PML-N accuses Gujrat police of political victimisation after rally FIR

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has accused international broadcaster Al Jazeera of presenting a misleading picture of the recently held Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections, alleging that its coverage selectively portrayed the electoral process. In an official statement, the ministry said the broadcaster reported from selected polling stations in Muzaffarabad and relied on carefully chosen interviews and timings that did not accurately reflect the overall conduct of the elections. It claimed the reporting created a distorted impression of the voting process and failed to represent the broader electoral environment. The ministry further alleged that such coverage appeared aimed at undermining the credibility of the elections and ignoring what it described as the democratic will expressed by voters across the region. It maintained that the people of AJK had exercised their right to vote despite political tensions. Alongside its criticism of the coverage, the ministry reminded foreign media organisations operating in Pakistan that reporting assignments outside Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi require prior approval under the country’s External Publicity Guidelines. It urged all foreign correspondents to comply with the regulations governing reporting in other parts of the country. The AJK elections, however, remained under intense scrutiny after allegations of irregularities and isolated incidents of violence emerged during polling. Opposition parties accused authorities of interfering in the electoral process, while the ruling coalition exchanged allegations of rigging and misuse of state resources. Human rights organisations also expressed concern over reports of deaths and injuries linked to election-related unrest. They called for transparent and independent investigations into the incidents and stressed that maintaining public order should not come at the expense of fundamental rights, including peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. The elections were held against the backdrop of political unrest that has continued in AJK since last year’s protests over governance reforms and constitutional issues. The controversy surrounding reserved refugee seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly also remained a major political issue during the campaign.

The Supreme Court has issued a landmark ruling concerning women’s rights, declaring that a woman’s right to seek khula (judicial divorce) is a constitutional right and that violence against a woman exercising this right amounts to an attack on the Constitution. A three-member bench of the Supreme Court dismissed the jail petition filed by convict Waseem Abbas and upheld his death sentence. Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar authored the four-page detailed judgment. According to the judgment, women are fully protected under Articles 9, 14 and 25 of the Constitution, which guarantee their security, dignity and equal rights. The court said that anyone who uses violence against a woman seeking khula would face the full force of the law. It observed that killing a woman for exercising her legal right is an act of brutality and open defiance of the law. The Supreme Court further ruled that a convict involved in a cold-blooded and planned murder does not deserve any concession. The judgment also clarified that the testimony of relatives cannot automatically be rejected in cases involving crimes committed within the privacy of a home. The court said forensic evidence recovered from the crime scene provided conclusive evidence against the accused. The forensic examination established a match between the recovered bullet casings and the pistol linked to the crime. The Supreme Court found no legal or factual flaw in the decisions of the lower courts and upheld the death sentence awarded to Waseem Abbas. According to the case record, Waseem Abbas shot and killed his former wife, Shehnaz Bibi, on October 11, 2020. She had obtained a legal khula decree from a family court before the incident. The convict allegedly entered the woman’s home and killed her around 48 hours after she obtained the decree. A trial court subsequently sentenced Abbas to death and awarded him 10 years in prison. The Lahore High Court later upheld the death sentence.

The Anti-Corruption Department has conducted an inquiry into alleged irregularities and appointments to key positions at Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC), raising questions over the appointment procedures and eligibility of several candidates. The inquiry report identified alleged violations of rules and regulations in appointments to important positions, including Director Finance, Chief Internal Auditor, Director Supply Chain, and Director Research and Clinical Audit. According to the report, a person was appointed as Director Finance despite allegedly failing to meet the prescribed eligibility criteria. The inquiry also found that the candidate who secured the top position on merit for the post of Chief Internal Auditor was allegedly overlooked. The report further stated that the appointment of the Director Supply Chain was made despite the candidate allegedly not meeting the required technical expertise criteria. Similarly, the inquiry raised objections to the appointment of the Director Research and Clinical Audit, stating that the appointee allegedly did not meet the required eligibility criteria. The Anti-Corruption Department said the appointments allegedly violated provisions of the Medical Teaching Institutions (MTI) Act and relevant rules and regulations. Based on its findings, the inquiry recommended that the disputed appointments be cancelled. The report also recommended action against the Chairman and members of the Board of Governors, along with other officials allegedly involved in the appointment process. According to the inquiry report, the disputed appointments remained in place for around three years, allegedly causing a financial loss of approximately Rs150 million to the public exchequer. The inquiry recommended recovering the alleged financial loss from the individuals responsible. The Anti-Corruption Department has also recommended verification of the educational qualifications, professional experience and certificates of the officials concerned. The verification is aimed at determining whether the documents submitted by the candidates at the time of their appointments met the prescribed criteria and were in accordance with the relevant rules. The matter has already been under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Department. A petition challenging appointments to key posts, including Director Finance, Chief Internal Auditor and Director Supply Chain, is also pending before the Peshawar High Court.

The Lahore High Court has dismissed a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) seeking permission to hold a public gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan. Justice Mirza Waqas Rauf announced the written decision on a petition filed by Mian Usman Akram. The petitioner had asked the court to allow the party to hold a rally at Minar-e-Pakistan. He argued that refusing permission for the gathering violated the constitutional right to peaceful assembly. The petition referred to Article 16 of the Constitution. The article protects the right of citizens to assemble peacefully and without arms, subject to reasonable restrictions imposed by law. The court, however, noted that the right to peaceful assembly does not mean that every gathering can be held without following the relevant legal procedure. Under the applicable law, permission for a public gathering is granted through the relevant administrative authorities. The deputy commissioner is responsible for considering such requests and issuing an NOC where required. During the proceedings, the government’s lawyer informed the court that a meeting had already been held under the deputy commissioner to consider the PTI’s request. The meeting reviewed the security and law and order situation in the area. Officials recommended that the proposed rally should not be allowed because of security concerns. The written judgment also noted the nature of Minar-e-Pakistan as a public place. The court observed that the site is regularly visited by citizens for recreational and other public activities. According to the government’s submission, the deputy commissioner had already taken a decision on the PTI’s application. The request for permission to hold the rally was rejected on August 3. The court observed that the administrative authority had already decided the matter. Therefore, the petition could not be entertained as a request for permission that was still pending before the deputy commissioner. The Lahore High Court consequently dismissed the petition.