Lee Andrews’ father freed from Dubai prison

British High Commissioner Jane Marriott has assured Pakistan that the issue of delays in student visas will be addressed. Marriott gave the assurance during a meeting with Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar. The meeting was held as concerns grow over delays faced by Pakistani students seeking to travel to the United Kingdom for higher education. During the meeting, Tarar raised the issue of delayed visa processing with the British envoy. He conveyed the government’s concerns over the difficulties being faced by Pakistani students. The minister said hundreds of Pakistani students could lose their academic year because of the delays. Many students require timely visa decisions to join their universities and begin their studies according to the scheduled academic calendar. Tarar stressed the importance of resolving the issue at the earliest. He said unnecessary delays could create serious academic and financial difficulties for students and their families. The British High Commissioner assured the minister that efforts would be made to address the matter. The two sides also discussed broader issues of mutual interest. They exchanged views on strengthening institutional communication and cooperation between Pakistan and the United Kingdom. The meeting highlighted the importance of maintaining effective coordination between the relevant institutions of both countries. Better institutional engagement could help resolve issues affecting students and other Pakistani citizens seeking services in the UK. The assurance comes amid concerns among Pakistani students about securing timely visas for their higher education programmes.

British Pakistani entrepreneur and educationist Bilal Sheikh has paid tribute to Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He said Jinnah’s vision, political struggle and leadership gave the Muslims of the subcontinent a separate homeland. That homeland is now home to around 250 million people. Sheikh spoke at an art exhibition organised by the Mont Rose Foundation. The exhibition was titled “Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah: A Legacy Beyond Time.” It was held at the National Liberal Club on Whitehall Place in central London to mark Jinnah’s enduring legacy. Pakistan’s newly appointed High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Tipu Usman, attended the event. Artist Amera Rashid was also present, along with several prominent members of the British Pakistani community, educationists, entrepreneurs and other dignitaries. In his keynote remarks, the High Commissioner said Jinnah firmly believed in the rule of law. He said Jinnah valued reasoned argument, dialogue and political negotiation, even with opponents. Tipu Usman said Jinnah’s legacy was not only about remembering the struggle for Pakistan’s creation. It was equally about understanding the principles and values that guided that struggle. The High Commissioner praised Bilal Sheikh for organising the exhibition. He also credited Sheikh for commissioning a portrait of Quaid e Azam that is now permanently placed in the National Liberal Club. Sheikh is the founder of Mont Rose College in London, which teaches thousands of adult students each year. He said the creation of Pakistan was the result of Jinnah’s extraordinary constitutional struggle. He said it also reflected Jinnah’s political determination and his commitment to securing a future where Muslims of British India could shape their own destiny. Sheikh said Jinnah’s message remains relevant more than seven decades after Pakistan’s creation. He said this holds true not only for Pakistan but for millions of Pakistanis living around the world, especially as Pakistan gains greater international prominence. Sheikh said Pakistan’s recent role in promoting international peace and preventing war in the Middle East reflects Jinnah’s teachings. He also pointed to Pakistan’s victory last year against a much bigger rival, India, as proof of the resilient nation Jinnah envisioned. He said Jinnah did not simply campaign for territory. He fought for the political rights, dignity and future of millions of people. Sheikh said today’s Pakistan, home to nearly 250 million people, exists because Jinnah had the courage and foresight to pursue a goal many once considered impossible. Sheikh said British Pakistanis are part of the success story of modern Britain. He said they are present in education, medicine, law, business, public service, technology and many other professions. He said serving Britain successfully while contributing to Pakistan’s development reflects the values of responsibility, education and progress that Jinnah championed. Bilal Sheikh is a British Pakistani education entrepreneur and CEO of East London based Mont Rose College. He has campaigned for several years for greater recognition of Jinnah in Britain. In 2022, Sheikh commissioned Jinnah’s portrait for London’s National Liberal Club, where Jinnah had been a member more than a century earlier. Sheikh has also advocated for a statue of Jinnah in Parliament Square. He argues that Jinnah’s historical links with Britain and his political legacy deserve greater public recognition.

The Muttahida Madaris Council Pakistan has publicly distanced itself from recent remarks made by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman regarding the Pakistan Army and the country’s martyrs. In an official statement, the council said religious seminaries across Pakistan have always stood with the country’s armed forces and fully respect the sacrifices made by military personnel in defending the nation. It stressed that no seminary or religious educational institution supports any narrative that could be interpreted as being against the armed forces. The council reaffirmed its commitment to national unity and expressed solidarity with Pakistan’s security institutions. It also paid tribute to the country’s martyrs, saying their sacrifices for national security and peace deserve the highest respect. The controversy began after Fazlur Rehman addressed a public gathering in Kasur, where he spoke about the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. During his speech, his comments about soldiers and martyrdom sparked widespread criticism from political leaders and members of the public. Several politicians described the remarks as inappropriate and called on the JUI-F chief to publicly clarify or withdraw his statement. They maintained that the sacrifices of soldiers should not become part of political debate and should always be treated with respect. Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan strongly criticised the remarks and urged Fazlur Rehman to issue a public apology. He also proposed the formation of a Senate committee to examine the issue and determine whether the veteran politician should be formally called to explain his comments. The matter has also entered the legal arena. A sessions court has issued a notice to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) regarding the registration of a cybercrime case linked to the controversial remarks. The agency is expected to submit its response during the legal proceedings. Legal experts say the court will review the available evidence before deciding whether further action is warranted under the relevant laws. The controversy has continued to dominate political discussions, with leaders from different parties expressing contrasting views over the issue. While critics insist that the remarks were disrespectful to the sacrifices of the armed forces, supporters of Fazlur Rehman have defended his right to express political opinions.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has claimed that the public response at the PML-N rally in Mirpur shows that her party will secure a strong victory across Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing a public gathering in Mirpur, Maryam Nawaz praised the enthusiasm of the participants despite the intense heat. She said the large turnout reflected growing support for the PML-N in the region. She said that people in Muzaffarabad also attended the party’s gathering despite heavy rainfall, adding that she had not come to Mirpur as a political visitor but as someone returning to her ancestral home. Maryam Nawaz said Mirpur has beautiful houses and significant potential, but its roads and infrastructure require major improvement. She added that the time had come to begin a new phase of development in the city. Recalling her visit with Nawaz Sharif, she said the former prime minister repeatedly admired the beauty of the region during their journey and appreciated its natural landscape. The Punjab chief minister said Kashmir has abundant resources and talented people, but it lacks modern infrastructure. She stressed the need for better roads, advanced hospitals and improved facilities to promote tourism and economic growth in Azad Kashmir. She claimed that the PML-N would provide the same facilities in Azad Kashmir that it has introduced in Punjab if it wins the upcoming elections. She announced that even before the elections, she was bringing a gift of 10 electric buses for Mirpur. Maryam Nawaz highlighted Punjab government initiatives, saying that around 200,000 people had received homes under the “Apni Chhat Apna Ghar” housing project within two years. She said Azad Kashmir could surpass Punjab in development within five years if honest and effective governance was ensured. She also called for introducing projects such as a Safe City system and housing schemes in Azad Kashmir to improve public security and living standards. Criticising rival political parties, Maryam Nawaz said no other party could point to major development work carried out in Kashmir. She challenged opponents to identify even a single major infrastructure project completed by them. She urged voters to make a careful decision, warning that choosing the wrong leadership could delay development opportunities. She said people from other provinces often praise Punjab’s progress and wish for similar governance. Maryam Nawaz said that removing Nawaz Sharif’s contributions from Pakistan’s development history would leave behind “only ruins.” She promised that if people supported the PML-N, the party would bring changes in Azad Kashmir beyond public expectations and work to transform the region’s future.