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DAR TELLS NA 20-POINT GAZA PLAN WAS ‘NOT PAKISTAN’S’ BUT A MODIFIED DRAFT
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Saturday, 4 October, 2025 | 10 Rabius Sani, 1447
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DEPUTY PM CLARIFIES ISLAMABAD ALONG WITH SEVEN OTHER MUSLIM COUNTRIES HAD SUBMITTED AMENDMENTS THAT WERE OVERLOOKED
CAUTIONS THERE IS ‘NO ROOM FOR POLITICKING’ ON THE MATTER, EMPHASISING PRIORITY WAS TO STOP ISRAEL’S BOMBARDMENT OF GAZA
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STRESSES PAKISTAN’S STANCE ON PALESTINE WAS UNCHANGED SINCE QUAID-I-AZAM MOHAMMAD ALI JINNAH’S TIME
Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 87 | 8 Pages | Karachi Edition
ASSURES DIFFERENCES WITH COALITION PARTNER, PPP, WOULD BE SETTLED SOON
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Asad Qaiser demands PM’s apology over Gaza Plan ISLAMABAD
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ISLAMABAD
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Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told the National Assembly on Friday that the 20-point Gaza peace plan unveiled by US President Donald Trump was “not Pakistan’s draft” but a modified version, clarifying that Islamabad along with seven other Muslim countries had submitted amendments that were overlooked. He, however, cautioned that there was “no room for politicking” on the matter, emphasising that the priority was to stop Israel’s bombardment of Gaza.
Former National Assembly speaker and senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser on Friday demanded that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif apologise to the nation, accusing him of “hurting public sentiments” by prematurely welcoming US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace proposal before the will of the Palestinian people was incorporated into the process. Speaking on the floor of the lower house, Qaiser warned that “no decision would be acceptable until the will of the Palestinians is made part of the agreement,” stressing that any peace
Recounting the diplomatic process on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly session, Dar said eight Muslim and Arab countries — Jordan, UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt — had engaged Trump in New York to push for a workable ceasefire. “I made it clear that the 20 points President Trump made public are not ours. Changes were made to our draft. I have the record,” Dar asserted, noting that the group had prepared and submitted a joint counter-draft, which was only partially accommodated. He revealed that the US side handed the ministers a 20-point proposal, which
SHC suspends KU notification cancelling Justice Jahangiri’s law degree KARACHI
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The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday suspended a notification issued by the University of Karachi (KU) that had cancelled the law degree of Islamabad High Court (IHC) judge Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri. The interim relief came during the hearing of a petition filed by Justice Jahangiri earlier this week, challenging the decisions of KU’s Unfair Means Committee (UMC) and Syndicate, which had annulled his degree in August last year. During Friday’s hearing, KU’s registrar, the Sindh advocate general and other respondents appeared before the bench but sought more time to file their replies, saying they had received notices in the case only a day earlier. Justice Iqbal Kalhoro, heading the bench, questioned the request: “We are ready to grant you time, but what if any action is taken against the petitioner during this period? If we adjourn today and action is taken tomorrow, who will take responsibility?” He further asked whether KU had issued any notice to Justice Jahangiri before cancelling his degree, stressing that since the issue was being raised 30–35 years after the degree was awarded, the petitioner should have been formally notified. “We are not saying that action cannot be taken, because the law allows it,” Justice Kalhoro observed. “But how can we put someone’s honour at stake? A person’s life-long career is at stake here.” The court adjourned proceedings until October 24, directing the respondents to submit detailed replies. The petition In his plea, Justice Jahangiri termed the cancellation of his LLB degree “illegal and mala fide”, alleging that it was part of a campaign against his judicial independence. He claimed that after attempts to remove him through the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) failed, a “new strategy” was adopted by misusing official processes, including KU’s committees.
the group decided to amend within the given framework. “We exchanged hard copies in hotel rooms … and finalised a counter draft,” he said, adding that the urgent points proposed by the eight countries were acknowledged but “some things still required further engagement”. Quoting the Saudi foreign minister, Dar said the countries ultimately
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accord would remain incomplete without recognition of an independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds (Jerusalem) as its capital. Earlier in the day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had clarified that the 20-point Gaza peace plan announced by Trump was “not ours,” emphasising that amendments jointly proposed by eight Muslim countries had yet to be incorporated. He also underlined that there was no room for politicking on the issue. The controversy emerged after Shehbaz initially welcomed the peace framework on social media following Trump’s joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on September 29.
chose to back Trump’s plan in order to halt bloodshed. DPM Dar stressed that Pakistan’s stance on Palestine was unchanged since Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s time, reiterating support for a sovereign Palestinian state with Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Friday night announced that the final round of negotiations with the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) had begun and an agreement was expected to be signed soon, raising hopes for an amicable end to the unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). The federal minister, part of the government’s delegation in Muzaffarabad, took to X (formerly Twitter) to share that “matters between the two sides have been settled” and that “the final agreement is expected to be signed soon [and]
the final round of negotiations is underway”. He added, “Public interests and peace are our priority.” Talks between the JAAC, the AJK government and federal ministers had earlier broken down over issues related to elite privileges and reserved seats for refugees, triggering rival protests and violent clashes. What began as a largely peaceful movement in AJK turned bloody after confrontations between protesters and law enforcers, leaving at least 10 people dead and scores critically injured. Fresh talks, cautious optimism A fresh round of talks was held on Thursday, followed by another session on Friday. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who is
LAHORE
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Continued on Page 03
Talks with JAAC in final stage, agreement expected soon to end AJK unrest: Tariq Fazal Ch ISLAMABAD/MUZAFFARABAD
‘Will Never Apologise’: Maryam Nawaz stands firm amid rift with PPP
also part of the negotiating team, said the government was “very close” to reaching an agreement with the JAAC. Speaking on a TV channel, Iqbal said members of the delegation, representing both the PML-N and PPP, had achieved near consensus with the civil society-led JAAC. “Both sides are currently studying the proposal,” he said, expressing optimism that the agreement would be signed shortly. Calling it “a victory for Pakistan and AJK,” the planning minister said attempts to sow discord had been defeated. He also credited the JAAC leadership for agreeing to dialogue.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Friday categorically said she would “never apologise” for her recent remarks that caused a rift between her party, the PML-N, and its coalition partner, the PPP, insisting her statements were a defense of Punjab’s people and accusing the PPP of politicising the province’s suffering during devastating floods. The controversy erupted when the PPP criticised Punjab’s handling of flood relief, prompting a sharp rebuttal from Maryam, who told the party to “keep its advice to itself.” The war of words quickly expanded to the longstanding issue of water rights on the Indus River. In response, PPP lawmakers staged walkouts from both the National Assembly and Senate. Although senior leaders from both parties met in Islamabad on Wednesday to cool tempers — with PPP urging Maryam to “rethink her tone” — the Punjab CM doubled down at the launch of the second phase of electric buses in Lahore. “When floods swept through Punjab, the people of one province not only wrongly criticised the Punjab government but rubbed salt into the wound,” Maryam said. “If there is an issue in any province, do we hold press conferences to spread lies? No — we help them.” She added that she had personally called Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, despite political differences, to offer assistance during the floods. “Those in other provinces are my brothers and sisters. Whenever a CM asks me for help with technology or a project, I immediately send my team. To say I celebrate anyone’s suffering is false and deeply upsetting.” Turning to PPP’s top leadership, she said: “I want to tell [President] Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal [BhuttoZardari] that I was hurt when Punjab was in distress. Yet Bilawal held three press conferences, mocking Punjab and spreading lies. I stayed quiet because I was busy serving my people, but if you talk, I will respond.” CM Maryam also rejected criticism over refusing to draw on the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) database for compensation, explaining: “I did not want general poverty data, but accurate data on flood victims. That’s why I deployed 10,000 people for door-to-door surveys.” On the PPP’s parliamentary walkouts, she asked: “Why should I apologise? The spokesperson who politicised Punjab’s suffering must apologise. Maryam Nawaz Sharif will never apologise when it comes to defending her people’s dignity.” The chief minister then addressed the contentious canals project, which Sindh had opposed, saying she had already taken the matter to the Council of Common Interests (CCI). “Punjab’s farmers have the right to that water. Politicising this issue is unjust,” she stressed. The Punjab chief minister also distanced herself from controversial remarks made by YouTuber Rizwan Razi (Razi Dada) against Sindh. “He said something inappropriate — I cannot endorse it. He later apologised unconditionally before a Senate committee, and forgiveness should have followed. Yet the PPP mocked him. I stayed silent then, but I will not allow Punjab’s people to be insulted again.”
‘IHC Judges Transfer’: Dissenting note says process done in ‘unnecessary haste not in public interest’ ISLAMABAD
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The Supreme Court’s Justices Naeem Akhter Afghan and Shakeel Ahmed on Friday issued a detailed dissenting note on the transfer of three judges to the Islamabad High Court (IHC), declaring that the process was carried out in “unnecessary haste,” suffered from “malice in law and facts,” and dealt a “serious blow” to judicial independence. In June, a five-member SC bench had ruled 3-2 in favour of the February transfers, holding that there was nothing unconstitutional about them. However, Justices Afghan and Shakeel dissented, earlier
issuing a short order that the transfers violated Articles 2A, 4 and 25 of the Constitution by undermining due process, equality and the independence of the judiciary. The detailed dissenting note, released on Friday, shed light on the alleged procedural flaws and motives behind the move. Justice Afghan pointed out that the transfer process for Lahore High Court’s Justice Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Sindh High Court’s Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro was initiated on January 28 and completed by February 1 — in just five days. Likewise, Balochistan High Court’s Justice Muhammad Asif was asked for consent by the law ministry on January 31, with his acceptance given the same day, raising
questions over transparency. “The process for transfer of three particular judges to IHC was initiated and completed by MoLJ (Ministry of Law and Justice) with unnecessary haste not in the public interest but, prima facie, with the motive to deprive the then Senior Puisne Judge of IHC (Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani) of his consideration/appointment as Chief Justice IHC,” the dissent noted. It further alleged that the transfers were designed to “take over control of the affairs of IHC and District Judiciary of ICT from the sitting judges of IHC and to hand over the same to the transferee judges and additional judges under Justice Sarfraz Dogar as Senior Puisne Judge, Acting CJ IHC and later as CJ IHC.”
PM vows safe return of flotilla detainees, reaffirms unwavering support for Palestine ISLAMABAD
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday reaffirmed that the government was actively pursuing diplomatic channels for the safe return of Pakistanis detained by Israeli forces from the Global Sumud Flotilla, particularly former Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan, while stressing that Pakistan’s stance on the Palestine issue remains “firm, unambiguous, and unwavering.” The premier was speaking during a telephonic conversation with Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on the situation in the Middle East and efforts for a ceasefire in Palestine. He said Pakistan was in constant contact with friendly countries and international organisations to secure the release and safe repatriation of its citizens. PM Shehbaz underscored that Pakistan
does not recognise Israel nor maintains diplomatic relations with it. “The Pakistanis detained from the Global Sumud Flotilla will be safely brought back home at the earliest,” he assured. The Prime Minister also called for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza to end what he described as the “ongoing massacre of innocent Palestinians.” He emphasised that Pakistan has always supported the Palestinian cause at every international forum and will continue to advocate for their rights. Reiterating Islamabad’s longstanding position, he said Pakistan firmly backs the establishment of a sovereign and independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. The premier highlighted that eight Muslim countries were actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to bring about a ceasefire, expressing hope that these efforts would “soon bear fruit,
bringing peace and realising the long-standing dream of an independent Palestine.” During the discussion, the prime minister also drew attention to Pakistan’s consistent record of humanitarian support for Palestinians. He said Islamabad had raised its voice against Israel’s actions at the United Nations and other forums, urging the international community to act decisively. The conversation also touched upon the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. The Prime Minister assured the JI chief that the federal government would continue to play its role in highlighting the plight of Kashmiris and promoting peace in the region. Reiterating Pakistan’s dual commitment, Premier Shehbaz said the government would “stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the oppressed people of Palestine and Kashmir,” and continue efforts for their just causes at diplomatic, political, and humanitarian levels.
PM vows to make Pakistan regional investment hub, calls private sector key partner ISLAMABAD
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Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday reaffirmed that stabilizing Pakistan’s economy on a strong and sustainable foundation remained the government’s top priority, underscoring that the private sector’s active participation in economic planning and investment initiatives was essential for future growth. Chairing a high-level meeting in Islamabad shortly after his return from visits to the United States and the United Kingdom, the premier reviewed the country’s overall
economic situation, ongoing and proposed development projects, and measures to boost foreign direct investment (FDI). He directed the concerned ministries and institutions to adopt a proactive approach and ensure the provision of all necessary facilities to international investors, stressing that Pakistan must position itself as an attractive hub for trade and investment in the region. “The relevant ministries and institutions must act decisively and efficiently,” the prime minister said, adding: “The confidence of international investors in Pakistan reflects the positive trajectory of our economy, and this momentum must be sustained through policy continuity and transparency.”