Trump’s escalatory rhetoric — threatening to seize control of the strategic waterway and charge other countries for guarding it — may be dismissed as one of his usual bombastic flourishes, yet it has added to the tension. America’s escalation, coming a day after the delayed funeral of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the war on Feb 28, has stoked public anger in Iran. Many are calling for revenge.

Although a return to full-fledged war may not be imminent, the latest developments have made it far harder to reach a negotiated peace deal. The situation is half-war, half-peace, keeping the world on edge. The latest hostilities were apparently triggered by the strikes of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard on two tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz for failing to follow instructions.

There may be an element of truth to the argument that Iran, by targeting Qatari and Saudi tankers, has overplayed its leverage, giving Trump an opportunity to hit back. But it is also a fact that Iran’s action was provoked by the US attempt to guide commercial ships via the Omani route. Iran insists that its own waters offer the only viable route through the Strait of Hormuz for commercial vessels. For Iran, control of the strategic strait has become a key source of leverage; one Iranian official is quoted as saying it is more important than “dozens of atomic bombs”.

The latest events will make it far harder for Iran and the US to reach a negotiated peace deal.

Indeed, the Iranian action could have been avoided, but the US response was extraordinarily severe. The US strikes have mainly targeted civilian infrastructure, and Trump has rescinded the two-month sanction relief on Iranian oil exports.

The move may severely damage an already collapsing Iranian economy, yet there is no sign of Iran capitulating. Its retaliatory strikes on US bases in surrounding Gulf countries demonstrate Tehran’s continued military capacity to hit back. Taken together, the hostilities have pushed the situation back to where it stood before the ceasefire and temporary peace deal — in fact, it has grown even worse.

Iran’s retaliatory strikes have also strained its relations with the Gulf countries, which had appeared to ease after the ceasefire. The closure of Hormuz may not go down well with other countries that had stayed out of the US aggression. The spike in international oil prices could worsen an already recessionary situation.

Most alarming is the fact that the conflict could expand across the region and beyond. Interestingly, Iran’s nuclear issue, which the US described as the main reason for going to war, has receded into the background, while Hormuz, which was not an issue at all when the war started, has become the major point of contention.

Trump’s latest move — seeking control of the waterway and charging commercial vehicles 20pc on cargo value for protection services — has added a more explosive dimension. “I want to be reimbursed because we’re protecting a very rich portion of the world, we’re spending money, and … we are going to be reimbursed for protection,” Trump said. His words mark a dramatic shift in US policy and violate global norms of freedom of navigation. Any such move would heighten tension and cause further economic disruption in the region and beyond.

The contest has now turned into a battle for Hormuz. America and other countries had opposed Iran’s control of the strait and suggestion to charge a toll. Trump’s latest ambition to control Hormuz and collect service charges from oil-rich states amounts to an expansion of the military conflict. Most analysts, however, point out that many of his threats have never materialised.

America went to war by choice, albeit under pressure from Israel. It is now getting more and more entangled in a situation from which it will find it hard to extricate itself. Trump, with his country’s massive military power, may be able to destroy Iran completely, but that may not bring the war to an end.

The collapse of the ceasefire, the resumption of American military strikes and the blockade of Iran have made it difficult to bring the negotiation process based on the 14-point MoU back on track, though neither side has rejected talks. The situation has made the task of Pakistan and other mediating countries very hard. One wonders whether the mediators can play any meaningful role at all now.

Each side wants a peace deal on its own terms. One can understand Iran’s position as the party aggressed against and defending its sovereignty. But Trump’s whimsical and imperialistic designs have pushed the region into its worst crisis in recent history, with global implications. Meanwhile, Israel, which has opposed the interim peace agreement, now sees a fresh opportunity to restart the war. Its Defence Minister Israel Katz said last week that his country was prepared to resume its military campaign against Iran if needed, vowing to do so “with even greater force”. Israel has already extended its war deep into Lebanon, occupying a large part of the country despite the US-brokered ceasefire. A renewed Israeli attack on Iran would turn into a wider conflagration — which is what the Zionist state wants. Trump’s latest escalation fits in with Israel’s strategy to destroy Iran, thereby eliminating any resistance to its expansionist designs.

A renewed US-Israel war on Iran is likely to place Pakistan, which mediated the ceasefire and secured the MoU, in a precarious diplomatic situation. It remains to be seen how our leadership, which has so far been basking in the international limelight, will steer the country through such a critical situation.

The writer is an author and journalist.

zhussain100@yahoo.com

X: @hidhussain

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary panel on Tuesday expressed serious displeasure that Karachi’s landmark Hyatt Regency Hotel building could not be transferred to the purchaser in more than two decades and ordered settlement of the issue at the earliest.

A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Privatisation, presided over by Senator Afnanullah, was reviewing the matter relating to the abandoned building of the hotel. The Privatisation Division officials reported that the property was privatised in 2004 for Rs530 million, while a decision was taken in 2003 to convert the building into a National Commodity Exchange.

“The committee was informed that despite full payment by the purchaser, the transfer of lease has remained unresolved for more than two decades due to the absence of a no-objection certificate (NOC) from Pakistan Railways and subsequent legal proceedings,” said the Senate secretariat after the meeting. The committee also discussed privatisation of airports, power companies, and the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

Representatives of the Pakistan Mercantile Exchange reported that all financial obligations had been fulfilled and lease payments had regularly been made since 2014. They stated that the application for lease transfer has been pending for nearly 20 years.

Pakistan Railways officials informed the panel that the original lease agreement was executed in 2004 for a period of ten years, after which the matter became the subject of litigation. They maintained that the original purchaser was required to apply for transfer of the lease and referred to ongoing proceedings before the Supreme Court. However, representatives of the Pakistan Mercantile Exchange disputed the interpretation and maintained that no Supreme Court order directed the termination of the lease agreement.

Expressing concern over the prolonged delay, Chairman Afnanullah instructed that practical steps be taken to reach a resolution. He directed the Privatisation Commi­ssion to formally write to Pakistan Railways regarding the issuance of the required NOC and announced that the matter would also be taken up in a joint meeting with the Senate Standing Committee on Railways.

International airports

During discussions on the government’s plans for the country’s major international airports, the privatisation secretary reported that Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad airports will not be sold, but will instead be outsourced under a concession model to improve operational efficiency and passenger services. He said the previous efforts by the aviation ministry for G2G deals with friendly nations did not succeed.

Therefore, he said, the transaction was being restructured with the support of international financial institutions for which the Asian Development Bank (ADB) had been selected as the financial adviser for outsourcing of the Islamabad International Airport, with the formal agreement scheduled to be signed shortly. “The outsourcing process is expected to be completed within nine months, while the due diligence phase is expected to conclude within three months,” it said.

Separately, a single financial advisor will be appointed for the outsourcing of Karachi and Lahore airports, with preparatory work already underway, the secretary said.

The briefing also covered progress on restructuring of the PIA. Officials told the committee that 33 PIA properties had been transferred to the holding company, while 11 properties — including four in Pakistan and seven abroad — remained with PIA. The combined value of these assets is estimated at Rs14.2 billion.

Regarding the Roosevelt Hotel, the committee was informed that discussions with financial advisers were ongoing and the transaction structure was currently being finalised with an aim to complete the process by the end of the current year.

Responding to a question about whether airports could continue to be managed by the government, the secretary said the outsourcing model was intended to deliver improved services, enhanced operational efficiency, and greater benefits for the public.

Updating the panel on the privatisation of three power distribution companies, the secretary said the privatisation process commenced in August 2024, and comprehensive review reports for all Discos had been prepared by the financial adviser.

The Cabinet Committee on Privatisation had approved the sale of 51 to 100pc equity in the selected Discos and a final decision about 51 or 100pc sale would be taken in consultation with prospective investors. “To promote competition and prevent market concentration, each investor will be permitted to acquire only one Disco,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2026

Speaking to DawnNewsTV, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, chief of the PTI-allied Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM), confirmed that the government had invited opposition leaders for talks at the PM’s Office. However, he maintained that they have sought to hold the meeting in Parliament House.

When asked by host Nadir Guramani about rec­e­nt statements made by min­­­isters — such as Tariq Fazal Chaudhry — about an offer for talks extended to the PTI-led opposition, Abbas said that while they were willing to sit with the prime minister and any other ministers, they did not want to attend any meetings held at the PM’s Office or the National Assembly speaker’s chambers.

However, he said, they were ready to sit with the prime minister and any other government representatives in the Constitution Room of Parliament House, adding that they were awaiting the government’s response to their counter-offer.

“We believe that if we go for a collision course, God forbid, some serious harm could befall the country,” he said, adding that the opposition wanted an amicable solution to be found through negotiations “If the doors of talks, judicial forums and election are all closed on us, then what are we left with?”

Abbas also announced plans to hold countrywide demonstrations on the anniversary of PTI founder Imran Khan’s arrest. Abbas said that the onus of mobilising street power rests on KP CM Sohail Afridi.

Crediting Imran’s sisters with keeping the issue of his continued detention alive, he recalled the raid to nab former Venezuelan ruler Nicholas Maduro, saying that his case had been all but forgotten. Refusing to comment on criticism levelled at Aleema Khan from within the party, he hailed Imran’s sisters for repeatedly calling attention to his incarceration.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has proposed a simplified and voluntary income tax regime for small shopkeepers, offering exemption from routine audit, withholding tax obligations and mandatory digital invoicing in a fresh attempt to broaden the country’s narrow tax base.

The draft Special Procedure for Small Shopkeepers, issued on Tuesday, will be finalised within one week after objections and suggestions from the public.

Under the proposal, individual retailers with an annual turnover of up to Rs200 million will have the option of paying income tax equal to one per cent of their gross turnover instead of filing returns under the normal taxation regime.

However, participating retailers will have to pay a minimum cash tax of Rs25,000 even if taxes already deducted at source exceed their liability. Any excess withholding tax will not be refundable.

The proposal offers exemption from audit and digital invoicing

The scheme will remain optional, allowing eligible shopkeepers either to join the simplified regime or continue filing regular income tax returns under the existing law.

Registration will be available through the FBR’s IRIS portal, a dedicated mobile application, or at tax offices.

The proposed procedure excludes retailers whose turnover exceeded Rs200m in any of the preceding three years, owners of more than one shop, tier I retailers, jewellers and professionals such as doctors, engineers and lawyers.

Retailers who filed tax returns for 2025 may opt into the scheme only if their liability is not lower than the previous year and they have not split or renamed their businesses to qualify.

To encourage participation, the FBR has proposed that retailers opting for the scheme would generally remain outside the routine audit framework.

Consultation before legal action

Departmental proceedings could only be initiated after consultation with representatives of trade associations and only where the tax authorities receive third party information relating to significant economic transactions, ownership of expensive assets or misuse of the scheme for tax avoidance.

Moreover, participants will also be exempt from withholding tax obligations on purchases under Section 153 of the Income Tax Ordinance. The provisions relating to minimum tax under Section 113 and the 1.25 per cent minimum tax applicable under the normal regime will also not apply.

Eligible retailers will not be required to install point of sale systems or digital invoicing infrastructure.

The draft procedure proposes a simplified tax return requiring shopkeepers to declare annual sales, purchases, business expenses, net profit, other income and assets. The form will be available through the IRIS portal and mobile application in Urdu and regional languages.

To encourage compliance, the FBR plans to issue qualifying retailers a “Green Plate” carrying a QR code, the taxpayer’s name, National Tax Number and business address.

According to the draft, FBR officials would not enter the premises of bona fide retailers displaying the plate for tax-related matters.

The proposal also introduces escalating penalties for non-compliance. Retailers who neither file a regular return nor opt for the simplified regime by the due date would face a penalty of Rs10,000 for the first default, Rs25,000 for the second and Rs50,000 for the third, with at least one month between successive proceedings.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday dropped hints that it would thrash out in detail a jurisdictional controversy over whether it retains the authority to hear bail applications in pending National Accountability Bureau (NAB) appeals, or if such pleas must be transferred to the newly established Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) under the Constitution (27th Amendment).

Headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, a three-judge SC bench, also consisting of Justice Musarrat Hilali and Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan, is seized with the issue of whether pending appeals and bail applications in NAB cases fall within the category that must be shifted to the FCC for final determination.

On Tuesday, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan argued that both appeals and bails in pending NAB cases will now be heard by the FCC.

It is legally inappropriate for one part of a case to be heard by the SC and the other by the FCC, the AGP contended, adding that under the NAB Amendment Act 2026, all appeals and bail applications against the decisions of the high courts in NAB cases stand transferred to the FCC.

On March 5, Section 32-A was inserted into the National Accountability (Amendment) Act, 2026, which provided for a second appeal. The amendment states that any person convicted, or the Prosecutor General Accountability (if so directed by the Chairman NAB), who is aggrieved by a decision made by the High Court under Section 32, may prefer a second appeal to the FCC within thirty days.

The AGP contended that under this amendment, the SC has no jurisdiction in NAB cases, meaning that such appeals regarding bails or sentences awarded in NAB cases will now be heard by the FCC.

Since an appeal in NAB cases is a fundamental right, this right of appeal has been routed to the FCC through the recent amendments, the AGP said, adding that the right itself has not been abolished. Under Article 175(F-2), cases pending in the SC were automatically transferred to the FCC.

During the hearing, Justice Mazhar inquired whether NAB cases had already been transferred to the FCC. In response, Nasir Mehmood Mughal, appearing on behalf of NAB, argued that the cases have not been transferred yet.

When Justice Mazhar questioned whether the SC can grant bail in NAB cases, the NAB representative replied that the right of appeal had been given to the FCC through the NAB Amendment Act 2026. He argued that because it is inappropriate for the forum for bail to be separate from the forum of appeal, the FCC remains the proper forum for both.

Senior counsel Ibadur Rehman Lodhi, appearing on behalf of under-trial prisoner Aamir Mahmood, opposed this view. He stated that the second appeal provided under Section 32-A of the NAB law only comes into play against convictions awarded by the high courts. In pending matters, he argued, the SC remains competent to hear bail applications under Section 32 of the NAB law.

He explained that no corruption reference or liability has been determined against his client, who was arrested in June 2025. Earlier, his bail plea was rejected by the Islamabad High Court in September 2025. Therefore, his client’s bail application before the SC does not fall within the category of a second appeal.

Advocate Lodhi contended that the bail application of an under-trial prisoner like his client falls within Section 497 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which deals with the grant of bail, and not under Section 426 of the CrPC, which relates to the suspension of sentence of a convicted individual by an appellate court.

Interestingly, the same plea has been taken before the SC by the counsel representing former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Imran, in the high-profile £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case.

Their plea was returned by the Registrar Office, but chamber appeals have been filed against the objection. These appeals argue that Section 32-A of the National Accountability Ordinance provides that only a person convicted, or the Prosecutor General Accountability, aggrieved by a decision of the High Court under Section 32, may prefer a second appeal before the FCC. The expression “second appeal” clearly reflects the legislative intent and leaves no ambiguity that only the final judgement or order passed by the High Court in the first appeal is amenable to challenge before the FCC.

During the hearing, the NAB lawyer conceded that he had objected to the jurisdictional question when the matter was previously heard by the SC on March 18.

At this, Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan remarked that jurisdiction is always the first hurdle, which NAB itself crossed by mistake. The SC postponed further proceedings until July 16.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication on Tuesday expressed serious concern over the unsatisfactory state of internet services in the country, noting that poor connectivity was affecting not only remote areas but also major cities such as Karachi.

Committee Chairman Syed Aminul Haque observed that users frequently experienced slow internet speeds and repeated call connection failures despite multiple attempts.

PTA Chairman Hafeezur Rehman briefed the committee that the total available spectrum in the country previously stood at 274MHz but had increased to 754MHz after the 5G spectrum auction.

He said telecom operators had launched 5G services in 22 cities. However, he said no new infrastructure had been deployed so far and 5G services had been enabled on existing mobile towers and network infrastructure.

He said new 5G infrastructure would be deployed gradually in subsequent phases, which would improve the quality and speed of internet services across the country over the next six to eight months.

The committee observed that one of the major challenges affecting the quality of mobile and broadband services was shortage of electricity for basic telecommunications infrastructure.

It noted that prolonged power outages adversely affected the performance of mobile towers, resulting in poor internet connectivity and disruptions in mobile services for consumers.

Members noted that in certain areas, loadshedding of up to 10 hours a day significantly affected telecom services.

The PTA chairman said the matter had been taken up with Nepra and the relevant power distribution companies, which had been brought on board to address the issue.

He said the prime minister had also constituted a high-level committee to devise a sustainable solution for ensuring uninterrupted power supply to telecom towers so that reliable telecommunication services could be provided to the public.

The committee proposed that alternative energy sources, particularly wind energy, should be utilised to power telecom infrastructure, noting that Pakistan possessed a significant wind corridor with considerable potential.

It also recommended that the ministry direct telecom operators to gradually install renewable energy infrastructure, including wind and solar power systems, at telecom sites.

Mobile phone tax

The committee also sought a briefing on taxes imposed on imported mobile phones.

Responding to a query, the PTA chairman informed the committee that around 92 per cent of smartphones currently being used in Pakistan were manufactured or assembled locally, while only 8pc were imported, primarily Apple iPhones and Google Pixel devices.

He said most other mobile phone brands were assembled within Pakistan and, therefore, were not subject to import duties, whereas taxes were applicable only to imported mobile phones.

The committee directed the IT Ministry to encourage Apple and other leading global smartphone manufacturers to establish local manufacturing or assembly facilities in Pakistan.

The PTA chairman clarified that taxes levied on imported mobile phones were not collected by the PTA. Instead, these taxes were deposited into the account of the Federal Board of Revenue, he added.

He stressed that once the applicable taxes were paid, the PTA only registered and whitelisted the device through its Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS), enabling its lawful use in Pakistan.

Bill deferred

The committee also took up the Electronic Transactions (Amendment) Bill, 2026 for consideration.

During deliberations, members belonging to the Pakistan Peoples Party expressed reservations, saying the proposed amendments had not yet been discussed with the party’s Parliamentary Legislative Committee.

The committee deferred approval of the bill after lawmakers raised objections over proposed changes that would shift certain powers from the federal government to the prime minister.

Committee Chairman Aminul Haque questioned whether the government had secured political consensus on the proposed legislation.

Minister of State for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja acknowledged that there was no political consensus on the bill and assured the committee that it would not be approved without agreement among stakeholders.

Officials from the Ministry of Law told the committee that the proposed amendments involved only two words, replacing the term “federal government” with “prime minister”.

However, committee member Sadiq Memon argued that the changes would effectively transfer powers from the federal cabinet to the prime minister.

PPP lawmaker Sharmila Faruqui suggested that the Ministry of Law first provide the committee with a detailed briefing before any amendments were considered.

Responding to the concerns, Khawaja said administrative matters often faced delays because they had to pass through the federal cabinet, adding that the proposed change was intended to speed up administrative decisions.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2026

MUZAFFARABAD: As the government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) vowed to clear all obstacles that were preventing the free movement of people and goods in the region, at least two law enforcers were martyred, while seven activists of the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) lost their lives in separate clashes on Tuesday.

The clashes took place in Poonch division, a day before the JAAC’s planned “long march” towards Muzaffarabad. Last week, the outfit had given the government until July 14 to address their demands, failing which, they had announced plans to march on the AJK capital today (Wednesday).

The first clash occurred on Tuesday morning when law enforcement personnel raided Mutyalmera, on the outskirts of Rawalakot, following what officials described as intelligence about a large cache of weapons and ammunition allegedly stored in a house.

However, officials said they encountered resistance from JAAC supporters, leading to an exchange of fire.

Mutyalmera is one of around half a dozen locations on the outskirts of Rawalakot where JAAC activists and supporters have been maintaining relatively small protest camps. The alliance’s main sit-in, attended by its senior leadership, has been continuing at the Eidgah ground.

Poonch Divisional Commi­ssioner Sardar Waheed Khan told Dawn that one protester lost his life, while a Rangers man was martyred in the exchange of fire.

The second confrontation took place in Baloch, a tehsil of Sudhnoti district, where protesters blocked a convoy of law enforcement personnel heading towards Trarkhal.

The Poonch DC said that hundreds of protesters, some of whom were armed, pelted the convoy with stones, triggering violent clashes. In the ensuing skirmish, one policeman was martyred, while at least seven protesters lost their lives. The identities of the deceased protesters could not immediately be ascertained.

In a statement issued later in the day, AJK police said operatives of the proscribed JAAC had erected blockades at various points along the Kotli-Trarkhal highway, disrupting traffic and the supply of essential commodities.

The statement said that law enforcement personnel had launched a clearance operation to reopen the highway and restore the movement of traffic and supplies when “armed groups of the proscribed JAAC opened unprovoked and indiscriminate fire on security personnel” at Baithak Baloch. It confirmed that at least one police constable was martyred in the exchange, while around eight other law enforcers and a couple of Public Works Department employees suffered injuries.

Police said the situation had been under control, adding that operations to clear blocked highways and ensure the uninterrupted movement of traffic and essential supplies would continue.

Home secretary’s presser

At a separate press conference in Muzaffarabad, AJK Special Home Secretary Chaudhry Guftar Hussain said the operation had been launched to remove road blockades erected by the proscribed JAAC at various entry and exit points of the region and would continue until all major routes were reopened.

He said the government was committed to protecting lives and property and restoring normal economic, educational and commercial activities across AJK.

Referring to Tuesday’s violence, Hussain claimed that armed JAAC activists had opened fire on law enforcement personnel during a clearance operation, prompting a response. “The state will not accept any threat or blackmail, and all blackmailers will be treated with an iron hand,” he warned.

During the press conference, Hussain said that JAAC leader Khwaja Mehran had again given a 48-hour deadline to close all entry points to the state.

However, he said that the majority had distanced itself from the JAAC and that it did not have the “power to close the entry points and paralyse the state”. He also said higher educational institutions, including medical colleges, had reopened across the region and that banking operations had been restored after recent disruptions.

Asked about the JAAC’s planned long march, the Poonch DC said security forces were fully prepared to prevent the protesters from entering Rawalakot, which has remained under curfew since early last month.

Elsewhere in AJK, however, daily life largely continued as normal. Markets remained open and witnessed a steady flow of shoppers.

The government also allowed additional bank branches to resume operations in selected areas, where customers were seen queuing to carry out financial transactions. Internet services, however, remain suspended across the region, disrupting online education and affecting the livelihoods of those dependent on digital connectivity.

A division bench of the AJK High Court is scheduled to hear two petitions challenging the suspension of internet services tomorrow (Thursday).

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2026