Kabal bomber identified, probe intensifies

The Child Protection Court in Peshawar has issued a ruling on a petition concerning the alleged forced marriage of a 13-year-old girl in the Phando area. According to the written order, the girl will not be married off or sent to her husband’s home until she reaches the age of 16. The girl’s father also agreed to the court’s direction. The petition was filed by an officer of the Child Protection Commission in Peshawar, who approached the court over allegations that the minor had been forcibly married in Phando. During the proceedings, the girl was produced before the court in the presence of a social worker and a psychologist from the Child Protection Unit. The court reviewed the circumstances surrounding the alleged marriage and issued its written decision. The girl’s father, grandfather and grandmother denied that she had been married. They told the court that no marriage ceremony had taken place and that the family had only held an engagement ceremony. The court directed the Child Protection Officer to closely monitor the girl’s safety and submit a follow-up report every three months. The ruling effectively prevents the girl’s marriage or departure to a marital home until she turns 16, while authorities will continue monitoring her welfare and protection.

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has announced a nationwide shutter-down strike after 12th Rabi-ul-Awwal, as the party continues its protests against rising petroleum prices and the government’s petroleum levy. Speaking at a press conference in Lahore on Sunday, Hafiz Naeem said the JI’s sit-ins in provincial capitals had entered their eighth day and would continue until the government practically implemented the party’s demands. He rejected the idea of ending the protests solely on the basis of government assurances, saying the party wanted concrete action rather than promises. Hafiz Naeem called for a reduction in petroleum product prices and criticised what he described as excessive government expenditure. He also raised concerns over rising prices of essential commodities, saying flour and sugar mafias were making life difficult for ordinary citizens while farmers were struggling with expensive fertiliser. The JI chief said the nationwide shutter-down strike would be launched after Eid Milad-un-Nabi, which falls on August 26 this year. He warned that the party’s protest movement would not be called off until its demands were implemented. According to Hafiz Naeem, negotiations would no longer be based on requests for protesters to end their sit-ins in exchange for verbal commitments. JI workers have been holding demonstrations since August 16. Sit-ins are being staged outside the Punjab chief minister’s residence in Lahore and at governor houses in Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar. The protests come as consumers face growing pressure from fuel costs, inflation and high electricity bills. The government has also faced criticism following repeated increases in petroleum prices. The situation has become more challenging amid fluctuations in international oil prices linked to renewed tensions in the Middle East. Authorities have also moved from a 15-day fuel price review to a daily mechanism. The fuel price issue has triggered separate concerns among transporters and petroleum dealers. Earlier this week, the All Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance suspended a nationwide strike for 40 days after receiving assurances from the federal and Sindh governments regarding several demands, including petroleum pricing. The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association has also pressed the government to resolve outstanding issues and honour previous commitments.