KP COMPLETES 63MW HYDROPOWER PROJECTS TO GENERATE RS4B YEARLY REVENUE
Mujahideen Power Project in Torghar Nisar Ahmad expressed strong displeasure over the slow pace of work on three flagship energy projects in Swat district and stressed the need to remove bottlenecks He set a deadline for the start of electricity generation of 330 megawatts from these projects within the next two
The secretary energy termed the 40kilometre-long 132/220 kV transmission line project from Matiltan to Madain as critically important and directed that it must be completed within the stipulated timeframe next year
He also directed the newly appointed project director of the province s largest hydropower scheme, the 300-megawatt Balakot project to further accelerate work
Heav y rain and snowfall to
hit countr y as NDMA warns of slipper y roads and travel disruptions
ISLAMABAD s ta
Heavy rainfall and snowfall are expected across Pakistan until December 18 the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned prompting the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to issue safety advisories for citizens Islamabad and surrounding areas are forecast to remain cloudy, with intermittent rainfall over the coming days Murree Galiyat and adjacent hilly regions may also experience rain and snow potentially affecting daily life and travel
A western wind system is expected to influence northern and northwestern Pakistan from December 13 to 15 This will bring rainfall and snowfall to upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including Kohistan as well as various districts of GilgitBaltistan Heavy snowfall in mountainous zones of upper KP and Kohistan may disrupt road connectivity and traffic In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, plains are likely to see rainfall, while hilly and mountainous areas may experience mod-
erate to heavy snowfall Upper GilgitBaltistan and AJK s mountainous regions could witness intense snowfall raising the risk of blocked roads and travel delays Balochistan, including Quetta, Ziarat, and other northwestern areas, may receive light rain, with snowfall expected at higher elevations Plains may see light to moderate rainfall while intermittent snow continues in elevated northern districts The NDMA has urged the public to exercise caution, particularly in hilly and mountainous areas, and advised travellers to avoid unnecessary journeys Authorities warned of slippery roads potential traffic disruptions and temporary closures in affected regions Local administrations have been asked to remain alert and provide assistance if needed
The Quetta Regional Meteorological Center forecast a cold and partly cloudy spell across most districts of Balochistan, including Quetta Zhob Killa Abdullah Pishin Khuzdar Kech Washuk Kharan Panjgur Kalat Surab Loralai Chaghi and Killa Saifullah Isolated rain or drizzle, along with snow in hilly areas, is expected during the night in Qilla Abdullah,
tures insisting that city funds will be spent responsibly to address citizens long-standing grievances He criticised previous administrations for failing to improve quality of life despite controlling local town administrations The projects unveiled include: n Completion of internal roads in North Nazimabad at a cost of PKR 100 million n Construction of a four-lane bridge at Korangi Ibrahim Hyderi providing access to Indus Hospital, slated for completion by January 2025 n An underpass connecting Shahrahe-Bhutto expected to accommodate heavy traffic by February n Flyover at Murghi Khana and a four-
Qilla Saifullah Zhob Pishin and Quetta over the next 24 hours
Over the next 48 hours cold and partly cloudy conditions are expected to persist, with northern regions experiencing particularly chilly mornings and nights Recent observations showed dry, cold weather in most districts with Kalat recording the lowest temperature at 1 0 C
Temperature ranges across regions include:
Kalat: 01 0°C to 19 0°C Zhob: 03 0°C to 17 5°C
Quetta City Brewery and Samungli: 05 5 C to 19 0 C Ziarat: 06 4°C to 13 9°C
Sibbi: 05 5°C to 25 0°C
Coastal areas, including Gwadar and Pasni: highs up to 28 5°C
Residents are advised to stay updated on weather conditions take precautions to remain warm and ensure safety measures while travelling during periods of rainfall, snow, and low visibility
lane flyover near the Export Processing Zone scheduled to open by March and mid-January respectively n Ongoing work at the Mena Bazaar underpass, due for completion in January Wahab highlighted the PPP’s focus on accountability and quality noting that all municipal works are being audited and monitored to ensure proper standards He also announced plans to regulate illegal advertising boards, parking violations, and unauthorised structures, with strict legal action for violations The mayor stressed that Karachi’s development would continue unabated with new initiatives planned for innercity streets and underserved areas He urged other parties to adopt a competitive approach focused on delivery rather than politics, saying the people of Karachi deserve consistent and highquality civic services
QUETTA N e w s D e s k
A special Christmas ceremony in Quetta on Sunday paid tribute to the martyrs of Balochistan s Christian community, highlighting their sacrifices for the nation Governor Balochistan Jafar Khan Mandokhel and Quetta Corps Commander attended the event extending Christmas greetings and acknowledging the contributions of the Christian community Both officials emphasized that national unity and religious harmony remain vital pillars of Pakistan s strength
Of these, 44 projects have been completed, 75 are in progress, and 90 more are advancing rapidly toward completion Authorities have directed all phases to be completed by May 30 2026 with strict monitoring to ensure quality transparency and timely execution Local residents expressed satisfaction with the progress, noting that the coordinated efforts of the civil administration and security forces have given a new momentum to development in the province The ceremony reinforced the message that unity cooperation among communities and ongoing development are essential for Balochistan s stability and growth Balochistan leadership pays tribute to Christian martyrs in Quetta Christmas ceremony
Pastor Asif Jan, addressing the gathering, said the sacrifices of Christian martyrs form a strong foundation for the country’s cohesion and called the ceremony an important occasion to honour their service The ceremony also highlighted ongoing development initiatives under the Balochistan Special Development Initiative (BSDI), a collaborative effort between the provincial government, civil administration, Pakistan Army, and Frontier Corps Officials said that 969 projects across 35 districts have been included under BSDI with development works worth Rs8 7 billion underway in FC Balochistan North
The war of NOTAMS
nAqi AkbAR
TH E R E used to be times when the people of any state would know about the start of a military conflict if they were not in the war zone; through relatives in the war zone or through the next day s newspapers; or the blaring of sirens in anticipation of an air raid from enemy bombers
Today the technological strides made in the domain of information technology has had its direct bearing on how the news travels from one point to the other No longer the next day s newspaper, not the blaring of the sirens Now even the dog fight jets do not swoop low to treetop level to be visible to the common man; now much of the combat is taking place beyond visual range or BVR and kills have to be registered or confirmed digitally; much above our proverbial heads
Consequently, the information war between the warring states has graduated from wartime handouts to the war being fought through social media That war tactic is both psychological in nature and has its strategic value Practically war does not start between the two states; rather it returns from the brink, either due to the compromise of the element of surprise or because the intent was never a full-fledged war, rather it was only for a warning; a metaphor for de-escalation and not escalation Likewise it can be argued that now the wars do not start as per the Pakistan Studies curriculum at 0600 hours on 6 September 1965 or at 1700 hours on 3 December 1971; rather a common citizen, if he or she has access to social media like Twitter, can feel it in ‘real time’
Keeping the preamble in mind many conflicts in the recent months and years have followed the patterns noted especially where the two states had matching hardware like India and Pakistan; or each state had its high point like IDF infiltration into Iran and its air force; while Iran was balancing it out with its missile development
Taking a pointed look at the sevenmonth long attrition between India and Pakistan since May 2025 we will observe that the actual war did not took place for more than five or six days, if drone strikes prior to May 7’s early-hours strike on jihadi sites are included; however the fear of war as well as
inflicting as much damage economically through longer flying routes was in a way a form of war The May conflict was preceded by NOTAMS successively issued by either the Indian Air Force, the Pakistani Air Force or the respective Navies; in a few instances the ground forces According to the data available the IAF strikes on May 7 stretching from Bahawalpur to Kotli were undertaken when a NOTAM from the IAF was already in force restricting air traffic in the area in Rajasthan close to the India-Pakistan border and adjacent to various IAF bases like Jaisalmer or Bikaner The timings as available with Saymon Twitter account were 1530 May 7 to 2130 May 8 which in Pakistani time conversion stood at 2030 May 7 to 0230 May 9 The IAF strikes took place before the formal start of the NOTAM Here it is important to note that the NOTAM or ‘note to the airman’ is a warning for the civilian aircraft to stay away from the region earmarked in the NOTAM for civilian life safety The Ukrainian airline crash near Tehran on January 8, 2020 was in fact treated as an instance where the IRGC or IRIAF did not issued a timely NOTAM when they were all set to fire missiles at USAF Ein Al Assad AFB in retaliation to IGRC chief Maj Gen Qasem Soleimani s assassination in Baghdad airport It may be noted that the case was decided against the Ukrainian carrier recently in March 2025 by a Canadian court The NOTAM issuance by the respective
n s e
e n t ly, t h e r e g i o n a l
c o n f l i c t s a r e n ow m o r e o f a
t h e o r e t i c a l w a r g a m i n g
t h a n a c t u a l ly h a p p e n i n g .
LE B A N O N S fragile ceasefire with Israel brokered in late November 2024 by the United States and France, was meant to halt hostilities and open the door to a negotiated settlement Yet more than a year later, the truce has proven largely illusory Israel continues near-daily strikes on Lebanese territory claiming to target Hezbollah compounds and rocket launch sites but offering no verifiable evidence to substantiate its assertions
The imbalance is stark While Lebanon has sought to uphold its commitments under the ceasefire Israel has not withdrawn from southern Lebanon as stipulated in the agreement Instead it has escalated operations most notably with the recent assassination of senior Hezbollah commander Haytham Ali Tabatabai in Beirut s southern suburbs
FUTILE NEGOTIATIONS: On December 3 Lebanese and Israeli representatives held their first direct talks in decades at UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura The meeting, attended by senior officials from both sides and mediated by the United States, was hailed as a diplomatic breakthrough Yet the talks failed to stem Israeli attacks
President Joseph Aoun has emphasized Lebanon s commitment to negotiations to stop Israeli strikes while Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has insisted that the ceasefire must apply equally to both sides Salam has criticized the disproportionate focus on Hezbollah’s obligations, noting that Israel’s violations have gone largely unchallenged The humanitarian toll underscores the futility of these efforts According to UN and Lebanese health ministry figures more than 330 Lebanese people have been killed since the ceasefire began On aggregate, some 4,000 people in Lebanon have lost their lives in Israeli attacks over the past two years
A DIPLOMATIC MISSTEP: Against this backdrop Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi s recent comments have drawn sharp criticism Speaking to Al Jazeera on Friday, Raggi warned of a possible large-scale Israeli operation against Lebanon and stressed that the government was engaged in diplomatic efforts to prevent escalation Yet instead of centering his remarks on Israel s ongoing violations of the ceasefire Raggi chose to describe Iran s role in the region as very negative, accusing Tehran of destabilizing Lebanon and the wider Middle East He went further, labeling Hezbollah “an illegal organization ” Such remarks while perhaps intended to reassure international partners risk misdirecting Lebanon s diplomatic energy at a critical moment By shifting blame toward Hezbollah and Iran and by openly calling for Hezbollah’s disarmament Raggi diverts attention from Israel’s clear and documented violations of the ceasefire Raggi’s stance is particularly troubling and merits
closer scrutiny, given its contrast with the positions of Lebanon s own leadership
Misplaced blame: Lebanon continues to endure relentless Israeli bombardment, with civilian populations bearing the brunt of the attacks By focusing criticism on Iran and Hezbollah while overlooking Israel s ongoing violations the true scale and nature of the aggression on the ground is obscured President Aoun has consistently emphasized that Lebanon’s chosen course remains steadfast negotiations aimed at halting the Israeli attacks and protecting the sovereignty and safety of the nation
Weakening negotiations: The ceasefire was designed to be reciprocal Prime Minister Salam has rightly pointed out that political debate has unfairly focused on Hezbollah’s commitments while ignoring Israel’s violations Raggi’s remarks reinforce this imbalance undermining Lebanon s leverage in talks
Undermining unity: Hezbollah s arsenal while politically debated, is tied to Lebanon s defense posture against Israeli attacks Dismissing it outright risks alienating large segments of Lebanese society and weakening national cohesion
Diplomatic imbalance: Lebanon s credibility depends on consistency Criticizing Iran while remaining muted on Israel s violations creates the impression of bias and may embolden further aggression
ISRAEL’S EXPANSIONIST AGENDA: Israel s continued aggression cannot be understood in isolation It aligns with the longstanding ideological project of Greater Israel , a vision rooted in biblical references and embraced by ultra nationalist movements This concept has been invoked to justify territorial expansion beyond Israel’s internationally recognized borders encompassing not only Palestine but also parts of Lebanon Syria Jordan and Egypt
Recent statements by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who openly identified with the vision of Greater Israel, have reinforced fears that Israel’s military operations are part of a broader expansionist plan Arab states have condemned these remarks as a direct threat to regional sovereignty and stability
Seen in this light, a disarmed Lebanon, stripped of its primary deterrent capability is a strategic necessity for this vision It answers the fundamental question of who benefits: a disarmed Lebanon is the ultimate goal of an expansionist Israel as it would remove the most significant obstacle to its ambitions Lebanon s leadership must ensure its diplomatic voice reflects the lived reality of its people: a nation suffering under sustained Israeli bombardment despite its efforts to pursue peace At this critical juncture the priority must remain clear holding Israel accountable for violating the ceasefire and resisting its expansionist designs under the banner of Greater Israel Any diplomatic strategy that fails to center this reality is not only unjust but strategically dangerous for Lebanon and the wider region
countries civil aviation authorities in close consultation with the defence forces, especially the air forces, has taken the form of an undeclared war between the two neighboring states since then After the slowing down of hostilities between India and Pakistan after May 2025 after the reported intervention by the US administration and most importantly the US President; the two states seem to have mastered the art of threats and counter threats through the issuance of NOTAMs without going to all-out war to raise what can be called the American eyebrows After the much trumpeted visit of Indian PM Modi to the Indian aircraft carrier IS Vikrant in October; where the seamen and women sang an overtly militant song ‘Sindoor ’ in the presence of the country’s PM, the announcement of tri-services war games close to the Sir Creek in the soft belly area of Sindh which borders the Indian state of Rajasthan sent alarm bells to all concerned that another so-called anti-terror strike on the pattern of May 7 was round the corner That state of affairs, punctuated with inflammatory statements from political and military officials in New Delhi was enough to raise the geo political temperatures; promoting Pakistan Air Force as well as Pakistan Navy to stand alert The Indian NOTAM for exercises close to the Pakistani exclusive economic zone or EEZ, sometimes Indian Navy firing range or in other instances inclusion of all the three services played its psychological warfare role There were times when Pakistan too
A f t e r t h e s l ow i n g d ow n o f h o s t i l i t i e s b e t w e e n I n d i a a n d
Pa
t
i n t
n t i o n by t h e U S a d m i n i s t r a t
had issued NOTAMS not to undertake any offensive action, but to send a subtle signal that the level of alert across the border was at an all-time high There might have been many precise moments not reported on either side by the print or electronic media when it was basically a return from the brink, when hostilities might have erupted For the international media looking from a distance it was only a noise of war gaming and spyware and not an actual conflict However for the people of the two nations; it created a war euphoria used as desired by the political and non-political actors Another dividend for the regional players was that they actually did not trigger a conflict to attract international intervention but stopped short of speaking out their mind to the adversary Not digressing more into the role of the
‘ That a cer tain amount of the royal family ’s wealth c ame from the transpor tation, kidnapping, rape, murder of Afric ans’
abovementioned ‘actors’, today war scenarios are punctuated more by psychological sabre rattling While for the concerned militaries these warnings and NOTAMs are the way to send across subtle signals the impact on the common man is growing cynicism An aware citizen is forced to think over what state of affairs he or she is into Consequently, the citizen is forced to detach himself from the ‘alert position’ and thinks what concerns him is his bread and butter Consequently the regional conflicts are now more of a theoretical war gaming than actually happening While there might not be smoke clouds rising above the major cities, the state of mind does distract the states and the populaces, towards issues of trivial importance
The writer is a freelance columnist
If Osborne had created a system that merely kept pace with inflation, the notional cost of the royal family would today be around £43m
The senior royals have amassed a great for tune without any scrutiny For most of their subjec ts, these are testing financial times we must have transparenc y
IF King Charles were a brand, it would be part Hovis, part Dalai Lama, part Duchy Originals Artisanal craft blended with a big dollop of spiritualism Capability Brown meets Inigo Jones with a Highland twist But is it just possible that the King is also just a bit greedy? And so was his mum, and so is his brother Andrew, and so is his son William? That was certainly the impression left by the second episode of David Dimbleby’s three-part BBC documentary series What s the Monarchy For? Yes it s all about duty selflessness and serving the people But is it also about becoming filthy rich? When a Dimbleby interrogates a King, we have one grand hereditary dynasty questioning another Whereas Charles is ultimately a Saxe-Coburg David Dimbleby is a descendant of Richard whose hushed tones narrated the coronation of Elizabeth 11 in 1953 His own brother, Jonathan, was the authorised biographer of Prince Charles in 1994 and the interviewer for a film made that same year, in which he famously asked the king-in-waiting if he had been “faithful and honourable to Princess Diana And now we have David getting in on the act At 87 he has the air of a stern but kindly headmaster unable to conceal his disappointment at the apologetic wretches who have been summoned to his study for questioning
None more so than the former chancellor George Osborne who in a fumbling way tried to explain why he had blessed arrangements that would help ensure that Charles, by the time he ascended to the throne, would be a billionaire On the page, a transcript would show Dimbleby behaving as a model of BBC due impartiality But on screen he seemed to convey infinite disdain with the raising of a single eyebrow A finger resting insouciantly on his temple spoke volumes as he asked Osborne whether the Queen purred with pleasure at the generous settlement
he fixed for her A scratched earlobe looked like a form of semaphore to the viewers Now, there are aspects of the royal family’s wealth that I find it hard to get worked up about Their art collection may or may not be worth around £24m The Queen apparently bequeathed Charles about 100 horses worth a little bit more than that There s a stamp collection worth £100m and jewels worth perhaps £533m Fine by me especially if they are generous in loaning the art around so that others can admire it But what really got Dimbleby s eyebrows arching were two things: the sheer torrents of cash the King and Prince William trouser each year, along with their relaxed view of their sense of duty when it comes to paying tax That, plus the secrecy surrounding it all The rot began with the late Queen s father George VI according to Dimbleby He managed to persuade the government of the day that the family was so impecunious that they shouldn t be required to pay income tax All other royals dating back to Queen Victoria had had no problem with the idea of paying their dues “And so for decades observed Dimbleby drily the Windsors wealth grew unchecked There was an outcry in 1992 when it was casually announced that the ordinary taxpayer would be required to fork out for the £34m rebuilding of Windsor Castle after a fire ripped through the building In response the Queen graciously consented to pay some income tax But she had also used a little-known sovereign power Queen s consent to shield or exempt the royals from any laws which might affect their wealth or other interests According to Dimbleby our monarch ensured that at least 160 laws that the rest of us have to follow would not apply to them They included health and safety regulations the Race Relations Act and anything relating to equal opportunities but, crucially, also excluded the royals from scrutiny about their growing wealth It was Osborne who while slicing an eye-watering £81bn out of public spending in 2011 came
TEHRAN TIMES
“vile terrorists” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said he was appalled by the shooting These are the results of the anti-Semitic rampage in the streets of Australia over the past two years with the anti-Semitic and inciting calls of Globalise the Intifada that were realised today, he
Guterres marks end of UN mission in Iraq
BAGHDAD AG E N C E S
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Saturday marked in Baghdad the end of the United Nations political mission in Iraq which supported the country s transition following the US-led invasion At Baghdad s request the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) will shut down its operations after 22 years of assisting the country in its transition following the 2003 invasion and occupation that toppled longtime ruler Saddam Hussein “UNAMI was honoured and humbled to walk side-by-side with the Iraqi people Guterres said at the mission s closing ceremony But while a mission may conclude, the United Nations will always walk alongside the people of Iraq on the path toward peace, sustainable development and human rights,” he added UN agencies and programmes will continue to operate in Iraq During a press conference earlier with Iraq s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani Guterres said there is one thing the world must understand, Iraq is now a normal country Relations between the UN and Iraq will become normal relations with the end of UNAMI ” Sudani meanwhile said that the end of the UNAMI mandate “marks the beginning of a new chapter of cooperation Our relationship with the United Nations through UNAMI was pivotal and effective in meeting Iraq s needs and supporting it until it reached the stage of full self-reliance, he added UNAMI was established by a UN Security Council resolution at the request of the Iraqi government before being expanded four years later Shortly after it was formed a truck bomb struck the UN headquarters in Baghdad on August 19 2003 killing the UN s first special representative in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello, along with 21 others
man dressed in a black shirt firing a large weapon before being tackled by a man in a white T-shirt who wrestled his weapon off him A different man was seen firing a weapon from a pedestrian bridge Another video showed two men pressed onto the ground by uniformed police on a small pedestrian bridge Officers could be
Claims of ‘normalc y ’ ring hollow as key resor ts remain shut: Omar
continued restrictions on access to resorts negate the normalcy claims Over 200 Kashmiris arrested in massive Valleywide crackdown In yet another sweeping crackdown operation in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Indian police, supported by Indian paramilitary forces, have detained around 200 Kashmiri youth labelling them as over-ground workers across the Kashmir Valley
According to Kashmir Media Service the largescale operation, launched on Saturday, continued on Sunday morning at multiple locations, including Srinagar city and other parts of the Valley During coordinated raids targeting what the authorities described as an “OGW network ” around 200 youth were arrested in the name of questioning The term OGWs has been coined by the Indian military establishment to justify the arrest of ordinary Kashmiris APHC PAYS TRIBUTE TO SOFI
MUHAMMAD AKBAR ON 38TH
DEATH ANNIVERSARY
The All Parties Hurriyat Conference has paid glowing tributes to noted Hurriyat leader and founding member of Jammu and Kashmir Mahaz-eAzadi, Sofi Muhammad Akbar, on his 38th death anniversary in Sopore According to Kashmir Media Service, Sofi Muhammad Akbar passed away on this day in 1987 at his hometown Sopore in illegally occupied Indian Jammu and Kashmir
by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha
The Chief Minister questioned how long tourist destinations could be kept closed saying that such measures directly undermine the tourism-dependent economy of Kashmir He acknowledged that the
The APHC spokesman Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas, in a statement issued in Srinagar, said that Sofi Akbar was a selfless leader who remained committed, till his death, to the cause of Kashmiris’ right to self-determination promised to them by the United Nations for the oppressed people of Jammu and Kashmir
Textile sec tor faces layoffs, shutdowns as expor t momentum weakens: PTC C hairman ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t
Chairman Pakistan Textile Council (PTC) Mr Fawad
Anwar has warned that Pakistan s textile and apparel sector is approaching a critical breaking point with mass layoffs and factory shutdowns becoming an imminent risk due to persistently high costs of doing business and weakening export momentum
Referring to PTC s latest export data analysis the Chairman noted that while overall textile and apparel exports stood at USD 7 84 billion during July–November FY26 reflecting a modest 2 8% increase over the same period last year this growth masks deep structural stress across key segments of the value chain
Headline growth figures conceal a worrying slowdown particularly visible in monthly trends and traditional textile categories he said
Exports in November 2025 declined to USD 1
that
He
textiles, comprising raw materials and semi-processed goods, declined by 7 7% during July–November FY26, falling to USD 1 28 billion from USD 1 38 billion last year In November alone, traditional textile exports dropped 18 5% year-on-year and 8% month-on-month, underscoring stress at the upstream level of the industry While apparel and made-up textile exports reached USD 6 56 billion during July–November FY26, showing a 5% increase over last year, Mr Anwar cautioned that momentum has weakened sharply in recent months
freedom or death from behind bars So if we go this time around, we will either return in shrouds or after getting freedom,” he said, adding that Imran had en-
trusted the responsibility of making key decisions including talks with the government or launching protests to Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas The two leaders are part of the opposition alliance Tehreek-i-Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) along with the PTI and have also been nominated by the opposition as leaders in the National Assembly and Senate “For my part,” Afridi said, “I met them and assured them of any kind of support ” “So whenever a call comes from them you have to be ready he told party workers And we will together seize Haqiqi Azadi from them (the country s current rulers)
The chief minister alleged that all institutions and the government want to eliminate the PTI”, claiming that even the judiciary had failed to address the party’s grievances Without naming anyone he remarked: Those supposed to protect us turn into our killers and those raised to protect our mandate, stole it Tell me then, what solution do
we have? Afridi also took aim at Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, saying she had been offering him advice lately but should focus on governing her own province instead “I will listen to them now?” he asked rhetorically Our leader is Imran and we will listen to only him There will be only Imran s policy and rule here He further claimed that, according to a recent survey, the
ISLAMABAD
S ta f f R e p o R t
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has voiced serious concerns over a United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture report highlighting the degrading treatment of party founder and former prime minister Imran Khan during his incarceration at Adiala Jail, calling it a blatant violation of international law and fundamental human rights
The UN report released Friday by Alice Jill Edwards warned that Khan s detention conditions could amount to inhuman or degrading treatment and urged Pakistani authorities to comply with international standards
In a statement, PTI said the UN re-
port confirmed longstanding claims that Imran Khan was being subjected to inhuman unlawful and degrading treatment motivated entirely by political vendetta The party outlined that Khan faces 23 hours of solitary confinement, continuous CCTV surveillance isolation from the outside world obstruction of meetings with legal counsel and family denial of religious practice and deprivation of basic necessities all constituting violations of prison rules and international law
Solitary confinement exceeding 15 days qualifies as psychological torture according to the UN yet Imran Khan has endured this for months the PTI added emphasizing that the 72-year-old former premier suffers from serious medical con-
Aseefa Bhutto urges public to back nationwide polio vaccination drive
R t
First Lady Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari has appealed to parents caregivers public representatives and community leaders to actively support Pakistan s nationwide polio vaccination campaign, running from December 15 to 21, 2025 In a statement issued by the President House, she stressed that the campaign’s success relies on collective responsibility urging families to ensure that every child under five receives the polio vaccine The initiative aims to reach 45 4 million children nationwide including 23 3 million in Punjab 10 6 million in Sindh 7 3 million in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and 2 66 million in Balochistan, with remaining children covered in Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Islamabad Capital Territory The campaign is being coordinated with Afghanistan’s December polio drive to reduce cross-border virus transmission Recalling the legacy of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Aseefa Bhutto said Pakistan s first nationwide polio campaign was launched under her mother s leadership in 1994, and that her vision continues to guide current efforts to eliminate the disease She shared a personal connection to the initiative, recalling her mother administering the first polio drops to her an event that inspired her lifelong commitment to eradicating polio The campaign will primarily follow a threeday house-to-house vaccination schedule with one catch-up day In high-risk areas where Community-Based Vaccination and Special Mobile Team strategies are applied, a five-day schedule with two catch-up days will be implemented Over 408,000 frontline polio workers, including Area Incharges Union Council Medical Officers and mobile fixed and transit teams have been deployed nationwide Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari called on elected representatives local officials religious leaders and community elders to support polio teams by facilitating access to households and countering misinformation or vaccine hesitancy She noted that national and provincial readiness meetings were conducted earlier this month, led by the Federal Minister for National Health Services and Chief Secretaries to review logistics security workforce preparedness and coordination The First Lady urged citizens to welcome vaccinators report missed children, and assist frontline workers, emphasizing that only united action can stop polio and safeguard the future of Pakistan’s children
ditions a spinal injury and wounds from a prior assassination attempt and has been denied adequate medical care amounting to deliberate cruelty The PTI demanded the immediate cessation of solitary confinement, detention conditions in line with human dignity and international standards unrestricted access to personal physicians and removal of barriers to meetings as per judicial orders This is no longer just about a political prisoner but a test of Pakistan s credibility on law, justice, and human rights,” the party said However Prime Minister ’s aide Rana Ihsan Afzal dismissed the report asserting that Imran Khan is treated according to prison rules and the jail manual, enjoys access to his children,
exercise good food and ample space and is provided facilities exceeding those of a B-class prisoner Imran Khan, imprisoned since Au-
£190 million corruption case and faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act related to the May 9 2023 protests
and
His son, Kasim Khan, warned of potential concealment of serious health issues, while his sister, Uzma
S anaullah says c ases against him were filed on
Bajwa’s direc tives
Prime Minister s Adviser Rana Sanaullah has disclosed
details of an exchange with former army chief General
Qamar Javed Bajwa and former ISI chief Lt Gen (retd)
Faiz Hameed during an official briefing offering rare insight into tensions surrounding cases filed against political figures as senior PML-N leaders also claimed that serving military officers were punished alongside Faiz Hameed following his court martial
Prime Minister ’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah has revealed details of an interaction with former army chief
General Qamar Javed Bajwa and former ISI chief Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed recalling an exchange during an official briefing
In an interview Rana Sanaullah said that during the briefing, General Bajwa remarked that he had gained weight, joking that he looked much smarter while in jail He added that General Bajwa, addressing Faiz Hameed, quipped that Rana Sanaullah should be made “smart” again Sanaullah said he responded by telling General Bajwa that the cases against him had been filed on his directions adding that God would hold those responsible accountable in this world
The PML-N leader further said it was not possible for a serving officer to register a case without the consent of the army chief He claimed that if such an action were taken without the army chief ’s approval the officer would face court martial the very next day
Two serving brigadiers also sentenced alongside former ISI chief, claims Javed Latif
Senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader
Mian Javed Latif has claimed that two serving brigadiers were also sentenced along with former InterServices Intelligence chief Faiz Hameed
Taking his X handle Javed Latif tweeted that he had consistently maintained that facilitators existed within institutions He added that other voices were now echoing the same stance and that the defence minister had also acknowledged the presence of individuals within state institutions who wanted former prime minister Imran Khan to return to power
“I have been saying from the beginning that there is facilitation Now others are saying it as well and
today even the defence minister stated that some people within the institutions want to bring Imran Khan back into power he said
Continuing his remarks Javed Latif claimed that according to his information, two serving brigadiers had also been punished along with Faiz Hameed
Commenting on former prime minister Nawaz political conduct, the PML-N leader said that Nawaz Sharif never speaks against his enemies or those who personally target him when they are facing hardship or standing trial He recalled that when Nawaz Sharif had named five individuals in the past they were in positions of power at the time However, he added that several party members jumped off the stage, while even allied parties appeared unsettled
Javed Latif further stated that Faiz Hameed had familial connections with several influential figures including former army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa and former chief justices Saqib Nisar and Umar Ata Bandial He added that several PML-N leaders had also met these individuals in the past He stressed that interactions should not be judged selectively, saying it should not be portrayed as treason if someone meets individuals on one side while acceptable if they meet those on the other If something benefits someone it is considered fine but if it causes harm then action is taken he said
Last week, Field General Court Martial sentenced former chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Faiz Hameed to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment after finding him guilty on multiple charges Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) the court martial proceedings were initiated on August 12 2024 under the Pakistan Army Act and continued for 15 months
ISPR said the accused was tried on four charges, including engaging in political activities, violating the Official Secrets Act in a manner “detrimental to the safety and interest of the state ” misuse of authority and government resources and causing wrongful loss to individuals
After what ISPR described as lengthy and laborious legal proceedings, the court found him guilty on all counts The sentence was put into effect on December 11, 2025
