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governor slams KP PAKISTAN, IRAN PLEDGE JOINT FRONT ON PEACE, KP CM over ‘disparaging’ REGIONAL DIPLOMACY AND COUNTERTERRORISM remarks about Saturday, 8 November, 2025 | 16 Jamadiul Awwal, 1447
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PM SHEHBAZ SAYS KEEN TO DEEPEN COOPERATION WITH TEHRAN IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BILATERAL TRADE AND REGIONAL STABILITY
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REITERATES TWO COUNTRIES’ FIRM COMMITMENT TO RESOLVING GLOBAL DISPUTES THROUGH PEACEFUL DIALOGUE AND DIPLOMACY
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 122 | 8 Pages | Karachi Edition
CONVEYS PROFOUND RESPECT FOR HIS EMINENCE AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI AND PRESIDENT MASOUD PEZESHKIAN
IRANIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER GHALIBAF THANKS PAKISTAN FOR SUPPORT IN 12-DAY CONFLICT
PM Shehbaz, President Aliyev hold talks to reinforce strategic partnership in Baku BAKU/ISLAMABAD staff report
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ISLAMABAD
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RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said Pakistan was keen to deepen cooperation with Iran—particularly in economic development, bilateral trade and regional stability—as both neighbours continued to stand together on issues of peace, diplomacy, and resistance to state-sponsored terrorism. He made the remarks during a meeting with Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Dr. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who called on him at the PM House
along with a delegation. Welcoming the visiting dignitaries, the prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s “cordial and historic” ties with the brotherly Muslim nation and reiterated the two countries’ firm commitment to resolving global disputes through peaceful dialogue and diplomacy. He also conveyed profound respect for His Eminence Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian. The prime minister underscored that both Pakistan and Iran had been victims of terrorism and therefore shared a strong resolve for global peace, prosperity, and constructive regional engage-
Pakistan slams India’s ‘malicious nuclear test allegations ’ ISLAMABAD
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Pakistan on Friday firmly rejected India’s accusations of conducting covert nuclear tests, calling New Delhi’s allegations “baseless, malicious and part of a disinformation campaign,” as Islamabad reiterated that it has not carried out any nuclear tests since May 1998. Responding to questions from the media, Foreign Office Spokesman Tahir Andrabi underscored that Pakistan’s nuclear testing record was “clear, consistent, and verifiable,” adding, “For the record, Pakistan’s last nuclear tests were conducted in May 1998. Our position on nuclear testing is well established and consistent.” He recalled that Pakistan had maintained a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear testing since its 1998 series of tests conducted in response to India’s explosions, even as Islamabad had deliberately avoided signing the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) to retain the strategic flexibility required in a deteriorating regional security environment. Andrabi noted that Pakistan had consistently supported UN General Assembly resolutions calling for a comprehensive ban on nuclear testing, while India’s repeated abstentions “reflect its ambiguous and questionable intentions on future nuclear testing.” The FO’s sharp rebuttal came after India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) invoked a 2019 comment by former US president Donald Trump—who had claimed in a CBS 60 Minutes interview that “Pakistan’s been testing” nuclear weapons—a remark Islamabad had previously chosen not to contest to avoid unnecessary friction with Washington. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, however, revived the claim on Friday, linking it to longstanding Indian allegations regarding Pakistan’s nuclear past.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday held a bilateral meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the Presidential Palace in Baku, flanked by Chief of the Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, , underscoring the strategic weight of the engagement. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked President Aliyev for inviting him to attend Azerbaijan’s Victory Day celebrations, which commemorate the country’s historic triumph in the 44-day Karabakh Liberation War against Armenia, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The prime minister arrived in Baku earlier in the day for a two-day official visit at the invitation of President Aliyev, during which he will participate in Azerbaijan’s Victory Day
ment. He stressed that the two countries had consistently condemned state-sponsored terrorism and supported each other against unilateral aggression targeting their sovereignty. “Pakistan and Iran are
ceremony. Victory Day marks the country’s “historic victory in the 44day-long Karabakh Liberation War against Armenia”, the PMO noted. PM Shehbaz, accompanied by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, was received at Heydar Aliyev International Airport by Azerbaijan’s First Deputy Prime Minister Yagub Eyyubov, First Deputy Foreign Minister Fariz Razayev, Pakistani Ambassador Qasim Mohiuddin and members of the diplomatic staff.
determined to work in cohesion and cooperation for the unity of the Muslim Ummah,” he said.
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PPP backs change in Article 243 as Bilawal insists on safeguarding provincial rights, NFC shares ISLAMABAD
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Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday signalled a major opening in the government–opposition dialogue on constitutional reforms, announcing that the party is willing to support amendments to Article 243—which defines the powers and command of the armed forces—under the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment. He said the PPP “agrees in principle” to the formation of constitutional courts and is ready to move forward on long-pending commitments of the Charter of Democracy, provided provincial rights, judicial balance, and the NFC framework remain untouched. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the party would support amendments to Article 243, which defines the powers of the armed forces, in the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment. Addressing the media following the conclusion of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting, Bilawal said the CEC had debated the matter of consti-
PTI parliamentary party rejects 27th Amendment The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) parliamentary party has rejected 27th Constitutional Amendment, terming it suspicious and unacceptable. The decision was taken during a parliamentary party meeting chaired by Senate Parliamentary Leader Senator Ali Zafar. PTI Senators including Allama Nasir Abbas, Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, Falak Naz, Dr. Humayun Mehmood, and others attended the session. During the meeting, the PTI formulated its strategy for the upcoming Senate session. The party announced that it will protest against the exclusion of cases involving PTI founder Imran Khan
and his spouse from being heard in the higher judiciary. In an official statement, the PTI parliamentary party accused the ruling coalition, including the PML-N, PPP, and their allies, of bypassing constitutional and ethical norms by bulldozing legislation. The party argued that the amendment undermines parliamentary principles by sidelining the opposition and poses a threat to fundamental human rights. It also expressed serious concern over attempts to curtail the independence and powers of the judiciary. The statement further criticized delays in notifying the Senate opposition leader and demanded the immediate issuance of the notification for Allama Nasir Abbas, who was nominated by the PTI founder.
tutional courts for two days and agreed in principle that such courts should be established. “In the 27th Amendment, the amendment to (Article) 243 must
be accepted,” he stated clearly. The party chairperson added that “unfinished agenda items” from the Charter of Democracy had also been discussed.
ISLAMABAD
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security forces PESHAWAR
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Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Friday issued a strong condemnation of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi’s recent comments criticising security forces and counter-terrorism operations—remarks he warned could undermine morale at a time when KP faces an alarming surge in terrorist violence. Afridi, speaking to reporters outside Adiala Jail a day earlier, accused security personnel in KP of violating the sanctity of mosques, alleging that they “brought dogs into mosques” and tied them there during operations. “When we would go and tell them that they are violating the sanctity of the mosque, they would tell us, ‘You and these dogs are no different,’” the CM said, adding that despite such incidents, “we still support them… but do they know the pain of my people?” Posting the video on X, Governor Kundi said any rhetoric diminishing the “honour and sacrifice” of Pakistan’s armed forces was unacceptable. “The brave sons of our soil lay down their lives to protect our province—questioning their intent in sensational terms only damages morale and public safety,” he wrote. He stressed that intelligence-based operations (IBOs) were essential, conducted solely to safeguard the public. “Political debate must not cross into actions or words that weaken our security institutions,” the governor said, urging CM Afridi to show restraint and put KP’s unity and safety “above partisan posturing.” Kundi said KP’s security situation demanded that all political parties stand firmly with law enforcement agencies. Pakistan has witnessed a renewed spike in terrorism — especially in KP and Balochistan — with police, LEAs and security personnel bearing the brunt of attacks. “Ultimately, it is the people who will deliver accountability in the coming elections,” he added. KUJ expresses ‘deep concern’ over remarks The Khyber Union of Journalists (KUJ) also strongly criticised Afridi’s comments, calling them “irresponsible” and damaging to public trust. “Dragging mosques and madrassas into political disputes in any way is condemnable,” KUJ President Kashifuddin Syed said in a statement, emphasizing that respect for places of worship and the sacrifices of martyrs was binding on all. Such remarks, he warned, “cause chaos, hurt religious sentiments and increase suspicion against state institutions.” PUC’s Ashrafi also condemns KP CM’s remarks In a separate statement, Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman Maulana Tahir Ashrafi also denounced the CM’s remarks, calling them “misleading” and harmful to Pakistan’s reputation. “The speech made by KP CM regarding mosques is regrettable,” he said, adding that the Pakistan Army was the “protector of mosques and madrasas” and had repeatedly proven its commitment through major counter-terrorism campaigns.
Petition challenges move to curb judiciary’s powers through 27th Amendment ISLAMABAD
staff Correspondent
A petition was filed in the Supreme Court on Friday challenging alleged attempts to “dilute or eliminate the constitutional jurisdiction of the superior judiciary” through the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment. The planned amendment has triggered concerns that it could roll back powers devolved under the landmark 18th Amendment and alter the structure and functioning of the superior judiciary. According to the petition, the proposed amendment envisages the creation of separate “Constitutional Courts” and the transfer or curtailment of the existing jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and the high courts under Articles 184(3) and 199 of the Constitution. “Such an attempt, if allowed to proceed, would fundamentally distort the constitutional framework, erode judicial independence, breach the separation of powers, and deny citizens their constitutional right to access justice and judicial review,” the petition filed by Barrister Ali Tahir stated. The Federation of Pakistan, the Senate chairperson, and the National Assembly speaker have been cited as respondents.
Istanbul talks ‘collapse’ as Pakistan, Afghanistan hit deadlock ISLAMABAD
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Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday announced that Pakistan’s high-stakes negotiations with Afghanistan had effectively collapsed, saying the Istanbul round had concluded “without agreement” and slipped into an “indefinite phase”, as negotiators failed to bridge deep and longstanding differences between the two sides. “Right now, as we speak, negotiations are over,” the defence minister said while speaking on a TV channel, confirming that the talks had stalled despite intense mediation efforts by Turkiye and Qatar. Asif said the Afghan Taliban delegation once again arrived in Istanbul “without any programme” and was unwilling to sign a written agreement. “They said they would only respect the verbal agreement, but there is no room to do that.” He added that although the earlier rounds ended with commitments for follow-up meetings, the latest breakdown reinforced Pakistan’s “lack of faith” in Kabul’s assurances. “If the situation, God forbid, flares up and
there are attacks on us from their soil, then we will respond depending on the gravity of the situation,” he warned. The minister clarified that while the current ceasefire technically stands, “the moment there is a violation from their side, we will respond befittingly”. Asif also suggested the Afghan side may have floated “unacceptable demands” as an escape route because “they knew they would be unsuccessful” and hoped to shift blame by accusing Pakistan of rejecting their proposals. Pakistan, he reiterated, has one primary demand: a complete halt to attacks from Afghan soil. Istanbul talks “deadlocked” Earlier, senior security sources confirmed the negotiations had hit an impasse. “The talks in Istanbul are deadlocked,” one official said. The third round had begun on Thursday and was scheduled for two days. Pakistan’s delegation, led by ISI Director General Lt Gen Asim Malik, included senior military, intelligence and Foreign Office officials. The Afghan Taliban side was headed by Abdul Haq Waseq, chief of the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI), and in-
cluded Suhail Shaheen, Anas Haqqani and Deputy Interior Minister Rehmatullah Najib. Sources said the Pakistani delegation left for the airport after the breakdown, and there was no direct meeting on Friday. Delegations had met face-to-face the previous day in the presence of Qatari and Turkish mediators. Some senior Pakistani officials, however, were reported to have stayed behind for
possible back-channel engagement in an attempt to break the deadlock. Pakistan’s evidence-based case Foreign Office Spokesman Tahir Hussain Andrabi told reporters that the Pakistani team had presented its case “in a comprehensive and evidence-based manner”. “The Pakistan delegation has handed over its evidence-based, justified, and logical demands to the mediators with a singular aim to put an end to cross-border terrorism,” he said. Mediators were now discussing the demands “point by point” with the Afghan delegation. Afghan negotiators, meanwhile, claimed their own proposals were “logical and easily achievable” for Pakistan while describing Islamabad’s demands as “unrealistic and aggressive”. A source familiar with the discussions said the Afghan side conveyed that “it is up to Pakistan’s own calculations to deal with the situation.” A source in Istanbul described the mood at the Conrad Hotel, where the talks were held, as “not positive”. Government warns Kabul must deliver Information Minister Ata Tarar said the
“onus lies on Afghanistan to fulfil its longstanding international, regional and bilateral pledges regarding control of terrorism — in which so far they have failed.” “Pakistan shall continue to exercise all options necessary to safeguard the security of its people and its sovereignty,” he said, echoing Andrabi’s earlier warning: “In any eventuality, we will protect the lives of our people and make sure our civilians, military forces and law enforcement agencies on the border are not killed by attacks emanating from Afghanistan.” Weeks of tension, repeated clashes The talks follow weeks of shuttle diplomacy triggered by deadly border clashes that plunged bilateral ties to their lowest point since the Taliban takeover of Kabul in 2021. Hostilities began when an attack was launched on Pakistan from Afghan soil on the night of October 11, after the Taliban accused Islamabad of airstrikes — an allegation Pakistan neither confirmed nor denied. Islamabad has repeatedly demanded that the Taliban prevent terror groups from operating from Afghan territory. The Taliban reject this allegation.