National

  ISLAMABAD:Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Sarfraz Dogar has said that public confidence in the Islamabad High Court and district courts has increased significantly, as reflected by the sharp rise in the number of cases being filed before the courts. Addressing a ceremony held at the Islamabad High Court on the occasion of Independence Day, Justice Sarfraz Dogar said that the number of cases filed in the high court had increased nearly fivefold. He noted that there was a time when the daily filing rate remained below 50 cases, whereas the court is now receiving around 250 cases every day. According to the chief justice, the substantial increase in case filings indicates that people are increasingly turning to courts in the hope of obtaining relief and having their grievances addressed through the legal system. He said the growing number of cases was also an indication of the public’s confidence in the judiciary and its ability to provide justice. Justice Dogar acknowledged that the judiciary was facing several challenges, particularly a shortage of judges. Despite these difficulties, he said, courts were continuing to perform their responsibilities with dedication and commitment. He stressed that the primary responsibility of the judiciary was to ensure that every deserving person received justice in a fair, impartial and transparent manner. He further highlighted the importance of cooperation between judges and lawyers, describing the bench and the bar as two essential pillars of the judicial system. He said effective coordination between the two was necessary to improve the delivery of justice and ensure that citizens could obtain timely relief. Speaking about the country’s future, the chief justice said that the protection and stability of Pakistan was a collective responsibility. He urged citizens to keep the country away from conflict, disorder, extremism and politics based on hatred. He emphasized that Pakistan’s progress could only be achieved through sincerity, mutual respect, unity and a positive contribution from all segments of society. Justice Dogar also referred to what he described as Pakistan’s significant diplomatic and defence achievements over the past two years. He said the country had strengthened its position internationally through effective diplomatic efforts and had emerged as an important voice for peace in the international community. The chief justice particularly highlighted developments in defence cooperation among Muslim countries. He described efforts to bring Islamic countries together on a common platform for defence cooperation as a historic development. According to him, the initiative reflected a vision that had previously been associated with former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who had advocated greater unity and cooperation among Muslim nations. Justice Sarfraz Dogar said Pakistan’s national institutions had an important role to play in strengthening the country and maintaining public confidence. He stressed that institutions must continue to work according to constitutional principles, the rule of law and national interests. He concluded by emphasizing the importance of tolerance, unity and respect in addressing differences. He said that Pakistan could move forward only when its institutions and citizens worked together to promote justice, stability, peace and national development.

  ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Iqtidar Wali Khan has launched a strong criticism of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), accusing members and supporters of the party of placing former prime minister Imran Khan above Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and questioning their commitment to the country’s founding principles. Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Iqtidar Wali Khan alleged that some PTI supporters consider Imran Khan a leader greater than Quaid-e-Azam and do not accept the Two-Nation Theory. He questioned how figures such as Barrister Gohar, Ali Zafar, Umair Niazi and Asad Qaiser, whom he described as patriotic individuals, could remain associated with the party while it was allegedly pursuing such politics. The prime minister’s aide accused PTI activists of repeatedly becoming part of what he called anti-state movements and attempting to continue the events of May 9. He also criticised slogans associated with PTI supporters, including “No Khan, No Pakistan,” and alleged that they compared Imran Khan with Quaid-e-Azam while making fun of Allama Iqbal’s vision for the country. Iqtidar Wali further criticised the PTI’s previous government and levelled serious allegations regarding its administration. He claimed that during the party’s tenure in power, the second floor of the Prime Minister’s House had allegedly been turned into a dance floor, where he alleged that drinking and dancing gatherings were held. He also made allegations about the presence of practices related to black magic within the government setup. He further accused the PTI leadership of making statements that, according to him, undermined the country’s defence capabilities during periods of tension with India. He claimed that when a conflict or Indian attack arose, some PTI figures would say that there was not even enough fuel available for Pakistan’s tanks. The special assistant also criticised PTI supporters for holding protests on Independence Day. He questioned why anyone would choose the national day for political demonstrations, arguing that such actions could cause concern among Pakistan’s enemies rather than contribute to national unity. He appealed to political parties to carefully consider PTI’s political conduct before forming alliances or cooperating with its leadership. Referring to comments attributed to Maulana Naseem Shah about the difficulties faced by Pakistan decades after Allama Iqbal’s dream, he urged political forces to examine what he described as the party’s actions before extending political cooperation. Iqtidar Wali also targeted the PTI-led government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He claimed that the party had governed the province for around 15 years while repeatedly promoting slogans such as “Riyasat-e-Madina” and “Naya Pakistan.” He alleged that, despite these claims, individuals involved in drug trafficking, smuggling and the ice-drug trade had gained influence in the province. He further alleged that some people who previously lacked sufficient resources even for basic expenses had become owners of high-end hotels after gaining political influence. The remarks by Iqtidar Wali Khan come amid continued political tensions between the government and PTI. His statements reflect the sharp political divide between the two sides, with the government repeatedly accusing PTI of undermining state institutions, while PTI has consistently rejected such allegations and maintained that its political struggle is aimed at protecting democratic rights and securing political justice.

  ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has scheduled for hearing the petitions seeking suspension of the sentences awarded to Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chattha in a case related to controversial social media posts. According to details, a two-member bench of the Supreme Court will hear the petitions on August 19. The bench will be headed by Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, while Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim will also be part of the bench. The petitions have been filed seeking suspension of the sentences imposed on Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chattha in connection with the controversial tweets case. The court has issued notices to all parties involved in the case and will hear their respective positions during the upcoming proceedings. The scheduling of the petitions before the Supreme Court marks another stage in the legal proceedings involving the two individuals. The case has attracted attention because it concerns social media posts and the legal consequences arising from content published on digital platforms. The applicants are seeking relief from the sentences imposed against them while their legal challenge proceeds before the superior court. The Supreme Court will examine the suspension requests during the hearing and consider the arguments presented by both the petitioners and the opposing parties. The two-member bench headed by Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan is expected to hear the legal arguments concerning the basis of the sentences, the circumstances surrounding the disputed social media posts and the grounds presented by the applicants for suspension of their sentences. Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim will serve as the second member of the bench. Notices have already been issued to the parties concerned, formally informing them of the hearing and providing them an opportunity to present their positions before the court. The proceedings are expected to focus specifically on the requests for suspension of the sentences rather than constituting a final determination of all aspects of the underlying case. The court may consider the legal arguments and relevant circumstances before deciding whether the sentences should be suspended. Cases involving social media content have increasingly become an important part of Pakistan’s legal landscape as courts deal with questions concerning online expression, the limits of digital communication and the application of existing laws to content published on social media platforms. The matter involving Mazari and Chattha has also drawn public attention because of the nature of the allegations and the penalties imposed in connection with the disputed posts. Their petitions before the Supreme Court represent an attempt to obtain relief from the sentences through the country’s highest court. The issuance of notices to the parties means that the respondents will have an opportunity to submit their arguments when the matter comes up for hearing. The final outcome will depend on the arguments presented before the bench and the court’s assessment of the applicable legal provisions and circumstances of the case. The hearing is scheduled for August 19, when the two-member bench will take up the suspension petitions. Any decision by the Supreme Court at that stage could have a significant impact on the immediate legal position of Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chattha. For now, the petitions remain pending before the Supreme Court, and the court will determine the next course of action after hearing the parties involved.