ISLAMABAD
S TA F F R E P O R T
R I M E Minister Shehbaz
PSharif on Saturday sent an advice to President Asif Ali Zardari for holding the joint parliamentary session on December 17, amid the impasse between the coalition government and the Jamiat
Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) over Madrasah Registration Bill
According to sources the premier has advised the president to summon a joint session of parliament on Tuesday at 11am, adding that eight bills including the contentious madrasah registration bill
are likely to be tabled They also added that a consultation process was underway between the government and the Maulana Fazlur Rehmanled party on a new bill after President Zardari had raised eight objections over the previous legislation Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill 2024 The disputed madrasah bill, which has already been passed by both houses of parliament, has become a bone of contention between the JUI-F and the government Its enactment was part of an agreement between the government and the religio-political party for supporting the 26th Amendment Following its approval from parlia-
President’s objections to Madrasahs’ Bill have nothing to do with FATF: Tarar
Minister for Information Broadcasting National Heritage and Culture Attaullah Tarar on Saturday said that the objections raised by President Asif Ali Zardari to the Madrasahs Registration Bill are completely “constitutional and legal”
“Neither there is any mention of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in these objections nor they have any connection with it said the minister in a post
accordance with the Constitution and the Parliament would also rectify it in the same spirit The purpose of these speculations is to target the powers of the President and Parliament he said while urging the people not to criticize the issue just for the sake of criticism Objections raised to registration of religious seminaries According to the objections raised by the president the registration of religious seminaries under the law would lead to spread of sectarianism and establishment of many seminaries in the same society that may disturb the law and order situation The president objected to the contradiction in the definition of madrassa in various provisions of the new bill The president has also expressed fear that if the madrassa bill turns into a law, then it may lead to imposition of FATF, Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), and other sanctions on the country
said, adding the President objected in
ment, the bill now requires the president’s assent to become law but President Asif Ali Zardari had returned the
earlier this month citing legal objections According
g EMPHASIZES PRIORITIZING RENEWABLE ENERGY, LOCAL RESOURCES FOR FUTURE PROJECTS
Your recommendations included in JCP draf t r ules: Justice Mandokhail responds to Justice Mansoor
S TA F F R E P O R T Chairman Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) rule-making committee Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail on Saturday responded to the letter from Senior Puisne Judge Justice Mansoor Ali Shah clarifying that the recommendations you suggested have already been included in the draft Most of the suggestions tabled by the Supreme Court s senior puisne judge have already been incorporated in the draft rules which he had also personally shared with him prior to his letter ” Justice Mandokhail wrote in the reply to Justice Shah’s letter in
Justice Shah in his letter two days ago noted that the unprecedented shift in the composition of the JCP poses grave risks including the potential for political appointments and the packing of courts with judges lacking an ideological commitment to the rule of law” He reiterated that the committee’s role is to recommend rules to the Judicial Commission which holds the authority to approve or reject them In his reply, Justice Jamal acknowledged receipt of the letter, stating, I have received your letter dated December 12 As you are aware, following the 26th amendment, the Judicial Commission was reconstituted ” He explained that the commission had granted the Chief Justice the authority to form a committee to draft the rules with him appointed as the head
Two meetings of the committee have al-
ready been held and Justice Jamal confirmed that many of Justice Mansoor s recommendations had already been incorporated into the draft The recommendations you suggested have already been included in the draft,” Justice Jamal wrote, adding, “In fact, I had shared this draft with you before your letter was sent ” Justice Jamal further emphasised that according to the constitution the Judicial Commission is empowered to finalise the rules He referenced the December 6 meeting, where Chief Justice Yahya Afridi had given his consent for the formation of the committee and entrusted Justice Jamal with drafting the rules It is important to note that many of your suggestions were already incorporated into the draft before your letter arrived, he stated
Addressing Justice Mansoor ’s proposal
for appointing judges to the Lahore High Court Justice Jamal advised waiting until the Judicial Commission approves the rules before suggesting additional names Nonetheless, I welcome your suggestions and appreciate your input,” he wrote Justice Jamal also reaffirmed the judiciary’s constitutional independence emphasising that judges must be both competent and honest
He noted that the next committee meeting would take place on December 16 , where Justice Mansoor ’s suggestions would be carefully considered
Concluding the letter Justice Jamal underscored that the judiciary belongs to the citizens of Pakistan and called on all members of the Judicial Commission to contribute their proposals for the rules
He reiterated that the commission
Aleem K han stresses impor tance of trade corridors for Central A sia
ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t
Federal Minister for Privatization, Board of Investment and Communications Abdul Aleem Khan on Saturday emphasized that trade corridors from Pakistan is the most important need of the hour for Central Asian countries while access to ports can also help in increasing bilateral trade He expressed these views during a meeting with Kazakhstan's Ambassador Yerzhan Kastafin who called on him
PML-N stands for progress, PTI fuels hatred: Danyal Chaudhr y
ISLAMABAD s ta f
t
and I must watch his programs While terming Faisal Vawda as a good entertainer, Governor Sindh said that one should see the senator for entertainment purposes While terming Faisal Vawda as a good entertainer Governor Sindh said that Vawda should be watched only for entertainment purposes He further added that if Faisal Vawda has indicated the removal of a governor, then it’s best to wait and see who will be leaving their post in two weeks It s worth noting that Kamran Tessori has been serving as the Governor of Sindh since October 2022
Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Broadcasting Barrister Danyal Chaudhry, on Saturday, lauded the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for promoting unity and solidarity in the country while lamenting Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaaf (PTI) for politics Speaking to a private news channel he said that PML-N’s track record was built on development and progress with initiatives such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) motorways and other major infrastructure projects to its credit He accused PTI of hiring foreign lobbyists to propagate anti-state narratives, undermining national interests Those who have persistently tried to shut down the country and push it towards default cannot be trusted to believe in dialogue he added
He highlighted PTI s alleged involvement in conspiracies against naBBtional institutions and lamented their failure to deliver any significant development projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa despite over a decade in power The parliamentary secretary also pointed to the economic
Telecom Union Huawei Bedari NGO and Tele-Education at the Roras village, located in tehsil Sambrial, 15-km from Sialkot She said that the duration of completion of the project will be six months and 100 girls and boys will be given business and computer skills courses at the Digital Village Center which would provide employment opportunities for them and is part of Pakistan s Smart Villages project Shaza Fatima Khawaja said that Pakistan is the first country in the Asia-Pacific countries where e-village facilities are being provided Our commitment is to connect the people living in our villages and remote areas to the digital world, she added She said that the provision of digital facilities related to health and education in Roras is the first step It is a good sign that the provision of modern computer lab and virtual education is going to be started in
the secondary school for girls in Roras village She said that in view of the difficulties in providing medical facilities, digital medical consultancy facilities are also
being provided She said that the initiatives of the International Telecom Union Huawei Pakistan, Tele-Education, Bedari NGO and the Department of Education for the project are commendable Similar smart village projects will soon be launched in all four provinces she added Regional Director International Telecommunication Union Atsuko Okuda said, The Smart Village Pakistan initiative promotes a complete government approach to bring the benefits of digital transformation in sectors such as health education and agriculture to rural and remote communities Huawei Technologies Pakistan Samar Abbas said that the challenges that come with digitalization are immense but the opportunities in Pakistan are even greater Digitalization is essential for competitiveness which represents an incentive to enhance the ability to play a more
Even before Trump is inaugurated, the USA and China are beginning a trade war
t h e f o s s i l f u e l s g
a l l y s o a s t o b r i n g t h e c a r b o n e m i s s i o n s t o a m i n i m u m l e v e l F u r t h e r m o r e i t p r o v i d e d a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e Wa r s a w I n t e r n a t i o n a l M e c h a n i s m o n L o s s a n d D a m a g e t h a t f o c u s e d o n t h e o p e r a t i o n a l i z at i o n o f
It senta n actionable signal to global stakeholders about the seriousness of climate commitments and built a foundation for transformative climate action leading towards net z ero emissions and building resilient societies. In a nutshell, it offered meaningful progress in tackling the environmental chang es by reinforcing global confidence in climate agreements
h e c t i c v i s i t t o S a u d i A r a b i a
by drought-like conditions projected temperature was increasing and was significantly higher than the global average Pointing to the initiatives like Recharge Pakistan and National Drought Plan, the PM pointedly stated that such initiatives could not be implemented effectively without necessary resources and technology He also proposed a six-point agenda for tackling the water related challenges facing the world at large Besides actively participating in One Water Summit" deliberations the PM also held two important and quite productive meetings on its sidelines with Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman and French President Emmanuel Macron and exchanged views on bilateral relations with them Both the PM and MBS importantly reiterated the need for bringing about a qualitative shift in Pak-Saudi bilateral relationship in terms of their economic, trade, and investment relations and expressed their satisfaction at the pace of progress on the implementation of a number of Saudi Memorandums of Understanding and agreements regarding investment in Pakistan with both leaders emphatically assuring to bring a major transformation in the bilateral ties of both the brotherly countries
The Saudi Crown Prince called for pretty meaningful cooperation between the two countries for ensuring economic growth and prosperity in Pakistan
On his part the PM thanked the Saudi Crown Prince for his persistent and most appreciable affection for Pakistan and its people and hosting a very timely useful summit PM Shehbaz Sharif extended an invitation to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience MBS seemingly looked very happy about his having six meetings with the Pakistani leader in as many months And Pakistan and France agreed to further enhance their cooperation through businessto-business contacts in the areas of agriculture livestock information technology skills development and clean drinking water when PM Shehbaz Sharif called on French President
Emmanuel Macron Both leaders quite emphatically reiterated their shared desires to continuously remain closely engaged on all regional and global issues as well as concerns of mutual interest Expressing satisfaction at its positive trajectory the French President and the Pakistani PM warmly exchanged views on the prevailing full spectrum of the Paris-Islamabad relationship including political, economic, trade and investment as well as cooperation at all multilateral forums including the United Nations
The PM also stressed the need to further strengthen mutually beneficial economic and trade relations between France and Pakistan and exhorted the French President to avail the vast investment opportunities in Pakistan in different sectors He also commended the French leadership role on climate change and development issues while recalling President Macron's strong advocacy for the people of Pakistan in the wake of devastating floods in 2022
The PM s visit to Saudi Arabia was quite hectic in the sense that after attending One Water Summit " deliberations and holding quite fruitful meetings with the Saudi Crown Prince and the French President on the sidelines of the important moot he had virtually rushed back to Islamabad to attend his pressing engagements at home without going to Makkah or elsewhere in the Saudi Kingdom
The PM's visit to Saudi Arabia was quite hectic in the sense that after attending "One Water Summit " deliberations and holding quite fruitful meetings with the Saudi Crown Prince and the French President on the sidelines of the impor tant moot, he had vir tually rushed back to Islamabad to attend his pressing engagements at home without going to Makkah or elsewhere in the Saudi Kingdom
Unseen
MuhAMMAd zAhid RifAt
Dthe russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 marked a turning point for Central europe s defence sector reshaping regional security strategies the war reawakened fears of russian expansionism, perceived as an existential threat by many countries with historical experiences of Soviet domination this led to a rapid reassessment of military readiness and defence production capabilities Central european countries became frontline supporters of Ukraine supplying
e n t r a l E u r o p e ’ s R e s p o n s e t o R u s s i a n A g g r e s s i o n
weapons, ammunition, and humanitarian aid the need to sustain this assistance while ensuring national security prompted them to accelerate domestic arms production Military expenditures surged as countries prioritized defence modernization and expanded production capacity, benefiting both economically and politically poland emerged as a military powerhouse in Central europe, leveraging its extensive arms industry to support Ukraine the polish armaments Group (pGZ) the country s largest defence conglomerate played a crucial role by supplying tanks artillery, and drones this support significantly impacted the early stages of the war, helping Ukraine resist russian advances pGZ recorded substantial revenue growth attributed to increased government contracts and international deals Its export portfolio expanded including contracts for military vehicles, weapons systems, and ammunition Key investments in research and development (r&D) allowed poland to develop advanced weaponry, including selfpropelled artillery systems precision-guided munitions and combat drones poland also strengthened international partnerships notably with the USa and South Korea securing technology transfers and joint production agreements this strategic positioning transformed poland into a key supplier within Nato’s defence infrastructure
the Czech republic s historical legacy in arms manufacturing dates back to its austro-Hungarian and Cold War-era production capabilities as a top arms exporter during the Soviet era the country maintained its defence industry infrastructure despite challenges following the Cold War the war in Ukraine revitalized the Czech defence industry, particularly through arms exports to Ukraine Czech arms manufacturers produced and supplied a wide range of military equipment including artillery armored vehicles and ammunition In 2022 military exports doubled compared to the previous year, with Ukraine receiving nearly half of the total output the Czech republic also strengthened its logistical role by establishing maintenance and repair facilities near the conflict zone ensuring a continuous flow of arms this boosted military-industrial cooperation between Czech manufacturers and Ukrainian military forces, promising long-term partnerships Hungary adopted a cautious stance due to its political ties with russia and its unique foreign policy within the eU and Nato While refusing to allow arms shipments through its territory Hungary continued its military modernization programme the programme aimed to modernize Hungary s military by acquiring advanced Western weaponry and developing domestic production capabilities a major milestone was
The arms industr yÊs revival underscores the enduring impact of g eopolitical crises on regional security architectures Central EuropeÊs evolving militar yindustrial complex is likely to play a decisive role in future European defence strategies, ensuring the regionÊs preparedness in an increasingly uncer tain world
Hungary s partnership with Germany s rheinmetall, resulting in the construction of a modern arms production facility in Zalaegerszeg the factory produces state-ofthe-art infantry fighting vehicles and other advanced military systems for the Hungarian armed forces Despite its limited involvement in supporting Ukraine Hungary s defence industry advanced technologically due to technology transfers from German partners this long-term investment in military modernization positions Hungary as a potential defence hub in Central europe romania and Bulgaria pursued distinct strategies in response to the war romania focused on both foreign military procurement and developing its domestic arms industry the romanian government allocated a significant portion of its defence budget to modernizing air defence systems while investing in local production facilities plans to quadruple
Co r p o r at e media is heralding the fall of Bashar al-assad and the emergence of abu Mohammed alJolani as the new leader of Syria, despite his deep ties to both alQaeda and ISIS “How Syria’s ‘diversityfriendly’ jihadists plan on building a state ” runs the headline from an article in Britain s Daily telegraph that suggests that Jolani will construct a new Syria respectful of minority rights the same newspaper also labeled him a moderate Jihadist the Washington post described him as a pragmatic and charismatic leader while CNN portrayed him as a “blazer-wearing revolutionary ” Meanwhile an in-depth portrait from rolling Stone describes him as a ruthlessly pragmatic, astute politician who has renounced global jihad and intends to unite Syria ” His “strategic acumen is apparent,” writes rolling Stone, between paragraphs praising Jolani for leading a successful movement against a dictator CNN even scored an exclusive sit-down interview with Jolani even as his movement was storming Damascus When asked by host Jomana Karadsheh about his past actions, he responded by saying, “I believe that everyone in life goes through phases and experiences as you grow you learn and you continue to learn until the very last day of your life as if he were discussing embarrassing teenage mistakes, not establishing and leading the al-Nusra Front, al-Qaeda s franchise in Syria this is a far cry from the first time CNN covered Jolani In 2013, the network labeled him one of “the world’s 10 most dangerous terrorists known for abducting torturing and slaughtering racial and religious minorities Still on the U S terrorist list today, the FBI is offering a $10 million reward for information about his whereabouts Washington and other Western governments consider Jolani’s new organization Hayʼat tahrir al-Sham (HtS) as one and the same as al-Qaeda/al-Nusra this poses a serious public relations dilemma for Western nations, who supported the HtS-led overthrow of president Bashar al-assad and thus, politico and others report there is a “huge scramble” in Washington to remove HtS and Jolani from the terrorist list as quickly as possible THE MAKING OF A RADICAL Jolani has sought to distance himself from his
years, displayed a willingness to compromise with other forces and factions it is far from clear whether the tens of thousands of soldiers he commands – units made up primarily of former fighters from al-Qaeda/al-Nusra and ISIS – will be in a charitable mood once they cement their power Syria is being purified,” he told a crowd in Damascus on Sunday “this victory is born from the people who have languished in prison and the fighters broke their chains he added Jolani – whose real name is ahmed Hussein al-Shar a – was born in 1982 in Saudi arabia to parents who fled the Golan Heights area of Syria after the 1967 Israeli invasion In 2003, he went to Iraq to fight against american forces after three years of war he was captured by the U S military and spent over five years in prison including a stint at the notorious abu Ghraib torture center While in Iraq, Jolani fought with ISIS and was even a deputy to its founder Immediately upon release in 2011, ISIS sent him to Syria with a rumored $1 billion to found the Syrian wing of al-Qaeda and participate in the armed protest movement against assad that arose out of the arab Spring realizing the extremely poor reputation al-Qaeda had in the region and across the world, Jolani attempted to rebrand his forces, officially shuttering the al-Nusra Front in January 2017 and on the same day founding HtS He claimed that HtS preaches a very different ideology and that it will respect Syrian diversity Not everyone is convinced of this, least of all the British government, who immediately proscribed HtS, describing it as merely an alias of al-Qaeda “al-Qaeda/ISIS man didn’t ‘reinvent himself ’ He had the whole propaganda and intelligence apparatus of the West including the BBC doing it for him remarked cofounder of the electronic Intifada ali abunimah THE NEW GOVERNMENT: LIKES
ISRAEL, HATES HEZBOLLAH
the name
“al-Jolani” translates to
“From the Golan Heights ” and yet the leader appears distinctly unconcerned with the Israeli invasion of his homeland the IDF has taken much of southern Syria, including the strategic Mount Hermon, overlooking Damascus prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that this is part of a permanent operation “the Golan Heights will forever be an inseparable part of the State of Israel he proclaimed Jolani has already said that he has no intention of confronting Israel Syria is not ready for war and does not intend to go into another war the source of concern was the
Iranian militias, and Hezbollah, and the danger has passed ” he said – a strange thing to say while Israel is carrying out the largest air Force operation in its history pounding military targets all over Syria other HtS spokespersons have also categorically refused to comment on Israel s attack on the country, even when pressed by incredulous Western journalists Jolani’s comments singling out two Shia forces rather than Israel as enemies of the state will have many concerned that this could signal a return to the process of Shia slaughter ISIS waged over much of Syria and Iraq In 2016, the U S House of representatives voted 383-0 to classify this process as a genocide Fortunately the new government will likely be a coalition of disparate and moderating forces However these groups seem to share a common thread: they all appear to be pro-Israel a commander of the secular Free Syrian army, for example, recently gave an interview to the times of Israel, where he looked forward to a new era of “friendship” and harmony with its neighbor to the south We will go for full peace with Israel Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war we have never made any critical comments against Israel, unlike Hezbollah, who stated they aim to liberate Jerusalem and the Golan Heights,” he said the commander added that “Israel will plant a rose in the Syrian garden” and asked for the country s financial support in forming a new government other anti-assad forces have gone even further, with one individual stating that Israel “Isn’t hostile to those who are not hostile toward it We don’t hate you, we love you very much we were quite happy when you attacked Hezbollah really happy and we re glad that you won Statements like these might surprise a casual observer But the reality is that Israel has been funding, training and arming much of the Syrian opposition since its inception
, „ AQ [ a l - Q a e d a ] i s o n o u r s i d e i n S y r i a ‰
this includes al-Qaeda, whose wounded fighters are treated by Israel and while radical Islamist forces appeared to be enemies with everyone the one group they fastidiously avoided any confrontation with was Israel Indeed, in 2016, ISIS fighters accidentally fired upon an Israeli position in the Golan Heights, thinking they were Syrian government forces, then quickly issued an apology for doing so From the Golan Heights the year-long Israeli campaign against Hezbollah and Syrian army positions also seriously weakened both forces, aiding the opposition in their victory AL-QAEDA AND THE U S : A COMPLICATED RELATIONSHIP While both journalists and politicians in the U S are scrambling to change their opinions on Jolani and HtS the reality is that for much of its existence, Washington has enjoyed a very close relationship with alQaeda the organization was born in afghanistan in the 1980s, thanks in no small part to the CIa Between 1979 and 1992 the CIa spent billions of dollars funding arming and training afghan Mujahideen militiamen (like osama bin Laden) in an attempt to bleed the Soviet occupation dry It was from the ranks of the Mujahideen that bin Laden built his organization During the 1990s bin Laden’s relationship with the U S soured and it eventually became a principal target for al-Qaeda culminating in the infamous September 11 2001, attacks on New York City and Washington, D C the Bush administration would use these attacks as a pretext to invade both afghanistan and Iraq, claiming that america could never be safe if al-Qaeda were not thoroughly destroyed Bin Laden became perhaps the most notorious individual in the world and american society was turned upside down in a self-described effort to rout Islamic extremism and yet, by the 2010s, even as the U S
S t i l l o n t h e U S t e r ro r i s t l i s t t o d ay, t h e F B I i s o f fe r i n g a
$ 1 0 m r ew a rd fo r i n fo r m a t i o n a b o u t h i s w h e r e a b o u t s
Wa s h i n g t o n a n d o t h e r We s t e r n g ov t Ês c o n s i d e r
J o l a n i Ês n ew o rg a n i z a t i o n , H ay ʼ a t Ta h r i r a l - S h a m ( H T S ) ,
a s o n e a n d t h e s a m e a s A l - Q a e d a / A l - N u s r a
was ostensibly at war with al-Qaeda in Iraq and afghanistan it was secretly working with it in Syria on a plan to overthrow assad the CIa spent around $1 billion per year training and arming a wide network of rebel groups to this end as National Security advisor Jake Sullivan told Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a leaked 2012 email, “aQ [al-Qaeda] is on our side in Syria ” thus while many casual observers may be shocked to see the media and political class embrace the leader of al-Qaeda in Syria as a modern progressive champion the reality is that the U S relationship with the group is merely reverting to a position it has previously held Consequently, it appears that the War on terror will come to an end with the “terrorists” being redesignated as moderate rebels and freedom fighters WHO GETS TO DEFINE “TERRORIST”? of course, many have
dr MuhAMMAd AkrAM ZAheer
end against the impeachment and investigation against him and had termed his political opponents “anti-state forces”
30 more Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes on Central Gaza
A G E N C I E S
At least 30 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes in the central Gaza area overnight a senior UN aid official reported
The situation in the besieged enclave worsened with mounting casualties and a critical lack of humanitarian aid for the desperate Palestinian people, a senior UN official reported
“We’ve seen absolutely horrific images from the scene There are parents looking for their children children covered in dust and blood looking for their parents multiple injuries on top of the casualties reported and people still buried under the rubble Louise Wateridge, Senior Emergencies Officer with UN Palestine refugee agency UNRWA, speaking to reporters in Geneva and New York from central Gaza ” The strikes came only one day after the UN General Assembly passed a resolution demanding an immediate unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza Ms Wateridge described the situation as absolutely sickening noting such daily pain and suffering has become the norm for Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip Hospitals are overwhelmed, with doctors struggling to treat life-threatening injuries
globally,” Ms Wateridge said
Many are losing their limbs And in scenarios such as this they re undergoing surgeries without anaesthesia I spoke to doctors at Nasser Hospital This is the largest, semi-functioning, hospital in the Gaza Strip now And they re absolutely beside themselves ” According to UNRWA nearly 26 000 people have suffered life-changing injuries in the last 14 months –all requiring rehabilitation services particularly for amputations and spinal cord injuries according to the World Health Organization (WHO) Already in May 2024, more than one in five households in Gaza reported having at least one disabled family member, with 58,000 disabled people identified in the official database of the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics Despite continued attacks on its premises and staff UNRWA here remains one of the largest health actors operating in the Gaza Strip, Ms Wateridge explained UNRWA is providing 6 7 million medical consultations during the course of this war,” she said, noting that lab services now are limited to three tests out of 35 before the conflict erupted in October 2023 Food insecurity also remains an urgent concern in Gaza Experts from the UN-partnered Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) Famine Review Committee have already issued an alert over imminent famine in
ISLAMABAD S TA F F C O R R E S P O N D E N T
The Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) will convene its 13th session from December 21 to 25 in Beijing The decision was made on Friday at a meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee, which was presided over by Zhao Leji chairman of the NPC Standing Committee
According to the proposed session agenda lawmakers will review draft revisions to the law on people s congress deputies, a draft value-added tax law and draft revisions to the supervision law as well as proposals submitted by NPC departments and the State Council among others Per the proposed agenda lawmakers will hear a report on financial audit work, a report regarding disaster and emergency response
funds and a report on farmland protection submitted by the State Council, as well as reports submitted by the National Commission of Supervision and NPC departments among other documents
The Friday meeting also reviewed and adopted in principle the key tasks of the NPC Standing Committee and its work plan on legislation, oversight, deputies and external affairs for 2025, and deliberated a report on the NPC Standing Committee’s work in maintaining contacts with NPC deputies in 2024 among others
cording to reports from the Kyiv Independent and the DeepState monitoring group which tracks the war Meanwhile Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned Russia s latest missile and drone assault on Ukrainian energy infrastructure
Independent, said Russian troops had gained ground near Pokrovsk a strategic city in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region Reports indicated Russian forces were within 5 kilometers of the city, which is a key logistical hub for Ukrainian military operations In contrast, Ukraine’s military has resisted several Russian offensives elsewhere in Donetsk ac-
Earlier on Friday, he said Russia launched one of the largest attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid to date sending 93 missiles and nearly 200 drones across the country Ukraine s air defenses intercepted 81 of the missiles, including 11 cruise missiles downed by F-16 fighter jets, Zelenskyy said The Ukrainian president also noted that at least one North Korean missile was used in the attack This is Putin s peaceful plan – to destroy everything This is how he wants negotiations – terrorizing millions of people,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media He called for a robust international response saying A massive strike – a massive reaction This is the only way to stop terror
In response, Russia s Defense Ministry said the missile and drone strikes were targeted at “critically important fuel and energy facilities in Ukraine
The Russian military claimed that the strike was retaliation
PAKISTAN, TURKIYE AGREE ON JOINT BROADCASTS, AIRING POPUL AR TURKISH DRAMAS ON PT V
Achakzai urges PTI to delay civil disobedience movement
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP)
Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai on Saturday urged Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to postpone its planned civil disobedience movement, emphasizing the importance of negotiation with the government to resolve the country’s pressing issues “If problems can be resolved through dialogue there’s nothing better than that However if talks fail the movement will have to proceed said Achakzai also president of the opposition alliance Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) Achakzai stressed that discussions should focus on a clear roadmap for when the government will step down He further proposed that successful negotiations should lead to elections within four months saying he would visit Peshawar on Sunday (tomorrow) at PTI s invitation to offer prayers for the martyrs of Kurram and D-Chowk protest The PTI has threatened to launch a civil disobedience movement, if the government does not engage in serious negotiations a move that drew ire of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif who termed it an “enmity with Pakistan Meanwhile Defence Minister Khawaja Asif challenged the former ruling party to stand firm on its newly-announced civil disobedience movement after failed attempts to “attack” the capital Later, in a bid to create an “atmosphere of reconciliation” and defuse prevailing political tensions in the country amid PTI s civil disobedience threat the former ruling party and the government reportedly agreed to use parliamentary forum for negotiation
However, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah on Friday revealed that the government has not yet received a formal message from PTI on initiating the process of dialogue despite the rival party s claims of having formed a negotiations committee On the other hand senior PTI leader Qaiser also clarified on Friday that his party was not engaged in any talks with the government, dismissing reports suggesting that dialogue might have kickstarted Murad Saeed, Hammad A zhar among eight PTI leaders declared as absconders
LAHORE
S TA F F R E P O R T
The Anti-Terrorism Court Lahore on Saturday declared eight senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders including Murad Saeed and Hammad Azhar, as absconders in the containers burning case during May 9, protests ATC Judge Arshad Javed presided over the proceedings declaring the PTI leaders
absconders
Kalma
containers
on
PTI
absconders include: Mian Aslam Iqbal, Zubair Khan Niazi, Hamid Raza Gilani, Mohammad Javed, Abdul Samad, and Waseeq Qayoom The court also issued permanent arrest warrants for the absconding leaders The action was taken following a request from police who claimed that the suspects had gone into hiding to avoid arrest Despite the warrants being issued the accused have not been apprehended This development comes as part of a wider crackdown on PTI
g MARKET ENDS VOLATILE WEEK WITH 5,248-POINT GAIN, UP 5% WOW
the fight against Islamophobia and misinformation Last month, Turkish Ambassador Irfan Neziroglu showed interest in further strengthening bilateral relations in multiple sectors between the two friendly countries during his meetings with the housing and finance ministers
Mar yam Nawaz declares Punjab as ‘land of oppor tunities’ for ‘Chinese’ investors
GUANGZHOU, CHINA
P O R T Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Saturday announced plans to facilitate Chinese companies through a one-window operation declaring Punjab as a land of opportunities for investors Maryam Nawaz also announced the establishment of a working group with the appointment of a focal person, and the creation of a help desk to facilitate investment
She chaired an investment conference in Guangzhou on the sixth day of her China visit and expressed gratitude to the conference attendees
The Punjab CM briefed them on Punjab’s economic, geographical, and business significance
The roundtable conference witnessed participation from representatives of over 60 prominent companies from China and Hong Kong Representatives from health, artificial intelligence, agriculture, information technology, waste management solar energy and other sectors participated in the conference
Key Chinese companies provided detailed briefings on their operations, while suggestions and recommendations on PakistanChina free trade were also reviewed Maryam Nawaz invited Chinese technology firms to launch operations in Punjab with many expressing keen interest in investment opportunities in the province Chinese representatives appreciated the No to Plastic campaign launched in Punjab to protect the environment Maryam Nawaz reiterated her government’s commitment to banning the pro-
duction, sale, and use of environmentally harmful plastics
She highlighted ongoing efforts under the “Clean Punjab” initiative including a zero-waste mission and projects to convert waste into renewable energy
Maryam Nawaz emphasised the focus on affordable energy through windmills, solar energy, and other renewable sources She welcomed partnerships in a mega solarisation project underscoring Punjab s growing demand for solar energy
In agriculture the government is modernising through mechanisation and fostering collaboration in sub-sectors such as machinery manufacturing food processing and hybrid seed development
Maryam Nawaz also underlined the importance of innovation in the IT sector, welcoming investments in e-commerce, incubator centres, and e-learning She invited Chinese firms to contribute to making the Nawaz Sharif IT City a state-of-the-art hub She noted that Punjab aims to utilise its young skilled workforce and explore bio and hydrogen technologies
Maryam Nawaz described Pakistan as a gateway to Central Asia, the Middle East, and other global markets reaffirming its strategic role in international trade She called the positive response from Chinese investors encouraging for fostering Pak-China relations
In health, she highlighted plans to benefit from China’s telemedicine technologies, while in agriculture, she pointed to potential breakthroughs with nanotechnology and water-efficient irrigation systems
This is the best time for Chinese companies to seize business opportunities in Punjab, Maryam Nawaz concluded Huawei to help make Lahore smart city
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and the Huawei Technologies have decided to turn Lahore into the first modern smart city of Pakistan
During her visit to the company’s Bantian headquarters in Shenzhen the chief minister discussed various initiatives with the company s executives to make Lahore a modern digital city
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Saturday emphasized the need for comprehensive, unconditional” negotiations between the PTI and the federal government amid hesitation in the party after founder s snub
I am in favour of comprehensive unconditional negotiations at every stage, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said while speaking to reporters outside the Islamabad District and Sessions Court on Saturday He added: It is essential for democracy to find political solutions to political issues We will proceed in accordance with the law
When asked if the party’s demands were conditions for negotiations he clarified “We have not given any conditions rather these are our demands We will negotiate
on these demands ” We did have contact with the government but we were disconnected at a critical stage, the chairman said in response to a question about prior attempts at talks
“We are hopeful we will reestablish contact and improve the situation [ ] When there are negotiations all issues will be resolved he told reporters Enough is enough Let us put a stop to everything and move towards improvement ” Gohar files complaint against PM Shehbaz
A day ago Gohar had filed a petition with the Islamabad Judicial Magistrate against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif the Islamabad police chief and others over the alleged deaths of 12 PTI workers during the November 26 protests
According to the petition the respondents formulated a plan to deal with peaceful protesters in order to sabotage the constitutional and fundamental rights Gohar accused Naqvi of declaring “his intentions that orders had been issued to law enforcement agencies to use lethal force against unarmed citizens through statements made in the media
The petition said that on Naqvi s directives, the other respondents “held consultations and conspired to arrange a coordinated attack on the peaceful protesters”
The petition accused the PM and the cabinet ministers named as respondents of ordering authorities to use lethal force to teach a lesson” to the demonstrators on November 26 It listed the 12 PTI workers who were allegedly killed in the protest as well as 38 workers who were wounded and 139 others reportedly missing
