IHC seeks govt reply in PIA privatisation case

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued notices to the federal government and other respondents in a case challenging the privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), directing them to submit reports and parawise comments within two weeks. Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir issued the written order after hearing the petition filed by the Peoples Unity of PIA Employees which challenged the bidding process for PIA held on December 23, 2025 as well as the decision to declare the Arif Habib Consortium the successful bidder.

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‘This isn’t politics’: Brian Lara calls for dignified medical care for Imran Khan

Legendary West Indies batting great Brian Lara on Saturday joined a group of cricketers expressing support for Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and calling for proper and independent medical care for the former Pakistan captain. In a post on Instagram, Lara said he and Imran had crossed paths on the field only a handful of times, but the respect he had for him was “instant and lasting”. “I am struggling to understand how someone who was once a beacon of hope, pride and inspiration for his country, at the height of his sporting career, could now find himself in a situation where he is not being cared for and treated with the compassion and dignity he deserves,” he said.         View this post on Instagram                       Lara said he stood with his fellow former captains in asking that Imran receive proper, independent medical care and the dignity every human being deserved. “This isn’t politics. It’s basic humanity for a legend of our game,” he added. Last month, 22 former international cricketers, including 21 ex-captains, appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to ensure that Imran received medical treatment in accordance with recent Supreme Court directives. The signatories included Michael Atherton, Alex Blackwell, Allan Border, Michael Brearley, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, Alastair Cook, Michael Gatting, Sunil Gavaskar, Lee Germon, Adam Gilchrist, David Gower, Kim Hughes, Nasser Hussain, Clive Lloyd, Kapil Dev, Arjuna Ranatunga, Andrew Strauss, Dilip Vengsarkar, Steve Waugh and John Wright. Imran, a former international cricket star who led Pakistan to its only men's 50-over World Cup title in 1992, became prime minister in 2018 and was removed from office in a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022. Also Read: Imran transferred to Islamabad's Shifa International Hospital with heightened security in place He has been imprisoned since August 2023 and has faced convictions in several cases. Last month, a three-member Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Shahid Waheed issued an interim order directing that Imran be provided medical treatment in accordance with the court’s directives. The court ordered authorities to transfer Imran, 73, from Adiala Jail to Islamabad's Shifa International Hospital within two days for examination and treatment by a multidisciplinary medical board. The board was to include specialists such as an ophthalmologist and cardiologist, while Imran's personal physician, Dr Faisal Sultan, and his sister, Dr Uzma Khan, were to be allowed to remain associated with his medical examination and treatment. The court also ordered the authorities to facilitate regular family contact. Reports on the order said Imran was to be allowed weekly meetings with family members and telephone conversations with his sons. The SC said the state had a constitutional and legal responsibility to safeguard the life, health, dignity and security of people in custody, noting that imprisonment does not remove a prisoner's entitlement to humane treatment and necessary medical care. The directions were issued as an interim arrangement and the government was told to comply with them "in letter and spirit" until the next hearing. The proceedings followed petitions by Imran's family and supporters seeking access to his personal physicians, family members and medical records, as well as his transfer to a private hospital for treatment. His sister Uzma Khan had separately approached the SC after an Islamabad High Court ruling rejected a request for his hospitalisation and access to his personal doctors and family. Imran was subsequently taken for a medical examination but was returned to Adiala Jail after only a few hours. Read: Govt calls SC order to shift Imran to private hospital 'discriminatory', files review petition His party has said the government failed to comply with the SC's direction because Imran was examined at the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) rather than receiving the comprehensive assessment at Shifa International Hospital envisaged by the court. PTI has also filed a contempt petition over the issue. Government officials have defended the decision, citing security concerns. The government has rejected allegations of medical neglect and mistreatment, saying Imran had undergone numerous medical examinations and that doctors had found him in good health. The former captains' letter, however, says Imran was examined by a state-appointed team, declared "medically fit" and returned to prison before the court-directed medical board could complete its work. His family and legal team have argued that this did not meet the SC's requirements. The cricketers made three specific requests to the government: that the medical board ordered by the SC, including Imran's own doctors, be allowed to complete a full and independent assessment; that weekly family visits be honoured without interruption or administrative delays; and that any treatment recommended by the assessment be provided promptly. They said their principal concern was the reported deterioration of vision in Imran's right eye. "We're not asking Pakistan for anything unusual, just that a court order most countries would take for granted is actually carried out," Chappell said, according to the appeal. Also Read: Imran transferred to Islamabad's Shifa International Hospital with heightened security in place The letter is the second such appeal by former international captains this year. In February, 14 former captains, including Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Chappell and Lloyd, wrote to PM Shehbaz expressing ‘deep concern’ over Imran's health and prison conditions. They called for adequate medical attention, dignified treatment and access to legal processes. The February appeal came after reports that Imran's eyesight had deteriorated severely while he was held at Adiala Jail. His family and lawyers said at the time that he had lost a substantial proportion of vision in his right eye, while Pakistani officials disputed claims of medical neglect and said his condition had improved. Imran's current eye problem has been described in reports as right central retinal vein occlusion, or CRVO, a condition affecting blood flow in the retina. The issue has been the subject of repeated legal and political disputes over the adequacy of his treatment and access to specialists.

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Uproar as CM Maryam's 'chauvinistic' remarks cause controversy over provincial divide

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz came under fire on Saturday after her remarks that Punjab faced a greater security threat from other provinces than neighbouring countries triggered widespread criticism and concerns over the widening provincial divide. The remarks, made at the e-launching ceremony of the Artificial Intelligence Hub in Lahore, triggered criticism, particularly from opposition figures, who accused the chief minister of targeting Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and undermining provincial harmony. The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), the main opposition party, hit out at the chief minister, alleging that her remarks reflected an intention to “break Pakistan apart”. In a post on X, the party said: “Love for India always wells up from the hearts of the Sharif family, while harboring hatred for their own smaller provinces.” شریف خاندان کے دلوں سے ہمیشہ بھارت کے لیے پیار ابھر کر نکلتا ہے اور اپنے ہی چھوٹے صوبوں کے لیے نفرت۔ پنجاب کی جعلی وزیراعلی آج کھل کر اس بات کا اظہار کررہی ہے کہ اس کو انڈیا سے نہیں اپنے پڑوسی صوبوں سے خطرہ ہے ۔ ان کی نیت ایک بار پھر پاکستان کو توڑنے کی ہے۔ پاکستان کا اصل دشمن… pic.twitter.com/vjCeuppBPj — PTI (@PTIofficial) September 5, 2026 The PTI said it was “extremely regrettable and irresponsible” for a provincial leader to describe neighbouring provinces within Pakistan as a threat. “When a provincial leader, instead of fostering unity and solidarity with their own compatriots, fuels hatred and division against them, it shakes the foundations of the federation,” it said. The party also criticised what it described as the Sharif family’s approach towards India and alleged that their policies had raised questions about their attitude towards the country’s smaller provinces. It said that if the provinces and people of one’s own country began appearing as “enemies and threats”, the issue lay “not in the neighboring provinces, but in your own mindset and priorities”. The party also questioned how threats to Pakistan were being defined, alleging that the country’s “real enemy” was being determined according to the preferences of what it called “power-hungry individuals”. The PTI argued that the appearance of Pakistan’s own provinces and people as “enemies and threats” should prompt a reassessment of the government’s priorities. “If the units of your own country and your own people start appearing as enemies and threats to you, then the problem lies not in the neighboring provinces, but in your own mindset and priorities,” it said. Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) Punjab Chief Organiser Ammar Ali Jan and Information Secretary Shayan Bashir condemned the remarks they said blamed Pakistan’s own provinces for terrorism, calling the statement “not merely regrettable but dangerous”. They said the chief minister had told a public gathering in Lahore that the threat to Punjab came less from across the border than from the provinces alongside it. Jan said alienation among young people in the smaller provinces was already deepening due to years of political deprivation and injustice. He said linking entire provinces to terrorism would fan hatred and prejudice. He added that such remarks could play into the hands of elements seeking to destabilise Pakistan. Bashir said it was “a particular arrogance” for a chief minister whom he described as having been installed on a disputed mandate to cast suspicion on provinces where, he claimed, the people’s verdict was respected. He alleged that the PML-N leadership was trying to divide people along provincial lines to revive what he called “dying politics”, adding that people would no longer be misled by attempts to stoke hatred. The TTAP leaders said Punjab’s leadership had a particular responsibility not to speak about smaller provinces in a language of suspicion and demanded that the chief minister withdraw her remarks. “This country is held together by the Constitution and by equal citizenship, not by sorting provinces into the trusted and the suspected,” they said. Qaiser calls remarks ‘insulting’ Former National Assembly speaker and senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser also condemned CM Maryam's remarks, describing them as insulting towards K-P. “Maryam Nawaz’s insulting and sarcastic statement regarding Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is extremely shameful and reprehensible,” Qaiser wrote in a post on X. He said K-P had been confronting terrorism for several decades and that its people had paid the heaviest price in the war against terrorism. مریم نواز کا خیبر پختونخوا کے حوالے سے توہین آمیز اور طنزیہ بیان انتہائی شرمناک اور قابلِ مذمت ہے۔ خیبر پختونخوا گزشتہ کئی دہائیوں سے دہشت گردی کے عفریت کا سامنا کر رہا ہے اور اس جنگ کی سب سے بھاری قیمت اسی صوبے کے عوام نے ادا کی ہے۔ آپ کے چچا کی موجودہ وفاقی حکومت اور میاں نواز… — Asad Qaiser (@AsadQaiserPTI) September 5, 2026 He criticised successive federal governments for what he described as flawed and failed policies, arguing that the people of K-P continued to suffer the consequences of decisions taken by successive administrations. “Thousands of families were uprooted, millions of people were displaced, businesses were destroyed, and an entire generation spent their lives in fear, unrest and insecurity,” Qaiser said. He recalled the mass displacement caused by military operations in areas including Waziristan, Bajaur, Swat, Buner, Lower Dir and Shangla, saying millions of people had been forced to leave their homes during periods of conflict while also highlighting the sacrifices of the K-P Police in the fight against terrorism. “Instead of acknowledging these countless sacrifices and providing solace to the wounds of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the families of martyrs and the police personnel, mocking and ridiculing their hardships not only demonstrates political insensitivity but is also an extremely lamentable stance at the national level,” Qaiser said. He urged CM Maryam to recognise the contribution of K-P residents and law-enforcement personnel to the country’s fight against terrorism and to show greater sensitivity towards families affected by the conflict. “Maryam Nawaz should, instead of taunting the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, acknowledge their sacrifices, pay tribute to the martyrs and ghazis of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, and respect the affected families,” he said. ‘Divisive and derogatory’ Former PML-N senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed also criticised the statement, describing it as divisive and derogatory towards K-P. Shockingly chauvinistic statement, highly Divisive & Derogatory, smacks of Ignorance & Arrogance, when hard fact is that people of ‘neighbouring province’, Khyber Pakhtunkwa, are BIGGEST VICTIMS of TERRORISM, while ‘neighbouring country’, India, is conveniently exonerated! https://t.co/E8IRqdMIf5 — Mushahid Hussain Sayed (@Mushahid) September 5, 2026 In a post on X, he called it a “shockingly chauvinistic statement” that was “highly divisive and derogatory” and reflected “ignorance and arrogance”. He argued that the people of K-P were among the biggest victims of terrorism, while, in his view, India had been “conveniently exonerated”. PPP's Raisani questions CM’s thinking Pakistan Peoples Party leader and National Assembly member from Balochistan Jamal Khan Raisani also questioned the chief minister’s assessment of the threat. “Punjab is not threatened by neighboring provinces or the people living there. It is threatened by your thinking,” he wrote on X. He urged the Punjab government to improve border management instead of “profiling” people coming from other provinces. پنجاب کو پڑوسی صوبوں اور وہاں بسنے والے لوگوں سے نہیں۔ آپ کی سوچ سے خطرہ ہے۔ دیگر صوبوں سے آنے والے لوگوں کی غیر ضروری پروفائلنگ کرنے کے بجائے صوبے کے بارڈر منیجمنٹ کو بہترکریں۔ سی پیک کے اعلان کے بعد نواز شریف نے بلوچستان کے طلبا کیلیے اسکالرشپس کا اعلان کیا جو اب نصف سے بھی کم… pic.twitter.com/SMdbOGHbUc — Nawabzada Jamal Khan Raisani (@JamalRaisani) September 5, 2026 Raisani also raised the issue of scholarships for students from Balochistan, saying that after the announcement of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had announced scholarships for Balochistan students, but that these had subsequently been reduced. He further alleged that, during a meeting, a response involving wheat had placed students from Balochistan “in the ranks of terrorists”. Zulfi Bukhari calls remarks ‘beyond politics’ PTI leader Zulfi Bukhari also condemned the statement, describing it as going beyond political differences and alleging that it was an attempt to divide the country. In a post on X, he said the “latest venom is beyond politics; it is an attempt to divide and tear the country apart”. He argued that progress and prosperity required a “complete vision for the country as a whole”, rather than divisive politics. Father and daughter have always gone to extraordinary lengths to defend India backed terrorism even at the cost of pitting one Pakistani province against another. But this latest venom is beyond politics; it is an attempt to divide and tear the country apart. At a time when… https://t.co/SbMbJHl8ib — Sayed Z Bukhari (@sayedzbukhari) September 5, 2026 Former parliamentarian and founding member of the National Democratic Movement Bushra Gohar also criticised Maryam’s remarks. In a post on X, she called it “shameful” to blame Pakhtunkhwa, which she described as a victim of terrorism, for terrorism in Punjab. Qatl bhe hum hon, awr ilzaam bhe hum par?#DaSingaAzadiDa? Shameful to blame #Pakhtunkhwa, victim of terrorism, for terrorism in #Punjab while deliberately shutting eyes to the death, destruction & mass displacement inflicted on the province by the State’s anti-#Pashtun… https://t.co/Wn5TTUOaNI — Bushra Gohar (@BushraGohar) September 5, 2026 She accused the state of pursuing policies that had resulted in death, destruction and mass displacement in the province and called for accountability and a truth commission. Senior columnist Cyril Almeida also criticised the remarks, saying they reflected the thinking of the Sharif family towards other provinces. Maryam reminded everyone... what the Sharifs really think about the other provinces... — cyril almeida (@cyalm) September 5, 2026  

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PIMS fire: IHC seeks respondents' replies

The capital's high court on Friday ordered respondents to submit replies within 15 days to the pleas seeking a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)-led investigation into last month's Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) tragedy and the dismissal of the hospital's executive director. A single-member bench comprising Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar also ordered authorities to submit a report on the incident along with para-wise comments while also enclosing the reports presented regarding the tragedy to the prime minister. On August 26, fourteen newborn babies were killed after a fire broke out on the third floor of the Mother and Child Hospital's ward at Islamabad's Pims, whipping up a storm with people and political parties demanding action against those responsible for the tragedy. Later, some petitioners moved the IHC seeking a judicial inquiry into the conflagration and action against those responsible for this gross negligence. A written order issued after the hearing stated that, according to the petitioner, Nasir Azim Khan, his own newborn son had died in a fire incident that occurred in September 2025. He stated that a fire incident also occurred at the Pims Female Nursing Hostel on July 6, 2026. The petitioner sought an independent inquiry against the Pims executive director and the responsible officers. According to the lawyer, the petition seeks an investigation into negligence, dereliction of duty and administrative failure by the officials. The petition maintained that there is no effective accountability for those holding senior administrative positions. It stated that ensuring safety, fire safety and emergency arrangements in public hospitals is the responsibility of the authorities. The petition also sought scrutiny, in accordance with the law, of the appointments of the executive director and other officers. It requested that CCTV footage, electronic data, duty records and maintenance records be preserved and that an inquiry be conducted.

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Low-level flooding reported in Dek

Water flows in most rivers across Punjab remain normal, although low-level flooding has been reported in the Indus River at Kalabagh and Chashma, while the Dek, an important tributary of the Ravi, is experiencing high-level flooding, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA). According to a PDMA spokesperson, water flows in the Chenab, Jhelum, Ravi and Sutlej rivers are at normal levels. The Indus River is experiencing low-level flooding at Kalabagh and Chashma, where water flows stand at 351,000 cusecs and 283,000 cusecs, respectively, the spokesperson said. The spokesperson added that the Nullah Bein in Shakargarh was also experiencing a low-level flood situation. Meanwhile, the Dek, a major tributary of the Ravi River, was experiencing a high-level flood situation. The discharge in Nullah Dek stood at 22,500 cusecs, according to the PDMA spokesperson. Tarbela Dam has reached 100 per cent of its capacity, while Mangla Dam is 78 per cent full, the PDMA said. PDMA Director General Safi Anwar Jappa urged citizens to adopt precautionary measures in view of the weather and flood situation. He advised people to avoid recreational activities around rivers, canals and streams. He also urged citizens to take special care of children and not allow them to bathe in rivers, streams or drains under any circumstances.

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DPM Dar says 750,000 tonnes of wheat to be imported in November

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday reiterated the government’s decision to import up to one million metric tonnes of wheat, with 750,000 tonnes to be brought in during the first phase in November, amid growing concerns over a possible shortage of around three million tonnes. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, FM Dar chaired a meeting to review wheat stocks in the country. The deputy prime minister appreciated the cooperation and coordination extended by all provinces, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research and the Ministry of Commerce in resolving issues related to wheat imports, stabilising prices and curbing hoarding. He directed the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (Passco) to immediately supply wheat to the provinces according to allocations approved by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) and the steering committee. Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 chaired a meeting today to take stock of wheat stocks in the country. The DPM appreciated the cooperation and coordination extended by all provinces, the Ministry of National Food Security & Research,… pic.twitter.com/igG444lzyq — Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 3, 2026 Dar also directed the provinces to ensure timely payments and lifting of their allocated wheat supplies while also reiterating the decision to import up to one million metric tonnes of wheat, with the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) directed to start the process immediately. “In the first phase, 750,000 metric tonnes will be imported, with delivery scheduled for November,” the statement said. Dar stressed that all concerned institutions must continue working in close coordination to ensure adequate wheat availability, stable prices and relief for consumers across Pakistan. Read: Wheat shortfall could cost $1.2 billion The meeting was attended by the minister for national food security and research, the minister for commerce, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa, secretaries of commerce and national food security and research, representatives of the provincial governments, and senior federal and provincial officials. The government’s decision comes amid concerns among wheat growers that the country could face a shortfall of nearly three million tonnes, with farmer representatives warning that urgent steps were needed to encourage cultivation ahead of the Rabi sowing season. The country’s leading farmers’ body has said three consecutive years of policy missteps have pushed growers into losses estimated at Rs2,200 billion, eroding confidence in wheat cultivation. The body said the decline in farmer incomes had discouraged growers from planting wheat on land that would otherwise have been used for the crop, threatening the yields needed to maintain self-sufficiency in the staple grain. According to the farmers’ body’s calculations, the current wheat support price of Rs3,900 per 40-kilogramme maund, last approved by the federal ECC in March 2023, falls short of covering current production costs, which it puts at Rs3,761 per maund. Adding a 25 per cent profit margin, the body said a realistic support price would be closer to Rs4,702 per maund. The federal government had set the procurement price for the 2025-26 season at Rs3,500 per maund, with production estimated at around 28.4 million tonnes, down from 31.4 million tonnes a year earlier, according to industry data. Also Read: Provinces demand 2.2MMT of wheat Farmers’ groups have said Pakistan’s per-maund production costs, ranging between Rs2,800 and Rs3,400 depending on the region, remain among the highest in South Asia. The farmers’ body had urged the prime minister and the minister for national food security to publicly commit by the end of August to restoring the wheat support price and procurement mechanism. It argued that early clarity was essential to encourage farmers to bring fallow and diverted land back under wheat cultivation ahead of the Rabi season.

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Panic in Islamabad's Gulberg Greens as Bengal tiger, two cubs spotted in residential area

Panic gripped Islamabad's Gulberg Greens on Thursday evening after a Bengal tiger and two cubs were spotted in B-block, Street 15, sending residents into alarm and prompting the housing society’s security management to go on high alert. The sighting, confirmed by Gulberg Greens security management and residents, quickly became the talk of community groups as photographs and videos of the tiger and its cubs circulated widely, with worried families urged to stay indoors. Security personnel intensified surveillance in the area and advised residents, particularly children, not to venture outside until the situation was brought under control. “We are on high alert, and our teams are closely monitoring the area. Residents have been advised to remain inside and immediately report any movement or sighting of the animals,” a security official told residents in a message shared in community groups. Another security official said security teams were “fully engaged with the situation” and were taking precautionary measures to prevent any risk to residents. Following reports of a big cat in Gulberg Greens,IWMB & @CDAthecapital & @dcislamabad conducted a full search operation. ✅ No evidence found. We’ll keep monitoring the area. Request: Stay calm & report any wildlife sightings to relevant authorities. pic.twitter.com/A0WsCTfoKo — Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) (@WildlifeBoard) September 3, 2026 The unusual sighting triggered a wave of concern in residents’ groups, with families expressing fears for the safety of their children and questioning how a potentially dangerous wild animal had reached a populated residential area. “We are extremely worried, especially for children. Nobody knows where the tiger may move next, so families are staying indoors,” a resident told APP. Another resident, Syed Hasnain, told APP that he questioned the practice of keeping dangerous and exotic animals as pets in residential communities, saying the incident should serve as a wake-up call for authorities to enforce strict regulations. Read: Suspected wildcat sighting sparks panic “How can residents feel safe if dangerous wild animals can be kept in a residential area?” another resident asked in a community group. The sighting also prompted residents to caution one another against going out in search of the tiger or gathering around the reported location to take photographs or videos. The presence of the tiger and two cubs raised fresh questions about the risks associated with keeping exotic and potentially dangerous animals in private homes, particularly in densely populated housing schemes. For families in Gulberg Greens, however, the immediate concern remained safety, with residents keeping doors and gates shut and closely monitoring security updates as teams remained on alert. Security management continued to monitor the situation and urged residents to remain calm, stay indoors and cooperate with security personnel until the animals were safely dealt with.

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