South Asia

What protections does international law afford neutral merchant vessels? When can neutral ships lawfully lose that protection? Can oil tankers and blockade runners be treated as military targets? What legal remedies are available to India after the deaths of its seafarers? How does international law regulate attacks?

1 source · no Western pickup

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Tuesday criticised what he described as the “unfortunate trend” of calling terrorists ‘militants’. Referring to a news report published by Turkish public broadcaster TRT World on the recent terrorist attack on a Rangers facility in Karachi in which three security personnel were martyred, Tarar strongly objected to the use of the term “militants” for the attackers. “The Karachi attack was a terrorist attack in which innocent people were killed,” he said. “Terrorists must not be called by any other name.” “Terrorists are terrorists, they have no caste, colour, creed or religion,” he explained. Tarar’s statements come days after the military’s media wing announced the capture of one of the terrorists involved in the Rangers facility attack. The terrorist was identified by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) as an Afghan national with links to Indian proxy Jaamatul Ahrar. He and his companions had been trained in Afghanistan before crossing the border to carry out their attack, ISPR said. On Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Afghan charge d’affaires to issue a strong demarche over the Karachi terrorist attack. Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban administration in Kabul to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries on Afghan soil that are used for attacks in Pakistan. Officials say those appeals have gone unheeded. The information minister has been a vocal critic of the Afghan Taliban’s “perversion of religion” to legitimise its rule and ‘authoritarian motives’. Tarar has also accused the regime of providing safe haven for the training and facilitation of terrorists.

1 source · no Western pickup

KASHMIRI leader Mohammad Yasin Malik, who has been imprisoned by India on terrorism charges for more than four years now, has now been implicated in the 36-year-old murder case of a nurse in Srinagar, Indian media reported on Monday. Malik, who is the chairman of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), was named by India’s State Investigation Agency (SIA) as one of five men charge sheeted for the killing of Sarla Bhat, who was killed in 1990. The investigation into her murder, which went cold several years ago, was reopened by former lieutenant governor of India-held Kashmir Manoj Sinha to appease local pressure groups. Earlier, in 2017, the Indian Supreme Court had declined to reopen several Kashmiri Pandit murder cases, citing that the mass killings took place nearly three decades prior, and it was difficult to gather reliable evidence and witnesses, the Indian Express reported. In 2023, Kashmiri pandit groups approached Sinha, who directed the police to prepare a list of killings from the 1990s. The Sarla Bhat case was subsequently transferred to the SIA in March 2024 for a fresh probe, according to the Hindustan Times. Investigators submit 737-page charge sheet naming Yasin Malik and six others, three of whom are now deceased In a statement, the SIA said the investigation was based on oral, documentary, forensic, ballistic, medical and electronic evidence collected and analysed over the years. Apart from Malik, the 737-page charge sheet names Khursheed Ahmad Chalkoo, Abdul Hamid Sheikh, Ghulam Mohammad Taploo and Mohammad Yousuf Sofi as accused. According to the Hindustan Times, three of the accused are now dead, while Mr Malik has been languishing in Tihar jail in connection with separate trumped up terror charges since 2019. Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2026

1 source · no Western pickup

There were no World Cup games being screened at the time of the shooting, with the only match of ‌the day in the tournament finishing around 2 p.m. local time

1 source · no Western pickup

The strikes against the hideouts and safe havens of terrorists came in after a paramilitary Rangers headquarters in Karachi on Saturday (June 27, 2026) was attacked by militants, Information Minister Atta Tarar said

1 source · no Western pickup

Leaders of India’s youth Cockroach Janta Party neared two weeks of sit-in protests on Tuesday, backed by a well-known activist who has started a hunger strike in support of their demand for the resignation of the education minister. The protests in the capital Delhi, come as sources say the government is weighing significant cabinet changes, with Indian media reporting Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan could be moved from his portfolio. Supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) during a sit-in protest called by CJP demanding the resignation of Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, India, June 30, — Reuters The CJP, which gained 22 million followers on Instagram within a few days of being set up last month, is demanding his resignation for the leak of question papers for a national medical college entrance examination. Pradhan, his ministry and the government’s chief spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment. About 100 supporters of the CJP have been gathering daily at the protest site in central Delhi. “With each passing day, more people are coming here from different parts of India,” said 30-year-old party founder Abhijeet Dipke as he and social activist Sonam Wangchuk sat on a makeshift stage beneath a banner calling for Pradhan’s removal. Supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) sleep on a carpet during a sit-in protest called by CJP demanding the resignation of Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, India, June 30. — Reuters “We are waiting to see what the government decides because there are reports of a cabinet reshuffle. Once that announcement comes, we will decide the next course of action.” Wangchuk is a prominent critic of the government who was arrested last year after violent protests demanding statehood for his native Himalayan federal territory of Ladakh. ‘Six weeks of hunger strike or death’ Wangchuk said

1 source · no Western pickup

The number of official rescues has dropped dramatically in the last three days, the government said, from 5,380 people saved in the first two days after the quakes to just four people found alive on June 29

1 source · no Western pickup

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Parvathaneni Harish said that countries facing adverse assessments should address the identified deficiencies, strengthen domestic enforcement, improve financial transparency, and demonstrate irreversible action against terror-financing networks

1 source · no Western pickup

RAWALPINDI: A first information report (FIR) was registered on Tuesday against the 14 prisoners who escaped from a police van a day earlier while being transported to Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail, with fresh details emerging that the fugitives threw red chilli powder at the police officials escorting them to facilitate their escape. Along with the 14 accused, the FIR, a copy of which is available with Dawn, also nominated five police officials who were present at the site of the incident, which occurred within the jurisdiction of the Sihala police station in Islamabad, for neglecting their respective duties, enabling the prisoners to escape. The complaint was registered under the following provisions of law: Sections 224 (resistance or obstruction by a person to their lawful apprehension), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging their duty), 186 (obstructing a public servant in the discharge of public functions), 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of a common intention) and 120-B (punishment for criminal conspiracy) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). The police officials were charged under Section 223 (escape from confinement or custody negligently suffered by a public servant) of the PPC and Sections 155-C (guilty of any wilful breach or neglect of any provision of law) and 155-D (guilty of any violation of duty) of the Police Ordinance, 2002. According to the FIR, the police driver and complainant, Imtiaz Ahmed, stated that the incident occurred when the police van reached the Chakian stop at around 4:45pm on Monday and the prisoners started fighting inside the vehicle and shouting. “To resolve the commotion, we started verbally telling them to stop, but they refused to listen. So I, with the help of Constable Tahir Mehmood, unlocked the van and entered it; however, the prisoners threw red chilli powder into our eyes and escaped from the van,” the driver stated. He added that the police officials, “with great difficulty”,

1 source · no Western pickup

LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on Monday witnessed a heated exchange on the proposed Punjab Control of Habitual Offenders and Anti-Social Behaviour Bill, 2026 with the opposition describing the legislation as an assault on fundamental rights and freedom of expression while Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan assured the lawmakers that their concerns about the bill would be addressed before being taken up for consideration. Opening the debate, Opposition Leader Moin Riaz Qureshi alleged that the proposed law violated constitutional guarantees and democratic principles. He warned that the bill could become the final nail in the coffin for freedom of expression and accused the government of attempting to suppress dissent through legislation. “The Punjab Control of Habitual Offenders Bill 2026 is being introduced to silence people,” Qureshi alleged, adding that the ruling PML-N had previously enacted accountability laws that eventually rebounded against its own leadership. Responding to the opposition’s concerns, the speaker said he had not been presiding over the House when the bill was originally introduced or when the relevant committee’s report was presented. Calls it a bid to suppress dissent; HRCP concerned at the proposed law “I was not aware of the bill at that stage. It has already been referred to the committee and the report has been submitted,” the speaker said, explaining that the government had not yet put the bill on the Assembly’s agenda. He added that Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman would respond to members’ concerns when the matter would come before the House. The speaker also informed the assembly that he had received a formal letter from opposition member Rana Aftab Ahmad raising objections to the proposed legislation. Rana Aftab Ahmad read out the contents of the letter in the House, urging the speaker to prevent the bill from being passed in its present form and to refer it for detailed constitutional and legal scrutiny. The letter

1 source · no Western pickup

KARACHI: Regional instability continues to influence market sentiment, negatively impacting Pakistan’s domestic bond and equity markets and foreign direct investment, all of which declined at the end of FY26. Several economic stakeholders were unsure whether the Gulf turmoil, which has recently paused, could last longer, analysts said. They said all countries, except Israel, hoped for a permanent end to the Gulf war against Iran, but the business community was looking at the situation the other way. “Even if the war does not start in the near future, the uncertainty is high enough to keep foreign investors away from the country, such as Pakistan, which faces serious problems with its external account and depends largely on friendly countries and international donors to avoid default,” said a senior banker. Uncertainty drives foreign investors away Foreign direct investment declined by 28 per cent over the first 11 months of outgoing FY26; domestic bonds recorded a net outflow of $550 million, while total outflows from domestic bonds were over $2bn. While the Pakistan Stock Exchange performed quite well, it has failed to attract foreign investments in the outgoing fiscal year. The data from the State Bank show that from July 1, 2025 to June 19, 2026, inflows into the equity market were $308 million, while outflows exceeded $1 billion. Most analysts believe the risk is high for investing in Pakistan, despite stronger foreign exchange reserves and strong remittance growth. Pakistan hopes to receive $41bn in remittances in FY26, the biggest source of foreign earnings. “Despite these high inflows of remittances, the country needs to pay over $26bn in 2026-27, making the external account vulnerable, with a $35bn trade deficit in 11MFY26, which is enough to alert foreign investors,” said S.S. Iqbal, an expert on investment and money markets. “Although Pakistan is not involved in the Gulf war, the country is now part of the peace deal, which shows the high stakes for Pakist

1 source · no Western pickup

In one of his final big-ticket policy interventions after he announced his resignation last week, Mr. Starmer said the ‘Defence Investment Plan’ will be backed by £298 billion of investment across the next four years

1 source · no Western pickup

ISLAMABAD: PPP and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) on Tuesday decided to jointly contest the forthcoming general elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Earlier this month, the AJK Election Commission announced that the general elections across the region would be held on July 27. The last elections in the region were held in July 2021. The two political parties announced the decision after PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari called on JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman at his residence in Islamabad and later held a media talk. Speaking to the media, Bilawal formally announced an electoral alliance between the two parties. “The alliance marks a new chapter in political cooperation between the two parties,” he said. He emphasised that the issues of AJK should be resolved through peaceful and democratic means. “Legitimate concerns of the Kashmiri people should be addressed through parliament and the electoral process rather than through unrest on the streets,” the PPP chairman said. Expressing gratitude to the JUI-F chief, Bilawal said he had always had the opportunity to learn from the Fazl’s experience, praising his constructive role during difficult times. The PPP chairman said that if the JUI-F chief, while sitting in the opposition, was willing to play a positive role for the country, then the government and treasury benches were also ready to engage him in dialogue. Bilawal said the election schedule for AJK had already been announced and stressed that the polls must be “peaceful, transparent and free” of any controversy so that the problems faced by the people of Kashmir could be effectively addressed. He said that instead of long marches, strikes and protests, political issues should be raised and resolved through democratic institutions. Bilawal expressed his desire to see the PPP and JUI-F form coalition governments in Balochistan, Sindh and AJK in the future. “I request the JUI-F chief to consult with his party so that both parties

1 source · no Western pickup

India's viral Cockroach Janta Party spends nearly two weeks protesting, demanding the education minister resign.

1 source · no Western pickup

In this episode, we begin with a detailed discussion on CBSE’s proposed three-language policy; Europe’s worsening heatwave; key updates on Ram Temple developments, the Nasrapur minor rape and murder case, a Mumbai police arrest linked to poison capsules during a Muharram procession, protests over the Maharashtra TET paper leak, and the latest FIFA news updates.

1 source · no Western pickup

Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas on Tuesday filed a privilege motion in the upper house of Parliament against the station house officer (SHO) of Islamabad’s Bhara Kahu police station over his “rude and discourteous” conduct. The privilege motion comes after a delegation of opposition leaders, including Abbas, was stopped by Islamabad police from travelling to Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Monday. The delegation, led by National Assembly Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai and including former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and former senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, had planned to express solidarity with protesters participating in a sit-in in Rawalakot. Khokhar had alleged that Raja Nasir Abbas was also stopped from reaching his residence in Bhara Kahu and was forced to continue on foot after authorities prevented his vehicle from proceeding. In the privilege motion, a copy of which is available with Dawn, Abbas said that Sub-inspector (SI) Naeemul Hassan, the Bhara Kahu SHO, stopped him from travelling to his residence at a checkpoint. He said that the officials, accompanied by a large number of police personnel, “approached my vehicle and, in a rude and discourteous manner, directed that I could not proceed further”. He said that he introduced himself and his purpose for moving onward, adding that his residence was located approximately 2km away from the checkpoint. “Despite this, the SHO neither paid heed to my explanation nor extended the courtesy due to a member of Parliament. Instead, he continued to behave in an insulting and disrespectful manner,” he said. “The conduct of SI Naeemul Hassan and the accompanying police personnel amounts to an obstruction in the discharge of my duties and a gross act of disrespect towards a member of the Senate. Such conduct constitutes a breach of the privileges of the House and its member,” Abbas asserted. The Senate opposition leader has requested that the matter be referred to the Privileges Commit

1 source · no Western pickup

Indian students are increasingly choosing cheaper degrees in Germany, France and Ireland over the U.S., as visa crackdowns and a sliding rupee make an American degree harder to justify.

1 source · no Western pickup

Mr. Sonderling's nomination is subject to Senate confirmation.

1 source · no Western pickup

What is the H-1B visa programme and who uses it? Why did the Trump administration impose the $100,000 fee? What impact was the policy expected to have on States and employers? Did the President have the authority to impose the fee? Why did the court classify the charge as a tax rather than a penalty?

1 source · no Western pickup

His comments highlight a growing tension ‌between White House attempts to overhaul U.S. elections and address concerns over consumer affordability, both core parts of his Republican Party’s campaign for November midterm elections

1 source · no Western pickup

• Govt data declared a strategic national asset held in trust for citizens • Public bodies defined as custodians, not owners of government data • Citizens to have right to know who accessed their personal data, when, and why ISLAMABAD: The Min­i­stry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has released the draft Data Governance Policy 2026 for public consultation, declaring government data a strategic national asset to be held in trust for the people and governed to ensure sovereignty, public value, citizen empowerment and lawful use. The draft policy, placed on the ministry’s website for public comments until July 10, states that while it serves as the primary national framework for data governance, it does not cover personal data held outside the public sector, primary legislation, judicial proceedings, or matters falling within specific national security, defence, parliamentary or judicial domains. Responding to a query about the policy, Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima said data protection and usage regulations had become essential with the rapid growth of digitisation. She said the draft policy would remain open for public feedback until July 10 and would be notified after incorporating relevant suggestions. The policy declares that government data is not the property of the agency that holds it, adding that public bodies are custodians rather than proprietors of such data. It grants citizens the right to know who within the government has accessed their personal data, when it was accessed and for what purpose. “This right shall not be denied except on narrow grounds expressly provided by law, with reasons recorded,” the draft policy states. Under the proposed framework, public bodies processing personal data will be required to adopt Privacy-Enhancing Technologies appropriate to their purpose, in accordance with the Data Security Standards Instrument and the Privacy by Design and Impact Assessment Instrument. Citizens will also h

1 source · no Western pickup

The directive came hours after the Supreme Court 6-3 ruling which affirmed the longstanding right to citizenship for nearly all born in the ‌U.S.

1 source · no Western pickup

Turkey's indispensable contributions to European security are sometimes overlooked; Turkey wanted ‘to participate in all defence and security initiatives’ on the continent, said Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

1 source · no Western pickup

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority on June 29 suspended with “immediate effect” Geo News’ licence for 15 days, saying the channel was “liable to hurt the religious sentiments of viewers”

1 source · no Western pickup

The MEA, in its statement, reiterates its "unwavering support" for Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity

1 source · no Western pickup

Commentators describe the funeral in Tehran as a “big opportunity” for India to restructure its West Asia policy; they say the choice of the delegation indicate that India has not recognised the importance of the event

1 source · no Western pickup

The pilot of the Airbus A321, which had departed from Las Vegas, ‌reported the strike at approximately 3,000 feet altitude while on final ‌approach, the FAA said

1 source · no Western pickup

In May 2023, the federal civil court in Manhattan found Mr. Trump liable for a "sexual assault" on E. Jean Carroll, the former newspaper columnist, in a New York department store in 1996

1 source · no Western pickup

1 source · no Western pickup

Without intervention, space telescope Swift is expected to soon burn up in the atmosphere

1 source · no Western pickup

From India’s Russian oil purchases to legal battles in Washington, the road to India-U.S. trade deal has become increasingly uncertain, and The Hindu explains why

1 source · no Western pickup

The U.S. envoy to India cited the personal equation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi which was driving the ties.

1 source · no Western pickup

Addressing the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum Leadership Summit, U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said India still conducts more military exercises with the U.S. than any other country and has regular bilateral visits of defence officials

1 source · no Western pickup

India has stepped up engagement with Chinese media as Beijing presses New Delhi to issue visas to its journalists ahead of a possible visit by President Xi Jinping later this year, though any breakthrough on the issue is likely to take time, according to people familiar with the matter. The outreach includes a meeting between officials from the Indian embassy in Beijing and representatives of Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua on June 24. One person familiar with the discussions described the...

1 source · no Western pickup

Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters Syed Muhammad Mehar Ali Shah said on Tuesday that he had written to his Indian counterpart regarding fluctuations in the flow of the Chenab River four times since last April — when New Delhi unilaterally decided to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance — but there had been no response thus far. Speaking at a seminar held in Islamabad to highlight the legal and constitutional framework of the IWT, he said he last wrote to his Indian counterpart last night over “significant fluctuations” in the flow of the River Chenab. The IWT allocates the eastern rivers — Ravi, Beas and Sutlej — to India, while the western rivers — Indus, Jhelum and Chenab — are largely allocated to Pakistan. The 1960 water-sharing agreement has also established mechanisms for data-sharing and dispute resolution. The Indus Waters commissioner said the fluctuation in the Chenab was not a “technical inconvenience, but rather a strategic hazard”. “There is no brainer in understanding that data-sharing is the line between natural risk and manufactured vulnerability,” he said, adding that India should answer for the fluctuations in the Chenab flows. “I will state this carefully and without overclaiming causation. These events required explanation and operational data, and we have been asking India through treaty channels, but there is no response from the Indian side, and no response creates a risk,” he said. He said that no “responsible” downstream commissioner would look at the fluctuation as “routine and move on”. “These are precisely the events the Indus Water Commission exists to examine,” he added. He further said that Pakistan, in the past year, had tried to keep the channel of communication and data-sharing under the IWT active despite India holding the treaty in abeyance. “Pakistan continued to provide the required data, sent correspondents, requested meetings, inspections, project information and [held] Article 9 consultations,” he said; however,

1 source · no Western pickup

Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna claimed that during his recent visit to China, India’s Ambassador there had told him that a generation of trust was lost due to Mr. Trump’s policies

1 source · no Western pickup

The episode takes a look latest political developments in Maharashtra as another Sachin Ahir joins Eknath Shinde’s camp; Haldia Petrochemicals in West Bengal; the rollout of the SIR of electoral rolls across four States and Delhi; rising political tensions over the Ram Temple donation case, and more.

1 source · no Western pickup

Nasa is set to launch a daring robotic rescue mission, a long-shot bid to prevent one of its ageing telescopes from vanishing into dust. If successful, the effort could pave the way for giving other satellites a second life. The operation is set to last several months, kicking off with the launch of a robot designed to rescue the Swift space telescope that’s currently falling towards Earth. Without intervention, Swift is expected to soon burn up in the atmosphere. The rescue spacecraft developed by the US startup Katalyst was slated to lift off on Tuesday at 10:23am GMT (3:23pm PKT) from a Pacific Ocean atoll aboard a small rocket named Pegasus. But Nasa postponed the launch, citing unfavourable weather conditions, and set the next launch attempt for “no earlier than Wednesday, July 1” at 09:43am GMT (2:43pm PKT). The rocket-propelled launch vehicle will not take off from a launch pad. Instead, it will be released from a jet. “Everything about this mission is so crazy,” said Nasa astrophysicist Regina Caputo with a laugh during an interview with AFP. After it reaches an orbit near that of the telescope, the robot must locate Swift across the vastness of space. The aim is then for the robot to manoeuvre around the telescope and latch on with three movable arms. It will then vie to tow Swift into a stable orbit over the course of at least a month, rescuing it from destruction by moving it about 300 kilometres higher. “This is a lot of firsts stacked on top of each other,” said Shawn Domagal-Goldman, the director of Nasa’s astrophysics division, during a recent call with reporters. “I’m just deeply thankful that we’re even giving this a go.” ‘Special’ telescope The idea of such a rescue might seem odd at first glance. The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory telescope was launched in 2004 and was originally designed for a two-year mission. The device was intended to study gamma-ray bursts, which Caputo called “the most energetic things that happen in the universe”. She liken

1 source · no Western pickup

• Rules husband, in-laws can’t claim ornaments gifted to bride; withholding them is ‘unlawful deprivation’ • Notes dowry constitutes women’s ‘financial security’ • Family courts empowered to order recovery of bridal property ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has ruled that gold ornaments gifted to a bride by her parents or relatives at the time of marriage for her exclusive use are her absolute property, declaring that neither her husband nor his family can legally claim them. Retaining such jewellery amounts to the illegal deprivation of a wife’s proprietary rights, which is remediable through proceedings before a family court, Justice Shakeel Ahmad cautioned in a judgement. The observation came on an appeal moved by Ghulam Habib against his wife, Shazia, relating to the recovery of dowry articles. A three-judge Supreme Court bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, took up the husband’s challenge to an Oct 27, 2025, Lahore High Court ruling. That decision upheld a family court decree requiring the return of gold ornaments and maintenance to his wife. During the trial, the wife specifically asserted that her parents gifted her 87 tolas of gold ornaments for her exclusive benefit. Highlighting societal realities, Justice Ahmad noted that jewellery gifted to a bride is not merely a ceremonial accessory but often constitutes financial security and economic autonomy for a woman entering marriage. Such property, whether described as dowry, bridal gifts or personal belongings, remains the exclusive property of the bride, over which neither the husband nor the in-laws can claim dominion. The judge emphasised it is a settled principle that any property given to a woman at the time of marriage for her personal use vests absolutely in her. Ownership is determined by the intention underlying the transfer and the exclusive entitlement of the bride, the judgement said. “Any unauthorised retention, deprivation or misappropriation of such property by the husband or his

1 source · no Western pickup

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday reserved its verdict in a case regarding the suspension of the schedule for a Senate by-election in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The ECP had postponed the by-election for the Senate seat that fell vacant following the disqualification of PTI’s Murad Saeed, on an application moved by a PML-N lawmaker, just two days before the by-election was scheduled to take place. A three-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja heard the case on Tuesday, while counsels for both sides appeared before the commission. Article 224 (5) of the Constitution reads “When a seat in the Senate has become vacant, an election to fill the seat shall be held within thirty days from the occurrence of the vacancy”. Yasin Raza, counsel for the petitioner and KP lawmaker Jalal Khan, argued that the law governing by-elections was clear and that the Constitution provided for three processes of conducting elections. He contended that Murad was only a successful candidate and not a senator, as he had neither taken the oath of office nor signed the register. “Murad Saeed is not a member of the Senate,” he said. Raza added that the Constitution was silent on the issue and did not recognise an illegal election. “The Senate seat is neither vacant nor is he a member. The ECP should clarify this,” he submitted. Nisar Durrani, an ECP member from Sindh, asked what powers the Senate chairman would have if a senator did not take their oath, and whether constituencies would fall vacant if four to five members failed to do so. Ali Gohar Durrani, counsel for PTI candidate Irfan Saleem, said Murad had been disqualified in March and the ECP had issued the by-poll schedule on March 25. He argued that under the Elections Act, once a schedule is issued, it cannot be withdrawn unless a candidate dies — a practice also followed in general elections. Durrani further said Murad was a member but had not taken the oath, adding that the ECP ha

1 source · no Western pickup