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S T I C E A M I N U D D I N S W O R N I N A S

I N A U G U R A L ’ C H I E F J U S T I C E O F F C C

President Zardari accepts resignations of Justices S hah and Athar Minallah ISLAMABAD

Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gillani and members of the federal cabinet were present at the ceremony The event began with the recitation of the Holy Quran, after which President Zardari administered the oath to Justice Aminuddin in English In his oath, Justice Aminuddin vowed to discharge his duties strictly according to the Constitution and law while adhering to the code of conduct issued by the Supreme Judicial Council

That I will not allow my personal interest to influence my official conduct or my official decisions That I will pre-

serve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and that in all circumstances I will do right to all manner of people according to law without fear or favour affection or ill will Justice Aminuddin affirmed before shaking hands with the president His appointment, made by President Zardari a day earlier under Clause 3 of Article 175A read with Article 175C of the Constitution officially came into effect upon his oath-taking The FCC s establishment revived as part of the judicial reforms under the 27th Amendment, aims to reduce the Supreme Court s workload, ensure timely adjudication of constitutional cases, and strengthen judicial independence and credibility President Zardari also appointed six additional judges to the FCC: Justices Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Aamer Farooq, and Ali Baqar Najafi of the Supreme Court; Justice KK Agha of the Sindh High

ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t

Court; Balochistan High Court Chief Justice Rozi Khan Barrech; and Justice (retd) Arshad Hussain Shah following Justice Musarrat Hilali’s decision not to join Three judges of Federal Constitutional Court take oath On other hand, Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Amir Farooq, and Justice Ali Baqar Najafi took the oath as judges of the Federal Constitutional Court The oath was administered by Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan who himself took office short while earlier as the first chief justice of the court The ceremony brought together senior judges, legal officers and representatives of the bar Judges and legal community attend the ceremony Several prominent members of the judiciary attended the oath-taking ceremony including Islamabad High Court Justice Arbab Tahir, Justice Khadim Soomro, Justice Muhammad Azam Khan, Justice Muham-

mad Asif, Justice Inam Amin Minhas Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, Punjab Advocate General Amjad Pervez and various law officers were also present

Pakistan s Foreign Ministry on Friday said it had “no information” regarding the prime minister ’s coordinator on tourism Sardar Yasir Ilyas reportedly interacting with an Israeli ministry official in London reiterating that if such a meeting or interaction took place, it was certainly without authorisation by the government ” During a weekly briefing Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi stated I have no information on this meeting The gentleman you referred to is a public figure I would request you to ask him about the meeting I have no information on this ” He later emphasized that any unauthorised engagement with Israel would not reflect government policy The comments came after a video surfaced on social media showing Ilyas shaking hands with Michael Izhar-Kov Director General of Israel s Ministry of Tourism, during the World Travel Market in London, held from November 4 to 6 Israeli journalist Rai Kais noted on X that Pakistan had recently been mentioned as a potential contributor to an international force in Gaza, while London-based journalist Murtaza Ali Shah reported that Israeli representatives visited the Pakistan Pavilion unannounced Reacting strongly former JI senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan condemned the meeting as a betrayal of Palestinians, while writer Fatima Bhutto described it as disgusting treason ” PTI leader and ex-human rights minister Shireen Mazari

questioned the manner in which the meeting occurred On Pakistan s participation in the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) a US-brokered initiative under the Gaza Peace Agreement, Andrabi clarified that no decision has been taken as yet ” He noted that the UN Security Council is still finalising the ISF s mandate and stressed that any participation by Pakistan would involve the Parliament The FO reiterated Pakistan s longstanding position of non-recognition of Israel and firm support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people including establishing an independent state on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital Recent FO statements also rejected reports of any changes to passport regulations or clauses prohibiting travel to Israel

ISLAMABAD

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The opposition alliance Tehreek-i-Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) on Friday vowed to mount a forceful, countrywide pushback “through all democratic means” to restore the Constitution to its original form intensifying its campaign

in the aftermath of the passage of the ‘contentious’ 26th and 27th amendments President Asif Ali Zardari gave his assent to the contentious 27th Constitutional Amendment on Thursday enacting it into law The TTAP had already announced a nationwide protest movement against the amendment since Sunday and once again urged the people to take a

stand against what it termed an “extremely dark and dangerous” change in the Constitution In a post on X today the TTAP said it was holding an emergency meeting at the residence of Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) Chairman Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas Those in attendance included Qaiser,

PTI Chairman Barrister Ali Gohar, Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, BNP-M chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai and others such as Zain Ali Shah Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Ali Asghar Khan, Hussain Akhwandzada, Shahid Khaqan

tiatives The visiting dignitary lauded the professionalism of the Pakistan Army and acknowledged its contribution to regional stability and peace The COAS underscored the importance of collective efforts for regional stability and prosperity, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to deepening defence and security ties with Tajikistan Meanwhile President Asif Ali Zardari highlighted the strategic partnership between the two countries terming Tajikistan a bridge to the heart of Central Asia and Pakistan as its gateway to international waters, during a call-on with the Tajik Defence Minister at Aiwan-e-Sadr He stressed that the two states could play a significant role in promoting peace and stability in the region President Zardari welcomed the delegation and noted Pakistan s long-standing, multi-faceted relationship with Tajikistan, rooted in shared history, culture, and linguistic affinity He reminded that Pakistan was

among the first nations to establish diplomatic ties with Tajikistan in 1992 and encouraged further enhancement of political cultural and people-to-people contacts He highlighted the vast potential for bilateral trade and investment, particularly in the energy sector, and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the timely completion of the flagship CASA-1000 project Zardari also welcomed the expanding defence cooperation citing the successful organization of the Dosti-II military exercise as a testimony to the historic ties between the two brotherly states The Tajik Defence Minister expressed Tajikistan’s interest in strengthening bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors reinforcing the strategic partnership The delegation included Ambassador Sharifzoda Yusuf Tohir Col Rasulzoda Karim Abdurasul, Maj Gen Hakimzoda Zarif Yunusi, and Maj Gen Amonullozoda Aminjon Amonullo, while Senators Sherry Rehman and Saleem Mandviwalla also attended the meeting

Pakhtunkhwa Revenue Authority s representative is Abdur Raziq, Additional Collector, and the Balochistan Revenue Authority will be represented by Member Ops-II Etheshamul Haq and Commissioner Ops-II Fahad Shabir Under the committee s terms of reference members will review readiness actions and operational arrangements required for the roll out of the Single Portal for the filing of Sales Tax Return across all sectors and jurisdictions

The committee has been empowered to consult experts from FBR provincial authorities PRAL or any other relevant institution It will also determine how to address issues arising when a single return is filed across

more than one jurisdiction, including proposed changes to return forms checks and calculations enforcement extensions and revisions

The body will also make recommendations for software development, timelines, and the format of common and jurisdiction-specific annexures for the unified return portal

The committee will advise on

Sindh Province the company stated According to PPL, drilling of the well began on September 16, 2024, and reached a measured depth of 14 017 feet The primary target was the Lower Goru Formation specifically the A-In-

terval sands Based on wireline logs and drilling results, post-completion testing was conducted yielding gas at a rate of approximately 0 30 million standard cubic feet per day The company said the test was recorded against Flowing Wellhead Pressure (FWHP) of 100 psig at 128/64-inch choke ” PPL added that the well was the first in the Sawan area drilled using an exclusive sequence stratigraphic trap evaluation approach This pioneering methodology has successfully resulted in a hydrocarbon discovery, validating the underlying geological concept and opening new exploration horizons within the Sawan region ” the notice said

Two Chinese firms eye major investments in Punjab’s textile, auto parts and transport sectors g ShENzhEN SEA ENEr Gy AND zhihyuzuN Gr OuP Pr

resisted immediate relocation to the third floor of the IHC, expressing dissatisfaction over the sudden move The creation of the FCC intended to be initially housed in the FSC building represents a significant step in Pakistan s judicial reform agenda aiming to balance institutional efficiency with the independence and

The dust is not settling

That there are still t weaks going on and judges resigning shows how big a change has happened

TH E extent to which the 27th Amendment affected life was to be estimated by how the National Assembly had to pass amendments to the three armed forces acts and how two judges of the Supreme Court resigned while two judges of the Islamabad High Court indicated their intention to resign soon The Supreme Court judges wrote detailed letters to the President saying that the could no longer serve Mr Justice Mansoor Ali Shah said in his resignation that justice had become more distant; Mr Justice that Miinallah said that the Constitution he had sworn to defend was no longer The Chief Justice of Pakistan Mr Justice Yahya Afridi has summoned a meeting of the full court which had been requested earlier by Mr Justice Shah and Mr Justice Minallah as well as by Mr Justice Salahuddin Panhwar However that meeting did not take up the 27th Amendment when it was held on Friday but merely approved the new Supreme Court Rules as recommended by the Rules Committee Meanwhile Mr Justice Aminuddin Khan took oath as the first Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court and then administered oath to the six new judges of the FCC Three of them come from the Supreme Court one is the Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court and one is a former Chief Judge of the Supreme Appellate Court of Gilgit-Baltistan and former caretaker CM of KP There will be a period of transition as the courts divide up the pending cases between them That will not take that long because most of the work has taken place Though the initial protests promised by the opposition Tehrik Tahaffuz Ayeen Pakistan have not materialized the government probably does not realize how much it has unleashed There are parallels with the 2007 Lawyers’ Movement and the government should not be taking the matter too casually It has created confusion among the legal fraternity and it is its duty to ensure that calm is restored This is best down by the new FCC publicly setting itself goals so as to achieve the purpose given out for its being set up reducing pendency and achieving them There is a very real danger of its becoming merely another layer through a case must seep before achieving finality If that happens pendency will remain the same or even increase

Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit

ITN modern battlefields Artificial Intelligence is increasingly common In the RussiaUkraine war it is used in geospatial intelligence where AI is employed to trace and analyze open-source information and define enemy installations, and to coordinate drone attacks Nonetheless, during this high-tech war, even the final targeting decisions have been consciously made to remain under human control In the Middle East they are also using advanced algorithms; US tech giants are supplying cloud and AI services to the Israeli military, and Palantir has a strategic partner to offer AI systems to target These achievements demonstrate that AI excels at quick analysis and enhanced detection, but they also reveal profound threats Humanity cannot be left to an algorithm; that is what the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned about Google Amazon and Palantir large technol-

computing and artificial intelligence These cases indicate that AI-based targeting has become a re-

legal issue in such circumstances As a state in a troubled region having a nuclear arsenal Pakistan has been vocal on these very dangers Islamabad reported in its April submission to the UN that the

control, and communications would pose strategic risks that could result in miscalculation, accidents, and disastrous consequences Nuclear deterrence has always been based on the ability of humans to make rational choices and restrain themselves Automating those processes may eliminate or greatly diminish the human factor, in which case, the process may easily grow out of control Pakistan, thus, calls on all the nations with nuclear weapons to sign a declaration that they will engage in meaningful human control of weapons As a matter of fact a typical AI-controlled strike in South Asia could soon escalate to the nuclear front Any fake signal or signal hack on such a system, whether due to a cyber attack or a sensor failure, would have a disastrous effect Other than the nuclear aspect Pakistan emphasizes that AI makes the fog of war run like a machine The characteristics of automated

The same instinct that stops a child from grappling with a hard problem is what stops many grown-ups from reflecting deeply on their own choices The pattern is human not academic

It is also spiritual The very words Dunya and Akhirah capture this truth Dunya literally means what is near and immediate It is also referred to in the Quran as al-Aajila (the hasty or short term) Akhirah means that which comes later long term and hidden from sight yet promised to those who see with understanding The entire concept of faith rests on this contrast To believe is to prefer what is lasting over what is temporary, what is unseen over what is visible

The Quran reminds us of this when it says: Whoever desires the harvest of the Hereafter We increase for him his harvest and whoever desires the harvest of this world We give him thereof but he has no share in the Hereafter Ash-Shura, 42:20

Faith in its purest sense is a training of perspective It teaches us to look beyond what is immediate and to trust what is coming The same principle that defines religious maturity also defines intellectual maturity A believer chooses patience over haste, reflection over reaction, and meaning over momentary relief

If only we allowed this belief to shape our thinking in everyday life our entire approach to learning and teaching would change The class-

decision-support can reduce crisis timelines to extreme levels so that the time frame for negotiation and de-escalation disappears By excessively relying on AI-generated suggestions, commanders might lose context and nuance In April, the submission points out that militaries eager to gain an edge can use AI in such a widespread way that armed conflict can be brought down to low-cost levels Technical vulnerabilities complicate these dangers Since most AI tools are black boxes where the underlying code cannot be read, a malfunction or an imprecision in calculations is likely to be detected only when it is already too late It has already been witnessed that machine translators may make deadly mistakes or that incorrectly tagged imagery may do so Overall any malfunction of AI that results in a false intelligence signal or that of a cyber-attacker may trigger a domino effect that no one can foresee until the sound of weapon alarms is heard

The legal and ethical connotations of AI are also serious International Humanitarian Law is developed based on human conscience and discernment distinguishing between soldiers and civilians and requiring proportionality However such judgment is absent in an autonomous weapon that moves at the speed of light Pakistan s warning is justified, that allowing AI to select and interact with targets may violate the primordial principles of IHL Should a killer robot make a mistake who will be responsible? It is possible that soldiers could add that the computer forced him to do it bringing commanders into lawsuits previously unknown to humanity This has also been repeated by the

room would no longer be about quick results or

visible scores It would become a place where the unseen reward of understanding matters more than the visible grade on a paper

When I think about it the pattern of Dunya and Akhirah is the same pattern that governs learning The effort of today is often unrewarded until later The reward of clarity, the quiet confidence that comes from true understanding belongs to those who were willing to stay with difficulty long enough for it to turn into meaning This is how the mind matures

Mathematics and language should be the gymnasiums of the mind They train reasoning, patience, and structured thought But we have treated them as subjects to be covered rather than spaces to think about Early education should build the ability to handle complexity Once that skill is strong every other subject becomes lighter

The irony is that we measure education in years, not in depth We celebrate completion rather than comprehension We value speed more than stillness But learning is not a race It is a conversation with meaning and like all deep conversations it takes time to unfold The problem is not the difficulty itself The problem is our relationship with it Difficulty is not an enemy; it is an invitation A child who learns to find satisfaction in a solved problem will carry that courage for life That child needs a teacher who is patient enough to reveal the beauty hiding inside the struggle

When I began to see this clearly my frustration with struggling students turned into compassion Their hesitation was not laziness It was the natural fear of effort that does not yet promise reward My job was not to remove the difficulty but to make the meaning shine through it What we often call difficulty is simply a lack of visible meaning Once meaning becomes clear even the hardest task becomes manageable The mind resists what it cannot connect, but once the connection appears, effort feels natural That is the secret of sustained learning, not less effort, but effort guided by purpose As teachers parents and learners we must learn to see the long view again The short term may bring results but the long term builds understanding Only through

writer is a tech entrepreneur, and teaches out of passion

As teachers, parents, and learners, we must learn to see the long view again The shor t term may bring results, but the long term builds understanding Only through understanding does effor t become joy, and struggle become light

Bullying wards

P O S T G R A D U AT E residency is meant to shape young doctors into competent and confident professionals Supervisors and unit heads are entrusted not only with the task of passing down technical skills but also with modelling leadership integrity and compassion In Pakistan, however, too many residency programmes are marked by something far more corrosive: bullying disguised as teaching Across specialities whether in general surgery medicine paediatrics gynaecology or any other professional domain the pattern is disturbingly consistent Ward rounds often turn into public spectacles of humiliation Operating theatres echo with shouting and ridicule Residents are mocked in front of patients and colleagues Mistakes instead of becoming opportunities to learn are punished with sarcasm or verbal abuse

This is not about the odd difficult personality It is systemic A generation of consultants who once endured the same treatment now perpetuate it convinced that harshness produces ‘tough’ specialists But instead of resilience, this culture produces burnout, silence and fear Trainees avoid asking questions lest they be ridiculed Errors are hidden rather than openly discussed Some residents exhausted by humiliation quietly consider abandoning the training altogether Others seek training abroad, fuelling the ongoing brain drain The consequences extend beyond the wellbeing of doctors Patients too are affected when their caregivers are trained in fear instead of support A resident who hides mistakes to avoid reprimand, which happens frequently, endangers patient safety A trainee too anxious to clarify a doubt risks repeating it in the wards A system that normalises bullying ultimately fails the very people it is meant to serve

Our institutions cannot just look away The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) and the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) bear the responsibility of ensuring that training environments meet both academic and ethical standards; just listing these objectives as part of the standard operating procedures (SOPs) is not enough

Workplace harassment laws must be applied within hospitals including wards and operating theatres Hospitals should establish formal mechanisms for residents to report abuse without the fear of retaliation Supervisors themselves should undergo structured training in mentorship communication and leadership not just bedside manners and surgical techniques

Other countries have moved beyond this outdated sink-or-swim model Structured teaching programmes, simulation-based trainings and constructive feedback systems have proven that mutual respect strengthens doctors far more than intimidation ever can Pakistan s surgical or medical training must evolve as well, or risk falling further behind, which sadly, it already has

In case of surgery it demands toughness but toughness is not cruelty A true mentor challenges without humiliating, corrects without crushing, and leads without demeaning In the last five years since graduation, I have only seen one or two individuals who had these qualities If we want to produce physicians and surgeons who are both skilled and compassionate, we must break the toxic cycle

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A retention or detention basin (man-made ponds) as per its capacity can hold rain water for two or three hours while the ground water is recharged during this time After this the excess water from Karachi can flow to the sea We burn crop residue which leads to generating more heat and increases air pollution About 5 1 million acres of Pakistan consist of trees It is said that approxi-

PakistanÊs climate disasters can be minimized through proper planning, enforcement of environmental laws and also through discovering more of the local solutions. Rain harvesting is one such solution through which the excessive rainwater can later be utilized It can be said that environmental planning, political will, and strict regulation enforcement are vital to averting climate disasters in Pakistan. The reality remains that the floods and devastation are not merely acts of nature; they are worsened by our neglect

False national heroes

Soehar to cannot be a true hero, only a false one, until his role in the militar y-led mass killing campaigns in the mid-1960s that led to his seizure of power is clarified

The militar y should stop preventing ever y attempt at uncovering the truths surrounding those years This is for Soehar to’s own good, for the militar y ’s own good

the political struggle that forced Sukarno Indonesia s first president to hand over power to Soeharto But we know it was bloody and traumatic, and it has left a deep impact on the nation’s psyche to this day

false heroes to accommodate Indonesia s second president Soeharto, who ruled the country from 1966 to 1998 with an iron fist and with lots of bloods on his hands he may be a hero to some but to the nation he cannot be but a false one, not until we clarify his role in the military-led mass killing campaigns in the mid-1960s that led to his seizure of power which he held on to for over three decades We lament that President Prabowo ignored the protests these past few weeks in opposition to the plan to confer the title on Soeharto on National hero Day on Monday Adding insult to injury, he added the name of Sarwo edhie Wibowo the chief of the Army s Special Forces who led the military s extrajudicial slaughter in the mid-1960s to the list of this year s recipients of the hero title It is an affront to the nation s sense of justice, and goes against the values enshrined in the state ideology of Pancasila

Massive corruption during Soeharto s reign brought the country to the brink of an economic collapse in 1998 he squandered massive windfalls from the oil booms of the 1970s and 1980s when Indonesia was a net oil exporting country he enriched his family relatives and cronies but left most of the nation impoverished Conferring the national hero title on Soeharto and Sarwo edhie reopens an old national wound that has hardly healed from the bloodbath of the 1960s when they led the Army campaign to crush the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) through extra-judicial mass killings conducted in collaboration with paramilitary groups

We will never know the extent of the deaths because the military keeps preventing any attempt to dig into the truth about the circumstances of

Successive governments have since tried to erase this darkest era in the national history from our collective memory The current project to rewrite the national history will not likely lead to an admission of the genocide of the 1960s Soeharto was clearly a historical mistake and if the proverb those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it rings true, we must brace ourselves to repeat that mistake

We are seeing a consistent pattern to whitewash the horrors of the Soeharto regime including the massacre and persecution of PKI members supporters sympathizers and their relatives, children and grandchildren, not to mention the way he silenced critics The ghosts of the victims and the perpetrators of that tragic period will not likely rest in peace until we as a nation own up to our history

The Soeharto clan through their supporters, have long been trying to get the government to bestow the hero title on him Presidents Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Joko Widodo rightly rejected the request Prabowo is too personally conflicted to be making the decision As the former son-in-law of Soeharto, and one who built his career in the Army, he should have excused himself from making the final decision and deferred it to the next president

The nation may one day accept Soeharto s contribution and services to give him the national hero title a real one rather than false, but for this to happen, first we need to establish the role he played in the tragedy of the 1960s The military should stop preventing every attempt at uncovering the truths surrounding those years This is for Soeharto s own good, for the military s own good and ultimately, for the good of the nation Six decades have lapsed, surely the nation deserves to know the truth Otherwise we as a nation will never heal

That China has reinvented itself as a foundr y for sea power is beyond serious dispute, even as US and Western effor ts at a seapower renaissance flounder

Th e People s Liberation Army Navy might not actually be able to beat the US Navy in the Indo-Pacific But if it looks like it can, China will reap strategic benefits The authoritarians are the dynamists now That startling claim came up some years ago during the Q&A following a China talk I gave at a gathering of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) executive Panel down in Washington This philosophical query entails colossal practical import for the course and outcome of what some now call a second Cold War Dr Steve Wills of the Navy League’s Center for Maritime Strategy raised this question obliquely in replying to my column on the US Navy s 250th birthday Steve maintains that open societies such as the United States where all segments of society excoriate their institutions for subpar performance enjoy better prospects than authoritarians in strategic competition and warfare The syllogism is straightforward Discussion and debate hallmarks of a liberal society beget wiser policies over time, including those touching the naval service Debate fuels public and elite pressure on institutions to improve Accountability results QeD The postulate that criticism gives rise to improvement should be true I hope it is true But I m not sure how much confidence it merits these days To date the results of the US-China competition the defining challenge before our navy and joint force have done little to bear out the notion that an open society is more dynamic than a closed one The executive Panel was a body of advisers to Admiral John Richardson then serving as the CNO the US Navy s

uniformed officer The drift of the conversation seemed to

today s authoritarian regimes,

s in particular, command both the advantages that go to closed societies and those typically ascribed to open societies They can act swiftly and decisively because by definition authoritarians give orders and their subjects carry them out DICTATORS GET FAST RESULTS BUT OFTEN CAN’T THINK CREATIVELY:

a free people Mahan would hail Communist China’s ac-

complishments but at the same time he might regard them as perishable As he points out for an authoritarian state to flourish at sea, the despot must approach the nation s high-seas project with “judgment and consistency ” Leaders boasting these traits are few and far between They cannot be replaced if they fall short in judgment and consistency or if they fail to keep pace with change The fallacy of an authoritarian society then is that it depends on the wisdom and mental dexterity of one or a few leaders, Xi Jinping and his lieutenants in the case of China This is where human nature gets in the way Ambient surroundings have a way of metamorphosing around a society Times and circumstances are transient Yet human beings including paramount leaders do not cope well with transients They resist change, and tend to fall behind changing times They might develop policy implements unfit for the times, or develop the right implements but misuse them Stasis prevails and their quest for national greatness falters Plus no authoritarian leader lives forever A successor might entertain different priorities his predecessor s policies might languish through neglect

So how to navigate change lies at the core of competition between open and closed societies

FREE SOCIETIES ARE MORE DYNAMIC AT LEAST IN THEORY: Which leads to the advantages afforded free societies

While individual people may not change, an open society can change out people to keep abreast of the times Machiavelli cites the example of Rome, which appointed the defensive-minded Fabius “the Delayer” to fend off defeat in the Second Punic War against Carthage Fabius resisted going on offense when the time came again change is an ordeal and so Roman magnates sent him into retirement and handed the offensive-minded Scipio “Africanus” command of the army Scipio carried the war from Italy across the Mediterranean to North Africa and vanquished Carthage at the source In theory at least open societies are more flexible and adaptive than authoritarian antagonists, and thus better able to keep pace with change They can choose fresh leadership for new times This adds up to a compelling brief on behalf of open societies

But what if Machiavelli and kindred philosophers are wrong about the nature of individuals and regimes? That would be worrisome An authoritarian society gifted with dynamism could act decisively without stultifying enterprise and innovation the way command societies commonly do Such

society would harness the best of both modes of governance If the CNO panelists had

FRESH US DRAFT ON GA Z A MENTIONS PATH TO PALESTINIAN STATEHOOD WHILE RUSSIA SUBMITS COUNTER PROPOSAL

several UNSC members that the board might evolve into a long-term trusteeship Crucially, diplomats noted that the revised draft also specifies the conditions for Israeli withdrawal from Gaza The revised language states that Israel will withdraw as the ISF establishes control and stability By linking withdrawal to ISF deployment and consolidation, the US draft outlines a phased exit rather than an immediate pullout something that has drawn objections from Moscow and Beijing Russia’s counter-resolution In response to the US initiative, Russia circulated its own draft resolution on Thursday evening Moscow’s proposal centres on preserving the ceasefire, guaranteeing humanitarian access and reaffirming the twostate solution without introducing foreign transitional authorities or an externally imposed governance structure The Russian draft cites the UN Charter and recalls all its relevant resolutions on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question” as well as a UN General Assembly resolution on the peaceful settlement of the conflict It welcomes the initiative that led to the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip , referring to the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict of September 29, and calls on all parties with UN facilitation to determine practical steps to implement it

The resolution also stresses the need to maintain the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip that should lead to a comprehensive and permanent cessation of hostilities , urging all sides to comply with international humanitarian and human rights law

US announces new militar y operation in Latin America

WASHINGTON Ag e n c i e s

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Thursday a military operation to “remove narco-terrorists amid growing concerns that a US naval build-up in Latin American waters could presage land strikes and a wider conflict Today, I m announcing Operation SOUTHERN SPEAR,” Hegseth posted on social media platform X

This mission defends our Homeland removes narco-terrorists from our Hemisphere, and secures our Homeland from the drugs that are killing our people,” he said The post gave no details of what the operation would entail or how it might differ from military actions already being undertaken President Donald Trump s administration is conducting a military campaign in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, deploying naval and air forces for what it calls an anti-drugs offensive US forces have carried out strikes on about 20 vessels in international waters in the region since

early September killing at least 76 people according to US figures

operations revoke its immunities and designate it a terrorist organization He described these measures as a travesty of international law and a violation of the UN Charter “No member state has the authority to dissolve or dismantle a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly ” he said calling on the global community to reject such actions He reaffirmed Pakistan s commitment to the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including self-determination and statehood, and urged the international community to ensure UNRWA can continue its humanitarian work until a just political settlement is achieved He also emphasized that the agency s protection is critical not only for refugees but also for regional stability warning that undermining UNRWA could destabilize the broader Middle East Ambassador Jadoon also praised peace efforts mediated by Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye, and the United States under the leadership of former US

German authorities on Thursday identified the northern city of Hamburg as the location where a sewage sample containing the wild form of the poliovirus had been found saying a task force had been established and more samples would be taken The nation s main public health body Robert Koch Institute, or RKI, told Reuters on Wednesday that a wastewater test at an unspecified German location was positive for the wild poliovirus in a setback for efforts to rid the world of the deadly disease The detection of wild poliovirus in a wastewater sample shows that surveillance is working No clinical cases of polio have been reported to the RKI to date, the German health ministry said on Thursday The findings came more than 30 years after the last cases of wild poliovirus infections in people were registered in Germany and marked the first wild virus detection from environmental sampling in the country since this type of routine monitoring began in 2021, and the first in Europe

ing the boat was destroyed on Monday and The New York Times reporting the strike took place on Wednesday, both citing an unnamed Pentagon official

The Pentagon did not immediately reply to a request for comment

Asked for clarification on the precise nature of Operation Southern Spear, a Pentagon spokesperson simply referred inquiries back to Hegseth’s post on X CBS News on Wednesday cited multiple sources as saying senior military officials had presented Trump with updated options for potential operations in Venezuela, including strikes on land Venezuela announced on Tuesday what it called a major nationwide military deployment to counter the growing US naval presence off its coast including a newly

KOREA L AUNCHES GLOBAL ‘VIBE WITH US’ CHALLENGE TO CONNECT PAKISTANI YOUTH

Abdul Aleem Khan directs NHA to establish new toll plazas in KP

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f r e p o r t Federal Minister for Communications Aleem Khan has ordered the National Highway Authority to establish new toll plazas

Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari has said that those attempting to dissolve the Assembly unconstitutionally are unable to accept the supremacy of Parliament She emphasized that the era of taking suo motu notices has come to an end Azma Bokhari reaffirmed that all state institutions are bound by the Constitution with Parliament holding ultimate authority which defines true civilian supremacy She praised the Pakistan Armed Forces for bringing honor to the country worldwide Highlighting their exemplary performance she recalled how the Pakistan Army in May compelled an enemy five times its size to surrender within hours The sacrifices of the Armed Forces in safeguarding the nation s defense and peace are

incidents and responsible electricity use remains central to these efforts

during the September–February period each year (2022–2025) while user-created wedding playlists have surged by a remarkable 330% since 2022 More than ever the trends show that listeners are taking control of their soundtracks, crafting personalized playlists that match the vibe of every function The sound of today’s Pakistani wedding is a lively blend of Bollywood Desi Pop Dance Bhangra and Disco with the 2010s emerging as the most-featured decade in user compilations From local favourites like Nach Punjaban by Abrar Ul Haq, Haye Dil by Jimmy Khan, and Shakar Wandaan by Asrar, to global party anthems such as “London Thumakda”, “Gallan Goodiyaan”, and “Sadi Gali”, listeners are blending nostalgia with highenergy hits During the last wedding season (September 2024–February 2025) streams of these user-created playlists were almost 30% higher compared to the rest of the year At the heart of these celebrations lies Spotify s Shaadi hub, the go-to destination for every wedding playlist, from mehndi nights to dance floor showstoppers Streams of the Shaadi hub playlists in Pakistan jumped by 65% during last year's wedding season reflecting the growing love for curated localized soundtracks

PPP SUBMITS NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION AGAINST A JK PM, NOMINATES RATHORE AS SUCCESSOR

Tparty’s emotional ties to the region stating “Azad Kashmir is close to the heart of the PPP We will try our best to bring convenience to the Kashmiris If we have the numbers, there is no need for anyone s support PPP Azad Kashmir President Chaudhry Yasin reinforced the party’s commitment to the Kashmir cause citing Shaheed Benazir Bhutto s prioritization of the issue and President Asif Ali Zardari s advocacy for Kashmiri self-determination at international forums Yasin described the PPP s position in Azad Kashmir as “very strong,” noting that the party already holds the “golden number of 27” seats required

BHC issues show-cause notice to aviation chiefs

lack of competition Petitioner s counsel Dr Pervaiz Khan told the court that a deteriorating security situation has closed most bus and train options, leaving citizens dependent on air travel He said people travelling for medical treatment, education, business or employment are facing ticket prices that have become impossible for ordinary travellers and traders from remote

addressing suggestions for removing procedural difficulties The updated rules aim to enhance service delivery and ensure inexpensive and expeditious administration of justice In addition, the Full Court unanimously approved the grant of the status of Senior Advocate Supreme Court to Muhammad Munir Paracha, Advocate, in accordance with Rule 5 of Order IV of the Supreme Court Rules 2025

strength to replace the current administration and address longstanding issues in the region Yasin cautioned however that governing Azad Kashmir is not a bed of flowers but a garland of thorns, highlighting the challenges ahead for the incoming administration under Faisal Rathore

Pakistan urges strengthening of UN General Assembly to resolve disputes, uphold peace

Amid rising global conflicts and emerging international challenges

Pakistan has renewed its call to strengthen the role of the UN General Assembly the only principal organ with universal membership in resolving disputes and maintaining global peace

A revitalized General Assembly is essential to a revitalized United Nations Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan s permanent representative to the UN, told the 193-member Assembly during a debate on the ‘Revitalization of the work of the General Assembly

He stressed that the Assembly s work extends beyond procedural matters, encompassing the

peaceful settlement of disputes through mediation and arbitration in line with the UN Charter

“For the United Nations to remain credible, its resolutions must be implemented in both letter and spirit Ambassador Asim Ahmad said highlighting that such resolutions carry moral legal and political weight, reflecting the collective will of the international community

“All organs and member states must therefore respect and implement these decisions ” he added

Reiterating Pakistan s proposal the envoy called for a dedicated mechanism to monitor the implementation of GA resolutions, supported by regular, detailed reporting from the UN Secretariat “Such a mechanism would strengthen the Assembly s effectiveness accountability and rele-

vance he noted

He also reaffirmed that resolutions remain valid until their mandates are fully implemented a principle underscoring the enduring authority of the Assembly’s decisions

Looking ahead Ambassador Ahmad emphasized that as the world confronts new challenges from governance of digital technologies and artificial intelligence to sustainable use of outer space and global commons the Assembly must remain central to these discussions to ensure inclusive and equitable global governance

Highlighting the Assembly s complementary role to the Security Council, he said, “When the Council is unable or unwilling to act, the Assembly is fully empowered to assume its responsibilities under the UN Charter

Ahsan Iqbal defends 27th amendment as milestone for strengthening judicial system

ISLAMABAD

s ta f f r e p o r t

Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on Friday described the passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment as a landmark step aimed at strengthening the judiciary, improving federal cohesion and advancing democratic reform Speaking to reporters after unveiling the Monthly Development Update for November 2025 he said the creation of a constitutional court fulfilled a commitment made nearly two decades ago under the Charter of Democracy, signed by Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif

ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t

The federal government has established an independent commission for the protection of journalists and media professionals officials said on Friday The move comes under Section 12 of the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act, 2021, aimed at safeguarding media workers against harassment, threats, and violence

The Commission for the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals (CPJMP) has been formally notified by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

and supported by all major parties at the time He said the concept had long enjoyed broad political agreement, adding that its purpose was to ensure equal provincial representation in constitutional matters and ease concerns about exclusion from key legal decisions No political group he added had opposed the idea on grounds of weakening the judiciary since 2006 He dismissed criticism that the amendment undermined judicial independence calling such objections political rather than substantive According to him the reform would help the Supreme Court function more efficiently by allowing constitutional questions to be handled sep-

(MOIB) It will exercise the powers and perform the functions prescribed under the Act The CPJMP comprises both ex officio members and representatives from journalist bodies across the country

Ex officio members include the Principal Information Officer and Executive Director General from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting as well as the Director General HR from the Ministry of Human Rights

The commission also includes representatives from journalist associations nationwide: Ghulam Nabi Yousafzai from the Press Association of Supreme Court

arately freeing regular benches to deal with day-to-day caseloads

The minister said the court would streamline adjudication and reduce delays that often tied up judges for weeks He linked the reform to wider national security considerations as well arguing that modern governance required integrated decision-making much like contemporary defence structures that operate across land, air, sea, cyber and space domains Ahsan Iqbal criticised opposition lawmakers for protests during the parliamentary session saying they had offered no alternative proposals and instead chose confrontation over debate

Nayyer Ali from the National Press Club Islamabad Naveed Akbar Chaudhary of the Parliamentary Reporters Association of Pakistan Afzal Butt of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists – Barna, Hassan Abbas of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists – Barna Azeem Group Muhammad Nawaz Raza of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists – Dastoor Tahir Hassan Khan from the Karachi Union of Journalists, Tamsela Chisti from the Punjab Union of Journalists, Nadia Saboohi from the Khyber Union of Journalists and Khalil Ahmed from the Balochistan Union of Journalists