Indian court acquits ex-wrestling chief in harassment case

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad has extended the physical remand of former Jamaat-e-Islami senator Mushtaq Ahmad and his co-accused, Daniyal, by four more days in connection with a case linked to a protest over the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). The two accused were produced before the court after completing an earlier three-day physical remand. During the hearing, the prosecution sought a 30-day remand, arguing that investigators still needed additional time to recover a vehicle and weapons allegedly connected to the case. According to prosecutors, the investigation remains incomplete because the alleged recoveries have not yet been made. They requested extended custody to continue the inquiry. After hearing arguments from both sides, the court rejected the request for a 30-day remand and instead approved a four-day extension in police custody. The case was registered at Islamabad’s Shalimar Police Station under charges related to a protest concerning recent unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Mushtaq Ahmad’s legal team has previously claimed that he was detained after attempting to enter AJK to express solidarity with people affected by recent violence in the region. They alleged he was stopped by security personnel at Azad Pattan Bridge, denied entry into AJK and later taken into custody by Punjab Police while returning to Islamabad. Following his release from the earlier detention, Mushtaq Ahmad announced plans to organise a peaceful gathering in Islamabad to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir. He invited political activists, students, journalists and members of the Kashmiri community to participate in the event. The case comes amid heightened political tensions following recent protests in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, where clashes reportedly resulted in casualties and injuries, drawing criticism from several political parties and human rights groups.

Amnesty International has called on the Pakistani government to release former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan as he completes three years in prison, urging authorities to restore his fundamental rights and ensure access to medical care, family members and legal counsel. In a statement issued ahead of the third anniversary of his imprisonment, Amnesty International’s South Asia office expressed concern over Imran Khan’s detention conditions, alleging that he has been denied a fair trial, kept in prolonged solitary confinement and restricted from meeting his relatives and lawyers. The organisation claimed that Imran has not been allowed to meet members of his family for several months and raised concerns over reports that his eyesight has worsened while in custody. It also said that both Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have faced prolonged restrictions on access to legal representatives. Amnesty urged the authorities to immediately restore the couple’s right to meet their lawyers and family members, provide appropriate medical treatment and end what it described as unlawful solitary confinement. The rights organisation also called on the government to ensure that planned public gatherings marking Imran Khan’s three years in detention are allowed to proceed peacefully. It stressed that citizens should be able to exercise their right to peaceful assembly without facing arbitrary restrictions or crackdowns. The appeal comes days after a United Nations special rapporteur also expressed concern over reports regarding Imran Khan’s health and urged authorities to provide him with humane treatment, proper medical care and access to doctors of his choice. Imran Khan has remained in Adiala Jail since August 2023. He is serving sentences in multiple cases, including the £190 million corruption case and the Toshakhana-II case, while also facing several other legal proceedings linked to the May 9, 2023 protests. PTI has repeatedly alleged that its founder is being denied adequate medical treatment, particularly for an eye condition, and has appealed to international human rights organisations to intervene. The party maintains that his constitutional rights and due process protections have been violated during his incarceration. The government has previously rejected allegations of mistreatment, maintaining that legal proceedings against Imran Khan are being conducted in accordance with the law.

KARACHI: Serious shortcomings in fire safety arrangements have been reported at major government hospitals in Karachi following the deadly fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad, where newborns lost their lives. Hospital sources said several major public healthcare facilities in Karachi lack functional fire alarm systems and adequate emergency preparedness, raising concerns about the safety of thousands of patients and healthcare workers. At Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, operated by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), only 13 fire extinguishers are reportedly available across the facility. Sources said hospital staff have also not received regular fire safety training or participated in proper fire drills. The hospital reportedly does not have a fire alarm system or a designated emergency exit route. The situation is particularly concerning because hundreds of patients visit the emergency department every day, while more than 1,000 patients reportedly attend the outpatient department (OPD). Abbasi Shaheed Hospital has two generators, with one reportedly kept as a backup power source. The hospital’s Medical Superintendent said authorities were taking further steps to improve the fire safety system and address existing shortcomings. At Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), fire extinguishers are available in the wards, but hospital sources said several of them are not functional. Sources further said the last fire drill at the hospital was conducted in 2017. The hospital also reportedly lacks an installed fire alarm system. JPMC’s Joint Executive Director said a dedicated firefighting team needs to be established at the hospital. He said each ward has a fire extinguisher, while further training for staff is also required. He added that the hospital administration would write to the Sindh government seeking additional fire safety training for employees. Meanwhile, Civil Hospital Karachi has around 180 fire extinguishers distributed among its wards. However, sources said the overall fire safety arrangements at the hospital also fall short of ideal standards. The revelations have raised concerns about the preparedness of major public hospitals in Karachi to deal with fires and other emergencies. Large government hospitals handle thousands of patients, attendants and healthcare workers every day. In the event of a fire, the absence of functional alarms, clearly marked emergency exits, regular drills and trained response teams could make evacuation difficult and increase the risk to human lives. The situation has come under renewed scrutiny after the PIMS tragedy in Islamabad, prompting calls for immediate inspections of fire safety systems at hospitals across the country. Experts and hospital officials have stressed the need for regular fire drills, functioning extinguishers, alarm systems, emergency exits and trained firefighting teams.

Authorities have removed Medico-Legal Officer Dr Osama from his post following an inquiry into serious shortcomings in the initial post-mortem examination of businessman Mir Raza Ali. Officials said the doctor has been directed to appear before the relevant authorities as part of an inquiry into the alleged procedural lapses. The action comes after questions were raised over the accuracy and completeness of the initial medico-legal examination. The case came under renewed scrutiny after a dispute emerged between police investigators and the Karachi police surgeon over shortcomings in the original medico-legal report. The family subsequently approached a Karachi court, seeking a fresh examination of the body. The court later permitted the exhumation of Mir Raza Ali. A second autopsy conducted after the exhumation reportedly found evidence indicating that the businessman had sustained a gunshot injury to the back. The new medical examination identified two gunshot holes in his clothing, along with several other injuries. Medical findings also reportedly included marks of violence, injuries to the feet, a fracture and a roughly 12-centimetre injury to the right thigh, as well as a deep injury and fracture around the jaw. A separate chemical examination has also added new dimensions to the investigation. According to the report, particles consistent with acid were detected on the victim’s shirt, while material associated with gunshot residue was also found. The report further indicated that efforts may have been made to conceal the victim’s identity and that fingerprints were not detected on his hands. Family lawyer Jibran Nasir has previously raised questions about the initial investigation, including the absence of an X-ray and the failure to establish the cause of death in the first examination. He has also alleged that acid burns may have damaged the victim’s face. The family has urged investigators to examine CCTV footage, digital records and other forensic evidence. Questions have also been raised over the handling of the victim’s mobile phone, smartwatch and surveillance recordings from locations linked to the case. Investigators are now examining additional evidence and locations connected to the death. Authorities have also moved to obtain the victim’s mobile data records and conduct geofencing around the relevant crime scene. The new probe team is also coordinating with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency to determine whether Mir Raza had received threats before his death. Mir Raza’s family has said it is cooperating with investigators and has provided information about several suspicious individuals and locations. His father, Mir Hussain, has expressed hope that the newly constituted investigation team will establish the facts and take the case to its logical conclusion.