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AJK GOVT, CENTRE INVITE JAAC TO RESUME ‘STALLED TALKS’ AS 9 KILLED, 220 INJURED AMID VIOLENT AJK PROTESTS Thursday, 2 October, 2025 | 8 Rabius Sani, 1447
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PM HAQ, TARIQ FAZAL CH URGE RESUMPTION OF TALKS, CLAIMING 90PC OF JAAC’S 38 DEMANDS ACCEPTED
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SAY DEADLOCK REMAINS OVER REFUGEE SEATS, CABINET SIZE, APPEALING FOR PEACE AND WARNING AGAINST FAKE NEWS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
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SIX CIVILIANS AND THREE POLICEMEN KILLED, OVER 220 INJURED AMID VIOLENT PROTESTS IN AJK
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ISLAMABAD/MUZAFFARABAD
NEELUM BRIDGE VIOLENCE, LAL CHOWK RALLIES ESCALATE CRISIS AS STRIKES PARALYSE AJK
the only “civilized” way forward. “This is a request to start from where the talks broke down,” Haq said. “Whenever and wherever the JAAC wants to talk, the state government is ready—whether in Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, or Mirpur.” The unrest escalated after an attack in Dhir Kot early in the day, when armed JAAC activists allegedly opened fire on police, killing three officers—Constables Khurshid and Jameel of Bagh and Constable Tahir Rafi of Muzaffarabad—and injuring nine others. Families of the slain officers have demanded strict accounta-
President Zardari, PM Shehbaz extend greetings to China on 76th National Day
ISLAMABAD
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday conveyed warm greetings to the government and people of China on the country’s 76th National Day, marking the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949. In his message, President Zardari said the people of Pakistan stand alongside their Chinese counterparts in celebrating a historic journey of progress, national unity, and modern development. He praised the leadership of President Xi Jinping, crediting his vision for China’s advances in innovation, sustainable growth, and international engagement. The president described Pakistan-China relations as “timetested and multifaceted,” underlining that his recent visits to Beijing had further cemented cooperation in trade, infrastructure, and strategic security. He expressed particular interest in deepening people-to-people ties in science, technology, education, and culture, terming them the foundation of the enduring partnership. Extending his best wishes for China’s continued success, he reaffirmed the slogan: “Long live the Pakistan-China friendship.” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also sent his felicitations, stressing that Pakistan takes pride in its “eternal and unbreakable” bond with China. In his statement, the prime minister said that the National Day serves not only as a celebration of China’s achievements but also as recognition of its contributions to global peace and development.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday raised fundamental questions about the legality of imposing a “super tax” on income that is already subject to taxation, as a fivemember constitutional bench continued hearings on challenges to the levy first introduced by the Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PML-N) government in 2015. The bench, headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan, grilled petitioners’ counsel Dr Farogh Naseem over whether such a surcharge could be justified without amounting to double taxation. “How can a super tax be imposed on a system that is already subject to taxation?” asked Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, echoing a concern central to the petitions before the court.
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BENCH’S OBSERVATIONS: The judges also examined deductions from provident funds, warning of the impact on ordinary citizens. Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi cautioned that taxing Rs100 today could deprive retirees of Rs550 decades later. The bench further questioned how an “advance super tax” could be calculated when future profits were unknown. The hearing was adjourned until Thursday, with Naseem set to continue his arguments. Justice Aminuddin Khan stressed the urgency of concluding the matter before October 7, when hearings on challenges to the 26th Constitutional Amendment are scheduled. BACKGROUND ON SUPER TAX: The super tax, first introduced in 2015 and extended in successive budgets, is an additional levy targeting high-earning individuals, companies, and major industries. In the 2022–23 federal budget, the government imposed rates of up to 10% on sectors including cement, steel, sugar, oil and gas, fertiliser, banking, and textiles, citing the need for revenue to stabilise the economy. Petitions against the levy have been filed by individuals and business groups, with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) defending Parliament’s authority to impose it. Earlier this year, the Lahore High Court upheld the legality of the tax under Section 4C, but reduced the rate from 10% to 4% for 16 sectors while providing partial relief to petitioners. At previous hearings, the apex court has voiced concern that the levy burdens consumers. “Whether it is a cement bag or an LNG shipment, the entire burden comes down on the common man,” observed Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar on September 25.
cluding advanced Rafale aircraft, while India acknowledged losses without disclosing details, APP added.
BROADER CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS: The bench has also weighed whether Parliament exceeded its powers by altering Section 14 of the Finance Act and by extending the super tax beyond its original scope. Counsel for FBR, Hafiz Ehsan Khokhar, argued that while purposes had shifted, the substance of the levy remained intact. He rejected claims of legislative overreach, citing precedents such as the Article 63-A case.
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Trump lauds Pakistan’s leadership for crediting him with stopping war with India WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD app
Staff RepoRt
ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
PETITIONERS’ STANCE: Dr. Naseem argued that once income is assessed, additional taxation such as a surcharge may apply — but insisted that Section 4C of the Income Tax Ordinance, which introduced the super tax in 2022, did not clearly define it as an “additional” levy. He maintained that taxpayers had the option of paying either under Section 4 (general income tax) or Section 4C (super tax), adding: “It is a general principle that where two identical provisions exist, the taxpayer may choose the one more favourable.” The judge, however, pressed further: “Where does this option come from?” Naseem likened it to criminal law, where courts apply the section with the lesser punishment when two provisions overlap. “Double taxation cannot be imposed,” he said, quipping in response to a query about his political background: “I did not draft Section 4C.”
bility for the attackers. Meanwhile, the AJK government confirmed that protests have resulted in significant disruption, including a three-day shutter-down strike and communications blackout, paralyzing life across major districts. Internet and cellular networks were suspended in large parts of Muzaffarabad and surrounding areas, while roads and markets remained closed. PM Haq, while expressing grief over the killings of policemen and civilians, said that violent tactics were unaccept-
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed credit for averting a full-scale war between Pakistan and India earlier this year, saying his intervention prevented “millions of deaths” and earned him rare praise from Pakistan’s top leadership, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported on Wednesday. “India and Pakistan were going at it. I called them both… They had just shot down seven planes… I said, if you do this, there’s not going to be any trade, and I stopped the war. It was raging for four days,” Trump told American military commanders during a visit to Quantico, Virginia, near Washington, D.C, the APP said. Trump said he used the leverage of US trade to halt the May 7–10 conflict, which he described as “one of the largest aerial combats in modern warfare.” Pakistan claimed to have shot down six Indian fighter jets, in-
SC questions legality of super tax, asks if levy amounts to double taxation
able. “There are nationalists and violent elements among you. Violence and brandishing sticks are not right in any way. Nothing will be achieved through chaos,” he remarked, also pointing out that even schools had been attacked, including one in Plak. Federal Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry insisted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was personally overseeing the situation and had made it his “duty” to resolve the crisis. “We accepted 90 percent of their demands, and federal ministers guaranteed implementation. An agreement was even drafted and amended according to JAAC’s satisfaction,” he said. He clarified that only two points remain unresolved—abolition of 12 legislative seats reserved for refugees from Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and a reduction in the number of ministers. “Both matters fall under the authority of the Legislative Assembly,” he explained. The JAAC had earlier presented a 38point charter of demands, including an end to perks for ruling elites, royalties for hydel power projects, and electoral reforms.
Staff RepoRt
ZAD Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq and Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Wednesday urged the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) to return to the negotiating table, asserting that 90 percent of its demands had already been accepted amid violent protests in the region that left six civilians and three police personnel dead, while more than 220 people—including 172 policemen—were injured. According to an official statement issued by the AJK government, 12 police personnel remain in critical condition, and 50 civilians were also wounded amid the spiralling protests, which began as a peaceful movement but descended into violent confrontations. Authorities have appealed to the public to remain calm, avoid violence, and disregard false information circulating on social media. At a joint press conference at Kashmir House in Islamabad, AJK PM Haq and Federal Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry emphasized that dialogue was
Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 85 | 8 Pages | Lahore Edition
13 ‘India-sponsored’ terrorists killed, 4 disguised as women arrested in Balochistan IBOs: ISPR RAWALPINDI
Staff RepoRt
Thirteen terrorists belonging to Indian proxies, “Fitna al-Khwarij and Fitna al-Hindustan,” were killed, and four terrorists were apprehended trying to flee cowardly by disguising themselves in women’s attire in three separate intelligence-based operations (IBOs) conducted in different areas of Balochistan, according to the military’s media wing on Wednesday. In a statement the Inter-Services Public Relations
(ISPR) said the IBOs were carried out on 30 September and 01 October 2025 in the Quetta, Kech, and Khuzdar districts. The ISPR said, “An intelligence-based operation (IBO) was conducted in the outskirts of Quetta on the reported presence of Khwarij of Fitna al Khwarij. During the conduct of the operation, our own troops effectively engaged the Khwarij location, and after an intense fire exchange, 10 Indian-sponsored Khwarij were sent to hell.” “In another intelligence-based operation (IBO) conducted in Kech District, a terrorist hideout was busted,
and three Indian-sponsored terrorists, Fitna al-Hindustan, were successfully neutralized. A large quantity of weapons, ammunition, and explosives was recovered. The slain militants were actively involved in a number of terrorist activities,” the ISPR added. “On 01 October 2025, security forces conducted yet another intelligence-based operation in Khuzdar District of Balochistan on the reported presence of terrorists belonging to the Indian proxy, Fitna al-Hindustan.”
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FINANCE MINISTER UNVEILS 11PC TAX-TO-GDP GOAL, SETS UP TAX POLICY BOARD AS SENATORS SLAM FBR PRACTICES PROFIT
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Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has assured that Pakistan will meet its commitments under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme without resorting to new taxes, stressing that reforms and dispute resolution will drive revenue growth. Briefing reporters on Wednesday, the minister said the government is determined to raise the tax-to-GDP ratio to 11 per cent during the current fiscal year, in line with IMF targets. He emphasised that revenue shortfalls would be addressed through alternative measures, including resolution of tax
disputes pending in courts, rather than imposing additional levies. “The revenue shortfall will not be met through new taxes,” Aurangzeb said, adding that discussions with the IMF remain constructive and positive. Aurangzeb also pointed to signs of improving economic stability, citing the repayment of a $500 million Eurobond and plans to issue a Panda Bond by the end of November. Earlier, while briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Finance, Aurangzeb confirmed that the upcoming federal budget would no longer be drafted by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). Instead, the newly established Tax Policy Board under the Min-
istry of Finance will take charge of policy formulation, while the FBR will focus solely on tax collection. The minister said the board will function year-round to ensure continuous consultations, unlike the past practice of hurried budget talks weeks before presentation. An advisory body comprising experts and private sector representatives will also be created to assist the Tax Policy Board, though its recommendations will not be binding. Committee members welcomed this separation of tax policy from the FBR, calling it a long-overdue reform.
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