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Profit PM urgeS uNitY, fASter uPlift AS KP–CeNtre teNSioNS deePeN Thursday, 23 October, 2025 | 29 Rabius Sani, 1447
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PREMIER SHEHBAZ MEETS PARTY’S LAWMAKERS FROM KP, REVIEWS PROVINCE’S DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 106 | 8 Pages | Karachi Edition
STRESSES KP’S CENTRAL ROLE IN NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENDA, ASKS AUTHORITIES TO EXPEDITE WELFARE, INFRASTRUCTURE SCHEMES
CALLS FOR ‘SUSTAINED POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT’ TO ENSURE PROVINCIAL STABILITY AND GROWTH ISLAMABAD
governments have grown increasingly tense, particularly over counterterrorism operations and fiscal matters. The PTI, which has governed KP since 2013, has opposed full-scale military operations against militants, arguing that such measures cause civilian displacement in tribal districts. Earlier this week, KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi accused the Centre of pursuing a “flawed policy” that, he claimed, had contributed to the recent resurgence of terrorism in the province. He further alleged that Islamabad had withheld funds allocated under the country’s war on terrorism, along with “other constitutional rights” due to KP. Pakistan has witnessed a sharp uptick in terrorist attacks since November 2022, when the
banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) unilaterally ended its ceasefire with the state and resumed hostilities, targeting security personnel, police, and other law enforcement agencies—particularly in KP and Balochistan. Officials at the meeting reiterated the federal government’s commitment to supporting the province in its development and security challenges while calling for a unified national approach to counterterrorism and stability.
PM COMMENDS INFORMATION SECRETARY FOR DEDICATED SERVICE ON RETIREMENT: Earlier, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif lauded the services of Federal Secretary for Information and Broadcasting
Pakistan slams renewed Israeli strikes in Gaza, urges swift global action ISLAMABAD
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Pakistan on Wednesday strongly condemned Israel’s renewed strikes in Gaza—launched despite a USbacked ceasefire agreement—and called on the international community to take “urgent and effective” measures to halt the violations and protect civilians, according to a Foreign Office press statement. A Foreign Office spokesperson in a statement said Pakistan “strongly condemns the renewed attacks by the Israeli occupying forces in Gaza, resulting in the loss of numerous civilian lives.” It added that such actions “run contrary to the spirit of the peace agreement signed in Sharm El-Sheikh in the presence of leadership from the Muslim and Arab world, the US, Europe, and the UN.” The FO urged the global community to “take urgent and effective measures to end these violations and ensure full implementation of the ceasefire and protection of Palestinian civilians.” According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 87 Palestinians, including women and children, have been killed since the truce came into effect, while two Israeli soldiers were reportedly killed by Palestinian fighters in southern Gaza over the weekend, according to media reports.
More than 100 airstrikes were carried out on Sunday in Rafah and Khan Younis in the south, Jabalia in the north, and parts of central Gaza, the report added. Israel has blamed Hamas for triggering the latest flare-up through an alleged attack on its forces in Rafah, but the group has denied any role in the incident. Reaffirming Pakistan’s “unwavering support” for the Palestinian cause, the statement reiterated Islamabad’s long-standing position on the establishment of “an independent, sovereign, viable and contiguous State of Palestine, based on pre-June 1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.” Pakistan was among eight countries that had earlier worked with former US President Donald Trump’s administration on a peace framework aimed at ending Israeli military operations in Gaza.
POLL SHOWS MAJORITY OF AMERICANS BACK PALESTINIAN STATEHOOD: Meanwhile, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll revealed that most Americans— including 80 percent of Democrats and 41 percent of Republicans—support the recognition of a Palestinian state, underscoring growing public divergence from Trump’s stated opposition to such recognition.
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26th Amendment does not bar full court from hearing cases fixed before CB: Justice Ayesha ISLAMABAD
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RIME MINISTER Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday met lawmakers and political leaders from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to discuss the province’s development priorities and the country’s evolving political situation, amid growing friction between the PTI-led KP government and the Centre over counterterrorism policy and fiscal rights. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the meeting reviewed the “overall political landscape” and progress on ongoing federal development projects in the province. The premier directed the relevant authorities to expedite key infrastructure and welfare initiatives, stressing that “KP remains a key priority in the national agenda.” The discussion, held at the Prime Minister’s Office, focused on federal efforts to promote socio-economic development in KP and enhance coordination between the Centre and provincial stakeholders, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported. The prime minister underscored the “need for sustained political engagement to ensure stability and growth in the province,” reaffirming that national progress required cooperation between all federating units. The meeting comes at a time when relations between the federal and KP
PNS Yarmook nets $972m drug haul in Arabian Sea
Supreme Court’s Justice Ayesha Malik on Wednesday observed that there was no constitutional bar on a full court bench to hear a case already fixed before the Constitutional Bench (CB) under Article 191A, introduced through the 26th Constitutional Amendment. She made the remarks as an eight-member Constitutional Bench resumed hearing more than three dozen petitions challenging the 26th Amendment—a farreaching piece of legislation that altered the apex court’s powers, the tenure of the chief justice, and the procedure for judicial appointments. The case is widely seen as one of the most consequential constitutional challenges since the 18th Amendment. The 26th Amendment was passed by Parliament during an overnight session in October 2024 amid controversy and opposition protests. The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) claimed that seven of its lawmakers had been “abducted” to secure their votes, while the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNPM) alleged its senators were pressured to support the bill. The government maintained that the changes were aimed at “institutional balance” and “democratic oversight.”
AMENDMENT’S KEY PROVISIONS: The amendment curtailed the Supreme Court’s suo motu powers under Article 184(3), set the chief justice’s tenure at three years, and created a Special Parliamentary Committee empowered to select the CJP from among the three most senior judges. It also provided for the establishment of constitutional benches in the superior courts to exclusively hear constitutional matters—a mechanism now at the center of the legal challenge itself. Since October 8, the proceedings have been livestreamed on the Supreme Court’s YouTube channel at the petitioners’ request, drawing widespread public interest.
HEARING RESUMES AMID TECHNICAL GLITCH: Wednesday’s hearing, chaired by Justice Aminuddin Khan, included Justices Ayesha Malik, Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Musarrat Hilali, Naeem Akhtar Afghan, and Shahid Bilal Hassan. The bench resumed arguments after a brief delay caused by an audio issue in the live stream, which was later rectified.
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Ambreen Jan during her farewell call at the Prime Minister’s Office. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar was also present at the meeting, a Prime Minister’s Office news release said. Ambreen Jan is retiring from the civil service today after a distinguished career in public service. The prime minister appreciated her significant contributions to the Government of Pakistan, particularly highlighting her commendable efforts in effectively projecting Pakistan’s narrative at the international level during the Marka-e-Haq. Acknowledging her professionalism and leadership, the Prime Minister extended his best wishes to Ambreen Jan for her future endeavors.
In one of the largest anti-narcotics operations in regional maritime history, Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) Yarmook intercepted two sailboats in the Arabian Sea and seized crystal meth and cocaine worth over $972 million, the Combined Maritime Force (CMF) announced on Wednesday. The major bust took place during Focused Operation Al Masmak, launched on October 16 under the Saudi-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, a unit of the 47-nation CMF that includes the United States and partners committed to maintaining maritime security across more than three million square miles of ocean. According to the CMF statement, PNS Yarmook intercepted two stateless dhow vessels in separate actions within 48 hours last week. On October 18, the first boarding team recovered over two tonnes of crystal methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $822.4 million. Two days later, the ship’s crew boarded another dhow and seized 350 kilogrammes of methamphetamine worth $140 million and 50 kilogrammes of cocaine worth $10 million. The narcotics were brought aboard the ship for testing and later safely disposed of in line with international protocols, the statement said. The CMF did not disclose the vessels’ ports of origin, confirming only that they were “without nationality.”
‘ONE OF CMF’S MOST SUCCESSFUL NARCOTICS SEIZURES’: Royal Saudi Naval Forces Commodore Fahad Aljoiad, commander of CTF 150, hailed the operation as “one of the most successful narcotics seizures for CMF,” saying it demonstrated “the strength of multinational collaboration and the professionalism of partner navies.”
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