California Senate hails Pak-US ties

The California State Senate unanimously passed a "historic resolution" celebrating the "enduring relationship" between Pakistan and the US , while recognising the "significant contributions" of the Pakistani-American diaspora to California's economy, culture, and social fabric, the embassy of Pakistan in Washington said in a statement. Presented by Senator Melissa Hurtado, the resolution highlighted the pivotal role played by Pakistani-Americans in California and commended their achievements across diverse fields. The resolution urged all Californians to join in celebrating the friendly relations between the two nations, the statement read. Council of Pakistan led by Dr Imran Sharief made key efforts for passage of the resolution, it added. Expressing his gratitude, Pakistan's Ambassador to the US Rizwan Saeed Sheikh praised Senator Hurtado for her leadership. The envoy reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to deepening people-to-people ties and building on the current positive trajectory of Pakistan-US bilateral relations. California State Assembly also resolved to promote relations between Pakistan and the State of California. The Assembly resolved to promote the contributions of Pakistani-American businesses and investors in advancing economic cooperation between Pakistan and California. The Assembly recognised and acknowledged the achievements of Ambassador Sheikh in promoting bilateral ties between the two nations. These pronouncements were made by Assembly member Matt Haney. The resolution's passage coincided with an official visit by Ambassador Sheikh to California, during which he interacted with state lawmakers to strengthen economic and political engagement.

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Seven workers abducted as armed men raid private mining site in BalocChagai

Eight unidentified armed motorcyclists stormed a private mining site in Balochistan's Chagai district on Wednesday, abducting seven workers and taking away equipment and supplies worth millions of rupees, according to sources. The incident took place at around 1pm at the private mines located approximately 15 to 18 kilometres west of Chagai tehsil in Mahian Kor. The attackers held the workers hostage and later took seven of them with them. The abducted workers included four labourers from Gilgit identified as Wajahat, Wajid, Shahid and Sabir, and three local workers identified as Ziauddin of Dalbandin, Shah Saleem of Mahian, Chagai, and Saeed Muhammad, also a resident of Mahian, Chagai. Read: 18 terrorists killed in VBIED blast, security operation in Balochistan: ISPR According to sources, the armed men remained at the mining site until around 7pm and took away a Zambad vehicle, a four-wheel-drive pickup, more than 20 solar panels, a Zarinj motorcycle, bedding, kitchen utensils, gas cylinders, 2,500 litres of diesel, 1,500 litres of petrol and other equipment and supplies. Sources at the private mining company said the attackers stayed at the site for several hours and carried out the operation without haste before fleeing with the abducted workers and stolen property. The incident was promptly reported to the relevant administration, but the seven abducted workers and the equipment taken by the attackers had not been recovered at the time of this report. The administration has launched further efforts to trace the abductees and recover the stolen property.

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Lahore police defend handling of case over two women’s custodial deaths at Township station

The Lahore police on Tuesday defended their handling of a case of the death of two women at Township Police Station, saying a judicial inquiry and an interim post-mortem examination had so far found no apparent marks of torture on the bodies, while the DNA and other forensic reports were still awaited. Addressing a press conference, Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Bilal Siddique Kamyana, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Operations Faisal Kamran, and DIG Investigations Zeeshan Raza stated that no aspect of the case would be left uninvestigated. According to the police account of the day, a call was received on the emergency helpline 15 at around 2:55pm regarding an alleged swindling incident in the Township area. The police reached the location at 3:11pm, while the complainant arrived at about 4pm. The first information report (FIR) against the two women was registered at 4:50pm, after which custody was transferred from the operations to the investigation wing at around 5:20pm. ٹاون شپ تھانے میں زیرحراست ہ ل ا ک دوخواتین کا کیس !پوسٹمارٹم رپورٹ !! پولیس اہلکاروں کو کلین چٹ؟CCPO لاہور کی گفتگو سنیں#TownshipPoliceStation #LahorePolice #CCPOLahore #PoliceCustody #PoliceInvestigation #LahoreNews #PakistanNews #BreakingNews #Justice #LawAndOrder… pic.twitter.com/klt7sXCdpn — Express News (@ExpressNewsPK) August 11, 2026 The women were handed over to the investigation wing clerk at approximately 5:30pm. The police said their condition began deteriorating around 15 minutes later, prompting officials to call Rescue 1122. The women were moved from the police station to Jinnah Hospital at around 7pm, where they were declared dead. READ: Post-mortems find no signs of torture in deaths of two women in Lahore police custody The police said the identification process was initially delayed because the women did not have their CNICs. Investigators traced them through their photographs and names using the Criminal Record Office (CRO). The officials said two previous cases were found registered against the women at Dinga Police Station in Gujrat in 2023 and Lahore Factory Area in 2024. Investigators then got a lead regarding another woman in Rawalpindi, which helped them trace the deceased women's families in Pakpattan. The police said the post-mortem examination had been delayed because the deceased did not have identification documents and their legal heirs had not initially been located. The examination was conducted after the families were available. Since the deaths had occurred after the women had been brought into custody, the police requested a magistrate to conduct an inquiry under Section 176 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The judicial magistrate's interim report clarified that the final findings would depend on the post-mortem report. The officials also addressed questions surrounding an incident at Ghaziabad Police Station, where an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) had been accused of sexually assaulting a woman on August 2. غازی آباد واقعہ: ڈی آئی جی آپریشنز کا بڑا ایکشن، ایس ایچ او سمیت تھانے کی تمام نفری معطل غازی آباد واقعے پر سخت نوٹس لیتے ہوئے ڈی آئی جی آپریشنز نے ناقص سپرویژن اور غفلت برتنے پر ایس ایچ او، 2 سب انسپکٹرز، 8 اے ایس آئیز اور فرنٹ ڈیسک عملے سمیت تھانے کے تمام 78 اہلکاروں کو معطل… — Lahore Police Official (@Lahorepoliceops) August 4, 2026 The policeman was accused of taking the woman to the police station and assaulting her there. The police said sections of the law carrying the possibility of capital punishment had been added to the FIR and strict departmental action had also been taken. READ MORE: 78 Lahore cops suspended after ASI's alleged sexual assault of mentally challenged woman in police station The officers said no leniency would be shown if anyone was found guilty, adding that stern action had already been taken against those found responsible for negligence. They also announced a new policy to ensure the round-the-clock presence of women officers at all police stations in the city. Three officers will be assigned to each police station during the morning shift and two in the evening. The decision follows an earlier directive restricting women from remaining at police stations in the city after sunset, except in emergency circumstances with approval from a senior officer.

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Lahore police defend handling of case over two women’s custodial deaths at Township station

The Lahore police on Tuesday defended their handling of a case of the death of two women at Township Police Station, saying a judicial inquiry and an interim post-mortem examination had so far found no apparent marks of torture on the bodies, while the DNA and other forensic reports were still awaited. Addressing a press conference, Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Bilal Siddique Kamyana, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Operations Faisal Kamran, and DIG Investigations Zeeshan Raza stated that no aspect of the case would be left uninvestigated. According to the police account of the day, a call was received on the emergency helpline 15 at around 2:55pm regarding an alleged swindling incident in the Township area. The police reached the location at 3:11pm, while the complainant arrived at about 4pm. The first information report (FIR) against the two women was registered at 4:50pm, after which custody was transferred from the operations to the investigation wing at around 5:20pm. ٹاون شپ تھانے میں زیرحراست ہ ل ا ک دوخواتین کا کیس !پوسٹمارٹم رپورٹ !! پولیس اہلکاروں کو کلین چٹ؟CCPO لاہور کی گفتگو سنیں#TownshipPoliceStation #LahorePolice #CCPOLahore #PoliceCustody #PoliceInvestigation #LahoreNews #PakistanNews #BreakingNews #Justice #LawAndOrder… pic.twitter.com/klt7sXCdpn — Express News (@ExpressNewsPK) August 11, 2026 The women were handed over to the investigation wing clerk at approximately 5:30pm. The police said their condition began deteriorating around 15 minutes later, prompting officials to call Rescue 1122. The women were moved from the police station to Jinnah Hospital at around 7pm, where they were declared dead. READ: Post-mortems find no signs of torture in deaths of two women in Lahore police custody The police said the identification process was initially delayed because the women did not have their CNICs. Investigators traced them through their photographs and names using the Criminal Record Office (CRO). The officials said two previous cases were found registered against the women at Dinga Police Station in Gujrat in 2023 and Lahore Factory Area in 2024. Investigators then got a lead regarding another woman in Rawalpindi, which helped them trace the deceased women's families in Pakpattan. The police said the post-mortem examination had been delayed because the deceased did not have identification documents and their legal heirs had not initially been located. The examination was conducted after the families were available. Since the deaths had occurred after the women had been brought into custody, the police requested a magistrate to conduct an inquiry under Section 176 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The judicial magistrate's interim report clarified that the final findings would depend on the post-mortem report. The officials also addressed questions surrounding an incident at Ghaziabad Police Station, where an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) had been accused of sexually assaulting a woman on August 2. غازی آباد واقعہ: ڈی آئی جی آپریشنز کا بڑا ایکشن، ایس ایچ او سمیت تھانے کی تمام نفری معطل غازی آباد واقعے پر سخت نوٹس لیتے ہوئے ڈی آئی جی آپریشنز نے ناقص سپرویژن اور غفلت برتنے پر ایس ایچ او، 2 سب انسپکٹرز، 8 اے ایس آئیز اور فرنٹ ڈیسک عملے سمیت تھانے کے تمام 78 اہلکاروں کو معطل… — Lahore Police Official (@Lahorepoliceops) August 4, 2026 The policeman was accused of taking the woman to the police station and assaulting her there. The police said sections of the law carrying the possibility of capital punishment had been added to the FIR and strict departmental action had also been taken. READ MORE: 78 Lahore cops suspended after ASI's alleged sexual assault of mentally challenged woman in police station The officers said no leniency would be shown if anyone was found guilty, adding that stern action had already been taken against those found responsible for negligence. They also announced a new policy to ensure the round-the-clock presence of women officers at all police stations in the city. Three officers will be assigned to each police station during the morning shift and two in the evening. The decision follows an earlier directive restricting women from remaining at police stations in the city after sunset, except in emergency circumstances with approval from a senior officer.

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US Congressmen urge Marco Rubio to raise Imran's detention with Pakistan

A group of bipartisan United States Congress members on Tuesday sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging him to take up the detention of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder and former prime minister Imran Khan with Pakistan. Imran has been imprisoned since August 2023, currently serving a sentence at Adiala Jail in a £190 million corruption case. He also faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) related to the protests of May 9, 2023. His party has regularly raised concerns about his health and well-being in detention. In a post on X today, the PTI's US account posted the letter from the lawmakers to Rubio. "We are concerned about former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Imran Khan's conditions in detention at the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi, and throughout their entire time in custody," the letter said.  It said that, as per a December 2025 communication by the United Nations special rapporteur on torture, Imran was held in solitary confinement "in excess of international norms up to 23 hours a day in his cell". It added that reports also asserted he was facing "severe eye damage" with Imran's lawyer stating in February court submissions that he had "lost 85% of his vision in his right eye". "Mr Khan also raised concerns of 'slow poisoning' in October 2023, at the onset of his detention," the letter said. READ: UN expert decries Imran's detention The lawmakers said that in a separate December 2025 communication, the special rapporteur also raised concerns regarding Bushra Bibi's treatment. "She is allegedly being confined in a small, airless, overheated cell for prolonged periods of time, and denied access to clean drinking water and quality food. Her family and legal visits have been restricted, and she has faced significant weight loss, infections, and untreated medical complications. Reports indicate that Ms Khan has experienced significant eye damage, too," the lawmakers said. READ MORE: UN expert flags ‘serious risk’ to Bushra Bibi’s well-being They added that the UN special rapporteur had noted that "immediate attention" was warranted in both their cases.  "We request that the State Department review these concerns and assess the current status of Mr and Ms Khan's conditions. Moreover, we urge the department to address their continued detention and human rights directly with the Government of Pakistan," the letter demanded. The world is watching... A bipartisan group of thirteen U.S. lawmakers has written to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging action on the detention conditions of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Khan in Adiala Jail. Citing UN concerns over solitary… pic.twitter.com/YdpbJxEOrv — PTI USA Official (@PTIOfficialUSA) August 11, 2026 The lawmakers who signed on to the letter included Suhyas Subramanyam, Joe Wilson, Gus Bilirakis, Ro Khanna, James McGovern, Pramila Jayapal, Donald Beyer Jr, Ilhan Omar, Frank Pallone Jr, Greg Casar, Rashida Tlaib, James Walkinshaw and Johnny Olszewski Jr. Last year, US Congressmen Wilson and August Pfluger sent a joint letter to Rubio, urging him to engage with Pakistan's military to secure Imran's release. ALSO READ: US Congressmen urge Marco Rubio to secure Imran Khan's release The letter, dated February 25, 2025, stated that Imran's imprisonment, which began in August 2023, was the result of politically motivated charges. It referred to Imran's ouster in 2022 through a vote of no-confidence as a "suspension of democracy" in Pakistan, leading to strained ties between the two countries.

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Senate panel orders action on medical seats

A Senate panel on Monday directed the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSRC) and the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to take immediate measures to address vacant seats in medical colleges, examine fee disparities and strengthen monitoring of medical education institutions. The directives were issued by the Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, chaired by Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani. The panel asserted that it will not allow long-standing issues in medical education to remain unresolved, adding that, "every vacant seat, every fee increase and every regulatory gap must have a clear answer". The committee reviewed PMDC's preparedness for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2026. It was informed that PMDC had rescheduled the MDCAT 2026 examination to Sunday, Sept 20, 2026, to ensure a transparent, secure and well-organised process and provide relief to candidates. The vice chancellors of universities conducting the MDCAT shared their input on various other matters, including vacant seats and the fee structure of medical colleges, particularly institutions charging higher fees. The minister for health informed the committee that several colleges had sought an increase in fees and that universities could not independently increase their fees. Of the 61 medical colleges considered, 35 had qualified on the prescribed criteria. The committee sought details justifying and scrutinising the fees, along with audited financial statements, for each of these 35 qualified institutions. PMDC was also asked to share the status of institutions that had not qualified but were nevertheless charging higher fees and displaying those fees on their websites. PMDC informed the committee that notices had been issued to non-compliant institutions and that monitoring was under way. The committee asked for details of the notices issued in this regard. The committee emphasised that any increase in fees should be supported by clear criteria and credible evidence, including educational standards, faculty strength, infrastructure and audited financial information. The issue of vacant seats in medical colleges was discussed at length. The minister stated that vacant seats were a genuine and broader concern and could not be attributed solely to fee levels or MDCAT eligibility percentages. The committee was informed that the ministry had examined the issue in comparison with other professional fields and that the declining interest in medical education also required consideration. The committee discussed increasing the number of seats in public-sector medical colleges as one possible measure. PMDC informed the committee that additional seats had already been allocated following inspections, including seats for Punjab, erstwhile FATA and Balochistan. The committee also discussed the position in Sindh in this regard. Members of the committee and vice chancellors of admitting universities explained that an increase in public-sector seats would require additional infrastructure, registration capacity and physical space. The chairman decided that a separate meeting would be held with the Government of Sindh and relevant representatives to examine the matter in detail. The committee stressed that vacant seats must be properly investigated before any further policy decision is taken. PMDC was directed to inspect private colleges having vacant seats and submit a report identifying the reasons for the vacancies. The committee expressed grave concern over the delay in providing the information required during its previous meeting and directed that the report be submitted within one month.

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Iran downplays concerns over Makkah pact

Iran sees no reason to be concerned ?that a new security pact between ?Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia is directed ?against Tehran, Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday as Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a telephonic conversation with Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi. At a weekly news conference, Baghaei portrayed the pact—the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement signed by Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia on August 7—less as an anti-Iranian move than as evidence of a broader reassessment by regional countries of their security relationships with Washington. "Countries have reached the conclusion that they cannot rely on America's claim of providing security," he said, adding that Tehran seeks to interpret the new arrangement within the wider transformation of the regional security order rather than immediately treating it as a hostile military alignment. He said the pact showed a shift ?in regional countries' approach to security, with greater reliance on their own capabilities rather than ?outside powers. "Any plan that is based on the geopolitical and historical realities of the region, is comprehensive and inclusive, and correctly identifies the enemy and the threat, has a chance of helping to strengthen security and prevent instability and abuses by the Zionist enemy [Israel] and its allies," he added. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke by telephone with Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in what appeared to be an effort by Islamabad to prevent the new trilateral security arrangement from creating fresh friction with its neighbour. Dar's conversation with Araghchi focused on regional and international developments, with particular emphasis on the rapidly evolving situation in the region and efforts to promote peace. According to the Foreign Ministry, Dar also shared the contours of the recently signed Makkah Joint Defence Agreement with his Iranian counterpart, explaining its objectives of strengthening strategic cooperation and contributing to regional peace and security. Araghchi thanked Dar for sharing the key aspects of the agreement, and the two ministers agreed to remain in close contact on matters of mutual interest. The conversation was particularly noteworthy because it came as Iran itself appeared to signal that its channels with Islamabad remain open. Speaking at a meeting of the federal cabinet, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday also sought to reassure that the Makkah accord is not an act of aggression but meant to promote peace and stability. Shehbaz said the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was the culmination of several years of discussions and was intended to promote peace, development and prosperity rather than threaten any country. "The purpose is absolutely not aggression," he said, describing the arrangement as "completely defensive" and aimed at ensuring peace, stability and progress in the region. Shehbaz said Islamabad had begun discussions with its partners years ago and that, last year, the arrangement was given an official shape with the aim of eventually turning it into a formal agreement. He said Friday's signing of the trilateral agreement represented another extension of that process. "This was not something that came about today," he said. "Efforts on this agreement had been continuing for the past several years and, by the grace of God, they reached completion this Friday." The timing of the agreement, however, has inevitably drawn attention in Tehran. Iran has long viewed the expansion of foreign-backed security arrangements around the Persian Gulf with suspicion, particularly those involving Saudi Arabia, its principal regional rival, and has repeatedly criticised reliance on the United States for the region's security. Yet Tehran's initial reaction to the Makkah agreement has been notably restrained. Pakistan has historically maintained close relations with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye while also preserving a working relationship with neighbouring Iran. The challenge for the government has become more acute as the region has been reshaped by the conflict involving Iran, the US and Israel, and by continuing disputes over the Strait of Hormuz. Shehbaz emphasized that the Makkah agreement should be understood as a defensive arrangement and as a source of strength not only for the three signatories but for the broader Muslim world. He congratulated Dar and Field Marshal Asim Munir for their efforts in bringing the agreement to fruition. Under its central security principle, an armed attack against any one of the three countries is to be treated as an attack against all three. The pact has been presented by its signatories as a framework for closer strategic and defence cooperation. Pakistani officials have also stressed that it is not intended to be an exclusive arrangement and have indicated that other Muslim-majority countries could potentially join. That possibility is likely to be watched closely in Tehran. Despite the signing, Pakistan appears determined to keep its diplomatic door open to Iran. Iran's immediate concerns, however, remain focused on the wider regional crisis, particularly the Strait of Hormuz and the terms of any future understanding with the United States. Baghaei said Iran was currently concentrating on discussions with Oman concerning arrangements for the waterway. He said Tehran was not negotiating with Washington, although messages continued to be exchanged through intermediaries. "The exchange of messages is a natural matter," he said, describing such communications as routine and related to day-to-day issues. His comments came after Araghchi had said the resumption of negotiations with the United States was impossible as long as Washington continued what Tehran regarded as violations of its commitments. Baghaei also warned that Iran could not guarantee the Strait of Hormuz would become a secure waterway while what he described as violations of the maritime blockade and other provisions of the understanding continued. The statements illustrate the difficult diplomatic environment in which Pakistan is trying to balance its relationships. Islamabad has deep strategic and economic ties with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye and sees greater cooperation among Muslim countries as a potential means of strengthening regional security. At the same time, Iran is Pakistan's immediate western neighbour, and Islamabad has consistently sought to prevent regional conflicts from spilling across its borders. The Makkah agreement therefore presents Pakistan with both an opportunity and a diplomatic test. For Saudi Arabia, the pact strengthens its security partnerships at a time when the kingdom has sought greater autonomy in determining its regional security arrangements. For Turkiye, it provides another mechanism for expanding strategic cooperation with two important Muslim-majority states. For Pakistan, it reinforces its role as a security partner while potentially expanding its diplomatic influence in the Muslim world. But Islamabad's effort to reassure Tehran indicates that it does not want the new arrangement to be interpreted as the formation of an anti-Iran bloc. The prime minister's language on Monday appeared deliberately designed to make that point. The PM described the agreement not as a mechanism for confrontation but as an instrument for "peace, development and prosperity." He said its purpose was defensive and that it should be viewed as a source of strength for the three participating countries as well as the wider Muslim community. The immediate reaction from Tehran suggests that Iran, too, is leaving room for diplomacy. Rather than condemning Pakistan's decision outright, the Iranian Foreign Ministry sought to emphasize its own assessment that regional states are reassessing their dependence on Washington for security. The parallel messages from Islamabad and Tehran, one stressing the defensive nature of the Makkah agreement, the other saying there was no reason to view it as directed against Iran, point to an effort by both sides to prevent a new strategic arrangement from damaging their bilateral relationship. That balancing act is likely to become increasingly important as the wider regional confrontation continues and as Pakistan seeks to position itself simultaneously as a security partner, a regional stakeholder and a diplomatic interlocutor. For now, Islamabad appears determined to make clear that closer defense ties with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye do not come at the expense of its relationship with Iran. And Tehran, despite its reservations about the changing regional security architecture, appears willing to keep the conversation going. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said Monday he would seek conflict compensation from Iran as part of any peace negotiations, citing attacks and atrocities stretching back decades allegedly backed or perpetrated by Tehran. Iran is "asking for compensation for the damage done to them during the last five month Military Conflict... I am likewise demanding compensation from Iran, for all of the people that they have killed and gravely wounded with their roadside bombs and many conflicts," Trump posted.

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