ECP again warns K-P, ICT over LG polls delay

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday again warned the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government and the federal authorities against delaying local government (LG) elections, directing them to submit all pending delimitation notifications before July 28. The tenure of the LGs in the K-P ended on March 15 this year. Under the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Local Government Act, 2013, local representatives are elected for a four-year term. The term of the last local government in Islamabad expired in February 2021, and elections have since been delayed under various pretexts, leaving around 2.5 million residents without elected local representatives. The ECP heard separate cases regarding LG elections in the K-P and the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). In the K-P case, Chief Secretary Shehab Ali Shah, the provincial LG secretary and officials of the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) appeared before a four-member bench headed by ECP Member from Sindh Nisar Ahmed Durrani. Islamabad chief commissioner and deputy commissioner also appeared in the ICT case. The commission recalled that on July 1 it had censured both governments for "unnecessarily delaying" the elections, warning that creating hurdles in the conduct of LG polls could attract serious consequences. In its earlier five-page order, the ECP observed that the K-P government was not providing "meaningful assistance" to the commission as required under Article 220 of the Constitution. Citing Supreme Court judgments reported as 2014 SCMR 1 and 2021 SCMR 714, it held that failure to assist the commission amounted to a constitutional violation. The ECP noted that on April 22 it had sought three documents required for delimitation in 15 districts: tehsil-wise notifications of Neighbourhood Councils (NCs) and Village Councils (VCs), category-wise reserved seats, and authenticated maps. A reminder issued on May 15 had received what the commission termed an unsatisfactory response.

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Search underway for missing K2 Airways cargo plane off Karachi coast with 5 crew members: PAA

The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said late on Tuesday night that a search and rescue operation was underway after an aircraft of K2 Airways with five crew members aboard was reported missing. In a series of posts on X, the PAA said K2 Airways' cargo flight B737 was en route from Sharjah to Karachi at 2118PST when it reported a navigational system issue and was promptly guided by the Karachi Area Control Centre. K2 Airways B 737 of Pakistan Cargo Flight enroute from Sharjah to Karachi at time 2118PST reported Navigational system issue and was promptly guided by KARACHI ACC. — Pakistan Airports Authority (@Pk_PAA_Official) July 7, 2026 "However; at time 2121PST, aircraft was observed on radar rapidly descending and with rapid heading change, subsequently radar contact and communication was lost approximately 155 nautical miles west of Karachi," the PAA said. However; at time 2121PST aircraft was observed on RADAR rapidly descending and with rapid heading change, subsequently RADAR contact and communication was lost approximately 155 NM west of Karachi. — Pakistan Airports Authority (@Pk_PAA_Official) July 7, 2026 It added that a rescue coordination centre was activated and a coordinated search and rescue operation was launched at sea through various agencies to locate the missing aircraft with five crew members. Following the occurrence RESCUE COORD CENTRE has been activated and coordinated Search & Rescue launched at sea through various agencies to locate the missing aircraft. There were five crew members onboard the aircraft. — Pakistan Airports Authority (@Pk_PAA_Official) July 7, 2026  

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MQM-P slams Sindh govt over ‘concealment’ of Gul Plaza inquiry report

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Tuesday criticised the Sindh government over what it termed as deliberate concealment of the Gul Plaza fire inquiry report, following an interim order by the Sindh Information Commission. In a statement, the party’s spokesperson welcomed the commission’s ruling, calling it a victory for the people of Sindh and a setback for what he described as a “corrupt feudal system” and bureaucratic collusion within provincial departments. The spokesperson said the interim order, issued on a complaint filed by Advocate Muhammad Tariq Mansoor, had raised serious questions about the provincial government’s role in withholding the judicial commission’s findings into the deadly blaze. According to the statement, the Justice Agha Faisal-led one-member judicial commission had submitted a comprehensive inquiry report - comprising four additional volumes - to the law secretary on April 7, 2026, in the presence of media and the public. However, when a request was filed under the Right to Information (RTI) law on April 28 seeking access to the report, the law secretary’s office allegedly refused to receive the application, prompting criticism from the information commission. The MQM-P spokesperson termed the move a violation of Article 19-A of the Constitution, which guarantees citizens’ right to access information, adding that the commission had also expressed displeasure over the matter. Read More: 11-year-old, five others granted bail in Gul Plaza inferno case He further claimed that the absence of the report had already affected legal proceedings, noting that a police charge sheet in a related case registered at Nabi Bakhsh police station was returned by a judicial magistrate due to the investigating officer’s failure to provide the inquiry findings. “This reflects the extent to which the provincial government is shielding those responsible and obstructing justice,” the spokesperson alleged. The statement also criticised the law department for shifting responsibility to the home department, calling it an attempt to deflect accountability. The Sindh Information Commission has since directed the home secretary to present the complete Gul Plaza Judicial Commission report, along with a separate inquiry report by the Karachi commissioner dated January 20, 2026, at the next hearing scheduled for July 8. The MQM-P vowed to pursue the matter across all available forums, including the courts and accountability institutions, until those responsible are held accountable and justice is delivered to the victims’ families.

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PPP eyes larger role in judicial appointments

As Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi has convened meetings of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) to consider appointments of additional judges to the high courts, PPP Senator Farooq H Naek has proposed 33 candidates for appointment to the four high courts. This move has revived debate over the party's growing influence in judicial appointments following the 26th Constitutional Amendment, with some asking if the PPP will once again secure a significant share in the upcoming judicial appointments, as it has done in recent appointments to the superior judiciary after the constitutional changes. During the tenure of former CJP Abdul Hameed Dogar, the PPP succeeded in securing the appointment of several lawyers considered loyal to the party in the superior judiciary. However, many of those appointments were invalidated through the SC's July 31, 2009 judgment. Following the restoration of the judiciary in March 2009, the PPP remained at the receiving end of judicial activism. However, after the passage of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, the party has again emerged as an influential player in the process of judicial appointments. The Sindh High Court (SHC) remains the only high court with constitutional benches. In November 2024, the PPP successfully backed the nomination of Justice KK Agha as head of the constitutional benches in the SHC through the JCP. Eight judges senior to Justice Agha were bypassed, although he ranked ninth on the SHC seniority list. The PPP also played a key role in the nomination of other members of the SHC constitutional benches. Last year, the party also succeeded in securing the appointment of judges in different high courts, particularly the SHC, Peshawar High Court (PHC) and Lahore High Court (LHC). Following the 27th Constitutional Amendment, Justice KK Agha was elevated to the newly established Federal Constitutional Court (FCC). Now, with the JCP inviting nominations for fresh appointments to the high courts, PPP's senior legal leader and JCP member Farooq H Naek has submitted 33 names for consideration. Of the proposed names, 16 are for the SHC, 10 for the LHC, five for the Balochistan High Court (BHC) and two for the Islamabad High Court (IHC). For the SHC, Naek has proposed the names of Dr Ambreen (district and sessions judge, Karachi West), Ghulam Shah (district and sessions judge, Hyderabad), Shazia Hanjrah (advocate Supreme Court), Mohsin Shahwani, Barrister Zulfiqar Jalbani (ASC), Barrister Jamshed Malik (ASC), Barrister Sandeep Malani, Nasrullah Korai (ASC), Qazi Muhammad Bashir (ASC), Dr Shahnawaz Memon (ASC), Samiullah Soomro (ASC), Barrister Baloch Ahmed Junejo (ASC), Ali Raza Khan (ASC), Mukesh Kumar G Karara, Ali Gul Abbasi and Muhammad Rashid Khan Mahar (ASC). For the LHC, Naek has recommended Asad Mahmood Abbasi, Danyal Ijaz, Nawazish Pirzada, Saqib Jillani, Ashfaq Ahmed Kharal, Mian Wasim Shahabi, Muhammad Sajid Khan Tanoli, Mughees Aslam Malik, Chaudhry Sarfaraz Ali Deyal and Muhammad Shahzad Khan. For the BHC, the proposed names are Rehmatullah, Syed Yahoor Agha, Bairam Khan, Naseer Ahmed Bangulzai and Muhammad Saleem Lashari. For the IHC, Naek has nominated Qamar Hussain Sabzwari and Syed Intikhab Shah. The JCP is scheduled to meet on July 20 to consider appointments to the IHC, while the meeting for appointments to the LHC will be held on July 21.

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Quetta protesters block Airport Road after deadly Hanna Urak clash kills four

Protesters continued to block Quetta's Airport Road outside BA Mall on Monday after a deadly armed clash in the Hanna Urak area left four men dead and several others injured, demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible and stronger security measures. The demonstrators placed the body of the deceased on the road and staged a sit-in, which is still going on, disrupting traffic on one of the city's busiest routes. They insisted they would continue their protest until authorities took concrete action against the attackers. According to local sources, the violence erupted when unidentified armed men reportedly confronted local tribesmen and residents in Hanna Urak. The incident sparked outrage among residents, who accused authorities of failing to maintain law and order in the area. Protesters called for a full-scale operation against armed groups and demanded lasting security arrangements to prevent further attacks. Read More: Armed clash near Quetta leaves four dead, seven injured Political leaders and key government officials, including Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, later visited the injured and affected families, as well as members of the local community. Expressing solidarity with the residents, they condemned the violence and said innocent people should not be forced to live under the constant threat of armed attacks. They assured the community that their concerns would be raised with the relevant authorities and pledged to support efforts aimed at improving security and bringing those responsible for the attack to justice. The protest is still going on, and officials are continually holding negotiations with demonstrators to reopen Airport Road and restore normal traffic flow.

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Lahore municipal body faces allegations after video shows dead stray dogs near Ring Road

Another alleged incident involving the killing of stray dogs by the Metropolitan Corporation Lahore has surfaced after a new video emerged showing the carcasses of stray dogs being transported near Harbanspura Ring Road. The video purportedly shows the dead dogs being loaded onto vehicles associated with the Punjab Chief Minister's Suthra Punjab programme. It also alleges that vehicles assigned to the cleanliness initiative were used to transport the animals. In the footage, a citizen can be heard questioning an official about a court ban on killing stray dogs. The official allegedly responds that there is "no ban" and that "the government is carrying it out." The video has surfaced despite directions issued by the Lahore High Court requiring the Punjab government to implement the Punjab Animal Birth Control (TNVR) Policy 2021. During court proceedings, government officials assured the court that stray dogs would not be culled and would instead be managed under the policy through the Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release (TNVR) programme. The court also warned that any violation of its orders could lead to contempt of court proceedings. Read More: Dog bites surge across the city The Punjab government introduced the TNVR Policy in 2021 as a humane approach to controlling the stray dog population. Under the policy, stray dogs are to be captured, sterilised, vaccinated against rabies and released back into the same locality. Animal welfare organisations have repeatedly alleged that stray dogs continue to be killed in Lahore and other parts of Punjab despite the court's directions and the government's stated policy. The relevant authorities, however, have denied such allegations on various occasions. Animal rights activists also claim that incidents of stray dogs being allegedly killed have continued to surface in several private housing societies, raising further concerns over compliance with the court's orders and the provincial government's animal control policy.

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Lahore municipal body faces allegations after video shows dead stray dogs near Ring Road

Another alleged incident involving the killing of stray dogs by the Metropolitan Corporation Lahore has surfaced after a new video emerged showing the carcasses of stray dogs being transported near Harbanspura Ring Road. The video purportedly shows the dead dogs being loaded onto vehicles associated with the Punjab Chief Minister's Suthra Punjab programme. It also alleges that vehicles assigned to the cleanliness initiative were used to transport the animals. In the footage, a citizen can be heard questioning an official about a court ban on killing stray dogs. The official allegedly responds that there is "no ban" and that "the government is carrying it out." The video has surfaced despite directions issued by the Lahore High Court requiring the Punjab government to implement the Punjab Animal Birth Control (TNVR) Policy 2021. During court proceedings, government officials assured the court that stray dogs would not be culled and would instead be managed under the policy through the Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release (TNVR) programme. The court also warned that any violation of its orders could lead to contempt of court proceedings. Read More: Dog bites surge across the city The Punjab government introduced the TNVR Policy in 2021 as a humane approach to controlling the stray dog population. Under the policy, stray dogs are to be captured, sterilised, vaccinated against rabies and released back into the same locality. Animal welfare organisations have repeatedly alleged that stray dogs continue to be killed in Lahore and other parts of Punjab despite the court's directions and the government's stated policy. The relevant authorities, however, have denied such allegations on various occasions. Animal rights activists also claim that incidents of stray dogs being allegedly killed have continued to surface in several private housing societies, raising further concerns over compliance with the court's orders and the provincial government's animal control policy.

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