IHC seeks jail record in Imran confinement case

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has sought a detailed report and jail record from the superintendent of Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail in a case concerning allegations that former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, are being kept in solitary confinement. Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro issued the order on Saturday while hearing petitions related to the alleged solitary confinement of the PTI founder and his wife. The court directed the Adiala Jail superintendent to submit a comprehensive report explaining whether Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi had been kept in solitary confinement. If so, the report must specify why they were placed in solitary confinement, under which law, for how long, and whether the confinement amounted to a form of punishment. The IHC observed that it would decide whether the petitions were maintainable only after receiving the reports. The court also directed the jail authorities to submit details regarding the conditions in which Imran and Bushra are being kept, as well as the facilities provided to them inside the prison. It asked the superintendent to explain the extent to which the allegations of solitary confinement were accurate and to provide complete details. The court also ordered the jail authorities to explain under which legal provision the prisoners were allegedly kept in solitary confinement, for what duration and under what circumstances. The court also instructed the Inspector General of Prisons to ensure the appearance of a jail officer of superintendent rank at the next hearing along with the relevant jail records, prison registers and all related documents concerning both prisoners. It said the officer appearing before the court must be fully aware of the facts and circumstances of the case. The IHC adjourned the hearing until August 6. Last week, Aleema Khanum, a sister of Imran Khan, filed a writ petition in the IHC seeking a declaration that the prolonged solitary confinement and incommunicado detention of her brother at Adiala Jail is illegal, unconstitutional, and without lawful authority. The petition, filed under Article 199 of the Constitution through a legal team led by Barrister Salman Safdar and Advocate Salman Akram Raja, named the superintendent and deputy superintendent of Adiala Jail, the Punjab inspector general of prisons, the NAB chairman, the FIA director general, the medical superintendent of PIMS, and the state as respondents. According to the petition, Imran is serving sentences in two cases—the Al-Qadir Trust Case and the Toshakhana Bvlgari Set Case—and his appeals against both convictions, along with applications for suspension of sentence, are presently pending before the IHC. She contended that since his conviction in the Bvlgari Set Case, her brother has been subjected to "unprecedented, harsh, and rigorous solitary confinement". According to the petition, Imran is kept in isolation for approximately 22 hours a day, while his wife, Bushra Bibi, is held in solitary confinement for 24 hours daily. The petition drew particular attention to the deterioration of Imran Khan's eyesight. It stated that he has lost approximately 85% of the vision in his right eye and has been taken out of Adiala Jail on at least four occasions for injections at PIMS.

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Govt plans annual evaluation of judges, says Azam Tarar

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on Saturday said the government was committed to improving legal education, strengthening the professional training of lawyers and ensuring the effective administration of justice. Addressing the inauguration of the Lawyers Education Academy at the Punjab Bar Council and a certificate distribution ceremony for successful participants of the Bar Vocational Course, the minister said work was underway on introducing a comprehensive health insurance policy for lawyers and their families. He said the federal and Punjab governments were extending full support to the welfare of the legal fraternity. Tarar said lawyers would be provided treatment for cancer, kidney, liver and heart diseases at both public and private hospitals under the proposed health scheme. He added that the Punjab government had released Rs1.35 billion in grants for bar associations and announced an additional Rs20 million for the Bar Vocational Course. The minister said the establishment of the Directorate of Legal Education at the Pakistan Bar Council was a major reform aimed at modernising legal education. He described the legal profession as a sacred responsibility and urged lawyers to strengthen their institutions and resolve disputes through institutional forums. On judicial reforms, Tarar said a seven-member committee had been constituted to ensure transparency and merit in the appointment of high court judges. The committee would interview candidates and submit its recommendations to the Judicial Commission. Questioning why high court judges should not undergo interviews when civil judges and additional sessions judges were required to pass examinations, the minister said judicial appointments must be based strictly on merit. He added that the government was introducing, for the first time, a constitutional mechanism for the annual evaluation of judges’ performance through a Judges Evaluation Committee. Under the proposed system, a Judges Evaluation Committee would review the performance of judges at the end of each year. If a judge’s performance was found unsatisfactory, the committee may send a reference to the Judicial Commission and recommend removal, he added. Read More: CJ forms panels for judicial appointments Commenting on constitutional reforms, Tarar said the 28th Constitutional Amendment would not be introduced in haste. He said that whenever the amendment was introduced, it would only be after broad consultation. He noted that the legal fraternity, including the Supreme Court Bar Association and other bar councils, had supported the 26th and 27th Constitutional Amendments. Punjab Bar Council Executive Committee Chairman Fakhar Hayat Awan said the Bar Vocational Course had been mandatory since 2018 and announced that the Punjab Bar Council would no longer issue licences without verification of law degrees by the Higher Education Commission (HEC). He also announced that the Bar’s Benevolent Fund had been increased from Rs300,000 to Rs600,000, pledging that there would be no compromise on the rights and welfare of lawyers. Earlier, the federal law minister inaugurated the Lawyers Education Academy and later distributed certificates among successful participants of the Bar Vocational Course. The ceremony was attended by Judicial Commission member Ahsan Bhoon, Pakistan Bar Council Vice Chairman Pir Muhammad Masood Chishti, Punjab Bar Council Vice Chairman Khawaja Qaiser Butt, senior office-bearers of the Pakistan and Punjab Bar Councils, and a large number of lawyers.

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Govt cuts petrol, diesel prices by Rs1.97 per litre

The federal government on Friday reduced the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs1.97 per litre for the next week, according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Petroleum. Under the revised rates, the price of petrol has been fixed at Rs297.53 per litre, while HSD will now cost Rs309.50 per litre. The new prices came into effect at midnight and will remain applicable for the next week, the notification said. The announcement came a week after the government decided to keep petrol and diesel prices unchanged despite a continued decline in international oil prices. Following that decision, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik rejected the impression that the government was favouring any particular sector and said the public was likely to receive "good news" in the coming days. Read: Petroleum price freeze sparks backlash He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's top priority was protecting consumer rights, adding that a high-level committee had been constituted on the premier's directives to ensure transparency in petroleum pricing and that positive developments were expected soon. The minister said the government was closely monitoring trends in the international oil market and urged the public to review international Platts prices for petrol and diesel, maintaining that pricing decisions were being made on a fair and transparent basis. It later emerged that, to keep petroleum prices unchanged, the federal government had revised the levy structure on petroleum products at the start of the new fiscal year by increasing the Climate Support Levy on petrol and HSD while reducing the Petroleum Levy by an equivalent amount. According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Energy on July 1, the Climate Support Levy on petrol and HSD was increased by Rs2.50 per litre to Rs5 per litre. At the same time, the Petroleum Levy on petrol sold through retail outlets was reduced by Rs2.50 per litre to Rs64.14 per litre, while the levy on HSD was reduced by Rs2.50 per litre to Rs77.04 per litre.

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K-P CM Afridi vows peace, uplift as Hazara tourism gets major push

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi directed authorities on Friday to identify and develop new tourist destinations in Kolai-Palas and Allai to unlock the immense tourism potential of Hazara Division. Chairing a high-level review meeting at the Chief Minister’s House, CM Afridi reviewed progress on development initiatives, law and order, governance, public service delivery, and grievance redressal across the division. He stressed that tourism promotion remains a top strategic priority of the provincial government. The meeting was informed that Rs500 million has been earmarked under the Khushhal Hazara Package specifically for tourism development projects. CM Afridi instructed concerned departments to ensure high-quality facilities and hospitality for both domestic and international tourists, noting that “tourists serve as ambassadors of the province’s positive image.” He also directed the formulation of dedicated traffic management plans to ensure smooth movement in major tourist destinations during peak seasons. To address longstanding local issues, the CM ordered the constitution of a commission for the permanent resolution of the boundary dispute between Chor Mali Valley and Baleej Valley in Kolai-Palas and Battagram districts. He called for immediate initiation of necessary legal and administrative processes. The meeting also reviewed monsoon preparedness, with the CM directing all departments to remain on high alert and fully operationalise contingency plans to respond effectively to any emergency. Highlighting the importance of responsive governance, CM Afridi directed district administrations to further strengthen public engagement. He instructed that elected representatives be actively involved in Khuli Kacheries and other outreach initiatives for timely resolution of public complaints. “We will measure our performance not through presentations, but through public satisfaction. The current fiscal year will be a year of peace, development and prosperity,” the chief minister remarked. He also announced an enhanced police budget to strengthen law and order and public safety across the province. Briefing the meeting, officials informed that 139 development schemes are currently under implementation in Hazara Division under the Provincial Annual Development Programme, with substantial funds already utilised. Out of 2,111 complaints registered through the Pakistan Citizen Portal, 1,879 have been successfully resolved. Under the Open Door Policy, more than 100 Khuli Kacheries have been conducted to strengthen direct public engagement. Significant progress was also reported in land records digitisation: fully completed in Abbottabad and Battagram, 97 per cent in Haripur, and 90 per cent in Mansehra. Additionally, 20 Police Facilitation Centres are operational in the division, with six more under construction. The chief minister directed all departments to ensure timely and accountable implementation of the decisions taken in the meeting. He reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to delivering responsive governance, efficient public services, sustainable development, and a peaceful environment. The K-P Assembly speaker, elected representatives from Hazara Division, chief secretary, police chief and other senior officers attended the meeting.

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IHC restrains NHA from collecting 50pc additional toll on M-Tag violations

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday restrained the National Highway Authority (NHA) from collecting an additional 50% from motorists travelling without an M-Tag or with insufficient M-Tag balance, suspending the authority's notification until the next hearing on August 3. The court also issued notices to the NHA, the Ministry of Communications and other respondents, seeking their replies. Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir passed the interim order after conducting a preliminary hearing on a petition filed by Advocate Muhammad Jalal Haider. Read: SCBAP to challenge NHA’s ‘extortion’ via toll tax hikes The NHA had announced a 50% increase in toll charges for vehicles without an M-Tag or with insufficient M-Tag balance, effective from June 15, 2025, as part of its plan to implement a 100pc M-Tag system across the country's motorways. The petition named the NHA, the Ministry of Communications and other parties as respondents, requesting the court to declare the additional charge illegal and order the authorities to refund the amount collected from the public under the penalty. According to the petition, the NHA issued a notification on May 30, 2025, imposing an additional 50% toll, described as a penalty, on vehicles travelling without an M-Tag or with insufficient M-Tag balance. The petitioner argued that Section 10 of the NHA Act authorised the authority only to collect toll tax and contained no provision allowing it to impose penalties on either non-M-Tag vehicles or those with low M-Tag balances. The petition contended that the NHA was recovering the additional amount without any legal authority. It requested the court to declare the May 30 notification unconstitutional and void, direct the NHA to refund all additional amounts collected under the notification, and seek details of the mechanism governing M-Tag balances and its implementation.

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Lahore police arrests 4 suspects for kidnapping, sexual assault of two foreign women

Lahore police on Thursday rescued two foreign women within hours of receiving an emergency complaint, arrested four suspects and launched an investigation into allegations of kidnapping, ransom demands and sexual assault. A first information report (FIR) was registered today at the Defence C Police Station under Sections 365A (kidnapping) and 375A (rape) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) on one of the victims' complaint. Read: Two held in student's rape, murder case She said that the women travelled to Pakistan after being invited by an acquaintance they had met in Singapore in October 2025. She added that on June 29, they were abducted by the acquaintance and four accomplices, who demanded money for their release. The complaint further contained allegations of repeated sexual assault, threats with weapons, physical abuse and extortion. A statement from the Lahore police said an emergency call was received through the Punjab Emergency Helpline after the father of one of the women, who was in the Netherlands, reported the alleged kidnapping. Following directions from Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the Lahore police launched an operation, using Safe City surveillance to trace the suspects. The statement added that the two women were recovered within approximately two hours, while four suspects were arrested. Police said raids were continuing to apprehend the remaining suspects. Also Read: Two women allegedly gang raped in Lahore, four suspects arrested Investigators said the victims had undergone medical examinations and that further legal proceedings would be conducted in light of forensic and other evidence collected during the investigation. Lahore Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations) Faisal Kamran said all those found involved in the case would be brought to justice and reiterated that crimes against women would be dealt with without compromise. Reports circulating on social media alleged that one of the suspects was related to an influential political figure. However, the police did not comment on the claim and no such relationship was mentioned in the FIR or police statement.

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PTA warns of intermittent internet issues after submarine cable fault

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said on Thursday that it was monitoring disruption to internet traffic caused by a fault in the SEA-ME-WE 5 (SMW5) international submarine cable system, warning that some users may experience intermittent degradation in internet services. In a statement, the PTA said the fault could result in periodic deterioration in service quality and connectivity for some internet users. "The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority is continuously monitoring the disruption in internet traffic caused by a fault in the SEA-ME-WE 5 (SMW5) international submarine cable system. As a result of the fault, some internet users may experience intermittent degradation in service quality and connectivity," the statement said. The regulator said Transworld Associates (TWA) was working with the SMW5 consortium to identify the root cause of the fault and determine the estimated time for service restoration (ETTR). Meanwhile, internet traffic was being rerouted through alternative international links to minimise disruption and ensure continuity of services. "PTA remains in constant contact with the relevant stakeholders and continues to closely monitor the situation to ensure the earliest possible restoration of internet services across the country," the statement concluded.

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