MILITARY TOP BRASS PLEDGES TO COUNTER INDIAN AGGRESSION WITH SWIFT, DECISIVE RESPONSE
g CORPS COMMANDERS CONFERENCE ‘ TAKES SERIOUS NOTICE’ OF INDIAN STATEMENTS, DESCRIBING THEM A S ‘ IRRESPONSIBLE AND UNWARRANTED ’
g TOP COMMANDERS REITERATE PAKISTAN WOULD NOT ALLOW ANY MISCALCULATION TO GO UNPUNISHED
g FORUM NOTES RHETORIC REFLECTED A PATTERN OF ‘ WHIPPING UP WAR HYSTERIA FOR POLITICAL BENEFITS’
g COA S URGES UNWAVERING READINESS AGAINST HYBRID AND A SYMMETRIC THREATS
would not show any restraint this time
The remarks drew a strong rebuttal from Pakistan’s military, which warned that any future conflict would have “cataclysmic devastation and that Pakistan would resolutely respond without any qualms or restraint
PM Shehbaz calls
Pak-Saudi Defence Pact symbol of brotherhood, urges joint effor ts for global strength
on the map, further adding that the Indian military
Eleven military personnel, including a lieutenant colonel and a major, were martyred and 19 Indian-sponsored khwarij were sent to hell during an intelligence-based operation (IBO)
Gandapur quits as KP CM on Imran Khan’s
directive; Sohail Afridi named successor
PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD
n Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Wednesday announced his resignation from office in compliance with the orders of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, marking a major political shakeup in the party s provincial government PTI’s General Secretary Salman Akram Raja confirmed that Imran Khan had directed Sohail Afridi to assume the role of the new provincial chief executive In a post on X Gandapur said In respectful compliance of the orders of my leader Imran Khan, it is my honour to tender my resignation He also shared a copy of his resignation letter sent to KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi “When I took over as chief minister the province was faced with a dual challenge of financial ruin and the menace of terrorism
Over the last one and a half year with the support of my cabinet, our party members and workers, and the guidance of Imran Khan, we steered the province to financial stability and countered militancy with res-
olute courage and decision-making the letter stated Gandapur added that his administration had initiated mega projects of nation-building in a province that was militarily categorised as a warzone” and thanked his cabinet PTI lawmakers opposition members and the provincial bureaucracy for their support in navigating extraordinary challenges of governance I may not be able to claim I succeeded on all fronts, but I can say with certainty that I served with absolute sincerity to the people of KP and always acted in the best interest of Pakistan,” he said ‘R E T U R N I N G I M R A N’S
N AT’: An earlier post on Gandapur s official Facebook page later deleted quoted him as saying: The role of the chief minister was Imran Khan sahib s amaanat (entrustment), and as per his order, I am returning his amaanat and submitting my resignation ” PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram and the party’s official X account also confirmed that Gandapur had resigned as per Imran Khan s directive
ISLAMABAD
Sugar
disruption as FBR Track & Trace por tal goes offline repeated T&T por tal shutdowns in punjab and sindh affec ting dispatches, raising domestic price concerns
Sugar millers in Punjab and Sindh have
Hussain the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) highlighted that mills in both provinces have faced frequent disruptions as the portal remained non-functional for several days, particularly during September and the past week A PSMA spokesperson said the outages have prevented mills from lifting sugar and dispatching it to markets disrupting supply chains and contributing to rising domestic prices If these restrictions continue, the resulting shortfall could lead to further price increases,” the spokesperson warned Millers reported that FBR officials stationed at mills, especially in southern Punjab and interior Sindh have blocked dispatches by denying clearance at mill gates a practice that the association said has become routine and is aggravating market supply issues
Provinces given 24 hours to repor t on pending IMF targets and justify any delay
The provincial governments have missed cash surplus targets for FY25 and continue to show shortfalls in FY26 Sindh has announced a budget deficit of around Rs40 billion, while Punjab has raised concerns over stringent IMF conditions citing issues of self-respect even in the context of flood-related aid
The IMF
IMF reportedly directs to suspend disbursements for flood-hit development projects until verified assessments of needs and losses are provided The federal government has called on provincial authorities to urgently resolve pending matters related to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to ensure the smooth completion of the second review under the $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) by the weekend, Dawn reported According to the report, the Prime Minister ’s Office (PMO) contacted federal officers in provincial capitals on Sunday night instructing them to facilitate progress on unresolved issues and upcoming fiscal targets linked to the EFF and the $1 4 billion Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) Similar directives were issued to key federal ministries Provincial chief secretaries and finance secretaries were asked to submit updates within 24 hours, providing explanations for any delays or unmet targets Officials said the Ministry of Finance reported that the larger provinces, particularly Sindh and Punjab, had not been fully cooperative regarding IMF commitments
and
Full cour t bench formation debate dominates SC hearing on 26th Amend
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
Hamid Khan clarified that he was not addressing the merits but presenting factual aspects, and requested that the petitions be heard by a full court comprising all 16 judges who were present when the 26th Amendment was passed Justice Mandokhail questioned whether Hamid Khan acknowledged that the 26th Amendment was currently part of the Constitution The lawyer replied that if a full court struck it down it would be considered void ab initio (from the beginning) Justice Aminud Din observed that until declared void, the amendment remains in force “We rely on the Constitution, and so must the lawyers Until the Constitution is amended we have to depend on the one in force, he remarked Justice Mandokhail noted that the petitioners had appeared before a bench formed under the same amendment while Justice Musarrat Hilali pointed out that the 26th Amendment was still valid as it had not been suspended Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar directed Hamid Khan to confine his arguments to the request for a full court The counsel argued that the amendment had curtailed the Chief Justice s powers to form benches a first in Pakistan s constitutional history He further submitted that while the Judicial Commission had existed before the 26th Amendment altered its composition reducing the number of judges and giving non-judicial members greater representation Justice Aminud Din remarked that the key issue before the bench was to determine which forum had the authority to hear the petitions and whether a full court could be constituted under the court s powers Justice Ayesha Malik observed that there was no restriction on forming a full court through a judicial order asking Where in the 26th Amendment does it say that such an order cannot be issued?
Justice Naeem Afghan noted that Hamid Khan’s written plea did not specifically include the demand for a full court while Justice Mazhar questioned under which constitutional provision such an order could be passed suggesting Article 187 might apply Hamid Khan agreed, saying Article 187 empowered the Supreme Court to issue such directives Justice Mandokhail then asked whether the petitioner would be satisfied if all SC judges were considered part of the constitutional bench, to which Hamid Khan replied that the very concept of a “constitutional bench stemmed from the 26th Amendment itself Justice Mandokhail remarked that it was Parliament, not the judiciary, that had introduced the concept At one point when Hamid Khan urged the court to forget about Article 191A for a moment Justice Mazhar responded rhetorically If we forget that, then what remains of the constitutional bench why are we even sitting here?” Justice Aminud Din added “If we forget that the Supreme Court itself ceases to exist Without this constitutional bench how could we pass any orders? After Hamid Khan concluded his arguments, the court adjourned the hearing until 11:30 a m on Thursday It may be recalled that the constitutional bench had ordered live streaming of the proceedings after hearing the parties on Tuesday The first hearing on the petitions challenging the 26th Constitutional Amendment was held on January 27 2025
Militar y top brass pledges to counter Indian aggression with swif t, decisive response
In its earlier response Pakistan had cautioned that those seeking to establish a new normal must know that Pakistan has established a new normal of response swift, decisive, and destructive ” The ISPR said the CCC participants expressed grave concern over the Indian rhetoric noting that it reflected a pattern of whipping up war hysteria for political benefits
“Such rhetoric conforms to the well-known Indian propensity of whipping up war hysteria for political benefits The participants agreed that unwarranted warmongering is likely to heighten tensions and will endanger regional peace and security, the ISPR said Focus on counterterror operations
The meeting began with prayers for the martyrs of recent terrorist attacks which the statement said were orchestrated by Indian terror proxies Field Marshal Munir lauded the resolve and determination of Pakistan s armed forces in the ongoing fight against terrorism and in relief operations during recent floods which were conducted “in conjunction with civil administration and other law enforcement agencies The forum conducted a comprehensive review of internal and external security challenges, ongoing counterterrorism operations, and emerging threat paradigms It reaffirmed the army’s preparedness to thwart the inimical designs of Pakistan s adversaries across all domains CRIMINAL-TERROR NEXUS
The ISPR statement also underscored the military’s resolve to end what it described as the “existing nexus between terror and crime with vested political patronage asserting
that such forces gravely hurt the interests of the state and the security of its people ” “This nexus will not be allowed to continue anymore come what may ” the statement read
The commanders reaffirmed their commitment to comprehensive counterterrorism operations aimed at dismantling networks of “Indian-sponsored terror proxies,” identified as Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan
The term Fitna al-Khawarij is used by the state for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Meanwhile, Fitna al-Hindustan
a term introduced earlier this year refers to terrorist groups allegedly supported by India to destabilise Pakistan particularly in Balochistan
In May the government had formally designated all militant organisations operating in Balochistan under the Fitna al-Hindustan label, signalling Islamabad’s intent to internationally highlight India’s alleged role in fomenting terrorism inside Pakistan DIPLOMATIC ENGAGEMENTS AND DEFENCE PACT WITH SAUDI ARABIA
The commanders also took note of Pakistan’s recent high-level diplomatic engagements reaffirming their commitment to global and regional peace
The forum welcomed the landmark mutual defence agreement signed between Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, describing it as a testament to “shared values, mutual respect, and a joint vision for peace and security in the Middle Eastern and South Asian regions
Under the pact signed in September at Riyadh s Al-Yamamah Palace by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Crown Prince Mohammed
bin Salman both countries pledged that any aggression against one state would be considered an attack against the other Analysts view the agreement as a significant shift in Pakistan’s strategic outreach reinforcing defence cooperation and bolstering its diplomatic positioning amid regional flux
Support for Kashmir and Palestine
The ISPR further said the army leadership reiterated its unwavering support for the legitimate struggle of the Kashmiri people for their right to self-determination in line with relevant UN Security Council resolutions
The conference also reaffirmed Pakistan’s principled stance on the Palestinian issue, expressing solidarity with the people of Gaza and calling for an early ceasefire and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid
The forum reiterated Pakistan s principled stance on the Palestine issue, voicing support for the two-state solution with an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders and Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital the statement added OPERATIONAL READINESS
In his closing remarks, Field Marshal Munir directed all commanders to maintain the highest standards of operational readiness discipline physical fitness innovation and responsiveness He expressed full confidence in the Pakistan Army s operational preparedness to counter threats across the entire spectrum from conventional and sub-conventional to hybrid and asymmetric domains ”
The statement concluded with a reaffirmation of the army s resolve to safeguard Pakistan s sovereignty and ensure that no external aggression or internal subversion undermines the country’s stability
projects including high seismic geological and hydrological risks, remote locations in Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and logistical complexities He warned that exclusion from IGCEP jeopardizes Chinese bank financing under CPEC undermines investor confidence and disrupts the near-final financial closing despite execution of the facility agreement and PPIB approval of the term sheet
G andapur quits as KP CM on Imran K han’s direc tive; S ohail Afridi named successor
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
AFRIDI TO BE NEW KP CM Shortly before Gandapur ’s announcement PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja confirmed to reporters in Rawalpindi that MPA Sohail Afridi had been nominated by Imran Khan as the next chief minister of KP “This is correct,” Raja said when asked whether Afridi’s appointment had been decided “Imran Khan told me the background of this in detail and ordered me to put this before you Speaking later at a press conference, Raja clarified that Gandapur s exit was not the result of a no-confidence motion but a direct instruction from Imran Khan “There will be no vote of no-confidence; Imran Khan ordered Ali Amin to resign he said adding that PTI held a clear majority in the KP Assembly, which would ensure Afridi s smooth election as the new chief minister “Ali Amin is loyal to the party Imran Khan has expressed good sentiments
Lt- Col, Major among 11
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
Sepoy Tufail Khan (age: 28 years, resident of District Malakand) Sepoy Aqib Ali (age: 23 years resident of District Swabi) Sepoy Muhammad Zahid (age: 24 years resident of District Tank)
The ISPR said that a sanitisation operation was being conducted to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored kharji found in the area It further stated that security forces were determined to wipe out the menace of Indian-sponsored terrorism from the country and such sacrifices of our brave men further strengthen our resolve Later, funeral prayers were offered for the two officers in Rawalpindi’s Chaklala, which were attended by Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif federal ministers and military and civic officials the ISPR said in a later statement The prime minister, while paying tribute to the 11 shuhadas (martyrs) of the Orakzai IBO resolved that the Pakistani na-
tion stands resolute and firm against this menace of terrorism and the shuhadas ultimate sacrifice is a reminder of the unwavering resolve of the nation to defend the motherland at all costs,” the statement read, adding that the remaining nine martyrs would be laid to rest in their native towns with full military honours PM Shehbaz paid tributes to the country s security forces for killing 19 terrorists and also expressed grief over the martyrdom of the soldiers, including Lieutenant Colonel Arif and Major Rahat, according to a statement issued by the prime minister ’s office The sacrifices of the fearless sons of security forces will never go in vain he said We will crush the nefarious intentions of Indian-backed terrorists We will not allow elements that harm Pakistan s integrity to succeed,” he added PM Shehbaz said the government was determined to eradicate the menace of terrorism from the country In a separate statement issued by the presidency President Asif Ali Zardari paid glowing tributes to the courageous action
for him There is no reason he will not follow Khan sahib s order Raja said Imran concerned over rising terrorism Raja told reporters that Imran Khan had expressed serious concern over the worsening security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa “There is the worst terrorism situation in KP There have been record incidents this year lives lost and martyrdoms at a level never seen before Raja quoted the PTI founder as saying
According to Raja, Imran was very sad” about recent terror incidents, including the deadly attack in Orakzai and believed that leadership change in KP had become necessary to refocus provincial strategy
Raja said Imran had been warning for over two years that the federal government s policies were very wrong and that the KP government should have disassociated itself from them
“He repeatedly said there are three stakeholders in achieving peace the residents of the tribal areas the Afghan government, and the Afghan people, Raja
of security forces in the Orakzai district
The president expressed satisfaction over the elimination of 19 terrorists of the Indian-backed khawarij Lt-Col Junaid Tariq shaheed, Major Tayyab Rahat and other martyrs are heroes of the nation as their supreme sacrifices aimed at defending the frontiers and solidarity of the country the statement read It added that Zardari expressed heartfelt sympathy with the families of the martyrs, praying that they bear their loss with patience and courage The president said that the brave sons set an eternal example by sacrificing their lives while defending their country The sacrifices of the martyrs are a symbol of the nation s resolve and unity He reiterated the resolve to completely eliminate Indian-backed terrorism from the soil of Pakistan”
explained By humiliating Afghan refugees and casting them out after 40 years of hospitality, we have created hatred that was unnecessary and unforgivable in the eyes of Imran Khan ” Raja criticised the federal government for failing to maintain effective contact with the Afghan interim setup and said Imran was disappointed that the KP government could not distance itself from misguided federal and security policies on counterterrorism “Khan sahib believes the only way to end terrorism is to look at the issue in its wider context not through cycles of military action and reprisals he said ‘A NEW BEGINNING UNDER AFRIDI’ According to Raja, Imran Khan expected that the new KP administration under Sohail Afridi would mark “a new beginning based on wisdom and mutual understanding Raja said Afridi was expected to hold jirgas and tribal consultations to find locally owned solutions to
the province s long-standing security and governance issues Imran Khan has affirmed his intent to adopt better policies at the federal level, and he expects Afridi to guide the federal government on establishing peace in the region
The IMF review team finds ever ything has been changed by the floods
TH E IMF review team, in Islamabad to decide, after a second review, whether Pakistan should be given a third tranche of $1 billion is having to deal with old problems but is being told that the damage from floods is to blame for it There have been shortfalls There is a need to work out a set of additional measures along with a set of exemptions and waivers, because there have been two major shortfalls There has been a shortfall in tax collection, with the primary surplus in danger, while Punjab and Sindh have not achieved their cash surplus targets, mainly because of a lack of progress in implementing the agricultural income tax
Another problem is that the circular debt in the power sector will go up by Rs 535 billion instead of falling This is despite a campaign against line losses and a restructuring of the circular debt which involved the largest-ever loan made by the largest ever consortium of banks
The IMF and the government are heading towards a mini-budget, for while the IMF is agreeable to taxation measures remaining unchanged, if the CBR does not meet its target in the second quarter of the current fiscal year it will insist on their bein implemented Apart from a potentially revolutionary change in the duty-free import scheme for vehicles, whereby current exemptions for gifts and baggage would be ended, there is also the idea of increasing the excise on fertilizer, and the tax on pesticides That might bring in some revenue but it would undermine Pakistan as an agricultural country, something that the current floods have shown once again it can ill afford With flood damage expected in future, IMF revenue demands may make the country lose ac hard-won autarky
The floods have had a multiple effect They have led the Finance Ministry to change the GDP growth forecast, on the basis of which revenues are estimated and collection targets set It is also to be noted that the inflation projection is being changed which again has an impact on revenue estimates
Perhaps most relevant are the estimates of losses
The IMF itself sees a revenue shortfall of Rs 400 billion Though the CBR has remained committed to its target of Rs 14 13 trillion the IMF sees other potential shocks such as the risk of conflict and commodity price rising internationally
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
TH E 60th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council once again ripped apart India s carefully woven façade of being the world s largest democracy Beneath the veneer of democratic institutions and constitutional promises lies a grim reality: systemic repression entrenched violence and a relentless silencing of dissent Nowhere is this paradox more evident than in Tamil Nadu and Indian Occupied Kashmir two regions that have become emblematic of India s deepening human rights crisis, forcing the international community to confront uncomfortable truths At Geneva the Society for Development and Community Empowerment an international NGO delivered a damning oral intervention that pierced through New Delhi s propaganda It exposed the chilling reality in Tamil Nadu, where the targeted killings of social activists, environmental defenders, and even lawyers have become disturbingly commonplace under the governance of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party These are not isolated tragedies but part of a deliberate campaign designed to quash opposition and stifle voices that dare to challenge entrenched political and corporate interests Those who resist destructive industrial projects, advocate for land rights, or defend marginalized communities are often met with harassment unlawful detention and tragically assassination Lawyers offering solidarity fare no better as they too are dragged into the crosshairs of state-enabled violence This systematic brutality thrives in a culture of impunity Police complicity, lethargic judicial mechanisms, and the political shielding of perpetrators create an environment where justice is denied, and oppression is rewarded Tamil Nadu often hailed as a bastion of cultural richness and progressive politics is now being unmasked as a theatre of coercion where freedom of expression is smothered under the weight of unchecked authority The UNHRC s spotlight has pulled back the curtain on India s desperate attempts to conceal its darker realities Simultaneously Kashmiri diaspora groups orchestrated a symbolic yet piercing protest at the Broken Chair in Geneva a global landmark of resistance against atrocities and impunity Through tent expositions and stark poster displays, they unveiled the horrific plight of Kashmiris under Indian occupation
For decades, the Valley has been suffocated by a regime of militarization characterized by extrajudicial killings enforced disappearances arbitrary detentions and even mass blinding through the use of pellet guns Since the revocation of Article 370 in 2019 the situation has only worsened as Kashmir was stripped of its autonomy and plunged into an
B e t w e e n p a s s i o n a n d t h e p r e s s u r e
Are we preparing our young for the future?
iron-fisted direct rule, marked by prolonged internet blackouts media gags and suffocating curfews
The Kashmiri campaign served as a poignant reminder that the conflict is not an internal matter as India repeatedly claims but a dispute recognized by international law and underscored by UN Security Council resolutions Kashmiris remain prisoners within their homeland, shackled by an environment of fear, censorship, and constant surveillance while their right to self-determination is trampled underfoot
Yet India s crisis of repression does not end in Tamil Nadu or Kashmir Internally the nation is fast transforming into a cauldron of violence across Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Ladakh, and beyond, where minorities and marginalized groups bear the brunt of state power This is no longer a tale of isolated abuses but a nationwide architecture of intimidation and authoritarianism
Externally India s conduct is equally alarming Far from being a victim of terrorism, New Delhi has emerged as a patron of proxy violence across borders Canada’s designation of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist organization, India’s backing of insurgent groups like Fitnat-ul-Hindustan the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) in Pakistan and the arrest of Indian intelligence operative Kulbhushan Jadhav an irrefutable smoking gun all underscore its role as an exporter of instability
The litany of evidence does not stop there In Qatar eight RAW operatives were apprehended for espionage while in Australia Indian agents were caught red-handed pilfering sensitive defense information These incidents are not coincidences; they are fragments of a broader mosaic revealing India s covert campaign to destabilize not only South Asia but entire continents It is a tale of two India’s: one that boasts of democratic ideals on the world stage, and another that crushes dissent internally while fanning the flames of terrorism externally
The interventions at the UNHRC and the protests in Geneva converge on one undeniable conclusion: India s human rights crisis is systemic,
For Pakistan this is not a luxury but a necessity A country with one of the world’s largest youth populations cannot afford to waste its energy in misaligned careers or narrow visions of education We need poets as much as programmers, entrepreneurs as much as engineers, teachers as much as technologists Diversity of skill is the bedrock of resilience, and nations rise not when everyone walks the same road but when many roads converge to build a collective strength Skills training and creativity are also education
Cricket beyond politics
Tvictims of what economists call information asymmetry Universities too are complicit Many have shifted their degree structures to chase the latest fads Departments are rebranded with glossy titles Quantum Computing and Artificial Intelligence, Neuroscience and Cognitive Technology, Climate Science and Sustainability,’ ‘Digital Media and Metaverse Studies,’ ‘Genomics and Precision Medicine,’ ‘Cybersecurity and Blockchain Systems ’ even ‘Space Science and Aerospace Engineering The names promise the future but too often the reality is an outdated curriculum and underprepared faculty The illusion of innovation masks a dilution of substance Students may enrol in large numbers, but what they receive is often a hollowed-out education At the heart of the matter is a larger misunderstanding the belief that education is merely a conveyor belt to a job This is partly true work sustains life but it is dangerously incomplete A career lasts decades, and when it runs against one s nature, it drains not just time but spirit, turning work into a slow erosion of the self The tragedy is not simply individual frustration, but a nation filled with half-hearted professionals True education should therefore aim not only to equip students for survival but also to align their deepest curiosities with the needs of society
To reduce learning to degrees alone or to confine it within the walls of universities, is to suffocate imagination True education lies as much in craft as in scholarship, in the freedom to choose as in the discipline to persist Our youth deserve the dignity of choice to study what stirs their minds to learn what shapes their hands and to pursue knowledge that brings both meaning and livelihood Skill development, vocational training, entrepreneurship, and creative pursuits are as vital to the nation as any formal degree
To achieve this, Pakistan requires a revolution in counselling and mentorship Academic guidance must be institutionalized at school and college levels supported by universities and regulated by the Higher Education Commission while technology can be used to democratize access through career-mapping tools, digital platforms, and mentorship networks connecting professionals with students from every district
If Pakistan wishes to grow it must allow its young to grow in their own directions For only a country that trusts its youth with freedom will discover in them not just employees, but builders of futures And in that trust lies the difference between a nation that merely survives and one that truly rises
The writer is Ph D in Political Science and visiting faculty at QAU Islamabad His area of specialization is political development and social change He can be reached at zafarkhansafdar@yahoo com and tweet@zafarkhansafdar
Dr Zafar Khan SafDar
TH E political landscape of Pakistan has been dramatically reshaped since Imran Khan s removal from office via a no-confidence vote in April 2022 Rather than engaging through traditional democratic channels, Khan launched a persistent, aggressive campaign widely seen as anti-state in nature At the heart of this campaign was Khan’s “foreign conspiracy” narrative alleging without verifiable evidence that his ouster was orchestrated by the USA in collusion with Pakistan s military, referred to euphemistically as neutrals This message, spread through rallies, media, and social platforms, aimed to delegitimize the new government erode trust in the military and radicalize his supporters Critics argue the purpose was not to reveal truth but create a permanent crisis positioning Khan as the sole legitimate leader and portraying the state as conspiring against the people
This campaign was complemented by physical mobilization translating online sentiment into real-world action The PTI orchestrated numerous large-scale protests and protracted marches paralyzing key urban centres and major transportation arteries The socalled long march of late 2022 was a prime example, explicitly designed to force the dissolution of the government and compel early elections thereby exerting maximum pressure on the administration outside of Parliament These demonstrations frequently escalated beyond peaceful protest into direct and violent confrontations with law enforcement agencies, prompting inevitable responses involving mass arrests, the dispersal of crowds and the imposition of curfews and road blockades
This recurring pattern of protest served a clear dual purpose: applying maximum pressure on the sitting government while simultaneously rallying and solidifying Khan s support base, effectively attempting to strongarm both the political and legal systems into submission through street power and populist demand undermining the authority of elected assemblies and court judgments
The most severe and damning manifestation of this mobilization strategy occurred on 9 May 2023, triggered by Khan s arrest on cor-
ruption charges The country was subsequently shocked by scenes of widespread, coordinated, and intensely violent attacks as enraged PTI supporters, allegedly acting on pre-planned instructions targeted the most sacred symbols of state sovereignty: military installations including the house of the Corps Commander in Lahore government buildings police stations and public property were set ablaze
This was assessed by the government, independent analysts, and subsequent antiterrorism court orders to be a premeditated and coordinated strategy of violence not a spontaneous outburst of anger Judicial findings detailed in court orders have explicitly stated that evidence suggests Khan not only incited his followers with his rhetoric but actively delegated responsibility to senior party leaders to create chaos, deliberately disturb law and order and commit acts of arson to essentially hold the state hostage and pressure the military and government into securing his immediate and unconditional release
The events of May 9 became a pivotal and indelible moment in Pakistan s recent history, cementing in the official and public perception the accusation that Khan’s actions had decisively crossed the red line from political opposition into outright anti-state activity seeking to undermine the state s monopoly on force
These grave allegations were subsequently formalized through a series of extensive and ongoing legal proceedings Special courts have accused Khan of behaviour that resembles that of a terrorist for his alleged central role in orchestrating the May 9 violence He has since faced a veritable barrage of serious charges, including under the stringent Anti-Terrorism Act and the Official Secrets Act in the infamous “cipher case,” alongside separate convictions for corruption though some of these convictions subsequently overturned or remained under
appeal in higher courts While the PTI and its spokesmen dismiss all cases uniformly and without exception as a politically motivated witch-hunt masterminded by his enemies independent analysts and observers see them despite the fraught and polarized environment, as a necessary application of legal accountability for a political figure
Beyond the courtroom battles, Khan’s political strategy further expanded to include explicit calls for civil disobedience urging his supporters to boycott political processes refuse to accept state actions and reject the authority of elected institutions This tactic further illustrated a fundamental rejection of established democratic channels for redress such as Parliament and the judiciary in favor of extraconstitutional pressure and street power Seasoned political analysts argue that the cumulative and synergistic effect of these actions poses a grave threat to Pakistan s fragile constitutional order
They warn that publicly attacking the military and intelligence agencies with sensational accusations of treason while simultaneously mobilizing impassioned crowds to physically target state symbols creates a dangerously combustible environment that escalates tensions to a breaking point and risks provoking a destabilizing cycle of severe crackdowns and violent reprisals
The most potent, modern, and insidious weapon in this extensive arsenal however has been the waging of sophisticated digital warfare Astonishingly from the confines of jail Khan s presence on social media platforms, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), has been nothing short of prolific, sustained, and strategically coherent With a combined following exceeding 34 million across his official and affiliated accounts his digital reach acts as an incredibly powerful political force multiplier allowing him to bypass traditional media gatekeepers and speak directly to the masses unfiltered His posts, often sharply critical and contemptuous of the military leadership and judiciary, are amplified hun-
dreds of thousands of times through an organized network, shaping public perception with unprecedented speed and scale
However this immense influence carries a profoundly dark side Security analysts and government officials directly link his specific online rhetoric to real-world agitation, civil unrest, and even acts of violence For instance, the posting of sensitive and selectively edited content from the historical Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report from his verified account was not seen as historical debate but as a deliberate attempt to target the morale of the armed forces, prompting a serious state investigation into its potential impact on national unity
The very architecture and command-andcontrol of this digital campaign are themselves a subject of intense scrutiny and investigation Official probes actively challenge PTI s public claim of running a decentralized, organic, volunteer-led online movement Leaked intelligence reports and investigation details point instead to a highly centralized and disciplined command structure with Khan’s sister Aleema Khan allegedly acting as a pivotal conduit relaying instructions and talking points from the jailed leader to overseas handlers and social media teams who then coordinate and execute messaging across verified PTI platforms
This suggests a highly managed, topdown information operation bearing the hallmarks of a psychological operation rather than genuine grassroots activism designed to create a false narrative of spontaneous public outrage
A particularly alarming and geopolitically sensitive dimension of this digital strategy is its perceived convergence whether intentional or coincidental with the strategic interests of hostile foreign powers Security analysts note a striking and persistent synergy between Khan s narratives and the coverage of major Indian news channels, which amplify his most critical statements against the Pakistani state within minutes of them appearing online, often during primetime news bulletins
This mirror effect whereby Indian media gives wall-to-wall coverage to his claims of army interference judicial corruption, and foreign conspiracies, has raised serious alarms within Pakistan The concern is that Khan’s digital campaign, regardless of its original intent is being leveraged and amplified by adversaries like India’s intelligence agency RAW to fuel internal divisions destabilize Pakistan and wage a cost-effective hybrid war
This suspicion is gravely compounded by the selectively curated nature of his mes-
saging: while constantly questioning the state’s legitimacy and actions, his accounts remain conspicuously and consistently silent on terrorist attacks against the very security forces he criticizes thereby indirectly reinforcing Indian propaganda narratives that seek to paint Pakistan as an internally repressive and failing state rather than a nation battling existential external threats
This alleged anti-state agenda extends beyond mere rhetoric and digital manipulation and into the critical life-and-death realm of national security governance and policy The PTI-led government in KP, which borders Afghanistan, is repeatedly accused of actively obstructing the nation’s counter-terrorism efforts and creating policy confusion A dangerous and potentially deadly policy divergence exists between the federal and KP governments While the Centre having learned from what it views as the failed and costly appeasement policies of Khan s premiership, has firmly ruled out negotiations with the TTP,
I s I s r a e l l o s i n g t h e
J e w s i n t h e d i a s p o r a ?
Jews A new Quinnipiac poll shows American voters’ support for Israel has fallen from 69% to 43% in just the past two years of Gaza warfare while nearly three in five support Palestinian statehood Half of these voters feel Israel is committing genocide in Gaza Other polls show similar results
RIFT BETWEEN ISRAELI AND AMERICAN JEWS: The greatest longterm threat may be growing estrangement between Israel and American Jewry Bibi has single-handedly unraveled bipartisan support for the US-Israel relationship It took the Jewish community 80 years to build it and he has blown it up ” said the executive of a large Jewish organization “It gives rise to feelings of: If you don t care about us why should we care about you?
The largely silent response of Jewish groups to the prime minister s UN appearance last week was a revealing indicator of that erosion His condescending speech laced with trademark props and gimmicks prompted a walkout by hundreds of delegates
Once again he failed to present a serious day after vision for peace – something most American Jews say they want to hear – instead of the prospect of permanent occupation which means permanent conflict “The US Jewish community has never been so polarized one prominent Jewish professional told me People don t talk to each other, they scream His colleagues around the country are exhausted over the division among Jews; other communities don’t want to work with them because of Israel and Gaza
Antisemitism is linked to the IsraelHamas War not Jews he pointed out Bibi appears indifferent toward the civilian death toll in Gaza Dennis Ross, the former ambassador and top US Mideast negotiator, has written that Netanyahu’s approach to the war “failed the fundamental test of dealing with a guerrilla conflict: to protect the population
The yawning gap between Israel and American Jewry is not just a matter of policy differences but the refusal of successive Israeli governments to take the interests of Diaspora Jewry into account when making decisions
The seismic changes of the past year have moved us to issue a call to the gov-
ernment of Israel to weigh the consequences of its actions not only for the citizens of Israel, but for the Jewish people
as a whole ” Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) said in its annual report JPPI is a non-profit established by the Jewish Agency to bolster ties among Diaspora Jews, and between them and Israel Based in Jerusalem, its chairs are Ambassadors Stuart Eizenstat and Ross The report calls for the perspective of Diaspora Jews to be considered in Israel’s decisionmaking processes Not just the wealthy donor class If Israel is the nation-state of the entire Jewish people, the report said, the government of Israel must consider the potential consequences of its decisions and actions for Diaspora Jewry This is especially urgent in light of current events in the region and globally when anti-Israel and extremist organizations are exploiting the situation to intensify incitement and harm against Jews, it noted The disdain for the Diaspora is embodied in Netanyahu’s selection for Diaspora minister Amichai Chikli The Philadelphia Jewish Exponent dubbed him the Minister of Confrontation He seems to know little about the Diaspora and cares even less Members of Congress and some Jewish leaders have found him “remarkably ignorant ” He’s been particularly disdainful of non-Orthodox Reform and liberal Jews Many activists in the Jewish community feel the Israeli approach to American Jewry has been: Shut up and send more weapons and money There’s another side to that bad coin In my personal experience with Jewish leaders I’ve heard complaints about Israeli policies and actions in private but when it comes to speaking truth to power face-to-face, they often chicken out Michael Oren, the former Israeli ambassador to Washington, told Jewish Insider that he does not believe there is a serious effort in Jerusalem to address the emerging American political realities Netanyahu has no vision beyond today and is blind to the shifting political winds in America, considering them existential issues, he added The days of bipartisan pro-Israel consensus in Congress are history and unlikely ever to return Shared values and strategic interests are the foundation of bipartisan political support but so are constituents and supporters And when politicians see Jewish support for Israel turning away, as it has in the Netanyahu era of extremism, those ties become frayed and can unravel entirely
The writer is a Washington-based journalist consultant lobbyist and former legislative director at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee
SI N C E President Marcos blew the lid on massive corruption in the country s multi-billion flood control projects during his State of the Nation Address last July, stocks had slumped to their lowest in six months the peso has weakened to the 58 level versus the greenback and investors have retreated to the sidelines closely watching the investigations unfold
Unfortunately, they are likely to stay there, especially with the surprise move of Senate blue ribbon committee chair Sen Panfilo Lacson to step down from his post after barely warming his seat and suspend public hearings primarily because the testimonies of contractors and officers of the Department of Public Works and Highways eventually brought corruption allegations at the doorsteps of his own colleagues
That easily bolstered perception that the Senate and the House of Representatives were only out to protect their own leading observers to conclude that the revelations of huge piles of cash exchanging hands and involving some of the country s top elected and appointed officials will come to naught Thus, if the Marcos administration sincerely wants to win back the trust of the Filipino public and foreign and local investors it must demonstrate the political will to punish those who would be proven guilty of corruption no matter how rich or powerful they may be BIGGER ROLE TO PLAY: It already took a step in the right direction with the setting up of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) last month that is entrusted with the gargantuan task of investigating flood control and other infrastructure projects implemented from 2015
With the Congressional hearings suspended, the ICI now has an even bigger role to play and must be granted the power and resources it needs to carry out its mission Given its mandate to investigate infrastructure projects spanning three presidencies it may need more teeth to be more effective Thus, the move to enact the Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption Act of 2025 which would provide the body with subpoena powers to cover all branches of government including constitutionally created bodies as well as private companies and individuals It will also be granted full and unrestricted access to all government records as well as contempt powers to sanction those who will willfully
CORPORATE CORNER
PAKISTAN TO HOST MARITIME INVESTMENT CONFERENCE IN 2025
GO ARAMCO delegation meets CDA C hief, disc
usses potential cooperation
Director General Resource and other senior officers During the meeting, potential cooperation on projects of mutual interest was discussed Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa
said that to make Islamabad a modern and international city, CDA is initiating various projects under the Joint Venture model He said that the JV model would promote investment in Islamabad and generate permanent sources of income for the Authority He added that all projects are being carried out in accordance with PPRA rules while transparency and merit in these projects is also being ensured The ARAMCO delegation was briefed about the various projects being launched in Islamabad under the leadership of Chairman CDA Chairman
CDA said the aim of these projects is to ensure the provision of better and the best facilities to the citizens of the Capital City He mentioned that various sites are also available for investment to establish petrol pumps in Islamabad The delegation was also informed about the establishment of a state-ofthe-art slaughterhouse in Islamabad During the briefing the delegation was informed that the feasibility study regarding the slaughterhouse has been completed
‘OCT 8 QUAKE ANNIVERSARY’: PM, PRESIDENT PLEDGE TO STRENGTHEN, ENHANCE DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
ECP sets Punjab loc al govt elec tions for last week of December
to the local government law and administrative delays prevented them According to the ECP s written order, a copy of which is available with Dawn com, the commission decided to conduct elections under the Punjab Local Government Act 2022 and its associated rules The order directed that the delimitation process commence immediately and be completed within two months, after which the election schedule will be announced
“Thereafter, the election programme should be announced and the election should be held in the last week of December 2025
The office is expected to follow the timelines strictly the order stated
hearing, where the ECP had accepted the
tions warning that failure to do so would result in the ECP issuing its own directives for the polls
provincial local government secretary to today s hearing The secretary informed the commission that the new Punjab Local Government Act was still being finalized after delays caused by
Rejecting further delays, the ECP noted that it had exhausted all possible efforts to facilitate the provincial administration, which had “acted in a dilatory manner” to postpone the polls The bench reaffirmed that conducting local government elections is a constitutional obligation, emphasizing that both the ECP and provincial governments share responsibility to ensure functional local bodies
on December 31, 2021 Accordingly, elections were constitutionally due by April 2022, but repeated amendments
After receiving no response from the Punjab government, the ECP summoned the
“The ECP is constitutionally bound to organize and conduct elections in accordance with the Constitution and law the order stated adding that provincial governments must ensure the establishment of a local governance system in letter and spirit
