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Wednesday, 21 January, 2026 | 1 Sha’ban, 1447
Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 197 | 8 Pages | Karachi Edition
PM REAFFIRMS RESOLVE TO DEFEAT TERRORISM, STRENGTHEN ECONOMY AND ENSURE EQUAL DEVELOPMENT
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PREMIER SHEHBAZ PAYS TRIBUTE TO 100,000 MARTYRS, INCLUDING SECURITY PERSONNEL AND CIVILIANS, IN FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM
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LAUDS KP’S SACRIFICES, VOWS UNITED FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM, INCLUSIVE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
TERMS APS PESHAWAR TRAGEDY g REITERATES PAKISTAN’S DESIRE FOR PEACEFUL RELATIONS WITH AFGHANISTAN WHILE DEFINING MOMENT, WARNING SAFEGUARDING NATIONAL SECURITY, CONDEMNING AGAINST RESURGENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA ATTEMPTS TO MALIGN MARTYRS TERRORISM DUE TO POST-2018 AND SPREAD ENEMY PROPAGANDA FLAWED DECISIONS HIGHLIGHTS RS800B FEDERAL SUPPORT TO KP AND 100% RESOURCE BOOST FOR BALOCHISTAN UNDER NFC AWARD
COAS underscores importance of fostering public trust in law enforcement agencies RAWALPINDI
staff Correspondent
Premier leads delegation to Davos for World Economic Forum meetings PROFIT
staff report
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ISLAMABAD
staff report
RIME Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday reaffirmed the federal government’s resolve to defeat terrorism, strengthen the economy, and advance Pakistan through hard work, integrity, and teamwork. “InshaAllah, the day is not far when Pakistan will reclaim its rightful place among the respected nations of the
world,” the premier declared, paying tribute to the unparalleled sacrifices of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), law enforcement agencies, armed forces, doctors, engineers, students, and civilians in the fight against terrorism, whose blood “paved the way for the near-complete elimination of terrorism by 2018.” Addressing participants at the KP National Workshop, the prime minister recalled that nearly 100,000 Pakistanis, including soldiers, police personnel, Rangers, and innocent civilians, had laid
IHC restores bail of Advocate Imaan Mazari, Hadi Chattha in controversial tweets case ISLAMABAD
staff Correspondent
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has restored the bail of Advocate Imaan Zainab Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha in the controversial tweets case, reinstating their right to defence before the trial court. Justice Azam Khan, while hearing the case, issued key orders and suspended the trial court’s earlier rulings. The court directed that cross-examination be completed within three days. During the hearing, the accused’s lawyer, Kamran Murtaza, requested one week’s time. In response, Justice Azam Khan remarked that the matter would be reviewed and instructed all parties to proceed with the trial in a peaceful manner. Mazari and Chattha are facing charges in a case registered by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) under Sections 9, 10, 11, and 26 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 and were formally indicted on October 30. According to the first information report (FIR), the two allegedly sought to stir divisions along linguistic lines through content shared on social media. Last month, both accused approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC), stating they had lost confidence in Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka and requested that the controversial tweets case be transferred to another court. Earlier this week, the IHC granted Mazari and Chattha one-day protective bail, despite Judge Majoka having directed them to appear before his court on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has departed for Davos, Switzerland, to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting from January 20-22, 2026. The prime minister is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to PM Tariq Fatemi, and other senior officials. During his visit, Prime Minister Sharif will engage in a series of diplomatic and economic activities, includ-
down their lives to defeat terrorism. He said the APS Peshawar tragedy became a defining moment for the nation, after which political leadership and armed forces, under the leadership of former
ing bilateral meetings with heads of state, government leaders, and leaders of international organisations. A key part of his agenda will be the Pakistan-specific “High-level Business Roundtable,” co-hosted with the WEF, which will bring together global corporate leaders interested in investing in or expanding their operations in Pakistan. The WEF Annual Meeting, held from January 19-23, is centred around the theme “A Spirit of Dialogue” and will address five key global challenges: cooperation in a contested world, unlocking new sources of growth, investing in people, deploying innovation responsibly, and building prosperity within planetary boundaries. prime minister Nawaz Sharif, agreed that “there would be no distinction between good and bad Taliban.”
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Months-long deadlock ends as allama Raja nasir abbas notified opposition leader in Senate ISLAMABAD
staff report
Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday officially notified Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) chief and PTI-backed Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas as the leader of the opposition in the Senate, ending months of delay marked by “political bickering and procedural wrangling.” According to a notification issued by the Senate Secretariat, the appointment was made under subrule (3) of Rule 16 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 2012, and took effect immediately. The development comes less than a week after the appointment of the opposition leader in the National Assembly, bringing an end to months-long delays in filling key opposition slots in Parliament. Earlier this month, Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai was appointed opposition leader in the lower house. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had nominated Allama Raja Nasir Abbas for the Senate opposition leader’s post in October 2025. PTI Senator Barrister Ali Zafar confirmed that the Senate chairman had informed him a day earlier that Abbas’s ap-
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir on Tuesday underscored the importance of fostering public trust in law enforcement agencies, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. According to ISPR, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir visited the National Police Academy in Islamabad, where he interacted with officers of the Police Service of Pakistan. The Federal Minister for Interior and the Minister of State for Interior were also present on the occasion. Upon arrival, the Field Marshal was warmly received by the Commandant National Police Academy and was presented with a guard of honour by a smartly turned-out police contingent. The Field Marshal laid a wreath at the Police Martyrs’ Monument and offered Fateha, paying solemn tribute to the Shuhada of the Police who laid down their lives in the line of duty while safeguarding peace, upholding the rule of law, and ensuring public safety across the country. He acknowledged the supreme sacrifices rendered by police personnel in the face of terrorism, crime and internal security challenges. According to the military media wing, the Field Marshal was briefed on the School for High-Impact Elite Law Enforcement Development (SHIELD), as well as training programs and initiatives aimed at capacity building and modernisation of the police. He also interacted with Cadet Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs), where he highlighted the pivotal role of the police as the first line of defence in safeguarding the lives, property, and honour of citizens. While addressing Inspectors General of Police (IGPs), Additional IGPs, and senior police officials, he underscored the importance of inter-agency cooperation, modern policing practices and fostering public trust in law enforcement agencies.
India, Poland spar diplomatically after Jaishankar criticises Sikorski’s Pakistan visit ISLAMABAD
staff report
pointment would be formally notified on Tuesday. Barrister Zafar had formally written to the Senate chairman seeking the appointment and later stated on social media that he had discussed the matter during a meeting with Gilani, who agreed to the opposition’s demand and assured that the announcement would be made on the Senate floor. Abbas — who is also vice chairman of TTAP — had been chosen by PTI founder Imran Khan as the opposition’s nominee for the slot, which had remained vacant since August 2025. “In pursuance of sub-rule (3) of Rule 16 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 2012, the chairman Senate has been pleased to declare Senator Raja Nasir Abbas as
leader of the opposition in the Senate, with immediate effect,” read the notification issued by the Senate Secretariat. Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani also formally announced Abbas’s appointment during Tuesday’s session of the House. As proceedings began, Gilani said he wished to place on record the legal and procedural background relating to the declaration of the leader of the opposition in the Senate. He explained that Rule 16 mandates the chairman Senate to declare as leader of the opposition the member who commands the support of the majority of opposition members. Referring to the past delay, Gilani said the office of the opposition leader fell vacant following the disqualification of former senator Shibli Faraz.
A diplomatic dispute has emerged between India and Poland after Indian External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar publicly criticised Polish Deputy Prime Minister Radoslaw Sikorski over his recent visit to Pakistan, according to Indian media reports. The Hindu reported that Sikorski’s visit marked the first high level engagement between Poland and Pakistan since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Warsaw in August 2024, a trip that also included a visit to Ukraine. According to the report, Jaishankar, speaking in televised remarks, said he wished to raise Sikorski’s “recent travels to the region”, a statement widely interpreted as a reference to the Polish minister’s visit to Pakistan in October last year. During Sikorski’s two day visit to Islamabad, Pakistan and Poland agreed to strengthen political and economic cooperation. Officials from both sides said at the time that they aimed to elevate bilateral relations into what they described as a comprehensive and mutually beneficial partnership.The Hindu reported that during talks between Jaishankar and Sikorski, the Indian minister said Poland should demonstrate zero tolerance towards terrorism and should not contribute to what he described as terrorist infrastructure in India’s neighbourhood.
Toll rises to 28 as probe begins into Gul Plaza fire amid MNAs demand for sweeping safety, accountability steps KARACHI
saleem jadoon
The death toll from the Gul Plaza fire reached 28 on Tuesday, as the Sindh governmentformed committee launched an investigation into the circumstances that led to the devastating blaze at the shopping mall. Lawmakers in the National Assembly meanwhile called for comprehensive reforms in building safety, emergency response, and urban governance to prevent similar tragedies in the future. On Monday, the Sindh chief secretary constituted a committee headed by Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi and the Karachi Additional Inspector General, directing them to submit a report within seven days. On Tuesday, a large crowd gathered at the site, with law enforcement creating temporary barriers to prevent people from approaching the rubble, from which smoke was still emanating.
Police Surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed confirmed the death toll of 28, noting that it included five women, following post-mortem examinations of “fragmentary human remains.” She added that eight bodies had been identified so far, while 48 DNA samples from relatives were being collected for cross-matching. The probing committee, led by the Karachi Commissioner, held its first meeting on Tuesday, summoning officials from the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Fire Brigade, Rescue 1122, and the mall owner to provide details. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab said that based on the KMC’s audit, the SBCA had begun taking action. A letter listing noncompliant buildings was sent to the Association of Builders and Developers (Abad), instructing members to rectify deficiencies within three days. “Immediate action is expected in the interest of public safety and the
city at large,” the letter stated. The fire erupted on Saturday night at the ground-plus-three-story plaza, which housed 1,200 shops across 8,000 square yards. Karachi South DIG Syed Asad Raza said that out of 75 missing persons, the locations of 38 were confirmed at Gul Plaza through geo-fencing, while the remaining could not yet be verified. DNA samples were sent to the Sindh Forensic DNA and Serology Laboratory at the University of Karachi, and cross-matching was expected to continue for two to three days. Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassanul Haseeb Khan said teams had accessed the building’s basement, first, and second floors, where search and rescue operations were ongoing. The spokesperson stressed that operations would continue until all missing persons were recovered. A portion of the nearby Rimpa Plaza was partially affected by heat exposure.
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traders blame authorities, seek compensation RAWALPINDI
staff report
The Commercial Market Traders Association on Tuesday expressed deep grief over the deadly fire at the Gul Plaza Shopping Centre in Karachi, holding the authorities responsible for negligence and calling for transparent investigations along with strict action against those found at fault. In a statement, the association said the incident had claimed valuable human lives and caused financial losses amounting to millions of rupees for traders, describing the tragedy as one that could have been prevented with effective safety measures and oversight. Vice Chairman Hamad Qureshi, President Malik Sohail Awan, Senior Vice President Raja Aslam Kiyani, Group Leader Syed Taqi Shah, General Secretary
Raja Zafar Yousuf, Mahfooz Khan and other office-bearers conveyed condolences to the families of the deceased traders. They offered prayers for the departed souls and expressed solidarity with the bereaved families during the difficult time. The association said the recurrence of major fires in Karachi reflected a persistent failure to strengthen fire safety standards, rescue services and emergency response systems. It warned that the lack of effective monitoring and enforcement had contributed to the increasing number of such incidents in the city. The traders’ body demanded immediate financial assistance for those affected by the Gul Plaza fire and urged the authorities to strictly enforce fire safety regulations in all commercial buildings to prevent future tragedies and protect lives and property.