Latest news with #Salahuddin
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Transfer case first of its kind: CB head
The head of a constitutional bench (CB) hearing petitions filed against the transfer of three judges to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and a subsequent change in the judges' seniority list has noted that the case under review is first of its kind. During hearing of the case, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar agreed with counsel for one of the petitioners, Barrister Salahuddin, that there is no precedent in the past for a permanent transfer of a judge from one high court to another. "This is the first case of its kind involving such a transfer," he said. Earlier, Barrister Salahuddin argued that a judge's seat cannot be vacated through a transfer, and a permanent transfer would render Article 175-A of the Constitution ineffective. Article 175A establishes the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), which is responsible for appointing judges of the Supreme Court, high courts, and the Federal Shariat Court. He stated that under Article 200, only temporary transfers are permissible, and permanent appointments can only be made by the JCP. Justice Mazhar noted that under Article 175-A, new appointments can be made, adding that "appointment" and "transfer" have different meanings. Salahuddin said a meaningful consultation is essential in any judge's transfer, and without it, the entire process is a mere formality. He alleged that information was concealed and inaccurate details were provided during the transfer of three judges to the IHC in February this year. Justice Mazhar said the case involves interpretation of constitutional and legal points. He noted that three chief justices were involved in the transfer process and not everything was in the hands of the executive. Consent of the transferred judge is also obtained, he added. Salahuddin referred to civil service rules, stating that when two individuals are appointed on the same day, seniority is determined by date of birtha principle the SC has upheld in a previous reference. He also cited the Aslam Awan case, which called for clear rules on judicial seniority. Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Awan stated that once the SC defines a principle, the rules will follow. Salahuddin requested that the Supreme Court decide the case based on civil service rules, past precedents, and the principle of equality. Justice Mazhar asked what becomes of a judge's previous service if he takes a new oath after his transfer from one high court to the another. "In India, even if a judge takes five oaths upon transfer, their determined seniority remains unaffected" but Pakistan does not have an "All Pakistan Cadre". He said the court is raising questions for the sake of clarity and informed judgment, noting that when a high court judge is elevated to the SC, their final pay certificate reflects 11 or 12 years of service. Salahuddin responded that while benefits and pension would be retained, the judge's seniority would be reset. He urged the court to consider the impact on the sitting judges of the court receiving the transferred judge. It would be unjust, he said, for a judge ranked 16th in one court to become the senior-most judge in another, ahead of those who were previously more senior. IHC Acting Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar, one of the judges transferred to the IHC in February, ranked 16th in the Lahore High Court. Justice Mazhar reiterated that no such objections were raised by judges of the Lahore High Court and instructed the lawyer to stick to issues related to IHC. He added that if arguments conclude by June 16, the court may issue a short order after consultation with judges on the same day. Barrister Salahuddin requested the case be heard until the next day. Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan noted that some judges on the bench would not be available. Justice Salahuddin Panhwar commented that rebuttal arguments can include questions. The hearing was adjourned until 9:30am on June 16.
Asharq Al-Awsat
27-05-2025
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saddam's Tribe Weighs Option of Running in Iraq's 2025 Election
The tribe of late Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is quietly searching for a candidate to represent it in Iraq's parliamentary elections scheduled for the end of 2025, despite strong internal opposition and growing fears of political backlash, tribal and political sources said. The al-Bu Nasir tribe, historically tied to Saddam, has long refrained from openly fielding candidates due to deep-rooted hostility and political stigmatization that have persisted since the former regime's fall in 2003. Influential groups in Baghdad, particularly those with links to Iran-backed factions, are seen as likely to revive accusations and historical grievances if a candidate emerges from the tribe, the sources added. The effort comes as armed factions, some aligned with the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), intensify their political outreach in Salahuddin province, where Saddam was born and remains a divisive figure. Prominent families from the al-Bu Nasir tribe are still barred from returning to their ancestral village of Al-Awja, near Tikrit, which remains under the control of the PMF's 35th Brigade. The area has been off-limits to many former residents due to lingering security concerns and political sensitivities. While the tribe remains divided on whether to enter the political fray, the rising influence of militias and a shifting electoral landscape may prompt some factions within it to reconsider their traditional stance of political withdrawal. Two developments in Salahuddin province last week have offered a glimpse into Iraq's shifting electoral landscape, as both Shiite militias and Sunni tribal leaders maneuver ahead of the elections in the Sunni-majority region north of Baghdad. In a move that raised eyebrows, Qais al-Khazali, head of the Iran-aligned Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia, met with tribal leaders and local figures in Tikrit, the provincial capital. The meeting stirred speculation over a potential alliance with Saddam's al-Bu Nasir tribe, once the backbone of the former regime. At the same time, senior figures from the al-Bu Nasir held private talks to discuss whether to nominate a candidate for parliament, according to sources close to the tribe. But the meetings ended without agreement, reflecting deep divisions over the risks of returning to the political stage. 'Many families within the tribe remain hesitant,' one tribal source said. 'They fear political competition could become a noose around what remains of the Saddam legacy.' A faction within the tribe argues that re-engaging in politics is essential to resolve long-standing issues, chief among them, the inability to return to their home village of Al-Awja. But another current warns that any attempt to re-enter politics could bring more harm than good, with one source calling the potential price of representation 'too heavy for anyone to bear.' Analysts say any successful reintegration of Saddam's tribe into Iraqi politics, especially through alliances with Shiite factions, is still premature. Still, some tribal figures believe the door is not entirely closed. 'The al-Bu Nasir are trying to change their circumstances, even if symbolically, by participating in the political process,' said Marwan al-Jubara, spokesman for the Salahuddin Tribal Council. 'They're thinking about a future in a post-Saddam Iraq,' he told Asharq Al-Awsat. 'They want to return to their region, but right now, they live outside it and are still banned from going back.'
Mint
17-05-2025
- Mint
'He killed her, burnt her body': Man chops wife's body into pieces, throws parts across Uttar Pradesh's Shravasti
In a shocking incident, a 31-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh allegedly killed his wife and attempted to cover up the crime by chopping her body into pieces and throwing them across Shravasti, NDTV quoted officials as saying on Friday. According to the report, citing the police, the accused, Saifuddin and his wife, Sabina, were on their way to Lucknow earlier this week when he committed the crime. The police added that Saifuddin then chopped up the body of his wife into pieces and threw some parts of it into a canal. Later, he scattered the pieces across 10 kilometres in the Shravasti area, and added the police. On 14 May, the incident came to light when the victim's brother, Salahuddin, called her, but her phone was switched off. He discovered the couple had left for Lucknow when he went to her home. But, he found Saifuddin strolling in the evening, with no signs of his sister. Salahuddin filed a missing persons complaint at a nearby police station, and the police took Saifuddin into custody for questioning. However, the accused kept misleading them. After two days of continuous questioning, the accused confessed to the crime. He revealed that he had burnt his wife's hand and hid it in a nearby garden. On probing further, the police recovered the burnt hand and sent the accused to jail, the police said. The victim's family claimed that her husband and in-laws were harassing her over dowry. "They were demanding a dowry. He killed her because of burnt her body. We found her hand in the garden. I had filed a complaint on 14 May night," NDTV quoted Salahuddin as saying. The police had arrested a 44-year-old woman, Maya Devi, for allegedly getting her lover and his associates to kill her ex-Army soldier husband and chop him into six pieces in a village in Ballia of Uttar Pradesh. The accused then threw his body parts at six different locations to conceal his identity. On Saturday, the incident only came to light when the police recovered severed hands, legs wrapped in a polythene near a field near Khareed village. He was identified as 62-year-old retired Army personnel Devendra Kumar.
CNA
14-05-2025
- Business
- CNA
Johor Bahru's old-school bakeries: Feeling the heat amid rising costs
Johor Bahru's old-school bakeries, like Salahuddin and Hiap Joo, are beloved of both locals and visitors from Singapore. But with rent and ingredient prices on the rise, these establishments are trying hard to keep their businesses from crumbling.
The Hindu
11-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, LeT and JeM
Flanked by top Pakistani military officials, Abdur Rauf, a local cleric and a U.S.-designated terrorist, led prayers for those killed on May 7 by Indian attacks, inside Lashkar-e-Taiba's (LeT) headquarters in Muridke, Punjab. Wrapped in Pakistan's 'Star and Cresent' flag, the slain were awarded 'state honours', and wreaths were reportedly laid by Pakistani Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on their remains. Indian security officials confirmed on May 10 that five high-profile terrorists were killed during 'Operation Sindoor'. India said it hit nine terror camps of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), LeT and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan. Hafiz Muhammad Jameel and Mohammad Yusuf Azhar, two brothers-in-law of JeM founder Maulana Masood Azhar, LeT commanders Mudassar Khadian, Khalid and JeM's Mohammad Hassan Khan were among the dead. For more than three decades, these three outfits have been responsible for attacks across India, including the 2001 Parliament attack, the 2008 Mumbai attack and the recent (April 22) Pahalgam massacre. Here's a look at each of these outfits, which are backed by Pakistan's security establishment. Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Founded in 1989, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen started operating in PoK's Muzaffarabad with the aim of integrating Jammu and Kashmir with Pakistan. As a militant wing of Pakistan's Islamist organisation Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), Hizb was set up at the behest of the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), the Pakistani spy agency. The group has a cadre strength of over 1,500, and its chief is Mohammed Yusuf Shah, also known as Syed Salahuddin. It operates in five divisions, targeting Srinagar, Kupwara, Bandipora, Baramulla, Anantnag, Pulwama, Doda, Rajouri, Poonch and Udhampur. While its headquarters are in PoK, Hizbul has units in both Islamabad and Rawalpindi to communicate with the military and the government. Born at the peak of insurgency in Kashmir, Hizb saw an internal tussle over ideology, leading to a split with Salahuddin heading one faction and Hilal Ahmed Mir the other. In 1993, India's counter-terrorist attacks peaked, wiping out several top leaders, including Mir. Through the years, Hizb has clashed with Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) — another ISI-funded group, which advocates for Kashmir's independence. In July 2000, Salahuddin made a conditional offer of ceasefire to India, in a press conference in Islamabad, leading to a meeting between the group's chief commander Abdul Majeed Dar and a high-level Indian official team at Srinagar. However, facing pressure from other terrorist outfits in Pakistan, Salahuddin retracted his offer within days after the meeting. Dar, who played a significant role in the indoctrination, recruitment, launching and training of cadres, was killed in 2003 by unknown gunmen in Sopore. The attack was reportedly carried out by a splinter group of Hizb, after he had fallen out of favour with Salahuddin. Through the years, the group has been responsible for numerous attacks on elected leaders in J&K, grenade attacks on J&K police stations, bomb attacks on military personnel and the Delhi High Court blast of 2011. Top leaders such as Ahsan Dar, Ashraf Dar, Maqbool Alla, Burhan Wani, Riyaz Naikoo, Sabzar Bhat have been killed by Indian security forces. It was designated a terrorist organisation by the U.S. in 2017. Lashkar-e-Taiba Called the 'Army of the pure', Lashkar-e-Taiba was founded in Afghanistan's Kunwar province in 1990. Its active presence was first established in 1993 when its cadres infiltrated across the LoC. Funded by Pakistan's Islamist organisation Markaz-ad-Dawa-wal-Irshad, LeT challenges India's sovereignty over Kashmir, and believes in uniting all Muslim majority regions in Asia and imposing Islamic rule in India. Its chief, Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, set up its headquarters in Muridke and is currently imprisoned in Pakistan's Central Lahore Jail for 'terror financing'. Apart from Muridke, LeT has bases in Muzaffarabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Karachi, Multan, Quetta, Gujranwala, Sialkot, and operates several Islamic institutions, schools, clinics and seminaries across Pakistan. With India, the U.S. and Israel as its prime targets, LeT has recruited cadres from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sudan, Bahrain, Turkiye and Libya. It has an active presence is in Jammu and Kashmir, Chechnya and other parts of Central Asia, with over 700 cadres in J&K itself. Networking with several other terror outfits like al-Qaeda, LeT has been responsible for some of India's deadliest terror attacks such as the Mumbai train attacks (2006), 26/11 attack (2008), Akshardham temple attack (2002), serial blasts in Varanasi, Bengaluru, New Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Mumbai and several suicide attacks on security bases. Post-1999, LeT implemented the 'Fiyadeen' attacks in which small units stormed security forces' bases. There were instances of LeT members, disguised as security personnel, rounding up non-Muslim civilians in J&K and killing them. Under pressure from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the Pakistan government 'arrested' Hafiz Saeed in 2019, and he was sentenced to 11 years of imprisonment for 'terror financing'. LeT has been outlawed in India and designated as a terrorist organisation by the U.S. In 2002, under international pressure, the Pakistani government banned the group. One of its bases, Markaz Taiba in Muridke, which trained terrorists like Ajmal Kasab and David Headley for the 2008 Mumbai attacks, was hit by India during Operation Sindoor. Jaish-e-Mohammad The hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC 814 in Kandahar by Harakat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) in 1999 facilitated the release of HuM's secretary general Maulana Masood Azhar. Upon his release, he launched Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) at a stadium in Bahawalpur in March 2000, after being designated as a global terrorist by the U.S. JeM's objectives include withdrawal of Indian security forces from J&K and the 'liberation' of Kashmir. It also wishes to take control of Amritsar, New Delhi and Babri Masjid in Ayodhya — where now a Ram temple stands. With funding from the ISI and foreign countries, JeM has been responsible for terror attacks in India such as the 2001 Parliament attack, 2016 Pathankot airbase attack, and the 2019 Pulwama attack. Active across J&K districts, JeM chief Masood Azhar was arrested after the 2001 Parliament attack but released on orders of a three-member Review Board of Lahore High Court in 2002. Since then, Pakistan has maintained it does not know his whereabouts, but Azhar has reportedly remained in Bahawalpur, as indicated by a speech given in December 2024. On May 7, Indian strikes destroyed Markaz Subhanallah, which served as JeM's headquarters in Bahawalpur, and killed several of Azhar's family members, who are part of JeM.
