National

  The country’s biggest music competition, Pakistan Idol is rapidly moving toward its decisive stage, with the countdown to the grand finale officially underway. In a special appearance that has already generated excitement among music fans, internationally renowned pop singer Atif Aslam, actor and singer Fawad Khan, and legendary vocalist Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan are set to appear together on Geo’s screen for the first time. Fans of the three celebrated artists are now eagerly preparing to watch the stars share the stage. As the competition reaches its final episode, anticipation is growing over which contestant will emerge as the new superstar of the country. With only a few days remaining before the final decision, excitement among viewers is reaching its peak. The winner of Pakistan Idol will not only receive the prestigious title but will also be rewarded with prizes worth millions of rupees. The opportunity is expected to be life-changing for the contestant who succeeds in winning the competition and earning the title of the next generation’s singing sensation. Pakistan Idol is broadcast first on Geo, making it one of the major platforms for discovering and showcasing emerging musical talent in Pakistan. Throughout its run, the show has presented a wide variety of musical performances and introduced audiences to different styles, traditions and cultural sounds. Its music has created such a strong impact that its popularity has also been noticed in neighboring countries. The programme has featured evergreen songs traditionally associated with weddings and celebrations, giving audiences an opportunity to enjoy familiar melodies in fresh and engaging presentations. Basant songs were also presented in new styles, generating considerable interest among viewers and adding a festive touch to the competition. One of the highlights of Pakistan Idol has been its celebration of Pakistan’s diverse musical heritage. Folk songs from all four provinces were performed by contestants, reviving memories of the country’s rich musical past and introducing younger audiences to traditional sounds. The show also embraced national occasions, with patriotic songs adding another dimension to its musical offerings during Independence Day celebrations. The judging panel has featured some of Pakistan’s most respected names in music and entertainment. Internationally acclaimed singer Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, actor and singer Fawad Khan, Bilal Maqsood and Zeb Bangash have served as judges, bringing their experience and expertise to the competition. The programme has also welcomed several prominent guest judges and performers, further increasing its appeal. Atif Aslam, widely regarded as one of the country’s most popular contemporary singers, appeared alongside other major names including the “Bhangra King” Abrar-ul-Haq, Asim Azhar and Fakhar-e-Alam. The show has also featured celebrated artists such as Arif Lohar, Sanam Marvi, Akhtar Chanal, Alamgir, Shazia Manzoor and Shafaat Ali, who contributed to the programme’s entertainment value and helped elevate its profile among viewers. Behind the success of Pakistan Idol is a large production team that has worked to bring the programme to audiences. Nadeem J, Badr Ikram and Tanveer Afridi, along with other members of the team, have played significant roles in making the programme successful. As the final episode approaches, viewers are eagerly waiting to discover who will claim the Pakistan Idol crown and become the newest star in Pakistan’s music industry.

The Sindh government has ordered an immediate reduction in public transport fares following a significant decrease in the price of high-speed diesel. According to local media reports, the Sindh Transport Department has directed transporters to pass the full benefit of the Rs32.63 per litre reduction in diesel prices on to passengers. The directive covers buses, minibuses, coaches, vans and other public service vehicles operating across the province. Transport authorities have also instructed operators to clearly display updated fare lists at vehicles and bus terminals. The move is aimed at ensuring that passengers receive the benefit of lower fuel prices and that transporters do not continue charging fares based on previous diesel rates. Officials have further been directed to conduct daily road inspections and check public transport vehicles to monitor compliance with the new instructions. Transporters found charging passengers excessive fares could face strict action. According to the Transport Department, penalties for violations may include fines, suspension of route permits and cancellation of vehicle fitness certificates. Authorities have also been instructed to submit daily implementation reports to the Sindh Transport Department. The directive comes after the price of high-speed diesel was reduced by Rs32.63 per litre, bringing its new price to Rs363.06 per litre. The reduction is expected to lower operating costs for public transport operators and has prompted authorities to seek a corresponding reduction in passenger fares. Public transport fares are an important issue for millions of commuters, particularly low-income workers, students and daily wage earners who rely heavily on buses, minibuses and other shared transport services. The Sindh government’s decision is therefore likely to attract considerable attention from passengers who have been waiting for transport fares to reflect changes in fuel prices. The enforcement mechanism will be crucial in determining whether commuters actually receive the benefit of the diesel price reduction. Daily inspections and penalties could help prevent transport operators from charging fares above the officially approved rates. Authorities have emphasized that transporters must comply with the new instructions and ensure that revised fares are clearly communicated to passengers. The latest move represents an effort by the provincial government to link public transport fares in Sindh with changes in fuel prices and provide immediate relief to commuters following the reduction in diesel costs.

  Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Raja Nasir Abbas, has said that the government is legally bound to implement the Supreme Court’s decision and expressed hope that the ruling would be implemented today. Speaking during a Senate session, Raja Nasir Abbas said that the Supreme Court’s decision had created a positive atmosphere and provided an opportunity for political forces to move closer to one another. He noted that there had been signs of improvement in the political environment following the court’s ruling. According to the opposition leader, the government is obligated to respect and implement decisions issued by the country’s highest court. He said that the opposition expected the government to comply with the Supreme Court’s decision without further delay. Raja Nasir Abbas emphasized that implementation of the court’s ruling could help maintain a positive political atmosphere. He said that after the Supreme Court decision, the situation appeared to be improving and political sides were gradually coming closer together. He suggested that developments could lead to greater political understanding if the government continued to act responsibly. During his speech, the opposition leader also raised concerns about the health and treatment of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and physician Dr Yasmin Rashid, who is currently being held at Kot Lakhpat Jail. Raja Nasir Abbas said that it was the government’s responsibility to protect the health and well-being of people in its custody. He highlighted Yasmin Rashid’s medical condition and expressed concern about the circumstances in which she was being held. According to Abbas, Dr Yasmin Rashid is a cancer patient and has also continued to provide medical assistance to other people even while in prison. He said that despite facing serious health challenges herself, she had remained committed to helping others. The opposition leader further stated that doctors had raised concerns about a problem involving Yasmin Rashid’s spinal vertebrae. He said medical professionals had warned that her condition could become serious and that she might even lose the ability to walk. Abbas argued that, given her medical condition, Yasmin Rashid should not be kept in prison. He called on the government to take medical advice seriously and ensure that prisoners suffering from serious illnesses receive appropriate healthcare. He also expressed concern about conditions inside the prison, particularly the availability of electricity. According to him, there are periods of four hours or more during which electricity is unavailable in the jail. He suggested that such conditions could further worsen the difficulties faced by prisoners, particularly those with serious medical conditions. The opposition leader’s remarks come amid broader political discussions over the treatment of political prisoners and the implementation of judicial decisions. His statement reflects the opposition’s expectation that the government should follow court orders while also ensuring that prisoners receive adequate medical care. Raja Nasir Abbas maintained that respecting judicial decisions and protecting prisoners’ health were both important responsibilities of the state. He urged the government to take immediate steps to address the concerns raised regarding Yasmin Rashid and to ensure that her medical needs are properly addressed. He also expressed optimism that the Supreme Court’s decision could help create a more constructive political environment. According to him, cooperation and implementation of the court’s ruling could contribute to reducing political tensions and improving relations between the government and opposition. The opposition leader concluded by emphasizing the importance of the government fulfilling its legal responsibilities and protecting the health and dignity of individuals in its custody.

    The family of a young man who was killed in an alleged police encounter in the Kadhan area on the outskirts of Badin has raised serious objections to his post-mortem report, alleging that the report does not accurately reflect the condition of his body. The relatives of the deceased, identified as Moharram Dil, have declared the post-mortem report to be fake and demanded that his grave be exhumed so that a fresh post-mortem examination can be conducted. The family has called for an impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death and the preparation of the medical report. Moharram Dil’s father said that there were no visible signs on his son’s body indicating that it had been cut open for a post-mortem examination. He said that when the body was being washed before burial, the family observed gunshot wounds but did not see any other marks that would suggest that a post-mortem had been performed. The father said that the family also possesses video recordings of his son’s body taken before the burial. According to him, these videos could provide important evidence regarding the condition of the body and may help determine whether the post-mortem examination described in the official report actually took place. The controversy has emerged over the timing and circumstances of the post-mortem report. Moharram Dil was reportedly killed in an alleged police encounter on July 26, while his post-mortem report was issued five days later, on July 31, by the Rural Health Centre. The family has questioned the circumstances under which the examination was conducted and how the report was prepared. Their demand for exhumation is aimed at obtaining a new medical examination that could independently establish the cause and circumstances of the young man’s death. Badin District Health Officer (DHO) has provided an explanation regarding who can conduct a post-mortem examination. According to the DHO, if a medico-legal officer is not available, the medical superintendent or a senior duty doctor can perform the post-mortem. The clarification comes amid questions raised by the family regarding the validity of the medical report. The authorities may now face pressure to determine whether the procedure was conducted according to the relevant medical and legal requirements. Police, meanwhile, maintain that Moharram Dil was a drug dealer who was killed during a police encounter on July 26. According to the police version, an exchange of fire took place between the police and the alleged drug dealer, during which Moharram Dil was killed. Police also claimed that two officers were injured during the encounter. The law enforcement authorities have presented the incident as an armed confrontation, while the deceased’s family has challenged the official account and raised doubts about the circumstances surrounding his death. The conflicting accounts have increased calls for an independent investigation. The family believes that a fresh post-mortem could help establish whether the injuries on the body correspond with the police account and whether the original medical report was prepared accurately. The demand for exhumation and a second post-mortem is now at the centre of the controversy. The videos reportedly recorded before the burial could also become relevant if an investigation is launched. The case has raised broader questions about transparency in alleged police encounters and the importance of properly documented medico-legal procedures. A fresh examination, if authorized, could provide additional evidence and help address the concerns raised by the deceased’s family.

Gold prices in Pakistan surged sharply on Thursday, rising by Rs13,700 per tola as international bullion prices recorded a strong increase. According to the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA), the price of gold increased to Rs471,936 per tola, compared with Rs458,236 recorded on the previous day. The price of 10 grams of gold also climbed significantly, increasing by Rs11,746 to Rs404,609. The sharp increase in local gold prices came alongside a major rally in the international bullion market. International gold prices rose by $137 per ounce to $4,495, providing strong upward momentum to domestic prices. The latest increase follows significant fluctuations in Pakistan’s gold market over the past several trading sessions. On Wednesday, local gold prices had declined by Rs3,700 per tola despite a strong rise in international prices. The rate had fallen to Rs458,236 per tola, while 10 grams of gold were priced at Rs392,863. On Tuesday, gold prices remained unchanged at Rs461,936 per tola. Earlier on Monday, the precious metal had gained Rs2,000 per tola, reaching Rs461,936. The latest movement highlights the volatility currently being witnessed in the precious metals market. International bullion prices remain a key factor influencing gold rates in Pakistan, while local prices can also be affected by currency movements and domestic market conditions. Silver prices also recorded a substantial increase on Thursday. According to APGJSA figures, the price of silver rose by Rs317 per tola to Rs7,169. The price of 10 grams of silver also increased by Rs317 to Rs6,146. The sharp rise in gold prices is likely to attract renewed attention from investors, jewelers and consumers who closely monitor precious metal rates. Gold is often considered a store of value, making significant price movements particularly important for investors and households. With international gold prices reaching $4,495 per ounce and the local rate crossing Rs470,000 per tola, market participants will be closely watching the next trading sessions for signs of whether the rally will continue or prices will experience another correction.

Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has overturned a 16-year-old Supreme Court ruling concerning land acquisition and claims for additional compensation, delivering a significant judgment on the legal rights of landowners. A three-member bench headed by FCC Chief Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan announced the decision on review petitions challenging the Supreme Court’s 2010 majority judgment. Justice Ali Baqar Najafi and Justice Syed Arshad Hussain Shah were also members of the bench. The 47-page judgment, authored by Chief Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, held that parts of the Supreme Court’s earlier decision in the Sadaqat Ali Khan case were not legally sustainable. The court ruled that a landowner who accepts compensation without raising an objection cannot subsequently claim additional compensation. It also held that a landowner who fails to file a reference within the prescribed legal period cannot later seek additional compensation. Another important finding was that landowners who were not parties to earlier proceedings cannot automatically claim the benefit of higher compensation awarded to other landowners through court proceedings. The Federal Constitutional Court observed that the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 provides a comprehensive legal framework for land acquisition and determination of compensation. Anyone seeking additional compensation must follow the procedure established under the law. According to the judgment, once the prescribed period for legal proceedings expires, the award issued by the Land Acquisition Collector becomes final. Courts cannot use their powers to bypass mandatory statutory requirements. The court further clarified that the principle of equality under Article 25 of the Constitution cannot eliminate statutory limitation periods or mandatory legal conditions. Similarly, the power to do complete justice cannot be used to create a new legal right that does not exist under the relevant law. The Supreme Court’s 2010 majority ruling had extended the benefit of additional compensation to certain landowners who were not parties to the original proceedings. The National Highway Authority chairman and other authorities subsequently challenged the ruling through review petitions. The Federal Constitutional Court accepted the review petitions filed by the concerned authorities and also allowed related civil appeals. Decisions of the Peshawar and Lahore High Courts concerning additional compensation were consequently set aside, while the original orders of the Land Acquisition Collectors and other competent authorities were restored. However, Justice Syed Arshad Hussain Shah’s additional note clarified that additional compensation already paid in good faith under the earlier judgment cannot be recovered. Recovery would not be permissible where the money was obtained without fraud, misrepresentation or an unlawful method. The ruling could have significant implications for future land acquisition and compensation disputes by emphasizing statutory procedures, legal deadlines and the finality of compensation awards.