Thai Opposition Prepares No-confidence Debate Amid Corruption Allegations

Sindh Additional Inspector General (AIG) Azad Khan has told the Senate Standing Committee on Interior that a bank account allegedly linked to drug case suspect Anmol alias Pinky received around Rs300 million within a year. Briefing the committee, Azad Khan said one transaction involving the account amounted to Rs290 million. He added that financial data involving transactions worth around Rs1 billion had so far emerged during the investigation. The briefing was given at a meeting of the Senate Sub-Committee on Interior, chaired by Senator Saifullah Abro. According to the Sindh police official, 10 people have been challaned in connection with the Anmol alias Pinky case. He said two individuals were allegedly operating accounts linked to the suspect and were running their activities from Lahore. The AIG also identified a suspect named Sameer as an alleged associate of Anmol. Azad Khan said another suspect, identified as Aqib, was allegedly running the network in Karachi. He added that two women were also allegedly part of the network and worked as riders for Pinky. According to the briefing, some African nationals allegedly supplied cocaine to the network. The Sindh police official further said investigators had identified 25 riders allegedly associated with the network. He said investigations were continuing into accounts allegedly held in the names of other individuals but believed to be linked to Anmol. Azad Khan also commented on the scale of the alleged drug network. He said media attention had created significant public discussion around the case, but claimed that Anmol was not among the largest drug suppliers. During the meeting, Senator Saifullah Abro questioned the AIG about statements made by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry regarding the case. Abro asked whether the minister had contacted the Sindh police in connection with Anmol alias Pinky. Azad Khan replied that the Minister of State for Interior had not contacted the police regarding the matter. The committee also discussed other issues related to law enforcement and ongoing investigations in Sindh. Senator Abro raised concerns over alleged corruption involving provincial ministers and referred to several major development projects, including the Yellow Line and Blue Line projects. He also mentioned the arrest of Zameer Abbasi during the discussion.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday reserved its verdict on the maintainability of a petition challenging the delay in the approval of judicial appointments for high courts across the country. Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir heard the petition filed by advocate Luqman Zafar Chaudhary through his counsel Zahid Asif Chaudhry. The petitioner requested the court to direct President Asif Ali Zardari to approve a summary forwarded by the prime minister for the appointment of 19 additional judges and the confirmation of five judges in the Islamabad, Lahore, Sindh, Balochistan and Peshawar high courts. During the hearing, the petitioner’s lawyer argued that the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) had recommended the appointments during its meetings held on July 20 and 21. He said the summary was later sent to the president for approval, but no decision has been made despite the passage of more than two weeks. The counsel maintained that the delay is affecting the functioning of the superior judiciary. He informed the court that the tenure of an additional judge of the Sindh High Court has already expired, while the terms of four additional judges of the Peshawar High Court are expected to end within the coming days. The lawyer also told the court that reports suggest the government may issue notifications regarding the appointments within the next 48 hours. Justice Tahir repeatedly questioned whether a constitutional petition could legally be maintained against the president. He asked the petitioner’s counsel to cite any previous court ruling in which a writ had been issued against the president regarding the exercise of constitutional powers. The court observed that the judgments presented by the petitioner did not support the argument that courts could direct the president in matters governed by Article 48 of the Constitution. Justice Tahir asked whether any legal precedent existed requiring the president to act on such matters through a judicial order. The petitioner’s counsel argued that Article 48 requires the president to act on the advice of the prime minister or the cabinet. He maintained that the president has no independent authority to indefinitely delay judicial appointments once the Judicial Commission has completed its recommendations. The lawyer further argued that the Ministry of Law is the competent authority to issue appointment notifications after the completion of the constitutional process. He claimed that the president’s role in the appointment process is largely formal and that unnecessary delays should not hinder the functioning of the judiciary. The petitioner requested the court to seek responses from the federal government, the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Law regarding the status of the pending summary. However, the court declined to issue notices at this stage.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Palwasha Khan has criticised the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) over the recent political developments in Kashmir. Khan said those who had won what she called a “fixed match” in Kashmir should not lecture others about the public mandate. In a statement, the PPP senator alleged that attempts were made to manipulate the electoral process in Kashmir. She claimed that re-polling was conducted repeatedly in some areas. According to Khan, these actions were part of an alleged attempt to influence the election results. She said the PPP had formally raised objections over the process. Khan said her party had submitted complaints to the relevant authorities. She added that the complaints were supported by evidence. The PPP senator also made allegations against PML-N candidates who won seats in Kashmir. She claimed that some successful candidates could not even visit their own constituencies. Khan said the political situation in Kashmir should be judged on the basis of facts on the ground. She rejected what she described as attempts to present the election results as a clear reflection of public opinion. She also turned her criticism towards the political situation in Punjab. Khan said Lahore should not be treated as a reflection of the entire province. “Lahore is not the whole of Punjab,” she said. The PPP leader urged political leaders to move beyond Lahore and assess the situation in other parts of Punjab. She said the realities outside the provincial capital were different. Khan also claimed that people in Punjab were living under fear because of the Criminal Case Department, or CCD. She said the situation had created concern among citizens. The senator criticised the alleged use of the CCD and said the PPP would oppose any move that could increase its role in Kashmir. “We will not allow Kashmir to be handed over to the CCD,” Khan said. Her statement comes amid political tensions over the election process in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Political parties have continued to exchange allegations over polling, re-polling and the credibility of election results. Khan’s remarks reflect the PPP’s wider criticism of the political situation and alleged electoral irregularities. The party has called for its complaints and evidence to be properly examined by the relevant authorities.