Thailand Summons Iranian Envoy Over Attack on Thai Cargo Ship

ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on Monday granted police a three-day physical remand of former senator Mushtaq Ahmad and his associate, Daniyal, in a case linked to a protest over the recent unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). The suspects were presented before Duty Judge Rukhsanda Shaheen after their arrest. During the hearing, the prosecution requested a 30-day physical remand, arguing that investigators needed additional time to recover a vehicle and alleged weapons connected to the case. After hearing arguments from both sides, the court approved a three-day remand instead of the longer period requested by the prosecution and directed police to continue their investigation. The case has been registered at Islamabad’s Shalimar Police Station. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the protest and the allegations associated with it. The development comes days after Mushtaq Ahmad’s supporters claimed he had been detained for more than 24 hours after security personnel stopped him from entering Azad Jammu and Kashmir. According to his team, the detention was linked to his public support for protests taking place in the region. Following his release, Mushtaq Ahmad addressed a press conference in Islamabad, where he announced plans to hold a condolence, solidarity and peace gathering in support of the people of AJK. He invited students, journalists, civil society members and Kashmiri residents of Islamabad to participate in the event at F-10 Markaz. Earlier, Mushtaq Ahmad had stated that he was travelling to AJK carrying white flags as a symbol of peace and solidarity with families affected by the recent violence. He said security officials stopped him at Azad Pattan Bridge and prevented him from entering the region, after which he recorded a protest message and began returning to Islamabad. His team further alleged that Punjab Police later intercepted his vehicle in Kahuta and took him into custody.

Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has criticised the country’s elite class, saying ordinary Pakistanis are struggling under rising costs while privileged groups continue to enjoy extensive benefits without paying their fair share of taxes. Speaking at a press conference at Jamaat-e-Islami headquarters in Mansoorah, Lahore, Hafiz Naeem said increases in petroleum prices have a direct impact on the prices of essential goods and place the greatest burden on middle- and lower-income families. He said access to quality healthcare and education remained inadequate for a large section of the population, adding that ordinary citizens were being deprived of basic facilities. Hafiz Naeem also said Jamaat-e-Islami had not ended its protest sit-in but had only postponed it. He criticised what he described as a political system dominated by a self-serving political class. He said many Pakistanis were taking significant risks to travel abroad in search of employment, while educated young people were also leaving the country because of limited job opportunities. The Jamaat-e-Islami leader further alleged that owners of independent power producers were not being adequately taxed despite earning substantial incomes. At the same time, he said, people across the country were facing prolonged power outages while additional charges were being collected from consumers. Hafiz Naeem accused the ruling class of failing to deliver meaningful relief because of what he described as corruption and poor governance. He questioned the reported purchase of an aircraft worth around Rs11 billion for the Punjab chief minister. He also criticised government officials for defending the expenditure, saying public funds should not be used for expensive official vehicles and other privileges. The Jamaat-e-Islami emir urged authorities to reduce unnecessary government spending and focus resources on providing relief to ordinary citizens.

LAHORE: Schools across Punjab are set to reopen on August 24 following the summer vacation, with the provincial government directing education authorities to complete all necessary arrangements before students return to classrooms. Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat has instructed relevant departments and school administrations to ensure that educational institutions are clean, secure and fully prepared for the new academic session. The minister directed school administrations to pay particular attention to the cleanliness of classrooms, washrooms, playgrounds and other areas of school premises. He also stressed the need to ensure the availability of safe and clean drinking water for students and staff. In view of the ongoing monsoon season, authorities have been asked to inspect and clean water tanks and school rooftops and ensure proper disinfection. Drainage systems should also be checked to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water, which can increase the risk of mosquito breeding and dengue fever. The education minister ordered school administrations to strictly follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) aimed at preventing dengue outbreaks. Officials have been directed to identify and remove potential mosquito breeding sites from school premises and ensure that no stagnant water remains in or around the institutions. Security arrangements have also been made a priority ahead of the reopening. The minister directed both government and private schools to ensure full compliance with prescribed security SOPs and make certain that CCTV cameras and other security equipment are operational before students arrive. Schools where construction or repair work is underway have been instructed to install proper barriers and restrict students’ access to potentially hazardous areas. The authorities have also been directed to inspect electrical installations throughout school buildings. School heads must ensure that fans, lights, switches, electrical sockets and wiring are in safe working condition to prevent accidents. Rana Sikandar Hayat further instructed heads of educational institutions to conduct a final inspection of their respective schools before reopening. He warned that negligence, delays or failure to comply with the government’s instructions would not be tolerated and could result in action against those responsible. The minister emphasized that all arrangements must be completed before August 24 so that students can return to school in a clean, safe and healthy environment.

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari has strongly criticised Sindh Minister Sharjeel Memon over his remarks about the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections. Azma Bukhari told Memon to “drink cold water and pour some on his head,” saying the election was over and the people of AJK had already delivered their verdict. She said the election results had proved the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) calculations wrong and dismissed its allegations regarding pre-poll rigging. Bukhari claimed that a PML-N candidate had recovered bags containing ballot papers from the residence of a PPP candidate one night before polling. Taking a sharp jibe at the PPP, she said its “arrow had disappeared in the valleys of Kashmir,” while the PML-N’s “lion” was roaring across the region. She said AJK voters had given their verdict in favour of PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif during the first phase of the elections. Bukhari urged the PPP to learn to accept defeat instead of raising allegations whenever it loses an election. She said political parties should celebrate victories but also show maturity in defeat. She further questioned the PPP’s position on elections in Gilgit-Baltistan. Bukhari asked whether the party considered those elections transparent because it had formed the government there. She said it was unfair to describe an election as transparent when a party wins and allege rigging when it loses.