PHC bars arrest of inactive K-P deputy speaker, suspends eviction notice

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday suspended a government notice ordering the inactive Deputy Speaker of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Suraiya Bibi to vacate her official residence, allowed her to continue living there and directed law-enforcement agencies not to arrest her. A two-member bench comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Faheem Wali issued the written order arising from the previous hearing. Advocate Yasir Khattak appeared on behalf of the petitioner, the inactive Deputy Speaker. In its detailed order, the court noted that the relevant presidential ordinance makes no mention of the offices of Speaker or Deputy Speaker. Similarly, the administrative directive requiring vacation of official residences contains no reference to these constitutional posts. The judges therefore found sufficient ground to stay the eviction process pending further examination of the legal position. Read: PHC stays arrest of K-P Assembly deputy speaker, orders de-sealing of official residence During arguments, counsel for the petitioner contended that the K-P Assembly Speaker and Deputy Speaker Act 2026 confers a clear legal right on the Deputy Speaker to occupy the official residence for the duration of her term. He further argued that law-enforcement agencies are barred from conducting any raid or taking coercive action against the residence while the office-holder remains in position. Opposing the petition, the Advocate General submitted that an emergency empowers the provincial government to reclaim official residences allotted to ministers, advisers and the Deputy Speaker. He also apprised the court that a criminal case under Section 406 of the Pakistan Penal Code has already been registered against the Deputy Speaker on the complaint of the Deputy Commissioner of Chitral. After hearing both sides, the bench suspended the notice to vacate the residence, expressly authorised the petitioner to remain in occupation and ordered that she should not be arrested. The matter will be taken up again on the next date of hearing. The ruling provides immediate relief to the inactive Deputy Speaker and places the burden on the provincial authorities to justify the eviction drive in light of the statutory protections available to the holder of the office.

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Interior minister returns Rs5 million to Laiba Ejaz's family, updates on case progress

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Wednesday handed Rs5 million to the family of late student Laiba Ejaz during a visit to her residence to offer condolences and brief the family on progress in the case. Laiba, who had aspired to study at a top US university, was found hanging from a tree near a road in Islamabad on October 9, after her family allegedly lost around Rs7 million to a consultant who had promised to secure her admission and a scholarship. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the incident and directed the inspector general of Islamabad police and the chief commissioner to take immediate action against the suspect. Naqvi also vowed to look into the case personally. The primary suspect in the case died after being wounded by gunfire from his own accomplices during an exchange of fire with police in Islamabad a day ago. Laiba's father told The Express Tribune that the interior minister handed him Rs5 million recovered by the police from the primary suspect. Naqvi was accompanied by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry during the visit to Laiba's residence in G-10, Islamabad. Read: PM takes notice of gold medallist's suicide Naqvi expressed his condolences to the bereaved family and offered prayers. The interior minister informed Laiba's family about the progress made in the investigation of her case/ “The entire team worked day and night on the Laiba Ejaz case. Fulfilling the promise made to you was our duty,” Naqvi said. Read More: Primary suspect in Laiba Ejaz suicide case dies after being shot by accomplices: police Laiba's father expressed his gratitude to PM Shehbaz and the interior minister for their support and efforts in the case. “We had heard that the state is like a mother. Today, we have come to believe it,” he said. Suspect killed According to a police spokesperson, the primary suspect, identified as Muhammad Nauman, was in custody and was being taken to a location for recovery on the basis of information provided by him when the incident occurred. The spokesperson said four of Nauman’s accomplices, travelling on two motorcycles, had been lying in wait along the route. They opened indiscriminate fire on the police team in an attempt to secure his release. Nauman was wounded by gunfire from his own accomplices, the spokesperson said, adding that police personnel remained unharmed due to their bulletproof jackets and other precautionary measures. The injured suspect was taken to a hospital for medical treatment but later succumbed to his injuries, the spokesperson confirmed. Search operations were under way to arrest the remaining suspects, according to the police. The Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Anti-Human Trafficking Circle in Islamabad had registered a case against Nauman and Fatima Sarwar under Sections 419 (cheating), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) and 109 (abetment) of the Pakistan Penal Code, read with Sections 18 and 22 of the Emigration Ordinance, 1979. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly acted in connivance to deceive Laiba with promises of a US visa and scholarship. They allegedly received a total of Rs9.3 million from the family. The FIA said the suspects allegedly prepared fake scholarship award letters, university admission offer letters and fee payment receipts to keep the family under the impression that the process was genuine. Of the total amount, Rs2.9m was transferred through Laiba’s personal bank account, while the remaining sum was received in cash, according to the agency. Also Read: Islamabad court grants five-day remand of suspect in Laiba suicide case Laiba's family stated that she had aspired to enrol at Harvard University for further studies and that they had made significant financial sacrifices to secure Laiba’s academic future and fulfil her dream. Laiba’s father sold his plot and pitched in Rs2.1 million from the sale’s proceeds, while her mother sold her gold jewellery. According to the family, the suspect who reportedly defrauded them claimed to be an accounts officer at the Islamabad High Court and at other times presented himself as an employee of the superior judiciary or an officer of a sensitive institution. The family claimed that despite the substantial payment, the promises regarding admission and the scholarship given to Laiba were never fulfilled. Laiba’s maternal uncle, Rana Amjad, stated that the Harvard University admission letter, scholarship letter and other documents provided by the suspect turned out to be fake upon verification. He said that Laiba suffered severe distress and mental anguish after the alleged fraud came to light. Her family demanded a thorough investigation into the matter, the arrest of all individuals involved in the alleged fraud, and the recovery of the money.

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Punjab govt rejects allegations of CM-ordered CCD encounters after Multan incident suspect's death

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari on Wednesday rejected the criticism surrounding the alleged police encounter in which a man accused of killing a 15-year-old boy was himself killed, categorically denying that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had ordered the Punjab Crime Control Department (CCD) to carry out encounters and asserting that the provincial government stood with the oppressed, not the oppressors. The suspect, Tauqeer Nazir, had allegedly chased Waseem Abbas in his car after a dispute over work and run him over in a private housing society in Multan on Monday. He was arrested and handed over to police on a four-day physical remand by a judicial magistrate the following day. Earlier today, police said the suspect fled custody and was then killed by his accomplices when a police party tried to re-arrest him. Hours before the incident, the prime suspect in the case involving the death by suicide of former International Islamic University Islamabad student Laiba Ejaz also died after being wounded by gunfire allegedly by his accomplices during an attack on a police team in Islamabad. The developments were met with criticism, with calls for justice through the legal route and the courts. Read: HRCP calls for independent probe into Waseem Abbas case, expresses concern over alleged extrajudicial killing of prime suspect In an interview on local television programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath about the killing of Multan incident's primary suspect, the minister was asked about hundreds of alleged extrajudicial killings by the CCD, in which the main suspect was reportedly killed while accomplices escaped, rejecting the suggestion that this pattern occurred in every case. She said that even when a suspect was killed, the remaining suspects were subsequently traced, arrested and brought before the police. “When a suspect is killed, the investigation slows down a little. When suspects flee, it takes some time to trace them. But this does not mean that this happens in every incident,” she said. Asked whether the chief minister had directly ordered the CCD to carry out encounters against such suspects, the minister categorically denied it. “Why would the chief minister order an encounter? It is not as if she has foreknowledge of such incidents,” she said. “The state has a responsibility to stand with the oppressed. You may consider this a mistake on the part of the state or an allegation against it; you may call it whatever you like, but the Punjab government does not stand with the oppressor. It stands with the oppressed,” she said. She added that there was no backdoor for the powerful in the province to evade the law or avoid facing legal proceedings. Also Read: Man accused of running over Multan teenager killed in CCD encounter Bokhari said an investigation had revealed that the Multan incident suspect was short-tempered and ill-mannered and had treated Abbas harshly. She said the boy had tried to flee three times but was caught each time. She said the suspect’s actions demonstrated his mindset, alleging that he chased the teenager and killed him while the latter was attempting to escape through a gate. The minister added that the brutality was such that the victim’s face had become unrecognisable. Bokhari further alleged that Nazir was a violent person who did not treat his own children properly and subjected them to violence as well. The minister acknowledged that he had no previous criminal record and that, given the evidence against him, including CCTV footage, a court could have sentenced him. However, she said, he chose to flee rather than face trial. “These are criminal-minded people. He could have been punished by a court, but if someone tries to escape from the court, or his accomplices help him flee, what can the police do?” she said. Read: Primary suspect in Laiba Ejaz suicide case dies after being shot by accomplices: police When asked about a post on X by PML-N MPA and Punjab government official Hina Pervez Butt that was later deleted, Bokhari questioned the seriousness of the former’s statements. “I do not want to talk about her, but she has posted such things before, perhaps out of a lack of seriousness. She has also made statements that created problems for her and caused embarrassment for the government,” she said. Earlier in the day, Hina had shared screenshots of a television report about the Multan encounter on X, drawing criticism for her supportive remarks. “This is Maryam Nawaz sahiba’s government; justice is served immediately here,” she wrote in a post that was later deleted amid criticism over its perceived endorsement of an extrajudicial killing under the provincial government’s watch. Bokhari said cases involving organised crime were referred to the CCD rather than the regular police to ensure more effective investigation and prosecution and to meet all legal requirements for delivering justice. She said the CCD had arrested hundreds, possibly thousands, of criminals, adding that public discussion should also focus on those who had been prosecuted and punished rather than only on the few hundred suspects who had allegedly tried to flee. The minister reiterated that the chief minister had not ordered any encounter, adding that the government stood with the oppressed rather than the oppressors. On judicial reforms, Bokhari said Pakistan was among the few countries with a large number of judicial laws, but the key issue was their implementation. She added that the chief minister was also working to revamp the prosecution system and that considerable progress had been made in this regard. Allegations of extrajudicial killings and increasingly unlawful conduct by Punjab’s CCD have long been a source of concern for human rights organisations, which have repeatedly raised the issue. According to figures released by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in June, the organisation had documented 808 police ‘encounters’ since the CCD was established in April 2025, in which at least 1,100 suspects were killed. Earlier today, it expressed concern over Abbas's killing and the subsequent death of the primary suspect in an alleged police encounter, calling for an independent and transparent investigation into the case. The commission said extrajudicial killings violated the right to due process and deprived victims and their families of the opportunity to establish the truth and seek justice. It added that the perception that such killings were an acceptable means of controlling crime suggested that vengeance without accountability was being prioritised over justice. The HRCP called for an independent and transparent investigation into the case and urged the authorities to bring an end to extrajudicial killings in all forms.

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Child protection bureau takes 16 children into protective custody following Multan incident

Punjab's Child Protection and Welfare Bureau (CPWB) on Wednesday took 16 minor children residing at an orphanage in Multan into protective custody and shifted them to the bureau’s Multan centre following a recent incident in the city. The orphanage’s application for registration had also been rejected. On the directives of CPWB Chairperson Sarah Ahmed, a bureau team visited the orphanage and transferred the children to ensure their safety and proper care. According to Sarah, the orphanage was already registered with the Punjab Charity Commission. The bureau had written to the commission to review the orphanage’s registration and take necessary action in accordance with the law. Read: Suspect sent on 4-day physical remand after running over 15-year-old employee in Multan The bureau had also written to the relevant authorities, requesting police action against the orphanage. Reaffirming its commitment to child protection, the bureau said it would ensure oversight by relevant institutions and compliance with standard operating procedures. It had also released a list of registered shelter homes. Sarah said the bureau would maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards violence and abuse against women and children, adding that no compromise would be made on their protection and safety.

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Task force seeks guaranteed funding, direct polls for local govts

A task force on local governance on Wednesday called for constitutionally guaranteed funding, directly elected mayors and stronger safeguards for local councils, warning that provincial political and bureaucratic control has undermined devolution of power in Pakistan. The report, prepared by the Task Force on Reforms in Local Governance in Pakistan, recommends allocating local governments a protected share of public resources, granting them greater control over revenue and abolishing or repurposing development funds administered by national and provincial lawmakers. Convened by the BNU Centre for Policy Research (BCPR) in partnership with the Sanober Institute, the task force held deliberations between January and June this year. It said no province had consistently fulfilled Article 140-A’s constitutional requirement to devolve political, administrative and financial authority to elected local governments. Legislators and provincial administrations, it added, were reluctant to surrender control over development spending, personnel and public services. The report attributed the weakness of local government to a “zero-sum mentality”, with parallel administrative structures, delayed elections and the appointment of administrators preventing elected councils from developing institutional continuity. Guaranteed funding, local revenue The task force proposed a constitutionally protected allocation of 30–40% of “the divisible pool”, although the report does not clearly specify the pool against which the percentage would be calculated. It recommended releasing the allocation as a single grant at the beginning of each financial year. Citing a World Bank report, it said local governments’ share of total government spending had declined from around 10% in 2005 to approximately 4.7% in 2024. In Punjab, local government officials reportedly said salaries consumed about 80% of funds received, leaving little for development. Read: PPP steps up local govt poll preparations across Punjab The report called for transparent Provincial Finance Commissions (PFCs), with allocations based on population, revenue generation and need, rather than executive discretion. It also recommended allowing local governments to assess, collect and retain property tax, capital gains tax on urban land, agricultural cess and local user charges. Among its key proposals was ending separate development-fund channels administered by members of the national and provincial assemblies. “These funds should either be abolished or strictly repurposed to strengthen local governments,” it said, arguing that parallel spending undermined elected councils’ authority and accountability. Punjab law draws criticism The report criticised the Punjab Local Government Act 2025 for retaining provincial executive control over elected councils. It argued that rejecting secret ballots for councils above the union council tier conflicted with Article 226 of the Constitution. It also opposed indirect elections for mayors and deputy mayors and highlighted the absence of guaranteed fiscal allocations. Sections 21 and 76 were identified as provisions reinforcing provincial control. The report also pointed to more than 50 provincially controlled companies and authorities performing urban functions, including water supply, waste management, transport and development. {{pdf}} In Sindh, it identified provincial appointees’ effective veto over development plans proposed by elected councillors. In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, it cited the reversal of an earlier commitment to channel development spending through local governments. Balochistan faced additional challenges from geographic dispersion, limited administrative capacity and a narrow revenue base. Direct elections, control over services The task force recommended directly elected mayors and chairpersons, alongside clear rules and judicial review for suspending or superseding elected councils. It proposed metropolitan corporations in major cities, headed by directly elected mayors with authority over development agencies, water and sanitation bodies, mass transit and industrial estate development institutions. Rural districts would have elected chairpersons responsible for services including rural roads and coordination of agricultural extension. Local governments should primarily oversee education up to matriculation, primary and secondary healthcare, water supply, sewerage, solid waste management, local roads and community welfare. Provinces would retain responsibility for tertiary healthcare, higher education, inter-district infrastructure and policy coordination. Read more: HIV outbreak at Karachi hospital The report stressed that transferring functions without staff and budgets would render devolution ineffective. It proposed placing civil servants in Grade 16 and below in devolved departments under local government control, along with their salaries and allowances. District accounts officers should report administratively to elected local chief executives while remaining under the professional supervision of provincial accountant generals. Performance monitoring and Auditor General audits would strengthen accountability. Constitutional safeguards The report proposed expanding Article 140-A through a constitutional schedule defining local government responsibilities, including education, healthcare and municipal services. It also recommended amending Article 160 to establish a timetable and methodology for PFCs comparable to the National Finance Commission, giving local governments predictable funding. Articles 7 and 226 should be reviewed to strengthen the constitutional standing and enforceability of local government elections. A model legislative framework developed through the Council of Common Interests should establish minimum standards while clarifying the responsibilities of union, tehsil or town, and district bodies. The task force called for merit-based recruitment, professional training for officials and elected representatives, and the online publication of budgets, development plans and performance indicators. It proposed immediate constitutional, fiscal and electoral changes, followed by legislative and institutional reforms within one to two years and revenue and civil service measures over two to four years. Local reform before new provinces On demands for new provinces, the report argued that smaller administrative units and stronger local governments were compatible, but local reform should take precedence while broader political consensus remained elusive. Also Read: MQM-P calls for new administrative units to address urban Sindh’s woes Its comparison of the United States, Germany, India, Brazil and China identified predictable financing, control over local revenue and sustained accountability as essential to effective governance. The task force was chaired by BNU Vice Chancellor Dr Moeed Wasim Yusuf, with Sanober Institute Chairman Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry as co-chair and BCPR Director Mansoor Ahmad Khan as convener. Members included former federal ministers Khurram Dastagir Khan and Shafqat Mehmood, alongside legal experts, researchers and civil society representatives. The report concluded that meaningful devolution required municipal institutions capable of delivering everyday services, from functioning schools and staffed hospitals to timely road repairs.

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FCC reinstates Karachi ATC judge, voids de-notification

The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has reinstated a judge of the Anti-Terrorism Court-IV, Karachi, who was de-notified by the Sindh government following an amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997. The constitutional court ruled that the newly prescribed upper age limit could not be applied retrospectively to curtail an existing fixed-term appointment. In a 15-page judgement authored by Justice K K Agha, a division bench led by Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi set aside a Sindh High Court's (SHC) decision and declared the petitioner's de-notification unlawful and without legal effect. The court held that the Anti-Terrorism (Sindh Amendment) Act, 2025, contained neither an express provision nor any necessary implication making the newly introduced age limit applicable to appointments made for a fixed tenure before the amendment came into force. The petitioner, a retired district and sessions judge, was appointed as judge/presiding officer of ATC-IV, Karachi, by the Sindh government on September 19, 2024, under Section 14(2) of the ATA, 1997, for a term of two and a half years under Section 14(3). His tenure was due to expire in March 2027. At the time of his appointment, he was approximately 70 years old. The law then in force prescribed no upper age limit for appointment as an ATC judge. However, following the 2025 amendment, which introduced an upper age limit of 65 years, the Sindh government de-notified four ATC judges above that age on October 22, 2025. The FCC observed that the central question was not whether the legislature was competent to prescribe an upper age limit, but whether the amended provision was intended to apply to appointments already made for a fixed tenure and thereby curtail their subsisting tenure. "The petitioner, having been appointed for a specified tenure under the law then in force, had acquired a vested right to hold office for that period, subject to the conditions governing its lawful continuation or premature termination," the judgement stated. It added that where an amended provision admitted of two reasonably possible interpretations, the interpretation preserving the existing right should be preferred. The court noted that the expression "appointed under this section" in the amended provision could be construed as covering persons already appointed under Section 14. However, it could equally refer to appointments made after the amendment came into force. The mere fact that the cessation of office would take effect after the amendment's commencement did not, by itself, establish that the legislature intended to affect rights already accrued under earlier appointments, it observed. The bench further emphasised the importance of certainty in law, saying citizens must be able to know what the law is at a particular time. Without such certainty, compliance with the law could become problematic and its application potentially unfair. It noted that retrospective legislation was generally an exception rather than the rule and that an intention to give a law retrospective effect was ordinarily expressly stated in the relevant legislation. The court held that the SHC failed to appreciate that applying the newly prescribed age limit to existing fixed-term appointments would impair vested rights arising from appointments made under the previous law. "The interpretation adopted by the High Court, therefore, cannot be sustained," it said. Allowing the petition, the FCC declared the petitioner's de-notification, along with those of two other ATC judges, to be without lawful authority and of no legal effect. The court directed that the petitioner be deemed to have continued in office notwithstanding the issuance of the de-notification and remain entitled to serve as judge of ATC-IV, Karachi, until completion of his two-and-a-half-year tenure, subject to the conditions governing his appointment under the law. The Anti-Terrorism (Sindh Amendment) Act, 2025 (Sindh Act No. XXIII of 2025) was passed by the Provincial Assembly of Sindh on August 8, 2025, assented to by the Governor of Sindh on August 20, 2025 and came into force immediately. It transferred powers exercisable by the Federal Government concerning Anti-Terrorism Courts (ATCs) in Sindh to the Provincial Government. The law empowered the Provincial Department, with the approval of the provincial government, to increase, decrease, or abolish the number of Anti-Terrorism Courts in the province.

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Pindi cracks down on Leh dumping

The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has constituted a task force, with help from the Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (PERA) Force, to prevent dumping of construction materials and solid waste into Nullah Leh. The agency has also launched action to remove encroachments, goods-transport parking areas, and building-material depots along both banks of the stormwater drain. WASA Managing Director Azizullah Khan said the task force would continuously monitor Nullah Leh and take action against those found dumping waste or construction materials into it. Offenders would face arrest and the registration of first information reports (FIRs), while tractor-trolleys used for dumping would be seized. Action would also be taken against the owners of buildings whose construction materials were dumped in the drain. He said a goods transport depot behind Ganj Mandi Police Station had already been removed and that encroachments, material depots and transport stands along the drain would no longer be tolerated. The water body has also decided to plant six-to-seven-foot-tall trees along the banks of Nullah Leh through the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) to help reduce environmental pollution. The initiative aims to prevent further obstruction of the drain, whose depth has reportedly been diminishing rapidly because of the continued dumping of construction debris and solid waste despite an existing ban. Cleanliness drive launched The Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) has launched a cleanliness and public awareness campaign, scheduled to run from October 20 to November 5, covering all 10 wards. An awareness walk was held from the RCB office, led by Additional Cantonment Executive Officer Tayyaba Naseer, Assistant Secretary Imran Habib and Horticulture Officer Atiqa Nadeem. Under the campaign, special sanitation operations are being conducted to clean streets and drains, remove rubbish and raise public awareness about maintaining a clean environment. Residents, students, traders and social organisations have been urged to support the initiative. During the first phase, on October 20 and 21, a cleanliness operation is under way in Ward No 1, covering Habib Colony, Rahim Town, Allahabad, Zahid Baig Road, Hafizabad and Sultanabad. The work includes street sweeping, drain clearance, rubbish collection and the removal of grass and weeds. Trolleys, excavators and other machinery have been deployed to transport collected waste to designated dumping points. The campaign involves the sanitation, horticulture, enforcement, building control, water supply, engineering, food and dengue control branches. Measures are also being taken to prevent the illegal dumping of waste and construction debris, maintain green spaces, enforce hygiene standards at food outlets and eliminate potential mosquito breeding sites. A complaints cell has been established at the Cantonment Board office to address residents' grievances. Citizens can register sanitation-related complaints by calling 051-9274422. Cantonment Executive Officer Aamir Rashid has directed the relevant departments to ensure the effective continuation of cleanliness measures and called for public cooperation to make Rawalpindi Cantonment cleaner and greener.

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