Pakistan’s Minister of Law, Azam Nazir Tarar, has urged members of the People’s Party to listen to his words, as the controversy surrounding the ordinance has been making waves on social media. In a statement, the Minister clarified that the government will not notify the ordinance until it is ratified by the President. The People’s Party had protested against the ordinance in the National Assembly, claiming that it was passed without the President’s signature. The party’s leaders, including Naveed Qamar, argued that the primary responsibility of the assembly is legislation, and that the ordinance has no validity without the President’s approval. They also threatened to boycott the assembly until their demands are met.
In a separate development, Justice Yousuf Ali Saeed has called for a written response from the government on the matter. Protests have been reported in several districts of Punjab due to a severe fog, and multiple motorways have been closed due to traffic congestion.
In other news, Professor Manzar Iqbal, the central president of the Association of Professors and Lecturers, and other leaders have announced a boycott of teaching duties, a sit-in at the Bolowal House, and a strike in protest of the non-acceptance of their demands for an independent ministry of education.
Former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has expressed his skepticism about the decision, stating that it needs to be investigated and understood in its context. According to a statement, the Prime Minister has advised the government to review the ordinance under Article 89/2 of the Constitution and withdraw it.
In other international news, the government of Nepal has notified the federal government of a new basic tariff for electricity, which will come into effect on January 1, 2026. The Chief of Defense Staff and the Army Chief, General Asim Munir, held a meeting with the Indonesian Defense Minister to discuss mutual defense cooperation and regional security.
In a separate development, the Pakistani Embassy in the US has advised American citizens to avoid visiting Iran, if possible, and to use alternative routes such as Armenia or Turkey to exit the country.
The Taliban’s foreign ministry has announced that its senior officials, including Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, have arrived in Delhi for talks. The cricket board of Australia has announced that the Australian women’s cricket team will retire from all formats after the upcoming series against India.
In an address to the United Nations, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, stated that only a peaceful solution can bring permanent peace in Ukraine.
