ISLAMABAD: Power Minister Awais Leghari on Friday declared the end of a month-long loadshedding period after a shipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) arrived in Pakistan a day earlier.

The power minister made the announcement in a recorded televised message, saying that the recent power outages were caused by a gas shortage linked to the war between the US and Iran, and were not the result of “incompetence or system failure”.

He recalled that on “April 13 and 14, consumers faced power outages of up to five hours, while on April 15–16, they lasted around seven hours”. Leghari added that in the following days, outages were “brought down to zero,” and until April 29, the loadshedding duration was reduced to 2–2.5 hours.

He also recalled that the ministry held a press conference to clarify the government’s stance on the matter.

“Loadshedding had not been experienced for six to seven years, having been eliminated during the tenure of Nawaz Sharif,” he said.

“Using diesel or furnace oil would have made electricity more expensive,” he said, adding that during this period, “hydropower generation increased to 6,000 MW compared to the previous 1,000 MW”.

The minister elaborated that the government had to use fuel-based plants to stabilise supply due to the unavailability of LNG.

“Furnace oil was used selectively to protect consumers from additional financial burden while also limiting loadshedding to 2-2.5 hours,” the power minister said.

Leghari said the government had to buy “expensive gas on the spot market” to mitigate the situation, confirming that the first LNG cargo arrived in Pakistan a day earlier.

On April 24, the state-run Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) had secured three bids at $17.997 to $18.88 per million British thermal units (mmBtu) for LNG cargoes, which were expected to be delivered between April 27 and May 8.

The minister promised that no further loadshedding would be carried out and expressed hope that the transmission system would withstand the peak summer season.

In his April 16 press conference, the power minister had apologised for excessive loadshedding, explaining that the external factor of the fuel supply crisis due to the Middle East war was one of the main reasons.

Leghari said the required LNG “stopped coming from abroad after April 1”.

He pointed out that Qatar’s state-run energy firm had declared force majeure, which resulted in a “huge gap” in the power requirements fulfilled through gas plants during peak hours.

The minister had further said that the decision of two hours of daily loadshedding had been made to keep electricity prices in control.

On April 14, the government had announced more than two hours of daily loadshedding “during peak hours”. However, K-Electric and Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco) were excluded from the loadshedding plan.

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has ruled that the customary practice of nominating or recognising a chieftain/sardar by members of a tribe does not vest such an individual with the legal authority to attest local certificates, domicile certificates, or Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) applications.

The observations came while rejecting a petition filed by a self-proclaimed tribal chieftain seeking his recognition as the “sardar” of the Kharoti tribe.

A two-judge bench consisting of Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Rozi Khan Barrech rejected the petition of Ghulam Ali Khan, noting that the sardari system stood abolished under the law and that no individual could claim customary authority overriding statutory requirements.

The petitioner, claiming to be the chieftain of the Kharoti tribe in Balochistan, had approached the interior ministry, seeking acceptance of his attestation for the issuance of local certificates, domicile certificates, CNICs, and passports for his tribesmen. He asserted that his fellow tribesmen face rigorous interrogation for procuring these documents.

Following the refusal of his request by the interior ministry, he filed a writ petition before the Balochistan High Court (BHC), which also dismissed the plea on July 31, 2024. Consequently, he approached the FCC.

Authored by Justice Barrech, a 12-page judgement explained that the authority to issue attestations could only be exercised where it was expressly conferred or recognised under specific statutory provisions or duly framed administrative rules.

Therefore, even if the petitioner claims recognition as a tribal sardar under customary law, such recognition, in the absence of express statutory backing and administrative rules, does not ipso facto (by that fact) confer legal authority or binding effect upon public authorities to issue official documents solely because of his attestation.

Thus, any declaration sought must be consistent with constitutional principles of equality, the rule of law, and the supremacy of statutory governance over customary assertions, the judgement said.

Any claim by a chieftain/sardar to demand royalties, or other monetary or material benefits from tribesmen, government authorities, or private entities, merely based on practices of customary status and title of sardar and it lacked legal sanctity unless supported by a clear statutory framework, the judgement emphasised.

In a constitutional dispensation governed by the rule of law, no individual can assume fiscal or administrative authority without express authorisation under law and administrative rules, it said.

Justice Barrech observed that any such demand, if not traceable to a valid legal instrument, statute or administrative command, would be devoid of lawful justification and could not be enforced through judicial process.

It is noteworthy, Justice Barrech said, that the institution of a sardar or the feudal system had been abolished through the promulgation of the System of Sardari (Abolition) Ordinance, 1976, published on April 8, 1976.

Section 3 of the ordinance unequivocally abolishes the sardari system and terminates the legal recognition of such status and privileges, it said.

Therefore, the petitioner’s attempt to invoke Article 28 for the recognition of a sardar status is misconceived, Justice Barrech said, adding that no legal benefit or enforceable right could be claimed based on a system that no longer enjoyed statutory recognition.

In view of the foregoing constitutional, statutory provisions and judicial precedents, Justice Barrech said, it was evident that while the petitioner undoubtedly retained the right to preserve and promote his language, script and culture, such right did not extend to the recognition of a sardar or chieftain in a manner contrary to the prevailing legal framework.

Justice Barrech maintained that the sardari system stood unequivocally abolished under the law, and no judicial endorsement could be accorded to a status or institution that had ceased to have legal existence.

He noted that the constitutional guarantee under Article 28, being expressly subject to law, could not be invoked to revive or legitimise a system that had been abrogated by statute.

Consequently, the relief sought by the petitioner was devoid of legal basis and could not be granted, Justice Barrech observed, rejecting the plea.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif termed the labour force of Pakistan the “backbone” of society and a “pillar of national strength” in statements commemorating International Labour Day on Friday.

As the world commemorated the international holiday observed annually on May 1, the president and the premier issued separate messages to mark the occasion.

PM Shehbaz paid tribute to Pakistan’s labour force as well as its overseas workers, appreciating their “dedicated service” and terming them a national pride.

“On this occasion, I pay tribute to workers across the world, and especially to the hardworking labour force of Pakistan, for their selfless contributions and dedicated service,” he said in a statement on X.

He termed labourers, farmers, artisans, factory workers, and professionals across all sectors the “backbone of our society”.

“Their sacrifices, hard work and perseverance keep the wheels of life moving, from fields to factories, construction sites to workshops, at local level and right to the global stage,” he said, calling these workers a source of national pride.

The premier also appreciated the remittances of millions of Pakistani workers overseas, saying, “Our labour force, both at home and abroad, reflects our national capability, industriousness, and professional excellence … Their contributions towards the country’s future remain deeply valued and etched in our collective consciousness.”

According to the prime minister, the federal government has undertaken targeted initiatives to enhance the skills and professional capacity of Pakistanis seeking employment abroad. These include the National Skills Development Policy, under which “a comprehensive strategy has been developed to align our workforce with the evolving needs of industry, trade, and modern global standards”, he said.

He added, “Special emphasis is being placed on internationally recognised training, language proficiency, and certification to ensure that our workforce secures dignified opportunities worldwide.”

Additionally, he noted that national institutions such as the Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) and the Workers Welfare Fund (WWF) continued to strive for the welfare of workers and their families by providing pensions, housing, education, and other essential services.

He expressed resolve to “renew our collective commitment at government: both federal and provincial levels” and on an individual level to safeguard the rights of workers.

The premier called upon all stakeholders, including the business community and industrialists, to uphold the “dignity and protection” of the country’s labour force.

“We pray that the hardworking people of Pakistan continue to illuminate the nation’s name through their dedication, skill, and integrity, and remain a proud symbol of resilience, determination, and national honour,” he said.

President Asif Ali Zardari also issued a statement on the occasion, posted to his official social media account on X.

“I join the nation in recognising the historic struggle of workers whose sacrifices for fair wages, reasonable working hours and dignified conditions laid the foundation of modern labour rights,” he said.

“At the very beginning of our constitution, article 3 has been titled as ‘Elimination of exploitation’ and it says: ‘The State shall ensure the elimination of all forms of exploitation and the gradual fulfilment of fundamental principles, from each according to his ability to each according to his work,’” the president noted.

He extended his deep appreciation to Pakistani labourers, saying, “Their work … is the force that drives national development. The true strength of Pakistan lies in the hands of its labourers.”

The president added that Pakistan remained committed to upholding international labour standards and promoting fundamental rights at work, “including fair wages, social protection, the elimination of forced and child labour and non-discrimination”. He reaffirmed the government’s dedication to the International Labour Organisation’s conventions and achieving Sustainable Development Goals related to work and social protection.

He joined the premier in appreciating the overseas Pakistani workforce, calling them a “pillar of national strength”.

“Ensuring safe working conditions, fair wages and equal opportunities is both a national priority and a moral responsibility,” President Zardari said, adding that “investing in human capital is the most productive investment a nation can make”.

“I salute the workers of Pakistan,” he concluded. “You are not the margin of our economy; you are its foundation.”

According to the International Labourers Organisation (ILO), Pakistan has yet to ratify 55 conventions and protocols.

Labour laws exist but enforcement is weak, and despite government promises to create millions of jobs, issues like low pay, lack of social protection, and poor representation remain unresolved.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan reported two polio cases on Friday from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), bringing the total number of cases for the ongoing year to three.

An official of the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication (NEOC) has confirmed two new cases of wild poliovirus — one in Bannu and another in North Waziristan.

He added that access constraints in these areas continue to facilitate transmission of the virus, posing an ongoing risk to children’s health and well-being.

“The two new cases were reported through the poliovirus surveillance network and confirmed by the WHO-accredited Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH).” he added.

The first case of the year was reported from Sindh, while the detection of two cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has raised the polio tally to three.

The official said that, with the sudden increase in heat, it seemed that the high transmission period would start much earlier this year. “Usually, the high transmission season starts by the end of May and ends in September,” he added.

It is pertinent to mention that the polio virus remains less active at low temperatures and becomes more active at higher temperatures. As a result, summer is referred to as the high transmission season.

Polio is a paralysing disease that has no cure. Multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completion of the routine vaccination schedule for all children under the age of five are essential to provide children with high immunity against this terrible disease.

The Pakistan Polio Programme conducts multiple mass vaccination drives in a year, bringing the vaccine to children at their doorsteps.

Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries in the world where polio cases are still reported. The World Health Organization has imposed polio-related travel restrictions on Pakistan, requiring since 2014 that all international travellers carry a polio vaccination certificate.

MIRANSHAH: An intense exchange of fire erupted on Friday between members of the Darpa Khel tribe and militants in Miranshah, the district headquarters of North Waziristan, following the killing of tribal elder Malik Saifullah Khan Dawar, police said.

According to details, unidentified gunmen shot Saifullah outside his residence, triggering a fierce clash as armed tribesmen confronted the militants. Both sides reportedly used automatic weapons, and the exchange of fire continued for several hours.

Sources said that a day earlier, suspected militants had allegedly occupied a local mosque, but Saifullah, along with other tribal elders, intervened and forced them to vacate the premises.

On Friday morning, a large group of militants reportedly returned to the area, called Saifullah out of his house and opened fire on him, killing him on the spot, the sources added.

During the clash, four local residents — identified as Yaqoob, Fazal Karim, Mujahid, and one unidentified person — were injured.

The injured were shifted to the Miranshah Headquarters Hospital for treatment.

Local sources also claimed that at least two militants were killed in the exchange of fire.

Due to panic and fear, markets and business centres in Miranshah and nearby areas have been closed, and residents have remained confined to their homes.

Local elders said the killing of Saifullah is likely to further worsen the law and order situation in the area, adding that there is widespread anger among the tribes over the incident.

Earlier this week, another tribal elder was killed in the Inayat Kallay Bazaar area of Bajaur district.

Malik Fazal Wahid, 55, was critically injured and was shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital.

However, the hospital sources said he succumbed to his injuries during the surgery at the facility’s emergency department.

Japanese police arrested a man for allegedly incinerating his dead wife at the zoo where he worked, officials and local media said Friday, following the discovery of human remains.

Police arrested Tatsuya Suzuki on Thursday evening on suspicion that he “transported the victim’s body to a tourist facility” in the northern island of Hokkaido and “destroyed it through incineration there,” a local police official told AFP.

The victim, 33-year-old Yui Suzuki, was identified by local media as his wife. Police have not said how she died.

While held in voluntary police questioning, Suzuki said he used his zoo’s incinerator —meant to dispose of waste and dead animals —to burn the woman’s body “for a few hours,” local media reported.

His confession sent police scouring the incinerator for her remains, whose partial discovery paved the way for Suzuki’s arrest, local media said.

While alive, the wife once told her relatives that her husband was threatening to “burn you until no trace of you will be left”, public broadcaster NHK said, citing investigative sources.

The gruesome case forced the Asahiyama Zoo, a popular tourist attraction closed since early last month as part of regular maintenance ahead of the summer season, to delay its reopening scheduled for Wednesday.

On Friday, the zoo resumed business, with officials bowing to visitors and apologising for the trouble caused.

“The zoo is in an extremely difficult situation at the moment,” Hirosuke Imazu, mayor of Asahikawa City, which operates the facility, said, according to NHK.

“But we would like to turn your support into our energy, and convey the beautiful lives of our animals,” he said.

El Niño conditions are likely to develop during the 2026 monsoon season in South Asia, alongside higher-than-normal minimum and maximum temperatures across most of the region, according to a statement by Pakistan’s meteorological office on Friday.

El Nino is a naturally occurring climate phenomenon that warms surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. It brings changes in winds, pressure and rainfall patterns. Conditions oscillate between El Nino and its opposite La Nina, with neutral conditions in between.

The last El Nino contributed to making 2023 the second-hottest year on record and 2024 the all-time high.

The climate outlook for the 2026 southwest monsoon season (June to September) was finalised during the 34th session of the South Asian Climate Outlook Forum (Sascof-34) held in Malé, Maldives on Tuesday.

According to the spokesperson of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Anjum Nazir Zaighum, and a statement issued by the PMD, below normal rainfall is most likely during the 2026 southwest monsoon season over most parts of South Asia, particularly across the central parts of the region.

“However, some areas over the northwestern, northeastern and parts of the southern region are likely to experience normal to above normal rainfall,” the statement noted.

It highlighted that minimum and maximum temperatures during the upcoming season are expected to be above normal across most of South Asia.

The forum deliberated on various observed and emerging climatic features that influence the performance of the southwest monsoon such as the El Niño Southern Oscillation (Enso), Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), winter and spring Northern Hemisphere (NH) snow cover and land surface temperature anomalies.

Currently, Enso-neutral conditions in the equatorial Pacific are transitioning toward El Niño conditions, the Sascof-34 statement added.

“Based on the global climate model forecasts, there is strong consensus among experts that the El Niño conditions are likely to develop during the 2026 monsoon season,” it added.

It also stated that neutral IOD conditions currently prevail over the Indian Ocean, and that “climate models indicate that a positive IOD phase is likely to emerge later in the monsoon season”.

The statement further noted that global climate prediction models around the spring season “generally have noticeable uncertainty” in their predictability and that the seasonal climate patterns may also be affected by other regional and global factors, as well as the intra-seasonal features of the region.

Experts from the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) of nine South Asian countries attended the forum session, along with representatives from several global and regional climate organisations. These included the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), WMO Regional Climate Centre Pune, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), United Kingdom Met Office (UKMO), Regional Integrated Multi-hazard Early Warning System, Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), WMO Lead Centre of Seasonal Prediction (WMOLC), Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA), and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, among others.

The PMD spokesperson told Dawn last month that El Niño was expected in the coming summer and was expected to become ‘super El Niño’ by the end of August to September.

He noted that El Niño suppresses the summer monsoon in the subcontinent.

“If super El Niño forms, then 2027 might be the warmest year in records,” Zaighum added.

ISLAMABAD: Reports of online violence against women journalists have doubled since 2020, with serious impacts on their health and well-being, according to a study published ahead of ‘World Press Freedom Day,’ which is marked annually on May 3.

The report by UN Women and partners highlights how online violence targeting women in public life is becoming increasingly technologically sophisticated, invasive, and damaging in the era of artificial intelligence (AI).

The survey findings indicate that these forms of abuse, which were considered relatively rare just a few years ago, now account for a significant portion of the broader ecosystem of online violence. Overall, 12 per cent of the women surveyed reported experiencing the non-consensual sharing of personal images, including sexually explicit or intimate image-based material, and 6pc reported being targeted by deepfakes or other manipulated imagery.

“AI is making abuse easier and more damaging, and this is fueling the erosion of hard-won rights in a context marked by democratic backsliding and networked misogyny,” said Kalliopi Mingerou, who leads the agency’s team working to end violence against women.

The report, “Tipping Point: Online Violence Impacts, Manifestations and Redress in the AI Age,” is based on a 2025 survey, with 641 participants from 119 countries responding.

Women journalists and media workers are facing a significant further chilling of their freedom of expression, as evidenced by a 2025 survey. While in 2020, 30pc of respondents in this group reported self-censoring in response to online violence, by the end of 2025 that rate had risen to 45pc, representing a 50pc increase.

Shockingly, 50pc of the women identifying as writers and other public communicators said they self-censor on social media in response to online violence, while over a quarter (26pc) said they self-censor at work.

The picture is not much better for journalists and media workers, with approximately 45pc of this group — whose work depends on robust freedom of expression protections — saying that they self-censor online, and over one-fifth (22pc) indicating that they self-censor in the workplace.

For human rights defenders and activists, the statistics are similar: 43pc silence themselves on social media, while 20pc self-censor at work. The findings reveal that 12pc of women human rights defenders, activists, journalists, and other media workers have experienced the non-consensual sharing of personal images, including intimate or sexual content.

6pc have been victims of “deepfakes” — AI-generated images that look real — while one in three have received unsolicited sexual advances online. Some 41pc of respondents said they self-censor on social media to avoid abuse, while 19pc self-censor in their professional work for the same reason.

The picture is even more concerning for women journalists and media workers, as harassment has forced 45pc to self-censor on social media — a 50pc increase over 2020. Additionally, almost 22pc self-censor in their work.

While the public distribution of “nudification” content is a notable new phenomenon, much image-based abuse still arrives via direct messages on social media apps, in the form of unwanted sexual advances featuring sexual imagery, sometimes referred to as cyber-flashing.

Women journalists and media workers were also twice as likely to report incidents of online violence to the police compared with 2020 – 22pc versus 11pc. They are also now more likely to take legal action against perpetrators, enablers (such as tech companies) or their employers – from 8pc in 2020 to 14pc in 2025.

The report documents the severe toll online violence is having on women’s mental health. Nearly a quarter of women journalists and media workers 24.7pc have been diagnosed with or treated for anxiety or depression.

Almost 13pc have been diagnosed with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).

One respondent – a journalist and community organiser – shared how these mental health impacts are linked with self-censorship, discussions around the democratic process, and financial hardship. “When we speak aloud about democracy, there is no ‘feel’ of democracy — only a ‘demo of craziness,’” she told the researchers.

“Unable to cope with the relentless pressure, I resigned from my job in December 2023. I am now sitting at home, focused solely on restoring my mental wellness.”

The situation has caused severe financial problems as she is “currently subsisting on rice porridge, a direct consequence of being forced into silence and out of work.”

Despite the crisis, significant gaps in legal protection against online violence persist, as World Bank data shows that fewer than 40pc of countries have laws that protect women from cyber harassment or cyberstalking.

The report is the second in a series based on a global survey. The next edition will address a wide range of issues related to online violence against women in public-facing roles, including analysis of perpetrators’ characteristics and behaviours and the role of “Big Tech” companies.

President Donald Trump faces a critical legal deadline on Friday that could determine the future of US military operations against Iran, even as his administration signals it may rely on a controversial legal interpretation to bypass congressional approval.

Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, a US president must terminate military action within 60 days of notifying Congress unless lawmakers authorise the operation.

The Trump administration formally notified Congress on March 2 following joint US-Israeli strikes launched on February 28, setting up a May 1 deadline.

But administration officials now argue that the deadline may not apply, claiming that a ceasefire with Iran — in place since April 7 — effectively ended “hostilities” under the law. A senior official told reporters the conflict had “terminated” for War Powers purposes, allowing the White House to continue operations without seeking congressional approval.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth reinforced that position during congressional testimony on Thursday, saying the statutory clock “pauses or stops in a ceasefire.”

The claim has triggered sharp pushback from lawmakers and legal experts, who argue that the War Powers Resolution contains no such provision.

Democratic Senator Tim Kaine rejected the interpretation outright, saying “the statute does not allow the president to suspend the 60-day limit” based on a truce. His objection reflects broader concerns among Democrats that the administration is attempting to sidestep Congress’s constitutional authority to declare war.

The War Powers Resolution was enacted in the aftermath of the Vietnam War to prevent presidents from engaging in prolonged military conflicts without legislative oversight. It requires presidents to either obtain congressional authorisation or withdraw forces within 60 days, with a possible 30-day extension in limited circumstances.

Legal analysts say the administration’s reliance on a ceasefire loophole is highly questionable. Experts note that the law makes no mention of ceasefires as grounds for resetting or pausing the clock, particularly when military pressure — including a naval blockade — continues.

Some legal scholars also point out that previous presidents have stretched or ignored the War Powers Resolution, often arguing that it is unconstitutional or does not apply to limited military engagements.

However, critics argue that the scale of the current conflict with Iran — including sustained strikes and economic warfare — makes that argument harder to sustain.

The political response in Congress remains deeply divided. Democrats have repeatedly introduced resolutions to compel the administration to either seek authorisation or end military operations. All such efforts have failed in both chambers, largely along party lines.

Republicans, who control Congress by narrow margins, have mostly backed the president or avoided direct confrontation. Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated “there are no immediate plans to hold a vote authorizing the war, reflecting a broader reluctance within the party to challenge Trump’s authority.

At the same time, some Republicans have expressed unease. Senator Susan Collins said the 60-day limit “is not a suggestion; it is a requirement,” and warned that any further military action must be supported by a clear strategy and congressional approval.

The debate underscores a longstanding constitutional tension in the United States between the executive and legislative branches over war-making powers. While the president serves as commander-in-chief, the Constitution grants Congress the authority to declare war — a balance that has increasingly tilted toward the executive in recent decades.

Beyond Washington, the legal uncertainty comes amid a fragile and incomplete ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Although direct military exchanges have paused, both sides continue to exert pressure through economic and strategic means.

Iran has effectively restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global energy supplies, while the United States has responded with a naval blockade targeting Iranian oil exports. The standoff has contributed to volatility in global oil markets, with prices rising sharply in recent days amid fears of prolonged disruption.

Diplomatic efforts have so far failed to produce a breakthrough. President Trump, speaking at the White House, dismissed suggestions that negotiations had stalled, saying only a small circle of officials was aware of the details and insisting that Iran “wants to make a deal badly.”

Meanwhile, US military planners are preparing options should the ceasefire collapse. Reports indicate that the US Central Command has developed plans for a “short and powerful” wave of strikes aimed at forcing Iran back to negotiations.

Other options under consideration include securing Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium or expanding control over key maritime routes.

Analysts say the Trump administration may ultimately choose to ignore the deadline or reinterpret the ceasefire as marking the end of one phase of the conflict and the beginning of another — effectively resetting the legal clock.

Such a move would likely intensify legal and political challenges, potentially setting the stage for a broader constitutional confrontation between Congress and the White House.

PESHAWAR: A police constable was martyred on Friday when militants targeted an armoured police vehicle with a rocket and sniper attack at Kingar Jan Bahadar, within the jurisdiction of Mandan Police Station near the Fatah Khel police post in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district.

The attack occurred while the vehicle was on a routine patrol.

According to the police, the assault was sudden, causing severe damage to the vehicle and leaving driver, a constable, critically injured. He later succumbed to his injuries.

A civilian present at the scene was also injured and was taken to the District Headquarters Hospital, where he is currently receiving medical treatment. Hospital sources confirmed that the injured civilian is out of danger.

Following the incident, police and security agencies cordoned off the area and launched a large-scale search and combing operation.

Police officials stated that all available resources are being utilised to arrest the militants, while security in the area has been placed on high alert.

Bannu district has been the scene of repeated security incidents in recent months, with both civilians and local security forces coming under attack amid a broader surge in militant violence. The violence has included attacks on police and jirga members, prompting targeted operations by police and security forces in various localities to disrupt militant networks.

At least six terrorists were killed early on Wednesday when the Bannu police successfully repelled a major attack on the Mazanga police post, according to officials.

On Sunday, a police head constable and his five-year-old daughter were injured when unidentified motorcyclists opened fire near Bannu’s Shahdev area. The same day, the bomb disposal squad defused an improvised explosive device (IED) in the jurisdiction of Kakki police station, averting a major tragedy.

I ONCE made the mistake of watching one Republic TV reel, and now my algorithm refuses to believe I want nothing to do with Arnab Goswami and his nightly shouting festival. Lately, the familiar theatre has returned on my timeline, and this time, the speculation-fuelled ‘geopolitical analysis’ is pure comedy. And that too not the sharp wit of satire, but the kind of ‘comedy’ associated with the comedian Carrot Top in full performance mode.

“This just in: our sources say US Vice President J.D. Vance would turn back mid-flight rather than reach Pakistan for talks,” declared one anchor in a reel. Another gravely informed viewers that Donald Trump was “scared” for Vance’s security in Pakistan. Yet another featured Arnab Goswami on the verge of a literal meltdown, demanding to know how Pakistan could mediate between the US and Iran.

And the theatre continues, as usual. Anyone who has ever watched these studios knows the format: shouting anchors, flashing graphics and outrage dressed up as analysis. None of that is new. What is new this time is the target of the anger: peace talks between the US and Iran, hosted and mediated by Islamabad.

On the face of it, they are criticising Pakistan for facilitating diplomacy. But that invites a simple question: is this war not hurting India too? The conflict has already pressured the Indian rupee, raised fuel costs, disrupted gas supplies, and unsettled markets. India’s dependence on Middle Eastern energy, its shipping exposure around the Strait of Hormuz, and its large workforce in the Gulf mean regional instability carries real economic consequences. Even Indian markets recovered on hopes of de-escalation. In other words, Pakistan-backed peace efforts stand to benefit ordinary Indians as much as anyone else.

Rather than explain why peace serves Indian interests, the ‘Godi media’ sells anger against Pakistan.

And yet a substantial segment of the Indian media — sarcastically called ‘Godi media’ for its perceived closeness to Narendra Modi and his government — chooses hostility over honesty. Rather than explain why peace serves Indian interests, it sells anger against Pakistan. Which raises another obvious question: if peace serves Indian material interests, why the visible rage? And the answer is simple: because outrage rates better than economics.

To understand this, one has to deconstruct what I call the ‘Outrage Machine’, a conceptual model I developed to explain the political economy of hate. It applies with unsettling consistency across countries and contexts: in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the US, and nearly anywhere resentment can be converted into revenue, ratings, votes or influence.

At its core, the Outrage Machine is a system in which rage and hate are not accidents of public life but are deliberately manufactured, amplified and monetised products. Politicians harvest it for power, media outlets package it for attention, platforms reward it with reach and audiences are conditioned to consume it daily. Hate in this model becomes the actual currency of the system.

The mechanics of the Outrage Machine are cyclical, which is why it is so effective.

Television studios manufacture nightly anger through sensational framing, selective panels and theatrical language. But much of this content is now designed for social media first: short, explosive clips built to travel fast and provoke reaction. Platforms then amplify the loudest material because outrage drives engagement. Political demagogues harvest that sentiment, posing as defenders against permanent enemies they often helped invent in the first place. Citizens absorb and repeat the narratives, mistaking repetition for truth.

That public anger is then fed back into newsrooms as proof of ‘national mood’, giving media an even clearer strategy for the next cycle of rage. Media creates it, platforms spread it, politics weaponises it, the public performs it, and the machine begins again. It is a closed loop of profit, power and prejudice, and every major player profits.

Once audiences are repeatedly fed a diet of grievance and perpetual threat, they begin to require stronger doses. What once seemed extreme becomes normal. What once seemed theatrical becomes expectation. Calm starts to feel dull. Negotiation appears weak. Peace becomes suspicious because it interrupts a revenue model built on conflict. The deeper tragedy is that societies eventually pay a price for consuming too much synthetic rage. Public debate becomes infantilised. Citizens are encouraged to think in binaries rather than interests. Economic pain is ignored if hatred remains emotionally satisfying. Diplomacy is judged theatrically rather than strategically.

Pakistan’s role in peace talks did not create the backlash. It merely exposed the dependence. When media systems, digital platforms and political entrepreneurs become accustomed to extracting value from hostility, any gesture that lowers tensions becomes a threat to business. In such an environment, peace is not opposed because it fails. It is opposed because it works. This is why it is too simple to describe what we are witnessing as mere hate, especially about the case at hand, ie, the peace talks mediated by Pakistan. Hate suggests raw emotion. What often appears on screen is more calculated than that. It is curated antagonism, and conflict packaged for ratings, monetised through clicks, rewarded by algorithms and repurposed into political capital.

Brewing hate for use against an external enemy is like overloading a nuclear plant to generate more power. For a while, the energy seems useful: ratings rise, votes consolidate and the crowd stays mobilised. But systems built on dangerous excess eventually turn inward. Pressure builds, safeguards erode and what was meant for the outside begins exploding within. India has already seen warnings of this blowback. BBC reported that from 2016 to 2018, at least 31 people were killed in lynchings linked to rumours spread largely through social media. Hate manufactured for export rarely stays at the border; sooner or later, it detonates at home.

The writer is the founder of Media Matters for Democracy.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2026

ACCORDING to the World Health Organisation and UNAIDS, Pakistan has one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics in Asia. Meanwhile, WHO’s Global Hepatitis Report 2026 identifies Pakistan as the single largest contributor to the global burden of hepatitis C. Are these two facts coincidental? Sadly, no. They are tragically intertwined. Both HIV and hepatitis C are blood-borne infections, transmitted when infected blood ent­ers the human body. Both can also spread through sexual contact. And both, if untreated, are potentially fatal. The pathways through which these diseases spread are ubiquitous in Pakistan’s healthcare and social practices. But we also suffer from a dangerous form of collective myopia.

When there is a media report of an outbreak of HIV — Taunsa being the latest — we have a hysterical fit, we hyperventilate, we deny, we defend, we look for a conspiracy, we blame, we want to kill the messenger who brings the bad message and we also quietly desire in our hearts, and even pray, that it passes quickly so that we can go back to our comfortable slumber. If you are finding it difficult to understand this description, then please see the press conference of a provincial health minister held after the BBC’s documentary on Taunsa. Before we can control these diseases, we must treat this myopia.

Should we not feel a sense of national shame that Pakistan is home to one of the world’s largest populations of hepatitis C patients — an estimated 10 million — many of whom continue to suffer and die unnecessarily? At the same time, HIV has been knocking at our doors, yet our response is fragmented and inadequate. Domestic investment in HIV/AIDS is minimal and we continue to rely heavily on the Global Fund. Our attention shifts from one outbreak to another, without building sustained, systemic responses.

The persistence of blood-borne infections in Pakistan reflects a broader failure of governance.

Globally, the trajectory is different. In most countries, new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths are declining. The world has learned hard lessons, particularly from sub-Saharan Africa, where the epidemic once devastated societies and economies. Through a combination of political commitment, widespread testing, effective antiretroviral therapy, stigma reduction and strong infection prevention measures, countries have reversed the trend. Critical interventions have also included reducing unnecessary injections, eliminating the reuse of disposable syringes, introducing auto-disable syringes and ensuring rigorous screening of all transfused blood. Pakistan, regrettably, has lagged on most of these fronts, and the consequences are visible in the rising number of new infections.

Can this trajectory be reversed? Yes — and Egypt offers a compelling example. In 2008, Egypt had one of the highest hepatitis C prevalence rates in the world, with nearly 10 per cent of its adult population infected. Much of this was attributed to past medical practices involving the reuse of contaminated syringes. Recognising the scale of the crisis, Egypt established a National Committee for the Control of Viral Hepatitis. In 2014, it launched an ambitious nationwide campaign — ‘100 Million Healthy Lives’. More than 60m people were screened. Over 80pc of infected individuals were diagnosed, and more than 4m received free treatment. Within just seven years, prevalence dropped dramatically — from 10pc to 0.5pc. In October 2023, WHO declared Egypt the first country to achieve ‘gold tier’ status for hepatitis C elimination.

I had the opportunity to live and work in Egypt for some years with WHO. In many ways, Egypt is as complex and challenging as Pakistan. The difference lies in one decisive factor: political will. Egypt mobilised its institutions, aligned its policies and executed a clear national strategy. Today, it is not only hepatitis C-free but also supports other countries to replicate its success. Some Egyptian experts have visited Pakistan, yet we remain entangled in bureaucratic rigmarole, unable to launch a comparable national programme for years now. HIV in Pakistan presents an additional, deeply troubling dimension.

Globally, HIV is concentrated among high-risk groups such as people who inject drugs and sex workers. This is also true for Pakistan. However, we face a unique and alarming phenomenon: large numbers of young children are becoming infec­ted. In over 90pc of these cases, the infection is not transmitted from mother to child — the mothers are HIV-negative. Instead, these children are infected through unsafe medical practices: the reuse of disposable syringes, contamination of multi-dose vials and unsafe intravenous infusions.

This pattern was evident in the 2019 outbreak in Ratodero and has resurfaced in Taunsa. In fact, Taunsa represents at least the ninth recorded HIV outbreak in the country. These outbreaks are only the visible tip of a much larger, hidden epidemic. In 2019, when the Ratodero outbreak occurred, I visited the area alongside Sindh’s health minister, Dr Azra Pechuho. What we witnessed was heartbreaking: mothers carrying infected children and running from pillar to post in search of care. Nearly 1,000 children were ultimately diagnosed with HIV — most infected through unsafe injections.

I immediately established a national Task Force on Injection Safety, which developed a comprehensive National Action Plan. A key recommendation was to ban the manufacture, import and use of reusable disposable syringes. This policy was implemented, despite resistance from manufacturers, who were required to transition to auto-disable syringe technology. Eventually, the industry complied.

It is therefore deeply troubling to learn that some manufacturers are reportedly still producing reusable syringes and mislabelling them as auto-disable. This is not merely a regulatory lapse; it is a criminal act. Law-enforcement agencies must act decisively to shut down such operations, and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan must strengthen post-market surveillance which is currently very weak.

The persistence of blood-borne infections in Pakistan reflects a broader, long-standing failure of governance. Successive governments have not prioritised health, particularly primary healthcare, as evidenced by chronically low public spen­ding. Many of our public health challenges are not technical but failures of governance, accountability and behaviour. The unchecked spread of HIV represents a gathering storm — one that threatens social stability, economic productivity and national development. It must be recognised and addressed as a matter of national security, demanding the same level of political ur­gency and financial commitment. More on this, later.

The writer is a former SAPM on health with ministerial status, adjunct professor of health systems and president of the Pakistan Association of Lifestyle Medicine.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2026