Missed Call
In an informal interaction with journalists, Gen. Asim Munir has said he has not received any letter—despite former Prime Minister Imran Khan addressing three “open letters” to the Army chief. The Chief of Army Staff further said that even if he were to receive such a letter, he would merely pass it on to the prime minister and had no interest in engaging with it.
Bolstering Ranks
Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi has administered oath of office to six new judges of the Supreme Court, as well as one acting judge, as controversy persists over “court packing” from critics of the expansion. The Judicial Commission of Pakistan nominated the judges for elevation last week during a session boycotted by the PTI and two senior judges.
Money Laundering
The Federal Board of Revenue has implicated over 80 companies for fraud and money laundering in excess of Rs. 110 billion. In a briefing to a Senate panel, the tax body alleged the companies had over-invoiced the import of solar panels and engaged in suspicious transactions. It said cases have been registered against the accused.
Travel Barriers
The Pakistan International Airlines has advised travelers en route to Saudi Arabia to secure polio vaccination certificates before attempting any tour of the Gulf kingdom, as they will not be permitted to proceed without it. Pakistan saw a surge of fresh poliovirus cases last year, highlighting the issues in tackling the crippling disease, which remains endemic in only Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Evading Scrutiny
Despite the cabinet’s approval of a law requiring senior bureaucrats to make public declarations of their assets, many functionaries will remain exempt due to the legislation’s narrow definition of a civil servant. Among officials exempt are employees of autonomous bodies, regulatory bodies, and provincial civil servants, leaving only around 25,000 individuals who fall under the ambit of the legislation.
Conserving Water
The Punjab Environmental Department has announced it will impose a fine of Rs. 10,000 on anyone who washes their vehicles at home or uses piped water for non-essential purposes. The measures had been ordered by the Lahore High Court to curb the unnecessary use of water, as Pakistan faces a serious water crisis due to declining rainfall and rapid depletion of its groundwater levels.
Shifting Stance
The Supreme Court’s constitutional bench has noted that the PTI had supported the use of military courts to try civilians in the past—though it now argues that the practice is in violation of the Constitution. Headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan, the seven-judge bench is hearing intra-court appeals against a 2023 ruling that nullified the trial of civilians by military courts.
Widening Rifts
Rifts between groups within the PTI led by the party’s political and lawyer leaders are widening, with each side looking to sway Imran Khan to emerge victorious. The recent expulsion of Sher Afzal Marwat is fallout of the rift, as the political wing supported him, but the legal faction did not. Party sources claim the rift will likely yield further expulsions and reshuffles as the competing groups vie for influence.
No Reference—For Now
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar has clarified that the government has no plans to file a reference against two judges of the Supreme Court, stressing that if such a situation arises, it will be transparently shared with media. Earlier, Adviser to the P.M. Rana Sanaullah had said during a television appearance that he believed two judges were committing “misconduct” by “writing” letters on every issue.
Brotherly Countries
Pakistan and Turkiye have signed two-dozen agreements and MoUs aimed at boosting their bilateral ties. Of particular note is a pledge to expand trade volume to $5 billion. Both countries have also encouraged each other’s businessmen to invest in the other country and vowed to expand military and defense cooperation.