PM URGES WORLD TO PRESS K ABUL TO REIN IN TERRORISM, ADDRESS PAKISTAN’S SECURIT Y CONCERNS
g APPRECIATES QATAR, TÜRKIYE, SAUDI ARABIA, IRAN, UAE FOR CEASEFIRE EFFORTS, REAFFIRMS PAKISTAN’S COMMITMENT TO PEACEFUL DISPUTE RESOLUTION
g EMPHASIZES SUPPORT FOR GAZA, PALESTINIAN PEOPLE, AND KASHMIRI RIGHTS, LINKING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WITH LASTING PEACE AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROGRESS
ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t
The Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates on Friday strongly condemned the storming of the UNRWA headquarters in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem by Israeli forces, calling it a blatant violation of international law
In a joint statement they reaffirmed the indispensable role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in safeguarding the rights, dignity, and well-being of Palestinian refugees amid escalating tensions and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza In a joint statement the foreign
ministers condemned the storming of the UNRWA headquarters in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood as an attack representing a flagrant violation of international law and the inviolability of UN premises, which constituted an unacceptable escalation “This attack also violated the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice dated 22 October 2025, which clearly stated that Israel, as an occupying power, is under an obligation not to impede the operations of UNRWA and on the contrary to facilitate them the statement said
The FMs said For decades UNRWA has carried out a unique mandate entrusted to it by the international community, providing protection, education, health care, social services and emergency assistance to millions of Palestinian refugees in
its areas of operation in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 302 (1949) it added
The joint statement said, The adoption of the UN General Assembly resolution to renew UNRWA’s mandate for an additional three years reflects international confidence in the vital role played by the agency and the continuity of its operations
In light of the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, the ministers underscored the essential role UNRWA played in delivering humanitarian assistance through its network of distribution centers ensuring that food relief items, and necessities reach those in need fairly and efficiently, in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2803
LAHORE s ta f f r e p o r t
PML-N President and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to provide funds to Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award formula Speaking to party leaders in Lahore Nawaz stressed that both regions should receive a fixed annual share through the NFC, calling it very important for their development He noted however that AJK and GB must also build the capacity to effectively utilise these funds recalling previous instances where allocated money remained underutilised Nawaz’s call carries weight, as smaller provinces have repeatedly resisted including AJK and GB in the NFC share The pro-
ASSET DISCLOSURES
Refineries warn of supply chain risks as OMCs
cut diesel upliftment in December
although the Federal Constitutional Court has scheduled the case for hearing next month making a decision this month unlikely The finance ministry cautioned the prime minister that a significant revenue shortfall could force curbs on expenditure, as the IMF would not allow deviation from the agreed primary surplus target Sources said concerns were raised over the FBR s reliance
PAKISTAN CUSTOMS REVISES VALUATION OF IMPORTED MEAT AND BONE MEAL FROM SOUTH AMERICA
Federal cabinet approves diversion of 45 LNG
The federal cabinet has approved the diversion of 45 liquefied natural gas cargoes following a sharp slowdown in domestic gas consumption ratifying an earlier decision taken by the Economic Coordination Committee The Express Tribune reported citing official sources The ECC s approval was placed before the cabinet during a recent meeting, where the proposal was endorsed Two summaries one on negotiations with the State of Qatar to manage surplus LNG and another on the operation of two SNGPL-linked urea plants, were
tabled for consideration The Petroleum Division informed the cabinet that Pakistan State Oil was holding excess imported LNG due to persistently low demand in the local market After negotiations with Qatar, Pakistan reached an arrangement allowing the sale of up to 24 LNG cargoes in 2026 on a net proceeds differential basis The cabinet was also briefed that a separate agreement had been concluded with energy company Eni for the diversion of 11 LNG cargoes in
CONTINUED FR OM PAGE 01
During his two-day visit, he held high-level bilateral meetings with leaders from friendly countries, including Türkiye, Iran, Russia, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to discuss peace trade connectivity and cooperation in addressing cross-border terrorism and regional challenges
The premier made these remarks while addressing the International Year of Peace and Trust Forum in Turkmenistan’s capital where he also held bilateral meetings with heads of friendly countries attending the forum
Talking about the scourge of terrorism on the occasion, the premier called on the international community and said, “We need the international community to urge the Afghan Taliban regime to fulfil its international obligations and commitments and rein in terrorists operating from its territory
PM Shehbaz also expressed gratitude to Qatar, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia Iran and the United Arab Emirates for their efforts in brokering a ceasefire between Islamabad and Kabul The premier noted that while the ceasefire still stood, it remained fragile He also underscored Pakistan’s commitment to “peaceful dispute resolution ” Pakistan which has been grappling with the problem of terrorism for long has been demanding that the rulers in Kabul take action to stop cross-border terrorism But, the Afghan Taliban deny Islamabad s allegation of terrorists being allowed to use Afghan soil to carry out attacks in Pakistan
The two sides also engaged in border skirmishes in recent months following which a ceasefire was
reached Pakistan and Afghanistan have also held talks with the mediation of Turkiye and Qatar but the negotiators have failed to bridge differences over how to prevent cross-border terrorism
Today, PM Shehbaz, who is on a two-day visit to Turkmenistan, raised the matter in his address at the international forum hosted in Ashgabat to mark the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan s permanent neutrality
The United Nations granted Turkmenistan the status of a neutral country in 1995 It defines neutrality as “the legal status arising from the abstention of a state from all participation in a war between other states the maintenance of an attitude of impartiality toward the belligerents and the recognition by the belligerents of this abstention and impartiality
A forum was organised in the Turkmen capital today to commemorate the development where global leaders including heads of state from Russia and Turkiye were among the attendees
The premier continued that the UN Security Council s (UNSC) adoption of resolution 2788 earlier this year was a strong endorsement of Pakistan’s vision for the peaceful settlement of disputes
In July the UNSC had unanimously adopted a resolution sponsored by Pakistan, calling for the strengthening of international mechanisms to settle disputes through peaceful means
In his remarks PM Shehbaz also talked about Gaza and expressed the hope that ongoing peace efforts would ultimately protect and save the lives of innocent Palestinians, ensuring a lasting and permanent ceasefire [and] allow the flow of critical humanitarian aid ”
“Pakistan has been and shall continue to support all efforts aimed at upholding the inalienable right to self-defence for the Palestinian people as well as the brave and resilient Kashmiri people he went on to say
The premier noted that the pursuit of lasting peace is intrinsically linked to the path of sustainable development ” “In this regard the 2030 agenda for sustainable development presents a universal blueprint for a better and peaceful world
Socio-economic development and the welfare of our people are my government’s foremost priority,” he said PM Shehbaz told the conference that Pakistan was making “significant strides in several key areas including advancing financial inclusion bringing women and marginalised into the economic mainstream
Shifting his attention to climate, the premier said that Pakistan had demonstrated its commitment to undertaking cleaner and greener solutions transforming our landscape and setting a global example in ecosystem restoration
The premier, however, pointed out that similar to many developing nations Pakistan’s “quest” for sustainable development was “facing the headwinds of climate-induced disasters and inequities in international economic relations He also highlighted the catastrophic impact” of floods in recent years The prime minister told the gathering that “climate change poverty and inequality are not isolated challenges
These are transnational threats he said adding that resolving them required solutions built on a foundation of shared responsibility and unity of purpose, and access to advanced technology especially digital technology ”
COMMENT
Accountabilit y
TH E conviction of former DG ISI Lt Gen (retd)
Faiz Hameed by a Field General Court
Martial, and sentencing to 14 years in prison represents a triumph of accountability within the military It is not the first time that an officer of that rank has been convicted but it is the first time that the charges have related to political activities violation of the Official Secrets Act misuse of authority and government resources and causing wrongful loss to persons The conviction has established that the military has its own rigorous system of accountability, and that high rank does not prevent its operation It also establishes that the military has zero tolerance for any exploitation of the status conferred by high rank or sensitive posting The case has not attained finality, for there is an appeals process which ends with a clemency plea to the Chief of Army Staff But it appears to be more or less over It was initiated because of Supreme Court orders that an enquiry be conducted into the Top City housing society into which General Hameed is said to have misused his position
This is not the only case There is also the allegation of involvement in events related to multiple incidents involving creating instability and unrest, including but not limited to the incidents of 9 May 2023 at the behest of and in collusion with vested political interests There is the possibility of General Hameed giving testimony in the cases against Mr Imran Khan for the 9 May 2023 incidents The verdict in the case against General Hameed, and the findings in it, are expected to provide evidence in that case For many more interested in partisan politics than the military justice system the main interest rests more in this case than in the Top City case It is interesting that the PTI avoided any comment on the verdict and the PML(N) expressed more interest in what the verdict meant politically than in the implications for the future An example has once again been set of the Army s prevention of the misuse of power, one that could also be followed with profit in the case of civilian leaders It is to be assumed that those who facilitated General Hameed in his abuse of power will also face punishment The PTI has not said anything, with only KP CM Sohail Afridi describing the matter as the internal affair of an institution
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late)
Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar
Nizami Editor Profit
The Echo of Unit y in a Broken Bar
killed but when lawyers became united enough to threaten political cost
That should trouble us deeply
TH E killing of Vehari lawyer Muhammad Zeeshan Dhudhi should have united Pakistan’s legal community in a singular, principled roar Instead it exposed the uncomfortable truth lawyers rarely admit publicly but feel privately every day: the bar today is divided not only by political affiliation but by class privilege, and the quiet elitism that determines whose suffering is worthy of outrage and whose is not In the immediate aftermath of Zeeshan’s killing, the response from the wider legal fraternity was strangely muted Court strikes were observed the ritualistic formality expected whenever a lawyer is harmed but the strikes felt hollow as though performed out of habit rather than conviction There was noise, but no real pressure And the government acted accordingly: it did nothing No urgency, no decisive statements, no high-level intervention It was business as usual because the protest fragmented and distracted by partisan loyalties lacked the moral force it should have carried For days many lawyers remained more concerned about aligning with their political patrons than standing with their own wounded fraternity Some high-profile figures hesitated to anger party leaderships Others seemed uncomfortable confronting the provincial government at all In that hesitation that failure to stand together the bar revealed just how deeply politics now occupies the space once reserved for solidarity
But then something changed When the Multan High Court Bar Association’s president, long associated with the ruling party, publicly broke ranks left the PML(N) and demanded the Chief Minister s resignation the political equation shifted overnight Suddenly the government appeared awake Administrative action followed Officers were suspended Meetings were held Statements were issued The system that had been indifferent began to move, not because the moral weight of Zeeshan’s death had finally struck the conscience of those in power but because the lawyers had finally spoken in one voice loud enough to be heard This is the most painful lesson of this tragedy: justice came into motion not when a lawyer was
At the same time, when district bar members rallied, marched, and spoke fiercely for Zeeshan, the elite circle of corporate-firm lawyers and prestigious law school graduates remained conspicuously absent No petitions statements or coordinated actions emerged from their side even though the same group is usually quick to mobilise around constitutional amendments, judicial debates, or the arrest of someone from their own social and educational sphere
Their silence was deafening and shameful
These are the lawyers who speak fluent English, whose careers are polished by elite institutions whose social media feeds brim with commentary on abstract legal philosophy judicial restructuring and institutional balance They are vocal when democracy is threatened, when constitutional litigation is fashionable, or when one of their own faces arrest But when a district lawyer from Vehari is killed, a man working at the margins of the profession away from glass offices and appellate courts they become suddenly and suspiciously quiet
The implicit message is unmistakable: some lives ignite their outrage; others do not For a profession that claims to defend equality before the law, this selective empathy is a crisis of integrity If lawyers cannot extend the same dignity to a colleague from a tehsil court as they do to one from a prestigious chamber then the bar is
Hybrid threats and the transformation of national securit y
TH E concept of national security has undergone a profound transformation over recent decades Once narrowly defined by military might, territorial defence and conventional warfare national security today encompasses a much broader spectrum It is now understood as Comprehensive National Security a multidimensional framework that integrates non-kinetic elements such as energy, food, health, environmental resilience, and human security This
complexity Hybrid threats recognize that adversaries do not merely deploy armed forces; they exploit vulnerabilities across economic diplomatic informational and technological domains For Pakistan a nuclear power with significant geostrategic importance, this concept is especially relevant The country s adversaries have long sought to weaken it not only through conventional means but also by orchestrating campaigns that undermine its economy governance and social cohesion Initially within the hybrid continuum the economic domain was the primary target India and other hostile actors attempted to destabilize Pakistan’s financial system, weaken investor confidence, and create fiscal turbulence Despite major challenges Pakistan managed to steady the ship Through resilience and corrective measures the nation began a difficult but determined recovery When these efforts failed to achieve their objectives, hostile forces shifted their strategy In recent years, the main strand of hybrid warfare against Pakistan has moved toward information operations These campaigns aim to
and internal
and
public trust in institutions, sow discord in society, and weaken national resolve Throughout history whether in conventional wars, hybrid confrontations, or information campaigns one constant remains: the Pakistan Army is always the primary target The reason is evident The Army is the guarantor of Pakistan s security and the center of gravity for national survival Even critics such as Christine Fair have acknowledged this reality Enemies of Pakistan know that as long as the Army remains disciplined professional unified and popular no external power can dismantle the state Consequently the Army faces relentless attacks in the information domain with senior leadership often singled out to discredit the institution and fracture its cohesion In this context, the Director General InterServices Public Relations (DG ISPR) described the ongoing attacks against the Army as a national security threat Clausewitz famously observed that war is the continuation of politics by other means In Pakistan s case political actors especially PTI and its social media brigades led by Imran Khan have launched a campaign that transcends politics and assumes the shape of war against the state and its institutions Amplified by foreign-based social media teams this campaign seeks to weaken and divide Pakistan under the guise of political discourse Its larger purpose aligns with the objectives of hostile forces If the social media tirade primarily targets the Army, it must be recognized as a national security matter Who is best suited to respond? The answer is clear: the Army itself While the political government has reacted the main effort in countering information warfare must come from the Army, specifically through the office of the DG ISPR Information operations require information responses Misinformation, disinformation fake news propaganda and rumour-mongering must be dismantled fact by fact logic by logic No other office within the Army is better equipped for this task If left unchecked, fake news and misinformation gain legitimacy and momentum They spread quickly, distort perceptions, and cor-
rode trust They must be dispelled promptly nipping the evil in the bud The DG ISPR s press briefing was aimed precisely at this By confronting falsehoods directly, clarifying facts and exposing hostile intent the Army sought to safeguard national unity and institutional credibility
Some critics questioned the decision to take on Imran Khan directly The answer is straightforward Khan has become the main propagator of this hostile campaign His rhetoric is amplified by social media teams many operating from abroad which increases the reach and impact of disinformation These two strands the domestic political narrative and foreign amplification had to be addressed clearly The DG ISPR s intervention was both timely and necessary
This detailed exposé highlights a critical reality: Pakistan faces a persistent information campaign that has become a national security threat It specifically targets the Army and its leadership cloaked as politics but driven by hostile intent In war, if the enemy attacks a sector of your defences, you do not remain passive You defend your territory, confront the enemy command and neutralize the means used against you This is precisely what the DG ISPR did By responding decisively in the information domain the Army fulfilled its responsibility as guardian of national security
The transformation of national security into a comprehensive framework demands vigilance across many domains Hybrid threats, especially information operations are the new frontline of conflict For Pakistan the Army remains the ultimate guarantor of survival and the main target of hostile campaigns Recognizing disinformation as a national security threat is not an exaggeration; it is a sober assessment of reality The DG ISPR’s response was not just a press briefing; it was a strategic defense of Pakistan’s unity credibility and resilience In the face of hybrid war timely and effective countermeasures are essential This should settle the matter
The writer can be reached at naveedsafdar13@gmail com
comprehensive framework demands vigilance across many domains. Hybrid threats, especially information operations, are the new frontline of conflict. For Pakistan, the Army remains the ultimate guarantor of survival and the main target of hostile campaigns. Recognizing disinformation as a national security threat is not an exaggeration; it is a sober assessment of reality
Web of neglect
Fighting hybrid war
Naveed Safdar
Noor Zafar
Pand debt obligations transparently Provinces claim ownership and autonomy but zealously guard transfers while consistently failing to expand their own tax bases modernize their fiscal capacity, or deliver proportional improvements in public services Bureaucracies, both federal and provincial, prefer the administrative comfort of operating under an old and predictable formula rather than doing the heavy lifting of reform data analysis coordination and transparent negotiation
This inertia becomes even more glaring when one examines the deliberate neglect of the third tier: local governments Even where provinces demand autonomy from the federation they turn into miniature federations themselves hoarding fiscal power while starving local bodies that are constitutionally intended to be closest to the citizen The tragedy is that provincial governments replicate the same centralization they condemn in Islamabad
country’s rapidly shifting realities For nearly two decades Pakistan has operated on the formula framed in the 7th NFC Award (2009-10) a formula that was celebrated for reinventing horizontal distribution but has since been preserved like a fossil The Constitution demands periodic revision; economic logic demands recalibration; demographic shifts demand correction; provincial disparities demand targeted support Yet none of this occurs because complacency has become institutionalized while political expediency, bureaucratic lethargy, and vested interests have coalesced into a quiet, powerful obstruction One cannot ignore the strange irony: everyone from the ruling government to the opposition from provincial leaders to federal ministries publicly acknowledges the necessity of revisiting the NFC but privately benefits from its stagnation The federation claims it is suffocating financially but refuses to reform the federal tax regime, restructure expenditures or rationalize defense
There is no meaningful, predictable, or statutory finance award for local governments no transparent formula for municipal development allocations and no guaranteed share of provincial receipts As a result district and municipal administrations operate like beggars before provincial capitals, waiting for discretionary releases that arrive late, shrink midyear, or are diverted for political patronage Without real fiscal devolution one protected by law formula-based transfers and ownsource revenue authority no NFC however revised can truly deliver equitable development The chain of governance is only as strong as its most local link Beyond this, the existing formula for inter-provincial distribution dominated overwhelmingly by population weightage rewards demographic expansion rather than performance innovation or human-development progress It incentivizes nothing and corrects nothing It does not
The debate surrounding the NFC is not simply about resource distribution; it is about the countryÊs future Continuing with an obsolete, rigid mechanism while expecting different results is nothing shor t of economic self-deception Pakistan cannot afford a federal compact built on complacency, outdated formulas, and institutional iner tia If we are serious about equitable federalism, serious about national development, and serious about honoring the ConstitutionÊs spirit, then the NFC must be rescued from political hibernation and reborn as a pragmatic, dynamic, and empirically grounded framework.
The Financial Times estimates that last year Russia’s oil revenues alone rose by more than 25 per cent to $108bn (€92 billion) despite sanc tions, and that ‘since Februar y 2022 the EU has impor ted over $122bn of Russian LNG [liquefied natural gas], making it one of Russia’s largest fossil fuel customers’
UN D E R S TA N D A B LY fearful, Ukrainian leaders are reminding Europe of the ghosts of Munich in September 1938 when Czechoslovakia was compelled to accept Adolf Hitler s demands that it surrenders the Sudetenland in western Czechoslovakia on the basis that the German leader would demand no more Neither Britain with prime minister Neville Chamberlain at the helm nor French premier Édouard Daladier was prepared to defend Czechoslovakia By March 1939 Hitler s army occupied what was left of Czechoslovakia Today, Ukrainian foreign minister Andriy Sybiha, considering Moscow’s promise to occupy all the Donbas region by force, has insisted “we need real peace not appeasement” A recent book by Polish historian Piotr Majewski The Munich Crisis of 1938 suggests Munich has become a nightmare haunting many smaller countries Fears that the West will once again abandon its allies keep many countries awake at night” He writes: “These are especially vivid in Ukraine for which Western aid is a matter of life or death They are also familiar to the nations of central and eastern Europe – Estonians Latvians Lithuanians Poles Czechs Slovaks and Romanians Even though their countries belong to the European Union and Nato, their people are still anxious that, if they were attacked by an
betrayal littered the road to the 1938 agreement that Hitler made a mockery of In his 2019 book The Bell of Treason historian PE Caquet reminds us that Chamberlain said of Hitler: Here was a man who could be relied upon when he had given his word Hitler had certain standards he would not deliberately deceive a man whom he respected ” One Czech diplomat called Chamberlain “the errand boy of gangsters” a position Trump now occupies Back then British diplomat Frank AshtonGwatkin told Hubert Masaryk of Czechoslovakia s Ministry of Foreign Affairs: If you do not accept, you will find yourselves facing Germany alone The French may sugar this with fine phrases, but, believe me, they are of the same view and have lost interest in your fate ” Such exchanges are also a reminder of the fear and disgust generated in the 1930s by the prospect of another world war
The narrative of Chamberlain s descent from peace hero to humiliated fool has been challenged by some historians who document the strength of public opinion in Britain and France in favour of diplomacy and the extra time it gave Britain to prepare for war the argument being that taking on Hitler in 1938 with a divided Britain would have been disastrous But it is Chamberlain s arrival on September 30, 1938, at Heston Aerodrome that is most frequently recalled, with “the paper which bears his [Hitler ’s] name upon it as well as mine” and which he declared would mean peace for our time Now it is Trump who wants that paper in the form of a big beautiful peace deal Today, the capacity of diplomacy remains under the spotlight In 2022 Olaf Scholz, then German chancellor, responded to Putin’s bellicosity by arguing for “as much diplomacy as possible without being naive” How much is that? And what of the effectiveness of sanctions in relation to Russia s oil and gas exports that finance so much of the war?
The Financial Times estimates that last year Russia’s oil revenues alone rose by more than 25 per cent to $108bn (€92 billion) despite sanctions and that “since February 2022 the EU has imported over $122bn of Russian LNG [liquefied natural gas] making it one of Russia s largest fossil fuel customers Future historians will undoubtedly highlight another, more recent Munich moment, when Zelenskiy, suited, fresh faced and clean shaven, found himself at a security conference there in February 2022 just before Russia’s full-scale invasion He asked this question: Has our world completely forgotten the mistakes of the 20th century, of where appeasement policy usually leads?
Europe must open the door to migrants, or face its own extinction
looks like: I’ve seen the graph The European Commission published it in March It s a chart of total fertility rate: the average number of children born per woman After a minor bump over the past 20 years, the EU rate appears to be declining once more and now stands at 1 38 The UK’s is 1 44 A population’s replacement rate is 2 1 You may or may not see this as a disaster but the maths doesn t care what you think We are gliding, as if by gravitational force, towards the ground Civilisational erasure is the term the Trump administration used in its new national security strategy published last week It claimed that immigration among other factors will result in the destruction of European civilisation In reality, without immigration there will be no Europe, no civilisation and no one left to argue about it Of course we re talking about different things The Trump administration appears to see civilisation as a white and western property, threatened by Black and Brown people, regardless of whether they were born here or have recently arrived This week Donald Trump claimed that with the exception of Poland and Hungary European nations will not be viable countries any longer as a result of immigration Well, Poland has a total fertility rate of 1 2, which means a rapid slide to inviability unless it allows more immigration “Civilisation” as it has often been over the past two centuries is in Trump s case a racist and white supremacist concept The erasure the Trump government appears to fear is of white culture There is and was no such thing Our language science mathematics music cuisine literature art and – thanks to the legacy of colonial and post-colonial looting – much of our wealth originated elsewhere Italian cooking might be unimaginable without tomatoes but, originating in South America, they were not widely used until the 19th century The balti might have a greater claim to be the UK s national dish than fish and chips (a Portuguese import) as it originated here The roast beef of Old England, from an animal domesticated in the Middle East, was enjoyed by the elite: the rest derived much of their protein from dal (pease pottage pease pudding pea soup) This changed only when the means were found of preserving and shipping meat from animals raised in the colonies Widespread beef
Trump administration claimed that immigration, among other fac tors, will result in the destruc tion of European civilisation. In reality, without immigration there will be no Europe, no civilisation and no one left to argue about it
consumption in Britain required the civilisational erasure of Indigenous peoples in the Americas Australia and New Zealand and the eradication of their ecosystems
Some rulers once understood the power of pluralism King Stephen I of Hungary, who reigned from 1001 to 1038 noted that the cultures and knowledge of foreigners enriched the realm while a country unified in language and customs is fragile and weak A thousand years later, Trump appears to have forgotten this obvious truth
What I’m talking about, by contrast is actual erasure: the literal disappearance of society Once the fertility rate falls below 2 1 it keeps falling and the slide towards zero looks inexorable This doesn t mean I ve become a pronatalist (wanting to see rising birthrates) I’m neither pronatalist nor antinatalist as both positions are equally futile As David Runciman points out in his excellent summary of the science in the London Review of Books, the opportunity costs of having children rise with prosperity, leading inexorably to falling birthrates In some parts of the world, this process began in the 16th and 17th centuries No government constraint or incentive it seems can significantly alter the trajectory For years I ve been arguing with people who want to reduce the human population for environmental reasons I’ve pointed out that the growth rate today was established before most of us were born: as a UN report explains Considerable population growth continues today because of the high numbers of births in the 1950s and 1960s, which have resulted in larger base populations with millions of young people reaching their reproductive years over succeeding generations In other words those who obsess about too many people are fighting a mathematical function Global (and, in the UK, national) population will continue to rise for a while, before sweeping dramatically downwards largely as a matter of demographic momentum
The only thing the obsessives could do to change the peaking point by more than a couple of years would be mass murder on an unprecedented scale: slaughtering hundreds of mil-
lions of people This is because the issue is not rising birthrates (the global rate has been in decline since the year of my birth 1963) but a rising child survival rate and greatly increased longevity Ironically, the person who might have caused the greatest depopulation is the
THE GUARDIAN
TTrump administration planned further ship seizures, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters she would not speak about future actions but said the US would continue executing the president s sanctions policies We re not going to stand by and watch sanctioned vessels sail the seas with black market oil,
posed sanctions on six supertankers that, according to PDVSA s internal documents and ship monitoring data, recently loaded crude in Venezuela, and on four Venezuelans, including three relatives of the country’s first lady Cilia Flores It was not known whether the newly sanctioned ships were among those now targeted for interception Wednesday s seizure comes after the US in recent months has carried out more than 20 strikes against what it says are drug vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific killing more than 80 people Experts say the strikes may be illegal extrajudicial attacks while the US says it is protecting Americans from drug cartels it has branded as terrorist organizations Further ship seizures could be aimed at tighening
planning the seizures for months, according to two of the people A reduction or halt in Venezuelan oil exports the main generator of revenue for the Venezuelan government would strain the Maduro government s finances The US Treasury said on Thursday it im-
Third Modi–Trump call since US tariff
China, Singapore leaders to hold bilateral cooperation mechanism meeting in Chongqing BEIJING
S ta f f
t Gan Kim Yong Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry of the Republic of Singapore, will visit China from December 15 to 16, at the invitation of Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson announced on Friday During the visit Ding and Gan will co-chair four key bilateral cooperation meetings in Chongqing, namely the 21st meeting of the China-Singapore Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation, the 26th meeting of the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park Joint Steering Council the 17th meeting of the ChinaSingapore Tianjin Eco-City Joint Steering Council and the 9th meeting of the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity Joint Steering Council These meetings come on the 10th anniversary of the launch of the China-Singapore (Chongqing) project
the U N International Organization for Migration said on Friday Torrential rain swept across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, flooding tents sheltering families displaced by two years of war and leading to the death of a baby girl due to exposure local health officials said A total of 12 people are dead or missing as a result of the storm with at least 13 buildings having collapsed and 27,000 tents flooded, the media office of the Hamas-run Gaza government said A displaced Palestinian man clears muddy water in a flooded tent camp on a rainy day in Nuseirat central Gaza Strip December 12 2025 PHOTO: REUTERS A displaced Palestinian man clears muddy water in a flooded tent camp on a rainy day in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, December 12, 2025 PHOTO: REUTERS Nearly 795 000 displaced people are at heightened risk of potentially dangerous flooding in lowlying rubble-filled areas where families are living in unsafe shelters the IOM said Insufficient drainage and waste management also heightened the risk of disease outbreak, the U N agency added ‘Our food is ruined,’ says flood-hit father
Materials to help reinforce shelters such as timber and plywood, as well as sandbags and water pumps to help with flooding have been delayed from entering Gaza due to access restrictions, the IOM said Israel says it is meeting its obligations and accuses agencies of inefficiency and failing to prevent theft by Hamas which the group denies COGAT the Israeli military arm that oversees humanitarian matters was not immediately available for comment In a displaced camp in Nuseirat, central Gaza, ankle-deep water had pooled around the tents, soaking mattresses shoes and clothes Working with a bucket 50-year-old Youssef Tawtah was trying to bail the water out but it had nowhere to go and he appeared to make little progress All night long the children and I were on our feet, he said How can the children handle it? s his family gathered around a small open fire on a sandy bank near the tent he hauled a sopping mattress through the floodwaters Even cooking a meal will be difficult Our food is ruined he said SUPPLIES CANNOT WITHSTAND FLOODING, SAYS IOM Supplies already dispatched to Gaza, including waterproof tents, thermal blankets and tarpaulins, were not able to withstand the flooding, the IOM added “After this storm made landfall yesterday families are trying to protect their children with whatever they have IOM Director General Amy Pope said
Indonesian Pavilion attracts crowd at 7th Int’l Consumer Products Fair 2025
KARACHI s ta f f r e p o
The Consulate General of Indonesia in Karachi proudly participated in the 7th International Consumer Products Fair (ICPF) 2025, held from 11 to 14 December at the Expo Centre Karachi Organized by Ecommerce Gateway Pakistan, the exhibition remains one of Sindh’s most prominent trade events offering an important platform for business promotion international networking and cultural exchange The Indonesian Pavilion was inaugurated on Thursday, 11 December 2025, in a ceremony graced by diplomats, industry leaders, and other distinguished guests Leading the Indonesian delegation were H E Mudzakir M A Consul General of Indonesia in Karachi accompanied by Mr Dewanto Priyokusomo Head of Chancery and Dr Ahmad Syofian Consul for Economy Their presence underscored Indonesia s strong commitment to strengthening bilateral trade and showcasing high-quality Indonesian sproducts in Pakistan In his remarks the Consul General underscored the importance of ICPF 2025 as a vital platform for strengthening Indonesia - Pakistan economic relations particularly in light of President Prabowo Subianto s recent State Visit to Islamabad He noted that the renewed commitments made by both countries have opened new avenues for trade, investment, and B2B collaboration He further highlighted Indonesia’s strong presence at the fair with 11 exporters showcasing a diverse range of consumer products This participation reflects Indonesia s commitment to fostering long-term business partnerships in Pakistan
Punjab concludes ballotting of
showrooms
underscores the trust the marketplaces in CBD Punjab s long-term vision Our aim is to create future-ready commercial districts that enhance Punjab’s economic potential and offer unparalleled
Over 7 12 kanals of estate land retrieved during anti-encroachment operations in capital
The grand operation against illegal constructions and encroachments in the Federal Capital Islamabad is progressing rapidly in line with the direction of Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Muhammad Ali Randhawa According to details the anti-encroachment operation in the area adjoining Diplomatic Enclave of the Federal
in the Jauhar area, enabling consumers to clear overdue bills, enter installment plans and apply for legal meterbased connections KE spokesperson Imran Rana said: This kunda removal drive was a focused intervention to protect the integrity of KE s network and ensure losses do not pile up By removing nearly two tons of
(ISPR)
Chaudhry
Imran
“revolved
Faiz Hameed’s recommendations” “There are chances that multiple decisions from before during and after his tenure revolved around Faiz s recommendations, the minister said Faisal Vawda and other representatives have given evidence of this before As a political worker, I have seen this happen ” Chaudhry further said that the matter is being investigated by an institution which has set a new standard for transparency in Pakistan and discouraged speculating about future steps until it is complete We are hopeful that they (investigators) will uncover the truth after performing an investigation on its merits ” he said “Instead of speculating we should wait for the investigation The state minister elaborated that the former spymaster was jailed because he crossed a legal red line and further said that crossing red lines instead of participating in politics would come to an end “Any action against whoever has broken the law and damaged Pakistan its army and
its perception, to prevent them from doing it in the future is the right choice ” he stated FAIZ HAMEED CASE SETS
PRECEDENT: DR FAZAL
Meanwhile Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry termed the recent decision regarding former Lt General Faiz Hameed as historic and said it has made clear the law is equal for everyone Addressing a press conference here Friday he said the decision has further strengthened the process of self-accountability within the
KP CM terms detention of Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi illegal
PTI Secretary General, and Firdous Shamim Naqvi PTI Additional Secretary General on Friday the committee will serve as the party’s highest decision-making forum responsible for overseeing political strategy organizational matters and policy direction The committee will convene at least once a week while its decisions will be implemented through the Central Secretariat and relevant party structures across the country Members of the Political Committee include: Gohar Ali Khan – Chairman PTI; Salman Akram Raja – Secretary General PTI; Firdous Shamim Naqvi – Additional Secretary General PTI; Sheikh Waqas Akram – Secretary Information PTI; Sohail Afridi – Chief Minister KP; Allama Raja Nasir Abbas – Leader of the Opposition in the Senate; Mahmood Khan Achakzai – Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly; Omar Ayub – Outgoing Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly; Shibli Faraz Outgoing Leader of the Opposition in the Senate; Sardar Moeen Qureshi – Opposition in Punjab Assembly; Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar – Outgoing Leader of the Opposition in Punjab Assembly; Sajjad Burki – Secretary Overseas International Chapter; and Provincial President; Chief Organiser Aliya Hamza, Junaid Akbar, Haleem Adil, Dawood Kakar, Secretary Regions AJK and GB Khalid Khursheed and Sardar Qayyum Niazi; Secretary General TTAP Asad Qaiser Chief Whip NA Amir Dogar Coordinator in the Senate for Senate leader of the Oppossition Fawzia Arshad Kanwal Shauzab – President Women Wing; and Dr Lal Chand Malhi were also included in the Political Committee
Naqvi, Iraqi and
SC rules forced DNA tests illegal, a breach of personal dignity
ISLAMABAD S ta f f r e p o r t
The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ruled that compelling an individual to undergo a DNA test amounts to a clear breach of fundamental rights, holding that such forced testing violates personal dignity and cannot be injected into legal proceedings In a significant judgment the apex court set aside the directives of the Lahore High Court and the Special Judge Anti-Corruption Pakpattan, which had required a citizen, Khalid Hameed, to undergo a compulsory DNA test The Court held that forcing a person to take a DNA test in matters such as paternity dis-
putes or alleged tampering with documents constitutes a blatant violation of fundamental rights According to a written judgment authored by Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar DNA testing is a highly sensitive private procedure and can only be mandated in specific criminal cases particularly those involving rape or sexual offenses where the law explicitly requires it The Court observed that no such legal ground existed in the present case The judgment further noted that the private complaint filed by the petitioner was originally related to allegations of forgery and corruption Questions of paternity or lineage were not di-
rectly connected with the case The Supreme Court clarified that crimes such as forgery must be proven through evidence and documentary record, not through DNA testing
Citing Articles 9 and 14 of the Constitution the Court reiterated that personal liberty and privacy are fundamental rights of every citizen Forcing an individual into a medical procedure without consent is unlawful, malicious, and contrary to human dignity The judgment added that raising unnecessary doubts about a person s paternity not only harms the individual but also causes social
hospital Rescue teams continued operations into the evening in an effort to recover those still unaccounted for
ISLAMABAD S ta f f r e p o r t
Pakistan is expected to witness a spell of rain and snowfall this weekend bringing an anticipated end to the unusually dry conditions that have persisted through the early winter months, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department A shallow western disturbance reached the western parts of the country on Friday setting the stage for widespread precipitation from
Skardu Hunza Gilgit Ghanche and Shigar Kashmir, particularly Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh and Haveli, is also likely to receive light to moderate precipitation Light rain and snowfall are expected in parts of the merged districts including Bajaur Mohmand Khyber Orakzai Kurram and Waziristan from December 14 to 15 Balochistan districts such as Quetta, Ziarat, Zhob, Sherani, Chaman Pishin Qilla Abdullah Qilla Saifullah and Noushki may also receive light precipitation Rain, snow forecast to finally end persistent dr y spell across countr y
December 13 to 15 The Met Office said light to moderate rain with thunderstorms is likely across the plains, while hilly regions are forecast to receive snowfall during the system In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa areas including Chitral Dir Swat Shangla Kohistan Malakand Manshera, Abbottabad, Haripur and Bunner are expected to receive rain and snowfall with breaks in between Similar conditions are forecast for districts of Gilgit Baltistan including Diamir Astore Ghizer
