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A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice was held under the chairmanship of Senator Farooq H Naek, where National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Nazir Ahmed Butt appeared before the committee on its instructions. During the meeting, Senator Farooq H Naek remarked that the NAB chairman had perhaps appeared before the committee for the first time. In response, Nazir Ahmed Butt said that it was his first appearance before the committee as NAB chairman. He added that he had appeared before the committee several times while performing his previous responsibilities. The NAB chairman said he had been assigned the responsibility in 2023. He recalled that ministers he met during his tenure repeatedly complained that the bureaucracy was afraid to make decisions and was therefore reluctant to work. During the meeting, NAB Director General Operations briefed the committee on the bureau’s powers and performance. The official said NAB had received 505,799 complaints since its establishment. He said NAB also operates as an investigative agency under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2010. According to the briefing, NAB has so far completed 12,147 inquiries, conducted 7,339 investigations and filed 4,105 references. The DG Operations further told the committee that NAB had been allocated Rs22.556 billion over the past three-and-a-half years. Despite the expenditure, the bureau reported significantly higher recoveries during the same period. The committee was informed that NAB had recovered Rs1.069 trillion over the past three-and-a-half years. The briefing highlighted the bureau’s role in investigating corruption, financial crimes and other cases falling under its legal mandate. The committee members discussed NAB’s powers, investigations, recoveries and its overall performance during the meeting. The NAB chairman and officials responded to questions from the committee and provided details about the bureau’s operations and financial performance.

Islamabad / Karachi: The Sindh Healthcare Commission came under intense scrutiny in the Senate after lawmakers questioned its ability to control illegal medical practices and respond effectively to the growing HIV situation in Sindh. Senators raised concerns over delayed action, staff shortages, and legal weaknesses that they said were limiting the Commission’s performance. The issue was discussed during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination chaired by Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti. The meeting was attended by Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan, Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, Senator Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto, Senator Nasir Mehmood Butt, Senator Anusha Rehman Ahmad Khan through Zoom, Federal Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal and Sindh Labour Minister Saeed Ghani along with senior federal and provincial health officials. Senator Nasir Mehmood Butt questioned why FIRs had still not been registered against those responsible in connection with the HIV situation, while Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan expressed dissatisfaction over delays in action and questioned the role of the Sindh Healthcare Commission in preventing the spread of the disease. Responding to the Committee, the Chief Executive Officer of the Sindh Healthcare Commission said the Commission had already registered several FIRs against medical quacks. However, he stated that weaknesses in the existing legal framework allowed many accused to obtain bail shortly after arrest. He informed the Committee that amendments to the law were being prepared to strengthen action against quackery. The CEO also disclosed that the Commission has only around 170 officials serving across the entire province, highlighting a serious shortage of human resources. Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri questioned why the Commission remained understaffed and asked whether the issue had been formally raised with the Sindh Government. Federal Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal requested the Committee Chairman to issue directions so the matter could move forward. Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan stressed that the Government should acknowledge administrative shortcomings wherever they exist. He also asked how many times the Sindh Healthcare Commission had formally requested additional staff from the Provincial Government. The discussion also focused on the governance structure of the Commission. Members were informed that after the 18th Constitutional Amendment, the Sindh Health Department no longer exercises administrative control over the Sindh Healthcare Commission. Federal Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal suggested that legislative measures should be considered to address governance-related issues affecting provincial institutions. The Committee also examined the appointment process for members of the Sindh Healthcare Commission Board. The Secretary Health informed members that the Department did not have the authority to appoint or remove Board members. Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri observed that such limitations weaken accountability, while Senator Nasir Mehmood Butt expressed concern that the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission was not administratively answerable to the Secretary Health. Earlier in the meeting, Sindh Labour Minister Saeed Ghani informed the Committee that two inquiries had been conducted into the Valika Hospital incident, during which 37 officials were identified for disciplinary action. He said the inquiry findings had not been made public due to security considerations but assured the Committee that strict action would be taken against those found responsible. He also informed members that the Sindh Government had established a social security fund to support families affected by HIV.

Three Chinese nationals arrested in a case involving the alleged illegal sale of human organs have approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking post-arrest bail. The bail petitions were heard by IHC Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir. The petitioners include Li Gang Chai, Ping Fei Guo and Wang Bao. The three suspects are facing a case registered by the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Corporate Crime Circle. A trial court had earlier rejected their bail applications. Appearing on behalf of the petitioners, Barrister Yawar Qureshi requested the court to transfer the cases to another bench. He told the court that petitions involving similar circumstances were already pending before a different bench. The lawyer requested that the three cases also be transferred to the bench of Justice Muhammad Azam Khan. Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir observed that Justice Muhammad Azam Khan was currently on summer vacation and transferring the cases could delay the proceedings by around a month. However, following the lawyer’s insistence, the court accepted the request for consideration of the bench change. The court directed that the case file be sent to the Chief Justice’s Office for a decision regarding the transfer of the petitions.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has welcomed the joint defence agreement signed between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, calling it a decisive moment in the history of the Muslim world. In a statement, Maryam said the agreement sent a strong message to the world from the holy city of Makkah that the Muslim world was united. She said the coming together of three major economic, military and political powers was a positive development for the entire Muslim Ummah. Maryam described the agreement as the beginning of a new chapter for the Islamic world. She said the pact would strengthen collective security and defence cooperation among the three countries. She praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir for standing alongside the Saudi and Turkish leadership, saying their efforts had raised the nation’s pride. “The agreement will not only strengthen the security of our borders but also raise the head of the Muslim Ummah with pride,” she said. Maryam added that the Makkah defence agreement had reinforced the message of unity among Muslim countries. The agreement was signed in Makkah by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. According to the Foreign Office spokesperson, the agreement stipulates that an attack on any one of the three countries will be considered an attack on all three. The pact aims to strengthen their joint defence capabilities against any aggression and expand defence cooperation between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has alleged that some elements within the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) are weakening Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s position and creating divisions between the government and its political allies. Addressing an election rally in Poonch, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Bilawal said the PPP’s political differences with the PML-N were normal during elections. However, he claimed that the real problem was internal and involved elements within the ruling party. Bilawal said reports suggesting that the government had collapsed were incorrect. He described Prime Minister Shehbaz as a person with “good intentions”, but questioned whether the premier could succeed if people around him were working against his interests. The PPP chairman alleged that a significant section of the PML-N wanted the prime minister to confront not only opposition parties but also his coalition partners. He also criticised the phased AJK election schedule, questioning why polling was not held on a single day if the region was considered one electoral unit. Bilawal said the elections were being conducted in phases in the name of maintaining peace and ensuring free and fair polling. However, he alleged that the process had instead created opportunities for electoral manipulation. He accused the PML-N of securing seats in advance and alleged that the party had already “taken” seats in Mirpur and Muzaffarabad and was now targeting Poonch and Bagh. The PPP leader urged voters in Poonch and Bagh to respond through their votes in the upcoming elections. The AJK elections are being conducted in three phases. Polling in the Mirpur division was held on July 27, while the second phase in the Muzaffarabad division took place on August 2. The PML-N won nine of the 13 seats contested in Mirpur, while the PPP secured four. In the second phase, the PML-N won 15 additional seats in Muzaffarabad, while the PPP added six. The third phase was originally scheduled for August 10 across the Poonch division. However, the AJK Election Commission has revised the schedule because of security concerns. Under the revised plan, polling on August 10 will be held only in Bagh and Haveli districts. Elections in Poonch district and Pallandri in Sudhnoti district have been postponed. The Election Commission said it took the decision after receiving a report from the AJK home secretary highlighting concerns about the law and order situation in parts of Poonch and Pallandri. The decision follows clashes between protesters and law enforcement personnel in Rawalakot on July 27, which reportedly resulted in several casualties. Tensions have persisted in Rawalakot since early June, with the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) organising periodic protests and sit-ins. The group has been demanding the abolition of 12 seats in the AJK legislature reserved for refugees from Indian-administered Kashmir.

KARACHI: An armed robbery took place at an Edhi Centre in Karachi’s Sohrab Goth area, with four suspects fleeing with Rs6.5 million in cash. According to the centre’s spokesperson, the money had been withdrawn from a bank to pay employees’ salaries when the robbers targeted the staff. Police said four armed men riding two motorcycles carried out the robbery and escaped with the cash. Initial information is being obtained from employees who were present at the centre. According to their statements, all four suspects were wearing helmets during the robbery. Police said efforts were underway to obtain CCTV footage from the area to identify the suspects. An investigation into the incident is also continuing. Sindh Chief Minister has sought a report from the Inspector General of Police over the robbery. The chief minister said the Edhi Centre serves as a major source of support for poor and abandoned people. He directed the police to investigate the incident immediately and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. He added that protecting the lives and property of citizens remains the government’s top priority.