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PM ShEhBaz undErSCorES national unity to dEfEat tErroriSM Saturday, 17 January, 2026 | 27 Rajabul Murajjab, 1447
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PREMIER SHEHBAZ CALLS FOR COLLECTIVE EFFORT TO TACKLE EXTREMISM AND SAFEGUARD PAKISTAN
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SAYS QAUMI PAIGHAM-EAMAN COMMITTEE TO STRENGTHEN PEACE AND COUNTER HATE NARRATIVES
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STRESSES HARNESSING TRILLIONS IN NATURAL RESOURCES TO ADDRESS POVERTY AND UNEMPLOYMENT
— unvEilS hEalth Card for iSlaMaBad, aJK & GB aS Govt rEaffirMS hEalth aS BaSiC riGht ISLAMABAD
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Staff RepoRt
ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
RIME MINISTER Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday emphasized the urgent need for national unity, saying it is more crucial today than ever before to confront challenges such as extremism and terrorism, and reaffirmed the government’s firm resolve to eliminate terrorism through a unified national effort. Addressing members of the Qaumi Paigham-e-Aman Committee in Islamabad, the premier expressed confidence that the committee would play a pivotal role in strengthening the national narrative against extremism, drawing a parallel with the historic contribution of Ulema and Mashaekh in the creation of Pakistan. The Prime Minister said Pakistan was founded to uphold the principles of peace, justice, and tolerance, and commended the vital role of minorities in the nation’s development, noting their services in sec-
ECP suspends 159 lawmakers, issues 42 delimitation schedule for CBs
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tors such as education, health, and defence. He particularly acknowledged the contributions of Cecil Chaudhry and Justice Rana Bhagwandas for their commitment and enduring service to Pakistan. Highlighting the country’s potential, PM Shehbaz said Almighty Allah has blessed Pakistan with vast natural resources worth trillions of dollars, which, if effectively explored, could help address challenges such as poverty, unemployment, and national debt. He stressed that full utilization of these hidden treasures could resolve many of the nation’s problems. The premier noted that Pakistan is steadily moving toward prosperity and stability, but underlined the urgent need to stamp out terrorism once and for all. Recalling national sacrifices, he highlighted Pakistan’s strength during Markae-Haq in May 2025, when the country decisively defeated India, attributing the victory to Allah’s blessings and the professional capabilities of the armed forces
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday revived and extended the Prime Minister’s Health Card programme to the Islamabad Capital Territory, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan, reaffirming the federal government’s resolve to provide quality healthcare as a fundamental right to every citizen, irrespective of social or economic status. Addressing the launch ceremony— attended by the federal minister for health, the chief minister of GilgitBaltistan, federal ministers, parliamentarians and senior officials, including the secretary health and the chief secretary AJK—the prime minister said the initiative marked another major step towards taking healthcare facilities to
under the leadership of Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. He urged the international community to acknowledge Pakistan’s sacrifices, adding that the country possesses solid evidence of external support being extended to terrorist elements operating domestically. Minister for Information Attaullah
people’s doorsteps. Recalling the origins of the scheme, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the health card programme was first launched in 2016 under the leadership of Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and was later expanded rapidly across the provinces. He remarked that nothing was more valuable in life than health. “If there is health, there is education; if there is health, there is dignified employment; if there is health, there is progress in every field of life,” he said. The prime minister observed that while affluent segments of society could afford costly treatment anywhere in the world, the true test of the state lay in protecting the poor, widows, orphans and daily wage earners who struggled to make ends meet.
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Tarar said the Qaumi Paigham-e-Aman Committee would further strengthen the national narrative by visiting cities across Pakistan to promote peace and counter hate-based narratives. Convener Maulana Hafiz Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, Allama Ragib Naeemi, and other Ulema reaffirmed their unflinching commitment to support government efforts in eradicating terrorism and extremism from the country.
Achakzai formally named Opposition Leader as NA pushes heavy legislative agenda
ISLAMABAD
agenda. These included the Export Development Fund Amendment Bill 2026, the Export Import Bank of Pakistan Amendment Bill 2026, the Pakistan Telecommunication Reorganization Amendment Bill, the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Amendment Bill, the Alternative Dispute Resolution Amendment Bill, and the Capital Territory of Islamabad Ownership and Management Bill. All proposed legislation was formally laid before the House by the law minister.
Staff RepoRt
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday suspended the membership of 159 legislators from the Parliament and provincial assemblies for failing to submit details of their assets, while also issuing the schedule for delimitation of wards in 42 Cantonment Boards (CBs) across the country. According to the ECP’s CBs delimitation schedule, the exercise, being conducted under the Elections Act 2017 and the Cantonments Act 1924, covers all four provinces and major boards in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta. In a separate notification, the ECP said nine lawmakers were suspended from the Senate (upper house) and 32 from the National Assembly (lower house). In addition, 50 members of the Punjab Assembly, 33 from the Sindh Assembly, 28 from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and seven from the Balochistan Assembly were also suspended. The move follows an ECP reminder issued a day earlier, warning lawmakers to submit details of their assets and liabilities by January 15, failing which their memberships would be suspended from January 16, 2026. “Members of the Senate, National Assembly and provincial assemblies who have not submitted details of their assets and liabilities are directed to submit them on the prescribed Form B under Section 137 of the Elections Act,” the commission stated. The ECP also informed that its political finance wing at Kohsar Block would remain open until midnight of January 15 for receipt of statements. Last week, the commission had noted that 446 lawmakers had failed to submit their statements by the original December 31, 2025 deadline. These included 125 National Assembly members, 26 Senators, 159 Punjab Assembly members, 62 Sindh Assembly members, 48 KP Assembly members and 26 Balochistan Assembly members. Section 137(1) of the Elections Act 2017 mandates that every lawmaker submit a statement of assets and liabilities annually by December 31, covering their own, spouse’s and dependent children’s assets as of June 30 of the preceding year.
ISLAMABAD
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National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Tuesday formally announced the appointment of Mahmood Khan Achakzai as the Leader of the Opposition during a sitting of the lower house. The session began under the Speaker’s chairmanship, who informed members at the outset that the question hour would not be held. Shortly after proceedings commenced, the Speaker summoned the Chief Whip to his chamber to complete the formalities for issuing the notification of the opposition leader. Following the completion of procedural requirements, Mahmood Khan Achakzai was officially declared the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly. The House also witnessed the tabling of several key pieces of legislation, including the Pakistan Nursing Council Ordinance, the Export Development Fund Amendment Bill 2026, the Imports and Exports Act Amendment Bill, the Pakistan Telecommunication Reorganization Amendment Bill, and the Life Insurance Nationalization Amendment Bill. Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar presented additional bills as part of the government’s legislative
SANAULLAH FELICITATES RANA ACHAKZAI, SAYS PM’S DOOR STILL OPEN FOR OPPOSITION TALKS: Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah Khan on Friday renewed the government’s call for dialogue with the opposition while congratulating newly appointed Leader of the Opposition Mahmood Khan Achakzai. Speaking informally to reporters at the Parliament House, Rana Sanaullah said the prime minister’s offer for negotiations with the opposition remained open, recalling that previous overtures from the government had failed to elicit a positive response. He said that if talks were to move forward, the Speaker’s Office would be the most appropriate forum, adding that the appointment of the opposition leader should be seen as a confidence-building measure. Responding to a question about whether former prime minister Nawaz Sharif played any role in Achakzai’s appointment, Rana Sanaullah said he was unaware of any such involvement and noted that the National Assembly speaker was better placed to clarify the matter. On a query about whether Achakzai had asked him to help facilitate a meeting with PTI founder Imran Khan, Rana Sanaullah said the issue of meeting the PTI leader was a separate matter and had previously been misused. He added that the matter could be discussed in the coming days and might also figure in talks when Achakzai meets the prime minister.
12 indian-sponsored terrorists killed as security forces thwart multiple terrorist activities in Kharan: iSPr RAWALPINDI
Staff RepoRt
Security forces killed 12 Indian-sponsored terrorists of Fitna al-Hindustan and effectively thwarted their attempt to create a hostage situation in Balochistan’s Kharan district during multiple operations, the military’s media wing said on Friday. In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said, “On 15 January 2026, approximately fifteen to twenty Indiansponsored terrorists of Fitna al-Hindustan carried out multiple terrorist activities in Kharan City of Balochistan. Wherein, the terrorists attacked City Police Station, National Bank of Pakistan and Habib Bank Limited. During the activity, Rs3.4 million were looted from the banks by terrorists.” The ISPR said the security forces effectively responded and engaged the terrorists, prompting them to retreat. “During the ensuing clearance operation, twelve terrorists were sent to hell in three different engagements. Terrorists' design to create a hostage situation at the police station was also effectively thwarted,” it added. Sanitization operation continues in the surroundings to eliminate any other Indian sponsored terrorists. “A relentless counterterrorism campaign under vision “Azm-eIstehkam” (as approved by Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by the security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out [the] menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” it said. Despite record militant deaths, Pakistan witnessed an alarming rise in militant violence in 2025, with terrorist attacks rising by 34 per cent and terrorism-related fatalities increasing by 21pc year on year, according to a report released by the Islamabad-based Pak Institute for Peace Studies. On January 6, ISPR Director General (DG) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry shared during a press conference that law enforcement agencies of Pakistan — including the army, police, Federal Constabulary, and intelligence agencies — conducted a total of 75,175 IBOs in 2025. Breaking it down, he said 14,658 operations were conducted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 58,778 in Balochistan, and 1,739 in other regions of Pakistan. He added that 5,397 terror incidents took place in Pakistan in 2025, of which 3,811 were reported from KP (71pc), 1,557 from Balochistan (29pc), and 29 from other areas. On January 13, the ISPR said four terrorists were killed by security forces during an intelligence-based operation in Balochistan’s Kalat district.
Pakistan rejects india’s claim over Jammu and Kashmir at un UNITED NATIONS Staff RepoRt
Pakistan on Thursday dismissed India’s claim that Jammu and Kashmir is its “integral and inalienable part,” asserting that UN resolutions recognize the Himalayan state as a disputed territory. “Jammu and Kashmir is not ‘an integral part’ of India, nor has it ever been so under international law,” Pakistani delegate Asif Khan told the UN General Assembly, exercising his right of reply. He was responding to Indian delegate Eldos Punoose, who protested a reference to the unresolved Kashmir dispute made by Pakistan’s Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad while commenting on UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ priorities for 2026, presented to the 193member Assembly. Punoose, a counsellor in the Indian Mission to the UN, described the Pakistani ambassador’s remarks — highlighting India’s denial of the right of self-determination to the Kashmir people — as “unwarranted.” Setting the record straight, Asif Khan said India’s arguments were “a tired trope intended to obscure established facts and legal realities.” He emphasized that India has systematically denied the Kashmiris’ right to selfdetermination for decades, a right affirmed by the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, while suppressing the population.
Interviews to continue despite US immigrant visa issuance freeze ISLAMABAD
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The US State Department has clarified that applicants from Pakistan and 74 other countries will still be allowed to submit immigrant visa applications and attend scheduled interviews, despite a temporary suspension on visa issuance announced a day earlier. The United States has paused the issuance of immigrant visas for 75 countries, including Pakistan, as part of a broader policy review ordered by President Donald Trump. According to the State Department, the suspension will take effect from January 21, 2026. In a post on X, the department said immigrant visa processing was being paused for countries “whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates”, adding that the freeze would remain
in place until the US could ensure new immigrants would not impose a financial burden on American taxpayers. In a question-and-answer guidance issued alongside the policy, the State Department clarified that while immigrant visas will not be issued during the pause, applicants may continue with the process, including appearing for interviews at US embassies and consulates in their home countries. The department emphasised that the decision does not revoke immigrant visas already issued and does not apply to tourist or other non-immigrant visas. It added that decisions related to admission into the United States fall under the authority of the Department of Homeland Security. Pakistan is among a diverse group of affected countries across South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and eastern Europe. Other countries on the list include
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Sudan, Syria, Russia and Brazil. According to the State Department, the measure is part of a comprehensive review aimed at ensuring immigrants are financially self-sufficient and do not become a public charge. President Trump, it said, has made it clear that new immigrants must not place a financial burden on US taxpayers. Under the new guidance, dual nationals applying with a valid passport from a country not included in the list are exempt from the suspension. The department also noted that immigrant visa cases already approved but not yet printed would be refused under the policy. US embassies and consulates have been directed to continue scheduling immigrant visa appointments for affected nationals, including Pakistanis, even though visa issuance will remain suspended during the review period.