Authorities Track Down Blaze Setters After Field Fires Smother Bangkok in Haze

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has announced a major march towards Islamabad on September 27, saying he will personally lead the protest demanding the release of PTI founder Imran Khan. Addressing a public gathering in Bannu on Sunday, Afridi urged supporters not to be afraid and said more than two million people would take part in the planned demonstration. “I will be at the front of the march for Imran Khan’s release,” Afridi said, assuring supporters that he would stand with them throughout the protest. He called on people to remain determined and claimed that a large turnout would make it difficult for authorities to stop the protesters. He also said that those who use oppression are often afraid when confronted by a large public movement. The chief minister also criticised the federal government, alleging that the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had repeatedly been used as “scapegoats” in the past. He accused the authorities of treating the province as an experimental ground and said his administration was independent in making decisions. Speaking about law and order, Afridi said maintaining peace was a shared responsibility. He assured police personnel that his government stood firmly behind them and was providing funds for modern weapons and improvements to police infrastructure. Afridi also compared the current security situation with the period between 2018 and 2022, when Imran Khan was prime minister. He claimed that there had been peace and stability across the region during that period and said terrorism had not been a major threat. According to Afridi, violence and terrorism have returned to the province, with southern districts, particularly Bannu, among the worst affected areas. He held the federal government and those he alleged were responsible for bringing it to power accountable for the deteriorating security situation.

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has declined to suspend inquiry proceedings against former National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Director General Saleem Shehzad, allowing an investigation into his alleged unlawful appointment and promotion to continue. The decision came during a hearing of an appeal filed by Shehzad challenging a show-cause notice issued against him. He had requested the court to stay the inquiry until the case was decided, but the bench refused to grant interim relief. A two-member bench headed by Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi heard the appeal and directed the federal government to submit its response within three weeks before further proceedings. The case revolves around allegations that Saleem Shehzad’s appointment and subsequent promotion within the National Accountability Bureau were made in violation of applicable rules and procedures. Authorities had earlier issued him a show-cause notice seeking an explanation over the alleged irregularities. Before approaching the Federal Constitutional Court, Shehzad had challenged the notice in the Islamabad High Court. However, after his petition was dismissed, he filed an appeal before the FCC, seeking legal protection against the inquiry. During the hearing, the court did not interfere with the ongoing investigation, effectively allowing the relevant authorities to continue examining the allegations while the constitutional appeal remains pending. Legal experts say the ruling does not determine Shehzad’s guilt or innocence but indicates the court’s reluctance to halt administrative proceedings before hearing the case in detail. The federal government’s reply is expected to play an important role in the next stage of the proceedings. The case has attracted attention because it involves the appointment of a senior official in Pakistan’s top anti-corruption watchdog. Any findings from the inquiry could have broader implications for accountability, transparency and the process of appointments in public institutions. With the inquiry set to continue and the government directed to file its response within three weeks, the Federal Constitutional Court is expected to take up the matter again after reviewing the submissions of both sides. The outcome could shape the future course of the legal challenge brought by the former NAB official.