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PAKISTAN INVITED TO JOIN US-LED GAZA BOARD OF PEACE TO OVERSEE POST-WAR RECONSTRUCTION Monday, 19 January, 2026 | 29 Rajabul Murajjab, 1447
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PRESIDENT TRUMP EXTENDS FORMAL INVITATION TO PM SHEHBAZ, UNDERSCORING ISLAMABAD’S ONGOING ENGAGEMENT WITH INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS FOR PEACE AND STABILITY IN GAZA FOUNDING MEMBERS INCLUDE EX-UK PREMIER TONY BLAIR, SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO, JARED KUSHNER AND AJAY BANGA
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Rs 50.00 | Vol XVI No 195 | 48 Pages | Karachi Edition
WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCED BOP TASKED WITH GAZA RECONSTRUCTION, GOVERNANCE, AND HAMAS DISARMAMENT
NCAG TECHNOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION TO MANAGE GAZA TRANSITION, LED BY DR ALI SHA’ATH
PAKISTAN TO ASSESS ROLE WHILE SUPPORTING CEASEFIRE, HUMANITARIAN AID, AND UN RESOLUTIONS ISLAMABAD
staff report
AKISTAN has been invited to join the newly announced US-led Gaza Board of Peace (BoP), a high-level international mechanism tasked with supervising Gaza’s reconstruction, transition governance, and the disarmament of Hamas, the Foreign Office (FO) confirmed on Sunday. Responding to media queries, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the invitation was extended by US President Donald Trump to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, underscoring Islamabad’s ongoing engagement with international efforts for peace and stability in Gaza. “Pakistan will remain actively engaged with global initiatives aimed at peace and security in Gaza, leading toward a lasting solution to the Palestine issue in accordance with United Nations resolutions,” he stated. High-profile membership and global outreach The White House officially unveiled the structure and membership of the BoP, describing it as a global mechanism to manage Gaza’s post-war transition. Western diplomats likened the
initiative to “a kind of mini-UN,” initially focused on Gaza but potentially expandable to other conflict zones. Founding executive members of the BoP include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law. Other members include Marc Rowan, CEO of Apollo Global Management; World Bank
President Ajay Banga; and US Deputy National Security Adviser Robert Gabriel. Leaders from more than 60 countries have been invited to serve on the Peace Council, with confirmations from Canada and Argentina. Turkey, Egypt, and Jordan have also received formal invitations, with consultations ongoing. Governance, security, and reconstruction in Gaza Under the US plan, Gaza will be
Search begins for over 50 missing in Karachi’s Gul Plaza as fire leaves 6 dead, doused KARACHI
staff report
The firefighters launched a search operation at Karachi’s Gul Plaza after 10pm on Sunday evening after they finally able to douse the fire after 24 hours, with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah saying that six deaths have been confirmed, but over 50 people were reportedly missing and 22 others injured in the inferno The inferno that gutted the multi-storey shopping complex broke out late Saturday night and took nearly 24 hours to bring fully under control, triggering a largescale emergency response involving firefighters, rescue teams, and paramilitary personnel. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, speaking to the media at the site, expressed deep grief over the loss of lives. “I say with utmost grief that so far, it is confirmed that six people have lost their lives, including, KMC firefighter Furqan Shaukat while 22 others were in-
jured and have now been discharged from hospitals as they sustained minor injuries,” he said. Highlighting the ongoing concern over missing persons, the CM added, “Around 58 people — some reports suggest more than 60 — are missing. May God give them more life.” Rescue 1122 teams finally managed to enter the charred building late Sunday to search for survivors and recover bodies, though the cooling process was still ongoing due to the intensity of the blaze. Fire spreads rapidly in old building The fire erupted at Gul Plaza, located on MA Jinnah Road, around 10:16pm on Saturday, and the first fire tender reached the site at 10:27pm. The mall, a three-storey building with a basement, housed over 1,000 shops. Officials suspect a short circuit in a shop storing flammable material as the probable cause, though investigations are ongoing. The Sindh CM confirmed that 26 fire tenders, 10 bowsers, and
multiple snorkels were engaged in the firefighting operation. “All municipal authorities acted immediately. These details will be verified, but our teams responded as swiftly as possible,” he said. Rescue 1122 Chief Operating Officer Abid Jalal noted the challenges faced by firefighters due to the building’s dilapidated structure and the abundance of flammable materials. “The backside has collapsed, and the front area is also about to collapse. Sending firefighters inside right now is not without danger. Our strategy was to first control the fire, then conduct the search safely,” he said. Emergency response and missing persons According to the South district office, 53 reports of missing individuals had been lodged by families so far. Delhi Colony residents Mansoor and Jameel reported being unable to contact six of their family members, including a 14-year-old girl, who had visited the mall for shopping.
Leghari rejects NEPRA’s report as ‘factually incorrect,’ asserts circular debt reduced by Rs780b in a year ISLAMABAD
staff report
Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari on Sunday strongly rebutted claims made in the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority’s (NEPRA) State of Industry Report 2025, terming several conclusions “factually incorrect” and asserting that deep-rooted reforms have already delivered tangible relief to electricity consumers while putting the power sector on a sustainable path. Addressing a press conference, Leghari said NEPRA’s report was based on outdated and insufficient data, leading to misperceptions about the sector’s performance. He highlighted that the report, which should have been released in August 2025, failed to reflect the government’s achievements, including improvements in debt management, tariff rationalization, and consumer empowerment initiatives. The minister emphasised that
the government’s six-year circular debt settlement plan is firmly on track, noting that circular debt, which once stood at Rs2.4 trillion, has been reduced to Rs1.6 trillion within a year—marking the first significant decline in decades. He said that contrary to NEPRA’s assertions, the government has fully serviced existing debt through the debt service surcharge and is committed to completely eliminating circular debt
within five to six years. Responding to NEPRA’s claim that Pakistan has around 8,700 megawatts of surplus electricity capacity, Leghari acknowledged the presence of surplus capacity but said it was inaccurate to suggest the government had not reviewed “take-orpay” and “must-run” contracts. He explained that extensive negotiations with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) had resulted in the termination or revision of several costly contracts and the closure of inefficient power plants. These measures, he said, saved consumers billions of rupees while ensuring sector sustainability. The minister highlighted a historic, merit-based decision to cancel nearly 8,000 megawatts of future expensive power projects, including 7,967 MW selected purely on merit. “These actions eliminated unnecessary surplus power and will save consumers an estimated $17 billion in future costs,” he said.
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governed during a transition period by a Palestinian technocratic administration — the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) — headed by Dr Ali Sha’ath, a former Palestinian Authority deputy minister from Khan Younis. The NCAG will restore public services, rebuild civil institutions, and stabilise daily life while preparing the ground for long-term governance. Former UN Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov has been appointed High Representative for Gaza, serving as the primary link between the BoP and the NCAG, with executive authority on the ground. Security responsibilities will fall to an International Stabilisation Force (ISF), led by US Major General Jasper Jeffers, which will oversee security operations, support demilitarisation, and facilitate safe delivery of humanitarian aid and reconstruction materials. A Gaza Executive Board has also been formed to assist governance and service delivery, including Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi, Egypt’s General Hassan Rashad, UAE Minister Reem AlHashimy, Dutch diplomat Sigrid Kaag, and Israeli businessman Yakir Gabay, alongside several BoP members.
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TTAP demands independent probe, treason trial over ‘rigged’ 2024 polls KARACHI
staff report
The opposition alliance Tehreek Tahafuz-i-Ayeen Pakistan (TTAP) on Sunday intensified its campaign to drum up support for its upcoming “Black Day” on February 8, demanding an independent investigation into what it termed large-scale rigging during Feb 8, 2024 general elections and calling for punishment of those “responsible under Article 6 of the Constitution.” The demand was made during an All Parties Conference (APC) held in Karachi as part of the alliance’s mobilisation drive ahead of a nationwide protest movement planned for February 8 to mark the second anniversary of the elections. A TTAP delegation led by the alliance chief and newly appointed Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mehmood Khan Achakzai arrived in Sindh for a four-day visit to galvanise political forces and civil society ahead of the PTI-announced countrywide “street movement”. The alliance also announced that February 8 would be observed as a “Black Day” across Pakistan, accompanied by a nationwide strike to commemorate what it described as a stolen mandate. According to the TTAP manifesto presented at the APC, democratic stability is impossible without credible and transparent elections. “Democracy rests on the foundation of transparent elections; therefore, restoring public trust in the transfer of power is possible only through fair elections,” the document stated. The manifesto called for the immediate appointment of an impartial Chief Election Commissioner and the formation of a new election commission to conduct fresh, transparent elections. It further demanded an independent probe into alleged rigging in the February 8, 2024 polls, the identification of those responsible, and their prosecution under Article 6, which pertains to high treason. TTAP leaders also criticised the 26th and 27th constitutional amendments, alleging that they had undermined judicial independence by keeping the threat of judges’ transfers hanging over the judiciary. “Conscientious judges, including Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza, have been sidelined,” the manifesto said.