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By Mehrab Shah Afridi A profound and unsettling silence is falling across the mountains of north-western Pakistan. It is a silence that speaks not of peace, but of loss. In the high passes of Lundi Kotal, where the air was once a vibrant tapestry of sound and movement, the familiar rhythms of nature are unravelling. The raucous calls of chukar partridges that echoed from every rocky slope have faded. The sky, once etched with the elegant, determined V-formations of migratory cranes, is now often an empty, bleached blue. This growing quiet is more than a seasonal shift; it is an…
Pakistani leader uses address in Jahaniyan to praise armed forces and tout economic progress, while offering rare praise for his niece, Maryam Nawaz By Asghar Ali Mubarak ISLAMABAD: In a sweeping address that blended assertions of military triumph with pledges of economic renewal, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared that a rival nation could “never until Judgment Day recover from the defeat in the battle of truth.” The speech, delivered to a gathering of party loyalists, positioned national security and domestic prosperity as the twin pillars of his government’s agenda. The Prime Minister credited the nation’s armed forces with securing a resounding…
By ISPR ISLAMABAD: n a targeted intelligence-based operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s restive Bannu district on Tuesday, Pakistani security forces neutralized two high-value militants in Bannu district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, officials confirmed. The operation, carried out in the Mughal Kot sector, targeted a TTP cell led by Tariq Kachi, a notorious commander, and resulted in the deaths of Kachi and his close associate Hakimullah, also known as “Tiger.” Security sources described Kachi as a persistent threat, responsible for orchestrating attacks over the past two years and for extorting funds to sustain militant activities. He played a central role in coordinating cross-border infiltration of…
Central Executive Committee gathering, chaired by Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, assesses national landscape and addresses internal party concerns (Catchline) By Sajjad Shah KARACHI: In a significant gathering that underscored its strategic posture, the top leadership of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) convened at Bilawal House on Monday for a meeting of its Central Executive Committee to assess the nation’s increasingly fraught political landscape. The session, chaired by party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, brought together a full roster of the PPP’s senior figures, reflecting the gravity of the deliberations at a time of heightened political sensitivities. Among those present were President Asif Ali Zardari, Senate…
By Sajjad Shah KARACHI: First Lady and Member of the National Assembly Asifa Bhutto Zardari reaffirmed the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) commitment to continue the struggle “on the path of the martyrs of democracy” until every citizen of Pakistan was “free and equal.” Her message marked the 18th anniversary of the Karsaz tragedy — the devastating twin bombings that targeted Benazir Bhutto’s homecoming procession in Karachi on October 18, 2007. In her statement, Asifa described the Karsaz site on Shahrah-e-Faisal as a “witness to the blood-stained struggle for democracy,” recalling the day when “cowardly enemies ambushed democracy with an attack” but…
On the anniversary of the Karsaz attack, the president honors the slain former PM’s legacy, saying the nation’s struggle against terrorism is ‘strengthened by the sacrifices of martyrs.’ By Asghar Ali Mubarak ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari stated on Friday that Pakistan’s ongoing struggle against terrorism draws its strength from the sacrifices of its martyrs, paying a solemn tribute to his late wife, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, on the anniversary of the 2007 Karsaz bombings. In a message marking the somber occasion, the president honored “the martyrs of democracy” and recalled Benazir Bhutto’s unwavering commitment. He noted that she had…
President Zardari hailed the Muslim World League’s efforts for unity and moderation, reaffirming Pakistan’s support for Palestine and deepening ties with Saudi Arabia. By Asghar Ali Mubarak ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari met with Dr Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa, Secretary General of the Muslim World League, in Islamabad and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening unity and cooperation within the Muslim world. The meeting underscored a shared vision for moderation, tolerance, and collaborative progress among Muslim nations. President Zardari extended his warm wishes to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and to Crown Prince Mohammed…
The latest escalation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier has laid bare the fragile and combustible nature of South Asia’s borderlands. Cross-border strikes by Afghan Taliban fighters and allied militants, including a group described as Fitanah i Khawarij, have not only killed hundreds and displaced thousands but have also reopened wounds that have long festered along this restless frontier. Pakistan’s response has been swift and ferocious, reflecting both military calculation and political signaling, but it also underscores a far wider dilemma: how regional rivalries, proxy networks, and unresolved conflicts can swiftly tip into open confrontation. The fighting in Kurram, where insurgent positions…
By Rumisa Malik A young bride from Gujranwala has become the latest casualty of a brutal and entrenched custom: she was allegedly killed by her in-laws because her dowry did not meet their expectations. What began as simmering tension following her marriage escalated into violence, and despite being rushed to hospital, she did not survive. Another life lost, another family shattered, and yet the haunting question remains: how many more? This tragedy is not an anomaly. It is the continuation of a practice that has long inflicted profound human and social costs across Pakistan. The dowry system, legally restricted and…
By Moin Kamali KARACHI: A startling revelation has emerged that tax-free goods imported for Pakistan’s former FATA region have been illegally cleared through customs and sold in Karachi, causing substantial losses to the national treasury. Sources reported that Karachi-based businessman Khawar wrote to the Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), exposing a scheme in which mafias allegedly diverted goods intended exclusively for FATA. These tax-free imports—including textiles, plastics, cooking oil, and other items that benefit from an 8% sales tax exemption—were cleared from customs without proper tracking and sold on a large scale in Karachi. Officials confirmed that…