ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani Cabinet minister on Thursday slammed a proposed bill that would punish criticism of the military with two-year prison terms and hefty fines, saying the legislation drafted by a parliamentary panel was “ridiculous.”
The minister for science and technology, Fawad Chaudhry, who is also a senior leader in the ruling Tehreek-e-Insaf party, took to Twitter to denounce the proposed bill, a day after a special committee of the National Assembly approved it and sent the draft on for presentation in parliament. Opposition lawmakers oppose the bill.
Chaudhry called the idea to criminalize criticism “absolutely ridiculous” and that respect is earned and cannot be imposed on people. He went a step further, saying he strongly feels that existing, decades-old “contempt of court laws should be repealed” instead of going for more such legislation.
It remained unclear when the bill would be formally presented in the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament. It was also unclear whether the military had had a role in drafting it — something Chaudhry said he doubted.
“The army in Pakistan is loved and respected by every Pakistani with a soul,” he wrote.
Activists and Pakistani journalists have also criticized the planned bill, including Mazhar Abbas, who often reports for Pakistan’s independent Geo Television and who tweeted that people apparently were free to criticize the parliament, politicians and the media — but the “rest is national interest.”
According to the draft bill, anyone found guilty of intentionally ridiculing the armed forces by a civilian court would face a two-year sentence, a fine of 500,000 rupees ($3,300), or both prison and the fine.
Pakistan’s military has ruled the country for more than half of its 74-year history since independence from Britain.
Top Pakistani minister slams bill seeking prison for army critics
https://arab.news/64xjw
Top Pakistani minister slams bill seeking prison for army critics
- According to draft bill, anyone found guilty of intentionally ridiculing army would face a two-year sentence, $3,300 fine
- Minister for science and technology Fawad Chaudhry calls idea to criminalize criticism “absolutely ridiculous,” says respect is earned, cannot be imposed
EU, Pakistan sign €60 million loan agreement for clean drinking water in Karachi
- Project will finance rehabilitation, construction of water treatment facilities in Karachi city, says European Investment Bank
- As per a report in 2023, 90 percent of water samples collected from various places in city was deemed unfit for drinking
ISLAMABAD: The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Pakistan’s government on Wednesday signed a €60 million loan agreement, the first between the two sides in a decade, to support the delivery of clean drinking water in Karachi, the EU said in a statement.
The Karachi Water Infrastructure Framework, approved in August this year by the EIB, will finance the rehabilitation and construction of water treatment facilities in Pakistan’s most populous city of Karachi to increase safe water supply and improve water security.
The agreement was signed between the two sides at the sidelines of the 15th Pak-EU Joint Commission in Brussels, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
“Today, the @EIB signed its first loan agreement with Pakistan in a decade: a €60 million loan supporting the delivery of clean drinking water for #Karachi,” the EU said on social media platform X.
Radio Pakistan said the agreement reflects Pakistan’s commitment to modernize essential urban services and promote climate-resilient infrastructure.
“The declaration demonstrates the continued momentum in Pakistan-EU cooperation and highlights shared priorities in sustainable development, public service delivery, and climate and environmental resilience,” it said.
Karachi has a chronic clean drinking water problem. As per a Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) study conducted in 2023, 90 percent of water from samples collected from various places in the city was deemed unsafe for drinking purposes, contaminated with E. coli, coliform bacteria, and other harmful pathogens.
The problem has forced most residents of the city to get their water through drilled motor-operated wells (known as ‘bores’), even as groundwater in the coastal city tends to be salty and unfit for human consumption.
Other options for residents include either buying unfiltered water from private water tanker operators, who fill up at a network of legal and illegal water hydrants across the city, or buying it from reverse osmosis plants that they visit to fill up bottles or have delivered to their homes.
The EU provides Pakistan about €100 million annually in grants for development and cooperation. This includes efforts to achieve green inclusive growth, increase education and employment skills, promote good governance, human rights, rule of law and ensure sustainable management of natural resources.
