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The Supreme Court of Pakistan has decided to hold a full court reference on August 7 to honour the judicial services of Justice Musarrat Hilali ahead of her retirement from the country’s apex court. An official notification has been issued announcing the ceremony, which will pay tribute to Justice Hilali’s contributions to Pakistan’s judiciary and recognise her years of service on the bench. The full court reference will be attended by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi, all judges of the Supreme Court, the Attorney General for Pakistan, representatives of the Pakistan Bar Council, office-bearers of the Supreme Court Bar Association, and members of the legal fraternity. The event is a longstanding judicial tradition held to acknowledge the professional achievements and public service of retiring judges. During the reference, senior judges, law officers and representatives of the legal community are expected to deliver speeches highlighting Justice Hilali’s legal career, commitment to the rule of law and contributions to the administration of justice. Justice Musarrat Hilali has served in several key judicial positions during her career and has been recognised for her role in strengthening Pakistan’s judicial system. The reference will mark the formal conclusion of her tenure at the Supreme Court while providing an opportunity for colleagues and members of the legal profession to express their appreciation for her dedication and service. The ceremony will take place at the Supreme Court of Pakistan on August 7, where members of the bench and bar will gather to bid farewell to the retiring judge and acknowledge her lasting contribution to the country’s judiciary.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has called for a stronger national effort to counter terrorism, extremism and misinformation, saying Pakistan’s fight against militancy cannot be limited to security operations. Addressing a capacity-building workshop in Islamabad, Tarar said the country also needed to win the battle of narratives by addressing misinformation and reducing the gap between public perception and facts. He said Pakistan had made considerable progress against terrorism through coordinated efforts by the federal and provincial governments, security forces and other state institutions. The National Action Plan, he added, had played an important role in bringing stakeholders together. According to Tarar, Pakistan’s security situation had improved significantly by 2017, allowing economic activity and investment to recover. However, he argued that a subsequent policy shift weakened years of counter-terrorism efforts. The minister stressed that national security policies should have continuity and should not change with changes in government. He called for political parties to develop consensus on major national policies so that long-term strategies could continue regardless of which party was in power. Tarar also highlighted the importance of Pakistan’s international narrative. He said the country had suffered heavily from terrorism and had made significant sacrifices involving security personnel, political figures, professionals and civilians. He said Pakistan had increasingly used international media platforms to present its position and challenge what it described as misleading narratives about terrorism and regional security. Discussing tensions with India following the Pahalgam incident, Tarar questioned the version of events presented by New Delhi. He reiterated Pakistan’s call for a transparent and internationally conducted investigation and said the country had sought to address the issue through diplomatic and media channels. The minister said terrorism had no religion, colour or ethnicity and maintained that the state would not allow violent groups to impose their ideologies on society. He warned that militant organisations were increasingly shifting their focus towards vulnerable and “soft” targets after facing pressure from security forces. He cited the Jaffar Express attack as an example and praised security agencies for their response. Tarar also raised concerns over the role of digital platforms in spreading extremist material and misinformation. He said the government was strengthening its legal and institutional mechanisms to deal with cybercrime and harmful online narratives. He said a Digital Communication Department had been established using modern technologies, including artificial intelligence-based monitoring and speech-to-text systems, to identify emerging narratives in the digital space. According to the minister, provincial governments were also being offered assistance in establishing similar communication structures. Tarar said state institutions also needed to promote Pakistan’s positive image by highlighting its culture, tourism, music, cuisine and arts. He praised Pakistan Television for contributing to efforts aimed at presenting a broader image of the country. He also stressed the need for better communication and timely reporting from Balochistan. The government, he said, was willing to support television networks in establishing bureaux in the province’s southern districts. Speaking about Balochistan, Tarar said development and security remained key government priorities. He highlighted infrastructure and counter-terrorism measures and said political stability and economic development were essential to addressing long-term challenges. The minister also cited Rescue 1122 as an example of a public policy that continued beyond political changes. He argued that successful national programmes should be preserved and expanded rather than discontinued because of political differences.