RAWALPINDI, NOV 16 – Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir on Sunday pledged a swift and strong response to any act of aggression against Pakistan.

He, while speaking to Daily Jang at a luncheon hosted for Jordan’s King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein at the President’s House, raised his finger towards the sky, saying: “I did not lead Pakistan to victory, Allah did.”

“It is Allah’s special blessing that Pakistan’s enemy bit the dust in May. Pakistan’s Army is Allah’s Army, its soldiers fight in the name of Allah,” he added.

The May confrontation between the two neighbouring countries saw Pakistan downing seven Indian fighter jets, including three Rafale aircraft, after India’s unprovoked missile strikes on the night of May 5 and 6, which resulted in the martyrdom of several civilians and security personnel.

India’s strikes came after a terrorist attack on tourists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam area, which resulted in the killing of 28 men.

New Delhi, without providing any concrete evidence, said the attack was backed by Pakistan, which denies its involvement.

Pakistan then targeted over 20 Indian military sites across multiple regions in a large-scale retaliatory strike, named “Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos”.

The war between the two nuclear-armed nations ended on May 10 with a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States.

Shortly after the war, the federal government formally promoted COAS Munir to field marshal for his leadership during the conflict.

Meanwhile, the army chief reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to peace. He, however, said that the country would respond firmly to any aggression, similar to its response during the May conflict with India.

Field Marshal Munir, recalling verses from the Quran, said that Allah Almighty has promised believers that with faith they can defeat any enemy, regardless of its strength, adding that Pakistan demonstrated this in May.

As the participants of the meeting began congratulating the field marshal, he asked them to pray for Pakistan’s progress.

The army chief then reiterated his unwavering commitment to fulfil his duties “as commanded by Allah”.

Field Marshal Munir’s remarks came just days after the federal government confirmed that his tenure will restart following his new appointment as Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).

Speaking during a National Assembly session on November 13, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said that the CDF’s term would be five years from the date of his appointment.

The bill, passed by both the Senate and NA, to amend the Army Act mentioned that the COAS, concurrently the CDF under Article 243 of the Constitution, “the tenure under this section shall commence from the date of notification of the said office”.

ISLAMABAD, NOV 16 /DNA/ – President Asif Ali Zardari received His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al-Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, who is on a State visit to Pakistan, at Aiwan-e-Sadr here today.

His Majesty was accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, Chief Advisor for Religious and Cultural Affairs and Personal Envoy; Mr Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates and Major General Yousef Huneiti, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

First Lady Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari; Chairman PPP, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Senator Sherry Rehman were present on the occasion.

The two leaders reaffirmed the longstanding and fraternal ties between Pakistan and Jordan and discussed the full range of bilateral relations. They noted the need to build on the strength of these relations and to encourage greater people-to-people contact between the two countries.

They also reviewed regional and international developments of mutual concern, with particular focus on peace, stability and security in the Middle East. Both sides underlined the importance of working together in multilateral forums and of promoting humanitarian and development cooperation.

On Palestine, the President and His Majesty noted the convergence of views and reiterated their shared principled position on post-war Gaza. They rejected any displacement of Palestinians and emphasised the need for a Two-State solution. They called for the establishment of an independent, sovereign, viable and contiguous State of Palestine on pre-June 1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

His Majesty King Abdullah II expressed pride in the deep-rooted ties between Jordan and Pakistan, reaffirming Jordan’s keenness to expand cooperation across various sectors.

Both leaders expressed confidence in the future direction of Pakistan-Jordan relations and agreed to maintain close coordination on bilateral, regional and global issues.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar; Federal Minister for Climate Change & Environmental Coordination, Senator Musadik Malik; Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as Ambassadors of Jordan in Pakistan and Pakistan in Jordan.

The meeting was followed by a special investiture ceremony in which President Asif Ali Zardari conferred Nishan-e-Pakistan on His Majesty the King of Jordan.

On this occasion, His Majesty the King also conferred on President Asif Ali Zardari the Wisam al-Nahdah al-Mursa‘ (Bejewelled Grand Cordon of Al Nahdah translated as Order of the Renaissance), which is awarded by the King to Heads of State and distinguished dignitaries.

The ceremony was also attended by Prime Minister, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif; Chairman Senate, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani; Field Marshal, Syed Asim Munir; Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu; Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, Cabinet ministers and members of the diplomatic corps.

Later, a state banquet was hosted in honour of the visiting dignitary at Aiwan-e-Sadr.

KUALA LUMPUR, NOV 16 /DNA/ – The Pakistan Red Crescent Society held a two-day Partnership Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, bringing together National Societies from across the world. Convened after nine years, the meeting focused on strengthening partnerships, enhancing institutional capacity, and improving humanitarian outreach in Pakistan. By gathering partners in one central location, PRCS aimed to deepen dialogue, mobilize collective resources, and advance cooperation in areas such as Climate Change, Health and Care, and support for Migration and Displacement.

The gathering brought together senior leaders including the President of the Iraqi Red Crescent Society Dr. Yaseen Ahmed Abbas, Regional Director of IFRC Asia Pacific Mr. Alexander Matheou, Head of IFRC Country Delegation in Pakistan Mr. Farid Abdulkadir, Head of ICRC in Pakistan Mr. Christoph Sutter, Head of Office German Red Cross in Pakistan Mr. Asif Aman Khan, Head of Norwegian Red Cross in Pakistan Dr. Ulugbek Khusenovich Aminov, and Head of Turkish Red Crescent in Pakistan Ms. Beyza Tuner. Delegations from the Canadian, Italian, Chinese, Singapore, British, Japanese, Qatari, Australian, and Malaysian Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, along with corporate partners, also joined the discussions.

PRCS and its provincial branches will prioritize several areas to strengthen humanitarian work nationwide. These include system development to improve transparency and accountability, reinforcing PRCS’s auxiliary role through stronger coordination with government stakeholders, expanding the youth and volunteer network, and strengthening financial sustainability through local partnerships and diversified resource mobilization.

Participants were briefed on the PRCS Transformation Plan and Strategic Plan, highlighting ongoing efforts to improve systems and processes for more effective service delivery. Thematic sessions presented updates on Climate Change Adaptation, Migration and Displacement, and Health and Wellbeing. The second day centered on commitments from partner National Societies, moderated by Alexander Matheou.

Chairperson Mrs. Farzhana Naek welcomed participants and noted that the meeting marks a key step in PRCS’s transformation journey. She thanked partners for their support and expressed hope for stronger collaboration to better serve vulnerable communities.

Dr. Yaseen Ahmed Abbas praised PRCS for creating a platform that brings together partners to strengthen coordination and exchange ideas for a more resilient future. The Heads of Delegation from IFRC and ICRC, along with PRCS Secretary General Mr. Muhammad Abaid Ullah Khan, underscored the growing humanitarian needs in Pakistan and the importance of collective action.

The Chairperson also held sideline meetings with delegations from the Canadian Red Cross, German Red Cross, Red Cross Society of China, and Iraqi Red Crescent Society.

The meeting concluded with a shared resolve to strengthen partnerships and work together to address evolving humanitarian challenges in Pakistan.

SANGHAR, NOV 16 (APP/DNA): In line with directives issued by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to celebrate the party’s 58th Foundation Day at the district level, PPP Sanghar convened a key district meeting at the District Council Hall.

The meeting was presided over by District General Secretary Jahangir Junejo, while PPP Shaheed Benazirabad Division General Secretary Javed Nayab Laghari attended as the chief guest.

The session was attended by District Information Secretary Imran Dhamrah, Chairman District Council Sanghar Syed Riaz Hussain Shah Khurasani, Vice Chairman Nawab Jam Zaheer Ali Khan, Syed Sibtain Ali Shah, Ali Muhammad Khoso, Javed Shoro, Khadim Hussain Khaskheli, Abdul Sattar Khaskheli, Rashid Mughal, Raja Aftab Laghari, Zulfiqar Ali Zardari, Syed Khair Shah Jilani, Gul Muhammad Dahri, Rehana Chandio, Shehla Naushad Baloch, Abida Baloch, Khair-un-Nisa Panhwar and a large number of office-bearers and workers.

During the meeting, the party decided to hold a large public gathering on November 30 at the Gymkhana Ground, Sanghar, to commemorate the Foundation Day. To ensure maximum public mobilisation, special committees comprising taluka presidents, city and union council presidents, and district-wing representatives were formed, which will carry out an extensive public outreach campaign at the UC level.

The committees have also been tasked with conducting awareness campaigns regarding the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Hari Card distribution programmes. Additionally, a separate committee headed by District Information Secretary Aijaz Zardari was established to oversee media coordination and information management for the event.

Addressing the meeting, Jahangir Junejo, Javed Nayab Laghari, Imran Dhamrah, Syed Riaz Shah Khurasani, Jam Zaheer Ali Khan, Aijaz Zardari, Khadim Hussain Khaskheli and other leaders said that “Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto rendered historic services for the nation by empowering the poor, labourers and marginalised communities, and by bringing politics out of elite circles and into the reach of the common man.”

They added that the fact that every political party today speaks about the rights of the poor is “a testament to the success of Bhutto’s ideology.”

PESHAWAR, Nov 16 (APP/DNA): The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested five Afghan nationals in Peshawar for attempting to obtain Saudi Arabian visas using fake Pakistani identity documents.

According to an FIA spokesperson on Sunday, the Anti-Smuggling Circle conducted a raid at a private hotel in the Dabgari area, where the suspects were taken into custody. The arrested individuals have been identified as Ali Khan, Ajmal, Qasim, Ahmad, and Hamza.

Initial investigations revealed that the suspects had illegally entered Pakistan through unofficial routes. They allegedly acquired forged Pakistani identity cards and passports with the help of local facilitators. FIA officials recovered Afghan identity documents as well as the counterfeit Pakistani CNICs from their possession.

The spokesperson stated that the Afghan nationals intended to use the fraudulent Pakistani documents to secure Saudi work visas. A case has been registered against the suspects and further investigation is underway.

ISLAMABAD, Nov 16 (DNA): Islamabad is moving toward a controlled vehicle-entry system as the district administration prepares to introduce mandatory e-tag stickers for all cars entering or driving within the federal capital.

The new requirement, starting November 18, aims to streamline vehicle monitoring and strengthen citywide security. Officials said the system will operate through designated points across Islamabad, where motorists will be able to obtain their tags by presenting their vehicle registration documents.

In this regard, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Irfan Nawaz Memon said citizens will be informed in advance about all facilitation points where the tags can be obtained. These stickers will be compulsory for every vehicle operating on Islamabad’s roads, regardless of whether the vehicle is registered in the capital or any other province.

The DC clarified that citizens must visit only the officially designated points to obtain the e-tag. For issuance, motorists will be required to bring their original vehicle registration card. The administration plans to set up multiple facilitation spots across the city to ensure smooth issuance and avoid long queues.

Meanwhile, Excise and Taxation Director Bilal Azam confirmed that if a vehicle already has an M-Tag issued by the motorway authorities, that tag will be considered valid within Islamabad as well. Owners of such vehicles will not need to obtain a new e-tag.

Azam added that the Excise Department has already begun issuing tags as part of a pilot project at Kachnar Park in I-8. Two vehicles from the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) are stationed at the park to facilitate applicants. He said that more issuance points would become functional across Islamabad, ensuring convenience for residents in different localities.

He requested the cooperation of citizens and urged them to ensure their vehicles are tagged so the administration can strengthen monitoring and security across the city.

Officials emphasized that citizens’ cooperation will help make the new entry system effective and support wider efforts to secure the capital.

ISLAMABAD, NOV 16: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Sunday claimed that the then-prime minister Imran Khan remained under the full control of former army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and ex-ISI chief Faiz Hamid during his tenure.

In an interview with Geo News, Asif said the claims made in The Economist report were accurate, insisting that Bushra Bibi “worked for the former ISI chief and that the information she passed on would prove correct within days.”

“A serious joke was played with Pakistan and a woman was launched for the sake of power,” he said, adding that large-scale financial wrongdoing took place under a planned scheme and claimed that the money from this loot was partly given to the PTI founder, while the rest was sent abroad.

Defence czar’s remarks followed widespread debate triggered by The Economist report, revisiting the political influence attributed to Bushra Bibi, her relationship with the PTI founder, and the controversies that shaped the former premier’s time in power.

The publication recounted how the two developed a close connection through spiritual consultations, the circumstances of Bushra Bibi’s divorce and subsequent marriage to Khan, and longstanding accusations — denied by the PTI — about her involvement in political decision-making, spiritual practices, and influence over government appointments.

Asif also accused PTI leadership of causing serious harm to a province like Punjab, saying: “It is unfortunate that someone educated at Oxford did all this.”

He also alleged that Supreme Court decisions against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif were announced under a plan, and alleged that General Faiz was “controlling both the courts and the PTI founder.”

Commenting on judicial matters in wake of recently passed 27th Amendment, Asif said that the new law on judicial transfers was according to global practice.

“Judiciary should remain independent but not in the manner of Saqib Nisar and Ijaz-ul-Ahsan,” he added.

The defence czar further said that former first lady Bushra Bibi posed a potential national security risk. “Serious dangers could have arisen if Bushra Bibi had fallen into the hands of an enemy country,” Asif added.

Imran aware of The Economist story in jail
PTI founder Imran Khan is fully aware of the whole story of The Economist regarding Bushra Bibi’s influence over his decisions in running the affairs of the government.

He gathered the information courtesy TV provided by the Adiala Jail administration. The sources inside the prison told The News Saturday evening that the founder was infuriated about the article and also expressed surprise over the content.

He told others that he would like to consult his wife about the matter before taking any action. Former prime minister said that he would ask the jail authorities to facilitate his meeting with Bibi, so that he could devise a joint strategy for the course of action against the publication.

Imran reportedly hinted that he would ask his lawyers to initiate legal action against the journal, as it has hurt him. The lawyers will meet him next week in accordance with the jail rules.

The sources said that the founder chairman and former prime minister termed his wife an intelligent lady. It couldn’t be ascertained if Bushra Bibi, who is also lodged in the same prison, has knowledge about the article’s appearance in the magazine.

Superintendent Jail Abdul Ghafoor Anjum was not available for his comments.

PTI pledges legal action
A day earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan announced plans for a legal action against the British media report on Bushra Bibi’s political influence during Imran Khan’s tenure as prime minister.

Speaking exclusively to Geo News, the PTI chief called the report by The Economist “provocative and based on lies”, saying the purpose of the report was to defame the PTI founder and his spouse.

“Previously, false allegations like those related to Iddat were levelled against her, which she was acquitted of,” he added.

Barrister Gohar said that such a “fabricated report” would not “break Bushra Bibi”.

“At a time when she is in jail, we condemn the publication of such articles,” he said, asserting that the allegations against the former first lady would prove false in time.

Separately, PTI’s Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif said that the former first lady was facing a “deliberate and organised campaign” aimed at damaging her reputation.

Speaking to journalists in Peshawar, Barrister Saif said that despite “unlawful imprisonment”, she continued to show “remarkable resilience”.