New $35 million investment in Lahore unveiled in London 

The Embassy of Pakistan in Ankara commemorated Kashmir Exploitation Day with national spirit and dignity, reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering support for the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and their right to self-determination. The event marked seven years since India’s August 5, 2019, decision to revoke the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir. Participants reiterated solidarity with the Kashmiri people and called for a peaceful resolution of the dispute in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions. The ceremony was attended by prominent Turkish political leaders, diplomats, academics, members of parliament, representatives of think tanks, members of the diplomatic corps, media personnel, and members of the Pakistani and Turkish communities. The event began with the recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by special messages from President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The messages reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the Kashmiri people’s struggle and urged the international community to play an effective role in implementing UN Security Council resolutions on the Kashmir dispute. Chairman of the Geopolitical Foresight Institute, retired Major General Goray Alpar, highlighted the strategic and geographical importance of Jammu and Kashmir. He said the people of Pakistan and Türkiye share deep historical, cultural, and brotherly ties. He also warned that India’s unilateral actions, constitutional changes, and attempts to use shared water resources as political leverage could threaten peace and stability across the region. SESRIC Director General and former Turkish minister Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk reaffirmed the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s principled stance on the Kashmir issue. She said a just and lasting solution could only be achieved by allowing the people of Kashmir to exercise their right to self-determination in line with UN Security Council resolutions. She also drew parallels between the situations in Kashmir and Palestine, urging the international community to fulfil its responsibilities in pursuing a fair and durable solution. Turkish parliamentarian and Deputy Chairman of the Felicity Party, Mustafa Kaya, strongly criticised India’s policies in Indian-administered Kashmir, describing them as “demographic terrorism.” He said efforts to alter the region’s demographic composition, deprive local residents of land rights, and implement settlement policies similar to those seen elsewhere would not suppress the Kashmiri people’s aspirations for freedom. In his concluding remarks, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Türkiye, Dr. Yousaf Junaid, thanked the Turkish government and people for their continued support on the Kashmir issue. He alleged that India was pursuing a policy of demographic change in the region by issuing millions of domicile certificates to non-local residents while maintaining restrictions on independent media and continuing state repression. The ambassador said India’s unilateral constitutional measures could not change the internationally recognised disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir. He stressed that lasting peace, security, and stability in South Asia depended on a just resolution of the Kashmir dispute and reiterated Pakistan’s call for a free, fair, and impartial UN-supervised plebiscite to allow the Kashmiri people to determine their political future.

Islamabad: The federal government has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court challenging its interim order directing the transfer of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital. In its petition, the government described the Supreme Court’s interim order as an overreach of legal authority. It argued that the Pakistan Prison Rules, 1978, clearly prescribe the procedure for providing medical treatment to prisoners. According to the government, a prisoner can be shifted to a government civil hospital or a district headquarters hospital when necessary. However, it said there is no provision in the law for transferring a prisoner to a private hospital. The government also maintained that prison laws and the Prisons Act do not give a prisoner the right to receive treatment from a private doctor of his choice. The petition stated that Imran Khan’s case had been fixed for hearing for the first time and that he had not even been issued a notice. Despite this, the court issued an interim order regarding his medical treatment and transfer. The government argued that the court appeared to have reached the conclusion that Imran Khan’s health was deteriorating on the basis of a medical report. However, according to the petition, the report did not clearly indicate any such deterioration. It further stated that a medical board had examined Imran Khan several times. The government maintained that expert medical opinions should have been sought before making a decision on such a medical matter. The petition also challenged the use of Section 561-A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, arguing that the provision cannot be used to interfere in matters falling within the jurisdiction of prison authorities. The government further objected to the relief granted to Imran Khan at the interim stage. It said four requests were effectively granted through the interim order, including his transfer to Shifa International Hospital, access to personal doctors, meetings with family members, and provision of medical reports to his lawyers. According to the government, such relief at the interim stage amounted to granting final relief without completing the regular legal proceedings. The petition also warned that allowing a special facility for Imran Khan at a private hospital could set a precedent for other prisoners. It argued that other inmates could make similar demands under prison laws, potentially creating a large number of such requests. The government maintained that providing such special treatment would also conflict with the principle of equal treatment of prisoners.