The military’s media affairs wing said in a statement that Lebanese armed forces’ Commander-in-Chief General Rodolphe Haykal called on CDF Munir at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.

He was presented a guard of honour by a smartly turned-out tri-services contingent upon his arrival at the GHQ, the statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations said.

“During the meeting, both dignitaries exchanged views on matters of mutual interest, evolving regional security environment, defence cooperation and prospects for enhancing bilateral military relations,” it added.

The discussions focused on strengthening professional interactions, training cooperation and institutional linkages between the armed forces of the two countries, the statement said.

It said Field Marshal Munir reaffirmed during the meeting the “importance Pakistan attaches to its longstanding and cordial relations with Lebanon and underscored the Pakistan Army’s commitment to expanding defence collaboration with the Lebanese Armed Forces”.

For his part, General Haykal “appreciated the professionalism and operational excellence of Pakistan’s armed forces and acknowledged their contributions to regional peace, stability and international peacekeeping efforts”, it said.

“The visit reflects the shared commitment of both armed forces to fostering closer military-to-military cooperation,” the ISPR statement concluded.

On Saturday, Leba­non’s army General Haykal had departed for Pakistan as Islamabad continues efforts to mediate an end to the US-Isr­aeli conflict with Iran, which has also spilled into Lebanon.

The Lebanese army said the visit was at the invitation of Haykal’s Pakistani counterpart, Field Marshal Munir, but did not immediately provide further details on its purpose or duration.

Addressing a UNSC meeting, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, further stated: “Regrettably, this demand remains unmet.”

And while the window for course correction was narrowing, it remained open, he added.

“We hope the Taliban realise this in earnest and cooperate with the international community for the long-term peace and development of Afghanistan and, above all, in the best interest of all Afghans,” he said.

There has been a resurgence in terrorism in Pakistan since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021.

For its part, Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban administration to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries on Afghan soil, particularly those linked to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). But, officials say those appeals have gone unheedeed, while the Afghan Taliban reject these allegations.

During the UNSC meeting, Ambassador Asim noted that it had been nearly half a decade since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.

“It was hoped that this would end the bloodshed and Afghanistan would be at peace with itself and its neighbours,” he said.

The envoy added that with the end of the civil war, it was “anticipated that the Taliban would take positive steps to transform into a responsible governing authority by adhering to their international obligations and commitments, and that they would lead Afghanistan into an era of stability and progress, provide the long-awaited relief to all Afghans and live in harmony with immediate neighbours”.

“For decades, terrorism has been a major problem in Afghanistan, with implications not just for Afghanistan, but the immediate neighbourhood and beyond. Afghanistan has a history of being a safe haven for terrorist groups, including those used as proxies by our adversaries to target Pakistan and other countries,” he highlighted.

It was “our expectation that the Taliban would take concrete and verifiable actions against terrorist groups such as the TTP, Balochistan Liberation Army and its Majeed Brigade, Islamic State-Khorasan, East Turkestan Islamic Movement and their affiliates that are operating with impunity on Afghan soil”.

“Regrettably, they have failed to undertake action, showing complete disregard for the legitimate security concerns of Pakistan and other countries,” the ambassador said.

He further stated that Pakistan took numerous steps to support Afghanistan, including humanitarian relief efforts, political engagement, providing incentives to boost bilateral trade, offering transit concessions, issuing student and medical visas, conducting high-level visits to Kabul and participating in various regional cooperation initiatives to help Afghanistan succeed in its quest to find its rightful place in the international community.

More to follow

ISLAMABAD: The announcement of the federal budget 2026-27 remains uncertain as the federal government, its coalition partners and provincial governments struggle to reach consensus over the Centre’s demand for more than Rs1 trillion for strategic needs.

The meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC), officially called on Monday for June 8, was postponed for the third time at the last moment amid continuing negotiations over the freezing of provincial shares in the federal divisible pool under the National Finance Commission (NFC) award.

As a consequence, the federal budget 2026-27 may not be presented in parliament on June 10 as announced last week by the Ministry of Finance. The finance ministry’s official spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on the revised plan for the release of the Economic Survey of Pakistan and the budget schedule.

Muzzammil Aslam, adviser on finance to the Khyber Pakht­unkhwa chief minister, confirmed that the Centre had told provinces that their financial shares under the NFC for the current year would not be increased next year and that any amount above the current year’s share would have to be returned to the Centre.

Aslam said the provinces had protested the demand, as it would push provincial budgets into deficit and make it difficult for them to run their governments. He said the federal government team suggested that provinces could freeze salaries and limit development schemes.

The Centre’s additional fiscal demand is over and above the Rs1.95tr cash surplus that provinces have already committed and signed under the national fiscal pact pushed by the IMF.

Speaking to journalists after a meeting with a federal team led by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and comprising Finance Secretary Imdadullah Bosal, Aslam said he had not seen such a precarious situation in the past 21 to 22 years that he had been following budgets, and certainly not during the last six to seven years in which he had been directly involved in the budget process at the federal and provincial levels.

The KP team was led by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.

Aslam said even the rescheduled NEC meeting on June 9 was uncertain, as many issues that had developed over time were too significant to be settled ahead of the NEC meeting. As a result, the federal budget scheduled for June 10 could slip further, as there was “no way forward in sight” and consensus bet­w­­een the Centre and provinces appeared distant, he said.

He said even if provinces practically agreed to give up funds beyond their current year’s share, it would be technically challenging to implement the decision because it could violate sur­­­­­p­­­­lus targets agreed with the International Monetary Fund.

Responding to a question about the constitutional bar on reducing provincial NFC shares during a fiscal year, Aslam said there was no clear answer on the table, but the Centre perhaps wanted to transfer funds to the provinces and then seek their return.

“Everybody is standing on their toes” to find a solution, he said, while acknowledging that the strategic purpose for the additional funding was in the national interest. “The demand for the strategic purpose is not unjustified and is in the national interest, but Sindh and Punjab will have to show generosity,” he said.

Aslam said KP’s fiscal loss could be Rs170 billion to Rs180bn compared to much larger demands from other provinces — around Rs700bn from Punjab and Rs500bn from Sindh. He said the issue had now become political rather than technical.

Therefore, he said, the matter was beyond the KP government’s powers and had to be taken up in consultation with PTI founder Imran Khan. For this purpose, he said, CM Afridi and he himself should be granted urgent access to Imran in Adiala Jail.

He said Imran was large-hearted and could pr­­o­­vide a better solution, unl­ike the leadership of the current coalition partners.

Aslam said the delegation led by Iqbal was convinced about KP’s position and promised to return with answers regarding an urgent meeting with Imran.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister’s Office said the delegation led by Iqbal had come to KP House “to discuss a range of intergovernmental matters, including meeting with former prime minister Imran Khan, the forthcoming meeting of the NEC, provincial fiscal and constitutional rights, development financing for the merged districts, energy-related issues, wheat supply, hydropower projects, and other matters of mutual concern”.

CM Afridi conveyed his government’s concerns over the continued unequal treatment of KP in fiscal allocations and development financing. He said sustained denial of the province’s constitutional and financial entitlements could adversely affect the environment necessary for constructive intergovernmental engagement, including participation in national forums such as the NEC.

He said consultations with Imran were essential in the context of major policy and budgetary decisions, noting that political parties routinely seek guidance from their leadership on matters of national importance.

Such consultations were “necessary before taking key decisions relating to the budget and broader economic policy”, he said.

The chief minister pointed to reductions in development allocations earmarked for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the merged districts. He said funding under the Acc­elerated Implementation Programme had been reduced from Rs37bn to Rs27bn, while development allocations for the merged districts had been cut from Rs66bn to Rs56bn within a week by the federal government. He said the NFC share of the merged districts had been withheld unconstitutionally for the past eight years, causing serious harm to development and public welfare efforts in these areas.

Afridi said KP produced more than 500 mmcfd of natural gas daily, yet the people of the province continued to face severe gas shortages and loadshedding despite KP’s total consumption of 150 mmcfd.

This was “contrary to constitutional req­uir­e­­ments and the principles of equitable resou­rce distribution”, he said, adding that depriving a gas-producing province of its rightful share was unacceptable. He also pointed to delays in operationalising a completed dam project in Swat due to the non-issuance of required clearances for Chinese engineers by the federal government, preventing the ti­­­m­ely use of completed inf­­r­­astructure and limiting associated economic benefits.

Similarly, the Peshawar Bus Terminal had been completed but remained non-operational due to the pending issuance of a no-objection certificate by the National Highway Authority, he said.

The CM’s Office said Iqbal assured the KP government that the no-objection certificate required for operationalising the Pesh­a­war Bus Terminal would be facilitated within 24 hours. He promised that the concerns and proposals discussed during the meeting would be “presented before the prime minister and other relevant federal forums, and that efforts would be made to pursue their resolution”.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2026

The Gwadar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) urged the federal government, senior customs officials and other relevant authorities to take immediate notice of the strategic importance of the Gabd-Rimdan border crossing, remove bureaucratic bottlenecks and ensure the smooth movement of commercial vehicles.

It blamed the suspension of trade at the Gabd-Rimdan border on what it described as the incompetence of Pakistan Customs officials. The chamber accused customs authorities of deliberately disrupting formal border trade through unnecessary procedural delays.

“This crisis comes at a time when Pakistan’s border trade infrastructure is already under severe strain,” said GCCI President Jiand Hoot.

He noted that the Chaman border remains closed, while traders at the Taftan-Zahedan border are currently on strike due to deteriorating security conditions.

He further said that trade through the Panjgur and Mand-Radig border crossings is virtually non-existent because of poor road infrastructure and recurring incidents of arson and vehicle burnings.

“With other major trade routes effectively closed, the country’s overland energy supply chain has become heavily dependent on the Gabd-Rimdan border,” he said.

However, over the past 10 to 15 days, hundreds of LPG-laden bowsers and trucks have remained stranded at the terminal awaiting customs clearance, triggering shortages in major urban centres.

According to Mr Hoot, LPG prices have surged in Karachi and parts of Punjab, with the commodity reportedly unavailable even at Rs400 per kilogram.

Expressing grave concern over the worsening situation, he said the border disruption comes at a time when shipping constraints in the Strait of Hormuz have already placed additional pressure on national energy supplies.

“If the gridlock at Gabd-Rimdan continues, LPG could disappear from local markets altogether,” he warned.

Mr Hoot claimed that Iranian commercial vehicles are being systematically denied entry and turned back from the National Logistics Corporation (NLC) yard. He said the bottleneck has not only disrupted imports but has also paralysed exports.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2026

MUZAFFARABAD: In the aftermath of Sunday night’s fierce clashes that claimed the lives of seven civilians and four law enforcement personnel in Rawalakot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) braced for a shutter-down and wheel-jam strike on Tuesday (today) , announced by the proscribed Joint Awami Action Com­mittee (JAAC).

According to initial plans, the JAAC had decided that protesters would start a long march from the southernmost district of Bhimber, passing through Mirpur, Kotli and Poonch before reaching Muzaffarabad on June 10 for a sit-in outside the Legislative Assembly.

Government officials, meanwhile, appeared hopeful about the prospects of a tepid response to the protest call for several reasons, including the recent crackdown. In action against JAAC, the authorities had rounded up more than 200 people across the region and forced others into hiding, official sources and witnesses said.

“Situation is fluid. The JAAC leadership and crowd-pullers are on the run. So far, they haven’t been able to pull numbers on the streets, but there is a possibility of small protests at several places,” said one official.

“But it has been firmly decided that protesters will not be allowed to assemble anywhere, let alone stage a long march from one part of the state to the other,” another official said.

Some analysts were of the view that while shutters might remain closed and transport stay off the roads, the call for Tuesday’s strike was less likely to receive an overwhelming response due to the alleged stubbornness of the JAAC leadership.

“It was a good movement for rights in the beginning, but some of the committee’s obdurate and myopic leaders pushed it into a blind alley, for reasons best known to them,” remarked a retired government servant, requesting he should not be named. “Abolition of 12 seats might be close to the majority’s hearts in AJK, but it should not have been made a matter of life and death,” he added.

The officials who spoke to Dawn made it clear that the administration would neither force anyone to keep their shops open nor allow anyone to force others to shut down their businesses. “As long as people remain peaceful, the law will tolerate them. But the moment they try to create any problem, they will be dealt with firmly,” one of them said.

Rawalakot violence

On Monday, life remained normal in almost all parts of AJK, except Rawalakot, where shutters remained down for the second consecutive day and public transport stayed off the roads. Elsewhere, a partial strike was reported just from Dadyal, a lakeside town in Mirpur district.

In Rawalakot, the epicentre of the violence, the administration and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) succeeded in dispersing protesters shortly after midnight on Sunday. According to divisional commissioner Sardar Waheed Khan, the protesters had not only blocked access to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) but had also virtually taken over the facility, forcing doctors and paramedics to flee for their safety. He regretted that those present inside the hospital not only obstructed treatment for LEA personnel but also caused further injuries to some of them, apart from allegedly disrespecting the body of a martyred police constable.

Sharing details of the clashes, he alleged that the protesters possessed long-range firearms, petrol bombs and other ammunition. “They attacked law enforcers from side alleys with full planning, on the pattern of a guerrilla war,” he said. He said of the 30 or so hospitalised activists, three critically injured were airlifted to Islamabad along with four LEA personnel by helicopter.

Six activists remained under treatment in the hospital as detainees while others were shifted to the police station, he added.

Funeral prayers

Meanwhile, funeral prayers for the three AJK policemen — identified as SHO Hajira Muhammad Inayat and constables Muhammad Faisal and Faheem Anwar — were offered at 5pm at Rawalakot Police Lines with full honours. Among those in attendance were Chief Secretary Khushal Khan, IGP Liaqat Ali Malik and General Officer Commanding Murree Maj Gen Zarrar Mahmood.

The seven deceased civilians were identified as Usman Sabir of Koiyan village, Fahad Barkat of Rehara village, ex-serviceman Wasaid Siddique of Parrat village, Naqash Zardad of Matyalmera Danna village, Jamshed Ashraf of Hussainkot village, Muhammad Rasheed of Choti Nakkar Pakhar village, and Tariq Resham of Dothan village. The ex-serviceman was caught in crossfire, the commissioner claimed.

Sources disclosed that the funeral and burial rites of three activists, including Shazeb Habib, whose body had been lying in the CMH mortuary since Saturday, were performed by the administration and police, while those of the others were carried out by their families without any agitation.

In a statement posted on Facebook, a spokesperson for IGP Malik said that legal action against members of the proscribed committee allegedly involved in armed violence was continuing. He warned that strict legal action would be taken against those involved in attacks on LEA personnel and government property.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2026

As per Forms-47 issued by returning officers from 24 constituencies, the PPP bagged 11 seats, with the PML-N trailing with six seats. The candidates backed by the PTI won two seats, and its ally MWM was victorious in one seat. The independent candidates secured four seats.

In a post on X in the early hours of Monday, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari declared victory, saying the PPP had become the “single largest party” in the region.

“The Pakistan Peoples Party is emerging as the single largest party and we will be attempting to form government. I am grateful to the people for their trust and congratulations to Jiyalas on their victory,” said Bhutto-Zardari, whose party had alleged rigging during the polling.

Recount ordered

On Monday, the Elec­tion Commission of Gilgit-Baltistan ordered a reco­unt in two constituencies and re-polling in a few polling stations in GBA-16, Diamer.

The recount order came after independent candidate Safdar Ali Shirazi and PPP candidate Nazir Ahmed Advocate formally requested a recount of votes in GBA-20 (Ghizer-II), alleging irregularities during the counting process.

Acting on the request, the returning officer ordered a recount, which is scheduled to take place today. The commission also ordered a recount in GBA-3, Gilgit.

The Election Commission also ordered a re-poll at three polling stations in GBA-16 (Diamer-II).

Victorious candidates

PPP regional president Amjad Hussain won from GBA-1 (Gilgit), while former chief minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman of PML-N won from GBA-2 (Gilgit). PTI-backed independent Sohail Abbas won from GBA-3 (Gilgit).

In Hunza, PTI-backed independent Naik Nam Karim won from GBA-6. In Nagar, Muhammad Ali Akhtar of PPP won from GBA-4 and Zulfiqar Ali Murad of PPP won from GBA-5.

In Skardu, Syed Tauqeer Mehdi of PPP won from GBA-7, Fida Muhammad Nashad of PPP from GBA-9, Nasir Ali Khan of PPP from GBA-10, and Mohammad Kazim Mesum of MWM from GBA-8.

In Kharmang district, Iqbal Hassan of PPP won from GBA-11. In Shigar district, Imran Nadeem of PPP won from GBA-12. In Astore district, Rana Farman Ali and Rana Muhammad Farooq won from GBA-13 and GBA-14, respectively.

In Diamer, Kifayatur Rehman of PML-N won from GBA-18, independent candidate Dilpazir Khan won from GBA-15, Ataullah of PPP from GBA-16, and Mohammad Naseem of PPP from GBA-17. In Ghizer, Syed Jalal of PPP won from GBA-19, Abdul Jahan of PML-N won from GBA-20, and independent candidate Aman Ali won from GBA-21 (Yasin).

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2026

Addressing a joint press conference after a meeting, the two presented a united front over what they described as the federal government’s longstanding neglect of the province.

The JUI-F leader described the emerging engagement between the two parties as a positive beginning.

CM Afridi said the purpose of the meeting was to hold detailed discussions on the pressing issues facing the province. He argued that the current NFC distribution formula was unconstitutional, and specifically flagged the issue of the former tribal districts, which have a population of over six million people but have not received their rightful share.

Instead, he said, other provinces were dividing FATA’s due share among themselves, leaving tribal communities marginalised.

The KP CM also questioned the suspension of wheat supply, calling it a violation of the Constitution. He also noted that while KP produces gas for the entire country, the province itself is being denied adequate supply.

Speaking to reporters, the Maulana said there was broad agreement among both sides on a range of demands. He stressed that provincial autonomy must be guaranteed for all provinces, and that the federal government could not be allowed to seize the resources of a province’s people and deprive them of their rights.

He echoed Afridi’s concerns on wheat, noting that the issue had persisted since Shehbaz Sharif’s tenure as chief minister of Punjab. He also dismissed earlier justifications about wheat smuggling to Afghanistan, asking what basis remained for such claims now that the border was closed.

On security, the JUI-F chief painted a grim picture, saying the law and order situation in the province was deteriorating, with government writ effectively collapsed in southern districts and ordinary citizens at the mercy of armed groups. He also called on the provincial government to take all parties into confidence on security matters.

The Maulana also called for provincial legislation on the registration of religious seminaries in line with

the federal law already passed, while CM Afridi confirmed that the KP Assembly would take up the matter.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2026

He made such observations in a scrutiny note after the IO in the murder case filed an interim charge sheet before the court concerned.

The murder case was registered at the Baghdadi police station on May 9 on the complaint of an auto mechanic against Pinky, three days before her official arrest in two other cases, including those pertaining to drugs and possession of an unlicensed weapon.

In the FIR, the complainant stated that while riding his motorcycle along Haji Peer Muhammad Road on April 7, he noticed a crowd gathered at a spot where a Madadgar-15 police van and an ambulance were present.

In scrutiny note to IO, prosecutor points to one-month delay in registration of FIR

The complainant claimed that he saw the body of a man lying on the footpath. He further stated that a small tin box was recovered from the deceased, on which the name of suspect Pinky was printed.

In the scrutiny note addressed to the IO of the case, the prosecutor pointed out that the FIR was registered with a delay of one month and that the investigator had failed to provide any explanation.

He further stated that the IO also failed to obtain footage from surveillance cameras installed in the surrounding area, adding that he did not record the statement of any eyewitness or of anyone, including the suspect who was allegedly in contact with the deceased.

According to the prosecutor, the complainant’s statement is yet to be recorded before a magistrate. He further noted that the reports of serologist, chemical examiner and DNA analysis are still awaited, and that the relevant expert opinions will be added to the final charge sheet.

Meanwhile, a judicial magistrate on Monday granted the IO an additional seven days to submit an interim charge sheet in the drugs and possession of an unlicensed weapon cases registered at the Garden police station against Pinky.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2026

At present, remittances exceeding Rs5 million are subject to restrictions if the sender and recipient are not blood relatives. The limit was previously set at Rs10m before being reduced to Rs5m.

According to sources, worsening conditions in parts of the Gulf region have prompted many Pakistanis to consider repatriating their funds. While the sale of overseas properties remains difficult, liquid assets can be remitted to Pakistan. However, the existing cap on transfers above Rs5m is viewed as a significant obstacle.

Pakistanis have consistently ranked among the largest foreign purchasers of property in Dubai, second only to Indians on several occasions. At the same time, thousands of Pakistani technology firms have relocated to Dubai in recent years, attracted by business opportunities and a more favourable tax regime.

Overseas Pakistanis struggle as remittance cap hinders repatriation of funds

“The war-like situation has entered its fourth month and there is still no clarity about Dubai’s future, even though it remained a prime target during the conflict that began on Feb 28,” said a financial expert with close links to the emirate.

He said most working-class Pakistanis continued to reside in Dubai, but wealthier individuals with substantial investments and property holdings were increasingly seeking to move their funds elsewhere amid concerns over the security of their assets.

Although no official data is available on Pakistanis expelled from Dubai, sources said they had witnessed several such cases. They added that many affluent Pakistanis were attempting to sell their properties and transfer their liquid assets out of the emirate.

Property prices in Dubai have fallen sharply, according to market observers, while finding buyers has become increasingly difficult.

Sources also pointed to challenges faced by Pakistanis in other countries. Thousands, they said, were encountering difficulties in settling in destinations such as South Africa, certain US states and other countries where immigrants were increasingly under pressure, prompting some to consider returning to their countries of origin.

“The removal of the remittance cap would benefit Pakistanis in several countries and could also support Pakistan’s economy by boosting remittance inflows,” a source said.

Meanwhile, State Bank data showed that trade with Abu Dhabi and Dubai increased despite regional tensions. During July-April FY26, imports from Abu Dhabi rose to $1.193 billion from $862 million in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. Imports from Dubai increased to $5.592bn from $5.254bn over the same period.

In March, when the conflict in the Gulf region was at its peak, imports from Abu Dhabi fell to $50.5m but recovered to $121m in April. Imports from Dubai similarly declined to $437m in March before rebounding to $862m in April.

Exports to Dubai edged down to $1.554bn during the first 10 months of FY26 from $1.578bn a year earlier. Exports to Abu Dhabi, however, increased to $179m from $78m during the same period.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2026

Under the scheme, 10,000 e-bikes and 300 docking and charging stations will be deployed across the city in the first phase, with residents able to hire a bike within seconds through a dedicated mobile application.

“The initiative is being developed under the government’s Green Mobility Programme and will require its final approval before formal launch,” Housing, Urban Development and Public Health Engineering Department Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal said while presiding over a meeting here on Monday.

“According to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s vision, we are introducing modern schemes to reduce smog and pollution. This is not a merely transport initiative, it is an environmental commitment. This is one of our most concrete steps in that direction,” he said.

Docking stations will be strategically placed at key residential and commercial areas, with a particular focus on connectivity to existing public transport hubs.

“The students, daily-wage workers, and office commuters stand to benefit most — groups for whom fuel costs and transport delays represent a genuine economic burden.”

As the Horticulture Agency Lahore would identify and provide land for docking and charging infrastructure, several other institutions are expected to join the effort, including the Lahore Parking Company, transport department, the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA), and other relevant departments, Mengal said and added that diverting even a fraction of short-distance petrol-powered journeys to electric bikes could yield thousands of tonnes of avoided carbon emissions annually.

“Beyond carbon reduction, planners anticipate a measurable decline in traffic congestion, fuel expenditure, and noise pollution — benefits they describe as compounding over time as the network matures.”

He said that minors would be barred from registering with the application.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Financial experts on Monday urged policymakers to broaden the tax base, increase funding for climate change and social protection, focus on job creation, and provide relief to the salaried class.

Speaking at a pre-budget session, organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), they noted that the country’s fiscal framework remains heavily focused on managing recurring crises rather than reducing the underlying vulnerabilities that continue to deepen poverty, inequality and climate risks.

Amid the government’s efforts to unveil the federal budget for 2026-27, they called for a decisive shift in fiscal priorities, urging policymakers to move beyond short-term stabilisation measures and place human development, climate resilience and productive investment at the centre of economic planning.

SDPI Deputy Executive Director (Policy) Dr Shafqat Munir Ahmad stressed the need to protect and increase allocations for education, health, nutrition and social protection, while significantly expanding investments in climate adaptation and disaster preparedness.

The country cannot continue financing recovery after every flood, drought and heatwave while underinvesting in prevention, preparedness, anticipatory action and human development,” he said, adding that the budget should be judged not only by fiscal numbers but also by its ability to reduce poverty, strengthen resilience and safeguard development gains.

Dr Shafqat also called for greater public investment in employment-generating sectors, particularly agriculture, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and emerging green economic opportunities. Social spending, he said, should be viewed as an investment in national productivity and economic competitiveness rather than a fiscal burden.

On taxation, SDPI Deputy Executive Director (Research) Dr Sajid Amin Javed warned against increasing the burden on salaried and documented taxpayers.

He noted that a large share of direct taxes continues to come from formally employed individuals while significant segments of the economy remain outside the tax net.

Dr Javed suggested that budgetary reforms should focus on broadening the tax base and improving productivity rather than relying on revenue measures that disproportionately affect middle-income households.

He also supported ongoing tariff rationalisation efforts, arguing that reducing tariff distortions could improve industrial competitiveness, attract investment and support export-led growth. “Pakistan needs structural reforms instead of annual revenue-driven adjustments,” he maintained, stressing that excessive reliance on indirect taxation ultimately weakens purchasing power and constrains economic activity.

SDPI Research Fellow Dr Khalid Waleed argued that the budget should serve as a roadmap for economic transformation rather than a mechanism for balancing accounts.

“A budget is not meant to be a calculator with a flag on it; it is meant to be a development strategy expressed in rupees,” he said.

Dr Waleed urged policymakers to ensure that fiscal decisions support job creation, productive investment and human capital development. While welcoming climate budget tagging, he cautioned that the exercise should not become a procedural requirement divorced from actual spending decisions.

“Climate budget tagging must be inclusive, not just a box-ticking activity,” he said, calling for climate risks to be integrated into fiscal planning, development spending and public investment decisions.

He advocated stronger incentives for renewable energy and warned against policy inconsistencies that could discourage investment in the clean energy sector.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2026

Dr Mahnoor Nasir, who hails from Duki, was attacked while on duty on Saturday. The provincial government immediately shifted her to Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi for specialised care.

After registering a case against the accused, Humayun Shah, investigators are now questioning hospital employees and close acquaintances of the attacker to determine the real cause.

“We are investigating the tragic incident, keeping in view all aspects to trace out the people who could be behind this episode,” a senior police officer said.

Balochistan’s chief minister visited the hospital on Sunday night to check on Nasir’s health, assuring full cooperation for her recovery.

On Monday, Balochistan Governor Jaffar Khan Mandokhail telephoned Nasir’s father, Habibullah Khan Nasir, to offer arrangements for specialised treatment and plastic surgery abroad. Mandokhail emphasised that the provincial government is bearing all expenses related to her recovery from day one.

“The entire nation is proud of a brave daughter like Dr Mahnoor, and the people of Balochistan stand with her in this hour of difficulty,” Mandokhail said. He added that the government is utilising all available resources to ensure the safety and dignity of doctors and paramedical staff.

Meanwhile, the Young Doctors Association continued its strike across all government hospitals in Quetta, boycotting outpatient and other departments. The doctors have established a protest camp on the hospital premises, making speeches criticising health officials and demanding enhanced workplace security.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2026

The discussions, which started on Sunday and continued on Monday, come as violence continues to plague the territory despite the truce in place since October.

The talks bring together mediators Egypt, Qatar and Turkiye, along with representatives of several Palestinian factions, as efforts continue to push forward negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

According to the source, mediators were due to meet a Hamas delegation on Monday, followed by a wider meeting including all participating factions.

Efforts continue to push negotiations on second phase of ceasefire agreement

Egypt’s state-linked Al-Qahera News channel said Sunday’s talks focused on “the proposed roadmap for completing the implementation of the agreement”.

“It was held in a positive atmosphere,” the channel reported, adding that there was agreement on the need to continue implementing US President Donald Trump’s plan.

The talks come amid rising regio­nal tensions, after Israel and Iran traded fire on Monday, in a serious test of another fragile truce and a potential threat to hopes for a deal to end the wider Middle East war.

Despite the Gaza truce technically in effect since October, daily violence has rocked the territory, over half of which is under Israeli military control in defiance of the ceasefire’s terms.

Israel has killed at least 936 people since the ceasefire began, according to Gaza’s health ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the UN.

Both Hamas and Israel accuse each other of violating the truce.

The first phase of the ceasefire involved the release of the last Israeli prisoners held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinians detained by Israel.

A transition to the second phase, which was supposed to involve Hamas’s disarmament and a gradual withdrawal of the Israeli military, has been stalled for months.

The question of Gaza’s post-war governance also remains one of the main sticking points in negotiations on implementing the provisions of phase two.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2026

• Woman, child among 12 killed in attacks on Zifta, Tyre
• Beirut counts 3,491 Israeli strikes since April 17; fresh bombardment damages Unesco heritage site
• Hezbollah denies contact with Trump

BEIRUT: An Israeli strike on southern Lebanon killed 12 people on Monday as Lebanese Defence Minister Michel Men­assa revealed Israel has carried out nearly 3,500 air strikes since a US-brokered ceasefire took effect in April.

The Lebanese health ministry said the dawn raid on the town of Zifta in the Nabatieh district resulted in seven deaths, including a Syrian child and a woman, and wounded eight others.

Meanwhile, an Israeli strike on Tyre in southern Lebanon on Monday killed five people and wounded eight, the health ministry said, as Israel said it would continue strikes despite Iranian threats.

“An Israeli enemy raid on the city of Tyre, near the Red Cross centre, resulted in five martyrs and eight wounded, four of whom were Red Cross paramedics,” the ministry said in a statement.

The continuing violence underscores the fragility of the ceasefire that came into effect on April 17.

Nearly 3,500 Israeli attacks

During a cabinet meeting on Monday, Menassa said that between April 17 and June 7, Israel conducted 3,491 air strikes, 407 controlled demolitions and six razing operations, flattening entire villages in southernmost Lebanon.

PM Nawaf Salam said the escalation has caused additional waves of displacement. More than 1 million people have been displaced and over 3,600 killed since Hez­bollah drew Lebanon into the conflict on March 2 with rocket fire at Israel to avenge the US-Israeli killing of Iran’s supreme leader.

The heavy bombardment in Tyre also damaged a Unesco World Heritage site. Ali Badawi, the culture ministry’s regional director of archaeological sites for south Lebanon, said Sunday’s bombardment had “the worst impact” on Tyre’s ancient areas since the war began. “The amount of debris and damage at the site is high,” Badawi said. “Some archaeological artefacts were damaged when rubble fell on them, as debris fell over a large area, impacting a large number of elements at the site — columns, capitals, column bases, mosaics.”

Tyre’s ruins include Roman baths, a second-century triumphal arch and a hippodrome. Lebanese Culture Minister Ghassan Salame appealed to protect the sites, charging that Israel “does not respect” the Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property.

‘No contact with Trump’

Amid the ongoing conflict, a senior Hezbollah official denied statements from US President Donald Trump suggesting the two sides had communicated.

Senior Hezbollah official Mahmud Qomati said in written remarks that “there has been no direct contact between President Trump and Hezbollah officials”.

Trump told reporters last Wednesday that “we actually spoke with Hezbollah for the first time, ever,” and later claimed he had a “very good call” with the group through highly placed representatives.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2026

“The objective is to facilitate lawful travel while protecting the country’s citizens, safeguarding human lives, co­­untering organised criminal networks, and preserving the country’s international reputation,” the FIA chief said while talking to reporters here.

Dr Anwar said the FIA has intensified intelligence-led passenger screening at international airports, bringing illegal migration through Malawi to “zero” and cutting irregular flows to the EU by 64 per cent in early 2026. He said the measures target human smuggling, trafficking and visa abuse, and are meant to protect people from “exploitation, detention, deportation, trafficking, and loss of life on dangerous migration routes,” not to restrict genuine travel.

He said his agency has identified Belarus, Cyprus, Central Asian states and certain Eastern European transit corridors as routes “increasingly exploited by organised human smuggling networks” for onward illegal migration to Europe, he said. Malawi also emerged as a high-risk transit hub in 2025. Criminal facilitators, the DG said, lure vulnerable people with false promises of jobs, education, settlement and legal migration.

The FIA’s Annual Risk Ana­lysis Report 2025 listed Sou­theast Asian cyber-trafficking, organised migrant smuggling networks, and transit migration through Eastern Europe and Central Asia as critical threats. It also noted a rising trend of migration and deportation to Central Asian countries among young residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, besides hotspot districts of Punjab.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2026

Senior Civil Judge Muhammad Abbas Shah directed the authorities concerned to arrest CM Afridi and produce him before the court. The order was passed after the chief minister failed to appear despite being summoned for the hearing.

The case was registered by the National Cyber Cri­me Investigation Agency (NCCIA), formerly known as the cybercrime wing of the FIA, over allegations of content deemed misleading against state institutions.

Expressing displeasure over the repeated absence of the accused, the court reissued the non-bailable warrants and adjourned further proceedings until June 18.

Physical remand

In a separate case, the same court handed vlogger Sohrab Barkat over to the NCCIA on a four-day physical remand.

The investigating agency produced the accused before the court and sought his physical custody for interrogation. After hearing the request, Judge Abbas Shah approved the four-day remand.

According to the agency, a case has been registered against Mr Barkat under relevant cybercr­i­­me laws. Investigators alleged that he uploaded a YouTube video related to the Joint Action Committee, which led to the registration of the case.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2026

Reports of rifts within the PTI emerged soon after the induction of new ministers, advisers and special assistants – who took oath on May 22. It is understood that some of the MPAs in question are unhappy after not being included in the provincial cabinet.

The last sitting of the KP Assembly was held on May 18, which was adjourned by the chair till June 1. However, the house did not meet on the scheduled date, as the speaker first postponed it to June 8.

The latest notification issued by the assembly secretariat on Sunday said that the sitting would now be held on Monday, June 15 at 2pm.

One of the dissidents told Dawn that there were initially 25 of them, but the number had now risen to 30 over the past couple of days.

The lawmaker was unwilling to name them, as that would expose them to pressure from the party and the chief minister to withdraw from their stance. “The four to five dissident lawmakers who can tolerate the pressure are known to everyone,” he said.

MPA Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani, who is also among the dissidents, told Dawn that they have their own grievances and political stance, which would be presented on the floor of the house.

He said that during a recent meeting, he had informed Speaker Swati that they were not a dissident group; they wanted a clear-cut announcement by the chief minister on plans for Imran Khan’s release.

“We don’t need any incentives; our one-point agenda is the decisive movement for the release of Imran Khan,” Ghani told Dawn.

He said that their other demands included arranging a meeting of party leaders and relatives with Imran Khan, providing him medical treatment through doctors of his choice at Shifa International Hospital, and expediting the court proceedings of his cases.

Ghani noted that sporadic protesters outside Adiala jail had proven to be ineffective, adding that they wanted to move towards “a permanent sit-in that continues until a logical conclusion”.

When asked whether former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur was leading the dissidents, he said that there was no one person leading the group; the lawmakers had come together on a single-point agenda, i.e., securing the release of the party’s founder.

Another dissident legislator told Dawn on condition of anonymity that Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was perturbed by the rise of the dissident group.

“The chief minister is trying to make the dissidents happy by including their development schemes in the Annual Development Program,” he claimed.

When contacted, Speaker Babar Saleem Swati told Dawn that the assembly session would be convened after presentation of the federal budget in the National Assembly.

However, it is worth noting that the KP Assembly has been in session for the last couple of months.

On June 1, when the chief minister convened a parliamentary party meeting, only 57 out of the 92 lawmakers attended the meeting.

This was where many MPAs complained to CM Afridi about corruption in government departments, poor law and order in the province and indifference to police, district administration and bureaucracy to their legitimate demands related to people’s issues.

The next day, a group of dissidents wrote to interim party chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, expressing concern over the “lack of efforts” by the leadership to secure Imran Khan’s release.

Efforts to win dissidents over

In the interim, the KP speaker and other party leaders are engaged in hectic politicking in a bid to win over the dissident lawmakers.

Speaker Swati recently met with Ghani to defuse tensions, the latter told journalists in Mansehra.

“Swati was here to defuse tensions with our group. We made it clear to him that we do not have any personal vendetta against the chief minister or any other in the government and firmly stand with PTI founding chairman Imran Khan,” Ghani said.

One of the group’s leaders, privy to the meeting between Swati and Ghani, claimed that the former had offered the latter the position of senior provincial minister in the cabinet, which Ghani had declined.

Ghani said that more than 30 MPAs were active members of their group. “We, all like-minded MPAs, whose number exceeds 30, have made it clear to the chief minister that if he stages a sit-in outside the National Assembly on June 10, we all will not return until the desired results are achieved,” he said.

He said that if the government presented the budget in the assembly without a prior meeting between CM Afridi and Imran Khan, the group would boycott proceedings and would not help in its passage.

ISLAMABAD: Rejecting the results of the Gilgit-Baltistan elections, the PTI announced on Monday that it would issue a white paper detailing “electoral irregularities” and also observe a ‘black day’ when the newly elected lawmakers of the region take their oath of office.

Addressing a press conference, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said that the party’s primary agenda was to address “widespread irregularities” in the GB elections held on Sunday. He claimed that PTI was barred from campaigning in the days leading up to the election, alleging that it was part of a “planned arrangement aimed at eliminating the party from the polls”.

He said that out of the region’s 24 seats, PTI-backed candidates were leading in two constituencies — Naik Karim in Hunza and Sohail Abbas in Gilgit — while their ally Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen’s Muhammad Kazim was ahead in Skardu.

However, he claimed that PTI-backed candidates were “winning 100 per cent” in a total of eight constituencies — one seat from Astore, one from Diamer, two from Nagar, and one from Ghizer. He alleged that due to “rigging, vote-stuffing, and the casting of bogus votes”, the PTI’s “victory” was overturned.

The PTI chairman said the party had demanded a re-election in Rehmanpur, Astore, stating that they had brought evidence of “167 bogus votes” to the presiding officer’s attention.

“The PTI rejects the process, results and vote count of this election,” the PTI chairman said, stressing that “once again, people who did not have the people’s mandate have been given a false mandate”, in an apparent reference to the 2024 general polls.

He also demanded that out of the six seats reserved for women and the three allocated for technocrats, the PTI should be given one from each category. Barrister Gohar also outlined plans to hold a protest in GB after consulting the PTI’s political allies.

Separately, the opposition alliance Tehreek-i-Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) held a consultative meeting under the chairmanship of Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Mehmood Khan Achakzai. During the huddle, the alliance condemned efforts aimed at “keeping the PTI out of the democratic process” in the GB elections.

In a statement, the TTAP called the GB elections an “action replay” of the 2024 general elections. “When the decisions are going to be made elsewhere, then what is the point of holding elections?” the statement said, adding that in the aftermath of the elections, “neither the election commission nor the electoral process had any credibility left”.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2026

“The recent surge in violence in the Middle East is a stark reminder of the dangers associated with a tenuous ceasefire and the unbearable consequences it may lead to,” PM Shehbaz said in a post on X.

“We sincerely urge all sides to exercise restraint and give peace a little more chance,” the premier wrote, emphasising that the “final objective is just about to be achieved”.

He noted that Pakistan was working “earnestly and painstakingly, together with our brothers and partners, to find a peaceful diplomatic solution to the conflict”.

“Let us continue to remain on the path of peace and diplomacy which have bright prospects of success instead of violence and destruction!” PM Shehbaz urged.

PM Shehbaz’s statement comes after Israel and Iran exchanged attacks on Monday for the first time since the shaky ceasefire in the Middle East war took effect on April 8, despite United States President Donald Trump calling for restraint.

The flare-up saw Israel striking Iran after Tehran targeted it in vengeance for an airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Saturday. Israel struck the Lebanese capital despite the US announcement of a truce plan last week.

Ceasefire agreements in Lebanon have failed to secure peace due to Israel’s escalated operations, including strikes, multiple forced displacement orders, and the seizure of the historic Beaufort Castle.

The region has been on edge since the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on February 28, triggering Iranian retaliation on Israel and other regional countries hosting US military sites.

A temporary ceasefire between Washington and Tehran was reached on April 8 after Pakistan-led mediation efforts. The ceasefire remains formally in place but has been repeatedly tested by military incidents in and around the Gulf region.

However, indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran to reach a long-term peace agreement have drifted into what diplomats describe as a fragile stalemate despite both sides continuing to publicly endorse diplomacy over renewed confrontation.

At the centre of the deadlock are disagreements over Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, its enrichment programme, the future of sanctions, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and regional security issues.

Stepping up its efforts to break the impasse in the US-Iran dialogue, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited Tehran this weekend, carrying a message from Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir for Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.

The meeting, part of wider pre-budget consultations between major allied parties in the Centre, came a couple of days ahead of the government’s announcement to present the federal budget for FY2026–27 on June 10.

A handout released after the meeting said Zardari and Shehbaz discussed the upcoming budget at the President’s House.

“While discussing budget proposals and public relief, the president stressed prioritising public welfare, provincial rights and economic stability in the federal budget,” the handout said.

It added that the president directed that every effort should be made to harmonise the growth rate with public welfare schemes in the upcoming budget.

National security, as well as the internal and regional situation, were also discussed.

The Presidency said Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi briefed the president on his recent visit to Iran and regional diplomatic engagements.

Apart from the federal budget and national security, the meeting also discussed the economy, the recent Gilgit-Baltistan elections, the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, law and order, and other matters of national importance, the handout said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah were present at the meeting.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Raja Faisal Rathore, and MNA Raja Pervaiz Ashraf also attended the meeting.

Senator Sherry Rehman, MNA Syed Naveed Qamar, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla and Senator Ahad Cheema were also present, according to the presidency’s brief statement.

On Sunday, a PPP delegation, led by party chairman Bilawal, had expressed its reservations related to taxes during a pre-budget meeting with FM Dar.

During the meeting, FM Dar assured the PPP that their proposal would be incorporated into the budget.

The IMF has asked the Centre to introduce at least Rs430bn worth of additional budgetary measures in the upcoming budget, alongside a nearly matching amount of Rs430bn to be generated by the four provinces.

In this connection, the PPP had asked FM Dar for ways for the provinces to increase their tax revenues during the meeting.

PPP leaders also opposed new taxes and hoped the government would change its approach to taxation to provide relief to inflation-hit masses, asserting that the government should prefer a broader tax base instead of exerting pressure on the same class, which is already paying taxes.

“We have noted with concern the irresponsible and ill-informed insinuations made by certain members of the diaspora in the UK regarding AJK,” said the Foreign Office (FO) in a statement.

“These individuals are advised to refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of Pakistan and AJK. They would do well to contribute positively to their country of residence,” it maintained.

It added that the ministry has also noted the “unwarranted remarks and queries” raised by certain British members of parliament, which reflected a “lack of awareness and disregard for the historical background of the issue”.

“For those still living in colonial times, it bears reiterating that Pakistan is a sovereign and democratic republic that firmly believes in non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries and expects the same from others,” it asserted.

“The governments of Pakistan and AJK fully recognise and respect the constitutional rights of citizens to peaceful assembly, freedom of expression, and democratic participation,” the statement added.

However, it stressed that “vandalism, the destruction of public services, including hospitals, and the murder of innocent civilians and law enforcement officials” could not be permitted under any circumstances.

“We urge the British Government to educate and caution those supporting proscribed organisations to refrain from such actions and to respect the democratic process, judicial decisions, and the rule of law as enshrined in the Constitutions of AJK and Pakistan.

A day earlier, at least seven civilians were killed during clashes between police and the newly proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) protesters in AJK’s Rawalakot.

The clash broke out after tensions flared over the death of a trader, who was allegedly shot during a confrontation with law enforcers on Friday night. Officials have accused the demonstrators of attacking the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Rawalakot.

On Friday, the AJK government declared JAAC a proscribed organisation, days ahead of a planned protest by the group scheduled for June 9, stating that it was “engaged in terrorism” and had acted in a manner “prejudicial to peace and security” of the state. On Saturday, AJK authorities launched a crackdown on the JAAC, arresting scores of its leaders and activists from different areas.

AJK police also sealed the head office of the JAAC, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the flow of information from AJK remains curtailed due to the closure of mobile data services. AJK authorities have also advised intending visitors to postpone their trips until June 20, citing security concerns ahead of the planned protests.

Islamabad has also dispatched federal paramilitary forces to reinforce the region’s thinly stretched police force.

Wagging tongues in Islamabad speak about many ideas and ‘solutions’ from changing the formula of the divisible pool and shifting the BISP to the provinces to getting the provincial governments to pay for interior ministry expenses. But most talking heads agree there is now little time to change the NFC via a constitutional amendment and the decisions have to be made through other means. So a ‘consensus’, hybrid style, is to be brought about.

As a result, meetings continue between the PPP and the N. That Ishaq Dar, the firefighter who is always sent out to soothe friends, has been part of the team, reflects that this is an issue the N is taking seriously. It is unclear if the matter has already been resolved or still requires thrashing out but thrashed out it will be; and we can also be equally certain the PPP will ask for and get a pound of flesh in return.

Everyone, it seems, has suddenly realised the poor state of the economy.

But this is just one chapter of the consensus building. Vlogs, tweets, gossip and ‘zaraye’ (sources) insist that a 28th amendment is still needed for big-ticket reform, which might include local governments, changes to the provincial status of areas such as Karachi and Gwadar, and so on. Whether this is to simply scare the governing parties into compromising on the financial issues or there is indeed some seriousness behind some of these initiatives is unclear. Perhaps this will become clear once the budget dust settles.

There is little doubt, though, that the powerful ones are now less focused on diplomacy and world peace, and are paying attention to mundane issues such as the economy and politics. The interior minister has been given the job of taking messages back and forth to neighbours and friends while the foreign minister is now sitting put and running meetings with allies.

But as I said, there are rumours galore. And one of them, once again, is about a possible reshuffle in the cabinet. This is lent credence by the discussion and debate on the state of the economy and the performance of the government. All the gleeful talk about foreign policy successes has been put aside and replaced by questions on taxes, the government’s economic track record, and so on.

This criticism is not just coming from those who whine all the time (such as myself) but also those who happen to have a better sense of the thinking in the power corridors. Everyone, it seems, has suddenly realised the poor state of the economy.

And for many, this means it’s open season on the finance minister, whose departure is being predicted once again (along with others).

To be honest, the finance minister gets more than his fair share of criticism because he seems to have been left with no constituency. The PML-N had decided a long time ago that he was not one of their own, despite having supported his initial induction into the cabinet and Senate — and he came from a family known to be close to the party. But the honeymoon period was short. Slowly and steadily, many of the key committees were handed over to Ishaq Dar. Neither were the Noonies all that supportive of him in private.

By now, it is less clear if ‘other’, key stakeholders are satisfied with him. But it is worth pointing out that some of the public criticism against him is linked not to Islamabad’s twin but a former finance minister who hasn’t lost his ambitions of running Q block again. What this means is that the real challenge (if the two cities agree) may not be the removal of Muhammad Aurangzeb but about who will replace him.

The IFIs may not want Ishaq Dar to return and one can’t be too sure if the prime minister wants him in the hot seat either. And unconnected souls such as myself don’t know what Pindi thinks of him in terms of Q block. And if he is not acceptable then what are the other options? The ruling party doesn’t have many choices in its senior ranks — which in itself is an indictment of the party once known as being the ‘best’ at governance. There are possible contenders among the young Turks but they will not find it easy to manage the official challenges of this position or the conspiracies that will be hatched around them.

Perhaps the absence of a replacement might win the current finance minister a reprieve but this also means the criticism and the uncertainty will continue.

But along with this come the chances of other changes in the cabinet. However, once again, there is little clarity on the ‘competent’ replacements. Because beyond a certain point focusing on individuals is to evade the reality that the problems are systemic and structural. And while more efficient and competent people can make a difference, they cannot address the absence of political will. For instance, the absence of taxation on real estate or agriculture cannot be pinned on individuals. Or for example, the provision of poor quality internet and phone services.

However, between this budget and the possible cabinet reshuffle, the sense of urgency to deliver for this government (and its backers) will increase. The excuse of ‘stabilising’ an economy on the brink of default will no longer be enough — even among themselves. The people stopped buying into it a long time ago. Can one assume then that the countdown has begun? I wish I knew.

The writer is a journalist.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2026

The ruling came after Abdul Manan, convicted for throwing acid on a young woman in Faisalabad, appealed against a 2022 Lahore High Court (LHC) order.

The LHC had upheld an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) verdict sentencing him to life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs1 million.

Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar, heading a three-judge bench consisting of Justice Salahuddin Panhwar and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, upheld the LHC order.

The ruling comes only days after an acid attack on a female doctor in Quetta’s Civil Hospital. Following the attack on 29-year-old Mahnoor Nasir, doctors in Quetta went on strike, demanding a thorough investigation.

“Unlike death, which consumes its victim only once, the victim of an acid assault is relegated to a living death, where they are compelled to endure the agony of their trauma and the degradation of their physical self on a daily basis,” observed Justice Kakar in a 14-page strongly worded judgment he authored.

In the court ruling, federal and provincial governments were also recommended to consider accommodating acid attack victims under disability quotas along with enactment and enforcement of specialised legislation for establishment of a National Acid Survivors’ Rehabilitation Fund.

The ruling added that such a statutory fund should provide comprehensive medical coverage for extensive reconstructive surgeries and specialised physical therapy.

The fund should also provide mandatory access to professional trauma counselling, psychotherapy and psychiatric care for psychological and social rehabilitation.

“The perpetrator’s objective is not merely to kill, but to extinguish the victim’s soul, leaving the living corpse as a permanent reminder of their depravity,” Justice Kakar said.

The apex court also recommended a mandatory monthly stipend for survivors who, due to the nature of their injuries or ongoing medical conditions, are rendered incapable of financial self-support.

Justice Kakar also suggested the formulation of national rehabilitation guidelines as a standardised framework ensuring gratuitous, lifelong medical and mental health treatment across all state-mandated and private medical facilities through the fund.

He further observed that acid violence is a tool of patriarchal dominance. “In the past, such incidents have occurred following rejection of marriage proposals or sexual advances, as well as dowry disputes.”

The ruling added that acid violence is used to inflict a social death upon women by destroying their physical identity.

The primary deterrent against such depravity lies in a dual strategy of rigorous criminalisation followed by stringent regulation of corrosive substances, Justice Kakar observed, citing a number of examples from foreign jurisdictions such as Bangladesh and Cambodia.

The first essential step towards eradication is the categorical criminalisation of the act itself, he added.

The judgment also highlighted that the eradication of acid violence was inextricably linked to restrictions on access to corrosive substances.

While the legislative amendments of 2011 served to criminalise acid violence with the severity it warrants, the persistence of such atrocities reveals that penal sanctions alone are insufficient to address the root of the problem, Justice Kakar observed.

“As long as corrosive substances remain easily available, the deterrent effect of penal consequences will be perpetually undermined.”

In this context, the Punjab Acid Control Act 2025 represents a watershed moment in provincial jurisprudence. Justice Kakar cited it as an example of a shift from post-occurrence punishment to pre-emptive regulation, noting that the Act mandates a rigorous licensing regime and categorically prohibits the sale of acid to individuals under the age of 18.

“It is our sanguine expectation that the rigorous enforcement of such specialised regulatory regimes will effectively dismantle the accessibility of these lethal instruments, thereby serving as a robust bulwark to curb and eventually eradicate this heinous offence from our social fabric,” Justice Kakar emphasised.

He added that the ordeal of an acid attack survivor does not end with the conclusion of the criminal trial. Instead, it marks the beginning of a gruelling, lifelong journey of medical intervention.

Survivors are frequently subjected to an exhaustive series of reconstructive surgeries and specialised procedures that are not only physically agonising but also financially prohibitive, rendering essential healthcare inaccessible to the majority of victims, the judgment noted.

Citing the Asian Human Rights Commission, the judgment said the devastating impact of acid violence in Pakistan was exemplified by survivors such as Irum Saeed and Memuna Khan, who underwent 25 and 21 reconstructive surgeries respectively following attacks triggered by marital rejection and inter-family disputes.

Justice Kakar added that despite existing laws, their purpose was defeated if implementation and enforcement remained weak, as evidenced by recurring incidents across the country.

The SC also strongly recommended that the high courts actively monitor and ensure that, in cases of vitriolage, statutory timelines provided under relevant laws for the completion of trials are strictly adhered to.

The prime intent of the legislature is to ensure swift adjudication and prevent secondary victimisation, the judgment added.

Vitriolage is an offence deeply rooted in gender-based violence, deep-seated misogyny and patriarchal aggression, the judgment said.

The Supreme Court also recommended that the federal and all provincial governments impose a complete ban on the sale of acid to private individuals.

For legal acid sales, the court suggested a centralised digital system governed and monitored by the relevant authorities in real time.

Under this system, entities intending to purchase acid must apply through prescribed electronic forms, disclosing the purpose of purchase and the name and details of the purchaser, along with a photograph and biometric thumb impression.

Such a real-time system will completely eradicate manual record-keeping and enable the trade to be managed with absolute transparency, the ruling added.

The apex court judgment was forwarded to all High Courts and relevant departments of the federal and provincial governments.

Case history

On September 4, 2019, the accused threw sulfuric acid on the victim’s face while she was cooking in the kitchen of her home. The victim sustained extensive burns on her face, chest, back, left leg and foot, as well as “complete destruction of the left ear”, court documents state.

The victim was examined on January 16, 2020, during trial proceedings. At the time, “she was unable to recline, move or walk”, according to court documents.

The victim has been bedridden since the incident.

Abdul Manan denied the allegations but failed to provide evidence in his defence. At the time of the incident, he was a minor, with court documents stating his age as 17–18.

The petitioner’s lawyer requested leniency owing to his young age, while the prosecutor argued that “age cannot be a shield for such barbaric acts”.

On February 1, 2020, the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Faisalabad sentenced the accused to life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs1 million to be paid to the victim.

Following an appeal, the Lahore High Court (LHC) upheld the ATC’s ruling on November 21, 2022.

Germany turned Palestine averse and cosied up to Israel, much like Narendra Modi’s India, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the saddle. The UN defeat is being linked to Merz’s embrace of Benjamin Netanyahu. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s future is also under a cloud, his ties with the Zionist lobby being a key factor. Ergo: Israel’s chums are being globally isolated.

India’s proximity to Israel was nudged by right-wing ideologues to counter Russian prime minister Yevgeny Primakov’s 1998 doctrine to form the Russia-India-China group as a stabilising force in a post-USSR Global South. The Western countermeasures included America’s ‘pivot to the east’, dragging India into the Quad. But when the RIC went on to become BRICS, a ‘West Asian Quad’ was conceived including India, Israel, the UAE and the US. The faint outlines of the outcome of the Iran war are threatening to end India’s entanglement with both Quads. And the German debacle at the UN is the writing on the wall.

Potentially, also crucial for the country’s future is the internet-spawned Cockroach Janta Party, which launched its first street protests in New Delhi over the weekend. The party minted into an untested force after a senior judge insulted unemployed youth as cockroaches. The ‘cockroaches’ have given a tart reply to the judiciary, but they’re also demanding the resignation of Modi’s education minister, hitherto an unthinkable prospect.

The third albeit widely underplayed event is the fractious INDIA opposition group seeking to get its act together. Twenty-three parties, including Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress were holding a make-or-break meeting on Monday (June 8) under the Congress party’s stewardship. All three events have the heft to cause tremors in the Modi establishment. Some say the jolt could be more rattling to him than he experienced in 12 years of unbridled power.

Questions have surfaced over the Cockroach lot with insinuations that the cluster of motivated urban youth is supported by the Hindutva order to vent the steam gathering from months of a crippling economic crisis, not all of which is linked to the Iran war. There is also the issue of an overtly corrupt administration keeling over with criminal incompetence amid lacerating acts of omission and commission.

Hundreds of thousands of school-leaving students and admission-seeking medical college aspirants have been grievously harmed by leaked papers and erring tabulation mechanisms. The Cockroach party has sought probity in judiciary, education and the nexus between business and the media, but its critics have sought to portray the group as left oriented with some of them belonging to this or that communist party.

Another suggestion is that they are an extension of the Aam Aadmi Party, a ploy to shift the focus from the improving chances of opposition unity. It’s a fact that AAP came out of the India Against Corruption campaign of 2011 in which the RSS played a backroom role to successfully undermine the Manmohan Singh government.

There’s no need to spread fear of those such as the Cockroach party before they do something wrong.

While the AAP’s birth pangs indeed created the grounds for the coronation of Narendra Modi as prime minister in May 2014, it is equally a fact that AAP was applauded the following year as the sheet anchor that stalled the BJP juggernaut in Delhi. Before this, the Modi wave had easily evicted Congress governments in Maharashtra and Haryana polls. And there was no AAP in Maharashtra to blame the defeat on, although in Haryana it did cut some votes.

The AAP subsequently propagated a soft temple-hopping Hindutva, in which Arvind Kejriwal scrupulously avoided standing with Muslims when they were under attack from the BJP and the police in 2020. But if he or the Cockroach group can yet consciously or unwittingly help stall the rightward, obscurantist drift the Modi government has set India on, it would make Deng Xiaoping’s spirit burst into a smile. “It doesn’t matter whether a cat is white or black, as long as it catches mice.” Deng’s dictum applies to anybody who would rescue India from its current trauma. And there’s no need to spread fear of those such as the Cockroach party before they do something wrong.

But let’s not get too swayed also by the shouts of youth power or the roar of something called Gen Z. As far as one could see, it was the youth that demolished the Babri Masjid with their raw sinews. It’s the youth that goes about lynching and harassing innocent citizens in the name of religion. Of course, on the other side, it’s the youth that’s languishing in Modi’s prisons, if they are not out on strictly monitored bail terms, for fighting for a just and equal society in a democratic system that doesn’t discriminate between citizens. Think Umar Khalid.

There’s a youth component in almost every political party. The mighty US is split between youthful Zionists and their youthful adversaries. When I looked up Gen Z on a search engine, an option pointed to Gen Ziaul Haq! I think the idea of Gen Z or Gen Alpha etc is conjured to obscure the reality of universal class struggle, and in India’s of its defining caste identity.

A few donning cockroach masks at the Delhi rally were seen carrying portraits of Bhimrao Ambedkar thereby putting Dalit politics at the centre. But again, hasn’t everyone used Ambedkar’s portraits to lure support? Finally, while Deng’s point is priceless, a useful caution in T.S. Elliott’s line says: “Youth is cruel and has no remorse. It smiles at situations which it cannot see.” A fair point to ponder.

The writer is Dawn’s correspondent in Delhi.

jawednaqvi@gmail.com

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2026

The preliminary count from Sunday’s polls indicates that the PPP is currently leading in 10 constituencies, the PML-N in six, and independent candidates in five.

Addressing a press conference, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said PTI was barred from campaigning in the days leading up to the election, alleging that it was part of a “planned arrangement aimed at eliminating the party from the polls”.

He said that out of the region’s 24 seats, PTI-backed candidates were leading in two constituencies — Naik Karim in Hunza and Sohail Abbas in Gilgit — while their ally Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen’s Muhammad Kazim was ahead in Skardu.

However, Gohar claimed PTI-backed candidates were “winning 100 per cent” in a total of eight constituencies — one seat from Astore, one from Diamer, two from Nagar, and one from Ghizer.

He alleged that due to “rigging, vote-stuffing, and the casting of bogus votes”, PTI’s “victory” was overturned. The PTI chairman said the party had demanded a re-election in Rehmanpur, Astore, stating that they had brought evidence of “167 bogus votes” to the presiding officer’s attention.

“PTI rejects the process, results and vote count of this election,” the PTI chairman said, stressing that “once again, people who did not have the people’s mandate have been given a false mandate”, in an apparent reference to the 2024 general elections.

He said the party planned to issue a white paper on the issue and outlined plans to hold a protest in GB after consulting its political allies.

“We will also observe a black day on the day the chief minister takes oath,” Gohar said.

He also demanded that, out of six seats reserved for women and three seats reserved for technocrats, PTI be given one seat from each category.

On Sunday, both PTI and the PPP were among the most vocal in their complaints of alleged irregularities and rigging. The two parties separately accused officials of delaying the release of official paperwork used to verify results at the polling-station level.

As the PPP and other political parties staged a series of rallies across the region and ramped up efforts to garner support ahead of the polls, PTI had alleged that the party was not being allowed to campaign for the elections, with its leaders detained and expelled from the region.

‘Action replay’ of 2024 elections: TTAP

Separately, the opposition alliance Tehreek Tahaffuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) held a consultative meeting under the chairmanship of Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Mehmood Khan Achakzai, during which the alliance condemned efforts aimed at “keeping PTI out of the democratic process” in the GB elections.

In a statement, the TTAP called the GB elections an “action replay” of the 2024 general elections and rejected the results.

“When the decisions are going to be made elsewhere, then what is the point of holding elections?” the statement said, adding that in the aftermath of the elections, “neither the election commission nor the electoral process had any credibility left”.

The opposition alliance also expressed alarm at the law and order situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), urging the government to resolve the “legitimate demands” of the region’s people through dialogue amid ongoing protests in the region.

Referring to the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC )’s recent proscription, TTAP said, “Banning any representative organisation of the people is not a solution to the problem, nor can public opinion be changed by force”.

Speaking to Dawn on Monday, South Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Syed Asad Raza said: “Recognising the need for a coordinated, proactive and sustainable response, the police have adopted this comprehensive anti-drug policy to safeguard students from substance abuse and foster a safe, healthy and drug-free educational environment.”

He added that the policy was founded on the principles of “prevention, early intervention, parental engagement, rehabilitation, institutional accountability and lawful enforcement”.

“It aims to establish and maintain drug-free educational institutions, protect students from exposure to narcotics and other harmful substances, and promote awareness of the physical, psychological, social and legal consequences of substance abuse,” the South DIG said.

He maintained that strengthening collaboration among educational institutions, parents, healthcare professionals and law enforcement agencies was key to achieving the policy’s objectives.

“Besides facilitating the early identification, intervention, counselling and rehabilitation of students requiring assistance, the policy also aims to prevent the infiltration of drug supplies, peddlers and criminal elements into educational environments, and foster a culture of responsible citizenship, healthy lifestyles and positive personal development,” the senior police officer said.

The senior police official added that under the policy, anti-drug committees would be formed in educational institutions, comprising institutional heads, teachers, parents and law enforcers.

DIG Asad elaborated that educational institutions would also organise regular seminars and awareness campaigns highlighting the dangers of drug abuse.

“It has also been proposed that parents or legal guardians shall execute a drug prevention consent and responsibility declaration at the time of admission or readmission, authorising the educational institution to conduct reasonable and lawful drug-screening programmes,” he said.

“Educational institutions shall cooperate with law enforcement agencies to identify and report individuals or groups attempting to target students for drug-related activities.”

Furthermore, he observed that the policy represented a collective commitment by educational institutions, parents, students and law enforcement authorities to preserve the sanctity of learning environments and nurture a generation that is healthy, disciplined, productive and resilient.

He said the South district police had already established a “Campus Security and Substance Abuse Watch”, including female police officers, to strengthen surveillance and preventive intervention around educational institutions.

“Out of 158 private schools in the South district, 20 are under surveillance, while eight of the district’s 22 private colleges are under surveillance,” the South DIG said, adding: “Four of the nine private universities in the district are also under surveillance.”

DIG Asad said all senior superintendents of police had been directed to submit fortnightly progress reports highlighting enforcement actions, awareness initiatives, inspections conducted, cases registered and challenges encountered during the crackdown on narcotics.

“The objective is not merely the enforcement of the law but the protection of future generations, the preservation of public health and the strengthening of societal values,” he said.

Last year in October, the Campus Security and Substance Abuse Watch Force comprising 50 police personnel was established to curb the menace of drugs in educational institutions within the jurisdiction of the South Zone of Karachi police.

This unfortunate series of events echoes similar confrontations between the AJK government and JAAC over the past few years, where dialogue over protesters’ demands has alternated with deadly violence. The region is particularly on edge as the JAAC has called for a major strike today. With the proscription of the group and the deaths in clashes with the administration, emotions are high all round and better sense is required across the board to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.

At the core of the dilemma is the JAAC’s call for abolition of refugee seats for those who left India-occupied Kashmir and settled in AJK. Indeed, the AJK government’s banning of the JAAC has not helped matters, and has only raised the temperature. To prevent further confrontation, the AJK government should reconsider the ban, though investigations are required into the killing of the policemen and the deaths of the protesters.

This paper has argued that bans targeting popular movements are undemocratic, and have, throughout history, failed to suppress dissenting voices. At the other end, the JAAC, too, should take a less hard-line position. While the group had earlier called for civic and governance reforms, it is now demanding constitutional changes, such as the abolition of refugee seats.

These delicate constitutional matters must be decided in the House, after thorough debate by all sides. In fact, as the AJK Supreme Court has said in its opinion on a reference sent to it by the region’s president regarding the refugee seats, constitutional changes can only be achieved “by an assembly possessed of the full democratic mandate of the people, after deliberation” and cannot be “wrested from a government under duress”.

Therefore, both sides need to de-escalate. The authorities should reconsider the JAAC ban, while JAAC supporters must keep all protest peaceful, and take their demand for constitutional change to the AJK legislature.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2026

Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won a sweeping victory in elections in the eastern border state of more than 100 million people, promising to “detect, delete and deport” illegal migrants.

India shares a long and porous border with Muslim-majority Bangladesh, where migration has historically been driven by economic hardship and longstanding family links.

On taking power, the new West Bengal government ordered the establishment of detention centres for undocumented Bangladeshis and Rohingya refugees, a mainly Muslim people who fled persecution in Myanmar.

State Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, speaking in the capital Kolkata on Sunday, said nearly 5,000 Bangladeshi citizens had been deported across the border.

“We have started the work of deporting Bangladeshi infiltrators who do not fall under the purview of the Citizenship Amendment Act,” Adhikari said, saying the government had “established holding centres in all districts of the state” in May.

“From these centres, 4,800 Bangladeshi infiltrators have already been deported so far,” he added.

“Another 836 people are currently in the holding centres… we are making arrangements to deport the 836 soon,” Adhikari said.

The deportation campaign comes against a backdrop of longstanding political tensions over immigration in the border state.

Top Indian officials have referred to migrants as “termites” and “infiltrators”.

Critics say the BJP’s rhetoric and policies have added to the unease and marginalisation of India’s more than 200 million Muslims, accusing the party of conflating religious identity with illegal migration.

Rights groups have previously accused India of also pushing hundreds of Bengali-speaking Muslims into Bangladesh without due process.

Relations between India and Muslim-majority Bangladesh soured after a 2024 revolution in Dhaka ended the autocratic rule of then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina, an ally of New Delhi, who fled to India.

A new government in Dhaka was elected in February, and relations have since slowly improved. Bangladesh and Indian border force chiefs are due to meet in New Delhi on Monday.

Despite occasional skirmishes and ambivalent Iranian signals, the optimism expressed by the US President indicates Washington hopes to eventually achieve enduring peace. This would not have been possible without the pivotal role played by Pakistan and Field Marshal Asim Munir in navigating the delicate peace process, despite landmines being laid throughout the process and across the region to sabotage it.

Pakistan has played the leading role throughout this precarious peace process that faces complex challenges. For 47 years, the US viewed Iran as a threat to its regional interests and employed coercive diplomacy and economic sanctions to dissuade Tehran from pursuing its nuclear programme and supported political activists opposed to the Iranian political system.

However, two direct and major US and Israeli attacks within one year on Iran during Trump administration caused major damage to its infrastructure, killing thousands of people, including decapitation strikes on Tehran’s ideological, political, intelligence and military leadership. Although the Iranian political and security system seems to have absorbed these lethal attacks, it has also created a new security dynamic which poses more challenges to the diplomatic progress.

Western military strategy traditionally assumes that decapitation of top political and military leadership can damage the political will of the adversary to wage war which can bring about a quick and decisive victory and help avoid a long and costly war of attrition. This approach seemed to work during World War II against Adolf Hitler, and later against the regimes of Saddam Husain, Muammar Qadhafi and Bashar al-Assad.

Field Marshal Munir is the only international figure who has made two visits to Iran at the height of the crisis to persuade its political, military and diplomatic leadership, facilitate an enduring ceasefire and encourage progress on complex contentious issues

However, these were totalitarian regimes whose political system collapsed as soon as their central figurehead was removed. This was not the case in Iran where the loss of top ideological, political and military leadership was a major shock to the nation but didn’t disturb Tehran’s political system or its military strategy.

Iran has deliberately expanded both the theatre of conflict and the diplomatic chessboard. This has led the talks agenda to shift and expand beyond the Iranian nuclear programme to also include the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, enduring ceasefire in Lebanon and sanctions relief on Tehran’s frozen financial assets.

Moreover, the decapitation of Iranian ideological, political and military leadership removed the most charismatic and experienced diplomatic figures, most notably Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Ali Larijani, who have a track record of negotiating with the US. This has shifted power within Iran towards individuals who have not only more military experience of campaigns in Syria than diplomatic know-how, but also have a far deeper distrust of the US than their more seasoned predecessors –the first Trump administration unilaterally quit the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), while his second term saw the elimination of Tehran’s national leadership.

These attacks have deepened Iranian distrust, which has also hardened Tehran’s stance. This makes diplomatic progress not only more difficult, but has made Pakistan’s role more critical and necessary for the success of this complex and delicate peace process.

Field Marshal Asim Munir was the only international figure to make two visits to Iran at the height of the Middle East crisis, to persuade Iranian political, military and diplomatic leadership, facilitate an enduring ceasefire and encourage progress on complex contentious issues. Despite pitfalls, Pakistan remains in a unique position to continue to steer this peace process because it simultaneously enjoys trust by both the US and Iran.

This was made possible because Pakistan assured Iran that its territory and airspace will not be used for attacks on Iran, Islamabad condemned the attacks on Iran, as well as attacks on the civilian infrastructure of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states as a violation of international law.

But most importantly, Field Marshal Munir secured President Trump’s security commitment that Iranian leadership will no longer be targeted. Without this vital security guarantee, there was no chance for the peace process to begin. Each social media post and statement by President Trump that expresses hope for a lasting ceasefire and resolution of other issues has helped de-escalate hostilities and eased global oil prices, which currently reflect unprecedented damage to the world energy and economic security.

The fruits of Pakistan’s leading role and painstaking efforts as a ‘net regional stabiliser’ are being acknowledged, appreciated and enjoyed around the world. The final outcome of this peace process may take time but history will remember that it was only Pakistan that rose to the occasion to help end a major conflict, save precious lives and end the suffering of humanity, particularly the poor people around the world, when the international community had lost its trust and hope from international law and institutions for protecting regional peace, security and stability.

The writer is an Islamabad-based security analyst with three decades of experience in teaching international security and strategic affairs.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2026