Category: Islamabad

Islamabad: Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP)’s Central Spokesman, Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan on Tuesday criticized Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) chief, Maulana Fazlur Rehman over his recent remarks concerning Pakistan’s security forces, urging him to apologize to the nation, the families of martyred soldiers and the armed forces.

Addressing a news conference here at the National Press Club, Chohan said questioning the sacrifices of military personnel hurt the sentiments of the Pakistani people. He said members of the armed forces laid down their lives not for salaries but in defense of the country, its people and future generations.

He dedicated the press conference to the memory of Major Adnan Haider and SSG Commando, Tahseen, saying their sacrifices reflected the commitment of Pakistan’s security forces in the fight against terrorism.

Chohan argued that throughout Islamic history, soldiers had received stipends from the public treasury, adding that linking salaries with the value of martyrdom was contrary to historical and religious facts.

He alleged that Fazlur Rehman’s remarks had hurt not only the armed forces but also the families of martyred personnel, and claimed that such statements strengthened narratives promoted by hostile elements against Pakistan.

The IPP spokesman also accused certain political actors of attempting to undermine national unity at a time when the country was continuing operations against militant groups. He maintained that Pakistan’s armed forces were fully capable of defending the country and said there was no need for any parallel or private force.

Calling on Fazlur Rehman to withdraw his remarks, Chohan urged him to apologize to the nation, the families of martyrs and the security forces.

Responding to a question, Chohan said Pakistan’s armed forces were fulfilling their constitutional responsibilities in the fight against terrorism and called for national unity on issues of security. He also urged the media to report responsibly on matters related to terrorism and national security and to avoid amplifying hostile propaganda.

Islamabad: Zong, Pakistan’s leading technology services enterprise, has partnered with WWF-Pakistan to strengthen conservation efforts for the endangered Indus River Dolphin (Platanista minor), one of the world’s rarest freshwater dolphin species and an iconic symbol of Pakistan’s natural heritage.

Through its support for WWF-Pakistan’s ongoing Indus Dolphin Conservation Programme, Zong is contributing to enhanced rescue operations, ecological monitoring, community engagement and environmental awareness to help safeguard the species and its fragile river ecosystem.

The partnership was marked by the inauguration of the Indus Dolphin Rescue and Mobile Awareness Ambulance at the WWF-Pakistan office.

The ceremony was attended by Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr Musadik Malik, Zong Chairman and CEO Huo Junli, WWF-Pakistan Director General Hammad Naqi Khan, Yang Guangyuan of the Chinese Embassy, and senior representatives of the partner organizations.

Speaking on the initiative, Zong Chief Regulatory Officer Kamran Ali said, “It is a great honour to be part of this moment. For Zong, the Indus Dolphin Rescue Ambulance is a concrete expression of our commitment to inclusive growth and environmental stewardship-a meaningful initiative rooted in the enduring friendship between China and Pakistan.

“For nearly two decades, Zong has established deep roots in Pakistan, remaining dedicated to bridging the digital divide and serving Pakistani society through cutting-edge technologies. We hope this project marks a new beginning, enabling us to better protect the environment and contribute to building an even closer China-Pakistan community.”

WWF-Pakistan Director General Hammad Naqi Khan said Pakistan is home to an estimated 2,000 Indus River Dolphins, describing it as a remarkable conservation success story.

He said WWF-Pakistan has, since 1992, worked closely with the provincial wildlife departments-particularly those of Sindh and Punjab-alongside other partners and the private sector to rescue and release more than 200 stranded dolphins.

“The addition of this dedicated dolphin ambulance will significantly strengthen our emergency response and monitoring capacity, helping ensure that stranded animals receive timely assistance. This partnership demonstrates how businesses can move beyond conventional corporate philanthropy to invest in practical, measurable conservation solutions,” he added.

Found exclusively in the Indus River system, the Indus River Dolphin has faced decades of habitat fragmentation, shrinking freshwater flows and accidental canal strandings, making it one of the world’s most endangered cetaceans.

The initiative will deploy a specialised mobile rescue and awareness unit covering the largest global population of the Indus River Dolphin between the Guddu and Sukkur barrages in Sindh.

The ambulance will enhance monitoring of stranded dolphins, support timely rescue and safe translocation efforts, engage more than 1,500 fisherfolk and riverine community members as frontline conservation partners, and deliver 50 awareness sessions across remote settlements.

Aligned with Zong’s sustainability pillars of Green and Low Carbon Operations and Inclusive Growth, the partnership reflects the company’s commitment to biodiversity protection and community empowerment, demonstrating that environmental stewardship and socioeconomic development can advance hand in hand towards a more sustainable future for Pakistan.

Islamabad: The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) on Monday set aside the Supreme Court’s 2024 judgment in the Monal Restaurant case, allowing appeals filed by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI).

A Constitutional Bench headed by Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi, announced a short order, vacating the stay order and ruling that issues relating to the ownership of the property would be decided independently by the trial courts without being influenced by the observations made in the earlier Supreme Court judgment.

The court directed the trial courts to decide the pending cases at the earliest, while administrative matters would be determined by the relevant regulatory authorities.

During the hearing, Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi observed that several important aspects had not been taken into consideration in the Supreme Court’s judgment. He remarked that expressing displeasure merely because a case or a review petition had been filed was inappropriate. He further observed that the judgment contained matters that were unrelated to the facts of the case.

“The court does not deliver emotional judgments. Our decisions are based on law and the available record,” Justice Rizvi said, adding that the court would issue orders strictly on the basis of what had been argued during the proceedings. He also noted that, after reading the earlier judgment, it appeared to include several observations that fell outside the scope of the court proceedings.

Appearing on behalf of Monal Restaurant, counsel Ahsan Bhoon told the court that it had examined the case in great detail. Justice Rizvi, however, responded by asking counsel not to praise the bench during the proceedings.

Monal Restaurant was granted a lease in 2006 to operate within the Margalla Hills National Park. The matter remained under litigation before the Islamabad High Court and later the Supreme Court. On June 11, 2024, the Supreme Court ordered Monal, La Montana and other restaurants to vacate the national park, holding that commercial activities inside the protected area were inconsistent with environmental conservation principles.

Subsequently, the CDA informed the court that Monal, La Montana and other structures had been demolished and the land had been reclaimed.

In appeals filed before the Federal Constitutional Court earlier this year, the CDA and MCI argued that the Supreme Court’s decision had deprived the local government of lease rentals and other dues that would otherwise have been utilised for municipal services in Islamabad and development of villages surrounding the Margalla Hills National Park.

Accepting the appeals, the Federal Constitutional Court set aside the Supreme Court’s 2024 judgment.

Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister (DPM/FM), Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Monday met Candidate for the position of United Nations Secretary-General, Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett and reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for the central role of the UN in international affairs.

During the interaction, the deputy prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s longstanding commitment to multilateralism and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

He underscored the need to ensure respect for international law and treaties, and to faithfully implement UN Security Council resolutions, especially in the context of the long-standing Jammu and Kashmir dispute and the situation in Palestine. The DPM/FM also called for necessary steps to adapt the UN to emerging global challenges, as well as to address the needs of the developing countries.

Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, on Monday, strongly condemned a terrorist attack targeting police personnel in District Tank, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The president expressed his deep grief and sorrow over the martyrdom of police personnel and prayed for the high ranks of Shuhada in Jannah, President Secretariat Media Wing said in a press release.

The president and the prime minister also expressed sympathies with the bereaved families and prayed for them to bear the losses with fortitude. The president said the police force and law enforcement agencies were offering unforgettable sacrifices for securing peace in the country and the entire nation saluted them for their unprecedented sacrifices.

He also reaffirmed that nefarious designs of the terrorists elements, working under the foreign patronage, would be foiled at all costs.

The prime minister while strongly condemning the bomb blast targeting a police van on Tank-Waziristan road, expressed his deep grief over the shahadat of an Assistant Sub-Inspector and two other police personnel. He also lauded the security forces for eliminating several other terrorists in Balochistan province under Operation Shaban, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

The prime minister reiterated that anti-terror operations in the country would continue till complete eradication of terrorist groups. The nation would always remember the sacrifices given by police and the security forces, he said, expressing the resolve that those shedding blood of innocent citizens would be held accountable.

Islamabad: Pakistan’s warm hospitality, efficient organization and commitment to advancing women’s empowerment drew widespread appreciation from delegates attended the 9th Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ministerial Conference on Women describing the gathering as an important platform for strengthening cooperation and shaping a collective roadmap for the socio-economic and political empowerment of women.

Held here in the federal capital, the two-day ministerial conference brought together ministers, senior officials and representatives from OIC representatives from across the Muslim world, international organizations and partner institutions to deliberate on the challenges and opportunities facing women in the Islamic world and explore ways to strengthen collaboration through shared policies and initiatives.

Speaking on the sidelines of the conference, Syrian Minister for Social Affairs and Labour Hind Kabawat described her visit to Pakistan as both memorable and symbolic, saying Syria’s participation marked the return of Syrian women to an international conference after many years.

She praised Pakistan’s warm hospitality and the excellent arrangements made for the event, saying delegates were made to feel at home from the moment they arrived. “Pakistan made us feel at home from the very first moment,” she remarked.

Kabawat said digital transformation and women’s affairs were among the key priorities of her ministry and expressed confidence that the conference would generate fresh ideas, strengthen partnerships among OIC member states and lead to practical initiatives benefiting women across the Islamic world.

Echoing similar sentiments, an OIC delegate said Pakistani women welcomed the visiting delegations not merely as guests but as sisters and members of one family, reflecting the country’s generosity, respect and spirit of Islamic brotherhood.

Representative of the Maldives delegation, Mariyam Raya Ahmed described the conference as an important opportunity to reinforce cooperation among Islamic countries on women’s development and gender equality.

She commended Pakistan for its excellent hospitality and arrangements and appreciated its role in bringing together OIC member states, particularly from the Asian region. She expressed optimism that the conference would deliver meaningful outcomes and further strengthen regional cooperation in the years ahead.

Secretary-General of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Family Affairs Council, Dr. Maimouna Al Khalil said the conference reflected the OIC’s firm commitment to placing women’s issues at the highest policy level and would help shape the organization’s agenda on women’s empowerment in the coming years.

Highlighting Saudi Arabia’s progress in advancing women’s economic and social participation, she said OIC member states had achieved notable progress but needed to intensify efforts to further strengthen women’s role in society and national development. She also praised Pakistan’s hospitality and the meticulous arrangements for the conference and expressed hope that the deliberations would culminate in meaningful initiatives and a strong declaration to guide future action.

Director Planning and International Cooperation at the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (OIC), Dr. Alhagi Manta Drammeh termed the conference a timely initiative to promote women’s empowerment while addressing misconceptions regarding the role of women in Islam. He emphasized that men and women have complementary responsibilities in building prosperous societies and appreciated Pakistan’s successful hosting of the conference, describing it as an opportunity to project the true Islamic perspective on women’s rights and contributions.

Secretary at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare of The Gambia, Isatou Jobe, said the conference highlighted Pakistan’s leadership role within the Muslim world and its continued commitment to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. She said Pakistan’s initiatives in support of women were widely appreciated across OIC member states and expressed pleasure at participating in a country that consistently championed issues of importance to the Islamic world.

Representing Nigeria, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, said the conference came at a significant time as Nigeria continued to pursue reforms aimed at strengthening women’s socio-economic empowerment. She underlined the importance of placing women at the centre of national development through legal reforms, economic opportunities and social protection measures, and commended Pakistan’s outstanding hospitality.

She also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to working closely with fellow OIC member states to advance women’s economic, political and social participation through collective action and shared experiences.

Throughout the interactions, delegates repeatedly acknowledged Pakistan’s role in providing a welcoming environment that encouraged open dialogue and strengthened bonds among participating countries. Many expressed confidence that the conference would contribute to deeper cooperation and practical policy initiatives to improve the lives of women across the Muslim world.

The 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women was held under the theme “Socio-Economic and Political Empowerment of Women in the OIC Countries: Challenges and Way Forward.” The conference sought to promote cooperation among OIC member states in expanding women’s participation in economic, social and political life while exchanging successful national experiences and identifying practical strategies to overcome shared challenges.

The conference was attended by Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani as the chief guest, Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights Azam Nazeer Tarar, who assumed the chairmanship of the conference, Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian, Cultural and Social Affairs of the OIC Ambassador Dr. Tarig Ali Bakheet, Executive Director of the Women’s Development Organization Sarah Al Shoura, President of Egypt’s National Council for Women Amal Ammar, President of the Women’s Consultative Council of the 8th OIC Ministerial Conference Ambassador Naela Gabr, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Members of the National Assembly Saba Sadiq and Wajiha Qamar, representatives of international organizations, diplomats and delegates from across the Muslim world.