Bilawal renews push for greater AJK rights

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Sunday promised greater constitutional rights for Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), renewed his call for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to address the AJK's recent unrest and urged the federal government to restore internet services immediately. Addressing a public rally in Kotli ahead of the July 27 AJK elections, Bilawal said the PPP would seek observer representation for AJK in Pakistan's key constitutional institutions, including the Council of Common Interests (CCI) the National Finance Commission (NFC) and the National Assembly. Presenting the PPP's election agenda, Bilawal said his party stood for the "right to rule, right to ownership and right to employment," adding that AJK's natural resources belonged to its people. He said his proposal envisaged protesters suspending demonstrations, while the state halted action until an independent inquiry completed its findings. Urging dialogue, Bilawal said neither the protesters nor the government's representatives had responded to the proposal and called on the federal government to restore internet services, saying ordinary AJK people should not suffer because of the dispute. The PPP chairman also accused political rivals of victimising his party workers through police cases and expressed confidence that the PPP candidates would secure victories across Kotli district. The July 27 AJK elections, he said would determine whether the people endorsed the PPP's vision for greater political rights and economic opportunities in the region. The PPP chairman said the party had prioritised loyal workers while selecting candidates for the elections. "When the party was considering candidates, I instructed the leadership to prioritise our loyal workers," he said. Referring to the selection of the candidate for LA-13, Bilawal said the decision was straightforward. "It was not difficult to choose between a new entrant and the son of Matloob Inqalabi," he said, adding that Inqalabi had devoted his life to the PPP and that his son was now carrying forward his legacy on the party's ticket. Recalling the previous elections, Bilawal said the PPP had contested under far more difficult circumstances, when the PML-N was in power in Azad Kashmir and the PTI governed at the centre. Despite those challenges, he said, the people of Kashmir had placed their trust in the PPP. He said the political landscape had since changed, with the PPP governing Azad Kashmir for the past six months and the PML-N leading the federal government, making the current electoral contest different from the last one. Bilawal said the manifesto he had presented to the people had already received the support of voters in Gilgit-Baltistan. He said he had brought the same three principles to Kashmir: the right to rule, the right to ownership and the right to employment.

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Lidless manholes: gaping death traps

The onset of heavy monsoon rains this week has heightened fears of flooding and accidents due to uncovered deep manholes and 15 garbage-clogged storm drains across the city. The government had directed the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) to install iron and cement covers, along with heavy-duty safety grilles capable of bearing up to 300kg, on manholes and unprotected drains. However, the project could not be implemented because of a shortage of funds and a severe financial crisis. More than 100 manholes in Rawalpindi city and cantonment areas remain uncovered. Ranging from five to 15 feet in depth, these manholes have neither covers nor safety grilles, making them a major hazard during the monsoon season. The city's 15 storm drains also remain clogged with silt and garbage, while drains in cantonment areas have yet to be cleaned. Six-year-old Zahid, who fell into Nullah Leh in Gulistan Colony on Saturday, remained missing even after 40 hours. Rescue teams continued searching the drain by boat on Sunday, but no divers were deployed. The Swan River is only 300 metres from the site, and residents said the search should also have been extended there. A month and a half ago, the body of seven-year-old Wisal, who had fallen into a deep sewer near Kacha Stop, was recovered eight kilometres away from bushes near the Gawalmandi Bridge on Nullah Leh. Residents said Zahid's body should also be searched for in the Swan River. The two incidents have exposed what residents described as the poor performance of Rescue 1122 and other rescue agencies. According to a survey, uncovered manholes and unsafe drains are present in Dhok Khabba, Fazalabad, Millat Colony, Chah Sultan, Qasimabad, Amar Pura, Sadiqabad, Muslim Town, Dhok Kala Khan, New Katarian, Khayaban-i-Sir Syed, Pirwadhai, Dhok Naju, Dhok Hassu, Fauji Colony, Dhok Ratta, Hazara Colony, Tench Bhata, People's Colony, Shalley Valley, Dhok Syedan, Church Road, Adiala, Sharon Colony and Gulistan Colony. No work has yet begun on installing covers and safety grilles despite the start of the monsoon spell, which carries a flood risk. This year, rescue agencies have also not conducted a full-scale flood preparedness drill. Deputy Commissioner Nadeem Nasir has directed all rescue departments to ensure safety measures in low-lying areas during the monsoon and install covers on open manholes. Wasa said a survey of manholes had been completed and installation of covers and safety grilles would begin shortly. Citizen Action Committee Chairman Zaheer Awan said the city's deep manholes posed a serious threat to children and accused Wasa and the Municipal Corporation of failing to fulfil repeated promises to install covers and safety grilles. Residents of low-lying areas, including Shahbaz Ali, Ramzan Khan, Haji Maqsood and Arshad Ali, said drains had not been cleaned despite official claims. They said people were placing wooden sticks and branches around open manholes as makeshift warning signs and complained that no government officials or elected representatives had visited their neighbourhoods since the start of the monsoon.

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Leopard falls victim to villagers' anger after livestock attacks in Bajaur

Residents of Bajaur killed a common leopard on Sunday after it repeatedly attacked livestock in the Speen Mundgaon area of Wara Mamond tehsil, prompting the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Wildlife Department to initiate legal action against those involved. According to local residents, the leopard had been approaching nearby settlements at night and attacking cows, goats and other livestock for several days. Several animals were killed or injured in the attacks, causing fear among residents and financial losses for livestock owners. The residents said they had been monitoring the leopard’s movement before killing it during an operation. They claimed that the animal’s death helped ease the fear that had spread in the area. Read: Rare leopard falls to human wrath The K-P Wildlife Department took notice of the incident and said it was using pictures and videos to identify those involved in killing the protected animal. The department said cases would be registered against the responsible individuals under wildlife laws and legal proceedings would be initiated. Wildlife officials said the common leopard was a protected species, and its killing was a punishable offence. They urged citizens not to take action themselves if a wild animal entered populated areas or attacked livestock, and instead immediately inform the wildlife department so that the animal can be safely captured and relocated to its natural habitat. Experts said declining forest cover, destruction of natural habitats, shortage of prey and the expansion of human settlements were forcing wild animals, including common leopards, to move towards populated areas in search of food, resulting in an increase in human-wildlife conflict. This is not the first such incident. Similar cases involving the killing of common leopards have previously been reported in Darra Adam Khel and Kurram district, where the wildlife department initiated legal proceedings. Experts said such incidents underline the need for effective conservation measures and better strategies to address human-wildlife conflicts while ensuring the protection of both wildlife and local communities.

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Mountaineer missing after Swat peak GLOF

A search operation was underway on Saturday to trace a mountaineering guide who went missing after a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) affected seven people trekking Falak Sar Peak in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's Swat district, Rescue 1122 said. "Swat's legendary mountaineer Mian Syed Ali Shah was climbing Falak Sar Peak when his safety rope snapped, causing him to fall from the summit. He has since gone missing, and a search operation is underway to find him," Swat Rescue 1122 District Emergency Officer Syed Shoaib Mansoor told The Express Tribune. He said the mountaineer went missing in the Matiltan area located in Upper Swat at around 7pm last evening. "Six expedition members have been rescued by the service," he added. Mansoor further said that of the six rescued trekkers, Swat Rescue 1122 medical teams moved three injured people from the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Kalam to Central Hospital Saidu Sharif in Swat. According to Rescue 1122, the injured were identified as Hawar Hussain, 40, Haris, 22, and Haroon, 27, all residents of Rawalpindi. The rescue officer also said that the remaining three people affected by the glacier burst were safe. He said that the incident took place in an "extremely remote and difficult-to-access area", which was hampering the search operation. Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued nationwide alerts for flash floods, urban flooding and landslides from July 18 to 23 in several parts of the country, including Gilgit Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Islamabad and north eastern Balochistan. Authority urges citizens to avoid unnecessary travel and take precautionary measures, according to an advisory issued by its National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) on Saturday. The NEOC said the prevailing weather conditions are in line with its earlier forecast and it is continuously monitoring potential hazards while ensuring the timely dissemination of information to all relevant authorities. Heavy rainfall may trigger flash floods in local streams, seasonal waterways and mountainous regions. Medium to high level flooding is expected in rivers and streams across Gilgit Baltistan. In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, upper and central districts face the risk of flash floods and surging flows in hill torrents and seasonal streams. The NDMA has also issued a landslide alert for Azad Jammu and Kashmir from July 19 to 24.Continuous rainfall may trigger landslides in Neelum, Haveli, Poonch, Muzaffarabad and Bagh districts. Moderate risks also exist in the hilly areas of Kotli, Sudhnoti, Mirpur and Bhimber.Roads in Muzaffarabad, Bagh, Kahuta and Bhimber may be affected by falling debris and landslides, disrupting traffic movement.The authority warned that water levels may rise significantly in the Neelum, Jhelum and Poonch rivers and their tributaries in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Separately, NDMA has issued flood alerts for Punjab and north eastern Balochistan from July 17 to 23. Heavy rains may cause flash floods in seasonal streams and hill torrents across both regions.

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NCCIA summons Imran’s sister Noreen Niazi for controversial remarks on Maarka-e-Haq

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) on Saturday summoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan’s sister Noreen Niazi for an inquiry after an interview of her went viral on social media, leading to allegations of disseminating “false, offensive, and inflammatory” content. According to a notice issued by the NCCIA Cyber Crime Reporting Centre, Noreen has been directed to appear before the agency on Monday to record her statement in connection with the inquiry. The notice, issued under Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, stated that the NCCIA was conducting proceedings in the matter. The agency said the “gist of allegations” was that Noreen had allegedly disseminated “false, offensive, and inflammatory social media content to defame state institutions and spread fake narratives”. The notice directed her to appear in person at the NCCIA Cyber Crime Reporting Centre in Islabad to record her statement. It warned that non-compliance would mean “that you have nothing to present or state in your defence” and would be punishable under Section 174 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860. The notice was issued after Noreen made remarks regarding Maarka-e-Haq and the Pakistan Army during an interview on a YouTube channel. In the interview, Noreen alleged that Maarka-e-Haq was a collaboration between the Pakistan armed forces and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She further claimed that India refrained from attacking Pakistan at Israel’s request because Pakistan was moving towards recognising Israel. “Modi could have fixed them in two minutes if he had wanted to. Why did Modi stop? What was he afraid of? India is such a large country. Look at that country and then look at yourselves,” she said. She also alleged that Israel was “behind” the developments and claimed that Pakistan was being prepared to join countries that had established diplomatic relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords. The comments were criticised by politicians and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

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Judicial commission formed to probe Ziarat incident: CM Bugti

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti on Saturday said the provincial government had constituted a judicial commission to investigate the Ziarat incident, a day after an agreement between the government and protesters ended a days-long sit-in staged in response to the terrorist attack in Ziarat's Mangi area. At least 30 people, including 27 police personnel, were martyred while fighting terrorists identified by the state as the Indian proxy Fitna al-Hindustan during the attack in the Ziarat area of Balochistan. Bugti confirmed the development during a meeting with Pakistan People's Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari at Zardari House in Islamabad, where he briefed the party chief on the province's administrative and political situation, as well as the recent security situation. Read: Sit-in ends as Balochistan govt, Ziarat committee strike judicial inquiry deal During the briefing, the chief minister said he had played a full role in consoling the bereaved families affected by the Ziarat incident and in fulfilling their demands. He said a judicial commission had been established on the demand of the bereaved families to investigate the incident. Bugti also announced that an all-parties conference would soon be convened on the restoration of peace in Balochistan, adding that political parties outside parliament would also be invited to participate. اسلام آباد: پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی کے چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری سے بلوچستان کے وزیراعلی سرفراز بگٹی کی زرداری ہاؤس میں ملاقات اسلام آباد: چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری کو بلوچستان کے وزیراعلی سرفراز بگٹی نے صوبے کی انتظامی اور سیاسی صورت حال سے آگاہ کیا اسلام آباد: چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو… pic.twitter.com/jZNvCR474o — PPP (@MediaCellPPP) July 18, 2026 During the meeting, Bilawal paid tribute to the personnel of the army, Frontier Corps and police who were martyred in the recent wave of terrorism. “I can feel the pain of the bereaved families of those martyred in the recent terrorist incidents,” the PPP chairman said. He also praised Bugti for the successful negotiations with the protesters and his efforts to address the concerns of the bereaved families. Also Read: Nation mourns as Quetta bids farewell to Ziarat attack martyrs “You have played a positive role in healing the pain of the bereaved families of the Ziarat incident and making the negotiation process successful,” Bilawal said. Thanking the opposition parties for their role in making the negotiations successful, the PPP chairman said political dialogue remained the only solution to Balochistan's political issues. “The Pakistan People's Party believes in political dialogue with political parties, whether they are in power or in the opposition,” he said. Reiterating the country's long-standing stance on terrorism, he said the nation stood like “a wall of steel” against terrorism.

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Danyal calls out ‘selective lectures’ for Pakistan on minority rights

Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Broadcasting Danyal Chaudhry on Friday called out “selective lectures” directed at Pakistan regarding minority rights during its GSP+ assessment. “Pakistan’s GSP+ assessment has once again become a platform for selective lectures on minority rights,” the parliamentary secretary stated in a post on X, highlighting religious tolerance and inter-faith harmony in the country. Pakistan's GSP+ assessment has once again become a platform for selective lectures on minority rights. Pakistan with a 97% Muslim population has got 2,189 churches (1 per 1,206 Christians), 732 temples (1 per 5,669 Hindus) and 58 gurdwaras (1 per 159 Sikhs). UK has one mosque for… — Danyal Chaudhry (@DanyalChaudhary) July 17, 2026 “Pakistan, with a 97% Muslim population, has got 2,189 churches (1 per 1,206 Christians), 732 temples (1 per 5,669 Hindus) and 58 gurdwaras (1 per 159 Sikhs),” he said, contrasting this with the UK, which, he noted, has one mosque for every 2,249 Muslims. In Pakistan, neither the state nor society discriminated against religious minorities, he added. The parliamentary secretary emphasised that special measures were undertaken by federal and provincial governments for the celebration of minority religious occasions, alongside the maintenance and protection of their holy places. He also questioned the tolerance levels of other nations, pointing to France, where a hijab ban was imposed in 2004, a face veil ban in 2011, and an abaya ban in schools in 2023. Danyal also noted face-covering restrictions in Belgium, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. “Yet the EU continues to recycle narratives sourced from agenda-driven NGOs while ignoring Pakistan’s constitutional guarantees, legal reforms, and sustained efforts to protect minorities,” he remarked.

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