ICC member states vote to dismiss Prosecutor Kari…

Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho has said the province has been facing a shortage of nurses for a long time, while many other countries are also struggling to meet the growing demand for nursing professionals. Speaking at a press briefing on the overall health situation in Sindh, Pechuho said the provincial government was taking steps to increase the number of nurses and improve nursing education and training. She said work on health policies and legislation was carried out last year, while several initiatives were continuing this year to strengthen different areas of the healthcare system. According to the minister, discussions are also under way with the Asian Development Bank to support efforts aimed at increasing the nursing workforce. Pechuho said a unified admission policy was being introduced for nursing colleges across Sindh. The policy is intended to improve the standard of nursing education and training and ensure greater consistency among institutions. She said around 5,000 nurses currently complete their education and enter the profession every year. The government aims to increase the number of nursing graduates to around 46,000 in the coming years. The health minister said many nurses come from financially disadvantaged families, which is one of the reasons a significant number seek employment opportunities abroad. She said two nursing centres were also being established under a pilot project to expand training and educational opportunities for aspiring nurses. Pechuho further announced that recruitment had been approved for staff at Jinnah Hospital and the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD). She also highlighted several developments in Sindh’s healthcare infrastructure. According to the minister, the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) has been expanded to provide additional healthcare services. A new block has also been established at NICVD, while vascular surgery services have started at the Trauma Centre. The minister said the government was continuing efforts to improve healthcare facilities and expand specialised medical services across the province. Pechuho also said that the rate of maternal deaths had increased in connection with surgical deliveries, highlighting the need for greater attention to maternal healthcare and safer childbirth practices.

BANNU: A highly wanted terrorist commander carrying a bounty of Rs6 million has been killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Bannu, police said on Thursday. The slain militant was identified as Naseer Muhammad, alias Geedarh, according to Bannu District Police Officer (DPO) Captain (Retd.) Muhammad Furqan Bilal. The operation was jointly conducted by Bannu Police and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) following intelligence reports about the presence and movement of suspected terrorists in the area. Police said security teams launched targeted actions in Akbar Ali Khan Kili, Sada Khel, Sadarwan and surrounding areas under the supervision of DPO Bilal. Search and surveillance activities were also carried out during the operation. Security was strengthened in different parts of Bannu Township and areas falling within the Domel police jurisdiction. Authorities said further information about the operation and the identity and activities of the slain terrorist would be released after the operation was fully completed. The latest action is part of intensified counterterrorism operations in Bannu, where security forces have carried out several intelligence-based raids in recent weeks. On August 10, a joint operation in the Miryan area resulted in the killing of a suspected terrorist and the detention of eight others. District police, CTD, Elite Force and Pakistan Army personnel participated in that operation. According to police, the suspect killed during the August 10 operation was allegedly attempting to plant an improvised explosive device when security personnel intercepted him. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered. A similar operation was conducted in Bannu on July 20, when another suspected terrorist was killed and eight others were detained by a joint security team. The latest operation comes amid continued security concerns across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The province has witnessed a series of attacks targeting police, security personnel and public infrastructure in recent months. On July 15, terrorists attacked the Miryan police station in Bannu using an explosives-laden vehicle before engaging security personnel in a prolonged gun battle. The attack left several police officers and civilians injured. Security officials have since increased surveillance and intelligence-based operations across sensitive areas of the district. Bannu and other parts of southern K-P have remained particularly vulnerable because of their proximity to the Afghan border and the continued threat posed by militant networks. The federal government has repeatedly called on Afghan authorities to prevent militant groups from using Afghan territory to plan and carry out attacks against Pakistan. The security situation has also resulted in increased operations targeting suspected militant hideouts, movement routes and support networks. Earlier incidents in Bannu included attacks on public infrastructure and attempts to damage key transport links through explosives.

Aleema Khan, sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, has said that people may take to the streets before September 27 as political developments continue to unfold. Speaking to the media along with Imran Khan’s sisters at the Factory Check Post near Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, Aleema said the situation was changing rapidly. She said she believed people could come out before the September 27 date. She also claimed that she had heard the date of a planned protest had been changed to August 14. Aleema also raised concerns about reports regarding Imran Khan’s health. She said various reports were circulating about his condition but the family had not been provided with sufficient information. She questioned reports suggesting that Imran Khan had a blood pressure problem. Aleema said no one in their family had such an issue and questioned how a double dose of medication could have been administered to someone who did not suffer from the condition. She said the family had never discussed politics after meeting Imran Khan. Aleema added that they agreed with remarks by Sohail Afridi that family members should be allowed to meet him without turning the meetings into political discussions. According to Aleema, Imran Khan is their brother and his message is important to the family. She said mentioning the name of a government official should not automatically be considered political activity. Imran Khan’s sister Noreen Niazi also said that political matters should not be attached to the family’s meetings with him. She said the family would avoid naming officials during such meetings. Aleema said a three-member bench of the high court had already issued a decision regarding meetings with Imran Khan. She questioned why the family should submit a request to the jail superintendent when a court order was already in place. She also described PTI as a democratic political party. She said disagreements and differences within a political party were normal and should not necessarily be viewed as a major crisis. Family raises concerns over Imran Khan’s health Noreen Niazi said the September 27 date remained in place, while a separate call had been given for a gathering at D-Chowk on August 14. Aleema said she had no information about the alleged audio recording involving PTI leader Salman Akram Raja and Mashal Yousafzai. She said the decision to give a protest call was the responsibility of the party and that the party had issued the call. Aleema said the family had only one major demand regarding Imran Khan’s health. She called for him to be shifted to a hospital and treated by his personal doctor. Another sister, Uzma Khan, said the family was unable to confirm or deny reports about Imran Khan’s health because they did not have sufficient information about his condition.