فیچرڈ

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court ( LHC) has overturned the life imprisonment sentence of a man convicted of murdering his wife, ruling that the prosecution failed to establish his guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh issued a detailed 19-page written judgment, allowing the appeal filed by the convict, Tanveer, and ordering his immediate release. According to the verdict, Tanveer maintained that he was on duty at a petrol station at the time of the incident and denied any involvement in the killing of his wife. The court observed that the prosecution had failed to produce reliable and convincing evidence to support the allegations against him. The judgment concluded that the available evidence was insufficient to sustain the conviction, leading the court to set aside the trial court’s decision and acquit the appellant. Tanveer had been sentenced to life imprisonment in 2022 by a trial court after being found guilty of his wife’s murder. In addition to the prison term, he was fined Rs400,000. He later challenged the conviction before the Lahore High Court, which has now ruled in his favor.

FAISALABAD: The Health Department has intensified its campaign against illegal medical practitioners in Faisalabad, with authorities sealing several unauthorized clinics during a targeted operation in Madina Town. The operation was carried out under the supervision of Dr. Rizwan Chishti, who is leading anti-quackery efforts in Lyallpur and Iqbal Towns, following directives issued by the Secretary Health Punjab and the Chief Health Officer. Acting on intelligence provided by the District Health Officer and other relevant agencies, health officials raided multiple locations suspected of operating without legal authorization. During the operation, a number of illegally established clinics run by unqualified practitioners were sealed on the spot. Officials confirmed that the cases have been referred to the Punjab Healthcare Commission, which will initiate legal proceedings against those found responsible. Health authorities said the anti-quackery campaign has been expanded across all towns in Faisalabad, with screening and enforcement activities being carried out on a wider scale. They warned that strict legal action will be taken against individuals involved in unauthorized medical practice as well as anyone attempting to unlawfully reopen or de-seal clinics closed by the department. Officials reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting public health by eliminating illegal healthcare practices and ensuring that only licensed professionals are allowed to provide medical services.

FAISALABAD: Female students delivered an outstanding performance in the annual Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations conducted by the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) Faisalabad, securing the top positions in the overall merit list. According to the results announced by the board, Umna Salahuddin emerged as the overall topper with an impressive 1,191 marks. Ramin Fatima secured the second overall position with 1,190 marks, while Muhammad Raif Abdul Ahad stood third with 1,189 marks. In the Science Group (Boys), Muhammad Raif Abdul Ahad claimed first place by scoring 1,189 marks. Muhammad Ali Kaleem finished second with 1,184 marks, while Moeed Naveed and Muhammad Abdullah shared third position after obtaining 1,183 marks each. The Science Group (Girls) was dominated by Umna Salahuddin, who secured first place with 1,191 marks. Ramin Fatima followed in second place with 1,190 marks. Four students—Zumar Fatima, Rabail Fatima, Khirat Fatima, and Dania Rasool—jointly secured third position with 1,188 marks each. In the General Group (Boys), Muhammad Saim Ali topped the category with 1,089 marks. Muhammad secured second place with 1,082 marks, while Abdul Quddus finished third with 1,066 marks. Among the General Group (Girls), Anshrah claimed first position with 1,133 marks. Rabbia Tariq secured second place with 1,119 marks, while Kinza Ali earned third position with 1,118 marks. The BISE Faisalabad administration announced the names of the position holders during a ceremony held ahead of the detailed result declaration. Education officials congratulated the high achievers and praised the dedication of students, teachers, and parents, expressing confidence that the remarkable results would motivate future candidates to strive for academic excellence.

Pakistan made an impressive start to its campaign at the ITF Masters World Team Championships by defeating the United States 3-0 in the opening round of the men’s 45+ category. The prestigious tournament is being held in Lisbon, Portugal, where more than 300 players from 30 countries are competing for international honors. The Pakistani team, featuring experienced and internationally recognized players, displayed outstanding skill and determination to secure a clean sweep against a strong American side. The victory places Pakistan in a favorable position in the round-robin stage as it aims to qualify for the knockout rounds. Pakistan Tennis Federation President Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi gave his team the perfect start by winning the opening singles match against Wojtek Breitek in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. Qureshi’s commanding performance reflected his vast international experience and provided Pakistan with an early advantage. In the second singles match, veteran Aqeel Khan faced John Chesworth of the United States in a thrilling contest. After comfortably winning the first set 6-2, Khan lost the second set 1-6 before making a determined comeback to claim the decisive set 6-4. His hard-fought victory secured Pakistan’s overall triumph before the doubles match was played. The doubles encounter featured Shahryar Salamat and Hadi Hussain representing Pakistan against Jevon West and Guillermo Cosin. Despite losing the opening set 1-6, the Pakistani duo responded brilliantly by winning the second set 6-1. They maintained their composure in the deciding match tiebreak, sealing a 10-6 victory and completing Pakistan’s dominant 3-0 success. The comprehensive win highlights the depth of Pakistan’s veteran tennis squad and demonstrates the team’s ability to compete against some of the strongest nations in the tournament. With experienced campaigners leading the way, Pakistan has sent a strong message to its upcoming opponents. Following this convincing victory, Pakistan will now face Canada in its next round-robin fixture. The match is expected to be crucial, as the winning team will advance to the knockout stage of the ITF Masters World Team Championships. Pakistan will look to carry the momentum from its opening victory and continue its impressive run in the competition as it targets a place among the tournament’s top-performing teams.

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeem Ur Rehman has announced a nationwide protest against the petroleum levy on Friday, August 7, urging citizens across Pakistan to participate in what he described as a decisive demonstration against rising fuel taxes and worsening economic conditions. According to a statement issued from the party’s headquarters in Mansoorah, preparations for the nationwide campaign have entered their final phase. Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and workers are actively engaging with communities through corner meetings, public awareness campaigns, and outreach efforts aimed at mobilizing citizens for the protest. Hafiz Naeem Ur Rehman said the demonstrations are not driven by political interests but are intended to represent the concerns of ordinary Pakistanis struggling with inflation, unemployment, and what he called an unbearable tax burden. He maintained that the movement seeks economic relief for the public rather than political gain. The JI chief announced that he will address a women’s protest rally on August 6 at Wahdat Road in Lahore, organized by the party’s women’s wing. He said women would also raise their voices against government economic policies and support the campaign demanding relief from rising living costs. Appealing directly to the country’s youth, Hafiz Naeem urged motorcyclists to join the demonstrations on August 7 and participate peacefully. He stated that protesters would stage sit-ins on major highways and temporarily block roads connecting districts to press the government to address public demands. However, he emphasized that emergency vehicles, including ambulances and rescue services, would be allowed to pass without obstruction. The Jamaat-e-Islami leader also warned the government against interfering with citizens’ constitutional and democratic right to peaceful protest. He said any attempt to suppress the demonstrations would be the responsibility of the authorities. Hafiz Naeem Ur Rehman called on the government to immediately abolish the petroleum levy, review expensive agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs), eliminate electricity load-shedding, and implement effective measures to control inflation. He added that the party’s peaceful protest movement would continue until what he described as unjust economic policies are reversed. The planned demonstrations are expected to take place across multiple cities and districts, making them one of Jamaat-e-Islami’s largest nationwide protest campaigns focused on economic issues and public relief in recent months.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam expressed his delight after his side secured a convincing victory over the West Indies in the second Test, praising the team’s all-round performance and highlighting the contributions of Abdullah Shafique and the spin bowling attack. Speaking after the match, Babar said every victory brings satisfaction and reflects the collective effort of the entire squad. He credited Abdullah Shafique’s outstanding innings and the disciplined performance of Pakistan’s two spinners as the key factors behind the team’s success. The Pakistan skipper revealed that the team management made four changes to the playing XI after carefully assessing the pitch conditions before the match. According to Babar, the surface resembled the type of wickets commonly seen in Pakistan, prompting the decision to strengthen the team accordingly. He added that the coaching staff and players worked together to finalize the changes, believing the selected combination would be better suited to the conditions. Babar also praised the pre-series training camp, saying it played a vital role in preparing the players both physically and mentally for the challenges of the series. The captain emphasized that the camp helped improve the team’s readiness and allowed players to adapt more effectively to match situations. He noted that thorough preparation was reflected in the disciplined performances throughout the Test. Player of the Match Abdullah Shafique, who scored an impressive 184 runs, also shared his thoughts after the victory. The opener said returning to form felt like starting his cricket career all over again, describing the innings as an important milestone in his comeback. Shafique acknowledged that Pakistan’s batting unit had fallen short of expectations in several recent Test matches, making his performance even more meaningful. He explained that he had been waiting patiently for an opportunity to contribute significantly to the team and was determined to make the most of it when the chance arrived. The right-handed batter added that his primary focus throughout the innings was to help Pakistan secure victory rather than concentrate on personal milestones. His composed knock laid the foundation for Pakistan’s dominant position in the match and earned widespread praise from teammates and cricket analysts. The victory provides Pakistan with valuable momentum and confidence as the team continues its Test campaign. With strong contributions from both experienced players and emerging stars, Pakistan will aim to build on this performance and maintain its winning form in the remainder of the series against the West Indies.