Thailand Condemns Cambodian Rocket Attack on Civilian Market in Sa Kaeo

The Sindh High Court has dismissed a petition seeking the disqualification of Pakistan Peoples Party leader and National Assembly member Shazia Marri over an alleged fake degree. The court announced its decision after the case remained pending for around 13 years. The petition was declared not maintainable and subsequently rejected. The court said the High Court does not have constitutional authority to disqualify a member of Parliament. According to the court, such matters must be dealt with through the relevant constitutional and electoral forums. The court also noted that a similar objection had previously been raised during the 2018 general elections. The matter was taken before an election tribunal at that time. The Election Commission later rejected the objection concerning Marri’s degree in 2022. An appeal against the tribunal’s decision was subsequently filed before the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal in 2023 after it was withdrawn. During the latest proceedings, Marri’s lawyer argued that the degree issue had already been examined by the Election Commission. He told the court that evidence relating to the qualification had been presented before the commission. The lawyer maintained that the Election Commission had already rejected the petition concerning Marri’s degree. The court also discussed the constitutional requirements for disqualification. It observed that a person cannot be disqualified simply through a constitutional petition. The court said the authority to determine whether a person meets the required constitutional standards rests with the appropriate judicial and electoral forums. It further stated that the courts cannot declare an individual truthful and trustworthy outside the constitutional procedure provided for such matters. The judges also referred to previous orders of the Supreme Court while determining the maintainability of the petition. Based on these considerations, the court concluded that the petition could not be entertained. The decision brings an end to a legal challenge that had remained pending for more than a decade. The case had focused on allegations concerning Marri’s educational qualification. However, the Election Commission had already rejected the related objection. The latest ruling also reinforces the distinction between the powers of the High Court and those of election tribunals and other constitutional forums in matters involving parliamentary eligibility. The court’s decision means that the petition seeking Marri’s disqualification has been dismissed without granting the requested relief.

Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat has announced that he will begin teaching students in government schools in Lahore from the first week of September as part of an initiative aimed at improving the quality of education in the province. The minister said he has decided to personally enter classrooms and teach students instead of only monitoring the education system from administrative offices. He said the experience would help him better understand the challenges faced by teachers and students while also providing an opportunity to evaluate classroom teaching firsthand. Rana Sikandar Hayat said English and Chemistry are his favourite subjects, and he will start by teaching these courses. He said he plans to teach English in primary schools and Chemistry in high schools before expanding his teaching to other subjects in the future. He added that he will visit a different government school every week without giving prior notice. According to the minister, these surprise visits will allow him to observe the actual learning environment, interact directly with students, and assess the effectiveness of teaching methods being used in classrooms. The education minister said the initiative is not symbolic but a practical effort to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the public education system. He believes that personally teaching students will provide valuable insight into issues affecting classroom learning and help identify areas that require immediate improvement. Rana Sikandar Hayat said he has immense respect for the teaching profession and considers it an honour to serve as a teacher. He added that educators play a vital role in shaping the future of the nation and deserve recognition for their contribution to society. He expressed hope that the initiative would encourage greater accountability within the education system and inspire teachers and school administrators to continue improving academic standards. He also said direct interaction with students would help the education department design better policies based on practical classroom experience rather than relying solely on reports. The minister said the feedback gathered during his teaching visits would be used to identify shortcomings in teaching methods, curriculum delivery, and classroom management. He added that the information would help the government introduce reforms aimed at improving learning outcomes and raising educational standards in government schools across Punjab.

Pakistan Air Force’s J-10C fighter jets reportedly engaged Indian aircraft during the May 2025 aerial confrontation without direct support from airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft. The claim was made in a report by Ukrainian defence publication Defense Express. The report cited Chinese state television and comments from Chinese radar specialist Ben De. According to the report, Pakistani J-10C jets used their onboard KLJ-7A radars to detect and engage Indian aircraft. The jets were reportedly able to track targets from a distance of around 200 kilometres. The report claimed that six Indian aircraft were shot down during the confrontation. It included three Rafale fighter jets among the aircraft allegedly destroyed. The report said the Pakistani fighters did not require direct targeting assistance from AEW&C aircraft during the reported engagements. Instead, the J-10Cs reportedly used their own radar systems to identify and track targets. The KLJ-7A is an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar designed for modern air combat. It can detect and track multiple targets and provide information needed for air-to-air engagements. The report’s claims have drawn attention because AEW&C aircraft are normally used to provide wider-area surveillance and help fighter jets detect threats at longer ranges. The reported use of the J-10C’s onboard radar suggests that the aircraft could conduct long-range engagements with greater independence from airborne surveillance platforms. The May 2025 confrontation involved intense aerial activity between Pakistan and India. Both sides made competing claims about losses and the effectiveness of their military operations. The claim that six Indian aircraft were destroyed, including three Rafales, has not been independently verified. India has also disputed Pakistan’s claims about aircraft losses. The reported account therefore remains a claim attributed to Chinese sources and the Ukrainian defence publication.