M , P r e S I d e n T ‘ f I n e -T u n e ’ S T r aT e g y f O r C O n S T I T u T I O n a L a M e n d S
e-Insaf (PTI) on a joint draft JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman will share the finalised draft with PTI leadership marking the nearing completion of the amendment process However, Information Advisor for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Barrister
nounced its decision to resist recent constitutional amendments and hold a nationwide protest this Friday
The parliamentary committee will reconvene after Friday prayers to continue discussions on the draft
Earlier in the day, the amendments proposed by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s (MQM-P) to 26th constitutional draft were discarded
The proposed amendments related to local government powers and funds have also been removed from the draft
Both the ruling PML-N and PPP succeeded in convincing MQM
According to the two main coalition partners the amendments proposed by the MQM-P will be considered in the next 27th constitutional amendment with the party expressing agreement with the government s suggestions
Pakistan, Mongolia agree to for m JMC, inter-parliamentar y union to boost ties Over
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) would stage massive protest Friday (tomorrow) to press their demand for the release of party founder Imran Khan and all the detained workers In a message to party workers Gandapur said that PTI would stage countrywide protest after Friday prayers We are not allowed to meet the party founder Imran Khan in Adiala Jail and we’ll hold protest for his release ” said CM Gandapur He added that protest would also be staged against the constitutional amendment that the government is planning to bring in the parliament We ll protect the constitution at any cost, he said On the other hand, the party s political committee demanded the release of Aleema Khanum and Uzma Khanum sisters of PTI founder Imran Khan advocate Intizar Hussain Panjotha Azam Swati and all the arrested leaders workers and members of parliament including the president of Tehreeke-Insaf Balochistan The PTI asked the regional organizations to hold a peaceful protest at districts’ headquarters after Friday prayers The government’s attempt to distort the Constitution through the constitutional amendment is not acceptable it said The statement said both houses of parliament have agreed to make every possible effort to block the way of amendment and demanded the release of Imran Khan
Prime Minister Shehbaz on Thursday offered his Mongolian counterpart to send civil servants to training institutions in Pakistan and also proposed to declare 2025 as the year of Pakistan-Mongolia Friendship to bolster the brotherly ties between the two countries Pakistan and Mongolia on Thursday agreed to form a Joint Ministerial Commission to enhance cooperation in trade, tourism, agriculture and mining sectors and an inter-parliamentary union to expand the bilateral parliamentary ties
The bilateral relations were discussed in a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his Mongolian counterpart Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene here on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) Meeting In the meeting Prime Minister Shehbaz suggested that both sides should explore new avenues of mutually advantageous cooperation with a particular focus on trade investment people-to-people contacts and connections He offered the Mongolian side to send civil servants to training institutions in Pakistan and also proposed to declare 2025 as the year of Pakistan-Mongolia Friendship to bolster the brotherly ties among the two countries Prime Minister Shehbaz warmly welcomed Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene and noted that his visit marked a new chapter in the history of the bilateral relationship defined by mutual respect goodwill and amity Felicitating him on his re-elec-
tion as the Prime Minister of Mongolia Shehbaz Sharif stated he looked forward to working closely with Oyun-Erdene in the days ahead to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries Oyun-Erdene warmly felicitated the prime minister on the successful conduct of the SCO CHG Meeting and appreciated Pakistan s leadership role as SCO CHG Chair He reciprocated that Mongolia shared Pakistan’s desire to build stronger and closer bilateral relations through joint efforts and collaboration
The Mongolian prime minister also planted a sapling in the lawn of the Prime Minister ’s House ‘Pakistan to work with SCO states to make organization more effective and stronger Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday met SCO SecretaryGeneral Zhang Ming wherein he reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to work wholeheartedly for promotion of the organization’s development priorities for the benefit of all its member states and the wider region In the meeting held on the
sidelines of the 23rd meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government (CHG), the prime minister stressed that Pakistan stood ready to work with SCO member states to make the organization more effective and stronger Recalling Secretary-General Ming s earlier visit to Pakistan in July 2022, Prime Minister Shehbaz welcomed him in Islamabad and thanked him for the support extended by the SCO Secretariat to Pakistan in organization of the SCO CHG Meeting
He also thanked Zhang Ming for his dedication and outstanding services as the outgoing Secretary-General of SCO and wished him every success in his future endeavours Zhang Ming warmly felicitated the prime minister on the successful organization of the SCO CHG Meeting and its positive outcome
He appreciated Pakistan’s constructive contributions to SCO’s work and activities across all domains and expressed satisfaction over Pakistan s leadership role as SCO CHG Chair
I T U S I N V E N T O R Y D ATA
European companies cut jobs as economy sputters
said in July PKP CARGO: Poland s largest freight company plans to lay off 30% of staff it said in July
SHELL: The energy giant plans to scale back its oil and gas exploration and development workforce by 20% company sources told Reuters in August In Europe the cuts are focused in the
TAMEDIA: The
D I
The Italian bank signed an agreement with labour unions that included 1,000 voluntary redundancies and 500 new jobs, Italy s banking union Fabi said on October 17
NORTHVOLT: The Swedish battery maker said in September it planned to layoff 1,600 employees in Sweden, including 1,000 positions at its Northvolt Ett factory in Skelleftea Retail And Consumer Goods
DYSON: The vacuum cleaner
NEWS DESK The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has directed all banks to process the requests of eligible Authorized Dealers (ADs) to export an additional 500 000 metric tons of Sugar On Tuesday the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) approved the export of an additional 500,000 metric tons of sugar, following a directive from the Ministry of Industries and Production The federal cabinet later ratified the ECC’s decision Attention of Authorized Dealers (ADs) is invited towards the enclosed Ministry of Industries and Production s Office Memorandum (O M) F No 1(6)/2022-23-CAO dated October 12, 2024 As per the O M , the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC)
said on Oct 16 it would cut up to 2 500 jobs in its Defence and Space division by mid-2026
DEUTSCHE BAHN: The German rail operator said in July it planned to cut 30,000 jobs, or around 9% of staff
INFINEON: The German chipmaker
UPM: The Finnish forestry group may cut up to 110 jobs in its Fibres Finland business, it said on Oct 8 In August, it announced mill closures in Germany, affecting 338 jobs, and the closing of its biocomposites business, affecting 59 jobs in Finland and Germany
YARA: The Norwegian fertiliser maker said on October 15 that planned production changes at its Tertre plant in Belgium, including the closing of its ammonia unit, could result in a dismissal of around 115 workers
of the Cabinet has allowed the export of a further 500 000 MT of sugar with certain terms and conditions The ECC s decision has also been ratified by the Federal Cabinet the SBP said in a circular According to the SBP directive, authorized dealers will obtain an undertaking from the exporters that the
export of sugar may be made against a Letter of Credit (LC) Furthermore authorized dealers will submit sugar export transactions and shipment updates to the State Bank of
SBP PROjECTS 2.5% – 3.5% GDP GROwTh fOR fY25
TPakistan’s oil and gas produc tion declines in Q1FY25 due to disruptions
Mega Motor par tners with BYD to revolutionize Pakistan’s EV market
called GITEX a game-changer for Pakistani IT startups, with participation from 80 companies He remarked that the slogan “Tech Destination Pakistan” resonated strongly with attendees leading to multimillion-dollar contracts for local firms TallyMarks Consulting Marketing Manager Muhammad Ali Tahir
DESK
COMMENT
SCO Summit
TH E 23rd meeting of the Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Islamabad took decisions firming up the structure of the secretariat but more importantly it backed China’s Belt and Road Initiative While the BRI has been widely seen as exclusively Chinese vehicle to win friends and influence people throughout the world the prospect vis opened up of other SCO members participating in it not just as recipients of Chinese largesse but as contractors on various projects carried out in third countries The meeting also took special note of terrorism There is terrorism affecting Chinese projects being executed in Pakistan, as well as terrorism affecting members, with India insisting that the unrest in it was because Pakistan was fomenting it At the same time Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif cogently pointed out Afghan sponsorship of terrorism in Pakistan because it provided safe havens to terrorist organizations
Another issue which the Summit looked at though without finding a solution was that of trading in local currencies There is a lot of talk of the SCO acting as the impetus to greater trade amongst the members, but that is all actually a codeword for breaking the monopoly of the US dollar as the standard The SCO may not provide the solution, because BRICS is also seen as having potential because it might come up with a new means of financing trade However the whole discussion revolves around the fact that a dollar unbacked by gold is not adequate The problem that affects the SCO members is not that the USA does not print enough dollars (it does so to finance federal government deficits) but it uses this reserve-currency status to throw its weight about, imposing sanctions to suit its own whims One of the more logical mechanisms would be the setting up of an SCO bank no decision was taken, though the sense of the Summit inclined towards that The only problem is that there may not be enough preparation for such an organization It also remains to be seen whether the bank would also function as a development bank, or whether that should be a different organization The SCO is searching for role after the original purpose of its formation the expulsion of US forces from Afghanistan, was achieved now it seems an organization more focussed on the more economic goals involved in supporting the BRI
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
An y summit is inevitably going to be part of the domestic politics of the host country, mainly because it is the main event happening in the country It is also strongly possible that the event might be the subject of criticism and thus may attract protesters who may wish to express their dislike of whatever the Summit and its component governments stand for Such protesters have afflicted the G7 Summits, where protesters have gathered to protest against the capitalism and greed that the G7 governments are supposed to represent Interestingly enough it was a government which first used a Summit to make a domestic political point When India hosted the G20 Summit in 2023 its government chose to host it in Srinagar in Kashmir Though one reason was supposed to be preventing protests, the real reason was supposed to be to show the world how well Kashmir had settled down after its 2019 revocation of its special status The government has not really tried to draw more than the usual domestic political capital out of it but the PTI most definitely had, announcing a rally to press for the release of its Chairman, Imran Khan How his release, or even any future plans involving him, like getting into Parliament though a by-election and then becoming Prime Minister will be assisted by this rally was not clear
However it would have been an embarrassment for the government if the rally had been held and especially if there had been any violence The heads of government have not come to be part of Pakistan s domestic politics, and to make them part of Pakistan’s domestic politics is not something they would like to do It is clear that the main purpose of the PTI rally was to embarrass the government
The PTI pulled out of the rally the day before after first trying to negotiate at least a meeting between former PM Imran Khan and a party delegation headed by current Chairman Barrister Gohar, and then settling for a doctor ’s visit That smacked of an excuse for it was the first that anyone had heard of these issues It seemed that this was somewhat like the sudden cancellation of a rally on August 22 after former Speaker Asad Qaiser met Imran Khan out of visiting hours The eventual rally on September 28, was not as effective as could have been wished
The PTI once again showed that it was obedient and if given the chance would be as mindful of the national interest as it was told to In short it was not so much showing a regard for the national interest as obedience to the establishment
The PTI has been somewhat less enthusiastic about the purposes of the SCO, but it has never opposed them, which means that the rally has nothing to do with it The SCO started out as a forum for the discussion of terrorism and how to get the USA out of Afghanistan It is now evolving into a forum for
the countries through which the new Silk Road runs It is thus the organization which coordinates the Chinese Brick and Road Initiative In other words the SCO is actually a Silk Road or BRI Users Association Even though a US ally to the extent that is being propped up by it in opposition to China that is the main reason India is part of the SCO There is something of a holdover of the past, for Russia wants it as part of the SCO
Its anti-terrorism function comes into the limelight at least with respect to Pakistan because there is an intersection probably an overlap between terrorism and the BRI Within the Pakistani context at least perhaps the biggest threat faced by CPEC (itself a vital component of the BRI) is from terrorism It is probably embarrassing to Pakistan that the terrorists are homegrown The nexus between AlQaeda and the Islamic Movement of East Turkestan via the Tehrik Taliban Pakistan may have been broken but Baloch separatists have apparently arisen to fill the gap Meanwhile the Tehrik Taliban Pakistan has been doing its worst Both have been targeting CPEC The anti-terrorist focus of the SCO has thus got to shift The attention to Afghanistan has also got to change for while the USA has been expelled from it it has been replaced by the same Takiban as had been removed by the USA after 9/11 It is symptomatic of the fact that the SCO did not like the result is shown by the fact that Afghanistan is not attending this meeting because it was not invited It should be remembered that none of the other SCO members have accorded Afghanistan recognition China may have received credentials from the Taliban-appointed ambassador and may have had a new ambassador in Kabul present his but it is preserving the refusal to recognize Pakistan has moved from its DG ISI being photographed in Kabul to relations so strained that Afghanistan is accused to giving arms to
It is not a military alliance, so a fairer comparison would be with the EU, or even with BRICS It has not taken any sides in the RussiaUkraine conflict, though its members have The SCO thus takes along the BRI slogan of prosperity for all rather than the NATO idea of Âbetter dead rather than Red ‰
T h e W a r s i n L e b a n o n a n d G a z a n o t
Iwhelming use of force In each instance, Israel said that its enemies would be vanquished ushering in a new day ” In the end, each only resulted in a more unsettled situation with a more virulent foe rising from the ashes left behind This was because at the root of each of these conflicts were real grievances born of injustice that gave rise to movements of resistance Instead of addressing and resolving these grievances, Israel, with the full-throated support of the USA, saw force as the only acceptable solution What they said in effect is “Once we punish them and pound them into submission all will be well This approach hasn t worked before and it won t work now At the heart of these deep grievances is the historical injustice done to the Palestinian people Former President Clinton described it eloquently when he told an assembled group of Palestinian leaders that he knew their history of having been dismembered dispossessed and dispersed among the nations And for the Lebanese who have embraced Hezbollah the grievances include both their abiding fury over Israel s more than two-decade-long hostile occupation of the south of Lebanon that resulted in the displacement of tens of thousands of
Lebanese, and the historical inequities experienced by the Shia community as a result of the country’s sectarian system of governance none of this is to say that the Palestinian militia groups or the Shia s Hezbollah movement haven t made grave errors as they ve acted to address the grievances of their constituencies What it does say is that this effort to violently eliminate these groups is shortsighted, at best, and is no solution, as it does not address the source of the grievances that make them appealing in the first place This is a recipe for disaster And finally to ignore the responsibility that Israel bears for its actions that have created much of the pain at the heart of the problem and then refusing to press them to change direction only ensures that the grievances will metastasize into more virulent forms This is where we are today In an effort to totally eliminate resistance to their occupation and annexation of Palestine Israel is committing genocide in Gaza coupled with a reign of violent terror across the West Bank Meanwhile, with Hezbollah launching missiles into Israel to back the survival of its “resistance ally” in Palestine Israel has now turned its attention to methodically eliminating the leadership and cadre of Hezbollah In both Lebanon and Gaza Israel has pursued this effort at total victory without regard for civilian casualties or damage to the broader society and its infrastructure Seeing Iran as the main backer of both Hezbollah and Hamas, Israel has gone a step further by attacking Iranian sites and assassinating Iranian allies in Lebanon Syria and Iran itself bringing the Middle East to the brink of a devastating regional war While the USA worries aloud about the dangers of expanding this war, it has done nothing to restrain Israel’s behaviour We’ve established red lines that Israel continues to cross; expressed concern with civilian casualties which Israel ignores; and repeatedly put forward ceasefire proposals which Israel rejects
All the while we are flooding Israel with sophisticated deadly weaponry and unlimited diplomatic support The result is Israeli impunity more Arab casualties and greater suffering and a Middle East ever further from addressing the problems at the root of the conflict When the fighting ends if anything the grievances will be even greater If history is prologue, in the coming years we’ll most likely see: the emergence of a Hamas 2 0; a reconstituted movement of Lebanese with an ax to grind with both Israel and those whom they feel betrayed them; a bottomless well of anger and bitterness directed at both Israel and the US; and a region more unstable that it has been That said, there is no opportunity in this tragedy In fact, there’s only one thing about which we can be certain And that is that Israel’s war in Lebanon and Gaza will not end well Instead of naive fantasies about opportunities the only logical step forward is to end this conflict now For that to happen, the US, as we say, needs to put on its big boy pants, tell Israel to “stop,” and back this up by suspending arms shipments At that point we will need to address the human cost and work to alleviate some of the suffering Then and only then can we begin to assess the steps that must be taken to deal with the grievances at the root of this tragedy That s not an opportunity It s
Instead of naive fantasies about opportunities, the only logical step forward is to end this conflict now. For that to happen, the US, as we say, „needs to put on its big boy pants,‰ tell Israel to „stop,‰ and back this up by suspending arms shipments. At that point, we will need to address the human cost and work to alleviate some of the suffering. Then, and only then, can we begin to assess the steps that must be taken to deal with the grievances at the root of this tragedy ThatÊs not an opportunity ItÊs a responsibility
A new frontier in geopolitical tensions
Corporate exploitation
Dr JAMes J Zogby
Isrel ’s expnding the wr does bnot end well
China's Strategic Infrastructure Diplomacy in the Middle East under the Belt and Road Initiative
TH E Chinese Belt and Road Initia-
tive (BRI) stands as a testament to China s growing geopolitical and economic footprint across all continents, and perhaps no region better exemplifies its strategic utility than the Middle East (Arabian Peninsula or Gulf region) The BRI is considered a counter strategy against the USA and Western Countries
China s infrastructural ambitions in the Middle East a region characterized by geopolitical complexities, economic potential, and varying degrees of infrastructural development align seamlessly with its BRI objectives The cooperation between two such as China and Middle Eastern countries under this framework explains the symbiotic relationship between infrastructure development and geopolitical influence, all within the evolving contours of global power dynamics Infrastructure, long recognized as a critical pillar of economic productivity and societal advancement forms the backbone of China s outreach efforts in the Arab region The region which has historically grappled with underdeveloped infrastructure despite its immense natural resources presents China with an opportunity: one that allows Beijing to leverage its engineering expertise and financial muscle to engage with Middle Eastern states economically while subtly deepening its political and diplomatic clout China s cooperation with the Middle East is not a recent phenomenon; in fact, the region was one of the first to establish infra-
structure partnerships with China following the latter ’s economic opening Over time, this cooperation evolved from simple subcontracting endeavors to far more complex modes of engagement including Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC), and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) The BRI has improved these dynamics, with infrastructure development now forming a cornerstone of the productivity cooperation between China and Middle Eastern nations What makes this relationship particularly compelling is the convergence of needs: Middle Eastern states, especially those undergoing post-war reconstruction or economic diversification, desperately require infrastructure investment Meanwhile China eager to project its influence and economic interests globally views the Middle East as an untapped market with strategic importance This alignment has catalyzed cooperation in key sectors such as transportation, power engineering, and housing construction, with Chinese enterprises playing leading roles
From a strategic perspective China’s involvement in the Middle East under the BRI framework transcends mere economic collaboration Infrastructure development serves as a soft-power tool, fostering goodwill and creating long-term dependencies that benefit Beijing in other realms, including political alliances and security partner-
ships For Middle Eastern states particularly those with limited internal resources or political stability the influx of Chinese capital and expertise represents a lifeline enabling them to pursue ambitious development goals without the stringent political conditions often imposed by Western nations or international institutions
However, this relationship is not without its challenges The Middle East remains a volatile region where political instability sectarian violence and economic shocks frequently disrupt long-term projects For Chinese enterprises, navigating this landscape requires a delicate balance of risk management and strategic foresight In addition to the geopolitical risks, Chinese firms also face competition from other international players like the USA and Western countries particularly in sectors where profit margins are thin such as housing and transportation infrastructure Additionally, rising protectionism within some Middle Eastern states, coupled with stringent import controls, adds another layer of complexity to the operating environment for Chinese firms
Despite these obstacles China s comparative advantages ranging from financial resources to technological prowess continue to give it a competitive edge Notably, Chinese enterprises have successfully transitioned from being subcontractors to major players in the broader infrastructure ecosystem This shift exemplified by high-profile projects such as the Doha Metro in Qatar and
various power plants in Saudi Arabia, reflects China’s growing expertise in managing largescale projects that encompass planning design procurement and construction The Middle East s infrastructural challenges are manifold: weak transportation networks, outdated energy grids, and inadequate social infrastructure have hampered the region’s economic integration and global trade competitiveness Chinese investment through the BRI framework seeks to address these bottlenecks not only by building physical infrastructure but also by fostering local capacity and improving governance frameworks The World Bank s findings that every $1 billion in infrastructure investment generates over 100,000 jobs in the Middle East underscore the socio-economic benefits of this cooperation particularly in regions like the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states where job creation and economic diversification are top priorities One area where China has made significant strides is in energy infrastructure a sector where the Middle East holds unparalleled importance as the world s leading energy producer Despite the downturn in oil prices and reduced capital investment in recent years, energy projects remain central to China s strategy Moreover, the advent
Therefore , based on the above , the China-Middle East infrastructure par tnership, framed by the BRI, represents a critical juncture in the g eopolitics of infrastructure . As of today, by focusing on tangible , high-impact projects that address the regionÊs most pressing needs, China has already positioned itself as a key player in the region, though mainly in the realm of economic landscape Yet, this success is conting ent on a careful balancing act managing the regionÊs political volatility, staying ahead of international competition (China-USA conflict, USA-Russia conflict, USA-Iran, China-India crisis, Russia-Ukraine war), and ensuring that its investments deliver long-term value . Under prudent leadership, if China can address or curb these challeng es, the BRIÊs legacy in the Middle East might ver y well become one of the 21st centur yÊs defining g eopolitical narratives
Now that the historical leadership
of
Hezbollah is gone, will the par t y go, too?
Decision-making on the issues of leadership and militar y operations are group made decisions and the Secretar y-General does not have a monopoly power over them
Israel is a rogue nation. It should be removed from the United Nations
OD r M u s ta fa f e to u r
V E R the last three months, starting last July, Israel succeeded in targeting the top Hezbollah leadership in Lebanon through a series of well coordinated and targeted assassinations that wiped out the entire organisations founding leaders By 1 October, it managed to kill the Islamic Resistance’s political and military commander the Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah Starting with the assassination of Hamas s Saleh Al-Arouri in Beirut last January, it was clear to observers that Israel’s spy agency, the Mossad, has penetrated the internal communications and command structure particularly the political leadership of both Palestinian groups and Hezbollah in Lebanon The killing of Al-Arouri and almost all subsequent similar operations, mostly drone targeted assassination the role of human intelligence was crucial in helping the Israelis decide when and how to act While Israel backed by the United States, is technologically superior to all its enemies combined, it still benefits from human intelligence because it is the only way to provide real time information particularly in connection with top leaders like the late Nasrallah whose whereabouts movements and sleeping places are the most guarded secrets within Hezbollah Now that the man who led Hezbollah for over three decades is gone the question is would this lead to disarray and the ultimate demise of the armed group that has been Israel s nightmare for decades? Despite what pro-Israeli propaganda says, everything on the ground says otherwise After Israel launched its ground invasion of southern Lebanon described by top Israeli leaders as limited operation the performance of Hezbollah has been regular and within its historical fighting patterns
It still fires rockets and ballistic missiles deep inside Israel while its fighters on the ground still confront Israeli soldiers engaging them and destroying their equipment too This simple observation means the military wing of the group, despite the big losses it has incurred, so far, is still intact and exercising command and control over the frontlines
We might not know how the political tier of the group will operate in the future and who will, ultimately, become the secretary-general, but that is less critical at the moment, as long as the military structure is busy with fighting the Israeli invaders
To reassure supporters inside Lebanon and beyond the acting leader of Hezbollah Sheikh Naim Kassem, has so far appeared in three separate televised speeches since Nasrallah was killed In his last speech he said that his group is now focused on “hurting the enemy” through targeting Haifa and even Tel Aviv while emphasizing that the group s military capabilities are still intact and still able to hurt Israel
According to the late Nasrallah himself, in many interviews, decision-making on the issues of leadership and military operations are group made decisions and the Secretary-General does not have a monopoly power over them This means the internal workings of the party will decide on who will be the next leader Whenever that happens it might remain secret for a while for security reasons
What is critical here is the internal procedures of the party and, particularly, that decision-making within the group itself is still intact
Notably Hezbollah since it was founded in 1982 has never had any serious internal threats to its existence like for example internal fights and quarrels that lead to splits from within From day one, it was one coherent organisation and, over the years, remained as such while being flexible and dynamic in a changing and challenging political environment always under military pressure and security threat from Israel Yet, the group remained intact from within and never faced a serious existential threat from within Lebanon or beyond
The killing of most of its top leaders including the charismatic and well-spoken leader Nasrallah has certainly been a heavy blow but it is unlikely to lead to its demise
Besides, we must also take into account the fact that, politically, Hezbollah is an important political player in Lebanon as it has its own
elected officials in the Parliament, participates in the government where it has two ministers including Finance Minister Youssef El-Khalil
On top of that the party has over the years, built its own social and entrepreneurial and charity networks within its Shia communities across Lebanon All this means that the party even if it halts its military operations against Israel – which is nearly impossible – will not disappear from the political scene and will always find ways to adapt to the unstable and murky Lebanese politics
Regionally, the party is a wellconnected ally to Iran which remains a sworn enemy of Israel and still top supporter of Hezbollah It is in Tehran s interest to see the party it has been helping remains active, both politically and militarily
Most pro-Israeli commentators have been cheering the death of Hezbollah’s top leaders as the start of the end of the party itself but this view only considers the military side of the equation, ignoring the fact that the party is much more than fighting groups seeking to liberate Lebanese territory occupied by Israel and an important ally of Hamas inside Palestine
Commenting on the pager and walkie-talkie attacks by Israel which killed and wounded thousands including some Hezbollah members, the late Nasrallah described the hit as a “big test” but it will the party which will pass this test with pride and heads held high He also said that such a big and strong blow did not bring us down Now, it appears that his own death failed to disintegrate the party, let alone discount it in the militarily sense Until today Israel has not been able to achieve its top military goal from its war against Hezbollah which is securing its north to thousands of settlers who fled the area, starting on 8 October, 2023, when Hezbollah launched its cross-border bombardment Now the Israeli government wants to push Hezbollah further north and away from its borders How that will happen is unclear and appears impossible, since Hezbollah relies on missiles and rockets that can hit targets as far away as Tel Aviv, which is nearly 200 kilometres away from the border As long as missiles and drones can still be launched inside Israel the idea of returning thousands of Israeli settlers into their homes in the north is a far-fetched idea, similar to wiping out Hamas in Gaza which has been failing, despite a long year of genocide and destruction in Gaza
OV E R the past year, Israel has launched attacks on multiple countries and occupied territories: the Gaza Strip the West Bank Lebanon Syria Yemen and Iran Yet countries and territories aside Israel has also targeted one specific organization with a series of unprecedented rhetorical and violent attacks Yes, the United Nations We have all witnessed Israel, effectively, declare war on the UN Consider the record of recent weeks and months: Israel’s prime minister while standing on stage at the UN general assembly denounced the body as contemptible a house of darkness and a swamp of antisemitic bile Israel s outgoing ambassador to the UN shredded a copy of the UN charter with a miniature paper shredder while also standing at the podium of the general assembly and later said the UN headquarters in New York should be closed and wiped off the face of the Earth Israel s foreign minister falsely accused the UN secretary general of not having condemned Iran s attacks on Israel, declared him persona non grata in Israel and announced that he had banned him from entering the country” The Israeli government actively obstructed a UN-mandated commission of inquiry trying to collect evidence on the 7 October attacks Israel s parliament is in the process of designating a longstanding UN agency Unrwa as a terrorist organization The Israeli military has bombed UN schools, warehouses and refugee camps in Gaza for 12 consecutive months, and killed a record 228 UN employees in the process “By far the highest number of our personnel killed in a single conflict or natural disaster since the creation of the United Nations to quote the UN secretary general The Israeli military is now also attacking UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon According to the UN, five UN Blue Helmets serving with UNIFIL in Lebanon have been injured as Israeli forces inflicted damage on UN positions close to the ‘Blue Line’ ” How is any of this OK? Acceptable? Legal? Perhaps the biggest question of all: how is Israel still allowed to remain a member of the UN? Why has it not yet been expelled from an organization that it is relentlessly and shamelessly attacking and undermining? Sure, there are other human rights abusers that remain card-carrying members of the UN – Syria, Russia and North Korea to name but a few – but none of them have killed UN employees en masse; none of them have sent tanks to invade a UN base; none of them have refused to comply with more than two dozen
MuhaMMaD abDullah-al-MaMun
MIDDLE EAST MONITOR
GUARDIAN
Israeli media outlets have reported the possible death of Yahya Sinwar,
CORPORATE CORNER
CORPORATE CORNER
TISLAMABAD,
In line with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif's visionary approach to empowering the youth of Pakistan the Prime Minister s Youth Programme (PMYP) convened the inaugural working group meeting of the Strategic Advisory Council for Generation Unlimited (GenU) Chaired by Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan Chairman of the PMYP the meeting focused on mobilizing efforts to uplift the youth in collaboration with key stakeholders including representatives from UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA, ILO, provincial youth ministries, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Hashoo foundation and the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation
Chairman Prime Minister s Youth Program (PMYP) Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan,commended Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ’s unwavering commitment to creating innovative opportunities for youth empowerment stressing the importance of uniting the poten-
tial of young Pakistanis under a shared platform where every province has a role to play He highlighted that the introduction of Generation Unlimited (GenU) through the Prime Minister s Youth Programme (PMYP) marks a transformative step, bringing together public, private, and youth stakeholders Targeting young people between the ages of 10 to 29 the initiative aims to foster collaboration across provincial youth ministries private sector leaders and key UN agencies Rana Mashhood elaborated that the newly formed GenU Secre-
Hameed Latif Hospital leads fight against breast cancer with awareness walk, seminar
Hameed Latif Hospital recently hosted a successful
Breast Cancer Awareness Walk and Health Seminar, drawing significant community participation
The purpose of the event was to raise awareness about breast cancer highlighting the importance of early detection and prevention Attendees including survivors healthcare professionals and the hospital s medical staff participated in the awareness walk, followed by an informative seminar
The seminar featured expert insights from leading medical professionals Dr Zeba Aziz, Consultant Oncologist, provided updates on advancements in breast cancer treatments and stressed the importance of regular screenings Dr Farrukh Zaman
Consultant Gynecologist discussed the role of gynecological health in early cancer detection Dr Farooq Rana, General Surgeon, addressed surgical options for breast cancer patients, while many other well-known consultants like Dr Tanvir-Us-Salam, Dr Ahsan Alam and Dr Azhar Hussain participated in the event The event was made possible under the leadership of Dr Rashid Latif Khan Chairperson of the RLK Group
tariat, housed within the PMYP, will coordinate these efforts, with technical support from UN agencies to ensure the initiative’s success He emphasized the alignment of GenU s goals with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG17, which highlights the importance of partnerships for sustainable development Khan reaffirmed the PMYP’s dedication to shaping a prosperous and inclusive future for Pakistan s youth Our young people are looking to us for decisive action, and the time to act is now,” he concluded
The Universit y of Larkano organizes int’l workshop on communication skills
The University of Larkano s Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities successfully hosted an international conference on communication skills Prof Dr Muhammad Usman Keerio, Vice Chancellor, The University of Larkano, graced the occasion as the chief guest Dr Faiz Muhammad Shaikh, Focal Person Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities expertly moderated the program The keynote speaker Mr Fritz Bhomler from Munich Germany shared invaluable insights on effective communication strategies for national and international platforms Mr Bhomler's thought-provoking presentation emphasized the significance of communication skills in today's globalized world
PUNJAB CM POLITICISING ISSUES TO
PTI’S BHACHAR
investments would bolster Pakistan s resilience against climate-related shocks, which have been a recurring challenge for the nation
The IMF highlighted the effectiveness of enhancing public investment efficiency through the Climate-Public Investment Management Assessment (C-PIMA)
Bilawal pays tribute to K arsaz mar tyrs on 17th anniversar y, vows to uphold democratic values
Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari paid tribute to the martyrs of the Karsaz tragedy on the 17th anniversary of the horrific attack that claimed the lives of 180 party workers on October 18 2007 In a statement commemorating the solemn occasion, Bilawal expressed deep sorrow over the loss and reaffirmed the PPP’s unwavering commitment to
democracy, justice, and sacrifice
He reflected on the tragic day when party workers sacrificed their lives while welcoming former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto back to Pakistan underscoring the party s ongoing struggle for democratic values The Karsaz bombing was a calculated conspiracy where dictatorship and terrorists united to strike against the PPP leadership, targeting the truck carrying Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, Bilawal said in a press release issued by the party’s media cell “Millions had gathered to greet her but those who sought to silence democracy with terror failed Their efforts were futile ” Bilawal further emphasized that the martyrs of Karsaz continue to inspire the fight against extremism and injustice The courage and selflessness of our brave party workers will forever be remembered in our struggle for a peaceful, democratic Pakistan a struggle that Shaheed Benazir Bhutto led with immense dedication ” He reiterated the PPP s commitment to the vision of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto vowing to protect the rights of every Pakistani and uphold democratic values Bilawal called on the nation to honor the sacrifices of the Karsaz martyrs by continuing their legacy and strengthening the country’s democratic framework “As we mark this solemn day we renew our pledge to safeguard democracy combat extremism and ensure that no force can derail the progress of our beloved country Bilawal concluded
Punjab Info Minister alleges PTI’s involvement in student unrest, propaganda
regardless of their profession Earlier, opposition leader Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar criticized Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for issuing a charge sheet against PTI in her press conference, claiming it was an attempt to cover up her government’s poor performance Bhachar accused the ruling party of politicizing private and government institutions His comments came after Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz rejected allegations of a rape incident at a private college in Lahore, labeling them as fabricated She referred to PTI as “terrorists” for allegedly orchestrating the conspiracy and using children to disseminate misinformation Maryam also mentioned that PTI-aligned journalists and vloggers falsely presented a girl as an eyewitness, who claimed to have heard noises and seen locked rooms in the basement, prompting a call to Rescue 1122
