The role of the judiciary in protecting human rights in Pakistan is crucial. While human rights are universal and enshrined in Pakistan's constitution, their implementation has been challenging. The judiciary is responsible for upholding the constitution and protecting human rights, and its significance cannot be overstated.

The judiciary in Pakistan has a long history of protecting human rights, especially those of marginalized communities such as religious minorities, women, and children. The courts have issued landmark judgments that have established the rule of law and promoted human rights, including striking down laws that discriminate against women and religious minorities.

Moreover, the judiciary has been instrumental in safeguarding the rights of prisoners, ensuring they are not subjected to inhumane treatment or torture while in custody. The courts have also ensured that prisoners receive fair trials and that their rights are protected during the trial process.

The judiciary in Pakistan has also played an active role in protecting the right to freedom of speech and expression. The courts have struck down laws that limit the media's freedom to report on issues of public interest and upheld the right of citizens to protest peacefully.

Despite these achievements, there is still more work to be done to protect human rights in Pakistan. The judiciary should continue to play an active role in upholding the constitution and ensuring that human rights are protected for all citizens.

The National Assembly of Pakistan has passed a bill known as the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act 2023, which aims to curb the powers of the chief justice of Pakistan in taking suo motu notice. The bill proposes that a three-member committee consisting of senior judges will have the power to take suo motu notice instead of the chief justice alone. This committee will also ensure transparent proceedings in the apex court and give the right to appeal.

However, President Dr Arif Alvi has refused to give his assent to the bill twice, stating that the matter is sub judice before the apex court. The Supreme Court has also barred the government from implementing the bill, citing interference with and intrusion into the independence of the judiciary.

Suo motu notice refers to the power of the chief justice of Pakistan to take notice of a matter on their own accord, without the need for a formal complaint or petition. This power has been a subject of debate in Pakistan for several years, with some arguing that it gives too much power to the chief justice and can be misused.

The passage of this bill has been controversial, with some arguing that it is an attempt to curtail the independence of the judiciary and weaken the power of the chief justice. Others argue that it is a necessary step to ensure transparency and accountability in the apex court.

Overall, this is a significant development in the ongoing debate over the powers of the chief justice of Pakistan and the role of the judiciary in the country. It remains to be seen how this issue will be resolved, and what impact it will have on the future of Pakistan's judiciary.

Insights of Article

The Supreme Court of Pakistan recently considered a petition requesting for the national and provincial assemblies to hold general elections simultaneously. The court ordered the federal coalition and PTI to negotiate an agreement on the elections before 4pm on the same day. However, the proceedings did not resume as the three-judge bench did not appear in the courtroom. The coalition parties informed the court that they had planned to hold a dialogue with the opposition after Eid, but Justice Bandial instructed them to hold the talks immediately.

Representatives of the PPP and the Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan met with CJP Bandial in his chambers. Farooq H. Naek, who represented the PPP, told reporters that the CJP had been informed that the dialogue had been initiated with the PTI. The court adjourned until April 27, but a written order has not yet been issued. Meanwhile, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman rejected the idea of talks with PTI chairman Imran Khan.

In another order, the Supreme Court directed the government to provide funds to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, the government refused to comply with the order, and the ECP, defence ministry, and finance ministry submitted their reports to the court in a sealed envelope. The court ordered the SBP to release funds worth Rs21bn for elections from Account No I, a component of the Federal Consolidated Fund worth Rs1.39 trillion, and send an “appropriate communication” to this effect to the finance ministry by April 17. The coalition government rejected its own demand for the provision of Rs21bn as a supplementary grant to the ECP for holding polls in the two provinces.

Insights of Article

1.  Iran and Saudi Arabia on 10 March 2023 reached an agreement to restore diplomatic ties after

A. 4 years

B. 7 years

C. 10 years

D. 13 years

2. The “Iran-Saudi Peace Deal” was brokered by

(A) Pakistan

(B) China

(C) United States

(D) United Arab Emirates

3. The Silk Roads: A New History of The World” is written by___________?

A. XI JinPing

B. Joe Bidden

C. Peter Frankopan

D. David Ricardo

4. How many Countries Are the Members Of NATO?

A. 31

B. 29

C. 28

D. 27

5. International day for Mine Awareness is observed on?

A. 8th April

B. 15th May

C. 21st March

D. 4th April

6. "Pakistan Beyond the Crisis State" is written by?

A. Z.A Bhutto

b. Aitzaz Ahsan

C. Maleeha Lodhi

D. William Dalrymple

7. For which planet, it is said that the water is present in the form of ice?

A. Moon

B. Mercury

C. Venus

D. Mars

8.  On 6 February 2023, a deadly earthquake struck some parts of

A. Turkey

B. Lebanon

C. Ukraine

D. Turkey and Syria

9. Who wrote the book "Animal Farm"?

A. George Orwell

B. William Golding

C. Harper Lee

D. J.D. Salinger

10. Which planet is known as the Red Planet?

A. Venus

B. Mars

C. Jupiter

D. Saturn

11. Who discovered the theory of relativity?

A. Isaac Newton

B. Albert Einstein

C. Galileo Galilei

D. Stephen Hawking

12. The highest mountain peak in Africa is:

A. Kilimanjaro

B. Mount Everest

C. Mount McKinley

D. Mount Fuji

13. Who wrote the play "Romeo and Juliet"?

A. William Shakespeare

B. Oscar Wilde

C. Samuel Beckett

D. Tennessee Williams

14. The capital of Russia is:

A. Minsk

B. St. Petersburg

C. Kiev

D. Moscow

15. Who painted the Mona Lisa?

A. Vincent van Gogh

B. Michelangelo

C. Leonardo da Vinci

D. Pablo Picasso

16. The first President of the United States was:

A. George Washington

B. Thomas Jefferson

C. Abraham Lincoln

D. John F. Kennedy

17. The chemical formula for water is:

A. H2SO4

B. CO2

C. H2O

D. NaCl

18. Who is the author of "Pride and Prejudice"?

A. Bill Gates

B. Emily Bronte

C. Charlotte Bronte

D. Jane Austen

19. Who is known as the "Father of the Nation" in India?

A. Mahatma Gandhi

B. Jawaharlal Nehru

C. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

D. Bhagat Singh

Answer: A) Mahatma Gandhi

20. The largest planet in our solar system is:

A) Earth

B) Mars

C) Jupiter

D) Saturn                                                                                                      

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued an order to the State Bank of Pakistan to allocate Rs21bn ($127m) for the purpose of conducting the general elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies by 17th April. This directive was issued to ensure that the election process is carried out smoothly and without any hindrances. 

The court has also instructed the Election Commission of Pakistan to verify that the funds have been made available to it so that they can be used for the election process. This step is crucial in ensuring that the election process is carried out in a transparent and fair manner. 

Moreover, the State Bank and the Finance Ministry have been ordered to submit a compliance report by 23rd April, stating that they have followed the court's order and that the funds have been allocated to the Election Commission of Pakistan. 

Insights of Article

1. The Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued an order to allocate funds for conducting general elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies by 17th April.

2. The directive was issued to ensure that the election process is carried out smoothly and without any hindrances.

3. The Election Commission of Pakistan has been instructed to verify that the funds have been made available to it so that they can be used for the election process.

4. The step is crucial in ensuring that the election process is carried out in a transparent and fair manner.

5. The State Bank and the Finance Ministry have been ordered to submit a compliance report by 23rd April, stating that they have followed the court's order and that the funds have been allocated to the Election Commission of Pakistan.

6. This directive is a positive step towards ensuring that the general elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa take place without any issues and that they are conducted in a fair and transparent manner.