Author: Theph

Pakistan and 16 other countries,on Saturday condemned the Israeli airstrike on the Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, calling on Tel Aviv to protect civilians and medical facilities and ensure the sustained and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian enclave.

The deadliest single strike since Israel’s elections last month hit the surgery ward of Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis early on Thursday, killing at least six Palestinians, including a 13-year-old boy, and wounding nearly 30 others.

The Israeli military claimed it carried out an “aerial strike to eliminate the threat they posed, after the Hamas had established a presence within the hospital complex and used it as a command centre”.

According to a joint statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO) on Saturday, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Turkiye and the United Arab Emirates condemned in the Israeli strike in the “strongest terms”

The statement said that strike “caused casualties among patients and medical personnel, in violation of international humanitarian law, which affords special protection to medical facilities and healthcare workers”.

It also condemned continued Israeli attacks on Palestinian civilians, including strikes on tents and other sites sheltering displaced persons.

“These attacks undermine the ceasefire and efforts to restore security and stability in Gaza and are inconsistent with US President Donald Trump’s Comprehensive Plan,” the joint statement said.

It expressed grave concern that “continued Israeli restrictions on humanitarian aid, shelter materials including tents, caravans and mobile homes, as well as medical supplies” were “deepening Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe as winter approaches”.

“Inadequate shelter and deteriorating water, sanitation and healthcare services put civilian lives at grave risk, particularly those of children and infants, who could once again die from exposure to freezing temperatures,” it said.

The statement called on Israel to heed appeals from the international community and the Board of Peace for increased aid and to fulfil immediately and in full its obligations under the Sharm El-Sheikh Agreement.

“Israel must uphold the ceasefire, protect civilians and medical facilities, and ensure the safe, sustained and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid in sufficient quantities, including shelter and early recovery supplies and equipment to restore essential infrastructure.

“It must also allow United Nations agencies and humanitarian organisations to carry out their mandates without obstruction,” the joint statement said.

These first-phase commitments were due to take effect upon signature, it added.

“Israel must implement them without further delay or additional conditions, including political and security conditions, that impede humanitarian access,” the statement said.

“Urgent humanitarian assistance must proceed independently of progress on subsequent phases,” it said.

Per the statement, the foreign ministers called on the US and the Board of Peace to “intensify their efforts to ensure Israel’s full implementation of these commitments and the lifting of all restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid, thereby preserving the credibility of the agreements and consolidating the ceasefire”.

The foreign ministers reaffirmed their determination to work with regional and international partners to consolidate the ceasefire, implement all phases of the plan and scale up humanitarian assistance to alleviate the suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people, the statement concluded.

Earlier this month, the Trump’s “Board of Peace” said that Israel needed to act immediately to help war-battered Gaza cope with impending winter, saying measures ahead of deadly floods had been insufficient.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Nov 9 said he had directed the foreign ministry to pursue all possible means to urgently “escalate humanitarian assistance” to Gaza amid heavy rainfall.

Source: dawn

ISLAMABAD: The leaders of the opposition in both Houses of Parliament on Saturday approached the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), seeking the immediate release of Sohail Afridi, the non-functional Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, along with eight other elected members of the provincial assembly and six members of the National Assembly.

Afridi has not been seen since the Centre imposed governor’s rule and emergency in KP on Oct 11. The very next day, a federal minister confirmed that he and some of his cabinet members were in preventive custody.

While the government has transferred powers to KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, the PTI has asserted that Afridi “remains and shall continue” to serve as the KP chief minister with the “confidence and support” of party founder and ex-premier Imran Khan.

On Saturday, National Assembly Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Senate Opposition Leader Raja Nasir Abbas jointly filed a petition before the FCC.

The petition sought the enforcement of fundamental rights and constitutional protections against the alleged unlawful arrest, detention and confinement of Afridi, KP Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, Fazal Shakoor Khan, Dr Amjad Ali, Sultan Room, Yameen Khan, Abdus Salam Afridi, Muhammad Azam Khan and Ikram Ghazi, as well as six members of the National Assembly — Junaid Akbar Khan, Dr Amjad Ali Khan, Iqbal Khan Afridi, Fazal Mohammad Khan, Zubair Wazir and Maulana Naseem Ali Shah.

The petition said it raised substantial questions of public importance concerning the supremacy of the Constitution, the sanctity of the democratic mandate, constitutional limits on executive authority under Articles 232, 234 and 245, and the protection of fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 4, 9, 10, 14, 17 and 19-A of the Constitution.

The petition also sought disclosure of the places of detention, production of the alleged detainees before the FCC, a declaration that their custody was unlawful and without lawful authority, and appropriate constitutional relief in the interest of justice and the rule of law.

The federal secretaries of interior and defence, the KP chief secretary, the secretary of the KP Home and Tribal Affairs Department, the provincial inspector general of police, the Peshawar capital city police officer, the Peshawar deputy commissioner and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director general were named as respondents.

The petition raised the question of whether the constitutional mandate conferred upon members of the National Assembly and provincial assemblies through the electoral process carried with it enforceable constitutional protection against arbitrary state action designed to obstruct, frustrate or undermine their participation in representative governance.

“Whether the arrest, intimidation, coercive restraint or other unlawful interference with elected legislators, in circumstances affecting their ability to represent their respective constituencies, amounts to an indirect disenfranchisement of the electorate and an impairment of the constitutional scheme of representative democracy?” it stated.

The petition questioned the selective or collective targeting of elected representatives on account of their political affiliation, parliamentary position or participation in opposition politics and contended that these constitute discriminatory treatment, political victimisation and an abuse of public authority contrary to Articles 4, 14, 17 and 25 of the Constitution.

It also prayed that the FCC declare that the Constitution was the supreme law of the land and that no proclamation of emergency, assumption of provincial executive authority, deployment of the armed forces or other extraordinary governmental measure could confer upon any state authority unfettered power to disregard fundamental rights, constitutional safeguards or the democratic mandate of the people.

The petition further requested the court to declare that the “liberty, dignity, political association and representative functions of elected members were constitutionally protected, and that any arrest, detention, confinement, restriction of movement or coercive action against them was unlawful, unconstitutional and without legal effect”.

“Moreover, the electoral mandate of the affected elected representatives cannot be defeated, neutralised or rendered ineffective through arbitrary executive action, political victimisation or the misuse of state machinery.

“The people of KP are constitutionally entitled to effective representation through their duly elected representatives.”

It also requested the FCC to order the production before the court of the members in custody. It further pleaded that Articles 232, 234 and 245 of the Constitution must be exercised strictly within their respective constitutional parameters and cannot be invoked to justify the suppression of political dissent, disabling of elected representatives, interference with parliamentary functions or circumvention of the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.

The petition argued that the exercise of executive and administrative authority under governor’s rule does not suspend the constitutional obligations of the state, displace the supremacy of fundamental rights or place the actions of public functionaries beyond the scrutiny of the FCC.

On Thursday, PTI lawmaker Shandana Gulzar also approached the FCC, seeking the immediate release of Afrid, the provincial assembly speaker and other party workers.

The petition requested the FCC to order the respondents to “immediately disclose before the court their whereabouts, the identity of the authority exercising custody, the legal instrument and statutory provisions invoked as well as the grounds of detention and the date and circumstances of their taking into custody”.

It further urged the court to order the production of the PTI’s provincial leadership in person so that their present condition, liberty and legal status be ascertained and the “legality of any such restraint upon their liberty be examined judicially”.

Separately, Abbas and Balochistan National Party Chairman Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal also approached the FCC on Saturday, seeking their impleadment in the case concerning the restraint imposed on the Peshawar High Court (PHC) from hearing petitions relating to the detention of PTI activists, which is likely to take up on Monday (Nov 16).

The PHC on Oct 31 granted interim bail to scores of PTI activists detained under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance following the imposition of emergency. However, the FCC on Nov 5 restrained the high court from hearing cases concerning the arrests of scores of PTI activists detained under the ordinance.

Through a miscellaneous application, the applicants through their counsel Sardar Latif Khosa, pleaded that they were the necessary and proper party to the proceedings since the FCC’s Nov 5 order of restrained the high court rom hearing cases concerning arrest of scores of PTI activists detained under Section 3 of the Pakistan Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance following the imposition of governor’s rule in KP.

The application said the FCC’s Nov 5 order directly affected their constitutional rights. It contended that if the applicants were not impleaded, they would suffer irreparable loss and would be condemned unheard, in violation of Article 10-A of the Constitution.

“That the applicants being proper and necessary party to the proceedings and matter in hand seeks impleadment to assist the FCC and also to seek clarification/modification/recall of the Nov 5, order to the extent that it suspends petitions challenging the proclamation/governor’s rule itself, and to plead that Article 245 cannot be used to oust jurisdiction of the high court to examine whether the preconditions for invoking Article 245 itself existed,” the application said.

Source: dawn

The Foreign Office (FO) said on Saturday that Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik had been nominated to represent Pakistan at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Civilisational Dialogue in New Delhi from Nov 20-22.

In a statement, the FO said the gathering would bring representatives from SCO member states to discuss issues related to civilisational dialogue and cultural understanding.

“The government of Pakistan remains committed to promoting dialogue among civilisations and fostering people-to-people contacts within the SCO framework in a spirit of mutual respect,” the statement said.

More to follow.

Source: dawn

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Saturday announced a ban on gold mining across the province and the revocation of all mining leases as part of measures to curb illegal mining.

Addressing a press conference in Peshawar, Governor Kundi condemned the attack in Kohat that claimed the lives of 10 police personnel returning from an operation against illegal mining in the region.

He said an exemplary operation would be launched against those responsible for the attack, as well as their facilitators, as part of the government’s future strategy.

“There will be zero tolerance for those involved in this,” he said.

The governor also directed mining leaseholders to remove heavy machinery from the relevant areas within a week, warning that they would be held responsible for any losses incurred otherwise.

“After one week, the machinery, if not removed, will be seized,” Governor Kundi said, adding that the fines imposed this time would not be limited to Rs25,000 or Rs30,000, as had been the case under magistrates, but could reach Rs2 million under the law.

“We are also investigating why fines were not being imposed in accordance with the law,” he said.

The governor added that any politicians or individuals from other institutions found to be involved in illegal mining would be punished in accordance with the law.

On the Kohat incident, Governor Kundi said that following the imposition of an emergency and governor’s rule, the administration had launched an operation against illegal gold mining.

On October 11, 2026, the federal government imposed an emergency and governor’s rule in KP following the President’s approval of the federal cabinet’s recommendations. It cited KP government’s “deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism” and the deteriorating security situation in the province.

An 11-member technocratic KP Advisory Council was formed to assist the governor in running the province, and a new chief secretary was appointed.

He said police personnel were targeted by Fitna al-Khawarij while returning from a successful operation.

“Fitna al-Khawarij and illegal miners had a nexus. The miners used to pay extortion money to the terrorists and, in return, received protection from them,” the governor said, adding that this nexus was responsible for the martyrdom of the police personnel.

Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.

He also shared a list of illegal mining equipment and machinery operating in Kohat. Mining was under way in two blocks — C and D — he said.

“Some 8,350 trucks, 3,660 excavators, 1,730 tractor trolleys with dynamos, 1,600 dumpers, 200 heavy loaders and between 49,000 and 51,000 labourers were involved in the mining activity,” Governor Kundi said, adding that illegal mining was worth Rs4.92 billion a month.

“Eighty per cent of the profits were being sent to Afghanistan and used for terrorist activities against Pakistan,” he said.

The governor further stated that during the tenure of the PTI government, a ‘Youth Committee’ was formed in February 2026 under the chairmanship of a Taliban leader, Naimatullah alias Commander.

“The purpose of this Youth Committee was to collect extortion money from locals and non-locals — Rs800,000 from locals and Rs110,000 from non-locals every week,” he said.

The money was being used by Fitna al-Khawarij against Pakistan, its security forces and police, he added.

The governor assured that there would be no political victimisation, adding that anyone found involved in the nexus would be held accountable.

“If there is no system of reward and punishment, neither this province nor this country will move forward. This country can no longer run under the doctrine of necessity,” he said.

He said anyone found guilty, whether a politician, bureaucrat or police officer, would have to face the consequences, regardless of how influential they were.

Governor Kundi also shared a list of people allegedly involved in illegal activities across KP, including 12 politicians: Aftab Alam of PTI, MNA Sheheryar Afridi of PTI, Senator Khurram Zeeshan of PTI, former Gambat town nazim Sajid Iqbal, former Lachi town nazim Ehsan, former MNA Amjad Afridi of PPP, former district mayor Seth Saifullah of JUI-F, Naseem Afridi, former JUI-F candidate Advocate Hammad Azam, Sohail Afridi’s brother Naveed, Azhar Bukhari and Nazir Afridi.

He also shared a list of local residents allegedly involved in the illegal activities.

The governor announced the establishment of a task force, named after martyred Deputy Superintendent of Police Haider Zaman, to formulate a “comprehensive and lasting” strategy for gold mining activities in KP within three weeks.

“We are bringing in a comprehensive system governing mining leases, related laws and security for mining workers under future leases,” he said.

Governor Kundi also announced that a judicial commission, headed by a retired Peshawar High Court (PHC) judge, would be formed by the following week to investigate the Kohat attack.

“We hope that the report will come soon so those responsible can be held accountable,” he said.

The governor also urged members of the KP Advisory Council to investigate all those involved in illegal gold mining and examine how large numbers of mining licences had been granted.

At the outset of his press conference, the KP governor said more than a month had passed since the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in KP. “We will try to move in the right direction,” he said.

He said action had been taken in certain areas and the administration had received positive feedback.

“However, our topmost priority is to restore peace in the province and protect the rights and lives of the people,” he said.

Governor Kundi said the provincial administration had also decided to protect KP’s resources and would not allow anyone to plunder them.

Referring to the recent two-day minerals conference, the governor said the province was keen to enter into joint ventures to utilise its resources. However, he added, protecting the people and their rights would come first.

“For the past 13 years, the resources of our province have been looted,” he said.

He said that whenever the provincial government invited international investors and national companies to invest in KP’s natural resources, some people opposed the move, claiming that the province’s resources were being sold off.

“We are not selling your resources. Above all, the interests of the people of the province will be protected,” he said.

Governor Kundi alleged that those raising objections to the initiative were themselves responsible for plundering KP’s resources.

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had alleged that the imposition of governor’s rule and emergency in KP in October 2026 was linked to the federal government’s motive to take control of the province’s resources.

“We are fighting a war against terrorism and we have burnt our boats. Accepting defeat is not a choice for us,” Kundi said, reaffirming his commitment to winning the fight against terrorism and bringing peace and development to the province.

The governor reiterated his call for an effective system of reward and punishment, vowing that no one who had plundered the province’s resources would be spared, regardless of their position or status.

Source: dawn