Category: National

Unable to meet jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan for two days, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Sohail Afridi has moved the Supreme Court to fulfill his “constitutional and moral obligation”.

In a letter written to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Yahya Afridi, the provincial chief executive maintained that he needed to consult with the jailed party founder, who is also the PTI’s patron-in-chief, to be able to constitute his provincial cabinet.

He said he had already approached the federal interior secretary, as well as the Punjab home secretary, for arranging the meeting at Adiala Jail but it had not yielded any results despite repeated follow-ups.

CM Afridi said that he also needed to meet Khan to discuss matters relating to law and order, critical economic challenges and policy matters regarding the people of the province.

“There is a pressing need to seek direction from the Founder Chairman/ Patron in Chief Mr Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi, regarding the above matters and others, including relations regarding certain important matters with the Federation and other provinces,” read his letter to the top judge.

“The seeking of direction is extremely essential, even presently the province of Punjab has stopped the inter-provincial trade of wheat,” he added.

Afridi, who replaced Ali Amin Gandapur as the provincial chief executive, assumed charge of the office on Wednesday.

His election came after Gandapur was told by Khan to step down following a public feud with the party founder’s wife Bushra Bibi and sister Aleema Khan.

Gandapur had tendered his resignation shortly after being told to do so, paving the way for Afridi to be elected as the CM amid opposition boycotts in the provincial assembly.

As the two countries observe a 48-hour ceasefire ending tonight, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has said that the ball is in Afghanistan’s court for a permanent end to cross-border hostilities.

Addressing a federal cabinet meeting on Pak-Afghan border tensions, the premier said that Pakistan remains ready to hold talks with the Taliban regime on reasonable terms, adding that the recent cross-border aggression from Afghan side was at India’s behest.

Taliban forces, along with India-backed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), had earlier this week resorted to an unprovoked attack on Pakistan, prompting a strong response from Islamabad. At least 200 Afghan Taliban and affiliated militants were killed in said clashes while 23 Pakistani soldiers embraced martyrdom.

The attacks that came as Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi was on an official visit to India, ended with the ceasefire agreed to at the request of Afghan Taliban on the evening of Oct 15.

“Unfortunately, despite all efforts, [Taliban regime in] Afghanistan did not prioritise peace and adopted the path of aggression,” reports quoted the premier as saying during Thursday’s meeting.

Highlighting the recent spike in terror incidents in the country, he said Pakistan had to launch a full-scale retaliatory action as patience had run out amid Afghan Taliban regime’s inaction over Islamabad’s concerns.

Meanwhile, the United Nations (UN) has called on the warring forces to permanently end hostilities.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire and called on all parties “to bring a lasting end to hostilities to protect civilians and prevent further loss of life”.

It also urged both Pakistan and Afghanistan to comply with their obligations under international law “to prevent” more civilian casualties.

Qatar, Saudi Arabia, China and Russia all called for de-escalation.

Qatar expressed “concern” over “the potential repercussions for the security and stability of the region” in a statement to X. Saudi Arabia, which recently signed a defence pact with Pakistan, also called for “restraint and dialogue”.

The fighting also drew the attention of United States (US) President Donald Trump, who offered to broker peace. “I hear there’s a war now going on between Pakistan and Afghanistan,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.

“I’m good at solving wars, I’m good at making peace,” he added.

Aleema Khan and Noreen Khan have quoted their brother and jailed former prime minister (PM) Imran Khan as offering to sort things out between Pakistan and Afghanistan if he is released on parole.

Addressing journalists as cross-border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan intensified ahead of Wednesday evening’s ceasefire, Khan’s sisters conveyed their brother’s offer, which was also shared by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Barrister Gohar Ali Khan later in the day.

They also said that the PTI founder was hurt by the recent border clashes between forces, and stressed a peaceful solution.

Khan, imprisoned since August 2023, is serving a sentence at Adiala Jail in a £190 million corruption case and also faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act related to the May 9 protests. His offer comes as Pakistani forces thwart multiple attacks from Afghan forces and their affiliated militant groups in recent days.

Pakistani forces began their retaliatory strikes inside Afghanistan last week after Afghanistan resorted to unprovoked firing along the border.

The unlawful and aggressive actions by Afghan forces resulted in the martyrdom of multiple Pakistani soldiers, while Pakistani Armed Forces — in their retaliatory actions — have eliminated over 200 militants.

Pakistan’s intense and befitting response ended temporarily after the Afghan Taliban regime requested a ceasefire, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mofa) said. The Foreign Office said that Pakistan agreed to a temporary 48-hour ceasefire, which took effect from 6 pm on Wednesday.

As Khan’s sisters also said that the jailed PTI founder was saddened by the way Afghan nationals were expelled from Pakistan, it merits a mention that the PTI and its founder have repeatedly been criticised by their rival political parties over their insistence on negotiations with banned outfits involved in terror activities for decades.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have also accused Khan of allowing the settlement of TTP militants during his tenure as the premier – an allegation denied by the PTI.

The former ousted PM has also repeatedly urged talks with the Taliban regime despite it making no difference over the years.

After much drama involving his predecessor and the opposition, Sohail Afridi of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has finally the assumed office of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) chief minister (CM). However, his alleged moves on the very first day as the provincial chief executive is all anyone can talk about.

Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Wednesday administered the oath of office to newly-elected CM Afridi at the Governor House, marking an end to the tense political standoff and days of uncertainty in the province.

While the ceremony itself descended into chaos as party workers rushed to the stage to extend well-wishes to the new CM, chanting slogans that disrupted further proceedings, it was his alleged removal of Pakistan’s flag and Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s portrait from his office, which took the internet by storm.

According to netizens, CM Afridi had the Pakistan flag next to that of the KP government in his office replaced with one of the PTI. While he switched to a tiny national flag on his table, his alleged removal of Jinnah’s portrait – which internet claims was replaced with that of PTI founder Imran Khan – also did not sit well with a number of social media users.

قومی پرچم رولز کے مطابق جہاں قومی پرچم کسی صوبائی پرچم کے ساتھ ہو تو قومی پرچم اونچا ہونا چاہیئے۔ وزیر اعلی کے پی دفتر میں نہ صرف قومی پرچم ہٹایا گیا بلکہ ایک چھوٹا قومی پرچم ٹیبل پر رکھ کر اس کی تضحیک کی گئ۔#WhyNationalFlagRemoved https://t.co/D2IZlEbGBg pic.twitter.com/HcDVyiXfPd

— Moonis S. (@RxCommerceMogul) October 15, 2025

یہ شخص خیبر پختونخوا کا وزیرِاعلیٰ ہے
پنجاب کا کوئی ٹک ٹاکر نہیں کہ اپنے نام کے جھنڈے تک بنوالے@SohailAfridiISF pic.twitter.com/ukxDIQK4LT

— (@QamreenaZahid) October 16, 2025

Although the claim regarding Jinnah’s portrait was rubbished as soon as supporters posted a photo captured from a different angle, the table flag kept drawing strong reactions.

Some even went on to share National Flag Rules, as per which, if the national flag is alongside any other flag, the national flag should be higher.

The first day of Gundapur in the office and the first day of Afridi. The flag placement. pic.twitter.com/g45sAUDPUc

— iffi (@iffiViews) October 15, 2025

Amid a battle of words between supporters and critics over social media, the KP government is yet to react to the controversy that seems to have added to what experts claim is rather challenging terrain for CM Afridi ahead.

Afridi’s appointment as CM followed directives from PTI founder Imran Khan amid rifts within the party, which had led to a public feud between outgoing KP CM Gandapur and Khan’s sister Aleema Khan.

It also comes at a time when cracks between the KP and federal governments seem to be widening due to governance issues and the provincial setup’s failure to crackdown on terror activities, as also highlighted by the military leadership during a briefing last week.

Authorities in Gujrat have issued a show cause notice to the principal of a government college for hoisting a flag featuring Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s picture alongside Pakistan’s national flag on the college building.

Deputy Director of Colleges Gujrat, Shoaib Butt, told BBC that the college principal submitted a written explanation in response to the notice. In his statement, the principal said he was deeply inspired by Maryam Nawaz’s initiatives in Punjab, which is why he chose to display her image on the flag.

گجرات میں سرکاری کالج پر وزیراعلیٰ پنجاب کی تصویر والا جھنڈا لگانے پر پرنسپل کو شوکاز نوٹس pic.twitter.com/tQEdzseQ48

— Geo News Urdu (@geonews_urdu) October 15, 2025

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has often faced criticism for promoting Maryam Nawaz’s image through government projects. Opposition parties and members of the public have frequently objected to her pictures appearing on ration packs, subsidized flour bags, and other provincial programs.

In response, the Punjab government has maintained that such publicity aims only to inform the public about government initiatives and performance.

A similar incident recently took place in Kharian tehsil of Gujrat district, where videos circulating on social media showed a flag bearing Maryam Nawaz’s picture hoisted alongside the national flag on the roof of Government Graduate College for Boys. 

The college principal later clarified that he made the decision to display the flag in his personal capacity.

The Punjab government has decided to recommend to the federal government to place a ban on an extremist group. 

According to reports, the decision was made during a high-level meeting on law and order chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

According to the official statement, authorities will arrest individuals involved in hate speech, incitement, and law violations across Punjab. The provincial government will ask the federal government to impose a ban on the extremist group and place its leadership under the Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The statement said that cases will be filed against leaders and workers responsible for the killing of police officers and the destruction of public property. All properties and assets belonging to the extremist group will be handed over to the Auqaf Department, while the display of posters, banners, and advertisements of the group will be completely banned.

The meeting also decided to shut down the group’s social media accounts and freeze all its bank accounts. The government will take strict action against anyone violating the Loudspeaker Act.

The Punjab Home Department has issued a one-month deadline for citizens to surrender illegal weapons. People must register their licensed weapons at service centers within the same period. The government also decided to inspect the stock of arms dealers and manufacturers and imposed a complete ban on issuing new weapon licenses.

The Punjab government has recommended to the federal government that all weapon factories and manufacturers be regularized. It has also approved an increase in punishment for illegal weapon possession.

Holding illegal weapons in Punjab will now be a non-bailable offense, carrying a sentence of up to 14 years in prison and a fine of up to two million rupees.

The Punjab government has decided to include Afghan nationals in the provincial tax system. 

According to reports, the decision came during a high-level meeting on law and order chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

Officials also decided to compile real-time data of illegal Afghan residents living in the province. According to a government statement, a whistleblower system will be introduced to report illegal immigrants, and the identity of informants will remain completely confidential.

The provincial government also decided to launch a combing operation against illegal residents and their businesses. Authorities will deport illegal foreign nationals immediately in line with federal government policy.

Former speaker of the Sindh Assembly and senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Agha Siraj Durrani has passed away on Wednesday in Karachi at the age of 72. He had been receiving treatment at a private hospital for several weeks after his health deteriorated.

According to family sources, Durrani was shifted to Karachi about a month ago as his health took a turn for the worse. Despite continuous medical care, he could not recover and breathed his last on Wednesday. Doctors said he had been suffering from kidney disease.

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep sorrow over the death of Agha Siraj Durrani and paid tribute to his long-standing contributions to Sindh’s political and social development.

In his condolence message, the President said Durrani was a dedicated and committed leader who played an important role in strengthening democratic institutions in the province. He added that Durrani’s services to democracy and the people of Sindh would always be remembered.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah also expressed deep sorrow and grief over the passing of senior PPP leader Agha Siraj Durrani.

In his condolence message, the chief minister described Durrani as a sincere, loyal, and principled leader who devoted his life to public service.

“Agha Siraj Durrani was a sincere, loyal, and principled leader of the People’s Party,” said Murad Ali Shah. “He played an important role in strengthening the Sindh Assembly and deepening democracy in the province.”

Murad Ali Shah said Durrani’s political and public services will always be remembered and that public service was the guiding principle of his politics. He prayed for the departed soul, saying, “May the Almighty elevate the ranks of the late Agha Siraj Durrani.”

The chief minister also extended his condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for their patience and strength during this difficult time.

Agha Siraj Durrani was one of the senior-most leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and served as the speaker of the Sindh Assembly. He played a vital role in shaping the province’s legislative and democratic framework.

Born on October 5, 1953, in Shikarpur, Durrani received his early education at St. Patrick’s High School in Karachi. He later earned an LLB degree from Sindh Muslim Government Law College, which laid the foundation for his distinguished political and legal career.

Throughout his career, Durrani remained an influential figure in Sindh’s politics. He was respected for his political wisdom, dedication, and commitment to public service. His death marks the end of an era in Sindh’s provincial politics.

After Tehreek-i-Labbaik’s (TLP) protests brought Punjab’s roads to a standstill last week, causing the death of at least four people, including a police officer, and leaving 56 others injured, TLP Chief Saad Rizvi’s whereabouts are still unknown.

Last night on GEO News’ prime time programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath’, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Operations Faisal Kamran said that the police did not have TLP’s Saad Rizvi or his brother Anas Rizvi in custody.

“You must have seen the video of (Rizvi) covering his face and walking away, after instigating the crowd. We have traced his whereabouts and where he went and we will soon find him…he is still on the run and he is not in police custody. But we are determined to catch him so he can be held accountable for what he did and tell us what his agenda was when he did it,” said the DIG.

Khanzada asked the DIG if Saad Rizvi had been shot or injured to which he said that Rizvi and his followers recorded everything and put it on social media. “If he is injured or shot, where are the videos?” he asked.

The DIG also mentioned that the TLP always gives exaggerated figures of people who have allegedly died in all their protests. There is no evidence of anyone who has died from their side, no hospital records or any other information, he stressed, adding that it was propaganda done by the TLP.

“They are not peaceful people, they steal cars and containers and we have witnesses and people that they have stolen cars from. They steal police mobiles and ride and drive them like they have taken over the nation. They always do this,” he said.

The DIG also went on to state that since 2017, 60 police officers were permanently disabled because of TLP protests. “They hit these officers with sticks that have nails on them, some have lost their eyesight, some their limbs,” he said, “This torture they inflict on people…injured is not the right word for it. These officers spend their whole lives with disabilities.”

When asked if it was a peaceful protest, the DIG said, “They are a religious party but lie brilliantly. They post lies on social media. We asked them why are you protesting for Gaza when Palestine has a ceasefire and the people there are happy. We told them, “Why don’t you protest in Lahore but they said that we will protest and go to the American embassy in Islamabad and they are used to doing what they want because the state has always subjected itself to their demands.”

Authorities have also launched a money-laundering investigation against Saad Rizvi after a “huge cache” of foreign currency and nearly 2kg of gold were recovered from his Lahore residence. Officials said the findings prompted a wider probe into Rizvi’s bank accounts, assets, and alleged funding networks, with the FIA freezing several accounts.

Punjab police said the TLP had purchased dozens of properties near its Multan Road headquarters, effectively turning the area into a “no-go zone” for law enforcement and the public. The recovered valuables included 1.92kg of gold, 898g of silver, 69 branded watches, and various gold ornaments.