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CHAKWAL: Three minors were allegedly subjected to sexual abuse in separate incidents reported in Chakwal district, with police registering cases against the suspects and arresting three men, including a mosque imam, while two others were taken into custody after an alleged exchange of fire. The incidents, reported in the jurisdictions of Wanhar and Kallar Kahar police stations, have caused concern among residents and prompted calls for effective protection of children and swift action against those found responsible. In the first case, a 10-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by a local mosque imam after other children attending Quran lessons had left the mosque, according to the complaint lodged by her father with Wanhar police. The complainant said his two daughters regularly went to a nearby mosque in Mohallah Bawa Khan Baig to learn Quranic recitation. On the day of the alleged incident, the imam allegedly sent the 5years younger sister home early and dismissed the other children after hearing their lessons. According to the complaint, the suspect then allegedly called the 10-year-old girl into a room and sexually assaulted her. The girl was allegedly threatened with a knife and warned that she would be killed if she disclosed the incident to anyone. Police registered a case against the imam and launched an investigation. The suspect was subsequently arrested in an injured condition during an operation in the Manara area, police said. According to police, a raid on Wasnal Road, Manara, to arrest the suspect when he allegedly attempted to flee after seeing the police party. Police said the suspect stumbled and fell while fleeing, causing a pistol allegedly concealed in his waistband to discharge. He sustained a gunshot wound and was arrested before being shifted to the Trauma Centre in Kallar Kahar for medical treatment. The suspect was identified as Maulvi Saqlain Hussain, son of Nazar Hussain, a resident of Manara. In a separate incident within the jurisdiction of Kallar Kahar police station, a 16-year-old boy was allegedly sexually assaulted by a man who was staying at a local mosque in Shamsabad, near Khai village. According to the complaint filed by the boy’s father, who is a prayer leader at the mosque, the suspect allegedly assaulted his son and later attempted to assault him again. The complainant said the boy had initially remained silent about the alleged earlier incident out of fear. However, when he went to serve food to the traveller staying at the mosque, a commotion was heard after some time. The mosque caretaker and the boy’s father allegedly reached the spot and saw the suspect attempting to assault the boy, prompting the suspect to flee, according to the complaint. The boy later informed his father about the alleged earlier incident as well. In the third incident, two men allegedly involved in the sexual assault of a Class 10 student were arrested in an injured condition following an alleged exchange of fire in Chak Nagri, an area falling within Wanhar police jurisdiction. According to police, the suspects and two unidentified accomplices had allegedly taken the student to a nearby forest several days earlier, subjected him to severe physical assault and sexually assaulted him. Police alleged that the suspects recorded the incident and subsequently used the video to blackmail and intimidate the student. A police team later raided the suspected hideout to arrest the accused, police said. The suspects allegedly opened fire on the police party along with their two unidentified accomplices. During the ensuing exchange of fire, the two wanted suspects sustained gunshot wounds, allegedly after being hit by firing from their own accomplices, according to police. The two unidentified men escaped under the cover of darkness and the forest terrain. The injured suspects were arrested and shifted to a medical facility for treatment. Police said further investigation and legal proceedings were under way. The three cases have highlighted concerns over the vulnerability of children to sexual violence and exploitation. Residents have called for prompt investigation of the allegations, protection of the victims and strict action against suspects if the charges are established in court. Police officials said investigations into all the cases were continuing and that further action would be taken in accordance with the law.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has decided to hold a full court reference on August 7 to honour the judicial services of Justice Musarrat Hilali ahead of her retirement from the country’s apex court. An official notification has been issued announcing the ceremony, which will pay tribute to Justice Hilali’s contributions to Pakistan’s judiciary and recognise her years of service on the bench. The full court reference will be attended by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi, all judges of the Supreme Court, the Attorney General for Pakistan, representatives of the Pakistan Bar Council, office-bearers of the Supreme Court Bar Association, and members of the legal fraternity. The event is a longstanding judicial tradition held to acknowledge the professional achievements and public service of retiring judges. During the reference, senior judges, law officers and representatives of the legal community are expected to deliver speeches highlighting Justice Hilali’s legal career, commitment to the rule of law and contributions to the administration of justice. Justice Musarrat Hilali has served in several key judicial positions during her career and has been recognised for her role in strengthening Pakistan’s judicial system. The reference will mark the formal conclusion of her tenure at the Supreme Court while providing an opportunity for colleagues and members of the legal profession to express their appreciation for her dedication and service. The ceremony will take place at the Supreme Court of Pakistan on August 7, where members of the bench and bar will gather to bid farewell to the retiring judge and acknowledge her lasting contribution to the country’s judiciary.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will travel to Jordan to participate in a ministerial meeting focused on the worsening situation in occupied Jerusalem, reaffirming Pakistan’s diplomatic support for the Palestinian cause. According to the Foreign Office, the meeting, scheduled for August 5, will bring together foreign ministers from Arab League member states and several Islamic countries to discuss recent developments in Jerusalem and coordinate a unified response to the evolving situation. The Foreign Office said Dar is attending the meeting at the invitation of Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi. During the visit, participating foreign ministers are also expected to meet Abdullah II to discuss regional developments and ongoing efforts aimed at addressing the challenges facing the Palestinian people. On the sidelines of the conference, Ishaq Dar is expected to hold bilateral meetings with several foreign ministers to exchange views on regional issues, including the humanitarian situation in Palestine and broader Middle East developments. The Foreign Office described Pakistan’s participation as a reflection of its longstanding and principled support for the Palestinian people. It reiterated Pakistan’s position in favor of an independent, sovereign and contiguous State of Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem (Al-Quds Al-Sharif) as its capital. Pakistan has consistently condemned actions that it says threaten the historical and legal status of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, including repeated incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

A US publication has praised Pakistan’s efforts to modernise its financial system, saying the country is steadily strengthening its position in the global digital financial landscape through reforms and technological innovation. The article highlighted Pakistan’s initiatives to promote digital transformation and said the country has the potential to play a meaningful role in the evolving global digital economy. It also commended the vision of Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) Chairman Bilal Bin Saqib, stating that Pakistan must actively position itself within the international digital financial system to benefit from emerging technologies and new economic opportunities. According to the publication, the future will belong to countries that make swift decisions and implement reforms without delay. It noted that Pakistan has the opportunity to emerge as a leader in the digital economy by embracing innovation and adopting forward-looking policies. The article further stated that governments can no longer rely solely on traditional bureaucratic systems. Instead, they must adopt the speed, flexibility and innovation-driven approach of technology startups to remain competitive in a rapidly changing global environment. It added that digital assets are becoming the foundation of the future financial infrastructure and countries investing in digital finance today will be better positioned for long-term economic growth and global competitiveness. The publication’s remarks come as Pakistan continues to promote digital payments, financial technology and cashless transactions as part of its broader strategy to modernise the economy and expand financial inclusion.