PATTAYA, Thailand An Australian tourist allegedly spent nearly 13 hours drinking at a beer bar in Pattaya, buying rounds for staff throughout the day, before refusing to settle a bill of more than 32,000 baht after a staff member allegedly refused to go out of the bar with him, causing the bar owner to take […]
Karachi: While addressing ABAD — the Association of Builders and Developers of Pakistan — on Wednesday, Inspector General Sindh Mr. Javed Alam Odho once again reaffirmed the commitment to resolve the Mir Raza murder case on merit and without pressure. He admitted mistakes had been made by the police department, but reassured that all measures would be taken to correct them. He also claimed that the crime rate in Karachi had dropped by 14 percent. He also urged for reforms and need of more professional training in Medico-legal system of police. But all those numbers and all those assurances fall flat in the face of one unresolved case. The fact that a builders’ association felt compelled to raise the Mir Raza issue speaks volumes. It is not ABAD’s mandate, yet its leaders did it anyway — because the mistrust between citizens and Karachi Police has grown too deep to ignore. That mistrust exists not because of a lack of competent leadership at the top, but because subordinate SSPs failed to deliver where it mattered most. A Meeting That Set the Standard I saw this gap first-hand in my initial meeting with DIG East, Dr. Farrukh Ali Lanjhar. He came across as accessible, direct, and willing to listen — the kind of officer who says, “call me when you need me.” When I requested time from DIG East Dr. Farrukh Lanjhar for an interview, I expected a formal reply or a future date. Instead, he politely asked me to walk into his office and join him for a cup of tea. I was pleasantly surprised by the cordiality. I walked in expecting bureaucracy. What I found was courtesy, and a senior officer who was ready to resolve the issue of a female journalist without making her feel like a petitioner. Does the Police Force Lack Role Models? The meeting was also a wake-up call. At the ASP/SP level, many officers still treat citizens as subjects of a colony and themselves as masters, not servants. I often wonder what fuels this snobbery and arrogance. Is it clearing the CSS? But given our quota system and an exam that has been reduced to testing memory and English rather than intellect or judgment, that in itself is no great achievement. If it were, every government department would be running like a multinational — either making huge profit or excelling in service delivery. Is it the training we inherited from the British Raj, designed to produce a ruling elite? Or is it the culture of imitating seniors who remain inaccessible and aloof? Yet we do have exceptions. DIG East Dr. Farrukh Lanjhar, DIG Traffic Pir Mohammad Shah, DIG CTD Capt. (R) Azfar Mahesar, DIG RRF Usman Ghani Siddiqui, DIG Amir Farooqui, SSP Qamar Jiskani, SSP Saud Magsi, SSP Zeeshan Siddiqui, and above all IG Sindh Javed Alam Odho. Within the same flawed system that all of us are part of, they choose to serve as public servants. The impression they leave is exactly what I witnessed the other day. Can’t they be role models? Because the legacy you leave either lives on or haunts you. We still remember good officers long after they retire, like former ADIG Hyderabad Range, Dr. Jameel. AIG Ameer Sheikh will be spoken of in those terms. Ten years from now, who else will be remembered with the same respect? There were many who were pharaohs of their time, but no one now remembers them with respect after they leave office. A Glimpse of Reforms in East During our discussion, Mr. Lanjhar also spoke about the reforms he has pushed in East Zone. He said more than 1,000 personnel have been pulled out of desk pools and deployed in the field where they are actually needed. To enforce accountability, he has introduced biometric attendance to eliminate ghost employees. The zone is also moving toward an advanced facial recognition system to ensure that no one can mark false attendance and every officer on the roster is truly on duty. The Mir Raza Murder Case When asked to comment on the Mir Raza murder case, which falls under his jurisdiction, he responded softly: “A new committee has been constituted,” he said, “and I do not wish to comment before its findings are made public.” However, he assured that he would address all queries once the committee submits its report. As we wrapped up a meeting that ran longer than expected, Dr. Farrukh Lanjhar spoke openly — about the shortcomings of the media, about his personal experiences across different districts and roles, and about the reforms needed to make police more public-friendly. Especially Thana culture, which he called the main “interface” of the police force. Before I left, he said simply: “Don’t you worry, Madam. We will remain in touch. You can call me whenever and wherever needed to resolve your issue.” It left me thinking. Often, just listening with patience to the complaint of the aggrieved party can bring down the temperature of frustration and distrust toward police. That is exactly what was missing in the initial handling of the Mir Raza murder case. The first inquiry committee, in which SSP East Zubair Sheikh was allegedly accused of incompetence and of pushing a suicide theory (by the family), failed on that count. He did not take into account the point of view of the victim’s parents. Neither he nor SSP SIU Samiullah Soomro were able to convey to the grieving family that the police were with them, and that they would do everything to ensure they got the justice they deserved. It was that simple. Had SSP East, Zubair Sheikh, treated it with the same seriousness that DIG East showed toward my complaint — on a far smaller scale — perhaps IG Sindh, Javed Alam Odho would not have had to stand before the media and accept mistakes on behalf of his force. That is why we have a full hierarchy in place. If every SSP did his job, including answering the
BIRMINGHAM: A rare celestial spectacle added an extraordinary twist to The Hundred 2026 as a partial solar eclipse darkened the sky during the clash between Birmingham Phoenix and MI London at Edgbaston Stadium on Wednesday. The match began at 6:30pm local time, shortly after the eclipse had started at around 6:15pm. The phenomenon reached its peak at 7:11pm, when approximately 91.76 percent of the Sun was obscured, before ending at 8:05pm. As daylight faded dramatically, Edgbaston’s floodlights were switched on to maintain visibility, allowing the match to continue without interruption. Stadium screens and the announcer repeatedly warned spectators not to look directly at the Sun because of the risk of serious eye damage. The unusual conditions created a striking atmosphere for spectators, with the normally bright evening sky turning noticeably darker as the eclipse progressed. On the field, MI London held their nerve to post 157 runs. Birmingham Phoenix responded with 155, falling just two runs short and handing MI London a narrow victory. The combination of high-stakes cricket and a dramatic solar eclipse made the Edgbaston encounter one of the most unusual sporting moments of The Hundred 2026.
ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi made an unannounced visit to the under-construction headquarters of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in Islamabad and expressed concern over the slow pace of development work. During his inspection, Naqvi reviewed the progress of the headquarters upgrade project and questioned officials about the delays. A worker informed the minister that only nine workers were currently assigned to the site and that construction activities had remained suspended for several days. Expressing dissatisfaction over the situation, Naqvi contacted the relevant authorities on the spot and instructed them to immediately accelerate construction work. He stressed the need for timely completion of the project and directed officials to ensure that progress was maintained. The surprise inspection comes as the government seeks to strengthen the country’s institutional capacity to tackle cybercrime through the NCCIA.
Former Pakistan cricketer and national team head coach Aqib Javed’s daughter, Aqaba Aqib, has tied the knot in a wedding ceremony held in the United Kingdom. Aqaba’s mother, renowned poet and writer Farzana Aqib, shared photographs from the wedding on social media, revealing that the ceremony took place in the UK on August 9. She extended prayers and best wishes to the newlyweds and both families. The wedding photographs showed Aqaba dressed in an elegant white bridal gown, while the groom appeared in a formal suit. Aqaba has also established an impressive academic background. Around three to four years ago, she completed a degree in Media and International Journalism from the University of Sussex. The wedding has attracted attention because of the family’s prominent association with Pakistani cricket and literature. Aqib Javed has made significant contributions to Pakistani cricket, while Farzana Aqib is known for her work in English literature and poetry. Farzana Aqib has a substantial following on social media and has reportedly authored around 70 books of English poetry. She has also received several international literary awards and has written works exploring Islamic history through English poetry.
In a heartbreaking turn of events in Punjab’s Rawalpindi district, a 17-year-old girl was brutally shot and killed by her own brother near Sukho Road in Gujar Khan, just days after she was brought back home under the guise of family reconciliation. The victim had initially fled her home in January during a school vacation to marry a man of her own choice, after which the couple relocated to Karachi to build a life together. Seeking to mend broken ties, the victim’s brother recently traveled to Karachi, brokered peace with the couple, and persuaded them to return. Upon their arrival in Gujar Khan, he arranged a rented house for the newlyweds. However, the promise of harmony shattered when the father visited the rented residence to check on his daughter. A heated argument broke out at the scene, culminating in the brother pulling out a handgun and opening fire on his sister in front of family members. Rawalpindi police have registered a murder case based on the father’s statement, and an investigation into the incident is currently underway to apprehend the suspect.
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) has directed airlines operating flights to Islamabad to ensure their aircraft carry additional fuel on Thursday due to the possibility of delays at the airport. According to a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the aviation authorities, arriving flights may be required to remain airborne for some time because of scheduled exercises and possible disruptions affecting aircraft movements. The directive advises flight captains to maintain sufficient additional fuel reserves to cope with potential delays during both landing and takeoff operations. The PAA said the precautionary measure has been introduced to ensure safe flight operations and provide aircraft with adequate fuel in case they are required to hold in the air or face delays at Islamabad International Airport. Airlines have been advised to take the instructions into account while planning flights arriving at the federal capital on Thursday.
RAWALPINDI: Rawalpindi Railway Station has been given a festive makeover ahead of Pakistan’s Independence Day, with the historic building illuminated and decorated with the national flags of Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia. The display also highlights the growing ties among the three countries following the signing of the Mecca defence agreement. The railway station has been decorated with red and green lighting, creating a striking visual display across the building. According to the arrangement, red represents Türkiye, while green reflects the national colors of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Similar red and green lights have also been installed at the Railway Headquarters Police Station in Rawalpindi. The decorations are part of the city’s preparations to mark Independence Day while also showcasing the close diplomatic and strategic relations between Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia. The colorful illumination has added a festive atmosphere to one of Rawalpindi’s key landmarks as celebrations for August 14 get underway.
LAHORE: Thousands of teachers and employees of the University of the Punjab took to the streets on Wednesday in a major protest organized by the Joint Action Committee, demanding the resolution of their longstanding grievances and payment of outstanding dues. The demonstration was attended by office-bearers of the Punjab University Academic Staff Association and the Punjab University Administrative & Technical Staff Association, along with a large number of faculty members and university employees. Addressing the protesters, Joint Action Committee Chairman Prof. Dr. Sardar Asghar Iqbal accused the university administration of favouring a particular group, alleging that the practice had adversely affected the institution’s financial and administrative affairs. Other faculty members, including Prof. Dr. Abdul Rehman Khan Niazi, Prof. Dr. Muqeet Javed, Dr. Abrar Zafar and Prof. Dr. Kamran Mirza, also participated in the protest. Joint Action Committee President and President of the Punjab University Administrative & Technical Staff Association Chaudhry Basharat Mahmood said employees had been protesting peacefully for around one and a half years, but the administration had failed to address their concerns. He said the employees were now compelled to intensify their protest. According to the announced plan, university offices will observe a two-hour work suspension every day, with employees wearing black armbands as a sign of protest. A protest rally will also be organized every Wednesday. Mahmood warned that the protesters could block the Campus Bridge if the administration failed to take their demands seriously. He also announced plans for demonstrations outside the Punjab chief minister’s office and on the GT Road near the university’s Gujranwala and Jhelum campuses. The protesters called for the immediate resolution of teachers’ and employees’ issues and payment of all outstanding dues. They also demanded the removal of DG Rehan Sadiq Sheikh, alleging that his conduct toward employees and role in administrative matters had contributed to the university’s deteriorating financial and administrative situation. The Joint Action Committee further called on the Punjab government to conduct a forensic audit of the university’s financial and administrative affairs to ensure transparency and accountability. Tayyab Ijaz Khan Swati, Tanveer Awan, Hammad Butt, Azhar Iqbal Baloch and former association president Nasir Rehmat were among the other speakers who addressed the gathering. The Joint Action Committee said its protest campaign would continue until the administration accepts and addresses the protesters’ demands.
ISLAMABAD: The Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) has officially named Pakistan’s first lunar rover “Jinnah-1,” marking a significant milestone in the country’s space exploration journey. The name was selected through a nationwide competition that attracted more than 4,000 suggestions from people across Pakistan. The title “Jinnah-1” was proposed by seven participants, with the final winner chosen through a draw. Seventeen-year-old Tayyab Karim from Bahawalnagar was declared the winner after submitting the name. SUPARCO said the name pays tribute to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and represents Pakistan’s ambition, progress and determination to explore new frontiers in space. The rover is scheduled to travel to the Moon in 2029 as part of China’s Chang’e-8 mission. Once deployed, Jinnah-1 will carry out scientific research in the lunar south polar region, contributing to Pakistan’s growing role in international space exploration. The mission is expected to provide Pakistani scientists and researchers with valuable opportunities to participate in lunar scientific studies and advance the country’s capabilities in space technology.