Overview
- PTI protesters remain encamped in Peshawar and Charsadda on the fifth day of the long march as leaders prepare to announce a formal plan of action in Charsadda and Swabi.
- Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said public confidence in the judiciary, parliament and assemblies has collapsed and urged a system 'reset' and unconditional talks to avoid wider instability.
- PTI has accused authorities of enforced disappearances and arrests, saying a provincial minister has been missing for 18 days, eight party assembly members are detained, and family members have turned to the High Court.
- Separately, Pakistan and Bahrain signed the minutes of the third joint ministerial commission to activate over a dozen working groups on trade, energy, IT, logistics and maritime security.
- In the region, former Afghan premier Gulbuddin Hekmatyar called for power to be transferred to the people and reports of recent attacks on Taliban personnel raise concerns about cross‑border security spillovers for Pakistan.