K-P Assembly passes resolution on Pakistanis’ plight in Gulf

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Monday unanimously adopted a resolution expressing concern over the problems faced by Pakistani expatriates in Gulf countries, particularly issues related to residency permits (iqama) and visa cancellations. The resolution, moved by government MPA Obaidur Rehman, highlighted the difficulties confronting Pakistani citizens in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. It noted that visas of many Pakistanis were being cancelled in the United Arab Emirates and urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant departments to take immediate steps for their resolution. The house also called for facilitating the prompt repatriation of deceased Pakistanis so that their bodies could be brought home without delay. In the same session, the assembly witnessed sharp criticism over recruitment irregularities in the health department, particularly in South Waziristan. Government MPA Asif Khan launched a strong attack on the provincial government, accusing it of violating local domicile rules in Grade 11 appointments being conducted through the Educational Testing and Evaluation Agency (ETEA). Asif warned that candidates from other districts were being favoured for posts in Upper and South Waziristan, while local residents were being sidelined. “We contest elections on the name of Imran Khan and carry the hopes of the people. If this practice continues, I will resign,” he said, adding that such decisions taken in “closed rooms” were unacceptable. He lamented that the provincial health minister had not visited Waziristan even once in seven months despite poor conditions in hospitals and basic health units (BHUs), where doctors were reportedly absent from duty. Speaker Babar Salim Swati supported the concerns raised by Asif and issued a ruling to halt the recruitment process until the concerned standing committee examined the matter and gave its recommendations. Law Minister Aftab Alam also endorsed the principle that district-level posts should preferably go to local candidates and suggested necessary amendments in the rules. The health recruitment controversy dominated much of the proceedings, with members stressing that terrorism-affected areas like Waziristan deserved special attention and that new appointees must give written assurances to serve in the region. Separately, the house was informed about the completion of an inquiry into alleged irregularities in the auction of gold mineral blocks in Kohat. PPP MPA Shazia Tahmase raised the issue through a question. In response, Alam and Minister Riaz Khan stated that the provincial cabinet had constituted an inquiry committee as soon as complaints surfaced. The committee had finalised its report, which would be presented before the next cabinet meeting. The report would subsequently be laid before the assembly. The National Accountability Bureau was also continuing its own investigation into the matter. The day’s proceedings reflected growing concern within the ruling alliance over expatriate welfare, fair recruitment practices in backward districts and transparency in the award of mineral contracts. Observers see the speaker’s ruling on recruitments and the impending cabinet discussion on the Kohat gold inquiry as significant steps towards addressing public grievances and ensuring accountability in provincial governance.

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Israeli forces detain Saad Edhi, other volunteers after intercepting Global Sumud Flotilla

Edhi Foundation Chairman Faisal Edhi alleged on Monday that Israeli forces had detained his son, Saad Edhi, along with other volunteers after intercepting the Global Sumud Flotilla as the mission was carrying aid, including medicine and food, for victims in Gaza. In a message on Meta, Faisal said that around 1pm Pakistan Standard Time, Israeli forces intervened in the Gaza aid flotilla near Cyprus in international waters and arrested his son along with other volunteers. “They were in international waters, and Israeli forces have no right to arrest them. We don't know where they have taken them,” he said. Faisal appealed to the federal government and the Foreign Office to take legal action against the Israeli forces for detaining a Pakistani citizen. “I urge FO to raise this issue with the UN and the international community regarding the detention of a Pakistani citizen,” he added. He further said that the UN and the international community must stop the unlawful actions of the Israeli forces against civilians and work to end the genocide in Gaza, providing urgent assistance to the people there. https://ift.tt/ncm1dM9 At the time of the Israeli operation, Saad was recording a video in which scenes of the Israeli military taking control of the flotilla boats and arresting the workers were captured. Forty-five years ago, Abdul Sattar Edhi himself was similarly arrested by the Israeli military in 1980 while travelling to Gaza with relief supplies to help Palestinians. Speaking to The Express Tribune, Faisal said that the aid workers were arrested near Greece in international waters, calling the act illegal. He added that the government should raise its voice against this action on international forums. He further stated that there was still no information about Saad’s whereabouts or where the Israeli military has transferred the detained aid workers. However, it was expected that more information regarding Saad and the aid workers from other countries may emerge on Tuesday. The organisers of a flotilla of aid vessels bound for Gaza said that Israeli forces ‌had intercepted 28 of their boats in the eastern Mediterranean, while the remaining 26 ships were continuing to sail toward the enclave. Earlier on Monday, Israel's foreign ministry had said on X that it "will not allow any breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza". Ships from the Global Sumud Flotilla had set sail for a third time ​on Thursday from southern Turkiye, after earlier attempts to deliver aid to Gaza were intercepted by Israel in international waters. Live video ​showed military vessels approaching the vessels on Monday. "Military vessels are currently intercepting our fleet and (Israeli) forces are ⁠boarding the first of our boats in broad daylight," the Global Sumud Flotilla initially said on X. "We demand safe passage for our legal, ​non-violent humanitarian mission." RED ALERT! Military vessels are currently intercepting our fleet and IOF forces are boarding the first of our boats in broad daylight. We demand safe passage for our legal, non-violent humanitarian mission. Governments must act now to stop these illegal acts or piracy meant to… pic.twitter.com/4RmPuswZNo — Global Sumud Flotilla (@gbsumudflotilla) May 18, 2026 The group said there were 426 people taking part in the 54-vessel flotilla from 39 countries. It named 44 Turks among those on the intercepted ​vessels, some 463 kilometres from Gaza. Israel's foreign ministry also called on "all participants in this provocation to change course and turn back immediately". A Turkish activist on board the L'Arq vessel in the flotilla said he did not fear interception by Israeli forces but voiced concern for those already seized, adding the crew ​on his boat expected interception as soon as they got close to Gaza. Read This: UN special rapporteur urges Mediterranean states to protect Global Sumud Flotilla "We don't know where they are, we don't know how ​many of them were actually taken," Ahmet Soylemez said, speaking aboard the boat. A live tracker on the flotilla's website showed L'Arq was around 215 nautical ‌miles ⁠from Gaza. Turkey seeking safe return of nationals Turkey's foreign ministry condemned the Israeli intervention as a "new act of piracy", adding that Ankara was taking the necessary steps to ensure the safe return of Turkish citizens on board the flotilla in coordination with other relevant countries. "Israel must immediately cease its intervention and unconditionally release the flotilla participants being held," it said in a statement, calling on the international community to urgently adopt ​a "united and resolute" stance against Israel. The ​previous flotilla departed from Spain ⁠on April 12. But Israeli forces intercepted vessels in that group, taking more than 100 pro-Palestinian activists to Crete and detaining two others in Israel. Read More: Gaza flotilla organisers say 211 activists 'kidnapped', 22 vessels intercepted by Israel Last October, Israel's military halted another flotilla assembled by the same organisation, ​arresting Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and more than 450 participants. Palestinians and international aid bodies, along with Turkiye ​and several other countries, say supplies reaching Gaza are still insufficient, despite a ceasefire reached in October that included guarantees of increased aid. Most of Gaza's more than two million people have been displaced, many now living in bombed-out homes and makeshift tents pitched on open ground, roadsides, or atop the ⁠ruins of ​destroyed buildings. Israel, which controls all access to the Gaza Strip, denies withholding supplies for ​its residents. Its foreign ministry said more than 1.58 million metric tons of humanitarian aid and thousands of tons of medical supplies have entered Gaza since October 2025.

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PTI rifts deepen after cabinet expansion

Differences within Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have surfaced shortly after the expansion of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa cabinet, with several party leaders and lawmakers expressing strong displeasure over being overlooked. The controversy erupted after Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced the expansion of his cabinet. The move came nearly a year after he formed a slim cabinet in 2025. Sources said the decision was taken following consultations with the party's founder chairman, though the meeting with the chairman did not materialise before the announcement. The expansion included six new ministers, four advisors, and eight special assistants. However, the announcement triggered immediate backlash from party members who felt sidelined. Abdul Ghani Afridi, a close associate of the Chief Minister, publicly conveyed his dissatisfaction through a couplet on social media. Former Governor Shah Farman clarified on social media that no one was included in the cabinet on his recommendation, nor did he propose any names. Former provincial minister Shaukat Yousafzai criticised the exclusion of Shangla district, noting that while the Chief Minister has the prerogative to choose his cabinet, some decisions must be made keeping party interests in mind. He pointed out that federal minister Amir Maqam, opposition leader Dr Ebad, and Senator Niaz belong to Shangla, questioning whether ignoring the district would disappoint its people. Several districts appear to have received disproportionate representation, while others were completely ignored. Malakand, Charsadda, and Nowshera each secured three slots. In contrast, key districts including North and South Waziristan, Bannu, Orakzai, Hangu, and Bajaur received no representation despite having multiple PTI MPAs. Some districts received multiple berths: two each from Kohat, Mardan, Peshawar, Buner, Dir, Haripur, Swabi; and one each from Mohmand, Karak, Lakki Marwat, Abbottabad, Tank, and Battagram. Shakil Khan, a member of former Chief Minister Mahmood Khan's cabinet and associated with the Atif Khan group, was surprisingly re-inducted, triggering astonishment within party circles. Notably, the cabinet largely avoided including unelected personalities, with only Muzzmal Aslam reportedly making it as an exception. The cabinet expansion has highlighted growing regional and factional fissures within PTI in K-P.

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IHC orders action against campus drugs

The hearing of a case pertaining to the use of drugs in educational institutions across the federal capital will be taken up on May 19 by a bench headed by Justice Raja Inam Amin Minhas of the Islamabad High Court (IHC). During the previous hearing, the court had issued notices to the Executive Director of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, directing him to appear in person at the next hearing or ensure the presence of a responsible official fully conversant with the matter. The court had also instructed the police and Anti-Narcotics Force Pakistan to extend assistance in developing a surveillance mechanism for universities. The petition has been filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) by Advocate Kashif Ali Malik on behalf of the Lucky Foundation, seeking eradication of drug use in educational institutions. The matter is scheduled for hearing on 19 May.

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No move on constitutional amendment without consensus, says Sanaullah

Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah pushed back on Saturday against speculation of an imminent constitutional amendment, saying no such move would proceed without broad political consensus among all stakeholders. Rumours about a proposed 28th constitutional amendment have been doing the rounds since last year and have gotten stronger as of late. Amid growing speculation, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said a day earlier that the government had not contacted his party regarding any proposed constitutional amendment, while warning that the passage of any such legislation would not be possible without its support. Speaking during a private television programme “Jirga”, Sanaullah remained non-committal when asked about the proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment. Read: No move on 28th constitutional amendment, says law minister “It is settled that whatever amendment comes will be the 28th Amendment, because the 27th has already been done. So now, we should expect the 28th Amendment,” he said. However, he did not confirm whether such an amendment was under consideration, adding that the issues potentially linked to a 28th amendment were of fundamental importance and remained part of ongoing dialogue between political parties and their leadership. Responding to a question, he endorsed Bilawal’s stance that no constitutional amendment could be passed without the PPP’s support. “Yes, absolutely. He is correct in saying that no amendment can be made without them, and he is also right to the extent that they have not been informed that we are going to bring any 28th Amendment,” he said. He added, however, that the PPP was itself aware of the issues at hand and also had proposals for resolving them. “Consensus-building has not yet begun. Until there is consensus, no move will be made towards any amendment,” he said. Also Read: PPP pours scorn on govt's 28th tweak plan Discussing broader governance and fiscal matters, including local government systems, the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, population control, and resource distribution, he said the existing framework left the federal government with very limited fiscal space after debt servicing and defence expenditure. “The distribution of resources between the provinces and the federation under the NFC leaves the federation with almost nothing after paying external debt and defence charges,” he said, adding that the matter was under serious consideration and required a workable solution. Expressing concern over a potential future water crisis, the adviser said India was planning to construct five to six dams on the Chenab River, projects that he said could be completed by 2029–30. He warned that in such a scenario, India would be in a position to control the river’s flow. “India will weaponise water. When we need it, they may block it, and when we do not need it, they may suddenly release it, causing floods here,” he said. He added that Pakistan should urgently consider alternative strategies, including the construction of water reservoirs, to address the potential challenge.

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Imran's detention sparks showdown in parliament

The issue of access to jailed PTI founder Imran Khan dominated proceedings across both Houses of Parliament on Friday, with the National Assembly witnessing opposition threats of protest from Monday, while the Senate saw demands for a parliamentary committee to visit political prisoners. However, the government firmly rejected the demands, asserting that prison administration and meeting arrangements are governed strictly under existing legal and judicial frameworks. In the National Assembly, Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai demanded clarity on when the PTI founder's family would be allowed to meet him and when he would receive treatment of his choice, warning that the opposition would launch protests from Monday if there was no response. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said Imran Khan had been imprisoned for nearly three years and that the party was being denied equal treatment despite repeated legal recourse. He further lamented that the agreed procedures and court-directed SOPs were not being implemented in practice. "We have gone to the Supreme Court 15 times and to the High Court 24 times, but we have not received justice from the courts," he said, adding that even arrangements finalised with the Speaker were not being followed. He supported the opposition's demands and said the party was seeking justice for its leadership Meanwhile, in the Senate, opposition lawmakers led by Raja Nasir Abbas, Azam Swati and others demanded a bipartisan parliamentary committee to visit Imran Khan and other political prisoners, arguing that denial of access and continued incarceration were worsening political tensions. The government, represented by Rana Sanaullah, rejected the proposal, saying there was no constitutional or procedural basis for such a committee and that prison-related matters were already governed through judicial forums and established mechanisms. The session, chaired by Senator Sherry Rehman, saw sharp exchanges between the treasury and opposition benches over Imran Khan's health, prison conditions and restrictions on meetings at Adiala jail. Opposition senators warned that continued incarceration of political workers and denial of access were aggravating the country's political tensions, while the government defended the existing legal and judicial framework governing prison matters. Leader of the Opposition Senator Raja Nasir Abbas said political victimisation and denial of rights were pushing the country deeper into crisis. "By jailing political workers, we are shooting ourselves in the foot," he said, proposing that a bipartisan Senate committee comprising government and opposition lawmakers be allowed to meet Imran Khan and other political prisoners before submitting a report to the House. "Let everyone stand against whoever is stopping us from visiting jails," he added, saying Parliament should not tolerate excesses against politicians. PTI Senator Azam Swati told the House that the PTI founder had "lost sight in one eye" and urged the state to ensure basic human rights for both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi. "We need to unite at this time. Inhumane treatment is never justified," Swati said, while urging the government to "change its decisions and try to improve the situation." Senator Faisal Javed also slammed restrictions on access to Adiala jail, questioning why medical treatment, including treatment abroad, had previously been arranged for former prime minister Nawaz Sharif but not for Imran Khan. He demanded that PTI leaders and family members be allowed to meet the incarcerated party founder. Responding to the opposition's criticism, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said the government had consistently attempted to resolve issues through dialogue, but progress had been hindered by certain political attitudes. He maintained that both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were receiving the best medical treatment available in the country and said meetings in jail were being regulated under a mechanism approved by a larger bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC). According to Rana Sanaullah, the arrangement allows meetings twice a week, with separate schedules for lawyers and family members. He said PTI leaders, including Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, had assured the court that meetings would not be used for political messaging or media campaigns. However, he alleged that the understanding had repeatedly been violated through press conferences and international campaigns targeting state institutions. "Campaigns targeting state institutions and their heads were carried out abroad. Evidence regarding such activities can be presented whenever required," he said. The adviser further stated that a five-member medical board, constituted on the recommendation of PTI's own doctors, had endorsed the treatment being provided to the former prime minister. Rejecting the opposition's proposal for a parliamentary committee, Rana Sanaullah said there was no provision in the rules of the Senate or National Assembly allowing such interference in executive matters related to prison administration. He added that legal and judicial forums already existed for complaints regarding prison conditions or access. Referring to the May 9 unrest, he said attacks on state institutions could not be ignored, and those responsible would face consequences. Noting that an "action" which succeeds is called a revolution, he said a failed attempt to bring about a revolution amounted to treachery and carried consequences. He added that repeated attempts to march on Islamabad and confront the state had further strained the political atmosphere. The Senate session was later adjourned until Monday evening.

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Hostage crew’s video surfaces after 26 days in Somali pirate captivity

A video showing 10 crew members of an Indonesian-flagged vessel held hostage by Somali pirates surfaced on Friday, sparking concern among their families and the public. In the footage, one of the abducted crew members, Second Officer Hussain Yousuf, is seen appealing to the government for urgent assistance to secure the release of all hostages. He is flanked by fellow Pakistani crew members as well as Indonesian colleagues, while armed pirates are visible in the background. Speaking in the video, Yousuf said 26 days had passed since the vessel was seized, adding that the crew remained unaware of any progress in negotiations for their release. Read More: HRCP expresses deep alarm over continued captivity of Pakistani crew by Somali pirates He described worsening conditions on board, saying food supplies had been exhausted and the pirates were providing only small portions of rice once every 24 hours. He added that the crew was being forced to drink contaminated water from the ship’s tank. صومالی بحری قزاقوں نے پاکستانیوں سمیت 17 یرغمالیوں کی نئی ویڈیو جاری کردی یرغمالی پاکستانی شہری یوسف حسین کی حکومت پاکستان سے اپیل یہ لوگ ابلے چاول اور ٹینک کا گندہ پانی پینے کے لیے دے رہے ہیں،بہت مشکل میں جلد سے جلد قزاقوں سے مزاکرات کریں ،ویڈیو میں بھاری اسلحے سے لیس قزاق بھی… pic.twitter.com/1IcDJ2jPCV — Shahid Hussain (@ShahidHussainJM) May 15, 2026 He urged the government and the shipping company to expedite negotiations to ensure their safe release. Meanwhile, families of the abducted Pakistani crew members are said to be in severe distress, making repeated appeals to authorities for the safe return of their loved ones. The children of the hostages expressed hope of celebrating the upcoming Eidul Azha with their fathers. The families have approached various government officials through the media and social platforms. Around two weeks ago, they met the Sindh governor in what was described as their first formal interaction with a government representative. The governor assured them of full cooperation and pledged to take up the matter with the federal government. Earlier, the families staged a symbolic protest at the Native Jetty Bridge, briefly blocking heavy port traffic to draw attention to their plight. They also warned of launching a hunger strike if their demands were not addressed promptly.

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