Nawaz interviews candidates for AJK reserved seats

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has welcomed a strong increase in remittances sent by overseas Pakistanis, with the country receiving $3.6 billion during July. Reacting to the latest figures, the prime minister described the inflow as encouraging, noting that remittances recorded a 13 per cent increase compared with the same month last year. He also highlighted a month-on-month rise, saying remittances grew by 4.5 per cent in July. The continued increase provides further support to Pakistan’s foreign exchange position and reflects the growing contribution of overseas Pakistanis to the national economy. Shehbaz praised the Pakistani diaspora for playing an important role in supporting economic stability. He said overseas Pakistanis remain an important part of the country’s economic strength and appreciated their continued support through financial transfers. The latest rise in remittances comes as Pakistan continues efforts to strengthen its external account, improve foreign exchange liquidity and maintain economic stability.

  A young man has been arrested in Kasur after allegedly shooting himself in the leg and staging a fake robbery in an attempt to avoid giving his salary to his family, according to police officials. The unusual incident has drawn attention due to the elaborate plan the suspect reportedly carried out to deceive both his relatives and law enforcement authorities. According to the police, the accused, identified as Adnan, had recently received his salary but did not want to hand over the money to his family as expected. Instead, he reportedly intended to use the money to purchase a new mobile phone. Fearing that his family would insist on receiving his earnings, he allegedly came up with a plan to fake a robbery in order to explain the disappearance of his salary. Police said that Adnan allegedly shot himself in the leg to make the fabricated robbery appear genuine. After sustaining the self-inflicted injury, he reportedly claimed that unidentified robbers had intercepted him, stolen his money, and opened fire before fleeing the scene. The incident initially appeared to be a case of armed robbery, prompting authorities to launch an investigation. However, as investigators examined the evidence and questioned the victim, inconsistencies began to emerge in his account of the incident. Police officers carefully reviewed the circumstances surrounding the alleged robbery and collected forensic and testimonial evidence. Their investigation eventually led them to conclude that the robbery had never taken place and that the injury had been deliberately self-inflicted as part of a staged incident. During the course of the investigation, police also uncovered the alleged involvement of three of Adnan’s friends. According to officials, the three men are accused of providing him with the firearm that was used in the incident. As a result, they were also taken into custody and are being questioned regarding their role in helping carry out the alleged plan. Police stated that the suspects now face legal action for allegedly misleading law enforcement, staging a false crime, and illegally facilitating the use of a firearm. Authorities emphasized that fabricating criminal incidents wastes valuable police resources and diverts attention away from genuine emergencies and victims who require immediate assistance. The case has generated widespread discussion on social media, where many users expressed surprise at the lengths to which the accused allegedly went to avoid giving his salary to his family. Others noted that personal financial disputes should be resolved honestly rather than through actions that could endanger lives and lead to criminal charges. Law enforcement officials reiterated that filing false reports and creating fake crime scenes are serious offenses that can result in legal consequences. They urged the public to cooperate with authorities by providing truthful information and avoiding actions that interfere with criminal investigations. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and police are expected to complete the legal process after gathering all relevant evidence and recording statements from those involved. Authorities have not yet disclosed additional details about the charges that will be filed, but they confirmed that both the main suspect and his three friends remain in custody as the investigation continues.

Rawalpindi: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has clarified that the recent statement made by Noreen Niazi regarding the “Battle of Truth” (Maarka-e-Haq) does not reflect the official policy of the party. Speaking to the media in Rawalpindi, Barrister Gohar emphasized that the remarks were Noreen Niazi’s personal views and should not be interpreted as PTI’s official position. During the media interaction, Barrister Gohar said that every Pakistani takes pride in the country’s success in what he described as the Maarka-e-Haq. He stressed that Pakistan’s defense is strong and capable of protecting the country from any external threat. According to him, the nation remains united when it comes to safeguarding its sovereignty, and no enemy has the ability to defeat Pakistan. Addressing questions about Noreen Niazi’s comments, Barrister Gohar explained that, according to the information available to him, the interview in question had actually been recorded around three months ago. He stated that the remarks expressed during that interview represented Noreen Niazi’s personal opinion and not the official stance of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. He reiterated that the party’s policies are determined through its official leadership and decision-making process, not through individual statements. The PTI chairman further said that the party has consistently been trying to improve the overall political atmosphere in the country. He noted that political leaders should avoid reopening old controversies and instead focus on reducing tensions. According to Barrister Gohar, this is a time for restraint and reconciliation rather than confrontation. He remarked that everyone should avoid revisiting past disputes if the goal is to create a more stable political environment. Speaking about the current political climate, Barrister Gohar also referred to comments made by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. He pointed out that the senior politician had already clarified his earlier remarks. Barrister Gohar observed that, during emotional speeches, public figures may sometimes say things that they later need to explain. However, he added that if a statement is incorrect, it should be acknowledged as such regardless of who made it. He further emphasized that certain sensitive matters should not be discussed publicly if doing so could worsen the political situation. According to him, some issues are better left untouched in order to help the country move toward greater political stability and national harmony. He urged political leaders and stakeholders to exercise caution in their public statements and avoid comments that could increase tensions. Barrister Gohar also spoke about PTI’s position regarding the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections. He stated that, at present, the party’s official decision is to boycott the elections. However, he indicated that the decision is not necessarily final and could be reviewed if political conditions improve in the future. He revealed that there had been internal discussions within the party about reconsidering the boycott. According to Barrister Gohar, some members believed that PTI should revisit its decision and participate in the elections. Nevertheless, he explained that the party leadership could not reach a consensus on changing the existing policy. As a result, the decision to boycott the AJK elections remains in place for now. The PTI chairman concluded by reiterating the party’s commitment to promoting political stability and constructive dialogue. He stressed that while differences of opinion are a normal part of politics, all political actors should prioritize national unity and work toward creating an environment that supports peace, democratic processes, and institutional stability.