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			<title>After NA, Senate approves K-P emergency resolution by majority vote amid opposition ruckus</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634779/govt-tables-resolution-in-na-seeking-endorsement-of-k-p-emergency</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634779/govt-tables-resolution-in-na-seeking-endorsement-of-k-p-emergency#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 07:03:17 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Waqas Chaudhry]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Islamabad]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634779</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Law minister says K-P situation threatens 'national security'; Achakzai warns next 'governor's rule will be in Sindh']]>
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				<![CDATA[The National Assembly (NA) and Senate on Wednesday endorsed President Asif Ali Zardari&#39;s proclamation of emergency in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), passing resolutions by majority votes despite opposition lawmakers&#39; objections to the imposition of emergency measures in the province.

The developments emerged after the federal government imposed emergency and governor&#39;s rule in K-P on October 11, suspending the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led provincial administration amid a dispute over the province&#39;s security situation and counter-terrorism measures. The government has defended the move, citing a deterioration in law and order and an alleged failure by the provincial administration to coordinate counter-terrorism efforts with federal authorities.

The NA session began under the chairmanship of Speaker Ayaz Sadiq as Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry presented the resolution before the House. During the proceedings, Chaudhry moved a separate motion seeking the suspension of question hour to allow the House to take up other parliamentary business. Opposition lawmakers opposed the motion, but it was adopted by a majority vote.



The House adopted the following resolution moved by Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhary, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs.

&quot;The National Assembly approves the Proclamation of Emergency issued by the President on the 11th October, 2026 in the Province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under second&hellip; pic.twitter.com/5enkgK6v4w
&mdash; National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) October 14, 2026


The Lower House later debated the emergency measures imposed in the province, with opposition lawmakers strongly opposing the Centre&#39;s decision and raising a hue and cry during the proceedings. However, the resolution was passed by a majority vote. The NA session was subsequently adjourned until 11am on Friday.



قومی اسمبلی کا اجلاس 16 اکتوبر بروز جمعہ دن 11 بجے تک ملتوی

The session of the National Assembly has been adjourned to meet again on Friday, the 16th October, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.#NASession pic.twitter.com/MHo1K3arTB
&mdash; National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) October 14, 2026


Following the approval from NA, the Senate session was held under the chairmanship of Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani. During the proceedings, the Senate also approved a motion moved by Senator Shahadat Awan to defer the question-and-answer session scheduled for the day.

Speaking in the upper house, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said Rules 132 and 133, which govern ordinary resolutions moved by private members, did not apply to a resolution introduced under a constitutional requirement. He added that the seven-day notice requirement was not applicable in this case.

Rejecting objections to the procedure, the law minister also said the government could not deviate from the Constitution or the rules and regulations of the House.

He maintained that members opposing the resolution should participate in the debate and, if they disagreed with it, reject it through a vote.

The minister called for the matter to be put to a vote after discussion so that the opinion of the House could be ascertained. Following this, the Senate approved the imposition of emergency in K-P as the opposition walked out in protest.

Later in the day, the president summoned a joint session of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) tomorrow morning at 11 under Clause 1, Section 54 (Summoning and prorogation of Majlis-e-Shoora) of the Constitution of Pakistan. The notification regarding it was issued by the NA today.



The President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, has summoned a Joint Sitting of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) on Thursday, the 15th October, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. in the Parliament House.

The Joint Sitting has been summoned in exercise of the powers&hellip; pic.twitter.com/hkoYWXWMva
&mdash; National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) October 14, 2026


In a separate notification issued by the NA Legislation Adviser Muhammad Mushtaq, the secretariat demanded the production of NA Members Sana Ullah Khan Masti Khel and Dawar Khan Kundi for all the upcoming NA sessions. The lawmakers are currently in the custody of Punjab Police.



اراکینِ قومی اسمبلی کا پروڈکشن آرڈر جاری

اسپیکر قومی اسمبلی سردار ایاز صادق نے پنجاب پولیس کی تحویل میں موجود اراکینِ قومی اسمبلی کا پروڈکشن آرڈر جاری کر دیا، ترجمان قومی اسمبلی

اسپیکر قومی اسمبلی نے اراکین قومی اسمبلی ثناء اللہ خان مستی خیل اور داور خان کنڈی کا پروڈکشن آڈر&hellip; pic.twitter.com/Z7uOWc1rby
&mdash; National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) October 14, 2026



The adviser further outlined that the MNAs will be handed back to the cops after the commencement of NA sessions.

Earlier, while speaking on the NA floor, the law minister had said the K-P government&#39;s approach to combating terrorism had become a &quot;threat to national security&quot;, as the federal government tabled a resolution in the NA seeking parliamentary approval of the emergency imposed in the province under Article 232 of the Constitution.

Speaking during the session, Minister Tarar said the Constitution required a presidential proclamation of emergency under Article 232 to be laid before both houses of parliament &mdash; the National Assembly and the Senate &mdash; for approval within 10 days of its issuance. Responding to criticism that the imposition of emergency had resulted in the removal of an elected provincial government, Tarar said the decision had been taken after extensive deliberations and a thorough assessment of the security situation in K-P.

He said the federal cabinet had held a two-and-a-half-hour discussion before recommending the emergency measures to the prime minister, citing internal disturbances and cross-border incursions as major factors behind the decision.

&ldquo;The attitude that the K-P provincial government has maintained regarding the war against terror, particularly over the past one year, since the present cabinet took control there, from Oct 15, 2025, to an alarming degree, was becoming a threat to national security,&rdquo; he remarked.

The law minister emphasised that effective counter-terrorism operations required close coordination between the federal and provincial governments, stressing that a unified response was essential to ensuring Pakistan&#39;s security.



قومی اسمبلی کے اجلاس میں وفاقی وزیر برائے قانون و انصاف سینیٹر اعظم نذیر تارڑ کا اظہار خیال۔#NASession pic.twitter.com/98OxJCrUcS
&mdash; National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) October 14, 2026


He said the sharp increase in terrorist activities since 2021 had been driven by several factors, including external, diplomatic and political developments, accusing PTI of pursuing policies that had aggravated the security situation.

Tarar acknowledged the sacrifices made by the armed forces, police personnel and civilians in confronting terrorism, saying their efforts had helped the country make progress despite persistent security challenges. He maintained that political differences should not undermine counter-terrorism efforts, reiterating the importance of cooperation between federal and provincial authorities in addressing threats to national security.

Arguing that the number of terrorist incidents in K-P over the past year was greater than those recorded during the 2021-2024 spell of terrorism, Tarar claimed that non-functional chief minister Sohail Afridi &quot;overlooked the lit fire,&quot; as well as the injuries sustained by the Armed Forces, police, security forces, ulema, and innocent civilians.

&quot;Instead of healing the wounds of the injured, placing his hands over the heads of the widows and orphans of the martyred, attending their funerals, visiting hospitals, reassuring the people, Afridi gave priority to his politics,&quot; the minister said.

He added, &quot;When the situation is extraordinary, when the situation is severe, the actions should also be extraordinary; it should not be routine work.&quot; Tarar said that there were no restrictions on conducting politics, &quot;but when your own public is being martyred, your own youth in the police force and Armed Forces are giving sacrifices, so then you, being the chief executive of the province, is it not the duty of your government that you go and spend time with them, that you conduct daily meetings, morning and evening, bring everyone together, make an action plan, make implementation measures for it?&quot;

The minister said these circumstances were overlooked by Afridi and &quot;it was also declared that there will be an attack on the capital, that it will be conquered.&quot;

He added that instead of &quot;resorting to the use of force to handle this, we emphasised discussions and dialogue,&quot; expressing his gratitude to Speaker Sadiq, who &quot;took a personal interest&quot; in the matter and &quot;in respect of the decision of the president and prime minister, provided a platform for mediation.&quot;

Tarar noted that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam, along with &quot;our friends and ally&quot; the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), &quot;tried their best that matters be handled democratically.&quot;

Tarar added that on directions of the president, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari designated Naveed Qamar, Sherry Rehman and Aijaz Jakhrani to partake in the discussions. On the opposition side, the minister noted that PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas led the delegation and &quot;sat for two days with their heads together,&quot; Tarar said.

He added that the Constitution and law have set forth a method for proceedings against someone on whom a case was lodged, saying that &quot;if there is anything that can stop this entire process through legal intervention, then that is the court.&quot;

&quot;If you want to free an imprisoned person, in most cases, that is in the control of the court.&quot;

Achakzai calls govt &lsquo;terrorist&rsquo;, urges reversal of emergency, governor&#39;s rule in K-P

Meanwhile, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai described the government as &ldquo;a terrorist government&rdquo;, alleging that it had been formed through money and coercion with the support of uniformed institutions, and defended non-functional chief minister Sohail Afridi&#39;s opposition to what he termed oppression.

Achakzai accused the government of undermining the electoral mandate, alleging that the assemblies had been bought to install a government that did not represent the people&#39;s will. He argued that the PTI had been prevented from contesting the elections under its party symbol and that its candidates had subsequently contested using around 200 different symbols.

&ldquo;Whether PTI founder Imran Khan was good or bad, whatever he was, I don&#39;t go to the past; you went to such an extent to compete with him that you even snatched the party&#39;s election symbol. You stopped the party from participating in the election,&rdquo; he said.

Questioning whether the government was punishing the entire country for the PTI&#39;s electoral success, Achakzai asked, &ldquo;Are you punishing Pakistan&#39;s 240 million people for this?&rdquo;

He defended Afridi&#39;s stance against the government, saying K-P&#39;s people had shown courage in opposing what he described as terrorism. He maintained that the Afridi had called on people to resist oppression rather than resort to violence. Achakzai also criticised the authorities over Afridi&#39;s treatment, alleging that the Afridi had been arrested and restrained but not brought before the assembly.

&ldquo;You have done us a great favour, a very great favour! After arresting Afridi and binding his hands and feet, you didn&#39;t bring him here. Do it, do this too. What was he doing, Mr Speaker?&rdquo; he asked.

Achakzai warned that political confrontation over provincial rights could extend beyond K-P, saying people in Balochistan and Punjab could also resist what he described as the forcible denial of their rights.

He expressed regret over the participation of political representatives from Sindh in the current political situation and warned that the province could face governor&#39;s rule over disputes concerning water and mineral resources.

&ldquo;Next, governor&#39;s rule will be imposed in Sindh over water, minerals, Canals, and then you will remember what mistake we made,&rdquo; he said.

Referring to the history of East Pakistan, Achakzai recalled that Mujibur Rehman had worked for the Muslim League before being branded a traitor. He said more than 48% of the people of East Pakistan had voted in favour of Pakistan, invoking the episode to criticise what he described as the denial of political representation.

He also criticised what he called the &ldquo;Throne of Lahore&rdquo;, describing it as cruel, and urged the government to reconsider its approach towards the provinces.

Addressing the NA speaker, Achakzai called for the reversal of the government&#39;s decisions and urged lawmakers to restore parliament&#39;s position as the centre of political authority.

&ldquo;Mr Speaker, there is still time; reverse it, reverse these decisions. Come, make this house a fountainhead of power, &rdquo; he said.

Achakzai also questioned the integrity of lawmakers supporting the government, saying some would be unable to uphold their positions if asked to swear on the Quran.

He said the government should reconsider its decisions and allow the assembly to serve as a forum for resolving political disputes rather than deepening confrontation between the centre and the provinces.

3,900 martyred in 14 months amid worsening K-P security situation, says Khawaja Asif 

Speaking on the floor of the NA, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said 3,900 people had been martyred in K-P over 14 months, in addition to 2,700 over three years, as he criticised the provincial government for prioritising political interests over counterterrorism efforts.

Asif called for a united national response to terrorism, saying the province was bearing the greatest burden of violence and could not effectively confront the threat without political cohesion.

He alleged that the non-functional K-P chief minister was more concerned about retaining power than addressing terrorism.

Asif said the Afridi had remained in office for 13 to 14 months and questioned whom he had taken instructions from, alleging that the individual directing him was now in Afghanistan. Asif also criticised the province&rsquo;s governance, comparing its development over the past 13 years with that of other provinces.

Referring to a Taliban statement condemning an emergency and the deployment of security forces in certain areas, the minister urged the opposition to clarify its political alignments.

&ldquo;The opponent is the Pakistan state, and the ally is the Taliban whose hands are stained with the blood of our children,&rdquo; he highlighted during his speech in the lower house.

Alluding to a relative of former premier Imran Khan, whom he said was living in the United States, Asif questioned the extent of that individual&#39;s influence over the province&rsquo;s affairs, including health-related matters.

&quot;The PTI chairman is a fair-minded person,&quot; Asif said, adding that he could personally vouch for him, while questioning whether the party discussed governance shortcomings internally.

He accused PTI of double standards in its dealings with the military establishment, recalling the party&rsquo;s past ties with former army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief General Faiz Hameed. He then urged the opposition to examine its own political history before demanding equal treatment, arguing that the government had not made the release of its leaders, including former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, a political issue when they were imprisoned.

&ldquo;Until this contradiction stays in our brotherhood, the situation of this country will not be good,&rdquo; he said, calling for political unity amid the security challenges facing the country.



اسپیکر قومی اسمبلی سردار ایاز صادق نے گزشتہ دنوں حکومت اور اپوزیشن کے درمیان مذاکراتی عمل میں شامل حکومت اور اپوزیشن اراکین کے کردار کو سراہا۔#NASession @AyazSadiq122 pic.twitter.com/2tfygpdsXq
&mdash; National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) October 14, 2026


Recalling the PTI government&rsquo;s tenure, Asif said opposition members had previously sat alongside military officials during meetings in parliament and supported proposals to bring back individuals he described as terrorists, arguing at the time that their return would benefit Pakistan. He also reminisced about what he described as Imran&rsquo;s repeated praise for General (R) Bajwa and the military-led government, saying he had heard the PTI founder compliment the former army chief extensively in parliament, the media and meetings.

Turning to his own imprisonment, the defence minister recounted the conditions he faced in jail, saying he had been given only one blanket during a period when temperatures were between seven and eight degrees Celsius. He said PM Shehbaz had arranged for an additional blanket to be smuggled into the prison for him, adding that the person who delivered it had been instructed to ensure it was hidden the following morning.

Asif said he had eaten prison food, describing it as adequate, and that a geyser installed in his cell had subsequently been ordered to be removed.

He also recalled Punjab CM Maryam repeatedly soaking a dupatta in water and placing it over her head to cope with the heat in the cells where she and Nawaz were held at Adiala Jail.

&ldquo;We didn&#39;t cry. I think it is a matter of pride that we, for our belief, for our ideology, for our doctrine, we suffered these pains.&rdquo;

The minister further recalled his imprisonment under former military ruler General (R) Pervez Musharraf, saying he had been kept in a six-by-four-foot cell at Attock Jail with a solid steel door. He said his loyalty to Nawaz Sharif and his political ideology had helped him endure the experience. Asif argued that the government had not obstructed political activities or protests over the imprisonment of its leaders, saying its members had continued to protest and appear in court without turning their leaders&rsquo; release into a political crisis.





Yesterday, Senate Opposition Leader Abbas alleged that negotiations with the government were a sham, claiming that the decision on governor&rsquo;s rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa had already been made before the talks concluded. Abbas had maintained that the opposition had demonstrated a willingness to compromise during negotiations but alleged that the government had already decided on its course of action. Meanwhile, the interior minister said the talks collapsed because of CM Afridi and Murad Saeed. He rubbished the claim that the government was not serious about negotiations with the opposition.

During the session, PTI-backed Senator Zafar accused the government of violating the Constitution by arresting the chief minister, speaker and other ministers in K-P.

Events leading up to resolutions in favour of emergency

The issue of emergency and governor&rsquo;s rule became a major flashpoint between the federal and K-P government after the talks failed.

On September 21, Interior Minister Naqvi said the government was consulting the law ministry on legal options for the province, including emergency and governor&rsquo;s rule, if the PTI proceeded with its long march. Two days later, Information Minister Atta Tarar ruled out such plans, saying the federal government had no intention of removing the PTI administration.

On the other hand, CM Afridi rejected the warnings and said he would not retreat from his position because of threats of governors&#39; rule or an emergency. He vowed to demonstrate people&#39;s power through a long march, scheduling it on September 27. Later, the chief minister rescheduled the march to October 4. Just days before the PTI&rsquo;s planned long march, the prime minister and the president formed a committee to negotiate with the PTI and other opposition parties over the march, stating concerns over the province&rsquo;s deteriorating law and order situation.

The government and opposition parties conducted negotiations over two days. Just as the two sides were nearing agreement on most of the issues, a deadlock emerged, bringing the negotiation process to a halt. The government blamed the K-P government, particularly Afridi, for the deadlock and failure of the negotiations, while PTI said the talks broke down over its demand for a meeting with the party&rsquo;s founder.

In October, CM Afridi began his long march towards Islamabad, further escalating tensions between the two sides, with both sides continuing to trade allegations. As tensions peaked, PM Shehbaz once again entered the fray and extended an olive branch to the PTI, saying the government was prepared to engage with the opposition if the party ended its long march and sit-ins.

The PTI, however, rejected the offer as its march continued towards Islamabad.

On Sunday, October 11, the federal government imposed an emergency and governor&rsquo;s rule in K-P under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution. The government cited the deteriorating law and order situation and what it called a lack of support from the provincial administration in the fight against terrorism.

In response, the opposition parties took to the floors of the Senate and NA to coerce the government into taking back its decision. PTI Chairman Gohar even filed a petition in the Peshawar High Court, challenging the imposition of emergency and governor&rsquo;s rule in K-P and seeking the restoration of the province&rsquo;s elected government.]]>
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			<title>Bilawal offers to approach PM for ending K-P emergency if PTI agrees to political dialogue</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634791/bilawal-offers-to-approach-pm-for-ending-k-p-emergency-if-pti-agrees-to-political-dialogue</link>
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			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 08:53:53 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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				<![CDATA[Accuses PTI of carrying out 'political suicide attack' on its own government in K-P]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday renewed his call for dialogue with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), saying he would personally request Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to end the emergency in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) if political conditions were created that made the measure unnecessary.

&ldquo;Even today, I invite you to come and hold talks with the government and political parties and create conditions in which there will be no need for this emergency in K-P. If you create these political conditions. I will personally stand in this House and request the prime minister that the time has come to end this emergency,&rdquo; said Bilawal while addressing the National Assembly (NA).

Bilawal maintained that the federal government had made every possible political effort to engage the opposition before taking the constitutional step, saying that the opposition had every right to speak against the decision and oppose it, but argued that PTI could not deny its own role in creating the political, legal and constitutional circumstances that led to the situation.

The PPP chairman accused PTI of carrying out a &ldquo;political suicide attack&rdquo; on its own government in K-P, adding that opposition leaders could blame the federal government or President Asif Ali Zardari for the loss of their provincial government, but maintained that PTI, particularly its provincial leadership, had played a significant role in creating the circumstances.



حکومت پاکستان نے ہر ممکن سیاسی کوشش کی، اپوزیشن کو انگیج کیا تاکہ ایمرجنسی کا قدم نہ اٹھایا جائے، اپوزیشن کا حق ہے کہ وہ اس قدم کی مخالفت کریں لیکن یہ بات انہیں ماننی پڑے گی۔ اپوزیشن کی ذمہ دارانہ قیادت یہ جانتی ہے کہ خیبرپختونخوا کی حکومت پر پی ٹی آئی نے خود ایک سیاسی خودکش حملہ&hellip; pic.twitter.com/Y4KBZS5KNU
&mdash; PPP (@MediaCellPPP) October 14, 2026



He said responsible figures within the opposition were aware of these circumstances, even if they were unwilling to acknowledge them publicly. He argued that if the federal government had concluded that K-P was facing war-like conditions and that its internal situation prevented an effective response to terrorism, the provincial government should have provided political, legal or constitutional grounds for rejecting the proposed measure.

Read:&nbsp;Govt tables resolution in NA seeking endorsement of K-P emergency

The PPP chairman questioned why PTI&#39;s provincial leadership had failed to provide any justification that would have allowed President Zardari or the PPP to oppose the decision.

Bilawal said that when the proposal first came before the president and the PPP, their position was that the government should engage PTI and the opposition before resorting to what he described as a &ldquo;constitutional atom bomb&rdquo;. He said the objective was to address the federal government&#39;s objections and allegations that the provincial government was not cooperating in the fight against terrorism, thereby removing any legal, constitutional or political justification for taking the step.

He said two representatives of his party, including its parliamentary leader in the Senate, had participated in the committee negotiating with the opposition. Referring to previous experiences of political negotiations, Bilawal said he had initially been uncertain whether the talks would succeed.

However, he said he was informed late one night that negotiations were moving towards success and that PTI and the opposition were likely to agree on measures to address terrorism in K-P.

According to Bilawal, the proposed understanding included the provincial government declaring the areas most severely affected by terrorism as terrorist-affected areas. He said the opposition had also agreed in principle that the federal government, provincial government and K-P chief minister would prepare an agreement outlining how they would jointly combat terrorism.

Bilawal said he had regarded the development as a major political achievement, believing that the government, its allies and the opposition could work together on an issue of national importance. The PPP chairman also stressed the importance of protecting political space for all parties.



دہشتگردی کے خلاف جنگ میں وفاقی اور صوبائی حکومتوں کا مشترکہ لائحہ عمل وقت کی اہم ضرورت ہے۔ سیاسی اختلافات سے بالاتر ہو کر قومی سلامتی اور عوام کے تحفظ کے لیے مل کر آگے بڑھنا ہی حقیقی سیاسی کامیابی ہے۔

چیئرمین پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری کا مؤقف ہے کہ سیاسی اسپیس کی&hellip; pic.twitter.com/u18DpxJrI5
&mdash; PPP (@MediaCellPPP) October 14, 2026



He said restricting the political space of one party inevitably affected other political parties, political groups and ordinary Pakistani citizens. Bilawal acknowledged that the PPP and other political parties shared responsibility for the shrinking political space, but maintained that PTI could not deny its own role.

Referring to the security situation, he said K-P was the province most affected by terrorism, while tensions with Afghanistan had created additional challenges. Bilawal criticised the non-functional K-P chief minister for taking an oath from supporters not to cooperate with the federal government&#39;s efforts against terrorism.

He questioned whether such conduct amounted to political suicide and said the PPP, whose leaders and workers had sacrificed their lives in the fight against terrorism, had no justification for opposing measures intended to address the security threat.

Read more:&nbsp;Opp calls K-P emergency &#39;pre-planned&#39;

Bilawal also referred to President Zardari&#39;s role in restoring the 1973 Constitution and introducing the 18th Amendment, arguing that the opposition had failed to provide him with a constitutional, legal or political reason to reject the proposed measure. Bilawal maintained that the statements and actions of PTI&#39;s provincial leadership had left the president, the government and the PPP with no grounds to oppose the step.

However, he stressed that the emergency was a temporary measure and could not continue indefinitely, adding that the decision had been necessary under the prevailing circumstances, but acknowledged that an emergency alone could not provide a permanent solution to terrorism.

Bilawal argued that even if the previous system had failed to cooperate in counter-terrorism efforts, lasting success would require a broader and more effective approach. He said eliminating terrorism from Khyber to Khuzdar required cooperation across the country and urged the opposition to fulfil its responsibilities in the fight against terrorists.

The PPP chairman described the current terrorism challenge as more complicated than in the past.

Referring to Pakistan&#39;s recent military confrontation with India, Bilawal said that Pakistan had inflicted a historic defeat on India, including shooting down six aircraft. He said that India had not accepted the outcome and continued to seek ways to destabilise Pakistan.

Bilawal referred to India&#39;s Operation Sindoor, saying Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had repeatedly stated that the operation was continuing, saying that India was sponsoring terrorist activities in Pakistan through the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and separatist terrorist organisations.



لائیو: چیئرمین پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری قومی اسمبلی کے اجلاس سے خطاب کررہے ہیں۔ https://t.co/QDfQ5GPNDH
&mdash; PPP (@MediaCellPPP) October 14, 2026



The PPP chairman also maintained that India had a role in developments in Afghanistan and said Pakistan could not ignore the regional security implications. Referring to Pakistan&#39;s diplomatic efforts to promote peace between Iran and the United States, Bilawal said Islamabad had undertaken a major responsibility that would be welcomed by people in Pakistan and around the world.

However, he said that &ldquo;Zionist forces&rdquo; were interfering in Pakistan&#39;s internal affairs and supporting terrorist organisations operating in Balochistan and K-P.

He added that Pakistan would have to confront these threats collectively, saying that even if some political parties refused to participate, the PPP and other parties would not retreat from the fight against terrorism.

Bilawal said his party had not feared terrorists in the past and would not fear them now, adding that it would confront both militant groups and those supporting them.

The PPP chairman again appealed to PTI and other opposition parties to recognise that Pakistan belonged to all political forces, regardless of their differences.

Also read:&nbsp;Failed talks forced K-P emergency, says PM

He said political disagreements could continue, but certain fundamental national issues required consensus. Failure to develop such agreement, he warned, would damage not only political parties but the entire country.

Bilawal argued that the federal government did not want to confront multiple challenges simultaneously, including India, terrorist organisations such as the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and TTP, and political confrontation with PTI. He said the government wanted political parties to work together against these challenges rather than deepen their differences.

Turning to parliamentary cooperation, Bilawal thanked PM Shehbaz and his team for accepting the PPP&#39;s request to establish a parliamentary committee on electoral reforms. He said such a committee would serve little purpose if it included only the PPP and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Bilawal stressed that opposition participation was essential, saying that although the committee might not achieve complete improvement, it could still deliver meaningful reforms. He recalled that the National Action Plan had been formulated through political consensus during former prime minister Nawaz Sharif&#39;s government, with political parties from both the government and opposition participating.

The PPP chairman urged the opposition to recognise Parliament as a platform for resolving national issues, even if it did not accept other institutions or forums for negotiations. He proposed a parliamentary committee to address terrorism and national security challenges, with participation from both sides of the House.

Bilawal said the PPP was prepared to work with the opposition on developing such a mechanism and stressed that decisions should be reached through political consultation wherever possible.

He urged PTI not to undermine opportunities for dialogue through its own actions.

The PPP chairman said the constitutional decision regarding K-P had already been taken, but maintained that efforts would continue to defeat terrorism and provide relief to the province&#39;s people. He reiterated that political negotiations remained necessary to create conditions in which the emergency could be withdrawn.





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			<title>Pakistan, Russia sign MoU to strengthen cooperation against organised crime</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634819/pakistan-russia-agree-to-sign-mou-to-combat-organised-crime-finalise-prisoner-transfer-agreement</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634819/pakistan-russia-agree-to-sign-mou-to-combat-organised-crime-finalise-prisoner-transfer-agreement#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 11:21:31 +0500</pubDate>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[PM Shehbaz meets Russian interior minister, stresses need to deepen cooperation in areas of mutual interest]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan and Russia on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in combatting organised crime during Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev&rsquo;s visit to Pakistan.

The MoU was signed after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Kolokoltsev, who arrived in Pakistan earlier this week on a four-day visit, marking the first instance of a Russian interior minister visiting Pakistan.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office, the premier&nbsp;expressed satisfaction over the positive momentum in Pakistan-Russia relations and emphasised the importance of building on it to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.



Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif received Mr. Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Minister of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, who is currently on an official visit to Pakistan.

The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction over the positive momentum in Pakistan-Russia relations&hellip; pic.twitter.com/IkuFeAaQql
&mdash; Prime Minister&#39;s Office (@PakPMO) October 14, 2026


He reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to deepening its friendly relations with the Russian Federation and making effective use of existing bilateral mechanisms to advance mutually beneficial cooperation.

PM Shehbaz also underscored the need to expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest, particularly trade and investment, energy and economic development.



Interior Minister of the Russian Federation Mr. Vladimir Kolokoltsev called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, today. pic.twitter.com/4TaGFVxYcC
&mdash; Prime Minister&#39;s Office (@PakPMO) October 14, 2026


The Russian interior minister conveyed Russia&rsquo;s desire to further strengthen bilateral ties and expand cooperation in areas of shared interest.

While appreciating Pakistan&rsquo;s support at various multilateral forums, particularly the United Nations, Kolokoltsev highlighted the significant potential for expanding bilateral trade and economic cooperation between Pakistan and Russia.

He expressed Russia&rsquo;s readiness to work closely with Pakistan to further enhance bilateral engagement.

Later, the prime minister witnessed the signing of the MoU on strengthening cooperation in combating organised crime.

Both countries agreed to sign the MoU earlier today while also deciding to finalise agreements on extradition and the transfer of prisoners.

The decisions were taken during a meeting between Interior Minister Naqvi and Kolokoltsev at the Ministry of Interior in Islamabad, followed by delegation-level talks on areas of mutual interest. The Russian minister arrived in Pakistan on Monday on a maiden four-day visit at the invitation of Naqvi.

According to a statement issued by the interior ministry, during the meeting, both sides agreed to ensure the swift implementation of the readmission agreement and strengthen bilateral cooperation to combat organised crime, cybercrime, drug trafficking and illegal migration.



ملاقات میں منظم جرائم کی روک تھام کیلئے اشتراک اور معلومات کے تبادلے کے ایم او یو پر دستخط کرنے کا فیصلہ

ایکسٹراڈیشن اور مجرمان کے تبادلے پر معاہدوں کو بھی حتمی شکل دینے پر اتفاق
ری ایڈمیشن معاہدے پر جلد عملدرآمد پر بھی کا فیصلہ
&mdash; Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) October 14, 2026


&quot;The two countries agreed to enhance coordination between Pakistan&rsquo;s Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) and relevant Russian agencies to curb drug trafficking. Furthermore, working groups from the interior ministries of both countries will also visit each other soon to explore further avenues for cooperation,&quot; it said.

The statement added that the two countries also agreed to strengthen institutional links between Pakistan&rsquo;s National Police Academy and its Russian counterpart to promote the exchange of expertise and improve law enforcement capabilities.



پاکستان سے روس ہنر مند افرادی قوت بھیجنے، سیاحوں اور بزنس کمیونٹی کے لئے ویزہ کے حصول کو آسان بنانے پر تبادلہ خیال
سائبر کرائم کی روک تھام اور نیشنل پولیس اکیڈمی اور روس کی پولیس اکیڈمی کے مابین تعاون بڑھانے پر اتفاق
&mdash; Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) October 14, 2026


Speaking on the occasion, Naqvi described the proposed agreement on preventing organised crime as an important milestone in strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

He added that Pakistan wished to benefit from Russia&rsquo;s experience in combatting cybercrime.

During the talks, Kolokoltsev informed the meeting that Russia had reduced cybercrime by 33% through effective measures, highlighting the importance of sharing experience and strengthening cooperation in the field.

He also stressed the importance of joint measures to prevent all forms of organised crime, including terrorism, drug smuggling and illegal migration.

Read: Zardari calls for stronger Pak-Russia ties

The discussions culminated in both sides underscoring the commitment of both countries to expand bilateral engagement through formal agreements, information sharing, institutional coordination and cooperation among law enforcement agencies.

The talks also covered measures to facilitate the dispatch of skilled Pakistani workers to Russia, ease visa procedures for tourists and businesspeople, and expand cooperation in tackling cybercrime, the statement outlined.

Naqvi said easing visa procedures would promote people-to-people contact and further bilateral ties.

The interior minister noted that around 1,300 Pakistani students were currently studying in Russia and expressed the desire to see more Pakistani students pursue higher education there.



اس وقت 1300 پاکستانی طلباء روس میں تعلیم حاصل کررہے ہیں، چاہتے ہیں کہ مزید پاکستانی طلباء روس میں تعلیم حاصل کریں۔ محسن نقوی
دہشتگردی، منشیات کی سمگلنگ اور غیر قانونی مائیگریشن سمیت تمام منظم جرائم کی روک تھام کیلئے مشترکہ اقدامات انتہائی ضروری ہیں، روسی وزیر داخلہ
&mdash; Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) October 14, 2026


Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, the Russian ambassador to Pakistan, senior officials of the Ministry of Interior, the director general of the Federal Investigation Agency, the commandant of the National Police Academy, the inspector general of the Frontier Corps, and heads of relevant law enforcement, cybercrime, forensic and passport authorities were also present at the meeting.

Among the city&rsquo;s administrative and law enforcement authorities, the chief commissioner of Islamabad, the inspector general of Islamabad Police and other senior officials attended the talks.]]>
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			<title>Omani FM appreciates Pakistan’s efforts to ease regional tensions in meeting with PM Shehbaz</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634774/pakistan-oman-agree-to-strengthen-bilateral-ties-step-up-diplomacy-for-regional-peace</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634774/pakistan-oman-agree-to-strengthen-bilateral-ties-step-up-diplomacy-for-regional-peace#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 06:34:17 +0500</pubDate>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Islamabad]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Both leaders reaffirm close ties and seek to expand cooperation across multiple sectors]]>
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				<![CDATA[Oman&#39;s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi appreciated Pakistan&rsquo;s sustained diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and advance peaceful solutions to regional challenges during a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office.

Albusaidi is visiting Pakistan to co-chair the eighth session of the Pakistan-Oman Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) alongside Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

According to the statement, the prime minister welcomed the Omani foreign minister and highlighted the shared faith, geography, history and culture, as well as centuries of people-to-people exchanges, that provided a strong fraternal foundation for relations between the two countries.



Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif received today the Foreign Minister of Oman, H.E. Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi, who is on a visit to Pakistan to co-chair the 8th Session of the Pakistan-Oman Joint Ministerial Commission along with Deputy Prime&hellip; pic.twitter.com/ONHosHAL34
&mdash; Prime Minister&#39;s Office (@PakPMO) October 14, 2026



PM Shehbaz said Pakistan considered Oman a brotherly country, an important maritime neighbour and a valuable partner in a critically important region. He also noted with satisfaction the unanimity of views between Pakistan and Oman on regional and global issues.

Expressing satisfaction over the successful convening of the eighth session of the JMC, the premier hoped the meeting would provide a strong foundation for expanding mutually beneficial cooperation and deepening engagement between the two countries, the statement said.

He also appreciated Oman&rsquo;s principled stance on resolving disputes through dialogue and diplomacy.

According to the PMO, Albusaidi thanked the Pakistani government for the hospitality extended to him and his delegation. He expressed satisfaction over the successful holding of the JMC session and agreed that it would pave the way for enhanced bilateral cooperation across various sectors for mutual benefit.

The Omani foreign minister also appreciated Pakistan&rsquo;s sustained diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and advance peaceful solutions to regional challenges.



Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif witnessed a ceremony of exchange of MoUs between Pakistan and the Sultanate of Oman, in Islamabad, today. pic.twitter.com/XYxgkpXAIq
&mdash; Prime Minister&#39;s Office (@PakPMO) October 14, 2026



The statement said the prime minister witnessed the signing of the protocol of the eighth session of the Pakistan-Oman Joint Ministerial Commission, along with agreements and memorandums of understanding covering cooperation in media, news and information exchange, historical documentation and archives management, communication and information technology, and the facilitation of diplomatic and official exchanges.

Dar condemns Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia

Earlier today, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister (FM) Ishaq Dar, in a joint press conference with his Omani counterpart Albusaidi condemned recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, terming them unacceptable, in violation of international law, and a &quot;serious threat to regional peace and security.&quot;

FM Dar stated that during his discussions with Albusaidi, he &quot;conveyed Pakistan&#39;s strongest condemnation&quot; of the recent attacks &quot;which resulted in injuries to several individuals, martyrdom of one Pakistani and injuries to five Pakistani nationals.&quot;

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on X, FM Dar &quot;reaffirmed Pakistan&#39;s full solidarity with the leadership and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,&quot; including Islamabad&#39;s &quot;unwavering commitment to the kingdom&#39;s sovereignity, territorial integrity and security, in accordance with the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.&quot;



🔊 PR No. 2️⃣8️⃣8️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣

Remarks by the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 during Joint Press Stakeout with the Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman, H.E. Sayyid Badr Bin Hamad Bin Hamood Albusaidi (14 October 2026)

🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/LYrDyrJsEQ
&mdash; Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 14, 2026


The remarks came as Yemen&#39;s Houthis ​vowed to press on with attacks on airports and oil facilities in Saudi &zwnj;Arabia and said they struck the headquarters of oil giant Saudi Aramco. The group said it had launched ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones at Saudi Aramco facilities in the eastern city of Dhahran, King Khalid International Airport in ​Riyadh and an Aramco refinery in Riyadh, without saying when.

Saudi Arabia has faced widening Houthi strikes over the ​past week, including an attack on Riyadh airport on Saturday that killed 13 people.

FM Dar and his Omani counterpart &quot;also exchanged views on the evolving situation in the Gulf, underscoring the importance of restraint, de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy.&quot; FM Dar highlighted &quot;the need to ensure the safety and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb, given their critical importance to regional and global food and energy security.&quot;

According to the statement, FM Dar reaffirmed Pakistan&#39;s commitment to &quot;contributing constructively to diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability in the region.&quot;

Read: FM Dar condemns Houthi attack on Riyadh airport, says Pakistan is in touch with Saudi authorities

FM Dar, in his meeting with Sayyid Badr, also raised the issue of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), saying that it remained &quot;a long-standing unresolved international dispute.&quot; The foreign minister &quot;reiterated Pakistan&#39;s call for its just and peaceful resolution in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.&quot;

Discussing &quot;the grave situation in Palestine,&quot; the statement noted, FM Dar reiterated Islamabad&#39;s &quot;principled and unwavering support&quot; for the Palestinian people &quot;and their inalienable rights.&quot; He stated, &quot;We expressed concern over the continued expansion of illegal settlements and efforts to alter the status of Al-Quds Al-Sharif.&quot;

Pakistan also highlighted the &quot;urgent need for the unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza,&quot; reaffirming Islamabad&#39;s support for a just and lasting solution in accordance with relevant resolutions of the United Nations.

Regarding regional developments including the situation in Afghanistan and the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), FM Dar underscored &quot;the imperative of ensuring that Afghan territory is not used to carry out activities against Pakistan.&quot;

On the IWT, the statement noted that the foreign minister &quot;emphasised that India&#39;s unilateral decision to hold the treaty in abeyance constitutes a material breach of international law.&quot; He added that this represented &quot;a dangerous attempt to weaponise shared water resources,&quot; and threatened the water, food and energy security of 250 million Pakistanis.

Welcoming &quot;closer engagement between the business communities of the two countries and encouraged greater investment in Special Economic Zones and Free Zones,&quot; FM Dar also acknowledged &quot;the valuable contribution of the Pakistani community in Oman.&quot;

The contribution &quot;continues to serve as a strong bridge between our two brotherly countries,&quot; he said.

He added that both sides &quot;reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in labour mobility, vocational training, and human resource development to create new opportunities for skilled Pakistani professionals and workers.&quot;

FM Dar expressed gratitude to Sayyid Badr and the Omani delegation &quot;for their constructive engagement and valuable contribution to the success of the JMC session.&quot;

He concluded with saying that the &quot;Pakistan-Oman friendship remains strong and forward-looking, and we are committed to building an even more prosperous future together.&quot;

FM&#39;s agree to strengthen bilateral cooperation, intensify diplomatic efforts

Earlier, FM Dar and Sayyid Badr agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation and intensify diplomatic efforts for regional peace and stability, as the two countries held the eighth session of the Pakistan-Oman Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) in Islamabad after a seven-year gap.

Speaking during a media briefing in Islamabad, FM Dar welcomed the Omani counterpart and his delegation to Pakistan, conveying greetings on behalf of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to the Sultan of Oman.

The foreign minister said the two countries had maintained frequent interactions and shared longstanding historical and diplomatic ties. Referring to the JMC, he said: &quot;The meeting was taking place after seven years, and both sides had agreed during their restricted meeting to avoid such lengthy gaps in the future.&quot;

He said there was considerable scope for enhancing bilateral trade, economic activities and investment opportunities, stressing that regular engagement was essential to achieving progress.



Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 held a cordial meeting with H.E. Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi @badralbusaidi ahead of the 8th Pakistan-Oman Joint Ministerial session.

The two Ministers reaffirmed the close, fraternal&hellip; pic.twitter.com/jpjqXRlqZJ
&mdash; Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 14, 2026


&ldquo;I promise that in 2027, God will, inshallah, I will visit your great country for this purpose and we will have the next GMC there,&rdquo; FM Dar said. The foreign minister said both sides had identified areas of mutual interest and discussed regional and global developments in detail during their restricted meeting.

He said discussions covered the &quot;United States, Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, Palestine, the situation in Gaza, Jammu and Kashmir and other pressing regional issues.&quot;

FM Dar commended Oman&rsquo;s leadership and its diplomatic efforts to promote regional peace, particularly its role in efforts to secure peace among Muslim countries. He said Pakistan appreciated Oman&rsquo;s efforts before Islamabad became involved in supporting the same objective. &ldquo;So, you did a great job and Pakistan commends, and I personally am a great admirer of your efforts,&rdquo; FM Dar said.

Referring to Pakistan&rsquo;s relationship with Oman and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), FM Dar said the countries coordinated closely through the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the United Nations and other multilateral institutions.

He said diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Oman spanned 55 years, while historical ties between the two countries extended back centuries. FM Dar highlighted the longstanding connections between Oman and Pakistan&rsquo;s Balochistan province, particularly the historical relationship involving Gwadar.

He said the two countries had agreed to work closely for regional peace and address ongoing challenges. Referring to developments involving the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, FM Dar said the two sides had discussed the situation in Bab el-Mandeb and shared similar views on the need to resolve the issues.

He stressed that diplomatic efforts were necessary to address the suffering caused by regional conflicts and instability. &ldquo;The sufferings are very, very visible. Even in Pakistan, the energy supply chain has been disrupted. The prices have skyrocketed. The common man obviously cannot afford,&rdquo; he said.

The foreign minister added that the &quot;consequences of the disruption were being felt across the world.&quot; FM Dar called for restoring peace and stability in the region, saying Pakistan and Oman could play an important role in achieving that objective.

He also appreciated Oman&rsquo;s engagement with Pakistan during the Pakistan-India war and other international developments, saying the two countries regularly kept each other informed and maintained close communication.

FM Dar also referred to his previous meeting with the Omani foreign minister in Manila.

Addressing the briefing, the Omani foreign minister expressed appreciation for the warm welcome extended to him and his delegation in Islamabad. He highlighted the historical, cultural and traditional bonds between Oman and Pakistan and reaffirmed his country&#39;s commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation across various sectors.

The Omani foreign minister said the eighth session of the JMC provided an important mechanism for strengthening relations and delivering benefits to the people of both countries. He referred to the existing friendship association, business council and political consultations between the two foreign ministers as mechanisms that could drive closer cooperation.

Sayyid Badr said regular meetings would help both countries fulfil the aspirations of their leadership and people. The Omani foreign minister also acknowledged Pakistan&rsquo;s constructive role in promoting dialogue and diplomacy at a time of heightened regional tensions. &ldquo;I would like to also acknowledge Pakistan&#39;s constructive role in supporting dialogue and diplomacy in our region at a time when tensions can easily escalate,&rdquo; he said.

Read More: PM Shehbaz seeks stronger Bahrain ties in trade, energy during meeting with FM Al Zayani

He particularly appreciated Pakistan&#39;s diplomatic efforts to facilitate engagement between Iran and the United States. &ldquo;I salute you for all the efforts that you have led in recent months, and we appreciate Pakistan&#39;s role that has helped create space for dialogue between Iran and the United States in particular,&rdquo; he said.

The Omani foreign minister thanked officials from both countries for their extensive preparations ahead of the ministerial meeting.

Turning to economic cooperation, he said both countries were pursuing important economic transformations and had opportunities to expand collaboration in trade, logistics, port connectivity, energy, food security, technology and tourism. He also highlighted the importance of strengthening people-to-people connections.

The minister said the potential for cooperation existed, but both countries needed to remove obstacles and create favourable conditions for businesses and investors.

He encouraged greater interaction between the private sectors, stronger institutional partnerships, increased academic and technological cooperation, and more regular exchanges between the people of Oman and Pakistan.

The Omani foreign minister expressed hope that the JMC would become a more effective platform for delivering meaningful progress for both countries.

Sayyid Badr had arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday for a two-day visit to co-chair the eighth Pakistan-Oman JMC session, upon FM Dar&#39;s invitation. In an earlier statement, the Foreign Office had said Sayyid Badr would also pay a courtesy call to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, with the meeting providing an &quot;important platform&quot; to review the &quot;full spectrum of bilateral relations&quot; and strengthen cooperation across various fields.

The Foreign Office had added that the visit reflected the longstanding fraternal relations between Pakistan and Oman and was expected to further deepen mutually beneficial cooperation across multiple sectors.]]>
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			<title>Pakistan, Russia pledge to deepen security cooperation</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634835/pakistan-russia-pledge-to-deepen-security-cooperation</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634835/pakistan-russia-pledge-to-deepen-security-cooperation#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 13:15:00 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Underscore the importance of closer institutional linkages and improved coordination between the security institutions]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan&nbsp;reaffirmed its resolve to deepen longstanding relations with Russia and expand practical cooperation in areas of mutual interest, particularly security, as Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir met Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev on Wednesday.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the meeting&nbsp;at General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi focused on matters of mutual interest and the regional security environment, with particular emphasis on strengthening bilateral security cooperation.

&ldquo;They underscored the importance of closer institutional linkages and improved coordination between the security institutions of Pakistan and Russia,&rdquo; the statement outlined further.

Read: Pakistan, Russia agree to sign MoU to combat organised crime, finalise prisoner transfer agreement

CDF Munir reiterated Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to further strengthening its longstanding ties with Moscow and translating bilateral relations into tangible cooperation in areas of shared interest, particularly in the security domain.

The Russian interior minister, meanwhile, appreciated Pakistan&rsquo;s contributions to regional peace and stability and acknowledged the professionalism and sacrifices of the Pakistan Armed Forces in the fight against terrorism.

CDF Munir&rsquo;s meeting with Minister Kolokoltsev comes amid expanding Pakistan&ndash;Russia engagement on counterterrorism, law enforcement, military training and broader bilateral relations.

In February, Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Moscow&rsquo;s readiness to strengthen counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan following a suicide attack on an Islamabad imambargah that killed at least 31 people. In letters of condolence to President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Putin expressed solidarity with Pakistan and reiterated Russia&rsquo;s willingness to work with Islamabad in combating terrorism.

Then, in May, Pakistani and Russian officials held the 16th meeting of the Russia-Pakistan Consultative Group on Strategic Stability in Moscow, where they discussed international security, global stability, arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation. The Foreign Office said both sides found their approaches &ldquo;aligned&rdquo; on most of the issues discussed and agreed to continue coordination at relevant international forums. The next meeting was scheduled to take place in Islamabad in 2027.

A month after that, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Kolokoltsev, signed agreements to enhance cooperation on illegal immigration, the repatriation of illegally residing citizens and counter-narcotics efforts. Their discussions also highlighted regional security concerns linked to terrorist camps and drug production in Afghanistan. The agreements provided a practical framework for expanding cooperation between the two countries&rsquo; interior ministries and law enforcement agencies.

Read more: Russian interior minister arrives in Pakistan on maiden visit

On August 18, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met Russian Ambassador to Pakistan Albert Khorev in Islamabad and welcomed what he described as positive momentum in bilateral relations. Dar stressed the need for continued collaboration in key areas and sustained high-level exchanges to further strengthen ties.

Towards the end of September, the Pakistan Army and Russian Army participated in the ninth edition of their joint military exercise, Druzhba-IX, at Cherat and the National Counter Terrorism Centre in Pabbi. The two-week exercise focused on sharing operational experience, refining counterterrorism drills and procedures, and enhancing interoperability between the forces.

Finally, a couple of days ago, Kolokoltsev arrived in Pakistan on a four-day visit at the invitation of Naqvi, marking the first visit to Pakistan by a Russian interior minister.]]>
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			<title>‘You’re not alone, the truth will come out’: Nobel winner Navi Pillay on global support for Palestinians</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634849/youre-not-alone-the-truth-will-come-out-nobel-winner-navi-pillay-on-global-support-for-palestinians</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634849/youre-not-alone-the-truth-will-come-out-nobel-winner-navi-pillay-on-global-support-for-palestinians#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 14:59:14 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Anadolu Agency]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634849</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[2026 Nobel Peace Prize winner draws parallels with international action against apartheid in South Africa]]>
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				<![CDATA[Nobel Peace Prize laureate Navi Pillay said Palestinians seeking justice are not alone, and the truth will emerge, urging the international community to draw lessons from the collective action and economic sanctions that helped end apartheid in her native South Africa.

In an exclusive interview on Wednesday, Pillay, judge at the International Court of Justice and a former UN human rights chief, reflected on her experience fighting apartheid and the importance of international support for Palestinians amid continuing concerns over accountability for violations in the Gaza Strip.

&quot;I imagine I&#39;m correct in saying that even though Palestinians are struggling for their freedom for more than 90 years now, attention by the international community and support by the international community would be of great significance for them,&quot; she told Anadolu.

&quot;The message being, you&#39;re not alone. That with information and correct information, the truth will come out.&quot;



EXCLUSIVE &ndash; Nobel Peace Prize winner Navi Pillay on Gaza genocide, international law and accountability

🇵🇸 Message to Palestinians: Pillay says international support tells Palestinians that &ldquo;you&rsquo;re not alone&rdquo; and the &ldquo;truth will come out&rdquo;

✊ Collective action: Pillay says&hellip; pic.twitter.com/sY2g81CTf7
&mdash; Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) October 14, 2026


Pillay, 85, who was awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize for her contributions to international justice, chaired a UN commission of inquiry, which concluded last year that Israel committed genocide in Gaza.

Recalling her experience under apartheid, she said South African lawyers fought a lonely struggle with little international attention. &quot;We really had very little relief. And honestly, the rest of the world didn&#39;t pay attention to us,&quot; she said.

The rights lawyer said a UN commission gathering evidence and presenting its findings internationally would have greatly helped Black South Africans at that time.

Palestine needs same level of economic sanctions, collective action that helped end apartheid

Pillay stressed the importance of identifying the root causes of Palestinian suffering, and reiterated her commission&#39;s finding that Israel&#39;s unlawful occupation was the root cause of the longstanding conflict.

She criticised governments for increasingly prioritising their political and regional interests over their responsibilities to maintain international peace and justice.

She said the UN Security Council already possessed mechanisms to respond to violations, including peacekeeping operations, investigative commissions, mediation and economic sanctions.

&quot;The principal tool they have is to impose sanctions, economic sanctions against governments that are violating international human rights law, international humanitarian law; they&#39;ve used this before,&quot; she said.

Questioning the international community&#39;s response to Gaza, Pillay said: &quot;So, the question that civil society is asking: &#39;Why are you sitting back and doing nothing in the face of huge violations that we, the people, can see daily? We can see genocide being committed on our television screens&#39;.&quot;

&quot;And I am as unhappy as most people that there has been so little action,&quot; she added.

Drawing on South Africa&#39;s experience, where apartheid ended in 1994, Pillay emphasised the decisive role of international economic pressure.

Read: Navi Pillay: Nobel laureate who led UN inquiry that found genocide in Gaza

&quot;Apartheid came to an end mainly because of the economic sanctions imposed by the Security Council, by the United Nations against the apartheid government,&quot; she said.

&quot;I never thought apartheid will end in my lifetime, but it&#39;s this collective action by governments, by businesses, and civil society all over the world that brought an end to apartheid.&quot;

Pillay said she had been hoping for similar international cooperation in response to the situation in Gaza.

&quot;I&#39;ve been hopefully looking for and calling for that level of cooperation, that level of condemnation of the huge violations and killings of Palestinians,&quot; she said.

Doing nothing &#39;unacceptable&#39;

Asked whether Israel&#39;s growing international isolation and sanctions targeting settlers in the occupied West Bank could help end its impunity, Pillay said such developments could contribute to broader collective action.

&quot;The one thing we cannot accept is doing nothing,&quot; she said.

Recalling Nelson Mandela&#39;s position that South Africans could not fully enjoy freedom while Palestinians remained oppressed and occupied, she said Palestinians were seeking measures similar to those used against apartheid.

&quot;Palestinians are calling for the kind of action that was taken to end apartheid. They see the value of economic boycotts,&quot; she said.

Read More: Genocide in Palestine

She also referred to protests by Israelis against efforts to weaken the country&#39;s Supreme Court, urging governments to respect civilians&#39; right to protest and cooperate with international criminal investigations.

She stressed that international legal principles must be applied consistently, without selectivity or bias, particularly when civilians are suffering.

States have a duty to prevent genocide

Pillay emphasised that governments, rather than international organisations alone, bear responsibility for preventing genocide.

&quot;The Genocide Convention is very clear. The duty is on every state to prevent genocide,&quot; she said. &quot;That&#39;s a purpose; it&#39;s not to react to genocide and to punish the alleged perpetrators. The main reason is to prevent, because it&#39;s an intolerable crime when a whole group is being destroyed in whole or in part.&quot;

About the potential legal responsibility of governments supplying weapons, intelligence or political support despite warnings of serious violations, Pillay said the states themselves established international conventions and treaties.

&quot;They set the standards. Now they must implement them without selection,&quot; she said, arguing that governments were failing to apply their own commitments because of political interests.

Pillay recalled that her UN commission had urged the General Assembly to seek an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concerning Israel&#39;s occupation of Palestinian territory.

She welcomed the court&#39;s opinion in 2024, which found Israel&#39;s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory unlawful, and outlined obligations concerning Palestinian rights.

She, however, acknowledged that legal proceedings offered limited immediate relief to people suffering on the ground.

&quot;I agree; they&#39;re not very helpful to relieve their immediate dire situation,&quot; she said. &quot;Let&#39;s use international law to assert and realise the rights of people who are oppressed everywhere in the world.&quot;

UN system &#39;very skewed&#39;

On shortcomings of the international system and its eroding credibility, Pillay pointed to the dominance of governments within the UN and the shrinking space for civil society.

&quot;Certainly, the system is very skewed. Who controls the United Nations? It&#39;s member states, it&#39;s governments,&quot; she said, urging UN members to conduct their affairs in closer cooperation with civil society organisations.

Global opposition to US sanctions on ICC a must

Turning to Washington&#39;s measures against the International Criminal Court (ICC), Pillay called on governments, including those outside the Rome Statute, to oppose the campaign.

&quot;I would like to see states of the world, the member states, whether they&#39;re parties to the Rome Statute or not, to condemn the unlawful measures and sanctions that the United States is imposing on this court,&quot; she said.

Also Read: US imposes sweeping sanctions on ICC

&quot;We should say roundly that it&#39;s unacceptable, and then we all have the responsibility to help the court to overcome these obstacles.&quot;

The former ICC judge expressed confidence that the court&#39;s staff would continue their work despite mounting political pressure.

&quot;They&#39;re not going to stop doing what they are doing because they are working out of commitment. They believe that it is possible to realise justice for all,&quot; she said.

Nobel Prize a &#39;wonderful surprise&#39;

Reflecting on receiving the Nobel, Pillay described the recognition as unexpected and deeply meaningful. &quot;This award was a huge surprise to me, but a wonderful surprise,&quot; she said.

She expressed gratitude that the Nobel Committee had recognised different aspects of her decades-long career, from challenging apartheid to advancing international justice.

&quot;You don&#39;t win a case all the time. You win some. You lose many, especially under apartheid South Africa,&quot; she said.

Pillay described the committee&#39;s recognition of her work as a &quot;memorable moment,&quot; saying she appreciated its efforts to examine her contributions to international peace and justice.]]>
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			<title>Fact check: Saudi Arabia has not busted any assassination plot involving crown prince, alleged royal family member</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634837/fact-check-saudi-arabia-has-not-busted-any-assassination-plot-involving-crown-prince</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634837/fact-check-saudi-arabia-has-not-busted-any-assassination-plot-involving-crown-prince#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 13:29:45 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Fact Check By iVerify]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634837</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[No such incident has occurred, alleged royal family member does not exist]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Several users, the majority of whom appear to be pro-Yemeni accounts based on their past posts, have been sharing an image of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and an alleged royal family member on social media platforms X and Facebook since October 12, 2026, claiming that Saudi authorities busted an assassination plot involving them. However, nothing of the sort has occurred.

Saudi Arabia and Yemen&rsquo;s Houthis are at war again. The latest Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia came amid a renewed escalation in the conflict in Yemen. Saudi Arabia and Yemen&rsquo;s internationally recognised government launched a military campaign to push Houthi forces away from the strategically important Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key maritime route connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.

The Houthis responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi territory, including airports, military installations and oil infrastructure. The renewed fighting has intensified after years of intermittent conflict and a period of relative calm following a truce in 2022.

On October 8, Yemen&rsquo;s Houthi movement claimed that it had launched a ballistic missile towards King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, saying it had struck its intended target and disrupted air traffic. Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles, including two heading towards Riyadh and another directed towards Khamis Mushait. Subsequent attacks on Saudi airports have killed civilians.

How it started

On Oct 12, a user who appears to share anti-Saudi content based on their past posts shared an image on X, claiming that it shows an alleged assassin and a royal family member of the crown prince.

The caption of the post said: &ldquo;Attempted coup inside led by Sheikh Mubarak bin Nuwaf Al-Duaisi Al Saud. It appears there are deep and significant disagreements within the ruling family that may lead to the assassination of bin Salman and end his rule.&rdquo;

It gained 587,500 views.

Another user shared the same visuals with the following caption: &ldquo;Urgent! Right now in Saudi Arabia. Saudi intelligence announces the arrest of the owner of His Highness the Amir Mubarak bin Nawaf Al-Duaisi Al Saud and a number of officers and affiliates following an attempt to assassinate His Highness the Amir Mohammed bin Salman. And thus a military coup attempt that was supported by the Houthis has failed.&rdquo;

The post racked up 1.9 million views.

The same visuals were shared by another user, accumulating 1m views.

A pro-Yemeni account, based on its past posts, shared the same image with a similar caption, gaining 290,400 views.

The image with a similar claim was further shared by several other users on social media platforms Facebook and X, as can be seen here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here; collectively accumulating 108,300 views.

Methodology

A fact-check was initiated to determine the veracity of the claim due to its high virality and keen public interest in developments related to Saudi Arabia amid the conflict in the Middle East.

A keyword search was conducted to verify whether any credible Saudi or international media outlets had reported any alleged assassination attempt or the involvement of any such royal family member. However, no credible reports confirming the incident were found.

Further keyword searches for &ldquo;Amir Mubarak bin Nawaf Al-Duaysi Al Saud&rdquo; in both English and Arabic yielded no results on any such individual in the Saudi royal family.

A reverse image search was subsequently conducted to trace the origin of the face shown in the viral image and led to the account of Iraqi YouTuber Ali Adel, who has no known connection to the Saudi royal family.

The image was then examined using Google Gemini&rsquo;s SynthID detector, which identified a digital watermark indicating that the image had been generated or edited using Google AI.



A comparison of the circulated portrait and a screenshot of Adel taken from one of his YouTube videos was subsequently conducted using Quantilence, an AI-based facial-similarity analysis tool. The tool found a 93.7 per cent facial similarity between the two images, further supporting the finding that the portrait uses Adel&rsquo;s picture rather than depicting a member of the Saudi royal family.



The image was also analysed using AI detection tools and Sightengine flagged the image as 73 per cent AI-generated.



Similarly, another AI detection tool, TruthScan, flagged the image as 99pc AI-generated.



Undetectable AI also flagged the image as 99pc AI-generated.



Further keyword searches revealed that the same claim had circulated on social media in March 2026, without any evidence at that time as well.

Fact-check status: False

The viral claim of Saudi authorities busting an assassination plot involving the crown prince and an alleged royal family member is false.

No such incident has occurred, and the alleged royal family member does not exist.

This fact check was originally published by iVerify Pakistan &mdash; a project of CEJ-IBA and UNDP.]]>
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			<title>Fact check: Viral K-P Home Department notification ordering arrests of PTI workers is fake</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634828/fact-check-viral-k-p-home-department-notification-ordering-arrests-of-pti-workers-is-fake</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634828/fact-check-viral-k-p-home-department-notification-ordering-arrests-of-pti-workers-is-fake#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 12:37:39 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Fact Check By iVerify]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634828</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The purported notification is fake and AI-generated]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Several people, the majority of whom appear to be Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters based on their past posts, have been sharing an alleged notification on social media platforms since October 13, 2026, from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Home Department ordering the identification and arrest of PTI workers across the province. However, the notification is AI-generated.

The federal government imposed an emergency and governor&rsquo;s rule in K-P on October 11 following the president&rsquo;s approval of the recommendations by the federal cabinet. The measures were approved under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution.

The decision came during an emergency meeting of the federal cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, where he was briefed on the security situation in K-P. Cabinet members reviewed the situation and took note of the &ldquo;provincial government&rsquo;s deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism&rdquo;, according to the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office.

Read: Govt was left with &#39;no option&#39; but emergency, governor rule: PM Shehbaz

A couple of hours after the imposition of emergency was announced, K-P Information Minister Shafi Jan, who had been accompanying now-dysfunctional K-P chief minister Sohail Afridi on PTI&rsquo;s long march, claimed that Afridi had been taken into custody.

Later, PTI issued a statement condemning the &ldquo;arrest&rdquo; of Afridi and others, describing it as an act of &ldquo;political victimisation and an attempt to weaken the province&rsquo;s elected leadership and democratic institutions&rdquo;.

Communication and internet services have also been disrupted in the province. Several PTI leaders and workers were also arrested in the lead-up to the imposition of governor&rsquo;s rule.

How it started

On October 13, YouTuber and self-described journalist Measum Abbas shared a post on X containing a purported notification from the K-P Home Department.

The document bore the name and alleged signature of the additional chief secretary of the province&rsquo;s Home Department. Its subject read: &ldquo;Arrest of PTI workers &ndash; submission of names from your respective areas.&rdquo;

It directed deputy commissioners across K-P to identify, verify and arrest PTI workers and submit their names, addresses, CNIC numbers and other details within seven days.

The post gained 17,000 views.

Another X account that appeared to support PTI, based on its past posts, shared the same notification with the following caption: &ldquo;Order to arrest PTI workers, notification issued.&rdquo;

The post gained 81,300 views.

Another apparent PTI supporter shared the same image with the following caption: &ldquo;A display of shamelessness and lack of honour. They&rsquo;ve made an illegitimate grab in the name of counter-terrorism, and instead of targeting the terrorists, these shameless people are demanding names to crack down on PTI.&rdquo;

The post gained 17,200 views.

Other pro-PTI accounts on X also shared the same notification, as can be seen here, here, here, here, here and here; collectively gaining 14,000 views.

Methodology

A fact-check was initiated to determine the veracity of the claim due to its virality and keen public interest in the arrest of PTI workers in K-P following up to and after the implementation of governor&rsquo;s rule.

A keyword search was conducted to verify whether any credible Pakistani or local news outlets had reported on the alleged K-P Home Department notification ordering the arrest of PTI workers across the province, but nothing was found to corroborate it.

While news reports were plenty about PTI supporters being detained and arrested, none mentioned any such order from the K-P Home Department.

A visual and textual examination of the alleged document revealed discrepancies in its letterhead, which names the issuing authority as &ldquo;Government of Pakistan, Home Department, Province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.&rdquo;

Whereas the official X account of the Home &amp; Tribal Affairs Department, Government of K-P, shared a notification on April 6, 2023, along with an authentic letter, which identifies the issuing authority as &ldquo;Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Home &amp; Tribal Affairs Department.&rdquo;

The viral notification features Pakistan&rsquo;s national emblem at the top, whereas the authentic notification carries the provincial government&rsquo;s emblem.



Furthermore, the alleged notification identified Muhammad Iqbal Khan as the additional chief secretary of the Home Department. However, a keyword search yielded an Oct 13, 2026, Dawn news report titled &ldquo;Massive reshuffle in K-P bureaucracy under governor&rsquo;s rule&rdquo;, which said Amjad Ali Khan, the industries secretary, was transferred and posted as the home and tribal affairs secretary.

Other reports by Dawn and The Express Tribune also identified him as the additional chief secretary, instead of any Muhammad Iqbal Khan.

The notification image was subsequently analysed using OpenAI&rsquo;s tool to detect the SynthID watermark, which identified a SynthID signal, indicating that the image was likely generated or edited using OpenAI tools.



SynthID works by embedding an invisible digital watermark directly into AI-generated media content. Unlike normal metadata, the watermark forms part of the content itself and is designed to remain detectable even after the media is doctored, such as cropping, applying filters or lossy compression.

The image was also analysed using other AI-detection tools. Undetectable AI flagged the visual as 99 per cent doctored, while Fake Image Detector flagged it as 71pc AI-generated.





Meanwhile, Truthscan flagged the image as 99pc AI-generated, and Sightengine labelled it as 72pc doctored.





iVerify also reached out to Express Tribune K-P bureau chief Shahid Hamid, who confirmed that the Home Department had been contacted to verify the alleged notification and that it was found to be fake.

Furthermore, Dawn correspondent Zahid Imdad said that a deputy inspector general of police posted in K-P had also confirmed the notification was fake and that nothing of the sort had been issued.

The official fact-check account of the K-P government also issued a statement on X dated Oct 13, 2026, saying the viral notification was fake.

The statement read, &ldquo;A fake notification is currently being circulated on social media, falsely claiming that the K-P Home Department has directed the identification and arrest of PTI workers across the province.&rdquo;



فیکٹ چیک ✅

فیک نیوز الرٹ‼️

سوشل میڈیا پر خیبر پختونخوا کے محکمہ داخلہ کی جانب سے پی ٹی آئی کارکنوں کی شناخت، فہرستوں کی تیاری اور گرفتاریوں سے متعلق ایک جعلی نوٹیفکیشن گردش کر رہا ہے۔

یہ جعلی نوٹیفکیشن عوام میں گمراہ کن تاثر پیدا کرنے کی کوشش ہے۔ نوٹیفکیشن پر درج چیف&hellip; pic.twitter.com/tSMPYbx5YB
&mdash; Fact Check - KP Govt (@factcheckkpgovt) October 13, 2026


It continued, &ldquo;The fabricated notification also bears the fake name of the chief secretary/official signatory, misleading the public and creating a false impression of politically motivated state action. The public is advised to verify official notifications through authentic government channels and refrain from sharing unverified information.&rdquo;

Fact-check status: False

The claim that a viral notification from the K-P Home Department ordered the identification and arrest of PTI workers across the province is false.

The notification is fake and AI-generated.

This fact check was originally published by iVerify Pakistan &mdash; a project of CEJ-IBA and UNDP.

&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>PTI moves PHC against emergency, governor’s rule in K-P</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634805/pti-moves-phc-against-emergency-governors-rule-in-k-p</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634805/pti-moves-phc-against-emergency-governors-rule-in-k-p#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 10:00:08 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634805</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Salman Akram Raja says party will pursue legal action to establish Sohail Afridi’s whereabouts]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Wednesday filed a petition in the Peshawar High Court (PHC), challenging the imposition of emergency and governor&rsquo;s rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and seeking the restoration of the province&rsquo;s elected government.

In a post on X, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said the petition had been filed against the Federation of Pakistan and others, seeking the restoration of the people&rsquo;s representative government in the province.

&nbsp;



Petition filed by Barristar Gohar Ali Khan vs Federation of Pakistan and others before Peshawar High Court(against imposition of Governors rule and emergency) PTI is asking for the representative government of people to be restored. pic.twitter.com/zsyvW6uiKd
&mdash; Sheikh Waqas Akram (@SheikhWaqqas) October 14, 2026


Meanwhile, PTI Secretary General Barrister Salman Akram Raja said the party was approaching the courts to ascertain the whereabouts of K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and determine where he was being held. He said the party would pursue all constitutional and legal options alongside political engagement.

&ldquo;Speaker Sahib has been arrested at this time. The homes of all our MPAs are under attack. The National Assembly session holds little significance at this point,&rdquo; Raja said, referring to Wednesday&rsquo;s National Assembly session.

He questioned the purpose of the session, saying it could result in the passage of a resolution calling for negotiations.

&ldquo;We are going to court now. Where Sohail Afridi is and where he has been kept is of the utmost importance to us. We are looking into all of this, and we will certainly take all constitutional and legal measures. We will engage at the political level as well as at the legal level,&rdquo; Raja said.

He added that the party was assessing the situation and taking the developments seriously.



پشاور- وکیل وزیراعلی سہیل آفریدی بشیر وزیر کو پشاور ہائیکورٹ کے باہر سے پولیس نے اغواء کرلیا۔#آئین_شکن_راج_نہیں_چلے_گا pic.twitter.com/Ql9cbIZ7yf
&mdash; PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (@PTIKPOfficial) October 14, 2026


In a separate development, PTI&rsquo;s K-P media cell alleged that police had abducted Afridi&rsquo;s lawyer, Bashir Wazir, from outside the Peshawar High Court.

The developments follow the federal government&rsquo;s decision on October 11 to impose emergency and governor&rsquo;s rule in K-P, suspending the PTI-led provincial administration.

The government cited deteriorating law and order and alleged shortcomings in the provincial government&rsquo;s coordination with federal authorities on counterterrorism operations.

Read More: K-P govt&#39;s attitude to terrorism &#39;posing national security threat&#39;, says Tarar as Centre seeks NA nod for emergency

The move has intensified tensions between the Centre and the PTI, which has described the measures as an attempt to undermine the province&rsquo;s electoral mandate. The federal government, however, maintains that the intervention was necessary to address security concerns.

The decision followed reports that Afridi and several members of his cabinet had been taken into preventive custody.]]>
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			<title>Achakzai warns Sindh could be next to face governor’s rule</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634811/achakzai-warns-sindh-could-be-next-to-face-governors-rule</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634811/achakzai-warns-sindh-could-be-next-to-face-governors-rule#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 10:43:36 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Islamabad]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634811</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Opposition leader cites disputes over water and minerals, calls for reversal of emergency and governor’s rule in K-P]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai on Wednesday warned that Sindh could be the next province to face governor&rsquo;s rule, citing potential disputes over water, mineral resources and canals, as he condemned the imposition of emergency and governor&rsquo;s rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

Addressing the National Assembly, Achakzai warned that the government&rsquo;s actions against provinces and their political representatives could deepen political confrontation, urging it to reverse its decisions and restore the elected government in K-P.

&ldquo;Next governor&#39;s rule will be imposed in Sindh over the occupation of water, on the occupation of mines, of the rivers, and then you will remember what mistake we made,&rdquo; he said.



مجھے دکھ ہوتا ہے کہ میرے سندھی بھائی اس بلا میں شریک ہوئے ہیں۔

اگلا گورنر راج پانی کے قبضے پر، معدنیات کے قبضے پر اور نہروں کے قبضے پر سندھ میں لگے گا، اور پھر آپ کو یاد آئے گا کہ آپ نے کیا غلطی کی۔ pic.twitter.com/1kPE9WSuk0
&mdash; Mehmood Khan Achakzai (@MKAchakzaiPKMAP) October 14, 2026


The opposition leader also criticised members of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for supporting the government&rsquo;s measures, saying he was saddened that his &ldquo;Sindhi brothers&rdquo; had become part of what he described as a calamity.

Calling for the reversal of emergency and governor&rsquo;s rule in K-P, the opposition leader urged the government to make parliament the centre of political authority and resolve disputes through democratic means.

&ldquo;There is still time, reverse it, reverse these decisions. Come, make this house a fountainhead of power. Repent,&rdquo; he said.



اب بھی وقت ہے، اب بھی وقت ہے مہربانی کریں۔ اب بھی وقت ہے ریورس کر دیں، ان فیصلوں کو ریورس کریں۔ آئیں! ہم قرآن کے گتوں پر لکھ کر دینے کے لیے تیار ہیں، آئیں اس ہاؤس کو طاقت کا سرچشمہ بنائیں۔ آئیں، توبہ کریں! https://t.co/MqFYNBC78j pic.twitter.com/WSiArS68Jn
&mdash; Mehmood Khan Achakzai (@MKAchakzaiPKMAP) October 14, 2026


Achakzai subsequently termed the federal government a &ldquo;terrorist government&rdquo;, alleging that it had been formed through money, coercion and the support of uniformed institutions. He said the assemblies had been bought to bring the government into power and challenged lawmakers to swear on the Quran that this had not happened.



یہ حکومت 8 فروری کو زر اور زور کی بنیاد پر، ہمارے وردی پوش اداروں کی سپورٹ سے، 24 کروڑ انسانوں کو دہشت زدہ کر کے قائم کی گئی، یہ ایک دہشت گرد حکومت ہے .

قائد حزب اختلاف محمود خان اچکزئی کا قومی اسمبلی سے خطاب جو قومی اسمبلی نے سینسر کر دیا تھا۔ pic.twitter.com/8o9evhLydT
&mdash; Mehmood Khan Achakzai (@MKAchakzaiPKMAP) October 14, 2026


He also criticised the government&rsquo;s treatment of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, saying the party had been prevented from contesting the elections under its electoral symbol and its candidates had been forced to contest on 200 different symbols. &ldquo;Are you punishing Pakistan&#39;s 240 million people for this?&rdquo; he asked.

Achakzai argued that the PTI&rsquo;s electoral difficulties did not justify the measures taken against the province, urging the government to reconsider its decisions.



آپ نے عمران خان کے مقابلے کے لیے لنگوٹ باندھ کر حملہ کیا، اس پارٹی کا انتخابی نشان چھینا۔
اس پارٹی کو الیکشن میں حصہ لینے سے منع کیا۔
اس کی پارٹی کے کارکنوں نے یہ غلطی کی کہ دو سو انتخابی نشانوں پر الیکشن لڑ کر آپ کے تمام تماشے کو الٹا کر دیا۔ کیا اس کی سزا آپ دے رہے ہیں؟ pic.twitter.com/CKCkOGbNHY
&mdash; Mehmood Khan Achakzai (@MKAchakzaiPKMAP) October 14, 2026


Defending K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, whose government had been suspended following the imposition of emergency and governor&rsquo;s rule, Achakzai said the provincial leader had urged people to stand against what he described as wrongdoing rather than resorting to violence.

&ldquo;You talk about evil, the real evil is this government,&rdquo; he said, adding that Afridi was right to call on people to stand against it. &ldquo;He did not hurl abuses or throw stones,&rdquo; Achakzai said, adding that Afridi had only urged people &ldquo;to rise up against this evil.&rdquo;



ابھی آپ برائی کی بات کرتے ہیں؛ میرے دوست، اصل برائی یہ حکومت خود ہے۔ اس برائی کو سیدھے راستے پر لانے کے لیے خیبر پختونخوا کا وزیرِ اعلیٰ بالکل ٹھیک تھا۔ نہ وہ گالی دیتا تھا اور نہ ہی پتھر مارتا تھا، وہ صرف یہ کہتا تھا کہ اس برائی کے خلاف اٹھ کھڑے ہو جاؤ۔ pic.twitter.com/fHCww6ATwR
&mdash; Mehmood Khan Achakzai (@MKAchakzaiPKMAP) October 14, 2026


The opposition leader also criticised the authorities over Afridi&rsquo;s detention, saying he had been arrested and his hands and feet bound, but had not been brought before the National Assembly. &ldquo;You have done us a great favour, a very great favour! After arresting Afridi and binding his hands and feet, you didn&#39;t bring him here,&rdquo; he said.

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آپ نے ایک مہربانی کی، بڑی مہربانی! شیخ مجیب کو گرفتار کر کے آپ لاہور لے آئے۔ آپ نے یہ مہربانی کی کہ ہمارے آفریدی وزیراعلیٰ کو پکڑ کر، ہاتھ پاؤں باندھ کر یہاں نہیں لائے۔ کر دیجیے، کر دیجیے! بسم اللہ، یہ بھی کر دیجیے! کیا کر رہا تھا وہ ؟ pic.twitter.com/38ch43HmCl
&mdash; Mehmood Khan Achakzai (@MKAchakzaiPKMAP) October 14, 2026


Drawing a parallel with the history of East Pakistan, Achakzai recalled that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had worked for the Muslim League before being branded a traitor.

He said more than 48% of the people of East Pakistan had voted in favour of Pakistan, invoking the episode to criticise the denial of political representation and the use of force against political opponents.



مجیب الرحمٰن مسلم لیگی کارکن تھا، جس کو غدار کہا گیا، وہ سائیکل پر بیٹھ کر مسلم لیگ کے لیے کام کرتا تھا،

مشرقی پاکستان کے 48 فیصد سے زیادہ لوگوں نے پاکستان کے حق میں ووٹ دیا۔ آپ نے اپنے اس رویے سے مجبور کیا کہ میری بات مانو گے تو ٹھیک، نہیں مانو گے تو میں یہ کر سکتا ہوں pic.twitter.com/wo6v7qLH20
&mdash; Mehmood Khan Achakzai (@MKAchakzaiPKMAP) October 14, 2026


Achakzai also criticised what he called the &ldquo;Throne of Lahore&rdquo;, describing it as cruel and urging the government to reconsider its approach towards the provinces. He said the provinces would resist attempts to deprive them of their rights through force, adding that Balochistan and Punjab would also stand with them.

The remarks came during a National Assembly session in which lawmakers endorsed President Asif Ali Zardari&rsquo;s proclamation of emergency in K-P, passing a resolution by a majority vote despite objections from opposition members.

The federal government had moved to impose emergency and governor&rsquo;s rule in the province, citing worsening law and order and alleged shortcomings in coordination with federal authorities on counterterrorism operations. The PTI has opposed the move, describing it as an attack on the province&rsquo;s electoral mandate.

The developments followed a period of escalating tensions between the federal government and the PTI-led provincial administration, with reports that Afridi and some members of his cabinet had been taken into preventive custody. The party has also sought legal remedies over the measures and raised concerns about Afridi&rsquo;s whereabouts.]]>
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			<title>Pakistan Navy concludes SEASPARK-2026 exercise</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634843/pakistan-navy-concludes-seaspark-2026-exercise</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634843/pakistan-navy-concludes-seaspark-2026-exercise#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 14:10:46 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634843</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[DGPR Navy says exercise validates operational plans, assesses combat readiness amid maritime security challenges]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Pakistan Navy&rsquo;s exercise SEASPARK-2026 concluded with a ceremony on Wednesday, attended by Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Naveed Ashraf as the chief guest, the Navy&rsquo;s Directorate General of Public Relations (DGPR) said.

In a post on X, the DGPR Navy stated that &quot;Pakistan Navy Exercise SEASPARK-2026 concluded on Wednesday in Karachi. CNS Admiral Naveed Ashraf graced the occasion as chief guest.&quot;

It added that the exercise &quot;validated operational plans&quot; and assessed &quot;combat readiness&quot; amid evolving maritime security challenges.

Read: Navy chief visits units at sea, Creeks Area to review SEASPARK 2026



Pakistan Navy Exercise SEASPARK-2026 concluded at Karachi. CNS Admiral Naveed Ashraf graced the occasion as Chief Guest. The exercise validated operational plans and assessed combat readiness amid evolving maritime security challenges. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/IigK5ogdot
&mdash; DGPR (Navy) (@dgprPaknavy) October 14, 2026


DGPR Navy further stated that CNS Ashraf appreciated participants&rsquo; efforts and commended &quot;tri-services synergy&quot;.



CNS appreciated participants&rsquo; efforts and commended tri-services synergy. Exercise SEASPARK-2026 integrated Multi-Domain Operations, encompassing the information environment and cognitive domain alongside kinetic operations at sea. 2/2
&mdash; DGPR (Navy) (@dgprPaknavy) October 14, 2026


&quot;Exercise SEASPARK-2026 integrated Multi-Domain Operations, encompassing the information environment and cognitive domain alongside kinetic operations at sea,&quot; it added.

According to the DGPR, the biennial exercise, which had been underway since September 1, rehearsed the full spectrum of maritime operations and tested the operational preparedness and ability to transition rapidly from peacetime to wartime operations.]]>
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			<title>UK prosecutor tells jury Russell Brand a 'sexual predator'</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634847/uk-prosecutor-tells-jury-russell-brand-a-sexual-predator</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634847/uk-prosecutor-tells-jury-russell-brand-a-sexual-predator#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 14:48:20 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634847</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Brand denies rape and assault charges involving six women, with prosecutors alleging manipulative behaviour]]>
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				<![CDATA[Comedian Russell Brand was a &quot;sexual predator&quot; who was &quot;ruthless, calculated and manipulative&quot; when targeting women for sex, a British prosecutor told a UK jury Wednesday at the start of his rape and sexual assault trial.

The one-time left-wing personality, 51, who shot to fame as a television and radio presenter, faces seven sexual offence charges involving six women. He denies all the alleged offences.

Prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones said the alleged offences took place between 1999 and 2009, when Brand&#39;s career was beginning to flourish.

Addressing the jury, she gave graphic details of accusations by women, saying the youngest was 21 at the time of the alleged offences.

They came forward to police after seeing media coverage about Brand in 2023 and after he was initially charged in 2025, the court heard.

Brand was &quot;not deterred&quot; when some of the women said no, she said, adding his desire for sexual contact was &quot;indiscriminate and voracious&quot;.

He used charm and comic talents when he wanted something but would then be &quot;demanding and entitled... childlike in his expectation that his every desire should be met,&quot; Karmy-Jones told the jury of eight men and four women.

Bragging

&quot;He was ruthless, calculated and manipulative, and the prosecution say -- a sexual predator,&quot; she added.

The identities of the women will not be revealed during the trial.

Brand, dressed in a dark suit, black-and-white striped shirt and long white tie, arrived for the start of the case at London&#39;s Southwark Crown Court in a black Mercedes-Benz van accompanied by his wife Laura.

In each woman&#39;s case, Brand responded to police with a prepared statement saying he did not remember the women and any sexual activity was consensual.

Karmy-Jones said Brand&#39;s acquaintances recalled him bragging that he wanted to &quot;bed 5,000 women in his lifetime&quot;, adding, &quot;you have to tell them what they need to hear&quot;.

It was a clear indication of &quot;how manipulative the defendant could be,&quot; she said.

Brand has in recent years reinvented himself as a conservative and faith-based guru for millions of social media followers.

He has pleaded not guilty to all seven of the charges -- three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one charge of indecent assault.

The first woman met Brand when he was performing at a Labour Party conference in Bournemouth in southern England in 1999.

She invited him to her hotel room where he pushed her onto the bed before raping her without using a condom, the prosecutor said.



Brand has denied seven charges of rape and sexual assault against six women between 1999 and 2009. PHOTO: AFP

One woman said Brand in 2001 tried to drag her into a toilet cubicle at MTV&#39;s office, but she resisted.

Another woman met Brand at a London bar in 2004 and said he grabbed her breasts and pulled her into a toilet cubicle, orally raping her, after telling her not to be a &quot;spoilsport&quot;.

Yet another woman said Brand visited the radio station where she worked in 2004 or 2005, and kissed her &quot;very aggressively&quot; then grabbed her breasts and bottom.

One woman, who was 21 at the time, said she had consensual oral and then vaginal sex with Brand in 2009 at his house but he then forced her into anal sex without her consent &quot;with full force&quot; without a condom, the prosecutor said.

Massage

In the final charge, a woman employed by Channel 4 television said she was working with Brand in a record studio in 2009.

Members of his production team told her she must give him a massage and he then pressed his face into her groin.

The trial at London&#39;s Southwark Crown Court should last around six weeks but could stretch into December.

The trial is attracting intense media scrutiny, with numerous British outlets launching dedicated podcasts and US channels reporting from outside the court.

Born to working-class parents in Essex in eastern England, Brand launched a successful stand-up comedy career as a teenager.

He became a household name as a television presenter on MTV, Channel 4 and the BBC, also penning newspaper columns and two autobiographies.

He then made a foray into Hollywood, starring in several hit films, and was in a brief but high-profile marriage to US pop star Katy Perry.

Now remarried and living in Florida with his young family, he has gained a new following as an influencer, with six million subscribers on YouTube, 10.1 million on X and 4.9 million on Instagram.]]>
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			<title>'She was meant to fly': Hareem Farooq on launching Hania Aamir with 'Janaan'</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634806/she-was-meant-to-fly-hareem-farooq-on-launching-hania-aamir-with-janaan</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634806/she-was-meant-to-fly-hareem-farooq-on-launching-hania-aamir-with-janaan#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 10:03:14 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Life And Style Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634806</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Says she recognised her potential early on, sees producing as a way to support Pakistani cinema and emerging talent]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Actor and producer Hareem Farooq has reaffirmed her role in introducing Hania Aamir to the big screen through the 2016 romantic comedy Janaan, saying the actor was destined for success and that she had simply recognised her potential early on.

Speaking in an interview about her upcoming film Mango Jutt, co-starring Faysal Quraishi, Farooq spoke about her love for film production and her decision to give Aamir an early opportunity in the industry.

&ldquo;Yes, I did launch her,&rdquo; Farooq said, reflecting on Aamir&rsquo;s entry into Pakistani cinema. &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s just say she was meant to be. She was meant to fly. I just caught her early. It&rsquo;s just like that,&rdquo; she added, describing her role in recognising Aamir&rsquo;s potential.

Released in 2016, Janaan marked Farooq&rsquo;s debut as a film producer. The romantic comedy introduced audiences to several performers who would go on to establish themselves in Pakistani entertainment, including Aamir, Bilal Ashraf and Ali Rehman Khan.

For Farooq, the project was not simply an entry into film production; it was also an opportunity to create space for emerging talent.

She joked that her work behind the scenes was often overlooked, despite her experience in theatre production.

&ldquo;I was telling someone the other day that whenever I do a production, someone always comes up to me and asks if it is my first time producing. But when I went into theatre production, everyone knew of my work,&rdquo; she said.





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Farooq said she was drawn to production because it gave her the opportunity to contribute to Pakistani cinema beyond her own performances.

&ldquo;But I love to do production. I like to do stories that can contribute to Pakistani cinema and make a difference. If I can contribute to our country, then why not, even if it is a slight challenge,&rdquo; she said.

Her approach reflects a broader ambition to support local filmmaking by backing stories that resonate with audiences while creating opportunities for new performers. With Janaan, Farooq largely remained behind the scenes, allowing emerging actors to take the spotlight.

In a 2024 interview&nbsp;with The Express Tribune, Farooq also spoke about the satisfaction she derived from playing a role in Aamir&rsquo;s career, describing production as a way of giving back to an industry that had given her opportunities of her own.

Aamir, who first gained attention through social media videos, went on to build a career across television and film. Her subsequent projects helped establish her as one of Pakistan&rsquo;s prominent young performers, giving Janaan a lasting place in discussions about the industry&rsquo;s introduction of new talent.

Farooq&rsquo;s comments about introducing Aamir therefore speak to more than the discovery of a future star. They underline her view that producing involves recognising talent, taking chances on new performers and investing in stories that can contribute to the growth of Pakistani cinema.

For Aamir, Janaan marked the beginning of a screen career that would grow considerably in the years that followed. For Farooq, it was the first step in a parallel journey as a producer, in which creating opportunities for others has remained an important part of her vision.]]>
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			<title>Muneeb Butt urges couples to keep marital issues off social media</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634803/muneeb-butt-urges-couples-to-keep-marital-issues-off-social-media</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634803/muneeb-butt-urges-couples-to-keep-marital-issues-off-social-media#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 09:34:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Life And Style Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634803</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Actor says airing disputes online invites public scrutiny, encourages couples to resolve conflicts privately]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Actor Muneeb Butt has advised couples to keep their marital issues private, warning that taking personal disputes to social media invites public scrutiny and criticism rather than helping resolve disagreements.

Speaking in an interview with Vasay Chaudhry, the actor said relationship problems should be addressed privately and respectfully instead of being made public.

&ldquo;You should always keep your marital issues private and in between four walls. When you put it for the world to see, you leave people to have open opinions on your private life, and people will criticise you for entertainment,&rdquo; Muneeb said.

He maintained that social media was not the solution to domestic disagreements, encouraging couples to involve their families and parents in resolving conflicts.

&ldquo;I&rsquo;d always say house stuff should stay inside the house. Social media doesn&rsquo;t solve these things. You should sit your family together, parents together, and resolve the issue respectfully,&rdquo; he added.





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His remarks drew positive reactions from social media users, several of whom praised his emphasis on privacy, maturity and respectful communication in relationships.

One user described the actor as &ldquo;very mature&rdquo;, while another commented, &ldquo;sensible statement&rdquo;.

Others echoed his view that airing relationship problems publicly could make already difficult situations more complicated.



&nbsp;

During the conversation, Muneeb also spoke about his personal life, expressing gratitude for how things had worked out for him.

&ldquo;All grace to Allah for the way my life has worked out. I fell in love, got married, and we started a family. MashaAllah, I have three daughters,&rdquo; he said.

The actor also emphasised the importance of maintaining a positive outlook on life and being grateful for one&rsquo;s blessings.

&ldquo;If you take everything positively in life, then you will always be thankful of Allah, but if you always find complaints, things won&rsquo;t work out for you,&rdquo; he said.

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Muneeb is married to actress Aiman Khan. The couple tied the knot in 2018 and have three daughters together.]]>
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			<title>Saif Ali Khan’s sister opens up about managing family’s INR10 billion legacy</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634804/saif-ali-khans-sister-opens-up-about-managing-familys-inr10-billion-legacy</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634804/saif-ali-khans-sister-opens-up-about-managing-familys-inr10-billion-legacy#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 09:45:53 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Life And Style Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Life &amp; Style]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634804</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Custodian of Auqaf-e-Shahi trust says her late father’s lessons continue to guide her role in preserving the heritage]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Saba Pataudi, sister of Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, has opened up about her role in preserving and managing the Pataudi family&rsquo;s legacy, revealing that the responsibility was entrusted to her by her late father, former Indian cricket captain Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.

According to Gulf News, Saba oversees matters relating to the family&rsquo;s Bhopal estate and the Auqaf-e-Shahi trust. The wider family legacy has been estimated at more than INR10 billion, although this valuation does not represent Saba&rsquo;s personal wealth.

Recalling the trust her father placed in her, Saba said, &ldquo;Abba left that to me,&rdquo; according to the publication.

Her responsibilities extend beyond managing the family estate. As the custodian&nbsp;of the Auqaf-e-Shahi trust, she oversees properties and charitable obligations associated with the family&rsquo;s historical ties to Bhopal.

The trust&rsquo;s assets and responsibilities include mosques and other properties, as well as facilities linked to pilgrims travelling to Makkah and Madinah. Her role involves managing these commitments while preserving the historical and charitable significance of the family&rsquo;s heritage.

Saba has said that her father&rsquo;s teachings continue to guide her approach to these responsibilities. She said he taught her the importance of remaining composed, treating people fairly and choosing her words carefully.

She has also described her late father as a continuing source of spiritual guidance, with his influence helping her understand the significance of the role entrusted to her.

Beyond managing the family&rsquo;s assets, Saba has also discussed potential initiatives aimed at benefiting women and girls, including a school for girls and a hospital for women, according to Gulf News. However, the proposed projects remain subject to the resolution of pending legal matters involving family property, the report said.

The initiatives would add a charitable dimension to her responsibilities, which encompass not only preserving family assets but also overseeing properties and institutions connected to the Pataudi legacy.

Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, popularly known as Tiger Pataudi, was one of India&rsquo;s prominent cricketers and captained the national team. His marriage to veteran actor Sharmila Tagore brought together two well-known families associated with Indian sport and cinema. Saba is the couple&rsquo;s daughter and the sister of Saif Ali Khan and actor Soha Ali Khan.]]>
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			<title>Keffe D sentenced to 40 years to life for Tupac Shakur murder</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634801/keffe-d-sentenced-to-40-years-to-life-for-tupac-shakur-murder</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634801/keffe-d-sentenced-to-40-years-to-life-for-tupac-shakur-murder#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 09:27:00 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Pop Culture &amp; Art]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Entertainment]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Keffe D has been sentenced to 40 years to life for Tupac Shakur’s 1996 murder and plans to appeal his conviction]]>
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				<![CDATA[Duane &ldquo;Keffe D&rdquo; Davis has been sentenced to 40 years to life in prison for his role in the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur, following a hearing in Las Vegas on Tuesday, October 13 2026.

Davis was convicted on August 31 2026 of murder with the use of a deadly weapon, with the intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang. Shakur was 25 when he was fatally shot in a drive-by attack near the Las Vegas Strip.

Despite the conviction, Davis has maintained his innocence and indicated that he intends to appeal the verdict.

During the sentencing hearing, Shakur&rsquo;s sister, Sekyiwa Shakur, spoke about the lasting impact of her brother&rsquo;s death on their family.

She said the men in the family had never been the same since his killing and compared his legacy with influential figures including Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr and John F. Kennedy.

Sekyiwa questioned how history might have been different if those leaders had been killed at the age of 25, as her brother was.

Tupac&rsquo;s stepbrother, Mopreme Shakur, also addressed the court, expressing sadness that the rapper never had children of his own or the chance to watch his nieces and nephews grow up.

Both family members urged the judge to impose the maximum sentence.

Prosecutors argued that Davis had continued to cause suffering for the family by profiting from Shakur&rsquo;s murder through a book and media interviews.

However, defence attorney Michael Sanft challenged the prosecution&rsquo;s position, arguing that authorities could have charged Davis years earlier but had not done so.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter following his conviction, Davis claimed he was nowhere near the scene of the shooting. He alleged that he was at a bar in West Los Angeles, near UCLA, after a Mike Tyson boxing match.

Davis now faces a sentence of 40 years to life while preparing to challenge his conviction on appeal.]]>
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			<title>Govt hikes petrol by Rs1.2, cuts diesel by 17 paisas for Oct 15</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634863/govt-increases-petrol-by-rs12-cuts-diesel-by-17-paisas-for-oct-15</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634863/govt-increases-petrol-by-rs12-cuts-diesel-by-17-paisas-for-oct-15#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 17:40:13 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634863</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Petrol price increases to Rs393.86 per litre, while HSD will cost Rs396.65 under daily price mechanism]]>
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				<![CDATA[The federal government on Wednesday increased the price of petrol by Rs1.2 per litre, while decreasing the price of high-speed diesel (HSD) by 17 paisas per litre for October 15.

According to a notification issued by the Petroleum Division, the price of petrol was fixed at Rs393.86 per litre, while HSD would cost Rs396.65 per litre for Thursday.

The latest revision comes a day after the government decreased the price of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs2.71 and 3 paisas per litre, respectively, for October 14.



The government has revised the prices of petroleum products for Thursday@Official_PetDiv #RadioPakistan #News https://t.co/bsKRhWfzBM pic.twitter.com/cudBQVtC4Y
&mdash; Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) October 14, 2026



Read: Govt cuts petrol by Rs2.71, diesel by 3 paisas for Oct 14

On July 17, the government announced a new pricing mechanism under which petroleum product prices would be reviewed and notified daily, replacing the weekly pricing mechanism, as renewed tensions between the United States and Iran continued to drive volatility in global oil markets and raise concerns over fuel supplies.

On September 13, PM Shehbaz announced a special relief scheme offering Rs100 per litre off petrol for motorcycles, three-wheeler rickshaws and cars with engines up to 800cc, in an attempt to shield lower-income consumers from the impact of rising petroleum prices.

Under the proposal, an estimated 11.8 million beneficiaries would be covered. Around 10 million two-wheeler users and 800,000 three-wheeler users would be entitled to relief on 20 litres of fuel per month, translating into a maximum monthly benefit of Rs2,000 per beneficiary.

Another one million users of cars up to 800cc would receive relief on 30 litres per month, providing them with a maximum benefit of Rs3,000 each.

On Sept 17, the government reintroduced austerity and fuel conservation measures amid rising fuel prices, tightening business operating hours and restricting public events.

Under the measures, notified with immediate effect, shops, markets, shopping malls, bazaars, departmental stores, grocery stores, general stores and kiryana shops would close by 9pm throughout the week, according to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division.

Marriage halls, marquees and other commercial venues hosting festive events would close by 10pm, while restaurants, cafes, eateries, food outlets and standalone fruit and vegetable shops would be allowed to operate until 11pm. Takeaway and home delivery services would remain exempt from the timing restrictions.

Global geopolitical developments continue to pose significant risks. International oil prices are influenced by decisions taken by OPEC+, conflicts in the Middle East, sanctions on oil-producing nations, and disruptions in critical shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. Any interruption in these supply chains can immediately increase crude oil prices and freight costs. Since Pakistan imports the majority of its petroleum requirements, these developments quickly translate into higher domestic fuel prices.

Oil prices steadied on Wednesday after rising on an attack, opens new tab on the ​headquarters of Saudi Arabia&#39;s state-owned oil company and Iranian comments about new tactics deployed to target ships and keep oil prices &zwnj;high to influence US midterm elections.

Brent crude futures were up 13 cents at $105.56 a barrel by 1325 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude gained $1.25, or 1.33%, to $95.39 for a more than two-week high.

&quot;Attacks on ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz and military strikes between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis are supporting prices as market participants remain concerned ​about lower oil exports from the region,&quot; said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo, adding that exports have held up so far.]]>
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			<title>Aurangzeb says Pakistan’s fiscal deficit falls to 22-year low</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634809/aurangzeb-says-pakistans-fiscal-deficit-falls-to-22-year-low</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634809/aurangzeb-says-pakistans-fiscal-deficit-falls-to-22-year-low#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 10:18:14 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Finance minister highlights three consecutive primary surpluses, targets growth of 4% or higher this fiscal year]]>
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				<![CDATA[Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Wednesday told an International Monetary Fund (IMF) meeting that Pakistan&rsquo;s fiscal deficit had fallen to a 22-year low, with three consecutive years of primary surpluses and economic growth of 3.7 per cent, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance.

Aurangzeb held a series of meetings with international financial institutions, credit rating agencies, investors and US officials on the sidelines of the World Bank Group-IMF Annual Meetings 2026 in Bangkok, with discussions focused on Pakistan&rsquo;s economic outlook, financing, trade, energy cooperation and reforms.

Addressing the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MENAP) meeting on the sidelines of the World Bank Group-IMF Annual Meetings 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand, Aurangzeb also highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s foreign exchange reserves, sovereign rating upgrades and progress under the IMF programme.

&ldquo;He noted historic-high foreign exchange reserves covering three months of imports, and stronger buffers against climate and regional shocks. He cited sovereign rating upgrades, the September Eurobond issuance and the October 7 IMF staff-level agreement as evidence of progress,&rdquo; the statement read.

The minister reaffirmed commitment &quot;to reforms and targeted, budget-neutral and time-bound subsidies to protect low-income groups and preserve social cohesion.&quot; He also called for diversified energy sources and trade routes, deeper regional integration, and investment in logistics and food systems.

&ldquo;The Finance Minister emphasised renewed commitment to multilateralism and Pakistan&#39;s readiness to contribute actively to regional cooperation,&rdquo; the ministry added.



Finance Minister Highlights Pakistan&rsquo;s Economic Progress and Reaffirms Commitment to Reforms, Regional Cooperation and Multilateralism at MENAP Meeting

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, addressed the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and&hellip; pic.twitter.com/d9ILN0kRqj
&mdash; Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan (@Financegovpk) October 14, 2026


Discusses energy imports and Reko Diq with US officials 

In a separate meeting with Ambassador Yon of the US State Department, Aurangzeb discussed bilateral economic cooperation, including progress towards a trade framework agreement and energy diversification through increased imports from the United States.

&ldquo;He reviewed progress towards a trade framework agreement and energy diversification through increased imports from the United States. The Finance Minister also outlined measures to maintain fuel supplies and support vulnerable consumers,&rdquo; the ministry said.



Finance Minister Discusses Trade, Energy Cooperation, Strategic Minerals and Investment with U.S. State Department

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, met with Ambassador Yon of the U.S. State Department on the sidelines of the World Bank&hellip; pic.twitter.com/ZBCizqKDb0
&mdash; Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan (@Financegovpk) October 14, 2026


&ldquo;Discussions covered AML/CFT arrangements, FATF follow-up and investment financing through the US Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and EXIM Bank. The Finance Minister highlighted Reko Diq, cooperation on critical minerals, project security and opportunities to mobilize private investment,&rdquo; the statement read.

According to the statement, the meeting also discussed Boeing aircraft acquisition and financing, aviation clearances, digital asset regulation and potential remittances and Eurobond tokenisation applications.

Ambitious to secure double-B sovereign rating 

At a separate meeting with S&amp;P Global Ratings, the finance minister discussed Pakistan&rsquo;s economic progress and sovereign credit outlook, highlighting the &quot;September bond issuance, investor participation and progress under the IMF programme.&quot;

&quot;He briefed the agency on improved tax collections, reserve accumulation and reduced swap and forward liabilities,&rdquo; the statement added.



Finance Minister Highlights Pakistan&rsquo;s Market Access, Economic Reforms and Sovereign Rating Ambitions in Meeting with S&amp;P Global Ratings

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, met with S&amp;P Global Ratings on the sidelines of the World Bank Group&ndash;IMF&hellip; pic.twitter.com/CxpT6Or5Ro
&mdash; Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan (@Financegovpk) October 14, 2026


Aurangzeb reaffirmed commitment to &quot;structural reforms, fiscal discipline and sustainable export-led growth.&quot; He also outlined Pakistan&rsquo;s ambition to enter the double-B rating category through sustained economic improvements.

&ldquo;Discussions covered agricultural income taxation, energy and food security, targeted relief and climate resilience. The Finance Minister noted S&amp;P&rsquo;s emphasis on policy continuity, reform implementation, a lower interest burden and stronger external buffers as key rating considerations,&rdquo; the ministry added.

Discusses post-IMF growth

At Standard Chartered Bank&rsquo;s Sovereign Investor Roundtable, Aurangzeb briefed investors on Pakistan&rsquo;s economic progress and financing strategy.

He highlighted three consecutive years of primary surpluses, a fiscal deficit at a 22-year low and sovereign rating upgrades.

&quot;He outlined financing diversification through Sukuk, Panda bonds and a proposed rupee-denominated, dollar-settled international bond, emphasizing lower borrowing costs, longer debt maturities and reduced rollover risks,&rdquo; the handout read.



Finance Minister Highlights Economic Progress and Financing Strategy at Standard Chartered Sovereign Investor Roundtable

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, briefed investors on Pakistan&rsquo;s economic progress at Standard Chartered Bank&rsquo;s Sovereign&hellip; pic.twitter.com/suJZiLLj1b
&mdash; Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan (@Financegovpk) October 14, 2026


The minister stressed, &quot;sustained structural reforms, fiscal discipline, stronger tax enforcement and investment- and export-led growth beyond the IMF programme.&quot;

Discussions covered stronger reserves, inflation and the external outlook, energy security, targeted relief and climate financing.

&ldquo;The Finance Minister reaffirmed the government&rsquo;s commitment to sustaining reforms and further strengthening Pakistan&rsquo;s sovereign credit standing,&rdquo; the ministry added.

Minister sees growth exceeding 4% this fiscal year

In a separate meeting at the Citi Macro Forum held earlier, Aurangzeb briefed international investors on Pakistan&rsquo;s economic outlook and reform priorities, expressing optimism about growth in the current fiscal year.

According to the ministry&#39;s post on X, &ldquo;The Finance Minister highlighted continued macroeconomic stabilization, three consecutive years of primary surpluses, a fiscal deficit at a 22-year low and strengthened foreign exchange buffers, while expressing optimism about growth reaching or exceeding 4% during the current fiscal year.&quot;



Finance Minister Highlights Macroeconomic Stabilization, Capital Market Strategy and Reform Priorities at Citi Macro Forum

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, participated in the Citi Macro Forum Session and briefed international investors on&hellip; pic.twitter.com/Y0pNkn1y8l
&mdash; Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan (@Financegovpk) October 14, 2026


He outlined Pakistan&rsquo;s capital market strategy, including further Panda bond issuances, Sukuk and a rupee-denominated, dollar-settled international bond, emphasising &quot;diversification of funding sources, lower borrowing costs and longer debt maturities.&quot;

&quot;He also discussed progress under the IMF programme, tax-base expansion, stronger enforcement and provincial coordination to sustain fiscal discipline,&rdquo; the statement read.

The minister, addressing the impact of the Middle East conflict, outlined measures to maintain energy supplies and provide targeted relief to vulnerable groups within existing budgetary allocations. Discussions also covered climate resilience, disaster preparedness, and effective utilization of development financing.

&ldquo;He reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to sustained reforms and a transition from aid towards trade and investment in its partnerships with other countries,&rdquo; the statement added.]]>
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			<title>PSX recovers on late buying, gains 641 points</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634788/stocks-swing-between-gains-and-losses-amid-uncertainty</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634788/stocks-swing-between-gains-and-losses-amid-uncertainty#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 08:12:53 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634788</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Late-session buying lifts benchmark as index-heavy stocks support recovery]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) staged a sound recovery on Wednesday as renewed buying towards the close lifted the benchmark index firmly into positive territory, reversing the previous session&rsquo;s trend after volatile trading amid domestic political uncertainty and rising international oil prices.

The KSE-100 index gained 641.07 points, or 0.39%, to settle at 165,417.51. It touched an intraday high of 165,629.35 and a low of 164,060.34.

Earlier, the market had opened on a cautious note, with the index rising to 165,032.13, gaining 255.69 points, or 0.16%, by 9:33am. However, fluctuations soon pushed the benchmark into negative territory, with the index slipping to 164,770.12 at 12:38pm, down 6.32 points from the previous close.

Sentiment remained subdued amid political uncertainty following the reported imposition of governor&rsquo;s rule and an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

Selling pressure was visible across automobile assemblers, cement, commercial banks, oil and gas exploration companies, power generation, refineries and oil marketing companies.

However, renewed buying in index-heavy stocks, particularly across banking, oil and gas, and power sectors, supported the benchmark&rsquo;s recovery and helped it close firmly in positive territory.

Internationally, oil prices climbed on Wednesday after two vessels were struck in the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian officials announced new tactics to target ships, as Tehran seeks to keep oil prices high and influence the US midterm elections.

Brent crude futures rose 34 cents, or 0.3%, to $106.03 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures gained 28 cents, or 0.3%, to $94.42 a barrel. Both contracts had climbed by more than $1 in early trade.

KTrade Secuities wrote in its market wrap that the KSE-100 index gained 641 points (+0.4%) to close at 165,418, as oil prices remained stable near $106/barrel and the absence of fresh negative news improved investor sentiment. Despite early gains and subsequent profit-taking, renewed buying towards the close helped the market recover and finish firmly in the green, reversing yesterday&#39;s trend.

Sectoral support came from commercial banks, investment banks, cement, fertiliser and refinery stocks, with Engro Holdings, Lucky Cement, Fauji Fertiliser, Bank AL Habib and NBP among the key contributors. Meanwhile, Cnergyico, K-Electric, Bank of Punjab and TRG Pakistan led individual stock volumes, with total turnover remaining subdued at around 150 million shares.
Despite the positive close, low volumes reflect continued caution amid elevated oil prices, geopolitical uncertainty and currency concerns. Sustained buying and improving turnover remain crucial for the market to maintain its upward momentum, KTrade added.

Overall, trading volume jumped to 585.8 million shares against Tuesday&rsquo;s total of 383.7 million. The value of trade shares stood at Rs20 billion. Shares of 501 companies were traded in the ready market. Of these 256 rose, 200 fell and 45 remained unchanged. WorldCall Telecom was the volume leader with trading in 87.4 million shares, staying static at Rs0.96.]]>
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			<title>Oil prices climb as Iran deploys new tactics to target ships transiting Hormuz</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634759/oil-prices-climb-as-iran-deploys-new-tactics-to-target-ships-transiting-hormuz</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634759/oil-prices-climb-as-iran-deploys-new-tactics-to-target-ships-transiting-hormuz#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 05:46:40 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634759</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Brent crude futures rise 63 cents, or 0.6%, to $106.32 a barrel]]>
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				<![CDATA[Oil prices climbed on Wednesday after two vessels were struck &zwnj;in the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian officials told Reuters they were deploying new tactics to target ships, as Tehran seeks to keep oil prices high and influence the US midterm elections.

Brent crude futures rose 63 cents, or 0.6%, to $106.32 a barrel by 0345 GMT, while US West Texas ​Intermediate crude futures gained 66 cents, or 0.7%, to $94.80 a barrel. Both contracts rose more than $1 in earlier trade ​before paring some gains.

The Iranian officials declined to provide details of the new strategy, but one ⁠said that Iran had started using different offensive tactics against vessels it considered in violation of its restrictions about 10 ​days ago, adding that this had led to an increase in attacks on such ships.

A container ship and a tanker were ​hit by unknown projectiles within the Strait of Hormuz, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said on Tuesday.

&quot;The fact that Iranian officials are openly admitting to undermining US efforts to keep oil prices under control speaks volumes about the real intentions behind the so-called &#39;peace talks,&#39;&quot; said Priyanka Sachdeva, ​head of market insights at Phillip Nova.

Read:&nbsp;Govt seeks 15-year Saudi oil facility

&quot;Iran is well aware of its geographical importance and the havoc higher oil prices can ​inflict on the global economy, and it may not shy away from using this leverage.&quot;

Elsewhere, the Iran-allied Houthis attacked an administrative building belonging to &zwnj;state-owned oil ⁠firm Saudi Aramco in the city of Dhahran, causing a limited fire, Saudi Arabia&#39;s energy ministry said on Wednesday.

The group has fired ballistic missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia over the past week in retaliation for the kingdom&#39;s support of Yemeni government forces. Riyadh&#39;s international airport has been hit four times, with a strike on Saturday killing 13 people.

&quot;Supply concerns stemming from conflict between ​the Houthis and Saudi Arabia ​are driving prices higher,&quot; said ⁠Hiroyuki Kikukawa, chief strategist at Nissan Securities Investment, a unit of Nissan Securities.

&quot;However, the expectation that increased Russian diesel exports will ease market tightness is likely to limit sharp price movement ​in either direction,&quot; Kikukawa said, projecting WTI to trade between $90 and $100 a barrel.

Last month, Saudi ​Arabia raised oil ⁠production despite disruptions to shipments caused by the US-Iran war. That led to a sharp production increase from OPEC+ &mdash; the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and partners, including Russia &mdash; OPEC said on Tuesday.

In Russia, the government said on Tuesday it did not see any direct ⁠link between ​peace talks with Ukraine and its deal to export diesel to the US.

The comment ​came after Reuters reported that US envoys had told Ukrainian officials on Friday that the deal was part of an attempt to draw Russia back to ​negotiations for a peace settlement.]]>
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			<title>Govt seeks 15-year Saudi oil facility</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634682/govt-seeks-15-year-saudi-oil-facility</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634682/govt-seeks-15-year-saudi-oil-facility#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 26 20:24:42 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634682</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Aurangzeb raises $1.2b deferred payment facility with SFD chief]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan on Tuesday took up the issue of revival of the $1.2 billion annual oil facility on deferred payments with the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), as both sides discussed ways to deepen energy cooperation.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb raised the matter with SFD Chief Executive Officer Sultan Abdulrahman Al-Marshad on the sidelines of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) annual meetings taking place in Thailand.

The Ministry of Finance released the details of the meeting but did not comment on the oil facility. Adviser to the Finance Minister Khurram Schehzad also did not respond to a question regarding the Saudi response to the Pakistani request. People privy to the discussions said Saudi Arabia was examining the matter.

According to an official handout, Aurangzeb highlighted Pakistan&#39;s improving macroeconomic position and renewed access to international capital markets.

&quot;Discussions focused on expanding trade and investment, strengthening private-sector engagement, following up on the bilateral investment protection agreement and exploring opportunities for refinery upgrades,&quot; according to the finance ministry.

The official handout noted that both sides recorded satisfactory progress on SFD-supported projects and emphasised the importance of developing a fresh pipeline of projects. &quot;The SFD reaffirmed its continued support to Pakistan within its mandate,&quot; it added.

Saudi Arabia has also extended $3 billion short-term debt through the SFD, which the Kingdom further rolled over for three months in July.

Since 2019, Saudi Arabia has been providing oil on one-year deferred payments. The last facility was signed in February 2025, which expired in April. Instead of seeking short-term financing, the government is now seeking a long-term pipeline to lower immediate external financing requirements.

For the fiscal year 2027-28, the IMF has assessed the country&#39;s annual gross financing needs at nearly $30 billion, which the government is planning to cut by securing long-term rollovers of the existing external debt.

The interest rate on the previous facility, finalised before the Pak-Saudi Strategic Partnership Agreement, was 6%, according to economic affairs ministry officials. The last agreement was part of Saudi Arabia&#39;s broader financial assistance to Pakistan through the SFD, which had provided approximately $6.7 billion for oil derivatives since 2019.

Pakistan is now seeking a $6.7 billion concessional oil financing facility from Saudi Arabia for a period of 15 years, aimed at ensuring energy security amid heightened Middle East conflict that may keep global prices high and put additional stress on the country&#39;s foreign exchange reserves.

The country&#39;s annual petroleum group import bill surged to $16.8 billion in the last fiscal year &ndash; 5.8% higher. There was a 32% increase in crude oil import cost, which jumped to $7.2 billion in the last fiscal year. The trend is continuing in the current fiscal year and the cost of crude oil import further increased 40% during the July-August period of this fiscal year.

In July this year, a spokesperson of the Ministry of Economic Affairs had told The Express Tribune that the matter of the Saudi oil facility on deferred payments was under discussion with Saudi authorities.

Saudi Arabia has emerged as Pakistan&#39;s major bilateral lender after China and lately provided $3 billion in short-term deposit through the SFD for helping the country make debt repayment to the United Arab Emirates.

The IMF has not included the Saudi oil facility in its projected inflows for Pakistan for the financial years 2026-27 and 2027-28, according to the third staff-level report. Any such deal between both governments would offset the impact of any addition in the cost of fuel imports, said government officials. The finance minister also met IFC Regional Vice President for the Middle East and Central Asia Imad Fakhoury.

The finance ministry said the discussions focused on strengthening IFC support for private-sector-led growth and jobs, and translating macroeconomic stability into sustainable growth.

The meeting reviewed IFC&#39;s expanding portfolio, small-business financing, entrepreneurship, capital markets, and green and digital bonds. The finance minister reaffirmed commitment to Reko Diq and appreciated IFC&#39;s financing leadership, it added.

Discussions also covered mining infrastructure and value addition, affordable housing and developer financing, and agricultural development through improved storage, cold chains and electronic warehouse receipt financing.

The finance ministry said both sides explored greater private-sector participation in livestock development and support for pharmaceutical exports through stronger regulatory standards and investment.]]>
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			<title>Houthis claim ballistic missile strike on Riyadh airport</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634770/saudi-aramco-administrative-building-attacked-limited-fire-reported</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634770/saudi-aramco-administrative-building-attacked-limited-fire-reported#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 06:25:14 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634770</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Yemeni army claims 1,250 Houthis ‘neutralised’ in 'Dawn of Yemen' operation]]>
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				<![CDATA[Yemen&rsquo;s Houthi group said on Wednesday that it had hit the main airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh with a ballistic missile.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group&rsquo;s forces struck King Khalid International Airport &ldquo;with a ballistic missile, scoring a precise and direct hit.&rdquo;

Saree did not specify when the attack took place or provide details of possible casualties or damage.



تمكنت قواتنا المسلحة بفضل الله وعونه من استهداف مطار خالد الدولي في عاصمة العدو السعودي الرياض بصاروخ باليستي وكانت الإصابة دقيقة ومباشرة.
وفي سياق آخر نفذت قواتنا المسلحة عملية استهداف لعدد من تحشيدات العدو السعودي في منطقة رأس العارة والمضاربة بثلاثة صواريخ بالستية وكانت&hellip;
&mdash; العميد/ يحيى سريع (@Yah_Saree) October 14, 2026



The announcement follows 10 attacks on five Saudi airports on October&nbsp;5-11 that killed 20 people and injured hundreds, while causing property damage and disrupting flights, according to an Anadolu tally based on official statements.

King Khalid International Airport was the most frequently targeted, with five attacks killing 18 people and injuring hundreds. King Fahd International Airport in the eastern city of Dammam sustained two attacks, while the southern airports of Abha, Jazan, and Najran sustained one apiece.

On Sunday, Saudi authorities said an unidentified projectile struck Terminal 4 at King Khalid Airport, triggering a fire that killed a Pakistani resident and injured 11 others.

An earlier attack on Saturday killed 13 people and injured 309, prompting Saudi authorities to suspend airport operations temporarily. The suspension was extended on Monday.

The Saudi Civil Aviation Authority did not identify those responsible for the attacks on the five airports.

However, the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen&rsquo;s government accused the Houthis of carrying out some of them. The group has also claimed responsibility for attacks on sites inside Saudi Arabia, including airports.

Yemeni army claims 1,250 Houthis &lsquo;neutralised&rsquo; in &#39;Dawn of Yemen&#39; operation

Yemeni government forces said on Wednesday that 1,250 Houthi fighters had been &ldquo;neutralised&rdquo; during the &ldquo;Dawn of Yemen&rdquo; military operation on several fronts.

Yemeni Armed Forces spokesman Majed Abdullah al-Nazili said in a statement that government forces conducted 2,309 &ldquo;precise and direct&rdquo; strikes using warplanes, drones, field artillery, rocket launchers and sniper units.

He claimed the operations disrupted Houthi defensive lines, command-and-control centres, frontline positions and supply routes, allowing government forces to advance.

The spokesman said more than 460 military vehicles and other pieces of equipment had also been destroyed or damaged.



Yemen&rsquo;s armed forces say they carried out 2,309 precision targeting strikes under the &ldquo;Dawn of Yemen&rdquo; operation, neutralizing around 1,250 Houthi fighters and destroying or disabling more than 460 of their military vehicles. pic.twitter.com/HaK7ps7QKr
&mdash; Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) October 14, 2026


In the southwestern province of Taiz, government forces continued airstrikes and ambush operations targeting Houthi forces and reinforcements, according to the statement.

Al-Nazili urged residents in Houthi-controlled areas to keep their children away from recruitment campaigns and military positions, and reiterated an amnesty by Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi to fighters who lay down their weapons.

He also accused the Houthis of targeting civilian infrastructure and residential neighbourhoods in Taiz.

The Yemeni army also said it captured five Houthi commanders west of Taiz province, including senior commander Akram Amer, who holds the rank of major general.

Yemen&#39;s Houthis vow more attacks on Saudi airports, oil facilities after Aramco HQ hit

Yemen&#39;s Houthis ​vowed on Wednesday to press on with attacks on airports and oil facilities in Saudi &zwnj;Arabia and said they struck the headquarters of oil giant Saudi Aramco, which was hit the day before.

The Iran-aligned group said it had launched ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones at Saudi Aramco facilities in the eastern city of Dhahran, King Khalid International Airport in ​Riyadh and an Aramco refinery in Riyadh, without saying when.

Saudi Arabia has faced widening Houthi strikes over the ​past week, including an attack on Riyadh airport on Saturday that killed 13 people.

Read: Saudi-led coalition says Houthi ballistic missile intercepted over Riyadh

The Houthis ⁠say they have been retaliating for the kingdom&#39;s backing of Yemeni government forces in the Yemen war that ​restarted last month, reignited by the US-Iran confrontation in the Gulf.

Saudi-led forces say they intercepted missile

In a broad threat, the ​Houthis urged &quot;international shipping companies&quot;, civilians and workers to evacuate airports and oil facilities, which they declared legitimate military targets.

The Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted a ballistic missile fired by the Houthis towards Riyadh on Wednesday, and several loud booms were heard in ​the Saudi capital.

Saudi authorities earlier issued an alert for a possible aerial threat in Riyadh on Wednesday before the ​warning was lifted, a witness said. It wasn&#39;t immediately clear what caused the booms and there was no immediate comment from &zwnj;the ⁠authorities on their source.

The escalating conflict has dealt a blow to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman&#39;s ambitious plans to transform and diversify the Saudi economy and reduce its reliance on oil.

Read more: Saudi-led coalition announces large-scale operation against Houthis in Yemen, says 136 military targets destroyed

The Saudi Energy Ministry said Tuesday&#39;s attack on the headquarters of Saudi Aramco had caused a limited fire and no injuries or deaths.

The Dhahran complex hosts ​a major operations centre for ​Aramco, which oversees a ⁠vast network of onshore and offshore oil rigs, pipelines, refineries and export terminals.

A company source told Reuters earlier that a ballistic missile hit the Aramco headquarters complex. The ​source said an office tower in the complex was struck and that its top ​three floors ⁠were damaged.

Riyadh&rsquo;s international airport has come under attack four times, including Saturday&#39;s attack which was the deadliest in Saudi Arabia in a decade. Authorities have closed the airport until October 17, and airlines have cancelled flights to Saudi Arabia.

Fearing the rise of Iranian influence ⁠and ​the prospect of chaos on its borders, Saudi Arabia intervened in ​Yemen&#39;s civil war in support of the government in 2015 after the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa.

The UN brokered a 2022 truce between the ​warring sides in Yemen that kept a fragile peace until this year.

The coalition said in a statement on Tuesday evening that it attacked the station and other sites in an operation aimed at &quot;neutralising the capabilities of Houthis&quot; to threaten Saudi Arabia, Yemen and international waterways.

The Saudi cabinet, chaired by de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, issued a statement on Tuesday before the strike on Saudi Aramco saying the Houthis would face consequences for ​their repeated attacks on the kingdom.

South Korea condemns Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia&#39;s civilian, economic facilities

South Korea on Wednesday condemned Houthi attacks on key civilian and economic facilities in Saudi Arabia, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Saudi Aramco&#39;s headquarters in Dhahran, which resulted in civilian casualties.

&quot;Attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure can never be tolerated, and such attacks must cease immediately,&quot; Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said on the US social media company X.

The remarks came amid escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including repeated strikes on airports and energy sites.]]>
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			<title>Strait of Hormuz traffic plunges once again amid new wave of Houthi attacks</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634754/iran-shifting-tactics-to-step-up-attacks-on-shipping-before-us-vote-officials-say</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634754/iran-shifting-tactics-to-step-up-attacks-on-shipping-before-us-vote-officials-say#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 04:46:55 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634754</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Iran says container ship sinks after hitting mine in Strait of Hormuz]]>
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				<![CDATA[Crude oil and petroleum exports from the Middle East sharply dropped over the past week as Yemen&#39;s&nbsp;Houthi militias intensified their attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting regional shipping lanes.

Maritime transit in the region has suffered drastically since the US and Israel&rsquo;s pre-emptive joint strikes on Iran on February&nbsp;28, followed by Tehran&rsquo;s effective closure of the vital waterway and a subsequent American naval blockade.

Attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz reached a new peak this year over the past week.

At least 14 incidents of attacks, attempted strikes, and obstructions were recorded in and around the Strait of Hormuz on October&nbsp;5-12, while six ships were attacked on Monday alone, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations and global maritime security sources.

Commercial vessel traffic via the strategic chokepoint fell to its lowest since July 22, affecting outward energy flows.

Oil, petroleum, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports from the Middle East plummeted in the wake of the war, and while there have been signs of partial recovery, intensifying security risks sparked concerns.

Houthis increased their attacks on Saudi Arabia, threatening transit through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.

Middle Eastern crude oil, petroleum, and liquid chemical exports &mdash; including shipments from the Gulf of Oman and the Red Sea &mdash; fell from 21.1 million barrels per day on October&nbsp;8 to 6.7 million barrels on October&nbsp;11, 10.4 million barrels on Monday, and 8.3 million barrels on Tuesday, according to Kpler.

The weekly average of 17 million barrels remained below the pre-war volume of around 23.3 million barrels per day.

Only six commercial ships were able to transit the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, while previously 32 ships passed through on October&nbsp;8, 24 on October&nbsp;9, 11 on October&nbsp;10, and 12 on October&nbsp;11.

Meanwhile, vessel transit through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait also dropped, with 35 vessels passing through on October&nbsp;8, 39 on October&nbsp;10, 46 on October&nbsp;11, and 32 on Monday.

The attempts by the Houthis to establish a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia to seize control of the Bab el-Mandeb corridor added a new volatile dimension to the wider conflict.

Large-scale supply disruptions across both the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait could pressure global energy supplies and market stability even further, analysts say.

Iran says container ship sinks after hitting mine in Strait of Hormuz

The IRGC navy said on Wednesday that a container attempting to &quot;pass through the unauthorised and high-risk route of the Strait of Hormuz struck a naval mine, exploded, and caught fire severely,&quot; according to IRNA.



IRGC Navy: A violating container ship that intended to pass through the unauthorized and high-risk route of the Strait of Hormuz struck a naval mine, exploded, and caught fire severely. pic.twitter.com/fiJJM445ay
&mdash; IRNA News Agency ☫ (@IrnaEnglish) October 14, 2026


&quot;This ship, carrying more than 2,500 containers, sank on Wednesday morning in the southern waters of the Strait of Hormuz due to the intensity of the fire.&quot;

Trump, Netanyahu weigh new Iran strikes before elections despite White House denial: report

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed launching a major new operation against Iran ahead of upcoming elections in both countries, the Axios news site reported on Tuesday.

The report, citing two US officials and other sources with knowledge of the matter, said the discussions took place before Trump publicly stated that he would not strike Iran before the US midterms. Netanyahu raised Israeli intelligence suggesting that Iran was working to rebuild its nuclear program, including possibly operating the Pickaxe Mountain site for uranium enrichment, according to one source.

A White House official called it &quot;false&quot; that the two leaders discussed resuming the war, claiming that Trump has ruled out attacks before the midterms in November.

Both militaries remain on alert and are finalising preparations in case Trump changes course, sources said. One US official described Trump&#39;s stance as noncommittal, saying he told Netanyahu to prepare without making a commitment.

According to the report, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and the US Central Command leadership are the strongest advocates of renewed strikes, while most advisers favour continued sanctions and economic pressure.

Israeli Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir reportedly told US Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine that fighting within three weeks could force the postponement of Israel&#39;s October 27 vote, given likely Iranian missile retaliation.

Qatari mediators are still awaiting Iran&#39;s response to the latest US counterproposal, the report added.

Three fishermen injured in drone incident off southern Iran

Three fishermen were injured after a fishing boat was struck in an incident involving an unidentified drone near Sirik in southern Iran&rsquo;s Hormozgan province, the provincial governor&rsquo;s office says, according to Reuters, citing Tasnim news agency.

Tasnim cites local sources as saying a fishing boat was hit in what they described as an attack by a US drone, although Iranian authorities have not officially confirmed the circumstances of the incident or who was responsible.

&lsquo;They know what will happen&rsquo;: IRGC says US would never dare to put boots on ground in Iran

Senior commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says the United States never dares to carry out a land invasion of Iran, according to Press TV.



&lsquo;They know what will happen&rsquo;: IRGC says US never dares put boots on ground in Iran https://t.co/eIoBoc5fj6
&mdash; Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) October 14, 2026


Even the most senior officials in Washington know that such a scenario would lead to devastating consequences for the US military, Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi said.

Naqdi, who serves as a high-profile advisor to the IRGC chief commander, made the comments on Tuesday in response to speculations that the US would deploy troops to Iran months after its joint aerial aggression with Israel against the country failed for good.

Iran shifting tactics to step up attacks on shipping before US vote, officials say 

Iran is deploying new tactics to target ships sailing through the Strait of Hormuz as it seeks ​to keep oil prices high and influence the US midterm elections, two senior Iranian officials told Reuters.

Tehran has tried to exert control over the Strait of Hormuz since the US &zwnj;and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28. It has restricted passage through the waterway, which carried about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade before the war, in an effort to gain leverage over Washington.

Its threats and attacks have severely curtailed traffic through the strait, driving up oil prices, though some oil has continued to transit.

The two officials declined to provide details of the new strategy, but one said that Iran had started using different offensive tactics against vessels it considered in violation of its ​restrictions about 10 days ago, adding that this had led to an increase in attacks on such ships.

The strategy included a change in the type as well as the pace of attacks, with ​one goal being to influence the outcome of the US vote, they said.

&quot;The aim is to frustrate efforts by the United States and its allies to bring ⁠down global oil prices,&quot; one of the two officials said.

Read: Iran will pursue diplomacy to counter sanctions, secure national interests: Iranian FM

The decision to adopt the new strategy had been taken at the highest levels of Iran&rsquo;s leadership and was fully coordinated across the country&rsquo;s ruling system, the officials ​said.

Iran using spotters

A US military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Iran had changed tactics in one significant way: after the US destroyed much of Iran&rsquo;s radar capabilities, Iran&#39;s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had started ​using unarmed spotters in small boats to identify potential targets, including US naval vessels, the official said.

Last week, in a previously unreported incident, the US military determined that Iranian spotters were operating from a dhow, calling in targets to the IRGC, the official said. US forces confronted the vessel, told its occupants to abandon ship and then destroyed it. There were no casualties, the US official said.

Unwilling to risk its remaining fast boats, Iran had been unable to prevent a ramp-up in oil exports through ​the strait, the official said, particularly after US strikes devastated its navy.

The war &mdash; and its $3 billion monthly price tag &mdash; has become a key issue on the US campaign trail for November&#39;s midterm elections, which will decide control of ​Congress.

US President Donald Trump has been weighing next steps against Iran, but has said he will not attack again before the vote.

The US has meanwhile been pressing its own naval blockade of Iranian ports and extending sanctions as it tries to pile economic pressure &zwnj;on Tehran to ⁠reach a deal to end the conflict.

The standoff over Hormuz has left global energy markets exposed to further disruption, with the threat of attacks and high shipping and insurance costs complicating efforts to restore normal traffic.

In recent days, attacks on commercial ships still sailing through the strait have surged to their highest level since the war began, according to independent data.

There have been at least five incidents in the past 48 hours involving tankers and other commercial ships around the Hormuz area, including drone strikes, according to data analysis from maritime security sources and incidents reported to the British navy-affiliated agency United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

Read more: Iran says reviewing US proposals for talks as indirect messages continue

That approximately mirrored the rate of attacks on October 3-5, ​pointing to a new escalation, according to data from ​the UN shipping agency, the International Maritime Organisation.

&quot;There ⁠is a tempo increase in strikes, which looks deliberate,&quot; one maritime security source said.

Attacks over an expanded area

As part of the new strategy, Tehran will also expand the geographical scope of its operations beyond the Strait of Hormuz to the Gulf of Oman and waters further afield, the officials said.

Analysis by maritime security sources based on ​attacks reported to UKMTO and maritime security companies in the region suggests this may already be happening. They show Iran targeting ships in areas beyond the ​Strait of Hormuz, including waters off ⁠the coast of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, in recent days.



UKMTO WARNING 171-26

Click here to view the full warning⤵️https://t.co/dwpZ53A0Wa#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/swko5njXqh
&mdash; UKMTO Operations Centre (@UK_MTO) October 13, 2026


The second Iranian official added that Tehran would not allow Trump to bring down oil prices before the November elections.

&quot;Just when they think they are getting close to the point where prices will fall, we will push them away from it. This is a game of chess,&rdquo; the second official said.

&quot;Such vessels would be safe nowhere, even outside the Strait of Hormuz.&quot;

The Pentagon and Iran&#39;s Foreign Ministry did ⁠not immediately respond ​to requests for comment.

Complete closure of Hormuz soon

Both Iranian officials said Tehran is moving towards a situation in which ​no vessel violating its restrictions would be able to pass through the strait. &quot;It will be complete closure soon,&quot; one of the officials said.

In its latest report on Sunday, the US Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC) said the threat to merchant shipping in the Strait of ​Hormuz remained &quot;severe&quot;, the second-highest level.

&quot;IRGC attacks, attempted attacks, and/or harassment activity persisted, including UAV overflight, targeted surveillance of merchant shipping, and occasional VHF hailing,&quot; JMIC said.

Trump warns of further action against Iran

US President Donald Trump signalled further action against Iran during a campaign rally on Tuesday in the state of Alaska.

&ldquo;Wait till you see what we do to Iran. We&#39;re going to do a number. We sort of had it. You know we&#39;ve had it,&rdquo; Trump told supporters in Wasilla, where he was campaigning for Republican candidates ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.

&ldquo;They&rsquo;re just waiting. They&rsquo;re waiting,&rdquo; he said.

&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve had it, but you know it doesn&rsquo;t matter. The big thing is they were not going to have a nuclear weapon,&rdquo; he added.

Trump&#39;s remarks came after the Axios news site reported Tuesday that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed launching a major new operation against Iran ahead of elections in both countries.

The report, citing two US officials and other sources with knowledge of the matter, said the discussions took place before Trump publicly stated that he would not strike Iran before the US midterms.

US rejects Iran&rsquo;s claim of control over Strait of Hormuz

The US military&rsquo;s Central Command (CENTCOM) on Tuesday rejected claims by Iran&rsquo;s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that it controls the Strait of Hormuz and would sink any approaching US Navy warships.

&quot;IRGC&#39;s navy commander has no navy. American forces and regional partners clearly control the Strait of Hormuz,&quot; CENTCOM said on US social media company X.



🚫 CLAIM: The navy commander for Iran&#39;s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed today that the Strait of Hormuz is under IRGC control and any approaching U.S. Navy warships would be &quot;sunk.&quot;

✅ FACT: IRGC&#39;s navy commander has no navy. American forces and regional partners&hellip; pic.twitter.com/n9dhNsyI8O
&mdash; U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) October 13, 2026


It disputed an Iranian navy commander&rsquo;s remarks that Tehran controls the strategic international chokepoint, declaring that US forces had helped Gulf partners transport more than 19 million barrels of crude oil through the strait on Monday.

The statement came amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran about maritime security and control of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for global oil shipments.]]>
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			<title>Trump fires ambassador to Greece Guilfoyle after reports of misconduct</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634848/trump-fires-ambassador-to-greece-guilfoyle-after-reports-of-misconduct</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634848/trump-fires-ambassador-to-greece-guilfoyle-after-reports-of-misconduct#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 14:53:21 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[News reports alleged Guilfoyle sold access ‌to Trump administration officials in exchange for money, gifts, favours]]>
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				<![CDATA[The White House said on Tuesday it ​had asked US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign after a series of news reports raised concerns that she sold access &zwnj;to Trump administration officials in exchange for money, gifts and favours.

US President Donald Trump had said on Monday that he was considering firing Guilfoyle, who was once engaged to his son Donald Trump Jr. On Tuesday, he told reporters: &quot;She was doing a good job, but we didn&#39;t like what we were reading.&quot;



President Trump says &quot;he didn&#39;t like what he read&quot; on Kimberly Guilfoyle resignation: &quot;She wasn&#39;t a member of my family; she dated my son a long time ago.&quot; pic.twitter.com/Gs6Zz1cK8p
&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) October 13, 2026


US lawmakers had raised the alarm after a series of stories ​in the Wall Street Journal beginning last month that detailed Guilfoyle&#39;s conduct, including claims she threatened to use US influence to undermine the ​Greek government.

Read: Kimberly Guilfoyle chosen by Trump as US Ambassador to Greece

New White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia confirmed Guilfoyle had been asked to resign, telling a briefing: &quot;She has ⁠been a wonderful asset to the team, and we wish her well.&quot;



The White House has asked Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign as U.S. ambassador to Greece, after The Wall Street Journal reported that she had solicited $100,000 from a Trump donor in the run-up to her confirmation hearing last year.

🔗 Read more: https://t.co/JzxVmmD2xc pic.twitter.com/Lrpbj0uO5H
&mdash; The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) October 13, 2026


In a post on X, Guilfoyle repeated denials of wrongdoing and said her gratitude and ​respect for Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio remained &quot;unwavering&quot;.

&quot;While my time as ambassador may be coming to an end, my commitment to President Trump, the ​America First movement, and the country I love will never end,&quot; she wrote. &quot;These allegations are false, and I intend to vigorously defend my name, my reputation, and my integrity.&quot;



Serving as the United States Ambassador to Greece has been the honor of a lifetime. I will forever be grateful to President Donald J. Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for entrusting me with the extraordinary privilege of representing the greatest country in the history of&hellip;
&mdash; Kimberly Guilfoyle (@kimguilfoyle) October 13, 2026


One of the reports published by the Journal described Guilfoyle&#39;s close relationship with a lobbyist for a Greek energy company and her promotion of that firm, while another cited audio recordings of ​Guilfoyle bragging about her ties to wealthy Greek businessmen as she sought an invitation to a Davos dinner honouring another of Trump&#39;s sons, Eric.

US businessman ​Eric Deters also told the newspaper that Guilfoyle, a former San Francisco prosecutor, had offered access to Trump administration officials for money, at one point asking him to pay &zwnj;her $100,000 credit ⁠card bill. Britain&#39;s Daily Mail reported last week that the State Department&#39;s internal watchdog was looking into complaints of inappropriate behaviour from staff at the Athens embassy.

Read More: Kimberly Guilfoyle &#39;still very fond&#39; of Donald Trump Jr. at inauguration event

The Greek government has not commented on the allegations involving her tenure as ambassador.

Neither the State Department nor Washington&#39;s embassy in Athens responded to requests for comment.

Deals and diplomatic waves

Greece has been an important NATO ally of the United States, offering key military facilities to safeguard security in the Eastern Mediterranean, and it leads an ​EU maritime mission to protect commercial ​shipping in the Red Sea.

During a ⁠visit to Athens last week, Rubio said Greece and the US were launching new counterterrorism information sharing between their law enforcement agencies.

Guilfoyle&#39;s tenure in Athens was high-profile from the start as she appeared on the cover of Vogue ​Greece and attended late-night parties with Greek celebrities.

She aggressively touted American interests, including signing deals for the import of ​US liquefied natural ⁠gas and drilling deals involving companies including Exxon Mobil.

But she also created diplomatic waves. In her first interview with local media after arriving last November, she said China should sell its 67% stake in the port of Piraeus, which has become a cornerstone of Beijing&#39;s Belt and Road Initiative. China&rsquo;s ambassador to Greece, Fang Qiu, responded ⁠by accusing the ​US of having &quot;an outdated and a harmful mentality&quot; and &quot;a hegemonic mindset&quot;.

Dimitris Mantzos, foreign affairs spokesperson ​for Greece&rsquo;s opposition PASOK party, said Guilfoyle&rsquo;s firing raised serious issues and unanswered questions. Would Greek officials demand an explanation, he said, or &quot;content themselves with watching the country serve as a &#39;theatre&#39;&quot; for ​outside interests.]]>
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			<title>Pope Leo back on his feet after shock cancer diagnosis</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634851/pope-leo-back-on-his-feet-after-shock-cancer-diagnosis</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634851/pope-leo-back-on-his-feet-after-shock-cancer-diagnosis#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 15:27:27 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Blood tests, chest X-ray show normal post-operative results after part of Pope Leo's right lung removed in operation]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pope Leo&#39;s recovery from surgery is progressing as expected, and ​he has begun walking in his hospital room and eating normally, the Vatican said on Wednesday, after doctors announced the 71-year-old pontiff was being &zwnj;treated for lung cancer.

World leaders, Catholics across the globe and senior cardinals at the Vatican have offered prayers for Leo after he had part of his right lung removed in an operation on Tuesday.

Blood tests and a chest X-ray carried out on Wednesday showed normal post-operative results, the Vatican said, adding that the pontiff had undergone respiratory physiotherapy.



JUST IN: Pope Leo is back on his feet after surgery as doctors confirm his recovery is progressing as expected.

The Holy Father has begun walking around his room, resumed eating regular meals, and undergone respiratory physiotherapy following his lung procedure.

Dr. Luigi&hellip; pic.twitter.com/a94O8Gvlo3
&mdash; Fox News (@FoxNews) October 14, 2026


Read: Pope Leo admitted to Rome hospital for lung surgery

The cancer diagnosis for a pope known to be relatively young and energetic ​and who was elected only in May 2025 caused shock and raised questions about the future shape of his papacy as he deals with the illness.

Leo normally ​follows a very busy schedule. He is due to make a tour of Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17 ⁠, and the Vatican press office said on Wednesday that &quot;nothing has changed&quot; regarding the planned trip.

However, Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori said on Wednesday that the dates could change because of the ​amount of time his recovery would take.

The pope is the ultimate earthly authority for the world&#39;s 1.4 billion Catholics and does not have a deputy who steps in when ​he is sick. When a pope is incapacitated, the business of the Vatican&#39;s vast bureaucracy carries on as usual, holding off on any decisions that require papal approval.

Prayers for Leo

A prayer was recited for Leo to have a good convalescence and complete healing during an open-air Mass in St Peter&#39;s Square on Wednesday following the surgery.

The pope has been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of ​lung cancer, and doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung during Tuesday&#39;s operation in an effort to eliminate all cancerous tissue.

Human lungs have five lobes &mdash; three ​in the right lung and two in the left.

The operation lasted about 90 minutes and was completed without complications, the pope&#39;s lead surgeon, Professor Stefano Margaritora, and his personal physician, Dr Luigi Carbone, said &zwnj;late on ⁠Tuesday.



Pope Leo XIV underwent thoracic surgery at Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday afternoon, as planned, according to a statement from Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora released by the Holy See Press Office.

The surgeons removed the lower lobe of the Pope&rsquo;s right lung,&hellip; pic.twitter.com/QAShHu1eG6
&mdash; Vatican News (@VaticanNews) October 13, 2026


The Vatican has not disclosed the size of the tumour or whether the disease had spread to nearby lymph nodes, key factors in determining prognosis.

Read More: Pope Leo diagnosed with cancer

Dr Serena Ricciardi, a lung cancer specialist at Rome&#39;s San Camillo Forlanini Hospital, said that if the cancer had not spread to Leo&#39;s lymph nodes, the surgery may have been sufficient for treatment.

&quot;If there are no further issues or lymph node involvement, we could consider the surgery curative,&quot; she told Reuters. &quot;The disease has been completely removed.&quot;

Leo is relatively young for a Church leader. He enjoys ​sports, including tennis, and is not known ​to be a smoker or to have ⁠had recent health issues.

Engagements cancelled until next week

The Vatican said this week that the pope was expected to remain in hospital for about a week and that all his public engagements had been cancelled until October 20.

The Mass on Wednesday was the closing act ​of an assembly of bishops called by Leo to discuss the Church&#39;s family life teachings, the largest gathering of Church leaders ​so far during this ⁠papacy.

Filipino Cardinal Luis Tagle led the service in place of Leo. The pope last week approved Tagle as the dean of the Church&#39;s College of Cardinals, in the first selection of an Asian cleric to the elite role.



Pope Leo calls on us to take to heart the riches of &lsquo;Amoris laetitia&rsquo;

In a homily read by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pope Leo XIV called on the Church to put the Apostolic Exhortation&#39;s pastoral guidance into practice in the heart of families.

The homily was delivered at the&hellip; pic.twitter.com/XCa1Gsl97l
&mdash; Vatican News (@VaticanNews) October 14, 2026


Political leaders offered messages of support.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he and his wife Jeanette were praying for the pope, an American who was born ⁠in Chicago.

&quot;May the ​Lord give him strength and the Holy Spirit guide the medical professionals taking care of the Holy ​Father,&quot; he said on X. Rubio met Leo at the Vatican in May.



Jeanette and I are united in prayer for @PONTIFEX&rsquo;s health following his recent diagnosis.

May the Lord give him strength and the Holy Spirit guide the medical professionals taking care of the Holy Father. https://t.co/KPVoGrnKUW
&mdash; Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) October 13, 2026


There was no immediate response on social media from US President Donald Trump, who has criticised the pope, or from Vice President JD Vance, who ​is a Catholic.]]>
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			<title>India's 'cockroach' movement leaders detained in jail for five days, party and police say</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634810/indias-cockroach-movement-leaders-detained-in-jail-for-five-days-party-and-police-say</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634810/indias-cockroach-movement-leaders-detained-in-jail-for-five-days-party-and-police-say#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 10:41:38 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Detentions risk triggering protests by youth supporters; opposition groups, student bodies holding demonstrations]]>
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				<![CDATA[An Indian court ordered that two leaders of the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) be detained in jail for five days, the party and police said on Wednesday, a day after they scaled barricades to enter a historic site popular for protests and chanted ​slogans demanding the election chief&#39;s resignation.

The detentions risk triggering fresh protests by youth supporters at a time ​when opposition groups and student bodies are holding almost daily demonstrations to demand commissioner Gyanesh Kumar&#39;s ⁠resignation over voter list revisions that critics say favour Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The Election Commission has ​denied favouring any party and said wrongly deleted voters can re-enrol, while the BJP has accused rivals of trying to ​undermine democracy by wrongly questioning legitimate electoral processes.

CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were among about a dozen people who jumped barricades on Tuesday to enter the grounds of the Jantar Mantar open-air observatory in Delhi&#39;s central business district.

Read:&nbsp;What is fuelling India&#39;s protests over changes to voter lists?

Police said this week that the ​site -- previously designated for demonstrations -- was no longer an official protest venue.

Das and Ranka were sent to jail for ​violating a legal undertaking they had given authorities when they were released from detention last week, their lawyer Abhisht Hela told &zwnj;reporters.

Delhi Police ⁠also said they were punished due to their &quot;repeated violations&quot; and &quot;serious apprehensions&quot; that they would &quot;again violate law and instigate others to violate law&quot; if released on bail.

Will not be frightened, CJP says

CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde, who was released on a personal bond, said the party would not be &quot;frightened&quot; by its leaders&#39; imprisonment.

&quot;We will put an end to this dictatorial ​government,&quot; he said.

The &#39;cockroach&#39; movement has ​mobilised protests in recent ⁠months against issues ranging from government school infrastructure to jobs and is among Modi and his BJP&#39;s biggest political challenges in his 12 years in power.

Read More: Indian police detain &#39;cockroach&#39; movement founder Abhijeet Dipke

A weeks-long sit-in by its supporters ​at Jantar Mantar earlier this year forced Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan&#39;s resignation over exam ​paper leaks.

The recent ⁠demonstrations erupted after the Indian Express newspaper reported that Kumar&#39;s two deputies raised several concerns internally about the changes, registration procedures and digital systems.

The revisions, which started last year, removed over 130 million names &mdash; more than the population of Japan &mdash; ⁠from voter ​lists, including 28 million who died, 63 million who relocated, and ​30 million who could not be traced.

Opposition parties allege the deletions disproportionately affect Muslims and other minorities, who are unlikely to support the Hindu ​nationalist ruling party &mdash; allegations the poll panel and BJP reject.]]>
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			<title>OpenAI employee who left for Apple took files about unreleased device, OpenAI alleges</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634862/openai-employee-who-left-for-apple-took-files-about-unreleased-device-openai-alleges</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634862/openai-employee-who-left-for-apple-took-files-about-unreleased-device-openai-alleges#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 17:37:37 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634862</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Apple says it has rules in place to ensure new employees do not use confidential ​information from previous employers]]>
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				<![CDATA[An OpenAI employee who left the ChatGPT maker for Apple ​sent more than 100 files about an unreleased product to a personal &zwnj;account and later made a presentation about the unreleased product to senior Apple leadership, a new filing in the lawsuit between OpenAI and Apple alleges.

In the filing in US federal court ​in San Jose, California, OpenAI alleged that the presentation happened months ago and ​that Apple is now making AI products of its own, citing ⁠the release of Apple&#39;s HomeView product this week.

&quot;OpenAI is very concerned that its trade ​secret and confidential information is now circulating inside Apple, where Apple engineers can shape ​Apple&rsquo;s upcoming products based on OpenAI&rsquo;s confidential and innovative work,&quot; OpenAI said in its filing.

Apple said that it has policies and procedures in place to ensure new employees do not use confidential ​information from previous employers and that it has found no evidence to support ​OpenAI&#39;s allegations.

Read:&nbsp;FBI arrests Saudi OpenAI engineer over covert recording device, DOJ says

The document, filed on Tuesday, is part of an ongoing trade secret dispute filed by Apple &zwnj;earlier ⁠this year in which it alleged employees of the iPhone maker left and took confidential information to OpenAI&#39;s hardware division. OpenAI has denied those allegations.

Earlier this week, US District Court Judge Edward Davila granted part of Apple&#39;s request to get early access ​to digital files from ​OpenAI in the ⁠suit.

Davila said Apple could gather data from some of its former employees&#39; devices and sit three of them for depositions on ​a sped-up schedule, including the two defendants in the case &mdash; ​Chang Liu, ⁠a former senior system electrical engineer, and Tang Yew Tan, a former vice president of product design for iPhone and Apple Watch.

The case is likely to go to trial ⁠in ​October 2027, though OpenAI has said in court ​filings that it could be ready for trial as soon as June 2027.

&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Space startups secure record $20.8 billion funding as infrastructure bets surge, report shows</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634859/space-startups-secure-record-208-billion-funding-as-infrastructure-bets-surge-report-shows</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634859/space-startups-secure-record-208-billion-funding-as-infrastructure-bets-surge-report-shows#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 17:26:32 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634859</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Investors pour money into launch providers, manufacturing and other infrastructure ventures]]>
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				<![CDATA[Space startups attracted a record $20.8 &zwnj;billion in funding in the third quarter, as investors poured money into launch providers, manufacturing and other infrastructure ventures, according to a report by global investment firm Seraphim.

The figure was nearly triple ​the $7.4 billion invested in the second quarter and more than double the ​prior peak. Excluding Blue Origin&#39;s $10 billion financing, investment was still at an ⁠all-time high of $10.8 billion, underscoring growing demand across the sector.

The report, released on Wednesday, ​also showed a record 216 deals were completed during the quarter, up from 140 ​in the second quarter.

While SpaceX remains a dominant force in the industry, recent fundraising has been supported by a growing pipeline of commercial orders and government-backed programs, according to Seraphim.

Read: Two Pakistani astronauts train for space mission

&quot;Capital is following ​evidence of commercial and institutional demand, not just residual IPO enthusiasm,&quot; said Lucas Bishop, ​vice president at Seraphim Space.

Infrastructure-related businesses accounted for the bulk of the funding activity. Companies involved &zwnj;in ⁠launch and broader space access attracted $16.4 billion across 120 deals, while satellite communications, Earth observation and other space-service companies raised $4 billion.

Defence and sovereign demand are increasingly supporting investment in launch, manufacturing and orbital infrastructure as governments prioritise domestic space capabilities, Bishop said.



🚀 SpaceTech just recorded its biggest quarter ever.

$20.8bn invested in Q3 2026. Even excluding Blue Origin&#39;s $10bn raise, the sector still set a new funding record.

The latest Seraphim SpaceTech Investment Tracker is now live.

Full report 👇https://t.co/RXPzvJMA0J&hellip; pic.twitter.com/E6yCUFklMI
&mdash; Seraphim Space (@seraphim_space) October 14, 2026


The ​quarter&#39;s major fundraising rounds ​included $1.37 billion for ⁠Hadrian, $1 billion for Stoke Space and $500 million for K2 Space.

However, the surge in private investment was in contrast with weaker performance ​among listed space companies. Bishop said many publicly traded space firms ​remain loss-making, ⁠while SpaceX&#39;s scale and visibility may have drawn investor attention away from smaller listed peers.

Also Read: US Space Force confirms weapons deployed in space for first time

North America accounted for about 70% of global funding year-to-date, while China recorded a quarterly ⁠high ​of $3.3 billion across 49 deals.

Seraphim said funding was likely ​to moderate from the third-quarter&#39;s exceptional level, but remain above historical norms as more companies enter growth and ​scale-up phases.

&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Netflix cuts about 6% of jobs in biggest layoff since 2022</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634866/netflix-cuts-about-6-of-jobs-in-biggest-layoff-since-2022</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634866/netflix-cuts-about-6-of-jobs-in-biggest-layoff-since-2022#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 18:18:15 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634866</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Bulk of job cuts will be in Netflix's product, tech, legal and human-resources teams]]>
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				<![CDATA[Netflix&nbsp;is laying off 6% of its workforce, or roughly 1,000 employees, in its biggest cuts since ​2022, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters, as the streaming pioneer &zwnj;faces tough competition for viewers from legacy rivals and YouTube.

The bulk of the job cuts would be in Netflix&#39;s product, tech, legal and human-resources teams, the email Co-CEOs Greg Peters and Ted Sarandos sent to ​employees on Wednesday showed.

&quot;Our mission &mdash; to entertain the world &mdash; is ambitious, and delivering on ​it requires us to be disciplined about where we prioritise our people ⁠and resources,&quot; they said in the memo.



Exclusive: Netflix is cutting about 1,000 jobs, its biggest round of layoffs in years as it struggles with slowing growth and customer engagement https://t.co/4kLKUmxN40
&mdash; The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) October 14, 2026


&quot;Our business is strong and growing, and we remain ​on track to deliver our full-year forecast.&quot;

Netflix shares, down around 25% so far this year, rose ​0.7% on Wednesday. The company had about 16,000 employees at the end of last year.

Read:&nbsp;Netflix faces new round of layoffs amid PR reorganisation, impacting series and film publicity

This year, the streaming giant has faced doubts about its ability to sustain the growth that disrupted the US media industry by putting ​pressure on cable TV businesses.

Engagement, or the amount of time users spend on Netflix, has ​become a key concern for investors as platforms such as YouTube and TikTok attract viewers with free-to-watch, &zwnj;user-generated content ⁠that gives them a cost advantage over Netflix.

A failed pursuit of Warner Bros Discovery&#39;s streaming and studio assets earlier this year deepened doubts about Netflix&#39;s strategy. Paramount completed its $110-billion Warner Bros acquisition earlier this month to form Skydance.

&quot;They haven&#39;t been able to find like another line ​of major revenue,&quot; said ​Ross Benes, senior ⁠analyst at eMarketer, adding the company remains reliant on a subscription business that could be approaching a ceiling.

&quot;Eventually, because they&#39;ve kind of nearing a ​ceiling with that, they&#39;ll need another revenue stream to diversify, and that&#39;s ​where it&#39;s ⁠been more of a struggle.&quot;

Netflix has been trying to expand beyond its subscription business by investing in an ad tier, live programming and gaming.

Its last major round of layoffs came in 2022, ⁠when it ​cut about 450 jobs in two rounds after losing ​subscribers for the first time in more than a decade.

The Wall Street Journal first reported on Wednesday&#39;s memo.]]>
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			<title>Grand Theft Auto developer Rockstar Games denies firing workers for union activity</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634858/grand-theft-auto-developer-rockstar-games-denies-firing-workers-for-union-activity</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634858/grand-theft-auto-developer-rockstar-games-denies-firing-workers-for-union-activity#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 17:25:15 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Anadolu Agency]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634858</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Rockstar maintains employees dismissed for sharing confidential company information on a Discord server]]>
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				<![CDATA[A senior executive at Rockstar Games, the developer behind the Grand Theft Auto video game, denied monitoring employees&#39; union membership as an employment tribunal examined the dismissal of 34 workers.

Robert Spampinato, the company&#39;s vice president of human resources, told the tribunal in Glasgow, Scotland, that allegations he had instructed managers to &quot;keep tabs&quot; on union membership were &quot;categorically not true.&quot;

Twenty-three former employees, most previously based at Rockstar North in Edinburgh, are challenging their October 2025 dismissals with support from the Independent Workers&#39; Union of Great Britain (IWGB).

Read:&nbsp;Fired GTA 6 developers launch public union ahead of Rockstar tribunal hearing

The union alleges the workers were targeted for trade union activities, while Rockstar maintains they were dismissed for sharing confidential company information on a Discord server.

The tribunal heard that an anonymous employee had passed information about union meetings and recruitment activities to Human Resources managers.



Grand Theft Union? GTA 6 maker&rsquo;s HR boss denies &lsquo;spying&rsquo; on employees as 23 sacked staff take Rockstar to tribunal https://t.co/oCzc0CXhdt
&mdash; LBC (@LBC) October 14, 2026


Spampinato acknowledged that the information helped management follow workplace grievances but denied any attempt to suppress union activity.

Asked why the dismissals occurred in October 2025 despite some information being available earlier, he said Rockstar was in &quot;crisis mode&quot; because of delays to Grand Theft Auto 6.

&quot;We were in a moment when we knew we were running late on the development,&quot; he said.

The game is scheduled for release on November&nbsp;19 after two delays.

The tribunal proceedings are continuing.]]>
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			<title>FBI arrests Saudi OpenAI engineer over covert recording device, DOJ says</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634767/fbi-arrests-saudi-openai-engineer-over-covert-recording-device-doj-says</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634767/fbi-arrests-saudi-openai-engineer-over-covert-recording-device-doj-says#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 06:07:37 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category><category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Accused allegedly hid thumb-sized device in company's executive conference room, faces five years in prison]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[United States federal agents arrested a Saudi national who was an OpenAI engineer and charged him with installing a hidden audio recording device in an executive conference room at the AI company, the Justice Department said on Tuesday.

The case highlights growing security concerns around sensitive AI research as companies and governments compete fiercely for the talent and technology that could confer economic and strategic advantages.

Abdulrahman Alfozan, 35, had worked as an engineer at OpenAI since July 2025, the Justice Department said in a statement. An email sent to an address associated with that name did not elicit a response, and it was not immediately clear who his lawyer was.

OpenAI discovered the recording device plugged into a USB port on the back of a television in an executive conference room at one of its San Francisco buildings on September 30, according to the department.

Read:&nbsp;Microsoft president says milk faces more regulation than AI

The thumb-sized device, which had a microphone and could connect to a camera, was concealed in toilet paper, according to an FBI complaint. It was installed on or about September 28, while its stored data was encrypted and inaccessible. Investigators later found a similar customised device in Alfozan&#39;s personal bag.

OpenAI said in a post&nbsp;on X that it used its internal AI models to identify the person responsible for planting the device and trace its origins. The company said it had evidence that the employee intended to place additional recording devices in sensitive areas of its offices to secretly record meetings.



We discovered a sophisticated recording device that was hidden inside one of our offices. We used our models to understand the device and where it had come from, identifying that a specific employee had planted it a few days earlier. We referred the matter to the FBI, and we&rsquo;re&hellip;
&mdash; OpenAI Newsroom (@OpenAINewsroom) October 13, 2026



&quot;At this time, we have no indications of this individual inappropriately accessing or exfiltrating model weights, source code, or customer data. The employee was terminated,&quot; the company said.

OpenAI referred the matter to the FBI, which is continuing to investigate. The Saudi embassy in the United States did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

&quot;Abdulrahman Alfozan allegedly concealed a covert recording device inside his employer&#39;s executive conference room to secretly capture sensitive communications about the company&rsquo;s super intelligence technology,&quot; FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement.

Alfozan also used an AI productivity agent to seek information about meeting-room calendars and capabilities for about a month through September 16, according to the FBI complaint. He has been a legal permanent resident of the US since September 2020.

If convicted, Alfozan faces up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

Read More:&nbsp;AI models may soon self-replicate without access to data centers, Anthropic warns

A LinkedIn profile showed that Alfozan studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California, Berkeley. He previously worked at Meta and Microsoft, it said. Reuters could not independently verify the details mentioned in his LinkedIn profile.

Separately, the information reported&nbsp;that OpenAI was in early talks to acquire Trail of Bits, a startup that identifies and fixes vulnerabilities in open-source software. The talks were ongoing and could fall apart, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter. OpenAI and Trail of Bits did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

OpenAI said on Friday it fired three researchers after an investigation found they had violated company policies on handling sensitive information. The researchers, Jasmine Wang, Tomek Korbak and Mikita Balesni, had published a letter detailing the circumstances of their dismissal and arguing that the abrupt firings could create uncertainty among employees and undermine a culture in which researchers could raise safety concerns.]]>
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			<title>Maaz Sadaqat surges 187 places in T20I rankings</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634800/maaz-sadaqat-surges-187-places-in-t20i-rankings</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634800/maaz-sadaqat-surges-187-places-in-t20i-rankings#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 09:23:25 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Sports Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Farhan maintains third spot among batsmen as Salman Mirza climbs to 14th spot]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan&rsquo;s dashing batsman Maaz Sadaqat has made one of the biggest gains in the latest rankings, surging 187 places to 45th with 533 points after his performances against Sri Lanka.

Maaz hammered 50 and 96 in the first two games against Sri Lanka which benefitted him in his rise.

Skipper Sahibzada Farhan has maintained his third place after his record-breaking performance in the recent series against Sri Lanka.

Farhan amassed 238 runs in three matches against Sri Lanka to move to 883 rating points, placing him behind India&rsquo;s Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma, who occupy the top two positions with 904 and 891 points, respectively.

Farhan&rsquo;s tally against Sri Lanka surpassed the previous record for the most runs in a three-match T20I series, set by India&rsquo;s Abhishek, who scored 229 against Afghanistan earlier this year.

India captain Shreyas Iyer also reached a career-high fourth place after climbing three positions to 798 points following his maiden T20I century against West Indies in the opening match of their ongoing series.

England&rsquo;s Harry Brook and Jos Buttler occupy fifth and sixth places, respectively, while South Africa&rsquo;s Dewald Brevis is level with Buttler in sixth.

Saim Ayub moved up four places to 42nd with 550 points, while Babar Azam slipped four places to 48th with 528 points.

Hasan Nawaz is level with Sri Lanka&rsquo;s Kusal Perera in 51st place with 526 points, while Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha dropped five places to 56th with 520 points.

Sri Lanka&rsquo;s Kusal Mendis climbed three places to 23rd with 624 points, while West Indies batter Sherfane Rutherford made a significant gain, rising 13 places to a career-best equal 24th with 620 points.

Sanju Samson of India climbed four places to 27th with 605 points.

Meanwhile Pakistan fast bowler Salman Mirza has climbed nine places to 14th while Abrar Ahmed still remains the country&rsquo;s highest-ranked player in the fourth position.

Mirza has 635 rating points, just two behind England&rsquo;s Jofra Archer and South Africa&rsquo;s Corbin Bosch, who are tied for 11th place with 637 points.

Abrar, meanwhile, is level with England&rsquo;s Adil Rashid in fourth place with 695 points, although both trail Australia&rsquo;s Adam Zampa, who occupies second position with 700 points.

Afghanistan&rsquo;s Rashid Khan leads the rankings with 720 points.

Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz has also made progress, climbing six places to 18th with 626 points, while Saim Ayub has moved up eight places to 54th with 529 points.

Shaheen Shah Afridi is ranked 40th with 572 points, while Sufyan Moqim has slipped three places to 53rd with 532 points.

India&rsquo;s Axar Patel is ninth with 649 points, while teammate Jasprit Bumrah is level with Archer and Bosch in 11th place.

The latest rankings also reflect gains by West Indies captain Roston Chase, who has climbed 24 places to 23rd with 618 points.]]>
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			<title>South Africa hopeful of Rabada's return for second Test</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634781/south-africa-hopeful-of-rabada-return-for-second-test</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634781/south-africa-hopeful-of-rabada-return-for-second-test#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 07:28:14 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Sports Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634781</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Bavuma backs his players to respond after a 214-run defeat in the series opener]]>
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				<![CDATA[South Africa captain Temba Bavuma says fast bowler Kagiso Rabada is likely to return for the second Test against Australia on Sunday after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Rabada has not played since featuring for Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League in May and missed the opening Test in Durban as a precaution while recovering from the injury sustained in training.

The 31-year-old is making progress towards a competitive return, with Bavuma encouraged by the paceman&rsquo;s condition ahead of the second match in Gqeberha.

&ldquo;KG (Rabada) looks good,&rdquo; Bavuma said after South Africa&rsquo;s 214-run defeat in the first Test.

&ldquo;I think SuperSport kept showing him on the big screen bowling during breaks in play.

&ldquo;He&rsquo;s bubbly as ever within the changing room. And his non-selection was more from a precautionary point of view to give him the extra couple of days.

&ldquo;So now he&rsquo;s got the extra couple of days. We&rsquo;ll see how he continues to improve. But KG is very good.&rdquo;

Rabada&rsquo;s return could put fellow fast bowler Anrich Nortje under pressure to make way, despite his successful comeback to Test cricket in Durban.

South Africa may also consider changes after several batters struggled in the opening match. Ryan Rickelton failed to reach double figures in either innings, while Tristan Stubbs and wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne also endured difficult outings.

Fast bowlers Gerald Coetzee, Corbin Bosch and Dane Paterson are among the alternatives available to the hosts. Uncapped batter Marques Ackermann and bowling all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy, who did not feature in the first Test, could also come into contention.

However, Bavuma indicated that wholesale changes were unlikely, insisting the team retained confidence in the players who took the field in Durban.

&ldquo;The guys that you saw who took the field are guys that we have full confidence in,&rdquo; he said.

&ldquo;Going forward, there&rsquo;s going to be conversations that need to happen. Guys understand that&rsquo;s just how professional, high-level sport goes. If you&rsquo;re not delivering the goods and if there is someone else who&rsquo;s waiting in the wings, they&rsquo;ll get that opportunity.&rdquo;

Bavuma admitted the defeat had been disappointing but said the team needed to address its shortcomings before the series moved to Gqeberha.

&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not the way you want to start a series, any kind of series, let alone just against a top outfit like Australia,&rdquo; he said.

&ldquo;The emotions are obviously still a little bit high. You probably want that to settle before you get into the conversations but there are obvious things that we could definitely improve on. No one is happy in that change-room, looking at the result that has played out.&rdquo;

South Africa squad for first Test: Temba Bavuma (c), Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne.

Series Schedule:

First Test: October 9-13, Durban (Australia won by 214 runs)

Second Test: October 18-22, Gqeberha

Third Test: October 27-31, Cape Town]]>
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			<title>Cirotte, Laskutova advance at Islamabad W-15 tournament</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634841/cirotte-laskutova-advance-at-islamabad-w-15-tournament</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634841/cirotte-laskutova-advance-at-islamabad-w-15-tournament#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 14:02:45 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Zulfiqar Baig]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634841</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Germany’s Anastasiya Kuparev and South Africa’s Wozuko Mdlulwa also secure singles victories]]>
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				<![CDATA[France&rsquo;s Astrid Cirotte, Russia&rsquo;s Ksenia Laskutova and Thailand&rsquo;s Kamonwan Yodpetch advanced to the second round of the women&rsquo;s singles at the Junaid Family Foundation World Tennis Women&rsquo;s Championships in Islamabad.

Cirotte defeated Russia&rsquo;s Julia Khramtsova 6-3, 6-1, while Laskutova beat T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;s Serife Pelin Sari 6-1, 6-0. Yodpetch overcame Nepal&rsquo;s Abhilasha Bista 6-1, 6-1 at the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) Tennis Complex.

South Africa&rsquo;s Wozuko Mdlulwa recovered from a set down to defeat South Korea&rsquo;s Jeong Moon 3-6, 6-3, 6-0, while Germany&rsquo;s Anastasiya Kuparev beat Russia&rsquo;s Lilia Piskun 6-1, 6-0.

The Netherlands&rsquo; Florentine Dekkers edged Japan&rsquo;s Suzuna Oigawa 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-1, while Czech Republic&rsquo;s Gloria Levinsky rallied to defeat Denmark&rsquo;s Elena Jamshidi 1-6, 6-2, 6-4. China&rsquo;s Ru Xi Wu also advanced after beating Dutch player Emma Van Poppel 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.

In first-round singles action, Jamshidi defeated Pakistan&rsquo;s Romaisa Malik 6-0, 6-0, while Kuparev recovered from losing the opening set to beat Uzbekistan&rsquo;s Sabrina Olimjanova 2-6, 6-1, 6-3.

Mdlulwa beat Hong Kong&rsquo;s Kei Yau Cheung 6-1, 6-2, Dekkers defeated Mexico&rsquo;s Sabastiani Leon 6-2, 7-5, and Van Poppel recorded a 6-0, 6-0 win over South Africa&rsquo;s Nissa Finnigan.

In the women&rsquo;s doubles first round, Japan&rsquo;s Oigawa and South Korea&rsquo;s Moon defeated Pakistan&rsquo;s Ushna Suhail and Mahin Aftab Qureshi 6-2, 7-5. Hong Kong&rsquo;s Cheung and Uzbekistan&rsquo;s Olimjanova beat Pakistan&rsquo;s Hajra Sohail and Malik 6-2, 6-1.

Russia&rsquo;s Lilia Piskun and Sofiia Suslova overcame Nepal&rsquo;s Bista and Russia&rsquo;s Varvara Rubostava 6-3, 3-6, 10-4. Thailand&rsquo;s Yodpetch and China&rsquo;s Wu defeated Russia&rsquo;s Khramtsova and Laskutova 6-2, 6-2, while Dutch pair Van Poppel and Dekkers beat South Africa&rsquo;s Finnigan and Russia&rsquo;s Anna Simkina 6-0, 6-0.

The tournament features 31 players from 17 countries and is sponsored by the Junaid Family Foundation.

Czech Republic Ambassador to Pakistan Ladislav Steinh&uuml;bel visited the PTF Tennis Complex, watched the matches and interacted with participating players.]]>
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			<title>Martinez blasts board's lack of investment</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634798/martinez-blasts-boards-lack-of-investment</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634798/martinez-blasts-boards-lack-of-investment#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 09:12:25 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634798</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[He questions United's summer recruitment after the club's winless run extends to five games]]>
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				<![CDATA[Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez blasted the club&#39;s board for a perceived lack of investment this summer, after the team were beaten by Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.&nbsp;

United are winless in five games across all competitions after the 2-0 defeat in the Spanish capital and have made their worst start to a Premier League season in 40 years.

&quot;Really poor,&quot; Martinez told Amazon Prime when asked about the team&#39;s performance against Atletico.

&quot;I have to control myself a lot but sometimes is a reflection... (or) mirror of how our club is at the moment.&quot;

Martinez said he &quot;100 percent&quot; expected more investment in the squad during the summer after United finished third in the Premier League last season to return to Europe&#39;s top competition.

&quot;I expect more from our technical director (Jason Wilcox), I have to be honest, as players we have to do more but it is also important when you make a strong squad to be ready for these kind of nights,&quot; he continued.

Martinez said last season the club had &quot;created the base to create an amazing team&quot;, which was not followed through on.

Pressure is mounting on coach Michael Carrick after five games without a win but Martinez suggested sacking the Englishman was not the way forward.

&quot;You can&#39;t keep changing, changing, changing the manager. What about other areas? I can&#39;t say more,&quot; said Martinez.

&quot;Tonight it is easy to say the coach (is to blame), easy to say the players, but also we have to see other areas.&quot;

Red Devils minority owner Jim Ratcliffe was in the stadium to watch the league phase defeat by last season&#39;s semi-finalists.

Man United spent around 140 million pounds ($185m) this summer on midfielders Carlos Baleba, Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, but fans were upset the club did not reinforce in other positions, including left-back and striker.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Carrick said he had not heard Martinez&#39;s comments and so could not judge them.

&quot;I think it&#39;s a little bit on the emotions of the game as well, of coming here and being disappointed not to get something from the game,&quot; said the coach.&nbsp;

Former Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney said Martinez&#39;s criticism was excessive.

&quot;I think he&#39;s maybe gone a bit too far, and that should have stayed internal,&quot; Rooney told Amazon Prime.

&quot;You can clearly see that he cares and he wants the club to invest more money in more players, and to do that he&#39;s probably one of the players who&#39;ll be out the door if I&#39;m being honest.&quot;]]>
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			<title>Saudi league postpones three matches after Houthi attacks</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634842/saudi-league-postpones-three-matches-after-houthi-attacks</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634842/saudi-league-postpones-three-matches-after-houthi-attacks#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 14:10:38 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634842</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Al Hilal-Al Riyadh and Al Ittihad-Al Shabab are moved to December 19]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Saudi Arabian football league (SPL) has postponed three fixtures, including one involving Cristiano Ronaldo&#39;s Al Nassr, following the dramatic escalation in the country&#39;s war with the Houthis.

The matchweek nine fixtures have been pushed back in the calendar for &quot;logistical considerations, taking into account the mandatory minimum rest period between matches&quot;, according to a statement published on Tuesday on the SPL&#39;s website.

The meeting between league leaders Al Hilal and Al Riyadh and the match between Al Ittihad and Al Shabab have been postponed to December 19, while the clash between Al Ahli and Ronaldo&#39;s Al Nassr has been rescheduled for March 6, 2027.

The SPL added, however, that the other matchweek nine fixtures &quot;will be played according to the previously announced schedule with no changes&quot;.

On Monday, Al Nassr&#39;s AFC Champions League match against Uzbek side Neftchi Fergana in Riyadh was delayed by an hour after the coalition announced it had intercepted a missile fired by the Houthis towards the Saudi capital.

A violent battle between a Saudi-led coalition and Yemen&#39;s Houthis has erupted in recent days, with missile strikes on airports and energy facilities across the kingdom.

The latest round of fighting was triggered by Houthi strikes on Riyadh&#39;s international airport at the weekend that left 13 people dead and operations suspended in the worst attack since 2015.]]>
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			<title>Bilawal offers to approach PM for ending K-P emergency if PTI agrees to political dialogue</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634791/bilawal-offers-to-approach-pm-for-ending-k-p-emergency-if-pti-agrees-to-political-dialogue</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634791/bilawal-offers-to-approach-pm-for-ending-k-p-emergency-if-pti-agrees-to-political-dialogue#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 08:53:53 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Islamabad]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634791</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Accuses PTI of carrying out 'political suicide attack' on its own government in K-P]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday renewed his call for dialogue with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), saying he would personally request Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to end the emergency in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) if political conditions were created that made the measure unnecessary.

&ldquo;Even today, I invite you to come and hold talks with the government and political parties and create conditions in which there will be no need for this emergency in K-P. If you create these political conditions. I will personally stand in this House and request the prime minister that the time has come to end this emergency,&rdquo; said Bilawal while addressing the National Assembly (NA).

Bilawal maintained that the federal government had made every possible political effort to engage the opposition before taking the constitutional step, saying that the opposition had every right to speak against the decision and oppose it, but argued that PTI could not deny its own role in creating the political, legal and constitutional circumstances that led to the situation.

The PPP chairman accused PTI of carrying out a &ldquo;political suicide attack&rdquo; on its own government in K-P, adding that opposition leaders could blame the federal government or President Asif Ali Zardari for the loss of their provincial government, but maintained that PTI, particularly its provincial leadership, had played a significant role in creating the circumstances.



حکومت پاکستان نے ہر ممکن سیاسی کوشش کی، اپوزیشن کو انگیج کیا تاکہ ایمرجنسی کا قدم نہ اٹھایا جائے، اپوزیشن کا حق ہے کہ وہ اس قدم کی مخالفت کریں لیکن یہ بات انہیں ماننی پڑے گی۔ اپوزیشن کی ذمہ دارانہ قیادت یہ جانتی ہے کہ خیبرپختونخوا کی حکومت پر پی ٹی آئی نے خود ایک سیاسی خودکش حملہ&hellip; pic.twitter.com/Y4KBZS5KNU
&mdash; PPP (@MediaCellPPP) October 14, 2026



He said responsible figures within the opposition were aware of these circumstances, even if they were unwilling to acknowledge them publicly. He argued that if the federal government had concluded that K-P was facing war-like conditions and that its internal situation prevented an effective response to terrorism, the provincial government should have provided political, legal or constitutional grounds for rejecting the proposed measure.

Read:&nbsp;Govt tables resolution in NA seeking endorsement of K-P emergency

The PPP chairman questioned why PTI&#39;s provincial leadership had failed to provide any justification that would have allowed President Zardari or the PPP to oppose the decision.

Bilawal said that when the proposal first came before the president and the PPP, their position was that the government should engage PTI and the opposition before resorting to what he described as a &ldquo;constitutional atom bomb&rdquo;. He said the objective was to address the federal government&#39;s objections and allegations that the provincial government was not cooperating in the fight against terrorism, thereby removing any legal, constitutional or political justification for taking the step.

He said two representatives of his party, including its parliamentary leader in the Senate, had participated in the committee negotiating with the opposition. Referring to previous experiences of political negotiations, Bilawal said he had initially been uncertain whether the talks would succeed.

However, he said he was informed late one night that negotiations were moving towards success and that PTI and the opposition were likely to agree on measures to address terrorism in K-P.

According to Bilawal, the proposed understanding included the provincial government declaring the areas most severely affected by terrorism as terrorist-affected areas. He said the opposition had also agreed in principle that the federal government, provincial government and K-P chief minister would prepare an agreement outlining how they would jointly combat terrorism.

Bilawal said he had regarded the development as a major political achievement, believing that the government, its allies and the opposition could work together on an issue of national importance. The PPP chairman also stressed the importance of protecting political space for all parties.



دہشتگردی کے خلاف جنگ میں وفاقی اور صوبائی حکومتوں کا مشترکہ لائحہ عمل وقت کی اہم ضرورت ہے۔ سیاسی اختلافات سے بالاتر ہو کر قومی سلامتی اور عوام کے تحفظ کے لیے مل کر آگے بڑھنا ہی حقیقی سیاسی کامیابی ہے۔

چیئرمین پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری کا مؤقف ہے کہ سیاسی اسپیس کی&hellip; pic.twitter.com/u18DpxJrI5
&mdash; PPP (@MediaCellPPP) October 14, 2026



He said restricting the political space of one party inevitably affected other political parties, political groups and ordinary Pakistani citizens. Bilawal acknowledged that the PPP and other political parties shared responsibility for the shrinking political space, but maintained that PTI could not deny its own role.

Referring to the security situation, he said K-P was the province most affected by terrorism, while tensions with Afghanistan had created additional challenges. Bilawal criticised the non-functional K-P chief minister for taking an oath from supporters not to cooperate with the federal government&#39;s efforts against terrorism.

He questioned whether such conduct amounted to political suicide and said the PPP, whose leaders and workers had sacrificed their lives in the fight against terrorism, had no justification for opposing measures intended to address the security threat.

Read more:&nbsp;Opp calls K-P emergency &#39;pre-planned&#39;

Bilawal also referred to President Zardari&#39;s role in restoring the 1973 Constitution and introducing the 18th Amendment, arguing that the opposition had failed to provide him with a constitutional, legal or political reason to reject the proposed measure. Bilawal maintained that the statements and actions of PTI&#39;s provincial leadership had left the president, the government and the PPP with no grounds to oppose the step.

However, he stressed that the emergency was a temporary measure and could not continue indefinitely, adding that the decision had been necessary under the prevailing circumstances, but acknowledged that an emergency alone could not provide a permanent solution to terrorism.

Bilawal argued that even if the previous system had failed to cooperate in counter-terrorism efforts, lasting success would require a broader and more effective approach. He said eliminating terrorism from Khyber to Khuzdar required cooperation across the country and urged the opposition to fulfil its responsibilities in the fight against terrorists.

The PPP chairman described the current terrorism challenge as more complicated than in the past.

Referring to Pakistan&#39;s recent military confrontation with India, Bilawal said that Pakistan had inflicted a historic defeat on India, including shooting down six aircraft. He said that India had not accepted the outcome and continued to seek ways to destabilise Pakistan.

Bilawal referred to India&#39;s Operation Sindoor, saying Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had repeatedly stated that the operation was continuing, saying that India was sponsoring terrorist activities in Pakistan through the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and separatist terrorist organisations.



لائیو: چیئرمین پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری قومی اسمبلی کے اجلاس سے خطاب کررہے ہیں۔ https://t.co/QDfQ5GPNDH
&mdash; PPP (@MediaCellPPP) October 14, 2026



The PPP chairman also maintained that India had a role in developments in Afghanistan and said Pakistan could not ignore the regional security implications. Referring to Pakistan&#39;s diplomatic efforts to promote peace between Iran and the United States, Bilawal said Islamabad had undertaken a major responsibility that would be welcomed by people in Pakistan and around the world.

However, he said that &ldquo;Zionist forces&rdquo; were interfering in Pakistan&#39;s internal affairs and supporting terrorist organisations operating in Balochistan and K-P.

He added that Pakistan would have to confront these threats collectively, saying that even if some political parties refused to participate, the PPP and other parties would not retreat from the fight against terrorism.

Bilawal said his party had not feared terrorists in the past and would not fear them now, adding that it would confront both militant groups and those supporting them.

The PPP chairman again appealed to PTI and other opposition parties to recognise that Pakistan belonged to all political forces, regardless of their differences.

Also read:&nbsp;Failed talks forced K-P emergency, says PM

He said political disagreements could continue, but certain fundamental national issues required consensus. Failure to develop such agreement, he warned, would damage not only political parties but the entire country.

Bilawal argued that the federal government did not want to confront multiple challenges simultaneously, including India, terrorist organisations such as the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and TTP, and political confrontation with PTI. He said the government wanted political parties to work together against these challenges rather than deepen their differences.

Turning to parliamentary cooperation, Bilawal thanked PM Shehbaz and his team for accepting the PPP&#39;s request to establish a parliamentary committee on electoral reforms. He said such a committee would serve little purpose if it included only the PPP and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Bilawal stressed that opposition participation was essential, saying that although the committee might not achieve complete improvement, it could still deliver meaningful reforms. He recalled that the National Action Plan had been formulated through political consensus during former prime minister Nawaz Sharif&#39;s government, with political parties from both the government and opposition participating.

The PPP chairman urged the opposition to recognise Parliament as a platform for resolving national issues, even if it did not accept other institutions or forums for negotiations. He proposed a parliamentary committee to address terrorism and national security challenges, with participation from both sides of the House.

Bilawal said the PPP was prepared to work with the opposition on developing such a mechanism and stressed that decisions should be reached through political consultation wherever possible.

He urged PTI not to undermine opportunities for dialogue through its own actions.

The PPP chairman said the constitutional decision regarding K-P had already been taken, but maintained that efforts would continue to defeat terrorism and provide relief to the province&#39;s people. He reiterated that political negotiations remained necessary to create conditions in which the emergency could be withdrawn.





&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>After NA, Senate approves K-P emergency resolution by majority vote amid opposition ruckus</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634779/govt-tables-resolution-in-na-seeking-endorsement-of-k-p-emergency</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634779/govt-tables-resolution-in-na-seeking-endorsement-of-k-p-emergency#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 07:03:17 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Waqas Chaudhry]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Islamabad]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634779</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Law minister says K-P situation threatens 'national security'; Achakzai warns next 'governor's rule will be in Sindh']]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The National Assembly (NA) and Senate on Wednesday endorsed President Asif Ali Zardari&#39;s proclamation of emergency in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), passing resolutions by majority votes despite opposition lawmakers&#39; objections to the imposition of emergency measures in the province.

The developments emerged after the federal government imposed emergency and governor&#39;s rule in K-P on October 11, suspending the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led provincial administration amid a dispute over the province&#39;s security situation and counter-terrorism measures. The government has defended the move, citing a deterioration in law and order and an alleged failure by the provincial administration to coordinate counter-terrorism efforts with federal authorities.

The NA session began under the chairmanship of Speaker Ayaz Sadiq as Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry presented the resolution before the House. During the proceedings, Chaudhry moved a separate motion seeking the suspension of question hour to allow the House to take up other parliamentary business. Opposition lawmakers opposed the motion, but it was adopted by a majority vote.



The House adopted the following resolution moved by Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhary, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs.

&quot;The National Assembly approves the Proclamation of Emergency issued by the President on the 11th October, 2026 in the Province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under second&hellip; pic.twitter.com/5enkgK6v4w
&mdash; National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) October 14, 2026


The Lower House later debated the emergency measures imposed in the province, with opposition lawmakers strongly opposing the Centre&#39;s decision and raising a hue and cry during the proceedings. However, the resolution was passed by a majority vote. The NA session was subsequently adjourned until 11am on Friday.



قومی اسمبلی کا اجلاس 16 اکتوبر بروز جمعہ دن 11 بجے تک ملتوی

The session of the National Assembly has been adjourned to meet again on Friday, the 16th October, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.#NASession pic.twitter.com/MHo1K3arTB
&mdash; National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) October 14, 2026


Following the approval from NA, the Senate session was held under the chairmanship of Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani. During the proceedings, the Senate also approved a motion moved by Senator Shahadat Awan to defer the question-and-answer session scheduled for the day.

Speaking in the upper house, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said Rules 132 and 133, which govern ordinary resolutions moved by private members, did not apply to a resolution introduced under a constitutional requirement. He added that the seven-day notice requirement was not applicable in this case.

Rejecting objections to the procedure, the law minister also said the government could not deviate from the Constitution or the rules and regulations of the House.

He maintained that members opposing the resolution should participate in the debate and, if they disagreed with it, reject it through a vote.

The minister called for the matter to be put to a vote after discussion so that the opinion of the House could be ascertained. Following this, the Senate approved the imposition of emergency in K-P as the opposition walked out in protest.

Later in the day, the president summoned a joint session of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) tomorrow morning at 11 under Clause 1, Section 54 (Summoning and prorogation of Majlis-e-Shoora) of the Constitution of Pakistan. The notification regarding it was issued by the NA today.



The President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, has summoned a Joint Sitting of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) on Thursday, the 15th October, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. in the Parliament House.

The Joint Sitting has been summoned in exercise of the powers&hellip; pic.twitter.com/hkoYWXWMva
&mdash; National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) October 14, 2026


In a separate notification issued by the NA Legislation Adviser Muhammad Mushtaq, the secretariat demanded the production of NA Members Sana Ullah Khan Masti Khel and Dawar Khan Kundi for all the upcoming NA sessions. The lawmakers are currently in the custody of Punjab Police.



اراکینِ قومی اسمبلی کا پروڈکشن آرڈر جاری

اسپیکر قومی اسمبلی سردار ایاز صادق نے پنجاب پولیس کی تحویل میں موجود اراکینِ قومی اسمبلی کا پروڈکشن آرڈر جاری کر دیا، ترجمان قومی اسمبلی

اسپیکر قومی اسمبلی نے اراکین قومی اسمبلی ثناء اللہ خان مستی خیل اور داور خان کنڈی کا پروڈکشن آڈر&hellip; pic.twitter.com/Z7uOWc1rby
&mdash; National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) October 14, 2026



The adviser further outlined that the MNAs will be handed back to the cops after the commencement of NA sessions.

Earlier, while speaking on the NA floor, the law minister had said the K-P government&#39;s approach to combating terrorism had become a &quot;threat to national security&quot;, as the federal government tabled a resolution in the NA seeking parliamentary approval of the emergency imposed in the province under Article 232 of the Constitution.

Speaking during the session, Minister Tarar said the Constitution required a presidential proclamation of emergency under Article 232 to be laid before both houses of parliament &mdash; the National Assembly and the Senate &mdash; for approval within 10 days of its issuance. Responding to criticism that the imposition of emergency had resulted in the removal of an elected provincial government, Tarar said the decision had been taken after extensive deliberations and a thorough assessment of the security situation in K-P.

He said the federal cabinet had held a two-and-a-half-hour discussion before recommending the emergency measures to the prime minister, citing internal disturbances and cross-border incursions as major factors behind the decision.

&ldquo;The attitude that the K-P provincial government has maintained regarding the war against terror, particularly over the past one year, since the present cabinet took control there, from Oct 15, 2025, to an alarming degree, was becoming a threat to national security,&rdquo; he remarked.

The law minister emphasised that effective counter-terrorism operations required close coordination between the federal and provincial governments, stressing that a unified response was essential to ensuring Pakistan&#39;s security.



قومی اسمبلی کے اجلاس میں وفاقی وزیر برائے قانون و انصاف سینیٹر اعظم نذیر تارڑ کا اظہار خیال۔#NASession pic.twitter.com/98OxJCrUcS
&mdash; National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) October 14, 2026


He said the sharp increase in terrorist activities since 2021 had been driven by several factors, including external, diplomatic and political developments, accusing PTI of pursuing policies that had aggravated the security situation.

Tarar acknowledged the sacrifices made by the armed forces, police personnel and civilians in confronting terrorism, saying their efforts had helped the country make progress despite persistent security challenges. He maintained that political differences should not undermine counter-terrorism efforts, reiterating the importance of cooperation between federal and provincial authorities in addressing threats to national security.

Arguing that the number of terrorist incidents in K-P over the past year was greater than those recorded during the 2021-2024 spell of terrorism, Tarar claimed that non-functional chief minister Sohail Afridi &quot;overlooked the lit fire,&quot; as well as the injuries sustained by the Armed Forces, police, security forces, ulema, and innocent civilians.

&quot;Instead of healing the wounds of the injured, placing his hands over the heads of the widows and orphans of the martyred, attending their funerals, visiting hospitals, reassuring the people, Afridi gave priority to his politics,&quot; the minister said.

He added, &quot;When the situation is extraordinary, when the situation is severe, the actions should also be extraordinary; it should not be routine work.&quot; Tarar said that there were no restrictions on conducting politics, &quot;but when your own public is being martyred, your own youth in the police force and Armed Forces are giving sacrifices, so then you, being the chief executive of the province, is it not the duty of your government that you go and spend time with them, that you conduct daily meetings, morning and evening, bring everyone together, make an action plan, make implementation measures for it?&quot;

The minister said these circumstances were overlooked by Afridi and &quot;it was also declared that there will be an attack on the capital, that it will be conquered.&quot;

He added that instead of &quot;resorting to the use of force to handle this, we emphasised discussions and dialogue,&quot; expressing his gratitude to Speaker Sadiq, who &quot;took a personal interest&quot; in the matter and &quot;in respect of the decision of the president and prime minister, provided a platform for mediation.&quot;

Tarar noted that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam, along with &quot;our friends and ally&quot; the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), &quot;tried their best that matters be handled democratically.&quot;

Tarar added that on directions of the president, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari designated Naveed Qamar, Sherry Rehman and Aijaz Jakhrani to partake in the discussions. On the opposition side, the minister noted that PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas led the delegation and &quot;sat for two days with their heads together,&quot; Tarar said.

He added that the Constitution and law have set forth a method for proceedings against someone on whom a case was lodged, saying that &quot;if there is anything that can stop this entire process through legal intervention, then that is the court.&quot;

&quot;If you want to free an imprisoned person, in most cases, that is in the control of the court.&quot;

Achakzai calls govt &lsquo;terrorist&rsquo;, urges reversal of emergency, governor&#39;s rule in K-P

Meanwhile, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai described the government as &ldquo;a terrorist government&rdquo;, alleging that it had been formed through money and coercion with the support of uniformed institutions, and defended non-functional chief minister Sohail Afridi&#39;s opposition to what he termed oppression.

Achakzai accused the government of undermining the electoral mandate, alleging that the assemblies had been bought to install a government that did not represent the people&#39;s will. He argued that the PTI had been prevented from contesting the elections under its party symbol and that its candidates had subsequently contested using around 200 different symbols.

&ldquo;Whether PTI founder Imran Khan was good or bad, whatever he was, I don&#39;t go to the past; you went to such an extent to compete with him that you even snatched the party&#39;s election symbol. You stopped the party from participating in the election,&rdquo; he said.

Questioning whether the government was punishing the entire country for the PTI&#39;s electoral success, Achakzai asked, &ldquo;Are you punishing Pakistan&#39;s 240 million people for this?&rdquo;

He defended Afridi&#39;s stance against the government, saying K-P&#39;s people had shown courage in opposing what he described as terrorism. He maintained that the Afridi had called on people to resist oppression rather than resort to violence. Achakzai also criticised the authorities over Afridi&#39;s treatment, alleging that the Afridi had been arrested and restrained but not brought before the assembly.

&ldquo;You have done us a great favour, a very great favour! After arresting Afridi and binding his hands and feet, you didn&#39;t bring him here. Do it, do this too. What was he doing, Mr Speaker?&rdquo; he asked.

Achakzai warned that political confrontation over provincial rights could extend beyond K-P, saying people in Balochistan and Punjab could also resist what he described as the forcible denial of their rights.

He expressed regret over the participation of political representatives from Sindh in the current political situation and warned that the province could face governor&#39;s rule over disputes concerning water and mineral resources.

&ldquo;Next, governor&#39;s rule will be imposed in Sindh over water, minerals, Canals, and then you will remember what mistake we made,&rdquo; he said.

Referring to the history of East Pakistan, Achakzai recalled that Mujibur Rehman had worked for the Muslim League before being branded a traitor. He said more than 48% of the people of East Pakistan had voted in favour of Pakistan, invoking the episode to criticise what he described as the denial of political representation.

He also criticised what he called the &ldquo;Throne of Lahore&rdquo;, describing it as cruel, and urged the government to reconsider its approach towards the provinces.

Addressing the NA speaker, Achakzai called for the reversal of the government&#39;s decisions and urged lawmakers to restore parliament&#39;s position as the centre of political authority.

&ldquo;Mr Speaker, there is still time; reverse it, reverse these decisions. Come, make this house a fountainhead of power, &rdquo; he said.

Achakzai also questioned the integrity of lawmakers supporting the government, saying some would be unable to uphold their positions if asked to swear on the Quran.

He said the government should reconsider its decisions and allow the assembly to serve as a forum for resolving political disputes rather than deepening confrontation between the centre and the provinces.

3,900 martyred in 14 months amid worsening K-P security situation, says Khawaja Asif 

Speaking on the floor of the NA, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said 3,900 people had been martyred in K-P over 14 months, in addition to 2,700 over three years, as he criticised the provincial government for prioritising political interests over counterterrorism efforts.

Asif called for a united national response to terrorism, saying the province was bearing the greatest burden of violence and could not effectively confront the threat without political cohesion.

He alleged that the non-functional K-P chief minister was more concerned about retaining power than addressing terrorism.

Asif said the Afridi had remained in office for 13 to 14 months and questioned whom he had taken instructions from, alleging that the individual directing him was now in Afghanistan. Asif also criticised the province&rsquo;s governance, comparing its development over the past 13 years with that of other provinces.

Referring to a Taliban statement condemning an emergency and the deployment of security forces in certain areas, the minister urged the opposition to clarify its political alignments.

&ldquo;The opponent is the Pakistan state, and the ally is the Taliban whose hands are stained with the blood of our children,&rdquo; he highlighted during his speech in the lower house.

Alluding to a relative of former premier Imran Khan, whom he said was living in the United States, Asif questioned the extent of that individual&#39;s influence over the province&rsquo;s affairs, including health-related matters.

&quot;The PTI chairman is a fair-minded person,&quot; Asif said, adding that he could personally vouch for him, while questioning whether the party discussed governance shortcomings internally.

He accused PTI of double standards in its dealings with the military establishment, recalling the party&rsquo;s past ties with former army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief General Faiz Hameed. He then urged the opposition to examine its own political history before demanding equal treatment, arguing that the government had not made the release of its leaders, including former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, a political issue when they were imprisoned.

&ldquo;Until this contradiction stays in our brotherhood, the situation of this country will not be good,&rdquo; he said, calling for political unity amid the security challenges facing the country.



اسپیکر قومی اسمبلی سردار ایاز صادق نے گزشتہ دنوں حکومت اور اپوزیشن کے درمیان مذاکراتی عمل میں شامل حکومت اور اپوزیشن اراکین کے کردار کو سراہا۔#NASession @AyazSadiq122 pic.twitter.com/2tfygpdsXq
&mdash; National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) October 14, 2026


Recalling the PTI government&rsquo;s tenure, Asif said opposition members had previously sat alongside military officials during meetings in parliament and supported proposals to bring back individuals he described as terrorists, arguing at the time that their return would benefit Pakistan. He also reminisced about what he described as Imran&rsquo;s repeated praise for General (R) Bajwa and the military-led government, saying he had heard the PTI founder compliment the former army chief extensively in parliament, the media and meetings.

Turning to his own imprisonment, the defence minister recounted the conditions he faced in jail, saying he had been given only one blanket during a period when temperatures were between seven and eight degrees Celsius. He said PM Shehbaz had arranged for an additional blanket to be smuggled into the prison for him, adding that the person who delivered it had been instructed to ensure it was hidden the following morning.

Asif said he had eaten prison food, describing it as adequate, and that a geyser installed in his cell had subsequently been ordered to be removed.

He also recalled Punjab CM Maryam repeatedly soaking a dupatta in water and placing it over her head to cope with the heat in the cells where she and Nawaz were held at Adiala Jail.

&ldquo;We didn&#39;t cry. I think it is a matter of pride that we, for our belief, for our ideology, for our doctrine, we suffered these pains.&rdquo;

The minister further recalled his imprisonment under former military ruler General (R) Pervez Musharraf, saying he had been kept in a six-by-four-foot cell at Attock Jail with a solid steel door. He said his loyalty to Nawaz Sharif and his political ideology had helped him endure the experience. Asif argued that the government had not obstructed political activities or protests over the imprisonment of its leaders, saying its members had continued to protest and appear in court without turning their leaders&rsquo; release into a political crisis.





Yesterday, Senate Opposition Leader Abbas alleged that negotiations with the government were a sham, claiming that the decision on governor&rsquo;s rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa had already been made before the talks concluded. Abbas had maintained that the opposition had demonstrated a willingness to compromise during negotiations but alleged that the government had already decided on its course of action. Meanwhile, the interior minister said the talks collapsed because of CM Afridi and Murad Saeed. He rubbished the claim that the government was not serious about negotiations with the opposition.

During the session, PTI-backed Senator Zafar accused the government of violating the Constitution by arresting the chief minister, speaker and other ministers in K-P.

Events leading up to resolutions in favour of emergency

The issue of emergency and governor&rsquo;s rule became a major flashpoint between the federal and K-P government after the talks failed.

On September 21, Interior Minister Naqvi said the government was consulting the law ministry on legal options for the province, including emergency and governor&rsquo;s rule, if the PTI proceeded with its long march. Two days later, Information Minister Atta Tarar ruled out such plans, saying the federal government had no intention of removing the PTI administration.

On the other hand, CM Afridi rejected the warnings and said he would not retreat from his position because of threats of governors&#39; rule or an emergency. He vowed to demonstrate people&#39;s power through a long march, scheduling it on September 27. Later, the chief minister rescheduled the march to October 4. Just days before the PTI&rsquo;s planned long march, the prime minister and the president formed a committee to negotiate with the PTI and other opposition parties over the march, stating concerns over the province&rsquo;s deteriorating law and order situation.

The government and opposition parties conducted negotiations over two days. Just as the two sides were nearing agreement on most of the issues, a deadlock emerged, bringing the negotiation process to a halt. The government blamed the K-P government, particularly Afridi, for the deadlock and failure of the negotiations, while PTI said the talks broke down over its demand for a meeting with the party&rsquo;s founder.

In October, CM Afridi began his long march towards Islamabad, further escalating tensions between the two sides, with both sides continuing to trade allegations. As tensions peaked, PM Shehbaz once again entered the fray and extended an olive branch to the PTI, saying the government was prepared to engage with the opposition if the party ended its long march and sit-ins.

The PTI, however, rejected the offer as its march continued towards Islamabad.

On Sunday, October 11, the federal government imposed an emergency and governor&rsquo;s rule in K-P under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution. The government cited the deteriorating law and order situation and what it called a lack of support from the provincial administration in the fight against terrorism.

In response, the opposition parties took to the floors of the Senate and NA to coerce the government into taking back its decision. PTI Chairman Gohar even filed a petition in the Peshawar High Court, challenging the imposition of emergency and governor&rsquo;s rule in K-P and seeking the restoration of the province&rsquo;s elected government.]]>
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			<title>China, Pakistan begin first-ever joint army training exercise</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634868/china-pakistan-begin-first-ever-joint-army-training-exercise</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634868/china-pakistan-begin-first-ever-joint-army-training-exercise#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 19:29:11 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Anadolu Agency]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Exercise will focus on joint counter-terrorism operations in high-altitude areas, skills training in UAV operation]]>
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				<![CDATA[China and Pakistan began their first-ever joint army training exercise on Wednesday in northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, according to Chinese state media.

The opening ceremony of Karakoram 2026 was held at a training base in Korla city, according to the China Military Bugle, the official media account of Beijing&#39;s armed forces.

The two sides exchanged counter-terrorism experience, and Pakistani troops observed some Chinese weapons and equipment.

Read: Pakistan, China conduct joint counter-terrorism exercise



China, Pakistan Kick Off First Joint Army Training in Xinjiang

The opening ceremony for the first-ever China-Pakistan joint army training exercise &quot;Karakoram 2026&quot; was held at a training base in Korla, Northwest China&#39;s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on October 14, 2026.&hellip; pic.twitter.com/Bbl9dppHPf
&mdash; China Military Bugle (@ChinaMilBugle) October 14, 2026


Focusing on joint counter-terrorism operations in high-altitude areas, the exercise would include skills training in UAV operation, on-the-move target search and firing, and long-range sniping, and would cover joint command and live-force exercises.



#GTMilitaryWatch First #China-#Pakistan army joint training features an all-Chinese equipment lineup: Type 11 assault vehicles, Type 08 IFVs and more. An expert said the choice of wheeled vehicles suits the plateau, and the all-Chinese lineup signals deep trust and possible&hellip; pic.twitter.com/u6D25kogX5
&mdash; Global Times (@globaltimesnews) October 14, 2026


The training would help the two sides deepen cooperation and strengthen interoperability in counter-terrorism.

According to China Central Television&#39;s&nbsp;military channel, the weapons and equipment in the training were provided by China and included &quot;Type 191 rifles, Type 201 squad machine guns, Type 11 armoured assault vehicles, Type 08 infantry fighting vehicles, as well as artillery, unmanned and anti-unmanned systems&quot;.

Pakistan and China enjoy longstanding, time-tested defence cooperation rooted in mutual trust and strategic partnership.

On May 8, joint patrol exercises were conducted between the Khunjerab Security Force and the Chinese military at the Khunjerab Pass border in Hunza.

Read More: Joint patrol held with China at Khunjerab Pass

The purpose of the joint activity was to further strengthen Pakistan-China border security, promote mutual cooperation, and reinforce friendly relations between the two neighbouring countries.

On December 3, 2025, the Pakistan Army and the People&#39;s Liberation Army commenced the joint military exercise Warrior-IX, the ninth edition in the series of bilateral counterterrorism exercises conducted annually between the two countries.

The exercise focused on Counter Terrorism operations to enhance interoperability, refine professional skills, and exchange best practices in modern warfare.]]>
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			<title>PTI moves PHC against emergency, governor’s rule in K-P</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634805/pti-moves-phc-against-emergency-governors-rule-in-k-p</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634805/pti-moves-phc-against-emergency-governors-rule-in-k-p#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 10:00:08 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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				<![CDATA[Salman Akram Raja says party will pursue legal action to establish Sohail Afridi’s whereabouts]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Wednesday filed a petition in the Peshawar High Court (PHC), challenging the imposition of emergency and governor&rsquo;s rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and seeking the restoration of the province&rsquo;s elected government.

In a post on X, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said the petition had been filed against the Federation of Pakistan and others, seeking the restoration of the people&rsquo;s representative government in the province.

&nbsp;



Petition filed by Barristar Gohar Ali Khan vs Federation of Pakistan and others before Peshawar High Court(against imposition of Governors rule and emergency) PTI is asking for the representative government of people to be restored. pic.twitter.com/zsyvW6uiKd
&mdash; Sheikh Waqas Akram (@SheikhWaqqas) October 14, 2026


Meanwhile, PTI Secretary General Barrister Salman Akram Raja said the party was approaching the courts to ascertain the whereabouts of K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and determine where he was being held. He said the party would pursue all constitutional and legal options alongside political engagement.

&ldquo;Speaker Sahib has been arrested at this time. The homes of all our MPAs are under attack. The National Assembly session holds little significance at this point,&rdquo; Raja said, referring to Wednesday&rsquo;s National Assembly session.

He questioned the purpose of the session, saying it could result in the passage of a resolution calling for negotiations.

&ldquo;We are going to court now. Where Sohail Afridi is and where he has been kept is of the utmost importance to us. We are looking into all of this, and we will certainly take all constitutional and legal measures. We will engage at the political level as well as at the legal level,&rdquo; Raja said.

He added that the party was assessing the situation and taking the developments seriously.



پشاور- وکیل وزیراعلی سہیل آفریدی بشیر وزیر کو پشاور ہائیکورٹ کے باہر سے پولیس نے اغواء کرلیا۔#آئین_شکن_راج_نہیں_چلے_گا pic.twitter.com/Ql9cbIZ7yf
&mdash; PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (@PTIKPOfficial) October 14, 2026


In a separate development, PTI&rsquo;s K-P media cell alleged that police had abducted Afridi&rsquo;s lawyer, Bashir Wazir, from outside the Peshawar High Court.

The developments follow the federal government&rsquo;s decision on October 11 to impose emergency and governor&rsquo;s rule in K-P, suspending the PTI-led provincial administration.

The government cited deteriorating law and order and alleged shortcomings in the provincial government&rsquo;s coordination with federal authorities on counterterrorism operations.

Read More: K-P govt&#39;s attitude to terrorism &#39;posing national security threat&#39;, says Tarar as Centre seeks NA nod for emergency

The move has intensified tensions between the Centre and the PTI, which has described the measures as an attempt to undermine the province&rsquo;s electoral mandate. The federal government, however, maintains that the intervention was necessary to address security concerns.

The decision followed reports that Afridi and several members of his cabinet had been taken into preventive custody.]]>
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			<title>Pakistan, Russia pledge to deepen security cooperation</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634835/pakistan-russia-pledge-to-deepen-security-cooperation</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634835/pakistan-russia-pledge-to-deepen-security-cooperation#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 13:15:00 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634835</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Underscore the importance of closer institutional linkages and improved coordination between the security institutions]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan&nbsp;reaffirmed its resolve to deepen longstanding relations with Russia and expand practical cooperation in areas of mutual interest, particularly security, as Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir met Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev on Wednesday.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the meeting&nbsp;at General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi focused on matters of mutual interest and the regional security environment, with particular emphasis on strengthening bilateral security cooperation.

&ldquo;They underscored the importance of closer institutional linkages and improved coordination between the security institutions of Pakistan and Russia,&rdquo; the statement outlined further.

Read: Pakistan, Russia agree to sign MoU to combat organised crime, finalise prisoner transfer agreement

CDF Munir reiterated Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to further strengthening its longstanding ties with Moscow and translating bilateral relations into tangible cooperation in areas of shared interest, particularly in the security domain.

The Russian interior minister, meanwhile, appreciated Pakistan&rsquo;s contributions to regional peace and stability and acknowledged the professionalism and sacrifices of the Pakistan Armed Forces in the fight against terrorism.

CDF Munir&rsquo;s meeting with Minister Kolokoltsev comes amid expanding Pakistan&ndash;Russia engagement on counterterrorism, law enforcement, military training and broader bilateral relations.

In February, Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Moscow&rsquo;s readiness to strengthen counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan following a suicide attack on an Islamabad imambargah that killed at least 31 people. In letters of condolence to President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Putin expressed solidarity with Pakistan and reiterated Russia&rsquo;s willingness to work with Islamabad in combating terrorism.

Then, in May, Pakistani and Russian officials held the 16th meeting of the Russia-Pakistan Consultative Group on Strategic Stability in Moscow, where they discussed international security, global stability, arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation. The Foreign Office said both sides found their approaches &ldquo;aligned&rdquo; on most of the issues discussed and agreed to continue coordination at relevant international forums. The next meeting was scheduled to take place in Islamabad in 2027.

A month after that, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Kolokoltsev, signed agreements to enhance cooperation on illegal immigration, the repatriation of illegally residing citizens and counter-narcotics efforts. Their discussions also highlighted regional security concerns linked to terrorist camps and drug production in Afghanistan. The agreements provided a practical framework for expanding cooperation between the two countries&rsquo; interior ministries and law enforcement agencies.

Read more: Russian interior minister arrives in Pakistan on maiden visit

On August 18, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met Russian Ambassador to Pakistan Albert Khorev in Islamabad and welcomed what he described as positive momentum in bilateral relations. Dar stressed the need for continued collaboration in key areas and sustained high-level exchanges to further strengthen ties.

Towards the end of September, the Pakistan Army and Russian Army participated in the ninth edition of their joint military exercise, Druzhba-IX, at Cherat and the National Counter Terrorism Centre in Pabbi. The two-week exercise focused on sharing operational experience, refining counterterrorism drills and procedures, and enhancing interoperability between the forces.

Finally, a couple of days ago, Kolokoltsev arrived in Pakistan on a four-day visit at the invitation of Naqvi, marking the first visit to Pakistan by a Russian interior minister.]]>
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			<title>President Zardari receives credentials of French, Saudi ambassadors-designate</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634823/president-zardari-receives-credentials-of-french-saudi-ambassadors-designate</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634823/president-zardari-receives-credentials-of-french-saudi-ambassadors-designate#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 11:48:55 +0500</pubDate>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Islamabad]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634823</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Discusses trade, investment and defence cooperation, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to stronger bilateral ties]]>
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				<![CDATA[President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday received the credentials of the ambassadors-designate of France and Saudi Arabia at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad, reaffirming Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with both countries.

According to a press release issued by the President&rsquo;s Secretariat, Zardari received the credentials of France&rsquo;s Jean-No&euml;l Poirier and Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s Dr Rajeh Tami Albugamy. He congratulated both ambassadors on their appointments and wished them success in their diplomatic assignments.

&ldquo;The president expressed confidence that they would contribute to strengthening Pakistan&rsquo;s relations with their respective countries and expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest,&rdquo; the statement read.



President Receives Credentials from Ambassadors of France and Saudi Arabia

President Asif Ali Zardari today received the credentials of the Ambassador-designate of France, Jean-No&euml;l Poirier and the Ambassador-designate of Saudi Arabia, Dr Rajeh Tami Albugamy, at Aiwan-e-Sadr,&hellip; pic.twitter.com/FCCtDE0Uoh
&mdash; The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) October 14, 2026


During his meeting with Poirier, Zardari reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to strengthening ties with France, emphasising the importance of multilateralism, regular high-level exchanges and an independent bilateral relationship.

&ldquo;The President highlighted opportunities to enhance trade, investment, parliamentary exchanges, educational and cultural links, and defence cooperation,&rdquo; the statement added.

In his meeting with Albugamy, the president underscored the close strategic partnership between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and reiterated Islamabad&rsquo;s commitment to the Kingdom&rsquo;s security and defence.

&ldquo;He highlighted the importance of the Makkah Alliance for Defence and the institutional mechanisms underpinning bilateral cooperation,&rdquo; the statement read.

Read More: Information ministry rejects Reuters report on Makkah defence pact as &#39;speculative&#39;

Zardari also stressed the need to deepen economic ties, appreciated Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s financial support and assistance with oil supplies, and highlighted the contribution of the Pakistani community in the Kingdom.

The president expressed confidence that relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia would reach new heights during the ambassador&rsquo;s tenure.

On August 7, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye formalised their longstanding strategic relationship through the newly signed MJDA, a trilateral security framework that its proponents describe as a defensive arrangement aimed at strengthening collective deterrence, enhancing military cooperation and promoting regional stability.

Significance of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement

The MJDA was the latest step in longstanding military and strategic cooperation between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye. Signed in Makkah, the pact established a framework for collective deterrence and stipulated that an armed attack on any one of the three countries would be considered an attack on all three, while providing for wider cooperation across defence.

The agreement followed nearly a year of negotiations and came amid heightened instability across the Middle East. Turkiye and Pakistan had sought closer regional security cooperation, while Saudi Arabia had faced growing security concerns as conflicts spread across the region, threatening its territory, energy infrastructure and ambitious economic development plans.

For Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, the trilateral pact is built on their Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement signed in September 2025. That agreement stated that &ldquo;any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both&rdquo; and committed the two sides to strengthening defence cooperation and joint deterrence.]]>
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			<title>Pakistan Navy concludes SEASPARK-2026 exercise</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634843/pakistan-navy-concludes-seaspark-2026-exercise</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634843/pakistan-navy-concludes-seaspark-2026-exercise#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 14:10:46 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634843</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[DGPR Navy says exercise validates operational plans, assesses combat readiness amid maritime security challenges]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Pakistan Navy&rsquo;s exercise SEASPARK-2026 concluded with a ceremony on Wednesday, attended by Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Naveed Ashraf as the chief guest, the Navy&rsquo;s Directorate General of Public Relations (DGPR) said.

In a post on X, the DGPR Navy stated that &quot;Pakistan Navy Exercise SEASPARK-2026 concluded on Wednesday in Karachi. CNS Admiral Naveed Ashraf graced the occasion as chief guest.&quot;

It added that the exercise &quot;validated operational plans&quot; and assessed &quot;combat readiness&quot; amid evolving maritime security challenges.

Read: Navy chief visits units at sea, Creeks Area to review SEASPARK 2026



Pakistan Navy Exercise SEASPARK-2026 concluded at Karachi. CNS Admiral Naveed Ashraf graced the occasion as Chief Guest. The exercise validated operational plans and assessed combat readiness amid evolving maritime security challenges. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/IigK5ogdot
&mdash; DGPR (Navy) (@dgprPaknavy) October 14, 2026


DGPR Navy further stated that CNS Ashraf appreciated participants&rsquo; efforts and commended &quot;tri-services synergy&quot;.



CNS appreciated participants&rsquo; efforts and commended tri-services synergy. Exercise SEASPARK-2026 integrated Multi-Domain Operations, encompassing the information environment and cognitive domain alongside kinetic operations at sea. 2/2
&mdash; DGPR (Navy) (@dgprPaknavy) October 14, 2026


&quot;Exercise SEASPARK-2026 integrated Multi-Domain Operations, encompassing the information environment and cognitive domain alongside kinetic operations at sea,&quot; it added.

According to the DGPR, the biennial exercise, which had been underway since September 1, rehearsed the full spectrum of maritime operations and tested the operational preparedness and ability to transition rapidly from peacetime to wartime operations.]]>
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			<title>ECP issues notices over delay in Islamabad local govt elections</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634816/ecp-issues-notices-over-delay-in-islamabad-local-govt-elections</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634816/ecp-issues-notices-over-delay-in-islamabad-local-govt-elections#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 11:05:38 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634816</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Summons interior secretary, Islamabad chief commissioner as ordinance expires without replacement legislation]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday moved to address the delay in Islamabad&rsquo;s local government elections, summoning the interior secretary and Islamabad chief commissioner for a hearing on October 21 after the ordinance governing the polls expired without the federal government completing the required legislation.

The commission said it would consider whether the elections could proceed under the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Act, 2015, and intended to issue the election schedule under the existing law after the hearing.

&ldquo;The Election Commission has decided to fix this case for a formal hearing before the Commission on October 21, 2026, and to issue notices to the Secretary, Ministry of Interior, and the Chief Commissioner, Islamabad, to assist the Commission,&rdquo; the ECP said in a statement shared on X.

The ECP said it had completed the delimitation of constituencies and published the final lists on Wednesday, but the expiry of the Islamabad Local Government (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, had left the legal framework for holding the elections unresolved.

&ldquo;The Election Commission intends to issue the election schedule under the old local government law (ICT Local Government Act 2015) after a formal hearing,&rdquo; the statement read.



#ECP pic.twitter.com/pHvL0TENKY
&mdash; Election Commission of Pakistan (OFFICIAL)🇵🇰 (@ECP_Pakistan) October 14, 2026


The commission said it had initiated the delimitation process on July 21 under the Federal Capital Islamabad (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, and had since completed the exercise.

However, the ordinance expired on September 6 before the federal government could enact the necessary legislation. A parliamentary standing committee had approved the required legislation on September 3, but the legislative process was not completed before the ordinance lapsed.

The ECP said it had sent its feedback on the Islamabad Local Government Rules to the Ministry of Interior on July 20, seeking legislation and publication of the rules in line with its recommendations.

The Ministry of Law and Justice subsequently returned the draft rules to the Ministry of Interior, citing the expiry of the ordinance and the resulting lack of authority to frame rules under it.

The Ministry of Interior had been handling the proposed legislation and local government rules, while the Ministry of Law and Justice reviewed the draft. The ECP had provided recommendations to the interior ministry to facilitate the establishment of the required legal framework.

The commission has now sought the assistance of the interior secretary and Islamabad chief commissioner to determine how the elections can proceed following the ordinance&rsquo;s expiry.

Reasons for LG polls delay

Article 140-A of the Constitution requires provinces to establish local government systems by law and devolve political, administrative and financial authority to elected representatives. The ECP is responsible for holding local government elections under Article 140-A and Article 219 of the Constitution.

Islamabad&rsquo;s last local government elections were held in 2015, and the elected local government&rsquo;s term expired in February 2021. Fresh polls have since been delayed amid repeated changes to the legal framework.

The ECP had scheduled local government elections in Islamabad, but the process was disrupted in January 2026 when President Asif Ali Zardari promulgated the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government (Amendment) Ordinance, amending the 2015 law and replacing the Metropolitan Corporation structure with three town corporations.

The changes required fresh delimitation and effectively reset the election process, prompting the ECP to cancel the scheduled polls.

The federal government subsequently pursued amendments to the local government law, while a separate committee led by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal worked on proposals for a new Islamabad government structure. The National Assembly&rsquo;s Standing Committee on Interior approved the ICT Local Government Bill 2026 on September 3, but the ordinance expired on September 6 before the replacement legislation was enacted.]]>
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			<title>Achakzai warns Sindh could be next to face governor’s rule</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634811/achakzai-warns-sindh-could-be-next-to-face-governors-rule</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634811/achakzai-warns-sindh-could-be-next-to-face-governors-rule#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 10:43:36 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Islamabad]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634811</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Opposition leader cites disputes over water and minerals, calls for reversal of emergency and governor’s rule in K-P]]>
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				<![CDATA[Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai on Wednesday warned that Sindh could be the next province to face governor&rsquo;s rule, citing potential disputes over water, mineral resources and canals, as he condemned the imposition of emergency and governor&rsquo;s rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

Addressing the National Assembly, Achakzai warned that the government&rsquo;s actions against provinces and their political representatives could deepen political confrontation, urging it to reverse its decisions and restore the elected government in K-P.

&ldquo;Next governor&#39;s rule will be imposed in Sindh over the occupation of water, on the occupation of mines, of the rivers, and then you will remember what mistake we made,&rdquo; he said.



مجھے دکھ ہوتا ہے کہ میرے سندھی بھائی اس بلا میں شریک ہوئے ہیں۔

اگلا گورنر راج پانی کے قبضے پر، معدنیات کے قبضے پر اور نہروں کے قبضے پر سندھ میں لگے گا، اور پھر آپ کو یاد آئے گا کہ آپ نے کیا غلطی کی۔ pic.twitter.com/1kPE9WSuk0
&mdash; Mehmood Khan Achakzai (@MKAchakzaiPKMAP) October 14, 2026


The opposition leader also criticised members of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for supporting the government&rsquo;s measures, saying he was saddened that his &ldquo;Sindhi brothers&rdquo; had become part of what he described as a calamity.

Calling for the reversal of emergency and governor&rsquo;s rule in K-P, the opposition leader urged the government to make parliament the centre of political authority and resolve disputes through democratic means.

&ldquo;There is still time, reverse it, reverse these decisions. Come, make this house a fountainhead of power. Repent,&rdquo; he said.



اب بھی وقت ہے، اب بھی وقت ہے مہربانی کریں۔ اب بھی وقت ہے ریورس کر دیں، ان فیصلوں کو ریورس کریں۔ آئیں! ہم قرآن کے گتوں پر لکھ کر دینے کے لیے تیار ہیں، آئیں اس ہاؤس کو طاقت کا سرچشمہ بنائیں۔ آئیں، توبہ کریں! https://t.co/MqFYNBC78j pic.twitter.com/WSiArS68Jn
&mdash; Mehmood Khan Achakzai (@MKAchakzaiPKMAP) October 14, 2026


Achakzai subsequently termed the federal government a &ldquo;terrorist government&rdquo;, alleging that it had been formed through money, coercion and the support of uniformed institutions. He said the assemblies had been bought to bring the government into power and challenged lawmakers to swear on the Quran that this had not happened.



یہ حکومت 8 فروری کو زر اور زور کی بنیاد پر، ہمارے وردی پوش اداروں کی سپورٹ سے، 24 کروڑ انسانوں کو دہشت زدہ کر کے قائم کی گئی، یہ ایک دہشت گرد حکومت ہے .

قائد حزب اختلاف محمود خان اچکزئی کا قومی اسمبلی سے خطاب جو قومی اسمبلی نے سینسر کر دیا تھا۔ pic.twitter.com/8o9evhLydT
&mdash; Mehmood Khan Achakzai (@MKAchakzaiPKMAP) October 14, 2026


He also criticised the government&rsquo;s treatment of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, saying the party had been prevented from contesting the elections under its electoral symbol and its candidates had been forced to contest on 200 different symbols. &ldquo;Are you punishing Pakistan&#39;s 240 million people for this?&rdquo; he asked.

Achakzai argued that the PTI&rsquo;s electoral difficulties did not justify the measures taken against the province, urging the government to reconsider its decisions.



آپ نے عمران خان کے مقابلے کے لیے لنگوٹ باندھ کر حملہ کیا، اس پارٹی کا انتخابی نشان چھینا۔
اس پارٹی کو الیکشن میں حصہ لینے سے منع کیا۔
اس کی پارٹی کے کارکنوں نے یہ غلطی کی کہ دو سو انتخابی نشانوں پر الیکشن لڑ کر آپ کے تمام تماشے کو الٹا کر دیا۔ کیا اس کی سزا آپ دے رہے ہیں؟ pic.twitter.com/CKCkOGbNHY
&mdash; Mehmood Khan Achakzai (@MKAchakzaiPKMAP) October 14, 2026


Defending K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, whose government had been suspended following the imposition of emergency and governor&rsquo;s rule, Achakzai said the provincial leader had urged people to stand against what he described as wrongdoing rather than resorting to violence.

&ldquo;You talk about evil, the real evil is this government,&rdquo; he said, adding that Afridi was right to call on people to stand against it. &ldquo;He did not hurl abuses or throw stones,&rdquo; Achakzai said, adding that Afridi had only urged people &ldquo;to rise up against this evil.&rdquo;



ابھی آپ برائی کی بات کرتے ہیں؛ میرے دوست، اصل برائی یہ حکومت خود ہے۔ اس برائی کو سیدھے راستے پر لانے کے لیے خیبر پختونخوا کا وزیرِ اعلیٰ بالکل ٹھیک تھا۔ نہ وہ گالی دیتا تھا اور نہ ہی پتھر مارتا تھا، وہ صرف یہ کہتا تھا کہ اس برائی کے خلاف اٹھ کھڑے ہو جاؤ۔ pic.twitter.com/fHCww6ATwR
&mdash; Mehmood Khan Achakzai (@MKAchakzaiPKMAP) October 14, 2026


The opposition leader also criticised the authorities over Afridi&rsquo;s detention, saying he had been arrested and his hands and feet bound, but had not been brought before the National Assembly. &ldquo;You have done us a great favour, a very great favour! After arresting Afridi and binding his hands and feet, you didn&#39;t bring him here,&rdquo; he said.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;



آپ نے ایک مہربانی کی، بڑی مہربانی! شیخ مجیب کو گرفتار کر کے آپ لاہور لے آئے۔ آپ نے یہ مہربانی کی کہ ہمارے آفریدی وزیراعلیٰ کو پکڑ کر، ہاتھ پاؤں باندھ کر یہاں نہیں لائے۔ کر دیجیے، کر دیجیے! بسم اللہ، یہ بھی کر دیجیے! کیا کر رہا تھا وہ ؟ pic.twitter.com/38ch43HmCl
&mdash; Mehmood Khan Achakzai (@MKAchakzaiPKMAP) October 14, 2026


Drawing a parallel with the history of East Pakistan, Achakzai recalled that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had worked for the Muslim League before being branded a traitor.

He said more than 48% of the people of East Pakistan had voted in favour of Pakistan, invoking the episode to criticise the denial of political representation and the use of force against political opponents.



مجیب الرحمٰن مسلم لیگی کارکن تھا، جس کو غدار کہا گیا، وہ سائیکل پر بیٹھ کر مسلم لیگ کے لیے کام کرتا تھا،

مشرقی پاکستان کے 48 فیصد سے زیادہ لوگوں نے پاکستان کے حق میں ووٹ دیا۔ آپ نے اپنے اس رویے سے مجبور کیا کہ میری بات مانو گے تو ٹھیک، نہیں مانو گے تو میں یہ کر سکتا ہوں pic.twitter.com/wo6v7qLH20
&mdash; Mehmood Khan Achakzai (@MKAchakzaiPKMAP) October 14, 2026


Achakzai also criticised what he called the &ldquo;Throne of Lahore&rdquo;, describing it as cruel and urging the government to reconsider its approach towards the provinces. He said the provinces would resist attempts to deprive them of their rights through force, adding that Balochistan and Punjab would also stand with them.

The remarks came during a National Assembly session in which lawmakers endorsed President Asif Ali Zardari&rsquo;s proclamation of emergency in K-P, passing a resolution by a majority vote despite objections from opposition members.

The federal government had moved to impose emergency and governor&rsquo;s rule in the province, citing worsening law and order and alleged shortcomings in coordination with federal authorities on counterterrorism operations. The PTI has opposed the move, describing it as an attack on the province&rsquo;s electoral mandate.

The developments followed a period of escalating tensions between the federal government and the PTI-led provincial administration, with reports that Afridi and some members of his cabinet had been taken into preventive custody. The party has also sought legal remedies over the measures and raised concerns about Afridi&rsquo;s whereabouts.]]>
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			<title>Pakistan, Russia sign MoU to strengthen cooperation against organised crime</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634819/pakistan-russia-agree-to-sign-mou-to-combat-organised-crime-finalise-prisoner-transfer-agreement</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634819/pakistan-russia-agree-to-sign-mou-to-combat-organised-crime-finalise-prisoner-transfer-agreement#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 11:21:31 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[PM Shehbaz meets Russian interior minister, stresses need to deepen cooperation in areas of mutual interest]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan and Russia on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in combatting organised crime during Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev&rsquo;s visit to Pakistan.

The MoU was signed after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Kolokoltsev, who arrived in Pakistan earlier this week on a four-day visit, marking the first instance of a Russian interior minister visiting Pakistan.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office, the premier&nbsp;expressed satisfaction over the positive momentum in Pakistan-Russia relations and emphasised the importance of building on it to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.



Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif received Mr. Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Minister of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, who is currently on an official visit to Pakistan.

The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction over the positive momentum in Pakistan-Russia relations&hellip; pic.twitter.com/IkuFeAaQql
&mdash; Prime Minister&#39;s Office (@PakPMO) October 14, 2026


He reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to deepening its friendly relations with the Russian Federation and making effective use of existing bilateral mechanisms to advance mutually beneficial cooperation.

PM Shehbaz also underscored the need to expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest, particularly trade and investment, energy and economic development.



Interior Minister of the Russian Federation Mr. Vladimir Kolokoltsev called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, today. pic.twitter.com/4TaGFVxYcC
&mdash; Prime Minister&#39;s Office (@PakPMO) October 14, 2026


The Russian interior minister conveyed Russia&rsquo;s desire to further strengthen bilateral ties and expand cooperation in areas of shared interest.

While appreciating Pakistan&rsquo;s support at various multilateral forums, particularly the United Nations, Kolokoltsev highlighted the significant potential for expanding bilateral trade and economic cooperation between Pakistan and Russia.

He expressed Russia&rsquo;s readiness to work closely with Pakistan to further enhance bilateral engagement.

Later, the prime minister witnessed the signing of the MoU on strengthening cooperation in combating organised crime.

Both countries agreed to sign the MoU earlier today while also deciding to finalise agreements on extradition and the transfer of prisoners.

The decisions were taken during a meeting between Interior Minister Naqvi and Kolokoltsev at the Ministry of Interior in Islamabad, followed by delegation-level talks on areas of mutual interest. The Russian minister arrived in Pakistan on Monday on a maiden four-day visit at the invitation of Naqvi.

According to a statement issued by the interior ministry, during the meeting, both sides agreed to ensure the swift implementation of the readmission agreement and strengthen bilateral cooperation to combat organised crime, cybercrime, drug trafficking and illegal migration.



ملاقات میں منظم جرائم کی روک تھام کیلئے اشتراک اور معلومات کے تبادلے کے ایم او یو پر دستخط کرنے کا فیصلہ

ایکسٹراڈیشن اور مجرمان کے تبادلے پر معاہدوں کو بھی حتمی شکل دینے پر اتفاق
ری ایڈمیشن معاہدے پر جلد عملدرآمد پر بھی کا فیصلہ
&mdash; Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) October 14, 2026


&quot;The two countries agreed to enhance coordination between Pakistan&rsquo;s Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) and relevant Russian agencies to curb drug trafficking. Furthermore, working groups from the interior ministries of both countries will also visit each other soon to explore further avenues for cooperation,&quot; it said.

The statement added that the two countries also agreed to strengthen institutional links between Pakistan&rsquo;s National Police Academy and its Russian counterpart to promote the exchange of expertise and improve law enforcement capabilities.



پاکستان سے روس ہنر مند افرادی قوت بھیجنے، سیاحوں اور بزنس کمیونٹی کے لئے ویزہ کے حصول کو آسان بنانے پر تبادلہ خیال
سائبر کرائم کی روک تھام اور نیشنل پولیس اکیڈمی اور روس کی پولیس اکیڈمی کے مابین تعاون بڑھانے پر اتفاق
&mdash; Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) October 14, 2026


Speaking on the occasion, Naqvi described the proposed agreement on preventing organised crime as an important milestone in strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

He added that Pakistan wished to benefit from Russia&rsquo;s experience in combatting cybercrime.

During the talks, Kolokoltsev informed the meeting that Russia had reduced cybercrime by 33% through effective measures, highlighting the importance of sharing experience and strengthening cooperation in the field.

He also stressed the importance of joint measures to prevent all forms of organised crime, including terrorism, drug smuggling and illegal migration.

Read: Zardari calls for stronger Pak-Russia ties

The discussions culminated in both sides underscoring the commitment of both countries to expand bilateral engagement through formal agreements, information sharing, institutional coordination and cooperation among law enforcement agencies.

The talks also covered measures to facilitate the dispatch of skilled Pakistani workers to Russia, ease visa procedures for tourists and businesspeople, and expand cooperation in tackling cybercrime, the statement outlined.

Naqvi said easing visa procedures would promote people-to-people contact and further bilateral ties.

The interior minister noted that around 1,300 Pakistani students were currently studying in Russia and expressed the desire to see more Pakistani students pursue higher education there.



اس وقت 1300 پاکستانی طلباء روس میں تعلیم حاصل کررہے ہیں، چاہتے ہیں کہ مزید پاکستانی طلباء روس میں تعلیم حاصل کریں۔ محسن نقوی
دہشتگردی، منشیات کی سمگلنگ اور غیر قانونی مائیگریشن سمیت تمام منظم جرائم کی روک تھام کیلئے مشترکہ اقدامات انتہائی ضروری ہیں، روسی وزیر داخلہ
&mdash; Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) October 14, 2026


Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, the Russian ambassador to Pakistan, senior officials of the Ministry of Interior, the director general of the Federal Investigation Agency, the commandant of the National Police Academy, the inspector general of the Frontier Corps, and heads of relevant law enforcement, cybercrime, forensic and passport authorities were also present at the meeting.

Among the city&rsquo;s administrative and law enforcement authorities, the chief commissioner of Islamabad, the inspector general of Islamabad Police and other senior officials attended the talks.]]>
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			<title>Omani FM appreciates Pakistan’s efforts to ease regional tensions in meeting with PM Shehbaz</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634774/pakistan-oman-agree-to-strengthen-bilateral-ties-step-up-diplomacy-for-regional-peace</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634774/pakistan-oman-agree-to-strengthen-bilateral-ties-step-up-diplomacy-for-regional-peace#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 06:34:17 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Islamabad]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634774</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Both leaders reaffirm close ties and seek to expand cooperation across multiple sectors]]>
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				<![CDATA[Oman&#39;s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi appreciated Pakistan&rsquo;s sustained diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and advance peaceful solutions to regional challenges during a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office.

Albusaidi is visiting Pakistan to co-chair the eighth session of the Pakistan-Oman Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) alongside Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

According to the statement, the prime minister welcomed the Omani foreign minister and highlighted the shared faith, geography, history and culture, as well as centuries of people-to-people exchanges, that provided a strong fraternal foundation for relations between the two countries.



Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif received today the Foreign Minister of Oman, H.E. Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi, who is on a visit to Pakistan to co-chair the 8th Session of the Pakistan-Oman Joint Ministerial Commission along with Deputy Prime&hellip; pic.twitter.com/ONHosHAL34
&mdash; Prime Minister&#39;s Office (@PakPMO) October 14, 2026



PM Shehbaz said Pakistan considered Oman a brotherly country, an important maritime neighbour and a valuable partner in a critically important region. He also noted with satisfaction the unanimity of views between Pakistan and Oman on regional and global issues.

Expressing satisfaction over the successful convening of the eighth session of the JMC, the premier hoped the meeting would provide a strong foundation for expanding mutually beneficial cooperation and deepening engagement between the two countries, the statement said.

He also appreciated Oman&rsquo;s principled stance on resolving disputes through dialogue and diplomacy.

According to the PMO, Albusaidi thanked the Pakistani government for the hospitality extended to him and his delegation. He expressed satisfaction over the successful holding of the JMC session and agreed that it would pave the way for enhanced bilateral cooperation across various sectors for mutual benefit.

The Omani foreign minister also appreciated Pakistan&rsquo;s sustained diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and advance peaceful solutions to regional challenges.



Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif witnessed a ceremony of exchange of MoUs between Pakistan and the Sultanate of Oman, in Islamabad, today. pic.twitter.com/XYxgkpXAIq
&mdash; Prime Minister&#39;s Office (@PakPMO) October 14, 2026



The statement said the prime minister witnessed the signing of the protocol of the eighth session of the Pakistan-Oman Joint Ministerial Commission, along with agreements and memorandums of understanding covering cooperation in media, news and information exchange, historical documentation and archives management, communication and information technology, and the facilitation of diplomatic and official exchanges.

Dar condemns Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia

Earlier today, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister (FM) Ishaq Dar, in a joint press conference with his Omani counterpart Albusaidi condemned recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, terming them unacceptable, in violation of international law, and a &quot;serious threat to regional peace and security.&quot;

FM Dar stated that during his discussions with Albusaidi, he &quot;conveyed Pakistan&#39;s strongest condemnation&quot; of the recent attacks &quot;which resulted in injuries to several individuals, martyrdom of one Pakistani and injuries to five Pakistani nationals.&quot;

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on X, FM Dar &quot;reaffirmed Pakistan&#39;s full solidarity with the leadership and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,&quot; including Islamabad&#39;s &quot;unwavering commitment to the kingdom&#39;s sovereignity, territorial integrity and security, in accordance with the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.&quot;



🔊 PR No. 2️⃣8️⃣8️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣

Remarks by the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 during Joint Press Stakeout with the Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman, H.E. Sayyid Badr Bin Hamad Bin Hamood Albusaidi (14 October 2026)

🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/LYrDyrJsEQ
&mdash; Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 14, 2026


The remarks came as Yemen&#39;s Houthis ​vowed to press on with attacks on airports and oil facilities in Saudi &zwnj;Arabia and said they struck the headquarters of oil giant Saudi Aramco. The group said it had launched ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones at Saudi Aramco facilities in the eastern city of Dhahran, King Khalid International Airport in ​Riyadh and an Aramco refinery in Riyadh, without saying when.

Saudi Arabia has faced widening Houthi strikes over the ​past week, including an attack on Riyadh airport on Saturday that killed 13 people.

FM Dar and his Omani counterpart &quot;also exchanged views on the evolving situation in the Gulf, underscoring the importance of restraint, de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy.&quot; FM Dar highlighted &quot;the need to ensure the safety and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb, given their critical importance to regional and global food and energy security.&quot;

According to the statement, FM Dar reaffirmed Pakistan&#39;s commitment to &quot;contributing constructively to diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability in the region.&quot;

Read: FM Dar condemns Houthi attack on Riyadh airport, says Pakistan is in touch with Saudi authorities

FM Dar, in his meeting with Sayyid Badr, also raised the issue of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), saying that it remained &quot;a long-standing unresolved international dispute.&quot; The foreign minister &quot;reiterated Pakistan&#39;s call for its just and peaceful resolution in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.&quot;

Discussing &quot;the grave situation in Palestine,&quot; the statement noted, FM Dar reiterated Islamabad&#39;s &quot;principled and unwavering support&quot; for the Palestinian people &quot;and their inalienable rights.&quot; He stated, &quot;We expressed concern over the continued expansion of illegal settlements and efforts to alter the status of Al-Quds Al-Sharif.&quot;

Pakistan also highlighted the &quot;urgent need for the unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza,&quot; reaffirming Islamabad&#39;s support for a just and lasting solution in accordance with relevant resolutions of the United Nations.

Regarding regional developments including the situation in Afghanistan and the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), FM Dar underscored &quot;the imperative of ensuring that Afghan territory is not used to carry out activities against Pakistan.&quot;

On the IWT, the statement noted that the foreign minister &quot;emphasised that India&#39;s unilateral decision to hold the treaty in abeyance constitutes a material breach of international law.&quot; He added that this represented &quot;a dangerous attempt to weaponise shared water resources,&quot; and threatened the water, food and energy security of 250 million Pakistanis.

Welcoming &quot;closer engagement between the business communities of the two countries and encouraged greater investment in Special Economic Zones and Free Zones,&quot; FM Dar also acknowledged &quot;the valuable contribution of the Pakistani community in Oman.&quot;

The contribution &quot;continues to serve as a strong bridge between our two brotherly countries,&quot; he said.

He added that both sides &quot;reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in labour mobility, vocational training, and human resource development to create new opportunities for skilled Pakistani professionals and workers.&quot;

FM Dar expressed gratitude to Sayyid Badr and the Omani delegation &quot;for their constructive engagement and valuable contribution to the success of the JMC session.&quot;

He concluded with saying that the &quot;Pakistan-Oman friendship remains strong and forward-looking, and we are committed to building an even more prosperous future together.&quot;

FM&#39;s agree to strengthen bilateral cooperation, intensify diplomatic efforts

Earlier, FM Dar and Sayyid Badr agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation and intensify diplomatic efforts for regional peace and stability, as the two countries held the eighth session of the Pakistan-Oman Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) in Islamabad after a seven-year gap.

Speaking during a media briefing in Islamabad, FM Dar welcomed the Omani counterpart and his delegation to Pakistan, conveying greetings on behalf of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to the Sultan of Oman.

The foreign minister said the two countries had maintained frequent interactions and shared longstanding historical and diplomatic ties. Referring to the JMC, he said: &quot;The meeting was taking place after seven years, and both sides had agreed during their restricted meeting to avoid such lengthy gaps in the future.&quot;

He said there was considerable scope for enhancing bilateral trade, economic activities and investment opportunities, stressing that regular engagement was essential to achieving progress.



Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 held a cordial meeting with H.E. Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi @badralbusaidi ahead of the 8th Pakistan-Oman Joint Ministerial session.

The two Ministers reaffirmed the close, fraternal&hellip; pic.twitter.com/jpjqXRlqZJ
&mdash; Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 14, 2026


&ldquo;I promise that in 2027, God will, inshallah, I will visit your great country for this purpose and we will have the next GMC there,&rdquo; FM Dar said. The foreign minister said both sides had identified areas of mutual interest and discussed regional and global developments in detail during their restricted meeting.

He said discussions covered the &quot;United States, Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, Palestine, the situation in Gaza, Jammu and Kashmir and other pressing regional issues.&quot;

FM Dar commended Oman&rsquo;s leadership and its diplomatic efforts to promote regional peace, particularly its role in efforts to secure peace among Muslim countries. He said Pakistan appreciated Oman&rsquo;s efforts before Islamabad became involved in supporting the same objective. &ldquo;So, you did a great job and Pakistan commends, and I personally am a great admirer of your efforts,&rdquo; FM Dar said.

Referring to Pakistan&rsquo;s relationship with Oman and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), FM Dar said the countries coordinated closely through the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the United Nations and other multilateral institutions.

He said diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Oman spanned 55 years, while historical ties between the two countries extended back centuries. FM Dar highlighted the longstanding connections between Oman and Pakistan&rsquo;s Balochistan province, particularly the historical relationship involving Gwadar.

He said the two countries had agreed to work closely for regional peace and address ongoing challenges. Referring to developments involving the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, FM Dar said the two sides had discussed the situation in Bab el-Mandeb and shared similar views on the need to resolve the issues.

He stressed that diplomatic efforts were necessary to address the suffering caused by regional conflicts and instability. &ldquo;The sufferings are very, very visible. Even in Pakistan, the energy supply chain has been disrupted. The prices have skyrocketed. The common man obviously cannot afford,&rdquo; he said.

The foreign minister added that the &quot;consequences of the disruption were being felt across the world.&quot; FM Dar called for restoring peace and stability in the region, saying Pakistan and Oman could play an important role in achieving that objective.

He also appreciated Oman&rsquo;s engagement with Pakistan during the Pakistan-India war and other international developments, saying the two countries regularly kept each other informed and maintained close communication.

FM Dar also referred to his previous meeting with the Omani foreign minister in Manila.

Addressing the briefing, the Omani foreign minister expressed appreciation for the warm welcome extended to him and his delegation in Islamabad. He highlighted the historical, cultural and traditional bonds between Oman and Pakistan and reaffirmed his country&#39;s commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation across various sectors.

The Omani foreign minister said the eighth session of the JMC provided an important mechanism for strengthening relations and delivering benefits to the people of both countries. He referred to the existing friendship association, business council and political consultations between the two foreign ministers as mechanisms that could drive closer cooperation.

Sayyid Badr said regular meetings would help both countries fulfil the aspirations of their leadership and people. The Omani foreign minister also acknowledged Pakistan&rsquo;s constructive role in promoting dialogue and diplomacy at a time of heightened regional tensions. &ldquo;I would like to also acknowledge Pakistan&#39;s constructive role in supporting dialogue and diplomacy in our region at a time when tensions can easily escalate,&rdquo; he said.

Read More: PM Shehbaz seeks stronger Bahrain ties in trade, energy during meeting with FM Al Zayani

He particularly appreciated Pakistan&#39;s diplomatic efforts to facilitate engagement between Iran and the United States. &ldquo;I salute you for all the efforts that you have led in recent months, and we appreciate Pakistan&#39;s role that has helped create space for dialogue between Iran and the United States in particular,&rdquo; he said.

The Omani foreign minister thanked officials from both countries for their extensive preparations ahead of the ministerial meeting.

Turning to economic cooperation, he said both countries were pursuing important economic transformations and had opportunities to expand collaboration in trade, logistics, port connectivity, energy, food security, technology and tourism. He also highlighted the importance of strengthening people-to-people connections.

The minister said the potential for cooperation existed, but both countries needed to remove obstacles and create favourable conditions for businesses and investors.

He encouraged greater interaction between the private sectors, stronger institutional partnerships, increased academic and technological cooperation, and more regular exchanges between the people of Oman and Pakistan.

The Omani foreign minister expressed hope that the JMC would become a more effective platform for delivering meaningful progress for both countries.

Sayyid Badr had arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday for a two-day visit to co-chair the eighth Pakistan-Oman JMC session, upon FM Dar&#39;s invitation. In an earlier statement, the Foreign Office had said Sayyid Badr would also pay a courtesy call to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, with the meeting providing an &quot;important platform&quot; to review the &quot;full spectrum of bilateral relations&quot; and strengthen cooperation across various fields.

The Foreign Office had added that the visit reflected the longstanding fraternal relations between Pakistan and Oman and was expected to further deepen mutually beneficial cooperation across multiple sectors.]]>
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			<title>FCC dismisses Bushra Bibi's plea for suspension of sentence in £190m case</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634818/fcc-dismisses-bushra-bibis-plea-for-suspension-of-sentence-in-190m-case</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634818/fcc-dismisses-bushra-bibis-plea-for-suspension-of-sentence-in-190m-case#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 11:13:33 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[JAHANZAIB ABBASI]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634818</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Order says appeal was filed 61 days late, miscellaneous application was submitted seeking condonation of delay]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) on Wednesday dismissed an appeal filed by Bushra Bibi, wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, seeking suspension of her sentence in the &pound;190 million case, observing that the main appeal should be decided expeditiously rather than undertaking a parallel examination of the matter.

Imran and Bushra remain incarcerated in Rawalpindi&#39;s Adiala Jail. They were sentenced on December 20, 2025, to 17 years in prison in the Toshakhana-II case, while in January last year, an Islamabad accountability court sentenced Imran to 14 years and Bushra to seven years in prison in the &pound;190 million case.

A three-page written order, authored by Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan, noted that Bushra had challenged the Islamabad High Court&rsquo;s (IHC) April 30 decision rejecting her application for suspension of sentence. According to the order, the appeal was filed 61 days late, and a miscellaneous application was submitted seeking condonation of the delay. The court noted that Bushra&rsquo;s incarceration at Adiala Jail had been cited as the reason for the late filing.

{{pdf}}

Accepting the explanation, the court condoned the 61-day delay in filing the appeal.&nbsp;The order also referred to arguments presented by Bushra&rsquo;s counsel Salman Safdar, who cited the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif case in support of his position.

Read: &pound;190m case: IHC orders Imran, Bushra meeting with their lawyers within seven days

The court observed that the main appeal had already been fixed for hearing before the IHC and that the appropriate course was to ensure its expeditious disposal rather than undertake a parallel examination of the merits of sentence suspension. The court held that there were no sufficient grounds to interfere with the IHC&rsquo;s order at this stage.

&ldquo;We find no sufficient ground warranting interference with the impugned order at this stage,&rdquo; the court observed.

The bench also expressed the expectation that the IHC would decide the main appeal expeditiously while providing both sides adequate opportunity to present their arguments. The court further stressed the need to discourage unnecessary adjournments during the proceedings.

Background

Imran and Bushra are facing a &pound;190 million graft case linked to the Al-Qadir Trust, a welfare organisation they established in 2018. The trust, which runs a university outside Islamabad focused on spirituality and Islamic teachings, is accused of being used as a front to receive land worth millions of dollars from a real estate tycoon.

The government claims the donations were in exchange for Imran&rsquo;s administration using repatriated UK funds to pay fines against the businessman, instead of depositing the money into Pakistan&rsquo;s treasury.

Imran has denied any wrongdoing, insisting neither he nor his wife gained financially from the trust or related transactions. In his written response to the IHC, he claimed the case is politically motivated, alleging a corruption reference against Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz led to a fabricated case against Bushra Bibi.

Read More: Islamabad court dismisses case against Imran Khan, citing prior acquittal

He challenged the prosecution&rsquo;s evidence, highlighted inconsistencies in witness statements, and accused the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of destroying key records related to political leaders.

Imran has argued that amendments to the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO), 1999 protect cabinet decisions from prosecution unless there is proof of personal gain. The IHC has acknowledged the &ldquo;substance&rdquo; of this claim and directed the trial court to consider it while deciding the matter.

He subsequently filed a civil miscellaneous application in the IHC seeking a hearing of his appeals against the accountability court verdict, which convicted him and his wife in the &pound;190 million corruption case.]]>
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			<title>Flawed poverty paradigm</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634669/flawed-poverty-paradigm</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634669/flawed-poverty-paradigm#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 26 19:30:41 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634669</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan's societal strata are sinking deeper into destitution]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan&#39;s societal strata are sinking deeper into destitution. The UNDP&#39;s Multidimensional Poverty Index report has unmasked the grim reality of the country&#39;s stagnant social mobility. Poverty is on the rise, leaving more than one-third of the population facing severe deprivations in healthcare, education and basic living standards. Alarmingly, 38.3% of Pakistanis are &quot;multidimensionally poor,&quot; compared to just 16.4% people in India and 14.9% in Bangladesh. These sobering statistics follow closely on the heels of a World Bank assessment, which revealed that Pakistan accounts for approximately 48% of the region&#39;s &quot;extreme poor&quot; living on less than $3 a day.

These statistics paint a grim picture for an economy where the lion&#39;s share of revenue is consumed by debt servicing and defence, leaving less than Rs1.5 trillion for national development out of a massive Rs17 trillion budget outlay. Unsurprisingly, the human cost is devastating: over 40% of children under five suffer from stunting, approximately 26 million children remain out of school, 70 million people lack access to basic sanitation, and the population of unemployed stands at a staggering 5.9 million.

The fact that these UNDP estimates rely on household surveys from different years is more than enough to highlight the urgency of this widespread deprivation. Furthermore, the world body warns that an additional 12.9% of the population remains highly vulnerable to falling into acute poverty. Critical sectors - including nutrition, child mortality, school attendance, sanitation, drinking water, electricity and household assets - are in desperate need of a comprehensive Marshall Plan. They can no longer be resuscitated through the piecemeal measures.

Sustained economic progress requires a strategic shift toward human resource development, a goal that remains unattainable without meaningful grassroots empowerment. The existing lopsided paradigm of funding from the federal to the provincial domains is infected with lethargy and corruption, further compounded by a lack of accountability. Structural poverty can only be mitigated by mobilising the masses for self-development and placing local communities directly at the vanguard of decision-making.]]>
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			<title>K-P's terror surge</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634670/k-ps-terror-surge</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634670/k-ps-terror-surge#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 26 19:30:41 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634670</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Terrorist incidents in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa surged by almost 200% between March 2024 and September 2026]]>
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				<![CDATA[Terrorist incidents in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa surged by almost 200% between March 2024 and September 2026, with police and security personnel targeted in 73% of attacks recorded this year. One of the most concerning findings in the government security reports recently shared with the federal cabinet was that terrorist drone attacks more than doubled in the past year, reaching 170 in 2026.

The federal government and security forces responded to the security situation with increased intelligence-based operations, eliminating hundreds of terrorists and disrupting militant networks across K-P. If only all parts of the government were working together, the results might have been even better. Unfortunately, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government, especially its top leadership, has been preoccupied with political activity and rallies in other parts of the country, rather than governing.

Even late in the game, when the federal cabinet was considering emergency measures, the provincial government seemed more focused on planning rallies. Even the security reports explicitly blamed the K-P government&#39;s &quot;flawed policies and its soft approach towards militants&quot; for enabling terrorist elements to establish a foothold. More than 9,000 police posts remain vacant, the Safe City project is confined to Peshawar, and the CTD faces severe shortages of weapons and trained personnel. The chief minister also insisted on negotiating with terrorists, which directly undermined the federal government and security establishment.

The situation now is remarkably different, as the federal government has taken K-P&#39;s elected leadership off the board. Going forward, Islamabad will bear full responsibility for improving security in K-P, as it will have direct control of the provincial security apparatus. We can only hope that the unfortunate series of events that has led us here can be reversed, and K-P sees some semblance of security again.]]>
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			<title>Unstoppable rabies</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634671/unstoppable-rabies</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634671/unstoppable-rabies#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 26 19:30:41 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634671</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[A disease that is entirely preventable continues to claim lives in Sindh]]>
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				<![CDATA[A disease that is entirely preventable continues to claim lives in Sindh, exposing the provincial government&#39;s persistent failure to address a public health crisis that has been allowed to worsen for years. At least 38 rabies cases have been reported this year at just two major hospitals in Karachi, while more than 26,000 dog-bite cases have been recorded at these two facilities alone.

The provincial government&#39;s response has largely consisted of announcing programmes and making assurances that have yielded little tangible improvement. The Sindh Rabies Control Programme was launched in 2022, yet its implementation has been hampered by inadequate funding and limited operational coverage. As recently as December last year, officials acknowledged that only about Rs66 million of the Rs265 million allocated for vaccination and sterilisation during the financial year had been released. In May, the chief minister launched another province-wide campaign, while a fresh strategy for managing Karachi&#39;s stray dog population was announced last month. Meanwhile, the number of people suffering dog bites remains alarming. Such repeated announcements mean little unless accompanied by sustained implementation and measurable results. The government must explain why, despite years of programmes and considerable expenditure, it has failed to bring the situation under control. Although the government claims to have upgraded 278 anti-rabies units across Sindh, their effectiveness needs to be assessed independently.

The way forward requires a coordinated and sustained response. Mass dog vaccination and sterilisation must be expanded across the province, supported by reliable funding and regular monitoring. Health facilities must follow standardised treatment protocols, while public awareness campaigns should reach communities where misconceptions and reliance on traditional remedies continue to endanger lives. The provincial government must also establish clear accountability for failures in both animal population management and emergency medical care.]]>
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			<title>Wealth management in AI age: will machines replace human adviser?</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634673/wealth-management-in-ai-age-will-machines-replace-human-adviser</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634673/wealth-management-in-ai-age-will-machines-replace-human-adviser#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 26 19:30:41 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[DR MUHAMMAD WAQAS              ]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634673</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Artificial intelligence is no longer confined to technology laboratories.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Artificial intelligence is no longer confined to technology laboratories. It has entered our banks, investment platforms and financial institutions and, increasingly, our personal financial decisions. From analysing markets and preparing financial plans to detecting fraud, AI is rapidly changing how wealth is managed. This raises an obvious question: will it eventually replace the human wealth manager?

Traditionally, wealth management has rested on the relationship between a client and an adviser. The adviser does far more than recommend investments. He or she tries to understand the client&#39;s finances, family responsibilities, ambitions, tolerance for risk and long-term priorities. A portfolio that looks optimal on a spreadsheet may be wholly unsuitable for someone who cannot emotionally bear large swings in its value.

AI is exceptionally good at the mathematical side of this equation. Modern systems can process vast quantities of financial and economic data in a fraction of the time a human analyst would need, compare investment alternatives and monitor portfolios. They can also automate routine administrative work, freeing professionals to spend more time with clients. Recent industry research from LSEG describes this as a shift from gathering information to interpreting and coordinating insights.

For ordinary investors, this could be valuable. Personalised advice has long been expensive, and therefore associated with the wealthy. AI-powered tools could reduce costs and extend financial guidance to people who could never afford it.

But accessibility should not be confused with reliability.

One of the biggest dangers of AI-based advice is that an answer can sound convincing without being correct. Financial decisions involve uncertainty, incomplete information and changing circumstances. A system may produce a sophisticated-looking recommendation while missing the individual&#39;s complete financial picture. Research from MIT Sloan found that AI can offer useful guidance on saving, spending and investing, but that its recommendations vary with the quality of information supplied by the user. The researchers also identified weaknesses in responding to income shocks, rebalancing portfolios and managing retirement drawdown. Investors should think twice before treating a chatbot as a personal financial adviser.

Then there is the question of accountability. If a human adviser&#39;s recommendation causes a client serious harm, regulatory and professional responsibilities apply. An AI system has no professional responsibility or fiduciary judgment. Responsibility ultimately rests with the institution, adviser or individual who deploys it. That is why human oversight will remain critical.

The UK&#39;s Financial Conduct Authority, in its 2026 wealth-management research, acknowledges both sides. AI can reduce friction, improve efficiency and help close the advice gap, but the regulator also warns of risks involving fraud, cybersecurity and consumer harm. These concerns are far from theoretical. The more financial institutions rely on interconnected digital systems and third-party technology providers, the graver the consequences of a major technological failure. The Financial Stability Board has recently placed AI-related cyber risk among its principal concerns for financial stability, according to Reuters.

Privacy is equally important. Wealth management requires highly sensitive information: income, assets, debts, tax circumstances and often family details. Institutions must ensure that convenience does not come at the cost of confidentiality.

Algorithmic bias is another worry. AI learns from historical data, which may carry existing inequalities. If an algorithm reproduces them, automated decisions could disadvantage particular groups of customers. The US Government Accountability Office has likewise flagged data quality, privacy, bias and cybersecurity as key risks of AI in financial services.

Interestingly, investors themselves do not appear to be asking for a fully machine-driven future. A 2026 HSBC survey of around 10,000 affluent and high-net-worth investors across ten markets found that 73 per cent use AI for finance and investment. Yet only 12 per cent said it was the most influential factor in their latest investment decision, while 62 per cent named financial professionals and institutions as their main source of ideas.

This points to a more realistic outcome: AI will not necessarily replace the adviser, but it will change what the adviser does. Less time will go on collecting information, preparing routine reports and repetitive calculations. More will go on interpreting AI-generated insights, managing risk and, above all, acting as a trusted human partner in decision-making.

That matters because money is deeply tied to human behaviour. Consider an investor whose portfolio has fallen 20 per cent in a market crisis. An algorithm can explain historical probabilities and estimate recovery periods. A human adviser can sit with that investor, understand the anxiety driving the urge to sell and prevent a damaging emotional reaction. That dimension cannot easily be reduced to code.

For developing economies such as Pakistan, the AI revolution offers both opportunity and risk. Digital financial services and AI tools could bring investment education and basic financial guidance to a far larger population. But low financial literacy, limited understanding of investment risk and inadequate consumer protection could leave inexperienced investors especially vulnerable to misleading AI-generated recommendations.

Pakistan must therefore think beyond simply adopting financial technology. Regulators, financial institutions, universities and technology companies should work together on responsible AI adoption, stronger data protection, transparent algorithms, effective consumer safeguards and better financial literacy.

The goal should not be to choose between humans and machines, but to combine their strengths. AI can process more information than any individual adviser, spot patterns and speed up analysis. Humans bring context, empathy, accountability, ethical judgment and an understanding of circumstances that may never appear in a dataset. The future will not belong to the institution with the most sophisticated algorithm alone, but to those who can pair technological intelligence with human wisdom.

The real question is not whether AI can manage money. It is whether we are prepared to ensure that, as AI takes on ever more important parts of our financial lives, a responsible human being remains willing to explain the decision, challenge the machine and stand behind the advice. That is where the future of trustworthy wealth management will be decided.]]>
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			<title>Pakistan's universities should form character by design</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634674/pakistans-universities-should-form-character-by-design</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634674/pakistans-universities-should-form-character-by-design#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 26 19:30:41 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Dr Asghar Zaidi]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634674</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[On a university campus, it must begin with those who lead, teach and serve]]>
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				<![CDATA[Previously, I wrote in these columns that character is stamped on us, like the mark on a coin, by what we do again and again. Universities do much of that stamping, although they do it more by default than by design. They receive young Pakistanis at around eighteen, when habits are still soft and the brain is still maturing, and send them out as doctors, teachers, engineers, civil servants and business executives. So how should such character formation begin?

It begins with clarity about who we want to be. On a university campus, it must begin with those who lead, teach and serve, because students learn who to be by watching exemplars among their teachers. The habits students pick up from their teachers last a lifetime.

A decade of research at the Oxford Character Project frames character formation in three words, BE, KNOW and DO: who to be, what to know and what to do. Our universities usually start with DO: rules, codes and disciplinary committees. Yet experiments show &quot;don&#39;t be a cheater&quot; reduces cheating; &quot;don&#39;t cheat&quot; does not. The Oxford research points to BE as the starting point. Our own tradition has long done the same, joining taleem, instruction, with tarbiyat, the character formation of the person. The lesson is that a university that informs minds without forming persons has done only half its work.

Pakistan&#39;s 280+ universities and Degree Awarding Institutions, with nearly two million students, have given the country remarkable people, yet they form character more by default than by design. The 2017 tragedy at Abdul Wali Khan University in Mardan remains a painful reminder that a campus can provide education and still fail at character formation. Those who teach need it too: a 2023 Nature analysis placed Pakistan among large research-producing nations with the highest rates of retracted papers. Most are withdrawn because of misconduct, such as plagiarism or fabricated data: failings of character, not of intellect.

The Higher Education Commission has answered with courses, most recently Understanding of Holy Quran (Fehm-e-Quran) I and II, one credit hour each, compulsory for Muslim students since Fall 2025. These are welcome, but character is not delivered like content, one credit hour at a time. We can learn from Oxford&#39;s research, which names seven strategies that form character: habituation, practising virtue in small acts until it becomes second nature; reflection, looking back honestly on our experiences; exemplars, learning from people whose lives we admire; a shared language of virtue; moral reminders at the moment of decision; systems that make good conduct the easier path; and friendships in which we help each other grow. All seven begin with one decision: who we mean to be.

Abroad, America&#39;s Wake Forest University has used these seven strategies since 2017, helping more than 75 faculty build character into their courses. At home, Lahore&#39;s Superior University has made &quot;Leading with Character&quot; its guiding philosophy, from top management to students. The lesson: a university becomes what its people decide to become.

Who we mean to be deserves to be written down as a personal mission statement. Once written, a mission statement works as a personal constitution. Like a nation&#39;s constitution, it sets the principles against which every decision is tested and serves as a compass when the road is unclear. Research on moral reminders shows how it helps: because we want to think well of ourselves, being reminded of our commitments makes wrongdoing much harder to justify, even in our own minds. But any constitution is only as good as the way it is honoured.

A good personal mission statement must cover every role we play. A student is also a son or daughter; and a rector, a vice chancellor or professor is also a parent, a colleague and a mentor. The accounts officer who releases a scholarship on time teaches fairness as surely as any lecture. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught that each of us is a shepherd, responsible for our flock. Each of us, then, leads someone, and none of us is exempt from the character that leadership demands.

Because our roles compete for the same hours, a personal constitution must also set priorities: which role leads when two collide, and what we will not sacrifice for success. Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) recalled that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), leader of a whole community, served his family at home and went out to pray when the time came.

BE is only the first step. KNOW asks us to understand ourselves under pressure, the people we serve, and where a judgement matters more than rules. DO turns both into small daily acts: one act of courage, a commitment kept when it is inconvenient, a friend with permission to tell us the truth. The Quran puts the test plainly: &quot;Why do you say what you do not do?&quot; (Surah al Saff 61:2).

Toxicity, deceit, exploitation and egoism are all around us, and it is tempting to withdraw and leave change to others. Yet &quot;Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change what is within themselves&quot; (Surah al Ra&#39;d 13:11). Imagine campuses designed for character, where vice-chancellors, professors, staff and students have each written down who they mean to be and what guides them, and then live it every day. Such universities would send Pakistan not only graduates with degrees, but citizens with a decision-making framework. Our campuses will form character either way. Let us form it by design, one personal constitution at a time: written, understood and lived.]]>
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			<title>Protest movements in South Asia face their own test</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634668/protest-movements-in-south-asia-face-their-own-test</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634668/protest-movements-in-south-asia-face-their-own-test#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 26 19:30:41 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Dr Ikramul Haq]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634668</guid>
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				<![CDATA[CJP shows that people treated as politically disposable can turn humiliation into solidarity]]>
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				<![CDATA[India&#39;s Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) offers South Asia an uncomfortable lesson: people treated as politically disposable can turn humiliation into solidarity. What began as online satire has become a movement demanding answers about examinations, employment and the credibility of elections.

The name followed Chief Justice Surya Kant&#39;s reported comparison of some unemployed young people to cockroaches in May. He subsequently said his criticism concerned people using bogus degrees, not India&#39;s youth. That clarification belongs in any honest account. The wider question is why an image of contempt found such a receptive audience.

On October 10, 2026, Reuters reported the detention of founder Abhijeet Dipke ahead of a Delhi demonstration seeking election chief Gyanesh Kumar&#39;s resignation. Authorities restricted transport and mobile internet, citing public order. The movement had already helped force the education minister&#39;s resignation over examination paper leaks in July.

The current dispute concerns revisions to voter rolls. Critics allege partisan exclusion; the Election Commission rejects wrongdoing and says entries were flagged during a draft exercise, with opportunities for reinstatement. These competing claims require transparent scrutiny.

An examination scandal becomes politically explosive when a qualification is a family&#39;s only plausible route out of insecurity. An electoral dispute becomes more dangerous when citizens already doubt that peaceful participation can change their lives. Economic frustration and institutional distrust reinforce each other.

South Asia has seen this interaction before. Sri Lanka&#39;s 2022 uprising grew from economic collapse. Bangladesh&#39;s 2024 protests began over public employment quotas before becoming a revolt against Sheikh Hasina&#39;s rule. In Nepal in 2025, anger over corruption combined with opposition to a social media ban.

These histories do not establish an inevitable regional domino effect. Each country has its own institutions, divisions and political choices. They do suggest that a grievance can widen rapidly when those responsible refuse accountability and treat dissent itself as the problem.

Pakistan should examine this warning without the satisfaction that a neighbour&#39;s difficulties so often provoke. Our question is whether a young citizen can obtain decent education, compete fairly for work, challenge an injustice and influence public decisions without money or patronage.

For governments, the answer must appear in budgets and everyday administration. Tax policy should ask more of privileged wealth and ease the burden on ordinary consumption. Public spending should improve schools and services, while recruitment and examinations must be open to credible independent scrutiny.

Young people also need meaningful participation between elections: functioning local governments, representative student bodies and political parties that allow newcomers to rise. Repeatedly inviting them to celebrate the nation while denying them a voice in its affairs cannot build lasting loyalty.

Protest movements face their own test. Mobilising anger does not confer immunity from scrutiny or provide a programme for governing. Violence against opponents and minorities destroys democratic claims. Removing a minister or government achieves little if arbitrary power survives under new management.

The likely regional development is further mobilisation around concrete failures of opportunity and representation. Whether it produces reform, repression or another cycle of disappointment will depend on choices made by governments and movements alike. No honest analysis can name the next capital or predict the timetable.

South Asia&#39;s rulers still have room to respond through fair opportunities, credible elections and accountable institutions. That room narrows whenever peaceful criticism is answered with humiliation or coercion. A generation asking for a future should not have to bring a capital to a halt before anyone listens.]]>
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			<title>Israeli clearance of Gaza rubble could destroy 'evidence'</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2628033/israeli-clearance-of-gaza-rubble-could-destroy-evidence</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2628033/israeli-clearance-of-gaza-rubble-could-destroy-evidence#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 08 Sep 26 00:35:53 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2628033</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Albanese says Palestinians should take charge of clearance]]>
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				<![CDATA[A UN expert said on Monday that Israeli clearance of rubble in Gaza could destroy valuable evidence of &quot;atrocity crimes&quot; and prevent the recovery of human remains.

Israel&#39;s assault on Gaza - started after the deadly raid into Israel by Hamas in October 2023 - has generated around 61 million tons of wreckage and debris that could take seven years to clear, according to the United Nations.

Francesca Albanese, the UN expert on the Palestinian territories, said evidence should be gathered and human remains identified before full clearance started.

She issued a statement headlined: &quot;UN expert warns Israeli rubble-clearing could erase traces of atrocity crimes&quot; and said Palestinians should be behind any plans to remove waste.

&quot;In devastated Gaza, rubble is not just construction waste. It is part of a crime scene, a graveyard, and the material record of what happened during a brutal and senseless bombing campaign that lasted two years,&quot; she said.

She said that multiple sources had confirmed Israeli companies were involved in the clearance, without naming those sources. Her office did not immediately respond to questions on where that information had come from.

Israel&#39;s Foreign Ministry, its Prime Minister&#39;s Office and military did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In the past, all have fiercely disagreed with Albanese, who has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of Israel&#39;s military actions in Gaza.

In February, Germany, France and Italy all condemned what they said were her overly negative statements about Israel, though she denied making the remarks they cited.

In July last year, the U.S. imposed sanctions on Albanese over what it said were her efforts to prompt the International Criminal Court to take action against U.S. and Israeli officials, companies, and executives.

UN experts are commissioned by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council to monitor and document specific human rights crises but are independent of the organisation itself.

The 2023 Hamas-led attacks killed 1,200 people in Israel while another 251 were taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies.

More than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel&#39;s military campaign, according to Gaza health authorities. Israel says it has gone to great lengths to avoid civilian casualties and that Hamas uses Gaza&#39;s civilians as human shields in densely populated areas - a claim Hamas denies.

Palestinian authorities estimate more than 8,000 people remain buried in the wreckage. A Palestinian recovery team that combed through the wreckage in Gaza City last month said it found the remains of 112 people from the same clan.]]>
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			<title>Rahul Gandhi, Indian opposition lawmakers detained over election chief protest for second day</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2633522/rahul-gandhi-indian-opposition-lawmakers-detained-over-election-chief-protest-for-second-day</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2633522/rahul-gandhi-indian-opposition-lawmakers-detained-over-election-chief-protest-for-second-day#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 07 Oct 26 15:11:32 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2633522</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Visuals show security personnel hauling Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra into separate vehicles and taking them away]]>
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				<![CDATA[Indian ​police detained opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and several lawmakers for the third time in two &zwnj;days on Wednesday as they launched an unannounced protest demanding the resignation of the election chief over a controversial revision of voter lists.

Opposition parties, their student units, and the &quot;cockroach&quot; youth movement have been staging almost daily demonstrations seeking Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar&#39;s resignation, ​after the Indian Express newspaper last month reported disagreements within the poll panel over updating voter ​lists, stoking concerns over its neutrality.

Opposition lawmakers led by the Congress party leader&nbsp;protested ⁠on Tuesday as well, seeking a meeting with Kumar and his deputies, before police broke up their gathering ​and briefly detained them.

Read: Police detain Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi at poll chief protest

Wednesday&#39;s protest began after a lunch meeting of lawmakers that Congress organised at a restaurant ​in central Delhi, close to the Jantar Mantar site where authorities permit demonstrations.



Indian police detain opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and several lawmakers for the third time in two days as they demand the resignation of the election chief over revision of voter lists, which disenfranchises 130M citizens, mostly Muslims https://t.co/mg3WB8uuHh
&mdash; TRT World (@trtworld) October 7, 2026


&quot;Yesterday ... Delhi Police stopped us and said you cannot protest here ... so today ... we will go to the designated protest site, sit there, and tell the country that, for us, Gyanesh Kumar is ​not the legitimate commissioner,&quot; Gandhi told reporters, referring to Jantar Mantar.

&quot;The people who have done this [vote theft]&nbsp;​are traitors ... Gyanesh Kumar will have to resign,&quot; he said, before boarding a bus that was to take the lawmakers to Jantar &zwnj;Mantar.

New ⁠political challenge to Modi

Lawmakers in the bus held posters against the windows that said, &quot;no vote theft, no democracy theft&quot;, and &quot;election commission, not BJP commission&quot;, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Hundreds of Congress members accompanied the bus on foot amid heavy deployment of police and paramilitary personnel in riot gear. Police also closed ​the road leading to ​Jantar Mantar, forcing the ⁠bus to take a detour.

Gandhi later stepped out of the bus, with a live feed on his party&#39;s YouTube channel showing him standing at the centre of a crowd ​of protesters and security personnel, while his sister Priyanka Vadra and other lawmakers ​sprawled out ⁠on the road.

Visuals showed security personnel hauling Gandhi and Priyanka into separate vehicles and taking them away.



लोकतंत्र के गद्दारो को बचाने के लिए बचे-खुचे लोकतंत्र को घसीटा गया है।

हिसाब होगा - एक भी देशद्रोही बख्शा नहीं जाएगा। pic.twitter.com/QbngN1p9y6
&mdash; Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 6, 2026


There was no immediate comment from the police on the detentions.

The demonstrations present a new political challenge to Modi midway into his ⁠third term, ​just months after similar protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party youth movement forced the resignation of his education minister over exam paper leaks.

Read More: India&#39;s Gen Z demands poll chief&#39;s resignation

Kumar has not commented on the voter lists issue, but the ​Election Commission and BJP have denied accusations of wrongdoing.]]>
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			<title>Bangladesh ex-PM loses right to appeal</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2628034/bangladesh-ex-pm-loses-right-to-appeal</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2628034/bangladesh-ex-pm-loses-right-to-appeal#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 08 Sep 26 00:35:53 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Anadulo Agency]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2628034</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Bangladesh&#39;s former premier Sheikh Hasina can no longer appeal her death sentence after the 30-day deadline for filing an appeal expired, the chief prosecutor said on Monday.

&quot;Those sentenced to death by the court, including Sheikh Hasina, who have not appealed within 30 days of the verdict, will no longer have the opportunity to do so,&quot; Md Aminul Islam told reporters.

Last November, Hasina was sentenced to death by the Dhaka-based International Crimes Tribunal for crimes against humanity and for her role in a brutal crackdown during the 2024 uprising that ousted her government.

At least 1,400 people were killed and thousands were injured in the uprising by Hasina&#39;s security forces and supporters of her Awami League party, according to the UN.

&quot;Now, what is left is the execution of the verdict,&quot; said the prosecutor.

However, he said, the &quot;government has the absolute inherent power to suspend or cancel any punishment&quot;.

She is in self-imposed exile, living in India after fleeing the country.]]>
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			<title>We have to keep Netanyahu 'a little bit sane', says Trump</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2614354/we-have-to-keep-netanyahu-a-little-bit-sane-says-trump</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2614354/we-have-to-keep-netanyahu-a-little-bit-sane-says-trump#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 21 Jun 26 02:21:50 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[APP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2614354</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[.]]>
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				<![CDATA[US President Donald Trump delivered a blunt critique of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a press interview, stating their relationship is &quot;good, but we have to keep him a little bit sane&quot;

The remark came when Trump was asked by Axious, an American media outlet, about his ties with the Israeli premier amid ongoing efforts to end fighting in Lebanon.

Trump asserted he can control Israeli military actions in Lebanon because officials there &quot;do as I say.&quot;

He highlighted American military superiority, saying that the US provides &quot;the guns&quot; and &quot;B-2 bombers,&quot; and claimed that without his intervention, Israel would have been &quot;eviscerated,&quot; echoing his remarks earlier this week asserting: &quot;Without the United States, there would be no Israel.&quot;

Earlier this week, the US president said he advised Netanyahu to use a &quot;softer touch&quot; in Leb-anon, saying Israel does not have to &quot;knock down a building every time somebody walks into it that&#39;s from Hezbollah,&quot; referring to frequent Israeli bombing of Lebanon, including many residential areas.]]>
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			<title>Five dead in South Korea aerospace plant blast</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611013/five-dead-in-south-korea-aerospace-plant-blast</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2611013/five-dead-in-south-korea-aerospace-plant-blast#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 26 22:32:55 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
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				<![CDATA[Five people have died and two others were injured on Monday after an explosion and fire on a South Korean production line for rocket propellant at a factory operated by Hanwha Aerospace in the city of Daejeon, officials said.

The two survivors, including one who was badly burned, had escaped from the facility themselves, a fire official told a briefing.

&quot;Authorities have yet to identify the victims because their bodies were severely damaged,&quot; a health official told the same briefing.

A fire official said that an explosion had triggered the blaze, though the cause of the blast was still being investigated. The blast appeared to have occurred while water was being used to clean explosive material from tools making rocket propellant, a Hanwha official told a company briefing.

&quot;We bow our heads in apology to the victims and their bereaved families,&quot; said Chief Executive Officer Son Jae-il, pledging to cooperate fully with authorities to determine the cause of the accident.

The five dead included two temporary workers in their 20s and all were employed by Hanwha, the company said.]]>
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			<title>Israeli strikes kill seven in Gaza</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610261/israeli-strikes-kill-seven-in-gaza</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2610261/israeli-strikes-kill-seven-in-gaza#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 26 May 26 18:45:04 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
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				<![CDATA[Israeli strikes killed at least seven Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday including five in a refugee camp and two in a car, health officials said.

Medics and residents said an Israeli drone fired a missile at people who came out of their homes when an Israeli-backed Palestinian militia tried to storm an area east of Maghazi camp.

As well as at least five fatalities, several people were injured.

The Israeli military, which has been fighting Hamas in the Palestinian territory since October 2023, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on that incident.

Incursions by Israeli-backed armed gangs, whom Hamas brands &quot;Israeli collaborators&quot;, have escalated in past weeks.

Leaders of those groups, who operate in areas under Israeli control, say they aim to topple Hamas rule.

Later on Tuesday, an Israeli airstrike struck a vehicle in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, killing two people and wounding several others, medics said.

The Israeli military told Reuters it was a &quot;targeted strike&quot; and provided no further details.]]>
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			<title>Trump rules out any deal except ‘unconditional surrender’ as Iran vows to defend its ‘dignity and sovereignty’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2596085/trump-says-not-currently-considering-us-ground-forces-in-iran</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2596085/trump-says-not-currently-considering-us-ground-forces-in-iran#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 26 05:23:32 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
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				<![CDATA[Iran says some countries have begun mediation efforts amid retaliatory strikes]]>
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				<![CDATA[United States President &zwnj;Donald Trump demanded Iran&#39;s &quot;unconditional surrender&quot; on Friday and ruled out any deal, a dramatic escalation of his demands a week into the war he launched alongside Israel.

Trump made the remarks on social media just hours after Iran&#39;s president announced that unspecified countries had ​begun mediation efforts in one of the first signals of any diplomatic initiative to end ​the conflict.

&quot;After ⁠that, and the selection of a great and acceptable leader(s), we, and many of our wonderful ​and very brave allies and partners, will work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of ​destruction, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before.&quot;



https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116182551337254643



On Thursday, Trump had told Reuters in a telephone interview that he was demanding the right to help select Iran&#39;s new supreme leader, to replace Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed ​in the war&#39;s first day.

Israel pounded the Lebanese capital Beirut on Friday after ordering an unprecedented evacuation ​of the entire southern suburbs of the city, in a major expansion of the war.

It carried out heavy air strikes on Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut and started a &quot;broad-scale&quot; wave of attacks against infrastructure in Tehran, while Iran said it targeted the heart of Tel Aviv with missiles.

Explosions and flashes lit up the night sky over Beirut&#39;s southern suburbs. The Israeli military said it had carried out 26 waves of strikes overnight in the southern suburbs, saying targets included Iran-backed Hezbollah militia command centres and weapons storage facilities.

It also launched a new &zwnj;wave ⁠of attacks on Iran, saying 50 of its warplanes had struck a bunker beneath the destroyed Tehran compound of Khamenei, still being used by Iran&#39;s leadership after he was killed.

Iran says some countries have begun mediation efforts amid retaliatory strikes

Earlier, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian revealed that some countries had begun mediation efforts as the Islamic Republic continued its retaliatory strikes against Israel and US military bases in the Gulf region.

&ldquo;Some countries have begun efforts at mediation,&rdquo; Pezeshkian wrote in a post on his official X handle.

&ldquo;Our response to them is clear: we are committed to lasting peace in the region, but we have not the slightest doubt in defending the dignity and sovereignty of our country,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;The intended audience for mediation should be those who, by underestimating the Iranian people, have stoked the flames.&rdquo;



Some countries have begun mediation efforts. Let&#39;s be clear: we are committed to lasting peace in the region yet we have no hesitation in defending our nation&#39;s dignity &amp; sovereignty. Mediation should address those who underestimated the Iranian people and ignited this conflict https://t.co/MxWCuNYOYR
&mdash; Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) March 6, 2026


Iran&rsquo;s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Kheibar missiles were fired towards Tel Aviv as part of the 21st wave of its &ldquo;Operation True Promise 4&quot;. In a statement, the IRGC said the wave began with a combined missile and drone operation targeting sites in the heart of Tel Aviv.

Overnight, Iranian drones attacked the US Al Udied airbase in Qatar, the biggest US base in the Middle East, Qatari officials said. There were no reported casualties.

The IRGC said Iranian forces had targeted the Ramat David air base and a radar site in Israel, the Al-Adiri camp in Kuwait where US forces are stationed, and a drone attack on a base hosting US troops in Erbil, Iraq.

A Guards spokesperson said new initiatives and weapons would soon be deployed to confront Israeli and U.S. aggression, without giving details.

&quot;This was an &#39;existential war&#39; for Iran, leaving us with no choice but to respond wherever American attacks originate from,&rdquo; Iran&rsquo;s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said at the Raisina Dialogues conference in New Delhi on Friday.

Hezbollah, in a message published in Hebrew on its Telegram channel early on Friday, warned Israelis to leave towns within five kilometres of the border.

&quot;Your military&#39;s aggression against Lebanese sovereignty and safe citizens, the destruction of civilian infrastructure and the expulsion campaign it is carrying out will not go unchallenged,&quot; Hezbollah said.

At least 1,230 people have been killed in Iran since the fighting began a week ago, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society.

The Lebanese health ministry has reported 123 people have been killed and another 683 wounded as a result of Israeli attacks this week. Its figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. There have been no reported fatalities in Israel as a result of Hezbollah attacks.

Azerbaijan was preparing unspecified retaliatory measures on Thursday after it said four Iranian drones crossed its border and injured four &zwnj;people in the Nakhchivan exclave. Iran, which has a significant Azeri minority, denied it targeted its neighbour.

Ground troops in Iran

Trump said on Thursday it would be a &quot;waste of time&quot; currently to consider sending US ground troops into Iran, NBC News reported, dismissing the Iranian foreign minister&#39;s warning that such a move would spell disaster for invaders.

&quot;It&#39;s a waste of time. They&#39;ve lost everything. They&#39;ve lost their navy. They&#39;ve lost everything they can lose,&quot; he told NBC by telephone, adding that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi&#39;s earlier remark that Iran was ready for a US or Israeli ground invasion was a &quot;wasted comment&quot;.



US President Trump said Iran is being demolished &ldquo;ahead of schedule and at levels people have never seen before&rdquo;, claiming the country now has &ldquo;no air force, no air defence&rdquo; and the air force is &ldquo;gone&rdquo;.

🔴 Follow our LIVE coverage: https://t.co/q1Q18tbGFl pic.twitter.com/ILTEFBYY5m
&mdash; Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) March 6, 2026


Trump also indicated he is keen to see Iran&#39;s leadership structure removed and that &quot;we want to go in and clean out everything&quot; quickly.

&quot;We don&#39;t want someone who would rebuild over a 10-year period,&quot; he said. He added that he had ideas for a new leader but declined to name anyone.

Trump said earlier he would &quot;have to be involved&quot; in the appointment of Iran&#39;s next leader after US-Israeli strikes killed Khamenei when the conflict began on Saturday. He rejected the possibility that Khamenei&#39;s son Mojtaba could succeed his slain father, dismissing him as a &quot;lightweight&quot;.

Heavy attacks were reported in Tehran after Israel said it was hitting &quot;regime infrastructure&quot; in a &quot;new phase&quot; of the war it launched with the US against Iran.

Read: Middle East war spreads to Lebanon, Iraq as Israel attacks Tehran

The conflict, now in its seventh day, has seen Iran target Israel, the Gulf states, Cyprus, Turkey, and Azerbaijan. The violence has also spread to the Indian Ocean, where a US submarine sank an Iranian naval ship off the coast of Sri Lanka.

The Iranian ship was invited to take part in the International Fleet Review 2026 in India. The strike killed around 87 sailors.



Welcome! | خوش آمدید!

🇮🇳🤝🇮🇷 Indian Navy welcomes IRIS Dena, of the Iranian Navy, on her arrival at #Visakhapatnam to participate in #IFR2026_India and #MILAN2026, reflecting long-standing cultural links between the two nations.@India_in_Iran #BridgesOfFriendship&hellip; pic.twitter.com/O77v2qNJHJ
&mdash; Eastern Naval Command 🇮🇳 (@IN_HQENC) February 17, 2026


According to former Indian Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal, he wrote in a post on X that, &quot;I am told that as per protocol for this exercise, ships cannot carry any ammunition. It was defenceless.&quot;



The Iranian ship will not be where it was if we had not invited it to talk part in our Milan exercise.

We were the hosts.

I am told that as per protocol for this exercise ships cannot carry any ammunition. It was defenceless.

The Iranian naval personnel had paraded before&hellip; https://t.co/3r8bWFJn8d
&mdash; Kanwal Sibal (@KanwalSibal) March 5, 2026


Araghchi has rejected calls for a ceasefire and stated there was no reason to negotiate with the US. Despite the challenges, Iranian forces continue to retaliate against Israel and its allies. According to Drop Site News, Iran warns that it has not begun using their &quot;new&quot; weapons.

IRGC spokesman Brig. Gen. Ali Mohammad Naeini said, according to Mehr News Agency, &ldquo;The enemy should expect painful blows in every operational wave,&rdquo; he said, adding that Iran&rsquo;s &ldquo;new innovations and weapons&rdquo; have not yet been used on a large scale.



⭕️ Iran warns new weapons have not yet been used

Iran is prepared for a prolonged war and has not yet deployed many of its newest weapons systems, IRGC spokesman Brig. Gen. Ali Mohammad Naeini said, according to Mehr News Agency.

➤ &ldquo;The enemy should expect painful blows in&hellip; https://t.co/54Lc5YXOFe
&mdash; Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) March 6, 2026


US-Israeli escalation

On Friday morning, Iranian media reported heavy strikes in Tehran shortly after Israel&rsquo;s announcement that it was targeting Iran&rsquo;s &quot;regime infrastructure&quot;.

Israel&rsquo;s military chief, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, warned that the US-Israeli campaign had entered the next phase and would &ldquo;further dismantle the regime and its military capabilities&rdquo;.

Zamir also hinted at &quot;additional surprises&quot; to come, but declined to disclose further details. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that &ldquo;firepower over Iran and over Tehran is about to surge dramatically&quot;.



🚨Important: IDF Chief of Staff outlines next phase of war against Iran and Lebanon

▪️On Iran, Israel will escalate strikes aimed at weakening the Iranian state:

&ldquo;We will intensify the blow to the foundations of the regime and its military capabilities. We still have additional&hellip; pic.twitter.com/rJdN0O3UmB
&mdash; Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) March 5, 2026


Iran&rsquo;s Revolutionary Guards responded by launching missiles toward Tel Aviv after an earlier explosion in central Israel caused a fire at a residential building. AFP journalists reported hearing simultaneous explosions in Tel Aviv, while rocket trails lit up the sky in Netanya, further north.

Trump backs Kurds

In the midst of the escalating conflict, Trump expressed support for Iranian Kurdish militias in Iraq, encouraging them to intensify their attacks against Iran.

Speaking to Reuters, Trump stated, &ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s wonderful that they want to do that, I&#39;d be all for it.&rdquo;

These militias, based along the Iran-Iraq border in Iraqi Kurdistan, have been in consultations with the US on launching attacks on Iran&rsquo;s western security forces.

Read more: Iran hits CIA site in Riyadh as US seeks to arm Kurdish forces against Tehran

Security sources reported two Iranian drone strikes on an opposition camp in Iraqi Kurdistan on Thursday, underscoring the rising violence. Iranian Kurdish forces have been preparing for such operations to weaken Iran&rsquo;s military while US and Israeli airstrikes target Iranian installations.

Iran&rsquo;s future leadership

Meanwhile, Hegseth sought to clarify that, despite Trump&rsquo;s comments, there were no changes in the US military&rsquo;s objectives in Iran. &quot;There&rsquo;s no expansion in our objectives. We know exactly what we&rsquo;re trying to achieve,&quot; Hegseth said.

Also read: US investigation points to likely US responsibility in Iran school strike, sources say

Azerbaijan prepares retaliation

Azerbaijan has vowed to retaliate after &quot;Iranian&quot; drones crossed its border and injured four people in the Nakhchivan exclave. President Ilham Aliyev condemned the attacks as an &ldquo;unprovoked act of terror and aggression&rdquo; and vowed to take action.

Hezbollah responds

Hezbollah, an armed force fighting against Israeli aggression in Lebanon, launched missiles in retaliation for the war.

Displaced families are seeking shelter on a beach, facing dire conditions.

Attacks across region

US forces sank an Iranian frigate off the coast of Sri Lanka that had travelled to India to take part in a parade, while Azerbaijan threatened retaliation after a drone attack on an airport. Iran also targeted US bases inside Gulf countries, including Qatar, which intercepted a drone targeting a US base in Al-Udeid. Bahrain reported an alleged attack on a hotel and residential buildings, while Saudi Arabia intercepted three ballistic missiles.

Casualties mount in Iran, Lebanon

In Lebanon, 77 have died. Thousands have fled southern Beirut, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. Additionally, two paramedics have been killed in Shiraz, Iran, according to Al Jazeera.



UPDATE: Two paramedics killed in Shiraz, Iran: Report

🔴 LIVE updates: https://t.co/C3iSVX4pRP pic.twitter.com/CXHJVw5D20
&mdash; Al Jazeera Breaking News (@AJENews) March 6, 2026


More than 3,000 homes in Iran were damaged by US-Israeli attacks, according to the Red Crescent.

Pir Hossein Kolivand, president of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, says the US-Israeli attacks have damaged 3,643 civilian sites, including 3,090 homes. Also damaged are 528 commercial and service centres, 14 medical or pharmaceutical facilities and nine Red Crescent facilities, he said.

Most of the targets, he added, were in &ldquo;densely populated residential areas&rdquo;.

Drop Site News reports that 20 more Iranian civilians were killed and 30 injured after US&ndash;Israel strikes hit the Zibashahr residential area of Shiraz, a major city in southwestern Iran about 420 miles south of Tehran, the acting head of the political deputy office of the Fars Province governorate said, according to Islamic State News Agencies.



🚨 New: 20 Iranian civilians killed in U.S.&ndash;Israel strikes on residential area in Shiraz

At least 20 civilians were killed and 30 injured after U.S.&ndash;Israel strikes hit the Zibashahr residential area of Shiraz &ndash; a major city in southwestern Iran about 420 miles south of Tehran &ndash;&hellip; https://t.co/TRKWPIvfDd
&mdash; Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) March 6, 2026


Prolonged conflict preparation

US officials, including Admiral Brad Cooper, head of Central Command, confirmed that strikes from Iran have significantly diminished, with ballistic missile attacks decreasing by 90% and drone attacks down by 83%. However, Pentagon officials reaffirmed their commitment to the ongoing campaign, emphasising the availability of sufficient munitions for a sustained effort.

Global disruptions

The conflict has disrupted global markets, energy supplies, and travel. While oil prices have surged, global logistics and air transport have been heavily affected. Iran claims control over the Strait of Hormuz, a key energy chokepoint, but the US has signalled it may escort ships through the area if necessary.]]>
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			<title>Govt hikes petrol by Rs1.2, cuts diesel by 17 paisas for Oct 15</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634863/govt-increases-petrol-by-rs12-cuts-diesel-by-17-paisas-for-oct-15</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634863/govt-increases-petrol-by-rs12-cuts-diesel-by-17-paisas-for-oct-15#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 17:40:13 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Petrol price increases to Rs393.86 per litre, while HSD will cost Rs396.65 under daily price mechanism]]>
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				<![CDATA[The federal government on Wednesday increased the price of petrol by Rs1.2 per litre, while decreasing the price of high-speed diesel (HSD) by 17 paisas per litre for October 15.

According to a notification issued by the Petroleum Division, the price of petrol was fixed at Rs393.86 per litre, while HSD would cost Rs396.65 per litre for Thursday.

The latest revision comes a day after the government decreased the price of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs2.71 and 3 paisas per litre, respectively, for October 14.



The government has revised the prices of petroleum products for Thursday@Official_PetDiv #RadioPakistan #News https://t.co/bsKRhWfzBM pic.twitter.com/cudBQVtC4Y
&mdash; Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) October 14, 2026



Read: Govt cuts petrol by Rs2.71, diesel by 3 paisas for Oct 14

On July 17, the government announced a new pricing mechanism under which petroleum product prices would be reviewed and notified daily, replacing the weekly pricing mechanism, as renewed tensions between the United States and Iran continued to drive volatility in global oil markets and raise concerns over fuel supplies.

On September 13, PM Shehbaz announced a special relief scheme offering Rs100 per litre off petrol for motorcycles, three-wheeler rickshaws and cars with engines up to 800cc, in an attempt to shield lower-income consumers from the impact of rising petroleum prices.

Under the proposal, an estimated 11.8 million beneficiaries would be covered. Around 10 million two-wheeler users and 800,000 three-wheeler users would be entitled to relief on 20 litres of fuel per month, translating into a maximum monthly benefit of Rs2,000 per beneficiary.

Another one million users of cars up to 800cc would receive relief on 30 litres per month, providing them with a maximum benefit of Rs3,000 each.

On Sept 17, the government reintroduced austerity and fuel conservation measures amid rising fuel prices, tightening business operating hours and restricting public events.

Under the measures, notified with immediate effect, shops, markets, shopping malls, bazaars, departmental stores, grocery stores, general stores and kiryana shops would close by 9pm throughout the week, according to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division.

Marriage halls, marquees and other commercial venues hosting festive events would close by 10pm, while restaurants, cafes, eateries, food outlets and standalone fruit and vegetable shops would be allowed to operate until 11pm. Takeaway and home delivery services would remain exempt from the timing restrictions.

Global geopolitical developments continue to pose significant risks. International oil prices are influenced by decisions taken by OPEC+, conflicts in the Middle East, sanctions on oil-producing nations, and disruptions in critical shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. Any interruption in these supply chains can immediately increase crude oil prices and freight costs. Since Pakistan imports the majority of its petroleum requirements, these developments quickly translate into higher domestic fuel prices.

Oil prices steadied on Wednesday after rising on an attack, opens new tab on the ​headquarters of Saudi Arabia&#39;s state-owned oil company and Iranian comments about new tactics deployed to target ships and keep oil prices &zwnj;high to influence US midterm elections.

Brent crude futures were up 13 cents at $105.56 a barrel by 1325 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude gained $1.25, or 1.33%, to $95.39 for a more than two-week high.

&quot;Attacks on ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz and military strikes between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis are supporting prices as market participants remain concerned ​about lower oil exports from the region,&quot; said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo, adding that exports have held up so far.]]>
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			<title>Pakistan Hockey League 2027 launched</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634846/Pakistan-Hockey-League-2027-launched</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634846/Pakistan-Hockey-League-2027-launched#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 14:43:07 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Sports Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[New league aims to attract investment and elevate standard of national sport]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan on Wednesday launched Pakistan Hockey League (PHL) at a ceremony in Islamabad in a bid to revive the country&rsquo;s national sport.

Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) said that it is a joint initiative of the federation and Media Cast, designed to bring together international players, Pakistani talent, corporate sponsors and team owners under a professional competition structure.

Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, chairman of the Prime Minister&#39;s Youth Programme and chief guest at the launch ceremony, reaffirmed the government&#39;s commitment to supporting hockey&#39;s revival and encouraging investment in the sport.

He welcomed efforts to bring the government, private sector and hockey community together, expressing confidence that the league and other development initiatives would help restore Pakistan&#39;s standing in international hockey.

Khan said the government would continue to support initiatives aimed at developing the sport, nurturing young talent and creating new opportunities for Pakistani players.

PHF President Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani said the federation was committed to sustained reforms, investment and institutional development to strengthen the sport&#39;s foundations.

He said priorities included improving playing standards, upgrading infrastructure, attracting corporate investment, expanding facilities and providing players with better incentives and opportunities.

Wani stressed that restoring Pakistan hockey would require professional management, long-term planning and stronger partnerships between the government and private sector.

&quot;Our commitment is to bring investment into hockey, improve infrastructure, provide better incentives for our players and create an environment in which Pakistan hockey can once again progress and succeed,&quot; he said.

Salman Danish, owner of Media Cast and a partner in the league, said the company would work with the PHF to organise the competition professionally, attract corporate partners and sponsors, and develop a sustainable commercial model for the sport.

Organisers said the league would seek to increase commercial interest in hockey, raise competitive standards and create sustainable investment opportunities. It is also intended to reconnect younger generations with Pakistan&#39;s rich hockey history and traditions.

Pakistan, a former powerhouse in international hockey, has struggled to maintain its position among the sport&#39;s leading nations. The league&#39;s success will depend on attracting investment, establishing a competitive structure and translating commercial interest into long-term development opportunities for players.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Canada-returned elderly couple found dead at Karachi home</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634870/canada-returned-elderly-couple-found-dead-at-karachi-home</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634870/canada-returned-elderly-couple-found-dead-at-karachi-home#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 19:46:29 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Munawwar Khan]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[No sharp-edged weapon injuries found on couple dead bodies; police await post-mortem findings]]>
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				<![CDATA[The bodies of an elderly couple, who had returned from Canada a few months ago, were found at their house in North Karachi, with the cause of death yet to be ascertained, police said.

According to a statement issued by the District Central police spokesperson, the bodies were found at house R-93 in Sector 11-C of North Karachi, opposite B Amma Park, within the jurisdiction of the Sir Syed police station.

The deceased were identified as 70-year-old Muhammad Yameen, son of Khuda Bakhsh, and his 65-year-old wife, Nafis Akhtar. The couple had returned from Canada some time ago and were living at the house, the police said.

Read: Five members of a family found dead inside home in Karachi&#39;s Malir

Their bodies were taken&nbsp;to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medico-legal formalities. An initial examination found no marks of injuries caused by a sharp-edged weapon on either body, contrary to earlier reports that the couple had been found with their throats slit, the police spokesperson said.

However, blood had flowed from their noses and ears and dried on the floor. Police suspected that excessive bleeding might have caused their deaths, while the possibility that they had been given a poisonous substance was also being investigated.

Sir Syed Station House Officer (SHO) Irfan Asif said the cause of death could not be immediately established. He added that poisoning was one possibility, but it was too early to reach a conclusion and the post-mortem report would be needed to determine the cause of death.

The incident came to light when a close relative of Yameen visited the couple but received no response from inside the house. The police were subsequently informed.

Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Fareed Khan said the bodies appeared to be more than 18 hours old. Police were obtaining footage from closed-circuit television cameras installed in the area to gather further information about the incident.

Also Read: Mother, three children brutally murdered

Investigators were also told that workers had been visiting the house for repair work. The couple had last been seen outside the house on Tuesday evening, according to information gathered by the police.

The house, a ground-plus-one structure with a shop, had reportedly been owned by the couple for several years. They planned to sell it and return to Canada to join their three children. The house had recently been vacated by a tenant, and repair work was under way. There was little furniture or other household material inside.

Police recovered mobile phones from the house but found no evidence of robbery, the report said.

Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar took notice of the incident and sought details from the senior superintendent of police for District Central.]]>
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			<title>‘Very unhealthy’ 210 air quality score chokes Lahore</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634855/very-unhealthy-210-air-quality-score-chokes-lahore</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634855/very-unhealthy-210-air-quality-score-chokes-lahore#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 17:02:30 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Imran Adnan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634855</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Punjab drowns in poor air quality, with Kot Addu taking the lead]]>
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				<![CDATA[Lahore recorded a &ldquo;very unhealthy&rdquo; air quality level, with the US Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 210 at around 10pm, while the worst reading of 298 was recorded at the Urban Unit in Lahore Cantonment, according to IQAir data on Wednesday.

The website also quoted Kot Addu&rsquo;s AQI score at a dismal 212, advising residents to limit outdoor movement, wear masks, keep windows closed and use air purifiers where possible.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Environment Protection Agency (EPA) recorded comparatively modest readings of the air quality across the province. It noted Kot Addu&rsquo;s AQI at 183, the highest in Punjab, followed by Vehari at 171, Jhelum at 169 and Sahiwal at 162. Multan and Pakpattan each recorded an AQI of 159, followed by Gujranwala at 157, Dera Ghazi Khan at 154 and Bhakkar at 153.

Sheikhupura recorded an AQI of 147, followed by Lahore at 143. Faisalabad and Khushab each registered 137, while Okara recorded 133, Bahawalpur 127 and Mandi Bahauddin 125.

Wazirabad recorded an AQI of 124, followed by Sialkot at 118, Sargodha at 115 and Murree at 114. Mianwali registered 105, Talagang 82 and Rawalpindi 68, while Jhang recorded 52 and Nankana Sahib had the lowest reading at 40.



Get hourly AQI updates, area-wise rankings, and health advisories from Punjab EPA&#39;s official website.https://t.co/2wAZKiJMXP#epapunjab #publicawareness #cleanair #aqi #aqilahore pic.twitter.com/xsHWKjL4nI
&mdash; @EPCCDPUNJAB (@EPCCDpunjab) October 11, 2026


An advisory urged people vulnerable to air pollution to monitor their health, maintain healthy eating habits and avoid smoking. It also recommended monitoring health indicators, including oxygen levels and blood pressure, and keeping emergency equipment, such as a nebuliser, available if needed.

The agency urged people experiencing respiratory problems to consult a doctor.

Similarly vulnerable groups, including children, older people and those with existing respiratory or cardiovascular conditions, were advised to limit outdoor activities, particularly when pollution levels were high.

Read: Low wind speed aggravates pollution risk

Separately, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast rain, windstorms and thunderstorms in upper and central Punjab on Wednesday as a westerly wave affected most upper and central parts of the country.

PMD said heavy rain and hailstorms were possible at a few places.

The department said isolated rainfall was also forecast in Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), Kashmir and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). It warned that strong winds, hail and lightning could damage weak structures, including the roofs and walls of mud houses, electric poles, billboards, vehicles and solar panels.



Weather Update for Next 24 Hours
October 14, 2026
For More Information Please Visit the Link Below:https://t.co/0RoxDtyuyC#PakistanWeather #WeatherUpdate #WeatherForecast #PMD #HotAndHumid #GilgitBaltistan #Kashmir #WeatherAlert #Pakistan #Mausam pic.twitter.com/UZOiepoAXo
&mdash; Pak Met Department محکمہ موسمیات (@pmdgov) October 14, 2026


It also said standing crops could be affected by the weather.

The Met Office further said most parts of the country were expected to experience mainly dry weather on Thursday, although isolated rain, wind and thunderstorms were likely in north-eastern Punjab, G-B, Kashmir and adjoining areas.

&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>China, Pakistan begin first-ever joint army training exercise</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634868/china-pakistan-begin-first-ever-joint-army-training-exercise</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634868/china-pakistan-begin-first-ever-joint-army-training-exercise#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 19:29:11 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Anadolu Agency]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634868</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Exercise will focus on joint counter-terrorism operations in high-altitude areas, skills training in UAV operation]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[China and Pakistan began their first-ever joint army training exercise on Wednesday in northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, according to Chinese state media.

The opening ceremony of Karakoram 2026 was held at a training base in Korla city, according to the China Military Bugle, the official media account of Beijing&#39;s armed forces.

The two sides exchanged counter-terrorism experience, and Pakistani troops observed some Chinese weapons and equipment.

Read: Pakistan, China conduct joint counter-terrorism exercise



China, Pakistan Kick Off First Joint Army Training in Xinjiang

The opening ceremony for the first-ever China-Pakistan joint army training exercise &quot;Karakoram 2026&quot; was held at a training base in Korla, Northwest China&#39;s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on October 14, 2026.&hellip; pic.twitter.com/Bbl9dppHPf
&mdash; China Military Bugle (@ChinaMilBugle) October 14, 2026


Focusing on joint counter-terrorism operations in high-altitude areas, the exercise would include skills training in UAV operation, on-the-move target search and firing, and long-range sniping, and would cover joint command and live-force exercises.



#GTMilitaryWatch First #China-#Pakistan army joint training features an all-Chinese equipment lineup: Type 11 assault vehicles, Type 08 IFVs and more. An expert said the choice of wheeled vehicles suits the plateau, and the all-Chinese lineup signals deep trust and possible&hellip; pic.twitter.com/u6D25kogX5
&mdash; Global Times (@globaltimesnews) October 14, 2026


The training would help the two sides deepen cooperation and strengthen interoperability in counter-terrorism.

According to China Central Television&#39;s&nbsp;military channel, the weapons and equipment in the training were provided by China and included &quot;Type 191 rifles, Type 201 squad machine guns, Type 11 armoured assault vehicles, Type 08 infantry fighting vehicles, as well as artillery, unmanned and anti-unmanned systems&quot;.

Pakistan and China enjoy longstanding, time-tested defence cooperation rooted in mutual trust and strategic partnership.

On May 8, joint patrol exercises were conducted between the Khunjerab Security Force and the Chinese military at the Khunjerab Pass border in Hunza.

Read More: Joint patrol held with China at Khunjerab Pass

The purpose of the joint activity was to further strengthen Pakistan-China border security, promote mutual cooperation, and reinforce friendly relations between the two neighbouring countries.

On December 3, 2025, the Pakistan Army and the People&#39;s Liberation Army commenced the joint military exercise Warrior-IX, the ninth edition in the series of bilateral counterterrorism exercises conducted annually between the two countries.

The exercise focused on Counter Terrorism operations to enhance interoperability, refine professional skills, and exchange best practices in modern warfare.]]>
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			<title>Strait of Hormuz traffic plunges once again amid new wave of Houthi attacks</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634754/iran-shifting-tactics-to-step-up-attacks-on-shipping-before-us-vote-officials-say</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634754/iran-shifting-tactics-to-step-up-attacks-on-shipping-before-us-vote-officials-say#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 04:46:55 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634754</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Iran says container ship sinks after hitting mine in Strait of Hormuz]]>
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				<![CDATA[Crude oil and petroleum exports from the Middle East sharply dropped over the past week as Yemen&#39;s&nbsp;Houthi militias intensified their attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting regional shipping lanes.

Maritime transit in the region has suffered drastically since the US and Israel&rsquo;s pre-emptive joint strikes on Iran on February&nbsp;28, followed by Tehran&rsquo;s effective closure of the vital waterway and a subsequent American naval blockade.

Attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz reached a new peak this year over the past week.

At least 14 incidents of attacks, attempted strikes, and obstructions were recorded in and around the Strait of Hormuz on October&nbsp;5-12, while six ships were attacked on Monday alone, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations and global maritime security sources.

Commercial vessel traffic via the strategic chokepoint fell to its lowest since July 22, affecting outward energy flows.

Oil, petroleum, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports from the Middle East plummeted in the wake of the war, and while there have been signs of partial recovery, intensifying security risks sparked concerns.

Houthis increased their attacks on Saudi Arabia, threatening transit through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.

Middle Eastern crude oil, petroleum, and liquid chemical exports &mdash; including shipments from the Gulf of Oman and the Red Sea &mdash; fell from 21.1 million barrels per day on October&nbsp;8 to 6.7 million barrels on October&nbsp;11, 10.4 million barrels on Monday, and 8.3 million barrels on Tuesday, according to Kpler.

The weekly average of 17 million barrels remained below the pre-war volume of around 23.3 million barrels per day.

Only six commercial ships were able to transit the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, while previously 32 ships passed through on October&nbsp;8, 24 on October&nbsp;9, 11 on October&nbsp;10, and 12 on October&nbsp;11.

Meanwhile, vessel transit through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait also dropped, with 35 vessels passing through on October&nbsp;8, 39 on October&nbsp;10, 46 on October&nbsp;11, and 32 on Monday.

The attempts by the Houthis to establish a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia to seize control of the Bab el-Mandeb corridor added a new volatile dimension to the wider conflict.

Large-scale supply disruptions across both the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait could pressure global energy supplies and market stability even further, analysts say.

Iran says container ship sinks after hitting mine in Strait of Hormuz

The IRGC navy said on Wednesday that a container attempting to &quot;pass through the unauthorised and high-risk route of the Strait of Hormuz struck a naval mine, exploded, and caught fire severely,&quot; according to IRNA.



IRGC Navy: A violating container ship that intended to pass through the unauthorized and high-risk route of the Strait of Hormuz struck a naval mine, exploded, and caught fire severely. pic.twitter.com/fiJJM445ay
&mdash; IRNA News Agency ☫ (@IrnaEnglish) October 14, 2026


&quot;This ship, carrying more than 2,500 containers, sank on Wednesday morning in the southern waters of the Strait of Hormuz due to the intensity of the fire.&quot;

Trump, Netanyahu weigh new Iran strikes before elections despite White House denial: report

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed launching a major new operation against Iran ahead of upcoming elections in both countries, the Axios news site reported on Tuesday.

The report, citing two US officials and other sources with knowledge of the matter, said the discussions took place before Trump publicly stated that he would not strike Iran before the US midterms. Netanyahu raised Israeli intelligence suggesting that Iran was working to rebuild its nuclear program, including possibly operating the Pickaxe Mountain site for uranium enrichment, according to one source.

A White House official called it &quot;false&quot; that the two leaders discussed resuming the war, claiming that Trump has ruled out attacks before the midterms in November.

Both militaries remain on alert and are finalising preparations in case Trump changes course, sources said. One US official described Trump&#39;s stance as noncommittal, saying he told Netanyahu to prepare without making a commitment.

According to the report, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and the US Central Command leadership are the strongest advocates of renewed strikes, while most advisers favour continued sanctions and economic pressure.

Israeli Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir reportedly told US Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine that fighting within three weeks could force the postponement of Israel&#39;s October 27 vote, given likely Iranian missile retaliation.

Qatari mediators are still awaiting Iran&#39;s response to the latest US counterproposal, the report added.

Three fishermen injured in drone incident off southern Iran

Three fishermen were injured after a fishing boat was struck in an incident involving an unidentified drone near Sirik in southern Iran&rsquo;s Hormozgan province, the provincial governor&rsquo;s office says, according to Reuters, citing Tasnim news agency.

Tasnim cites local sources as saying a fishing boat was hit in what they described as an attack by a US drone, although Iranian authorities have not officially confirmed the circumstances of the incident or who was responsible.

&lsquo;They know what will happen&rsquo;: IRGC says US would never dare to put boots on ground in Iran

Senior commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says the United States never dares to carry out a land invasion of Iran, according to Press TV.



&lsquo;They know what will happen&rsquo;: IRGC says US never dares put boots on ground in Iran https://t.co/eIoBoc5fj6
&mdash; Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) October 14, 2026


Even the most senior officials in Washington know that such a scenario would lead to devastating consequences for the US military, Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi said.

Naqdi, who serves as a high-profile advisor to the IRGC chief commander, made the comments on Tuesday in response to speculations that the US would deploy troops to Iran months after its joint aerial aggression with Israel against the country failed for good.

Iran shifting tactics to step up attacks on shipping before US vote, officials say 

Iran is deploying new tactics to target ships sailing through the Strait of Hormuz as it seeks ​to keep oil prices high and influence the US midterm elections, two senior Iranian officials told Reuters.

Tehran has tried to exert control over the Strait of Hormuz since the US &zwnj;and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28. It has restricted passage through the waterway, which carried about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade before the war, in an effort to gain leverage over Washington.

Its threats and attacks have severely curtailed traffic through the strait, driving up oil prices, though some oil has continued to transit.

The two officials declined to provide details of the new strategy, but one said that Iran had started using different offensive tactics against vessels it considered in violation of its ​restrictions about 10 days ago, adding that this had led to an increase in attacks on such ships.

The strategy included a change in the type as well as the pace of attacks, with ​one goal being to influence the outcome of the US vote, they said.

&quot;The aim is to frustrate efforts by the United States and its allies to bring ⁠down global oil prices,&quot; one of the two officials said.

Read: Iran will pursue diplomacy to counter sanctions, secure national interests: Iranian FM

The decision to adopt the new strategy had been taken at the highest levels of Iran&rsquo;s leadership and was fully coordinated across the country&rsquo;s ruling system, the officials ​said.

Iran using spotters

A US military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Iran had changed tactics in one significant way: after the US destroyed much of Iran&rsquo;s radar capabilities, Iran&#39;s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had started ​using unarmed spotters in small boats to identify potential targets, including US naval vessels, the official said.

Last week, in a previously unreported incident, the US military determined that Iranian spotters were operating from a dhow, calling in targets to the IRGC, the official said. US forces confronted the vessel, told its occupants to abandon ship and then destroyed it. There were no casualties, the US official said.

Unwilling to risk its remaining fast boats, Iran had been unable to prevent a ramp-up in oil exports through ​the strait, the official said, particularly after US strikes devastated its navy.

The war &mdash; and its $3 billion monthly price tag &mdash; has become a key issue on the US campaign trail for November&#39;s midterm elections, which will decide control of ​Congress.

US President Donald Trump has been weighing next steps against Iran, but has said he will not attack again before the vote.

The US has meanwhile been pressing its own naval blockade of Iranian ports and extending sanctions as it tries to pile economic pressure &zwnj;on Tehran to ⁠reach a deal to end the conflict.

The standoff over Hormuz has left global energy markets exposed to further disruption, with the threat of attacks and high shipping and insurance costs complicating efforts to restore normal traffic.

In recent days, attacks on commercial ships still sailing through the strait have surged to their highest level since the war began, according to independent data.

There have been at least five incidents in the past 48 hours involving tankers and other commercial ships around the Hormuz area, including drone strikes, according to data analysis from maritime security sources and incidents reported to the British navy-affiliated agency United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

Read more: Iran says reviewing US proposals for talks as indirect messages continue

That approximately mirrored the rate of attacks on October 3-5, ​pointing to a new escalation, according to data from ​the UN shipping agency, the International Maritime Organisation.

&quot;There ⁠is a tempo increase in strikes, which looks deliberate,&quot; one maritime security source said.

Attacks over an expanded area

As part of the new strategy, Tehran will also expand the geographical scope of its operations beyond the Strait of Hormuz to the Gulf of Oman and waters further afield, the officials said.

Analysis by maritime security sources based on ​attacks reported to UKMTO and maritime security companies in the region suggests this may already be happening. They show Iran targeting ships in areas beyond the ​Strait of Hormuz, including waters off ⁠the coast of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, in recent days.



UKMTO WARNING 171-26

Click here to view the full warning⤵️https://t.co/dwpZ53A0Wa#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/swko5njXqh
&mdash; UKMTO Operations Centre (@UK_MTO) October 13, 2026


The second Iranian official added that Tehran would not allow Trump to bring down oil prices before the November elections.

&quot;Just when they think they are getting close to the point where prices will fall, we will push them away from it. This is a game of chess,&rdquo; the second official said.

&quot;Such vessels would be safe nowhere, even outside the Strait of Hormuz.&quot;

The Pentagon and Iran&#39;s Foreign Ministry did ⁠not immediately respond ​to requests for comment.

Complete closure of Hormuz soon

Both Iranian officials said Tehran is moving towards a situation in which ​no vessel violating its restrictions would be able to pass through the strait. &quot;It will be complete closure soon,&quot; one of the officials said.

In its latest report on Sunday, the US Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC) said the threat to merchant shipping in the Strait of ​Hormuz remained &quot;severe&quot;, the second-highest level.

&quot;IRGC attacks, attempted attacks, and/or harassment activity persisted, including UAV overflight, targeted surveillance of merchant shipping, and occasional VHF hailing,&quot; JMIC said.

Trump warns of further action against Iran

US President Donald Trump signalled further action against Iran during a campaign rally on Tuesday in the state of Alaska.

&ldquo;Wait till you see what we do to Iran. We&#39;re going to do a number. We sort of had it. You know we&#39;ve had it,&rdquo; Trump told supporters in Wasilla, where he was campaigning for Republican candidates ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.

&ldquo;They&rsquo;re just waiting. They&rsquo;re waiting,&rdquo; he said.

&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve had it, but you know it doesn&rsquo;t matter. The big thing is they were not going to have a nuclear weapon,&rdquo; he added.

Trump&#39;s remarks came after the Axios news site reported Tuesday that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed launching a major new operation against Iran ahead of elections in both countries.

The report, citing two US officials and other sources with knowledge of the matter, said the discussions took place before Trump publicly stated that he would not strike Iran before the US midterms.

US rejects Iran&rsquo;s claim of control over Strait of Hormuz

The US military&rsquo;s Central Command (CENTCOM) on Tuesday rejected claims by Iran&rsquo;s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that it controls the Strait of Hormuz and would sink any approaching US Navy warships.

&quot;IRGC&#39;s navy commander has no navy. American forces and regional partners clearly control the Strait of Hormuz,&quot; CENTCOM said on US social media company X.



🚫 CLAIM: The navy commander for Iran&#39;s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed today that the Strait of Hormuz is under IRGC control and any approaching U.S. Navy warships would be &quot;sunk.&quot;

✅ FACT: IRGC&#39;s navy commander has no navy. American forces and regional partners&hellip; pic.twitter.com/n9dhNsyI8O
&mdash; U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) October 13, 2026


It disputed an Iranian navy commander&rsquo;s remarks that Tehran controls the strategic international chokepoint, declaring that US forces had helped Gulf partners transport more than 19 million barrels of crude oil through the strait on Monday.

The statement came amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran about maritime security and control of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for global oil shipments.]]>
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			<title>Houthis claim ballistic missile strike on Riyadh airport</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634770/saudi-aramco-administrative-building-attacked-limited-fire-reported</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634770/saudi-aramco-administrative-building-attacked-limited-fire-reported#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 06:25:14 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2634770</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Yemeni army claims 1,250 Houthis ‘neutralised’ in 'Dawn of Yemen' operation]]>
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			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Yemen&rsquo;s Houthi group said on Wednesday that it had hit the main airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh with a ballistic missile.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group&rsquo;s forces struck King Khalid International Airport &ldquo;with a ballistic missile, scoring a precise and direct hit.&rdquo;

Saree did not specify when the attack took place or provide details of possible casualties or damage.



تمكنت قواتنا المسلحة بفضل الله وعونه من استهداف مطار خالد الدولي في عاصمة العدو السعودي الرياض بصاروخ باليستي وكانت الإصابة دقيقة ومباشرة.
وفي سياق آخر نفذت قواتنا المسلحة عملية استهداف لعدد من تحشيدات العدو السعودي في منطقة رأس العارة والمضاربة بثلاثة صواريخ بالستية وكانت&hellip;
&mdash; العميد/ يحيى سريع (@Yah_Saree) October 14, 2026



The announcement follows 10 attacks on five Saudi airports on October&nbsp;5-11 that killed 20 people and injured hundreds, while causing property damage and disrupting flights, according to an Anadolu tally based on official statements.

King Khalid International Airport was the most frequently targeted, with five attacks killing 18 people and injuring hundreds. King Fahd International Airport in the eastern city of Dammam sustained two attacks, while the southern airports of Abha, Jazan, and Najran sustained one apiece.

On Sunday, Saudi authorities said an unidentified projectile struck Terminal 4 at King Khalid Airport, triggering a fire that killed a Pakistani resident and injured 11 others.

An earlier attack on Saturday killed 13 people and injured 309, prompting Saudi authorities to suspend airport operations temporarily. The suspension was extended on Monday.

The Saudi Civil Aviation Authority did not identify those responsible for the attacks on the five airports.

However, the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen&rsquo;s government accused the Houthis of carrying out some of them. The group has also claimed responsibility for attacks on sites inside Saudi Arabia, including airports.

Yemeni army claims 1,250 Houthis &lsquo;neutralised&rsquo; in &#39;Dawn of Yemen&#39; operation

Yemeni government forces said on Wednesday that 1,250 Houthi fighters had been &ldquo;neutralised&rdquo; during the &ldquo;Dawn of Yemen&rdquo; military operation on several fronts.

Yemeni Armed Forces spokesman Majed Abdullah al-Nazili said in a statement that government forces conducted 2,309 &ldquo;precise and direct&rdquo; strikes using warplanes, drones, field artillery, rocket launchers and sniper units.

He claimed the operations disrupted Houthi defensive lines, command-and-control centres, frontline positions and supply routes, allowing government forces to advance.

The spokesman said more than 460 military vehicles and other pieces of equipment had also been destroyed or damaged.



Yemen&rsquo;s armed forces say they carried out 2,309 precision targeting strikes under the &ldquo;Dawn of Yemen&rdquo; operation, neutralizing around 1,250 Houthi fighters and destroying or disabling more than 460 of their military vehicles. pic.twitter.com/HaK7ps7QKr
&mdash; Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) October 14, 2026


In the southwestern province of Taiz, government forces continued airstrikes and ambush operations targeting Houthi forces and reinforcements, according to the statement.

Al-Nazili urged residents in Houthi-controlled areas to keep their children away from recruitment campaigns and military positions, and reiterated an amnesty by Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi to fighters who lay down their weapons.

He also accused the Houthis of targeting civilian infrastructure and residential neighbourhoods in Taiz.

The Yemeni army also said it captured five Houthi commanders west of Taiz province, including senior commander Akram Amer, who holds the rank of major general.

Yemen&#39;s Houthis vow more attacks on Saudi airports, oil facilities after Aramco HQ hit

Yemen&#39;s Houthis ​vowed on Wednesday to press on with attacks on airports and oil facilities in Saudi &zwnj;Arabia and said they struck the headquarters of oil giant Saudi Aramco, which was hit the day before.

The Iran-aligned group said it had launched ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones at Saudi Aramco facilities in the eastern city of Dhahran, King Khalid International Airport in ​Riyadh and an Aramco refinery in Riyadh, without saying when.

Saudi Arabia has faced widening Houthi strikes over the ​past week, including an attack on Riyadh airport on Saturday that killed 13 people.

Read: Saudi-led coalition says Houthi ballistic missile intercepted over Riyadh

The Houthis ⁠say they have been retaliating for the kingdom&#39;s backing of Yemeni government forces in the Yemen war that ​restarted last month, reignited by the US-Iran confrontation in the Gulf.

Saudi-led forces say they intercepted missile

In a broad threat, the ​Houthis urged &quot;international shipping companies&quot;, civilians and workers to evacuate airports and oil facilities, which they declared legitimate military targets.

The Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted a ballistic missile fired by the Houthis towards Riyadh on Wednesday, and several loud booms were heard in ​the Saudi capital.

Saudi authorities earlier issued an alert for a possible aerial threat in Riyadh on Wednesday before the ​warning was lifted, a witness said. It wasn&#39;t immediately clear what caused the booms and there was no immediate comment from &zwnj;the ⁠authorities on their source.

The escalating conflict has dealt a blow to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman&#39;s ambitious plans to transform and diversify the Saudi economy and reduce its reliance on oil.

Read more: Saudi-led coalition announces large-scale operation against Houthis in Yemen, says 136 military targets destroyed

The Saudi Energy Ministry said Tuesday&#39;s attack on the headquarters of Saudi Aramco had caused a limited fire and no injuries or deaths.

The Dhahran complex hosts ​a major operations centre for ​Aramco, which oversees a ⁠vast network of onshore and offshore oil rigs, pipelines, refineries and export terminals.

A company source told Reuters earlier that a ballistic missile hit the Aramco headquarters complex. The ​source said an office tower in the complex was struck and that its top ​three floors ⁠were damaged.

Riyadh&rsquo;s international airport has come under attack four times, including Saturday&#39;s attack which was the deadliest in Saudi Arabia in a decade. Authorities have closed the airport until October 17, and airlines have cancelled flights to Saudi Arabia.

Fearing the rise of Iranian influence ⁠and ​the prospect of chaos on its borders, Saudi Arabia intervened in ​Yemen&#39;s civil war in support of the government in 2015 after the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa.

The UN brokered a 2022 truce between the ​warring sides in Yemen that kept a fragile peace until this year.

The coalition said in a statement on Tuesday evening that it attacked the station and other sites in an operation aimed at &quot;neutralising the capabilities of Houthis&quot; to threaten Saudi Arabia, Yemen and international waterways.

The Saudi cabinet, chaired by de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, issued a statement on Tuesday before the strike on Saudi Aramco saying the Houthis would face consequences for ​their repeated attacks on the kingdom.

South Korea condemns Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia&#39;s civilian, economic facilities

South Korea on Wednesday condemned Houthi attacks on key civilian and economic facilities in Saudi Arabia, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Saudi Aramco&#39;s headquarters in Dhahran, which resulted in civilian casualties.

&quot;Attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure can never be tolerated, and such attacks must cease immediately,&quot; Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said on the US social media company X.

The remarks came amid escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including repeated strikes on airports and energy sites.]]>
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			<title>Pope Leo back on his feet after shock cancer diagnosis</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634851/pope-leo-back-on-his-feet-after-shock-cancer-diagnosis</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2634851/pope-leo-back-on-his-feet-after-shock-cancer-diagnosis#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 26 15:27:27 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Blood tests, chest X-ray show normal post-operative results after part of Pope Leo's right lung removed in operation]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pope Leo&#39;s recovery from surgery is progressing as expected, and ​he has begun walking in his hospital room and eating normally, the Vatican said on Wednesday, after doctors announced the 71-year-old pontiff was being &zwnj;treated for lung cancer.

World leaders, Catholics across the globe and senior cardinals at the Vatican have offered prayers for Leo after he had part of his right lung removed in an operation on Tuesday.

Blood tests and a chest X-ray carried out on Wednesday showed normal post-operative results, the Vatican said, adding that the pontiff had undergone respiratory physiotherapy.



JUST IN: Pope Leo is back on his feet after surgery as doctors confirm his recovery is progressing as expected.

The Holy Father has begun walking around his room, resumed eating regular meals, and undergone respiratory physiotherapy following his lung procedure.

Dr. Luigi&hellip; pic.twitter.com/a94O8Gvlo3
&mdash; Fox News (@FoxNews) October 14, 2026


Read: Pope Leo admitted to Rome hospital for lung surgery

The cancer diagnosis for a pope known to be relatively young and energetic ​and who was elected only in May 2025 caused shock and raised questions about the future shape of his papacy as he deals with the illness.

Leo normally ​follows a very busy schedule. He is due to make a tour of Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17 ⁠, and the Vatican press office said on Wednesday that &quot;nothing has changed&quot; regarding the planned trip.

However, Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori said on Wednesday that the dates could change because of the ​amount of time his recovery would take.

The pope is the ultimate earthly authority for the world&#39;s 1.4 billion Catholics and does not have a deputy who steps in when ​he is sick. When a pope is incapacitated, the business of the Vatican&#39;s vast bureaucracy carries on as usual, holding off on any decisions that require papal approval.

Prayers for Leo

A prayer was recited for Leo to have a good convalescence and complete healing during an open-air Mass in St Peter&#39;s Square on Wednesday following the surgery.

The pope has been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of ​lung cancer, and doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung during Tuesday&#39;s operation in an effort to eliminate all cancerous tissue.

Human lungs have five lobes &mdash; three ​in the right lung and two in the left.

The operation lasted about 90 minutes and was completed without complications, the pope&#39;s lead surgeon, Professor Stefano Margaritora, and his personal physician, Dr Luigi Carbone, said &zwnj;late on ⁠Tuesday.



Pope Leo XIV underwent thoracic surgery at Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday afternoon, as planned, according to a statement from Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora released by the Holy See Press Office.

The surgeons removed the lower lobe of the Pope&rsquo;s right lung,&hellip; pic.twitter.com/QAShHu1eG6
&mdash; Vatican News (@VaticanNews) October 13, 2026


The Vatican has not disclosed the size of the tumour or whether the disease had spread to nearby lymph nodes, key factors in determining prognosis.

Read More: Pope Leo diagnosed with cancer

Dr Serena Ricciardi, a lung cancer specialist at Rome&#39;s San Camillo Forlanini Hospital, said that if the cancer had not spread to Leo&#39;s lymph nodes, the surgery may have been sufficient for treatment.

&quot;If there are no further issues or lymph node involvement, we could consider the surgery curative,&quot; she told Reuters. &quot;The disease has been completely removed.&quot;

Leo is relatively young for a Church leader. He enjoys ​sports, including tennis, and is not known ​to be a smoker or to have ⁠had recent health issues.

Engagements cancelled until next week

The Vatican said this week that the pope was expected to remain in hospital for about a week and that all his public engagements had been cancelled until October 20.

The Mass on Wednesday was the closing act ​of an assembly of bishops called by Leo to discuss the Church&#39;s family life teachings, the largest gathering of Church leaders ​so far during this ⁠papacy.

Filipino Cardinal Luis Tagle led the service in place of Leo. The pope last week approved Tagle as the dean of the Church&#39;s College of Cardinals, in the first selection of an Asian cleric to the elite role.



Pope Leo calls on us to take to heart the riches of &lsquo;Amoris laetitia&rsquo;

In a homily read by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pope Leo XIV called on the Church to put the Apostolic Exhortation&#39;s pastoral guidance into practice in the heart of families.

The homily was delivered at the&hellip; pic.twitter.com/XCa1Gsl97l
&mdash; Vatican News (@VaticanNews) October 14, 2026


Political leaders offered messages of support.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he and his wife Jeanette were praying for the pope, an American who was born ⁠in Chicago.

&quot;May the ​Lord give him strength and the Holy Spirit guide the medical professionals taking care of the Holy ​Father,&quot; he said on X. Rubio met Leo at the Vatican in May.



Jeanette and I are united in prayer for @PONTIFEX&rsquo;s health following his recent diagnosis.

May the Lord give him strength and the Holy Spirit guide the medical professionals taking care of the Holy Father. https://t.co/KPVoGrnKUW
&mdash; Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) October 13, 2026


There was no immediate response on social media from US President Donald Trump, who has criticised the pope, or from Vice President JD Vance, who ​is a Catholic.]]>
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			<title>Pakistan unveils 10-year national plan to conserve shark populations</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2628098/pakistan-unveils-10-year-national-plan-to-conserve-shark-populations</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2628098/pakistan-unveils-10-year-national-plan-to-conserve-shark-populations#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 08 Sep 26 07:52:16 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[APP]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Plan covers all chondrichthyan species found in Pakistani waters, including sharks, rays, skates, chimaeras]]>
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				<![CDATA[Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry on Tuesday unveiled Pakistan&rsquo;s first 10-year national action plan for shark conservation, under which the government would restore declining shark populations, curb illegal finning and bycatch, protect critical marine habitats and promote sustainable fisheries in Pakistani waters through 2035.

The plan will be implemented in three phases by the Marine Fisheries Department and backed by an estimated $3.8 million to $5 million in funding during its first five years.

In a statement, Chaudhry said that the National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks (NPOA-Sharks Pakistan 2025-2035) would be overseen by a multi-stakeholder National Advisory Committee. He further added that the plan sought to strengthen fisheries management and enforcement while improving data collection and scientific research on shark populations.

Among the proposed measures are mandatory fins-naturally-attached policies, species-specific protections, shark sanctuaries, mangrove restoration and steps to reduce shark deaths as bycatch across different fisheries. The plan also seeks to improve the livelihoods of coastal fishing communities through targeted support, while encouraging sustainable shark fisheries and greater international cooperation, including through the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission.

The minister said that the implementation would be assessed annually against performance indicators such as landing-site monitoring coverage, completion of stock assessments, deployment of vessel monitoring systems and reductions in bycatch mortality. Formal reviews would be carried out every three years.

Read: Seafood exports jump to $568m

The plan covers all chondrichthyan species found in Pakistani waters, including sharks, rays, skates and chimaeras, with particular focus on species targeted by fisheries or facing high levels of bycatch mortality.

&ldquo;Although the primary emphasis is on sharks, the management frameworks, data collection systems and enforcement mechanisms established through the NPOA will also benefit other elasmobranch species,&rdquo; the minister said.

He said the action plan had been tailored to Pakistan&rsquo;s ecological, institutional and socioeconomic conditions while remaining aligned with the Food and Agriculture Organisation&rsquo;s International Plan of Action for Sharks and other international best practices.

Preparation of the plan fulfilled Pakistan&rsquo;s responsibilities as a shark-fishing nation under international fisheries law, he added.

The FAO&rsquo;s international shark action plan encourages countries to develop national conservation and management plans, minimise waste and promote sustainable fishing practices. Chaudhry said that &ldquo;responsible management of marine resources must come first&rdquo;, stressing the need for stronger safeguards for vulnerable shark species and those whose capture is prohibited.]]>
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			<title>NDMA issues nationwide alert ahead of pre-monsoon rains, warns of hazards</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2615432/ndma-issues-nationwide-alert-ahead-of-pre-monsoon-rains-warns-of-hazards</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2615432/ndma-issues-nationwide-alert-ahead-of-pre-monsoon-rains-warns-of-hazards#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 26 14:34:40 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[APP]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Says intermittent pre-monsoon rains expected from June 28 to July 3]]>
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				<![CDATA[National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Sunday advised citizens to stay alert as intermittent pre-monsoon rains were expected across Pakistan from June 28 to July 3.

According to NDMA&nbsp;officials talking to media channels, a dangerous combination of intense heat and expected pre-monsoon rainfall was likely to accelerate glacier melting, triggering a sharp rise in water levels in rivers and streams across Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), and Azad Jammu and&nbsp;Kashmir.

The authority warned that vulnerable mountainous regions face heightened risks of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), flash floods, and landslides during the forecast period due to rapidly changing and unstable weather conditions.



NDMA issues strong countrywide alert ahead of pre-monsoon rainfall spell, warns of hazards pic.twitter.com/JuCxbEGIZu
&mdash; APP (@appcsocialmedia) June 28, 2026


Residents, tourists and travellers have been strongly advised to exercise extreme caution in high-risk districts, including Hunza, Nagar, Ghizer, Skardu, Shigar, Ghanche, Kharmang, Astore, Diamer, Upper and Lower Chitral and Swat, where sudden weather shifts could create life-threatening situations.

NDMA further urged the public to strictly avoid unnecessary movement near rivers, streams, glacial lakes and riverbanks, stressing the importance of immediate reporting of any unusual or hazardous conditions to local authorities to prevent loss of life and property.

Read More:&nbsp;Lahore swelters before monsoon

Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs) have been placed on high alert with strict instructions to ensure full emergency preparedness, rapid response capability and coordinated action in case of any disaster triggered by the expected weather system.

Overall, NDMA&nbsp;stressed that timely precautions, strict adherence to safety advisories, and coordinated preparedness at all levels were essential to minimise risks, protect lives and reduce potential damage from the expected weather-related hazards.]]>
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			<title>Govt decides to end fuel subsidies after sharp decline in global oil prices</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2614572/govt-decides-to-end-fuel-subsidies-after-sharp-decline-in-global-oil-prices</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2614572/govt-decides-to-end-fuel-subsidies-after-sharp-decline-in-global-oil-prices#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 26 17:51:19 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2614572</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Committee agrees to withdraw fuel subsidies after benefit already passed on to consumers]]>
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				<![CDATA[Owing to a sharp decline in global fuel prices, the government on Monday decided to discontinue fuel subsidies provided to motorcyclists, small farmers and public transport.

The development comes after recent reductions in petroleum prices, under which petrol was cut by Rs74 per litre and diesel by Rs67 per litre, bringing them down to Rs299 per litre and Rs311 per litre respectively, following a decline in the international market after the US and Iran reached an agreement to end a conflict that had lasted over three months.

The decision was taken during the seventh meeting of the National Steering Committee on Fuel Subsidy, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.



Deputy Prime Minister &amp; Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 chaired the 7th meeting of the National Steering Committee on Fuel Subsidy.

The Committee reviewed the rollout of fuel subsidy for motorcyclists, small farmers, public transport &amp; goods transport in&hellip; pic.twitter.com/I4X55tPKNV
&mdash; Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) June 22, 2026


The committee reviewed the rollout of fuel subsidy for motorcyclists, small farmers, public transport and goods transport across all provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Noting the sharp decline in global fuel prices and that the benefit had already been passed on to consumers, the committee agreed to discontinue the subsidy, with the prime minister&rsquo;s approval.

While appreciating the committee&rsquo;s work marked by sustained interprovincial coordination, the deputy prime minister directed that lessons learnt from the exercise be documented and gaps in data and delivery be addressed to strengthen future initiatives aimed at improving public service delivery.

Also Read: Govt disburses Rs38b in fuel subsidy

The meeting was attended by SAPM Tariq Bajwa, federal secretaries of petroleum and IT, the State Bank of Pakistan governor and senior representatives from all provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Following the oil price surge in the global market after the US-Iran conflict, the government significantly increased petroleum product prices after initially deciding to absorb the burden.

At one point, petrol prices had reached Rs458 per litre in April this year. However, days later, the prime minister announced an immediate Rs80 per litre reduction in the petroleum levy to provide relief to the public.

While announcing the relief, the prime minister also unveiled a fuel subsidy package aimed at shielding the public from rising fuel costs triggered by tensions in the Gulf region.

Under that initiative, motorcyclists were to receive a subsidy of Rs100 per litre, while goods transport, public transport and freight vehicles were also provided support for one month.

Under the same relief measures, small trucks were given Rs70,000 per month, large trucks Rs80,000 and public transport buses Rs100,000 as monthly subsidies.

The initiative also included support for small farmers, who were provided Rs1,500 per acre in assistance.]]>
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			<title>Govt moves to fully digitise passport issuance system</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2614022/passport-system-to-go-fully-digital-with-e-passport-rollout</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2614022/passport-system-to-go-fully-digital-with-e-passport-rollout#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 26 07:45:38 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Islamabad]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2614022</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Preparatory work for home delivery of passports in Pakistan, abroad completed, service will be launched soon]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The government on Friday decided to transition its passport issuance system to a complete e-passport framework as part of sweeping reforms aimed at modernising immigration services and eliminating fraud.

According to the Interior Ministry, a high-level meeting on Passport and Immigration was held at the headquarters under the chairmanship of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, where key decisions regarding the digital overhaul of the system were approved.

A principal decision was taken to fully shift passport issuance to e-passports, with the move aimed at reducing fraud and forgery in the passport system. However, no deadline has been announced for the phase-out of existing passports.



وزیر داخلہ محسن نقوی کی زیر صدارت پاسپورٹ اینڈ امیگریشن ہیڈکوارٹرز میں خصوصی اجلاس
ڈی جی پاسپورٹس اینڈ امیگریشن محمد علی رندھاوا نے وفاقی وزیر داخلہ کو تفصیلی بریفنگ دی
پاسپورٹ کے اجراء کو مکمل طور پر ای پاسپورٹ پر منتقل کرنے کا اصولی فیصلہ
ای پاسپورٹ پر منتقلی سے فراڈ اور&hellip; pic.twitter.com/UlOOovm4Yv
&mdash; PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) June 19, 2026


The Director General of Passports and Immigration, Muhammad Ali Randhawa, briefed the minister on ongoing reforms and plans. Officials said premium service applicants will now be charged according to the actual cost of passport services.

According to the briefing, preparatory work for home delivery of passports within Pakistan and abroad had been completed, and the service will be launched soon.

From July 1, a cashless payment system will be introduced at passport offices across the country, and online passport applications will also be shifted to the Pak-ID platform.

The meeting also decided to finalise a policy for business passports in consultation with the Federal Board of Revenue.

Also Read: Public cautioned over multiple passports

The ministry said the reforms are part of broader efforts to make the passport system more efficient, transparent, and citizen-friendly.

According to the Ministry of Interior, the e-Passport is a highly secure travel document. It has an electronic chip embedded in one of the passport pages, which will be used to store biometric information about the holder.

The chip contains data that will verify the passport holder&rsquo;s identity and will include the biometrics of the passport holder, the personal data found on the data page of the passport, a unique identification number, and a digital signature.

An e-passport has a contactless chip on it which means that those passports can be read electronically. The newly launched e-Passports in Pakistan are in compliance with the United Nations&rsquo; ICAO standards.]]>
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