National

    ISLAMABAD : Prof. Ahmed Saad Alahmed, the president and acting rector of the university, extended ‘heartiest felicitations’ to the people of Pakistan from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Prof. Alahmed is a prominent Saudi scholar who is heading this university. His message of felicitation expresses the profound bond of friendship between Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. “Pakistan was founded upon the conviction that binds us,” he said, adding that that conviction is the concept of “Muslim Ummah” and the “ties of faith”. “This week, in the sanctified precincts of Makkah Almukarramah, that historic bond was consolidated once again through Makkah Accord,” he said, “The dignity and sanctity of one Muslim nation is the concern of all”. He said he has a personal bond with Pakistanis because of his stay in this country. He said Pakistani people are blessed with the talent and resilience that few other nations can have. He said that he has no reason to doubt that International Islamic University Islamabad will take a prominent place in leading universities of the world. He prayed for unity and peace among Muslim Ummah on this Independence Day. International Islamic University Islamabad also held flag hoisting ceremony at Faisal Mosque to celebrate the Independence Day.

  Two suspected criminals, identified as Fayyaz Butt and Rehan Butt, were killed in an exchange of fire with police in Sheikhupura, while a case has been registered at Muridke Police Station in connection with the incident. According to police and details mentioned in the First Information Report (FIR), the two suspects were among armed men allegedly involved in a recent attack in Lahore in which three police personnel were martyred and three others were injured. The suspects had reportedly fled the scene following the attack and were later traced to a house in Sheikhupura. The FIR states that a group of three armed suspects entered the residence of a citizen, identified as Abdul Hafeez, and held his family hostage at gunpoint. Abdul Hafeez’s wife and their three children were reportedly inside the house when the suspects entered and took control of the situation. After receiving information about the presence of the suspects, police surrounded the house and launched an operation to secure the area and rescue the hostages. Police officials reportedly called upon the suspects to surrender their weapons and come out of the house peacefully. However, instead of surrendering, the suspects allegedly opened fire on the police, resulting in an exchange of gunfire between the two sides. During the confrontation, a police vehicle was also damaged by gunfire. According to the FIR, the exchange of fire continued for some time before the shooting eventually stopped. When police personnel entered the house and searched the premises, they found two bodies lying in the courtyard. Weapons were also recovered from the scene near the bodies. The deceased suspects were subsequently identified as Fayyaz Butt and Rehan Butt Police have registered a case against the suspects and other alleged accomplices under several serious charges. The FIR includes provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act along with sections relating to the possession of explosive material, murder and attempted murder. The case has been registered at Muridke Police Station and further investigation is underway to determine the suspects’ alleged involvement in the Lahore attack and other criminal activities. Authorities are also investigating the circumstances surrounding the hostage situation and the suspects’ presence at the residence. Police are expected to examine evidence recovered from the scene, including weapons, and determine whether other individuals were involved in the incident. The development comes after the reported killing and injuries of six police personnel in Lahore, with authorities alleging that the suspects involved in that incident escaped and later took refuge in the Sheikhupura area. The police operation ultimately ended with the deaths of two suspects, while the condition and whereabouts of the hostages were not detailed in the FIR information provided. Officials said the investigation would continue to establish the complete sequence of events, identify any other people involved and determine the suspects’ connection with the earlier attack on police personnel. The incident has also raised concerns over the use of firearms and explosives by suspected criminals and the risks faced by law enforcement personnel while responding to armed confrontations. Further details are expected as the investigation progresses.

    ISLAMABAD: The Government of Pakistan has announced the Pakistan Civil Awards 2026 honouring 372 Pakistani citizens, overseas Pakistanis and foreign nationals for their outstanding achievements, services and acts of courage in various fields. The awards were announced on August 14, 2026 on the occasion of Independence Day, by the President of Pakistan. According to an official press release issued by the Cabinet Division, the honours recognise individuals who have demonstrated exceptional performance, excellence, dedication and bravery. The awards will formally be conferred at an Investiture Ceremony on Pakistan Day, March 23, 2027. The recipients come from diverse fields, including science, engineering, education, medicine, literature, arts, sports, journalism, social welfare, philanthropy and public service. A significant number have also been recognised for gallantry and sacrifices made while performing their duties. Among scientists, Dr Shahid Mahmud has been selected for the Hilal-i-Imtiaz in Science (I.T.), while Prof Dr Syed Zafar Ilyas and Prof Dr Mudassir Asrar will receive the Sitara-i-Imtiaz. Several other scientists, including Dr Sajjad Hussain, Prof Dr Aneela Zameer Jaffery and Dr Urooj Saeed, have been selected for the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz. Engineers Dr Muhammad Sadiq and Prof Dr Naeem-ul-Haq Tariq have also been named for the award. In education, Prof Sheikh Imtiaz Ali (late) has received the Nishan-i-Imtiaz posthumously. Lt Gen (retd) Moazzam Ejaz has been selected for the Hilal-i-Imtiaz, while other educators and researchers have been recognised with Sitara-i-Imtiaz and Tamgha-i-Imtiaz. The government has also honoured numerous doctors and health professionals. Prof Faisal Saud Dar has been selected for the Hilal-i-Imtiaz, while the late Prof Dr Tahir Shamsi has been awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz posthumously for his contributions to bone marrow transplantation. The arts category includes actors, singers, musicians, painters and theatre personalities. Sultana Siddiqi has been selected for the Hilal-i-Imtiaz, while Nisho Begum, Iftikhar Ahmed Thakur, Syed Fasih Uddin Soharwardhy, Shakir Hussain, Taranam Naz and Saira John Peter are among those receiving the Sitara-i-Imtiaz. Numerous performers and traditional artists have also been recognised through the Presidential Award for Pride of Performance and Tamgha-i-Imtiaz. Literary figures have also featured prominently. Asad Muhammad Khan has been selected for the Nishan-i-Imtiaz for his contributions to fiction, drama and poetry, while Ejaz Rahim and Muhammad Khurshid Ul Hasan Rizvi will receive the Hilal-i-Imtiaz. Sports personalities, including wrestler Bashir Bhola, shooter Kishmala Talat, squash player Noor Zaman, boxer Muhammad Waseem and cricketer Sadiq Muhammad, have also been recognised. Journalists Muhammad Saleh Zaafir and Haji Nawaz Raza have been selected for the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, while several other media professionals will receive Pride of Performance and Tamgha-i-Imtiaz awards. Public service remains one of the largest categories, with Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Mohsin Naqvi, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Ahad Khan Cheema and Bilal Azhar Kayani selected for the Nishan-i-Imtiaz. The list also includes numerous military personnel, police officers and civilians recognised for bravery. Forty-three individuals have been named for the Sitara-i-Shuja’at, with many receiving the honour posthumously for sacrificing their lives in the line of duty. Several foreign nationals have also been honoured for their services to Pakistan. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak has been selected for the Nishan-i-Pakistan, while other international figures have been chosen for various civil awards. The government has separately recognised overseas Pakistanis for their contributions, with recipients selected for honours including the Nishan-i-Imtiaz, Hilal-i-Imtiaz, Sitara-i-Imtiaz and Tamgha-i-Imtiaz. The official notification was issued by Cabinet Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal on August 14. The awards will be formally presented on March 23, 2027.

  Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited the residence of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and expressed his condolences over the death of Gohar’s mother. During the meeting, Mohsin Naqvi conveyed his deep sorrow and grief to the PTI chairman over the loss of his mother. He also offered Fateha for the deceased and prayed for her forgiveness and eternal peace. The interior minister expressed sympathy with Barrister Gohar and his family during their time of mourning. He offered his condolences and prayed that Allah Almighty grant the deceased a high place in Jannat-ul-Firdous and give patience and strength to the bereaved family. Barrister Gohar thanked Mohsin Naqvi for visiting his residence and personally expressing his condolences. The PTI chairman appreciated the interior minister’s gesture and his presence with the family during the difficult period. The meeting was held in a respectful and solemn atmosphere, with both sides focusing on the bereavement and offering prayers for the departed soul. Barrister Gohar’s mother passed away on August 8. Her funeral prayers were offered and she was laid to rest in her native area, where family members and relatives gathered to pay their final respects. The visit by the interior minister came as political figures and members of the PTI continued to express their condolences to Barrister Gohar and his family following the death. Such visits are traditionally considered an important gesture of solidarity during times of personal loss, regardless of political differences. Mohsin Naqvi’s meeting with Barrister Gohar also highlighted the importance of maintaining personal and social ties despite political disagreements. The interior minister took the opportunity to personally offer his condolences rather than limiting the gesture to a formal message. Barrister Gohar, who serves as chairman of the PTI, has remained an important figure in the party’s political and legal affairs. His mother’s death came during a period of continued political activity involving the party and its leadership. According to the details of the meeting, Mohsin Naqvi offered prayers for the deceased and conveyed his sympathies to the bereaved family. He expressed hope that the family would find strength and patience to cope with the loss. The PTI chairman thanked the federal minister for taking the time to visit his home. He acknowledged the condolence gesture and expressed appreciation for Naqvi’s presence. The meeting remained focused on the personal loss suffered by Barrister Gohar and his family, with no details of any political discussions reported. The death of a close family member is a deeply emotional moment, and condolence visits are widely regarded as an expression of support and solidarity. Naqvi’s visit was similarly aimed at sharing the grief of the PTI chairman and his family. Barrister Gohar’s mother was buried in her ancestral area following her death on August 8. Since then, relatives, friends, political colleagues and other well-wishers have continued to offer condolences to the family. The interior minister’s visit concluded with prayers for the departed soul and expressions of sympathy for the bereaved family. Barrister Gohar thanked him for coming to his residence and sharing his grief at the loss of his mother.

  British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott met with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad to discuss matters of mutual interest and ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and the United Kingdom. The meeting highlighted the importance of maintaining high-level and continuous engagement between the two countries. Both sides discussed the positive developments taking place in Pakistan-UK relations and emphasized the need to continue diplomatic contacts to deepen cooperation in areas of shared interest. During the meeting, Jane Marriott conveyed her greetings and extended congratulations to Pakistan on the occasion of its Independence Day. She also discussed issues relating to the ongoing relationship between the two countries and reaffirmed the importance of continued engagement between Islamabad and London. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar appreciated the positive progress in Pakistan-UK relations and described the developments as encouraging. According to an official statement, Dar also referred to his recent meeting with the British Foreign Secretary in Manila, highlighting the importance of high-level contacts between the two countries in strengthening mutual understanding and cooperation. The discussion also covered regional and international developments, according to the spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The two sides exchanged views on the evolving regional situation as well as broader global issues of mutual concern. Ishaq Dar stressed that Pakistan and the United Kingdom should continue working together through dialogue and diplomatic engagement. He emphasized the importance of implementing the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding in accordance with both its spirit and its agreed text. Dar also maintained that negotiations and diplomacy remain the most effective and appropriate way to address outstanding issues. He said that unresolved matters should be dealt with through constructive dialogue rather than confrontation, underlining Pakistan’s preference for diplomatic solutions to complex regional and international challenges. The meeting comes as Pakistan and the United Kingdom continue efforts to strengthen their longstanding bilateral relationship. The two countries maintain cooperation across several areas, including trade, investment, education, security, development and people-to-people relations. Regular high-level meetings between officials from both sides are considered important for maintaining momentum in bilateral ties. The discussions between Dar and Marriott also reflected the broader importance of sustained diplomatic communication at a time when regional and global developments continue to influence international relations. Both Pakistan and the UK have an interest in maintaining regular consultations on issues that affect regional stability, economic cooperation and international peace. The Pakistani foreign ministry said that continued engagement and dialogue would remain important for addressing matters of mutual interest and promoting closer cooperation between Islamabad and London. The meeting concluded with an emphasis on maintaining regular high-level contacts and advancing bilateral cooperation. Both sides expressed support for continued diplomatic engagement and efforts aimed at strengthening Pakistan-UK relations. The interaction between Ishaq Dar and Jane Marriott demonstrates the continued focus of both countries on maintaining constructive diplomatic ties. With discussions covering bilateral relations, implementation of existing understandings, regional developments and international affairs, the meeting provided an opportunity for Pakistan and the UK to reaffirm their commitment to dialogue and cooperation.

  Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that Pakistan has completed 79 years of independence and that the country will celebrate the centenary of its independence 21 years from now, in 2047. In a video message issued on the occasion of Independence Day, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari reflected on the meaning of Pakistan’s independence and emphasized that freedom was not simply about acquiring a separate territory. According to him, the creation of Pakistan represented a broader promise of rights and dignity for its people. Bilawal said that independence should be understood as more than the establishment of a geographical homeland. He described it as a commitment made to the people of Pakistan and to the regions and states that chose to become part of the country at the time of its creation. He said that this commitment was subsequently incorporated into Pakistan’s Constitution and has continued to be reaffirmed over the years. According to Bilawal, the constitutional promise represents an important responsibility for successive generations and should not remain limited to political speeches or written documents. The PPP chairman stressed that the younger generation has an important role to play in fulfilling this promise. He said it is the responsibility of the present generation to ensure that the constitutional guarantees and principles associated with Pakistan’s founding vision reach every household by 2047, when the country will mark 100 years of independence. Bilawal’s remarks came as Pakistan celebrated its 79th Independence Day with nationwide ceremonies, flag-hoisting events and public celebrations. The day is observed every year on August 14 to commemorate Pakistan’s independence from British rule in 1947. In his message, Bilawal focused on the relationship between independence, constitutional rights and the responsibilities of citizens. He suggested that the true meaning of freedom lies not only in national sovereignty but also in ensuring that citizens are able to enjoy their fundamental rights. He further emphasized the importance of remembering the commitments associated with the creation of Pakistan while looking toward the country’s future. As Pakistan approaches its centenary in 2047, he called for collective efforts to translate constitutional principles into meaningful improvements in the lives of ordinary citizens. According to Bilawal, fulfilling the promise of Pakistan is a responsibility shared by every generation. He said the country’s future depends on ensuring that the principles of rights and justice are reflected in the everyday lives of people across the country. The PPP chairman also extended his greetings to the nation on Independence Day and expressed his hopes for Pakistan’s continued progress and prosperity. Concluding his message, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari reaffirmed his commitment to Pakistan and expressed the slogan “Pakistan Khappay, Pakistan Paindabad,” conveying a message of support for the country’s unity, stability and lasting prosperity. His Independence Day message centered on the idea that Pakistan’s journey should be viewed not only through the achievement of independence but also through the fulfillment of the rights and aspirations that accompanied the country’s creation. With 2047 approaching as the centenary year of Pakistan’s independence, Bilawal called on the current generation to work toward realizing the constitutional promise for every citizen and household. His message highlighted the importance of connecting the ideals associated with independence to the everyday realities of the Pakistani people.