Politics

Islamabad: A Field General Court Martial on Thursday sentenced former Head of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) retired Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment after finding him guilty on all four charges framed against him. “On August 12, 2024, process of Field General Court Martial was initiated against Mr. Faiz Hameed, formerly Lieutenant General under provisions of Pakistan Army Act spreading over 15 months,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated. The accused was tried on four charges related to engaging in political activities, violation of Official Secret Act detrimental to safety and interest of the State, misuse of authority & government resources and causing wrongful loss to persons, the military’s media wing emphasised. “After lengthy and laborious legal proceedings, accused has been found guilty on all charges and sentenced to 14 years rigorous imprisonment by the Court which has been promulgated on 11 December 2025,”stated ISPR. The Field General Court Martial complied with all legal provisions. The accused was afforded with all legal rights including rights of defence team of his choice. The convict has the right of appeal at relevant forum. Involvement of convict in fomenting vested political agitation and instability in cahoots with political elements and in certain other matters is separately being dealt with. Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed was taken into military custody on August 13, 2024, initially over allegations of land grabbing and confiscating valuables from the owner of a private housing society in the widely publicized Top City case. Following a Supreme Court directive, the army conducted a detailed court of inquiry, which led to formal disciplinary action under the Pakistan Army Act. Hameed, who served as ISI chief from 2019 to 2021 and later commanded Peshawar and Bahawalpur corps, had taken premature retirement in December 2022. He remained a controversial figure, particularly after being photographed sipping tea in a Kabul hotel shortly after the Taliban takeover in August 2021 and for his perceived closeness to former prime minister Imran Khan’s government.

Karachi: Jahangir Siddiqui & Co. Ltd. (PSX: JSCL) has announced a major leadership reshuffle, appointing Justice (R) Dr. Agha Rafiq Ahmed Khan as the new Chairman of its Board of Directors. The development was disclosed in the company’s latest filing to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). The appointment marks a significant milestone for JSCL, bringing in a highly respected jurist with more than 40 years of judicial, administrative, and regulatory experience. A Veteran Jurist Takes Charge at JSCL: Justice (R) Agha Rafiq Ahmed Khan, former Chief Justice of the Federal Shariat Court, has held several high-profile positions throughout his career. His past roles include:• Federal Law Secretary• Chairman, Sindh Public Service Commission• Senior judicial and administrative posts across Pakistan Known for his integrity, legal expertise, and strong leadership, Justice (R) Agha Rafiq is expected to play a key role in strengthening JSCL’s corporate governance and strategic direction. Asad Nasir Appointed New CEO for a Three-Year Term: Alongside the new chairman, Mr. Asad Nasir has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Jahangir Siddiqui & Co. Ltd. for a three-year term, signaling the company’s focus on expanding its financial and investment footprint. Nasir brings over 20 years of experience across:• Private equity• Corporate finance• Capital markets• Transaction advisory• Audit and financial consulting Before joining JSCL, he served as the Group Head of Ecosystem Development & Sustainable Finance at JS Bank, where he led major initiatives in digital transformation and green finance. His appointment reflects JSCL’s commitment to innovation, sustainable growth, and stronger financial performance. Board Approves FY2026 Budget: In addition to leadership restructuring, the Board of Directors has approved the company’s budget for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, setting the stage for strategic expansion and long-term value creation. Strategic Leadership Strengthens JSCL’s Future Outlook With Justice (R) Agha Rafiq’s governance expertise and Asad Nasir’s financial leadership, JSCL is poised to enter a new phase of stability, innovation, and sustainable growth. These changes reinforce the company’s focus on corporate excellence, investment diversification, and value enhancement for shareholders.

ISLAMABAD: Two days after Chief of Army Staff and Field Martial General Syed Asim Munir completed his three-year tenure on 29 November, the federal government has yet to issue the crucial notification appointing the country’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) – a powerful new position created through the recently passed 27th Constitutional Amendment.The unusual silence has triggered intense political speculation and a flurry of social-media theories ranging from behind-the-scenes power struggles to alleged London-based vetoes.Speaking to reporters outside Parliament House on Monday evening, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah attempted to douse the fire, insisting that the delay was purely procedural and that the notification would be issued immediately upon Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s return from abroad.“The Prime Minister is returning in a day or so. The moment he lands, the matter will move forward,” Sanaullah said, refusing to give an exact date for either the PM’s arrival or the notification. By late Monday night, Mr Sharif had still not returned to Pakistan.He emphasised that the government was following a strict constitutional sequence. “First comes the Constitution, then the law, and then the rules. We are taking every step with complete care and precision. There is no question of bypassing procedure,” he maintained.Under the 27th Amendment, the CDF will serve as the senior-most uniformed officer above the three service chiefs and will enjoy a fixed five-year term – significantly longer than the three-year tenure of individual service chiefs. The amendment also grants the CDF authority over joint strategic planning and operational command in certain scenarios. Although no official shortlist has been released, senior government and military sources confirm that the incumbent COAS, Gen Asim Munir, remains the overwhelming favourite to be elevated to the new post. If appointed, his current role would automatically merge into the CDF position, effectively extending his tenure until November 2030.Sanaullah acknowledged that “multiple options” were under consideration but stressed that “until the final decision is taken, no notification can be issued.” He added that the CDF’s term would officially commence only from the date of the notification – a clause that has added legal complexity to the timing.The adviser categorically rejected rumours that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, currently in London for medical treatment, had raised objections to Gen Munir’s elevation. “This impression is 100 percent incorrect,” Sanaullah declared. “Mian Nawaz Sharif has never expressed any reservation on the subject of the CDF. Whatever statements are being attributed to him have either been taken out of context or are completely fabricated.”The controversy has been amplified by the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which has accused the government of deliberately creating constitutional uncertainty to retain undue civilian influence over the military high command.In a related development, Rana Sanaullah disclosed details of a tense closed-door meeting held earlier in the day with a PTI delegation in the National Assembly Speaker’s chamber. The opposition lawmakers had demanded immediate facilitation for party leaders to meet imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan in Adiala Jail.According to Sanaullah, the government side requested the delegation to wait until Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s return so that a “structured and sustainable” arrangement could be finalised. However, within hours of the meeting’s conclusion, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi issued what Sanaullah described as an open threat. “Immediately after they left, a threat was received from the KP chief minister,” Sanaullah claimed. “In such an environment of intimidation and disruptive behaviour, no jail meeting can be permitted.”PTI spokespersons rejected the accusation, calling it another attempt to deflect attention from the CDF controversy and the government’s alleged unwillingness to allow Imran Khan access to his lawyers and party leadership.Meanwhile, diplomatic circles in Islamabad are watching the situation with keen interest. Several friendly countries that maintain close defence ties with Pakistan have privately expressed hope for a swift and smooth transition, underscoring Gen Munir’s personal rapport with key international partners, particularly in the Gulf and Washington.Within military circles, junior and mid-level officers have largely remained silent in public, but off-the-record conversations reveal a strong preference for continuity under Gen Munir rather than the uncertainty of a last-minute outsider appointment, according to media reports.Legal experts point out that, technically, Gen Munir continues to discharge duties as COAS even after 29 November because no successor has been named and the CDF notification remains pending – a situation made possible by the transitional clauses inserted in the 27th Amendment.Political analysts believe the government deliberately scheduled the amendment’s final passage and enforcement in such a way that the CDF decision would fall during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s physical presence in the country, allowing him to personally oversee the sensitive transition rather than handling it remotely. As Monday drew to a close, the Prime Minister’s Office issued no official itinerary for Mr Sharif’s return, and the Defence Ministry remained silent on the CDF file. With each passing hour, the political temperature continued to rise.PTI announced countrywide protests for Tuesday, demanding “immediate restoration of constitutional order” and the issuance of the CDF notification without further delay. Concurrently, PML-N loyalists began circulating messages urging patience and trust in the leadership’s judgment.For now, Pakistan finds itself in an extraordinary interregnum: its most powerful military office is technically vacant, yet fully functional; its most powerful new constitutional post remains unfilled; and the entire nation awaits a single notification that will shape civil-military relations for the next half-decade.Until Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif boards his flight home – whenever that may be – the speculation, the protests, and the behind-the-scenes manoeuvring are likely to intensify rather than subside.

Karachi: The sons of Pakistan’s imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan have raised grave alarms, fearing authorities are concealing “something irreversible” about his health after over three weeks without verifiable contact or proof of life. Speaking to Reuters, Kasim Khan described the blackout as “psychological torture,” noting no direct communication despite a court order for weekly family visits.Khan, 72, has been held in Adiala Jail since August 2023 on multiple convictions—including 10 years for leaking a diplomatic cable and 14 years in a graft case tied to the Al-Qadir Trust—which his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party calls politically motivated to sideline him post-2022 ouster. His personal physician has been denied access for over a year.Rumors of a transfer to a high-security facility and even death have swirled on social media, trending #WhereIsImranKhan, fueled by blocked visits and a media blackout on his image. Khan’s sisters were allegedly assaulted by police during a recent protest outside the jail.4524f4 An anonymous jail official insisted Khan is “in good health” with no transfer plans, while Defence Minister Khawaja Asif quipped he receives “five-star treatment.”8c7a4cFrom London, Kasim and brother Suleiman—last seeing their father after a 2022 assassination attempt—urge international human rights intervention. PTI demands immediate access, calling it a “human rights emergency.”b92b2e The Interior Ministry has not commented.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Energy Sardar Owais Ahmad Khan Leghari on Thursday revealed that Pakistan is fast emerging as one of the world’s quickest-growing solar markets, with nearly 19,000 MW of solar projects under development. Addressing a seminar organised by the Pakistan Business Council, he announced that renewable energy now constitutes 55% of the national power mix.For the first time, the government has rolled out 28 major structural reforms with a long-term vision, the minister said, adding that tangible results will soon be visible. He acknowledged that several previous agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) “were not transparent” and confirmed ongoing renegotiations to ease the circular debt burden alongside phasing out inefficient plants.Leghari highlighted upcoming amendments to net-metering rules, performance improvement of distribution companies, DISCO privatisation, and the imminent launch of a competitive electricity market. “The government will no longer be the sole buyer; direct buyer-seller transactions will become the norm,” he stated, emphasising enhanced governance, transparency and financial stability in the sector.

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Finance on Wednesday directed the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to immediately act against commercial banks allegedly forcing female employees to wear abayas, terming the practice unconstitutional and discriminatory.PPP Senator Dr Zarqa Taimur strongly objected, asserting that Pakistani women already observe modest dress and no additional religious attire can be imposed. Senior PML-N Senator Farooq H. Naek equated the compulsion to “forcing a man to grow a beard”, questioning how the central bank permitted such policies.Committee Chairman Saleem Mandviwalla announced that concerned banks would be summoned to explain their dress code rules. In a separate scathing remark, Mandviwalla accused many Islamic banking institutions of committing “fraud and deception” by charging higher profit rates than conventional banks despite claiming Shariah compliance.The strong bipartisan condemnation reflects growing parliamentary scrutiny of workplace gender policies and the pricing practices of Islamic financial institutions. The SBP has been asked to submit a compliance report in the next meeting while the offending banks face potential regulatory action if found violating employees’ constitutional right to personal freedom and expression.