فیچرڈ

Police have arrested a female suspect allegedly involved in the murder case of former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ticket holder Abdullah Tahir. The suspect was taken into custody from Sialkot and later shifted to Lahore for further investigation. According to police officials, the arrested woman played a role in the case by allegedly honey-trapping Abdullah Tahir’s driver, which helped investigators trace the events surrounding the killing. Authorities said the suspect is reportedly a friend of the shooter involved in the murder. Police further claimed that the woman had previously been involved in similar honey-trapping activities targeting other individuals. Investigators are now examining her alleged connections and role in the planning and execution of the attack. Abdullah Tahir, a former PTI ticket holder, was killed in Lahore a few days ago. Following the incident, police launched an investigation and collected evidence to identify those responsible for the targeted killing. The arrest of the female suspect is being considered a significant development in the case as investigators continue efforts to uncover the full chain of events behind the murder. Police are expected to record the suspect’s statement and gather additional information regarding the involvement of other individuals. Authorities have not yet disclosed further details about the motive behind the killing or the identities of all suspects involved. The investigation remains ongoing, with police working to establish the complete network connected to the crime. The case has attracted attention due to Abdullah Tahir’s political association and the circumstances surrounding his death. Law enforcement officials have assured that further legal action will be taken after completing the investigation and collecting sufficient evidence.

Pakistan recorded 1,914 reported cases of child abuse during the first six months of 2026, with child sexual abuse making up the largest share of incidents, according to a new report released by child rights organisation Sahil. The report, based on cases published in national and regional newspapers, revealed that 1,015 children were victims of sexual abuse between January and June. It also documented 558 abductions, 101 missing children, 35 child marriages and 98 cases involving child pornography linked to sexual abuse. In addition, 49 newborn babies were found abandoned in different parts of the country during the reporting period. Girls accounted for 58 percent of the reported victims, while children between the ages of 11 and 15 were identified as the most vulnerable group. The report also noted that children aged 16 to 18 and those between six and 10 years old were among the frequently affected age groups. According to Sahil, many victims were abused by people they knew. Acquaintances were identified as the alleged perpetrators in 43 percent of the reported cases, while strangers accounted for 34 percent. The findings further showed that nearly half of the abuse incidents occurred inside the victims’ homes, highlighting the hidden nature of child abuse. Other cases took place in the homes of the accused or at various public locations, while the location was not specified in several reports. Urban areas recorded a higher number of reported incidents than rural regions. Punjab accounted for around 80 percent of all reported child abuse cases nationwide, followed by Sindh with 15 percent. The remaining cases were reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Islamabad Capital Territory, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. The report also stated that police registered cases in 89 percent of the reported incidents. However, a small number of cases were either not reported to law enforcement or allegedly faced refusal in the registration of a First Information Report (FIR), while the registration status of some cases remained unknown.

A nationwide wheel-jam strike is set to begin on August 8 after transporters’ associations announced a complete suspension of freight operations in protest against rising operational costs, frequent fuel price revisions and what they described as unfair treatment by authorities. The Pakistan Mini Mazda Association and the All Pakistan Goods Transport Owners Association said the strike could bring cargo movement across the country to a standstill, warning that imports and exports may face serious disruptions if the government fails to address their concerns. Addressing a joint press conference in Lahore, Pakistan Mini Mazda Association Central President Tanveer Jatt urged the government to hold immediate talks with transport representatives. He demanded that petroleum prices be revised on a monthly basis instead of daily and called for relief from toll taxes and excessive traffic fines, arguing that current policies have placed an unbearable financial burden on transport operators. All Pakistan Goods Transport Owners Association President Chaudhry Owais Gujjar stressed that axle-load regulations should be enforced strictly according to the law and alleged that corruption had become widespread during implementation. He also claimed that transporters, despite paying billions of rupees annually in toll taxes, continue to face poor road infrastructure, which contributes to accidents. Gujjar further accused officials of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Secretariat and the Highway Patrol Police of routinely harassing transporters on highways, urging the authorities to focus on their official responsibilities instead of creating difficulties for drivers. Transport leader Khalid Arain said the government’s policies had left transporters with no option but to protest. He maintained that transport operators in Pakistan receive little support despite paying advance taxes and claimed that no compensation had been provided to vehicle owners whose trucks were destroyed in militant attacks. He also criticized the heavy use of traffic fines, saying overloading rules should be enforced through consultation rather than punitive measures. Arain expressed hope that the dispute could be resolved quickly if meaningful negotiations were held between the government and transport representatives before the strike begins.

A large-scale HIV screening campaign launched after the emergence of cases at Karachi’s Kulsum Bai Valika Hospital has identified 141 HIV-positive individuals, prompting authorities to intensify investigations and strengthen preventive measures across Sindh. Speaking at a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Regulation and Coordination, Sindh Labour and Human Resources Minister Saeed Ghani said more than 10,500 people were screened in and around Valika Hospital. Of them, 120 tested positive for HIV, including 81 children of registered Sindh Employees’ Social Security Institution (SESSI) workers, while the remaining 39 had no affiliation with the institution. Ghani said the provincial government has assumed responsibility for providing treatment to all affected children and is working to ensure they receive the best possible medical care. He added that a panel of leading healthcare experts and hospitals is being formed to oversee the treatment process. As part of precautionary measures, HIV screening was also expanded to Landhi Hospital and surrounding areas. More than 7,500 people were tested, with 21 additional HIV-positive cases confirmed. According to the minister, these individuals had no previous record of treatment at the hospital, suggesting that some infections may have originated from other sources. The minister also revealed that final show-cause notices had been issued to 37 doctors, paramedics and hospital officials following inquiry committee recommendations into the Valika Hospital incident. He warned that anyone found responsible for criminal negligence would face both departmental and legal action. To support affected families, Ghani announced that a Rs2 billion endowment fund has been established under SESSI. The fund will be managed by an independent body to ensure transparency and provide long-term assistance to those impacted by the outbreak.