The Supreme Court asked Imran Khan to appear in the Islamabad High Court on Friday (May 12). Along with this, the bench of Pak Chief Justice said that you (Imran Khan) will have to accept the decision of the High Court.
Islamabad : The Supreme Court of Pakistan has termed the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan as illegal. Imran Khan was arrested on Tuesday in the Al Qadir Trust case . Imran had reached the Islamabad High Court to seek bail in several corruption cases, when the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested him from the court premises. Pakistan's Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial ordered the immediate release of Imran Khan, after which he was released. After the release, Imran Khan has appealed to the people for peace.
The Supreme Court has said in a strong tone that the arrest of Imran from the premises of the court is disgraceful. The court told NAB, "An accused cannot be arrested by the High Court or any court. You cannot disrespect the court." The Chief Justice told Imran Khan- 'We are ordering you to be released, but you have to condemn the violence that took place in the country after your arrest.'
Imran will appear in the Islamabad High Court on May 12
The Supreme Court asked Imran Khan to appear in the Islamabad High Court on Friday (May 12). Along with this, the bench of Pak Chief Justice said that you (Imran Khan) will have to accept the decision of the High Court. After the release, Imran said- 'I was beaten with sticks in remand and I was abducted from the High Court.'
Reprimanded NAB
The Chief Justice of Supreme Court reprimanded NAB after the arrest of Imran Khan. During the hearing, the three-judge bench admitted that NAB had insulted the court. Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial questioned the arrest of Imran Khan from the court premises. Along with this, the Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to produce PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the court within an hour. After appearing in the court, the Chief Justice issued the order for the release of the PTI chief.
The President had raised questions about the method of arrest
Apart from the Supreme Court, President of Pakistan Arif Alvi had objected to the method of arrest of Imran Khan by writing a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. President Arif Alvi said in a letter to the PM that the manner in which Imran Khan was arrested from the court premises has tarnished the country's image. Pakistan is being made fun of in the international community.
Shahbaz Sharif government raised questions on SC's decision
On the other hand, Shahbaz Sharif government's spokesperson Maryam Aurangzeb raised questions on Supreme Court's decision. Maryam Aurangzeb said- 'The Supreme Court is giving fuel to a terrorist. After Imran's arrest on 9th, violence was spread under a conspiracy. The army was attacked. The Islamabad High Court and the National Accountability Court itself have said that the arrest was made in a legal manner. In such a situation, the pain in the stomach of the Supreme Court in just 48 hours is incomprehensible.
Many PTI leaders were arrested in violent demonstrations
while PTI leader Fawad Chaudhary was arrested late night and Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday morning for inciting violence after the arrest of Imran Khan. The police have so far detained around 1900 leaders and workers of Imran's party. According to the information of the news agency ANI, 8 people have died so far, while 290 people have been injured in the violent protests that have been going on since the arrest of Imran Khan on May 9. Amid growing violence in Pakistan, except Sindh province, army has been deployed in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Summons of the army under Article 245, How much is the intervention of the courts? : Source
What are the constitutional limits of calling the army under Article 245, how much will the courts intervene and what is the difference between it and emergency?
The government has decided to call the army in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Islamabad following the tense situation that arose after the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf Chairman Imran Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust case two days ago from the premises of the Islamabad High Court.
The official order cited Article 245 of the Constitution of Pakistan , which empowers the government to call in the army to assist the civilian administration in dealing with an internal or external threat.
It is not yet clear what will be the number of troops, what will be their responsibilities and where they will be deployed. The answer to this question is yet to come whether the army will be reserved only for the security of important buildings or will it have any role in dealing with the bad situation of law and order in the streets and streets?
An order issued yesterday did not elaborate, but said that the actual numbers and areas of troops and assets would be determined by the provincial governments in consultation with the GHQ.
What does Article 245 say?
Under Article 245 of the Constitution, the army can be called in to assist the civil administration.
Under this article, the duties of the army are specified. This clause has four sub-clauses:
Chapter Two of the Constitution deals with the Armed Forces, which begins with Article 243. Further Article 245 reads:
The Armed Forces shall, under the direction of the Federal Government, defend Pakistan against external aggression or threat of war and act in aid of civil authorities subject to law, when called upon to do so.
The validity of any direction issued by the Federal Government under clause 1 shall not be challenged in any court.
No High Court shall exercise any jurisdiction under Article 199 in an area in which the armed forces of Pakistan are currently operating to assist the civil authorities in compliance with Article 245. Provided that this provision shall not be construed to affect the jurisdiction of the High Court in respect of any pending proceedings immediately before the day on which the armed forces commence operation in support of the civil authorities.
Any action referred to in clause 3 relating to an area which is filed on or after that day, in which the armed forces have commenced operations in aid of the civil authorities and which is pending in any High Court, for the period will remain suspended, during which the armed forces are functioning internally.
Pakistan Army
In this February 15, 2023 photo, Pakistani army personnel stand outside a stadium during a Pakistan Super League match in Multan (AFP).
In simple words the main points of Article 245 are:
The decision to call the army cannot be challenged in any court
Actions taken during the presence of the army cannot be challenged in the High Court
In other cases, the High Courts will continue to function
How long will the courts have powers?
Former judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Wajihauddin, while talking to Independent Urdu, said that after the implementation of Article 245, the powers of the High Court are definitely suspended, but only related to this article. She cannot challenge the order, however, the rest of her day-to-day operations continue and are not affected.'
He further said that the Supreme Court cannot reject the decision to call the army, however, if human rights are being violated at the same time, then the Supreme Court can take action against it under Article 3/184. '
Prominent jurist and Head of Law Department of Quaid-e-Azam University Azizur Rehman told Independent Urdu that in the past many times governments have been calling the army under the same provision, but this time apparently the situation is not so bad that the army has been called. Go, because the government has a large number of police, the help of the Rangers can be taken, there are other institutions.'
"I think the nature of this decision is symbolic and it's meant to send a message that the institutions are on the same page," he said.
Difference between Article 245 and Emergency
Justice Wajihauddin said that the implementation of emergency is a very serious matter and it is implemented by governments very thoughtfully.
He said that the difference between Article 245 and the implementation of emergency is that the government does not have to account for calling the army under Article 245, but after the implementation of emergency, the government has to come to the assembly within a certain period. The process has to be verified.
According to Azizur Rehman, the entire constitution is suspended during emergency, so it is a completely different process. He said that 'Emergency is not necessarily related to law and order. A state of emergency was also imposed in 1999 in view of the country's economic situation, when General Musharraf imposed a state of emergency in 2007 to suspend the powers of judges.
When has the army been called in the past?
Political governments of Pakistan have from time to time called upon the army to assist civil institutions in view of emergencies and law and order situations.
Imran Khan's government called the army under the same article to implement the lockdown in the country in 2021. The federal government's order said that the army will serve along with civil institutions in three provinces including Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Earlier in November 2017, in view of the Faizabad sit-in by the religious party Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan, the army was called to protect sensitive places in the federal capital. This decision was taken on the orders of then Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.
Apart from this, the government of Nawaz Sharif deployed the army in the federal capital during the sit-ins of Imran Khan and Tahir-ul-Qadri in July 2014.
Even in 1998, Nawaz Sharif's government invoked Article 245 to call the army to restore law and order situation in Karachi.
In 1977, the army was called in to stop the anti-government protests of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in Lahore by invoking Article 245.
In lahore, How much damage was done to the building of Military Services?
Military Engineering Services is a department responsible for the maintenance of Pakistan Army properties, equipment and areas.
After the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan, angry protesters damaged various government and private buildings in the country, including the Military Engineering Services (MES) building.
Chairman Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran was detained from the Islamabad High Court on May 9.
Military Engineering Services is a department responsible for the maintenance of Pakistan Army properties, equipment and areas.
According to the authorities, during the protests on May 9, some agitators not only vandalized the building but also set fire to government records and furniture.
After three years of the epidemic, the construction of Xiongan was restarted, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Xi Jinping
General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Xi Jinping led Premier Li Qiang and other senior officials to inspect the Xiongan New Area in Hebei on Wednesday (10th) to restart the construction of the Xiongan New Area. Some scholars said that Xi Jinping intends to inject a boost to the weakened Chinese economy by affirming the construction of Xiongan.
According to a CCTV report on Wednesday, Xi Jinping, accompanied by Secretary of the Hebei Provincial Party Committee Ni Yuefeng and Governor Wang Zhengpu, visited the Xiongan New Area. Li Qiang, Premier of the State Council, Cai Qi, Director of the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and Ding Xuexiang, Vice Premier, accompanied him. In the screen broadcast by CCTV, Xi Jinping first inspected Xiong’an Station, which is known as the largest in Asia: “On May 10, Xi Jinping took the high-speed train to Xiong’an New District. After arriving, he first inspected the construction and operation of Xiong’an Station. The car came to the Nanwenying Community in Rongdong District. Xi Jinping: (inspecting the nursing home) three meals, three meals, this is very rich, I wish the old people a long and healthy life."
When Xi Jinping inspected Xiong'an New Area in Hebei Province, he said that practice has proved that the major decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the construction of Xiong'an New Area is completely correct, and all aspects of work have been solid and effective.
This year is the sixth year since the establishment of the Xiong'an New District in Hebei. During the three-year epidemic lockdown period, construction projects in Xiong'an almost came to a standstill. Wu Qiang, an independent commentator in Beijing, believes that Xi Jinping led four members of the Standing Committee of the Politburo to inspect Xiongan New Area, especially the first visit of the Premier of the State Council to Xiongan New Area, and its standards are very high. He told this station: "Such a high standard reflects Beijing's attempt to restart the Xiongan project. This timing is very interesting. On the one hand, when the epidemic is completely over and all aspects of China are recovering and restarting, Xi Jinping borrowed Xiongan Inspect and try to restart the Xiongan project.”
In late January of this year, a video uploaded by netizens showed that the square of Xiongan Station, known as Asia’s largest, was overgrown with weeds. Xiong’an Railway Station had only a few trains to and from Beijing every day. This scene aroused heated discussions among netizens. But recently the grass on the square has been removed.
The Xiong'an project has almost stopped for three years due to the epidemic, and now it is restarting
Scholar Wu Qiang said that in the past three years, Xiongan construction projects have been relatively indifferent and calm, which has attracted ridicule from the people. But this time Xi Jinping and other four members of the Politburo Standing Committee came to Xiong'an, hoping to restructure the economy: "Trying to use Xiong'an as a starting point again, under the situation of poor domestic policies in all aspects, and facing the risk of the Great Depression. At present, it is trying to show some confidence in Beijing with the starting point of Xiong'an. This is a booster for the authority of the 'two maintenances'."
The Xiongan New Area, which started construction in 2017, still gives people the impression of a modern empty city. On the Douyin platform, netizens posted far more urban buildings than people. After the epidemic is over, pedestrians are still scarce, and street stalls have appeared. A local video shooter said: "Why did the Xiong'an New District, which has been under construction for six years, become an empty city? The empty city is a perfect description of the current Xiong'an New District. Many of my clients were very puzzled after going to the Xiong'an New District. , why is the Xiong'an New District built so well, but there is no one inside, like an empty city..."
Residents of Xiongan: Too many houses and not so many people live in them
Another Xiongan resident said that rents for resettlement housing in the area are falling: "The real reason for the decline in resettlement housing rents in Xiong'an New Area is actually the relationship between supply and demand. Many Xiongan citizens have three apartments, and now they want to rent out. But there are not so many people who really want to rent a house.”
Zhang Jianping, a commentator on current affairs in Yixing, Jiangsu, told the station that Xiong’an New District was unable to attract foreign talents: “At that time, it was said that Xiong’an New District was to be built as a vice capital, and the Ministry of Land and Resources and the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development could move to the local area, and then slowly cool down. , encountered the epidemic again, and later said that Xiong’an New Area is a provincial-level development zone, saying that it will be built into a smart city. Now smart cities are being built all over the country, which is not attractive, unless you move Zhongnanhai there.”
800 billion yuan has been invested and it is still an empty city
Xiongan New Area is the 19th national-level new area in China, and it is also the first national-level new area established by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council. According to the latest official data, as of the end of November last year, Xiongan New Area has implemented a total of 240 key projects, with a total investment of over 800 billion yuan, and a cumulative investment of more than 490 billion yuan.
"Ming Pao" stopped publishing "Zunzi Comics" after the Hong Kong government repeatedly attacked Zunzi: Freedom is earned : Hong Kong
"Zunzi Comics" has been named and attacked by the Hong Kong government at least 6 times in the past six months, and it was forced to come to an end in "Ming Pao". The editorial department of "Ming Pao" said on Thursday (11th) "Thank you Zunzi for witnessing the changes of the times with us for 40 years." Zunzi told this station that the decision was made through an "agreement" and that he would complete the comics for the remaining two days. Regarding whether he will publish his works on other platforms in the future, he said, "If possible, it is my duty to do so," and that "freedom is what I have fought for."
The editorial department of "Ming Pao" announced in the editorial form of "Emily Edition" on page A14 of the newspaper on Thursday that "Emily's version of Zunzi's comics and Century's Mr. Nie's comics will stop publishing this Sunday (14th). "Ming Pao" thanks Zunzi Witness the changing times with us for 40 years.”
The "Ming Pao Staff Association" issued a statement on the same day, expressing "regret and helplessness for the suspension of "Zunzi Comics", and also grateful to Zunzi for his hard work for "Ming Pao" over the years." Including columnists, upholding social justice and kindness.
Zunzi: Suspension of publication is a matter of agreement to speak for "Ming Pao"
Zunzi told this station that in order to concentrate on the creation of comics in the remaining 2 days, it is only convenient to respond in writing for the time being. Asked why he made the decision to suspend publication, he said, "Ming Pao Comics ceased publication as a result of an agreement, and it is inconvenient for me to speak for Ming Pao."
Zunzi used to publish "Apple Daily" and "Next Magazine" for many years, but was forced to close down two years ago because he was accused of violating the "National Security Law". Now his comics have been named and criticized by Hong Kong officials many times. The publishing platform "Ming Pao" was lost.
Zunzi: There are fewer and fewer free newspapers, but they are not necessarily silent
Zunzi sighed to this station: "Comics are just a tool of expression. As long as there is platform space and social needs, they will naturally appear. There are fewer and fewer free newspapers in Hong Kong, but it is not necessarily silent. The times are changing, and the platforms for speaking out are also changing. It’s a long road with no end in change.”
Zunzi also said: "Freedom is something I have won for myself", revealing that he has no plans to leave Hong Kong, but hopes to "take a trip". Regarding whether he will publish his works on other platforms in the future, he said: "If possible, of course it is my duty!"
Former Chairman of Journalists Association: "Not Optimistic" About Hong Kong's Political Cartoon Space
Regarding the space for Hong Kong newspapers to publish political cartoons, Yang Jianxing, former chairman of the Journalists Association and a senior journalist, said he was "not optimistic" when he attended the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute's poll on "Citizens' Views on Press Freedom" on the same day.
He said that on the one hand, a large number of print media and online media of a certain scale have been forced to suspend operation, and on the other hand, the government’s power is expanding day by day, and the cost of banning self-media is very low for the Hong Kong government.
Yang Jianxing said: A cartoon is also a kind of speech expression with laughter and cursing, which is part of freedom of speech. Has Zunzi changed now, or has the government’s level of tolerance changed? It is obvious to all. In the past, you can say whatever you want, and you can draw whatever you want. Hong Kong has a wide variety of speeches. Now it has narrowed down a lot, and many places and risks are out of control, and the red line is crossed for no reason.
Yang Jianxing also pointed out that if the government continues to emphasize that "Hong Kong was too free of speech in the past", and now it is necessary to use the law to deal with the problem, this attitude will have far-reaching consequences. less; when I saw people talking less, I myself talked less, and the viciousness spread.”
The Hong Kong government has published at least 6 times in the past six months to criticize "Zunzi Comics"
According to information, in the past six months, the Hong Kong government has published at least 6 articles criticizing Zunzi Comic. The most recent time, the contents published on the comics on Tuesday (9th) satirized the substantial reform of the district council, saying that as long as the "executive" thinks it is appropriate, it can be done. On the same day, the Home Affairs and Youth Affairs Bureau issued an article criticizing the comics as discriminatory and smearing the government, describing it as "an act in which politics overrides morality."
Mai Meijuan, director of the Youth Affairs Bureau, said after attending the Legislative Council on Thursday (11th), "I will not comment on the decisions of individual institutions or individuals."
Mai Meijuan said: As the government, we will humbly accept different opinions, but we must clarify false statements or things that are inconsistent with the facts, so that the public can clearly know the truth.
The Secretary for Security, Tang Bingqiang, met reporters on the same day to respond to the suspension of the publication, saying, "The editor does not want someone to use the platform to incite public dissatisfaction with the government. It is a responsible decision to suspend the publication."
Deng Bingqiang also pointed out in recent months that "Zunzi Comics" mentioned that 20 billion yuan should be reserved for the disciplined forces to update equipment instead of 5.2 billion yuan. More than once a month."
Other relevant criticisms from Hong Kong officials include, last October, "Zunzi Comics" published a "Talent Management" notice in "Ming Pao", stating that "urgently recruiting world-class talents with high salaries and high wages, and those who accept harsh governance will be given priority. Later, Sun Yuhan, Director of Labor and Welfare, criticized the comics as "ridiculous and seriously deviated from the facts" on social platforms; in the same month, the Hong Kong police wrote to the Hong Kong media "Ming Pao" to complain that the "Zunzi Cartoon" at that time would make readers misunderstand the police The image of the police force is detrimental to the image, but the editorial department of "Ming Pao" stated that it will "professional and support columnists to provide professional works"; ), afterward the Bureau of Culture, Sports and Tourism criticized some newspaper cartoons in the same way without naming them as "sensational and wanton smearing".
Zunzi once said: Insist on uncompromising under white terror
The 68-year-old Zunzi, formerly known as Huang Jijun, is a well-known cartoonist in Hong Kong. He is famous for his current affairs and political satire cartoons. In the past 40 years of cartooning career, he has talked about many politically sensitive topics, including "June 4th", the issue of police power, and social movements in Hong Kong. etc., many officials are involved in the writing, including former Chief Executives, the late Prime Minister Li Peng, former Hong Kong Governor David Wilson, and then Secretary of Security Yip Lau Sook-yee, etc.
Our station once interviewed Zunzi after the passage of the "Hong Kong National Security Law" in 2020 , and asked if he would worry about stepping on the "red line" by continuing to satirize the current situation and officials. If I can continue to draw, I will continue to draw. As for the extent of the persecution, someone may take a knife and put my hand on the cutting board. If you draw again, your hand will be chopped off. No more painting, only this.
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