Ezpeleta said MotoGP had based its decision on official information from the Qatari government and from embassies with a large presence in the paddock.

The race was postponed from April to Nov 6-8 due to the conflict and Ezpeleta said they would have cancelled or postponed the event again if the situation had escalated.

“We can unequivocally say that it was the right decision,” Ezpeleta told Reuters. “Obviously, it was normal that the riders showed their concerns and I think that we mitigated those and confronted those to the best that we possibly could.

“It’s just important in today’s day and age to follow official information and real intelligence versus speculation on the media and disinformation, which I think ultimately was what brought a lot of noise around the event itself.”

Several Saudi Arabian sporting events — including football, tennis, golf and cycling — were cancelled or postponed in recent weeks after attacks on Riyadh’s international airport last month killed at least 12 people.

But Ezpeleta said Qatar had not been affected in the same way as its Gulf neighbours and that planning for the race had accelerated after conditions improved in the June to July period.

However, Yamaha withdrew from the Qatar Grand Prix citing “company-wide travel restrictions” for the Middle East, with the factory team and the satellite team Prima Pramac not lining up on the grid, reducing the field to 18 riders.

“I can say that the decision surprised us, given the level of detail that was put into the assessment and all the planning,” Ezpeleta said.

“All the questions that Yamaha had were answered. Ultimately, Yamaha is a great partner of the championship historically and I’m sure they will continue to be.

“We understand that it wasn’t a decision that was taken easily from their side, but it is a decision that was surprising to us for sure.”

MotoGP had said Yamaha’s non-participation carried sporting implications, with any sporting consequences to be managed by FIM, the governing body of motorcycle racing. But Ezpeleta declined to speculate on penalties.

“We just said that we would manage any contractual matters with Yamaha directly and any sporting conversations would be handled by FIM,” he said.

“We continue to say that it’s a disappointment because I think one of the strengths of MotoGP as a championship is that all the riders, all the teams are committed for the full season.

“I would say as a rights holder that the teams are committed and obliged to show up at all the events and all races.”

Yamaha and FIM did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Yamaha’s Moto2 team travelled to Qatar, with Izan Guevara in a close title fight and sitting second in the championship. He had a technical issue and did not finish.

‘IMPROVE COMMUNICATION’

The episode has also raised questions about how well MotoGP’s management communicates with riders and Ezpeleta acknowledged the need to improve that relationship with all stakeholders.

“We have to proactively push to improve communication, especially with the teams and the riders because they are obviously the most important part of the championship,” he said.

“We’ve been managing the sport for 35 years and we’ve had situations like this before,” Ezpeleta added, pointing to the 2011 race in Japan held after the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

“There was a lot of controversy at the time, as was now with Qatar, guided by misinformation and speculation, rather than facts,” he said. “We continue to say that this was the right decision.”

Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi won the Qatar Grand Prix but Ducati’s sprint winner Marc Marquez finished second to establish a 60-point lead in the championship with two rounds left.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026

The three players topped their respective round-robin groups to secure places in the last eight.

In girls’ doubles, Pakistan’s Hajra Sohail, partnering China’s Daixi Hu, also advanced to the quarter-finals after defeating Xuan Yi Wei of China and Xeniya Semenova of Kazakhstan 6-2, 6-2.

Results:

Boys’ singles, third round (round-robin):

Hamza Roman (Pakistan) beat Abdul Basit (Pakistan) 7-5, 6-2; Brennon Ng (Singapore) beat Tachatam Srisen (Thailand) 6-3, 6-4; Phasin Sinchalong (Thailand) beat Rayyan Khan (Pakistan) 6-0, 6-1; Aahil Kaleel (Sri Lanka) beat Daniel Elias (Russia) 1-6, 6-4 (10-7); Ahtesham Humayun (Pakistan) beat Soichiro Ishida (Japan) 6-3, 6-4; Jayin De Saram (Sri Lanka) beat Pittinan Jaturonroj (Thailand) 7-6(3), 6-1; Amir Mazari (Pakistan) beat Alshinhan Mukhamedkali (Kazakhstan) 6-2, 6-2; Nikita Dogadin (Russia) beat Abdar Ali (Pakistan) 6-1, 6-1; Mohammad Hassan Usmani (Pakistan) beat Jakob Letsch (Germany) 6-1, 6-4; Zoahib Afzal Malik (Pakistan) beat Daniel Alwadi (China) 6-1, 6-4; Napat Pattanalertphan (Thai­land) beat Rehan Gunawardhana (Sri Lanka) 6-2, 6-1; Aliaksandr Viarsotski (Belarus) beat Mohammad Yahya (Pakistan) 6-3, 6-4; Vukasin Pavlovic (Serbia) beat Sanzhar Bolat (Kazakhstan) 6-2, 6-4; Yupei Liang (China) beat Arham Tariq (Pakistan) 6-2, 6-1; Jingxuan Zhou (China) beat Theerapat Samritvanitcha (Thailand) 6-3, 6-3; Mohammad Shayan (Pakistan) beat Haziq Aasim (Pakistan) 6-3, 6-4.

Boys’ doubles, pre-quarter-finals:

Soichiro Ishida (Japan)/Pittinan Jaturonroj (Thailand) beat Brennon Ng (Singapore)/Shaan Laoamornpanich (Tha­iland) 6-4, 6-2; Amir Mazari (Pakistan)/Aliaksandr Viarsotski (Belarus) beat Jayin De Saram (Sri Lanka)/Jakob Letsch (Germany) 6-1, 6-3; Vukasin Pavlovic (Serbia)/Jingxuan Zhou (China) beat Rayyan Khan (Pakistan)/Arham Tariq (Pakistan) 6-1, 6-2; Aahil Kaleel (Sri Lanka)/Rehan Gunawardhana (Sri Lanka) beat Abdar Ali (Pakistan)/Theerapat Samritvanitcha (Thailand) 6-1, 6-1.

Girls’ doubles, pre-quarter-finals:

Hajra Sohail (Pakistan)/Daixi Hu (China) beat Xuan Yi Wei (China)/Xeniya Semenova (Kazakhstan) 6-2, 6-2; Ailin Bakiyeva (Kazakhstan)/Dan­elya Beissebayeva (Kazakhstan) beat Yuqi Li (China)/Yeanna Chowdhury (Bangladesh) 6-3, 1-6 (10-8).

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026

The opening session was defined by gruelling, closely fought battles.

Top seed A. Sattar survived a massive scare, edging past Ismail in a nervy 4–3 decider. Adil Mehmood endured a similar test, narrowly defeating Mohammad Iftikhar by the same scoreline.

In contrast, Mohammad Faizan and Umair Khan secured slightly more comfortable 4–2 victories over Umer Naeem and fourth seed Sultan Muhammad, respectively, handing the highly ranked Sultan an early exit.

The afternoon session brought the day’s standout moment. Second seed Ian Mark John delivered a masterclass against Umer Butt, winning 4–1 and sealing the match with a brilliant break of 107 in the final frame.

Other results saw Umair Ansari produce a flawless 4–0 sweep over sixth seed Ali Raza.

Meanwhile, third seed Zulfiqar and seventh seed Khizar Aziz both had to dig deep, grinding out tense 4–3 victories over Ashfaq and Ali Zaman to keep their title hopes alive.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026

The Pakistan Blind Cricket Association (PBCA) hosted a send-off ceremony for the national team in Lahore on Wednesday.

Besides hosts Bangladesh and Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan will compete in the tournament.

Speaking at the ceremony, PBCA chairman Syed Sultan Shah thanked the Pakistan Cricket Board and other sponsors for providing financial support for the team’s participation in the event.

He said Pakistan had won the Blind Cricket World Cup and the World T20 Cup twice, adding that the country had a pool of talented players capable of achieving further success.

Pakistan captain Nisar Ali said the team was well prepared for the tournament and confident of winning the title.

He said several new players had been included in the squad and expressed confidence in their abilities.

Nisar also said the team was particularly focused on defeating India in the competition.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026

The 10th edition of the tournament will take place at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles from Sept 24-26.

Team World is made up of players from outside Europe. The annual tournament, launched in 2017, is intended to be tennis’s equivalent of golf’s Ryder Cup.

World number one Zverev will make a record eighth Laver Cup appearance in Los Angeles, having been part of Team Europe’s six title-winning campaigns since making his debut at the inaugural event in Prague in 2017.

The German delivered the decisive points in this year’s 13-5 victory over Team World in London and also sealed triumphs in Chicago in 2018, Geneva in 2019 and Boston in 2021, when he teamed up with Andrey Rublev in the doubles.

“I’ve been part of Laver Cup since the very beginning and it’s become one of my favourite weeks of the year,” Zverev said in a statement.

Alcaraz will make his fourth consecutive appearance after debuting in Berlin in 2024, where he beat Taylor Fritz to secure the title.

“I’m really happy to be coming back for my fourth Laver Cup and to be playing alongside Sascha again,” Alcaraz added.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026

The Czech, who beat Kostyuk in her opening match, has won both encounters without dropping a set and is assured of advancing to the knockout stage.

Gauff and Pegula both have won one match each, with the final round-robin matches on Thursday set to determine who joins Noskova in the last four.

Noskova took control against Gauff in a match marked by inconsistent serving from both players. The pair traded breaks at the start of the first set, but Noskova broke twice more to take the opener.

Gauff struggled to find consistency on serve again in the second set, allowing Noskova to build a 3-0 lead.

The American fought to stay in the contest but could not find a way back, as Noskova held her serve throughout the remainder of the set before sealing the win with an ace.

“I’m very happy, obviously every win counts in this competition,” Noskova said afterwards. “Coco is a big competitor so I had to be ready for everything that would come my way today.

“You have to play to the very last point with Coco because she can always help herself out with her serve and fighting spirit. I felt like I played great to put some pressure on her,” added Noskova.

Pegula earlier bounced back from her opening defeat to Gauff with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Kostyuk, eliminating the Ukrainian from semi-final contention.

The American made a strong start, breaking Kostyuk in the opening game and taking another break to claim the first set. She carried that momentum into the second, breaking again at the start before the pair exchanged breaks twice.

Kostyuk’s mistakes undermined her attempts to fight back, with the Ukrainian committing 17 unforced errors in the opening set compared with Pegula’s three.

“Once I got off to a good start today, I definitely didn’t want to give away that second set,” Pegula said. “In general I wouldn’t want to, but I think it was a bit of an extra push to be able to give myself the best chance in this group, considering I did lose the first match.”

Kostyuk, who replaced world number one Elena Rybakina after the world number one withdrew with a viral illness, is making her first appearance at the WTA Finals.

“I saw that she’s changing pace a lot, and I would struggle sometimes,” Kostyuk said after her defeat to Pegula. “Overall, I think I was pretty happy with my return today. You can obviously be better, everything can be better. Next time, maybe I’ll be more ready.”

The result sends the Wimbledon champion into the semi-finals in her debut at the tournament, while Gauff will have another chance to qualify when she faces Kostyuk on Thursday. Pegula takes on Noskova in the other final Group 1 match.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026

The delegation included NBP sports consultant and former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi and Senior Vice President and Divisional Head of Strategic Marketing Mudassir Inamullah.

The delegation met hockey players, officials, Secretary of the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coor­dination and Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President Moh­yuddin Ahmad Wani, and Pakistan Sports Board Deputy Director General Muhammad Shahid Islam.

According to an NBP press release, the initiative follows the prime minister’s directives to provide young hockey players with employment opportunities and incentives to enable them to pursue the sport professionally.

Mr Wani welcomed the bank’s decision to form a hockey team and said greater institutional participation was important for the revival and development of the game in the country.

He said such initiatives could help provide young players with opportunities at the grassroots and national levels.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026

At the Diamond Cricket Ground in Islamabad, Karachi Blues, resuming their second innings at 72-1, reached 393-5 in 92 overs to extend their lead over Multan to 391 runs. Rameez led the scoring with 170, while Saifullah remained unbeaten on 102.

At the Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi, Faisalabad dismissed Sialkot Blues for 316 after the former had resumed their first innings at 222 all out. Faisalabad then reached 194-3 in their second innings, taking their overall lead to 100 runs. Faham-ul-Haq scored 58, while Asim Ali Nasir contributed 51.

At the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Islamabad, resuming their first innings at 403-6, extended their total to 473-9, with Sarmad Bhatti scoring 91. Hammad Aziz claimed five wickets for Lahore Whites, who reached 200-5 in their second innings. Zain Bin Farooq was unbeaten on 77, while Tayyab Tahir made 51.

At the National Ground in Islamabad, Peshawar Blues declared their first innings at 342-7 after resuming at 150-4. Mohammad Rizwan top-scored with 81. Chasing a target of 333, Fata reached 116-3, with Fawad Arshad unbeaten on 46.Meanwhile, Bahawalpur and Peshawar Whites secured victories on the third day of the second round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Silver.

At the SBP Sports Complex, Bahawalpur defeated Quetta by three wickets after Mohammad Umair took four wickets for 34 runs to dismiss the latter for 151 in their second innings.

At the UBL Sports Complex, Mohammad Ilyas completed a 10-wicket match haul as Peshawar Whites defeated Lahore Blues by nine wickets.

In the other matches, Sardar Hassan Raza Khan struck a double century, scoring 213 for AJK against Hyderabad, while Karachi Whites reached 112-4 in their pursuit of a 304-run target against Sialkot Whites at Rahim Yar Khan.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026

The 29-year-old, who holds South African and Dutch citizenship, said financial challenges and more opportunities for high-performance support triggered the decision.

Smith won the 200 metres breaststroke at the 2020 Tokyo Games, which were delayed one year by the Covid-19 pandemic, and the 100 metres breaststroke at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

She also won two silver medals in the pool, making the Johannesburg-born swimmer the most decorated South African Olympian.

Smith retired after the Paris Games, but changed her mind this year with an eye on competing at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

“When I was a little girl, my biggest dream was to represent my country [South Africa] at the Olympics,” she said in a video posted to social media.

“I got to live that dream and it gave me more than I could have ever imagined.

“This gives me the opportunity to explore another part of my identity and the heritage that I have never experienced through sport.

“The opportunity also offers greater high performance support and the potential to build a more sustainable career,” she added.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026

LONDON: Harry Kane has spent much of the last decade rewriting the record books and on Thursday the striker will add another chapter when he becomes England’s most-capped men’s player with his 126th appearance against Croatia.

Before kickoff at Wembley, the 33-year-old Bayern Munich forward will present the Ballon d’Or trophy he won last month to England’s fans before moving past former goalkeeper Peter Shilton’s long-standing record.

“Definitely up there with the biggest [achievements of my career],” England captain Kane told reporters at former club Tottenham Hotspur’s training ground on Wednesday after being given a standing ovation when he entered the room.

“It showcases consistency at the highest level and to reach the number of caps I have is a testament to the things I spoke about in my [Ballon d’Or] speech behind the scenes, the dedication and for sure it is one of the biggest milestones of my career.”

Kane is never one to shout his name from the rooftops, but having moved past Wayne Rooney’s England scoring record of 53 goals in 2023 he has surged to 91 and ranks among his country’s all-time greats, even if ending England’s long wait for a major trophy has remained elusive.

England manager Thomas Tuchel said Kane was the “perfect captain and a leader by example” and described his playing style as unique, adding that he is getting smarter with age.

Asked if Kane is England’s greatest player, Tuchel said: “I don’t know but he is up there of course. It’s now proven and it’s always nice if things are proven.

“He has his collection of prizes, he will score more goals, he will get more games and tomorrow he will start as captain of course. It’s a big occasion to present the Ballon d’Or to our fans and bring it to the country and when he gets his all-time record for 126 matches.

“It’s a beautiful, beautiful occasion.”

PRESENTATION AT WEMBLEY

Kane will be honoured in a pre-match presentation at Wembley before the UEFA Nations League match against Croatia with Shilton, who has held the England appearance record since 1989, also involved.

Only a handful of active men’s internationals have made more appearances for their countries than Kane, whose England debut came as a substitute against Lithuania in 2015 when he scored little more than a minute after coming on.

Once the anthems have been sung and the record secured, Kane’s attention will turn to the next target in a career that continues to gather milestones.

“We spoke in the last camp about the 100 goals for England, I think that’s another incredible milestone to try and reach as soon as possible,” said Kane, who scored a remarkable 73 goals in 65 games for Bayern Munich and England last season.

“Right now, I’m feeling really, really good so hopefully many more years to see what else I can achieve.

“To win a team trophy with England, a major trophy, is my biggest dream. I know how difficult that is so extremely motivated to do that.”

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026

Batsmen Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were sanctioned over the ‘Sandpapergate’ scandal, but Khawaja said in his autobiography ‘Sabr’ that knowledge of the plan to manipulate the ball was not confined to those three players and that the whole team should be held responsible.

Cricket Australia (CA) CEO Todd Greenberg has ruled out another investigation into the scandal, but pressure was growing on Wednesday for the governing body to reopen the case.

Appearing on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s “7:30” programme on Tuesday, Khawaja was asked whether captain Pat Cummins and his fellow bowlers had prior knowledge that sandpaper was being used to change the condition of the ball.

“You’ve got to remember Pat Cummins is a good friend of mine, Mitchell Starc, a lot of these guys, guys on the team, other players on the team,” he replied. “Shaun Marsh, Mitch Marsh, all very good friends of mine.

“I’m not here to go on a witch hunt, all I’ve ever wanted is for us to take accountability as a team and I don’t think that’s a lot to say.” Fast bowler Starc denied prior knowledge of the ball-tampering on Tuesday.

Warner, who was banned from the team for a year and cast by Cricket Australia’s investigation as the chief architect of the plot, threw his weight behind Khawaja on Monday and said his account was 100 per cent accurate.

Cummins said in South Africa last month that he had spoken to Khawaja about his book and was not concerned about any potential fallout.

“He just basically gave me the heads-up that he’s doing a book, and yeah, as always, no worries. Tell your story. It’s fine,” Cummins said.

Khawaja said in the interview he hoped other team-mates would come forward and talk about the 2018 saga honestly but he was not forcing anyone to do anything, nor calling on CA to re-investigate.

“I’m not calling for anything, I’m literally sharing my version of the truth,” he added.

Australian media reported Khawaja pulled out of TV and radio interviews to promote his book following the TV interview.

Khawaja and his book’s publisher Penguin did not provide an immediate response to requests for comment.

While Greenberg said on Tuesday there was “no compelling reason” for another investigation, there have been growing calls for CA to take another look at the scandal.

Editorials in two major newspapers have called on CA to take action while The Australian newspaper urged Cummins to break his silence as the team’s captain.

Simon Longstaff, who led a cultural investigation into Australian cricket in the wake of ‘Sandpa­pergate’, said Khawaja and Warner’s allegations had shone a spotlight into the darker corners of the men’s game.

“My fear is that if the belatedly revealed claims are proven true, the damage to the game will be at least as great as that caused by the original sin of ball tampering,” he wrote in a column in the Australian Financial Review.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026

The 32-year-old number three, once the world’s top-ranked test batter, has gone 49 innings without a century and endured another poor tour of South Africa, scoring zero and four in the final Test as Australia lost the match and series 2-1.

“I’ve got no doubt I will be back there. When? Who knows,” Labuschagne told reporters. “I think my path back into the Australia team will work itself out. I’ve done it before. It’s something that I truly want.”

Labuschagne has averaged 23.66 and managed only two half-centuries in 10 Tests since being dropped for the three-Test series against West Indies in the Caribbean last year.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026

Bethell has been sidelined since July with a right knee injury which required surgery during the English season but joined up with the squad in Perth last week ahead of his planned comeback.

But the 23-year-old has suffered a recurrence and will now fly back to England for assessment by a specialist.

That means Bethell, a top-order batsman and left-arm spinner, will now miss all of the three One-day Internationals and five T20s in Australia, and his participation in the Test series in South Africa starting in December is also now called into question.

England had already seen fast bowler Josh Tongue ruled out of the Australia tour because of a toe injury, with the uncapped pair of James Coles and Eddie Jack added to the squad.

The England and Wales Cricket Board said in a statement: “Jacob Bethell has been ruled out of the white-ball tour of Australia following a scan on his right knee.

“Bethell suffered a setback in his return from the injury during a training session in Perth earlier this week.

“With a busy winter ahead it was decided that he will return to the UK on Saturday before seeing a specialist.”

The news is a fresh blow to Bethell, who started 2026 with a superb century in the final Ashes Test in Sydney but has now missed out on six consecutive series in all formats.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026

Blatter, 90, criticised Infantino’s decision to create the FIFA Peace Prize award for US President Donald Trump in the lead-up to this year’s World Cup, hosted in the US, Canada and Mexico.

He was also critical of Infantino’s post-World Cup plans to sell off part of the commercial rights of the competition in the future, which was scrapped after a fierce backlash.

“FIFA is suffering. It is currently led by a person who has allowed himself to be blinded,” Blatter told the German magazine. “The Peace Prize,” he said, was “embarrassing”.

“Why would he do something like that?,” Blatter asked. “Infantino awards a peace prize to someone who wages war against Iran shortly afterwards? That’s madness.”

Blatter said it was easy for Infantino to secure support for his own re-election from national football bodies.

“‘If you vote for me,’ he tells the national associations, ‘you will get much more money than before.’ “He is a dictator. People in FIFA tell me that no one is allowed to ride in the elevator with him. He is ‘untouchable’.”

Speaking of Infantino’s World Cup sale plans, Blatter said: “Infantino no longer knows any borders. He doesn’t understand any of this.

“I mean, maybe Infantino should be sent to a psychiatric ward one day.”

President of FIFA from 1998, Blatter resigned in disgrace in 2015 amid corruption allegations, including accusations he had sought to buy votes for his presidency.

Charges were brought against him but Blatter was eventually cleared in two trials but was banned from football by FIFA’s ethics committee.

Blatter told the magazine he had “no regrets” from his time in charge of the organisation.

The Swiss was also critical of FIFA’s decision to suspend a red card awarded to USA striker Folarin Balogun after Trump intervened ahead of a crucial match at this summer’s World Cup.

“The red card. That’s the worst. Statutes can be interpreted. But rules of the game must apply to everyone, you can’t interpret them.”

Japanese official Kozo Tashima has announced plans to run against Infantino in his re-election bid, but Blatter named World Athletics president Sebastian Coe as his pick to take over FIFA.

“It is not important who is running. What is important is that the incumbent president is no longer elected.

“Coe was also chairman of the FIFA Ethics Committee. He is a strong personality. A president from the motherland of football, England, would be good.”

Blatter said he had not spoken with Infantino since early 2016.

AFP has contacted FIFA for a response.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026

RAWALPINDI: Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis struck unbeaten centuries to put Sri Lanka in a commanding position on the third day of the first Test against Pakistan on Wednesday, guiding the visitors to 404-4 at stumps, just 30 runs behind the hosts’ first-innings total.

The former and current Sri Lankan captains joined forces to frustrate Pakistan’s bowlers with an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 249, leaving their side with six wickets in hand and the prospect of taking a substantial lead when play resumes on Thursday.

De Silva was unbeaten on 167 from 241 balls, having struck 20 boundaries, while Mendis remained on 117 after facing 188 deliveries and hitting 10 fours and four sixes.

Their partnership, which began in the 42nd over, is Sri Lanka’s highest for any wicket against Pakistan, surpassing the 207-run effort by Thilan Samaraweera and Tillakaratne Dilshan in Lahore in 2009.

Sri Lanka added 290 runs during the day, losing only Kamindu Mendis, as Pakistan endured a long and largely unproductive spell in the field. Play ended 15 minutes early because of bad light.

The visitors had resumed at 114-3, with De Silva and Kamindu looking to consolidate after the loss of three early wickets on the second day. The pair added 90 for the fourth wicket before Mohammad Abbas provided Pakistan with their only breakthrough of the day.

Kamindu, who had completed his eighth Test half-century, edged Abbas to wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori for 58. His 131-ball innings included eight fours and took Sri Lanka to 155-4.

That proved to be Pakistan’s last success. De Silva and Kusal settled into a measured approach, rotating the strike and punishing loose deliveries before gradually taking control of the contest.

De Silva reached his 14th Test century, his fourth against Pakistan and second at the Rawalpindi venue, with a boundary off spinner Arafat Minhas in the second session. He brought up the milestone from 151 balls, having earlier survived a costly reprieve.

On 38, De Silva edged Razaullah towards first slip, where Saud Shakeel failed to hold a straightforward chance. The missed opportunity proved expensive as the batter went on to play a commanding innings, keeping the Pakistan attack at bay for the remainder of the day.

Kusal, meanwhile, became the first Sri Lankan to score a century in his maiden Test as captain, having taken over the leadership from De Silva before the series. He brought up his 11th Test hundred with a boundary off Razaullah, using his feet confidently and showing particular enterprise against the spinners.

The pair accelerated after reaching their hundreds, putting pressure on Pakistan’s inexperienced bowlers. Kusal was especially effective against Arafat, while both batters targeted Razaullah, who struggled to contain the scoring. A new ball also failed to produce the breakthrough Pakistan needed.

By the close, Abbas had taken two wickets for 64 runs, while debutant Saqib Khan had figures of 2-105. Razaullah conceded 127 runs without taking a wicket, and Arafat gave away 92 in 21 overs.

Abbas acknowledged that Pakistan had been outplayed by the experienced Sri Lankan pair, despite the bowlers’ efforts.

“We put up a lot of effort but credit to the Sri Lankan pair for batting so confidently,” he said at the post-day press conference. “We need to get them out quickly for a fightback.”

The Pakistan pacer, however, insisted that the pitch was not entirely in favour of the batters and could still reward disciplined bowling.

“It is a good pitch. It is supporting both sides. If there is even a slightly bad ball, there are runs on offer, and they played well. But if we bowl in the right areas, we can get support from the surface as well,” he said.

Abbas also said he had been sharing his experience with the two young debutants in Pakistan’s attack, explaining that regular discussions during practice and matches were helping them develop.

Kamindu said Sri Lanka were in a strong position but had not yet decided what would constitute a satisfactory first-innings total.

“We haven’t talked about it yet, but we need to get a good lead first. We have two good, set batters at the crease, and hopefully they will play well tomorrow as well. If we get a good lead, we will go to the next step,” he said.

He described Thursday’s opening session as important for both sides and said Sri Lanka’s immediate plan was to bat for as long as possible.

“Our plan is to bat long. If we can score more runs in the first session, I think it will put us in a good position,” he said.

Kamindu also felt the pitch could continue to assist fast bowlers, although spin might become more influential later in the match.

“The wicket is good for fast bowlers so far, but maybe tomorrow evening or on the last day it might be good for spinners. I can’t say that 100 per cent,” he said.

With rain forecast for Thursday afternoon, the morning session could prove particularly important. Sri Lanka will first look to erase the remaining deficit and then build a lead that gives them control of the match, while Pakistan need early wickets to prevent the visitors from moving out of reach.

The second Test, originally scheduled for Lahore, has also been shifted to Rawalpindi because of smog and will begin on Nov 17.

Scoreboard

SRI LANKA (1st Innings, overnight 114-3):

L. Udara c Ghazi b Saqib42

P. Sooriyabandara c Ghazi b Abbas 0

D. Chandimal c Salman b Saqib 1

K.D. Mendis C Ghazi b Abbas58

D. de Silva not out167

K. Mendis not out117

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-3, NB-10, W-2)19

TOTAL (for four wickets, 102 overs)404

STILL TO BAT: S. Dinusha, M. Rathnayaka, L. Kumara, A. Fernando, D. Madushanka

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-7 (Sooriyabandara), 2-12 (Chandimal), 3-65 (Udara), 4-155 (K.D. Mendis)

BOWLING: Abbas 29-11-64-2 (3w), Saqib 26-2-105-2 (1w, 2nb), Razaullah 23-1-127-0 (1w, 5nb), Minhas 21-2-92-0, Salman 3-1-9-0

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026

Opener Conway sustained a concussion in a collision with paceman Matt Henry in training during the one-day series against the tourists.

All-rounder Ravindra dislocated his shoulder while filming a diving catch during a promotional shoot in September and has not played in either the ODI or Twenty20 series against India.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Blundell is recovering from a quadricep injury and has played just one domestic match since June.

New Zealand’s last Test series was in England in June, which they won 2-1. Kane Williamson retired from international cricket after the series.

The other changes to the squad from the England tour are the addition of fast bowler Jacob Duffy and the absence through injury of all-rounder Zak Foulkes as well as pacemen Will O’Rourke and Ben Sears.

“The squad is largely consistent with the team that competed in England earlier this year, so it’ll be great to be back together to try and recreate some of that success on home soil,” said coach Rob Walter.

“We’ve experienced great crowds so far during the white-ball series and we’re really looking forward to having that support during the Tests.”

The first Test starts at Basin Reserve in Wellington next Wednesday with the second taking place at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch from Nov 27.

Squad: Tom Latham (captain), Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Will Young.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026

KARACHI: The Pakis­tan Stock Exchange (PSX) faltered on Wednesday as equity investors took profits at elevated levels, pushing the benchmark index to post marginal losses after flirting with the key 180,000 milestone intraday.

Topline Securities said the PSX had a range-bound session, consolidating after Tuesday’s sharp rally.

The index briefly crossed the historic 180,000 mark during intraday trade, reaching a peak of 180,769 points, a gain of 1,434 points, before settling slightly lower at 179,083.80, down 251.44 points, or 0.14 per cent, due to late-session profit-taking.

Market sentiment remained broadly steady as investors weighed high domestic liquidity against fresh concerns over international oil supply and geopolitical developments in the Middle East. Midday buying momentum was driven by targeted sectors, particularly oil marketing companies and refineries.

Major activity was seen across cement and technology stocks, while key commercial banking and E&P stocks faced consolidation pressures after Tuesday’s massive rally.

Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Ltd, said the market opened higher, extending the previous session’s bullish momentum and reaching an intraday high of 180,769, a level last seen on Aug 18.

However, the upward momentum proved unsustainable as profit-taking emerged, and the index subsequently retreated before staging a partial recovery, with selling pressure intensifying towards the close.

On the sectoral front, cement stocks extended their gains amid optimism surrounding the Punjab cement royalty case, with the Federal Constitutional Court expected to anno­unce its verdict next week.

On the corporate front, Thatta Cement informed the PSX that it had entered into a definitive agreement with Fauji Foundation to restructure Pakistan Services Ltd.

Pakistan State Oil, Pakistan Services Ltd, Engro Fertiliser, Faysal Bank and Systems Ltd emerged as the top five positive contributors, collectively adding approximately 290 points. Conversely, United Bank, Meezan Bank, Lucky Cement, National Bank, and Fauji Cement Company Ltd collectively eroded 428 points from the benchmark, reflecting profit-taking among key heavyweights.

Investor participation improved sharply as trading volume surged 28.35 per cent to 1.24 billion shares and total traded val­ue rose 17.47pc to Rs41.8bn. WorldCall Telec­om led the volume chart with 231 million shares.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026

According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the government raised Rs232.46 billion through the auction and Rs354.25bn via non-competitive bids, for a total of Rs586.7bn.

The auction target was Rs400bn, while the T-bills maturing amounted to Rs435bn. This indicated the government’s growing need for liquidity.

The bidding pattern was mixed, with investors willing to park their liquidity in government papers for safe returns. The cumulative bids from banks and other corporates totalled Rs2.192 trillion.

Investors were willing to buy the T-bills, with the highest bid of Rs676bn for 12-month papers, and the government accepted Rs201bn. This was the highest amount the government accepted for any tenor in the auction.

The second-highest amount, Rs666.3bn, was offered for the three-month tenor, but the government raised only Rs19.46bn. The lowest amount accepted was Rs0.5bn for one-month papers, against bids totalling Rs494.7bn. The bids for benchmark six-month T-bills were Rs355.5bn, and the amount raised was Rs11bn.

The government raised a much lower amount than the banks were offering, reflecting higher liquidity that partially flowed into the private sector, and the sector’s borrowing improved in the 5th month of the current fiscal year.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026

This was the crux of a conference, ‘RESET 2.0 — What Banking Builds’, hosted by Green Peak International in collaboration with the Pakistan Banks Association (PBA) and the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Wednesday.

The conference brought together Pakistan’s top banking executives, policymakers, regulators and financial sector leaders to address critical challenges and opportunities shaping the future of retail banking.

State Bank of Pakistan Deputy Governor Saleem Ullah was the chief guest, while the keynote speakers were Adviser on Special Initiatives to the Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Adnan Pasha and Bank Alfalah President and CEO Atif Bajwa.

Stakeholders discuss expanding access to finance and building financial security

Building on the success of RESET 2025, this year’s conference shifted the conversation beyond traditional banking metrics towards the sector’s broader responsibility to enable economic opportunity, support businesses, expand access to finance and build financial security for Pakistanis.

The conference opened with a session on the ‘Retail Banking Leaders Mandate’, where senior executives from leading commercial, Islamic and digital banks discussed industry priorities, structural challenges and the need for collective action.

Five strategic discussions followed, addressing key areas of national economic importance.

Another session on ‘Building People and Culture’ explored the leadership and institutional capabilities required for transformation, while ‘Scaling Digital Lending’ examined how digital payments, transaction data and emerging technologies could unlock responsible credit for underserved segments.

Discussion on ‘Scaling Home Ownership’ focused on overcoming barriers to housing finance, while ‘Scaling Small Businesses’ examined practical solutions to expand SME and agricultural lending, which are critical to employment generation and economic growth. Scaling Saving and Building Wealth highlighted the importance of strengthening Pakistan’s savings culture, broadening investment participation and mobilising long-term capital.

The discussions featured prominent industry leaders, including Pakistan Stock Exchange Chief Executive Farrukh Sabzwari, PBA Chief Operating Officer Mir Nejib Rehman, and representatives from the World Bank Group, alongside senior executives from leading financial institutions.

The event also introduced RESET Radio and RESET Films, extending industry dialogue and knowledge-sharing beyond the conference floor.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026

Speaking at a meeting of officials from the Ministry of Industries and Production, he said the Auto and Auto Parts Manufacturing Policy for the period 2026-2031 reflected the government’s vision of building an export-led, self-reliant and competitive economy, with emphasis on empowering local manufacturers, strengthening domestic auto parts production.

The adviser said the new policy introduced mandatory localisation requirements to ensure a steady growth in domestic value addition.

Haroon Akhtar said these mandatory requirements would ensure that expansion of the automotive market translated into indigenisation, investment, job creation and technological progress.

Non-compliance with minimum domestic value addition requirements will attract an additional three percentage points of customs duty on non-localised CKD imports in the subsequent financial year.

Highlighting the importance of the domestic vendor industry, the adviser said the country had approximately 2,200 auto parts manufacturers whose capacity, technological advancement and integration into international supply chains were vital to the sector’s competitiveness.

He said a dedicated “vendor upgradation and technology transfer programme”, with an allocation of Rs2.1 billion, will be implemented through the Engineering Devel­opment Board and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority.

The programme will facilitate technological upgradation, access to common manufacturing facilities, skills development, international quality certification and export readiness for domestic vendors.

The auto policy also targets investment in five anchor auto parts manufacturing firms to support the development of domestic manufacturing clusters.

The adviser said export promotion was one of the defining features of the new policy, which has set cumulative export targets of around $6bn for 2026-2031.

The policy introduces a “drawback of local taxes and levies” scheme, providing eligible exporters with a five per cent support on net Free on Board (FOB) export value, along with an additional 10pc incentive on qualifying incremental exports.

The adviser said these measures would encourage manufacturers to move beyond dependence on the domestic market and develop a sustainable export-oriented business model.

Haroon Akhtar said the government was rationalising customs duties progressively over five years while ensuring that import concessions were directly linked to domestic manufacturing, localisation and export performance.

He explained that the concessional 5pc customs duty on imported battery electric vehicles (BEVs) valued up to $15,000 during the initial two years is conditional upon the establishment of domestic assembly or manufacturing facilities.

Companies seeking this concession will be required to submit a surety bond and an irrevocable bank guarantee covering the customs-duty differential.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026

Addressing a meeting hosted by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) on Wednesday, Mr Mehmood said the proposed forum should meet every month on a rotational basis.

He said that individual representations often failed to achieve the desired results, whereas a united stance would carry greater weight with the government.

He appreciated ICCI President Mohammad Zikria Akbar Zia for bringing leading chambers onto one platform and invited him to visit Karachi.

Referring to Pakistan’s economic challenges, he observed that the country’s exports stood at approximately $30 billion, while remittances were around $41bn.

He cautioned against excessive reliance on overseas remittances and urged the government to introduce policies and incentives that encourage overseas Pakistanis to invest in the country and strengthen domestic economic activity.

He further proposed special facilitation for the business community, including separate arran­gements at airports for traders and investors, and called for digitisation and institutional reforms to be used to facilitate, rather than harass.

In his remarks, the ICCI president supported stro­nger coordination am­o­ng major chambers and emphasised that collective efforts were essential to address business challenges and strengthen the trade and industrial sectors.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026

Under the mechanism, taxpayers will first be informed electronically about discrepancies detected in their income tax returns and allowed to clarify or rectify them through a prescribed mechanism.

The new procedures were notified through SRO 2098 of 2026, released on Wednesday. The new procedures are titled “38B. Procedure for electronic scrutiny and intimation of issues detected by the automated system”, amending the Income Tax Rules 2002.

An important feature of the new arrangement is the automated analysis and cross-matching of information available with the tax authorities. This will allow the system to compare information declared in income tax returns with other available data and flag potential discrepancies for taxpayer clarification.

The tax system will notify taxpayers about issues it detects through an online advisory or advance intimation sent via IRIS. These notices may highlight factual errors, legal mistakes, or discrepancies in tax records. The purpose is to allow taxpayers to explain the issue, correct any errors, or take necessary remedial action before any legal or penalty proceedings are started.

The same system-generated advance intimation may also be issued by the Officer of Inland Revenue having jurisdiction over the taxpayer.

The notice must clearly state the response period, which cannot be less than seven days. During this time, the taxpayer may provide an explanation, correct the identified errors, or take other steps to resolve the discrepancies mentioned in the notice.

It further states that if the taxpayer does not respond within the specified period, a reminder will be issued. The reminder must provide at least seven additional days for the taxpayer to respond.

Details of the issues or discrepancies identified by the system, the notices sent to the taxpayer, and any responses received will be shared with the Officer of Inland Revenue responsible for the taxpayer.

All notices issued, responses received, and actions taken will be recorded in the system’s dashboard for monitoring and reference.

The Inland Revenue officer would review the taxpayer’s response, if any, and assess the matter. Based on this review, the officer may take appropriate action under the relevant provisions of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001, and the rules made under it.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan repaid around $14.44 billion in external loans against $16.16bn it received, mostly for budget support, to shore up foreign exchange reserves, and to strengthen the local currency in 2025-26.

In its annual report on Foreign Economic Assistance (FEA), the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday reported Pakistan’s total external public debt at $98.075bn as of June 30, as it secured fresh commitments of $8.951bn in FY26.

As such, the government missed its $19.923bn target set in the budget for FY26 by about 19pc as total disbursements amounted to $16.16bn, 81pc of the target.

“As of June 30, 2026, Pakistan’s external public debt stood at $98.075bn, while $14.436bn was paid during the year for external public debt servicing, comprising $11.198bn in principal repayments and $3.238bn in interest payments. Net transfers amounted to $4.417bn, indicating an increase in the external public debt stock during the period,” the MEA said.

This meant the total public debt increased by around $6.28bn, or 6.84pc, compared with $91.795bn at the close of FY25 ending on June 30, 2025. “The government paid $13.32bn in 2024-25 on account of debt servicing of external public loans,” the MEA had said in its previous report.

In FY26, $9.375bn was obtained for budgetary support/balance of payments to address fiscal imbalances, strengthen foreign exchange reserves and stabilise the exchange rate. The total disbursements realised under project financing were recorded at $3.435bn, followed by programme financing of $1.329bn and commodity financing of $2.019bn.

Out of the total disbursements of $9.375bn for budgetary support/balance of payments, Naya Pakistan Certificates accounted for 33pc ($3.050bn), followed closely by time deposits from friendly countries at 32pc ($3bn). Foreign commercial banks and bonds jointly contributed 31pc, while the IMF accounted for 4pc.

Project financing remained focused on key development sectors, with significant disbursements directed towards energy and power, environment, climate and resilience, water, transport and communication, education and other social and economic sectors.

Continued engagement with multilateral and bilateral development partners also supported climate change mitigation and adaptation, resilience building, rehabilitation and reconstruction, and disaster risk reduction, the MEA said.

Of the total external public debt at $98.075bn, $59.931bn was obtained from multilateral and bilateral development partners.

Out of the total agreements of $8.951bn in new financing agreed in FY26, $3.808bn, constituting 42pc of the total commitments, were committed for budgetary support and BoP to support fiscal imbalances and stabilise exchange rate.

An amount of $2.768bn (31pc of the total commitments) was earmarked for project financing while $1.407bn (16pc of the total commitments) was secured as programme financing through contributions from Asian Development Bank and World Bank followed by commodity financing of $967 million (11pc) from International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation.

The World Bank, ADB, and IsDB have been the largest contributors amongst the multilateral development partners, contributing $2.025bn (40pc of total multilateral disbursement), $1.772bn (35pc of total multilateral disbursement), and $1.087bn (22pc of total multilateral disbursement) respectively.

On the bilateral side, Saudi Arabia emerged as the largest contributor during the year, disbursing $1.013bn followed by China $501m.

Of the new $8.95bn commitments, $6.809bn were for federal projects and programmes and $2.142bn for provincial projects or programmes.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026

Senior police officers briefed the meeting on security challenges, anti-drug operations, patrol arrangements, public safety and measures to modernise policing. During the visit, the IGP met families of police martyrs and paid tribute to their sacrifices, assuring them of the department’s continued support.

Reviewing the security situation in Kech, he said protecting lives and property, upholding the rule of law and ensuring a peaceful environment were the police’s top priorities. He directed officers to intensify operations against criminal elements and strengthen community engagement. The IGP also inspected Turbat City Police Station and directed officials to improve service delivery.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026

Speaking at an open Kachehri in Turbat on Wednesday, he said efforts were underway to end the gun culture and put Balochistan on the path to peace, development and prosperity. He said Pakistan Army was working to ensure peace, stability and public welfare in Balochistan.

Tribal elders, community leaders and representatives from various walks of life from Kech, Tump and Panjgur districts, the IG of Frontier Corps, South Balochistan, Maj Gen Zafar Iqbal, Balochistan police chief Muhammad Tahir and other senior officials attended the event.

Gen Hussain said that ongoing development projects in the province would be completed at the earliest, while development activities would also continue in areas facing security challenges to ensure provision of basic facilities to the people. He said the people of Balochistan stood alongside the army and had always supported the people during difficult times.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026

Opposition members raised the issue during the Balochistan Assembly session on Tuesday, saying a consistent criterion based on population and area should be adopted for the creation of new districts.

Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai, who was presiding over the session, summoned the senior member of the Board of Revenue for next week to explain the shifting of Pishin division’s headquarters from Suranan.

Awami National Party parliamentary leader Engineer Zam­arak Khan Achakzai, speaking on a point of order, said new divisions and districts had been created in the province, for which he thanked the chief minister.

Lawmakers call for uniform criteria based on area and population

Pishin controversy

He said the five provincial assembly members from Pishin division had not been taken into confidence over the change in the divisional headquarters. He added that the government had initially announced Suranan as the headquarters, a decision that had been agreed upon, but had now shifted it to Pishin town without consulting the elected representatives.

The divisional headquarters should be located in an area easily accessible to the people, he said, adding that divisions and districts should be created on an equitable basis. He asked the speaker to summon the authorities and seek an explanation for the change.

The JUI-F’s Asghar Tareen said elected members should be consulted on the creation of divisions and districts. He noted that those raising the issue had also been ministers in the previous government, but had not worked towards creating new districts during their tenure. He called for a uniform formula based on population and area.

National Party President Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said the number of districts could be doubled if the government wished, but it should explain where the funds would come from. “Billions of rupees are spent annually on each district,” he added.

Mir Zabid Ali Reki, a JUI-F MPA, said Washuk was made a district in 2004 and was now being divided into two. He stressed that elected representatives should be consulted before new districts were created.

Several other members also spoke on the issue and called for the senior member of the Board of Revenue to be summoned to explain the decision to shift Pishin division’s headquarters from Suranan.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026

“Compromising or disregarding judicial independence has serious consequences for the state, parliamentarians and society,” Justice Mandokhail said in his address at a full court reference held in his honour on his retirement at the Supreme Court.

He warned that when courts became subservient to political or executive pressure, the law was replaced by the will of the powerful and applied selectively rather than impartially.

Outgoing judge warns of anarchy if citizens lose faith in justice system

Safeguarding judicial independence was therefore the collective responsibility of Parliament, the judiciary and the executive, he observed, adding that citizens would otherwise lose faith in the justice system.

The reference was attended by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi, Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan, Pakistan Bar Council Vice Chairman Pir Muhammad Masood Chishti, Supreme Court Bar Association President Syed Amjad Shah, senior law officers and members of the legal fraternity.

Justice Mandokhail said that in the absence of an independent judiciary, political dissenters and critics could be targeted, while systematic corruption, human rights abuses and illegal actions by state officials would go unchecked.

In such circumstances, citizens might resort to their own means of seeking justice, potentially leading to anarchy, he cautioned.

The outgoing judge emphasised that the Constitution was both a source of authority and a reminder of its limits. It prescribed what Parliament, the judiciary and the executive must and must not do, he said, adding that the judiciary’s constitutional role was to keep the other organs of the state within their limits.

The judiciary’s authority lay in interpreting and applying the Constitution faithfully. Serving the Constitution meant recognising that power was entrusted, not owned, that constitutional rights were not favours and that the law must remain equally accessible to ordinary citizens and the powerful, he said.

Justice Mandokhail also underscored that the judicial oath demanded impartiality, integrity and unwavering adherence to the Constitution and the law, without fear, favour or external influence.

Paying tribute to Justice Mandokhail, Chief Justice Afridi lauded his distinguished judicial career and commitment to the administration of justice. Recalling his professional journey from the bar in Balochistan to the Supreme Court, he acknowledged his contributions to constitutional jurisprudence, judicial administration and institutional development. He particularly highlighted Justice Mandokhail’s efforts to strengthen the district judiciary and judicial infrastructure during his tenure as chief justice of the Balochistan High Court.

The CJP also appreciated his thoughtful advice, candid counsel and steadfast support, observing that his presence had contributed significantly to the collegiality and harmony of the court.

Emphasising that the bench and the bar were integral to the administration of justice, the CJP stressed the need to maintain harmony, mutual respect and constructive engagement within the legal fraternity.

He reaffirmed his commitment to preserving cordial relations between the two and said transparent and uniform procedures had been institutionalised through comprehensive standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure consistency, fairness and accountability in judicial administration.

Highlighting the provision of free legal aid at various levels, the CJP reiterated that no person should be denied legal representation merely because of financial constraints.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026

Addressing a press conference at the party’s Mansoorah headquarters, JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said the party would hold a public gathering in Quetta on Nov 22, followed by a major rally at Minar-i-Pakistan in Lahore on Nov 29. Similar gatherings would later be organised in Peshawar and Karachi as well, he added.

The JI has been demanding for over two months that the federal government abolish petroleum levy, as fuel prices have skyrocketed due to conflicts in the Middle East since March. Mr Rehman said his party has now decided to broaden that movement to include protests against rising prices of petroleum products and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), difficulties faced by farmers and delays in holding LG polls.

Hafiz Naeem says party will hold rallies in Quetta, Lahore, Peshawar and Karachi

He claimed no other political party was seriously raising issues affecting ordinary citizens. He maintained that political movements should neither resort to violence nor take up batons, describing the JI’s campaign as organised and peaceful.

Highlighting the economic difficulties facing the public, the JI emir said LPG prices had crossed Rs500 per kg, while electricity and gas tariffs remained excessively high. He also alleged that oil refineries were making huge profits from petroleum products.

The JI emir also criticised the Punjab government over what he said was a deteriorating agricultural situation. He contended that small farmers were bearing the brunt of government policies.

The price of a 50kg bag of DAP fertiliser had exceeded Rs17,000, while urea was not readily available in the market, he said. Flour prices had reached Rs8,000 per 40kg, whereas farmers had sold wheat for less than Rs3,500 per 40kg. The price had since climbed to around Rs5,500 per 40kg, he added. Mr Rehman claimed that the area under cotton cultivation had declined by 60 per cent over the past decade, with sugarcane increasingly replacing cotton in traditional cotton-growing areas.

He said farmers did not receive a fair price for sugarcane, while there were indications that sugar mills might not begin crushing by the Nov 15 deadline. The JI emir claimed that a few influential political families owned nearly 75pc of the country’s sugar mills and alleged that various “mafias” benefited from creating and exploiting shortages.

On LG elections, Mr Rehman said the JI had approached the courts over the failure to hold polls and amendments introduced to Punjab’s local government law. Describing the existing Punjab Local Government Act as anti-democratic, he said JI had rejected the legislation and demanded amendments to ensure timely elections.

On the issue of petroleum levy, on which the JI has been holding consultations with the Centre, Mr Rehman said a joint technical team comprising government and party representatives had prepared a draft agreement.

He said the government would review the proposed agreement before announcing relief measures for the public. The JI emir said the party’s protest drive against the petrol levy had helped prevent further hikes in petrol prices and secured relief for citizens.

However, he asked the government to extend the existing relief package to vehicles up to 1,300cc, agricultural machinery running on diesel and public transport.

Mr Rehman made it clear that the party had not withdrawn its demand for the abolition of the petroleum levy. “We will decide our future course of action after the final agreement,” he asserted.

He demanded that the government pass on the benefits of declining international oil prices to consumers while curbing excessive profits made by oil refineries.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026

At a press conference held at the National Press Club, former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry, former Sindh governor Imran Ismail and Mahmood Maulvi said the country can no longer afford confrontation. They called for a political arrangement that would bring stability and revive the economy.

They said the challenges being faced by the country could not be resolved by a single political party or government. They said a joint national strategy based on consensus was the need of the hour.

National govt formation urged to bring stability and revive economy

The committee leaders said that a national government would bring together all political forces and mainstream stakeholders, reduce polarisation and restore public confidence in democratic institutions and ensure continuity of economic policies.

They also called for a debate on establishing new provinces. They said that the existing administrative units needed review because of population growth, expanding cities and growing demands for better and quick services.

Mr Chaudhry said that creating provinces could help solve administrative difficulties and improve service delivery.

However, he stressed that the issue must follow requirements, public aspirations and national consensus, not just political considerations.

The committee also called for taking measures to strengthen economy, control inflation, create jobs, support industries, strengthen agriculture and increase exports.

They maintained that political differences should be resolved through negotiations and not via confrontation.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026

On Oct 29, an Islamabad anti-terrorism court (ATC) sentenced the couple to 10 years in prison each in the security breach case, pertaining to the disruption of an international cricket team’s security route and incitement to public unrest.

A three-member SC bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, heard the case. During the hearing, Justice Mazhar observed that the matter had become infructuous following the conclusion of the trial and the couple’s conviction.

The Supreme Court subsequently directed the IHC to decide on the petition. The two were being tried in jail in the 2024 case. The couple, accused of removing barriers , was indicted on Oct 7.

A formal trial commenced after both lawyers pleaded not guilty. Both were on bail in this case prior to the verdict.

The sentence was handed down under three separate legal provisions. According to the judgement, the two were sentenced to 10 years along with a fine of Rs100,000 each under Section 7 (h) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. The court further handed down a one-year sentence and fined Rs50,000 each under Section 186 of the PPC.

They were also sentenced to two years each under Section 353 of the PPC.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026