakistan War (1947-48), the India-Pakistan War (1965), the India-Pakistan War (1971), and the Kargil War (1999). In fact, Pakistan faces not only military defeat but also diplomatic losses. Then why does Pakistan award medals? It should be noted that every country's army awards its soldiers medals based on their service, bravery, etc. Medals are given for participation in battles, bravery, or contribution in special operations. For this reason, many soldiers in Pakistan have been awarded medals even after defeats. Additionally, medals are awarded not only for wars but also for internal operations, such as Pakistan's Operation Zarb-e-Azb. Medals and decorations are a tradition in every country's army. Just as India has not fought any war for many years, yet medals related to peace time are being awarded to soldiers by the army, a similar situation exists in Pakistan. The Pakistani army has awarded its soldiers for the battles of 1948, 1965, and 1971, as well as for the 1970 operations in Balochistan, the Siachen dispute, Shiite insurgency, and internal affairs. Pakistan's highest military bravery award is the Nishan-e-Haider. This medal is awarded only to members of the Pakistan Armed Forces. It recognizes the highest acts of extraordinary bravery. Following this are the Hilal-e-Jurat, Sitara-e-Jurat, Tamgha-e-Jurat, and Imtiazi Sanad. Non-operational awards include Sitara-e-Bisat, Tamgha-e-Bisat, Tamgha-e-Khidmat Class-1, Tamgha-e-Khidmat Class-2, and Tamgha-e-Khidmat Class-3. Civil-military awards include Nishan-e-Imtiaz, Hilal-e-Imtiaz, Sitara-e-Imtiaz, Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, and Tamgha-e-Khidmat.
Express Tribune
15-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
CB seeks super tax distribution status
A member of a constitutional bench (CB) of the Supreme Court on Tuesday inquired whether the federal government distributes revenue from the super tax among the provinces, and if such distribution is permissible under the law. The five-member bench, led by Justice Aminuddin Khan, resumed hearing a slew of petitions challenging the imposition of a super tax introduced in 2016 for the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) during Operation Zarb-e-Azb. The operation, launched by the PML-N led government in 2014, aimed to eliminate terrorist strongholds in North Waziristan. During the hearing, senior advocate Makhdoom Ali Khan - representing companies contesting the tax - began his arguments by distinguishing between income tax and super tax. He said that income tax applies regardless of income level, and that all tax revenue goes into the national treasury without a designated purpose. "Under Section 113 of the Income Tax Ordinance, even minimal income is subject to taxation," he said. Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail questioned whether the federal government distributes super tax revenue among the provinces, Khan responded that, according to a speech by the then finance minister, the super tax was intended solely for the rehabilitation of IDPs. "The super tax was first introduced in 2016, extended for one year in 2017, and later made indefinite in 2019 through the use of the word 'onwards'," he added. Khan argued that the tax was never intended to be distributed among provinces, and asserted that not a single rupee has yet been spent on IDP rehabilitation. Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail again asked the additional attorney general whether an amountwhether it be Rs8 or Rs8 trillioncan be distributed in such a way. Earlier, Justice Aminuddin Khan remarked that in the absence of a key lawyer, he had asked other counsel to proceed with arguments. However, the lawyers responded that since Makhdoom Ali Khan is a senior advocate, they would wait for him to conclude before presenting their own arguments. Justice Khan requested Makhdoom Ali Khan to try and conclude his arguments soon. Advocate Makhdoom Ali Khan stated that he follows his friend Khawaja Haris's lead and will try to conclude his arguments as quickly as possible. Smiling, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail remarked to Makhdoom Ali Khan that he should not follow his friend, Khawaja Haris, in this matter. The Supreme Court will resume hearing today.
Express Tribune
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
CB orders transfer of pending appeals on super tax to SC
Listen to article The Constitutional Bench (CB) has ordered the transfer of pending appeals regarding the super tax in the high courts to the Supreme Court. A five-member constitutional bench, led by Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, heard the case related to super tax, where lawyers highlighted that appeals were pending in the Lahore and Islamabad High Courts. The lawyer for private companies, Makhdoom Ali Khan, informed the court that the Supreme Court has the constitutional authority to transfer pending cases to itself. He explained that after the constitutional amendment, the power to transfer cases has been clearly outlined. Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar inquired whether a written request would be required for the transfer of cases, to which the lawyer replied that even an oral request from the court could be considered. He further added that in his view, the court could also transfer the cases by exercising its suo-motu powers. The transfer of cases would be examined in light of Article 187. Makhdoom Ali Khan emphasized that the government cannot directly impose the super tax. Any tax must be justified, and exceptional circumstances must exist for imposing a super tax. He also pointed out that in multiple rulings, the Supreme Court has declared additional taxes to be unlawful, noting that imposing such taxes violates fundamental rights. After the hearing, the constitutional bench ordered the transfer of the pending appeals related to the super tax from the Islamabad and Lahore High Courts to the Supreme Court and adjourned the hearing until tomorrow. Earlier, a constitutional bench of the apex court hearing appeals against a super tax imposed in the wake of a military operation was reconstituted on Monday after one of the bench members Justice Aamer Farooq, who had heard the case as a high court judge recused himself. A five-member CB led by Justice Aminuddin Khan took up the appeals filed by various organizations and individuals against a supertax that the PML-N government had imposed in 2015 to generate funds for the accommodation of the people internally displaced due to Operation Zarb-e-Azb. At the outset, Justice Khan noted that a bench member, Justice Aamer Farooq, had heard the case as a judge of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and therefore the CB would have to be reconstituted. During the hearing, the CB rejected a request to defer the hearing till after Ramazan and stated that the case would be heard on a daily basis.
Express Tribune
11-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
CB examines IDPs rehab in super tax case
A member of the Supreme Court's Constitutional Bench (CB) has questioned the government's plan for reconstructing areas affected by Operation Zarb-e-Azb, initiated in 2014 to eliminate terrorist hotbeds in what is now North Waziristan district. A five-member CB led by Justice Aminuddin Khan on Tuesday resumed hearing a slew of petitions filed against imposition of a super tax in 2015 for the rehabilitation of the people internally displaced by the military operation. During the hearing, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail asked about the government's plan for the rehabilitation of areas affected by the operation. "Was any PC-1 [Project Concept-1] prepared for the resettlement of the affected areas? Was any estimate made for the rehabilitation of the affected regions?' He also asked if a tax on services can be imposed through a money bill. One of the lawyers of the companies which challenged the tax, Makhdoom Ali Khan, argued that the government initially enforced the super tax as a one-time measure through the 2015 Money Bill. "However, its implementation continued from 2015 to 2022. The government's initial estimate was to collect Rs80 billion. It is unclear how much revenue was actually generated under the Super Levy Tax," he added. He stated that the government had already collected income tax on earnings, and to avoid double taxation, it was named a "super tax." He argued that social welfare is now a provincial subject and that this was not a super tax but simply another tax. Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar inquired whether the Super Levy Tax was imposed for a single year. The companies' lawyer responded that it was initially implemented for one year. Justice Mandokhail asked if there was any record of the total amount collected under the super tax. Justice Mazhar remarked that the super tax was imposed once for a specific purpose and questioned whether it would continue indefinitely. Makhdoom Ali Khan argued that the rehabilitation of areas affected by the military operation was a local and provincial matter. The case hearing will resume today at 9:30am.
