Pattaya City Holds Meeting on Preparations for Pattaya Marathon 2026 Next Month, Discusses Traffic Preparations and Road Closures

LAHORE: Secretary and Chief Administrator Auqaf Punjab Dr Ehsan Bhutta has urged Imams and Khateebs to play a broader role in promoting religious harmony, social cohesion and positive values, saying their responsibilities extend beyond leading prayers and delivering Friday sermons. Addressing the concluding ceremony of the 45th Quarterly Refresher Training Course for Imams and Khateebs at Aiwan-e-Auqaf in Lahore, Bhutta said the pulpit and mihrab were important platforms for the religious, moral, intellectual and spiritual development of society. He said 19 Khateebs from different parts of Punjab had successfully completed the mandatory three-month training programme required for promotion to the next grade. The course, he added, was designed not only to support professional progression but also to strengthen the participants’ religious knowledge, intellectual abilities, research skills and professional competence. Bhutta stressed that religious scholars must remain equipped to respond to emerging social challenges, changing societal needs and contemporary intellectual and jurisprudential questions. He called for greater emphasis on research, communication skills and modern approaches to religious guidance. The Auqaf secretary urged Khateebs to use Friday sermons, religious gatherings and public interactions to foster unity among Muslims, interfaith harmony, tolerance, brotherhood and mutual respect. He also called upon them to help counter sectarianism, extremism, intolerance, hate speech and divisions based on language or group identity. He said Islam promotes peace, justice, compassion, human dignity and harmonious relations within society. Religious scholars, he added, should present the teachings of the Holy Quran, Sunnah and Seerah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in a wise and meaningful manner while keeping contemporary circumstances in view. Referring to the growing influence of digital platforms, Bhutta said social media and other modern communication tools had become powerful means of shaping public opinion. He encouraged Imams and Khateebs to use these platforms responsibly to communicate the peaceful and universal message of Islam, particularly to young people and audiences around the world. He further urged religious scholars to contribute to efforts against misinformation, inflammatory material, hate speech and sectarian propaganda by promoting well-reasoned and constructive content. Bhutta said the Auqaf and Religious Affairs Department was continuing reforms aimed at improving transparency, merit and good governance in the management of mosques, shrines and Khanqahs. The department was also working to improve the welfare of Imams and Khateebs, expand their intellectual and professional training and enhance the quality of religious services. He said that under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s “Magnificent Punjab” vision, the department was stepping up efforts to strengthen peace, religious harmony, tolerance and positive social values across the province. He added that under the supervision of Chief Secretary Punjab Zahid Akhtar Zaman, administrative reforms, departmental performance and public facilitation initiatives were being made more systematic, effective and results-oriented.

Gold prices in Pakistan witnessed a significant decline on Thursday, providing relief to buyers as rates fell in line with the downward trend in the international bullion market. According to the All Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association, the price of one tola of gold decreased by Rs. 1,800, bringing the new rate down to Rs. 432,036 per tola. The price of 10 grams of gold also recorded a decline of Rs. 1,543, settling at Rs. 370,401 across the local market. The drop in domestic gold prices follows a decline in international bullion rates. In the global market, the price of gold fell by $18 per ounce, reaching $4,096 per ounce. Gold prices in Pakistan are influenced by fluctuations in international markets as well as movements in the exchange rate. Market analysts say changes in global demand, investor sentiment, and economic developments continue to impact bullion prices on a daily basis. Traders expect gold prices to remain sensitive to international market trends in the coming days, with further fluctuations possible depending on global economic data and investor activity.

    LAHORE – In a significant development in the high-profile murder case of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Abdullah Tahir, the police investigation has uncovered shocking details involving a sophisticated honey-trap operation and the use of drone cameras for surveillance. Abdullah Tahir, a prominent political figure, was gunned down in the upscale Gulberg area of Lahore just a few days ago, sending shockwaves through the political landscape and prompting widespread calls for a swift and transparent investigation. According to official police sources and investigative reports, the murder was not a random act of violence but a meticulously planned assassination that leveraged technology and human manipulation to track the victim’s movements. The breakthrough in the case came when investigators zeroed in on the victim’s personal driver, who has become a pivotal figure in the unfolding narrative. Police interrogation and digital forensics have revealed that the driver was systematically honey-trapped by a female accomplice working in tandem with the primary suspects. The investigation has established that the female suspect initiated contact with Abdullah Tahir’s driver through a popular social media application. Over a period of several days, she allegedly cultivated a rapport with the driver, gaining his trust and extracting crucial information about his employer’s daily routines, security arrangements, and travel schedules. The use of social media as a tool for reconnaissance highlights the increasing sophistication of criminal networks in Pakistan, which are now exploiting digital platforms to orchestrate targeted killings. The most damning evidence, however, emerged from the timeline of the day of the murder. Police sources confirm that on the fateful day, after the driver had accompanied Abdullah Tahir to his clinic, a video call was placed between the driver and the female suspect. During this call, the suspects are believed to have instructed the driver to confirm the victim’s presence at the clinic in real-time. The video call effectively served as a live verification mechanism, allowing the hitmen to ensure that their target was indeed on the premises before they moved in to execute the attack. This revelation underscores the calculated and cold-blooded nature of the conspiracy. Furthermore, the investigative team has uncovered evidence that the suspects deployed a drone camera to conduct aerial surveillance of the clinic and its surroundings prior to the assassination. The drone was reportedly used to map out the location, identify potential escape routes, and monitor the movement of security personnel or any other individuals who could interfere with the operation. The use of drone technology in this case represents a disturbing new trend in criminal activity, indicating that the perpetrators had access to advanced equipment and technical expertise, possibly hinting at a larger network behind the killing. The recovery of digital data from the driver’s mobile phone, including chat logs, call records, and multimedia files, has been instrumental in piecing together the conspiracy. The police have also detained the female suspect for interrogation, and efforts are underway to trace the other accomplices who participated in the planning and execution of the murder. Preliminary investigations suggest that the suspects operated with a high degree of coordination, using encrypted communication methods to avoid detection.   Abdullah Tahir’s murder has already become a politically charged issue, with his party, the PTI, demanding a high-level judicial inquiry and condemning what they describe as a failure of state institutions to protect their leaders. The party has also alleged that the killing may be linked to political vendettas, though the police have so far refrained from assigning a political motive to the crime, stating that all angles are being explored. As the investigation continues, the focus remains on capturing the masterminds and executing the attack. The police have assured the public and the political leadership that no effort will be spared in bringing the culprits to justice. The use of honey-trapping and drone surveillance in this case has not only complicated the investigation but has also raised serious questions about the safety of public figures in an era of rapidly evolving technological threats. The authorities are now reviewing security protocols for VIPs and considering stricter regulations on the use of drones and surveillance equipment to prevent similar incidents in the future.

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.