News roundup of the top stories from the Pakistani press today.
Trouble for PTI
The Balochistan Assembly has approved a resolution seeking a ban on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over the unrest in its Islamabad protest. A similar resolution has been submitted to the Punjab Assembly and is pending voting. Adviser to the P.M. Rana Sanaullah says the federal cabinet is divided on the matter, and has decided to continue discussing the matter before taking any final decision.
Australia Regulates Social Media
Australian lawmakers have approved legislation banning children under-16 from using social media, including Facebook, Instagram, X. The rules grant social media firms one year to take “reasonable steps” to prevent children from having accounts, facing fines of up to $3.2 million if they fail to comply. The new rules require final approval from the lower house before they become law.
Resignations within PTI
Following a contentious meeting of the PTI’s core committee, Salman Akram Raja tendered his resignation as the party’s secretary general—though it remains unclear if the leadership has accepted his decision. Sunni Ittehad Council Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza has also quit the party’s political and core committees, vowing he will continue to support PTI founder Imran Khan.
Financial Cost of Protest Closures
The federal government has spent more than Rs. 500 million in Islamabad alone for security measures and related expenses to counter the PTI’s protest. The bulk of this, more than Rs. 300 million, was related to security arrangements such as tear-gas shells and rubber bullets. Nearly Rs. 200 million was spent on meals for deployed personnel and Rs. 70 million for rentals of shipping containers.
Anti-Riot Forces
Chairing a meeting to review the law and order situation in Islamabad, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered the formation of anti-riot forces nationwide to counter protests that paralyze cities for days on end. He has directed officials to devise a comprehensive strategy to prevent marches for personal gains and sought swift justice for those inciting public unrest and chaos.
KP Declares Three Days of Mourning
In an emergency session of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, the provincial government has declared three days of mourning over the killing of PTI workers during their Islamabad protest. The government maintains law enforcers caused no fatalities, while the PTI alleges “straight fire” on their workers. KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has sought a final list of the dead for compensation to their families.
NAB Aims to Nab Bushra
A team of the National Accountability Bureau has deployed a team to Peshawar to arrest Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra. Last week, an accountability court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for her in the £190 million reference over her failure to appear in eight consecutive hearings. Since fleeing Islamabad, Bushra first traveled to Mansehra before reaching Peshawar.
No Business for Government
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said the government must exit the business sector entirely and privatize all existing state-owned enterprises. Addressing a National Security Workshop, he says the government’s role must be limited to facilitating private business, adding the government and the Army are fully aligned on this matter.
‘Arresting’ Journalists
Journalist Matiullah Jan has been arrested, with police charging him under terrorism and drug-related offenses. Appearing in court, Jan has claimed he is being harassed for investigating deaths during the PTI’s protest, describing the case against him as laughable. Another journalist, Shakir Mehmood Awan, has gone “missing.” Rights groups and journalists bodies have condemned the attack on free expression.
Kurram Violence
Warring Shia and Sunni tribes have agreed to another ceasefire after a previous pact collapsed within hours of its inking. Authorities say government troops will be deployed in key locations of Kurram to ensure the ceasefire. The provincial government has pledged to pay compensation to families of victims, as casualties from the past week of clashes have now exceeded 100.