Police SWAT Team Takes Down One of Thailand’s Most Wanted Murder Suspects

PESHAWAR: Two police personnel sustained minor injuries after an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded near a police vehicle in Peshawar on Sunday, officials said. The blast occurred near Pir Zakorhi Bridge, close to the Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway toll plaza, where a police van was travelling on routine duty. The explosion damaged the vehicle and left the driver and a police constable with minor injuries. Rescue teams and law enforcement officials quickly reached the site and shifted the injured officers to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. Authorities said both policemen were in stable condition and suffered only minor wounds. The Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU) launched a search operation in the surrounding area after the explosion. Initial findings suggested that the explosive device had been planted along the roadside in a green belt and was detonated as the police vehicle passed by. Security personnel thoroughly scanned the area to ensure no additional explosive devices were present. Police cordoned off the scene and began collecting evidence to determine those responsible for the attack. An investigation has been launched, while officials are examining the nature of the explosive and the method used in the incident. The latest attack comes amid a surge in militant violence across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In recent days, several security personnel have lost their lives in separate terrorist attacks and counterterrorism operations in different parts of the province.

Senior Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb has said that the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir have already made their political choice in favour of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). In a statement, Aurangzeb said Mirpur had given its verdict in favour of the PML-N on July 24. She linked the decision to the visit of PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif and party leader Maryam Nawaz to the city. According to Aurangzeb, the response from the people of Mirpur showed their support for the PML-N leadership. She said the people had made their choice clear through their political support. Aurangzeb said the PML-N’s electoral symbol, the lion, had also received strong support. She claimed that by voting for the lion symbol, the people had formally expressed their belief that the development of Azad Jammu and Kashmir was connected with the PML-N. She said the party was committed to the progress and development of the region. Aurangzeb maintained that the public response in different areas was an indication of growing support for the PML-N. The senior provincial minister also referred to the situation in Muzaffarabad. She said the people of Muzaffarabad had already announced their decision on July 21. Aurangzeb said the political choices made in Mirpur and Muzaffarabad reflected the direction of the election campaign. She suggested that the response from voters in both areas had strengthened the PML-N’s position. She further said August 2 would be an important day for the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. According to her, voters would use the lion symbol to formally announce their decision through the ballot. Aurangzeb urged Kashmiris to vote for the PML-N and support its leadership. She presented the party as a force for development and progress in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The statement comes amid the ongoing electoral activity in the region. Political parties are campaigning to win the support of voters ahead of the final voting process. Aurangzeb’s remarks underline the PML-N’s focus on development as a central theme of its campaign. She said the people’s vote would determine the future political direction of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The minister expressed confidence that voters would reaffirm their support for the PML-N on August 2 by voting for the lion symbol.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has urged Arab and Islamic countries to stand together to protect Al-Aqsa Mosque and defend the rights of the Palestinian people amid the worsening situation in occupied Jerusalem and the West Bank. Speaking at a ministerial meeting on Jerusalem in Amman, Jordan, Dar said Muslim nations must adopt a united and coordinated approach to preserve the sanctity of Jerusalem’s holy sites. He stressed that immediate action is needed to stop violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque and maintain the site’s historical and legal status. Dar said the international community must ensure unrestricted access to Jerusalem’s holy places and prevent any attempts to alter their religious or historical character. He added that continued Israeli actions threaten regional stability and undermine prospects for a lasting peace. The foreign minister strongly opposed Israeli settlement expansion, annexation efforts, forced displacement of Palestinians and demographic changes in the occupied territories, including East Jerusalem. He said such measures violate international law and several United Nations Security Council resolutions. He also called for the complete implementation of the Gaza peace plan and all relevant UN resolutions. Dar welcomed diplomatic efforts by the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye, expressing hope that all parties would honour their commitments and move the peace process forward. Referring to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Dar said the ceasefire had brought limited relief, but conditions remained critical. He noted that millions of Palestinians continue to face severe food shortages, displacement and insecurity despite recent progress. Dar urged Muslim countries to strengthen diplomatic efforts to ensure international protection for Palestinians and hold those responsible for violations of international law accountable. He said justice and respect for international law are essential for achieving sustainable peace. Reaffirming Pakistan’s longstanding support for Palestine, Dar said Israel has no sovereignty over occupied East Jerusalem or its Islamic and Christian holy sites. He reiterated Pakistan’s support for the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. The minister also warned that continued attacks on religious sites could inflame tensions across the Muslim world and increase the risk of wider regional conflict. The ministerial meeting concluded with a joint declaration by Arab and Muslim foreign ministers announcing the creation of a permanent mechanism to document Israeli violations in Jerusalem and at its Islamic and Christian holy sites. The mechanism will include a media platform to record incidents involving worshippers and religious sites and present documented evidence before international organisations and the global community. The declaration reaffirmed that East Jerusalem remains an occupied territory and rejected all unilateral measures aimed at changing its legal or demographic status. It also stressed that a two-state solution remains the only viable path to lasting peace in the region. On the sidelines of the meeting, Dar held separate discussions with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Türkiye, Jordan and Somalia. The meetings focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation, reviewing regional developments and coordinating diplomatic efforts on the Palestinian issue.