Pakistan’s Commonwealth campaign ends with one medal

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has strongly criticised the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) over its allegations of rigging in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections. Maryam responded to criticism from PPP leaders in a social media post on Wednesday. She accused the PPP of being behind what she described as “subtle rigging” and questioned its decision to complain about electoral irregularities. “The mastermind of subtle rigging is crying foul over rigging,” Maryam said in her post. She then added a sarcastic question about when doomsday would arrive. Her remarks came after PPP Central Punjab General Secretary Hassan Murtaza accused the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of manipulating the AJK election process. Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Murtaza alleged that electoral rules had been repeatedly violated during the polls. He also criticised the role of the Election Commission. He claimed that the commission had acted like an election agent instead of performing its constitutional responsibilities. Murtaza accused the PML-N of setting a new example of electoral rigging. He said his party had been treated unfairly during the elections. The PPP leader also criticised the political activities of the PML-N leadership in AJK. Without directly naming Maryam Nawaz, Murtaza referred to her father, Nawaz Sharif. He said Sharif had gone to Kashmir and expressed a desire to become prime minister. Murtaza argued that if the PML-N leadership was now seeking the AJK premiership, it was only possible because of the PPP’s political role. He also defended Nawaz Sharif and said the PPP respected the former prime minister. Murtaza claimed that the PML-N had itself reduced Sharif’s political standing by offering him a position as chairman of an institution in Lahore while he was seeking the AJK premiership. The PPP leader then shifted his criticism to Punjab’s governance and public services. He claimed that thousands of acres of farmland between Shahdara and Muridke had been inundated. According to Murtaza, water had reached several feet in some agricultural areas. He said the damage was not caused by a major flood. Instead, he blamed a breach in a drain embankment. Murtaza also criticised the Punjab government’s claims about Lahore’s development. He argued that the city’s infrastructure remained vulnerable to heavy rainfall. He said several roads turned into what he described as drainage channels after only a few hours of rain. The PPP leader blamed government decisions for creating difficulties for citizens. He also criticised the import of one million metric tonnes of wheat. Murtaza claimed that the imported wheat was worth around Rs1 trillion. He questioned the government’s economic decisions and argued that citizens deserved better public services. He said taxes collected from the public should be used to provide essential facilities. He also called on the government to fulfil its responsibility toward citizens. The political dispute comes amid growing tensions between the PPP and PML-N over the AJK elections. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has also alleged irregularities in the first phase of the AJK elections. The PML-N, however, has rejected allegations of rigging and defended the election results. Maryam Nawaz has previously urged political opponents to accept defeat rather than make allegations of electoral manipulation

The mystery surrounding the death of young businessman Mir Raza Ali Khan remains unresolved as investigators continue to examine evidence, while the victim’s family insists he was murdered and has raised questions about the findings of the preliminary medical report. Mir Raza’s father, Hussain Raza, has rejected the possibility of suicide. He claimed his son was killed and alleged that attempts were being made to present the case as a suicide. He expressed concern over the medical report, saying it mentioned only the gunshot injury and did not describe what he believes were signs of physical violence on his son’s body. According to the father, Mir Raza had injuries on his face, hands and other parts of his body. He also claimed his son was shot from behind and questioned why the report did not include details of the alleged injuries. He further asked investigators to explain what happened during the period between his son’s disappearance on July 28 and the recovery of his body the following day. He said Mir Raza had spoken to his sister before leaving home and appeared to be in good spirits. The taxi driver who transported him also reportedly told investigators that Mir Raza seemed relaxed and was listening to music during the journey. The family has appealed to senior authorities for a transparent and impartial investigation. The investigation has made further progress with the recovery of another CCTV recording showing Mir Raza’s movements before his death. The footage reportedly captures him taking his mobile phone out of his pocket and throwing it away. Investigators are conducting forensic and technical analysis of the video to determine its significance. Police said the preliminary medical examination found that Mir Raza died from a gunshot wound to the chest. However, the firearm used in the incident and the spent bullet casing have not yet been recovered, leaving investigators without key physical evidence. As part of the ongoing investigation, police are also looking into Mir Raza’s financial dealings. Initial inquiries suggest he had borrowed money from several individuals. Authorities are preparing a list of those people and are questioning them to determine whether any financial dispute may have contributed to the incident. Investigators have so far included 12 individuals in the inquiry and recorded statements from 15 people connected to the case. Earlier CCTV footage showed Mir Raza leaving his shop in Bahadurabad during the early hours after taking a security guard’s pistol from a drawer. He later returned home, where he left behind his car, smartwatch, house keys and Rs39,000 before booking an online taxi. Further footage showed him traveling alone to Gulistan-e-Jauhar. Investigators believe he switched off his mobile phone near Johar Mor before reaching Block 2, where he was last traced.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has expressed deep grief over the deaths of newborn babies in the fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad. Bilawal said mothers carry their children for nine months and never expect them to become victims of negligence after birth. He described the deaths of the newborns as one of the most tragic incidents and said the parents, whose hopes were extinguished shortly after their children were born, were now seeking justice. “Those parents whose hopes were extinguished as soon as they were lit are helplessly demanding justice,” Bilawal said. He also criticised the government over what he described as failures in administration and management, saying innocent citizens were paying the price for institutional shortcomings. The tragedy occurred after a fire broke out in the nursery area of PIMS, resulting in the deaths of 15 newborn babies. The incident has triggered widespread grief and calls for accountability. According to an initial report prepared by the PIMS administration, an oxygen-related device near an incubator in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) reportedly burst, causing oxygen to catch fire. The report said the fire generated heavy smoke, which entered the babies’ breathing system through connected pipes. It stated that the infants died due to a combination of oxygen interruption, smoke exposure and burns. The initial findings indicated that the fire was initially limited but spread rapidly. However, officials have given different preliminary accounts regarding the cause of the fire. Rescue authorities and hospital officials initially said the blaze was linked to an air-conditioner compressor, while the hospital’s preliminary report pointed to an oxygen-related device. The presence of oxygen cylinders and equipment in the intensive care area reportedly contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. One newborn was reportedly rescued from the affected area. The tragedy has also raised questions about emergency response and the presence of staff in the nursery. Parents and eyewitnesses alleged that staff members were absent when the fire broke out and claimed that doors were closed, making evacuation more difficult. They also questioned the response time of rescue services. PIMS Executive Director rejected the allegation that staff were absent from the intensive care unit. He said two doctors, four nurses and other staff members were present in the ICU when the incident occurred. He also maintained that the hospital had an adequate fire safety system. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) also said its rescue teams reached the hospital promptly after receiving information about the fire. According to the authority, the teams brought the blaze under control and shifted the affected children to the intensive care unit. Meanwhile, the bodies of the infants who died in the tragedy have been handed over to their families. The incident has prompted authorities to launch a formal investigation. The district administration has constituted an eight-member inquiry committee to examine the circumstances surrounding the fire. The committee has been directed to submit its findings within 24 hours. Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has also offered himself for accountability over the incident and said no person found responsible for negligence would be spared. The conflicting preliminary accounts about the cause of the fire, along with allegations concerning staffing and emergency response, are expected to be examined by the inquiry committee.