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Pakistan Desk

Future Soch Pakistan Desk covers verified national news, public policy, society, education, health and public-service information.

Security forces kill 48 terrorists in Balochistan IBOs: ISPR

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Security forces

RAWALPINDI: security forces have killed 48 militants affiliated with what the military described as Indian proxies, including Fitna al-Hindustan and Fitna al-Khawarij, during operations in different parts of Balochistan over the past 48 to 72 hours, the Inter-Services Public Relations said Friday.

According to the military’s media wing, security forces conducted multiple intelligence-based operations in Mastung, Quetta, Kalat and Sibi, killing 36 militants in the operations.

On Sept. 4, security forces detected and engaged militant movement in Mastung, triggering an intense exchange of fire that killed six militants allegedly sponsored by India. A cache of ammunition and improvised explosive devices was also destroyed at the site, ISPR said.

In another operation in the Shaban area of Quetta, troops identified four militant hideouts. Following an exchange of fire, 26 militants were killed, according to ISPR.

Security forces also raided a militant hideout in Kalat and killed two militants. In Bhag, Sibi district, security forces, working with local residents, thwarted an attempted attack on a police station. Two militants were killed during the exchange of fire, ISPR said.

The military said sanitisation operations were underway to eliminate any remaining militants in the affected areas.

ISPR said security forces and law enforcement agencies would continue their counterterrorism campaign under the “Azm-e-Istehkam” initiative to combat foreign-sponsored terrorism in the country.

Pakistan has experienced a rise in militant violence, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since 2021, when the Afghan Taliban returned to power.

A report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan remained Pakistan’s main violence hotspots during the second quarter of 2026. The two provinces accounted for nearly 96% of violence-related fatalities recorded nationwide during the period.

According to the report, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded 475 deaths, or more than 61% of the total, while Balochistan accounted for 265 deaths, or 34%.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also recorded the highest number of violent incidents, with 151 cases, representing 57% of the national total. Balochistan followed with 94 incidents, or 35%.

Jamaat-e-Islami calls nationwide strike over petroleum levy and inflation

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Jamaat-e-Islami

KARACHI:  Markets and shops remained closed in several cities across Pakistan on Thursday after Jamaat-e-Islami called for a nationwide strike to protest the petroleum levy and rising inflation.

In Karachi, many shops in Federal B Area, Water Pump, Liaquatabad and Teen Hatti were closed. Tensions were reported on Lahore’s Mall Road, where Jamaat-e-Islami workers and members of the business community exchanged heated words and were involved in a scuffle.

Commercial centers in Rawalpindi city and cantonment areas, however, remained open. Business activity continued in Raja Bazaar, Murree Road, Commercial Market and Tench Bhatta.

A shutter-down strike was reported in Badin, Shikarpur, Tando Muhammad Khan, Makli, Gharo and Mirpur Sakro. Markets in Batkhela, Dargai, Sakhakot and Thana Baizai in Malakand were also closed, while shops in Charsadda’s Tehsil Bazaar observed a partial shutdown.

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said the party would announce its next course of action after the strike. He added that a government committee was scheduled to meet Jamaat-e-Islami leaders at Mansoorah on Thursday.

Sindh CM warns NA against discussing province’s division

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Sindh CM

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Thursday warned that even the National Assembly could not discuss dividing Sindh, saying the province’s future could not be decided outside the province.

The Sindh Assembly continued debate for a fourth day on a Pakistan Peoples Party motion opposing the creation of new provinces. The assembly also passed a resolution against the division of Sindh. PPP lawmaker Nisar Khuhro presented the resolution.

Addressing the assembly, Shah said no new provinces should be created in Sindh and argued that decisions about the province must reflect the wishes of its people.

He said ignoring public sentiment over Sindh’s future would be unacceptable and recalled that Sindh’s concerns were also overlooked during the establishment of the One Unit system.

Shah expressed concern over discussions about Sindh’s affairs on forums outside the province. Referring to comments made at an event in Lahore, he questioned whether wealthy businesspeople should be allowed to decide the future of new provinces.

The chief minister also criticized the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, saying its representatives had taken different positions on the issue of administrative units. He accused them of hypocrisy and claimed that some members had entered the assembly through procedures other than direct election.

Shah said population alone could not be used as an argument for creating new provinces. If governance was the concern, he said, the focus should instead be on administrative reforms and transferring powers to lower levels of government.

He added that strengthening local governments remained a priority for the Sindh government and said work was underway on further amendments to legislation aimed at empowering local government institutions.

Sindh reports three confirmed Mpox cases

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Sindh reports

KARACHI: Sindh has reported four new mpox cases, three of which have been confirmed, according to officials at Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital in NIPA.

Hospital sources said three confirmed cases and one suspected case were reported at the hospital. Two of the confirmed cases are from interior Sindh and involve a father and his daughter, while the third confirmed patient is a 46-year-old resident of Federal B Area in Karachi.

PCR tests confirmed mpox in all three patients, while test results for the suspected case are still pending, according to hospital sources.

The latest cases bring the number of confirmed mpox cases reported in Sindh this year to 39, while Karachi has recorded 13 confirmed cases overall.

Mpox is a viral disease caused by a virus belonging to the same family as the virus that causes smallpox. Common symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, weakness and a rash that can develop into painful or itchy lesions. Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin can also occur.

Health experts said the virus can spread through close physical contact with an infected person, including direct contact with rashes or lesions and through contaminated clothing, towels and bedding. Symptoms can appear within 21 days after exposure.

Experts advised avoiding close contact with infected people, maintaining isolation until recovery and practicing good hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of the virus.

President Zardari stresses national consensus in meeting with Naqvi

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President Zardari

LONDON: Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met President Asif Ali Zardari in London, with the meeting focusing on Pakistan’s political and national affairs, according to sources.

The meeting lasted for about an hour, during which the two discussed the country’s overall political situation and other matters of national importance.

Sources said Naqvi conveyed an important message to President Zardari during the meeting, though details of the message were not immediately disclosed.

According to the sources, Zardari reiterated his principled position on national issues, particularly the ongoing debate over the creation of new provinces.

The president said a lasting solution to any major national issue was not possible without consensus among all stakeholders. He emphasized that all sides must work together in the national interest to help the country overcome its challenges.

The meeting also included discussions on recent political developments in Pakistan and other matters of mutual interest.

Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan sign MoUs on trade, terrorism and IT cooperation

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Pakistan

BISHKEK: Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan signed several agreements and memorandums of understanding covering trade, climate change, counterterrorism, information technology and other areas during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Kyrgyzstan.

The signing ceremony was held in Bishkek in the presence of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov. The two leaders later addressed a joint news conference.

Sharif described the transit trade agreement between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan as a welcome development, saying the two countries would work together to expand bilateral trade. He said Pakistan wants to increase the trade volume with Kyrgyzstan to $200 million.

The prime minister said Lahore and the Kyrgyz city of Osh would be declared twin cities, a move he said would help strengthen cultural ties between the two countries.

Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan also agreed to cooperate in combating terrorism and extremism, while pledging to facilitate stronger commercial ties between their private sectors.

The two sides reached an understanding on cooperation to address climate change and agreed to promote collaboration in education, science and technology, and culture.

Sharif welcomed the establishment of a joint ministerial group to advance the CASA energy agreement. He said both countries would work to simplify regulations and procedures to facilitate greater bilateral trade.

The prime minister said Pakistan wants to further expand its brotherly relations with Kyrgyzstan, adding that the signing of the agreements marked the beginning of a new phase of bilateral cooperation.

SHCC probes alleged medical negligence in private hospital of Karachi

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SHCC probes

KARACHI: The Sindh Healthcare Commission has launched an investigation into an alleged case involving a private hospital in Karachi’s Nazimabad area where a woman was reportedly subjected to a cesarean section despite not being pregnant.

According the CCTV footage showing the woman visiting the private hospital for medical examinations before the reported surgery.

According to the footage, the woman visited the hospital several times for medical checkups, accompanied by her husband. The case has raised questions about how hospital staff allegedly failed to determine that she was not pregnant despite repeated examinations.

The woman reportedly visited the hospital on Aug. 18 for a medical examination. She was also called to the hospital several times last month before the operation.

The CCTV footage has raised further questions about the hospital administration and medical staff, including whether appropriate diagnostic examinations were conducted before the alleged C-section.

The Sindh Healthcare Commission has begun investigating the matter to determine what happened and whether any medical or administrative negligence was involved.

PM Shehbaz warns against using water as a political weapon

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PM Shehbaz

BISHKEK: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has warned that water cannot be used for political purposes or as a tool of pressure, saying it is vital to the region’s survival and the future of coming generations.

Addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Sharif said the SCO was an important platform for global peace and stability and that the organization’s 25th anniversary was a significant milestone. He described Pakistan as an active and responsible member of the group.

The prime minister said the global landscape was facing growing geopolitical tensions, while the SCO represented a collective commitment to addressing common challenges.

He reiterated Pakistan’s support for the peaceful resolution of disputes and respect for international law.

Sharif said recent crises had highlighted the importance of secure energy corridors and noted Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to promote regional peace.

He said the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding was an important step toward reducing tensions in the region.

He stressed that South Asia could not reach its full potential without lasting peace and called for international agreements to be implemented fully in both letter and spirit. He said water was the lifeline of the region and its use as a political tool or means of exerting pressure was unacceptable.

Speaking about the situation in Palestine, Sharif said the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank had caused unimaginable suffering. He urged the international community to respect the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.

The prime minister also described terrorism as one of the most serious threats facing the region. He said Pakistan had lost more than 90,000 lives in the fight against terrorism and suffered economic losses exceeding $150 billion. He added that Pakistan wanted a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan and that Afghan territory could not be allowed to be used against Pakistan.

Sharif said Pakistan’s SCO chairmanship would focus on turning the organization’s vision into action. He identified energy and information technology as key priorities, alongside health, culture and sports.

He said Pakistan would also propose an artificial intelligence infrastructure and governance framework at the SCO. The country’s chairmanship would focus on connectivity, innovation and shared prosperity, with the aim of bringing member states closer and creating new opportunities.

Bilawal Bhutto denies engagement and marriage reports

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Bilawal Bhutto

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has denied reports that he is engaged or planning to get married, saying any major decision about his personal life would be announced by his family.

In a video statement, Bilawal said social media had already arranged his engagement and marriage despite no such development taking place.

“Social media has arranged my engagement and marriage. Nothing like that has happened,” Bilawal said, adding that he did not know anyone named Princess Gloria.

Bilawal described the reports as a “social media circus” designed to divert public attention from important issues.

He also criticized a minister while referring to the recent PIMS tragedy in Islamabad, where 14 children died.

Bilawal alleged that the minister wanted to divide Pakistan into 30 parts and said a minister who could not manage a hospital was talking about creating and running new provinces with businessmen from Lahore.

He said the remarks came at a time when the Sindh Assembly was taking what he described as a bold position on the issue.

Earlier reports had claimed that Bilawal and President Asif Ali Zardari were in Vienna for discussions with an Austrian family regarding Bilawal’s possible engagement.

Social media reports had linked the alleged future bride to Austria’s former royal House of Habsburg-Lorraine. Some reports also claimed she belonged to the family of Karl I, the last emperor of Austria.

Bilawal, however, rejected the reports and said that if any decision regarding his engagement or marriage is made, his family will make the announcement.

COAS Asim Munir meets Saudi, Turkish defence officials in Istanbul

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COAS Asim

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir held a series of high-level meetings with Saudi and Turkish officials during his official visit to Türkiye, the military’s media wing said Monday.

CDF Asim Munir separately met Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Turkish National Defence Minister Yaşar Güler and Chief of the Turkish General Staff Gen. Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu in Istanbul.

The meetings focused on matters of mutual interest, bilateral defense cooperation and the regional security situation, according to the statement.

COAS also attended a meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee established under the Makkah Agreement for Joint Defence, which brings together Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia.

The three countries reviewed ways to further strengthen strategic coordination and defense cooperation during the meeting.

The engagements highlighted the close ties and growing strategic and defense cooperation among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, the statement said.

The meetings came as senior officials from the three countries gathered in Istanbul for discussions on regional security and collective defense cooperation.

Earlier, the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee, established under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, began in Istanbul on Monday, bringing together senior political and military officials from Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir are representing Pakistan at the high-level trilateral meeting.

Foreign and defence ministers, along with chiefs of general staff, from Türkiye and Saudi Arabia are also attending the meeting.