Pakistan, Saudi Arabia reaffirm ‘Brotherly T…

Political tensions between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have deepened as Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) entered the second phase of its elections. Despite several rounds of negotiations, the two coalition partners failed to resolve their dispute over the first phase of polling. The second phase of the elections is being held in nine constituencies of Muzaffarabad division and all 12 refugee constituencies. Authorities have made extensive security arrangements to ensure peaceful polling, while political uncertainty continues to dominate the electoral process. The disagreement began after the first phase of elections in Mirpur, where the PML-N secured key victories. The PPP questioned the election results and alleged irregularities in several constituencies. The PML-N rejected the allegations and insisted that the elections reflected the public mandate. The dispute has led to an exchange of sharp political statements between leaders of both parties. Senior PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah criticized PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for repeatedly raising allegations of election rigging. He questioned the basis of such claims and also referred to the election of President Asif Ali Zardari while responding to the PPP’s criticism of the 2024 general elections. Rana Sanaullah also commented on Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s recent remarks regarding the country’s governance system and the debate over creating new provinces. He criticized the minister’s statements and questioned his political rise. Meanwhile, PPP leader Saeed Ghani strongly defended his party during a press conference. He claimed that the PPP had never formed a government through election manipulation. He alleged that the PML-N had repeatedly benefited from controversial election outcomes and accused its leadership of making baseless allegations against the PPP. In an effort to reduce tensions, senior representatives from both parties held several meetings over the past few days. The discussions focused on finding a legal and political solution to the dispute over the election results. According to party sources, the PPP initially challenged the results in four constituencies. It later withdrew objections in two constituencies but continued to demand action regarding Charhoi and Nakyal, where its candidates were defeated by PML-N nominees. During the negotiations, PML-N representatives maintained that any irregularities were isolated incidents rather than evidence of systematic rigging. They argued that such incidents had occurred in previous elections and should not be used to question the overall electoral process. The talks, however, failed to produce a final agreement. As a result, political tensions remained high ahead of the second phase of voting. Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met PML-N President Nawaz Sharif at Jati Umra to review the evolving political situation. The meeting focused on the party’s strategy and the growing dispute with the PPP over the AJK elections. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also attended the consultation. The participants reviewed the political challenges facing the ruling coalition and discussed possible steps to prevent further escalation between the two allied parties. In another development, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said he had received a positive response to his proposal for establishing a truth and reconciliation commission in Azad Kashmir. He described the response as encouraging and said the proposal had also received support from the AJK Legislative Assembly. Bilawal said he would carefully review the suggestions before consulting AJK Prime Minister Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore. He added that discussions would also be held with the federal government and other stakeholders to determine whether a consensus could be reached on the proposed commission.

LAHORE: Pakistan’s monsoon death toll has risen to 107 after 10 more people were killed in rain-related incidents across Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa during the past 24 hours. According to the latest figures released by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), seven people died in Punjab while three lost their lives in K-P. The deaths were reported between the previous afternoon and 1pm on Sunday. Punjab recorded fatalities in several districts. Gujrat and Okara reported two deaths each, while Sargodha, Narowal and Sialkot each reported one death. In K-P, two people died in Hangu and another was killed in Shangla. Officials said the latest casualties were caused by incidents including house collapses, electrocution and drowning as heavy rainfall continued to affect several parts of the country. The recent rains also injured 50 people. Punjab accounted for 47 of the injured, while three people were injured in Hangu. K-P has recorded the highest number of deaths since the beginning of the current monsoon season, with 55 fatalities. Punjab follows with 36 deaths. Seven people have died in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, six in Balochistan, two in Sindh and one in Gilgit-Baltistan. Overall, the monsoon has injured 297 people and damaged 447 houses across the country. At least 269 livestock have also been killed. Rescue authorities have carried out 130 operations since the start of the rainy season. These efforts have helped rescue 3,841 people from flooded and other dangerous areas. The rains have also caused significant damage to roads and other infrastructure. Landslides, flash floods and rising water levels have disrupted transportation in parts of K-P and Gilgit-Baltistan. The mountainous region has suffered particularly heavy damage. The Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority said 184 houses have been damaged, while nine bridges have been destroyed. Nearly eight kilometres of roads have also been washed away. Astore has reported the highest number of damaged homes, while Diamer has suffered major destruction from several weather-related incidents. Skardu has recorded the greatest number of damaged bridges. Relief activities are continuing in affected communities. Authorities are distributing food, tents and other essential supplies, while road crews are working to reopen important routes.

The Islamabad High Court has declared admissible the petitions seeking suspension of sentences of Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chatha, who were convicted by a trial court in the controversial tweets case. Justice Muhammad Azam Khan of the Islamabad High Court issued a reserved verdict, rejecting a miscellaneous application filed by the prosecution challenging the admissibility of the petitions. The court had reserved its decision yesterday after hearing arguments from both sides. The prosecution had argued that the petitions for suspension of sentence filed by Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chatha were premature. It is pertinent to mention that Additional Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka had sentenced both Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chatha to a total of 17 years in prison each under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). Both convicts have approached the Islamabad High Court seeking suspension of their sentences. Earlier, The Islamabad High Court on Friday reserved its decision on whether petitions seeking the suspension of prison sentences awarded to lawyers and human rights activists Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha can proceed. The petitions relate to the couple’s convictions in a case involving alleged controversial social media posts under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). The hearing was conducted by Justice Muhammad Azam Khan, who considered preliminary arguments from both the prosecution and the defence before reserving his ruling on the maintainability of the petitions. During the proceedings, lawyers representing the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) argued that the requests for suspension of sentence had been filed too early. They maintained that the court should first decide the prosecution’s objection challenging the admissibility of the petitions before considering any request for relief