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INDIA’S UNILATERAL SUSPENSION OF IWT A ‘BLATANT ACT OF WATER AGGRESSION’: PM Friday, 6 June, 2025 I 9 Zilhaj, 1446
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PM SHEHBAZ SAYS PAKISTAN WOULD ALSO TRIUMPH ON THE WATER FRONT JUST AS IT ACHIEVED VICTORY IN THE RECENT WAR
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 330 I 8 Pages I Karachi Edition
SETS UP A HIGH-POWERED COMMITTEE UNDER DEPUTY PM TO OVERSEE FUNDING STRATEGIES FOR NEW DAM PROJECTS
Appointment to key UN bodies validates global trust in Pakistan’s counterterrorism credentials: PM Shehbaz ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
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ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
RIME Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday termed India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) as “a blatant violation and act of water aggression,” warning Pakistan will give a befitting response under the decisions taken in the April 24 National Security Committee (NSC) meeting. Chairing a high-level meeting on water resources at the Prime Minister’s House here, he vowed that just as Pakistan achieved victory in the recent war, it would also triumph on the water front. The high-level meeting brought together Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Field Marshal COAS General Syed Asim Munir, federal ministers, chief ministers of all four provinces, Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, and senior federal and
provincial officials. “This is a battle of justice, and like every battle we have fought with unity, we will defeat India’s water aggression with resolve and wisdom,” said the prime minister. He emphasized that living nations confront challenges head-on and make strategic, lasting decisions to protect their future generations. PM Shehbaz Sharif said that the Indian threats to weaponize water by attempting to violate the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty are increasing each day. He highlighted that the Treaty, a binding international agreement, does not allow any party to unilaterally withdraw, and India’s claims are politically and legally hollow. All provincial chief ministers, along with the leadership of AJK and GilgitBaltistan, strongly condemned India’s water threats and unanimously reaffirmed their support for the federal government’s position. The Prime Minister lauded this united stance, calling it “a reflection of our collective national resolve to protect Pakistan’s water security.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that Pakistan’s recent appointment to key UN committees reaffirmed the international community’s trust in the country’s counterterrorism credentials. In a post on X, the prime minister said the appointments were a “matter of great pride.” He added, “These key appointments validate the international community’s confidence and trust in Pakistan’s counterterrorism credentials as well as an acknowledgement of our strong and unwavering commitment to eradicate this global menace. “As one of the biggest victims of terrorism, with over 90,000 casualties and
Emphasizing the urgency of enhancing water storage, PM Shehbaz Sharif ordered the establishment of a high-powered committee under Deputy PM Ishaq Dar to oversee funding strategies for new dam projects. The committee will include all provincial chief ministers, the Prime Minister of AJK, and relevant federal ministers, and is directed to submit its recommendations within 72 hours. “We will prioritize the construction of non-controversial reservoirs. Wherever there is unanimity, we must act
Grand Mosque Imam urges compassion, solidarity with Palestine in Hajj sermon
MAKKAH
STAFF REPORT
Imam of Makkah’s Grand Mosque Sheikh Dr Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid delivered a spiritually charged sermon on Thursday during the annual Hajj pilgrimage, calling for unity, piety, and compassion— while offering heartfelt prayers for the people of Palestine. The sermon took place at Masjid Namirah in Arafat, where over 1.5 million pilgrims from across the globe gathered to perform Waqoof-e-Arafah, the central rite of Hajj. The Day of Arafat is considered the holiest day in the Islamic calendar, a time when be-
lievers seek divine forgiveness and draw spiritually closer to God. In his address, Sheikh Humaid focused on the core themes of Tawheed (the oneness of God), sincere worship, and moral conduct. He reminded Muslims that worship is due to Allah alone and that no prophet or righteous person should be venerated in place of the Creator. On the other hand, hundreds of thousands of Muslim pilgrims gathered on the outskirts of Makkah at Jabal al-Rahmah, also known as Mount Arafat, where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) delivered his last sermon, as part of Haj rites as the holy week nears its completion.
Carrying colorful umbrellas to protect themselves from the sweltering heat, the pilgrims could be seen walking on foot to make their way to the top of the mountain, where they would sit and pray before moving on to the stoning ritual at Muzdalifa, halfway between Mina and Arafat. Speaking to AFP, one of the pilgrims from Pakistan said, “I’ve been trying to get here… for the past 3 years,” adding that he feels blessed to be there. Many pilgrims rushed to get there early so they could avoid the scorching heat. This year, authorities have mobilised more than 40 government agencies and 250,000 officials, doubling their efforts against heat-related illness following the lethal heatwave of 2024 in Saudi Arabia that claimed the lives of 1,300 pilgrims. The world’s largest gathering kicked off on Friday as Muslims from all over the world poured into Saudi Arabia. One of the five fundamental pillars of Islam, Haj is performed every year in Makkah with millions of pilgrims travelling to the holy land to partake in the ritual. The Imam of Makkah’s Grand Mosque emphasized Islam’s fundamental pillars— prayer (salah), fasting (sawm), almsgiving (zakat), and pilgrimage (Hajj)—urging believers to uphold virtues such as patience, modesty, truthfulness, and gratitude.
more than $150 billion economic losses, Pakistan’s sacrifices in combatting this scourge have been second to none.” On Wednesday, Pakistan was appointed chair of the committee established under Resolution 1988 (2011), which oversees the implementation of sanctions against the Afghan Taliban. Pakistan was also named vice chair of the Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), which monitors implementation of Resolution 1373 (2001), a core component of the UN’s global counterterrorism architecture. Additionally, Pakistan will serve as co-chair of two important subsidiary bodies: the Informal Working Group on Documentation and the newly formed Working Group on Sanctions.
without delay. These dams are not political — they are a national necessity,” the Prime Minister said. He made it clear that any project with cross-provincial consensus will be fast-tracked and completed on a priority basis. A detailed briefing was given during the meeting on Pakistan’s water infrastructure. Officials informed the participants that construction of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam is underway and expected to be completed by 2032, while the Mohmand Dam is likely to be completed by 2027.
BEIJING
Chinese President Xi Jinping took a phone call from U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday evening. Xi said that recalibrating the direction of the giant ship that is China-U.S. relations requires the two presidents to take the helm and set the right course. It is imperative to steer clear of the various disturbances and disruptions, he said. Noting that the two countries’ lead officials recently held an economic and trade meeting in Geneva at the suggestion of the U.S. side, Xi said it marked an important step forward in resolving the relevant issues through dialogue and consultation and was welcomed by both societies and the international community. “It proved that dialogue and cooperation is the only right choice,” he said. The two sides need to make good use of the economic and trade consultation mecha-
nism already in place and seek win-win results in the spirit of equality and respect for each other’s concerns, said Xi. “The Chinese side is sincere about this and, at the same time, has its principles,” he said. Noting that the Chinese always honor and deliver what has been promised, Xi said both sides should make good on the agreement reached in Geneva. He said China has been seriously and earnestly executing the agreement, and the U.S. side should acknowledge the progress already made and remove the negative measures taken against China. The two sides should enhance communication in such fields as foreign affairs, economy and trade, military, and law enforcement to build consensus, clear up misunderstandings, and strengthen cooperation, said Xi. He emphasized that the United States must handle the Taiwan question with prudence so that the fringe separatists bent on “Taiwan in-
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti has stated that India’s intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), is actively sponsoring and supporting the terrorist group “Fitna al-Hindustan” to destabilize peace in Pakistan, especially in Balochistan, according to Radio Pakistan. “The ‘Indian proxy group’ is {purely terrorist} and has no connection either with Baloch people or the province of Balochistan,” CM Bugti declared while addressing a key press conference in the federal capital here on Thursday. Provincial Minister for Planning and Development Zahoor Ahmed Buledi and Chief Secretary Balochistan Shakeel Qadir Khan were also present on the occasion. During the press conference, misleading reports by Indian media were also shown, including false claims about Karachi Port amid recent tensions between Pakistan and India. Audio recordings of Fitna al-Hindustan operatives Shanbay and Rehman Gul were also played for journalists, in which they could be heard exchanging information with their RAW handlers. The Chief Minister further said that the terrorists responsible for the killing of innocent children in Khuzdar were acting under the instructions of “Fitna al-Hindustan, with funding and directives provided by RAW.” “These terrorists are not representatives of the Baloch people; they are merely tools of RAW.” The Chief Minister said this is a complete RAW-funded intelligence war against the state of Pakistan, which will be responded to with full force by the Baloch people alongside the brave Armed Forces of Pakistan.
PAF to fully support training of pilots, capacity building of Belarus Air Force: Air Chief ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
A high-level defense delegation led by Major General Andrei Yulianovich Lukyanovich, Commander of the Air Force & Air Defense of Belarus, called on Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force, at Air Headquarters Islamabad, said a statement issued by Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Thursday. During the meeting, a wide array of mutual interests related to air power and military cooperation were thoroughly discussed. The discussions also reaffirmed the mutual commitment of both nations to further strengthening their longstanding bilateral relations, with both sides agreeing to sustain close and continuous engagement between their respective air forces. On his arrival, a smartly turned out contingent of the Pakistan Air Force presented a guard of honor to Major General Andrei Yulianovich Lukyanovich. During the meeting, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu highlighted the robust bilateral military ties between the two countries and assured that PAF is
In phone call with Trump, Xi urges resolving issues through dialogue, consultation STAFF REPORT
RAW sponsoring ‘Fitna al-Hindustan’ to destabilize Pakistan: CM Bugti
dependence” will not be able to drag China and America into the dangerous terrain of confrontation and even conflict. Trump, for his part, said that he has great respect for President Xi and that the U.S.China relationship is very important. He said the U.S. wants the Chinese economy to do very well and that the U.S. and China working together can get a lot of great things done. The U.S. will honor the one-China policy, he said. The meeting in Geneva was very successful and produced a good deal, said Trump, adding that the U.S. will work with China to execute the deal. The U.S. loves to have Chinese students coming to study in America, he said. Xi welcomed Trump to visit China again, for which Trump expressed heartfelt appreciation. The two presidents agreed that their teams should continue implementing the Geneva agreement and hold another round of meetings as soon as possible.
committed to extending full support for the basic to tactical-level training of pilots and maintenance crews for capacity building of the Belarus Air Force. He reiterated his resolve to consolidate the existing bilateral Air Force-to-Air Force ties between the two countries by enhancing collaboration, particularly in the areas of training, technological development, and operational capability. A key highlight of the meeting was the mutual consensus on enhancing Air Force-to-Air Force cooperation through a variety of domains. This includes the initiation of high-level exchange programs aimed at fostering professional development between
the two air forces. Major General Andrei Yulianovich Lukyanovich expressed his sincere gratitude for the warm hospitality extended to him, underscoring the long-standing bond of friendship between Pakistan and Belarus. The visiting dignitary conveyed the keen interest of the Belarus Air Force in learning from the Pakistan Air Force’s rich operational experience, particularly in the context of wartime operations. He also acknowledged PAF’s professionalism and effectiveness in complex operational environments and shared his Air Force’s eagerness to draw lessons from PAF’s combat-tested doctrines and training regimes.
IHC puts off Al-Qadir Trust case hearing until June 11
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday adjourned the hearing of the petitions, seeking suspension of sentences awarded to former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in 190 million Pound case (Al-Qadir Trust case) until June 11 when the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) told the court it needed time to prepare arguments for the case. Acting IHC Chief Justice (CJ) Justice Sarfaraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif heard the petitions. Earlier, talking to the media at the IHC, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said he was hopeful that the nation would hear good news just two days ahead of Eidul Azha. “In routine, such cases are decided within a month,” he said, adding it was for the first time that the IHC was hearing the petitions, seeking suspension of a sentence awarded to Imran Khan. “For the first time, somebody from the prosecution would appear in the court in connection with the case,” he asserted. Gohar further said that the three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif had been granted bail 70 days after his first conviction, while 51 days later he was convicted for the second time. He went on to say that on August 3, the PTI founder would complete his two years at Adiala Jail. When a reporter asked him whether former Sindh governor Muhammad Zubair was going to join the PTI, the party chairman replied that the party’s doors were open for all. At a time when the hearing was in progress at the IHC’s courtroom, PTI leaders, including Aliya Hamza, Amir Dogar, Kanwal Shauzab and Barrister Gohar, kept shouting slogans in support of the release of Imran Khan. STAFF REPORT