PAKISTAN, AFGHAN TALIBAN TO RESUME PEACE TALKS IN ISTANBUL TODAY
groups from using Afghan territory to target Pakistan a claim the Taliban leadership continues to reject Pakistan meanwhile continues to face casualties in intelligence-based operations against terrorism Following the October 11 incident, several additional skirmishes occurred along the border Pakistan also conducted strikes targeting camps belonging to the Gul Bahadur group inside Afghanistan
Subsequent diplomatic efforts, facilitated by Turkiye and Qatar, brought both sides to the table in Doha, where they agreed to a temporary ceasefire and to resume talks in Istanbul to work toward a sustainable peace mechanism Both Turkiye and Qatar enjoy longstanding ties with Pakistan, while Doha played a significant role in earlier negotiations between the Afghan Taliban and NATO forces
Pakistan reached staff-level agreement with IMF for second loan review: Finance Minister
CHINA SEEKS $4B THROUGH DOLL AR BONDS AMID THAW IN US TRADE TENSIONS
alik R iaz-backed digital news platform Nukta
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Aurangzeb also addressed the government’s fiscal reforms particularly in expanding the tax base through the use of artificial intelligence to strengthen revenue collection He reported that the sugar sector is now digitized, and the cigarette sector will follow The government has registered 900,000 new taxpayers and aims to expand these policies to other sectors
He confirmed that Google had decided to open an office in Pakistan with plans to establish the country as an export hub, reflecting growing global confidence in Pakistan’s tech ecosystem Additionally a blockchain center has been set up at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) with a USD 13 million private investment
Aurangzeb also shared that Egypt has shown interest in adopting Pakistan’s reform model and the privatization of Pakistan International
Airlines (PIA) is on track to be completed by the end of the year He also noted a recent UAE investment in a Pakistani bank, calling it the beginning of a new era ” In his address, Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Senator Musadik Malik emphasized the need for a level playing field in Pakistan s economy He warned that elite dominance and protectionist policies, such as subsidies for certain local sectors, were stifling innovation, exports, and foreign investment Malik stated that Pakistan s economic challenges including the boom-and-bust cycle are largely due to imbalances in the economy and protectionist practices He also discussed the severe environmental challenges, such as smog in Lahore and flooding in Karachi which have resulted in a reduction in life expectancy by up to eight years Malik called for immediate reforms in local governance and the empowerment of local bodies to build stronger, healthier
communities
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah underscored the province s importance in Pakistan s economy, contributing over 30% to the national GDP, with Karachi accounting for nearly half of the country’s exports He highlighted reforms in transparency digital governance and ease of doing business, emphasizing the province s public-private partnership model as the strongest in Pakistan Shah also detailed the allocation of Rs959 billion for current development projects with a proposed Rs3 45 trillion for the next budget including Rs523 7 billion for education Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Faisal Karim Kundi, called on investors to explore opportunities in the province, citing its potential in tourism minerals renewable energy and value-added industries He emphasized the province s natural resources and improving infrastructure as key factors making it an attractive destination for investment
Zardari made no comment either way about the amendment, though he did reveal that it was to set up a constitutional court At the time of the passage of the 26th, Mr Bhutto Zardari had said that the constitutional benches it set up within the superior courts was a step towards the
that even before passage, it has become clear that there will probably not be enough discussion on the Amendment Senator Dar promised differently asserting confidently that the Amendment would not be rushed through Amendments to the Constitution are different from ordinary legislation That is the reason while the latter is relatively easily passed there is still an emergency procedure of ordinance
Ttween Pakistan and Afghanistan through the mediation of Qatar and Turkiye will be regarded as a welcome development by all those who believe in peace and settlement of disputes through dialogue by avoiding kinetic measures However the litmus test of any agreement or understanding is the honest and unrestrained implementation
in
Since
shape of the agreement and the monitoring mechanism is yet to be determined, the Foreign Office has rightly expressed guarded optimism on the outcome of the dialogue so far However it was said that the talks were proceeding on a positive trajectory Pakistan is pursuing a policy of cordial relations with its neighbours, more so with Afghanistan, because amity between the two achieved through resolution of the security issues particularly tackling terrorism is pivotal to regional connectivity and shared economic prosperity Pakistan has always remained a well-wisher and supporter of Afghanistan particularly the Taliban It supported them in their war against
PA K I S TA N’S development story has long been shaped by aid rather than strategy Each decade brings a familiar cycle of financial rescue IMF programmes deferred oil payments and ad hoc bilateral assistance While such arrangements have sustained shortterm stability, they have also entrenched structural dependency The challenge now is not only to secure funds but to rethink what partnership itself should mean in a changing global economy Pakistan s external obligations illustrate the depth of that dependency As of mid-2025 total external debt exceeds $130 billion with nearly one-third owed to multilateral institutions The country has entered 23 IMF programmes since independence, more than any other Asian economy Even as disbursements continue the underlying weaknesses persist: narrow exports low productivity and an investment rate hovering below 15 percent of GDP What this exposes is not merely a fiscal gap but a strategic one an overreliance on external actors without a coherent framework for leveraging them toward national capacity The composition of Pakistan’s partnerships is shifting Traditional aid
Indonesia These comparative metrics highlight that Pakistan s development problem is less about financing and more about institutional coherence Without predictable rules, capital inflows remain episodic rather than transformative The structural challenge also lies in coordination Multiple agencies pursue investment promotion from the Board of Investment to provincial authorities yet overlapping jurisdictions slow execution According to the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics delays in project approvals and land allocation cost an estimated 2 percent of GDP annually The SIFC has attempted to streamline this process by creating a single decision-making platform that includes the federal government provinces and security stakeholders While the framework has accelerated project clearances it also raises
the Afghan Taliban to quell terrorism emanating from their territory Pakistan is on record as having made persistent efforts to engage the Taliban government in dialogue for resolving the issue of terrorism at the bilateral as well as at multilateral forums But regrettably the Taliban never responded positively to these peace overtures They kept insisting that TTP was an internal issue of Pakistan thus not accepting the reality that they had training camps and bases in Afghanistan The reality was that they encouraged and supported the terrorist groups like TTP and BLA which were acting as Indian proxies to increase the intensity of their attacks in Pakistan particularly targeting security and law enforcing agencies Pakistan would not grudge Afghan bonhomie with India provided it does not take the form of collusion to harm Pakistan The Taliban, repudiating the peace overtures from Pakistan and setting aside repeated requests to control the terrorist groups also committed the indiscretion of launching unprovoked attacks on several security posts of Pakistan along the Pak-Afghan border which was crossing a red line and forcing Pakistan to take retaliatory action under its new normal policy The severity of the response made the Taliban realize their folly and they immediately requested a ceasefire Pakistan accepted the request and agreed on a 48-hour ceasefire On the intervention and request from Qatar and Turkiye it also agreed to their mediating role in resolving the issue It indicated Pakistan s abiding commitment to peace After the understanding reached at Istanbul Pakistan expects credible evidence of action including dismantling of militant hide-outs disruption of logistical channels arrests or prosecution of leadership of the terrorist groups and transparent reporting through the agreed monitoring and verification mechanism It is believed that the monitoring and
verification mechanism established under the auspices of mediators will serve as the impartial and essential instrument to determine compliance by Afghanistan
Pakistan enters this phase in good faith tinged with realism It firmly believes the past patterns of border violence do underscore the need for sustained implementation and not only formal commitments If Afghanistan fails to deliver verifiable proof of agreed steps or if militants continue to launch attacks from Afghan soil, Pakistan will deem it a violation of the ceasefire and reserve the right to take all possible measures to safeguard its sovereignty and lives of its citizens It must be understood that the truce or the ceasefire is not an open-ended undertaking It is conditional and hinges on demonstrable responsibility by the Afghan side
The government of Pakistan and armed forces are united in delivering the message that peace is their preference but protection of the territorial integrity is non-negotiable The Pakistani nation is also on the same page with them in this regard
The fact is that the terrorism emanating from Afghanistan is affecting all the regional countries in varying degrees, more so Pakistan, besides threatening peace and security in the region Afghanistan being part of the region will be the ultimate loser if it fails to fulfill its commitments made in the Doha Agreement and the likely agreement with Pakistan at Istanbul
Taking action against the terrorist groups and not allowing them to use Afghan territory for attacks in Pakistan and other neighbouring countries as well as meeting their international obligations in this regard is also imperative for the Taliban government for ending their global isolation
Malik Muhammad Ashraf is an academic He can be contacted at: ashpak10@gmail com
Unsung pillars
Fines on broken roads
But are the Taliban?
Malik MuhaMMad ashraf
IN the male-dominated corridors of law, I expected resistance, but not from the women When I began practising as a lawyer in Multan I was prepared for the familiar skepticism that women face in conservative professional spaces I anticipated dismissive glances, veiled comments about capability, and the constant need to prove myself before male colleagues What I did not anticipate was that some of the most disheartening resistance would come from senior women women who had themselves fought long and hard to be recognized in
their legal skill or intellect They are evaluated instead on their appearance their tone their choice of clothing and their behavior
Reputation becomes a fragile currency and character policing replaces genuine mentorship While men are critiqued for their arguments, women are critiqued for their accessories The more competent a woman is the more she becomes a target of whispered judgments and subtle exclusion
What makes this dynamic even more troubling is that men despite their differences, often maintain an unspoken professional solidarity They protect one another s reputations and support each other ’s standing within the fraternity Women, in contrast, seem to lack that collective instinct Instead of a sisterhood built on mutual encouragement we often see a hierarchy of insecurity where another woman s success is viewed as a personal threat I have witnessed senior female lawyers complain to male colleagues about their female juniors’ clothing or perceived attitude
These are rarely matters of professional concern They are personal and trivial observations disguised as mentorship Yet in a profession where informal perceptions hold immense power, such remarks can be damaging The same women who once struggled for recognition, now use the same tools of criticism and exclusion that were once used against them
and
Just
he did, a senior female lawyer hurried towards him advising that he should tell me to tie my hair and to refrain from bringing a handbag into court Her words had nothing to do with the law professionalism or ethics yet they carried a tone of authority that sought to belittle rather than guide My senior, to his credit, brushed off her comments with quiet dignity I silently admired him in that moment for embodying true camaraderie and refusing to indulge the tactics that so often diminish women in this profession That incident was heartbreaking For someone who has long been committed to gender equality, it was jarring to realize that my first experience of professional hostility would come from another woman It was a painful reminder that women too can become instruments of the very patriarchy they have endured
Over time, I came to see that this was not an isolated experience In cities like Multan, young female lawyers are rarely judged on
Patriarchy s most enduring success lies in how effectively it makes women its enforcers It not only limits women s access to power but also conditions them to police one another ’s behavior Many women internalize the idea that the only way to survive in maledominated environments is to align themselves with men and distance themselves from other women They seek legitimacy through conformity, believing that male approval will safeguard their position In doing so, they replicate the very structures that
once denied them respect As someone who has worked extensively on gender issues through research collaboration with organizations committed to women s rights, and advocacy in international forums, I have witnessed both the best and the worst of professional sisterhood I have represented Pakistani women among leading human rights professionals from across the world and I have had the privilege of learning from extraordinary figures who understand what genuine solidarity means The
A warning for the GOP from New Jersey and Virginia on affordabilit y and Trump’s unpopularit y This time Democrats had the advantage of rallying voters upset at President Trump Exit polls showed Mr Trump’s approval rating at 44% in New Jersey and 42% in Virginia The era of MAGA triumphalism should be over
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
T h e e D i To r i A l B oA r D
aching
The GOP’s Jack Ciattarelli wanted to cut New Jersey s
on residents and companies and he argued that citizens see the cost of the Democratic green agenda whenever they pay
a
campaign It’s telling that Ms Sherrill tried to claim the mantle of affordability promising to freeze utility rates while attacking Mr Ciattarelli as High Tax Jack, based on a deceptive
clip If Democrats can convince voters they’re a better bet for getting ahead economically, the GOP is in trouble in 2026 President Trump’s tariffs aren’t helping Neither is the 3% inflation still eating away at the earnings and the raises of American workers Virginia and New Jersey were always going to be uphill races for Republicans, since these odd-year gubernatorial elections sometimes go against the party in the White House The GOP won both states in 2009 and Virginia in 2021 under Presidents Obama and Biden This time Democrats had the advantage of rallying voters upset at President Trump Exit polls showed Mr Trump’s approval rating at 44% in New Jersey and 42% in Virginia The era of MAGA triumphalism should be over The potential silver lining for the country in Tuesday s results small comfort to anyone paying New Jersey taxes is that Democrats can see a model of electoral success that isn’t rooted in radicalism After her party fell short in 2020 Ms Spanberger vented to House colleagues: We need to not ever use the words socialist or socialism ever again The alternative is Mr Mamdani, the socialist who romped to victory in the race for mayor on Tuesday after pledging free buses and child care and freezing rents The challenge for Democrats is that they probably won t get to see how Mr Mamdani s socialist dreams work out before they select candidates for the midterms The challenge for Republicans is that Democrats outside New York may be learning from their 2024 defeat
‘Friends of friends are getting blackmailed –literally, off the internet ’ India is the world’s second-largest market for OpenAI
ported to the helpline now involve these images, the report found “AI makes the creation of realistic-looking content much easier ” it says There have been high-profile cases of Indian women in the public sphere having their images manipulated by AI tools: for example the Bollywood singer Asha Bhosle, whose likeness and voice were cloned using AI and circulated on YouTube Rana Ayyub, a journalist known for investigating political and police corruption became the target of a doxing campaign last year that led to deepfake sexualised images of her appearing on social media
me extra cautious ” In recent years India has become one of the most important testing grounds for AI tools It is the world s second-largest market for OpenAI with the technology widely adopted across professions But a report released on Monday that draws on data collected by the Rati Foundation, a charity running a countrywide helpline for victims of online abuse shows that the rising adoption of AI has created a powerful new way to harass women It has become evident in the last three years that a vast majority of AI-generated content is used to target women and gender minorities, says the report, authored by the Rati Foundation and Tattle, a company that works to reduce misinformation on India’s social media In particular the report found an increase in AI tools being used to create digitally manipulated images or videos of women – either nudes or images that might be culturally appropriate in the US, but are stigmatising in many Indian communities, such as public displays of affection About 10% of the hundreds of cases re-
These have led to a society-wide conversation, in which some figures, such as Bhosle, have successfully fought for legal rights over their voice or image Less discussed, however, is the effect that such cases have on ordinary women who like Sarvaiya feel increasingly uncertain about going online The consequence of facing online harassment is actually silencing yourself or becoming less active online, says Tarunima Prabhakar, co-founder of Tattle Her organisation used focus groups for two years across India to understand how digital abuse affected society “The emotion that we have identified is fatigue she says And the consequence of that fatigue is also that you just completely recede from these online spaces For the past few years, Sarvaiya and her friends have followed high-profile cases of deepfake online abuse, such as Ayyub’s, or that of the Bollywood actor Rashmika Mandanna “It’s a little scary for women here ” she says Now Sarvaiya hesitates to post anything on social media and has made her Instagram private Even this, she worries, will not be enough to protect her: women are sometimes photographed in public spaces such as the metro, and those pictures can later appear online “It’s not as common as you would think it is but you don t know your luck right? she says Friends of friends are getting blackmailed – literally off the internet Lakshané says she often asks not to be photographed at events now, even those where she is a speaker But despite taking precautions, she is prepared for the possibility that a deepfake video or image of her might surface one day On apps she has made her profile picture an illustration of herself rather than a photo There is fear of misuse of images, especially for women who have a public presence, who have a
When women don’t back women in law
Pakistan- Germany bilateral negotiations Y ield €114m development pack age to boost climate, economic growth
s ta f
The Government of Pakistan and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany on Wednesday successfully concluded the 2025 Pakistan-Germany Bilateral Negotiations on Development Cooperation in Islamabad The negotiations were co-chaired by Mr Muhammad Humair Karim Secretary Ministry of Economic Affairs and Ms Christine Toetzke Director-General of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Excellencies Ms Ina Lepel, Ambassador of Germany to Pakistan, and Ms Saqlain Syeda, Ambassador of Pakistan to Germany also took part in the engagement reinforcing the institutional ties and collaborative spirit between the two governments Germany announced a new development commitment of Financial and Technical commitment to the tune of €114 million for the period of 2025–26, focusing on key areas as climate and energy (just transition), sustainable economic development and vocational training and social protection
The Secretary EAD Mr Karim appreciated the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany for its sustained and valued support to Pakistan s development in advancing renewable energy initiatives, fostering em-
ployment generation, and reinforcing social protection mechanisms The need for continued alignment with Pakistan s Economic Transformation Plan URAAN Pakistan was further urged Ms Christine Toetzke appreciated Pakistan s reform measures and reaffirmed Germany s commitment to supporting Pakistan in addressing the challenges of climate change, economic transformation, and social inclusion Ambassador Ina Lepel lauded the strong partnership between the two countries and emphasized that Germany values its long-standing friendship with Pakistan and will continue to work together to promote sustainable growth good governance, and people-centered development
At the conclusion of the event, Secretary Economic Affairs Mr Muhammad Humair Karim and DirectorGeneral Christine Toetzke signed the Summary Record of the 2025 Pakistan-Germany Bilateral Negotiations on Development Cooperation formally marking the new commitments and reaffirming the shared resolve to strengthen bilateral ties Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepen cooperation under the Pakistan-German Climate and Energy Partnership, strengthen coordination on vocational training and youth employment and continue collaboration on social protection and disaster resilience The next round of negotiations between the two countries will be held in Berlin in 2027
CORPORATE CORNER
UNJAB Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Tuesday chaired the 30th provincial cabinet meeting that ratified the ban on the proscribed Tehreeke-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) rejected an increase in electric bus fares for Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Multan, and approved dozens of policy, development, and administrative measures across the province ranging from new agricultural subsidies and transport reforms to the establishment of new universities and hospitals The cabinet also approved the recruitment of schoolteacher interns in government schools and formally endorsed the Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Ordinance 2025 to safeguard land rights The meeting approved the Chief Min-
CDA chief, IG Islamabad discuss law and order, security arrangements
ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t
comfort to the travelers He stated that the project is now nearing completion and will soon be formally inaugurated by the Prime Minister Abdul Aleem Khan emphasized that this initiative reflects the Government s commitment to providing worldclass infrastructure, promoting tourism and ensuring convenience for the public
A meeting was held between Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Chief Commissioner Islamabad Muhammad Ali Randhawa and Inspector General of Islamabad Police, Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, at the CDA Headquarters on Wednesday regarding the law and order situation in the Federal Capital and ensuring fool proof security arrangements During the meeting IG Islamabad Police Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi briefed on the measures taken to further improve the law and order situation in the City and for making foolproof arrangements for crime prevention IG Islamabad Police said that protecting the lives, property, and honor of the citizens of Islamabad is their top priority and Islamabad Police is working day and night to ensure this He mentioned that Islamabad Safe City has been established according to contemporary requirements and modern standards In this regard a mechanism for monitoring all major roads centers and sectors of the City through Safe City cameras and modern technology has been put in place He added that timely actions are being taken against criminal elements to control crime Chairman CDA and Chief Commissioner Islamabad Muhammad Ali Randhawa emphasized that spe-
Punjab Police rescues kidnapped citizen from Katcha dacoits in Rajanpur
LAHORE/RAJANPUR
s ta f f r e p o r t
Punjab Police on Tuesday conducted a successful operation against dacoits in the Sonmiani Katcha area of Rajanpur, rescuing a kidnapped citizen safely amid intense crossfire According to the Punjab Police spokesperson a large contingent of Rajanpur Police raided the criminals hideout in the Katcha area recovering Gul Ganoor who had been abducted a few days earlier from Kacha Bangla
Acha The kidnappers had been demanding a hefty ransom for his release and had even circulated a video on social media showing violence against the victim During the encounter there was an exchange of heavy gunfire between the police and the dacoits Under mounting pressure the criminals fled their hideout while police teams continue to pursue them in the surrounding areas Inspector General of Punjab Police Dr Usman Anwar praised the Rajanpur Police for their “outstanding performance” and commended the entire team for their swift and effective action that ensured the victim’s safe recovery PUNJAB POLICE RAMP UP ANTI-SMOG OPERATIONS ACROSS THE PROVINCE
Punjab Police also continue their province-wide operations to combat smog, air pollution, and environmental violations, with hundreds booked and millions of rupees in fines imposed over the last 24 hours According to the spokesperson 33 cases were registered during the latest crackdown in Lahore and other districts with lawbreakers arrested and 502 individuals fined over Rs3 2 million while 46 violators were issued warnings The reported violations included the burning of crop residues (91 cases), vehicles emitting excessive smoke (264), industrial activities (5) and brick kilns (11) The spokesperson added that during the current year alone police across Punjab have registered 2 135 cases and arrested 1 910 offenders under the anti-smog drive
cial monitoring of Islamabad s entry and exit routes should be ensured and patrolling across the City should be increased He said that a zero-tolerance policy should be adopted for maintaining law and order in Islamabad and against criminal elements
Chairman CDA and Chief Commissioner directed that integrated coordination with all relevant departments and law enfocing agencies should be enhanced to make security in Islamabad further foolproof He said that through the joint efforts of relevant departments and law enfocing agencies, the overall law and order and security situation in Islamabad can be further improved Chairman CDA further said that all available resources and latest technology will be utilized to ensure the protection of citizens lives property and honor in the Federal Capital Islamabad at any cost
Five-day training programme to improve teaching standards across 100 newly established communit y schools held ISLAMABAD
The Basic Education Community Schools (BECS) Directorate, Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, has launched a five-day training programme aimed at improving teaching standards across 100 newly established community schools in Karachi The initiative organised in collaboration with the Association for Academic Quality (AFAQ) seeks to strengthen teachers pedagogical skills, enhance classroom management, and promote child-centered and inclusive learning practices The programme marks a key step in the government’s efforts to support non-formal education and integrate out-of-school children into the learning system BECS recently inaugurated 100 community-based schools in some of Karachi s most deprived localities, offering free education to help children from underprivileged families reenter formal learning pathways BECS Director General Hameed Khan Niazi emphasised the importance of investing in teacher capacity “These trainings are essential to equip our teachers with modern teaching strategies improve their efficiency and ensure quality learning outcomes for children, he said The opening ceremony was attended by notable guests including Senator Nasreen Jalil, senior educationist Azhar Rizvi, and BECS officials who appreciated the joint efforts to uplift teaching standards in low-income communities They praised the government s focus on inclusive education and community-based learning models noting that such initiatives are crucial for addressing urban education inequities Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqi and BECS DG Hameed Khan Niazi are scheduled to attend the concluding session of the training programme later this week
Pti brands 27th aMendMent ‘attaCk on ParLiaMent’ as GoVt denies roLLbaCk of 18th aMend
ISLAMABAD
S ta f f R e p o R t
A K I S TA N Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)
Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Wednesday termed the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment an attack on the House,” vowing that his party would strongly oppose it inside and outside Parliament
Addressing the National Assembly Gohar warned that the PTI would resist any move that undermined provincial autonomy or parliamentary independence We will raise our voice against it as it is an attack on the House, he said, urging lawmakers not to push through amendments that could deepen divisions in an already polarized polity
According to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the proposals under discussion reportedly include the creation of constitutional courts, restoration of executive magistrates, amendments to Article 243 related to the command of the armed forces and changes affecting provincial shares under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Gohar reminded the House that during the passage of the 26th Amendment, the PTI had made great efforts in consultation with JUIF chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, but “this time we won’t need to visit his home or sit in committees ” He asserted that constitutional amendments anywhere in the world happen with consensus and according to national needs The PTI chairman said the 27th Amendment was against the spirit of the Con-
stitution stressing that the country could not afford further fragmentation Amending the Constitution is this House s right but it is the right of those who have the people’s mandate,” he said, adding that Pakistan’s democracy was “fragile” and public faith in institutions especially the judiciary was already weak Gohar recalled that the 18th Amendment (2010) was a milestone passed with consensus and unity, earning global recognition By contrast, he said, the 26th Amendment was introduced with 56 proposed changes later reduced to 25 and finally 18 many of which PTI opposed particularly those relating to the constitutional bench tenure of judges and Election Commission s structure
This is a time when the nation is divided, tensions are high, terrorism is resurging, and the economy is struggling Please, be concerned about Pakistan’s security,” he said
Responding to opposition concerns Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry categorically stated that the 18th Amendment would not be rolled back and dismissed what he called “negative and false propaganda” surrounding the 27th Amendment He said the new amendment aimed to improve governance strengthen the federation and bolster defence not to encroach upon provincial autonomy There is no plan to take over control of provincial education boards or institutions we are only discussing a uniform syllabus ” he clarified
Chaudhry stressed that no step would be taken to weaken the federation or the relationship between provinces and the Centre He said all allies and stakeholders would be taken on board before finalising the draft, and that matters related to the NFC award would also be decided through consultation
The minister regretted that the 26th
Effor ts for Imran’s
Amendment had earlier been wrongly portrayed as an attack on judicial independence, adding that the proposed constitutional court
release, politic al detente to show outcome soon: Fawad
Former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry has expressed optimism that ongoing efforts to secure the release of political prisoners, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, and to lower political tensions in the country will begin showing results within the next two weeks
Speaking on Wednesday Fawad said the joint initiative by him and two other former PTI leaders Mehmood Moulvi and Imran Ismail, was yielding initial success The trio has been pushing for dialogue between the government and PTI in a bid to restore political calm and pave the way for Imran s release who has remained incarcerated since 2023 I am pleased that our efforts for political stability and the release of political prisoners, including Imran Khan, have started to bear fruit,” Fawad posted on X, adding that the effects would become visible in 10 to 15 days
He said the group s outreach aimed at reducing hostility in national politics and fostering consensus for longterm development It is crucial to cool political tempers if Pakistan is to move toward stability and progress ” he remarked The statement came shortly
after a post appeared on Imran Khan s official X account declaring that he would neither hold talks with the government nor with the establishment
The post, purportedly reflecting Imran’s position from jail, stated that any negotiation decisions would rest with opposition alliance leaders Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Raja Nasir Abbas both members of the Tehreek-i-Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan
It also quoted Imran as saying he had “complete trust” in PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja who has recently faced criticism from Fawad over his political stance Fawad Ismail and Moulvi s recent engagements have drawn attention after their visit to former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi at a Lahore hospital last week Qureshi, who
was shifted from jail to the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute for medical treatment, is among several PTI leaders detained in cases stemming from the May 9 2023 protests that erupted after Imran’s arrest Qureshi s lawyer Rana Mudassar said his client was surprised by the visit and called for his lawyer immediately By the time I returned, they had already left, he said, noting that the meeting lasted barely ten minutes and did not include any political discussion Despite this Fawad and Ismail have maintained that Qureshi agreed on the need to end the political stalemate They have also claimed to have met jailed PTI leader Ejaz Chaudhry as part of their reconciliation efforts Following the hospital visit, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja also reportedly called on Qureshi accompanied by Shaukat Basra and Zaheer Babar On Sunday Fawad reiterated his call to revive political dialogue , asserting that several senior PTI figures, including more than 15 MPAs had endorsed the idea of government-PTI engagement He urged the authorities to take the first step toward de-escalation by granting relief to jailed PTI leaders in Lahore and Gujranwala, arguing that they could then help mediate with Imran Khan
several years Our goal is not to penalise citizens but to protect them through enforcement, he added Responding to criticism about Karachi s crumbling road infrastructure, Memon said the provincial chief minister had directed all local authorities to expedite improvement projects By March several key developments will be completed he assured citing the Shahrah-iBhutto project as a major upgrade expected to ease city traffic once it connects to the M9 Motorway Regarding legal challenges, Memon said political parties and citizens had every right to approach courts but the government would stand by its policy
UNITED NATIONS
S ta f f R e p o R t
Pakistan has warned that occupying powers are increasingly weaponizing information to conceal repression distort realities and delegitimize legitimate struggles for self-determination a trend it said poses a grave threat to global peace and the credibility of multilateral institutions Through internet shutdowns, restrictive media laws, and digital surveillance, these powers seek to silence dissent and manufacture a false narrative of stability ” Pakistani delegate Amanat Ali told the UN General Assembly s Fourth Committee which deals with special political and de-
colonization matters
Speaking in a debate on “Questions relating to Information he said the strategic manipulation of information has become a systemic tool to mask human rights abuses a practice that runs counter to international law and the moral responsibilities of UN member states Ali, who serves as press counsellor at Pakistan’s Mission to the UN cautioned that the deliberate distortion of facts to mislead populations malign nations and erode trust in multilateral mechanisms has now become an entrenched feature of modern information warfare Pakistan, he said, believes that timely, accurate and impartial dissemination of information is critical to advancing the
UN’s principles and initiatives “Where information should serve humanity and foster understanding its misuse corrodes public trust sows polarization and weakens multilateral cooperation, he added Pakistan hopes to reinforce the belief that information is not merely a commodity but a public good and more importantly, a shared responsibility ” the delegate asserted Turning to the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and generative technologies Ali said these innovations hold great potential to improve governance but also carry the peril of manipulation if left unregulated
“When weaponized, they hone the power to deceive and distort reality ” he warned “Left unchecked these tools can magnify lies with impunity The Pakistani delegate emphasized the urgent need to bridge digital divides, noting that unequal access to information technologies continues to exclude vast populations from innovation and
