Endo had been expected to feature in the Group ‘F’ clash but a foot injury that has plagued him this year forced his withdrawal from the squad on Thursday and prompted the 33-year-old midfielder to announce his international retirement.

“There will definitely come a time in the future when Japan win the World Cup, so let’s believe in that and support the team,” he wrote on X.

“Let’s bring the strength of Japan together so that that moment can happen at this tournament in North America.” He added: “I have decided to retire from the national team. From now on, I will be supporting Japan as just another fan.”

He had formed a midfield partnership with Ao Tanaka in Japan’s most recent friendly against Iceland but Moriyasu’s confidence in his options was reflected in his decision to replace Endo with forward Shuto Machino.

Tanaka could be paired with Germany-based Kaishu Sano or Daichi Kamada.

“I was surprised to hear about Endo’s departure,” said Japan playmaker Takefusa Kubo. “We’ll just have to make do with the remaining players.

“I heard that Endo talked to (defender) Ko Itakura and I think he’s conveyed a lot of information, so I’m sure Itakura will share that with the team.”

Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman has concerns of his own with goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen recovering from a knock sustained in a 2-1 friendly win over Uzbekistan while forward Memphis Depay has played little over the last three months.

“We know that Memphis had a few injuries and he didn’t play the last few weeks but he is back and every day he is closer to his 100 per cent fitness,” Koeman said.

“He’s our top scorer in the national team and we need him if we’d like to go in a good way in this tournament. We need all the players but, of course we need Memphis Depay as well.”

The game at Dallas Stadium will be the first between the nations since a 2-2 draw in a friendly in 2013 and the Dutch registered a 1-0 win over the Japanese at their only previous World Cup meeting in South Africa in 2010.

“They have shown that they’re really strong as a team,” Koeman said of the Japanese.

“We believe in ourselves, we respect Japan but we are Holland and they will respect us. We are looking forward. I think it will be an interesting match, and a difficult one.”

Meanwhile, the Dutch fans are optimistic that their team will win the World Cup this time after losing three finals.

Danny van Dijk thinks that this time turning his street in The Hague completely orange is going to work, as the Netherlands again target a long-awaited title.

For 26 years, whenever the Dutch play in a major football championship, Van Dijk and other residents have turned Marktweg into “Orange Street”.

He stands in an orange sea. The houses are draped in orange tarpaulins, orange pennants stretch across the road, and giant photos of orange-clad players are plastered on orange-sheeted lamp-posts and trees. People come from all over the country to see it.

Despite this unwavering support the Netherlands have never won the World Cup, but this year, Van Dijk has “a good feeling — we’re going to win”.

Some 77km of flags line the street, in tribute to his mother, who passed away in March at the age of 77 and was a former figurehead of the event. Her unifying spirit endeared her to the public.

“We get to meet other people; all you see are smiles. We bump into people from the neighbourhood but also people who’ve come from all over the Netherlands,” said Van Dijk.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026

The European champions open their Group ‘H’ campaign against Cape Verde at the Atalanta Stadium, with Uruguay and Saudi Arabia also in the section, in a fixture that looks on paper like a meeting of different football planets.

Luis de la Fuente’s side have become close to immovable over the last four years, going 30 matches unbeaten since a 1-0 friendly loss to Colombia at Wembley in March 2024.

Since then Spain have recorded 23 wins and seven draws playing some of the most entertaining, attacking football seen in recent times.

The only wrinkle in that spotless-looking run was a 5-4 penalty defeat to Portugal in the 2025 Nations League final after a 2-2 draw following extra time.

But Spain’s left wing-back Alex Grimaldo believes that the 2010 champions can emulate their Golden Generation.

“I see us as favourites,” a confident Grimaldo told AFP ahead of his first World Cup.

“The stats are things of the past. We have to concentrate on the day-to-day and go into the first game against Cape Verde as well-prepared as possible.

“The team is full of confidence and very motivated. We are desperate to do a good job because we have the team to do so.”

Cape Verde, however, are not merely in North America to provide the romance.

The Blue Sharks were one of the surprise qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and, with fewer than 600,000 inhabitants, are the third smallest country by population to reach the tournament after Iceland in 2018 and Curacao, also in 2026.

Their rise has been stitched together from an archipelago and a diaspora.

That blend proved highly effective in qualifying, where Cape Verde won seven of their 10 games, lost only once and claimed a stunning home victory over Cameroon.

Their World Cup place may feel like a fairy tale, but Cape Verde have been building credibility for years. In 2013 they qualified for their first Africa Cup of Nations and reached the quarter-finals at the first attempt.

Spain, meanwhile, may take a cautious approach with Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, who are in the final stages of recovery from hamstring injuries sustained in April. Both returned to training with their team-mates on Thursday.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026

Ecuador’s last defeat came against Brazil in Curitiba in September 2024 in the early stages of World Cup qualifying, and they have conceded only six goals during that run, five of them in friendlies.

They finished second in South American qualifying to book a World Cup berth for a fifth time, all since their 2002 debut.

The Ivorians were even stingier in defence as they completed their 10 qualifiers without conceding a single goal, but the quality of opposition they faced was weaker than the teams Ecuador had to play against.

Since securing a spot at the tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the US, the African side have impressed with comfortable warm-up wins over South Korea and Scotland in March and a 2-1 triumph away against France in Nantes last week.

The Ivorian forward line, with teenager Yan Diomande leading the line and support coming from Simon Adingra and Amad Diallo on the flanks, is expected to test Ecuador’s steely defence to the maximum and provide the potential for an exciting clash.

The Ivorians’ attack has been bolstered after former French junior internationals Ange-Yoan Bonny and Elye Wahi recently switched allegiance and were included in the squad.

They will be up against an experienced Ecuador defence, which includes Willian Pacho, who anchored the Paris St-Germain backline in their Champions League shootout triumph over Arsenal, for whom Piero Hincapie played all 120 minutes at left-back.

In front of that defence sits Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo, who many consider to be the best defensive midfielder in the world, and it is perhaps not too hard to see why Ecuador managed 13 clean sheets in 18 South American World Cup qualifiers.

With Germany the favourites in their group, this match could be the one to settle second place, though both Ecuador and the Ivory Coast have loftier ambitions.

Ecuador have only once previously advanced out of the group phase, while the Ivorians, returning to the World Cup for the first time since 2014, have never reached the knockout stages.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026

The US demolished Paraguay on an electric night in Los Angeles, with Folarin Balogun bagging a brace and Gio Reyna scoring a late stunner, plus an early own goal.

“It’s not only to talk about some names, it’s about the collective,” said Pochettino.

“It’s not only Balo or different players that performed. I think the team was amazing. Not only the starting 11 but all the players around and on the bench.”

Pressed by a journalist at his post-game conference about the performance of US talisman Christian Pulisic, Pochettino refused to budge.

“You push me to talk about names, and it’s about the team, it’s a collective performance. Of course, he was amazing,” said the coach.

He then went on to name nearly every member of the US lineup, praising each as also “amazing”. Pochettino was also effusive in his praise for the 70,000 crowd in Los Angeles.

Despite some media reports suggesting that the US public is not as invested in the tournament as other World Cup hosts — particularly with the ongoing NBA Finals drawing eyeballs away from the football — the atmosphere was raucous in the Los Angeles Stadium.

“On behalf of the whole team, massive thank you to the fans, because the energy that they relate to the team was amazing, and we can do amazing things with if the fans are in this way,” said Pochettino.

The US is now in a strong position to progress from Group ‘D’, which also contains next Friday’s opposition Australia, and Turkiye.

“We are so happy, but this is only the start,” said Pochettino. “It’s still two games to play. We need to enjoy this start to the tournament, but know that we need to keep going and try to improve and try to do better in the next game, because all the games are very competitive.”

The US entered the event amid a swirl of uncertainty after a series of defeats and unconvincing performances in pre-World Cup friendlies.

But any doubts about their ability to progress past the first round were obliterated in a dazzling first-half display which saw them roar into a 3-0 lead to all but seal victory.

“Amazing result,” US captain Tim Ream said. “Obviously, it’s exactly the way we wanted to start the tournament. There’s not a whole lot of words to describe the feeling.

“Scoring four goals, getting three points, it sets you up for the rest of the group stage, for sure.”

Balogun was ecstatic after scoring twice on his World Cup debut but the striker said he didn’t plan on celebrating wildly.

“A real dream, you know? It’s a dream, it’s a dreamy night,” he told reporters after.

“I’ve not been able to take it all in afterwards… I’m sure when I get back to my hotel and I rest, I’m sure I’m going to really be able to be in the moment and experience how much of an amazing night this is.”

Asked what he will do to celebrate, he replied: “To be honest, I think I’ll probably just watch some Netflix.”

The only blemish on the US performance was the conceding of a Paraguay goal from Brazil-born Mauricio in the 73rd minute after hesitancy in the hosts’ defence.

Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro admitted his team had been second best in every department. We knew it was going to be difficult and that if we weren’t ready defensively it could be painful,” Alfaro said. “They dominated tactically, technically, and physically as well.”

Pop star Katy Perry got the party started with a rousing performance just before kick-off while Hollywood royalty including Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio and Halle Berry were among a 70,492 crowd. Perry was accompanied by singers Future, Tyla, Anitta and K-pop star Lisa.

Performers danced around a giant World Cup trophy beneath enormous “FIFA” letters in the gold favored by US President Donald Trump, who did not attend, instead wishing the team luck via phone before kickoff.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026

The incident occurred while equipment was being transferred from England’s pre-tournament base in Florida to Swope Soccer Village, where it was due to be in place before the squad begin training after their arrival in Kansas City on Saturday.

“We are investigating a possible theft of equipment from a team vehicle that arrived in Kansas City with items missing this evening,” police said.

“The investigation is ongoing. Two subjects of interest were taken into custody pending further investigation.”

Balls and boots were among the items believed to have been stolen, according to British media reports.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026

Jibril Rajoub said he had however been able to enter Mexico to attend the World Cup opening ceremony.

“They did not grant me a visa for the US after I applied in (the Jordanian capital) Amman. Their behavior is ridiculous,” Rajoub said in a telephone interview with AFP. “I am currently in Mexico. I will attend Tunisia’s match (in Monterrey against Sweden, and then I will return” to the Palestinian territories, he added.

Rajoub told AFP that he had also failed to obtain a visa for Canada, which is co-hosting the World Cup.

“Certain circles do not want us to criticize Israel,” he said, claiming without providing evidence that “the Israelis had exerted pressure.”

In April, Rajoub took part in the FIFA Congress in Vancouver — but refused an invitation from FIFA chief Gianni Infantino to participate in a group photo with an official from the Israeli Football Association.

The Palestinian Football Association has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport against FIFA’s decision not to impose sanctions on Israel over the participation of clubs located in the occupied West Bank in competitions supervised by the Israeli Football Association.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026

The 28-year-old Gyokeres arrives in the US fresh from winning the English Premier League title with Arsenal, and it was his late goal in a 3-2 playoff win over Poland that punched Sweden’s ticket to the World Cup, where they will also face the Netherlands and Japan.

Strike partner Isak may have struggled with injuries since his big-money move from Newcastle United to Liverpool last September, but on his day the 26-year-old has a blend of speed and skill that can leave even the best defenders in his wake.

“Alex has had a difficult spell at Liverpool because of injury, but the player doesn’t change, his quality doesn’t change — he’s still a top, top, top player,” Sweden coach Graham Potter said during the build-up to the World Cup.

Isak will need every ounce of that quality against a Tunisia side that was rock-solid in defence in qualifying as they won nine and drew one of their games to make it to their third World Cup in a row.

“(That defensive performance in qualifying) shows you’re a great side that, above all, defends well as a team, even if the World Cup will be a higher level altogether,” Tunisia coach Sabri Lamouchi told FIFA.com ahead of the tournament.

“The teams we’re going to face will make much more difficult demands of us and we’ll have to stand up and be counted.”

Lamouchi’s somewhat cautious approach is mirrored in that of Potter, who inherited the Sweden job in the midst of a catastrophic qualifying campaign that had them finish bottom of their group with two points, only qualifying thanks to a Nations League playoff lifeline.

Potter has since righted the listing Swedish ship, restoring some sense of defensive organisation and giving Isak and Gyokeres a license to go and attack, supported by creative wide players such as Lucas Bergvall, Anthony Elanga and Benjamin Nygren.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026

The visitors’ innings was anchored by opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who scored a century in 48 balls, the fastest by an Afghan batter in ODIs, but his team-mates crumbled under pressure in the first of the three-match series.

Gurbaz hit Arshdeep Singh (2-27) for a six and a four in the first over, and refused to slow down even as three Afghan batters fell early, scoring four runs between them. Eight sixes and eight boundaries helped him complete his ninth ODI century in the 15th over, with Afghanistan at 135-3.

But Nitish Kumar Reddy (2-31) knocked over Gurbaz’s (102) middle stump in the next over, and a patient knock from captain Hashmatullah Shahidi (27) ended soon after, taking away the visitors’ momentum.

Azmatullah Omarzai scored a quick 26 off 16 balls, but no other Afghan batter reached double figures as the visitors were all out for 194 with a ball to spare, with India debutant Gurnoor Brar taking three wickets.

Wicket-keeper Gurbaz and Rashid Khan combined to get Indian opener Rohit Sharma (16) run out in the sixth over, but they could not put the hosts under pressure as Gill and Ishan Kishan (34) kept the runs flowing.

Gill completed his half-century in 37 balls, and took few risks as he scored 84 in 66 deliveries, hitting 11 fours and two sixes along the way. He was helped by KL Rahul’s unbeaten 39 off 19 balls in getting India over the line.

The second match is set for Wednesday in Lucknow.

SCOREBOARD

AFGHANISTAN:

R. Gurbaz b Reddy102

I. Zadran c Gill b Brar1

S. Atal lbw b Singh0

R. Shah c Dubey b Singh3

H. Shahidi c Rahul b Dubey27

A. Omarzai st Kishan b Dubey26

M. Nabi c Singh b Reddy9

R. Khan b Brar9

A.M Ghazanfar c Gill b Dubey0

Z. Rahman c Singh b Brar4

M. Saleem not out1

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-7, W-4)12

TOTAL (all out, 24.5 overs)194

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-13 (Zadran), 2-16 (Atal), 3-26 (Shah), 4-142 (Gurbaz), 5-144 (Shahidi), 6-172 (Nabi), 7-182 (Omarzai), 8-182 (Ghazanfar), 9-193 (Rashid)

BOWLING: Singh 5-0-27-2 (1w), Brar 4.5-0-27-3 (1w), Krishna 5-0-35-0 (1w), Dubey 5-0-47-3, Sundar 1-0-19-0, Reddy 4-0-31-2 (1w)

INDIA:

R. Sharma run out16

S. Gill not out84

I. Kishan b Rashid34

S. Iyer c Saleem b Rahman12

K.L. Rahul not out39

EXTRAS (LB-1, NB-1, W-8)10

TOTAL (for three wickets, 22.5 overs)195

DID NOT BAT: N. K. Reddy, W. Sundar, H. Dubey, A. Singh, P. Krishna, G. Brar

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-46 (Sharma), 2-116 (Kishan), 3-142 (Iyer)

BOWLING: Omarzai 3-0-28-0 (2w, 1nb), Rahman 4-0-39-1, Ghazanfar 5-0-28-0, Saleem 3.5-0-36-0 (2w), Rashid 5-0-37-1, Nabi 2-0-26-0

RESULT: India won by seven wickets.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Shubman Gill

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026

Eraj Batool clinched the women’s crown after defeating Eschelle Asif 6-4 on retirement. Eschelle, though, didn’t return empty handed as she had earlier claimed the U-18 crown following her 6-2, 6-4 win over Rania Bus.

Mohammad Yahya secured the U-18 title with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Rashid Bachani. Rashid made amends for the loss as he bagged the U-14 title when he edged Mohammad Muaz Shahbaz 7-6, 6-7, 6-3.

The girls U-14 final saw Eman Shahbaz defeat Dua Yousuf 4-2, 4-2. Aayan Shahbaz lifted the U-12 trophy while Eman emerged victorious in the U-10 category.

In other categories, the duo of Yahya and Rashid annexed the U-18 doubles title and the pair of Mahatir Mohammad and Ruhab Faisal claimed the men’s doubles title.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026

On Saturday against new American teenage sensation Iva Jovic, she offered renewed hope of a resurgence ahead of Wimbledon with a clinical 6-2, 6-2 victory to reach the Queen’s Club final.

The 23-year-old arrived at the London grasscourt event without a Tour-level win since March.

Now she has reeled off four in a row without dropping a set and will take that momentum into Sunday’s final against Croatia’s vastly-experienced Donna Vekic seeking a first title since her fairytale run in New York.

“It means everything to be doing it here at Queen’s, the support was electric, Raducanu said on court.

“I’ve been able to stick out some tough moments in the last few months. Any Brit would love to lift the title here.”

The 29-year-old Vekic will present a formidable barrier after showing her class in a 6-1, 6-3 demolition of Britain’s Katie Boulter in the day’s first semi-final.

Vekic dropped only six points on serve to silence a partisan crowd on Andy Murray Arena as wildcard Boulter could not reproduce the level she reached to stun world number two Elena Rybakina late on Friday.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026

A solid batting effort saw Australia post 172-8 in the stipulated 20 overs at Old Trafford. They then dismissed South Africa, the 2024 finalists, for a paltry 107 in 16.4 overs.

Georgia Wareham stood out for her all-round effort. After a 22-ball 32 with the bat, she claimed three wickets, and contributed in the field with a catch and a run-out.

Put into bat, Australia bore the brunt of some inspired bowling by pacers Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail at the beginning. While Kapp packed off Georgia Voll in the opening over Ismail struck with the wicket of Beth Mooney.

Phoebe Litchfield led the Australian fightback with a quickfire half-century, striking nine fours and a six in her 24-ball 50.

South African bowlers tried to make life difficult England, taking wickets at regular intervals. Nonk­ululeko Mlaba (2-22), Nadine De Klerk (2-35) and Ayabonga Khaka (2-33 in three overs) were the main wicket-takers.

Ellyse Perry (36 off 26) anchored the innings with two important partnerships — a 37-run third-wicket stand with Litch­field and a 58-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Wareham. Annabel Sutherland cracked 21.

South Africa never really got going in the chase. Sophie Molineux drew first blood as she trapped Sune Luus in the opening over.

Captain Laura Wolv­aardt (44) stitched handy partnerships with Nadine De Klerk (25) and Kapp (12). But once Kapp was run out, South Africa came down like a house of cards, losing their last seven wickets for just 25 runs. While Wareham took three wickets, including those of De Klerk and Chloe Tyron, Molineux and Alana King claimed two each.

MAIDEN triumph FOR SCOTLAND

Earlier on Saturday, Scotland claimed their first-ever Women’s T20 World Cup win with a 40-run thumping of Ireland in their opening match at Old Trafford.

Scotland skipper Kath­ryn Bryce and ex-England spinner Kirstie Gordon were the difference makers as the former smashed 60 off 39 balls to set Ireland a stiff 162 to win, before Gordon (3-16) dismantled their middle order with three wickets in four balls.

Sarah Bryce (49) was also instrumental in the victory, sharing in a 106-run partnership with her sister that helped Scotland recover from 36-2 to post 161-5 after being inserted.

Katherine Fraser (15) had been the first to fall, to a terrific Alice Tector catch in the swirling wind on the boundary, while Darcey Carter (14) was cleaned up by an Aimee Maguire (1-37) yorker. Ava Canning finished with 3-27.

In reply, Ireland never got going, as Kathryn’s day got even better with a brilliant, one-handed catch off her own bowling to dismiss Alana Dalzell (six) in the opening over.

Ireland fell badly behind the required rate and were only 37-2 in the eighth over when captain Gaby Lewis’ painstaking 19-ball stay in the middle was ended for 11, stumped by Sarah Bryce off Fraser (3-19).

Fraser added Amy Hunter (39) before Gordon (3-16) then took charge in the 13th over.

Ireland were eventually bowled out for 121, with Kathryn fittingly claiming the final wicket.

On Friday, England made a flying start to the showpiece as Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s blistering ton inspired an 87-run rout of Sri Lanka at Edgbaston.

Wyatt-Hodge struck a superb 105 not out off just 62 balls. It was only England’s fifth women’s T20 hundred and Wyatt-Hodge has three of them.

She propelled the hosts to 219-1, their highest ever score in the tournament, eclipsing their 213-5 against Pakistan in 2023.

Sri Lanka never looked like overhauling England and subsided to 132 all out in a one-sided tournament opener. Freya Kemp excelled with figures of 4-21 while Charlie Dean and Sophie Ecclestone finished with two wickets each.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026

Young will arrive in London on Sunday and join the squad ahead of the second Test at the Oval from Wednesday, Cricket New Zealand said.

Williamson, New Zealand’s most prolific run-scorer, stunned the cricketing world with his retirement announcement on Friday ahead of the second Test.

The 35-year-old former skipper, who played in the first England Test, said that “it just feels like the right time for me to step away”.

“I feel really good about it,” said Williamson, one of the ‘Fab Four’ batsmen of his generation alongside India’s Virat Kohli, Australia’s Steve Smith and England’s Joe Root.

His decision sparked a slew of praise from some of the leading lights of the game.

“From an opponent to a friend over the years,” Kohli said of Williamson. “It’s been a pleasure watching you bat and compete against you over so many years but more than that I value our friendship and shared perspectives on the game and beyond.”

Fellow Indian great Sachin Tendulkar was equally effusive.

“A thorough gentleman and a true role model for youngsters,” Tendulkar said. “His retirement will probably be received with unexpected relief in more than a few bowling camps.”

Young has played 23 Tests but is yet to score a century, with a highest score of 89.

England lead the three-Test series 1-0 after winning the opener at Lord’s by 115 runs.

Meanwhile, England called up uncapped seam bowler Henry Crocombe ahead of the second Test against New Zealand.

Crocombe will serve as cover for Ollie Robinson, who experienced knee soreness after a training session on Friday and is set to undergo a precautionary scan. The 24-year-old impressed for England Lions recently, taking four wickets in the against South Africa A at Beckenham in May.

England’s fast-bowling options have been depleted because of the absence of Gus Atkinson. He was left out for the second Test, along with England captain Ben Stokes, after breaking the team’s midnight curfew following the first Test win over the Black Caps.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026

Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur is hoping to build on her side’s 50-over ICC World Cup victory last year.

Edgbaston will host the next act in one of cricket’s greatest rivalries, with India coming out best in the two sides’ recent meetings.

India, third in the T20 world rankings, have won all of their last three contests, including a six-wicket win in Dubai in the 2024 edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

“The first game is very important, it always sets the tone,” Kaur said. “We are really looking forward to it, and hopefully, we will play our best.

“Winning the [50-over] World Cup was a great moment for all of us. We were waiting for that moment for so many years, and it’s good to see years of hard work pay off.

“This tournament is equally important, everybody is shaping up well, and hopefully we will play our best cricket,” she added.

A win in the Asia Cup in 2022 is Pakistan’s only victory over India in their nine T20 International meetings.

But Pakistan captain Fatima Sana is backing the youth in her side to come to the fore as they look to start the tournament on a positive note.

“It is about setting the tone, so we will try and win this match, so we have options for different matches,” she said.

“I think we are very hopeful for this tournament because we have some youngsters who have come into the side and proved themselves in the last series against South Africa and Zimbabwe, so I think we have a good combination.”

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026

The PCB is also reviewing its policy of assigning multiple positions to one individual, a practice that has been in place for the past two-and-a-half years.

These views were expressed by PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi during a media briefing here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.

“We are introducing a system under which [the] player selection will be assessed through computer-generated data,” Mohsin said. “A player will have to pass through three filters for selection: fitness, mandatory participation in domestic cricket, and performance in domestic cricket.”

He further said that the PCB was holding a series of meetings to finalise major decisions regarding the cricket set-up, by Monday.

“We will continue these meetings until Monday and are likely to announce decisions regarding captains, central contracts and other cricket-related matters by then,” he added.

NEW POLICY FOR CENTRAL CONTRACTS

Mohsin revealed that a new central contract policy was also being formulated.

“Under the new policy, players will automatically be placed in their respective categories on the basis of [the] computer-generated data. Players selected primarily for Test cricket will not be allowed to play T20 cricket, although they may participate in One-day Internationals,” the PCB chief said.

He added that Test specialists would be placed in the highest category of the central contract structure.

Here it is worth mentioning that after assuming charge as PCB chairman in February 2024, Mohsin appointed Bilal Afzal as one of the selectors because of his expertise in data analysis. At the time, the PCB had announced plans to use data-based evaluation for assessing players.

However, the idea has remained a subject of debate among cricket experts. Critics argue that while data can assist selectors, it cannot fully capture the context of a player’s performance.

Responding to a question about Pakistan’s recent poor performances, Mohsin said several factors were responsible.

“One of the problems is that some players have been playing for themselves rather than for the team,” he said. “There are certain unhealthy practices that have caused significant damage to the team.”

He indicated that the practice of assigning multiple roles to an individual would be reviewed.

During Mohsin’s tenure, several officials have simultaneously held multiple positions. These include Aaqib Javed, who served as selector, head coach and National Cricket Academy director; Wahab Riaz, who worked as selector and team manager; Mohammad Yousuf, who combined the roles of selector and batting coach; and Sarfaraz Ahmed, who is currently serving as Test team head coach, selector and is also engaged in Under-19 coaching affairs.

Mohsin reiterated that domestic cricket would remain the primary pathway to the national team for players.

“Those who play domestic competitions will earn opportunities to represent Pakistan,” he said, adding that match fee for both domestic and international cricket would be increased.

Mohsin maintained that the new policies were expected to bear fruit after a couple of years.

The PCB chairman also revealed that during his tenure he had rarely suggested the national selection committee to make changes to the teams chosen by them.

“On just a couple of occasions, I recommended changes to one or two players, but the selectors decided otherwise and I accepted their decisions,” he said.

On the PCB plan to establish its own hotel near the Gaddafi Stadium to address traffic and security issues associated with transporting teams between hotels and the venue, Mohsin said a federal institution would undertake the project. “The building already purchased by the PCB near the stadium will be converted into a hotel,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026

While Belgium, the current table toppers of the Pro League, completely dominated the game, Pakistan’s lone goal came through Rana Waheed Ashraf who levelled the score 1-1 in the 33rd minute.

However, the hosts then demonstrated their class and dominance, scoring six unanswered goals to register a comprehensive victory and strengthen their grip on the top position in the nine-team Pro League.

Belgium took an early lead when Onana Nelson scored in the third minute. Thibeau Stockbroekx restored Belgium’s advantage in the 38th minute to make it 2-1 while Alexander Hendrickx extended the lead to 3-1 in the 42nd minute.

Tobias Biekens added the fourth goal in the 50th minute before Guillaume Hellin struck a minute later to put Belgium 5-1 ahead.

Biekens scored his second goal of the match in the 55th minute, and Tom Boon completed the rout with Belgium’s seventh goal shortly afterwards.

Pakistan remain rooted to the bottom of the standings in ninth place while their arch-rivals India are eighth.

Pakistan take on Spain in their next league fixture at the same venue on Sunday.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026

The budget was presented after market hours on the final trading day of the week, keeping activity measured as investors awaited details of the government’s fiscal plans.

According to Topline Securities, the KSE-100 index gained 1.13 per cent week-on-week, adding 1,921 points to close at 172,400. The rally was supported by improving risk appetite amid hopes of progress in US-Iran negotiations and a decline in global oil prices.

Among major economic developments, according to Arif Habib Ltd (AHL), workers’ remittances reached a record monthly high of $4.3 billion in May, up 15pc year-on-year and 20pc month-on-month. Cumulative remittances during the first 11 months of FY26 rose 9pc to $38.1bn.

Remittances hit record high as lower oil prices support investor sentiment

Meanwhile, auto sales continued to show strength. Data released by the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA) showed sales of cars, light commercial vehicles, vans, jeeps and electric vehicles increased 19pc year-on-year to 17,660 units in May. However, sales fell 20pc from April levels, largely due to subdued economic activity during the Eid holidays. Total vehicle sales in 11MFY26 climbed 45pc to 183,600 units.

Foreign corporate investors remained net sellers during the week, offloading equities worth $19.42 million. In contrast, individual investors emerged as the largest buyers, with net purchases of $19.4m.

Average daily trading volume rose 24.5pc week-on-week to 776 million shares, while average daily traded value increased 6.1pc to around $104m, reflecting sustained investor participation.

On the monetary front, the government raised Rs1.96 trillion through a treasury-bill auction against a target of Rs2tr. Cut-off yields declined marginally on one-month and six-month papers, while yields on three-month and 12-month tenors edged higher.

Pakistan’s liquid foreign exchange reserves increased by $35.7m during the week to $22.7bn. State Bank reserves rose by $24.8m to $17.2bn, providing import cover of nearly 2.8 months. The rupee remained largely stable, closing at Rs278.32 against the dollar compared to Rs278.41 a week earlier.

Central government debt stood at Rs81.9tr in April, up 1.7pc from the previous month and 9.3pc higher than a year earlier.

In the energy sector, the government reduced the price of petrol by Rs4 to Rs377.78 per litre, while the price of high-speed diesel remained unchanged at Rs380.78 per litre. The adjustment reflected changes in ex-refinery prices and petroleum levy rates.

Oil and gas production recorded a modest decline during the first week of June. Gas output fell 1.6pc week-on-week to 3,021 million cubic feet per day driven by lower output from Qadirpur, Kandhkot, Sui, and Shewa fields, likely attributable to disruptions from the SNGPL pipeline rupture. While oil production slipped 1pc to 68,821 barrels per day, partly due to lower output from Makori East, Maramzai, KPD, and Sharf fields.

Sector-wise, banks made the largest positive contribution to the index, adding 670 points, followed by cement (511 points), power generation (189 points), investment banks (145 points) and property companies (109 points). Fertiliser, technology, refinery, fast-moving consumer goods and auto parts sectors weighed on market performance.

Among individual stocks, Meezan Bank, Lucky Cement, Hub Power, United Bank and Engro Holdings contributed the most to index gains. Conversely, MCB Bank, Pakistan Petroleum, Pakistan Telecommunication Company, Oil and Gas Development Company and Fauji Fertiliser were the major laggards.

Analysts at AHL said market direction in the coming week would largely depend on investors’ assessment of the federal budget and its implications for corporate earnings and economic growth. The State Bank’s monetary policy announcement and developments in US-Iran negotiations are also expected to influence sentiment.

The KSE-100 index is currently trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.0 times, while offering a dividend yield of around 6.3pc.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026

Brent crude, the international benchmark, slipped to around $87-$90 per barrel in the latest trading session. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) declined more sharply, settling near $77.41 per barrel, according to financial market data. The decline extends a broader downtrend, but traders say the latest move is driven mainly by short-term sentiment tied to geopolitical expectations.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026

On Saturday, Maritime Affairs Minister Muham­mad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said the decision was taken to fulfil a long-standing industry demand to improve the shipping sector’s competitiveness.

“The abolition of the 18pc sales tax will facilitate trade by lowering transportation and logistics costs,” the minister said in a statement, adding that the measure will encourage investment in the maritime sector and support the growth of local shipping services.

He said the relief is expected to attract fresh investment, reduce the cost of doing business for importers and exporters, and strengthen the blue economy by creating a more business-friendly environment for maritime enterprises.

Lower operational costs, the minister noted, should enhance supply-chain efficiency and boost the competitiveness of Pakistani firms in international trade.

Mr Chaudhry also argued that the move would spur employment and economic activity across related sectors, including port operations, logistics, and maritime services, and encourage greater private-sector participation in efforts to modernise maritime infra­stru­cture and expand trade capacity.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026

As most of the auto assemblers did not respond to the query about the GST rate, and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb also did not disclose anything in his budget speech, one of the local assemblers, who asked not to be named, said that stakeholders have been regularly holding discussions with policymakers on the GST issue.

It is not clear whether the government will slightly jack up the GST or maintain it under the pressure of auto assemblers, he said.

The International Monetary Fund is also reportedly forcing the government to raise the GST, but the assembler said he cannot confirm this development related to the IMF pressure.

Topline Securities Ltd said that hybrid vehicles are now subject to GST rates of 18pc (up to 1,800cc) and 25pc (1,801cc-2,500cc), compared to the previous rates of 8.5pc and 12.75pc, respectively.

The brokerage house said that these concessional tax rates were already scheduled to expire in FY26 under the Auto Industry Development and Export Policy (AIDEP).

Hybrid vehicles have been in high demand for the last two years, with appetite rising as petrol and diesel prices reached unprecedented levels in the wake of soaring crude oil prices following the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran on Feb 28.

Hybrid lovers will get a serious price shock if GST rises to 18pc and 25pc. However, much will depend on the government, which certainly needs to meet a higher revenue target.

On the continuation of the reduced GST of 1pc on the import of CKD kits for EV cars and LCVs, Topline Securities said the exemption for the import of CKD kits for locally assembled electric small cars/SUVs up to 50 kWh and LCVs up to 150 kWh has been extended to June 30, 2027.

The extension provides continued tariff relief to EV assemblers, reducing production costs and improving price competitiveness, while supporting broader EV adoption and new model introductions in entry-level passenger and commercial segments.

Overall, it strengthens near-term EV penetration prospects for players while improving visibility for investment in local assembly and related infrastructure.

Import of vehicles exceeding 2,000cc and below 3,000cc will be subject to 40pc FED and exceeding 3000cc at 41pc. Imported EVs with over Rs20m and less than Rs30m will be subject to 30pc FED and exceeding Rs30m will be subject to 40pc FED.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is scheduled to meet on June 15 for what will be the final policy review of FY26. The only increase in the policy rate during the current fiscal year came in the previous review on April 27, when the SBP raised the benchmark rate by 100 basis points to 11.5 per cent.

The increase was attributed to geopolitical tensions following the conflict in April, which pushed oil prices higher and disrupted global supply chains.

However, analysts said developments over the past month have reduced concerns over a prolonged conflict. Prospects for a deal between the US and Iran have improved, while a ceasefire remains in place despite sporadic attacks by both sides. Iran also targeted US bases in several Gulf countries, although reports of ongoing diplomatic efforts have helped calm markets.

MPC meets on Monday amid easing Gulf tensions and oil prices

Supply chain conditions have also improved over the past month, according to market sources. While they did not entirely rule out the possibility of renewed hostilities, they said the likelihood of a broader conflict appeared lower than that of a diplomatic settlement. They noted that unresolved disputes involving Israel, including its continued presence in occupied territories and positions in Lebanon, remained a source of uncertainty.

“Before deciding on rates, the MPC will likely assess several factors, including currency stability and the external account,” said Faisal Mamsa, chief executive officer of Tresmark.

Mr Mamsa said Pakistan’s recent economic stability had been driven more by strong inflows and the accumulation of foreign exchange reserves than by interest rates. He added that monetary policy had limited influence on supply-side inflation.

“If the recent inflationary pressure is being driven by oil prices and geopolitical tensions, and a regional truce emerges in the coming days, some of that pressure could subside on its own,” he said.

“The MPC will also consider the twin deficits [current account and trade imbalance] before making any decision on interest rates. The fiscal position and current account remain critical variables, particularly for an economy that has historically faced external financing constraints,” he added.

Inflation remains a key determinant of monetary policy. Analysts expect average inflation in FY26 to remain around 7pc, while inflation in FY27 is projected to be slightly above 8pc.

“This is where things become interesting. Oil prices have shown limited reaction despite military strikes on Iran. Following a reduction in hostilities and indications from US President Donald Trump that a peace agreement could be near, Brent crude prices moved lower,” Mr Mamsa said.

“With demand from China still appearing subdued, average oil prices are unlikely to remain elevated for an extended period. Inflation is expected to soften from August onwards,” he added.

Sources in the financial sector said there was little likelihood of a further increase in the policy rate, while a reduction also appeared unlikely in the near term.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026

Sindh Chamber of Agriculture Senior Vice President Nabi Bux Sathio said Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb had not given adequate attention to the agriculture sector in his budget speech. “No incentive or noteworthy step is seen in the speech,” he added.

He pointed out that Rs4.18 billion had been allocated for research, but without clarity on targeted areas. He said the agriculture sector was increasingly vulnerable to climate change and stressed the need for climate-resilient, high-yield seeds for major crops such as wheat, cotton, rice and sugarcane. He warned that reliance on hybrid seeds in crops like rice, onion and chilli could be unsustainable in the long run.

Mr Sathio said even the Rs4.18bn research allocation was insufficient, as the sector required much greater funding. He also referred to Rs7.3bn allocated for cold storage facilities, questioning the nature of such infrastructure and stressing that allocations must be linked to transparent utilisation and accountability.

Agri leaders say Rs4.18bn research allocation lacks clarity and is insufficient

Ironically, he said, the textile industry was now dependent on imported cotton bales as domestic production had failed to meet demand. He said Pakistan would again spend valuable foreign exchange on importing six to seven million bales due to the lack of revival in local cotton production.

Mr Sathio said there was no mention of the livestock sector, despite its significant contribution to agriculture’s share in GDP. He suggested that the Rs7.3bn allocated for cold storage should instead be directed towards the livestock sector to promote milk processing, meat production and exports.

Sindh Abadgar Board President Mahmood Nawaz Shah also felt that the agriculture sector had not been given serious attention in the budget speech. He said the agriculture sector had shown resilience even after the 2025 floods that mainly affected Punjab.

He pointed out that water infrastructure allocations were mentioned, but major crops received little attention in the budget. He said the oilseed sector had also been ignored, despite its potential to reduce the country’s food import bill.

Small traders’ problems

Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industries President Mohammad Saleem Memon and Senior Vice President Ahmed Idrees Chohan said the budget included some positive economic and tax reforms that should be welcomed. However, they added that more concrete measures were still required to address the problems of small traders, SMEs and small industries.

They said the absence of a comprehensive national package for SMEs and small industries was a significant shortcoming. A large portion of employment, local production and business activity in Pakistan is linked to SMEs, yet no effective programme had been introduced for low-interest financing, industrial modernisation, technology upgradation and export support.

Mr Idrees said the demand for restoration of the Final Tax Regime (FTR) had boosted the export sector, but it was not included in the budget. Although the reduction of withholding tax on exports from 2pc to 1.25pc was a positive development, the industry still lacked a stable and predictable tax regime, he added.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026

Both committees of the NA and Senate are led by PPP’s former finance ministers Syed Naveed Qamar and Saleem Mandviwalla.

While presiding over the standing committee of the national assembly on finance, Mr Qamar said the budget FY27 remains heavily focused on revenue generation and fiscal consolidation, while offering limited measures to stimulate economic growth, investment, and employment”.

A statement said Mr Qamar also expressed concern over the continued practice of setting ambitious revenue targets despite repeated shortfalls in tax collection. He further questioned the rationale for imposing additional taxation on citizens while maintaining large primary surpluses and compressing development expenditure to meet IMF programme requirements.

During the briefing, private economists informed the committee that the budget had been formulated within the framework of Pakistan’s ongoing IMF programme, with fiscal consolidation and the achievement of primary surplus targets serving as the principal policy objectives.

The committee was informed that the FBR has been assigned Rs15 trillion collection target.

“Concerns were also raised regarding the heavy reliance on enforcement measures rather than broadening the tax base through meaningful structural reforms”, the statement said.

Mr Qamar observed that while the budget introduces a number of incremental adjustments, it does not sufficiently address underlying structural economic challenges.

Saleem Mandviwala, chairing the Senate panel on finance, said that new experiments were conducted every year through the federal budget and many changes introduced over the past 10 years were subsequently withdrawn. He questioned the rationale of pursuing measures that did not produce accurate results.

Finance Minister Muh­ammad Aurangzeb said the investors required predictability and consistency in government policies and hence all stakeholders must work together to move the economy forward and announced that economic consultations would continue throughout the year.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026

The increases, introduced through the Finance Bill FY27, apply across federal taxes, including income tax, sales tax and federal excise duty. In some cases, penalties have more than doubled and are widely seen as providing the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) with an additional tool for revenue mobilisation.

Under the proposed changes, the cost of returning to the active taxpayers list (ATL) has been raised fivefold for companies to Rs100,000 from Rs20,000, while it will increase to Rs50,000 for associations of persons from Rs10,000 and Rs25,000 for individuals from Rs1,000.

The substantial increase is intended to improve tax compliance, but it will be punitive for small taxpayers.

Finance bill expands FBR’s enforcement powers; ATL restoration costs jump fivefold; businesses risk sealing of premises

The finance bill also enhanced penalties linked to audit proceedings across the board. Fines for failure to produce records have been raised from Rs25,000, Rs50,000 and Rs100,000 to Rs100,000, Rs200,000, and Rs300,000, respectively.

The penalty for providing false or misleading information has been increased from Rs25,000 or 100pc of the tax shortfall (whichever is higher) to Rs500,000 or 100pc of the amount of the tax shortfall, whichever is higher.

The penalty for concealing income or submitting incorrect details has been raised tenfold to Rs1 million from Rs100,000, while the existing provisions tied to the amount of tax evaded will continue to apply. Similarly, failure to deduct or collect withholding tax will now attract a penalty of Rs500,000, which was raised from the existing Rs40,000. Where the defaulter is a company, its principal officials will face an additional personal penalty of Rs500,000.

The Finance bill also proposes new measures which also target the misuse of withholding tax credits, with penalties equal to the excess amount claimed.

In sales tax, the finance bill proposes wide-ranging increases in penalties and introduces new enforcement tools. Fixed penalties for late filing have been raised to Rs50,000 from the existing Rs10,000, while returns filed within 10 days after the due date, the daily penalty is proposed to increase from Rs200 per day to Rs2,000 per day.

It has been proposed to increase the penalty from Rs5,000 or 3pc of the tax involved to Rs25,000 or 5pc of the tax involved, whichever is higher. Similarly, fine is enhanced from Rs10,000 or 5pc of tax involved to Rs50,000 or 10pc of the tax involved, whichever is higher. It has also proposed to increase penalty from Rs10,000 to Rs50,000, while the daily default penalty within 10 days is proposed to increase from Rs500 per day to Rs5,000 per day. Similarly, the penalty increased from Rs10,000 to Rs50,000 or 5pc of the tax involved, whichever is higher.

The tax authorities have also tightened action against persistent non-compliance, imposing higher penalties and sealing business premises. The existing law provides a penalty of up to Rs1m and possible sealing after two months of continued default.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026

They gave the assurance during a meeting with the business community, transporters and other stakeholders at the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Saturday. The meeting was also attended by members of the business alliance and action committee.

IGP Tahir said the province was facing a “hybrid war” and stressed that all stakeholders must work together to counter the challenges. He said law enforcement agencies had carried out over 2,000 intelligence-based operations this year, during which 47 security personnel embraced martyrdom and 164 militants were killed.

“Security measures, though sometimes difficult, are necessary for the protection of life and property, especially in view of recent incidents in Quetta,” he said.

Business representatives informed the meeting that thousands of import and export vehicles remained stranded in border areas, including Taftan, Noshki and Quetta, and called for improved security to facilitate trade activities.

The traders also raised concerns over traffic congestion, aerial firing and customs-related issues.

The IGP said efforts were under way to improve the Eagle Force and curb aerial firing through new standard operating procedures. He also said the issue of harassment of Balochistan’s transporters and traders in other provinces would be taken up with the Ministry of Interior.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Collector Customs Masood Ahmed announced that the Baleli checkpost had been abolished and private labourers deployed at customs checkpoints had also been removed following complaints.

He said vehicle confiscations in smuggling cases were being carried out under existing law, adding that legislative changes would be required to amend the process.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026

QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti on Saturday said the provincial government was committed to presenting a balanced, realistic and people-friendly budget aligned with the needs of the people, the province’s development requirements and its economic realities.

He was chairing a consultative meeting of the coalition parliamentary committee convened by the Balochistan government to discuss the upcoming provincial budget for the financial year 2026-27.

Parliamentary leaders of political parties, including PML-N’s Saleem Ahmed Khosa and PPP’s Mir Sadiq Umrani, as well as those of the Balochistan Awami Party, Jamaat-i-Islami and the Awami National Party, attended the meeting.

They discussed in detail the preparation of the provincial budget, development priorities and proposals aimed at public welfare.

The committee reviewed various suggestions related to education, health, clean drinking water, communications, energy, municipal services and basic infrastructure.

The parliamentary leaders presented their suggestions and recommendations, highlighting public needs in different sectors and stressing the importance of development projects that directly benefit the people of the province.

The chief minister said the government valued the input of all political parties and parliamentary representatives, adding that constructive recommendations would be incorporated into the budget-making process.

He added that special focus in the upcoming budget would be placed on public welfare, education, healthcare, job creation, infrastructure improvement and the strengthening of social sectors.

He emphasised that the government’s priority was to launch development projects that could directly improve people’s lives and contribute effectively to the province’s economic and social progress.

CM Bugti further said that bringing underdeveloped and remote areas of Balochistan into the national development mainstream remained one of the government’s top priorities. He assured the participants that resources would be distributed fairly to ensure balanced regional development so that all districts could benefit equally.

The participants appreciated the government’s initiative to take political parties into confidence during the budget-making process and reaffirmed their full cooperation for the development and welfare of the people of Balochistan.

Cabinet meeting

Speaking at a Balochistan cabinet meeting, Mr Bugti reaffirmed his government’s commitment to public service, transparent governance, institutional reforms and sustainable development, saying the provincial administration was actively pursuing an agenda aimed at improving governance and accelerating development across the province.

He said the coalition government was taking concrete steps to ensure good governance and merit.

The cabinet approved several important decisions related to public welfare, administrative reforms, the local government system, law and justice, development projects, health and interfaith harmony.

CM Bugti said the decisions taken during the meeting would help strengthen local governments, improve the quality of public services, encourage investment, reinforce the rule of law and accelerate the development process in the province.

He emphasised that local government institutions were the foundation of the democratic system.

He said the provincial government would ensure that the upcoming local government elections were conducted with complete transparency and in accordance with constitutional and legal requirements.

The chief minister directed all relevant departments to complete administrative and legal formalities in a timely manner so that the people could benefit from an effective and functional local government system.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Amid growing resistance from sections of the legal fraternity, the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) is considering the formation of a seven-member committee to interview candidates seeking appointment as judges of the high courts, a proposal expected to be finalised at the commission’s next meeting on June 19.

The proposal was discussed during the JCP meeting held on Thursday, which primarily focused on framing long-awaited rules governing judicial appointments following recent constitutional amendments.

The issue has gained significance because the absence of revised rules has delayed appointments to several high courts despite a growing number of judicial vacancies and an increasing backlog of cases.

The 27th Constitutional Amendment empowered the JCP to frame rules regulating its own procedures, including the “procedure and criteria for the assessment, interview, evaluation and fitness for appointment of judges”.

The JCP’s Rule-Making Committee comprises Federal Constitutional Court Justice Aamer Farooq, Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan, Senator Farooq H Naek, Senator Syed Ali Zafar and Pakistan Bar Council representative Ahsan Bhoon.

According to sources familiar with the deliberations, committee members considered multiple proposals regarding the interview process for prospective judges, including lawyers and judicial officers serving in the subordinate judiciary.

Senator Ali Zafar proposed that the entire JCP interview each candidate when their nomination comes before the commission, arguing that such a mechanism would enable all members to collectively assess candidates.

Senator Farooq H Naek, however, suggested that a smaller committee conduct interviews before the JCP meeting and submit its recommendations to the commission for consideration.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Bar Council representative Ahsan Bhoon proposed a five-member committee comprising two judges of the Federal Constitutional Court or Supreme Court, one parliamentarian, the attorney general and a representative of the Pakistan Bar Council.

The sources said the JCP examined the Rule-Making Committee’s recommendations on Thursday and, after deliberations, agreed in principle that the interview panel should comprise seven members rather than five.

Under the proposal, the committee would include a judge of the Federal Constitutional Court or Supreme Court, the senior-most chief justice among the high courts, the chief justice of the concerned high court where the appointment is to be made, Senator Farooq H Naek, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, Senator Syed Ali Zafar and Pakistan Bar Council nominee Ahsan Bhoon.

The proposed committee would interview candidates for elevation to the superior judiciary and submit its recommendations to the JCP. The sources said the commission is likely to formally approve the proposal at its June 19 meeting.

The JCP also considered involving chief justices of the high courts more actively in the rule-making process, they added.

The formulation of the new rules is the principal item on the agenda because judicial appointments have remained stalled following recent constitutional changes.

The issue gained further prominence after the JCP, at its April 28 meeting, approved the transfer of three judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) — Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Babar Sattar and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz — to the Lahore, Peshawar and Sindh high courts, respectively.

The proposed interview committee has generated debate within legal circles, particularly among lawyers in Islamabad, who contend that candidates for constitutional courts should not be subjected to interviews by any committee operating outside the constitutional framework.

Earlier this week, representatives of the Islamabad Bar Council, the Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) and the District Bar Association Islamabad strongly opposed both the proposed interview committee and the reported plan to fill vacancies in the IHC through transfers from provincial high courts.

The lawyers argued that such transfers would effectively reciprocate last year’s transfers, through which Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar, Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro and Justice Mohammad Asif were brought to the IHC from provincial high courts.

IHCBA President Syed Wajid Ali Gillani described the proposed interviews as a “humiliation” for candidates seeking elevation to the bench.

He argued that experienced lawyers often leave lucrative legal practices to accept judgeships because of the dignity associated with judicial office, not for financial gain.

According to Mr Gillani, while the chief justice of the relevant high court may assess a lawyer being considered for elevation, subjecting candidates to questioning by a large committee would diminish the dignity and prestige of a constitutional office.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: The PTI farmers’ wing has termed the 2026-27 federal budget as anti-farmer, anti-agriculture and disappointing for the rural economy, stating that the announced measures cannot serve as a substitute for a comprehensive agricultural policy.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Khalid Nawaz Sad­hraich, central secretary information of the PTI farmers’ wing, said the agricultural loans, specific subsidies and “hollow incentives” announced in the budget fail to address the needs of farmers.

Mr Sadhraich was joined by several lawmakers and wing leaders, including Senior Vice Presi­dent Mian Ghous, Khurram Sheh­zad Virk, Punjab farmers’ wing Cen­tral President Awais Jhak­kar, retired brigadier Aslam Ghu­man and Dr Azeemuddin Lakhvi.

The leaders highlighted contradictions in the data presented in the pre-budget Economic Survey.

They noted that agricultural growth for 2024-25 was initially shown as 0.56 per cent and later revised to 1.53pc.

Demanding clarification from the government on the revision, the leaders noted that only two years ago, the agriculture sector achieved a growth rate of over 6pc, with major crops growing at around 17pc.

The farmers wing leaders termed the proposed facilities in the federal budget as mere “lollipops”, stating that no clear, large-scale and direct relief has been provided for farmers in the fertilisers, seeds, diesel, electricity, agricultural tube wells, machinery, cotton, wheat, rice and livestock sectors.

“Agricultural costs are continuously rising, but there is no strong policy for crop pricing, market access, storage, processing and export facilities,” the leaders said in a joint statement.

They maintained that Pakistan imports around 90pc of its edible oil requirements, which poses a major threat to food self-sufficiency. Mr Ghous and Mr Sadh­raich said the figures proved that current economic policies are harming both farmers and agricultural exports.

Mr Virk and Mr Jhakkar called the current federal budget extremely disappointing for labourers, the rural economy and agricultural production. They said the government has practically ignored agriculture, which serves as the backbone of the national economy.

GB mandate

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters in Islamabad, Mr Khan expressed concerns over the political situation in Gilgit-Baltistan, alleging that the PTI’s public mandate in the region was being stolen.

He claimed that the PPP and the PML-N had limited representation in Gilgit-Baltistan but still won seats, while PTI candidates were deprived of their victories.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026

Addressing a press conference, the BHCBA President Ataullah Langove, former Supreme Court Bar Association presidents Amanullah Kanrani, Mian Rauf Atta and Rahib Baloch said those responsible for the attack deserved no leniency and should be brought to justice.

They said that armed men allegedly stormed into the house of senior lawyer Waseem Advocate on Thursday and opened fire on his son, Abdullah, seriously injuring him.

Demands crackdown on armed gangs, private guards, tinted vehicles

According to the lawyers, when Abdullah’s mother came out to save her son, the attackers also fired at her, calling the act a grave violation of tribal and social traditions.

They further said the attackers even shot at the family’s pet dog after it came out of the house following the incident.

The injured Abdullah was immediately shifted to hospital, where doctors provided emergency treatment and

managed to save his life. However, due to his critical condition, he was later airlifted to Aga Khan University Hospital through the People’s Air Ambulance for advanced treatment.

The lawyers appreciated the personal efforts of Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court Kamran Mullahkhail, Provincial Health Minis-ter Bakht Muhammad Kakar, and the Chief Secretary for arranging his transfer and announcing government-funded treatment.

The bar leaders said armed groups were openly operating in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan, creating fear among citizens.

They called for immediate action against armed gangs, private guards, and vehicles with tinted windows.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026

Presided over by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi, the June 11 SJC meeting decided to make certain amendments to the code of conduct for judges while considering the draft Rules Regulating Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Council.

The SJC meeting was also attended by Chief Justice Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) Justice Aminuddin as well as the chief justices of Lahore and Peshawar high courts.

According to an official announ­cement issued here on Saturday, one of the amendments made to the code provides that judges of the superior courts shall abstain from attending or presiding over any political or diplomatic functions, except with the permission of the relevant chief justices.

Supreme Judicial Council amends code of conduct for judges of superior courts

Earlier, Article XII of the code of conduct had imposed a complete ban on judges of the superior courts from attending or presiding over any social, cultural, political or diplomatic functions.

Likewise, in the definition of “superior court”, the newly established FCC has also been included, as a result of which the title of the code of conduct will now read: “Code of Conduct for Judges of the Federal Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and the High Courts.” Earlier, the FCC was not included in the title.

Similarly, amendments have also been made in Article XV, which requires the judges to decide cases before them on merit alone, possess moral integrity and intellectual capacity to resist internal or external influence, and, where legal powers are lacking, seek an immediate institutional response.

“Judges must promptly inform, in writing, the CJP and the four most senior SC judges (via the registrar) of any such attempts (to influence); high court judges must also inform their respective chief justices.”

The amendment suggests that judges shall immediately inform, in writing, the chief justice of the relevant high court, the Chief Justice of Pakistan, SC or FCC chief justice, and the two senior-most judges each of the FCC and the SC through the respective registrars, in case such attempts to influence are made.

In the case of the FCC or the SC, the judge shall immediately inform, in writing, the chief justice and the four senior-most judges of the relevant court through the respective registrars.

The chief justice of the high court will place the matter before a committee comprising three judges within two days of the report by the judges.

The committee’s decision on the report will be made within a fortnight. In case it is referred for judicial determination, it should be decided as early as possible, in accordance with the principles of fair trial and due process.

If the chief justice or, in the case of the high court, the committee, as the case may be, fails to respond within the stipulated timeframe, the FCC or the SC, as the case may be, which was informed by the judge, shall take up the matter.

Earlier, the FCC was included in Article XV of the code of conduct. The FCC was established as the apex court in Pakistan after the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill was passed in November 2025.

As a result, the SC was reduced to a final appellate court for civil and criminal matters.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026

GILGIT / LAHORE: Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan has rejected allegations of rigging in the June 7 general elections and said decisions on pending election petitions will be announced on Monday.

According to a statement, the GB chief election commissioner said the general elections were held in a clean, transparent, peaceful and impartial manner, and that the GB Election Commission had fulfilled all constitutional and legal requirements.

He said that under Section 89 of the Elections Act, 2017, decisions on all pending election petitions would be made within the prescribed legal period.

The chief election commissioner said election petitions from various constituencies had started to be received after the polls on June 8 and were being heard under the Elections Act.

“So far, the hearing of 10 election petitions has been completed, while the hearing of the remaining petitions will also be completed as per schedule,” he said.

He said all petitioners and lawyers of the parties were given a full opportunity and their arguments were heard carefully. The Election Commission would take all decisions in the light of the law and available evidence so that every rightful person gets their right, he added.

He said Form-45 was provided to polling agents of candidates in accordance with election laws at all polling stations and the election process was conducted with complete transparency.

PPP, PML-N trade barbs

Meanwhile, the PML-N and PPP are bickering over the results of the Gilgit-Baltistan polls and formation of the government, with the latter urging the GB chief election commissioner to ensure that the peaceful electoral process is not undermined by “controversial decisions”.

PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique, who was tasked by the party leadership with electioneering in the June 7 GB polls, taunted the PPP on X on Saturday, saying the PML-N’s objective was to protect Gilgit-Baltistan from horse-trading and political bargaining.

“Despite this, there was neither any justification then nor is there now for the PPP leadership to engage in accusations against the party of the Sharifs or adopt a disrespectful attitude towards it,” he said.

PPP senior leader and former GB governor Kamar Zaman Kaira responded strongly and indirectly accused the PML-N of manipulation in the GB polls and afterwards. He also warned against any attempt to “steal” the PPP’s mandate.

“While the party leadership was congratulating us on our victory, certain ministers and local political actors were busy attempting to alter the election results. History bears witness to who the true masters of manipulating election outcomes are,” Mr Kaira said in a post on X.

“Had we not protested on election day and raised the issue in the media over the denial of Form-45, Form-47 would never have been issued. Otherwise, the stage had already been set for the familiar game of Forms 46 and 47,” Mr Kaira said.

The PPP leader also rejected the PML-N’s claim regarding the support of two independent candidates, saying it was contrary to facts.

On the other hand, Mr Rafique advised the Sharifs to let the PML-N sit on the opposition benches in GB. He said the PPP had secured approximately 28 per cent of the vote, while the PML-N received 22pc in the GB polls.

“According to preliminary unofficial results, the PPP won 10 seats and the PML-N won six seats. Two independent candidates were also backed by the PML-N,” Mr Rafique claimed.

“Those who used every possible tactic to gain control of Karachi’s local government and later backed away from commitments made to MQM under our guarantee cannot taunt the PML-N about government formation in Lahore,” he added.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026