Category: 1. Pakistan

The Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) has made it mandatory for both riders and passengers on motorcycles to wear helmets, irrespective of gender.

The announcement was made by Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Zeeshan Haider, who emphasized that the rule will be enforced following a two-week awareness campaign aimed at educating the public on road safety. “This decision applies to everyone male or female riding or accompanying on a motorcycle,” said Haider.

He explained that the two-week grace period will focus on raising awareness about the lifesaving benefits of helmets. After this phase, strict enforcement will begin, and violators will face fines for non-compliance with the “double-helmet” rule.

The CTO highlighted that helmet usage can significantly reduce the risk of severe injuries or fatalities in road accidents. “Our priority is to ensure public safety. Wearing helmets is a proven measure that saves lives,” he added.

The move is part of ITP’s broader efforts to improve traffic discipline and reduce road accident casualties in the capital.

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has credited the Prime Minister with playing an important role in facilitating a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, stating that “even behind the Iran-Israel ceasefire, there is the uniform,” in reference to the military’s involvement.

Addressing a gathering alongside Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, where religious scholars from all schools of thought were briefed on Muharram security arrangements, Naqvi thanked the clerics for their continued cooperation in maintaining peace.

He noted that the Chairman of the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee consistently includes all sects in decision-making.

Naqvi emphasized the importance of religious harmony during Muharram, saying, “Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) belongs to everyone. Promoting unity is essential.”

Speaking on regional tensions, he commented that Pakistan made efforts to avoid civilian casualties during conflict with India. “One of our missiles struck an Indian oil depot but spared civilian areas. India ultimately suffered four times greater losses. With Allah’s help, we achieved victory, and this year we are celebrating Independence Day with four times more enthusiasm.”

Regarding the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Naqvi stressed that counterterrorism requires engagement with local communities and scholars, as their support is critical to eradicating militancy.

Echoing his remarks, Talal Chaudhry praised the scholars’ role in countering extremism and called for even greater involvement. He said security forces remain steadfast in fighting terrorism and urged the public to reject hatred, sectarianism, and the enemy’s agenda.

Chairman of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad also spoke on the occasion, highlighting Pakistan’s contributions to religious tolerance.

He stated that the country successfully countered Indian aggression during Operation Banyan al-Marsous and responded resolutely.

“Our friendly nation Iran responded forcefully to Israel, and Pakistan’s role in the Iran-Israel conflict has been significant,” he added. “Allah has blessed us with great successes.”

ISLAMABAD  –  Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, who assumed the UN Security Council’s presidency for July, yesterday urged UNSC and its permanent members on Wednesday to resolve the Kashmir dispute.

He underscored the need for resolving the Kashmir dispute, which he said was causing tensions and frictions between Pakistan and India. “It is time that this (Kashmir dispute) be addressed, and I would say this is not only a responsibility of Pakistan — we are here temporarily, two years as a non-permanent member,” he told a crowded news conference at the UN Headquarters in New York, while responding to a question.

“I think it’s the responsibility of the Security Council itself, and particularly the permanent members to see that they take certain steps to actually get their own resolutions implemented,” Ambassador Asim Iftikhar said.

 “That’s the way forward,” he added. Ahead of the news conference, the 15-member Council met and approved the programme of work for the month of July. “Our approach is firmly rooted in the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, peaceful settlement of disputes, sovereign equality, respect for international law and multilateralism,” Ambassador Ahmad told UN corps of correspondents. Pakistan, he said, will convene two signature events during its Presidency –a high-level debate on “Promoting International Peace and Security through Multilateralism and Peaceful Settlement of Disputes,” scheduled for 22 July, and on UN-OIC cooperation on July 24. Both debates will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Ishaq Dar. Moreover, DPM/FM Dar would also preside over the quarterly open debate on Palestine on July 23.

“The debates stem from the reality that today’s crises often emerge from unresolved disputes, the erosion of international obligations, and the underutilization of peaceful means enshrined in Chapter VI of the Charter,” the Pakistani envoy said.

On Kashmir, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad also said that all issues on the Security Council’s agenda can be discussed any time and the decades-old dispute over the Himalayan state was on agenda under India-Pakistan question.

The UN Security Council has pronounced on it in several resolutions that, among other elements, grant the Kashmiri people their right to self-determination, he said. “It is festering dispute, It has several dimensions,” the Pakistan envoy said, noting its peace and security dimension, political and legal dimension, and it also human rights dimension. “This is an issue that has been there unresolved; It is a cause of tensions and frictions between India and Pakistan. It is impeding development of friendly relations in our region. It is time that this be addressed,” he added.

LAHORE: Chiding the speaker for acting like a dictator under pressure, Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar said the opposition would continue fighting for the cause of the people of Punjab.

“Our patron-in-chief has appreciated PTI’s 26 MPAs for challenging the pharaohs and instructed them to hold assembly outside the [assembly] premises and continue giving tough time to the fake-mandated government,” Mr Bhachar said while speaking at a news conference at Lahore Press Club on Wednesday. He said the PTI would suggest amendments to the proposed Punjab Local Government Act.

He said the PTI would continue protesting ‘irregular’ payments of Rs10 trillion as reported by the Auditor General of Pakistan and added that this ‘Form-47’ government also got Rs509 billion supplementary budget with less than 23 members in the House.

“PML-N MPAs came in droves to listen to CM Maryam Nawaz’ speech but their number reduced to less than 25, when supplementary budget was passed,” he said.

Says PTI to suggest amendments to proposed LG law

Bhachar said the speaker suspended 26 opposition MPAs for protesting during CM’s speech but he had conveniently ignored the treasury MPAs’ protest and cheap slogans, when opposition women MPAs were speaking in the assembly. He said the speaker had neither notified the opposition parliamentary leader nor gave floor to the opposition leader despite repeated requests.

He said he had written a letter to the speaker to provide evidence explaining that the opposition members broke down microphones.

He said the opposition would approach courts despite knowing that the courts were not giving justice to the opposition.

The opposition leader condemned the federal government for increasing petroleum prices and added that this increase would instantly shoot up the cost of daily-use items.

Acknowledging the negligence in death of 17 persons in Swat River, Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar said Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz should also be punished for the death of 20 children in a Pakpattan hospital.

“Those negligent in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and in Punjab should be punished,” Mr Bhachar said.

Answering a question, the opposition leader said the political parties do keep their doors open for negotiations. He said party President Chaudhry Parvez Elahi was holding meetings and issuing instructions to them.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2025

LAHORE: The Crime Control Department (CCD) of Lahore police on Wednesday arrested a known TikToker and his 13 security guards for “public display of weapons”.

The police acted when the suspects blatantly violated the Section 144 imposed by the Punjab government to ensure peace in the city during Muharram.

As per CCD sources, TikToker Kashif Zamir, along with his armed bodyguards, traveled on a city road in a double-cabin vehicle. His team recorded video clips showing the weapons displayed by his guards and uploaded the same on social media.

The police say such conduct causes harassment to the public.

A CCD official says the police arrested the TikToker in a raid and recovered firearms from him and his guards, lodging cases against them.

He says the police also recovered videos of the TikToker showing him traveling on different city roads, along with his heavily-armed security guards. The CCD official says that Kashif Zameer is a habitual offender as he was also arrested in the past on the same charges.

Later, a video statement of the TikToker, recorded in police custody, appeared on social media wherein he apologised for taking law into his hands.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2025

Vehari  –  A citizen staged a unique protest against the withdrawal of electricity subsidies for those consuming over 200 units by wearing a suit made of electricity bills and hanging a meter around his neck, an image that quickly went viral on social media and sparked widespread public outrage. People echoed former minister Khawaja Asif’s famous line, “There should be some shame, some decency,” as criticism mounted against the elite who receive thousands of free electricity units while the poor are burdened with heavy bills for minimal usage. Mukhtar Ahmad Bhatti, senior member of the Chamber of Small Traders, called the inflation “economic genocide,” while analyst Murshid Abdul Aziz Bhutta said the system is designed only for the rich. Advocate Rana Muhammad Sajid termed the policies unconstitutional and against fundamental human rights; Advocate Ms. Saima Noreen said punishing the poor and rewarding the rich is oppression, not justice; and Advocate Ms. Samer Fatima added that the public’s patience has run out and now rulers must answer.

Laborers, farmers, and vendors lamented that they can neither afford electricity nor feed their children, saying the system is out to destroy them. The public is now demanding fairness in the power system, equal subsidies for all, and an end to free units for the privileged.

An explosion in northwest Pakistan killed at least four local government officials and police Wednesday, an officer told AFP, in an attack claimed by a branch of the Islamic State group.

“One senior government official, along with another government official and two police officers, were killed in the attack. Eleven people were wounded,” said Waqas Rafiq, a senior police official stationed in Bajaur, a city near the border with Afghanistan.

The officials were travelling in a car in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province when “the attack happened in a market in Bajaur city,” Rafiq added.

Hours later the Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) jihadist group claimed to have detonated an explosives-laden moped that targeted the vehicle in which the officials were traveling.

The deadly blast came four days after 16 soldiers were killed in the same province in an attack claimed by the Pakistan Taliban, a group which is very active in the area.

Around 300 people, mostly security officials, have been killed in attacks since the start of the year by armed groups fighting the government in both Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, according to an AFP tally.

Last year was the deadliest in a decade for Pakistan, with a surge in attacks that killed more than 1,600 people, according to Islamabad-based analysis group the Center for Research and Security Studies.

Pakistan has witnessed a sharp rise in violence in its regions bordering Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021, with Islamabad accusing its western neighbor of allowing its soil to be used for attacks against Pakistan — a claim the Taliban denies.