Gold price in Pakistan hits record high after anot…

An Islamabad District and Sessions Court has ruled in favour of Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal in a long-running defamation case against PTI leader Murad Saeed. The court ordered Murad Saeed to pay Rs2.5 million in damages for making allegations that were not proven during the proceedings. Additional Sessions Judge Hakim Khan announced the verdict after hearing the case. The court held that Murad Saeed’s statements had damaged Ahsan Iqbal’s reputation and public image. It directed the PTI leader to compensate the federal minister with Rs2.5 million. According to the judgment, Murad Saeed accused Ahsan Iqbal of being involved in corruption worth Rs70 billion. However, the court found that he failed to provide any evidence to support the allegations. The court ruled that the accusations of corruption, misuse of authority, and receiving illegal commissions were defamatory because they remained unsubstantiated. The judgment stated that Ahsan Iqbal had initially sought Rs10 billion in damages for the alleged harm caused to his reputation. However, the court observed that the amount claimed was excessive in view of the evidence presented during the trial. It therefore awarded Rs2.5 million as reasonable compensation. The court further observed that Murad Saeed’s controversial statements had harmed Ahsan Iqbal’s reputation, dignity, and credibility. It said the allegations created a negative impression of the minister among the public and directly targeted his honesty, integrity, and professional standing. The judgment also noted that Murad Saeed neither appeared before the court during the proceedings nor submitted evidence to substantiate the corruption claims. The absence of supporting material, the court said, weakened his defence and left the allegations unproven. The case originated from statements made by Murad Saeed in 2019 regarding the Multan-Sukkur Motorway project. At the time, he alleged that Ahsan Iqbal had committed corruption in connection with the project. After reviewing the evidence and hearing the arguments, the court concluded that the accusations were not established and therefore amounted to defamation. The verdict marks the conclusion of the defamation proceedings, with the court reaffirming that public allegations of corruption must be backed by credible evidence.

The Supreme Court has ordered authorities to submit the complete medical record of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan and provide detailed information about his meetings with his sisters over the past three years. A three-member bench led by Justice Shahid Waheed heard petitions concerning Imran’s access to his family, personal doctors and medical records. During the hearing, the court was informed that Imran’s sisters had met him 48 times during the last three years. The judges sought the complete record of these meetings. The court also asked authorities to provide details of telephone calls between Imran and his children. Justice Shahid Waheed questioned why Islamabad High Court orders concerning meetings with Imran had not been implemented. The court summoned why  officials from Adiala Jail and directed them to explain the situation at the next hearing. The court was particularly concerned about Imran’s medical information. Justice Waheed directed the Islamabad advocate general to submit the complete medical record instead of a summary. The judge questioned why the full record could not be provided to the court. Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan also raised questions about a recommendation for Imran to undergo angiography. He asked whether the procedure could be carried out while Imran remained in jail. The Islamabad advocate general replied that the procedure could be performed at a hospital outside the prison. Justice Waheed expressed concern over the medical reports presented before the court. He observed that the reports indicated problems with Imran’s pulse and heart and suggested that some of his vital organs could be affected. The court also discussed the importance of family meetings for Imran’s health. Justice Waheed made it clear that meetings with Imran’s sisters should not be treated as a concession. “Meeting his sisters is not a favour; it is their fundamental right,” the judge observed. Imran’s sister, Uzma Khanum, was present during the proceedings. However, Justice Afghan stopped her from addressing the court directly and advised her to speak through her lawyer. Her counsel, Uzair Bhandari, assured the court that Imran’s sisters would not hold a media briefing outside Adiala Jail after meeting him. He also requested that Imran’s personal physician, Dr Asim Yusuf, and Uzma Khanum be allowed to meet the PTI founder. The court further sought comprehensive details about the legal cases against Imran. Authorities were asked to clarify the number of cases in which he is facing trial, the cases resulting in convictions and those in which his sentences have been suspended. The proceedings came after a medical board recommended greater interaction between Imran and his immediate family. The board said regular family contact could help manage his anxiety and blood pressure. According to the medical information presented to the court, Imran has experienced fluctuating blood pressure, palpitations, headaches, restlessness and anxiety. A cardiologist at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences examined him on August 1. His blood pressure was recorded at 140/100mmHg. The doctor recommended measures to reduce mental stress, including increased family interaction and access to reading material. A four-member medical board examined Imran again on August 10. His blood pressure was recorded at 140/80mmHg. The board recommended daily walking and relaxation. It also suggested more frequent interaction with his immediate family and spouse to help control his anxiety and blood pressure. The medical report stated that Imran had undergone at least 39 medical examinations since his imprisonment. Jail doctors were also reportedly checking him three times a day. The report said his ECG was normal. It also stated that his eyesight had improved significantly after treatment for an eye condition. The PTI has challenged the completeness and authenticity of the medical information. The party has demanded examinations by Imran’s personal doctors, Dr Asim Yusuf and Dr Faisal Sultan, as well as an independent medical board. The government, however, has rejected allegations that Imran is being denied proper medical care. Government officials maintain that he is receiving treatment from qualified specialists and that his medical care and meetings are being managed according to the law and court orders.

KARACHI: The Sindh government has decided to introduce artificial intelligence (AI) and modern technology into the recruitment and examination system of the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC). The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah on Tuesday. The chairman of the SPSC, the secretary of information technology and other senior officials attended the meeting. During the meeting, the chief secretary said AI and modern technology would be used to make the SPSC examination process more efficient and transparent. Officials discussed the use of technology in several stages of the examination process. This includes the preparation of question papers, assessment of candidates and management of examination-related data. The new system is also expected to reduce unnecessary human involvement in certain stages of the examination process. Officials believe greater use of technology could help improve efficiency and minimise administrative delays. The Sindh government also plans to establish technology-equipped workstations across the province. These facilities will provide candidates in different areas with access to modern examination services. The initiative is aimed at improving accessibility for applicants from various parts of Sindh. The government said the use of AI and digital tools would help modernise the recruitment process and improve the overall management of SPSC examinations.

Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said that Sialkot urgently needed a medical city. He said the project would help improve healthcare facilities for people in the city and nearby areas. Addressing the inauguration ceremony of Sialkot Medical City, Khawaja Asif praised the business community for supporting the project. He also appreciated the role of the Sialkot Chamber in making the initiative possible. The minister said Sialkot had been facing a major healthcare gap. He said patients often had to travel to Lahore when serious medical emergencies occurred in the city. According to Khawaja Asif, the new medical city will help reduce the need for patients to travel to Lahore. It will also provide better healthcare services closer to the people of Sialkot. He said the project was an important development for the city. He hoped that the medical facilities would further improve the quality of healthcare available to local residents. Khawaja Asif also spoke about major road projects in the region. He said another lane would be added to the Lahore-Sialkot Motorway. He said the Kharian Motorway would be completed before the other project. He added that better road links would further improve connectivity between Sialkot and other parts of Punjab. The defence minister recalled that he had received a positive response when the motorway proposal was presented. He said major road networks had connected several cities and towns with each other. He said the route from Shahdara to Rawat had created stronger links between different urban centres. Such projects, he added, were important for trade, travel and economic activity. Khawaja Asif also highlighted the growing importance of Sialkot International Airport. He said the airport was no longer serving only the people of Sialkot. He said people from Jhelum and Gujrat were also using the airport. Residents of Azad Jammu and Kashmir were also travelling through the facility, he added. The minister credited Sialkot’s business community for many of the city’s major development projects. He said local traders and industrialists had made significant contributions to the city’s growth. Khawaja Asif said the Sialkot business community had established high standards. He added that these standards were recognised internationally. He said the success of Sialkot showed what could be achieved through cooperation between the business community and public institutions. He stressed that continued development could further strengthen the city’s position as an important economic and industrial centre.