Current Final

Category: National

  • Dar says Trump’s Gaza peace plan did not include all of Pakistan’s proposed amendments

    Dar says Trump’s Gaza peace plan did not include all of Pakistan’s proposed amendments

    Deputy prime minister (PM) and Foreign Minister (FM) Ishaq Dar has said that the Gaza peace proposal unveiled by United States (US) President Donald Trump was not the one that contained all of Pakistan’s suggestions as it did not include in entirety the changes proposed by Islamabad.

    Appearing on Geo News a day after Trump, standing alongside Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, asserted that PM Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir fully backed his Gaza plan, the FM revealed that Islamabad had held detailed discussions with Trump’s team on the proposal and later submitted its amendments to the points shared by Washington.

    However, he said, the draft did not incorporate all of Islamabad’s amendments.

    Just hours before the President Trump’s announcement, the premier had welcomed the plan, saying durable peace between the Palestinian people and Israel was essential for regional stability and economic growth.

    In a post on X, PM Shehbaz said he was “convinced that durable peace between the Palestinian people and Israel would be essential in bringing political stability and economic growth to the region”.


     
    “It is also my firm belief that President Trump is fully prepared to assist in whatever way necessary to make this extremely important and urgent understanding to become a reality,” he wrote and praised Trump’s leadership.


     
    The premier reiterated his support for a two-state solution and said he also strongly believed that the implementation of the two-state proposal was essential to ensure lasting peace in the region.

    Later, White House released Trump’s 20-point plan that calls for a ceasefire, a swap of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, a staged Israeli withdrawal from the territory, disarmament of Hamas, and a transitional government led by an international body.

    Meanwhile, Pakistan also pledged support for the peace plan at the United Nations (UN). 

     Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad told the UN Security Council (UNSC) members that Islamabad, in coordination with eight OIC and Arab states, would actively participate in the consultative process to support a sustainable resolution.

    “We value the initiative of President Donald Trump, working with eight OIC and Arab countries to advance peace through concrete measures,” the envoy said while addressing a briefing on the Middle East.

    “As a participant in this consultative process, Pakistan will closely engage and play a constructive role in promoting consensus,” he added, stressing that the goal was to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians and achieve just, comprehensive and lasting peace consistent with UN resolutions.

  • Islamabad administration seals seven illegal sheesha cafés, arrests six

    Islamabad administration seals seven illegal sheesha cafés, arrests six

    The Islamabad district administration has carried out a late-night crackdown on illegal indoor sheesha cafés, sealing seven establishments, imposing heavy fines and arresting six people.

    Deputy Commissioner Islamabad, Irfan Nawaz Memon, said indoor sheesha cafés are banned under Islamabad High Court orders and warned that strict action will continue against violators.

    “No indoor sheesha café will be allowed to operate. Anyone found inside during raids, including customers, will face legal consequences,” DC Memon said.

    He also shared details of the operation on X (formerly Twitter): “Islamabad district administration sealed seven cafés, imposed heavy fines, and arrested six people last night for running illegal indoor sheesha cafés. Indoor sheesha cafés are illegal, and action against them will continue.”

    The administration has directed assistant commissioners to ensure immediate enforcement in their areas and urged citizens to report illegal activity. Surprise inspections will continue across the city.

  • PTI, PML-N at odds over Trump’s Gaza plan; divided over Imran Khan’s support for two-state solution

    PTI, PML-N at odds over Trump’s Gaza plan; divided over Imran Khan’s support for two-state solution

    United States (US) President Donald Trump has announced that Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir, among other leaders of Muslim and Arab nations, are on board with his 20-point Gaza peace proposal.

    Pakistan has also welcomed the initiative at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), saying that Islamabad would actively participate in the consultative process to support a sustainable resolution to the conflict.

    The same, however, didn’t sit well with critics in Pakistan, who accused the government of “selling Palestine out” by supporting the plan that aims to achieve a two-state-solution to the issue.

    While several netizens took to social media to accuse the government of “caving under pressure to accept Israel” as “predicted” by former prime minister Imran Khan after his ouster, others are posting excerpts from Khan’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) from 2020 wherein he himself had also advocated for the two-state solution.

    “Whoever recognises Israel against the will of the Palestinians will deserve a greater curse than Israel itself, but it should be remembered that Pakistan has always supported the two-state solution for Israel and Palestine,” journalist Iqrar Ul Hassan said while setting the record straight in a post on X.

    “Imran Khan, as prime minister, also supported the two-state solution in the UNGA session,” he added.

    Journalist and anchor Mansoor Ali Khan also shared an old video of Khan wherein he had accepted the two-state solution.

    “Palestine remains a festering wound. A just and lasting settlement is indispensable, for the Middle East and actually the world. Illegal annexations of Palestinian territory, the building of illegal settlements and the imposition of inhuman living conditions on the Palestinian people especially in Gaza cannot bring peace to a troubled region,” Khan had said while addressing the 75th session of the UNGA.

    He had gone on to reiterate Pakistan’s long-standing support for a two-state solution in line with the UNGA and UNSC resolutions.

    People, however, called out both journalists, saying that Khan had spoken of the state of Palestine and Israel as per UN resolutions that mentioned pre-1967 borders and Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the capital of Palestine, which were missing in Trump’s proposed plan.

  • Trump says PM Shehbaz, COAS Munir fully back Gaza peace plan

    Trump says PM Shehbaz, COAS Munir fully back Gaza peace plan

    United States (US) President Donald Trump has said that Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir have fully backed his Gaza peace plan that calls for an immediate ceasefire, a phased Israeli withdrawal and the release of hostages, including over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, within 48 hours.

    “PM and Field Marshal… they were right with us from the beginning. Incredible, in fact. They just put out a statement that they fully believe in this pact. They back this 100%,” Trump said while addressing a joint press conference along with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

    His remarks came hours after the premier welcomed Trump’s plan aimed at ending the war in Gaza, saying a durable peace between the Palestinian people and Israel is essential for regional stability and economic growth.

    In a post on X, PM Shehbaz said he was “convinced that durable peace between the Palestinian people and Israel would be essential in bringing political stability and economic growth to the region”.

    “It is also my firm belief that President Trump is fully prepared to assist in whatever way necessary to make this extremely important and urgent understanding to become a reality,” he wrote and praised Trump’s leadership.

    The premier reiterated his support for a two-state solution and said he also strongly believed that the implementation of the two-state proposal was essential to ensure lasting peace in the region.

    Meanwhile, Pakistan pledged support for the plan at the United Nations (UN) as well. 

    Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad told the UN Security Council (UNSC) members that Islamabad, in coordination with eight OIC and Arab states, would actively participate in the consultative process to support a sustainable resolution.

    “We value the initiative of President Donald Trump, working with eight OIC and Arab countries to advance peace through concrete measures,” the envoy said while addressing a briefing on the Middle East.


    “As a participant in this consultative process, Pakistan will closely engage and play a constructive role in promoting consensus,” he added, stressing that the goal was to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians and achieve just, comprehensive and lasting peace consistent with UN resolutions.

    It may be noted that PM Shehbaz had on Sunday said that the recent meeting between President Trump and leaders of eight Arab-Islamic countries in New York was encouraging.

    He had said he was confident the talks would yield a positive outcome for a ceasefire in Gaza, following which President Trump had also said that “all were on board for something special, first time ever”.

  • Iranian supreme leader’s senior advisor suggests joining Pak-Saudi defence pact

    Iranian supreme leader’s senior advisor suggests joining Pak-Saudi defence pact

    Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s senior advisor Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi has said that Tehran should also join the mutual defence agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

    “Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Iraq can reach a collective defence pact,” Iran International quoted Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) General Safavi as saying.

    Terming the pact a positive development, Gen Safavi claimed that the United States’ influence in the region was diminishing as it was now shifting its focus to the Asia-Pacific region.

    He also said that in this situation, countries could establish a regional Islamic alliance.

    Safavi’s remarks refer to the “Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement” signed between Islamabad and Riyadh on Sept 17, as per which an attack on either country would be treated as an act of aggression against both.

    The agreement was inked days after Israel struck in Qatar’s capital Doha, which raised security concerns among Gulf countries.

    The word “strategic” in the agreement prompted several international media outlets to speculate that Pakistan’s nuclear programme had been made part of the pact, a claim that quickly drew attention and fuelled debate. 

    Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has, however, rejected the claim that Pakistan would sell nuclear weapons to the Kingdom under said agreement.

  • Shehbaz Sharif praises Trump as ‘architect of peace’, COAS as ‘man of vision’

    Shehbaz Sharif praises Trump as ‘architect of peace’, COAS as ‘man of vision’

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has lauded United States (US) President Donald Trump as the “architect of peace” in South Asia, crediting him with preventing a war between neighbouring nuclear-armed countries India and Pakistan through what he called true world-class statesmanship and vision.

    Speaking to a select group of Pakistani media in London on September 28, he stated that if the conflict between the two countries had escalated, millions could have suffered.

    Military clashes between Pakistan and India erupted after the April 22 Pahalgam incident in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). India launched strikes on Pakistan on the night of May 6-7, killing civilians. In response, Pakistan shot down six Indian fighter jets, including three French-made Rafales.

    The 88-hour-long conflict ended when the United States (US) intervened and announced a ceasefire between the two countries on May 10.


    Speaking at the Pakistan High Commission (PHC) following his return from a diplomatic tour of the US and Saudi Arabia, PM Shehbaz stated: “Had President Donald Trump not intervened, South Asia could have witnessed a major war.

    “His [Trump’s] real-time leadership was vital in saving the two countries from conflict. For this reason, we nominated President Trump for a peace prize — in recognition of his statesmanship and vision. During our meeting, we explained why he fully deserved the nomination.”

    Underscoring the close working relationship between the civilian leadership and Pakistan’s military command, he heaped praise on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal General Asim Munir. “General Asim Munir is a true nationalist. He only cares for Pakistan. Under his leadership, both the Army and Air Force have achieved remarkable successes. He is a man of vision and bravery. We discuss all important matters and take decisions in unity. It’s all for Pakistan,” PM Shehbaz said.

    Reaffirming strong civil-military alignment, he added, “General Munir and I consult on all major decisions. We are fully on the same page.”

    Highlighting the significance of a recently concluded defence agreement with Saudi Arabia, the premier described it as a “historic pact” with “global impact” and a broader message of “peace and cooperation.”

    Shehbaz also expressed optimism over “encouraging” outcomes from President Trump’s recent meeting with Muslim leaders in Washington. “We fully participated in the Gaza meeting, and God willing, its encouraging results will come out soon,” he said.

  • Shama Junejo claims PM Shehbaz included her in Pakistan’s UN delegation as adviser

    Shama Junejo claims PM Shehbaz included her in Pakistan’s UN delegation as adviser

    UK based journalist Dr Shama Junejo has claimed that Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif had included her in Pakistan’s United Nations (UN) delegation as adviser.

    The claim comes about amidst intense speculation that started when Shama was spotted sitting behind Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s address at a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) session on artificial intelligence (AI) last week. Social media users then unearthed her old tweets, expressing clear support for Israel.

    Following social media uproar, the defence czar took to X (formerly Twitter), on September 26, distancing himself from the matter, saying that it was the Foreign Office’s discretion to decide who can sit behind him. Later, the FO clarified that she had not been part of Pakistan’s accredited delegation.

    On September 28, however, Shama claimed in a post on X that she had been working for the prime minister for many months.

    “My policy briefs, advice and points during the Pakistan-India escalation are all part of the record and preserved,” she wrote, adding that the premier had assigned her the task of “writing the UN speech”.

    She went on to claim that the PM himself had included her in the UN delegation as an adviser and that she was also issued a security pass.

    “I worked with his team day and night. I travelled with him, stayed with his team in the same hotel and was also a part of his important meetings on the sidelines (of the UNGA session), such as the one with Bill Gates,” Shama said, adding that in another conference on climate on the UNGA sidelines, she was sitting with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar behind the prime minister.

    In her post, she also shared a picture of herself with Asif and Pakistan Crypto Council Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bilal Bin Saqib, as well as that of her UN card.

    Junejo maintained that at the AI conference, Bilal continued to write a new speech and “we had tea together afterwards”.

    “We sat together for 40 minutes waiting for the car, and returned to the hotel together in the same car. Khawaja Asif sahib sat with me on the backseat of the car,” she maintained, further noting that she was also at the UN “with the others” when PM Shehbaz was delivering his speech. “There, Khawaja Asif was sitting in front of me, and we all applauded together for the prime minister.”

    Moreover, Shama stated that the PM’s “historic speech was not only written by me, but it was teamwork”. She claimed to be a part of the minister’s speech-writing team since April as well. She questioned, “Why is Khawaja Asif sahib issuing such statements now and under what agenda is he tarnishing a historic visit of his government?”

    In a similar post on X, Asif’s statements and the FO’s post, according to her, “have embarrassed Pakistan globally“. She added, “If anyone attempts to malign my character or professional integrity, I reserve the right to pursue legal action in the UK.”

  • YouTuber Baba OP arrested at Lahore airport

    YouTuber Baba OP arrested at Lahore airport

    Social media influencer Asad Nadeem Mughal, better known as Baba OP, has been detained on Saturday at Lahore airport for allegedly promoting an online gambling app. 

    Media reports confirmed that the vlogger arrived from Sharjah on a private airline when the Federal Investigation Agency flagged his name during an immigration record check. Officials are also probing his suspected links with fellow influencer Ducky Bhai.

    The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) is investigating the wider scandal, with multiple cases already registered against other influencers.

  • Kh Asif says Imran Khan’s incarceration is not for ‘tit for tat’ measure

    Kh Asif says Imran Khan’s incarceration is not for ‘tit for tat’ measure

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has claimed that the incarceration of former premier and Patron in Chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan is not for “a tit for tat” measure.

    During an interview posted on Zeteo on Friday, journalist Mehdi Hassan asked Asif, “Are you banning and cracking down on the PTI because you are worried about how popular they are?” In response, Asif stated that he was not denying the popularity factor.

    However, he stated that over the last two and a half years, the popularity [of PTI] has definitely gone down because of the country’s economic recovery. “And things are much more orderly since the last elections.”

    The defence czar told the journalist that he had been in prison “for six months without any charge”.

    Hasan’s question, “If it was unjust to you, is it not unjust to [Imran] Khan?” prompted Asif to say that he was not saying that the imprisonment of Khan “is a tit for tat” measure.

    However, Hasan then pointed out that Amnesty International had released a report on Imran’s arrest, while a United Nations group had said that there was no legal basis for Imran’s imprisonment and termed it arbitrary. To that, the defence minister said, “Well, I think they have an opinion with which I disagree.”

    “Pakistan has a situation whereby we are trying to recover from a very, very, misrule or bad rule or whatever you can call it — for three-and-a-half years,” Asif noted.

    Defence pact with Saudi Arabia

    Asif said that the recently signed Strategic Mutual Defence Pact between Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) had “formalized” a relationship between the two countries that was previously “a bit transactional”.

    The development had come in the wake of Israeli strikes on Qatar’s capital, Doha, on September 09. The signing of the pact was announced in a statement issued from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) last week, stating that “any aggression against either country shall be considered an act of aggression against both”.


    On being asked, “How much of it is a reaction to the Israeli bombing of Qatar?” Asif said, “It is not a reaction to what happened in Qatar because this was being negotiated for quite some time. So it’s not a reaction; perhaps it must have sped it up a bit but that is all. It was already in the offing.”

    Hasan then pointed out that Pakistan was the only nuclear power in the Muslim world, noting that the Kingdom had expressed interest in being the second. He also pointed out that Asif had previously stated that nuclear weapons “were not on the radar” for this pact.

    “Is Saudi Arabia protected by Pakistan’s nuclear umbrella per this agreement or not?” he asked.

    “We have had a very long defence relationship with Saudi Arabia, spanning five or six decades. We had a military presence over there, perhaps more than four or five thousand at the peak and we still have a military presence over there. I think we have just formalised that relationship which was previously a bit transactional,” Asif responded.

    “Formalised with or without the nukes?” Hasan probed. Asif said, “I will refrain from going into the details, but it’s a defence pact and defence pacts are normally not discussed publicly.”

    Hasan then pointed out that journalist Bob Woodward, who in his 2024 book War, had quoted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS) telling a US senator that he could “just buy” a bomb from Pakistan.

    “I think that is just sensationalised […] No, I don’t believe that quote,” the minister replied.

    When asked by the journalist whether Pakistan’s “strategic” future is with China or the United States (US), the minister, citing the major export of arms from China, stated that the latter country is “reliable and they are our neighbours. We share borders and we share geography.”

  • PM Shehbaz says Pakistan wants peace in region after it delivered ‘bloody nose’ to India

    PM Shehbaz says Pakistan wants peace in region after it delivered ‘bloody nose’ to India

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, in an unusually fiery address at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Friday, stated that after Pakistan delivered a “bloody nose” to India in the May conflict, it seeks peace in the region.

    “We have won the war, and now we seek to win peace in our part of the world, and this is my most sincere and serious offer before this assembly of world nations,” the prime minister said.

    Following the April 22 Pahalgam incident in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), India launched strikes in Pakistan; however, it was given a major blow as Pakistan Air Force (PAF) shot down Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jets, including three Rafales. 

    The 88-hour-long conflict ended when the United States (US) intervened and announced a ceasefire between the two nuclear-armed neighbours on May 10.

    Recalling the May conflict, the premier said that the country confronted unprovoked aggression from its eastern front. “The enemy came shrouded in arrogance; we sent them back in humiliation, delivering a bloody nose,” he added.

    “India sought to extract political gains from a human tragedy by spurning my sincere offer of an independent international investigation into the Pahalgam incident…When our territorial integrity and national security were violated, our response was in accordance with the right of self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter.”

    He said, “Our falcons took flight and etched their answer across the skies, resulting in seven of the Indian jets turning to scrap and dust — a decisive response. A response to the aggressor that will echo through the annals of history.”

    Donald Trump, a man of peace

    Nonetheless, in a position of strength, Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire facilitated by President Donald Trump’s bold and vigorous leadership, Sharif said, expressing deep appreciation to him and his team for their active role in bringing about the ceasefire.

    “Who would have lived to tell what happened? And therefore, in recognition of Trump’s wonderful and outstanding contribution to promoting peace in our part of the world, Pakistan nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize. I think this is the least we can do for his love of peace — truly, he is a man of peace.”

    Pakistan is ready for result-oriented dialogue with India

    “Pakistan stands ready for a composite, comprehensive, and result-oriented dialogue with Indian on all outstanding issues,” the prime minister said.

    Regarding India’s recent unilateral suspension of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), the PM warned, “Pakistan has made it abundantly clear and led there be no doubt once again in anybody’s mind, as I said last year in this hall from this podium, we will definitely defend the inseparable right of our 240 million people on these waters. To us, any violation of this IWT represents an act of war.”

    Palestine must be liberated with full commitment and force

    Highlighting the Palestine issue, he said that the plight of the Palestinian people is one of the most heart-wrenching tragedies of our times.

    “This prolonged injustice is a stain on the global conscience and our collective moral failure. For nearly 80 years, the Palestinians have courageously endured Israel’s brutal occupation of their homeland in the West Bank, with each passing day bringing new brutality, illegal settlers who terrorise and kill with impunity, and nobody can challenge them or question them.”
    And in Gaza, he noted, Israel’s genocidal onslaught has unleashed unspeakable terror upon women and children in a manner not witnessed in the annals of history.

    Pakistan firmly supports the demand of the Palestinian people for the establishment of a sovereign state with pre-1967 borders and Al-Quds Sharif as its capital, he said, adding, “Palestine can no longer remain under Israeli shackles; it must be liberated and liberated with full commitment and force.”

    Expectation from the Afghan government to take effective action against terrorist groups

    Describing Afghanistan as a direct concern to Pakistan, he said, “We believe that the key to development and prosperity lies in regional stability and connectivity. Pakistan continues to engage with all partners to extend humanitarian assistance, promote economic recovery, and encourage an inclusive political framework in Afghanistan.”

    “Above all, we expect the Afghan government to take effective action against terrorist groups and ensure that Afghan soil is not used for terrorism against any country,” he maintained.