The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has announced its decision on Kulbushan Jadhav’s case. The court rejected remedies sought by India, including annulment of military court decision convicting Jadhav, his release and safe passage to India. The Court has, however, allowed consular access to Indian spy Jhadav and suspended his death sentence until Pakistan effectively reviews the conviction/sentence.
Ex-cricketer and chief selector of Pakistan’s men cricket team, Inzamam-ul-Haq has decided to step down from his position. In a press conference, Haq revealed that he will not be renewing his three year contract which ends this July. “Now, I have decided that new people should come, with new thinking and ideas”, he added.
The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has refuted all reports claiming that flights operation between Pakistan and United States are likely to be restored. The development was speculated after US government agency reportedly overseeing airport and air carrier security visited Pakistan this week. However, the trip was carried out to strengthen economic ties between both countries and enhance regional connectivity.
A 12-member Homeland Security team reached Islamabad Monday to finalise the matter of resuming direct flights from the United States to Pakistan and vice versa. American authorities green- lightened Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) for the direct flight operations to the United States in May this year, which had shut its direct flight operations to US owing to financial losses.
Pakistan’s airspace has finally been reopened to civil aviation, providing relief to many after months of restriction that disrupted course of numerous flights. The Civil Aviation Authority announced on Tuesday, that airspace has been fully opened with immediate effect. Pakistan had fully closed its airspace following violation of its international boundary and airspace by Indian fighter jets on February 26.
During his recent visit to Pakistan, Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani offered Prime Minister Imran Khan his country’s cooperation to transform five big airports of Pakistan. As per reports, Qatar will help replace outdated systems and infrastructure with modern technology and will provide financial support for the process to modify them on model of Qatar airport.
A day before Judge Arshad Malik is set to appear before Supreme Court in a case pertaining to investigation of the controversial secretly taped video of him, the judge has requested the law ministry to provide him ‘foolproof security’. Citing life threats to his family and him, Malik pleaded law ministry to not withdraw current security detail assigned to him.
Supreme Court’s order of removing service/maintenance charges on pre-paid mobile scratch cards has now been implemented. Users will now receive Rs88.9 on Rs100 mobile scratch card compared with Rs76.94 previously. Mobile phone service providers were told by the court that they could apply a 12.5 per cent withholding tax. However, they had to abolish 10pc administrative/service charges.
The International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) has announced a massive $5.976 billion (Rs944.21 billion) award against Pakistan in the Reko Diq case, which is one of biggest in ICSID history. ICSID awarded a $4.08 billion penalty and $1.87 billion in interest. However, Pakistan has decided to challenge the award “very soon” by filing a revision application.
A joint statement issued in Washington has revealed that United States, China and Russia have warmly welcomed Pakistan to a four-party consultation process aiming to bring peace to the war-torn region of Afghanistan after 18 years. The statement recognises Pakistan’s role in Afghan peace process and justifies Islamabad’s view that any development in Afghanistan also impacts Pakistan.