ISLAMABAD, JAN 2 /DNA/ – Former Information Secretary Ambreen Jan is poised to take charge as the new Chairman of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA). The committee responsible for appointing the PEMRA chief convened on Friday and unanimously nominated her for the position.

According to sources, PTI Senator Ali Zafar did not attend the meeting. However, Senator Sarmad Ali and MNA Shahbaz Babar both endorsed Ambreen Jan’s nomination, paving the way for her appointment. The decision reflects a rare consensus across the committee, underscoring confidence in her professional credentials.

Ambreen Jan recently retired from her role as Secretary Information, where she earned a reputation for her professional attitude and commitment to institutional integrity. Her career in public service has been marked by a steady rise through the ranks, with colleagues often praising her balanced approach to media regulation and policy implementation.

If formally appointed, Ambreen Jan will be stepping into a critical role at a time when PEMRA faces mounting challenges. The authority is tasked with regulating Pakistan’s broadcast and electronic media landscape, which has become increasingly complex amid rapid technological changes and heightened political sensitivities. Issues such as content regulation, licensing, and maintaining a balance between freedom of expression and responsible broadcasting remain central to PEMRA’s mandate.

Observers note that her nomination comes at a pivotal moment. With political tensions running high and media outlets under scrutiny, the new chairman will need to navigate competing pressures while ensuring that PEMRA maintains credibility and impartiality. Ambreen Jan’s professional background and reputation for fairness may help her steer the organization through these challenges.

Her expected appointment also signals continuity in the government’s approach to media regulation, while potentially introducing reforms aimed at strengthening institutional capacity. For many in the media industry, her leadership could provide much-needed stability and clarity in regulatory affairs.

As the process moves forward, Ambreen Jan’s nomination is likely to be confirmed, making her one of the few women to lead a major regulatory authority in Pakistan. Her tenure will be closely watched, both by policymakers and the media fraternity, as she takes on the responsibility of shaping the country’s broadcast environment.

ISLAMABAD, JAN 2 /DNA/ – Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday highlighting Balochistan’s strategic role in regional connectivity and its rich natural resources, urged investments in infrastructure, trade, minerals, and connectivity to uplift local communities, create employment, and promote shared national progress.

The Senate chairman, addressing the participants of National Workshop Balochistan (NWB-18) at President’s House, said that Balochistan occupied a pivotal position in regional connectivity, linking South Asia with Central Asia and the Middle East.

Its coastline, natural resources, and strategic location make it central to Pakistan’s economic future and national security, he added.

Gilani also reaffirmed the state’s unwavering commitment to peace, development, inclusion, and constitutional rights of the people of Balochistan.

He noted that the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) provided an important platform for coordinated investment, while projects like Reko Diq and CPEC-related initiatives would ensure economic growth, capacity-building, and enhanced investor confidence, with due regard to provincial interests.

Gilani emphasised that the people of Balochistan, with their rich culture, history, and traditions, were an inseparable part of the national identity, and called for development, opportunity, and inclusion throughout the province.

The Senate chairman also drew attention to the challenges faced by Balochistan due to climate change and natural disasters, including floods and heavy rainfall, causing loss of life and livelihoods. He stressed the need for sustained humanitarian support, rehabilitation, and long-term planning to address climate-induced challenges.

He termed the resilience of Balochistan’s people amidst the challenges a source of strength and optimism, and called for equipping the youth of Balochistan with education, skills, and opportunities to enable them to become agents of peace, progress, and national unity.

Recalling his recent visit to the Pakistan Navy War College, where he underscored the importance of maritime security and the blue economy, he noted that such engagements were vital for a holistic understanding of national defence and development priorities.

Gilani recalled prioritizing Balochistan during his tenure as prime minister, highlighting 2009 Aghaz-e-Huqooq-e-Balochistan Package, unanimously approved by Parliament, as a historic democratic initiative to resolve political, economic, and administrative issues.

He said the package aimed to rebuild trust, boost provincial autonomy, ensure fair resource sharing, enhance Baloch youth employment and civil service representation, and prioritize education via scholarships and expanded institutions.

The Senate chairman noted special development measures for resource-extraction areas to benefit local communities and that political reconciliation and dialogue were key to lasting peace through inclusion.

He said that the Senate of Pakistan remained committed to protecting provincial rights, strengthening the federation, and promoting balanced development across all regions through oversight, transparency, and dialogue.

Welcoming participants to the federal capital, the Senate chairman praised the National Workshop Balochistan as a commendable initiative by the Government of Balochistan, in collaboration with Headquarters 12 Corps, Quetta, to promote national cohesion, informed leadership, and constructive dialogue on provincial issues.

He appreciated the organisers for uniting policymakers, academics, professionals, and young leaders, noting such engagements fostered mutual understanding, national integration, and capacity-building.

Urging the participants to respect diversity, uphold constitutional values, and work within democratic frameworks, Gilani expressed hope that the workshop would deepen their understanding of parliamentary democracy and inspire them to play a constructive role in national development.

The interaction also featured the question-answer session, wherein the Senate chairman discussed various issues related to inclusive development, national security, parliamentary legislation, and political reconciliation.

PM Shehabaz-led meeting greenlights legislation for elections in federal capital on same lines as Punjab

Saifullah Ansar/DNA

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet during a meeting headed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, approved the postponement of local government elections in Islamabad, the sources said on Friday.

During the meeting today, the forum ratified the decisions made on December 3, and December 30, 2025, by the cabinet committee on legislation.

The development comes as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had earlier announced holding the local body polls in Islamabad on February 15.

Meanwhile, the scrutiny of the nomination papers will take place from December 30th 2025 to January 3 2026.

Appeals against the scrutiny can be filed from January 5 to 8, and election tribunals were to hear and dispose of these appeals between January 9-13.

Candidates can withdraw their nomination papers until January 15, while the final list of candidates will be displayed on January 16. The election symbols will also be allotted on January 16 2026.

The results were to then be compiled from February 16 to 19.

The sources say that the federal cabinet today mulled over new legislation related to local government elections in the federal capital, with the CEC Islamabad briefing the meeting on the matter.

Furthermore, the forum, sources added, has approved the legislation for local government elections in Islamabad on the same lines as Punjab.

ISLAMABAD, Jan 2 (DNA): Pakistan on Friday reiterated that it would continue to adhere to the One China Policy and regard Taiwan as an inalienable part of China.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi, responding to the media queries on developments related to the Taiwan Strait, said that Pakistan and China were iron-clad friends and all-weather strategic cooperative partners.

He reiterated Pakistan’s consistent support to China on all matters of its core interests, including Taiwan.

“We will continue to adhere to the One-China principle and regard Taiwan as an inalienable part of China,” Andrabi added.

ISLAMABAD, JAN 2 – An anti-terrorism court in the federal capital on Friday awarded multiple life sentences to Adil Raja, Haider Mehdi, Wajahat Saeed, Sabir Shakir and Moeed Pirzada for “committing digital terrorism” in a case related to the May 9, 2023 riots.

The verdict, announced by ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra, relates to a case registered at the Aabpara Police Station against Syed Akbar Hussain and journalists Shakir and Pirzada.

Whereas Mehdi, Saeed and Shaheen Sehbai were sentenced in a case lodged at the Ramna Police Station.

Apart from the life sentences, the court also handed down a total of 35 years’ imprisonment under other provisions and imposed a fine of Rs1.5 million.

During the case hearing, Raja Naveed Hussain Kiani appeared on behalf of the prosecution, whereas the convicts were represented by Advocate Gulfam Goraya — who was appointed by the court as the defence counsel.

During the case, the prosecution presented a total of 24 witnesses before the court, which completed the trial in absentia upon the former’s request.

The ATC judgment comes days after the federal cabinet declared Raja, a former Pakistan Army major, a proscribed person under Section 11[EE] of the ATA 1997.

Raja, who is based in the United Kingdom, was among the two retired Pakistan Army officers convicted and sentenced under the Army Act for violations of the provisions of the Official Secrets Act in 2023.

Along with him, Captain (retd) Haider Raza Mehdi was also sentenced for the same offence via Field General Court Martial in November 2023.

Meanwhile, the journalists sentenced in the ATC verdict today, namely Shakir, Pirzada, Saeed and Sehbai, are also currently abroad.