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Friday, 12 September, 2025 | 18 Rabiul Awal, 1447
Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 65 | 8 Pages | Lahore Edition
PM SHEHBAZ REAFFIRMS SOLIDARITY WITH QATAR, URGES MUSLIM UNITY AGAINST ISRAELI PROVOCATIONS
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PREMIER VISITS DOHA TO REAFFIRM PAKISTAN’S FULL SOLIDARITY WITH EMIR, ROYAL FAMILY, AND PEOPLE OF QATAR, CONDEMNING ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES AS ‘BLATANT VIOLATION’
PRAISES QATAR’S MEDIATION IN GAZA PEACE EFFORTS DESPITE ISRAELI DERAILMENT ATTEMPTS
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URGES MUSLIM WORLD TO UNITE AGAINST ISRAELI PROVOCATIONS, EMPHASIZING ISRAEL’S ONGOING AGGRESSION MUST BE STOPPED
SAYS PAKISTAN, QATAR VOW CLOSE COORDINATION TO PROMOTE PEACE, STABILITY, AND PALESTINIAN RIGHTS
Qatar says Netanyahu must be ‘brought to justice’ over strikes DOHA
reuters
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DOHA/ISLAMABAD staff report
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday called for unity in the Muslim world to confront Israeli provocations following Tel Aviv’s recent airstrikes in Doha that targeted Hamas leaders, reiterating that “Pakistan stands shoulder to shoulder with His Highness the Emir of Qatar, the royal family, and the brotherly people of Qatar during this difficult time,” state media reported. The prime minister made the remarks during a meeting with Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani in Doha, where he arrived on a daylong visit to express solidarity and regional
unity after the Israeli attacks, according to a statement issued by state broadcaster PTV on X. “The prime minister emphasized that Israel’s ongoing aggression in the Middle East must be stopped, and the Muslim world needs unity in its ranks to confront Israeli provocations,” PTV News reported. The statement said PM Shehbaz strongly condemned the Israeli strikes as a “blatant violation” of Qatar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He noted that the leadership and people of Pakistan were deeply concerned about the attack, which he said ran contrary to international law. Reaffirming the historical and brotherly ties between Pakistan and Qatar, the prime minister stressed that both coun-
Qatar’s prime minister warned Wednesday that an unprecedented Israeli strike in Doha targeting Hamas killed hope for Gaza hostages, calling for Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu to be “brought to justice”. His comments came a day after deadly strikes targeted Hamas leaders in Qatar — a US ally — a first in the oil-rich Gulf that rattled a region long shielded from conflict. “I think that what Netanyahu has done yesterday, he just killed any hope for those hostages,” Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told CNN. Doha is “reassessing everything” around their involvement in future ceasefire talks and discussing next steps with Washington, he added in tries stood firmly together. “In this spirit of brotherhood, Pakistan has stood shoulder to shoulder with His Highness the Emir of Qatar, the royal family and the brotherly people of Qatar during this difficult time,” he added. He assured the Qatari leadership of
over 2.4m evacuated as flood threat persists in punjab amid easing rains MULTAN/LAHORE/KARACHI/ISLAMABAD staff report
National and provincial disaster management authorities on Thursday reported large-scale evacuations, ongoing relief operations, and continuing flood risks in Punjab, even as monsoon intensity eased in parts of the province with over 2.4 million people have so far been evacuated from vulnerable villages and more than 5,000 villages submerged, while serious flood threats still persist due to high flows at Punjnad Barrage. NDMA Chairman Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik, flanked by Federal Minister for Climate Change Dr. Musadik Malik, told a media briefing in Islamabad that 9,500 tons of relief goods — including 9,000 tents, boats, and ration kits — have been dispatched to affected areas, with a total package of 30,000 tents under distribution. He said rehabilitation in Punjab would begin within three to four weeks once waters recede and critical infrastructure such as roads and communication networks is restored. He cautioned that another spell of moderate rainfall is expected between September 16 and 18 in AJK, northern and central Punjab, and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In Sindh, he noted, relief operations have accelerated with the help of volunteers, and around 150,000 people have been shifted to safer areas. Chairman Malik warned that climate-related disasters
are intensifying across Pakistan, affecting even traditionally safer regions like GB, KP, and AJK due to glacial melt and erratic rainfall. He said the prime minister has ordered a “Special National Dialogue Process” to frame long-term resilience strategies, including a comprehensive national climate plan. Damage assessment, particularly of agricultural losses in rice, cotton, and sugarcane, is underway. Minister Musadik Malik said the prime minister has directed preparation of a 300-day climate action plan within 15 days, declaring both a national climate emergency and an agricultural emergency. He said over 2.5 million people have already been evacuated to safer areas, while NGOs and welfare groups have contributed over 2,000 tons of relief goods. “In times of national crises, we stand together as one nation,” he said. Meanwhile, the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported declining monsoon intensity and easing flows at some points — including Head Trimmu (178,000 cusecs, decreasing) and Ravi Head Sadhnai (78,000 cusecs, decreasing) — but high and rising discharges were recorded at Punjnad Barrage (660,000 cusecs) and Sutlej Sulemanaki (124,000 cusecs). Other major flows included Sutlej at Gandas Singh Wala (182,000 cusecs), Chenab at Khanaki (92,000 cusecs) and Qadirabad (94,000 cusecs), and Ravi at Shahdara (31,000 cusecs).
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19 terrorists of ‘Fitna al-Khwarij’ neutralized in three KP IBOs: ISPR
RAWALPINDI
staff report
Nineteen Khwarij belonging to the Indian Proxy, Fitna al-Khwarij were sent to hell during a fire exchange with the security forces in three separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, the military’s media wing said on Thursday. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) on Thursday, “On 9-10 September, nineteen Khwarij belonging to Indian proxy, Fitna al Khwarij, were sent to hell in three separate engagements in Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa Province.” The ISPR said, “On the reported presence of Khwarij, an intelligence-based operation was conducted by the Security Forces in the general area of Guluno, Mohmand District. During the conduct of the operation, our own troops effectively engaged the khwarij location, and after an intense fire exchange, fourteen Indian-sponsored khwarij were sent to hell.” “Another intelligence-based operation was conducted in the general area of Datta Khel, North Waziristan District, and in the ensuing fire exchange, four more Khwarij were neu-
tralized by the security forces,” the ISPR reported. “In a third encounter that took place in Bannu District, one more Khwarij was neutralized by the security forces,” it added. The statement said that weapons and ammunition were also recovered from Indian-sponsored killer Khwarij, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in these areas. “Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other kharji found in the area, as the security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of Indian-sponsored terrorism from the country,” the ISPR statement said. President, PM commend successful operations President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif have commended the successful counter-terrorism operations of security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In a statement, President Asif Ali Zardari said the courage and professionalism of Pakistan’s brave soldiers continue to protect the nation from the scourge of terrorism.
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comments cited in CNN’s live blog after an interview with the broadcaster. The attack, just three months after Iran launched a retaliatory strike on a US airbase in Qatar, also cast serious doubt on Qatar-mediated Gaza ceasefire talks and undermined security reassurances to the Gulf from key ally Washington. Earlier Wednesday, Defence Minister Israel Katz vowed that Israel would “act against its enemies anywhere” while Netanyahu urged Qatar to expel Hamas officials or hold them to account, “because if you don’t, we will”. Qatar has hosted Hamas’s political bureau since 2012 with Washington’s blessing, and has been a key mediator in Gaza talks alongside Egypt and the United States. Israel’s military said it struck Huthi targets in Yemen on Wednesday, including in the capital Sanaa, killing 35 people according to the rebels. Pakistan’s full solidarity and support against what he termed an unjustified provocation. He also expressed deep sympathy over the loss of precious lives in Israel’s “brutal and heinous” attack and prayed for the swift recovery of the injured.
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PAF chief, Iraqi counterpart vow deeper defence, training partnership ISLAMABAD
staff report
Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has reaffirmed its unwavering support to the Iraqi Air Force in training and capacity building, with both sides agreeing to enhance collaboration through joint exercises, training initiatives and deeper cooperation in the aviation industry, according to the military’s media wing on Thursday. This understanding was reached during a meeting between Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force, and Lieutenant General Staff Pilot Mohanad Ghalib Mohammed Radi Al-Asadi, Commander of the Iraqi Air Force, who led a high-level defence delegation to Air Headquarters, Islamabad, a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. The Air Chief underscored the deep-rooted religious and historic bonds between Pakistan and Iraq as the foundation of their enduring defence partnership. He assured the visiting dignitary of PAF’s full support in modernising Iraq’s training system, from basic to advanced operational and tactical levels. Both commanders also concurred on enhancing interoperability and forging stronger operational synergy through joint initiatives, the ISPR said. Earlier, upon arrival, a smartly turned-out contingent of Pakistan Air Force presented a Guard of Honour to the Commander of the Iraqi Air Force. Lt-Gen Al-Asadi expressed appreciation for the warm reception and commended PAF’s visionary leadership in transforming the force into a modern, professional and technologically advanced air arm of the region.
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