The suspect accused of running over and killing a 14-year-old boy in Multan was reportedly killed in an “encounter” with the Crime Control Department (CCD) in Bahawalpur early on Wednesday, police said.
He had allegedly escaped from police custody.
A Multan court on Tuesday granted police three-day physical remand of the suspect. The suspect was accused of hitting the victim, who used to work for him, with his car in a private housing society. The suspect was arrested on Monday and presented before Judicial Magistrate Saadia Aslam on Tuesday.
According to sources, the CTD attempted to stop two individuals on a motorcycle on Bahawalpur’s Northern Bypass when an exchange of fire ensued, leaving the suspect dead.
On Tuesday, police requested a 14-day physical remand of the suspect for investigation. However, the judicial magistrate granted the police a three-day remand.
At the time, Multan City Police Officer (CPO) Akhtar Farooq said while speaking to the media that raids were being conducted for the arrest of a second suspect.
“We all are in deep pain,” the CPO said, adding that the orphan boy had been “subjected to barbarity”.
The CCTV footage of the incident shows a boy running on the road after spotting a car. The car is seen swerving and chasing the boy, eventually hitting him. The boy, who fell, then rams into the gate of a nearby house and dies on impact.
A case was registered on the state’s behalf at Multan’s DHA police station.
The first information report (FIR) named two suspects and invoked Sections 302 (intentional murder) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
According to the FIR, the teenage boy had been working for the suspects and was being trained as an electrician. His cousin told police that the boy had reportedly faced violence and threats by the suspects, the FIR said, adding that the 14-year-old was fleeing when the suspects pursued him in a car and hit him.
Police arrested one of the suspects while the other escaped, the FIR stated. It added that their vehicle had been taken into custody.
PERHAPS the most unfortunate aspect of the latest French popular uprising is that it may well facilitate Marine Le Pen’s journey to the Élysée Palace. The far-right contender for the presidency poses as the law-and-order saviour for a France that no longer exists, focusing — like the Trump regime — on immigration as the source of every societal woe.
The unrest that erupted in September with students from a couple of public high schools complaining about shrinking resources and inadequate facilities ballooned into a much broader rebellion. By last weekend, the protests had extended beyond disenchanted pupils and their parents and teachers to a far wider cross-section of society complaining about the cost of living — alongside the usual panoply of vandals, looters, and arsonists. The latter were on the fringes of largely peaceful demonstrations but inevitably grabbed the headlines, featuring images of shattered shopfronts and the historic Limoges town hall in flames.
To be fair, though, almost every report I came across acknowledged the carnivalesque aspect of the huge marches, distinguishing it from the criminality of opportunist gangs. Even President Emmanuel Macron made that distinction in his unimpressive address to the nation on Sunday, but offered little more than retribution for the offenders and a dialogue with ‘stakeholders’. Earlier, in response to the students’ demands, the government promised 3,000 more substitute teachers, but that’s not likely to alleviate concerns.
With France’s national debt at 119pc of its GDP, the usual excuse is that the state cannot afford to throw money at education (or health), let alone consider social spending that might ease wider cost-of-living woes. Yet economists have worked out that a relatively small increase in inheritance tax for the wealthiest one per cent of heirs would suffice for a substantial investment in education, while Thomas Piketty notes that the growth in private wealth means “France has never been richer”, notwithstanding its public debt.
Echoes of 1968 have been discerned in the events in France.
That’s a familiar story. In Europe alone, economic woes have prompted mass protests from the Iberian Peninsula to Albania. The rough end of the European housing crisis featured prominently in Spain, where citizens revolted once more after 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal was forcibly evicted from her home of 70 years because she could not afford the 230pc rent increase. She died a fortnight later, prompting more outrage.
A snap election has been called for Nov 29 after the right-wing opposition thwarted two decrees from the Pedro Sánchez government aimed at redressing tenants’ woes. Similar concerns have brought Portuguese citizens to the streets, and broader affordability worries have led to protests in Belgium and Italy.
In Albania, meanwhile, the ‘flamingo’ protests that grew from environmental concerns over an island that Donald Trump’s daughter and son-in-law sought to colonise have expanded to include less esoteric concerns, spreading from the capital Tirana to various other cities and demanding the departure of the prime minister and opposition leader.
La France Insoumise, the only viable left-wing force in French politics, has backed the agitators and condemned the violence, but should LFI leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon make it into the second round of the next presidential election, there’s little doubt that the extreme centre epitomised by Macron will opt for Le Pen, effectively authorising a second Vichy regime. Similar patterns are likely to be witnessed in the rest of the continent.
Happily, the prospects in India differ. There is no scope for complacency, but the Cockroach Janta Party and its allies have clearly rattled the Modi regime. Its demise may not be imminent, but it’s no longer inconceivable. Every country deserves a Neha Bora. Several commentators in Pakistan have lamented the lack of parallels.
Sorrow and angst were expressed after 34 pupils and a teacher were killed last week in a roof collapse at a private Peshawar school. In many other countries, such a tragedy would have prompted demands for a nationwide reckoning, not least because of the criminally low state spending on education. But Pakistan, it seems, has better things to do.
Echoes of 1968 have been discerned in the events in France. Back then, university students, eventually backed by the unionised working class, briefly chased away Charles de Gaulle. He returned in apparent triumph but was gone within a year.
Meanwhile, our first field marshal, hailed by his Western sponsors as Pakistan’s de Gaulle, departed for good after a student-led popular rebellion in 1968-69. It isn’t necessary to condone what followed to hail the demise of the Ayub regime as a tremendous achievement. But perhaps it’s also a reminder to be careful what you wish for, given what followed in the next decade.
IN a democracy, parliament is not only supposed to legislate; it is also expected to safeguard the national interest and deliberate on key policy matters. That criterion does not seem to apply to our parliament. One seldom witnesses a major foreign or national security issue being deliberated by the ‘representatives’ of the people, and there is hardly any meaningful debate even on critical constitutional amendments and legislation. This ineffectiveness of the country’s highest legislative body reflects the sorry state of democracy against the backdrop of creeping authoritarianism.
Last week, both Houses of parliament approved, within hours and by a two-thirds majority, the decision to remove an elected provincial government and impose a state of emergency and governor’s rule, with no substantive debate. A highly controversial matter was disposed of within hours, with some ministers and leaders of the ruling coalition justifying the action against a provincial government that enjoyed the support of a majority of the members of the assembly, and the arrest of its chief minister and members of his government.
It was obvious that the decision had already been taken elsewhere, and that a parliament of debatable legitimacy was, as usual, expected to rubber-stamp it. Most members may not even have understood the constitutional provisions invoked to declare a state of emergency in a province, or whether those provisions applied to the conditions at hand. It looked like a puppet show. But it was not the first time this parliament blindly toed the line.
Over the past two years, it has passed the 26th and 27th Amendments, virtually destroying the essence of a Constitution that rests on the independence of the judiciary. That was perhaps the most shameful moment in our parliamentary history: ministers were shown the draft only hours before the session, and members were handed it on the floor of the House. Most had not read it when they voted for amendments of critical importance. They were passed overnight.
One can hardly recollect a foreign or national security policy being debated in parliament, nor even in its committees; one wonders whether such policies are discussed and approved by the cabinet at all. The main reason the government has given for its action in KP is that the provincial government was unwilling to cooperate in counterterrorism operations in the province worst hit by the resurgence of militant violence.
The ruling coalition is bound to pay a heavy political price for its undemocratic actions.
But a question that is never answered is whether the state has a well-defined, overarching counterterrorism policy in place, and, if it does, whether that policy has ever been discussed in cabinet, let alone presented before parliament or any of its committees for deliberation. The truth is that we have no clarity on how to deal with this existential threat.
Over the past quarter of a century I have covered and written extensively on Pakistan’s struggle with terrorism, and I can vouch that we have never had a holistic approach to an issue for which the state itself has been responsible. Even now, as militant attacks claim the lives of an increasing number of security personnel, the state is pursuing a one-dimensional policy that relies solely on kinetic operations in the affected areas, with little success. The confusion persists despite the claims of the ‘hard state’.
Balochistan, another strategically located province, has been bleeding for over 25 years with rising separatist militancy. As a result, the state has now lost control of large parts of the province, with an unrepresentative provincial government at the helm. Yet neither the cabinet nor parliament has any say in such a grave national security matter. While the ousted provincial government is being held responsible for the worsening situation in KP, who is responsible for the state of affairs in Balochistan? The reality is that the policy on Balochistan lies outside the domain of the present civilian set-up or the so-called representative parliament.
Unsurprisingly, a critical foreign policy question — Pakistan’s signing of the trilateral Makkah Joint Defence Agreement — has not been ratified, or more precisely rubber-stamped, by parliament. Turkiye, the other signatory to the pact, is still waiting for its parliament to endorse it. It is an extremely important external and internal policy issue, with long-term implications for a country already facing multiple challenges. There is also the question of whether the pact will be activated with the escalation in the Houthis’ attacks on Saudi Arabia.
While a pliant parliament has been conveniently used to rubber-stamp controversial constitutional amendments and laws that curb judicial independence and freedom of expression, there has also been much talk about resetting the country’s administrative structure. The all-powerful and ubiquitous interior minister has publicly declared that the system has collapsed and called for a complete revamp. But what does this projected resetting mean for the present hybrid power structure and for parliament?
There are strong views that emergency rule in KP could be the first step towards extending it to the entire country. Will a parliament that has endorsed emergency rule in KP also rubber-stamp any such action, even though it would further curtail its own powers? One objective of emergency rule is to clear the ground for the resetting of administrative units, an extremely volatile issue for some of the coalition parties, particularly the PPP. The Sindh Assembly has already voted against administrative changes. Still, with the legitimacy question hanging over its head, it would be extremely hard for parliament to resist a measure that would further consolidate authoritarian rule in the country.
The ruling coalition — which has feverishly supported emergency rule in KP, the controversial constitutional amendments that curb judicial independence, and the Peca laws being deployed to control the media — will pay a heavy political price for its undemocratic actions that are paving the way for the winding up of the entire system.
The shadow of authoritarianism looms over the country as a parliament with a dubious mandate has already surrendered whatever little power it had left. The collapse of a system built on a mandate seen as stolen seems imminent, with its patrons planning a new setup. It will be a further leap backward, taking an already unstable state down a dangerous path.
FOLLOWING the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in KP on Oct 11, many lawmakers of the PTI remain untraceable. The matter has been raised in parliament and in the courts. During a hearing of related petitions in the Peshawar High Court yesterday, PTI chairman Gohar Ali Khan said that 12 MNAs and 14 MPAs belonging to the KP Assembly had been “picked up”.
Soon after the proclamation of emergency, Federal Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry had confirmed that KP’s non-functional Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and some members of his cabinet were in “preventive custody”. Meanwhile, on Monday, PTI lawmakers in the National Assembly demanded production orders for their fellow party MNAs. Opposition Leader Mahmood Achakzai endorsed the demand, while Raja Nasir Abbas, the opposition leader in the Senate, raised the issue in the Upper House.
One PTI MNA has been arrested at his madressah in Bannu, but the whereabouts of most of the missing lawmakers remain unknown, with their families also in the dark. Some lawmakers have reportedly been in detention since before Oct 11.
This is not the first time that opposition lawmakers in Pakistan have gone ‘missing’. The proclamation of emergency should not, however, mean holding fundamental rights in abeyance. Whether it is members of the assemblies, or ordinary citizens, the Constitution — if that document still holds any value for the wielders of power — guarantees due process to every Pakistani.
Therefore, Mr Afridi, as well as other PTI lawmakers, must be produced before the courts forthwith. The state must announce publicly what they are accused of, so that they can defend themselves, and engage counsel of their choice. Mr Chaudhry had said that if there are cases against the PTI leaders they would be charged, and if no evidence is found against them they would be released.
The state must keep its promise, and also grant the lawmakers access to their families. Members of the ruling coalition — belonging to both the PML-N and PPP — were on the receiving end of the state’s excesses during their time in opposition. Perhaps they should remember their own experiences, and the commitments their leaders made to upholding the rule of law.
JERUSALEM: US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth arrived in Israel on an unannounced visit, and discussed the Iran war with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as tensions continue to simmer between the US and Iran.
Doron Spielman, a spokesperson for the Israeli PM, confirmed that Netanyahu had met Hegseth at the Uvda air force base in Israel’s southern Negev desert region.
Mr Netanyahu and Mr Hegseth discussed “the threats in the region” and the US-Israel partnership in dealing both “offensively and defensively” with those threats, he said in a brief phone call.
The defence secretary thanked Israel for hosting US forces, which Spielman said numbered in the thousands, and discussed President Donald Trump’s support for the prime minister.
Israeli PM celebrates Trump’s endorsement ahead of next week’s election
“There’s a deep personal relationship here that was at the core of this discussion,” Spielman said.
The Pentagon has not publicly commented on Mr Hegseth’s visit.
Earlier, he posted that he had visited US service members in the Central Command area of responsibility, which covers the Middle East, northeast Africa and parts of Asia, but did not specify where he had met the personnel.
Hegseth’s visit comes as tensions flare between the US and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, and Yemen’s Houthis intensify their attacks on Saudi Arabia.
The Israeli prime minister also said he spoke with President Trump on Sunday about the importance of eliminating the Iranian government.
“We are committed to completing the elimination of the Iranian regime,” Mr Netanyahu said in a statement released by his office. “I have discussed this with Trump many times, including the day before yesterday.”
Netanyahu basks in Trump endorsement
Netanyahu basked in Trump’s endorsement on Monday ahead of close-fought elections, airing a phone call in which the US president predicted he would win, and suggested they may again attack Iran together.
“I think you’re going to have a tremendous victory, actually,” the US president can be heard saying on speakerphone.
“You’re the man I want by my side, Bibi,” Donald Trump said, referring to Mr Netanyahu by his nickname.
Netanyahu, while reminding the famously loose-lipped president that they were on an open line, hailed Trump for joining Israel in attacking Iran in February.
“Donald, we have a job to finish,” Netanyahu beamed. “We’ll finish it together. We’ll finish it, and no one else will do it.”
Netanyahu did not elaborate, but again described Iran as “the greatest danger”.
Trump, 80, and Netanyahu, who turns 77 on Wednesday, have forged a close partnership at a time when both are vastly unpopular in public opinion in most democratic nations.
The pair have also managed to avoid prosecution while in power, with Mr Netanyahu facing charges of corruption that could land him in prison.
• Court dismisses petitions challenging double-murder convictions
• Verdict explains that closing eyes of a corpse is ‘religious’ custom, not legal duty
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the condition of a deceased person’s eyes at the time of death cannot conclusively establish the fact that the incident was not witnessed.
The Qanun-i-Shahadat Order, 1984, does not impose a legal duty to close a deceased person’s eyes. Rather, the practice is customary and religious, observed Justice Salahuddin Panhwar while dismissing jail petitions filed by Azmat Ullah alias Motu and Muhammad Luqman alias Gona.
The petitioners had challenged their convictions in a 2011 double-murder case, upheld by the Lahore High Court (LHC) on May 18, 2022.
Justice Panhwar was part of a three-member bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar. The bench upheld the convictions under Section 302(b) of the Pakistan Penal Code but maintained the high court’s decision to commute the death sentences to life imprisonment.
In criminal trials, defence lawyers often argue that an incident was ‘unwitnessed’ if the post-mortem report records the deceased’s eyes as open, reasoning that close relatives would ordinarily close them after death.
During the hearing, the petitioners’ counsel pointed to discrepancies in eyewitness statements and argued that the post-mortem and inquest reports, which recorded the eyes of both victims as open, indicated that the murders had not been witnessed.
Article 129 versus rigid presumptions
In a nine-page judgement, Justice Panhwar referred to Article 129 of the Qanun-i-Shahadat Order, which allows courts to presume facts they consider likely in the circumstances of a particular case.
However, the judgement stressed that human behaviour could not be assessed in a vacuum or through rigid assumptions. Responses to trauma, terror and violent loss vary from person to person, making it unsafe to draw categorical conclusions from a single circumstance.
It noted that relatives witnessing a gruesome incident may be overwhelmed by shock and trauma.
Hoping their loved one might survive, they may focus on obtaining urgent medical assistance rather than performing customary rituals associated with death.
Relatives and bystanders may also continue treating the victim as injured until a doctor or police official confirms death, which may not be immediately apparent at the scene.
Other factors
From a forensic perspective, the position of the eyelids is governed by physiological processes rather than the presence or absence of witnesses, the judgement explained.
Following death, muscles initially become relaxed, allowing eyelids to remain open or partially open, a condition known as lagophthalmos.
Handling or moving a body may also cause previously closed eyes to reopen, particularly before rigor mortis develops. As rigor mortis sets in, muscles become stiff and retain their prevailing position.
The court also cited Locard’s Exchange Principle, which holds that every contact leaves a trace. Relatives, bystanders and rescue workers may avoid touching a body to prevent contamination or disturbance of blood-spatter patterns, trace evidence and DNA material before forensic experts arrive.
It would therefore be unsafe to presume that every person knows how to handle a deceased body or feels obliged to close the eyes, the judgement said.
Concluding that neither forensic literature nor the law recognises closed eyes as an indicator of a witnessed death, the court rejected the argument that open eyelids alone could establish that a crime was unwitnessed.
The judgement further observed that minor discrepancies and natural variations in eyewitness accounts, arising from the passage of time and the rigours of cross-examination, do not undermine otherwise credible and consistent testimony.
• Insists 18 laws enacted, 17 institutions set up under security plans
• Officials claim 60,000 operations conducted, 1,100 terrorists killed
QUETTA: The Balochistan government has passed 18 laws, established 17 institutions and departments and spent more than Rs14 billion on counterterrorism measures under the National Action Plan, Counterterrorism Policy and Provincial Action Plan, senior provincial officials said on Tuesday.
They also claimed that more than 60,000 counterterrorism operations had been conducted across Balochistan up to October, killing over 1,000 terrorists.
The Counter-Terrorism Department alone had killed 250 terrorists and arrested another 250 suspects. They said 101 police personnel and around 200 members of other law enforcement agencies had lost their lives, while 551 civilians had been killed in terrorist violence.
The figures were revealed during a joint press conference held by Provincial Home Minister Ziaullah Langove along with Chief Minister’s Adviser on Media and Political Affairs Shahid Rind and Additional Chief Secretary Home Hamza Shafqaat.
They said measures had also been taken to secure the Quetta-Rakhni, Quetta-Karachi and Quetta-Taftan highways and expressed confidence that the security situation would improve over the next three to four months.
Mr Shafqaat said the provincial government had taken a series of measures over the past two years to implement the National Action Plan, Counter Terrorism Policy and Provincial Action Plan.
ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the National Command Authority retired Lt Gen Khalid Kidwai on Tuesday warned that Pakistan could review its deployment options to restore strategic balance in South Asia, saying India was moving towards a more prepared, potentially first-use capable nuclear posture.
“Pakistan never has and never will accept strategic imbalances to be induced in South Asia,” Mr Kidwai said at the second Islamabad Non-Proliferation Conference, hosted by the Strategic Vision Institute, an Islamabad based think tank specialising in strategic issues.
“Pakistan will review and reconsider all options for appropriate deployments in order to restore the strategic balance and strategic stability while retaining the policy of strategic ambiguity,” he added.
Mr Kidwai and retired Lt Gen Sarfraz Sattar, both former heads of the Strategic Plans Division and advisers to the NCA, said India’s reported deployment of nuclear weapons aboard a submarine, alongside missile modernisation and recent military confrontations, raised the risk of escalation between the two neighbouring arch rivals.
NCA adviser reminds India of Pakistan’s Full Spectrum Deterrence policy
Nuclear warheads
Citing the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s SIPRI Yearbook 2026 and other publicly available information, they pointed to reports that India had deployed around 12 nuclear warheads on a submarine for deterrence patrols. They also cited missile canisterisation and wider nuclear and conventional modernisation as developments that cast doubt on India’s declared No-First-Use policy.
Mr Kidwai said the reported deployment suggested India had mated nuclear warheads with submarine launched ballistic missiles and begun sea based deterrence patrols.
“I do not see any reason as to why an SIPRI report might be inaccurate or speculative,” he said.
“This irresponsible escalatory transition towards creating asymmetry in nuclear posture will have profound destabilising effects on South Asian strategic stability,” he added.
Mr Kidwai said India’s ability to maintain a continuous at sea deterrent further undermined the credibility of its No-First-Use policy and pointed to a more offensive nuclear posture.
“The operational reality that emerges is that India can undertake a first strike against Pakistan at zero notice,” he said.
Advance notification
He also questioned the absence of advance notification for Indian submarine launched ballistic missile tests, warning that such developments could heighten the risk of miscalculation during a crisis.
Referring to the February 2019 confrontation, he said India had reportedly deployed its Arihant nuclear submarine in the Indian Ocean after carrying out air strikes near Balakot in Pakistan, presumably with nuclear weapons aboard. He described the latest reported deployment as part of India’s wider effort to operationalise mated nuclear weapons on submarines.
“Pakistan reserves the right to undertake all appropriate measures to safeguard its national security and preserve strategic balance in the region under all circumstances,” Mr Kidwai said.
He urged India to understand the implications of Pakistan’s Full Spectrum Deterrence policy.
“India in fact will be well advised to read and re-read Pakistan’s policy of Full Spectrum Deterrence and seriously absorb its wide ranging implications for strategic deterrence, strategic stability, and for India’s security,” he said.
Mr Sattar said the May 2025 conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours showed how quickly conventional hostilities could escalate. The ceasefire came after both sides used cruise and ballistic missiles and India deployed strategic naval assets, he said.
He drew parallels with the 2019 confrontation, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to the deployment of nuclear submarines for deterrence patrols and the positioning of BrahMos missiles along Pakistan’s border.
The May 2025 fighting was more intense, involving kamikaze drones, supersonic BrahMos missiles capable of carrying conventional or nuclear warheads, and cyber and electronic warfare, he said.
“It is now clear that the 2025 conflict was much more lethal in comparison to the 2019 conflict,” Mr Sattar said, warning that the fighting risked spiralling towards nuclear escalation through accident or miscalculation.
He cited India’s canisterisation of land and sea based missiles, pursuit of multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) capabilities, short-range tactical missiles, ballistic missile defences, hypersonic weapons and autonomous platforms as further sources of concern.
Combined with India’s Cold Start doctrine, wider military modernisation and the absence of a bilateral arms control mechanism, these developments raised doubts about its No-First-Use declaration and traditionally recessed deterrence posture, he said.
“Rather, as I said, it signals a shift towards more first use capable posture,” Mr Sattar said.
“The future strategic stability in South Asia is placed on a perilous and worrisome course with heightened risk of misunderstanding and miscalculation, potentially leading to unintended or accidental escalation to the nuclear level,” he added.
KARACHI: Hub Power Company (Hubco) has said that BYD vehicle production will initially rely entirely on imported raw materials and components, with localisation increasing gradually over time.
The long-term objective is to localise up to 80 per cent of the vehicle, which should improve cost competitiveness and reduce reliance on imports, Hubco management said during a corporate briefing held on October 20, 2026.
Topline Securities said the BYD plant is expected to commence operations within the next 4-5 weeks, by mid-December.
The management is targeting an initial sales run rate of approximately 1,000-1,500 BYD vehicles per month as production ramps up.
BYD plans to introduce additional models through a phased approach, focusing on segments that can generate meaningful sales volumes, the brokerage house said.
According to Topline Securities, Lucky Cement told analysts on Tuesday that competition in the EV segment remains intense, particularly from Chinese completely built-up (CBU) vehicles.
The company aims to begin local production of EV models by the first quarter of calendar year 2027, with volumes and model offerings expected to increase gradually in subsequent quarters.
FOLLOWING its submission for parliamentary approval, Turkish state broadcaster TRT Haber and other outlets have published the text of the Makkah Joint Defence agreement. The 16 articles of the trilateral defence agreement are reproduced here.
The Government of the Republic of Turkiye, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (hereinafter referred to as a “party”, the “parties”, or the “core parties”).
Article 1: The “parties” shall cooperate to ensure and safeguard one another’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the inviolability of their internationally recognised borders. If the territorial integrity, sovereignty, or internationally recognised borders of any of the “parties” are threatened or endangered, the “parties” shall use all necessary means to eliminate such threat(s) or danger(s).
Article 2: An externally originating armed attack against any of the “parties” shall be considered an attack against all the “parties.” If one of the “parties” is subjected to an armed attack or military aggression by another country or group of countries, the “parties” shall immediately assist the attacked “party,” making full use of all means of mutual assistance that they can provide to one another. For this purpose, to enable the exercise of the right of self-defence recognised by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, the “parties” shall determine the scope and nature of the support to be provided following an objective assessment of the assistance required, and shall cooperate within the limits of their available resources, including military means and capabilities.
Article 3: Pursuant to Article 2 of this agreement, the “parties” shall cooperate closely in the fields of defence, defence industry, and security; develop relations among their Armed Forces; and carry out agreed activities aimed at strengthening cooperation in defence.
Article 4: The “parties” shall hold regular consultations on international security matters. They shall continuously and effectively assist one another and cooperate in developing individual and joint measures based on common assessments, in order to protect their vital interests and national security and eliminate threats and dangers to their national security.
Article 5: The “parties” shall strengthen existing cooperation and joint efforts, including at the operational level, in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations that adversely affect regional and international stability and security.
Article 6: In wartime and peacetime, the “parties” shall encourage reciprocal personnel exchanges among defence institutions, joint training programmes and exercises, and deployments and activities aimed at increasing the interoperability of the “parties’” armed forces, in order to develop their defence capabilities.
Article 7: To strengthen their defence capabilities, the “parties” shall, on the basis of mutual agreement, support technology sharing among defence-industry institutions, joint technology development, joint production, and cooperation among defence-industry organisations in the following areas:
a) Encouraging joint production in the field of defence;
b) Implementing defence innovation through joint research and development projects in technologies requiring specialised expertise;
c) Training personnel and supporting the military industry within the territories of the “parties” through experts from any “party”;
d) Sharing expertise and lessons learned in the fields of defence industry, defence research and development, and innovation;
e) Other areas of cooperation mutually agreed upon by the “parties”.
Article 8:
The “core parties” shall establish a “Strategic Political and Defence Committee”, comprising the Foreign Ministers, Defence Ministers, and Chiefs of General Staff of the “parties” to provide strategic direction for joint defence, develop defence and security cooperation among the “parties” and address obstacles that may arise during the implementation of this agreement. The Committee shall meet twice a year, with hosting rotating among the “parties”. The leaders of the “parties” may meet once a year if deemed necessary.
The “Strategic Political and Defence Committee” may establish subcommittees if it considers this necessary.
Agreements or protocols shall, where necessary, be negotiated among the “parties” for the implementation of the areas of cooperation envisaged in this agreement.
The “Strategic Political and Defence Committee” shall be authorised, by consensus of the “core parties”, to determine and approve the procedures and principles governing the accession of other “parties” to this agreement.
A Secretariat headquartered in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia shall be established to serve the “Strategic Political and Defence Committee”. The Secretariat shall conclude a headquarters agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The procedures and principles governing the Secretariat’s functioning, organisational structure, and establishment shall subsequently be determined by consensus of the “core parties”.
The Secretariat shall be headed by a Secretary-General appointed for a three-year term on a rotational basis among the “core parties”. The first Secretary-General shall be a citizen of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
The provisions of this Article shall not prejudice the work of existing military cooperation committees among the “parties”.
Article 9: To deepen cooperation in intelligence and provide the necessary coordination in this regard, the “parties” shall share intelligence through mutually agreed secure channels, while observing information security, data protection and confidentiality.
Article 10: Subject to the availability and compatibility of logistical support services, the “parties” shall provide one another with logistical support in peacetime, wartime, and other emergencies, including weapons, ammunition, fuel, spare parts, and other equipment.
Article 11: Without prejudice to international law and the relevant domestic laws of the “parties”, the “parties” shall accept this agreement as the legal basis for implementing its provisions and shall propose additional legal measures where necessary.
Article 12: This agreement shall not prejudice the rights and obligations of the “parties” arising from international agreements they have previously concluded.
Article 13:
The “parties” shall respect the confidentiality of classified information and documents obtained under this agreement and shall respect national legislation.
Classified information and documents shall not be shared with any state, company, or person outside the “parties”.
Access to classified information and documents shall be provided on a “need-to-know” basis and only to persons holding the appropriate level of security clearance.
Article 14: Any dispute arising from the interpretation or implementation of this agreement shall be settled amicably through consultations and discussions among the “parties”.
Article 15: This agreement may be amended through consultations and unanimous agreement among the “core parties”.
Article 16:
This agreement shall be ratified in accordance with the procedures applicable to each “party” and shall enter into force on the date on which the final instrument of ratification is deposited with the Secretariat of the “Strategic Political and Defence Committee”.
This agreement shall remain in force indefinitely.
Any “party” may withdraw from this agreement after 10 years have elapsed from its entry into force, by giving the other “parties” written notification of its intention to withdraw through diplomatic channels at least three months in advance.
Termination of this agreement or withdrawal from it shall not affect any ongoing activities or projects agreed upon by the “parties” before the date of termination or withdrawal.
The responsibilities of the “parties” concerning the protection of classified information and documents and the prevention of their disclosure shall continue after termination of this agreement or withdrawal from it.
This agreement has been signed in three original copies in the Turkish, Arabic, and English languages, each text being equally authentic. In the event of a difference in interpretation between the texts, the English text shall prevail.
ISLAMABAD: A writ petition filed in the Islamabad High Court has challenged the Judicial Commission of Pakistan’s (JCP) April 28 decision that vacancies arising from the transfer of a judge “shall be filled through transfer only”, arguing that the three vacant judges’ seats in the IHC should be filled through fresh appointments under the Constitution rather than further transfers.
The petition, filed by Advocate Supreme Court Syed Nayyab Hassan Gardezi against the Federation of Pakistan, JCP, president and prime minister, contends that the impugned decision has no constitutional foundation and conflicts with Article 175A(8), which requires the commission to nominate one person “for each vacancy” of a high court judge. It argues that the Constitution recognises no category of high court vacancy exempt from this requirement and that the commission cannot create one through a resolution.
The petition contends that the JCP decision was taken in disregard of the procedure prescribed by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (Appointment of Judges) Rules 2024. It points out that Rule 11(2) requires the secretary to notify all members at least 14 days before a scheduled meeting, providing the agenda and supporting materials. According to the petition, the impugned decision was reportedly introduced during the proceedings rather than being included in the circulated agenda.
It further states that the JCP Rules, as notified, contain no provision for their amendment, while the only provision allowing the commission to remove difficulties — Rule 15 — requires the votes of at least two-thirds of its total membership. The impugned decision, however, records only a “majority of its total membership”.
The petition also questions the composition of the JCP when the decision was taken. It argues that the impugned decision governs future appointments to the IHC, yet it was taken at meetings convened to consider transfers, at which the commission sat under the first proviso to Article 200(1), with the chief justices of the high courts concerned in each transfer.
By contrast, the Constitution prescribes a distinct composition for the appointment of IHC judges under Article 175A(6). Besides the IHC chief justice, it includes the head of IHC’s constitutional benches, an advocate nominated by the Islamabad Bar Council and a federal minister nominated by the prime minister.
The petitioner submits that procedural and compositional defects reinforce the need for the IHC’s three vacancies, created by the transfers notified on April 29, 2026, to be filled through the constitutional process of fresh appointments. For this purpose, nominations should be invited from members of the commission under Article 175A(23) and Rule 9(1) of the JCP Rules, rather than through a transfer-only route.
The petition also challenges the decision on grounds of discrimination, retrospectivity and an unlawful fetter on discretion. It notes that in July 2026, the JCP filled vacancies in the Lahore High Court, Sindh High Court and Balochistan High Court through initial appointments, while the IHC’s vacancies have been reserved for transfers.
It emphasises that the IHC is currently functioning with a chief justice and nine judges against a sanctioned strength of a chief justice and 12 judges, and that the three vacancies have remained unfilled for more than five months.
Along with the writ petition, the petitioner has filed an application for interim relief, seeking to restrain the respondents from recommending, advising or notifying the transfer of any judge to the IHC against the three vacancies while the petition remains pending.
The petition seeks a declaration that the JCP’s decision is ultra vires Articles 4, 25, 175A and 193 of the Constitution and the JCP Rules, and is of no legal effect.
• Turkiye seeks parliamentary nod for defence agreement; officials say Ankara’s support may be limited to provision of weapons, equipment and intelligence sharing • Pakistan has already ratified treaty; only PM and cabinet’s nod required under Article 90 • Egypt’s parliament to vote on support for Riyadh on Oct 26 • Pakistan, Turkiye, Qatar and Indonesia expected to sign defence cooperation agreement in Doha today
ANKARA: Turkiye has submitted the Makkah defence pact to parliament for ratification, moving Nato’s second-largest army closer to a formal mutual defence pledge with Riyadh as it continues to face Houthi attacks.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in August, under which an armed attack on one member is considered an attack on all.
The provision, similar to Nato’s Article 5, refers to Article 51 of the UN Charter, which covers the individual or collective right of states to self-defence against armed attacks.
All three members have agreed to use “all necessary means” to eliminate threats to one another’s territorial integrity, sovereignty or internationally recognised borders, as per the text seen by Reuters.
The agreement will enter into force upon the deposit of the ratification documents with the secretariat in Riyadh, and will remain valid indefinitely. The parties may not withdraw from the agreement for the first 10 years.
While Pakistan has made it clear that ‘collective deterrence measures’ under the trilateral defence agreement are “already in play”, Ankara still requires formal parliamentary ratification for the agreement. According to official sources, Pakistan follows an executive-led treaty-making system, where the federal government’s ratification is enough for subjects in the federal legislative list.
According to Article 90 of the Constitution, “the executive authority of the Federation shall be exercised in the name of the President by the Federal Government, consisting of the Prime Minister and the Federal Ministers, which shall act through the Prime Minister, who shall be the chief executive of the Federation.”
However, under Turkiye’s constitution, separate permission from parliament is required to deploy troops abroad, regardless of any international agreement.
According to the Reuters news agency, Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus, currently visiting Kyrgyzstan, is expected to refer the agreement to parliament’s foreign affairs commission upon his return, which could debate the agreement as early as Friday.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s communications director, Burhanettin Duran, said that Turkiye’s recent step marked an important milestone towards the institutionalisation of strategic cooperation between the three nations.
“This strategic partnership developed between our countries aims to strengthen collective deterrence, enhance joint capabilities in the defence sector, and safeguard security and stability in our region,” Duran said in a post on X.
A Turkish official, who spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity, said Turkiye’s own contribution was expected to be limited to military equipment, intelligence sharing and weapons systems, adding that no other form of deployment had taken place under the alliance so far.
Asked how Turkiye could help Saudi Arabia defend against attacks by Yemen’s Houthis, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that the Makkah Agreement was not an “offensive agreement,” adding that Turkiye would not send troops to another country to carry out attacks on its territory.
Although not part of the Makkah alliance, Egypt’s parliament is also expected to vote on authorising potential military support for Saudi Arabia on Oct 26.
Ahead of its submission for parliamentary approval, the contents of the agreement were published in full for the first time by Turkish state broadcaster, TRT Haber.
Turkiye, which has a robust defence industry, has condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, expressed willingness to help meet Riyadh’s military technology needs and agreed to join a Saudi-led coalition to ensure navigational safety in the Red Sea.
The agreement also envisages close cooperation on defence industry, intelligence sharing, logistical support and the fight against “all means of terrorism,” including at the operational level.
Defence deal
Meanwhile, TRT World also reported that Turkiye, Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia are expected to sign a defence industry cooperation memorandum today (Wednesday).
The signing will be held in Qatar, which is also expected to announce plans to establish a local defence production hub, the Gulf state’s Minister of State for Defence Affairs Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told the Global Security Forum in Doha on Monday.
Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler will travel to Doha for the signing. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who was also in Doha for the security forum, is expected to represent Pakistan at the signing.
Earlier, Mr Naqvi met with his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who also commands Qatar’s Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya). The two discussed the current regional situation and matters concerning regional peace and stability, the state-run APP news agency reported.
During their meeting, the two men agreed to expand the security partnership between Pakistan and Qatar. They also held detailed discussions on expanding cooperation in areas related to internal security.
ISLAMABAD: Iranian leaders have told Pakistan that the United States must take the first steps to rebuild trust, and that the acceptance of Tehran’s seven-point proposal could provide a starting point for renewed negotiations.
The message was conveyed during Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir’s visit on Tuesday, where he met with President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Mohsen Rezaei, a representative of Iran’s supreme leader and secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also accompanied the army chief.
As diplomatic efforts intensified to prevent a resumption of hostilities, Field Marshal Munir’s visit is being viewed as a move to quell escalating regional tensions.
Tehran says acceptance of its 7-point proposal can be starting point for renewed talks with US
The visit came a day after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held talks with Iranian leaders on the conflict and efforts to restore regional stability.
The visit was aimed at conveying messages and exploring whether the Islamabad understanding could still provide a basis for negotiations, but no breakthrough or formal agreement was announced after Tuesday’s meetings.
The discussions also touched on bilateral relations, including a recent disruption in commercial trade across the Pakistan-Iran border. Iranian officials also raised concerns over the closure, while Field Marshal Munir told them that the border closure was temporary and due to technical reasons and that the crossings had reopened on Tuesday.
Importantly, Iranian officials reportedly shared with the field marshal their response to a US proposal, reiterating that Tehran would not make concessions under pressure and that Washington must meet its conditions before trust could be restored.
While there was no official word from Pakistan’s Foreign Office or Inter-Services Public Relations, Iranian media described the response as “clear, serious, and explicit”.
An Iranian source said the visiting Pakistani army chief was told that “Iran has nothing new to say to the Americans” and it was for them to return to Islamabad Memorandum.
Although not many details about President Pezeshkian’s meeting were released to media, in a post that was unrelated to his meeting with Field Marshal Munir, the president said that Iranians may endure hardship, but they will not surrender their land.
Speaker Ghalibaf told Field Marshal Munir that the US could not regain Iran’s trust without fulfilling the seven conditions Tehran had presented during meetings in New York. He said Washington’s past actions, including what Iran considers a violation of the Islamabad understanding, had only deepened its distrust of the US administration.
“Threats and military manoeuvres cannot influence the strategic decisions of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Mr Ghalibaf said, according to an Iranian account of the meeting, adding that it was now up to Washington to take the necessary steps to extricate itself from the conflict.
Mr Rezaei, meanwhile, said Iran would not surrender its enriched nuclear material, describing it as a national asset intended for domestic use. He said Iranian officials were united in their view that negotiations could not proceed without steps by Washington to meet Tehran’s conditions.
The inflexible Iranian response has thrown a challenge for Pakistan, which has sought to revive negotiations between Washington and Tehran after an earlier diplomatic breakthrough failed to produce a lasting settlement.
Islamabad brokered a ceasefire in April and hosted direct talks that led to the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding in June. The agreement outlined steps towards easing the conflict, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and addressing economic and nuclear issues, but the process subsequently stalled after disagreements.
Despite the breakdown of the peace process, Pakistan has continued to offer its good offices to both sides for preventing another round of fighting.
ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has called for Pakistan’s fiscal policy to go beyond achieving primary balance targets and protecting debt sustainability by reinforcing policy credibility, fostering economic recovery and creating space for public investment and social spending to support stronger long-term growth.
Speaking at a workshop on “Reforms for a Modern and Growth-Friendly Tax System in Pakistan”, IMF Middle East and Central Asia Department Director Jihad Azour said tax reform was critical to Pakistan’s economic growth agenda and remained central to the objectives of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF).
The workshop was organised by the Ministry of Finance and Revenue in collaboration with the IMF. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb also spoke at the workshop, highlighting achievements over the past two years.
Mr Azour said Pakistan had made important progress towards restoring macroeconomic stability, rebuilding confidence, strengthening external buffers and supporting a gradual economic recovery despite an era of shocks and uncertainty.
Jihad Azour calls for broader, more predictable tax system
The IMF official said Pakistan’s recent stabilisation gains had created an opportunity that needed to be strengthened through transformative reforms, with tax reform at the heart of the process. “A stronger, broader, fairer and more predictable tax system can support fiscal sustainability while reducing distortions that hold back investment, productivity, growth and formal job creation,” he remarked.
He said broadening the tax base, strengthening revenue administration, reducing tax expenditures, protecting priority spending and improving public service provision were Pakistan’s priorities.
He credited Pakistan for the progress made. However, he said the next milestone was to turn stabilisation into stronger and more durable growth by moving beyond cycles of adjustment towards a more competitive, investment-friendly and inclusive economy.
Mr Azour said the IMF remained committed to supporting the authorities in building an economy capable of delivering higher productivity, led by a stronger private sector, and creating better opportunities for younger generations.
He warned that the highly uncertain external environment had made these objectives more urgent. Fiscal policy, he said, must do more than achieve primary balance targets and protect debt sustainability. It must reinforce policy credibility, foster recovery and create space for public investment and social spending needed to support long-term growth and public welfare.
Outlining four themes for discussion during the two-day workshop, Mr Azour identified credibility, growth, fairness and implementation as central to the reform process.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday approved the draft Auto Policy 2026-31, which aims to increase auto sector exports to $6 billion and boost local production, competitiveness and electric vehicle (EV) adoption.
Although the Prime Minister’s Office did not issue an official statement, sources in the federal government shared the final draft, which was presented to the premier by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Adviser on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar.
The draft policy will be presented to the federal cabinet for in-principle approval, then it will need parliament’s nod.
The policy aims to bring the auto sector to open competition by significantly reducing tariffs on completely built-up units (CBUs) and completely knocked-down (CKD) kits up to 15pc by 2030-31.
PM ‘okays’ five-year roadmap; policy targets $6bn exports, tariff cuts by 2031; proposes 1pc sales tax on EVs
Under the proposed draft, battery electric vehicles will be subject to a 1pc sales tax during 2026-31. The document proposes a 6pc sales tax on range-extended electric vehicles and a 9pc on plug-in hybrid vehicles.
A 10pc federal excise duty has been proposed on electric vehicles valued more than $75,000. The policy also envisages lower tariffs on smaller electric vehicles priced below $15,000.
To encourage EV adoption, the government has approved proposals to raise the financing limit from Rs3 million to Rs10m and extend the repayment period from three to five years, making smaller vehicles more affordable for low-income consumers.
The government has set the total export target of $6.01bn during the five years of the policy, which includes combined exports of parts and vehicles amounting to $256.6m for 2026-27, $671.8m for 2027-28, $1.11bn for 2028-29, $1.17bn for 2029-30 and $2.19bn for 2030-31 the fifth year of the auto policy.
The policy also proposes mandatory export targets for vehicle manufacturers, with incentives for companies that increase exports.
Under the proposed incentive mechanism, manufacturers would receive compensation equivalent to 5pc of export value for boosting exports, along with an additional 10pc incentive on exports exceeding the previous year’s level.
Companies that fail to meet their export targets would face penalties, and manufacturing certificates could be cancelled if targets remain unmet for two consecutive years.
The policy also sets new targets to increase the use of locally manufactured auto parts. Companies failing to meet local production targets could lose their incentives.
The government expects to collect more than Rs232bn through the Automotive Development Levy over five years.
The proceeds would be used to finance export incentives and industrial development programmes, including funding for technology upgrades by auto parts manufacturers.
The policy proposes levying the Automotive Development Levy on vehicles with engine capacities exceeding 1,000cc.
To strengthen quality assurance and regulatory oversight, the government plans to establish the Pakistan Automotive Testing Institute. The policy also provides funding for research, certification, and third-party audits, as well as the adoption of international safety standards for locally manufactured and imported vehicles.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (Paapam) Chairman Abdul Rehman Aizaz said the new policy, by lowering the import tariff on parts to 15pc, would phase out local parts manufacturers and benefit assemblers, warning that assemblers could eventually be phased out as imported cars take over.“This policy will make Pakistan an import destination country with no local industrial base in the auto sector,” he remarked.
LAHORE: The Punjab government issued an order on Tuesday banning the use and sale of camera-enabled smart glasses and miniature cameras “disguised as everyday objects” for 30 days.
The restriction was notified in an order by the Punjab Home Department secretary in exercise of powers conferred under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898.
“No person shall wear or operate ‘camera-enabled smart glasses with hidden recording ability’ or ‘miniature cameras with recording ability disguised as everyday objects such as pen, keychain, etc.’,” the order said, adding that the restriction excluded laptops, handheld tablets, mobile phones and terminal equipment approved by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority.
In addition, the government restricted retailers, wholesale dealers, traders and distributors from “selling or offering these devices for sale, online or off the shelf”.
The order said that it had been reported that the unrestricted use of these glasses and disguised cameras — capable of “capturing, processing and transmitting data in the form of speech, images, videos and sound” — in Punjab could pose a “serious risk” to public order, individual privacy, particularly the integrity and dignity of women and children; security of sensitive data and installations; and institutional integrity.
It named airports, examination centres, secure government establishments, healthcare facilities, shopping malls, court premises and public places as particular areas of risk.
The order also noted that the use of such devices were deemed to “create an imminent apprehension of secret recording, breach of privacy and security, or unauthorised transmission of protected information”.
“Immediate preventive action is necessary to ensure public safety, integrity and dignity of persons particularly women and children, and the maintenance of order within the province,” it stated.
The order said the ban was being enforced with immediate effect and would remain in force for a period of 30 days unless withdrawn earlier. It was also specified that “authorised law enforcement personnel” would be exempt from the restriction.
The ban comes a day after the Punjab government announced its plan to impose the restriction.
Amid concerns about the misuse of such devices, the Lahore High Court (LHC) has also been seized with a public interest petition that challenges the unregulated import and sale of camera and mic-equipped smart glasses, citing threats to people’s privacy, dignity and national security.
Meta in particular has faced pushback for its AI-powered smart glasses, with critics dubbing the eyewear as “pervert glasses”. And while it has not officially listed Pakistan as a market, the petitioner’s counsel in the case before the LHC has contended that its glasses are openly sold online and in shops in Lahore.
Taking up the plea on Thursday, the LHC directed the federal government to forward a summary to the federal cabinet regarding the unregulated import and sale of smart glasses.
ISLAMABAD: The prime suspect accused of defrauding a 20-year-old student, who died allegedly by suicide, was killed after being shot by his accomplices in Islamabad on Tuesday, claimed police.
Laiba Ijaz, a student at International Islamic University, was said to have been defrauded of Rs5 million, which she had paid to move to the United States for further studies. An agent was accused of handing her fake travel documents.
The case drew the government’s attention, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directing the police to arrest the suspect. Subsequently, he and two of his female accomplices were picked up during separate raids in the federal capital.
According to the Islamabad police spokesperson, the prime suspect sustained injuries when his accomplices opened fire on cops in the jurisdiction of Ramna police station on Tuesday.
The spokesperson said the main suspect has shared information about another suspect, and a police team was taking him to track down the second suspect. It was then that four of the main suspect’s accomplices, who were on two motorcycles, “opened indiscriminate fire on the police party in an attempt get the main suspect freed”, the spokesperson added.
The main suspect was injured in the firing while the police team remained safe “due to bulletproof jackets and protective measures”, the spokesperson said.
The injured suspect was taken to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries, he added.
Search operations were underway for arrest of his other accomplices, the spokesperson said.
The case
A case following Ijaz’s death was registered at the Ramna police station under Sections 322 (unintentional murder) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Another separate case was registered by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on a complaint filed by Ijaz’s maternal uncle under provisions relating to cheating, abetment and immigration-related fraud.
According to the FIA, the main suspect had allegedly obtained millions of rupees from Ijaz’s family with the help of a female accomplice and by misrepresenting his identity and professional status.
The money was allegedly taken on the pretext of securing employment for her brother and arranging her admission to Harvard University in the US. The suspect was accused of giving Ijaz fake travel documents.
The government on Tuesday increased the price of petrol by Re0.88 per litre and that of high-speed diesel (HSD) by Re0.53.
Following the revision, petrol will retail at Rs382.02 per litre while HSD will cost Rs389.80 per litre. The government continues to levy Rs114 per litre in taxes and duties on petrol and Rs100 per litre on diesel.
According to the Petroleum Division’s notification, the new prices are applicable for Oct 21 (Wednesday).
The price of HSD has come down from a peak of Rs520.35 recorded on April 3. Its price had started rising from Rs281 per litre after the US-Iran war broke out on February 28.
Meanwhile, the government has reintroduced a raft of austerity measures in response to rising fuel prices amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. Under these measures, markets are required to close by 9pm and fuel allocations for official vehicles has been cut by 50 per cent for three months.
On September 13, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also announced a “relief scheme” for users of motorcycles, autos and vehicles of up to 800cc to “alleviate the burden” of rising global oil prices.
Previously, on July 17, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik announced that fuel prices would now be fixed on a daily basis due to fluctuations in international market prices following renewed hostilities between Iran and the US.
Prior to this, the government had been announcing weekly revisions to fuel prices since early March, alongside measures for the conservation of fuel amid possible oil supply disruptions due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The federal government in April also announced targeted relief measures to provide subsidised fuel.
The petroleum minister stated that the cabinet and the prime minister had decided to give the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) the responsibility of deciding fuel prices on a daily basis based on international market trends.
Petrol is mainly used in private transport, small vehicles, rickshaws and two-wheelers, and changes in its price affect the middle and lower-middle classes.
Similarly, changes in diesel prices also impact the public at large, as it is mainly used in the heavy transport sector, power plants and large generators.
Petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) are the major revenue earners, with monthly sales of about 700,000 to 800,000 tonnes, compared to just 10,000 tonnes of monthly demand for kerosene.
LAHORE: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency said on Tuesday that a prime suspect in a case involving the sale of counterfeit US postage stamps had been arrested in Lahore.
The US Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Florida had identified the suspect as a 33-year-old from Khanewal. It said in a statement last month that he was accused of operating “an unauthorised website that allegedly sold more than five million counterfeit US postage labels”, causing more than $126 million in losses to the US Postal Service
NCCIA’s Lahore Zone Additional Director Atif Ameer announced his arrest at a press conference, saying that the counterfeit postage labels were sold over a period of three years.
He said the suspect operated a website — LabelsBank.com — from August 2023 to September 2026 and used it to market and sell counterfeit US postage stamps online.
“More than five million stamps were sold through the website at a price of around $2 per stamp. Based on the alleged volume of sales, the total value of the transactions has been estimated at approximately Rs35 billion,” he said, adding that the agency also focused on the financial channels used to receive and move proceeds from the business.
Money trail
Flanked by Lahore NCCIA Deputy Director Waqas Saeed, Ameer said that 16 bank accounts had been used in the scam. Seven of the accounts were operated by the suspect, five by his brother, two by his wife, and one each by his sister and aunt.
The NCCIA officer said the agency had expanded the investigation across several parts of the country.
“Eight special teams had been formed in Punjab, Islamabad and Sindh to trace the suspect and investigate the network,” he said and added the teams conducted raids at 35 locations and questioned 47 people as part of the investigation.
“Investigators also employed digital and forensic techniques to establish the suspect’s movements and identify people associated with the operation.”
Ameer said that investigators analysed 122 call-data records, 50 IMEI-tracking reports and audio and video recordings from 120 cameras.
“Artificial intelligence and other modern technological tools were also used during the investigation. A locator operation continued for 10 days as investigators attempted to establish the suspect’s whereabouts and trace his activities,” he said.
The NCCIA said the major focus of the investigation was the financial trail generated by the online sale of the counterfeit stamps.
“We are examining transactions conducted through the 16 bank accounts and attempting to determine the flow of funds between the accounts allegedly belonging to the suspect and his relatives.
“The involvement of family members is also being examined as part of the investigation, particularly the alleged use of their bank accounts in connection with the online business,” the additional director said.
He said the role of other individuals in operating the website, processing orders, receiving payments or distributing the counterfeit stamps was also being probed.
“Investigators are also working to establish the full scale of the operation and verify the volume and value of the transactions,” he said.
MIRANSHAH: An additional station house officer (SHO) of the Miranshah police station was martyred in firing by unidentified individuals near Miranshah Bypass Road in in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan district on Tuesday, police said.
District Police Officer (DPO) Sajjad Hussain confirmed the details to Dawn, saying that additional SHO Meera Khan was targeted when he was on duty.
“He sustained multiple bullet wounds and succumbed to his injuries,” the DPO said.
Police said a search operation was launched into the area following the incident to trace the attackers. An investigation has also been initiated into circumstances surrounding the incident.
DPO Hussain said the morale of the police force remained high and law enforcers were determined to track down Khan’s attackers.
KP has been witnessing terrorist attacks and security challenges for a long time, including attacks on police personnel.
According to a recent report from the Centre for Research and Security Studies, Pakistan recorded a sharp 83 per cent increase in violence-linked fatalities during the third quarter of 2026, reversing a declining trend reported in the first and second quarters as terrorism and counter-terrorism deaths surged nationwide.
Balochistan and KP remained the epicentres of violence, jointly accounting for 98pc of all fatalities during the period. Balochistan recorded 829 deaths, nearly 59pc of the national total, while KP reported 556 fatalities, accounting for more than 39pc.
On Oct 7, seven policemen were injured when terrorists attacked a police checkpost in Kohat. Later, an official told Dawn that the attack was repulsed, and the injured cops were safe.
It was a day after four Federal Board of Revenue officials were martyred in firing by unidentified men, while a separate attack on a highway traffic police vehicle left a police official martyred and another injured in Dera Ismail Khan.
On Sept 27, 14 people, including two rescue officials, were martyred and 35 sustained injuries after a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a police checkpost in and then targeted an ambulance taking bodies to hospital in DI Khan.
On Sept 18, an explosives-laden vehicle detonated near a mosque in Kohat Police Lines, following which terrorists stormed the compound and attacked police facilities. The attack resulted in the martyrdom of 17 policemen and six civilians.
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