• Achakzai questions govt’s handling of Tehran diplomacy, Afghanistan ties
• Senate resolution seeks coordinated national action to curb population growth

ISLAMABAD: Lawmakers in the National Assembly and Senate on Thursday raised concerns over the political situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and alleged human rights violations, while both houses also discussed electoral reforms and the need to strengthen parliamentary institutions.

National Assembly Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai criticised the government for failing to take parliament into confidence over recent diplomatic developments in Tehran.

“How can four people decide the future of the whole nation?” he asked, warning that such decisions could push the country towards “anarchy and civil war”.

Mr Achakzai also opposed the suspension of trade with Afghanistan, describing Afghans as traditional friends of Pakistan and criticising the country’s past policies towards its neighbour.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said the parliamentary proceedings and the prevailing political situation in KP were creating a negative impression among the public. He also called for an end to hereditary politics in the country.

Rights concerns raised

Meanwhile, speaking on a point of order in the Senate, PTI parliamentary leader Barrister Syed Ali Zafar accused the government of undermining constitutional protections through the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in KP.

He argued that fundamental human rights could not be suspended or compromised, regardless of the political situation. “There is one thing that cannot be broken, suspended or compromised: the fundamental human rights of the people of Pakistan,” he said.

Mr Zafar expressed concern over the detention of Noreen Niazi, sister of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan, claiming that she had suffered a heart attack and was hospitalised but her family was not being allowed to meet her.

Responding to the concerns, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said Noreen Niazi had been provided medical treatment in Lahore and was in satisfactory condition.

On allegations that her family was being denied access, Mr Sanaullah assured the house that details would be sought and the matter addressed according to the circumstances.

He defended her detention, alleging that she had sought to create unrest by mobilising people for a protest march towards Islamabad.

Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas also criticised the government’s actions in KP, alleging that the province had been “snatched from the people”.

He also questioned the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in KP, arguing that democratic institutions could not function without respect for the law.

Population growth resolution

Separately, the Senate passed a resolution calling for urgent and coordinated national action to address the challenges posed by the country’s rapidly growing population.

The resolution, moved by PPP Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman, called for a comprehensive national response to population growth and its impact on public services and socioeconomic development.

Ms Rehman said Pakistan’s population was projected to reach approximately 390 million by 2050 at the current growth rate, placing unprecedented pressure on national resources.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2026

KARACHI: Two young sisters were allegedly shot dead by their brother over their use of social media in Drigh Road, within the jurisdiction of Shah Faisal Colony police, on Wednesday, police said.

Korangi SSP Fida Husain Janwari told Dawn that Sobia, 25, and Hira, 20, were gunned down inside their home in New Rehmanabad by their brother, Rehan.

The senior officer said the initial investigation suggested that the suspect had warned his sisters against using TikTok, which appeared to be a possible motive behind the double murder.

He said the suspect had fled the crime scene and efforts were on to ensure his arrest.

The SSP added that the alleged killer had a criminal record and had been arrested multiple times and sent to jail in connection with criminal cases.

The bodies were shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) for medico-legal formalities.

Firing on under-construction building leaves watchman dead

A watchman was gunned down and two labourers were wounded in an armed attack on an under-construction building in the Garden area.

The Soldier Bazaar police said two armed men riding a motorcycle resorted to indiscriminate firing on the under-construction Jumani Square located on Nishter Road near Alibhai Auditorium. As a result, three persons sustained critical injuries and were taken to the Civil Hospital Karachi where Aslam, 30, was pronounced dead on arrival.

The police said the victim was watchman of the building. The injured labourers were identified as Shahid Ali, 25, and Shakir Ali, 28.

The police in a statement said the incident appeared to be related to extortion.

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: As many as 45 researchers from the National University of Sciences and Technology (Nust) have earned the prestigious honour of being among the world’s top 2pc of scientists in 2026, say rankings compiled by Stanford University and Elsevier.

According to a press release issued by Nust, the distinction places Nust researchers among an international community of leading scholars whose work is contributing immensely to the advancement of knowledge and scientific progress across diverse disciplines.

Notably, 16 Nust researchers have consistently featured in the rankings over successive years, demonstrating sustained scholarly impact and a long-term commitment to advancing knowledge across disciplines.

“Extending his heartiest felicitations to the distinguished researchers, Rector Nust Dr Muhammad Zahid Latif remarked that the meritorious accomplishment of our truly erudite faculty and researchers has brought immense pride to Nust and the nation, and exemplifies the calibre of scholarship that continues to elevate Pakistan’s standing in the international research community,” read the press release.

Rector said that the recognition also speaks volumes of Nust’s enduring commitment to intellectual leadership, scientific inquiry and the pursuit of finding solutions to complex real-world challenges.

Like, Nust faculty members from several other universities are also part of the top 2pc of scientists list.

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2026

LAHORE: Additional District & Sessions Judge (AD&SJ) Rafaqat Ali Gondal on Tuesday recused himself from hearing the bail application of Ahmed Tanveer, a key suspect, in the rape case of an Azeri woman, and referred the matter to the Lahore High Court for further proceedings.

Earlier, Advocate Safdar Shaheen Pirzada, counsel for the suspect, filed an application seeking exemption for his client from personal appearance before the court.

The counsel stated that the suspect’s interim bail expired on Oct 27, but he could not appear before the court because he had been arrested in another case.

He said Ahmed was in jail for a 14-day identification parade in connection with the other case.

He asked the court to exempt the petitioner/suspect from appearing for one hearing.

However, AD&SJ Gondal expressed his inability to hear the matter.

The judge informed the counsel that he had prepared a reference of the matter and forwarded it to the high court for further action.

Without naming a case, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, last week, had alleged that in a recent rape case, it was revealed that the suspect’s wealthy family allegedly offered huge money to the victim in exchange for withdrawing her allegations, despite her statement already having been recorded under Section 164.

“It was further alleged that the judge who granted bail to the accused had also been bribed,” she added.

Defence-C police had registered the case on the complaint of the Azeri woman, who accused three men of subjecting her to gang rape. She also accused two women of abetment in the crime.

Now all five male and female suspects are in police custody.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2026

KARACHI: Foreign investors welcomed the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) 50bps rate hike to 12 per cent on Monday, but the business community called it counterproductive for stabilisation, industrial growth and export competitiveness.

M. Abdul Aleem, Secretary General of the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry, acknowledged the SBP’s move, saying it was needed to contain inflationary pressure and safeguard macroeconomic stability amid global energy price risks.

However, with large-scale manufacturing growth recovering to 1.9pc in July-August FY26 and private-sector credit expanding 14.1pc year-on-year, it is equally important to sustain the emerging momentum in investment and economic activity, he said.

As inflationary pressures are significantly influenced by external energy prices and domestic supply constraints, he emphasised that monetary tightening must be complemented by targeted supply-side reforms, fiscal discipline, competitive energy tariffs, broader tax-base coverage and predictable taxation and regulatory policies.

Foreign investors back SBP’s move to curb inflation, while industry says it will hurt exports and growth

In contrast, FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh said raising the policy rate to an uncompetitive 12pc would further inflate borrowing costs for manufacturers already grappling with unprecedented high overheads, soaring utility tariffs and liquidity constraints.

Instead of curbing inflation — driven largely by supply-side bottlenecks, energy costs and fiscal anomalies rather than excess demand — tight monetary policy has crippled domestic manufacturing, he said, urging the government and the State Bank to recalibrate the framework and bring the policy rate to single digits to make credit affordable for trade, SMEs and large-scale manufacturing.

High interest rates also place an unmanageable debt-servicing burden on the exchequer and private borrowers, creating a cycle of fiscal distress and stagnant output, he said, asking the SBP to align rates with regional benchmarks.

KCCI President Talat Mahmood warned that the hike would further raise the cost of doing business, discourage private-sector investment and undermine growth. He said Pakistan needs to strengthen its productive capacity, attract investment, generate employment and accelerate export-led growth but the policy rate hike will send the wrong signal to businesses planning to invest and expand.

SITE Association of Industry President Abdul Hadi said the move would further aggravate industry problems at a time when factories are operating far below capacity and barely surviving.

The business community has long demanded a single-digit policy rate, but industry’s real problems have again been ignored, he said, adding that high rates will not only make fresh funding harder but also increase the burden on existing loans.

He said the rate hike would burden manufacturers, forcing formal businesses to shut down or scale back, as costlier borrowing would hit new investment, expansion and production.

Korangi Association of Trade & Industry President Sheikh Umer Rehan said the hike could hurt industry, business growth, and recovery, adding that inflation could also be curbed by cutting energy costs, fixing taxation, improving the business climate, and implementing effective industrial policies.

Pakistan Textile Exporters Association Chairman Rehan Naseem Bharara said the rate hike would raise working-capital costs, constrain investment and weaken global competitiveness at a time when industry is already grappling with expensive energy and financing.

Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2026