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PM DEPARTS FOR LONDON AFTER INKING MILESTONE ‘STRATEGIC MUTUAL DEFENCE AGREEMENT’ WITH KSA Friday, 19 September, 2025 | 25 Rabiul Awal, 1447
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PREMIER SHEHBAZ HAILS SAUDI CROWN PRINCE’S ‘VISION, LEADERSHIP’ DURING LANDMARK RIYADH VISIT
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 72 | 8 Pages | Karachi Edition
PACT DEEPENS PAK-SAUDI DEFENCE COOPERATION AMID REGIONAL SECURITY CHALLENGES
LANDMARK PACT DECLARES ‘ANY AGGRESSION AGAINST EITHER COUNTRY SHALL BE CONSIDERED AN AGGRESSION AGAINST BOTH’
Saudi-Pak defence pact marks shift as Israeli threat and economic concerns converge PROFIT
AbdullAh NiAzi
P
ISLAMABAD
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RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday departed for London after concluding his state visit to Saudi Arabia, where Pakistan and the Kingdom signed a milestone Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement aimed at deepening security and defence cooperation. Deputy Governor of Riyadh, Prince Muhammad bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, bid farewell to the premier at Riyadh Airport. Pakistani prime minister had travelled to the Kingdom at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
The landmark pact, signed at Al-Yamamah Palace during the PM’s one-day visit, declared that “any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.” The agreement, building on nearly eight decades of close ties, seeks to strengthen joint deterrence, expand defence cooperation, and promote security in the region and beyond. According to a Pak-Saudi joint statement, the accord reflects the “shared commitment of both nations to enhance their security, develop aspects of defence cooperation, and achieve peace in the region and the world.” A Saudi official, however, clarified to Reuters that the pact was not meant to respond to any specific event but rather underscored
IHC suspends Justice Sattar’s ruling, restores Hafeezur Rehman as PTA chairman
The Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia indicates that Saudi Arabia is sensing a legitimate threat of direct action from Israel. The emergency meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Doha ended with condemnations of the Israeli attack on Qatar and calls on the Trump Administration to rein in the Netanyahu government, but without a decision on any sort of joint GCC military retaliation against Israel. As the senior partner in the GCC, Saudi Arabia’s cooperation would have been vital in any such response. The group settled for a joint defence agreement but no immediate action. Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman also met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the summit, and another meeting between the two
longstanding strategic cooperation. The agreement comes at a sensitive regional juncture, marked by heightened tensions including Israeli strikes on Qatar. For decades, Pakistani military trainers have served in the Kingdom,
was scheduled for just four days later in Riyadh. The visuals of the Prime Minister’s aircraft being escorted by Saudi fighter jets upon entering the Kingdom’s airspace have gone viral for a reason: such protocol has been unheard of before this. It became immediately clear why this was the case when the two leaders signed an agreement of mutual defence. Very simply put, the agreement binds Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to act in each other’s defence. An attack on one is to be treated as an attack on the other. It is not unimportant in this context that Israeli officials have been mentioning Pakistan by name through different diplomatic channels. The country’s main defence of their attack on Doha was to point towards the US operation in Abbottabad which found and killed Osama Bin Laden. Pakistan’s representatives to the UN have been responding robustly to such claims.
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while Riyadh has provided Islamabad with crucial financial support during economic crises. The latest pact, observers note, significantly elevates the bilateral partnership.
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Four ‘India-sponsored’ terrorists neutralized in Khuzdar’s during IBO: ISPR RAWALPINDI
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Four “Indian-sponsored terrorists” were killed in a fire exchange with the security forces during an intelligencebased operation (IBO) in Balochistan’s Khuzdar district, the military’s media wing reported on Thursday. In a statement issued here, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said, “On September 17 2025, security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in the Khuzdar district of Balochistan, on the reported presence of terrorists belonging to the Indian proxy, Fitna al Hindustan.” The ISPR statement said that during the operation, “own forces effectively engaged the terrorists’ location,” adding that “after an intense fire exchange, four Indian-sponsored terrorists were sent to hell.” Weapons, ammunition, and explosives were recovered from slain terrorists, the ISPR said. The terrorists were “actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area,” it added. “Sanitisation operation is being conducted to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area,” the statement read. “Security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of Indian-sponsored terrorism from the country and reaffirm the nation’s unwavering resolve to bring the perpetrators of terrorism to justice,” it added. The state has designated Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa-based terror groups as Fitna al-Khawarij and Balochistanbased groups as Fitna al-Hindustan to highlight India’s alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan. A day ago, the ISPR had issued another statement, saying that the armed forces had eliminated five “Indian sponsored terrorists” during an IBO in Khuzdar earlier this week.
Five killed in Chaman blast near Pak-Afghan border taxi stand Pakistan highlights terrorism from Afghan soil as top security threat at UN ISLAMABAD
ISLAMABAD
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The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday suspended the single bench’s ruling directing the removal of retired Major-General Hafeezur Rehman from his post as chairperson of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), allowing him to continue working pending adjudication of the intracourt appeal. The division bench, comprising Justices Muhammad Asif and Inaam Ameen Minhas, heard Rehman’s intra-court appeal against the ruling issued two days earlier by Justice Babar Sattar, who had declared the PTA chairman’s appointment “illegal” and directed his immediate removal. Justice Sattar’s September 16 verdict, passed on a petition filed in 2023 by digital rights activist Usama Khilji, held that the creation of a PTA post for Member (Administration) and Rehman’s subsequent appointment as chairman were “unconstitutional, illegal and void ab initio.” The court had also ruled that the senior-most serving PTA member should temporarily assume charge until the federal government made a lawful appointment. Rehman, however, challenged the decision within hours, leading to Thursday’s suspension of the earlier order. During the proceedings, Advocate Qasim Wadud appeared as counsel for the PTA chairman, while Additional Attorney General (AAG) Salman Mansoor advanced arguments on behalf of the federal government. At the outset, AAG Mansoor argued that Justice Sattar had granted relief “which was not even sought in the petition.”
CHAMAN/QUETTA stAff report
At least five people were killed and several others injured in a powerful explosion near a taxi stand in the refugee camp area of Chaman, close to the Pak-Afghan border, on Thursday, police and local administration confirmed. District Police Officer (DPO) Abdullah Cheema said the blast occurred in the parking area near the taxi stand, where vehicles belonging to Afghan immigrants and locals were stationed. “Five people lost their lives, while others sustained injuries in the explosion,” he said, adding that police and rescue teams immediately rushed to the site. Emergency responders, including the Levies Force, Frontier Corps (FC), and
other security agencies, cordoned off the area as ambulances transported the deceased and injured to nearby medical facilities. An emergency was declared at the Civil Hospital Chaman, where the victims were shifted. Deputy Commissioner Habib Bangalzai told reporters that five people had died on the spot, while at least three others were being treated for serious injuries. He confirmed that a bomb disposal squad was examining the site to collect evidence. According to initial investigations, the explosion was caused by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) concealed in the baggage of travelers. The Balochistan Home Department said an inquiry had been launched to ascertain the exact nature of the device and the perpetrators behind the attack.
Pakistan has informed the UN Security Council that terrorism emanating from Afghanistan remains the “gravest threat” to its national security. Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, speaking at the Council’s briefing on Afghanistan, outlined the ongoing operations of various terrorist groups, including Daesh-K, Al-Qaeda, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and others, which continue to operate from Afghan sanctuaries. Ambassador Iftikhar stated that over 60 terrorist camps exist in Afghanistan, acting as hubs for crossborder attacks. He presented “credible evidence” of collaboration among these groups, highlighting their joint training, illicit weapons trade, and coordinated attacks on Pakistan’s civilian and military targets. The ambassador also addressed the online threat posed by these groups, noting that nearly 70 propaganda accounts
“The scene of the incident has been surrounded by forces. Levies and other law enforcement agencies are present at the spot, and evidence collection is un-
linked to Afghan IP addresses were being used to promote extremist agendas. He called for stronger cooperation with social media platforms to curb this activity. Iftikhar further revealed that Pakistan and China had requested the UN’s 1267 Sanctions Committee to list the BLA and Majeed Brigade, urging prompt action on the proposal. He described the TTP as the largest terrorist group on Afghan soil with around 6,000 fighters. Pakistan has thwarted several infiltration attempts, often at a heavy cost, with 12 Pakistani soldiers recently martyred while defending the borders. The ambassador also addressed Afghanistan’s ongoing economic and humanitarian crisis, emphasizing the insufficient funding for the UN’s 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, which has only received 27% of its required funds. He called for fairer sharing of the refugee burden, highlighting Pakistan’s long history of hosting Afghan refugees with limited international support.
derway,” the Home Department said in a statement. It also urged the public to avoid spreading rumours and to cooperate with investigators.
In letter to CJP, Imran Khan alleges ‘political victimisation,’ seeking urgent hearings of pending cases ISLAMABAD
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Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan has written a detailed letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi, voicing grievances over his imprisonment, alleged political victimization, and the judiciary’s handling of key petitions. The letter, dated September 16, was delivered to the Supreme Court on Thursday by PTI leader Latif Khosa. Speaking to the media afterward, Khosa said the CJP had assured that Khan’s complaints regarding prison conditions would be addressed within 24 hours. “We will inform you about whatever happens in [the next] 24 hours,” he told reporters, adding that the top judge had also sought suggestions on jail reforms. Earlier, Khan’s sister Aleema Khanum attempted to hand over the letter but was reportedly stopped by police from meeting the CJP. However, Khosa was later allowed entry. Key grievances
In the letter, Khan complained of enduring more than 772 days in solitary confinement, confined to a “9×11 cage” with no access to books, newspapers, or regular meetings with his lawyers and family. He accused authorities of arbitrarily cancelling meetings “at the whims” of one man — a reference to the army chief. Khan also claimed his sons were barred from phone calls and that his wife, Bushra Bibi, was being subjected to “inhuman and degrading treatment” in jail, including denial of medical care and basic rights. He pointed out that courts have previously held female prisoners are entitled to leniency through bail, but said this principle had been “suspended” in his wife’s case. The PTI founder further alleged that thousands of his supporters remained in prison, many subjected to “abductions, beatings and military trials” in violation of constitutional safeguards. He described his imprisonment as “calculated psychological torture” aimed at breaking his will and dismantling PTI. Political and judicial criticism
Khan reiterated his claim that PTI had won a “landslide victory” in the 2024 general elections but that the people’s mandate was “stolen overnight,” citing the yet-to-bepublished Commonwealth Observer Group report, which he said found serious irregularities in the polls. He also criticized the 26th Constitutional Amendment, calling it a “tool to sanctify electoral dacoity,” and accused the Islamabad High Court, under Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar, of deliberately stalling hearings of his Al-Qadir Trust and Toshakhana petitions. “The IHC has abandoned impartiality and reduced itself to a facilitator of an unjust campaign against me,” Khan wrote. He urged the CJP to direct the high court to fix the pending petitions for hearing, restore judicial independence, and ensure equal treatment before the law. Appeal to CJP Concluding his letter, Khan appealed to the chief justice: “I, as the patron-in-chief of Pakistan’s
largest political party, seek only what the Constitution guarantees: justice, dignity and equality before the law.” He added that the Supreme Court’s decisions would shape Pakistan’s destiny:
“The courage of the verdicts you inscribe in the book of this nation’s history will go down in history … I urge Your Lordship to uphold your oath and show the people that the Supreme Court remains their final refuge of justice.”