ISLAMABAD: The sisters of PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister were once again denied a meeting with the ex-premier at Adiala jail on Tuesday.

Imran’s sister, Aleema Khan, told reporters that being denied a meeting was “nothing but contempt of court”, as they were not being allowed to meet Imran despite clear orders from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that family meetings be arranged every Tuesday and Thursday.

When asked about the sit-in, she said that last time, a police officer had requested them to leave and gave an assurance that he would not repeat the request the next time she came to the prison.

“I want to hold a sit-in throughout the night,” Aleema said.

KP CM Sohail Afridi urged parliamentarians from across Pakistan to stand in solidarity with Imran’s sisters, adding that he was in Rawalpindi on Aleema’s invitation.

“These people are shameless. They have paralysed the whole system after the constitutional amendment,” he said. “It is unfortunate that the judiciary is also paralysed. Now we have been left with only one option: to go on the streets.”

PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja said that the last meeting with Imran was held with one of the sisters in December, which was unacceptable, adding that discussions within the party were ongoing.

“Two days ago, there was also a meeting with the sisters in Lahore. These are difficult and emotionally charged times. We will move forward with wisdom,” he added.

PTI assails ban on Gilgit Baltistan political party

Meanwhile, Sheikh Waqas Akram condemned the federal government and the Election Commission of Gilgit Baltistan (GB) for banning the Gilgit Baltistan Democratic Party, which entered an electoral alliance with PTI for the 2026 elections.

Denouncing the ban in the strongest terms, the PTI spokesperson alleged that democracy in GB was being “strangulated” ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

“This is not governance; this is naked political vendetta and the systematic murder of democracy,” he declared.

“The government and the election commission have once again exposed their authoritarian agenda by crushing the only alternative platform that sought to give the people of Gilgit Baltistan a genuine voice through their alliance with PTI.”

Akram warned that the move constitutes a flagrant violation of the Constitution and every democratic norm.

He made it clear that the Constitution unequivocally guarantees every political party the right to organise, contest elections, and reach out to the electorate.

“Any attempt to suppress a party solely on the basis of its ideological or political affiliation is a criminal negation of democratic principles and a betrayal of the state’s constitutional responsibilities,” he asserted.

The party’s central information secretary also demanded that the ban be lifted immediately and unconditionally, adding that complete transparency must be ensured in the electoral process, with equal opportunities and a level playing field provided to all political parties.

He further stressed that the Election Commission must fulfil its constitutional duty with absolute impartiality and without any pressure from the federal government.

ISLAMABAD: The treasury and opposition sparred in the Senate on Tuesday over a rising wave of terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Senator Attaur Rehman asking whether the province had been “handed over to terrorists”.

Speaking in the House, Senator Rehman accused the government of indifference to KP’s security situation, saying its focus on legislation was “in no way more important than the lives of the people of KP”.

“Why has our blood turned white? Why is there no concern for KP?” Rehman asked. “Blood is being spilt there and you’re worried about your bills. Are these bills so important that human blood keeps flowing while you keep passing legislation?”

He cited attacks in Lakki Marwat and Bannu and said the provincial chief minister was “still out on tours”.

“Have some sense of our wounds. Why are Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s conditions not being given importance?” he said.

Responding to the senator’s remarks, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said every terrorist incident had been condemned in the House.

“I don’t believe our hearts don’t ache for these incidents,” he said, calling the attacks on police in Bannu and Lakki Marwat “cowardly”.

Chaudhry said intelligence-based operations were underway, rejecting the impression that any province was being targeted. “This country will remain; however, the terrorists will be defeated,” he said, noting that an incident had also occurred in Islamabad. He asked whether the suicide blast in Tarlai was in KP?

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said he had full faith in Rehman’s patriotism but rejected talk of KP breaking away. “KP and Balochistan are provinces of patriotic Pakistanis,” he said.

Sanaullah claimed “seven to eight thousand misguided people” were receiving terrorist training in Afghanistan with “funding from India and Israel” and carrying out attacks in Pakistan.

He said that there would be no compromise on Pakistan’s resolve to eliminate terrorism.

“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has made it clear that Afghanistan must choose between Pakistan and terrorism,” he said, adding that Pakistan would continue targeting terrorist training camps and sanctuaries in Afghanistan until the menace is eradicated.

PML-N senator further urged the opposition to refrain from linking political differences with terrorist activities. He said PM Shehbaz had repeatedly invited the opposition to come to the dialogue table to resolve political issues.

Earlier, replying to a question during the question hour, Chaudhry said that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) carries out offloading strictly in accordance with established procedures.

The minister further clarified that when discrepancies are identified in a passenger’s travel documents or profile during initial screening, the case is referred for further scrutiny.

“FIA has prominently displayed information on passengers’ rights, complaint mechanisms, and appeal procedures at all immigration counters in both Urdu and English, and has disseminated this information through public awareness initiatives,” the minister added.

He also rejected reports of deportations of Pakistani citizens from any country, especially the United Arab Emirates.

Iran’s leadership is betting it can outlast an under-pressure Donald Trump in its peace negotiations with Washington, but its defiance risks renewed military confrontation, analysts say.

With a shaky ceasefire holding, almost two-and-a-half months after the US-Israeli war against the Islamic republic began, the US president has angrily dismissed Iran’s responses to an American proposal for a settlement, warning the truce is on its last legs.

But analysts say that even after the assassination of long-time supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the first day of the war, Iran’s leadership remains fiercely ideological and dedicated to the preservation of the Islamic republic set up in the 1979 revolution that ousted the shah.

“They do think they can outlast Trump. The war is existential for them,” Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at the Chatham House think tank in London, told AFP.

Iran understands that by blocking the Strait of Hormuz — the first time it has restricted shipping traffic in the key bottleneck for trade and energy supplies after years of threats — it has a major strategic lever.

Trump, meanwhile, is under pressure to find an off-ramp to the conflict, which has proven unpopular at home and driven up prices at the pump, with midterm elections right around the corner.

Iran “is committed to negotiations, but what they don’t want is surrender. They want to extract concessions because of their improved hand,” Vakil said.

“They are prepared for another round of conflict and they are ready to gamble on that, which is a risk as the costs for Iran would be huge.”

‘Overplayed its hand’ before

Analysts say it remains unclear who is currently running Iran, with the slain supreme leader’s son and successor, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, likely involved in decision-making but not the only player in a scene dominated by the ideologically driven Revolutionary Guards.

Parliament speaker and Guards veteran Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who has emerged as Iran’s frontman in negotiations, said on Tuesday there was “no alternative” to the plan submitted by Iran to Trump.

“For the leadership, the perception is that negotiating the best conditions possible is essential to their very survival,” said Thomas Juneau, a professor at Ottawa University. “They are therefore entirely willing to absorb significant economic pain if it means waiting out Trump.”

Juneau said the “Hormuz lever is essential for Iran”, with the leadership calculating that Trump will lose patience with the ensuing higher oil prices as the US midterms near.

But he cautioned that the leadership was taking a gamble, facing a “hugely discontented population” in the wake of January protests, a struggling economy, and major damage to civilian and military infrastructure after US-Israeli attacks.

“The Islamic Republic has overplayed its hand in the past, and it absolutely is at risk of doing so again,” he said.

‘More intransigent’

Summing up Tehran’s official stance, a new giant billboard appeared this week in Valiasr Square in the capital, depicting Trump’s mouth bound by a Hormuz-shaped gag alongside the slogan “At the breaking point”.

Arash Azizi, lecturer at Yale University, said Iran’s leadership believed it had a “magic bullet” in its control of Hormuz and was hoping to “corner” Trump into obtaining better terms.

“It appears a bit delusional. It might backfire and lead to resumption of war by Trump or Israel,” he said.

But journalist and political analyst Maziar Khosravi told AFP in Tehran that Trump and Israel could no longer wield the threat of military action to pressure the leadership.

“Trump could try the military option again, hoping to eliminate another layer of leadership in the Islamic Republic,” he said. “But this doesn’t seem like a viable option to me, because each new generation of leaders coming to power is more intransigent than the last.”

Vakil said neither side wanted to see a resumption of full hostilities, but noted it wasn’t out of the question, saying the Trump administration appeared to fundamentally misunderstand the rigidity of the Iranian leadership’s mindset.

“The military path is unlikely to push Iran into submission. The Trump administration lacks a true appreciation for the Islamic republic’s ideological position. It sees everything from a military vantage point.”

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday discussed regional developments and peace efforts regarding the Middle East conflict with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the two leaders held a phone call on Tuesday to discuss peace efforts in the region, while also reaffirming the bilateral ties between the two countries.

The two leaders exchanged greetings and reaffirmed the “strong fraternal bonds of friendship” between Pakistan and Azerbaijan.

The prime minister conveyed his best wishes to President Aliyev for the success of the upcoming World Urban Forum, which will be held in Baku next week, the statement said.

He expressed confidence that under Azerbaijan’s stewardship, the forum would serve as a “valuable platform for advancing the global urban development agenda”.

The premier also expressed his regrets that pressing commitments would make him unable to personally attend the forum, but noted that he had ensured that Pakistan would be well-represented at the event.

According to the PMO, the two leaders “expressed satisfaction on the positive trajectory of bilateral relations, while reiterating their shared commitment to deepening cooperation across areas of mutual interest including trade and investment, energy, and people-to-people contacts”.

They also discussed regional developments of common concern, particularly the ongoing peace efforts in the Middle East, it said.

“President Aliyev expressed his deep appreciation at Pakistan’s remarkably successful initiatives to bring about a ceasefire between Iran and the US. This was a clear reflection of the trust and confidence of the international community in Pakistan and its leadership,” the statement highlighted.

The two leaders agreed to maintain close contact and looked forward to meeting in person later this year, according to the statement.

The prime minister also reiterated his cordial invitation to President Aliyev to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at his earliest convenience.

In a separate statement on X, PM Shehbaz said that he was “pleased” to have spoken with the Azerbaijani president.

“I deeply appreciate President Aliyev’s kind words regarding Pakistan’s sincere efforts to advance peace, dialogue, and diplomacy in the region,” he said.

Pakistan remains engaged in mediation efforts between the United States and Iran, even as military pressure and fears of renewed confrontation continue to shape the crisis.

While a deal for a complete end to the war is yet to happen, the hostilities have been largely ceased since the two sides agreed on a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire on April 8.

Following the ceasefire, a first round of historic direct US-Iran talks was held in Islamabad on April 11 and 12, with Pakistan playing the role of a mediator. The talks had ended without an agreement, but also without a breakdown.

With challenges in convening a second round, Islamabad has shifted back to its role as a facilitator and go-between.

In November of last year, the premier held a bilateral meeting with Aliyev at the Presidential Palace in Baku, while on a two-day official visit to Azerbaijan at the president’s invitation.

At the time, he extended an invitation to Aliyev to visit Pakistan, which the PMO said was “graciously accepted”.

The premier had also visited Azerbaijan in May 2025, as well while on a four-nation tour. He had met the Azerbaijan president, and the two had renewed their pledge to diversify the strategic partnership through investment in mutually beneficial avenues.

French Health Minister Stephanie Rist said on Tuesday that it was not certain whether the hantavirus strain involved in the outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship may have mutated, although officials were “rather reassured”.

“There are things … we do not know about this virus,” Rist told the National Assembly. “We do not yet have the complete sequencing of the virus, which allows us to say with certainty today, even if we are rather reassured to date … that this virus has not yet mutated.”

The French health ministry did not respond to a request for additional comment.

Hantavirus is primarily spread by rodents but can be transmitted between people in rare cases, according to the World Health Organisation. It usually begins with flu-like symptoms, such as fatigue and fever, one to eight weeks after exposure.

A cluster has been linked in recent days to the MV Hondius ship, which docked in Spain’s Canary Islands following a polar expedition that departed from Argentina.

The outbreak has been linked to the Andes strain of hantavirus, with officials consulting Argentina, where an outbreak involving the same strain ended in 2019.

The WHO has said there was no indication that there was anything unusual about the hantavirus strain on the ship beyond its location.

It has confirmed nine cases and urged isolation of suspected cases, adding that more are expected given passenger interactions before the virus was detected. However, it said there was no sign of a wider outbreak.

Italy to examine samples from quarantined man

Meanwhile, Italy’s top infectious diseases hospital said on Tuesday it would examine biological samples from a man in quarantine having come into contact with a woman who died of Hantavirus.

The ANSA news agency had previously reported that the man, a 25-year-old from the southern Calabria region, had been hospitalised.

He was briefly on the same plane as a woman who later died from the virus. The woman was disembarked from the KLM flight before it took off from Johannesburg.

ANSA reported earlier that the man was being transferred to the Spallanzani Hospital in Rome, but the hospital later clarified that it was only awaiting his biological samples in order to analyse them.

KARACHI: Police on Tuesday arrested a “most-wanted” woman accused of supplying cocaine and other narcotics across the city, an official statement said.

According to the statement, a joint operation was conducted by a police team from Garden Police Station and a civilian intelligence agency to arrest the accused after midnight.

“A female suspect identified as Anmol alias Pinki, allegedly involved in supplying cocaine and other deadly narcotics across the city, has been arrested,” the statement said.

It added that the accused was “most-wanted” by police and had been absconding in several cases.

“One pistol, cocaine worth millions of rupees, chemicals, and other narcotics were recovered from the accused,” claimed police.

In its statement, the police further said the accused was operating an “organised and extensive network” for narcotics dealing and supply, adding that she used to supply drugs online in Clifton, DHA, and other areas of Karachi through designated riders.

The accused also used female riders to protect her network from law enforcement agencies.

“The accused’s customers included students as well as prominent personalities,” it said, adding that she sold narcotics worth hundreds of thousands of rupees daily through various methods.

Meanwhile, the police have also registered two First Information Reports (FIRs) against the accused under various clauses of the Sindh Control of Narcotic Substances Act, 2024, and the Sindh Arms Act, 2013.

Talking to Dawn, South Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Syed Asad Raza said that Anmol alias Pinki has two brothers, Nasir and Shaukat, who are her facilitators.

“Nasir allegedly sends narcotics from Punjab to Karachi through girls; meanwhile, Shaukat has previously been arrested in Karachi by Gizri and Saddar Police Stations,” he said.

DIG Asad stated that her ex-husband, Rana Nasir, was also her facilitator and was involved in introducing her to these activities.

“She had been residing in the Gulistan-i-Jauhar area of Karachi for approximately one and a half years,” he said.

No handcuffs during court appearance

As the accused was presented before the court to record a statement, a video of her walking through the court’s corridor without handcuffs, wearing sunglasses and carrying a water bottle, went viral on social media.

The video shows the accused being guided by the investigating officer, who was walking behind her.

Karachi Additional Inspector-General (AIG) Azad Khan has taken strict notice of a news report aired on a private TV channel claiming that alleged drug dealer, Anmol, was presented in court without handcuffs for physical remand.

“AIG Azad has immediately sought a detailed report from the South DIG regarding the incident and ordered an inquiry to determine the responsibilities of the relevant officers,” said a statement issued by his office.

“He clarified that all police officers and personnel are bound to perform their duties in accordance with the law and standard operating procedures (SOPs), and that any negligence or carelessness will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” it said.

Meanwhile, Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar has taken strict notice of the matter related to her appearance in court, according to a statement issued by his office.

“The Sindh home minister has sought an immediate report from Karachi AIG Azad Khan and ordered a transparent inquiry into the incident,” it said.

“How was protocol provided to the accused? All responsible personnel should submit an explanation,” the statement quoted Lanjar as saying, adding that immediate action should be taken against the police personnel who provided protocol to the accused.

“Such conduct is unacceptable under any circumstances. Those found negligent should be punished in accordance with the law. No criminal is above the law, and every individual should be treated in accordance with the law,” he said. “The police uniform is a symbol of public trust.”

He asserted that misuse of authority would not be tolerated, saying, “Strict action will be taken against those damaging the credibility of law enforcement agencies.”

He maintained that providing unnecessary protocol to accused persons in courts is against the requirements of justice. “The Sindh government will make no compromise on the rule of law.”

“Elements undermining citizens’ trust deserve no leniency,” the home minister said.

“The Home Department is closely monitoring the matter, and further strict decisions will be taken after the report is received,” Lanjar said.

Police officials suspended

Three police officers were suspended on Tuesday evening after authorities took notice of a video showing the accused inside the court premises without handcuffs.

DIG Asad told Dawn that the Garden station house officer, the Garden senior investigating officer (SIO), and the investigating officer (IO) had been suspended.

He said he would also submit a report against the City senior superintendent of police (SSP) to higher authorities for appropriate action.

He added that the South SSP had been directed to conduct an inquiry into the incident.

The DIG Asad said that there were a total of 14 cases against Anmol alias Pinki. Police presented her before the court on Tuesday to seek physical custody in three cases but she was sent to judicial custody.

He said the police would file a review before the district judge on Wednesday against the judicial remand. He said a murder case was also registered against her at the Baghdadi Police Station of Lyari.

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) on Tuesday announced that students intending to pursue medical or dental education abroad must qualify for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) and obtain registration before going abroad.

According to a statement, the PMDC informed that a high-level committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar is currently overseeing the strengthening of the regulatory framework for medical and dental education in Pakistan.

It said that a meeting of the PMDC’s Sub-Committee on Accreditation of Medical and Dental Colleges and Postgraduate Qualifications was held today to “review ongoing reforms and regulatory measures to strengthen medical and dental education in Pakistan”.

“The sub-committee is focused on enhancing transparency, standardising accreditation mechanisms for medical and dental colleges, and streamlining the recognition process inspections for undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in line with international standards,” it added.

During the meeting, PMDC said that detailed discussions were held regarding the inspection processes of medical and dental colleges’ undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

The sub-committee appreciated the ongoing efforts to ensure smooth, transparent and merit-based inspections of institutions, it said, adding that committee members were briefed on the latest reforms, updated procedures and mechanisms introduced to improve the quality and credibility of inspections conducted so far.

“The sub-committee emphasised that there should be no compromise on inspection standards and procedures, restating a policy of zero tolerance toward any negligence, irregularity, or lack of compliance in the accreditation process.

“The meeting participants stressed the importance of maintaining the highest standards of medical and dental education to safeguard the future of healthcare in Pakistan,” it stated.

The meeting also discussed matters related to foreign graduates, it informed.

“The sub-committee clearly resolved that all students intending to pursue medical or dental education abroad must mandatorily qualify for the MDCAT examination and obtain registration with the PMDC before going abroad to pursue medical or dental education to avoid any future inconvenience regarding recognition, licensing, or registration,” the PMDC said.

“The sub- committee highlighted that students must verify that the foreign medical institution they intend to join is included in the list of foreign recognised institutions available with PMDC before proceeding with admission,” it maintained.

Furthermore, the PMDC stressed that the institution should be accredited by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) or listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.

“The medical qualification must comprise at least 6,200 hours of education with a minimum of 80 per cent attendance over a period of five years.”

The sub-committee also advised that in countries where the medium of instruction is not English, students must spend at least five months learning the local language before beginning their medical studies to ensure effective communication and academic understanding, the PMDC said.

In addition, it said that students will also be required to pass the National Registration Examination conducted by PMDC in order to obtain registration in Pakistan after completion of their foreign qualification.

“The sub-committee directed the students to provide complete details of their residence and contact numbers in the country of study before departure,” it said, adding that the students were also advised to secure a multiple-entry visa valid for the duration of their studies prior to proceeding abroad.

The sub-committee reiterated that these measures had been introduced to safeguard the academic and professional future of Pakistani medical students and to ensure that graduates meet the required national and international standards for medical practice, it concluded.

ISLAMABAD: As international funding to Pakistan’s health sector continues to decline and major foreign donors are set to completely suspend grants by 2030, the country faces serious health risks unless urgent steps are taken by the government, it emerged on Tuesday.

These are the findings of a report published last week, titled “Beyond Dependence: Understanding the Impact of ODA Cuts on Pakistan’s Health System”. The report, prepared by think tank Tabadlab, is authored by Behzad Taimur, Shahab Siddiqi and Syeda Farwa Qamar Jaffri and discusses the impact of declining Official Development Assistance (ODA) on Pakistan.

ODA refers to grants and concessional loans provided by governments and international agencies to support economic development and welfare in low- and middle-income countries.

The report finds that shrinking foreign assistance can threaten disease control programmes, immunisation efforts, and institutional capacity across the country. Once funding stops, it may significantly affect district-level monitoring, community outreach interventions, diagnostic testing capacity, and workforce training programmes.

According to the report, global ODA flows have been declining since 2019, with a sharper decline in recent years. Total global ODA dropped from $215 billion in 2024 to $174.3bn in 2025 — a decrease of 23 per cent — and may further decline in coming years.

The report warns that reductions in global health financing can have devastating consequences worldwide. Estimates suggest aid cuts may contribute to approximately 22.6m additional deaths globally by 2030, including 5.4m children under the age of five.

Country burdened by weak health indicators

The report paints a bleak picture of Pakistan’s health outcomes, describing the country as burdened by both communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Tuberculosis, diabetes, cardiovascular illnesses, malaria, HIV-AIDS and child health complications continue to strain the healthcare system. Despite modest gains in life expectancy, Pakistan still lags behind regional countries on several key indicators, it said.

Life expectancy in Pakistan stands at 68 years, nearly four years below the South Asian average. Infant mortality remains among the highest in the region at 50.1 deaths per 1,000 live births — more than double the rates observed in Bangladesh and Nepal.

Low public health spending

One of the report’s central findings is that Pakistan continues to under-invest in public healthcare despite rising health demands. Total health expenditure amounts to only 2.9pc of GDP, far below international benchmarks and lower than the South Asian average of 4pc. Public sector spending accounts for just 0.9pc of GDP, significantly below the levels recommended for achieving universal health coverage.

Although federal and provincial health budgets increased from Rs530.8bn in FY2019-20 to Rs1.4tr in FY2025-26, the report notes that inflation has sharply reduced the real value of those increases. After adjusting for inflation, health spending increased by only 25pc over six years. It argues that this rise remains insufficient to close longstanding gaps in healthcare infrastructure and service delivery.

The report points out that there are also disparities in per capita investments in different provinces. It notes that in Punjab, Rs2,043 ($12) are spent on each person every year; in Balochistan, Rs2,680 ($16); in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Rs3,136 ($18); and the most is spent in Sindh, at Rs3,203 ($19) per capita.

Increasing reliance on loans instead of grants

The report notes that Pakistan has received an average of $4.9bn annually in ODA between FY2016-17 and FY2024-25, equivalent to approximately 1.7pc of the GDP during the period. However, the composition of aid has changed significantly over time. Grant-based assistance has declined by 59pc, falling from $512m to $211m, while concessional loans now make up 96pc of all external assistance to Pakistan.

The report links this shift to broader global trends emphasising “shared responsibility” and “country ownership”, where donor agencies increasingly expect developing countries to finance development projects through debt, co-financing arrangements, and blended finance mechanisms rather than grants.

Global health initiatives face risks

The report also focuses heavily on Global Health Initiatives (GHIs), particularly institutions such as The Global Fund and Gavi, which finance critical public health programmes in Pakistan. Researchers argue that these initiatives play a system-critical role because they support vaccine procurement, supply chains, diagnostic infrastructure, disease surveillance, and service delivery programmes, according to the findings.

It also refers to recent cuts linked to USAID and UN agencies as examples of how donor withdrawal can trigger immediate disruptions. According to the analysis, aid contraction affects Pakistan through three main channels: abrupt bilateral donor withdrawals, reductions in multilateral pooled financing, and indirect spillover effects from weakening regional health systems.

Technical capacity and disease surveillance

Beyond direct financial losses, the report warns that shrinking ODA threatens Pakistan’s technical and institutional capacity.

It said that international partners such as the World Health Organisation, Unicef and the World Food Programme provide “advisory expertise, outbreak response coordination, disease surveillance support, and specialised technical assistance”. Cuts to these programmes could weaken Pakistan’s ability to respond to epidemics and cross-border disease threats, it highlighted.

The report highlights risks associated with trans-boundary transmission of tuberculosis, malaria, typhoid and polio, particularly from Afghanistan.

“Researchers warn that weakening surveillance systems could place enormous strain on local health infrastructure,” it said, adding that health management information systems, laboratory networks, diagnostics, and programme monitoring mechanisms are also expected to suffer if technical assistance contracts further.

Fund cuts already impacting Pakistan

The report identifies recent funding reductions by the Global Fund as an early warning sign of future disruptions.

It noted that in July 2025, Pakistan’s health ministry was informed of a $27.2m reduction under the Global Fund’s grant. Most of the cuts targeted tuberculosis control programmes, although HIV-AIDS programmes managed by the National AIDS Control Programme and UNDP Pakistan also faced reductions exceeding $4m.

The report states that once implemented, these cuts could “significantly affect district-level monitoring, community outreach interventions, diagnostic testing capacity, and workforce training programmes” in Punjab and KP.

Call for structural reforms

The report concludes that Pakistan must urgently reduce its dependence on external health financing and strengthen domestic systems before global aid contractions deepen further. It warns that declining ODA could sharply increase disease burdens, worsen mortality outcomes, and weaken long-term human capital development if measures are not taken quickly.

To address these challenges, the report recommends the establishment of a National Health Financing Forum to coordinate federal and provincial responses.

Other recommendations include creating a national ODA registry, introducing a health financing risk matrix, strengthening forecasting and integrated financial planning systems, improving domestic resource mobilisation, enhancing technical capacity, and reforming governance structures within the healthcare sector.

Last month, Federal Minister for Health Mustafa Kamal lashed out at The Global Fund for allegedly giving over 90pc of its funds to non-government organisations (NGOs) to combat HIV.

He said that NGOs were not answerable to the government and they did not share any data with the ministry under the pretext of confidentiality. Meanwhile, the government had received only $3.9 million from the fund.

Earlier in April, speakers at a national symposium on primary healthcare in Karachi underscored the need for promoting health across sectors, improving access and service quality, enhancing government-private collaboration and reducing reliance on external aid.

A powerful Hindu group from which Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party emerged claimed on Tuesday it had organised foreign visits, including to the US, to counter perceptions that it is a paramilitary outfit involved in attacks on minority communities.

The outreach by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), or National Volunteer Organisation, came after the US Commission on International Religious Freedom said in a report in November that it “has been involved in acts of extreme violence and intolerance against members of minority groups for decades”.

The commission is a bipartisan body of the US federal government that monitors religious freedom around the world and makes policy recommendations to the president, the secretary of state and the US Congress.

Modi joined the RSS in his youth, and the rise of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to near-national dominance is widely attributed to the RSS’ vast network of volunteers, during a period marked by a hardening Hindu-Muslim political divide in the officially secular country where Hindus are a majority.

RSS banned several times

The RSS claims it is a “Hindu-centric civilisational, cultural movement” whose goal is to “carry the nation to the pinnacle of glory”, including by uniting Hindus and protecting the religion.

It has been banned several times since its inception in 1925, including after a former member assassinated independence hero Mahatma Gandhi in 1948.

Indian opposition leaders, particularly Rahul Gandhi of the main opposition Congress party, have repeatedly accused the RSS of promoting a divisive, majoritarian ideology that he says threatens India’s secular fabric and fuels intolerance towards minorities.

RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale said he has been addressing gatherings in the US, Germany and Britain, with more planned, to “dispel certain misgivings and misconceptions about the RSS”.

He said the main accusations against the RSS included that it was “pulling society backwards”, that it was a paramilitary organisation, that it promotes Hindu supremacist things, and that others have become second-class citizens.

“The fact is entirely different,” Hosabale told a rare briefing for foreign media in the group’s newly built 12-floor building in Delhi.

Met policymakers and business leaders

Hosabale met academics, policymakers and business leaders in his visits. He said RSS leaders would visit more countries in Europe, Southeast Asia and other regions to raise awareness about the organisation.

Modi has already delivered on two key agenda items for the RSS: building a temple to the Hindu god Ram on the site of Babri mosque razed in 1992, and revoking the special status of occupied Kashmir, formerly India’s only Muslim-majority state.

The other key goal is to end discrimination based on Hindu caste, Hosabale said.

India’s opposition successfully leveraged concerns among underprivileged castes to hand Modi a rare setback in the 2024 national election, when his party fell short of a majority and was forced to rely on allies.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced talks with Cuba, which has been crippled by a fuel blockade in the wake of Washington’s capture of key regional ally Nicolas Maduro, the former president of Venezuela.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump described the communist-ruled island as “a failed country,” adding: “Cuba is asking for help, and we are going to talk!!!” He did not provide details.

There is growing speculation in Washington that Trump is seeking to overturn the Cuban government as part of a drive to increase US dominance in the Caribbean and Latin America.

Earlier this month, Trump said the United States would be “taking over” the Caribbean island off the Florida coast “almost immediately.” He has also said that following the US military operation to depose Venezuela’s longtime leader, Maduro, Cuba will be next.

The communist island has been in a standoff with successive US administrations since the 1960s, and Florida, only around 145 kilometres away, hosts a large, politically influential Cuban exile community.

Venezuela was a diplomatic and economic lifeline for impoverished Cuba, and the fall of Maduro has left the island even more isolated.

Oil producer Venezuela was the main source of fuel for Cuba, and the shutting down of the supply route by the United States is provoking frequent power cuts.

On May 1, Trump announced new economic sanctions targeting key sections of the Cuban economy. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez called this “collective punishment” and “unilateral coercive measures. “

KARACHI: Amid recent reports of Cambridge exam paper leaks, students who appeared for an AS-level Mathematics paper on Tuesday made fresh claims that the paper they received was identical to a solved paper they had come across on social media just a day earlier.

Cambridge International Education (CIE), part of Cambridge University Press and Assessment, offers internationally recognised exams to schools in over 160 countries. In Pakistan, O Levels (grades 10–11) cover a broad range of subjects, while A and AS Levels (grades 12–13) are more specialised and advanced, providing pathways to higher education in Pakistan and abroad.

When Dawn reached out to Cambridge about the matter, a spokesperson said that Cambridge investigates all allegations of paper leaks.

“We do not comment on individual reports of paper leaks. In the rare case where there is a genuine issue, we update schools at the right time and provide the recommended next steps,” the spokesperson said.

“We ask people only to trust official statements from Cambridge and not add to misinformation, which is very unhelpful for students,” they added.

Last month, the AS Level Mathematics exam (9709/12), conducted on April 29, was also subject to similar claims. After conducting a thorough investigation into the matter, CIE said it had reason to believe the claims were not unfounded. A replacement examination for the paper has therefore been scheduled for June 9.

Only a day ago, it was also alleged that an A-Level Business paper had also been leaked.

In June last year, question papers of three AS and A Level examinations were partially leaked across Pakistan in 2025.

“We have written to our schools in Pakistan to tell them that, against our regulations, some content from three question papers was available before the timetabled exam dates in Pakistan,” the CIE said in a statement at the time.

The leaked papers were AS/A Level Mathematics Paper 12, AS/A Level Mathematics Paper 42 and AS/A Level Computer Science Paper 22.

The CIE had offered free November 2025 resits for candidates who took the three impacted June 2025 exam papers.

CIE exams are typically held twice a year, in June and November, with results released in August and January, respectively.

ISLAMABAD: A division bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday issued notices to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) on intra-court appeals filed by apartment owners of One Constitution Avenue and Bank of Punjab (BoP) and sought a response in the matter concerning lease cancellation and third-party rights.

The bench, comprising Justice Muhammad Azam Khan and Justice Raja Inaam Amin Minhas, heard arguments from appellants’ counsel, Advocate Taimur Aslam, who requested the court to restrain disciplinary or coercive action until the recommendations of a committee recently formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif are finalised and approved by the cabinet.

On May 1, the premier constituted a high-level committee to review the issue involving One Constitution Avenue and halted authorities from taking any action.

The court adjourned further hearing on the intra-court appeals, observing that the decision on the stay application would be issued later.

The case stems from an April 30, 2026, judgment of a single-member bench of the IHC, headed by the Chief Justice Mohammad Sarfraz Dogar, which dismissed a petition filed by builder M/s BNP (Private) Limited and upheld the CDA’s decision to cancel the lease of the 13.5-acre commercial-residential project over alleged multi-billion-rupee payment defaults.

The single bench had also ruled that third-party sub-lessees and purchasers would “sink or sail” with BNP, effectively linking their rights with those of the original lessee. The ruling has now been challenged before the divisional bench by several apartment owners as well as the BoP.

According to the appeals, the BoP has a direct stake in the matter as BNP had obtained financing from the bank and subsequently paid amounts to the CDA.

Court documents state that the bank had acquired around 25,420 square feet on sub-lease, including space on the lower ground, upper ground and first floors, for the establishment of a branch at One Constitution Avenue.

The Registrar’s Office, however, has raised objections regarding the maintainability of the bank’s intra-court appeal.

The proceedings

During Tuesday’s proceedings, counsel for the appellants stated that there was no objection to the court decision to the extent it declared the lease cancellation valid; however, the intra-court appeals challenged observations relating to third-party rights.

He argued that the earlier judgment itself had expressed the expectation that the CDA and affected third parties would arrive at an acceptable solution, but the CDA was now avoiding that course.

The lawyer informed the bench that before a certified copy of the judgment could even be received, CDA officials entered the building and allegedly broke locks. A press release issued by the CDA after the cancellation of the lease was also submitted before the court.

The counsel informed the bench that since 2023, a committee comprising residents had been managing the building’s daily affairs in coordination with the CDA. He said the project consisted of two towers with around 240 apartments and that the CDA had raised no objections during construction.

Counsel further submitted that many overseas Pakistanis had invested their life savings in the project and maintained that apartment owners had no connection with BNP. He added that diplomats and their families were also residing in the building.

The appellants requested the court to declare that the impugned judgment did not authorise the CDA to dispossess, evict or take coercive action against bona fide purchasers without due process.

They also relied heavily on orders passed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan on January 9 and November 6, 2019, directing the CDA to devise a “viable, fair, transparent, secure and enforceable arrangement” for settlement of third-party claims.

Justice Minhas observed during the hearing that there had been a clear violation of the SC’s 2019 order and questioned what the consequences of that violation would be.

The appellant’s lawyer responded that the CDA had previously been asked to devise a plan of action while safeguarding the rights of third parties. He argued that CDA officials were reluctant to intervene further due to potential accountability proceedings involving NAB and FIA.

Counsel also referred to a May 1, 2026, notification barring coercive action pending the prime minister’s final decision on the matter.

The hearing was later adjourned, with the bench reserving its decision on the stay application.