School Shooting Update: 7 Dead 20 Injured at Nonthaburi Middle School

The investigation into the death of 25-year-old businessman Mir Raza Ali has taken a new turn after police added a murder charge to the case and reconstituted the team handling the probe. Ali’s body was discovered in bushes in Karachi’s Gulistan-i-Jauhar on July 29, a day after he was reported missing. His family has maintained from the outset that he was abducted, subjected to torture and killed, while the initial police investigation had considered the possibility of suicide. The latest development came after a second post-mortem examination produced findings that differed from the initial medical report. According to an order issued by the Sindh Inspector General of Police’s office, the investigation team has been reorganised following the findings of the second autopsy. The first information report (FIR), initially registered under Section 365 of the Pakistan Penal Code for kidnapping, now also includes Sections 302 and 201. Section 302 deals with murder, while Section 201 relates to causing evidence of an offence to disappear or providing false information to protect an offender. A five-member team has now been assigned responsibility for the investigation. It is headed by Sindh Deputy Inspector General (Crime and Investigation) Amir Farooqui and includes senior police officers from different investigative units. The new team has been directed to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation and examine the case from every relevant angle. Police have also been instructed to identify, secure and analyse any new evidence, including physical, forensic, technical and circumstantial material. The team has been asked to make every effort to determine what happened to Ali and submit its findings to the relevant court within the required timeframe. Investigators will also provide daily updates on the progress of the case. The development follows demands from Ali’s family for a change in the investigation. Family lawyer Jibran Nasir had called for the original probe to be replaced after the businessman’s body was exhumed for a second post-mortem examination. According to the family’s legal representative, the fresh examination found evidence indicating that Ali had been shot in the back. He argued that the finding contradicted the earlier possibility of suicide and supported the family’s allegation that Ali had been murdered. Nasir has further alleged that Ali was tortured before his death, describing him as a young and ambitious businessman whose death had left his family seeking answers. The lawyer has also criticised the handling of the case by senior police officials, claiming that the family faced harassment and pressure instead of receiving a satisfactory investigation.

ISLAMABAD: A joint symposium on “Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building” was held in Islamabad on Wednesday, bringing together senior Pakistani and Chinese officials, diplomats, parliamentarians, academics and representatives of think tanks to discuss China’s approach to political organisation, governance and institutional development. The symposium was organised by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Pakistan in collaboration with the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS). Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani attended the event as chief guest. The Chinese delegation included Liu Daxiu, Head of Delegation and First-Class Inspector at the Party Building Research Institute of the Organization Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and Zheng Huan, Professor of Party Building at the Central Party School of the CPC Central Committee. Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong also addressed the gathering. While adressing, Pakistani and Chinese representatives reaffirmed the longstanding partnership between the two countries, noting that political and institutional exchanges have expanded alongside cooperation in economic, infrastructure and development-related fields. They further added that dialogue between political parties has become an important pillar of the Pakistan-China strategic relationship. Speakers outlined the evolution of Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building, describing it as a doctrine centred on strengthening the Communist Party of China through disciplined leadership, rigorous internal governance, organisational cohesion and ideological development. They said the framework seeks to ensure the Party’s long-term capacity to govern while maintaining accountability, institutional resilience and public trust. CPC’s efforts to curb corruption and maintain discipline, while strengthening the organisation at different levels were also discussed. The recurring theme throughout the symposium was that China’s development should not be viewed solely through the lens of economic growth. Pakistani and Chinese speakers argued that the country’s transformation has also been shaped by strong political organisation, consistent policy implementation and institutional continuity. At the same time, Chinese experts stressed that these experiences were not being presented as a model for direct replication, noting that every country must pursue its own path according to its national circumstances. Participants also reflected on the broader relevance of the CPC’s experience for political parties worldwide, discussing issues such as governance capacity, organisational resilience, leadership development and the ability of institutions to translate policy into tangible results. Chairman Senate Yousaf Raza Gilani, Ambassador Jiang Zaidong and IRS President Jauhar Saleem affirmed the importance of sustained engagement between the two countries and welcomed continued exchanges on governance, public policy and institutional development. The symposium concluded with an interactive session in which participants discussed the relevance of Party building, leadership and governance reforms to contemporary political challenges and future Pakistan-China cooperation.