فیچرڈ

KARACHI: Unidentified gunmen opened fire at the office of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MNA and former federal minister Qadir Patel in Karachi’s Boat Basin area, prompting a police investigation and tighter security around the premises. According to police, the attackers fired several shots at the office entrance late at night before fleeing the scene. No one was injured in the incident, while the main gate sustained bullet marks. Investigators recovered five spent 9mm pistol casings from the site and secured them as evidence. Police teams also began examining CCTV recordings from the surrounding area to trace the attackers and determine the vehicle used in the shooting. Following the incident, security was increased around Patel’s office and nearby areas of Clifton. Police said efforts were underway to identify the suspects and establish the motive behind the attack.

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf has announced that Pakistan’s Hajj application process has been fully digitized, allowing prospective pilgrims to apply from the comfort of their homes without visiting offices or standing in long queues. Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, the minister said the digital system had been introduced to make the Hajj registration process easier and more convenient for pilgrims. Around 400,000 registered applicants will be able to submit their applications online. Under the new system, applicants will have several options for paying their Hajj expenses. Payments can be made through credit cards or PSID, while those wishing to pay in cash can print a challan and deposit the required amount. Yousaf said 107,526 pilgrims are eligible to perform Hajj under the government scheme. The collection of the first installment of Hajj expenses will begin on August 17, while the second installment is scheduled to be collected in October. Applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis, with registration closing once the government’s allocated quota is reached. The minister also said pilgrims opting for the private Hajj scheme would be able to select a private operator through the Pak Hajj application. However, he cautioned pilgrims against making direct payments to private Hajj operators.

TEHRAN: Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has said that Iran cannot be subdued, claiming that the country’s people are standing united against external pressure and forcing their opponents to retreat. Qalibaf made the remarks while congratulating General Mohsen Rezaei on his appointment to the Supreme National Security Council. He described Rezaei’s inclusion in the council as evidence of the confidence placed in him by Iran’s Supreme Leader. According to Qalibaf, Iran is currently passing through one of the most sensitive periods in its history. He said recent developments had demonstrated to the international community that attempts to bring Iran under pressure would not succeed. The Iranian parliament speaker said national unity remained strong across the country, with the public, military and diplomatic institutions standing together under the leadership of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Qalibaf further claimed that the Iranian people were demonstrating resilience in the face of their adversaries and were now putting pressure on the opposing side to back down. His comments come amid heightened tensions surrounding Iran and the United States, with disagreements over regional security, military threats and the strategic Strait of Hormuz continuing to dominate international attention.

ISLAMABAD: A proposal to reduce the passing threshold for medical college admissions to 50 percent has emerged amid concerns over vacant seats despite efforts to lower merit requirements. The matter was discussed during a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on National Health Services, chaired by MNA Mahesh Kumar. The committee also examined complaints alleging that some medical colleges were charging fees above the permitted limit. Committee Chairman Mahesh Kumar said medical colleges are allowed to charge annual fees of up to Rs1.8 million. He directed officials to provide details of institutions allegedly collecting higher fees from students. The chairman also questioned why seats were still remaining vacant after merit requirements had already been relaxed. He suggested that the passing marks could be set at 50 percent and that the proportion of difficult questions in the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council’s entrance examination could also be reviewed. Federal Health Minister said 61 medical colleges had applied for permission to increase their fees. However, he clarified that colleges cannot raise fees independently and that only 35 of the 61 institutions had fulfilled the required conditions for a fee increase. Colleges failing to meet the prescribed criteria would not be permitted to charge higher fees. The President of the PMDC informed the committee that notices had been issued to medical colleges against which complaints of excessive fee collection had been received. Committee member Mustafa Kamal said vacant seats were also a concern for the authorities, but argued that high fees alone could not explain the situation. He pointed out that colleges charging around Rs3.5 million had not faced vacant seats, suggesting that other factors may also be contributing to the problem. The PMDC president further informed the committee that 468 additional seats had been approved for government medical colleges in Punjab, while 315 seats had been added for students from the former FATA region. When the committee chairman asked about an increase in medical seats in Sindh, the PMDC president said no additional seats had been allocated because the province had not submitted an application for an increase.

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has asked the federal government to explain the constitutional implications of keeping Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s advice on judicial appointments pending with President Asif Ali Zardari. Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir issued notices to the president, the federal government and the attorney general on Monday while hearing a petition challenging the delay in approving appointments to the superior courts. The court also directed the respondents to submit separate concise reports detailing when the prime minister’s advice was sent to the president and what action had been taken on it. The case has been fixed for hearing on August 11. The petition was filed by lawyer Luqman Zafar through his counsel Zahid Asif Chaudhry, who questioned the prolonged delay in completing the constitutional process for judicial appointments. The Judicial Commission of Pakistan, headed by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, had recommended 19 additional judges and the confirmation of five judges for the high courts during meetings held on July 20 and 21. The recommendations were subsequently forwarded by the prime minister to President Zardari for approval under Article 48 of the Constitution. During Monday’s proceedings, the petitioner’s lawyer argued that the use of the word “shall” in Article 48(1) placed a constitutional duty on the president to act on the prime minister’s advice. He maintained that although the president could return the advice for reconsideration within the prescribed period, the Constitution did not permit an indefinite delay. The counsel further argued that the delay was affecting the administration of justice at a time when the superior courts were already struggling with a growing backlog of cases. According to the petitioner, prolonged vacancies could also undermine the public’s constitutional right to timely access to justice. Justice Tahir directed that notices be served through all available modes. Additional Attorney General Rashid Hafeez was also asked to ensure that the respondents provide the court with clear timelines regarding the submission and handling of the judicial appointments summary. The presidential delay has already had consequences for the high courts. Four additional judges of the Peshawar High Court whose confirmation had been recommended by the Judicial Commission ceased to hold office on August 4 after their terms expired without formal notifications. A similar situation arose in the Sindh High Court, where an additional judge left office after his extended tenure ended on July 29. The oath-taking ceremony for the newly recommended judges had originally been scheduled for July 27 but was postponed indefinitely after the president neither approved the summary nor returned it for reconsideration. With the matter now coming under judicial scrutiny, the Islamabad High Court is set to examine whether the continued delay in acting on the prime minister’s advice is constitutionally permissible.

KARACHI: The Sindh College Education Department has directed government colleges across the province to stop presenting traditional gifts and souvenirs to the Secretary College Education during official visits. The directive, issued on August 6, instructs the Director General Colleges and regional directors in Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sukkur and Larkana, along with principals of government colleges, to ensure that no gifts are presented to the secretary during his visits. The department has specifically prohibited the presentation of Ajrak, Sindhi caps and bouquets. It has also made clear that commemorative shields, souvenirs and other ceremonial items should not be offered. Officials have been asked to strictly follow the instructions and ensure that the directive is implemented in both letter and spirit. The department has warned that any failure to comply with the orders will be taken seriously, signalling a move away from the customary practice of presenting traditional gifts to senior officials during official visits.

MULTAN: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested two passengers, including a woman, at Multan International Airport for their alleged involvement in a human trafficking network linked to sexual exploitation in Saudi Arabia. According to an FIA spokesperson, the passengers were intercepted during immigration clearance after officials noticed suspicious behavior. Both had reportedly travelled to Saudi Arabia on Umrah visas. During the subsequent examination of their mobile phones and digital communications, investigators allegedly found material indicating their possible involvement in a scheme involving commercial sexual exploitation. The FIA said its preliminary investigation revealed that an agent had arranged the passengers’ travel to Saudi Arabia under the pretext of performing Umrah. Investigators suspect that the actual purpose was to subject them to commercial sexual exploitation after their arrival in the country. The agency seized the passengers’ mobile phones and other relevant material for further investigation. The two suspects, along with the recovered evidence, were subsequently transferred to the FIA Anti-Human Trafficking Circle in Multan. The FIA has expanded its investigation to trace the alleged agent and identify other individuals connected to the suspected trafficking network. Officials said legal action would be taken against all those found involved in the organized operation.

LAHORE: The Lahore Sessions Court has directed Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari to appear in person and record her statement in a case involving the alleged circulation of a fake video on social media. The matter was heard by Additional Sessions Judge Nusrat Ali Siddiqui, who rejected Bukhari’s request to record her statement through video link. The court ordered her to personally appear at the next hearing to record her statement. Bukhari had challenged an earlier order issued by a judicial magistrate requiring her to appear before the court in person. The case relates to allegations surrounding the circulation of a fabricated video attributed to the provincial minister. Bukhari had approached the authorities against the alleged dissemination of the video and lodged a complaint with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) against Falak Javed. The court’s latest order means Bukhari will have to appear before the Sessions Court at the upcoming hearing as proceedings in the case continue.