US Adds Thailand to Currency Watchlist, Finds No Currency Manipulators

First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari has called on the Punjab government to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation into the murder of Hina Javed in Rawalpindi. Aseefa expressed deep sorrow over the killing and conveyed her condolences to Hina’s family. She said those responsible for the crime must be identified and brought to justice. Hina Javed was found dead inside the bathroom of her apartment in Askari Apartments, Lal Kurti, on Thursday evening. Police said the initial examination indicated signs of violence and a mark around her neck. Aseefa urged the provincial authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the case. She stressed that the circumstances surrounding Hina’s death must be fully established and that no aspect of the investigation should be overlooked. She said the perpetrators must face the law and called for strict action to ensure that such incidents are not repeated. The First Lady also expressed concern over increasing incidents of violence against women in Pakistan. She called for stronger measures to protect women and prevent violence against them. According to the first information report registered at Civil Lines Police Station on August 20, Hina’s brother, Fahid Javed, accused her husband, father-in-law and a domestic servant of being involved in her death. Fahid told police that he received a call from Hina’s father-in-law at around 6:53pm on Thursday. He was informed about an emergency at the apartment. He then reached the residence with other family members at around 7:23pm. The complainant said he found his sister’s body in the bathroom. He alleged that Hina had been subjected to severe violence and mistreatment. He also raised suspicion that she may have been given a poisonous substance before her death. The FIR was registered under Sections 302 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code. The complaint states that Hina married the main suspect in November 2025. An initial postmortem examination reportedly found a strangulation mark around her neck, an injury below her right lip and bleeding. Police have detained Hina’s husband and a domestic servant in connection with the murder. Her father-in-law is also being questioned as part of the investigation.

The bodies of five Nepali climbers who died in an avalanche on Broad Peak have been brought to Islamabad. According to Deputy Commissioner Hamza Murad, the bodies were transported to Islamabad by air and have been placed in the morgue at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). He said the bodies would be sent to Nepal once the necessary travel documents had been completed. The avalanche struck Broad Peak about a week ago, leaving 10 climbers missing. According to the deputy commissioner, the bodies of eight climbers, including renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, have so far been recovered. The search for two missing climbers is still underway. They include Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi and a foreign female climber. Authorities are continuing efforts to locate the remaining climbers while arrangements are being made to repatriate the recovered bodies to their respective countries.

“Start With Punjab”: Saeed Sarbazi Calls for Pilot Model Karachi: Once again, the demand for new administrative units and provinces has been sparked — this time from within the government itself. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s recent statement has reignited the debate, raising questions about governance, service delivery, and political intent. Coming at a time when the current setup is widely described as a “hybrid system,” Naqvi is seen by many as representing the other partner in that arrangement. His call therefore carries weight beyond routine political rhetoric, forcing both parliament and the public to ask: is this about bringing the state closer to the people, or about redrawing Pakistan’s political map? MQM-P Backs Demand: “Engine of Pakistan’s Economy” The debate found immediate backing from MQM-Pakistan, which has once again strongly supported the idea of separating Karachi from Sindh. The party argues that the city, which generates the bulk of Pakistan’s revenue, should have control over its own resources so that what is earned in Karachi is spent on Karachi. Calling it the “engine of the entire Pakistan economy,” MQM-P maintains that an independent administrative setup for the metropolis is the only way to fix its decades-old issues of infrastructure, water, transport and governance. Sindh Government Rejects: “Dangerous Precedent” However, the Sindh government has strongly opposed the idea. Provincial leaders and ministers like Sharjeel Memon, Saeed Ghani and Nasir Hussain argue that carving out Karachi from Sindh will only deepen existing fault lines and promote hate and division among communities. They maintain that Karachi is an integral part of Sindh’s history, culture, and economy, and that separating it administratively would set a dangerous precedent for the federation. For them, the solution lies in better governance and resource allocation within the existing provincial structure, not in division. PML-N Opposition: “Will Never Be Approved” The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has also come out in opposition to the proposal. A senior PML-N minister and veteran politician, Rana Sanaullah, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs, stated in a TV talk show that any legislation aimed at dividing provinces into units would “never be approved” in the National Assembly. He also asserted that such proposals were never discussed in cabinet or in parliament. The party argues that such moves risk destabilizing national harmony, and that the focus should remain on strengthening local government systems within provinces rather than redrawing administrative boundaries. MQM-P Counter: Parliamentary Precedent Cited Commenting on PML-N’s remarks, MQM-Pakistan head Mustafa Kamal fired back, saying those who want to reorganize Pakistan into smaller administrative units have the political strength to do so. He argued whether the 26th or 27th amendment bills were discussed in cabinet before they were floated for approval in parliament. He disclosed that both the bills were presented on the day of passing and were passed unanimously even before discussion. “If a bill for new provinces is brought to the floor of the National Assembly, it would be passed — just as the 26th and 27th constitutional amendments were,” Kamal said. His statement signals MQM-P’s confidence that with the right backing, even a contentious legislative move can sail through parliament. Saeed Sarbazi’s Expert View: Ill-timed Debate, Governance Needed, Not Division Talking to this correspondent, senior journalist, news editor at a reputable daily and former president of the Karachi Press Club, Saeed Sarbazi said raising such a subject at this critical stage was ill-timed. With the country going through a severe economic meltdown amid the Iran-US conflict, he argued, separating Karachi from Sindh would not serve any purpose. Sarbazi pointed out a key administrative fact: “More than 65 percent of Karachi belongs to cantonment areas. So blaming the Sindh government for the state of 34 percent of the infrastructure is not fair.” For him, the debate distracts from the real issue of joint responsibility and better coordination between all stakeholders. Federal Responsibility: Revenue vs Investment Gap Sarbazi, a seasoned union worker turned leader, also highlighted the federal government’s obligations in the debate. “If Karachi is mini Pakistan, where the country’s most important ports are located and the entire Pakistan benefits from its structure and institutions, then it is obligatory on the Federal government to provide monetary support,” he stated. He cited the example of the National Highway M9 — a key CPEC project — which still remains a single lane in parts despite years of promises. “Till to-date the federal government has not completed the double lane highway,” Sarbazi said, arguing that Karachi generates the most revenue but gets the least direct federal investment in return. “Start With Punjab”: A Pilot Model Suggested by Sarbazi The former KPC president further added that the discussion should not be limited to Sindh alone. “Punjab Assembly has already passed a resolution to divide Punjab into South and Central Punjab,” Sarbazi noted. “If those who aspire to see how administrative units will function and become a model, then it should start from Punjab. If it presents a good governance model, then perhaps Sindh will follow.” His remarks suggest that instead of confrontation, a pilot model in Punjab could set the tone for the rest of the country. Power Politics and PPP’s Role in Sindh Saeed Sarbazi, who holds the unprecedented record of being elected unopposed along with his entire panel to the Karachi Press Club, stated that such tactics of creating more administrative units are often ignited by power corridors as a tool for arm-twisting political parties. “Though democratically elected governments have flaws, these can only be corrected through good governance,” he said. “Such arm-twisting only brings political instability in Pakistan.” Sarbazi emphasized that the role of the Pakistan Peoples Party in the Sindh government should not be underplayed. “It is serious about improving infrastructure in the province — by providing people with good transport, water at their doorstep, and by improving the sewage and drainage system.” The Way Forward: Merits, Concerns, and Alternatives As the debate over new provinces resurfaces, both merits and concerns demand attention. Proponents argue that smaller administrative units