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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day brought messages of goodwill from two major international partners, with the United States and Russia extending warm greetings to the Pakistani people and expressing hopes for continued peace, prosperity and stronger bilateral ties. US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A. Baker and the US diplomatic mission in Pakistan conveyed their Independence Day wishes to Pakistanis on Friday, marking the country’s 79th year as an independent nation. In its message, the US Embassy recalled the long history of relations between the two countries, noting that the United States was among the early countries to recognise Pakistan after its creation in 1947. The embassy said that Pakistan-US friendship had grown stronger over the decades, highlighting the enduring ties between the two countries and their peoples. “Over the past 80 years, the friendship between Pakistan and the United States has grown stronger,” the message said, while extending wishes for peace, happiness and prosperity to the people of Pakistan. The greeting comes as Islamabad and Washington continue to maintain engagement across several areas, including trade, investment, security, education and people-to-people ties. Russia highlights Pakistani resilience Russia’s ambassador to Pakistan also extended Independence Day greetings, describing the occasion as a reflection of the courage, determination and strong national spirit of the Pakistani people. In his message, the Russian envoy praised the resilience demonstrated by Pakistanis and expressed confidence that cooperation between Moscow and Islamabad could continue to expand. The ambassador said both countries would work together to strengthen mutual understanding and broaden their partnership in areas of shared interest. The message underscored Moscow’s interest in developing closer relations with Islamabad at a time when Pakistan is seeking to expand its diplomatic and economic partnerships. Messages arrive amid wider diplomatic engagement The messages from Washington and Moscow came as Pakistan marked Independence Day with nationwide celebrations, flag-raising ceremonies and tributes to the country’s founding leaders and those who sacrificed for independence. For Pakistan, such diplomatic messages carry significance beyond traditional greetings. They reflect the country’s longstanding relationships with major global powers and its continuing efforts to maintain engagement with partners across different regions. As Pakistan entered its 80th year since independence, the messages from the United States and Russia shared a common theme: a desire for peace, prosperity and stronger cooperation. While the two countries have different strategic relationships with Islamabad, their Independence Day messages highlighted the importance of continued engagement and mutual understanding. For Pakistanis celebrating the day, the greetings added an international dimension to the occasion, with both Washington and Moscow signalling their desire to see Pakistan move forward with stability, prosperity and deeper partnerships.

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday accepted a chamber appeal filed by former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan. The court directed that his petition be fixed for hearing before a Supreme Court bench at the earliest. Imran Khan has requested the court to order his transfer from Adiala Jail to Islamabad’s Shifa International Hospital for medical treatment. He has also sought permission for regular meetings with his family members, personal physicians and legal counsel. In addition, he wants his medical reports to be shared with his family. The appeal challenged an earlier decision by the Supreme Court Registrar, who had returned the petitions after raising objections. The Registrar’s Office said the petitions were incomplete because they did not include a signed power of attorney. During Friday’s proceedings, Advocate Uzair Karamat Bhandari appeared before Chief Justice Yahya Afridi in chambers on behalf of Imran Khan. After hearing the arguments, the chief justice declared the Registrar’s objections ineffective and directed the legal team to submit a signed power of attorney. The Registrar’s Office was also instructed to assign a regular case number to the petition so it could be listed for hearing without unnecessary delay. The Supreme Court further ordered that a separate petition filed by Imran Khan’s sister, Dr Uzma Khan, should be heard together with his own case. In the appeal, Imran Khan argued that the Registrar had exceeded his administrative powers by deciding the maintainability of the petition. His legal team maintained that such questions should be decided by judges because they involve constitutional and legal interpretation rather than administrative scrutiny. The petition also requested that Imran Khan be examined by doctors of his own choice. The names included Dr Khurram Mirza, Dr Asim Yusuf, Dr Faisal Sultan and Dr Samina Niazi. It further asked the court to order his immediate transfer to Shifa International Hospital for a detailed medical examination and treatment. The petition also sought uninterrupted access to his personal doctors, family members and lawyers during his imprisonment and treatment. Dr Uzma Khan has also challenged an Islamabad High Court ruling that refused to order Imran Khan’s transfer to Shifa International Hospital. She also questioned the decision denying his family access to his medical information and visits by his personal physicians. In her petition, Dr Uzma said Imran Khan and his wife are currently imprisoned in Adiala Jail, while his two sons live abroad. She said she is his closest immediate family member in Pakistan and, as a medical doctor, is deeply concerned about his health. She argued that she has the legal standing to pursue the case on his behalf. Imran Khan has remained in custody since August 2023. He is serving a 14-year prison sentence in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust corruption case. He is also receiving treatment for right central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), an eye condition that was diagnosed earlier this year. His medical treatment has become a major political issue in recent months. Opposition leaders have repeatedly accused the government of failing to ensure proper medical care and denying him access to his personal doctors. They have also demanded his transfer to Shifa International Hospital

BANNU: A highly wanted terrorist commander carrying a bounty of Rs6 million has been killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Bannu, police said on Thursday. The slain militant was identified as Naseer Muhammad, alias Geedarh, according to Bannu District Police Officer (DPO) Captain (Retd.) Muhammad Furqan Bilal. The operation was jointly conducted by Bannu Police and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) following intelligence reports about the presence and movement of suspected terrorists in the area. Police said security teams launched targeted actions in Akbar Ali Khan Kili, Sada Khel, Sadarwan and surrounding areas under the supervision of DPO Bilal. Search and surveillance activities were also carried out during the operation. Security was strengthened in different parts of Bannu Township and areas falling within the Domel police jurisdiction. Authorities said further information about the operation and the identity and activities of the slain terrorist would be released after the operation was fully completed. The latest action is part of intensified counterterrorism operations in Bannu, where security forces have carried out several intelligence-based raids in recent weeks. On August 10, a joint operation in the Miryan area resulted in the killing of a suspected terrorist and the detention of eight others. District police, CTD, Elite Force and Pakistan Army personnel participated in that operation. According to police, the suspect killed during the August 10 operation was allegedly attempting to plant an improvised explosive device when security personnel intercepted him. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered. A similar operation was conducted in Bannu on July 20, when another suspected terrorist was killed and eight others were detained by a joint security team. The latest operation comes amid continued security concerns across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The province has witnessed a series of attacks targeting police, security personnel and public infrastructure in recent months. On July 15, terrorists attacked the Miryan police station in Bannu using an explosives-laden vehicle before engaging security personnel in a prolonged gun battle. The attack left several police officers and civilians injured. Security officials have since increased surveillance and intelligence-based operations across sensitive areas of the district. Bannu and other parts of southern K-P have remained particularly vulnerable because of their proximity to the Afghan border and the continued threat posed by militant networks. The federal government has repeatedly called on Afghan authorities to prevent militant groups from using Afghan territory to plan and carry out attacks against Pakistan. The security situation has also resulted in increased operations targeting suspected militant hideouts, movement routes and support networks. Earlier incidents in Bannu included attacks on public infrastructure and attempts to damage key transport links through explosives.