National

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    Aaliya Hamza allegedly attacked inside Kot Lakhpat…

    ByJustpaste.in

    LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has alleged that party leader Aaliya Hamza was attacked by fellow inmates inside Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail. Aaliya Hamza is currently imprisoned at the facility. PTI leaders claimed that she faced a physical assault following a dispute over access to water in a jail toilet. According to the party, one female inmate and several other prisoners were involved in the incident. PTI representatives alleged that the situation became serious when the inmates allegedly tried to strangle Aaliya. They described the incident as an attempt on her life. The allegations have raised concerns within the party about her safety and security while in custody. PTI leaders Sanam Javed and Falak Javed were also present in the jail, according to the party’s account. They allegedly intervened during the incident and helped protect Aaliya from the other inmates. PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said the party had received disturbing information about the alleged incident. He called on the Punjab government and jail authorities to ensure Aaliya’s safety. Raja also demanded an immediate and transparent investigation into the matter. He said officials found responsible for negligence should face action. He also called for legal proceedings if any jail staff were found to have failed in their duties. Raja said the party would consult Aaliya’s family about further legal steps. He added that a petition could be filed in court seeking a medical examination and additional protection for the jailed leader. However, prison authorities have rejected PTI’s account of a physical assault. Punjab Inspector General Prisons Mian Salik Jalal said there was no physical clash between the prisoners. He said the inmates had only exchanged heated words over fetching water from a toilet. The conflicting accounts have created questions about what exactly happened inside the jail. The PTI has called for a formal inquiry, while prison authorities maintain that no physical confrontation took place. Aaliya was arrested by Punjab police in March. Authorities had alleged that she was evading arrest and organising gatherings involving PTI lawmakers, election candidates and party workers outside Adiala Jail. She was later transferred to Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore. Her arrest took place while she was in Lahore visiting family members during Eidul Fitr. She was initially taken to Shadman Police Station before being moved to jail. The PTI has strongly criticised the cases against Aaliya. Party leaders have repeatedly described her arrest and legal proceedings as politically motivated.

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    Coalitional fallout as violence and electoral fraud claims mar Azad Kashmir elections

    ByJustpaste.in

    A bitter clash between federal coalition partners has erupted over the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections, following the death of a political worker and mutual allegations of voter fraud. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) condemned the killing of 35-year-old party worker Mukhtar Younus during polling in Nikyal, Kotli. Addressing a joint press conference, Sindh Local Governments Minister Saeed Ghani directly blamed the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate and supporters for the shooting, stating, “The way this election campaign was conducted, the result is that bullets are being fired today… Our workers are dying.” Ghani heavily criticised the Election Commission for failing to enforce code of conduct rules and accused the Punjab government of attempting to influence voters by promising public buses during the campaign. He also took aim at PML-N President Nawaz Sharif’s comparative statements regarding Sindh and Kashmir, asserting: “When you say ‘this is Kashmir, not Kashmore’ or ‘this is Mirpur, not Mirpur Khas’, you hurt the people of Sindh… Perhaps that is why people say the PML-N is not a national party but a Punjabi party.” Rejecting the accusations, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari presented video footage alleging that a PML-N candidate discovered bags of pre-stamped ballot papers at the home of a PPP candidate in Kotli. Pointing out the contradiction, Bokhari remarked, “Yesterday they said they would not let rigging happen. Today they are rigging.” Defending her party’s track record, Bokhari argued that public transit is a basic necessity and noted that the promised buses for AJK had not yet begun operating. She maintained that voters in the Mirpur division were turning out despite boycott calls, seeking Punjab-style developmental projects such as electric buses, housing, and youth scholarships. Addressing queries regarding Nawaz Sharif’s interest in the region, Bokhari clarified that the former prime minister does not seek an official title, but simply wishes to offer development guidance to AJK due to his Kashmiri heritage.

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    PML-N secures lead in first phase of Azad Kashmir general elections

    ByJustpaste.in

    The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has emerged as the leading party in the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly general elections, securing seven seats across 13 constituencies in the Mirpur Division. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) finished as the runner-up with three seats, while counting remains underway for the remaining constituencies, including LA-6 Bhimber, LA-10 Kotli, and LA-12. In the declared unofficial results for the Mirpur district constituencies, PPP candidate Qasim Majeed won LA-2 Mirpur-II with 12,904 votes, defeating PML-N’s Azeem Bakhsh Chaudhry, who received 8,182 votes. PPP also claimed LA-3 Mirpur-III, where Chaudhry Yasir Sultan secured 11,676 votes against PML-N’s Chaudhry Muhammad Saeed with 9,832 votes. However, PML-N captured LA-1 Mirpur-I, with Azhar Sadiq securing 15,427 votes over PPP’s Muhammad Afsar Shahid with 9,832 votes, as well as LA-4 Mirpur-IV, where Rukhsar Ahmed won with 20,172 votes over PPP’s Chaudhry Sohaib Arshad with 13,865 votes. In the Bhimber district, PML-N’s Waqar Ahmed Noor narrowly won LA-5 Bhimber-I with 29,875 votes against PPP’s Chaudhry Pervez Ashraf, who polled 29,143 votes. PML-N candidate Chaudhry Tariq Farooq secured LA-7 Bhimber-III with 35,490 votes, defeating independent candidate Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, who received 25,100 votes. Across the Kotli district, PPP’s Zafar Iqbal Malik took LA-8 Kotli-I with 19,535 votes over PML-N’s Malik Muhammad Nawaz Khan with 11,966 votes. PML-N secured the remaining declared Kotli seats, with Umair Niazi winning LA-9 Kotli-II with 31,080 votes against PPP’s Javed Iqbal Budhanvi with 28,509 votes; Muhammad Asif taking LA-11 Kotli-IV with 26,190 votes over PPP’s Chaudhry Muhammad Akhlaq with 21,751 votes and Raja Ayaz Ahmed Khan winning LA-13 Kotli-VI with 21,856 votes, defeating Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party candidate Nisar Ansar Abdali, who received 15,859 votes. Polling throughout the division was reported as largely peaceful, with high voter turnout despite minor isolated disruptions.

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    Two presiding officers arrested in Kotli over rigging claims as Rana Sanaullah demands election halt

    ByJustpaste.in

    The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Election Commission has suspended and arrested two presiding officers in Kotli after they were caught transporting polling materials to a private residence instead of their assigned polling station. According to an election commission spokesperson, a returning officer intercepted the officers, seized the two polling bags, and appointed replacement presiding officers to ensure the voting process could continue at the station. The commission confirmed that formal legal proceedings are underway against the arrested officials, emphasising that negligence or irregularities will not be tolerated and that strict measures remain in place to guarantee transparent elections. Following the incident, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Rana Sanaullah demanded the immediate suspension of voting in the Kotli LA-10 constituency. Sanaullah urged the Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir and the Chief Election Commissioner to launch an inquiry into the accused officials, named as Saqlain and Qaiser Patwari. Calling for polls in LA-10 to be halted until the investigation concludes, Sanaullah insisted on determining where the polling bags were being taken, noting that AJK Peoples Party President Chaudhry Yasin is contesting the constituency.

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    MQM-P announces public rallies for protest movement and new province demand

    ByJustpaste.in

    The Muttahida Qaumi Movement–Pakistan (MQM-P) has unveiled a schedule of public rallies across Karachi and Hyderabad as part of the next phase of its protest movement, primarily focused on pressing its demands, including the creation of a new province. The decision was formalised during a meeting at the party’s Bahadurabad centre, attended by senior leadership including Anis Qaimkhani and central committee member Furqan Ateeb. Under the newly announced schedule, the party will kick off its public demonstrations in Surjani Town on August 9, followed by a second gathering in Orangi Town on August 23. The movement will then expand to Hyderabad on September 11, before concluding this phase of demonstrations with a rally in PIB Town on September 27. In addition to the protest lineup, the party leadership resolved to hold large-scale Independence Day celebrations. Festivities are scheduled to run from August 1 through August 14 across all towns, union councils, educational institutions, colleges, and universities.

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    Lahore High Court rules abused women retain dower rights following divorce

    ByJustpaste.in

    The Lahore High Court has ruled that a woman who seeks a divorce on the grounds of her husband’s cruelty, abuse, or marital misconduct is not automatically deprived of her right to receive her unpaid dower, known as haq mehr. Delivering the judgment, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani dismissed a petition filed by a man challenging lower court decisions in Toba Tek Singh that awarded 50 percent of a deferred dower to his former wife, Nisha Shahid. The petitioner argued that under family law provisions, the court lacked a legal basis to grant dower following a khula dissolution. However, the High Court drew a clear distinction between a standard khula, where a woman seeks separation solely due to personal incompatibility, and a judicial dissolution triggered by a husband’s mistreatment. The court clarified that abuse encompasses physical violence as well as psychological, emotional, verbal, and economic misconduct, noting that a wife is not required to present formal medical reports or police filings to establish her claim. The ruling directed Family Courts to assess the underlying causes of a marital breakdown rather than stripping a woman of her dower rights purely because the separation is categorized as a khula. Additionally, the Lahore High Court recommended that the Punjab government and the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan update relevant family laws to ensure clear determinations of fault in dower disputes.

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    Two suspects killed, policeman martyred in Orangi …

    ByJustpaste.in

    KARACHI: Two suspected robbers were killed and a police officer was martyred during an exchange of fire in Orangi Town’s Saadhe 11 area of Karachi, police said. According to police officials, personnel from the Shaheen Force spotted two suspicious men riding a motorcycle and attempted to stop them for questioning. The suspects allegedly opened fire on the officers and tried to flee the scene. The police team responded to the gunfire, triggering an exchange of fire between the two sides. Both suspects sustained critical injuries and died at the scene, police said. A police officer also suffered serious gunshot wounds during the encounter. His colleagues rushed him to a nearby hospital for medical treatment, but doctors could not save him, and he later succumbed to his injuries. Police said they are investigating the incident and working to identify the two deceased suspects. Further details about the identities of the suspects and the martyred officer were not immediately available.

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    President, PM reaffirm commitment to end hepatitis

    ByJustpaste.in

    President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to eliminating hepatitis, saying the country will continue its efforts to tackle the disease despite limited resources. In their messages on World Hepatitis Day, both leaders stressed the need for sustained action, public awareness and collective efforts to control the spread of hepatitis and protect people from its serious health consequences. President Asif Ali Zardari said Pakistan remains among the countries most affected by hepatitis C, making it essential for the government, healthcare institutions and the public to work together to address the challenge. He emphasized that greater awareness, preventive measures and timely diagnosis can play a key role in reducing the burden of the disease. The president called for a strong and coordinated national response to hepatitis and said Pakistan must maintain its efforts to achieve its targets. He also highlighted the importance of preventing hepatitis C from becoming a major public health threat and reaffirmed the goal of controlling the disease by 2030. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also reiterated the government’s commitment to eliminating hepatitis from the country. He said the government launched a national programme for the elimination of hepatitis C in 2025, under which millions of citizens are receiving free screening and treatment. The prime minister said the government will continue expanding efforts to identify patients at an early stage and provide them with access to necessary medical care. He stressed that the federal and provincial governments, along with the private sector, must join hands to achieve the national objective. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed confidence that through coordinated efforts, improved healthcare services, public awareness and wider access to screening and treatment, Pakistan can achieve its target of eliminating hepatitis C by 2030.

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    PML-N clinches nine of 13 AJK seats

    ByJustpaste.in

    The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has secured a major victory in the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections, winning nine of the 13 seats in the Mirpur division, according to preliminary results. The first phase of polling was held across the Mirpur division on Monday. The election was closely contested, particularly between the PML-N and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). However, the PML-N managed to establish a clear lead by winning most of the constituencies. Preliminary election results showed that the PML-N secured nine seats, while the PPP won four constituencies. The PML-N candidates emerged victorious in Dadyal, Khari Sharif, Barnala, Samahni, Bhimber, Nakyal, Sehnsa, Charhoi and Khuiratta. The party’s performance gave it a strong position in the division following an intense election campaign. The PPP, meanwhile, managed to win four constituencies. Its successful candidates secured the key Mirpur seat, two seats in Kotli and another constituency in Chakswari. Several constituencies witnessed closely fought contests. In LA-1 (Mirpur-I), PML-N candidate Azhar Sadiq secured victory after receiving 15,427 votes. His rival, Muhammad Afzal Shahid, received 9,832 votes. Another tight contest was witnessed in LA-5 (Mirpur-I), where PML-N’s Waqar Ahmed Noor defeated PPP candidate Chaudhry Pervaiz Ashraf. Noor secured 29,821 votes, while Ashraf received 29,100 votes. The PML-N candidate won the seat by a narrow margin of 721 votes. In LA-7 (Bhimber-III), PML-N candidate Tariq Farooq secured a more convincing victory. He received 37,613 votes, while former AJK prime minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq finished second with 25,534 votes. The polling process was not without controversy. Reports of clashes and disturbances emerged from different areas during voting. Both the PML-N and PPP also exchanged allegations of electoral irregularities during the campaign and polling process. The AJK elections are being conducted in three phases due to security considerations. With the first phase now completed in the Mirpur division, attention has shifted towards the remaining constituencies. The second phase is scheduled for August 2. It will cover nine constituencies of the Muzaffarabad division as well as the 12 refugee constituencies. The third and final phase will take place on August 10. Polling will be held in 11 constituencies of the Poonch division.

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    Punjab approves martyrs’ package for 14 fallen p…

    ByJustpaste.in

    Lahore: The Punjab government has approved comprehensive martyr compensation packages for the families of 14 police personnel who lost their lives while performing their duties, reaffirming its commitment to supporting the families of fallen law enforcement officials. The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Punjab Minister for Law Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan at the Home Department. The meeting was attended by Home Secretary Dr Ahmed Javed Qazi, Additional Inspector General Imran Arshad, Additional Secretary (Police) Kanwar Anwar Ali Khan, DIG Welfare Mehboob Rashid and other senior officials. The minister directed the relevant authorities to ensure that all financial dues, housing benefits and other entitlements are provided to the families of the martyrs without delay. Approval was granted under three different martyr packages based on the circumstances of service and sacrifice. Package-1 was sanctioned for police personnel martyred in encounters with terrorists in Bhakkar and Layyah, including Constables Muhammad Shehbaz, Muhammad Faheem and Muhammad Asad Naseer. Under this package, the families of martyred constables will receive Rs10 million, a five-marla house and other benefits. Package-2 was approved for police officials who embraced martyrdom during duty in Bahawalnagar, Sargodha, Rajanpur, Faisalabad and Gujrat. The beneficiaries include Sub-Inspectors Shahid Parvez and Amir Rizwan, Constables Muhammad Nasir and Mirza Umar Aftab Baig, and Driver Constable Iftikhar Ahmed. Under this package, the families of martyred constables will receive Rs4 million, a five-marla house and additional benefits, while the families of martyred Assistant Sub-Inspectors will receive Rs5 million, a seven-marla house and other incentives. Package-3 was approved for police personnel martyred while on duty in Bahawalnagar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rahim Yar Khan and Sahiwal. The approved beneficiaries include Sub-Inspector Muhammad Zaman Zia, Assistant Sub-Inspector Muhammad Bashir, Constables Muhammad Bismillah, Muhammad Ramzan, Tahir-ul-Zaman Siddiqui and Muhammad Waris. Under this package, the families of martyred constables will receive Rs3.5 million and other benefits, while the families of martyred Assistant Sub-Inspectors and Sub-Inspectors will receive Rs4 million along with additional concessions. Addressing the meeting, Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan said the welfare and protection of the families of martyrs remains one of the Punjab government’s highest priorities. He pledged that no martyr’s family would be deprived of its rightful benefits, describing the fallen officers as the pride of the nation and the country’s true heroes who laid down their lives in the line of duty. The minister also vowed that terrorists responsible for killing police personnel would be brought to justice in accordance with the law. The meeting concluded with prayers for the elevation of the ranks of the martyrs.