Court allows tax credit adjustment against super t…

  The Karachi Traffic Police have announced a comprehensive traffic management plan for the city’s central Chehlum procession, informing residents that M.A. Jinnah Road will remain closed to traffic throughout the event. The special arrangements have been introduced to ensure the smooth movement of the religious procession while minimizing inconvenience for commuters. Citizens have been advised to plan their travel accordingly and use the designated alternative routes to avoid delays. According to the traffic police, all traffic traveling from Saddar toward Tower will be diverted through Preedy Street and I.I. Chundrigar Road. In addition, several key intersections and commercial areas, including Lighthouse, Empress Market, Regal Chowk, and Tibet Centre, will have temporary traffic diversions in place. These measures are intended to keep vehicles away from the procession route and maintain public safety during the event. Motorists approaching from Shahrah-e-Quaideen will be redirected toward Kashmir Road and Peoples Chowrangi. Vehicles arriving from Korangi, Landhi, and the National Highway will be diverted through Rashid Minhas Road before proceeding to the Super Highway. Traffic officials have urged drivers from these areas to follow diversion signs and cooperate with law enforcement personnel deployed along the routes. Commuters traveling from Nazimabad will be able to reach their destinations through Lasbela, Garden, and Nishtar Road. Similarly, traffic coming from Liaquatabad will be diverted at Lasbela Chowk toward Nazimabad No. 10. These alternate routes have been identified to reduce congestion and facilitate the movement of vehicles while the main procession route remains inaccessible. The traffic plan also outlines arrangements for vehicles coming from Hassan Square. Such traffic will be directed through Shahrah-e-Quaideen, Society Light Signal, and Teen Hatti before reaching Lasbela Chowk. Meanwhile, motorists traveling from Shahrah-e-Faisal will be guided through Society Light Signal and Sher Shah Suri Road to continue their journeys. Drivers using Jamshed Road and intending to travel toward Gurumandir have been advised to use Bahadur Yar Jang Road or Soldier Bazaar Road as alternative routes. The Karachi Traffic Police have imposed strict restrictions on heavy vehicles for the duration of the procession. Heavy traffic will not be allowed to enter the city from 10:00 a.m. until the conclusion of the Chehlum procession. The restriction is aimed at preventing congestion and ensuring the safety of participants and the general public. Transport operators have been instructed to adjust their schedules accordingly and avoid entering restricted areas during the specified hours. Authorities have also announced a complete ban on parking along the procession route. Any vehicle found parked in prohibited areas will be immediately towed away without prior notice. Traffic police have warned motorists to comply with parking regulations and follow the instructions of officers on duty to avoid penalties and unnecessary inconvenience. The central Chehlum procession is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 4, from Nishtar Park. A large number of mourners are expected to participate in the religious gathering, prompting extensive security and traffic arrangements across the city. Police and traffic officials will remain deployed throughout the procession to manage vehicle movement, assist commuters, and maintain public order. Residents are encouraged to stay updated through official traffic advisories before leaving their homes and to use alternative routes wherever possible. The Karachi Traffic Police have appealed to the public for patience and cooperation, emphasizing that the temporary restrictions are necessary to ensure the safe and peaceful conduct of the central Chehlum procession while minimizing disruption to daily life.

  A petition submitted to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has challenged President Asif Ali Zardari’s delay in approving the appointment of judges to several high courts across Pakistan. The petitioner argues that the president’s failure to act on the recommendations has created a serious constitutional issue and worsened the shortage of judges, affecting the country’s justice system. The petition was filed by Advocate Luqman Zafar Chaudhry through his legal counsel, Zahid Asif Chaudhry. It requests the court to issue a writ of mandamus directing the president, through his secretary, to immediately approve the summary sent by the prime minister. The summary contains the recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) for appointments to the Islamabad, Lahore, Sindh, and Balochistan High Courts, along with the confirmation of several additional judges. According to the petition, the Judicial Commission, chaired by the Chief Justice of Pakistan, completed the constitutional process by finalizing its recommendations on July 20 and 21. These recommendations were subsequently forwarded to the president under Article 48 of the Constitution through the prime minister. However, the president has neither approved the summary nor returned it for reconsideration, despite the constitutional process requiring timely action. The petitioner maintains that Article 48 allows the president to return the prime minister’s advice only once within 15 days for reconsideration. Beyond that, the Constitution does not permit indefinite delay or silence. Therefore, the petition argues that the president is constitutionally obligated to approve the recommendations once the prescribed period has passed. It further states that the delay disrupted the oath-taking ceremony for the recommended judges, which had been scheduled for July 27. As a result, the ceremony was postponed indefinitely, leaving several judicial positions vacant and increasing the burden on existing judges. The petition also argues that the president’s inaction effectively transforms a ceremonial constitutional responsibility into an unauthorized veto power, something the Constitution does not allow. It claims this undermines judicial independence protected under Articles 2A and 175(3) of the Constitution. Referring to previous Supreme Court judgments, the petitioner emphasizes that judicial appointments must be completed through a transparent, collaborative, and time-bound constitutional process without executive interference. The petition also compares the president’s role under Article 48 with Article 75, which governs presidential assent to legislation and similarly requires action within a specified timeframe. According to the petitioner, the continued delay has created an acute shortage of judges, slowing the disposal of cases and affecting citizens’ constitutional rights to a fair trial and access to justice under Articles 9, 10A, and 25. The petition also raises concerns that the delay may have been influenced by political considerations rather than constitutional requirements. Citing media reports and public statements, it requests the court to determine when the Presidency received the summary, seek an explanation for the delay, declare the continued inaction unlawful, and prevent any action inconsistent with the Judicial Commission’s recommendations until the case is decided. The controversy has emerged amid a wider constitutional debate regarding the president’s authority in judicial appointments. While earlier Supreme Court decisions have held that the president cannot reject recommendations made by the Judicial Commission, Article 175A(8) does not clearly specify how quickly the president must act. Legal experts believe the issue may ultimately require judicial interpretation to clarify the constitutional limits of the president’s role in the appointment process.