Fatima Zahra wins historic Commonwealth Games boxing bronze

KARACHI: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has summoned four Karachi residents for questioning over alleged defamatory content posted on social media against Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon and his son. The inquiry was launched following a complaint submitted on behalf of Memon. The complaint relates to social media posts concerning the death of Karachi resident Mir Raza Ali. According to the notices issued by the agency, the respondents have been asked to appear at the NCCIA office in Karachi on August 13 at 11:30am. They have also been directed to bring their original identity cards and any documents or material they intend to use in their defence. The four individuals have also been asked to provide relevant digital devices and record their statements before the investigators. The agency warned that failure to appear could lead to further legal action. The development follows a complaint filed by Memon through his legal representatives. He had approached the cybercrime agency over what he described as false and malicious material being circulated online about him and his son. Memon has denied claims linking him to a guest house in Gulistan-i-Jauhar where Mir Raza Ali was allegedly subjected to violence. He also rejected allegations that his son travelled to London shortly after the incident and was later seen with security personnel. The senior minister said the allegations were not supported by facts or evidence. He alleged that the campaign was aimed at damaging his and his son’s reputation for political reasons. His legal counsel has requested that the agency identify those responsible and take action under applicable cybercrime laws. The complaint also seeks registration of a criminal case if sufficient evidence is found. The Mir Raza case has attracted significant public attention. Ali, who had studied at the Institute of Business Administration and owned a food business, was reported missing on July 28. His body was discovered the following day in bushes near Shahi Qila Ground in Gulistan-i-Jauhar. The investigation initially considered the possibility of suicide. However, Ali’s family consistently rejected that theory. They maintained that he had been kidnapped, assaulted and murdered. A second post-mortem examination later raised further questions about the circumstances of his death. The examination indicated that Ali had suffered a gunshot wound to the back, which challenged the earlier theory of suicide. The family’s lawyer, Jibran Nasir, called for changes to the investigation team. He also accused authorities of failing to properly pursue key aspects of the case. A new investigation team was assigned to the case on Sunday. Police also added a murder charge to the first information report.

The Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court has ordered the compulsory retirement of Senior Civil Judge Ayaz Ali after corruption allegations against him were found to be proven following a departmental inquiry. According to the inspection team, the inquiry established misconduct on the part of the senior civil judge. The investigation was carried out in detail by Inquiry Officer Justice Shamsuddin Abbasi, who examined the allegations and submitted his findings after completing the proceedings. The inspection team said the competent authority had initially recommended the judge’s dismissal from service. However, after conducting the final hearing and reviewing all available facts and evidence, the Chief Justice decided to impose the penalty of compulsory retirement instead of outright dismissal. Officials said the decision was made after completing all legal and administrative procedures related to the disciplinary case. The punishment was finalized following a comprehensive review of the inquiry report and the recommendations submitted by the relevant authorities. The inspection team further stated that the Sindh High Court’s order has come into immediate effect. As a result, Senior Civil Judge Ayaz Ali has been compulsorily retired from judicial service in accordance with the court’s disciplinary decision. The action reflects the judiciary’s internal accountability process, under which complaints of misconduct against judicial officers are investigated through formal inquiries before disciplinary measures are taken. The latest order concludes the proceedings against the senior civil judge and has been enforced with immediate effect.

A district and sessions court in Islamabad has dismissed a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, who had sought the registration of a criminal case against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and several other senior government officials over the events of the November 26 protest. The court issued a detailed 17-page written judgment, outlining the reasons for rejecting the application. The verdict was authored by Additional Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka, who concluded that the petitioner had failed to provide sufficient evidence to justify the registration of a first information report (FIR). According to the judgment, Barrister Gohar was given multiple opportunities to appear before the court and record his statement as an eyewitness. However, the court noted that he did not record his testimony despite repeated chances. The ruling further stated that the petitioner neither presented eyewitnesses nor submitted legally admissible evidence in support of his allegations. The court observed that the application relied mainly on claims without providing documentary or forensic material required to initiate criminal proceedings. The petition alleged that 12 people lost their lives and more than 38 PTI supporters were injured during the November 26 protest. However, the court noted that no post-mortem reports, death certificates, medical records, digital videos, photographs or other primary evidence were produced to verify the claims. The judgment emphasized that criminal action cannot be initiated against senior public officeholders solely on the basis of verbal allegations. It said there must be credible and legally admissible evidence before the court can direct the registration of an FIR against high-ranking officials. Among those named in the petition were Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Information Minister Atta Tarar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Islamabad Inspector General of Police Ali Nasir, DIG Operations Ali Raza, SSP Operations Zeeshan Haider and other officials. The court also observed that if the petitioner believed that government institutions were not cooperating in the investigation, he had legal options available under Pakistani law. These included approaching the courts for further investigative measures, including exhumation where legally justified. The judgment noted that no such legal remedies were pursued.