Youm-e-Ishtehsal observed
In this connection, a procession was staged on Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Road. The procession participated by a large number of students, teachers, civil society, trading and lawyers' communities was led by Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi. Advisor to KP Chief Minister on Information and Public Relations, Barrister Dr Mohammad Ali Saif also participated in the rally.
Addressing the participants of the rally, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi said, six years have passed since the barbaric abolition of the special status of the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu Kashmir (IIOJK) by India.
Meanwhile, K-P Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur strongly condemned the atrocities committed by India against the people of occupied Kashmir, particularly the unilateral revocation of Kashmir's special status by the Indian government over the past six years.
Balochistan
Balochistan Governor Jaffar Khan Mandokhail, expressed unwavering solidarity with the people of IIOJK on the occasion of Youm-e-Istehsal, marking six years since India revoked Articles 370 and 35A of its constitution.
In a statement issued here on Tuesday, CM Bugti described August 5, 2019, the day when the Indian government revoked Article 370 of its constitution, stripping Jammu and Kashmir of its special status as a "symbol of India's illegal occupation and suppression of Kashmiri rights."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Business Recorder
Three soldiers martyred in Mastung terrorist attack: ISPR
Three soldiers of the Pakistan Army, including a major, embraced martyrdom in Mastung district after Indian-sponsored terrorists from the group 'Fitna al Hindustan' targeted a security forces' vehicle using an improvised explosive device (IED), the military's media wing said on Wednesday. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the attack occurred during the night between August 5 and 6. The martyred personnel were identified as Major Muhammad Rizwan Tahir (31), a resident of Narowal District; Naik Ibni Amin (37), hailing from Swabi District; and Lance Naik Muhammad Younas (33), from Karak District. 'Major Rizwan was a valiant officer who had participated in numerous counter-terrorism operations and always led from the front,' the ISPR said, lauding the fallen officer's bravery. 257 killed in 501 terror attacks in Balochistan in six months: Home Dept Following the attack, security forces swiftly launched a sanitization operation in the area. Four terrorists linked to the attack were neutralized during the operation. The ISPR reiterated that such operations would continue until the area was completely cleared of hostile elements. 'Security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of Indian-sponsored terrorism from the country, and such sacrifices of our brave men further strengthen our resolve,' the statement added. PM condemns attack Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack and expressed deep sorrow over the martyrdom of the soldiers. 'The entire nation salutes our martyrs,' he said in a statement issued by the PM Office. He offered prayers for the elevation of ranks of the martyrs and extended condolences to the bereaved families. The premier also praised the swift response by security forces that led to the killing of four terrorists, describing the troops as a 'steel wall' protecting the nation. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to eradicating all forms of terrorism and paid tribute to the security forces' unmatched sacrifices in the fight against militancy.
1724919650-0%2FUntitled-design-(5)1724919650-0-640x480.webp&w=3840&q=100)
Express Tribune
2 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Governor rules out talks with terrorists
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor, Faisal Karim Kundi, has declared that there will be no negotiations with those who defy the Constitution or challenge the writ of the state. He urged individuals supporting terrorists to cease providing them shelter, warning that intelligence-based operations will be conducted against them. Addressing the Qaumi Istehkam-e-Pakistan Conference in Peshawar and speaking to the media, the Governor emphasized that Pakistan's armed forces are capable of responding to any threat. "If our military can respond to our eternal enemy within 72 hours, a handful of terrorists hold no significance. They can be neutralized in minutes," he said. He added that while a large-scale military operation is not underway, intelligence-based actions are ongoing because locals do not want to be displaced again. Criticizing the provincial government, he said, "The K-P government is playing Jirga-Jirga while refusing to act decisively. We cannot hold talks with those who reject the Constitution." Addressing propaganda claims that the situation in certain areas is being worsened to exploit mineral resources, he countered, "If that's true, where are the mines in DI Khan, Tank, Lakki Marwat, and Bannu? This narrative is being used to undermine the army." On PTI's protests, Governor Kundi remarked that the party has been reduced to a "neighborhood group" and will soon be unable to hold rallies even in alleyways. He criticized CM Gandapur, calling him a "good boy" who has compromised on major issues. "It's unfortunate that the province's chief executive doesn't have time for Kashmiris," he added. Taking aim at PTI leader Omar Ayub, he said, "The grandson of a dictator should not lecture us on democracy. These are the same people who stood with Nawaz Sharif and General Musharraf, and are now aligned with Imran Khan. While we visit Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, they head to Corps Commander House." He recalled that PTI was handed a peaceful province in 2013 but failed to maintain law and order. Paying tribute to the armed forces, police, and security personnel, the Governor said, "It is the duty of every citizen to stand against terrorism. We want peace and prosperity in the province, which is rich in natural resources. Development, be it roads, schools, or hospitals, can only happen once peace is ensured." He stressed the need for better relations with neighboring countries but said Pakistan must rely on itself. "No savior will come from abroad," he said. Referring to past military victories, he stated, "The world called for peace when our army responded to Indian aggression. Even today, the Indian prime minister remains stunned by that response. The nation stood with the military then and continues to do so now." "We salute the martyrs of our armed forces, as well as the police and other officers who have sacrificed for the nation," he concluded.
Express Tribune
3 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Kashmir, Khan and echoes of betrayed promises
The writer is a public policy analyst based in Lahore. She can be reached at durdananajam1@ Listen to article August 5 has come to symbolise two distinct narratives in Pakistan. For supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) — which now represents an overwhelming majority of the population, thanks to the establishment's relentless and illogical rivalry with Imran Khan — it marks the second anniversary of their leader's incarceration. At the official level, however, the day is commemorated in solidarity with the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir, whose semi-autonomous status and special rights were stripped following the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A of the Indian constitution. Yet, one suspects that most Pakistanis are aware of the constitutional intricacies affecting Kashmiris. Given the mass exodus from Pakistan and the alarming rise in poverty, it's understandable why many would hesitate to wish the same fate upon Kashmiris — being absorbed into a nation deliberately kept broken and dysfunctional by its ruling elite. The condition of those living in Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir is, perhaps, evidence enough of this grim reality. In 2018, PTI emerged as one of Pakistan's most popular political parties. By 2025, it has reclaimed that status. In the intervening years, PTI governed for three years before being pushed to the political margins through a familiar tactic: the formation of a united opposition. In Pakistan, political unity is rare and usually reserved for two occasions — when legislation serves personal or business interests; and when the ruling party must be ousted under the guise of national interest. Many analysts and PTI loyalists argue that Imran Khan should have declined the premiership in 2018. They believe that leveraging his popularity from the opposition benches could have secured him a sweeping mandate in subsequent elections — free from establishment strings. With legislative strength, he could have pursued bold reforms with full institutional backing. Instead, Khan opted for hybrid governance, believing he would be treated differently than his predecessors. Like most Pakistanis, he assumed that his unwavering loyalty to Pakistan would earn him institutional support. After all, no previous leader had prioritised national interest over personal gain. From 2014 to 2018, Khan relentlessly branded the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) as "thieves", embedding this narrative deep into public consciousness. Despite reservations about his alliance with the establishment, many hoped Khan's government would be allowed to function independently, free from judicial interference. Over time, he cultivated an aura of indispensability. His trust in the establishment led him — and the public - to believe that the very "thieves" he helped remove would never return to power until held accountable. But like all constructs built on fragile assumptions, this belief crumbled under the weight of reality. By April 9, 2021, Khan's popularity had waned, largely due to the inevitable governance challenges arising from a hybrid and compromised system. Yet, overnight, he surged back to prominence when PTI was ousted and replaced by the very political actors the establishment had long vilified. The irony was not lost on the public. The next day, Pakistanis across the country — and in diaspora communities in the US and the UK — took to the streets. Their protest wasn't just about PTI's removal; it was a collective mourning of the collapse of trust in the establishment and the erosion of democratic values. When Shahbaz Sharif was appointed Prime Minister, he was facing indictment in a multi-million-dollar financial fraud case. Instead of facing justice, he was greeted with rose petals - a stark reminder of the selective accountability that plagues Pakistan's political system. By April 10, 2021, Imran Khan stood alone as the only credible figure in Pakistan's political landscape — for an vast majority of the population. As predicted, Khan remained the most popular leader in 2024 and won the elections with a resounding mandate. Had he trusted the democratic process instead of relying on power brokers, the trajectory might have been different. His two-year resistance to unconstitutional interventions and the public's shattered trust in the military have plunged the country into a state of collective frustration. The illegitimacy of the PDM 2.0 government is evident to all — except those who engineered it. The people stand with Khan because they see in him a reflection of their own victimhood at the hands of a power structure that, though designed to serve the nation, has become its greatest adversary. Today, the pressing question is: Can Imran Khan survive the ruthless persecution of his party and the inhumane conditions of his imprisonment? History offers a sobering pattern. Pakistan's most popular leaders — those who believed in the power of the people — Liaquat Ali Khan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto — all met unnatural ends. Khan's defiance of absolute power and his rivals' surrender to it have set the tone for Pakistan's future. The king stands naked. No matter how desperately he tries to cloak himself, the people see through the hypocrisy, illegitimacy and usurpation of power. August 5 stands as a testament to the resilience of people who refuse to be silenced. In commemorating this day, Pakistanis are not just mourning losses — they are reclaiming their right to choose, to question, and to hope.
