4.5-magnitude quake jolts Pakistan’s coast

KARACHI: At least 94 people were injured in separate incidents of aerial firing in Karachi during Independence Day celebrations. According to police, 30 suspects involved in aerial firing have been arrested and weapons have been recovered from their possession. Police conducted operations in several areas of the city, including SITE Super Highway, Sachal, Gulistan-e-Johar and Gulshan-e-Iqbal. Ten suspects were arrested during these operations. Police in District West also arrested four suspects allegedly involved in aerial firing. In District Central, 16 people were arrested for allegedly firing shots into the air. The injured included 56 men, 15 women, 15 boys and eight girls. The injured were shifted to major hospitals across the city for medical treatment. A total of 27 injured people were brought to Civil Hospital, 36 to Jinnah Hospital and 32 to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. Police said further action was being taken against those involved in aerial firing. Authorities have also increased security measures to prevent further incidents during Independence Day celebrations.

Political tensions between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have deepened as Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) entered the second phase of its elections. Despite several rounds of negotiations, the two coalition partners failed to resolve their dispute over the first phase of polling. The second phase of the elections is being held in nine constituencies of Muzaffarabad division and all 12 refugee constituencies. Authorities have made extensive security arrangements to ensure peaceful polling, while political uncertainty continues to dominate the electoral process. The disagreement began after the first phase of elections in Mirpur, where the PML-N secured key victories. The PPP questioned the election results and alleged irregularities in several constituencies. The PML-N rejected the allegations and insisted that the elections reflected the public mandate. The dispute has led to an exchange of sharp political statements between leaders of both parties. Senior PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah criticized PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for repeatedly raising allegations of election rigging. He questioned the basis of such claims and also referred to the election of President Asif Ali Zardari while responding to the PPP’s criticism of the 2024 general elections. Rana Sanaullah also commented on Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s recent remarks regarding the country’s governance system and the debate over creating new provinces. He criticized the minister’s statements and questioned his political rise. Meanwhile, PPP leader Saeed Ghani strongly defended his party during a press conference. He claimed that the PPP had never formed a government through election manipulation. He alleged that the PML-N had repeatedly benefited from controversial election outcomes and accused its leadership of making baseless allegations against the PPP. In an effort to reduce tensions, senior representatives from both parties held several meetings over the past few days. The discussions focused on finding a legal and political solution to the dispute over the election results. According to party sources, the PPP initially challenged the results in four constituencies. It later withdrew objections in two constituencies but continued to demand action regarding Charhoi and Nakyal, where its candidates were defeated by PML-N nominees. During the negotiations, PML-N representatives maintained that any irregularities were isolated incidents rather than evidence of systematic rigging. They argued that such incidents had occurred in previous elections and should not be used to question the overall electoral process. The talks, however, failed to produce a final agreement. As a result, political tensions remained high ahead of the second phase of voting. Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met PML-N President Nawaz Sharif at Jati Umra to review the evolving political situation. The meeting focused on the party’s strategy and the growing dispute with the PPP over the AJK elections. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also attended the consultation. The participants reviewed the political challenges facing the ruling coalition and discussed possible steps to prevent further escalation between the two allied parties. In another development, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said he had received a positive response to his proposal for establishing a truth and reconciliation commission in Azad Kashmir. He described the response as encouraging and said the proposal had also received support from the AJK Legislative Assembly. Bilawal said he would carefully review the suggestions before consulting AJK Prime Minister Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore. He added that discussions would also be held with the federal government and other stakeholders to determine whether a consensus could be reached on the proposed commission.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has dismissed claims that Pakistan’s governance system has collapsed, while firmly opposing the creation of new provinces in Sindh and warning that no violence or bloodshed will be allowed over the issue. Speaking to reporters after attending the Mining Technical Conference 2026 in Karachi, the chief minister said the Constitution provides a clear legal mechanism for altering provincial boundaries. He stressed that any such move can only take place if the concerned provincial assembly approves it with a two-thirds majority. Murad Ali Shah said the Sindh Assembly has repeatedly passed unanimous resolutions opposing the creation of any new province in the province. He maintained that there has been no change in the assembly’s position and that the issue should be addressed only through constitutional and democratic procedures. The chief minister said public debate on administrative reforms is acceptable, but warned against creating unnecessary tensions or presenting the issue in a way that could provoke conflict. He said no one would be allowed to exploit the matter to create unrest in Sindh. His remarks came after Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi recently suggested that Pakistan’s existing governance system was no longer capable of addressing national challenges and called for administrative reforms, including the creation of new administrative units. Responding to questions about public demonstrations, Murad Ali Shah said peaceful protest is a constitutional right but should be held in accordance with the law. He urged organisers to obtain permission from the relevant authorities before staging protests. The chief minister also highlighted the provincial government’s agricultural policy, saying arrangements have been made to procure one million tonnes of wheat to protect local farmers and stabilise the market. Speaking about economic development, he said Sindh continues to expand its mining and energy sectors. He announced that electricity generation from Thar coal is expected to increase from 2,640 megawatts to 3,000 megawatts in the near future. Murad Ali Shah said Thar’s coal fields are producing more than 15 million tonnes of coal annually, helping Pakistan reduce its dependence on imported fuel and saving more than $1.5 billion in foreign exchange each year.

The number of children living with HIV in Pakistan has risen to approximately 7,500, according to the latest figures released by the federal Ministry of Health. The data highlights the growing need for improved healthcare, nutrition, and long-term support for affected children across the country. Official statistics show that around 62,000 HIV patients are currently receiving treatment in Pakistan. Children account for nearly 12 percent of all registered patients, reflecting the significant impact of the disease on younger age groups. According to the ministry, Sindh has emerged as the province with the highest number of HIV-positive children. Nearly 4,200 children infected with the virus have been registered in the province, making it the country’s largest concentration of pediatric HIV cases. In response to the situation, the federal government has sought nutritional assistance from UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and Nutrition International. The support is aimed at improving the health and nutritional status of children living with HIV. Authorities said a special program has been planned to provide nutritional supplements to HIV-positive children. Those suffering from severe malnutrition will receive therapeutic food along with continuous medical monitoring to improve their overall health and treatment outcomes. The government also plans to provide guidance to parents and caregivers on meeting the nutritional needs of children living with HIV. Health experts believe that proper nutrition plays a critical role in strengthening immunity and supporting the effectiveness of treatment. Medical experts said children infected with HIV require 10 to 20 percent more energy and protein than healthy children of the same age. They stressed that addressing malnutrition can significantly improve recovery, enhance the effectiveness of treatment, and help HIV-positive children lead healthier lives.