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In Focus
The 27th Amendment and the Judiciary
Supreme Court declines to hear Judges’ challenge
On 21 November, Dawn reported that the Supreme Court of Pakistan refused to review the petition submitted by four Islamabad High Court judges, Justices Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Babar Sattar, Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, and Saman Rifat Imtiaz, challenging the 27th Constitutional Amendment. The judges invoked Article 184(3) to seek original jurisdiction in the Supreme Court for fundamental rights matters, but the SC registry denied their petition because Article 184(3) no longer exists. The judges were instructed to send their case to the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), which now has complete authority to decide constitutional matters despite the petitioners' strong opposition.
The draft petition argues that the 27th Amendment establishes a new constitutional system that reduces judicial independence but grants the executive branch greater power over judicial affairs. The judges maintained that the amendment violates Articles 9, 10A, and 25, which protect due process and fair trials and ensure equal treatment for all citizens. The petition challenges the FCC's authority because a court established by a constitutional amendment lacks the power to determine its own creation. The petition targets two aspects of the FCC system because the executive allegedly chose candidates before the amendment entered into force, which violates legal standards from Al-Jehad Trust and Sharaf Faridi cases.
The petition opposes changes to Article 200, which enable forced transfers of high court judges without consent, because these provisions create conditions for judicial intimidation and punishment. The petition also rejects the new composition of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan and the Supreme Judicial Council, as these bodies now have more non-judicial than judicial members. The petitioners argue that these amendments establish unlimited judicial power, which threatens current legal systems and allows the executive branch control over constitutional court decisions. (“SC ‘turns away’ judges’ petition against 27th Amendment,” Dawn, 21 November 2025)
Fallouts of the IMF Report on corruption across state institutions in Pakistan
Government agrees to publish asset declarations of high-level public officials
On 21 November, Dawn reported on developments following the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) identification of consistent corruption risks across state institutions in Pakistan in its Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment (GCDA). The IMF has called for the immediate launch of a 15-point reform agenda to strengthen transparency, fairness and integrity.
Developments following the release of the GCDA report
First, following the IMF’s GCDA, which described the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) as a “political compromise,” the government has agreed to publish asset declarations of high-level public officials from 2026 and subject them to risk-based verification.
Second, in the medium to long term, Pakistan and the IMF agreed to “consider establishing a centralised authority to collect, digitise and publish asset declarations of high-level public officials with adequate powers and resources to conduct risk-based verification.” However, the realisation of this vision remains uncertain, as it may extend beyond the current IMF programme, raising questions about the sustainability of the reform momentum.
What did the report point out?
First, the IMF report calls for strengthening Pakistan’s anti-corruption architecture, particularly the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The report notes that disciplinary action against corrupt officials, especially senior revenue officers, is limited. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) could not provide data on recent criminal prosecutions, and “its effectiveness for the FBR is limited due to its limited application in practice and the de facto exclusion of high-ranked staff."
Second, at the provincial level, anti-corruption bodies face structural constraints. The IMF highlights that agencies are required to get prior approval from top provincial authorities before opening investigations, which, “in the context of patronage politics in Pakistan,” risks shielding political allies. Investigative work is further challenged by poor access to key databases, including national identity, tax records, asset declarations and banking information.
Third, the report points to serious weaknesses in the asset declaration system. The primary problem is the lack of “robust risk-based verification,” which reduces its preventive effect. Asset declaration systems are fragmented across government servants, public office-holders, the armed forces and the judiciary, with differing rules and limited public disclosure. Military personnel and judges submit declarations internally, but these are not made public. Declarations by the NAB chair and senior officials are also withheld on privacy grounds.
Fourth, it recommended following the global best anti-corruption practices. The selection process for the NAB chief must be strengthened by forming a multi-sectoral stakeholder commission having representatives from the administration, opposition, judiciary, civil service, academia and civil society. This commission will be responsible for conducting an open, rules-based and transparent appointment. It also recommended a similar oversight body to audit the internal control processes to improve the legitimacy of NAB and reduce the risks of politicisation. (Khaleeq Kiani, “Govt agrees on asset declaration reforms to combat corruption,” Dawn, 21 November 2025)
Security
UNSC report: Tehreek-e-Taliban is responsible for a string of high-profile terrorist attacks in Pakistan
On 21 November, The Express Tribune reported that the UN Security Council (UNSC) anti-terror committee warned that the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had carried out a series of high-profile attacks from Afghan soil with support from the de facto authorities in Kabul. Presenting the report to the 15-member body, the chair of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or Daesh) and al Qaeda Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Sandra Jensen Landi of Denmark, described the TTP as "a serious and evolving regional danger.” The UNSC session took place against the backdrop of ongoing Officials in Islamabad saying that the border crossings will remain closed indefinitely until Afghanistan undertakes verifiable and irreversible action against the TTP, resulting in suspended trade and thousands of stranded trucks under heightened security.
Landi reported that the TTP with an estimated 6,000 soldiers had carried out several attacks in Pakistan and that ISIL-Khorasan remained one of the most potent threats in Central and South Asia, with around 2,000 fighters targeting Shia communities, Afghan authorities and foreign nationals, while expanding its recruitment and propaganda operations across multiple countries. She also highlighted that affiliates of Daesh and al-Qaeda expanded their presence from Syria into various parts of Africa, taking advantage of political instability, fragile governance, and new technologies, including cryptocurrencies and social media, to finance their activities, attract recruits, and spread violent propaganda.
Pakistan’s envoy, Usman Jadoon, emphasised the country’s long-standing struggle against terrorism, noting that Pakistan has endured over 80,000 deaths and billions of dollars in economic damage as a result of groups operating from Afghan soil. He said Pakistani security forces continued to confront ISIL-K, the TTP and its affiliates, as well as the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its Majeed Brigade, which he argued were flourishing with Afghan support and assistance from Pakistan’s main rival.
Jadoon urged the UNSC to ensure that the 1267 Sanctions Regime accurately reflected current conditions and that all listing and delisting decisions were made transparently and without political bias. He also stressed that the UN counterterrorism framework must be empowered to designate violent far-right, ultranationalist, xenophobic and Islamophobic groups worldwide, insisting that a credible zero-tolerance approach required a balanced global mechanism. China backed Pakistan’s position, calling on the sanctions committee to list the BLA and its Majeed Brigade, saying doing so would send a strong signal of unified determination against terrorism in every form. (“UN red-flags TTP's cross-border threat,” The Express Tribune, 21 November 2025)
In Brief
POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
MQM-P demands the creation of new provinces in a 28th Constitutional Amendment to mitigate the population surge in Karachi
On 21 November, Dawn reported that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) hinted at demands for the creation of provinces to accommodate population growth in Karachi, pledging to use every legal and democratic means to achieve them. In a press conference with Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori, the top leadership of the MQM-P raised the issues regarding new provinces and local governments, emphasising that they are fundamental components of the Constitution and failure to implement these provisions amounted to “treason.” “A constitutional article demands the formation of new provinces when population growth and needs increase,” said MQM-P Convenor and federal Education Minister Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui. “It is not just about authority; it is a requirement for the creation of new districts, divisions and provinces, as per Article 239,” he added. He also threatened that “if we don’t get justice from parliament and courts, we will take this to the streets.” Earlier this week, the party had proposed a 28th Amendment, aimed at empowering local governments, describing it as a “national, not merely Karachi-centric” reform initiative. Siddiqui also criticised the current governance system, labelling it a “feudal democracy” that prevents education and progress. He also accused the government of deliberately failing to implement the Karachi Strategic Development Plan 2020, terming it a conspiracy to control the city. He asserted that “Our ruling class must accept that Pakistan’s prosperity is linked to Karachi, and Karachi’s progress will benefit the entire country’s 250 million people.” (“MQM-Pakistan to push for more provinces thru 28th Amendment,” Dawn, 21 November 2025)
EXTERNAL
Foreign Minister Dar concludes high-level engagements in Europe, including dialogue with NATO Secretary General
On 21 November, The Express Tribune reported that Pakistan and Hungary renewed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to extend and expand educational cooperation under the Stipendium Hungaricum Programme for 2026–2028, marking a major boost for academic opportunities available to Pakistani students. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó signed the agreement, formalising continued cooperation in providing scholarships across undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. The Stipendium Hungaricum Programme was introduced for Pakistan in 2015. The initial annual quota was set at 80 scholarships, which rose to 200 in 2017 and reached 400 by 2023, the highest allocation Hungary offers to any partner country. The renewed 2026–28 framework is expected to create even more avenues of socio-economic development through international education for Pakistani students. During the visit, Dar also signed an MoU with the foreign minister of Slovenia, establishing a structured mechanism for bilateral consultations as the agreement is expected to deepen Pakistan-Slovenia ties. He also met the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, discussing the progress made under the Pakistan-EU Migration Mobility Dialogue. They emphasised the importance of facilitating the legal movement of skilled labour to Europe and agreed to activate pathways under the “Pakistan–EU Talent Partnership Roadmap” while discouraging irregular migration. Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch and Ambassador Rahim Hayat Qureshi were also in attendance. He also met EU Commissioner Joseph Schala to discuss strengthening collaboration under the Global Gateway initiative, improving digital connectivity, supporting green transition efforts, and expanding sustainable development partnerships. Dar also met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and discussed avenues for enhancing cooperation between Pakistan and NATO. ("Dar wraps up high-level EU engagements,” The Express Tribune, 21 November 2025)
PAKISTAN-INDIA
Pakistan’s Airports Authority (PAA) extends airspace restrictions on Indian aircraft until 24 December
On 21 November, Dawn reported that Pakistan’s Airports Authority (PAA) extended airspace restrictions on Indian aircraft for another month, until 24 December. The ban applies to all India-registered aircraft and any aircraft operated, owned, or leased by Indian airlines or operators, including military flights, from ground level to unlimited altitude. Airspace closures by both states have continued since tensions escalated after the Pahalgam attack in April 2025. When India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan responded with a broader set of measures, including airspace closure to Indian carriers. Islamabad had earlier extended the measure until 24 November. Dawn noted that the prolonged ban has imposed a substantial financial burden on Indian airlines. As a result, Air India is lobbying New Delhi to secure Chinese approval to use a Xinjiang military air corridor to shorten routes. The airline by Tata Group and Singapore Airlines estimates an annual impact on its profit-before-tax at USD 455 million, against a 2024–25 fiscal loss which stood at USD 439 million. (Mohammad Asghar, “Pakistan extends airspace ban for Indian aircraft,” Dawn, 21 November 2025)
ECONOMY
Foreign loan inflows rise by 33 per cent in July-October, says Ministry of Economic Affairs
On 19 November, Dawn reported that the Ministry of Economic Affairs (EAD) said that it received USD 2.293 billion in foreign loan inflows during the first four months of the fiscal year, mainly with support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This is in comparison to USD 1.723 billion at the same time last year, a 33 per cent increase. Of this, total foreign loan inflows amounted to USD 1.822 billion, an increase of 39 per cent compared to last year, and grants amounted to USD 50.56 million, a drop of 73 per cent. Out of the USD 2.293 billion received, the EAD said that USD 773 million was earmarked for project financing, while the remaining USD 1.52 billion formed part of non-project inflows, with USD 735 million being used for budget support. Multilateral lenders (excluding the IMF) contributed USD 1.2 billion of the total inflows, while bilateral lenders contributed USD 449 million. In addition to securing USD 400 million from a Saudi Arabian oil facility, inflows from overseas Pakistanis also increased to USD 735 million in the first four months of the year. (“Foreign loan inflows surge 33pc in July-Oct,” Dawn, 20 November 2025)
Large scale manufacturing expands by 2.7 per cent in September
On 19 November, Dawn reported that the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) released figures showing a 2.7 per cent year-on-year increase in large-scale manufacturing in September. On a month-on-month basis, manufacturing grew by 2.07 per cent in September, following a robust 8.99 per cent in July and 0.54 per cent in August, a major fall due to recent flooding. The automobile sector posted a strong 84.58 per cent growth rate, fuelled by an 86.19 per cent increase in jeeps and cars, a 6.36 per cent increase in LCVs, a 139 per cent increase in trucks and a 21.43 per cent increase in buses. Food production rose by 6.94 per cent in the July-September quarter, with wheat and rice milling rising by 9.3 per cent and starch by 0.64 per cent. Textile production only increased by 1.88 per cent in the first quarter, with cotton yarn and cloth amounting to more than 80 per cent of the sector. Garment exports grew by 2.43 per cent, but recorded a 2.18 per cent year-on-year fall. Coke and petroleum production fell by 3.35 per cent, pharmaceutical production dipped by 4.81 per cent, and iron and steel production fell by 3.52 per cent, while the production of rubber, non-metallic minerals and electrical equipment rose by 14.10 per cent, 13.86 per cent and 4 per cent, respectively. (“Big industry output expands 2.7pc in September,” Dawn, 20 November 2025)
Textile exports fall for the third straight month, PBS report
On 18 November, Dawn reported that the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) released data showing a 0.67 per cent fall in the export of textiles and clothing in October, the third straight month of declining exports. Despite a strong rebound of over 30 per cent in July, the sector saw its exports fall from USD 1.625 billion in October 2024 to USD 1.616 billion this year. Textile and clothing exports fell by 7.34 per cent and 1.99 per cent year-on-year in August and September, respectively. Exports of ready-made garments rose by 5.11 per cent in value and 3.64 per cent in quantity, knitwear by 8.23 per cent in value and 16.50 per cent in quantity and bedwear by 6.94 per cent in value and 7.16 per cent in quantity. Yarn exports rose by 7.74 per cent, made-up articles by 4.17 per cent and tents, canvas and tarpaulin by 32.34 per cent. But towel exports fell by 0.29 per cent in value and 1.39 per cent in quantity, and cotton cloth by 12.75 per cent in value and 8.87 per cent in quantity. The import of synthetic fibre rose by 37.15 per cent, and synthetic and artificial silk by 14.79 per cent, while raw cotton imports fell by 20.09 per cent. Oil imports grew by 0.58 per cent and crude oil by 13.52 per cent, while liquified natural gas (LNG) and liquified petroleum gas (LPG) imports fell by 29.18 per cent and 0.86 per cent, respectively. The country’s overall exports fell by 4.05 per cent to USD 10.45 billion in the first four months, building on warnings by industry stakeholders about the high cost of doing business in the country. (“Textile exports drift lower for third month,” Dawn, 19 November 2025)
Asian Development Bank approved a USD 330 million package to modernise the power transmission network
On 19 November, The Express Tribune reported that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a USD 330 million financing package for Pakistan to modernise its power transmission network. The Second Power Transmission Strengthening Project aims to address long-standing congestion and capacity issues in the north-south power corridor. This will be done by constructing a 500-kilovolt transmission line spread across 290 kilometres and upgrading grid infrastructure in areas serving Islamabad and Faisalabad. These improvements will allow for the transfer of up to 3200 megawatts of hydropower from the northern regions. The financing package includes a USD 285 million loan from ADB’s capital resources and a USD 45 million concession loan. The funds will also help strengthen the institutional capacity, financial management and governance of the National Grid Company of Pakistan Limited (NGC), which will execute the project. The project also aligns with the country’s National Power Policy 2021, Pakistan Vision 2025 and Nationally Determined Contributions aimed at prioritising climate resilience, clean energy integration and reduced technical losses. Although these upgrades are being seen as essential, analysts believe that underutilised generation assets and the rising cost of capacity payments could complicate matters. The Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM), a blended-finance model that the ADB has been piloting, is being seen as a tool to address Pakistan’s financial woes when it comes to power generation. While the new project is expected to improve reliability, experts stress the need for infrastructure upgrades in combination with tariff rationalisation and contract renegotiations. (“ADB approves $330m package to modernise Pakistan's power transmission network,” The Express Tribune, 20 November 2025).
EDITORIALS/OPINIONS
On the IMF Report on Corruption
Editorial, "Governance failure," Dawn, 21 November 2025
"THE IMF’s long-awaited Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment report on Pakistan is a grim analysis of the country’s persistent corruption challenges, rooted in systemic weaknesses and chronic governance failures across state institutions, which stifle economic goals...At the core of the GCDA is the argument that our poor economic performance is closely linked to opaqueness and discretionary practices that shape governance and policy outcomes. Thus, the report’s contention that effective reforms must begin with expanding access to information to anchor transparency and accountability across policy formulation, implementation and monitoring, and enable both state and non-state actors to participate more effectively in economic decision-making, should not be ignored. Without a shift to rules-based governance, the weaknesses will continue to suppress growth."
https://www.dawn.com/news/1956413/governance-failure
Editorial, "Elite capture," The News, 21 November 2025
"As per the report, many ministries and agencies face capacity constraints in delivering core functions, compounded by weak internal controls and underinvestment in management systems. But it is not private business that ends up being the main victim. The ultimate bill for all this corruption and incompetence is ultimately sent to the people of Pakistan who have to make continuous payments to officials to obtain basic services, while funds lost to corruption could otherwise support higher production and development. Sadly, the main victims also lack the tools to take ownership of the problem and fix it. The report notes how opportunities for engagement by non-state actors are constrained by limited access to public information and the absence of platforms for engagement. Where does one report demands for bribes? And if such an avenue does exist, how many have any hope that such complaints will be resolved?"
https://www.thenews.pk/print/1381719-elite-capture
Governance & Local Governments
Editorial, "The missing tier," The News, 21 November 2025
"With the 27th Amendment now a reality, a 28th Amendment also seems to be in the offing. Some, most notably the MQM-P in Karachi, see this as an opportunity to finally empower local governments in Pakistan. While weak local governance is a familiar gripe among Karachi’s people and their representatives, the party is calling this a national-level reform...Sadly, the country’s provincial governments have failed to live up to the requirements of Article 140-A. A Fafen policy brief released this month, ‘Devolution in Practice: Ensuring Effective and Accountable Local Governments in Pakistan’, points out how, since the passage of the 18th Amendment successive provincial governments in all provinces have used tenure disruptions, frequent changes in local government authority and structures and financial controls to undermine local governments. Unsurprisingly, the Punjab Assembly’s unanimous resolution also seeks to prevent premature suspension of local bodies."
https://www.thenews.pk/print/1381720-the-missing-tier
Military & Defence
Shahzad Chaudhry, "Higher direction of war: Why Pakistan's Joint Chiefs System failed," The Express Tribune, 21 November 2025
"...operations were primarily a service function and not brought before the chairman for discussion or concurrence, even if those were being discussed between services for coordination and joint planning. When the Strategic Plans Division (SPD) came of age, it was placed in the care of the Chairman for some functions, even if operational control and major development goals still rested with the army chief — who sometimes was also the President — whose concurrence was considered essential. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs was thus mostly on the lookout for what else he could get under his wing as a function. Joint Services institutions, like the ISPR and the ISI, remained outside his purview. He would try getting the Air Force and the Navy to kowtow to him and his authority, but was always rebuffed. The army never responded to his attempts to gain some insight."
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2578356/higher-direction-of-war
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