ISLAMABAD: Unofficial results of Sunday’s by-polls indicate a neck-to-neck race for Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) and ruling party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), with both securing four seats each from the 11 vacant National Assembly (NA) constituencies.
PTI lost a seat to Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA), a five-party alliance led by Fazlur Rehman and partner of PML-N. However, the Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid, a supporter of PTI, bagged two NA seats.
Preliminary figures showed PML-N securing six seats in the Punjab provincial assembly while PTI took four. Two other seats went to independent candidates. In the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, PTI grabbed six of the nine seats losing two to the Awami National Party and one to PML-N.
Parliamentarians from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) took two seats in the Sindh Assembly while the Baloch National Party (BNP) and an independent candidate secured one seat each in the Balochistan Assembly.
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry cited the absence of Prime Minister Imran Khan in PTI’s by-election campaign as the main reason for the setback. However despite the opposition’s gains, the ruling party still received the highest number of combined assembly seats.
The slim margin is also a tell-tale signs of voters’ confidence in PM Khan’s policy amendments to steer the country toward progress, but at a cost borne by the common man. An unusually low voter turnout was recorded in Pakistan on Sunday as the country held by-elections for 11 national and 24 provincial assembly seats that had fallen vacant after the general elections in July.
More than 9.2 million voters were expected to cast their ballot at 7,489 polling centers that had stringent security measures in place. While media persons were barred from entering the polling stations, the voter turnout remained poor as per the initial counts, with an unnamed Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) official saying that it was 35 percent.
“The polling station was deserted when I went to vote late morning,” Syed Ather Ali, who voted for PTI from NA-60, a National Assembly constituency in Rawalpindi, said.
Some 370 hopefuls contested the by-polls, according to the ECP, which approved 645 nomination papers of the 661 submitted by different candidates. According to the data provided, 218 candidates contested from Punjab, 57 from Sindh, 36 from the sparsely populated province of Balochistan and 59 from KP.
According to unofficial results, a PML-N candidate won from NA-131, in Lahore. Similarly, the country’s former prime minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, won and bagged the greatest number of votes in NA-124, Lahore, on the PML-N ticket. Much like the last general elections, the political battle was once again anticipated to be between PTI and PML-N and going by the unofficial accounts, both parties are understood to have taken four NA seats each.
Two unopposed candidates had already won the provincial seats of PP-87, Mianwali, and PP-296, Rajanpur. The most unique feature of the by-polls was the participation of overseas Pakistanis who could participate in the vote for the first time by accessing the ECP’s website.
However, out of the 7.9 million nationals living abroad, only a little more than 7,400 took part in the polls.
Meanwhile, few contestants, who lost the electoral race, believed they had fallen victim to systematic irregularities. Political analyst Qamar Cheema said the by-polls were vital for PTI since it had managed to form the government at the federal level with only a narrow margin. “These by-elections will also prove whether people have accepted or rejected all the changes that PM Khan’s administration has introduced in the country,” Cheema said while talking to Arab News.
PML-N strikes back as PTI struggles to maintain dominance
PML-N strikes back as PTI struggles to maintain dominance
- Both parties secure four seats each in Sunday’s by-polls
- Overseas Pakistanis vote for the first time via ECP website
Pakistan highlights India’s ‘brazen disregard’ for international law over Indus treaty stance
- Pakistan says India’s treaty suspension shows it cannot be trusted to honor legal obligations
- The statement follows Indian home minister’s threat to divert river waters, ‘starve’ Pakistan
KARACHI: Pakistan on Saturday accused India of showing a “brazen disregard” for international agreements after New Delhi said it would not restore the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty and divert river waters for internal use.
India put into “abeyance” its participation in the 1960 treaty, which governs the distribution of the Indus river system between the two countries, after 26 civilians in Indian-administered Kashmir were killed in an April gun attack.
India blamed Pakistan for the incident, though it denied any involvement. The accord remains dormant since then despite a ceasefire agreed upon by the two nuclear-armed neighbors last month following their worst fighting in decades.
Islamabad’s statement over the issue came after Indian Home Minister Amit Shah gave an interview to the media, saying New Delhi would not reinstate the treaty that guarantees water access for 80 percent of Pakistan’s farms through rivers originating in India.
“The statement reflects a brazen disregard for the sanctity of international agreements,” Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said in a statement. “The Indus Waters Treaty is not a political arrangement, but an international treaty with no provision for unilateral action.”
“India’s illegal announcement to hold the Treaty in abeyance constitutes a clear violation of international law, the provisions of the Treaty itself, and the fundamental principles governing inter-state relations,” he continued. “Such conduct sets a reckless and dangerous precedent — one that undermines the credibility of international agreements and raises serious questions about the reliability and trustworthiness of a state that openly refuses to fulfill its legal obligations.”
The statement further said India’s attempt to “weaponize water for political ends” was irresponsible and in violation of established norms of state behavior.
It called on India to “immediately rescind its unilateral and unlawful stance” and restore the “full and unhindered implementation” of the treaty.
“Pakistan remains firmly committed to the Treaty and will take all necessary measures to protect its legitimate rights and entitlements under it,” the spokesperson added.
Earlier in the day, the Indian minister said in his interview New Delhi would divert water by constructing a canal, and that Pakistan would be “starved” of water it had been receiving “unjustifiably.”
While Islamabad has pursued diplomatic channels to raise awareness of the issue globally, it has also warned that any Indian attempt to block river flows will be treated as “an act of war.”
With input from Reuters
Pakistan, Turkiye leaders vow diplomatic push to halt Israel’s military campaigns in Mideast
- The Middle East situation came up during a meeting between Ishaq Dar, Asim Munir and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
- Both sides stressed the urgency of halting ‘Israeli aggression’ in Gaza, ensuring unhindered humanitarian aid
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Saturday and agreed to step up diplomatic efforts to halt Israel’s military campaigns in the Middle East, as regional tensions threaten to escalate further.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 51st session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers in Istanbul, where Muslim-majority nations are grappling with regional crises.
Two of the bloc’s key members — Pakistan and Iran — have recently faced military escalations with regional adversaries. While Pakistan’s brief but intense standoff with India last month ended in a ceasefire, Israel’s strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites, launched over a week ago, have shown no signs of letting up.
“The leaders [of Pakistan and Turkiye] expressed strong condemnation of the continued Israeli attacks in blatant violation of fundamental principles of international law, reiterated support for Iran’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and its right to self-defense under the UN Charter, agreed to continue diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation and urged the international community to play its part in restoring peace and stability in the region,” the Foreign Office in Islamabad said in a statement.
“Both sides emphasized the urgency of galvanizing efforts to bring an immediate halt to the Israeli aggression in Gaza and unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance to the besieged people of Gaza,” the statement added.
As Iran and Israel continue to trade fire, European and regional powers are racing to contain the conflict and bring Iran back to the negotiating table to resume nuclear negotiations that broke down when Israel launched its strike on Tehran and other cities.
During Saturday’s meeting, Dar underscored Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with Turkiye.
The two sides reaffirmed their desire to deepen cooperation, particularly in light of Turkiye’s diplomatic support for Pakistan during last month’s flare-up with India, which saw both nuclear-armed neighbors exchange missiles, drone fire and airstrikes before tensions subsided under international pressure.
Dar also congratulated Erdoğan on receiving an award from the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum in recognition of his leadership and the successful organization of the ongoing OIC ministerial session.
PM Sharif orders early Hajj planning, calls for private scheme reform
- A major portion of the quota for private Hajj operators remained unutilized this year
- Shehbaz Sharif says no negligence in serving Hajj pilgrims next year will be tolerated
KARACHI: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday directed the religious affairs ministry to begin preparations for the 2026 Hajj immediately, while calling for urgent reforms to the country’s private Hajj scheme following a situation that left thousands of pilgrimage slots unused this year.
Pakistan received a quota of 179,210 pilgrims from Saudi Arabia for Hajj 2025, which was evenly divided between the government and private Hajj operators.
While the government filled its full allocation of over 88,000 pilgrims, a major portion of the private quota remained unutilized due to delays by companies in meeting payment and registration deadlines.
Private operators, however, blamed the situation on technical glitches such as payment issues and communication breakdowns.
“Preparations for next year’s Hajj operation must begin immediately,” the prime minister said, according to a statement released by his office.
“The operational plan should be developed in accordance with the Hajj policy issued by Saudi Arabia,” he continued. “No negligence in serving pilgrims next year will be tolerated.”
Sharif also emphasized the need to “regularize” the private Hajj scheme.
Previously, Pakistan’s religious affairs minister, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, had confirmed that over 67,000 private-sector slots went unused, despite a last-minute effort to reclaim some of the allocation.
The shortfall prompted criticism and concerns over regulation and the capacity of private Hajj companies.
The prime minister has also asked the religious affairs ministry to submit a detailed Hajj action plan with clear deadlines and start preparing for next year’s Islamic pilgrimage.
PM Sharif seeks action after two police officers shot dead in northwest Pakistan
- The officers had stopped to get water when they were ambushed by gunmen on a motorbike
- The prime minister praises the efforts of police officials fighting militancy on the front lines
PESHAWAR: Two police officers were shot and killed when unidentified assailants opened fire on their mobile patrol van in Swabi, a district in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday directing authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The attack took place around 10:00 p.m. Friday night near a roadside kiosk within the jurisdiction of the Gadoon police station, according to Abdul Majid, a senior police officer in Swabi.
The officers had briefly stopped to get water when they were ambushed by gunmen on a motorbike.
“Terrorists riding a motorbike opened fire on the police party,” Majid told Arab News over the phone. “Two officers were martyred on the spot.”
Militant attacks in KP, particularly by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), have increased in recent years, with security forces, government officials and civilians often targeted.
The Pakistani military and law enforcement agencies have launched intelligence-based operations to curb the violence, but attacks have persisted.
Following the shooting, a large police contingent was deployed to the area to secure the scene, collect forensic evidence and launch a search operation.
No arrests have been made so far, and the investigation is ongoing. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the Swabi attack and expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of the police officers.
“We pay tribute to the martyrs and pray for patience for their families,” he said in a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.
Sharif directed authorities to investigate the incident and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
“The war against terrorism will continue until this scourge is eradicated from the country,” he said, praising the efforts of police officers fighting on the front lines.
Pakistan says sharing battlefield intel with China on India air war last month
- Defense minister denies Chinese satellites assisted Pakistan in monitoring Indian troop and missiles movements during India standoff in May
- Says Chinese personnel were not able to track fighting in real time or access Pakistan Air Force monitoring systems between May 7-10
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said this week it was “very normal” for Islamabad to share battlefield intelligence with close ally China in the aftermath of last month’s brief but intense military confrontation with India, though he downplayed suggestions Beijing played a direct operational role or provided decisive satellite support during the aerial fight.
The May 7–10 conflict — the heaviest fighting in decades — has drawn significant interest from Western militaries, security observers and diplomats, who see it as a rare opportunity for China to study the performance of Indian pilots, fighter jets, air defense systems and air-to-air missiles in real combat conditions.
With Beijing locked in its own longstanding border disputes and strategic rivalry with New Delhi, analysts believe any Pakistani data trove could sharpen China’s military readiness.
China is already Pakistan’s principal supplier of military hardware, providing fighter jets, missiles, submarines and surveillance technology. The two neighbors share a strategic alliance driven in part by their disputes with India, which has fought wars with both nations. Close economic and security ties, anchored by the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), has further strengthened the relationship.
“It is very normal if we are sharing any information which we have which can threaten us or the Chinese because the Chinese also have problems with India,” Asif told Arab News in an interview this week when questioned if Pakistan was sharing intelligence with Beijing on Indian use of air defenses and launches of cruise and ballistic missiles, as well as command and control information.
“I think it’s very natural if we share intelligence which is gathered through satellites or gathered through other means.”
In the military confrontation that began on May 7, Indian fighter jets bombed what New Delhi called “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan in response to an April 22 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 people, mostly tourists.
Islamabad denied involvement in the Kashmir assault but retaliated to the Indian airstrikes with tit-for-tat military action that involved fighter jets, drones, missiles and artillery. A ceasefire was brokered by the US and announced on May 10.
Pakistan said its Chinese jets shot down at least six Indian military planes, including three French-made Rafales, during the four days of clashes. General Anil Chauhan, India’s chief of defense staff, has admitted that an unspecified number of its jets were lost.
‘MADE IN PAKISTAN’ VICTORY
The London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) says China now operates at least 115 satellites dedicated to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and 81 for monitoring military electronic and signals data, a network second only to the United States and far ahead of India’s capabilities.
According to two Islamabad-based Western diplomats involved in the May ceasefire negotiations and one Pakistani security official, all of whom requested anonymity, 44 of these satellites were at Pakistan’s disposal during the conflict with India. The Western officials suggest the Chinese satellite and signals intelligence may have assisted Pakistan in monitoring Indian troop and missile movements during the air war, possibly giving Pakistan a real-time edge.
The Pakistani defense minister rejected the claims.
“You are underestimating the ability of our armed forces,” Asif said, cautioning against downplaying Pakistan’s own capabilities in electronic warfare and precision targeting.
Asked directly about the use of Chinese satellite capabilities for any kind of support during the fighting, the defense chief said:
“I don’t know and I don’t think so … We are very advanced as far as this warfare is concerned … China’s help is always, always very valuable … but this fight was Pakistani, the victory is ‘Made in Pakistan’.”
He also denied that Chinese personnel were able to monitor the fighting in real time or access Pakistan Air Force monitoring systems during the May 7–10 period.
“No, I don’t think so they had any access. They were watching the situation very closely, as a neighbor, as a friend,” Asif said. “But I’ll again assert that this war was fought by our boys and girls.”
While Asif noted that Pakistan sourced most of its military hardware — including submarines, aircraft and weapons — from China, as well as some from Turkiye, the United States and European countries, he maintained that the actual fighting remained fully under Pakistani command.
“So, in that backdrop [of China being a major defense supplier], you can always speculate that China was very helpful to us in this conflict,” he said. “But physical participation or participation through satellites or through other means, I don’t think so.”
China has been Pakistan’s closest defense partner since the 1960s and the Pakistan Air Force operates a fleet of Chinese JF-10C multirole fighters, and JF-17 Thunder planes, jointly developed and assembled in Pakistan to reduce dependence on Western defense equipment.
After the India standoff, Beijing is also widely reported to be fast-tracking the sale of fifth-generation J-35 stealth jets to Islamabad, potentially giving Pakistan deep-strike capabilities into Indian airspace.
Asked if the J-35 jets would be delivered in 2026 as suggested in recent media reports, Asif responded:
“I think it’s only in the media, you know. It’s only in the media and it’s good for sales, Chinese defense sales.”
NUCLEAR ALERT POSTURE?
A full-scale war between India and Pakistan — both nuclear powers — remains one of the most dangerous strategic flashpoints in the world. Experts have long warned that even limited, high-intensity skirmishes run the risk of unintended escalation toward nuclear war.
Asked if last month’s clash had triggered any consideration of moving to a nuclear alert posture, Asif was categorical:
“No… Absolutely, with certainty I can say that.”
He also dismissed the idea that Pakistan had considered launching a broader conventional offensive across the border, saying modern warfare was no longer dependent on crossing territorial lines:
“Now you don’t have to cross the border. You don’t have to capture the territory. Capturing territory or crossing over... that is something which is obsolete. War is being fought now... cyber.”
The defense minister also said there had been no back-channel diplomacy between Islamabad and New Delhi following the May 10 ceasefire, although military operations heads in both countries had been in contact via a hotline.
And while the Pakistan-India clash may have faded from global headlines amid the ongoing crisis between Israel and Iran in the Middle East, Asif said India remained Pakistan’s most pressing security concern.
“We have been on alert so we have not lowered guards, that I can confirm,” the defense minister said, particularly due to concerns Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi could resort to fresh military action as he was under pressure from a public questioning how Pakistani forces struck military facilities deep inside the country and downed Indian jets.
Modi also has domestic political pressures to manage ahead of elections in Bihar, a pivotal swing state that is crucial for both national and state-level power equations.
“Modi has internal compulsions to avenge [the May conflict] … There are elections around the corner… and his popularity has plummeted, his political opponents can smell blood, politically,” Asif said.
“That can drive him to some desperate measures, otherwise, I don’t think so there is a possibility of some replay of what happened a month back.”
