Pakistani leadership arrives in Jeddah

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has blocked more than 1.54 million URLs linked to prohibited and unlawful content on social media platforms, according to official documents. The documents show that 1,065,671 URLs related to immoral content have been blocked. Another 563 URLs in the same category are under review, while 9,528 have been rejected. In the terrorism-related category, 179,285 URLs were referred for blocking, of which 141,897 URLs have been blocked. A further 23,241 URLs are currently under review. The documents also reveal that 136,891 URLs related to content deemed against the sanctity of Islam were processed by the authority. Similarly, 125,427 URLs concerning content considered against Pakistan’s security and defence were processed. Of these, 74,059 URLs were blocked. The PTA also processed 76,526 URLs under the category of sectarian and hate speech. In the proxy category, the authority processed 10,319 URLs, blocking 10,318 of them. Under the defamation and impersonation category, 44,200 URLs were processed, while 17,356 URLs were blocked. According to the documents, a total of 1,542,800 URLs across various categories have been blocked. Meanwhile, 76,874 URLs remain under review, while 106,629 URLs have been rejected. The figures reflect the PTA’s ongoing efforts to monitor and restrict online content that falls under Pakistan’s prohibited-content regulations.

MUZAFFARABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has reiterated that the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) alone should have the authority to determine their government and future, as political campaigning intensifies ahead of the second phase of the AJK elections. In a video message focusing on the Kashmiri people’s right to self-governance, Bilawal said his party was committed to ensuring that the residents of Azad Kashmir enjoy the same democratic rights as every citizen of Pakistan. “I want the people of Kashmir to receive the same rights that every Pakistani citizen enjoys,” Bilawal said, adding that the most fundamental of these rights is the right to sovereignty through the power of the vote. Explaining his vision, the PPP chairman said the true meaning of sovereignty is that every vote should be respected and accurately reflected in the election results. According to him, the public mandate must remain free from outside influence so that the will of the people prevails. Bilawal also stressed the need for greater representation of Azad Kashmir in national decision-making institutions. He argued that whenever key decisions are made regarding the region’s water resources, electricity or budgetary matters, Kashmir should have its own seat and an effective voice at the table. He maintained that stronger institutional representation would ensure that the interests of the people of Azad Kashmir are protected while promoting more inclusive governance. As part of his election campaign, Bilawal urged voters to support the PPP in the upcoming polls, asking them to stamp the party’s traditional arrow symbol on August 2. He said the election represented an opportunity for the people to safeguard their democratic rights and send a clear message that the future of Kashmir should be determined by its own citizens. The PPP chairman’s remarks come as political parties intensify their campaigns across Azad Kashmir ahead of polling, with issues of governance, development, constitutional rights and public representation dominating election debates. The second phase of the Azad Kashmir elections is expected to draw significant voter participation, with major political parties competing for crucial seats. Political analysts believe voter turnout and public confidence in the electoral process will play a decisive role in shaping the region’s next government and its political direction in the years ahead.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Sharmila Faruqui has alleged that her party believes in the power of the vote, while the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) relies on other means to secure political success. Speaking during a television programme on Monday, Faruqui claimed that an atmosphere of fear and intimidation was created in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), giving the impression that the election mandate had already been secured. She argued that announcements of development initiatives, including Green Bus projects, before polling day amounted to pre-poll rigging. According to her, even if the PML-N succeeds in forming a government in AJK with the current mandate, it will struggle to effectively serve the people. Faruqui also questioned the handling of polling in constituencies where the PPP traditionally enjoys strong public support. She alleged that polling staff arrived late in several such areas, raising concerns about the transparency of the electoral process. Referring to the killing of a PPP worker, she claimed that the incident was initially described as resulting from either a push or a heart attack, despite the party maintaining that the worker had been deliberately targeted. The PPP leader further said the AJK elections should not be viewed through the political lens of Lahore or Karachi, as the region has its own unique issues and priorities. She maintained that the people of Azad Kashmir have a longstanding bond with the PPP and asserted that no other political party enjoys the same level of public support in the region. The PML-N has not publicly responded to Faruqui’s allegations. Meanwhile, results from the second phase of the AJK elections continue to emerge, with the PML-N maintaining a clear lead according to unofficial results.

PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has announced that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will hold a major march towards Islamabad on September 27, claiming that two million people will participate in the demonstration. Speaking at the launch of a large-scale tree plantation campaign in Spin Khak, Nowshera, Afridi said PTI would continue its political struggle despite pressure and challenges. He maintained that government positions, wealth and political power were not the party’s ultimate objectives. According to him, PTI remained committed to the political vision of its founding chairman, Imran Khan. Afridi said the party had entered politics to promote the rule of law and uphold the Constitution. He added that the struggle would continue until these principles were achieved. The chief minister urged residents of Spin Khak and surrounding areas to participate in the September 27 gathering and support the party’s political campaign. During the event, Afridi also highlighted the provincial government’s environmental initiatives. He said authorities had initially set a target of planting 1.4 million saplings across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in one day, but the campaign ultimately resulted in around 1.7 million saplings being planted. He praised the Forest Department for exceeding the plantation target and said public resources were being invested in projects designed to benefit future generations. Afridi said communities in forest areas were also receiving financial benefits from forest-related income. He cited Garhi Chandan as an example, where local residents had received Rs70 million from such revenues. Referring to recent flash floods and cloudbursts, the chief minister directed authorities to expand plantation activities across the province. He said increasing forest cover could contribute to environmental protection and help address climate-related challenges. He also instructed the Forest Department to establish tourist huts in forest regions to promote tourism. Afridi suggested encouraging international visitors to plant trees during their visits, with the trees registered in their names