PM CALLS FOR STRICT ACTION AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING GANGS
of their properties and assets to set a strong example
The Prime Minister s orders were issued after chairing a review meeting on the measures being taken to combat human trafficking in Pakistan according to the PM Office Media Wing
The Prime Minister commended the recent actions by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) against government officials involved in human trafficking and urged that more rigorous punitive measures be taken against the facilitators of these illicit networks
He further directed that the prosecution process be made more effective with top lawyers appointed for legal proceedings, in consultation with the Ministry of Law and Justice
The meeting was briefed on the progress of ongoing actions against human trafficking the legal measures being taken against facilitators and the status of legislation aimed at eradicating human trafficking in the country The
Prime Minister emphasized the importance of swiftly addressing such cases to protect Pakistan s global reputation Also present at the meeting were Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Federal Minister for Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Engineer Amir Muqam, and senior officials from relevant departments PM Shehbaz instructed the Foreign Office to engage with international authorities to expedite the extradition of Pakistanis involved in human trafficking operations abroad He also directed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior to launch an awareness campaign to inform the public about using legal channels for overseas employment
Ahsan Iqbal downplays PPP’s coalition exit warning
for Planning, Development and
Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal, Ahsan Iqbal on
downplayed the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP)
of quitting the coalition government characterising the political disagreements as “family-like differences” that can be resolved internally There s always a bit of a musical rhythm within a coalition government, just like within a family Siblings might have disagreements, but it doesn t mean there s a serious rift,” Iqbal told reporters in Karachi His remarks came after PPP spokesperson Shazia Marri expressed dissatisfaction with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led federal government accusing it of sidelining her party in decision-making processes Marri warned that the coalition government would collapse if the PPP withdrew its support, citing grievances over the establishment of the Pakistan Maritime & Sea Port Authority and the delay in convening the Council of Common Interests (CCI) Iqbal however reassured that both parties remain committed to Pakistan s development
The PML-N and the PPP have distinct ideologies, but we are united for the country’s betterment This collaboration is the essence of the Charter of Democracy signed by Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto ” he said The planning minister emphasised the need for cooperative politics noting that confrontation would not benefit the nation in its current circumstances He added that Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb would soon convene the long-awaited National Finance Commission (NFC) meeting
Addressing concerns over Pakistan’s digital infrastructure Iqbal highlighted the importance of securing cyberspace comparing it to protecting the nation s physical borders Technology is both an opportunity and a threat Cyberspace is a new frontier, and every country is striving to defend it,” he said, noting that Pakistan has been slow to address these challenges ISLAMABAD
Additionally, he urged the promotion of technical training institutions that could supply skilled professionals to the global workforce and called for stricter screening procedures at airports to prevent illegal travel The Prime Minister ’s directive comes on the heels of his recent orders for stringent action against officials within the FIA linked to human traffickers following the tragic boat incident off the coast of Greece that claimed the lives of five Pakistani nationals Since the tragedy, authorities have accelerated efforts to address the growing issue of human trafficking The FIA has registered cases against three traffickers and arrested two of its own officers for negligence
Despite Ahsan Iqbal s peace mission and visit to Karachi, tensions soured between Pakistan People s Party (PPP) and the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) further with PPP deciding to openly criticise the government s policies
Sources privy to the developments told that the PPP leadership has authorised its leaders to publicly criticise the government’s decisions and directed them to challenge its policies especially in federal and provincial governments
The PPP leadership has reportedly issued detailed guidelines for its members, advising them to actively criticise the government’s ineffective and flawed policies
The party has expressed concern that remaining silent on the
Inspector Zubair Ashraf and Sub Inspector Shahid Imran were arrested for failing to properly screen passengers at Faisalabad Airport including those involved in the ill-fated Greece boat incident
The FIA has also initiated disciplinary proceedings against 18 of its officers and placed 31 officials on the passport control list in connection with the tragedy Meanwhile crackdowns on trafficking syndicates have been carried out across multiple cities leading to arrests of key figures
Among those apprehended was Imran Hussain, also known as Mani, a notorious human trafficker linked to the Libya boat disaster Hussain had extorted Rs 2 4 million from each of six victims before they were sent from Pakistan to Libya where they were held in safe houses and eventually perished in the boat disaster Hussain, a member of an international trafficking syndicate, had six cases filed against him in Gujrat
The FIA has also made arrests in Faisalabad Chiniot Gujranwala and Nankana Sahib where traffickers typically charge around Rs 1 4 million per person, with an advance of Rs 250,000 per traveler
The international scale of the human trafficking crisis is underscored by a report from the Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras which reveals that approximately 30 people die every day while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach Spain
government s actions would be seen as tacit approval, thus instructing party officials to raise their voices against what they see as detrimental policies According to party sources the PPP believes that silence on critical issues could lead to political damage with the blame for the government s poor decisions po-
tentially falling on the opposition party The leadership is determined not to let the government s failures tarnish the party’s image In line with these instructions, PPP has tasked its central and provincial leaders with focusing on the flaws in the federal government s strategies
the accused deliberately, with mala fide intention, refused to give information on one pretext or another The reference said the “accused [ ] were given multiple opportunities to justify and provide information but they deliberately with mala fide intention refused to provide the information on one or the other pretext Furthermore, it is
who were determined to sabotage the negotiation process and had become major obstacles to its success He emphasized that PTI s commitment
to resolving the current political impasse was clear when Imran Khan took the initiative to form an empowered negotiating committee, but the fascist regime failed to reciprocate with equal seriousness
Waqas continued that the authoritarian government had unleashed its political jockers to unfairly target PTI, diverting attention from its own ineptness and powerlessness, to undermine the dialogue PTI secretary informatuion expressed surprise at the Islamabad accountability court s sudden postponement of its long-awaited verdict again in the
founder despite lacking any valid grounds for his imprisonment
Waqas stated that similar to the Iddat case, the Al-Qadir case lacked merit and substance, adding that if the details of this case are exposed it would not only embarrass Pakistan s judicial system globally but would undermine its credibility as well He condemned the Punjab thief minister for threatening students who spoke out against her fake government’s excesses and anti-poor policies, reminding her that the laptops given to students were bought with public funds not her personal wealth Waqas stated that the students could not be silenced by intimidation and laptops as they
AS DOll AR STRengThenS
FOR DATA-DRIven POlICy-mAKIng
COMMENT
Investment from the UAE
O u r s i c k s o c i e t y b u t n o m e d i c i n e
O C I E T I E S are like a human bodies made up of different parts The parts work in equilibrium the body can function smoothly, otherwise, it may cause dysfunction Contextually, the parts of our society are not working properly, and resultantly the whole social system is completely dysfunctional or in other words society is in the state of sickness The parts or organs are disintegrated with one another In this context we are socially culturally rationally religiously emotionally and behaviorally at the lowest level Intolerance in each sphere of life is the prominent hallmark of our society Hostile attitudes are observed very common Malice, jealousy, hatred and conflicts are escalating frequently These ill-practices consequently embodying social system with anxiety and frustration which nevertheless leads society towards aggression As frustration-aggression theory in the domain of social psychology argues that frustration in the human minds do not stay for long, and ultimately leads to aggression The theory contends that if such frustration is not reasonably pacified or handled the aggressive attitude diffused to harm other people rather than the responsible ones That s why we always witness violent and rude behaviors in our surroundings The humiliating and intolerant attitudes are rampant, however, no serious work is being done to refine attitudes of the people unfortunately The children are not being nurtured that how to behave and what to share in certain situations The families are very less to focus socialization of their members ironically The educational institutions though considered usually the prominent settings to train the children, but in reality there is no any single discipline from nursery to graduation to work on the attitudes and behavior of children No any class or tutor is there to re-socialize the de-socialized children Sometime literally I wonder that why people taunt educated ones to be civilized and well-mannered As he has not been taught a single subject throughout his educational career regarding character building Our students are no doubt too good at mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, computer, geography and etc but due to unavailability of ethical contents and practices in their schools the children often found unethical and unsocial Our children would be welleducated but not well-civilized Even most of the time the people have been found criticizing harshly high-rank officers for showing very rude and unethical behaviors in the official settings In short we cannot expect many times the educated people to show a decent manner It is indeed a big failure of our system The dishonest and deceptive youth are proving
defamatory for the country across the globe when they migrate to other countries as the reports reveal However on the other side the advance counties from the very beginner classes work on the behavior and conduct of the children more than their academic faculty Psychologists persists that the initial years of a child have the most prominent impacts on the children’s personality throughout his life Regrettably the same situation prevails in all other formal and informal institutions We cannot make responsible only educational institutions for not properly socialization but rather all other institutions have not played their due role to train their members in a better way Nevertheless, the peoples have become more materialistic than the need They have lost their decent historical sociocultural norms and values The ill manners and practices rule all around which have created mental health issues One can find the most crowd on a psychiatrist or neurologist in the hospitals upon a surprise and random visit A prominent sociologist Emile Durkheim concludes that these are the social forces which carry someone to mental health issues and moreover these forces in many cases carry people to the ultimate end as the suicide While looking into the situation it is easily derived that if there was no socio-religious stigma the suicide rate would have been double in our country than Japan and other European countries The
The humiliating and intolerant attitudes are rampant, however, no serious work is being done to refine attitudes of the people unfortunately The children are not being nurtured that how to behave and what to share in certain situations The families are very less to focus socialization of their members ironically
T h e q u e s t f o r g e n d e r e q u a l i t y i n P a k i s t a n i e d u c a t i o n
Lost childhoods
parity in education Several innovative approaches have been implemented to promote gender equality in education One such approach is the establishment of community schools in remote and underserved areas These schools are often managed by local communities and offer flexible learning schedules making it easier for girls to attend school while fulfilling household responsibilities Another innovative approach is the use of technology to bridge the education gap Digital learning tools, online classes, and educational apps have become increasingly popular, especially in the wake of the COVID19 pandemic These tools offer flexible and personalized learning experiences enabling girls to continue their education even in challenging circumstances Vocational training and skill development programs play a crucial role in promoting gender equality in education These programs provide girls with practical skills and knowledge that enhance their employability and economic independence The Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector in Pakistan has made significant strides in offering gender-sensitive vocational training programs
For instance, the TVET Sector Support Programme funded by the European Union and other international partners aims to improve access to quality vocational training for women and girls Despite the progress made, several challenges persist Cultural norms and stereotypes that prioritize boys’ education over girls’ remain deeply ingrained in many communities Additionally safety concerns especially in conflictaffected areas deter many girls from attending school Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach that includes community engagement, awareness campaigns, and policy reforms Moreover, improving the quality of education is essential to ensure that girls not only enroll in school but also stay and succeed This includes providing gender-sensitive training for teachers developing inclusive curricula and improving school infrastructure such as separate sanitation facilities for girls
Promoting gender equality in education is crucial for the social and economic development of Pakistan Efforts to increase female enrollment and reduce dropout rates have shown promising results but challenges remain Government policies such as the National Education Policy 2020 and the Benazir Income Support Program, along with initiatives by NGOs and international organizations, have played a significant role in advancing gender equality in education To achieve true gender parity continued commitment and collaboration are essential By addressing cultural norms improving school infrastructure and leveraging technology, Pakistan can create an inclusive and equitable education system that empowers all children, regardless of gender, to reach their full potential The journey toward gender equality in education is ongoing but with sustained efforts it is a goal that can and must be achieved
The writer is a freelance columnist
observed that sufficient steps had not been taken by the government to fulfil its previous recommendations with respect to legislation on child protection Over the last decade Pakistan has tried hard to make things happen on the ground, but there are some areas that require due attention For instance, each province and administrative territory has set its own age of marriage and involvement in labour
Moreover, in some child protection areas, model legislation has been enacted by only a few provinces or administrative territories, leading to lopsided practices
Pakistan certainly needs to do more There should be uniform legislation on child protection thematic areas across the country
Also, exclusive legislation on child protection thematic areas should be given an over-riding effect over all other laws The federal, provincial and territorial governments must allocate sufficient resources for the full implementation of child protection laws in the country
WAJAHAT ALI MALIK ISLAMABAD
Tribes, tears and tensions
THE region of Parachinar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), plagued by sectarian violence and tribal conflicts has been the subject of much debate in Pakistan Despite being a usual subject in the country’s news cycle a sustainable solution to the long-standing crisis has remained elusive
As the recent spate of confrontation broke out between the rival tribes, the situation of peace and people s access to basic commodities became deplorable
These conflagrations had a knee-jerk effect on the lives of common folks The dearth of medical and food supplies was acute and the region’s connectivity with the rest of the country was badly affected The victims included everyone from the children to the elderly Practically speaking, Parachinar became the Gaza of Pakistan
Tribal conflicts have been deep-seated in the region, but there has been hardly any effort to find a sound and sustainable solution The Punjab government’s action to provide medicines to the affected people in Parachinar is commendable but the federal and KP governments seem to be in a state of hibernation regarding Parachinar
The crisis in the region calls for a swift resolution The need for the elimination of disruptive elements is dire All political stakeholders ought to devise an effective policy to call an end to the people’s
Remarkable growth of Asian economies: China and Pakistan
to its economic activity This adjusted figure underscores China’s position as the world’s largest economy by PPP reflecting the expansive informal sector and its unregistered contributions to economic output Such recalibrations highlight China s global economic dominance and the scale of activities not captured in official datasets World Economics presented one of the most impressive predictions for the year 2025 estimating Pakistan s GDP at $2 08 trillion which is 46% larger than the official World Bank estimate of $1 347 trillion for 2023 This revised figure elevates Pakistan s GDP (PPP) ranking for 2025 to approximately 24th place globally, surpassing many countries of Europe and Africa South America and Asia The adjustment highlights an economy far larger than previously recognized largely due to the inclusion of Pakistan s substantial informal sector This emphasizes the importance of integrating informal activities into formal structures to promote sustainable growth This adjustment accounts for Pakistan’s substantial informal economy which includes unrecorded and untaxed transactions that significantly contribute to economic activity By incorporating this informal sector and updating the base year for GDP calculations, the revised figure provides a more accurate and comprehensive assessment of Pakistan’s economic size This re-evaluation strengthens Pakistan s position in global rankings highlighting its untapped potential and opportunities to formalize and expand its economic base for sustainable growth China’s economic prowess
PakistanÊs economy demonstrates inherent strengths and resilience that have enabled it to secure rankings of 24th to 26th globally in GDP (PPP), outperforming many major economies Its young and dynamic population, with over 60% under 30, drives economic growth and expands a rapidly urbanizing consumer market. The substantial contribution of its informal economy, which includes unrecorded and non-taxed transactions, reveals a larg er economic footprint than official figures sugg est. Strategically located at the crossroads of South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East.
What smar tphones
doing to kids’ mental health
to
heads argued that this was nothing more than one of those strange coincidences that history occasionally throws up The alternative explanation - that the Republicans had pulled strings to ensure that the hostages weren t released until Jimmy Carter could no longer profit from an electoral boostwas so preposterous that it didn t bear thinking about More to the point, it would implicate Reagan and his Vice President George Bush in endangering the lives of American citizens to win a colossal political boost If true, then the resulting scandal would blow Watergate out of the water In this gripping book as twisty as a thriller by John Gr-
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Pulitzer-finalist Bob Parry who had died in 2018 Parry s widow handed over a thumb drive with 23 gigabytes of research on the October Surprise going back 30 years Den Of Spies is the result In truth, there are no new huge revelations, more a series of nudges and tiny details which add to Unger ’s certainty that he was on the right track back in 1991 For instance it transpired that in 2011 Parry unearthed a White House memo that proved that Casey did attend a meeting with the Iranians in Madrid in the summer of 1980 to finalise the delaying of the release of the hostages This supported what Unger had thought 30 years earlier, when he was able to show that, although Casey claimed to have been in London attending a conference at the time he could easily have absented himself for long enough to fly to Madrid for a few hours
Likewise Parry s trawl through the White House documents lays clear just how much evidence the bipartisan inquiry had overlooked in 1993 in order to say that the October Surprise didn’t occur This chimes exactly with Unger ’s own 2016 interview with the exiled Iranian president Abolhassan Bani-Sadr who was living in exile outside Paris The political moderate who died in 2021 told Unger that he had known there had indeed been meetings between hardline mullahs and senior Republicans in Madrid in 1980 This is chastening to hear, but whether it is quite enough to reignite a scandal that has its roots in events of over 40 years ago is unlikely
We are seeing children who are disappearing into online worlds, who are unable to sleep, who are increasingly inattentive and impulsive, emotionally dysregulated and aggressive
SM A RT P H O N E use among children has reached a critical moment Many of us in the UK are increasingly aware of the dangers associated with them –and as a child and adolescent psychiatrist I am more worried than most I am witnessing at first hand the sheer devastation that smartphone use is wreaking on our young people s mental health The majority of children over 10 I see at my NHS clinic now have a smartphone An increasingly large proportion of patients have difficulties that are related to or exacerbated by their use of technology We are seeing profound mental illness stemming from excessive social media use online bullying, screen addiction, or falling prey to online child sexual exploitation We are seeing children who are disappearing into online worlds who are unable to sleep who are increasingly inattentive and impulsive emotionally dysregulated and aggressive Children crippled by anxiety or a fear of missing out Who spend hours alone, cut off from those who love them, who spend hour upon hour speaking to strangers Children and adolescents are increasingly seeking comfort and validation from peer groups online Unfortunately some of these encourage self-harm eating disorder behaviours and even suicide I looked after a young person last year who struggled significantly with their mental health and prolific self-harm I was later informed that they were uploading their experience and behaviours on TikTok and had livestreamed content from within A&E departments and an inpatient psychiatric ward to thousands of followers and well-wishers Children s self-esteem and self-image is also at an all-time low, and levels of depression and suicidal thoughts have never been
CANADIAN PM JUSTIN TRUDEAU ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION AMID MOUNTING INTERNAL PRESSURES
Xi Jinping
stresses winning tough, protracted and all-out battle against corruption
Xi Jinping general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC)
Central Committee on Monday called for resolutely winning the tough, protracted and all-out battle against corruption
Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission emphasized rigorous Party governance with the spirit of reform while addressing the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI)
Xi said unprecedented efforts have been made to advance full and rigorous Party governance and the fight against corruption since the beginning of the new era yielding widely recognized results
dressing all corruption cases to maintain the integrity of officials, Xi said However, he also noted that the fight against corruption remains “a grave and complex challenge,” calling for strengthening resolve and confidence in this regard
He stressed the need to take resolute and sustained actions to fight corruption “Corruption is the greatest threat to the Party and combating it represents the most thorough kind of self-reform Xi said General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Xi Jinping, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission addresses the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, January 6, 2025 Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi also attend the session /Xinhua
Confronted with significant challenges in the fight against corruption the Party has remained committed to investigating and ad-
Xi emphasized the importance of making greater progress in governing the Party to ensure it remains the strong leadership core in building socialism with Chinese characteristics and to guarantee the steady advancement of Chinese modernization It is imperative to conduct concrete, targeted and regular political oversight and maintain a high degree of unity with the CPC Central Committee in both words and actions Xi said Noting that tightening Party discipline is an ongoing task Xi called for establishing a regular and long-term mechanism for discipline education It is essential to enforce strict management and supervision of officials and encourage them to take actions in reform and innovation while abiding by
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina accusing her of involvement in enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings during her tenure Alongside Hasina, 12 other individuals, including prominent military and police figures have been named in the case
The tribunal has set a deadline of February 12 2025 for their arrest
The arrest warrant was issued on Monday January 6, 2025, following a hearing at the ICT Among the accused are Major General (retd)
Tariq Ahmed Siddique, former defence advisor to Hasina former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed and Ziaul Ahsan former Director General of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Center (NTMC)
rules and discipline Xi stressed It is vital to maintain a tough stance against corruption, focusing on key issues, sectors and targets, Xi said, calling for efforts to address both bribe-taking and bribegiving and eliminate systemic corruption risks He also underscored the implementation of long-term mechanisms to address pointless formalities and reduce burdens at the primary level
Xi stressed that disciplinary inspection and supervision authorities are crucial in advancing the Party s self-reform calling for more efforts to ensure their work is carried out in a standardized, lawbased and professional manner
Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning Cai Qi and Ding Xuexiang all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee attended the meeting Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CCDI presided over the meeting
All are accused of being involved in extrajudicial killings and the unlawful disappearance of political opponents This is the second arrest warrant issued against the 77-year-old Hasina who fled to India in August 2024 after being ousted during a student-led revolution Bangladesh authorities have already requested assistance from Interpol and formally approached India to facilitate her extradition
The first warrant against Hasina issued in October 2024 was related to alleged crimes against humanity during the student protests against her government The ICT ordered that Hasina and 45 other individuals be arrested and presented before the court by November 18, 2024
In addition to the political violence, over 230 people were killed during protests that took place after Hasina’s government fell adding to a death toll exceeding 600 from the mass protests that began in midJuly against a controversial quota system for government jobs
Ghulam Muhammad Ali:
Beacon of Innovation and Dedication, Receives
Presidential Award
an inspiring testament to scientific achievement and cross-border collaboration, Dr Ghulam
JINSAR ALI BHATTI
Pakistan faced numerous challenges in 2024, leaving a significant impact on the country’s global outlook Among these the most critical was Pakistan s economic performance which led many counterparts to conclude that achieving economic peak is now a distant dream However, I have a contrasting opinion rooted in two guiding principles: the Quranic verse that teaches Indeed with hardship comes ease and Iqbal s inspiring words: "Iqbal is not despondent about his barren field; With just a little moisture, this soil can become highly fertile Pakistan has immense potential to thrive in 2025 targeting its focus upon progress and learning from mistakes Economic revival is the need of the hour Pakistan must urgently explore all avenues to rejuvenate its economy Our nation is not poor; it is poorly managed One of the key drivers of economic growth is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Its infrastructural initiatives and maturing industrial zones have the potential to create jobs, enhance connectivity and boost exports By showcasing Pakistani products such as IT solutions textiles and agricultural goods at flagship events single-
country exhibitions and international trade fairs through the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), we can significantly enhance our global trade footprint Regrettably, Pakistan has failed to fully harness the potential of its youth Many are disoriented engaged in counterproductive activities and disconnected from contributing to the country s future
This must change The government needs to prioritize free vocational training, skill development for entrepreneurship and education for managerial roles Empowering our youth with the right tools and opportunities will secure Pakistan s future and transform this untapped potential into a robust workforce Pakistan’s democratic evolution has been hindered by the interference of various pressure groups to uphold the true essence of democracy the Election Commission of Pakistan must be empowered and led by competent, impartial professionals, with quarterly international audits to ensure transparency Such reforms will ensure democracy and a smooth transition towards practical witness of such values
Civil service reforms are imperative The lack of coordination among different service groups has hindered national progress For example without synchronization be-
tween Pakistan Customs the Foreign Service and the Commerce and Trade Group exports cannot reach their full potential Coordinated efforts are essential for ensuring the efficient release and timely delivery of goods, reducing time and transportation costs and bolstering economic growth In an era of globalization Pakistan must move beyond its security-centric policies and prioritize economic diplomacy For instance, despite tensions in the Silliguri Corridor China has become India’s top import partner with trade worth $56 29 billion from April to September 2024 Similarly despite geopolitical differences, China-US trade relations remained intact at $45 33 billion in 2024 Pakistan must emulate such models, focusing on economic ties to drive development and regional stability Pakistan s potential for resurgence remains untapped not diminished It is time to realize this latent potential and steer the nation toward unparalleled prosperity Through visionary leadership institutional collaboration and global integration Pakistan can reclaim its lost dignity With the right approach and renewed determination, 2025 can be the year of transformative progress, addressing challenges with the new vision outlined above
The 30th Sakinan-iShehr-i-Quaid International
Mushaira on Saturday evening attracted a decent number of poetry lovers at Expo Centre Moderated by Rizwan Zaidi Wajih Sani and Ambareen Hasib
Abmer and presided over by Prof Sahar Ansari the first poet invited to present his poems was Abdur
Rehman
ki choori tooti aur falak per tara toota Matlab neend hamari tooti yani khwab hamara toota
[Her bangles broke and a shooting star moved across the sky This means I lost my sleep and my dream was disrupted] A surprise feature of the programme was the inclusion of the Indian poet, Vijay Tiwari
IMRAN KHAN TERMS £190M VERDICT DEL AY AS ‘PRESSURE TACTICS’
Overseas Pakistani investor abducted, tor tured, and extor ted
Overseas Pakistani investor Shiraz Khan, also known as Versace Khan, has revealed the harrowing details of his abduction torture and extortion at the hands of fraudsters and corrupt officials Khan a UK-based investor recounted his ordeal to the media after losing millions in fraudulent schemes and being embroiled in false cases On July 26, 2024, Shiraz discovered that his vehicle had been fraudulently transferred to Qadeer Hussain through forged documents Upon attempting to block the vehicle’s registration he was advised to travel to Pakistan to complete the necessary legal procedures Once in Pakistan he contacted an officer named Qamar Shah at the Excise and Taxation Office (ETO), who demanded Rs 800,000 to block the registration and return the vehicle to Shiraz’s name After paying the fee, he was instructed to have the vehicle re-registered with the police and subsequently filed an FIR against Qadeer Hussain for fraud On August 17 2024 while dining in
that he had £6 500 and Rs 87 000 in cash which was forcibly taken by ASI Asif
At the police station, Shiraz was falsely told that he owed Rs 900 million to Talat Azaz, one of his abductors, and was threatened with life imprisonment and harm to his family unless he paid immediately Despite denying the claim and insisting that the individuals in question owed him money Shiraz endured brutal torture including electric shocks and waterboarding which caused lung damage and left him unconscious
German diplomat found dead in Islamabad apar tment
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
The body of Thomas Fielder a German diplomat and Second Secretary at the German Embassy, was found in his apartment within Islamabad s Diplomatic Enclave, local authorities confirmed on Monday Thomas Fielder ’s body was discovered by embassy staff who became concerned after he had been absent from work for two days They broke into his
‘ Ku r ra m a t t a c k
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information
Adviser Barrister Saif on Monday said that a recent incident in Kurram district will not jeopardise the ongoing peace agreement between warring tribes in the region
Speaking to the media Saif confirmed that while the details of the incident were still under investigation, authorities were working diligently to gather more information “At this point we cannot share the identities of the accused or their affiliations he said This is sensitive information and we will disclose further details once the investigation is complete
The incident occurred shortly after a peace deal was reached between the warring tribes in the Kurram region allowing the opening of roads that had been closed due to ongoing conflicts According to reports, militants opened fire on Deputy Commissioner Javedullah
Mehsud and his security detail, injuring the DC and some personnel
Two militants involved in the attack have been arrested as confirmed by local police sources The militants were apprehended during a security crackdown in Kurram and have been named in the FIR related to the attack on the DC
To maintain security and prevent further violence the Additional Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa issued a notification
imposing Section 144 in the district for two months This measure aims to curtail public gatherings and maintain order as authorities investigate the attack and its potential impact on the peace agreement
Saif further stated that the roads in Kurram would be reopened as soon as security clearance is granted He reiterated the provincial government s commitment to upholding the peace agreement and ensuring the safety of all citizens in the region
Despite the attack the provincial government remains hopeful that the peace deal will not be derailed emphasizing the importance of continuing efforts to stabilize the region and prevent further disruptions
It may be mentioned that the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has announced that any group engaging in aggression after the Kurram peace agreement would be treated as terrorists and dealt with accordingly
Two police officers mar tyred in L akki M ar wat terrorist attack
MARWAT
Two police officers were martyred in a terrorist attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa s Lakki Marwat district on Saturday evening
The tragic incident took place in the Khairo Khel Paka area near Jabukhel within the jurisdiction of the Ghazni Khel police station when armed terrorists ambushed the officers during their patrol
The two officers, identified as Hikmatullah and Khan Bahadur, were immediately targeted by the assailants while on duty According to police sources the terrorists opened fire without warning leaving the officers no time to defend themselves Despite attempts to
rescue them the officers succumbed to their injuries on the spot
Following the attack a heavy security operation was launched in the area, but the attackers managed to flee, prompting a manhunt The police department has vowed to apprehend the assailants and bring them to justice Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned the attack and expressed his sorrow over the loss of the officers He offered his condolences to the families of the martyred officers and praised their dedication and bravery We salute the sacrifices made by our martyred officers in the line of duty Naqvi said These brave heroes have paid the ultimate price in the fight
against terrorism Their courage and commitment will never be forgotten Naqvi also assured the affected families that the government would provide full support and assistance during this difficult time He emphasized the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to tackle terrorism and bring stability to the region
This attack has sparked widespread condemnation from both local authorities and the public, with many expressing anger and sorrow at the loss of such dedicated officers It also serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing security challenges faced by the region, particularly in areas where militants remain active
a spike in violence The JUI-F leader warned against the ongoing attempts to label the conflict as a sectarian issue, emphasizing that such labels only deepen divisions Rehman highlighted a recent development: after his efforts to mediate peace talks between two conflicting groups in Kurram violence erupted the very next day Delegations from both sides came to me for guidance, and we worked to find a peaceful resolution Yet, almost immediately after our discussions, riots broke out,” he said expressing frustration over how quickly tensions escalated despite the path to peace being laid out The JUI-F leader also addressed a diplomat who had recently approached him for insights into the situation in Kurram Rehman recalled telling the diplomat, I know you want to present this as a Shia-Sunni conflict, but we understand the root cause and the solution ” His emphasis on understanding the true nature of the conflict reflects his determination to not let external narratives hijack the issue which he believes has deeper more complex tribal and political dimensions In response to the ongoing violence authorities in Kurram district have implemented Section 144 for two months, a move aimed at curbing further unrest
Afridi reiterated that public servants receiving government salaries must fulfill their duties or face consequences Those who do not serve the public properly will not be tolerated,” he declared He also announced that he would conduct at least two surprise visits to hospitals each month to ensure the provision of quality healthcare M i n i s te r vow s to i m p rove h e
KOHAT S TA F F R E P O R T Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Aftab Alam Afridi Advocate, on Monday urged the public to actively raise their voices against corruption flaws or injustice particularly within government departments
He emphasized that silence in the face of such issues equates to self-inflicted injustice Afridi made these remarks during a surprise visit to the District Headquarters Hospital Kohat late last night, accompanied by Shafi Jan MPA the Chairman of the District Development Advisory Committee (DDAC) Kohat
The law minister and the DDAC chairman toured various hospital wards including the emergency department and pharmacy, to assess the quality of medical services provided to patients Afridi also personally inquired about the medical facilities and the behavior of the hospital staff from patients and their relatives
tions supervised by the federal government
The issuance of the no-objection certificates (NOCs) by the NCC will allow the National Book Foundation (NBF) to publish textbooks on Hinduism, Sikhism, Christianity, Bahai, Zoroastrianism, Kalasha and Buddhism
that any potential misinterpretation or incorrect translation of religious material could be addressed by blocking such content emphasising the importance of accuracy in teaching The bench, after hearing the arguments, decided to adjourn the case indefinitely for further deliberation instructing the concerned authorities to take appropriate action on the matter
Few years ago for the first time in the country s history the National Curriculum Council (NCC) allowed the publication of religious textbooks for students of seven minority religious groups enrolled in educational institu-
According to the seven different NOCs students of the minority communities from grade one to three will be taught religious textbooks in schools in the federal capital or educational institute working under the ambit of federal government
NCC chief Maryam Chaghatai told media that the decision is only applicable to the schools that are under the administrative control of the federal education ministry and added that education is a provincial subject under the 18th Constitutional Amendment However, the NCC chief said they were also sharing the draft of the religious textbooks with the provincial governments If any province wants they can publish these books through their