Voice For Peace

  In a stunning turn of events, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan found himself in a whirlwind of misfortune, as he was arrested in the GHQ attack case just moments after a release warrant was issued in the cypher case. If this were a Shakespearean play, it would be a tragic comedy of errors, with Imran Khan cast in the leading role of the hapless protagonist caught in the crossfire of judicial chaos. The drama unfolded at the Adiala jail, where the hearing of cases related to the May 9 riots took a virtual twist through video link. Multiple station house officers (SHOs) were present, adding an ensemble cast to the unfolding tragicomedy. As the virtual court commenced, SHO Royal Artillery (RA) Baazar took center stage, making a plea for the physical remand of Imran Khan in the GHQ attack case. One couldn't help but wonder if this was a script straight out of a dark comedy, with the SHO playing the role of a determined antagonist, pushing for the protagonist's in...

In the whimsical world of Pakistani politics, where even Shakespeare would have scratched his head in confusion, Shah Mahmood Qureshi finds himself caught in a legal carousel that seems to spin faster than a chai vendor's blender on a busy street. Picture this: Qureshi, fresh from the embrace of Adiala Jail, eagerly dusting off imaginary legal cobwebs, only to be nabbed by the Rawalpindi Police faster than you can say "democracy." It's the classic tale of one step forward, two steps into a police van. The cypher case, like a mischievous imp, refuses to let our protagonist go. It all started with Imran Khan waving a cryptic piece of paper at a rally, claiming it was the blueprint of an international conspiracy. Next thing you know, Qureshi is juggling legal acrobatics while trying to decipher the real meaning of "cypher." Spoiler alert: It's not a secret code for unlocking a politician's release. But fear not, dear reader, for the drama doesn't st...

  In the grand stage of Pakistani politics, where power struggles and controversies are the main plot points, the recent debacle involving the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) could easily be mistaken for a script written by a satirical genius. As the political situation worsens day by day, the audience is treated to a tragicomedy that seems to have no shortage of absurd twists and turns. The drama began when the ECP, in an unprecedented move, declared the PTI's intra-party polls unconstitutional, stripping them of their iconic 'bat' symbol. It was as if the scriptwriters had decided to add a touch of irony to the already convoluted narrative of Pakistani politics. The PTI, a party that had championed the cause of fair and transparent elections, found itself entangled in a web of its own making. Barrister Gohar Ali Khan's easy victory as the new chairman of the PTI should have been a moment of celebration for the party. Instea...

In a shocking turn of events that left the political landscape in Pakistan resembling a chaotic sitcom, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to snatch the PTI's beloved 'bat' electoral symbol, leaving the party flapping its political wings in despair. The verdict came after a series of intra-party squabbles that made even the most dysfunctional family reunions look like a model of harmony. The Peshawar High Court (PHC) had apparently issued a directive to the ECP to make a decision faster than a politician backtracks on campaign promises. This was followed by a meeting between the PTI and the ECP, where assurances were given faster than a politician can change allegiances. The PTI, armed with the conviction that all was well, soon found itself facing the grim reality that their 'bat' symbol had been batted away. The whole debacle started with intra-party elections that seemed to have more twists and turns than a poorly scripted soap opera. Barrister...

The recent decision by the Supreme Court to grant post-arrest bail to former Prime Minister Imran Khan and ex-Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case has added another layer of complexity to an already intricate legal saga. This case, centered around a diplomatic document that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) alleges was never returned by Imran Khan, has become a symbol of political maneuvering and legal challenges in Pakistan's volatile political landscape. The Legal Twists and Turns: The cipher case has been anything but straightforward. The Special Court (Official Secrets Act) had initially begun the trial at the Adiala district jail, indicting Imran and Qureshi on December 13, only to have the entire proceedings scrapped by the Islamabad High Court. The IHC endorsed Imran's indictment but deemed the government's notification for a jail trial "erroneous," setting the stage for a fresh trial. The recent Supreme Court decision, delivered by...

  In recent times, Pakistan has witnessed a concerning trend – a restriction on media coverage of specific court cases, most notably the diplomatic cipher case involving former Prime Minister Imran Khan and former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. The ban imposed on reporting such proceedings has raised alarm bells among prominent journalistic organizations, prompting them to unite in condemnation and call for immediate action. The joint statement issued by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), and the Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND) reflects the deep-seated concerns shared by these organizations. They argue that such restrictions not only violate the constitutional right of the people to access information but also pose a threat to the core principles of democracy. At the heart of the matter is a trial court's decision to prohibit media coverage of proceedings related to allegati...

  In a democratic society, the integrity of the electoral process is paramount, ensuring the voice of the people is accurately represented. Recently, the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) have expressed apprehensions about the transparency, integrity, and fairness of the electoral process under the current chief election commissioner (CEC). This raises significant concerns about the upcoming general elections and the need for urgent intervention by the Supreme Court (SC) to address these issues. The PBC's Concerns: Leaders from the PBC have articulated their concerns regarding discrepancies in election procedures, delimitations, and seat allocations. Haroon-ur-Rashid and Hassan Raza Pasha, representing the PBC, contend that the general elections lack fairness in the presence of the incumbent CEC. The emphasis is on the importance of transparent elections, advocating for a level-playing field and equal opportunities to ensure transparency and fairne...