Pakistan s diplomatic outreach in response to the crisis Both leaders highlighted the urgent need for restraint and dialogue to preserve regional peace
PM Shehbaz Sharif also spoke with Crown
The conversation underscored the urgent need for de-escalation following
The Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s readiness to play a constructive role in promoting the restoration of stability across the Middle East In addition to the situation in the Gulf the discussions also touched upon recent developments in Afghanistan, with both leaders agreeing to maintain close coordination on regional security matters They further reaffirmed the longstanding brotherly ties between Pakistan and Syria and expressed interest in enhancing cooperation in areas of mutual interest
Pakistan urges immediate de - esc alation after US -Israel strikes on Iran
ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday said Pakistan was making “full diplomatic efforts to defuse soaring regional tensions following attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran, warning that developments over the past 72 hours were very, very worrisome Addressing a media briefing in Islamabad, Dar said the latest escalation had significantly heightened tensions in an already fragile environment particularly at a time when diplomatic channels were active We are making full diplomatic efforts and requesting all parties to de-escalate, he said, stressing that Pakistan s consistent position was rooted in adherence to the UN Charter and international law, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity He noted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had engaged international stakeholders during his recent visit to Austria including discussions with the International Atomic Energy Agency, and described the feedback as positive Concern over targeting of leadership Dar expressed alarm over what he described as the targeting of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei calling it a violation of international norms We are concerned over the violation of norms as well as international law that heads of state and government have been targeted, he said He revealed that he had spoken last week with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, conveying Pakistan’s condemnation of the attacks and urging restraint diplomacy and dialogue
s
on Operation Ghazab-lil-Haq
challenged on both eastern and western borders Referring to Marka-i-Haq, he termed it a turning point defined by a resounding military victory,” asserting that any future aggression would be met with a humiliating defeat “Move away from warfare to meaningful negotiation That is the only path for regional security he said while stressing that Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state aware of its obligations He accused India of amplifying proxy operations through Afghanistan and warned that Pakistan had demonstrated only a “fraction of its capabilities under Article 51 of the UN Charter He specifically named the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) as Indian-sponsored groups operating from Afghan territory
Citing a recent report by the United Nations Security Council monitoring team Zardari said terrorist groups
s attack on Iran and Iran s retaliatory strikes against several Gulf nations, including Kuwait Both leaders condemned violations of sovereignty and territorial integrity and stressed that diplomacy must remain the primary channel to resolve tensions and safeguard regional peace These high-level contacts reflect Pakistan s proactive engagement with regional partners to prevent further escalation amid volatile circumstances in the Middle East The Prime Minister has repeatedly emphasized the importance of dialogue restraint and multilateral coordination to address the crisis while protecting regional security and stability
against crossborder hostility The latest escalation marks another chapter in rising tensions between Islamabad and Kabul, following months of titfor-tat actions along the volatile frontier
Earlier Pakistan carried out air strikes targeting camps of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State Khorasan Province inside Afghanistan after a wave of militant attacks in Pakistan, including a suicide bombing in Islamabad Pakistani security sources had claimed that more than 80 terrorists were killed in those strikes
Those operations triggered retaliatory attacks from Afghan forces along the border, eventually leading to the outbreak of the current round of open hostilities
INDIA’S $60 BILLION RIVER STORAGE PUSH RAISES AL ARM IN PAKISTAN OVER FLOOD, DROUGHT RISKS
budget only Rs3 1 billion was released The company has requested an additional Rs56 5 billion to clear arrears under the FY2025 allocation, over and above the FY2026 allocation For FY2027, KE has projected a subsidy requirement of Rs47 1 billion based on the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority s decision dated May 27 2025 notified on July 18 2025 along with the applicable adjustment mechanism
The utility has also reiterated its request that TDS payments related to the period after December 31 2023 be released directly to the company in line with the existing agreement KE stated that timely release and full allocation of TDS are necessary to support operations, including payments to fuel suppliers independent power producers and the Central Power Purchasing Agency-Guaranteed (CPPA-G) as well as planned investments The subsidy claims for FY2024 are based on Nepra s determination of May 27, 2025, while those for FY2025 and FY2026 reflect KE’s annual adjustment and indexation requests Outstanding claims also include estimated annual adjustments quarterly variations under the Multi-Year Tariff (MYT) framework for
FY2024–FY2030, write-off claims approved by the regulator and end-of-term adjustments under review The forecast for FY2027 is based on projected electricity sales fuel prices and generation mix The estimates assume no increase in consumer tariffs up to June 2026 compared to rates notified on February 12 2026 continuation
have not
Adjustment
cluded Under the TDS agreement unpaid claims may attract mark-up if not processed within the prescribed timeframe
President orders fresh probe
CONTINUED FROM PAGE
information from Taliban-controlled accounts which he said lack credibility The operations have reportedly received positive response from oppressed Afghan communities and minorities reinforcing the narrative that Pakistan s actions are against terrorist networks, not ordinary Afghan citizens The official acknowledged the
Army s involvement in internal security attributing it to governance gaps and partial implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) He emphasized that the military has no political ambitions and urged all political parties to focus on better governance and full NAP implementation to improve internal security
Responding to a question about the regional diplomacy the official said Pakistan is pursuing a balanced policy toward Iran, emphasizing that Islamabad values its traditional friendship with Tehran Pakistan has conveyed concerns over attacks by Iran on Arab countries and continues to encourage a stable and peaceful Iran the official said Pakistan s misperceived role as a potential target is completely misplaced," he said, highlighting differences between
tual respect and trust asserting the country s capability to defend its sovereignty as demonstrated during recent events such as Marka-e-Haq and ongoing anti-terrorism operations He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s decade-long strategic relations with Saudi Arabia and stated that decisions regarding participation in the International Stabilization Force (ISF) will be made after due diligence by the government Regarding domestic unrest linked to tensions in Iran, the official stressed that while peaceful protests are a democratic right any acts of violence will not be tolerated Authorities are prepared to enforce the law to prevent miscreants from undermining peaceful demonstrations, he asserted The senior official
435 Afghan Taliban fighters killed, 188 vehicles destroyed in Operation Ghazab Lil Haq: Tarar
TTH E international rule of law did not die a natural death; it was executed in cold blood on the night of February 28, 2026, under a sky lit by American-made missiles and Zionist ambition While the Muslim world was immersed in the spiritual stillness of Ramzan a season of Hurmat where blood is sacred and war is a profound transgression the US-Israeli axis chose to drench the region in fire In a massive escalation, a strike force of nearly 200 aircraft launched “Operation Genesis ” decapitating the Iranian leadership and incinerating the very concept of national sovereignty The confirmed assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei and his core command represents the ultimate breach of the Westphalian order This was never a calibrated response to a nuclear threat, nor was it a failure of diplomacy; it was a calculated sabotage of the Omanmediated peace talks that authentic reports confirmed were on the cusp of success By striking at the precise moment Tehran signaled a zero-stockpiling agreement Washington has signaled that it no longer seeks a stable Middle East but a submissive one The mask of security has been discarded to reveal the archaic face of a new crusade a Greater Israel agenda that views ancient scripture as a land deed and international law as a mere inconvenience to be bypassed While Pakistan finds itself tactically pinned down on its western border fighting a grinding manufactured insurgency against a TTP that thrives under the suspicious silence of the Afghan Taliban, the true center of gravity has shifted With Pakistan s military now facing a formal “declaration of war” from the Afghan Taliban as of February 27, this is a classic “pinning maneuver” in grand strategy: keep regional powers like Pakistan distracted with internal fires and border skirmishes so they cannot look toward the external inferno The nuclear issue was always a phantom a convenient casus belli used to justify the removal of the only regional force capable of providing a strategic counter-weight to the Zionist monopoly Tehran was ready to talk and the Oman channel had facilitated a breakthrough that would have seen Iran down-blend its uranium in exchange for verified security guarantees Yet for the US-Israeli axis an Iranian peace was more dangerous than an Iranian bomb A stable Iran would have blocked the path to the expansionist vision
now being openly preached by American diplomats The mask slipped completely when US Ambassador Mike Huckabee declared to Tucker Carlson that Israel has a “Biblical right” to vast swaths of the Middle East This rhetoric which claims territory from the “Wadi of Egypt to the Euphrates ” isn’t just talk; it is a blueprint for a Greater Israel that seeks to rewrite the geography of the region This doctrine of Regime Change for Territorial Expansion has a dark, welldocumented lineage in the Western hemisphere We have seen this playbook used with devastating effect in Latin America, where the “Monroe Doctrine” was weaponized to ensure no sovereign power could defy Washington s monopoly From the 1973 overthrow of Salvador Allende in Chile to the more recent hybrid warfare used to destabilize Venezuela and Bolivia the strategy remains identical: eliminate sovereign leaders, install compliant satrapies, and secure resource monopolies In Iran today, the US is applying this Latin American “Doctrine of Disappearance” to the Middle
Ultimately, the assassination of the Iranian leadership in the hear t of Ramzan marks the end of the rules-based order. It is a transition to a „might-based order,‰ where the Bible is used as a land deed and a cruise missile ser ves as the enforcement officer. The US political system, now a hostag e to the Zionist monopoly, has chosen to burn the Middle East to satisfy a theological fantasy.
Aterm economic integration Devoid of job creation documentation services and local development investment, help is palliative and not transformative Experience of displacement in the past reveals that being able to have livelihoods within the first year of returning is pivotal in ensuring lasting reintegration failure to which the chances of secondary migration either internal or cross-border is increased They do not make a homogeneous group of returnees Children, elderly people and disabled women and children are at different risk Women and girls revisiting Afghanistan face a challenge of limitation to education working and moving around than was the case in many places they lived in their new countries and curtails household income and development of human capital over time The families which do not have the civil documentation face administrative obstacles to services and support These are not single cases; these cases are repeated in the humanitarian assessment of the various provinces The issue of regional migration governance is also important The Afghans have been in Pakistan and Iran living there over the past 40 years, and the choices of the host countries are influenced by domestic economic needs and political discourse However, fast and widespread returns can change instead of alleviating regional pressures Without any reintegration the driving forces behind further irreg-
ular migration may increase, increasing the routes and informal patterns of labour movement Sustainable returns are therefore not necessarily an Afghanistan issue; but are an issue that concerns the wider stability of the region
A trade-off between policy is developing Quick implementation can meet the short-term domestic politics in the host states, however, destabilisation of Afghanistan can create longer term regional expenses On the other hand nonburden sharing indefinite hosting subjects Pakistan and Iran to actual social and fiscal burdens The indications lean towards a regionally organized strategy that phases the returns and matches them with the international burden-sharing and development-related investment The history of repatriation indicates that gradual and aided repatriation has more lasting effects than sudden repatriation of mass There are five million plus returns are not merely a statistic of a migration process but the shift in the demographics that have measurable economic, social and political implications The paucity of the absorptive capacity in Afghanistan evidenced funding shortfalls registered poverty among the returnees and the apparent service pressures do not favor laziness It is a question of whether the policy reactions will be evidence based - coordinated returns strategic economic investment and long-term international involvement or short-term calculation, the impact on a region over the long run
The writer is an assistant professor at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences Bahria University Islamabad
Exams need proper desks
Beyond substance abuse
dr MuhaMMad fahiM KhaN
Majid Nabi burfat
The World as a wrestling ring
Iof the United States Analysts have since observed that he appeared to regard politics and power as another arena one in which surprise manoeuvres public theatrics, and the art of domination overshadowed quiet diplomacy In pursuit of the Nobel Peace Prize, claims were made of having halted wars and brokered historic reconciliations When such aspirations faltered or recognition did not materialise the posture seemed
to harden Economic sanctions became instruments of coercion; tariffs were deployed as political signals; alliances were weighed against transactional gain Sovereignty in this climate appeared negotiable When a government resisted alignment pressure intensified In some cases, leaders were removed under dramatic circumstances, extracted from their seats of authority Some were even taken from their homes without any hesitation Where persuasion failed the language of regime change emerged; where compliance was not forthcoming, the rumble of military intervention followed Strategic regions rich in energy resources became arenas in which dominance was asserted and redrawn The recent attack on Iran has been cited by many observers as a striking illustration of this doctrine Simultaneously the reemergence of Reza Pahlavi son of the late Shah, in political discourse has revived speculation about designs for regime transformation Such developments evoke uneasy memories of interventions past where the stated objectives of stability and security masked deeper strategic calculations Oil routes maritime chokepoints and geopolitical alignments form the invisible architecture of these confrontations It is widely assumed that before hostilities commenced, precautionary measures were taken to evacuate essential personnel and assets Yet the flames of retaliation burn not in distant corridors of power but in the lands where ordinary people dwell Beyond Iran, the strategic chessboard extends across South Asia In Pakistan, concerns have arisen that shifting alignments among Israel and India highlighted during the visit of the Indian Prime Minister to Israel Through the unsettled corridors of Afghanistan new pressures and proxy rivalries threaten to complicate an already fragile landscape Some analysts argue that under-
standings reached in diplomatic meetings have
The recent attack on Iran has been cited by many obser vers as a striking illustration of this doctrine Simultaneously, the re-emerg ence of Reza Pahlavi, son of the late Shah, in political discourse has revived speculation about designs for regime transformation. Such developments evoke uneasy memories of inter ventions past, where the stated objectives of stability and security masked deeper strategic calculations. Oil routes, maritime chokepoints, and g eopolitical alignments form the invisible architecture of these confrontations It is widely assumed that before hostilities commenced, precautionar y measures were taken to evacuate essential personnel and assets.
W h y a r e A m e r i c a n s k i l l i n g a n d d y i n g f o r I s r a e l ?
As US attacks Iran, Daniel Ellsberg speaks once more
elementary justice things are clear beyond the slightest doubt: the attack is a war of aggression – but to be fair in Israel s case that hardly makes a difference anymore With highlights including apartheid, ethnic cleansing, unlawful detention, torture, sexual violence, and genocide, Israel has such an extensive and constantly growing record of, literally, every crime under international law including human-rights and humanitarian law (or the law of armed conflict) that one more or less hardly seems to matter anymore This state is a monster and monsters will monster as long as they can The US, of course, is no spring chicken either when it comes to treating international law – really, any law – as a doormat and brutally gleefully violating the most basic ethics the kind of simple rules normal people intuitively recognize such as don t murder lie or steal Indeed, while Israel can easily claim to
the US and its regional allies? Then perhaps it s all about plunder? Yes true the US simply loves plundering Historically speaking the whole country is built on it, just like Israel But even plunder on its own despicable terms only makes sense if you turn a profit Good luck with that while sinking more gazillions into war-for-Israel And that brings us to the only explanation that does make sense even if in a very grim way: The US as in almost all Americans has zero interest in war with Iran But Washington chooses permanent conflict and war against Iran anyhow The reason is that US policy in the Middle East – and not only – has been captured by Israel and its lobby As John Mearsheimer, both doyen of explaining international relations by national interests (the theory of Realism) and co-author of the standard work on the Israel Lobby has long acknowledged Israel s influence on the US is real contradicts American interests, and forms an exception to the theory of realism in that Washington is constantly hurting its own country For reasonable observers this case is closed When devastating the Middle East the US is acting not in its own genuine national interest but the perverse conception that Israel has of its national interest: subjugating and, if needed, destroying all sovereign states in its neighborhood so as to create and preserve Israeli domination and even ‘Greater Israel’, a nightmare of ‘Lebensraum’ for Zionist settlers from at least Egypt to Iraq But again why? This is where the Epstein scandal makes a difference – or should do so – to unbiased minds We must acknowledge that Jeffrey Epstein was not merely a very rich and perverse criminal with far too many friends in high places but an agent of Israel, whether with a direct affiliation to its dreaded Mossad service of spying, murder, and subversion or not His core operation served to gather extremely compromising blackmail material on large swathes of the elites of the US and the West more generally FBI agents we now know assessed that Trump himself is among those trapped in this manner If anything, frantic – and also, again, criminal, efforts – by Trump s Department of Justice and his head of the FBI to purge the files of references to the current president and his friends only provide further corroborating evidence that Trump is under Israel s control Will Americans ever free themselves from the one state and network that have really run history s most successful subversion and state-capture operation on them? Who knows? We know that it would take more than putting an end to Epstein-like blackmail If anything Trump’s bitter enemies Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have only recently shown us that the American elite is enthralled to Israel and its crimes also for reasons ranging from being bribed to sharing the vile insanity of Zionism If the US ever wants its independence back from Israel, all of that will have to go Tarik Cyril Amar is an historian from Germany working at Koç University Istanbul
WH E N Daniel Ellsberg died in 2023, the world lost a unique voice of sanity Five decades earlier as a “national security” insider he had released the top-secret Pentagon Papers to expose the official lies behind the ongoing Vietnam War From then on he never stopped writing, speaking and protesting for peace, while explaining how the madness of nuclear weapons could destroy us all Now, Ellsberg’s voice is back via a compelling new book “Truth and Consequence ” being published this week provides readers with his innermost thoughts scrawled and typed over a 50-year period The result is access to intimate candor and visionary wisdom from a truly great whistleblower
My father is dead now, Michael Ellsberg writes in the book’s introduction, but “I for one care a great deal that he consented to allow us to compile this eclectic corpus of his important thoughts and musings ” Michael worked with his father s longtime assistant Jan R Thomas to sift through and curate the huge quantity of private writing
The book s subtitle offering reflections on catastrophe, civil resistance, and hope could hardly be more timely Now, the barbaric war on Iran is enabled by remaining silent and just following orders At the center of “Truth and Consequence” are the tensions between conscience and deference to authority Don t delegate conscience Daniel Ellsberg wrote Most people conform and accept he noted A minority protest, withdraw A tiny minority resist, take risks
The temptation is strong to obey powerful men passively and unquestioningly,” Ellsberg observed in 1971, the year he turned himself in for giving the Pentagon Papers to the press and faced the prospect of spending the rest of his life in prison He instantly became a pariah among colleagues who d been his friends at the RAND Corporation, a think tank serving the US war machine He d been working there as a strategic analyst before and after a stint at the Defense Department
“After I released the papers,” he vividly remembered “some people were afraid to write to me to shake hands with me to receive a phone call from me Three years later his takeaway was: Accept the risks of freedom and commitment instead of the risks of obedience and conformity Most human-caused destruction, suffering, death, and enslavement (i e , ‘evil’) is performed by men, at the direction of men These are typically ‘normal ’ competent personally agreeable and compassionate men who perform their acts in obedience to lawful orders or less often in obedience to unlawful orders
1982: Massacre is
MuhaMMad MohSiN iqbal
IRAN OPERATIONS WON'T BECOME 'ENDLESS WAR': US DEFENCE SECRETARY
ISLAMABAD
s ta f f r e p o r t
Oil prices experienced a sharp increase on Monday climbing by as much as 13 percent, following significant disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz The surge occurred after retaliatory Iranian attacks, which came in response to earlier bombings by Israel and the United States that resulted in the death of Iranian
and Canada Sign Agreements
China backs Iran's sovereignty, urges US and Israel to halt militar y operations
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday reaffirmed Beijing s support for Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, calling for an immediate halt to military operations by the United States and Israel amid escalating regional tensions Wang also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi held at Tehran s request
During the call Araghchi briefed Wang on the latest developments, alleging that the United States had launched a war against Iran for the second time during ongoing Iran-U S negotiations He said positive progress had been made in the latest round of talks but accused Washington of violating international law and crossing Iran s red lines “Iran has no choice but to defend itself with all its might ” Araghchi said while expressing
appreciation for China s fair and just public stance He voiced hope that Beijing would continue playing a constructive role in preventing further escalation in the region Wang reiterated China’s “principled position on the situation stating that Beijing supports Iran in safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests, as well as its national dignity He urged both the United States and Israel to immediately cease military actions avoid further escalation and prevent the
conflict from spreading across the Middle East
Under the current severe and complex circumstances, Wang said China believes Iran can maintain national and social stability address the reasonable concerns of neighboring countries and ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions operating within its territory
In response, Araghchi assured that Iran would make every effort to guarantee the safety and security of Chinese personnel and facilities
Exciting
day with Haier at Lahore
ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t
At least three people were killed and 14 others injured in a mass shooting at a bar in Austin Texas early Sunday morning according to police The incident resulted in an exchange of gunfire between the suspect and law enforcement officers at the scene, during which the suspect was killed Authorities stated that 14 individuals were taken to hospital for treatment with three reported to be in critical condition The identities of the victims have not been released by officials at this time
Law enforcement officials identified the shooter as Ndiaga Diagne a naturalised US citizen originally from Senegal According to officials, Diagne had a history of mental health issues This information was also referenced in an internal update from the National Counter-terrorism Centre reviewed by Reuters
Sources familiar with the investigation reported that the suspect was wearing a shirt displaying the Iranian flag and the word IRAN' spelled out in green, white, and red across the front Authorities are currently investigating whether the attack was motivated by the recent joint US-Israel strike
on Iran according to a law enforcement official cited by Reuters
The FBI has launched an investigation into a possible terrorism link in connection with the shooting However, no official determination regarding motive has been announced as the inquiry remains ongoing
Officials have not released further details regarding the sequence of events leading up to the shooting or the precise circumstances of the exchange of fire with police The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have stated that more information will be provided as it becomes available
recent actions targeting Iran Officials have not commented further on the details of the intelligence or the ongoing military operations
KP SIMPLIFIES 32 REGUL ATORY PROCESSES UNDER EASE OF DOING BUSINESS DRIVE
Massive Tobacco Law Violations as Illicit Cigarette Trade Surges in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD
s
A recent study conducted by the Institute for Public Opinion Research (IPOR) has revealed widespread violations of tobacco control laws across Pakistan with the vast majority of cigarette brands being sold in open defiance of regulatory requirements According to the research findings, 455 out of 477 cigarette brands available in the market are non-compliant with existing tobacco product regulations The report states that these brands are either being sold without Track and Trace System (TTS) stamps lack mandatory health warnings or do not display the legally required retail price on their packaging Such violations directly contravene regulations enforced by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and tobacco control laws aimed at curbing illicit trade and protecting public health IPOR’s survey findings indicate that only 51 percent of cigarette brands were compliant with the Track and Trace regime while 49 percent were found to be non-compliant Although this reflects a marginal improvement of five percentage points compared to 2024, the overall level of noncompliance remains alarmingly high Among the non-compliant brands, 46 percent were identified as smuggled products while 54 percent were locally manufactured brands evading taxes and regulatory oversight highlighting weaknesses in both border controls and domestic enforcement The study further highlights serious violations of the Minimum Legal Price (MLP) policy Of the total non-compliant brands, 392 were being sold below the legally mandated minimum price Within this segment, 195 brands were found to be priced between PKR 131 and PKR 160 These findings underscore how price manipulation is being used to expand the footprint of illicit products in the retail market The survey was conducted across 38 markets in 19 districts, covering 1,520 retail outlets These included pan shops, karyana stores, tuck shops, and general stores The research focused exclusively on the retail sector to assess market dynamics and on-ground compliance at the point of sale IPOR stresses that isolated administrative actions will not be sufficient to address the problem
Jinnah
a prestigious and intellectually enriching event under the banner of the Jinnah Forum to pay tribute to his visionary leadership and enduring legacy To commemorate this historic milestone, a British Parliamentary–style debate competition was held engaging vibrant teams of students who competed enthusiastically on topics related to the life struggle political foresight and leadership of Quaid-e-Azam The debate provided a dynamic platform for critical thinking, persuasive argumentation, and scholarly reflection on Jinnah’s principles while also encouraging participants to thoughtfully compare his vision with the contemporary challenges faced by Pakistan The event was adjudicated by respected senior faculty members, whose insightful evaluations and constructive feedback further elevated the academic standard of the competition The atmosphere was intellectually stimulating and refreshing, as students passionately revisited the ideals of unity faith and discipline reaffirming their relevance in today s national context This commendable initiative aligns with the broader vision of the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan to promote academic discourse and revive meaningful debate culture in higher education institutions, particularly on themes connected to Pakistan’s ideological foundations and national history
Altamash Institute of Dental Medicine (AIDM)
IRAN REJECTS US TALKS AS L ARIJANI DISMISSES REPORTS OF RENEWED NEGOTIATIONS
IR A N s security chief Ali Larijani who was also an adviser to the country's former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said in a post on X on Monday that Tehran will not negotiate with the US in response to a report that Iran is trying to revive negotiations with Washington His statement comes in response to Al Jazeera s Breaking News X account, which said in a social media post that the Wall Street Journal has reported on Larijani's "initiative to resume talks with Washington submitted through intermediaries
Chaotic Scenes at LHC Bar Election as Law yers Engage in Violent Fight
Punjab Approves First Cybercrime Investigation Unit,
E-Tagging for Vehicles
LAHORE
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has approved the establishment of Punjab’s first cybercrime investigation unit according to an official press release issued on Monday The decision was made during a special meeting focused on intensifying efforts against digital terrorism and enhancing surveillance of cyber networks across the province Cybercrime Investigation Unit and New Measures
shock and criticism These are the people who defend us in court? one user wrote State of our law and justice system is visible here, another commented Others questioned how such conduct could occur within court premises, calling for disciplinary action against those involved At the time of writing no official statement had been issued by the Lahore High Court administration regarding possible action against the lawyers seen in the videos The incident has intensified scrutiny over the conduct of bar elections and internal accountability within the legal fraternity IHC
Restores Bail of Journalist Sohrab Barkat in Cybercrime Case
ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday reinstated the bail of journalist Sohrab Barkat in a cybercrime case, overturning a previous decision by a trial court that had revoked his post-arrest bail The case was registered against Barkat by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir presided over the hearing of Barkat s petition which challenged the trial court s order cancelling his bail Barrister Saad Rasool, representing Barkat, argued that the trial court had made an error in revoking the bail, stating that Barkat had complied
During the meeting Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz gave the go-ahead for the creation of the Punjab Cybercrime Investigation Unit (CCIU) and approved the appointment of its head The official statement highlighted that the unit aims to strengthen the province s capacity to investigate and address cybercrime incidents In addition to the CCIU, the Chief Minister also approved the establishment of a special protection cell dedicated to supporting women affected by cybercrime The press release stated that district-level cybercrime centres will
be set up across Punjab to ensure comprehensive coverage and response to digital threats Mandatory E-Tagging and Enhanced Surveillance Another significant measure approved was the mandatory implementation of e-tagging for all vehicles in Punjab including motorcycles According to the official handout this initiative is intended to bolster surveillance capabilities and restrict the movement of criminal groups within the province Furthermore, Maryam Nawaz
directed the establishment of a “micro security iron shield” within seven days aiming to further enhance security and monitoring across the region Commitment to Security The Chief Minister emphasized that surveillance efforts across Punjab would be significantly intensified in the coming days The measures are part of
PTI Files Plea in IHC for Imran Khan’s Transfer to Hospital Over Eye Health Concerns
f f
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) was approached on Monday with a petition seeking the urgent transfer of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital for specialised eye treatment The application, filed by senior counsel Sardar Latif Khosa under Section 561-A of the Criminal Procedure Code raised concerns about the adequacy and transparency of the medical care being provided to the former prime minister during his incarceration According to the petition, Imran Khan, who has been in custody since August 2023 and is now
73 years old is reportedly suffering from a significant deterioration in his right eye, with only about 15 per cent vision remaining The plea alleges that jail authorities have conducted medical examinations in secrecy and have not provided timely or sufficient medical intervention despite repeated complaints from Khan regarding blurred and hazardous vision
The application referenced a report submitted to the Supreme Court by amicus curiae Barrister Salman Safdar which confirmed that Khan had undergone a government-facilitated follow-up treatment for his eye condition However, the report also indicated that no adequate or prompt medical
response was undertaken by prison officials in light of Khan s ongoing health complaints
This latest move follows a similar plea submitted to the Supreme Court on February 25, seeking improved medical care for Khan The current petition specifically requests that Khan be shifted to Shifa International Hospital to receive specialised treatment for his eye ailment
Sources indicate that the court has yet to issue a decision on the matter The petition underscores ongoing concerns regarding the medical treatment of high-profile detainees and calls for greater transparency in the handling of their health issues while in custody
IHC D issolves B ench Hearing Appeals of Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha
ISLAMABAD
s ta f f r e p o r t
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday dissolved the bench that was hearing the appeals of human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha against their conviction in a controversial social media posts case The court directed that the case file be placed before Chief Justice Sardar Sarfaraz Dogar for the constitution of a new bench
According to sources, a sessions court had previ-
ously sentenced Mazari-Hazir and Chattha to a total of 17 years in prison on multiple charges in January Their sentencing came a day after their arrest in Islamabad in connection with a separate case During Monday s proceedings, the appellants counsel Riasat Ali Azad submitted an application seeking an early hearing of the appeals and suspension of the sentences He argued that although the matter had been taken up on February 19 no effective date had been set for the hearing, which had resulted in the continued incarceration of his clients
The court was informed that proceedings involving the same appellants had taken place previously but the lack of a scheduled hearing date had prolonged the process Justice Muhammad Asif issued the order to dissolve the current bench and instructed that the matter be referred to the Chief Justice for the formation of a new bench to hear the appeals Reports suggest that the next steps in the case will depend on the constitution of the new bench and the scheduling of further hearings No additional details regarding the timeline for these proceedings were provided
K arachi Roads Closed for S econd Day as Pakistanis Return from Iran Amid Tensions
