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Senior political discourse in Pakistan was rocked by sensational claims made by veteran journalist Kamran Yousuf during his appearance on ‘Geo News’ program, ‘Capital Talk.’ Yousuf alleged that former Director-General of the ISI, General (R) Faiz Hameed, harbored ambitions far exceeding the role of Army Chief. Yousuf claimed General Hameed sought to emulate the political leadership models of China and Russia by assuming the presidency, and was allegedly planning to remove the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to usher in a presidential system of governance.
Further compounding these revelations, Barrister Danial Chaudhry, Parliamentary Secretary for the Federal Government, and Zubair Umar of the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Aain-e-Pakistan (TTAAP), detailed instances of alleged oppression experienced personally under the former General.
### Security, Law Enforcement, and Diplomacy
In a significant security development, all 14 passengers who had been abducted from a commuter bus traveling between Sadiqabad and Quetta were successfully recovered by authorities. Meanwhile, Karachi’s security apparatus, led by Additional IG Javed Alam Odho, convened a high-level meeting to finalize comprehensive security protocols ahead of the Christmas festivities.
Despite these positive law enforcement outcomes, reports of criminality persisted: two separate armed robberies targeted two major supermarkets in Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Hadeed area within a 48-hour period. Furthermore, the country’s infrastructure faced threats after a section of the railway track near Humayun in Shikarpur was disabled by an explosive device.
On the diplomatic front, Pakistan reinforced ties with the Gulf region as the new UAE Ambassador, Salem Mohammed Al Zaabi, arrived at the Sindh Governor House. Discussions with Governor Kamran Tessori focused on enhancing robust bilateral relations, fostering mutual investment, and reviewing ongoing matters of cooperation between Pakistan and the UAE.
### Governance and Provincial Matters
President Asif Zardari administered the oath of office to Zafar Hijazi, formally inducting him as the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) in Islamabad.
Provincially, political and administrative developments continued:
* **Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP):** Chief Minister Sohail Afridi visited Central Jail Peshawar and announced a special two-month remission for prisoners. Paradoxically, legal proceedings have commenced seeking to have CM Afridi declared an absconder. Separately, a petition was filed in the Peshawar High Court (PHC) requesting the removal of Provincial Minister Amjad Ali’s name from the Exit Control List (ECL) and the Provincial National Identity List (PNIL).
* **Balochistan:** Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti addressed the worsening drought conditions in the province, announcing that the government is initiating comprehensive planning to mitigate the severe impact of the dry spell.
* **Sindh:** The Sindh Assembly saw two significant resolutions tabled: one aimed at modernizing the province’s antiquated fire brigade system, and another passed to pay tribute to the Bihari community who stood alongside the Pakistan Armed Forces during the 1971 East Pakistan tragedy.
### Political Movements and Legal Actions
The political advocacy group TTAAP was active in Islamabad, holding meetings with leadership from Jamaat-e-Islami and later meeting with National Awami Party (QWP) Chief Aftab Sherpao to discuss the country’s constitutional future.
In a serious judicial development, DSP Usman Haider was suspended following his arrest in connection with the alleged murder of his wife and daughter.
Separately, Rao Tariq, General Secretary of the Marriage Hall Association, publicly rejected the government’s ‘One-Dish Law,’ stating it was unacceptable to the public.
### International and Miscellaneous News
The Human Rights Council of Pakistan (HRCP) issued a critical response to reports that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar allegedly pulled the veil (niqab) of a Muslim female doctor in India.
Bollywood star Anupam Kher shared an anecdote about missing a connecting Indigo flight from Varanasi to Khajuraho and subsequently traveling by train, describing the rail journey as a refreshing and enjoyable experience.
In Australia, the father of the citizen who successfully subdued a recent attacker expressed pride, stating his son’s bravery saved the lives of dozens of innocent people.
Finally, the death of veteran politician Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo was confirmed by his family.
