CTD Punjab arrests 54 terrorists in 419 intelligence-based operations

The Sindh government has decided to establish a judicial commission to investigate the death of 25-year-old businessman Mir Raza Ali in Karachi. Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar said the decision was taken during a meeting with Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. He said the investigation would now be conducted with the involvement of judges from the Sindh High Court. Speaking about the case, Lanjar said the government wanted to ensure justice for Mir Raza’s family. He expressed sympathy with the family and said authorities were committed to uncovering the facts surrounding the young businessman’s death. The minister also confirmed that the police investigation team had already been changed. Deputy Inspector General Amir Farooqui is heading the new team. According to Lanjar, the family has also been given the option of suggesting police officers who could be included in the investigation team. He said authorities had so far found no evidence indicating the involvement of any high-profile personality. Lanjar said the formation of a judicial commission had become necessary because of questions surrounding the investigation and conflicting findings related to the case. The decision comes after a second post-mortem examination reportedly raised serious questions about the circumstances of Mir Raza’s death. Preliminary findings indicated that he had sustained a gunshot wound from behind, challenging earlier assumptions about the case. The minister also addressed concerns regarding the initial post-mortem examination. He said doctors responsible for the examination should have immediately informed their superiors if they believed there were shortcomings in the report. Meanwhile, a new development has emerged in the investigation. According to forensic sources, there was an alleged attempt to damage or burn Mir Raza’s body with acid. Sources said traces of acid were reportedly found on the shirt worn by the 25-year-old businessman. Investigators are expected to examine the finding as part of the wider forensic inquiry. Mir Raza’s body was discovered in bushes in Karachi’s Gulistan-i-Jauhar area after he went missing. His family has maintained that he was kidnapped, tortured and murdered. The latest developments have intensified questions surrounding the circumstances of his death. The proposed judicial commission is expected to examine the available forensic, medical and investigative evidence and determine what happened to the young businessman.

A bomb disposal officer was injured after an explosion ripped through the malkhana (evidence store) inside the Police Lines in Dera Ismail Khan on Thursday, causing significant damage to the building. According to police officials, the blast occurred inside the evidence store where confiscated explosive materials and other recovered items are kept. The force of the explosion caused part of the building’s roof and a wall to collapse. The officer in charge of the Bomb Disposal Squad sustained injuries in the incident. Rescue teams and fellow police personnel rushed to the scene and shifted him to a nearby hospital, where he received medical treatment. His condition was not immediately disclosed. Police said preliminary investigations indicate that the explosion was triggered by the accidental detonation of hand grenades stored inside the malkhana. However, officials stressed that the exact cause would only be confirmed after a thorough investigation. Following the explosion, police sealed off the affected area and launched a detailed search of the site. Investigators and forensic teams began collecting evidence to determine how the stored explosives detonated. Senior police officials also visited the Police Lines to inspect the damaged building and review the initial findings of the investigation. Authorities said all possible angles are being examined, including the handling, storage and condition of the explosive material kept in the evidence store. Police added that a comprehensive inquiry has been launched to establish the circumstances surrounding the blast and to determine whether any negligence or procedural lapse contributed to the incident.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has rejected claims by the Afghan Taliban that weapons are being smuggled from Pakistan into Afghanistan, calling the allegation baseless and contrary to established facts. In a statement, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said the allegation appeared to be an attempt to divert international attention from the more serious security concerns emerging from Afghan territory. The ministry said Afghanistan already possesses a large quantity of modern weapons and military equipment left behind after the withdrawal of US and allied forces. According to the ministry, the value of the abandoned military equipment has been estimated at around $7.2 billion. Pakistan also pointed to Afghanistan’s large stockpiles of Soviet-era weapons. These weapons, it said, accumulated during decades of conflict in the country and remain another major source of arms available on Afghan soil. The ministry argued that attributing such weapons to Pakistan was misleading. It said the claim could shift attention away from the presence of militant groups operating from Afghanistan. Pakistan has repeatedly raised concerns over militant activity originating from Afghan territory. Islamabad maintains that terrorist groups continue to find shelter and operational space there. The ministry said these groups were allegedly using Afghan territory to plan, support and carry out attacks against Pakistan. It urged the Afghan Taliban authorities to focus on addressing militant safe havens instead of making what Pakistan described as unsupported allegations against Islamabad. “Afghan Taliban” authorities, according to the statement, should take effective measures against terrorist groups operating from their territory. Pakistan also called on Afghan authorities to honour their commitments and ensure that Afghan soil is not used for terrorism against Pakistan or any other country. The latest statement comes amid continued tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan over security and cross-border militancy. Islamabad has repeatedly demanded concrete action against groups that it says are involved in attacks inside Pakistan. Pakistan has also stressed that the issue should be addressed through practical measures rather than accusations. The ministry maintained that Afghanistan’s existing weapons stockpiles and the continued presence of militant groups are important factors in the regional security situation. It said efforts to blame Pakistan for the presence of weapons in Afghanistan should not distract the international community from addressing terrorism and militant activity based in the region.