Epaper_26-02-7 ISB

31 KILLED, 169 INJURED IN SUICIDE ATTACK DURING FRIDAY PRAYERS; STATE VOWS FULL FORCE RESPONSE

g AUTHORITIES CLAIM SUICIDE BOMBER IDENTIFIED WHO HAD GOT TRAINING IN AFGHANISTAN AND HAD CONFIRMED MULTIPLE CROSS-BORDER TRIPS

g GOVT REAFFIRMS NATIONAL ACTION PLAN COMMITMENT TO ERADICATE EXTREMIST NETWORKS

g PM, PRESIDENT, KP, PUNJAB AND SINDH CMS CONDEMN ATTACK, PLEDGE SWIFT JUSTICE

Tarar says Imran’s ‘detailed ’ medic al repor t handed over to family as PTI again moves SC for doc tors ’ access

ISLAMABAD

s ta f f r e p o r t

Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Friday extended the judicial remand of lawyer Imaan Zainab Hazir-Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, for 14 more

Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Friday said that a “detailed” medical report of incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan had been handed over to his family while the Adiala Jail administration informed the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Islamabad that Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were receiving medical treatment in accordance with jail rules Tarar s statement on social media platform X came hours after the PTI again approached the Supreme Court (SC), seeking access to Imran’s medical report and visitation rights for his personal doctors and family members Minister Tarar noted that National Assembly Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai had written to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while PTI leaders had also petitioned the apex court regarding the medical checkup of Imran Ahmad Niazi who is serving his sentence in Central Jail, Rawalpindi On directions from the Prime Minister ’s Office (PMO), a detailed report was sent by the ex-

ecutive director of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) to the superintendent of Central Jail, Rawalpindi (Adiala), and has been handed over to the family ” Tarar said According to the report Dr Rana Imran Sikander executive director of PIMS stated that Imran (age 74) had reported reduced vision in his right eye A senior ophthalmologist from PIMS conducted a comprehensive eye assessment at Adiala Jail including slit lamp examination fundoscopy intraocular pressure measurements, essential laboratory tests, and Optical Coherence Tomography of the retina “The diagnosis of right cen-

tral retinal vein occlusion was made, and hospital-based followup treatment was recommended, the report said Imran was subsequently brought to PIMS for the procedure where the treatment plan was explained to him and informed consent obtained

The procedure was carried out under standard sterile protocols and monitoring in the operating theatre and was completed smoothly in approximately 20 minutes During the treatment the patient remained vitally stable and was discharged with routine post-procedure care instructions, follow-up advice, and documents,” Dr Rana confirmed

PAKISTAN’S STATE OWNED UTILIT Y STORES COME TO A WHIMPERING END

NEPRA to hear govt plan for new uniform power tariff, fixed charges for DISCOs, K-Elec tric on Feb 10

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has scheduled a crucial public hearing on February 10, 2026 on the federal government’s motion seeking rationalization of uniform electricity tariff including revision of rates and introduction of fixed charges for XWDISCOs and K-Electric

According to the official notice issued by NEPRA, the hearing is being conducted under Sections 7 and 31 of the NEPRA Act, read with Rule 17 of the NEPRA Tariff (Standards and Procedures) Rules 1998 The hearing will take place at 03:00 PM and will be held both online and at NEPRA Tower NEPRA stated that the Federal Government has filed a motion along with policy guidelines for rationalization of tariff for XWDISCOs and K-Electric and submitted

that the purpose of the move is to better reflect the underlying cost structure and fixed cost recovery of the power sector ’s consolidated revenue requirement

The notice further revealed that the Cabinet has already approved the uniform tariff through Case No 89/Rule-19/2026/111 on February 4, 2026, and the same has now been forwarded to NEPRA for consideration in line with legal provisions

NEPRA noted that the federal government has requested the Authority to incorporate policy guidelines for revision of rates and application of fixed charges into the NEPRA-determined schedule of tariff and issue a revised schedule after adjusting variable rates in line with the already determined revenue requirement of DISCOs

The regulator emphasized that the motion has been submitted without changing the already targeted tariff differential subsidy of

Rs249 billion, which is a key component used to bridge the gap between actual cost of electricity supply and the consumer-end uniform tariff structure

According to the notice the federal government through its motion, has sought three major actions from NEPRA First, it has proposed revision of the applicable uniform tariff and issuance of a revised Schedule of Tariff (SOT) while remaining within the determined revenue requirement of XWDISCOs and within the already budgeted tariff differential subsidy of Rs249 billion

schedule after adjusting

The Federal Government has approached NEPRA seeking approval for a major overhaul of the uniform electricity tariff structure including the introduction of fixed monthly charges for domestic consumers and revised rates for DISCOs and K-Electric to ensure recovery of rising fixed costs According to available documents, the federal government has formally moved the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) for approval of a major restructuring of Pakistan’s electricity tariff framework

of the power sector s mounting fixed costs In its motion and policy guidelines submitted to NEPRA the government referred to the tariff determinations for XWDISCOs under the Multi-Year Tariff (MYT) regime including the Consumer End Tariff Recommendation dated January 7 2026 and the subsequent decision dated January 12, 2026, which were later notified through SROs 41 to 52(I)/2026 dated January 13, 2026 The government based its justification on the National Electricity Policy 2021 approved by the Council of Common Interests (CCI) which under Clause 5 6 1 states that the financial sustainability of

the power sector depends on the recovery of the full cost of service through an efficient tariff structure that ensures liquidity The policy further states under Clause 5 6 4 that financial self-sustainability would eventually eliminate the need for government subsidies, except for lifeline, industrial, or agricultural consumers as per prevailing government considerations The motion further highlights that under the same policy framework the government may continue proposing a uniform tariff across consumers and regions while the regulator in consumer interest is required to determine a uniform tariff inclusive of quarterly adjustments, for all state-owned distribution companies

According to the motion, the government has argued that Pakistan’s power sector is currently facing a serious structural imbalance between the determined revenue requirement and the mechanism through which tariffs are recovered It stated that a substantial portion of the sector s costs comprises fixed charges while the current tariff structure is largely volumetric, meaning it recovers most of the cost through per-unit electricity consumption

The government maintained that this structural misalignment has become more critical due to the rapid expansion of off-grid solar energy which has reduced grid consumption for many consumers As a result the burden of recovering fixed costs is increasingly being shifted to other consumers, creating disproportionate pressure, increased cross-subsidization, and accelerated migration to alternative energy solutions

BASANT BRINGS RS1.5B TRADE SURGE TO L AHORE, CL AIMS KITE FLYING ASSOCIATION

AKazakhstan’s Elaman Group eyes $20m investment in Gilgit-Baltistan gold exploration

Utegenov, founder and managing partner of Elaman Group the Kazakh delegation presented the group s achievements, priorities, and potential for expanding investment cooperation including the possibility of joint ventures in Pakistan The delegation also discussed their plans to introduce modern mining technologies with Chinese partners to ensure sustainable and environmentally responsible operations Elaman Group emphasised its commitment to corporate social responsibility particularly in areas such as local employment, skills development, and community uplift, while stressing the importance of a joint venture with local partners to ensure seamless project implementation within Pakistan’s regulatory framework Minister Sheikh reaffirmed Pakistan s eagerness to attract foreign investment offering full support at both federal and provincial levels, including regulatory assistance through the BoI’s single-window operations

Tarar says Imran’s ‘detailed’ medical repor t handed

and Bushra Bibi were receiving medical treatment in compliance with the Pakistan Prison Rules, 1978 The submission followed a contempt of court notice issued to the jail superintendent for failing to provide the report earlier The ATC report, filed by Deputy Superintendent Jamaat Ali Shah confirmed that medical examinations and treatment were ongoing in line with jail regulations The PIMS report was also submitted to the court by jail officials However Imran s sister Aleema Khan criticized the submission on X, saying the SC Chief Justice had committed last Friday that Imran’s medical reports would be handed over to the family Today only two brief notes were submitted, she said, accusing jail authorities of disregarding the Chief Justice s authority She urged Chief Justice Yahya Afridi to issue a contempt notice and ensure the family receives the full medical reports without further delay PTI APPROACHES SUPREME COURT AGAIN

Earlier on Friday PTI s Barrister Gohar Ali Khan expressed concern over Imran s health, stating that the party had submitted a memorandum to the SC registrar requesting immediate access for Imran s personal doctors, family, lawyers, and friends Gohar said this marked the 10th petition to the apex court regarding Imran s health in addition to 16 submissions to high courts He emphasized that Imran’s condition is a matter of national concern not just for PTI lawmakers but for all Pakistanis He added that despite requests Imran had not met with family, lawyers, or his personal physicians since the procedure Letters from Achakzai to PM Shehbaz requesting his trusted doctors to examine Imran received no response prompting the PTI to again seek Supreme Court intervention This is our minimum request to receive the report and allow his doctors to meet him promptly for the peace of mind of his family the party and

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

PM Shehbaz added that Pakistan viewed Uzbekistan not only as a partner but as a gateway to Central Asia, offering joint venture opportunities for Pakistani entrepreneurs President Mirziyoyev in turn urged the business communities of both countries to fully tap the trade potential, promising tenyear tax exemptions for Pakistani businesses and all possible facilitation to strengthen trade relations

Joint Communiqué: Commitment to Connectivity and Cooperation

Separately Pakistan and Uzbekistan underscored their commitment to further deepen bilateral ties and strengthen cooperation in a joint declaration, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Friday

In the joint declaration Pakistan and Uzbekistan reaffirmed their commitment to deepen bilateral ties and strengthen cooperation The statement noted that the two leaders had held comprehensive discussions covering the full spectrum of bilateral relations, reaffirming support for sovereignty independence and territorial integrity while promoting sustainable development aligned with the long-term interests of both nations

The leaders exchanged views on regional peace and security, connectivity, and trade expressing satisfaction with 34 years of diplomatic relations They emphasized that these relations are firmly anchored in longstanding bonds of friendship, historical, cultural, and spiritual affinities

tions and reaffirmed the implementa-

tific-Technical Cooperation, noting the success of the 10th IGC session in Islamabad on February 2 and the intent to achieve the targets set therein

They welcomed the framework agreement on the UzbekistanAfghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project, signed in July 2025, emphasizing the role of regional connectivity in trade socio-economic development and integration Both countries reiterated their commitment to operationalizing the MoU on Multimodal Transport (September 2024), while Pakistan confirmed its readiness to provide port access and high-standard road networks for Uzbek trade and transit TRADE, INDUSTRIAL COOPERATION AND INVESTMENT

Uzbekistan is the first Central Asian country with which Pakistan signed a Transit Trade Agreement and a Preferential Trade Agreement Both nations welcomed the growing bilateral trade volume and reiterated their commitment to achieve the $2 billion trade target by 2029 The leaders agreed to establish joint management of economic and industrial zones in both countries, aimed at boosting industrial cooperation and exporting finished products to third countries They also signed a framework agreement establishing the Inter-Regional Forum with the first forum scheduled in Uzbekistan in 2026

Both leaders expressed satisfaction over the completion of phase II of the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) expansion signing of the Bilateral Investment Treaty and plans to explore agreements on aligning SPS measures, mutual recognition of standards, and joint ventures in pharmaceuticals, textiles, leather, agriculture, minerals, and engineering goods while also promoting e-commerce cooperation

lar dialogue and constructive cooperation in security and defence welcoming staff talks and high-level exchanges

They also agreed to continue mutual participation in joint military exercises and training, as well as professional development, best practice sharing, and institutional collaboration

The leaders also commended the Joint Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC) on Trade-Economic and Scien-

They stressed the importance of diversifying trade corridors and amending the Intergovernmental Agreement on Transit Trade to further strengthen trade between the two countries DEFENCE, SECURITY, AND REGIONAL STABILITY

Both sides agreed to maintain regu-

31 killed, 169 injured in suicide attack during Friday prayers; state vows full force response

Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry later confirmed that the attacker was a Pakistani national and not Afghan Forensic analysis determined the number of times he traveled to Afghanistan, where he underwent “extreme religious indoctrination,” Chaudhry said highlighting that

pattern attacks carried out under the guise of religion or provincial differences is consistent across multiple terror incidents

in Pakistan Attacks are increasingly targeting soft civilian spaces, including markets, schools, mosques, imambargahs and banks ” he said He also revealed that a relative of Islamabad s IGP Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi was among the victims emphasizing that terrorism spares no one Chaudhry affirmed Pakistan s resolve to continue implementing the National Action Plan, targeting extremist elements without compromise He said “We are a frontline state protecting the world Attacks like these are meant to weaken our wall but we will not let it happen We are winning this war Government and Security Response Following the attack, emergency teams were dispatched within 10–12 minutes Injured individuals were taken to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and Polyclinic Hospital where operations and trauma care were immediately mobilized

The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the UN Charter pledging to support each other s initiatives in multilateral fora and stressing the importance of dialogue and peaceful engagement to address longstanding issues in South and Central Asia They pledged to support each other ’s candidatures in international organizations particularly at the UN Uzbekistan praised Pakistan s contributions as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (20252026) and congratulated Pakistan on its successful UNSC presidency in June 2025 Pakistan in turn congratulated Uzbekistan on the successful hosting of the 43rd UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand in 2025 Uzbekistan extended full support for Pakistan s upcoming SCO chairmanship (2026-2027) and acknowledged Pakistan’s chairmanship of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) of the SCO (20252026) and the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO, 2026-2027) Afghanistan, Regional Peace and Global Conflicts Both leaders emphasized the importance of peace and stability in Afghanistan for the success of the UAP Railway Project and lasting regional security They called on Afghanistan to dismantle terrorist organizations that threaten regional and global security They also reaffirmed their commitment to promoting peace, stability, and the just resolution of global conflicts, including support for the people of Palestine and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state

The Rawalpindi police were placed on high alert, with security checks intensified at mosques imambargahs and other sensitive sites across the city Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced that 25 ambulances were dispatched to Islamabad, while all hospitals in the Rawalpindi district were placed on high alert, with surgical teams, anesthetists orthopedic and neurosurgical specialists on standby She confirmed that blood banks were fully staffed and operation theatres equipped for emergency care The chief minister also stated that all Basant-related activities scheduled for Saturday were cancelled, including the mega show at Liberty Square expressing the need for national unity against “the khwarji menace and their sympathizers Similarly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi condemned the attack, extending condolences and praying for the recovery of the injured Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon announced that the musical segment of a cultural night in honor of the Commonwealth Parliamentarians Association had been cancelled as a mark of respect

Focus on Central Asia

THE visits from the Presidents of the two largest of the ex-Soviet Central Asian Republics President Kassim-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan and President Shavikat Mirzayoyev of Uzbekistan, in themselves, were significant in showing outreach to the CARs Pakistan’s historical relationships with both countries are centuries old, and were symbolized b y the Mughal dynasty, which must be the most famed export of Uzbekistan to India Uzbek and Kazakh young men aplenty sought their fortunes at the Mughal court and settled in the Subcontinent, where they provide the ancestors of a large number of people The establishment of the British Empire in South Asia, and of the Russian Empire over what became the CARs stopped this intercourse, though trade continued That ended when the CARs became part of the USSR It is worth noting that both leaders are successors of the old apparatchiks who were given charge so both republics are not so closely bound to the USSR

It was significant that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told President Mirzayoyev that Pakistan would work closely with it on regional connectivity Though trade with these neighbours is important, with the agreement to increase bilateral trade volume to $ 2 billion with Uzbekistan and to $1 billion with Kazakhstan apart from the 30 MoUs with the former and 28 with the latter Transit is also of vital importance, and the Iranian Chbahar expansion (now in the doldrums after India pulled out) and the development of Gwadar were both aimed at getting sea access for these landlocked countries Attention must also be paid to the fact that both countries, but especially Kazakhstan, also have extensive trade relations with China Both countries as well as Pakistan are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and both are part of the Belt and Road initiative, both being developed as important destinations on the New Silk Road

Another important regional organization is the Economic Cooperation Organization which was initially formed by Turkiye, Iran and Pakistan to replace the Regional Cooperation for Development It was expanded in 1992 with the addition of the CARs and Afghanistan While the two largest CARs have been engaged it will be useful to extend a hand to the other, smaller, CARs, like Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Azerbaijan It must also be accepted that these relations take Pakistan closer to the Turkic bloc That would mean a rollback of the British imperial legacy, and thus is a desideratum

Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late)

Founding Editor

M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit

Th i c l e s a c c o u n t f o r a r o u n d 4 0 p e r c e n t o f t o t a l a i r p o l l u t i o n T h i s b u r d e n i s d r i v e n b y a t o x i c m i x o f l o w - q u a l i t y f u e l s , a g i n g a n d p o o r l y m a i n t a i n e d e n

Without clear purpose and political will, electric vehicles risk remaining symbolic gestures, leaving millions exposed to preventable pollution. Smog does not respect provincial borders, and neither should solutions. Clean air is not a luxury but a basic human right. Pakistan’s move toward electric vehicles is a start, but without bold and sustained action, it risks remaining symbolic rather than transformative

h e M y t h o f C o n t r o l

Not

figures

carefully Military positions were hit Intelligence assets were exposed Recruitment structures were disrupted This was not random unrest It was organized pressure The scope, frequency, and spread of attacks reveal more than tactical success They reveal systemic failure These are symptoms of a security framework unable to sustain itself Within a single month 16 attacks were carried out across the country The outcome was stark Forty-eight Taliban fighters were killed Twenty-five were injured Three vehicles were

they shock But because they repeat Kunduz witnessed the highest number of attacks This province has resisted control for years Taliban authorities failed again Operations also appeared in Panjshir Baghlan Faryab Badakhshan and even Kabul Insecurity now spans the entire state The National Resistance Front conducted seven operations Its focus remained clear Military and intelligence infrastructure came first In Panjshir, a major operation destroyed a Taliban battalion base Seventeen fighters were killed Five were injured Panjshir still carries meaning Historical and operational Losses there reflect limited Taliban reach In Kunduz NRF targeted checkpoints and vehicles In Baghlan a Taliban assault was repelled Resistance showed resilience Control remained contested The Afghanistan Freedom Front carried out nine attacks Its activity reinforced the perception of Taliban vulnerability In Kunduz AFF struck a recruitment centre Two fighters were killed including a commander Three were injured The symbolism mattered Manpower pipelines were exposed In Badakhshan, a strike near the gover-

Here Arendt’s warning returns with force Power rooted in fear corrodes itself Afghanistan’s current trajectory confirms this lesson. Control imposed through violence creates obedience, not legitimacy It invites resistance rather than peace Until governance replaces coercion, and inclusion replaces denial, Afghanistan will remain trapped in cycles of challenge and repression. Stability cannot be declared into existence. It must be earned And fear has never been enough So is the prevailing myth of control in Afghanistan

nor s office killed three and injured one Even politically sensitive zones proved insecure Authority did not translate into protection Faryab experienced sustained AFF pressure A battalion base was attacked Two fighters were killed One was injured Soon after a rocket strike hit Taliban judicial police Four were killed Two were injured These targets were not accidental Law enforcement was challenged deliberately Judicial authority was weakened intentionally These institutions sustain local control When they come under fire, governance erodes Fear replaces compliance Silence becomes temporary The most damaging impact came in Kabul The capital symbolizes rule It projects strength Yet it was breached Despite heavy security AFF targeted an intelligence vehicle Three fighters were killed One

End gender abuse

Beneath this view lies an even darker implication that refusal to comply with Washington s strategic and economic demands including Trump s openly declared ambition to seize Venezuela s oil wealth for US gain, could invite the same fate that befell Maduro She perhaps put the exalted concept as a backburner that democracies breathe through dissent From mass protests in Israel demanding accountability from Benjamin Netanyahu to parliamentary resistance in Pakistan, to congressional scrutiny in Washington, internal struggle is the engine of reform But there is a line that line is crossed when a political movement steps outside its national ecosystem and invites a foreign state to intervene directly in the destiny of its own people This is why the language of treason enters the conversation To challenge one s own government is a political right To applaud a foreign power for economically suffocating one’s own society is in the eyes of many a moral rupture Sanctions do not fall on presidents alone They fall on hospitals that cannot import medicine on families whose wages collapse under inflation, on children whose futures are narrowed by scarcity To praise these tools as instruments of “liberation” is, for critics, to sever political ambition from national responsibility The same pattern many argue is now being traced in Iran For decades Iranians have demonstrated that organic struggle is not only possible but powerful In 1979, a mass popular movement overthrew one of the most entrenched Western-backed monarchies in the region That transformation, whatever its later consequences, was not engineered in foreign capitals It was carried by millions in the streets of Tehran Isfahan and Shiraz It was internal national and unmistakably indigenous Yet today critics point to the re-emergence of Reza Pahlavi who left Iran as a child more than four decades ago and has lived his adult life in the West as a symbol of what they describe as “exiled leadership” being elevated by foreign powers To them

She perhaps put the exalted concept as a backburner that democracies breathe through dissent. From mass protests in Israel demanding accountability from Benjamin Netanyahu, to parliamentary resistance in Pakistan, to congressional scrutiny in Washington, internal struggle is the engine of reform

History’s judgment on such alliances is rarely kind. Nations may survive bad governments They rarely emerge whole when their sovereignty becomes a bargaining chip in someone else’s strategic game The ultimate right to shape a country’s future, this argument insists, must remain in the hands of its own people not in the applause of foreign leaders, and not in the shadow of global power

the idea that someone disconnected from the daily realities of Iranian society can be positioned as a national alternative, while US and Israeli leaders openly signal support for regime change contaminates the authenticity of domestic protest When President Donald Trump issues statements hinting at military action in support of protesters, critics argue that the organic nature of Iranian dissent is immediately compromised What may begin as a homegrown demand for reform becomes vulnerable to being branded internally and internationally as a foreign-engineered project The protester in the street is no longer just a citizen with a grievance He or she becomes, in the narrative of the state, a potential proxy of external power This is not merely a theoretical concern History is crowded with examples where foreign intervention discredited legitimate internal movements by attaching them to geopolitical agendas In 1953 Iran s democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh was overthrown in a covert U S -British operation after nationalizing the country’s oil industry The Shah who replaced him ruled for more than two decades

The result showed a widening gap between BNP and Jamaat with 52 8% respondents repor ting they will vote for BNP and 31% repor ting they will vote for Jamaat

The results showed, Jamaat and NCP voters are more likely to vote yes to the referendum and the BNP and Awami League voters are less likely to vote Yes for the referendum About 59% are likely to vote Yes 47% think Tarique Rahman will be the nex t prime minister but around 52% will vote for BNP

In a week, people of Bangladesh will be

*Will

*What does the Yes vote on the referendum truly mean?

*Who will people vote for?

*Are we seeing the rise of the far-right? Or is the election pushing the far-right to the centre-left and the centre-left to little right?

*Will Jamaat allow females to work to be in leadership?

*Will BNP be able to control its grassroot from extortion?

Undoubtedly, people are curious, concerned and conscious And those of us who are in the business of studying people society and the economy are having a hard time making sense of the data -- qualitative quantitative and observational WHAT IS KNOWN? We are sure that this will not be an easy path to victory for BNP and it is not even decided whether the party will win Post August 5 2024 the party and its leadership might have spontaneously assumed that they are in power Their language and approach became the one of a government in waiting Therefore, they rejected the first wave of polls done by Innovision Consulting in September 2024 and BIGD later in October

2024 that showed about a 5 percentage-point margin between BNP and Jamaat on the total voter distribution Innovision’s poll showed a distinct difference in perception between online and offline respondents; online sampling was leaning towards Jamaat Subsequently when both the next rounds of Innovision and BIGD polls picked the same preference both Jamaat and BNP began to pay attention but in different ways Innovision s nationwide survey in February 2025 also showed how Jamaat was slowly winning the share of student voters Gen Z voters (aged 18-28) while BNP controlled millennials (28-45) and the Gen X voters (45-60) The divisional divides were also clear, Jamaat was surging in North-West and the South-West BNP was holding base in Central, North-East, and South-East Most importantly the Innovision and BIGD surveys showed a large percentage of the voters being undecided and unrevealed and the low percentage of voters preferring the student led party- NCP This time, the BNP and Jamaat vote shares remained static from February 2025- BNP 41% and Jamaat hovering around 3031% On the total sample about one-third remained undecided and total unrevealed (including undecided) reduced from around 53% to 45% Surprisingly, the higher proportion of the revealed share was tilting towards Awami League They gained about 4 percentage points in the Innovision survey in September 2025 in contrast to February

2025 Later an IRI survey released in November 2025 showed that Jamaat is at around 29%, BNP is at around 35%

Another poll done by NARRATIV in the period November to December 2025 and released in January 2026 posted BNP and Jamaat neck to neck at 35% with Jamaat behind by just about 1% WHAT IS COMMON IN THESE POLLS?

That they were still about one-third undecided and unrevealed and that BNP and Jamaat are both hovering at around one third and the gap between them is at around 3-6%

All of these suggest a hugely contested poll

Set on this background Innovision undertook a panel survey on the respondents sampled in the February 2025 and September 2025 samples

From over 20,000 samples from across the country a panel of 10 000 samples was created with an intended attrition rate of 55% Eventually 5 147 samples were successfully sampled from around 15 000 samples, with a much higher attrition rate (around 67%)

Failure to reach female respondents increased the attrition rate But Innovision’s report explains that there are no systematic biases that could be found in those who could not be reached as majority of the attrition came from those who did not pick the phone

After systematic analysis among the non-responsive samples, there is no evidence that a specific strata or voting segment was

left out Nevertheless, given the attrition (samples that could not be reached) read the following with a bit of statistical caution

Unlike a cross-sectional survey that is done on a type of sample or class of sample a panel survey is repeated on the same sample The panel survey is thus able to show the difference of a sample’s response over time Innovision’s panel survey thus provides a very important nuance that the other surveys are not able to project The panel survey explains the shifts in voters preferences as we are able to compare the responses of the samples from the previous round of polling In this round, around 75% reported that they have decided who they will vote for (the highest since the polling started) and among the decided the highest proportion (88%) revealed their preference The result showed a widening gap between BNP and Jamaat (at 22 1%) with 52 8% respondents reporting they will vote for BNP and 31% reporting they will vote for Jamaat The voting preferences by age groups gender location and occupation remained generally similar in terms of direction but broke more in favour of BNP The results made us wonder as to what might be happening The general hypothesis from reading the campaigns of the two parties is that the election is closely contested Then what is causing a shift in the observed pattern in the panel survey THE BIGGER QUESTION IS: WILL IT HOLD?

We dug through the data and found an interesting pattern that would explain this election The survey shows that of the BNP votes (52 8%), 26 6% came from previously undecided and unrevealed In contrast of the Jamaat votes (31%) 14 1% came from the unrevealed Also of the Awami League votes BNP and alliance was getting 32 9% Jamaat was getting 13 2% and 52 3% remained undecided and unrevealed The result also showed a shift from Jamaat to BNP and BNP to Jamaat and from NCP to Jamaat and BNP (leaning more towards Jamaat) The results showed Jamaat and

Amb S huichi outlines vision for enhanced Pakistan-Japan economic, c ultural ties

of

and outlined a

for

cooperation centered on people-to-people interaction The Ambassador stated this while speaking at a media networking event hosted at his residence Recounting his travels since arriving in November 2024 from Punjab and Sindh’s industrial hubs to Mohenjo-daro Taxila and the Northern areas the Ambassador praised Pakistan s cultural richness and warm people

“Each visit has left unforgettable memories and deep appreciation for its rich history and culture he said adding One of the things that has impressed me most since I arrived in Pakistan is the trust and affection that the people of Pakistan have for Japan

“This is the result of various factors such as 74 years of diplomatic relations Japan’s support through ODA the presence of Japanese companies and the trust in Japanese products said the Ambassador Ambassador Akamatsu, in his speech, detailed a robust agenda for 2026 and ahead, focusing on economic expansion technological collaboration and the legacy of the

While spotlighting the three primary pillars shaping the future of Japan-Pakistan relations, the Ambassador outlined his key priorities: expanding and deepening mutual understanding and cooperation through human-to-human interaction strengthening economic ties and promoting Japanese cuisine

Underscoring the importance of active people-to-people exchanges, the Ambassador said that Pakistani youth is taking immense interest in Japan and noted that the number of young Pakistanis studying Japanese language has been increasing sharply, with over 1,000 candidates recently sat for every Japanese Language Proficiency Test

The Ambassador highlighted economic synergy in AI and IT noting Pakistan s rapidly growing IT sector and Japanese companies efforts to connect with skilled professionals Currently, nearly 80 Japanese firms operate in Pakistan, employing for more than 100,000 people

note, observing a moment of silence for the victims of the Gul Plaza tragedy and those who lost their lives in today’s Islamabad bombing The inaugural event marked the start of a three-day literary celebration bringing together writers, thinkers, and readers to explore literature and culture under the theme “Literature in a Fragile World ” Organised by Oxford University Press Pakistan (OUPP) this year ’s festival is again sponsored by the Government of Sindh as Title Sponsor and Getz Pharma as Gold Sponsor, with support from the British Deputy High Commission Karachi, the British Council, the Goethe-Institute, Alliance Française the Embassy of France and other corporate partners Chief Guest Syed Murad Ali Shah Chief Minister of Sindh emphasized the role of literature and culture in shaping an enlightened society “In times of global uncertainty, literature provides stability and humanity Literature in a Fragile World as this year s theme suggests is both timely and deeply relevant Literature serves as a stabilizing and humanizing force in such times,” he said In his welcome address Arshad Saeed Husain Managing Director of OUP Pakistan added Literature is not an indulgence; it is a civic imperative This festival embodies responsible innovation and shared prosperity Dialogue has long been the craft of this city; we convene to question reflect and understand Only sustainable forms of power persuade through evidence empathy and perseverance The festival s international dimension was highlighted by Alexis

Chahtahtinsky, Consul General of France, who praised KLF as a celebration of knowledge, culture, and civilization Lance Domm British Deputy High Commissioner underscored the British contribution bringing acclaimed authors to the festival Senator Sherry Rehman, delivering the keynote on the New World Disorder,’ stressed: “Climate conferences are expensive and exclusive If you are not on the table you are on the menu The Karachi Literature Festival has become the soul of Karachi At this time, the world is in urgent need of knowledge and literature

TDr Fai said “A conflict with clear potential to escalate into a nuclear confrontation is receiving far less attention than its gravity demands The consequences of such neglect could be catastrophic not only for the region but for global peace and security The trucks were rented by the Washington-based World Kashmir Awareness Forum (WKAF), which coordinated the display messages According to organisers, the screens rotated a series of slogans calling for accountability and implementation of United Nations resolutions related to Kashmir Among the phrases displayed were calls for a plebiscite references to press freedoms appeals for international involvement and criticism of Indian policies in the region Passersby were seen pausing to read the messages as the vehicles slowed near traffic signals and pedestrian crossings

Imran Khan’s sisters seek CJP’s inter vention

s ta f f r e p o r t

The sisters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan on Friday urged Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi to issue a contempt notice against Adiala Jail authorities for allegedly failing to comply with court orders regarding the provision of their brother s medical reports The demand comes after the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS)

Pakistan warns UN police budget c uts risk undermining peacekeeping

UNITED NATIONS s ta

e p o r t Amid shrinking financial resources and a weakening commitment to multilateralism, Pakistan on Thursday underscored the critical need for full cooperation by host states to ensure the timely and effective deployment of United Nations peacekeepers including police components authorized by the Security Council “Blue helmets are the most visible symbol of the United Nations’ commitment to peace and stability Pakistan s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Asim Ahmad told the 15member Security Council

The Council convened to receive its annual briefing from the heads of police components serving in United Nations peace operations Ambassador Asim Ahmad

warned that UN missions were operating under acute financial distress forcing ad-hoc capacity reductions that directly undermine mandate delivery and jeopardize the safety and security of peacekeepers on the ground

Highlighting Pakistan s longstanding contribution, he said the country has deployed more than 50 Formed Police Units to UN operations worldwide Out of an authorized UNPOL strength of approximately 7,740, only around 4,600 personnel are currently deployed Further reductions will only hurt peacekeeping efforts,” the Pakistani envoy said cautioning against any additional cutbacks He urged all member states to fulfill their financial obligations

We encourage all states to pay their assessed contributions in full and on time, enabling the full delivery of Council mandates,” he added

The envoy also recalled that Pakistan’s police, alongside its military has been a traditional and reliable contributor to United Nations missions noting that 11 brave Pakistani police personnel have laid down their lives in the line of duty

Ambassador Asim Ahmad further pointed out that the current readiness of a Pakistani Formed Police Unit at the rapid deployment level reflects the country s continued preparedness to support international peace and security efforts Pakistani police officers, he said, have earned widespread respect for their professionalism and devotion to duty under the UN police banner exemplified by the leadership of Faisal Shahkar of the UN Police Division

He also noted that Pakistani policewoman Shahzadi Gulfam became the first-ever recipient of the International Female Police Peacekeeper Award in 2011 Additionally 13 Pakistani police personnel including three women serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), were last month awarded UN medals in recognition of their meritorious service Peacekeeping brings relevance and legitimacy to this organization by making a tangible difference in people s lives, Ambassador Asim Ahmad said

ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t

The Senate on Friday took up a wide range of national issues, including the health of PTI founder Imran Khan soaring tuition fees in private medical colleges agricultural reforms terrorism and the evolving political situation in Balochistan Senator Azam Swati raised concerns over what he described as the deteriorating health of PTI founder Imran Khan while also acknowledging governance challenges in the country

The justice system in the country has collapsed, Swati said, urging policymakers to adopt compassion and reconciliation He stressed that Imran Khan’s condition was serious and called for immediate and unhindered medical treatment Leader of the Opposition and MWM chief Allama Raja Nasir Abbas also expressed concern, demanding that a parliamentary delegation be allowed to visit Imran

Khan in jail and that he be given full access to medical professionals

Referring to the PTI s planned February 8 protest, Abbas said it would remain peaceful and participation would be voluntary

Responding, Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah said Imran Khan was receiving medical care strictly in accordance with the law If we are to move forward we should speak with kindness, he said, adding that the government was following all legal procedures

Senator Rubina Qaimkhani highlighted the sharp rise in fees charged by private medical colleges terming them exploitative Private medical colleges do not meet standards and charge between Rs2 5 million and Rs3 million in fees,” she said, singling out Aga Khan University Medical College where tuition reportedly nears Rs10 million Senator Azam Swati supported the criticism, saying students and families were being financially bur-

dened “Every medical college is exploiting students he remarked calling for strict regulation

Minister of State for Health informed the House that a benchmark of Rs1 8 million had been set for private medical college fees

Presiding Officer Saleem Mandviwalla referred the issue to the relevant Senate committee Minister of State for Health Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath said improving seed quality for wheat and other crops was a government priority “In the next two to three years we will have improved seeds for wheat and other grains he said adding that water conservation and water-efficient technologies were being developed to address scarcity

to occupy government land and petty disputes, he said, warning that tribal leaders refusing to cooperate with authorities would face strict action He announced a permanent police presence in cleared areas and the establishment of a dedicated riverine police unit to prevent the re-emergence of criminal gangs According to him difficult areas such as Bagarji and Ranwati had been cleared and several notorious gangs dismantled The IG said a socio-economic development plan would be rolled out for riverine regions expressing hope that the proposed GhotkiKandhkot bridge over the Indus River would improve access and aid law enforcement operations

He said roads dispensaries