ISLAMABAD, NOV 28: PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Monday questioned the applicability of Article 14 of the Constitution — which refers to the “Inviolability of dignity of man” — as he decried the alleged torture, “video leak” and rearrest of party senator Azam Swati.

Addressing the Supreme Court in a tweet, the former premier asked if the provision was “only applicable to the powerful of the State”.

Imran and other PTI leaders have been lamenting the alleged custodial torture of Swati along with the leak of an objectionable video, purportedly of the senator with his wife.

Party leaders have also filed petitions in the SC registries for various “important matters” including the assassination attempt on Imran and the purported video of Swati with his wife.

In his tweet today, the PTI chief asked the top court whether Article 14 was only applicable to “the powerful of the State and for everyone else, there was “no protection of their basic human dignity”.

“Swati was stripped naked, tortured, and humiliated through an illegal video sent to his wife. For weeks he has sought justice from the SC to no avail and upon expressing his anger and frustration he was put in jail,” Imran said, adding that at least 15 FIRs were registered against the senator from across Pakistan.

Addressing the judges again, he repeated his question: “Is the Article 14 Constitutional provision only to be applied selectively for the high and mighty state functionaries?”

Article 14 of the Constitution states that the “dignity of man and […] the privacy of home shall be inviolable” and that “no person shall be subjected to torture for the purpose of extracting evidence”.

Imran’s questions come a day after the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested Swati — the second time in less than two months — over strongly worded tweets against senior military officials. He was later remanded into the agency’s custody for two days.

Separate FIRs were filed against the PTI leader in Balochistan and Sindh as well for using “derogatory language” and “provoking the people against the army”.

Following the arrest, the Pakistan Electronic Media and Regulatory Authority (Pemra) prohibited media coverage of Swati on all satellite TV channels.

Swati moves IHC against arrest

Meanwhile, later in the day, the detained senator moved the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against his arrest.

The federation of Pakistan through the secretary of the interior ministry, FIA Director General Sanaullah Abbasi, Sindh Inspector General (IG) Ghulam Nabi Memon, Balochistan IG Abdul Khaliq Sheikh and the state were named as respondents.

The petition asked the court to direct the first four respondents to adhere to the “lego-constitutional and fundamental rights” of the petitioner as well as present the details of the FIRs registered against Swati throughout the country.

Further, the petition also urged the court to direct the interior ministry secretary and the FIA DG to not shift the senator outside the court’s jurisdiction. It further said that the petitioner had “reliable information and strong apprehension of his custodial killing”.

“In addition to his private moments being filmed and sent to the children of the family, the petitioner is being subjected to every possible inhumane treatment.”

It stated that the “malicious campaign” against Swati was “life-threatening and hazardous” and was ongoing. The plea argued that it was “impossible” for Swati to know the exact number of cases registered against him on “singular allegations”.

It pleaded that as a result, Swati was unable to engage with lawyers and protect himself which was a blatant violation of his fundamental rights.

ISLAMABAD, NOV 28 (DNA) — Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa paid a farewell call on President Dr. Arif Alvi in Islamabad on Monday. General Bajwa will retire on Nov. 29 and a ceremony of the change of command will be held in Rawalpindi on Tuesday.

The President commended General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s services in the field of defence. He appreciated the outgoing Army Chief’s services for the country and the Pakistan Army. The President expressed best wishes for General Qamar Javed Bajwa in his future endeavors. =DNA

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Army’s change of command ceremony will be held tomorrow (Tuesday), ISPR said Monday, marking the time-honoured tradition that symbolises the seamless transition of the military leadership.

Outgoing Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa will hand over the “baton of command” to General Asim Munir, who was chosen to lead the country’s sentinels by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on November 24.

The passing of the baton from an outgoing COAS to an incoming one conveys the cardinal message to the troops the military leadership continues without a break in command.

The summary of his appointment was ratified by President Arif Alvi.

General Asim Munir will be the 17th army chief to assume the command of the Pakistan Army.

Former military leadership will also participate in the function at GHQ.

Meanwhile, General Qamar Javed Bajwa called on President Arif Alvi to say his farewell as the 16th Chief of Army Staff (COAS) at the President’s House.

The meeting was held in an amiable atmosphere where President Alvi paid tribute to Gen Bajwa for his exceptional services to the nation as the leader of the defenders of the country against all external as well as internal threats.

President also wished the outgoing commander of the armed forces all the best for the future.

Later, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hosted a luncheon in honour of General Bajwa.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz lauded General Bajwa in the richest of words for his services.

Lt General Asim Munir

Gen Munir was commissioned in the 23rd Frontier Force Regiment in 1986. He passed out with the 17th Officers Training course, Mangla and was awarded the coveted sword of honour.

He is currently posted as the quartermaster general at the General Head Quarters.

The army chief-designate graduated from Fuji school Japan, Command and Staff College, Quetta, Malaysian Armed Forces College, Kuala Lumpur and National Defence University, Islamabad.

The lieutenant general also has M Phil in Public Policy and Strategic Security Management from National Defence University.

The quartermaster general was also posted as a directing staff in Command and Staff College, Quetta, brigade major of a deployed infantry brigade in Kel, general staff officer, grade-2, CGS secretariat and chief of staff of Mangla corps.

Gen Munir has commanded 23rd Frontier Force Regiment, Infantry Brigade, remained as a force commander in Northern Areas, Gilgit and Corps Commander 30 Corps, Gujranwala.

The incoming army chief has also served as the director general of Military Intelligence.

In 2018, Gen Munir was appointed as the director-general of the Inter-Services Intelligence.

Following this, he was posted as corps commander Gujranwala for two years. After heading the Gujranwala corps he was posted at his present assignment at the GHQ.

Gen Munir will become the first army chief who has headed both — the MI and the ISI. He will also be the first army chief awarded the Sword of Honour.

The army chief designate is a keen sportsman, avid reader, and traveller.

Staff Report/Agencies

ISLAMABAD, COMSTECH and the Embassy of Indonesia in Pakistan jointly organized an International seminar on the use of herbal and traditional medicine here on Monday.

On the occasion, Coordinator General COMSTECH, Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, said that various countries in the OIC member states have been historical custodians of such traditional knowledge for centuries.

Particularly, he said, countries like Pakistan and Indonesia are rich sources of herbal medicines and have the potential to meet global demand, said a news release from the embassy.

Interest in Herbal medicine and traditional knowledge is increasing day by day, however, to utilize this opportunity, there is an urgent need for research-based scientific development, and standards-based quality control of herbal drugs, efficacy, safety as well as relevant regulatory enforcement.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony Indonesian Ambassador to Pakistan Adam M. Tugio said that there has been a significant increase in the use and trust of traditional methods of treatment and alternative medicine after and during the coronavirus.

He added that after the last epidemic virus, Major pharmaceutical companies have not only shown interest but also attracted investment in the traditional medicine and herbal medicine industry.

The ambassador said that Pakistan and Indonesia are rich in the blessing of herbs, which can be utilized by building large platforms.

He said, ” Herbs are also perceived as important sources of healing and precautionary properties; therefore, the consumers are also demanding green label products. Using traditional Greco-Arab and Islamic medicine was quite common among the Muslim countries during the Golden Age of Arab-Islamic civilization from the seventh to the fifteenth century.”

The envoy further said, “Its influence continued to expand from Spain to Central Asia and India and now we are observing a kind of revival of those practices again with the growth of the herbal medicine sector. In Indonesia, traditional herbal medicine known as Jammu is believed to be an authentic natural way to cure ailments and maintain beauty.”

In Pakistan, he said, Unani and traditional medicines are considered reliable sources of healing.

He said, in India, Ayurvedic herbal medicines are very popular and the same is the case with other OIC countries where ancient knowledge and old age prescriptions have an important share in remedies and cure serving humanity. Economic opportunities and challenges.

Professors and experts from Iran, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, and Karachi University’s International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences enlightened the audience on the sustainable use of herbal and traditional medicines.

The seminar was attended by 400 students, researchers, and experts from the pharmaceutical industry from Indonesia, Bangladesh, Djibouti, Egypt, Azerbaijan, Gabon, Sudan, Nigeria, Morocco, Iran, Uganda, Pakistan, and Malaysia.