The Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Suhail Aftab, has expressed his disapproval of the recent terrorist incidents in Balochistan, while also accepting an invitation from the Prime Minister to discuss the issues of the province. Speaking at a peace conference in Khyber, Aftab stated that the federal government has failed to recover billions of rupees in IDPs, and that he has allocated 4 billion rupees for the IDPs, only to be accused of corruption by the federal government. He further emphasized that terrorism is a collective challenge for the entire country and that he is willing to allocate 100 billion rupees for the IDPs, but that the government is conspiring to impose governor’s rule on the province. In a stern warning, Aftab said that he will not be deterred and will continue to fight for the rights of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The opposition parties have criticized the government’s handling of the situation and have announced that they will hold a rally in Islamabad to protest against the government’s policies. The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Punjab, Dr. Usman Anwar, is expected to be transferred to the federal government, according to sources. The Senate’s Standing Committee on Trade has asked tough questions about the performance of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
In a related development, the government has approved the Punjab Regulation of Aircraft Flight Act 2025. Senator Rana Sanaullah, the advisor on political affairs to the Prime Minister, has stated that anyone who does not use the word “marauder” to describe terrorists will be considered a terrorist.
In other news, the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, is expected to visit Pakistan on February 3-4. A young man was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a businessman in a Karachi court. The Senate’s Standing Committee on Law and Justice has introduced a bill to establish an Arbitration Council to resolve disputes.
The government has taken strict measures to prevent smuggling of goods, including oil, in Balochistan. Federal Minister for Communications and Postal Services, Ali Nawaz Awan, has apologized to Senator Palwasha Khan of the Pakistan People’s Party in the Senate. The Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Marriyum Aurangzeb, has said that the government will take strict action against smugglers.
In a separate development, US President Donald Trump has spoken over the phone with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has released a statement on social media. Indian film director and filmmaker Shazia Ali has privatized her Instagram account after facing criticism and backlash over her remarks about the film Dharkan.
The Senate’s Standing Committee on Trade has asked tough questions about the performance of the FBR and the US Customs Service.
