In swift action after the Taiwan election results, China summoned the Philippines ambassador as Manila congratulated the winner of Taiwan’s presidential election, Al Jazeera reported on Tuesday.   It reported that the Chinese side on Tuesday lashed out at the Philippines after President Ferdinand Marcos sent Taiwanese President-elect Lai Ching-te a note on his victory in the recent vote. The highly undiplomatic comments from Beijing, which warned Manila “not to play with fire,” will likely deepen the tension between the pair, which have been jousting over contesting territorial claims in the South China Sea.   In a social media post on Monday, Marcos told Lai, a staunch opponent of China and its claims to Taiwan, that he looks forward to cooperating. Expressing disappointment over the Manila move, Beijing’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning said, “The Chinese side is strongly dissatisfied and resolutely opposes” Marcos’s remarks and urged Manila to give “a responsible explanation”.   The Philippines’ Foreign Ministry said that Marcos’s remarks were a way of recognising the Philippines and Taiwan’s “mutual interests”, including the 200,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) on the island, Al Jazeera reported. “The message of President Marcos congratulating the new president was his way of thanking them for hosting our OFWs and holding a successful democratic process. Nevertheless, the Philippines reaffirms its One China Policy,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.   However, Mao said the remarks were still a violation of the “one China” principle, a principle that Beijing says provides the basis of its claim to sovereignty over Taiwan. The Foreign Ministry spokeswoman also said that Marcos’s remarks were “a serious breach of the political commitments made by the Philippines to the Chinese side, and a gross interference in China’s internal affairs.” “We are telling the Philippine side not to play with fire on the Taiwan issue … and to stop immediately its wrongful words and deeds on Taiwan-related issues and sending wrong signals to separatist forces for Taiwan independence,” she added.   Beijing does not maintain diplomatic ties with countries that recognise Taiwan and opposes official communications with Taipei by other countries. Independence-leaning Lai secured an easy victory in Taiwan’s presidential election on Saturday. The president-elect has also offered to hold talks with China, but Beijing has snubbed the invitation, Al Jazeera reported.   Other leaders that have also congratulated Lai on his victory include US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa. Recent months have seen Beijing engaged in tense standoffs with the Philippines in the disputed South China Sea. China has also been ramping up its military activity around Taiwan. China has vowed to seize the island it considers part of its territory by force if necessary. 

A local court in Islamabad on Thursday summoned former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on September 25 in a case related to his alleged ‘un-Islamic’ marriage with Bushra Bibi, Pakistan-based The Express Tribune reported citing Express News. Civil Judge Qudratullah in an order issued to the Superintendent Attock Jail directed the latter to ensure that Imran Khan is presented before the court, The Express Tribune reported. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has been imprisoned in jail after being convicted in the Toshakhana case. He was arrested from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore on August 5.  During the hearing, the judge will examine the arguments of the PTI chairman's lawyer challenging the court's jurisdiction in hearing the said case. The judge asked Imran Khan's counsel to prepare arguments after he sought time from the court.  Imran Khan is facing charges of allegedly getting married to his third wife during the time of her Iddat, the report said. Iddat is an Islamic terminology that is considered to be a specified time period of waiting for a woman before marrying someone else after getting divorced or after her husband's death.  Earlier in July, the PTI chairman challenged a trial court’s decision to accept a petition seeking criminal proceedings against him and his wife for cohabiting after their first nikah that allegedly took place during her Iddat period, according to The Express Tribune report.  On July 18, a judicial magistrate in Islamabad, Qudratullah issued a nine-page detailed judgement stating that the petition filed against Imran Khan related to his ‘illegal’ marriage was admissible, The Express Tribune reported. The judge also directed Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi to appear in his court. On July 14, Islamabad Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Azam Khan sent the case to the judicial magistrate. He also dismissed another civil court’s decision declaring the plea challenging the legality of the marriage inadmissible. In his petition, the former Pakistan PM said that the allegations mentioned in the private complaint do not constitute an offence within the ambit of Section 496 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). It further stated, “Thus continuation of the trial would amount to the abuse of the process of law."

Moscow has summoned the German, Danish and Swedish ambassadors in protest of what it says are delayed efforts to investigate the cause of the Nord Stream gas pipeline explosions last year. Russia has summoned the ambassadors of Germany, Denmark and Sweden to protest a "complete lack of results" in a joint investigation into the Nord Stream gas pipeline explosions last year. Russia's Foreign Ministry on Thursday accused the three countries of dragging their feet and refusing to engage with Moscow. "It has been noted that these countries are not interested in establishing the true circumstances of this sabotage. On the contrary, they are delaying their efforts and trying to conceal the tracks and the true perpetrators of the crime behind which we believe are well-known countries," it said. The move also comes a month after Russia expelled more than 20 German diplomats in what it said was retaliation for Germany expelling Russian diplomats fairly soon after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Nord Stream probe ongoing The United States and NATO have called the Nord Stream explosions "an act of sabotage" by an unknown actor, while Russia has blamed the West. Neither side has provided evidence for their claims. "It is no coincidence that 'leaked' improbable versions [of what happened] are dumped in the media to try to muddy the waters," Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.  Several different reports have emerged on the pipeline's destruction in recent months, some seeming to implicate Russian involvement and others — perhaps most famously from US journalist Seymour Hersh — suggesting US involvement.  On November 2022, Swedish authorities announced that traces of explosives had been found at the site of the leaks and confirmed the cause to be sabotage. Russia's Foreign Ministry said it would keep trying to ensure that Germany, Denmark and Sweden would allow Moscow to participate in investigations.

The UK says journalists there have received "credible" death threats from Tehran. The announcement came the same day Scottish authorities took a young Iranian wrestler into protection after she, too, was threatened. The United Kingdom (UK) on Friday summoned Iran's top diplomat in London over death threats leveled at exiled Iranian journalists living in the UK. "I have summoned the Iranian charge d'affaires today after journalists working in the UK were subject to immediate threats to life from Iran," Foreign Secretary James Cleverly tweeted, adding, "We do not tolerate threats and intimidation from foreign nations towards individuals living in the UK." Authorities did not elaborate on specific threats but on Monday London-based Volant Media, which operates the independent, Farsi-language channel Iran International TV, said two of its British-Iranian journalists had received "credible death threats from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps." Like many news outlets, Iran International TV has been closely covering unrest in Iran in the wake of the mid-September death of 22-year-old Jina Mahsa Amini at the hands of Tehran's so-called Morality Police. Amini was arrested for a dress code infraction with authorities saying she was not wearing her hijab headscarf correctly. Volant Media says UK authorities have warned a number of journalists about threats, though Metropolitan Police in London have not commented on the situation. Young Iranian wrestler under threat from Tehran Scottish authorities on Friday announced they had also taken steps to protect 22-year-old female wrestler Melika Balali from Tehran's regime. Police Scotland confirmed the enactment of a "safety plan" to protect Balali, who is now based in and wrestles for Scotland. Balali, who flashed a sign reading, "stop forcing hijab" this June after winning gold for Scotland at the British Wrestling Championships, was defiant toward Tehran, telling BBC Scotland: "These threats make me stronger. When I receive threats from the government of Iran I just think my way is right — if I were wrong, why would they threaten me?" Tehran has accused outside powers of fomenting unrest in the Islamic Republic, warning the UK, for instance, that it would "pay" for its meddling. Tehran claims London is harboring anti-Iranian journalists, while the BBC says religious hardliners in Iran are threatening and intimidating members of the BBC's Persian Service. The Foreign Office has criticized Tehran for seeking to stifle dissent by suppressing freedom of expression and going after media outlets as protests show no sign of weakening, noting that more than 40 journalists have been arrested and detained so far.

The Foreign Ministry today (Monday) summoned the Myanmar Ambassador in Dhaka and lodged a protest over firing mortar shells in Bangladesh's territory. Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said Myanmar Ambassador U Aung Kyaw Moe was summoned and a strong protest was given through a diplomatic letter. "We asked him so that recurrence of such incidents does not happen in the future. We strongly protested this incident," he said. Two heavy mortar shells, reportedly fired from Myanmar, landed next to a local mosque on the Bangladesh border at Tumbru of Ghumdhum union in Naikhongchari upazila of Bandarban, causing severe panic among locals on Sunday (28 August). Source: BSS AH

President M Abdul Hamid today (Saturday) has summoned 16th session (also the first session of 2022) of the 11th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) on January 16.    "The session will begin at 4 pm on January 16 (Sunday) at the Parliament Bhaban in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar here," said a JS media release in Dhaka this afternoon.    The President, also the head of the state, convened the session exercising the power bestowed upon him as per the Clause (1) of Article 72 of the Constitution, it added.    As per the provisions of the constitution, President M Abdul Hamid will address the first session of 2022. Besides, holding discussion on the president's address, some important bills are scheduled to be placed and passed in the session.   All health protocols will be maintained during the session.    Before commencing the House proceedings on the day, the Parliamentary Business Advisory Committee is likely to hold a meeting with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair to fix the duration and agendas of the session.    The 15th session of the parliament was prorogued on November 28, starting on November 14 with a total of ninth sittings following all necessary health guidelines amid the corona pandemic.    The session was important as a special discussion was held marking the golden jubilee of the Independence and President M Abdul Hamid delivered a commemorative speech recalling the contribution of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to the Independence.     Leader of the House Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina placed a motion under section 147 of the Rules of Procedure after the President's commemorative  speech.     The Premier, deputy leader of the opposition, chief whip and MPs took part in the discussion. The Parliament unanimously passed the special motion placed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina marking the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's Independence from Pakistan.    A total of nine bills were placed in this brief session which was ultimately passed by parliament.    During the session, the JS adopted a thanks giving motion to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) under section 147 of the rules of procedure after a discussion in the House as the UN agency launched an international award titled 'UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize' in the field of creativity. Source: BSS AH

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has asked three senior officials to appear before it on Aug 26 to hear the government’s version on the rising incidents of harassment of journalists. The three officials are: the interior secretary, the Federal Investigation Agency’s director general and the Islamabad police inspector general. The court issued the directives in response to a four-page petition complaining that journalists were facing increasing acts of intimidation at the hands of security agencies. The court regretted that the FIA appeared to have overstepped its mandate and undermined the nation’s confidence in the judiciary. A two-judge SC bench, consisting of Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, also issued notices to the secretaries of information and broadcasting, religious affairs and human rights ministries as well as to the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), asking them to state whether the allegations made in the application were correct or not. The apex court took up the matter after Abdul Qayyum Siddiqui, a former president of the Press Association of the Supreme Court (PAS), drew its attention to the rising incidents of harassment of journalists. The court observed that since the application had raised matters of public importance with reference to the enforcement of fundamental rights, it met the criteria for invoking Article 184(3) of the Constitution.. Moreover, the Supreme Court observed, if the allegations were true it would be a grave transgression of the Constitution requiring urgent redress. The court issued notices to the heads of the Pakistan Television Corporation (PTC) and the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC), asking them to reply in writing whether they uphold the fundamental right of a free press and comply with different judgements in this regard. Attorney General Khalid Jawed Khan and the advocates general of the four provinces and Islamabad Capital Territory were issued notices under the Code of Civil Procedure. According to the order, journalists were being harassed, intimidated, attacked and shot at. “There are no consequences for the perpetrators and those who should be protecting journalists and ensuring freedom of the press are themselves involved.” The court’s order made a reference to a press release issued by the FIA stating that criminal cases had been registered against some journalists because they reported against the judiciary. But the press release did not disclose what was said against the judiciary. “The press release creates an impression as if criminal cases were registered at the behest of the judiciary, and in doing so it portrays the judiciary to be inimical to the guaranteed fundamental right of a free press,” the order regretted. “The FIA appears to have overstepped its mandate and to have undermined the people’s confidence in the judiciary, the guarantor of fundamental rights.” Such tactics could undermine the respect, regard and confidence of the people in the judiciary and send an impression as if the judiciary stands with the FIA, the order said. The court asked the FIA director general, “without whose authorisation the press release could not have been issued and who has not retracted it”, to disclose who authorised the issuance of the press release and to explain why had he allowed its issuance, especially since it made mention of the judiciary. He should explain why he did not withdraw the press release if it was issued without his consent, the Supreme Court added. The court ordered submission of a list of cases filed against journalists. The list should specify the actual content — a transcript of the text which constituted an offence in FIA’s eyes. Right to pursue any career The order went on to say that the application complains journalists were not allowed to work freely and pursue their careers, which was a violation of Article 18 as it guarantees right to pursue any lawful ‘profession or occupation’. Therefore, if a media house is pressed to sack any journalist because of that individual’s independent reporting, it appears to violate the provision, the court added. The Pemra chairman was asked to submit a written reply disclosing action taken against the media houses which resorted to such tactics. The frequent attacks on journalists and their abduction, including in the federal capital territory, are another violation of fundamental rights raised in the application. The Constitution’s Article 9 guarantees the right to liberty and Article 10 is a safeguard against illegal arrests and detention. This issue becomes a matter of concern when the perpetrators are not arrested and, all the more so, when it happens under cameras of the Safe City Project in Islamabad, the court observed. “Inability in this regard may suggest incompetence, which may constitute dereliction of duty, or far worse, abetment, which is an offence.” Therefore, notices be issued to the Islamabad IG and the interior ministry to submit written replies listing the number of attacks on journalists, the progress made in the investigation of FIRs, and whether the recordings from cameras of the Safe City Project were used to trace out the perpetrators, the order said. It called upon the authorities concerned to disclose the amount spent on the project. Allegations have been made that if a media house or television channel agrees to project a particular political narrative and suppress a contrary one, it gets financial benefits. It amounts to misuse of taxpayers’ money as such organisations are given advertisements and other incentives from the public exchequer, the Supreme Court observed. Therefore, notice be issued to the information ministry to specify the amounts paid on account of advertisements during the last financial year and the criteria used in determining the beneficiaries. Other benefits that may have been given, including foreign trips, be disclosed, the order said. The court asked the information secretary to disclose the ministry’s annual budget and the work it does. The order observed that Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah had once said that a vibrant press was indispensable to a nation since it exposed wrongdoing and highlighted public grievances. Recent surveys point out that press freedom in the country is at an abysmal level, the order recalled. Propagating the truth is an obligation stipulated in the Holy Quran. The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated that to speak out against injustice and tyranny constitutes “Jihad-i-Akbar” (greater jihad). The Supreme Court issued a notice to the religious affairs ministry, asking it whether it had done anything to ensure that publication and broadcast of the truth were encouraged. Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2021  

President M Abdul Hamid today (Monday) issued an order summoning the second session of 2021 on April 1. “The 12th session of the 11th Jatiya Sangsad will be held at 11 am on April 1 at the Parliament Complex at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital,” an official statement said this afternoon. The President, also the head of the state, convened the session exercising the power bestowed upon him as per the Article 72 (1) of the Constitution, it added. Before commencing the House proceedings on the day, the Parliamentary Business Advisory Committee is likely to hold a meeting, with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair, to fix the duration and agendas of the session. Source: BSS AH

Bangladesh Bank has summoned the bank accounts information of Islamic Foundation (IF) Director General Samim Md. Afzal. Inquiry is going on about the illegal wealth of corrupt people as part of the ongoing anti corruption drive. In connection with this the bank accounts information of Samim Md. Afzal have been summoned. There are allegations of amassing huge illegal wealth by named and unnamed sources against him according to the primary report of government intelligence agencies. Letters were issued to the commercial banks and firms seeking detail information about his bank accounts from the date of opening each account. The former judicial service officer Samim Md. Afzal has been serving the Director General post of Islamic Foundation for the last 11 years. After completion of his age limit for job he was appointed on contractual basis for two phases. AH       

The Bangladesh Bank has summoned the information of bank accounts of Jubo League chairman Omor Faruk Chowdhury. The transaction information and other details regarding his accounts were asked to send within three working days. Financial Intelligence Unit of Bangladesh Bank has issued the letter to the banks in this regard on Thursday. Earlier Bangladesh Bank summoned bank accounts of some businessmen and Jubo League leaders in connection with casino scandal. Bank accounts of some people were also frozen.    AH