IISAT, Gujranwala police sign MoU to support police families

ISLAMABAD: Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghaddam has extended heartfelt greetings to the Pakistani government and people on the country’s 79th Independence Day. In his message, the Iranian envoy described Pakistan as a great friend, neighbour and brotherly country. He praised the Pakistani people’s resilience, unity and achievements, saying Iran deeply valued their determination. Amiri Moghaddam said Iran attached great importance to its longstanding ties with Pakistan, based on friendship, mutual respect and cooperation. He said the commitment demonstrated by the leadership of both countries had opened the way for a new phase in bilateral relations. The ambassador said Iran-Pakistan relations were passing through an important turning point, with a new era of engagement and cooperation beginning between the two neighbouring countries. He said Iran wished continued prosperity, peace, security, development and wellbeing for the people of Pakistan. Amiri Moghaddam reaffirmed Iran’s desire to further strengthen the historic friendship between the two countries. He said Tehran remained committed to deepening bilateral relations in a manner that served the mutual interests of the Iranian and Pakistani peoples.

The Muttahida Madaris Council Pakistan has publicly distanced itself from recent remarks made by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman regarding the Pakistan Army and the country’s martyrs. In an official statement, the council said religious seminaries across Pakistan have always stood with the country’s armed forces and fully respect the sacrifices made by military personnel in defending the nation. It stressed that no seminary or religious educational institution supports any narrative that could be interpreted as being against the armed forces. The council reaffirmed its commitment to national unity and expressed solidarity with Pakistan’s security institutions. It also paid tribute to the country’s martyrs, saying their sacrifices for national security and peace deserve the highest respect. The controversy began after Fazlur Rehman addressed a public gathering in Kasur, where he spoke about the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. During his speech, his comments about soldiers and martyrdom sparked widespread criticism from political leaders and members of the public. Several politicians described the remarks as inappropriate and called on the JUI-F chief to publicly clarify or withdraw his statement. They maintained that the sacrifices of soldiers should not become part of political debate and should always be treated with respect. Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan strongly criticised the remarks and urged Fazlur Rehman to issue a public apology. He also proposed the formation of a Senate committee to examine the issue and determine whether the veteran politician should be formally called to explain his comments. The matter has also entered the legal arena. A sessions court has issued a notice to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) regarding the registration of a cybercrime case linked to the controversial remarks. The agency is expected to submit its response during the legal proceedings. Legal experts say the court will review the available evidence before deciding whether further action is warranted under the relevant laws. The controversy has continued to dominate political discussions, with leaders from different parties expressing contrasting views over the issue. While critics insist that the remarks were disrespectful to the sacrifices of the armed forces, supporters of Fazlur Rehman have defended his right to express political opinions.

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday declined to recognise veteran politician Mahmood Khan Achakzai as the head of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, citing the party’s failure to conduct mandatory intra-party elections, while also delisting four political parties for violating election laws. A five-member bench, headed by the Chief Election Commissioner, heard proceedings related to PkMAP’s non-compliance with legal requirements, including the absence of intra-party elections, amendments to the party constitution, and objections concerning its financial accounts. During the hearing, the commission questioned the validity of the power of attorney submitted by the party’s legal counsel. The lawyer informed the bench that the document had been signed by the party chairman, Mahmood Khan Achakzai. However, the Chief Election Commissioner observed that the party currently had no officially recognised chairman because it had failed to hold intra-party elections as required under the law. The commission, therefore, refused to recognise Achakzai as the party’s head for the purpose of the proceedings. The ECP stated that while the power of attorney would be placed on record, a separate order would determine whether it would be formally accepted. At the request of PkMAP’s counsel, the commission granted additional time to prepare arguments and adjourned the case until August 19. In a separate development, the ECP intensified its enforcement of election regulations by removing four more political parties from its official register. The delisted parties include Technology Movement Pakistan, Awami Jamhoori Party Pakistan, Hum Awam Pakistan Party, and Pakistan Reform Party. According to official notifications, the parties were delisted for failing to conduct intra-party elections, submit annual financial statements, and comply with other mandatory legal obligations. The latest decisions underline the ECP’s continued push to ensure transparency, financial accountability, and internal democracy within Pakistan’s political parties as it strengthens enforcement of the country’s electoral laws.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi arrived in Karachi on Monday to preside over a two-day sitting of the Supreme Court’s Karachi Registry. Following his arrival, the Supreme Court issued the official cause list outlining the benches that will hear a wide range of civil and criminal cases during the proceedings. According to the cause list, Bench No. 1 will be headed by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi and include Justice Musarrat Hilali. The bench will hear several important civil and criminal matters listed before the Karachi Registry over the next two days. Bench No. 2 will comprise Justice Muneeb Akhtar and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail. The judges will hear cases assigned to them under the published schedule and dispose of pending matters brought before the court. Bench No. 3 will consist of Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Irfan Saadat Khan and Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi. The three-member bench is also expected to hear a number of civil and constitutional cases during the two-day session. The Karachi Registry is scheduled to hear a variety of petitions and appeals filed by individuals, government departments and private parties. The hearings are part of the Supreme Court’s regular judicial work aimed at ensuring timely disposal of pending cases across the country. Lawyers and litigants are expected to appear before the respective benches according to the published cause list. The two-day sitting will provide an opportunity for the court to hear several pending matters and issue rulings in accordance with the law. The Supreme Court periodically holds sittings at its regional registries to improve access to justice and reduce the backlog of cases. The Karachi Registry remains one of the court’s busiest benches, handling a significant number of legal disputes from Sindh and surrounding areas. During the current session, the three benches will conduct hearings simultaneously to ensure efficient disposal of cases listed before the court.