Civil-military leadership for national Consensus, unified politiCal Commitment to Combat terrorism
tISLAMABAD
S TA F F R E P O R T
H E civilian and military leadership of the country on Tuesday reviewed the prevailing security situation and emphasized the need for consensus and unified political commitment” to combat the scourge of terrorism with “full might of the state” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir and other officials attended the in-camera meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) amid heightened attacks on security personnel and other law enforcement agencies particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan The highlevel meeting lasted over six hours
Just this month Balochistan witnessed
the rare Jaffar Express hijacking which resulted in at least 31 lives being lost a suicide blast in Nushki District that left five dead and multiple assaults on KP police among other incidents
The meeting was skipped by opposition alliance Tehreek Tahaffuz-i-Ayeen Pakistan (TTAP), citing the absence of incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan Provincial leaderships were also present including Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, who represented his province in the absence of PTI members Governors and Inspectors General of Police (IGPs) from all four provinces also attended However BNP chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal was invited but did not participate
According to a statement issued after the meeting the committee members condemned the recent terror attacks in the strongest terms and expressed solidarity with the victims families The committee reiterated the country s unwavering resolve to eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations while lauding the valour and professionalism of security forces and law enforcement agencies in conducting their counter-terrorism operations
The committee stressed the need for a national consensus to repel terrorism, emphasizing strategic and unified political commitment to confront this menace with the full might of the state ” the statement reads
The committee members stressed the need for immediate implementation of the National Action Plan and Operation Azm-iIstehkam to dismantle terrorist networks,
TTAP refuses to attend NA security moot citing Imran’s absence
The opposition alliance Tehreek Tahaffuz-i-Ayeen Pakistan (TTAP) on Tuesday refused to participate in the Parliamentary National Security Committee meeting
Though the PTI had yesterday expressed willingness to attend the security moot but sought a meeting with its jailed founder Imran ahead of the meeting Joining its demand TTAP chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai said that the PTI founder should also be invited to such a meeting and without him no meeting will have significance During the opposition s joint press conference held at KP House in Islamabad, Achakzai also the Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief said that representatives from every political party should be invited to any meeting on national security Achakzai was flanked by PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) chief Senator Raja Nasir Abbas, and Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) MNA Sahibzada Hamid Raza “Pakistan’s dire circumstances require a joint session of parliament [However] everyone should have a chance to speak in the joint session Achakzai asserted The PkMAP chief further claimed that the superintendent of Rawalpindi s Adiala Jail, where Imran is incarcerated, does not allow PTI leaders or other MNAs to meet the ex-premier
counter logistical support, and dismantle the nexus between terrorism and crime They also expressed concern over the increasing use of social media platforms by terrorist groups to spread propaganda recruit followers, and coordinate their networks The committee members recommended the need for measures to curb such use of social media and also called for formulating a mechanism to counter the activities of terrorists Reiterating its unwavering support for Pakistan s armed forces and law enforcement agencies, the committee acknowledged their sacrifices and commitment to national defence and said that the nation stands shoulder
technology sectors according to the Foreign Office Diplomatic sources confirm that regional and global issues will also be on the agenda with particular focus on the Gaza conflict and broader Middle East dynamics The concerns of the Muslim Ummah, including humanitarian challenges, are likely to be key talking points in the high-level discussions This trip follows PM Shehbaz’s previous visit to Saudi Arabia in December 2024 where he addressed the One Water Summit and presented a six-point agenda to tackle global water crises He also met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during that visit, emphasizing a “qualitative shift” in PakistanSaudi relations
Commander of the National Guard of the Kingdom of Bahrain General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Isa Bin Salman called on Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi and held discussion on matters of mutual interest, regional security landscape and avenues for strengthening bilateral military cooperation The Army Chief underscored the significance of enhanced collaboration in addressing shared security challenges and fostering peace and stability in the region
The visiting dignitary lauded the professionalism of Pakistan Armed Forces and commended their unwavering efforts in combating terrorism
HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa highlighted the strong cooperation and exchange of expertise between Bahrain and Pakistan He emphasized the commitment to further strengthening relations for the benefit of both countries
topics of common interest At the
His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
Earlier on march 12, HH
Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa arrived in Islamabad on an official visit to attend Pakistan Day celebrations on March 23
Upon arrival at Pakistan Air Force Base Nur Khan, His Highness was received by General Sahir
Shamshad Mirza, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Later the commander of Bahrain s National Guard held talks with the heads of Pakistan s armed forces and air force on Thursday He visited headquarters of the armed forces in Rawalpindi for his meeting with Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza where he was greeted by a guard of
Seven Independent Power Producers (IPPs) including Nishat Chunian Power Limited, Nishat Power Limited, Narowal Energy Limited, Liberty Power Tech Limited, Engro Powergen Qadirpur Limited, Saphire Electric Power Limited, and Saif Power Limited, have collectively requested a reduction in their tariffs based on the terms negotiated by the government s Task Force on Energy under the hybrid take-and-pay mechanism BR reported
The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has accepted their joint application for tariff reduction from seven IPPs established under the Power Generation Policy of 2002 aiming to lower tariffs in line with the agreements negotiated between the government and the IPPs
The government s Task Force consisting of various high-level officials including Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Power Muhammad Ali, National Coordinator Lt General Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, Nepra Chairman, and representatives from CPPA-G PPIB and SECP is engaged with both 1994
and 2002 IPPs Key terms of the agreement include a revised tariff structure starting from November 2024 Some of the major changes include the modification of the operational and maintenance (O&M) cost indexation re-basing the cost of working capital and O&M tariffs and the introduction of a hybrid take-and-pay mode for the return on equity tariff component Additionally, there are conditions for sharing profits up to FY’23, the waiver of delay payments until October 2024 and changes to the arbitration process to align with local laws
The government has also claimed that these renegotiated agreements
as crucial to aligning PTI s position effectively on matters of national significance RULING PARTIES SLAM PTI’S DECISION Reacting to the PTI’s decision not to attend the security meeting Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the party was doing politics of its interest
The PTI has proved today that Imran Khan is their first and last priority [and that the] country s well-being and peace does not hold importance for them,” Asif said on X Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon slammed the PTI for not attending the gathering of national importance
The PTI should have acted like a responsible party and a good Pakistani, Memon told media in Karachi He added that there were reports of the recent attacks in Balochistan being carried out with India’s support
Manufacturing stays stagnant
Th
The damage being done
h e combined efforts of President Donald Trump Republicans in Congress and proIsrael groups like the Anti-Defamation League, have declared war on the liberal ideals of freedom of speech and assembly and the very idea of the university Republicans and their allies are demanding universities eliminate any mention of diversity equity and inclusion in admissions or programming and they have put in place a grossly distorted and expanded definition of antisemitism In both instances, they have told educational institutions that failing to bow to these diktats will lead to their federal funding cut While organizations representing both faculty and administrators have cautioned against complying with the requirement to eliminate DeI already some universities have done just that Dozens of institutions have scrubbed their websites of the now-taboo words and programmes Offices to promote diversity have been closed and courses have been cancelled More ominous has been the damage done to free speech and academic freedom by the threats of the administration and Congress to punish universities that do not take measures to rein in what they call antisemitism The main problem with this edict is that it s based on a bogus definition of antisemitism, long promoted by the pro-Israel group, the AntiDefamation League a definition that equates criticism of Israel with antisemitism Their argument is that criticism of Israel is antisemitic because it is the only Jewish state and therefore criticism of Israel is threatening to Jews who identify with it At best the logic is far-fetched At worst it s a crude effort to silence and punish critics In their efforts to impose their definition, the ADL found eager accomplices among right-wing fundamentalist Christians Republicans in Congress and Donald Trump though their reasons for doing so may have differed But whether their collaboration was a marriage of convenience or consensus the result has been serious damage to higher education The ADL wants to silence the growing chorus of critics of Israeli policies Right-wing Christians, driven by a heretical view of the Old Testament that sees Israel as necessary for their hoped-for Final
T r u m p ’ s t a r i f f s b a c k f i r e
Days, want to protect Israel As they form about 40 percent of the GOP s voter base, Republicans and Trump want to keep them happy Because the earliest pro-Palestinian demonstrations occurred on a number of prestigious university campuses Republicans also see this effort as a way to amplify their targeting of elites and liberals And as critics of Israeli policies are largely Democrats Republicans see defending Israel as a wedge issue that strengthens their base while making life uncomfortable for Democrats For his part, Donald Trump saw criminalizing protesters and forcing universities to cower as yet another way to pave the road to his authoritarian reach These diverse interests have coalesced in a coordinated assault on academic freedom free speech and critics of Israel An early sign of this assault was evident during last year s congressional hearings in which a number of Ivy League university presidents were summoned to appear in order to be skewered by Republican members of Congress The hearing’s most memorable moment began with a Republican representative falsely claiming that the expression heard in some demonstrations from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free was an antisemitic call for genocide against Jewish people She then quickly shifted gears asking the presidents whether there were punishments for calling for genocide against Jews The presidents were flummoxed by this illogical leap and gave confused responses Then in the midst of the Columbia University campus protests, the Republican Speaker of the house made a visit to the school demanding a crackdown Other Republicans joined in pointing out that the campuses were bastions of un-American liberal elitism and needed to be taught a lesson A congressional committee threatened to cut federal funds to campuses that didn t stop protests punish protesters and rid their campuses of pro-Palestinian anti-Israel activities and courses Pro-Israel groups were emboldened to file complaints with the Office of Civil Rights charging administrators with turning a blind eye to faculty and student antisemitism In the face of these challenges the cowering began During the summer of 2024: campuses brought in security consultants to rewrite faculty and student codes and handbooks; courses were eliminated; and faculty were silenced Columbia University even set up an office that encouraged students to file complaints against pro-Palestinian students and faculty Repression was in full swing With the election of Donald Trump the pressures intensified Columbia University became a whipping boy because of both its prestigious status and demonstrated willingness to cower Despite the university’s efforts, last week the Trump Administration increased the pressure on Columbia announcing that the school was losing $400 million in federal grants Clearly Mr Trump intended to teach as the same lesson he was teaching Ukraine (and indirectly other countries or campuses): Do what I demand, or you ll be punished Then came the news from Mr Trump that a graduate student at the university, Mahmoud Khalil, was being deported for antisemitism Other than the fact
Corporate injustice
Aone hand retaliatory tariffs from these trading partners have sharply eroded the international competitiveness of US agricultural products On the other hand, US farmers rely heavily on imported farm equipment, fertilizers, and pesticides, and the resulting increase in costs is adding further financial strain Approximately 85 percent of the potash fertilizer used in the USA is imported from Canada If higher tariffs are levied on these imports, potash prices will likely surge, placing even more pressure on farmers For those already grappling with high production costs this external shock could prove devastating US agricultural organizations have sounded the alarm with the Western Growers Association reporting that Canadian retailers have recently cancelled orders from US suppliers
Many leaders in the US agriculture industry have warned that a trade war will primarily harm those who depend on international trade
for their livelihoods with US farmers being among the hardest hit Analysts note that US farmers are facing their third consecutive year of substantial losses, particularly in key cash crops such as corn and soybeans Rising production costs and declining export income have created a dual financial squeeze leaving many struggling to stay afloat As tariffs disrupt established trade relationships US farm products are losing their competitive edge in global markets The drop in exports not only translates to lower farm incomes but could also lead to an oversupply of crops, pushing domestic prices down further US farmers have been operating at a loss across almost all major crops for three consecutive years higher input costs and shrinking export markets could impose an unbearable financial burden on many of them
The latest round of tariff hikes is pushing US farmers deeper into economic distress For an agricultural sector that depends on international markets short-term protectionist measures offer little benefit while eroding long-term competitiveness The interplay between rising costs and weakened exports creates a vicious cycle that threatens not only farm incomes but also the broader stability of rural economies Trump’s tariff strategy, rather than strengthening US industry has inflicted tangible harm on consumers businesses and farmers alike
Retaliatory measures by key trading partners have curtailed the overseas sales of U S agricultural products, while the higher cost of imported production materials has squeezed already tight profit margins Confronted with these mounting pressures US farmers now face growing financial risks Striking a balance between trade protection and the long-term sustainability of the agricultural sector has become an urgent challenge Without a significant course correction, the consequences of these misguided policies will continue to reverberate across the US economy, with dire implications for industries and consumers alike
The writer is a freelance columnist
Job crisis
How
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It
BLA insurgents hijacked the Jaffar Express train taking 182 passengers hostage and detonating explosives to instill terror
The sheer audacity of these operations underscores the emboldened nature of militant groups and the glaring security lapses that allow them to strike with such impunity The
railway sector once considered a relatively secure domain has now become a battleground, exposing critical weaknesses in infrastructure security and response protocols Equally alarming is the recurrence of suicide bombings a preferred method among terrorist organizations to maximize casualties and instill widespread fear The twin suicide bombing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on March 4 which claimed nine lives, was a textbook example of how militants exploit chaos The first explosion serves as bait drawing security personnel and civilians into the impact zone only for the second detonation to strike with devastating effect This well-established pattern has been witnessed before in the Peshawar Police Lines attack and various market bombings, where security forces and innocent bystanders have been slaughtered in cold blood On the same day a female suicide bomber in Kalat Balochistan targeted a military convoy marking a disturbing shift in terrorist methodologies The use of female operatives indicates an attempt to evade profiling and heightens the challenge for intelligence agencies to preempt such strikes These attacks are not random acts of violence but part of a calculated systemic attempt to destabilize the state drain security resources and undermine public confidence The February 28 bombing at a Taliban-linked seminary in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which resulted in six deaths and 20 injuries, highlights the fluid and volatile nature of militancy The ideological landscape among extremist factions is increasingly complex with alliances shifting and rival groups vying for dominance The interplay between different militant outfits operating in Pakistan is not a matter of ideological cohesion but of strategic expediency groups with disparate goals are finding common ground in their shared objective to weaken the state
T h e s p i r i t u a l i t y o f R a m a d a n i s b e i n g e r a s e d b y o b s c e n e a n d s e d u c t i v e T V c o n t e n t
The logistical support underpinning these attacks cannot be ignored The use of vehicle-borne explosives premeditated ambushes and coordinated assaults suggests a well-oiled infrastructure sustaining these networks The repeated success of such operations strongly indicates the presence of local facilitators embedded within communities providing reconnaissance, shelter, finances and material assistance These individuals function as the unseen backbone of terrorism ensuring that militant groups can operate with surgical precision Failure to dismantle these support structures will render military operations and counterterrorism measures ineffective, allowing militancy to fester despite aggressive interventions Pakistan’s counterterrorism strategy while multi-pronged requires a critical reassessment Intelligence gathering remains predominantly reactive often responding to attacks rather than preempting them This gap must be addressed by enhancing anticipatory intelligence operations, strengthening human intelligence networks and leveraging technological surveillance to detect and neutralize threats before they materialize A more robust community-driven approach is essential engaging local populations to identify and report suspicious activities can serve as an early warning mechanism Furthermore, the unchecked flow of arms and explosives across Pakistan’s porous borders necessitates stringent border security measures including improved scanning technologies tighter vehicle inspections and enhanced monitoring of high-risk regions The challenge is not just about responding to the current wave of terrorism but about fundamentally recalibrating Pakistan’s long-term security doctrine Terrorist organizations are dynamic; they learn adapt and exploit vulnerabilities with remarkable agility Their ability to execute near-identical operations time and again reflects the state s failure to disrupt their evolving strategies
Revisiting security policies fostering deeper inter-agency cooperation and implementing holistic counterinsurgency frameworks are imperative The persistence of facilitators, the resilience of terrorist cells, and the evident gaps in intelligence coordination must be addressed with uncompromising resolve A recent United Nations Security Council (UNSC) report has shed further light on the metamorphosis of Tehreek Taliban Pakistan, a group that has significantly expanded its operational capacity while forging alliances with other militant factions Once a fragmented insurgency the TTP now operates as a cohesive well-coordinated entity using Afghanistan as a strategic launchpad for cross-border attacks The Afghan Taliban s reluctance or outright refusal to rein in the TTP, has emboldened its operations, posing a formidable security challenge not just to Pakistan but to the entire region
The report also highlights the troubling nexus between the TTP and separatist insurgent groups like the BLA While differing ideologically, their collaboration is driven by a mutual objective: the destabilization of Pakistan Intelligence assessments suggest that these groups are sharing resources, coordinating attacks and leveraging one another s logistical networks
This emerging alliance represents a significant escalation in the threat landscape calling for immediate and decisive countermeasures Additionally, the potential role of foreign adversaries in stoking unrest cannot be dismissed Persistent allegations of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) supporting these factions point to a broader geopolitical scheme aimed at destabilizing Pakistan s internal security
Equally concerning is the creeping influence of the Islamic State in the region Analysts have warned of a potential convergence between IS and the TTP a scenario that would introduce an even more extreme dimension to the insurgency The radicalization of disaffected TTP elements by IS could result in an
Could it be to sow discord amongst the Muslims? We are witnessing a backlash from scholars at Al-Azhar critics and the public alike, as they engage in polarising arguments, which restore the discord
The difference in the narratives raised suspicions of historical inaccuracy especially with the portrayal of sensitive events such as the conflict between Muawiyah and Ali bin Abi Talib which led to the series being accused of distorting facts for political purposes
The controversy sparked by Muawiyah was largely expected, given the importance of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) companion who founded the Umayyad dynasty and his status in Islamic history However what many did not anticipate was the creative controversy that resulted from the overall weakness of the work and the falsification of history
The series is very weak on a professional level The script is weak; the performances are weak and lacking in emotion; and the direction is below par Its depiction of the battles is poor despite being a large production rumoured to have cost $100 million a figure never before spent on such an Arab series
It does not specifically depict the life story of the companion Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan Rather it presents an image that the creators of the series wanted to depict as his life The writers let their imaginations run wild and decided to rewrite history, and develop characters in a manner inconsistent with what has been handed down over the centuries
Despite the seriousness of the historical inaccuracies in the series the time jumps which caused the creators to overlook pivotal events in Muawiyah s life could be considered a creative crime due to these events significant role in clarifying and explaining the overall picture For example, the key Battles of Badr and Uhud are only mentioned briefly in the series
almost as long as programme itself Materialism has taken over spirituality in this holy month and Arab citizens have been drawn to it without thinking unaware that it is a conspiracy against them and their religion Religious and historical series have been absent from the Ramadan season, as they call it, for about a decade or more However, this year Saudi Arabia took the series Muawiyah down off the shelf It could not be aired two years ago because the Shia Iraqi government objected Baghdad threatened to destroy Saudi Arabia if it was broadcast, and promised to produce a series about Abu Lu lu ah the Magian, who killed the Caliph Umar ibn Al-Khattab I do not know what has changed to allow the Saudi broadcasters to air it this year
The creators of the Muawiyah series have paid the price by losing their credibility with the Arab public In general Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan was not a simple character who can be subjected to the judgmental standards of ordinary people He was a complex person While one thing about him may upset you other things may please you The added problem is that the series itself works within the framework of a political effort to portray a Muawiyah who is very different from the Muawiyah known to historians
If we look at the actor playing the title role, we can see that with his makeup and his expressions he resembles Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman This was probably deliberate in order to make MBS look like a hero and the new conqueror of the Islamic nation, leaving the opposition, on the other hand, to be made up of those who rule based on emotions Whatever the intention, however, such programmes are unsuitable for Ramadan which should be a month of spiritual renewal and devotions TV should have no role to play in this
HE’S done it again Or rather they have As part of their curious slash-and-burn crusade to dismantle – for better or worse – large swathes of the American state from the top, President Donald Trump and his bestie-in-chief Elon Musk with his gang of enforcers at DOGE have put the axe to yet another seven government agencies Carried out by presidential executive order this particular blitz is aimed at offices busy with things as diverse as labor dispute mediation and the mitigation of homelessness The method of Trumpist attack is simple and already familiar: The targeted agencies are not literally shut down which Trump cannot legally do by decree Instead their budgets and staff are pruned so aggressively that they have to cease operations Yet, tellingly, there is only one kind of cut that has really made centrists, liberals, and the mainstream media furious Nope not the hit on the homeless; and not the one on labor relations either What caused a ruckus instead is that Trump and Musk have gone after state propaganda To be precise, state propaganda for the rest of the world
For one of the offices that has been given the Trumpist flamethrower treatment this time is the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) And that is in reality the US ministry for propaganda abroad While it s a fairly new (2018) label, USAGM s roots reach deep into the fetid soil of the last century’s Cold War Originally, there were Voice of America Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty Voice of America was founded during World War II and was quickly retooled afterwards to be used as a Cold War propaganda weapon by the CIA Its younger cousins, Radio Free Europe, founded in 1950, and Radio Liberty (1951) were, literally CIA fronts
But that “involvement was kept secret until the late 1960s for fear of Soviet retaliation as Encyclopedia Britannica puts it with fine British understatement as well as a whopping portion of brute disinformation: The fact that the CIA remained in hiding was, of course, not due to the big bad Russians (the Soviets at the time) being so terribly scary It was simply a means to manipulate publics in the East and the West and present what was geopolitically driven propaganda as independent news After 1971, the CIA (officially) ended its (direct) control If you believe that means an agency specializing in lying –and so much worse – was no longer pulling the strings I have a Ukrainian democracy complete with civil society and all the fixings to sell you Formally, the Board for International Broadcasting took over It was appointed by the president, which tells you all you need to know about how important this global propaganda machine was to Washington Finally after further label changes the board morphed into the USAGM It ended up controlling not just Voice of America, as well as Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty – long merged into RFE/RL – but a host of other outlets, including Radio Free Asia and the very honest-sounding (not) Office of Cuba Broadcasting According to USAGM s own website it was reaching an audience of 427 million per week in 64 languages, and via traditional broadcasting as well as the internet Those lucky viewers, listeners, and readers were fed an unhealthy diet corresponding to the US “national interest” (in USAGM’s
MIDDLE
Majid Nabi burfat
TRUMP TO HOLD CALL WITH PUTIN IN TEST OF DEAL-MAKING STRENGTH
India asks US to list S ikhs for Justice as terrorist organisation
in 2020 India has had a diplomatic dispute with Canada over the June 2023 killing of another Sikh separatist there SFJ has rejected New Delhi s accusations Who is the terrorist? Is it SFJ, which is peacefully and democratically organising the Global Khalistan Referendum to liberate Punjab from Indian
CM MARYAM UNVEILS ‘AGHOSH’ PROGRAM FOR MOTHERS
inDrive and Yousuf Dewan Companies partner to promote electric vehicles
LAHORE: Group Photo of businessmen from Sheikhupura Chamber
ISL AMABAD PROTESTS USE OF AFGHAN SOIL IN JAFFAR EXPRESS HIJACKING, SUMMONS AFGHAN DIPLOMAT
CM Gandapur orders immediate release of Rs5.5b to strengthen police force
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur on Tuesday ordered immediate release of Rs5 5 billion to fulfill various needs of the police and strengthen and reinforce the police force in the province
KP CM Ali Amin Khan Gandapur issued the directive while chairing an important meeting regarding police affairs at Chief Minister s Secretariat here
KP Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed, Additional Chief Secretary Home Muhammad Abid Majeed, as well as senior officials from the Finance Department and the police attended the meeting
stations and Rs720 million for the purchase of night vision goggles, sniper rifles and other equipment for the police force it was decided in the meeting
strengthen the police force in every possible way”, he emphasized, adding that from day one the provincial government has been spending substantial resources to enhance police capabilities
had not returned, the judge questioned the prosecution s understanding of its responsibilities “To this day, I fail to understand the actual responsibility of the prosecution ” he said “If the investigation officer does not appear whose responsibility is it? The prosecutor responded that their duty to submit the case record begins only after they receive it officially In response, Judge Supra expressed frustration over what he described as the “stubbornness” of Islamabad prosecutors, who he said “consider themselves equal to judges ” He warned that further delays in the submission of the case record could result in notices being issued against the prosecution We are all passing through an unusual situation Judge Supra added criticising the state of governance and stressing the role of officials to ensure justice The hearing was adjourned until Tuesday to allow the investigation officer to present the necessary documents
Ruet-i-Hilal Committee announces meeting date for shawwal moon
During the details it was decided to immediately release Rs3 billion for the bulletproofing of police vehicles and the purchase of other modern equipment Additionally it was decided to provide Rs1 3 billion to establish Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams equipped with modern technology at the district level and to secure police stations and check posts Furthermore, Rs500 million would be released for the remaining projects under the Annual Development Program (ADP) related to the construction of police
The chief minister also decided in principle to bring the salaries of police officers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on par with the salaries of Balochistan police officers and those of Punjab police personnel
During the briefing it was informed that the salaries of police officers in Balochistan are the highest among all provinces, while the salaries of police personnel in Punjab are higher than in any other province
Sharing his thoughts during the meeting CM Gandapur declared maintaining law and order as the topmost priority of his government
Given the current security situation in the province, it is crucial to
Amid deadly string of attacks the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police continued to take on terrorists as its Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) killed three terrorists in Bannu and Charsadda intelligencebased operations
According to the Central Po-
lice Office Peshawar the CTD conducted operations in Bannu and Charsadda during which three terrorists were killed
According to a police spokesperson, the two terrorists killed in Bannu were involved in the attack on Constable Arman Khan adding that one of them identified Hakimullah alias Shoaib the Deputy Ameer of Ibrahim Zarar
Funds will continue to be provided on a priority basis to meet the needs of the police”, he reiterated
The KP CM further stated that equipping the police force to tackle present security challenges is of utmost importance and there will be no compromise on this matter
He acknowledged the bravery and sacrifices of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police force in combating terrorism and expressed pride in their performance He also made it clear that the provincial government would not allow financial constraints to hinder the fulfillment of police requirements
Group The police spokesperson the CTD Bannu tracked down the terrorists involved in the attack within a few hours and killed them
On the other hand the Charsadda police in swift response killed the most wanted terrorist Javed Khan son of Muhammad Ikhtiar, resident of Akhundan Noor, Bannu
A hand grenade and pistol along with prima card and safety fuse were recovered from the slain terrorists the police said The spokesperson informed that the slain terrorist was wanted by the police in several cases of murder, attempted murder and target killing, adding he was planning terror activity in the area Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police (IGP) Zulfiqar Hameed praised the excellent performance of the brave cops of CTD Bannu Region, Bannu Police and Charsadda Police
The KP IG said that police cops have made the nation proud and announced cash rewards for the cops who participated in the operations
The KP police s continuous successes against terrorists are a living example of efficiency and proactive policing, said the KP IGP