Mohammad Nawaz ruled out of Champions Cup

The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has confirmed that two specialists from Shifa International Hospital were involved in the eye examination of former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan. According to a statement issued by PIMS on Saturday, Imran Khan was brought to the Islamabad hospital during the night between August 20 and 21 for a medical examination and treatment. The institute said the ophthalmological assessment was carried out with the participation of two Shifa International specialists. Other required examinations were conducted by doctors at PIMS. PIMS said the findings from the eye assessment were reviewed alongside the results of investigations conducted by its own medical specialists. A medical board consisting of PIMS doctors subsequently compiled the overall medical fitness report. However, the institute said it would not make the contents of the medical report public. PIMS cited patient confidentiality as well as directions issued by the Supreme Court of Pakistan for withholding the details of the report. The clarification comes amid controversy over the treatment and medical care being provided to Imran Khan, who is currently detained at Adiala Jail. Earlier this week, the Supreme Court had directed that Imran Khan be shifted to Shifa International Hospital for treatment for several days. The court also ordered the government to facilitate weekly meetings between him and his family. The Supreme Court further directed authorities to provide access to Imran’s personal physician, Dr Faisal Sultan. It ordered the formation of a medical board that would include an ophthalmologist, general physician and cardiologist, along with Dr Sultan. The government subsequently filed a review petition against the court’s order, describing the decision as discriminatory. Confusion arose later when reports suggested that Imran Khan was being moved from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar later said that the former prime minister had instead been taken to PIMS because of security concerns surrounding Shifa Hospital and the route leading to it. Tarar said doctors from Shifa International were also present during the medical examination at PIMS. After the examination, Imran Khan was declared medically fit and taken back to Adiala Jail. The development has drawn further attention from PTI and Imran Khan’s family, who have repeatedly raised concerns about his health and medical treatment. Imran Khan’s sister, Dr Uzma Khan, also spoke publicly after meeting him and alleged that he was facing severe injustice and mistreatment.

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday granted one-week protective bail to Noreen Niazi, the sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, in a case registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). The court also restrained the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) from arresting her during this period. The relief was granted after Noreen filed a petition seeking protection from arrest. She informed the court that she intended to approach the relevant court for pre-arrest bail but feared that investigators could detain her before she had the opportunity to seek legal remedy. After hearing the arguments, Justice Sardar Akbar Dogar directed the NCCIA not to arrest Noreen for one week. The court also instructed her to appear before the competent court within the given time to seek further legal relief in accordance with the law. The case against Noreen was registered after authorities accused her of sharing content that allegedly contained false, offensive and inflammatory statements on social media. Investigators claimed the material was intended to spread misleading narratives and damage the reputation of state institutions. The allegations are linked to remarks she made during a podcast interview. In the interview, she discussed national security issues and made comments regarding regional political developments. Short video clips from the interview later circulated widely on social media, prompting authorities to launch an investigation. Following the viral circulation of the clips, the NCCIA initiated an inquiry and registered a formal case against her. The agency invoked provisions of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act along with relevant sections of the Pakistan Penal Code related to public mischief and criminal intimidation. Earlier this month, the NCCIA issued a notice directing Noreen to appear before its Cyber Crime Reporting Centre in Islamabad to record her statement. The notice warned that failure to appear before investigators could result in further legal action under applicable laws. During the hearing, Noreen’s legal counsel argued that she had no intention of avoiding the investigation and was willing to cooperate with authorities. However, the defence maintained that immediate protection was necessary to ensure she could exercise her legal right to seek pre-arrest bail without facing detention. The court accepted these arguments and granted temporary relief, preventing her arrest for one week while allowing her to pursue legal remedies before the appropriate forum. The latest court order does not dispose of the case or determine the merits of the allegations. Instead, it provides temporary protection until Noreen appears before the relevant court to seek further relief.

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has rejected a proposed deduction of Rs6.4 billion from the province’s federal financial transfers. Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said the federal government had sought an additional amount from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa before the provincial budget. The provincial government had linked the release of the additional funds to a meeting with PTI founder Imran Khan and his approval. Afridi said the KP government neither approved nor agreed to the proposed deduction of Rs6.4 billion. He said the additional federal grant had also not been included in the provincial budget for the 2026-27 financial year. The chief minister said the matter was not merely a political dispute but concerned the province’s constitutional and financial rights. He maintained that Article 164 of the Constitution does not give the federal government the authority to unilaterally deduct money payable to a province. According to Afridi, any such deduction requires a clear constitutional or legal basis as well as the consent of the provincial government. He said the Finance Department had clearly conveyed its disagreement with the proposed deduction in a letter issued on August 13. Written instructions were also issued that no deduction should be made without the province’s consent. Afridi said Finance Adviser Muzammil Aslam immediately met the relevant officials of the Accountant General KP. The Accountant General of Pakistan Revenues was also directed not to record or implement any transaction without the clear consent of the provincial government. The chief minister said the provincial government had decided to prepare a summary and ordinance under the 7th National Finance Commission (NFC) after the province did not receive its share for six months. He said the provincial government did not sign the memorandum of understanding concerning the additional amount because a meeting with the PTI founder was not arranged. Afridi said the KP government had already approached the Federal Constitutional Court to seek its constitutional rights under the National Finance Commission. He made it clear that the provincial government would not compromise on its NFC rights. The chief minister further said the federal government had no authority to unilaterally deduct money on the basis of an unapproved memorandum of understanding. He vowed that the provincial government would use every legal and constitutional avenue to protect its rights and defend every rupee of its financial share. Afridi also said that if the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) achieved its Rs15.26 trillion tax collection target, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s share would amount to approximately Rs175 billion. He added that providing the merged districts with their rightful share under the 11th NFC was also one of the provincial government’s conditions.