ISLAMABAD: Leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said on Sunday that the job of a Supreme Court judge was not to deliver speeches.

Talking in Geo News programme ‘Naya Pakistan’, Rana Sana said that making laws is parliament’s job, while courts are bound to make decisions according to the Constitution and law.

He said that he knows Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah personally. Rana Sanaullah recalled he he was the minister of law and home in Punjab when Justice Shah was the Chief Justice of Lahore High Court. “I have had contact with him. He is a very honest and transparent person,” he said and added, “But I regret that I have to comment in your programme while he (Justice Shah) spoke as a judge.”

Rana Sana said, “It is not the job of a Supreme Court judge, a justice, to deliver speeches and present his position. A judge speaks through his decisions.”

Rana Sana said that Justice Masnoor was referring to the implementation of SC judgment as there was no option but to implement it at all costs; it is clear that there is no option to give verdicts in violation of the Constitution and law whether it is high court or Supreme Court. He said the courts have to decide according to the Constitution and law. “The Constitution and law have to be made by parliament. The law which parliament makes, the courts will decide according to it and they cannot decide outside of the Constitution. When the courts decide outside of the Constitution, there would be discussion on them. The law which parliament has made is binding. It is made through spirit of the Constitution and the courts are bound to make decisions according to the law and Constitution.”When asked about the notification of new chief justice, he said that he cannot talk about it, but the notification is usually issued a week before the retirement of chief justice. He said that it can come three weeks before or three months before. But at least it should be issued a week before.

Meanwhile, PMLN Parliamentary Party Leader in the Senate and Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs Senator Irfan Siddiqui posed a question to Supreme Court Justice Mansoor Ali Shah regarding the constitutional requirements for judicial decision to align with the Constitution and law.

He took to social Media Platform “X” and stated, “Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah said that implementation of court decisions is a mandatory constitutional requirement and the administration has no choice but to follow these decisions. While agreeing 100 percent, only so much guidance is required that whether judicial decisions are in accordance with the constitution and the law is also a constitutional requirement or not.”Senator Irfan Siddiqui also questioned whether the judiciary has the option to write a constitution of its own, negating the clear and unambiguous articles of the Constitution. He further inquired, “ If such actions by the judiciary could potentially disrupt the constitutional equilibrium.”

Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah’s recent address at the 10th anniversary of the 2014 Supreme Court judgement on minority rights has reignited crucial discussions on the protection of minorities in Pakistan. His five-point plan offered a comprehensive approach to fostering a more tolerant and progressive nation.

First, he said, the state must ensure effective implementation of constitutional provisions. It must take proactive measures to protect minorities from violence and discrimination, ensuring that perpetrators of such acts are brought to justice swiftly and decisively, he added.

Second, Justice Shah said the state must promote social harmony and tolerance through education and public awareness campaigns by fostering an environment of mutual respect and understanding. “We can dismantle the barriers of prejudice and ignorance that often fuel discrimination,” he said.

Third, the state must ensure the equitable representation of minorities in all spheres of public life, including government, law enforcement and the judiciary. “This representation is crucial for ensuring the minority perspectives are included in the decision-making processes that shape our society,” Justice Shah said.

Fourth, he said the state must protect the cultural and religious heritage of minority communities. “This involves preserving places of worship, supporting cultural events and recognizing the contributions of minorities to the country’s rich tapestry of history and culture,” he said. Finally, the judge said that the state must provide avenues of redressal and support for minority communities facing injustice. “This includes establishing commissions, or bodies tasked especially with addressing minority issues and ensuring that their voices are heard, and their grievances addressed.”

Between the Lines

The first point, calling for effective implementation of constitutional provisions, strikes at the heart of Pakistan’s struggle with minority rights. While the constitution guarantees equal rights to all citizens, the reality on the ground often falls short. This call for proactive measures and swift justice challenges the state to move beyond rhetoric and demonstrate its commitment through action.

Education, as highlighted in the second point, is perhaps the most powerful tool for long-term change. By reshaping curricula and public discourse to promote tolerance and mutual understanding, Pakistan can address the root causes of discrimination. This approach recognizes that legal protections, while necessary, are insufficient without a corresponding shift in societal attitudes.

The call for equitable representation in public life addresses a longstanding issue of underrepresentation of minorities in key positions. This proposal goes beyond mere tokenism, advocating for meaningful inclusion that can reshape policy-making and governance. The presence of minority voices in corridors of power can lead to more nuanced and inclusive decision-making.

Protecting the cultural and religious heritage of minorities is not just about preserving buildings or artifacts; it is about recognizing the integral role these communities have played in shaping Pakistan’s national identity. This point challenges the narrow narratives that have often dominated discussions of Pakistani culture and history.

The final point, focusing on avenues for redressal, is crucial for ensuring that the rights of minorities are not just theoretical but practically enforceable. The establishment of dedicated bodies to address minority issues could provide much-needed channels for addressing grievances and advocating for change.

The operative term in Justice Shah’s five points is “the state” and its responsibility. This means that minority protection must be framed as a collective effort of all state organizations, and this requires a level of coordinated action reminiscent of the national consensus achieved during the formulation of the National Action Plan against terrorism. This comparison underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgent need for unified action.

However, unified action can only begin with political actors. Political will, often in short supply when it comes to minority issues, must be galvanized. Parties must look beyond short-term electoral calculations and recognize that a more inclusive Pakistan is ultimately a stronger Pakistan.

The judiciary, too, bears a significant responsibility. While landmark judgments provide a legal framework, their true test lies in implementation. The courts must remain vigilant, ensuring that their rulings translate into tangible improvements in the lives of minority citizens.

Minority rights is not just a domestic issue: Pakistan’s global standing has been negatively impacted by its consistently poor performance in protecting minority rights. International human rights organizations and watchdogs routinely rank Pakistan among the worst countries for religious freedom and minority protection. These low rankings have diplomatic repercussions, affecting Pakistan’s relationships with Western nations and international bodies. They also hinder foreign investment and tourism, as the perception of instability and intolerance deters potential investors and visitors. As the world increasingly prioritizes human rights and inclusivity, Pakistan’s failure to adequately protect its minorities not only tarnishes its international image but also isolates it from global progress and cooperation.

Justice Shah’s five-point plan presents an opportunity for the nation to reaffirm its commitment to pluralism and equality. It challenges the state to move beyond tokenism and embrace a comprehensive approach to minority rights protection. The success of this endeavour will not only enhance the lives of minority communities but will also strengthen the fabric of Pakistani society as a whole. Justice Shah’s vision offers a blueprint for progress, but its realization depends on the collective will of the Pakistani state and its people.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted a fact-finding committee to probe multiple allegations against employees of PPRA, including payment of honorarium out of the World Bank funded project, EPADS (E-Pak Acquisition & Disposal System).

Following The News story published on the subject on Saturday, the PM has set up a probe committee under Chairman Prime Minister’s Inspection Commission (PMIC) Brig (R) Muzaffar Ali Ranjha. Members of the fact-finding committee include Member PMIC, Special Secretary Commerce Division, Additional Secretary Cabinet Division, Additional Secretary Finance Division and Director Legal PPRA. The committee can co-opt any other member to do the task assigned.

Terms of reference of the committee include; i) To probe all aspects of allegations/complaints regarding embezzlement, misuse of authority and corruption in PPRA. ii) Inquire about the honorarium given during FY2020-21 to 2023-24 to employees of PPRA deputed on various assignments related with project operations. According to the PM Office notification, the Cabinet Division shall provide secretariat support to the committee and the committee shall submit its findings and recommendations within one week for the perusal of prime minister.

Referring to The News story, the MD PPRA wrote a letter to the PM Office on Saturday informing the PM that a fact-finding committee has already been constituted by the MD PPRA to probe all the allegations. The PM Office, however, still decided to get the matter probed from the PMIC.

The News story “Cabinet Division takes notice of honoraria paid to PPRA officials from WB loan” had disclosed that millions of rupees from a World Bank loan have been paid by PPRA as honoraria to its officials.

The story said that PPRA was presently under focus of the PM’s Office and the Cabinet Division for not only allegedly misusing the World Bank loan to serve its own officials but also faces serious allegations of corruption against its officials in procurement cases causing loss of billions of rupees to public kitty and committing fraud, tampering, bogus documentation, blackmailing, etc.

These allegations, however, have not yet been investigated. It was reported by this newspaper that that there are two sets of officials in PPRA. One, those who received honoraria, and second, who did not receive honoraria. This fight between these two groups, it is said, had resulted in approaching the PM’s Office with allegations of serious level against each other.

In its communication to the PM’s Office on Saturday, the MD PPRA said that the project EPADS was launched with the financial assistance of the World Bank as part of one of the six pillars of the Public Financial Management Reform Strategy (2017-2028). Total cost of the project is Rs12.5 billion. Expenditures till date are Rs450 million, due payments are Rs550 million, total expected cost is Rs1 billion and expected saving is Rs11.5 billion. The PM Office was told that during the financial year 2020-21 to 2023-24, an amount of Rs74.8 million was disbursed on payment of honorarium to employees of PPRA deputed on various assignments related with project operations. The PPRA employees were reportedly deputed on project assignments keeping in view shortage of staff for the project. It is said that seven project employees were working out of 24 sanctioned strength.

ISLAMABAD: The latest Population Census for 2023 reveals that Balochistan recorded the highest population growth rate of 3.2 percent while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) witnessed the lowest rate of 2.38 percent.

The detailed Census Report 2023 released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics shows that the average annual growth rate of the population in Pakistan was 2.45 percent in 1961, it had an increasing and decreasing pattern over the years, gradually increasing to 3.69 percent in 1972 and decreased to 3.06 percent in 1981 and became 2.55 percent in 2023.

The current growth rate is the highest in the region and in the world. Ranking in terms Population Growth Rate, Pakistan Stands at 191, only 27 countries, mostly of Sub Saharan Africa, have growth rates higher than Pakistan. If this growth rate persists, the country’s population will be doubled by 2050. The highest population growth is evident in Balochistan with 3.2 percent while it is the lowest in KP with 2.38 percent.

According to the latest census, the total enumerated population is 241,499,431. In the country’s first census in 1951, the population was 33,740,167 that has increased more than seven times in the last 77 years and stands at 241,499,431 in 2023.

Punjab has the highest share with 52.9 percent in 2023, however it is continuously decreasing since 1951. Balochistan has the lowest share of population among the provinces, however, it is continuously increasing since 1951 from 3.5 percent to 6.2 percent in 2023. Similarly, though smallest by area, the share of population of Islamabad, the federal capital, is also increasing.

From 2017 to 2023, the highest percentage increase is 20.75 in Balochistan and the lowest change is 15.08 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

It was observed that with the rapid increase in population, its density was constantly increasing from 42.4 person per sq km in 1951 to 303.4 person per square km in 2023. Highest density (2,609.1 per square kilometer) is observed in Islamabad showing the patterns of growth of federal capital, followed by Punjab with 622 persons per square km while the lowest is in Balochistan with 42.9 per square kilometer.

Karachi Division in Sindh emerges as the most densely populated, with a density of 5,779, followed by the Federal Capital Islamabad with 2,609 persons per square km. Lahore Division in Punjab and Mardan Division in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa exhibit the highest population density with 1,942 and 1,461 persons per square km, respectively.

However, in Balochistan, majority divisions are less populated as compared to area. Rakhshan, Kalat, Zhob, Mekran and Sibi, are thinly populated with density per km ranging from 11 to 38, emphasising the province’s vast and varied terrain. This data provides a concise overview of the distribution and density of Pakistan’s population, offering valuable insights into regional demographic patterns.

Among all the districts, the biggest is Karachi Central with the highest population density followed by Korangi. On the other hand, districts Awaran and Chagai with 6 persons, Washuk with 9 persons, Kharan with 17 persons and Zhob with 22 persons per sq km have the lowest density in the whole country.

In Punjab, cities like Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Sialkot and Multan exhibit high population densities at 7,339, 1,645, 1,550, 1,492, and 1,441, persons per km respectively. In contrast, districts such as Bahawalpur, Rajanpur, Khushab, Bhakkar, and Chakwal show lower population densities at 173, 193, 231, 240, and 266 persons per sq km respectively.

The federal capital, Islamabad, stands out with a substantially high population density of 2,609 persons per sq km, reflecting the rapidly increasing population. This district-wise analysis provides a comprehensive overview of the demographic patterns in Punjab and Islamabad, essential for informed policymaking and development planning.

In Sindh, all districts of Karachi being the economic hub are densely populated. Karachi Central has the highest density with 55,396 persons per sq km, followed by Korangi, Karachi East, Karachi South and Karachi West, with population densities of 28,972, 28,214, 19,096, and 7,242 persons per sq km respectively. However, in contrast some of the districts of interior Sindh like Tharparkar, Sujawal, Jamshoro, Thatta and Khairpur are sparsely populated with 91,96, 100, 126, and 163 persons per sq km respectively, reflecting a more dispersed demographic pattern in these districts. The country’s 61 percent of over 10 years of age are literate in Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD: Former Bangladesh prime minister Shaikh Hasina has accused the US of being involved in the regime change in Bangladesh which resulted in ending her government following relentless protests by the students over quota system.

The shocking details of former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s undelivered address before fleeing the country were revealed.

According to NDTV, Hasina wanted to address the nation, especially the protesters before leaving the country but did not get a chance as demonstrators reached her doorstep and the security officers advised her to leave.

Sheikh Hasina shared the details of her undelivered speech with her close associates in India. In a letter accessed by NDTV, Hasina would have accused the US of plotting the regime change in Bangladesh, if she got a chance to speak.

Her undelivered speech read: “I resigned so that I did not have to see the procession of dead bodies. They wanted to come to power over the dead bodies of students, but I did not allow it. I resigned from the premiership. I could have remained in power if I had surrendered the sovereignty of Saint Martin Island and allowed America to hold sway over the Bay of Bengal. I beseech the people of my land, please do not be manipulated by radicals.” It further added: “Maybe if I had stayed in the country, more lives would have been lost. I have removed myself. You were my strength, you did not want me, and so I have left. I have lost, but the people of Bangladesh have won, the people for whom my father and my family died.”

For the unversed, after 15 years in power, Hasina resigned from her position and left Bangladesh on August 5 due to widespread violent and deadly anti-government protests.

Washington: President Joe Biden, in his first TV interview since dropping out of the White House race, warned that Republican candidate Donald Trump was “a genuine danger to American security.”

“Mark my words, if he wins… this election, watch what happens,” Biden told CBS News in a pre-taped interview broadcast on Sunday.

“He’s a genuine danger to American security. Look, we’re at an inflection point in world history… and democracy is the key.”

Biden, 81, has kept a low profile since ending his campaign after his flailing debate performance against Trump underlined fears about his age and mental abilities.

In the short TV interview, recorded in the White House last week, he appeared frail but cogent, again admitting he failed in the debate but stressing that health-wise he has “no serious problem.” Explaining his exit, he said other Democratic Party politicians standing for re-election feared he would damage their chances — and added that his only priority was to stop Trump from returning to power.

“A number of my Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate thought that I was going to hurt them in the (election) races,” he said.

“I was concerned if I stayed in the race, that would be the topic you’d be interviewing me about,” he continued.

He singled out former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a party heavyweight whose refusal to explicitly back his campaign was seen by many as pivotal.

“You’d be interviewing me about why did Nancy Pelosi say (something)… I thought it’d be a real distraction,” the president said.

“A critical issue for me still is — not a joke — maintaining this democracy.

“I have an obligation to the country to do what is the most important thing we can do, and that is — we must, we must, we must defeat Trump.”

Biden said he was proud of his record on jobs, investment and Covid recovery — and vowed to campaign hard for Vice President Kamala Harris, who has replaced him on the ballot.

“I’m going to do whatever Kamala thinks I can do to help most,” he said.

Biden’s age had come to dominate the 2024 campaign, and the Democrats’ hopes of winning

have soared since his

withdrawal, as Harris enjoys a surge in support that has left Trump struggling.

The outgoing president said he had expected to serve only one term when he won in 2020, but that he had been persuaded to push for a second.

“I thought of myself as being a transition president — I can’t even say how old I am. It’s hard for me to get it out of my mouth — but things got moving so quickly, it didn’t happen,” he told CBS’s Robert Costa.

As Harris holds huge rallies in swing states, Trump’s light schedule has come under scrutiny, and it was his running mate, J.D. Vance, who blitzed the Sunday morning political talk shows.

Appearing on CNN, ABC and CBS, Vance fielded questions about child care, asylum seekers and abortion.

In one testy exchange with CBS’s Margaret Brennan, Vance complained that she had asked “six questions about abortion.”

“I’m still trying to get a clear answer,” Brennan retorted.

He also claimed that Harris was the one “calling the shots” in the Biden administration.

“If she’s not calling the shots, Dana, who is?” he told CNN’s Dana Bash.

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said on Sunday that nation stands united under one flag. She said this in her special message on the occasion of the National Minorities Day.

CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif said, “I salute every brother and sister of Punjab belonging to the minorities. Quaid-i-Azam had declared all the citizens are free to visit their worship places. Equality, tolerance and patience aptly define democracy. Every citizen holds an equal status irrespective of their religion, caste and creed. All the citizens are beautiful and colorful flowers of a bouquet. Pakistan belongs to everyone and is equivalent to a land of heaven.” The chief minister said, “The minorities enjoy equal rights in Punjab according to the vision of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. All our brothers and sisters belonging to the minorities have been provided equal education and employment opportunities. I, while delineating Punjab’s roadmap during my maiden speech, declared the minorities as very dear to our hearts. Easter was celebrated along with the Christian community in the Maryam Abad church on the eve of Easter Day and 10,000 Christian minorities were awarded eidi.”

The CM said,” I visited Kartarpur and harvested wheat on the eve of Vaisakhi and took the langar of Sangat. Punjab holds a unique distinction of being the first province across the globe to enforce registration of Sikh Marriage Act and work on Hindu Marriage Act and Christian Personal Laws is ongoing which will be submitted in the Assembly soon. The Punjab government for the first time allocated a record budget for the minority communities worth Rs3.66 billion and Rs4,000 million development budget has been allocated for the Minority Affairs department and Rs2,500 million Minorities Development Fund has been allocated as well. A special quota is being ensured for the minority communities in the government employment and educational institutions. I along with President PMLN Muhammad Nawaz Sharif went to the residence of a Christian sanitary worker to offer condolences over his sad demise. Numerous Christian officers and staff are diligently performing their official duties in all government offices including the Chief Minister’s Office.”

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif congratulated Fatima Saeed, a talented female student belonging to Multan for attaining the highest marks in the examination for IX across Punjab. The CM also felicitated other successful students on their 9th class examination. CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif urged every student to put in more hard work for attaining good result in their 10th class examination.

Kyiv, Ukraine: Ukraine has deployed thousands of troops in a major incursion into Russia’s western Kursk region, in a bid to “stretch” and “destabilise” Russia, a senior Ukrainian security official told AFP.

Ukrainian units stormed into Russian territory on Tuesday in a surprise attack that has developed into the most significant cross-border assault by Kyiv since the conflict began in February 2022. “We are on the offensive. The aim is to stretch the positions of the enemy, to inflict maximum losses and to destabilise the situation in Russia as they are unable to protect their own border,” the official said late Saturday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The Russian army earlier said Ukraine had deployed around 1,000 soldiers in the incursion which appeared to catch the Kremlin off guard with Ukrainian forces successfully penetrating Russian defensive lines.

Asked whether 1,000 Ukrainian troops were taking part in the assault, the official said: “It is a lot more… thousands”.

The offensive was also having an important psychological effect at home, he said.

The attack has “greatly raised our morale, the morale of the Ukrainian army, state and society”, the Ukrainian official said, speaking after weeks of Russian advances in eastern Ukraine.

“This operation has shown that we can go on the offensive, move forward,” the official said.

“It seems that the Russians have problems with coordination, preparedness for action,” he said.

But he said there had been little effect so far on fighting in the east.

“The situation is basically unchanged. Their pressure in the east continues, they are not pulling back troops from the area,” he said, adding only that “the intensity of Russian attacks has gone down a little bit”.

The official said Ukrainian troops would respect international humanitarian law while on Russian territory and had no plans to annex areas they currently hold.

“There is no idea of annexation… We are operating in strict accordance with international law,” he said, contrasting this with alleged violations by Russian troops in occupied territory.

Asked whether capturing the Kursk nuclear power plant near the border was an aim, he said: “We will see how the Kursk operation will develop.”

Russia has sounded the alarm over feared strikes on the plant, 60 kilometres (37 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has urged both sides “to exercise maximum restraint in order to avoid a nuclear accident with the potential for serious radiological consequences”.

“We absolutely will not cause problems for nuclear security. This we can guarantee,” he said.

The Ukrainian official also rejected reports that Kyiv’s Western partners had not been informed about the offensive.

The White House said Wednesday it was contacting Ukraine to learn more about the “objectives” of the incursion.

Asked whether Western partners had been kept in the dark about Ukraine’s offensive, the official said this was “incorrect”.

“Judging by how actively Western arms are being used, our Western partners played a part indirectly in the planning,” he said.

Russia’s top general has pledged to put down the offensive and drive Ukrainian troops back to the border.

The official said he expected Russia would “in the end” manage to stop Ukrainian forces.

He also expected Moscow would retaliate with a large-scale missile attack, including “on decision-making centres” in Ukraine.

The political history of the world is rife with revolutions. Some were peaceful while others remained violent in nature. Revolution is meant to bring a sudden change, especially a positive one, in the political system of an area, country or a region. However, there have also been revolutions that have caused significant setbacks in their respective countries. What today’s revolution in Bangladesh will bring is yet to be seen. The army appears to be in control for now, there was a short term goal of dethroning Sheikh Hasina, and there are regional powers such as India which are likely to intervene in the country’s internal affairs.

All of these factors indicate that this revolution may not bring sustainable change and may cause a significant setback instead. But, if elections are held as soon as possible and international cooperation is provided, the country can return to its democratic path and setbacks can be avoided.

Aftab Ahmed Bhatti

Jacobabad