Islamabad, Pakistan: The Parliament on Monday confirmed its supremacy by adopting much-needed bills for extending the tenures of all armed services chiefs from three to five years and increasing the strength of judges in the Supreme Court as well as in High Courts. All the bills were signed by the President on the same and they are enforced already.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif presented amendments to the Pakistan Army, Navy, and Air Force Acts, for extending the tenure of all military chiefs from three to five years. The act also provides the power to the President for reappointment in armed forces.
The amendments remove previous age limits and extend tenure options, enabling the Chief of Army Staff and other military leaders to continue serving as generals beyond the earlier prescribed age of 64 years.
The power of the Parliament ensures the continuity of strategic policies
By another bill presented by the Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, the number of Supreme Court judges has increased to 34 from 17. Additionally, judges in the Islamabad High Court have been raised from nine to 12.
These legislative moves reflect the government’s focus on judicial reform and the standardization of military leadership tenures, addressing institutional demands and fostering continuity.
According to the Army Act, the tenure of the Chief of Services was fixed for three years, which has been increased from three years to five years. This is a very important and welcoming decision as it will provide continuity strategic policies and would enable sitting Chiefs to plan futuristic developments in their respective forces under their command. It was quite a difficult task to take any major policy decision-making and initiative to its logical conclusion in the services and at the national policy level in a short period of three years because the implementation of major decisions takes time. Meanwhile, when a new leadership comes after the tenure ends, it affects the ongoing policy and the work starts afresh consequently both the service and the country are affected by the change. The job has been for five years which will greatly benefit the continuity and stability of the policies.
On the other hand, the number of judges in the Supreme Court has increased from 17 to 34, which will definitely increase the efficiency of the Supreme Court and make it easier to deliver justice to the people.
Gen Asim Munir has been adamant about solving the economic crisis in Pakistan by setting up the Special Investment Facilitation Council, intending to bring in billions of dollars of investment from abroad, especially from Pakistan’s Gulf allies. The economic crisis, led to the Pakistani rupee devaluing to its weakest in its history, valuing at 308 per dollar when currency smuggling to Afghanistan was at its peak. To strengthen the rupee, he initiated crackdowns on the black market, which had been selling dollars illegally, harming the rupee. These crackdowns were successful, and the Pakistani rupee rebounded to become the world’s best-performing currency in September 2023.
The change in the tenure of the COAS will help Gen Asim Munir with strategic planning he has in his mind that is surely based on self-reliance and sovereignty and both are deeply rooted in the strong economy of any country therefore, he had been working to create economic opportunities for Pakistan. Now, Pakistan’s share market has become the most promising in South Asia, and Karachi 100 Index has broken all previous records and is at 91,938.
Monitoring Desk: On the night of 3/4 November, Six TTP terrorists (officially known as Khwarij) were killed in two separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.
An intelligence-based operation was conducted by Security Forces in the general area of Dosali, North Waziristan District. During the conduct of the operation, own troops effectively engaged the khwarij’s location, resultantly one kharji Ahmed Shah@ Intizar was sent to hell.
In another incident, movement of a group of Khwarij, who were trying to infiltrate through the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, was picked up by the security forces in the general area of Khamrang, South Waziristan District. Own troops effectively engaged and thwarted their attempt to infiltrate. Resultantly, five khwarij were sent to hell, while three khwarij got injured.
Pakistan has consistently been asking the Interim Afghan Government to ensure effective border management on their side of the border. The interim Afghan Government is expected to fulfill its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by Khwarij for perpetrating acts of terrorism against Pakistan.
Security Forces of Pakistan are determined and remain committed to securing its borders and eliminating the menace of terrorism from the country.
Islamabad, Pakistan: General Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) has said that global peace today is confronted with ever-evolving threats and challenges.
He was addressing the 28th Annual Conference of the International Association of Peacekeeping Training Centre (IAPTC) that is being hosted for the first time in Pakistan at the Centre for International Peace and Stability (CIPS), NUST, Islamabad from 4-8 November 2024.
Under Secretary General, Department of Peace Operations, Jean Pierre Lacroix, United Nation’s Police Advisor, Acting Deputy Military Advisor, Foreign Sectary of Pakistan, and Rector NUST, also accompanied the Chief Guest during the inauguration and opening ceremony of the conference.
In a keynote address to the august gathering, COAS emphasized that global peace today is confronted with ever-evolving threats and challenges. Despite the numerous peacekeeping endeavors underway by the UN and other organizations, the plight of innocent Kashmiris and Palestinians serves as a stark reminder that still a lot needs to be done. Guest of Honour, Mr. Jean Pierre Lacroix acknowledged Pakistan’s contributions to UN Peacekeeping Operations and appreciated Pakistan for hosting the 28th IAPTC Annual Conference.
The event officially commenced with the inauguration of the new CIPS building by General Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
Earlier on arrival, COAS was received by Inspector General Training and Evaluation (IGT&E), Lieutenant General Fayyaz Hussain Shah, HI (M).
Islamabad, Pakistan: Pakistan has conducted a successful test-fire of an indigenously developed ballistic missile by a Navy ship, reports DND News Agency from Islamabad.
The missile system with a range of 350 km is capable of hitting land and sea targets with high precision The system is equipped with an advanced navigation system with features to change its direction and speed Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf, senior officers of Pakistan Navy, scientists and engineers witnessed the demonstration.
The President of Pakistan, Prime Minister, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, and Services Chiefs congratulated the units and scientists who participated in the successful missile test.
Kindness is another thing that makes your life better. It is very important for the pursuit of happiness. After expressing gratitude for all the good things in your life you should do some service for your fellow beings, and this is going to make you happy in the long run.
Again research has shown acts of kindness release certain hormones like serotonin in the body which are good for your long-term well-being both physically and mentally. The person who does the act of kindness will receive this benefit. The person to which kindness is done will be touched and have a release of these chemicals. Even witnessing an act of kindness makes you happy. An act of kindness creates a response that releases all four happiness neurotransmitters. So it gives pleasure and a feeling of well-being.
As I already mentioned it does not happen only to the person who is doing an act of kindness but it also affects the receiver of kindness. It creates a neurobiology that connects us. So three people benefitted from a single act of kindness. A person who is doing it, a person who is receiving it, and anyone who is looking at that heartfelt moment. And we are not alone in happy feelings in this case. Serotonin which is released as a result of an act of kindness also aids in healing physical wounds as it decreases pain by increasing endorphins. Kindness also reduces the level of the stress hormone cortisol. People who develop habits of kindness reduce their levels of stress and anxiety.
“Give up the drop and become the 0cean.” Rumi
If we study literature from social sciences, it shows that it leads to habit formation. If we do more of them, we do it frequently, and if we do it repetitively neurogenesis will occur. We will develop pathways in our brains and will be able to recognize more when people need our kindness. This will boost our confidence in reaching out to people when they need us. And our brain is going to grow healthier and more productive. Apart from scientific proof, there is experiential proof of feeling good and being mentally healthy by doing acts of kindness. Studies have shown that it is helpful for longevity. People who volunteer for multiple organization and spend significant time in service of others live longer. Being kind promotes empathy and compassion. It will increase a sense of interconnectedness with others. These feelings in turn inspire happiness and reduce negative emotions. People who give of themselves in a balanced way tend to be healthier and live longer.
Be kind with others for your mental health
If we talk about history there were and are many religions, there were many other schools of thought on how to live your life. Not a single one of them is there, which did not stress enough being kind to others. That is a time-tested virtue. Previously it was thought, that being kind is important for the collective benefits of humanity and the greater good. But in recent years lot of work has been done on individual happiness and it has been proved far from a doubt that it is more beneficial for the person who is doing it.
The heart is concerned with its healing, which comes with love compassion, and service to other fellow beings. Heart feels wholeness in this way that we are all connected and part of the web. We are sisters and brothers as humans. And if we support each other we are supporting ourselves. If we help other people in achieving their greatest potential then we are at the final level of being human or we can say that is the maximum long-term happiness we can get. When somebody leaves drug addiction, he has to go through many steps to prevent relapse, the final step is to help someone else to leave addiction. The person who has done the final step will never revert to addiction again. this is a proven fact from research that this is the final stage of healing. It is important to remember how much kindness impacts our well-being and the lives of those around us. Kindness can change everything from mental health to overall well-being.
As people say being kind and doing a few things from your heart is very important. So you do not always need logic to be kind or do something for others. If you live completely in your head it means your brain and logic are always your guide you will miss the warmth, breath, and rhythm of life. If you just follow your heart you will be a person with poor judgement and discipline. So you have to keep your brain and heart together to be kind to others. Then you will not look for your benefit in everything.
Kindness is not just something we practice for others. We should be kind and compassionate to ourselves. Research suggests that one of the most effective ways to alleviate stress, anxieties, and general worries is to practice more deliberate kindness and self-compassion. When you say affirming words to yourself or look beyond the difficult moment toward a bigger picture, it draws your attention away from what is out of your control. It will push your focus toward what you can. As a result, you will know how to cultivate more joy, gratitude, and inner satisfaction in your life.
So in pursuit of happiness, the biggest thing is to do something for your fellow beings without any selfish motives. Yes you know it is going to bring long-lasting happiness for you. It is irrespective of whether people thank you or feel grateful. That is in your best interest as I have started this section with the quote that altruism is egotism. So being part of Web Kindness will give us fulfillment and it will unexpectedly reach us when we least expect it and maybe from where we least expect. So if we all behave with kindness this planet Earth will become a better place to live, and we all will thrive.
The author Dr. Attia Anwar is a consultant family physician with a postgraduate degree from the Royal College of GP UK. She is a strong advocate of health and well-being and wants patient participation in decision-making regarding health.
Islamabad, Pakistan: Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has arrived in Islamabad today on a two-day official visit and he will hold meetings with the civil and military leadership of Pakistan. This is his first visit to Pakistan after Israel attacked Iran in response to the Iranian attack on certain Israeli cities.
His meetings with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar are confirmed.
Pakistan Foreign Office confirmed that Foreign Minister Araghchi will hold consultations on the situation in the Middle East and Pakistan-Iran bilateral relations. This visit provides an important opportunity to advance cooperation and dialogue between Pakistan and Iran in a wide range of areas including trade, economics, energy, and security.
It is pertinent to mention that Iran is looking at Pakistan instead of India with whom Iran had better relations than Pakistan in last two decade because India stands with Israel without any iota of doubt.
The re-emergence of terrorism in Pakistan is now obscuring Pakistan’s potential to become an investment-oriented destination. Today, Pakistan depends upon the ‘War Model’ of counterterrorism due to the absence of an effective ‘Criminal Justice Model’.
The recently proposed Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2024 can serve the emerging demands as the bill empowers the government, armed forces, and other security forces to take immediate and effective action against terrorists and dangerous persons and thus, when there is a threat to national security, security agencies will be able to take timely action, which requires a robust security system.
The War Model
John Braithwaite, a Professor of Criminology at the Australian National University, provides several outlooks for counterterrorism including the Punitive Justice System, Restorative Justice System, and Criminal Justice Model for combating terrorism. He is of the view that terrorism cannot be mitigated only with the War Model which is based on the use of military force in the fight against terrorism. Other theories suggest that the absence or weakness of the ‘Criminal Justice Model’ would also not serve the cause of controlling terrorism rather a mix of the War Model, Criminal Justice Model, Punitive Justice System, and Restorative Justice System would help any country to fight back terrorism. It is pertinent to mention that all theories suggest that crime (terrorism) cannot be controlled in the absence of an effective punishment system and war that is won against terrorists is usually lost in courtrooms (Criminal Justice System).
In the contemporary era, terrorism has become a complex phenomenon and its mitigation also needs a complex operation but it is well argued by researchers that counterterrorism commitment in Pakistan is blurred and response to terrorism from the political elite has been just rhetorical. There is still no consensus among the political elites in Pakistan as to how to deal with the problem of terrorism. Consequently, they have left all the task of formulation and implementation of anti-terrorism policies on the shoulders of the army leadership and this situation is not the only problem; there is a coordination gap between military and civilian law enforcement agencies to combat terrorism in the country. This hampers the success and sustainability of anti-terrorism operations.
A dysfunctional CJS could not serve unusual law and order situations in the country in the past and Military Courts have been in demand since the 1990s
A report of Crises Group Asia Report (2015) explains that the Army Public School (APS) Peshawar incident did not much change Pakistan’s anti-terrorist approach, except that it adopted a targeted National Action Plan (NAP) but this plan is yet to be implemented.
Pakistan can no longer afford to be an experimental laboratory to test different anti-terrorism strategies and mere reliance on the use of force to eliminate the menace is not a viable policy. It does not provide a durable solution for the domestic security challenge of the country while structural problems of the Criminal Justice System (CJS) are not serving the needful.
Another important structural weakness of Pakistan’s CJS is its failure to effectively deal with the present-day challenges as it is rooted in outdated colonial laws. Many of Pakistan’s criminal and civil prosecution laws are still based on the penal code of 1860. These old laws are technically inadequate to meet existing challenges. In addition, the Pakistani penal code is a puzzle in terms of technical language, which may result in monopolous interpretations by the lawyers and the judges.
A dysfunctional CJS could not serve unusual law and order situations in the country in the past and Military Courts have been in demand since the 1990s. Both major political parties—PMLN and PPP favored them to fight out terrorism in the past.
In January 2015, following a devastating attack by terrorists on the Army Public School in Peshawar, which resulted in the loss of approximately 150 lives, the then government (PMLN) and the opposition parties allowed trial of suspected terrorists in military courts for two years. This decision was made after the All Parties Conference (APC) agreed to modify the Army Act, of 1952 to expand the jurisdiction of military courts to expedite trials.
On January 7th, 2015, the Parliament passed the Constitutional Amendment, which included a sunset clause stating that the military courts would cease to operate after two years from its commencement. Between February 2015 and March 6th, 2017, the military courts convicted 274 individuals. These courts were established in various regions of Pakistan, with three each in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, two in Sindh, and one in Baluchistan. Through this Constitutional Amendment, several acts were incorporated into the first schedule of the Constitution, providing them with exemption and protection from Article 8 (1) and (2) of the Constitution. These articles invalidate any laws or enactments by Parliament that violate the fundamental rights protected under the Constitution. Additionally, the amendment to the Army Act, of 1952 granted military courts the authority to try civilians, including individuals, groups, organizations, or sects, for offenses related to violence and terrorism. This broadened the scope of offenses that fell under the jurisdiction of military courts, such as attacks on military officials or their installations.
A reliance on military courts alone is not a viable long-term solution
A Failed Criminal Justice System
The urgent demand for military courts in Pakistan over the past 20 years highlights the failure of the existing Criminal Justice System (CJS) to effectively address the country’s domestic security challenges. Relying solely on the use of force is not a sustainable solution. Instead, there is a need for comprehensive reforms to improve the capacity of civil law enforcement institutions.
One of the key issues with Pakistan’s CJS is the significant disparity between the total population and the limited number of courts and judges available. This results in a backlog of cases, leading to delays, corruption, and flawed decisions. Additionally, the outdated colonial laws that form the basis of Pakistan’s criminal and civil prosecution laws pose a significant challenge. These laws are ill-equipped to handle modern-day challenges and are often subject to ambiguous interpretations by lawyers and judges.
Furthermore, there is a lack of harmony between the various components of Pakistan’s CJS, exacerbating its shortcomings. While the establishment of military courts may provide a temporary solution to some of the systemic deficiencies, it is not a comprehensive remedy for the larger issues at hand.
In conclusion, Pakistan’s CJS requires significant reforms to address the structural weaknesses that hinder its effectiveness. A reliance on military courts alone is not a viable long-term solution. Instead, efforts should be focused on enhancing the capacity of civil law enforcement institutions, updating outdated laws, and promoting coherence among the different components of the justice system. However, terrorists cannot be allowed to get free because of weaknesses of the Judicial system therefore, there is a need to establish a Military Court to punish terrorists till such time that CJS is revamped to deal with demands needed to punish terrorists.
In simple words, Pakistan has to work on a multipronged strategy if the state is serious about fighting back against terrorism.
A Ray of Hope
The Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2024 introduced is the prime necessity of the current situation. The bill empowers the government, armed forces, and other security forces to take immediate and effective action against terrorists and dangerous persons and thus, when there is a threat to national security, security agencies will be able to take timely action, which requires a robust security system.
The government on Friday introduced the bill in the National Assembly to restore the sunset clause of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997, which would give the Pakistan Army and other law enforcement agencies the power to arrest any suspected person who can be detained for questioning for three months. After the Army Public School incident, the government introduced the provision of Preventive Detention for inquiry for three months. Now, after a decade, the government has once again tabled the bill in the National Assembly, proposing to restore the same powers to law enforcement agencies for the next two years after the bill comes into force.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces have been facing a serious law and order situation for decades. After the recent attacks, the federal government reviewed the security situation with stakeholders. Subsequently, the government decided to give special powers to LEAs to detain terror suspects for three months without an FIR or court orders.
The amendment calls for Article 10 of the Constitution to be implemented, ensuring that the legal rights of prisoners are upheld during preventive detention. It includes provisions for continuous detention for more than three months if necessary under constitutional safeguards.
The amendment under section 2A states that these provisions shall remain in force for two years from the commencement of the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Act, 2024, allowing for a fixed period of application depending on the security situation and may be re-evaluated. Under the bill, Joint Investigation Teams (JITs) will be constituted comprising members of various law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies. It aims to work against terrorist acts in a more effective and coordinated manner and the formation of such teams will not only increase information sharing but also enable investigations under a comprehensive strategy.
There is no doubt that the recent measures are necessary to address the growing threat of terrorism. Under the amendment, suspects are allowed to be detained as is done in other countries. The move is particularly aimed at those involved in heinous crimes and terrorism, as the low conviction rate in terrorism cases has necessitated reforms. Legal experts say these steps are necessary to tackle the growing threat of terrorism. Covers purely terrorism and terrorist activities and groups.
It is pertinent to mention that several countries have the concept of detaining suspects of heinous or anti-state crimes. The National Defense Authorization Act and the Patriot Act in the United States allow indefinite detention of a suspect. Turkey has seven years and Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, China, Egypt, and many other countries have an “indefinite” detention regime.
Legal experts also believe that due to poor investigation and prosecution, the conviction rate in terrorism cases is woefully low in Pakistan. It is therefore imperative that, while implementing the provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act, “significant reforms and changes should be introduced in investigation, prosecution and judicial proceedings adopting international best practices.”
According to defense experts, incidents of terrorism are increasing in Pakistan, especially in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The terrorists caught in the are not being brought to justice due to which the terrorists are being encouraged and in these circumstances the coming of the Anti-Terrorism Amendment Bill is welcome and all the political parties should work on it.
Monitoring Desk: Another narrative of PTI caved in when Intizar Panjotha appeared yesterday.
It is a proven fact that Tehreek-e-Insaaf wants to achieve its goals by claiming that its followers have been kidnapped and the anarchist mentality has left no stone unturned to defame the state of Pakistan and state institutions.
Another PTI narrative caved in when Intizar Panjotha appeared yesterday
A recent example of this is the leader of PTI, lawyer Intizar Panjotha, who suddenly went missing. Now the truth has come out that this propaganda was done to defame state institutions and personalities when they released a video statement in which they clearly said that they were abducted by kidnappers who demanded a ransom of Rs 2 crore.
In another incident, when the voting process for the 26th constitutional amendment was underway, some PTI MPs went missing and their disappearance was used by the PTI for nefarious purposes and blamed on the state for their disappearance. While the reality was the opposite and PTI Member of National Assembly Zain Qureshi confirmed that he was abducted as per his party’s instructions. The PTI had also alleged that during the voting of the 26th constitutional amendment, secret agency personnel were present in the Parliament building, but the speaker of the National Assembly rejected the allegation.
Islamabad, Pakistan: ‘Military Courts are the only solution to fight out terrorism in the country and all other arrangements would only be cosmetic’.
Academicians, senior journalists, and political analysts observed this while commenting on emerging terrorism in the country in a current affairs show, SHAHRAH-E-DASTOOR, hosted by senior anchor Javed Iqbal at PTV News.
Senior analysts Dr Farooq Adil, Hafiz Tahir Khalil, and Agha Iqrar Haroon believed that Pakistan was facing unusual circumstances and needed extraordinary measures from the state. They appreciated the government’s decisions to review the laws and make much-needed changes in the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPc).
It may be mentioned that the 26th Constitutional Amendment draft had a provision for setting up Military Courts in the country, but the provision was excluded due to criticism from opposition parties. Analysts were of the view that it is the state’s responsibility to take extraordinary measures to ensure the safety of its citizens.
Almost every week, personnel of security and law enforcement agencies offer their lives, and every hour of the day they put their lives in danger during operations against terrorists but taking life risks is futile because terrorists get support from the legal system and the conviction rate is too low to be realistic.
The sacrifices of the nation, particularly the Pakistan Army, police, and security agencies are in front of everyone and everybody knows that the judicial system is contributing to purging terrorism in Pakistan. The fate of the Military Court trial is hanging in the Supreme Court while the 26th Constitutional Amendment does not offer anything for speedy justice at lower courts.
When terrorists are presented in the anti-terrorism courts established across the country, as mentioned earlier, due to the legal loophole, these terrorists are released due to lack of evidence against them. Then they regroup, launch fresh waves of terrorist activities, harm the Pakistan Army, kill innocent people, and dance on their dead bodies. The acquittal ratio of people involved in terrorism is high because of several reasons that include non-availability of witnesses, fear among lower judiciary as well as of public prosecutors in cases of hard-core terrorists, and provision of bail available to terrorists. Judges and public prosecutors know that hard-core terrorists can get bail anytime from higher courts and then they (terrorists) can harm the families of public prosecutors/lower staff, resulting in delays in deciding cases. When the anti-terrorist courts are overwhelmed with cases, the terrorists will undoubtedly get the benefit of this, their cases will be suspended. Failure to provide evidence and delays in recording witnesses to courts by the state prosecutors always provide benefits to the accused (terrorists). Sometimes investigative teams become under life threats and they leave loopholes in the case with an announced arrangement with the accused (terrorists).
All these factors emphasize the importance of establishing military courts and hearing cases through them. The establishment of military courts was approved/implemented under the National Action Plan made in 2014.
Islamabad, Pakistan: Near the Academy of Literature Pakistan in Islamabad, a children’s festival and folk musical night are being organized in honor of the famous Sindhi Sufi poet Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai.
At the age of around 20, he left home and traveled throughout Sindh and neighboring lands, and met many mystics and Jogis, whose influence is evident in his poetry.
Islamabad, Pakistan: General Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) has said that global peace today is confronted with ever-evolving threats and challenges.He...
Islamabad, Pakistan: Pakistan has conducted a successful test-fire of an indigenously developed ballistic missile by a Navy ship, reports DND News Agency from Islamabad.The...
By Dr Attia AnwarKindness is another thing that makes your life better. It is very important for the pursuit of happiness. After expressing gratitude...
Islamabad, Pakistan: Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has arrived in Islamabad today on a two-day official visit and he will hold meetings with...
DND ReportThe re-emergence of terrorism in Pakistan is now obscuring Pakistan’s potential to become an investment-oriented destination. Today, Pakistan depends upon the ‘War...
The author Dr. Attia Anwar is a consultant family physician with a postgraduate degree from the Royal College of GP UK. She is a strong advocate of health and well-being and wants patient participation in decision-making regarding health.
