Overview
- PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram dismissed the prime minister’s negotiation offer as duplicitous and said the party will not enter talks under current terms.
- An opposition bloc led by Mahmood Khan Achakzai signaled readiness for negotiations focused on transparent elections and a consensus choice for election commissioner.
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said PIA’s privatization bidding concluded with a top offer of Rs135 billion against a Rs100 billion reference price, emphasizing a transparent process.
- Pakistan Railways suspended all train services in Balochistan for one day, halting the Jaffar Express routes, Bolan Mail and the Chaman service due to unspecified reasons.
- Leaders paired governance messages with unity outreach, as the prime minister extended Christmas greetings, Maryam Nawaz met a Sikh of America delegation on minority protections, and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari paid tribute to the Quaid’s constitutional vision.