ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan will take up review petitions against one of its own judgments on Thursday in which it directed the government to initiate action against armed forces personnel for violating their oath and supporting a religious party protesting on the outskirts of the federal capital.
Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) set up a protest camp at the Faizabad Interchange, the main gateway between Islamabad and Rawalpindi, in November 2017, contesting an amendment in the Elections Bill which it said had watered down the oath related to the finality of the Prophethood, a sensitive Islamic issue.
The sit-in, which paralyzed daily life in the twin cities for about 20 days and forced the law minister to resign, was widely viewed as an attempt by the country’s military to weaken the democratically elected government.
The controversy further deepened after the leaked footage of a senior official went viral on the social media in which he could be seen handing out money to demonstrators which encouraging them to disperse peacefully.
“The constitution emphatically prohibits members of the armed forces from engaging in any kind of political activity, which includes supporting a political party, faction or individual,” said the 43-page judgment by a two-member bench led by Justice Qazi Faez Isa, who is now the chief justice.
“The Government of Pakistan through the Ministry of Defense and the respective Chiefs of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force are directed to initiate action against the personnel under their command who are found to have violated their oath,” it added.
The judgment also directed all the intelligence agencies to not exceed their respective mandates or limit free speech by bringing media houses under pressure during such protests.
“They [the agencies] cannot curtail the freedom of speech and expression and do not have the authority to interfere with broadcasts and publications, in the management of broadcasters/publishers and in the distribution of newspapers,” the Supreme Court said.
“Intelligence agencies should monitor activities of all those who threaten the territorial integrity of the country and all those who undermine the security of the people and the State by resorting to or inciting violence,” it continued.
“To best ensure transparency and the rule of law it would be appropriate to enact laws which clearly stipulate the respective mandates of the intelligence agencies,” the judgment added.
Several political factions, including former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), intelligence agencies like the Intelligence Bureau and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and politicians like Sheikh Rashid Ahmad field review petitions against the judgment.
It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan’s powerful army has frequently toppled political administrations in the past, bringing the country under direct rule through periodic interventions.
Even when they are not in power, the top army generals are viewed to be influencing politics in Pakistan from behind the scenes.
Pakistan’s top court takes up review petitions in case involving military’s political role
https://arab.news/ya7gc
Pakistan’s top court takes up review petitions in case involving military’s political role
- The court asked the government to act against military personnel involved in politics after the 2017 Faizabad sit-in
- The protest demonstration was carried out by a rightwing religious party, forcing the then-law minister to resign
Arabian Sea fishing surges as Karachi cold snap lifts seafood demand, prices
- Winter fishing pushes boats deeper into the Arabian Sea as larger species dominate catches
- Seafood exports rise 22 percent as Pakistan taps seasonal demand to boost foreign earnings
KARACHI: As winter temperatures dip unusually low in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi this month, demand for seafood has surged sharply, driving up prices across markets and restaurants and sending fishermen deeper into the Arabian Sea in search of prized seasonal catches.
Karachi, typically known for its mild winters, has recorded temperatures as low as 8.1 degrees Celsius in recent days, spurring heavy footfall at the city’s famed Keamari Seafood Street, where diners crowd open-air eateries for barbecued fish, fries and spicy karahi dishes.
Industry stakeholders say the colder weather has triggered a seasonal spike in seafood consumption, with demand rising by as much as 90 percent, particularly for larger winter species that are also sought by export markets.
Out at sea, fishermen also say winter brings a distinct change in both catch and income.
“The launches chase big fish that include ribbonfish, king mackerel, pomfret and mostly ribbonfish in this season,” said a 70-year-old fisherman at Ibrahim Hyderi harbor who only gave his first name, Adam.
“Summer brings species like prawns and kiddy shrimp to waters off Karachi and Gwadar coasts.”
“In winter, the demand for squid as well as other big fish remains very high. They sell well and fetch good rates for us,” added Adam, whose family has been fishing since 1970 and operates six launches.
He is among more than 100,000 registered fishermen affiliated with Pakistan’s Fishermen’s Cooperative Society (FCS), many of whom brave foggy winter seas to supply both domestic markets and export processors.
EXPORT AND PRICE HIKES
Pakistan’s marine fisheries sector contributes roughly one percent of GDP and earned $253.2 million in exports during July–December FY26, a 22 percent increase from a year earlier, according to the ministry of maritime affairs.
The export growth comes as Pakistan, grappling with external financing pressures, seeks to boost foreign exchange earnings.
“This season our seafood exports have crossed $250 million, and will hit the $600 million target for this year,” said Irfan Ahmed, in-charge at Ibrahim Hyderi harbor for the FCS.
Pakistan exports frozen fish, sardines, king mackerel, squid, ribbonfish, pomfret, flatfish species, shrimps, prawns, cuttlefish, fish meal and crabs, with China, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, the European Union, Vietnam, Kuwait and the United States among its major buyers.
“The demand for seafood shoots up [in winters] and therefore we at Fishermen’s Cooperative Society’s fisheries department facilitate the launches at our harbor to go and fish as much as possible,” Ahmed said.
At retail markets, the seasonal rush has translated into steep price increases.
“In this winter season, our demand has increased about 90 percent,” said Azam Khan, a fish retailer at Keamari Seafood Street.
The surge has pushed prices sharply higher, he said.
Seabream now sells for Rs1,200 ($4.30) per kilogram, up from Rs700 ($2.50) in summer.
King mackerel has risen 50 percent to Rs1,650 ($5.90) from Rs1,100 ($3.90).
White pomfret has doubled to Rs3,000 ($10.70) from Rs1,500 ($5.40), while red snapper has climbed 120 percent to Rs2,200 ($7.90) from Rs1,000 ($3.60).
“Normally, the price of Red Snapper is Rs1,000–900 per kilogram ($3.2). Right now, the price of Red Snapper has doubled,” Khan said.
“Everything has gone pricier,” he added, referring to Pakistan’s broader inflationary pressures.
RESTAURANTS PACKED
Despite rising prices, seafood restaurants report booming business, especially on cold weekend nights.
“In winter, people come with their families, and they only think about eating seafood like red snapper, seabream, javelin grunter, black pomfret, white pomfret and white barracuda fish,” said Muhammad Rashid, owner of Rashid Seafood, one of Pakistan’s largest seafood restaurant chains.
Rashid said his sales this season have risen by around 80 percent.
“Earlier at Keamari food street, people only had two fish to eat: tigertooth croaker and bartail flathead,” he said.
“Now, we provide the people all types of fish that exist in the sea.”
Asked about winter favorites, Rashid said:
“People like barbequed fish and prawn karahi the most. In barbequed fish, people like red snapper and black pomfret.”
Pakistan’s main seafood season runs from November through February, and traders say demand typically eases as temperatures rise and Ramadan approaches.
“The season is about to end. Ramadan is about to begin,” Rashid said. “I would like to add one more dish. It is called Tandoori Fish.”
