KARACHI, MAY 22: Board of Intermediate Education, Karachi (BIEK) Chairman Prof Nasim Ahmed Memon announced the exam schedule.

The intermediate exams will begin on June 1.

It is not possible to conduct them from May 28, said the chairman.

Memon said the board sought permission to extend the exams for four days.

He added that 21 higher secondary schools were set up as exam centres.

Intermediate exams will be held in the morning.

Matric exams are scheduled for the evening.

Matric exams were postponed due to hot weather.

Postponed papers will be taken from May 28 in the same centres.

It is not possible to hold matric and intermediate exams at the same time.

Provincial Minister for Universities and Boards Muhammad Ismail Rahoo has called a meeting about this.

Chairmen of both boards will attend the meeting.

ISLAMABAD, May 22 (DNA): President Asif Ali Zardari reiterated Pakistan’s firm support for the one-China principle. He stated that Pakistan always chooses to stand on the right side of history.

“Pakistani people love China as there is no conditionality between us,” said President Zardari.

He made these remarks in an interview with Chinese media published on Wednesday.

The interview marked the 73rd anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan.

This was President Zardari’s first interaction with foreign media after being re-elected in March.

Recalling past leaders’ rapport, Zardari mentioned his late father-in-law, former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

“Bhutto told the nation to look East, to look towards China,” Zardari said.

During his first term, President Zardari visited China nine times.

He reaffirmed Pakistan’s stance against any form of “Taiwan independence.”

“Taiwan is part of China. There’s no other way,” Zardari stated.

Pakistan will always stand with China and safeguard China’s core interests.

Zardari also commented on the development of Gwadar Port.

He noted significant progress at Gwadar Port since the launch of CPEC 11 years ago.

The Port welcomes investors from all over the world, Zardari said.

He mentioned Pakistan’s encouragement for more schools to adopt Chinese language into their curriculum.

Zardari emphasized the importance of strengthening people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

He called for more policies to facilitate movement between Pakistan and China.

Appreciating China’s achievements, Zardari highlighted the importance of policy continuation.

He expressed Pakistan’s hope to be more involved in China’s development process.

Khayam Abbasi

ISLAMABAD: More than 80 civil society organisations registered their protest on Tuesday against the Punjab Defamation Bill (2024) passed by the provincial assembly a day earlier.

The provincial assembly yesterday passed the Defamation Bill, 2024, rejecting all amendments proposed by the opposition amid protests by the PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council and journalists covering parliamentary proceedings.

The SIC members tore apart copies of the bill after the House passed it through a voice vote.

Vetted by the Special Committee-1 in the absence of standing committees, the bill was tabled by Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman after the PML-N government refused to delay voting on the bill, even for a week, at the request of journalists.

On the occasion, the press gallery members walked out of the assembly to boycott the proceedings. They rejected the bill as a “curb on free media”.

A press release issued by civil society and journalists Joint action committee said they outrightly reject the Punjab Defamation Bill, given that it was a gross infringement on the fundamental rights of freedom of expression and press freedom.

It said that the bill served as a “draconian and regressive” tool to suppress dissent and criticism and particularly targeted journalists and the wider public.

“Its explicit mandate of safeguarding ‘public officials’ against defamation is nothing short of an authoritarian manoeuvre, designed to shield those in power from accountability and scrutiny,” it said.

It said that the bill’s provisions, which allow defamation actions to be initiated without proof of actual damage and imposing extortionate fines, amounted to nothing less than legal intimidation tactics.

Furthermore, the bill’s broad definition of “journalists” and “newspapers” to include social media users set a dangerous precedent for stifling freedom of expression online, the statement said.

“The proposed punishments, including the possibility of blocking social media accounts, are disproportionate and antithetical to democratic principles,” it said.

The alliance urged the Punjab government to heed civil society and stakeholders’ voices and reverse the effort to pass another regressive legislation akin to Peca (Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act).

It called for the defamation bill to be “scrapped entirely”, demanding the governor of Punjab to not sign the bill.
It said that future attempts to address disinformation and hate speech on online platforms should be initiated with inclusive consultations at the national level.

Opposition leader Shibli Faraz, Barrister Ali Zafar and other PTI leaders walked out of the Senate on account of the defamation bill passed by the Punjab assembly.

“The bill brought forward by the Punjab government regarding media is condemnable,” Faraz said while speaking to the Senate.

ISLAMABAD, MAY 21 /DNA/ – The India Study Centre at the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad (ISSI) organised a Roundtable Discussion, titled “Prospects and Challenges of Regional Cooperation in South Asia”, with Ambassador Golam Sarwar, Secretary General of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). The event was attended by diplomats, academics, practitioners, and researchers of various Islamabad-based think-tanks and Universities.

DG ISSI Ambassador Sohail Mahmood delivered welcome remarks.

During the Roundtable discussion, the importance of SAARC for the region was highlighted by the participants. It was noted that SAARC is a people-centric organization. It has played an instrumental role in addressing myriad of common challenges faced by member states like food insecurity, growing population, natural disasters, and deficient intra-regional trade and connectivity. Currently, among other things, the organisation envisions a ‘SAARC Youth Charter’, which will help promote cultural cooperation among youth of member states.

The participants focused on the need for improving implementation of SAARC’s decisions; strengthening economic cooperation and trade; and deepening regional integration and connectivity. The participants shared their perspectives on the progress made by SAARC so far and suggested ways to revive the SAARC process to make it a viable platform for regional cooperation. The need for resolving long-standing disputes and reducing bilateral tensions was emphasized by participants as a means of creating a conducive environment for regional cooperation.

Chairman BoG ISSI, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, made concluding remarks.

ISLAMABAD, MAY 21: PTI Central Information Secretary Raoof Hasan was injured in an attack in Islamabad on Tuesday.

“Very shameful and reprehensible!!” the party said in a post on X. Video footage shared by the party showed Hasan bleeding from the face with anchor Shahid Masood with him.

“This reprehensible act of violence is an assault on free speech, democracy, and the rule of law.

“Such shameful tactics will not deter Raoof Hasan or the PTI from our cause. Attempts to intimidate or silence us will only strengthen our resolve to fight for a just and equitable society,” the party said, adding that he was attacked outside the office of a private media channel.

A statement from the Islamabad police spokesperson said Hasan was attacked with a blade outside the office of a private TV channel. “Hasan was attacked on the face with a blade by transgenders according to eyewitnesses,” the statement said.

It added that the police were present on the spot and collecting evidence. “Strict action will be taken against the transgenders who have done this,” it said.

CCTV footage posted by the PTI seemed to corroborate the police account, showing Hasan being attacked by four individuals who appeared to be from the transgender community.

The party questioned who was the “ringleader” for the assailants.

Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Shibli Faraz raised the incident in today’s Senate session and said he wanted an immediate reaction from Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on the issue because “this incident that happened is very serious that the state of affairs has reached this extent that the spokesperson of Pakistan’s biggest party is physically attacked. This is unacceptable.”

He called on the law minister to give his opinion on the matter and give the relevant orders. PTI Senator Barrister Ali Zafar said the party was staging a walkout.

Tarar said multiple aspects of the case needed to be dealt with as per the law, adding that it was the government’s responsibility to ensure that citizens were dealt with as per law.

He said there would be legal proceedings on any report filed by the aggrieved party. Tarar said he would share information from Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and the Islamabad police chief shortly.

Later, Faraz criticised the treasury benches for not even expressing verbal support for Hasan and condemning the incident. He said the incident was “no small matter” and held great symbolic value.

Calling for a complete investigation within 24 hours, Faraz said the party expected the government to give an incident report in Wednesday’s Senate session as well as a briefing from the interior minister on the culprits and their arrests.

PTI leader Hammad Azhar said the attack by “unknown persons was a sign of cowardice and panic”.

He also posted a picture of a blade, allegedly used to attack the PTI spokesperson. “Panic is at its peak,” he said.

“The worst period of fascism continues in Pakistan,” PTI leader Qasim Suri said while addressing the attack.

Journalist Mubashir Zaidi strongly condemned the attack.

Former PTI leader and federal minister Fawad Chaudhry said the attack was an “assault on Pakistan’s political values”, adding that all politicians irrespective of party or political affiliation should strongly condemn the incident.