g Opposes ban on VPNs and slow internet speeds, stating govt did not consult with stakeholders
g Acknowledges Pak-US relations not good at moment, even during his tenure as foreign minister
g Says PML-N violating agreements particularly regarding PSDP ’s preparation through consultation
PPP opposes Punjab Agricultural Income Tax Bill 2024
S TA F F R E P O R T Pakistan People s Party (PPP) on Thursday opposed Punjab Agricultural Income Tax 2024 which was presented by the government during Punjab Assembly session on Thursday PPP parliamentary leader in provincial assembly Ali Haider said that the
on unreliable sources and motivated by an agenda to create confusion about the nature of this relationship We advise media to ascertain the motivation of individuals who feed them such stories, she stressed The statement by Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch comes amid heightened security concerns, with China’s envoy recently
terrorists will pay the price” The FO spokesperson further asserted: “We would not allow any effort to derail the Pakistan-China strategic partnership Two major deadly attacks have occurred this year a March blast in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa s Bisham killed five Chinese nationals while another blast near Karachi airport last month killed two citizens of the neighbouring country A media report this week, citing “five Pakistani security and government sources” stated Beijing was pushing Islamabad to allow its own security staff to protect thousands of Chinese citizens working in Pakistan Echoing her Chinese counterpart s remarks, Baloch asserted: Pakistan and China have the resolve and capability to foil any attempt to harm ChinaPakistan relations, including by spreading stories about the nature of our cooperation
ISLAMABAD
S TA F F R E P O R T
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday requested the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to nullify sentences handed down to former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife In the Toshakhana case and remand back the case for further proceedings The development came during Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb presided over the hearing on Thursday, reviewing appeals against the sentences
Sacrifice of valiant soldiers exemplif y unwavering dedication towards countr y ’s defence: COA S
The Chief of Army Staff expressed that the sacrifice being made by the valiant officers and soldiers exemplify the unwavering dedication towards defending the country against the menace of terrorism He highlighted that the nation stands in solidarity with the Armed Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies in the fight against Fitna al Khawarij and all those who hold their reins according the military media wing on Thursday
Earlier, funeral prayer for Major Muhammad Haseeb Shaheed (aged 28, resident of District Rawalpindi) who embraced martyrdom while defending the motherland in Harnai district Balochistan was held at Chaklala Garrison, Rawalpindi, said a statement issued by the ISPR
General Syed Asim Munir NI(M), Chief of Army Staff, Mr Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister PD&SI Ahsan Iqbal along with senior military and civil officials officers soldiers and family members of the Shaheed attended the ceremony it added Major Muhammad Haseeb, along with Havildar Noor Ahmed (38), having fought gallantly, made the ultimate sacrifice and embraced shahadat during an intelligence based operation in Balochistan s Harnai district said the military s media wing on Thursday
The ISPR, in a statement, said that during the operation, an improvised explosive device exploded on the leading vehicle of security forces resultantly Major Muhammad Haseeb a brave officer who was leading his troops from the front, along with Havildar Noor Ahmed embraced martyrdom
NAB prosecutor Amjad Pervez stated that he disagreed with the manner in which the trial and sentencing were conducted, admitting that he had already called for suspending the sentences Barrister Ali Zafar requested exemption for his clients from appearing in person, to which Justice Farooq responded “Don’t worry we’ll order it ” Pervez expressed no objection to the exemption request Barrister Zafar argued that the trial process was flawed describing it as a jail trial with rushed proceedings that violated his clients rights He highlighted that on January 29, the right to cross-examination was
g Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb
Two soldiers mar tyred, three terrorists killed in Balochistan’s Harnai IBO
Haseeb
cut short and Bushra Bibi s statement was recorded late at night He noted that Khan s statement was not recorded until January 31, and argued that the rushed process had compromised the defence Following Zafar ’s arguments, Justice Farooq directed him to consult further with Imran Khan regarding the prosecutor ’s remand request warning “If you oppose NAB s proposal we will rule on merit Justice Aurangzeb added that if technical errors are ignored, the court could choose between ordering a retrial or addressing the case s merits directly
KP GOVT SEEKS FEDERAL UPDATE ON PIA BID
TBank Alfalah withdraws intention to acquire stake in Samba Bank
accordingly On November 12 2024 Samba Bank notified the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) that Saudi National Bank (SNB), its majority shareholder, has decided to halt the sale of its equity stake in the bank Earlier in April, Bank Alfalah had submitted a Public Announcement of
M o N to R I N g D e S k Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the government to reduce the income tax burden on salaried individuals, according to Minister of State for Revenue, Ali Pervez Malik Speaking to the media on Thursday, Malik explained that the
BBC and Al Jazeera which indicate that India s misinformation efforts seek to criminalize the legitimate Kashmiri struggle for selfdetermination, as outlined by the UN Charter The network, reportedly comprising fake news sites, targets policymakers in the EU and UN to spread anti-Pakistan narratives and discredit Kashmiri self-determination efforts The report also accuses Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi s administration of employing fascist tactics in its hybrid warfare strategy Emphasizing resilience, KMS asserts that Pakistanis and Kashmiris are unified in countering these strategies and urges the global community to acknowledge and address India’s information warfare against Pakistan
Chinese firm to drive sustainable urban development in Pak istan
Bilawal accuses PML-N of failing ties with US, not honouring political agreements
FROM PAGE
GRIEVANCES
interact with lower courts urging the Sindh chief minister to consult with the CJP regarding reforms in such courts Until reforms are implemented in the lower courts our mission will remain incomplete Bilawal accuses PML-N of violating agreements The PPP chairman accused the PML-N of “violating agreements” with the PPP, particularly regarding the Public Sector Development Programme’s preparation through consultation He noted his involvement in the 26th Constitutional Amendment while the government approved new canals behind their backs stating that the PPP does not agree with new canals Consensus can be achieved through various methods, but the government s approach to canals is “unacceptable,” he said As the party chairman, Bilawal expressed his responsibility to inform the Central Executive Committee of the ground realities stating that political stability is easily achievable under current circumstances He clarified that the PPP s CEC has decided not to join the government It is absurd to receive a bill on the floor and then be handed a copy, he said, “politics should be about respect; there should be no grievances in politics There is no question of being upset with the government but respect and politics are absent at the federal level Bilawal demands concrete actions rather than statements When asked about the deaths of Chinese nationals and the Chinese ambassador s statement, the PPP chief said: Chinese citizens are not only guests but also friends of Pakistan
COMMENT
IMF talks
It seems there will be no mini-budget needed
Aspecial IMF delegation has been holding talks with the Federal Board of Revenue and seems satisfied at keeping its collection target at Rs 12 97 trillion which means that it does not see the need for a mini-budget One of the items on the table was an increase in the sales tax on petroleum products, which would have had a negative knock-on effect on inflation The same applies to another measure, which was an increase in the petroleum levy The IMF team seems to have bought the argument that existing collections have resulted in a 1 5 percentage point increase in the tax-to-GDP ratio from 8 8 percent to 10 3 percent, and thus there is no need to panic
One cause for concern for both the government and the IMF is the success of the Tajir Dost Scheme under which the trading community was supposed to be brought within the tax net The visitors are supposed to have suggested some tweaks to the scheme so as to make it more effective The scheme s purpose is to get traders, both wholesale and retail, to pay sales tax, which would ensure registration for income tax Traders have shown a firm prejudice against getting registered, suborning tax officials for this purpose, and making a lobby within all political parties against payment This lobby is presently in office, and the Prime Minister himself is a former President of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, one purpose of which was to avoid registration for tax purposes Not collecting taxes from this category makes the tax administration rely on salaried persons Another problem with salaried persons is that income tax is it Traders however also have to pay sales tax which they also try to avoid so as to prevent their turnover becoming known One of the advantages of the visit is that it should prove helpful in the first review of the $7 7 billion Extended Fund Facility It has been stressed that the visit did not constitute a review, but it might be remembered that the successful review of the Standby Arrangement reached in 2023, proved instrumental in reaching the Staff-Level Agreement that
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late)
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami
U n i t y i n d i v e r s i t y
social cohesion and national pride
Only once before…
playing an unprecedented revulsion against Israel
DO N A L D Trump managed to pull off something not done by anyone in the 20th century which was to win re-election after having been defeated after one term This was achieved only once before in US history, by Grover Cleveland in 1884 and 1892 He had been defeated in 1888 by William H Harrison, the grandson of Benjamin Harrison elected back in 1840 who caught a cold at his inauguration and died of pneumonia five months later Cleveland had his revenge and beat Harrison when he squared off again in 1892 Harrison was typical Like other one-term Presidents, he did not contest the Presidency again Even now, a one-term President, Jimmy Carter, is alive (and now Joe Biden will be) However, Trump did not fade into the background after his 2020 defeat but consolidated his hold over the Republican Party and ran again
Though Cleveland was a Democrat unlike Trump, he was also a New Yorker True, he was from Buffalo, of which he was one Mayor, unlike Trump, who is from the city of New York, but they were from the same state (The New York luck has not applied to other New Yorkers: Thomas Dewey went down on the Republican ticket to Harry Truman in 1948 )
Whether he would have beaten Biden to whom he lost in 20120, is unknown Biden had to pull out after winning the Democratic nomination in the primaries, because the first debate between the two candidates showed that he was fumbling for words As he was 82 that was a cause for concern He flubbed his words in public appearances after that and finally decided to withdraw from the race It was perhaps fortunate for all concerned that he did so before the Democratic Convention, in Chicago /chicago had a peculiar symbolism for Democrats In 1968, it hosted the Convention which is memorable for two things First there were clashes between demonstrators and the police Second the sitting and eligible President Lyndon B Johnson was not seeking the nomination The reason he was not seeking renomination was that it seemed he was tarnished too badly with his commitment to the Vietnam War, and Democrat leaders feared that he was certain to be beaten, and would drag down other Democrats Eerily those are the same arguments used for Biden s stepping aside
The antiwar candidate Eugene McCarthy had challenged Johnson in the New Hampshire primary; he had finished a strong second, and Johnson pulled out Robert F Kennedy then entered the race, and would probably have been the nominee had he not been assassinated in June by Sirhan Sirhan a Jordanian citizen of Palestinian origin who had migrated with his family to the USA in 1956 That was the first sign of the Palestine-Israel conflict having an impact on US politics
This year such an impact was expected, because the Israeli invasion of Gaza and the IDF s coldblooded massacre of Palestinians had led to younger people dis-
in universities and colleges, Pakistan is failing to equip its youth with the skills necessary for the demands of a rapidly evolving global economy
According
cess
water Worse yet the water that is available is often contaminated contributing to widespread health issues Furthermore, around 47 percent of the population is unable to meet even the minimum caloric intake needed for survival This not only reflects the chronic poverty that affects millions but also highlights the failure of successive governments to address the fundamental needs of their citizens
The housing situation in Pakistan is sim-
overcrowded conditions, with 81 percent of
These issues contribute to a sense of alienation and frustration among the population leading many to question the legitimacy of the government and its ability to improve their lives A significant portion of the population feels excluded from the benefits of economic growth, which in turn has fuelled the resurgence of sub-national and regional movements Ethnic religious and sectarian divides have become more pronounced with various groups vying for greater autonomy and recognition This fragmentation has created a volatile environment, where national cohesion is continually tested Pakistan’s political system which is already fragile faces immense pressure from these divides and the lack of a cohesive national agenda further complicates efforts to achieve stability The culture of cronyism nepotism and dishonesty has deepened Pakistan s institutional rot Public officials, rather than serving the interests of the people, often prioritize personal gain further alienating the population and contributing to the breakdown of the rule of law The accountability process which is meant to ensure transparency and justice has become a tool for political vendettas, with some being exonerated while others are subjected to public trials and humiliation This selective accountability undermines the credibility of the entire political system and fuels public disillusionment Pakistan s economic situation is equally concerning Once a burgeoning economy in the 1960s, Pakistan now lags far behind many of its regional counterparts In the 1960s, the country’s GDP per capita was $116, a figure that placed it ahead of many other developing nations Today however Pakistan s GDP per capita stands at around $1 550 significantly lower than that of its neighbours India China and South Korea, which have seen exponential growth in recent decades Pakistan also grapples with soaring food inflation, and is currently ranked fifth highest in the world and one of the highest interest rates globally These
However, no protests disrupted the convention, and the hopes placed by Democrats on Michigan, one of the swing states and which had helped Biden win in 2020 proved wrong The only state where enough Palestinians resided to make a difference it failed to do so One factor was probably that Biden Harris and Trump were all seen as equally pro-Israel There does not seem to be any way that any of them could very well be more pro-Israel This seems to have prevented the anti-Trump vote There seems to have been an error in assuming that Arab voters were single-issue voters If Biden and Harris had been pro-Palestinian they would have created a conflict in the minds of Arab voters, but they also had Biden s record to defend So they had to defend a poor economic record, something which the US voter has never forgiven They also had to defend the Immigration record as well as the USA s declining power in the world The Democrat leadership seems to have done something that the great Albert Einstein defined as stupidity: going the same thing and expecting a different result In 1968, when Johnson had pulled out, he was going to be replaced by Bobby Kennedy If he had lived he would probably have won beating the eventual Republican nominee Richard Nixon much as his elder brother John had defeated him in 1960 However he was assassinated so the Vice-President, Hubert H Humphtrey was pitched in, just as Kamala Harris was He lost So what did Harris have that would have enabled her to win?
Biden’s domestic record was apparently not enough The economy has been enough to defeat a sitting President Generally after a first term US Presidents tend to get re-elected and because of this any President seeking nomination for a second term has only been refused once (Chester Alan Arthur by the Republicans in 1884, which allowed in Grover Cleveland) On that occasion, the Republicans replaced Arthur because he had been an unimpressive President after he succeeded James Garfield when he was assassinated His only previous public office had been Collector of Customs of the Port of News York He had been selected as Vice President because he belonged to the opposite faction of the party to Garfield, and because he was from New York Harris was a better Vice-President having been first attorney-general of California and US Senator from there She was picked because she was a woman and a black Just to round things off her mother was Indian
economic difficulties have made it harder for ordinary Pakistanis to make ends meet, further fuelling social unrest
narrative in Pakistan often oversimplifies the problem blaming elected politicians alone for the country s woes While political incompetence is a genuine issue it is important to recognize that the real obstacles to progress lie in the actions and influence of the unelected institutions, which have consistently undermined the democratic process In particular, t
hindered the development of effective political institutions thereby prolonging Pakistan s instability
The failure to address these issues has left Pakistan at a crossroads The country is torn between conflicting ideologies, regional aspirations and political interests A lack of consensus on vital issues such as resource distribution governance and national identity has fuelled social polarization which is further exacerbated by increasing sectarianism and ethnic conflict Violence, including terrorism and banditry, has escalated to a point where it threatens not only the credibility of political institutions but also the very existence of the state itself
Pakistan needs a new vision of development that is inclusive equitable and sustainable prioritizing the needs of marginalized segments of society and ensuring the benefits of growth are shared broadly Strengthening democratic institutions promoting a culture of accountability and ensuring transparency will be essential for rebuilding public trust in the political system
The government must adopt a pragmatic approach to governance, recognizing the complexities of Pakistan s diverse society and working to bridge the divides that have historically hindered progress Pakistan’s future requires unity where the strength of its diversity becomes the foundation of its progress By unifying in its diversity strengthening its social fabric and taking pride in its shared identity, Pakistan can overcome its challenges and unlock its true potential, emerging as a beacon of hope and progress for the entire region and the world
The writer is Ph D in Political Science and visiting faculty at QAU Islamabad His area of specialization is political development and social change He can be reached at zafarkhansafdar@yahoo com and tweet@zafarkhansafdar
PakistanÊs future requires unity, where the strength of its diversity becomes the foundation of its progress. By unifying in its diversity, strengthening its social fabric, and taking pride in its shared identity, Pakistan can overcome its challeng es and unlock its true potential, emerging as a beacon of hope and progress for the entire region and the world
Cultural setback
Dr ZAfAr KhAN SAfDAr
Shaping
Only Israel matters?
The world community must act
Eleft with
and 3 472 families left with only 2
Apart from this, ecocide is also part of this devastation Ninety-seven percent of Gaza’s water is unfit for human consumption; sewage treatment facilities are unable to operate; and 75 percent of Gaza s agricultural land has been bombed to dust Also it has committed culturcide; 79 percent of mosques and three churches have been targeted and bombed; the Central Archives, Palestinian Legislative Council, and several memorial monuments have been dusted The Hague Regulations concerning the Laws and Customs of War on Land 1907 criminalize such acts as Regulations: Article 56 depicts that the property of municipalities, that of institutions dedicated to religion, charity, and education, and the arts and sciences, even when state property, shall be treated as private property All seizure of destruction or willful damage done to institutions of this character historic monuments works of art and science is forbidden and should be made the subject of legal proceedings So, in light of the given article, it s a violation of the said law
Further countries that speak against the atrocities of Israeli forces fall victim to conflict with it be it Iran Lebanon Syria Egypt Jordan or any other country Israel
Basically, genocide is defined as the systematic killing of a certain group of people Articles II and III of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide classify the acts of genocide The sorry state of Palestinians is a picture of almost all acts of genocide mentioned in the Article II of the said Convention; and apart from killing, they have been victims of psychological damage, prevention of distribution of aid in the war-torn region and much more Apart from domicide 70 percent of the structure of Gaza has been damaged or destroyed 87 000 housing units have been ravaged, nine percent of industrial facilities have been trashed, and 32 hospitals have become targets of Israeli soldiers Besides, educide has been the part of this year-long devastation The tally of killed students has reached 17 224 and 3 686 educational staff have met the same fate The score of damaged and destroyed schools of UNRWA is 161
has been engulfed in airstrikes with Iran that can potentially escalate the standoff across the Middle East with long-lasting consequences for the entire region
After Israel attacked the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, killing 13 people, including top IRGC commander Major General Mohammad Reza Zahedi and his deputy Iran retaliated with 300 missiles and drones and that was the first ever direct attack of Iran on Israel Thereafter Israel assassinated the top commander of Hamas, Ismael Haniye, the top leader of Hezbollah and the IRGC’s top leader; in retaliation, Iran launched 180 missiles on October 1 Israel is preparing the retaliatory attack on Iran that can possibly damage Iranian nuclear capabilities If this cycle of retaliations continues all-out war can escalate in the Middle East further ravaging the region
Besides, Israel seems to be at war with the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who commented that Israel should stop escalation in the Middle East as he believes escalation after escalation will be devastating for the entire region In response Israel s foreign minister declared him persona non grata In international law, the said term is used to prevent any unwanted person from entering or working in the host country; however a country cannot declare an international organization chief as persona non grata since it is used for diplomatic relations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961)
Additionally, two Israeli tanks destroyed the gates of the UN base in Lebanon and forcibly entered Soldiers of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon which consists of 50 countries have been deliberately wounded by Israeli forces; they persistently showed
their identity UNIFIL was designed to prevent any other invasion of Lebanon by Israel But, in recent days, they have also been the victims of Israeli greed The Article 8(2)(b)(iii) of the Rome Statute provides that the intentionally directing attacks against personnel
IsraelÊs continuous violations of international law suppor ted by the USA have given it a blank cheque and emboldened it to perpetrate such war crimes without any accountability. If such suppor t continues and world powers and concerned authorities do not hold Israel accountable for this, Israel would surely neglect any international responsibility enshrined under international law, and the sorr y fate of Palestinians would remain unchang ed, along with the looming fear of escalation of a widening war across the Middle East
Donald Trump’s cabinet is a pro-Israel swamp
UP O N the election of Donald Trump for his second term in office immense speculation commenced over how the American President s administration would handle its Israel and wider West Asia policy It is now apparent from his cabinet picks that a similarly aggressive approach to that of his predecessor is afoot An initial announcement made on X (formerly Twitter) from the account of the US President-elect, asserted that Nikki Haley (former UN ambassador) and Mike Pompeo (former Secretary of State) would not be included in the coming administration The joy widely expressed on social media over the choice not to include these two figures who are viewed as hawks of Washington s foreign policy establishment, was quickly undermined by what was to come Donald Trump has now announced his United Nations ambassador will be Elise Stefanik who has received around $917 821 from pro-Israel lobby groups and is a staunch Zionist Stefanik received a bump in her personal profile as
for the murder of Jews The involvement of Elise Stefanik, along with other members of the Trump cabinet, in the active undermining of free speech on college campuses and censoring of entire academic institutions demonstrates that the US President will seek to curtail free speech on Israel If you get me reelected, we re going to set that movement back 25 or 30 years,” back in May, Donald Trump said of the proPalestine student protests before proposing deportations of the students Stefanik has voted in favor of 10 proIsrael bills that undermine freedom of speech as a congresswoman Trump s pick for his ambassador to Israel is the fanatical Christian Zionist Mike Huckabee who has openly said he refuses to use the words West Bank and calls the territory Judea and Samaria instead Also a Christian Zionist fanatic is the new Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles Trump s pick for Middle East envoy is business tycoon, Steven Witkoff, a staunch Zionist of Jewish descent Israel’s richest billionaire Miriam Adelson bankrolled the Trump campaign donating a whopping 100 million dollars with the quid pro quo that he would recognize Israeli de-jure annexation of the West Bank Mike Waltz will serve as the new National Security Advisor a man who has taken hundreds of thousands of dollars from pro-Israel lobby groups and is an avid supporter of Israel Secretary of Defense is going to be Pete Hegseth; he is also a Christian Zionist who has claimed that the Bible gives Israel the right to the land of Palestine Hegseth is an ex-marine and host of a show on Fox News on which he gave a pandering interview to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Ne-
tanyahu, filled with softball questions and condemnatory remarks against the idea of a ceasefire in Gaza Tipped to be Secretary of State is Marco Rubio who has received in excess of a million dollars from pro-Israel donors and is a fully-fledged supporter of Israel along with just about every single regime change war imaginable Donald Trump’s pick for CIA director is John Ratcliffe, a man who has accused Joe Biden of not being pro-Israel enough and of being tougher on Hamas he is in favor of a war with Iran and is regarded as a foreign policy hawk These are the most relevant positions that make up the Trump administration when it comes to a potential impact on West Asia policy as it affects the Palestine-Israeli conflict Every single pick is either a Christian Zionist or Jewish Zionist all of them hardliners in their stances on the issue and most have received significant financial contributions from pro-Israeli lobby groups The cabinet is indicative of the kinds of policies that can be expected under a second term of the Republican Party leader in what appears to be the most extreme pro-Israel cabinet in US history so far While it is currently unclear what impact this will exactly have on the trajectory of American support for Israel’s war against the people of Gaza and Lebanon it appears that there will not be any change from the White House s long-standing unconditional support for Israel
Robert Inlakesh is a journalist writer and documentary filmmaker He focuses on the Middle East specializing in Palestine
The Ottoman intelligence network
TH E Bishop of Heraclea, an Orthodox clergyman who played a key role in 16th century European politics approached the Habsburgs with an intriguing proposition to sow discord in the Ottoman Empire and enable the Austrian-Spanish imperial family to expand their empire into the Balkans The Spanish Emperor Charles V could join forces with the Persian Shah Tahmasp and reach out to the son of Sultan Suleiman I Prince Selim to form an alliance to take on his brother Prince Mustafa There was a widespread belief that with the death of Suleiman there would be a struggle for power, in which Mustafa would likely win Backing Selim would ensure a period of prolonged chaos and the European power could profit off that While the exact identity of the bishop is not known it most likely refers to the metropolitan Bishop of Thessaloniki Macharius Chiensis Chiensis was active in a number of areas, despite being a member of the Orthodox Christian Church, he was planning to attend the Council of Trent (1545-63), where the Catholic Church was working out how to respond to the rise of Protestantism Unbeknown to his Christian brethren at the time Chiensis was in fact an Ottoman spy who was using his attendance of the council and plotting to take down Mustafa as a cover to gather intelligence for Istanbul Chiensis was not the only one, many Christian clergymen were secretly in the service of the Sultan across Europe This fascinating world of premodern espionage is explored in Emrah Safa Gurkan s book Spies for the Sultan: Ottoman Intelligence In The Great Rivalry with Spain, originally published in Turkish in 2016 and now available in English with translations from Jonathan M Ross and Idil Karacadag Gurkan argues that the Ottomans did not have a single institution responsible for intelligence gathering rather through its patronage network different regional governors across from the empire took on the tasks of organising spy networks on behalf of the Sublime Porte Spies would be recruited from a variety of backgrounds including the clergy, and those posing as Christian clergymen merchants soldiers sailors and others The intelligence gathered was impressive ‘Using a variety of sources ranging from provincial authorities to vassal states from foreign diplomats to captured soldiers, and from agents in the field to corsairs on reconnaissance missions, they succeeded in sifting accurate information from false information and employing their limited resources based on the intelligence that they received More impressively they did so in a timely fashion major political and military events reached the Ottoman capital as quickly as it did Venice, allowing Ottoman decision-makers to assess the situation and
into a political football and it was not too long before a struggle over intelligence broke out among the Ottoman grandees While this led to information and disinformation being weaponised by
Ali ZubAir Soomro
Ben & Jerr y ’s sues Unilever, claims silencing over G aza stance violates settlement
each of these efforts In response to Reuters story
Unilever said in an emailed statement: Our heart goes out to all victims of the tragic events in the Middle East We reject the claims made by B&Js social mission board and we will defend our case very strongly We would not comment further on
but has been blocked by Unilever The independent board separately spoke out on some of those topics but the company was muzzled the lawsuit says Ben & Jerry s said that Peter ter Kulve Unilever s head of ice cream said he was concerned about the continued perception of anti-Semitism regarding the ice
Irregular Migration perpetuates HR abuses: NCHR Report on Irregular Migration
Citizenship Canada
The report calls for dedicated awareness units
DIAMER BHASHA DAM: AHSAN IQBAL FOR IMMEDIATE TRANSFER OF L AND TO WAPDA
BISP hosts South-South Cooperation Conference
The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) organized a SouthSouth Cooperation event in Islamabad today under the leadership of BISP Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid The event was attended by delegates from Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, and Senegal, as well as representatives from international organizations, including the World Bank WFP UNICEF ADB and GIZ This event honored representatives from West African nations who in collaboration with the WFP and World Bank, were on a study tour with BISP from November 11 to 14 to learn from BISP’s social protection strategies for marginalized communities
In her welcome address Senator Rubina Khalid highlighted that BISP is Pakistan s flagship social protection program, embodying the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and established in 2008 by then-President Asif Ali Zardari She emphasized the mutual benefits of this study tour allowing Pakistan and
OGRA hosts workshop on track and trace technology for OMCs
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R
In a significant move to enhance transparency, accountability, and operational efficiency in Pakistan’s oil sector the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has organized a workshop focused on implementing effective track and trace technology This event conducted in collaboration with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC), and the Oil Marketing Association of Pakistan (OMAP), brought together renowned solution providers from across the country to present potential digital solutions for the sector In his opening and concluding remarks the Chairman of OGRA highlighted the critical role a robust track and trace system could play in preventing financial leakages, enhancing accountability, and promoting economic stability “Implementing a comprehensive tracking system is essential, especially in challenging economic times to protect the national exchequer curb illegal activities and boost the industry s overall integrity he noted
CDA Chairman oversees progress on development projects
ISLAMABAD
Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA), Muhammad Ali Randhawa, chaired a meeting to oversee and review the progress on ongoing development projects in Islamabad The meeting was attended by Member (Engineering) Member (Environment) Member (Planning) the relevant project directors, and senior officers During the meeting, Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa emphasized the importance of maintaining high standards of development work He stated that there should be not compromise on the quality of work He emphasized the need for effective coordination and monitoring for the development work He directed to remove all obstacles to expedite the development work He stressed the need to follow the timelines for timely completion of the project The Chairman CDA was briefed on integrated solid waste management for Islamabad The meeting was informed that the inception report on solid waste management has been reviewed while the work on the bidding documents for is underway The Chairman directed to incorporate the solid waste management company as soon as possible
participating countries to exchange knowledge for the socio-economic upliftment of underprivileged groups Senator Rubina Khalid affirmed that collaborative efforts can improve the lives of disadvantaged people enabling them to contribute meaningfully to national development
Jaz z delivers exceptional Q3-2024 growth through Strategic Ser viceCo Transition and Digital Innovation
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Jazz, together with JazzCash, Mobilink Microfinance Bank (MMBL), and other VEON Group digital entities in Pakistan, has announced impressive financial growth for Q3 2024 These results underscore the strength of Jazz's strategic shift to a ServiceCo model which has empowered the company to respond swiftly to the growing digital needs of its customers in high-growth areas such as fintech cloud data centers, software, and connectivity Guided by its purpose of improving and transforming lives and livelihoods across Pakistan especially for women and youth Jazz’s growth trajectory reflects its commitment to enabling a digitally inclusive future Total revenues grew
opened with addresses from Jane Marriott CMG OBE British High Commissioner to Pakistan Mujib Sadozai Director of the Sub-National Governance (SNG) Programme and by Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, Federal Minister for Power In her opening remarks, Jane Marriott highlighted the importance of “Accountable, Capable and Inclusive Governance” and UK’s longstanding support for Pakistan’s governance journey
ALEEMA KHAN URGES STUDENTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA
PROTEST
that his government would lead a peaceful demonstration to claim our rights in Islamabad Gandapur explained that protest preparations are underway, stressing that K-P will not be deterred by federal resistance
While Gandapur withheld specific details about the protest strategy he assured that it would be both effective and nonviolent
part of the planned protest announced by the PTI founder In a related statement KhyberPakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur also expressed commitment to the movement Speaking in Peshawar he affirmed
He criticized the federal government s frequent use of force during past demonstrations, asserting that KhyberPakhtunkhwa’s resolve remains firm in asserting its constitutional right to peaceful protest Avoiding comment on ongoing court proceedings Gandapur underscored that his province s commitment to peaceful demonstration remains strong Just a day earlier, Gandapur had strongly backed Khan’s call for a nationwide protest scheduled for November 24 in Islamabad saying there would be “no turning back in PTI s struggle for what he called the restoration of democracy and the rule of law in the country He had echoed Khan s assertion that this protest would be crucial for Pakistan’s political future He emphasized that this protest was not just about the release of party leadership including Imran Khan himself but about standing up for the very essence of Pakistan s democracy
C JCSC reaffirms commitment to fur ther strengthen militar y cooperation with Qatar
General Sahir Shamshad Mirza NI (M) Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) on an official visit to State of Qatar called on His Highness HH Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali AlThani, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Qatar and held a
State of Qatar and reaffirmed commitment to further strengthening military-
to-military cooperation in defence and security domains Qatari leadership acknowledged the positive role of Pakistan in ensuring regional stability and appreciated the professionalism and sacrifices of Pakistan Armed Forces in fight against terrorism Earlier upon arrival at Qatar Armed Forces Headquarters, smartly turned out military contingent presented “Guard of Honour” to Chairman JCSC it added
CHARSADDA S TA F F R E P O R T
A suicide bomber was killed when his explosive device detonated prematurely on a deserted road in the Umarzai area of Charsadda district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Thursday morning Local authorities confirmed that the blast resulted in no other casualties or damage
The incident took place near Akhun Dheri close to the local police station as a police van traveled along Hari Chand Road District police reported that the bomber, riding a motorcycle detonated the explosives shortly after the police vehicle
had passed sparing both the officers and the vehicle Local police official Masood Khan noted that the bomber s intended target remains unclear and investigators are examining whether the explosives were worn by the bomber or attached to the motorcycle
A large police contingent, along with a bomb disposal squad promptly arrived at the scene securing the area and beginning an inquiry Police recovered evidence including cash and an identification card, from the blast site, and security personnel are continuing their investigation in the surrounding area Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province which shares a border with Afghanistan has seen frequent attacks by the Pakistani Taliban known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) who often target security forces through suicide bombings and other violence Though separate from the Afghan Taliban, the TTP have reportedly grown emboldened following the Afghan Taliban s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 This explosion follows a tragic incident just days earlier in Quetta, where a suicide bomber attacked a crowded train station, resulting in at least 26 deaths including soldiers and railway staff and injuring around 62 people
are overwhelmed with patients suffering from dry cough, breathing difficulties, pneumonia, and chest infections Medical experts are particularly concerned about children and individuals with pre-existing conditions “Special children are severely affected said Professor Ashraf Zia who also warned of an alarming rise in viral diseases including pneumonia chest infections and skin conditions ISLAMABAD
