Four Thai Soldiers Killed, Three Wounded in Battle for Strategic Hill

Lahore Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Abdul Rahim Shirazi has issued a strict warning to traffic wardens against corruption and misuse of authority. Shirazi said no traffic official would be allowed to demand money from citizens or become involved in illegal activities. He warned that anyone found guilty would face strict legal action. The CTO said some traffic officials had been involved in taking money from members of the public. He added that officials accused of such practices were being arrested. Shirazi issued a particularly strong warning against extortion. He said if any traffic official demanded extortion from a citizen, he would ensure that a terrorism case was registered against the official. The traffic chief said he was deeply concerned over cases in which traffic personnel had faced extortion charges. He described such incidents as a source of embarrassment for the traffic department. He stressed that traffic wardens were responsible for enforcing traffic laws and facilitating citizens. They must not misuse their positions for personal gain. The CTO directed traffic personnel to perform their duties honestly and professionally. He made it clear that corruption, harassment and illegal demands would not be tolerated. He also warned officials that strict action would be taken against anyone found exploiting their authority. The department would continue monitoring the conduct of traffic personnel, he said. The warning comes as Lahore traffic authorities seek to improve public confidence in traffic enforcement. Officials are also under pressure to ensure that citizens are treated fairly during routine traffic checks and enforcement operations. Shirazi said the traffic department must maintain discipline and transparency. He stressed that officials involved in wrongdoing would be held accountable under the law.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has announced record recoveries worth Rs5.414 trillion during the first six months of 2026, describing it as the highest six-month recovery in the institution’s history. According to an official statement, the bureau recovered Rs2.452 trillion during the second quarter alone, significantly increasing the overall recovery figure for the first half of the year. Among regional offices, NAB Sukkur recorded the highest overall recoveries. Meanwhile, NAB Balochistan reclaimed 209,544 acres of forest and state land valued at Rs604.64 billion, including areas linked to Hingol National Park and land belonging to the Gwadar Industrial Estate Development Authority (GIEDA). In Karachi, the anti-corruption watchdog recovered 11,422 acres of illegally allotted government land and disputed housing society leases worth Rs467.11 billion. The Lahore bureau reclaimed 1,909 acres of state and PCBL land valued at Rs288.29 billion, while the Islamabad/Rawalpindi office recovered 810 acres of CDA amenity plots in various housing societies, with an estimated value of Rs66.63 billion. NAB also reported progress in housing and financial fraud cases. The bureau said more than 24,365 victims received compensation through the return of recovered money and assets worth Rs42.303 billion. The accountability body said the recoveries reflect its continued efforts to retrieve public assets, restore illegally occupied state land, and provide financial relief to citizens affected by fraud and corruption

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has rejected a proposed deduction of Rs6.4 billion from the province’s federal financial transfers. Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said the federal government had sought an additional amount from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa before the provincial budget. The provincial government had linked the release of the additional funds to a meeting with PTI founder Imran Khan and his approval. Afridi said the KP government neither approved nor agreed to the proposed deduction of Rs6.4 billion. He said the additional federal grant had also not been included in the provincial budget for the 2026-27 financial year. The chief minister said the matter was not merely a political dispute but concerned the province’s constitutional and financial rights. He maintained that Article 164 of the Constitution does not give the federal government the authority to unilaterally deduct money payable to a province. According to Afridi, any such deduction requires a clear constitutional or legal basis as well as the consent of the provincial government. He said the Finance Department had clearly conveyed its disagreement with the proposed deduction in a letter issued on August 13. Written instructions were also issued that no deduction should be made without the province’s consent. Afridi said Finance Adviser Muzammil Aslam immediately met the relevant officials of the Accountant General KP. The Accountant General of Pakistan Revenues was also directed not to record or implement any transaction without the clear consent of the provincial government. The chief minister said the provincial government had decided to prepare a summary and ordinance under the 7th National Finance Commission (NFC) after the province did not receive its share for six months. He said the provincial government did not sign the memorandum of understanding concerning the additional amount because a meeting with the PTI founder was not arranged. Afridi said the KP government had already approached the Federal Constitutional Court to seek its constitutional rights under the National Finance Commission. He made it clear that the provincial government would not compromise on its NFC rights. The chief minister further said the federal government had no authority to unilaterally deduct money on the basis of an unapproved memorandum of understanding. He vowed that the provincial government would use every legal and constitutional avenue to protect its rights and defend every rupee of its financial share. Afridi also said that if the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) achieved its Rs15.26 trillion tax collection target, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s share would amount to approximately Rs175 billion. He added that providing the merged districts with their rightful share under the 11th NFC was also one of the provincial government’s conditions.

KARACHI: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has summoned four Karachi residents for questioning over alleged defamatory content posted on social media against Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon and his son. The inquiry was launched following a complaint submitted on behalf of Memon. The complaint relates to social media posts concerning the death of Karachi resident Mir Raza Ali. According to the notices issued by the agency, the respondents have been asked to appear at the NCCIA office in Karachi on August 13 at 11:30am. They have also been directed to bring their original identity cards and any documents or material they intend to use in their defence. The four individuals have also been asked to provide relevant digital devices and record their statements before the investigators. The agency warned that failure to appear could lead to further legal action. The development follows a complaint filed by Memon through his legal representatives. He had approached the cybercrime agency over what he described as false and malicious material being circulated online about him and his son. Memon has denied claims linking him to a guest house in Gulistan-i-Jauhar where Mir Raza Ali was allegedly subjected to violence. He also rejected allegations that his son travelled to London shortly after the incident and was later seen with security personnel. The senior minister said the allegations were not supported by facts or evidence. He alleged that the campaign was aimed at damaging his and his son’s reputation for political reasons. His legal counsel has requested that the agency identify those responsible and take action under applicable cybercrime laws. The complaint also seeks registration of a criminal case if sufficient evidence is found. The Mir Raza case has attracted significant public attention. Ali, who had studied at the Institute of Business Administration and owned a food business, was reported missing on July 28. His body was discovered the following day in bushes near Shahi Qila Ground in Gulistan-i-Jauhar. The investigation initially considered the possibility of suicide. However, Ali’s family consistently rejected that theory. They maintained that he had been kidnapped, assaulted and murdered. A second post-mortem examination later raised further questions about the circumstances of his death. The examination indicated that Ali had suffered a gunshot wound to the back, which challenged the earlier theory of suicide. The family’s lawyer, Jibran Nasir, called for changes to the investigation team. He also accused authorities of failing to properly pursue key aspects of the case. A new investigation team was assigned to the case on Sunday. Police also added a murder charge to the first information report.

The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has identified 741 dilapidated and dangerous buildings across the province. The disclosure was made during a meeting of the Sindh Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in Karachi. The meeting was chaired by PAC Chairman Nisar Khuhro. According to an official statement, the SBCA briefed the committee about the condition of buildings across Sindh. The authority said a large number of unsafe structures were located in Karachi. Of the 741 dangerous buildings identified across the province, 588 are situated in Karachi. The figure includes 444 buildings classified as heritage structures. The SBCA also informed the committee about steps taken to deal with buildings that pose risks to residents and the public. According to the authority, approval has been granted to evacuate 59 dilapidated buildings. Permission has also been given to demolish 39 structures considered dangerous. The issue of heritage buildings also came under discussion during the meeting. The Public Accounts Committee decided to summon the Heritage Committee at its next session. It also sought a detailed report on buildings constructed illegally around the Mazar-i-Quaid. The committee expressed concern over unauthorised construction in important areas of Karachi. It directed the relevant authorities to provide complete details of such structures. The meeting also discussed illegal housing schemes operating in Karachi. The committee was informed about 58 unauthorised housing schemes in the city. The PAC directed authorities to take steps to prevent people from investing in these illegal schemes. It also ordered action against individuals and groups involved in operating them. The committee further directed officials to identify and disclose the names of people involved in the illegal housing projects. The latest disclosure has raised concerns over the safety of residents living in old and structurally weak buildings across Sindh. The authorities are now expected to take further measures to identify unsafe structures, evacuate residents where necessary and remove buildings that pose an immediate threat. The issue is particularly significant in Karachi, where hundreds of old and heritage buildings are located in densely populated areas.