Thailand to Lift Afternoon Alcohol Sales Ban Ahead of New Year, Minister Confirms

The government has introduced a four-year Hajj policy covering arrangements from 2027 to 2030. Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf presented the policy on Wednesday. He described it as a major step toward improving and modernising Hajj arrangements in Pakistan. Speaking at a briefing, the minister said this was the first time the government had introduced a four-year Hajj policy. He said the initiative would provide a long-term framework for organising the pilgrimage. Yousaf said the policy had been prepared under the guidance of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. It focuses on technology, transparency and improved services for pilgrims. According to the minister, the new framework aims to bring Pakistan’s Hajj arrangements closer to international standards. It will also introduce several new facilities for pilgrims. For the first time, applicants will have access to a registration and waiting-list system. The government expects the system to make the process more organised and transparent. The minister said the government and private Hajj schemes would retain their existing quota division. Sixty per cent of the quota will remain with the government scheme, while private operators will receive 40 per cent. The Ministry of Religious Affairs will continue to oversee and regulate Hajj arrangements. It will also monitor the performance of private Hajj companies. Under the new policy, applicants will be able to enter the pilgrims’ list after paying 10 per cent of the required amount. The government has also planned greater transparency in procurement. Purchases made in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will be carried out through transparent procedures. Yousaf said any money remaining after meeting the required expenses would be returned to the pilgrims. The measure is aimed at improving financial transparency and protecting the interests of Hajj applicants. The government also plans to change the way private Hajj companies are monitored. Their registration and oversight will not depend only on the quota allocated to them. Instead, their performance will be an important factor in determining their registration and continued participation in the Hajj programme. A digital complaint-resolution system is also being introduced. Pilgrims will be able to submit complaints and seek quick action through the new system. An appeal mechanism will also be established. This will provide pilgrims with another channel to challenge decisions or seek resolution of their complaints. The minister said the government would also improve training programmes for Hajj pilgrims. The aim is to prepare pilgrims more effectively before their departure for Saudi Arabia. The Hajj Muhafiz Scheme will continue under the new policy. The government considers the scheme an important part of its arrangements for pilgrims. Yousaf said the new policy had been developed in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. The framework is intended to improve coordination and service delivery during the pilgrimage. The minister said the government’s objective was not limited to managing logistical arrangements. It also wanted to ensure that Pakistani pilgrims received a dignified and comfortable Hajj experience. The estimated cost of the government Hajj package is expected to remain between Rs1.2 million and Rs1.3 million. However, the final cost may depend on various arrangements and expenses associated with the pilgrimage. Yousaf also clarified that any increase or decrease in Pakistan’s Hajj quota would require a decision from the federal cabinet. He said Pakistan had received recognition and awards for its Hajj arrangements in the past. The government now wants to further improve the system through long-term planning and greater use of technology. The four-year policy is expected to provide greater continuity in Hajj preparations. Officials believe the long-term framework will also make planning easier for both the government and pilgrims.

Police have intensified their investigation into the death of 25-year-old former Institute of Business Administration (IBA) student and aspiring entrepreneur Mir Raza Ali Khan, saying several pieces of evidence point toward the possibility of suicide. However, investigators have not ruled out other possibilities as key questions remain unanswered. The young businessman was found dead with a gunshot wound to his chest in bushes near Shahi Qila in Gulistan-i-Jauhar, opposite the University of Karachi. His body was recovered two days after he was reported missing from his residence in PECHS. According to investigators, Raza had returned home after closing his business in Bahadurabad before leaving again after collecting a pistol from his office. Before departing, he reportedly left the keys to his house and car, along with his wristwatch and some cash for his mother. Police also found that all data on his iPhone had been deleted before his disappearance. The investigation revealed that he booked an online ride to Gulistan-i-Jauhar. The cab driver told police that Raza requested his favourite song during the journey and paid more than the required fare. CCTV footage reviewed by investigators showed him walking alone after being dropped off, with no one seen accompanying him. Police later recovered his mobile phone after tracing it to a person who inserted a SIM card into the device. The individual was detained, and investigators recovered the phone for forensic examination. Authorities also found the holster of Raza’s pistol hanging from a tree near the location where his body was discovered. However, the firearm used in the incident has not yet been recovered. Investigators believe it may have been taken away by someone passing through the area after the incident. The investigation has further revealed that Raza had been facing significant financial difficulties. Police said he had suffered losses worth millions of rupees through business investments and was under pressure to repay investors. Investigators also learned that he had sought a loan of Rs30 million from one investor, but the request was declined. According to statements recorded by police, the investor claimed Raza had spoken about experiencing disturbing thoughts before his death. His fiancée also told investigators that he had become deeply focused on cryptocurrency investments, particularly Bitcoin. She said she sent him a message on the night of his disappearance, but it was never delivered because his phone had already gone offline. Despite the evidence gathered so far, investigators say three major questions remain unresolved. They are trying to determine why Raza chose the isolated location where his body was found, where the missing pistol is, and why forensic experts did not detect gunshot residue on his hands despite the bullet being fired from close range. Officials noted that the body’s partial decomposition may have affected forensic findings.

Pakistan’s Parliament has approved legislation aimed at establishing a new legal framework for the country’s military command structure. The National Assembly and Senate passed the Defence Forces Act 2026 and amendments to the National Command Authority Act 2010 on Thursday. The legislation was approved despite strong opposition from opposition lawmakers, who objected to the speed at which the bills were brought before the Houses. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended the National Assembly session. The opposition later boycotted the voting process and walked out of the chamber in protest. The new Defence Forces Act provides a legal structure for the Defence Forces Headquarters. The headquarters will serve as a central institution for matters concerning national security, defence policy and coordination among the armed forces. Under the new framework, the Chief of Defence Forces will exercise operational command and control over the armed forces. The CDF will remain accountable to the federal government for matters related to command and control. The legislation also gives the CDF powers to improve coordination and integration among the Army, Navy and Air Force. The office will oversee joint operations, coordination and other matters involving the armed forces. The CDF will also have authority under relevant laws regarding the retirement, release and dismissal of military personnel, subject to constitutional provisions. The office will also be able to approve or reject resignations and retain personnel in service where permitted under the law. The federal government will frame rules and regulations needed to implement the new legislation. The CDF will also be authorised to issue orders and directions required to enforce the provisions of the Act. Parliament also approved amendments to the National Command Authority Act 2010. The changes replace references to the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee with references to the Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces. The legislation gives retrospective effect to key provisions from November 2025. The new laws are linked to changes introduced through the 27th Constitutional Amendment, which significantly altered Pakistan’s military command structure. Under the revised system, the Chief of Army Staff also serves as the Chief of Defence Forces. The office of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee has been abolished under the new framework. The opposition strongly objected to the legislation being placed on the supplementary agenda. Opposition lawmakers said they had not been given sufficient time to examine the bills. Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas questioned the urgency of the legislation and called for more time for lawmakers to study the proposed changes. Mahmood Khan Achakzai also demanded that lawmakers be given at least a few days to review and debate the bills before voting. The government defended the procedure, saying parliamentary rules allow supplementary legislation to be introduced. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar argued that the bills had already been examined and approved by the National Assembly. The cabinet had approved the draft legislation earlier in the day during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad. According to the government, the Defence Forces Act was necessary to provide administrative and legal arrangements for the office of the Chief of Defence Forces and its headquarters. The new framework also establishes the position of Commander of the National Strategic Command following the abolition of the CJCSC post. The commander is appointed by the prime minister on the recommendation of the army chief and CDF. The position carries a three-year term, with the possibility of another three-year term under the prescribed procedure.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that the party’s founder is undergoing treatment at a prison hospital due to high blood pressure or any other medical condition. In a fresh statement, Barrister Gohar said he had personally verified the matter with the relevant authorities. He added that he had also informed the PTI founder’s family about the actual situation after confirming the facts. He urged the media and social media users to avoid spreading unverified information regarding the health of the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi. He stressed that only confirmed information should be shared to prevent the spread of misinformation. Barrister Gohar said false reports about the health of political leaders create unnecessary confusion and concern among supporters and the public. He appealed to journalists and the public to act responsibly and verify facts before publishing or sharing any news. Reiterating the party’s stance, Barrister Gohar maintained that the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi are being unjustly held in prison. He said the party continues to demand that both be provided proper medical care and be released. The statement comes after speculation on social media claimed that the PTI founder had been shifted to the prison hospital for treatment. Barrister Gohar rejected those claims and insisted that such reports were inaccurate, calling on everyone to rely only on verified information regarding the health and condition of the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi.