U.S. congressional delegation visits Punjab safe c…

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.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has arrived in Murree from Islamabad as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) prepares to hold an important consultative meeting on the political situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting will be chaired by PML-N President Nawaz Sharif at the Government House in Murree. Senior party leadership is expected to discuss the formation of the government in Azad Kashmir and finalise the party’s strategy for the next phase of the political process. Hamza Shehbaz has also reached Kashmir Point in Murree to participate in the meeting. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz are also scheduled to attend, along with federal ministers and other senior PML-N leaders. The newly elected PML-N members of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly have also been invited to the session. Their participation is expected to help the party leadership assess the political situation and discuss possible arrangements for forming the next government. The meeting comes as the PML-N moves forward with consultations following the recent political developments in Azad Kashmir. Party leaders are expected to exchange views on government formation, parliamentary coordination and the future political roadmap. Nawaz Sharif is likely to receive briefings from party leaders and elected representatives during the meeting. The leadership will also consider the names and arrangements linked to the formation of the new administration.

Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said that Sialkot urgently needed a medical city. He said the project would help improve healthcare facilities for people in the city and nearby areas. Addressing the inauguration ceremony of Sialkot Medical City, Khawaja Asif praised the business community for supporting the project. He also appreciated the role of the Sialkot Chamber in making the initiative possible. The minister said Sialkot had been facing a major healthcare gap. He said patients often had to travel to Lahore when serious medical emergencies occurred in the city. According to Khawaja Asif, the new medical city will help reduce the need for patients to travel to Lahore. It will also provide better healthcare services closer to the people of Sialkot. He said the project was an important development for the city. He hoped that the medical facilities would further improve the quality of healthcare available to local residents. Khawaja Asif also spoke about major road projects in the region. He said another lane would be added to the Lahore-Sialkot Motorway. He said the Kharian Motorway would be completed before the other project. He added that better road links would further improve connectivity between Sialkot and other parts of Punjab. The defence minister recalled that he had received a positive response when the motorway proposal was presented. He said major road networks had connected several cities and towns with each other. He said the route from Shahdara to Rawat had created stronger links between different urban centres. Such projects, he added, were important for trade, travel and economic activity. Khawaja Asif also highlighted the growing importance of Sialkot International Airport. He said the airport was no longer serving only the people of Sialkot. He said people from Jhelum and Gujrat were also using the airport. Residents of Azad Jammu and Kashmir were also travelling through the facility, he added. The minister credited Sialkot’s business community for many of the city’s major development projects. He said local traders and industrialists had made significant contributions to the city’s growth. Khawaja Asif said the Sialkot business community had established high standards. He added that these standards were recognised internationally. He said the success of Sialkot showed what could be achieved through cooperation between the business community and public institutions. He stressed that continued development could further strengthen the city’s position as an important economic and industrial centre.

Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Friday said Pakistan’s security depends on effective governance, stressing that terrorists must either surrender under the Constitution and the law or face continued military action. Speaking at a media briefing in Rawalpindi, the military spokesperson said Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s recent remarks about the country’s governance system reflected his personal opinion and declined to comment further. However, he emphasized that good governance remained essential for ensuring national security and long-term stability. The DG ISPR said the National Action Plan continued to enjoy consensus among all major political parties and noted that most of its objectives, including countering extremism, disrupting terror financing and strengthening institutions, relied on strong governance. He added that Pakistan’s growing population made administrative efficiency more important than ever and said citizens had the right to effective governance. Over 40,000 Counterterrorism Operations Conducted Providing an update on security operations, Lt Gen Chaudhry said security forces had carried out 40,348 intelligence-based operations across Pakistan so far in 2026. He said 2,084 confirmed terrorists had been killed during these operations, averaging nearly 194 operations and 10 militant deaths every day. He added that the highest number of operations had been conducted in Balochistan, while 1,971 operations were carried out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to the military spokesperson, 819 people, including security personnel and civilians, embraced martyrdom during counterterrorism efforts this year, while 28 suicide attacks were recorded nationwide. He also alleged that Afghan nationals were involved in recent terrorist attacks in Tank and Karachi. No Negotiations With Armed Militants The DG ISPR made it clear that there would be no negotiations with armed militant groups. He said militants had only two options: surrender under the Constitution and the law or face continued action by security forces. Explaining the concept of a “hard state,” he said it did not refer to military rule but rather to a country where every individual is equal before the law and all matters are resolved through constitutional and legal mechanisms. Balochistan Facing Coordinated Propaganda Addressing the security situation in Balochistan, Lt Gen Chaudhry said a deliberate campaign was underway to create a false perception that the province was in crisis. He said the Constitution required every citizen to remain loyal to the state and argued that rights should always be accompanied by responsibilities. The DG ISPR alleged that certain elite groups and tribal leaders opposed social progress because they wanted to preserve the existing power structure. He said the state would continue engaging directly with the people of Balochistan instead of those seeking to obstruct development. Highlighting development initiatives, he said Gwadar now had modern healthcare facilities, educational institutions, industrial free zones and major infrastructure projects. He added that Balochistan’s per capita budget allocation exceeded Rs75,000, making it the highest among Pakistan’s provinces. He also said terrorists deliberately targeted labourers, teachers and development projects to slow the province’s progress. Missing Persons and Regional Security On the issue of missing persons, the military spokesperson said the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances had received 10,901 cases, of which 9,372 had already been resolved. He stressed that every reported case required proper identification and verification. The DG ISPR further claimed that following what he described as Pakistan’s success during Operation Marka-e-Haq, hostile elements had shifted their focus toward destabilising Balochistan. He alleged that India and the Afghan Taliban regime shared an agenda of supporting terrorism against Pakistan.