CABINET GREENLIGHTS BAN ON TLP UNDER
g ADVISER TO PM SANAULLAH CLAIMS BAN NOT POLITICAL, AIMED AT ‘PURGING ANTI-STATE AND TERRORIST ELEMENTS ’
g AZMA REVEALS 3,800 FINANCIERS LINKED TO TLP IDENTIFIED AND FUNDING CHANNELS BLOCKED UNDER ANTI-TERRORISM LAWS
g SAYS PUNJAB GOVT FREEZES 95 ACCOUNTS, SEALS MADRESSAHS AND TRACES PROPERTIES REGISTERED UNDER BENAMI OWNERSHIP
persistent involvement in terrorism loss of life and damage to public property warranted immediate legal action Security personnel and innocent bystanders have been killed in violent protests and rallies by the TLP, the release added
CB cautions ignoring Ar ticle 191A could amount to granting ‘final relief’ to petitioners
s ta f f r e p o r t
Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan on Thursday observed that disregarding Article 191A the constitutional clause under which the Supreme Court s Constitutional Bench (CB) was constituted through the 26th Amendment would amount to granting the petitioners “final relief” His remarks came as an eight-member Constitutional Bench headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan resumed hearings on more than three dozen petitions challenging
the amendment undermines judicial independence and violates the basic features of the Constitution Background and key provisions
The 26th Amendment widely debated since its passage introduced far-reaching changes to the structure and authority of the judiciary It removed the Supreme Court s suo motu powers fixed the Chief Justice of Pakistan s tenure at three years and
ISLAMABAD
Pakistan and Poland on Thursday reaffirmed their resolve to deepen multifaceted cooperation spanning trade energy defence education, technology, and fintech as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met his Polish counterpart Radosław Sikorski in Islamabad
Both leaders during a joint press stakeout expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory of bilateral relations and emphasized the need to unlock the untapped potential in trade and investment
They also signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) one between their foreign ministries to establish regular bilateral consultations, and another between the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) and the Polish Institute of International Affairs to enhance think tank collaboration
Dar noted that bilateral trade had surpassed one billion dollars, adding that both sides agreed there remained “immense untapped potential” to further expand economic cooperation He said Poland s expertise in oil and gas could significantly benefit Pakistan, pointing out that a leading Polish energy company had already invested nearly half a billion dollars in the country
The Deputy Prime Minister recalled the deep historical ties between Pakistan and Poland dating back to World War II, when thou-
sands of Polish refugees found refuge in Karachi and Quetta He paid tribute to Polish pilots and engineers, particularly Air Commodore Władysław Turowicz for their vital role in establishing the Pakistan Air Force
His story is a monument to the values of sacrifice, dignity, and honour, he remarked, adding that Pakistan regarded Poland as an important partner both bilaterally and within the European Union
Dar congratulated Poland on its economic progress and its emergence as a trillion-dollar economy, lauding its successful tenure as President of the Council of the European Union earlier this year He thanked Warsaw for supporting Pakistan’s election to the UN Security Council with 182 votes and sought Poland s continued backing for the renewal of Pakistan s GSP Plus status in 2027
“GSP Plus is a win-win arrangement for both Pakistan and the EU as it contributes to sustain-
able development good governance and poverty alleviation, he added Reiterating Pakistan s principled position on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute Dar called for its resolution in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people He also voiced concern over the presence of Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan militant elements in Afghanistan underlining the need for collective action and adherence to the UN Charter to strengthen multilateralism
In his remarks, Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said Poland attached great importance to its relations with Pakistan and was eager to enhance cooperation in trade public finance fintech water management mining and the energy sector Polish companies have long been engaged in geological services in Pakistan and see great potential for future cooperation ” he said
XPAYER COMPL AINTS IN FOUR YEARS
Energy minister discusses mining, AI cooperation with Swedish and French officials
lighting Pakistan’s growing potential in critical and rare earth elements
Federal Minister for Energy (Petroleum Division) Ali Pervaiz Malik held key meetings with senior officials from Sweden and France on the sidelines of the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) 2025 to explore investment opportunities technological collaboration and sustainable development in Pakistan s mining sector In his meeting with Ms Diana Janse, State Secretary for International Development and Cooperation of Sweden the minister discussed avenues of mutual cooperation and potential investment in Pakistan s minerals sector Both sides agreed to further strengthen bilateral collaboration in mining and resource exploration Ali Pervaiz Malik underscored Pakistan’s ongoing reforms to attract foreign investment and promote transparency in the energy and mining sectors He invited Swedish companies to explore opportunities in exploration, processing, and value addition of minerals, high-
The Swedish official appreciated Pakistan s efforts toward improving its investment climate and emphasised Sweden s interest in long-term cooperation through sustainable and environmentally responsible mining practices
The meeting concluded with both sides expressing a shared intent to enhance technical exchange and business partnerships between the two countries In another engagement the minister met Hon Benjamin Gallezot, Interministerial Delegate for Strategic Minerals and Metals Supply at the Prime Minister’s Office of France The discussion focused on technology-driven cooperation and the integration of advanced tools such as data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) in mining operations Both sides explored the possibility of launching joint initiatives aimed at promoting innovation, operational efficiency, and sustainability in the minerals industry
The French official highlighted France s expertise in AI-led mineral mapping digital monitoring systems
and low-emission extraction technologies, noting that these tools could help Pakistan modernise its mining infrastructure Ali Pervaiz Malik said Pakistan is committed to adopting modern practices to ensure efficiency and environmental compliance in its resource sector He added that technological partnerships with advanced economies like France would play a key role in improving productivity transparency and global
vestors and technology
gage in
projects
and energy
The meetings were part of Pakistan s broader diplomatic outreach during IMARC 2025, where Ali Pervaiz Malik is engaging with global stakeholders to attract investment promote sustainable mining and integrate advanced technologies into Pakistan s growing mineral economy
Parliamentar y panels raise alarm over outdated emission standards, weak climate response
of
Standards still
and
administra-
committee, admitting
with Euro-II
and Euro-VI
Committee chairperson Munaza Hassan said there was no mechanism in place to check emissions or enforce compliance, calling it a major lapse in environmental oversight Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon informed members that the Pakistan Environment Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) lacks both funding and technical capacity to monitor air quality He said testing equip-
ment had been borrowed from Punjab s EPA, while the Capital Development Authority financed five additional units The committee directed the climate ministry to submit a detailed time-bound action plan within four weeks to improve air quality and strengthen monitoring It also recommended enhanced funding and urged that environmental concerns be made a key component of Pakistan’s foreign policy agenda Experts attending the session said targeted actions such as staggered school and office timings improved road infrastructure and use of catalytic converters could cut urban air pollution by nearly 30% In addition, they suggested emission testing during vehicle transfers incentives for retrofitting and transitioning to Euro-V compliant fuels We should at least try to make Islamabad a model city the chairperson remarked Meanwhile, in Skardu, the Senate Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), and SAFRON met under Senator Asad Qasim to discuss the impact of climate change on the region The committee
noted that GB remains highly vulnerable to climate-induced disasters, including glacial lake outburst floods and cloudbursts Officials briefed senators on forest conservation efforts and the seizure of 1 1 million cubic feet of illegal timber They said many residents rely on wood for fuel due to power shortages, but clean energy projects are underway under the prime minister ’s directives The committee directed authorities to expand community awareness and offer incentives for forest protection A separate meeting reviewed the UNDP-funded GLOF-II and Early Warning System project in GB and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Officials reported that 218 of 292 early-warning stations are fully functional with communication and civil work issues affecting the rest The Senate panel called for stronger coordination among the Disaster Management Authority, Meteorological Department and UNDP
Ayesha Malik, Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi Musarrat Hilali Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Shahid Bilal Hassan besides Justice Aminuddin took up the petitions for detailed arguments Retired Justice Shahid Jamil Khan, a former Lahore High Court judge who resigned four years before completing his tenure, appeared at the rostrum and informed the court that his client had sought implementation of the Practice and Procedure Committee’s decision Justice Mandokhail asked whether he had filed a separate petition against the 26th Amendment Justice Jamil replied that he had, but requested that his arguments be heard toward the end of the proceedings due to an upcoming trip abroad on November 2 The bench agreed to accommodate his request The main arguments were then presented by Advocate Uzair Bhandari counsel for the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) who said he would explain the current value of the 26th Amendment However, before delving into the substance, Justice Mandokhail directed him to clarify which bench was competent to hear the case Bhandari acknowledged the bench s concern that Article 191A the very provision that created the Constitutional Bench might restrict the case from being referred to a full court The bench considers that Article 191A bars it from referring the matter to a full court,” he observed Justice Hassan then asked the counsel to define what constituted a full court to which Justice Mandokhail added humorously We would like to know whether a full
C abinet greenlights ban on TLP under ATA on Punjab’s recommendation
CONTINUED FROM PAGE
a TV Channel clarified that the objective of the ban was “not to eliminate any political party but to purge it of anti-state and terrorist elements He emphasised that the government had no objection to the TLP s religious views but could not tolerate its violent methods “Every time the group holds protests it leads to chaos casualties and paralysis of civic life as seen during the 2017 Faizabad sit-in he noted Sanaullah added that the TLP had been banned once before in 2021, and its latest actions showed it had violated the undertaking made at that time not to engage in violent activities again Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry in a separate television interview said the party s conduct had crossed all limits of extremism He said the interior ministry had reviewed reports from all provinces on TLP’s decade-long activities, including incitement of sectarianism and attacks on minorities “Those who adopt the path of violence have no right to claim political freedoms he remarked LEGAL PATH AND IMPLICATIONS
Under the Anti-Terrorism Act, groups designated as proscribed face asset freezes, travel bans, and restrictions on public gatherings The National Counter-Terrorism Authority (NACTA) maintains the official list of banned outfits and individuals which currently includes extremist groups such as
the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, Lashkar-iJhangvi, Jaish-i-Mohammad, and the Baloch Liberation Army In the case of a political entity the Constitution’s Article 17(2) allows the federal government to declare that a party is acting in a manner prejudicial to the sovereignty or integrity of Pakistan However, such a declaration must be referred to the Supreme Court within fifteen days whose decision is final Legal experts note that while the federal government can impose an administrative ban the Supreme Court retains the ultimate authority to dissolve a political party The government may also invoke Section 212 of the Elections Act 2017, which similarly mandates judicial approval before a political organisation can be permanently outlawed PUNJAB GOVERNMENT S ROLE AND EVIDENCE
Earlier, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari told reporters in Lahore that the provincial government had submitted a detailed summary to the Centre recommending the ban At a press conference Bokhari said recent violent protests by the TLP had prompted an extensive review of the party s activities and its role in undermining public safety She said the Punjab government had suspended licences of 28 arms dealers sealed shops of illegal weapons sellers and initiated strict enforcement of gun laws There is zero tolerance for the illegal possession and sale of arms, she said, adding that more than one million citizens in Punjab currently hold weapons licences, creating a major challenge for law enforcement
had been remanded
the business community we are now entering a phase of recovery and expansion he remarked The prime minister expressed confidence that the latest initiative would further reduce production costs, improve export competitiveness, and help drive down inflationary pressures in the long term
Reiterating the government
The latest Global R isk Index puts Pakistan near the bottom
WH
An interesting aspect of the Index is that it measures resilience, and includes climate factors As Pakistan is measured consistently by various indices as one of the country’s most vulnerable to climate change this is an important metric for it and shows that climate change does not just have direct economic effects in terms of production lost or damage to infrastructure but in terms of investment decisions Foreign investors do not need to be doubtful that the road to their plant will remain, and not be washed away by the next monsoon Getting a foreign enterprise to invest in a Special Economic Zone is tough enough, without having to give assurances that the SEZ will be there for the foreseeable future Not enough attention has been paid to the climate and the environment as factors in economic decision making and this index will probably have role to play apart from being a sign that investors are finally waking up and realizing that the old assumption about stable climatic conditions no longer applies
That is something the government cannot do
Dedicated
Niazi
ON E of the most interesting dimensions of the Israeli genocide in Gaza has been how Israel, or rather the international Zionist lobby backing it has developed ties with the far-right in the West This is strange for all of these organizations have views which would be described by Zionists as anti-Jewish One telltale has come from the Holocaust survivors who have spoken out against the genocide, saying, “Not in our name ” This is in clear reference to the use of the Holocaust by Zionists to justify the Zionists state s slaughter of Gazans It is worth noting that the Holocaust is one of the points of friction between Zionists and the far-right The Zionists claim that during World War II, the Nazi regime killed six million Jews after herding them into concentration camps Holocaust deniers claim it didn’t happen The historical consensus is that while the six million figure is probably too high at least 4 5 million and more like 5 million were killed The dead were not all Jew but included Gipsies gays people with disabilities communists and other opponents of Nazi-ism The vast majority, at least four million, were indeed Jewish, but there were hundreds of thousands of others The far-right are usually Holocaust-deniers The neo-Nazi movement is more often than not strong in their ranks One ends up with someone like Donald Trump who enjoys support from neo-Nazis but also from Zionists and who has a Jewish son-in-law whom he appointed a special envoy to the Middle East
At this point, it is worth distinguishing between Jews and Zionists A Zionist is one who believes that there should be a special homeland for Jews where anyone who can prove that his mother was Jewish can return and automatically obtain citizenship Zionism was born out of the pogroms of the later 19th century in the Russian Empire and was strengthened by the granting after World War I of independence to several nations which had been part of the defeated Austro-Hungarian and Russian Empires After the last Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II had refused to give Palestine to the World Zionist Congress and after the Ottoman Empire was defeated in World War I Britain took (as a UN mandate) Palestine while France took Syria and Lebanon This was in pursuance of the SykesPicot Agreement, an agreement between France and the UK on how the Ottoman Empire was to be divided up
The UK gave Jews a free hand to change the demography but not enough Jews were enthusiastic enough to make the aaliyah or return to Israel Thus when the British left in 1948 the Zionists who took over had to make sure that the people of the land disappeared Thus ensued An-Nakba, the Catastrophe, in which about 350,000 to 400,000 people were expelled from their homes, with many killed Interestingly Israel is the world’s only state which promotes one denial Nakba Denial (which claims that any Palestinians who left did so voluntarily)
while excoriating another, Holocaust Denial
One of the commonalties between Zionists and the far-right come from the figure of the Mufti of Jerusalem Mufti Amin Al-Hussaini Facing a rising tide of Jews making the aaliyah he started making overtures to the Nazis which culminated in a visit to Germany in 1943, when he met Hitler According to some Israelis, he was briefed about the Final Solution, and is supposed to have expressed his approval
Though a small icon, he is still one among the far-right He was clearly following the policy of ‘An enemy of my enemy is my friend Hitler was antiBritish so clearly Al-Husseini would favour him It is not clear if al-Husseini realised the impetus Hitler was giving the Zionists by his persecution of Jews, which before the War had gone from his apologists saying that his anti-Jewish rhetoric was merely rhetoric to the Nuremberg Laws which deprived Jews of German citizenship among other things Hitler had other admirers including Indian leaders opposed to the British like Allama Inayatullah Mashriqi of the Khaksar Tehrik, and V D Savarkar, the founder of the RSSS Interestingly, the main antiBritish parties, the Congress and the Muslim League, were never pro-Nazi, unless one is to count Maulana Zafrullah Khan who merged his Neeliposh party into the Muslim League while Khan Abdul Ghaffar s Khan s Khudai Khidmatgars or Surkhposh were allied to the Congress The adoption of a particular colour was noteworthy, for the original Italian Fascists wore Blackshirts and the Nazis wore Brownshirts
However, if indeed Al-Hussaini did what he is supposed to Zionists should not criticize him because of the closeness they are developing with Holocaust deniers and Nazi sympathizers Perhaps the best symbol of this was Elon Musk one of Trump s leading supporters in 2024 When Trump won, Musk did a Nazi salute to the watching crowd Not only Trump is a vocal Israel supporter, but so is Musk, having been feted in Israel when he visited Musk is not the only Nazi sympathizer Israel seems cool with Gert Wilders was the most prominent European though perhaps behind Marine Le Pen of France or Niigel Farage of the UK More mainstream, there is of course Donald Trump, Then there is Imran Khan, whose brother-in-law Zac was the 2016 Tory mayoral candidate for London, and is not only of Jewish origin but a well-known Zionist It is worth noting that there are Christian Zionists
from GenAI ‘efforts’ There is much more to creative writing than merely ending up with a finished article It involves thinking critically, deciding what to write and, equally importantly, how Also, often the writer does not know (or is not sure of) his own thoughts on an issue when he sits down to write It is through the process of writing that he finds out his own stance on the matter It can be very tempting to turn to GenAI for the answer which it will provide in a matter of seconds But that would be GenAI s opinion, not the writer s Human beings have this unfortunate propensity of narrow-mindedly focusing on the ends This is done at the cost of losing sight of the importance of means The final product is no doubt important in creative and opinion writing, as it is in anything else However, probably more important is the process: the meticulous building up of the argument, the painstaking weeding out of contradictions and inconsistencies and the decisions regarding how best to present the content It is by virtue of these that the writer hones his critical thinking craft and expression skills Writers are ill-advised to bypass this process GenAI is apt to produce a composition free of typos and grammatical errors Often it gets its facts right too But that is
about all It can be no replacement for the clarity the insight and the discernment gained by successfully resolving clashing thoughts Readers have the liberty of taking an essay or a newspaper column as an end– as a finished article to be read No writer worth his salt can afford to take that view For the author, each article represents a problem to be solved It is an arduous task combining the need for critical thinking as well as having to decide on each step of the way how best to put his thoughts across It is a challenging journey, which he is supposed to come out of as a better writer on account of having successfully negotiated it Trained writers who went through their paces in the pre-GenAI days may still escape the worst effects of using the technology owing to their prior training But that is a generation on its way out It will soon be replaced by youngsters relying on GenAI without having put in the hard yards to learn how to think and write In an era in which critical thinking skill is already at a premium the irresistible temptation and the ready availability of GenAI cannot possibly be good news
The author is a connoisseur of music literature, and food (but not drinks) He can be reached at www facebook com/hasanaftabsaeed
Trained writers who went through their paces in the pre-GenAI days may still escape the worst effects of using the technology owing to their prior training. But that is a generation on its way out. It will soon be replaced by youngsters relying on GenAI without having put in the hard yards to learn how to think and write . In an era in which critical thinking skill is already at a premium, the irresistible temptation and the ready availability of GenAI cannot possibly be good news.
T-Card tangle
Filth on campus
The illusion abroad
HASAN AFTAB SAEED
Not a Con Job
hectares of Indus delta wetlands and sold credits on voluntary markets Official figures reported sales and revenues in the tens of millions of dollars, with Sindh s early trades valued at roughly $22 to $50 million by different updates Verra and other registries have documented the project’s methodology and scoring as a naturebased removals model The potential is real and sizeable Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has completed forest carbon mapping and identified projects that could yield substantial annual revenues; provincial officials estimate hundreds of millions of rupees in prospective receipts The federal guidelines and recent Article 6 project approvals signal Islamabad s intent to be transaction-ready and invite bilateral investors Pakistan has recently courted partners such as Azerbaijan to invest in carbon projects But markets are not magic Two interlocking risks must be confronted if carbon trading is to be more than a headline or a rent-seeking opportunity First integrity International reviews have repeatedly found that a large share of voluntary credits fail stringent quality tests; projects with weak baselines or questionable additionality have flooded markets, depressing prices and undermining climate outcomes Pakistan cannot simply become a supplier of cheap credits if those credits do not represent real permanent emissions reductions or if they displace local rights and resources Safeguards, transparent MRV (monitoring, reporting and verification), and alignment with Article 6 accounting rules are essential Second governance and equity The carbon rents must reach the communities that steward mangroves,
When rivers rise, arguments about theory and intent matter little to the woman who has lost her crop, her home and the school for her children. If Pakistan is to weather the coming decades, carbon trading must become par t of a clear, accountable strategy for survival, not an alibi for more delay. The choice is no longer abstract: it is whether we will spend revenues to protect people or use them to tidy accounting in faraway ledgers. The difference is the difference between life and loss
The fighter jet deal is an endorsement of Chinese technology and a sign the region’s defence future will no longer be monopolised by the West
I
pecting
just
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instructions or behaviour I
my job to keep him happy not
And so on Needless to say Southern-boy
all that He expected to tell her what to do, what to wear, what to cook, and needed her to lay out his pyjamas every night He got what he demanded: a docile wife who would always greet him with full hairdo and make-up in place listen to him talk endlessly and never question what he did – or who with She had to tolerate the guys in his entourage bringing pretty girls into Graceland to meet the man who was ‘king of all he surveyed’ No wonder she says: ‘The struggle wore me down and I began to feel like the proverbial bird in a gilded cage Priscilla reveals that even after their divorce she and Elvis still prattled in their old, intimate baby-talk He would telephone her at all hours, even if she was in bed with other men And although she was entitled to act as she pleased Priscilla was careful not to annoy him
Once she was in bed with Robert Kardashian when the phone rang and she just knew who it was’ Surely only a woman still enthralled by her ex would creep out of bed at 2am chat as long as he wanted then creep back to her slumbering lover? He never knew Elvis had called And Elvis never knew about Robert If Elvis had, he ‘would have gone ballistic’ and he ‘always carried a loaded gun’
The issue was that despite our divorce he still couldn t wrap his head around my being with somebody else Michael Jackson’s quick courtship of her daughter Lisa Marie met with her disapproval Lisa Marie divorced the man who was probably the only one to truly
house hoping to get to know Jackson But the superstar Jackson stayed as far away from me as possible, playing outside with the children That’s a rather chilling detail He later showed up at a tribute to Elvis in Memphis where they didn’t speak Those were the only two times she saw her sonin-law Cue another disaster Priscilla s story is shot through with the kind of loss that would floor most people You can’t help wondering at the forces that led to so much bad luck within one family – but the words ‘privilege’ and drugs do spring easily to mind She tells of the relentless addiction struggles of her son Navarone Garcia (with Brazilian screenwriter and computer programmer, Marco Garibaldi Garcia), recounts the terrible suicide of her grandson Benjamin Keough and of course the premature death of her daughter Lisa Marie Elvis s only child The saga would be relentless were it not told with an almost detachment, perhaps due to having a professional writer as intermediary Priscilla Presley is 80 now, and arguably more beautiful than she was as an over-made-up teenager courting Elvis The complex story of her relationship with tragic Lisa Marie – my wild child – is as riveting and heartbreaking as ever To understand the other side I recommend the daughter s own story, From Here To The Great Unknown, written with Priscilla’s granddaughter the talented actress Riley Keough For the Presley family story never ceases to enthral This latest instalment begins and ends with sincerely expressed, almost obsessive love for Elvis – the ghost who will surely haunt his exwife as long as she remains in the Heartbreak Hotel of her life
INDONESIA’S decision to purchase 42 Chinese-made J-10 fighter jets marks more than a military procurement; it reinforces Jakarta s strategic outlook and signals a broader shift in Asia s defence dynamics Under President Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia is charting a defence modernisation course that reflects both ambition and pragmatism in a multipolar world
The deal worth roughly US$9 billion follows Indonesia s earlier contracts with France for the Rafale and with Turkey for the KAAN stealth fighter This pattern reflects a deliberate diversification strategy aimed at technological sovereignty Prabowo’s message is clear: Indonesia’s modernisation will not depend on any single bloc
For decades Indonesia s air force has relied on a mix of American F-16s British Hawks and Russian Sukhois The J-10 purchase is both a practical and political move: it strengthens Indonesia’s defence autonomy while acknowledging the growing sophistication of Chinese defence technology China’s defence industry long dismissed as a copycat of Western design has quietly transformed The J-10C, developed by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group, features an advanced active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, digital fly-by-wire controls and the PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile – capabilities on par with Western 4 5-generation fighters Its battlefield credibility was demonstrated during Pakistan s confrontation with India where the J-10C s performance reportedly deterred further Indian incursions and restored regional air parity That episode resonated in Southeast Asia as evidence of China’s emergence as a genuine defence innovator Indonesia s move therefore is less an ideological tilt towards Beijing than an acknowledgement of China s technological rise The J-10C deal signals that Jakarta views Chinese defence systems not merely as cheaper alternatives but as credible assets It also reflects Prabowo’s pragmatic world view: flexibility not alignment is Indonesia s strategic strength That pragmatism is visible in Prabowo s diplomatic choreography His presence alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at a Beijing
Danish Bhutto
Softly, As I Leave You by Priscilla B eaulieu Presley with Mar y Jane Ross
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charges including failure to prevent murder, amounting to crimes against humanity under Bangladeshi law They have demanded the death penalty if she is found guilty Chief prosecutor Tajul Islam has accused Hasina of being the nucleus around whom all the crimes were committed during the uprising Her co-accused are former interior minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal also a fugitive and ex-police chief Chowdhury Abdullah AlMamun who is in custody and has
CPC plenum concludes, adopting recommendations for C hina’s 15th Five -Year Plan
20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) convened its fourth plenary session in Beijing from Monday to Thursday Participants at the session deliberated over and adopted the Recommendations of the CPC Central Committee for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development according to a communique of the session released on Thursday The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee presided over the meeting Xi Jinping general secretary of the CPC Central Committee delivered important addresses according to the communique The participants heard and discussed a report presented by Xi on the work of the Political Bureau Xi also delivered explanatory remarks on the draft recommendations At the session the CPC Central Committee fully affirmed the work of the Political Bureau since the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee China is now on the verge of accomplishing the major objectives and tasks of the 14th Five-Year Plan according to the communique Participants at the session gave a highly positive assessment of China s major development achievements during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), which has marked a momentous and extraordinary period in the country’s development The 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030) will be critical as the country works to reinforce the foundations and push ahead on all fronts toward basically achieving socialist modernization by 2035 and it will thus serve as a key link between the past and the future according to the communique At present China re-
mains in a phase of development where strategic opportunities exist alongside risks and challenges, while uncertainties and unforeseen factors are rising “All of us in the Party must acquire a deep understanding of the decisive significance of establishing Comrade Xi Jinping s core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and of establishing the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era ” said the communique
At the session the CPC Central Committee established the following guiding principles for economic and social development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period: upholding the Party’s overall leadership; putting the people first; pursuing highquality development; comprehensively deepening reform; promoting interplay between an efficient market and a well-functioning government; and ensuring both development and security
The CPC Central Committee also set the following major objectives for the 15th Five-Year Plan period: significant advancements in high-quality development; substantial improvements in scientific and technological self-reliance and strength; fresh breakthroughs in further deepening reform comprehensively; notable cultural and ethical progress across society; further improvements in quality of life; major new strides in advancing the Beautiful China Initiative; and further advances in strengthening the national security shield China should build a modernized industrial system and reinforce the foundations of the real economy said the communique The country should achieve greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology and steer the development of new quality productive forces
Promoting
curious young minds is at its peak as the much-awaited Lahore Science Mela (LSM) 2025 is around the corner Among dozens of organisations participating in the 6th edition of LSM Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) is taking a lead by an active participation, this year too Dr Rashid Mehmood, Spokesperson of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission has urged people especially from Lahore to visit LSM-2025 along with their families as teams of various set ups of PAEC and many other topnotch research and development (R&D) organisations are arriving here He said there is a need to work together for the promotion of science in the country and PAEC has joined hands with the Khwarizmi Science Society (KSS) for this cause Dr Rashid further said that Lahore Science Mela is not specifically for children or students people of all age groups could benefit from it PAEC has been participating in LSM for many years to promote the cause of igniting curiosity, promoting love for scientific research and quenching the thirst of young minds to know, as this is our joint responsibility," he added Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission's role in minerals exploration power production agricultural reforms and health sectors will be displayed in an engaging manner The highlight of the PAEC stall will be showcasing of collaboration between the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) and Pakistan The 2-day Lahore Science Mela 2025 will commence on Saturday and conclude on Sunday at Crescent Model Higher Secondary School Lahore Organized by the Khwarizmi Science Society whose General Secretary Dr Muhammad Sabieh Anwar pioneered the LSM
PM INVITES POLISH INVESTMENT IN ENERGY, MINING, IT SECTORS TO DEEPEN BIL ATERAL COOPERATION
t Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday strongly condemned what it termed the “continued defiance of judicial orders by the Adiala Jail administration accusing it of repeatedly denying court-approved meetings between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi and party leadership The party said such actions had raised “serious questions” about the judiciary’s ability to enforce its own verdicts In a sharply worded statement the party also voiced grave concern over the reinstatement of Rule 265 describing it as a draconian relic of dictatorship intended to curb the rights and voices of political prisoners PTI reaffirmed that former prime minister and party founder Imran Khan’s voice cannot be silenced, declaring, “No oppressive law or decision can suppress his vision Imran Khan will speak and the nation will speak with him The statement said the Adiala Jail administration s refusal to allow meetings with Imran Khan constituted a blatant violation of court orders and fundamental political rights Despite explicit judicial directions, the party alleged, CM Sohail Afridi, PTI Secretary General Barrister Salman Akram Raja and KP President Junaid Akbar were stopped at the prison gate and denied access to meet the detained leader on Thursday PTI reminded that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had in March 2025 directed jail authorities to allow meetings on Tuesdays and Thursdays as per an approved visitors list Yet, the Adiala Jail administration has repeatedly and blatantly defied court orders ” the statement said “If the courts cannot enforce their own decisions and if the jail administration openly defies judicial orders then what purpose do such verdicts serve? Are courts merely meant to issue judgments, or to ensure that justice is truly delivered? the statement questioned The party also criticized the Islamabad High Court’s recent decision to reinstate Rule 265, which restricts prisoners from engaging in political discussions PTI called the move a step back toward authoritarianism claiming it had been revived at the Punjab government s request to suppress dissent and muzzle Imran Khan s political expression
The three-member IHC bench has revived a rule that symbolizes oppression and dictatorship,” the statement read asserting that the law has been reimposed to silence a national leader and stifle democratic rights PTI further alleged that the revival of the rule coupled with repeated violations of visitation rights reflected a broader strategy to isolate and silence Imran Khan He is being denied the right to meet anyone, speak freely, or convey his message to the people,” the statement claimed Reiterating that Imran Khan leads Pakistan’s largest political party PTI stressed that engaging in political discourse is a constitutional right not a privilege The statement argued that using administrative rules or judicial decisions to gag political speech amounted to an assault on democracy
s ta f f r e p o r t The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has urged Punjab to withdraw what it described as restrictive measures on the inter-provincial movement of wheat and flour, warning that the curbs have led to acute shortages and sharp price increases in the province In a letter addressed to the Punjab secretary for price control and commodities management the KP Food Department said the restrictions were inconsistent with Article 151(1) of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of inter-provincial trade and movement of goods
Pakistan ready to deepen regional transport, trade and investment links: Dar
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday said Pakistan was ready to strengthen regional cooperation through enhanced transport facilitation cross-border investments and integrated value chains, positioning the country as a regional hub for connectivity
Speaking at the Regional Transport Ministers’ Conference in Islamabad Dar said Pakistan aimed to turn its geography into opportunity by building pathways for inclusive growth and economic cooperation The event, hosted by the Ministry of Communications under the theme “Regional Connectivity: Opportunities for the Region was attended by transport ministers from Saudi Arabia Turkiye, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Iran, Belarus, Turkmenistan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, along with delegates from the ADB ECO IRU and UNESCAP Dar described the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a major catalyst for energy infrastructure development, transport connectivity, and trade integration across South and Central Asia He said the initiative reflected a shared commitment to
building partnerships for the mutual benefit of Pakistan, China, and the wider region He noted that Pakistan’s expanding network of motorways and highways connects key border points to Karachi and Gwadar ports forming the backbone of regional and domestic transport Integrated border and maritime systems, he said, were helping reduce costs and improve transit efficiency strengthening Pakistan’s role as a vital trade corridor Highlighting regional transport projects Dar cited the UzbekistanAfghanistan-Pakistan Railway Framework Agreement and the Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad Road
and Rail Corridor as significant steps toward regional and global trade expansion He said Pakistan remained an active partner in regional energy initiatives such as CASA-1000 and TAPI-500, which would enhance energy security and market integration
The deputy prime minister also highlighted Pakistan s e-visa facility for citizens of 126 countries including those from the Gulf and Central Asia, aimed at facilitating business and tourism travel He said Pakistan was addressing key barriers to regional integration by improving banking access and simplifying the cross-border movement of goods and people through road, rail, and sea routes Dar said Pakistan was prioritizing digital trade platforms and e-port integration to ensure paperless efficient and transparent trade processes Physical and digital connectivity is essential to advance together he said adding that these projects serve as building blocks for regional integration and enablers of peace and economic stability ” Inviting all regional partners to collaborate he said Together we can transform these corridors into engines of growth Connectivity is about building trust, opportunity, and a shared destiny ”
The Sindh government has formally requested the federal interior ministry to allocate it the armoured vehicles rejected earlier this week by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) administration becoming the second province after Balochistan to do so
In a letter addressed to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Sindh Additional Chief Secretary Muhammad Iqbal Memon said the province faced a “critical security environment” citing the need to protect Chinese nationals foreign dignitaries and other high-profile visitors It is requested that these bulletproof vehicles may kindly be allocated to the government of Sindh for deployment under the Home
“Khyber Pakhtunkhwa being a wheatdeficient province heavily relies on interprovincial supplies from Punjab to meet its daily requirement of approximately 14 500 metric tonnes, the letter stated The prevailing restrictions have severely disrupted the flow of wheat and flour into the province, thereby threatening food availability and destabilising market prices ” The letter noted that while Punjab recently allowed the transportation of 2 000 metric tonnes of flour
Department,” the letter stated, adding that the vehicles would be used exclusively for official security duties and maintained under departmental control
The development follows KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi s recent decision to reject the armoured vehicles provided by the federal government terming them “defective and old” Afridi had accused the federal authorities of pursuing a flawed policy on counterterrorism, claiming that Islamabad had withheld funds and other resources meant for KP under the ongoing war against terrorism
Responding to Afridi’s remarks earlier this week Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti had appealed to the interior ministry to transfer the vehicles to his
province instead, citing Balochistan’s own security challenges Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi later announced that the vehicles originally meant for KP had been allocated to Balochistan
Sindh s latest request adds another layer to the political and administrative tussle between the provinces and the federal government over security resources amid a worsening national security landscape
Pakistan has seen a sharp increase in terrorist incidents, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since the Tehreek-eTaliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its ceasefire with the government in late 2022 According to the Global Terrorism Index 2025 Pakistan now ranks second among countries most affected by terrorism
