Lahore Zoo probes viral TikToker's lion enclosure stunt

The Lahore Zoo administration has launched an inquiry into a viral social media video that purportedly shows a TikToker climbing over the railing of a lion enclosure. The video, which surfaced on social media two days ago, appears to show the TikToker crossing the enclosure railing before returning outside moments later, sparking concerns over zoo security and visitor safety. Zoo officials, however, said there was a wide trench between the enclosure railing and the area inhabited by the lions. They added that multiple layers of razor wire had also been installed along the boundaries of enclosures housing big cats and other large animals. According to the officials, it was not physically possible for a person to cross the razor-wire barriers and enter the lions' trench. They said there was currently no confirmation that anyone had crossed the barriers or entered the trench. The administration has initiated an inquiry to determine the authenticity of the video and establish the circumstances in which it was recorded. Officials said the version of the video uploaded on TikTok appeared to have been edited. However, they stressed that a final conclusion would be drawn only after the investigation was completed. The zoo administration also said the TikToker was known for producing and sharing videos featuring similar stunts on social media.

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'Shared waters must not be weaponised,' Dar warns India of consequences over IWT violations

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday warned India of “profound consequences” for regional peace and security if it sought to deprive Pakistan of waters allocated to it under the Indus Waters Treaty, stressing that shared waters must not be weaponised as a tool of political leverage. Addressing virtually a seminar titled “The Indus Waters Treaty: South Asian Security at the Crossroads”, organised by the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington, Dar said the treaty remained valid and binding despite India’s unilateral decision to place it in “abeyance”. He described the treaty as more than an agreement governing water, saying it provided a legal framework for managing a vital shared resource and had served as an instrument of regional stability. Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 delivered a keynote address via a recorded video message at the seminar on “The Indus Waters Treaty: South Asian Security at the Crossroads,” organized by the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington… pic.twitter.com/kKP8a4NzY9 — Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 28, 2026 Its continued relevance, he suggested, had now become a test of the sanctity of international agreements and the principle that treaty obligations could not be set aside through unilateral political decisions. Pakistan and India concluded the Indus Waters Treaty in 1960 after years of negotiations facilitated by the World Bank, establishing a framework for the management of the Indus Basin. “The three Eastern Rivers, the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, were allocated to India for unrestricted use, while the waters of the three Western Rivers, the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab, were allocated for Pakistan's unrestricted use, subject to the specific and carefully defined uses permitted to India under the Treaty,” he said. Dar said the treaty had replaced upstream discretion with mutually agreed rules and established the Permanent Indus Commission, alongside mechanisms for dealing with questions, differences and disputes which also included government-to-government engagement, a Neutral Expert and, where required, a Court of Arbitration. Read More: Indus Waters Treaty, regional security situation discussed in FM Dar's meeting with British foreign secretary “That institutional architecture was not incidental to the Treaty. It was central to the bargain,” he said. He said the treaty had endured wars, military crises and prolonged political tensions between the two countries because both sides recognised the importance of keeping water management insulated from their wider relationship. “Its resilience demonstrated a simple but powerful principle: even the most difficult relationships can sustain cooperation when agreed rules are respected. “The Treaty endured because both countries understood that waters upon which hundreds of millions of lives depend are too fundamental to be subjected to the fluctuations of political relations. “However, that principle faces its gravest challenge,” he said, referring to India’s decision in April 2025 to place the treaty “in abeyance”. Dar said the decision had no basis in the treaty, which, he argued, contained no provision allowing either party to unilaterally suspend or place it in abeyance. “The Treaty contains no provision permitting either party to unilaterally suspend or place it in abeyance. Nor can either party, through a unilateral political declaration, extinguish obligations solemnly undertaken under international law,” he said. He said Pakistan’s position was “clear and consistent” that the treaty remained valid, binding and fully operative, adding that treaty-based proceedings had continued despite India’s assertion of “abeyance”. He said treaty-based proceedings had continued despite India’s assertion of “abeyance”, which he said reinforced the principle that unilateral action could not displace an agreed legal framework. The foreign minister said the issue went beyond the bilateral relationship, arguing that unilateral action against the treaty could undermine confidence in international law and create a dangerous precedent for treaty relations elsewhere. “International agreements derive their value from certainty and predictability. If solemn treaty obligations can simply be set aside whenever political relations deteriorate, the very purpose of concluding the treaties is undermined,” he added. Also Read: 'We are talking about our lifeline, not a treaty', Tarar says at IWT seminar For Pakistan, he said, the issue was not an abstract legal debate, while calling the Indus Basin a lifeline for more than 250 million Pakistanis and said that the country’s agriculture, food security, energy production, livelihoods and economic development were deeply dependent on the river system. “Water security for Pakistan is therefore inseparable from economic security, food security and, ultimately, national security,” said the minister. He said unilateral interference with such an arrangement could have implications not only for South Asian stability but also for treaty relations elsewhere. “International agreements derive their value from certainty and predictability. If solemn treaty obligations can simply be set aside whenever political relations deteriorate, the very purpose of concluding the treaties is undermined.” Dar also highlighted the pressures created by climate change, including changing precipitation patterns, glacial retreat, floods, droughts and increasing hydrological variability, which were placing additional pressure on an already stressed system. “These realities should compel greater and stronger cooperation,” he said, calling for improved and transparent data-sharing, sustained technical engagement, greater transparency and collective efforts to strengthen climate resilience. He said climate pressures could not be used to justify abandoning agreed legal rights and obligations, adding that the treaty’s dispute-resolution mechanisms had been created precisely to address differences between the two countries. Read More: UK officials praise Pakistan’s US-Iran mediation, leadership in ‘challenging times’: Dar “The answer to disagreement was therefore built into the Treaty itself: dialogue, technical engagement and lawful dispute resolution,” he said while adding that the treaty implementation was never made contingent upon political convenience. Dar said Pakistan had consistently sought to resolve differences through dialogue, diplomacy and mechanisms provided under the treaty, stressing that recourse to the Permanent Indus Commission, a Neutral Expert or a Court of Arbitration was not an act of confrontation. Pakistan, he said, remained committed to peaceful settlement, with lasting peace resting on sovereign equality, mutual respect and faithful implementation of international obligations. However, he warned that any attempt to deprive Pakistan of waters allocated under the treaty would have serious implications for regional peace and security. “Any attempt to deprive Pakistan of the waters rightfully allocated to it under the Indus Waters Treaty would have profound consequences for regional peace and security. Pakistan will safeguard its legitimate rights and interests under the Treaty and international law,” the deputy prime minister vowed. He said Pakistan’s preference remained for “law over unilateralism, dialogue over confrontation, and cooperation over coercion”, adding that the approach was consistent with Pakistan’s wider conduct in international affairs, as reflected in its recent diplomatic efforts to facilitate dialogue and de-escalation during the US-Iran crisis. “Pakistan seeks to be a force for peace and stability, in South Asia and beyond.” The foreign minister said the treaty had demonstrated for more than six decades that Pakistan and India could insulate a vital shared resource from their wider relationship. Read: Chorus on India’s IWT violations is louder “That achievement should not be dismantled. It should be preserved.” He outlined three principles for the way forward: respect and implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty “in letter and spirit”; resolution of all questions, differences and disputes through the mechanisms provided by the treaty; and restoration and strengthening of technical engagement, transparency and data-sharing in accordance with the treaty. “These are not unreasonable demands. They are the requirements of an agreement solemnly concluded by two sovereign States and sustained for more than six decades.” Concluding his remarks, Dar urged the preservation of the Indus, calling it a source of life, livelihood and civilisation rather than a fault line for confrontation. “Shared waters must never be weaponized,” he said. “They should remain a bridge between nations, governed by law, sustained through cooperation, and protected for generations to come.”

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Govt decreases petrol price by 58 paisas, HSD by 17 paisas till August 31

The federal government on Friday reduced the price of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) by 58 paisas and 17 paisas per litre, respectively, for the next three days, effective from August 29. According to a notification issued by the Petroleum Division, the price of petrol was fixed at Rs342.02 per litre, while HSD would cost Rs371.44 per litre from August 29 till August 31. The latest revision comes a day after the government reduced the prices of petrol and HSD by 50 paisas and 19 paisas per litre, respectively, for August 28. Read: Govt decreases petrol price by 50 paisas, high-speed diesel by 19 paisas for August 28 Last month, the government announced a new pricing mechanism under which petroleum product prices would be reviewed and notified on a daily basis, replacing the weekly pricing mechanism, as renewed tensions between the United States and Iran continued to drive volatility in global oil markets and raise concerns over fuel supplies. According to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2024-25, petroleum products constitute one of the country's largest import categories, making the economy highly vulnerable to changes in global crude oil prices. Domestic refineries satisfy only part of national demand, while the remainder is met through imports of crude oil and refined petroleum products. Consequently, every increase in international oil prices raises Pakistan's import bill, pressures foreign exchange reserves, and contributes to inflation. Pakistan previously exercised significant government control over petroleum pricing through subsidies and administrative interventions. While these measures temporarily protected consumers, they imposed substantial fiscal costs. During periods of elevated global oil prices, successive governments delayed passing price increases to consumers, creating financial pressures for oil marketing companies, refineries, and the national budget. Large fuel subsidies widened fiscal deficits, increased public borrowing, and weakened macroeconomic stability. Global geopolitical developments continue to pose significant risks. International oil prices are influenced by decisions taken by OPEC+, conflicts in the Middle East, sanctions on oil-producing nations, and disruptions in critical shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. Any interruption in these supply chains can immediately increase crude oil prices and freight costs. Since Pakistan imports the majority of its petroleum requirements, these developments quickly translate into higher domestic fuel prices. Oil prices fell on Friday, on track for a weekly ​drop as traders evaluated hints about the US Federal Reserve Bank's inflation-fighting policy and rumours of a possible agreement on shipping through the ‌Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude futures were down 38 cents or 0.42% at $89.32 a barrel at 10:54 am CDT (1654 GMT). West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell 36 cents, or 0.43%, to $83.17. "The (global) products ​markets are looking strong on further Ukraine strikes on Russian refineries," said Phil Flynn, senior analyst at the Price Futures Group. "But there is a lot of rumbling, ⁠rumours we might see a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend."

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JI announces Sept 3 nationwide strike against petroleum levy

Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Naeemur Rehman on Thursday announced a nationwide peaceful strike on Sept 3 against the petroleum levy, warning the government that the ongoing protests would be expanded to markets and roads and followed by a long march towards Islamabad if it failed to provide relief to the people. Addressing the sit-in on The Mall in Lahore, which entered its 12th day, Rehman said the government had burdened the people with taxes and inflation while depriving them of their basic rights. “The drama must end now, and the people must be given real relief,” he said, adding that a “historic” public meeting would be held in Faisalabad on Friday (Aug 28). 3 ستمبر ملک گیر شٹر ڈاؤن ہڑتال ✊ پیٹرولیم بھتہ لیوی ختم کرو 🔥 Hafiz Naeem Mulk Geer Hartal Bhatta Levy NaManzoor #تین_ستمبرملک_گیرہڑتال#JIDharnaAgainstBhattaLevy pic.twitter.com/IKiGjOHNW1 — Jamaat e Islami Pakistan (@JIPOfficial) August 27, 2026 “The Jamaat-i-Islami’s struggle is not limited to a few sit-ins; it is a public movement for the rights of 250 million people,” he said. He said sit-ins and rallies would be held in markets and that a long march towards Islamabad would also be organised if the government failed to accept their demands. He urged party workers to intensify the struggle, saying the government was testing the patience of the people while demanding an end to the petroleum levy and what he called unjust IPP agreements, as well as lower electricity and petrol prices for traders. Rehman claimed that the Jamaat-e-Islami’s “historic struggle” had resulted in relief for consumers in electricity prices and said the government must also provide relief on petrol prices. Read More: JI expands petrol levy protests across Sindh He said protests were now being held simultaneously in several cities rather than only three locations. Speaking about the energy crisis, Rehman claimed that Pakistan had three times more electricity than it needed but people were still being forced to buy expensive power. “Thousands of billions of rupees are being paid to IPPs from public money, and electricity consumers are bearing the burden,” he said. Rehman said young people were Pakistan’s biggest asset and that the country had immense IT talent, but they were not being provided with adequate IT education and opportunities. “If the government was really doing something for the people, data centres would have been established in the country by now,” he said. He also criticised the government over the situation of women in Punjab, saying women and girls were not safe and many crimes against women went unreported. Accusing the government of depriving people of basic education and rights, he said this was creating a form of mental slavery and referred to the Benazir Income Support Programme, alleging that corruption existed in such schemes. He said the people had rejected the rulers and demanded education, employment, affordable electricity, cheaper petrol and opportunities for a dignified life instead of charity. “The nation does not need charity. It needs education, employment, cheap electricity, cheap petrol and opportunities for a dignified life,” he said. “The situation has reached a point where people have started feeling happy even when they receive alms. This is the biggest proof of the rulers’ failure,” he said while warning that the movement would intensify further in the coming days. He accused the ruling PML-N, PPP and MQM of engaging in political “noora kushti” while dividing people along ethnic lines and through different slogans. He alleged that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) had jointly removed the PTI government and described the incumbent rulers as products of Form 47. Also Read: JI ramps up pressure as protests continue Criticising the Punjab government, Rehman said it claimed that the province was prospering while basic facilities were being taken away from people. He alleged that 11,000 government schools had been sold under the Punjab government and that basic health units had also been sold and renamed as Maryam Nawaz clinics. “Countries do not progress through showcase projects and distribution of laptops,” he said. PIMS tragedy Rehman described the deaths of 14 newborn babies at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) as a result of government incompetence and negligence. He said the children had become victims of government failure and alleged that their deaths were caused by corruption and negligence. “Why were safety measures not taken at PIMS? Were doctors and paramedics trained to deal with emergencies or disasters?” he asked. He said there was no effective system for training people to deal with disasters in the country. The tragic incident at PIMS Hospital is yet another reflection of the incompetence and failure of the ruling alliance. A government that cannot ensure safety and proper management in the country's premier public hospitals has failed in its most basic responsibility. Those… pic.twitter.com/XfxKs1KaQb — Jamaat e Islami Pakistan (@JIPOfficial) August 27, 2026 Rehman also questioned the formation of a separate PIMS committee after the prime minister had already constituted an inquiry committee, saying it was an attempt to suppress the matter and demanded a complete investigation into the PIMS incident and said the matter should not be closed with the suspension of one official. He called for the resignation of ministers and advisers, accusing the rulers of becoming “national criminals” and saying that the “drama” must end. Referring to reports of HIV/AIDS infections among newborn children in Karachi, he said the alleged use of used syringes and corruption surrounding the matter was highly concerning. He said the situation in the health sector reflected failures in government oversight and the administrative system.

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Judicial commission may be formed if PIMS probe fails to satisfy: Mustafa Kamal

Health Minister Mustafa Kamal on Thursday did not rule out the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the deadly fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), saying a judicial commission could be formed to ascertain the facts if the inquiry committee constituted failed to provide satisfactory answers. Fourteen newborn babies were killed on Wednesday after a fire broke out on the third floor of the Mother and Child Hospital ward. Following the incident, Prime Minister Shehbaz suspended Health Secretary Aslam Ghori and formed an inquiry committee headed by former interior secretary Shahid Khan. Read: 14 newborns killed in fire at PIMS Hospital in Islamabad Speaking on private television programme Capital Talk, the minister said a judicial commission could be formed to ascertain the facts if the inquiry committee constituted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif failed to provide satisfactory answers. When comparing the incident with the Gul Plaza tragedy in Karachi, in which more than 70 people were burnt to death, and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement had demanded a judicial commission, Kamal said the situations in Sindh and Islamabad were different. “However, a judicial commission can be formed at any time. If this [inquiry] is not satisfactory and it appears that it is not determining all these things, a judicial commission will be formed,” he said. Asked about the impression that three committees had been formed to probe the incident, the minister rejected the claim, saying there was only one committee, constituted by the prime minister and headed by Shahid. “There is only one committee, and its terms of reference are very clear about what it has to determine and what recommendations it has to give. Twenty-four hours have passed, and after another 24 hours, it has to submit its report,” he said. Asked why the PIMS executive director had not been removed despite the health secretary’s suspension, Kamal said he was waiting for the inquiry report and that everything would become clear within the next 24 hours. “We have to implement all its recommendations,” he said. The minister said action would be taken against whoever was found responsible, including the executive director. “The children who lost their lives were very dear to us,” he said. Also Read: Health committee finds no evidence old AC caused fire that killed 14 newborns “Am I the only one left to answer for everyone’s actions? If I do not have the powers to correct things, I have no desire to remain a minister,” he added. Asked whether he had tendered his resignation to the prime minister the previous day but that it had not been accepted, Kamal questioned the basis of the information. “Are you asking this based on information or analysis?” he responded, and when the host asked whether the prime minister should be asked directly, Kamal replied: “Ask those from whom you obtained this information. I have no answer to this.” Talking about contradictions between the reports of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and PIMS, Kamal said he also wanted to know the facts and that the situation would become clear once the inquiry report was submitted. He said he was unaware of the alleged preparation of fake medical certificates at PIMS but added that he was not surprised by allegations of corruption at the hospital. Kamal admitted, however, that he could not fix all the problems himself. ‘Contradictions’ in PIMS accounts Speaking on the same programme, Shazia Sobia Soomro, a member of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Health, said there were significant contradictions in the statements given by the PIMS executive director, duty doctors and other staff members when the committee spoke to them. She said there were no proper firefighting arrangements and that the emergency exit doors did not have adequate arrangements to evacuate patients in case of an emergency. Soomro said that when a short-circuit incident was reported at the nursing hostel on July 6, the CDA had issued a report stating that there was no proper fire-safety system in place, but no action was taken afterwards. “In the last three years, Rs22 billion has been given to PIMS, but looking at the building today, nowhere did it appear that Rs22b had been given to this hospital,” she said. Read More: 'Give me my child back': Mother mourns infant lost in PIMS fire She said a new building had been constructed adjacent to the old one, with a gynaecology ward, labour room, neonatal intensive care ward and a functional nursery, and questioned why the children had been kept in the old nursery when a new facility was already available. Soomro further claimed that around 40 to 50 children were present in the ward when the fire broke out, contrary to the reported figure of 15 deaths. “The fire in that nursery did not burn only 15 children. They have only identified 15 children. We spoke to people there, including patients and attendants, and came to know that there were 40 to 50 children in that nursery,” she said, adding that she would include the matter in her report. The PPP leader also questioned how the “totally burnt” children were identified and handed over to their parents without DNA testing. “How did you identify the children? What identification mark was there? There are question marks over everything,” she said.

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Balochistan moves to fully operationalise long-delayed Safe City project in Quetta, other districts

Senior provincial and military leadership on Thursday agreed to revive and fully operationalise the long-delayed Safe City Project across Quetta and other strategic districts as part of a renewed push to strengthen security infrastructure in Balochistan. The decision was finalised during the two-day 28th Defence Review Committee meeting, co-chaired by Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti and Corps Commander Lieutenant General Rahat Naseem Ahmed Khan. Bringing together high-ranking officials from federal, provincial, and security agencies, the forum focused on aligning administrative and counter-terrorism efforts to safeguard local communities and protect key infrastructure. ​Addressing the participants, CM Bugti emphasised that these high-level review sessions now take place every three weeks to maintain momentum, address implementation bottlenecks, and hold institutions accountable for security outcomes. کوئٹہ: وزیراعلیٰ بلوچستان میر سرفراز بگٹی اور کور کمانڈر کوئٹہ کی مشترکہ صدارت میں 28 واں دفاعی جائزہ اجلاس ​صوبے میں امن و امان کی صورتحال، ترقیاتی منصوبوں اور سیف سٹی پروجیکٹ کو مرحلہ وار فعال کرنے کے اہم فیصلے! اجلاس میں سیکورٹی فورسز کے کامیاب انٹیلی جنس بیسڈ آپریشنز پر خراجِ… pic.twitter.com/XMrMSG1UVc — Chief Minister's Office Balochistan (@CMOBalochistan) August 27, 2026 Read: Balochistan declared regular police area with integration of Levies Force He noted that regular monitoring has produced visible improvements in public safety and regional stability over recent months. During the proceedings, the committee also commended security personnel for executing a series of successful intelligence-driven operations against active militant networks across the province. Beyond immediate law and order priorities, attendees reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that ongoing public welfare initiatives and infrastructure developments proceed without delay, viewing economic progress as essential to long-term peace in the region.

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Uzma Khan seeks early hearing for second time against violation of Imran medical transfer

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s sister Dr Uzma Khan on Thursday filed another application before the Supreme Court (SC) seeking an urgent hearing of her contempt petition against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other respondents over the alleged non-implementation of the court’s August 18 order directing Imran's medical examination and treatment at Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad. Last week, the apex court had directed that Imran be shifted to Shifa International Hospital for treatment for the next few days and instructed the government to arrange weekly meetings between him and his family. However, the government took him to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) instead. The PTI had subsequently filed a contempt of court petition in the SC over the alleged violation of the apex court’s August 18 order. In her second application seeking early fixation of the contempt matter, Uzma urged the SC to fix the matter this week or at the earliest possible date next week, instead of September 16, warning that further delay could cause “serious and irreparable harm” to Imran. “The subject matter of the petition concerns the life, health, dignity and physical well-being of Mr Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi, a national hero and a former Prime Minister, whose health is deteriorating and whose life is stated to be in jeopardy,” the application said. “Any further delay in hearing of the titled petition may cause serious and irreparable harm,” it added. The contempt petition concerns the alleged failure of the respondents to implement the SC’s August 18 order, under which Imran was to be shifted to Shifa International Hospital for medical examination and treatment in accordance with the court’s directions. Read: SC to hear Uzma's contempt petition against violation of Imran medical transfer order on Sept 16 The petition maintained that the court’s order was “clear, unambiguous and binding” and alleged that the respondents had “deliberately failed to implement the order in its true letter and spirit”. The petition described the continued non-compliance as “wilful, blatant and contumacious”, saying it directly concerned Imran’s fundamental rights, life, health and physical well-being. The fresh application also raised questions over the current listing of the case for September 16. “It is unclear whether the above constitute directions by the competent authority/Honourable chief justice for fixation of the contempt matter on 16.09.2026, or simply the noting of the learned Registrar which has been placed before the competent authority for consideration,” it stated. “If the former is true, and the case has been fixed on 16.09.2026, it is respectfully requested that the directions be reconsidered and the matter be fixed for hearing expeditiously, either this week or as early as possible next week,” it said. The application argued that the case warranted exceptional urgency, saying it was “unique on its facts and in the manner in which the order of this Honourable Court has been brazenly flouted”. “It has brought the governance and the judicial systems of Pakistan into critical focus internationally,” the application said. It further argued that the reasons for delaying the hearing could not justify waiting until September 16. “The reasons set out above, with respect, cannot justify such a long delay in the hearing of the case,” it stated. The applicant also relied on the SC's case fixation policy, arguing that it did not prevent the immediate hearing of her contempt petition. “There is nothing in the case Fixation Policy of this Honourable Court which prevents the immediate fixation of the titled Crl. OP No. 8 of 2026,” the application said. “In fact, the Fixation Policy clearly prioritises liberty-related matters, especially where they arise due to non-compliance of court orders,” it added. Uzma further pointed out that the fixation policy empowered the chief justice to order an early hearing. Read More: SC to hear Uzma's contempt petition against violation of Imran medical transfer order on Sept 16 “It is pertinent that paragraph 14(d) of the order dated 18.08.2026 allows the family members of Mr Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi to file an appropriate application in case of non-implementation of the order,” the application stated. The petition also claimed that she had a strong prima facie case and that the balance of convenience was “entirely in favour of early fixation”. “No prejudice will be caused to the Respondents if the matter is heard at the earliest, whereas delay may cause irreparable loss and injury,” it said. The application also noted that, according to media reports, the respondents had themselves sought an early hearing of their review petition. The application ultimately requested that the contempt petition be fixed “at the earliest possible date within this week or early next week”, instead of September 16. The request was made “in the interest of justice, protection of life and health, and due enforcement of the order of this Honourable Court”. The government had also filed a review petition before the apex court, calling its order “discriminatory in nature”. Following the order, speculation emerged that Imran may have reached an understanding with the authorities over his possible release from prison. On August 21, Imran was taken to PIMS for a medical examination in the early hours of the morning and returned to Adiala jail after doctors declared him "medically fit". Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Imran was taken to the government-run facility because of the security situation created by PTI workers outside and on the way to Shifa International Hospital. According to the sources, the parties facing contempt allegations were not provided with a list of the allegations. SC declines early hearing of pleas Despite efforts by PTI lawyers and the federal government, the SC on Monday did not agree to early listing of petitions seeking contempt proceedings for non-implementation of its August 18 order, as well as a review of the same directive. The government filed an application seeking an early hearing of its review petition against the August 18 order regarding shifting former Prime Minister Imran from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital for a medical checkup. The application sought fixation of the review within two days. However, the SC did not accept the plea for an early hearing and decided to take up the government's review petition in its turn.

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