Govt increases petrol by Rs1.09, HSD by Rs2.42

A railway bridge near Mission Caller on the Sheikhupura-Lahore section was damaged after a strong flood surge hit the area, disrupting train services between Lahore and Faisalabad. Railway authorities said train operations on the Lahore-Faisalabad section have been temporarily suspended due to damage to the bridge. Trains travelling from Lahore towards Karachi via Sheikhupura and Faisalabad are being diverted through Sahiwal as an alternative route. Officials said the Badr Express and Ghouri Express have been cancelled due to the disruption. The Shalimar Express and Karakoram Express will operate via Raiwind and Sahiwal, while the Mianwali Express, which normally runs between Lahore and Mianwali, will be diverted through Lala Musa. Several other trains operating on the affected route have also been cancelled. Some services have been shifted to alternative routes to minimise disruption to passengers. According to railway officials, the flood surge that hit the area last night caused 30 of the bridge’s 110 pillars to collapse. Repair work has begun on the damaged structure. Railway authorities are working to restore the track and resume normal train operations as soon as possible. The flooding has also affected nearby communities. Residents said several settlements, including Hadiala Warkan village, were inundated after the flood surge entered the area during the night. The floodwaters have also caused significant damage to standing crops. Local residents expressed concern over losses to agricultural land and crops following the sudden rise in water levels.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Salman Akram Raja has called for meetings between the party’s founder, Imran Khan, and his sisters and medical team. Speaking to the media in Islamabad, Raja said PTI representatives had met the Registrar of the Supreme Court. During the meeting, they requested that the cases involving the party founder be taken up for hearing without further delay. The PTI leader also demanded that Imran Khan be allowed to meet his sisters. He said access to his doctors should also be restored so that his health can be properly monitored. Raja said the party had been assured that the pending cases would be scheduled for hearing next week. He added that the relevant cause list would also be issued. He expressed concern over the long gap between Imran Khan and his doctors. According to Raja, the PTI founder has not been able to meet his medical team for around one and a half years. Raja questioned the reason for preventing regular medical consultations. He said the issue was particularly important because of concerns about Imran Khan’s health. The PTI leader also discussed the former prime minister’s political activities. He said Imran Khan had the right to express his political views. However, Raja said the party was prepared to ensure that political discussions did not take place if they could affect Imran Khan’s health. He said the priority at present was his medical well-being and access to proper healthcare. Raja said the matter would be taken before the court next week. He indicated that the party would seek judicial intervention on meetings with family members and doctors. The PTI has repeatedly raised concerns over access to Imran Khan and his medical care. The latest demand comes as the party awaits hearings in several cases involving its founder.

Ten electric buses have been delivered to Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) from Islamabad as part of a new public transport initiative for the region. The buses have been provided by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. The initiative follows an announcement made by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif during a public gathering in Muzaffarabad. Nawaz Sharif had announced that electric buses would be provided to AJK to improve public transport facilities in the region. The arrival of the first 10 buses marks progress towards implementing that announcement. The new buses are expected to provide residents with a modern transport option. They are also aimed at improving the quality of public transportation and making daily travel more convenient for citizens. The electric buses were transported from Islamabad to Azad Kashmir. Their arrival is likely to support efforts to upgrade the region’s existing public transport system. The initiative is also significant because electric buses can help reduce dependence on conventional fuel-powered public transport. Their use can contribute to lower emissions and cleaner urban environments. The provision of the buses reflects cooperation between Punjab and the AJK administration in the transport sector. The initiative is expected to benefit commuters, particularly those who rely on public transport for work, education and other daily activities. The announcement was made during Nawaz Sharif’s address in Muzaffarabad, where he spoke about development and public welfare initiatives for Azad Kashmir. The arrival of the buses is expected to be followed by further steps to put them into service for the public. Authorities will determine their routes and operational arrangements. The initiative is being viewed as part of broader efforts to introduce modern and environmentally friendly transportation facilities in AJK.

Voting was suspended at a polling station in Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s Bhimber district after a clash broke out between workers of two political parties during the first phase of the AJK elections. The incident took place at the Darbar Baba Shadi Shaheed polling station in constituency LA-6 Bhimber. Following the confrontation, polling was halted temporarily. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Abdul Razzaq Chaudhry alleged that workers of an opposing political party started the fight at the polling station. District Returning Officer (DRO) confirmed that a clash had taken place at one of the polling stations at Darbar Baba Shadi Shaheed. According to the official, miscreants snatched a ballot box and set it on fire. The DRO said the ballot box contained 232 votes when it was set ablaze. Returning officials and security personnel are currently present at the polling station. The DRO said legal action would be taken against those involved in disrupting the polling process. Officials have yet to decide whether polling will be held again at the affected polling station. The DRO said a decision on re-polling would be taken later in accordance with the relevant election rules. Apart from the affected polling station, polling is continuing normally at all other polling stations across the constituency. Meanwhile, the DRO also said that former AJK prime minister Anwar-ul-Haq had raised a complaint regarding polling arrangements in constituency LA-7. Officials visited the polling stations where complaints had been received and found that the relevant polling agents were present there.

ISLAMABAD: Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Broadcasting Barrister Danyal Chaudhry on Sunday said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)’s victory on all three refugee seats in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections reflected the confidence of Kashmiri refugees and the people of Rawalpindi in the leadership of former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. Speaking at a press conference, Chaudhry thanked voters, Kashmiri refugees and party workers for what he described as a historic electoral success, saying the results reaffirmed the party’s strong support among the refugee community. He said the outcome of the elections was a clear endorsement of the PML-N’s political narrative and leadership, adding that the party had once again demonstrated its close connection with Kashmiri refugees by securing all three seats. The parliamentary secretary said the election mandate showed that the PML-N remained the principal political representative of Kashmiri refugees. Criticising rival parties, Chaudhry claimed that the Pakistan Peoples Party failed to attract significant voter support during the polls, alleging that its polling camps remained largely deserted throughout election day. He also said the party’s post-election press conference reflected its electoral performance. The PML-N has termed the clean sweep a major political achievement, saying it would further strengthen the party’s position among Kashmiri refugees ahead of future political contests.