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Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to eliminating terrorism, saying security forces will continue intelligence-based and targeted operations until militant networks and their facilitators are completely dismantled. He made these remarks while addressing participants of the 20th National Workshop Balochistan during an interaction at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on Wednesday. The army chief said lasting peace in Balochistan can only be achieved through sustained efforts by the armed forces, law enforcement agencies and the unwavering support of the people. He stressed that operations against militant groups would continue with full determination to ensure long-term peace and stability across the country. Field Marshal Asim Munir said hostile elements backed by foreign interests have repeatedly attempted to create unrest in Balochistan, weaken national unity and disrupt peace. However, he maintained that such attempts would not succeed because of the professionalism of Pakistan’s armed forces and the resilience of the nation’s people. He reaffirmed that Pakistan remains determined to dismantle terrorist infrastructure wherever it poses a threat to the country’s security and the safety of its citizens. He said the state would continue taking decisive action against all groups involved in terrorism or supporting extremist violence. Highlighting the importance of Balochistan, the army chief described the province as a vital part of Pakistan with enormous natural resources and a resilient, patriotic population. He said the people of Balochistan are the province’s greatest asset and play a key role in the country’s future. He also pointed to ongoing development projects being carried out by the federal and provincial governments, saying these initiatives are aimed at improving infrastructure, creating economic opportunities and enhancing the quality of life for local communities through an inclusive development strategy. During the interaction, the army chief praised the contributions of civil society, academics, media professionals and the youth in promoting national harmony and supporting efforts for lasting peace and development in Balochistan. He emphasized that unity, resilience and collective national resolve are essential for overcoming challenges and ensuring Pakistan’s continued progress.

The second phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) general elections began on Sunday with polling underway in Muzaffarabad division and all 12 refugee constituencies located across Pakistan. Polling started at 8am and will continue until 5pm without any break. Election officials opened polling stations early in the morning, while voters began arriving to cast their ballots. Security personnel were deployed across sensitive areas to ensure a peaceful voting process. This phase of the elections covers nine constituencies in Muzaffarabad division. These include five constituencies in Muzaffarabad district and two each in Neelum and Jhelum Valley districts. At the same time, polling is also being held for 12 refugee constituencies representing refugees from the Kashmir Valley and Jammu region. More than 340 candidates are contesting the elections in this phase. According to election authorities, 207 candidates are in the race for the nine seats in Muzaffarabad division, while another 137 candidates are contesting the refugee constituencies. More than 809,000 registered voters are eligible to vote in Muzaffarabad division. The refugee constituencies have over 438,000 registered voters. Thousands of election staff have been deployed to conduct polling and oversee the voting process. Authorities have established 1,483 polling stations across Muzaffarabad division. Among them, 533 have been declared highly sensitive, 741 sensitive and 209 normal. In addition, 1,057 polling stations have been set up for refugee constituencies in different provinces. The refugee constituencies are spread across Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Balochistan and Islamabad. Polling arrangements have been completed in all regions where registered refugee voters are residing. In Rawalpindi and Islamabad, around 27,000 registered voters are casting their votes for three refugee seats. Election officials have established 175 polling stations, while enhanced security has been provided at sensitive locations. In Gujrat, Wazirabad and Mandi Bahauddin, nearly 2,000 police personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order during polling. More than 50,000 registered voters are expected to elect their representative in the constituency. Polling is also taking place in Karachi and several districts of Sindh for two refugee constituencies. Election officials have made arrangements to facilitate voters across the province. In Balochistan, polling stations have been established in Quetta, Pishin, Qila Saifullah, Hub, Loralai, Sibi, Mastung, Zhob and Barkhan for refugee voters. Similar arrangements have been made in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly in Swat and Mansehra, where polling is being held for another refugee seat. The second phase of the elections is taking place amid heightened political tensions between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Relations between the coalition partners have remained strained since the first phase of polling, with both parties accusing each other of electoral irregularities in several constituencies. Senior leaders from both sides held multiple meetings in recent days in an effort to resolve the dispute. However, the talks failed to produce an agreement before the second phase of voting. The PPP has demanded legal action and re-polling in selected constituencies, while the PML-N has rejected allegations of organized rigging and maintained that the election results reflect the will of the voters. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met PML-N President Nawaz Sharif to review the political situation and discuss developments related to the AJK elections. Senior party leaders also attended the meeting and discussed the coalition’s future strategy.

ISLAMABAD: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry has urged Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to engage in dialogue with the government, saying Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s invitation for talks remains on the table. Speaking in the Senate, Chaudhry said the government was ready to hold discussions with the opposition if PTI was serious about negotiations. He said opposition leaders could meet the prime minister or raise the matter in parliament. He also suggested that the opposition leader in the Senate could hold discussions with PML-N Senator Rana Sanaullah. Later, Chaudhry, Sanaullah and Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar met Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and National Assembly Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai at Parliament House. Sanaullah said the meeting was linked to a letter written by Achakzai to Prime Minister Shehbaz. He said the government representatives had met the opposition leaders to discuss the prime minister’s response. The government and PTI have remained politically divided since the 2024 general elections. Disputes between the two sides have included demands for investigations into political protests, as well as issues concerning PTI founder Imran Khan’s health and continued detention. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has also agreed to intensify political contacts with opposition parties. A senior PPP delegation is scheduled to meet Achakzai and Allama Nasir Abbas at the Opposition Leader’s Chamber in Parliament House on Tuesday. The meeting is expected to focus on parliamentary affairs and strengthening political engagement between the government-aligned PPP and opposition leadership. PPP leaders Sherry Rehman, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Saleem Mandviwalla and Naveed Qamar are expected to attend. Naveed Qamar said the talks would focus on strengthening parliament, improving coordination and reinforcing the role of parliamentary committees.