Kallar Syedan women hold March against inflation and petrol levy

Karachi: Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah has clarified that the province’s six-day school week policy will apply only to government schools, while private educational institutions will remain free to determine their own weekly schedules. The clarification came after a notification issued by the Sindh School Education Department stated that both public and private schools would resume classes from August 1 under a six-day teaching schedule, leading to confusion among parents and school administrations. Addressing the issue through a statement on social media, Sardar Ali Shah explained that all government schools across Sindh will conduct academic activities six days a week starting August 1, 2026, in line with the department’s decision. He further emphasized that the revised working schedule is not mandatory for private schools. Instead, private educational institutions will continue to set their operating days and working hours according to their own policies. The minister’s clarification has resolved uncertainty surrounding the implementation of the new academic schedule, confirming that only government-run schools are required to follow the six-day teaching week.

  Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Javed Alam Odho has said that the death of Mir Raza is a tragic and deeply concerning incident, stressing that the case must be investigated and resolved properly  Speaking at a press conference in Sukkur, the Sindh police chief said that a committee had been formed to investigate the case and that a new investigation team would now carry out the inquiry. Commenting on the circumstances surrounding Mir Raza’s death, Odho said he believed that a communication gap or miscommunication had emerged in the case. He described the incident as unfortunate and said that the authorities were committed to ensuring that the matter was investigated in a proper and transparent manner. “We are not the policymakers; we are responsible for implementing the law,” the IGP said, adding that the investigation would eventually establish the facts surrounding the incident. Javed Alam Odho described the Mir Raza case as sensitive and said that both the police and the Sindh government wanted to ensure that it was handled appropriately. He said that much of the confusion surrounding the case had emerged because of the medical-legal report. According to him, an earlier report prepared by one doctor had presented in different findings, which contributed to uncertainty surrounding the case. The IGP said that a new committee had now been formed to investigate the matter and restore public confidence in the process. He explained that the previous committee had continued its work on the basis of the evidence that had been provided to it at the time. However, according to Odho, the evidence available to investigators had subsequently changed significantly. In light of the new evidence, he said, there was a need to restart the investigation using a different approach. The new investigation team has also been instructed to maintain open communication with the victim’s family and the media throughout the investigation, he added. Earlier, reports emerged that an attempt had allegedly been made to burn Mir Raza’s body with acid. According to forensic sources, traces of acid were reportedly found on his shirt, adding another dimension to the investigation. Meanwhile, the Sindh government had decided to have the Mir Raza case investigated through a judicial commission involving High Court judges. Sindh Law Minister Zia Lanjar said that a meeting had been held with the Chief Minister regarding the case. He said the government had decided to establish a judicial commission to investigate the circumstances surrounding Mir Raza’s death. Mir Raza Ali Khan went missing on July 28 from the Pakistan Employees Cooperative Housing Society (PECHS). According to reports, he left his home at around 4:09am in an online taxi. His body was recovered two days later from the Gulistan-e-Johar area. Police officials said that the body was found in a severely damaged condition and that Mir Raza had suffered a gunshot wound to the chest. Authorities also said that all of his social media accounts had been deactivated one day before his body was recovered, a development that investigators are expected to examine as part of the case. Mir Raza’s family has been seeking answers about the circumstances surrounding his death. His father previously said that Mir Raza was scheduled to get married on August 30 at Bait-ul-Mukarram Mosque in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. According to his father, Mir Raza had been extremely happy about starting a new chapter of his life and was looking forward to his upcoming marriage. The formation of a new investigation committee and the proposed judicial commission are expected to bring greater clarity to the case and address concerns raised by the victim’s family and the public.

QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) provincial chief Senator Maulana Abdul Wasey have reaffirmed their commitment to restoring lasting peace in the province, stressing the importance of unity and collective action to tackle security challenges. During a meeting in Quetta, the two leaders reviewed the overall law and order situation and discussed measures to strengthen peace and stability across Balochistan. Chief Minister Bugti described the establishment of durable peace as the provincial government’s top priority, saying cooperation among political, religious and social leaders was essential to achieving this goal. He emphasised that national unity was crucial in confronting terrorism and anti-state elements, adding that the government was fully committed to protecting the lives and property of citizens while promoting development, prosperity and the rule of law throughout the province. Senator Abdul Wasey highlighted the need for consultation, political consensus and national cohesion, saying Balochistan’s challenges could only be overcome through joint efforts involving all stakeholders. In a separate engagement, Chief Minister Bugti visited the residence of martyred District and Sessions Judge Abdul Hakeem Kakar to offer his condolences to the bereaved family and paid tribute to the judge’s services and sacrifice.

LAHORE: President Asif Ali Zardari has left Lahore after spending around two days in the city without meeting the local leadership of his Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), adding to speculation surrounding the political situation within the party. Zardari departed for Islamabad on Sunday after a low-profile visit during which he reportedly held no formal meetings with PPP leaders in Lahore. His stay has drawn particular attention amid unconfirmed reports that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari may have left Pakistan. A senior party figure close to the leadership said the president’s visit was not intended for meetings with the party’s local leadership. According to the source, Zardari had come to Lahore to deal with sensitive and urgent matters away from public attention. The same source acknowledged hearing reports about Bilawal’s possible departure but said he could neither confirm nor reject them. During his stay, Zardari was reported to have held only one known meeting, with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who was accompanied by businessman Gohar Ejaz. The president’s arrival also appeared to catch several PPP leaders off guard, with party members saying they had not been informed beforehand. Some PPP leaders reportedly sought meetings with Zardari but were unable to secure appointments. The president’s visit comes at a politically sensitive time for the PPP, which has recently taken a strong position against the creation of new administrative units and criticised the PML-N government over what it describes as excessive reliance on the establishment. Zardari has also recently withheld his assent to the elevation of judges, adding another layer to the growing political tensions. Attempts were made to contact PPP leaders Nadeem Afzal Chan and Shazia Marri for clarification about the reports concerning Bilawal, but no response was received before the report was filed. Meanwhile, PPP Kashmir leader Chaudhary Riaz said Bilawal had left the Kashmir Valley but added that he did not know where the party chairman was currently located.