Amitabh Bachchan sparks concern with hospitalization update

Islamabad: A controversy over a motorway incident involving a couple’s video and growing concerns over delayed road projects dominated the Senate Standing Committee on Communications meeting, where lawmakers questioned the role of motorway police and raised serious concerns over incomplete highways due to funding problems. The committee was informed that the motorway police officer involved in the incident had been suspended and an inquiry was underway after officials clarified that moral policing is not part of the department’s official duties. Inspector General Motorway Police told the committee that the incident took place on 16 July when motorway police found a vehicle parked on the roadside. He said an argument developed when the vehicle moved away. The IG informed lawmakers that stopping people for moral reasons is not included in the motorway police’s standard operating procedures. He assured the committee that action had been taken against the officer involved and the inquiry would be completed soon. The Senate Standing Committee on Communications, chaired by Senator Pervaiz Rashid, also reviewed major road development issues and questioned delays in important infrastructure projects. During the meeting, lawmakers raised concerns over the incomplete Kuchlak to Zhob N50 Highway project, which covers around 298 kilometres. Officials informed the committee that the project remains unfinished because of a shortage of funds. Senator Zameer Hussain Ghumro questioned why new development plans are considered when existing projects are still waiting for completion. The Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Communications informed the committee that no new projects had been started during the current year. The committee stressed that incomplete projects increase public difficulties and may also increase costs because delays often create additional financial pressure. Members discussed improving the National Highway Authority’s funding system so road projects can continue without stopping due to delayed payments. The committee recommended that project funds should be released every three months to ensure contractors receive payments on time and construction work continues smoothly. Officials also discussed creating a bridge financial system to prevent road projects from being affected by temporary funding shortages. The committee was briefed about financial matters related to development loans and agreed that funding mechanisms should be discussed separately to create better policies for future projects. Senator Muhammad Abdul Qadir also raised concerns about the distribution of development funds and pointed out differences in allocation for road projects. He said that out of Rs116 billion approved for Balochistan, around Rs100 billion was allocated for the N25 Highway project. The committee said better planning was needed to ensure development funds are distributed effectively and important routes receive timely attention. Several questions related to road projects in Chitral and Balochistan, including CPEC related highways and the Karachi Bela Road, could not be discussed because the members who had submitted the questions were not present.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has told the Federal Constitutional Court that no “PTI founder release force” was ever established, describing the initiative instead as a peaceful movement for the release of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan. Afridi submitted an eight-page response in the case through the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa advocate general. The response was filed after the Federal Constitutional Court sought his position on a petition challenging the alleged formation of the so-called release force. In his response, the chief minister said the actual initiative was the Release Peace Movement, which he described as peaceful, unarmed and voluntary. He maintained that the movement had no armed structure or military component. Afridi further argued that the constitutional petition was politically motivated and based on misrepresentation of facts. He said the petition was premature, hypothetical and therefore not maintainable. According to the chief minister, the petitioner had also failed to establish any violation of fundamental rights. Afridi said the Release Peace Movement was protected under Articles 16, 17 and 19 of the Constitution. These provisions relate to freedom of assembly, freedom of association and freedom of speech and expression. He also argued that Article 256 of the Constitution, which concerns private military organisations, had no relevance to the movement. The KP chief minister maintained that the Private Military Organisations Act, 1973 was also not applicable to the Release Peace Movement. He rejected allegations that the initiative posed a threat to public order. He described such claims as baseless and said comparisons between the movement and armed organisations of the past were misleading. Afridi asked the court to dismiss the constitutional petition at the preliminary stage. He also requested the court to declare the Release Peace Movement constitutional and lawful. The case comes amid political controversy over claims that the KP government or PTI supporters were preparing an organisation to campaign for Imran Khan’s release. Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had previously criticised the KP government over the issue, alleging that it could establish a release force for the PTI founder while remaining silent against militants. The Federal Constitutional Court has scheduled the next hearing of the petition for July 29.