International Youth Day marked in Peshawar, Youth achievers recognised

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed authorities to intensify sanitation efforts across the province, ordering daily early-morning washing of major roads and improved cleanliness in housing societies, markets and residential areas. Chairing a review meeting on the Suthra Punjab programme, the chief minister instructed officials to ensure effective waste management in both cooperative and private housing societies. She also directed the introduction of uniform dustbins and garbage bags in commercial areas, along with fixed schedules for waste removal. Maryam ordered the daily washing and cleaning of main roads at 5am and stressed that sanitation efforts must extend beyond major thoroughfares to streets, neighbourhoods and vacant plots. Authorities were also told to ensure door-to-door garbage collection across Punjab. The chief minister directed that Suthra Punjab workers receive their salaries by the fifth of every month and called for monthly reports to verify timely payments. She also ordered the early clearance of contractors’ outstanding dues and warned of immediate action if delays in workers’ salaries occurred. Special attention was ordered for areas surrounding schools, colleges, universities and hospitals, as well as parks and green belts. Officials were directed to remove discarded bottles, juice boxes and other waste from these locations. Maryam further instructed authorities to improve sanitation around railway tracks in urban areas and ensure that the entry and exit points of cities are cleaned regularly. Deputy commissioners were asked to maintain close coordination with contractors and the managing directors of Water and Sanitation Authorities to monitor progress. The chief minister also called for uniform standards for field monitoring officers and directed that their motorcycles carry proper branding. Standard operating procedures are to be developed to evaluate sanitation performance at every level, from field workers to senior officers, with particular attention to cleanliness in fruit and vegetable markets. She directed that contractors violating sanitation standards should initially be given 24 hours to correct shortcomings before any financial penalty is imposed. “Imposing fines is not our objective; the focus should be on ensuring cleanliness,” she said, while calling for zero tolerance against persistent negligence. The chief minister also ordered regular cleaning of Suthra Punjab vehicles, waste containers and collection points. She praised sanitation efforts in Lahore, Khanewal, Okara, Attock, Kasur and Murree but directed teams in Faisalabad, Sialkot, Sheikhupura and other areas to improve their performance. Maryam Nawaz said the next review meeting would be held the following week to evaluate implementation of the directives and measure progress under the province-wide cleanliness campaign.

  MUZAFFARABAD: At least two people were killed and several others injured when gunfire broke out during the funeral prayers of victims of an earlier clash in Kot Tralla, near Muzaffarabad in Azad Kashmir. According to Azad Kashmir Police, the incident occurred during the funeral prayers being held for two people who had been killed in a firing incident between two groups a day earlier. The latest shooting turned the funeral gathering into another scene of violence, resulting in further casualties. Police confirmed that two people had been killed in a clash between two groups in Kot Tralla the previous day. Following the incident, funeral prayers for the deceased were arranged in the area. However, while family members, relatives and other mourners had gathered to attend the prayers, another firing incident took place. According to police officials, the latest exchange of fire resulted in the deaths of two more people, while several others sustained injuries. The injured were shifted to nearby medical facilities for treatment. The exact number and condition of those injured were not immediately available. The incident has caused concern among local residents, particularly because the violence occurred during a funeral gathering. Such gatherings normally bring together large numbers of family members, relatives and community residents, making any outbreak of violence especially dangerous. Police teams reached the area following the shooting and began efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident. Authorities are investigating whether the latest firing was connected to the dispute that had led to the earlier clash between the two groups. The motive behind the initial confrontation has not yet been disclosed. Police officials are expected to investigate the cause of the dispute and identify those responsible for both incidents. Further action will be taken once the circumstances of the shootings and the identities of the suspects are established. The latest incident has also raised questions about security arrangements during funeral gatherings, particularly in areas where tensions exist between rival groups. Authorities may increase security measures in the area to prevent further violence and maintain law and order. Residents have expressed concern over the escalation of violence, as the dispute has now resulted in deaths on two consecutive days. The fact that the second shooting occurred during funeral prayers has further intensified fears of additional clashes. Police officials have urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with law enforcement agencies. They are also expected to take steps to prevent any further confrontation between the two groups. The bodies of the victims are being handled according to local procedures, while the injured are receiving medical treatment. Families of those killed and injured are facing another tragedy following the earlier deaths in the area. Authorities have not yet released complete details about the weapons used, the identities of the attackers or the exact circumstances that led to the latest shooting. An investigation is underway, and additional information is expected as police gather evidence and question witnesses. The incident highlights how disputes between rival groups can quickly escalate and affect innocent people, particularly when violence occurs in crowded public gatherings. The authorities’ immediate priority is to restore peace in Kot Tralla, provide security to local residents and ensure that those responsible for the shootings are brought to justice. Further developments are expected as the investigation continues and officials release more information about the casualties and the circumstances surrounding the two incidents.

  Two suspected criminals, identified as Fayyaz Butt and Rehan Butt, were killed in an exchange of fire with police in Sheikhupura, while a case has been registered at Muridke Police Station in connection with the incident. According to police and details mentioned in the First Information Report (FIR), the two suspects were among armed men allegedly involved in a recent attack in Lahore in which three police personnel were martyred and three others were injured. The suspects had reportedly fled the scene following the attack and were later traced to a house in Sheikhupura. The FIR states that a group of three armed suspects entered the residence of a citizen, identified as Abdul Hafeez, and held his family hostage at gunpoint. Abdul Hafeez’s wife and their three children were reportedly inside the house when the suspects entered and took control of the situation. After receiving information about the presence of the suspects, police surrounded the house and launched an operation to secure the area and rescue the hostages. Police officials reportedly called upon the suspects to surrender their weapons and come out of the house peacefully. However, instead of surrendering, the suspects allegedly opened fire on the police, resulting in an exchange of gunfire between the two sides. During the confrontation, a police vehicle was also damaged by gunfire. According to the FIR, the exchange of fire continued for some time before the shooting eventually stopped. When police personnel entered the house and searched the premises, they found two bodies lying in the courtyard. Weapons were also recovered from the scene near the bodies. The deceased suspects were subsequently identified as Fayyaz Butt and Rehan Butt Police have registered a case against the suspects and other alleged accomplices under several serious charges. The FIR includes provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act along with sections relating to the possession of explosive material, murder and attempted murder. The case has been registered at Muridke Police Station and further investigation is underway to determine the suspects’ alleged involvement in the Lahore attack and other criminal activities. Authorities are also investigating the circumstances surrounding the hostage situation and the suspects’ presence at the residence. Police are expected to examine evidence recovered from the scene, including weapons, and determine whether other individuals were involved in the incident. The development comes after the reported killing and injuries of six police personnel in Lahore, with authorities alleging that the suspects involved in that incident escaped and later took refuge in the Sheikhupura area. The police operation ultimately ended with the deaths of two suspects, while the condition and whereabouts of the hostages were not detailed in the FIR information provided. Officials said the investigation would continue to establish the complete sequence of events, identify any other people involved and determine the suspects’ connection with the earlier attack on police personnel. The incident has also raised concerns over the use of firearms and explosives by suspected criminals and the risks faced by law enforcement personnel while responding to armed confrontations. Further details are expected as the investigation progresses.