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The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has issued an important warning to doctors whose professional licences have expired. The council has decided to take action against doctors who fail to renew their licences within the required period. Under the new decision, doctors will be given six months to complete the renewal process. Licences that are not renewed within this period may be cancelled. The PMDC has also stressed that doctors involved in clinical practice must have a valid and active licence. Doctors with expired or inactive licences could face restrictions on their professional practice. The council has advised such doctors to complete the renewal process without delay. The move is aimed at ensuring that only properly registered and authorised doctors continue to provide medical services. The PMDC maintains the registration and licensing system for medical and dental practitioners in Pakistan. Keeping licences active is an important requirement for doctors who are practising professionally. The latest warning is expected to push doctors with expired licences to complete their renewals within the specified six-month period. Doctors have been advised to remain compliant with the council’s licensing requirements to avoid possible cancellation of their licences and disruption to their clinical practice.

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.

Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has announced that his party will hold simultaneous sit-ins across all four provinces on August 16, as part of its campaign against what he described as injustice and oppressive policies. Speaking about the planned demonstrations, Naeemur Rehman said a sit-in would be held outside the Punjab Chief Minister’s House in Lahore. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan, party workers will stage protests outside the respective Governor Houses. The Jamaat-e-Islami chief said the demonstrations would be held at the same time across the country. He called on the rulers to stop what he termed oppression and injustice, saying the government must pay attention to the concerns of the people. Naeemur Rehman said his party would continue raising its voice on issues affecting citizens. He maintained that the government should take practical steps to address public grievances instead of ignoring them. The announcement comes as Jamaat-e-Islami continues its political activities and prepares to mobilise workers in different parts of the country. The party is expected to organise demonstrations in provincial capitals and other major areas as part of its campaign. The JI chief also welcomed the recent defence agreement signed by Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia. He described the agreement as a positive development and said stronger cooperation among the three countries could contribute to regional security and closer ties.

Sindh Home and Law Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar has strongly rejected allegations made by former federal minister Miftah Ismail regarding police recruitment in the province, calling the claims baseless and politically irresponsible. Responding to Miftah Ismail’s statement, Lanjar said President Asif Ali Zardari represents all federating units of Pakistan and should not be portrayed as the representative of a single province, language or ethnic group. He added that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is a truly federal political party, and attempts to associate the president with a particular region undermine national unity. The provincial minister said all government recruitment in Sindh, particularly in Karachi, is conducted in accordance with established laws, the quota policy and merit. He maintained that the Sindh Police is a professional, impartial institution committed to merit-based recruitment. Lanjar further said the Sindh government does not believe in discrimination on the basis of language, ethnicity, region or community, and remains committed to providing equal opportunities to all citizens. He urged Miftah Ismail, as a senior political leader, to avoid making unsubstantiated allegations or statements that could fuel ethnic divisions. He said that if Miftah possesses evidence regarding any irregularity in police recruitment, he should present it before the relevant legal or administrative forum instead of making general accusations. The Sindh home minister also called on Miftah Ismail to clarify and withdraw what he described as an irresponsible statement that was contrary to the facts.