Gattuso’s Lazio reign begins with Italian Cup shock

Traffic was disrupted across several major parts of Karachi on Friday as Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) workers staged sit-ins against the federal petroleum levy. The protests were part of a nationwide campaign announced by the party. JI had said it would hold demonstrations at hundreds of locations across the country by blocking major roads. Karachi traffic police issued an advisory warning motorists about congestion, temporary diversions and partial road closures in several areas. Major routes affected included areas around Mazar-i-Quaid, Numaish Chowrangi, Saddar, Sharea Faisal, Shahrah-i-Pakistan, UP Mor, Power House Chowrangi, Defence Housing Authority, Sea View, Shahrah-i-Orangi, Hub River Road, Super Highway and National Highway. The traffic police advised citizens to avoid the protest-hit areas where possible and use alternative routes. Commuters were also asked to allow additional time for their journeys. According to updates shared by JI Karachi, protesters blocked the road connecting Sharea Faisal with Natha Khan. The Super Highway and Hub River Road were also affected. Another road connecting the Sharea Faisal Nursery Bus Stop with the airport was reportedly blocked as protesters gathered at the designated locations. The demonstrations prompted criticism from the Sindh government. Provincial government spokesperson Sadia Javed said the petroleum levy was a federal issue and questioned why Karachi’s residents were facing difficulties because of the protest. She accused the JI of using the demonstrations for political gains instead of addressing public issues through relevant constitutional forums. Javed said road blockades were affecting the daily lives of millions of Karachi residents and raised concerns about the movement of ambulances and patients during the disruptions. She urged the party to raise its objections in Parliament and other relevant forums rather than blocking roads. The government spokesperson also warned protesters against damaging public property or taking the law into their own hands. The demonstrations were not limited to Karachi. JI workers also gathered in Lahore, Islamabad, Quetta and Peshawar as part of the nationwide campaign. In Islamabad, protesters reportedly blocked Srinagar Highway near Golra Mor while attempting to march towards Chungi 26. Several locations across Sindh also witnessed demonstrations, including Thatta, Matiari, Tando Allahyar and Shikarpur.

KHANEWAL: The sudden death of a 25-year-old newlywed woman in Khanewal has taken a disturbing turn after police arrested her father and two relatives over allegations that she was strangled days after marrying a man of her choice. The woman, identified as Iqra, died in Mehr Shah, an area falling within the jurisdiction of Sadar Khanewal Police Station. Police said her family initially attempted to present the death as an electrocution incident. According to the police and the FIR, Iqra had married Sohail three days before her death despite opposition from her family. Her husband alleged that her father, angered by the marriage, brought her back from her in-laws’ home on the pretext of formally sending her off from her parental house. Investigators allege that after bringing her home, Iqra was strangled with the assistance of her uncle and brother. Police are also examining claims that the family later staged the scene to make the death appear accidental. The case has now triggered a formal murder investigation, with authorities focusing on the circumstances surrounding the young woman’s death. Police arrested Iqra’s father, Falak Sher, and registered a case. Her body was shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital in Khanewal for a post-mortem examination, which is expected to help establish the exact cause of death. Sadar police SHO Ramzan Gul said Falak Sher was in custody and that investigators were waiting for the post-mortem report before drawing final conclusions. The officer said preliminary findings suggested that Iqra’s father could be the main suspect, while investigators were questioning other family members and examining the alleged strangulation and reported attempt to disguise the circumstances of her death. Police said the investigation would proceed further once the medical findings are received. Until then, the allegations remain under investigation, while authorities continue to determine what happened to Iqra after she returned to her family home.

The Punjab government has taken a major step towards holding long-delayed local government elections, approving Rs12.52 billion for the polls that could finally restore elected local councils across the province after an 11-year gap. The decision was taken during the 36th meeting of the Punjab Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. The allocation signals that the provincial government is preparing for a fresh local election process after years of political, legal and administrative delays. Punjab last held local government elections in 2015, during the tenure of former chief minister Shehbaz Sharif. Polling was conducted in phases between October and December that year, while elected councils formally assumed office in 2017 following indirect elections for mayors and chairpersons. However, the local government system subsequently faced repeated disruptions. The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government dissolved the elected local bodies in April 2019 before their scheduled completion. Although the Supreme Court later ordered their restoration, the councils eventually completed their term on December 31, 2021. Under Article 140A of the Constitution and the Elections Act, local government elections are required within 120 days after the expiry of local councils. This meant Punjab’s next elections were due in April 2022. Yet successive governments repeatedly changed local government laws, forcing the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to restart key preparations. Polls Could Be Held by November The latest development has raised hopes that Punjab may finally see local elections later this year. PILDAT President Ahmad Bilal Mehboob welcomed the cabinet’s decision to allocate funds, describing it as a positive indication that the electoral process could move forward. He said the ECP had completed the demarcation and delimitation process and dealt with objections, making it possible for the commission to announce an election schedule after August 17. According to Mehboob, if there is no “unseen factor”, local government elections could be held in Punjab by November 2026. The move could also have wider political implications. Asked whether the PML-N government’s decision might ease pressure surrounding demands for the creation of new provinces, Mehboob said provincial restructuring remained a complex issue. However, he noted that holding local elections could, to some extent, reduce the pressure for new provinces by strengthening grassroots representation. For millions of Punjab residents, the key question now is whether the latest budget allocation will finally translate into polling stations, elected councils and a functioning local government system after years of waiting.