PM to decide fate of refinery upgrade policy

  Pakistani mountaineers have achieved a landmark feat by opening a brand-new climbing route on Broad Peak, one of the world’s highest mountains. The accomplishment is being hailed as a major milestone for Pakistan’s mountaineering community, showcasing the country’s growing expertise in high-altitude climbing and technical expedition planning. Broad Peak, standing at 8,051 metres (26,414 feet), is located in the Karakoram mountain range of Gilgit-Baltistan, approximately five miles from K2. Ranked as the world’s 12th-highest mountain, Broad Peak has long attracted climbers from around the globe because of its challenging terrain and unpredictable weather conditions. The newly established route, officially named the Mirza Ali Legacy Route, begins above Camp 3 and offers a fresh approach to the summit. The route was created after an intensive three-day effort that required climbers to navigate deep snow, steep rock faces, and mixed sections of snow and rock under extremely demanding conditions. The expedition was led by renowned Pakistani mountaineer Mirza Ali, founder of Karakorum Expeditions. Along with his team, he spent days fixing ropes and securing the mountain to make the route accessible for future expeditions. Their summit push began at 2:00 a.m. local time on July 19. Battling continuous snowfall, freezing temperatures, and severe weather, the climbers finally reached the summit at 9:55 p.m. after more than 24 hours of nonstop climbing. To establish the route, the team installed over 1,600 metres of fixed rope and placed permanent rock pitons at critical points to improve safety and stability. According to expedition organisers, the new line is shorter, more direct, and significantly safer than the traditional path, which passes through Broad Peak’s hazardous “V Section.” The redesigned route is expected to reduce climbers’ exposure to avalanches and falling rocks, two of the mountain’s most serious risks. Organisers estimate that under normal weather conditions, climbers using the new route should be able to reach the summit from Camp 3 within seven to eight hours and descend in approximately two to three hours, making the ascent both faster and more efficient. The route was unanimously named in honour of Mirza Ali to recognise his 16 years of dedication to Pakistan’s mountaineering sector. Throughout his career, he has trained aspiring climbers, organised national and international expeditions, and promoted Pakistan as a premier destination for adventure tourism. Reflecting on the achievement, Mirza Ali said the successful opening of the route demonstrates the technical capability, determination, and resilience of Pakistani climbers. He also stressed the importance of investing in mountaineering education, safety training, and adventure tourism, highlighting Gilgit-Baltistan’s enormous untapped potential within the mountain economy. International members of the expedition also praised the accomplishment. Argentine climber Juan Toro described the project as a historic milestone for Pakistani mountaineering, while Hungarian climber David Klein called the newly opened path an innovative and technically brilliant route that reflected the team’s exceptional skill and perseverance. The summit team included Mirza Ali, Ahmed Baig, Rizwan Dad, Waqar Ali, Nawaz Ali Khan, Zaman Karim, Juan Toro, and David Klein. To support future expeditions and improve emergency response, the team also recorded all major anchor locations using Garmin inReach GPS technology, ensuring the new route can be safely managed for climbers in the years ahead.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja has denied any known connection between the party and the man who was killed during a security incident in Rawalpindi, saying the party does not know which group the deceased belonged to or what actions he may have been involved in. Speaking about the incident, Raja said PTI was a peaceful political party and strongly opposed terrorism. He stressed that the party had never had any connection with terrorist activity and was pursuing its political struggle within the framework of the Constitution and law. “We do not know which group the man who was killed in Rawalpindi belonged to or what his actions were,” Raja said, according to reports. His comments came after a man was killed following an incident involving gunfire at security personnel on Mall Road in Rawalpindi. Police said a suspect opened fire on security forces, injuring a member of a patrol team before the suspect was killed. The incident has sparked a political dispute over the identity and political affiliation of the deceased. PTI leader Shafi Jan separately claimed that the man killed on Mall Road was a PTI worker. The claim contrasts with Raja’s statement that he did not know which group the deceased belonged to. The differing statements have added to questions surrounding the man’s identity and alleged activities. Raja also rejected any suggestion that PTI was involved in violent activity, saying the party was committed to pursuing its political objectives through constitutional and legal means. On the possibility of negotiations with the government, the PTI secretary general said there was currently no government offer on the table. However, he maintained that the party had never rejected negotiations on principle. Raja was also questioned about PTI Senator Shumail Yousafzai. He explained that she had not been removed from the party because the leadership did not want to create further divisions within PTI. He claimed that Yousafzai was not acting alone and had a group of people supporting her. Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi incident has become part of a broader political debate over security, terrorism and the role of political parties in Pakistan. Government officials and opposition figures have offered sharply different interpretations of PTI’s political conduct. The conflicting claims regarding the deceased man’s affiliation are likely to keep the issue in the spotlight as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the Rawalpindi shooting and determine the identity and background of the person who was killed.