***
### Political Retort Ignites Local Governance Debate
Sindh Government Spokesperson Sadia Javed has issued a sharp rebuttal to Federal Minister Mustafa Kamal, accusing him of turning his recent public address into a platform for self-aggrandizement.
In an official statement, Javed criticized Kamal’s press conference, stating he had used the forum to portray himself as an “angel.” She challenged him to review historical records, asserting that his tenure coincided with a period when Karachi was a “dangerous and terrifying city.”
Javed defended the current provincial government’s performance, emphasizing the stabilizing role of the 18th Constitutional Amendment. She stated that the amendment has significantly bolstered democracy and empowered provinces to enhance their effectiveness, leading directly to “revolutionary health facilities” being implemented across Sindh.
Addressing Kamal’s critique of local administration, the spokesperson maintained that Sindh’s local government system is robust. She noted that funds received under the current finance commission formula are distributed uniformly across the entire province, with Karachi receiving the largest share of ongoing development projects.
Javed questioned Kamal’s moral standing to discuss local government, pointing out that those who failed to participate in recent local body elections lack the credibility to criticize the system. She also challenged him on his remarks concerning illegal construction (petrol pumps and wedding halls), urging him to acknowledge facilities that were established during his own tenure.
“Those who brought Karachi to this condition are now weeping,” Javed asserted, concluding that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is committed to improving the metropolis through genuine service, successfully restoring the “lights of Karachi.”
***
### National Roundup and Key Developments
**High-Level Appointments and Diplomacy:**
* President Asif Ali Zardari administered the oath of office to Zafar Hijazi as the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) in Islamabad.
* The President also met with Maryam Madiha Aftab, Pakistan’s Ambassador-designate to Ireland, urging a concerted effort to enhance economic partnership between the two nations.
* The newly appointed UAE Ambassador, Salem Mohammed Al Zaabi, visited the Sindh Governor House and met Governor Kamran Tessori to discuss strengthening Pak-UAE relations and exploring new investment avenues.
**Security and Law Enforcement:**
* Fourteen passengers who had been abducted from a bus traveling from Sadiqabad to Quetta were successfully recovered by law enforcement agencies.
* A meeting on security arrangements for the upcoming Christmas holiday was held in Karachi, chaired by Additional IG Javed Alam Odho.
* A railway track was damaged by an explosion near Humayun, Shikarpur.
* Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Hadeed area reported two separate supermarket robberies carried out by two different suspects within a span of 48 hours.
* DSP Usman Haider was suspended following his arrest on charges of murdering his wife and daughter.
**Provincial Governance and Disaster Management:**
* Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi visited Peshawar Central Jail and announced a special two-month sentence remission for inmates.
* Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti warned that the province is facing a severe and escalating drought situation, calling for immediate and comprehensive planning to mitigate the crisis.
* The Sindh Assembly introduced a resolution demanding the modernization of the city’s fire brigade system.
* Another resolution was presented in the Sindh Assembly to pay tribute to the Pakistan Armed Forces and the Bihari community for their sacrifices during the 1971 East Pakistan tragedy.
* A petition was filed in the Peshawar High Court seeking the removal of Provincial Minister Amjad Ali’s name from the Exit Control List (ECL) and the Provincial National Identity List (PNIL).
**Political and Social Movements:**
* Delegations from the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Aaeen Pakistan (TTAP) held meetings with leaders from both Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) in Islamabad and the head of the National Watan Party, Aftab Sherpao.
* The Human Rights Council of Pakistan (HRCP) released a statement reacting strongly to an incident in the Indian state of Bihar involving Chief Minister Nitish Kumar allegedly pulling the veil off a Muslim woman doctor.
**International and Other News:**
* Muhammad Fatih, the father of the citizen who courageously subdued the attacker at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, confirmed that his son’s bravery saved dozens of innocent lives.
* The passing of veteran politician Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo has been confirmed by his family.
* Renowned Bollywood actor Anupam Kher shared his “interesting” experience traveling by train after missing a connecting flight from Varanasi to Khajuraho.
