National

ISLAMABAD: A unusual development emerged during the hearing of cases related to a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest in Islamabad after police presented a man who has no arms in court on allegations of throwing stones and wielding sticks during the demonstration. The case relates to a protest held on August 5 in connection with supporters expressing solidarity with PTI founder Imran Khan. Several people arrested in connection with the protest were produced before the District and Sessions Courts in Islamabad. Among those presented was Altaf Ullah, who had been arrested by police and booked at Koral Police Station. Authorities accused him of involvement in acts including stone-pelting during the protest. However, the case took an unusual turn when the accused’s lawyer, Sardar Masroor, challenged the allegations before Duty Magistrate Rizwan-ud-Din. The lawyer argued that his client could not have carried out the alleged acts because he has no arms. He asked the court to consider the physical condition of the accused before proceeding with the case. The court examined the accused in the courtroom and confirmed that both of his arms were absent. Following the observation, the court discharged Altaf Ullah from the case. He was therefore released from the proceedings related to the allegations brought against him. The incident has drawn attention because of the apparent contradiction between the allegations in the police case and the physical condition of the accused. The case highlights the importance of verifying allegations and considering available evidence during legal proceedings. While police had accused the man of involvement in stone-pelting and wielding sticks, the court’s examination of his physical condition led to his discharge. The development came during hearings involving people arrested over the August 5 PTI-related protest in Islamabad. Authorities had registered cases against individuals accused of various activities during the demonstration. The court’s decision in Altaf Ullah’s case means that he has been discharged from the particular case presented before the magistrate. The PTI protest man without both arms arrested case has since attracted attention because of the unusual circumstances surrounding the arrest and subsequent court proceedings. Further proceedings in other cases related to the protest are expected to continue separately.

KARACHI: Senior Sindh Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has approached the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) over what he described as a social media campaign aimed at damaging his reputation and that of his son, Rawal Memon. Memon filed a written complaint with the cybercrime agency on August 9, seeking an investigation into what he termed false, fabricated and malicious claims circulating online. The controversy centres on social media allegations linking Memon to a guesthouse in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Karachi, where Mir Ali Raza was allegedly tortured and killed. Posts circulating on social media claimed that the property was owned by the Sindh minister. Taking notice of the allegations, Memon urged the NCCIA to investigate the matter and determine the facts behind the claims. He also expressed his willingness to cooperate fully with the authorities during the investigation. The minister’s complaint comes as scrutiny surrounding the Mir Ali Raza case continues to generate discussion on social media, with competing claims being circulated online.

President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari held a meeting with Federal Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi, during which the two discussed the prevailing political situation in the country as well as a range of important national issues. According to sources familiar with the meeting, the discussion focused on matters of national importance and developments taking place on the political front. The two leaders exchanged views on the current situation and considered issues that require attention at the federal level. The meeting between President Zardari and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi comes at a time when the country is facing a number of political, administrative, and security-related challenges. The Interior Ministry plays a key role in dealing with internal security, law and order, border management, immigration, and other matters directly linked to national stability. Sources said that the president and the interior minister also reviewed issues falling within the ministry’s domain. Although details of the discussion were not officially disclosed, the meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on the government’s priorities and the broader national situation. Political developments were also discussed during the meeting. President Zardari and Minister Naqvi reportedly considered the evolving political environment and its potential impact on governance and national affairs. Both sides emphasized the importance of maintaining stability and addressing important issues through institutional and political channels. The meeting also highlighted the coordination required among key state institutions and government departments to effectively deal with challenges facing the country. In his capacity as federal interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi is responsible for a number of sensitive matters related to internal security and public order, making his discussions with the president significant in the context of national governance. President Asif Ali Zardari, who serves as the head of state, has also been engaged in consultations with senior government officials and political leaders on matters concerning the country. Such meetings provide a platform for reviewing national developments and exchanging views on issues of public and governmental importance. While no major decisions from the meeting were immediately announced, the discussions are understood to have covered several important matters. The meeting reflects the continued engagement between the presidency and the federal government on political and national issues. The exact details of the matters discussed have not been made public. However, sources described the meeting as an important consultation concerning the country’s political situation and other key national affairs. The meeting concluded with both sides exchanging views on the issues discussed. Further developments or decisions related to the matters raised during the meeting may become clearer through official statements or announcements from the government. The meeting between President Zardari and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi is therefore being viewed as part of ongoing consultations among senior government officials aimed at assessing the country’s political environment and addressing issues of national significance.

  The preliminary post-mortem report of two women who died while in police custody at Lahore’s Town Ship Police Station has been released. According to the report, there were no visible signs of physical torture on the bodies of the two women, and their deaths appear to have been caused by natural or medical reasons. However, the exact cause of death has not yet been established, and further forensic investigation is underway. The two women, identified as Anmol and Amina, were residents of Pakpattan and had been taken into police custody on suspicion of involvement in an alleged fraud-related incident. Both women died under mysterious circumstances on August 4 while they were being held at the Town Ship Police Station in Lahore. According to the initial post-mortem findings, multiple needle or syringe marks were found on the bodies of both women. The report, however, did not identify any apparent marks of physical violence or torture. Police officials have said that the final cause of death will only become clear after the forensic examination of samples collected from the bodies. Police have claimed that they suspect the two women may have consumed poisonous tablets while in custody. Samples and other relevant material obtained from both bodies have been sent to a forensic laboratory for analysis. The forensic report is expected to determine whether any poisonous substance or medication was present in their bodies and may help investigators establish the circumstances surrounding their deaths. According to police, the women had been arrested on allegations of fraud and deception. A video allegedly showing one of the women removing earrings from an elderly woman has also surfaced. Police said that a female resident of the Town Ship area had contacted the emergency helpline 15 and handed the two women over to the police after the incident. Residents of the neighborhood also provided police with another video. In the footage, the two women can allegedly be seen removing earrings from an elderly woman. The video has become an important part of the investigation as authorities attempt to establish what happened before the women were taken into custody. Another video recorded by a camera installed in the room of the police station’s duty clerk has also emerged. The footage reportedly shows Anmol and Amina sitting on chairs inside the police station. They appear to be conscious and interacting with the duty clerk. The video further shows the two women talking to the clerk shortly before they leave the room. The footage is being examined as part of the investigation into their deaths and may help investigators establish their condition and movements while they were at the police station. The deaths have raised questions about what happened to the women during their time in custody. While police have ruled out visible signs of physical torture in the preliminary post-mortem examination, the presence of multiple syringe marks and the allegation that the women may have consumed poisonous tablets have prompted further investigation. Authorities are now awaiting the forensic examination results, which are expected to provide crucial evidence regarding the exact cause of death. Until the final forensic report is received, officials have not reached a definitive conclusion about how the two women died.