تازہ ترین

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has decided to introduce a new digital system for the private Hajj operation in 2027 in line with Saudi Arabia’s Nusuk Masar system. Under the new arrangement, bookings for private Hajj will be processed through the Ministry of Religious Affairs instead of being handled directly by private Hajj operators. For the first time, both the government and private Hajj operations will come under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, according to sources. Sources said the private Hajj scheme will be operated through the ministry’s official Pak Hajj app, which will serve as the digital platform for managing bookings and related arrangements. The move is aimed at bringing greater transparency, centralised oversight and digital management to the private Hajj scheme. It will also align Pakistan’s private Hajj operations with the digital procedures being implemented by Saudi authorities. Under the proposed system, pilgrims seeking to perform Hajj through the private scheme will be able to access the relevant services through the official digital platform, while the ministry will maintain direct oversight of the process. The decision marks a significant change from the existing arrangement, under which private Hajj operators play a central role in booking and managing pilgrims. The ministry is expected to announce further details regarding registration, booking procedures, packages, payments and the role of private operators as preparations for Hajj 2027 progress.

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Chief Election Commissioner Ghulam Mustafa Mughal has said that elections in Rawalakot could be held on August 20 or 21 if the ongoing protest is resolved within the next three to four days. Speaking to the media in Muzaffarabad, Mughal said polling in Bagh and Haveli was scheduled to take place first due to security concerns. He said security personnel had already arrived in the two districts, while polling material was being transported under the supervision of the military. He added that eight security personnel would be deployed at each highly sensitive polling station to ensure the safety of voters and election staff. The chief election commissioner said efforts were also under way to restore internet services in Bagh and Haveli on August 9 and 10. Mughal said the Election Commission expected to be in a position to announce the polling date for Rawalakot within the next seven days. However, the final schedule would depend on the resolution of the ongoing protest. “If the protest is resolved within three or four days, elections in Rawalakot can be held on August 20 or 21,” he said. Responding to allegations made by political leaders, Mughal said the Election Commission could not engage in a war of words with politicians. He said the commission would provide the facts once the electoral process had been completed and would determine whether any irregularities had occurred and who was responsible.

KARACHI: An eight-member medical board has completed a fresh post-mortem examination of Wafflix owner Mir Raza Ali’s exhumed remains and sent samples for DNA and chemical testing, amid questions over the identity of the body and the circumstances surrounding his death. Ali’s grave was exhumed on Saturday at the Tariq Road cemetery in Karachi, where the medical board collected evidence before the remains were reburied. Professor Dr Naseem, a member of the medical board, said the samples had been properly preserved and would be examined at a laboratory. The testing will include DNA analysis and chemical examination, which officials say could provide crucial evidence in the case. The exhumation and re-post-mortem were conducted under the supervision of the judicial magistrate and police surgeon. Advocate Jibran Nasir said the process began at around 11:07am and was completed after the medical team collected the required evidence. He said the board had also addressed questions previously raised by the police surgeon. According to Nasir, an initial medical report was expected later on Saturday, while the final findings would be issued after completion of the chemical examination. The fresh examination is expected to help determine whether Ali died by suicide or was murdered and whether the injuries found on the body were self-inflicted or caused by another person. Nasir said the proceedings had been conducted satisfactorily and expressed appreciation for the judiciary’s intervention in the matter. He said the investigation could help resolve speculation and unanswered questions surrounding the young entrepreneur’s death. However, another member of the medical board, CPLC official Amir Hasan, raised a significant question over the identity of the remains. Hasan said the board was not yet certain that the exhumed body belonged to Ali. To establish the identity, DNA samples were collected from the remains as well as from Ali’s parents. He said the DNA comparison would determine whether the body buried at the cemetery was indeed that of Ali.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has welcomed the joint defence agreement signed by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye, calling it an important strategic step toward strengthening regional security and stability. OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha expressed strong appreciation for the agreement, describing it as a significant development that reflects the three countries’ commitment to closer cooperation. In a statement, the OIC said the agreement could serve as an important pillar for promoting security and stability in the region and across the wider Muslim world. The organisation also highlighted the pact’s potential to strengthen coordination among its member states in response to growing security challenges. Taha praised the leadership and efforts of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye, saying the agreement demonstrated their shared determination to enhance collective security and constructive partnerships. The OIC secretary-general also expressed hope that the new arrangement would contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and beyond. The agreement was signed on Friday during a trilateral summit in Makkah, bringing together the leadership of the three countries. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed the pact at the Al-Safa Palace during the summit. Under the agreement, the three countries have committed to strengthening collective security and expanding defence cooperation. The pact has also been presented as part of broader efforts to promote peace and stability. The agreement comes amid growing security concerns across the region, making closer coordination between major Muslim countries particularly significant. The OIC’s endorsement gives the agreement additional diplomatic weight and underlines the organisation’s support for greater cooperation among its member states. With Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye seeking deeper strategic ties, the new defence framework could become an important platform for future cooperation in security and defence, while its broader impact on regional stability will be closely watched.