ISLAMABAD - The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called for civilian supremacy amidst an escalating political crisis in the country and warned that any further disruption to the demo­cratic process could significantly exacerbate the difficulties currently faced by the nation. In a statement issued here on Wednesday, the HRCP voiced serious concerns over the degrada­tion of civilian supremacy, a situation that the gov­ernment appears unable, or unwilling, to rectify. Concurrently, the Commission criticised the op­position for its divisive politics and disregard for the rule of law, contributing to the destructive pro­tests in early May. The independence and impartiality of the ju­diciary, vital elements for maintaining the bal­ance of power, are also under threat, according to the HRCP. The HRCP raised objec­tions against trying civilians under the Pakistan Army Act 1952, insisting that civilian laws are sufficient for dealing with those responsible for property destruction.

LAHORE - Pakistan juniors played outstanding hockey against Malaysia and outpaced them by 6-2 in the Junior Asia Cup 2023 in Oman. Now in the final of the mega event, the boys in green will take on arch-rivals India today (Thursday). The sixth goal was scored by Arbaaz Ahmed in the 58th minute, while Danish and Prabhu scored goals for Malaysia. Abdul Rahman was declared the player of the final. The final of the event will be played between Pakistan and India on June 1.

I, Dr Farid Ahmed Malik, son of Nazir Ahmed Malik, desire to revive and restore Lahore, the city of my birth. The Lahore Omnibus Service ( LOS ) was also launched from here which covered the entire length and breadth of the city. The Lahore Improvement Trust (LIT), later the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) was created for town planning and approval of building plans. The government of PTI decided to hold direct elections for the Mayor of Lahore which is a good idea to put the city back on track. With a powerful directly elected Mayor, Lahore can also brigten as it used to be, a functional city in control of its residents, not imported civil servants and administrators seeking instructions from CM/PM secretariats.

HYDERABAD-A passenger train heading towards Mirpurkhas from Karachi derailed while entering Hyderabad railway station on Wednesday. A bogie of Shah Latif Express derailed near Makki Shah railway crossing as a result of which railway traffic suspended for several hours. The Railway officials informed that no casualty was reported due to the derailment of a passenger train while railway track had been restored within the hours of the incident.

By Chase Holmes, News ReporterBIRMINGHAM – A small plane was forced to make an emergency off airport landing into an east Birmingham rail yard Tuesday night, May 30. The plane made its eventful landing before 10 p.m. where the rail yard was located on the 3300 block of Vanderbilt Road. Two people were on board the aircraft, including the pilot. A trainer pilot was instructing a student. As they were approaching the runway at the Birmingham airport, the plane malfunctioned and lost power.

From The Tribune staff reportsTRUSSVILLE – The Trussville Chamber of Commerce is hosting a free Movie on the Mall event Friday, June 9. The event will take place at 225 Parkway Drive at the grassy mall. Food trucks and family friendly activities will begin at 5:3o p.m. The movie selection for the evening is DC League of Super Pets. The movie will start around 7:45 p.m.

ISLAMABAD: On Wednesday, Minister of State for Finance Aisha Ghaus Pasha stated that completing the IMF programme is in the nation’s interest, in response to the questions of the media after the meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance. The Minister said that the Federal government is in total commitment to the IMF programme and that they “are not thinking of anything without the Fund programme”. The Prime Minister has assured the MD IMF that Pakistan would implement all the conditions of the programme, adding that the MD was also conveyed that delay in the program is neither in the interest of Pakistan nor in the IMF, so there is need to make a decision at the earliest. The Minister added that nothing to this effect was officially communicated to Pakistan. Pasha further stated that she was not aware as to what exactly was stated by Nathan Porter, however, if he has stated this it is something extraordinary.

Asif said that the judiciary and parliament were at war for the past several months or at least a year. “Even the judiciary cannot dictate parliament,” Asif, a senior leader of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), told the house. Asif recalled that former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry recused himself from hearing of a case of his son. However, this bill was not signed by the president but still the Supreme Court took notice of it. “We wanted to introduce such a process that will end the impression of a one-man show in the Supreme Court.”

ISLAMABAD: Former executive director of Human Rights Watch Kenneth Roth has said that the government’s move to prosecute PTI Chairman Imran Khan in military courts is a “virtual admission that the case against him is weak”. Roth added that Pakistan’s military courts, which he said used secret procedures that deny due process rights, should not be used to prosecute civilians, even for alleged crimes against the military. “For the Pakistani government to threaten to prosecute Imran Khan in compromised military courts is a virtual admission that the “case” against him is weak. If he really did something wrong, why not prosecute him in independent civilian courts?,” tweeted Kenneth Roth. twitter.com/KenRoth/status/1663771548296069120?s=20In a subsequent tweet, Mr Roth said that civilians should be prosecuted only in independent and impartial civilian courts.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan gestures as he speaks during an interview with AFP at his residence in Lahore on May 18. The PTI chief submitted his reply to the JIT through his lawyers, Ali Ijaz Buttar and Naeem Haider Panjhuta. In his reply, Imran wrote that a notice for joining the investigation of the case Number 96/23 registered by the JIT on May 10, 2023 was sent to him. Imran claimed that despite “serious violations” of his fundamental rights, he was ready to be a part of the investigation into the Jinnah House vandalism. Imran wrote in his reply that “unnecessary exposure”, with the JIT's “kind support”, could be avoided.

Sources told The Express Tribune that the Ministry of Finance has instructed government departments to prepare budget estimates for the fiscal year 2023-24 using the Rs290 to a dollar exchange rate. This rate is crucial for determining the defence budget, foreign debt servicing, the cost of running Pakistan’s missions abroad, and the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). For the outgoing fiscal year, the government had set the rupee-dollar parity at Rs186 to a dollar for budget purposes. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has requested Pakistan to share its foreign exchange policy due to the significant gap between the interbank and open market rates. The Ministry of Defence has requested a budget of Rs1.92 trillion, while the finance ministry has indicated Rs1.7 trillion thus far.

Military and anti-terrorism courts cannot be used to try civilians, simply because it is expedient and convenient for the government. This is our moment of madness. Once the moment of insanity passes, people often look back, reflect and understand where they were wrong. The insanity of the moment must be recognised, and somebody must blink. Let us recognise this moment of great peril that we are in.

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid bin Abdullah Bukhari, right, and Lebanon’s caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi attend a press conference at Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. “Any country that has a non-state actor within it is considered a ‘failed state,’” Salman Al-Ansari, a Saudi political researcher, told Arab News. In March, Saudi Arabia and Iran restored diplomatic relations under a Chinese-mediated deal. (Getty Images/AFP)“It is still unclear what the Chinese mediation between Saudi Arabia and Iran will result in with regard to the Lebanese file,” Al-Ansari said. “Saudi Arabia doesn’t want anything from Lebanon except for it to be politically stable and prosperous.

By John Goolsby, For the TribuneTRUSSVILLE – Hewitt Head Boys and Girls Track and Field coach Tom Esslinger is heading to Samford University after 20 years as a high school coach and educator. In Esslinger’s first year at Hewitt, the girls and boys won the 7A State Championship in Indoor Track and Field. The 2021 Trussville City Schools Foundation Coach of the Year Award recipient has had great success as a high school coach and program director. Esslinger then moved across town to Homewood High School, where he served as the head track and field coach and track and field and cross country program director from 2005-2020. “I can’t wait to be a part of the dynasty Coach Tiffin has built at Samford,” said Esslinger.

From the Tribune staff reportsHUNTSVILLE – A federal judge sentenced an Athens man on drug charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples on Friday, May 26. U.S. District Court Judge Liles Burke sentenced Eric Cordelle Bass, 35, of Athens, to 322 months in prison. Bass pleaded guilty in February 2023 to two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. “This sentence sends a message that armed drug dealers will face stiff consequences in the Northern District of Alabama,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. The FBI investigated the case along with the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office.