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PM SHEHBAZ PRAISES TRUMP AS ‘MAN OF PEACE’ FOR ROLE IN GAZA CEASEFIRE DEAL
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Tuesday, 14 October, 2025 | 20 Rabius Sani, 1447
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TRUMP THANKS PM AND ‘FAVOURITE’ FIELD MARSHAL ASIM MUNIR FOR GAZA PEACE EFFORTS
MEETS PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT, REAFFIRMS PAKISTAN’S UNWAVERING SUPPORT FOR PALESTINIAN CAUSE
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PM REAFFIRMS PAKISTAN’S SUPPORT FOR PALESTINE IN HIGH-LEVEL MEETINGS AT SHARM EL-SHEIKH PEACE SUMMIT HOLDS A SERIES OF KEY MEETINGS WITH WORLD LEADERS ON THE SIDELINES OF THE SUMMIT
EMPHASIZES URGENT NEED FOR COORDINATED INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO RESTORE PEACE IN THE REGION
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SHARM EL-SHEIKH Staff report
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday praised US President Donald Trump for his “relentless and untiring” efforts to end global conflicts, including the war in Gaza. Addressing a press conference in Sharm el-Sheikh following the signing of the Gaza peace agreement, the premier said that the world was witnessing “one of the greatest days in contemporary history” as peace had been achieved after months of tireless diplomatic efforts led by President Trump. He described Trump as “a genuine man of peace” who worked relentlessly to make the world “a place to live with peace and prosperity.” The prime minister said Pakistan had earlier nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his “outstanding and extraordinary contributions” in halting a potential war between India and Pakistan and securing a ceasefire between the two nuclear-armed nations. “Today, again, I would like to nominate this great president for the Nobel Peace Prize because I genuinely feel that he’s the most deserving candidate,” Shehbaz said. “He has brought peace not
only to South Asia, saving millions of lives, but also to the Middle East through his efforts in Gaza.” United States President Donald Trump also thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and “my favourite” Field Marshal Asim Munir for their efforts in achieving peace in Gaza, among many other world leaders. Trump was addressing a ceremony following the signing of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas at the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit in Egypt. He also invited PM Shehbaz to deliver a special address at the cere-
China to continue playing constructive role in improving Pakistan, Afghanistan relations: Foreign ministry BEIJING
Staff CorreSpondent
China is concerned about recent border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan and has asked the two countries to protect their nationals and investments in the region, Beijing’s foreign ministry said on Monday. Intense border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan started late on Saturday night and continued into Sunday morning. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that 23 Pakistani troops were martyred and 200 Taliban and affiliated terrorists were killed when Islamabad responded to aggression by Kabul. Afghanistan claimed it carried out the attack as a “retaliatory” measure, accusing Islamabad of conducting air strikes in its territory earlier this week. For its part, Islamabad has not confirmed whether it was behind the air strikes but maintains that Kabul should “stop harbouring the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan on its soil”. In response to Islamabad’s repeated calls to bar terrorists from using its territory for cross-border attacks, Afghanistan denies the allegation of allowing terrorist outfits to use its soil. Meanwhile, China shares a border with Afghanistan and Pakistan in its western region and has sought to play a mediating role in calming hostilities between the two sides. “China is willing to continue to play a constructive role in improving and developing Pakistan-Afghanistan relations,” foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said during a regular press briefing. Beijing hopes that Kabul and Islamabad will “remain calm and restrained and persist in properly resolving each other’s concerns through dialogue and consultation to avoid escalation of conflicts,” Lin said.
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mony. Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a series of important meetings with world leaders on the sidelines of the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit, reiterating Pakistan’s firm support for peace in the region and solidarity with the people of Palestine. In a significant trilateral interaction, Prime Minister Sharif met with President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia, where all three leaders expressed satisfaction over the recent ceasefire in Gaza. The meeting marked a rare moment
of convergence between the two Caucasus nations and underscored the broader international commitment to de-escalation in the Middle East. The Prime Minister also held bilateral discussions with prominent global leaders, including King Abdullah II of Jordan, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, President Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. During these meetings, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the urgent need for coordinated international efforts to restore peace in the region. He highlighted Pakistan’s consistent stance on the Palestinian issue, reaffirming Islamabad’s unwavering diplomatic and moral support for the Palestinian people. “Our position is rooted in justice and humanity,” said the Prime Minister, adding, “Pakistan will continue to stand by the Palestinian cause and support all peaceful initiatives aimed at ending violence and ensuring the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.” The meetings also included discussions on broader regional stability, strengthening multilateral cooperation, and promoting dialogue to resolve longstanding conflicts.
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Justice Mandokhail questions judges’ role in 26th Amendment case ISLAMABAD
Staff report
Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail on Monday questioned whether the Supreme Court judges hearing petitions against the 26th Constitutional Amendment could do so if they were its “beneficiaries”. The observation came during the hearing of multiple petitions challenging the amendment, which reshaped the process for appointing the chief justice of Pakistan, curtailed the apex court’s suo motu powers, and introduced constitutional benches (CBs) to hear constitutional matters. The eight-member CB, headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan, includes Justices Jamal Mandokhail, Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Ayesha Malik, Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Musarrat Hilali, Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Shahid Bilal Hassan. At the outset, former Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Abid Shahid Zuberi reiterated the demand for a full court to hear the case, arguing that only judges appointed before the 26th Amendment should be part of the bench. He maintained that since the constitutional amendment itself was under challenge, the legitimacy of the CB’s composition was also in question.
Justice Mandokhail asked whether judges could hear the case if they were beneficiaries of the legislation. “The chief justice was appointed under the 26th Amendment. If the constitutional amendment had not been passed, Yahya Afridi would have become the chief justice as per seniority,” he remarked. “If we are the beneficiaries, can we then sit on the bench?” Justice Mazhar questioned who would hear the case if all judges were deemed beneficiaries, while Justice Ayesha Malik noted that Article 191A of the Constitution provided for the formation of constitutional benches but did not specifically address full courts. Zuberi argued that the CB had the authority to issue a judicial order for a full court, while Justice Hilali
observed that the bench could not issue such directions if its own jurisdiction was under question. Justice Naeem Afghan remarked that under Article 191A, constitutional benches were empowered to hear such matters and that the article effectively made the CB the full court for constitutional cases. The hearing was adjourned until Tuesday. The 26th Amendment, passed in October last year, has been widely criticised by opposition parties, bar councils, and legal experts, who contend that it undermines the judiciary’s independence. The petitioners have urged the court to strike down the law in whole or in part, citing procedural flaws and constitutional violations.
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Hamas frees last Israeli hostages as Trump declares Gaza war over irfan.farooq@pakistantoday.com.pk
GAZA
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Hamas freed the last living Israeli hostages on Monday under a ceasefire deal, a major step towards ending two years of ruinous war in Gaza, as US President Donald Trump addressed Israel’s parliament urging the country to turn military success into peace. The Israeli military said it had received all hostages confirmed to be alive after their transfer from Gaza by the Red Cross, prompting cheering, hugging and weeping among thousands waiting at “Hostage Square” in Tel Aviv. Some of the nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees freed by Israel as part of the accord, ahead of a summit in Egypt to cement the ceasefire, began arriving in the Gaza Strip and the Israeli-occupied West Bank, some hoisted on the shoulders of delighted relatives. Trump addresses Israeli parliament “The skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are still and the sun rises on a Holy Land that is finally at peace,” Trump told the Knesset, saying a “long nightmare” for both Israelis and Palestinians was over. “Now it is time to translate these victories against terrorists on the battlefield into the ultimate prize of peace and prosperity for the entire Middle East,” he said before departing for Egypt to attend a peace summit. However, formidable obstacles remain to a lasting resolution of the Gaza war, let alone to the wider, generations-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict or other deep divisions in the region. Follow-up summit to address Gaza’s future The release of hostages and Palestinian detainees marked the first phase of the Gaza accord concluded last week in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, where Monday’s summit will take place. Over 20 world leaders are expected to discuss how to implement the next steps under Trump’s 20-point peace blueprint. The deal came two years after the October 7, 2023 cross-border Hamas assault that killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostage — the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. Israeli airstrikes, bombardments and ground offensives have since killed over 67,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, and laid waste to much of the enclave. A global hunger monitor said Gaza City and surrounding areas are suffering from famine affecting over half a million people, while most of the enclave’s 2.2 million residents are homeless. Aid flows are expected to improve under Trump’s plan. U.N. aid chief Tom Fletcher emphasized the need to “get shelter and fuel to people who desperately need it and massively scale up food, medicine and other supplies.” The war has also reshaped the Middle East, triggering clashes between Israel and Iran, Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis. Trump also floated the idea of a peace deal between arch-enemies Iran and Israel, telling the Knesset: “I think Iran wants it. Wouldn’t it be nice?” Joy, relief on both sides Beaming with relief, two freed hostages waved to cheering crowds from vans on their way to an Israeli hospital — one holding a large Israeli flag, another forming a heart with his hands. Video footage showed emotional scenes of families receiving phone calls from loved ones as they were being released, their faces lighting up with disbelief after months of anguish. “I am so excited. I am full of happiness. It’s hard to imagine how I feel this moment. I didn’t sleep all night,” said Viki Cohen, mother of hostage Nimrod Cohen, as she travelled to Reim, an Israeli military base where the hostages were transferred. Most of the freed Palestinians were detained during the war, but 250 were serving sentences or awaiting trial for deadly attacks or security offences. Thousands gathered at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, waving Palestinian flags and holding photos of relatives. “I am happy for our sons who are being freed, but we are still in pain for all those killed and all the destruction in Gaza,” said one woman, identifying herself as Um Ahmed.
PTI’s Sohail Afridi elected KP CM amid uncertainty about Gandapur’s resignation PESHAWAR
Staff report
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA Sohail Afridi on Monday was elected the new Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during an assembly session marred by the opposition’s walkout and uncertainty regarding the resignation of outgoing Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. KP Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, who pushed ahead with the election despite the opposition walkout, announced that Maulana Lutfur Rehman of JUI-F, Sardar Shah Jehan Yousaf of the PML-N, and Arbab Zarak Khan of the PPP received zero votes. He also noted that three members of the assembly were out of the country. He then announced that Afridi had won the election after securing 90 votes. PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja has warned that the oath-taking of KP Chief Minister-elect Sohail Afridi should not be delayed beyond today. Raja made the remarks when he, along with other PTI lead-
ers, arrived at the Peshawar High Court to submit a petition seeking the oath-taking of the newly elected KP CM. Gandapur stepped down from the key office last week on the directives of incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan on October 8. However, KP Governor says that there were some objections over the resignation of Gandapur and hence it was not accepted. During the session, Leader of the Opposition Dr Ibadullah held up a copy of the Constitution and said: “According to this Constitution, the procedure is that first your resignation is accepted. Then the administration denotifies the cabinet.” He said the cabinet had not been denotified and Gandapur’s resignation had not been accepted by the governor. “In the presence of an existing chief minister, the election of a new chief minister is unconstitutional. So we will not become a part of this unconstitutional procedure,“ he asserted. He also questioned the need for making the issue controversial. “If you already have the numbers, then why not wait a few days
and have it be done constitutionally?” He reiterated that the process was “unconstitutional” and said that the opposition was staging a walkout as “it did not want to be a part of this”. He then proceeded to walk out along with other members of the opposition. Following the walkout, KP Assembly Speaker Swati said that Gandapur had sent his resignation to the governor twice and also announced the same in his speech. “The point raised by the opposition leader, I give a ruling of the speaker to make it clear what the Constitution says: this is unconstitutional and in contravention of the law,” he said. “The chief minister of a province is a constitutional office holder in terms of Article 130. Clause eight of this article provides for tendering of resignation by the chief minister under his hand. I rule that an election for the post of chief minister of KP is being lawfully conducted in accordance with the Constitution and the rules of the assembly,” he said. Swati said that the chief minister’s election would take place according to the schedule is-
sued for the Monday. At the outset of the session, Gandapur gave his “advance congratulations” to Afridi, the PTI’s pick for his replacement, as the treasury benches thumped their desks. He assured them that the PTI’s fight for
justice would continue under the leadership of party founder Imran Khan. He expressed pride at the fact that he had submitted his resignation on October 8 on the directives of Imran Khan.