Sindh CM highlights religious harmony and minority rights

  KHANEWAL: Eleven farmers selected under Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s “Apna Khet, Apna Rozgar” initiative have protested over the delay in receiving lease letters for approximately 950 kanals of agricultural land in Chak 63/10-R. The farmers allege that the transfer process is being delayed because of the influence of an influential local figure who, they claim, is supporting people occupying the land. The affected farmers recently held a demonstration outside the Revenue Department office at the District Complex in Khanewal. They demanded that the authorities issue their lease documents immediately and complete the process of handing over the land allotted to them through the government’s official balloting process. According to the protesting farmers, nearly 950 kanals of agricultural land in Chak 63/10-R was designated for lease to 11 deserving applicants who were selected through a formal draw under the provincial government’s scheme. However, they claimed that the land has remained in the possession of alleged illegal occupants for almost 40 years. The farmers said the occupants had earlier approached the Lahore High Court and obtained a stay order regarding the disputed property. They claimed that the relevant bench of the Lahore High Court dismissed the stay order on August 3, 2026, which, according to them, removed a major legal hurdle in the way of implementing the government’s allotment decision. Despite the dismissal of the stay, the protesting farmers alleged that the Punjab Revenue Department and the Khanewal district administration had not yet issued the required lease letters. They further alleged that the individuals occupying the land had the support of an influential political figure in the area. The farmers claimed that political pressure was contributing to the delay and preventing the concerned departments from completing the formalities required for the transfer of the land. The applicants also pointed out that their names and allotment information are already available on the Punjab government’s official online portal for the “Apna Khet, Apna Rozgar”scheme. They questioned why the authorities had not issued the lease documents despite their successful selection through balloting and the reported dismissal of the court stay. The Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue), Khanewal, was contacted to obtain the administration’s position on the matter, including the delay in issuing the lease letters, the current legal status of the disputed land and the allegations of political interference. However, an official response from the ADCR was not available at the time of filing the report. The administration’s version will be included once an official response is received. The affected farmers have appealed to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Deputy Commissioner Khanewal Dr Hina Arshad Commissioner Multan Aamir Karim and the Senior Member Board of Revenue Punjab to take immediate notice of the issue. They demanded that the lease letters be issued without further delay and that possession of the allotted land be handed over to the successful applicants according to the balloting results, government policy and applicable legal procedures. The protesters also urged the provincial government to ensure transparent implementation of the “Apna Khet, Apna Rozgar” scheme and prevent any political or external influence from affecting the rights of successful applicants.

LAHORE: President Asif Ali Zardari has left Lahore after spending around two days in the city without meeting the local leadership of his Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), adding to speculation surrounding the political situation within the party. Zardari departed for Islamabad on Sunday after a low-profile visit during which he reportedly held no formal meetings with PPP leaders in Lahore. His stay has drawn particular attention amid unconfirmed reports that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari may have left Pakistan. A senior party figure close to the leadership said the president’s visit was not intended for meetings with the party’s local leadership. According to the source, Zardari had come to Lahore to deal with sensitive and urgent matters away from public attention. The same source acknowledged hearing reports about Bilawal’s possible departure but said he could neither confirm nor reject them. During his stay, Zardari was reported to have held only one known meeting, with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who was accompanied by businessman Gohar Ejaz. The president’s arrival also appeared to catch several PPP leaders off guard, with party members saying they had not been informed beforehand. Some PPP leaders reportedly sought meetings with Zardari but were unable to secure appointments. The president’s visit comes at a politically sensitive time for the PPP, which has recently taken a strong position against the creation of new administrative units and criticised the PML-N government over what it describes as excessive reliance on the establishment. Zardari has also recently withheld his assent to the elevation of judges, adding another layer to the growing political tensions. Attempts were made to contact PPP leaders Nadeem Afzal Chan and Shazia Marri for clarification about the reports concerning Bilawal, but no response was received before the report was filed. Meanwhile, PPP Kashmir leader Chaudhary Riaz said Bilawal had left the Kashmir Valley but added that he did not know where the party chairman was currently located.

Fresh CCTV footage has surfaced in the investigation into the murder of Mir Raza Ali, providing investigators with another potential lead as police continue to examine the circumstances surrounding his death. The newly obtained footage, captured by a surveillance camera overlooking the area where Ali’s body was discovered, shows a motorcycle stopping briefly at the location. According to investigators, the recording is timestamped at 3:36 a.m. on July 29, with the motorcycle remaining at the scene for approximately 20 seconds before leaving. Due to poor lighting, the footage does not clearly reveal the number of people riding the motorcycle or provide any identifying details, making further forensic analysis necessary. Mir Raza Ali, a resident of Karachi’s Pakistan Employees Cooperative Housing Society (PECHS), went missing on July 28 after leaving his home at around 4:09 a.m. in an online taxi. His body was found two days later in Gulistan-e-Jauhar. Police said the victim had sustained a gunshot wound to the chest, and his body was recovered in a severely deteriorated condition, indicating that it had remained at the location for some time before being discovered. Investigators have also revealed that all of Mir Raza Ali’s social media accounts were deactivated a day before his body was found, adding another element to the ongoing probe. Authorities are continuing to review CCTV footage, forensic evidence, and digital records as they work to determine the motive behind the killing and identify those responsible for the crime.

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar district administration has imposed restrictions on several Independence Day activities, banning baajas, firecrackers, toy pistols, aerial firing and one-wheeling under Section 144. According to an official notification, the restrictions will remain in effect until August 15 as authorities prepare for Pakistan’s Independence Day celebrations on August 14. The administration has prohibited the sale and purchase of toy horns, toy pistols and firecrackers, while fireworks and aerial firing have also been restricted to prevent accidents and maintain public order. Authorities have particularly warned young people against one-wheeling, describing the stunt as a serious threat to public safety that can endanger both riders and other road users. Officials said the measures are intended to protect lives and property and prevent festive gatherings from turning into incidents involving reckless driving, injuries or public disorder. Residents have been urged to celebrate Independence Day responsibly and comply with the restrictions, with authorities warning that violations could result in legal action.

  The Islamabad High Court on Thursday heard petitions challenging the alleged solitary confinement of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi. During the proceedings, Advocate General (AG) Islamabad Naveed Hayat Malik informed the court that the two prisoners were not kept in solitary confinement, adding that they were being provided facilities even better than B-class prison standards. Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro presided over the hearing. The petitioners were represented by Barrister Salman Safdar, while the jail superintendent was also present in the courtroom and submitted a detailed report regarding the facilities provided to the high-profile inmates. Advocate General Malik clarified that the detainees were not isolated due to punitive measures but as a security protocol. He noted that the inability of petitioners’ families to meet them did not constitute solitary confinement. Meanwhile, Jail Superintendent Sajid Beg explained that solitary confinement legally means locking an inmate in a single cell for 24 hours—which, he emphasized, was not the case for Imran Khan. The PTI founder, he said, was housed in a compound consisting of seven interconnected cells, allowing free movement. Additionally, a convicted inmate was permanently assigned to accompany him, further disproving the solitary confinement claim. The superintendent also disclosed the amenities provided to Khan. He was given access to a television set, newspapers, and books. Both Urdu and English dailies are being delivered daily, and more than 500 books have been provided to him so far—with nine more recently added to his cell. However, Barrister Salman Safdar, representing the petitioners, painted a contrasting picture. He informed the court that on the Supreme Court’s directive, he had visited Imran Khan as a friend of the court and noticed his deteriorating eyesight. According to Safdar, Khan expressed satisfaction with his food, security, and bathroom facilities but pleaded: “Just save my eyesight.” Safdar further alleged that for seven months, he was not allowed to meet his client, and it was only after the intervention of the Chief Justice that a meeting was arranged in April, lasting barely 65 minutes. Out of that brief meeting, the PTI founder spent 60 minutes complaining about mental torture and restrictions on meetings. He claimed he was under 22-hour isolation while Bushra Bibi faced 24-hour confinement. Safdar also pointed out that the TV provided in the cell had no functioning channels. In a disturbing revelation, Safdar informed the court that Imran Khan’s 68-year-old sister, Aleema Khanum, visited Adiala Jail 38 times without being granted a single meeting. The PTI founder has also been deprived of telephonic conversations with his sons for the last eight months. Safdar argued that this psychological torture is far more severe than physical violence and urged the court to intervene. He requested that a panel of three lawyers be formed to visit the jail and independently assess the conditions. He also demanded that Imran Khan be allowed a weekly phone call with his sons and that the jail authorities submit an affidavit committing to this arrangement. Justice Soomro noted that he had previously visited jails in Sindh when he was a senior judge there, but Aleema Khanum interjected, urging the judge to personally visit Adiala Jail to ascertain the reality. After hearing all parties, the court directed them to submit written reports and relevant legal references, after which an appropriate order would be issued.