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PM HOPEFUL ABOUT ‘ENCOURAGING’ OUTCOME FROM TRUMP’S GAZA PEACE PLAN Monday, 29 September, 2025 | 5 Rabius Sani, 1447
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 82 | 8 Pages | Lahore Edition
PREMIER SHEHBAZ SAYS PAKISTAN ADVANCING DIPLOMATICALLY, ECONOMICALLY, AND MILITARILY THROUGH COORDINATED EFFORTS DESCRIBES BILATERAL MEETING WITH TRUMP AS ‘PRODUCTIVE’ AND ‘CONSTRUCTIVE,’ SAYING IT WOULD HELP STRENGTHEN PAKISTAN-US TIES
HIGHLIGHTS NEW YORK ENGAGEMENTS, SAYING UNGA SPEECH ECHOED PAKISTANIS SENTIMENTS WITH A STRONG FOCUS ON IIOJ&K AND GAZA
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LONDON/ISLAMABAD Staff report
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday voiced optimism over “encouraging” outcomes from US President Donald Trump’s recent meeting with Muslim leaders in Washington, where the
American president unveiled his plan to end Israel’s invasion of Gaza. “We fully participated in the meeting on Gaza, and God willing, its encouraging results will come out soon,” the premier said while addressing overseas Pakistanis at the High Commission in London, flanked by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. He added that Pakistan was part of Trump-led efforts to bring peace
PM urges unity to build a more open, transparent, and knowledge-based society ISLAMABAD
Staff report
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has appealed to all stakeholders including government institutions, civil society, media and tech platforms to join hands to build a more open, transparent, and knowledge-based society. In a message on International Day for Universal Access to Information being observed on Sunday, he reaffirmed government’s commitment to fundamental right of every citizen to seek, receive and impart information. The Prime Minister said free flow of information strengthens governance, promotes social inclusion, and builds trust
between the state and its people. He said access to information is a democratic right and a powerful tool for transparency, accountability and empowerment of people. He said countries can only tread on the path of peace, justice and sustainable development through informed societies. The Prime Minister mentioned the steps taken by Pakistan to guarantee the right to information of citizens through legislative and institutional reforms. He vowed to continue to move forward with determination to ensure that all sections of society, especially women, youth and marginalized groups, benefit from equal access to information.
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LONDON
to Palestine and end the suffering of Gazans under Israeli aggression since October 2023. The high-level meeting, held on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly in New York, brought together leaders from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Turkiye, and Indonesia. Trump, opening consultations, said: “We have to get the hostages back… This is the group that can do it,” while stressing the urgency of ending the conflict. According to reports by Israel’s Channel 12 and US-based Axios, Trump’s plan envisages an immediate ceasefire, release of hostages (both alive and deceased), phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza under a governance framework excluding Hamas but incorporating the Palestinian Authority, deployment of Arab and Muslim peacekeepers, and reconstruction supported by regional contributors. These details were reportedly shared with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, though Israel was not involved in drafting the plan. Dar, who also attended the Washington meeting, expressed similar hope for positive outcomes, saying follow-up consultations had continued until last night. “Once these results materialise, we will
Shama Junejo row deepens as she asserts PM Shehbaz included her in UNGA delegation ISLAMABAD
Staff report
The controversy over columnist and social media activist Shama Junejo’s presence at Pakistan’s United Nations engagements this week intensified on Sunday after she claimed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had formally included her in the delegation as an adviser — contradicting denials by the Foreign Office (FO) and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. The issue first erupted when photos from Asif’s speech at a UN Security Council (UNSC) session on artificial intelligence (AI) showed Junejo seated in the background. Screenshots of her past social media posts expressing support for Israel quickly resurfaced, sparking criticism that her stance clashed with Pakistan’s longstanding proPalestine position. As the backlash mounted, Asif publicly distanced himself from her presence, stating on X that “only the Foreign Office can explain.” The FO soon clarified that Junejo was not part of Pakistan’s accredited UNGA delegation, further adding that her seating behind the defence minister had no official approval. However, Junejo directly chal-
lenged this version on Sunday. In a detailed post on X, she asserted that she had been working with the prime minister’s team “for months,” contributing policy briefs during the Pakistan–India escalation, and claimed responsibility for drafting Shehbaz Sharif’s UNGA speech. She further alleged that the premier personally included her as an adviser in the UN delegation and that she was issued a security pass. “I travelled with the PM, stayed in the same hotel, joined high-level meetings, and even accompanied him during sessions with leaders like Bill Gates,” she wrote. She also shared a picture with Asif and Pakistan Crypto Council CEO Bilal Bin Saqib as well as a copy of her UN pass. Junejo said she sat with Asif at the AI session, worked on drafts with colleagues, and later returned to the hotel with him in the same car. “His current statements are disturbing — the prime minister’s authority has been challenged, not mine,” she added, warning of legal action if attempts were made to malign her integrity. FO DISTANCES ITSELF, MINISTER PASSES THE BUCK When the matter surfaced, Asif insisted the FO was responsible, saying: “Who is this woman? Why is
she with the delegation, and why was she seated behind me? Only the FO can answer.” The FO then stated: “She was not listed in the official letter of credence for Pakistan’s UNGA delegation signed by the deputy PM and foreign minister.” According to reports, Junejo joined the PM’s entourage from London and, once in New York, was facilitated through a note verbale issued at the behest of a senior political leader. Though not officially accredited, this allowed her access to meetings, including the UNSC debate. CLARIFIES STANCE ON ISRAEL Junejo also defended herself against allegations of being “proIsrael,” saying the perception stemmed from a 2018 post during the Abraham Accords. “Since 2023, I have been writing almost daily against Israel’s atrocities in Gaza,” she insisted, citing posts condemning Prime Minister Netanyahu and referencing Pakistan’s walkout during his UNGA speech. She further clarified reports about her carrying “secret files,” saying these were personal drafts rescued during a fire incident in her London hotel, and “not state documents.”
Taliban govt hails ‘quadripartite opposition’ to foreign bases in Afghanistan KABUL/ISLAMABAD
Staff CorreSpondent
Afghanistan’s Taliban government on Sunday welcomed the joint stance of Russia, China, Iran and Pakistan against the establishment of foreign military bases in the war-torn country, calling it a significant step toward safeguarding regional peace and stability. The four countries had reaffirmed their position in a joint statement issued after their foreign ministers met on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York earlier this week. Stressing the need to respect Afghanistan’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, they asserted that the re-establishment of foreign military bases on Afghan soil would be “not conducive to regional peace and security.” Deputy spokesperson for the Taliban government, Hamdullah Fitrat, said Kabul welcomed the position of the regional powers, underscoring that “Afghanistan will not allow its territory to be used against other countries, nor permit armed groups to operate from its soil.” Though the joint statement avoided naming any specific country, it came in the wake of remarks by US President Donald Trump, who revealed that Washington was attempting to regain control of the Bagram air base in Afghanistan. Once the epicenter of US-led military operations during the two-
Focus now on creating opportunities to benefit public as economy stabilizes: Dar
decade war, Bagram was vacated in July 2021 following the complete withdrawal of American and NATO troops. Trump, speaking earlier in the UK, had threatened Afghanistan with “unspecified consequences” if Kabul resisted US efforts to retake the facility. The Taliban authorities rejected the demand outright, maintaining that Afghanistan’s sovereignty was non-negotiable. CONCERNS OVER TERRORISM In their statement, Russia, China, Iran and Pakistan also pressed the Taliban administration to take “effective, concrete and verifiable actions” to honor international obligations in fighting terrorism. The four nations urged Kabul to dismantle terrorist training camps and infrastructure, and to prevent militant groups from fundraising, acquiring weapons, or collaborating with foreign fighters. The joint communiqué expressed “deep concern” about terrorist organisations still based in Afghanistan. These included ISIL (Daesh), Al Qaeda, the Eastern Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Jaish ul Adl, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), and the Majeed Brigade. It warned that their continued presence posed a “serious threat to regional and global security.”
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share them with the nation,” he remarked. Earlier, PM Shehbaz reflected on his engagements in New York, where he led Pakistan’s delegation at the UNGA’s 80th session. He said his speech at the Assembly echoed the sentiments of Pakistanis, with a strong focus on Indian-occupied Kashmir and the plight of Gaza. The premier also described his bilateral meeting with Trump in Washington as “productive” and “constructive,” adding that it was held in a conducive environment and would help strengthen Pakistan-US ties. Highlighting teamwork as the foundation of development, PM Shehbaz said Pakistan was advancing diplomatically, economically, and militarily through coordinated efforts. He praised the armed forces for securing victory against adversaries and reiterated that the government was committed to peace and stability. The prime minister lauded overseas Pakistanis as a valuable national asset contributing to the country’s progress. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, addressing the gathering, said the world had acknowledged Pakistan’s economic strides. He added that Shehbaz Sharif had effectively highlighted key issues, including Kashmir and Gaza, during the UNGA session and related engagements.
Staff report
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar on Sunday said that Pakistan’s government has shifted its primary focus towards prosperity and public welfare, as the country moves from a phase of economic crisis to visible stability. “Pakistan has successfully averted the looming threat of default and that now the national economy was showing “clear and encouraging signs of improvement…. The government’s efforts are now centred on creating opportunities that directly benefit the people,” Deputy PM Dar declared while speaking to media representatives in the London on Sunday. The foreign minister underscored Pakistan’s active role in international diplomacy, noting that Islamabad had consistently raised its voice for the just causes of Kashmir and Palestine at every international forum. He pointed to strengthened cooperation with countries such as Türkiye and Indonesia, and said Pakistan’s global standing had improved due to its constructive and more proactive role in world affairs. Dar also highlighted economic partnerships, revealing that Pakistan had expanded its relations with several countries, including the United States. He cited the recent signing of a $500 million agreement in the mines and minerals sector as evidence of growing foreign interest in Pakistan’s economic potential. The deputy prime minister described Pakistan’s new defence agreement with Saudi Arabia as a “historic development,” reaffirming Islamabad’s longstanding and unwavering commitment to the protection of the Haramain Sharifain. He said Saudi Arabia had always stood by Pakistan in testing times, and reiterated Pakistan’s respect for the sovereignty and dignity of all nations.
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