Govt increases petrol by Rs1.63, diesel by Rs1.55

LAHORE: Ten additional judges of the Lahore High Court took oath on Tuesday after President Asif Ali Zardari approved their appointments, bringing an end to a weeks-long delay over their induction. Chief Justice Aalia Neelum administered the oath to the newly appointed judges during a ceremony at the Lahore High Court. The judges who took oath were Ghulam Sarwar Nihung, Muhammad Ajmal Khan Zahid, Aamir Ajam Malik, Shireen Imran, Asad Ali Bajwa, Muhammad Amjad Pervez, Khalid Ibn-i-Aziz, Munawar Iqbal Duggal, Syed Farhad Ali Shah and Muhammad Usman Ghani Rashid Cheema. Justice Tariq Mahmood Bajwa also took oath as a permanent judge of the Lahore High Court after completing his probationary period. The newly appointed additional judges will serve for one year from the date they took oath. Despite the latest appointments, the Lahore High Court still has 10 vacant positions against its approved strength of 60 judges. The number of vacancies is expected to rise to 11 following the retirement of Justice Shahid Karim next week. Earlier on Tuesday, President Zardari approved the appointment of 19 additional judges to five high courts. He also confirmed five judges as permanent members of the superior judiciary. The appointments had remained pending since July after the Judicial Commission of Pakistan recommended the candidates for the positions. The delay had led to a dispute over the presidential approval process. The oath-taking ceremony had initially been scheduled for July 27 but was postponed indefinitely. The issue gained further attention after the president neither approved the appointment summary nor returned it for reconsideration within the expected period. The government had maintained that there was no legal basis for keeping the recommendations pending. At one stage, officials even considered constitutional options to address the delay. Meanwhile, legal teams representing the presidency and the federal government held discussions to resolve the matter. Sources said the talks between the two sides made progress and helped pave the way for the appointments to be approved. The president’s legal team had previously raised concerns about the proceedings of the Judicial Commission. Questions were also raised over the rejection of several nominees and the eligibility of some recommended candidates. The dispute had also raised concerns about delays in filling vacant judicial positions in the high courts.

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met a US Congressional delegation in Islamabad on Tuesday. The two sides discussed ways to strengthen relations between Pakistan and the United States. The delegation included US Representatives Ryan Zinke and Michael Baumgartner. Dar welcomed the lawmakers and said Pakistan-US relations were gaining positive momentum. The meeting focused on several areas of mutual interest. These included trade, investment, information technology and energy. Both sides discussed opportunities to expand cooperation in these sectors. They also explored ways to increase economic and commercial engagement between the two countries. Dar stressed the importance of regular parliamentary exchanges. He said continued contact between lawmakers could help build mutual trust and improve understanding between Pakistan and the US. The foreign minister also highlighted the importance of stronger institutional links. He said regular engagement could help both countries develop closer and more productive relations. The visiting US lawmakers praised the role of the Pakistani community in the United States. They acknowledged the diaspora’s contributions to the US economy and society. The Pakistani community was also described as an important bridge between the two countries. Its role can help promote stronger people-to-people and economic ties. Regional and international issues were also discussed during the meeting. The two sides exchanged views on developments affecting regional peace and security. The US delegation appreciated Pakistan’s efforts to promote regional peace and stability. Pakistani officials said Islamabad remained committed to dialogue and peaceful solutions to regional challenges. The meeting comes as Pakistan seeks to expand its economic engagement with the United States. Islamabad has been encouraging greater investment and cooperation in emerging sectors. Trade and investment remain key areas of focus in the evolving relationship. Pakistan is particularly interested in attracting US investment in technology, energy and other high-growth sectors.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Peshawar Zone has arrested five suspects during raids against alleged illegal foreign currency exchange and Hawala/Hundi operations in Timargara Bazaar, Lower Dir. According to FIA officials, the suspects were allegedly operating unauthorized currency exchange and money transfer businesses without the required licences. Separate cases have been registered against the arrested individuals under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA). During the raids, investigators recovered Pakistani and foreign currency worth millions of rupees. The seized cash included Rs49.336 million in Pakistani currency, 158 million Iranian rials, 20,521 Saudi riyals, 3,000 UAE dirhams and 700 Polish zloty. The FIA said the suspects were allegedly involved in unauthorized foreign exchange dealings and illegal transfer of funds through Hawala/Hundi networks. Such activities violate Pakistan’s laws governing foreign exchange and financial transactions. The latest action forms part of the FIA Peshawar Zone’s ongoing crackdown on unauthorized currency dealers and illegal money-transfer networks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Officials said such operations are aimed at curbing activities linked to money laundering, currency smuggling and other financial crimes. The agency has launched further investigations to determine the source and intended destination of the recovered funds. Investigators are also working to identify other people who may be connected with the alleged illegal operations.