LAHORE: A full bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan today [July 5] started examining the question of the recognition of Bangladesh vis-à-vis its legal implication. The question had been referred to the Supreme Court by the President of Pakistan. Mr Manzur Qadir appeared as the counsel for the President. … [He] made it clear that he would confine his arguments entirely to the legal and constituti­onal aspects of the issue... . — News agencies

[Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies from Islamabad,] the National Assembly went through a dull day... . Towards the close of the sitting, however, some sparks flew in discussion of a resolution urging the Government to ban foreign-based clubs like the Rotary and Lions Clubs because they worked against the ideological basis of Pakistan.

The resolution … called for banning the Rotary and Lions Clubs as they were engaged in activities similar to those of Freemasons. The Freemasons movement, it may be pointed out, has been banned and its property taken over by the Government. The resolution, however, was withdrawn... .

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2023