The defense lawyer, Barry Pollack, explicitly stated that he would seek to dismiss the case on the grounds that Maduro is immune from prosecution as the head of a sovereign state. This is a central argument in international law regarding the treatment of former heads of state. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2017664/us-judge-sets-june-2027-trial-date-for-maduro, 23 Jul 2026]
152
Who is the US District Judge presiding over the criminal case against Nicolas Maduro in Manhattan federal court?
Alvin Hellerstein is the US District Judge presiding over the case in the Manhattan federal court. Barry Pollack is the defense attorney, while Mark Donnelly and Anna Estevao are legal counsel for the defendants. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2017664/us-judge-sets-june-2027-trial-date-for-maduro, 23 Jul 2026]
153
Consider the following statements about the US-Saudi nuclear cooperation agreement:
1. The agreement includes provisions for bilateral safeguards.
2. The deal is subject to review by the US Congress.
3. The agreement was signed in 2025 to coincide with the mutual defence pact.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statements 1 and 2 are correct as the deal includes bilateral safeguards and requires Congressional review. Statement 3 is incorrect because the nuclear agreement was signed in 2026, whereas the mutual defence pact mentioned in the text was signed in 2025. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2017738/us-announces-civilian-nuclear-deal-with-saudi-arabia-says-it-includes-non-proliferation-safeguards, 23 Jul 2026]
154
The civilian nuclear cooperation agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia is contingent upon Riyadh joining which diplomatic framework?
The US administration has explicitly stated that the civilian nuclear deal is subject to Saudi Arabia normalizing ties with Israel through the Abraham Accords. Other options like the GCC or NPT are existing regional or international frameworks not cited as the specific condition for this bilateral deal. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2017738/us-announces-civilian-nuclear-deal-with-saudi-arabia-says-it-includes-non-proliferation-safeguards, 23 Jul 2026]
155
Which of the following is NOT a stated objective or condition of the US-Saudi civilian nuclear agreement?
The agreement is strictly for civilian nuclear cooperation and includes safeguards to prevent proliferation; the transfer of nuclear weapons technology is explicitly excluded and contrary to the stated non-proliferation goals. The other options are core components of the announced deal. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2017738/us-announces-civilian-nuclear-deal-with-saudi-arabia-says-it-includes-non-proliferation-safeguards, 23 Jul 2026]
156
Under which section of the US Atomic Energy Act was the nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia signed?
The agreement was signed under Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act, which governs peaceful nuclear cooperation agreements between the United States and other nations. This is a standard legal mechanism for such international partnerships. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2017738/us-announces-civilian-nuclear-deal-with-saudi-arabia-says-it-includes-non-proliferation-safeguards, 23 Jul 2026]
157
Who signed the civilian nuclear cooperation agreement on behalf of the United States on July 23, 2026?
The US Energy Secretary, Chris Wright, signed the agreements on peaceful nuclear cooperation and bilateral safeguards with his Saudi counterpart. The other officials listed were not the primary signatories for this specific energy-sector agreement. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2017738/us-announces-civilian-nuclear-deal-with-saudi-arabia-says-it-includes-non-proliferation-safeguards, 23 Jul 2026]
158
Consider the following statements about the legislative developments on March 13, 2026:
1. The ordinance previously empowering the government to transform the FC had lapsed.
2. The opposition lawmakers tore apart copies of the agenda during the protest.
3. The government plans to reintroduce the bill in the upcoming sessions after Eid.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
All three statements are factually accurate based on the events of the session. The ordinance had lapsed, the opposition engaged in protest by tearing the agenda, and the government expressed intent to pursue the bill after the Eid holidays. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1981390/pointing-out-lack-of-quorum-in-na-opposition-blocks-passage-of-bill-seeking-to-upgrade-fc-to-federal-force, 13 Mar 2026]
159
Which political figure proposed the amendment to subject the deployment of the Federal Constabulary to a formal request by the concerned government?
Syed Naveed Qamar, a member of the PPP, successfully moved an amendment to ensure that the deployment of the force requires a request from the relevant government. This was one of the few clauses approved before the session was prorogued. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1981390/pointing-out-lack-of-quorum-in-na-opposition-blocks-passage-of-bill-seeking-to-upgrade-fc-to-federal-force, 13 Mar 2026]
160
What is the primary reason the opposition was able to halt the legislative process for the Federal Constabulary bill on March 13, 2026?
The opposition pointed out the lack of quorum, which is the minimum number of members required to conduct parliamentary proceedings. Once the lack of quorum was established, the chair was forced to prorogue the session. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1981390/pointing-out-lack-of-quorum-in-na-opposition-blocks-passage-of-bill-seeking-to-upgrade-fc-to-federal-force, 13 Mar 2026]
