ISLAMABAD – Four key suspects have been arrested in a gang that blackmailed innocent children, sexually abused them, made obscene videos of them and sold these in Pakistan and internationally. Indecent videos of 50 to 60 children were recovered from the suspects.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Friday, NCCIA Additional Director Muhammad Shoaib Khan said the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency had exposed an international gang during a countrywide crackdown on elements involved in child pornography, online financial fraud and cyber harassment. The suspects sold the children’s videos internationally.
Shoaib Khan said the agency arrested four members of the child pornography gang after investigating around 60 videos found on a child’s mobile phone. The suspects befriended children aged 6 to 14 on Instagram and other social media platforms, lured them with money, made indecent videos of them, and sold these through WhatsApp groups and internationally. Two Chinese nationals have previously been convicted in connection with this crime, he added.
The additional director said 473 foreign nationals, who posed as bank representatives to commit fraud in Malaysia, China and India, have been arrested in raids on call centres across the country. In the past week, 22 suspects in cyber harassment cases have also been taken into custody, and their entire inquiry and investigation has been assigned exclusively to women officers.
ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has decided to set the proposed wheat price for 2027 at Rs4,500 per maund, in a key move to promote the country’s agriculture sector, protect farmers’ economic interests and boost wheat production next year.
According to the prime minister, the main aim of the decision is to give farmers relief from rising production costs, higher petroleum prices and inflationary pressure, to provide effective incentives for wheat cultivation, and to stabilise the national agricultural economy.
The consultative process for the decision was guided by President Asif Ali Zardari and Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, with the advice and cooperation of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.
Shehbaz Sharif offered special thanks to Maryam Nawaz for her valuable proposals and cooperation in the consultative process, and praised her role. He also expressed gratitude to Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah for his cooperation.
He expressed hope that the increase in the proposed wheat price would help growers cover their production costs and earn a reasonable profit. Encouraging farmers to grow wheat is among the government’s key objectives, so that maximum sowing and higher national output can be achieved in the coming season.
The prime minister pointed out that in recent years, inflation and rising agricultural expenses have left farmers facing financial difficulties, while Pakistan has also had to import wheat over the past two years. In such circumstances, he said, raising the proposed wheat price could prove an important step toward encouraging local production and improving the country’s ability to meet its food needs.
The government expects the new proposed price to make farmers more interested in cultivating wheat, improving prospects for a larger sown area and higher overall production in the coming season. The move is being described as an important part of efforts to improve farmers’ economic well-being, stabilise the agriculture sector and promote food security.
Shehbaz Sharif said that increasing domestic wheat production would not only help protect farmers’ economic interests but also strengthen efforts to make the country more self-sufficient in food. The government expects the decision to yield positive results in 2027 in the form of benefits for agriculture, wheat availability and farmers’ prosperity.
It should be noted that the Rs4,500 per maund price has so far been described only as a proposed or indicative price. Therefore, before treating it as a finally implemented official procurement price, confirmation through the relevant official announcement and procedure will be necessary.
ISLAMABAD – Rotary International has reaffirmed its support for Pakistan’s efforts to eliminate wild poliovirus, calling for sustained political commitment, funding and community engagement ahead of World Polio Day today (October 24).
Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only two countries where wild poliovirus is endemic, the organisation said in a statement.
Rotary International President Olayinka Hakeem Babalola said the organisation had contributed more than $3 billion towards polio eradication worldwide, including $1.3 million raised by Rotary members in Pakistan.
More than $500 million of its global contribution had supported efforts in Pakistan, alongside volunteer work to help protect over 45 million children against the disease, he said.
Babalola, who helped lead eradication efforts in Nigeria before Africa received wild poliovirus-free certification in 2020, said the continent’s experience demonstrated that Pakistan could achieve the same goal with coordinated support.
“Africa’s achievement demonstrates that with collaboration and political and financial support, ending polio in Pakistan and eradicating it globally is possible.”
Community trust remains central
Rotary said its members continued to advocate for government support and promote immunisation in Pakistan, where vaccine refusals remained an obstacle to reaching every child.
Aziz Memon, chair of Rotary’s Pakistan National PolioPlus Committee, said addressing wider community needs was essential to maintaining public trust in vaccination efforts.
He said the committee had helped establish water filtration plants, community resource centres and facilities for frontline vaccination workers. Permanent transit posts also helped vaccination teams reach children travelling between areas.
Sustained support urged
Rotary helped establish the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988, when the disease affected an estimated 350,000 children annually across 125 countries.
According to the organisation, cases have since declined by more than 99.9 per cent, and eradication efforts have spared more than 20 million people from paralysis.
Rotary urged governments, donors and partner organisations to keep polio eradication a priority, saying the tools and expertise to eliminate the disease were available.
Observed annually on October 24, World Polio Day honours Jonas Salk, who developed the first safe and effective polio vaccine, and highlights efforts to end the disease.
LAHORE – Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has urged women not to share their photographs under any circumstances, saying suspects use photos and videos to blackmail them.
Speaking to the media in Lahore, Naqvi said he was at the NCCIA office to understand the public’s problems.
He appealed to mothers and sisters not to share their pictures with anyone, saying that suspects blackmail women using their photos and videos. He said the cybercrime wing receives the highest number of harassment cases involving girls, and that an awareness campaign for girls and the general public is about to be launched.
He also advised the public not to transfer money if someone asks for it online, including if a person poses as ill and seeks funds.
The interior minister said the NCCIA has only 61 personnel across Punjab, and efforts are under way to bring staffing up to strength so that complainants’ problems can be resolved. He said the NCCIA has arrested suspects in several important cases, and that the cyber police will be strengthened in every way. Whether a government employee or anyone else, anyone found involved in cybercrime will be arrested, he added.
Republican US Senate candidate Mike Rogers and allies including President Donald Trump are escalating their efforts to tie Democratic rival Abdul El-Sayed to the Muslim Brotherhood less than two weeks before the Nov 3 midterms, with Trump falsely branding him a “jihadist.”
Pollsters and political strategists say the approach is aimed at dissuading Jewish and Black voters in the Detroit area who backed El-Sayed’s primary opponent, Haley Stevens, from getting behind the Democratic nominee in the closing days of the Senate campaign in Michigan.
“It gives them even more reason to pause and not vote for El-Sayed,” said Dennis Darnoi, a Republican political consultant.
“If Democratic voters aren’t casting ballots for El-Sayed in what is the biggest population area here, then that is a net benefit to Mike Rogers’ campaign.”
El-Sayed and Rogers are vying for the seat held by retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters in a race that could determine whether Democrats gain the four Senate seats needed to take control of the chamber in next month’s election.
Republicans currently have a 53-47 seat majority, which would be harder to overturn if El-Sayed loses.
The Democrat has built a small lead in opinion polls by focusing his campaign on affordability, healthcare and getting money out of politics.
Rogers has sought to undermine the Democrat’s support among Jewish voters by pointing to El-Sayed’s criticism of Israel’s offensive in Gaza and asserting that El-Sayed has longstanding family ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Strategists said homing in on the Muslim Brotherhood also aims to hurt El-Sayed by exploiting economic tensions between Black voters and Michigan’s large Arab-American community.
Rogers has pointed to old social media posts by El-Sayed’s half sister saying their mother was involved with the organisation in the 1970s.
El-Sayed has disavowed the Muslim Brotherhood, denied any connection with the group and has said that he was not raised by his mother. His parents divorced when he was three years old, and he was raised by his father and step-mother.
Asked about Rogers’ strategy, campaign spokesperson Alyssa Brouillet said El-Sayed’s “extremist positions” on issues ranging from prisons to the Muslim Brotherhood were alienating Michiganders.
El-Sayed campaign spokesperson Roxie Richner said Rogers is trying to distract from the economic effects of Trump’s agenda, adding in a statement: “Independent fact checkers have repeatedly debunked Mike’s lies, but their campaign continues to use bad faith attacks on Abdul’s faith and family.”
‘Proud to be an American’
Rogers hit the Muslim Brotherhood message hard during this week’s televised debate, questioning the Democrat’s loyalty to the US.
“If you are going to go to the United States Senate, we need to know: are you for America or are you for these terrorist groups overseas?” Rogers asked.
El-Sayed, a son of Egyptian immigrants who would be the first Muslim to be elected to the US Senate if he wins, responded by calling the question shameful.
“It’s actually quite beneath you, Mike,” he replied. “I am proud of America. I’m proud to be an American. I’m proud of our Constitution that guarantees all of us the right to pray as we choose to pray.”
Rogers, a former congressman, US Army officer and FBI agent, later appealed directly to Democrats who voted for Stevens, saying they “have a home” with him if they were worried that El-Sayed was too “extreme”.
Democratic nominee for US Senate Abdul El-Sayed and Republican nominee for US Senate Mike Rogers are seen on a screen in the media room during their US Senate debate in Southfield, Michigan US, on October 21, 2026. — Reuters
Michigan Senate race a ‘toss-up’
It is unclear if the Republican strategy is paying off.
The race is rated a toss-up by independent political analysts, with polls showing El-Sayed with an average lead of 2.6 percentage points, according to the website RealClearPolling.com.
El-Sayed has campaigned recently with prominent Black political figures such as Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia, Representative Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Former president Barack Obama, who has endorsed El-Sayed, is due to campaign with him on Saturday.
Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus Chair Keith Williams, who backed Stevens in Michigan’s Democratic primary contest and is now working to rally support for El-Sayed, acknowledged that tensions between the Black and Arab American communities are an issue for the candidate.
“We have to work through our differences,” Williams told Reuters.
“At the end of the day, this election is bigger than our differences because we cannot have a senator going to Washington and supporting Donald Trump’s policies.”
Some strategists say the attacks may have come too late to reshape the race and risk backfiring if voters view them as anti-Muslim.
“I don’t know what this does for them,” said Jim Zogby, a longtime pollster and co-founder of the Arab American Institute, a nonprofit that advocates for the Arab American community.
“There are people who think Haitians eat cats and dogs and think anybody with an Arabic name is either a terrorist or a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. But that’s a much smaller group of people — and it’s already a Republican group of people.”
Republican Mike Rogers of Michigan, a candidate for the U.S. Senate in the November 3 midterm elections, speaks at the Republican National Midterm Convention in Dallas, Texas, US, on September 10, 2026. — Reuters
Overwhelming support from Black voters
A September Emerson College poll showed support for El-Sayed at 81 per cent among Black voters, who make up about a quarter of Michigan Democrats.
“There was no sign there in mid-September of erosion of Black support for El-Sayed. I would not suspect that the number would have changed much over the last month,” said Matt Taglia, senior director of Emerson College Polling.
Democrat Jocelyn Benson, who is running for Michigan governor, scored 4 percentage points higher in the same poll, while Harris drew 86pc of the Black vote in 2024.
Michigan pollster Steve Mitchell said weaker support among Black and Jewish voters could cost El-Sayed as many as 20,000 votes. Rogers lost his 2024 Senate bid to Democrat Elissa Slotkin by a similar margin.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday set the illustrative price for wheat at Rs4,500 per maund for 2027, raising the procurement price set last year by Rs1,000.
“In view of the increase in production costs, the price had been raised by Rs1,000 per maund compared to last year,” a statement by the PM’s Office (PMO) said.
It quoted the premier as saying that the decision was taken with the guidance of President Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and in consultation with the chief ministers of Punjab and Sindh.
The PMO statement added that the prime minister’s decision was aimed at “promoting agriculture sector in the country, protecting farmers’ economic interests and increasing wheat production next year”.
Moreover, the statement quoted PM Shehbaz as saying that the government’s objective behind increasing the proposed wheat procurement price was to provide relief to farmers amid rising production and fuel costs, as well as inflation pressure.
“Providing farmers with an incentive to cultivate wheat is among the key objectives of the decision,” the prime minister said.
He expressed hope that the new proposed price would help farmers cover their production costs and earn profit.
“Over the past years, farmers have faced financial difficulties due to inflation and rising agricultural expenses while Pakistan has also had to import wheat in the last two years,” he said, adding that the decision to increase the illustrative price would prove to be an important step forward in “strengthening the country’s food security, encouraging local production, and bringing stability to the agriculture sector”.
“The government expects that the determination of the proposed price will generate greater interest among farmers in wheat cultivation, resulting in ample sowing of wheat in the upcoming season and brighter prospects for increased national production.
“This step taken by the prime minister will prove to be an important milestone in the efforts to improve the economic well-being of farmers, stabilise the agricultural economy and make the country more self-reliant in meeting its nutritional needs. It is hoped that 2027 will bring positive results for Pakistan’s agricultural sector and its farmers,” the PMO statement said.
It added that the prime minister expressed gratitude to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for her cooperation in the consultative process for the decision, as well as to Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah for his cooperation.
The proposed price of Rs4,500 is still Rs500 less than the price demanded by farmers.
Last month, the Pakistan Kissan Ittehad demanded a Rs5,000 per 40kg support price for wheat, warning that farmers may not sow wheat for the next season if the government delays announcing crop policies.
The association had maintained that the farmers were unable to afford balanced fertiliser use because they were not recovering production costs.
In early October, Sindh CM Murad had approved the release of government wheat at the rate of Rs12,500 per 100kg bag from Oct 15 in order to stabilise flour prices and ensure its availability in the province.
On Oct 13, PM Shehbaz chaired the first National Agricultural and Food Security Council meeting and reaffirmed that the government wanted farmers to get a fair price for wheat and consumers to have affordable wheat.
During the meeting, he declared that wheat was available in abundant quantities to meet domestic needs, and vowed no leniency for hoarders.
RAWALPINDI – Indian-sponsored terrorist attempt foiled at Gabd border crossing and in Gwadar city.
According to the ISPR, security forces killed 10 terrorists, including a female terrorist, in a clearance operation in Gwadar city and its surrounding areas.
The ISPR said one civilian was martyred in the terrorists’ attack and a few vehicles were damaged. There were no casualties among the security forces during the operations.
The ISPR said the terrorists’ aim was to obstruct Balochistan’s development and prosperity.
According to the ISPR, the attempt by the terrorists to challenge the writ of the state was foiled, and law and order and the writ of the state were restored after the operations in Gwadar were completed.
In a statement, the ISPR said that forcibly using a woman in the attack violates the sanctity of Baloch women, and that the terrorists are using Baloch women to spread propaganda and incite public sentiment. It added that the people of Balochistan have consistently rejected those who shed blood in their name.
The statement further said that the counter-terrorism campaign under Azm-e-Istehkam will continue at full speed, and that the military is committed to eradicating foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country.
Oil prices rose on Friday, with Brent crude touching a more than five-month high, after Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia stoked concern over further disruption to energy supplies from the Middle East.
Brent crude futures gained $1.40, or 1.2 per cent, to $114.57 a barrel by 1138 GMT (4:38pm PKT), having earlier reached $115 for the highest level since May 4. US West Texas Intermediate crude gained $1.48, or 1.5pc, to $100.95.
The Brent benchmark is on track for a third consecutive weekly gain, of 4.2pc, while WTI is poised to finish 0.5pc down on the week.
Saudi Aramco on Thursday ordered the evacuation of its headquarters in Dhahran on the Gulf near Bahrain, Reuters reported, as fighting intensified between the world’s largest crude exporter and Yemen-based Houthis.
“The market remains concerned about a potential escalation, which, in a worst-case scenario, could trigger renewed supply disruptions,” said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo, adding that volatile oil flows and elevated freight rates have left the market undersupplied.
Clashes between the Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition that backs Yemen’s internationally recognised government have raged since the Houthis pushed towards Bab el-Mandab, a shipping chokepoint at the mouth of the Red Sea.
“The key factors to monitor now are the extent of actual disruption and the time needed to restore operations, as these will ultimately determine how much of a supply risk premium the market is willing to pay,” said XS.com analyst Linh Tran. “If attacks persist and delay deliveries, elevated prices will have a firmer foundation.”
An oil spill from a tanker was detected off the coast of Umm Al Quwain, prompting containment operations and environmental assessments, the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Climate Change and Environment said on Friday.
The ministry did not say what caused the spill, and authorities have not identified the tanker involved.
In Libya, an oil pipeline valve from the Hamada and Tahara oilfields to Zawiya port was shut, leading to a reduction in production at both fields, the head of the National Oil Corporation told Reuters on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the first Russian diesel bound for the US since a surprise agreement between Moscow and US President Donald Trump is aboard a tanker heading for New York, ship-tracking data showed today.
Trump announced the deal this month as part of his efforts to bring down soaring diesel prices ahead of US midterm elections next month.
LAHORE – A CCD (Crime Control Department) police official in the Kahna area has been accused of raping a young woman and filming her in a state of undress. A case has been registered.
According to the FIR, the woman, a resident of Kot Lakhpat, went to Kahna Bazaar on October 1, where her mobile phone went missing from her purse. She went to Kahna police station to report the loss, where she met a CCD police official named Shabbir.
The case states that CCD official Muhammad Shabbir took her phone number and sent her away. He later called her, claiming her phone had been traced, and summoned her to Ahlu Road.
The FIR further states that when the woman reached Ahlu Road, Shabbir took her to the house of a woman named Humaira Bibi. There, he pulled out a weapon, raped her, and filmed her in a state of undress.
On October 10, Shabbir again summoned the woman to Humaira Bibi’s house on Ahlu Road. Fearing for her honor, she went, and Shabbir raped her again.
Meanwhile, the woman went to Kahna police station to file a case, but the police there stalled instead of registering it. She then appeared at the open court (khuli kachehri) of DIG Operations Faisal Kamran, where her grievance was heard.
Subsequently, a case was registered at Kahna police station on the woman’s complaint against CCD official Muhammad Shabbir, and an investigation has begun.
PAKISTAN’S draft auto policy 2026-31 is ambitious in its targets and directionless in its strategy. It promises electrification, export growth, greater competition, and stronger local manufacturing.
However, some of its most consequential incentives threaten to undermine these very goals. The proposed policy aims to generate $6bn in exports over five years, while reducing import tariffs and promoting ‘new’ energy vehicles. These are sensible goals. But targets cannot be achieved without a credible strategy. The draft sent to the cabinet for its approval needs a fundamental rethink before it becomes policy.
Consider the proposed sales tax of 9pc on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, against 18pc under the standard rate. By granting PHEVs a substantial tax advantage, the government is effectively treating vehicles that continue to largely depend on petrol as a preferred route to electrification. This is difficult to reconcile with the stated aim of cutting the oil import bill and reducing transport emissions.
A battery EV, by contrast, eliminates petrol consumption altogether. Giving PHEVs generous tax concessions without clear performance conditions risks encouraging consumers to remain tied to fossil fuels. Sadly, the government appears to have yielded to pressure from hybrid carmakers rather than applying a consistent technological framework. If electrification is the intention, incentives should favour only those vehicles that deliver the greatest reduction in petroleum consumption and emissions.
The export ambition is also debatable. The policy envisages a sharp rise in vehicle and parts exports — without a production strategy. Chinese and Korean auto producers have not authorised their Pakistani partners to make or assemble their brands here for international markets. Unless the government secures commitments to use Pakistan as an export base, the targets are wishful planning.
Lowering taxes on Chinese vehicles while assemblers keep relying on imported components could entrench low-value assembly. Local vendors would face mounting pressure from cheaper imported parts, and those struggling at home cannot become exporters.
Tariff liberalisation is not entirely misguided. However, the government must distinguish between protection that sustains inefficiency and a time-bound framework that helps producers reach scale. Currently, the policy risks subsidising petrol-dependent technology, wiping out local autoparts makers, and promising exports the industry cannot deliver.
LASBELA – At least twelve people were killed when a van collided with a passenger coach in Lasbela.
According to police, the tragic incident occurred at Zero Point in Uthal, Lasbela, where the van and passenger coach collided.
Police said the ill-fated coach was travelling from Gwadar to Karachi. As soon as the incident was reported, police and rescue teams rushed to the scene and immediately shifted the bodies and injured to a hospital.
According to police, 12 people, including women, lost their lives in the accident.
KHUZDAR: At least 12 passengers were killed and around two dozen injured when a minibus and a passenger coach collided head-on near Zero Point in Uthal on the Quetta-Karachi Highway in Balochistan on Friday, police said.
According to police, the coach was travelling from Gwadar to Karachi, while the minibus was heading from Bela to Karachi.
“The tragic incident took place near Bela when the passenger coach hit the minibus,” the officials said, adding that seven passengers were killed on the spot, while five others succumbed to their injuries in hospital.
In-charge of the Edhi Centre in Bela Abdul Hakeem Lasi said around 22 injured passengers were shifted to hospital by Edhi workers before being taken to Karachi for treatment.
He said seven injured passengers were in serious condition. Most of the casualties occurred in the minibus, he added.
The accident occurred two days after 10 people were killed and 44 others injured when a passenger bus overturned after hitting a road divider in Rajanpur district’s Rojhan tehsil on the Indus Highway on Wednesday.
A similar accident occurred last month when two people were killed and 15 others injured in a head-on collision between a passenger coach and an LPG bowser near Balochistan’s Kharkhera Customs on the main National Highway in Winder.
In February, five people, including a local journalist, were killed in two separate road accidents in Winder and Khuzdar districts.
In January, four people were killed and several others injured in a road accident near Wadh in Khuzdar district on the Quetta-Karachi National Highway.
LAHORE – A petrol pump worker’s attempt to prevent possible accident allegedly triggered a violent confrontation in Lahore’s Jubilee Town, where a man travelling in a Prado reportedly assaulted him for asking him to stop smoking.
According to police, the worker was following safety protocols when he warned the SUV owner against smoking at the filling station. The suspect allegedly responded by beating the worker and issuing serious threats before fleeing.
سگریٹ کا دھواں روکا تو تشدد کی آگ بھڑک اٹھی، چوہنگ پولیس کی کارروائی، پٹرول پمپ ورکر پر تشدد اور سنگین دھمکیاں دینے والا ملزم گرفتار۔ حفاظتی ایس او پیز کے تحت سگریٹ نوشی سے منع کرنے پر ملزم نے ورکر کو تشدد کا نشانہ بنایا اور فرار ہو گیا۔ پولیس نے گاڑی کی مدد سے ملزم کا سراغ لگایا، دورانِ گرفتاری مزاحمت کرنے والے ملزم کے قبضے سے اسلحہ بھی برآمد ہوا۔ ملزم کے خلاف مقدمہ درج۔
After the incident was reported, Chuhng police traced the SUV. Investigators found that the vehicle had been rented, with its rental receipt providing the lead that helped identify the suspect as Idrees Bhatti. Police subsequently arrested Bhatti, who allegedly attempted to resist officers during his arrest.
DIG Operations said a weapon was also recovered from the suspect’s possession. Further legal proceedings are underway.
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Friday that 10 India-sponsored terrorists were killed in separate engagements as security forces thwarted their attempts to “undermine the writ of the state” in Balochistan’s Gwadar district.
In a statement, the military’s media affairs wing said: “On Oct 22, Indian-sponsored terrorists of Fitna al Hindustan attempted to carry out terrorist activities in district Gwadar, in the general areas of the Gabd Border Crossing and Gwadar city.”
The state has designated Balochistan-based groups as Fitna al Hindustan to highlight India’s role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan.
“By targeting these locations, terrorists sought to harm the very people they claim to represent and wanted to obstruct the development and prosperity of Balochistan. To protect residents and clear the area, security forces launched clearance operations in and around Gwadar city,” ISPR said.
It said that in separate engagements, security forces foiled the terrorists’ designs and “their bid to undermine the writ of the state and spread their misconstrued agenda”.
“In the ensuing exchanges of fire, ten terrorists, including one female terrorist, were sent to hell. During the terrorist attacks one civilian embraced shahadat (martyrdom) and [a] few vehicles were damaged. Operations were concluded without any loss to security forces, restoring order and writ of the state,” it said.
The statement further said that the coercion of a Baloch woman into the attack was “a crime not only against the state but against the hurmat (respect) of Baloch women”.
“It exposes the terrorists’ cynical exploitation of Baloch women as an instrument of propaganda, intended to inflame public sentiment and lend false sanctity to their campaign. Such tactics are contrary to Baloch and Islamic traditions, which hold women in the highest honour. The people of Balochistan have consistently rejected those who shed blood in their name, and they will see through this deception as well,” it said.
The statement said that the counterterror campaign would continue at full pace.
“Security forces and law enforcement agencies remain resolute in eliminating foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” it said.
The ISPR statement comes a day after security sources said that security forces killed three terrorists and foiled an attack on an unoccupied construction company camp in Gwadar.
Balochistan has witnessed an increase in terrorist activities in recent years, prompting security forces to intensify counter-terrorism operations.
Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir said earlier on Friday the armed forces will continue the counterterrorism campaign against Indian-sponsored terrorist groups “to the fullest”, vowing to “hit them hard wherever they are”.
Earlier this week, ISPR said an army major was martyred and four terrorists were killed during intelligence-based operations in Balochistan.
The number of terrorist attacks in the province increased by seven per cent from 83 in July to 89 in August, according to data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).
As per the report, Balochistan was declared the province “most affected” by terrorism.
Following the latest operations by security forces in Gwadar, President Asif Ali Zardari commended the security forces for foiling the terrorists’ attempts.
“The president also expressed deep sorrow and grief over the martyrdom of a citizen in a terrorism incident,” the statement issued by the Presidency said.
It further quoted President Zardari as saying that efforts to disrupt peace and stability in Balochistan could not shake the people’s resolve for development and prosperity in the province.
He stressed the importance of peace for the protection of the rights and interests of people of Balochistan and said that “using the honour of Baloch women for political interests is condemnable”.
ISLAMABAD: A state-appointed counsel on Friday cross-examined all prosecution witnesses in a security breach case against lawyers Imaan Zainab Hazir-Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha.
Imaan and her husband, Hadi, are facing a jail trial in a 2024 case pertaining to the alleged disruption of an international cricket team’s security route and incitement to public unrest.
The couple, accused of removing barriers from the route, was indicted on Oct 7.
Anti-terrorism court Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra presided over the hearing held inside Adiala jail on Friday, during which state counsel Atif Mehmood cross-examined a prosecution witness.
On Saturday, the court will provide Imaan and Hadi with questionnaires under Section 342 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to record their statements.
In a hearing on Thursday, the court appointed Mehmood as the state counsel to cross-examine the prosecution witnesses, replacing Taimoor Janjua, who was dismissed over his past conduct.
The court had ruled to appoint the state attorney after the defence counsel failed to cross-examine the prosecution witnesses.
During the last hearing, Imaan informed the court that she and Hadi did not need a state counsel as they already had their own lawyers.
Hadi explained that their lawyers were frequently occupied with other cases at the Islamabad High Court (IHC), while the trial court had scheduled daily hearings at Adiala, making it difficult for them to attend every proceeding.
The court had directed the prosecution witnesses to appear again on Friday, affirming that the cross-examination would proceed without further delay.
Imaan and Hadi’s rearrest
The lawyer couple has been in jail since their arrest on Jan 23 in a case registered against them for protesting outside the IHC and allegedly manhandling the IHC Bar Association president. The arrest prompted criticism by rights bodies, politicians and journalists, who stressed the couple’s right to a fair trial.
Just a day later, a sessions court sentenced them to 17 years on multiple charges under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) in the controversial social media posts case.
On Sept 17, following months of litigation before the courts, the Supreme Court suspended their sentences in the case. The SC ordered their release pending the Islamabad High Court’s final verdict on their appeals against the trial court’s decision.
However, the reprieve was short-lived as hours later, Islamabad police arrested the couple again in connection with another case and produced them before an ATC, which sent them to jail on judicial remand.
The fresh case in which the two were arrested was registered at the federal capital’s Kohsar police station on March 22 last year on the complaint of City Magistrate Ghulam Murtaza Chandio.
Imaan and Hadi were accused of chanting anti-government slogans and blocking roads and were nominated by name in the FIR. However, at the time of registration of the case, no section of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) had been added.
The FIR included sections 188 (disobedience of an order lawfully promulgated by a public servant), 341 (wrongful restraint), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), 353 (assault or use of criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging their official duty) and 186 (obstructing a public servant in the performance of official duties).
KARACHI – Gold prices in Pakistan extended their decline on October 23, losing another Rs7,000 per tola as the international market moved lower.
The latest fall brought the domestic rate to Rs424,536 per tola, while 10 grams of gold dropped by Rs6,001 to Rs363,971, as per local market rates.
Gold/Silver
New Price
Decline
Gold per tola
Rs424,536
Rs7,000
Gold per 10 grams
Rs363,971
Rs6,001
International gold per ounce
$4,020
$70
Silver per tola
Rs5,865
Rs221
Over two consecutive sessions, gold has become Rs10,000 cheaper per tola. Thursday’s trading had already seen a Rs3,000 reduction, leaving the rate at Rs431,536 before Friday’s sharper drop.
Gold Rates in Lahore
City
Item
Selling Rate
Buying
Lahore
Gold — Piece
423,700
423,200
Lahore
Gold — Pathoor
418,500
416,500
Karachi
Gold
423,500
—
Lahore
Silver — Tezabi
5,850
5,750
Lahore
Silver — 1kg Bar
5,900
5,850
The downward movement mirrored international trading, where gold fell by $70 to settle at $4,020 an ounce.
Silver also recorded a decline in Pakistan, with its per-tola price decreasing by Rs221 to Rs5,865.
The signing of the Badr Memorandum of Understanding by Pakistan, Türkiye, Qatar and Indonesia in Doha on Wednesday is the latest manifestation of Middle Eastern states accelerated efforts for diversifying their defense partnerships amid growing doubts about the reliability of existing security arrangements of the region led by the United States.
But, rather than laying the foundations of a new regional security architecture, the proliferation of such agreements is producing a more fractured landscape in which countries are drawing in more partners, pursuing separate strategic interests and accepting varying levels of military commitments.
There could not be a bigger example of how uneven is the process than the agreements being signed up by regional countries themselves.
Badr, for instance, focuses on defense manufacturing, technology transfer, research and development, and training, allowing its participants to pool industrial capabilities without committing themselves to military assistance in the event of an attack.
In contrast the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement, concluded in August by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye, goes considerably further by providing that an attack on one participant will be treated as an attack on all as it builds on a bilateral Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement between Pakistan and KSA signed in Sept 2025.
These are two major agreements in addition to several others being signed or solidified by the countries in the region, but the contrast between Badr and Makkah agreements is telling because these agreements are often taken as evidence of an emerging regional security architecture, although the arrangements differ considerably in their purpose and obligations. Makkah agreement formalises security guarantees between participating countries, while Badr aims to develop industrial capacity.
The momentum behind these regional security initiatives has grown since this year’s US - Israel war with Iran exposed the risks of relying heavily on external protection. For Gulf states in particular, the Iran conflict raised questions about whether existing security partnerships could adequately protect their interests during a major regional confrontation.
Importantly, the response of the affected countries has not been to abandon US, whose military capabilities are still considered indispensable, but to seek additional options through new partnerships, domestic defense production and selective commitments.
Besides the impression of the inadequacy of US security umbrella, this search for greater strategic autonomy also needs to be looked at in the context of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s own Joint Defense Agreement, signed in 2000, which too provides that aggression against one member constitutes aggression against all, yet the bloc has struggled to translate this commitment into an integrated military capability because of differences in equipment, command systems and national priorities.
The hurdles to full operationalisation of Peninsula Shield Force has further exposed the gap between a collective defense principle and the ability to organise a coordinated response.
The newer arrangements that the countries in the region are signing up partly reflect this GCC experience. Therefore, while these countries want enhanced security cooperation, they are also reluctant to surrender the freedom to make independent decisions.
As a result, a network of partnerships is emerging that may complement one another in some areas without actually adding up to a common defense system.
Pakistan’s expanding role illustrates both the opportunities and the limitations of this approach. Its relationship with Saudi Arabia has acquired a more formal security dimension through the 2025 bilateral agreement and the subsequent Makkah framework, while cooperation with Turkiye offers scope for closer military coordination and defense industrial collaboration.
Egypt, another key player in the Arab world, has stayed outside the Makkah framework and has offered defense cooperation to Saudi Arabia, reflecting its interest in protecting its own regional priorities without becoming committed to a wider military confrontation.
Islamabad’s other Gulf relationships, however, remain more limited in scope. Kuwait has strengthened defense cooperation with Pakistan through an upgraded agreement - the Protocol Agreement 2026 - covering training, capacity building and border management, while Bahrain has developed close links with the Pakistani military through the presence of Pakistani personnel in its National Guard and Coast Guard, alongside cooperation in training and logistics. These relationships have provided a basis for continued military engagement but do not carry the mutual defense obligations associated with the Pakistan - KSA partnership.
Ties with UAE have, meanwhile, followed a more complicated course marred by political and financial strains, Islamabad’s closer alignment with Riyadh and Abu Dhabi’s expanding defense relationship with India. Nevertheless, training, personnel exchanges, counterterrorism activities and joint exercises between the two countries continue.
Qatar has signed a defense industrial cooperation agreement involving Pakistan among others while Oman has maintained selective military ties with Pakistan and Turkiye, simultaneously preserving its wider security relationships and avoiding binding mutual defense commitments, consistent with its preference for neutrality and diplomatic engagement, particularly in relation to Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.
This makes it difficult to describe Pakistan’s growing defense relationships as a unified regional bloc. Moreover, commitments under these agreements vary according to the interests and calculations of individual partners. Islamabad, in this situation, is left to balance closer security ties against its available military resources and the risk of becoming involved in conflicts whose objectives may not coincide with its own.
At the same time the Gulf states are also pursuing different courses. Saudi Arabia is strengthening its relationships with Pakistan and Turkiye while continuing to rely on Western military capabilities and Egypt and exploring defense industrial cooperation with China.
The UAE, which has not joined either the Makkah or Badr frameworks, has deepened security cooperation with Israel, including in air defense and counter drone capabilities, while maintaining close relationships with US, France and India. Qatar is seeking to expand its defense industrial partnerships through Badr but at the same time retains US military presence at Al Udeid.
Bahrain remains closely aligned with Saudi Arabia and the GCC defense framework, while Kuwait continues to prioritise bilateral military cooperation with Pakistan alongside its substantial security relationship with Washington. Oman’s preference for neutrality and mediation further distinguishes its approach from those seeking more formal security commitments.
The differences are not only confined to the choice of partners, but the states also have divergent assessments of the threat posed by Iran, the role of Israel in regional security and the degree to which they should commit themselves to one another’s defense. Their partnerships are therefore being shaped as much by the need to preserve freedom of action as by the desire to develop collective capabilities.
The new partnerships do not either automatically translate into military independence for regional states, which continue to operate substantial inventories of Western origin aircraft, air defense systems and other advanced platforms that require specialised maintenance, software support, spare parts and replacement munitions. New partners may help diversify procurement and develop local production, but they cannot necessarily replace established suppliers on the required scale.
Moreover, addition of newer systems can also complicate logistics and interoperability unless countries invest in common procedures, training and secure communications. Defense industrial cooperation presents another challenge and agreements such as Badr will acquire practical significance only if they lead to funded production programs, meaningful technology transfer and capabilities that participating countries can maintain and sustain.
Similarly, the credibility of mutual defense arrangements will depend on whether their members can coordinate intelligence, plan jointly and establish procedures for responding to a crisis.
The number of agreements signed, therefore, is less important than the military capabilities and obligations they actually produce.
For Washington, this proliferation of new defense agreements may apparently look like a challenge, but this should definitely not be seen as it being replaced. US undoubtedly remains deeply embedded in the region through military bases, intelligence cooperation, arms sales and longstanding defense relationships.
The emerging shift may, however, give the regional countries greater bargaining power with established suppliers, particularly as they press for domestic production, technology partnerships and greater control over maintenance and supply chains. To put it simply the emerging arrangements are an attempt to manage the uncertainty created by recent geo-political developments especially the receding US footprint rather than replace the existing system outright.
The central contradiction in the Gulf countries response to the emerging situation, however, is that while these states are seeking greater security through a proliferation of partnerships, they remain unwilling, or unable, to reconcile their differences over the threats they face and the obligations they are prepared to assume.
KARACHI – Savers looking for stronger returns gets relief, with the government increasing profit rates across several National Savings schemes. Special Savings Certificates recorded the largest increase among the listed products, while Behbood Savings Certificates now offer an annual rate of 12.96%.
The revisions cover range of savings options, including regular income products, Islamic accounts and short-term certificates, as the government seeks to encourage saving and attract funds into secure savings schemes.
Special Savings Certificates saw their profit rate climb by 110 basis points to 12%. Regular Income Certificates followed with a 96-basis-point increase, taking their rate to 12.12%.
Savings Scheme
Profit Rate
Increase
Special Savings Certificates
12.00%
110 basis points
Regular Income Certificates
12.12%
96 basis points
Behbood Savings Certificates
12.96%
36 basis points
Sarwa Islamic Account
11.84%
59 basis points
Short-Term Savings Certificates — 3 months
11.12%
26 basis points
Short-Term Savings Certificates — 6 months
11.50%
64 basis points
Short-Term Savings Certificates — 1 year
11.72%
44 basis points
For investors in Behbood Savings Certificates, the rate increased by 36 basis points to 12.96%. The Sarwa Islamic Account also received an upward revision, with a 59-basis-point rise bringing its profit rate to 11.84%.
Short-term savers will also receive higher returns. The three-month certificate rate rose by 26 basis points to 11.12%, while six-month certificates registered a 64-basis-point increase to 11.50%. The rate on one-year certificates increased by 44 basis points to 11.72%.
Across the products listed, the increases range from 26 to 110 basis points.
The revised rates could lift earnings for investors in the relevant schemes, although the amount they ultimately receive will depend on their investment, scheme conditions, taxes and other applicable deductions. Investors should confirm the latest rates, their effective date and eligibility requirements with National Savings before committing funds.
LAHORE – The Lahore district administration has announced March 12 to 14, 2027, as the dates for next year’s Basant festival, following approval from the Punjab government.
Deputy Commissioner Lahore Captain (retd) Ali Ijaz issued a new notification outlining the arrangements for the three-day event.
The latest schedule allows kite flying across Lahore’s district limits, except in areas specifically designated as prohibited. The activity will remain subject to conditions set by the government.
The notification also establishes requirements for kites and strings used during Basant, stating that only materials meeting officially prescribed standards may be used.
Kite and string manufacturing has been permitted for a specified period beginning September 5, 2026, and ending on March 14, 2027. Digital registration will be compulsory for manufacturers operating under the arrangement.
The district administration has directed those involved in the festival to comply with all applicable rules and restrictions. Kite flying and related activities will be permitted only in accordance with the government’s notified conditions.
An insulin product used by patients with Type 1 diabetes is in short supply in Pakistan after its German manufacturer halted supplies while upgrading its products, Parliamentary Secretary for Health Nelson Azeem said on Friday.
Responding to a matter raised by MNA Syeda Amna Batool in the National Assembly, Azeem said there had been no shortage until June, with stocks available until September. However, supplies from Germany were disrupted in October, leading to the current shortage.
“The impact of the shortage is being felt not just here, but across Asia, as well as in Australia and Europe,” Azeem said. “The product will be available as soon as international supplies are restored.”
The secretary further said alternative insulin products with the same dosage and mode of action were readily available in Pakistan and that patients could switch to them on their doctors’ recommendation.
“The product is manufactured in Germany. It is an issue that we are trying to resolve,” he said.
However, Batool expressed concern about the difficulties patients could face in switching treatments. She said the alternatives were at least 20 per cent more expensive and that many patients did not have access to doctors.
“Currently, around 34.5 million people in Pakistan have Type 1 diabetes, including children,” she said. “Alternatives are not readily available. Has the health ministry or the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) ensured their easy availability?”
Azeem asserted the German manufacturer had previously supplied 3,500 kits, but supplies had now fallen to 1,000 kits and could decline further during the year-long upgrade process.
He said the health ministry had asked distributors importing the product to arrange supplies, but acknowledged that this would be difficult because the manufacturer had halted production.
On Tuesday, authorities had denied reports of a widespread insulin shortage in the country, saying that only one brand was unavailable.
“Insulin glulisine (Apidra, Sanofi) is currently unavailable due to international supply constraints. Alternate rapid-acting analogues within the same pharmacological class, specifically insulin aspart (NovoRapid, Novo Nordisk) and insulin lispro (Humalog, Eli Lilly), are readily available nationwide,” health ministry spokesperson Sajid Shah had said, adding that all other primary insulin classes remained fully accessible across Pakistan.
In August 2025, the Pakistan Medical Association raised alarm over “an unprecedented” and severe shortage of essential medicines across the country and warned that the crisis threatened the lives of millions of patients.
According to the association, at least 80 important medicines were unavailable, with 25 having no substitutes. These drugs included life-saving medications for diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, heart disease and psychiatric disorders.
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