Metro bus project inches towards materialisation

The Metro Bus Service, a mega project under the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, is progressing in Faisalabad to provide modern, efficient, and dignified urban transport. A team from the Punjab Transport Department, led by Punjab Mass Transit Authority (PMTA) Managing Director Kunwar Anwar Ali Khan, visited Faisalabad and met with Director General Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) Muhammad Asif Chaudhry to discuss the project's development. The visiting delegation included General Manager Operations PMTA Usman Shah, Manager Operations Rizwan Aziz, Senior Engineers from NESPAK Musa Dar, Sameed Anis, Ubaidullah, and Project Manager Jamshed Faisal. They were welcomed by FDA Additional Director General Yasser Ejaz Chatha, Chief Engineer Mehr Ayub, Deputy Director Engineering Omar Iqbal, and other officials. During the meeting, Director General FDA Muhammad Asif Chaudhry emphasized that the FDA had provided full administrative support during the project's feasibility study conducted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). He stated that multiple routes have been proposed for the Metro Bus Service, with consultations held with stakeholders to ensure a strategic and well-integrated urban transport system for Faisalabad. Managing Director PMTA Kunwar Anwar Ali Khan reviewed the proposed metro routes from a technical and technological perspective. He confirmed that NESPAK engineers are preparing a detailed report to assess the feasibility of the routes. He also announced that the Punjab Secretary of Transport will soon visit Faisalabad to further inspect the proposed routes and coordinate planning with the district administration.

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Woman held for murdering co-wife

Police in Liaqatabad have arrested a woman for allegedly murdering her co-wife and hiding her body on the rooftop of their house. The victim, identified as Tayabba, was found stuffed in a sack five days after she was killed. According to police officials, a neighbour spotted the suspect, Sadia, attempting to move the body to the rooftop late at night and reported the matter on the police helpline. The police arrested the suspect and recovered the body. Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused had a heated argument with Tayabba, during which she struck her on the head with a rolling pin. She then allegedly slit the victim's wrist, killing her. To dispose of the body, she initially dumped it in a vacant quarter before attempting to move it again. The police stated that the murder stemmed from a domestic dispute, as the suspect was reportedly resentful of her husband's second marriage. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination and investigations are under way.

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'Tech revolutionises art education'

Art, in its various forms such as painting, drama, sculpture, dance, literature, film, and poetry, serves as a powerful reflection of the culture and experiences of its people. As societies evolve, art adapts, preserving traditions and values while capturing the changing times. Just like in other fields, technology has made its way into art education, helping to address the challenges faced by traditional art forms. The integration of technology in art education not only enhances the skills of artists but also opens new avenues for presenting their work. Bilal Alam Khan, a spokesperson for the PNCA, said the organisation views the incorporation of technology in art as a significant development, enabling artists to access modern knowledge and techniques that are shaping the global art landscape. "Technology has expanded the global reach of artists through virtual galleries, online exhibitions," he added.

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Travellers with fake Canadian visas held

Fake Canadian visas were recovered from four passengers going to Saudi Arabia at Islamabad airport. FIA Immigration offloaded and transferred them to Anti-Human Trafficking Cell for investigation. According to details, four passengers, who were going to for Umrah via flight number SV 727, reached FIA Immigration for clearance. When the staff checked the travel documents, the Canadian visas they carried turned out to be fake.

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LHC moved for details on SC's rights monument

A lawyer has approached the Lahore High Court (LHC), seeking directions for the Supreme Court's registrar to provide details regarding the recently established and inaugurated 'fundamental rights monument' within the apex court premises. The project was initiated during the tenure of former chief justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa. Petitioner Abuzar Salman Khan Niazi filed the writ petition in the LHC, naming the SC registrar as the respondent. A single-member bench, led by Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza, is set to hear the petition on Monday (today). According to the petition, the petitioner had twice approached the SC registrar to obtain the relevant information but received no response. He had sought answers to six questions from the registrar regarding the project. The first question pertained to the process adopted for sanctioning the project. The second inquired about the authority responsible for granting approval. The third sought clarification on the law, rule, or regulation under which the project was sanctioned. The fourth question concerned the firm or company engaged in design and architectural services, while the fifth focused on the procedure followed for procuring such services. Meanwhile, the sixth question inquired about the firm or company hired for construction and development, along with the project's total cost. The petition argues that Article 3 of the Constitution imposes a duty on the state and public functionaries to eliminate all forms of exploitation. The refusal to provide the requested information constitutes a violation of this constitutional obligation. The petition states that Article 3 of the Constitution imposes a positive duty upon the state by extension public functionaries to ensure the elimination of all forms of exploitation as opposed to a discretion to act or not to act. "Thus, the respondent's refusal to provide the requested information constitutes a blatant violation of Article 3 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan." It contends that the superior courts, in the catena of judicial pronouncements, have emphasised that making access to information is a justiciable right of the people and further stressed that all information which can be of any public importance must be made available to the general public. The petition states that it is a matter of public importance which aids the process of fairness, accountability and transparency; therefore, the people of Pakistan have the right to know about the entire record of the 'fundamental rights monument' recently set up and inaugurated in the SC. However, the respondent has unjustifiably failed to provide the requisite information, the petition argued. "That right to information and access to information in all matters of public importance is indisputably a fundamental right guaranteed under Articles 19 and 19-A of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973." It contends that this right emanated from the fundamental democratic principle that members of a representative society must be adequately informed to enable them to make well-reasoned and intelligent decisions regarding matters that affect their rights and interests. "Therefore, the people of Pakistan have a right to know every public act, everything that is done in a public way, by their public functionaries and chosen representatives."

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Woman sues 'rapist' for child support

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed a trial court to seek evidence from a woman to substantiate her claim that a certain individual is the biological father of her child conceived after her alleged rape. A single-member bench of the LHC comprising Justice Ahmad Nadeem Arshad allowed a petition filed by a Muhammad Afzal against the verdict of a trial court. According to an FIR on March 4, 2020 for offences under section 376, 109 of Pakistan Penal Code, 1860, Maryam Zahid was allegedly raped by Afzal. As a result of the rape, Maryam conceived and ultimately gave birth to a female child. Later, a suit was filed on behalf of the child for recovery of maintenance allowance from Afzal. According to the suit, the child being the biological daughter of Afzal was entitled to get an allowance. Muhammad Afzal contested the suit by filing a written statement, negating the version that he was the biological father of the child. However, the trial court decreed in the respondent minor's favor. When Afzal failed to pay the interim maintenance allowance, his defense was struck off and the suit was decreed by awarding maintenance allowance to the minor at the rate of Rs3,000 per month. Muhammad Afzal later challenged the trial court's order in the LHC, which allowed his petition. In his order, Justice Ahmad Nadeem Arshad noted that this was not a case of recovery of maintenance allowance simpliciter. He noted that the contention of Maryam Zahid in the plaint was that as a result of rape she conceived the minor, who being the biological daughter of the present petitioner is entitled to get maintenance allowance. The verdict said that in case of a legitimate child, the mother institutes a suit under the Family Courts Act, 1964 or approaches the chairman of the concerned union council in the light of Section 9 of Muslim Family Laws Ordinance, 1961, for recovery of maintenance allowance. The court then fixes an interim maintenance allowance as a temporary arrangement and on failure of the defendant/father to pay interim maintenance the court strikes off his defence and decrees the suit straightaway under Section 17-A of the Family Courts Act, 1964. "But in the case where a woman claims maintenance for her child against the biological father, who denies the version, the woman would first need to establish, through trustworthy evidence, that the defendant is indeed the biological father of the child. "The burden of proving that the defendant [Afzal] is the biological father of the child lies on the woman who claims the maintenance," it said. The LHC said the trial court erred in law by granting maintenance for the child without first ensuring, through the proper process of evidence, that the child is indeed the biological offspring of the petitioner.

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Pakistan Navy joins UAE defence exhibition to strengthen maritime ties

A Pakistan Navy ship is participating in an international defence exhibition in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as part of efforts to strengthen maritime relations with the Gulf nation, the military’s media wing said on Saturday. The Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) Yarmouk arrived in the UAE for the International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) and the Naval Defence Exhibition (NAVDEX 25), the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. Several high-profile officials, including the UAE’s minister for tolerance and the defence ministers of Romania and Yemen, visited the vessel. “Participation in the defence exhibition reflects Pakistan’s strong defence ties with the UAE and its active role in global maritime security initiatives,” the ISPR stated. Pakistan has intensified its naval diplomacy in recent years, particularly with Gulf nations, as part of efforts to enhance maritime security and defence collaboration. The growing engagement aligns with Islamabad’s broader strategy of maintaining stability in regional waters and securing trade routes amid evolving geopolitical dynamics. The UAE event, featuring naval vessels from eight nations and participation from 65 countries, follows Pakistan’s hosting of the AMAN-25 multinational exercise, where 60 countries took part in maritime drills aimed at enhancing regional security and cooperation. Following AMAN-25, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia conducted the Affaa Al Sahil bilateral naval exercise, which concluded in Karachi last month with a demonstration of firepower and combat tactics. During its visit to the UAE, PNS Yarmouk also conducted joint exercises with the UAE Navy’s ship Al Emarat, reinforcing operational coordination between the two navies.

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