Photo : Dawn
Photo : Dawn
In Focus
From Gandapur to Afridi: Imran Khan reshapes PTI’s leadership in KP
On 9 & 8 October Dawn and The Express Tribune reported that Ali Amin Gandapur resigned as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) chief minister after Imran Khan ordered him to step down from his position while he remains imprisoned at Adiala Jail. Gandapur submitted his resignation to Governor Faisal Karim Kundi while describing the chief minister position as a leadership trust from his party leader and following party orders as a matter of respectful duty. The main actors involved in this development consist of Gandapur and Imran Khan, who issued the order, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, who verified the resignation and Sohail Afridi, who received the nomination to replace Gandapur as chief minister. The appointment of Sohail Afridi as chief minister represents a dual transformation because he becomes the first tribal area representative to hold the position while also bringing youth leadership to the role.
The reasons behind Gandapur's resignation emerge from the combination of governance challenges, security threats and internal party conflicts. Raja explained that Imran Khan wanted Gandapur to step down because of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's worsening security conditions and his perception that the provincial administration maintained ties with the federal government's "defective conflict policy." The recent Orakzai attack triggered a security crisis in K-P, which led Imran Khan to demand new leadership for the province. The intensifying friction between Gandapur and the PTI central leadership was most seen when he passed the provincial budget unilaterally and publicly argued with Imran’s sister Aleema Khan, demonstrating the growing rifts in the party organization.
The future of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under its new chief minister requires him to establish stability while dealing with the unstable security situation. The new chief minister, Sohail Afridi faces a challenging situation because the province deals with financial difficulties, rising militant activities, and strong political divisions. The chief minister has received directives from Imran Khan to create peace through dialogue and continue efforts to enhance collaboration between provincial and federal authorities. The promotion of Afridi to chief minister, again, is an example of Imran Khan retaining control of PTI, while trying to present the party's leadership in the provincial (as modern), while apparently effective in governing. (Ali Amin Gandapur resigns as K-P CM, submits letter to governor, The Express Tribune, 8 October 2025) (Who is Sohail Afridi, Imran’s choice to lead KP?, Dawn, 8 October 2025) (PTI names Sohail Afridi for KP CM; Gandapur resigns on Imran’s directive, Dawn, 8 October 2025) ('Perfect storm' of crises cause Gandapur to resign, 9 October 2025)
PPP and PML-N: The patch-up of the alliance
On 9 October, Dawn reported that in Pakistan, political temperatures are high this time between the ruling allies, PPP and PML-N. The rift was quite serious, as it devolved into a public spectacle, threatening the alliance between the two parties. Party views on the origin of the rift appear to differ. The PML-N camp was of the view that the crisis was precipitated when the PPP targeted Punjab's Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, when a PPP party insider said, "Maryam Nawaz is PML-N's red line." Whereas the PPP blames its ally for not taking the suggestion of using the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), which is a national safety net programme in Pakistan that provides cash assistance to poor and vulnerable families, to use it to provide immediate relief to the flood victims.
PML-N's stance was that a complete overhaul of the BISP is required, and it could not be continued in its current form; it either needed to be wrapped up or be completely revamped. Thereafter, the reinitiation of the Cholistan Canal Project by CM Maryam Nawaz has sent waves of targeting Sindh province. Reviving the thorny issue of six canals to water Cholistan led to major chaos between the provinces, hence, heating up the rift between the two parties. Particularly, the PPP and PML-N's Punjab leadership have been locked in a war of words, leaving lasting scars on interprovincial relations. As tensions continue to simmer, both parties criticize each other for "politicizing" the flood aid issue with regular press conferences from both sides.
On 9 October, The Express Tribune reported that in an attempt to defuse political tensions, President Asif Ali Zardari met Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq to discuss the political situation in the country. Meanwhile, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has remained silent and deliberately kept his distance from the unfolding situation and has summoned a meeting of the Central Executive Committee, the party's top decision-making forum, on 18 October to discuss the political situation in the country. Looking at recent developments, this competition between the two largest provincial governments is considered to be healthy, and there is less chance of the two allies discontinuing their relationship. ( “ After days of acrimony ruling, ruling allies scramble to patch things up, Dawn, 9 October 2025) (“Zardari, Dar and Naqvi meet to douse political fire between PML-N, PPP”, The Express Tribune, 9 October 2025) ( Why are PPP and PML- N currently feuding?, Dawn, 8 October 2025)
PM Shehbaz calls the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia defence pact “highly significant”
On 9 October, Dawn reported that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the recent Pakistan–Saudi Arabia joint defence agreement as “highly significant,” highlighting it as a reflection of the deep-rooted ties between the two Muslim nations. During a meeting at the Prime Minister’s House with the Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s Shura Council and his delegation, PM Shehbaz highlighted the importance of enhancing parliamentary cooperation to further consolidate bilateral relations. Both sides agreed to promote exchanges to strengthen their partnership.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, PM Shehbaz stated that the pact would “further strengthen the multi-dimensional economic, strategic, defence, and trade ties between the two brotherly nations.” He commended the leadership of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, noting that under his vision, the kingdom had achieved “remarkable progress across various sectors, setting a precedent for the world to emulate.” PM Shehbaz also appreciated Saudi Arabia’s initiatives aimed at women’s empowerment.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, among others. The day before, Dawn reported that Pakistan constituted an 18-member delegation to oversee economic cooperation with Saudi Arabia. The delegation, led by the Chairman of Saudi-Pakistan Joint Business Council, Prince Mansour bin Mohammad Al Saud, arrived in Islamabad to discuss prospective trade, investment, and development collaborations. (Syed Irfan Raza, “PM Shebhaz hails Saudi defense deal,” Dawn, 9 October 2025)
In Brief
JUDICIARY
Supreme Court commences hearings on challenging the 26th Amendment
On 9 October, Dawn reported that an eight-judge Constitutional Bench (CB) of the Supreme Court (SC) had commenced deliberations on the petitioners’ request to form a full court to hear a set of pleas challenging the 26th Amendment. The amendment was approved by both houses of the parliament in October 2024, and stripped the SC’s suo motu powers, set the chief justice of Pakistan’s (CJP) term at three years, and empowered a Special Parliamentary Committee for the appointment of the CJP from among the three most senior SC judges. It also led to the formation of the CB, which is now hearing petitions against the very legislation that enabled its establishment, reports Dawn. The legislation faced challenges from multiple quarters, including bar associations, bar councils, individual lawyers, the PTI, and several politicians.
The petitioners pleaded that the amendment be struck down “on grounds of procedural impropriety if determined that the requisite two-thirds of the lawfully elected membership of each House did not freely exercise their right to vote in favour of the same as required under Article 239, which elaborates on bills and their passage to amend the Constitution.” Certain petitions also called for the removal of certain provisions that undermined the independence of the judiciary. These included the provisions for annual performance evaluations of high court judges by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan being inserted in Article 175A(1) and Articles 175A(18) to (20); the provisions relating to the appointment of the CJP being substitution in Article 175A(3), and the provisions for constitutional benches in the SC and high courts. The petitioners further contested the legitimacy of the constitutional benches, asserting that the Supreme Court should invalidate all constitutional amendments that relied on the votes of members whose election disputes were still unresolved in order to meet the numerical requirements under Article 239. They additionally urged the Court to strike down the Practice and Procedure Act 2024 and the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act 2024 as unconstitutional, void from inception, and without legal standing, arguing that both laws originated from an “unconstitutional” amendment and were intended to advance unlawful objectives.
During the first hearing, Justice Musarrat Hilali remarked that, regardless of whether the 26th Amendment was “right or wrong,” it had not been suspended by the court. She added, “You treat the 26th Amendment as part of the Constitution, which is why you have chosen to challenge it.” Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar clarified that the constitutional bench was not presently examining the core issue of the legislation’s validity but was instead focused on the request for the formation of a full court, inviting arguments on that specific point. ( “SC Constitutional Bench mulls formation of full court while hearing pleas against 26th Amendment,” Dawn, 9 October 2025)
ECONOMY
IMF lending program worth USD 8.4 billion concludes without reaching a staff-level agreement
On 9 October, Dawn reported that an International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission concluded talks with Pakistani authorities on two lending programmes worth USD 8.4 billion without reaching a staff-level agreement. Officials maintained that no new tax measures were planned, and further discussions may occur during the upcoming World Bank–IMF annual meetings in Washington. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, along with senior economic officials, is expected to attend. The IMF asked for verified estimates of flood-related losses and for assurances that provincial governments would absorb these costs without undermining fiscal commitments to the Centre. The mission did not hold a formal wrap-up meeting with the finance minister but met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, following his recent discussions with the IMF managing director on policy flexibility due to flood damages. Official sources described the talks as “smooth,” noting no immediate revenue raising measures were required, though fiscal targets may be revised after first-quarter GDP data in December. (Khaleeq Kiani, “IMF talks end sans staff-level agreement; tax hikes not on table for now,” Dawn, 9 October 2025)
SECURITY
272nd Corps Commanders’ Conference pledge “a new normal of swift and retributive response”
On 9 October, Dawn reported that Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) issued a statement following the 272nd Corps Commanders’ Conference pledging to counter “Indian aggression with a swift and decisive response,” and that “any imaginary new normal will be met with a new normal of swift retributive response.” The statements were in response to Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi warnings against state-sponsored terrorism in Pakistan, and India’s unrestrained response to any future provocations. The statement also highlighted that the forum undertook a “comprehensive review’’ of ongoing counter-terrorism operations, emerging threat paradigms, and operational readiness and reaffirmed that the military remained ready to “thwart inimical designs of Pakistan’s adversaries across all domains”. The statement highlights that the CCC members affirmed that the “existing nexus between terror and crime with vested political patronage,” which will not be allowed to continue. The participants also reaffirmed their commitments towards comprehensive counter-terrorism operations, particularly in dismantling the alleged proxy networks such as Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan. The conference welcomed Pakistan’s recent high-level diplomatic engagements, particularly the mutual defence deal between Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir “expressed full confidence in the operational preparedness of Pakistan Army to counter threats across the entire spectrum, from conventional and sub-conventional, to hybrid and asymmetric threats,” the statement concluded. (“Army brass warns India any ‘imaginary new normal’ to be met with ‘new normal of swift retributive response’,” Dawn,9 October 2025)
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Eleven military personnel and nineteen terrorists killed in an intelligence-based operation, says ISPR
On 9 October, Dawn reported the death of eleven military personnel, including a lieutenant colonel and a major, killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Orakzai district. A statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the operation targeted the alleged proxy terrorist group of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), 19 of whom have reportedly been killed. The ISPR said that the operation was being conducted to eliminate any alleged Indian-sponsored kharji found in the area. Funeral prayers were offered for the two officers in Rawalpindi’s Chaklala district, which were attended by Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, federal ministers and military and civic officials. ( “Lt col, major among 11 personnel martyred in KP’s Orakzai IBO: ISPR,” Dawn, 9 October 2025)
EXTERNAL
Pakistan-Iran Katager Zero Point reopens after four years
On 9 October, Dawn reported that Islamabad has officially reopened the Katager Zero Point border crossing with Iran in the Mashkel area of Washuk District after a four-year halt in cross-border movement and trade. The reopening follows the resolution urging the federal authorities to reopen the border, which was also passed in the Balochistan Assembly through the persistent efforts of the local leadership. Inaugurating the reopened crossing, Inspector General of Frontier Corps (South) Balochistan, Maj Gen Bilal Sarfraz, was joined by MPA Reki, who also highlighted the critical importance of the Guzzar border point, which remained closed, underscoring its importance in the economic sustenance of the residents of Mashkel and surrounding areas. “The continued closure of the Guzzar border has caused significant hardship,” he said. The IGFC assured the public that efforts were underway to reopen the Guzzar border this month. (“Pakistan, Iran border in Mashkel reopens after four years,” Dawn, 9 October 2025)
Editorial/Opinion
“FDI challenges,” Dawn, 9 October 2025
“Towards sustainable industry,” The News International, 8 October 2025
“Pakistan, seen from Europe,” Dawn, 9 October 2025
“Developing provincial NDCs,” Dawn, 9 October 2025