‘I got so much love’, Sunny Deol on Pakistan Kartarpur Corridor visit

MUZAFFARABAD: The Pakistan Peoples Party is leading in two constituencies in the third phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections, while the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz is ahead in one seat. An independent candidate has also secured victory in another constituency, according to unofficial results. Polling was held in four constituencies of Bagh and Haveli districts in the Poonch division. However, voting could not take place at several polling stations because of unrest and security concerns. In LA-15 Bagh-2, PPP candidate Zia Qamar was leading after results from most polling stations were received. PML-N candidate Muhammad Mushtaq Ahmed Minhas was in second place. PML-N candidate Sardar Mir Akbar Khan was leading in LA-16 Eastern Bagh. He was ahead of PPP candidate Sardar Qamar Zaman Khan, making the constituency the strongest prospect for the PML-N in the third phase. In LA-17 Haveli-Kahuta, PPP candidate and AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore was ahead of PML-N candidate Chaudhry Mohsin Aziz in the closely contested race. An unexpected result emerged from LA-14 Western Bagh. Independent candidate Sardar Sajid Iqbal Abbasi defeated former AJK prime minister and Muslim Conference leader Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan in his home constituency. The AJK Election Commission has also announced re-polling at 23 polling stations. The exercise will take place on August 15. According to Election Commission officials, voting will be repeated at nine polling stations in LA-16 and 14 stations in LA-15. Polling at these locations could not be conducted during the earlier round because of unrest. Elections in five constituencies of Poonch and two constituencies of Sudhnoti have been postponed. The authorities are expected to announce new dates after reviewing the security situation. Meanwhile, PML-N candidate Mohsin Aziz has demanded a recount in LA-17 Bagh-4. His request was rejected by the Returning Officer, prompting PML-N workers to stage a sit-in outside the RO office. Aziz said the protest would continue until the votes were recounted. The demand has added another layer of uncertainty to the closely contested election process. The PPP has also raised allegations of electoral irregularities. Party leaders have accused authorities of disrupting polling and creating difficulties for voters and polling agents. PPP representatives have called for an impartial review of complaints. They said the Election Commission should examine allegations of irregularities to ensure that the voters’ mandate is protected. PPP Senator Sherry Rehman had earlier raised concerns over delays in polling. She also alleged that party polling agents were stopped from entering some polling stations. The PML-N has rejected the allegations of widespread rigging. Senior PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah said the PPP was using the rigging narrative to cover what he described as an electoral setback. He also called for an end to protests and sit-ins. Sanaullah said legitimate demands would be considered by the government, while warning that violence and armed activity would be dealt with according to law. The PML-N remains in a strong position overall after the first two phases of the AJK elections. It won nine of 13 seats in the Mirpur division during the first phase. In the second phase, the party secured 15 seats from the Muzaffarabad division and refugee seats. The PPP won four seats in the first phase and six in the second. The PML-N has so far secured 24 seats across the first two phases, while the PPP has won 10. The ruling party has said it needs only a few additional seats to reach a two-thirds majority in the AJK Assembly.

A mild earthquake was recorded in Karachi on Friday evening, with tremors felt across several parts of the city. The shaking caused brief panic among residents, although no casualties or damage were reported. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the earthquake measured 2.9 on the Richter scale. The seismic event originated at a depth of 10 kilometres, with its epicentre located within Karachi. The PMD said the earthquake struck at 6:01 pm, and its relatively shallow depth allowed tremors to be felt in different neighbourhoods. Authorities said there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage to buildings or infrastructure. Residents in several areas experienced light shaking, but the situation remained calm after the tremors subsided. Officials continue to monitor seismic activity and have advised the public to remain alert while assuring that no emergency situation has been reported following the low-intensity earthquake.

Police have intensified their investigation into the death of 25-year-old former Institute of Business Administration (IBA) student and aspiring entrepreneur Mir Raza Ali Khan, saying several pieces of evidence point toward the possibility of suicide. However, investigators have not ruled out other possibilities as key questions remain unanswered. The young businessman was found dead with a gunshot wound to his chest in bushes near Shahi Qila in Gulistan-i-Jauhar, opposite the University of Karachi. His body was recovered two days after he was reported missing from his residence in PECHS. According to investigators, Raza had returned home after closing his business in Bahadurabad before leaving again after collecting a pistol from his office. Before departing, he reportedly left the keys to his house and car, along with his wristwatch and some cash for his mother. Police also found that all data on his iPhone had been deleted before his disappearance. The investigation revealed that he booked an online ride to Gulistan-i-Jauhar. The cab driver told police that Raza requested his favourite song during the journey and paid more than the required fare. CCTV footage reviewed by investigators showed him walking alone after being dropped off, with no one seen accompanying him. Police later recovered his mobile phone after tracing it to a person who inserted a SIM card into the device. The individual was detained, and investigators recovered the phone for forensic examination. Authorities also found the holster of Raza’s pistol hanging from a tree near the location where his body was discovered. However, the firearm used in the incident has not yet been recovered. Investigators believe it may have been taken away by someone passing through the area after the incident. The investigation has further revealed that Raza had been facing significant financial difficulties. Police said he had suffered losses worth millions of rupees through business investments and was under pressure to repay investors. Investigators also learned that he had sought a loan of Rs30 million from one investor, but the request was declined. According to statements recorded by police, the investor claimed Raza had spoken about experiencing disturbing thoughts before his death. His fiancée also told investigators that he had become deeply focused on cryptocurrency investments, particularly Bitcoin. She said she sent him a message on the night of his disappearance, but it was never delivered because his phone had already gone offline. Despite the evidence gathered so far, investigators say three major questions remain unresolved. They are trying to determine why Raza chose the isolated location where his body was found, where the missing pistol is, and why forensic experts did not detect gunshot residue on his hands despite the bullet being fired from close range. Officials noted that the body’s partial decomposition may have affected forensic findings.