Tirah valley IDPs’ return to begin from October 10

Khyber Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shahid Ali announced during a grand jirga in Tirah Maidan on Monday that the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Tirah Valley would formally begin on October 10. Thousands of families displaced from Tirah Valley in Khyber district continue to endure severe hardships, with slow disbursement of financial assistance and uncertainty surrounding their return to their native areas compounding their difficulties. DC Shahid Ali visited Tirah Maidan and participated in a grand jirga attended by a 24-member committee, local elders and security forces. Discussions focused on the return of IDPs, rehabilitation, provision of basic facilities and the resettlement of Bagh Bazaar. Addressing the jirga, DC Ali said the return process would start on October 10 and that the administration and relevant departments would address problems arising during the process. He clarified that the return was not limited to transporting people back to their ancestral areas, but restoration of basic needs and facilities also remained a priority. Read: Tirah families await return after 255 days The jirga was attended by the head of the 24-member committee, Maulana Hazrat Khan, Zahir Shah, Kamaluddin and other local elders, along with district administration officials. Participants placed issues related to the return process, the current situation in the area and the restoration of basic facilities before the deputy commissioner. Elders demanded the rehabilitation of roads, bridges, health and education facilities, water supply, electricity, communication systems and other essential services so that returning families did not face shortages of necessities. Detailed discussions were also held on administrative measures for a dignified, organised and phased return of the IDPs and on the plan of action. DC Ali listened to the concerns raised by the elders and the committee and directed relevant officers to take practical steps to resolve public problems. Bara Assistant Commissioner (AC) Talha Rafiq, Tirah Maidan AC Muhammad Anwar, Tirah Maidan Tehsildar Shabab, Bara Tehsildar Daud Afridi and other officials accompanied the deputy commissioner. Former federal minister Hamidullah Jan Afridi welcomed the development, saying “better late than never”, but stressed that mere return was not enough. He urged the authorities to fulfil all promises made to the affected families at the time of their displacement and clear outstanding dues. “The people of Tirah have endured hardships for a long time. Along with their return, peace and security in the valley, reconstruction of homes, roads and basic infrastructure must also be ensured,” he said while talking to The Express Tribune. Read More: Tirah victims demand return, compensation DC Ali said steps would be taken in collaboration with relevant departments to restore public facilities and advance development activities in Tirah Maidan. Problems would be resolved phase-wise with the cooperation of local elders, the 24-member committee and concerned institutions. During the visit, DC Ali also inspected Bagh centre and met local elders who briefed him on problems and public needs in Bagh Bazaar and other areas. He assured them that the issues would be raised at relevant forums and that he would make every effort at his level for their resolution. Spokesman for the Tirah Affectees Movement, Sohbat Khan Afridi, said a jirga without practical steps was meaningless and that no concrete progress had so far been made on resolving the IDPs’ problems. He demanded that an official schedule for the return be issued immediately so that the affected families receive clear information about the procedure, dates and administrative arrangements. Jamaat Ulema-e-Islam leader Izzatullah Hamkhayal said the IDPs of Tirah Valley had been suffering for a long time and their return was inevitable. He urged relevant institutions to play a priority role in establishing and maintaining sustainable peace in Tirah Maidan, and said all promises made to the affected people should be fulfilled and outstanding dues cleared before October 10. He added that the government must ensure the provision of basic facilities, infrastructure and other necessities after the return so that the families do not face difficulties again. Following the announcement of the return, the attention of the IDPs and local elders has now focused on the formal schedule, financial payments, reconstruction of homes and infrastructure, provision of basic facilities and practical steps for lasting peace in the area.

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NA-168 stays with Channar family

PML-N candidate Malik Munir Iqbal Channar won the NA-168 Bahawalpur by-election on Sunday, securing 77,688 votes against 41,260 polled by his rival, Wali Dad Cheema. Polling continued uninterrupted from 8am to 5pm, with slow turnout, while the election remained largely peaceful apart from a few isolated incidents. The seat had fallen vacant following the death of PML-N MNA Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar. His son, Malik Munir Iqbal Channar, contested the by-election as the PML-N candidate, while Wali Dad Cheema, son of former federal minister and MNA Tariq Bashir Cheema, was his main rival. Channar secured 77,688 votes, while Cheema received 41,260 votes. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Malik Munir Iqbal Channar, saying his victory showed public's confidence in the PML-N, a PM Office statement issued by the PM Office said. The premier recalled that Malik Munir Iqbal Channar's father, Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar, always demonstrated his loyalty with PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif besides rendering valuable services to the party. "Today, his son's victory is reflective of the same continuity of that loyalty and public service," the premier said. He lauded the people of Bahawalpur for electing their representative by participating enthusiastically in the democratic process. He also extended felicitations to Malik Munir Iqbal Channar's brother, Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channar. A day earlier, the Punjab Home Department requested the federal interior ministry that troops of army and Rangers (Punjab) be deployed in the constituency for smooth, peaceful and secure conduct of the by-election. Leading up to the by-poll, three persons were injured on Sept 12 in an armed clash at Baqirpur in connection with the election campaign of Cheema, the son of former PML-Q federal minister Tariq Bashir Cheema.

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FIA takes action against 76 delinquent employees

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Islamabad Zone has taken departmental action against 76 employees over alleged misuse of authority, negligence in the performance of duties, indiscipline and other charges, dismissing 10 employees from service and demoting eight others. The decisions were taken during an orderly room presided over by FIA Islamabad Zone Director Shehzad Nadeem Bokhari, where the employees concerned were given a full opportunity for personal hearing and to present their respective positions. According to FIA officials, matters relating to departmental discipline, negligence in professional responsibilities, irresponsible conduct and public complaints were reviewed during the proceedings. Following an examination of the available record, evidence and other relevant material, action was taken against 76 employees under the Civil Servants (E&D) Rules, 2020. The 10 employees dismissed from service were Sub-Inspector Hassan Ali, Assistant Sub-Inspector Mubashir Kazmi; Upper Division Clerk Muhammad Soban; Head Constables Tahir Mahmood and Melon Masih and Muhammad Bilal; and Constables Tahir Safir, Muhammad Ahmed Raza, Aqib Mahmood and Tahir Mahmood. The eight employees demoted included Muhammad Niaz Mir, from ASI to Head Constable; Muhammad Waseem Iqbal, from ASI to HC; Shiraz Manzoor, from Upper Division Clerk to Lower Division Clerk; Rizwan Ali Khan, Masood Ahmed, Mudassar Ali, Almas Ilyas and Qasim Mahmood, from HC to Constable. Various other departmental penalties were imposed on the remaining 58 employees. These included withholding of increments for three years in 19 cases, two years in 27 cases and one year in five cases. A reduction of three stages in the pay scale was ordered in one case, while reprimands were issued in six cases.

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Pakistani MIT physicist calls for greater science and research investment in Karachi visit

Pakistani-American physicist Dr Nergis Mavalvala has called for greater investment in scientific research, saying curiosity and access to opportunity were central to scientific discovery and that universities had a responsibility to nurture both. Speaking at Habib University on Thursday, Mavalvala, dean of the School of Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a leading figure in the Nobel Prize-winning LIGO collaboration, said some of humanity’s most consequential discoveries had originated from questions with no immediate practical application. “Every single person at birth is research-minded,” she said during an extended question-and-answer session following her lecture. “The reason some of us get to do it in adulthood is [access to] opportunity.” Mavalvala was speaking at the 10th Yohsin Lecture, titled "The Joy of Discovery: Curiosity, Science, and the Pivotal Role of Universities", which drew an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 people to the university campus. Long queues formed as students, academics, alumni and members of the public gathered to hear the physicist speak about curiosity, scientific discovery and the role of universities in advancing knowledge. Reflecting on humanity’s longstanding fascination with the universe, Mavalvala said the impulse to explore was not necessarily driven by an immediate practical benefit. MIT dean Dr Nergis Mavalvala speaks during a panel discussion at Habib University in Karachi on Thursday. Photo: Express “Even pre-human cultures were looking up at the sky, in part because it was just mysterious,” she said. “A hundred years from now the only thing that will matter is that we’ve opened a new window into the universe.” She argued that universities should not be viewed merely as institutions for professional training, saying they also had a role in cultivating curiosity, creativity, perseverance and intellectual freedom. Mavalvala also stressed the importance of public and government investment in science and research. “Research has shown there is no investment that any government does that has greater return than investment in research and science,” she said. The lecture followed a two-day visit to Habib University during which Mavalvala met students, faculty, alumni and members of Pakistan’s scientific and business communities. She held discussions with faculty members on nurturing curiosity in classrooms and met science and humanities students from schools across Karachi. She also participated in sessions with the Entrepreneurs’ Organization and members of the scientific community. During her interaction with the university’s leadership, discussions also focused on the role of liberal arts education in developing students’ curiosity and the importance of teaching and mentorship. Habib University President Wasif Rizvi said the public response to the lecture demonstrated the value of making access to knowledge and leading thinkers more widely available. “This access had not been attempted in Pakistan before. It exists because the community in this room and outside decided that it should,” Rizvi said. He linked the initiative to the university’s philanthropic model, saying its students demonstrated what private philanthropy could achieve in expanding access to higher education. Mavalvala, who is known for her work on the detection of gravitational waves, thanked the university’s leadership, board and donors for creating the institution and said her interactions with its students and alumni had impressed her. “I've met with a number of students and alumni and just have been wowed,” she said. The Yohsin Lecture Series is based on Habib University’s founding philosophy of Yohsin, described by the institution as the thoughtful cultivation of the self. Previous speakers have included Noam Chomsky, Ashis Nandy, Reza Aslan, Azra Raza and Thomas Blom Hansen. The event concluded with a reception on the university’s Central Street, where attendees continued discussions sparked by the lecture.

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Two washed away in Bisham floods

Torrential rain and lightning triggered a sudden flash flood in Shangla's Bisham tehsil on Friday, sweeping away two children and injuring a woman, while residential houses, the Bisham police station, several other buildings and property suffered extensive damage, according to local sources. The flash flood also affected dozens of vehicles. It damaged electricity poles and power lines, while the Karakoram Highway was hit by floodwaters at several points in Bisham and remained completely closed to traffic until late at night. The Bisham-Alpuri Road was also affected by landslides at several locations. The sudden deluge occurred after heavy rain caused a local stream in Bisham to swell rapidly, sending a powerful torrent of water, mud and stones through the area. Two children were swept away by the flash flood, while a woman was injured and shifted to hospital for medical treatment. The torrent caused severe damage to several properties along its path, including the Bisham police station, residential houses and other buildings. Several vehicles were also caught in the floodwater and debris and were damaged. Floodwater and debris inundated roads, severely disrupting traffic and causing considerable difficulties for residents. The heavy rain and flash flood also badly affected Bisham's electricity system. Several electricity poles collapsed, and power lines were damaged, disrupting electricity supply in various areas. Meanwhile, the Karakoram Highway was also affected at several points in Bisham by flash floods, mud and rocks. The highway remained completely closed to traffic until late at night, with long queues of vehicles forming on both sides.

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Pakistan brought US, Iran ‘under one roof’ through Islamabad talks, says PM Shehbaz at UNGA

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said Pakistan had brought the United States and Iran “under one roof” for negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict that had engulfed the wider region. Addressing the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the prime minister highlighted the US-Israel attack on Iran, which he said led to the resumption of the war earlier this year, calling it an “unfortunate incident”. “Unfortunately, conflict engulfed the Gulf along with the wider Middle East. Precious lives were lost, economies suffered, critical maritime routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, came under severe pressure,” he said, highlighting Pakistan’s efforts to resolve the conflict. He said that at the critical juncture, Pakistan had chosen to act swiftly and successfully brought Washington and Tehran “under one roof”. “From the Islamabad talks to the Islamabad memorandum of understanding, many historic steps were taken to bring an end to this serious conflict,” he said. The prime minister, who was speaking at the session for the fourth consecutive year, also appreciated the efforts of Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, saying his “relentless efforts” had helped create space for diplomacy while also hailing the efforts of the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Shortly before the prime minister's address, Pakistan’s entire delegation arrived at the General Assembly hall. The delegation includes Deputy Prime Minister Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Minister for Investment Affairs Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Chairman of the Kashmir Affairs Committee Rana Qasim Noon and other staff members. During his stay, the prime minister held meetings with several world and business leaders, including Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and his Lebanese counterpart, where they discussed bilateral ties and opportunities for greater cooperation. He also met with business leaders and intellectuals and discussed investment prospects in Pakistan. Read: Islamabad MoU remains acceptable to Iran, Pezeshkian tells PM Shehbaz in UNGA meet Earlier, addressing the US Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) and the US-Pakistan Business Council (USPBC), the premier invited US businesses to invest in Pakistan. He pointed to agriculture as the country’s “biggest potential” and highlighted opportunities in mining, information technology, artificial intelligence and infrastructure. Business figures from the IT, AI, finance, beverages, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and organic products sectors attended the meeting. A day earlier, the prime minister met with the Iranian president on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York. PM Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s readiness to continue playing a “sincere and constructive role” in support of regional peace during a meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The two leaders reaffirmed the close and longstanding ties between Pakistan and Iran and underscored the need to further strengthen bilateral cooperation across all areas of mutual interest. .............. More to follow

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Kundi urges KP govt to abandon long march, says ground reality ‘not in favour’

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Friday urged the provincial government to abandon its planned long march towards Islamabad, claiming that the “ground reality is not in favour” of the protest and alleging that some people were either in hiding or had opted for voluntary arrests to avoid participating in it. The PTI had announced last month that it would march to Islamabad on September 27 to press for the release of party founder Imran Khan. Today it said the party has postponed the march to take place on October 4 instead. The party had been preparing a central convoy from K-P, with caravans from other parts of the country expected to join before proceeding towards the federal capital. The federal government warned the party against going ahead with the march. “I would recommend the provincial government to abandon the long march,” Kundi said while addressing a press conference in Peshawar. “The ground reality is not in favour at all. Some people are in hideouts, while others have offered voluntary arrests to skip joining the long march,” he alleged. He also said that the chief minister had failed to gather support during his recent visit to Punjab and that should have made him course-correct. The governor accused the PTI-led provincial government of diverting its attention and resources towards the planned march instead of addressing the issues confronting K-P. Read: PTI postpones Islamabad march to October 4: party sources He said the provincial government should focus on the deteriorating law and order situation, particularly in southern K-P, the merged districts and Malakand division, along with problems related to healthcare, education, electricity, potable water, tourism and the mining sector. “All resources have been channelled towards the long march,” Kundi lamented. He also questioned the purpose of the proposed protest, saying that PTI had repeatedly changed its demands. According to Kundi, the party initially sought relief for its incarcerated founder, claiming that he had been wrongfully punished, but later changed its demands to judicial issues and, subsequently, quicker hearings and access to healthcare for him in custody. He warned the provincial government against using state resources and officials for what he described as a political agenda. “You cannot use state machinery for forwarding personal agendas,” he said. He asserted that the provincial government planned to keep the police at its disposal during the long march towards Islamabad. The governor said he supported the constitutional right of citizens to hold peaceful protests but stressed that it was necessary to determine whether a particular demonstration remained peaceful. “I second the right of the people to protest under the democratic right ordained to them under the Constitution, but it is important to see if the protest is actually peaceful or not,” he said. Kundi highlighted that PTI leaders had previously caused disruptions in Islamabad, damaged government property and harmed military installations during protests. He also referred to remarks by a PTI president and an MNA about politics involving casualties, saying such statements did not correspond with peaceful political activity. He criticised a recent speech by the K-P chief minister in the provincial assembly, saying the provincial government should concentrate on governance rather than political confrontation. Citing previous long marches organised by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Kundi said his party did not use government officials or departments for political demonstrations. “We neither took government officials, cops, fire department staff or any other state official to back our protest.” The governor also praised the Jamaat-e-Islami for what he described as peaceful protests, saying the party had not damaged state or government property. Speaking on the imposition of governor rule in K-P, Kundi said the president and the federal government ought to decide on it. He said the constitution provides for its imposition under special circumstances that need to be assessed by the relevant authorities. “It was imposed in the past as well. It is not unconstitutional,” he said about the governor rule, but refrained from announcing its imposition in the province. The new police act A major part of Kundi’s criticism centred on the proposed K-P police law. The governor said the provincial government was seeking to increase its control over the police department, despite what he described as a February ruling of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) concerning the command structure of the force. He said the court had made it clear that the police department was headed by the inspector general of police and that transfers and promotions should be based on merit rather than political considerations. “PTI always sloganeered against politicisation of police, but now they themselves wish to convert the police force into PTI’s Tiger Force,” the governor remarked during the press conference. Read more: Police hunt PTI leaders, activists Expressing concern over provisions in the proposed police legislation, Kundi said it would give the provincial government unfair control over police affairs. According to him, the draft reserves 25% of the quota for direct DSP appointments for the chief minister. He also questioned the proposed police policy board, saying that if all matters relating to the police were brought under the control of the K-P government, there would be little purpose in maintaining an independent police department. Kundi also assailed the proposal to place the finances of the police department under the provincial finance ministry. “The ministry of finance always says that the treasury is empty,” he said, arguing that a force fighting terrorism and crime should not be subjected to excessive political and administrative interference. “The force which is fighting [terrorism and crime] and laying down lives is being tossed around in the province — under the cabinet, home secretary and chief minister,” he lambasted the provincial government's approach. Kundi further highlighted that the proposed police law would bear negative consequences on judicial processes, outlining, “They have even directed the reports submitted to courts by police to go through them [provincial government].” “The proposed system would allow the government to manipulate police reports for political purposes,” he expressed concern. “Everyone knows PTI is behind the May 9 attacks and yet the new law will allow them to manipulate reports to suit their politics,” Kundi claimed. He further alleged that under the proposed law, police officers could be rewarded or punished on the basis of their willingness to comply with political demands. “They will award promotions to those cops who give in to their demands and punish those who don’t.” ‘Illegal and unconstitutional’ Governor Kundi also declared the proposed police legislation “illegal and unconstitutional”, while clarifying that he would examine the legislation formally once it had been passed by the provincial assembly. “I will scrutinise the act when I receive it after it gets passed by the assembly,” he said, adding, “The current provisions of the act that I have come across are absolutely unacceptable.” The governor remarked that he would not assent to the new police legislation unless relevant amendments were incorporated. He also predicted that the legislation could face a legal challenge, saying he expected the court to strike it down if the federal government approached the judiciary for relief. The governor urged the K-P lawmakers to “not pass the act through the assembly”, stressing previous court decrees against the use of state assets for personal or political agendas. Law and order concerns Kundi said the debate over police administration could not be separated from the security situation in K-P and recalled the sacrifices made by police personnel in the province. The governor also referred to a recent Counter-Terrorism Department operation in which a suicide bomber allegedly planning an attack in Peshawar was eliminated. He said the sacrifices of security personnel should be recognised and their families provided with the facilities and benefits they deserved. “Previously, our military officers and sepoys were killed in Kohat, following a recurring pattern,” he said. Kundi urged the provincial government to look at the security situation in southern K-P, the merged districts and Malakand division, where, he said, law and order remained a major concern. He also criticised the provincial government for, in his view, devoting political energy to the long march while neglecting the demands of families of police personnel killed in the line of duty. Instead of providing facilities to the families of those who had sacrificed their lives for the country and helping them secure their right to receive presidential awards, he said, the government had focused its attention elsewhere. Governor Kundi further stressed that the provincial government should concentrate on problems affecting ordinary citizens rather than the planned political campaign. He took a jab at the government for overlooking protests by members of the medical community seeking an increase in remuneration. He also raised concerns over the reported increase in dengue and polio cases, the condition of the education sector, electricity-related problems and the availability of potable water. The governor also pointed to what he described as the decline of the tourism sector and the underdevelopment of mining in the province. He alleged that financial allocations meant for the former FATA and PATA regions had not been properly utilised for the benefit of local communities. Kundi said police personnel in these areas were protesting. “If they are protesting, who will look after law and order?” he asked. Kundi also took apart the provincial government for failing to secure what he described as the province’s due share of oil and gas royalties from the federal government. “K-P produces the most oil and gas for the country, but we have failed to acquire royalty for it,” he stated during the press conference. “We have failed to seek relevant resources from the centre to uplift our people,” he added. Support for police Despite his criticism of the proposed legislation, Kundi said the provincial police had received equipment and vehicles required to improve its operational capabilities. He said several items requested for the K-P police had already been provided to the province, while additional equipment would be delivered according to the government’s commitments. “We will receive 23 anti-drone guns in October, and the rest will be given in December,” he said. Kundi maintained that strengthening the police and addressing the province’s security challenges should be prioritised over political mobilisation. He urged the PTI-led administration to focus instead on overcoming what he described as provincial governance lapses.  

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