NEW DELHI: A latest finding has revealed that misconduct and manipulation in the Lok Sabha elections 2024 benefited the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies in 79 seats across India. The report by the Vote for Democracy (VFD) group said that an independent investigation is necessary to probe these allegations. The report, titled “The Report: Conduct of Lok Sabha 2024,” analyzed election results and voter turnout percentages, revealing a significant hike in voter turnout that disproportionately benefited the ruling regime. The report demands an explanation from the ECI and seeks accountability for alleged gross illegalities, vote manipulation, and misconduct during the elections. The report highlights specific instances of malpractices, voter suppression, and misconduct during voting and counting day.

India’s Modi sets aside billions for jobs, allies in post-election budget https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2024/7/23/indias-modi-sets-aside-billions-for-jobs-allies-in-post-election-budget#:~:text=The%20%24576bn%20in%20total,states%20ruled%20by%20coalition%20partners. India’s Modi says Pakistan using ‘terrorism, proxy war’ to stay relevant https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistan-using-terrorism-proxy-war-stay-relevant-says-india-pm-modi-2024-07-26/8. India has no right to object to Pak-China joint statement on Kashmir: FO https://tribune.com.pk/story/2472419/india-has-no-right-to-object-to-pak-china-joint-statement-on-kashmir-fo13. Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Joint Statement, Tokyo https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/penny-wong/media-release/quad-foreign-ministers-meeting-joint-statement-tokyo21. Quad foreign ministers condemn risky actions in South China Seahttps://tribune.com.pk/story/2483848/quad-foreign-ministers-condemn-risky-actions-in-south-china-sea?amp=1

The session has been called at 5pm today (Tuesday) to take up 43-point agenda, including the introduction of the Election Act Amendment Bills. The bill will be presented by MNAs Bilal Azhar Kiyani and Zain Jaffer as a private member bill. Proposed amendment to the Federal Employees Benevolent Fund and Group Insurance Act and the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Bill will also be discussed. MNA Noor Alam Khan is set to introduce a bill to repeal the Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003. Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan lawmaker Nikhat Shakeel Khan will move a resolution to take steps to reduce the expenses on Hajj.

In 2018, this quota system was abolished; but in June this year, it was restored by the High Court. First is the organic uprising of students first against the quota system and then against the despotic rule of Sheikh Hasina. This shows that even Bangladeshi immigrants are staging protest marches and demonstrations against Sheikh Hasina. First, the Sheikh Hasina regime should accept responsibility for the bloodshed and take steps to address the demands of the protesting students. Second, there should be a total withdrawal of the quota system and compliance with merit in providing jobs.

Strongmen and coup planners in Pakistan have historically relied on the legal system to give their extraconstitutional actions credibility. People are asking if this concept would be revived again as unelected forces strengthen their hold on power and Pakistan’s fragile democracy is threatened by extreme political polarization. In this context, it is important to reiterate Supreme Court Justice Athar Minallah’s comments at a recent US event about the judiciary’s duty to uphold the constitutional order. When it comes to upholding the constitutional order, there can be no compromise, and their lordships have a responsibility to safeguard the text. The fact that discussions about defending the constitutional order are occurring despite the oppressive environment is what gives one hope.

The two-hour hunger strike of Tehreek-e-Insaf is meaningless, Haji HidayatullahThe IPPs which are closed are also being paid by the government, Dr. Tariq SaleemWe are the allies of the government and we are trying our best to move the country forward, Mirza Akhtiar BaigISLAMABAD:Chief Editor Sardar Khan Niazi’s conversation in Sachi Baat programmeJamaat-e-Islami’s dharna against inflation is a good moveJamaat-e-Islami has put a lot of pressure on the governmentJamaat-e-Islami’s protests and sit-ins will also benefit it politicallyLeader ANP Senator Haji Hidayatullah’s conversation in Sachi Baat programNo one knows who is running the system in Pakistan, Haji HidayatullahJamaat-e-Islami has taken a good step against inflation, all parties should supportThe agreement that has been made with the IPPs is not with them in the original condition,We have to find out who is taking money from IPPs,The two-hour hunger strike of Tehreek-e-Insaf is meaningless, Haji HidayatullahIn Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the system will be run by selling the land of the educational institution,It was alleged that parliamentarians do not pay electricity bills, this is just an allegation,The government has no existence at all,If a serious representative of the government goes to the JI sit-in, the matter will move forwardAmir Jamaat-e-Islami Punjab Dr. Tariq Saleem’s talk in Sachi Baat programPeople’s house rents are low and electricity bills are highThe IPPs which are closed are also being paid by the government, Dr. Tariq SaleemThe government’s malpractice is that they have their own people in the IPPs, Dr. Tariq SaleemThe owners of IPPs are sitting under the umbrella of PP and PML-N, Tariq SaleemJamaat-e-Islami is holding peaceful protest and dharna yet activists are being arrested, Tariq SaleemThe government negotiation team is not serious, the serious man Owais Leghari is not there, Tariq SaleemOn the one hand, they are negotiating with us, on the other hand, they are saying that they cannot talk to the IPPsThe government thinks Jamaat-e-Islami will sit for a few days and then leaveIf we have to sit for a month, we will sit, if the demands are accepted, we will go,All political parties agree that transparent elections should be held,We challenge that we have 5 seats of Karachi whose form 45 we have,Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Dr. Nisar talk in Sachi Baat programThe people’s resistance to tyranny and oppression and rejection of May 9 is amazing,We are suffering the result of the government formed on Form 47 in the form of inflation,Jamaat-e-Islami is lucky that the government is not oppressing them, Nisar JatTehreek-e-Insaaf’s focus is above hunger strike and inflation,We are talking about constitution and supremacy of law in Pakistan, Nisar JatEvery worker of Tehreek-e-Insaf stands with his zeal and patriotism,The houses of our 41 workers are being raided and pressure is being applied to change loyalties,PTI and the government are using rhetoric, the atmosphere of negotiations is not visible, SK NiaziThe Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has a message that there will be a reaction to the sale of the land of Mardan University, HidayatullahLeader PP and economist Mirza Akhtiar Baig’s conversation in Sachi Baat programWe are the allies of the government and we are trying our best to move the country forward, Mirza Akhtiar BaigIf we follow the agreement with the IPPs then it will be very difficult, Mirza Akhtiar BaigPayments to IPPs of same capacity and same power are differentThe government’s legal team is considering the agreement and how it can be leveraged, Mirza Ikhtiar Baig saidIn 1994, load shedding was very high, we brought in foreign investors for the first time,Today people are killing brothers and wives and children over electricity billsFinance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb went to China and discussed coal-fired plants,Why not talk to China with local IPPs, even though they are not fulfilling the agreements, Dr. TariqPeople who are not using electricity are also paying for it, Dr. Tariq SaleemAssets of Pakistan are being mortgaged which is not a good sign for a living nation, Tariq SaleemIf you will not diagnose a disease, how will you treat it, Dr. Tariq SaleemBy generating electricity from sugarcane, the prices are being charged in line with petrol and diesel, Tariq SaleemThe people in the government are responsible to solve the problems by ending the bitterness, Haji HidayatullahCorruption is also one of the reasons for inflation, said ANP leader Haji Hidayatullah

Police on Monday arrested Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) Naib Emir Pir Zaheerul Hassan Shah hours after registering a case against him on the allegation of threatening Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa. Hours earlier, the Qila Gujjar Singh police registered a case against the TLP leader on the complaint of SHO Hammad Hussain. The case was registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act besides other provisions of law, including spreading religious hatred, sedition, intimidating the higher judiciary, interfering in and obstructing statutory duties. According to the FIR, the suspct threatened and spread hatred against the judiciary during a protest outside the press club. The TLP naib emir and 1,500 workers have been nominated in the FIR.

International credit rating agency Fitch on Monday upgraded Pakistan's long-term foreign currency issuer default rating (IDR) from CCC to CCC+. The upgrade signifies an improvement in Pakistan's external liquidity and funding conditions, strengthened by the recent IMF agreement. Fitch highlighted the strong performance under the previous IMF arrangement, which helped Pakistan narrow its fiscal deficits and rebuild foreign exchange reserves. However, the agency warned that Pakistan's large funding needs could leave it vulnerable if challenging reforms are not implemented, potentially undermining program performance and funding. On the external front, Fitch noted that Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves have recovered but remain low.

A beggar involved in an accident on Sargodha Khushab Road was found in possession of Rs500,000 and multiple visas for Saudi Arabia on Monday, Express News reported. Rescue 1122 personnel reported that an elderly man was discovered unconscious on Khushab Road. Upon providing medical aid and transferring him to the hospital, authorities found Rs534,000 and passports with several Saudi visas in his possession. Local individuals and rescue officials revealed that the elderly man, identified as Mushtaq Ahmed, is allegedly linked to a beggar gang. Recently, the Punjab government announced its decision to intensify legal action against people living below the poverty line in the provincial capital, who were cushioning their household expenditures by begging on the roads.

A case was registered against Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Noor Wali Mehsud and Ahmad Hussain alias Ghat Haji in a terrorism case following a recently surfaced phone call in which they can be heard talking about attack on public properties and schools. Both have been booked under various sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act in the case registered at CTD North Waziristan. Another FIR has been registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act in Dera Ismail Khan over the terrorist attack on a rural health center in Kirri Shamozai area. In the recently surfaced phone call, Noor Wali Mehsud can be heard giving instructions to Ghat Haji to attack government properties especially schools and hospitals. Following this, the militants carried out terrorist attacks including the rural health center in Dera Ismail Khan, a girls' school in Mir Ali and the target killing of a teacher in Tank.

ISLAMABAD - Foreign Secretary Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi yesterday led the Pakistan delegation at the 31st ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial meeting held on 27 July in Vientiane, Lao PDR. At the meeting, the Foreign Secretary underscored Pakistan’s firm commitment to regional peace, security and cooperation and the importance attached by Pakistan to its relations with ASEAN and its member states. He appreciated the positive role played by ASEAN in regional integration and prosperity. The Foreign Secretary shared Pakistan’s perspective on regional conflicts in the Asia-Pacific region, stressing the need for dialogue and inclusiveness instead of bloc politics. He also presented Pakistan’s perspective on the regional hotspots including the situation in Gaza and Afghanistan.

The fiscal year 2023 witnessed a puzzling conundrum where electricity generation in the country plummeted by over 10%, capacity payments soared by a staggering 29%. This surprising divergence, where installed capacity grew amidst shrinking demand and soaring costs, highlights a critical turn for the country’s energy landscape. A recent review of the year that was for the power sector paints a grim picture of the current state of the country’s power sector. In an event, attended by a mix of both local and international experts, the think tank provided an in-depth look at the electricity sector’s turbulent year, from July 2022 to June 2023. Trends in Pakistan’s electricity and power sector

ERINSBOROUGH - Janet Andrewartha, who played Lyn Scully in Neighbours, has died at the age of 72. The actress joined the long-running Australian soap in 1999 as the Scully family matriarch. The soap’s official Instagram account paid tribute to the star, with a post reading: “Everyone at Neighbours is deeply saddened by the passing of Janet Andrewartha. I will miss her every day.” Stefan Dennis, best known for playing businessman Paul Robinson on Neighbours, said he was: “So very upset to lose the lovely Janet. We will all miss you dear girl.” Janet Andrewartha was also known for her roles in other Australian hits including A Country Practice and Blue Heelers.

CALGARY, CANADA - Thousands of Sikhs queued at the Calgary’s iconic Municipal Plaza – opposite the local United States diplomatic mission to take part in the Khalistan Referendum voting for the creation of an independent state of Khalistan for the Sikh nation. Organsied by the pro-Khalistan Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) group, the voting has been organised in Calgary to seek opinion of Sikhs of Canada’s Alberta province on the creation of an independent state for Sikhs. An estimated one million Sikhs now live in Canada and nearly 100,000 live in Calgary. The SFJ leader announced that Calgary voting is dedicated to the nine Canadia national Sikhs assassinated by India for their supports for Khalistan. Those Canadian Sikhs are: Shaheed Lakhbir Singh Rode, Shaheed Bhupinder Singh Kooner, Shaheed Harjinder Singh Para, Shaheed Talwinder Singh Parmar, Shaheed Surinder Singh Shinder Commando, Shaheed Balbir Singh Khaira, Shaheed Jathedar Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Shaheed Mohinder Singh Kooner and Shaheed Surinder Singh Ravi.

Ø Is The US Sidestepping Pakistan’s Democratic Deficit? https://thefridaytimes.com/23-Jul-2024/is-the-us-sidestepping-pakistan-s-democratic-deficitØ US committed to supporting Pakistan in climate management, education: ambassadorhttps://www.dawn.com/news/1847824Ø $101 million in US aid for Pakistan sought by Biden administrationhttps://tribune.com.pk/story/2482467/101-million-in-us-aid-for-pakistan-sought-by-biden-administrationØ Comparing global views of the United States and China during the Trump and Biden administrationshttps://www.brookings.edu/articles/comparing-global-views-of-the-united-states-and-china-during-the-trump-and-biden-administrations/Ø This Was the Message Netanyahu Took to Congresshttps://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/24/world/middleeast/netanyahu-congress-speech-takeaways.htmlØ Full text of Netanyahu’s address to Congresshttps://www.timesofisrael.com/were-protecting-you-full-text-of-netanyahus-address-to-congress/Ø Lost Decade — how the US fell behind in checking Chinahttps://www.ft.com/content/221c972b-c220-492d-a9e1-1af6a051c01fØ The Evolution of the U.S.-Japan Security Partnershiphttps://features.csis.org/evolution-of-the-us-japan-security-partnership/Ø The Post-Biden Foreign Policyhttps://www.hudson.org/democracy/post-biden-foreign-policy-walter-russell-meadØ Report: Israel: Major Issues and U.S. Relationshttps://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R44245Ø UNICEF chief calls for urgent security reset in Gaza amid ‘new horrors’https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/07/1152471Ø UN chief welcomes agreement between Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamashttps://news.un.org/en/story/2024/07/1152431Ø Report: The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World Report 2024: Financing to end hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in all its formshttps://reliefweb.int/report/world/state-food-security-and-nutrition-world-report-2024-financing-end-hunger-food-insecurity-and-malnutrition-all-its-forms-enarruzhit#:~:text=The%20report%20highlights%20that%20access,amid%20the%20COVID%2D19%20pandemicØ Report: Asia & The Pacific Regional Trends – Forced Displacement and Statelessness 2023https://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/asia-pacific-regional-trends-forced-displacement-and-statelessness-2023Ø Israel’s continued occupation of Palestinian territory ‘unlawful’: UN world courthttps://news.un.org/en/story/2024/07/1152296