On this day…

Good morning and welcome to The Blue Express! As we step into another day, let's take a moment to reflect on some of the significant historical events that occurred on July 14th:

•  1789 - Storming of the Bastille: the storming of the Bastille prison in Paris occurred, marking a pivotal event at the beginning of the French Revolution. The fall of the Bastille symbolized the end of the king's absolute power and the birth of the modern French nation.

• 1958 - Iraqi Revolution: a coup d'état in Iraq led to the overthrow of the Hashemite monarchy and the establishment of the Republic of Iraq. King Faisal II and other members of the royal family were executed, and Abdul Karim Qasim became the country's new leader.

• 1965 - Mariner 4 Flyby of Mars: NASA's Mariner 4 spacecraft performed the first successful flyby of Mars, sending back the first close-up images of the Martian surface. This mission provided the first direct data on Mars and marked a significant milestone in space exploration.

Open Market Forex Rates

Data is provided by Link Exchange

Todays Gold and Silver prices

Gold Price 24 Karat (per Tola): 249,400

Silver Price (per Tola): PKR 3,282

*These prices are consistent across major cities like Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi with minor variations

Data is provided by Waseem Jewellers

Shooting Incident at Trump Campaign Rally

1. Trump Shot in the Ear Former President Donald Trump was shot in the ear during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, causing blood to streak across his face. He grabbed his ear and dropped to his knees before being swarmed by Secret Service agents.

2. Fatalities and Injuries The shooter and one rally attendee were killed, and two other spectators were injured in the incident. Trump emerged shortly after, encouraging the crowd by pumping his fist and mouthing “Fight! Fight! Fight!”

3. Assassination Attempt Investigation The incident is being investigated as an assassination attempt. President Joe Biden contacted Trump, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, and Butler Mayor Bob Dandoy to condemn the violence and express solidarity.

4. Chaos and Security Response Witnesses described chaos as the shots rang out, with Secret Service agents quickly forming a human shield around Trump. Concerns were raised about ignored warnings of a potential sniper spotted before the event.

5. Political Leaders Condemn Violence Political leaders from both parties condemned the attack. Biden emphasized unity against violence, while Republicans like Mike Johnson and Marjorie Taylor Greene pointed to political motivations behind the incident.

6. Election Impact and Security Discussions The shooting, occurring months before the November 5 election, intensified discussions on security measures and political tensions. The attack highlighted the ongoing fears of rising political violence in the US, with two out of three Americans expressing concerns about post-election violence.

Key Points on Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi's Arrest

• Arrest after Acquittal: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were arrested by a NAB team led by Deputy Director Mohsin Haroon at Adiala Jail after being acquitted in the Iddat case.

• Legal Formalities and Further Arrests: The NAB team completed legal formalities before formally arresting them. There is potential for further arrests as a team investigating May 9 cases in Lahore had also arrived at Adiala Jail.

• Challenges to Bail Rejections: Imran Khan has challenged the rejection of his interim bails in three cases related to the May 9 riots, arguing that the Anti-Terrorism Court dismissed his bails contrary to the facts.

• Court's Acquittal and Public Reaction: Islamabad's District and Sessions Court had earlier reserved its decision but later ordered the immediate release of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi unless they were wanted in other cases. PTI activists and supporters celebrated the verdict.

Kashmir Martyrs' Day Observed to Commemorate 1931 Tragedy

• Annual Commemoration: Kashmir Martyrs' Day, observed on July 13, marked the 1931 incident where 22 Kashmiri Muslims were killed by Dogra forces in Srinagar during a protest.

• 1931 Incident: The violence erupted during a protest against the trial of Abdul Qadeer Khan when police opened fire on demonstrators attempting to call for prayers, resulting in 22 deaths and over 100 injuries.

• Martyrs' Graveyard: The killed were buried near the shrine of Khawaja Bahauddin Naqshbandi, now known as Martyrs' Graveyard.

• Holiday Status and Human Rights Protests: In 2019, the Indian government removed the official holiday status of July 13 in Kashmir. Human rights organizations worldwide continued to protest against alleged oppression in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Punjab Government Notifies Massive Increase in Salaries and Pensions

• Ad Hoc Relief for Government Employees: The Punjab government announced a 25% increase in basic pay for employees in grades BS-1 to BS-16 and a 20% increase for those in grades BS-17 to BS-22, effective from July 1, 2024.

• Pension Increase: The finance department confirmed a 15% increase in net pensions for all civil pensioners of Punjab, starting from July 1, 2024.

• Federal Government Adjustment: The federal Ministry of Finance also announced similar salary and pension increases for federal government employees and retirees, effective from July 1, 2024.

• Uniform Pension Increment: The 15% pension increase applies to both civil and armed forces retirees, including employees retiring on or after July 1, 2024.

US Ambassador Blome and Interior Minister Naqvi Discuss Bilateral Cooperation

• Meeting Overview: US Ambassador Donald Blome and Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met to discuss enhancing bilateral relations, focusing on security and law enforcement cooperation.

• Joint Law Enforcement Dialogue: They agreed to organize a law enforcement dialogue in October to strengthen collaboration in counter-terrorism, anti-narcotics, and security.

• Commitment to Bilateral Relations: Minister Naqvi assured the US of Pakistan's commitment to improving bilateral relations and highlighted recent discussions to enhance cooperation between Islamabad Police and the NYPD.

• Protection of Minority Rights: Naqvi reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to protecting minority rights, citing recent actions against those involved in the Jaranwala incident.

Key Points from the UN Report on TTP in Afghanistan

• Largest Terrorist Group: The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is identified as the largest terrorist group in Afghanistan, with an estimated strength of 6,000-6,500 fighters. It enjoys operational and logistical support from both the Afghan Taliban and factions of Al Qaeda.

• Increase in Attacks: TTP has intensified attacks against Pakistan, with incidents rising from 573 in 2021 to 1,210 in 2023. The trend is continuing into 2024, highlighting the increased threat posed by the group.

• Support from Afghan Taliban and Al Qaeda: The report highlights the Afghan Taliban's ad hoc support and tolerance of TTP operations, including the supply of weapons and training support from Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).

• Nato-Calibre Weapons: The TTP has acquired Nato-calibre weapons, especially night vision capabilities, since the Taliban takeover, adding to the lethality of their attacks against Pakistani border posts.