Author: Yusara Askari

Pakistan’s military said Tuesday that the former head of the country’s main intelligence agency has been charged with multiple criminal offenses, including political interference, during ongoing court-martial proceedings. The announcement was made four months after Faiz Hamid, a former lieutenant general, was taken into custody by military authorities to undergo an investigation and legal proceedings. The military’s media wing reported that Hamid, who formerly led the Inter-Services Intelligence agency, or ISI, “has been formally arraigned on charges of engaging in political activities, violations of the Official Secrets Act … misuse of authority and government resources.” The charges carry a potential prison sentence of up to 14 years. The statement noted the former ISI chief is

Bottom Line Up Front Pakistan is increasingly grappling with a volatile and multifaceted security crisis, characterized by militant attacks, sectarian clashes, and political violence.In 2024, Pakistan witnessed a steep increase in violent attacks, with the total number of incidents reaching 856, driven by both attacks from the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).Pakistan has also been plagued by sectarian violence, with a sharp rise occurring in late November after gunmen opened fire on a convoy of around 200 Shia passengers in the district of Kurram, near the border with Afghanistan, killing 52.Protests driven by discontent over the perceived political persecution of former Prime Minister Imran Khan by the government and military establishment hav...

After weeks of intense political maneuvering, Pakistan’s Parliament has passed a set of constitutional amendments that will overhaul the process for appointing the country’s chief justice. Critics called it an effort to rein in the Supreme Court as it has emerged as a political force in its own right and challenged Pakistan’s powerful military establishment. The governing Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and other groups managed to cobble together the two-thirds majority needed to change the Constitution in a session that continued into the early hours of Monday. In fiery speeches railing against what they called judicial activism, lawmakers in the ruling coalition said the amendments would bolster the primacy of political leaders in Pakistan. But the party of former Prime Minister