ISLAMABAD, Dec 10 (APP/DNA):Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said that the country could not achieve sustainable economic development without the complete elimination of terrorism, extremism and sectarianism from the country.

Addressing the National Ulema Convention here, the prime minister urged religious scholars to play a proactive role in discouraging sectarianism and promoting unity, harmony and brotherhood among all schools of thought. He said creating an atmosphere of national cohesion was essential for ensuring the country’s prosperity and future progress.

The Convention was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Field Marshal Chief of Defence Forces Syed Asim Munir, ministers, parliamentarians, and a large number of religious scholars from various schools of thoughts.

The prime minister said that Allah Almighty had blessed Pakistan with a great victory in the maarka-e-haq (battle of truth) against India, which he said was due to the professionalism and bravery of the armed forces, as well as the prayers of the nation.

He said Field Marshal Asim Munir had led the war with courage and unwavering resolve, while all services, the Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Navy, contributed equally to the victory.

The world, he added, was acknowledging Pakistan’s performance, and Muslim countries were expressing pride over the historic victory. Despite this, he noted, certain elements continued to spread propaganda against the armed forces.

Calling out the menace of terrorism, he said the Khawarij were carrying out attacks and targeting innocent citizens and security personnel. He said he often met families of martyred soldiers who expressed pride in the sacrifices of their sons for the country.

As regards the economy, the prime minister said Pakistan had reached a stage from where it was about to take off towards accelerated growth. He said the country’s political and military leadership had worked tirelessly to steer the nation away from the risk of default.

He reaffirmed the government’s resolve to put Pakistan on the path of economic prosperity, saying this was the time for implementation and hard work. By implementing austerity measures, and working collectively, he added, the nation could fulfill the dreams of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

PM Shehbaz Sharif said national unity was indispensable for addressing all challenges facing the country and for achieving long-term stability and development.

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has begun deliberations on shifting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan from Adiala jail, with Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ikhtiar Wali warning that political confrontation has reached a point “from where return seems impossible.”

Sources told Geo News that the authorities believe PTI was “pursuing an agenda to destabilise the country”, saying that attempts were underway to foment unrest under the guise of protest.

Addressing a press conference, Wali said the government was seriously examining proposals to move the “prisoner” from Adiala jail. “They want the prisoner shifted from Adiala, and the government is genuinely considering it,” he added.

Wali also claimed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has a nexus with drug smugglers. “His performance is not zero — it is minus,” he remarked.

He further claimed that CM Afridi’s family members were engaged in the narcotics business “under his patronage”.

The remarks come a day after the PTI founder’s sisters staged a sit-in near Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail after being denied a meeting with their incarcerated brother, which was ended following police action.

The protesters gathered at the Factory checkpoint after Noreen Khan, Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan. The police officials used water cannons to scatter the participants of the sit-in. Some of the protesters resisted the police operation by hurling stones, leading to the arrests of several PTI workers.

Meetings with the PTI founder have been a point of contention between the former ruling party and the government for quite some time, with the last meeting held last week when ex-PM’s sister Uzma was allowed to meet him.

Tensions have escalated outside Adiala jail recently as PTI protests, including scuffles with police and jail staff, continue over meetings with the ousted prime minister, who has been imprisoned there for over two years.

Last month, KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi staged a 16-hour sit-in outside the facility. Before this, Imran’s sisters Aleema Khan, Noreen Khan Niazi and Uzma Khanum also held a protest outside the jail, which resulted in their brief detention.

However, since then, the government, as confirmed by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, has imposed a blanket ban on meetings with the incarcerated politician.

The ban came hours after Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry termed the PTI founder a “mentally ill person” and a threat to national security.

Separately, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said that both Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and he had repeatedly stated their readiness for dialogue. “If the opposition wants to advance talks, it is a welcome development,” he said.

However, he disclosed that the opposition conveyed that it wanted dialogue only with Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir. “The very forces that defeated India were targeted with offensive language,” he lamented.

Ayaz Sadiq said the opposition had taken politics to a point “from where return may no longer be possible”, noting that the parliamentary floor was repeatedly used for anti-judiciary and anti-army rhetoric.

“I moved four steps forward for dialogue, but now I have had to retreat 40 steps,” he said. “If Pakistan exists, politics exists, and everything else exists.”

‘No minus formula’
Speaking to journalists outside parliament, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan condemned the use of water cannon on party workers.

“This is not the corporate world where one can remove one of two people and let the other remain. If attempts are made to minus us, none of them will remain either,” he said.

He added that PTI had come to Parliament to strengthen democracy, “but some people do not want to see the situation improve”.

Meanwhile, PTI leader Asad Qaiser said no one had the courage to impose governor’s rule in KP. “We know how to defend ourselves. This is beyond their capacity,” he added.

He also sought clarity from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), asking whether Faisal Karim Kundi’s comments in favour of governor’s rule represented official party policy.

Qaiser emphasised that PTI desired peace and supported full use of state resources against terrorism, adding that the party would speak “as far as the law allows”.

ISLAMABAD, DEC 10 /DNA/ – The National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE), Higher Education Commission (HEC), has launched a three-day leadership training workshop titled “Strategic Planning and Leadership Excellence” for Vice Chancellors and Pro-Vice Chancellors of public sector universities of Balochistan from 10th -12th December 2025. The workshop aims to enhance the leadership capacity of senior university management to effectively address the academic, administrative, and financial challenges faced by higher education institutions.

The training programme is designed to strengthen decision-making, policy formulation, financial sustainability, institutional self-reliance, strategic planning, governance, and innovation in research and learning. It also focuses on developing vision-based strategic planning aligned with institutional goals, applying data-driven decision-making tools, improving governance and accountability mechanisms, and strengthening collaboration and stakeholder engagement.

Minister of State for the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, Ms. Wajiha Qamar, was chief guest of the opening ceremony. Chairman HEC Mr. Nadeem Mahbub, Executive Director HEC Dr. Zia Ul Haq, and Managing Director NAHE Dr. Noor Amna Malik were also present in the session.

Addressing the participants, Minister of State Ms. Wajiha Qamar highlighted her strong personal connection with Balochistan and emphasised the importance of presenting the positive and resilient image of the province to promote national cohesion. She stressed that academic leaders have a critical responsibility to identify challenges in the higher education sector and work collectively to find sustainable solutions. She also emphasised the role of legislation and policy reforms in strengthening the self-reliance of universities. In the context of rapid technological advancement, she underlined the need for institutions to enhance their capabilities to meet emerging demands.

Chairman HEC Mr. Nadeem Mahbub thanked the Vice Chancellors and Pro-Vice Chancellors for their participation and described it as a reflection of their commitment to improving higher education and shaping the future of youth. He highlighted the central role of universities in knowledge creation, skills development, and social progress. He emphasised that the leadership of Vice Chancellors is vital in setting the vision, performance standards, and direction of universities. He also noted that the youth of Balochistan possess immense potential and that universities must play a strong role in nurturing their abilities for national development. He reiterated that although the challenges faced by Balochistan’s universities are significant, they are not permanent, and HEC remains fully committed to supporting the province’s higher education sector.

Earlier, in her welcome remarks, Managing Director NAHE Dr. Noor Amna Malik appreciated the Governor of Balochistan for his guidance in initiating this exclusive leadership programme. She briefed the participants on the structure and objectives of the workshop and explained that the training modules cover key areas of higher education leadership. She expressed hope that the workshop would serve as a valuable learning platform and promote collaborative problem-solving among the participants.

The three-day workshop includes in-depth sessions on key areas of higher education management such as financial governance, quality assurance, research and innovation, financial sustainability, governance and strategic management, digital transformation, internationalization, strategic partnerships, and human resource development. The resource persons include senior officials and experts from HEC, former State Bank leadership, British Council Pakistan, and the Regional English Language Office of US Embassy.

The training initiative reflects the continued efforts of HEC to strengthen leadership capacity in the higher education sector and to support institutional development in Balochistan through structured learning and professional development.

Saifullah Ansar

ISLAMABAD, DECE 9 /DNA/ – A special investiture ceremony was held at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Tuesday, where President of Indonesia was conferred the prestigious Nishan-e-Pakistan, the country’s highest civil award. The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chairman Senate, Speaker National Assembly, and senior military leadership, marking a significant moment in Pakistan-Indonesia bilateral relations.

A dignified ceremony was also held in honour of the visiting Indonesian President, reflecting the deep-rooted ties and mutual respect between the two nations. Later, President of Pakistan held a one-on-one meeting with the Indonesian President, during which the two leaders discussed historic relations and reaffirmed their shared values and longstanding goodwill.

Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region. President of Pakistan expressed heartfelt condolences over the recent floods and landslides in Sumatra, praying for the departed souls and wishing speedy recovery for the injured.

Reiterating their commitment to promoting interfaith harmony and tolerance, the two Presidents decided to build the future partnership on principles of inclusive and comprehensive development. Satisfaction was expressed over the steady growth in bilateral trade, with emphasis on diversifying and balancing economic exchanges. The Joint Trade Committee was acknowledged as an effective platform for strengthening business-to-business ties.

Pakistan and Indonesia agreed to expand collaboration in information technology, agriculture, energy, and tourism. Both leaders underscored joint efforts to tackle climate change, disaster management, and sustainable development. They also expressed the resolve to advance defence cooperation, including training and joint production initiatives.

The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to counter Islamophobia at global forums. President of Pakistan highlighted the need for regional peace and development and briefed the Indonesian President on the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Later, ministers, senior officials, and top military commanders from both sides joined the delegation-level talks aimed at deepening the multidimensional partnership between Pakistan and Indonesia.