Blaze News - Pakistan

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq on Sunday maintained that the country had been destroyed by the PML-N, PPP and those claiming to bring about a change – apparently referring to the PTI. “These parties want personal and family monarchy,” he said while addressing an event in Timergara town of Lower Dir district, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The JI chief added that February 8 – the date scheduled for the next elections – would be the day of mourning for the political bigwigs who wanted dynastic monarchy in the country, independence of Kashmir, and return of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, who was incarcerated in a US prison. “Neither the judiciary, nor NAB [National Accountability Bureau] could hold the ruling elite accountable. Now the people will hold them accountable,” he continued. Siraj claimed that around Rs13.6 billion were misappropriated in the country every day. He pointed out that the names of the ruling group were mentioned in the Panama and Pandora papers. “These are people who loot the Toshakhan...

President Dr Arif Alvi on Sunday felicitated the nation, the Ummah and the international community on the beginning of the New Year, expressing the hope that the year 2024 brings prosperity, political and economic stability for Pakistan as well as the entire world. In his message on the occasion, the president emphasised that the nation should not forget the people of Palestine and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) who were facing the brutal and barbaric attacks at the hands of occupation forces. “As we bid farewell to the passing year and welcome the dawn of a new year, I pray to Allah Almighty that may the coming year bring prosperity, political and economic stability for Pakistan as well as the entire world,” Alvi said. “At the beginning of the new year, we should not forget our brothers and sisters in Palestine, who continue to face the brutal and barbaric attacks at the hands of the Israeli forces,” he added, urging the international community to take urgent step...

Having to choose between enrolling one’s child in school or paying for the successive chemotherapy sessions of an ailing parent is an undeniably poignant situation for any household however, the nightmarish imagining might soon become a familiar reality for many destitute families across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) in the coming year, who in the absence of the Sehat Card Plus’ (SCP) facilities will have to forego either their wealth or their loved ones. The Sehat Card Plus, a micro-health insurance program was one of the flagship initiatives of the Government of K-P, offering free of cost treatment to all citizens through an insurance company selected via national competitive bidding. Under the program, more than 7.2 million families in the province were receiving free in-patient healthcare services worth Rs1 million per year, for a variety of conditions including life-limiting diseases like cancer. In 2023 however, following the dissolution of the 11th K-P Assembly and the formation of t...

In a bid to alleviate escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, a delegation of religious scholars, headed by the Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam (JUI-F) chief Mullana Fazal Ur Rehman, is set to depart for the Afghan capital on January 3, a reliable source from Kabul confirmed. The source, in a conversation over the phone, told The Express Tribune that the Ministry of Interior and the Foreign Office have finalised the arrangements for various meetings, focusing primarily on addressing the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) issue and resolving tensions between Kabul and Islamabad. The strategy reportedly involves leveraging religious influence to meet Islamabad's demands. It is anticipated that the religious scholars, under the leadership of Fazl, will engage in private discussions with representatives of the TTP. The aim is to formulate the framework for dialogue and gather perspectives on a range of topics, the source added. Read more: Fazl invited to Kabul amid rising tensions The...

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday said that he believes the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was now stronger and more united than ever, emphasising that the party is committed to rescuing the people of Pakistan through the current economic challenges. During the PML-N parliamentary board meeting, Nawaz lauded the commitment of his brother Shehbaz Sharif, the party president, for his unwavering dedication to both the party and the people of Pakistan. He credited Shehbaz for successfully addressing the electricity shortage crisis, highlighting the pivotal role played by his brother in leading the country through challenging times. قائد مسلم لیگ (ن) محمد نوازشریف کی زیرصدارت پارلیمانی بورڈ میں ضلع لاہور اور اسلام آباد کے امیدواروں کے انٹرویوز کی جھلکیاں pic.twitter.com/lNz8aDRYBf — PMLN (@pmln_org) December 30, 2023 Acknowledging the resilience of PML-N leaders Maryam Nawaz and Hamza Shehbaz, Nawaz praised their bravery in the face of adversity and their unwavering suppo...

Pakistan has fulfilled one of the main conditions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the last loan tranche of $1.2 billion by collecting more than Rs4.44 trillion in taxes during the first half of this fiscal year. The tax authorities have also decided to start disconnecting the utility and mobile phone connections of non-filers of income tax returns from next month, aiming to enhance the tax base to more than six million individuals in this fiscal year. The IMF had set the Rs4.425 trillion indicative tax collection target for the July-December period of this fiscal year. It is among one and a half dozen conditions that Pakistan must meet to qualify for the last loan tranche of $1.2 billion, to be negotiated in February or March. Until the last working day of the month, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has so far collected Rs4.440 trillion, showing an increase of Rs1.15 trillion or 35% over the collection made during the same period of the previous fiscal year. The FBR offi...

The global debate on the perceived potential versus the actual value delivery by 5G has recently intensified, with some advanced economies expressing concerns that the technology has fallen short of expectations. This analysis delves into the experiences of tech conglomerates globally, exploring the current state of 5G readiness, assessing its commercial relevance as well as actual consumer utility for Pakistan. Denis O’Brien, the Chairman of Digicel Group, which operates in 25 markets globally, calls 5G a disaster for telecom companies due to “the absence of a compelling business case”. He believes unless over-the-top companies, responsible for two-thirds of Internet traffic, actively contribute to the network capital expenditures of telecom operators, the rollout of future technologies is not possible. The financial intricacies are further underscored by Moody’s Investors Service, which says the world’s largest wireless companies carried $1.211 trillion of corporate debt at the end o...

Professor Nazir Ahmad Shawl, a prominent figure in the Kashmir liberation movement, breathed his last in London on Friday. The 77-year-old succumbed to multiple ailments, with kidney failure identified as the primary cause of his untimely demise. Professor Shawl, a multilingual individual, educator, poet, and human rights advocate, was a true pioneer in the struggle for the self-determination rights of the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). His passing is considered a significant loss to the global voice of the Kashmir cause. Barrister Abdul Majid Tramboo expressed his grief, stating, "We have lost a dedicated leader, but also a true family man. I have lost someone who is truly my brother. However, his fearless legacy stays with us." "Our deepest condolences on the passing of Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawl. A true pioneer in the Kashmir Movement, his legacy will be remembered beyond boundaries. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones duri...

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir on Friday expressed concern over the environment of pessimism and chaos being created on social media through fake news that the state was losing its writ. He expressed these remarks during his address at the National Farmer’s Convention where he graced the occasion as the guest of honour. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar was also present at the convention. The event was attended by federal ministers, agricultural experts and senior government officials. COAS said that “rumours” and “negative impressions” were being spread about Pakistan on social media. National Farmer’s Convention was held at Jinnah Convention Centre, Islamabad, today. General Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), Chief of Army Staff (#COAS) was Guest of Honour at the occasion.@OfficialDGISPR #Pakistan #ISPR Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar graced the… pic.twitter.com/0JoLTltPJl — Pakistan Armed Forces News 🇵🇰 (@PakistanFauj) December 29, 2023 The army ch...

The heavy toll of the Israeli assault on Palestinian civilians has prompted increasing calls for persecuting the Israeli state for war crimes and for what is widely being described as genocidal violence against a beleaguered people. Palestinians trapped in Gaza have had to pay a disproportionate price for a Hamas-led terror attack against Israeli occupation. A non-binding UN General Assembly resolution calling on Israel to implement a humanitarian truce was brushed aside by Israel, and no assertive action has yet been taken by the more powerful UN Security Council beyond aiming to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza. The unfolding tragedy in Gaza is just the latest example of the international community’s inability to avert atrocities. It has been almost two decades since the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) principle was universally endorsed at the UN World Summit in 2005. R2P aims to prevent perturbing instances of genocide, ethnic cleansing, serious war crimes or other crimes against h...

A 33-year-old French man who admitted to killing his wife and their four children claimed he "heard voices" telling him to "cause harm", a prosecutor said on Thursday. French police on Tuesday arrested a man with a history of psychiatric illness on suspicion of murdering his Haitian-born wife and their children aged nine months and four, seven and 10 years old. Their bodies had been found on Monday, Christmas Day, at home in Meaux east of Paris. The man, a plumber, has been receiving treatment since 2017 for depression and psychotic behaviour. Meaux public prosecutor Jean-Baptiste Bladier, citing the results of Wednesday's autopsy, said the children's 35-year-old mother and her 10- and seven-year-old daughters had received "around 10 stab wounds each" which had been "administered with great violence". The four-year-old and nine-month-old boys "died of asphyxia following drowning", he added. The suspect was to appear before an in...

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday issued guidelines pertaining to accreditation for election observation and media coverage ahead of the February 8 general elections. In a directive to the returning officers overseeing the election proceedings, the ECP has laid out specific instructions for the extensive coverage of the elections. The ECP's issuance includes detailed guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for acquiring accreditation cards, primarily aimed at domestic observers and media personnel. A formal letter containing these instructions has been dispatched to all returning officers across the country. As per the released statement, all representatives from media outlets are eligible to apply for accreditation cards, facilitating their coverage during the electoral process. Moreover, the commission has extended this privilege to local NGOs and civil society representatives, allowing them to obtain accreditation cards as well. Read also: ECP es...

Arrests and abductions of candidates affiliated with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), along with their proposers and supporters, persist unabated on Wednesday throughout the country during the ongoing scrutiny phase of the general elections. Despite explicit directives issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the courts, there appears to be no alleviation for candidates associated with one of the nation's major political parties. As per official social media handles and the Central Media Department (CMD) of the party, law enforcement agencies arrested proposers and supporters of the former PTI MPA Zaheer Abbas Khokhar from Lahore. They were apprehended outside the Returning Officer’s (RO) Office as they were heading to present themselves for the scrutiny of their candidate’s nomination papers. Likewise, the police forcibly took an elderly individual who was to act as a proposer for the PTI candidate from Rahim Yar Khan. Subsequently, the party's legal represen...

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed concern about the alleged mismanagement of development resources for the newly merged districts (NMDs), the resurgence of militancy in the region and the delayed repatriation of internally displaced persons (IDPs). In its fact-finding report titled ‘The Merger and its Discontents’, the HRCP also expressed concerns over the curbs on fundamental freedoms, the incidence of enforced disappearances and the continued use of internment centres. Led by former HRCP chairperson Hina Jilani, the fact-finding mission team comprised regional vice-chair Akbar Khan, HRCP members Ijaz Khan and Jamila Gilani, and staff members Shahid Mehmood and Marrium Rauf. The report documents the mission's visit to Swat, Bannu, Khyber, Peshawar and an IDP camp in Baka Khel, and underscores the discontentment of NMDs' residents over the slow implementation of the merger plan. It stated that the residents also allege that the merger's promise of...

The Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) has initiated an online portal, inviting Pakistanis from both within the country and abroad to share their views on its manifesto before the upcoming general elections set for February 8. The party’s supremo Nawaz Sharif-led has invited input from professionals, experts, overseas Pakistanis, and citizens to contribute ideas for the party’s 2024 election manifesto. PMLN Secretary-General, Ahsan Iqbal, announced the launching of the portal in a tweet while extending an invitation to professionals, experts, the diaspora, and citizens to contribute their suggestions and proposals. The portal covers over 32 themes including economy, energy, education, health, sports, foreign affairs, agriculture, women empowerment, information technology, human rights and minorities, youth affairs, national heritage, culture and films, infrastructure development and transport, the supremacy of the constitution, initiatives for special persons, and labour, manpower, a...

Israel launched fresh air strikes against central Gaza on Tuesday, where the United Nations said it was alarmed by an intensification of Israeli attacks that had killed more than 100 Palestinians in one part of the enclave since Christmas Eve. The days around Christmas have seen an upsurge in the war, particularly in a central area just south of the seasonal waterway that bisects the Gaza Strip. Israeli troops told civilians to leave the area, though many say there is no safe place left to go. "We are gravely concerned about the continued bombardment of Middle Gaza by Israeli forces, which has claimed more than 100 Palestinian lives since Christmas Eve," said UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango. "Israeli forces must take all measures available to protect civilians. Warnings and evacuation orders do not absolve them of the full range of their international humanitarian law obligations." Palestinians carry belongings, as they flee their houses, after they...

Iran has reversed a months-long slowdown in the rate at which it is enriching uranium to up to 60% purity, close to weapons grade, the UN nuclear watchdog said on Tuesday. Many diplomats believed the slowdown, which had begun by June, was the result of secret talks between the United States and Iran that led to the release of US citizens held in Iran earlier this year. Iran already has enough uranium enriched to up to 60%, if enriched further, to make three nuclear bombs, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency's theoretical definition, and more at lower enrichment levels. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons. Iran has "increased its production of highly enriched uranium, reversing a previous output reduction from mid-2023", the IAEA said in a statement summarising a confidential report to member states seen by Reuters that was sent minutes earlier. Iran is enriching to up to 60%, close to the roughly 90% that is weapons grade, at its Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plan...

Gulf Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, on Monday welcomed new commitments by Yemen's warring parties to take steps towards a ceasefire and engage in a UN-led peace process. The commitments announced by the United Nations special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, marked the latest effort to end years of war. Hundreds of thousands of people have died directly from fighting or from indirect causes such as lack of food in what the UN has called one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. The Arabian Peninsula's poorest country has been gripped by war since 2014, when an advance by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels saw them seize the capital Sanaa. This triggered a Saudi-led military intervention the following year to support Yemen's internationally-recognised government. A UN-brokered ceasefire in April 2022 brought a sharp reduction in hostilities. The truce expired in October last year, though fighting has largely remained on hold. Saudi Arabia said in a statement that it...

The country’s ambassadors posted in key world capitals have been summoned by the government for a three-day in-house consultations on foreign policy challenges including the current state of relationship with Afghanistan, deteriorating situation in the Middle East, Kashmir dispute and other matters. Sources on Sunday told The Express Tribune that ambassadors stationed in 20 key world capitals and international organisations would attend the conference to be held at the Foreign Office in the first week of January. They further said caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar would attend the inaugural session. Relevant officials will join the diplomats for the three-day consultations. The conference is an annual feature to discuss contemporary foreign challenges and form Pakistan's policy accordingly. This is the first time conference is taking place in person since 2019. The sources said ambassadors of Pakistan in the US, France, Germany, UK, India, Russia, China, Afghanistan, Iran...

In a successful operation on the night of December 22, Customs Appraisement officials at the Import Terminal in Torkham intercepted a smuggling attempt, preventing illegal goods from entering the country. Acting on credible information provided by Amjadur Rehman, Collector Customs (Appraisement), Peshawar, the team, under the leadership of Deputy Collector Hammad Ahmed, executed a well-coordinated operation resulting in the substantial seizure of contraband items. The confiscated items included 1,500 grams of the highly potent narcotic substance known as Ice (Crystal Methamphetamine). The illegal substance, concealed in a plastic box weighing 250 grams, holds an approximate street value of Rs2,250,000. Additionally, the customs team uncovered a cache of 230 cartridges, arranged in eight magazines designed for Kalashnikov rifles. The recovered ammunition is valued at Rs97,500. Read also: Bid to smuggle precious stones foiled at Torkham These illicit goods were discreetly hidden within t...

Israel battled Hamas fighters on Saturday in pursuit of its elusive interim goal of full control of northern Gaza after the UN Security Council appealed for more aid for the Palestinian enclave but stopped short of demanding a ceasefire. Thick smoke hung over the northern town of Jabalia - which is also home to Gaza's largest refugee camp - and residents reported persistent aerial bombardment and shelling from Israeli tanks, which they said had moved further into the town. Hamas' armed wing Al Qassam Brigades said it had destroyed five Israeli tanks in the area, killing and injuring their crews, after reusing two undetonated missiles launched earlier by Israel. Reuters could not independently verify the report. Israel's chief military spokesperson said on Friday that its forces had achieved almost complete operational control of northern Gaza and were preparing to expand the ground offensive to other areas in the Strip, with a focus on the south. The Israeli Defence Forces ...

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has announced a significant uptick in the prices of re-gasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG), registering an increase of up to 10.11% for the month of December 2023 compared to the preceding month. This adjustment, according to OGRA, is primarily linked to a notable surge in the delivered ex-ship (DES) price. In an official statement, OGRA clarified that the revised RLNG prices would be applicable retrospectively from December 1, 2023. This development impacts consumers served by both the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) and the Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL). For consumers of the SSGC, the new RLNG price has been set at $15.4524 per metric million British thermal unit (mmbtu), showcasing a considerable increase from the previous month's rate of $14.0337 per mmbtu. This marks a hike of $1.4187 per mmbtu, translating to a 10.10% increase. At the transmission stage, OGRA has authorized the SSGC to charge $13.2640 per mmbtu for Dec...

In a big blow to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ahead of February 8 general elections, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday nullified the intra-party elections of the former ruling party, taking back the party's famous "cricket bat" symbol. The reserved verdict was announced by a five-member ECP bench — headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja. The decision came hours after PTI representatives met with the ECP officials following a Supreme Court order to remove the party's reservations regarding the lack of a level playing field. “So keeping in view, the clear mandate of Elections Act, 2017 read with PTI constitution 2019, it is held that PTI has not complied with our directions rendered therein order dated 23rd November, 2023 and failed to hold intra-party election in accordance with PTI prevailing Constitution, 2019 and Election Act, 2017, and Election Rules, 2017,” the ECP’s written order, available with The Express Tribune, stated....

Former Punjab chief minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Chaudhry Parvez Elahi announced to contest the upcoming elections for three National Assembly and three provincial assembly seats, warning that the country would suffer if the elections were not held transparently. Speaking to the media persons during his court appearance, Elahi lent his full support for the Awami Muslim League (AML) President Sheikh Rashid, saying that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan should be convinced to support the candidature of Rashid, an ally of the PTI Elahi, who is in the Adiala Jail in a case pertaining to the Islamabad Judicial Complex, protest and vandalism earlier this year, appeared before Special Court Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain. During the hearing, he told the judge that he suffered a fall and requested the court for his medical tests. Read also: LHC accepts policemen’s apology in Elahi case The Judge told Elahi to submit his request on Friday (today) w...

A rising population of feral animals and invasive plants on Astola, Pakistan’s only marine protected island, is posing a growing threat to its rich but fragile biodiversity, with some rare seabird species almost eliminated, environmentalists warn. Located in the northern part of the Arabian Sea, east of Pasni district in the southwestern Balochistan province, Astola is the country’s largest offshore island and only marine protected area known for its rich marine biodiversity. The island is one of the world’s largest breeding sites of the yellow-billed tern, a small seabird found in Latin America, apart from supporting a large variety of water birds such as coursers, gulls and plovers. Its glistening beaches are also nesting grounds for the endangered green turtle and hawksbill turtle, while the Astola saw-scaled viper, a subspecies of the Russell’s viper is endemic to this small island, according to Muhammad Moazzam Khan, a technical adviser for WWF-Pakistan. Read also: Green turtl...

Two police officials were injured in an explosion that occurred in the garage of the Lahore residence of former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar in Lahore, Express News reported. The incident took place in Lahore's Garden Town, and sources from the rescue team confirmed that Saqib Nisar was present at the time of the occurrence. Taking notice following the incident, Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar has sought report from CCPO Lahore. He instructed the provision of the best medical facilities for the injured police personnel, identified as Amir and Khurram. According to Punjab Police spokesperson, the family of former CJP was unhurt, adding that the IGP has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident. Also read: Nawaz's disqualification continues to haunt ex-CJ He said that both police personnel had minor injuries. Senior police officers, including CCPO Lahore, DIG Operations Lahore, and SSP Operations, are present at the scene. Following...

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he senses a change in India's tone with Ottawa after the United States warned New Delhi about its involvement in a thwarted plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader on US soil, the CBC reported on Wednesday. "I think there is a beginning of an understanding that they can't bluster their way through this and there is an openness to collaborating in a way that perhaps they were less open before," Trudeau said in an interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. "There's an understanding that maybe, maybe just churning out attacks against Canada isn't going to make this problem go away," he added. Trudeau announced Sept. 18 that Canadian intelligence agencies were pursuing credible allegations linking Indian government agents to the murder of a Sikh separatist leader, 45-year-old Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in British Columbia in June, upending diplomatic ties between the two nations. The US Justice Department in Novem...

The Federal Cabinet Division has released the official declaration of public holidays for the year 2024, providing a comprehensive schedule for various occasions and festivals, Express News reported. This list encompasses both religious and national events, offering clarity to the public and businesses about upcoming days of significance. According to the announcement, the first holiday of the year will be on February 5 on the occasion of Kashmir Day and March 23 will be a public holiday for Pakistan Day. Eidul Fitr holidays will be on April 10, 11 and 12 commemorating the end of Ramazan. Labour Day will be observed on May 1, followed by Eidul Azha holidays from June 17 to 19. Muharram holidays for Ashura are set for July 16 and 17, Independence Day on August 14, and Eid Miladun Nabi (PBUH) on September 16. Read also: Govt announces public holiday for Iqbal Day Iqbal Day on November 9, and Quaid-e-Azam's Birthday on December 25 will conclude the schedule for the year. Shab-e-Meraj ...

Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Shahzad Shaukat has contacted the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sikander Sultan Raja, clarifying that the legal body issued the press release without his approval, The Express Tribune learnt on Tuesday. Earlier in the day, the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and SCBA raised concerns over the poll procedure and the conduct of the CEC. Leaders from both legal bodies raised concerns about discrepancies in election procedures, delimitations, and seat allocations, calling for the urgent intervention of the Supreme Court to address these issues. Asserting that the CEC was unfit for ensuring fair elections, the SCBA called for him to step down to achieve their objectives of impartiality and equal opportunity for all stakeholders. Read more: CEC's conduct sparks concerns over fairness in upcoming elections However, later in the evening, sources said that Shaukat, who is currently in Makkah, made contact with Raja, saying that the press...

In a letter addressed to interim Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar, Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar has expressed deep concern over the severe shortage of gas crippling industrial zones across the province. In the letter, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, Baqar requested immediate intervention to ensure uninterrupted gas supply with full pressure, citing adverse impacts on the industrial and business sectors. “Sindh is facing acute shortage of gas in all industrial zones, first, due to its complete closure for two days every week (Saturday and Sunday) and secondly, because of deplorably low pressure for the remaining days,” Baqar wrote. Highlighting the problems faced by the industrial and business sector in the province, he said the industrial and business community had been imploring for an uninterrupted supply of gas with full pressure. However, he added, there had been no favourable response from the concerned authorities. Read more:...

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has reserved its order on maintainability of a writ petition seeking judicial oversight of the February 8 general elections. The court has, however, raised questions over transparency of elections being held amid a crackdown against “a political party”. A division bench of the high court, comprising PHC Chief Justice Mohammad Ibrahim Khan and Justice Shakeel Ahmed, on Monday took up the petition filed by Moazzam Butt, a lawyer associated with the PTI, against appointment of election supervisors from civil bureaucracy. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on December 12 announced appointing District Returning Officers (DROs), Returning Officers (ROs) and Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) from bureaucracy. The PTI challenged this move in provincial high courts including the Lahore High Court (LHC) and the PHC. A single-member bench of the LHC on December 14 suspended the ECP notifications. However, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court on December...