Injection marks found on woman who died at Lahore …

Lahore: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, formally inaugurated the 983rd Annual Urs of Hazrat Ali Hajveri (RA), widely revered as Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (RA), by performing the traditional Chadar Poshi ceremony and inaugurating the ceremonial Sabeel-e-Doodh. On this auspicious occasion, he also unveiled the Punjab Auqaf & Religious Affairs Department’s special publication, “Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (RA) – Kamalaan Raa Rahnuma,” and reaffirmed that Pakistan was founded upon the eternal principles of Islam and the sovereignty of Almighty Allah, ideals that were magnificently exemplified and disseminated by the great Sufi saints through their scholarship, spirituality, and exemplary character. He observed that the timeless teachings of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (RA), centred on compassion, tolerance, justice, fraternity, piety and selfless service to humanity, continue to illuminate the path towards peace, national cohesion and social harmony. The ceremony was attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister Punjab Ali Dar, Provincial Minister for Housing Bilal Yasin, Provincial Minister for Finance Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Senior Member Board of Revenue Nabeel Javed, Secretary Excise Masood Mukhtar, Commissioner Lahore Nauman Yousaf, Secretary/Chief Administrator Auqaf Punjab Dr. Ehsan Bhutta, Director General Religious Affairs Hafiz Anees-ur-Rehman, Director Administration Auqaf Muhammad Shakir Sandhu, Director Projects Auqaf Rafiq Noor Wattoo, Deputy Commissioner Lahore Ali Ijaz, Administrator Data Darbar Muhammad Ali Khan, GM NESPAK Adil Nazir, and senior officers of the Auqaf Department, civil administration, law enforcement and security agencies. The annual Chadar Poshi ceremony was gracefully conducted by Maulana Mufti Kashif Jameel as Naqeeb-e-Mehfil, while the honour of Qur’anic recitation was bestowed upon Qari Syed Sadaqat Ali and Qari Ghulam Fareed Al-Hassani. Renowned Naat Khawans—Qari Muhammad Anas Mukhtar, Dr. Sarwar Hussain Naqshbandi, Hafiz Muhammad Waseem Abbas, Hafiz Noor Sultan Siddiqui, Marghoob Ahmad Hamdani, Abdul Razzaq Jami and Habib-ur-Rehman Bhatti—presented heartfelt tributes in praise of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), while Umar Chishti Group and Riaz Hussain Group presented soul-stirring Manqabat and Salaam. Floral tributes were offered at the sacred shrine, distinguished guests were ceremonially honoured with traditional turbans, and special collective prayers were led by Allama Mukhtar Ahmad Nadeem, Khateeb of Jamia Masjid Data Darbar. Following the ceremony, the Deputy Prime Minister officially launched the commemorative publication and received an extensive briefing from officials of the Communication & Works Department and NESPAK regarding the Data Darbar Expansion Project. Commending the Government of Punjab for its exceptional arrangements, Senator Ishaq Dar described the service of millions of devotees as a profound religious obligation and a matter of immense privilege, while paying rich tribute to the comprehensive security architecture, sanitation, healthcare, traffic management and public facilitation measures, and especially acknowledging the outstanding leadership and unwavering dedication of Dr. Ehsan Bhutta and his entire team. Advisor to the Chief Minister Punjab Ali Dar remarked that the shrine of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (RA) remains an enduring symbol of spirituality, peace and interfaith harmony across the Subcontinent, adding that under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, every possible resource has been mobilised to ensure a secure, dignified and spiritually enriching experience for pilgrims. Dr. Ehsan Bhutta further stated that, under the continuous supervision of the Chief Secretary Punjab, all Urs arrangements had been completed well in advance and to the highest professional standards, with special emphasis on security, Langar, Sabeel, medical services, cleanliness, parking, traffic management, control rooms and guidance centres. Multi-tier security measures were implemented throughout the shrine complex in close coordination with law enforcement agencies, including comprehensive search operations, deployment of armed personnel on surrounding high-rise buildings and stringent surveillance protocols, while additional personnel from the Tourism Department were also deployed to facilitate visitors. The inaugural day of the Urs witnessed an extraordinary influx of devotees from across Pakistan who thronged the sacred shrine to offer chadars, floral tributes and prayers, as the atmosphere resonated with devotional fervour, traditional drum performances and the continuous distribution of Langar. The first day also featured four prestigious spiritual and scholarly gatherings, including a Mehfil-e-Husn-e-Qira’at, an academic and educational session at Jamia Hajveria, a scholarly discourse titled “The Life and Legacy of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (RA)”, and a grand Mehfil-e-Naat, while the three-day Urs celebrations will continue with the inauguration of the traditional Mehafil-e-Samaa on 3 August at 10:00 a.m. at Rashid Events Complex, Chowk Sardar, Chappal Factory, Bilal Ganj, Lahore, where some of Pakistan’s most distinguished Qawwals will participate in the revered musical assemblies.

ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas has described the PIMS Hospital incident as an extremely painful and unbearable tragedy, expressing deep concern over the loss of lives and the suffering of affected families. Speaking to the media after arriving at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Raja Nasir Abbas criticized the government’s response to the incident and questioned whether removing a health secretary could be considered an adequate action in response to such a serious tragedy. He said that simply removing a senior health official would not address the underlying issues that led to the incident. According to him, the government must look beyond administrative changes and take practical measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. “Do you think that by removing one health secretary, you have done your job?” he questioned while speaking to the media. The Senate opposition leader also expressed sympathy for the families who lost their children in the incident. He asked people to imagine the pain and suffering of parents whose children were burned to death. “What must the parents whose children were burned to death have gone through?” he asked, while condemning what he described as the actions and handling of the situation by the authorities. Raja Nasir Abbas said that such incidents raise serious questions about the quality of public services and the government’s responsibility toward citizens. He stressed that people rely on state institutions for essential services, particularly healthcare and education, and expect these institutions to provide safe and reliable facilities. The opposition leader also drew a comparison between the public education and healthcare systems and the growing reliance on private institutions. He said that when government schools fail to meet people’s expectations, families are often forced to turn toward private educational institutions. Similarly, when people do not receive satisfactory treatment or adequate medical facilities at government hospitals, they are compelled to seek treatment from private hospitals. He argued that this trend places an additional financial burden on ordinary citizens, particularly families who cannot afford expensive private healthcare or education. Raja Nasir Abbas emphasized that government institutions should be strengthened so that citizens can receive essential services without having to depend on private alternatives. He suggested that authorities need to identify weaknesses within public-sector institutions and take effective steps to improve their performance. His comments came during his visit to PIMS, where he spoke about the incident and the concerns surrounding the hospital’s safety and management. The tragedy has prompted questions about safety arrangements, institutional accountability and the government’s responsibility for protecting patients and their families. The opposition leader’s remarks also highlighted the broader issue of public confidence in government institutions. When public hospitals fail to provide adequate care or safe facilities, people who cannot afford private treatment are particularly vulnerable. He called for greater accountability and better management of public-sector institutions, arguing that administrative decisions alone cannot resolve systemic problems. The incident has intensified debate over hospital safety and emergency preparedness, with calls for authorities to investigate what happened and determine whether negligence or shortcomings contributed to the tragedy. Raja Nasir Abbas maintained that the government must take meaningful measures rather than limiting its response to the removal of individual officials. He stressed that improving public hospitals and ensuring the safety of patients should remain a priority. He further expressed solidarity with the bereaved families and condemned the circumstances surrounding the deaths, saying that the suffering of parents who lost their children could not be ignored.