ISLAMABAD, DEC 6 /DNA/ – (Staff Reporter): The seventh Islamabad Expo, organized jointly by the Islamabad Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI) and APJCCI, was inaugurated here on Satureday. The ceremony was graced by the US Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires, Ms. Natalie Baker, as the chief guest.

Founder President of IWCCI, Samina Fazil, along with a large number of chamber members, distinguished guests, and diplomats from various embassies attended the event.

On this occasion, Founder President Samina Fazil thanked all the esteemed guests and stated that this two-day expo, organized by the chamber, will continue on December 7, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM. The primary objective of the expo is to provide women entrepreneurs from various provinces and regions with direct access to multinational corporations, large local firms, and diplomatic missions.

She said that such opportunities are generally not available to most women involved in household and small-scale businesses. The Women’s Chamber is committed to representing women traders and striving for their development.

Samina Fazil added that this year, a partnership has been established with the Azerbaijan-Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Corporate partners for the event include D-Watson, JazzCash, and Care.

The exhibition will see participation from women entrepreneurs from across the country, multinational companies, diplomats, private sector representatives, and buyers.

GUJRANWALA, Dec 6 (APP/DNA): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saturday, while appreciating Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif for the successful launch of diverse public-oriented mega projects across the province, said after completion of their current mandate, the PML-N under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif would ‘get historic results in the next general elections’.

Addressing a ground breaking ceremony of mass transport system here, the prime minister said the recent election results in Punjab reflected the public trust in the PML-N leadership.

“In the next three year, the incumbent government of PML-N has the mandate to serve the people,” he said stressing that they should work tirelessly under the leadership of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

In his remarks, broadcast live on national Tv channels, he expressed the optimism that on the basis of hard work and launch of development projects, the next election results across the country would be pleasant ones for the PML-N.

“The journey of progress and prosperity has just commenced and we will move on the path of development rapidly. In the next election, owing to this hard work, PML-N will get historic results,” he added.

The ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, federal and provincial ministers, parliamentarians, members of parliaments and assembly, relevant authorities and a large number of people.

The prime minister termed the groundbreaking of mass transport system, a major initiative to facilitate the city dwellers, besides facilitating the other areas, a key initiative to provide public relief.

He said the project was a gift from the Punjab CM which would transform the entire district, providing immense relief to the commuters, including students, patients, labours, lawyers and other people from different walks of life.

The prime minister said the journey of progress had started in 1985 under Nawaz Sharif’s government.

Nawaz Sharif had launched the development projects at that time when the country was embroiled only in catchwords and politicking, he added.

With launch of uplift projects, Nawaz Sharif buried those kinds of politics, the prime minister said, adding the former prime minister and chief minister initiated road networks, health facilities and various other economic initiatives, thus starting a new chapter of politics during 1988 elections which was still continuing under the PML-N leadership.

The prime minister said history would remember Nawaz Sharif’s achievements with golden words including country acquiring the nuclear power in 1998. If it had not been the case, the situation in the recent war with India in May would have been different, he opined.

In Punjab, he further said, his journey of progress was moving at rapid speed under the dynamic and young leadership of CM Punjab who was continuing the legacy of Nawaz Sharif.

He lauded the government of Punjab initiatives like construction of cancer hospital, launch of metro buses, clean Punjab, pollution reduction, provision of houses for the homeless, helping flood-affected people, provision of missing facilities in schools etc.

The prime minister said that all these works spoke for themselves and like truth could not be ignored even by the political opponents.

Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, in her remarks, highlighted the key initiatives launched by her provincial government.

She said that the country had witnessed immense progress and development under the PML-N leadership.

ISLAMABAD, DEC 6 /DNA/ – Binance Senior Leadership Visits Pakistan as Government Signals Strong Commitment to Digital Asset Regulation Senior leadership from Binance, including Global CEO Richard Teng, visited Islamabad for high level engagements with the country’s top leadership.

Both the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and the Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir attended the meeting.. Chairman PVARA also attended the meeting and gave a briefing on his organization.

ISLAMABAD, DEC 6 – The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) bigwigs have been barred from travelling abroad over the 9 May vandalism as 132 of the party leaders to be added to the Exit Control List (ECL).

According to details surfaced on Saturday, the federal government has tightened its net around elements accused of fuelling political unrest. Moreover, formal approval has been granted for placing the names of political leaders on the ECL.

Sources divulged that the names of PTI founder Imran Khan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Omar Ayub, Fawad Chaudhry and Shibli Faraz have been included.

Former KP chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Shehryar Afridi and Usman Dar have also been prohibited from travelling abroad, according to sources.

Shireen Mazari, Zartaj Gul, Musarrat Cheema and Kanwal Shauzab have likewise been placed on the ECL, sources reported.

Sheikh Rasheed, Sheikh Rashid, Tahir Sadiq, Raja Basharat and Wasiq Qayyum will also not be permitted to go abroad, sources added.

It is pertinent to note that the Punjab Home Department had recommended the inclusion of 132 names in the ECL, according to sources.

Also Read: DG ISPR declares ‘a jailed leader’ has become national security threat

Separately, earlier on Friday, the director general of Inter-Services Public Relations, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, has asserted that there is a certain individual, who is imprisoned, yet believes that if he is not in power, then there is nothing.

“His statements have now become a threat to national security,” said the military spokesperson in a press conference.

He criticised that individual — without taking any names — saying: “That person’s politics is over. He is a prisoner of his own ego and impulses.” Lt Gen Chaudhry appeared to be addressing incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan and assailing his and PTI’s alleged “anti-army” rhetoric throughout the press conference.

The DG ISPR reiterated that the Pakistan Army must be kept away from politics, stating: “We will not allow anyone to create a divide between the state and the people. The Pakistan Army stands between the people and the sedition of the terrorists.”

ISLAMABAD, DEC 6 – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday that former premier Nawaz Sharif had initiated major development projects at a time when the country was engulfed in slogans and politicking, stating that the launch of these projects had “buried that style of politics.”

Addressing a groundbreaking ceremony of the mass transport system here, the prime minister said the recent election results in Punjab reflected the public trust in the PML-N leadership.

“Over the next three years, the incumbent government of PML-N has the mandate to serve the people,” he said, stressing that they should work tirelessly under the leadership of Nawaz.

The premier further expressed the optimism that, on the basis of hard work and the launch of development projects, the next election results across the country would be pleasant ones for the PML-N.

“The journey of progress and prosperity has just commenced, and we will move on the path of development rapidly. In the next election, owing to this hard work, PML-N will get historic results,” he added.

Commenting on the groundbreaking of the mass transport system in Gujranwala, a major initiative to facilitate the city dwellers, besides facilitating the other areas, is a key initiative to provide public relief.

He said the project was a gift from the Punjab CM, which would transform the entire district, providing immense relief to the commuters, including students, patients, labourers, lawyers and other people from different walks of life.

The prime minister said history would remember Nawaz Sharif’s achievements with golden words, including the country acquiring nuclear power in 1998. If it had not been the case, the situation in the recent war with India in May would have been different, he opined.

In Punjab, he further said, his journey of progress was moving at a rapid speed under the dynamic and young leadership of CM Punjab, who was continuing the legacy of Nawaz.

He lauded the government of Punjab’s initiatives like the construction of a cancer hospital, the launch of metro buses, clean Punjab, pollution reduction, the provision of houses for the homeless, helping flood-affected people, provision of missing facilities in schools.

The prime minister said that all these works spoke for themselves and, like truth, could not be ignored even by the political opponents.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, in her remarks, highlighted the key initiatives launched by her provincial government. She said that the country had witnessed immense progress and development under the PML-N leadership.

KARACHI, DEC 6: /DNA/ – Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) flotilla, comprising ROYAL NAVY OF OMAN VESSEL AL RASIKH and AL SHINAS, visited Karachi to participate in the 12th edition of Bilateral Exercise THAMAR AL TAYYIB (TAT) 2025. Exercise aimed at strengthening maritime security cooperation and deepening longstanding bonds of friendship between Pakistan and Oman.

Upon arrival at Karachi Port, visiting ships were warmly received in a traditional welcome ceremony attended by senior officials of Pakistan Navy. A band of Pakistan Navy performed during the reception.

Exercise TAT-2025 served as an important platform for mutual learning, enhanced interoperability and professional development. Pakistan Navy and Royal Navy of Oman have been conducting the TAT series of exercises regularly since 1980 and TAT-2023 was conducted in Omani waters.

The visit included call-ons with senior Pakistan Navy leadership, onboard receptions and visits to key naval installations and training facilities. Personnel from both navies engaged in professional dialogues, operational discussions and exchange of experiences across various maritime domains.

Visit culminated in the sea phase, where naval ships from both forces conducted advanced operational maneuvers and joint exercises encompassing major facets of modern maritime warfare.

Pakistan Navy remains committed to fostering regional maritime cooperation and strengthening ties with partner navies worldwide. Royal Navy of Oman’s participation in TAT-2025 reflects the growing defence partnership between the two friendly nations and their shared resolve to promote regional peace, stability, and maritime collaboration.

ISLAMABAD, DEC 6: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday defended the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) director general’s “guarded” language, saying the military’s spokesperson was free to “respond with full force” to criticism aimed at the armed forces.

“ISPR DG [Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry] used extremely guarded language. They say he should not have said this or that — he absolutely should have,” Asif told reporters in Sialkot. “They are free to respond with full force.”

The ISPR DG, in his hard-hitting presser a day earlier, lambasted the PTI founder and his party for promoting “anti-army’s rhetoric”. The military’s spokesperson called Khan, a former prime minister, “mentally ill” and a national security threat.

Lt Gen Chaudhry said that the ex-premier, who was removed from power in 2022, was working with “external elements, spreading disinformation, provoking unrest and persistently targeting the armed forces”.

In response, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan called for de-escalation and giving space to each other. “I have always hoped for reduced tensions and improved relations. Today, ISPR’s press conference has left me disappointed,” he wrote in a post on X.

Asif criticised PTI founder Imran Khan for remaining vocal on every issue except supporting Pakistan’s troops during the conflict with India. “Those whose tongues spared not even our martyrs, with what face do they complain?” he remarked. “Their faith, ideology and everything is power. They have no link to this soil.”

He accused the former prime minister of targeting the military leadership even during wartime, saying: “He kept attacking our forces, our martyrs, our leadership. How can they call themselves patriotic?”

Asif added that friendly countries had stood “shoulder to shoulder” with Pakistan, but “one political party did not play the role the 250 million people of Pakistan did in facing India,” urging them to “do politics, protest, anything — but do not challenge Pakistan’s land, honour or importance.”

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal also backed the ISPR. “Our armed forces are sacrificing in the fight against terrorism. The ISPR DG has been soft — if it were me, I would have used even stronger words,” he said.

Iqbal said he himself had been jailed in a “false case” but never spoke against Pakistan abroad. “Pakistan is one family. We do not take our disputes outside the home,” he added, calling for “responsibility from everyone.”

Anyone attacking state institutions and the military should face a “strict” response, he warned. He also highlighted terrorism as the “biggest challenge” for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and expressed hope that the provincial government would “play its constitutional role” in restoring peace.

PESHAWAR, DEC 6: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) cabinet on Friday decided to withdraw what it described as “politically motivated cases” registered on May 9 and 10, 2023, stating that the cases lacked “credible evidence.” 

The provincial government also announced that the inquiry into the Radio Pakistan Peshawar incident would be referred to a Special Committee of the Provincial Assembly for further examination, The News reported on Saturday.

The decisions were made during the 41st meeting of the Provincial Cabinet, which was addressed by KP Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi via video link. The meeting was attended by cabinet members, the chief secretary, additional chief secretaries, administrative secretaries concerned and the advocate general.

The May 9 riots broke out across the country following the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and then premier Imran Khan in a corruption case in 2023. The violence included attacks on military and state installations, with the Jinnah House (the Lahore Corps Commander’s House) incident becoming one of the most high-profile cases.

The unrest caused much legal and political woes for the former ruling party, whose senior leaders, including founder Imran, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Yasmin Rashid and others, still remain behind bars over their alleged involvement in May 9 riots.

Condemning the recent press conference by federal ministers, the KP chief minister termed it inhuman, immoral, and unconstitutional, stating that such behaviour was tantamount to deliberately provoking the public and destabilising the situation.

He said that PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife were being subjected to solitary confinement, which the provincial government condemned. The chief minister reiterated that Imran Khan was a leader of the entire nation, while his wife was a non-political and modest woman, and any mistreatment is unacceptable.

He issued firm policy guidelines aimed at strengthening good governance, transparency, and the use of modern technology in official affairs.

The chief minister stated that the provincial government had already provided a clear roadmap for good governance and was actively promoting transparency and digitalisation across all departments.

Directing officials to prioritise online participation in official meetings, he emphasised that this approach will not only save valuable time but also result in a significant reduction in government expenditures.

To ensure institutional transparency and merit, the chief minister announced that all recruitment in provincial government departments, autonomous, and semi-autonomous bodies would be made strictly through the Educational Testing and Evaluation Agency (ETEA), and no recruitment would be carried out through any private testing agency.

Referring to the recent meeting of the National Finance Commission (NFC), the chief minister said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s case was presented vehemently and was supported by all participants. He pointed out that the continued denial of the due Rs 1,375 billion share of the merged districts in the NFC Award over the past years remained a grave injustice.

Expressing concern over the 55-day closure of the Torkham border, the chief minister said that truck drivers as well as men, women, children, and the elderly were severely affected.

He directed the district administration of Khyber to immediately ensure provision of food, shelter, and all essential facilities to the displaced people.

The chief minister directed that bulletproof vehicles be provided on a priority basis to civil officers, especially district administration, and instructed that all hurdles in the procurement process be removed without delay.

Briefing on the details of the important decisions taken in the cabinet meeting, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Information and Public Relations, Shafi Ullah Jan, said the cabinet took key decisions on the distribution formula for reserved seats for students of the merged districts in medical and dental colleges, the province’s new posting and transfer policy, the committee report on Action in Aid of Civil Powers law, matters related to wheat stock and procurement, the “politically motivated” cases of May 9 and 10, the formation of the KP Sugarcane and Sugar Beet Board, additional funding for development schemes, and other public welfare initiatives.

He stated after the division of South Waziristan into two districts, the matter of redistribution of reserved seats for students of these has been referred to a Cabinet Committee for consultation. The committee will present its recommendations in the next cabinet meeting.

Similarly, the new Posting and Transfer Policy had been referred to a Cabinet Committee as well for further review. Shafi Ullah Jan said the cabinet approved the nomination of mill representatives for the KP Sugarcane and Sugar Beet Control Board for 2025–26.

The CM’s aide stated that a special grant of Rs 150 million was approved for the Counter-Terrorism Department. It endorsed the implementation of the recommendations of the committee tasked with proposing measures after the repeal of the Action in Aid of Civil Powers law.

RAWALPINDI, DEC 6: Security forces have killed nine terrorists affiliated with Indian proxy Fitna al-Khawarij in two separate intelligence-based operations (IBOs) conducted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Saturday.

According to a press release issued by the military’s media wing, the security forces conducted separate operations on December 5 on the reported presence of terrorists in KP’s Tank and Lakki Marwat districts.

During the conduct of operation in Tank, the ISPR said, security forces “effectively engaged the khwarij location and after an intense fire exchange, seven terrorists were sent to hell.”

In another operation conducted in Lakki Marwat, security forces neutralised two more khwarij, the ISPR statement added.

“Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from killed Indian sponsored khwarij, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against the security forces, law enforcement agencies and target killing of innocent civilians,” it added.

Furthermore, the ISPR said sanitisation operations were being conducted to eliminate any other Indian sponsored terrorists found in the area.

“Counterterrorism campaign under vision ‘Azm e Istehkam’ by security forces and law enforcement agencies will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” it added.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi have praised the security forces for carrying out two successful intelligence-based operations against terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij in the districts of Tank and Lakki Marwat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Terrorist attacks have seen a sharp increase in Pakistan, particularly in the bordering provinces of KP and Balochistan, since 2021, when the Afghan Taliban regime came into power.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, in a statement on November 25, 2025, said that 67,023 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) were conducted across Pakistan — mostly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan — during the ongoing year as part of counterterrorism efforts.

He said that as many as 1,873 terrorists, including 136 Afghan nationals, have been killed in 12,857 IBOs carried out in KP and 53,309 in Balochistan this year till November 2025.

Pakistan has time and again called on the Afghan Taliban regime in Kabul to prevent its soil from being used by terrorists against Pakistan, and the issue recently resulted in heightened tensions featuring cross-border attacks by the Afghan side, resulting in retaliation from Pakistani forces as well.

KARACHI: Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput on Saturday took oath as the new chief justice of the Sindh High Court (SHC) at the swearing-in ceremony held at the Governor’s House.

Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori administered the oath to Justice Rajput, who was appointed by President Asif Ali Zardari following his nomination by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP).

The ceremony was attended by several senior officials, including Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab.

SHC judges, including Justice Faisal Kamal Alam, Justice Arshad Hussain, and Justice Abdul Mubeen Lakho, also attended the ceremony.

Other attending judges included Justice Umar Sial, Justice Faiz Shah, Justice Khalid Hussain Shahani, and Justice Tasneem Sultana.

Additionally, Justice Adnan Karim Memon, Justice Sana Akram Minhas, Justice Abdul Rehman, and Justice Ali Haider also participated in the ceremony.

The JCP, in its first meeting after the 27th Constitutional Amendment and the establishment of the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), had recommended appointing permanent chief justices to the SHC and Balochistan High Court (BHC), with the names of Justice Rajput and BHC Acting Chief Justice Muhammad Kamran Khan Mulakhail for the respective posts, earlier this week. 

The forum also recommended elevating Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb — an Islamabad High Court judge currently serving as an acting judge of the Supreme Court — as a permanent judge of the SC, with the decision approved by a majority of the JCP’s total membership.

Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput

Born on October 16, 2025, Justice Rajput did his LLB from Government Jinnah Law College, Hyderabad, and Master’s in International Relations from the University of Sindh.

Justice Rajput was enrolled with the Sindh Bar Council as an advocate in 1990 and became an Advocate of the High Court in 2001.

He practiced law for three years before he was selected as a Judicial Magistrate in 1993. He was promoted as Senior Civil Judge and Assistant Sessions Judge in the year 2000.

Justice Rajput was elevated as a Judge of the SHC on August 31, 2013, and since then, he has served at the Principal Seat at Karachi, as well as the Bench in Sukkur and Circuit Courts in Hyderabad and Larkana.

There are over 12,000 disposal of cases to his credit. He took the oath as acting CJ of the SHC on September 15, 2025.