Thousands attend funeral of PML-N senator Sajid Mir in Lahore

The funeral prayers of PML-N Senator and head of Jamiat Ahle Hadith Pakistan, Professor Sajid Mir, were held at the Iqbal College Ground, with thousands in attendance, including prominent political, religious, and social figures. The funeral was led by Sheikh-ul-Hadith Hafiz Masood Alam, drawing a large congregation from across the political and religious spectrum. Among those who attended were Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Maulana Asad Mahmood, Allama Ibtisam Elahi Zaheer, Senator Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, and Maulana Ahmed Ludhianvi. Professor Sajid Mir passed away on Saturday at the age of 86 following a heart attack, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan, citing family sources. His death has sent shockwaves throughout Pakistan’s political and religious communities. In the wake of his passing, the central executive council of Jamiat Ahle Hadith Pakistan has appointed Maulana Abu Muhammad Turab as the acting head of the party. Hailing from Quetta, Maulana Turab was selected through mutual consultation, the party confirmed in an official statement. Professor Mir, a revered scholar and respected political leader, held multiple degrees including a Master’s in English and Islamic Studies, a Bachelor’s in Economics, and was also a graduate of the traditional Islamic Dars-e-Nizami curriculum. Elected to the Senate five times on a PML-N ticket, Mir was known for his integrity and was personally invited by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to contest elections—never once applying for a ticket himself. Tributes have poured in from across the political landscape. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described him as a visionary statesman and Islamic scholar, praising his consistent voice against extremism and sectarianism. “His absence has left a void in national politics that will be hard to fill,” the premier said in an official statement. Former Prime Minister and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif also expressed deep sorrow, calling Mir’s religious, academic, and parliamentary contributions “unforgettable.” The late senator is remembered for his advocacy of democratic continuity and for fostering inter-sectarian harmony. He leaves behind a legacy of public service, scholarship, and unwavering dedication to his party and faith.

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Israeli strike hits Khan Yunis refugee camp, killing 11 including infants

Gaza’s civil defence agency said Saturday that an overnight Israeli strike on the Khan Yunis refugee camp killed at least 11 people, including three babies up to a year old. Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal reported 11 killed “after the bombardment of the Al-Bayram family home in the Khan Yunis camp” in southern Gaza at around 3:00 am (0000 GMT). Bassal told AFP that eight of the dead had been identified and were all from the same extended family, including a boy and girl, both one-year-olds, and a month-old baby. An Israeli army spokesperson confirmed the strike to AFP, saying the attack targeted a “terrorist Hamas member”, without giving further details. At the scene, rescue workers and residents searched through the rubble with their bare hands, illuminating the destruction with hand-held torches. One rescuer carried the lifeless body of an infant from the wreckage, footage captured by an AFP journalist showed. Fayka Abu Hatab, a resident in a nearby building, said she “saw a bright light, then there was an explosion, and dust covered the entire area”. “We couldn’t see anything, it all went dark,” Abu Hatab said. “All of our windows were destroyed, our rooms were destroyed, the neighbours’ house was destroyed,” she added. Israel resumed its military offensive in Gaza on March 18 after a two-month truce in its war against Hamas. The health ministry in Gaza said on Saturday that at least 2,396 people have been killed since Israel resumed its campaign in Gaza, bringing the overall death toll since the war broke out to 52,495. On Friday the civil defence agency said Israeli strikes killed at least 42 people across the war-ravaged territory, which has been under a total Israeli blockade since March 2. Israel halted aid deliveries to Gaza, saying Hamas had diverted supplies. Israel says the blockade is meant to pressure the fighters into releasing hostages held in the Palestinian territory. UN agencies have urged Israel to lift restrictions, saying that Gazans were experiencing a humanitarian catastrophe and warning of famine.

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CB sets aside objections to rigging petitions

A constitutional bench (CB) of the Supreme Court on Friday set aside the objections raised by the court's registrar office to the petitions, seeking the formation of a judicial commission to launch a probe into the allegations that the February 8, 2024 general elections were highly rigged. One of the members of the bench, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, however, asked counsel for a petitioner as to how the court could constitute a judicial commission when a forum — election tribunals — was available to address elections complaints. A five-member CB led by Justice Aminuddin Khan on Friday took up the petitions filed under Article 183 (3) by various petitioners including former prime minister Imran Khan and PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat along with the objections raised to them by the SC registrar office. As the hearing began, Justice Aminuddin Khan asked Imran's counsel Hamid Khan, who appeared via video link, whether he had submitted a reply. Hamid Khan responded that he had submitted a reply along with additional documents, including details from the Quetta lawyers' blast inquiry commission. Justice Khan remarked that the court had taken suo motu notice of that matter at the time "but now it seems the authority to take suo motu notice may no longer exist". Hamid Khan replied that the decision of the ten-member bench in the Memo Commission case is also available, which involved substantial legal discussion. Justice Jamal Mandokhail noted that in both the Memogate and Quetta lawyers' incident cases, no alternate judicial forums were available. He questioned how a constitutional bench could create a new forum when alternatives already exist. Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar asked Khan as to how many election petitions were currently pending in the election tribunals. "If your argument is accepted then the entire process will come to a halt and all election tribunal cases will have to be nullified," he said. Subsequently, after consultation, the CB set aside the objections raised by the registrar office and directed it to assign numbers to the petitions. The case was adjourned for an indefinite period.

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Pakistan Railways opens luxury saloons to public on key routes

Pakistan Railways has announced that its luxury saloon coaches, previously reserved for senior government officials, will now be available for booking by the general public. According to Express News, the decision was taken on the directive of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The initiative aims to extend premium travel facilities to ordinary citizens and optimise the use of existing railway resources. Five luxury saloons, previously used by the Prime Minister, federal ministers, the Chairman of Pakistan Railways, the Chief Executive Officer, and the Inspector General of Railways, will now be accessible to any passenger wishing to book them. Pakistan Railways has also decided to keep fares for the luxury saloons highly affordable to ensure broader public access. This decision reflects the government’s commitment to improving public transport without compromising on affordability. The luxury saloon service will be available on major intercity routes, including trains running from Karachi to Lahore, Lahore to Karachi, Islamabad to Lahore, and Lahore to Islamabad. Officials say the move is part of wider reforms aimed at modernising rail travel, improving customer satisfaction, and increasing non-fare revenue through better asset utilisation.

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PTA issues clarification on YouTube ban press release

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) issued a clarification on Friday, stating that a press release circulating on social media regarding a ban on YouTube is outdated and dates back to 2012. The PTA urged the public to disregard the misleading information. In a statement, the telecom regulator explained that the press release, which resurfaced online, was creating confusion about YouTube's current operational status in Pakistan. "It has come to the attention of PTA that an old press release about the shutdown of YouTube in Pakistan, originally issued in September 2012 following Supreme Court orders, is being recirculated," the statement read. The original ban was enforced by then-Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf in response to protests over the controversial film Innocence of Muslims. However, the PTA confirmed that the 2012 press release is no longer relevant.         View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by PTA (@ptaofficialpk) "PTA clarifies that the content being circulated is outdated and irrelevant to the current circumstances," the authority stated. "At present, no instructions have been issued by PTA to block or shut down YouTube or any other social media platform." The PTA also advised the public to verify such information through official channels, including its website and verified social media handles. In related news, India recently blocked over two dozen Pakistani YouTube channels for allegedly spreading "provocative" content following an attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu Kashmir (IIOJK). Channels of prominent Pakistani news outlets such as Express, Dawn, Samaa TV, ARY News, Bol News, and Geo News were affected, along with the social media accounts of various Pakistani personalities, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and athletes like Shahid Afridi and Babar Azam. The blocked channels in India displayed a message citing an “order from the government related to national security or public order.”

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Amir Muqam's convoy crashes near Murree, two injured in serious condition

Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, Amir Muqam, was involved in a road accident near Murree on his return journey to Islamabad after completing an official visit to Azad Kashmir. According to sources, five individuals from his protocol team sustained injuries, two of whom are reported to be in critical condition, Express News reported. The incident occurred within the limits of Murree, where one of the protocol vehicles was significantly damaged. Fortunately, Muqam emerged unhurt from the accident. Rescue teams responded promptly, and the injured were transferred to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Murree for medical treatment. Emergency response operations were intensified in the area following the incident. Initial reports indicated that the minister was en route to Islamabad when the accident took place. Murree police have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash.

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Pakistan tells OIC envoys India poses 'serious threat' to South Asian peace

Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, has warned that India’s actions pose “serious threats” to peace and stability in South Asia, during a briefing to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Group of Ambassadors in New York. In a statement issued by the Pakistan Mission to the UN, Ambassador Ahmad described India’s conduct as “highly provocative, politically motivated, and irresponsible.” He underscored the gravity of the regional situation, urging member states to take note of India’s posture and its implications for long-term peace. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) envoys expressed unanimous support and solidarity with Pakistan, reiterating their commitment to the principles of peace and justice. The envoys emphasised the need for de-escalation through diplomatic means, calling for a renewed focus on resolving the core issues at the heart of India-Pakistan tensions—particularly the longstanding dispute over Jammu and Kashmir. They reaffirmed the importance of addressing the issue in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and OIC decisions, advocating for a just and lasting settlement. The meeting was part of Pakistan’s continued diplomatic outreach to highlight what it views as a deteriorating security environment in the region due to India’s actions.

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