KP sets 60% enrolment target for school dropouts

LAHORE: Capital City Police Officer Lahore Bilal Siddique Kamyana has ordered intensified action against criminal activities while directing officers to improve law enforcement and public service delivery across the city. Chairing a meeting to review the performance of the Civil Lines and City divisions, the CCPO was briefed that 21 suspects allegedly involved in illegal moneylending had been arrested during an ongoing crackdown. He directed police to pursue legal action without leniency and ensure that victims receive protection and timely justice. Kamyana also ordered stronger operations against drug trafficking, calling for targeted action to dismantle narcotics networks and arrest those involved in the illegal trade. The CCPO directed officers to identify foreign nationals residing illegally in Lahore and proceed against them in accordance with the law. He also ordered enhanced surveillance of sensitive areas and monitoring of suspicious activities. He further called for continued combing operations and expanded intelligence-led action against elements posing threats to law and order. Stressing the importance of citizen-focused policing, Kamyana instructed officers to resolve public complaints promptly and prevent citizens from being repeatedly sent from one office to another. Senior police officials, including DIG Investigation Zeeshan Raza, DIG Operations Faisal Kamran and SSP Investigation Muhammad Naveed, attended the meeting.

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) has declared the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) a public body under the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017, and directed it to provide within 15 days information sought regarding lawyers’ degrees, licence cancellations, government grants and governing body proceedings. The order was issued in appeal titled Saddia Mazhar vs Pakistan Bar Council, by Chief Information Commissioner Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui and Information Commissioner Ijaz Hassan Awan. The applicant had sought eight categories of information, including province-wise numbers of PBC members or licence holders; those who had submitted attested degrees; lawyers whose licences were cancelled for failing to submit attested educational documents; and those whose licences were cancelled over fake degrees. She also sought copies of circulars and notifications concerning degree attestation, details of federal and provincial government grants received since 2020, including amounts and dates, and a copy of the latest minutes of the PBC Governing Body meeting. In its reply to the Commission, that the PBC maintained that it was an autonomous statutory body generating its own funds and did not fall within the definition of a public body. Its representatives argued that the government exercised neither financial nor administrative control over it, while acknowledging that the Attorney General for Pakistan is its ex officio member. The Commission rejected the PBC’s position, holding that it is a statutory organisation established under the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Act, 1973, and performs important public functions relating to legal education, recognition of law degrees and regulation of legal practitioners. It also observed that Bar Councils receive public funds or government grants and their offices are located in public buildings. The PIC ruled that the PBC falls within the definition of a public body under Section 2(ix)(g) and (h) of the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017. It further held that none of the eight information requests attracted an exemption under the law. The Secretary, Pakistan Bar Council, was consequently directed to provide the requested information within 15 days of receiving the order. The case was adjourned until September 2, 2026.

LAHORE: The Punjab government has intensified its province-wide campaign against Afghan nationals residing in Pakistan without valid legal documentation, with more than 140,000 people repatriated from Punjab so far, according to the Home Department. The department said its Foreign National Security Cell was continuing monitoring and enforcement operations across the province under the government’s national repatriation policy. Individuals found to be residing illegally are being detained and transferred to designated holding centres, where registration and other formalities are completed before their return to Afghanistan. According to official figures, a total of 2,689,295 Afghan nationals have been repatriated from Pakistan, including 140,468 from Punjab. The Home Department said 39 holding centres are currently operational across Punjab, with 188 Afghan nationals presently housed there. Temporary accommodation, registration and repatriation arrangements have been established at these facilities, while those cleared for return are handed over to Afghan authorities at the Torkham border. Officials said checks were being conducted in residential areas and markets across the province as part of the ongoing enforcement campaign. The department maintained that the action was specifically aimed at individuals staying in Pakistan without legal status. The Home Department urged citizens to report cases involving illegal residence, identity fraud or suspicious activities to Emergency Helpline 15, assuring that the identities of informants would be kept confidential. The Foreign National Security Cell is continuing province-wide coordination and monitoring to support the government’s repatriation programme, the department said.