SGA

سہیل آفریدی کی لاہور آمد، سیاسی سرگرمیوں میں تیزی

لاہور: خیبر پختونخوا کے سینئر سیاسی رہنما سہیل آفریدی لاہور پہنچ گئے ہیں، جہاں ان کے دورے کو ملکی سیاست میں اہم پیش رفت قرار دیا جا رہا ہے۔ سہیل آفریدی کا یہ دورہ ایک ایسے وقت میں ہو رہا ہے جب سیاسی ماحول خاصا گرم ہے اور مختلف جماعتیں متحرک نظر آ رہی ہیں۔

ذرائع کے مطابق سہیل آفریدی لاہور میں قیام کے دوران پارٹی رہنماؤں، کارکنان اور اہم شخصیات سے ملاقاتیں کریں گے۔ ان ملاقاتوں میں موجودہ سیاسی صورتحال، مستقبل کی حکمتِ عملی اور عوامی مسائل پر تفصیلی مشاورت کی جائے گی۔

سہیل آفریدی نے لاہور پہنچنے پر میڈیا سے مختصر گفتگو کرتے ہوئے کہا کہ ملک کو اس وقت سیاسی استحکام، شفاف نظام اور عوامی فلاح پر مبنی فیصلوں کی ضرورت ہے۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ ان کا دورہ عوام کی آواز بننے اور سیاسی رابطے مضبوط کرنے کے لیے ہے۔

دوسری جانب، ان کی آمد کے پیشِ نظر شہر میں سکیورٹی کے خصوصی انتظامات کیے گئے ہیں جبکہ سیاسی حلقوں میں ان کے دورے کو آئندہ دنوں میں اہم سیاسی سرگرمیوں کا پیش خیمہ قرار دیا جا رہا ہے۔

سیاسی مبصرین کا کہنا ہے کہ سہیل آفریدی کی لاہور آمد نہ صرف پارٹی سطح پر بلکہ قومی سیاست میں بھی اثر ڈال سکتی ہے، اور آنے والے دنوں میں اس دورے کے نتائج سامنے آ سکتے ہیں۔

PIA Privatisation Breakthrough (Dec 23, 2025)

Pakistan has successfully sold a controlling stake in PIA after a televised auction. Key points:

The government received three competitive bids in the second privatization bid after last year’s attempt failed.
Reuters

A consortium led by **Arif Habib Corporation emerged as the winner, offering Rs 135 billion (approx. $482 million) for a majority stake (about 75%) in the airline.
Dawn

This is seen as a major milestone in Pakistan’s economic reform program, backed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which has pushed for privatizing loss-making state enterprises.
AP News

This effectively marks the start of a new ownership era for Pakistan’s national carrier after decades of government control.

Why This Matters

PIA has struggled financially for years, burdened by losses, debt, and management problems. The sale aims to bring private-sector efficiency and investment to revive the airline.
Bloomberg

The privatization is closely watched because it’s one of the biggest state asset sales in Pakistan in decades and a key part of IMF-driven reforms.

Pakistan Court Sentences Imran Khan and Wife to 17 Years in Graft Case

Islamabad / Rawalpindi, Dec 20, 2025 —
In a landmark verdict that is set to further intensify political tensions in Pakistan, a special court Friday sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to 17 years in prison each on corruption charges related to the under-priced retention and sale of luxury state gifts.
AP News

The case — known locally as the Toshakhana-II graft reference — centres on allegations that the former first couple retained and purchased valuable state gifts received during official visits, including high-end jewelry, at prices far below their true market value in violation of Pakistan’s gift-disclosure laws.
The Star

Special Judge Shahrukh Arjumand, sitting at the high-security Adiala Jail complex in Rawalpindi — where Khan is already imprisoned — handed down the sentences:

10 years on charges of criminal breach of trust, and

7 years under anti-corruption statutes.
In addition, each was fined approximately PKR 16.4 million (about USD 50,000), with extra jail time if the fines go unpaid.
The New Indian Express

Both Khan and Bushra Bibi denied the charges. Khan’s lawyers say the defense was not properly heard before the sentence was delivered, and they have pledged to immediately appeal the decision.
The Express Tribune

Broader Legal and Political Context.

This judgment adds to a series of legal convictions against Imran Khan following his removal from office in April 2022. He has been in custody since August 2023, serving sentences in multiple corruption cases, including earlier state-gifts cases and land-related graft references. The total length of his sentences could exceed 30 years if upheld.
Reuters

Khan — a former cricket star turned politician and founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party — has consistently maintained that these cases are politically motivated attempts to sideline him and prevent his return to power. His party has repeatedly condemned the trials as lacking fairness and transparency.
The Express Tribune

PTI, Supporters Denounce Ruling

PTI officials denounced the verdict as a “black chapter in history,” claiming that the proceedings were predetermined and aimed at crushing democratic opposition. Legal and party allies staged protests outside major cities and vowed to pursue all judicial avenues to overturn the ruling.
AP News

Human Rights and International Concerns

Separately, United Nations human rights experts have raised alarm over Khan’s detention conditions, warning that prolonged solitary confinement and restrictions on family and legal contact may amount to psychological torture. Reports from international observers have urged Pakistan to uphold international detention standards — concerns dismissed by government spokespeople as politically charged criticisms.
Desi Talk's Chicago

Domestic political figures have echoed these concerns, with some provincial leaders calling the incarceration conditions illegal and inhumane, alleging ongoing violations of prisoners’ rights.
Pakistan Today

Impact and Outlook

The conviction is expected to deepen Pakistan’s political divides at a time when governance challenges and economic pressures loom large. Khan’s supporters see the verdict as confirmation of a broader crackdown on dissent, while opponents argue that no one should be above the law.
Reuters

With appeals pending and international scrutiny mounting, the case is likely to shape Pakistan’s political discourse well into 2026.
AP News

Islamabad High Court Verdict – Justice Jahangiri Degree Case

Islamabad:
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ruled that Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri’s LLB degree was not valid when he was appointed as a High Court judge. His appointment has been declared illegal and he has been immediately removed from office. ⚖️

Key Points of the Verdict:
The verdict was delivered by a two-member bench led by Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Azam Khan.
The court ordered the government to approve his de-notification
His degree had previously been cancelled by the University of Karachi due to alleged irregularities.

💬 Reactions:

🟢 Supporters:
Legal experts and accountability advocates say the verdict promotes transparency and merit in the judiciary.
Advocate Mian Dawood: “Universities and institutions should also be held accountable where fake documents were facilitated.”

Critics / Opponents:
❗ Justice Jahangiri raised objections, claiming conflict of interest in the bench and that he did not receive full justice.
❗ Some legal observers noted that procedures and evidence handling were unclear, and he should have been given a chance to debate.

Next Steps:
Justice Jahangiri has filed an appeal in the Federal Constitutional Court.
The case could reach the Supreme Court if the appeal is accepted.

Asslam o alikom