Prominent names feature in fresh Epstein files dump

• US commerce chief Lutnick visited private island in 2012
• Musk inquired about ‘parties planned’
• Fed nominee Warsh on guest list for holiday gathering
• Epstein ‘helped Bill Gates obtain drugs, facilitated illicit trysts’
• DoJ says papers carry ‘untrue and sensationalist claims’ about President Trump

WASHINGTON: A fresh cache of files released on Friday related to the investigation into the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein contains documents that refer to numerous high-profile figures.

President Donald Trump, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and SpaceX founder Elon Musk are among some of the people named in the documents.

The disclosure offers a sprawling look into the elite circles Epstein inhabited before his death, implicating prominent figures in politics, business and entertainment.

The documents were published following a deadline mandated by a bipartisan congressional law requiring the public release of all files related to Epstein.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced release marked the conclusion of the Trump administration’s planned disclosures. The batch includes 3 million pages of documents, 2,000 videos and 180,000 images, Blanche said at a press conference.

Among the names surfacing in the files is Kevin Warsh, whom Trump nominated on Friday to serve as chairman of the Federal Reserve. Warsh’s name appeared in an email from a publicist to Epstein detailing a guest list of 43 people, including Martha Stewart, for a Christmas gathering.

Lutnick under scrutiny

According to the documents, Lutnick and Epstein scheduled a lunch meeting for Dec 23, 2012, on Little Saint James, Epstein’s private island in the Caribbean.

The following day, Epstein’s assistant sent a note to Lutnick on behalf of the financier, which read in part, “Nice seeing you”.

Records also show that in November 2015, Epstein’s assistant forwarded an invitation from Lutnick for a fundraiser supporting Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at Lutnick’s financial firm.

These exchanges stand in contrast to Lutnick’s comments during a podcast appearance last year.

Lutnick stated that he had been neighbours with Epstein around 2005 and was invited to tour the financier’s townhome. He claimed that after Epstein made a sexually suggestive comment about a massage table, he vowed to “never be in a room” with him again.

A spokesperson for the Commerce Department addressed the discrepancy in a statement.

“Lutnick had limited interactions with Mr. Epstein in the presence of his wife and has never been accused of wrongdoing,” the spokesperson said.

Musk inquires about parties

The documents detail a separate exchange between Epstein and Musk on Christmas Day in 2012.

“The invitation is much appreciated, but a peaceful island experience is the opposite of what I’m looking for,” Musk wrote, declining an offer to visit Little Saint James.

Musk added that he had been “working to the edge of sanity” and asked Epstein if he had “any parties planned.”

Epstein replied that he understood Musk’s refusal, noting cryptically that “the ratio on my island” might make a female companion of Musk’s uncomfortable, though he did not elaborate.

Days later, Musk invited Epstein to join a group for drinks in St. Barts, though it is unclear if the meeting occurred.

Trump, Melania

The files include hundreds of documents mentioning President Trump, primarily consisting of compiled media reports. However, the release also details what appear to be internal emails from federal investigators dated August 2025.

These messages, which examined accusations involving the president, indicate that investigators found no substantiation for the claims and deemed several accusers “not credible”.

The Justice Department noted in a press release that the files contained “untrue and sensationalist claims” regarding the president.

One redacted message from 2012 queries, “What does JE think of going to Mar-a-Lago after xmas instead of his island?” This corresponds to a period years after Trump said he stopped socialising with Epstein.

Additionally, a 2002 email from Melania Trump to Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s convicted co-conspirator, references a profile in New York Magazine.

“Nice story about JE in NY mag. You look great on the picture,” the email reads. “Give me a call when you are back in NY.”

Bill Gates

In a draft email among the documents, Epstein alleged Gates had engaged in extramarital affairs.

Epstein wrote in the email that his relationship with Gates had ranged from “helping Bill to get drugs, in order to deal with consequences of sex with Russian girls, to facilitating his illicit trysts, with married women.”

The Gates Foundation, in a statement to The New York Times, denied the allegations of affairs.

The release has drawn immediate scrutiny from Democrats, who questioned whether the administration withheld relevant material. While the Justice Department identified 6 million pages of potentially responsive documents, only 3.5 million were released.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2026

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Parliament meets tomorrow, likely to amend NAB law

• President summons National Assembly, Senate sessions; houses to adopt resolutions on Kashmir
• Opposition expected to raise concern over Imran’s health, delay in ECP chief appointment

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has summoned separate sessions of both houses of parliament on February 2, which are likely take up an amendment related to the National Accountability Ordinance to allow the incumbent NAB chief to remain in office beyond his term set to expire in the first week of March, said sources.

The agenda of these sessions has not been shared but insiders said the NAB amendment would be the sessions’ highlight to pave the way for the incumbent NAB chairman to remain at the helm until the appointment of his successor. Retired Lt Gen Nazir Ahmad became the NAB chairman on March 4, 2023, for three years after his predecessor Aftab Sultan resigned citing “interference” and “pressure” as the reasons for his departure. The opposition PTI had claimed Mr Sultan was being coerced to file corruption references against its chief Imran Khan.

As per the law, the NAB chief is appointed through consultations between the prime minister and the opposition leader, which is supposed to start two months before the expiry of the term and be completed within 45 days. This means the process should have been started in the first week of January, but it never did.

If there is no consensus, the names proposed by the PM and the opposition leader are to be forwarded to the parliamentary committee for the final decision. “Provided that the leader of the house and leader of the opposition shall propose two names each for consideration of the parliamentary committee,” a proviso to the law reads.

“The parliamentary committee under clause (ii) shall be constituted by the speaker, National Assembly, comprising fifty percent members from the treasury benches and fifty percent from the opposition benches, based on their strength in Majlis e Shoora (parliament), to be nominated by the respective parliamentary leaders,” the law reads.

The committee is required to recommend the name of the chairman no later than thirty days. “The total strength of the parliamentary committee shall be twelve members out of which one third shall be from the Senate. If the National Assembly stands dissolved at the material time, all the members of the committee shall be from the Senate,” the law says.

“The chairman shall, on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the federal government, hold office for a non-extendable term of three years and shall not be eligible for subsequent appointment as chairman and shall not be removed from office except on the grounds and in the manner as provided in Article 209 of the Constitution,” the law reads.

According to a source, the upcoming sessions will, however, likely amend this law on the pattern of a provision in the 26th Amendment that allowed the chief election commissioner and two ECP members to continue even after the expiry of their term, while keeping the appointment process on hold.Sources said both houses will also adopt resolutions in connection with Kashmir solidarity day, observed every year on February 5.

Meanwhile, the opposition is also likely to raise the issues of delay in the commencement of the process for the appointment of a new chief election commissioner and two ECP members who continue to hold offices over a year after the expiry of their original term. Moreover, matters related to the health of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan will also come up during the proceedings.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2026

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Govt hikes diesel price by Rs11.30 as petrol remains unchanged

The government on Saturday hiked the rate for high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs11.30, while leaving the price of petrol unchanged for the coming fortnight.

In a late-night notification, the Petroleum Division said the revision followed movements in international markets and recommendations from the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra).

According to the notification, the ex-depot price of HSD was set at Rs268.38 per litre from Rs257.08 per litre.

Most of the transport sector runs on HSD. Its price is considered inflationary as it is mostly used in heavy transport vehicles, trains and agricultural engines like trucks, buses, tractors, tube-wells, threshers, and particularly adds to the prices of vegetables and other eatables.

Meanwhile, the ex-depot petrol price was unchanged, remaining Rs253.17 per litre.

Petrol is primarily used in private transport, small vehicles, rickshaws, and two-wheelers, and directly impacts the budgets of the middle and lower-middle classes.

The notification said the prices would be applicable from February 1 (Sunday).

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Red Cross urges world to alleviate ‘dire’ Gaza suffering

GENEVA: The world must seize the momentum from the first phase of the ceasefire to urgently alleviate the catastrophic human suffering in the Gaza Strip, International Committee of the Red Cross chief said on Friday, calling for an end to restrictions that have left millions in misery.

ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric emphasised that while recent prisoner exchanges allowed families to mourn or reunite, the civilian population remains in a desperate struggle for survival against harsh winter conditions and devastated infrastructure in the besieged territory.

“States must harness the momentum generated by the first phase of the agreement between Israel and Hamas to urgently improve the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza,” Spoljaric said.

For the past 15 weeks, the ICRC has worked with mediators to facilitate the return of prisoners and the remains of the deceased.

Israeli kills three more Palestinians in Gaza

However, Spoljaric stressed that humanitarian steps are irreplaceable on the path to peace. She explicitly called on Israel to ease its blockade on so-called “dual-use” materials — such as water pipes and generators — which remain essential for restoring basic services.

“Many people in Gaza are still living in the rubble without basic services, struggling to stay warm amid harsh winter conditions,” Spoljaric said.

Rafah partial reopening

Following months of pleading from humanitarian organisations and Palestinians, Israel announced on Friday that it would reopen the Rafah crossing on the southern border with Egypt this Sunday on Feb 1.

The crossing, a vital lifeline for aid, has been shuttered by Israeli forces since they seized control of the area.

Israel said the crossing would open for the “limited movement” under the supervision of a European Union mission. Earlier, Hamas demanded the reopening of Rafah and the entry of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza in the territory.

Israel kills again

The Israeli military on Friday killed three more Palestinians in Gaza. Without identifying the victims, the military stated that further strikes were launched and that soldiers continued to conduct searches in the area. Since the truce entered into force, Gaza’s health ministry reports that 492 people have been killed by Israeli fire or bombardment.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2026

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Trump says Iran wants deal, US ‘armada’ larger than in Venezuela raid

United States President Donald Trump said on Friday that he believed Tehran wanted to make a deal to avoid military action, adding that the US “armada” near Iran was bigger than the one he dispatched to topple Venezuela’s leader.

The development came hours after Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is prepared to resume talks with Washington, but they should be fair and not include Iran’s defence capabilities.

Trump made these remarks while addressing reporters in the Oval Office of the White House.

“We have a large armada, flotilla, you can call it whatever you want, heading to Iran right now. Even larger than what we had in Venezuela,” the president stated.

“Hopefully, we’ll make a deal. If we do make a deal, that’s good; if we don’t make a deal, we’ll see what happens,” Trump added.

Asked if Iran had been given any deadline for a deal on its nuclear programme, ballistic missiles and other issues, Trump replied, “Only they know for sure.” He added that he had communicated that directly.

“We’ll see how it all works out. They have to float someplace, so they might as well float near Iran,” Trump said, replying to a question about pulling back the US presence.

However, he cited what he said was Iran’s decision to halt executions of protesters as evidence to show Tehran was ready to comply.

“I can say this, they do want to make a deal,” Trump said.

Trump declined to say whether, if Iran did not reach a deal, he planned a repeat of the dramatic operation in Venezuela, in which US forces captured President Nicolas Maduro.

“I don’t want to talk about anything having to do with what I’m doing militarily,” he said.

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AGP audit observations cannot be used against taxpayers: Supreme Court

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that audit observations by the Auditor General of Pakistan against government entities of the federal or provincial governments cannot be used by tax authorities to initiate audit proceedings against a taxpayer.

“Any audit observation made by the Auditor Gen­eral in relation to the accounts of, e.g., the Inland Revenue Department or the FBR or any other governmental entity or any authority or body established by the federation or a province cannot form the basis of enabling or allowing any tax authority exercising powers and performing functions under a fiscal statute to regard that observation as information that would allow for the audit or inspection of the accounts or activities of a taxpayer or sustain the issuance of any notice or initiation of any proceedings under the fiscal statute,” affirmed Justice Munib Akhtar.

Headed by Justice Akhtar, a two-member bench had taken up an appeal against the July 7, 2025, Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) quashing of proceedings against the private company Diamond Filling and CNG Station, Peshawar. The direction came in a sales tax case that was moved by the Inland Revenue commissioner, Peshawar, against the high court decision.

The tax department had initiated proceedings against the private CNG station based on audit observations made by the Director General of Revenue Receipt Audit (DGRRA), a wing of the Auditor General’s office.

Justice Munib Akhtar notes auditor general acts under 2001 ordinance, while tax authorities operate under fiscal statute; both are separate, work in own domains

In his six-page judgement, the judge explained the reason for the observation by stating that it was a well-settled rule that what “cannot be done directly cannot be done indirectly.”

What is properly within the scope, powers, and authority of the Auditor General acting under the 2001 Ordinance, on the one hand, and of the tax authorities under a fiscal statute, on the other, are separate and operate within their own spheres, he emphasised, adding that they constitute distinct compartments that do not overlap.

The judgement explained that Article 169 of the Constitution mandated that the Auditor General of Pakistan, in relation to the accounts of the federation and the provinces, shall perform such functions and exercise such powers as may be determined by federal law.

The statute currently in the field is the Auditor General’s (Functions, Powers, Terms and Conditions of Service) Ordinance, 2001. It appears that while exercising such powers in relation to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and in particular the Inland Revenue Department in relation to sales tax, an officer of the Auditor General, the DGRRA, made an audit observation against the CNG company, on the basis of which the officer concerned of sales tax issued a show-cause notice on March 9, 2023, under Section 11(2) of the Sales Tax Act (STA) 1990.

Being unsatisfied, the CNG station moved against the order for the recovery of sales tax by filing an appeal before the commissioner (appeals). That appeal succeeded, and when the commissioner took the matter to the appellate tribunal, the decision of the commissioner (appeals) was upheld on Oct 24, 2024. The department then took the matter in a tax reference to the PHC, which was dismissed.

The judgement said that to stretch the provision in the manner attempted by the department — to include private sector entities in its scope and thereby allow for their audit for fiscal purposes by the auditor general — was to completely misread, misunderstand, and misapply the provision.

In the end, the Supreme Court rejected the appeal by the Inland Revenue commissioner.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2026

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Trump says ‘looks like’ Hamas will disarm in Gaza deal progress

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that it “looks like” Hamas would give up its weapons, a step the group has not confirmed, in what would be a major step forward in the fragile Gaza ceasefire with Israel.

“A lot of people said they’ll never disarm. It looks like they’re going to disarm,” Trump told a cabinet meeting.

Trump hailed cooperation with Hamas after Israeli forces brought back the remains of the last captive held in Gaza, Ran Gvili.

“They did help us with those bodies, getting them back, and that family is so grateful,” Trump said.

Trump had asked for an update on the Middle East from his roving special envoy Steve Witkoff, sitting in the side of the room as cabinet members and media listened.

An upbeat Witkoff voiced high confidence in Hamas following through.

“We’ve got the terrorists out of there and they’re going to demilitarise. They will because they have no choice,” Witkoff said.

“They’re going to give it up. They’re going to give up the AK-47s,” he told Trump.

Hamas has said that the return of Gvili’s body showed its commitment to the ceasefire, but it has so far not surrendered its weapons.

The group has repeatedly said disarmament is a red line, but it has also suggested it would be open to handing over its weapons to a Palestinian governing authority.

Disarmament is a key part of the second phase of the ceasefire plan sealed in October.

A Palestinian technocratic committee has also been set up to take over governance in the battered Gaza Strip.

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Gilgit-Baltistan continues to suffer as roads remain inaccessible

• Temperatures drop below -15°C in the region in wake of snowfall
• Residents protest against prolonged power outages

GILGIT / ISLAMABAD: The difficulties of Gilgit-Baltistan residents intensified on Wednesday as snowfall disconnected road access to remote areas, with temperatures dropping below minus 15 degrees Celsius in the region. As freezing temperatures persisted, people took to the streets to protest prolonged power outages.

A patient in Astore allegedly died due to the unavailability of transportation facilities for treatment.

A fresh spell of snowfall on Monday and Tuesday brought life to a standstill across parts of GB amid freezing temperatures, power outages and road closures. The suffering of residents due to snow, harsh weather, lack of electricity and other basic facilities continued in remote areas on Wednesday.

Police said up to six inches of snow was recorded in parts of Skardu, Astore, Ghanche, Shigar, Kharmang, Hunza, Nagar and Ghizer, disrupting routine life and making travel hazardous.

Locals said a patient from the Mirmalik area of Astore was being shifted on foot to Rattu hospital after roads were blocked by snowfall, but he died before reaching the hospital.

According to a statement issued by the Astore assistant commissioner, locals attempted to shift a patient from Chamriot to a nearby hospital.

Following the information, a rescue team comprising the Astore Disaster Management District assistant director, two doctors and a snow-cutter machine was dispatched. The team reached Dadujil after clearing the road, but doctors confirmed that the patient had died four to five hours earlier.

Officials of the GB Communications and Works Department said the Karakoram Highway, Ghizer-Shandur road, Astore Valley road and Baltistan road were opened for traffic in the evening.

Travellers were advised to exercise caution as snowfall had made roads slippery and hazardous.

KHARMANG (Gilgit-Baltistan): Women and children trek down a snow-covered mountainside to fetch drinking water from a spring, after water pipes froze due to subzero temperatures.—Jamil Nagri

Confined to homes

Residents in remote areas remained confined to their homes due to blocked roads, freezing temperatures and unavailability of electricity and firewood.

Shafqat Hussain, a resident of Astore, said there was fear of food shortages in snow-hit areas if roads were not opened urgently.

Upper areas of Skardu, Ghanche, Ghizer, Hunza, Nagar and Shigar were also facing communication disruptions, road closures and electricity shortages.

Residents were facing water shortage as pipelines and streams froze, forcing people, particularly women, to fetch water from distant places.

In the border area of Dansar Thang in Kharmang district, heavy snowfall created a severe drinking water crisis. Locals said women were forced to fetch water from dangerous mountain routes four kilometres away. They demanded emergency provision of clean drinking water and basic health facilities.

Residents in the Nilt area of Nagar district staged a protest by blocking the Karakoram Highway for several hours.

Protesters said the area had been without electricity for several days. They added that residents already faced daily power outages of up to 20 hours, but electricity had been completely unavailable for the last few days.

Similar demonstrations were held in Gilgit’s Basin area, as well as in Ghanche, Ghizer and Diamer.

The Provincial Emergency Operation Centre, GB, issued an alert warning of widespread rain, thunderstorms and snowfall from Jan 30 to Feb 2. It cautioned about extremely cold temperatures, avalanche risks, landslides, road closures and hazardous travel conditions, advising residents to remain alert and travellers to avoid non-essential travel during heavy snowfall.

Meanwhile, temperatures in major urban centres of the country varied on Wednesday morning. Islamabad and Pesha­war recorded five degrees Cels­ius, while Lahore was at 10 degrees.

In the south, Karachi’s temperature was 12 degrees Celsius. Colder conditions prevailed in northern areas, with Quetta recording minus five degrees Celsius, Murree minus one and Muzaffarabad zero degrees Celsius.

With input from PPI

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2026

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US agents involved in latest Minneapolis shooting put on leave: reports

At least two federal agents who were involved in Saturday’s fatal shooting of a US citizen in Minneapolis have been placed on administrative leave, two US media outlets said on Wednesday.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the two immigration agents who discharged their weapons during the deadly encounter with Alex Pretti were put on leave as part of standard procedures, Fox News reported.

MS NOW earlier reported that agents involved in the shooting of Pretti were being put on leave, citing an unnamed source.

Representatives for DHS could not be immediately reached to confirm the reports.

Immigration agents on Saturday fired multiple shots at Pretti, an ICU nurse at a hospital for veterans.

His death was the second fatal encounter between Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and US citizens in Minnesota this month, sparking a national uproar.

US review of Pretti’s killing does not mention him brandishing firearm

Meanwhile, an initial US government review of the fatal shooting of Pretti made no mention of him brandishing a firearm, despite initial statements by Trump officials highlighting the weapon.

A preliminary review by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said Pretti, 37, was shot by two federal officers, a Border Patrol agent and a customs officer, after he refused to move out of the street following an order from a customs officer.

The DHS said he “approached US Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun, but did not mention that the weapon was holstered.

The CBP review, conducted by the agency’s Office of Professional Responsibility and shared with lawmakers on Tuesday, is standard protocol and shared with members of Congress to promote transparency, CBP spokesperson Hilton Beckham said.

Beckham said the notifications “provide an initial outline of an event that took place and do not convey any definitive conclusion or investigative findings”.

Details in the preliminary review reinforced the disconnect between how Trump officials portrayed the shooting and the video evidence.

The review said that a customs officer tried to move Pretti and a woman out of the street, but that they “did not move”.

The officer then fired pepper spray at Pretti and the woman, it said.

CBP customs officers normally work at ports of entry, screening passengers and goods entering the US, but some have been detailed to work on immigration enforcement by the Trump administration as part of its crackdown.

The identities of the agents and officers at the scene and whether they had any experience with crowd control in urban environments have not been made public.

The CBP internal assessment said that the agency’s personnel tried to take Pretti into custody and that “a struggle ensued”.

A Border Patrol agent shouted “He’s got a gun!” multiple times during the struggle, the review said. Five seconds later, a Border Patrol agent and a customs officer fired at Pretti.

Video showed an agent removing Pretti’s gun from his waist prior to the shooting. The review was based on footage from body-worn cameras and CBP documentation, it said.

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Pakistan, Australia eye mining partnership

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Australia on Tuesday discussed the possibility of an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) for structured, long-term cooperation in Pakistan’s mining and mineral sector.

The IGA between the two sides was proposed by Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik here during his meeting with the new Australian High Commissioner (AHC) to Pakistan, Timothy Kane.

It builds on a July 2025 Australian proposal made through former AHC Neil Hawkins for collaboration between Australian universities, mining firms, and Pakistani institutions to provide specialised training programmes in modern mining techniques and services and enhance local expertise and support Pakistan’s mining sector development.

An official statement said the new AHC Kane and the petroleum minister discussed avenues for enhanced bilateral cooperation in the mining and gemstone sectors. The minister welcomed the strong interest of Australian companies in Pakistan’s mining sector and highlighted the country’s immense untapped mineral potential, particularly in the Tethyan Belt.

“He proposed the possibility of an IGA between Pakistan and Australia to promote structured and long-term cooperation in the mining sector,” the statement said.

Discuss possibility of long-term cooperation agreement to tap country’s vast mineral potential

Australia had been operating in Pakistan’s mineral and natural resources sector, almost in all resource-rich regions, including Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, mostly in research and exploration and identified critical reserves in copper, gold, coal, zinc and other precious resources, including oil and gas.

Australian BHP Billiton’s joint venture with the Geological Survey of Pakistan had led to the discovery of the multi-billion dollar Reko Diq copper-gold deposits, now being developed for commercial production by Barrick Gold Corporation of Canada. BHP had left Pakistan under its global restructuring almost two decades ago.

Mr Malik briefed the new envoy about the government’s efforts to develop and formalise the gemstones sector to unleash its true potential for value addition, exports, and employment generation.

The AHC reiterated that Australian companies were already actively involved in the Reko Diq project, and additional Australian firms had shown keen interest in joining the project. He said the Australian companies would be encouraged to participate in the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum (PMIF), expressing hope for a strong Australian presence at the event.

The diplomat highlighted the growing global importance of copper and gold for the energy transition, adding that Pakistan’s mining sector had attracted significant international attention. He also expressed “optimism for collaboration in the gemstones sector through knowledge exchange, training, and technical assistance”, the statement said.

The two sides also discussed the recent visit of the petroleum minister to Australia for the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) and the fruitful discussions with leading and junior Australian mining companies on investment and cooperation opportunities in Pakistan’s minerals sector. The two sides agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the mining and gemstone sectors for mutual benefit.

The presence of mineral deposits in the Reko Diq area was identified by the Geological Survey of Pakistan in the early 1990s in collaboration with BHP Billiton of Australia. Later in 2000, Tethyan Corporation (TCC) of Australia took over the project from BHP and invested $30 million by raising funds through an international listing and drilled over 75,000 meters to prove the reserves.

The TCC was subsequently taken over by two of the world’s largest copper and gold mining firms — Antofagasta of Chile and Barrick Gold Corporation of Canada for A$158 million ($130m) at the time. The agreement between Pakistan and the two mining firms signed in the Musharraf era ran into trouble, leading to international arbitration followed by an out-of-court settlement for penalties and project revival. In the process, the Reko Diq project production, due in 2010, was delayed by at least 15 years.

It was announced at the time of discovery by GSP and BHP that the Reko Diq mining area had proven estimated reserves of two billion tonnes of copper and 20 million ounces of gold, valued at $65bn at the time.

The recent feasibility studies completed by Barrick have also established that the project would have a 45 million tonnes of throughput per annum (Mpta) for the first five years and then 90 Mpta for the following 32 years of the second phase. Based on existing reserves, the Reko Diq project is expected to yield production of 13.1m tonnes of copper and 17.9m ounces of gold over the life of the mine (100pc basis), according to state-run Oil and Gas Development Company Ltd (OGDCL), one of the shareholders.

The feasibility study has also confirmed a lucrative 25pc rate of return on investment on one of the biggest copper-gold projects. Under the updated feasibility study, Phase 1 is planned to process 45m tonnes of mill-feed annually (Mtpa) from 2028. Previously, it was estimated to be close to 40m tonnes. By 2034, Phase 2 is planned to double the processing capacity to 90Mtpa.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2026

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LHC upholds order restraining Meesha Shafi from making sexual harassment claims against Ali Zafar

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday upheld a trial court order restraining singer Meesha Shafi from making statements related to sexual harassment allegations against actor-cum-singer Ali Zafar until the conclusion of the defamation suit filed by the latter against the former.

In the written order seen by Dawn, Justice Ahmad Nadeem Arshad observed that the veracity of the allegations cannot be determined without recording evidence and that repeated public statements while the matter was sub judice could amount to a “parallel media trial, which is neither permissible nor desirable in the interest of justice and fair adjudication”.

The judge subsequently dismissed the plea filed by Shafi challenging the gag order issued by the trial court on Jan 24, 2019.

Zafar had claimed that the allegations levelled against him by Shafi were false and had damaged his reputation. Along with the defamation suit, he had sought an interim injunction to prevent the defendant female singer from issuing further statements on the matter.

The trial court had accepted Zafar’s application and passed an order which stated: “The defendant shall not make any statement which is relevant to the controversy of defamation of plaintiff in this case till the decision of this suit.”

The written order by the LHC said that during the arguments, Meesha’s counsel had argued that an injunction could not be granted in a defamation suit. He further said that injunctions in defamation cases should only be granted in exceptional circumstances.

Meanwhile, Zafar’s counsel had opposed Shafi’s petition, pointing out the irreparable harm to his client’s reputation through public statements made by the petitioner, it noted.

In his judgment, Justice Arshad held that there was no “absolute bar” in the law on granting injunctions in defamation cases and that interim protection may be justified in exceptional circumstances to prevent irreparable harm to reputation.

He noted that reputation, once damaged, could not be restored through monetary compensation and that the balance of convenience favoured maintaining the injunction.

The judge said that for a public figure whose career and livelihood depended upon public perception and trust, the continuous circulation of unproven allegations would cause harm that could not be quantified in terms of money.

“The allegations levelled against him (respondent), if found to be untrue, are of such a nature that they directly strike at his dignity, honour and professional credibility,” the judge added.

He said the material available on record prima facie showed that the suit raised “serious triable issues requiring evidence, therefore, the respondent cannot be left remedyless, during the pendency of the proceedings”.

On the contrary, the judge noted, the petitioner (Shafi) would not suffer any irreparable prejudice by being restrained from making statements pertaining to the controversy till the matter was decided on merit.

He said the restraint imposed was temporary in nature and subject to the final outcome of the suit. The judge ruled that the trial court had exercised its discretion properly by imposing a limited restriction rather than a blanket prohibition.

The judge also held that the order did not violate freedom of expression, stating that such freedom was subject to reasonable restrictions and must be balanced with the right to dignity.

Justice Arshad observed that following the principles of Bonnard v. Perryman (1981), an interim injunction restraining the petitioner from making any statement regarding the subject matter of the alleged defamation until the disposal of the suit was justified.

Dismissing Shafi’s petition, the judge also directed the trial court to decide the main defamation suit expeditiously, preferably within 30 days, as the case was currently at the stage of final arguments.

In his suit, Zafar said Shafi had posted on Twitter (now X) on April 19, 2018 and levelled baseless allegations of sexual harassment against him, which resulted in tarnishing his image in public.

He said the female singer failed to delete the post and issue an apology within 14 days of a legal notice served on her. He had asked the court to issue a decree against Shafi directing her to pay Rs1 billion as damages to him.

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UAE adamant it won’t allow attacks on Iran from its soil

DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates will not allow attacks on Iran to be launched from its territory, the foreign ministry said in a statement on Monday.

Last week, President Donald Trump said a US “armada” was heading toward the Gulf and that Washington was watching Iran closely after a crackdown on protesters.

The foreign ministry said in a statement it “has reaffirmed the United Arab Emirates’ commitment to not allowing its airspace, territory or waters to be used in any hostile military actions against Iran”.

The UAE hosts thousands of US personnel at Al Dhafra airbase near the capital Abu Dhabi, one of several American military bases in the Gulf.

US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln arrives in Middle East; Hezbollah chief warns any war against Iran will ignite the region

The UAE also refuses to provide logistical support for attacks, the statement said, adding that “dialogue, de-escalation, adherence to international law, and respect for state sovereignty” were the best way to address “current crises”

US aircraft carrier arrives in Middle East

The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group has arrived in the Middle East, the US military said on Monday, dramatically boosting American firepower in the region at a time of heightened tensions with Iran.

The Lincoln and accompanying ships are “currently deployed to the Middle East to promote regional security and stability”, US Central Command said in a post on X.

Hezbollah chief’s warning

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem warned on Monday that any war against the group’s backer Tehran this time will ignite the region as it will also target the group.

“Faced with aggression that does not distinguish between us… we are targeted by any potential aggression and determined to defend ourselves,” he said in a televised address to supporters at a solidarity rally for Iran. “We will choose at that time how to act… but we are not neutral,” he said, warning that “a war on Iran this time will ignite the region”.

Rubio’s warning to Iraq

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Iraq on Sunday against a pro-Iranian government as the expected return of Nouri al-Maliki as prime minister stirs Washington’s concern.

Maliki, who left power in 2014 following heated pressure from the United States, has been chosen by Iraq’s largest Shia bloc, which would put him in line to be nominated prime minister.

Rubio, in a telephone call with incumbent Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, voiced hope the next government will work to make Iraq “a force for stability, prosperity and security in the Middle East”.

“The secretary emphasised that a government controlled by Iran cannot successfully put Iraq’s own interests first, keep Iraq out of regional conflicts or advance the mutually beneficial partnership between the United States and Iraq,” Rubio said, according to State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott.

An Iraqi political source said the US had conveyed that it “holds a negative view of previous governments led by former prime minister Maliki”.

In a letter, US representatives said that while the selection of the prime minister is an Iraqi decision, “the United States will make its own sovereign decisions regarding the next government in line with American interests”.

The US wields key leverage over Iraq as the country’s oil export revenue is largely held at the Federal Reserve Bank in New York, in an arrangement reached after the 2003 US invasion toppled military dictator Saddam Hussein. Iraq’s parliament meets Tuesday to elect a new president, who holds a ceremonial role but will appoint a prime minister.

A US-based rights group claimed on Monday it had “confirmed” reports of deaths of 5,848 people in a wave of protests in Iran suppressed by security forces.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2026

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No casualties reported as blast derails 4 Jaffar Express bogies

QUETTA: Four bogies of the Quetta-bound Jaffar Express train coming from Peshawar were derailed in a blast on the railway track linking Sindh to Balochistan on Monday night.

Railway officials in Sultankot confirmed that the blast occurred on the railway track between Sultankot and Jacobabad in Sindh.

“Four bogies have derailed after a blast that damaged the track,” a senior official of the Pakistan Railway told Dawn, adding no deaths or injuries were reported in the blast.

The railway officials added that repair on the track had begun after the area was cleared. They said a relief train had also reached the site to resume railway traffic on the main line.

The Jaffar Express has come under attack several times over the past year. Last November, it had escaped an ar­­m­­ed attack in the Bolan Pass area of Kachhi distr­i­­ct, Balochistan. The same month it also escaped a bomb attack in Balochistan’s Nasirabad district.

In October 2025, at least seven people were injured after a blast on a railway track derailed four bogies of the Jaf­far Express in Sindh’s Shikarpur district. The same month, it escaped another rocket attack in the Notal area of Nasir­abad district.

In September 2025, twelve people, including women and chil­dren, were injured wh­en the Quetta-bound Jaf­far Express was targeted in a bomb blast in the Spizend area of Mas­tung

On March 11, 2025, terrorists had hijacked the Peshawar-bound passenger train, carrying 440 passengers. They had opened fire on the train and held the passengers hostage, prompting security forces to initiate an operation that lasted two days.

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US deploys aircraft carrier to Middle Eastern waters as Iran warns against attack

A US naval strike group led by an aircraft carrier has deployed to Middle Eastern waters, the United States said on Monday, as Tehran warned it was ready to hit back at any American attack launched in response to a crackdown on anti-government protests.

The protests started in late December, driven by economic grievances, but turned into a mass movement against the Islamic Republic, with huge street demonstrations for several days from January 8.

But rights groups have accused authorities of quelling the movement with unprecedented violence, shooting into crowds of protesters under the cover of an internet shutdown that has now lasted 18 days — the longest Iran has ever imposed.

US President Donald Trump has previously threatened to step in, saying last week that Washington was sending a “massive fleet” to the region “just in case”.

The deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group dramatically boosts American firepower in the region.

The United States backed and briefly joined Israel’s 12-day war against Iran in June, and while Trump last week appeared to step back from his threats of new military intervention, he has never ruled the option out.

The Lincoln’s strike group has arrived in the region, US Central Command said in a post on X, adding the ships were “currently deployed to the Middle East to promote regional security and stability”.

‘Regret-inducing response’

Iran’s foreign ministry warned on Monday of a “comprehensive and regret-inducing response to any aggression”.

Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran was “confident in its own capabilities”.

In apparent reference to the Lincoln, he added: “The arrival of such a battleship is not going to affect Iran’s determination and seriousness to defend the Iranian nation.”

Meanwhile, a new anti-US billboard has appeared in the central Enghelab Square in Tehran that appears to show an American aircraft carrier being destroyed.

“If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind,” its English-language caption reads.

State news agency IRNA quoted the commander of the Iranian navy Shahram Irani, as saying on Monday: “Iran’s naval power is not merely defensive but also acts as an anchor of stability in the region.”

In Lebanon, Hezbollah organised a rally in support of the Islamic Republic featuring an address by its leader, Naim Qassem, who warned, “a war on Iran this time will ignite the region”.

Iran’s Gulf neighbour, the United Arab Emirates, which hosts a US airbase, said it would not allow attacks on Iran to be launched from its territory.

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Indonesia resumes search for 80 after landslide kills 10 in West Java

Indonesian authorities resumed search-and-rescue efforts for 80 people missing after a landslide killed 10 in a residential area of West Java province.

The landslide early on Saturday was triggered by heavy rains starting the day before, which the weather agency warned could continue for a week in the province and several other regions.

Resident Dedi Kurniawan, 36, said it was the first big landslide he had witnessed in Pasir Langu village in a hilly area of the province about 100 km (60 miles) southeast of Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta.

“Sometimes we have only small floods from the nearest river, but this time (the landslide) came from the forest,” he told Reuters.

Rescuers were hampered on Saturday as unstable terrain and rain hindered them from deploying heavy machinery, Kompas TV reported, citing authorities.

There were multiple reports of floods in West Java, including Jakarta. The floods have caused residents in heavily impacted areas to evacuate to higher ground or unaffected places.

The landslide occurred two months after cyclone-induced floods and landslides on the island of Sumatra killed 1,200 people, destroyed homes and displaced over a million residents.

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US storm leaves 850,000 without power, forces 10,000 flight cancellations

More than 850,000 customers in the US, as far west as New Mexico, were without electricity and over 10,000 flights were cancelled on Sunday during a monster winter storm that paralysed eastern and southern states with heavy snow and ice.

As snow, freezing rain and dangerously frigid temperatures swept into the eastern two-thirds of the nation on Sunday, the number of power outages continued to rise. As of 10:47am EST (8:47pm PKT) on Sunday, more than 850,000 US customers were without electricity, according to PowerOutage.us, with at least 290,000 in Tennessee and over 100,000 each in Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana. Other states affected included Kentucky, Georgia, Virginia and Alabama.

More than 10,200 US flights scheduled for Sunday were cancelled, according to flight tracking website FlightAware. Over 4,000 flights were cancelled on Saturday.

Washington, DC’s Ronald Reagan National Airport said airlines had cancelled all flights at the airport on Sunday.

Delta Air Lines on Sunday said that it intended to operate on a reduced schedule “subject to real-time frozen precipitation and afternoon storm conditions.”

The airline had adjusted its schedule on Saturday, with additional cancellations in the morning for Atlanta and along the East Coast, including in Boston and New York City, and said it would move experts from cold-weather hubs to support de-icing and baggage teams at several southern airports.

The National Weather Service’s latest forecast for Sunday through Monday morning calls for heavy snow from the Ohio Valley to the Northeast, including up to 18 inches in New England. Much of the Southeast and parts of the Mid-Atlantic are expected to get rain and freezing rain.

Forecasters predicted “bitterly cold temperatures and dangerously cold wind chills” from the southern plains to the Northeast in the wake of the storm, bringing “prolonged hazardous travel and infrastructure impacts.”

Federal, State govts declare emergencies

Calling the storms “historic,” President Donald Trump on Saturday approved federal emergency disaster declarations in South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, and West Virginia.

“We will continue to monitor and stay in touch with all States in the path of this storm. Stay Safe, and Stay Warm,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

Seventeen states and the District of Columbia have declared weather emergencies, the Department of Homeland Security said.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, at a news conference on Saturday, warned Americans to take precautions.

“It’s going to be very, very cold,” Noem said. “So we’d encourage everybody to stock up on fuel, stock up on food, and we will get through this together.”

The Department of Energy on Saturday issued an emergency order authorising the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to deploy backup generation resources at data centres and other major facilities, aiming to limit blackouts in the state.

On Sunday, the DOE issued an emergency order to authorise grid operator PJM Interconnection to run “specified resources” in the mid-Atlantic region, regardless of limits due to state laws or environmental permits.

US electric grid operators on Saturday stepped up precautions to avoid rotating blackouts.

Dominion Energy, whose Virginia operations include the largest collection of data centres in the world, said if its ice forecast held, the winter event could be among the largest to affect the company.

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Eight dead, more than 80 missing in Indonesia landslide

CISARUA: A predawn landslide killed at least eight people and left more than 80 missing on Indonesia’s main island of Java on Saturday, a disaster official said.

Triggered by heavy rainfall, it struck villages in Java’s West Bandung region in the early hours — at around 2.30am (1930 GMT Friday) — and buried residential areas.

Floods and landslides are common across the vast archipelago during the rainy season, which typically runs from October to March.

“There was a rumbling noise, like thunder,” Oyoh, a resident of Pasirlangu village who, like many Indonesians, only has one name, told AFP.

“It had been raining non-stop since the morning, and then it [the landslide] happened. I immediately felt scared.”

Triggered by heavy rainfall, it struck villages in Java’s West Bandung region

The 52-year-old had been evacuated to the village’s government office along with dozens of others, mainly women and children.

She said her house survived the landslide, but her niece, her niece’s husband and their two children were missing.

Abdul Muhari, a spokesman for the national disaster agency, confirmed that eight people were killed and 82 were unaccounted for.

West Bandung’s mayor Jeje Ritchie Ismail told reporters that the military, police and volunteers were assisting in the search.

However, he warned that the terrain was extremely difficult and the ground remained unstable.

The local search and rescue agency said it was conducting manual excavation, spraying the soil with water pumps and using drones to search for the victims.

Forest loss

The disaster comes after tropical storms and intense monsoon rains late last year triggered flooding and landslides that killed around 1,200 people and displaced more than 240,000 in Indonesia’s Sumatra island, according to official figures.

Environmentalists, experts and the government have pointed to the role forest loss played in the flooding and landslides that washed torrents of mud into villages.

Forests help absorb rainfall and stabilise the ground held by their roots, and their absence makes areas more prone to flash flooding and landslides, David Gaveau, founder of conservation start-up The TreeMap, told AFP in December.

Indonesia lost more than 240,000 hectares of primary forest in 2024, according to analysis by The TreeMap’s Nusantara Atlas project.

It is regularly among the countries with the largest annual forest loss as mining, plantations and fires have caused the clearance of large tracts of lush vegetation in recent decades, NGOs have said.

The government filed multiple lawsuits following the Sumatra floods, seeking more than $200 million in damages against six firms.

It also stripped more than two dozen permits this week from forestry, mining and hydroelectric companies in Sumatra.

This month, torrential rains battered Indonesia’s Siau island, causing a flash flood that killed at least 16 people.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2026

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Airports outsourcing shifted to open bidding

• Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi facilities up for grabs; Privatisation Commission assures domestic, foreign firms of level-playing field; abandons G2G mode amid investors’ high interest
• Seeks proposals to appoint financial adviser for Roosevelt Hotel; plans joint venture for mixed-use development; aims to finalise transaction in a year

ISLAMABAD: The Privatisation Commission announced on Saturday that the outsourcing operation for the country’s three major airports — Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi — will move to an open bidding mode following a high level of interest from various investors.

The commission said the shift from a government-to-government (G2G) mode to open bidding aims to generate a competitive process wherein all domestic and foreign investors will have a level playing field to participate in the bidding process.

According to a commission statement, the envisaged competitive process priorities inclusivity by welcoming participation from all eligible entities, including those from partner nations, while affording equal opportunities to local and foreign investors.

This approach is designed to promote transparency and fair competition, deliver the most advantageous results for Pakistan’s economy and reinforce relationships with international partners, the commission said.

The government has been actively considering options for Islamabad International Airport, Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport and Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport through appropriate modes, including management contracts and long-term commercial concessions.

As part of this strategy, the Islamabad airport has been included in the active privatisation program, consistent with the ongoing process for the airports at Karachi and Lahore.

This follows constructive dialogue with entities from partner nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia, as well as other international stakeholders.

The commission noted that the primary objectives are to enhance efficiency, improve service delivery, maximise revenue generation, upgrade infrastructure and attract private sector investments. These efforts align with the nation’s economic vision to cultivate collaboration to modernise the aviation sector.

Roosevelt Hotel

Separately, the Privatisation Com­m­ission has invited technical and financial proposals for the appointment of a financial adviser for the Roosevelt Hotel in New York, aiming to secure a joint venture for mixed-use development of the elite Manhattan property owned by the Pakistan government.

According to the commission’s website, proposals can be submitted by Feb 16. The government intends for the transaction regarding the Roosevelt Hotel to be completed in one year.

The commission intends to offer the property for setting up a joint venture project through the “best suited transaction structure and mode of privatisation”.

The appointed financial adviser will be tasked with conducting market sounding to validate investor interest in the hotel.

The adviser must identify potentially interested parties and assess the level of interest in the transaction structure options covered in the transaction structure report and recommendations of the earlier financial adviser.

Additionally, the financial adviser will develop and implement an effective marketing strategy with the approval of the Privatisation Commission.

This includes developing and implementing a plan for introducing the Roosevelt’s site and projecting its image to bolster its value, “enabling expression of interest in the property from prospective investors”.

The adviser will also be required to arrange meetings with potential investors in order to develop a better understanding of investor profiles and the investment climate.

Located in midtown on Madison Avenue, the Roosevelt Hotel is the only real estate entity on the government’s privatisation program.

The 19-storey property is considered among the elite hotels in Manhattan, comprising 1,025 rooms with a covered area of over 600,000 square feet. It is wholly owned by PIA Investments Ltd (PIAIL), which is owned and managed by the Pakistan government.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2026

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Federal agents fatally shoot second person in Minneapolis amid immigration crackdown

A man shot by federal agents in Minneapolis on Saturday has died, local and federal officials said, the second fatal shooting involving federal agents this month during a surge in immigration enforcement in the northern US city.

The man, who has not been identified, was armed with a handgun and two magazines, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.

A video circulating on social media and aired on cable news stations showed people wearing masks and tactical vests wrestling with a man on a snow-covered street before shots are heard. In the video, the man falls to the ground, and several more shots are heard.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called for an immediate end to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations in the state.

“I just spoke with the White House after another horrific shooting by federal agents this morning,” Walz wrote on social media platform X.

“This is sickening. The President must end this operation. Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now.”

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Saturday called on US President Donald Trump to end the sweeping immigration crackdown in the northern city after the shooting.

“I just saw a video of more than six masked agents pummeling one of our constituents and shooting him to death,” Frey told a press conference.

“To President Trump: this is a moment to act like a leader. Put Minneapolis, put America first in this moment — let’s achieve peace. Let’s end this operation.”

Tina Smith, a Democratic US senator from Minnesota, called the shooting “catastrophic.”

Minneapolis officials urged calm as the incident is investigated. Video from the area showed immigration agents deploying tear gas on a growing crowd of onlookers.

“We ask the public to remain calm and avoid the immediate area,” a post by the City of Minneapolis read.

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Around 200 Pakistani students stuck in Afghanistan seek to return

ISLAMABAD: Nearly 200 Pakistani students stranded in Afghanistan for months due to the closure of the border have demanded permission to cross the Torkham border, according to their representatives.

Taliban authorities have told them that Pakistani diplomatic missions should officially approach them and verify the list with an official stamp. However, Pakistani officials are reluctant to do so, the affected students told Dawn from Kabul and Jalalabad.

The Taliban allowed the first group of 26 students to cross Torkham on Jan 12, and Pakistani authorities also opened the border specifically for them.

However, the students who arrived at Torkham on Jan 13 have not yet been allowed to cross, as Taliban authorities insist that the Pakistani embassy or the consulate in Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province, should officially verify the list.

Dr Riazullah Wazir and Amanullah Wazir, representatives of the students in Kabul, said students had met the Nangarhar governor and officials at the Pakistani embassy and the Jalalabad consulate, but the issue remained unresolved.

Dr Noman Amir, the students’ representative in Jalalabad, said the current tensions had multiplied their problems, leaving them stuck in Afghanistan for months. He added that the students could not cross the border despite repeated requests to authorities on both sides.

“Visas of many students have expired, and they cannot travel to Islamabad due to the border closure. Dozens of students are also stuck in Pakistan and are facing difficulties attending exams and classes in Afghanistan,” Dr Amir, a final-year medical student in Jalalabad, told Dawn.

Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the Pakistani Embassy in Kabul remained in contact with the Pakistani community and assistance was extended to those who approached it.

“We will explore how these 200 students can be facilitated. It is currently winter holidays, and many students may be seeking to return during this time. We will review the situation accordingly after receiving updated information from our embassy,” Mr Andrabi said at his weekly briefing.

However, Dr Amir said that the parents of a couple of students had passed away in Pakistan, but the students were unable to attend their funerals.

“Our exams have ended and winter vacations have already started in Afghanistan, but students still cannot go to Pakistan,” he said. He added that students had contacted officials on both sides, but no one had taken “our problems seriously”.

He appealed to PM Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari to take notice of their situation and find a solution to their problem.

A Pakistani official, requesting not to be identified, told Dawn that the Torkham border was meant to remain open for two days, Jan 12 and 13. He said Pakistan had taken the decision after students stated in a video that the Afghan side had promised to allow them to cross the border.

“We held consultations in Islamabad and decided to open Torkham for our students. But now the Taliban have attached conditions for allowing them to cross,” he said, adding that Pakistan had also agreed to open the border for more students even after Jan 13.

The problem started when students arrived at Torkham on Jan 13 after the first group had already entered Pakistan.

“We spent two nights at Torkham and were hoping to cross the border, but it did not happen,” students said in a video posted online.

One student said the Afghan interior ministry told them to have the list verified with an official stamp from the Pakistani embassy. He claimed that neither the embassy nor the consulate agreed to the demand. However, a consulate official said the mission was in contact with the students as well as officials in Islamabad to resolve the issue.

An official in Islamabad said Pakistan would not make any official communication with the Taliban authorities.

“If they allow the students [to cross], we will open the border crossing,” the official told Dawn.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2026

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Reports regarding shutting down of National Assembly’s YouTube channel termed ‘incorrect’

A statement posted by the National Assembly’s official account on the social media platform X said that reports regarding the shutdown of its YouTube channel were “incorrect”.

The statement came after the media reports emerged alleging that the YouTube channel had “disappeared”. The reports also said that NA proceedings, which are typically shown live, had not been broadcast on the official YouTube channel or on state television over the past few days.

The reports had emerged as a joint sitting of Parliament was held in Islamabad on Friday.

In the statement posted on X, the NA’s official account said, “It is hereby clarified that reports published and broadcast in newspapers and television channels regarding the shutdown of the NA YouTube channel are incorrect.

“Furthermore, the YouTube channel was not shut down at any point,” the statement said.

“Temporary technical issues occurred due to a social media server outage, which affected accessibility for a limited period have been resolved after Friday, following which the YouTube channel became fully operational again,” the statement said.

It added that the proceedings and the speeches of the joint session of Parliament held earlier in the day had been “duly uploaded” and were available on the YouTube channel.

The channel was accessible on Friday night, with videos from the joint parliament session uploaded to it.

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5 killed, 10 injured in suicide blast at peace committee member’s residence in KP’s DI Khan

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: At least five people were killed while 10 others were injured in a suicide attack at the residence of a peace committee member near Qureshi Mor on Friday night, according to officials.

In a statement, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Ahmed Faizi said five bodies and 10 injured had been taken to the hospital.

He said that seven ambulances, a fire vehicle and a disaster vehicle reached the site of the incident soon after it was reported, adding that a rescue operation was still under way.

Dera Ismail Khan District Police Officer (DPO) Sajjad Ahmed Sahibzada confirmed the number of casualties to Dawn. He said the attack occurred at the residence of peace committee leader Noor Alam Mehsud, where a wedding ceremony was being held.

“The explosion was a suicide blast. It is premature to say anything about the casualties,” DPO Sahibzada said. He said that an emergency had been imposed at the District Headquarter Hospital.

Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi sought a report into the incident, according to a statement from his office.

“All possible medical assistance should be provided to the injured in the Dera blast,” he was quoted as saying, expressing grief over the incident.

Earlier this month, armed assailants had killed four members of a peace committee in KP’s Bannu district.

In November 2025, seven people were killed when a peace committee office was attacked, also in KP’s Bannu district. Police officials told Dawn that one among those killed was a ‘good Talib’ — a term used to refer to a former militant who has surrendered to the state — and the rest were his relatives.

---

This is a developing story that is being updated as the situation evolves. Initial reports in the media can sometimes be inaccurate. We will strive to ensure timeliness and accuracy by relying on credible sources, such as concerned, qualified authorities and our staff reporters.

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Kite flying to remain banned in Lahore parks over Basant

• City admin to monitor festival using drones, safe city cameras for compliance
• Nearly 2,500 kite sellers, traders and associations apply for registration

LAHORE: The Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) has imposed a ban on kite flying in public parks and greenbelts on Basant, as the Lahore administration decided to digitally monitor the three-day festival, starting Feb 6, to ensure compliance.

PHA Managing Director Raja Mansoor Ahmad said the decision was made to ensure that kite flying and related celebrations did not harm trees and other park infrastructure.

“Since the Basant festival is being held for three days in Lahore alone, the arrival of a number of people from other cities of Punjab, other provinces and abroad is expected here for kite flying and other related activities.

In such a situation, the people may rush for the public parks and green areas for kite flying and other related celebrations…” he told Dawn.

He said the decision was made to prevent any untoward incident, including damage to the plants, greenbelts and other infrastructure.

“Lahore, in addition to its huge number of permanent residents, may also have a considerable number of people from other cities and countries starting from the Feb 4 evening, since Feb 5 is also a public holiday (Youm-i-Kashmir),” he added.

“The parks would remain open to the people, but they wouldn’t be allowed for kite flying,” he said, adding that the PHA enforcement staff has been put on high alert.

According to an official notification by the PHA, the directors concerned have been asked to ensure strict implementation of the ban within their respective zones.

The authority emphasised that any violation of these instructions will be considered unacceptable, and in case of any damage or untoward incident, the respective director would be held responsible.

Digital monitoring

Meanwhile, the city district administration said that strict digital monitoring of Basant would be carried out through drone cameras and the Lahore Safe City Authority’s cameras. A control room would be set up at the DC office.

It was revealed in a meeting presided over by Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ali Ijaz.

“Kite flying will only be allowed from Feb 6 to 8, whereas the material will be sold through registered dealers alone,” the DC said while speaking on the occasion.

He said that kites bigger than the ap­­pro­ved sizes will be prohibited. More­over, none of the bikers would be allowed to drive without safety wires. Basant would only be allowed at specific grounds or no­­tified rooftops, including in the Walled City or other locations across the district.

Registration of kite manufacturers

On the other hand, as many as 2,437 kite manufacturers, sellers, traders and associations have applied for registration with the city administration for the festival.

According to a document seen by Dawn, as many as 1,334 kite sellers applied for registration till Jan 22, 2026. Out of this, 161 applications were currently in process, whereas 1,107 had been approved.

A total of 838 kite manufacturers applied for registration, 697 applications had been approved, whereas 85 were in process. However, 51 applications were rejected.

Similarly, 250 kite traders applied for registration, out of which 19 applications were in process and 223 had been appro­ved. Eight applications were rejected.

Moreover, 18 kite flying associations applied for registration, of which 12 were approved, two are in process, while four applications were rejected.

It is pertinent to mention that the provincial government decided in December last year to celebrate a limited Basant in Lahore with strict conditions.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2026

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Trump to sue New York Times over unfavourable opinion poll

US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he will sue The New York Times over an unfavourable opinion poll and suggested that what he called “fake” surveys should be criminalised.

Trump lashed out after publication of a New York Times/Siena University poll finding only 40 per cent approval for the 79-year-old Republican — in line with multiple other polls showing declining support a year into his second term.

“The Times Siena Poll will be added to my lawsuit against The Failing New York Times,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform. “They will be held fully responsible for all of their Radical Left lies and wrongdoing!”

Expanding on the threat, Trump posted that “Fake and Fraudulent Polling should be, virtually, a criminal offence”.

Trump has fired off multiple defamation lawsuits against media companies, including the BBC, CNN, Wall Street Journal, CBS and ABC. Some have ended in multi-million-dollar settlements.

He first filed a $15 billion defamation suit against the Times in September 2025, claiming the leading US newspaper had run false stories to hurt his 2024 presidential campaign and reputation.

The complaint was thrown out by a federal judge before being refiled in amended form in October.

The Times responded by calling that new lawsuit “an attempt to stifle independent reporting” and “intimidation”.

Thursday’s Times/Siena poll was the latest opinion survey finding that Trump’s popularity continues to slide over his handling of the economy and a military-style crackdown on illegal immigration.

Times/Siena is considered to be among the most accurate and highest profile of US political surveys.

Its latest findings were especially notable for laying out what the Times called the unravelling of Trump’s winning 2024 coalition.

Young and non-white voters who turned out for Trump in the election against Democrat Kamala Harris have now left him, the poll found, leaving him with his previous core base of older and white voters.

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Greenland PM says does not know what is in agreement announced by Trump following meeting with Nato chief

Greenland’s prime minister said Thursday that he was not aware of the contents of a framework agreement about the Danish autonomous territory that US President Donald Trump announced after a meeting with Nato’s chief, but stressed no deal could be made without involving the island.

“Nobody else than Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark has the mandate to make deals or agreements about Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark without us,” Jens-Frederik Nielsen told a press conference.

“We have some red lines. We have to respect our territorial integrity. We have to respect international law, sovereignty,” he added.

US President Donald Trump backed down on threats to seize Greenland by force after meeting Nato chief Mark Rutte on Wednesday, saying he had reached a “framework” of a deal on the Danish autonomous territory.

Details of the agreement made at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos remain scant.

Nielsen said he was “happy” that Trump had stated that the use of force was off the table, but that he was not aware of the contents of the deal.

“I don’t know what there is in the agreement or the deal about my country,” Nielsen told reporters, noting that he had not been part of the discussions.

A source familiar with the talks between Trump and Rutte told AFP on Thursday that it included a provision that the United States and Denmark would renegotiate a 1951 defence pact on Greenland.

Putting US military bases on Greenland under US sovereignty had not been discussed during the talks, the source said.

Earlier on Thursday, Greenland’s Deputy Prime Minister Mute Egede said in a post on social media that it was “unacceptable to attempt to hand our land to others”.

Nielsen also said if Greenland had to choose between remaining part of Denmark or joining the US, “we choose the Kingdom of Denmark, we choose the EU, we choose Nato. “

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FBR flags tax evasion in Sindh solar imports

• Report highlights trade-based money laundering in solar kit imports
• Senate panel fumes over absence of economic minister, provincial secretaries

ISLAMABAD: Another episode of massive under-invoicing for tax evasion and trade-based money laundering through the import of solar kits came to light before a parliamentary committee, which expressed serious displeasure over the continued absence of the minister for economic affairs and provincial secretaries.

The Senate Secretariat released selected operational parts of a report presented to the Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), detailing grave irregularities in the import of solar home system kits under the Sindh Solar Energy Project (SSEP).

The report revealed that solar kits were declared at $16-$23.4 per unit for tax purposes by contractors, while payments of up to $112.44 per unit, or about 700 per cent higher, were made by the World Bank for the SSEP, reflecting a difference of $89-96 per unit. Investigations are underway into trade-based money laundering, tax evasion, fund layering and violations of foreign exchange rules.

According to the report, M/s Beyond Green, Karachi, imported 10 consignments comprising 200,968 solar home system units between December 2024 and July 2025 through clearing agent M/s Vista Impex. The goods were declared under HS Codes 8501.7210 and 8501.711, attracting zero customs duty, 18pc sales tax, 3pc additional sales tax and zero income tax. Declared unit values ranged from $16.1 to $23.4, and four consignments were cleared through the Green Channel.

Subsequent verification revealed that the goods declarations (GDs) submitted to the Sindh government were either fake or tampered with, a fact officially conveyed on Oct 9, 2025. Further investigation showed that the same kits were supplied to the Sindh government at manifold higher prices.

Official contracts under the SSEP with M/s Shenzhen LEMI Technology Development Co Ltd, China, revealed a contractual price of approximately $112.44 per kit, excluding duties and taxes. The World Bank reportedly paid this amount directly to the supplier, the FBR report said.

For tax purposes, the transactional value was worked out at $103.08 per unit, leading to the forwarding of 10 contraventions to customs adjudication authorities. Show-cause notices have been issued and the matter is pending adjudication.

The Senate committee was inf­or­med that fake invoices amounting to $12.5 million were also generat­­ed. In addition, evidence suggested third-party remittances routed through UAE-based entities, raising alarms of trade-based money laundering, foreign exchange violations and fund layering. The case has been referred for proceedings under the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2010, while a comprehensive sales tax audit has been recommended.

The committee was told that the SSEP implementation period ended on July 31, 2025, but around 30,000 solar kits out of 200,000 could not be distributed within the planned period and would now be handled under a separate arrangement.

Following the identification of discrepancies, the Sindh cabinet had on Dec 1, 2025 referred the matter to the Enquiries and Anti-Corruption Establishment (EACE). A forensic audit has also been approved and is underway, while the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has taken cognisance of the case and is actively investigating.

On these revelations, committee chairman Saifullah Abro asked whether any suspensions of suspected officials had taken place and was informed that no suspensions had occurred so far. He directed that a letter be written to the chief minister to ensure that all individuals involved were held accountable.

Minister’s absence

Earlier, the Senate panel expressed sharp criticism over the continued absence of Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema and senior bureaucrats, as well as the participation of junior officers from provincial governments, terming it a serious disregard for parliamentary oversight.

An additional secretary from the Economic Affairs Division informed the committee that the minister was attending the World Economic Forum in Davos. The explanation failed to satisfy the senators, with PPP Senator Waqar Mehdi remarking that he did not recall the minister ever attending a committee meeting and demanding that the minister’s chair be removed.

Chairman Saifullah Abro reminded the meeting that parliamentary rules were explicit, stating that the membership of a committee member or the minister could be cancelled in case of absence on three occasions without prior notice.

“If the minister wants to increase corruption, then he should definitely not be in the committee, but if he wants to stop corruption, then he should come to the committee,” he said, directing that a message be conveyed to the minister that he had not been attending the panel for two years.

“We are not removing the minister’s chair, but tell him that this behaviour is not good,” Senator Abro said.

During the meeting, agenda items related to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa projects were postponed and provincial officers were asked to leave after it emerged that officials below grade-20 had been deputed to represent the province.

The committee decided that a formal letter be written to the KP chief secretary to ensure that provincial secretaries attend the next meeting, failing which the matter would be referred to the Privileges Committee.

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2026

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Israeli strike kills 3 journalists in Gaza, including AFP freelancer

An Israeli air strike killed an AFP freelancer and two other journalists in Gaza on Wednesday, the territory’s civil defence agency said, while the military said it struck “suspects” operating a drone.

Since October 10, a fragile US-sponsored ceasefire in Gaza has largely halted the fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas, but both sides have alleged frequent violations.

In a statement, the civil defence said “the bodies of the three journalists killed in an Israeli air strike in the Al-Zahra area southwest of Gaza City were transported to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah”.

It named the dead as Mohammed Salah Qashta, Abdul Raouf Shaat and Anas Ghneim.

Shaat had contributed regularly to AFP as a photo and video journalist, but at the time of the strike, he was not on assignment for the agency.

In a statement, the Israeli military said troops had “identified several suspects who operated a drone affiliated with Hamas in the central Gaza Strip”.

The military did not elaborate on what it meant by a “drone affiliated with Hamas”.

“Due to the threat that the drone posed to the troops, the (Israeli military) precisely struck the suspects who activated the drone,” it said, adding that the details were under review.

The civil defence, which operates as a rescue force under Hamas authority, said in an earlier statement that an Israeli drone strike had targeted “a civilian vehicle” near Al-Zahra.

Vehicle ‘criminally targeted’

According to an eyewitness, the journalists were using a drone to take images of aid distribution by the Egyptian Relief Committee in the Gaza Strip when a strike targeted a vehicle accompanying them.

The Egyptian aid group confirmed one of its vehicles was targeted by Israel in a strike that killed three people.

“A vehicle belonging to the Egyptian Committee was targeted during a humanitarian mission, resulting in the martyrdom of three individuals,” said Mohammed Mansour, a spokesman for the Egyptian Relief Committee in the Gaza Strip, adding that all vehicles belonging to the group “bear the committee’s logo”.

“The Israeli army criminally targeted this vehicle” when the individuals were filming the Netzarim camp, Mansour said.

AFP footage showed the vehicle charred, with mangled remains lying in an open area.

Hamas called the strike “a dangerous escalation of the flagrant violations of the ceasefire agreement.”

The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate, meanwhile, condemned the strike as part of a “systematic and deliberate policy pursued by the Israeli occupation to intentionally target Palestinian journalists”.

Israeli forces have killed at least 466 Palestinians in Gaza since the ceasefire took effect, according to the territory’s health ministry.

The Israeli military said Palestinian fighters killed three of its soldiers during the same period.

Gaza’s health ministry said another eight Palestinians were also killed in Israeli attacks in the territory on Wednesday.

Journalists under fire

Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said that Israeli forces killed at least 29 Palestinian journalists in Gaza between December 2024 and December 2025.

The deadliest single attack was a so-called “double-tap” strike on a hospital in south Gaza on August 25, which killed five journalists, including two contributors to international news agencies Reuters and the Associated Press.

Since Israel’s bombardment of Gaza began in October 2023 following Hamas’s attack, nearly 220 journalists have been killed by Israel, making the Palestinian territory by far the deadliest place for journalists, RSF data says.

The Israeli military claims that several journalists it targeted in Gaza had been “terrorists” affiliated with Palestinian armed groups.

Last week, US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff announced the start of phase two of the Gaza ceasefire, saying it aimed to pave the way for reconstruction and the demilitarisation of all armed factions in the territory.

The strike on Wednesday came hours after the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced he had accepted an invitation to join US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” aimed at resolving conflicts.

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PTI’s Gohar urges govt to hold ‘unconditional’ dialogue

ISLAMABAD: PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Wednesday urged the government to hold “unconditional” talks with the opposition, saying that there should be no conditions in dialogue between political parties.

Speaking to the media, Gohar said that it was wrong to say that negotiations would only be held on specific topics.

“It is wrong to say that negotiations will be held on this topic but this topic cannot be included in negotiations,” he said.

“If you want to hold dialogue, you should speak on all topics,” he said. At the same time, the PTI chairman said that he did not have the authority to negotiate with the government.

He said that Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas — who were recently appointed opposition leaders in the National Assembly and the Senate, respectively — had been given the authority to hold talks with the government.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has stated that PTI founder Imran Khan has given Achakzai and Abbas the responsibility of making decisions — be it about talks with the government or protests.

“I will give them my consultation if they require it,” Gohar said.

He further said that if the government wished to “shake the hand” of the opposition, it should do so with both of its hands.

“The stick and carrot policy does not work. [Throwing] a punch with one hand and extending the other one does not work,” he said.

Gohar also said that PTI founder Imran was facing a multitude of cases, adding that the ex-premier’s lawyers should be allowed to meet him.

He said that a PTI delegation had held a meeting with National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and highlighted the fact that meetings with Imran were not being allowed.

Last month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had reiterated his offer for talks with the opposition but also emphasised that dialogue between the two sides could only proceed on “legitimate matters”.

However, PTI leader Barrister Ali Zafar had said that no dialogue could be held with the government until it allowed meetings with Imran.

Meanwhile, in his maiden speech as the National Assembly opposition leader on Monday, Achakzai had extended an olive branch to the government and offered “unconditional support” to empower Parliament.

PTI rejects NA’s passage of bill seeking to amend Elections Act

Separately, the PTI rejected the passage of the Elections (Amendment) Bill 2026 by the National Assembly, terming it a “direct assault” on the fundamental principles of the right to information, transparency, and accountability.

“This bill grants parliamentarians the ability to hide details of their assets from the public under the vague and undefined guise of ‘security concerns,’ which essentially provides a legal shield for the current ruling class,” the party said in a statement.

“Such laws do not strengthen democracy; instead, they weaken it and severely undermine the public’s trust in the government,” it said.

The PTI alleged that parties which claimed to champion democracy, transparency, and parliamentary values were now legislating to “conceal the ill-gotten wealth” they had accumulated through “corrupt practices and misuse of power”.

“The nation is well aware of the sources of their illicit wealth; it is the result of corruption, looting, and the abuse of authority,” it said.

“The public is fully informed, and no law can hide the truth. This bill is an affront to the consciousness of the people.

“These parties, who repeatedly preach about accountability, good governance, and democratic values, are practically erecting walls of immunity and protection for themselves,” it stated.

The PTI contended that such laws proved that some political parties represented not the public but their own personal and class interests, and the dual standard was hollowing out Pakistan’s democratic system from within.

“If any member of parliament has genuine security concerns, the solution is not to hide assets, but for the government to ensure the protection of their life and property,” it said.

“Keeping asset details hidden from the public opens the door to corruption and provides the political elite with unjust protection for their ill-gotten wealth,” it said.

The PTI said that this bill contradicted the global principles of transparent governance and was a “conspiracy” to push Pakistan further into the quagmire of unchecked corruption.

“In line with the vision of PTI’s leader Imran Khan, the party has always been a strong advocate for transparency. Therefore, this controversial amendment must be immediately revoked,” it said.

“The nation has the right to be informed about the sources of its representatives’ wealth. Transparency is not a privilege but the foundation of democracy,” it added.

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