Pakistan’s Young Taekwondo stars shine in Singapore

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader and Member of the National Assembly Shazia Marri has strongly criticised the federal government over the deaths of newborn babies in the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) fire, calling the incident a serious example of administrative negligence. In a statement, Marri said innocent children had lost their lives, yet no one appeared to be taking responsibility for the tragedy. She alleged that ordinary citizens were paying the price for what she described as incompetence and poor management by the federal government. Marri demanded that those responsible for the incident be identified and proceeded against according to the law. She questioned the federal health minister’s position, asking what justification there was for remaining in office if the minister could not ensure the safety and proper administration of a major government hospital. The PPP leader said the deaths of newborns could not simply be dismissed as an accident while ignoring possible administrative failures. She called for a transparent and impartial investigation into the PIMS fire and urged authorities to determine whether negligence or shortcomings in hospital management contributed to the loss of lives. Marri also questioned the hospital’s fire safety arrangements and emergency response. She asked where the required safety measures were when the fire broke out and why immediate rescue and emergency procedures could not prevent the deaths. The PPP leader demanded strict legal action against anyone found responsible following the investigation. She said the federal government should accept responsibility for the incident and ensure justice for the families who lost their children. Marri described the loss of innocent lives as irreparable and said those found guilty of negligence should not be given any concession. Her remarks came amid widespread public anger following the PIMS tragedy, which has prompted demands for accountability, improved fire safety systems and stronger emergency preparedness at government hospitals.

KARACHI: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) has served a legal notice on former Federal Board of Revenue chairman Shabbar Zaidi. The party is seeking Rs1 billion in damages over remarks it says harmed its reputation. The notice relates to allegations made by Zaidi about the political party and its role in public protests. JI said the former FBR chief made the remarks during a podcast and later repeated them on different social media platforms. According to the party, the notice was issued on July 27 through Advocate Tahir Iqbal Malik. It was sent on the instructions of JI Karachi General Secretary Taufiquddin Siddiqui. JI has accused Zaidi of making serious and damaging claims. The party says the allegations suggested that it had received money to weaken or suppress public protests and political issues. The party also objected to comments in which Zaidi allegedly described JI as an “establishment firewall”. According to JI, the remarks created an impression that the party was working to dilute public concerns and protests. The legal notice claims that the statements included allegations of secret funding, bribery, corruption and political misconduct. It also alleges that the remarks suggested coordination between the party and state institutions. JI has demanded that Zaidi provide evidence to support his claims. The party has asked him to identify the person who allegedly made the payment and the individual who supposedly received it. The notice also seeks details about the alleged amount, including when and where the payment was made. JI has asked for information about the method of payment and any bank records or financial documents linked to the allegation. The party has further demanded evidence concerning the alleged protest or public issue. It has asked for the names of witnesses and any documents, recordings or other material that could support the claims. JI also wants Zaidi to disclose the source of the information on which his allegations were based. The party has said the claims should be backed by verifiable evidence. When approached for a response, Zaidi said he had forwarded the legal notice to his lawyer. He said he would seek legal advice on the matter. The dispute could now move into a legal phase if the former FBR chairman does not respond to the notice in the manner demanded by the party.

The federal cabinet meeting scheduled to be chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been postponed due to his official visit to Saudi Arabia, according to government sources. The meeting was expected to discuss important national and administrative matters. However, it has been deferred as the prime minister is leaving for a two-day official visit to the Kingdom. Sources said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will depart for Saudi Arabia later today. During the visit, he is expected to hold a high-level meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The two leaders are likely to review the strong and longstanding relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Discussions will focus on expanding bilateral cooperation in various sectors, including trade, investment, energy and economic collaboration. Regional and international developments will also feature prominently in the talks. Both leaders are expected to exchange views on the evolving situation in the Middle East and other issues of mutual concern. They will also discuss ways to enhance coordination on matters affecting regional peace, stability and security. The visit reflects the close strategic partnership between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The two countries maintain strong political, economic and defence ties, while Saudi Arabia has remained one of Pakistan’s key allies and economic partners. Officials said the federal cabinet meeting will be rescheduled after the prime minister returns from Saudi Arabia. A new date for the meeting is expected to be announced in due course.

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has rejected a proposed deduction of Rs6.4 billion from the province’s federal financial transfers. Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said the federal government had sought an additional amount from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa before the provincial budget. The provincial government had linked the release of the additional funds to a meeting with PTI founder Imran Khan and his approval. Afridi said the KP government neither approved nor agreed to the proposed deduction of Rs6.4 billion. He said the additional federal grant had also not been included in the provincial budget for the 2026-27 financial year. The chief minister said the matter was not merely a political dispute but concerned the province’s constitutional and financial rights. He maintained that Article 164 of the Constitution does not give the federal government the authority to unilaterally deduct money payable to a province. According to Afridi, any such deduction requires a clear constitutional or legal basis as well as the consent of the provincial government. He said the Finance Department had clearly conveyed its disagreement with the proposed deduction in a letter issued on August 13. Written instructions were also issued that no deduction should be made without the province’s consent. Afridi said Finance Adviser Muzammil Aslam immediately met the relevant officials of the Accountant General KP. The Accountant General of Pakistan Revenues was also directed not to record or implement any transaction without the clear consent of the provincial government. The chief minister said the provincial government had decided to prepare a summary and ordinance under the 7th National Finance Commission (NFC) after the province did not receive its share for six months. He said the provincial government did not sign the memorandum of understanding concerning the additional amount because a meeting with the PTI founder was not arranged. Afridi said the KP government had already approached the Federal Constitutional Court to seek its constitutional rights under the National Finance Commission. He made it clear that the provincial government would not compromise on its NFC rights. The chief minister further said the federal government had no authority to unilaterally deduct money on the basis of an unapproved memorandum of understanding. He vowed that the provincial government would use every legal and constitutional avenue to protect its rights and defend every rupee of its financial share. Afridi also said that if the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) achieved its Rs15.26 trillion tax collection target, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s share would amount to approximately Rs175 billion. He added that providing the merged districts with their rightful share under the 11th NFC was also one of the provincial government’s conditions.