L I E F A M I D G LO B A L U N C E R TA I N T I E S
and perseverance” and with complete reliance on Allah Almighty The statement comes amid a widening Middle East conflict that erupted following US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 which Tehran says also resulted in the assassination of Iran s supreme leader Ali Khamenei In retaliation, Iran has targeted US military assets and bases across Gulf countries Amid the escalating tensions Pakistan has attempted to play a diplomatic balancing role The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Pakistan) has described Islamabad s approach as that of a bridge builder seeking to prevent further escalation in the region Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar earlier revealed that Islamabad invoked its “Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement” with Saudi Arabia to help deter heavier Iranian strikes on the kingdom Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Dar have also been in constant diplomatic contact with regional and international leaders since the conflict began, repeatedly calling for restraint and a return to dialogue On March 12, Sharif paid a brief visit
NAB challenges LHC verdict in Chaudhry Sugar Mills Case in Constitutional Cour t
ISLAMABAD
s ta f f r e p o r t
The National Accountability Bureau
(NAB) has challenged a ruling of the Lahore High Court in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case by filing an appeal before the Federal Constitutional Court
The LHC had earlier directed NAB to file a reference before the accountability court within one week in order to formally close the case, following a petition by Maryam Nawaz seeking the return of Rs70 million deposited as surety The high court had also ordered the accountability court in Lahore to decide the reference within one month In its appeal, submitted through the additional prosecutor general, NAB requested the constitutional court to set aside the LHC’s ruling arguing that the accountability court had no judicial authority if a case was withdrawn at the inquiry stage
The bureau maintained that where the law does not require judicial approval for the withdrawal of a case such a requirement cannot be imposed through a judicial interpretation
NAB further contended that the high court issued its ruling without serving notices to the Office of the Attorney General
According to the petition once the NAB chairman had approved the withdrawal of the proceedings the LHC had no jurisdiction to interpret the law differently The bureau also argued that the high court had effectively taken suo motu notice of the matter which it said was beyond its authority
The watchdog has requested the constitutional court to declare the LHC s February 4 2026 decision null and void
The Chaudhry Sugar Mills inquiry was initially launched on November 14, 2018 During the investigation, Maryam Nawaz listed as the primary accused was ar-
rested on August 8 2019 and remained on a 48-day physical remand She later approached the Lahore High Court for post-arrest bail which was granted on October 31, 2019 The court ordered her to submit two surety bonds of Rs10 million each, deposit Rs70 million and surrender her passport to the registrar judicial NAB subsequently challenged the bail in the Supreme Court of Pakistan but the petition was dismissed on August 22 2023 after the bureau withdrew its application Following amendments to NAB laws, the investigation officer
PSX falls over 4,500 points as Middle East tensions weigh on investor sentiment g KSE-100 DROPS WITH LOSSES IN BANKING, CEMENT AND
Islamabad airport to suspend flight operations for two hours on March 17
AS I A N markets were in a wary mood on Monday as hostilities in the Gulf kept oil prices elevated, complicating an inflation outlook that should keep most central banks
The discussions, led by U S Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, were expected to focus on shifting U S tariffs the flow of Chinese-produced rare earth minerals and magnets to U S buyers American hightech export controls and Chinese purchases of U S agricultural products
The two sides met for more than six hours at the Paris headquarters of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development with talks to resume on Monday morning a Treasury spokesperson said China is not a member of the club of 38 mostly wealthy democracies and considers itself a developing country
The spokesperson did not provide any details on the tone or substance of the talks and Chinese officials left the OECD without speaking to reporters U S Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who is participating in the talks, said on Friday that U S officials want to ensure stability in the U S -China relationship
“We want to make sure that we continue to get the rare earths we need for our manufacturing base that they keep buying the kinds of things they should be buying from us, and that the leaders have a chance to get together and make sure that the relationship is going the way we want it to go,” Greer
told CNBC before departing for Paris
The talks between Bessent He Greer and China trade negotiator Li Chenggang follow a string of their meetings in European cities last year to ease trade tensions that threatened a near collapse of trade between the world’s two largest economies U S -China trade analysts said that with little time to prepare and Washington s attention focused on the U S -Israeli war on Iran prospects for a major trade breakthrough are limited, in Paris or at the Beijing summit Both sides, I think have a minimum goal of having a meeting, which sort of keeps things together and avoids a rupture and re-escalation of tensions said Scott Kennedy a China economics expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington Trump may
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
Chinese diplomatic sources and foreign ministry briefings highlight that Beijing s mediation comes at a time when rival regional mediators such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey are preoccupied with the Middle East conflict sparked by US and Israeli strikes on Iran As a result China has emerged as a primary diplomatic interlocutor for both Islamabad and Kabul, largely because of its longstanding economic ties under the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor and its growing engagement with Afghanistan
Recent Reuters reporting quoted Chinese diplomats saying that the most urgent task is to prevent the fighting from expanding and for the two countries to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible” a message China has repeated across multiple channels
Meanwhile The Foreign Office Pakistan (FO) on Monday rejected reports claiming that Pakistan had turned down China s offer to facilitate talks with the Afghan Taliban, calling such reports “unwarranted speculation or fabrication of facts ” FO spokesperson
Tahir Andrabi clarified that Pakistan and China remain trusted partners with close and regular communication on all issues
of mutual interest
“Pakistan and China remain trusted partners and close friends, and both maintain regular and close communication on all issues of mutual concern and shared interest Therefore any unnecessary speculation or fabrication of facts in this regard is unwarranted, he said
Earlier, China had reaffirmed its willingness to continue mediating to ease ongoing border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan Lin Jian spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said The most urgent task is to avoid the expansion of the war and return the two countries to the negotiating table as soon as possible ” He added that Beijing has been actively mediating between Islamabad and Kabul in recent days to encourage reconciliation and improve bilateral relations Pakistan has informed China that it will stick with its policy of non engagement with the current Taliban administration in Kabul, citing the Afghan side’s failure to curb militant groups such as the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan operating from Afghan soil
The statement follows recent remarks by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who told his Afghan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi that disputes between the two countries should be re-
solved through dialogue and consultation, not force China’s mediation push occurs against a backdrop of intermittent fighting and cross border military actions between Pakistan and Afghan Taliban forces While both sides accuse each other of provocations and civilian harm, China s statements call for respect for sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of all Gulf and South Asian states Beijing has also condemned any indiscriminate attacks on civilians or economic infrastructure during conflicts China s engagement reflects its broader foreign policy emphasis on peaceful dispute resolution and its strategic interest in stabilising neighbouring regions including through initiatives such as trilateral dialogues with Pakistan and Afghanistan that have been held in previous years to enhance cooperation and reduce tensions
The tension comes amid a resurgence of terrorism in Pakistan since the Afghan Taliban’s return to power in 2021 Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban administration to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries on Afghan soil particularly those linked to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), but officials say those appeals have largely gone unheeded
THERE is something uniquely reckless about waging political war on your own country s foreign relations while enjoying the protections of another ’s Sajeeb Wazed Joy has been doing exactly that Sitting comfortably in the United States the son of Bangladesh s former prime minister has taken to public forums to smear Washington insult its institutions and poison a bilateral relationship that after years of strain is finally showing signs of repair It would be bad enough if this were merely bombast It is worse because it is strategic vandalism Calling the Bangladesh Nationalist Party an “American puppet warning darkly of Jamaat-e-Islami s looming takeover alleging a pre-determined election outcome, and urging international condemnation of Bangladesh s polls these are not the words of a responsible political actor They are the words of a man trying to internationalize his party’s domestic failures, even if it means burning bridges Dhaka needs to cross Start with the timing U S –Bangladesh relations are quietly but unmistakably improving Militaryto-military engagement has stabilized Dialogue with major political parties has widened Washington s posture toward Dhaka has shifted from punitive suspicion to conditional engagement This is not idealism; it is geopolitics The Bay of Bengal matters Bangladesh matters And after a bruising period of mistrust both sides appear willing to reset Enter Joy stage left with a flamethrower From American soil, he denounces American influence He sneers at U S diplomacy He frames Bangladesh’s opposition as Washington’s marionettes He insinuates that terrorists roam freely and elections are rigged beyond redemption None of this helps Bangladesh s credibility None of it strengthens democratic norms All of it invites external pressure and internal polarization Which raises an uncomfortable question: whose interests does he serve? It certainly does not serve Bangladesh’s Nor does it serve the Awami League’s long-term survival What it does do is undermine U S confidence at a moment when Washington is reassessing its South Asia strategy and when Beijing is eager to fill any vacuum created by American disengagement China does not need to persuade Washington to step back
from Bangladesh if Bangladeshi elites are willing to do the job themselves Joy’s rhetoric reads like a gift-wrapped brief for those who argue that Bangladesh is unstable, unreliable and unworthy of deeper partnership That argument once accepted in Washington rarely benefits Dhaka It benefits others actors who prefer a Bangladesh insulated from Western scrutiny and embedded more deeply in illiberal spheres of influence The irony is thick Joy warns of Jamaat s influence while performing the very act that historically empowers fringe forces: delegitimizing electoral processes in advance and urging international isolation He speaks of security while broadcasting instability He claims to defend constitutional democracy while inviting foreign condemnation that weakens civilian institutions
There is also the matter of credibility Joy is not an impartial observer He is a partisan actor whose own record shadows every word he speaks The U S administration s seizure and forfeiture actions against assets linked to him were not symbolic gestures; they were legal determinations grounded in investigations Those actions, widely reported, raised serious questions about corruption during his time in power They punctured the moral authority he now claims when lecturing others about democracy and governance Corruption after all is not a footnote in Bangladesh’s political crisis It is central to it And when a figure associated fairly or not with illicit enrichment positions himself as the guardian of democratic virtue, the message collapses under its own weight Joy s behavior is also politically unacumenal The Awami League does not need an exiled surrogate antagonizing Washington It needs to rebuild trust at home and abroad through restraint reform and realism Instead Joy s interventions suggest a bunker mentality: if
The
Star t with the timing. U.S.–Bangladesh relations are , quietly but unmistakably, improving Militar y-to-militar y engag ement has stabiliz ed Dialogue with major political par ties has widened WashingtonÊs posture toward Dhaka has shifted from punitive suspicion to conditional engag ement C h i n a i s t u
Generations United
food and medicine This is driven by an insatiable demand for high-frequency instant retail services When a consumer in a dense urban center needs a pharmaceutical product or a hot meal a drone can bypass the notorious traffic of a Tier-1 city in minutes The next frontier is human transport The EH216-S, developed by EHang, has already become the world’s first eVTOL to receive certification for manned flight While current battery technology often limits these flights to about 15 minutes - perfect for a quick sightseeing tour - the push toward solid-state batteries aims to extend that to an hour or more Once that happens, the flying car ceases to be a curiosity and becomes a viable mode of sustainable transportation Dominance in this field isn’t just about the aircraft; it s about the digital sky Just as the 20th century required highways and air traffic control for planes, the 21st-century low-altitude economy requires a massive build-out of ground infrastructure and software China is moving with characteristic speed here Estimates from Guosen Securities suggest that by 2030 investment in general airports and eVTOL landing pads will reach nearly 600 billion yuan Chen Shuxian emphasized that the industry is shifting from technological exploration to large-scale application Nanjing, for instance, approved 166 new airspace zones and dozens of flight routes just in the last year This is a level of regulatory and physical coordination that most Western nations bogged down by legacy aviation rules and local zoning disputes, find difficult to match Between 2015 and 2024, the number of invention patent applications in this sector grew
elevenfold In the first half of 2025 alone over 11,000 new patents were filed This represents a 51% year-on-year increase, signaling that the pace of innovation is accelerating rather than plateauing We should view this through the lens of China s broader strategy As Beijing seeks to move away from a property-led economy it is placing massive bets on high-tech manufacturing The integration of industry, academia, and research is seamless Over 100 universities have recently proposed specialized UAV departments to ensure a steady pipeline of talent Students are now enrolling in specialized programs at top institutions like Beihang University specifically designed to feed this trillion-yuan industry
The rise of the low-altitude economy is a reminder that the next great technological shift won’t just happen on our screens or in our pockets It will happen above our heads China is betting that by owning the sky they can secure the next century of industrial growth If the horses galloping over Hefei are any indication they are already well on their way
The writer is a freelance columnist
The next frontier is human transpor t The EH216-S, developed by EHang, has already become the worldÊs first eVTOL to receive cer tification for manned flight. While current batter y technology often limits these flights to about 15 minutesperfect for a quick sightseeing tour - the push toward solidstate batteries aims to extend that to an hour or more
by analogue childhoods and digital adolescences, they are often praised for their research-oriented mindset and respect for elderly footprints the wisdom of prior gene-rations Their moral consciousness rooted in community-driven values emphasises stability and incremental progress This generation s ability to balance tradition with emerging technologies allowed the Millennials to navigate early globalisation and economic shifts However, critics argue that some of them cling to outdated norms, resisting critical change in favour of nostalgic ideals Gen Z born into a hyper-connected post-recession world thrives on adapt-ability Fluency in emerging digital trends and emphasis on individualism reflect a pragmatic response to rapid technological and social change While older generations may perceive them as emotionally driven or dismissive of tradition, Gen Z s focus on inclusivity, mental and emotional health awareness, and climate activism reveals a profound, albeit different, moral compass The willingness of Gen Z to challenge wellentrenched systems from workplace hierarchies to societal norms can be misread as irreverence but it often stems from a sincere desire to redefine values in a fractured world
The tendency to label the Millennials as the last moral generation and Gen Z as the spiritually shattered generation ignores the broader context Both these generations have faced unprecedented pressures: Millennials grappled with crises and
Hate season
M A HossAin
Drones and Cyber: The transformation of war fare in the twent y-first centur y
troops were deployed to seize key facilities in the city with no apparent direct link to the official military actions of the Russian forces This, along with cyber attacks, causes disruption of communications and propaganda campaigns to inundate social media and news outlets to mold the opinion of people And everything occurred so fast that NATO and Ukraine were taken by surprise Hybrid warfare is deliberately perplexing
The aim is to generate a fog of war to an extent where the enemy is paralysed and they are unable to devise a counter tactic as they do not know what is really happening Close to it is the concept of the gray zone whereby states resort to aggressive behaviour that is just below the line of conventional war
that are clearly commanded and operate on recognizable battlefields It assumes comparatively matched foes conventional weaponry and official combat zones There exists explicit division between war and peace soldiers and civilians battlefield and civil life The conflicts are supposed to have discernible start and finish dates, which are regulated by the demands, treaties and ceasefires Notably this model further presupposes that war can be controlled by rules that are manifested in legal regimes like the Geneva Conventions
Hybrid warfare is going a notch higher A hybrid war is characterized by the integration of military forces, cyber-warfare, disinformation, economic pressure and unofficial actors by states to pursue their objectives quite frequently without formally declaring war The most notable example is the 2014 annexation of Crimea by Russia in which the so-called little green men, unmarked
The greyzone operations are aimed at coercion, intimidation as well as destabilizing an enemy without causing an official military engagement It is difficult to react to grayzone operations since they take advantage of legal and strategic loopholes between war and peace offense and defense state and nonstate However guerrilla warfare proxy wars hybrid and grey zone warfare, it remains the same trend The strategies are mixed, and the old rules are being redefined Such general trends are supported by the new technologies which also impact the battlefield The most controversial revolution that has occurred over the past few decades has been the emergence of unmanned aerial vehicles or drones Previously used mostly in the reconnaissance, drones nowadays are an important part of offensive operations, giving continuous control of a certain area where the presence of troops can be a politically disastrous decision making it possible to strike high-v value targets thousands of miles away which are not officially at war with their states, and extending the battlefield around
the world, which allows states to project force where they are not officially at war However, drones come with concerns of accountability What will occur when war is remotely controlled and individuals are not in the decision-making process? The mental impacts of
The third major technological movement revolves around the fact that a digital battlefield has risen This new space is in two main forms The cyber war is a nonkinetic (non-physical) attack in which the states or their proxies strike against the infrastructure , communication or economic targ ets of other states.The cyber attack did not require a direct physical attack in Iran as it disabled centrifug es in its nuclear program. Equally, the recurring cyber attacks by Russia on Ukraine have hit its power grid systems to banking systems resulting in massive disruption
India relies on the Gulf for up to t wo -thirds of its nitrogen fer tilizer impor ts; Brazil, the world’s largest agricultural expor ter, depends on it for 40% of its nitrogen needs
chipmakers currently
Qatar supplied 64 7% of South Korea’s
six months of stockpiles but industry analysts estimate that even a two-week production halt could take months to fully resolve due to container rerouting logistics If the war drags into the second half of the year, fabs (microchip manufacturing plants) will prioritize the highest-margin products, HBM and server DRAM for AI customers while conventional consumer memory absorbs the cuts The International Data Corporation already forecasts worldwide PC shipments to decline 11 3% in 2026 and smartphone shipments to fall 12 9%; a helium-driven supply constraint would add a supply-side shock to an already demand-driven shortage
THE REFINERY PROBLEM: Even if the strait were to reopen tomorrow Asian refineries would not be able to immediately return to normal operations These facilities, which receive roughly 84% of the crude that normally transits the Strait of Hormuz, are physically configured to process medium-sour Gulf grades The most obvious alternative supply West Texas Intermediate is light and sweet That difference produces markedly different refining yields and requires costly operational adjustments Other substitutes offer limited relief, with Russia already operating near export capacity while West African crudes are generally lighter grades that generate mismatched output profiles for refineries designed around Gulf feedstock As a result, even a partial reopening of the strait would not restore the pre-war status quo Refineries that curtailed operations or ran on strategic reserves now face months of feedstock renegotiation processing adjustments and inventory rebuilding The scale of the disruption is already visible The International Energy Agency reported that more than three million barrels per day of regional refining capacity shut down due to the combined lack of crude supplies and constrained export outlets Structural adaptation in refining is slow and reconfiguring facilities to reliably process different grades of crude typically requires one to three years THE INSURANCE FLOOR: The damage extends beyond physical supply War-risk insurance premiums for a $100 million vessel rose from approximately $250 000 per voyage to between $500 000 and $1
siles;
IRAN FM CALLS FOR 'PROMPT CL ARIFICATION' OVER REPORTS OF NEIGHBOURS 'ACTIVELY ENCOURAGING US SL AUGHTER'
Tehran had shown it was ready to take the war with Israel and the United States as far as necessary I think by now they have learned a good lesson and understood what kind of nation they are dealing with, one that does not hesitate to defend itself and is ready to continue the war wherever it may lead and take
" said Araghchi during a
foreign ministry briefing Strait of Hormuz cannot be used to
Iran: Esmaeil Baghaei Iran s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei on Monday said the Strait of Hormuz will not be open to any country seeking to strike Iran adding that Iran s armed forces control the passage and no country can use it to launch attacks on Iran He said the passage of ships through the strait would take place under special conditions due to insecurity created by Israel and the US in the region Al Jazeera reported
The envoys from US President Donald Trump s Board of Peace have met representatives of Hamas in Cairo in an effort to safeguard the Gaza ceasefire under serious strain since the United States and Israel began bombing Iran three sources told Reuters
The weekend meeting is the first publicly reported since the start of the Iran war between Hamas and the board a new international body personally headed by Trump which has been tasked with overseeing post-war Gaza Following the meeting, Israel announced on Sunday that it would soon reopen the sole crossing for pedestrians between Gaza and Egypt shut since the Iran bombing campaign began One of the sources said he believed the Israeli announcement was a direct result of the meeting between Hamas and the board
Prior to the war in Iran, Trump’s plan for Gaza was his flagship initiative for the Middle East
The sources said the Hamas representatives warned the board that they could back away from its previous promises under the Gaza ceasefire if Israel maintains new restrictions on Gaza imposed during the Iran war Israel shut Gaza’s borders after
the war ’s launch on February 28, saying crossings could not be operated safely It later resumed the limited flow of goods and aid but kept shut the sole crossing for pedestrians into Egypt, at Rafah on Gaza s southern edge On Sunday, it announced it would reopen the crossing later this week following a “security assessment " Reuters has previously reported that talks on the disarmament of Hamas meant to be a focus of the next phase of Trump s plan have been on hold since the start of the Iran war
Further meetings expected this week
One of the sources said Trump s board was represented at the talks with Hamas by Aryeh Lightstone, an American aide to Trump s special envoy Steve Witkoff The other two sources said meetings that included Lightstone were on the agenda although they were unable to confirm whether Lightstone had attended yet Further meetings were expected this week The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly
A US official said that Lightstone had attended Gaza-related meetings in Cairo in the past several days, without confirming whether he met with the Hamas delegation
Iran has called on India to release three tankers seized earlier this year, as part of ongoing discussions regarding the secure passage of Indian-flagged or India-bound vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, according to sources familiar with the matter Three sources with knowledge of the situation told Reuters that the tankers which are linked to Iran were detained by Indian authorities near Indian waters in February The vessels were reportedly
US negotiators were continuing to meet with regional partners to fulfil Trump s 20-point plan for Gaza the US official added Israel s government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether its decision to reopen the Rafah crossing was a result of the Cairo meeting Hamas declined to comment Iran war sees continued Israeli strikes on Gaza Trump s plan for Gaza began with an October ceasefire that left Israel controlling more than half the enclave’s territory, with nearly all its more than two million people crammed into a narrow strip of land under Hamas control
The initiative had appeared to gain momentum in the month leading up to the war with Iran, including new pledges for reconstruction and the reopening of Rafah Israel’s military has continued to strike Gaza during the broader regional war including attacks on Sunday that killed 12 people, including nine police officers The military has cited threats or fire by Hamas for its attacks
A Palestinian official with knowledge of the Cairo talks said that Hamas believed Israel was exploiting the war on Iran to slip away from its obligations under Trump s plan Israel rejects this
on allegations that they
group
PAKISTAN ORDERS SHIPPING LINES TO STOP RETROACTIVE WAR RISK SURCHARGES ON CARGO SHIPPED BEFORE FEB 28
CUSTOMS
Rainfall lashes Punjab, KP and A JK regions, snow fall at mountains
ISLAMABAD
Rain lashes several areas of Punjab including Lahore Sheikhupura Hafizabad Rawalpindi and Islamabad besides parts of Azad Kashmir Khyber Paktunkhawa and Gilgit Baltistan region In Lahore, rain couple with isolated hailstorm, lashed Gulberg, Model Town, Johar Town and other areas of the city Heavy rain also continued in various areas of the federal capital DC Islamabad has directed all assistant commissioners to go out into the field to review the situation in their areas Rain was reported in Chakwal district Due to rain, the managing director of the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has placed officers and staff on alert to ensure drainage arrangements in view of the expected rainfall According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department more rain is expected today and tomorrow Officials added that after a one-day break another weather system is likely to enter Pakistan However, rain with thunderstorm is reported in upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Upper Punjab, Islamabad, and Gilgit-Baltistan Wind and hail are also expected at isolated locations during the period Rain was reported in Lower and Upper Dir while snowfall was reported at Lowari and other mountain areas Heavy rain was Rawlakot and other areas of Azad Kashmir Downpour was reported in Wazirabad and Noshera Virkan
In an important development in over Rs30 million fraud case against Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Azhar Naveed Khan, a court in Lahore on Monday granted to the police three-day physical remand of the suspect The suspect was presented before the duty judicial magistrate In its one-page order the court said that an FIR of fraud had been registered against the DSP at Defence-B police station of Lahore on the complaint of Hassam Khan The order read that the police sought 10-day physical remand of the suspect for interrogation and recovery of the embezzled amount The court ordered the police to complete interrogation and produce the DSP at the next hearing on March 18 On the other hand it has been revealed that the DSP was given protocol at the police station The officer was taken into custody following allegations that he deceived a citizen in a financial transaction related to luxury vehicles According to the police, the complainant, Hassam, alleged that the officer obtained a large sum of money under the pretext of arranging two highend vehicles The complainant told investigators that a total of Rs33 3 million was transferred to the suspect as payment for the cars However the vehicles were never delivered, prompting the citizen to approach authorities and file a complaint
was attended by Director Social and Resettlement Shoaib ur Rehman Afridi and other relevant officials from local government representatives from WAPDA NESPAK and DHC School teachers health department officials and a large number of students also participated in the event The initiative reflects the continuing commitment of DHPP to support the education sector and contribute to the well-being of local communities particularly children living in the project area DHPP being constructed by China Gezhouba Group Company with support from the World Bank is among Pakistan s largest hydropower initiatives Located on the Indus River, the run-of-river project will ultimately generate 4,320 megawatts of electricity in two stages, according to WAPDA
TIn a major security initiative, the federal and provincial governments of Pakistan on Monday agreed to deploy the Federal Constabulary across sensitive areas of Balochistan to strengthen law enforcement and ensure long-term peace
The decision was made during a high-level law and order meeting at the Chief Minister ’s Secretariat, jointly chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Balochistan
Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti
The session included senior officials from key national institutions, including the National Database and Registration Authority, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency and the inspector general of the Federal Constabulary Each presented updates on ongoing actions to curb illegal activities, enhance operational capacity, and stabilize the
province s security environment
A major outcome of the meeting was the deployment of two wings of the Federal Constabulary in the first phase positioning roughly 3 000 personnel across sensitive zones to reinforce policing and prevent subversive activities
To further strengthen law enforcement, the FIA’s presence in Balochistan will be expanded with all vacant positions filled by local recruits to create employment opportunities for youth and improve grassroots performance
The governments also resolved to intensify monitoring of anti-state activity on social media and take strict legal action against individuals spreading misinformation hostility against national institutions, or content aimed at misleading the public Minister Naqvi assured the provincial government of full federal support pledging enhanced professional training resources
and modern tools for the Balochistan Police, and emphasising that restoring and maintaining peace remains a national priority
CM Bugti praised coordinated efforts that had improved security in the province noting that no highways were currently blocked in protest He stressed that national unity and upholding the writ of the state are vital in combating terrorism and violent extremism
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment from both federal and provincial governments to work jointly for lasting peace, strengthening state authority, and protecting citizens’ lives and property
The session was attended by senior officials including MPA Mir Zia Langove Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Hamza Shafqaat, Inspector General of Police Mohammad Tahir Khan, and Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Imran Zarkoon
last year, Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik warned that the government could deny entry to the sons if they attempted to participate in political protests a concern linked to a planned PTI demonstration Aleema Khan Imran s sister had clarified that the boys had applied for both National Identity
assurances Kasim and Suleiman remain unable to travel to Pakistan to see their father The growing delay has sparked renewed appeals from their mother, who emphasized the urgency given Imran Khan’s deteriorating health
Man arrested for slaying wife, five children in 'honour' murder in Sargodha
ISLAMABAD
s ta f f r e p o r t
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with United States Ambassador Donald Blome on Wednesday to discuss regional developments and matters of mutual interest
According to an official statement the meeting focused on the broader regional situation, with both sides exchanging views on current challenges and opportunities in the region Foreign Minister Dar emphasized the need to promote peace
and stability underlining its significance for the prosperity and progress of the region
During the discussion the two officials also addressed various issues of bilateral concern The statement noted that both parties reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Pakistan-US relations and enhancing cooperation in areas of shared interest
Foreign Minister Dar reiterated Pakistan s desire to work closely with the United States to advance common objectives, par-
ticularly in the context of regional peace and stability Ambassador Blome for his part acknowledged the importance of continued dialogue and collaboration between the two countries
The meeting comes at a time when regional dynamics are evolving and both Pakistan and the United States are seeking to navigate complex geopolitical challenges
The official statement highlighted the constructive nature of the engagement and the shared resolve to further deepen bilateral ties
LAHORE
s ta f f r e p o r t
Several jailed leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have written to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Yahya Afridi requesting an early hearing of their appeals against convictions handed down in a case related to the May 9, 2023 riots
According to a letter sent to the chief justice the incarcerated leaders appealed for urgent judicial intervention saying their constitutional rights were being undermined due to prolonged delays in hearing their appeals
On July 22, 2025, a Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) sentenced several PTI leaders including Yasmin Rashid Omar Sarfraz Cheema Ejaz Chaudhry and Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed, to 10 years in prison in connection with violence at Sherpao Bridge during the
protests that erupted after the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan
In their letter, the leaders stated that despite being lawabiding citizens of Pakistan”, they had been subjected to what they described as political victimisation and had remained imprisoned for the past 34 months
They recalled that appeals against their convictions had been filed before the Lahore High Court shortly after the July 2025 verdict, but the cases had not been taken up for hearing even after eight months
The PTI leaders also noted that their lawyer had filed a petition seeking an early hearing three months ago, but no progress had been made so far
“Our families have been running from pillar to post without any response ” the letter stated urging the chief justice to ensure that their appeals and applications for suspension of sentences were heard promptly
Citing the legal maxim that justice delayed is justice denied the leaders requested the chief justice to direct the Lahore High Court to take up their appeals at the earliest possible date
“Sir as you expedited the court regarding our trial and early disposal please expedite our appeals and suspension order also the letter said The case stems from the unrest that erupted across the country on May 9, 2023, following the arrest of Imran Khan Authorities launched a sweeping crackdown against PTI leaders and workers registering multiple cases over attacks on military and government installations
In this particular case, the Sarwar Road Police Station had booked PTI leaders and supporters for allegedly ransacking and setting public property on fire at Sherpao Bridge in Lahore s Cantonment area during the protests
