Fatima Sana heads to England for The Hundred

  Azma accuses PPP of disrespecting elders as Bilawal faces sharp attack. PPP’s Lahore convention plans halted after govt denies approval. Punjab’s ruling PML-N and the Pakistan Peoples Party appeared to be on a collision course on Friday, as a sharp verbal attack by a senior provincial minister coincided with the sudden halting of PPP convention preparations in Lahore, leaving the two parties at odds on multiple fronts. Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari strongly criticised PPP spokespersons, saying they should choose their words carefully and learn to respect their elders. She said it was ironic that people she described as coming from a “blackmailing mandate” were now taunting others.  Bokhari said PPP leaders repeatedly mock a person old enough to be their father by making faces and chanting “Raiwind, Raiwind.” She asked whether PPP leaders did not consider it disrespectful when their own leader ridicules someone of a father’s age. She said PPP leaders had turned Raiwind into a subject of mockery and routinely insult senior figures through their gestures and remarks.The minister warned that if such language continued, it would be met with an appropriate response. She said Bilawal Bhutto was not a figure beyond criticism. She further accused him of repeatedly naming Punjab’s cities in his speeches to spread what she called falsehoods and misleading propaganda, questioning whether his conduct was serious at all. The sharp exchange came on the same day that preparations for a PPP workers’ convention at Greater Iqbal Park were halted. The Lahore district administration said the party had not secured formal written permission for the event, even though a stage and other arrangements were already in place. The convention had been planned for July 25, ahead of celebrations marking President Asif Ali Zardari’s birthday on July 26.  District authorities questioned why preparations had begun without official approval and asked PPP leadership to explain. Lahore PPP President Faisal Mir said the party had moved ahead after receiving verbal assurances from the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office that there was no objection to the event. He said preparations were made in good faith, but officials later stepped in and stopped the work.Mir criticised the administration, saying access to the venue had been restricted and vehicles carrying chairs and other equipment had been blocked from reaching the site. He said the party remained committed to holding the convention peacefully and said he was ready to face arrest if needed.The Chief Minister’s Office did not comment on claims that approval had been given through the chief minister’s principal secretary. PPP leaders shared videos on social media showing workers, the stage and seating arrangements already prepared, signalling the party’s intent to proceed regardless.Party sources admitted that written permission had not been obtained but argued that verbal approval was enough to begin preparations. They said local police had been informed of the gathering in advance.The convention was expected to feature PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari addressing workers through video link, along with senior leaders including Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Hassan Murtaza and Qamar Zaman Kaira. Officials said permission could still be granted if formalities were completed, but noted that approving the event without standard procedure could complicate similar requests from other parties, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, which is seeking permission for a Lahore gathering next month.Taken together, the harsh words from Bokhari and the administrative roadblock facing PPP’s convention point to a provincial government and opposition party growing increasingly hostile toward one another, with neither side showing signs of backing down.

FAISALABAD: Female students delivered an outstanding performance in the annual Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations conducted by the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) Faisalabad, securing the top positions in the overall merit list. According to the results announced by the board, Umna Salahuddin emerged as the overall topper with an impressive 1,191 marks. Ramin Fatima secured the second overall position with 1,190 marks, while Muhammad Raif Abdul Ahad stood third with 1,189 marks. In the Science Group (Boys), Muhammad Raif Abdul Ahad claimed first place by scoring 1,189 marks. Muhammad Ali Kaleem finished second with 1,184 marks, while Moeed Naveed and Muhammad Abdullah shared third position after obtaining 1,183 marks each. The Science Group (Girls) was dominated by Umna Salahuddin, who secured first place with 1,191 marks. Ramin Fatima followed in second place with 1,190 marks. Four students—Zumar Fatima, Rabail Fatima, Khirat Fatima, and Dania Rasool—jointly secured third position with 1,188 marks each. In the General Group (Boys), Muhammad Saim Ali topped the category with 1,089 marks. Muhammad secured second place with 1,082 marks, while Abdul Quddus finished third with 1,066 marks. Among the General Group (Girls), Anshrah claimed first position with 1,133 marks. Rabbia Tariq secured second place with 1,119 marks, while Kinza Ali earned third position with 1,118 marks. The BISE Faisalabad administration announced the names of the position holders during a ceremony held ahead of the detailed result declaration. Education officials congratulated the high achievers and praised the dedication of students, teachers, and parents, expressing confidence that the remarkable results would motivate future candidates to strive for academic excellence.