g
g CHIEF
PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira on Monday announced that his party and the PML-N had agreed on bringing a no-confidence motion against the government in Azad Jammu and Kashmir
Addressing a press conference with Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political
decided that the
parties were
of
a
Rana Sanaullah, Kaira said,
AJK govt,
of,
of
the federal government to
”
and resolve
Now there is a consensus of opinion that
no-confidence motion will be brought against it on which the PPP and PML-N will be together, Kaira added The PPP leader further said that the PML-N had already previously announced that it would sit in the opposition and while this may not have been the PPP’s desired wish it still accepted the decision and agreed to it He said better governance political stability problem resolution and free and fair elections needed to be provided to the people of AJK so the true representatives of the region could be elected and form their government “The timing of the [no-confidence] move will be consulted with the prime minister ” The planning minister said the PML-N considered that the current AJK setup had been completely unsuccessful in fulfilling its responsibilities, and this was the reason the two parties had to form a high-level committee that went to the region and engaged in negotiations to resolve the crisis-like situation “What clearly came to the fore in that entire situation was that the current setup has remained unsuccessful in living up to the people s aspirations and our commitment to the people of Kashmir of good governance and opportunities for
such as innovation, sustainability, economic inclusion, and geopolitical shifts During his stay, the FO said that PM Shehbaz will engage with the Saudi leadership to explore avenues for enhanced
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering political moral and diplomatic support for the Kashmiri people s struggle for self-determination, pledging that Pakistan would continue to raise its voice at every international forum until their legitimate right is achieved In his message on Kashmir
Black Day observed annually on October 27 Dar called upon the international community to take meaningful action to end the suffering of the people in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK)
On this day Pakistan calls upon the international community to play its due role in bringing an end to the suffering of the people in IIOJK Their plight deserves not
only attention but also meaningful action ” he said
The deputy prime minister recalled the events of October 27 1947, when Indian forces entered Srinagar to enforce what he described as an illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir For seventyeight years he said the people of the region have faced a systematic and relentless campaign of tyranny oppression and subjugation
Dar noted that the United Nations Security Council had “unequivocally affirmed” that the final status of Jammu and Kashmir would be determined through a free and impartial plebiscite
However he said India had blatantly defied these resolutions, tightening its grip on the territory through repression and military force
The human tragedy in IIOJK has worsened in the last six years following India s illegal and uni-
lateral actions of August 5, 2019,” he said referring to New Delhi’s revocation of the region s special constitutional status
Dar said India s moves including demographic changes through domicile laws, imprisonment of Kashmiri leaders, and the imposition of restrictive legislation violated the UN Charter Security Council resolutions and the Geneva Conventions He also condemned the recent crackdown in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, saying thousands of Kashmiris were subjected to arbitrary detention and home demolitions
These developments add to India s long record of human rights violations, well documented by UN bodies and international rights organisations ” Dar said reiterating Pakistan s commitment to stand with the Kashmiri people until justice and peace prevail
PESHAWAR S ta f f r e p o r t
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has written a letter to Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, urging him to immediately lift what he termed “unconstitutional restrictions” on the inter-provincial supply of wheat to the province In his letter to the PM Governor Kundi stated that the curbs imposed on wheat movement are contrary to the constitutional principle of federal cooperation and are undermining KP’s food security In the letter KP Governor Faisal
Kundi requested the Prime Minister s intervention to restore the smooth flow of wheat to the province The appeal from the governor comes just a week after the federal government approved the National Wheat Policy 2025–26 aimed at bolstering Pakistan s food security and ensuring uniform supply across provinces A high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on October 19 finalised the policy It was attended by the chief ministers of Punjab Sindh, Balochistan, and GilgitBaltistan, a representative from the KP government, and the PM of
Azad Jammu and Kashmir among other stakeholders During the meeting, the Prime Minister emphasised the crucial role of wheat in Pakistan’s agricultural economy and said the new policy had been developed after extensive consultations with provincial governments, farmers associations, and industry representatives to ensure consensus Under the policy, federal and provincial governments will jointly procure about 6 2 million tonnes of wheat from the 2025–26 crop at a support price of Rs 3,500 per maund, aligned with interna-
cern:
ISLAMABAD
s ta f f r e p o r t
The Power Division has refuted claims that the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority s (NEPRA) recent multiyear tariff (MYT) review decision for K-Electric (KE) is against Karachi’s power consumers terming such assertions misleading and contrary to facts
In an official statement the Power Division said certain quarters were deliberately misrepresenting the NEPRA decision to create confusion, whereas the review actually aims to ensure fairness, accountability and consumer protection
According to the spokesperson KElectric being a private power utility must demonstrate operational efficiency superior to public-sector distribution companies (DISCOs) such as IESCO, FESCO, and GEPCO “If compared, these governmentrun utilities are performing better than KE in terms of recoveries line losses and con-
sumer service, the spokesperson stated The Power Division emphasized that the NEPRA review concerns KE’s management and operational efficiency Currently KE purchases around 2 000 megawatts of power from the national grid which is cheaper than electricity generated by its own plants, and can draw more in the future
The spokesperson clarified that KE consumers pay the same per-unit electricity rates as consumers in the rest of Pakistan “If KE reduces its operational costs it benefits consumers by keeping national-level uniform rates stable How can this be considered anti-consumer? the spokesperson asked He further noted that KE consumers, like all others nationwide, continue to receive government subsidies “However, what has changed is that taxpayer-funded subsidies will no longer be diverted to cover KE s inefficiencies or losses a step taken in the national interest he added Previously, KE was able to pass on un-
MoIT T, Meta launch AI and innovation initiatives to accelerate Pakistan’s digital transformation
ISLAMABAD M o N i to r i N g D e s k The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) in collaboration with Meta hosted Future in Focus: AI and Innovation on Monday, an event aimed at advancing artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and digital transformation in Pakistan according to the Press Information Department (PID) The event gathered government officials industry leaders and academic representatives to promote AI-driven development During the session, Meta announced the expansion of its AI assistant’s language capabilities, introducing “ALIF ” which allows users in Pakistan to interact with Meta AI in both English and Urdu
Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the initiative aligned with the Prime Minister ’s Digital Nation Vision underscoring Pakistan’s National AI Policy and collaboration with Meta as key steps toward inclusive digital transformation
The introduction of ALIF Urdu for Meta AI is a milestone in making technology more accessible and ensuring that no one is left behind in Pakistan’s digital transition ” the minister said Meta also introduced a localized version of its Transforming Public Sector Innovation in Asia Pacific with Llama guide developed with Deloitte and supported by MoITT The guide outlines how Meta s open-source AI model, Llama, can improve government operations public
service delivery and data management National Computing Education Accreditation Council (NCEAC) Vice Chair Dr Syed Mansoor Sarwar stressed the importance of faculty training in strengthening Pakistan’s computing education CEO of atomcamp Fizza Amjad added that equipping educators with AI knowledge would expand technological literacy across disciplines Meta’s Public Policy Director for South and Central Asia, Sarim Aziz, said the company is committed to supporting Pakistan s AI-driven growth Through collaboration with MoITT HEC and NCEAC we aim to help the public sector and academia harness AI for digital transformation, he said, noting that Meta AI’s Urdu capability would
armed militants into the nearby mountainous region A g o v
Thore region is known for the presence of militant groups H
PIA Holding approves transfer of Precision Engineering Complex to PAF-owned company
sidiaries of Pakistan International Airlines Corporation Limited (PIACL) According to the PSX notice, shareholders passed the resolution at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held on October 25 2025 Under the approved scheme PEC will be carved out from PIAHCL and
marking a key step in the airline’s ongoing restructuring process The decision was announced in a disclosure to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Monday PIAHCL a public limited company majority-owned by the Government of Pakistan, was established to take over specified assets, liabilities, and sub-
to Precision Engg Comp (Private) Limited (PECPL), des-
ignated entity of Pakistan Air Force, the notice stated The company’s Chief Executive Officer and Company Secretary have been authorised to complete all related legal and regulatory requirements including filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and obtaining no-objection certificates from relevant authorities The Precision Engineering Complex originally part of Pakistan International Airlines manufactures high-precision components for the aerospace and engineering industries The facility integrates multiple engineering disciplines, including investment casting, CNC machining, optics, electronics, and composites PEC is a certified supplier to international firms such as General Electric Airbus Industries and Boeing with clients across the United States and Europe
sheds tears over Pashtun suffering, yet desecrates the memory of Pakistan’s martyred soldiers the very men who laid down their lives so that Pashtuns could live in peace and dignity Their hypocrisy stands exposed as they wave Afghan flags while benefiting from the security ensured by the blood of Pakistani soldiers They claim to oppose oppression yet stand shoulder to shoulder with those who harbored the terrorists responsible for the deaths of innocent Pakistanis Their accusations against Pakistan’s security forces are not cries for justice but echoes of enemy propaganda designed to blur the line between defender and aggressor When bombs tore through Pashtun markets and homes, it was not PTM that stood guard It was the Pakistani soldier many of them Pashtun by blood, Pakistani by heart who fought and fell defending his people PTM’s slogans may be loud, but they are hollow; their venomous speeches can never erase the eternal glory of those who fought terrorism face to face While the soldier s sacrifice breathes life into the nation PTM s rhetoric seeks to suffocate it with hate After Pakistan rebuilt the once-devastated tribal areas, merging FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
of their land, loyal to their soil, defenders of their people They do not raise foreign flags; they raise the green and white in pride The difference between loyalty and treachery has never been clearer PTM weeps for the dead but mocks the defenders They invoke Pashtunblood yet deny Pakistani identity Their tears are political; their silence on Afghan-backed terrorism is deafening Our enemies may cross borders, but PTM echoes their lies within
s right
sons guardians
The roots of understanding any thing
The ar t of provocation
N
The 15th plan unveiled: China’s vision for a resilient tomorrow
to build a modernized industrial system that bolsters the real economy, fostering what officials describe as new quality productive forces This means breakthroughs in core technologies from high-performance chips and quantum computing to large AI models and deep-space exploration Recent strides like the AI Plus initiative, are set to permeate scientific research, manufacturing, and even consumer sectors, creating scenarios where artificial intelligence empowers everything from precision agriculture to urban planning Self-reliance in science and technology emerges as a cornerstone, a direct counter to the raging storms of external containment efforts The plenum’s emphasis on achieving greater autonomy here is pragmatic, born of necessity Western sanctions on semiconductors and rare earths have only accelerated China s domestic push with investments pouring into R&D and talent cultivation Officials at a post-plenum press conference underscored this, noting the plan’s intent to tackle “major tests” through tech advancements including AI and manufacturing applications By 2030 the goal is substantial improvements in these areas laying the groundwork for industries that not only compete but lead This is not isolationism; it is insurance against volatility, ensuring that China’s growth engine hums regardless of global caprice Equally vital is the plan’s commitment to a robust domestic market and a new development pattern Consumption will be the anchor stimulated through sectors like the silver economy for agingpopulations, lowaltitude aviation for logistics, and rural tourism Rural revitalization takes center stage with accelerated modernization of agriculture and integrated urban-rural
and safeguarding both growth and security These are not slogans but actionable imperatives High-quality development, for instance, shifts the focus from sheer scale to substance China aims
The green transition weaves through it all, under the banner of building a Beautiful China China, already the global leader in renewable energy installation, pledg es a comprehensive shift toward low-carbon paths This includes expor ting affordable green technologies, from solar panels to electric vehicles, to aid the worldÊs climate fight The plenum calls for major strides in ecological conser vation, recognizing that development without sustainability is a dead end
A p r i s o n m e m
T“H E Cell and the Soul: A Prison Memoir” by Anand Teltumbde is not merely a prison memoir but a profound exposition of the Indian state society and criminal justice system revealing their inhumane nature It stands as one of the most powerful indictments of a democracy teetering on the brink of collapse The book lucidly explores the stark realities of prison life in India chronicling not only Teltumbde’s personal struggles but also those of his co-accused serving as a testament to the resilient spirit of countless imprisoned activists
It meticulously traces the evolution of Hindutva neo-fascism since the Narendra Modi-led BJP government came to power in 2014 The narrative bridges the gap between the incarcerated and the free, offering a painstaking scholarly dissection of Teltumbde’s persecution and the broader collapse of democratic principles It powerfully conveys that in today s India free thought itself is a seditious act Teltumbde s memoir provides an illustrative picture of prison conditions, the authorities governing them, and their role in undermining judicial processes, access to basic resources and hygiene His firsthand experience of systemic injustice makes this work a testament to the complexities of India s judiciary The book transcends the daily routines of prison life beginning with an exploration of the state s tightening grip on dissenting voices It is both a narrative of confinement and an investigation into the farcical democracy that orchestrates it Comprising 22 of the over 100 notes Teltumbde wrote during his 31 months of incarceration the memoir transcends personal catharsis to examine jail life exposing the humiliation cruelty and high-handedness of prison administration
The book s symbolism lies in Teltumbde s astonishment that a man of his stature a professor of Big Data Analytics an IIM alumnus a corporate professional and a practitioner of capitalism could be branded an enemy of the state I was under the delusion he admits that because of my qualifications integrity, and public image, I might not qualify for arrest
The memoir offers a grounded examination of how a so-called democracy imprisons its thinkers Teltumbde recounts his shock at the blatant lies presented by the Pune police in their initial press conference which formed the basis of the charges against him His pleas to quash the case were repeatedly rejected with courts accepting sealed envelopes from the prosecution Despite his background in corporate and business academia, he never imagined a ludicrous charge of being a Maoist could stick until his arrest shattered that illusion
The memoir opens with a poignant observation: incarceration is often seen as a fate worse than death especially for those who have committed no unlawful act It begins with Teltumbde being woken by his wife, who
The
shifts between the
and the
navigating Teltumbde s longing to complete his course at GIM and his victimization in a neo-fascist state This duality defines the work These notes, he writes, are not just a glimpse of jail life but a commentary on the system that perpetuates problems while pretending to solve them ” Teltumbde condemns the judiciary for obscuring the truth and the police for their complicity citing the case of Param Bir Singh to expose the farce of India s rule of law He describes the Bhima Koregaon case as a landmark in how democracies crush dissent and evolve into neo-fascist states
The memoir is dedicated to Teltumbde’s late brother Milind Teltumbde killed by security forces and branded a Maoist ironically also a co-accused in the same case Their intertwined fates highlight the height of state paranoia equating a brother in the jungle with one in an IIM classroom as enemies of the state It was my pursuit to make the world a better place that landed me in prison,” Teltumbde writes in the prologue, encapsulating the book’s moral gravity
Despite his anguish Teltumbde initially placed faith in the judiciary and media hoping they would recognize the fabricated charges against him However a broken democracy and complicit media maligned his image, with letters meant for police custody inexplicably reaching news channels without scrutiny Even when the judiciary warned the police of this unlawful act the oppression of Teltumbde and other intellectuals persisted as the government sought to silence those exposing the truth
Teltumbde vividly describes life inside a prison cell, recalling his childhood curiosity about the fate of prisoners, many of whom were mascots of liberation He examines how a repressive system sows inequality, injustice, and bitterness, breeding crime Yet, he never imagined he would end up in a dark cell with only a cheap cot for rest The memoir urges readers to look beyond the spectacle of arrests and trials to the repressive state machinery behind them reflecting that what happens in Taloja jail mirrors society at large
In the Bhima Koregaon case, arrests during the COVID-19 pandemic weakened protests against these unconstitutional detentions Accusations against Muslims Tablighi Jamaat and migrant workers served as a distraction obscuring the false evidence and mass arrests
Teltumbde questions why the government ignored the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, which, according to the World Health Organization and The Lancet, significantly spread the virus while targeting other groups The pandemic exacerbated prison conditions with social distancing imposed amidst overcrowding and prisoners denied proper diets hygienic facilities and basic resources Teltumbde asserts that the death of Father Stan Swamy was a custodial death In the chapter Entering the Hellhole, Teltumbde explores how the right to dignity, enshrined in Article
21 of the Constitution is trampled within prison walls He requested a pen and paper from the Superintendent of Police to keep notes, but the request was denied Despite a biometric database linked to Aadhaar he was forced to provide fingerprints repeatedly enduring constant harassment At Taloja jail he was stripped naked and searched under CCTV surveillance a tactic to assert fascist power over prisoners and their loved ones
The state s prime targets, seen as adversaries, are not only imprisoned but barred from expressing their views, exercising fundamental rights, and maintaining their identity In the Bhima Koregaon case intellectuals were prohibited from writing to courts and when permitted the delivery of their letters was deliberately delayed Teltumbde includes an article he wrote in prison criticizing the Narendra Modi government s privatization of Public Sector Units, falsely promoted as an economic boost
The Superintendent summoned him for writing it and despite Teltumbde’s argument that publishing from prison is not unlawful he and his co-accused were banned from sending or receiving letters a clear violation of constitutional rights
Teltumbde compares Indian prisons to those in developed countries like Norway, Portugal, New Zealand, and Switzerland, where correctional facilities are regularly updated to avoid harming prisoners’ consciences He holds little hope for Indian prison reform given the dire reality and advocates for their abolition to enable true rehabilitation
In the chapter Of Labels and Labelling, Teltumbde critiques the hero-worship of Marxism and Ambedkarism, offering a nuanced analysis of their ideologies He finds coherence in Marx’s framework but sees Ambedkar ’s as incomplete He views Ambedkar s Buddhism as a rationalist reinvention rejected by traditionalists and subtly compares the opposing origins of Marx s and Ambedkar s ideologies Teltumbde criticizes Ambedkar s endorsement of religion, particularly his views on Dhamma,
MONETARY POLICY COMITTEE HOLDS INTEREST RATE STEADY AT 11%
Amid growing political shifts in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK)
Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq is expected to resign from office tonight or tomorrow (Tuesday), sources confirmed on Monday According to reports, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has consolidated a majority in the AJK Legislative Assembly after ten Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers defected to its ranks, raising its total strength from 17 to 27, enough to form the government without support from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)
Sources indicated that following his resignation Anwarul Haq and his allies are likely to sit on the opposition benches, marking a significant shift in the political landscape of the region They added that the prime minister had completed consultations regarding his decision to step down signalling that the transition of power is nearing completion Speaking informally with journalists, Anwarul Haq maintained that he would continue performing his duties until formally relieved “If anyone has the required numbers they should bring a no-
of a
The prime minister said he would soon hold a press conference to elaborate on his decision adding I cannot set fire to the very house in which I was born Sources within the AJK cabinet revealed that several ministers from Anwarul Haq s government have decided to back the PPP’s candidate for the new leader of the house Meanwhile the PML-N currently a coalition partner of the PPP at the federal level has decided to sit in the opposition Under AJK s constitution, a new leader of the house must be
within 14
minister s resignation If the assembly is already in session, the election is held immediately; otherwise, the AJK president must summon the session within the constitutional timeframe This would mark the fourth change in the prime ministership during the current assembly s tenure The constitution also allows the sitting premier to dissolve the assembly at any time, provided no no-confidence motion has been filed against him In such
a dissolution order within 48 hours or the assembly stands automatically dissolved, triggering new elections within 90 days
RAWALPINDI
s ta f f r e p o r t
Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Sahir Shamshad Mirza NI NI (M) while on an official visit to Bangladesh called on Chief Advisor of Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus and discussed a range of issues with him
According to a statement issued by the ISPR on Monday General Sahir Mirza also held detailed meetings with Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hassan Bangladesh s Chief of Naval Staff, Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, Chief of Air Staff and Lieutenant
General SM Kamrul Hassan Principal Staff Officer (PSO) Armed Forces Division of Bangladesh
During the separately-held meetings, both sides held detailed discussions on the evolving global and regional environment and security situation and recognized the importance of strengthening bilateral defence and security cooperation
The Chairman JCSC reaffirmed Pakistan’s appreciation for its longstanding fraternal ties with Bangladesh and highlighted the shared resolve to further deepen these relations on the basis of sovereign equality and mutual respect Both sides expressed optimism
about improving defence and security collaboration and reaffirmed their commitment to expanding military-to-military engagements and related initiatives
The CJCSC also visited School of Infantry and Tactics Sylhet and interacted with faculty and students The civil-military leadership of Bangladesh appreciated the high professional standards of Pakistan Armed Forces and their achievements and sacrifices in fight against terrorism Earlier, upon arrival at Senakunjo a smartly turned-out military contingent presented Guard of Honour to the CJCSC and he also laid wreath at Shikha
