PAKISTAN’S MILITARY REFUTES ALLEGATIONS OF OVERNIGHT AIRSTRIKES INSIDE AFGHANISTAN
round of talks, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that talks addressing cross-border terrorism were “over” and entered an indefinite phase as negotiators failed to bridge big differences between the two sides g ISPR DG GEN CHAUDHRY EMPHA SIZES
TTP chief planned Islamabad blast: Tarar
recent 12-day conflict and lauded Pakistan s constructive role in promoting dialogue and diplomacy for peaceful dispute resolution The prime minister conveyed his respects and good wishes to Iran’s Supreme Leader Syed Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledging their commitment to strengthening Pakistan-Iran relations It was agreed that a high-level delegation, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will soon visit Iran to enhance cooperation in areas such as agriculture and regional connectivity PM reiterates Pakistan’s proposal for joint investment company with Azerbaijan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Tuesday, reiterated Pakistan’s proposal to establish a Pakistan-Azerbaijan Joint Investment Company with equal contributions from both countries Minister of Economy of the Republic of
Azerbaijan, who is leading a delegation, called on the prime minister and both sides conducted an extensive review of bilateral trade and investment cooperation
While noting the consistent growth in bilateral trade they agreed on the need to accelerate targeted efforts to diversify and deepen economic exchanges, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release
The discussions covered a wide range of sectors including defence production petroleum and minerals infrastructure development dairy and livestock hospitality and information technology
The prime minister also welcomed Azerbaijan’s interest in the White Oil Pipeline Project and encouraged SOCAR to explore upstream oil and gas opportunities in Pakistan
On regional
OGRA SlASheS SNGPl GAS
Pakistan’s
largest int’l food and agriculture exhibition ‘FoodAg 2025’ opens today in Karachi
FoodAg 2025 Pakistan s largest international food and agriculture exhibition, opened today [Tuesday] at Expo Centre Karachi, bringing together over 350 domestic exporters and a record 800-plus international buyers from more than 80 countries
The three-day exhibition taking place from 25 to 27 November, was inaugurated by Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan This year ’s theme, “Harvesting Innovation Cultivating Sustainability ” highlights Pakistan’s focus on expanding its footprint in global food markets through processed and value-added products
According to the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), exhibitors will present a wide range of products including Basmati rice dehydrated mangoes kinnows dates Himalayan pink salt seafood halal-certified meat dairy products spices and other processed foods TDAP officials said this represents Pakistan’s largest consolidated showcase of its food exports to date TDAP Chief Executive Faiz Ahmad said the exhibition has quickly become one of the region s key food-trade platforms, adding that
Pakistan has maintained uninterrupted export commitments even during challenging years He said thousands of pre-arranged B2B meetings will be held during the event and projected that business deals could exceed $1 billion, benefitting farmers, processors and exporters nationwide Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan said Pakistan’s agro-climatic diversity combined with market-opening efforts under the government s economic diplomacy is helping shift the country from a bulk commodity exporter to a branded global supplier He described the turnout of international buyers as evidence that these policies are gaining traction This year s delegation is the largest Pakistan has ever hosted for a single trade exhibition More than 300 buyers have arrived from across Asia, including major Chinese state and private enterprises, Malaysia’s BERNAS Indonesia’s PT Laris Manis Utama and leading Sri Lankan conglomerates European buyers include Surya Foods AIB Foods, Aytac Foods, Schepens & Co Belgium and Migros Türkiye Significant participation has also come from Middle Eastern and GCC markets including Mercury Me DMCC Sunder Trading Qatar and D
Ocean Fisheries Bahrain More than 200 buyers are attending from African countries such as Kenya Somalia Cameroon Angola Rwanda and Mauritius Importers from Australia Canada the United States and Russia are also part of the delegation The exhibition also features nine high-level conferences focusing on sustainability traceability and future trends in food production A Pakistan Cuisine Pavilion has been set up where 21 celebrity chefs from five continents
news report The Senate Standing Committee on Water Resources was informed on Monday that Pakistan will need an additional 70 million acre-feet of water by 2050 as population growth continues to strain the country s water system Wapda officials said demand for agriculture alone will increase by 60 MAF and urban consumption by 10 MAF underscoring the need to push ahead with new storage projects The Ministry of Water Resources separately told the committee that the Rs 824 493 billion National Flood Protection Programme–IV has been submitted to the Council of Common Interests for approval Officials said the matter has been escalated to the CCI after provinces refused to finance their respective shares The federal share in
IN Pakistan, English has become a marker of social distinction, intellectual ability, and success Fluency in this language is not merely seen as a skill but as a prerequisite for anyone wishing to climb the social ladder secure employment or gain entry into elite educational institutions
It is almost as if the language itself has become a barrier, determining who gets access to opportunity and who remains on the outside looking in However while the obsession with English may appear to be a sign of progress in an increasingly globalized world, it is, in fact, a harmful and misguided approach that hinders the true advancement of the nation At the heart of this issue lies the education system In Pakistan the obsession with English begins early in a child s academic life From the primary grades onward, students are taught in English, often without a deep under-
the programme stands at Rs 77 533 billion while the provincial component amounts to Rs 746 961 billion In its briefing, Wapda said five short-term storage projects are expected to be completed by 2030 These include Diamer-Bhasha Dam with 8 1 MAF capacity and 4 500 MW generation Mohmand Dam with 1 29 MAF and 800 MW, Kurram Tangi-II with 1 2 MAF and 18 9 MW, Naulong Dam with 0 3 MAF and 4 2 MW and Nai Gaj Dam with 0 24 MAF and 4 4 MW Together these schemes will add 11 13 MAF to national storage Secretary Water Resources Syed Ali Murtaza told the committee that NFPP-IV comprises 375 schemes, including 170 sub-projects in PhaseI valued at Rs 195 625 billion and 205 sub-projects in Phase-II worth Rs 629 868 billion He said all codal formalities have been completed and the ministry hopes the CCI will approve the plan at its next meeting The committee turned its attention to encroachments on riverbanks and nullahs where 897 structures remain un-cleared nationwide Provincial data presented to the panel
showed Punjab has removed 1 790 out of 2 687 encroachments Sindh 6 out of 164, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 126 out of 377 In Balochistan, no encroachments have been removed despite several being identified Information from Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir is still awaited Responding to questions about delays, the Secretary said the ministry s role is limited to writing letters to provinces and departments for updates adding that responses often do not arrive on time Committee Chairman Senator Shahadat Awan said the panel would convey the issue to the Prime Minister, remarking that the helplessness of a federal secretary raises concerns about inter-governmental coordination Wapda’s General Manager (Hydel) briefed the committee on broader water challenges noting that projects worth USD 26 billion including Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand are underway He said funding constraints and security concerns remain major risks to timely completion The briefing also highlighted Pakistan s dependence on upstream flows from India
standing of the language This creates a disconnect between comprehension and communication
Many students particularly those from lower-income backgrounds are forced to learn complex subjects like mathematics and science in a language they are not fully comfortable with This results in rote memorization rather than genuine understanding, as students memorize definitions and concepts in a foreign language without ever truly grasping the underlying ideas
The consequences of this educational approach are profound Students who struggle with English often fall behind, unable to fully engage with the content of their studies This system disproportionately affects those from rural areas or economically disadvantaged backgrounds who often lack the resources to master English at a young age The divide between those who are proficient in English and those who are not continues to grow creating a system of inequality that severely limits the potential of many bright and capable students
The emphasis on English does not end at the school level It carries over into the professional world where fluency in English is often seen as the key to success Job interviews corporate meetings and even casual networking events are frequently conducted in English, which creates an artificial divide between those who can speak the language well and those who cannot This leaves many individuals highly capable intelligent people unable to find meaningful employment simply because they cannot communicate fluently in English It is ironic that even among the educated elite, many individuals speak English poorly, despite years of instruction Yet the requirement remains for candidates to demonstrate proficiency in the language reinforcing an unhealthy and
CABINET BODY ORDERS REVIEW OF LITIGATION TO CLEAR BACKLOG AHEAD OF SOES PRIVATISATION
PsX faces profit-tak ing pressure as Kse-100 slips 292 points
signed to simplify the process for investors seeking to open Shariahcompliant trading accounts
The SECP stated that the reforms are part of ongoing efforts to support a more transparent and inclusive capital market and to address rising demand for Islamic investment products in Pakistan
PR OFIT M o n i to r i n g D e s k Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDC) has dismissed media speculation surrounding Barrick Gold s reported corporate restructuring, assuring investors that the changes will not affect the Reko Diq project
This clarification was provided during a corporate briefing on November 24 2025 attended by Topline Securities according to a report OGDC management stated that Barrick Gold had assured them that Reko Diq remains a priority asset, and any potential corporate restruc-
turing would not impact the project The company emphasized that the media reports regarding Barrick’s possible split into two entities one focusing on North America and the other on Africa and Asia are speculative in nature The rumors surfaced after Reuters reported that Barrick s board was considering a corporate split that could include the sale of its African assets, as well as the Reko Diq mine once financing for the sale is secured
Reko Diq is a major undeveloped copper and gold deposit in Balochistan, Pakistan, and is considered one of the world s largest The
project is jointly owned by Barrick (50%), three federal state-owned enterprises including OGDC (25%), and the Government of Balochistan (25%), with the latter’s stake divided between fully funded (15%) and free-carried (10%) interests
The project slated to begin production in 2028 is expected to become a world-class copper-gold mine, with significant contributions to Pakistan’s economic development OGDC’s 8% stake in the project is projected to generate average annual cash flows of approximately $150-200 million which will help fund the second phase of the project s expansion
WH I L E delivering the keynote address at a side-event during COP30, Climate Change
Secretary Aisha Moriani said that Pakistan called on the international community to provide grantbased and predictable financing for climate-vulnerable developing countries This goes to the core of the whole climate justice debate which starts on the premise that countries which have polluted more have a moral responsibility to pay for the damage and to build resilience in countries vulnerable to climate change Fairness would demand that countries which polluted the most would be worst hit by climate change but life isn’t fair and it is the least developed most exploited countries, which are suffering the effects the most, a pattern which is expected to continue in future The first line of defence is to claim that climate change isn’t happening the so-called climate change deniers, who include US President Donald Trump
The second line of defence is to offer climate financing as loans The countries most in need of the loans are already mostly in the debt trap, with countries like Pakistan obliged to keep up with debt servicing payments by borrowing It is an unfortunate reality that development loans which put these countries in the debt trap have not pulled themselves out of poverty Those loans have been embezzled by the elites as the price of political cooperation with the lenders The
LA S T week I was in my hometown of Utica, New York I had been invited to keynote an event at City Hall to commemorate Lebanon s Independence Day More than that it was a day to recognize and celebrate the contributions Lebanese Americans have made to the USA, and to remind us how a welcoming USA had done so much for waves of diverse immigrants and how they in turn had built this country
From the late 19th century through the first few decades of the 20th a flood of immigrants arrived in the USA from Greater Syria From available data it appears that almost one-quarter of a million SyrianLebanese arrived during those four decades Their reasons for emigration varied In the early period they came seeking economic opportunities
The World War One famine imposed on the Mount of Lebanon by both the Ottoman Empire and the Allies accelerated the flight It is estimated that during the war years one-half of the population of the Mount died from hunger or disease After the war, many of those who were able to leave did so, with their preferred destination being the USA to join family or friends who had migrated earlier This lasted until the 1920s when a xenophobic backlash against some immigrants led Congress to either limit or eliminate visas for certain groups among them, the Syrian-Lebanese For about 30 years, no new US visas were issued The Syrian-Lebanese immigrants took advantage of the opportunities provided by their new home and prospered growing their families and their businesses
My family s story was part of this unfolding narrative My father s older brother, Habib, left Lebanon in 1910 at the age of 14 His goal was to prepare the ground for others to follow The war and famine intervened Escaping famine and ruin they fled to the Bekaa Valley until the war ’s end when they returned to their village It took them until the early 1920s before they were in a position to join Habib In 1921 with the exception of my father they did so Encountering the anti-Syrian visa restrictions, my father, eager to join his family, secured a job and passage to Canada After arriving, he illegally crossed the border
into the USA and found his way to Utica NY where he was reunited with his mother and siblings in 1923 Like so many other Lebanese and Arab World immigrants who followed, my father, his brothers and sisters set themselves on a path to succeed in their new homeland By the time they had passed, they had founded seven businesses and their children and grandchildren launched many more or became professionals The
My father, who came undocumented in the 1920s, got amnesty in the Â30s and became a naturalized US citizen in 1943 His naturalization document hangs on the wall in my office underneath the presidential parchment from President Obama announcing his appointment of me to serve as his representative to the Commission on International Religious Freedom I call it „My American Story Wall ‰
IN D I A S Constitution guarantees religious freedom and a secular democracy in which all communities receive equal protection under the law Since 2014, however government actions have increasingly conflicted with this inclusive vision The rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party working closely with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, has shifted India s political and social order toward the Hindutva ideology This has led to the marginalisation of minorities and poses serious questions about whether majoritarian nationalism can unite such a diverse society or whether it
Amit Shah both from the RSS lead a BJP that by 2025 governs 17 of India s 28 states, many helmed by RSS-aligned chief ministers This structure ensures Hindutva ideology shapes policies in education and citizenship Modi’s involvement in the 2002 Gujarat riots resulting in a temporary US visa ban underscores the dangers of ideology superseding pluralism Discriminatory policies illustrate this trajectory The revocation of Kashmir s special status in 2019 stripped the region of autonomy and intensified repression of its Muslim majority The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) introduced a religious test for citizenship explicitly excluding Muslims The construction of the Ram Temple on the site of the demolished Babri Masjid symbolised triumphalism over pluralism Other measures restricting conversions, enforcing cow slaughter bans, revising textbooks collectively disenfranchise minorities and rewrite India’s identity along sectarian lines These policies do not merely marginalise; they risk creating conditions for separatism by alienating entire communities The legal framework reinforces exclusion through laws such as the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), the CAA, the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Waqf Bill which disproportionately impact minorities Article 295A is weaponised against dissent while anti-conversion and cow-slaughter laws impose harsh penalties Weak accountability enables unchecked abuses Police often fail to act against mob violence targeting Muslims and Christians, reinforcing impunity Prolonged pre-trial detention under these laws driven by judicial backlog further illustrates systemic bias The case of Umar Khalid detained since 2020 for protesting the CAA exemplifies the criminalisation of dissent The analytical question is whether such policies can sustain India s unity or whether
they risk fragmentation History suggests exclusionary nationalism destabilises diverse states The USSR collapsed under the weight of ethnic and regional grievances despite its centralised power India’s diversity is even more complex, with deep religious linguistic and caste divisions Policies privileging one community while disenfranchising others risk fueling separatist movements eroding trust in institutions and weakening the state Kashmir s unrest, Punjab s militancy, and northeastern insurgencies remind us how quickly alienation can escalate into demands for autonomy or independence
For now India sustains itself through strong central authority economic growth and institutional inertia But the question is for how long If the current trajectory continues where minorities are systematically marginalized, dissent is criminalised, and pluralism eroded the risk of fragmentation grows The comparison to the USSR is not far-fetched: a state that ignored diversity suppressed dissent and imposed ideology eventually collapsed under its contradictions India s survival depends on whether it recommits to its constitutional promise of secularism and inclusivity Without such a course correction, the very policies designed to consolidate power may ultimately weaken the state to a breaking point India’s strength has always been its pluralism While the BJP-RSS mindset may yield short-term dominance it risks undermining national unity in the long run India s future depends on honouring the Constitution s promise of religious freedom and equality, rather than eroding it Exclusion breeds fragmentation, threatening the state’s survival The choice is clear renew secular foundations or risk unity dissolving into disintegration
The writer ican be reached at naveedsafdar13@gmail com
Safe mobilit y matters
Doval and accountabilit y
Power and Fragmentation
Naveed Safdar
Ptial and high-quality constitutional interpretation strengthen the separation of powers protect fundamental rights and enhance overall efficiency and transparency in the judicial system public response has been overwhelmingly positive, with citizens and legal experts viewing this as a long-awaited step toward reducing judicial delays and promoting a fairer more effective governance structure In addition to judicial reforms the 27th amendment introduces major changes to pakistan s civil-military structure Key military appointments, including the Chief of army staff and the new Chief of Defence Forces will now constitutionally rest with the president but must be made on the binding advice of the prime Minister reinforcing civilian supremacy over the armed forces Furthermore, the historic post of Chairman Joint Chiefs of staff Committee will be abol-
The Constitutional Cour t, Chief of D efense Forces and Lifetime Field Marshal
ished, with its responsibilities consolidated under the new Chief of Defence Forces, who will simultaneously serve as the Chief of army staff This restructuring is intended to streamline command improve coordination among the army navy and air Force and align pakistan s military governance with contemporary global standards Collectively, these judicial and military reforms reflect a broader, strategic effort to modernize pakistan’s constitutional and institutional framework ensuring greater efficiency clarity and accountability in both governance and national security
The amendment further introduces an additional and extremely important new constitutional provision, which legally grants the Chief of Defence Forces, acting in close and necessary consultation with the prime Minister the exclusive authority to formally appoint the head of the national strategic Command This paramount and highly sensitive body is expected to play an exceptionally critical role in the direct oversight of pakistan’s nuclear and strategic assets, ensuring the perpetual safety security and effective management of the country’s most sensitive and vital defense capabilities significantly the amendment explicitly and legally specifies that the head of the national strategic Command must be an officer originating exclusively from the pakistan army, thereby constitutionally and decisively reaffirming the army’s central and indispensable position in the operational management of pakistan s strategic defense infrastructure By thus constitutionally formalizing this vital and sensitive arrangement, the government s clear and strategic intention is to provide a much clearer legal and institutional framework for the crucial chain of command in all matters of supreme national security
another key provision embedded within the amendment specifically concerns the government s power to formally confer military ranks such as Field Marshal, Marshal of the air Force, and admiral of the Fleet
These ranks are by established tradition and explicit law reserved for those select exceptional individuals who have rendered gen-
OU R country today is exhausted Worn thin by a near-constant drumbeat of scandal, accusation and counterattack a majority of citizens are asking a blunt overdue question: why is the nation being pushed into another convulsion when the law the constitution and the calendar already provide the proper avenues for accountability and transition?
One faction pictures a quick, extra constitutional removal of president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr (pBBM) to make way for Vice president sara Duterte another concedes no principle in pursuit of that goal dredging up family quarrels recycling unproven allegations and parading viral exposés in place of court filings another group pushing for a transition council or a military- backed reset Meanwhile the public watches with increasing impatience, knowing full well that the stakes are not only who sits in Malacañang before 2028 but which foreign axis will benefit from the chaos
Make no mistake: this is not merely domestic soap opera It looks smells and acts like a coordinated campaign to destabilize an elected government and to position an alternate leader Vice president Duterte for an early, contested succession Everything in the recent sequence of events points to that objective When political impulses coincide with institutional failures cynicism spreads Citizens rightly ask whether these revelations are genuinely about exposing corruption and malfeasance or about grabbing power now before voters have their say again
There are two threads to view separately but simultaneously: the substantive allegations and the method of addressing them substantively the vice president faces impeachment moves that were by many accounts deferred by political maneuvers from allies in the senate; the president through a dramatic video exposé by a former House appropriations official has been accused of receiving kickbacks tied to purported flood control insertions These are grave claims If true, they would be catastrophic for public trust They should be pursued relentlessly transparently and in court
But the manner in which these claims are being used reveals a poisonous impatience When allegations become headline instruments of political theater instead of evidence in a court of law, democracy loses The attempt to manufacture a public consensus for removal through soundbites and rallies undermines the very accountability it claims to seek It replaces deliberation and due process with viral outrage and in doing so it sets the country on a path where the loudest faction or the most sophisticated foreign actor decides who governs Complicating the scene is the spectacle of family against family senator Imee Marcos shocking public assault on her brother alleging drug use and her theatrical demand for hair follicle tests It was a political grenade lobbed into an already hot field timed to feed a wider destabilization narrative as Filipinos family betrayals have power precisely because they cut through partisan filters and shock citizens into taking sides But they are not substitutes for evidence public life requires evidence;
uinely extraordinary, unparalleled, and lifetime services to the defenCe of the nation and have unequivocally demonstrated exceptional leadership profound valor and supreme strategic acumen
The amendment states that the rank and all associated privileges legally associated with the title of Field Marshal shall be held for life In concrete, practical terms, this means that once a senior officer has been formally and finally elevated as field marshal or equivalent that designation becomes irrevocable continuing for his entire lifetime regardless of mandatory retirement from active duty or subsequent changes in his official postings and responsibilities
This life tenure is powerfully symbolic of the nation’s enduring, institutional recognition and profound lasting respect for supreme military achievement and strategically reflects a practice followed in other countries where distinguished military figures permanently retain their honorary titles
These fundamental reforms are being widely interpreted and regarded by experts as progressive extremely well-considered and strategically sound The structural creation of the new post of Chief of Defence Force for example is demonstrably consistent with similar, consolidated command structures found in various major military powers such as India, the UK, australia, and the Usa, where a single, unified defence chief is responsible for coordinating and integrating efforts effectively among the different military branches to ensure a coherent national security strategy and integrated efficient defense planning
This integrated system allows for substantially better inter-service coordination, actively avoids the costly and counterproductive duplication of effort and resources and significantly enhances overall combat readiness and operational effectiveness pakistan s deliberate decision to adopt a comparable, integrated model thus clearly demonstrates its strong, unequivocal intent to modernize its defense management in alignment with established global best practices all the while maintaining its national sovereignty and strategic autonomy
For those who think the armed Forces will solve the crisis, history offers a cautionary tale The philippines has lived through military takeovers and attempted coups and the memory of instability is fresh in the national psyche Yet the current military posture is telling: the armed Forces have publicly affirmed that they will not engage in internal political disputes and that institutional mechanisms must resolve political differences That is as it should be The soldiers refusal to be political kingmakers as commentators and columnists have noted is a sign of a maturing republic and a rejection of the old coup first govern later playbook Why then this rush to topple an administration that had a popular mandate and which has nearly three years left in office? Why the urgency to replace a president midterm, to invite instability into already precarious economic and social circumstances? We must not be naïve power vacuums are magnet for opportunists and for foreign actors hoping to realign the philippines to their strategic preferences The question that ordinary citizens must insist on is blunt: who benefits from an early change in leadership? If the answer includes foreign interests that would prefer a weaker, divided philippines, then the call to act now should be treated with skepticism
Equally worrying is the growing refusal among civil society groups progressive organizations to accept constitutional succession merely because they distrust the successor If they fear that Vice president Duterte would pursue policies inimical to democratic norms or national security, the response should be to fight those policies in the halls of Congress, in civil society, and at the ballot box not to subvert the Constitution’s succession rules The very groups that once defended democratic norms should be the loudest advocates for due process today
To be clear: calling for constitutional process is not an argument for impunity If corruption is proven public officials including the president must be prosecuted without fear or favor Independent investigations, swift prosecutions and transparent trials are the correct way to restore public trust Those who have evidence should present it in courts; those who lack evidence should stop fanning the flames The country deserves neither unproven smears nor summary kangaroo courts
What the country needs now is a dual strand of action: first, rigorous, impartial investigations of all credible allegations led by independent prosecutors, overseen by the judiciary, and open to public scrutiny; second, a national pause on extra constitutional schemes for regime change The former restores justice; the latter preserves the republic Let us also be candid about the political arithmetic: many Filipinos remain deeply wary of a sara Duterte presidency Her family s record the specter of authoritarian tendencies, and unresolved questions about accountability make many civic actors and voters nervous about a midterm succession Their fears are valid But those fears should be addressed through the ballot box in 2028 and through political organizing and persuasion today not by undermining the constitution and inviting the very instability that will weaken the philippines and imperil its sovereignty
The most dangerous outcome would be to trade an elected, if flawed, administration for a regime of chaos that hands the philippines to actors domestic or foreign who have no democratic mandate Let the institutions the courts the Congress the electoral calendar do what they are designed to do so let the record show: president Marcos will finish his term unless the constitution and the law provide a different, legitimate outcome The rush to remove him
The public response to these institutional changes has been overwhelmingly positive, particularly among those citizens who view these reforms as a clear welcome sign of growing institutional maturity and modernization Citizens and well-respected defense analysts have expressed appreciation for the government s decisive action to clarify the hierarchy within the armed forces a necessary step expected to lead to improved coordination faster decision-making and significantly greater accountability The lifetime honour associated with the rank of Field Marshal has also been warmly and patriotically received a considerable amount of well-deserved praise and popular acclaim has been specifically and notably directed toward the current army Chief, Field Marshal syed asim Munir who has earned a distinguished reputation both within the military hierarchy and among the general public for his unwavering leadership exceptional discipline and strategic foresight Under his command, the pakistan army has reportedly performed with exceptional distinction and professionalism, not only in the critical duty of maintaining the country’s internal security and external stability but also in effectively overcoming various complex regional and domestic challenges He is credited with leading the army with integrity and determination during challenging times, particularly in matters related to national defense, counterterrorism operations and managing regional tensions
His leadership during the highly publicized recent Operation Marka-e-Haq against India has been highlighted as powerful evidence of his unyielding commitment Moreover, Field Marshal asim Munir has been engaged in addressing the challenges facing pakistan and successfully navigating the rapidly evolving geopolitical situation His comprehensive approach successfully combines high military professionalism with a deep nuanced awareness of the political, economic, and social dimensions of national security, thereby decisively strengthening public confidence in the professionalism, capacity, and ultimate integrity of the armed forces
These constitutional amendments collectively represent an exceptionally important
and forward-looking evolution in pakistan s governance system, reflecting the state s determination to adapt to changing regional and global realities clearly establish precise unambiguous lines of authority and thoroughly modernize both civil and military institutions By strategically placing the appointments of the nation s top military officials firmly within a constitutional framework legally grounded in the pM’s binding advice, the amendment reinforces the principle of democratic oversight over the armed forces a crucial essential and non-negotiable element in maintaining the essential and delicate balance between civilian leadership and military power within a functional and progressing democracy
The decisive institutional introduction of the Chief of Defence Forces and the formal continuation of the Field Marshal rank as a lifelong honour symbolize not only structural and operational change but also the recognition of profound service, immense personal sacrifice, and unwavering professionalism These decisions are being interpreted by observers as visionary, well-executed, and genuinely forward-looking measures aimed at enhancing the efficiency unity and international prestige of pakistan
Ja pa n’s efforts to break free from the constraints imposed by the potsdam proclamation and the postwar peace Constitution culminating in the exercise of collective self-defense are not accidental They are the result of a long-term, incremental strategy by the conservative political establishment Their strategy has unfolded in three phases marked by gradual accumulation internal shifts that enabled external changes and the use of practice to drive legislation By repeatedly revising constitutional interpretations rather than pursuing a formal amendment, they have steadily hollowed out article 9, paving the way for the “legalization” and “normalization” of Japan’s military power
THE POSTWAR ORDER AND THE CONSTRAINTS OF THE PEACE CONSTITUTION: The potsdam proclamation and the Constitution of Japan, enforced in 1947, which is known as the peace Constitution , form the foundation of Japan s postwar military restrictions
article 8 of the potsdam proclamation limited Japanese sovereignty to Honshu Hokkaido Kyushu shikoku and such minor islands designated by the allies and demanded the complete disarmament of Japan
article 9 of the Constitution contains two paragraphs: Paragraph 1: Renounces war as a sovereign right and the threat or use of force to settle international disputes
Paragraph 2: states that land sea and air forces as well as other war potential will never be maintained and the state s right of belligerency will not be recognized
PHASE I: LEGALIZING MILITARY CAPABIL-
ITY AMID THE COLD WAR (1950S TO 1990S)
1954 Establishment of the SDF amid Cold War tensions the Japanese government argued that article 9 did not eliminate the inherent right of individual self-defense Distinguished from prohibited “war potential”, the self-Defense Forces were established as the necessary organization to exercise that right
1972 Exclusive Defense Policy (Senshu Boei)
The government adopted the senshu Boei doctrine limiting the use of force strictly to defense and maintaining capabilities at the minimum necessary level While appearing restrictive, the interpretation confirmed Japan’s right to have “counterattack capability” a semantic opening for later expansion
1976 Breaking the 1 percent GDP Barrier
The Takeo Miki Cabinet capped defense spending at 1 percent of gross national product, later applied to gross domestic product The Yasuhiro nakasone Cabinet abolished the cap in 1987, marking a symbolic shift toward “quantitative growth” in defense
1981 US-Japan Security Treaty Revision Japan s defense obligations were expanded to protecting sea lanes of communication, extending the sDF s role from homeland defense to broader maritime security
PHASE II: NORMALIZING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT UNDER THE BANNER OF INTERNATIONAL CONTRIBUTION” (1990S TO 2012)
The
AbdUl bAsit Alvi
CM MARYAM VOWS STRICT PERFORMANCE ACCOUNTABILIT Y, ROLLS OUT SWEEPING SECTORAL REFORMS
Amna Riaz Lights Up Times Square as Spotif y’s Equal Pakistan Ambassador for Q4
KARACHI
S ta f f r e p o
Punjab Minister for Information and Culture, Azma Bokhari, has said that compared to the general elections, the PML-N’s vote bank in the recent by-elections increased from 20,000 to over 100 000 votes She emphasized that this clearly shows the public rejected Nak De Koke politics and instead voted for welfare-oriented initiatives such as electric buses, free scholarships, the Apni Chhat Apna Ghar program, and the Kissan Card Azma Bokhari added that Suhail Afridi is fearful of Maryam Nawaz s development projects and this fear has intensified following PML-N s by-election victories She further remarked that Maryam Nawaz has restored Punjab, previously left in disarray under the previous administration to a stable and progressive path Whenever good news comes for the public it becomes a dark day for the opposition, she added Speaking at a press conference at
DGPR she said that in the by-elections held across thirteen constituencies in Punjab the public once again rejected the politics of abuse, hatred, and chaos, and voted for service and performance The Chief Minister ’s transparent governance model selfset performance indicators and over ninety ongoing development projects demonstrate that the current government focuses on tangible results not just promises
The public has recognized and appreciated every initiative that directly benefits citizens including free hospitals the Kissan Card Him-
COMSATS University and Chang Jiang Industrial Company Sign MoU to Establish Innovation and Entrepreneurship
COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) and Chang Jiang Industrial Company (CJI)
CUI
Raheel Qamar, Rector CUI and Executives from
Industrial Company led by the Chairman CJI Mr Zhang Yang was held at the Islamabad Campus of the COMSATS University
mat Card, Dhi Rani Program, WASA reforms, and development programs in Lahore and Gujrat Azma Bokhari highlighted that those including Suhail Afridi who have promoted politics of disruption and propaganda are now facing the consequences of their actions She noted that over 420 PTI party leaders and lawyers, along with more than 190 family members have met the founder of PTI in jail
Responding to a question she said that the Chief Minister has no interference in jail or administrative matters, which remain fully under the authority of the prison administration Azma Bokhari said the public has now clearly voted for service-oriented politics rather than for insults sedition or disruption Citizens endorsed initiatives such as Saaf Punjab, laptops, electric buses, electric bikes, free medicines, and mobile clinics Even in Haripur, despite PTI having its own government the people did not vote for them recognizing that votes should be given only to those delivering tangible services
SHINE Humanit y launches Feroza Abbasi Sehat Center in Sehwan to expand access to primar y healthcare
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SHINE Humanity Pakistan proudly inaugurated the Feroza Abbasi Sehat Center in Sehwan Sindh marking a major step toward providing quality primary healthcare to underserved communities in the region Located in the historic city of Sehwan, healthcare access remains limited, Sehat Center aims to bridge longstanding gaps in primary healthcare services With the generous support of the Abbasi family US - based Pakistani expatriates the facility will bring essential medical care directly to residents who often face significant barriers such as distance transportation challenges and scarce medical infrastructure The launch event, held at the clinic site, brought together community leaders, dignitaries, and supporters committed to advancing healthcare equity in Sindh The event was graced by former Senior Sindh Minister Pir Mazhar ul Haq; former MNA and Feroza Abbasi s brother Kazi Asad Abid Editor-inChief and Kazi Sajjad Akbar; former Chief Engineer of the Irrigation Department, Pir Munwar ul Haq, Pir Vicky, Kazi Mustafa Abbasi, Pir Moazam SHINE Humanity’s leadership team, including co-founders Dr Salman Naqvi and Dr Farzana Naqvi Executive Director Naila Ahmed and CEO Faheem Khan were also present alongside Senior Manager of Public Health and members of the SHINE Humanity head office team from Karachi
g INTERIM CEO SAYS $7B COPPER-GOLD PROJECT REMAINS A PRIORITY; LENDERS PREPARE
Court-appointed counsel refuses to cross-examine witnesses in Imaan Mazari, Hadi Chattha case
Zainab MazariHazir and her husband Advocate Hadi Ali Chattha, refused on Tuesday to crossexamine prosecution witnesses in a case linked to alleged controversial social media posts He said he could not “ask questions dictated” to him The counsel further contended that he had not been given sufficient time to prepare for the proceedings The case was registered by the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Mazari and Chattha face allegations
of attempting to stoke divisions on linguistic grounds through social media posts and of creating the impression that the armed forces were involved in acts of terrorism within the country When Additional District and Sessions Judge Mohammed Afzal Majoka resumed the hearing in Islamabad court-appointed defence counsel Advocate Shakeel Jatt told the court he had been contacted only around 4pm the previous day to represent the couple He added that he had not received the case file in time to prepare adequately He also claimed he had been handed 15 questions with instructions to ask them during Monday s cross-examination though he did not specify who had issued those instructions Addressing Judge Majoka, he said he was told, You have to do this tomorrow ” Under these circumstances he said he could not proceed I support a fair trial I cannot ask dictated questions My conscience does not allow it, he told the court, emphasising that every accused person is entitled to an impartial trial under the Constitution Advocate Jatt requested sufficient time to prepare for cross-examination saying he could not fulfil his professional duties without properly reviewing the case record The judge accepted the request and adjourned proceedings until
November 27 (Thursday) Mazari had earlier alleged that the court had forcibly appointed state defence counsel” to represent her and Chattha The couple were indicted on October 30 a day after Chattha was arrested outside the courtroom for alleged non-appearance a claim both have disputed Mazari maintained there was video evidence showing Chattha inside and outside the courtroom After his release Chattha told reporters he had arrived five minutes before the scheduled hearing on October 29 yet the judge had still issued an arrest warrant to his face
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S k Security forces on Tuesday foiled a sabotage attempt on the Jaffar Express after an explosive device was found planted on the railway track near Dera Murad Jamali The Quetta-bound passenger train, travelling from Lahore, was minutes away
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members, advisers, coordinators, special assistants, and parliamentary secretaries were formally relieved of their duties, ensuring a neutral caretaker administration ahead of elections During the assembly’s final session both treasury and opposition members reviewed the government s performance over the past five years highlighting achievements and challenges Outgoing Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan said It s a transition, and we are happy that we completed our term trying to serve the masses The GB Assembly elections were last held on November 15, 2020, with PTI forming the government under Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid Following his disqualification by the GB Chief Court in July 2023 a coalition of dissenting PTI members PPP and PML-N took charge electing Haji Gulbar Khan as the new chief minister Justice Yar Muhammad Nasir s appointment marks the beginning of a caretaker setup to oversee administration and ensure fair elections
ISLAMABAD n e w S d e S k Pakistan s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar, briefed the UN Security Council on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the broader Palestinian territories on Monday He highlighted the severe impact of hostilities describing the situation as extremely serious, with repeated violations of the ceasefire despite international efforts Iftikhar drew attention to the humanitarian toll, noting that over 70,000 Palestinians have been killed over the past two years most of them women and children He said large swathes of social and economic infrastructure have been destroyed, and accountability for violations
train underscores escalating security threats along key railway routes in Balochistan, prompting increased vigilance across the region
22 I ndian-supp or ted terrorists eliminated in B annu gunfight
B omb planted on Jaffar Express route defused minutes b efore train’s arrival Per vaiz Elahi’s acquittal plea hearing postponed by Special Cour t
Security forces personnel eliminated 22 Indian-sponsored terrorists during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district According to a statement issued by the military’s media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Tuesday the operation was launched after reports received about the presence of Indian proxy Tehreek-eTaliban Pakistan (TTP) also referred to as Khawarij terrorists in the area The ISPR stated that troops effectively engaged the location,” and following an intense exchange of fire, 22
has largely gone unaddressed The briefing underscored recent diplomatic developments A high-level meeting in July aimed at advancing a peaceful resolution culminated in the adoption of the New York Declaration on September 12, followed by resumed discussions on September 22
Separately the Sharm El-Sheikh peace summit facilitated coordination among regional and global partners to maintain the ceasefire address humanitarian needs, and pave a credible path toward Palestinian self-determination Pakistan welcomed the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2803 last week and reiterated support for initiatives to end hostilities rebuild Gaza prevent displacement and halt annexation in
militants were killed A sanitisation operation was currently under way to ensure the area was cleared of any remaining militant presence The statement added that Pakistan s counterterrorism campaign under the Azm-e-Istehkam framework approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan will continue with full intensity to eliminate terrorism and dismantle foreign-backed militant networks across the country T
suicide terrorists tried to storm the FC Headquarters in Peshawar Three FC troops were martyred and all the attackers were sent to hell by the security forces personnel
the West Bank Iftikhar stressed that continued civilian casualties highlight a gap between commitments and ground realities with homes destroyed and families living under constant fear He pointed out that October recorded the highest number of Israeli settler attacks in the West Bank since monitoring began in 2006
The permanent representative outlined Pakistan s priorities: full implementation of Resolution 2803 restoration of Palestinian-led governance, reconstruction and capacity-building, strict adherence to the ceasefire, uninterrupted humanitarian access, halting settlement expansion ensuring accountability for violations of international law ending occupation in Arab lands and establishing
a credible, time-bound process to achieve a sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital Iftikhar concluded by reaffirming Pakistan s steadfast support for the Palestinian people stressing the international community s responsibility to turn pledges into action and ensure the protection of human dignity, justice and self-determination
The briefing comes days after Israel and Hamas agreed on the first phase of a ceasefire and a hostage-release deal under the US-drafted 20-point plan for Gaza, backed by eight Muslim countries including Pakistan
The UN Security Council adopted a resolution on November 18 endorsing the plan and authorizing an international stabilization force for the enclave