Pakistan exempted from US visa bond requirement 

KARACHI: Internal differences within Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) intensified on Sunday after supporters of two rival factions allegedly clashed outside the party’s Bahadurabad headquarters in Karachi, leaving at least three people injured. According to reports, tensions between supporters of the groups associated with MQM-P Chairman Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and senior leader Mustafa Kamal escalated following a party meeting. The confrontation turned violent as workers allegedly exchanged slogans, engaged in physical fighting, and pelted stones at each other. Witnesses also reported aerial firing near the Bahadurabad headquarters during the unrest, creating panic in the area. Three people sustained injuries during the clashes. Senior MQM-P leader Dr Farooq Sattar said the dispute erupted after a meeting of party leaders at the Bahadurabad office. Speaking to the media, he alleged that supporters of one faction assaulted MPA Ejaz-ul-Haq and party leader Zakir. He further claimed that party leaders Mangla Sharma and Sabeen Ghori were also mistreated during the incident. MQM-P leader Amin Ul Haque alleged that one party worker was injured in the firing, while several others suffered injuries due to stone-pelting. He also claimed that extensive vandalism took place inside the party office and that the office’s DVR recording system was taken away. Amin Ul Haque said the matter had reached a point where it could no longer be ignored and called the incident deeply concerning for the party. Meanwhile, Dr Farooq Sattar later arrived at the Bahadurabad headquarters following the clashes as senior party leaders attempted to assess the situation and address the growing internal crisis.

Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has rejected the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) allegations of rigging in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections, saying the claims are baseless and unsupported by credible evidence. Speaking at a media briefing in Islamabad, Tarar said political parties have the right to raise concerns about elections, but such allegations should be backed by concrete proof rather than speculation or political statements. He urged the PPP to accept the election results with political maturity and respect the democratic mandate of the people. The minister said political point-scoring is common during election campaigns, but parties should focus on serving the public instead of making accusations without evidence. He maintained that the election results reflected the will of the people and should be accepted by all stakeholders. Responding to criticism from Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Tarar questioned the basis of the PPP’s allegations and asked the party to present evidence if it believed electoral irregularities had occurred. He said making serious accusations without proof damages the democratic process and undermines public confidence in institutions. Tarar said the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir voted for the party that presented a stronger development agenda and remained committed to public welfare. According to him, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) centred its election campaign on development projects, better public services and addressing the needs of the people, which earned the confidence of voters. He also advised the PPP to review its own governance performance instead of blaming others for its electoral defeat. He said political parties should learn from election results and strengthen their public outreach rather than questioning the democratic process without evidence. The information minister said the AJK elections were conducted through a complete democratic process. He noted that voters actively participated in election rallies, corner meetings and polling, reflecting the public’s confidence in the electoral system. Tarar recalled that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had congratulated the PPP after its victory in the Gilgit-Baltistan elections, describing it as an example of democratic values, political tolerance and respect for the public mandate. He said all political parties should demonstrate the same spirit by accepting election outcomes gracefully. The minister added that the PML-N leadership, including party president Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, ran a united and well-organised campaign in AJK. He said the coordinated campaign and focus on development helped the party secure widespread public support. His remarks came after PPP leaders announced that they would challenge the AJK election results through constitutional and legal forums, alleging widespread irregularities during the polling process. The PPP has demanded investigations and re-elections in constituencies where it believes electoral violations took place.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has resumed issuing visit visas to Pakistani citizens applying through registered travel agents, ending months of uncertainty for travelers and offering fresh hope to families, tourists and business visitors. The move has been confirmed by travel industry representatives and a UAE Embassy official, who said visit visas for holders of ordinary Pakistani passports are once again being processed through authorized travel agencies. The resumption comes after months of delays, stricter scrutiny and a higher rejection rate that had created difficulties for thousands of Pakistani applicants. Although UAE authorities repeatedly maintained that no blanket ban had been imposed on Pakistani nationals, many travelers experienced lengthy processing times and uncertainty over visa approvals. Travel experts say the biggest improvement has been seen in family applications. Pakistani citizens traveling with family members or visiting relatives in the UAE are reportedly receiving faster responses than before, reflecting a more streamlined processing system. Officials from the travel industry also noted that tourism-related bookings have started to recover as confidence returns. Passenger traffic between Pakistan and Dubai, which had dropped significantly during recent regional tensions and stricter visa checks, has begun to increase in recent weeks, although it remains below previous peak levels. Applicants seeking a UAE visit visa are advised to apply only through registered travel agents and ensure all required documents are complete. A valid passport, recent photographs, proof of accommodation or an invitation from a host, return travel arrangements and evidence of sufficient financial resources are among the documents generally required for processing. Industry representatives believe applicants with complete and genuine documentation are more likely to receive approvals, while family applications currently appear to have stronger prospects.