Photo : The Express Tribune
Photo : The Express Tribune
In Brief
POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
PML-N consolidates lead in by-polls
On 24 November, The Express Tribune reported that the PML-N party maintained dominance in vital by-elections which took place throughout Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces by winning most National Assembly and Punjab Assembly seats according to unofficial election results. The PPP secured one provincial seat while PTI-backed candidates lost in all their contested electoral districts. The PML-N party achieved major victories in NA-129 Lahore and NA-96 and NA-104 Faisalabad and NA-143 Sahiwal and NA-185 Dera Ghazi Khan where their candidates secured significant victories. Security forces stayed at every polling station throughout the voting period while voting numbers and election outcomes showed different results between different areas. (“PML-N extends electoral hold in key by-polls,” The Express Tribune, 24 November 2025)
PML-N leads amid PTI rigging claims in by-elections, reports Dawn
On 23 November, Dawn reported that six National Assembly and seven Punjab Assembly constituencies conducted by-elections because PTI lawmakers lost their seats after May 9th disqualification cases. The voting process took place under strict security measures because 20,000 police officers patrolled the area and 100 polling stations received sensitive or highly sensitive designations. The PML-N maintained a strong position in multiple essential electoral districts according to unofficial election results which showed their victory in NA-129 Lahore and NA-96 Faisalabad and NA-143 Sahiwal. The PTI stayed away from participating in most voting contests but sent representatives to contest in Lahore and Haripur while they filed complaints about voting irregularities and missing voter registration books and blocking at returning officers' offices and PTI camp removals. The PTI leaders distributed videos showing election irregularities while their party members suffered injuries during the election process. The voting process experienced different levels of voter participation throughout the day because weather conditions and local conditions caused some areas to start with low turnout but more people showed up later. The voting process at Faisalabad and Sahiwal polling stations started with a delayed pace until more voters showed up to vote. The Election Commission declared the voting process remained peaceful throughout the day but independent observers predicted the PML-N would gain assembly power through winning NA seats without needing PPP backing. (“By-elections held for 6 NA, 7 Punjab seats; PTI alleges rigging,” Dawn, 23 November 2025)
On the 27th Amendment
Human Rights Commission raises concerns over impunity clause in the 27th Amendment leading to “concentrated unchecked power in the hands of a few”
On 24 November, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) issued a statement expressing concern over the lifetime immunity for public officers offered by the 27th Constitutional Amendment. The statement followed its 39th annual general meeting and termed the privilege as “concentrated unchecked power in the hands of a few.” The 27th amendment secures lifetime immunity to the president and anyone holding the ranks of Field Marshal, Admiral of the Fleet and Marshal of the Air Force from arrest and all criminal and civil proceedings. Referencing the amendment, the HRCP highlighted the “escalating threats to constitutional democracy, civic freedoms, and the safety of vulnerable communities across the country.” It emphasised concerns that the amendment “undermines judicial independence by expanding executive control over matters that should remain free from executive interference.” The HRCP also emphasised that efforts to curb militancy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan “must protect fundamental freedoms and the right to dissent,” urging the government to adopt “rights-respecting security measures, conduct impartial investigations into abuses by state actors, and engage meaningfully with local communities.” The HRCP addressed concerns including enforced disappearances and the use of interment centres without due process, asserting that the use Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 (ATA), “to muzzle dissent must cease.”
The commission also addressed the ongoing harassment, detention, and forced repatriation of Afghan refugees, many facing threats of persecution, family separation, and severe humanitarian distress “The government must suspend deportations, ensure due process, and uphold international protection standards. Pakistan should ratify the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol and protect the right to citizenship by birth and naturalisation,” the HRCP emphasised. It also stated that custodial torture and extrajudicial killings, “particularly involving Crime Control Department and Counter-Terrorism Department personnel”, demanded urgent independent inquiries and accountability. The commission also addressed aspects of violence against religious minorities, religious minorities, especially Ahmadis, misuse of the blasphemy law, forced conversions, child marriage, and sexual violence. The HRCP also urged the government to protect climate-displaced persons, especially in Gilgit-Baltistan. The human rights body stressed that incarcerated Indian and Pakistani fisherfolk must be repatriated to their respective countries and receive humane treatment, legal representation and protection from arbitrary detention to preserve their rights and livelihoods. (“Lifetime immunity for public office holders has concentrated ‘unchecked power in hands of a few’: HRCP,” Dawn, 24 November 2025)
ON INDIA
Foreign Office condemns India’s defence minister Rajnath Singh on “delusional and dangerously revisionist” statements on Sindh
On 24 November, Pakistan’s Foreign Office issued a statement condemning India’s defence minister Rajnath Singh’s recent remarks on Sindh. Speaking at a Sindhi Samaj Sammelan, an event of the Sindhi community in Delhi, the minister stated that “Today, the land of Sindh may not be a part of India, but civilisationally, Sindh will always be a part of India. And as far as land is concerned, borders can change. Who knows, tomorrow Sindh may return to India again.” The FO statement dismissed the remarks as “delusional and dangerously revisionist.”
The FO responded that such statements revealed an “expansionist Hindutva mindset that seeks to challenge established realities and stands in clear violation of international law, the inviolability of recognised borders, and the sovereignty of states.” The statement also urged Indian leaders to refrain from “provocative rhetoric that threatens regional peace and stability.” It also called on New Delhi to “ take credible steps toward the genuine resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people under occupation.” It was also emphasised that Pakistan is committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes but is “firmly resolved to safeguard its security, national independence and sovereignty.” (“FO denounces Indian defence minister’s ‘delusional, dangerously revisionist’ remarks about Sindh,” Dawn, 24 November 2025)
JUDICIARY
Five-member FCC bench to hear PTI leader’s plea on election tribunals
On 24 November, Dawn reported that the Federal Constitutional Court constituted a five-member bench, scheduled to take up a petition filed by PTI’s Salman Akram Raja. The petition sought the reversal of a court order on election tribunals, which were formed to settle disputes of last year’s general elections. Earlier, the Supreme Court had suspended the Lahore High Court’s notification of constituting eight election tribunals in Punjab. On 4 July 2024, a five-judge SC bench had also ordered a meaningful consultation between the Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice and the Chief Election Commissioner for the formation of the tribunals. However, ECP adopted the view that it was entitled to disregard any name provided by the LHC Chief Justice. The petition argued that in the law, there was no basis for the ECP demanding a panel of judges for each election tribunal so that it might reject some or all contained in the panel provided by the high court chief justice. (“5-member FCC bench to take up PTI leader Salman Akram Raja’s election tribunal plea on Tuesday,” Dawn, 24 November 2025)
ECONOMY
Ministry of Finance prepares a comprehensive reform package to overhaul Pakistan’s budget-implementation system following the IMF’s GCDA report
On 23 November, The Express Tribune reported that the Ministry of Finance is preparing a comprehensive reform package to overhaul Pakistan’s budget-implementation system, with plans to present proposals to the IMF by next month. This follows the IMF’s Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Report released last week, which highlighted corruption challenges across state institutions in Pakistan and suggested a 15-point reform agenda to improve integrity and accountability.
What is the government planning to do?
First, the reform package, centred on 15 proposals, has been under intense discussion between Pakistani authorities and an IMF technical team. A core element is the full digitisation of the Public Finance Management (PFM) system, aimed at addressing long-standing inconsistencies in budget execution.
Second, to manage this transformation, the government is considering establishing a specialised committee dedicated to supervising the implementation of the digitisation plan.
Third, the reforms look at shifting the entire budget-preparation cycle online through e-office and e-pads, consolidating financial data and basing budgets on verified datasets. Improved coordination with line ministries is viewed as essential for making the annual budget process less fragmented and more evidence-based.
What are the simultaneous developments?
First, sources indicate that the IMF mission has also held broad discussions on possible tax policy adjustments for the upcoming budget, an area where the IMF has consistently called for politically difficult reforms.
Second, separately, the IMF criticised amendments to federal and Punjab procurement rules that allow contracts to be awarded to state departments without competitive bidding, stating that such practices could lead to opaque subletting arrangements with private firms. (“Finance ministry prepares reform package for IMF,” The Express Tribune, 23 November 2025)
SOCIETY
Residents storm Karachi pumping station amid water shortage
On 24 November, The Express Tribune reported that Karachi residents stormed the Nagan Chowrangi pumping station in a protest against persistent water shortages in the area. Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) had failed to restore water supply to homes for more than a month. The water and power utilities are blaming each other for the water supply disruptions in the city. The power department blamed leaking pipes causing short circuits, whereas the water department blamed electricity outages for pipeline bursts. Households have to rely on unaffordable water tanks for daily household needs. The protest was called off after successful talks. (“Water shortage sparks protest as residents storm Karachi pumping station,” The Express Tribune, 24 November 2025)
SECURITY
Three TTP terrorists killed in Dera Ismail Khan
On 24 November, The Express Tribune reported that three terrorists responsible for terrorist activities in South Punjab were killed during an intelligence-based operation by security forces. The operation was carried out in the Kohi Bahara area of Darazinda, located on the outskirts of Dera Ismail Khan, with an aim to restrict the movement of TTP. One of the terrorists killed had recently invited members of the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) to join TTP. Another terrorist was affiliated with the newly surfaced faction, TTP Kashmir. (“Three TTP terrorists killed in Dera Ismail Khan,” The Express Tribune, 24 November 2025)
EXTERNAL
EU and Pakistan issue joint statement expressing concerns over cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan; Urges Kabul to “to ensure protection of human rights, especially for women, girls and vulnerable communities”
On 22 November, Pakistan and the European Union (EU) issued a joint statement urging Afghanistan to tackle the terrorist organisations operating from the country and to ensure the protection of human rights, especially those of women and girls. The statement follows the 7th Strategic Dialogue between Pakistan and the EU in Brussels. The meeting was co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and the EU’s chief diplomat Kaja Kallas. Pakistan;s Foreign Office (FO) issued a statement highlighting that “The two sides called on Afghanistan’s de facto authorities to play a constructive role in achieving the shared objective of rooting out terrorism from Afghan soil.” It also stated that Dar and Kallas expressed concern over Kabul’s deteriorating socioeconomic conditions and were in favour of a “peaceful, stable and self-reliant Afghanistan.” According to the statement, the leaders hoped that Kabul would strive towards a “credible political process aligned with the UN-led ‘Doha process’, and in line with the commitments made by the Taliban de facto Authorities to the international community.” The EU also commended Pakistan’s hosting millions of Afghan refugees, but emphasised that any repatriation must be “safe, dignified and in line with international standards”. (“EU and Pakistan urge Afghanistan to root out terror on its soil, ensure women’s rights in joint statement,” Dawn, 24 November 2025)
ENVIRONMENT
COP30
Pakistan calls for rapid, grant-based and predictable financing for climate-vulnerable developing countries
On 23 November, Dawn reported that Pakistan called for rapid, grant-based and predictable financing for climate-vulnerable developing countries at a COP30 side event titled “Operationalising Loss and Damage: Financing Resilience and Recovery in Vulnerable Countries.” Secretary for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination stated that Pakistan is investing heavily in resilience although it contributes less than one per cent to global greenhouse gas emissions. The Secretary highlighted the 2022 and 2025 floods, saying: “The scale and frequency of such disasters in developing countries underscore the disproportionate climate burden placed on nations that played almost no role in heating the planet.” Panelists pointed out that repeated climate shocks have created a “debt emergency,” forcing vulnerable states to borrow for reconstruction. They stated that new, additional and concessional finance is necessary for Loss and Damage support to be transformative.
What priorities and proposals did Pakistan highlight?
First, speakers highlighted that children bear the greatest burden of climate stress in Pakistan, where nearly half the population is under 18.
Second, participants called for implementing the Barbados Implementation Modalities, with simplified procedures, faster disbursement and flexible financial windows, and for mechanisms to address slow-onset impacts such as glacial melt and sea level rise.
Third, Pakistan announced plans to submit two Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) proposals focused on rebuilding social infrastructure and strengthening resilience in agriculture, community systems and water resources. (“Pakistan urges urgent grant-based climate finance at COP30,” Dawn, 23 November 2025)
EDITORIALS/OPINIONS
Gilgit-Baltistan
Bina Shah, "Great beauty," Dawn, 23 November 2025
"I’m always glad to see regional and provincial languages promoted at our literary festivals, and this year at Adab, one of the languages of Gilgit-Baltistan Burushaski to be precise was included in a mushaira in which poets Ahmed Ali Jan and Qamar Kazmi participated. We still operate in a headspace where those separate regions are collectively and dismissively called ‘the Northern Areas’ and envisioned as a land of great natural beauty simply waiting for us to discover it. We lack true understanding or knowledge of its rich history, culture, religions, and societies. The promotion of Gilgit-Baltistan’s languages and literature mostly an oral tradition at festivals that can showcase their art, their music, their culture, their scholars, is a huge opportunity for cultural diplomacy within our nation. We lack true knowledge of GB’s rich history. The book is a perfect representation of the region multilingual, collaborative and indigenous, which also reflects the ethos and social awareness of its people as it passes through a crucible of modernisation and development. The people of Gilgit-Baltistan see their land and their lives as rich, thriving and meaningful."
https://www.dawn.com/news/1956823/great-beauty
27th Amendment
Editorial, "Legal fight," Dawn, 23 November 2025
"One day, the humbling of the present-day judiciary may be remembered as a tragedy. For now, it resembles a spectacle. Instead of the senior judges being given an audience, they were told to take their issues to the Federal Constitutional Court. In other words, the petitioners were told to seek justice from an institution whose very creation they were there to challenge. It was a sobering moment. The four judges had petitioned the Supreme Court after months of voicing their apprehensions regarding the incremental but systematic dismantling of judicial independence, a process which began with the passage of the 26th Amendment and ended in the most recent constitutional changes. All four would seem to strongly believe that the new amendment is severely violative of several established articles of the Constitution. The objections they raised in their petition regarding the appointment of the new court, the transfer of judges on executive whim, and the decimation of judicial independence through institutional capture and the installation of like-minded judges are questions that have also been raised by legal experts, international observers, as well as concerned members of the public. The legal fight has now become even more complicated. This case must be heard in detail, and the proceedings should ideally be televised for public consumption."
https://www.dawn.com/news/1956822
Judiciary
Editorial, "Pending justice," Dawn, 24 November 2025
"The paradox for Pakistan’s prosecutors is that they have the power to obstruct, but not enough to resolve. This again confirms that the dismal state of legal proceedings in Pakistan is the primary reason for congested registers. Currently, over 2.2m cases are pending in courts across the country. This figure represents more than just volume. It is a reflection of disputes held hostage to uncertainty due to inefficiencies at the lower levels of the justice system and missing structural reforms. We cannot continue with this dysfunction. Complacency is not an option as wrongful acquittals foster impunity, erode public trust and stifle economic progress as investments stay away from unsafe societies. At the moment, public safety hangs in the balance."
https://www.dawn.com/news/1956970/pending-justice
Security
Muhammad Amir Rana, "A tale of two cities," Dawn, 23 November 2025
"Pakistan’s internal security threats continue to escalate in complexity and lethality, even as state institutions attempt varied approaches to contain them. The state expends large resources on intelligence, deployments, and checkpoints. Still, terrorists exploit weaknesses attacks occur less often in Islamabad and far more frequently in Quetta. Public frustration and insecurity are as lethal as the threat of terrorism itself. The data clearly shows that militant groups, their targets, and their operational tactics have evolved over the years. When security agencies become overly obsessed with rigid protocols, they inadvertently give an advantage to terrorists who adapt their tactics, focusing on breaching these measures. When terrorists gain a sense of advantage, or in some cases of victory, it weakens the state’s coercive strategies. Public frustration and insecurity are as lethal as the threat of terrorism itself."
https://www.dawn.com/news/1956826/a-tale-of-two-cities