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Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah has rejected Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s claim about the death of a party worker during the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections. Rana Sanaullah said Bilawal Bhutto had not received complete information about the incident. He said the PPP worker was killed during an exchange of fire between two groups. He also clarified that the PML-N candidate was not present at the scene when the firing took place. The incident occurred in the Nikyal area of Kotli during the first phase of the AJK Legislative Assembly elections. Rana Sanaullah said tensions had already existed between the two sides in the area. He said the dispute was not limited to election day. He recalled an earlier incident involving a PML-N election rally. According to him, the rally had come under fire. One PML-N worker was killed in that incident, while four others were injured. Rana Sanaullah said another firing incident during polling resulted in one death and injuries to several people. He described the incidents as isolated. He said no major incident had been reported across AJK apart from the Nikyal incident. The PML-N leader also praised the overall election arrangements. He said authorities had made satisfactory preparations to facilitate polling and maintain security. The comments came after Bilawal Bhutto expressed concern over the death of a PPP worker in Nikyal. Bilawal had questioned the authorities over the incident. He also asked where the relevant officials were and demanded action over the death of his party worker. The incident added to political tensions during the first phase of the AJK elections. Political parties had already raised concerns about alleged disruptions and security issues at some polling stations. Meanwhile, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari said the people of AJK had rejected calls for unrest. She said voters had chosen the democratic process instead. According to Bukhari, polling was taking place despite attempts to create disorder. Bukhari also highlighted the performance of the Punjab government. She said the provincial government’s development work was being discussed among voters in AJK. She referred to the government’s response to heavy monsoon rains in Punjab. Bukhari said Lahore received several hours of continuous rainfall. She claimed that underpasses were cleared within a few hours. She also said government officials and administrative teams remained present in the field during the rain. The minister said monsoon rains had also caused rising water levels in Punjab’s rivers. She said authorities were monitoring the situation continuously. According to Bukhari, a central digital control room has been established for round-the-clock monitoring. She said the system was being used to track the situation and coordinate the government’s response. Bukhari also spoke about the Punjab Beautification Programme. She said plans were being made to shift hanging utility wires underground. The programme is aimed at improving the appearance and infrastructure of urban areas, according to the minister. The political statements came as vote counting began after polling ended in the first phase of the AJK elections. The first phase covered 13 constituencies in Mirpur Division. The constituencies are spread across Mirpur, Kotli and Bhimber. Election authorities have said that security arrangements were put in place to protect voters and election staff.

Karachi Police Chief Azad Khan has claimed that incidents of robbery and murder have declined across the city, saying the rate of vehicle and motorcycle snatching has fallen by 25%. Speaking during a visit to the Site Association of Industry office, Azad Khan said the latest results were encouraging. However, he added that the police wanted to achieve further improvements in the city’s security situation. The Karachi police chief said authorities were also taking cases of extortion seriously. He said he was personally monitoring such cases and assured the business community that no leniency would be shown towards extortionists and their associates. Azad Khan said many extortionists were still operating from outside the city. He claimed that police had information about them and their networks. He said their associates were allegedly intimidating citizens and businesspeople. Police would take action against anyone found involved in threatening or extorting residents, he added. The police chief stressed that peace in Karachi had been restored after considerable efforts. He said maintaining the city’s security was now a major responsibility. Azad Khan also linked security with Karachi’s economic stability. He said the city’s economic security was extremely important because a weak economy could lead to higher unemployment and crime. He said Karachi’s business community had an important role in the city’s economy. Ensuring a secure environment for businesses was therefore necessary for continued economic activity and investment. The Karachi police chief also spoke about his personal connection with the city. He said he had grown up in Karachi and felt that the city had a debt that needed to be repaid through public service. He acknowledged that the Sindh Police faced several challenges. However, he said efforts were continuing to improve law and order and provide better services to residents. Azad Khan also highlighted the increasing use of technology in policing. He said authorities had not waited for the completion of the Safe City project to introduce the e-challan system. The police would continue moving forward with technology rather than returning to traditional methods. He said the department was also exploring the use of artificial intelligence-based traffic signals. However, such systems required significant investment. The police chief said the authorities were making every effort to provide better public services. He also announced that a major plan was being prepared to tackle encroachments across Karachi. He said the removal of illegal encroachments would be addressed through a broader strategy. The police leadership’s comments come as Karachi continues to face challenges related to street crime, traffic management, extortion and urban development.

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad has granted police another seven days of physical remand of Saad Abbasi, who is accused of killing Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Group Captain Asim Tariq. Abbasi was produced before the court on Monday after completing his initial seven-day physical remand. ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain heard the case. The prosecution requested an additional 15 days of physical remand to continue the investigation. Prosecutor Raja Naveed Hussain Kayani told the court that police had recovered the pistol allegedly used in the killing. He said the suspect had allegedly concealed the weapon after the incident. The prosecution also informed the court that investigators had yet to recover the suspect’s mobile phone. Police said the phone could provide further information relevant to the investigation. After hearing arguments from the prosecution, the court reserved its decision on the remand request. The court later approved seven more days of physical remand. Abbasi was handed back to police custody for further investigation. The court directed police to produce the suspect before it again after the completion of the additional remand period. The case relates to the death of Group Captain Asim Tariq in Islamabad on July 5. According to the investigation, the PAF officer intervened when the suspect allegedly attempted to forcibly take a woman away. The situation reportedly escalated after Tariq intervened. The suspect allegedly opened fire, and the officer was struck by a bullet. Tariq succumbed to his injuries and was later declared a martyr. Islamabad police arrested Abbasi within nine hours of the incident. Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Police are also working to recover the suspect’s mobile phone and gather additional evidence.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Monday inaugurated the National Press Club’s (NPC) new website and announced the establishment of a modern digital lab at the club within the next two months to enhance journalists’ digital skills. Addressing the launch ceremony, Tarar said digital transformation had become essential for media institutions and stressed the need for journalists to equip themselves with emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), digital media and modern reporting techniques. He said the government was committed to addressing journalists’ welfare issues, including job security, timely payment of salaries, housing, restoration of health cards and other welfare initiatives. He also announced efforts to partner with an academic institution to provide professional digital skills training for media professionals. The minister said the government was aware of the financial challenges facing the media industry and emphasized the need for a comprehensive policy to protect journalists’ jobs and livelihoods. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to media freedom and pledged continued support for strengthening the country’s print and electronic media. NPC President Abdul Razzaq Sial welcomed the minister and urged the government to resolve longstanding issues faced by journalists, including housing quotas, health cards, special grants and pending dues. NPC Secretary Dr. Furqan Rao said the newly launched website would digitalize members’ records, improve transparency and enable journalists to update their professional profiles online. During the ceremony, the National Press Club awarded Tarar honorary membership and the minister distributed certificates among participants who completed a month-long digital training programme organized by the club.

Governor of Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider Khan has said that those who had been supporting the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government in implementing its policies and defending its decisions had reached the limits of their endurance. Speaking to a delegation of the Pakistan English Media Association (PEMA) at the Governor’s House on Monday, he said the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had now assumed the role of an opposition party and would continue to function as a genuine opposition until the next general elections, scheduled for 2029. PEMA Chairman Zulqernain Tahir and President Rameez Khan led the delegation, which also included Secretary General Ali Raza and members Mubashir Bokhari, Babar Dogar, Shahar Bano, Mubashar Hassan, Faisal Ali Ghumman and Samiullah Randhwa. He made it clear that the PPP would not return to the present coalition arrangement following the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections and would instead play the role of an effective opposition, particularly in Punjab. Mr Khan said the PPP had never favoured coalition governments as a means of running the country, even during the previous parliamentary term. Although the party was widely regarded as an ally of the PML-N-led government, he said it was, in practice, steadily moving into opposition. He maintained that those backing the present government appeared increasingly powerless in the face of poor governance and allegations of corruption. Responding to a question, the PPP leader said internal differences within the party had been resolved to enable it to function as a more effective opposition. Mr Khan also dismissed speculation over a power-sharing arrangement at the federal level, saying there was no written agreement under which Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would serve for two and a half years before handing over office to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for the remainder of the term. He said there could be no disagreement that the people of Pakistan were grappling with rising unemployment and persistent inflation. The PPP, he added, would continue to raise these issues publicly to mobilise support while also exerting political pressure on the PML-N government to improve its performance and deliver meaningful relief to the public.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has told the Federal Constitutional Court that no “PTI founder release force” was ever established, describing the initiative instead as a peaceful movement for the release of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan. Afridi submitted an eight-page response in the case through the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa advocate general. The response was filed after the Federal Constitutional Court sought his position on a petition challenging the alleged formation of the so-called release force. In his response, the chief minister said the actual initiative was the Release Peace Movement, which he described as peaceful, unarmed and voluntary. He maintained that the movement had no armed structure or military component. Afridi further argued that the constitutional petition was politically motivated and based on misrepresentation of facts. He said the petition was premature, hypothetical and therefore not maintainable. According to the chief minister, the petitioner had also failed to establish any violation of fundamental rights. Afridi said the Release Peace Movement was protected under Articles 16, 17 and 19 of the Constitution. These provisions relate to freedom of assembly, freedom of association and freedom of speech and expression. He also argued that Article 256 of the Constitution, which concerns private military organisations, had no relevance to the movement. The KP chief minister maintained that the Private Military Organisations Act, 1973 was also not applicable to the Release Peace Movement. He rejected allegations that the initiative posed a threat to public order. He described such claims as baseless and said comparisons between the movement and armed organisations of the past were misleading. Afridi asked the court to dismiss the constitutional petition at the preliminary stage. He also requested the court to declare the Release Peace Movement constitutional and lawful. The case comes amid political controversy over claims that the KP government or PTI supporters were preparing an organisation to campaign for Imran Khan’s release. Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had previously criticised the KP government over the issue, alleging that it could establish a release force for the PTI founder while remaining silent against militants. The Federal Constitutional Court has scheduled the next hearing of the petition for July 29.