تازہ ترین

An Islamabad District and Sessions Court has ruled in favour of Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal in a long-running defamation case against PTI leader Murad Saeed. The court ordered Murad Saeed to pay Rs2.5 million in damages for making allegations that were not proven during the proceedings. Additional Sessions Judge Hakim Khan announced the verdict after hearing the case. The court held that Murad Saeed’s statements had damaged Ahsan Iqbal’s reputation and public image. It directed the PTI leader to compensate the federal minister with Rs2.5 million. According to the judgment, Murad Saeed accused Ahsan Iqbal of being involved in corruption worth Rs70 billion. However, the court found that he failed to provide any evidence to support the allegations. The court ruled that the accusations of corruption, misuse of authority, and receiving illegal commissions were defamatory because they remained unsubstantiated. The judgment stated that Ahsan Iqbal had initially sought Rs10 billion in damages for the alleged harm caused to his reputation. However, the court observed that the amount claimed was excessive in view of the evidence presented during the trial. It therefore awarded Rs2.5 million as reasonable compensation. The court further observed that Murad Saeed’s controversial statements had harmed Ahsan Iqbal’s reputation, dignity, and credibility. It said the allegations created a negative impression of the minister among the public and directly targeted his honesty, integrity, and professional standing. The judgment also noted that Murad Saeed neither appeared before the court during the proceedings nor submitted evidence to substantiate the corruption claims. The absence of supporting material, the court said, weakened his defence and left the allegations unproven. The case originated from statements made by Murad Saeed in 2019 regarding the Multan-Sukkur Motorway project. At the time, he alleged that Ahsan Iqbal had committed corruption in connection with the project. After reviewing the evidence and hearing the arguments, the court concluded that the accusations were not established and therefore amounted to defamation. The verdict marks the conclusion of the defamation proceedings, with the court reaffirming that public allegations of corruption must be backed by credible evidence.

Police have made fresh progress in the investigation into the murder of 25-year-old Mir Raza, whose body was found in Karachi’s Gulistan-e-Jauhar area. Investigators have recorded the statement of his fiancée and uncovered new details about his movements before his death. According to the investigation, Mir Raza left his home at approximately 4:02am on July 28. Before leaving, he reportedly left behind several personal belongings, including his wallet, house keys, and smartwatch. Police said he also transferred some money to his parents’ bank account before departing. Investigators have obtained more than 100 CCTV recordings from different locations and are reviewing the footage to trace Mir Raza’s final movements and identify any suspects or suspicious activity. Police also recorded the statement of Mir Raza’s fiancée as part of the investigation. She told investigators that he had not shared any concerns, fears, or personal problems with her before leaving home. She added that she repeatedly tried to contact him by phone on the morning of July 28 but received no response. According to the post-mortem report, Mir Raza died after suffering a gunshot wound to the chest, with excessive blood loss identified as the cause of death. Police recently recovered Mir Raza’s mobile phone from a location near the crime scene. The device has been sent for forensic examination to help investigators retrieve digital evidence and establish the circumstances leading to the killing. The investigation remains underway, with police examining CCTV footage, forensic evidence, and witness statements as they continue efforts to determine the motive behind the murder and identify those responsible.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has announced that he has received a response from the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) regarding his proposal to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to address the ongoing crisis in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). He said the response marked an important step towards finding a peaceful and institutional solution to the unrest. In a statement issued on Saturday, Bilawal said the committee had shown willingness to consider the proposed commission. He welcomed the response and said it reflected support for resolving the dispute through dialogue rather than confrontation. He added that the proposal had already been endorsed by the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. The PPP chairman said the loss of every life during the recent unrest was a national tragedy. He stressed that his foremost priority was to help restore peace, reduce tensions, and bring normal life back to the people of AJK as soon as possible. Bilawal said the next stage would involve consultations with AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore. He explained that the prime minister would hold discussions with the federal government and other relevant stakeholders to determine whether sufficient consensus exists to move forward with the proposed commission. According to Bilawal, these consultations are necessary before any final decision is taken. He expressed hope that all parties would work together to develop a mutually acceptable framework capable of addressing the concerns raised during the recent protests. The proposal comes after weeks of political tension between the AJK government and the Joint Awami Action Committee. The dispute intensified over the committee’s demand to abolish the 12 seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly reserved for refugees from Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir who settled in Pakistan after 1947. The disagreement led to widespread demonstrations across the region and increased political uncertainty. Bilawal has repeatedly called for the establishment of an independent Truth and Reconciliation Commission over the past month. He believes such a body could impartially investigate the recent violence, determine the facts surrounding the unrest, and help create conditions for meaningful dialogue between the government and protesters. Speaking at a public gathering in Muzaffarabad earlier this week, Bilawal said maintaining peace, fairness, and transparency was essential during the election period. He argued that resolving the crisis should not be viewed as a political victory or defeat for any party but as a national responsibility aimed at protecting the future of Kashmir and safeguarding Pakistan’s position on the Kashmir issue.

Police have uncovered a fake arms licence racket in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, exposing an illegal network that allegedly produced forged weapon licences from a house. Authorities believe the operation had been running through a well-organised system and involved both private individuals and a government employee. According to police, the suspects were preparing counterfeit arms licences using computer equipment and printing materials inside a residential property. Investigators said each fake licence was sold for amounts ranging from Rs80,000 to Rs250,000, depending on the type of licence and the customer’s requirements. Police said an employee of the Home Department’s Licence Branch has also been found involved in the case. His alleged role is being investigated to determine how official records or procedures may have been misused. A case has been registered, and two suspects have been arrested during the operation. Police carried out a raid and seized a large quantity of equipment allegedly used to manufacture the fake licences. The recovered items include a laptop, a printer, ink bottles, around 700 licence cards, and other materials believed to have been used for printing forged documents. Investigators are examining the seized equipment to identify additional suspects and uncover the full scale of the operation. Police have also written to the Home Department, requesting assistance in the investigation. Officials are expected to examine departmental records to determine whether more employees were involved or if official data was misused. Sources in the Home Department said a committee will be formed to conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident. The committee will investigate the role of all individuals linked to the case and recommend legal and departmental action where necessary. CCPO Dr Mian Saeed said the investigation is progressing and that authorities are determined to bring everyone involved to justice. He said strict action will be taken against all suspects, including any government officials found responsible. He added that no official involved in the fake arms licence racket would be given any leniency, and the investigation would continue until the entire network is exposed.