AQureshi stressed that prisoners are entitled to certain rights including timely medical treatment which he said is the responsibility of the jail administration He expressed sorrow over Imran Khan s partial loss of sight saying he was deeply saddened and could do nothing beyond offering prayers Holding the Punjab government accountable, Qureshi warned that if any inmate were to lose eyesight in Adiala Jail, the prison administration and provincial authorities would bear responsibility He alleged that former Punjab minister Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed was unable to attend a scheduled hospital check-up due to the unavailability of police security and jail guards
Withholding imran Khan’s medical care would be criminal negligence, says Sanaullah
s ta f f r e p o r t Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz senator Rana Sanaullah has said that any deliberate delay or denial of medical treatment to incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan would amount to criminal negligence and could not be defended Addressing the Senate the prime minister s adviser on political and public affairs responded to opposition concerns regarding Khan s reported eye condition He noted that the matter had already been clarified before the Supreme Court and urged political actors not to turn health issues into a political contest
His remarks followed claims in a medical report submitted to the apex court stating that Khan’s vision in his right eye had declined to 15 percent The seven-page document was filed by PTI counsel Salman Safdar after a three-hour meeting with the former prime minister at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi
Sanaullah rejected assertions that Khan had been complaining about the issue for four months without receiving care He told the House that the first complaint regarding the eye was raised in the first week of January According to him, jail doctors immedi-
ately prescribed eye drops which were used for several days He said Khan was examined on January 16, followed by further tests conducted by a medical team on January 19 An injection was administered on January 24 and all steps were documented in official records The senator offered to share the complete medical record with the leader of the opposition if needed Sanaullah added that the PTI founder was routinely examined by jail doctors every second day and had been evaluated by external specialists on 25 occasions He pointed out that during a medical board meeting on December 9, as well as during a meeting with his sister on December 2 no complaint regarding eyesight was mentioned
He maintained that once the issue was raised in January medical attention was provided without delay Portraying the matter as a prolonged lapse, he argued, was politically motivated He also said no request had been filed before the Supreme Court seeking Khan s transfer to a private hospital though the government had assured the court that he could be examined by any doctor of his choice Separately PTI Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi speaking to reporters at an antiterrorism court in Lahore expressed sorrow over Khan s health condition He stressed that prisoners are entitled to legal and constitutional rights including access
ISLAMABAD
Pakistan seeks stronger economic and defence ties with new Bangladesh government
Jatiya Sangsad, or House of the Nation
and Prime
Minister Shehbaz Sharif have congratulated the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its leader Tarique Rahman on securing a landslide majority in Bangladesh’s national elections and receiving a mandate to form the next government Both leaders said they wanted to work towards strengthening brotherly, multifaceted bilateral relations, according to the statement The message followed results showing the BNP and its allies winning at least 212 of the 299 seats based on latest counts carried by domestic TV channels The opposition Jamaat-e-Islami and its allies won 70 seats in the
In the statement, Zardari congratulated Bangladesh on the conduct of polls across 299 seats with over 127 million registered voters He said: Reaffirming Pakistan s support for the sovereignty and democratic aspirations of Bangladesh, the president said Pakistan
TCONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
The friendly and cooperative relationship between Pakistan and the UAE is well-established, with leaders from both nations frequently visiting each other s countries In addition to the recent exchanges, last month, President Asif Ali Zardari made a four-day official visit to the
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
He added that Imran had authorised National Assembly Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas to lead the protest
Addressing supporters, Achakzai said the sit-in would remain peaceful but insisted that Imran’s personal physician and family be allowed access “We want him to be treated by competent doctors available in the country he said adding that authorities could declare a hospital a sub-jail to ensure treatment while maintaining custody
“Our biggest demand is the PTI founder ’s health,” Achakzai said, warning that the protest could intensify if adequate medical arrangements were not made
Citing the report before the apex court he claimed Imran s eyesight had deteriorated significantly and criticised the government for ignoring the matter Imran Khan is not just a former prime minister, but also a human being and a prisoner,” he said, arguing that transferring him for a check-up would take only minutes The standoff underscores rising tensions between the government and opposition as the PTI presses for immediate medical intervention for its jailed leader
In a post on X the alliance declared that the protest would continue until Imran is admitted to Al-Shifa Hospital, stressing that there would be no compromise” on his health PTI leader Asad Qaiser said party lawmakers reached Parliament “after overcoming all obstacles” and held consultations with National Assembly Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai Barrister Gohar Ali Khan Shahram Khan Tarakai and Shandana Gulzar on the future course of action Qaiser later shared footage of the sit-in, saying the opposition was demanding that Imran be provided medical facilities in the presence of his family and personal physician “Providing the best medical facilities is his legal and constitutional right he said warning that further steps would be announced if demands were not met By evening, TTAP said the protest had shifted to a corridor inside Parliament House under the leadership of Achakzai and Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja
Nasir Abbas, though demonstrators remained gathered at the main entrance Earlier, TTAP leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokar alleged that authorities had cordoned off roads leading to Parliament and sealed parliamentary lodges to prevent opposition lawmakers from joining the protest This reflects weakness not strength he said PROTEST SPREADS TO KP HOUSE
Separately, supporters of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi staged a sit-in outside KP House in Islamabad after his aide claimed police had blocked the CM and provincial lawmakers from reaching Parliament PTI alleged that some protesters were manhandled including Special Assistant Shafi Jan GOVT SAYS NO POLITICS OVER MEDICAL ISSUE
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry rejected allegations of obstruction, saying the opposition had the right to protest and that any blockade was not imposed by the government He assured that Imran would be taken wherever he prefers for medical examination including AlShifa Eye Trust and insisted that no negligence would be tolerated “This is a sensitive matter; politicising it is unfair,” he said, adding that specialists would examine the incarcerated leader and a fresh medical report would be issued soon
Chaudhry also questioned the timing of the complaints noting that no eye-related concerns were raised during earlier family visits, medical board reviews, or court proceedings in December He said Chief Justice Yahya Afridi was personally overseeing the matter PTI SEEKS WRITTEN COURT ORDER
Meanwhile PTI demanded formal written directions from the Supreme Court to ensure that Imran is examined by specialists under the supervision of his own doctors at Shifa International Hospital This is not about politics or power This is about Imran Khan’s life,” the party said Imran’s sister, Aleema Khan, also urged the court to issue written orders without delay arguing that the directive could not be implemented otherwise despite a February 16 deadline
RE P O RT S of former prime minister Imran Khan’s worsening eye condition have moved from political noise to a straightforward question of custodial responsibility Courts and hospitals can disagree with parties and lawyers on narratives, but the state s duty to protect the health of anyone in its custody is not optional
Recent court proceedings have recorded claims that he has suffered major loss of vision in his right eye prompting the Supreme Court to order a medical team to examine him Accounts placed before the court also describe visible discomfort Separately, official medical details attributed to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences indicate that a qualified ophthalmologist assessed him, diagnosed right central retinal vein occlusion, and advised hospital-based follow-up treatment
At the same time his party has said he is suffering from a serious eye infection and his family and party figures have demanded access to him, his medical records, and his personal doctors A court in Rawalpindi has rejected a plea seeking treatment by personal doctors inside jail, showing that the issue is now being contested formally which makes transparency and documentation even more important
None of this requires endorsement of his politics or commentary on the cases that put him behind bars It requires the authorities to do what they would be expected to do for any prisoner: provide timely, competent treatment, allow appropriate specialist input, and ensure credible oversight Prison rules and security protocols can apply but they cannot be used to create avoidable doubt around medical care especially when senior courts are already seized of the matter
This is also a matter of public order and institutional prudence He continues to command support, as seen in political mobilisation and demands framed around his medical access In a polarised environment, an unresolved health controversy inside custody can quickly become a broader flashpoint Preventing that does not mean treating him as a political exception; it means treating him as a legal standard
Finally, the broader context cannot be ignored: he remains on the wrong side of Pakistan s power structure, and this shapes perceptions of every development around him The government does not have to appear sympathetic to him to meet basic human-rights obligations It simply has to ensure he receives the treatment he needs promptly with clear records and court-visible accountability
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
TH E PTI rally in Peshawar was ianfs first major activity after the D-Chowk rally which ended on 26 October 2026, though it did not end as ignominously at that particular episode That episode is remembered for way the leader of the rally then both KP party President and chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur showed a clean pair of heels with his excuse of securing the person of party leader s wife Bushra Bibi, at that point still free As events unravelled Gamdapur lost both the provincial party presidency and the chief ministership At present CM Sohail Afridi is not provincial party chief so he does not have the entire responsibility for the success or failure of any political movement His first test on taking office was the Abbottabad by-election, on the seat vacated by the disqualification of National Assembly Opposition Leader Umar Ayub It was considered a safe seat for PTI but it lost It was painful for a chief minister to lose a by-election for his party in his province but it was also appropriate for the theme of the current protest which marked the second anniversary of the 2024 elections, which the PTI and its allies in the Tehrik Tahaffuz Ain Pakistan claim were stolen The second test has come now, in the shape of the rally in Peshawar It was successful insofar as Peshawar shut down which a chief minister should be able to do in his own provincial capital and to that extent showed that Afridi has now got his hands on the levers of control necessary for his job But what exactly is his job? Is it to run KP properly? To be loyal? The province after all is the PTI base, and mishandling could cede control of the province It has ruled there since 2008 Whoever has been chief minister has subordinated himself to the party s needs Those needs at the moment are the release of Imran from jail and preferably
solutions This reliance demonstrates the judiciary s central role in protecting rights Judges continue to handle cases fairly balancing their workload with the need for thorough and impartial decisions
and upholding the rule of law The real causes of delay lie elsewhere One of the most significant challenges is the deficiency of judges Pakistan’s growing population and increasing disputes place enormous demands on the courts The judge-to-population ratio in the country is among the lowest in the region A single judge in a lower court may handle hundreds of cases, from bail hearings to civil and criminal disputes No matter how skilled or diligent, judges have physical limits Yet, despite these constraints they continue to hear cases thoroughly write detailed orders and ensure that every party receives a fair
often address matters that other institutions are unable to resolve Judges inherit pending cases, and delays in these files are not a reflection of their commitment Real solutions must focus on strengthening the system not assigning blame Investigation and prosecution are central to the speed of justice Courts can only decide based on the material presented to them Delays often occur because investigations take time evidence is incomplete, or reports arrive late Judges are bound to allow reasonable time to ensure fair trials, and each postponement reflects due process not inefficiency Until investigative and prosecutorial systems are strengthened courts will continue to manage these challenges responsibly
Adjournments are another factor often misunderstood Judges must allow reasonable time for preparation and for parties to be heard fully Delays may result from absent witnesses missing records or procedural requirements Courts cannot proceed without these essentials Adjournments are a necessary part of ensuring justice, not a sign of unwillingness to work
Despite these challenges, courts remain a cornerstone of public trust Citizens turn to the judiciary when other institutions fail to provide
Judicial independence is another strength that ensures fairness, though it requires careful deliberation Judges must make decisions based on law and evidence not public opinion Deliberate and reasoned judgments take time but they preserve fairness and protect the public s confidence in the legal system Judicial caution is a sign of dedication, not delay Calls for reform are necessary and positive, but they work best when built on collaboration and support The judiciary cannot modernize procedures expand capacity or adopt new technologies without cooperation from the legislature, executive, and legal community Digitization, training programs, and procedural improvements are underway and should be encouraged with continued support and resources Reform grounded in cooperation strengthens the system benefiting both judges and citizens The reality is clear: case backlogs are not a failure of the judiciary They are a reflection of systemic challenges that include resource constraints, procedural complexities, and a growing reliance on courts for justice
Addressing delays requires a multifaceted approach Judicial capacity should be expanded with more judges and support staff and lower courts should be strengthened Court procedures can be modernized through digitization and simplification Investigation and prosecution must be enhanced with proper training, resources, and accountability Alternative dispute resolution should be encouraged to reduce unnecessary litigation Most importantly collaborative reform across institutions ensures sustainable improvements With these measures, Pakistan can not only reduce backlogs but also strengthen the independence, efficiency, and credibility of the judiciary It is important to recognize that judges
so that the caretaker government would have a 90-day tenure rather than the 60 days originally contemplated) The only way this is possible would be if Imran s assessment of Pakistani politics is correct, that the establishment determines who holds office and who not At the same the PTI and the Tahaffuz Ain Pakistan movement However the establishment had strongly denied any such trend and has said it operates strictly according to the Constitution This was the subject of heated words between Defence Minister Khwajaja Azsif and National Assembly Leader of Opposition Mahmud Achakzai It may seem to some PTI supporters that making Achakzai leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas Leader in the Senate might be taking things too far Achakzai s Pakhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party and well the Allama s Majlis Wahdatil Muslimeen are parties so small that they do not contest all the seats of the province Indeed they tend to contest just seats around Quetta The PKMAP and the MWM appeal to very specific demographics The former appeals to Pashtuns and appeals to them on the ground that Pashtun areas of Balochistan should be hived off into a separate province This includes the capital, Quetta, which usually sends to the provincial assembly from the Hazara community How that sole member parlayed that into a Senate seat deserves to be cited as an example of efficient politics It should be noted that the Hazaras have not been conquered along with land as is the case with the Pashtuns who were brought into British Balochistan during the First Afghan War The Hazaras came into the Indian Empire later, mostly fled the various waves of
are working under immense pressure and blaming them alone overlooks the broader structural and procedural challenges that contribute to delays Building a fair efficient and trustworthy justice system requires a comprehensive approach that addresses every stage of the process First, judicial capacity must be expanded through the appointment of more judges clerks and support staff especially in lower courts where most cases accumulate Second court procedures should be modernized with the adoption of digitized case management systems, streamlined filing processes, and strict timelines for case disposal Third, investigation and prosecution systems must be strengthened by ensuring timely and thorough investigations better coordination between agencies and accountability for delays Fourth alternative dispute resolution mechanisms such as mediation and arbitration, should be widely promoted to resolve matters without burdening the courts unnecessarily Furthermore sustainable reform requires collaboration among all institutions involved in justice delivery The legislature executive legal community and judiciary must work together to provide consistent funding, resources, and policy support Public awareness campaigns can also play a role in educating citizens about the importance of procedural compliance and timely resolution By addressing these areas holistically Pakistan can not only reduce case backlogs but also ensure that justice is accessible fair and timely for all citizens
The myth of judicial failure should give way to a deeper appreciation for the dedication, resilience, and independence of judges who continue to deliver justice A strengthened judicial system is not only a cornerstone of democracy but also a reflection of a society committed to fairness accountability and the rule of law With sustained reforms, collaboration, and public support, Pakistan can transform its judiciary into a model of efficiency and integrity while preserving its independence
The writer is a freelance columnist
The myth of judicial failure should give way to a deeper appreciation for the dedication, resilience, and independence of judges who continue to deliver justice A strengthened judicial system is not only a cornerstone of democracy but also a reflection of a society committed to fairness, accountability, and the rule of law With sustained reforms, collaboration, and public suppor t, Pakistan can transform its judiciary into a model of efficiency and integrity while preserving its independence .
Balochi at risk of extinction
M A Niazi
Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
RIZwAN AhMAd
Wlonger guarantees insulation The norms that governed transatlantic relations after the Cold War the assumption that disputes would be managed quietly, cooperatively, and within institutional frameworks are eroding Yet the most consequential battlefield is not in Copenhagen or Brussels It is in Washington specifically at the Supreme Court Trump s tariff regime still sits under a legal cloud Federal courts have already ruled that parts of his reciprocal tariff framework, imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 exceed presidential authority The issue is not tariffs per se but whether a president can unilaterally invoke emergency powers to reorder global trade This is where Greenland becomes legally relevant Trump frames the island as a national security necessity, while justifying tariffs primarily on economic security grounds Critics see a mismatch: statutes de-
At one level, this fits neatly into TrumpÊs long-standing worldview: tariffs as leverage, pressure as policy, transaction as diplomacy But focusing only on trade misses the deeper significance. What is unfolding here is not simply another chapter in a trade war It is a test case for a far more expansive idea that economic coercion, national security, and even territorial ambition can be folded into a single, elastic justification for executive power
I
r a n i s n o t I r a q a n d i t i s d e f i n i t e l y n o t
V e n e z u e l a
N C E again a familiar pattern is playing out in US-Iran tensions: one side talks of diplomacy paired with threats of force And when Washington treats the standoff as a strategy, it only makes an unstable region more dangerous and increases the odds of a wider conflict If the stated goal is de-escalation why keep turning the negotiating table into a launchpad confrontation? Trump casts himself as the dealmaker, as if pressure automatically yields persuasion Meanwhile, his partner in crime, Netanyahu, insists every negotiation is a trap unless Iran surrenders completely Together they reduce the region to a bargaining chip one misstep away from full-scale war Yet Tehran has drawn a hard line: nuclear talks and nothing else That stance, in turn, puts it at odds with Washington and Tel Aviv, which want Iran’s missile program and regional influence on the table
That nuclear-only track is precisely what keeps Netanyahu up at night For him any deal that sidesteps ballistic missiles and proxies is unacceptable and he worries Trump will settle for a partial win and sell it as historic As a result, the issue is no longer only US-Iran friction but a US-Israel dispute over what “success” actually means This week’s developments have widened the split After meeting Netanyahu Trump said nothing definitive was decided and again called for negotiations However, Washington is still stacking its military posture with the USS Abraham Lincoln and accompanying destroyers across the region
Several reports also indicate that the Pentagon is preparing to send another carrier strike group to the Middle East This raises a question whether this is a path to a deal or a choreography for escalation? Either way,
signed for financial emergencies being stretched to serve territorial and geopolitical goals Congress never authorized Supporters counter that in a globalized world, economic and national security are inseparable Both sides have a point The post–9/11 era has taught Americans that security rationales expand easily and contract rarely Surveillance border controls financial regulations all grew under the banner of emergency and became permanent features of governance Trade is now being absorbed into that same logic Trump has appealed directly to the Supreme Court effectively asking it to clarify (or expand) the outer limits of executive discretion in trade policy On paper he faces a conservative court, three of whose justices he appointed But judicial ideology is not political loyalty In 2025 alone, the Court issued several rulings cutting against Trump’s agenda An adverse decision on tariffs is entirely plausible
Yet even such a ruling would likely be more symbolic than constraining At most, it would prevent Trump from relying solely on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act The broader toolkit remains intact The Trade Act of 1974 offers multiple alternative pathways for imposing tariffs including provisions allowing duties of up to 15 percent for 150 days without congressional consultation These routes are slower and messier, but they exist and Trump knows it Which brings us to the larger point The Greenland episode is not fundamentally about Greenland It is about how the definition of national security continues to expand absorbing trade alliances supply chains and even real estate As that definition stretches, so too does presidential power, often at the expense of Congress and theUSA’s traditional partners History offers cautionary lessons The Roman Republic did not collapse because Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon in a vacuum; it collapsed because emergency powers had become routine long before he did The Weimar Republic did not fall because Article 48 existed, but because it was used so often that governing by decree became normal Democracies rarely die in one dramatic act They erode through precedents that feel justified at the time To be clear, none of this is an argument that Trump s concerns about Greenland are wholly fanciful The Arctic is becoming strategically significant as ice melts and shipping routes open China has shown interest in polar infrastructure Russia has militarized parts of the region Great powers ignore geography at their peril The United States itself explored purchasing Greenland
and start acting tough for show But Iran is not Iraq It is larger more sophisticated and better positioned to retaliate across multiple fronts Therefore a limited strike rarely stays limited once missiles fly, shipping lanes are disrupted and proxies respond Iran is not Venezuela either despite the myth that maximum pressure is a shortcut to regime collapse Sanctions helped grind Caracas down but assuming Tehran will buckle the same way ignores the reality of state survival If Trump believes Iran can be squeezed into submission, then he misreads how nationalism and external pressure often rally societies around the flag And even when economies suffer and protests surge regimes do not fall on Washington’s timetable especially when leaders can blame outsiders Iran s recent protests and the harsh crackdowns that followed show how pressure can harden the state rather than break it Even so, what makes this standoff volatile is that a workable nuclear deal may exist but just not the kind Netanyahu wants or Trump could boast as a total victory Iranian officials have floated diluting its 60% highly enriched uranium if sanctions are fully lifted which would be a serious trade-off of nuclear steps for economic relief Whether one trusts Tehran is beside the point Rather the problem stems from Washington being pressured by Tel Aviv demanding everything nuclear rollback missile limits and proxy disarmament before offering anything That is not negotiation; it is a deadlock engineered to make war look inevitable In effect, Netanyahu is setting diplomacy up to fail By insisting that Iran’s missiles and proxy networks be part of the bargain he ensures that no negotiation can succeed Consequently the result is permanent escalation When no deal is ever good enough every round of talks becomes a countdown to the next strike Worst, it tempts Netanyahu to take unilateral actions that sabotage diplomacy before it produces an outcome he dislikes That is why the Iraq and Venezuela mindset is so corrosive Trump treats Iran like a vending machine where he can simply insert sanctions and threats and expect surrender And by demanding
History offers cautionary lessons The Roman Republic did not collapse because Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon in a vacuum; it collapsed because emergency powers had become routine long before he did The Weimar Republic did not fall because Article 48 existed, but because it was used so often that governing by decree became normal Democracies rarely die in one dramatic act They erode through precedents that feel justified at the time.
in the 19th century, and the idea resurfaced periodically during the Cold War The question is not whether America has interests in Greenland It is whether tariffs against allies are an appropriate (or sustainable) means of pursuing them Once tariffs become the default instrument of geopolitical negotiation alliance management and territorial ambition, the logic is hard to contain Today it is Greenland Tomorrow it could be basing rights, voting patterns at the United Nations or domestic regulatory policies And once that logic gains international acceptance reversing it becomes difficult Other powers will follow suit Economic coercion will normalize The distinction between friend and foe will blur further A world already skeptical of American leadership will grow more transactional, more fragmented, and more brittle Whether Trump ultimately secures Greenland is almost beside the point The precedent is already being set Tariffs are no longer just
speculation It should be a payments infrastructure It should not entrench monopoly power but instead be designed
fair and peaceful process For the BNP the victory is so decisive that the party can invoke Article 142 to bring amendments to the Constitution For Jamaat, alongside its allies including the NCP, a party born out of the July Revolution it secured a quarter of the 300 seats This makes them a massive political force in the opposition Bangladesh s 55-year electoral history is no stranger to the two-thirds majority Statistically, in 10 out of the 13 national elections held in this country, the winner has walked away with such a mandate Simple majorities have actually been the exception occurring only in 1986
DHAKA TRIBUNE
M A HossAin
TPremier Li hosts foreign exper ts, pledges
stronger
suppor t ahead of spring festival
try’s development priorities and government work
Representatives from the United Kingdom the Netherlands Uganda Bulgaria, Belarus and Germany spoke on topics including scientific and technological innovation, agricultural modernization cultural and people-to-people exchanges talent development and investment cooperation
and thanked the foreign experts for their longstanding support for China’s modernization drive He also listened to their views and recommendations regarding the coun-
The premier expressed hope that foreign experts would continue serving as bridges between China and the rest of the world, helping enhance mutual trust, deepen exchanges and learning, and promote win-win cooperation
Foreign professionals who have built their careers in China have generated innovative成果 with far-reaching spillover effects benefiting both China and the global community, Li said Referring to the recommendations of the Communist Party of China Central Committee for the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) Li described the blueprint as charting the country s development path for the next five years He encouraged foreign experts to seize emerging opportunities, stay engaged in China’s growth, and contribute further to global progress Calling foreign experts “sincere
friends of the Chinese people ” Li pledged that the government would continue improving the living and working environment for international talent He said China would enhance support through innovation-friendly policies and optimise services related to visas social security healthcare and children’s education “These
UK terror ban on pro -Palestine group unlawful, cour t rules af ter appeal
CORPORATE CORNER
Iranian CG highlights resilience, regional diplomacy at Islamic Revolution Anniversar y
reaffirmed Iran s commitment to sovereignty, regional peace, and strengthened ties with Pakistan while addressing a ceremony marking the 47th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution of Iran Welcoming distinguished guests including Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori senior officials of the Sindh government members of the diplomatic corps and representatives from political and
pressed these views while speaking as the Chief Guest at the 18th Annual CSR Summit & Awards 2026, organised by the National Forum for Environment and Health (NFEH) at a local hotel On the occasion more than 70 national and multinational organisations
Delegation from NIPA visits Safe Cit y Islamabad
HHF Chairman meets LCCI president to discuss social ser vices
They were briefed in detail about the operational procedures and utility of these systems The delegation was informed that Safe City Islamabad is playing a significant role across various sectors through modern technological initiatives These include the Police Operations Center Emergency Control Center Dispatch Control Center and the Pucar-15 emergency helpline The delegation was further briefed on the performance and effectiveness of Safe City cameras deployed across the city It was highlighted that these modern surveillance cameras are playing a vital role in ensuring city security preventing crime and protecting the lives and property of citizens Moreover facial recognition cameras have also been installed at entry and exit points of the city which are assisting in identifying suspicious individuals
Farooq Baloch Chairman of Hum Hospital Foundation recently held a cordial meeting with the newly elected President of Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Faheem-urRehman Sehgal, and Vice President Khurram Lodhi The discussion focused on matters of mutual interest and the promotion of social services Baloch congratulated Faheem-ur-Rehman Sehgal and Khurram Lodhi on assuming their new roles and extended his best wishes He emphasized the crucial role of the business community as the backbone of the nation's economy and highlighted their significant contributions to the social sector LCCI President Faheem-ur-Rehman Sehgal welcomed the Chairman of Hum Hospital Foundation and commended the foundation s performance He praised Farooq Baloch for his commendable work in serving humanity, noting that such welfare initiatives offer a ray of hope for society The meeting
Z ARDARI MAY FACILITATE IMRAN’S DEPARTURE TO UAE FOR MEDICAL PROCEDURE, SAYS DURRANI
Sister
Arab Emirates (UAE) for medical procedure
In an interview, Durrani said relations between the government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were currently functioning on a “quid pro quo” basis with Nawaz Sharif actively
Fazlur Rehman urges comprehensive healthc are access for Imran Khan in custody
Three-day 10th Faiz Peace Festival kicks off in Lahore
for nations to work together to address hybrid threats cybersecurity climate change and other cross-border issues, said a statement issued from the President s Office The workshop, organised by the National Defence University, brought together around 100 participants, including 69 delegates from 49 countries During an interactive session with participants President Zardari felicitated attendees and commended the forum as a platform for dialogue among policymakers diplomats military officials academics, and private sector leaders Calling leadership and stability the pillars of nations and institutions, the president said, “Security is no longer only about conventional conflicts It includes cybersecurity hybrid threats and information challenges At the same time climate change resource scarcity and disinformation cross borders demanding collaborative solutions He urged participants to translate discussions into actionable solutions, choosing dialogue over division and cooperation over conflict “I hope these insights reach a broader audience across our institutions and society ” he added President Zardari expressed gratitude to the organisers participants and the NDU for making the workshop possible emphasizing that such forums offer lasting opportunities for meaningful collaboration Responding to participant questions, he noted Pakistan’s close work with regional partners and its readiness to strengthen bilateral cooperation through technological advancement Highlighting bilateral relations he said interaction with Serbia should be enhanced through collaboration between think-tanks academia and industry On global cooperation he emphasized that nations are interwoven, facing crosscutting challenges that demand collective action Referring to domestic governance, the president said the 18th Constitutional Amendment was designed to ensure Pakistan s sustainable future by honoring public sentiment and granting citizens ownership over decisions related to national wealth He reiterated that Pakistan respects the national interests of other countries and promotes dialogue over conflict in a volatile region, expressing hope that no crisis would escalate into war President Zardari also paid homage to former Prime Minister Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto recalling her vision for democracy women s leadership and empowerment
13 killed, 9 injured in oil tanker-bus collision triggered pile-up on M9 Motor way near Karachi
s ta f f r e p o r t
At least 13 people were killed and nine others were injured in a collision between an oil tanker and a passenger bus on the M9 Motorway at Ansari Bridge near DHA City, rescue and police officials said on Friday
Following the crash a large quantity of oil spilled onto the motorway creating serious hazards for rescue teams Due to the risk of fire, rescuers refrained from using electrical cutting equipment and instead manually dismantled the wreckage to retrieve the bodies and injured passengers
Malir Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dr Abdul Khaliq Pirzada told the media that 13 people had lost their lives in the accident, while nine others sustained injuries He said initial investigations suggested
that the oil tanker was heading towards Karachi, whereas the passenger bus was bound for Sanghar
According to the SSP, the passenger bus was travelling in the wrong direction which led to the collision As a result of the impact the oil tanker overturned and fell onto the passenger van He added that the rescue operation had been completed, while efforts were underway to remove combustible material from the oil tanker to prevent further risk A spokesperson for Rescue 1122 Hassaanul Haseeb Khan said that four vehicles were involved in the fatal accident: an oil tanker, a passenger bus, a passenger van, and a goods-carrying trailer He also corroborated the SSP’s statement that the passenger bus was moving in the wrong direction However Motorway Police officials maintained that the accident was
caused by a tyre burst on the oil tanker, while confirming that four vehicles were involved in the collision CM orders probe into fatal crash Meanwhile Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah expressed deep grief over the loss of lives and ordered an inquiry to determine the exact cause of the accident In a statement, he said strict action would be taken against those found responsible and directed the authorities to ensure rigorous enforcement of traffic laws to safeguard citizens
Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar also expressed profound sorrow over the incident and instructed authorities to provide immediate and the best possible medical treatment to the injured Separately President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep grief and sorrow over the tragic accident according to a statement issued by the President s Secretariat
level meetings with Indonesian Defence Minister Lieutenant General (Retd) Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, the commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, and the Indonesian Air Chief He was accorded a guard of honour at all venues the statement added During discussions with the Indonesian air chief both sides deliberated on enhanced air force-to-air force cooperation joint training from basic to advanced levels, professional exchanges, and collaboration in emerging aerospace domains,” the ISPR statement said It further noted that the Indonesian air chief sought the PAF’s support in advancing operational and flying training acknowledging the force s rich combat experience In recognition of his role in strengthening bilateral air power cooperation, the highest award of the Indonesian Air Force the Medal of Honour was conferred upon ACM Sidhu ISPR said the air chief also held a joint meeting with the Indonesian defence minister and chief of defence forces during which a wide range of defence and security matters were discussed The Indonesian leadership appreciated the PAF s professionalism and modernisation drive, and lauded the advanced technological infrastructure of the National Aerospace Science & Technology Park the statement added
he spoke to senior journalists and social media activists Reaffirming Iran s longstanding support for an independent Palestinian state the ambassador emphasized that since the creation of Israel the world has effectively been divided into two camps: those advocating a free Palestinian state and those supporting Israel He maintained that Iran has consistently upheld its principled stance in the
sia and President Prabowo expressed keen interest in leveraging PAF s state-of-the-art training ecosystem and aerospace development infrastructure to enhance Indonesia’s defence capabilities ” the statement said Earlier the air chief held separate high-
