KARACHI: The Attorney-General, Mr Yahya Bakhtiar, said … that all cases for detention under the Defence of Pakistan Rules will in future be referred for prior approval of the Prime Minister. Presiding over [a conference] he said a decision in this respect has already been taken by the Federal Government. According to the decision, complete record of the person to be detained under DPR will first be submitted to the Provincial Chief Ministers and then forwarded to the Federal Government for thorough scrutiny. Finally, the case will be placed before the [PM] for final orders, he said, adding that the decision had been taken to check abuse … of the powers under the DPR at lower levels.

[Meanwhile, as reported by a correspondent in Lahore,] Mr. Ghulam Mustafa Khar staged a comeback to power as he was sworn in as the Governor of Punjab this afternoon [March 14]. … Today’s oath-taking ceremony in the teak-panelled Darbar Hall of … Gove­rnor’s House was different in many respects. For the first time perhaps the hall was not only packed to capacity — many persons particularly party workers were standing.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2025