Epaper_26-02-10 ISB

SHEHBA

One million children ‘missed’ as refusals haunt Pakistan’s first polio drive of 2026

to curb smuggling and tax evasion Our commitment is solid and unwavering, the prime minister said We will keep marching forward until Pakistan finds its rightful place among the comity of nations ” IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja speaking at the event said Indus

Eight Muslim nations warn Israel against West Bank annexation push

occupied Palestinian territory the eight ministers cautioned that such policies fuel violence and instability across the region They said Israel s actions constituted a blatant violation of international law, undermined the two-state solution and amounted to an assault on the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to an independent and sovereign state The ministers declared Israel’s measures “null and void ” stressing that they violate United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 which condemns attempts to alter the demographic composition and status of territories occupied since 1967

digital tools at ports

Pakistan to play India in T20 World Cup clash after appeals from friendly nations

ISLAMABAD S ta f f r e p o r t

At the request of friendly countries, the federal government on Monday directed the Pakistan national team to play its scheduled ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match against India on February 15 in Colombo Pakistan had earlier decided not to face archrival India in solidarity with Bangladesh, who were excluded from the tournament after citing security concerns and refusing to send their team to New Delhi

According to a statement from the Prime Minister s Office, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif discussed the Pakistan-India match during a telephone call with Sri Lankan President The Sri Lankan leader urged Pakistan to play the match in Sri Lanka, recalling Islamabad s continued support for Sri Lankan cricket during years of terrorism, when Pakistan kept touring the island despite security challenges

The president said Pakistan had always prioritised its longstanding ties with Sri Lanka, while PM Shehbaz welcomed the sentiments and acknowledged Colombo’s support during difficult times for Pakistan as well

Recently, the Sri Lankan team took an unforgettable step for the Pakistani nation and cricket fans by not cancelling its tour of Pakistan ” the prime minister said adding that a final decision on the match would be conveyed after consultations ICC rules out penalty for Bangladesh

Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council confirmed that no financial sporting or administrative penalty would be imposed on the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) over the national team’s absence from the ICC

s T20 World Cup 2026 In a statement, the ICC said discussions covered

Earlier the National Assembly passed a resolution condemning the February 6 suicide bombing at Imambargah Khadijah-tulKubra in Islamabad Tabled by PML-N lawmaker Hameed Hussain, the resolution termed the attack “a direct assault on the Constitution religious freedom

Afghanistan

Provinces return Rs1.18

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia discuss investment pipeline, tech talent collaboration at AlUla conference

k Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb on Sunday met Faisal bin Fadhil Alibrahim, Minister of Economy and Planning of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to dis-

tion Council free trade agreement and emphasised the importance of expanding trade and exchanges with Pakistan Aurangzeb assured that dedicated teams from Pakistan are actively engaged in advancing discussions to finalise Saudi investment commitments He also thanked the Saudi government for hosting the conference and expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia s continued engagement with Pakistan s economy

Indian refiners avoid Russian oil in push for US trade deal

ITTariq Khan Tareen

N Pakistan’s former tribal districts, particularly Tirah Valley security operations are increasingly misrepresented through emotionally charged and strategically curated narratives

These portrayals amplified by PTM-aligned networks and foreign-based echo chambers, frame counterterrorism measures as collective punishment rather than lawful security responses Such discourse not only obscures ground realities but also undermines public trust in institutions tasked with protecting civilians from organized violence A fact-based examination reveals a far more complex legally grounded and security-driven picture

At the heart of the controversy lies the deliberate conflation of lawful security protocols with repression Temporary curfews, movement restrictions, and access controls are portrayed as tools of displacement or coercion In reality these measures are internationally recognized counterterrorism instruments employed to isolate armed threats disrupt militant mobility, and reduce civilian exposure to imminent danger Depicting them as arbitrary evictions ignores their core preventive purpose and distorts their protective intent

Similarly allegations of nightly bombings and indiscriminate drone strikes often circulate without credible verification What is consistently omitted is a critical operational reality: terrorist groups deliberately embed themselves within or near civilian populations, using human proximity as tactical cover

This strategy significantly complicates security responses and elevates risks for local residents Responsibility for such endangerment rests with militant actors who weaponized civilian presence not with the state conducting threat-based operations under defined rules of engagement Another recurring claim involves jirgas allegedly opposing security actions While community consultation remains an important cultural and administrative tool the state cannot outsource security to local armed groups or lashkars in areas facing organized terrorism History has shown that such arrangements frequently escalate intra-tribal conflict and lead to the militarization of communities themselves Rejecting lashkars is therefore not a dismissal of dialogue but a deliberate policy choice to prevent fragmentation and vigilantism Engagement remains open but public safety cannot be compromised

Legal accountability is another domain where narratives are selectively framed Cases against specific individuals are routinely labeled as intimidation or political victimization, while the legal context is deliberately ignored Pakistan’s constitutional framework provides for due process, judicial oversight, and

procedural safeguards The law applies when actions cross into incitement, disruption of public order, or facilitation of violent networks Accountability is determined by courts not by slogans or social media campaigns Reducing complex legal proceedings to simplistic persecution narratives erodes respect for judicial institutions

Economic hardship and relocation costs are also highlighted without acknowledging their temporary and security-driven nature Restrictions imposed during operations are not punitive but preventive aimed at averting loss of life Long-term peace development and investment in tribal districts are impossible without first neutralizing persistent security threats Stability is a prerequisite for prosperity, not its by product A significant driver of misinformation is the recycling of old or decontextualized footage, such as protest videos from PTM Canada repurposed to suggest ongoing or fabricated crises Detaching visuals from their timeline and operational context creates false impressions and fuels outrage divorced from reality This practice exemplifies the echo chamber effect, where repetition substitutes

has no bearing on public performance But this misunderstands leadership as a technical function rather than a moral relationship Governance is not only about outcomes but trust And trust is shaped as much by what leaders do silently as by what they declare publicly A policy may promise inclusion but symbols of excess quietly contradict it Restraint by contrast is disarming To dress plainly, live without ostentation, and move modestly through public life costs little but yields immense moral capital For the poor in Pakistan’s most deprived districts such gestures do not solve structural problems but they affirm something essential that their lives are seen The philosopher Søren Kierkegaard wrote

that love at its highest is the will to make oneself equal with the other Leadership demands something similar: the powerful must resist the comfort of distance and embrace the often-uncomfortable proximity of those they serve Without this authority corrodes into domination and public service becomes little more than a slogan In countries like Pakistan where governance struggles to reach the marginalized and opportunity is unevenly distributed, leaders face a choice not between wealth and poverty, but between connection and separation Cloaked in luxury while citizens struggle authority risks losing legitimacy yet gestures of restraint like walking among the people sharing a meal living visibly with humility cannot solve systemic problems alone, but they signal attentiveness, accountability, and moral presence History is unsentimental, it does not honour banquets or palaces but the moments when leaders step down from privilege stand shoulder to shoulder with ordinary citizens and let their lives testify to principles stronger than words In an unequal world, such gestures are not optional but are the foundation of leadership that endures

The writer is a PhD in Political Science and on the visiting faculty at QAU Islamabad His area of specialization is political development and social change He can be reached at zafarkhansafdar@yahoo com and tweets @zafarkhansafdar

The defence is familiar that personal lifestyle has no bearing on public performance . But this misunderstands leadership as a technical function rather than a moral relationship. Governance is not only about outcomes but trust. And trust is shaped as much by what leaders do silently as by what they declare publicly A policy may promise inclusion, but symbols of excess quietly contradict it

Cuts never end

From festival to fasting

TThe colours of Basant, the fluttering kites against a mild sky, the rooftops filled with cautious celebration, and the revival of traditional foods and shared laughter carried a deeper message Joy when guided and tailored by responsibility becomes constructive rather than destructive The presence of officials on the ground alert, accountable, and prepared demonstrated

that celebration does not require the absence of law On the contrary, it flourishes when boundaries are clear As the echoes of Basant fade the nation now stands at the threshold of Ramadan a month defined not by festivity but by restraint,

n t e d a s e c o n o m i c w i s d o m , r a i s e s a

f u n d a m e n t a l q u e s t i o n : i s i t t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f c i t i z e n s t o c o r r e c t m a r k e t d i s t o r t i o n s , o r t h e d u t y o f t h e s t a t

The rise of Jamaat-eIslami in Bangladesh

PE R H A P S the most striking and largely unforeseen consequence of the fall of the Hasina government has been the surge in support for Jamaat-e-Islami over the past 18 months The Islamist party’s rise has been so dramatic that, although recent polling suggests the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is likely to secure a majority in the February 12 election some commentators argue that the Jamaat-led alliance could still emerge victorious

The scale of this shift should not be underestimated During Awami League s final years in power, Jamaat was so marginalised and repressed that it could barely function as a political organisation: many of its senior leaders were imprisoned and the party operated under severe constraints effectively in secret Historically Jamaat had never been a mass electoral force In the series of elections following the fall of General Ershad its vote share never exceeded 12 percent with its high-water mark coming in 1991 Layered on top of this was the heavy stigma attached to Jamaat since Bangladesh’s founding, owing to its association with forces that supported the Pakistani military during the 1971 war of independence and allegations of serious international crimes

There is little doubt that for a large portion of the electorate Jamaat s role during the Liberation War is no longer politically disqualifying

Several factors may help explain this shift First, the senior Jamaat figures accused of involvement in 1971-era crimes were convicted and executed during Awami League’s time in office leaving the current leadership without direct links to those events Second the collapse of Awami League has significantly weakened the potency of its long-standing political narratives one of which centred on repeatedly invoking Jamaat s alleged war-crimes legacy Third, for a growing and increasingly influential younger demographic, 1971 feels distant, abstract, and less relevant to their immediate political and economic concerns

Perhaps the most commonly cited explanation for Jamaat s growing appeal is its perceived distance from corruption When the Hasina government fell many Bangladeshis hoped this would mark the end of systematic extortion and rent-seeking by ruling-party activists at the local level Yet since August 2024, many of the extortion networks previously controlled by Awami League cadres were quickly taken over by BNP-aligned groups For a section of voters seeking genuine change this reinforced the belief that BNP was in practice little different from its predecessor Jamaat to them stood apart There were no widespread reports of Jamaat-run extortion rackets or organised corruption

politicians did offer aid in some cases, their efforts were neither as extensive nor as coordinated Jamaat has benefited from its organisational strength It has invested heavily in face-to-face voter engagement including extensive door-to-door outreach in rural areas an approach that may well be more persuasive than large rallies or media-driven campaigns Jamaat-e-Islami is, at its core, an Islamist party committed to the long-term goal of introducing Islamic law in Bangladesh In recent years, however, the party has deliberately sought to project a more moderate and centrist image Rather than foregrounding its religious agenda it has emphasised practical reforms particularly anti-corruption measures institutional accountability and improvements in governance

A striking illustration of this repositioning was provided by a speech delivered by the party s leader, Shafiqur Rahman, at its Policy Summit in January 2026, titled Aspiring Bangladesh ” Notably, the speech did not reference religion at all Instead Rahman described Jamaat as representing “mainstream Muslim democrats framing the party in terms that stress democratic legitimacy rather than theological ambition

The decision by the interim government and the Election Commission to bar Awami League from participating in the election may have also worked in Jamaat s favour Historically, when Awami League is on the ballot, Jamaat either contests independently or forms an alliance with BNP If it runs separately most of the anti-Awami League vote consolidates behind BNP If it allies with BNP Jamaat typically contests only a limited number of seats

In the absence of Awami League however the dynamics change significantly Voters who previously supported BNP primarily to prevent an Awami League victory may now feel freer to support Jamaat, without concern that their vote could inadvertently help bring Awami League back to power

During Awami League s time in office anti-Indian sentiment grew steadily in Bangladesh This was driven by several factors including border killings inflammatory rhetoric from Indian political figures about Bangladeshis, and the perception that the Indian government strongly supported Awami League When the Awami League government fell in 2024 and Sheikh Hasina departed for India public anger towards perceived Indian “hegemony” intensified with many people feeling more able to express such views openly

In this context Jamaat is likely to be viewed by some voters as a more credible force in resisting perceived Indian influence than BNP, which is often regarded as more pragmatic in its approach to India and less instinctively confrontational As a result, Jamaat may attract additional support from those for whom opposition to Indian influence has become a central political concern Following the fall of Awami League there was a widespread public desire for change change from autocracy entrenched corruption, and what many described as the country s tired old politics In a political contest between BNP and Jamaat, it is Jamaat that, for some voters, is likely to more convincingly embody that sense of renewal Its leadership is not drawn from a dynastic political lineage which further reinforces its image as distinct from the established political elite And unlike BNP which has a prior record in government that many voters may recall negatively, Jamaat does not carry the same burden of incumbency Jamaat’s recent alliance with the National Citizen Party (NCP) has also likely strengthened its association with reform and political change further consolidating its appeal among those prioritising transformation David Bergman is a journalist who has written about Bangladesh for many years His X handle is @TheDavidBergman

MA N Y of Telegram s eight million Spanish users received a message Wednesday night from the app s founder and CEO, Pavel Durov The Russian magnate mentioned the “dangerous regulations” announced on Tuesday by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez which include restricting social media use for those under 16 and assigning legal responsibility to their executives for potential platform violations These measures could turn Spain into a surveillance state under the guise of protection,” he wrote What he failed to mention is that Telegram is immune to surveillance both its own and that of third parties as it contributes to the spread of hoaxes and disinformation in Spain and other countries, and has been a preferred communication channel for cybercriminals for years

The reputation of the app founded by Durov leaves much to be desired Authorities know that Telegram is very popular with criminals For this reason and for failing to take any action to address it Durov who holds Russian French and Emirati passports was arrested on August 24 2024, outside Paris as soon as he stepped off his private jet He was accused, among other things, of complicity in the distribution of child pornography on the instant messaging network he runs The charges he faces could carry a sentence of up to 10 years in prison Meanwhile despite the ongoing investigation by French authorities the businessman returned to Dubai in March of last year, where he had gone into exile in 2014

Durov embodies the archetype of the technooligarch who proclaims himself a champion of freedom In 2006 at just 22 years old he founded the Russian version of Facebook VKontakte (VK) At 30 he fell from grace and harassed by Vladimir Putin s security services was forced to sell his shares Far from simply enjoying life and spending his fortune, he decided to launch Telegram, which today boasts some 1 billion monthly active users according to figures provided by the company itself The lack of control over what happens on the platform has turned it into a tool for cybercrime In 2024, Spain s Civil Guard dismantled a banking phishing network (stealing

BANGL ADESH VOTES IN GEN Z-DRIVEN POLLS AMID POST-HASINA TURMOIL

fit to plead guilty according to a report in the New Zealand Herald I did not have the mind frame or mental health required to be making informed decisions at that time ” Tarrant said I think the issue is did I really know what I wanted to do or what

Tarrant initially denied all charges and was preparing to stand trial after the attack but entered guilty pleas a year later to 51 charges of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder and one charge of committing a terrorist act Tarrant told the court that harsh prison conditions had deteriorated his mental health while awaiting trial and that he was essentially not

(prison)

Counsel acting for Tarrant have their names and identities suppressed by order of the Court and could not be reached for comment A court document showed the Court of Appeal would check if Tarrant was incapable of making

Pakistan loses nearly 1pc of GDP annually to climate impacts, reveals OICCI’s 4th Pakistan Climate Conference

Pakistan is losing close to one per cent of its GDP each year to climate-related damages speakers revealed on Monday at

Islamabad), Zong will assert its technological leadership by showcasing a comprehensive portfolio of AI-driven solutions products and digital services designed to accelerate Pakistan s intelligent transformation

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R

Pakistan said Our partnership with the KU League reflects our belief in investing in platforms that bring young people together, empowers youth sports and fosters talent and opportunities for the next generation Together with our partners, the SC KU Youth League experience has positively impacted over 9 000 children Imran Ali CEO of Karachi United said: Since its launch in 2017 the Youth League has grown from a small initiative involving just 540 boys and 92 girls into Pakistan s largest youth football competition Over eight seasons, we have engaged more than 9 000 young players 8000+ boys and 1200+ girls while continuing to expand our reach into underprivileged and inner-city communities

GREENL AND AND A MELTING RULEBOOK

Greenland

one billion dollars

Despite its sparse population of just 57 000 spreads across more than two million square kilometers, Greenland s strategic importance far exceeds its demographic weight Nearly 80 per cent of its landmass is covered by ice yet beneath this frozen surface lie vast reserves of oil gas and critical minerals Its Arctic location combined with unique climatic phenomena such as months of continuous daylight in summer, has long attracted the attention of global powers Greenland returned to the center of international debate in 2019 when then US President Donald Trump openly floated the idea of purchasing the island from Denmark The proposal was widely dismissed as unrealistic, yet it revealed deeper currents shaping contemporary geopolitics Historically the United States has not been averse to territorial acquisition through purchase The Louisiana Purchase from France in 1803, Florida from Spain in 1819, Alaska from Russia in 1867, and the Virgin Islands from Denmark in 1917 are well-documented precedents Alaska in particular with its

harsh climate defensive significance and resource wealth bears notable similarities to Greenland It is therefore unsurprising that such historical examples may have influenced Trump’s thinking However the international system that once permitted such transactions no longer exists Following the Second World War, the United Nations Charter firmly rejected colonial expansion, making the acquisition of territory without the consent of its people legally and politically untenable In Greenland s case public opinion is unequivocal its residents have consistently rejected any notion of becoming part of the United States This alone renders Trump s idea of purchase effectively void Greenland’s modern political trajectory underscores this reality During the Second World War when Denmark was occupied by Nazi Germany, Greenland drifted closer to the United States, which established a defensive presence on the island with Danish consent After the war, Denmark resumed full control integrating Greenland more closely into the Danish state Home Rule was granted in 1979 followed by the Self-Rule Act of 2009, which explicitly affirms

the right of Greenland s people to decide their own future, including the option of full independence Any attempt to alter Greenland’s status by force would carry grave consequences Such an act would constitute a clear violation of international law and would likely trigger a profound crisis within NATO, of which Greenland, Denmark, and the United States are all members Moreover, it would risk setting a dangerous precedent potentially emboldening Russia and China to justify territorial ambitions in Ukraine and Taiwan Transatlantic relations would suffer severe damage, and the already fragile global order could edge closer to a new era of confrontation Why then did President Trump raise the

MOODY’S REVISES PAKISTAN BANKING OUTLOOK TO STABLE

Reporter Zain Malik dies after tragic fall during Basant celebrations

s

LAHORE

f f r e p o r t

A judicial magistrate on Monday granted bail to five suspects in the case related to the death of a woman and her infant daughter who fell into an open manhole near Bhati Gate last month after the complainant told the court he did not wish to pursue legal action

The victims 24-year-old Sadia and her 10-month-old daughter Rida fell into an uncovered sewer at the site of the under-construction data darbar expansion project on January 28 Sadia s

body was recovered late that night while her daughter s body was found the following day In the aftermath police arrested three officials of the contracting company along with two others

Judicial Magistrate Shafqat Abbas heard the case as police produced the suspects upon the completion of their physical remand Those granted bail included Project Manager Asghar Sandhu, contractor company CEo Salman yasin, site in-charge Hunzala, Ahmed Nawaz and daniyal The complainant Murtaza husband of the deceased woman

and her father Sajid Hussain appeared before the court and stated that they did not intend to take the matter forward They raised no objection to the acquittal or discharge of the suspects

Accepting their statements, the magistrate approved the post-arrest bail applications and ordered the suspects to submit surety bonds of Rs50 000 each At an earlier hearing, the defence had informed the court that the company’s owner had voluntarily surrendered to police and provided a cheque of Rs10 million to the bereaved family

ISLAMABAD

s ta f f C o r r e s p o n d e n t

defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday expressed concern that organised begging had damaged Pakistan’s international standing and led Gulf countries to impose visa restrictions on Pakistani nationals

In a post on X the minister shared a video by renowned social worker Zafar Abbas, showing an interview with a child beggar in Karachi’s Shah Faisal area In the video the child claimed that he and his two brothers earn between Rs10 000 and Rs12 000 per week through begging and had recently purchased a house Commenting on the footage, Asif said begging

had evolved into a fully organised profession run by contractors who recruit children women and people posing as disabled earning millions of rupees in the process

He alleged that the same networks were responsible for sending thousands of beggars to Gulf countries forcing host nations frustrated by the situation to restrict or suspend visas for Pakistanis

The defence minister further claimed that officials from various government departments stationed at airports were complicit in this “disgraceful business”, benefiting financially from the illegal activity Referring to Sialkot Asif said many beggars originate from South Punjab stay in hotels and operate organ-

ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has reiterated that Pakistan serves as a protective shield in the global fight against terrorism and continues to play a critical role in maintaining regional and international security Naqvi was speaking in the wake of a devastating suicide bombing at a Shia mosque in Islamabad that killed at least 31 people and wounded around 169 others during Friday prayers

The attack, one of the deadliest in the capital in years, has drawn widespread con-

Section 2C of the amended law which deals with a ban on fake and false information on social media Justice Minhas posed a series of pointed questions Who will decide whether the information is fake or false? he asked Explain how fake news will be determined How will proceedings regarding fake news begin? In response, the petitioner’s counsel submitted that the amended law had introduced a new complaint mechanism allowing not only an aggrieved person but also a third party to initiate proceedings He warned that this provision could be exploited through proxy complainants, leading to widespread misuse He further argued that not every incorrect statement amounted to disinformation and that actual harm caused by the alleged

ised begging rings in the city While recent crackdowns by the district administration and police had reduced the activity he said it had not been eliminated He added that contractors running these networks were often financially influential individuals who approach authorities for relief whenever action is taken against beggars Asif remarked that organised begging had effectively become the country s largest employment sector , stressing that such operations could not function without the backing of local administration and police Warning that several immoral and criminal activities were linked to organised begging the minister described it as a serious social and law-enforcement challenge

demnation from around the world

In separate telephone calls, Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi and European Commissioner Magnus Brunner strongly condemned the mosque bombing and expressed deep sorrow for the loss of innocent lives Piantedosi conveyed heartfelt condolences on behalf of the Italian government and reaffirmed Italy s firm stance against terrorism, pledging continued cooperation with Pakistan in countering shared security threats Brunner also offered sympathy and stressed the need for collective international efforts to confront extremism and violence

Minister Naqvi thanked both leaders for their messages of support and emphasized the urgency of stronger, coordinated global measures to tackle terrorism He highlighted Pakistan’s sacrifices in the global war against terror and underlined that terrorism remains a shared challenge requiring unified action

The Islamabad attack has also triggered intense international reactions, with numerous countries and organisations condemning the violence and expressing solidarity with Pakistan China’s President Xi Jinping extended condolences and affirmed China s support in

combatting terrorism, while the United Nations Secretary General and other global leaders decried the targeting of civilians during worship domestically Pakistani leaders have vowed to bring those responsible to justice with authorities arresting four suspects

fake information must be assessed Fake information can also be the result of an error that does not cause harm to anyone ” he said during the proceedings Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) President Asif Bashir Chaudhry also addressed the court He told the bench that PFUJ had approached the IHC against PECA on February 6 last year, but the case had remained pending without any stay order He claimed that in the meantime more than two dozen journalists had