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The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Monday granted transit pre-arrest bail to Noreen Niazi, sister of incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, in a case registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2016. The court directed Niazi to approach the relevant Islamabad court by August 20 for further legal proceedings. Her protective relief will remain effective until that date. Justice Arshad Ali heard Niazi’s petition. Her legal team included Ali Zaman, Amir Zeb and Barrister Sarwar Muzaffar Shah. The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) registered the case in Islamabad on July 27. Niazi has been accused of making allegedly derogatory and inflammatory remarks about state institutions during a podcast and in video clips later circulated on social media. Her lawyers rejected the allegations and maintained that she had been falsely implicated. They argued that the case was politically motivated and that the authorities had not presented substantial evidence linking her to the alleged offences. The defence further claimed that attempts were being made to arrest and harass Niazi. The lawyers said the statements cited in the case had been taken out of context and wrongly interpreted. In its order, the PHC observed that the request for transit bail deserved consideration. The court subsequently granted interim protection subject to bail bonds of Rs80,000 and two sureties. Niazi later spoke to reporters and said she became aware of the case after arriving in Peshawar. She claimed that remarks she had made privately were allegedly passed on to authorities and subsequently became the basis of the case. She also alleged that several cases had been registered against members of Imran Khan’s family. Niazi questioned the allegations against her, saying she had never visited Peshawar and therefore had no involvement in matters concerning the province. The case emerged after the NCCIA summoned Niazi on July 20 over allegations involving the dissemination of what the agency described as false, offensive and inflammatory content concerning state institutions. The action followed the circulation of a video interview in which Niazi discussed the Pakistan-India military confrontation of last year. She made allegations about the circumstances surrounding the conflict and questioned the motives behind it. She also made claims involving Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israel and US President Donald Trump.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Monday inaugurated the National Press Club’s (NPC) new website and announced the establishment of a modern digital lab at the club within the next two months to enhance journalists’ digital skills. Addressing the launch ceremony, Tarar said digital transformation had become essential for media institutions and stressed the need for journalists to equip themselves with emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), digital media and modern reporting techniques. He said the government was committed to addressing journalists’ welfare issues, including job security, timely payment of salaries, housing, restoration of health cards and other welfare initiatives. He also announced efforts to partner with an academic institution to provide professional digital skills training for media professionals. The minister said the government was aware of the financial challenges facing the media industry and emphasized the need for a comprehensive policy to protect journalists’ jobs and livelihoods. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to media freedom and pledged continued support for strengthening the country’s print and electronic media. NPC President Abdul Razzaq Sial welcomed the minister and urged the government to resolve longstanding issues faced by journalists, including housing quotas, health cards, special grants and pending dues. NPC Secretary Dr. Furqan Rao said the newly launched website would digitalize members’ records, improve transparency and enable journalists to update their professional profiles online. During the ceremony, the National Press Club awarded Tarar honorary membership and the minister distributed certificates among participants who completed a month-long digital training programme organized by the club.

Medical board sources have revealed that injection marks were found on the arm and wrist of one of the two women who died at Township Police Station in Lahore. According to sources, around three and a half hours passed between the time the women were brought to the police station and their deaths. The sources said there was no significant difference in the post-mortem reports of the two women. The exact cause of death, however, has not yet been established. Police sources said the two women were not searched after being brought to the police station. They added that no female police personnel were present when the women were brought to the station. According to sources, both women were brought to the police station following a call made to emergency helpline 15. They reportedly remained seated near the station’s muharrir for around two hours. The muharrir was preparing to send the women to the female lock-up when the situation changed, sources said. Police officials said a case had been registered and the women were subsequently handed over to the investigation wing. They were reportedly being prepared for transfer to jail when both women collapsed. Sources further said there was no CCTV camera installed in the room of the investigation wing where the women were present. Police said female officers assigned to the station were deployed on duty at Data Darbar at the time. Officials maintained that women are searched before being placed in the female lock-up. Meanwhile, medical experts have suggested that the women may have died after consuming or being given a poisonous substance. Experts said the actual cause of death can be determined through forensic examination of samples collected during the investigation. The deaths have raised questions about the circumstances in which the women died while in police custody. Authorities are expected to rely on forensic evidence, post-mortem findings and other available evidence to establish the exact cause of death.